In the morning light, the wind has gradually warmed.

Aunt Wang is bustling around the clay stove, boiling water and cooking. Next to her, a wooden basin holds the master's dirty clothes, which she will wash by Silver Creek later, before finding time to wash her own and her child's clothes.

Outside the shanty area, willow branches sprout tender buds, and as the children run past inside the area, the willow catkins dance with the wind, exuding a vibrant vitality.

Unknowingly, the harsh winter has faded, and early spring has arrived. The shanty area by Silver Creek has become more lively, and people's hearts are more joyful.

However, Li Yuan's mood remains heavy.

Today is his last day of "sick leave"; tomorrow he must return to the Black Market, but he is still uncertain about the situation there.

He wants to continue his sick leave but doesn't know if that is possible.

But the Central City... he definitely can't go there.

And other places are not accessible either.

Deep mountains and old forests are impossible to delve into, leaving the county is seeking death. The only option is to stay holed up in Silver Creek Square.

He wants to wait until the dust settles, and the truth is revealed before making his move.

As he pondered, a knock on the door and Cai Ze's voice sounded.

"Brother Li, Brother Li?"

Li Yuan quickly went to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Cai Ze smiled and said, "You were right, Brother Li, the missing people have all been found.

Their bodies were at the bottom of the lake, so it seems to be murder rather than a disappearance.

The sect is very concerned about this matter, and recently they plan to set a trap to lure out the person in the shadows, no need to worry anymore, Brother Li."

Hearing that there was progress, Li Yuan gently breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they truly investigate and find some leads, there should follow a series of news.

But as long as the matter remained unclear, his sickness wouldn't get better.

All of a sudden, he clutched his chest, coughing violently as if his soul had escaped, "Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough..."

After a long time, he gasped for breath and spoke intermittently, "Brother Cai, I... cough, cough... have weakened my foundation, it's hard to recover from this illness... cough, cough..."

Cai Ze suddenly moved closer and said, "There is a divine healer in the sect, if an Outer or Inner Sect disciple gets injured, this healer comes whenever called... eh...

Brother Li, with all your skills, if not for the Vice Sect Leader looking down on you, you would have long become an Outer Sect Disciple."

With that, he sighed,

showing a bit of indignation on his face,

as if feeling injustice for Li Yuan.

"Oh..." Li Yuan responded.

Cai Ze seemed to expect something, staring at Li Yuan.

Li Yuan asked, "The Vice Sect Leader looks down on me? Cough, cough, cough..."

Cai Ze said, "Yes, originally Brother Li surely would have been an Outer Sect Disciple, it's the Vice Sect Leader... eh, let's not talk about it."

Li Yuan coughed a few times and praised, "The Vice Sect Leader indeed has such good vision... eh... my body... it's tough... tough..."

Cai Ze: ??????

Li Yuan continued to cough non-stop...

Cai Ze: ...

For a moment, he had nothing to say.

Li Yuan also remained silent; he wasn't suited for the hot-blooded style, wouldn't be provoked into becoming cannon fodder.

He preferred to stay in a relatively safe region, quietly searching for cultivation skills, and enhancing them low-key.

After chatting casually for a bit more, Cai Ze chose to take his leave.

Li Yuan glanced at the sky.

Today the weather is clear, with a mild breeze and bright sunshine.

"Sister Yan," he called out.

In the backyard, the charming Lady Yan poked her head out from behind the door, "What is it, husband?"

"I'm going to the Black Market."

"Ah?"

Lady Yan hurried out, looking a bit concerned.

Li Yuan said, "I want to see if it's possible to continue my sick leave."

"What if they won't allow it?"

"Well then...

I'll have to take one step at a time..."

After speaking, Li Yuan ran to the kitchen and took the sausage casings he had Aunt Wang buy a few days ago, filled some pig blood into them, then tied the mouths and put them in his mouth in advance, in case of an emergency.

This served as the upgraded version of the "spitting blood" tool.

...

...

In the afternoon.

Li Yuan stepped onto Lake Heart Island again.

The Black Market continued to operate in an orderly manner, yet there was a mysterious somberness and solemnity in the air.

At the edge of the island was a small grove, where the trees were evergreen and leaned over the water, now revealing a bit of gloom. From afar, one could vaguely see many miscellaneous task workers and Blood Saber Sect disciples gathering there for something.

Li Yuan didn't get too close, only glimpsing from afar as he passed by.

His pupils slowly contracted, as he realized that the crowd was gathered around more than a dozen straw mats, each spread with a waterlogged and swollen decomposing "giant."

The one at the very edge, faintly recognizable as Wen Xiaoqiao.

In the air, a faint, nauseating stench of corpses lingered.

Li Yuan's heart sank, his stomach churned, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he quickened his pace to move past without the slightest pause.

Evidently, the disappearances on this island were more than just the recent three cases... they had been happening for a long time.

...

A moment later.

He arrived at the main gate of the Black Market, also known as the North Gate.

In a nondescript little pavilion, Master Li seemed to be perpetually half-asleep, resting listlessly on a deck chair.

However, the information beside him betrayed him.

Li Yuan clearly saw his info had changed from "130(180)~140(210)" to "135(180)~145(210)."

Master Li looked as if he was resting but actually was recuperating.

Li Yuan glanced over and then withdrew his gaze; today he had to continue pretending to be ill.

Thus, clutching his chest, he saluted and said, "Cough... cough cough cough... Yuan greets Master Li... cough cough..."

On the deck chair, Master Li suddenly said softly, "Li Yuan, you actually want to call in sick and stay home again today, don't you?"

Li Yuan was taken aback, continued coughing, and said, "Master Li, please forgive me... Yuan indeed longs for home but is powerless... homesick as an arrow, yet hindered by illness..."

"Heh... hehehe..."

Master Li chuckled, suddenly saying, "How about this, Li Yuan, I'll give you a chance.

This time, don't take leave, stay here with me.

Don't return to the Central City, just stay with me at this North Gate. Bring me tea during the day, leave the island for home at night, how about it?"

Li Yuan coughed a few times, weakly saying, "Cough cough, Yuan doesn't know why Master Li values me so..."

As his words fell, the atmosphere suddenly turned stifling and oppressive.

Under this pressure, Li Yuan just lowered his head and remained silent; he could feel Master Li's burning gaze meticulously studying him as if trying to see through his entire being.

For a long time,

with Master Li's words, the oppressive feeling dissipated into thin air.

Master Li only softly asked four words.

"Will you stay?"

Then,

Li Yuan decisively answered with one word, "Stay."

Master Li was stunned, then burst into hearty laughter, saying, "Good!"

...

That day, Master Li said nothing to Li Yuan, only instructing him to serve tea and water, and fetch fruits.

Li Yuan did not ask anything either, only completing the tasks assigned by Master Li.

By dusk, Master Li yawned and got up.

At night, the Black Market on Lake Heart Island would implement an island curfew, so Master Li did not need to guard the place.

Master Li lived somewhere in the North City, while Li Yuan needed to travel to South City to take a boat home, hence they parted ways midway.

...

In the following days, it was the same.

Five days later.

Li Yuan was still routinely serving water to Master Li.

But today Master Li looked at him and suddenly asked, "Do you want to learn sword skills?"

Li Yuan replied, "Yes."

Master Li said, "Then I will teach you sword skills."

Li Yuan asked curiously, "Then what does Master Li need me to do?"

Master Li replied, "What I need you to do is nothing; you just need to properly pass down my cultivation skill."

He continued, "Do you know why I want to teach you my cultivation skill?"

Li Yuan cooperatively shook his head, wearing a curious expression.

Master Li said, "Because you have talent and fortune, you're clearly from the rural areas but have reached entry grade by seventeen;

your personality is calm, lacking the usual impatience of young people, evading vices and avoiding misfortunes, and this time you even avoided such a massacre;

your disposition is commendable, serving me tea and water without flattery or resentment;

only a young person like you can possibly carry on my school of cultivation skill without letting it fall into oblivion.

I waited a long time, and finally, I found you, so it's you."

Saying this...

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

"Not gonna serve tea, salute, and acknowledge your master?" Master Li said.

Li Yuan hurriedly went to pour hot tea and then bowed to the ground, lifting the tea high with both hands, respectfully saying, "Disciple greets Master."

Master Li accepted the bow, grabbed the hot tea, took a sip, and put it aside, saying, "My name is Li Yu. My school is called the Yanyue Sect, and the cultivation skill I'll teach you is called the Soul-Throwing Technique, with the sword skill called the Spring and Autumn Blade."

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