"Uncle, you’re back! Go wash your hands, dinner is about to start!"
The virtuous and beautiful sister-in-law seemed to have dressed up especially for today, with blushing cheeks and finely drawn eyebrows, looking even more stunning and charming. She was cooking herself, bringing a steaming dish of braised fresh fish to the table.
Seeing Chu Feng return, she immediately greeted him with a cheerful smile, inviting him to dine.
"Third brother, these days you must be the busiest person in the Sword King Mansion! Not coming home for three days, you must have learned a lot from Alchemy Master Niu, haven’t you?"
The second sister was dressed in a white training outfit, her face pretty, her figure slender, exuding an irresistible charm.
She, too, was teasing Chu Feng with a smile.
Senior brother also sat at the table with a face full of joy, continuing the conversation, "Our third brother is bound to achieve great things in the future! A true man aspires to make his mark in the world, one certainly can’t stay cooped up at home all the time."
After washing up, Chu Feng took his seat at the table with a smile.
It was rare for the entire family to sit down together for a meal .
Especially second sister, she was always in closed-door cultivation. It was rare to even catch a glimpse of her.
Before long, a whole table full of dishes was served, and the four sat together, creating an exceptionally cozy atmosphere.
During the meal, Chu Jianlan took the rare opportunity to bring out a jar of wine and shared drinks with Chu Feng. He usually worked in the military where drinking was forbidden. To have such a grand array of dishes today, along with alcohol, there must be some great news to celebrate.
Unexpectedly, his sister-in-law turned out to be a female hero, with an impressive capacity for liquor as well.
She too joined in for a few drinks, adding to the merry mood.
"Senior brother, what’s the cause for such joy today?" Chu Feng asked with a smile.
"Your brother has been promoted to the rank of a Standard Sixth-grade military officer. Minister Wu seems to particularly appreciate him, and as long as he works hard, he is expected to rise to even higher positions!" After a few drinks, his sister-in-law’s face turned rosy, adding to her charm.
Her beautiful eyes slightly narrowed, her face beaming with a sweet smile.
Chu Feng thought to himself how fortunate his elder brother was, to have married such a beautiful and virtuous wife.
With Senior brother gaining the favor of the Minister of War, rising to higher ranks wouldn’t be difficult. Chu Feng felt happy for him.
"Alas, with promotion comes the worries of promotion! Minister Wu spoke to me about assigning me to defend the Western City Gate, but my cultivation doesn’t meet the requirements. One needs to be at least an Advanced Sword Master to qualify for the position."
Chu Jianlan sighed, the opportunity was right in front of him, but out of his reach.
Raising one’s cultivation even by a minor realm is not an easy task.
Defending a city gate is equivalent to a military command position, and that too, one guarding the King City, which holds even greater status. Chu Jianlan had always dreamed of guarding a city gate.
Because that would give him the chance to help Chu Feng and Chu Yun, to escape from the Royal Capital.
Once reaching the border, with former subordinates of Prince Jian to assist, and with the influence of Sword King Mansion within the military, Chu Feng and Chu Yun would be safe.
"Senior brother is currently at the peak of the Intermediate Sword Master realm. I will go tomorrow and ask Alchemy Master Niu, see if I can get a better elixir to help you break through to the Advanced Sword Master Realm."
Chu Feng brought up Niu Baotian as a cover.
In reality, he had already planned a way to help Chu Jianlan advance. Tomorrow, he would personally concoct a batch of Vitality Channeling Pills and Advanced Level Qi Gathering Elixirs to aid his elder brother.
A single Vitality Channeling Pill ought to be enough for senior brother.
The rest, Chu Feng could keep for his own advancement to the Sword Master Realm.
Qi Gathering Elixirs are essential for Swordsmen to increase their cultivation, helping to rapidly gather Sword Qi.
"Uncle, about the matchmaking I mentioned last time, there’s progress. The other party has agreed to meet you. Prepare in the next few days! I’ll go tomorrow and have a tailored suit made for you, so dress up nice and look presentable!"
The sister-in-law was very concerned about Chu Feng’s lifelong event.
Chu Feng couldn’t bear to refuse and could only nod in agreement.
After a night of arduous cultivation, Chu Feng’s cultivation had improved considerably. However, this time he did not manage to advance to a higher minor realm.
As one approaches the later stages of cultivation, the difficulty of progressing to the next level increases considerably.
He was already at the Seventh Rank of Swordsman cultivation, just two minor realms away from starting his assault on the Beginner Level Sword Master realm.
He estimated that by consuming all the Advanced Level Peiyuan Elixir he possessed, he should be able to advance to the Ninth Rank of Swordsman.
Early the next day, Chu Feng left his home to head towards the Alchemy Master Guild, to refine elixirs for his senior brother.
But just as he entered the alley, someone hurriedly followed after him.
"Prince Chu Feng..." called the person from behind.
Chu Feng stopped and turned around, his hand clutching a Golden Rune Protecting Body Elixir. In a critical moment, this elixir could withstand a full-force strike from a Great Sword Master.
"Mo Shang, so it’s you!" Chu Feng had already heard about the destruction and execution of Prince Liu Mansion. One could only say that serving a ruler was like accompanying a tiger; Prince Liu was bloodthirsty, persecuting the loyal and good, so he got what he deserved.
With no Prince Liu Mansion left, Mo Shang must be without a residence by now.
Moreover, Mo Shang ’provided’ numerous pieces of evidence of the many crimes of Prince Liu Mansion, and considering Prince Liu’s hatred towards him, it was very likely that he would be made a scapegoat.
A dismantled ship still has three pounds of nails.
Although the Prince Liu Mansion was destroyed and its members executed, it is likely that there are still many loyal henchmen left, and it was entirely within their power to kill just Mo Shang.
Mo Shang was enveloped in a black robe from head to toe, even his head was concealed.
Seeing him being exceedingly cautious, he was undoubtedly under great pressure.
Mo Shang actually knelt directly in front of Chu Feng, his face expressing sorrow as he said, "I beg Prince Chu Feng to take me in. From now on, Mo Shang will be your loyal servant, willing to go through fire and water without any hesitation!"
Mo Shang’s abilities were quite remarkable, very clever indeed.
Chu Feng appreciated him greatly and despite the significant risk in sheltering Mo Shang in these tumultuous times, he was not afraid of any storm.
Moreover, Mo Shang had conducted himself well during this period. Chu Feng immediately helped him up, "Follow me back to Sword King Mansion, you will take a temporary position as a manager. It just so happens that you can teach Chu Danzi how to manage affairs."
Having said this, Chu Feng immediately took Mo Shang to the Sword King Mansion.
He was originally thinking about discussing it with Chu Jianlan. However, as soon as he started speaking, Chu Jianlan directly stated that going forward, all matters of the Sword King Mansion, big or small, could be decided by Chu Feng.
It seems, Chu Jianlan realized that the recent exceptional performance of his younger brother Chu Feng was no less remarkable than his own.
He was also willing to step aside and yield his place, allowing Chu Feng to determine the fate of Sword King Mansion.
Chu Feng immediately arranged for Mo Shang in the mansion, and to let Chu Danzi learn how to manage the Prince Manor from Mo Shang, no further mention was made.
When evening arrived, Chu Feng, filled with his fruitful gains, returned from the Alchemy Master Guild.
He delivered the elixirs he had personally refined to Chu Jianlan. With these elixirs, Chu Jianlan would have a good chance to advance to the Advanced Sword Master Realm in a very short time.
Early the next morning, just as Chu Feng was waking from his cultivation and basking in the joy of his breakthrough, his sister-in-law knocked on the door asking him to quickly dress up in his newly tailored clothes, ready for a matchmaking appointment.
Chu Feng’s cultivation finally advanced another level, breaking through to the Eighth Rank of Swordsman.
Such a terrifying speed of cultivation, if known to outsiders, would surely shock them to death. Who would call him a waste unable to cultivate now?