As the two of them continued talking, they soon reached the edge of the village.

Today’s harvest had been unexpectedly plentiful.

More importantly, they had finally dealt with the people at the old house—that was the most satisfying part.

“Hm, we’re here. Come on in!”

“A horse-drawn carriage really is the best—fast and smooth. Don’t laugh at me, but this is actually my first time riding in one,” Aunt Zhao admitted.

“That’s nothing! Next time you need to go to the county town, just let me know. If I’m heading that way, I’ll take you along,” Jian Xiu offered.

“Oh, that would be too much trouble!”

As they chatted, they stepped into the courtyard.

“Wow, your courtyard is quite spacious!” Aunt Zhao remarked again.

“Yes, we made it bigger to make work more convenient,” Jian Xiu said, gesturing toward Zhang Zifu and Jian Ming.

Not wanting to disturb their busy work, Aunt Zhao only sat for a short while before heading back toward the village center.

She had come along mostly to check on her daughter, but unexpectedly, her daughter still hadn’t returned.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zixuan had already started practicing martial arts behind the house.

After Aunt Zhao left, Jian Xiu walked toward the back of the house.

There, she saw a man in a flowing blue robe, his movements fluid as he trained.

Jian Xiu had to admit—he had real potential as a martial artist.

It was just a pity that he had started a bit late. If he had been training since childhood…

She couldn’t even imagine how powerful he might have become.

His every move was precise, his entire body’s strength concentrated at a single point.

Whether dodging, punching, kicking, or evading, his movements were all smooth and swift.

It seemed she had underestimated her own husband.

Before she left this morning, she had only taught him a few moves, and yet he had already grasped so much.

His ability to learn was truly astonishing.

His gaze, sharp and unwavering, showed a keen perception—one that could see through anything.

People like him could remain calm and focused no matter the situation…

Seeing how serious he was, Jian Xiu didn’t disturb him.

She simply observed from a distance, wanting to test his awareness.

After all, if he planned to become a soldier, he would inevitably face battles.

Beyond martial arts, one of the most crucial skills on the battlefield was sharp instincts.

In a fight, dangers could come from all sides, requiring constant awareness.

She stood quite far away—an ordinary person wouldn’t notice her from this distance.

Thinking this, Jian Xiu decided to wait a little longer.

However, to her surprise, within a quarter of an hour, Zhang Zixuan stopped training, put down his wooden staff, and strode toward her with a knowing smile.

“Why are you standing here watching me?” he asked.

Jian Xiu raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You noticed me already?”

“Yes, from the moment you arrived.”

“Oh? Weren’t you focused on your training?”

“Did you forget? I used to work as a bodyguard escort.”

Hearing this, Jian Xiu suddenly understood.

Of course—being a bodyguard was a dangerous job.

Without keen reflexes and martial skill, no escort company would have hired him.

“You’ve improved a lot,” she admitted.

“It’s because you’re a good teacher.”

“How about we have a sparring match?”

“Oh? In that case, please go easy on me, my dear wife!” Zhang Zixuan said, making a playful gesture of invitation.

Jian Xiu didn’t have a weapon, so she casually picked up a wooden stick from the ground and took her stance.

The moment Zhang Zixuan was ready, she narrowed her eyes, then dashed toward him at lightning speed.

Zhang Zixuan reacted quickly, sidestepping just in time to evade her attack.

Then, he swiftly moved to her left and counterattacked.

But he was just a fraction too slow—before he could even lift his weapon, Jian Xiu had already dodged, bending low to avoid his strike.

In the same motion, her stick lightly tapped his leg.

She had held back her strength, given that this was just a practice match.

“Your speed is incredible!” Zhang Zixuan admitted.

“In martial arts, technique is important, but speed is everything. If you’re fast enough, you can always land the first hit.”

“Speed?” Zhang Zixuan muttered the word to himself.

“Yes, speed. If you can move faster than your opponent, you’ll always be the one attacking. In a battle, if you only defend, you’ll eventually lose.”

Zhang Zixuan suddenly had a moment of clarity.

She was right—why hadn’t he realized this before?

Since he had trained himself, he had always focused on mastering techniques.

But over time, he had realized that awareness was even more important.

Now, after hearing Jian Xiu’s words, he understood—technique and awareness were nothing without speed.

“You’re absolutely right. Speed is key, and only by attacking can you win.”

Having figured this out, Zhang Zixuan looked at Jian Xiu with admiration.

He had truly learned a lot from her.

“Take your time to grasp this concept. Once you fully understand it, your martial arts will reach new heights.”

Earlier, when she watched him train, Jian Xiu could tell that his skills were already impressive.

But to advance further, he needed to grasp the deeper essence of combat.

Of course, mastering this wouldn’t happen overnight.

“Let’s go home. It’s getting dark.”

“Alright,” Zhang Zixuan replied softly.

As he spoke, he reached out his right hand and gently wiped away the sweat from Jian Xiu’s forehead.

At the same time, he asked, “How was your trip to the county today?”

Surprisingly, Jian Xiu didn’t mind this small gesture.

Instead, a strange, sweet feeling began to bloom in her heart.

“It went well. Guess how much we sold the medicinal herbs for today?”

“Judging by your expression, I’d say you’re quite satisfied.”

“Very much so. We got an excellent price. But now, I want to buy land!”