Standing there was Yaoguang.
Li Guanyi said, "Miss Yaoguang, what brings you here?"
Yaoguang replied calmly, "I have something to discuss."
Li Guanyi felt helpless.
This was the Xue family; their defenses, while not comparable to a fortress, were still quite formidable. It was not easy to sneak in, and the walls of the side courtyard were high, about more than a zhang, which is what they called a high wall and large courtyard. With such a high wall, Li Guanyi couldn't fathom how Yaoguang managed to peek over.
Li Guanyi said, "Come down first."
Yaoguang nodded.
She pressed her palm against the wall, slightly lifting her body.
Then she made an effort to maneuver herself.
First, she lifted her left leg, gently placing her left foot against the wall.
Using her left foot and both hands for support.
She worked hard to flip her body over, lying against the wall, exhaling a breath, and then standing up.
She bent down and brushed off the dust from her cloak.
Yaoguang stood atop the wall, more than a zhang high, with her hands resting in front of her. Behind her was the vast night sky and the star patterns. The silver hair of the young girl fluttered slightly in the night breeze, her expression solemn and peaceful as she softly said, "I thought you had already left."
Li Guanyi felt a bit embarrassed and said, "I haven't yet perfected the cultivation method after entering."
"So I didn't come to find you."
Yaoguang shook her head, extending her finger to point at the sky, her voice tranquil:
"That is not the reason."
"The star Altar of the White Tiger among the Seven Stars has suddenly increased in brightness by three levels tonight, almost rivaling the star Shen. The Altar is the fourth star of the Western Palace White Tiger Seven Stars, known as Maotou, representing the banners of a great army."
"Tonight, the Altar of the White Tiger shines as if the army has raised its banners, and thus the situation in the world has changed. I thought you had left Guan Yi City to wage war in the west, feeling uneasy in my heart, so I took the liberty to seek you out. Since you are still here, I shall not disturb you."
Li Guanyi said, "I've been here these past few days."
He suddenly recalled the letter he sent to the second young master of the Longxi Duke's residence in Ying Kingdom today.
A hint of astonishment filled his heart.
Wasn't that young master only thirteen or fourteen years old? Could it be that he truly intended to act upon what he wrote in the letter?
Did he possess such audacity?
He quickly dismissed this thought, as the timing didn't match. That letter had been sent out, and it should still be on its way, taking more than half a day to reach its destination. There wouldn't be such a quick response; he must have thought wrong. The changes in the Western Regions at this moment reflected in the star patterns should have nothing to do with him.
Unless there was another person related to him stirring up trouble in the Western Regions.
Li Guanyi said, "It's already so late; you should stay here for now."
Yaoguang shook her head.
Li Guanyi said, "I still have some questions to ask you."
Upon hearing this, Yaoguang nodded. In the night, her fair complexion and delicate features, resembling something otherworldly, were enveloped in starlight and moonlight, giving her an air of sanctity.
Then she crouched down.
Carefully turning around, she placed her hands against the wall.
Then she lowered her right foot.
Her right foot gently swayed, searching for a solid place to step.
Li Guanyi suddenly felt that the once ethereal disciple of the Eastern Land Star Observation School had become more human as she descended from the high wall. It was no different from how he had done it before, but the walls of the Xue family were both high and slippery, making it impossible to find a foothold. Li Guanyi walked to the edge of the wall, extended his hand, and said:
"It's fine; I'll support you. Just let go of your foot."
Yaoguang trusted him.
Her right foot stepped down, landing in Li Guanyi's palm.
With the support of his hand, she felt reassured.
Her left foot followed suit.
Yaoguang's feet were now resting in Li Guanyi's palms, and the young girl gently leaned forward, taking a small jump.
She landed on the ground.
Yaoguang brushed off the dust from her palms.
Turning around, she spoke softly, "Thank you for your help."
Li Guanyi pointed towards the side courtyard, leading Yaoguang into a room. While wiping the mud from her shoes off his palms, he asked, "The defenses of the Xue family are quite tight; how did you get in?"
Yaoguang replied, "The Star Observation School has special methods for concealing its presence."
Li Guanyi nodded.
"You just mentioned the star patterns?"
"What impact will the changes in the White Tiger Seven Stars have on me?"
Yaoguang nodded, her voice tranquil as water, without a ripple: "Events occurring in the mortal realm will reflect in the star patterns. The White Tiger Seven Stars represent chaos and conflict; they are the divine overseers of the battlefield. The bloodshed and changes in the human world will cause the White Tiger Seven Stars to respond, and your fate is already intertwined with the White Tiger Seven Stars."
"The radiance of the Seven Stars will affect your Dharma form."
"The current brilliance has yet to stabilize. If it stabilizes, perhaps..."
Yaoguang said, "Perhaps you can receive a second refinement of starlight."
Starlight refinement.
Li Guanyi recalled his experiences upon entering the realm; he had already gained an understanding of the cultivation after entering. He thought that if that were the case, the first stage of body forging and the 【Tiger Howl Bone Forging Method】 should be quickly perfected.
However, he was here now, amidst the tumultuous winds of the border and the Western Regions, where heroes competed for supremacy, which had nothing to do with him. He said, "I have already completed my cultivation method and acquired a weapon; I can head to the secret realm next."
Yaoguang nodded.
Li Guanyi felt a bit embarrassed and asked, "Have you eaten?"
Yaoguang quietly replied, "I have eaten."
Li Guanyi smiled and said, "At this time, having a little more won't hurt." He could roughly guess what Miss Yaoguang had eaten, and after thinking for a moment, he rummaged through the kitchen. Although Li Guanyi often ate with the martial artists of the Xue family or went to the Listening Wind Pavilion to share meals, the kitchen in the side courtyard had plenty of provisions.
There was milk, eggs, fine flour, and refined rice and salt.
There were various fruits and vegetables, changed daily.
There was even some pastry sent by Changsun Wuchou.
This pastry from the Western Regions and grasslands was more akin to the cream from Li Guanyi's previous life.
Li Guanyi smiled slightly and said, "Got it, wait a moment. If you plan to leave, I'll prepare a gift for you. Eat before you go; consider it my apology for not visiting during this time."
He mixed milk and egg yolk with flour and honey to make a cake batter.
Whipping egg whites by hand was indeed difficult, but for a martial artist with strength and recovery abilities, especially one practicing the 【Jade Arm Divine Bow Method】, it was a piece of cake.
After placing it in the oven to steam and bake, Li Guanyi discussed the secret realm and the 【Tiger Howl Bone Forging Method】 with Yaoguang. He took out the cake batter, covered it with the expensive pastry, and decorated it with cut fruit.
Though simple, this was the most perfect restoration Li Guanyi had achieved.
He couldn't replicate the more complex pastries or the cakes from Jiangnan.
He placed this simple cake in front of Yaoguang.
Setting down the chopsticks, he said, "Give it a try."
Yaoguang's voice was tranquil: "The Eastern Land Star Observation School values simplicity in food and clothing."
Li Guanyi smiled and said, "I've already made it; you should give it a try."
Yaoguang extended her hand to take the chopsticks, picked up a piece, and placed it in her mouth. Li Guanyi hoped to see amazement or brightness in her eyes, but she remained as calm as ever, leaving him somewhat disappointed.
Yaoguang set down her chopsticks, her tone unruffled:
"Thank you. I will rest here for a while today."
"When the sun rises and the city opens, I will return to the secret realm and await your arrival."
Li Guanyi left the guest room and closed the door. Yaoguang quietly closed her eyes, waiting for Li Guanyi to leave.
She opened her eyes.
Looking at the exquisite pastry before her.
She extended her chopsticks, picked up a small piece, and placed it in her mouth. Compared to the baked buns, the texture was much softer, with the sweetness of honey and the richness of the Western pastry blending into a delightful sensation. A glimmer of light appeared in Yaoguang's eyes, yet her expression remained serene.
She withdrew her chopsticks and set them down.
Picking up a spoon, she scooped a large piece, opened her mouth wide, and took a bite.
A layer of pastry clung to her lips, resembling a mustache.
The young girl's cheeks puffed slightly, moving as she chewed.
"Delicious."
She quietly commented.
Then she scooped an even larger spoonful.
...
When Li Guanyi woke up the next day, Yaoguang was already gone. With his vigilance, he hadn't noticed her departure, and the Xue family’s servants, maintaining their defenses, also hadn’t detected it. However, when Li Guanyi stepped outside, he saw a large water vat overturned beside the wall where the girl had climbed.
After thinking for a moment, he surmised that Yaoguang must have pushed the vat over.
Climbed up.
Then, on tiptoe, she had managed to lie against the wall.
Li Guanyi stretched lazily, gazing at the sky, feeling that it was a peaceful and tranquil day. He had matters to attend to, so he borrowed a horse from the stable, donned a brocade robe, and rode to the government office. Due to his status as a seventh-rank martial officer, no one stopped him.
Even the officials handling the customs documents hurriedly welcomed him inside.
He was seated, and tea was served!
In the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Li Guanyi walked out of the official residence.
For a moment, he felt a bit dazed.
It was that simple; those officials were eager to fulfill all his requests. Clearly, as a seventh-rank martial officer, he had intentions of leaving the country, yet the officials only saw that once he departed, the position of this seventh-rank martial officer would become vacant.
Li Guanyi wondered if the other countries in the world were the same.
If even Ying Kingdom was like this.
Then this world was truly doomed.
But in such a vast world, there must be a place for him to settle down, allowing him and his aunt to live on. Li Guanyi's martial skills had already entered the realm, and money was not an issue. He just needed to inform Old Xue and have him make arrangements with the merchant association over there, and he could take his aunt and leave this place.
Li Guanyi felt much lighter on his shoulders, but when he returned to the Xue family, he found that the roads outside the Xue family had been cleared, and the common people were not allowed to pass through. Relying on his status as a seventh-rank martial officer, he had to dismount and walk to the Xue family, only to find many people gathered around.
The family members of the Xue family had been driven to the outer courtyard and were not allowed to enter, including the guest officials in the inner courtyard.
Li Guanyi asked, "What happened? Sister Qu?"
The manager of the clothing workshop, Qu, had a somewhat respectful expression and said, "It’s the officials from the palace."
"The emperor has sent someone here."
The emperor?
Li Guanyi's expression tightened. Although his background was still unclear, it was definitely not suitable for him to meet palace officials. The best strategy was to retreat; he planned to leave, but someone spotted him. It was Zhao Dabing, who squeezed through the crowd and grabbed him, saying:
"Little brother, I've finally found you! Hurry over; they’ve been waiting for you!"
Li Guanyi said, "What does the emperor's envoy have to do with me?"
Zhao Dabing shook his head and said, "I don't know."
"It seems that the message brought by the envoy mentioned you, brother. According to the palace's rules, they can only issue a decree when enough people are gathered!"
He said to Li Guanyi:
"It seems that the sage's decree has named you."
"They want you to go!"
(End of Chapter)