Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

A few days later, Xie Yuan gathered all the necessary weapons and supplies. Fully prepared, he arrived outside Landlord Lin’s manor south of the city at the appointed time.

The Lin family’s manor was less than a third of a mile from the south gate of Yunzhao County. After leaving the city gate and following the country road, one could see the sprawling estate from afar, and behind it, rice paddies that stretched as far as the eye could see.

It was the season for spring planting. The sky was just beginning to lighten as countless tenant farmers bent over their work in the fields, a scene of bustling activity. Birds chirped incessantly in the trees by the road, and roosters crowed from within the manor. It was a picture of life bursting forth in early spring.

At the manor’s wide main entrance stood two massive stone lions, a display of the owner’s status.

’If I were an ordinary Martial Artist who had reached my current level, marrying into a powerful local family, using my father-in-law’s resources to continue my training, and working my way up to the prefecture to study and practice the Martial Dao wouldn’t be a bad path at all.’

This thought occurred to Xie Yuan as he took in the sight of the Lin family’s manor.

This path was not just a good one; for a man of talent like him, who had no roots or background, it was practically the only highway to success.

Throughout history, countless talented young people made a name for themselves, only to be offered an olive branch by others. Full of pride in their own gifts and unwilling to bow their heads—or even to stop holding them quite so high—they refused.

But no matter how gifted they were, if they tried to climb higher without support, they would inevitably hit a ceiling. Even the greatest talents hit it. Because there is always someone with more talent and more resources. By the time they’ve beaten their head against the wall and finally come to their senses, the opportunity is long gone, and all they can do is lament that they realized it too late.

Arrogance isn’t a bad thing if your goal is crystal clear; it’s just that many young people don’t truly know what they’re chasing.

Those who could truly shatter that invisible barrier on their own were geniuses among geniuses, so rare that calling them one in ten thousand would be an understatement. Most people were better off being pragmatic.

If Xie Yuan were just a Martial Artist from some small stone village who had gotten this far on talent alone, his best choice would be to accept the olive branch from Landlord Lin, Scholar Zhang, or some other country gentleman. He could use their influence to make it to Yunzhou Prefecture and see if he could go even further. At worst, he could return to be a wealthy patriarch, living a happy and peaceful life, having secured his future. That was the safe and stable path.

But Xie Yuan didn’t want to choose that path.

He was different. He hadn’t gotten this far on talent.

He had relied on effort.

Talent is finite, but Xie Yuan’s effort could be limitless. Therefore, his potential was also limitless.

’A ceiling? It doesn’t exist for me.’

This potential allowed Xie Yuan to set his sights far beyond the many peaks of the Martial Dao, to what lay at the very top.

Since he had started down this road, he was determined to see the view from the summit.

From a dragon hidden in the abyss, to a soaring dragon that eclipses the sun, he would one day rise above the azure heavens.

Xie Yuan knew he hadn’t come here for a leisurely life in the countryside.

So when Xie Yuan saw the portly landlord standing between the two large stone lions at the main gate of the Lin manor, two paths instantly seemed to appear in his mind, like a branching plot point in a game.

His mind raced with possibilities, but he didn’t hesitate. He chose the path he was meant to walk.

Landlord Lin was a plump, fair-skinned middle-aged man with an amiable face. He smiled before he even spoke.

"Hehehe, Nephew Xie, you’re early! You haven’t had breakfast, have you? Quick, come inside for a bowl of meat congee."

Xie Yuan dismounted and clasped his hands in a salute.

"There’s no need for such courtesy, Landlord Lin. I’ve made all my preparations and can set off at any time. Is Miss Lin ready?"

Landlord Lin sighed, rubbing the green gemstone thumb ring on his hand.

"No rush, no rush! Nephew, come in and rest first. We can take a look around the manor while we wait. My daughter will be ready shortly."

He grabbed Xie Yuan’s arm with the familiarity of an uncle. He first led Xie Yuan to the spacious main hall for a cup of tea, then gave him a tour of the manor, which was even larger than an Escort Agency.

"This is the stable... this is the rear kitchen... and over there is the manor’s private school. I figured people ought to be literate, so I hired a teacher. The children of the surrounding tenant farmers can all attend. As a result, I’ve earned myself the title of ’great philanthropist,’ heheh..."

Standing at the manor’s rear gate, Landlord Lin pointed to the thousand acres of prime farmland and the countless tenant farmers, saying:

"On my Lin family’s land, no one has gone hungry in the last three years. The local villagers all respect me. And in the county seat, I have three silk shops that get their goods from Yunzhou Prefecture. Even the County Magistrate himself is a frequent customer."

Xie Yuan nodded and said sincerely:

"Landlord Lin, your charitable deeds and vast family fortune are truly admirable."

"Heheh, not at all, not at all! It is Nephew Xie’s accomplishments in cultivation at such a young age that are truly admirable!"

Landlord Lin said with a beaming smile:

"To be honest, I’ve wanted to practice martial arts since I was a child, but I just didn’t have the talent for it. My eldest son is only good at studying; he just passed the exam to become a Scholar. I don’t think he’s cut out for martial arts either."

"The servants born into this household are all loyal members of the Lin family, so they’re fine for guarding the manor. But my business is growing larger and larger, and without someone in the family who is truly skilled in martial arts, I can’t feel at ease. This world has many powerful people, and the Martial Dao reigns supreme. If a member of the Lin family—or even a son-in-law—had the aptitude for martial arts, I would support him with all my might. I wouldn’t hesitate to spend half my family’s fortune to send him to a Major Sect."

"Hmm, and I’m well-acquainted with several landlords and village elders in Yunzhao. I also have some business connections in Yunzhou Prefecture. If I wanted to, and we all pulled some strings together, any of the major martial arts academies in the city would give me face. It wouldn’t be a problem."

Faced with Landlord Lin’s almost explicit offer, Xie Yuan, who had already made his decision, simply gave a polite, clasped-hand salute: