The noble titles of the Great Qian Dynasty were: Duke, Marquis, and Earl. The title of Duke ranked above Marquis. However, titles were one thing, and official court positions were another. “Marquis Wu Wen” Edward Grant, having placed third in the imperial examination, entered the government, and his influence was no less than that of Duke Li.

“That's not quite right to say. Your family already holds heavy titles; one more step and you’d be ennobled as a prince of a different surname. If you also participate in court affairs, I’m afraid the royal family would hardly feel at ease.” Emily Grant smiled.

“Let’s not speak carelessly.” Upon hearing this, Charles Grant’s expression changed slightly, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings, as if afraid someone might overhear.

“All right, let’s drop the subject.” Emily Grant smiled again. “But speaking of which, you say I spend my days riding and shooting, practicing martial arts, which is unseemly for a girl. Do you know what happened to those noble ladies of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who were helpless when our Great Qian conquered Yujing sixty years ago? Those who could be humiliated were humiliated, those who could be killed were killed, and those who barely survived were dragged off to the army camps... They didn’t even have the strength to run. Though our Great Qian is now the Celestial Empire, to the east lies the Yunmeng Empire on the grasslands, to the west the Huoluo Dynasty in the desert, to the south many island empires across the sea, and to the north the Yuantu Dynasty. Twenty years ago, the iron cavalry of Yunmeng reached the outskirts of Yujing. Though they were repelled, it was a close call. As for the civil officials and scholars, the court only needs them to pacify the people. The former prime minister Li Yan, though he held immense power, was not granted a title after death, nor did his descendants receive any favor.”

“All right, all right, you say you won’t talk about it, but you’ve said so much. Emily, you are a heroine among women, making us men feel ashamed.” Charles Grant laughed. “But today, I have a gift for you.”

“What gift?” Emily Grant asked.

Charles Grant clapped his hands, and immediately a middle-aged man approached from afar. This man’s arms hung past his knees, his steps were steady and powerful, his gaze seemed dull but was actually sharp and deep—clearly a master.

The middle-aged man came forward, took off a bundle from his back, and Charles Grant took a book from the bundle.

On the cover of the book was written: “Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist.”

“Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist?” Emily Grant’s eyes lit up with delight. “This is a secret martial arts manual from the Great Chan Monastery in Central Province. After the monastery was destroyed by our dynasty twenty years ago, countless secret manuals were scattered. This book contains peerless fist techniques!”

“Yes, it is indeed the Great Chan Monastery’s ‘Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist.’” Charles Grant said with a smile.

“This is the most detailed classic on bone refinement in the world, with a total of two hundred and six moves, training all two hundred and six bones in the body. Of all martial arts, only this book details bone refinement so thoroughly. No other bone-refining art has as many as two hundred and six moves.”

Emily Grant was already highly skilled in martial arts. As she flipped through the book, her eyes shone with even greater joy.

A person has two hundred and six bones in their body; other martial arts cannot train each one individually, but only the Great Chan Monastery’s “Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist” can train them all.

This book is priceless.

“This is a secret manual I and Prince Johnson found in the Songhe Study of the Royal Library and secretly copied. Don’t let anyone else see it.” Charles Grant put his hands behind his back. “The Great Chan Monastery in Central Province was a holy land of martial arts and the ancestral home of Zen Buddhism. Unfortunately, it colluded with the remnants of the previous dynasty and rebelled, so our army destroyed it. I heard the monastery was magnificent and full of masters, but now it’s vanished without a trace. I also heard the Marquis participated in the campaign against the monastery. They say it was extremely brutal, with many generals of the court dying in battle, and many masters from Fangxian Dao, Zhengyi Dao, and Taishang Dao also perished.”

“Mm.” Emily Grant excitedly flipped through the book. “The Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist trains the joints and hardens the bones, making them as strong as steel. It’s the finest bone-refining fist technique in the world.”

“There are many kinds of martial arts, but they all boil down to training flesh, tendons, skin and membranes, bones, organs, marrow, and blood, step by step, transforming the body until one reaches the realm of Martial Saint. Miss Emily, you can draw a hundred-pound ox sinew bow and shoot arrows in rapid succession—you’ve already mastered your muscles, tendons, and skin. Next is to harden your bones and increase your penetrating power. This Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist is just what you need. But I’ve heard that Henry Clark is one of the rare grandmasters in the world. Though he’s focused on civil affairs for twenty years, his martial arts must have only grown deeper. Truly admirable.”

At this moment, the middle-aged man beside them spoke.

“Uncle Yun.” Charles Grant raised his hand slightly.

The middle-aged man smiled and withdrew, saying no more.

“Hm? This man is no ordinary person. Since when did the Duke Li’s residence have such a master?” Emily Grant thought to herself.

“Miss…” Just as Emily Grant was pondering, the maid Little Nancy hurried over.

“What are these characters?” Emily Grant looked at the poem in her hand.

“Excellent calligraphy! The cursive script is like a snake darting and a lizard running. What a poem—‘This heart is never one’s own, to calm the monkey mind brings peace, to lock the wild horse of thought brings purpose. If one’s heart could be self-controlled, one would be among the immortals.’ The poem has an immortal’s air, and the calligraphy is even more spirited—bold and powerful, the bones stand out, the strength penetrates the paper. Who wrote this?”

Charles Grant looked at the single character on the white paper, his eyes lighting up in admiration.