Chapter 6: Breakthrough in Cultivation, Second-Rank Warrior

After leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ye Liuyun waved his hand to signal that Sinan could leave.

Then he returned to the mansion alone.

“Master, you’re back this early?”

It was Xing’er, Sheng Lanzhi’s personal maid, who greeted Ye Liuyun. Seeing him return so early, her face was full of surprise.

“Nothing in particular, just came back early.”

Ye Liuyun sounded indifferent. The former Ye Liufeng, even when there was nothing pressing at the Embroidered Uniform Guard, usually returned late. Most of the time, he invited certain so-called contacts out for drinks and banquets.

Could it be that something truly happened that caused such a drastic change in a person’s character? Watching Ye Liuyun’s back, Xing’er silently followed him.

She trailed him all the way to the study.

“You can go back for now. I want to be alone for a while.”

He waved his hand, indicating that Xing’er need not follow him any further.

“Yes, Master.”

The study contained quite a number of books. Yesterday, all his attention had been focused on martial arts manuals, but now Ye Liuyun wondered why Ye Liufeng never allowed him to enter this room before.

Surely, there must be other secrets hidden in this study.

To better adapt to his new identity, no information could be missed.

Whether it was confidence or something else, many of Ye Liufeng’s records were not deeply hidden but placed among piles of poetry and prose. If one wanted to find them, it would be quick and easy.

“Ah! No wonder.”

Opening the first page, Ye Liuyun smiled.

It was a ledger clearly recording the money Ye Liufeng had collected in the past, mostly from newly opened taverns, teahouses, or other businesses.

They were euphemistically called management fees, but to Ye Liuyun, they were just disguised protection money.

Besides that,

there were detailed records of the backgrounds of shops within the imperial city—who had powerful backers and who did not.

No wonder, despite possessing a blue-grade talent for swordsmanship, Ye Liufeng remained a third-rate martial artist until his death.

His attention was entirely focused on such matters; it was a wonder he found any time to practice martial arts at all.

In addition,

Ye Liuyun found a small booklet.

“Wan He’an: Captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, fond of beauties, backed by nobility.”

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

“...”

The booklet listed people within the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It was clear that the former Ye Liufeng had spent considerable time investigating these individuals, thoroughly understanding their preferences and backgrounds.

Ye Liuyun also found a description of Shi Sheng.

“Shi Sheng: Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, uneducated, inflexible, unfit for greater responsibility.”

This was Ye Liufeng’s evaluation of Shi Sheng. In Ye Liufeng’s eyes, a man who only knew how to bury his head in work had reached his limit by becoming commander, with no hope of promotion.

Quite comprehensive.

After reading all this, Ye Liuyun laughed.

The more he knew, the clearer it became how hypocritical Ye Liufeng had truly been.

But no matter what, this roster would help him integrate quickly into the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

After finishing, Ye Liuyun had someone bring a brazier and burned all these documents. He didn’t know where Ye Liufeng had the guts to keep such dangerous records.

But if anyone else saw them, they would become lethal evidence.

Ye Liuyun didn’t want to bear that burden and decided it was better to destroy them as soon as possible.

Having done all this,

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

Spending time worrying was no use; it was better to cultivate his skills. That way, if trouble came, he wouldn’t panic.

Everything else was false; only one’s own strength was real.

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

This was his innate longing for martial arts.

Others might find training tiring, but to Ye Liuyun, feeling himself grow stronger with every movement was pure bliss.

Nothing felt better than this.

Especially as he trained, watching the blade stir up whirlwinds, Ye Liuyun thought he must look incredibly cool now.

If his former colleagues at work saw him, they’d surely envy him to tears.

“Slash!”

Unable to contain himself, he swung his blade surrounded by a gentle breeze, directly striking a wooden post in the yard.

Invisible blade energy, under Ye Liuyun’s control, passed straight through the entire post.

“Clatter!”

After a moment’s pause, the severed wooden post fell to the ground.

The cut was smooth and flawless.

“Have I broken through?”

Seeing this, Ye Liuyun looked at his sword in disbelief.

According to the description of the Wind-Cleaving Sword Technique, when perfected, it allows the user to channel internal energy through the blade to attack.

This sword technique could be cultivated to generate internal energy, though its purity was lower than those focusing solely on internal energy cultivation.

“Talent Attribute System!

Host: Ye Liuyun!

Rank: Second-rate martial artist!

Martial Art: Wind-Cleaving Sword Technique!

Talent Attributes: Luck (Purple), Robust Health (Blue), Swordsmanship Talent (Blue)...”

Glancing at the character profile, Ye Liuyun was certain he had broken through.

This was second-rate realm?

No wonder he felt so full of strength, the previous fatigue completely gone. Third-rate martial artists relied only on brute force, while second-rate martial artists could use internal energy as an offensive tool.

From what Ye Liuyun had learned, martial arts ranks were divided into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, then postnatal, prenatal, master, and grandmaster.

Legend had it that beyond grandmaster there were even mightier existences, but those were clearly beyond Ye Liuyun’s current reach.

“I thought it would take days, but at this pace, the Wind-Cleaving Sword Technique won’t take long to master. I must obtain even stronger talent attributes and martial arts!”

The more he thought about it, the more he felt Ye Liufeng had been a waste.

He deserved to be reversed.

“Phew!”

After a brief rest, Ye Liuyun was ready to stop for the day.

Just this short while of training had passed unnoticed until dusk, and his stomach was growling. He planned to eat first, then continue later.

Ye Liuyun still ate in the front courtyard. Because of his training, his meals consisted of rich meats and fish. After all, the saying went: scholars are poor, warriors are rich.

Martial artists consumed a lot and needed plenty of food. Without money, one couldn’t even afford meals, let alone have the energy to train.

Not to mention medicinal herbs, some of which could enhance a martial artist’s physique and prepare their body for breakthroughs.

Thinking of the few hundred taels he had earned today, Ye Liuyun planned to visit an herbalist tomorrow to see if he could buy some herbs.

Meanwhile, in the back courtyard, Sheng Lanzhi had also prepared dinner.

But upon hearing Xing’er’s report, her chopsticks paused in mid-air.

“Still training?”

...