The Su Family Mansion.
Inside Chen Haoyan’s study, Wang Ping read by lamplight late into the night. Before him lay three thick manuals, an irrepressible look of joy surfacing on his face.
【Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt】.
【Tiger’s Roar Golden Bell Shield】.
【Dragon and Tiger Embracing the Core Secret Art】.
All three manuals bore traces of being flipped through numerous times and contained many annotations. Yet overall, they were very well maintained, a testament to their previous owner’s care.
But they’re all mine now.
Thinking of this, Wang Ping immediately picked up one of the manuals that Chen Haoyan had cherished immensely during his life, only to flip it open mercilessly now.
The results matched his expectations. The three manuals were martial arts for training the skin, flesh, and marrow, respectively.
They perfectly complemented the sinew-training 【Three Demonic Sabers of Yama】 and the bone and blood-training 【Heaven-Shaking Cloud-Piercing Bow】. As long as he could master them all, he would instantly become a martial artist at external perfection!
“Makes sense.”
“After all, my current situation is probably identical to Chen Haoyan’s back then. So the martial arts he collected perfectly patch the flaws I’m missing.”
Wang Ping rapidly flipped through the manuals.
It was only after the pages, initially kept neat and smooth by Chen Haoyan, were creased and in utter disarray from his flipping that he put them down in satisfaction.
“Simply perfect!”
Individually, these three martial arts were nothing special. Although not common goods, they weren’t exactly rare treasures either. However, when combined, it was a different story.
“【Dragon’s Roar Iron Cloth Shirt】 trains the skin with dragon sinews, and 【Tiger’s Roar Golden Bell Shield】 trains the flesh with tiger bones. Therefore, upon reaching perfection in both, one can perfectly integrate the skin, flesh, sinews, and bones. Using this foundation to practice the 【Dragon and Tiger Embracing the Core Secret Art】 can further drastically enhance the marrow-training effects, maximizing one’s potential to the absolute limit.”
From this, one could see that Chen Haoyan had truly put a lot of thought into this.
After all, just like me, he also possessed the 【True Dragon Sinews】 and was hailed as having innate divine strength. That’s why he specifically chose this set of martial arts to capitalize on that advantage.
Wang Ping gently stroked the manual’s cover, pondering inwardly:
This actually works out perfectly. The weapons required for these martial arts should be well-stocked in the Su family’s possession. I won’t even need to have them forged; I can just take and use them.
At this thought, confidence surfaced on Wang Ping’s face.
With my current aptitude, aided by my spiritual sense and boosted by elixirs, one day of training is worth a hundred. Reaching martial arts perfection will take no more than a single night!
…………
The next day, early morning.
Madam Su pushed open the doors of her boudoir. A cold wind brushed past her exquisitely flawless face. As her crimson lips parted slightly, her warm breath transformed into drifting white vapor.
Normally, the young constable would have already come over to teach her martial arts by now.
At this thought, her watery, beautiful eyes looked directly toward the nearby guest room.
The doors were tightly shut.
…..That’s right, he has already obtained the martial arts and gotten what he wanted. Right now, he is likely seizing the time to practice his martial arts. Why would he have the heart to indulge me anymore…
The light in Madam Su’s eyes quickly faded. Her previously slightly joyous, expectant expression settled back into tranquility, seemingly returning to her former numbness…
Creak!
The next second, the doors were pushed open.
Following that, Wang Ping strode out, brimming with energy. Strikingly, a swath of boiling white steam swirled within three feet of his body, making him resemble a blazing furnace.
Standing before him, Madam Su felt a gust of hot wind hit her face, instantly wiping away all the chill of the early morning. It was clearly transformed from a man’s evaporating sweat after intense exercise, yet it carried no stench whatsoever. Instead, it bore an inexplicable, refreshing fragrance that even made her momentarily dizzy.
“Apologies for making Madam wait so long.”
Wang Ping looked at Madam Su in an excellent mood, smiling effortlessly. This was because his training results were exactly as he expected—at this moment, he had already undergone a complete rebirth!
He didn’t even need his spiritual sense anymore.
As long as he focused his mind, he could naturally “hear” his heartbeat, the flow of his blood, the functioning of his internal organs, and the state of his skin, flesh, sinews, and bones.
External Perfection!
This was perfect control over his physical body. From the grand scale of his limbs and bones down to the minute details of his pores and hair—he could operate it all as smoothly as he wished, entirely at his merest thought.
【Kui Ox Skin】, 【Dragon Elephant Flesh】, 【True Dragon Sinews】, 【Mountain Lord Bones】, 【Extreme Yang Blood】, 【Snow-White Marrow】.
Skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and marrow.
He had astonishingly broken through all six stages of external martial arts. Each breakthrough was a qualitative change, and upon reaching perfection, the six stages interconnected, triggering yet another qualitative change.
A body that had undergone seven qualitative changes couldn’t even be considered the same species as a normal human anymore. Not to mention, his skin, flesh, sinews, bones, blood, and marrow were all of the highest quality. At this moment, feeling the surging, tempestuous power within his body, Wang Ping subconsciously recalled the scene when he first transmigrated.
Back then, he was a newcomer.
Therefore, when that old bastard Shouchong shattered an artificial rockery in front of him with a flying throwing knife, he was astounded, feeling deeply the sheer might of the other party.
But now—
I should be able to do that too.
Wang Ping quietly comprehended his own strength, concluding in his heart: Although I can’t do it as casually as that old bastard did back then, I am definitely capable of it.
If he had possessed his current strength on that rainy night, he wouldn’t even have needed 【Perish with the Sun】; he could have slain Chen Haoyan in head-on combat!
Thinking of this, a wave of satisfaction washed over Wang Ping.
This sense of security brought about by increased strength intoxicated him more than anything else. It wasn’t until Madam Su’s voice reached him that he snapped back to reality.
“Madam?”
Wang Ping blinked, only then realizing he had been slightly distracted and had actually stared at Madam Su for a long time, causing her pretty face to flush completely red under his gaze.
“Wh-What are you looking at me for?”
“You insolent brute!”
Yesterday’s panic surged back into her heart once more, yet it also harbored a bit of inexplicable pleasant surprise. Her chaotic emotions made Madam Su change the subject almost subconsciously:
“I-I gave you the martial arts manuals yesterday. According to our agreement, you should continue teaching me martial arts today…”
As she spoke, Madam Su’s voice gradually grew softer, because upon hearing these words, Wang Ping unexpectedly revealed an incredibly strange expression.
“…Wh-What’s wrong?”
Madam Su was somewhat bewildered.
“Has Madam forgotten?” Wang Ping kindly reminded her. “Today marks the seventh day since Lord Chen’s passing. He must be buried tonight. Practicing martial arts is truly quite inconvenient.”
Is that it?
At this moment, Madam Su’s first reaction was “it’s unnecessary.” It doesn’t matter if that bastard surnamed Chen is buried a few days late; we might as well get down to business first…
……But she quickly realized what she had just thought.
In an instant, all the indescribable, unnameable emotions transformed into an intense shame, erupting into a visibly burning blush that rushed to her cheeks.
Never before had there been a moment where she realized so clearly that she had changed.
But who could she blame for this?
Blame the young constable before her? But ever since he moved into the house, he had always treated her with courtesy and respect, never stepping out of line in the slightest, and had even helped her solve many troubles.
How could she blame him?
After thinking it over, she could only blame herself for being a fickle, shameless woman. Her heart, dormant for so many years, was actually swayed so easily by someone.
Thinking of this, Madam Su almost plunged into an abyss of self-loathing. Like an ostrich, she buried her head deeply into her chest, looking entirely too ashamed to face anyone.
However, the next second, an overbearing force propped up her chin, forcefully pulling her out of her negative emotions.
Wang Ping had pinched her chin.
Madam Su tried to look away but was pinned in place, unable to move. Her beautiful eyes instantly brimmed with tears, and her body wriggled restlessly.
“Don’t…”
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito’s hum.
Faced with Wang Ping’s relentless advance, she tried to put some distance between them until she had nowhere left to retreat. Only when she caught sight of Chen Haoyan’s coffin from the corner of her eye did she abruptly jolt awake.
For some unknown reason, she actually felt a slight thrill of retaliation at this moment.
“Madam…”
Wang Ping lowered his eyelids, looking at the woman before him. Like a frightened little rabbit, yet inexplicably docile, she hadn’t made a single move other than retreating from start to finish.
At this point… asking where Chen Haoyan’s Internal Force Cultivation Diagram is hidden… there’s no way I can ask that anymore.
Wang Ping sighed inwardly.
With the atmosphere built up to this level, if he asked that question, they would inevitably turn into bitter enemies. Getting his hands on the Cultivation Diagram after that would definitively be a lost cause.
He could only go with the flow.
Thinking of this, Wang Ping couldn’t help but sigh: Although I’m not a man prone to lust, nor do I want to sell my body for profit, unfortunately, heaven’s will doesn’t bend to human desires.
He could only wrong himself a little.
The next second, Wang Ping extended a large hand, wrapping it directly around Madam Su’s waist. At the same time, he released her chin and instead clasped her hand.
“Rest assured, Madam, I will definitely protect you with my life.” He wore an earnest expression.
As his words fell, he immediately felt the originally tense, delicate body in his arms soften instantly. Tempered steel turned into yielding softness, and a river of spring water seemed to pool in her eyes.
At this moment, Madam Su didn’t even know what she was thinking anymore.
Although she had long prepared herself to sacrifice her body to protect the family properties, she never in a million years expected it to end in such a completely surrendered state.
What made her feel even more ashamed was that amidst the panic, bewilderment, and affection, there was another emotion she couldn’t deny but refused to face directly—
Secret delight.
So he actually did have feelings for me. That upright gentleman act from before was definitely an intentional put-on. He’s finally showing his true colors now.
I knew it! He was definitely plotting deliberately over the past few days, just waiting for this very moment. So it’s not that I’m shameless; it’s that his calculations were too deep.
What could a weak, defenseless woman like me possibly do against him? I can only compromise for the sake of the greater good; I couldn’t stop him no matter what he wanted to do…
In a daze, she thought of Chen Haoyan again.
She thought of her life over the past few years, mistakenly trusting an evil scoundrel, like a canary trapped in a cage, never able to fly into the azure sky.
How would it be this time?
Her choice was too hasty. In just a few short days, she was seemingly entranced. Who’s to say she wasn’t just moving from one cage into another…
She dared not look at the young constable before her, nor did she dare respond to his words. She could only tense her body while continuing her previous train of thought about canaries and cages, using this method to escape reality. However, the harder she tried to think, the blurrier and more chaotic her thoughts became.
Before she knew it, the things she was thinking about had changed.
The canary originally trapped in the cage had, at some unknown point, broken free, soared into the sky, and then plummeted, gliding freely and unrestrained…
She completely gave up thinking.
At this moment, no matter what Wang Ping asked her, she would probably confess everything.
Her beautiful eyes just stared blankly at the ceiling until she realized Wang Ping had lifted her up to carry her back to his room. Only then did she suddenly react.
“W-Wait a minute!”
The canary soaring through the sky hastily landed back on the ground, anxiously pecking at Wang Ping’s ear. “No, let’s not go back to the room. I want it right here!”
For a time, the only sound left in the surroundings was the desperate fluttering of a canary’s wings.
………………
The next day, noon.
Wang Ping’s Iron Bull Technique wasn’t an empty boast, and Madam Su, having practiced martial arts before, possessed a constitution far exceeding ordinary people. When a general meets a worthy talent, they are truly matched opponents.
Thus, before they knew it, they had flown from early morning straight through to high noon.
The canary flew until her entire body was sapped of strength. Clinging greedily to the young constable’s embrace, she obediently curled her body up, nestling snugly in his arms.
“D-Don’t move.”
Perhaps because they fought too fiercely last night, Madam Su’s voice was slightly hoarse now, yet it made her sound all the more magnetic and alluring.
“It’s all your fault…”
Madam Su rubbed her stomach, feeling a sense of inexplicable satisfaction. The tragic beauty between her brows had been entirely wiped away.
Like winter giving way to spring, she actually appeared increasingly radiant and charming.
“Madam…” Wang Ping began in a low voice.
“Still calling me that?”
Upon hearing this, Madam Su rolled her eyes at him. She first shifted into a more comfortable position, then gently traced her slender fingers across the man’s palm.
“My name is Su Ya.” Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.
Wang Ping knew this was a sign that the woman in his arms had completely surrendered her body and soul. Therefore, he didn’t ask anything, merely hugging her tighter.
After another moment passed, the two finally recovered their strength and stood up.
Only then did Madam Su seem to remember something. She pinned her disheveled long hair back up, then looked around, her gaze finally landing on a corner.
Lying conspicuously in that corner was a hairpin crafted entirely from fine jade. It was exactly the one Chen Haoyan had given her. However, she had pulled it out just when the canary flew into the sky earlier, and finding it bothersome, had tossed it aside casually. Now, an extra crack was glaringly visible on it.
“Hmm?”
Wang Ping followed her gaze and suddenly let out a soft exclamation of surprise. For underneath that broken hairpin, he actually saw a small piece of hemp paper that seemed to have words written on it.
Was that… a drawing?
In an instant, the previously languid Wang Ping jerked upright. He then reached out and snatched the fallen hairpin into his hand.
“What is this?”
Madam Su instantly pressed her red lips together, seemingly too ashamed to speak. Seeing her reaction, Wang Ping had a good idea of what it was, and a wave of pleasant surprise immediately surged in his heart.
To think I didn’t notice it before!
What material is this hairpin made of? It’s clearly so fragile, yet it could block my spiritual sense investigation. If I hadn’t accidentally broken it this time, I would have completely missed it!
Following the crack on the hairpin, Wang Ping’s spiritual sense flooded in.
Next, a diagram resembling a splash-ink landscape painting sprang into his view. At the very top of the diagram were seven large characters written in a flamboyant, dancing script:
【Heavenly Roc Capturing the Dragon Cultivation Diagram】!
(End of Chapter)