At the beginning of the thirty-second year of Qianyuan, the cold clouds that had shrouded Shengjing City for half a month finally dissipated.
The snow is clearing, the sky is clear, the morning sun is shining, and the golden light is falling, adding a layer of dazzling brilliance to the snow-capped land.
A luxurious carriage slowly drove out from the east gate of Shengjing. The four bay-red Dawan horses pulling the carriage were tall and impressive, with fluttering manes.
"It's a carriage from the Zhenwu Marquis Mansion, let it go quickly!"
The general guarding the city gate saw the emblem of the angry-eyed cloud tiger on the carriage, and after a brief inquiry and inspection, he immediately let it go.
A dozen burly sergeants in bright armor took the initiative to rush forward, driving away the crowd and convoy in front of the city gate, making way for the carriage of the Zhenwu Marquis Mansion.
The people and convoys who were driven to both sides of the official road watched in awe as the carriages passed in front of them, without showing any dissatisfaction or resentment.
Jiang Shirong, the Marquis of Zhenwu, is the best martial artist in the world. His fist spirit is domineering and intimidates all the heroes in the world. He is the true patron saint of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the general of the country.
"I still like this vast world, the sky is high and the sky is high, so far and unrestrained!"
Jiang Xuanxin opened the wooden window on one side and looked at the vast land covered in silver in his field of vision. An unprecedented sense of relaxation and ease appeared on his young face.
The biting north wind howled, blowing on his face like a knife, but the young man seemed unaware and looked out the window dreamily.
Jiang Li, sitting opposite, also felt relieved.
The gate of the Hou Mansion is tall and forbidding, and in the eyes of the world, it is a mountain to look up to and admire, but for a lowly concubine like Jiang Li, it is a suffocating deep-sea prison.
"Sister Chuchu, let's go have a snowball fight and build a snowman later. We slaves are not allowed to play in the Marquis' Mansion. I feel like I'm thirty years old!"
"This little black dog is so cute. It's suitable for a hat. It will definitely keep you warm!"
"Ouch!"
Jiang Xuanxin has two maids, named Yuemei and Luoxue. They are above average in appearance. They are about fifteen or sixteen years old and look similar to Chuchu. They are well-behaved, smart, and innocent.
Before the carriage even left the city, the three girls had already become familiar with each other. They were chattering away, and laughter like silver bells filled the carriage.
Jiang Li looked at the scenery outside the window for a while and then looked back.
He closed his eyes and used the 'Lingbao Tianzun Xiantian Yiqi Guidance Technique' to use all the time to strengthen the breath in his body.
According to the current speed of cultivation, he will be able to reach the fourth level of Qi Meridian Tempering Realm in half a month at most.
"Brother Fifteen, I actually admire you!"
Jiang Xuanxin looked out the window for a while, then suddenly felt his mood waning, so he closed the window. He looked at Jiang Li, with a heavy thought on his young face that was not for his age.
"Why do you say that?"
Jiang Li opened his eyes and looked at the young man in front of him.
"Because you have courage!"
Jiang Xuanxin looked at the two maids Yuemei and Luoxue beside him, and whispered: "Sons like us, sons of concubines, have an awkward position in the prince's mansion. The maids who accompany us are not like slaves, but more like family members, but if Brother Ninth insists on asking me for them, but I really don’t have the guts to say no, I’m too timid and afraid of everything!”
"It's not your fault. Facing a powerful and vicious existence, anyone will feel afraid. It is human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages!"
Jiang Li patted the young man's shoulder, smiling like the rising sun, breaking through the haze in the young man's heart, "Remember, true courage is never fearless, but choosing to do it despite being scared to death!"
"Obviously I was scared to death, but I still chose to do it!"
Jiang Xuanxin was startled. He had read a lot, but this was the first time he heard such remarks. It was completely different from what he had read before.
The young man lowered his head and pondered, but his eyes gradually brightened, and a faith he had never experienced before began to take root in the young man's heart.
He clenched his fists, wondering what he was thinking.
The tomb of Jiang Xuanxin's mother is located on a hill fifty miles east of Shengjing City. As the carriage left the official road, the snow on the road became thicker and thicker. When it reached the foot of the mountain, it was impossible to move on.
Ordering two servants of the Hou Mansion to guard the vehicle, Jiang Li, Jiang Xuanxin and others jumped out of the carriage, carrying the sacrificial supplies in their hands, and walked towards the top of the mountain.
The snow was knee deep and every step was laborious.
But these people are all fifteen or sixteen years old, and they have been trapped in the Marquis Mansion for a long time. They don't feel tired at this moment, but they are having fun.
"Let's see who among us reaches the top of the mountain first!"
Chuchu hugged the little black dog, suddenly yelled, and rushed up the mountain with his skirt in hand.
"Chuchu, you don't count!"
The two maids, Yuemei and Luoxue, stamped their feet and shouted their objections, but they ran faster than anyone else.
The three girls chased each other, their clear laughter spread across the mountains, and even the wind softened.
"Brother Jiang Li, let's give it a try too!"
Jiang Xuanxin's young mind was boundless, and all his worries were forgotten at this moment. He shouted and jumped up.
The muscles in his legs were tensed up. Jiang Xuanxin exerted force and jumped as fast as an antelope. He jumped twenty or thirty meters away.
"Then you have to run faster!"
Jiang Li laughed, and with a tap of his feet, he flew out like a roc, leaping more than ten meters in one step, and then followed Jiang Xuanxin unhurriedly.
"Brother Fifteen, don't even think about surpassing me!"
Jiang Xuanxin ran with all his strength, but Jiang Li chased after him "without giving up an inch". Jiang Xuanxin became more eager to win and accelerated a little faster.
A warrior at the second level of martial arts has full muscles, the strength of his limbs and waist and abdomen are connected together, and he has good endurance.
But the snow on the mountain was too thick, and his clothes were heavy and bloated. Jiang Xuanxin jumped hundreds of meters continuously, and the strength of his legs was almost exhausted. He was sore and out of breath, but the end was close at hand.
He took a deep breath and was about to speed up when his belt was suddenly grabbed by someone, and then he flew up from the ground.
It turned out that Jiang Li, who was following him, grabbed his belt and threw him away.
Jiang Xuanxin felt like the world was spinning, and he fell into the snow and disappeared.
"Brother Fifteen, you are cheating!"
Jiang Xuanxin crawled out of the snowdrift, his whole body covered with snow, his face was cold, but he felt unprecedented happiness and joy in his heart.
He flopped onto his back again, lying in the snow and laughing.
"Sir, you are so stupid!"
"I've surpassed you!"
Two maids, Yuemei and Luoxue, ran past Jiang Xuanxin, not forgetting to throw a snowflake for their young master.
Jiang Xuanxin's mother was buried under a locust tree on the top of the mountain. Jiang Li and others cleared the snow around the tomb and placed candles, tribute fruits, paper money and other sacrificial objects.
Jiang Xuanxin knelt in front of the tomb, silent and crying silently.
Everyone in the house knew that his mother died under mysterious circumstances, but no one dared to mention it to his face. Jiang Shirong was not involved in the affairs of the house, while the eldest lady, He Loushi, covered the sky with one hand.
"Don't worry, mother, I have grown up and started to practice martial arts. In a few years, I will join the army and sharpen my will and strength. I will not be bullied by anyone again!"
Jiang Xuanxin got up and displayed his martial arts skills in front of his mother's grave. When he practiced, it was Taizu Changquan created by Taizu Taizu of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
"This Taizu Changquan is not quite right!"
Jiang Li watched the young man's martial arts performance quietly, but his brows furrowed.
Jiang Xuanxin has a good foundation and a focused spirit, but the Taizu Changquan that he used with his body skills obviously has a lot of problems.
