Chapter Eighteen: The Azure Mountain Fist

Early in the morning, Chen Yi woke to find Yin Tingxue still sound asleep. He rose quietly, placing the clothes Yin Tingxue was to change into at the foot of the bed. After washing up, he set off promptly towards the Western Depot.

The moment he stepped inside, Chen Yi was greeted at a brisk pace by the familiar face of Sergeant Zeng.

“Chief Chen, the overseer wishes to see you.”

Chen Yi frowned slightly.

Could it be... that some slip-up had occurred?

After all, behind the East Depot’s fallout with the demonic cult, his own maneuvers had played no small part, so suspicion naturally arose in his mind.

Yet, after some thought, Chen Yi ascended the stairs with measured steps.

If there had truly been a leak, they would have apprehended him the instant he set foot inside the gate, not gone through such needless detours.

In the reception hall, Chen Yi spotted a familiar figure—the second young master of the Lin family, Lin Yan. Seeing Chen Yi, Lin Yan merely nodded without rising.

“Greetings, Young Master Lin.”

Chen Yi remained composed, clasping his fists.

“May I ask the overseer’s purpose in summoning me?”

Wu Qingsheng wasted no time.

“It’s not just me who seeks you; Young Master Lin has matters to discuss as well, and it concerns the same issue.”

Chen Yi narrowed his eyes.

At the outset in the capital, for maximum benefit, he had aligned himself with Elder Lin.

Who was Elder Lin? A jinshi in the second year of Qingchu, later an editor at the Hanlin Academy, then supervisor at the Imperial Academy. Favored by the late emperor, he entered the Ministry of Revenue as a vice minister, ascending steadily until becoming Minister of Personnel. Six years before the late emperor’s death, he entered the cabinet as Grand Scholar. Now, with the empress dowager ruling in the emperor’s stead, he served as the chief councilor.

In “Beyond the Heavens,” Elder Lin was renowned as a cunning old fox, nicknamed the “Old Immortal Turtle” for his obsession with cultivation since his sixtieth birthday—a fact well known throughout the city.

In the capital of Dayu, no matter how turbulent the winds and clouds, Elder Lin stood unshaken like an evergreen tree, continually drawing nourishment from the realm.

Those under Elder Lin’s banner, known as the Lin faction, were rife with corruption—bribery, embezzlement, and degradation of official conduct were all commonplace. Both among the populace and within the court, they were despised yet untouchable.

This was largely because Elder Lin was kin to the powerful An family, an alliance of external relatives and court officials, leaving few forces able to counterbalance their power.

“So, may I ask, what brings Young Master Lin here?”

Chen Yi inquired.

“The East Depot’s overseer post is temporarily vacant.”

Overseer Wu spoke slowly, watching Chen Yi’s reaction.

Chen Yi immediately grasped the situation.

Though the Lin faction was powerful and scarcely checked within the court, they were not invincible.

The empress dowager, adept at managing ministers, had in recent years backed the Ding’an faction, led by Prince Jing, which had gradually carved away the Lin faction’s privileges.

Everyone in the capital knew that Xue Youge had once been Elder Lin’s man, and the East Depot fell under the Lin faction’s domain. Now, with Xue Youge dead and the overseer position empty, there was no leader. While neither the Lin nor Ding’an faction could outright appoint the overseer, both sought to sway the Directorate of Ceremonial to engage in open and covert struggle.

To seize the initiative, the Lin faction would naturally move first, recommending Chen Yi, belonging to their ranks, as the temporary overseer.

Had this been before his transmigration, Chen Yi might have accepted gladly.

But now...

He wished to sever ties.

To renounce his Lin affiliation.

Lin faction? Unfamiliar.

He did not want to be the first to be captured.

Though “Beyond the Heavens” offered a path through the imperial examination and factional struggles, Chen Yi had no interest in such intrigues. Moreover, the court was full of shifting currents where a single misstep could lead to disaster. In both his saved games, he had avoided court politics.

He had already walked the villain’s path once, ending at the hands of the rising Saintess of the demonic cult. This time, even though Yin Tingxue was bound to him, Chen Yi had no desire to repeat the same journey.

“Overseer Wu, I’m afraid this matter requires further discussion.”

Chen Yi took a deep breath and spoke.

Wu glanced sideways.

Lin Yan, however, smiled a forced smile.

“Seems you’ve guessed, Hundred House. No, from now on, I should call you Thousand House.”

Chen Yi did not deny it.

“Everyone knows I and Overseer Xue belong to your Lin family. But this position, I must respectfully decline.”

Wu Qingsheng said nothing, simply observing Chen Yi carefully.

Lin Yan picked up an invitation from the desk.

“If that’s the case, you risk displeasing my father. Here is an invitation—come to our residence to discuss.”

“Thousand House Chen, you are the most suitable candidate. Promotion and wealth are desires common to all; many wait their entire lives for such a chance.”

“You conduct affairs properly. With you overseeing the East Depot, my father can rest assured and focus on his cultivation.”

Chen Yi frowned.

The Lin faction was determined to bind him more deeply.

Though powerful under Elder Lin, no evergreen tree lasts forever. After the Blessing Ceremony, when Elder Lin died, the Lin faction would inevitably scatter like monkeys when the tree falls.

“My abilities are limited. I cannot shoulder such a great responsibility.”

Chen Yi declined once more.

Impatience flashed in Lin Yan’s eyes as he sharpened his tone.

“Chen Yi, my father has always looked after you.”

“I don’t understand why you refuse an opportunity to rise swiftly—beneficial to both my father and you. Remember, you eat from our Lin family and use our resources; you should be grateful!”

After speaking, Lin Yan pressed the invitation onto the table, not handing it to Chen Yi, then rose and left.

Once Lin Yan departed, Wu Qingsheng, who had been silent for some time, made up his mind. He picked up the invitation and placed it in Chen Yi’s hand.

“Thousand House Chen, do not act on impulse. I know you have endured much—why not endure a little longer?”

Chen Yi was slightly surprised by the words.

Did he consider his first ten hours of misconduct as patience?

What an overactive imagination...

Chen Yi thought wryly.

Yet outwardly, he played along, accepting the invitation with a bitter smile.

“Looks like this time, there’s no escaping it.”

Wu sighed softly.

Turning away, Wu approached a corner of the wall, pressed something, and a secret compartment slowly opened.

Chen Yi watched with curiosity.

Wu pulled out a yellowed tome.

“Thousand House Chen, take this. Consider it a token of my counsel.”

Wu handed the book to Chen Yi. On its cover, large characters read: “Cangshan Fist.”

Seeing this manual, even after completing the game once, Chen Yi was taken aback.

Cangshan Fist... one of the two renowned mid-game martial arts styles alongside the Taishi Fist!

A fundamental art for fist cultivators, the manual recounted that its founder once slew celestial beings with his fists.

Under normal progression, this manual would only appear during the mid-game upheaval known as the “World in Chaos.” At that time, a warrior named Xu Deng would rise, battling from the tenth place on the martial rankings, defeating the sixth and fifth, killing the fourth with his fists, and finally challenging Wei Gang, the second-ranked martial artist, before settling at third.

Obtaining this manual required aiding Xu Deng during his lowest point—saving his life three times at critical moments. Only then would he generously bestow this family martial art.

Of course, if the player was female, there was a simpler path...

Chen Yi thought to himself.

“This manual… where did it come from?”

Suppressing his excitement, Chen Yi asked.