Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Xie Yuan’s eyes lit up as he took the envelope.

A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted from the envelope, and he subconsciously twitched his nose.

’Why does it smell so good?’

Just as he was feeling puzzled, he heard Situ Qin let out a soft "Ah!" from across from him. He looked up to find her face as red as a blooming peach blossom, with even the base of her neck blushing pink.

Xie Yuan, who had never seen Situ Qin in such a state, was momentarily stunned.

He was instantly reminded of an old saying.

A young maiden’s bashfulness is the most beautiful sight in the world.

’But what is she blushing about?’

Xie Yuan was a little confused. He subconsciously glanced at the letter, and for some reason, he gave it another very obvious sniff.

’It really does smell nice. Wait a minute...’

’Where did she pull this from?’

Just then, a coquettish cry filled with both embarrassment and anger rang out:

"Shameless!"

An embroidered slipper from across the table shot out and kicked Xie Yuan hard.

Xie Yuan was instantly mortified. He hadn’t thought much of it just now; he just thought it smelled nice.

Apparently, Situ Qin hadn’t thought about it either. It was only after she took out the letter and saw Xie Yuan’s action that it dawned on her.

Xie Yuan wanted to explain that it was an unintentional mistake, but seeing Situ Qin’s flushed face and heaving chest, he decisively shut his mouth.

’I can’t say anything. The more I try to explain, the worse it’ll get.’

He ducked his head low, opened the envelope, and began to read it word by word, his eyes fixed on the page. He was so focused, it was as if he were studying a legendary celestial scripture.

Seeing Xie Yuan’s earnest and simple-looking appearance, Situ Qin’s chest heaved for a moment before she slowly calmed down.

Her face was still red, but looking at Xie Yuan, she found it inexplicably funny and wasn’t angry anymore.

Situ Qin herself was surprised. If any other man had dared to be so presumptuous with her, she would have, without a second thought, ordered Tai Bo to eliminate him.

But with Xie Yuan, for some reason, she wasn’t that angry. That moment just now was more embarrassment than anything else.

Situ Qin was quiet for a moment, then deliberately put on a stern face and said:

"You’ve been staring for so long. Do you understand it? It’s just a prescription; it’s not like it holds some profound secret."

"Er..."

Xie Yuan lowered the letter and peeked at Situ Qin’s face. Seeing that she was still blushing but not furious, his heart settled a bit.

"I don’t recognize all of these herbs... but the ones I do recognize are all extraordinary."

"Of course. How could it have a good effect without good herbs?"

Situ Qin said peevishly:

"If you can’t find some of them right away, you can have a physician substitute them with slightly inferior herbs of the same type and properties. The result will be passable, just not as effective.

"Brew the medicine according to this recipe, one dose every ten days. In the early stages, it will easily increase the speed of your Inner Power cultivation by fifty percent."

Hearing this, Xie Yuan’s eyes practically glowed.

’A fifty percent increase? What does that even mean?’

’It’s only for the early stages... but I’m obviously in the early stages right now!’

With Situ Qin’s words, Xie Yuan immediately made up his mind. He had to gather all the herbs on this list.

The two returned to Situ Qin’s residence. Situ Qin still wouldn’t give him a pleasant look and went off to rest on her own.

Xie Yuan gave a wry smile, knowing he had offended the young miss.

’Then again, if it had been any other girl, the fact that she didn’t slap me twice on the spot means she was already showing me a lot of face.’

He obediently returned to his room, thinking:

’My injuries are mostly healed, I’ve seen the sights of Yunzhou Prefecture, and I’ve gained quite a lot. The arena matches are in a few days; it’s time to head back.

’But before I go back...’

Xie Yuan thought of Peng Wei’s words and fell into deep thought.

’I have to strip Yu Chunsheng of his official robes. Otherwise, I can’t completely eliminate this enemy.’

’Yu Chunsheng got his position through his connection to the Inspector General, Peng Wei’s father, Peng Yue. If I want to strip him of his official skin and remove his protection, I have to start there.’

’For him to seek an audience with Peng Yue at this critical time—even though he didn’t get to see him—it’s most likely related to the deathmatch arena. I have to figure it out, or I won’t be able to rest easy.’

’But how can I figure it out?’

Xie Yuan thought for a long time before a plan suddenly formed in his mind.

For a moment, he hesitated. This was no small matter.

After thinking it over and over, Xie Yuan mused:

’First, I’ll test it out, then I’ll decide.’

He got up and went into the courtyard, walking and stopping through the vast residence until he found the quarters of the head of the guards.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Xie Yuan knocked on the door, then took a single step to the side, hiding behind it.

"Who is it?"

A query came from inside the room. Xie Yuan didn’t answer.

Footsteps sounded, followed by a CREAK. A tall man opened the door and looked left and right, but saw no one.

"Hmm? Who is it? Who’s knocking?"

He asked in a deep voice, a little puzzled.

As a Third Training Martial Artist, he wouldn’t easily doubt his own senses.

And yet, the doorway was only so wide, and there was truly no one there?

Xie Yuan stood in the gap between the open door and the wall, silently watching the side of the man’s face.

From this angle, the man’s peripheral vision could have spotted him. In fact, when he turned his head left and right just now, they had almost been face-to-face.

But since it was just a wall, he had subconsciously ignored that direction and noticed nothing.

’As long as I hide properly, even a Third Training Martial Artist won’t easily notice me.’

After the man returned to his room, puzzled, and closed the door, Xie Yuan stepped out and knocked softly again.

"Who is it?"

With a low shout, the man inside rushed to the door and flung it open, then froze for a second.

"Master Xie?"

Xie Yuan smiled and cupped his fists.

"Commander Hu, it’s been a while."

"Ah, it has been a long time, Master Xie! Please, come in."

Commander Hu was stunned for a moment, then enthusiastically invited Xie Yuan into the room and asked curiously:

"How do you have the time to come visit me, Master Xie? Hmm, were you the one knocking just now, too?"

Xie Yuan put on a surprised expression.

"Just now? I only knocked once, and you opened the door, Commander Hu."

The test was over. Commander Hu would just have to keep that puzzle to himself.

"Is that so... Master Xie, come, have some tea."

The two chatted idly for a bit before Commander Hu took the lead and asked:

"It’s a rare pleasure to have you visit, Master Xie. Is there some important matter you need my help with?"

"Haha, not at all. I’m just here to ask about a few things and consult with you on another matter, Commander Hu."

"You’re too polite, Master Xie. Please, speak."

"Well, for the big officials here in Yunzhou Prefecture—for example, the residence of the Inspector General—what is their security like?"

Commander Hu looked at Xie Yuan, a little confused, but didn’t press for details.

"Hmm, I can’t say for the others, but I’m acquainted with the head of the guards at Lord Peng Yue’s residence, so I know a little bit about it."

"The head of the guards is a Third Training, same as me. The regular guards are between First and Second Training. That’s the standard security detail."

"They also have two Guest Ministers at the residence, one at Qi Blood First Transformation and one at Qi Blood Second Transformation. They’re usually responsible for teaching martial arts to the household members and also share security duties."

Xie Yuan nodded and asked:

"What about Lord Peng himself?"

"He should have some cultivation, but it’s not outstanding. He’s in the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm."

’In other words, no Grandmaster.’

Xie Yuan nodded slowly. He chatted with Commander Hu for a little longer, trying his best to appear merely curious about such matters, then took his leave.

Commander Hu didn’t say much more. After seeing Xie Yuan out, he stroked his chin in thought for a moment, shook his head, and turned to close the door.

Xie Yuan returned to his guest room, sat on a stool, and considered everything carefully.

’With the Celestial Concealment Skill active, even a Third Training practitioner standing right next to me won’t notice me as long as they don’t see me with their own eyes. It should be the same for all External Training cultivators.’

’As for the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm, by that logic, as long as I maintain a certain distance, my qi shouldn’t be directly detected. And their residence has no Grandmaster...’

Xie Yuan weighed his options for a long time. The faces of Kong Chun, Tang Dawei, and the others flashed through his mind. Finally, he clapped his hands together.

’He who hesitates is lost! I’ve learned enough. If I miss this chance, it won’t be easy to take down Yu Chunsheng directly. Besides, if I don’t figure out what the Vajra Sect is plotting, it could lead to another disaster!’

’If I sneak in, as long as I don’t run head-on into the few in the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm, it shouldn’t be a big problem. In the absolute worst-case scenario... I’ll just have to shamelessly use Situ Qin’s name. That should be enough to save my skin.’

Having thought it through, Xie Yuan hesitated no longer. He packed his things and waited for the night to deepen before quietly slipping out.

However, just as he opened his door, he saw Situ Qin standing gracefully in the courtyard, looking at him with a faint, knowing smile.

"Master Xie, where are you off to so late at night?"