Chapter 27 – A Beauty’s Fair Hand Bestows the Rainbow

The liquid jade within the bronze cauldron was Li Guanyi's most vital foundation for survival.

Last time, when he accumulated this liquid jade, pouring it into his dantian, it had allowed him to successfully cultivate all twelve layers of the elite military internal cultivation method Breaking Formation Song (Po Zhen Qu), and also granted him mastery of a blade technique. Now, this liquid jade had finally accumulated for the second time.

Li Guanyi's gaze fell on that Sky-Breaking Thunder Bow.

Recalling the events that had just transpired, he began to ponder.

It seemed that it wasn't only martial experts wielding manifestation-level techniques that could catalyze the completion of liquid jade accumulation—divine weapons could also accomplish that final step.

What remained unknown was what changes this new outpouring of jade liquid would bring.

Perhaps it was because wielding that divine bow earlier had exhausted him too greatly, but Li Guanyi now felt deep fatigue rising from within. His mind was cluttered with distracting thoughts, never able to settle, and he could only rely on the bitterness of tea to help suppress the turmoil.

Xue Daoyong no longer mentioned the divine bow. Instead, he spoke of the Xue family's past, weaving humorous anecdotes mixed with tales of danger. Finally, he had a simple meal prepared: a bowl of millet porridge for each person, a roasted fish, some fresh greens, a few condiments, and a piece of fruit.

Li Guanyi commented, "Elder's way of living is rather frugal."

This was the Xue family—one of the eminent clans.

Just earlier, Xue Daoyong had given away a deed to an estate worth at least five hundred strings of coins without so much as blinking, yet now, when it came to food, they were eating like common folk. Honestly, the fare was simpler than what even the martial artists at the Rejuvenation Hall usually enjoyed.

At this moment, Li Guanyi noticed Xue Shuangtao sneaking a glance at him, seemingly wanting to laugh but holding it in.

Perhaps it was because his fatigue dulled his senses, but only now did Li Guanyi sense that something was different.

He took a light sniff of one small dish of seasoning powder. "This is…"

"Ginseng, Atractylodes, Poria."

Having suffered from severe poisoning for ten years, Li Guanyi had long been accustomed to dealing with medicinal herbs. After spending much of his life in medicine shops, combined with his outstanding natural talent and the insight of two lifetimes, he could identify several of the primary ingredients just by smelling them. He also took a sip of the millet porridge.

As expected, there were corresponding medicinal ingredients within, but the bitterness had been completely masked, leaving behind only a mellow sweetness.

The qi and blood within his body, along with the internal strength of Breaking Formation Song, immediately began to stir.

Even the immense depletion brought about by wielding the divine weapon earlier started to ease.

Xue Daoyong smiled. "How is it?"

Li Guanyi thought for a moment and then answered:

"Prepared Rehmannia nourishes essence and fills the marrow. Ginseng strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, tonifying qi and nourishing blood—these are the sovereign herbs."

"Atractylodes and Poria assist the ginseng in supplementing qi. Angelica and White Peony nourish the blood and harmonize the nutritive aspect, helping to strengthen the heart—these are the minister herbs."

"Sichuan Lovage Root serves as the assistant herb to invigorate blood and promote qi circulation. Licorice is the envoy, tonifying qi, harmonizing the center, and blending all the medicines."

"This meal, Elder, is a true dual supplement of qi and blood."

The elder was slightly surprised, then broke into laughter, turning to the young girl beside him and saying, "See? Throwing coquettish glances at the blind is a waste of your good intentions. When you serve good things, you need someone who can appreciate them for what they are—then the host and guest are both satisfied. Not like your brothers—they only know how to say 'tastes good.'"

"'Another bowl,' if you please."

"Swine eating peonies—ruins the atmosphere."

As he spoke, he noticed that the young man had already finished that bowl of millet porridge in just a few gulps—no less valuable than a top-grade medicinal pill yet incredibly mild for the body. Seeing this, the old man was momentarily stunned.

Li Guanyi smiled deliberately and teased, "Then, Elder, it seems I too have ruined the atmosphere."

"Another bowl, please."

The old man burst into hearty laughter.

His regard for the boy rose even higher.

Without hesitation, though, he refused: "Hundred-year-old mountain ginseng, fish from the Heavenly Pond—these things benefit martial artists, but even for me, it's rare to bring them out for guests. Where would I find so much to spare for you?"

"Boy's got a big appetite."

Li Guanyi felt a pang of regret.

He had wanted to bring some for his aunt.

Seeing the once composed young man now acting like a glutton, Xue Shuangtao finally couldn't hold back a laugh, a crisp giggle escaping her lips. She found that he wasn't as difficult to figure out as she'd first thought. After a brief hesitation, she pushed her untouched bowl forward and said:

"I haven't touched mine. If you don't mind, you can take it."

Then, after a pause, she added firmly:

"But—not the fish."

Li Guanyi tasted the fish and immediately recognized its exquisite flavor. The old master explained that this fish had been raised on medicinal feed. It greatly benefited martial artists but, for those with weak constitutions, could be as dangerous as strong poison. Li Guanyi finished the fish, then said, "This is truly delicious."

"If I could eat meals like this every day, I'd die content."

Xue Daoyong laughed heartily. "Haha! Planning to eat this old man into poverty, eh?"

"Good!"

"If you can break through to the next realm within three years, come back here—I'll feed you one meal a day."

"If you can break through in just one year, you can eat every meal here if you want."

"I'll sell off everything I own to feed you."

The meal was enjoyed by all, host and guest were both satisfied. Xue Shuangtao led Li Guanyi out of Tingfeng Pavilion afterward. She glanced at his worn clothes and said, "You're a guest retainer now. Your provisions—clothes, equipment, medicine—all follow the standard of the Xue family's direct line. It's already late today; follow me to collect your uniform, weapons, and medicinal pills."

She paused, seeming a bit embarrassed, yet still maintaining a facade of aloof composure:

"Tomorrow, you'd best come early."

"I'm going to teach you footwork and archery."

Li Guanyi nodded.

First was receiving the weapons. Nowadays, with the various states constantly warring, court restrictions on certain weapons—like swords, knives, wooden shields, and bows (which required long-term training to master)—had grown increasingly lax. But armor, crossbows, and long-formation spears over twelve feet were strictly regulated.

The former were personal defense weapons for traveling martial artists.

The latter were instruments of war.

Xue Shuangtao led Li Guanyi into the Xue family's weapon storage room, housed within their estate.

She pointed inside. "There are three types of blades here: light blades with the fastest draw speed, slender stabbing blades that can pierce and slice, and heavy blades, all forged from refined steel. Compared to the famous weapons of the martial world, they differ only in materials."

Li Guanyi, considering the characteristics of The Eight Strikes of the Army-Breaker Blade, chose a heavy blade of solid black steel.

The blade was thick, its balance perfectly suited for powerful chopping strikes.

The scabbard was of dark ironwood inlaid with bronze, engraved with patterns of roaring tigers.

The blacksmith glanced at it and said, "That's a heavy blade of three hundred folds, not inferior to most renowned weapons in the martial world. Price—ninety-seven strings of cash. The scabbard's fine ironwood won't rot or rust, inlaid with brass, and has a hollow at the base for storing medicinal pills."

"Scabbard—four strings and three qian. Total price, one hundred and one strings. As a guest retainer, you only pay seventy."

Retainers could acquire fine weapons through this channel, though they still had to pay for materials and labor.

This was already a privilege ordinary martial artists could never hope for. Most in the martial world had to settle for crude blades hammered out by village smiths, with sword sheaths made of nailed-together planks.

Even Li Guanyi had to admit—it was a bargain.

But right now, he only had three taels of silver on him.

After a moment of hesitation, holding the blade to his chest, he turned toward the girl.

Xue Shuangtao casually said, "Put it under my name."

The blacksmith raised his eyebrows, glancing from the handsome youth to the lady, clearly curious, but nodded anyway. "Alright. Then it's under Miss Xue's account."

Xue Shuangtao nodded and brought him to the bows.

The bow draw weight needed to be something Li Guanyi could barely pull but still find difficult. The bow's dimensions also had to match the youth's current build. The young lady skillfully tested bow after bow, finally settling on three options suitable for Li Guanyi.

The art of bow-making was known as six materials: wood, horn, sinew, glue, silk, and lacquer.

The first bow was made of purple bamboo, highly elastic, with yellow ox horn on the inner arms and sinew on the outer arms, boosting rebound for faster arrows.

Priced at thirty strings.

Li Guanyi asked about the glue used in the assembly.

The middle-aged shopkeeper chuckled. "It's made from Sichuan rats."

"Cooked down from the muscles and skins of rats in the Shu region. Sticky enough."

"Cheap, mostly. But if you don't like it, we have others."

The second bow used yew for its arms, augmented with Mofeng horn, horse sinew, and mixed with fish glue.

Tough and sturdy, requiring two years of crafting, priced at one hundred and ten strings.

It was even more expensive than the blade at his waist.

Li Guanyi looked at the cheapest one, just about to speak when the young lady raised her hand and pointed to a bow placed on the highest rack. "That one—bring it down."

Li Guanyi noticed that the wood of that bow glimmered faintly with gold filaments twisted within.

The bow arms were two feet five inches, three-colored: pale white, dark green, and deep black.

The three colors blended harmoniously.

Li Guanyi didn't know bows, but he could tell—it was valuable!

The shopkeeper beamed. "Miss has sharp eyes!"

"That bow took fifteen years to complete. The bow stave was seasoned each winter, the horn-shaped each spring, and the sinew treated each summer. After all that, the materials were fused during the next winter in a press, shaping the body. Made of wood—nine of ten zhe trees are hollow, nine of ten twisted. But those rare ones with golden fibers running through the heart have incredible flexibility."

"Horn of rhinoceros, the sinew of croc-dragon, bonded with glue from South Sea sharks."

"But it takes immense strength to fully draw."

"Price—one thousand five hundred thirty strings."

Li Guanyi's eye twitched.

How much?!

After carefully considering his words, he finally said, "I think… that's too expensive."

Xue Shuangtao shook her head. "Grandfather always said: bows and blades are entrusted with one's life. Sometimes, stronger elasticity means one more arrow before snapping. Greater resilience means faster shots. That sliver of advantage might mean life or death."

"Everything else can be vague. Life and death cannot retreat even half a step."

"Bring it down."

The shopkeeper obeyed immediately. "Yes, Miss."

Xue Shuangtao gripped the bow casually and drew an arrow, barely even fully opening the bow, yet still took a single step forward. A sharp force gathered, and the arrow pierced through the trunk of a tree thick enough for two people to wrap their arms around. The girl's loose hair lifted in the gust, revealing her fair chin and almond-shaped eyes. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. Put it on my account."

"Didn't Grandfather gift me that shop when I was ten? The profits over these years should be enough."

"Here, sir—your bow."

Seeing Li Guanyi hesitate slightly, she reached out, grasped his sleeve, lifted his arm, and gently placed the bow into his hand.

"Since ancient times, beauties have given swords to heroes. I'm not exactly a beauty, but I believe what Grandfather says—sir, you'll be a hero one day."

"This Rainbow Bow—I gift it to you."

Li Guanyi: "..."

"Thank you."

He looked at the blade on his waist, then at the bow in his arms.

Ahead, the girl stood with her hands behind her back, smiling slightly.

At that moment, Li Guanyi thought—

This young lady's charm—is truly unparalleled.

Meanwhile, a white-haired elder had already arrived at Guan Yi City.

He easily shook off the imperial guards tailing him and his disciples and said softly:

"Old friend isn't here yet. Let's take a stroll first."

"See if anything interesting turns up—don't you agree, old friend?"

He smiled faintly, and beside him—in a space invisible to others—a massive black tortoise lowered its head in silent agreement.

The longest-living elder of the current generation of Yin-Yang practitioners, Siming (Controller of Fate)—

Had arrived as invited.

(End of Chapter)