Time slipped quietly by, and before Ning Chen knew it he had been in the capital for more than a month!

All in all, that month had brought more good than bad!

The Xuan Emperor was better every day, and he had already started taking the business of state back into his own hands.

Ning Chen hadn't gone near a woman all month. Every time desire stirred, he went and practiced his sword, and to his surprise he had mastered the Unborn Sword Art through and through.

He was actually starting to get somewhere with the sword.

Whenever he had nothing else to do, he went into the palace to find the old Heavenly Master and Liu Baiyi. He pestered them until they gave in and took turns coaching him, and he improved fast.

It wasn't only him, either. He dragged Pan Yucheng, Feng Qizheng and the others along for coaching too.

Ning Chen gave the Flowing Cloud Saber Art to Pan Yucheng and his friends.

Over that stretch, everyone's skills improved by leaps and bounds.

Also, glass, fine salt, toothpaste and the rest had gone on sale all over Xiuzhou, and supply couldn't keep up with demand.

The one thing weighing on Ning Chen was Old General Chen.

Not that Old General Chen's health was failing. It was that his spirits kept getting better... That ought to have been good news, but Zisu had told him to be careful. It could very well be the last flare before the end.

Ning Chen felt it like a stone in his chest, but there was nothing he could do except go and see Old General Chen as often as he could.

In the palace, in Liu Baiyi's secluded little courtyard.

Ning Chen held Broken Dream, moving with an easy, flowing grace, like drifting clouds and running water.

The sword flashed like lightning, fierce beyond compare, and its clear ringing echoed on and on.

The old Heavenly Master and Liu Baiyi sat at the stone table some way off, drinking and enjoying the show.

"The boy's not bad. Clay worth shaping. He'll…