Li Muchen sat on the couch, surveying his surroundings with a cheerful grin. "No wonder Big Brother is reluctant to go home. This place is warm and elegant, and Miss Lü He is gentle as water. Big Brother must be so happy here he forgets to leave!"

Li Mufeng's face flushed, and he quickly retorted, "Don't talk nonsense. I’m just too busy. Going home takes up too much time; I have to make do here!"

Li Muchen chuckled, shaking his head, his gaze strangely knowing. Li Mufeng felt extremely uneasy and quickly urged, "Alright, let’s set off early!"

"...Very well," Li Muchen murmured before slowly nodding.

Li Mufeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to stand and walk out.

He knew his younger brother’s gaze was piercing, his observation startlingly acute; he grasped everything instantly. This constant, half-smiling demeanor was so peculiar, it was suffocating.

"Young Master, what shall we eat tonight?" Lü He floated in cheerfully, asking eagerly.

Li Mufeng said gently, "Lü He, I need to go back."

"Oh..." Lü He’s smile slowly faded. She glanced at Li Muchen, who was still smiling as he examined the calligraphy and paintings on the wall, then lowered her head without speaking.

Li Mufeng continued softly, "You’ve had a hard time these past few days. Go out of the manor, wander around, and buy some nice food and fun things."

"Mmm," Lü He nodded once.

Li Mufeng added, "Return the rest of my medicine to Huichun Hall, and prepare some gifts. I will thank Elder An personally tomorrow."

"Mmm," Lü He nodded again.

Li Mufeng felt a pang of compassion and reached out, intending to pat her delicate shoulder, but he stopped mid-air, quickly withdrawing his hand. He turned and called out, "San'er, let’s go!"

"Right!" Li Muchen rose from the couch, walked over to Lü He, and paused before her, smiling. "Miss Lü He, don't worry. Big Brother will be back tomorrow!"

"Yes, Second Young Master," Lü He replied in a small voice, her face instantly turning red again.

Li Muchen spared a glance for Li Mufeng, chuckled again, and strode out of the room.

Li Mufeng shook his head with a wry smile and followed behind him. As he reached the doorway, he waved goodbye to Lü He.

The two brothers left the Mei Manor, passed by Chaoran Tower without entering, and headed straight out of Jinyang City.

Li Muchen’s injuries were nearly healed. He instinctively activated Fu Guang Lüe Ying (Floating Light Shadow), his wide grey monk’s robe billowing behind him. Li Mufeng, as a Deputy Steward, was naturally skilled in martial arts and followed suit with his own lightness skill.

The brothers sped along the mountain path. The surroundings were verdant, the forest dense, and the scenery pleasing, yet after more than a decade of such scenery, they had become numb to everyday beauty.

At this moment, Li Muchen suddenly realized that neglecting the beautiful surroundings was a great mistake!

Since awakening from his meditation, his understanding of the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing (Observing Heaven and Man Divine Illumination Scripture) had achieved minor success. Now, everything he looked at seemed beautiful—vividly and movingly beautiful.

After traveling for a while, Li Mufeng began complaining again, blaming Li Muchen for being too lenient and clouded by carnal desire. Li Muchen listened with his customary smile until he suddenly interjected, "Big Brother, how is the Eldest Miss? Isn't she quite something?"

"What's quite something?" Li Mufeng abruptly stopped and turned to ask.

Li Muchen smiled meaningfully. "The Eldest Miss is not only beautiful but also exceptional in her conduct. Such a peerless beauty—can she be promised to someone?"

"Why are you asking about this?" Li Mufeng frowned.

Li Muchen smiled, looking at him slowly. "A virtuous lady is a gentleman's desire... Surely such a peerless beauty has moved Big Brother as well?"

"Nonsense!" Li Mufeng’s expression darkened. He scoffed, "You young pup, ever since you woke up, your mouth has been full of nonsense. Let’s hurry up and go back!"

With that, he turned and walked away, vanishing several dozen zhang ahead in the blink of an eye. Li Muchen caught the scent of panic in his hasty retreat.

"Sigh..." Watching his elder brother's retreating back, Li Muchen sighed and shook his head. He had finally found the root of the matter: Big Brother was secretly in love with the Eldest Miss!

No wonder he and his sister-in-law had been in a cold war. Although his sister-in-law was also from a prominent family and possessed considerable grace, compared to Mei Ruolan, she seemed merely a refined village girl, lacking breadth of vision and understanding. In Big Brother's eyes, perhaps his wife was nothing more than a countrywoman.

He activated Fu Guang Lüe Ying and followed, shaking his head silently. This was a common failing of men: once they witness the brilliance of the outside world, they are easily fascinated, and their hearts change. Big Brother didn't realize that every woman possesses her own unique beauty. While his wife might be a refined village girl, she was charmingly delicate, capable of being joyful or temperamental—truly a rare beauty. Mei Ruolan was cold, splendid, and poised, but such women held their sights high; it was incredibly difficult to catch their eye, and they would never love an ordinary man. Big Brother, despite his excellence, still fell slightly short. Alas... What is love in this world?

Shaking his head, he quickened his pace to catch up with Li Mufeng, and the two entered the village together.

The sun slanted low, casting a gentle glow.

As they entered the gate, Zhao Yiyi was hanging laundry in the courtyard. As she stood on tiptoe to hang a garment, the alluring curve of her back, her slender waist, and rounded hips were revealed. Li Muchen quickly turned his head away. Since his awakening and the minor success in the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing, his desires had intensified, his appreciation for female beauty sharpened, and his impulses became more vehement.

Zhao Yiyi heard footsteps, turned, saw the two men, froze for a moment, and quickly placed a finger to her lips, giving Li Muchen a meaningful glance.

Seeing her expression, Li Muchen quickly glanced toward the main house and whispered, "Sister-in-law, are Father and Mother at home?"

Zhao Yiyi glanced sideways at Li Mufeng but ignored him, tiptoeing over to Li Muchen and whispering, "Little Uncle, you must be careful!"

She was wearing a pale pink floral blouse and a moon-white ruqun skirt, moving with a graceful, swaying gait. A lock of her dark hair had come loose near her temple, slightly dishevelled, making her appear captivatingly charming.

Li Muchen breathed in her faint, delicate fragrance and chuckled lightly. "What, are the elders angry?"

"Li Jian got married yesterday, and you were supposed to officiate the ceremony!" Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips, smiling faintly, shaking her head. "But since you didn't show up, you infuriated Father and Mother... They've had sour faces for two days now and haven't left the house, saying they have no face to see anyone!"

Li Muchen looked back at Li Mufeng. Li Mufeng slapped his forehead, revealing an expression of chagrin. When he had returned briefly earlier, the elders had spoken to him about this matter—San’er, the eminent monk, was supposed to officiate Li Jian's wedding—and he had completely forgotten to tell him.

Zhao Yiyi saw their expressions and knew immediately. She sneered, "You're always distracted; what can you possibly remember!"

Li Mufeng's face darkened, and he shot her a cold look.

Seeing the situation deteriorating, Li Muchen quickly coughed. "I'll go apologize to Li Jian personally. It’s not a major issue; Father and Mother are just making a fuss!"

Footsteps sounded, and Li Zhuzi and Qin Shi emerged from the house. They stopped at the doorway, their faces set in cold smiles, casting sidelong glances down at the two men.

"Well, look who it is. Our revered monk Zhan Ran finally remembers to come home!" Qin Shi snorted, striding over in three quick steps. She grabbed his ear. "You naughty boy, you’ve completely disgraced your father!"

Li Muchen grimaced, quickly smiling and begging for mercy. Qin Shi looked fierce, but her grip was light; Li Muchen could have easily pulled away, yet he feigned intense pain, repeatedly pleading forgiveness.

Qin Shi gave a meaningful look and declared loudly, "Do you know you’ve caused your father to lose face for the first time? Your offense is huge!"

Zhao Yiyi smiled, pursing her lips. "Mother, Little Uncle just got back. Shouldn't we settle accounts after he's eaten?"

"Hmph! He still has the nerve to eat!" Li Zhuzi grumbled gruffly, his face stern.

Li Mufeng swallowed hard, straightened his chest, and said gravely, "Father! Mother! It’s not San'er's fault. This is my fault; I forgot to tell San'er."

Qin Shi paused, released his ear, and turned to look. "Eldest, you didn't tell San'er?"

Li Mufeng nodded. "When I returned, I immediately encountered a major issue, and I got caught up... and forgot."

Li Zhuzi suddenly let out two dry chuckles. He usually maintained a stern face and never smiled, so these chuckles were rather alarming. After a couple of laughs, he strode over to the corner of the wall, snatched the broom hanging there, broke the red string tying it, and rushed toward Li Mufeng, swinging the broom straight at his head.

Li Mufeng was quick-witted and dodged to the side. Li Zhuzi stepped forward, turning his vertical chop into a horizontal sweep aimed at Li Muchen. Li Muchen took the blow and quickly ducked behind Qin Shi.

Qin Shi spread her arms to shield him, like a mother hen protecting her chicks in a game of 'Eagle Catches Chick,' and cried out, "Old man, a gentleman settles things with words, not fists! A gentleman settles things with words!"

Li Zhuzi brandished the broom, cursing resentfully. "I’ve lost all my dignity, what right do I have to call myself a gentleman!"

Saying that, he chased and beat the two brothers, always circling around Qin Shi—no matter what, his wife could not be struck.

Li Muchen, being agile, hid behind Qin Shi and remained entirely unharmed. Li Mufeng dodged left and right, yet dared not wrestle the broom away. Li Zhuzi, who practiced Tai Chi daily and tended to his plants, was sturdy and robust, his movements agile. The courtyard was small, and Li Mufeng eventually took two sweeps across his body. Both brothers possessed excellent lightness skills; if they had truly tried to evade, Li Zhuzi would never have landed a blow, but they deliberately refrained from using their qinggong for fear of fueling the fire.

After much commotion, Li Zhuzi’s anger subsided. Zhao Yiyi had laughed enough, set a table beside the flower bed, and a faint fragrance filled the air as the setting sun cast a soft light.

Li Muchen sat opposite Li Zhuzi, playing chess. He gently moved his prayer beads, a placid smile on his face, appearing utterly at ease. Li Mufeng sat nearby watching the game. Qin Shi and Zhao Yiyi were in the kitchen preparing dinner; thin wisps of smoke curled upward, the small courtyard filled with the scent of flowers mingled with a faint trace of smoke.

Li Zhuzi had stopped working the fields in recent years and had ample free time, often playing chess with the village elders. His chess skills had improved rapidly, and Li Mufeng was long past his match. Li Muchen’s skill was exquisite; neither Li Zhuzi nor Li Mufeng could defeat him alone—only together could they offer him a challenge.

While playing, the two elders would occasionally look up at him. Li Muchen seemed like a different person. His chess style had transformed: expansive, unstoppable, the board radiating a palpable murderous intent, unlike his previous method of killing unseen.

Inevitably, the two quickly lost a game. Li Muchen, moving his prayer beads, looked at them with a pleased smile. After achieving minor success with the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Jing, his mind worked like lightning, swift and divine. Where he usually saw three or four moves ahead, now he could glimpse seven or eight in an instant, handling the game with ease.

Li Zhuzi suddenly swept his hand across the board and grumbled, "Enough! No more playing!"

Li Muchen laughed heartily, clearly delighted. Li Zhuzi glared at him and urged him to leave.

Li Muchen chuckled smugly a few more times, then returned to his room, took off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the couch, formed his hand seals, and began his meditation.

Within a few breaths, he entered a state of tranquility, and the image of the Tian Ren Shen Zhao Tu flashed in his mind.

The lake water was crystal clear, and atop it floated a pure white lotus, large as a meditation cushion, three feet high. Suspended three feet above the lotus was a milky white pearl, its gentle radiance rippling like water, capable of rivaling the full moon in the heavens.

Suddenly, a faint shadow appeared on the lotus. The shadow gradually solidified, revealing a person sitting cross-legged. This person was slender, with a long face marred by a few pimples. The milky white pearl hovered above his head, its pure light making his scalp shine brilliantly—he looked exactly like Li Muchen. He sat cross-legged on the lotus, his hands forming seals, his eyes slightly closed, radiating solemn majesty.

About fifteen minutes later, the milky white pearl suddenly moved, slowly descending until it pierced his Baihui acupoint and melted away. Moments later, a flash of white light erupted from his forehead, and a vertical eye suddenly appeared between his brows. This appearance was identical to the initial image of the Guan Tian Ren Shen Zhao Tu.

The sunset light streamed into the room, bathing it in crimson. He was now suspended about a foot above the couch, seated cross-legged in the void, radiating solemn majesty and awe-inspiring dignity.

P: I fought for my life again. Every recommendation and collection from you all is a tremendous encouragement to me. I am deeply grateful.

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