This was Ling Zhang's first vacation since he'd enrolled in the Imperial College. Under no circumstances would Yuwen Tong let this chance slip away. "Of course I am," replied Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang was very happy. This kind of one-day vacation was not really a daily occurrence for students, so certainly he'd like to enjoy it with Yuwen Tong. It was just that he felt obliged to express his gratitude to his classmates for their help.

The next morning, the five classmates of his showed up at the agreed time.

When they arrived, everyone of them seemed rather formal and unrelaxed. Ling Zhang knew that it was not because this was the first time they came here but because of Yuwen Tong. In order to help them set their mind at ease, he friendlily greeted them first and then told them, "Today we're going to a manor of Yuwen Tong's in the suburbs. He's otherwise engaged, so he won't be with us. A friend of mine named Tao Yi will join us. He'll be here in a short while. We'll go there together."

Yuwen Tong had left for the manor first in the knowledge that his presence would make these people feel uneasy. He could also help Ling Zhang make preparations for the feast in passing.

The five students, on hearing that Yuwen Tong was not in, felt a sense of relief but were also somewhat disappointed.

After a while, Tao Yi arrived. The moment he entered, he remarked, "Sorry I'm late. When I was leaving, my teacher summoned me and had a word with me."

"I'd like to introduce these five classmates of mine to you: Zhao Jiusi, Zhao Turui, Xun Huo, Ji Feng, Xie Qing..."

"This is Tao Yi. He's my friend and studies at the Oriental Rite Academy."

Ling Zhang introduced them to each other. Tao Yi gave a hearty laugh, pointed at Zhao Jiusi and Zhao Turui and said, "I know these two. We met a couple of times."

Zhao Jiusi was the one who was the first to stand up for Ling Zhang the day before, and who was also the most poised of these five people. He and Zhao Turui were cousins. Both of them were members of Zhao family. Many of their elders were courtiers, and the most powerful one of them was Zhao Zheng, their father's eldest brother, who was the Minister of War.

Xun Huo's father was Xun Yi, a ministry councillor of the Ministry of Penalties. His family members were also respected figures in the capital city.

Xie Qing's father was Xie Dongsheng, the new Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works. It was actually quite coincidental: Peng Fang's attempt to have Ling Zhang poisoned had been the reason why Xie Dongsheng was promoted to the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works. The causality in this was very subtle.

The name of the last one was Ji Feng, who was of the highest standing among the five of them. His grandfather was the Zhongxin Marquess, whose legal wife was Ji Feng's father's birth mother. The Zhongxin Marquess' way of doing things was relatively low-key compared with those of other marquesses living in the capital city, but unlike most of his counterparts who merely had a fancy title, the Zhongxin Marquess had some real powers, which was why members of the Zhongxin Marquess' family were held in higher regard by citizens.

Tao Yi, who had lived in the capital city for many years, had heard of all these five people before, and he had met and talked with Zhao Jiusi and Zhao Turui on a few occasions.

Since two of the five of them were acquaintances of Tao Yi and Tao Yi was a great talker, their feelings of estrangement soon dissolved.

Before long, the seven of them, accompanied by twelve security guards of Ling family, departed for the manor in the suburbs of the capital city.

All seven of them went aboard Ling Zhang's carriage, heedless of the fact that it might be a little crowded. Fortunately, the carriage was big enough. Though it was indeed a trifle crowded, they managed to fit in.

The weather this morning was pretty good, with a sunny sky and gentle breezes. It was at the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The temperature was neither cold nor hot, which was perfect for an outing.

"I've heard of this manor before. It's been there since the time when Old General Yuwen was still alive. Rumor has it that there's a huge drill ground in it, which even dwarfs the one in your residence. I don't know whether we'll be able to see it in a while," said Tao Yi.

Ling Zhang had never heard Yuwen Tong mention the drill ground in the manor, but he was not surprised. He replied, "We may look for it and find out after we get there."

Others also looked at Ling Zhang. Clearly they were all very curious about this.

The horse-drawn carriage wasn't going very fast, so it took them almost two hours to get to the manor. At the gateway, a butler and some servants had been waiting for them for some time.

"My name is Zhao Shude. It's a great honor to meet you, Childe Ling. Everything in the manor is in readiness. I'm sure you and your friends will enjoy your time here," observed the butler.

The butler seemed to be in his early sixties. Though having gone gray, he looked quite robust. Standing bolt upright, he was emanating a special air, which bore some similarity to the air about Yuwen Tong and his personal bodyguards. Ling Zhang guessed that he probably used to serve in the army and had been in the battlefield.

"Thank you for your trouble," said Ling Zhang.

"I merely did what I was supposed to do. Please come in, Childe Ling. And you, childes, this way, please."

The manor was very large. It was more spacious than Ling Zhang had imagined. Maybe because Yuwen family was a family of military officers, this manor was bold and generous in overall style.

This was also Ling Zhang's first time coming to this place. He slowly appraised everything in this manor, which was the same thing that Tao Yi and others were doing.

"It's almost the same as I imagined it to be," Ji Feng smiled to Ling Zhang and the others. "My family also owns a small manor in a nearby area, and occasionally I'd pass by this place. I've always been wondering what it's like inside here. Thanks to you, Ling Zhang, today the agony came to an end."

"This place is indeed rather far away from the capital city. I never thought that your family owned a manor in a nearby area," said Zhao Turui.

"Haha. My grandfather, after seeing Yuwen family built a manor here, felt that he could use some company, that this area was not as crowded as downtown, so he petitioned His Majesty and then built a small manor nearby. And then some others followed suit, so gradually this area shed its uninhabited image," explained Ji Feng.

"But nobody could have foreseen that after Old General Yuwen passed away, this manor would stand unoccupied with gates closed almost all the year around, and neither does anybody know why members of Yuwen family won't come here," added Ji Feng.

"Doesn't that make us the first batch of outsiders visiting this place in so many years?" asked Zhao Turui in excitement.

Ji Feng was also very excited. "Exactly. This trip will be something I could boast about for a whole year, and those people will be so jealous."

Ling Zhang, "..."

The seven of them were of similar age and they were all students, so they felt no generational divide during their conversation. Gradually, they became more and more relaxed. Even Zhao Jiusi, who appeared to be rather reticent, grew a lot more willing to talk.

They found the drill ground. It was indeed very large. The seven of them, all of whom had some fighting skills, took off their overgarments and started sparring. Ling Zhang, in order not to expose his internal energy, curbed his power and fought them with common technique, but even so, due to the training Yuwen Tong had given him during these days, his attacks were more effective than theirs, and many of his moves were beyond their defensive capabilities.

"Ling Zhang, your kung fu is so good. None of us is a match for you."

"You've been hiding it so well."

If their previous chat had merely served to narrow the distance between them, this close-quarters fight sparked a quick development of their acquaintance, and there was not a shred of punctiliousness in their words or bearing, especially after Ling Zhang defeated them. They were all utterly convinced by the great disparity in strength. Ling Zhang's kung fu skills were very good, so they naturally held Ling Zhang in higher regard, for they were all men and had innate reverence for power.

"Just now that move of yours scared the life out of me. I thought you were going to break my neck." Tao Yi sprawling in the chair on the side of the drill ground was too tired to move. Recalling the process of exchanging blows with Ling Zhang, he was still experiencing a carry-over of fear.

"I had the same feeling. Just now, when Ling Zhang made that move, I even felt emanation of intent to kill."

"You're being far too dramatic," Ling Zhang commented. "That's not emanation of intent to kill. It's just a gust of wind generated by the punch."

"Even I was unaware you'd learned such badass moves. You'd never shown any of them before," said Tao Yi.

"Yuwen Tong taught me these," remarked Ling Zhang. There was no need for him to keep this secret from them.

"No wonder I kept feeling that your moves were frighteningly aggressive. Anybody could tell at a glance that only an experienced fighter could throw punches that way," observed Ji Feng.

All moves that Yuwen Tong had taught Ling Zhang were effective moves aiming to kill, each and every one of which was deadly. None of them served to bluff. Though Ling Zhang hadn't used his internal energy, the changes that cultivation of internal energy had brought were not that easy to conceal, and they naturally made his moves appeared more powerful than those of common people.

Zhao Shude showed up and said, "Childe Ling, lunch is almost ready. You and your friends may go to the dining room to have your meals."

Ling Zhang gave a nod. Noon had arrived without any of them noticing it, but at this moment, they were all soaking wet with sweat, and it was inappropriate for them to directly go to have lunch.

"Have you brought a change of clothes?" asked Ling Zhang.

"Yeah. In the carriage," replied Ji Feng. Others also answered in the affirmative.

The five of them had been friends well acquainted with each other and all had some kung fu skills, and when the occasion arose, they would spar with each other in private or do some other things, so they always brought a change of clothes with them on an outing, just in case.

Their servants brought them their changes of clothes. Meanwhile, Zhao Shude had someone prepare hot water. The seven of them took a quick bath, changed into clean clothes and then went to the dining room and had lunch.

They spent the afternoon playing Go and chatting. Ji Feng led off and brought up some matters in the capital city.

First he talked about recent amusing anecdotes about officials in the capital city, and then, very naturally, the topic was shifted to the political situation, and the quarrel between courtiers about a couple of vacancies at the morning court meeting was mentioned.

A thought flashed across Ling Zhang's mind. He remembered that Yuwen Tong had once told him about the couple of vacancies. Dismissed followers of the Sixth Prince removed from office had left a lot of vacancies; many of them had been filled, but some positions of responsibility were still vacant, causing relentless wrangling. The reason for this was very simple – all princes wanted their own followers to fill those vacancies, and none of them was willing to compromise, so there was a deadlock over this issue.

"At first my father earnestly submitted some proposals. Afterwards, quarrels between those people got too intense, and he decided to stay out of it. Every morning, he just goes to the imperial court and hears them quarrel from start to finish," remarked Ji Feng.

On hearing Ji Feng's words, Xie Qing, whose father, Xie Dongsheng, was the new Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works and also attended morning court meetings, felt a deep empathy with him. Moreover, his father, unlike the Zhongxin Marquess, didn't even dare to speak at morning court meetings unless spoken to, for he was terribly afraid that any of the factions might find his words offensive.

What was a trifle surprising in this situation was that Xie Dongsheng didn't side with any princes. It'd been the emperor who'd promoted him.

Ling Zhang conjectured that Xie Dongsheng was probably standing in the middle among all sides, or on the emperor's side, to put it in a more in-depth way.

"Jiang family is also involved in this. They recommended a close relative of theirs, but His Majesty didn't say anything. As far as I could tell, Jiang family might not necessarily succeed," observed Ji Feng.

As Ling Zhang heard these remarks of Ji Feng's, a particular thought occurred to him and he inquired, "Is there a certain kind of relation between that Professor Du and Jiang family?"

After he asked this question, Ji Feng and all the others fell silent. After a few moments, Zhao Jiusi flicked a glance at him and replied, "It seems that you guessed it."

Ling Zhang gave a smile and said, "Jiang Yu obviously loathes me, which makes it difficult for me not to connect the two of them."

"I did hear that Professor Du had dealings with Jiang family. Many people know about this matter," Ji Feng also said.

Tao Yi, who had just got acquainted with them earlier this day, didn't know who Professor Du was, but he did know about Jiang Yu and Jiang family, so he queried, "What about Jiang Yu? Is there a problem with Professor Du?"

Ji Feng was well disposed towards Tao Yi, so after hearing this, he told him about what happened the day before.

Tao Yi went indignant. "This is sheer effrontery. They were so insidious. Brother Zhang would've fallen prey to their tricks had his impulse got the best of him."

Ji Feng exchanged glances with the others and then informed Tao Yi, "Ling Zhang is more badass than we gave him credit for. Professor Du paid dearly for his deed."

"Maybe you should transfer to the Oriental Rite Academy, which you originally planned to enroll in," said Tao Yi.

After hearing this, Ji Feng and all the others looked at Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang responded, "I have orders from His Majesty to study in the Imperial College. An imperial edict is not to be defied."

Tao Yi furrowed his brows and asked, "Can't you have the Marshal talk to His Majesty about it?"

Ling Zhang replied, "I'd be admitting defeat if I leave in these circumstances. Don't worry. I'll be cautious. Besides, this troublesome matter was the very reason why I got acquainted with Brother Zhao, Brother Ji, Brother Xie and Brother Xun, which could be deemed a blessing in disguise."

Tao Yi looked at Ji Feng and the others. In the knowledge that some of his opinions shouldn't be expressed in the presence of these students of the Imperial College, he observed, "That may be true, but there might be more trouble if you keep staying there."

"I'll figure something out and handle whatever it is that's coming for me. Nothing scares me," said Ling Zhang.

"That's right. You're just unacquainted with the Imperial College because you're new. After you familiarize yourself with it and the situation in it, things will be a lot easier," commented Ji Feng.

After hearing this, Tao Yi felt it inappropriate for him to make any further remarks. He just suggested Ling Zhang reconsider it with discretion.

...

After another few rounds, Ji Feng and the other four, along with Tao Yi, returned to the city first.

Ling Zhang didn't go back with them. They all had a shrewd idea of the reason but willingly left without asking any questions.

After seeing them off, Ling Zhang inquired of Zhao Shude, "Where's Yuwen Tong?"

"The Marshal is waiting for you in the Roosting Dragonfly Pavilion, Childe Ling," answered Zhao Shude.

Ling Zhang gave a bob of his head and had a servant lead him to the Roosting Dragonfly Pavilion. On his arrival at the banks of a lake in the north part of this manor, he was greeted by a two-story pavilion by the lakeside.

He vaguely saw that, half a lake away, on a platform extending from the pavilion to the middle of the lake, Yuwen Tong was standing before a table drawing something, head down.

Ling Zhang hurried up, entered the waterside pavilion and walked to Yuwen Tong's side. To his surprise, Yuwen Tong was drawing a picture. "You're drawing a picture?" asked Ling Zhang.

"When I was young, my grandfather didn't allow me to read only books on the art of war and ignore calligraphy and painting, so he specially hired someone to teach me. Afterwards, my grandfather and my parents died, but I don't dare forget what they wanted me to learn, so I practice it whenever I have the time, which I take as something done in honor of them. As time passed, I developed enough proficiency to draw a presentable painting," said Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang felt that this painting was not just presentable. It was indisputably a fine work, better than paintings of most of the literati. Moreover, it was of a heroic style and also exuded boldness and generosity, which works of many men of letters lacked.

It was a drawing of the lakeside scenery on the opposite side of the lake. In it, there were an old man and a child, who sat side by side fishing by the lake. Of course, at this moment there wasn't an old man nor a child on the opposite side. Ling Zhang conjectured that they were Yuwen Tong and his grandfather.

Yuwen Tong confirmed Ling Zhang's conjecture. "I used to live here when I was a boy. My grandfather would take me here to fish after I finished practicing kung fu. He'd tell me war stories. Sometimes we didn't get any fish after fishing for half a day, probably because our voices scared the fish away."

After a while, Yuwen Tong put away his writing brush and looked at Ling Zhang, "They all left?"

"Yeah."

"How was it? Did you get along?"

"Not bad. They're basically as I'd imagined."

Yuwen Tong inclined his head. He was fully aware of what Ling Zhang and his friends had done during this day, and he had got a general idea of what kind of people they were. Apart from this, previously he had conducted an inquiry into the background of these people.

"What do you think of Tao Yi's suggestion?"

At first Ling Zhang was confused, and then he realized what Yuwen Tong was referring to, and it was not a surprise to him that Yuwen Tong knew about this. He replied, "Now that I've already enrolled in the Imperial College, I will not shrink back."

Yuwen Tong, who had anticipated Ling Zhang's choice some time ago, was not surprised by this.

Since those causing disturbance had finally left, Yuwen Tong took Ling Zhang to the hill behind the manor for a walk and they picked a lot of seasonal fresh fruit. There was a large mulberry tree, which astonished Ling Zhang who had thought that this kind of trees were peculiar to the south. He couldn't help but pluck a lot of mulberries and eventually his stomach was filled with them, his lips, tongue and hands dyed blackish purple. Amused, Yuwen Tong burst into laugh several times.

Ling Zhang silently gave him a dirty look, unable to understand what was so funny about this.