Hidden in the shadows, Lin Tiannan was utterly shaken by what he had seen.
Starting from nothing, Liu Jinyuan had reached a level of swordsmanship in just one week that others might not achieve in decades. Was this the brilliance of Jinyuan's natural talent—or the extraordinary skill of Alex's teaching?
A furrow crossed Lin Tiannan's brow as old doubts returned.
His reluctance to accept Liu Jinyuan as his son-in-law had always come down to one thing: Jinyuan's path was destined for government service, not martial arts. His temperament had seemed unsuited for the turbulent world of swords and rivers. Most of all, the boy had once been completely ignorant of martial arts.
The day Jinyuan formally apprenticed himself to Alex, Tiannan had been touched—but still skeptical. Martial cultivation wasn't something won overnight, and Jinyuan hadn't even made clear to his family why he had abandoned scholarship for the way of the sword. At the last moment, Tiannan had swallowed his consent.
But today, seeing with his own eyes the ease and mastery in Jinyuan's blade work, his concerns seemed almost laughable.
So what if he abandoned literature? His resolve for a martial path was unmistakable. So what if he started late? With talent like this, given time, his skill could outshine anyone in the martial world.
And as for temperament—Jinyuan was intelligent, thoughtful, and upright, if a little sheltered from the harshness of life. Yet whether in government halls or on the martial path, the world was cruel and bloody. Sooner or later, he would face it.
Lin Tiannan's misgivings fell away. He no longer opposed his daughter's bond with Jinyuan. On the contrary, he began to see them as a perfect match. Childhood companions, destined partners—it felt right.
Meanwhile, within the Lin Family Fort, Alex continued his own cultivation, his progress swift.
Jinyuan's focus lay on developing inner strength, but Alex was pursuing a different path—tempering his spiritual power.
Crystal points were the measure of supernatural ability, whether physical or spiritual. Though the Sacred Heart Technique was formidable, compared to the deep meditation of a magician—especially when amplified by the Mind Gem—spiritual cultivation brought Alex faster improvement.
And even in close combat, his spiritual energy could be fused with internal force, shaping a deadly aura without diminishing his martial edge. For him, the most efficient path forward was clear.
Yet, while Alex and his companions trained in peace, unrest stirred in Suzhou.
First came rumors of a serpent demon terrorizing the city. Then, whispers spread of strangers from the Miao border slipping quietly into town.
These Miao were from Nanzhao, but divided in purpose. One group, led by Elder Shi and joined by Tang Yu and Anu, sought to escort Princess Zhao Linger home. The other belonged to the secretive Moon Worship Cult, whose motives in the Central Plains were far more ominous.
That same day, Lin Yueru, accompanied by her maid, left the Fort to stroll through Suzhou.
Though still troubled by the martial arts competition, she was young and lively, and after a week her spirits had lightened somewhat. Hoping to shake off her restlessness, she chose to wander the markets.
But the walk gave her no relief. Instead, her unease only grew.
Everywhere she went, people pointed, whispered, and laughed behind her back—still gossiping about the infamous tournament.
For those in ancient times, with little diversion, the drama of that day was entertainment enough to linger in every conversation.