The lake water was clear as a mirror, allowing every pebble beneath to be distinctly seen. Above it, a lotus flower stood gracefully, seemingly carved from white jade, beneath an ink-blue, washed-clean sky where a bright moon hung.

A foot above the lotus, a sphere of white light hovered silently, soft and perfectly rounded, flickering gently like a flame that seemed imbued with life.

Li Muzhan was overjoyed, attaching his spirit to this ball of light.

The intense pain vanished abruptly. His body felt as if it had instantly been transported elsewhere, becoming light, agile, wrapped in a pervasive, harmonious warmth—a sensation of supreme comfort and pleasure.

The feeling at that moment was both familiar and alien. He suddenly recalled the sensation of being in the womb.

He had been reincarnated, his consciousness existing within his mother’s body, though the womb he currently occupied was not that of his current mother, but someone else entirely.

Regarding his origins, he had always pretended ignorance; when his mother found him, he was only one year old, too young to recall events normally.

Though he was adopted, his mother, Lady Qin, doted on him even more than his elder brother and second sister seemed to be favored, which made him deeply grateful. He was exceptionally close to Lady Qin, closer than many natural sons to their mothers.

Compared to his biological parents who had long since died, he felt a deeper connection to his current parents.

Immersed in that wonderful sensation, losing track of time, he awoke to find the room brightened by daylight. The window paper glowed with sunlight, casting an atmosphere of profound peace and serenity.

He gathered his thoughts, rose from his simple couch, and the images in his mind dissolved, though the comfortable, soft feeling lingered, leaving his mood exceptionally clear.

He pushed open the door, stepped out of the main house, and entered the courtyard.

Bright sunlight illuminated the small yard. To the west, the bamboo grove rustled softly; to the east, the flower beds burst with a hundred blossoms, their fragrance swirling around him, accompanied by the cheerful chirping of birds.

He stretched luxuriously, letting out a soft groan.

"Little Uncle, you're awake?" Zhao Yiyi emerged from the west wing.

Her hair was perfectly neat, pulled back without a single strand out of place. She wore a simple, blue-and-white patterned cloth jacket over a lake-green ruqun skirt, which accentuated her slender willow waist and graceful figure.

"Sister-in-law, where are Father and Mother?" Li Muzhan asked with a smile.

Zhao Yiyi replied, "They both went to help at Li Jian’s place. Are you hungry?"

"Ah... Li Jian’s wedding must have worn the old couple out!" Li Muzhan shook his head, smiling. "Did they eat already?"

Zhao Yiyi nodded in agreement, pursing her lips into a slight smile. "Father and Mother are eating at Li Jian’s house... They said watching Li Jian marry is like watching you marry, so they’re putting their whole hearts into it."

"Good, then let’s eat," Li Muzhan agreed, nodding.

After washing his face and tidying up, he returned to the main room where breakfast was already laid out.

The breakfast was rich: the four dishes he had brought back last night, plus two small side dishes meant to accompany wine. Zhao Yiyi poured him a cup of their homemade rice wine, while she helped herself to millet porridge.

Zhao Yiyi moved with light, swift grace, her posture beautiful and engaging. After pouring the wine, she sat down opposite Li Muzhan. Seeing him pick up his chopsticks with his left hand, she smiled, "Little Uncle, shall I help you?"

Li Muzhan wiggled the chopsticks and chuckled, "No need. I need to practice my left hand."

As soon as he gripped the chopsticks, he felt a difference; it seemed more flexible, having improved vastly overnight. Though not as adept as his right hand, the movement was fluid enough that a casual observer might assume he was left-handed.

Zhao Yiyi laughed, "Little Uncle is truly intelligent; you can use your left hand so quickly."

"Heh heh..." Li Muzhan smiled, feeling a strange curiosity himself. He wondered, Could this be due to observing the Heavenly Man Divine Illumination Scripture?

Because his limbs were so agile, he ate much faster. The two chatted while eating and finished quickly. Zhao Yiyi cleared the dishes and began tidying the courtyard.

Li Muzhan returned to his room, retrieved his sword, and went to the western bamboo grove to practice.

In the early morning, Father Li Zhuzi habitually swept the yard first, then practiced a round of Tai Chi, fiddled with the plants and flowers, and then it was time for the meal.

The yard hadn't been swept; clearly, it wasn't because they were busy leaving, but perhaps to avoid disturbing him.

Zhao Yiyi, wearing an apron, was diligently sweeping the yard, not missing a single corner.

Standing before the small bamboo grove, Li Muzhan held the Qingfeng sword in his left hand, his eyes fixed intently on the tip. His expression was solemn. After a moment, he slowly thrust out a strike.

For this strike, he poured his entire focus, channeling all his strength into the blade. After one thrust, he paused briefly to recollect his spirit before striking again.

The first two strikes were slow, but they grew faster and faster until the air hissed around the blade.

Beneath the bright sun, the sword light continuously expanded, illuminating his serious face and clear eyes.

This was the first time Zhao Yiyi had seen him practice his swordplay. She was immensely curious but did not interrupt, merely glancing up occasionally while her sweeping never ceased.

She was efficient and soon finished cleaning the yard. She fetched a cylindrical box made of paper from the kitchen—it was thick and two feet tall—and entered a small room adjoining hers, which stored grain and sundries.

In the center of the small room was a stone mill, two grinding stones stacked on top of each other, used for milling flour; the cornmeal they usually ate was ground here.

She poured a ladle of corn into the central hole and pushed the top stone, but couldn't budge it. She strained with all her might, yet the millstone remained solidly still.

Helpless, she went outside and stood a short distance behind Li Muzhan, intending to find a moment to speak to him.

Though Li Muzhan was deeply focused, his senses were sharp, and he immediately noticed her gaze. He stopped his movement and turned around. "Sister-in-law, what is it?"

Zhao Yiyi looked slightly embarrassed. "Little Uncle, the stone mill won't move."

Li Muzhan sheathed his sword and hung it on a bamboo branch. He strode into the small room and gave the wooden handle a push with his left hand; it didn't move.

He didn't dare use too much force, fearing he might break the handle. He lowered his head to peer into the gap between the stones, but they appeared perfectly fitted, showing no obvious problem.

He slipped his left hand into the central hole, applied force to his arm, and lifted the upper grinding stone. He glanced at it and laughed, "How did a stone get in here?"

Zhao Yiyi quickly retrieved the small pebble mixed in with the corn. Li Muzhan steadily placed the grinding stone back down, gave it a push, and it moved.

He smiled. "If you need flour ground, I can help you."

Zhao Yiyi hastily shook her head. "No need, I can manage slowly. Your practice is important; don't let me delay you."

Li Muzhan laughed. "It won't take long; it’s a good time for me to rest."

With that, he began pushing.

He moved with powerful strides, his speed immense, treating the heavy millstone as if it weighed nothing. Zhao Yiyi snapped back to attention, grabbed the paper box to catch the falling meal, and poured another ladle of corn in.

The small room was not large and felt slightly stuffy, filled with a faint, sweet aroma of corn. As the millstone turned, cornmeal trickled down, and in a short while, the paper box was full.

Zhao Yiyi stood bent over, watching closely, afraid the cornmeal might spill outside.

Li Muzhan noticed the fine sheen of sweat on her fair forehead and her shallow, quick breaths, indicating effort. He laughed, "Sister-in-law, you are too frail!"

He quickly shifted his gaze from her fair, delicate neck, feeling startled by a sudden, inexplicable urge to pull her into an embrace.

The impulse startled him, and he deemed it improper. Ever since he achieved mastery in his cultivation, his self-control deepened, his mind as still as a placid lake, undisturbed by ripples. Though he recognized the beauty of women, having practiced the White Bone View and Impurity View visualizations, he could suppress physiological urges. For this urge to erupt now, bypassing his restraint, was certainly not normal.

Zhao Yiyi sighed. "My body has been weak since birth. From childhood, I’ve consulted many fine doctors and taken numerous remedies for conditioning, but nothing works."

Li Muzhan nodded; inherent physical weakness was indeed troublesome. After a moment's thought, he said, "How about this: I'll teach you a method; give it a try."

"What method?" Zhao Yiyi asked, carrying the box of cornmeal toward the outside.

Li Muzhan followed behind her, smiling. "I learned a set of Tuna Shu (Breathing and Exhaling Art) that is best for strengthening the constitution."

"I’m very dull; I’m afraid I won't learn it," Zhao Yiyi chuckled.

Li Muzhan laughed. "It's very simple. Given your intelligence, Sister-in-law, you'll learn it instantly!"

When she finished putting the cornmeal away in the kitchen and returned, a look of astonishment bloomed on her lovely, delicate face.

A bed had been set up right in the middle of the courtyard, laid east to west, directly exposed to the sun.

**A mat was spread on the bed, upon which rested two meditation cushions. Li Muzhan sat on one cushion, his head gleaming in the sunlight.

"Little Uncle, what are you doing..." Zhao Yiyi asked with a smile. Her Little Uncle's actions were always eccentric; in just this short time, he had managed to move a bed outside—truly a feat given his seemingly normal strength.

"Sister-in-law, come and sit," Li Muzhan directed, gesturing to the cushion opposite him.

Zhao Yiyi laughed. "Are you really going to teach me that Tuna Shu?"

Li Muzhan nodded. "Yes... Practicing this should be effective. Your body is too weak; if it’s not conditioned soon, it will certainly harm your longevity."

Zhao Yiyi hesitated slightly, then nodded gently.

She first went to pull open the courtyard gate, leaving it wide, then removed her shoes and climbed onto the bed. She sat cross-legged just like Li Muzhan, about a meter apart, facing him.

"Turn your back to me," Li Muzhan said with a smile. His left hand drew a semicircle. So close, he could detect the faint, subtle fragrance emanating from her.

Zhao Yiyi smiled and turned around, her fair, smooth face immediately flushing slightly red.

Li Muzhan began to explain: how to adjust the posture (tiao shen), how to regulate the breath (tiao xi), and the essence of inhaling and exhaling (tuna). He spoke clearly and simply, making it sound incredibly easy to perform.

Zhao Yiyi sat with her back to him, listening intently. Being naturally intelligent, she grasped it immediately and began to follow his instructions.

She started adjusting her breathing, practicing the inhalation and exhalation. Slowly, Li Muzhan extended his left palm and placed it against her back. The sensation of soft warmth and yielding flesh instantly transmitted through his palm.

It was early summer; she was only wearing a thin, short jacket, so his palm resting on her back felt almost like skin-to-skin contact.

Zhao Yiyi’s body instantly tensed up, stiffening. A delicate blush spread from her face to her neck, and continued downward.

Li Muzhan spoke in a gentle voice. "Sister-in-law, relax. I want to examine your meridians."

Saying this, he drew a thread of inner power from his Dantian, slowly channeling it across. The inner power flowed like a fine silk thread, probing gently to ascertain the condition of her body and the state of her meridians.

As his meditative skill advanced, his internal vision became clearer, and his tactile sense sharpened.

The inner power, like an invisible hair, advanced slowly, first following the Lung Meridian (Shou Tai Yin Jing), moving gently, and finally returning to his Dantian, where the trace of power dissolved into nothingness.

Then, he channeled another thread of inner power, exploring the Small Intestine Meridian (Shou Tai Yang Jing). He proceeded likewise, sequentially examining all twelve primary meridians.

After mapping the twelve main channels, his face turned pale. He slowly withdrew his hand, his expression thoughtful.

When inner power enters another person’s body, internal vision is rendered useless, but he could faintly sense that Zhao Yiyi’s meridians were extremely narrow—only about one-fifth the width of his own. No wonder her constitution was so poor.

As he was contemplating this, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching, and soon someone entered: it was Li Mufeng.

Seeing the two seated on the bed, he paused, then laughed. "Third Brother, what performance is this?"

Li Muzhan’s face was pale, but his expression was composed. He offered a wry smile. "Elder Brother, why are you back at this hour?"

He glanced up at the sky; the sun was near its zenith—it was noon. Li Mufeng rarely returned home, perhaps only a few times a month, and always at night; he had never come back during the day.

"It's all because of you!" Li Mufeng huffed, then looked toward Zhao Yiyi.

Zhao Yiyi slowly opened her eyes and glanced at him. Her bright eyes flashed with a hint of embarrassment, which she swiftly concealed. She remained silent, her demeanor cold as frost.

"Go quickly and prepare the meal!" Li Mufeng waved his hand irritably, then frowned. "Third Brother, what were you doing?"

"I was teaching Sister-in-law the Tuna Shu," Li Muzhan replied with a smile.

Li Mufeng’s face changed abruptly. "Is that the Heavenly Origin Tuna Shu learned from Commander Jin?!"

"It is," Li Muzhan nodded.

Li Mufeng’s face darkened instantly, his brows tightly knotted. He glared at him. "You... how could you pass it on to her?!" His expression clearly showed anger, though he was visibly restraining it.

Li Muzhan smiled gently. "Sister-in-law’s health is poor; learning some Tuna Shu should be helpful."

"Hmph, nonsense, absolute nonsense!" Li Mufeng shook his head repeatedly, speaking impatiently. "This Heavenly Origin Tuna Shu is supremely precious; how could you pass it to an outsider?"

"Sister-in-law is hardly an outsider," Li Muzhan said, smiling and shaking his head. Seeing Zhao Yiyi’s expression darken, he quickly added, "Sister-in-law, I'm thirsty; could you prepare some tea?"

Zhao Yiyi managed a strained smile, nodded, gracefully stepped off the bed, turned, and drifted toward the kitchen without sparing Li Mufeng a glance.

Once she was in the kitchen, Li Muzhan quickly asked, "Elder Brother, what exactly has happened?"

"Still because of you!" Li Mufeng glared at him irritably, sat down on the bed, and grumbled, "You’ve made quite a name for yourself! No one in the entire Mei Residence, from top to bottom, doesn't know your name!"

"Me—?" Li Muzhan smiled. "What have I done?"

"Didn't you defeat Gong Qingyun!" Li Mufeng snorted, looking him over, then making a face. "You are now considered the foremost master of the Seven Courtyards in the Mei Residence!"

Li Muzhan shook his head. "It was mere luck; it shouldn't be taken seriously."

"Alas... you, you, this time you've stirred up big trouble!" Li Mufeng sighed, shaking his head, his gaze filled with concern.

Zhao Yiyi glided back with the tea. "What great trouble has Little Uncle stirred up?"

Li Mufeng ignored her and stared at Li Muzhan. "Do you know that Gong Qingyun is the Eldest Miss's personal confidante? Her martial arts were personally taught by the Eldest Miss! ... Even when beating a dog, you must consider the owner. This time, you have thoroughly offended the Eldest Miss!"

Li Muzhan took the tea with a placid smile, dismissing the matter casually. "It was just a friendly spar; it can't be that serious, right?"

Li Mufeng shook his head. "Alas... Third Brother, the Eldest Miss is not one to be trifled with. With just one word from her, everyone in the entire Mei Residence could become your enemy!"

Li Muzhan smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Elder Brother, it’s fine."

Li Mufeng sneered. "Fine? Hmph! ... I heard rumors that the disciples of the six other courtyards are all eager to teach you a lesson!" He suddenly paused and asked urgently, "By the way, why aren't you at the Mei Residence today?"

"I fought with Senior Sister Gong and sustained some injuries; I plan to rest here for a couple of days," Li Muzhan explained.

Li Mufeng nodded quickly. "Good! It's better to avoid the storm! ... Are you badly hurt? Your complexion looks poor!"

"Little Uncle, why is your face so pale!" Zhao Yiyi exclaimed in alarm; he had looked fine just a moment ago.

Li Muzhan waved his left hand. "Sister-in-law, it’s nothing, just a bit tired... Don't worry, Elder Brother, it’s just a minor injury; I’ll be fine after some rest."

Li Mufeng sighed in relief. "Then stay here and recuperate properly; don't rush back. ... I’ll go smooth things over and speak to the Eldest Miss."

Li Muzhan quickly waved his left hand. "Absolutely not! ... Elder Brother, for this matter, you must remain on the sidelines and pretend you know nothing!"

"Like this?!" Li Mufeng frowned.

Li Muzhan continued, "You have always been fair; you cannot lose your upright integrity over this. Furthermore, your pleading with the Eldest Miss would only cause harm and yield no benefit. This matter requires our four senior brothers and the Commander to step in!"

"They can intercede for you?" Li Mufeng hesitated.

Li Muzhan nodded with certainty. "They will! ... Elder Brother, you must be patient. Rivalry among fellow disciples is a small matter; it’s nothing major."

"Alas... you haven't experienced the power of the Eldest Miss!" Li Mufeng shook his head in lament, still holding doubts. However, he usually trusted Li Muzhan. Seeing his resolute expression, he felt some reassurance. "All right then, I will wait and see. I hope the Eldest Miss will be magnanimous and not trouble you!"

Saying this, he got up from the bed, carefully straightened his clothes. "I must return now!"

Li Muzhan quickly said, "Elder Brother, stay for a meal before you go!"

Li Mufeng shook his head. "I have urgent matters; I won't eat."

Just as he turned to leave, he suddenly stopped and turned back. "You are truly muddled! How could you pass the Heavenly Origin Tuna Shu to your Sister-in-law?!"

Li Muzhan simply smiled.

Li Mufeng said solemnly, "If the Mei Residence finds out, they could cripple your martial arts!"

Li Muzhan remained unconcerned, waving his hand dismissively. "What Sister-in-law is practicing is slightly different from the Heavenly Origin Tuna Shu; it’s not a problem."

Only then did Li Mufeng let out a breath of relief, grumbling, "You, you have too much nerve; you’ll cause a catastrophe sooner or later!"

With that, he turned and left, not giving Zhao Yiyi another look.

Watching their behavior, Li Muzhan shook his head with a wry smile.

When Li Mufeng was gone, Zhao Yiyi's tense expression relaxed. She sighed. "Little Uncle, why did you risk taking such a chance for my sake!"

Li Muzhan smiled. "Don't listen to Elder Brother’s scare tactics; it’s nothing. Sister-in-law, your health is more important."

Zhao Yiyi drew a scented handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to him. "Look at your forehead, covered in sweat; wipe it off... Was I tiring you out?"

"It is due to my insufficient cultivation," Li Muzhan replied, taking the soft cloth handkerchief, embroidered with a golden flower and carrying a faint, subtle fragrance. He was indeed sweaty; his bare scalp shone brightly under the sun, glistening brilliantly.

After wiping his forehead with the scented cloth, he smiled and returned it. "Sister-in-law, are you still angry with Elder Brother?"

"Hahaha..." A burst of hearty laughter suddenly echoed from the doorway.