Chapter Nineteen: The Right Hand Objects

"Where did this fist manual come from?"

Hearing Chen Yi’s question, Superintendent Wu stopped in his tracks.

"The Embroidered Uniform Guard." Wu Qingsheng paused. "A very close friend of mine. Have you ever heard of Min He, the Southern Magistrate of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Chen Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly. Min He—wasn't that the grandfather of the Min sisters?

"Old Man Min was not a native of the capital. When he first arrived, he relied solely on his fists and feet to carve out a place for himself. He was then recommended by a martial arts school to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, where he worked his way up from a lowly guard to a Magistrate."

Hearing this, Chen Yi felt puzzled and asked, "If the Cangshan Fist was left behind by Min He, why didn't he pass it on to the Min family?"

Wu Qingsheng, lost in the recollection of past events, replied slowly, "I have also wondered about this myself. Old Man Min never revealed the reason, so I can only piece together a few fragmented details. He did not pass down this manual, firstly, because his only son lacked martial talent, and he feared that 'an innocent man who possesses a treasure commits a crime by doing so.' Secondly... it may be because Old Man Min was a disciple expelled from his sect; he felt deep shame and did not dare to pass it on to his descendants."

Expelled from his sect... That was far more disgraceful than being cast out of a gate.

Wu Qingsheng took a deep breath and patted Chen Yi’s shoulder. "Commander Chen, Old Man Min gave this book to me for safekeeping, instructing me to pass it on only when I found someone worthy of the trust."

"I watched your every move while you spoke with the second young master of the Lin family, and I knew you were worthy. I am but a eunuch, without children or even an adopted son. If I do not pass this on, the book would only gather dust in the Imperial Library."

Chen Yi cupped his hands in a salute. "Thank you, Superintendent."

Wu Qingsheng smiled, closed the secret compartment, and said no more.

***

Leaving the Western Depot, Chen Yi headed to the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Today was the day for the inventory of the female dependents from Prince Xiang’s estate. If he didn't tamper with the records and make prior arrangements, the fact that he had taken the women of Prince Xiang’s household would eventually be exposed.

Arriving at the Court, he unexpectedly encountered Min Ning.

Seeing Chen Yi in his new official uniform from afar, Min Ning faltered, a flash of complex emotion crossing her eyes. That uniform belonged to a Commander... it was supposed to be hers. She never imagined that by today, she would be the subordinate and Chen Yi her superior.

"Yuechi, why are you here?" Chen Yi walked straight toward her and greeted her.

Min Ning froze at the intimate use of her courtesy name and instinctively took a few steps back.

"I... I am helping to verify the roster." Min Ning turned her face away to avoid looking at him, then handed the ledger to Chen Yi. She feigned indifference and added, "It has already been verified."

Chen Yi flipped through the pages casually and discovered that the entry for Yin Tingxue had already been altered.

"I didn't expect the warm-hearted young hero Min to do such a thing." Saving himself the trouble, Chen Yi closed the ledger and handed it back to her.

Min Ning felt the irony and said with a sense of humiliation, "Do not insult me. I only... I only..."

Chen Yi knew exactly what she was thinking. She was doing this for herself and her sister. She was trying to please him to keep them both from falling into his clutches. Min Ning forced herself to do something against her nature, suppressing her humiliation as she whispered, "Spare me and my sister. Although I have been demoted, I will make things convenient for you in the future."

Chen Yi replied with profound meaning, "That is not convenient enough."

Min Ning turned back, glaring at him with indignation, but found nothing to say. After a long moment, her voice softened as she pleaded, "Spare my sister... just spare my sister, and that will be enough."

Chen Yi chuckled darkly and tapped her on the head with a curved finger. "You’ve learned to be smart, knowing how to beg me properly."

Min Ning looked away and managed a reluctant, "Yes."

[Negative emotions from Min Ning: Reward of three years of internal energy.]

Chen Yi checked his status panel.

[Remaining internal energy: 143 years.]

Seven more years and he would be able to condense five true essence pellets; his Grudge Yin-Yang Art would then reach a state of minor accomplishment.

Chen Yi looked at the newly acquired *Cangshan Fist*.

Tsk... This was a dilemma. The Cangshan Fist was a top-tier martial art similar to the Star-Absorbing Technique; it required an immense amount of internal energy, but the rewards were equally extraordinary. If he poured all 143 years of energy into it, he was confident he could reach a minor accomplishment, gaining another effective weapon against his enemies. However, while he could reach a minor level, it was hard to say if he could truly master it, let alone reach perfection.

If he didn't invest it, he could save those 143 years, and in seven more, he could reach the stage of dual cultivation.

Chen Yi looked down at his left hand, then his right. It was as if the Cangshan Fist were in his left hand, and the Grudge Yin-Yang Art in his right.

"The Prayer Ceremony is in ten days," Min Ning suddenly said.

"Oh... I know," Chen Yi replied with a nod. The Prayer Ceremony was the first major event in the capital. "Why do you bring that up?"

Min Ning took a deep breath and spoke slowly, "Everyone knows that at the Prayer Ceremony, Immortal Masters will arrive to purge the wicked and cleanse the demons. Do not harbor evil thoughts, and do not commit evil deeds."

Chen Yi understood immediately; Min Ning was trying to threaten and pressure him, warning him not to lay a hand on her sister.

He found it amusing and said, "I know that better than you do."

"But this purging of demons happens once a year. It has happened hundreds of times over the centuries. Why is it that the bandits are never fully purged, and the demons are never fully extinguished?"

"To put it bluntly, the demons that truly need to be purged are not the ones before our eyes, but the ghosts in the human heart."

Min Ning was left speechless.

Chen Yi stepped closer, stroked her head, and while no one was looking, pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. Min Ning’s face turned bright red; she jolted back in shock, glaring at him. But the culprit just shrugged as if nothing had happened.

"Farewell!" Min Ning left those bitter words behind and turned to walk away.

"Wait."

Min Ning stopped.

Chen Yi looked at her and asked, "How much do you know about your grandfather?"

Min Ning looked surprised. "Why ask about this?"

Chen Yi uttered three words: "Cangshan Fist."

Min Ning’s pupils constricted. "That is... my grandfather’s martial art. How do you know about it?"

Chen Yi walked over slowly and smiled. "I have it in my possession."

Min Ning denied it. "That’s impossible. Grandfather didn't even pass it on to my father."

Chen Yi pulled the book from his robes. When the characters appeared, Min Ning’s phoenix eyes widened. As she instinctively leaned in, Chen Yi pulled the manual back.

Min Ning stared, transfixed, and asked in a daze, "Is it real?"

Chen Yi teased, "Whether it’s real or not, wouldn't you know if you got your hands on it? Besides, Superintendent Wu gave it to me."

"Min Ning, don't you... want it?"

Min Ning felt uneasy. She had indeed heard that her grandfather was on close terms with Superintendent Wu. She tried to turn her head away and stop thinking about the manual, but at the thought of it being her grandfather’s legacy, she couldn't help but turn back, over and over again.

After a long pause, she seemed to realize something and asked, "If it is real, why don't you practice it?"

Chen Yi looked at his status panel. He spread his hands helplessly and said, "My left hand wants to practice the Cangshan Fist, but my right hand disagrees."