"Ji Xiu, right?"
"Follow me."
Just as Ji Xiu was still lost in thought, mulling over these various benefits, a clear, pleasant voice, like the song of an oriole, reached his ears.
He looked up.
There, he saw a woman in a primrose-yellow martial arts uniform that clung to her exquisite figure. Her hair was in a ponytail, revealing graceful features. She gave him a slight nod and extended a hand.
"My name is Lu Hongyu. I'm Xiaoyu's older sister, and a little older than you."
"Follow me. I'll take you to collect your silver coins and Pills."
"The Manor is usually crowded with people, and there are many Guests. The Fire Kiln area is large, and there are quite a few rules."
"Since you're new, you might not know your way around. If there's anything you don't understand..."
"...feel free to ask me."
The woman's long, slender legs strode across the bluestone path, each step appearing immensely powerful. The closer she got, the more startled Ji Xiu became.
'This Manor Master's daughter... with every step, her skeleton seems to press down on her muscles. She looks graceful, but beneath this exquisite shell...'
'...her explosive power is comparable to a tiger or a lion!'
'She has clearly entered the second step of the Power Barrier: the path of Bone Tempering!'
Her Cultivation was so high for someone so young, yet she carried herself with a poised and dignified air, like a true Grandmaster. This helped Ji Xiu relax considerably, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
'It really is true that having connections makes things easier.'
'Since she's Lu Yu's biological sister...'
'...then...'
'...her temperament must be different from his senior brother's.'
Thinking this, Ji Xiu let out a rare smile.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Lu."
Calling her "sister" to curry favor felt too much like bootlicking, and he couldn't bring himself to do it.
After thinking it over, he reasoned that since Boxing Halls all used "Senior Brother" and "Senior Sister," it wasn't out of place for someone his age to address her that way.
Besides, he called Lu Yu "Senior Brother" as well.
Even though under Duan Chenzhou, the two of them—one an uninitiated apprentice who was just a Sucker paying money, the other a chore boy stoking the furnace—couldn't be considered true disciples.
But you couldn't stop people from trying to be polite.
The cold morning wind scattered fallen leaves.
In the chill of late autumn, the indifference in Ji Xiu's eyes softened ever so slightly.
To the bright and beautiful Lu Hongyu,
...it was as if even if Ji Xiu were standing among a crowd of Guests, she could still pick him out at a single glance.
It had to be said.
This young man her brother had brought back...
...truly possessed that unique charisma she had only read about in legends, the kind seen in Qi Cultivation Grandmasters or holders of a Titled Martial Dao in their youth.
As the saying goes, one's face reflects one's heart.
If this had been the Ji Xiu from a month ago—sallow-faced and so thin he was like skin and bones—Lu Hongyu certainly wouldn't have given him a second glance.
But now, after several transformations, a devout and single-minded dedication to the sword, and a solid foundation...
...Ji Xiu had experienced a complete Transformation.
His cold, sharp exterior, combined with his handsome features...
...was far superior to those noble sons who had looks but no substance.
Regardless of his personality,
Lu Hongyu found herself quite taken with him after just one look.
She made no effort to hide it, letting her gaze become brilliant and bright.
Hearing his thanks, she stared for a long moment before suddenly breaking into a smile.
She turned and led the way.
...
That look Lu Hongyu gave as she left.
It was not lost on Lu Chengfeng, Luo Xiao, or Lu Yu.
Lu Chengfeng's eyes instantly lit up, as if a great weight had been lifted from his mind.
Seeing this, Lu Yu's expression became a picture. He suddenly snapped out of his daze, pointed at the graceful woman leading Ji Xiu away, and exclaimed:
"Wait a minute!"
"Old man, you... you can't be thinking..."
"My sister is ten years older than him!"
Lu Chengfeng's brow furrowed. His gentle expression cooled as he quickly scanned their surroundings.
He waited until the Guests had all taken the hint and dispersed.
Then he walked up and smacked Lu Yu on the back of the head.
"What nonsense are you spouting, you brat!"
"Do you think so little of your sister?"
"If you ask me, with Lin Zhenhai's meager abilities, he couldn't hope to latch onto a Qi Cultivation Grandmaster in eight lifetimes. His daughter just got lucky. Otherwise..."
"...your sister is hardly a bad match!"
A sharp glint in his eyes, Lu Chengfeng paced back and forth.
"We've only offended the Lin Residence. A minor problem."
"But you can know a person's face without knowing their heart. We'll have to observe for a while longer before we can draw any conclusions."
"Also, keep the Tokens I gave you safe."
"In a few days... you'll understand why I'm saying this."
With that, Lu Chengfeng slowly walked away, with Lu Yu following closely behind, rubbing the back of his head.
Only Luo Xiao remained, watching the scene like an outsider.
His gaze fixed on the direction Lu Hongyu had gone, and anger finally surfaced on his cold, expressionless, almost paralyzed face.
After a long moment, he slammed a fist into the cold air. Seething with frustration, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
...
In front of a clean and tidy, single-courtyard brick house with a tile roof, approximately two hundred square meters in size.
Ji Xiu stared at the fully equipped facilities before him: a main hall, side rooms, a kitchen stove, a storage room, a washroom... everything was included.
He was on the verge of tears.
'The heart of the Fire Kiln!'
'Back in my old life, this would be prime real estate, a downtown location!'
'Two hundred square meters...'
'That would cost hundreds of silver coins to buy.'
'And now, I get to live here for free.'
He had finally gone from being 'a worthless life' to 'a man of means.'
'Things are finally looking up!'
"Junior Brother, of all the vacant houses, this is the best one. It's a bit small, but please make do for now."
"If you need anything, just come find me. I live two doors down."
Lu Hongyu tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She placed thirty taels of silver, a Pill, and a small pouch of powder into Ji Xiu's bag, carefully instructing him.
"The Leopard Embryo Pill and the Tiger Blood Powder can strengthen your flesh and blood. Once you've cultivated your blood to be as Heavy as Mercury Blood, you can begin Muscle Forging."
"Xiaoyu brought you here, so if there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."
With that, as if to demonstrate her power, Lu Hongyu swept out her long, jade-like leg and kicked a stone tablet to pieces. She then clapped her hands together and smiled brightly.
"In this Manor, neither Xiaoyu nor Luo Xiao dares to disrespect me."
"You're a Sword Skill genius with a promising future. If anyone gives you trouble..."
"...just come find me!"
"In a few days, I'll see if there are any good posts or cushy jobs with openings, and I'll get you assigned to one."
Holding the thirty-tael silver ingot, feeling the outlines of the Pill and the Medicinal Powder, and looking at the Sheathed Steel Saber leaning against the courtyard wall, while hearing Lu Hongyu speak of the prospect of developing 'Mercury Blood' and forging 'Steel Bars' for muscles, and thinking of the 'Superior Pile Skill and Refining Technique' that Duan Chenzhou had promised him before he came to Lu Manor... Ji Xiu was absolutely ecstatic.
Never mind the first few things.
But the 'Leopard Embryo Pill and Tiger Blood Powder' later...
Those two Pills were used to help a Martial Artist in the Bone Marrow Refining Realm cultivate Mercury Blood and forge Steel Bars for muscles!
If they were sold on the open market...
...a single one would be worth his entire monthly salary as a Sword-carrying Guest!
Good fortune really does lift the spirits!
After shedding his Slave Registry status, Ji Xiu's life... was finally turning a new page!
"But before that,"
'I have to bring Little Wei over,' he thought.
By now, with the Innate Wisdom of two lifetimes fully integrated and coupled with his recent experiences, Ji Xiu had finally and completely accepted this girl as his sister.
'She's suffered for so long.'
'It's time I let her see...'
'...whether her brother has what it takes to completely turn his life around!'
'Returning home wealthy without showing it is like walking in embroidered clothes at night!'