Chapter 86

Watching Wen Xiuzhi stagger towards the Rujia Hotel beside the school restaurant, Xu Yan felt a great sense of relief: he had finally gotten rid of this enthusiastic "Brother Wen"!

Wen Xiuzhi was very warm-hearted and treated Xu Yan kindly, calling him brother, but Xu Yan always felt that when he was with him, there was always a sense of being watched, and a constant feeling of danger—though it was faint, it was always there.

Late at night, Xu Yan finally returned home. Seeing the empty living room, his heart sank again: Where had Zhu Youxiang gone?

Usually, whenever he came home, Zhu Youxiang would always be in the living room watching TV. When he opened the door, he would always hear the familiar greeting, "Young Master, you're back!" But today, all he saw was an empty space. Xu Yan felt lost, and a sudden fear arose: "Has Zhu Youxiang left?"

Xu Yan took a few quick steps and came to the door of the guest room. Before he could knock, the door opened from the inside, and Zhu Youxiang walked out.

"Young Master, you're back!"

Seeing Zhu Youxiang again and hearing her familiar greeting, a weight was lifted from Xu Yan's heart, and he let out a sigh of relief: "Thank goodness, Xuan Yun, you're still here."

Zhu Youxiang looked at him in surprise: "Why does Young Master look so strange? Is something wrong?"

"Hehe, I haven't seen you for more than a day, and I missed you a bit."

Xu Yan said this casually, but immediately regretted it: "Zhu Youxiang isn't like those modern young girls who joke around with me. She comes from a conservative and closed-off world. Such ambiguous words, which wouldn't even count as flirtatious to modern girls, could make her think I'm deliberately teasing her."

Sure enough, upon hearing Xu Yan's words, a blush spread across Zhu Youxiang's face. She lowered her head, avoiding Xu Yan's gaze, and said softly, "Young Master, don't speak nonsense." Then, as if trying to escape Xu Yan's eyes, she quickly turned and walked away, saying, "Young Master, have you eaten anything? I have some food here. Do you need it?"

Xu Yan smiled bitterly, finding it amusing: Zhu Youxiang had shown her vulnerability. He had just come back from drinking, and the alcohol smell was all over him. With her keen senses, Zhu Youxiang, who could sense his condition through the wall, couldn't possibly miss the smell of alcohol. Clearly, she was just flustered and asked a silly question out of embarrassment.

Knowing Zhu Youxiang's sensitivity, Xu Yan didn't push her. He lay down on the sofa, feeling a sense of relief—after being detained for a day and a night, and spending the whole day talking with Wen Xiuzhi, Xu Yan was truly exhausted. The fatigue wasn't physical but a deep weariness from the soul.

Although Wen Xiuzhi acted very friendly, Xu Yan never let his guard down for a second when he was with him. He instinctively felt that even a wrong word could be dangerous with someone like Wen Xiuzhi. It wasn't until he returned home, in this familiar environment, that he truly relaxed.

Zhu Youxiang walked over and sat beside him, asking with interest, "Young Master, you went out early yesterday morning. Why did you only come back tonight? What happened?"

Xu Yan sat up from the sofa, excitedly telling her, "Xuan Yun, you don't know how thrilling it was yesterday! Guess what I encountered?"

Zhu Youxiang looked at Xu Yan for a moment and smiled faintly, "Could it be related to the Jinyiwei? Were you taken away by them?"

At that moment, Xu Yan could only describe his feelings with the words "shocked."

"Xuan Yun, how did you know?"

"I was just guessing, but I didn't expect to be right. Young Master, why did the Jinyiwei take you?"

"Well, let me start from the beginning. Xuan Yun, a while ago, two National Security Bureau officers came to investigate me and questioned me in the living room. Do you remember that?"

Zhu Youxiang's eyes flashed, and she simply said, "I remember." Then, she stopped speaking, unwilling to say another word.

Xu Yan didn't pay much attention: "Hehe, it just so happened that on the way back, those two National Security Bureau officers were involved in a car accident and died."

After saying this, he looked at Zhu Youxiang expectantly, hoping to see some surprise or shock on her face.

But Xu Yan was disappointed—Zhu Youxiang showed no expression, and her reaction was simply a simple "Oh," followed by, "Then what?"

Zhu Youxiang's indifferent reaction surprised Xu Yan. He asked in surprise, "Xuan Yun, you don't seem surprised at all that those two officers died? Did you know about it?"

Zhu Youxiang's eyes flashed, and she shook her head, "How could I know? The death of two officials isn't a big deal, is it? Why should I be surprised?"

Xu Yan thought about it and realized she was right. Zhu Youxiang's indifferent nature always treated human life as trivial. The death of two officers he knew on the way home was a huge shock to him, but to Zhu Youxiang, it was probably just like hearing that "the neighbor's sow gave birth to piglets." Expecting her to be shocked was too much to ask.

When telling a story, the storyteller's enthusiasm is dampened when the listener is indifferent. Seeing Zhu Youxiang's lack of interest, Xu Yan almost didn't want to continue, but she asked, "Then what? Did the Jinyiwei suspect that the officers' deaths were related to you and take you in for questioning?"

Xu Yan slapped his thigh, "Xuan Yun, you're really smart! You guessed it right! The police suspected that the officers' accident was related to me, but they couldn't find any evidence, so they took me in for questioning!"

Zhu Youxiang frowned slightly, "Questioning? Did they use force or torture on you?"

"They didn't use torture. Nowadays, we emphasize civilized law enforcement and don't allow arbitrary torture. But they did lock me in a small dark room. At that time, I thought I was in trouble. This misfortune came out of nowhere. It was easy to be caught, but getting out would be difficult."

Zhu Youxiang agreed, "That's true! The Jinyiwei, being such an organization, never makes mistakes in arrests, only in releases. I'm curious, how did Young Master manage to get out of trouble?" She looked Xu Yan up and down and suddenly asked, "Young Master, did you escape from prison?"

"Xuan Yun, you're joking. How could that be possible? Hehe, it was a stroke of luck. Last time, I helped Chen Yaoyu save her grandfather. Coincidentally, the leader of the investigation team, Wen Xiuzhi, is Chen Yaoyu's grandfather's youngest son—meaning, the old man I saved was his father!

Because of this connection, he easily became my friend and let me go."

Zhu Youxiang smiled faintly, "Young Master, this is a sign of good fortune, a result of your good deeds."

Xu Yan admired Zhu Youxiang for this. No matter how shocking, joyful, or sad the event, this girl always faced it with a calm and composed attitude. In his memory, she never showed extreme emotions or lost control. Her demeanor was always appropriate, neither too hot nor too cold. Despite being a few years younger than him, Xu Yan felt a subtle respect for her, as if she were an elder.

Xu Yan wondered what kind of upbringing could produce such a well-mannered and understanding beauty like Zhu Youxiang.

If it were any other time, Xu Yan wouldn't have pried, but tonight, after drinking a lot, he was particularly excited and couldn't control his mouth. He asked, "Xuan Yun, were you raised very strictly at home?"

"Ah?" Zhu Youxiang was taken aback, "I left the royal palace—uh, I left home—when I was six and didn't spend much time with my parents. But why do you ask, Young Master?"

"No particular reason, I just think you have great manners. It seems like nothing surprises or excites you. We've known each other for a while, and I don't think I've ever seen you angry or lose your temper."

Zhu Youxiang smiled and said faintly, "Young Master, you flatter me. It's not that I have great self-cultivation. To be honest, I have a short temper and don't deserve your praise. But..."

She tilted her head and pondered, then shook her head, "It's hard to explain to you right now, but if you achieve some cultivation in the future, you'll understand. To cultivators, the trivial matters of the mortal world are like passing clouds, not taken seriously. Because of this mindset, when you praise my self-cultivation, I don't feel I deserve it."

Zhu Youxiang spoke politely, but Xu Yan blushed. He understood that Zhu Youxiang was indirectly saying that, in the eyes of cultivators like her, mortals were like ants. Who would get angry over the affairs of ants?

This thought was increasingly embarrassing. Xu Yan coughed and quickly changed the subject, talking about Wen Xiuzhi's invitation for him to join the intelligence department as a special agent.

After hearing Xu Yan's account of his conversation with Wen Xiuzhi, Zhu Youxiang showed a thoughtful expression. After a while, she said, "Young Master, this Mr. Wen is a very meticulous person, not easy to deal with. Young Master, you didn't agree to his request, did you?"

Seeing Zhu Youxiang's serious expression, Xu Yan vaguely guessed that this matter wasn't simple. He lowered his head, a bit afraid to look at Zhu Youxiang, "Uh, at the time, I didn't think much about it. Seeing how enthusiastic Major Wen was, I couldn't refuse and casually agreed to his request... He has already called headquarters to have my credentials and a gun prepared... Is there any problem with that?"

Zhu Youxiang shook her head, "Young Master, there's no problem, but based on my years of experience and observations, it's best not to get involved with organizations like the Jinyiwei and the Dongchang. Otherwise, it can be very troublesome.

Young Master, I can guess some of Major Wen's thoughts. Because you saved his father's life, he can't force you, but if you join their department..."

Xu Yan quickly added, "It's called the General Staff Intelligence Department."

"Right, that department. Once you join, you'll be a registered soldier. After joining the military, any future matters will be governed by military orders and regulations, which are absolute. If you don't follow his orders at that time—while you have done him a favor, there's no room for personal feelings in the military. If he punishes you according to military law, it will be seen as fair and impartial. National law is greater than personal grievances, and no one can say he's wrong.

In the national army, there are seventeen capital offenses and fifty-four prohibitions. One of the laws states, 'Those who do not obey orders and are difficult to control are considered traitors and should be executed'—I believe your military must have similar laws, right?"

Xu Yan's eyes twitched, and he replied, "Xuan Yun, you're right. Our military discipline is very strict, and we have the saying 'follow all orders.' It's probably even stricter than in your Ming Dynasty army. According to your view, should I quickly decline this military position?"

Zhu Youxiang nodded seriously, "If you can decline, that would be best. Young Master, as a cultivator with a bright future, why get entangled with these government agencies?"

Xu Yan quickly took out his phone and dialed Wen Xiuzhi's number, but after a while, no one answered. Xu Yan tried several times, but Wen Xiuzhi still didn't pick up. Finally, Xu Yan put down his phone with a bitter smile, "Wen Xiuzhi didn't answer. He must be drunk and asleep. I'll call him early tomorrow morning."

Zhu Youxiang shook her head and said clearly, "Young Master, I think even if you find him, it won't be of much use. Since Mr. Wen has gone to great lengths to invite you to join, he won't easily let you off."

Xu Yan nodded, and at that moment, the alcohol in his body turned into cold sweat—He had already imagined how Wen Xiuzhi would deal with him when he found him the next day and said he had changed his mind and didn't want to join the military.

Yes, Zhu Youxiang was right. If Wen Xiuzhi had gone to such lengths to lure him into the military, how could he let him off easily?

He vaguely felt that he had made a big mistake and fallen into Wen Xiuzhi's trap.

Seeing Xu Yan's worried expression, Zhu Youxiang comforted him, "Young Master, there's no need to worry too much. Since Mr. Wen can't force you, you can temporarily play along with him. After all, you have done him a favor, and he needs you. For the time being, he will treat you kindly and won't push you too hard."

Xu Yan said in distress, "But in the future... the matter will still need to be resolved, right?"

"I see that your cultivation progress is rapid. In just three years, you should be able to reach the peak of the Qi Induction stage or even the early stage of the Spirit Condensation. At that time, with your increased strength, you will have more options, and many problems will naturally be resolved. In a few more years, you might reach my current level, and then you can—"

Zhu Youxiang paused and smiled, "As King Kaiping said, 'Give me ten thousand troops, and I will conquer the world.' When you have enough strength, a mere military rank will no longer be a constraint—perhaps it might even become an asset."

Hearing this, Xu Yan felt a sudden sense of clarity.

Zhu Youxiang was right. Some things seem difficult now because his strength is not enough. When his strength reaches a higher level—say, when it matches Zhu Youxiang's—what in this world would he have to fear?

At that time, a mere rank of captain in the intelligence department would be nothing to fear.

Realizing this, Xu Yan felt a surge of energy. Now, he understood that the most important and urgent thing for him was to increase his strength and practice the cultivation techniques Zhu Youxiang had taught him.

"Xuan Yun, I've continued practicing these past two days. Can you check if I've made any progress?"

Zhu Youxiang glanced at Xu Yan indifferently, seeing his expectant eyes, and said simply, "Young Master, it's good that you can continue practicing despite the sudden changes. You should keep this up in the future."

Hearing only this simple evaluation from Zhu Youxiang, Xu Yan was taken aback: In his feeling, he had reached a high level. In the military camp, he was hit by a special forces sergeant, but he didn't feel any pain. Moreover, even Wen Xiuzhi, an experienced officer, could tell that he had practiced internal cultivation—wasn't this a significant improvement?

In martial arts novels, there are often scenes where a young hero practices hard overnight, suddenly understands a key point, and achieves great success. Xu Yan felt that his practice over the past day and night must have led to some kind of breakthrough, reaching a new level—maybe not the Golden Core or the Soul Embryo, but at least the Foundation Building stage?

He eagerly sought Zhu Youxiang to show off, but received only this indifferent response, leaving him stunned. He said, "That's not right. Xuan Yun, I feel a significant change. Can you check more carefully?"

Zhu Youxiang didn't even look, and without raising her head, she said, "Young Master, there's no need to check. You are still in the启蒙期 (Enlightenment Stage), no doubt about it."

"But I feel... uh, my strength has increased, I don't feel pain when hit, and my senses have become sharper, as if I've been reborn. How can I still be in the Enlightenment Stage?"

"You're overthinking it," Zhu Youxiang said without looking up. "Entering the Enlightenment Stage is the beginning of a cultivator's path. At this stage, the body naturally undergoes various changes. Young Master is still viewing a cultivator with the eyes of a mortal, so the changes seem significant, which is not unusual.

In your Earth human terms, this is the transition from zero to one. At this stage, we often feel a significant change in ourselves, becoming much stronger, even believing we are invulnerable to blades and fire, feeling invincible and arrogant.

This is a common mistake for newcomers to cultivation. This feeling of 'strength' is just an illusion. Only by continuing to cultivate with a calm mind will you realize that the abilities you once thought were powerful are actually laughable, mostly just illusions.

Without a strong true essence and without reaching the indestructible Golden Core stage, a cultivator has no reason to be arrogant. In a real fight—say, if you were to face a squad of armed soldiers with automatic rifles or pistols, all firing at you without hesitation, could you defeat them with your bare hands?"

Xu Yan's face turned pale as he shook his head—facing a squad of well-trained armed soldiers firing at him, he wouldn't even have a chance to escape, let alone defeat them.

Zhu Youxiang looked at him with a sideways glance and said coolly, "As a cultivator, if you can't handle a few soldiers with firearms, how can you call yourself strong? Young Master, your 'strength' is not much better than that of a mortal.

Young Master, the path of cultivation is full of difficult stages, and 'arrogance' is one of them. Newcomers to cultivation often become arrogant and lose their original intentions, weakening their drive to improve. This