The Myth of Daqin: The Soul of Yi Xiaochuan

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, waking Qin Yi and Ying Bu from their deep sleep. They quickly rose, washed up briefly, and headed to the guest room courtyard for their morning exercises.

Qin Yi stretched his limbs, flexing his muscles, his body brimming with youthful energy. Ying Bu, on the other hand, appeared calm and experienced, his movements smooth and natural, each one imbued with deep internal strength.

They stood facing each other, their eyes meeting as if sparks flew. Ying Bu launched the first attack, his punches as ferocious and powerful as a hurricane, dazzling the eyes. Qin Yi deftly dodged to the side, using softness to overcome hardness, neutralizing Ying Bu's offensive.

Qin Yi then launched a counterattack. His moves seemed slow, but they were full of hidden tricks. Each punch landed accurately on Ying Bu's vital points, forcing him to react with caution.

The two men exchanged blows, neither conceding. Their fists clashed in the air, making crisp, crashing sounds. The atmosphere of their morning exercise grew tense and intense, like a life-or-death struggle.

As time went by, Qin Yi and Ying Bu's clothes were soaked with sweat, but their fighting spirit became more and more high. In this boxing match, they not only exercised their bodies, but also enhanced their mutual understanding and trust.

Finally, when the sun rose high in the sky, they finished their morning exercise. Qin Yi and Ying Bu smiled at each other, expressing their satisfaction with each other's performance.

This went on for several days.

One day, outside the courtyard gate, the two sisters, Lü Su and Lu Zhi, stood quietly. Lü Su's gaze occasionally darted into the courtyard, as if searching for something. Her eyes revealed a hint of anticipation and nervousness, and Lü Zhi, standing beside her, observed it all.

Seeing her sister looking around, Lü Zhi couldn't help but feel pity for her. She gently patted Lü Su's shoulder and said jokingly, "Some people, if you want to go in, just go in directly. Why stand at the door so embarrassedly?"

When Lu Su heard her sister's words, her face instantly turned red, like a ripe apple. She lowered her head, fiddling with the corner of her clothes, and said shyly, "I... I just wanted to see if there was anyone inside..."

Seeing this, Lü Zhi found it even more amusing. She continued to tease Lü Su and said, "Oh? Really? Then did you see anyone? Do you need me to keep watch for you?"

Lu Su's face became redder and redder. She stomped her feet hard and said coquettishly, "Sister, stop making fun of me!" After that, she turned around and prepared to go back.

Lü Zhi quickly held her back and said, "Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore. But if you really want to see someone, just go in boldly. After all, opportunities always come to those who are courageous!"

After hearing her sister's words, Lü Su felt a little more at ease. She took a deep breath, mustered up her courage, pushed open the gate, and walked into the yard. Lü Zhi looked at her from behind, a relieved smile on her face.

Qin Yi and his companion had just finished their morning exercise. They slowly stopped while wiping the sweat from their foreheads. At this moment, Lu Su walked over lightly, bowed to Qin Yi and said, "My benefactor, it's time to go to breakfast. The Double Ninth Festival is approaching soon, and my father has hosted a banquet for the city's celebrities to discuss the establishment of a private school. Why don't you stay a few more days..." At this point, Lu Su's voice became weaker and weaker, and his head gradually drooped.

Qin Yi understood what she meant. He quickly bowed in return and said, "Miss Lu, please stop calling me 'Benefactor'. From now on, just call me Qin Yi. This is just a small favor, and I truly don't deserve such a title. Since it happens to be this holiday, and I'm honored by your warm invitation, how dare I refuse? I apologize for any inconvenience. If there's anything I can do for you, please feel free to ask."

Lu Su still lowered her head, responded softly, and then hurried out of the yard.

Qin Yi stared at Lu Su's departing back, and couldn't help being a little absent-minded. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, revealing a faint smile.

Ying Bu, who was standing aside, seemed to have become a spectator watching the fun. He deliberately coughed a few times, making a "cough cough cough" sound, and then showed an expression of half-smile on his face, which I understood, and walked towards the dining table.

After they finished their breakfast, they left the courtyard and walked around the Lu Mansion.

The architecture of the Lu Mansion is solemn and majestic. The pavilions, terraces, and towers are arranged in an orderly manner, with flying eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, showcasing the unique charm of ancient architecture. Two stone lions sit majestically in front of the outermost vermilion gate.

Inside the mansion, the courtyard is filled with lush flowers and elegant scenery. Peonies, herbal peonies, and roses exude a delicate fragrance. In a corner, a small, exquisite rockery, craggy with jagged rocks and gurgling water, adds a touch of vibrant beauty to the entire courtyard.

Although the Lu Mansion's total area is not very large, its internal layout is quite exquisite and unique. The entire mansion can be roughly divided into the front yard, the back yard, and two small courtyards on the left and right sides.

The front yard is spacious and elegant, with the most striking feature being the large living room used for receiving guests. The living room is elegantly and solemnly decorated. Furthermore, the front yard also houses a study and bedroom, where Lu Taigong spent his days studying and conducting his studies.

Passing through the front courtyard, one arrives at the middle courtyard, where the two young masters of the Lu family and Grandpa Lu reside. Beyond the middle courtyard, one arrives at the backyard, where the Lu sisters' boudoirs are located. Between the backyard and the middle courtyard lies an exquisite garden and rockery, adding a touch of vitality and elegance to the entire mansion.

The small courtyards to the left and right of the mansion housed the guest rooms, kitchen, and servants' quarters. While not as grand as the front courtyard, these rooms were equally neat and tidy, and well-organized. There were only a few servants in the courtyards: three cooks, four maids, an elderly housekeeper, and four servants.

The atmosphere of the Double Ninth Festival filled the air. Sister Lu Su and her two maids were meticulously arranging the venue. Everything seemed well-organized and orderly.

Qin Yi's eyes were involuntarily drawn to Lu Su. Seeing her concentrating on fiddling with the lantern alone, her serious expression moved his heart. He couldn't help but take a step forward and walked towards Lu Su.

When Lu Su heard the words, "Miss Lu, let me help you," she nodded gently. Thinking of her sister's words, she grew bolder and asked, "Brother Qin, why do you have to go north to join the army? Foreign invaders often invade there. Wouldn't it be safer inland?"

Qin Yi smiled and looked at Lu Su, then replied, "Sister Susu, risks and opportunities always go hand in hand. If you want to make a name for yourself, you have to go to the border areas and build your career. With my skills, I might be able to return home in two years! Besides, a real man can only protect his family and the people he cares about if he has the ability."

After a pause, Qin Yi looked at Lu Su with a serious expression and said solemnly: "Sister Susu, are you willing to wait for me for a while?" After hearing this, Lu Su no longer avoided his gaze, but blinked her beautiful big eyes and responded playfully: "Well, I need to think about it carefully. After all, if you leave and never come back, what should I do?" Her tone was a little teasing, but her eyes revealed sincere emotions.

Qin Yi raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, and said softly: "Okay!"

He naturally understood the implication of Lü Su's words and had already made a plan. He had two choices: either take her with him on the journey north, or personally go to Lü Taigong's residence to propose marriage and establish the engagement before setting off. As things stood, the First Emperor was still alive, and the remnants of the six kingdoms were dormant for the time being, with no major movements taking place. The world appeared relatively stable and peaceful. Furthermore, the Lü family had strong connections with local celebrities, so if Lü Su stayed in Pei County, she would be quite safe. However, if they were to travel north together, the journey would be long and arduous, with many unexpected events and mishaps along the way, which would be truly inconvenient!

I made up my mind to propose to Lu Taigong after the Double Ninth Festival.