Chapter 41

Xiao Changyuan flew back into the courtyard using his lightness skill.
To avoid disturbing his wife, Xiao Changyuan made no sound.
He lifted his foot and slowly walked behind Yun Pianpian.
Yun Pianpian was completely unaware.
Xiao Changyuan lowered his dark lashes and glanced at the sheet of rice paper on the table.
His wife still hadn’t finished copying the scriptures.
Could it be that fools copy scriptures slower than ordinary people?
A faint trace of doubt flickered in Xiao Changyuan’s deep, dark eyes.
Yun Pianpian had no idea that Xiao Changyuan was standing behind her.
Holding a rabbit, hair brush in her hand, she bent over the desk, copying the text. For every two characters she wrote, she would space out for half a second, recalling their earlier conversation. Her cheeks would flush with heat, and she would force herself to refocus and continue copying the scriptures. But after writing just two or three more characters, she would drift off into a daze again.
This cycle repeated itself, and it took her the time it takes two incense sticks to burn before she finally finished copying the scripture.
Just as Yun Pianpian set down her rabbit-hair brush, she heard Xiao Changyuan’s cool, deep voice from behind her.
“Wife.”
Yun Pianpian was so startled that her lashes trembled.
The rabbit-hair brush in her hand fell to the floor making a crisp sound.
Yun Pianpian clutched her wildly thumping little heart.
She turned around in a daze.
Lifting her head, she stared blankly at Xiao Changyuan. “When did you return, husband? How come there was no sound at all.”
Xiao Changyuan said quietly, “I’ve learned the art of breath suppression.”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback. “Breath suppression?”
Xiao Changyuan’s gaze deepened as he stared at Yun Pianpian’s red lips, his voice low. “It’s a skill that allows one to hold their breath. From now on, when you’re copying scriptures, I can stay by your side the whole time.”
Yun Pianpian hadn’t expected that the nonsense she had spouted earlier in her unreasonable fit would actually be taken to heart by Xiao Changyuan. He had even sought out Wan Shanke specifically to learn the art of breath suppression to solve this problem. At this thought, a wave of guilt washed over her.
In truth, Xiao Changyuan’s presence hadn’t affected her at all.
She was the one making a fuss over nothing and being unreasonable.
As Yun Pianpian lowered her head, reflecting on her own behavior, she suddenly heard Xiao Changyuan’s slightly hoarse and gravelly voice beside her ear.
“Wife, I came back early.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian looked up in a daze.
“What?”
She didn't understand what Xiao Changyuan meant.
Xiao Changyuan happened to look down at her, in those pitch, black, profound eyes surged an ocean of dangerous, greedy darkness.
The man's dark, bright gaze made her cheeks inexplicably warm.
Xiao Changyuan leaned closer, his throat moving as he spoke in a low, husky voice.
“Wife, I want my reward.”
Yun Pianpian was carried into the house by Xiao Changyuan, who placed her on the dressing table.
Her face flushed, she clutched the front of his robe, tilted her head back, held her breath, and rewarded him ten times on his handsome face. Xiao Changyuan cupped her head and multiplied the number of rewards several times over, returning them to Yun Pianpian with urgent, burning intensity.
The room was filled with warmth and tenderness.
In the courtyard, a few pages of scripture, covered paper rustled loudly in the cold winter wind.
The scriptures: “...” Go on, pretend I don't exist.
Hey, hey, hey! You're really acting like I don't exist?!
Yun Pianpian felt that ever since she started rewarding Xiao Changyuan, the tyrant had become increasingly clingy.
Wherever she went, his gaze would follow her, sticking closely to her side.
Before, Xiao Changyuan would occasionally go hunting in the mountains alone, but now, if Yun Pianpian didn't go, he refused to set foot there. When Yun Pianpian carried the laundry basin to the river to wash clothes, Xiao Changyuan would follow her, never leaving her side.
The weather grew colder, and Yun Pianpian's hands would turn red when exposed to the cold water.
She became more and more reluctant to go to the river to wash clothes.
Xiao Changyuan offered, “Let me help you wash the clothes.”
He began calculating in his mind how many rewards he could ask from his wife in return.
Yun Pianpian thought for a moment and said, “Better not.”
At the riverbank in Jiangjia Village, it was mostly women washing clothes. For Xiao Changyuan, a tall, aloof man, to join in would indeed seem out of place. Previously, when Yun Pianpian was on her period, Xiao Changyuan had washed clothes for her a few times. Later, when Yun Pianpian went to the riverbank, the young girls envied her for having such a devoted husband, but there were still many gossipy women who talked behind her back.
They said she was taking advantage of her husband's affection to act recklessly and would eventually be abandoned by him.
Yun Pianpian paid no mind to these words, treating them as nothing more than background noise, but she feared Xiao Changyuan might hear them. She knew he would not let it slide and wanted to avoid any conflict between him and those gossipers as much as possible.
“Husband, just fill the water vat for me and use your inner strength to heat the water. I'll wash the clothes.”
The water for daily use in Jiangjia Village came from the nearby river. Every household in the village carried buckets to the riverbank to fetch water, filling their vats for later use. It took Xiao Changyuan six trips with buckets to fill one vat, and he found it rather time, consuming.
“I'll just take the water vat to the river to fetch water. It'll be more efficient.”
Yun Pianpian was worried that Xiao Changyuan's actions were too conspicuous and might attract the attention of the spies Chu Yi and Prince Rui had planted in every county. Wanting to keep a low profile, she suggested, “Then let's fetch water late at night when it's quiet. It's best not to let others know about your exceptional martial arts skills, husband, to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Xiao Changyuan felt his wife was too timid, which was precisely why he believed she needed his protection at all times. Without him, she surely wouldn't survive. “Alright, we'll go fetch water at night.”
The villagers of Jiangjia Village went to bed early every day, and by the hour of the Pig , all households had already turned off their lights.
Xiao Changyuan lifted the water vat from the kitchen with one hand and headed toward the riverbank.
Yun Pianpian followed closely behind him, carrying two empty buckets.
When they reached the river, Xiao Changyuan and Yun Pianpian each took a bucket and began filling the vat with water. Halfway through their task, an elderly voice suddenly came from behind them: “How long will it take you to fetch water like this? In my opinion, you should learn my Water-Drawing Palm.”
Wan Shanke emerged from the dimly lit shadows, the hazy moonlight casting a glow on his aged face.
“My Water-Drawing Palm can channel water directly into the vat, no need for buckets.”
Hearing Wan Shanke's voice, Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly.
This old man's footsteps were so light, he hadn't even noticed the old man behind him while fetching water earlier.
Although Xiao Changyuan could hold his own against Wan Shanke in a fight, Wan Shanke's lightness skill surpassed his own.
Yun Pianpian asked, “What is the Water-Drawing Palm?”
“This is the Water-Drawing Palm.”
Wan Shanke slowly raised his palm, and something astonishing happened, the river water began to surge as if reversing its flow, drawn by the force of his palm. The water continuously poured into the vat. Wan Shanke withdrew his hand and smiled at Yun Pianpian.
“What do you think of this Water-Drawing Palm, girl?”
A flicker of amazement crossed Yun Pianpian's clear, bright eyes.
“You're incredible, Elder!”
Upon hearing Yun Pianpian's words, Xiao Changyuan's handsome face suddenly turned cold, his thin lips pressed tightly together.
He didn't like hearing his wife praise others.
His wife should only praise him.
Seeing the abrupt change in Xiao Changyuan's expression, Wan Shanke's aged eyes deepened with amusement. He had finally figured out how to persuade this young man to learn martial arts from him. With a smile, he looked kindly at Yun Pianpian.
“Would you like to learn the Water-Drawing Palm, girl?”
Yun Pianpian nodded eagerly like a pecking chick. “Yes, yes, yes!”
Wan Shanke chuckled. “Although you have no foundational skills, you are naturally gifted. With three to five years of practice, you will surely master it.”
Yun Pianpian froze, her face falling in dismay. “It takes that long?”
Wan Shanke said, “But Shitou is different. He has an extraordinary physique and exceptional talent, a natural martial arts prodigy. I only need to teach him once, and he can immediately grasp it. It's just a pity that Shitou has no interest in this path and is unwilling to learn martial arts from me. What a shame, truly a shame.”
Wan Shanke wore an expression of deep regret, feigning melancholy as he glanced at Yun Pianpian.
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian immediately reached out and wrapped her arms around Xiao Changyuan's arm.
“Husband, could you learn martial arts from the elder?”
The young girl blinked her eyes, sparkling with charm, her cheeks flushed pink.
Her clear, bright almond, shaped eyes were filled with hope and earnest entreaty for him.
“Husband, will you learn martial arts from the elder?”
Xiao Changyuan lowered his gaze to Yun Pianpian's pleading face.
How could he possibly refuse his wife?
Xiao Changyuan heard his own voice say,
“Alright.”
Wan Shanke finally got his wish and took Xiao Changyuan as his disciple.
Over the next few days, Xiao Changyuan went to Wan Shanke daily to learn martial arts. He forbade Yun Pianpian from leaving his sight, so he brought her along into the mountains and forests. Xiao Changyuan learned quickly, but he was often distracted, glancing at Yun Pianpian every few moves.
Wan Shanke grew somewhat angry. “I'm teaching you martial arts, why do you keep looking at her?”
Xiao Changyuan replied indifferently, “You're not my wife. Why should I look at you?”
Wan Shanke was so infuriated by Xiao Changyuan that he was speechless for a long while.
After a few days of training, Wan Shanke finally grew accustomed to the young man's devotion to his wife. He turned a blind eye to Xiao Changyuan's distractions, pretending not to notice. Though Xiao Changyuan's heart was always with Yun Pianpian, he still learned martial arts with remarkable speed.
In just a few short days, he had mastered nearly sixty percent of Wan Shanke's palm techniques.
Wan Shanke praised him, “Your foundation is excellent, especially your inner strength. It bears a resemblance to Brother Qiuxue's from back in the day, but yours is even more formidable.”
Seeing that Xiao Changyuan remained silent, Wan Shanke assumed he had never heard of Qian Qiuxue and explained, “Brother Qiuxue is Qian Qiuxue, one of the Four Great Masters. In those days, the martial world grouped me with three others as the Four Great Masters: Qian Qiuxue, Jiandi Yue, and Ji Wuliang. Each of us excelled in different martial arts. Brother Qianxue was skilled in inner strength and hidden weapons. I heard he later joined the Mo Kingdom's court and even instructed the current emperor. But something happened later, and he resigned from his official post, retreating to a life of seclusion in the mountains.”
Xiao Changyuan had little interest in anything unrelated to his wife, the only person who captured his attention was his wife.
But Yun Pianpian was very interested in the martial world.
“What are you skilled in, Elder?”
Wan Shanke stroked his beard and smiled. “I excel in lightness skills and palm techniques.”
Xiao Changyuan took note of Wan Shanke's words.
No wonder he hadn't detected the old man's footsteps that day.
It was because he specialized in lightness skills.
Yun Pianpian asked curiously, “What about the other two elders?”
“Brother Yue is skilled in swordsmanship and medicine, while Brother Wuliang excels in true qi.” At this point, Wan Shanke suddenly added, “Speaking of which, Shitou's palm force is so fierce, he would be perfectly suited to learn swordsmanship from Brother Yue. Brother Yue was once the world's top swordsman, undefeated across the land, until he lost to Brother Wuliang. After that, he retreated to Lingxu Mountain, devoting himself entirely to the cultivation of swordsmanship.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian's eyelashes trembled slightly.
“Lingxu Mountain?”
The peerless master who imparted eighty years of profound inner strength to Chu Yi was indeed living in seclusion on Lingxu Mountain.
Could that reclusive expert be Jiandi Yue?
Wan Shanke looked at Yun Pianpian: “Does Pianpian know of Lingxu Mountain?”
Yun Pianpian lied with a calm expression: “I’ve heard that Lingxu Mountain is picturesque, a great place for outings and escaping the summer heat.”
Wan Shanke reminisced: “It truly is a scenic and pleasant spot for leisure. If you ever go there, Pianpian, you might run into Brother Yue. If you do, remember to pass on my regards to him.”
Yun Pianpian nodded: “Yes, Senior.”
Wan Shanke dusted off his clothes: “Let’s end today’s training here.”
Yun Pianpian replied: “Alright.”
Xiao Changyuan and Yun Pianpian left the forest.
Before departing, Xiao Changyuan glanced deep into the dense woods.
He knew two people were hiding there, but he sensed no killing intent from them, which was why he had remained silent. The old man’s lightness skill surpassed his own and he must have noticed the two as well, hence he deliberately sent him and his wife away.
Xiao Changyuan lifted Yun Pianpian into his arms and used his lightness skill to leave the forest.
Only after they had gone did Wan Shanke use his voice transmission skill to call out to the two in the dense woods: “Come out.”
Zhao Rouyin and Zhao Mao emerged from the depths of the forest.
“Senior.”
“Senior.”
Wan Shanke asked: “Why were you two sneaking around in the forest watching us practice martial arts?”
Zhao Rouyin pushed Zhao Mao forward.
Zhao Mao knelt on the ground.
Zhao Rouyin looked up at Wan Shanke and said: “We beg Senior to take my brother Jiang Mao as your disciple.”
Over the past few days, Zhao Rouyin had been searching the city for a master for Zhao Mao and happened to learn that the old man staying at Jiang Cuicui’s home was one of the former Four Great Masters. In all the world, who could be more suitable to be her brother’s master than one of the Four Great Masters?
Thus, Zhao Rouyin brought Zhao Mao specifically to ask Wan Shanke to take him as a disciple.
Wan Shanke looked down at Zhao Mao. Although this lad’s aptitude wasn’t as exceptional as Xiao Changyuan’s, he was still a rare talent, one in a thousand. Who would have thought that such a small village like Jiangjia would harbor so many young people suited for martial arts training?
Wan Shanke deliberately said: “I don’t just teach anyone.”
Zhao Rouyin knelt alongside her brother: “If Senior refuses to teach my brother, we will kneel here until you do.”
Wan Shanke glanced at her. This girl had a certain chivalrous spirit; in her, he saw traces of many heroic women.
He deliberately intended to test them, so he left without saying a word.
After Wan Shanke left, Zhao Mao said, “Sister, why don’t we just give up? He clearly has no intention of teaching us.”
As he spoke, Zhao Mao stood up and reached out to help Zhao Rouyin up.
Zhao Rouyin grabbed his arm and forced him to continue kneeling.
“Keep kneeling. Kneel until he agrees to take you as his disciple.”
Zhao Mao frowned, his chubby face full of distress. “Sister, it’s so cold. What if we get sick from the cold?”
Zhao Rouyin said sternly, “If you get sick, take medicine. If you freeze to death, we’ll erect a tombstone. If you’re always so timid and hesitant, how can you achieve great things?”
Zhao Mao: “...” Is pursuing Yun Pianpian what you consider a great thing?!
Zhao Mao was furious but didn’t dare say it out loud, so he had no choice but to continue kneeling in the forest with his sister.
By nightfall, the cold wind in the mountain forest made Zhao Mao’s nose run and tears stream down his face, while Zhao Rouyin’s body began to sway unsteadily.
It was already nighttime and they had been kneeling in the forest for nearly three hours.
Zhao Mao once again thought of giving up. “Sister, let’s just forget it.”
He was chubby and could withstand the cold.
But his sister was so thin.
Zhao Mao was worried that her body couldn’t endure the harsh wind.
Zhao Rouyin said, “Forget what?! Unless I freeze to death today, this matter is not over!”
Hearing her words, Zhao Mao frowned slightly.
He lowered his head, thought carefully for a moment, then looked up at Zhao Rouyin and solemnly promised, “Sister, I promise you, I will definitely find a master better than Wan Shanke in the future. It’s so cold, let’s go back.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a loud, hearty laugh came from behind them.
“Where would you find a master better than me?”
Zhao Rouyin and Zhao Mao turned around simultaneously and saw Wan Shanke emerging from the forest.
“Senior!”
“Senior!”
Wan Shanke said kindly, “Why still call me senior? Call me Master.”
Zhao Rouyin’s eyes brimmed with ecstatic joy as she pulled Zhao Mao down to kowtow three times to Wan Shanke.
“Master!”
“Master!”
Zhao Rouyin didn’t dare to see Xiao Changyuan, so Wan Shanke taught Xiao Changyuan during the day and came to teach Zhao Mao and Zhao Rouyin at night.
Xiao Changyuan had exceptional talent and learned quickly, mastering ninety percent of Wan Shanke’s lightness skill and palm techniques.
Zhao Mao and Zhao Rouyin had average talent. Although they learned slowly, they were extremely diligent.
Unconsciously, half a month passed.
Finally, the day came for Wan Shanke to leave Jiangjia Village.
Wan Shanke had originally come to Jiangjia Village to visit the village chief and Jiang Cuicui.
Unexpectedly, he ended up taking on three disciples, which was why he had stayed for so long.
At the moment of parting, Yun Pianpian and Xiao Changyuan came to see Wan Shanke off.
Wan Shanke gave Xiao Changyuan a martial arts manual and told him to practice diligently.
Xiao Changyuan nodded. “Thank you, Master.”
It was only at this moment that Xiao Changyuan sincerely regarded Wan Shanke as his master.
Wan Shanke patted Xiao Changyuan’s shoulder and responded with a smile, “Mm.”
Just as he was about to leave, two voices suddenly called out from behind.
“Master!”
“Master!”
Wan Shanke turned around and saw Zhao Rouyin and Zhao Mao walking toward him, carrying bundles on their backs.
“What are you two doing?”
Zhao Rouyin said, “We want to follow you and continue learning martial arts.”
She was learning too slowly from Zhao Mao. After so many days of practice, she hadn’t even grasped one, tenth of Wan Shanke’s skill. Although Wan Shanke had given them martial arts manuals to continue their cultivation, how could that compare to training directly under his guidance?
Wan Shanke said, “I roam the world, a guest among ten thousand mountains. You wouldn’t be accustomed to such a life.”
Zhao Rouyin replied, “If we can’t endure the hardships, we can always return at any time.”
Wan Shanke thought for a moment and said, “Zhao Mao following me is one thing, but you’re a young girl who will need to marry someday. It’s best you don’t come along.”
Zhao Rouyin declared loudly, “Your disciple has no wish to marry.”
Because your disciple wants to marry Yun Pianpian!
Wan Shanke had no idea of the lofty ambitions in Zhao Rouyin’s heart.
Assuming she simply wished to devote herself to the martial world, he said, “Very well, then.”
As the three of them walked along the mountain path, Zhao Rouyin suddenly halted.
Wan Shanke asked, “What’s wrong?”
As if steeling her resolve, Zhao Rouyin said, “Your disciple has one very important matter to attend to.”
With that, she hoisted her bundle and dashed toward Yun Pianpian, who stood at the village entrance seeing them off.
Zhao Mao had a bad feeling and quickly grabbed Wan Shanke’s arm, his voice trembling with fear. “Master! Go save my sister!”
Wan Shanke asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong with your sister?”
Zhao Mao cried, his chubby face crumpled, “My sister might be going to her death!”
Zhao Rouyin charged straight toward Yun Pianpian. She didn’t know how long she would be wandering abroad.
Before leaving, she absolutely had to kiss Yun Pianpian.
At worst, Xiao Changyuan would break her arm again.
After all, her brother was under Wan Shanke’s protection now.
She feared nothing.
However, before Zhao Rouyin could get close to Yun Pianpian, Xiao Changyuan raised his palm, his technique fierce and filled with a chilling intent to kill, striking ruthlessly at her. At the critical moment, Wan Shanke lifted his hand to block Xiao Changyuan’s lethal move, grabbed Zhao Rouyin by the collar, and fled using his lightness skill.
Halfway through his escape, Wan Shanke snatched up Zhao Mao by the collar as well, Zhao Rouyin in his left hand, Zhao Mao in his right, and soared into the sky.
Wan Shanke’s hearty laughter echoed through the air.
“Disciple Shitou, until we meet again!”
Zhao Rouyin screamed desperately from the sky, “Yun Pianpian! You must wait for me! You have to wait for me!”
Yun Pianpian was taken aback, then turned to look at Xiao Changyuan.
“Why does she want me to wait for her?”
Yun Pianpian recalled Zhao Rouyin's desperate charge moments earlier, a flicker of doubt stirring in her heart.
“What was Miss Yinyin trying to do when she rushed over just now?”
Xiao Changyuan's thoughts drifted to the earlier scene, a surge of murderous intent swelling within him. His entire being radiated a bloodthirsty ferocity, yet the moment his violent aura touched Yun Pianpian, it was suppressed and sealed away within the icy, unfathomable depths of his dark eyes.
He lowered his gaze to Yun Pianpian.
His pitch, black, cold pupils were as profound as a frigid abyss.
A faint, shadowy glint flickered within them.
“She wanted to hit my wife.”
Yun Pianpian's expression froze in disbelief, her clear, bright almond, shaped eyes widened slightly.
“What?”
Are, are all ancient mistresses this brazen?
Daring to make a move right in front of so many people?!
Xiao Changyuan's dark eyes deepened ominously. “Look, she's still making threats, telling you to wait for her.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian drew a sharp breath.
How despicable! This is just too much!
Yun Pianpian took a deep breath and shouted toward the distant figure fading into the sky, “You're the one who should watch out!”
“Jiang Yinyin! You just wait and see!”
Only upon hearing Yun Pianpian's furious words did the murderous intent in Xiao Changyuan's heart begin to subside slightly.
His gaze remained cold and profound, the corners of his pale lips curling almost imperceptibly.
Trying to steal his wife?
Maybe in the next life.
No, not even then.
Never for all eternity.
And so, two exquisitely beautiful young women, their hearts set on entirely different paths, parted ways in the heart of winter.
Zhao Rouyin departed Jiangjia Village, carrying with her an intense love for Yun Pianpian.
Meanwhile, Yun Pianpian remained in Jiangjia Village, fueled by the anger provoked by Zhao Rouyin's provocation.
Their paths diverged, each heading in opposite directions.