A few days after returning from the town, those craftsmen started to arrive at Jinliu Village one after another.

After Shen Yuan led them to Black Water Pool, one of the senior craftsmen walked around, observing for a long time, and couldn't help but praise: "Patriarch Shen indeed has an eye for good locations. This place is definitely a feng shui treasure land. Building a house here will surely bless the family with prosperity and numerous descendants."

The older they get, the wiser they become.

These seasoned craftsmen, having traveled widely, were not only skilled with their hands but also had a way with words.

In these times, who doesn't like to hear some pleasant and auspicious words?

"Thank you for your kind words, and I must trouble all of you in the tasks ahead."

Shen Yuan smiled and clasped his hands, then simply outlined his requirements.

In countless weary nights of his previous life, he had often fantasized that someday, after retirement, he would return to his hometown, find a place by the mountains and water, build a small courtyard, plant flowers, and fish, living a leisurely retirement life.

For this, during his free time, he had often browsed online for the designs of Chinese courtyards.

Unfortunately, the wish never came true in the end.

Now living again, coinciding with the construction of a new house, he naturally wanted to incorporate some of the things he liked.

These seasoned craftsmen have genuine skills and could easily meet most of his requirements.

In short, as long as the money is in place, everything is not difficult.

After finalizing the details, both parties discussed and finally decided to establish the foundation of the new house on a slightly flat area, just enough to overlook the entire Black Water Pool.

After construction began, Shen Yuan became even busier.

Every day, besides needing to check on the progress at the new house construction site, he had to attend to the weeding of dozens of acres of farmland, the orchard in the mountains that needed careful pruning and fixing after being damaged by refugees, ensuring it would not affect future growth.

Additionally, timber from the five-acre forest needed to be felled quickly, as it would be used anytime in building the new house.

This time, Shen Yuan learned to be smart; he reported in advance to the town government office, paying a tax of ten taels of silver for timber cutting, before confidently felling those trees.

His wife Hu Yufen had often advised him to hire some short-term workers to help.

But thinking about the daily expenses on building the new house, Shen Yuan was reluctant.

Thankfully, he was now in the Postnatal Martial Artist realm, his body much stronger than the average commoner, or he would have been overwhelmed with exhaustion.

Mid-September.

When Shen Yuan returned home from Black Water Pool, his wife Hu Yufen held a letter excitedly approaching him.

"A letter from Ah Nu."

Shen Yuan washed his face and took the letter with a smile, saying, "That rascal, gone for months, finally remembers his parents."

He pulled out the letter and read it carefully.

"In the early days of the You month, your son bows in Lincang."

"Lincang is embraced by nine rivers, with three mountains standing as its screen, a hundred miles east of the city is Cangwu Ridge, where the great scholar Mr. Fengming had his thatched cottage for lectures. The mountain is steep and wind-swept, chanting scriptures in a resonant rhythm. Before the cottage is a solid rock, with 'Great Dream Scripture' carved upon it, a hundred rhymes, impervious to wind and rain.

It is said that on the day of the Start of Spring, the morning glow reflects on the jade wall, revealing circulating characters, but I was unfortunately not in time to see this spectacle, much to my regret!

There is also the famous Celestial Chapter City, home to four families and eight clans, with twenty-seven sages who have authored monumental works like 'Qilin History', 'Eight Regions', and 'Supplements to the Music Canon'. I had the good fortune to see them with my master, and was greatly astonished!

Mingquan Academy in the west of the city is a draw for the scholars and literati from across the world. Among its seventy-two springs, the 'Ink Splendor Spring' is the most peculiar; every Autumn Equinox, the spring water turns the color of mysterious jade, and the water is usable for writing, with the ink enduring for years, inspiring the eminent scholar Zhantai Wujiu to compile the 'Chronicles of the Years', with his ink having a fragrant quality, leading Profound Birds to carry grass to it.

Now beside the 'Washing Brush Pool', one can still see the ancient ink stains left by sages on the stones, presenting the spectacular colors of dragons and phoenixes…"

The first part of the letter, of over a hundred words, elaborated on the journey's experiences, with Shen Yuan feeling through the words his son's amazement and excitement from the study tour.

After listening, Hu Yufen showed a smile but pretended to be angry, saying: "That rascal, only concerned with showing off, not even asking about how we're doing at home…"

"That's one thing where he's not as good as his elder brother!"

Shen Yuan couldn't help but laugh, saying: "Ah Nu is just like that… don't worry, there's another page."

Passing the first page of the letter to Hu Yufen, Shen Yuan then looked at the second page.

Soon, he finished reading the second page, which generally talked about his studies at Mingquan Academy in Lincang, academic debates with scholars from across the country, and visits with Lu Zhiyuan to meet several sages in Lincang.

At the end of the letter, there was only one line: "Words on paper can't fully express everything, I am well, no need for my parents to worry."

"See, see!"

"That rascal is not as filial as Shi Tou."

Hu Yufen playfully scolded, putting the letter back in the envelope, yet seriously keeping the letter in a safe place.

"Alas!"

"This study tour is indeed an eye-opening experience for him. Yunzhong is remote, if he hadn't gone out, he might never know what the treasures and wonders of the Central Plains are like in his lifetime."

"He would find it difficult to witness Celestial Chapter City, Mingquan Academy, engage in academic debates with scholars from all over the world, and seek teachings from contemporary sages."

Shen Yuan reflected.

Hu Yufen nodded slightly after hearing this, holding the family letter, she couldn't help but think of her eldest son Shen Wenxing.

"Husband, theoretically, Shi Tou should have returned since the great victory in Fengxian County was a long time ago, why is there no news up till now?"

Shen Yuan shook his head slightly: "Who knows about the court's matters."

"But I figure there shouldn't be any problems."

"Alright, you go prepare the meal, I'll practice for a while."

...

Western Regions.

The setting sun seemed like blood, with corpses strewn all over the vast battlefield, and the neighing of war horses and the cries of soldiers could be heard continuously.

The torn flags stood crookedly, and broken halberds and arrows were scattered everywhere.

"Pah!"

Wearing damaged leather armor, with hair disheveled and face smeared with blood, Shen Wenxing spat out blood foam from his mouth and surveyed the surroundings with a long staff supported on the ground.

"Anyone still breathing!?"

With his shout, a few figures trembled and staggered to their feet from among the bodies lying in disarray.

"General!?"

Seeing one of the figures resembling Zhang Bin, Shen Wenxing hurried over to him.

At this moment, Zhang Bin's head was covered in blood, with half of his left cheek and ear sliced off!

Blood smeared, looking extremely tragic and horrifying!

With the support of Shen Wenxing, he staggered to a small hill.

Around them, the other hundred-odd soldiers who could still move also gathered.

"Shi Tou…"

A weak voice came from the front left, and upon hearing it, the crowd rushed over.

Under a large shield pierced by a sharp spear, Zhao Jinhua, with a face full of pain, struggled to get up, but his shoulder was pierced by the spear, pinning him to the ground!

"Help quickly!"

"Don't pull out the spear!"

A few soldiers hurriedly lifted Zhao Jinhua from the ground and removed the large shield.

"Quickly clean up the battlefield, see if there are any surviving brothers!"

Enduring the pain on his face, Zhang Bin hoarsely shouted.

Dozens of soldiers took orders and started searching among the endless bodies.

"General, have some water."

Shen Wenxing handed a blood-stained water pouch to Zhang Bin.

Taking the water pouch, Zhang Bin drank a few gulps, frowned, and looked around.

"Those bastards of the Barbarian Race, why are there so many martial artists!?"

"Our elite troops were several times their number, but in the end, it's just a pyrrhic victory…"

"I wonder if the Grand General had succeeded?"

Zhang Bin spoke, turning his head to look at Shen Wenxing: "Boy, can you still ride a horse?"

Shen Wenxing patted his chest and said: "At your command, General!"

Zhang Bin pulled out his token from his pocket and tossed it over: "Immediately ride to Wuya Mountain, inform the Grand General that our left flank army can no longer fight, and if He County isn't taken, we'll have to retreat."

Shen Wenxing took the token, quickly found an intact warhorse, and galloped towards the direction of Wuya Mountain.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.