My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

...

Afterward, Liang Cheng calmed himself and resumed his saber practice. It was a good balance of tension and release.

The next day, the eighth of the new year.

Familiar footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.

Liang Cheng pushed the door open and saw Zhao Yuan and the San Ya couple standing in the courtyard.

San Ya was wearing a newly tailored cotton-padded jacket, her face slightly red from the cold. She carried two cured chickens in her hands, while her husband, Li Tieniu, followed behind her with a simple, honest smile.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Yuan strode forward, his aura calmer and more stable than before. It seemed that with ample resources, he hadn’t slacked on his cultivation at home, and his progress was obvious.

"You’re back?"

Liang Cheng smiled and went to greet them, taking the things from San Ya’s hands. "Come inside, it’s cold out here."

In the kitchen, Lady Ning was chatting with San Ya, telling her that her parents were doing well. Big Head and Er Gou still hadn’t come home this year, but they had sent back silver and a letter.

But even though life had gotten better, Big Head and Er Gou’s parents were only getting older...

Liang Cheng didn’t keep listening.

In the courtyard, Zhao Yuan said in a low voice, "Master has come to Lin Wu City as well."

Liang Cheng was taken aback. "Master? Why is he here? Why haven’t I seen him?"

"A few days ago, Madam Qiao sent someone to the Martial Arts Hall, saying that Qiao Zhi is pregnant. She specially invited Master to the Qiao Mansion for a gathering."

Zhao Yuan’s expression was a little complicated. "Master didn’t want to come at first, but Madam Qiao sent three separate groups of people, and her words were very pleasant. In the end, Master came."

Liang Cheng fell silent at his words.

Zhao Yuan continued, "Master had me bring you a message. He said that a master’s prestige comes from his disciple. If you weren’t a True Inheritor of the Martial Arts Academy now, the Qiao Mansion would never have shown such an attitude."

Liang Cheng was silent for a moment before asking, "Is Master staying at the Qiao Mansion?"

"Yes. Master told me to tell you that he’ll come find you in a couple of days. You don’t need to go to the Qiao Mansion. He’s afraid it would put you in a difficult position."

Liang Cheng nodded. Yang Wei was being thoughtful. He knew that if Liang Cheng went to the Qiao Mansion and Madam Qiao asked for a favor, it would put him in an awkward spot.

’Master is the one in a difficult position.’

"Alright. You’ve had a long journey. Get some rest."

Zhao Yuan stood up, bowed, and left.

...

「On the morning of the tenth day of the new year.」

Liang Cheng had just finished his saber practice when there was a knock on the courtyard gate. He opened it to find Yang Wei standing outside, his face ashen and dark circles under his eyes.

"Master?"

Liang Cheng quickly ushered him into the study, stoked the charcoal fire to burn brighter, and brought him some tea before finally asking, "Master, what’s happened to you...?"

After sitting down, Yang Wei clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He opened his mouth several times before finally forcing out in a hoarse voice, "Liang Cheng, in the Qiao Family’s storeroom, I saw Dongshan Cold Iron Ore."

The study fell deathly silent.

Liang Cheng slowly set down the teapot, somewhat surprised. "Master, are you sure you didn’t see wrong?"

"I spent five years with the Qiao Family back in the day. I can recognize the black-based, silver-veined Cold Iron Ore that only comes from Dongshan Mine. There are thirteen pieces of it, piled in a corner of the Qiao Mansion’s west storeroom, covered with a burlap sack. But I saw it by accident."

He looked up, his eyes shot with blood. "Liang Cheng, Zhao Yuan told me about the danger you faced at Dongshan Mine. I also know that Cold Iron Ore was among the goods stolen from the mine not long ago."

Liang Cheng asked, "When did you see this, Master?"

"Yesterday afternoon. Qiao Zhi insisted on going to take inventory, even though she’s pregnant. Yan... Madam Qiao was worried, so I went along with them."

A pained smile appeared on Yang Wei’s face. "I never expected it. Although that batch of goods in the storeroom was well-hidden, the burlap was torn on the corner of a crate, and I caught a glimpse of the black base and silver veins."

Upon hearing this, Liang Cheng fell silent for a time.

Yang Wei suddenly grabbed his arm. "Liang Cheng, tell me the truth. If the Qiao Family was simply deceived and didn’t know it was stolen ore, can you show them leniency?"

His fingers were ice-cold, his voice almost pleading. "If they knew but weren’t deeply involved, could their punishment be handled with discretion?"

Looking at his master’s reddened eyes, Liang Cheng felt a storm of conflicting emotions.

After a long time, he finally spoke slowly. "Master, this matter has far-reaching implications. The ore robbery is just the surface. The Fire Worship Sect might be involved, and the City Lord’s Mansion has been investigating it all along."

"We previously discovered that stolen ore was circulating in Lin Wu City, but we could never find the distribution channel. Now, it seems highly likely that the Qiao Family is involved."

Hearing this, Yang Wei trembled.

Liang Cheng helped him sit down again, his voice steady. "I will send someone to investigate secretly. If the Qiao Family was merely being used and hasn’t made an irreversible mistake, I can guarantee their lives will be spared."

"But if they are deeply involved—"

He paused here, looking directly at Yang Wei. "Master, colluding with a cult and smuggling forbidden goods are crimes punishable by the confiscation of property and the execution of one’s entire clan. We can only see what the specific circumstances are before deciding how to proceed."

At these words, Yang Wei’s body shuddered, but he forced himself to continue listening to Liang Cheng.

"If they were merely coerced and their actions didn’t lead to grave consequences, I will do my best to mediate. I cannot guarantee the final outcome, but as long as there is the slightest possibility, I, your disciple, will do everything in my power."

Yang Wei’s hand fell away limply. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh, tears seeping from the corners of his eyes. This man, who had been unyielding for half his life, was now stooped like an old man.

"I understand," he said, his voice hoarse. "Investigate. It’s better to find out the truth. At least they can die knowing why."

At that, Liang Cheng called Zhao Yuan over and explained the situation.

"Go and investigate this personally. The Cold Iron Ore in the Qiao Mansion’s west storeroom—find out its origin, who handled it, and when it was placed in storage. Find out everything. But remember, do not, under any circumstances, alert the enemy."

Zhao Yuan nodded grimly. "Rest assured, Senior Brother. I know how to handle this."

"Also, look into Xu Zhi. Now that he’s married to Qiao Zhi, he’s been using the Xu Family’s influence to help the Qiao Family rebuild their business. See if there’s anything fishy going on there."

"Yes."

Zhao Yuan accepted the order and departed.

In the study, Yang Wei remained seated in a daze. Outside, the bright sunlight reflecting off the snow was a bit glaring.

Liang Cheng replaced his cup with fresh, hot tea and said softly, "Master, you should rest here at my place. The Qiao Family is, after all, implicated in the robbery. It wouldn’t be good for you to go back there. As soon as there’s any news, I can inform you immediately."

Yang Wei slowly rose and followed Liang Cheng to a guest room. Just as Liang Cheng was about to leave, Yang Wei suddenly called out to him.

"Liang Cheng."

"Master."

"If it really comes to that... give them a quick death. Don’t let them suffer."

Liang Cheng nodded heavily, then turned and left.

...

「That afternoon, Zhao Yuan returned with the first piece of news.」

"The Cold Iron Ore in the Qiao Mansion’s west storeroom—the storage record is dated the eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month. The person who handled it signed the name Xu Zhi."

A cold glint flashed in Liang Cheng’s eyes.

"Xu Zhi..."

"Keep investigating. I want to know how this ore got into the Black Market, and how it ended up at the Qiao Mansion."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

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