Li Nuo had previously thought that girls from ancient times should only play music and embroider flowers, not wield swords and engage in combat.
Now he had changed his mind.
Wielding swords was great, if his wife could only play music and embroider, he would have been dead by now.
"Protect him."
The cold woman dropped the words and soared into the air, darting toward a distant high-rise building.
The feathered arrow had come from a window of that high building.
After the perilous moment just past, Housekeeper Wu pulled Li Nuo back to the County Magistrate's Office.
A short while later, the cold woman reentered the County Magistrate's Office.
Housekeeper Wu immediately asked, "Young madam, did you catch the assassin?"
The young woman shook her head.
The assassin had missed with one strike and fled far away, leaving no trace. He was likely a professional.
Housekeeper Wu sighed. His master had offended so many people, it was impossible to guess the assailant, and all he could say was, "Let's go back then."
Li Nuo got into the carriage and quietly moved closer to his wife.
The arrow had left him shaken, and being closer to her made him feel safer.
At the same time, he found it somewhat hard to believe.
In this world, were the lives of the officials' families so fraught with danger? This was the capital of the country, under the emperor's feet. Just within one day, he had suffered two assassination attempts. It seemed that Daxia's public safety was not very good.
No wonder Housekeeper Wu needed to bring so many people when going out...
Before long, as the carriage passed by a certain shop, Housekeeper Wu tugged on the reins, jumped down from the carriage, and said, "Young master and young madam, please wait a moment. The master might return tonight, and this old servant will go buy some pastries that the master likes..."
Automatically touching his waist, his expression suddenly froze, and he exclaimed in astonishment, "Where is my money pouch?"
Hearing this, Li Nuo reached to his own waist, pulled out a money pouch, and tossed it over, saying, "Use mine."
Housekeeper Wu caught the money pouch, perplexed, "When did my money pouch get to the young master?"
Li Nuo did not know either; possibly Housekeeper Wu had left it on the bed, and it got wrapped up when he dressed. Housekeeper Wu thought no more of it, entered the pastry shop, bought a pack of pastries, got back on the carriage, and again flicked the reins...
...
Minister of Justice's residence.
Li Nuo's room.
Li Nuo sat at the desk and, looking at Housekeeper Wu, extended his right hand and grasped at the air twice, asking, "This morning when I jumped down from the roof, that move you used was..."
The events of the half day had deeply impressed upon Li Nuo the dangers of this world.
Although his wife was formidable to the point of being able to catch arrows barehanded, she could not always be by his side to protect him.
It's better to rely on oneself than others; his safety was best kept in his own hands.
Moreover, to Li Nuo, having his wife by his side during dangers was safest, but at times of no danger, she was the most dangerous.
Li Nuo rubbed his chest, where it still throbbed with a dull pain.
Whether protecting himself from assassins or from his wife, he had to become stronger.
Housekeeper Wu thought for a moment and said, "Young master was talking about the old servant 'fixing' you, that was actually using Qi Manipulation. With the fourth realm of Martial Path cultivation, one can easily do it."
Li Nuo's eyebrow lifted, "Martial Path?"
Remembering the young master had injured his brain and forgotten everything, Housekeeper Wu patiently explained, "Martial Path is a method of cultivation. Once you start, ordinary people can possess thousand-catty strength. Cultivators can manipulate objects, fly, hurt others with 'Flying Flower Picking Leaves', and at the final realm, even move mountains and fill seas..."
Li Nuo's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Apart from the dangers, this world seemed quite good.
He eagerly asked, "If I cultivate Martial Path, can I beat my wife?"
Housekeeper Wu shook his head, pouring a bucket of cold water with, "My young master, you have no foundation in Martial Path. It's impossible for you to cultivate in the Martial Path. Moreover, the young madam is a rare Martial Path prodigy. I'm not even a match for her myself. Even if you had the foundation, your strength could never catch up with hers..."
The glint in Li Nuo's eyes instantly faded. Was he doomed to never turn the tables in his lifetime?
Seeing Li Nuo's disappointment, Housekeeper Wu spoke again for comfort, "Young master, don't lose heart. There are so many people in this world without a Martial Path foundation. Although they cannot cultivate Martial Path, they can still study The Philosophy of a Hundred Schools..."
Li Nuo looked deflated, speaking lifelessly, "What is this 'Philosophy of a Hundred Schools'?"
Housekeeper Wu replied, "The path of Confucianism nurtures the self, manages the family, governs the country, and pacifies the world, cultivating Vast Qi which fears no laws... Young Master, would you like to learn it?"
Li Nuo asked, "Can Vast Qi defeat the young madam?"
Housekeeper Wu shook his head, "No."
Li Nuo waved his hand, "Then I'm not learning it."
Housekeeper Wu continued, "The path of Military involves battling on the fields, entering the path through killing, with Attack Qi that's invincible...Young Master, would you like to learn it?"
Li Nuo asked, "Can Attack Qi defeat the young madam?"
Housekeeper Wu thought for a moment and said, "If the young master could battle on the fields for decades, nourishing Qi through combat, perhaps you could eventually match the steps of the young madam..."
Battlegrounds are dangerous, with blades carelessly taking lives, and one could easily end up wrapped in horsehide. Besides, enduring decades of suffering isn't guaranteed—he might not even live that long. Without a second thought, Li Nuo waved his hand, "I won't learn it."
Housekeeper Wu continued, "Mohist excels in craftsmanship and mechanical techniques, leading amongst Hundred Schools. Once Mohist True Qi is fully developed, puppets can be added to a mortal's body, rivaling gods."
Li Nuo shook his head, "Isn't that still a mortal? I won't learn it…"
Housekeeper Wu helplessly said, "Medical Family True Qi can greatly aid the world and the people, and minimally nourish life and prolong it—would the Young Master like to learn?"
Pausing, he added, "But studying medical arts can't defeat the young madam."
Li Nuo's interest waned; his days were numbered, and nourishing life was useless to him, and medical arts couldn't save him.
Housekeeper Wu sighed, continuing, "Legalism is the protocol of the world, the etiquette of all affairs, clarifying rewards and punishments, discerning right from wrong. Upon entering the path of Legalism, one can control the Imprisonment Skill, and when refined deeply, one can literally 'Draw a Prison with Words,' where spoken laws follow, and laid-down rules take effect..."
Hearing this, Li Nuo suddenly looked up.
Legalism—that was exactly his field!
"Drawing a Prison," and "words becoming law" sounded powerful. With these skills mastered, would he still need to fear that woman?
Moreover, he needed to adjudicate cases to extend his life; the two complemented each other and brought mutual benefits.
This was undoubtedly the best path for him.
Li Nuo immediately looked at Housekeeper Wu, stating, "I want to practice Legalism!"
Housekeeper Wu was slightly taken aback, asking, "Why?"
In his previous life, he studied law mostly because of the job prospects.
In this life, of course, it was to stay alive.
And to avoid... domestic violence.
Of course, Li Nuo wouldn't say this outright. Since in this world his honorary father was the Minister of Justice, practicing law could also be seen as following in his father's footsteps.
So he cleared his throat and replied seriously, "Of course, it's to follow in my father's footsteps, uphold justice, advocate for the people, and eliminate corruption and villainy..."
Housekeeper Wu's expression turned awkward.
How could he tell the amnesiac young master that his father was the greatest villain in the court?
Catching his father would be like turning the heavens upside down.
But as servants, these matters were difficult to discuss directly, and they hoped when the young master regained some memories, he wouldn't insist on fighting corruption and villainy.
When Li Nuo mentioned walking the path of Legalism, advocating for the people, and eliminating villainy, Housekeeper Wu's expression became tangled, even sighing.
His lips moved several times, hesitating to speak.
A bad premonition surged in Li Nuo's heart, and he asked, "Don't tell me I also lack the foundation for Legalism?"
Housekeeper Wu immediately replied, "Not at all, not at all, only the Martial Path requires a foundation; anyone can practice the Philosophy of a Hundred Schools."
Li Nuo breathed a sigh of relief, saying a bit annoyed, "Then why the sigh? You gave me a fright…"
He eagerly added, "Hurry up and tell me, how should one cultivate Legalism?"
Housekeeper Wu coughed lightly, saying, "Young Master, I know you're in a hurry, but don't be hasty now. The most important thing for you right now is to recover from your injuries. We can talk about these matters later..."
Li Nuo looked serious, jokingly, after today, he had only ten days left to live, what later was there?
He looked at Housekeeper Wu and said earnestly, "I know you are not in a hurry, but I am very urgent. Just tell me now, immediately, right away..."