Chapter 218 – A Warm Welcome - Part 2

Unfastening a jade token from her waist, Gu Xuejian offered it to Li Yuan. “If something urgent happens, show this token at the inner gate, and they’ll announce your arrival to me.”

Then she said, “Ping’an, go say farewell to your parents and family.”

The young boy stood. Though his eyes were resolute, he broke down in tears as soon as Xue Ning pulled him into her arms. She stroked his hair softly. “Our Ping’an has become a young man with ambitions far and wide,” she murmured soothingly.

Tears streaming, Ping’an glanced at Sheng'er in the distance, and both children began to cry together. Li Yuan came over to his son. “You remember all the stories I told you, right?”

“Y-yes,” the boy managed between sobs.

“And that little verse I had you memorize in secret?”

“I remember.” His tears kept rolling, but he began reciting in a shaky voice—

“Come swiftly, spare no care.

The path is set, though pushing forward may be hard.

See injustice, rely on yourself.

Meet hardship, don’t shut your heart.

Never face an enemy alone; if you do, danger follows.

Strike first, scatter like dust.

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

In a winding road, retreating is advancing.

In every opportunity, plan well to reap its reward.”

Xue Ning shot Li Yuan a sidelong look as if to say,

What have you been teaching him?

They exchanged a few more words of encouragement before Li Ping’an stepped down from the carriage. After walking several paces, he knelt and bowed three times toward the carriage carrying his parents, his head striking the ground in a final farewell. Then he returned to the front carriage, which quickly picked up speed. Before long, it disappeared beyond the bustling street and the towering third gate.

Watching the departing carriage, Li Yuan turned to the family still with him and smiled. “Let’s go see our new home.”

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Li Yuan and his family had settled into a small, traditionally styled residence, much more modest than the Hundred Lotus Manor. It had only a front courtyard and a rear courtyard. Still, that was the reality of living in the city stronghold of the Holy Tree Temple, where every square inch was dear and hard to come by.

Back in Gemhill, Li Yuan and Xue Ning had been considered quite wealthy, but here, they were nobodies. Besides, they didn’t really need a large house, and the bigger the place, the more attention it drew.

And although Li Yuan had gained a bit of notoriety as the Blood Blade Patriarch, that name carried no weight within these walls. He told everyone to stop calling him that; in this new city, a title like

Patriarch

could only bring trouble.

Now it felt as though they’d returned to an ordinary life. Li Yuan walked around, choosing rooms for everyone. Zhou Jia and a handful of Xue Ning’s trusted aides would stay in the side rooms of the front courtyard. Auntie Wang, who had fallen ill after the long journey, would also stay in the front. That way, she wouldn’t have to run herself ragged taking care of others. Her children, Wang Dalang and Wang Chuliu, both held important positions in the Purejade Merchant Association now, so they could properly look after their mother and help her enjoy a comfortable life.

As for the rear courtyard, Li Yuan and Xue Ning took the main bedroom, while Mei, Lan, Zhu, Ju, and Pang Yuanhua stayed in the west wing. Sheng'er and Tang Nian shared the east wing. The three seventh rank ebony marquises roamed the back courtyard.

Once all the arrangements were made, evening had fallen. In their previous lodgings, night meant utter darkness; even in Silver Creek, you’d see only sparse lights in the distance. Here, though, the onset of night hardly made a difference. Outside the walls, everything was bright and noisy, with shouts and laughter echoing along well-lit streets.

Xue Ning had already changed out of her clothes, lying on the bed in just her nightgown. Li Yuan joined her, slipping an arm around her from behind. She seemed low-spirited, perhaps because she’d recently parted with their son, or maybe the month-long journey had simply worn her out. When her husband touched her, she unleashed a near-frenzied passion, as though trying to burn away her melancholy. Afterwards, they fell asleep as usual.

In the middle of the night, however, Li Yuan awoke to a violent bout of coughing. He opened his eyes to find his wife pale-faced, her forehead blazing hot.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed.

“I...

Cough! Cough...!

I’m fine, don’t worry.”

“Don’t speak,” he said, heading off to get her some water. “Just lie still.”

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By early the next morning, Xue Ning’s fever had not abated. Li Yuan sent someone to fetch a doctor from the neighborhood, but around midday, his messenger returned and knelt at the door.

“Master, forgive me. When I went to the Great Mercy Clinic, their doctor refused to come. He said we had to bring the patient there if we wanted a consultation.”

“Did you offer payment?”

“I did, I gave him 10 taels of silver, but he still wouldn’t come... I’m so sorry, Master. I’ll try again.”

Li Yuan fell silent. This wasn’t Gemhill County, where he could practically make the wind and rain dance at his command; here, his name counted for nothing. Behind him, Xue Ning leaned against the headboard, her face drawn and weary.

“Let it go,” she said weakly. “I understand my own body. I’ve just overworked myself, that’s all. Some rest is all I need.”

They exchanged a look. Li Yuan set a comforting hand on hers.

“Then rest,” he murmured.

She nodded, and he left the room.

Picking up a copy of

Thousand Herb Formulas

, Li Yuan leafed through it, recalling that in this world, healing arts were broadly split into basic medical skills for ordinary people and ranked martial artists, and alchemy, which was virtually off-limits to the public.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Three days passed.

Li Yuan glanced at his status window and noticed a new entry—Basic Medicine (1/10). He also had 11,262 stat points available. Without hesitation, he allocated 309 stat points into it, maxing it out. In an instant, it felt as though years of medical knowledge poured into his mind. He suddenly understood enough to be considered a seasoned doctor...or a miracle worker, to most people.

Armed with this new expertise, he returned to Xue Ning’s bedside. She had improved slightly but was still plagued by insomnia and no appetite. After examining her with the usual diagnostic methods...looking, listening, questioning, and feeling her pulse, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. It was nothing more than strain and fatigue—the grueling journey, unfamiliar environment, the heartbreak of leaving one child behind, and then, perhaps, a bit too much nighttime exertion.

Realizing how much Li Yuan knew, Xue Ning managed a small smile. “So? What’s the diagnosis?”

With a gentle tap to her forehead, Li Yuan replied, “You need to rest your mind. We have enough money for everything we need. From now on, just be the lady of the house, no more running around.”

“But...my husband needs—” she began.

“It’s fine. We’re here now. You should enjoy life and not work yourself to the bone,” he said. “Leave matters at the Ginger Tavern to the old hands there.”

Pressing down lightly on her shoulders, Li Yuan tried to settle her. Xue Ning gave him a stubborn look. “I can’t, the Ginger Tavern is starting over in a brand-new city, and the competition here is fierce.

Cough, cough...!

”

“Trust me,” Li Yuan said quietly.

After a moment’s hesitation, he decided he would go out personally to gather the necessary herbs while also taking the chance to learn more about their new surroundings.

Li Yuan left his home and took a left at the front gate, passing through a narrow alley before merging onto a main road heading west. The street was buzzing with shouts and calls of vendors. Beyond the usual grains, cloth, and other daily goods, there were items never before seen in Gemhill County or even Northriver Prefecture—alchemy tools, and racks of eighth or ninth rank demonic beast meat hung brazenly for sale in broad daylight.

As he walked past a blacksmith’s shop, Li Yuan paused involuntarily. The rhythmic clang of hammers striking metal rang out from inside. Two shirtless men with bronzed, bulging muscles took turns pounding a heated blade. Waves of heat pulsed from the forge, raising the temperature around them by at least ten degrees. Compared to the blacksmiths back in Gemhill, the ones here seemed far more industrious.

He also noticed a large sign hanging over the shop.

"We offer ninth, eighth, and seventh rank weapons, fully stocked.

Puppet masters on site to design and build mechanical devices tailored to your needs.

Now accepting orders for spirit weapons, ask within.

"