[Another classic next day]

[The two of you woke up refreshed and energized]

[You went to the small courtyard and lay down on two recliners]

["What exactly is our relationship now?" Wan Qingluan slightly narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the sky]

["Don't worry, we're still good friends. We just did some things that only good friends can do."]

["How many good friends do you have?"]

["Just you."]

[Wan Qingluan's eyes curved into crescents, her expression peaceful and serene]

[You spent a pleasant half-day lounging together in this friendly atmosphere]

["Oh!" Wan Qingluan suddenly remembered something, "Did you know your martial uncle has been promoted to Minister of Personnel?"]

[You turned your head in surprise, "My martial uncle got promoted?"]

["Yes~"]

[You were instantly dumbfounded]

[You couldn't understand - Li Anlong had already bestowed the Earth Source upon Hu Zhongxuan, which was an enormous favor]

[Not only did Hu Zhongxuan not have to pay any price, but he was even promoted to Minister of Personnel]

[The Ministry of Personnel was always the highest among the six ministries, responsible for official appointments and transfers. The Minister of Personnel was even jokingly called the "Heavenly Official"]

[Hu Zhongxuan had previously been Left Vice Minister in the Ministry of War - while still an influential position, he was ultimately second-in-command under the Minister of War]

[Now Li Anlong directly appointed Hu Zhongxuan as head of the Ministry of Personnel, putting him firmly above his former superior]

["What scheme is that clever little devil Li Anlong plotting now?"]

[After some thought, you decided to go to the capital to investigate]

[You stood up: "Good friend, I'm going to the capital. Want to come?"]

[Wan Qingluan slowly opened her drowsy eyes, smiling brightly: "Together!"]

["Come on, hop on."]

[Wan Qingluan stood up and threw herself into your arms]

[You picked her up bridal-style as she wrapped her arms around your neck]

[Whoosh—]

[Carrying Wan Qingluan's bonelessly soft body, you shot into the sky]

[Half a month later, taking a rest stop]

[The two of you entered an inn]

[You sat down and waved: "Waiter, menu!"]

["Coming—!" The waiter hurried over, "What would you like to order, honored guests?"]

[You gestured grandly: "Two small bowls of beef noodles - extra beef, extra noodles!"]

[The waiter's eyes sparkled with understanding: "So you mean two large bowls of beef noodles?"]

["Hah! A true professional waiter indeed, nothing gets past you!" You feigned surprise before changing your order, "Just bring us five of your signature dishes."]

[You remembered during the third simulation, your eightieth birthday was celebrated with Wan Qingluan over five dishes]

[You couldn't help but glance at Wan Qingluan across the table]

[Wan Qingluan looked back at you]

[The two of you gazed at each other with such intimacy it could form threads]

[Just then, a conversation behind you caught your attention]

["Old Li, not bad! You're getting some meat in your diet now!"]

["Old Zhao, what do you mean? If you can afford meat now, why can't I?"]

["Ah, true. We've been poor our whole lives - never thought we'd see this day. Heaven has eyes after all!"]

["What do you mean heaven? You should thank Minister Hu! If he hadn't forcefully implemented the 'Taxation by Land Acreage' policy, we'd still be crushed under all those excessive taxes!"]

["Yes yes, both His Majesty and Minister Hu are gods descended to save us commoners!!"]

["Taxation by Land Acreage..." you murmured, "So Li Anlong finally did something decent."]

[Now you understood why Hu Zhongxuan had been promoted to Minister of Personnel]

[Li Anlong was using Hu Zhongxuan as his sharpest blade to implement this policy that would upset most of the gentry and nobility]

[Taxation by Land Acreage simplified Great Qian's numerous complicated taxes into one official tax]

[And only taxed based on the amount of land farmers owned]

[Payment was standardized in silver, preventing lower officials from using tricks like "overflowing measures" to profit]

[The policy abolished miscellaneous taxes, suddenly cutting off the nobility and officials' illegal profit channels]

[By now, all court officials probably hated Hu Zhongxuan, who had been pushed into direct opposition with all privileged interest groups]

[Understanding the situation]

[After the meal, you and Wan Qingluan flew to the capital at even greater speed]

[Soon, you arrived at the capital with Wan Qingluan]

[Familiar with the route, you landed directly in Hu Zhongxuan's residence]

[Guards immediately surrounded you upon detection]

["Who goes there! How dare you intrude upon Minister Hu's residence!!"]

[The original guards all knew you, but these were all unfamiliar faces]

[Each carried a deadly aura - clearly veterans who had seen real combat]

[You frowned slightly]

[As tensions rose, Hu Zhongxuan hurried from his study: "Stand down!"]

["Yes sir!!"]

[Hu Zhongxuan looked at you, then at Wan Qingluan: "Come inside."]

[You followed him to the study]

[You noticed Hu Zhongxuan seemed more tense and alert than usual]

[Deng Wanshu's cold jade coffin was also in the study, with Deng Wanshu lying inside]

[But you noticed it wasn't the original coffin, but a new one]

[Puzzled, you asked: "Martial Uncle, the atmosphere here seems different?"]

[Hu Zhongxuan hesitated before answering: "Someone tried to kill Wanshu. I've increased security."]

[You frowned: "Because of the Taxation by Land Acreage policy?"]

[Hu Zhongxuan looked at you in mild surprise: "Didn't expect you to understand court affairs!"]

[It turned out Hu Zhongxuan had earned the hatred of nearly all court officials for implementing the policy]

[Once Taxation by Land Acreage was fully implemented across Great Qian, Hu Zhongxuan would become disposable to Li Anlong]

[All wronged parties would then settle accounts with Hu Zhongxuan]

[As an Ultimate Grandmaster, Hu Zhongxuan himself was untouchable]

[But Deng Wanshu made a perfect target]

[Assassins had already been hired to kill Deng Wanshu in revenge]

[Recently, a Grandmaster-level assassin had attacked Deng Wanshu at night]

[Fortunately, Hu Zhongxuan intervened in time, narrowly preventing tragedy]

[But Deng Wanshu's coffin was shattered, and she nearly injured - an extremely close call]

[Hence Hu Zhongxuan had been on high alert]

[He requested trusted veterans from Yajiangkou to completely upgrade residence security, now an impenetrable fortress]

[You could imagine Hu Zhongxuan's lingering fear]

[After comforting him, you decided to stay at the residence]

[After all, Auntie still carried half of your master's legacy - protecting her was no trouble]

[Hu Zhongxuan was overjoyed at your offer, knowing you could kill late-stage Grandmasters]

[With you present, only an Ultimate Grandmaster could pose any threat]

[You settled into the residence]

[Wan Qingluan stayed with you for several months]

[Your nightly activities disturbed the entire household]

[Eventually Hu Zhongxuan prepared a separate courtyard]

[He tactfully suggested you lovebirds would enjoy more privacy]

["Fine, I'll stay separately with my good friend," you agreed]

[Finally, the household could sleep peacefully again]

[Year 42]

[After Wan Qingluan left, your legs finally stopped trembling]

[You no longer needed excuses like "too tired today" or "I owe you one"]

[You resumed regular cultivation]

[One day, you completed the ninth and final true qi refinement of the Essence Refining stage]

[Your condensed true qi brought your combat power to peak Grandmaster level]

[You also gained new insight into Earth Source sword qi]

[Only two of the twenty-four Earth Source sword qi remained!]

[You eagerly anticipated fully merging with the Earth Source]

[That year, Li Anlong's 134th birthday celebration was held at the palace]

[Surprisingly, Prince Yongning Li Yu, who hadn't visited the capital for decades, requested permission to attend]

[Li Anlong granted his request]

[You were baffled: "Why would that turtle stick its neck out now?"]