Chapter 045 – Spirit-Release Technique, Spring-Autumn Blade

Morning light drifted in on a mild breeze.

Auntie Wang was bustling around the earthen stove, boiling water and cooking rice. Nearby, a wooden basin held a pile of laundry belonging to the master and madam; she planned to take it down to the nearby river to wash, and afterward, she’d do her own family’s clothes as well.

Outside in the shantytown, the willow trees had begun to sprout fresh buds. When children ran by, their laughter set the tender branches dancing in the wind, adding a spark of vitality to the place.

Unnoticed by all, the bitter winter was gone. Early spring had arrived. The people of Silver Creek’s shantytown felt a renewed sense of cheer.

Li Yuan, however, remained uneasy. Today was his last day of sick leave, and tomorrow he’d have to return to the black market. Yet he still knew next to nothing about the situation there. He wanted to extend his leave, but he wasn’t sure if it would be allowed.

He also knew for certain he couldn’t go to the central market now. And there was nowhere else to go. Venturing into the wilderness beyond the county was tantamount to suicide. So he was stuck in Silver Creek, waiting for the dust to settle, hoping he could stay hidden away until the truth came to light.

While he was lost in thought, a knock sounded at the door. Right on cue came Cai Ze’s voice calling from outside.

“Li Yuan? Li Yuan!”

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Li Yuan rushed to answer it. As soon as he opened the door, Cai Ze beamed at him.

“You were right the other day. They finally found those missing people. Their bodies were at the bottom of the lake, so it’s definitely a murder case, not a simple disappearance. The sect’s taking this very seriously and plans to set a trap to lure out the culprit. You can relax now.”

Li Yuan felt a slight sense of relief. At least there was progress. Once the matter was thoroughly investigated, more details were sure to follow. But until things were fully resolved, his

illness

wouldn’t be getting any better.

Right on cue, he clutched at his chest and began to cough violently, as if he could hardly breathe.

“

Cough... cough-cough... cough...!

”

When he finally caught his breath, Li Yuan spoke in a halting, wheezing voice, “Cai Ze, my...

cough...

My constitution’s been injured. This sickness is no joke...

Cough...!

”

Cai Ze suddenly leaned closer and said, “We do have a brilliant doctor in the sect. If an outer or inner disciple is hurt, he’ll come at once. It’s just...well, you see, you could’ve been an official outer disciple already, if it wasn’t for our deputy sect master refusing to accept you.”

He ended with a sigh, looking indignant on Li Yuan’s behalf. It was as if he wanted Li Yuan to feel aggrieved and demand justice.

“Oh...” Li Yuan made a vague sound in reply.

Cai Ze stared at him with anticipation, waiting for a reaction.

Li Yuan asked, “So the deputy sect master...doesn’t think much of me?

Cough, cough...

”

“That’s right,” Cai Ze said. “Otherwise you’d already be an outer disciple. But the deputy sect master—well, never mind...”

Li Yuan coughed a few more times, then sighed, “That deputy sect master really has an eye for things...

Cough...

Anyway, my condition... it’s hopeless, I fear...”

“Huh!?” Cai Ze gawked.

Li Yuan went on, “Honestly, I was planning to head to the black market today to speak with Senior Li and request more sick leave. I’ll probably need another half month off.

Cough...!

”

“I see...” For a moment, Cai Ze was left speechless.

Li Yuan stayed silent too. He wasn’t one for passionate heroics. All he wanted was to remain somewhere safe, quietly searching for new cultivation methods and steadily growing stronger. He wasn’t foolish enough to take the bait when someone behind Cai Ze clearly wanted to stir him up into becoming their pawn—or worse, their expendable cannon fodder.

After a few more idle words, Cai Ze took his leave.

Li Yuan glanced at the sky. The day was bright, the sun warm.

“Yan Yu,” he called out.

Yan Yu, lovely as ever, poked her head out from behind the back door. “Yes, Husband?”

“I’m heading to the black market.”

“What?” She hurried out, clearly worried.

“I’m going to request more sick leave,” Li Yuan explained.

“But...what if they won’t give it to you?”

“They will,” he assured her, though it felt more like he was trying to convince himself.

He went to the kitchen and found some sausage casings he’d had Auntie Wang buy a couple of days before. He filled them with pig’s blood, tied them off, and slipped them into his mouth—an advanced version of faking a bloody cough, just in case.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

By midday, Li Yuan was on the island once again. The black market still bustled with its usual orderly chaos, though an ominous chill lingered in the air.

On the lakeshore stood a small grove of evergreen trees, dark and dreary. From a distance, Li Yuan saw quite a few Blood Blade Sect disciples and menial workers gathered there, surrounding a dozen or so straw mats. On each mat lay a swollen, bloated corpse in an advanced state of decay—like waterlogged giants.

On the far end, he could just make out Wen Xiaoqiao’s recognizable features. The faint stench of rot, clinging to the air, made his stomach churn. He swallowed hard, throat bobbing, and hurried on without stopping.

So it wasn’t just three recent disappearances. Clearly, something had been going on for a long time.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

A short while later, Li Yuan arrived at the black market’s main entrance—its north gate. In the same small pavilion as always sat Senior Li, looking drowsy on a reclining chair. But the numbers floating beside him betrayed the truth, his previous indicator had been 130~140; now they read 135~145.

Li Yuan realized the man wasn’t simply lazing around—he was healing. It was still a far way off from his peak condition of 180~210, but it was still progress.

He took a quick glance, then reined in his gaze. Today, he was here for one reason, and that was to request more sick leave.

Clutching his chest, he began coughing harshly as he made his formal greeting. “

Cough... cough...

Senior Li...

Cough...!

”

The old man in the chair gave a low, sleepy chuckle. “Li Yuan, let me guess. You’ve come to ask for more time off, right?”

Li Yuan was taken aback for a second, then forced another cough. “Forgive me, Senior Li... I want to return, truly, but my body...

cough

...my strength fails me...”

“Heh... Heh heh heh...”

Senior Li chuckled suddenly. “How about this, Li Yuan? Skip your leave this time. Stay here and follow me. You don’t need to go back to the central market. Just stay with me at the north gate; bring me tea during the day, then leave the island and head home at night. How does that sound?”

Li Yuan coughed a few times, feigning weakness. “

Cough, cough...

I’m not sure why Senior Li would value me so highly...”

His words trailed off, and the air around them seemed to tighten with a quiet, oppressive weight. Li Yuan could feel Senior Li’s piercing gaze, as if the man were studying him inside and out. It took a long moment before Senior Li finally broke the silence.

“Are you staying or not?” he asked flatly.

Li Yuan didn’t hesitate. “I’ll stay.”

Senior Li was momentarily taken aback before bursting into laughter. “Good!”

That day, Senior Li didn’t speak further about the arrangement. He just had Li Yuan pour tea, fetch fruit, and handle small errands. Li Yuan asked no questions and simply did as he was told.

As dusk approached, Senior Li rose from his reclined position with a lazy yawn. Once night fell, the island went under curfew, and he didn’t need to stand guard at the gate anymore. He took his leave and headed somewhere in the northern part of the market. Li Yuan went south to catch a boat back home, and they went their separate ways.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

After that, several days passed in the same routine.

Five days later, Li Yuan was pouring tea for Senior Li as usual when, unexpectedly, Senior Li spoke up. “Want to learn how to wield the blade?”

“I do,” Li Yuan answered.

“In that case,” Senior Li said, “I’ll teach you.”

Li Yuan, puzzled, asked, “Then...is there something you want me to do in return, Senior Li?”

Senior Li shook his head. “What I need from you is to do nothing at all. Just focus on receiving my lineage so that it doesn’t die out.”

He paused, then continued, “Do you know why I’ve chosen you?”

Li Yuan played along, shaking his head with a curious expression.

Senior Li explained, “Because you have talent and fortune. You come from humble beginnings, yet you reached the ninth rank at 17 years old. You’re steady and level-headed, not as reckless as most young people. You also managed to sidestep that bloodbath by following your instincts.

“You have a good temperament. You’ve been bringing me tea these days—no flattery, no complaints. Someone like you is exactly the kind of person who can keep my martial lineage alive. I’ve waited a long time, but only you have shown up. So you’re the one.”

A short silence fell.

“Well?” Senior Li said at last. “Aren’t you going to pour me some tea and formally become my direct disciple?”

At once, Li Yuan rushed to prepare hot tea, then knelt and presented it with both hands, bowing low. “Disciple greets Master.”

Senior Li accepted his bow. He took a sip of tea, set the cup aside, and said, “My name is Li Yu, and I am part of the Fallen Moon School. The technique I’m passing on to you is called the Spirit-Release Technique, and the blade skill is known as the Spring-Autumn Blade.”