It's already September, the drizzling rain making the world damp and cool.

Within Yihetang Manor. Madam draped a thin shawl over her shoulders, her beautiful eyes cold as she gazed at Li Xian across the mountain and river screen.

Outside the screen, Li Xian bowed with clasped fists.

"You are quite bold," Madam Wen said coolly. "You privately manipulated the nursing home to do your own bidding. Li Xian, you've really grown capable. Do you know that since I established this manor, until today, you are the only one daring enough to act this way?"

"Li Xian was reckless, I ask for Madam's punishment," Li Xian said.

"Punish you, and can this make up for the loss?" Madam Wen said coldly.

"I await Madam's decision," Li Xian replied.

"The loss in the manor today amounts to three thousand taels of silver," Madam Wen said. "You need to repay this within a month. Otherwise... I have my own ways to deal with you."

Li Xian thought to himself, "I'm afraid I still owe quite a bit of silver, how can I come up with three thousand taels?" But if he could stabilize the Madam and only pay money, it was already the best result: "Yes."

"This is just repayment," Madam Wen said. "I still have to punish you."

"You are reckless and unruly, not abiding by the manor rules. You should suffer the punishment of the thorn staff. However, I expect that the nursing home would dare not truly hit you. From today on, come before me at every hour, and I will personally scrape your palm with a sword."

Upon hearing this, Li Xian's palm tingled with pain. Madam had previously scraped his palm with a sword multiple times, and it was indeed extremely painful. But he had no choice but to comply.

Madam Wen's voice softened, "You may come over."

Li Xian walked around the screen to stand in front of Madam. Madam Wen appraised Li Xian with satisfaction, silently approving, and had him knead her shoulders in service.

At this moment, the window was slightly open, the rain swaying, and the breeze blowing. Madam Wen calculated in her heart, "The trifling Cao family, I pay them no mind. Whether the nursing home lives or dies, what concern is it of mine."

"Today, I took harsh measures. Li Xian must surely fear me, and moreover provoke the Cao family, cutting off Li Xian's path to the prefecture city. This child, isolated and without support, can only rely on me. In this way, won't he completely belong to me."

"The second layer of the Yin Yang Immortal Companions Sword, it seems the time has come."

Madam Wen was extremely adept at weighing benefits, yet her style was ruthless, often offending others. She could not trust others, only through detailed calculations of benefits, making others rely on her from the perspective of 'benefit' or any other angle.

In this way, she could then trust Li Xian.

The Yin Yang Immortal Companions Sword is superior swordsmanship. It has several layers, each advancing step by step. Upon achieving great success in one layer, one can practice the next. If judged by the swordsmanship talent and mastery, Li Xian was long qualified. Madam Wen was also a lover of swords, coveting the Yin Yang Immortal Companion Sword for over a decade.

The reason for the delay in passing it down, and not cultivating it, was all because the binding of interests was not deep enough. Since long ago, Madam Wen nurtured Li Xian, unrelated to the illusory fortune of 'Li Xiaofan.'

But today... without a word, she intended to cut off Cao Yuan's limbs and force him into thorn armor. Besides calculating benefits and her ruthless style, she was indeed somewhat angry.

"My thing, who are you to dare to touch it? Don't want to live?" In a moment, such thoughts passed through Madam Wen's mind.

Madam Wen softly said, "Qiuyue has already prepared the medicated bath. You are stained with the blood, wash yourself clean first, and then come see me in the bathhouse."

The steam in the bathhouse was misty.

The second layer of the Yin Yang Immortal Companion Sword requires a medicated bath to lay the foundation. You need more than ten different herbs, including Yin Yang Grass, Boundary Root, Li Water, Qian Water, and Ghost Stone Powder, first boiled in a medicine furnace.

Finally, filter out the residue, and dilute it into a soup with the finest "clear water."

What is the finest clear water? Besides the well-known rivers and mountains, the world bestows the mountains and rivers with unique energy aura. This kind of water is excellent "clear water."

But not only that, there is "celestial water" suspended in the sky three thousand miles high, never-ending "river water" in the flowing rivers, and "dew" with a unique fragrance attached to flowers, grass, and leaves.

All are excellent waters.

They require human labor to transport and collect... The creation of the world, only the hands of countless living beings can move it.

In the bath soup.

The medicinal effects seeped in slowly; Madam Wen's beautiful eyes fluttered lightly, both hands clenching. Her breath was somewhat uneven. Though it was for practicing swordsmanship, at this moment, her mind was not on swordsmanship.

This method of the medicated bath shapes the body, its effects mysterious and strange. One person cannot absorb it, nor can two women or two men. Only a man and a woman, hands clasped, allow it to flow into the body.

Nourishing the body, beautifying and extending life, nurturing the inner qi, and easing the mind.

[Your first Yin Yang Medicine Bath.]

[Setting Sun Blood Sword·Second Layer, Skill Level +359]

[Digestion speed increased, Food Essence Realm, Skill Level +1]

...

...

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Cao Yuan, who prided himself on his strength, bullied poor county children, only to end up with all four limbs broken, wearing thorn armor. He was gravely injured and enraged, fainting on the spot.

When he regained consciousness, it was already noon the next day, the jolting of the carriage waking him.

"Uh..." Cao Yuan attempted to speak. Yet his throat was taken away, leaving the esteemed elder of the Cao family's eight clans in such dire straits, impossible to describe. Thinking of this, with a heart full of bitterness and anger, he listened to the conversation of the accompanying Cao soldiers:

"Elder of the Cao Eight Clans, this time, it seems he's ruined."

"Indeed, there's always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky. This affair shouldn't be said, but... but I truly feel that the woman from yesterday is... hard to describe, haunting my dreams. If in this life I can just experience her grace, let me... let me... end up like the elder of the eight clans, I'd be extremely happy."

"Not to lie to you, I feel the same way. No wonder that Martial Captain, at such a young age, achieved this kind of success. With such a woman supporting him, naturally, he is exceptional."

"Alas, in my view, the Martial Captain is remarkably handsome, that woman incomparably beautiful. I'm afraid that the Martial Captain is the woman's paramour. I absolutely do not believe there isn't some connection between the two."

...

Cao Yuan listened, seething with anger. He had already entered the Martial Arts Second Realm [Bone-Shaping Muddy Clothing], also known as [Taixu]. A martial artist who reaches this realm already possesses many mysterious aspects.

The limbs completely severed, may not necessarily mean abandonment.

However... the ability and techniques of a Martial Artist vary with their mastery of Martial Arts, each different in length and specificity. The realm is dead, the person is alive. The realm makes no difference, but people vary vastly.

Cao Yuan excels in hand skills, his "throwing" skill especially formidable, reputed as one of the best in the Prefecture City. His entire Martial Arts heavily rely on hands and feet. Now with both severed, his previous accumulation is wasted.

Possessing martial cultivation but unable to use Martial Arts, truly akin to abandonment. Upon hearing Cao Bing's mockery that hit the heart's core, anger brewed within him, without words.

He slammed his head against the ground, producing "dong" "dong" sounds. Upon hearing the commotion, Cao Bing quickly entered the carriage.

"Ah, old man of the Eight Clans, you've finally awakened."

"We applied herbs for you, and are heading toward the Cao family. Rest assured, upon arrival at Cao Mansion, there will definitely be means to heal you."

Cao Bing entered the carriage, observing Cao Yuan's throat bleeding, unable to speak, with all limbs gone, like a cripple. A sense of satisfaction flickered in his heart.

Cao Yuan's eyes were icy cold, mouth opening and closing repeatedly. Cao Bing asked, "Old man of the Eight Clans, do you want to drink water?"

Cao Yuan nodded quickly. The Cao clan soldier lifted the water pouch, supporting Cao Yuan's head, feeding him water. Cao Yuan drank but did not swallow, storing in the mouth. Suddenly, he spat...

A droplet flew from his mouth, striking Cao Bing, with a "boom" sound, sending him flying and crashing to the ground, disoriented.

Cao Yuan was furious. He had just "used tongue instead of hand" to perform a throwing skill with deadly intent. Unfortunately, his hand skill is deep, while mouth skill shallow.

Ultimately failed to kill him.

"Old man of the Eight Clans."

Hearing the commotion, the Cao soldiers halted the carriage and rushed over to inspect.

Cao Yuan, unable to speak, wanting to return to the mansion, needed their care. Then, he opened his mouth once more, shooting a stream of water piercing a distant tree trunk. After getting accustomed, this time the power notably increased.

After intimidation, he swept his gaze across the crowd, nodding toward the distance, indicating to speed up pace and return quickly.

The soldiers exchanged fearful glances. Bowing their heads, they hurried on, daring not to chat idly.

That night. Cao Yuan pondered over the future; with limbs severed, what could be done? Could this vendetta be avenged in his lifetime? His thoughts scattered, suddenly his brows furrowed, as an overwhelming itch spread across his body.

He slammed his head against the carriage walls, causing Cao Bing to approach urgently. Cao Yuan signaled with eyes, Cao Bing was clueless. A clever one among them said, "Indeed! The Martial Captain put Thorn Armor on the old man of the Eight Clans; now that its effects take hold, the itch is unbearable!"

Cao Yuan nodded, his mouth emitting strange sounds, wanting to say, "Quickly relieve this itch!" Yet this itch was not ordinary but caused by thorns penetrating flesh, tickling nerves through deep tissues… It was an unprecedented itch.

Only the Cao family's secret medicine could temporarily relieve it. But no one brought any, so what could be done?

The crowd thought of a solution, which was to "scratch." Scratching furiously across the Thorn Armor; some errant soldiers fitted with Thorn Armor would alleviate it so when secret medicine was unavailable.

However, scratching through boots won't relieve much; let alone scratching through armor, though minimally effective, it is negligible.

Cao Yuan, the instigator, finally tastes its flavor. He thrashed his head, unable to alleviate the itch, laughter and tears merging, snot, tears, and saliva mixed together, hair disheveled, no longer appealing as when he first appeared.

"Hit, hit..." Cao Yuan muttered indistinctly.

One Cao soldier understood, delivering a palm strike onto the Thorn Armor. Cao Yuan felt pain, but the suffering of flesh outweighed the itch, indeed providing relief.

The soldiers witnessed this effectiveness, using all their Martial Arts to strike Cao Yuan's body.

It couldn't stop for a moment. Thus, throughout the journey back to Prefecture City, the soldiers took turns guarding, slapping Cao Yuan. Cao Yuan's mind grew hazy, muddling through receiving numerous face slaps, already unable to keep count.

The journey was distant.

On the seventh day, finally returned to Prefecture City, back to Cao Mansion.

The entire Cao Mansion was in an uproar...

Despite the thunderous methods of the Cao Mansion suppressing the matter, executing all involved soldiers.

But still exposed, the words "Cao Family's Grand Gift, courtesy of Li Xian" were exceptionally eye-catching on the old man of Eight Clans' face. Spread throughout Prefecture City.

Li Xianren hadn't yet arrived in Prefecture City, his reputation already widespread.

"This little Qingning is so terrifying, even the old man of Eight Clans ended up like this?"

"Frequent defeats here, no good returning. Behind that Martial Captain, there's another high expert, local bigwig squatting."

"Going to Qingning again, probably will suffer. If there's a way to bring him to Prefecture City, then dealing with him would present an opportunity."

"Indeed... the Young Hero Floor Banquet is soon. Then, all the young heroes of Prefecture City will gather, at that time if..."

Within the Cao Clan Mansion, discussions among elders of various clans were endless.

...

...

Yihetang Manor.

Li Xian facing heaven with palm, light emanating, clear energy swirling.

[Food Essence]

[Skill Level: 21/100]

Food Essence Nine Transformations... According to some Martial Artists, Li Xian has reached the Second Shedding.

[Setting Sun Blood Sword·Second Layer]

[Skill Level: 136/1600 Mastery]

[Description: You refine Yin Yang, gradually glimpsing mysteries. Comprehends the characteristic "Tracing Yin Yang."]

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