My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

Liang Cheng nodded. "We’ll proceed as Steward Cheng says."

Cheng Wen rose and bowed again. "Thank you for your consideration, Town Guardian. I will get settled now and won’t disturb you from your official duties."

He led his men away swiftly and decisively. He even found an old courtyard at the edge of the mine for lodging, making no requests of the Guardian Station.

Liang Cheng stood at the entrance to the hall, watching Cheng Wen leave.

Zhao Yuan and Li Mu emerged from a side hall, whispering, "Senior Brother, about that man..."

"Investigate him," Liang Cheng said without hesitation. "His public record, his private network—I want a detailed report on everything."

"Yes."

"One more thing," Liang Cheng added, turning. "Any progress on the Black Market lead?"

This time, it was Li Mu who spoke. "The Lu Family just sent a secret message. Three days ago, someone sold thirty catties of Dongshan Cold Iron Ingots at the Black Market in the west of Lin Wu City."

Liang Cheng’s pupils constricted. The last shipment that was robbed had contained exactly two hundred catties of Dongshan Cold Iron Ingots.

"Have you traced the source?"

"No. We only traced it to the final sale. The source of the materials, the distribution channels—we still know nothing."

Liang Cheng fell silent for a moment.

’Someone in Lin Wu City still dares to collude with the Fire Worship Sect and sell the stolen ore?’

For the moment, he had no clear answer.

"Li Mu, you keep watch," Liang Cheng’s voice grew cold. "I don’t want suspicions; I want irrefutable proof. But don’t make a big scene and scare them off."

Li Mu nodded firmly. "Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I understand."

...

「Three more days passed.」 Elder Huang was preparing to return to the Martial Arts Academy.

The old man was packing the various bottles and jars from the Alchemy Room into a large chest, grumbling all the while. "This godforsaken place is cold and damp. I can’t even control the heat right for Alchemy. The Earth Fire chamber back at the Academy is much more comfortable."

Liang Cheng helped him lift the chest onto the carriage. "Elder Huang, since you’re heading back now, does this mean the Pill Formula is a success?"

Elder Huang shot him a sidelong glance. "What, you want to test the pill? Let me tell you, the Source replenishing Pill from this new formula has thirty percent more Medicinal Power than a Condensing Truth Pill. Care to give it a try?"

Liang Cheng just smiled and said nothing.

Elder Huang felt deflated and snorted. ’This brat calls *me* reckless, but now he’s being cautious to a fault. Doesn’t act like a young man at all.’

"Alright, just looking at you gets on my nerves."

Liang Cheng’s expression froze.

Elder Huang roared with laughter and slapped the chest. "I’m off! There’s too much to do at the Martial Arts Academy before the new year. If I stay any longer, the Dean will start chewing my ear off."

"Wait."

Liang Cheng suddenly spoke up, stopping Elder Huang. He pulled Zhao Yuan forward from behind him. "Elder Huang, I’d like to ask you a favor. Please take Zhao Yuan back to the Martial Arts Academy with you."

Elder Huang sized up Liang Cheng, then glanced at Zhao Yuan. A look of understanding crossed his face. "Fine. You’re a good lad, loyal to your friends."

"You’re Zhao Yuan, right? Get in the carriage. We’ll go together."

Liang Cheng watched the carriage depart and sighed internally. Ever since Cheng Wen had arrived at the Dongshan Mine, he found himself paying less and less attention to its affairs.

’Why get so deeply entangled in the games between the Martial Arts Academy and the City Lord’s Mansion? Personal strength is what’s fundamental. Why take all this so seriously? I’m better off focusing on my Cultivation. That’s the only true source of confidence.’

He had asked both Zhao Yuan and Li Mu if they wanted to return to the Martial Arts Academy to focus on their training. After all, they had exchanged their points for an Inner Cultivation Method, and the Academy was a place where they could cultivate in peace.

In the end, Zhao Yuan chose to leave, while Li Mu chose to stay.

Li Mu knew his own talent was only average. He felt it was nearly impossible for him to advance much further, so he thought it better to stay and assist Liang Cheng.

Everyone has their own path. It was not something that could be forced.

As the carriage drove out of the mining area, Liang Cheng stood before the Guardian Station, watching its distant shape recede. A strange sense of emptiness settled in his heart.

’Even though the old man was always trying to get him to test his pills, he had also helped him a great deal, both openly and behind the scenes.’

...

「In the blink of an eye, time passed peacefully at the Dongshan Mine, and soon it was the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month.」

Early in the morning, after Liang Cheng finished his saber practice, a few lines of small text materialized in his vision.

[Broken Wave Technique, Second Layer: Minor Success (5813/6000)]

[Profound Yin Sword Technique: Minor Success (825/5000)]

[Wind and Thunder Slash: Minor Success (4632/5000)]

’The Broken Wave Technique and Wind and Thunder Slash are both close to Great Success. My strength is about to reach a whole new level.’

’Maybe I should have a Sleeve Sword forged. No one knows that I practice the Profound Yin Sword Technique, so it could serve as a hidden trump card.’

Just then, Li Mu hurried over, clutching a dispatch from the Martial Arts Academy.

"Senior Brother, urgent news from the Martial Arts Academy! Senior Brother Wang Teng has broken through to the True Qi Realm, forming three True Qi Seeds! The Dean has decided to hold a True Inheritor Ceremony on True Inheritance Peak on the third day of the first month, and is inviting guests from all over to witness it."

Liang Cheng was surprised. "Senior Brother Wang Teng broke through already? How much time has passed?"

’Wang Teng failed his previous attempt at a breakthrough. Recovering from that should have taken six months to a year. How could he possibly make another attempt at the True Qi Realm so quickly, let alone succeed in one go?’

Li Mu remarked with a sigh, "It’s quite a coincidence. When Elder Huang returned, he was looking for people to test his new Elixirs. Wang Teng somehow heard about it and volunteered. Unexpectedly, two months later, the Elixir had not only healed his old injuries, but it also helped him break through to the True Qi Realm in one go."

"The Dean is overjoyed. With another True Disciple, the Martial Arts Academy’s prestige has been greatly bolstered, which is why he’s holding such a grand ceremony."

Liang Cheng glanced at the dispatch and nodded. "The Dean is summoning me back to the Martial Arts Academy to observe the ceremony."

’That works out. My mother sent a letter the other day saying she’s already prepared everything for the New Year and I shouldn’t worry. This trip back means I’ll be there just in time to celebrate.’

Li Mu then said, "You can go without worry, Senior Brother. I’ll keep an eye on things here at the Dongshan Mine. I’ll increase the patrols after you leave. There shouldn’t be any problems."

Liang Cheng thought for a moment, then patted Li Mu’s shoulder and had someone summon Cheng Wen.

"I need to return to the Martial Arts Academy. During my absence, Li Mu will be in charge of the mine’s security. Mr. Cheng, I’ll trouble you to coordinate with Li Mu and consolidate the accounts together. However, you are not to handle matters of the mine’s defense on your own authority before I return."

That last sentence was a clear warning to Cheng Wen. Both Li Mu and Cheng Wen acknowledged the order with solemn expressions.

...

「The twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month.」

A heavy snow was falling as Liang Cheng left the Dongshan Mine.

Cheng Wen and Li Mu personally saw him to the edge of town. Cheng Wen was all smiles. "Go and enjoy the New Year festivities, Town Guardian. Rest assured, I will be diligent in my duties."

Liang Cheng returned the smile and the polite gesture. The moment the carriage curtain fell, he closed his eyes to rest.

The carriage wheels crunched over the snow, heading toward Lin Wu City.

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