Chapter 47: Two Years’ Time

After returning from the Dan Family's New Year visit, a month and a half later, Wei Tu received an invitation to Dan Yan Gong’s concubine-taking ceremony. Glancing at the address on the invitation—the Dan residence in Qingfeng Prefecture—Wei Tu couldn’t help but admire Madam Dan Min’s skillful maneuvering. He wondered how she had managed to convince Dan Yan Gong’s wife to agree to her husband taking a concubine. Back when he had stayed in the Dan residence for a few months, Wei Tu had observed that, while Dan Yan Gong’s wife appeared gentle and mild-mannered—unlike the sharp-tongued Dan Fang—she was firm at her core. Otherwise, Dan Yan Gong wouldn’t have delayed taking a concubine for so many years. "It just so happens that Elder Brother Kou Liang wrote me a letter, inviting me and Wei Fei to meet at Xuanhe Tower for a gathering to rekindle old ties…" Wei Tu glanced at the date on the invitation and made a mental note. Nearly a year had passed, and just as Fu Zhizhou had said back in the Prefectural Office, Prefect He was approaching the time for his reassignment. The rumors had already spread throughout the County Office, and it was only a matter of time before the official decree arrived. Wei Tu speculated that Kou Liang’s letter, gathering all four sworn brothers, was likely meant to discuss this matter. Without delay, he sought out Wei Fei, and the two set a date to travel together to Qingfeng Prefecture. Xuanhe Tower, Room Number Three "Second Brother, Third Brother." Hearing their voices outside the door, Kou Liang stepped out and greeted them personally. Smiling, he patted them both on the shoulders and exchanged pleasantries. "Elder Brother." Wei Tu and Wei Fei glanced at each other before giving a respectful bow with cupped fists. After more than a year apart, Kou Liang hadn’t changed much—clad in a crisp white martial tunic, tall and broad-shouldered, exuding an air of strength and vigor. However, both Wei Tu and Wei Fei noticed a faint sense of weariness between his brows—a lingering frustration that had settled into his expression. It was clear that, like them, Kou Liang had also suffered suppression from the local authorities in Xiaoyi Prefecture. Yet, compared to Wei Tu and Wei Fei, who had at least each other for support, Kou Liang had been fighting alone all this time. "Where is Fourth Brother?" Stepping into the private dining room, Wei Fei swept his gaze around, but Fu Zhizhou was nowhere to be seen. His brows furrowed slightly. The entire way here, he and Wei Tu had hurried without pause to ensure they arrived ahead of schedule. Since Fu Zhizhou was their sworn younger brother, there was no reason for him to be late, making them—his elder sworn brothers—wait. "Fourth Brother has caught the attention of Governor Wang, and now serves as one of his personal guards. He is often occupied with duties and cannot leave freely. We will wait a little longer." Seated on a wooden stool, Kou Liang shook his head and explained. "Second Brother, have some wine to quench your thirst." Wei Tu took a seat and subtly signaled to Wei Fei—reminding him to be patient. He knew exactly what was making Wei Fei restless. Ever since they had received Fu Zhizhou’s first letter, neither of them had heard from him again for half a year. It felt as though Fu Zhizhou had forgotten their sworn brotherhood—forgotten them. The three of them sat waiting, with the servants of Xuanhe Tower bringing one pot of wine after another. Only when the sun began to set did they hear the distinct clinking of armor outside the door. The three men inside the room immediately looked toward the entrance. At last, they saw the long-awaited Fu Zhizhou. He was clad in bright silver armor, his helmet adorned with a scarlet tassel, his entire presence exuding prestige and command—truly the bearing of a military officer. The contrast between him and the three in the private room was stark. Fu Zhizhou had risen. The other three had remained stagnant. "Elder Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother…" Fu Zhizhou removed his helmet, revealing the dark fabric of his underarmor, then cupped his fists and bowed low in greeting. His posture was respectful, with no arrogance whatsoever. Seeing this, the three men breathed a sigh of relief, their wariness melting away. They welcomed him back into their hearts once more. After a round of formal greetings, Kou Liang motioned for the attendant to serve their long-prepared meal and warm the wine. "I apologize for making my sworn brothers wait so long. I have been occupied with an official duty, and I have been stationed at the Governor’s Office for some time now…" "For reasons of secrecy, I have not been able to send letters. If this has caused any offense to my sworn brothers, I hope you will forgive me." Fu Zhizhou, noticing the unspoken tension, took the initiative to explain his absence over the past year. "An official duty?" Kou Liang immediately caught onto the key words. His gaze sharpened slightly as he studied Fu Zhizhou. If Fu Zhizhou were merely a military officer in the Governor’s personal guard, there would be no reason for him to cut off all contact with them for so long. It had to be something more. "If Elder Brother asks, then I will speak plainly." "I only ask that the three of you keep this matter secret." Fu Zhizhou hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and speaking. He knew that if he didn’t explain today, this meeting would be their last—their sworn brotherhood would fracture after tonight’s banquet. If he measured their bond, he knew they weren’t yet at the level of dying for one another. But they had sworn an oath. They had spilled blood and vowed to rise together. For that reason alone, Fu Zhizhou was willing to take this risk. "Fourth Brother, if this is something you cannot share, then don’t force yourself." Kou Liang and Wei Fei immediately understood Wei Tu’s unspoken meaning and nodded in agreement. If this information leaked, the consequences wouldn’t just fall on Fu Zhizhou alone. A Xiantian martial master’s mental techniques could easily trace the source of a leak, and all three of them—Wei Tu, Kou Liang, and Wei Fei—would be implicated as well. Seeing their concern, Fu Zhizhou shook his head and explained, “This matter is closely tied to my sworn brothers’ futures. If you remain unaware of this intelligence, you may find yourselves caught unprepared when the time comes.” “Moreover, with my current position, as long as my sworn brothers keep this confidential and do not speak carelessly, the authorities will not easily trace it back to me.” His words made Wei Tu and the others exchange glances before finally agreeing to let Fu Zhizhou share what he knew. “Last year, the four of us opposed Prefect He over the matter of Martial Luck Pavilion, and in doing so, we formed our sworn brotherhood, pledging to support one another in both advancement and hardship.” “What I am about to reveal is also related to Martial Luck Pavilion.” “The Governor approved Prefect He’s plan to send martial scholars into Martial Luck Pavilion as spies, but that was merely a move on the surface. In reality, the Governor had already laid his true strategy in secret.” “He has been waiting for Martial Luck Pavilion to reveal irrefutable evidence of its crimes before making his move.” “When the time comes, the Southern Mountain Dao will mobilize local militia forces to attack Martial Luck Pavilion, and my sworn brothers—all accomplished martial artists—will undoubtedly be included in the conscription.” “The Governor’s personal guards are being prepared as the elite force for this operation.” “And this event could take place as soon as three to four months from now, or as late as one to two years.” Fu Zhizhou spoke slowly, his tone serious. "An assault on Martial Luck Pavilion?" The news did not come as a shock to the three. They had long anticipated that the government would eventually take action against Martial Luck Pavilion—it was a sinking ship. What they hadn’t expected was that the Governor planned to mobilize local militia forces for the attack. They knew better than anyone the state of these militia forces. Most of them were mere commoners drafted into service—peddlers, farmhands, and vagrants. If they faced a truly formidable enemy, they would crumble in an instant. If the local militia was being called upon, then their officers—including Wei Tu, Kou Liang, and Wei Fei—would also be conscripted. “This is our chance to earn military merits. If we train our troops diligently once we return, we might be able to secure promotions from this campaign,” Kou Liang said, full of fighting spirit, already looking at the bright side. Wei Fei shared his enthusiasm. But Wei Tu was not as optimistic. Unless it was absolutely necessary, he had no desire to step onto the battlefield. War was unpredictable. Blades and arrows did not discriminate. A single misstep, and all ambitions would end in an unmarked grave. “My sworn brothers, now that you know this, return home and begin training your troops in secret. Procure quality armor. When the battle begins, you will have the chance to make a name for yourselves.” Fu Zhizhou smiled. By sharing this intelligence, he was honoring the oath they had made last year—to support his sworn brothers whenever an opportunity arose. “Many thanks, Fourth Brother.” Wei Tu sighed inwardly but composed himself, joining Kou Liang and Wei Fei in expressing their gratitude to Fu Zhizhou. As a Military Commandant, he had some soldiers under his command, but they weren’t a formal unit, meaning he wouldn’t have the same opportunity to train troops. This battle—this chance at glory—had little to do with him. “But knowing this information in advance is still beneficial. I can prepare high-quality armor in advance—having proper protection might just save my life when the time comes.” Wei Tu thought to himself. Half an hour later, Fu Zhizhou donned his gleaming silver armor, bid them farewell, and left Xuanhe Tower to return to his post at the Governor’s Office. Shortly after, the remaining three also left one after another. Returning to the Dan residence in Qingfeng Prefecture, Wei Tu stayed for two to three days. After attending Dan Yan Gong’s concubine-taking banquet, he and Wei Fei returned to Qingmu County. Back in the county, Wei Tu no longer hesitated when it came to borrowing money. For the sake of acquiring a quality suit of armor, he sought out Wei Fei and borrowed fifty taels of silver. He then went to the Huang family and, after writing a promissory note, borrowed another thirty taels from his second aunt, Wei Hong. A total of eighty taels of silver. Wei Tu took all of it to the militia armory, commissioning a blacksmith to forge a custom suit of heavy armor with enhanced protection. Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the year Qing’an 26 arrived. This year marked the fifth year of Wei Tu’s training in Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation. In his courtyard, after completing his twelfth round of stance training, he suddenly felt a faint flow of energy circulating through his meridians. This energy was different from the warmth he usually felt when practicing stance training. This time— He could control it with his mind. He could guide it out of his meridians and direct it outside his body. Realizing this, Wei Tu’s heart skipped a beat. He had finally, through years of nurturing external strength, cultivated his first strand of internal energy. At that moment, he immediately turned his focus inward—onto his Late Bloomer Destiny—to check the status of his progress. [Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation (100/100): Training nine times daily, fully mastered in five years.] “It’s done!” “I not only broke through before the five-year mark—I also achieved this before the assault on Martial Luck Pavilion. My strength has taken a massive leap forward…” Wei Tu’s face lit up with excitement. He clearly remembered that he had started practicing Turtle Breath Energy Cultivation in late autumn of Qing’an 21. Now, he had reached Qi Perception Realm in early summer of Qing’an 26. The difference was only a few months, but it proved one thing: His hard work had paid off. And— He was not bound by the predetermined timelines of his Late Bloomer Destiny. If he pushed himself, he could achieve his breakthroughs ahead of schedule.