The servant led Li Xuan and Lu Wen through a series of tranquil, sun-drenched courtyards within the Yan Clan estate. The shift was jarring; the austere, martial energy of the outer sections gave way to the scent of sweet osmanthus flowers and the sound of gently flowing water. Attentive maids replaced the stern-faced guards, their bows deep and respectful. This was the heart of the clan, the private residence where the main family lived.
They passed a large, open-air training ground paved with smooth river stones. Dozens of Yan Clan children, all clad in simple training robes, practiced their forms under the watchful eyes of instructors. Shouts echoed – crisp commands, the thwack of wooden weapons, the focused breaths of young cultivators. Li Xuan's gaze swept over them. He turned his attention to Captain Gao walking beside them, a man whose presence felt far more substantial.
"Captain Gao," Li Xuan began, his voice calm, cutting easily through the sounds of training. "The Patriarch and his heir. What are their martial ranks?"
Gao, who still seemed slightly uncomfortable addressing the boy as 'Master', answered with practiced respect. "The Patriarch is a mighty Martial King at the 4-star level, Master Li. A fearsome warrior in his prime, though an old war injury from the border campaigns has stalled his progress for many years."
'A Martial King,' Li Xuan noted. The term was different, but the energy signature felt familiar. A realm where one began to truly grasp the world's basic laws. 'Decent enough for the ruler of this backwater town. Barely a stepping stone on the true path, but a sturdy one.'
"And his son?" Li Xuan pressed.
"The Vice Patriarch, Yan Zheng, is an 8-star Martial Lord," Gao answered proudly, puffing out his chest slightly. "He's just a hair's breadth from the King realm himself. After the Patriarch, he and the Grand Elder—who just broke through to Martial King—are the strongest pillars supporting our clan."
As they spoke, they arrived at a beautiful garden surrounding a tranquil koi pond. Brightly colored fish, like living jewels, swam lazily beneath lily pads. At a stone table shaded by a weeping willow tree, the two Yan Clan heirs were waiting, their faces bright with anticipation.
The boy, Yan Feng, was attempting a training stance near the pond's edge, his small body tense with effort as he swung a heavy wooden sword through the air with ferocious concentration. The moment he saw them, however, his focus shattered. He dropped the sword with a clatter and rushed over, nearly stumbling over a decorative rock in his excitement.
"Young Master has the best martial talent of his generation in the entire southern region," Captain Gao said with a proud, indulgent smile.
Li Xuan's gaze swept over Yan Feng. He didn't just look; he extended his perception, utilizing the nascent Soul Power he had cultivated. It flowed over the boy like water, mapping his structure, perceiving the potential hidden beneath the childish clumsiness. Dense bones, vigorous blood flow, a powerful latent physical energy coiled within him like a sleeping beast. 'His stance is passable for a child,' he thought. 'But the Captain isn't wrong. The boy's physical foundation is excellent. A rare talent indeed for this mud puddle of a town.'
At the same time, the girl, Yan Qing, her face bright and curious, ran over, slightly more composed than her brother. "Hello, Master Li!" she greeted him with a polite, perfect bow taught by clan elders since birth.
"We are of a similar age," Li Xuan said, his tone flat. The constant formality was tedious. "There is no need to call me Master. Li Xuan is fine."
She just smiled sweetly and shook her head, her eyes wide with innocent sincerity. "Grandfather said we must show you the highest respect. You saved our lives."
Li Xuan sighed internally. 'Fine. Another complication. Mortals and their ridiculous hierarchies.' He disliked being called 'Master' by children, but arguing seemed more trouble than it was worth. "Then you may call me Young Master Li," he conceded, seeing it as the lesser of two evils.
Yan Feng, who had just arrived, looked at his sister with a pout. "Sister, why didn't you call me when Young Master Li arrived? I almost missed him!" He then turned to Li Xuan, his eyes shining with pure, unadulterated hero-worship. "Young Master Li, how was my stance just now? Was it powerful? Do I have talent for martial arts? Grandpa says I do!"
For the first time since his rebirth, a small, almost imperceptible smile touched Li Xuan's lips. It wasn't a smile of warmth, but of a master craftsman appreciating a fine piece of raw, untamed material. "Indeed, you have talent for it," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, catching both Lu Wen and Gao off guard. "Your foundation is strong." He paused, his gaze becoming analytical again. "But the sword is not your path. Your frame, your energy… you would find your true calling in the spear arts. Or a path of pure body refinement."
Captain Gao looked surprised, shifting uncomfortably. "Young Master has always favored the sword, Master Li. It is the traditional weapon of our Yan Clan lineage, passed down for generations."
"I only said what would suit him best," Li Xuan replied cryptically, losing interest as quickly as it had sparked. He turned away. "There is no need to take it seriously." He knew mortals clung fiercely to tradition, even when logic dictated otherwise.
Yan Qing, ever the gracious host, stepped forward. "Please, Young Master Li, Brother Lu Wen, sit and have some tea," she invited, gesturing to the stone table near the pond. She moved with practiced grace, pouring fragrant, steaming tea into delicate porcelain cups for Li Xuan and Lu Wen, but pointedly leaving her brother's cup empty.
"Hey! That's not fair, big sis!" Yan Feng complained loudly, plopping down onto a stone stool. "You poured tea for Young Master Li and Brother Lu Wen, but you left me out! I practiced hard!"
"You have hands, don't you?" she retorted, sticking her tongue out at him with a mischievous grin. "Pour your own."
Lu Wen watched them bicker, a quiet smile on his face. 'They are children, after all,' he thought, feeling a moment of normalcy in the midst of the recent insanity. Then he glanced at Li Xuan, who was sipping his tea with a calm, detached expression, his gaze distant, seemingly a thousand miles away. 'But I don't know why Young Master Li seems so much older, so… separate.' He sighed quietly. 'My own sister has already left for home. Otherwise, I would have arranged for her to meet him. Such a meeting would have been… interesting.'
Yan Feng, having poured his own tea with a grumpy expression, turned his attention back to his idol. "Young Master Li," he asked, his voice full of curiosity, "what is your rank as an alchemist? Are you as amazing as Grandpa Feng?"
Lu Wen's ears perked up, his own curiosity piqued. 'Yes, I want to know this too. But his meridians are blocked… he can't be a true alchemist, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have needed Master Feng's help to make the pills.'
Li Xuan took another slow sip of his tea, seemingly unfazed by the question. "I am a One-Star Alchemist for now," he answered calmly.
Lu Wen almost choked on his own tea, coughing violently. He, Lu Wen, hailed as a "great talent" in Xiang City, had spent a full year of grueling, non-stop training under Master Feng just to barely scrape into the One-Star rank! This boy, who had started a week ago as a blind beggar, was already at the same level?! What kind of monster was he?! He suddenly felt like his own years of hard work were a complete joke.
The two children, however, lacked the context to understand the sheer absurdity of his statement. They were just impressed. "Wow! You are so cool, Young Master Li!" Yan Feng exclaimed, his eyes shining. "A One-Star Alchemist already!"
Yan Qing's eyes shone with a new determination. "I will also become an alchemist!" she declared firmly. "One that you can all be proud of!"
Li Xuan looked at her. Again, he didn't just see a determined child. He focused his Soul Power, probing gently into her spiritual foundation. He felt her Qi – calm and receptive, like still water. But more importantly, he felt the structure of her soul – intricate, precise, naturally attuned to patterns and the flow of energy in the abstract, like a complex, beautiful tapestry. 'Interesting,' he noted. "You have talent," he said, "but not for alchemy's brute force refinement. Your soul is attuned to patterns and laws. You should try the path of the Array Master."
Just as Yan Qing was about to ask what an Array Master was, a Yan Clan guard came running into the garden, his face flushed.
"Young Master, Young Miss, Master Li," he said, bowing hastily. "The Patriarch has concluded his meeting and is summoning you all to the main study."