Two more days passed, and it was already April, with spring growing stronger.
Willow catkins outside the guard station drifted with the wind, white fluff swirling, some flying over the high walls and into the station; others were trampled into spring mud by the footsteps of people hurrying about their livelihoods.
But more often, they lay scattered in piles and patches, and if someone passed by, stirring the wind, they would float away as if afraid.
On this particular morning, as the first light of dawn broke and all things awoke, a strong scent of medicine permeated the air in the dormitory. A dozen or so brocade boxes lay haphazardly on the desk, all empty.
Xue Ren sat cross-legged in meditation, his breathing somewhat erratic, yet his aura was many times stronger than before. He had clearly broken through the Yi Jin Realm, transcending the external world and directly entering the Forging Bone Realm.
He was currently working to stabilize his cultivation.
Butler Fu stood quietly at the door, his expression serene with a hint of joy, his hands, capable of fending off two Blood Exchange Realm experts, hung calmly in front of him.
Outside the window, the scattered footsteps of soldiers leaving the camp and their laughing and cursing could be heard from time to time, but all sounds stopped before Butler Fu, not a single one leaking into the room.
Cultivation knows no passage of time. It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that Xue Ren's aura completely retracted, and he finally opened his eyes.
Seeing this, Butler Fu smiled and said, "Congratulations, Young Master, your power has increased, and your Forging Bone Realm is initially complete!"
Xue Ren waved his hand, humbly saying, "It was just a natural progression. Besides, if I didn't break through soon, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to suppress that kid much longer."
With the experience of dealing with Mo Yingshuo's troublemaking two days prior, Butler Fu's opinion of the young man in the courtyard had greatly improved. "This young man started from nothing, and his martial arts are truly extraordinary. Now that he has compensated for his shortcomings and his bones are strong, he indeed has the potential to soar in the future."
"But he still cannot be compared to Young Master," Butler Fu added.
Xue Ren lifted his head, brows furrowed. "Of course, otherwise, why would I be his superior?"
Then he sighed with emotion, "I am the one everyone expects great things from, with the family's strong support, while he is working extra hard because no one thinks highly of him."
"Ah-choo!" Ning Yue, who was enjoying a second sleep, suddenly sneezed for some unknown reason.
Butler Fu chuckled and said, "It has been much quieter outside the courtyard these past two days, giving that kid a chance to be lazy."
Xue Ren counted the days; it had been four or five days since the incident. He then said, "As time goes on, everyone will gradually get used to it. However, since the other party is so patient, let's add some fuel to the fire and have my father's side prepare to make a move."
After speaking, he glanced at Ning Yue, who was still not opening his eyes despite the sun on his face, and said with disdain, "We can't let that kid be too idle either."
Butler Fu bowed and withdrew.
Another day passed, and the Gu City border army, after days of fruitless searching, finally lifted the city lockdown. Merchants and people visiting relatives and friends, who had been held up for a long time inside and outside Gu City, cheered as they entered, and there was no longer any obstruction between the inside and outside.
However, the morning and afternoon drills continued.
Another day, on the third day of April, news spread from the inner city that the Xue Family was selling off land. Although they were all remote fields and properties, they were being sold at a 30% discount below market price and were being snatched up!
Willow catkins filled the city, and the scent of osmanthus began to waft.
On that day, Xue Chengwu visited the City Lord's Mansion at night!
"Father, what did Uncle Xue come to say?" Zhao Silu asked, shaking her father's arm.
In the main hall, brothers Zhao Zhige and Zhao Xingwu also cast curious glances at the opportune moment.
"Hehehe, just drinking tea and reminiscing," Zhao Nan Ting said, smiling mysteriously at his children.
Zhao Silu's nose wrinkled, vaguely catching a whiff of conspiracy. "Just reminiscing? Didn't he say anything else?"
"Oh, he also sent a box of spiritual pills, just right to help you cultivate."
Zhao Xingwu interjected at this point, "Little sister doesn't understand. If he said nothing, it means he said everything. As for the spiritual pills..." He raised an eyebrow disdainfully, "Just one box? The Xue Family is truly stingy."
Zhao Nan Ting laughed, "It's not a small amount. Old Xue is usually a miser, so it's rare for him to cough up some loose change today. Moreover, these Profound Flood Dragon Marrow Pills are perfectly suited for Silu and show some thought. After all, we're not the main characters, so this much appearance fee is enough."
Zhao Zhige's brows furrowed, his mind filled with doubts. The more he listened, the more confused he became, but he was too embarrassed to ask, hoping his sister would go first.
And Zhao Silu, as expected, did not disappoint, directly threatening, "Big brother, if you keep speaking in riddles, you won't get any osmanthus cake when it's out of the oven later."
Zhao Xingwu quickly begged for mercy, saying, "Uncle Xue has set up a stage, wanting to put on a good show..."
Zhao Silu pondered, "Then who is the main character?"
"Naturally, it's Young Master Xue Ren of the Xue Family! Oh, by the way, your little sweetheart also counts as half."
Zhao Silu blushed deeply, her earlobes instantly redder than tomatoes. She raised her hand to strike, and Zhao Xingwu repeatedly dodged.
Zhao Nan Ting's brows, however, furrowed. He turned to the second son beside him, puzzled, "Zhige, when did Silu get a sweetheart? Why have I never heard of it?"
"This person is a Baihu officer under Xue Ren. Third sister has only met him twice, so they can't really be considered close," Zhao Zhige said dismissively.
Zhao Nan Ting watched the endlessly bickering siblings and suddenly realized that his daughter had grown up and reached an age where she could marry. He couldn't help but sigh at the fleeting passage of time.
And though the two siblings were chasing and playing non-stop, their ears were very sharp.
Zhao Xingwu, hearing this, laughed while dodging, "I heard that this Ning Xiaoqi officer is exceptionally skilled in martial arts, and he only cares about money, not women. He is very self-disciplined and has not married yet, still observing filial piety."
Zhao Nan Ting also smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Our Zhao Family doesn't adhere to the aristocratic family system. If he truly has noble character and promising martial arts, a humble background is fine. As long as Silu likes him, that's what matters."
"It's just that whether this person is useful or not, we'll only know after testing him," Zhao Xingwu added.
"Then I'll leave this matter to you?" Zhao Nan Ting smiled like an old fox.
"I will not fail Father's trust!" Zhao Xingwu smiled like a young fox.
Zhao Zhige did not smile; he felt like he wasn't his parents' biological child.
As for Zhao Silu, at some point, she had already slipped out of the hall to enjoy the sweet and soft osmanthus cake by herself.
The third day of April: Auspicious for marriage, seeking offspring; inauspicious for burial.
...
That night, the gates of the He Family mansion were tightly shut, with no one entering or leaving.
He Wenbin, by the light of a lamp, unhurriedly trimmed branches in the back garden, where flowers were already blooming.
The wild-growing spring flowers were meticulously pruned, making them pleasant to behold.
It wasn't until a note, detailing the day's observations, was handed to him by Elder Yuan that he put down his scissors.
After reviewing the Xue Family's movements over the past day or two, He Wenbin plucked a flower, remaining silent. After a long moment, he finally spoke, "Is there still no definite news from Xue Ren's side? He took my things and waited so many days; surely he can't even handle this small matter?"
Elder Yuan replied in a deep voice, "You know, that Baihu officer is always cautious. The people sent before were all turned back by Ning Yue. So, there has been no progress so far."
Even with He Wenbin's good upbringing, hearing this, he couldn't help but feel anger surge within him. "Hmph! That old fellow truly doesn't know what's good for him. Relying on the fact that my He Family has only recently arrived in Gu City and has no one in the army, he actually dares to put on airs. He took spiritual medicine worth tens of thousands of taels from me, just to do this little bit?!"
Petals in his hand were plucked off one by one. He Wenbin suppressed his anger and instructed, "Tell him, add another portion of spiritual medicine for Forging Bone Realm! Three days at most, I want definite news, otherwise, we'll both suffer!"
Elder Yuan advised, "Young Master, why not wait a little longer? The Xue Family's movements are already clear enough. Perhaps in a few more days, we won't even need to act, and Xue Ren himself will die of illness."
"Can't wait any longer. With the connections Xue Chengwu has accumulated in the army over many years, if we give him a few more days to operate, everything might already be settled. By then, we won't even get a drop!"
After speaking, He Wenbin's eyes flickered, and he added, "Also, deal with that Xiaoqi officer as well."
Elder Yuan acknowledged, saying with a hint of heartache, "Tens of thousands of taels of silver, just to buy the life of a Xiaoqi officer. This person's life is truly precious!"
He Wenbin also shared the sentiment, but this Ning Yue had repeatedly thwarted his plans. If he wasn't removed, his heart would not be at peace.
Moreover, if the Xue Family's staunch confidant were to die, those who relied on the Xue Family would inevitably become disloyal, which would also accelerate the Xue Family's decline. Weighing the options, it could only be considered a small loss.