5, Rejecting

"Prince Carl and I discovered this secret book in the Royal Library and copied it discreetly. Do not let anyone else see it."

Ivan clasped his hands behind his back and said, "The Great Temple, the holy land of martial arts and the ancestral home of the Zen Sect, was sadly in league with the rebels of the former dynasty and was annihilated by our army.

"I heard that the temple was splendid and majestic, filled with Martial Masters and even two Martial Saints.

"But now they are all gone.

"I heard that Lord Wood took part in the siege and destruction of the Great Temple.

"They say that the siege was a brutal slaughter, and many of the imperial army's generals fell in battle. Many wizards and sorcerers from The Immortal Sect, The Only One Sect and The Heaven Sect also perished."

"Wow." Snow Wood eagerly scanned the book, "This Tiger Demon Bone Refining Method works on the joints, makes the bones as tough as iron, and is the best bone-fortifying book in the world."

"There are many kinds of martial arts in the world, but they all boil down to training the muscles, training the tendons, training the skin, training the bones, training the organs, training the marrow, exchanging blood…step by step, transforming and reaching the level of the Martial Saint.

"My lady, since you can draw a 100-pound ox-tendon bow with ease, you have trained your muscles and membranes very well. The next step is to practice your bones.

"This Tiger Demon Bone Refining Method is really helpful.

"Marquis Wood is one of the few great Martial Saints in the world. Even though he gave up martial arts and devoted himself to reading and writing for twenty years, his martial arts skills must have grown deeper and deeper.

"He is truly admirable."

At that moment, the middle-aged man beside him spoke.

"Uncle Cloud." Ivan raised his hand.

The middle-aged man quickly smiled, stepped back, and fell silent.

"Hmm? This person is not ordinary. When did Duke Lake's Mansion get such a Martial Master?" Snow Wood wondered to herself.

"My lady…" Just as Snow was lost in thought, her maid Lynn rushed over.

"What poem…" Snow looked at the poem in her hand.

"Excellent calligraphy! The cursive script flows like a snake gliding.

"Excellent poetry! If one can master one's mind, one is a god among humans.

"This poem has a fairy-like charm, but the words are even more spirited, with a kind of force that almost pierces the paper.

"Who wrote this?"

Ivan Lake looked at the words on the white paper, his eyes brightened, and he exclaimed.

"This is one of my younger brothers, but he has a lowly birth. Madame Coward dislikes him. Last year, he graduated from Royal High School."

Snow Wood handed the poem to Ivan Lake, while she continued reading the book of Tiger Demon Bone Refining Method.

"Lynn, take out ten silver coins from my coffer and give them to Jack. He is preparing for the RCE examination. I'm afraid his little monthly allowance is not enough for him."

"My lady, why are you giving him money? If Madame Coward finds out, I'm afraid it will be trouble." Lynn pursed her lips, with a look of reluctance.

"Can't you just go stealthily?" Snow Wood waved her hand.

"Yes…my lady." Lynn turned around and was about to leave.

"Wait…"

"Childe Ivan, what can I do for you?" Seeing that it was Ivan Lake who spoke, Lynn immediately became respectful.

"Uncle Cloud, go to my house right away and bring me a hundred sheets of snow paper from my study, a swan quill, a purple inkstone and some musk inksticks." Ivan said.

"Yes, my lord." The middle-aged man named Cloud didn't question Ivan Lake's order at all.

After saying that, he stepped back a few steps and quickly ran out of the martial arts training ground. He mounted a black garron and vanished in a flash.

After about an hour, Cloud came back with a swan quill, a purple inkstone, some musk inksticks and a hundred sheets of snow paper on his horseback.

"Give this to him. By the way, what's your brother's name?" Ivan waved his hand as a sign.

"His name is Jack Wood." Snow Wood looked at Ivan Lake and suddenly smiled: "It is said that the small and medium-sized dukes are benevolent and generous, and they care for the public good and justice.

"Today I have witnessed it myself.

"These Four Treasures of the Study are all precious things. Their value is equal to the wealth of a middle-class family in Emperor's Landing."

"Don't mention it! It's just a trivial matter." Ivan Lake smiled.

___________________________

In the small courtyard in the northwest of the Marquis Wood's Mansion, Jack was still reading.

At that moment, Lynn and a few servant girls came in with quill, inkstone, inksticks and paper in their hands.

They placed them on the table and said, "Jack Wood, good luck! Today, Lady Snow and Lord Ivan are together. Lord Ivan admires your poetic talent and calligraphy. He specially instructed me to give you his precious quill, inkstone, inkstick and paper.

"They are all rare treasures worth dozens of gold.

"Also, Lady Snow asked me to give you ten silver coins. Here are the things."

"Huh? Give me a quill, an inkstone, inksticks and paper?"

Jack lifted his head and looked at the things on the table, "Go back and tell Lord Ivan that I don't accept gifts for nothing.

"As for Snow's ten silver coins, you can take them back too.

"If she wants to give silver, give me a hundred pieces.

"My poem is worth at least ten gold coins."

"Hmph!" Lynn's face turned dark when she heard Jack's words.

She quickly gathered her things, turned around and left, and as she walked out, a faint voice came: "You don't know how to appreciate others' kindness!"

"He really acts like a young master."

"He's just a bitter and rotten student. Madame Coward will take care of him sooner or later when he comes of age."

"…"

Jack heard the chatter of these maids, scoffed in his heart, and let out a long sigh: "It's getting harder and harder to stay in the Marquis Wood's Mansion!

"Never mind!

"Before the examination, I won't bother with these little rude and ignorant girls.

"I'd better go to the Moon Temple in the Western Mountains and stay there for a while, so I can watch over my mother's grave."

_________________________

At the training ground.

"'Don't accept gifts for nothing'? Snow, your brother is a tough one." Seeing Snow's brother did not receive his gifts, Ivan shrugged. He smiled and changed the subject. "By the way, there's going to be a heavy snowfall soon. Prince Carl's heir, Princess Yvonne, and some other friends of ours are planning to go to the Western Mountains for a fox hunt.

"They say there's a rare white fox in the West Mountains. It even sneaked into the city and entered the imperial palace garden.

"Concubine Yedda was terrified and ordered the imperial martial masters to chase it down, but they came back empty-handed.

"Only after The Immortal Sect's wizards were summoned did the white fox stop showing up."

"A fox hunt in the Western Mountains? Count me in."

Snow Wood grinned.