Chapter 24 Is it him!?

The next day.

As the sky began to brighten, Chen Yi and Chen Yuan were lifted from their beds.

It was only then they learned that the eldest had sneaked out quietly last night, nearly scaring the maids to death in the morning.

It wasn't as chaotic as chickens flying and dogs jumping, but it did disturb Zhou Wanyi, who was resting.

Fortunately, she knew her son well enough to send everyone to search in Fanghua Garden, which finally ended this "joke."

"Mr. Yuan, you must not play around like this next time, it could scare someone to death."

"This morning, when Chun Lan checked the rooms and saw you were not there, she was so frightened that she almost fainted and is now kneeling outside the wing."

"Ah?"

Chen Yuan was startled and hurriedly got up to run outside.

As he ran, he reminded Chen Yi, "Second brother, I'm going back first, don't miss the cultivation time at the Martial Arts Arena."

"Mr. Yuan, please run slower..."

Chen Yi watched the master and servant run off and couldn't help but laugh.

However, thinking back to their casual conversation last night, his smile gradually faded.

"So many things are beyond our control."

"The only thing we can decide is that we must be accountable to ourselves and our conscience in everything we do."

Therefore, he could not guarantee he would be fair to everyone!

...

The gentle breeze of spring wafted in, the willows lush, adding a burst of vitality to the scenery within Duke Wuan Mansion.

The weather made everyone in the mansion wear a smile.

Especially since yesterday, after Chen Yi was honored by Emperor Wei, the whole mansion felt honored.

Not to mention the maids and servants, the usually stern Chen Lide, on returning from his duties, made a special visit to the Martial Arts Arena to encourage Chen Yi.

He also discussed some matters about the Xingwu Academy.

Chen Lide smiled, "The Academy is a temporary decision, His Majesty plans to provide the best elixirs, the best cultivation grounds, as well as cultivation techniques and scriptures to help you all successfully pass the Grand Void Sect's examination."

"Yi Er, it's not only you, but also the two sons of Marquis Taishan Wang Xidu, and the descendants of the nobles under King of the Southern Garrison will go too."

"As well as the noble youth from dukedoms, Duke families, and civil servants, covering almost all of the nobility's offspring."

"Among them, you must be careful of those princes; they are the Emperor's offspring."

Chen Yi obediently nodded, gaining a deeper understanding of the Xingwu Academy.

But the more he understood, the more he was convinced that the supreme decision to exclude Chen Yuan must be hiding some reason.

"Yi Er, finish your practice early today and go back to prepare well."

At this moment, Chen Taixing also touched his head, advising, "Outside the home, you can't disgrace the mansion's name."

"Second uncle, your nephew has noted it."

Chen Yi inwardly grimaced, not expecting these elders to take the matter of the Xingwu Academy even more seriously than him.

Even Xiao Chenyuan, hiding not too far away eavesdropping, also made eye gestures at him, clenching his little fist a few times.

Needless to say, this was his way of cheering him on.

Soon, Chen Yi completed two cycles of his practice and got up to stretch a bit.

He could feel the True Qi in his body had grown to the size of a grain of rice.

According to Chen Taixing's teachings, moving from the lower stage to the middle stage in the Mortal Realm involved enlarging the True Qi to the size of a bean.

Initially, Chen Yi had scoffed at such a vivid comparison for being too frivolous.

But when he really practiced the Basic Skills and felt the True Qi gather below his belly, indeed it gradually enlarged.

He couldn't help but gain a deeper understanding of the phrase "a drop of water forms a river."

Isn't this enlargement of True Qi akin to "a drop of water forming a river"?

Just as he was stretching, the spacious Martial Arts Arena was suddenly divided into over a hundred zones.

Hundreds of Chen Family descendants were split into three areas, with the largest area near the demon corpses being where Chen Yi and the main family were located.

The next was the Chen family's side branches, and the farthest area was for the descendants of the mansion's servants.

At this moment, everyone was practicing Martial Arts.

The younger ones were mostly cultivating their techniques, and those who had made some achievements began learning the skills of fists, feet, and weapons.

Those over ten years old were sparring against each other, exchanging moves with frequent grunts and shouts.

"Cough cough."

At that moment, a slightly hoarse and aged cough sounded, awakening the entranced Chen Yi.

Soon after, he saw Xiao Chenyuan, who had also finished his cultivation, spot the visitor and run towards him with a look of joy.

While running, he laughed and called out, "Grandpa, what brings you here?"

Grandpa?

Chen Yi's curiosity piqued, and he looked over.

He saw a tall figure slowly entering the Martial Arts Arena, dressed in sky-blue brocade robes, with gray and white hair coiled up in a bun and secured with a crown, an aged face full of wrinkles that seemed somewhat pale.

Perhaps due to illness or injury, he was walking quite slowly, coughing occasionally.

When Xiao Chenyuan threw himself into his arms, the old man, whose face still retained traces of authority, smiled.

"My dear boy, did you miss Grandpa?"

"I did, but mother wouldn't let me visit you," Chen Yuan hugged him and chuckled.

"Your mother is unfilial; you must not learn from her."

"Mother is not like that at all."

The old man lifted Chen Yuan up, chuckling and nodding, "Good, good, good, my dear boy sides with your mother."

"That's right,"

Chen Yuan then pointed towards Chen Yi behind him, "Grandpa, that is my younger brother, Chen Yi."

Chen Yi, noticing the old man's gaze, respectfully greeted him after a brief sizing up, "Grandpa."

Is this Duke Jingye, Zhou Tiance?

"Good."

Zhou Tiance smiled and nodded, then turned to walk away.

"Yuan Er, how about Grandpa takes you to stay at the mansion for a few days?"

"Great, great... has mother agreed?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Of course, not only your mother agrees, but Old Madam Chen has agreed too."

While walking, Zhou Tiance said, "Since the Holy Emperor won't let you join the Academy, we'll rely on no one but ourselves; Grandpa will teach you personally."

Hmm?

Chen Yi subtly frowned upon hearing this.

These words suggested that Duke Jingye was somewhat irritated.

Could it be...

Just then, realizing the situation, Chen Taixing hurriedly intervened, "Old Marquis, please wait a moment."

"What? Are you planning to stop me?" Zhou Tiance's smile faded, instantly regaining the imposing air of a Marquis, he asked.

Chen Taixing forced a smile, repeatedly bowing, "Please forgive me, Marquis, but taking away Yuan Er requires that I first report to the Old Lady."

"No need, I have already discussed this matter with your Old Lady, from today onwards Yuan Er will cultivate at our Zhou Family!"

Having said this, Zhou Tiance turned to look at Chen Yi, his face slightly cold, his muddy eyes suddenly a bit brighter.

"It seems Marquis Taiping is unfit, even a concubine's child is ascending, blatantly disregarding the rules!"

His voice was undeniably loud.

But Chen Yi seemed not to hear, staring blankly at his murky eyes, as a thunderclap exploded in his mind.

It was him?!

The black-clothed man who pursued him that night was Duke Jingye Zhou Tiance?!

Just then, Chen Yi suddenly felt a chill over his body.

The next moment it was warmth, and then he saw—

[At the age of thirty-two, Small Success in Sword Dao, you encountered a murder intention attack from a formidable enemy, causing slight emotional impact.]

[Enemy's murder intention absorbed, effect neutralized, Rebellion Point +14.]