Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting from Immortal Martial Arts

After seeing the other girls off, Xue Baochai called the servants to clean up the mess. She then went into the main hall, sat down next to her mother to rest, and said with a smile, "I had a great time playing with my sisters today."

Madam Xue looked at her daughter with affection and comforted her, "My daughter is always so proper and refined. There's no need for you to be so thoughtful. Just play with your sisters more often."

Having said that, he looked at his daughter, who was smiling but remaining silent, sighed, and then asked, "I saw soldiers guarding outside the courtyard today. Why is that?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's eyes darkened, and she said softly, "It was my cousin who had the guards in the manor protect Sister Lin, in case someone bumps into her."

"Ha, who in the manor would dare to offend her? But this girl is truly blessed, with a high-ranking official as her father and the Jia family as her relatives. My poor son is just as good as her in every way, but it's a pity that his father's family is powerless."

"However, I have already discussed it with your aunt. We will send your invitation to the palace for selection during the Mid-Autumn Festival. My son will surely succeed in the selection process."

Xue Baochai sighed softly. If she could stay outside, which woman would want to enter the solemn and majestic palace?

···

Three days later, at 7:45 PM, in Rongqing Hall, Grandmother Jia lay on a soft couch with a faint smile on her face. The four ladies of the West Mansion—Xing, Wang, and Xue—and the East Mansion—You Shi, sat on either side of her, chatting with Wang Xu Shi, the wife of Prince Teng, who had come to visit.

After a while, Madam Wang changed the subject and sighed, "Alas, the current emperor has been on the throne for six years. Our master has also received the emperor's favor. First, he was ordered to inspect the nine border regions, and then he was assigned the task of suppressing the rebellion in Shanxi. We thought he could quickly quell the rebellion and eliminate the bandits, and live up to the emperor's great grace."

"I didn't expect you to write to me yesterday, saying that while the soldiers of the various guards in Shanxi are indeed brave and fierce, they are somewhat difficult to control."

"The master knows that the generals in the manor and the Shanxi military command are very compatible, so he specifically asked me to ask the old lady to write a letter to help with the task, so that the imperial mission can be carried out smoothly."

Lady Wang looked startled and stood up, pleading with Grandmother Jia, "I beg you, Mother-in-law, to help my brother-in-law."

When Xing and You got to the point, they immediately stopped smiling. Madam Xue looked surprised and uncertain. Could someone leading an imperial envoy not command the various departments under their jurisdiction?

Upon hearing their conversation, Grandmother Jia sighed as well, wiping away her tears, and said, "Alas, let alone you in the manor, even my nephew has been sent to the front lines. He even wrote to me this morning to complain, but I am just an old woman enjoying my grandchildren at home. How can I command these arrogant and fierce soldiers?"

With tears welling in her eyes, Madam Wang chimed in, "Yes, how can we women in the inner quarters not worry about our loved ones fighting on the front lines? I know the Earl of the East Mansion respects you the most; perhaps you could ask him to pass on a message?"

"Hey, what are you saying? How can we women in the back interfere with what the men outside do? I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, but when Yu Yin glares at me, my heart trembles."

"How could this be? Everyone knows that the old lady's children and grandchildren are all excellent, filial and obedient. We only ask that the old lady invite them over so that I can speak with the lord."

"That's certainly how it should be, but I don't know where Tiger has gone. He always bothers me when he has nothing to do, but now that I need him, I can't find him."

Madam Wang's expression froze. She turned to look at Madam Wang, who nodded slightly. Unwilling to give up, she said again, "When I came, I saw four generals on duty in the mansion. How could the Earl be far away?"

"You don't know, my granddaughter from Jiangnan came to live with me in this mansion. Her cousin and her father made an agreement to help her out, so there are always servants in the mansion protecting her."

"Ah...this~"

Wang Xu was stunned, opened her mouth but couldn't say anything more.

A moment later, Wang Xushi, who had only managed a few words of casual conversation, left Rongqing Hall accompanied by Madam Wang and headed back to her residence. The other ladies also led their maids and servants away.

After Grandmother Jia and the others left, she called out to the inner room, "Come out, Yu'er."

Then, the peerless beauty Lin Daiyu gracefully walked out from the inner room, sat down on the soft couch, and was embraced by Grandmother Jia.

He had come to chat with Grandmother Jia in the evening, but unexpectedly, Lady Jia and her sister-in-law came to visit. So he simply hid in the inner room to listen to their conversation.

Lin Daiyu's delicate face showed a hint of contemplation. Under Grandmother Jia's smiling gaze, she asked softly, "Grandmother, is your refusal to help Wang Shi because of what happened before?"

She could not forget what she saw and heard when she went north with her mother to seek help; the scene of her mother cursing and swearing here was still vivid in her mind.

"It has to be repaid eventually, doesn't it? Although I don't know Yu Yin's plans, the fact that he didn't leave a message is enough to express his intentions."

Grandmother Jia gently patted Lin Daiyu's shoulder, her voice tinged with annoyance: "Yu'er, in the future, you must treat those around you with both kindness and strictness. You must not fear authority but not virtue, or respect kindness but not authority. People's hearts can change."

"One hand wields power, the other virtue; that's all it takes to keep everyone obedient."

Lin Daiyu nodded thoughtfully, keeping those words in mind.

···

The next day, at 1:15 AM.

Lin Daiyu wore a plain-colored, straight-collared long gown as a training uniform, her jet-black hair tied up with a white jade hairpin, and she held a long sword with a snow-white blade, thrusting it straight out.

With each swift movement, a cold light flashed, and as her sleeves fluttered, her fair wrist, whiter than snow, was revealed. As the sword techniques evolved and the vital energy gathered, a dazzling golden light gradually flowed across the skin of her wrist.

The five realms of mortal cultivation differ in their respective methods and practices.

There are various training methods, such as striking techniques, stance training, and weapon training. Ultimately, these are all processes that involve the body absorbing vital energy and refining one's martial physique.

Time passed slowly, and the sun gradually moved south, casting a faint golden glow on her delicate oval face.

Shedding its initial timidity and sickly appearance, it presents a graceful beauty reminiscent of a lotus blooming in the distance.

Especially her eyes beneath her delicate eyebrows, which were as clear and bright as the sky after a rain.

The gold-plated skin is complete.

A powerful force surged from the body's surface, merging into the flesh and blood, flowing into the bones, until it was completely absorbed by the body, and one could even perceive the vital energy flowing through the skin.

Lin Daiyu possessed a pure Yin constitution and cultivated an ancient, top-tier method. Combined with the Jia family's medicinal cuisine and the ever-increasing vital energy of the world, she made rapid progress.

In less than three months, she has already entered the Golden Skin realm. Logically, she could have started the next stage of flesh refining, but she did not do so.

Both Jia Tang and Famen expressed that the first layer of gold is not the end.

Continue refining until a jade skin is formed.

Even if one cannot reach the first level of jade, one should begin the cultivation of the next level when the skin can no longer generate strength and there is no way to progress.

"Wow, girl, you're glowing!"

"This is a sign that the young lady has achieved some success in her cultivation."

Lin Daiyu stood there, drenched in sweat, listening to the maids' chatter as she quietly regulated her breathing. Then she took the tea that Zijuan handed her and drank it in small sips.

After letting out a long sigh, he recalled the scene of the attack on the Lin family mansion and the stabbing of his mother. A determined look flashed in his eyes, and he continued practicing his sword moves.