My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

The twenty-second of the twelfth lunar month.

Liang Cheng and his party arrived at the Martial Arts Academy. He first dismissed his Personal Guards, sending them home to celebrate the new year, before preparing to return to Courtyard Three on True Inheritance Peak.

However, before he could even start up the peak, a Steward Disciple who had been waiting for him intercepted him halfway. "Senior Brother Liang, the Dean requests your presence."

...

Inside Mingxin Pavilion, a charcoal fire burned brightly.

Bai Hong occupied the seat of honor, with Lü Bingchen and Yan Song seated on either side. A smile graced his face as Liang Cheng walked in.

Liang Cheng bowed with clasped hands, but Bai Hong raised a hand, gesturing for him to be at ease.

"No need for such formalities. Sit down. It’s been busy before the year’s end, and I haven’t had a moment to see you. It’s fortunate you’ve returned today. I’ve called you here for one matter."

"Please, Dean. I am at your command."

Bai Hong produced a scroll and pushed it across the table. "Don’t be so serious. This is good news. It’s been half a year since you took up your post as the Guardian of Dongshan Mine. According to the original agreement between the Martial Arts Academy and the City Lord’s Mansion, the Guardian Envoy is entitled to a tenth of the mining area’s annual profits as Cultivation Resources."

Lü Bingchen continued, "After auditing Dongshan Mine’s production over the last six months and deducting all expenses, the net profit is approximately six hundred twenty thousand taels of silver. The Martial Arts Academy has already converted your ten percent share into Contribution Points, as is customary."

Liang Cheng was inwardly shaken. ’Sixty-two thousand taels of silver... Even converted to Contribution Points, that’s a fortune.’ He presented his Jade Token, and Bai Hong personally transferred the points.

Even though he was prepared, Liang Cheng was still stunned by the amount. Including the hundred thousand special reward Contribution Points he had received previously, the number on his Jade Token was now clear to see.

One hundred sixty-six thousand eight hundred points!

’An overnight fortune!’

Then, Yan Song placed a Token on the table. "This Token is a specially approved Resource Order given to you as a reward. With it, you can purchase Cultivation Materials from the Foreign Affairs Hall at cost price."

Liang Cheng accepted it with both hands. "My thanks to the Dean, the Master, and the First Seat," he said in a solemn voice.

"You have earned this. Under your management, production at Dongshan Mine has steadily increased, and the Cult Forces have been thwarted. The Martial Arts Academy will remember this service. However—"

His tone shifted, his expression growing stern. "I must also remind you that after the new year, the Fire Worship Sect will likely be unwilling to let matters rest. You are the East Mountain Guardian, and many eyes are on you. You must act with even greater care."

"I understand."

"Go on. Enjoy the new year with your mother."

...

For the time being, there is little to say about Liang Cheng’s return to Courtyard Three on True Inheritance Peak. He shut his doors to all visitors, making exceptions only for acquaintances like Lu Qingzhou.

As for the San Ya couple and Zhao Yuan, Liang Cheng gave them leave to return home and reunite with their own families.

The thirtieth of the twelfth lunar month. New Year’s Eve.

Inside Courtyard Three on True Inheritance Peak, Lady Ning was bustling about in the kitchen.

Having been shooed out into the courtyard, Liang Cheng sat and listened to the clatter of the wok and spatula from inside. As he smelled the fragrant aroma of stewing meat wafting out, the tension that had gripped him all year slowly began to ease.

"Try this."

Lady Ning brought out a plate of freshly fried fish cakes, golden-brown and glistening. Liang Cheng took one and bit into it. The outside was crisp while the inside was tender, and the savory filling was incredibly fragrant.

"Delicious."

He mumbled, his mouth full, as he reached for a second one.

Lady Ning slapped his hand away, though her eyes were twinkling with laughter. "Save some room. There are still eight dishes to come tonight! Eat slowly."

"It’s just that your cooking is so good, Mom. I can’t resist."

Lady Ning chided him with a laugh before turning back to the kitchen.

That evening, the New Year’s Eve feast covered the small square table.

In a side room, Lady Ning and Liang Cheng offered incense and food at the memorial tablet of Liang Cheng’s father. Only then did they sit down. Lady Ning constantly piled food into Liang Cheng’s bowl until it resembled a small mountain.

"That’s enough, Mom! I can’t eat another bite."

"You’ve been away for over half a year. Look how thin you’ve gotten."

Lady Ning then ladled a spoonful of chicken soup over his rice. "Drink more soup. It’ll warm you up."

As a True Qi Realm expert, Liang Cheng was now impervious to heat and cold, but he didn’t protest. He drank the soup in large gulps while Lady Ning watched him with a smile, her face full of gratification.

"My son is nineteen... He’s really grown up."

As they kept the vigil for the new year, sparks in the charcoal brazier crackled softly. CRACKLE... POP...

Liang Cheng had already persuaded Lady Ning to return to her room to rest. He kept the vigil alone. Faint sounds of laughter from the Martial Arts Academy drifted in from outside the window, making the small courtyard seem exceptionally peaceful by contrast.

’It’s been three years since I crossed over into this world.’ Liang Cheng’s heart felt more at peace than ever.

...

「The first day of the New Year.」

Liang Cheng made a circuit of the Martial Arts Academy to pay New Year’s respects to the Dean, Elder Master Huang, and others. After that, he stayed home and did not go out.

As a prestigious True Inheritor, he was spared many of the usual social obligations. Lu Qingzhou and his other friends, knowing his temperament, simply sent their Stewards to deliver gifts rather than disturb him by visiting in person.

From then on, Liang Cheng led a secluded life, never missing a day of training.

「In the blink of an eye, it was the third day of the first month—the day of the True Disciple Ceremony.」

Before dawn, just as Liang Cheng finished changing into the ceremonial robes of a Martial Arts Academy True Disciple, a knock sounded at his courtyard gate.

It was Lu Qingzhou. Though dressed in casual clothes, his expression was solemn.

"Brother Lu? What brings you here so early?"

Lu Qingzhou gave a bitter smile. "It’s Senior Brother Wang’s promotion ceremony. Of course I can’t be late."

Liang Cheng looked at him and sighed internally. ’Lu Qingzhou is a year older than Wang Teng, yet he still doesn’t dare attempt his breakthrough into the True Qi Realm. How could he possibly feel good about today?’

Unsure how to comfort him, Liang Cheng simply walked with him at a brisk pace toward the Martial Arts Academy’s Martial Arts Arena. The place was already decked out with red carpets and fluttering banners.

Nearly every prominent faction in Lin Wu City was in attendance.

Bai Hong from the Martial Arts Academy sat in the seat of honor. To his left were Yan Song, Lü Bingchen, and other high-ranking members of the Academy. To his right sat Vice City Lord Situ Lang, Shen Wenyuan, Wu Zhenshan of the Martial Preparation Hall, and other dignitaries.

Further below sat a dense crowd of representatives from the various merchant guilds, Martial Arts Halls, and Noble Families.

As soon as Liang Cheng arrived, Lü Bingchen called him over. Liang Cheng nodded to Lu Qingzhou, who motioned for him to go on while he went to take his place in the section for the Celestial Dormitory.

Liang Cheng noticed Yun Jinghong was also in the Celestial Dormitory section. Her aura felt more condensed; her cultivation had clearly advanced another step. ’I wonder when she’ll make her own breakthrough to the True Qi Realm,’ he thought.

Lü Bingchen beckoned Liang Cheng to a seat below him. "You’re the only True Disciple who’s here today," he said. "The other two are tied up at the moment, so we didn’t call them back."

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