“There’s no need to talk about price. I’m not short of money. But even Wan’er does not possess the item Young Master seeks. Such skills are far less valuable than life-force arts. Longevity is more precious than cultivating techniques with pathetically low damage.”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ucxwC5MsS
She paused, a mysterious glimmer in her eyes. “However… Wan’er does have an idea.”
“What idea?” Lu Sheng asked, gaze narrowing slightly.
“If Young Master truly wishes to learn, our Noble Families command many sects and gangs formed by mortals. You may find that kind of inner force mantra among them. Young Master can choose whichever suits your liking. Wan’er can even recommend one… how about that?” Duanmu Wan’s voice melted into gentle persuasion.
“That won’t be necessary. If possible, Miss Wan’er, please provide me with information about the sects and gangs in this region,” Lu Sheng replied boldly. He still could not understand why she treated him with such importance, but since he already owed her for the inner force mantras, he might as well take another favor.
“Let Wan’er have someone deliver the information once I return,” she smiled sweetly. Her eyes glazed as she lifted a hand, reaching toward the inside of his robes.
“Miss Wan’er, please respect yourself!” Anger surfaced in Lu Sheng’s heart. He did not wish to form ties with a woman whose background was unclear—especially one who seemed to be using him as a substitute for someone else. What would happen if she suddenly lost interest? He would be left in a humiliating state.
“Just call me Wan’er…” Her voice trembled with desire, cheeks flushed and body burning. Her hand slid toward his waist.
Lu Sheng grasped her wrist firmly. “If you’re treating me as a replacement for someone else, then you’re not only lying to yourself—you’re disrespecting your own body.”
“Disrespecting…?”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOafmDwZeK
Duanmu Wan froze, eyes lowering as silence swallowed her expression.
Time stretched.
At last, she exhaled a long, weary sigh. “You’re right… Wan’er wasn’t like this in the past…”
Her voice faded, interest vanishing like a snuffed flame.
Lu Sheng stepped back silently, his gaze fixed on her, trying to steady the unease in his chest.
“In this region, the Crimson Whale Sect is the largest. Their skills are rather intriguing. If Young Master is interested, you may investigate them. But that sect is still too small. If Wan’er has the chance in the future, I shall bring Young Master to the Central Plains instead. The sects there are far stronger than the Crimson Whale Sect.”
“Many thanks, Miss Wan’er. I will keep an eye out for news. As for the future, we shall speak of it again when the time comes,” Lu Sheng replied, clasping his hands respectfully while making a mental note.
“Still calling me Miss? Haven’t you already touched my body?” Duanmu Wan’s tone carried a teasing sorrow.
Lu Sheng froze, about to answer—when he suddenly noticed Little Qiao outside the window, peeking in with wide, shocked eyes. The window had not been fully shut, and from Little Qiao’s view, he and Duanmu Wan were locked in a compromising position—her hand at his waist, his grip tightening around her wrist, the two pressed close together.
“Enough, I won’t tease you anymore. I have matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave,” Duanmu Wan said softly as she withdrew, her earlier smile fading like mist.
She hesitated, her eyes searching his face. “Young Master… tell me honestly. Do you see Wan’er as a shameless, promiscuous woman?”
Her voice trembled with an inexplicable hope—like she yearned for a different judgment, a different fate.
Lu Sheng’s heart clenched.
She had aided him twice, offered valuable information freely. How could he ever label her a woman of ill repute? Gratitude guided his nature—those who were good to him, he would treat with sincerity in return. Yet now, words became difficult.
He stared at Duanmu Wan, carefully weighing each thought, searching for the right answer.
In that moment, despite her alluring attire, Duanmu Wan appeared unexpectedly gentle—almost pure. Like a shy girl-next-door seeking reassurance, she looked at him as though timidly asking what was wrong about herself.
“I think Miss Wan’er is perfectly fine. Everyone has their own way of surviving in this world. You’re just a little more open-minded than most,” Lu Sheng replied sincerely. Back in his previous life, there were far bolder people—some even exposing themselves online to countless viewers. Compared to them, Duanmu Wan was simply more independent… more unrestrained.
She stared intently at him, waiting for judgment.
His response, calm and heartfelt, struck her like a quiet shock. It did not sound like empty comfort. It sounded like acceptance. A kind she had rarely—if ever—received.
“You…”152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgcGzRjIrd
Her voice faltered as a wave of emotions stirred behind her eyes, complicated and difficult to name.
“Although I don’t know why Young Master seeks so many inner force mantras… Wan’er still has two more manuals. I will gift them to you.” She lowered her gaze, concealing the turmoil beneath her lashes. Without another word, she swiftly produced two booklets and placed them on the table.
“Wan’er has to go.” Her voice drifted away as her figure retreated—already slipping beyond reach.
By the time Lu Sheng snapped back to his senses and rushed out, the courtyard was empty. She had disappeared without a trace.
He remained standing there for a moment, stunned, before collecting himself and returning to the hall. On the table lay the two manuals:
Yin Yang Attraction
Green Pine One-Thought Formula
The very ones he had declined during their first transaction. So, Duanmu Wan truly only possessed three such inner force skills. Back then, she must have offered them either on a whim… or because of some deeper, tangled intention he still couldn’t grasp.
............
Outside Nine Links City, frost hung in the air like a promise of silence. Duanmu Wan drifted down and landed lightly on the white bank of Lake Sui Yang.
The lake lay flat and glassy, a perfect mirror rimmed in pale sky. Around it, forests of silvered branches bowed beneath a fine dusting of snow, each tree carved into an alabaster statue by winter’s breath.
“To think the famed Autumn Princess Duanmu Wan—three thousand royal consorts and all—would come dressed like a little girl. Now that’s a sight worth traveling for.” The voice was low and oily, laughter hidden behind each word as it rolled through the frozen air.
Duanmu Wan tightened her black shawl, features hardening into ice. “Zhang Xinyuan. Did you cross the northern wastes just to make a jest? Shall I gouge your eyes out and see whether you can still laugh then?”
“Heheh, don’t be angry, Princess. The Zhen Family and Mortal-Sweeping Manor are at war. Autumn Princess, you know Ye Lingmo. I came to ask you for an introduction.” The sound came from nowhere and everywhere at once—no shape, no shadow to trace.
Duanmu Wan’s expression shifted like weather, softening into a practiced, intoxicating gentleness. “Make introductions? Have you prepared my compensation?”
“I’ve long heard of your rule, Princess. Of course I have your compensation ready.”
A small, dangerous laugh escaped her. Her eyes glittered, calculating. “How about you consider spending a night with this Princess? Who knows—when I’m satisfied, perhaps I won’t charge you.”
“Forget it. The Autumn Princess’s reputation precedes her. This old man still wishes to live a few more years,” the voice retorted with a dry chuckle. “However, if the Princess reveals the whereabouts of that treasure—and whose hands it currently rests in—I can double the reward.”
Duanmu Wan’s expression flickered, eyes narrowing slightly before she answered. “Scarlet Dragon Tribulation is still in Taoist Crazed Heart’s possession—no one has claimed it. A few days ago, Mortal-Sweeping Manor clashed violently with the Zhen Family, forcing Scarlet Dragon Tribulation to activate its sacrificial function, resulting in a massive explosion. All three factions suffered heavy losses. If you plan to intercept it, this is your first—and last—chance. Too many lives have already been claimed, and Scarlet Dragon Tribulation is on the verge of completing its sacrifice…”
“Is that so…” The voice dimmed, its earlier amusement replaced by a somber undertone.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RlIlfIFVr
“Thank you for the information, Princess. The reward shall be delivered directly to your escort. I will take my leave.”
The sound dispersed rapidly, swallowed by the silence over Lake Sui Yang until not even an echo remained.
Duanmu Wan’s smile gradually dissolved. She looked down at the still, gleaming surface—its reflection flawless, yet offering no answers. Only she knew where her thoughts drifted in that frozen quiet.
............
What had transpired in Nine Links City lingered deeply in Lu Sheng’s mind.
After Duanmu Wan’s departure, he finished his lunch and returned straight to his room to cultivate inner force. He even instructed the kitchen to boil large quantities of tonic gel and deliver them regularly to his room so he could replenish his strength at any moment.
This period of rest was merely the calm before rigorous training. He intended to cultivate both new life-force skills he had obtained.
From his experience with the Jade Crane Skill, Lu Sheng had learned that life-force arts could replace mental energy and Qi when enhancing other techniques. They were like a hidden reservoir—steadily accumulating power in ordinary times, yet invaluable when release was needed.
Closing the door behind him, he seated himself cross-legged atop the bed.
He gently opened the Green Pine One-Thought Formula booklet. Lines of elegant handwriting filled the pages—refined strokes that seemed feminine in origin.
The very first line stood alone:
“As human beings, we are to imitate the green pine—unyielding in the wind, persistent in frost, and thriving even in the most desolate lands.”
Lu Sheng turned the page. A familiar illustration greeted him—a diagram similar to the Jade Crane Skill’s. An ancient pine, dark green and weathered, grew stubbornly out of a sheer cliffside. Its roots clung tightly to the stone, branches lush and strong, radiating vibrant, unending life-force.
This technique emphasized a single core principle: stillness. Stillness of Qi. Stillness of mind. Allowing the body to follow its most primal breathing rhythm, refining the purest strands of life-force inner Qi.
With his solid foundation in Jade Crane Skill, comprehension came easily. Before long, he had already grasped the essence and slipped into meditation—not mere silence, but precise postures and controlled breathing, guided to flow through the exact paths described in the manual.
After practicing for some time according to the manual’s instructions, Lu Sheng rose, ate a piece of tonic gel, and prepared to continue his cultivation. This time, he planned to train the Black Fury Skill and rely on Deep Blue to elevate it to its peak.
A sudden knock sounded from the door—thump, thump, thump.
“Young Master, Taoist Yan Kai and the others have arrived,” Little Qiao’s timid voice called from outside.
Lu Sheng opened his eyes, swiftly stood up, and layered on his coat and shoes.152Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAThsXOE2qF
“I’ll be there right away.”
He stepped out of his room and made his way directly to the Guest Hall. Yan Kai, Duan Rongrong, and Zhuan Feng were already waiting inside.
“Young Master Sheng, how have you been? You seem to be in fine condition,” Yan Kai greeted with a casual clasp of his hands.
“Please, the three of you—take a seat,” Lu Sheng replied with a polite smile.
Once the servant-maids brought tea and withdrew, closing doors and windows behind them, Lu Sheng spoke again.
“Taoist-sir, what exactly happened last night?”
Yan Kai did not withhold anything. He recounted every detail—much of which aligned with what Duanmu Wan had already told him. The explanation stretched on, the tea cooling unnoticed, until nearly an hour passed.
His account was even more thorough than Duanmu Wan’s—perhaps because the guilt of having destroyed several of Lu Sheng’s horses compelled him to respond to every question with utmost sincerity.
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