Chapter 010: The Young Lady of the Yang Family

“Brother, be honest now. How did you suddenly become so strong? You’ve been practicing those strange movements at home these past few days.” Xu Huilan smiled teasingly.

Xu Xuan had already prepared an answer. He replied calmly, “When I used to go up the mountain alone to pick wild fruit, I accidentally entered a cave and met an eccentric old man who taught me these body cultivation techniques. Unfortunately, after my injury at the mines, I was bedridden for several days and haven’t had the chance to look for him again since.”

“Hehe, I knew it! Brother, did you go see that strange old man again today?” Xu Huilan covered her mouth with a laugh. She harbored no doubts about her brother.

“You’re so clever, little sister,” Xu Xuan praised her.

He sighed inwardly. He could only conceal the truth with good intentions. If outsiders learned he had obtained an advanced body cultivation technique out of nowhere, it might bring trouble to him and his family.

Having merged memories from two lifetimes, Xu Xuan’s mind was far more mature than that of an ordinary youth.

That night, Xu Xuan began preparing to cultivate the third stage of the “Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent.”

The third transformation, the “Drift,” emphasized training the body’s balance and coordination, incorporating footwork and movement techniques, and was especially useful for leaping and gliding.

In short, the third transformation was a lightness technique for the body. Once mastered, one could walk on rooftops and leave no trace in the snow.

Scenes from his previous life, cultivating the “Drift,” flashed through Xu Xuan’s mind: light as a swallow, able to glide across deadly terrain as if flying.

This third transformation was indeed subtle and profound, but likewise, it was quite challenging to cultivate.

Xu Xuan looked around. The house and yard were simply too small to practice the “Drift.”

Fortunately, he didn’t need to start with it right away. Before that, he needed to master the third stage of the Breathing Technique.

After breaking into the second level of body refinement and mastering the second transformation of Dragon and Serpent, Xu Xuan discovered the resistance in cultivating the third stage of the Breathing Technique had lessened considerably.

Before long, following the unique method of the Breathing Technique, his mind reached a state of perfect tranquility.

With each breath—long and short—Xu Xuan’s senses, hearing, smell, and sight, all grew sharper.

The Breathing Technique had a remarkable effect of strengthening the mind and energy, with each stage imparting a different sense of perception. The third stage, for example, gave Xu Xuan a feeling of drifting, illusory and wondrous.

That night, he gained a preliminary grasp of the third stage of the Breathing Technique.

In his dreams, Xu Xuan, as always, entered the sea of memories.

He noticed the only bright star in that starry sea had expanded its light just a little further.

In the memories of his sixteenth year from his previous life, more content had surfaced. Xu Xuan sifted and absorbed these, focusing especially on the most important pieces of information.

A few hours later, overcome by drowsiness, Xu Xuan fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

With the sky just beginning to brighten, Xu Xuan got up, deciding to make a trip to town to sell the strange purple herb he’d found the previous day at the spirit materials shop.

He still wasn’t entirely sure if the herb was the Ziyang Grass recorded in the “Compendium of Ten Thousand Aromatics” from his past life.

—At the very least, he wasn’t one hundred percent certain.

After getting ready, Xu Xuan set out at once.

He had to hurry and reach his destination before afternoon, so he could return home by nightfall.

After all, “Pinghua Town” was seventy or eighty li from his village—a long way.

In the past, he wouldn’t have been sure he could make the round trip in a day. But now, with the “Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent” tempering his body, his breath was deep and steady.

Striding briskly along, Xu Xuan immersed himself in cultivating the third stage of the Breathing Technique. An hour passed before he realized he’d reached the main road, running the technique with increasing proficiency, all without slowing his pace.

Just then, the sound of cart wheels came from behind.

“Hyah! Hyah! Boy up ahead, move aside!”

A delicate, well-crafted carriage was approaching, drawn by two fine steeds. The curtains were left open in the heat.

Xu Xuan snapped out of his meditative state. Before he could move, the carriage had already pulled up beside him.

The coachman, whom Xu Xuan recognized as Old Yang from the village—a distant relative—reined in the horses and spat, “Hey, Xu Xuan, are you blind, standing in the middle of the road like that?”

Turning, Xu Xuan saw the elegant carriage with its two splendid horses. He suddenly recalled that Old Yang was the coachman for the “Great Yang Family.” Noticing the delicate carriage, he had a sudden inkling.

He glanced at the back—and sure enough, two young girls sat inside.

One was a maid named Xiao Hong, thirteen or fourteen, with freckles and a lively air.

Beside Xiao Hong sat a young lady, as lovely as a blossom, with an oval face, fair and delicate features, long curled lashes, a light touch of powder, a dress of flowered muslin, her figure slender and graceful, her fair legs faintly visible.

There was no need to ask; this was the Great Yang Family’s young lady—Yang Xiaoqian.

Xu Xuan’s heartbeat quickened. Instinctively, he felt shy facing Yang Xiaoqian’s bright, captivating gaze.

Ever since childhood, he’d harbored a fondness for her. Every time he saw her, he’d blush.

But this time, he realized he was far calmer than before, his face didn’t redden. Since merging the memories of two lives and cultivating the Nine Transformations, his mind and will were far beyond those of his peers.

“Xu Xuan, are you heading to town?” the maid Xiao Hong asked, an amused look in her eyes.

The clever girl had long guessed Xu Xuan’s feelings for her mistress. But that was nothing unusual—everyone in Yangmu Village knew the Great Yang Family’s young lady was famed far and wide for her beauty.

Yang Xiaoqian was not only naturally beautiful and of noble birth, but also possessed a talent far beyond what ordinary youths could dream of.

Xu Xuan clearly remembered that two years ago, when she was thirteen, Yang Xiaoqian had already broken through to the third level of body refinement. While this was partly thanks to the family’s resources and expert guidance, her innate talent was undeniable.

Now, at fifteen, she was the same age as Xu Xuan—by coincidence, they shared the same birthday.

Yet Xu Xuan knew he could never hope to match her. Her family, beauty, and talent left countless village youths in the dust. Even among the tens of thousands in Pinghua Town, Yang Xiaoqian was renowned for her beauty.

“I’m going to town to sell some herbs, and to pick up a few things for Xu Gang and the others,” Xu Xuan replied, smiling slightly and stepping to the roadside to let the carriage pass.

Xiao Hong looked a little disappointed, not seeing Xu Xuan blush as he used to in the presence of her mistress—such an endearing sight.

“You gather herbs in the mountains?” asked the clear-voiced young lady inside, her bright eyes curious. It was the first time she had spoken to him.

They were acquainted and of the same age, so there was little formality between them.

“Yes, I often go up the mountain to gather herbs. I know the paths pretty well,” Xu Xuan replied, finding he could at last look directly into those captivating eyes, though his heart still beat a little faster.

“Hehe, Xu Xuan, I heard you knocked down Xu Xiaohu in the village. Is it true?” Xiao Hong asked with great interest.

As the carriage rolled on, Xu Xuan answered calmly and modestly.

But after that question, the young lady said nothing more. When her lovely eyes swept over Xu Xuan, she carried the reserved aloofness of a noblewoman, keeping others at a distance.

Xu Xuan watched the elegant carriage disappear, the last trace of disappointment in his heart fading away.

The experiences from his past life had greatly broadened his horizons, and he now faced the once unattainable girl with a freer, more relaxed heart.

Taking a deep breath, he immersed himself once more in the Breathing Technique, his mind clear and tranquil.

The carriage had long since left Xu Xuan far behind.

“Hehe, Miss, did you notice? Xu Xuan seems different from before.”

“How so? Hmm, he does look a little taller,” Yang Xiaoqian replied, gently brushing aside her silky hair. She didn’t dislike Xu Xuan, but she didn’t have any special feelings for him either.

“He seems more mature now, and has a bit more…manly charm. I remember he used to blush like an apple whenever he saw you, Miss. I think he still likes you, but with his family’s hardships lately, he’s probably buried those feelings deep down,” Xiao Hong said, feigning cleverness.

“You little imp, have you taken a liking to him yourself?” The young lady’s words made Xiao Hong blush, but Yang Xiaoqian soon grew thoughtful. “I just hope we can purchase a spiritual item at Second Uncle’s shop this time, so I can break through soon. In no more than a month, the ‘Wind Feather Immortal Sect’ will be selecting disciples. Opportunities like this only come once every ten years—I don’t want to miss my chance.”

…

By the time the scorching sun was high overhead, Xu Xuan finally caught sight of the bustling town ahead, and breathed a sigh of relief—he had made it before noon.

Yet as he gazed at the vivid, dazzling colors of “Pinghua Town” under the blazing sun, he was struck by a strange sensation.

(Today’s second chapter—ten chapters so far! If you’re enjoying the story, don’t forget to add “Storm of the Immortal River” to your collection!)