Chapter 87 - 84: Minor Accomplishment in Tendon Tempering

Chapter 87: Chapter 84: Minor Accomplishment in Tendon Tempering

South City Government Office, rear courtyard.

Everyone was gathered before the screen wall, their eyes glued to the few lines of characters carved into it with a saber.

"While other flowers fade and fall, one alone in beauty blooms."

The Minister recited, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Claiming all grace for the little garden..."

The Chief Clerk continued, his voice trembling slightly.

WHOOSH. In an instant, all eyes landed on the Courtesan, the Xiang Family.

The Xiang Family’s delicate figure swayed, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Sparse shadows stretch askew over waters clear and shallow; a subtle fragrance drifts on the dusky, moonlit air."

She murmured to herself, reciting the last two lines of the poem from the screen wall as tears streamed down her face.

"I was wrong!"

The Xiang Family said suddenly, then charged outside without a second thought.

"Why’s she running off? I’m telling you, the Xiang Family, you took my money! You can’t just up and leave on me."

Wang Guan shouted, "You maids! What are you waiting for? Go get her back for me!"

He barked at the maids the Xiang Family had brought with her.

The maids hurried after her, desperately clinging to the Xiang Family, who was trying to get away.

"Mistress, you mustn’t..."

They had never seen their lady lose her composure like this, completely disregarding basic etiquette.

"Let me go! I need to apologize to Young Master Su."

The Xiang Family said urgently, "I was wrong. I’m willing to accept any punishment."

"Hey, the Xiang Family, what’s the deal? The Young Master Su you’re talking about... is that my Brother Mu?"

Wang Guan was completely baffled. He couldn’t even recognize all the characters on the screen wall, let alone understand what they meant when put together.

"Sima, don’t ask."

The Master covered his face as he pulled Wang Guan back, whispering, "All you need to know is that with this poem, the Xiang Family will now be the undisputed number one Courtesan in Wuling City. No one will be able to compete with her."

"Centuries from now, the Xiang Family’s name will still be known. This is how you go down in history."

The Master’s face was filled with envy.

Although Da Xuan was founded on the Martial Dao, a good number of scholars still served as officials.

Centuries from now, a Martial Artist’s body will have turned to white bones, but a great poem can be passed down for a hundred generations.

There has been no shortage of talented men and beautiful women who earned their place in history through poetry.

Though the Xiang Family was famous before, she was ultimately still just one of the Cultured Courtesans.

But with this poem, everything was different. She would be immortalized in history because of it. Forget a courtesan; even he would be ecstatic to receive such an opportunity.

After the Master’s lengthy explanation, Wang Guan finally understood.

"So you’re saying the poem my Brother Mu wrote is good?"

Wang Guan asked.

"Exceptionally so!"

the Master affirmed.

"I knew it!"

Wang Guan slapped his thigh and roared with laughter. "I knew my Brother Mu was no ordinary man! When I came to South City to be the Sima, those people looked down on me. What the hell do they know!

"My Brother Mu is talented in both literature and martial arts. With the two of us working together, it’s only a matter of time before our names are known throughout the world!"

The crowd’s reactions were varied. The Civil Servants like the Minister and the Chief Clerk were both shocked and ashamed. The gang leaders just saw it as a bit of fun; they didn’t understand the fuss about literature and didn’t think much of it.

Instead, it was the relationship between Constable Xiao Su and Lord Sima that made them raise their estimation of Su Mu.

"Lord Sima, this old man is getting on in years. I will take my leave first, please forgive me."

The Minister and Chief Clerk couldn’t bear to stay any longer either. They made their excuses to Wang Guan and scurried away in disgrace.

At this point, the Xiang Family had finally calmed down. She made a decision in her heart and forced herself to pull it together to deal with Wang Guan.

...

"Damn it! To think that Su Mu actually knows how to write poetry."

The Minister cursed resentfully upon returning to his residence.

How could such a fine poem be written by a crude Martial Artist?

If he had been the one to write it, he could have been the Xiang Family’s guest of honor tonight, and enjoyed her intimate company!

That figure—

The Minister felt a certain part of his body stirring. He’d had a lot to drink tonight. He decided to visit the latrine first, then head to the room of the new concubine he’d just taken...

As he thought this, he undid his sash.

"Help! The master has fallen into the latrine!"

A moment later, a cry of alarm rang out from the Minister’s residence, followed by chaos.

The same thing happened at the Chief Clerk’s residence not far away.

...

Su Mu returned home feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Those two old fools had fallen into the latrine. Even if they didn’t drown, they’d likely be too ashamed to ever show their faces in the South City Bureau again.

For old relics like them, this was a fate worse than death.

’I’m a vindictive person. Who told you to come provoke me?’

Su Mu thought to himself.

He quickly put the night’s events out of his mind.

Even the Xiang Family had not left the slightest impression on him.

Showing off by plagiarizing the poem was just a way to repay a favor to Xiang Xiaoyuan.

After all, she had helped him cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique.

From beginning to end, Su Mu had never considered walking the path of a scholar.

Although the Da Xuan Dynasty had Civil Servants, in a world teeming with demons and monsters, Military Officers clearly held a higher status.

Demons and monsters were terrifying. Without strength, one couldn’t even sleep soundly.

His heart was set on the Martial Dao, unwavering.

[Name: Su Mu]

[Status: Constable/Taiping Bureau White Clothes (Ninth Grade)]

[Points: 420]

[Realm: Third Stage of Body Tempering (Extreme Skin Tempering Realm, Extreme Flesh Tempering)]

[Cultivation Technique: Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique (Uninitiated/+)...]

[Martial Arts: Cloud Rain Saber Technique (Perfection), Submerging Wave Saber Technique (Perfection), Wind-Breaking Swordsmanship (Perfection), Archery (Initiate/+)]

Midnight passed, and his Points increased by another 140.

Without hesitation, Su Mu pressed the "+" symbol after the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique.

"HISS—"

Su Mu’s body arched violently as he sucked in a sharp breath of cold air.