Becoming a martial arts god starting from the mortician.

Jiang Xinyue sat alone for a moment, then got up and walked to his desk. He took out two sheets of fine Chengxintang paper from the drawer, then picked up a paperweight to hold down the corners of the paper, ground the ink, and picked up his brush.

The first letter was written very quickly.

"Jiang Xinyue, Director of the Astronomical Bureau of Chengping County, respectfully presents this to Your Excellency for your perusal."

"On the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month, remnants of the Hidden Netherworld Cult attacked Chengping County. The leader was a heretical cultivator at the Wulou Realm, a cultivator at the Tongyi Realm, and dozens of others below the Golden Body Realm. The Surveillance Bureau and the Patrol Battalion joined forces to wipe them out. Thirty-seven martial artists and over a hundred armored soldiers were killed in action. The number of civilian casualties is still being tallied."

Jiang Xinyue stopped writing at this point.

He stared at the three characters "无漏境" (Wu Lou Jing, meaning "the realm without leakage") on the paper for a long time.

The Northern Border Pass is the first line of defense for the Great Yan Dynasty against foreign invaders. Any unrecorded cultivator at the Tongyi Realm or above entering the pass will be alerted, and it has always been jointly guarded by the Surveillance Bureau and the military. How did a heretical cultivator at the Wulou Realm manage to cross the border pass?

Jiang Xinyue dipped her brush in ink and added a line at the end of the letter.

"For sixteen years I have guarded this peaceful place, never daring to forget my master's orders. But today's changes are truly beyond my expectations. There may have been changes at the Northern Border Pass. I hope my master will investigate thoroughly."

The pen tip hovers.

He added another sentence.

"Sixteen years later, I dare to ask again: why did Master send me to Chengping back then?"

Before the ink was dry, Jiang Xinyue had already laid out the second sheet of paper.

He wrote the letter much more slowly. He would put down his pen, pause, put down his pen, and pause again, as if he were carefully considering the weight of each word.

"There is another matter that needs to be reported separately. Shen Qi, a craftsman under the jurisdiction of the Chengping County Astronomical Bureau, is originally from Qingping Town. He was recommended to the bureau by Wang Shou, a third-class pulse finder. His initial pulse assessment was graded as C-level, but after a retest, it has reached grade B-level. Today, I observed his qi and blood again, and I fear that he has reached grade A pulse."

Jiang Xinyue put down her pen and rubbed her temples after writing this.

He shook his head and continued writing.

"By a twist of fate, this person obtained the ancient copy of 'Yuanming Sui' brought from Shendu by his disciple. Without a teacher, he mastered the art of observing fate and discerning evil. When the evil cultivators attacked the city, this person went into battle with He Shan, the vanguard of the Martial Guard. He was able to identify three disguised evil cultivators in succession by sight alone, without making a single mistake."

"Furthermore, this person had recently asserted that Chen Wu, a warrior in Chengping County, was nearing the end of his life, which I did not believe at the time. Several days later, Chen Wu indeed died in battle."

"This person is only twenty years old, yet he has already grasped the essence of this art; he is truly a talent that is one in a million."

He thought for a moment, then dipped his brush in ink and added another sentence.

"What puzzles me even more is that, upon examining his destiny, I gained absolutely nothing. I only gleaned the sign of 'a shift in fate and a change in destiny.' This person's fate is beyond my comprehension."

The letter is finished.

Jiang Xinyue folded the two letters separately, stuffed them into a copper letter tube, sealed the opening with wax, and stamped it with the vermilion seal of the Astronomical Bureau.

"Someone come here."

The black-clad guard standing outside pushed open the door and knelt on one knee.

Jiang Xinyue handed out the two mailboxes.

"Send it urgently to the Imperial Observatory of the Capital. Hand it over to the Director personally."

"Your subordinate obeys."

The guard took the letter tube with both hands, turned around, and strode away.

As Jiang Xinyue listened to the footsteps disappear at the end of the corridor, she slowly leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.

……

The inner city long street.

When Shen Qi walked out of the gate of the Observatory, the sun had already climbed over the city wall.

Yesterday's bloodshed seemed like a dream. The bloodstains on the streets had clearly been washed away, and the bluestone slabs still gleamed with a damp sheen. Only the faint smell of lime and medicinal powder lingered in the air. Shops along the street gradually removed their doors, and several restaurants put up their signs. Steaming white smoke rose from the kitchens, giving the area a more lively and bustling atmosphere compared to the outer city.

Shen Qi pulled his cotton robe tighter and walked along the long street toward the East Market.

Zhou Wenyuan was injured; it wouldn't be right for him to come empty-handed. He needed to bring something presentable.

He was pondering what to buy when he heard the rumbling of wheels behind him, growing louder as it approached.

A blue-curtained carriage came to a steady stop beside him.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Yan Qing stepped out of the carriage.

Today, this handsome young man was dressed in a pale white padded robe, with a jade belt around his waist, and his hair was neatly tied up with a plain silver hairpin. There was no trace of the disheveled and grimy appearance he had in the ruins yesterday.

Yan Qing stood still, clasped her hands together, and bowed respectfully to Shen Qi.

"Brother Shen."

Shen Qi stopped and returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"Young Master Yan."

Yan Qingzhi stood up, his face showing apology.

"Yesterday, the city was in great turmoil, and Yan Qing was in a hurry to return home to take care of his family. He left in such a rush that he was unable to repay his debt of gratitude. Looking back, I realize that this was truly impolite."

He paused, his tone sincere.

"I came out today specifically to see Brother Shen. There is a restaurant called Zuixianlou in the city, and its food and wine are decent. If Brother Shen doesn't mind, I will treat you to a simple meal to express my gratitude."

Shen Qi shook his head.

"Young Master Yan, you're too kind. However, it's probably not convenient today."

"Oh?"

"I have an elder relative who was injured while suppressing the rebellion yesterday," Shen Qi explained. "I was planning to go to the East Market to buy some things and visit him at his residence."

Yan Qing's brows twitched slightly, and he suddenly raised his hand to block Shen Qi's path.

"Brother Shen, please wait."

Shen Qi looked at him.

Yan Qing's expression turned serious.

"Brother Shen saved my life, so Brother Shen's elder is my elder. How could I stand idly by while my elder was wounded in battle? Ordinary medicines from the East Market pharmacies may not be effective."

He turned to look at the servants standing by the carriage with their hands at their sides.

"Ah Fu".

"Young master."

"Return to the manor immediately and fetch two boxes of Tiger Bone Tendon-Regenerating Plaster, a box of century-old ginseng slices, and three bottles of Blood Stasis-Removing Powder," Yan Qing added. "Also, take two old wild ginseng roots. Go and come back quickly."

The servant obeyed, mounted another horse, and rode off.

Shen Qi opened his mouth.

This gift is truly substantial.

Yan Qing smiled and pointed to the side of the street.

"Brother Shen, there's a teahouse over there. Let's sit down and wait. My servant is quick on his feet; he'll be back in half an hour."

The two sat down in a corner of the teahouse. The waiter brought over two bowls of hot tea and tactfully stepped aside.

The two chatted casually about the city's recent events. Yan Qing spoke gently and measuredly, neither overly enthusiastic nor deliberately distant, striking the perfect balance.

Shen Qi held the teacup, glancing at the top of his head out of the corner of her eye.

The crimson and cyan life threads still intertwined and swirled, and the phantom images of the bamboo slips and official seals were clearer than yesterday.

This eldest son of the Yan family is truly a man chosen by Heaven.

Half an hour later, the sound of horses' hooves rang out.

The servant Afu, leading the horse in one hand and carrying several sandalwood boxes in the other, trotted back. He was covered in sweat and neatly stacked the boxes on the table.

Yan Qing reached out and pushed the wooden box in front of Shen Qi.

"There's not much, just some common household medicines. Tiger bone tendon-repairing ointment is especially good for external injuries to tendons and bones, while century-old ginseng slices and old wild ginseng can replenish vital energy. Brother Shen, take these for your elders. If it's not enough, just send someone to the Yan residence to get more."

Shen Qi looked down at the several sandalwood boxes.

The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the wood grain is warm and smooth. These boxes alone are probably worth a lot of money, not to mention the medicine inside.

Without any formalities, he reached out and took the wooden box.

"Thank you, Young Master Yan."

Yan Qing stood up and straightened his sleeves.

"Brother Shen, you flatter me. I will not trouble you any further today. You have other matters to attend to."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his gaze open and honest.

"There's plenty of time in the future; I'll invite Brother Shen for drinks another day."

Shen Qi stood up and returned the greeting.

"it is good."

Yan Qing turned and got into the carriage. The curtain was lowered, and the blue-curtained carriage slowly drove away along the long street.

Shen Qi stood at the entrance of the teahouse, carrying several wooden boxes, watching the carriage turn the corner and disappear from sight.

He looked down and weighed the contents in his hand, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

This young master Yan was generous, yet never came across as condescending. He spoke and acted with perfect composure and tact, leaving no room for error.

There is ample time.

Shen Qi withdrew his gaze, picked up the wooden box, turned into the alley, crossed two streets, and arrived at the gate of the Zhou residence.

The gate was half-closed, and a thin layer of snow had accumulated on the lintel, which no one had come to sweep yet.