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Days and weeks passed like turning the pages of a book. Seasons changed as naturally as night followed day.
Winter had arrived. It had been about a month and a half since Shu-ming joined the Luo Clan. It was now midday.
In the study room, Shu-ming sat with Luo Xia. Today was his last day teaching her. In a few hours, she would leave with the clan guards heading to the imperial capital. Only fifteen days remained until the start of the imperial examination.
Shu-ming had a fixed daily routine. In the morning, he taught Luo Xia. After finishing, he would learn some martial arts from Luo Feng and occasionally spar with him, gaining experience in sword combat. In the evening, he practiced the Nine Yang Vein Technique. Thanks to this, he had reached the second vein. If he could get an elixir similar to the one Luo Feng had, he might break through to the third vein.
He worked every day without fatigue or boredom, like a machine that didn't understand the meaning of rest. All of this was to reach higher levels. Once he reached the second vein, he became equal in strength to the vice captain of the clan guards. Since then, he had begun to feel the thrill of power. It wasn't bad… perhaps on the same level as his love for money.
The hours passed as he sat with Luo Xia. Eventually, the sky was dyed with the crimson light of the setting sun. Luo Xia stood up after the lesson ended and bowed to Shu-ming. "Thank you, Teacher Shu, for all this time. I definitely won't let it go to waste in the examination."
Shu-ming felt a little embarrassed. He was only one year older than her, but he waved his hand. "It's nothing, Young Miss. It was beneficial for both of us, so don't worry about it."
Luo Xia smiled, bowed once more, and left. She was supposed to depart with the clan guards at nightfall, heading to the capital.
Shu-ming was curious. He wanted to see the imperial capital, which was said to be the size of an entire province. Although that might be a slight exaggeration, it was certainly a prosperous city. He wanted to see the most flourishing city in this new world.
However, he couldn't bring himself to ask the Luo Clan to take him along. His pride wouldn't allow it. Still, he wasn't sad. Two days ago, he had received more than seven thousand silver coins—two thousand more than what he had originally agreed upon with the Luo Clan.
He now had some money. What remained was power and strength. Yet strength naturally led to power… and power accompanied by strength led to stability. His stability would eventually lead him to what he called the peak of life.
All he had to do was wait until his prince matured. His intelligence would surely save him from many troubles and temper him. Being the son of a lowly concubine with little support inside the imperial palace would make him suffer greatly, but he would survive thanks to his sharp mind, eventually becoming a flawless gem.
"Hahaha, how clever I am," he thought. His tone was ugly and arrogant. If anyone heard that conceited voice, they might punch him.
Shu-ming had tried many times during the past month to write other characters, but he had failed. The book still refused to be written in.
Well, without wasting any more time, Shu-ming quietly pushed his chair back and stood up, hands behind his back. When he stepped outside, the sun had completely disappeared, and snow was falling from the sky in a breathtaking scene.
In the training ground, Luo Feng was practicing under the falling snowflakes. His upper body was bare as he held a wooden sword with both hands and struck the iron dummy in front of him. His cheeks were red from the falling snow. Still, he stopped hitting the dummy for a moment, gripping the sword with both hands.
A red aura began rising around him as he stood still. Suddenly, the snow started evaporating and rising as steam the moment it touched his body. Then, he opened his eyes and delivered a horizontal slash, cutting the iron dummy with a wooden sword as easily as slicing soft cake.
He smiled slightly while panting, looking at the wooden sword in his hand. "Huff… huff… Finally… the sixth vein of the Nine Yang Veins…"
He had achieved a breakthrough in his technique, making him stronger than even his father… But it hadn't come without a price. Blood was dripping nonstop from his hand. Over the past five years, he had never stopped training… And after five years, he had finally reached the sixth vein of the Nine Yang Vein Technique.
Just as he was about to wave his hand, he heard a familiar voice from behind. "What are you doing now? Your sister is about to leave. Shouldn't you go encourage her?"
He turned around to see Shu-ming walking toward him calmly. Luo Feng cupped his hands. "My lord, I don't see the need to go. I'm sure she will do well in the examination."
Shu-ming's eyes moved to Luo Feng's hands, where crimson blood was dripping. He smiled inwardly. "Hehehe, yes, keep working hard for my sake. I'm sorry, but I'll compensate you later."
Shu-ming spoke with a serious expression. "Alright, don't push yourself too hard."
As he turned to leave, Luo Feng suddenly opened his eyes wide as if he had realized something. "My lord! Have you reached the second vein of the Nine Yang Vein Technique?!"
It was a shocking blow to him. He had taken no less than six months to reach the second vein! As for Shu-ming? Only a month and a half…
Shu-ming stopped walking and replied, "Yes, although it was a bit exhausting, it's fine."
But he quickly realized something else and continued, "By the way, you mentioned there's a martial arts competition between the four great clans of the city in half a month, right? And the reward is ten gold coins, correct?"
Luo Feng let out a breath. He had already realized that Shu-ming was a genius in martial arts, but it seemed he had lost to him in terms of speed. Still, he answered with his usual calm and innocent eyes. "Yes. In addition, the winner gets the right to choose any technique from the four clans. This event is very important for our clan, so we must train seriously…"
Even though he had been treated as a nobody by his clan for years—mainly by some arrogant disciples and the clan elders—his father had been forced to strip him of the young master position due to his lack of talent and pressure from the elders. Despite that, his father had never treated him badly.
Shu-ming closed his eyes halfway and spoke seriously, "But now… you are stronger than your father, aren't you? The pressure emanating from you makes you stronger than him. You don't need to prove yourself in any way."
Luo Feng replied with sincere eyes, "It's not just about strength… This event isn't only about the offered rewards. If our clan wins, we will sign contracts with trading houses and more. We might even attract the attention of a major sect to recruit disciples from our clan. That's why no one cares too much about the specific rewards, even though they are offered jointly by the four clans."
Shu-ming was moved by that unyielding will—will as firm as mountains. Under the falling snow and the pitch-black night, even the toughest warriors might need to rest, yet Luo Feng remained unaffected and continued his path without anything stopping him. Shu-ming smiled. "As expected of you. Alright, I'll leave you now."
Shu-ming waved his hand and walked inside calmly. Although he had done physical training before, what he lacked most right now was internal energy, so he was quietly gathering it.
Two hours later, in front of the clan gate, Shu-ming stood side by side with the clan master, Luo Xin. Before them was a carriage pulled by two horses. Luo Xia leaned out from the carriage window with a smile. "Take care of yourself, Father. And you too, Sir Shu."
Shu-ming waved his hand while the clan master replied, "Take care of yourself as well. If anyone dares to mess with you, just tell your father. Hahaha." He pointed at himself with his index finger.
The carriage departed immediately, accompanied by several guards around it. Luo Xin turned to look at Shu-ming. "You bastard, if my daughter fails the examination, I will castrate you and force you to eat it… then cut off your limbs and throw what's left to the dogs."
Veins bulged on Shu-ming's forehead as he spoke angrily, "Don't worry, she will definitely succeed." But inwardly he thought, "Damn you, you old bastard. If it weren't for your son, I would have torn you apart." Of course, he couldn't touch him right now, but his anger blinded him to that fact.
The two stared at each other with hidden hatred until a gentle voice interrupted them. "What are you two doing?"
A graceful woman in a simple green robe without any flashy decorations walked out. Her red hair flowed down her back like silk, and her eyes were like two small golden suns. She looked very much like Luo Feng. It was Luo Feng and Luo Xia's mother—Luo Xuan.
Shu-ming cupped his hands upon seeing her. "Greetings, Madam. This old man… I mean, the clan master was just a little worried about Young Miss Luo Xia…"
Luo Xin's eyes turned blood-red after hearing that. "Hah~ What did you just say, you little bastard?" He began cracking his knuckles.
Luo Xuan placed her hands on her forehead in exasperation. "Alright, stop it. Husband, we need to decide the participants for the Four Clans Competition. Only half a month remains."
Luo Xin shrugged. "Sigh, isn't it obvious?"
In the competition, each clan was allowed to bring three participants. In addition, there were external participants whose numbers sometimes reached from fifty to a hundred fighters.
There were three talented individuals in the Luo Clan. Of course, Luo Feng was at the top, followed by the first elder's son, Luo Yan, and then Luo Feng's cousin, Luo Mei. That was what Luo Xin meant by "isn't it obvious?"
Luo Xuan took a deep breath and sighed. "Of course, that would be the natural arrangement, but Luo Mei refuses to participate… After watching your spar with Luo Feng, she feels her talent is nothing, so she no longer wants to practice martial arts. That's her own decision, so we need to find another participant."
Luo Xin placed his hand on his chin after hearing that. The girl Luo Mei had been stubborn since she was young, so it was unlikely she would change her mind once she had decided. At that moment, he turned his gaze toward Shu-ming. "Hey, you little bastard, what do you think about participating in the name of our clan?"
Although he hated to admit it, Shu-ming's talent in martial arts had surprised him. He had only practiced for two months, yet his strength was already equal to the vice captain of the clan guards. In another half month, he might be equal to Luo Mei or even Luo Yan.
Shu-ming's expression became strange. He hadn't expected the old man to ask him to participate for the clan. "I'm sorry, Clan Master, but I'm not strong enough. Besides, I'm pitiful and… and…" He kept rambling on unnecessarily.
The clan master cut him off. "We'll give you half of the monetary reward."
"Agreed." Shu-ming accepted without hesitation. Their chance of winning was already over 100% with Luo Feng, that monster. Victory was guaranteed.
The clan master's choice was also justified. Although there were many disciples, he didn't want the Luo Clan to appear as if it relied on a single person. Maintaining their image was important, so he was willing to give half the reward to Shu-ming.
"Pfft." Luo Xuan let out a muffled laugh upon hearing that.
And so, Shu-ming's stay in the Luo Clan was extended by another fifteen days.
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