Book 2 Chapter 64: The Royal Invitation - Martial God

Chapter 64: The Royal Invitation A month later, Taicang County finally settled down, and the damage assessments left everyone in shock. This time, the bandits targeted the county's three major clans, with the Cheng family suffering the most. Particularly in the city, which is essentially the Cheng family's foundation, three-tenths of the businesses belonged to them, showcasing their vast wealth. The bandits breached the city, and all the stores faced plunder. Even those not sacked by the bandits were picked clean by opportunistic townspeople. Fortunately, the Cheng family had deep resources and wealth accumulated over the years. With their daughter's influence in Linlang’s capital, the restoration of their home is within sight. As for the Xu family, though not as devastated, half of their city walls were destroyed and they suffered hundreds of casualties among their household guards and retainers, making their situation rather difficult, too. In contrast, the He family suffered minimal losses, almost negligible. This is the benefit of smaller families not yet fully expanded. In times of peril, it's easier for them to protect themselves compared to larger clans. Moreover, they received support worth tens of thousands of taels of gold, propelling the He family onto a path of rapid development. At the same time, news of a congenital-level expert having emerged from the He family spread across Taicang County and quickly reached the entirety of Linlang. If He Yiming had been merely an accomplished martial artist without demonstrating his formidable power when facing the bandits, his fame would not have spread so rapidly. However, the combination of these factors made it impossible for anyone to keep the news contained. On this day, dozens of riders arrived at He family village. Soon after, He Quan Yi personally came out to greet them. Among these riders, the leader was none other than Lin Taoli from Linlang’s Lin family. This young master, leading the younger generation of the Lin family, possessed an unrivaled aura, and was himself a ninth-level expert in inner strength. Those standing beside him invariably felt an overwhelming pressure. However, this time, He Quan Yi felt no such pressure. On the contrary, Lin Taoli was courteous and deferential, addressing him as uncle and assuming a humble junior's demeanor—an attitude entirely out of character compared to their last encounter. While leading him into the hall, He Quan Yi couldn't help but reflect and realize that this change in behavior was entirely due to Yiming. It seemed Yiming's display of power that day had reached Linlang’s capital, otherwise, someone of Lin Taoli’s status wouldn’t have arrived so quickly. After the host and guest were seated, He Quan Yi asked with a smile, "Young Master Lin, what brings you here?" Lin Taoli returned the smile, casting a glance around the hall, and said, "Uncle, I’ve come specifically to visit Master He." Only a congenital expert could be called ‘Master.’ Although He Yiming was more than ten years younger than Lin Taoli, in terms of martial achievements, Lin Taoli willingly addressed him as such. He Quan Yi hesitated before saying, "Young Master Lin, I can inform him, but whether Yiming wishes to meet is beyond my control." Lin Taoli nodded slightly, understanding that if anyone else had said this, it might be deemed arrogant. However, when the subject was a congenital expert, everyone found it reasonable. "Thank you, Uncle," Lin Taoli said respectfully. In his heart, he too felt a myriad of emotions. Just over a year ago, He Yiming, like himself, was a ninth-level expert in inner strength. Even back then, He Yiming had displayed extraordinary talent, which had piqued Lin Taoli’s interest and desire to recruit him to the Lin family. However, no one could have predicted that in just over a year, He Yiming would miraculously rise from a ninth-level expert to a congenital master. When he first heard the news, disbelief was his only reaction, followed by shock. Not until those from Taicang County faithfully recounted the epic battle did the elders of his family confirm the truth. Though rumors can be misleading, He Yiming had indeed ascended to the congenital realm, a fact that was nearly undeniable. Recognizing this, Lin Taoli proposed the visit to Taicang County. The elders of the Lin family strongly supported this, seeing it as beneficial for their next-generation leader to forge good relations with a congenital expert like He Yiming. ※※※※ He Yiming was not secluded in a chamber for training but was practicing quietly in his courtyard. With his martial cultivation at this level, daily training was no longer imperative as it was for those training in the postnatal stages. Congenital experts strive for enlightenment—a profound realization. One more moment akin to his mountaintop epiphany would be far more beneficial than years of diligent practice. Were it not for this, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against Lü Xinwen, who had been in the congenital realm for over two decades, and emerged victorious. However, such moments of enlightenment are elusive. Even He Yiming himself couldn't claim to know when they might occur again. Thus, he maintained his daily practice without any negligence. A deep breath slowly exhaled from his chest, lasting an astonishing two minutes, causing his stomach to slightly cave in. Holding one’s breath for two minutes isn’t challenging for most, but exhaling continuously for two minutes, smoothly and steadily, is extremely difficult. Rising slowly, He Yiming felt neither joy nor sorrow, entering a peculiar state of mind. After each practice session, he seemed to connect with a certain force between heaven and earth, yet this feeling was always so vague, remaining elusive. Whether other congenital experts shared this quandary was unknown to him, but it certainly weighed heavily on his mind. He finally understood why the travel diary he had read advocated exploring the world and meeting experts. Breaking through in martial arts is no easy feat. The efficiency of shutting oneself away is far less than learning from others. Without his journey to the Huo Wu Kingdom and Xie Zhien’s guidance, he might still be searching in vain for mythical ancient spirit beasts to improve his martial level, never advancing to the congenital. He might have never ventured out if he hadn't read his grandfather's secrets about the Xiantian Golden Pill that aids in breaking the limits of cultivation. He likely would have stayed at He family village, torn by internal struggles, without experiencing later opportunities. A notion stirred within him: was this indicative of his need to travel further afield? Suddenly, the door opened gently, and Yuan Lixun softly asked, "Young Master, would you like to take a break?" At this time each day, He Yiming would finish his practice. Yuan Lixun, after spending several days with him, had grown familiar with his habits. He Yiming nodded subtly, prompting Yuan Lixun to bring out carefully prepared refreshments, setting them on the table silently. Seated, he quietly observed Yuan Lixun’s actions, realizing that a life with dedicated care wasn't entirely unpleasant and, to his surprise, he didn't find himself resisting it. "Lixun, your inner strength isn't bad; you've reached the fifth level," He Yiming noted suddenly. Yuan Lixun paused momentarily, then continued her work, looking up with a radiant smile, "Young Master, do you truly notice such meager inner strength?" He Yiming’s lips curled slightly. For him, the fifth level of inner strength was a memory he could never forget. Though not hungry, he picked up a cake and slowly chewed. After a moment of hesitation, Yuan Lixun said, "Young Master, Third Uncle sent a message. Lin Taoli from Linlang’s Lin family is here to visit. Would you like to meet him?" He Yiming’s eyes brightened, instantly asking, "How long has he been here?" "About half an hour," she replied, startled, wondering if perhaps this person was his friend and he was upset she didn’t relay the message sooner. He Yiming laughed heartily, standing up, "Lixun, I'll go see him now. Hopefully, he hasn’t left yet." Relieved by his untroubled demeanor, Yuan Lixun watched him leave, then carefully tidied up the room. Despite being able to delegate these tasks to maids, Yuan Lixun preferred tending to He Yiming's needs herself, intent on being meticulous, unwilling to entrust his care to others. He Yiming swiftly made his way to the main hall, with a single thought in mind: how to obtain the Lin family’s congenital martial techniques. If he could just have a look at those secret manuals, he was confident he could significantly enhance his capabilities. His footsteps were seemingly unhurried yet swift, and with a few strides, he reached the hall. Considering it had been half an hour since He Quan Yi’s message, He Yiming wondered if Lin Taoli might have already left. However, before he reached the hall, he heard a familiar burst of joyous laughter. Hearing this, He Yiming couldn’t help but smile. This was unmistakably Lin Taoli, and from his laughter, he could tell Lin Taoli wasn’t upset by Yuan Lixun’s perceived neglect. "Brother Lin, you've come from afar; pardon my tardy welcome," He Yiming entered with a hearty laugh, mimicking his father’s gesture from past encounters with a clasped-hand salute. The hall fell silent as Lin Taoli’s eyes brightened. He stood promptly, saying, "Master He, it’s been a year. Congratulations on advancing to the congenital stage—it’s remarkable!" He Yiming chuckled softly. Since the other had changed his address, he didn’t bother to correct him. This wasn’t because of arrogance; the gap between congenital and postnatal is an insurmountable chasm. Even his family treated him differently now, let alone outsiders. "Brother Lin, I was just immersed in practice and didn't come out to greet you earlier. Please forgive me." "Master He, you’re too modest," Lin Taoli remarked with genuine admiration. "With your achievements today, yet you still practice diligently daily, it makes us all feel ashamed." He internally mused that behind every success lies relentless effort. No matter how gifted He Yiming was, without such rigorous training, he wouldn’t achieve what he had today. Once seated again, Lin Taoli pulled out a red gift list from his sleeve: "My father heard of Taicang County’s severe losses from the bandit attack. These bandits were originally fugitives from the county’s Tai’a, and we struggled to suppress them for a long time. However, in Taicang County, these bandits met their match, with several leaders dead or missing. Tai’a is now much more peaceful. My father sent a small token of thanks, which we hope Master He will accept." He Yiming didn’t reach for the gift list but curiously asked, "Did the leaders of those bandits not return to Tai’a?" "Indeed, the five tenth-level bandit leaders, along with Hai Huijiao, are unaccounted for," Lin Taoli affirmed. He Yiming was puzzled. He indeed eliminated four of them, but he had never encountered Lan Hanyang and his wife. With their prowess, could they have been assassinated en route? Otherwise, they should have long returned to Tai’a County. Yet he had no reason to doubt Lin Taoli's words, as there was no reason for deceit in this matter. Picking up the gift list, He Yiming glanced over it, his expression subtly shifting. The gifts listed were astonishingly generous. Two thousand taels of gold, five hundred Tianluo horses, fifty bolts of Dashi silk... These were just the principal items, along with a plethora of other goods. Even He Yiming, seeing such an extravagant listing, was somewhat astounded. Closing the list, he said, "Brother Lin, such lavish gifts cannot be accepted without reason." Lin Taoli smiled wryly and produced another thick ledger-like item, handing it over: "I anticipated Master He might refuse, so I prepared this. If you still decline after seeing it, I will have nothing more to say." He Yiming looked slightly puzzled, opened it, and saw detailed records inside: Twenty fine horses, fifty taels of gold, various weapons... While these items were recorded as dispersed, together they formed a considerable sum. Lin Taoli explained, "Once we received news of the bandits’ defeat, we immediately dispatched forces to Tai’a County, ransacking the bandit lairs. The items here are the spoils of that venture." He paused and smiled, "Master He, without your incredible contributions, we wouldn’t have reaped such rewards. We’re offering you twenty percent of the spoils, which isn’t excessive." He Yiming and He Quan Yi both realized, the reason the Lin family had suddenly sent these items was due to their seizure from the bandit strongholds. He Quan Yi abruptly said, "Young Master Lin, as I understand, these bandits lived itinerantly; would they still have fixed bases?" "The Lin family’s roots are in Linlang County, and despite our decades-long struggle with Tai’a bandits, we never disregarded them. Occasionally, we infiltrated members to gather intelligence; hence, it’s not surprising to have obtained some insights," Lin Taoli smiled, "Though bandits come and go like the wind, they maintain a few fixed hideouts. Unfortunately, we only found the hidden gold storages of the Red Scarf Thieves and the Fiery Tigers. We uncovered nothing of the Wolf Fang bandits and Blue Sea bandits’ treasures." He Quan Yi and He Yiming exchanged glances, both realizing the Lin family’s deep machinations greatly exceeded their expectations. Returning the ledger, He Yiming conceded, "Very well. Since Brother Lin insists, it would be uncourteous of me to refuse." Lin Taoli’s face lit up with relief, "Master He accepting this gift is indeed an honor for me." The two exchanged smiles, and after a while, Lin Taoli cautiously asked, "Master He, have you heard of Master Shui Xuanjin?" He Yiming shook his head blankly, while He Quan Yi took a deep breath and replied, "Master Shui Xuanjin? He is our Tianluo Kingdom's esteemed protector." "Indeed, the very protector," Lin Taoli sighed. "Master He's feat of slaughtering two hundred bandits in one strike has reached Tianluo City, and even Master Shui Xuanjin was impressed. The Tianluo royal family asked us to invite Master He to the capital for a meeting. They will not impose if you’re unwilling, but should you wish for the meeting, the royal family will send a formal invitation and escort you to the capital." He phrased his words with great caution, carefully observing He Yiming’s expression. To his relief, He Yiming’s eyes gleamed with unconcealed excitement, suggesting his keen interest in the opportunity. "Brother Lin, since the protector himself requests, how dare I refuse?" He Yiming added casually, "When do you plan to leave for the capital?" Lin Taoli was overjoyed, having never expected He Yiming to be so agreeable. "Master He, within at most half a month, the royal entourage can arrive." "Excellent, then half a month it shall be," He Yiming stood and declared, "I have yet to finish my practice for today, Brother Lin, excuse me." As he exited the hall, He Yiming’s eyes shone brilliantly. The prospect of meeting other congenital masters in the Tianluo capital was exhilarating...