Chapter 6: Breakthrough in Cultivation, Second-class Martial Artist

After leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ye Liuyun waved his hand, signaling to Si Nan that he could go back.

Then he returned to the mansion alone.

"Master came back so early?"

Greeting Ye Liuyun was still Sheng Lanzhi’s personal maid, Xing’Er. Seeing Ye Liuyun back so early, Xing’Er had a face full of surprise.

"Nothing much, just came back early."

Ye Liuyun spoke carelessly. The Ye Liufeng from before would always come back late, even if there was nothing going on at the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Most of the time, he’d invite those so-called connections out for drinks.

Can something really happen to change a person’s character so much? Watching Ye Liuyun’s back, Xing’Er silently followed.

She followed him all the way to the study.

"You can go back now, I want to be alone for a while."

He waved his hand, signaled that Xing’Er didn’t need to follow anymore.

"Yes, Master."

,,,

The study had quite a few books. Yesterday he’d put all his attention on the martial arts manuals, but thinking about it now, Ye Liufeng would never let him in here before.

There must be other secrets in the study.

To better adapt to his new identity, naturally, he couldn’t miss out on any information.

Whether it was confidence or something else, Ye Liufeng’s records weren’t even hidden that deeply—just placed among piles of poems and essays. If you wanted to look, you’d find them soon enough.

"Heh! No wonder."

As soon as he opened the first page, Ye Liuyun laughed.

It was an account ledger, clearly recording all the money Ye Liufeng had collected before—mostly new restaurants, teahouses, or other businesses.

He called it a management fee, but in Ye Liuyun’s eyes, it was just collecting protection money in disguise.

Other than that—

There were also records about the background of many shops within the Imperial City. Which ones had people backing them, and which ones didn’t.

No wonder, with a blue-grade Swordsmanship Talent, yet he died still as a third-class martial artist.

All his attention on stuff like this—where would he ever have time to practice martial arts?

Besides all this—

Ye Liuyun also found a small booklet.

"Wan He’an: Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain, loves beauty, backed by nobility."

"Lu Quan: Embroidered Uniform Guard Captain, greedy and lustful, son of the General of Cavalry."

,,,

This booklet recorded people inside the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Clearly, Ye Liufeng before had spent a lot of time investigating—he’d even gotten these people’s preferences and backgrounds down to a tee.

Ye Liuyun also found Shi Sheng’s entry.

"Shi Sheng: Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander, rigid and inflexible, unsuitable for heavy responsibilities."

This was Ye Liufeng’s evaluation of Shi Sheng. In Ye Liufeng’s view, someone who only knows how to work hard could reach Commander at best, and would never be promoted further.

Really thorough.

After reading all this, Ye Liuyun laughed too.

The more you know, the clearer it gets just how sanctimonious Ye Liufeng used to be.

But still, this roster could help him blend in quickly at the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After looking everything over, Ye Liuyun had someone bring out a brazier and burned everything. He had no idea where Ye Liufeng had gotten the guts to keep this stuff.

But if someone else ever saw it, it would be a fatal piece of leverage.

Ye Liuyun didn’t want to shoulder that blame, better to burn it early.

After finishing all that—

Ye Liuyun picked up his saber again and went out to the courtyard to practice.

Better to spend time training than overthinking. That way, even if real trouble comes, he wouldn’t have to panic.

Everything else is fake. Only your own strength is truly real.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

This must be that deep-down desire for martial arts.

Others might get tired from training, but being able to feel his power growing steadily—Ye Liuyun thought that was pure joy.

There’s nothing better than this.

Especially when, in the midst of practicing, seeing a whirlwind forming on the blade—Ye Liuyun just felt he must look awesome.

If those old work buddies could see him now, wouldn’t they be dying of envy?

"Slash!"

Unable to hold back, he swung the saber surrounded by breeze, hacking straight at a wooden stake in the courtyard.

Invisible saber energy, under Ye Liuyun’s swing, cut straight through the wooden stake.

"Thud!"

After a pause, the severed stake fell right to the ground.

The cut was smooth and flawless.

"A breakthrough?"

Seeing this, realization hit Ye Liuyun—he stared at the saber in his hand in disbelief.

According to the Wind-Slaying Saber Skill manual, when trained to mastery, you could channel inner strength to release saber energy as attacks.

This saber skill could cultivate inner strength, though its purity couldn’t match techniques focused purely on inner strength.

"Talent Entry System!

Host: Ye Liuyun!

Realm: Second-class Martial Artist!

Skill: Wind-Slaying Saber Skill!

Talent Entries: Luck (Purple), Strong Body (Green), Swordsmanship Talent (Blue),"

Glancing at his template, Ye Liuyun was even more certain he’d broken through.

So this is second-class level?

No wonder he felt brimming with power, all the old fatigue gone. Third-class martial artists only knew brute force; second-class could use inner strength for attacks.

From what Ye Liuyun had learned before, the martial path breaks down: third-class, second-class, first-class, Postnatal, Innate, Grandmaster, and Grandmaster Supreme.

Legend says above Grandmaster Supreme are even stronger existences, but that’s way beyond what Ye Liuyun could dream of now.

"I thought I’d need a few days for this, but at this rate, mastering Wind-Slaying Saber Skill won’t take long—need to get even better talent entries and martial arts skills!"

With every improvement, the more Ye Liuyun thought the previous Ye Liufeng was a waste.

Deserved to get taken out.

"Hoo!"

After a quick breath adjustment, Ye Liuyun wasn’t going to keep practicing.

Just with that short training, the sky was dark and his stomach was empty. He decided to eat first, then think about the rest.

Ye Liuyun still ate in the front courtyard. Because of all the practicing, he ate rich food—meat and fish—hence the saying "scholars starve, warriors feast."

Martial artists burn a lot; they need to eat a lot. Without money, you couldn’t even afford a meal, let alone practice martial arts.

Especially the medicinal herbs—a few rare ones can help martial artists strengthen their bodies, laying the foundation for future breakthroughs.

Thinking about the several hundred taels he’d made today, Ye Liuyun made plans to find a pharmacy tomorrow, see if he could buy some herbs.

,,,

Meanwhile, in the backyard, Sheng Lanzhi had dinner prepared as well.

But when she heard Xing’Er’s report, her hand with the chopsticks paused unconsciously.

"Still practicing?"

,,,,,