"Aha, Zhanran, no wonder you haven't returned to the manor—you’ve fallen into a den of sweet delights!" Amidst booming laughter, Jin Kaitai lowered his head to step over the threshold and strode in.

Li Muchan offered a wry smile and quickly raised a finger to his lips: "Commander, mind your words! This is my elder sister-in-law!"

The laughter abruptly ceased, freezing on Jin Kaitai's face. He scratched the back of his head, giving a sheepish chuckle, "Look at my mouth! A misunderstanding! A total misunderstanding!"

Zhao Yiyi’s delicate face flushed crimson, like a drunkard's, her eyes darting elsewhere, unwilling to meet anyone's gaze.

Li Muchan smiled, "Sister-in-law, this is Commander Jin. Could you perhaps fetch some tea for him?"

Zhao Yiyi nodded quickly, turning to swiftly move inside, almost fleeing, yet maintaining her graceful elegance.

Watching her slender back depart, Jin Kaitai turned back, a touch embarrassed. "So, the wife of Deputy Steward Li. I have been truly rude to such a beauty!"

"Commander, please be seated. I won't get down from the couch to welcome you!" Li Muchan patted the daybed.

"No need for such ceremony." Jin Kaitai sat down on the ta, chuckling, "Are you practicing martial arts here?... Not bad, not bad! Truly know how to enjoy life!"

He surveyed the surroundings: the subtle fragrance of flowers, the rustling of the bamboo grove. Though the courtyard was small, it was refined, and with the bright sunlight streaming down, practicing on this ta was indeed a pleasure.

Li Muchan smiled faintly. "It's unavoidable. I can't exert force with my right hand, so I can only practice my breathing techniques."

"Come, let me see." Jin Kaitai pulled over his right hand, placing his three right fingers on Li Muchan’s wrist. He closed his eyes, remaining still, his expression grave and serious.

Zhao Yiyi arrived carrying the tea cups. Seeing this scene, she quietly placed the celadon tea cups beside Li Muchan and kept glancing at Commander Jin’s broad, pancake-like face.

After a long while, Jin Kaitai opened his eyes and offered Zhao Yiyi a smile, conveying his apology for the earlier faux pas.

Zhao Yiyi’s expression was calm and dignified as she asked, "Commander Jin, is Little Uncle's injury serious?"

Jin Kaitai grinned widely, "It’s nothing major... Madam Li, I apologize again for my earlier offense. I hope you can forgive me."

Zhao Yiyi remained composed, shaking her head with a faint smile.

Jin Kaitai, noting her poise and natural dignity, felt a degree of surprise, though he didn't show it outwardly. He turned back, "Zhanran, you truly caused a stir this time!"

Li Muchan chuckled, "Elder Brother returned and gave me a good scolding, saying I've caused a huge mess by offending the Eldest Miss."

"Deputy Steward Li is correct," Jin Kaitai nodded, laughing, "Qingyun’s martial arts were taught directly by the Eldest Miss. Your skills, however, were taught by me. By defeating Qingyun, you’ve embarrassed the Eldest Miss."

"It was merely a spar; there are naturally wins and losses." Li Muchan smiled, gesturing toward the teacups. "Commander, please have some tea."

Jin Kaitai picked up a cup, lifted the lid to skim the surface, and took a small sip. A look of profound satisfaction immediately crossed his face, and he exclaimed, "Excellent tea!"

Li Muchan smiled, "If the Commander likes it, take some back with you. This is tea from my Chenjing Temple... Sister-in-law, could you please pack some for the Commander?"

Jin Kaitai quickly waved his hand, "No, no! ... Zhanran, I don't lack tea where I am!"

"Very well." Zhao Yiyi nodded gently and turned to leave gracefully.

Li Muchan waved his hand, "Commander, why be so polite with me?... When will this injury in my right hand heal?"

The tradition of reciprocity, passing down through ages, naturally holds profound wisdom. Even in this world, it works: reciprocity is the exchange of affection.

Jin Kaitai frowned, his brow forming the character '' (chuan). "Hmm... your meridians have not been sufficiently tempered. A sudden impact from such vast internal energy is quite troublesome—! If it goes quickly, it will take at least a month."

"That long—?!" Li Muchan also knitted his brows.

Jin Kaitai pondered for a moment, "How about this: I will teach you a healing mental technique to hasten the recovery as much as possible."

"Then I thank the Commander!" Li Muchan’s face instantly brightened with relief.

Jin Kaitai chuckled, "You lucky fellow!... This isn't a technique from the Mei Manor. I acquired it by chance, and it has infinite marvelous uses. Listen closely..."

He suddenly glanced toward Zhao Yiyi.

Li Muchan smiled, "My sister-in-law doesn't practice martial arts."

Zhao Yiyi quickly waved her hands, murmuring softly, "Little Uncle, you two carry on your conversation. I'll go prepare food."

With that, she nodded toward Jin Kaitai and turned, leaving with a graceful sway.

After she left, Jin Kaitai became serious. "Zhanran, what is said must not be heard by just anyone; one must be extremely cautious!"

Li Muchan agreed with a smile. In this world, martial arts mental techniques were priceless treasures, extremely rare, and very difficult to obtain, requiring immense sacrifice.

He considered himself lucky: his elder brother was a Deputy Steward in the Mei Manor, and he himself had practiced the Twelve Great Strengths and Zen arts since childhood, cultivating immense strength. Otherwise, obtaining martial arts would be incredibly difficult! Take Li Jian, for instance; he served three years at Chaoran Tower, and only then, with his elder brother's connections, did he qualify to cultivate.

For a person, the best years for cultivation are but a few; three years is not short. If his elder brother hadn't guaranteed Li Jian, others would need five years.

"A person's qi should be gentle, not forceful; smooth, not contrary; settled, not chaotic; gathered, not scattered. Nurturing qi lies in preserving the spirit. The spirit is to qi as a mother is to her child. Thus, when the spirit concentrates, qi gathers..."

Jin Kaitai slowly recited a passage of verse, articulating every word clearly—about two hundred characters in total.

Li Muchan memorized it after hearing it twice. Jin Kaitai then began to explain in detail. Li Muchan nodded continuously, quickly grasping the essence, and tried to circulate the energy once.

A wave of coolness washed over him, filling him with unexpected joy. Since waking that morning, his right arm had a persistent, burning ache. Now, it felt as if cool water had been poured over it, and the pain significantly subsided.

"How is it?" Jin Kaitai had been watching him intently.

Li Muchan opened his eyes and nodded with a smile, "Much more comfortable!"

"Naturally!" Jin Kaitai laughed heartily, immensely pleased with himself. "This is my prized secret. I wouldn't let it go easily if you hadn't beaten Qingyun!"

Li Muchan smiled, "So the Commander was also holding a grudge!"

Jin Kaitai grinned, "That little girl is too arrogant, yet formidable. She’s number one in the Seven Courtyards’ martial arts; even the Tianshu Courtyard was overshadowed. I truly had no face to show anyone!"

Li Muchan laughed, "Commander, my victory this time was a matter of luck. If Senior Sister Gong challenges me again, I can only concede defeat."

Jin Kaitai shook his head, "Not entirely... Although your swordsmanship is rudimentary and full of flaws, it’s offset by your immense strength, and your draw is fast. Most people truly aren't your match!"

Li Muchan smiled, "I just have this brute force!"

"Limitless strength—that is a talent unmatched by anyone!" Jin Kaitai chuckled. "With this divine strength, you save thirty years of arduous cultivation others endure."

He continued, "You are not naturally gifted at learning swordsmanship, but your ability to move internal energy far surpasses ordinary people. Hmm... for you, martial arts that involve simple forms but complex mental cultivation, using plainness to overcome subtlety, would be best."

Li Muchan smiled, "Indestructible Vajra Divine Art!"

Jin Kaitai sighed helplessly, "You, you! Must you insist on walking down that single path to the bitter end?!"

Li Muchan asked with a serious expression, "Commander, since I defeated Senior Sister Gong, am I considered qualified? Can I learn the Indestructible Vajra Divine Art?"

Jin Kaitai shook his head and sighed, "We'll see after this minor competition... There is still a month. If you can secure a top-three spot, you can learn it!"

"The Eldest Miss won't obstruct this, will she?" Xiao Yuesheng asked thoughtfully.

Jin Kaitai quickly waved his hands dismissively, "The Eldest Miss is honorable and open-minded, with a bearing greater than any man. She disdains such petty tricks. You think too little of the Eldest Miss!"

Li Muchan laughed, "I’ve never met the Eldest Miss, but her name rings like thunder!"

"The Eldest Miss is an ethereal being," Jin Kaitai exclaimed, his face full of admiration and longing, his gaze slowly drifting into the distance as if his spirit had left his body.

Li Muchan smiled, not disturbing him. He slightly closed his eyes, guiding a thread of internal energy to circulate through the meridians of his right arm. It felt like long-parched fields meeting sweet rain, bringing waves of coolness.

He suddenly realized that his own spirit had grown significantly stronger.

This strength was intangible, yet palpable. Guiding his internal energy was effortless and smooth, far surpassing before, and the energy flowed much faster under his guidance—like swapping an ox cart for a carriage.

This must also be the result of cultivating the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing.

This scripture was indeed endlessly profound. Even with a cursory understanding, it yielded such miraculous effects.

The midday sun shone directly overhead, quite scorching.

Li Muchan concentrated on circulating his qi. Waves of coolness washed over him, like soaking in a spring pool—a comfortable enjoyment that made him oblivious to the heat.

Jin Kaitai, lost in thought, was protected by his deep internal energy and also felt no discomfort.

After a long spell, Jin Kaitai snapped back to awareness, looking a bit embarrassed. He cleared his throat softly, "Ahem, Zhanran, I came today to ask what mental technique you wish to learn. The Mei Manor's ultimate skill is the Six True Scriptures. Which one do you wish to choose?"

Li Muchan retracted his focus, opening his eyes. "What does the Commander suggest?"

Jin Kaitai thought for a moment. "Your kidney qi is extremely abundant, and your strength is immense. Logically, you should practice the Shaoyin True Scripture."

"Can I practice all Six True Scriptures at once?" Li Muchan asked.

"Cultivate the Six Scriptures simultaneously?" Jin Kaitai was momentarily stunned, frowning as he pondered for a long time.

After a significant pause, he spoke slowly, "That idea of yours is quite bold!... Any single one of the Six True Scriptures is a supreme, ultimate art. If you master just one through diligent effort, you are qualified to stand among first-rate masters!"

He continued, "Let me use an analogy. Cultivating a mental technique is like digging an irrigation ditch. The wider the ditch, the greater the flow of water, and the stronger the power, right?"

Li Muchan nodded; the metaphor was indeed apt.

"Others focus all their minds on digging one ditch. You, however, are digging six simultaneously. Six combined ditches might equal one of theirs, but you only have one mind, capable of guiding internal energy along only one meridian path at a time... Haha, you’ve dug so many ditches, yet you can only use one when needed. Is it worth it?" Jin Kaitai shook his head and smiled.

Li Muchan remained silent.

Jin Kaitai added, "You have mastered the Tianyuan Breathing Technique, causing your internal energy to grow far faster than ordinary people. But when you strike, even the deepest internal energy must pass through the meridians to your limbs... Narrow meridians and abundant internal energy—what is the result? Exactly your current predicament!"

Li Muchan sighed.

His current situation was like traffic in a later era: the roads were too narrow for the volume of vehicles, unable to bear the load. His Dantian capacity was insufficient, and his meridians were too narrow.

When all was said and done, his foundation was too weak, and his roots too shallow. Others cultivated internal energy incrementally, their energy growth keeping pace with the expansion of their Dantian. He was precisely the opposite.

"Do you understand now?... You still want to cultivate the Six Scriptures concurrently?!" Jin Kaitai laughed.

Li Muchan slowly nodded, "Commander, I wish to cultivate the Six True Scriptures together!"

Jin Kaitai's face darkened. "You stubborn boy, why can't you see reason?!"

Li Muchan asked, "Senior Brother's Shadowless Sword Art, you have seen it, Commander?"

"Hmph, I have seen it. It is indeed exquisite, rarely encountered." Jin Kaitai nodded, then realization dawned, "You want to learn the Shadowless Sword?"

He snorted again, "If you want to learn the Shadowless Sword, just follow its mental technique. Although it involves six meridians in the arm, the main flow is through the Shaoyin meridian; the other five are only briefly involved... You don't need to practice the rest of the five meridians!"

Li Muchan shook his head, "I want to practice them all."

He vaguely felt that cultivating only one meridian was improper. After all, he came from a later era of information explosion, his knowledge and perspective far exceeding ordinary people. He believed balance was the best approach, and upsetting the balance would inevitably lead to unforeseen consequences.

Jin Kaitai’s expression immediately sank, and he stared at Li Muchan with furrowed brows.

Li Muchan clasped his hands together, smiling slightly, "I ask for the Commander's fulfillment!"

Jin Kaitai grunted with a dark expression, turning his head away, his back to Li Muchan.

Zhao Yiyi emerged wearing an apron, gracefully approaching Li Muchan’s daybed, and whispered softly, "Little Uncle, dinner is ready. Please eat first!"

Li Muchan smiled and nodded, turning to Jin Kaitai, "Commander, let's discuss this while we eat!"

"I'm not eating!" Jin Kaitai waved his hand angrily.

Li Muchan turned, "Sister-in-law, let's eat in the courtyard."

"Alright." Zhao Yiyi nodded, glancing at Jin Kaitai, pursing her lips slightly, then quickly turned back to the kitchen.

She found the situation amusing; this bear-like man was the Commander, yet he looked more like the Little Uncle was in charge, as if Li Muchan were the commander.

Li Muchan gracefully rose from the daybed, saying with a laugh, "My sister-in-law's cooking is exceptional, not inferior to the head chefs at Chaoran Tower. The Commander is in for a treat!"

Saying this, he slowly and deliberately walked into the main room and soon returned, his left hand supporting a round table, moving it as if it weighed nothing, positioning it perfectly under the shade of the bamboo grove.

He then made three more trips to bring out three chairs.

Zhao Yiyi also went back and forth, carrying dishes. Her steps were light, her figure slender and graceful like a willow, her demeanor beautiful.

Soon, the table was set with four dishes—two vegetarian and two meat—their colors enticing, emitting wisps of steam. The aroma gradually permeated the air, soon filling the entire small courtyard.

"Come, Commander, please take your seat!" Li Muchan called out cheerfully.

Jin Kaitai sat on the daybed, watching Li Muchan bustle about, his face still sullen, but his nose twitched, drawn by the delicious scents until his mouth watered.

Li Muchan smiled, "We can talk after we eat. The Commander will have more strength to scold me then, right?"

Jin Kaitai huffed, then strode over to the table with powerful steps.

"Come, come, please take the seat of honor!" Li Muchan gestured expansively, inviting him to the main position.

Jin Kaitai didn't stand on ceremony and sat down heavily. He smiled at Zhao Yiyi, who stood beside Li Muchan, "Madam Li, thank you for your trouble!"

Zhao Yiyi smiled, "Commander, there is no need to be so polite."

Li Muchan reached out a hand in a gentle gesture, smiling, "Sister-in-law, sit here."

Zhao Yiyi shrank back, avoiding his hand. "Little Uncle, I'll go cook the remaining dishes. You two drink first!"

With that, she picked up the wine jar, pulled out the wooden stopper, poured two cups of wine, and gracefully departed.

Li Muchan smiled, not forcing the issue. He picked up his wine cup, "Come, Commander, allow me, your junior, to toast you first. Thank you for your great kindness."

"I dare not accept such honor!" Jin Kaitai huffed, "You stubborn mule, insisting on walking down one road to the end, my words are completely useless!"

Li Muchan smiled and drained his cup in one go.

Jin Kaitai also downed his in one gulp, showing the bottom of his cup, and huffed, "You are a monk, yet you drink wine?"

Li Muchan laughed, "I am no longer bound by monastic rules. Come, Commander—!"

The two drank cup after cup, rapidly and heartily. Jin Kaitai kept praising the food, saying he was blessed to have a sister-in-law with such culinary skills.

As cups were raised and emptied, Jin Kaitai became increasingly inebriated without realizing it.

Li Muchan usually spoke little, not because he lacked eloquence, but because his mindset was detached, viewing the world from above, finding speech pale and inadequate. Once he opened his mouth, witty remarks flowed ceaselessly, causing Jin Kaitai to erupt in laughter. Unconsciously, an entire jar of wine was finished.

Li Muchan’s demeanor remained normal, but his eyes were brighter, sparkling like jewels, his spirit high.

Jin Kaitai’s pancake face was flushed a deep red, as if covered in red cloth, his eyes bloodshot. His speech became looser, and he started calling Li Muchan 'brother,' treating him as an equal.

Zhao Yiyi brought out the last dish, a plate of glistening, colorful preserved fruits, looking cool and refreshing.

Seeing Jin Kaitai in this state, she whispered softly, "Little Uncle, he shouldn't drink any more; he’s almost drunk."

This was rice wine brewed by the Little Uncle himself—it went down smoothly, tasting sweet and refreshing, but its after-effects were immense, making one collapse upon feeling the wind, often resulting in unconscious drunkenness.

"Who's drunk?!" Jin Kaitai, having deep internal energy, had sharp hearing and immediately looked up, shouting loudly, "I'm not drunk! Come, bring another jar of wine!"

Zhao Yiyi was startled and hurriedly said, "N-no more left."

Jin Kaitai’s eyes widened, and he turned to Li Muchan, "Zhanran, you little monk are not hospitable! I come to your home, and there’s no more wine to drink!"

Li Muchan smiled, "Alright, Sister-in-law, go fetch a jar from Li Jian’s place."

Zhao Yiyi gave him a worried look.

This Commander Jin, though built like a black bear, had poor tolerance for alcohol, while Little Uncle remained composed. The Commander looked alarming now—his face purple-red, his eyes bloodshot. If he drank more, he might pass out. If he had some hidden ailment, causing issues from drinking could be disastrous.

Li Muchan leaned close, whispering into her ear, "Go and don't come back."

Zhao Yiyi felt a warmth creep into her ear, causing her cheeks to flush. She tightly pursed her lips, suppressing a smile, and nodded softly, saying, "Okay, I'll go fetch a jar, you two drink slowly."

With that, she turned and walked out, swaying gracefully until she was gone.

Jin Kaitai suddenly awoke. He rolled over and saw he was lying on a daybed, this one situated in the center of the small courtyard—the very one Li Muchan had occupied earlier.

The setting sun cast long shadows, the sky filled with rosy clouds.

The courtyard was bathed in red light, and the flowers in the beds seemed even more vibrant under the soft sunlight. A breeze rustled through the bamboo grove to the west.

He looked down; a thin, slightly worn but clean sheet was draped over him.

The surroundings were quiet. He coughed lightly.

Li Muchan emerged from the main house, smiling broadly, and asked, "Commander, are you awake?"

Jin Kaitai felt a bit sheepish. He pretended nothing was amiss and asked with a frown, "How long was I asleep?"

"Two shichen (four hours). Did you have a good sleep?" Li Muchan said with a smile.

"You, a monk, have an amazing tolerance for alcohol!" Jin Kaitai seemed slightly unconvinced.

Li Muchan laughed, "My strength is great, and so is my capacity for wine. Commander, if you don't believe me, we can have another contest some other day!"

"Fine, you just wait! I will have my revenge!" Jin Kaitai huffed, touching his head. "Your wine is good though; it doesn't give a headache."

Li Muchan smiled, "I brewed it myself. Too bad we drank it all."

He then added, "Commander, do you remember what happened after the drinking?"

"What happened?" Jin Kaitai frowned in thought. Fragments of the drinking session flashed through his mind, disjointed and impossible to piece together.

Li Muchan said, "The Commander promised me I could cultivate the Six Scriptures concurrently."

"What?!" Jin Kaitai was momentarily stunned, then scoffed disbelievingly, "Did I really agree to that?!"

"You really forgot. The Commander promised it with your own mouth," Li Muchan nodded forcefully, smiling. "You even drafted a written agreement. Do you want to see it?"

"No wonder you urged me to drink so heavily—you were playing a trick!" Jin Kaitai pointed at him and huffed.

A scene flashed in his mind: him swaying unsteadily, pretending to be fine, pounding his chest to guarantee that Zhanran could cultivate the Six Scriptures, that he could do whatever he wanted. That scoundrel monk Zhanran kept laughing, saying he wouldn't believe it unless he wrote it down, claiming that once drunk, he wouldn't admit anything upon waking. He remembered being most annoyed when people suggested he was drunk, so he insisted on drawing up a written contract as proof.

Li Muchan smiled, "Does the Commander recall now?"

"Hmph, you really want to cultivate the Six Scriptures concurrently?" Jin Kaitai’s face darkened, and he asked irritably.

He had always believed that a true man keeps his word; once spoken, the words are fixed like nails driven into wood, regardless of the circumstances.

"Yes." Li Muchan nodded solemnly.

Jin Kaitai raised his right index finger. "I have one condition."

Seeing Li Muchan nod, Jin Kaitai said, "Yuzhen is just starting to cultivate the Shaoyang True Scripture. Your progress in the Shaoyin True Scripture cannot fall behind his!"

"The Shaoyang True Scripture—Senior Brother has been practicing it for about two months, right?" Li Muchan noted.

Jin Kaitai waved his hand dismissively, "Stop the nonsense and agree or not?"

"...Fine, I agree!" Li Muchan nodded firmly.

Jin Kaitai continued, "The limit is one month. After the next minor competition, I will check!"

"How about six months?" Li Muchan asked with a smile.

To match Senior Brother's progress in just one month would be incredibly difficult.

Jin Kaitai shook his head and said gravely, "One month it is! ... I will check once a month. If you fall behind Yuzhen, you must focus solely on cultivating one scripture!"

"...Alright!" Li Muchan nodded.

A thought flashed through his mind, and he understood the Commander’s true intention.

A person holding a position like the Commander, no matter how outwardly rough his appearance, was never truly coarse. Although he appeared to agree to the concurrent cultivation of the Six Scriptures, he was subtly coercing Li Muchan to focus on only one.

I heard Second Senior Brother and the others mention that among the four of them, Eldest Senior Brother possessed the finest aptitude, yet he persistently focused only on cultivating the Heavenly Origin Breathing Technique. It was only two months ago that he finally switched to practicing the Lesser Yang True Scripture, resulting in an astonishing breakthrough that quickly surpassed the progress of the other three.

My own aptitude is exceedingly mediocre; even focusing on just one scripture, catching up to Eldest Senior Brother’s advancement would be incredibly difficult, let alone cultivating six simultaneously.

If cultivating all six concurrently could maintain the same rate of progress as Eldest Senior Brother’s, then mastering all six would be quite acceptable.

This was the Commander’s shrewd calculation, an exceedingly clever design.

Seeing that he had agreed, Jin Kaitai didn't say much more. He pulled a piece of oilcloth package from his robes, unwrapping layer after layer until inside lay a stack of slender booklets. Li Muzhan glimpsed them and discerned there were six in total.

The topmost volume bore four large characters inscribed with silver hooks and iron strokes: Solar True Scripture.

Written from top to bottom, every character was vigorous and powerful, as if branded onto the paper, yet simultaneously seeming eager to burst through it.

Jin Kaitai carefully picked up one book and presented it to Li Muzhan: “There is a rule in our Mei Manor: the supreme core methods are never committed to writing. You must memorize this one after reading it; I have to return the secret manual.”

Li Muzhan nodded, taking it with extreme care, aware that each of these six manuals was exceptionally precious. Being allowed to cultivate all six demonstrated the Commander’s extraordinary favor and indulgence toward him.

He understood that, ultimately, it all stemmed from the Heavenly Origin Breathing Technique.

His memory was extraordinary; he memorized the text after only two glances and handed it back.

Jin Kaitai, having already witnessed his exceptional recall, maintained a stern expression as he passed over the second volume. Suddenly, he turned his head toward the doorway, frowning: “Someone is approaching!”

As he spoke, he swiftly folded and tucked the package back into his robes, resuming an unconcerned demeanor.

Then, he shook his head and chuckled: “It’s Yuzhen and the others!” P: My apologies for the delay; I pushed through to complete this update. I hadn't intended to write this much, as volume often proves inversely proportional to quality, but today I was resolute. There were simply too many requests for updates, and I couldn't hold them back.