In the courtyard,
Jiang Ning continued practicing his martial arts, his sharp senses picking up every movement and conversation outside.
Why has Lin Qingyi come?
And who are the two people with her?
Questions flickered through his mind.
Then, relying on his heightened perception,
The sights and sounds of the four people outside vividly surfaced in his mind as if he were witnessing them firsthand.
A moment later,
He heard Lin Qingyi, Jiang Li, and the young girl accompanying Lin Qingyi leaving, presumably to take shelter from the cold indoors.
However, the man named Ji Minghao remained outside in the snow, waiting for him to finish his training.
"Ji Minghao?"
Jiang Ning silently pondered.
He searched through his memories but found no recollection of this name.
After a brief moment of thought, he set the matter aside and continued his practice.
Outside the courtyard,
Thick, feather-like snow quickly covered Ji Minghao's head and shoulders, piling up on the fox fur cloak draped over him.
The piercing cold wind blew in from the vast lake, slipping through every gap in his clothing despite the tall courtyard walls providing some shelter.
Before long, Ji Minghao seemed to have transformed into a snowman, with delicate snowflakes clinging to his eyebrows.
Yet, he stood firm in the wind and snow, like an unyielding pine tree.
Suddenly
Creak
The sound of the courtyard gate turning echoed as the doors slowly swung open before Ji Minghao.
In the next moment, he saw Jiang Ning stepping into view, dressed simply in a white training outfit.
Seeing this, Ji Minghao shook his shoulders lightly, causing the accumulated snow to fall from his body.
"I am Ji Minghao," he said, clasping his hands in greeting. His eyes blinked, shaking off the snowflakes clinging to his brows.
Jiang Ning returned the gesture. "I am Jiang Ning."
Ji Minghao discreetly observed Jiang Ning, a flicker of surprise crossing his mind.
Then, he smiled. "I have long admired Brother Jiang. Today, I am fortunate to finally meet you! This trip has not been in vain!"
"You flatter me," Jiang Ning chuckled before motioning toward the courtyard. "Brother Ji, please come inside so we may talk."
Ji Minghao stepped over the threshold.
Jiang Ning asked, "Brother Ji, where have you come from? And what is your relationship with Pavilion Master Lin?"
Ji Minghao replied, "Pavilion Master Lin is my sister-in-law. My younger sister and I traveled from the Upper Capital to visit her. While in Luoshui County, I heard many tales of Brother Jiang and greatly admired your achievements, so I decided to visit in person."
"I see." Jiang Ning nodded slightly.
Many of his previous doubts were now resolved.
So Lin Qingyi is already married, and her husband must be a significant figure from the Upper Capital.
Various thoughts flashed through his mind before he spoke again. "So Brother Ji is a distinguished guest from the Upper Capital. I must apologize for my rudeness, making you wait so long in the wind and snow."
Ji Minghao laughed heartily at this.
"Brother Jiang, you were just tempering your bones an extremely crucial stage of martial cultivation. I completely understand!"
"When I was refining my bones, my brother accidentally disturbed me, causing my mental energy to lose control and my qi and blood to surge chaotically."
"The injuries I sustained back then left me bedridden for three days!"
"To fully recover, I had to undergo careful recuperation for half a month."
Hearing these words, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ji Minghao had just revealed something crucial.
This man, who appeared to be about the same age as himself, was also at the sixth rank of martial arts.
He might even be ahead in the process of bone refinement.
Noticing Jiang Ning's undisguised look of surprise, Ji Minghao smiled.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Ning said, "I was just feeling proud of my progress, but now I realize that Brother Ji is already ahead of me on this path. I am truly impressed!"
Hearing this, Ji Minghao shook his head with a smile.
"Brother Jiang, you don't understand. Your words make me feel deeply ashamed."
"Oh? And why is that?" Jiang Ning asked.
Ji Minghao sighed, "I was born into privilege, raised in luxury, with access to countless rare treasures. Even obtaining ancient relics is not difficult for me."
"As for wealth, to me, it's merely numbers."
"My martial arts journey began under the guidance of a grandmaster."
At this, Ji Minghao let out a self-deprecating chuckle. "And yet, even now, I have only just managed to forge my jade-like bones."
"But you, Brother Jiang, were raised in this small town with extremely limited resources let alone access to famous teachers or advanced martial techniques."
"Yet, by the time you've come of age, you have already stepped into the sixth rank of martial arts!"
"Such an extraordinary talent shakes me to my core and fills me with shame!"
"Even renowned grandmasters, at your age, would struggle to match your achievements."
Listening to Ji Minghao's well-mannered flattery, Jiang Ning chuckled.
If what Ji Minghao said was true even experienced grandmasters couldn't compare to him at his age
Then Ji Minghao's martial strength was likely still above his own.
This also indirectly highlighted the fact that even renowned grandmasters had not been as talented as him in their youth.
At the same time, Ji Minghao subtly revealed his extraordinary abilities he was truly a martial arts prodigy, surpassing even the grandmasters of their younger years.
With this realization, a thought stirred in Jiang Ning's mind.
This man had been willing to wait for him in the snow for the time it takes to burn half an incense stick.
The famed story of a disciple standing in the snow outside a master's door was nothing compared to this.
And that was without considering Ji Minghao's exceptional status.
This man has ambition!
He has aspirations!
Perhaps… he wants to recruit me!
Jiang Ning quickly grasped the situation.
He then said, "Brother Ji, it's cold out. Why don't we sit down and have some hot tea?"
Ji Minghao followed Jiang Ning's gesture and looked toward a pavilion surrounded by green bamboo. There, on a table that appeared to be made of stone or jade, a steaming pot of tea sat, releasing gentle wisps of heat.
Seeing the warm tea, Ji Minghao's eyes flickered with surprise once again.
If he hadn't known for certain that Jiang Ning could not have anticipated his visit, he might have suspected that his identity and movements had been leaked in advance how else could this tea have been prepared so perfectly in advance?
His gaze shifted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.
Then, he smiled. "Very well! After standing in the snow for a while, I must admit, I'm feeling a bit cold."
As soon as they sat down, Ji Minghao's eyes flashed with surprise once more.
He touched the table before him it felt warm to the touch, a comfortable warmth that spread into his palm.
"What kind of jade is this? Even in this snowy weather, it retains such warmth it's even more refined than the finest warm jade in my palace!"
Ji Minghao's face showed astonishment.
Jiang Ning simply shook his head. "I have no idea what kind of jade or stone this table and chairs are made from. When I bought this residence, they were already here."
Ji Minghao sighed in admiration. "Then you've truly stumbled upon a treasure! In the dead of winter, with snow falling all around, for a stone table and stools to remain this warm, they must be made of an exceptional type of warm jade."
"But for such jade to be unfamiliar even to me it must be extremely rare."
Jiang Ning simply smiled.
A top-grade warm jade?
Not at all.
This stone table and stools had only remained warm because he had been using his control over fire to heat them. The steaming tea before them was no exception.
With that, he picked up the teapot.
Gurgle, gurgle
As the tea poured into their cups, steam rose gently into the air.
After their brief conversation, Jiang Ning had already confirmed that the man before him was someone of great standing in the royal capital.
Whether it was his casual mention of having access to countless rare treasures, his revelation that his martial training had begun under a grandmaster or his reference to the jade stones from the palace
All of it indicated that Ji Minghao's status was far from ordinary.
Not just rich or noble, but both exceptionally so.
That also means Lin Qingyi is no simple figure either!
A thought surfaced in Jiang Ning's mind.
Then, he chuckled inwardly. One needs the Bai Ling Blood to step into the grandmaster realm. How could Lin Qingyi possibly be ordinary?
In the next moment,
He gathered his slightly wandering thoughts.
"Brother Ji, have some tea to warm yourself." Jiang Ning said.
"Alright!" Ji Minghao nodded.
He picked up his cup and gently blew on it twice. The floating tea leaves swirled apart and clung to the rim of the cup.
As the scorching tea touched his lips, his brow furrowed slightly.
Never in his life had he drunk such poor-quality tea.
It had a faint, earthy taste that was somewhat unpleasant.
Glancing at Jiang Ning, he hesitated for a moment before continuing to take small sips.
Jiang Ning poured himself a cup as well and took two sips.
When he set his cup down, Ji Minghao followed suit.
At this moment, Ji Minghao's cup was already half empty.
Seeing Jiang Ning reach for the teapot again, he quickly raised a hand to stop him.
"No need!"
"Half a cup of hot tea is enough I'm already warmed up!"
Then, as if to add an excuse, he said, "Drink too much, and I'll need to relieve myself."
Jiang Ning couldn't help but laugh heartily.
He suddenly found Ji Minghao rather interesting.
Ji Minghao was someone who had received an excellent education among the upper echelons of society.
For someone like him to say such a thing it was quite rare.
Seeing the smile on Jiang Ning's face, Ji Minghao also revealed a faint smile of his own.
Then, extending his palm beyond the pavilion, he let the snowflakes fall into his hand. Almost immediately, his smile faded.
"Brother Jiang!" he suddenly spoke.
Jiang Ning turned his gaze toward him.
Ji Minghao then asked, "Brother Jiang, do you know why there has been so much snow this year? Why does it keep falling without end?"
"Is there some explanation for it?" Jiang Ning asked.
"There is!" Ji Minghao nodded slightly. "This endless snowfall you might not believe it but it is man-made!"
"Man-made?" Jiang Ning's expression tensed slightly, and a thought surfaced in his mind.
Ji Minghao glanced at him and continued, "And this year's severe drought, the relentless scorching sun it was also man-made!"
Hearing this, Jiang Ning's mind filled with even more speculation.
At the end of a dynasty, there was either a natural disaster, a human catastrophe, or both.
This thought flashed through his mind at lightning speed, and he immediately asked, "The extreme drought of the past few months can such a phenomenon be caused by humans?"
"Of course it can!" Ji Minghao nodded. "The Grand Diviner of the Great Xia can summon rainfall to cover an entire province."
"There are countless extraordinary individuals in this world. If they were to secretly collaborate, they could alter the heavens, extending drought across three regions, leaving billions of people with no harvest, facing an unprecedented famine leading to relentless uprisings!"
That's truly astonishing!
Jiang Ning couldn't help but think so after hearing Ji Minghao's words.
To manipulate the weather and spread drought across three continents…
Such abilities were no different from those of the celestial beings recorded in ancient texts!
Ji Minghao looked at Jiang Ning and asked, "What do you think of all this, Brother Jiang?"
Jiang Ning pondered for a moment and then asked, "I'm curious if what you say is true, then why would these god-like beings do such a thing?"
"It's simple," Ji Minghao replied. "I once heard my father discussing this some believe that Great Xia has ruled for eight hundred years, and that's too long! They also feel the imperial court has been too harsh on the grandmaster families."
"They want to change the ruler of the Nine Provinces change the master of the world!"
"Continuous disasters will lead to mass displacement. If people cannot survive, they will lose faith!"
"When the people's faith crumbles, the peace of these past eight hundred years will be in jeopardy!"
"Moreover, the constant uprisings are also being instigated by hidden forces. Their goal is to pressure the court into lifting the restrictions on private armies."
"On the surface, lifting the restrictions would allow various factions to raise enough troops to suppress the rebellions."
At this point, Ji Minghao suddenly turned to Jiang Ning and asked, "What is your opinion on lifting the restrictions on private armies?"
At that moment, Jiang Ning was reminded of the historical tales from his past life.
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
The chaotic era of the Three Kingdoms began with the Yellow Turban Rebellion, which set the stage for the rise of many heroes.
The Yellow Turbans had grown too powerful, while the imperial court had grown too weak to suppress them, leading to the decision to allow regional warlords, military generals, and officials to raise their armies.
But this move ultimately led to the fragmentation of the empire, with warlords carving out their territories. The court completely lost control over the regions.
Recalling this, Jiang Ning shook his head. "The restrictions on private armies must not be lifted! If they are, it will inevitably lead to regional warlords seizing power, and dividing the land among themselves. Once they hold military power, the world will fall into complete chaos!"
"As expected, great minds think alike!" Ji Minghao's eyes lit up with delight, his face showing genuine joy. "Brother Jiang, you are truly a kindred spirit! I had this exact argument with my elder brother!"
"My brother, however, believes that the chaos stems primarily from the constant uprisings. He thinks the only solution is to crush the rebels with military force if the people believe resistance is futile, they will not dare to rebel."
Jiang Ning smiled at that.
"Could it be that your brother's maternal family holds significant military power?"
Ji Minghao glanced at Jiang Ning, then nodded. "Now that you mention it… that does make sense!"
After a brief pause, he turned to Jiang Ning once more and asked, "Could it be that you've already guessed my identity?"
"I believe I have." Jiang Ning nodded and then stood up, cupping his hands respectfully. "Greetings, Your Highness."
"I am eighth in line in my family," Ji Minghao said.
"Then, greetings to the Eighth Prince." Jiang Ning bowed again.
Ji Minghao laughed. "Brother Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. Let's address each other as brothers!"
"Eighth Prince, how could I?" Jiang Ning replied.
Seeing this, Ji Minghao feigned slight anger. "If you keep treating me like an outsider, then you're clearly saying you don't consider me a friend! I'm being sincere in treating you as a friend and a brother I don't want formality to create a gap between us!"
Seeing Ji Minghao's serious expression, Jiang Ning decided to go along with it.
"Then… I greet you, Brother Ji."
"That's more like it!" Ji Minghao laughed heartily, then asked, "Brother Jiang, do you have any wine here?"
"I do." Jiang Ning nodded.
With a flick of his hand, a wine flask appeared in his palm.
"A Spatial Ring?" Ji Minghao's eyes flashed with surprise as he immediately locked onto the ring on Jiang Ning's finger.
"So Brother Jiang is naturally gifted, possessing the potential to ascend to immortality no wonder your talents are so extraordinary!" Ji Minghao said, his tone filled with admiration.
Jiang Ning simply smiled.
He wasn't surprised that Ji Minghao had noticed.
As the Eighth Prince of Great Xia, it would have been more surprising if he hadn't recognized it.
Jiang Ning had intentionally revealed this.
Since this prince had shown a willingness to befriend him…
Naturally, he wouldn't refuse.
One more friend meant one more ally, one more path.
And this wasn't just any friend this was a prince of Great Xia.
Even if their friendship turned out to be fleeting, even if it was no more than a passing acquaintance
It was still worth having.
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