In the quiet room, Lin Jiangnian sat cross-legged on the ground, practicing Qigong to digest the powerful internal energy surging through his body. As the Xuanyang Heart Method circulated, his internal energy grew stronger.
The Xuan Yang Heart Method is the most powerful and yang heart method in the world. Every time Lin Jiangnian practices this method, his blood and energy become vigorous and it takes a long time to calm down. Now, as the powerful internal force continues to flow into various parts of his body, his aura becomes stronger and stronger.
Throughout the room, as Lin Jiangnian's breath became stronger and stronger, the temperature seemed to be getting higher and higher.
Jinxiu sat aside, looking at Lin Jiangnian with interest.
Lin Jiangnian, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, was completely focused at this moment. His fair and handsome face was faintly flushed, as if the temperature was quite high.
A white robe fluttered slightly, and his aura was released.
Lin Jiangnian's appearance is already good, with sharp features and a handsome face. He has the elegance of a gentleman scholar, mixed with the unrestrained temperament of a chivalrous knight. His red lips and white teeth make him look more masculine than the scholar, and less vulgar than the rough chivalrous knight.
Her delicate hands rested on the table, supporting her delicate chin. She blinked and stared at Lin Jiangnian without saying a word. Her lively eyes, tinged with a hint of a smile, lit up slightly, as if appreciating something beautiful.
Two hours later, Lin Jiangnian slowly finished his practice and opened his eyes.
The immense internal energy that surged into his body had been completely absorbed by him, blending seamlessly into his body. At this moment, Lin Jiangnian was brimming with strength, and the power in his punches and kicks was completely different from before.
Looking down at his palm, there was still a look of astonishment on his face, which seemed unreal.
At the moment, he was even confident that if he fought Yue Pingsheng again, even if he still couldn't win, he would definitely not be completely powerless to fight back.
In fact, there is already a chance of winning in a head-on confrontation!
Thinking of this, Lin Jiangnian was somewhat excited, but also more confused. He looked up and saw Jinxiu still sitting at the table not far away, smiling, looking at him with a half-smile.
"How is it?"
Seeing Lin Jiangnian finish his work, Jinxiu smiled and spoke.
She has a sweet smile and is harmless to people and animals.
Lin Jiangnian walked over, sat down next to her, and asked, "What's going on?"
"What aspect are you asking about?"
"Why has my strength improved so quickly?" Lin Jiangnian asked doubtfully.
"Didn't I tell you already?"
Jinxiu raised her eyebrows, not smiling, "That medicinal soup can not only heal your injuries, but also temper your body. The raw materials contain several rare herbs that are hundreds of years old. They can enhance your internal strength and achieve twice the result with half the effort!"
"After taking the medicine on time these days, do you feel tired and drowsy?"
Lin Jiangnian nodded. These days, he did start to feel drowsy uncontrollably every time he took the medicine. He had long guessed that it might be related to the medicine sent by Jinxiu.
"Drowsiness is a side effect. After your body's original internal energy was sealed, the drug's effects began to take effect. Your body couldn't handle it, so you're prone to fatigue..."
At this point, Jinxiu looked Lin Jiangnian up and down and blinked: "How do you feel now?"
"What level of martial arts have you reached?"
Lin Jiangnian felt it carefully and was not sure: "Sixth Rank?"
He vaguely felt that he could reach the fifth level, but it seemed that he was still a step away.
"Sixth rank!"
Jinxiu nodded thoughtfully and blinked: "Only one step away from becoming a true master?"
The world's martial arts realm is divided into five levels, and the fifth level is a watershed. After entering the fifth level of the Wuxiang realm, one can be considered a true master. Such masters can also be regarded as a well-known existence in the world.
At the moment, Lin Jiangnian still has some distance to go.
"However, there should be more than one step."
Jinxiu's tone changed and she shook her head slightly: "Although your internal strength is close to the fifth level, your own strength has not improved much. If you want to be truly stable, you still have to rely on your own efforts."
Lin Jiangnian was naturally aware of this.
The competition in martial arts is never about the depth of internal strength. Apart from internal strength, a series of factors such as martial arts skills, learned moves, experience against enemies, etc. are all indispensable.
Lin Jiangnian's own martial arts experience has not yet reached this level. If he encounters a true fifth-grade master, he will naturally be much weaker.
But Lin Jiangnian didn't say anything. He stared at Jinxiu in front of him without saying a word.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Jinxiu blinked, her eyes innocent, but a faint smile hung at the corner of her mouth.
"Why do you do this?" Lin Jiangnian asked.
"What?" Jinxiu still blinked innocently. Didn't understand?
"Why are you helping me?"
Lin Jiangnian stared into her eyes. Although she didn't say it directly, there were very few rare herbs in the world that could enhance internal strength, especially the spiritual medicines that had existed for hundreds of years, which were almost extinct.
Even in Ruyi Tower, it is difficult to find such herbs!
Each one of these herbs was priceless, and in short supply. Yet, the woman fed him such rare herbs as if they were free, which made Lin Jiangnian wonder... what was her motive?
Jinxiu smiled and said, "Why can't this servant understand what you are saying, sir?"
Lin Jiangnian glanced at her and didn't beat around the bush: "You really don't know what I want to ask?"
Jinxiu continued to blink, as if trying to play innocent, but Lin Jiangnian stared at her calmly, without any ripples. Seeing that she couldn't avoid it, Jinxiu sighed with a hint of regret: "Well, this is what my master ordered."
"What is your master's purpose?"
"I don't know about that."
"You really don't know?"
Jinxiu thought for a moment, her eyes moving with a smile, "Maybe my master has taken a fancy to you and wants to marry you?"
Lin Jiangnian didn't say anything.
There is no free lunch in the world. The woman in white is willing to feed this priceless rare herb to Lin Jiangnian to help him practice and improve his internal strength. Her purpose is definitely not simple.
Although it is not ruled out that the other party is greedy for his body, the possibility is not high!
The other party's purpose is difficult to grasp.
Seeing Lin Jiangnian's serious look, Jinxiu chuckled again, "Don't worry, sir. My master won't make things difficult for you."
"As for helping you cultivate, it's just a matter of convenience. Who knows..."
Jinxiu smiled and said, "What can my master do in the future that may require your help?"
Lin Jiangnian stared at her face and could not see anything unusual, and it didn't seem like she was lying.
But Lin Jiangnian didn't believe it completely.
Just by doing it, she could take out such priceless herbs... Putting aside whether it was reasonable or not, the woman in white was definitely a complete spendthrift.
But before Lin Jiangnian could ask any more questions, Jinxiu had already slowly stood up and stretched, revealing her pretty figure. She then glanced at Lin Jiangnian and said, "Young Master, your body has recovered and your martial arts have improved. If you want to leave, you can do so on your own. We can't stop you here."
At this point, Jinxiu raised her eyebrows: "However, if you want to stay and accompany me for a while longer, you are welcome to do so!"
Looking at Jinxiu's lively eyes, Lin Jiangnian did not answer.
However, he was not in a hurry to leave.
After recovering from his injuries, Lin Jiangnian stayed here for another two days.
While consolidating his own strength, he still needed some time to fully master the internal energy in his body and integrate it into his body. On the other hand, Lin Jiangnian also had to investigate the situation in the capital.
Lin Jiangnian hadn't rushed to attack due to his previous injuries. Now that his injuries had healed, he needed to first understand the current situation in the capital and find the whereabouts of Zhiyuan and the others before making his next move. Although the frenzied and ferocious assassinations of the past wouldn't happen again in the capital, the imperial city was definitely no safer than the journey there.
Over the years, Lin Hengzhong had held a high position and had offended countless powerful people. He had made countless enemies, especially in the capital. Lin Jiangnian, a newcomer to the capital, naturally wouldn't act rashly.
In the past two days, Jinxiu would still come to visit Lin Jiangnian from time to time, chat with him, and ask him about things in the martial arts world from time to time.
It can be seen that Jinxiu probably hasn't traveled far for many years and is quite interested in the outside world.
However, even though the two of them gradually became familiar with each other and talked frequently, Jinxiu never revealed any information about her own identity. At the same time, she almost never asked about Lin Jiangnian's identity.
Lin Jiangnian was the same, maintaining a certain tacit understanding with the other party!
Besides this, the woman in white would often appear during this period. However, she would only stay for a short while each time, spending most of her time in a daze and silence, rarely communicating with Lin Jiangnian.
Even if there is, it is only a few words.
The woman in white gave people the feeling of being an ice sculpture without much emotion.
That night, after Lin Jiangnian had dinner and returned to his room, the woman in white came again.
A lot of snow outside the yard melted, and the ice sculptures on the eaves melted and fell into the yard. On the roof, a woman in white was sitting on the eaves.
"did you eat?"
Lin Jiangnian greeted politely.
The woman in white on the eaves just glanced at him coldly without saying anything.
Lin Jiangnian, who was planning to go back to his room, paused, turned around and walked out of the yard. He tiptoed along the yard, jumped up, and landed on the roof.
Now, climbing over eaves and walls has become much easier for Lin Jiangnian. He walked to the side of the woman in white. When he got closer, he saw that she was looking up at him. In the dead of night, her deep eyes were as bright as stars, yet seemed lifeless.
It's hard to describe.
Such a beautiful woman looks like an ice sculpture.
Lin Jiangnian sighed and sat down next to her.
The woman in white still had no expression on her face, but she moved to the side casually.
Create distance between the two of them.
Lin Jiangnian paid her no mind. He sat beside her, gazing at the distant scenery. Not far away, he could vaguely see the bustling downtown area, dotted with stars. Not far away, even closer, sat the majestic, towering Imperial City. The distant view was awe-inspiring.
There is the central hub of the Daning Dynasty!
How many scholars in the world dream of this place in their lifetime?
After taking a few glances, Lin Jiangnian turned to look at the woman in white beside him: "I haven't had time to say thank you to you yet...Thanks for the herbs, I'm almost healed now."
The woman in white looked ahead, without reacting, as if she hadn't heard. A strand of black hair fell down, covering her fair face, and a hint of her snow-white neck was faintly visible.
Lin Jiangnian stared at her for a while, but ultimately didn't ask.
She is wearing such thin clothes, isn’t she really cold?
It is winter now, and the air seems to be much colder after the snow melts.
But she always wears a thin long skirt. It doesn’t seem thin, but in this winter season, most people have already wrapped themselves in thick winter clothes, but she is still wearing this thin dress... Is she really not afraid of the cold?
As if she noticed the gazes from the side, the woman in white slowly turned around and looked into Lin Jiangnian's eyes.
She was calm and composed, not showing the slightest bit of panic when being stared at by the opposite sex, nor the slightest discomfort. Her eyes were calm and peaceful, as if Lin Jiangnian in front of her was insignificant.
It seems that for her, there is nothing in this world worth caring about!
Such a woman is really strange!
Lin Jiangnian sighed inwardly, then said, "I have to go!"
"Thank you for your hospitality during this time, young lady. My injuries have healed now, and it's time for me to leave... I've caused you a lot of trouble during this time. If you need anything in the future, just let me know as soon as possible... If it's possible, I will do my best."
Lin Jiangnian came to say goodbye to her.
Although the woman in white in front of him was a little cold and didn't like to talk to people, she saved his life after all and used such rare herbs to help Lin Jiangnian improve his strength. This favor was indeed huge.
But on the other hand, Lin Jiangnian also increasingly felt that things were not that simple...
The woman in white didn't say anything, but just stared at Lin Jiangnian. After a while, she hummed softly.
Then he didn't say anything else, stood up and left.
The figure disappeared into the night.
Lin Jiangnian watched this scene quietly, what a strange woman!
…
The next day, Lin Jiangnian packed up and prepared to leave.
Of course, there was nothing to pack. He had arrived alone, and he was leaving alone.
Jinxiu watched Lin Jiangnian leave as he reached the courtyard gate, seeming somewhat reluctant to let him go. She sighed, "Is the young master really leaving?"
Lin Jiang smiled young: "Can't you bear to leave me?"
"It's true that I'm a little reluctant."
Jinxiu sighed and said with a half-smile, "It's rare to see a young man as handsome as you. He's a delight to look at on weekdays. Now that you're gone, I'm afraid I'll have to stay alone in my empty room again."
Lin Jiangnian raised his eyebrows: "If Miss Jinxiu can't bear to leave me, why don't you come with me?"
"Let's go together?"
"yes!"
Lin Jiangnian nodded: "It just so happens that I'm short of a maid... Miss Jinxiu, would you consider it?"
Jinxiu was stunned for a moment, then blinked and waved her hand: "Well, forget it!"
"If my master heard me, he would definitely break my legs..."
Jinxiu looked pitiful and frightened.
Lin Jiangnian naturally didn't believe it. A maid who dared to ask others behind her master's back whether they wanted to sleep with her master didn't look like someone who was afraid of her own master.
However, Lin Jiangnian didn't expose her, and sighed regretfully: "Since Miss Jinxiu doesn't want to, then I won't force it. It's getting late, I'll go first. See you again if we're lucky!"
He waved at Jinxiu and turned to leave.
Jinxiu stood at the door, watching Lin Jiangnian leave. She didn't look away until he completely disappeared from her sight.
"Princess, he's gone!"
Jinxiu turned around and saw a woman in white appear in the yard behind her.
"Um."
Li Piaomiao nodded indifferently.
"Princess, he should take action soon after leaving this time. If nothing unexpected happens, he should go to the Jiang family."
Jinxiu was a little worried: "Princess, when are you planning to go..."
"Wait a little longer."
The woman in white shook her head slightly and glanced at her again: "How's the thing I asked you to do going?"
When the serious matter was brought up, Jinxiu's smile gradually faded, and anxiety appeared in her eyes: "Princess, I have contacted those famous doctors in the martial arts world according to your instructions, but they have never heard of the Crown Prince's condition and cannot guarantee..."
The woman in white was silent and didn't say anything.
Jinxiu asked cautiously, "How is His Highness doing now?"
The woman in white glanced at her and said calmly, "Not good!"
These three simple words made Jinxiu feel a little depressed.
Some time ago, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince suddenly fell ill, vomiting blood. The palace physician could find no problem after an examination. However, His Royal Highness's health has been deteriorating day by day, and he has become increasingly thin. The situation in the palace is already precarious, and if His Royal Highness makes any further mistakes, the consequences will be disastrous.
More importantly, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Princess were born of the same mother and had a very good relationship since childhood. Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was in trouble, Her Royal Highness the Princess naturally could not sit idly by.
After a while, the woman in white raised her eyes and said expressionlessly, "Pass on my order and summon them to the palace."
"yes."
“…”
The capital city is a prosperous place.
Despite the heavy snowfall, the enthusiasm of the city's residents couldn't be dampened. While the snow hadn't yet melted, every household reopened its doors, and the streets bustled with people. People from all walks of life, from all walks of life, gathered here.
At this moment, in a teahouse in Beijing.
The cold wind was howling outside the window, but the teahouse was warm and lively.
Some idle people sat in the teahouse in twos and threes, chatting and ordering a pot of hot tea, and the air was filled with smoke. In the corner of the first floor hall of the teahouse, sat a blind storyteller.
He looked to be about forty or fifty years old, thin, sitting in a corner, holding a blackboard in his hand, and talking about something with a lively expression.
All around, there was a group of tea drinkers listening with great interest.
"Last time, we talked about how the Prince of Linzhou was assassinated in a small town outside our capital shortly after entering Zhongzhou..."
"That night, blood flowed like a river. The scene was horrific. The sounds of fighting echoed through the night. The bodies were so densely packed that there was no room to bury them. The stench of blood lingered for four or five days. The scene was so tragic and gruesome that it's hard to describe..."
The storyteller was beaming with joy and foaming at the mouth as he recounted what had happened that night. The guests drinking tea around him listened with great interest and complete concentration.
"I know about this. I was in the city at the time. There were screams and fighting for most of the night, and I didn't dare get close. I heard that many people died..."
"That's right. I heard that the master who assassinated Prince Lin this time was no ordinary person. There was the heir of the Duan family, Yue Pingsheng, the renowned master of the Double Blades... Besides that, I heard that there are even more powerful masters who have appeared."
"Tsk tsk, who on earth did Prince Lin offend to deserve such a murderous plot?"
"Who knows? But I guess it's probably related to the higher-ups..."
"Hush, don't say that!"
“…”
The crowd around was buzzing with discussion, making the atmosphere quite lively. When this matter reached the capital, it caused a huge uproar.
The Prince of Lin was about to enter the capital when he was assassinated. Clearly, someone did not want him to arrive alive. However, the Prince of Lin was the only son of the Lin Prince of Linzhou, and this move was undoubtedly a provocation to the Lin Prince. With the Lin Prince's power growing in Linzhou, no one knew the full impact of this incident.
Some people are worried and some are anxious, but it doesn’t affect everyone’s enjoyment of talking about it after dinner!
"What do you think? Will Prince Lin rebel?"
"Needless to say? Lin Hengzhong only has this precious son. When he was assassinated like this, isn't this intended to wipe out his family line? How can he not rebel?"
"I don't think so. No matter how bold Lin Hengzhong is, he is still just a vassal king. If he dares to rebel, he will be going against the whole world. Isn't he afraid of becoming a target of public criticism?"
"You've already cut off your family line, so why would you still care? If it were me, if anyone dared to kill my son, I would kill his entire family for eighteen generations!"
"Don't you find it strange? Could it be that someone is deliberately trying to sow discord between Lin Hengzhong and the imperial court?"
"Yes, I heard that the martial arts expert who assassinated Prince Lin was closely related to Prince Xu from the north... If I remember correctly, the two princes of the Daning Dynasty have never been on good terms."
“…”
The teahouse was bustling with discussion, and even the storyteller's voice was almost drowned out.
While everyone was discussing heatedly, a young man was sitting calmly by the window in a corner of the teahouse, quietly listening to the discussions in the teahouse, his eyes fixed on the city outside the window, neither cold nor indifferent.
"Hey, man, can I sit here?"
Just then, an enthusiastic voice came from the side.
Lin Jiangnian turned his head and saw a young man of the same age as him looking at him with a smile on his face.
The surrounding teahouses were already full, leaving Lin Jiangnian alone at his table. It was clear that the other party wanted to share a table.
Lin Jiangnian glanced at the man. He was a few years older than him, with a handsome appearance and a mature temperament. He had a bit of the boldness of a man from the underworld. His clothes were simple but not plain. There was a clear and upright look between his eyebrows.
"Can."
Lin Jiangnian nodded slightly.
"Thanks, brother!"
The other party showed a happy expression and clasped his fists towards Lin Jiangnian, "My name is Xu Zhongshan, may I know your name, brother?"
Lin Jiang laughed young: "Lin Kong."
“It turns out to be Brother Lin Kong!”
Xu Zhongshan smiled and nodded. After sitting down, he asked the waiter for a pot of tea and listened with great interest to the storyteller downstairs and the discussions of the people around him.
Lin Jiangnian looked at the man in front of him for a few seconds, but didn't see anything from him, so he turned his gaze back to the window.
As if waiting for something.
Xu Zhongshan, who had been listening to the storyteller downstairs, suddenly looked up at Lin Jiangnian and said, "Brother Lin Kong, who do you think is the one who assassinated Prince Lin?"
“…”