Early the next morning, the rain that had fallen for two days finally stopped.

As the sun rose, the clouds in the east were painted in a riot of color.

However, this beautiful scene lasted for less than fifteen minutes before the sky cleared completely, filled with pristine white clouds that drifted and changed with the wind.

Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge rose early as usual, and even Pei Guanli was up, washed, and dressed before five in the morning.

Her fair, bare feet skipped along the bluestone path as she ran over, the bell on her chest swaying.

JINGLE, JINGLE, it rang without stopping.

When Xiaodie heard the noise, she quickly put a finger to her lips and pointed upstairs.

Pei Guanli took the hint, clutching her bell to silence it. She sat down quietly at the table. "Brother-in-law isn’t up yet?"

Xiaodie nodded softly. "Perhaps he’s tired from all the walking at Guiyun Academy yesterday. I checked on him this morning, and he was still fast asleep."

Pei Guanli murmured an "oh." After greeting Xiao Wuge, she picked up her breakfast from the table and began to eat.

She was a true native of Shu State and loved spicy food.

Back when she lived on Wumeng Mountain, her breakfast would be chili peppers and steamed cornbread, and she could eat several of them.

Sometimes, when the clan ran out of fine and coarse flour, they would make wild vegetable soup, and she would still cover her entire bowl with chilis.

Whenever she finished eating, her fair, round face would be flushed bright red, which was why the people of the Mountain Race called her "Hong Mei’er."

Xiao Wuge, who was in the middle of eating his porridge, saw this and couldn’t help but ask, "Sister Guanli, is plain porridge with chilis any good?"

"It’s delicious."

As she spoke, Pei Guanli scooped a spoonful of chilis into his bowl. "Try it."

Xiao Wuge hesitated for a moment, then stirred his bowl a couple of times with his spoon and took a sip.

An intense spiciness immediately flooded his mouth.

"Spicy! So spicy! Water, water, water! HSSS... HAH... HSSS..."

Xiao Wuge’s little face visibly reddened, and he grimaced, motioning for Xiaodie to get him a glass of water.

At a time like this, Xiaodie knew better than to give him plain water. After a quick look around, she opened a bottle of Wangji Tea and handed it to him.

Xiao Wuge took it and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls, and only then did his mouth begin to feel better.

Seeing his reaction, Pei Guanli burst into carefree laughter, winking as she did so.

"Your face is red now, too. From now on, I’ll call you Brother Hong."

That way, the Mountain Race would have its "Hong Mei’er," and the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion would have its "Brother Hong."

Xiao Wuge didn’t mind the nickname. His face was still scrunched up. "It’s so spicy, Sister Guanli. Doesn’t it bother you?"

"Of course not. I’ve been eating like this since I was a kid."

As Pei Guanli spoke, her eyes landed on the Wangji Tea in his hand. She thought for a moment before saying:

"This drink seems to be all the rage in the city lately. I’ve seen lots of people carrying it around the past few days."

Xiao Wuge subconsciously took another sip before replying, "The Medicine Hall that Brother-in-law manages sells it. It’s made by Hundred Herbs Hall."

He gave a whole grown-up-sounding explanation, but Pei Guanli barely registered it. The only two words that stuck were "tastes good."

"Let me try some too."

"I’ll go get some."

Xiaodie ran to the storeroom and returned carrying two porcelain bottles. "One is Wangji Tea, same as what Young Master Wuge has, and the other is Mushroom Tea."

"Which one do you want?"

After asking, she added, "The master said the Mushroom Tea is more suitable for women."

"The mushroom one."

Pei Guanli took it, eagerly opened it, and took a sip. Her eyes immediately lit up.

"It’s sweet and sour! This is delicious!"

"Back with my clan, I especially loved eating the wild peaches from the mountains. This tastes pretty similar."

Before long, she had finished the entire bottle.

She wanted to ask for another bottle, but seeing it was getting late, she had no choice but to wipe her mouth clean and run toward Jiaxing Garden.

"I’ll buy a few more bottles to drink next time I’m out on the streets."

Watching her dash off in a flurry, Xiao Wuge put on an adult-like expression and remarked:

"Sister Guanli is so valiant."

Xiaodie couldn’t help but laugh. "’Valiant’ is a word used to describe men or soldiers."

"If she were to join the army, I imagine she would still be... a bit lacking compared to Second Sister."

After they finished breakfast, seeing that Chen Yi still hadn’t gotten up, Xiao Wuge had Xiaodie take him to Jiaxing Garden.

After spending so much time with him, they all knew Chen Yi’s habits.

Occasionally, when he had nothing important to do, he would sleep until the sun was high in the sky.

Once Spring Lotus Garden had fallen completely silent,

Chen Yi, inside his room, let out a long breath. He slowly concluded his cultivation, rose to his feet, and looked out the window.

The sunlight was perfect. Spring Lotus Garden was awash in verdant green, and as the pond’s surface rippled, a few Golden Carp would occasionally leap from the water.

Some of the resulting splashes landed back on the surface, creating new ripples. Others struck a few birds drinking at the pond’s edge, causing them to fly off with a flurry of chirps.

Moreover, someone had swept the garden clean of fallen leaves and petals, making it look all the more fresh and natural.

Chen Yi’s spirits lifted as he took in the scene.

’Clear skies after the rain. That’s a good omen.’

However, this tranquil and comfortable state of mind vanished the moment he finished dressing and arrived at the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Chen Yi calmed his mind, planted his feet firmly, and began to practice the Big Spear Pile Skill.

Although the Power he gained from the Pile Skill was now minuscule, it was still an excellent way to activate his body.

His muscles, bones, skin, and flesh—his entire physical form, down to every strand of hair—could be controlled using the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique.

「About half an hour later.」

Chen Yi concluded his Pile Skill practice and, taking advantage of the surging Blood Qi and Power, switched to practicing the Mountain Shattering Fist and the Hundred Flowers Palm.

One was fierce and powerful, the other nimble and fluid.

Though they were two completely different styles of Fist Technique and Palm Technique, complete with their own Step Techniques, he executed them with a seamless, natural grace.

They possessed a far greater depth and rhythm than before.

This newfound rhythm was nothing other than the enhancement from his Mental Realm, a benefit of achieving the Great Success stage in his Martial Arts Fist.