Seven days later.

Afternoon.

Hoo~~ Hoo~~ Hoo~~~

Li Yuan wore intentionally heavy armor to increase the weight, and his whole body was like a sacred reverence for the Buddha, with his toes touching the black stone ground of the martial stage, his figure sinking and curling, resembling a giant toad crouching on the ground, ready to leap.

Heavy breathing came from his nose, and a "rumbling" sound faintly emanated from his abdomen, as if a beast were emitting a low, strange howl.

He felt the increasingly compressed energy in his abdomen, making his whole being somewhat anxious and boiling.

Time ticked by second by second.

By late afternoon, Li Yuan finally stopped cultivating, took off the heavy armor, returned the cultivation skill to Master Li, and hurried off towards the South City's dock area.

He walked swiftly in the chilly wind, fists clenched, eyes filled with a hint of joy. He had grasped a bit of the knack, feeling close to mastering it.

At the dock area, he was about to board a black canopy boat, when he saw another boat docking, with a familiar figure standing at the bow.

Li Yuan hurried over, calling out, "Brother Cai!"

Cai Ze didn't respond. Compared to a few days ago, he looked a bit out of it, as if he hadn't slept well, so Li Yuan's call seemed to go unheard.

Li Yuan paused, approached, and raised his voice, "Brother Cai, what a coincidence."

Only then did Cai Ze hear the voice. He mechanically turned his head, his pupils slightly bulging, veined with red threads, like twisted red worms writhing across his eye membrane, making one very uncomfortable.

Those pupils finally focused on Li Yuan.

Cai Ze said, "Oh, it's Brother Li..."

"Brother Cai seems unwell, perhaps it's best to rest first?" Li Yuan suggested. "There's no rush for another day or half."

"Soon, soon..." Cai Ze murmured, "This matter will soon be resolved, and then I can rest."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

Li Yuan pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "Is it the Wei Family and Sun Family people?"

Cai Ze's pupils widened, and he hissed, "Perhaps yes, perhaps no... Heh, they're about to take the bait, about to take the bait..."

Seeing that something was off about him, Li Yuan was contemplating whether to continue persuading him when suddenly, Cai Ze stepped onto the deck and jumped ashore from the bow.

From the black canopy aboard the boat, a man and a woman emerged, both dressed in profound robes with blood-red edges, both with comprehensive strengths around 20, evidently two Ninth Grade Martial Artists, sent to assist Cai Ze.

The man cast a cold glance at Li Yuan, whereas the woman showed some interest, scanning him up and down.

Cai Ze did not introduce them, and they did not speak much, directly heading off into the distance.

Watching their backs, Li Yuan felt an inexplicable heaviness and oppression in his heart.

A burst of cold and sorrowful late wind swept past, bringing him back to his senses. Looking at the boatman of the black canopy boat, he called from afar, "Heading back?"

The boatman replied, "I must wait for Lord Cai."

Li Yuan didn't mind and boarded another boat.

The boat sliced through the water, its trajectory spanning ten feet, with the clouds on the horizon now pale, tinged with a sickly vermillion hue.

...

...

Returning home, after bathing and changing clothes, having a meal, Li Yuan felt much more relaxed instantly.

He didn't go to bed but instead took Lady Yan's hand, smiling, "Sister Yan, let's go for a walk on the street."

"What's there to walk for, wasting money."

"To buy you clothes."

"Don't my clothes look good?" Lady Yan twirled slightly, the blue floral jacket embracing her alluring body, black tight-fitting pants defining the curves of her long legs. Overall, she looked like a charming village girl, quite captivating in appearance.

Having eaten well, rested enough, with a safe environment, Yan Yu's innate beauty was gradually being unveiled.

"Then buy clothes for me." Li Yuan grabbed Lady Yan's hand, saying, "Let's go."

Lady Yan blushed, a bit embarrassed at such public displays of affection, though not minding in the dark on the bed.

"Aunt Wang is still here..." she murmured softly, her tone slightly bashful.

Li Yuan replied, "Aunt Wang, she can't see us."

Indeed, Aunt Wang was currently washing the dishes from dinner in the corner of the courtyard, with the two little ones helping diligently beside her.

As they passed by, Yan Yu called out, "Aunt Wang, my husband and I are going out for a bit."

Aunt Wang quickly put down the dishes, wiped her hands on her apron, stood up with her head bowed, and respectfully said, "Master, Madam, you go ahead..."

...

Li Yuan and Yan Yu strolled along the street, a far cry from the Little Ink Workshop; the night market at Silver Creek was undeniably much better.

Bright red lanterns strung together, illuminating the long street and the crowd passing by.

The diverse crowd kept bustling in and out among the shops.

The street vendors pushing carts and hawkers carrying goods were all shouting energetically.

Li Yuan saw a fabric shop, its sign read "Brocade and Silk Shop," and it was quite busy with many customers coming and going.

Li Yuan glanced at the fabrics inside from afar and thought they looked nice, so he said, "Sister Yan, let's buy a roll of silk to make you some clothes. It's getting warmer."

"No!"

"Come on..."

"Oh no, I don't want to... there are so many people..."

Lady Yan lightly called out, but was still pulled into the fabric shop.

The shop assistant glanced at the two of them. Seeing one dressed in plain clothes and the other in a peasant's jacket, he pretended not to see them and instead greeted another person dressed in brocade.

As soon as Lady Yan entered the shop, she felt out of place. The men and women walking around, swaying back and forth, seemed like the unattainable young masters and mistresses from the past. Though she stood there, she didn't fit in with these people at all, as if they belonged to two different worlds.

Her beautiful eyes flashed with nervousness and unease, and all she wanted was to leave. She whispered shyly, "Husband, let's just go back."

Li Yuan glanced at the shop assistant, who acted as if they didn't exist.

Li Yuan felt quite speechless inside...

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out.

"Isn't this Brother Li?"

Li Yuan followed the voice and saw a slender young man in brocade squeezing out from the crowd, walking towards him with a smile on his face.

Recognizing him as the same senior brother who delivered him the Blood Saber Sect uniform and saber the other day—Yu Mao, Li Yuan cupped his fists and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Yu, what a coincidence!"

Yu Mao walked closer and affectionately patted him on the shoulder, smiling, "What senior brother? From now on, I should be calling you senior brother."

Li Yuan was momentarily stunned: "Why?"

Yu Mao said, "As Master Li's direct disciple, you can directly advance to the Inner Sect. I'm in the Outer Sect, you're in the Inner Sect, so you are the senior brother."

Li Yuan nodded slightly, murmuring "So that's how it is."

Before he could speak further, Yu Mao glanced around, then noticed the isolated look of Li Yuan and the woman beside him, and immediately understood. He snorted coldly and said, "Your Brocade and Silk Shop is getting bigger and bigger! My Senior Brother Li is here, and yet no one comes to greet him?"

Yu Mao was a regular there. His shout made the shop assistant panic, and even the boss lady, who was introducing the "new styles" to customers, looked over and then hurriedly came over. After learning Li Yuan's identity and what had just happened, the boss lady kept apologizing, called over the shop assistant, and scolded him harshly before personally leading them to pick out silk.

She selected a roll of beige peach blossom silk for Lady Yan and a roll of dark silk for Li Yuan, even calling a tailor to take their measurements, promising to make them nice clothes, but refused to take any money at all.

Li Yuan paid attention to the price around them and, before leaving, placed seven taels of silver on the counter. By the time the boss lady of the "Brocade and Silk Shop" noticed, they were already gone.

Yu Mao followed them from a distance.

Lady Yan held her man's arm on the left while Yu Mao chatted casually with him on the right, and after a while said his cheerful goodbyes.

Once the surroundings quieted down, Lady Yan looked at him admiringly and said, "Husband, your status in the Blood Saber Sect is quite high. Everyone seems to be currying favor with you."

Li Yuan shook his head and didn't say anything.

Lady Yan clung to his arm, walking the streets of this chaotic world in a dreamlike whisper, "It feels a bit like being in a dream."

...

...

The next day, Li Yuan, as usual, set foot on the island.

The island was a bit chaotic, with miscellaneous task workers running everywhere, and in the distance, a four-masted ship breaking the waves moored at the docking area. A man in a profound robe with white lining stood at the bow, arms crossed, chest high, his muscles strong and imposing.

Behind the man were some Blood Saber Sect disciples in robes with blood-red edges. Judging by the attire and their positions, it was clear that this man was a significant figure in the Blood Saber Sect.

Li Yuan grabbed a worker passing by and asked, "What's going on?"

The worker initially tried to break free but seeing it was Li Yuan, respectfully saluted and said, "Lord Li, last night three Blood Saber Sect lords who came ashore disappeared! Everyone is searching for them in the black market.

The Black-faced Elder from the sect himself is even here for this matter."

"Black-faced Elder..." Li Yuan's pupils contracted, and he instinctively asked, "Among the missing, is Cai Ze one of them?"

The worker nodded repeatedly, saying, "Yes, Lord Cai... he too disappeared. Lord Li, if there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."

"Hmm..."

Li Yuan released the worker, letting him run off.

Standing in place, he felt somewhat dazed, and only after a long while did he come back to his senses.

At that moment, he felt a chilling sensation surge across his skin, as if being scraped by a sharp blade, and his heart... had dropped to the icy abyss.

Previously, he had talked with Cai Ze about drinking together, chatting about life's romantic adventures and the heroic spirit of strong liquor. Yet, before they could drink, the person was gone.

This... surely was not a mere drowning case but...

"Huff, huff, huff..."

He took several deep breaths, repressing the oppressive and horrifying feeling deep inside, and then started walking towards the north gate of the black market.

He needed to quickly become stronger... to break through soon... to ensure his own safety...

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