Zhou Chen's experiences were exceptionally rare, and the hardships that martial apprentices at the bottom endured just to cultivate were truly lamentable, but at this moment, Xu Yuan was far more interested in the Tian'an Martial Hall.
Because of the existence of death-sworn fighters like Ying'er and the Black Scale Guards, Xu Yuan had already realized that his nominal father possessed his own system for training private soldiers.
Yet the Black Scale Guards were raised in secret, much like how various prestigious clans trained their private retainers. Establishing something like the Tian'an Martial Hall, however, was an entirely different matter—it meant bringing everything right out into the open.
Recruiting disciples from across the world.
To ordinary mortals, it was an avenue for cultivation.
To the Chancellor's Manor, however, it was also a public means of military conscription.
At this thought, Xu Yuan reined in his mind and did not dwell on it further.
Thinking too much now was useless. It would be better to wait until his strength reached the appropriate level and ask his old man directly.
Stepping out of Wuxuan Courtyard, Xu Yuan took Zhou Chen and headed straight for the Book Depository.
Without medicinal pills to nourish and protect them during cultivation, his meridians and intent-soul needed time to recuperate, but that time could not be wasted.
Xu Yuan intended to use this interval to consult some ancient texts and records.
Although this was not the Chancellor's Manor in the Imperial Capital, as the ancestral home of the current Prime Minister, this estate's Book Depository still held many exceptionally rare, solitary editions and classified secrets.
As for how Xu Yuan knew this?
That was precisely where the tens of thousands of silver taels currently sitting in his Sumeru ring had come from. How could he not know?
Wuxuan Courtyard lay at the southwest corner of the estate where the servants resided, whereas the Book Depository was situated in Anxiu Garden at the northernmost end, where the masters of the house lived.
Having an estate that was too vast was not always a good thing, but because Zhou Chen was quite the chatterbox, the journey was not at all dull.
There were Zhou Chen's personal experiences, brothel gossip, and internal rumors from the Chancellor's Manor.
For instance, how a secret manual and cultivation method had appeared in some region, drawing a swarm of local martial apprentices into a bloody brawl that left a field of corpses, only for the prize to end up in the pockets of noble scions.
Or how several pure courtesans over in the Imperial Capital had made it onto the imperial gazettes, their prices exorbitant beyond reason—requiring several hundred taels of silver for a single night just to enter their boudoirs to listen to music and discuss poetry.
And for instance, though the admission fees for the Tian'an Martial Hall were steep, it actually operated at a loss every year, and the astronomical deficit had to be subsidized by the Tian'an Chamber of Commerce.
Because of his position, Zhou Chen spoke of these matters without the slightest reservation.
Their casual chatter along the way expanded Xu Yuan's knowledge by a fair margin.
Arriving at the entrance courtyard of the Book Depository, the two on-duty estate guards bowed upon seeing Xu Yuan approach and let them through without question.
The Book Depository was a four-story building surrounded by small bridges, pavilions, and babbling brooks, presenting a rather antique and elegant ambiance.
Pushing open the doors and stepping inside, a small chamber came into view.
A simple wooden desk sat in the room, behind which an old man with snowy hair and beard was seated, clutching a book in his hands.
Back when Xu Changtian used to sneak in here to steal books, this person had never been around.
Glancing sideways at Zhou Chen and seeing his expression calm as usual, Xu Yuan surmised that this elder was probably a consecrated retainer stationed to watch over the Book Depository.
Xu Yuan and Zhou Chen walked straight past him. The old man did not even lift his eyes, continuing to read his book.
Seeing this, a faint sense of respect rose within Xu Yuan.
Entering the Book Depository, neither of them lingered on the ground floor. They climbed the wooden stairs straight toward the top floor.
As they walked, Xu Yuan asked with mild curiosity, "Mister Zhou, was that old man just now very strong?"
Zhou Chen raised his eyes and said dismissively, "Just a Soul Condensation, a Fifth Rank with half his body already in the dirt. Nothing worth talking about."
Hearing this answer, Xu Yuan felt a touch of disappointment.
From the man's demeanor, Xu Yuan had assumed he was an expert akin to the Sweeping Monk, only to realize he simply had not sensed Zhou Chen's cultivation at all.
At that moment, Zhou Chen gave a light chuckle and said, "Young Master, there are no rare treasures in the Book Depository of this Jingjiang estate anyway. Keeping a Fifth Rank stationed here is already an extravagance. However, an expert does reside in the Book Depository over in the Imperial Capital. You might have even seen her before."
Hearing this, Xu Yuan searched his memories a bit. "That maid who dusts the books?"
Whenever he sneaked into the Book Depository back in the Imperial Capital to steal books, he would almost always run into a maid using a ladder to sweep dust off the bookshelves.
She was a rather young woman who seemed completely out of place amid the solemn atmosphere of the Book Depository. Each time they crossed paths, she would always look at him with the gentle gaze one reserved for a junior, which left a deep impression on him.
"It seems you truly have seen her." Zhou Chen nodded and said softly, "Young Master, though she looks young, she's actually only a few years younger than me. Back then, she was Madam's personal maid..."
Having said this, Zhou Chen realized his slip of the tongue and instantly fell silent.
The Book Depository plunged into sudden stillness.
The silence stretched for several seconds before Zhou Chen continued in a gentle, subdued tone, "Well... in short, she moved to the manor's Book Depository later on."
Xu Yuan said nothing more.
He understood why Zhou Chen had suddenly stopped.
In his memories, he had virtually no recollection of that mother.
Even if there were any, they were entirely frozen in his earliest infancy.
A father, but no mother.
That was also one of the reasons the original host had grown withdrawn and turned wicked.
However, judging by the timeframe Zhou Chen had mentioned for the founding of the Tian'an Martial Hall, Xu Yuan could vaguely guess that this mother's passing was likely connected to the establishment of the Tian'an Martial Hall.
The two made their way up to the fourth floor in unbroken silence.
Zhou Chen climbed straight out the window to sit on the roof and drink his sorrow away, while Xu Yuan quietly browsed through the various books on the top floor.
Time passed slowly, drawing close to midday.
"Third Young Master."
In the quiet top floor of the Book Depository, a slightly husky woman's voice rang out.
The sudden sound, coming without any warning, made Xu Yuan's hand tremble slightly as he held the book, jolting him from his deep concentration.
Looking up, he saw Ying'er clad in tight black garments.
Xu Yuan frowned and asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Yes."
"Speak."
"The Lord Chancellor is looking for you."
"..." Xu Yuan.
Succinct and to the point, leaving Xu Yuan startled.
Pondering for a moment, Xu Yuan realized his old man could not possibly have traveled thousands of li to this Jingjiang City; looking for him had to mean a transmission.
"Let's go."
Without wasting words, Xu Yuan slid the book in his hand back onto the shelf and headed downstairs.
Ying'er followed.
On the way down, Xu Yuan seemed to recall something and suddenly asked, "Right, did that woman Su Jinxuan talk?"
Su Jinxuan had been handed over to Ying'er for ten days already. He estimated the woman had probably confessed whatever she needed to confess.
Ying'er replied, "She said some, but not much."
Xu Yuan was surprised. "Su Jinxuan only said some?"
This genuinely caught him off guard.
Although that vixen Su Jinxuan was usually quite calculating, the moment pressure was applied, she seemed to lose her wits.
At best, she was a clever young lady of a wealthy family.
Yet she had stayed under Ying'er's hands for more than ten days, and only said some?
Her backbone was surprisingly stiff.
Ying'er nodded. "Yes, she only said some. Ten days ago, when I left the estate on business, I went to question her once. She said some things. I only returned to the manor today, and was planning to go question her again."
"..." Xu Yuan.
"..." Ying'er.
"Did you use the method I described?"
"Yes."
"..."
A moment of silence fell.
Ten days.
Xu Yuan briefly imagined that vixen's current mental state.
His body shuddered slightly.
Clearing his throat with a dry cough, he refrained from asking further about Su Jinxuan and instead inquired, "You said you left the estate just now? Why?"
"To investigate Qin Weijiu," Ying'er said.
Xu Yuan paused in his tracks and looked back. "Is that Qin Weijiu this Mister Qin? Any progress?"
"..." Ying'er kept her eyes lowered, staring at her toes without a word.
Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment, let out a soft snort, and continued on his way without another word.
If it had been Zhou Chen, he probably would have told him straight away.
It seemed this Ying'er still needed to be properly disciplined.
Chapter 54