Emerging from Seclusion

She wore form-fitting black robes that accentuated her tall, slender figure. Her dark hair was tied up high, secured only by a simple silver hairpin, radiating a heroic spirit that rivaled any man.

Shen Xiuhan immediately reacted and greeted them, “Master, First Senior Sister.”

“Long time no see, Junior Brother Shen. You've truly exceeded all expectations.”

Jiang Qinghong looked him up and down in amazement.

She had been in seclusion for less than a month, and only upon emerging today did she learn that the martial arts hall had undergone major changes.

The youth who had come to the martial arts hall carrying a battered fish basket that day had taken only sixteen days to break through to the Blood Tempering Rank, enter the inner courtyard, and become her junior brother.

He was really... incredibly fast!

Shen Xiuhan cupped his hands and congratulated her, “Senior Sister, you flatter me. I have yet to congratulate you on making great strides in your martial arts and successfully completing your seclusion.”

“You are too polite, Junior Brother...”

A smile played at the corners of Jiang Qinghong's lips, and she seemed to be in an excellent mood.

She had reaped rich rewards during this seclusion.

The Silverback Fish was indeed a Tier Two Precious Fish. Its blood qi was rich and pure, and the Silver Sprout Pills refined from it were incredibly potent!

They had allowed her to successfully break through to the peak of the Tendon Tempering Rank, leaving her only a single step away from the Anjin Rank.

Upon emerging from seclusion, Jiang Qinghong had originally wanted to go to the Tongbei Martial Arts Hall immediately to reclaim her honor.

However, after hearing her mother mention their recent grievances and entanglements with the Bai family, she was no longer in a hurry.

She still had a few Silver Sprout Pills left. While Zhao Honggang was overwhelmed with trouble, she wanted to see if she could take another step forward and completely widen the gap between them!

‘Next time... Zhao Honggang, Tongbei Martial Arts Hall, hehehe...’

Just as Jiang Qinghong was calculating in her mind, a rich aroma of fish suddenly wafted over, causing her nostrils to twitch uncontrollably.

During her seclusion, Jiang Qinghong had focused entirely on her martial arts, only ordering the kitchen to make some dry flatbread to eat with plain water to line her stomach. Her palate had grown incredibly bland.

Now, smelling such a dominant and enticing aroma made her mouth water. She couldn't help but stare at it and ask, “Junior Brother Shen, what is that you're carrying?”

Shen Xiuhan stepped forward, placed the serving tray on the desk, and explained to them, “I just arrived at the martial arts hall today and happened to see the kitchen preparing fish. I am quite fond of fish dishes, but the last time I ate the fish made by Madam Shi... the taste really wasn't to my liking. So, I borrowed the stove to make this braised fish. I wanted to offer it to Master and Senior Sister to try.”

“...”

As soon as he spoke, Jiang Qinghong's gaze froze, and she instinctively turned to look at Mei Shuangfeng.

Sure enough.

Mei Shuangfeng's usually calm, expressionless face visibly turned complex and dazed upon hearing those words.

Jiang Qinghong sighed in her heart.

‘High martial arts talent, a fondness for sweets, expertise in cooking fish, and even being so filial as to personally cook for Mother... every single detail is so similar to Luoyun... Surely, this plate of fish has brought up Mother's painful memories again.’

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Mei Shuangfeng lowered her eyelids, hiding her emotions from that moment, and stiffly changed the subject. “You are very thoughtful... Have you been to the Ji family today?”

“I have.”

Mei Shuangfeng did not pry into which cultivation method he had chosen. She simply said, “Then practice your stance work diligently. When your blood qi reaches Great Accomplishment, you may come find me.”

Shen Xiuhan's heart skipped a beat at her words.

What Master meant...

Could it be that she would bestow some treasure upon him to guarantee success when he broke through to the Bone Tempering Rank?”

“This disciple understands!”

Shen Xiuhan's expression turned solemn, and he bowed deeply with cupped hands.

“Mhm. The sugar cubes have been air-dried. You can take the ones in the cloth bag on the table.”

Mei Shuangfeng nodded slightly and pointed her slender finger toward a small side table.

Shen Xiuhan picked up the cloth bag. It was packed full with dozens of translucent sugar cubes.

“Thank you, Master!”

“Mhm, go on.”

Once Shen Xiuhan left the room, the hall fell quiet.

Mei Shuangfeng looked at the braised fish on the table. After a brief silence, she picked up her chopsticks.

Jiang Qinghong also sat down, her eyes fixed on the plate of braised fish.

The fish meat was white and tender, coated in a glossy, dark sauce. The gravy was thick, and the aroma was mouthwatering.

Jiang Qinghong's stomach let out an embarrassing growl. She couldn't help but say, “Mother, I haven't eaten lunch either.”

Mei Shuangfeng ignored her and picked up a piece of fish meat, placing it in her mouth.

The fish meat was tender and practically melted in the mouth.

The savory saltiness of the soy sauce, the rich warmth of the yellow wine, and the sharp fragrance of the scallions and ginger blended perfectly into the fish meat—neither too salty nor too bland, without a hint of fishiness or greasiness.

Mei Shuangfeng paused for a moment, then took another bite.

Jiang Qinghong couldn't help but ask, “Mother, is it delicious?”

Mei Shuangfeng didn't answer, her chopsticks moving continuously.

Within moments, nearly half of one fish was gone.

Well then!

Jiang Qinghong immediately got the message. She quickly picked up her bowl of rice, grabbed a piece of fish, and popped it into her mouth.

In an instant, Jiang Qinghong froze.

This fish... was simply too delicious!

She instinctively looked up at Mei Shuangfeng, who was also looking at her.

The two exchanged a glance, and then, without a word, reached their chopsticks toward the serving plate at the same time.

“Sweet!”

Walking out of the Mei Courtyard, Shen Xiuhan popped a sugar cube into his mouth and stuffed the cloth bag into his chest pocket, saving the rest for Momo.

Soon after, he headed south through Apricot Blossom Street and arrived at Yeci Ward.

This was the most chaotic place in the Outer City, inhabited mostly by those with slave status and beggars.

The streets were covered in mud and garbage, far filthier than Xiaojing Bay.

On both sides of the narrow alleys crouched numerous displaced people and beggars clad in rags.

Some could still hold out their bowls to beg for food, while others... had already been claimed by cold and hunger, lying slumped against the base of the walls like piles of rotten meat, completely ignored.

Such scenes of streets littered with starved corpses were common throughout the Outer City, and Shen Xiuhan had long grown used to them.

He pulled up the collar of his martial arts robes to cover most of his face.

Shen Xiuhan swept his gaze around, his eyes landing on an old beggar curled up in a corner.

Two large copper coins landed in the broken bowl in front of the old beggar.

The old beggar rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Once he saw the copper coins in the bowl clearly, he immediately began kowtowing like a chicken pecking at grain, his mouth overflowing with excessive flattery.

“Thank you, Master! May you live to a hundred, Master, with a house full of wives and concubines, and precious children everywhere...”

“Shut up!”

Shen Xiuhan's face darkened, and he intentionally lowered his voice. “I want to ask you something. Answer well, and I will reward you with another ten large copper coins.”

“Please ask away, Master! This old servant will tell you everything he knows!”

Shen Xiuhan raised his hand and pointed in the direction of Tian Erhu's courtyard, whispering, “Have a group of unfamiliar faces moved into that courtyard over the past few days?”

“Yes! Yes!”

The beggar nodded repeatedly. “Over the last two days, quite a few unfamiliar men have been going in one after another. They look fierce and sinister, definitely not good people from around here...”

“How many of them are there?”

“Well...”

A troubled look appeared on the old beggar's face, and he awkwardly rubbed his hands, which were covered in chilblains. “Master, I can't say for sure. That group stays behind closed doors all day. This old servant only knows that every day around the hour of Shen, two people will come out of that courtyard and go to Widow Niu's place on the south street—the one who sells steamed buns—to buy food.”

At this point, the old beggar couldn't help but lick his lips, though it was unclear whether he was thinking of the steamed buns or the widow.

Around the hour of Shen, buying steamed buns...

Shen Xiuhan's eyes flickered slightly as he formed a plan in his mind.

He casually tossed down a small handful of copper coins, turned around, and vanished into a narrow alley.

From behind him came the ecstatic sounds of the beggar kowtowing.

“Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!”