You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?

Huan’er readied the carriage and horses.

Cui Qingwu boarded the carriage and left the rear residence.

As they passed the central courtyard, she couldn’t help but say, ”Stop the carriage.”

Huan’er pulled on the reins. ”Miss?”

”Get an umbrella for me.”

”Oh.”

Cui Qingwu stepped down from the carriage, told Huan’er to wait for her, and then entered the central courtyard holding an Oil Paper Umbrella.

Just as before.

Inside the Martial Arts Arena, a structure with gray tiles and white walls situated by the rockery and pond in the central courtyard, Chun Ying, Ning Yu, and Niu Mountain were holding umbrellas and watching the center of the arena.

Chen Yunfan, wearing only long pants, was bare-chested, practicing his sword in the rain.

Cui Qingwu peeked over for a glance. A faint, almost imperceptible blush colored her cheeks, and she lowered her Oil Paper Umbrella slightly to shield her view.

When Chun Ying and the other two saw her, they quickly bowed. ”Miss Cui.”

Cui Qingwu acknowledged them with a soft sound and walked to their side, her gaze falling upon Chen Yunfan.

Unlike before, Chen Yunfan was no longer practicing specific swordsmanship techniques. Instead, he had returned to the basics, focusing only on fundamental sword moves.

Thrusts, slashes, parries, and so on.

They seemed simple, yet every strike felt perfectly natural and complete.

It was as if that figure and that Long Sword had merged into the rain, creating a perfectly harmonious scene.

As Cui Qingwu watched, a hint of surprise appeared on her face. ”Brother Yunfan’s Sword Dao... is he about to have a breakthrough?”

She herself also practiced the Sword Dao, and although she was only at the Minor Success Realm, she could still sense the power of the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism.

—A power that faintly surpassed that of the Great Success Sword Dao.

Chun Ying, Ning Yu, and Niu Mountain exchanged glances upon hearing her words. Chun Ying was the one to speak.

”The Young Master has had some insights recently. Perhaps he will break through soon.”

She used the word ’perhaps’ cautiously.

But to Cui Qingwu’s ears, it meant that Chen Yunfan’s breakthrough to the Perfection Realm of Sword Dao was only a matter of time.

In the Martial Arts, intent and comprehension were paramount.

Some people could achieve a sudden enlightenment and step into the Supreme Realm in a single day.

Others could strive their entire lives and never break through.

That was simply the way of things.

And for someone like Chen Yunfan, it was as if he already had one foot through the door of the Perfect Sword Dao.

All he lacked was the right opportunity.

’Brother Yunfan is working so hard...’

Cui Qingwu took one last deep look at Chen Yunfan, who was still immersed in his Cultivation, and turned to walk away.

”I have other matters to attend to. I’ll come back when Brother Yunfan is free.”

She made up her mind. After she was done with her business in the coming days, she too would enter secluded Cultivation.

She didn’t expect to reach Perfection in a single leap, but she had to at least achieve Great Success in her Sword Dao.

Chun Ying watched her walk away, then waited a moment longer until she saw Ning Yu give a signal. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

The unwritten secrets of the White-robed Minister could be passed on to Chen Yunfan, but no outsiders could ever learn of them.

Especially not Cui Qingwu.

Not even if she was Chen Yunfan’s fiancée.

’After all, the Qinghe Cui Family... they’re not to be underestimated...’

...

「Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion, Spring Lotus Garden.」

Compared to Chen Yunfan’s diligent and arduous training, Chen Yi seemed much more at ease.

At this moment, he was leaning back in a rocking chair in his study, staring unblinkingly at the book in his hands, titled *Sangyue’s Story*.

The pitter-patter of the ceaseless rain could be heard.

Four oil lamps were lit in the spacious study.

It was brightly illuminated.

The patterned window was pushed open a crack, letting in a cool breeze that made the candlelight flicker and sway.

The chair rocked back and forth, casting shifting light and shadows across Chen Yi’s tranquil face.

”Sang Yue, the conflict between the Sang Country and the Yue Kingdom, the struggle between the north and south of the Central Plains... they certainly produced many heroes.”

*Sangyue’s Story* was a historical text similar to the *Spring and Autumn Annals* or the *Records of the Grand Historian*.

It recorded the struggles between two great dynasties, the Sang Country and the Yue Kingdom, that took place on the lands of the Great Wei a thousand years ago.

It also detailed their respective deeds in fighting off invasions from the northern nomads and the southern Barbarian Race.

Many heroes were listed within its pages, including several Saints, Princes, and Grand Generals, and even the most powerful Martial Arts practitioners of that era were chronicled.

”A few strokes of a brush, and a person’s entire life is written.”

”Right and wrong, success and failure—all empty in a blink... is it not the same in our time?”

Chen Yi let out a soft laugh, set down *Sangyue’s Story*, and looked out the window.

Seeing that it was getting late.

He got up, preparing to return to his private room.

Just then, Xiaodie walked in, light on her feet, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup that she carefully placed on the table.

”Master, the Eldest Miss had Sister Huatang send over this ginseng soup. She said you should drink it while it’s hot.”

Chen Yi glanced at it and said with a smile, ”I barely leave the house all day. What do I need replenishing for?”

Xiaodie shook her head, her twin hair buns bobbing and casting dancing shadows.

”No, no, the Eldest Miss said you’ve been studying hard lately and need to replenish your strength.”

Chen Yi chuckled, at a loss for words. He didn’t refuse again, simply picking up the small bowl and downing it in one gulp.

Warmth flowed down his throat.

But soon, the nourishing components of the ginseng soup were completely digested by his body.

With his current level of Cultivation, ordinary soups and liquids could not replenish his body at all.

Only the endless Spiritual Qi and Spiritual Mechanism between Heaven and Earth could possibly supplement his body’s consumption.

Xiaodie knew nothing of this; she was just happy that he had finished the ginseng soup.

”Master, did you ask about the Annual Examination when you went to Guiyun Academy today?”

”I got the general idea.”

Compared to the County Examination and the Prefecture Examination, the Annual Examination was intended to test one’s knowledge.

Although there would be rankings, it was more of an opportunity to display what one had learned.

It wouldn’t take as long as the others.

The examination would be completed in a single day. Afterward, Ma Shuhan and the others would grade the papers, and the candidates’ results would be posted on the third day.

If there were no major issues, Ma Shuhan would only stay in the Prefecture City for five days before heading to the other counties in Shu State to conduct the next Annual Examination.

Xiaodie pumped her fists encouragingly. ”You’ll have no problem, Master.”

”Maybe... no, you’ll definitely be first in the Annual Examination.”

Chen Yi looked at her and gently tapped her on the forehead.

As he walked out of the study, he said with a laugh, ”I’m not one for fame. Go wash up and get some sleep.”