Yang Shifei rose early and stepped out of his room. Looking at the sky, clear for the first time in what felt like ages, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
In ancient times, rainy days were truly troublesome, let alone four consecutive days of intermittent rain.
Fortunately, the residence was situated on decent ground; otherwise, the house would have long been flooded.
"Yue Rui, are you awake?"
He poked his head towards the window of the adjacent room. "Want me to prepare breakfast for you?"
"No need… going back to sleep…"
Yue Rui's soft, mumbled reply drifted out, making Yang Shifei chuckle.
This girl had been staying for a few days, and she only ever woke up at night. It did save him the cost of two meals a day.
Quite easy to raise.
He turned and went to the backyard, hung out all the laundry, washed up, and tidied himself. Just then, there was a knock at the courtyard gate.
"—Breakfast, and the ledgers."
Tanxiang, still in her neat servant attire, wore her usual cool expression.
Yang Shifei smiled and welcomed her into the main hall. "Having you deliver meals every time is truly an imposition. How about I fetch them myself from now on?"
"It's no bother. It's on my way."
Tanxiang accepted another ledger and flipped through it, examining it for a moment.
Then, she glanced sideways at him. "Later, I'll accompany you to the yamen again."
"Hmm?"
Yang Shifei was halfway through gnawing on a chicken leg. "Is Miss Luo busy today?"
After their spring outing a few days ago, although the spring rain had been persistent, they had still seen each other daily.
"East City hasn't been very peaceful recently; Miss can't get away." Tanxiang's face was calm as she said, "Regarding your spar with Li Xiaolin, Miss has already instructed me."
"Not peaceful? Is it about the Taiwu Haoshi?"
Yang Shifei's brow furrowed slightly. "Has someone caused trouble at the cloth dealership?"
Tanxiang shook her head. "It's that the major sects have all arrived in East City, turning it into a gathering point of great consequence. Now, the various clans and sects in East City are taking the lead in organizing. Even East City's foremost sect, the Ninefold Gate Sect, is no exception. Even if Miss dislikes bustling scenes, she must make an appearance to handle things."
Yang Shifei listened with some curiosity. "The Taiwu Haoshi hasn't even arrived yet. Why have so many people come to East City?"
"Because it's unknown if spies from enemy nations have already infiltrated, so a thorough investigation is necessary."
"So that's how it is… Huh?"
Yang Shifei's expression stiffened, and he looked sheepishly at the servant girl. "I just arrived in East City a short while ago. They won't consider me a spy, will they?"
If he were truly from Niu Family Village, it would be easier to explain.
But he had transmigrated here; if one were to trace his identity back, there wouldn't be a single clue.
"If you were a spy, you would have been handed over to the authorities by me on your first day at the Luo Residence."
Tanxiang sighed softly and said with a sidelong glance, "Young Master's words and actions after losing your memory make it obvious at a glance that it's not an act."
Yang Shifei: "…"
A kind of transparent naivety, is that it?
Yamen Training Ground.
Several government soldiers stood guard on either side, sabers at their waists, but their expressions were rather peculiar.
"—You! You, you, you!"
The moment Li Xiaolin was escorted here and saw Yang Shifei, his face contorted with exasperation and fury. "It's you again, you freak!"
Seeing his complete breakdown of a reaction, the government soldiers felt a degree of empathy.
The gang he had managed for many years was wiped out in a single day, and the martial art he had created himself was casually learned by another.
What was most hateful was that this martial art, the culmination of twenty years of his painstaking effort, was mostly mastered by the other party in just a few days. After only two exchanges, his opponent had achieved complete comprehension and reached perfection.
During their last spar, Li Xiaolin had even been suppressed, almost beaten to the point of losing his temper entirely.
If this happened to anyone, they would probably be dejected for a long time.
Not to mention, after the first two spars, that celestial beauty, Eldest Miss Luo, would come forward with warm inquiries, looking every bit like a sweet and harmonious young couple—it was simply devastating to one's Dao Heart!
The young government soldiers watching from the side could barely contain themselves.
"Hehe."
Yang Shifei cupped his fists and smiled faintly. "I'll have to trouble Gang Leader Li again today."
Li Xiaolin nearly coughed up blood from anger, his face flushing crimson as he stepped onto the field.
Tanxiang, watching this scene from the side, had a hint of puzzlement in her clear eyes.
For the past few days, it had been her own Miss who accompanied him here for martial practice. She hadn't witnessed it herself and didn't know why this notoriously fierce Feilin Gang leader would be so…
Hesitant and awkward?
"…You asked for this!"
Veins bulged on Li Xiaolin's forehead as he growled in anger, "This old master won't go easy on you this time!"
With that, he stomped his foot and shot forward, the muscles in his powerful arms bulging as he unleashed a series of punches in an instant.
But facing the ferocious offensive, Yang Shifei was not the same as before. With just a few evasive maneuvers, he easily dodged the attacks, then countered with a palm strike that bypassed his opponent's arms and landed heavily on his chin.
With only a muffled grunt, Li Xiaolin immediately stumbled back several steps.
In a single move, the signs of defeat were already apparent.
At this moment, the government soldiers in the field and Li Xiaolin himself were filled with utter disbelief.
If, three days ago, Yang Shifei had cultivated the Forest-Piercing Triple Layer Art to its peak and could only best him by three moves in an all-out confrontation…
But now, he had found the flaws in this technique and broken through with a single strike.
"This old man hasn't even—Hiss!"
Just as Li Xiaolin steadied himself and was about to speak, a fierce, straight punch came flying at his face.
He quickly turned his head to dodge. Just as he was about to reach out and grab, Yang Shifei's movement was a step faster. His right leg swept Li Xiaolin's lower body, one hand parried the grab, and simultaneously, he pressed close with a shoulder strike that slammed heavily into Li Xiaolin, shaking him so hard his eyes bulged and he coughed drily. His stance became unstable, and he stumbled back again.
—Too slow.
Yang Shifei secretly shook his head, at the same time rapidly closing in on his opponent.
His face was expressionless, his gaze focused. He perfectly predicted almost all of Li Xiaolin's movements. Even though Li Xiaolin's physique was robust and his internal breath abundant, every point where his internal jin circulated could become a flaw.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
The two chased and struck each other in a flurry across the training ground, fist shadows flickering.
Li Xiaolin was drenched in sweat, his eyes darting about in panic. His decades of martial arts experience became his only lifeline; he could only rely on instinct to parry back and forth, continuously defending against the ferocious attacks.
Yang Shifei, at this moment, was more like a fierce lion or tiger, his fists and palms raining down blows, each move valiant and savage. In less than a moment, he had forced Li Xiaolin to scramble and roll, retreating until he was cornered against the wall with nowhere else to go. Only then did Li Xiaolin raise his hands in alarm:
"Mercy, brave hero!"
Only then did Yang Shifei stop his hands, nodding with satisfaction.
He looked at the gathering government soldiers and cupped his fists. "Many thanks to all you brothers for your help these past few days. I won't trouble you further in the future."
Behind him, Li Xiaolin's mouth twitched, speechless with grief.
He had dominated East City for many years, yet he never expected to end up being so thoroughly scorned…
He tilted his head back and stared blankly at the sky, his Dao Heart practically shattering into a million pieces on the ground.
A moment later, seeing the disheartened Li Xiaolin being escorted away again by the government soldiers, Yang Shifei returned to Tanxiang's side.
"Miss, I've made you wait."
"…Not long."
Tanxiang's pretty face also showed surprise. "You, your martial arts are improving so quickly."
According to her Miss, just four days ago, Yang Shifei only possessed about sixty to seventy percent of Li Xiaolin's power.
But now, even with Li Xiaolin going all out, he couldn't last a hundred moves against him.
"And your internal breath… you still haven't cultivated it?"
"You jest." Yang Shifei scratched his head and gave a sheepish laugh. "I should still be in the ranks of Body Tempering martial artists right now."
Tanxiang was momentarily speechless.
No wonder that Li Xiaolin had called this person a 'freak.'
Even with her own experience, she had never seen such a peculiar constitution.
"Never mind."
Tanxiang sighed softly. "For you to progress so quickly is also a good thing."
"Well said."
Just then, a figure stepped out from the shadows.
Yang Shifei looked at the black mask on the man's face and said with a serious expression, cupping his fists, "Chief Constable Tie."
"No need for formalities."
Tie Hanyang's tone was steady, his eyes holding a hint of admiration as he said slowly, "Little brother, would you be interested in sitting down in our inner courtyard? The situation in East City is currently chaotic, and the Ninefold Gate Sect's leader, Xiang Tianlin, East City's foremost sect master, is taking the lead in recruiting heroes from all over. You could join us government officials in guarding against enemy nations…"
"Chief Constable Tie, let's not mention this matter again." Tanxiang stepped in front of him, her expression cold.
"…Alright."
Tie Hanyang felt a slight sense of regret.
Yang Shifei considered it inwardly but didn't speak up either.
The situation in East City was currently unclear. If he rashly interfered, not only would he be in danger, but even the Luo Residence would be dragged into it.
—Swoosh!
But at that very moment, an icy chill suddenly rose from behind him!
The cold energy in Yang Shifei's body reacted automatically, and he subconsciously caught an arrow that came whistling through the air.
Someone's firing sneak arrows?!
Looking at the sharp arrowhead, surprise flashed in his eyes. Simultaneously, he threw his arm out to shield Tanxiang, deflecting several more sharp arrows for her.
Immediately after, cries of 'Enemy attack!' rang out both inside and outside the yamen!