Chapter 3 What's the Use of Entering Sword Dao!?

"Ladies and gentlemen, please forgive Chen for not seeing you out."

"Lord Chen, please stay where you are."

One after another, the carriages rolled out of Fengtong Street, where Duke Wu'an Mansion was located, leaving behind traces of their tracks in the snow.

Chen Taiping bid farewell to the last group of guests who came to the ceremony, turned to the person beside him with a wry smile, and said, "I've given Prince quite the spectacle to witness."

Prince Zhenbei, Du Qing, who intentionally waited until the end, dressed in casual green robes, appeared cultured and clean-shaven.

His frame was slightly slender, resembling more a Confucian scholar than a military general.

"It's just children horsing around," Du Qing brushed off the commotion of the ancestral rite with a chuckle, "However, Chen Yi's life will not be easy in the future. Even if my sister doesn't mention it, Zhou Tiance might not be so easily appeased."

"The old master?" Chen Taiping furrowed his brows. "Is he really going to hold a grudge against Yi Er?"

"That old man's days are numbered, yet he entrusted his only daughter to you. Don't you understand his thoughts?"

"That's..."

Du Qing left it at that, glanced at the snowflakes drifting from the sky, and stepped out from under the eaves of the Marquis Mansion.

"Striving in Martial Arts is like sailing against the current; that young man, Chen Yi, is not bad!"

Hearing the words of Prince Zhenbei from afar, Chen Taiping's expression turned solemn as he respectfully bowed towards his retreating figure.

At first glance, the comment seemed unrelated, but upon reflection, Chen Taiping understood that Prince Zhenbei did not wish for Chen Yi to be punished.

Thinking deeper—does the Prince dislike Zhou Tiance?

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Taiping shook his head and turned to go back into his residence.

...

At this moment, in the main hall of the central courtyard.

More than a dozen tables were arranged in a circle, with desserts and drinks still on them, but the ancestral rite objects were no longer visible on the central crane-patterned carpet.

Except for the two children, Chen Yi and Chen Yuan, all members of the Chen Family sat quietly at their tables, with expressions varying from calmness to anger, indifferent observation to smiles.

Among them, Xia Wanwan bore the most complex expression, lowering her head as if resigned to whatever might come.

Zhou Wanyi sat beside her, remarkably calm, as if the disruption of the ancestral rite involved merely a bystander.

Thud!

The Old Madam Chen's golden sandalwood cane tapped on the white jade floor, her voice full and strong:

"Stop hanging your heads. Let's talk."

Xia Wanwan trembled, biting her lip as she stood up and said, "Grandmother, if there must be punishment, let it be me. It's my fault for not disciplining Yi Er, I..."

"Your matter can be discussed later," the Old Lady interrupted. "What I want to hear is how to compensate for the ancestral rite objects Yuan Er failed to acquire!"

Xia Wanwan was taken aback, her confusion evident—wasn't the intention to punish her and her son?

Hesitating for a moment, she reluctantly sat back down.

"Mother, the effectiveness of the ancestral rite objects varies from person to person. Taiping also only chose a seal when it was his turn, and yet his Martial Arts Cultivation has not been affected."

"Yes, one's fate and luck during the ancestral rite is hard to determine."

"I beg to differ. As the legitimate eldest son, Yuan Er cannot fall too far behind in Martial Arts. Perhaps we should reopen the ancestral temple and let the ancestral spirits decide?"

"Absolutely not! The ancestral spirits are frail; every opening requires a long recovery, so how could we open it again so soon?"

"..."

The Old Lady turned to Zhou Wanyi and said, "What do you think should be done to compensate Yuan Er? Whatever the Chen Family has, you may ask."

"Grandmother, you flatter me, I dare not ask."

Zhou Wanyi declined, then added, "Later, I will seek blessings from my grandfather to open the Zhou Family's ancestral hall for Yuan Er."

Upon hearing this, the elders quieted down, wanting to say something but unsure how to start.

"The Zhou Family..."

Old Madam Chen gazed deeply at Zhou Wanyi, the golden sandalwood cane paused, and she slowly rose and walked out.

"Let's leave it at that then."

"Yes."

Seeing this, the others stood up and left.

Xia Wanwan was filled with mixed emotions.

Resorting to the Zhou Family's ancestral hall, which could also bestow blessings from ancestral spirits with similar effectiveness, was seen as a slap in the face for a heritage like the Marquis Mansion.

She looked at Zhou Wanyi, who remained seated, and said apologetically, "It's my fault for my poor discipline, causing Yuan Er's troubles during the ancestral rite."

Zhou Wanyi shook her head and responded, "My uncle was right; it's a matter of both time and destiny, and Yi Er isn't to blame."

"But still, sister Wanwan, when you return, you should discipline him more, so that Yi Er doesn't cause such chaos as he did today."

"I certainly will!"

Not far from outside the door, Chen Taiping overheard the results and understood.

He had thought to pretend to punish Xia Wanwan to ease the tension between the two ladies.

Now that the Old Lady had accepted Wan Yi's suggestion, it was as if Wanwan was compensated for not disciplining Yi Er properly, saving him the trouble of mediating.

As for Chen Yi, Chen Taiping had no intention of punishment, choosing to see his behavior during the ancestral rite as mere child's play.

After all, whether legitimate or not, both sons were his offspring, and it was a good thing for them to have acquired the Jade Sword during the rite.

At this moment, what concerned him more was "Chen Yuan receiving blessings from the Zhou Family's ancestral spirits."

Reflecting on the words of Prince Zhenbei, Chen Taiping couldn't help but feel a bit odd.

Being wed through formal and honorable means, how come it feels like I married into the family and became a son-in-law living with the bride's family?

...

...

Unaware of what transpired in the main hall, Chen Yi, who had returned to the right wing room of the backyard, lay on the bed, trying to imitate an adult—his small hands propped under his head, ankles crossed in the air.

Even if he knew the outcome, he would have no regrets.

And with the rebellion task at hand, he and Chen Yuan were bound to have a showdown sooner or later.

Might as well strike while the iron's hot, avenging the drugging incident and completing the rebellion task at the same time.

Killing two birds with one stone.

"Thirty years in the East River, thirty years in the West River, do not trifle with a middle-aged pauper."

"Thank goodness I'm not a poor youth, or I'd end up like Xiao Yan."

Muttering to himself, Chen Yi got up and looked at the wet nurse guarding the door, then opened the panel to claim his reward.

[Basic Level Sword Dao melds the basic sword skills of the world into one entity, combining technique with law, capable of initially forming Sword Qi.]

Basic skills from the Mysterious Crystal Swordsmanship, Base Skills from the Heavenly Origin Swordsmanship...

Footwork, posture, chopping, thrusting, flicking—some light and agile, others solid and forceful...

Sets of basic sword skills flickered like shadows in Chen Yi's mind, analyzed one by one, and finally solidifying into the character "Sword."

After a while, Chen Yi shook his slightly dazed head.

"Is this Basic Level Sword Dao?"

So many sets of basic sword skills, it would take someone highly talented 30,000 days and nights just to practice them.

Now, all it took was to complete one rebellion task.

"Too powerful!"

Chen Yi looked at the information on the light-screen panel, feeling secretly delighted.

[Name: Chen Yi]

[Age: 30]

[Cultivation: None]

[Talent: Late Bloomer—The older the bone age, the faster the cultivation speed]

[Sword Dao: Beginner—Solid foundation, then Sword Qi]

[Rebellion Points: 0/100]

Sword Qi?

Chen Yi felt a stir in his heart and grasped the piece of Jade Sword hanging on his wrist.

A wave of inexplicable familiarity washed over him, making him instinctively twist his wrist.

Thrust!

Swoosh!

A greenish Qi Blade emerged from the palm-sized Jade Sword.

Chen Yi observed the faint Sword Qi in front of the Jade Sword, speechless for a moment.

"The Sword Qi spans one centimeter, shorter than... erm, shorter than mine."

It disappeared in less than three seconds.

"Ah, its endurance is lacking too."

Chen Yi looked at the slightly dimmed Jade Sword, fully aware that the Sword Qi was not a product of his own power.

It was a blessing of the Chen Family's valiant spirit inherent in the Jade Sword itself.

If it were up to him, he would be worn out in half a second.

"Martial Arts Cultivation, the foundation of airflow and strength."

Chen Yi's initial excitement gradually settled, realizing that to truly unleash his Sword Dao abilities, he had a long way to go.

However, at least he now had some means of self-protection.

Next time that woman dared to drug him again, he was sure to wield his sword to... defend himself!

"Yi Er."

Just then, Xia Wanwan pushed the door open and looked at him with a complex expression.

"Goo goo gaa gaa."

Chen Yi, oblivious to his birth mother's thoughts, promptly put on an innocent, adorable expression and reached out his arms, begging for a "hug-hug."

"Why are you being so naughty?"

Oh no!

Chen Yi was taken aback as he saw Xia Wanwan, with tears welling up in her eyes, pin him down on the bed, spanking him with a feather duster.

She knew that, although the matters from the reaching ceremony were settled, she could not pretend as if nothing had happened.

Otherwise, it would have consequences for her and her son...

"Wahhh!"

What's the use of being at the beginner level of Sword Dao?

Such trash that can't even withstand a feather duster!!