Chapter 616 - 345: Middle Fourth Grade!

"It is fine for you to stay in Shu State, but remember, do not make a move carelessly."

Shui Hetong raised his eyebrows, a trace of doubt appearing on his devastatingly handsome face. "Master, did you notice something?"

Gongye Bai ignored him and turned to bid Xiao Jinghong farewell. "I hope Martial Niece will carefully consider my earlier proposal."

Xiao Jinghong cupped her fists in salute. "I will."

"Then, I will take my leave first."

Before his voice could fade, Gongye Bai vanished from River View Mountain.

The turbulent Chishui River crashed violently against the cliffs, the deafening roar of bursting water ringing endlessly in their ears.

After watching Gongye Bai leave, Xiao Jinghong and Shui Hetong did not part ways immediately.

Shui Hetong looked at Xiao Jinghong beside him, whose aptitude was equally peerless, and said thoughtfully, "I heard there have been some changes in the Shu State’s Government Office?"

Xiao Jinghong gave a slight nod, her tied hair swaying in the wind, and calmly replied, "Governor Liu Hong was the one who betrayed my parents. Upon learning this, my grandfather killed him with a punch in a fit of absolute rage.

"Zhu Hao secretly sold ironware and colluded with the enemy to commit treason, so I beheaded him.

"In addition, a number of associated officials, both major and minor, as well as Noble Families and Clans, have all been punished. It’s inevitable that Shu State will experience some turbulence."

Shui Hetong glanced at her before his gaze fell upon the night sky. He sighed and said, "Although the Jianghu has its fair share of scoundrels, it falls far short of the treacherous schemes in the Imperial Court.

"However, with Liu Hong and the others dead, Junior Martial Sister, you should be able to breathe a temporary sigh of relief and focus on advancing in Martial Arts."

Xiao Jinghong remained silent for a moment before shaking her head. "Things are still unsettled. I need to wait for a letter from the Capital Prefecture."

Thinking of something, she looked at Shui Hetong with a serious expression. "I have already used the token Senior Martial Uncle gave me earlier to order several people from the Wind and Rain Tower to head to the Capital Prefecture. I hope you won’t take offense, Senior Martial Brother."

Shui Hetong smiled and nodded. "Master originally had this intention, so there’s no need to be polite.

"Besides, Junior Master Li shares the same origins as my Master. Although he hasn’t involved himself with the Wind and Rain Tower for a long time, the connection is still there. Everyone in the Wind and Rain Tower is at your disposal."

Xiao Jinghong solemnly cupped her fists in a salute. "Thank you."

Before Shui Hetong could speak, she continued, "There is one more thing. I originally planned to find another time to contact the people of the Wind and Rain Tower, but since you are here, Senior Martial Brother, I will just speak frankly."

"Speak freely."

"Recently, Shu State has been unstable. We faced targeting from the Jing State Liu Family and Liu Hong, and later, the ’Jackal’ Du Cang of the Peacock King Banner made a move and abducted my eldest sister. I want to invite a few experts from the Wind and Rain Tower to hold down the fort at the Xiao Family.

"Do you have any candidates to recommend?"

Hearing her words, a strange smile appeared on Shui Hetong’s face.

The Xiao Family needed guards? It seemed his Junior Martial Sister was still unaware of her husband’s affairs. That made sense. If that weren’t the case, how could his shameless old Master have come up with such a prank?

Thinking of this, Shui Hetong calmly turned his head in feigned contemplation and mused, "Off the top of my head, I truly can’t think of a suitable candidate, but..."

He collected his thoughts and looked at Xiao Jinghong, pointing at himself. "However, it just so happens that I am currently unoccupied. How about I go stay at the Xiao Family for a few days?"

Xiao Jinghong was taken aback. "If you step forward personally, Senior Martial Brother, then of course..."

Without waiting for her to finish, Shui Hetong smiled and nodded. "Then it’s settled.

"After Master exchanges pointers with Lone Immortal Ye, I will ask for his instructions and arrange for others to come."

Xiao Jinghong naturally wouldn’t refuse. She bowed slightly and said, "Then I must trouble you to make the trip personally."

"I have nothing better to do anyway. I can take this opportunity to witness the prosperity of Shu State’s Prefecture City. Besides, with geniuses from various states arriving recently, it shouldn’t be too boring."

"If you need it, I can send a letter to my grandfather and have him assign someone to guide you around the city."

Shui Hetong waved his hand. "I am not that delicate, no..."

Halfway through his sentence, a thought struck him, and he changed the subject. "I heard earlier that your husband has extraordinary insight?"

"My husband?"

Seeing him mention Chen Yi, Xiao Jinghong hesitated before nodding. "He does have some insight, but his Martial Arts are unrefined. I’m afraid..."

"No matter, no matter. It will be good for me to go and meet my brother-in-law."

"In that case... I will write a letter to my husband later."

"Thanks for the trouble..."

A moment later, Shui Hetong leaped into the air and sped straight toward the Prefecture City.

Xiao Jinghong watched him leave. After recalling the day’s events, she gathered her thoughts and returned to the Profound Armor Military Town.

Seeing her return, Su Zhenyue hurriedly went to meet her and said urgently, "General, a letter has arrived from the estate."

As she walked back to her tent, Xiao Jinghong raised her hand to take the letter and read through it.

*[Feng Erbao has brought back the Holy Emperor’s decree. The punishment is light; merely the docking of three years’ salary.]*

*[However, the Holy Emperor has passed down an oral decree...]*

*[In addition, Yang Ye will temporarily act as the Left Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office. The candidate for the Right Governor has yet to be decided.]*

After reading, Xiao Jinghong felt a bit of relief in her heart, her footsteps becoming much lighter.

She handed the letter back to Su Zhenyue and said, "Pass down the order to prepare a reception for Eunuch Feng."

Su Zhenyue glanced at the letter, a smile gracing her face. "The Holy Emperor wasn’t overly harsh this time. You and the Old Master can relax a little."

Xiao Jinghong gave a hum of acknowledgment. She walked over to the desk, sat down, and asked, "How is the evaluation of the Profound Armor Army’s soldiers coming along?"

Su Zhenyue immediately restrained her smile. She retrieved a booklet from her own desk nearby, flipped through it, and said, "Leaving the veterans aside, seventy percent of the eighty thousand soldiers in the New Army have broken through to the Eighth Grade Realm, and twenty percent are on the verge of a breakthrough. The remaining ten percent are still lagging somewhat."

Xiao Jinghong frowned slightly. "In other words, nearly ten thousand men of the New Army are unable to fight one-on-one against adult members of the Barbarian Race..."

Su Zhenyue naturally understood her concerns and said hesitantly, "General, General Ma and I have inquired about this. The aptitude of that final ten percent is simply too poor.

"If we forcefully elevate their Cultivation, I’m afraid it will only do more harm than good."

Xiao Jinghong shook her head. "Time waits for no one. Even if I can afford to wait, some people cannot, nor will they give us much time to wait."

"Are you saying... the Capital Prefecture?"

"The Holy Emperor’s oral decree isn’t difficult to decipher. He is fully aware of the situation in Shu State and the Xiao Family."

Thinking of the letter’s contents, Su Zhenyue asked, "Then he..."

Xiao Jinghong looked at the map on the desk and said softly, "It should be related to the situation at the Northern Border."

Long before she returned to Shu State, she had heard Li Wudang speak of the Holy Emperor’s character and some of his plans. Looking back now, wasn’t the Holy Emperor’s tacit approval of others targeting the Xiao Family a kind of test? If the Xiao Family could withstand it, the Holy Emperor would continue to place heavy responsibilities on them. If they failed to endure those previous tribulations, the Holy Emperor could justifiably replace Marquis Wu.

Based on Xiao Jinghong’s understanding of the Great Wei Dynasty’s current strength, the Holy Emperor had a massive army at his disposal and didn’t fear the Xiao Family rebelling in the slightest. If things truly reached that point, perhaps the Holy Emperor would even use Shu State as a training ground to temper the military personnel from the other states. Just like how Xiao Jinghong had Ma Kui lead the Profound Armor Army out of Mengshui Pass this time, her aim was to let the New Army see the real Barbarian Race. Even if there were some casualties, she could still accept it.

A trace of relief inevitably rose in Xiao Jinghong’s heart. After all, the Xiao Family had finally gotten a chance to catch their breath.

After a moment of thought, Xiao Jinghong stood up and ordered, "Pack your things. You and I are heading to the Cang Lang Military Town."

Su Zhenyue was stunned. "Didn’t you just say we were going to receive Eunuch Feng?"

"I’m not waiting anymore. Since he came all this way to proclaim the decree, he might as well travel a bit further..."

The Xiao Family had suffered so many grievances; so what if she, Xiao Jinghong, threw a little temper tantrum?

...

The Xiao Family, Spring Lotus Garden.

It was past the halfway point of the 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM period, and the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Chen Yi casually tossed the Purple Bamboo aside. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and strolled back to the wooden building.

After finishing his letter to Xiao Jinghong, he had begun cultivating the Four Symbols Skill. Once Midnight passed, he proceeded to the Purple Bamboo Forest to practice his Techniques.

Of course, this mainly consisted of the Sword Dao.

Over the past few days, Chen Yi’s diligence could only be described as arduous. Not only had he thoroughly mastered the Great Success Sword Dao’s profound mysteries, but he had also cultivated the Celestial Flower Flying Sword Technique to the Mastery Level. Its progress was now on par with his Saber Dao and Step Dao.

Chen Yi rested for a moment. With a surge of his thoughts, he looked at the large golden text before him:

*[Daily Intelligence - Yellow-level Top Grade: At Noon, at the Jishi Medicine Hall in the East Market, You State’s Medical Saint Hand Wen Xiuyin will pay a visit for consultations. Reward: A minuscule amount of Opportunity.]*

A Medical Saint Hand visiting the Xiao Family’s World Relief Medicine Hall for consultations...

"Is she one of the people Wan’er sent invitations to earlier?"

A playful smile appeared on the corners of Chen Yi’s mouth. "It seems an outsider monk is trying to snatch food from the mouths of the local monks.

"But a Minor Success Medical Dao won’t be enough..."

This was fine as well.

If a Medical Saint Hand displayed some of her Medical Skill, perhaps it would allow Yuan Liu’er to gain some insights.

With these thoughts in mind, Chen Yi sat cross-legged on his bed and continued cultivating the Four Symbols Skill.

Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism instantly swarmed toward him. It flowed along his twelve Main Meridians, filling his three major Seas of Qi. This was especially true for his Forehead Acupoint Sea of Qi, where the Four Divine Positions became increasingly corporeal during their inhalations and exhalations of the energy.

About half an hour passed.

A booming sound rang out in Chen Yi’s mind, like the striking of a bronze bell. His heart and spirit instantly felt lighter, and his entire being seemed to float.

Immediately after, four voices—some crisp, some deep, some resonant—echoed out.

*[Achieved success in cultivating the Four Symbols Skill. Cultivation advanced—Middle Fourth Grade...]*