Da Xuan Martial Saint

Early morning.

Atop the bed.

Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu were both martial artists, and with one in the Five Viscera Realm and the other in the Bone Tempering Realm, Chen Mu's Horizontally Trained Body needed no mention. Xu Hongyu, a martial artist of the Bone Tempering Realm, was more solid and unyielding than even the most durable millennium pearwood bed, which seemed delicate in comparison to her seemingly tender frame.

At this moment, two spheres of water floated in the air, at times merging into one, at other times breaking into droplets of sparkling dew, silently dissipating into nothingness before they could fall onto the bedding.

"Madam has a good grasp of the Kan Water Artistic Conception. When used, it flows naturally, smooth and slick," Chen Mu said, sitting cross-legged in the middle of the bed, looking at Xu Hongyu who was close at hand, his gaze then shifting slightly upward to the sphere of water floating between their foreheads.

The water sphere, following Xu Hongyu's movements, occasionally rippled, splitting into two, and then once again becoming a perfectly rounded whole, indistinguishable from each other.

"It is still... not as good as my husband's..." Xu Hongyu's voice wasn't like her usual tone, as if a cool and straight stream had taken several meandering turns through the hills, now imbued with more undulations and ripples.

Although she had grasped the Kan Water Artistic Conception earlier than Chen Mu, he had been contemplating it for over a month and mastered it as well. Since many of his artistic conceptions had already entered the second stage, his control over them was much finer than Xu Hongyu's, capturing every detail to perfection, finding every nook within a winding stream.

The sphere of water floating above their foreheads was half composed of Chen Mu's artistic power and half of Xu Hongyu's, yet Chen Mu's half was always stable, while the portion controlled by Xu Hongyu occasionally quivered.

Of course.

This wasn't entirely due to external factors.

Although Chen Mu's grasp of the Separating Fire Artistic Conception clashed with the Kan Water Artistic Conception, there was no conflict with Xun Wind, Gen Mountain, or Thunderbolt. With the stability of the Gen Mountain Artistic Conception, his Kan Water Artistic Conception naturally contained both hardness and softness, capable of transforming at will.

"Continue to contemplate the Kan Water Artistic Conception. There's no need to learn other artistic conceptions for now. When you reach the Five Viscera Realm, I have something good for you. If you can further refine and deepen your Kan Water Artistic Conception by then, with that item of mine, you'll have the chance to step into the second stage. At that time, your realm will be no less than Old Master Yu's, making it easier for you to advance to the Six Viscera Realm in the future," Chen Mu said, wrapping his arms around Xu Hongyu, gently lifting and settling her down as he spoke into her ear.

"Mhm, mhm," Xu Hongyu responded in a quivering tone.

Suddenly, the water spheres floating in the air burst uncontrollably, scattering in all directions.

But before the scattered water could land on the bedding, Chen Mu's thoughts moved, and all the misting water froze in the air, then swiftly converged back to the space above their heads.

"Indeed, Madam still needs more practice," Chen Mu said, looking at the tense Xu Hongyu with a hint of a smile.

After grasping the Kan Water Artistic Conception, Xu Hongyu's body had indeed reverted to a condition similar to that of an ordinary person. Of course, there may have been more than just this factor at play. She might also harbor no more obsessions, having let go of her heaviest burden, no longer needing to mask her emotions, and not having to fear revealing her vulnerability, especially not in front of him, and no longer using coldness as a veil.

Xu Hongyu looked down for a short moment before regaining control over the previously scattered sphere of water and looking up at Chen Mu, her cheeks tinged with a blush that seemed intoxicated, her clear and graceful eyes shimmering with a touch of shyness as she said,

"My husband just likes to see me embarrassed."

"I'm not intentionally bullying Madam. It's just that this is how men and women are in this world," Chen Mu said with a smile as he watched Xu Hongyu.

"Really?" Xu Hongyu blinked.

"Why would I deceive you?" Chen Mu leaned in a bit. Although he was somewhat taller than Xu Hongyu, at that moment their foreheads were just able to touch. He whispered something into Xu Hongyu's ear, causing her to blush further, yet she complied.

And so, an indeterminate amount of time passed.

Finally.

The figure of Xiao He quietly entered the room, carrying a basin of water and a clean sweat towel, whispering gently to the two shadows inside the canopy, "Master, Madam, it's time to get up. It's almost past the hour of Chen."

Her cheeks were tinged with a light blush as she stealthily glanced at the canopy, noting the edges of the millennium pearwood bed seemed slightly worn at the dovetail joints, with signs that the entire bed had moved, and she muttered to herself.

If the young mistress hadn't reached the Bone Tempering Realm, perhaps...

But this way, there was no chance for her to help. After all, she didn't get any sleep last night.

The bed curtains were drawn back.

Revealing Chen Mu and Xu Hongyu sitting on the bed, both already dressed in clean silk pajamas, Xiao He didn't do anything except stand there with the basin, blinking, looking back and forth at Xu Hongyu.

"What are you looking at?" Xu Hongyu, reading a somewhat mischievous glint in Xiao He's eyes, remained calm with her usual graceful demeanor. She spoke to Xiao He, then got up to wash in the basin.

Little Lotus saw that Xu Hongyu's face showed no signs of discomfort, as if her usual cool aloofness had returned. A glint of pity appeared in Little Lotus's big eyes; she actually wanted to see what Xu Hongyu would look like when flustered. Having followed Xu Hongyu for so many years, she had yet to see such an expression.

This time over, she would gradually get more adept, but she didn't know if she would ever have the chance to see it.

Chen Mu merely glanced at Little Lotus. If Xu Hongyu's Martial Arts Realm had only been Skin Toughening or Body Refinement, maybe they would have indeed needed another maid to serve her. But in the Bone Tempering Realm, it was naturally not necessary. The maid had listened outside all night; he wasn't fooled by her. Her intentions weren't pure—next time she would be properly punished.

Soon both he and Xu Hongyu had washed up and changed into new clothes. Little Lotus wiped the foggy mirror clean, and while standing behind Xu Hongyu, she picked up an ox horn comb and was about to comb Xu Hongyu's hair. But at that moment, Chen Mu walked over, took the comb from her hand, and looking at the elegant and beautiful face in the mirror, he said softly,

"I will comb my wife's hair."

"My husband..."

Xu Hongyu watched as Chen Mu gently combed through her black hair with the ox horn comb, and her heart felt like it was melting into a sweet bliss. Gazing at the reflections of the two of them in the mirror, she was momentarily lost in a daze, wishing to freeze this moment forever.

Standing aside, Little Lotus blinked, watching Xu Hongyu and Chen Mu, her eyes revealing a touch of envy. She knew that Xu Hongyu's current Martial Arts Realm and today's achievements came with many hardships. She had never neglected to practice swordplay and martial arts day and night, foregoing the normal interests of young ladies in attire and adornment, always keeping everything straightforward. Her status brought wealth, but also restraints.

Having grown up with Xu Hongyu, Little Lotus had always wished for Xu Hongyu's heart's desires to be fulfilled, to find her father Xu Yichuan, untangle her heart's knots, and break free to have her own happiness. Now, it seemed all these quietly came true.

Chen Mu.

The peerless genius who ruled over thousands of miles in Yu County, reached the Five Viscera Realm, and could suppress any true disciple of the sects—now stood beside her, attentively combing her hair. This made Little Lotus not only happy for Xu Hongyu but also a little envious, and of course, there was a part of her that felt joy.

At this moment, Chen Mu wasn't thinking of much, just gazing at the person close at hand, completely relaxed. Since arriving in this world, he had rarely allowed himself to relax. This was a short break that he afforded himself during these past few days.

Very soon.

After combing Xu Hongyu's hair, he arranged her hair into a hairdo and inserted a jade hairpin into it.

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"Anything happening outside?" he asked Little Lotus, who had been standing by all this while.

Little Lotus replied, "Nothing much. No matter how big the affair, it's not as important as master and madam's matters."

Saying this, she threw a slightly teasing glance at Xu Hongyu.

Xu Hongyu finally couldn't restrain herself and pinched Little Lotus's cheek, saying,

"Little, Lotus."

Watching this scene, Chen Mu smiled faintly, then said to Xu Hongyu, "I will go out first, Hongyu. You rest a while longer."

With that, he left the room.

Behind him came the sound of Little Lotus tearfully begging for mercy.

...

"Master."

Chen Mu walked out of the room, and along the corridor, several maids stood waiting, all of them bowing respectfully to him.

Indeed, the ancient way of life was luxurious.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Chen Mu looked at those either busy or waiting for summons, little maids and big maids alike, and sighed inwardly. Though he didn't require much in terms of attendance, back in his courtyard, there were still three maids—Wang Ni, Ku'er, and Yue'er—taking care of his daily needs.

Of course, only those of real status and position could experience such a lifestyle; the vast majority of people lived at the bottom strata. Even those who were somewhat better off would at most not worry about food and clothing. Only a few could cross that line to reach a stage of enjoyment.

But the gentry and officials of the Outer City and the wealthy families of the Inner City were not of the same class.

Above the families of the Inner City were the once four, now three, major families. Above them were the five Great Sects, including the Seven Profound Sect, and figures like the Inspector Yan Jingqing.

After meandering through the back courtyard corridors, Chen Mu arrived at the front yard, where he saw a familiar figure and was slightly surprised before saying,

"Senior Sister Meng, when did you come out of seclusion?"

"This morning."

The person in the yard, dressed in a neutral Taoist robe with her hair tied up and held by a simple wooden hairpin, was indeed Meng Danyun. She looked at Chen Mu with a slight smile and said, "I couldn't make it for the appointed day, so I can only offer my congratulations now. I wish for you and your wonderful bride to be together for a hundred years."

Chen Mu replied with a smile, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your congratulations, and I congratulate you on advancing further in the Martial Arts Realm."

He had kept his 'Autumn Wind Sense' active while walking; yet until he stepped into this yard, he had not noticed Meng Danyun's presence. There was only one explanation.

It must be that Meng Danyun's Xun Wind Artistic Conception had also moved to the second step, reaching the same level as his, enabling her to conceal her presence and prevent him from sensing her until he came into a certain range.

Previously, Meng Danyun was just a step away from the Kan Water Artistic Conception breakthrough and might have only needed a little more insight without even needing the Earthly Green Lotus Seed to advance. Therefore, she must have focused on the Kan Water Artistic Conception first. After breaking through, she then consumed a Green Lotus Seed to understand the Xun Wind Artistic Conception. As a result, she also immersed herself for over a month, but in the end, hard work paid off.

Xun Wind, Kan Water.

Stepping into the second phase for both Artistic Conceptions was a significant leap for Meng Danyun. Her strength had increased far more than just a little. Now, if she were to encounter the ambush in the Underground Water Vein again, with a perfect advantage in terms of location, it was uncertain who would kill whom.