Chapter 48: Majestic Mountains and Rivers under a Clear Breeze

Lu Xiao knew clearly in his heart that this trip was meant for tempering himself.
It was to broaden his state of mind and to gain experience and growth, thereby giving momentum to his martial arts realm.
Fleeing was not part of his plan.
Moreover, Lu Xiao had full confidence in himself and believed he could break the impasse.
To become a top-tier martial artist, to carve out a place for himself in this world, and to allow the people he cared about to live a peaceful life.
His bundle was packed with just some clothes, a few silver coins, and thirty baked flatbreads.
Things outside were expensive, and the steamed flatbreads left in his dwelling would soon spoil if kept any longer.
Taking this opportunity, he might as well bring them along to eat.

At the hour of Si, Xue Shiwei’s carriage came to a halt at the gates of the Marquis's Estate.
The First Mistress and Second Mistress of the Marquis's Estate had come to see them off this time.
After all, Xue Shiwei was of a younger generation, but the Lu family was, to some extent, a family of marquises.
Had the Old Madam of the Lu family come out to bid them farewell in person, it would have been too much of a condescension to her own status.
The two mistresses exchanged pleasantries with Xue Shiwei, speaking many polite words.
Just before leaving, they finally turned their gazes toward Lu Xiao.
Their tones changed accordingly, losing the amiability they had used with Xue Shiwei.

"This time when you go to the capital, you must observe the rules and know your etiquette.
Once you are out there, you represent more than just yourself.
People outside will not indulge you and let you run amok the way the Marquis's Estate does.
If we hear that you are causing trouble at the Duke's Estate, you will be restricted to only one meal a day from then on."

While the Second Mistress was instructing Lu Xiao on this side, her daughter, Lu Yun, was talking to Xue Shiwei on the other.
Once everything was said and done, the carriage finally began to move.

In the end, the Old Madam Lu did not arrange for any servants to accompany them into the capital.
According to Xue Shiwei's words, the jade artifact to be repaired this time was described as immensely precious.
Had they sent a servant along, the Duke Xue's Estate would have thought the Lu family was trying to fish for information.
It was better to be frank and open about it.

The carriage rolled forward step by step, and soon they passed out of Yonglin City.
It was now the end of the twelfth lunar month, and when he returned a month later, it should already be the New Year.
Yonglin City was located in Longzhou, a city on the southwestern border of the Great Xia Dynasty.
The weather had turned cool, but a large portion of the plants in this southern region did not shed their leaves; their foliage merely deepened in color, ready to sprout new buds in the coming year.

Once outside the city gates of Yonglin City, the surrounding scenery did not change much, remaining very similar to what was inside the city.
Yet to Lu Xiao, the scenery before his eyes seemed completely different.
Even the breeze blowing past carried a fresh scent.
Lu Xiao did not sit inside the carriage; he stepped down and walked alongside the procession.
Treading upon the earth, a deeper sense of determination seemed to settle in his heart.
Over the years, he had endured too much suffering and too many hardships.
Those who had never offered him a helping hand now shouted and claimed they had bestowed grace upon him, demanding that he repay them manifold.
He would break through these predicaments, and he must pass the examination of the Martial Sect Academy.

Xue Shiwei also noticed Lu Xiao—this Fourth Young Master of the Lu family—refusing to ride in the carriage and choosing instead to walk with the procession.
Initially, she had harbored a trace of apprehension, worrying that she might have brought trouble upon her own household.
However, seeing Lu Xiao act this way, that trace of apprehension completely vanished.

After more than an hour, the procession reached the first post station.
Resupplying at this post station was a necessity because a mountain range lay in between, making the distance to the next post station rather long.
When they stopped to rest, Xue Shiwei invited Lu Xiao to share some food.
Beyond this post station, Lu Xiao would embark on his journey of tempering alone.
Of course, before leaving, Lu Xiao still had to fulfill his promise to help Xue Shiwei repair the jade artifact.

The two of them sat down on a hillside near the post station. The distant scenery was picturesque, making it truly a good place for a leisurely chat.
Lu Xiao expressed his gratitude first, thanking her sincerely.
When he had made his request earlier, Lu Xiao had felt that he was asking for a bit too much and that achieving it would be too difficult.
Yet Xue Shiwei had genuinely helped and brought him out.

Hearing Lu Xiao’s expressions of gratitude, Xue Shiwei smiled and accepted the gratitude with effortless grace.
Coming from a military lineage, Xue Shiwei was indeed completely free of affectation.
She did not dwell on how difficult or troublesome the process had been in front of Lu Xiao.
As the two chatted idly about various matters, Xue Shiwei explained a great deal of common knowledge to him.
Since Lu Xiao had always stayed in Yonglin City and had never traveled outside, his understanding of many things was likely a blank slate.
Throughout the conversation, Lu Xiao listened very attentively.

In truth, however, Lu Xiao’s grasp of common knowledge was not actually lacking.
Every time his elder brother, Lu Zheng, returned, he would talk to Lu Xiao about life outside.
From these casual chats, Lu Xiao had learned many things.
Furthermore, Erniu was now by his side.
Erniu had experienced the world outside and, during mealtime chats, had told him about many things he otherwise wouldn't have known.

Actually, what Lu Xiao wanted to ask about most was the examination of the Martial Sect Academy.
What exactly were the rules and procedures of this examination?
What kind of strength was required to pass? Lu Xiao wanted a concrete goal.
Amidst their conversation, Lu Xiao had not yet found the right opportunity to ask his questions.
Even so, he was not in a hurry, as the procession would be staying here for a while.
He had already told Xue Shiwei that he would set up a simple tent here and complete the repair of the jade artifact right on the spot.

Their conversation continued, and from Xue Shiwei, Lu Xiao learned another piece of information:
To benefit from a spiritual bone, the two parties had to be compatible with each other.
Jiang Yuerou had left the Lu family for many years; how did she know that her spiritual bone could be utilized by Meng Xinchen and Meng Xinxue?
It wasn't simply a matter of having blood ties for a spiritual bone to be used to enhance one's physique.
It still depended on the individual, the degree of compatibility, and sheer luck.

Hearing Xue Shiwei say this, Lu Xiao suddenly remembered something.
Before Jiang Yuerou came last year, the Marquis's Estate had once invited a physician over.
It was said that he was there to check the health of the younger generation of the Marquis's Estate to see if there were any hidden ailments or injuries.
In the past, he would always be overlooked for such matters.
Yet that time, even though he had missed the examination, that physician had deliberately waited around.
Only after examining him did the physician finally leave.

Looking back and pondering it carefully, the reason behind it suddenly seemed crystal clear.

Once these matters were discussed, Lu Xiao did not press further about the Martial Sect Academy's examination; instead, he asked Xue Shiwei to take out the jade pendant.
Since she had gone to the trouble of traveling from the capital back to Yonglin City, the jade pendant needing repair must be extremely important.
According to Lu Xiao’s previous estimation, this jade artifact should be even more precious than the Thousand-Sun Jade.
It was also possible that it was a jade of even higher quality than the previous piece of Thousand-Sun Jade.

Amidst Lu Xiao's anticipation, Xue Shiwei produced a rather ordinary-looking jade artifact.
The jade not only bore cracks but also showed signs of wear and tear.

"The Fourth Young Master possesses exquisite craftsmanship. When you acted last time, that piece of Thousand-Sun Jade was given a new lease on life, appearing just as it did originally.
I wonder if the Fourth Young Master can work his hands on this piece of jade and make it look brand new once more."

There was a hint of anticipation in Xue Shiwei's eyes; she seemed to care deeply about this object.
Without answering immediately, Lu Xiao took the jade artifact and examined it closely first.
The moment he touched the jade, its texture told him that the quality of this jade was not particularly high.