The Weight of Training and Unspoken Resentment

It was not until evening that Bai Yuan finally returned to her courtyard from Tianhe Gate.

Biyan informed her of Qian Ying’s invitation to a noon banquet. Bai Yuan sighed, ‘I can only express my apologies by sending a gift later to reciprocate this kindness.’

In these recent days, she simply could not afford to concern herself with such matters.

Having spent the better part of the day in training, Bai Yuan had largely grasped the current state of the Sharp Gold Guard.

It was hard to imagine that in twenty years, this very Sharp Gold Guard, Yang Xuan’s personal elite, would become an invincible force. They would be renowned for trampling the Netherflame Demon Lord’s infamous Dark Splendor Demonic Array on the battlefield, and for forcefully shattering the Abyssal Demon Lord’s painstakingly constructed Ice-Hell Defense Line.

Yet, at this moment, each and every one of them was still nothing more than a tender fledgling.

Aside from their indomitable spirit, everything else—from their cultivation base to their overall combat experience—fell woefully short.

It was precisely due to this formidable spirit that she dared to boast of training them in the Heavenly Stellar Array.

Simultaneously, through repeated adjustments during the afternoon, Bai Yuan gradually pinpointed her own issues.

In her previous life, training those demons and ghosts into an array required little consideration. With the exception of a select few with innate talent, most of the demonic creatures under her command were utterly worthless.

If they couldn’t form an array, they would likely be annihilated by the martial arts experts of the Central Plains in a single wave. Thus, it was normal for them to burn through their foundations to forcefully sustain themselves.

If they truly couldn’t endure, their deaths meant little; she felt no remorse, simply finding another to fill the void.

However, the situation was entirely different now.

These were living, breathing people—the very seeds of the future iron guard that would roam the world fearlessly. Not only could she not treat them as expendable resources, but she also had to devise methods to help them persevere and master this array formation.

Furthermore, she needed to leverage the operational mechanics and principles of the array’s vital energy circulation to help them familiarize themselves with the original Heavenly Stellar Northern Dipper Array. Ideally, it would even serve to aid their cultivation, fostering mutual progress.

Under these circumstances, while the rough men only needed to sweat, take medicine, and train desperately, she, on the other hand, faced a multitude of problems to consider.

Every detail of the array formation required modification, adjusted according to the individual conditions of each soldier. She had to rack her brains to alleviate the burden on each array node, enhance the smooth flow of vital energy, and so on.

In her previous life, minor details that were overlooked were just that—overlooked. At most, there would be some disharmony, leading to the unfortunate deaths of one or two individuals due to vital energy clashes, easily replaced at any time.

Now, however, things were completely different.

Consequently, the better part of this evening would have to be dedicated to refining the array formation.

Following that, she still had her daily, arduous cultivation to undertake.

For a moment, Bai Yuan felt a peculiar sense of déjà vu, as if she were facing a towering stack of summer homework just before the end of a holiday.

It was fortunate that Yang Xuan was not coming tonight; otherwise, her time might truly prove insufficient.

Raising her head, Bai Yuan gazed at the flickering candlelight, musing idly. She yawned, then lowered her head, resuming her calculations.

“Everyone makes mistakes.”

In Qin Wanzhao’s courtyard, Yang Xuan’s lips slowly curved into a peculiar smile. He then withdrew his gaze from the distance, lowering his head to playfully tease his fair-skinned, tender son cradled in his arms, his tone rather nonchalant.

“Even I, your husband, cannot avoid them. As long as a grave error isn’t committed, and one is willing to correct it, it’s nothing to worry about.”

“This concubine…”

As Yang Xuan’s intimate companion, Qin Wanzhao naturally detected an unusual inflection in her husband’s tone. She bit her lip. “This concubine has already instructed someone to replace those medicinal ingredients with Nineflower Jade Dew Pills. Tomorrow… I will send them to Younger Sister Yuan.”

“Nineflower Jade Dew Pills…”

Yang Xuan murmured the name softly, finally turning his head to look at his wife, who was renowned for her intelligence. “You must have added a considerable amount from your private funds, didn’t you?”

“That is nothing at all,” Qin Wanzhao said, averting Yang Xuan’s gaze and simply shaking her head gently. “These past three years… Younger Sister Yuan has truly suffered.”

“Suffered?”

After silently observing Qin Wanzhao for a moment, Yang Xuan’s eyes flickered slightly before he looked away. He pondered for a brief moment. “Never mind, you don’t need to rush to send them. Tomorrow, take a bottle of Profound Sun Pills from my side, and deliver them together after some time has passed.”

“Profound Sun Pills… and after some time?”

Qin Wanzhao inhaled softly, looking somewhat puzzled.

Yang Xuan nodded, his tone calm and even. “Indeed. These days, she’s assisting with the training of the Sharp Gold Guard’s array formation, so she likely won’t have the time. You shouldn’t disturb her either. Once she’s finished training and achieved some results, then give them to her together. And when you give them, don’t mention the reason.”

This was clearly an attempt to help conceal something.

“…Very well.”

Qin Wanzhao fell silent for a moment before finally nodding.

“Later, I’ll be heading to Younger Sister Ying’s place, and I’ll check on Tong’er while I’m there.”

Yang Xuan handed Lingwu back to Qin Wanzhao. “Today, the Drunken Daoist sent a post; he said he would come to apologize in a few days. I need to inform Younger Sister Ying so she can prepare.”

“That Drunken Daoist fellow has good connections and knows many people, with the Daoist sect backing him. I plan to ask him to help inquire about the whereabouts of a few divine doctors. Tong’er cannot remain so heedless forever. This incident was a stroke of luck, encountering Yuan’er. But next time, she might not be so fortunate.”

“My husband’s considerations are thorough,” Qin Wanzhao said, taking her son and coaxing him while smiling. “Younger Sister Ying has been back for two days, and various matters have caused delays; you haven’t visited her yet. Don’t be too late.”

“En, so be it,” Yang Xuan said, looking at Qin Wanzhao and nodding gently. “You should also rest early. Some things, once they’ve passed, have passed. Don’t overthink them; thinking too much is not good. We are all family; there’s no need to be overly concerned.”

“Yes, this concubine understands.”

Watching Yang Xuan walk slowly towards the courtyard gate with his hands clasped behind his back, Qin Wanzhao opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn’t hold back.

“Then… husband.”

“En?”

Yang Xuan stopped, turning his head slightly.

Qin Wanzhao took a deep breath. “Did husband know about this matter all along?”

“Why do you ask?”

Yang Xuan did not respond immediately, but instead posed a question.

“These past three years, although husband didn’t go often, you would always visit that place two or three times a month, staying for half a night before returning.”

Qin Wanzhao looked at Yang Xuan. “With husband’s keen mind, you should have noticed the problem long ago.”

“More or less, yes, I discovered it quite early on.”

Yang Xuan nodded.

“Then why—”

“Why?”

The man was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a low laugh, his voice imbued with a myriad of indiscernible emotions. “Initially, it was hatred, I suppose. I felt that someone like her deserved to suffer more, to truly appease the resentment in my heart.”

“Later, when I wished to change things, I suddenly realized that doing so might make her feel better, so I simply let her be.”

“Younger Sister Yuan… feel better?”

Qin Wanzhao was somewhat taken aback.

“Yes, feel better.”

The man raised his head, gazing at the myriad twinkling stars, his voice distant and melancholic. “At the very least, it allows her to feel as though she is atoning for her sins.”