Mrs. Qin tidied things up and walked toward the inner room, saying, “Third son, rest a moment, I’ll have everything ready shortly!”
“Mm, I’ll return to my room to cultivate for a bit. Call me when dinner is ready,” Li Muzhan replied with a smiling nod, rising to leave.
He went back to his room, immediately took off his shoes, settled onto the couch, and, after a few measured breaths, slipped into the stillness of concentration. He entered the state of Shenzhao Tu (Divine Illumination Diagram), and his manifested form began to appear.
His spirit swiftly burrowed into the two Heart Pearls, settling within the manifested form resting upon the lotus flower.
The Heart Pearls transformed into a third eye, overlapping the other two, instantly lending an air of profound majesty.
Suspended above his head, a jade wheel turned slowly across the celestial canopy, emitting a pure, shimmering light. This light condensed into a pillar, descending upon his manifested form—a column appearing as if carved from jade.
As the moonlight bathed him, his manifested form grew increasingly solid; flesh and blood began to fill out, on the verge of becoming a true human being.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement stirred his spirit. The Heart Pearls shot out, hovering above the head of the manifested form. Then, his spirit withdrew from the pearls, returning to his physical body, and he awoke.
Accompanied by the soft sound of footsteps, Zhao Yiyi drifted in, leaning against the doorway to watch him.
Li Muzhan slowly opened his eyes. A pleasant numbness coursed through him, intensely comfortable, much like the gentle euphoria of fine wine, an indescribable sense of well-being washing over him. His internal injuries had completely healed.
He directed his qi to his shoulder, feeling the muscle and flesh; it had already sealed more than halfway—truly an extraordinary efficacy.
His ferocity and fearlessness regarding injury were all rooted in his reliance on the Guantian Ren Shenzhao Jing (Observing Heaven and Man Divine Illumination Scripture).
“Little Uncle, it’s time to eat,” Zhao Yiyi murmured softly when she saw his eyes open.
Li Muzhan looked up and smiled, “Good, coming right away!”
Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips into a smile, “Little Uncle, are you really going into seclusion this time?”
Li Muzhan paused, then nodded, “Yes, the training has been quite intense lately... Oh, by the way, Sister-in-Law, how is your Tuna Shu (Breathing Technique) coming along?”
He studied Zhao Yiyi carefully, wondering if she knew something—perhaps his elder brother had mentioned it beforehand?
Zhao Yiyi beamed, “It’s going very well! It feels comfortable when I practice... I just play around with it whenever I have a spare moment; it’s quite interesting!”
Li Muzhan smiled and nodded repeatedly, “Good, that’s the best way to approach it. Just treat it as a pleasant diversion.”
“After practicing, my body has definitely improved quite a bit!” Zhao Yiyi added.
Li Muzhan nodded, “Even if you don’t become a master, at least it will strengthen your body.”
He beckoned with his hand, “Sister-in-Law, come sit here, let me check your progress.”
Zhao Yiyi quickly demurred, “Perhaps after we eat? Mother and Father are waiting!”
Li Muzhan nodded and smiled, “That works too. Let’s eat!”
Li Muzhan stood up, stepped off the couch, and put on his shoes. Zhao Yiyi frowned, “Little Uncle, your shoes are ruined again!”
Li Muzhan looked down with a chuckle. His gray cloth monk shoes had split open with a tear—the result of the skirmish earlier that day.
Zhao Yiyi said, “It’s alright; I made you another pair!”
“Thank you for your trouble, Sister-in-Law,” Li Muzhan smiled.
“Don’t be so polite!” Zhao Yiyi shot him a look, then turned and left.
After they finished the dumplings, everyone sat chatting by the flower beds. The lamps burned brightly, making the area as bright as day, yet imbued with a deeper warmth.
Li Muzhan rested his fingers on Zhao Yiyi’s delicate wrist, closed his eyes to examine her pulse, then released her hand and nodded repeatedly, “Mm, not bad. Significant progress!”
Mrs. Qin snorted, “Third son, what nonsense are you playing at?!”
“Mother, I’m teaching Sister-in-Law the Tuna Shu, and it’s very effective. You two should learn it too!” Li Muzhan suggested.
Mrs. Qin shook her head, “I’m an old woman; what would I learn that sort of thing for!”
“It strengthens the body; the Tuna Shu truly has miraculous effects!” Li Muzhan smiled, looking toward Li Zhuzi, “Father, the Tuna Shu complements the Daoyin exercises perfectly, making the effects even better. You should learn it!”
Li Zhuzi set down his teacup and asked with a frown, “Really?”
“When would I dare lie to an elder such as yourself?!” Li Muzhan quipped.
Li Zhuzi glared at him, “If that’s the case, then I’ll learn it!”
“I’m not learning!” Mrs. Qin shook her head.
“No, you must learn!” Li Zhuzi widened his eyes and insisted heavily, “You’re not going to die before I do!”
Mrs. Qin rolled her eyes at him, “You old coot, the sooner I die the sooner I’ll be reborn, saving me the trouble of waiting on you hand and foot only to have you constantly criticizing everything!”
Li Muzhan laughed, “Have Sister-in-Law teach you both.”
Zhao Yiyi nodded and smiled, “Mother, it’s very easy to learn, and it feels quite comfortable when practicing! ...I feel much more energetic now, and my body feels lighter.”
“Well, that is true; your complexion has certainly improved greatly. I thought...” Mrs. Qin nodded.
Li Muzhan continued, “Sister-in-Law, now that you have a solid foundation, it’s time to learn the stances!”
“Stances?” Zhao Yiyi paused, surprised, “Am I really going to learn martial arts?”
“Mm, knowledge and skill never weigh you down. At a crucial moment, you won’t be bullied,” Li Muzhan confirmed.
“Great!” Zhao Yiyi agreed excitedly.
Even with the Golden Armored Guards, Li Muzhan still felt uneasy. Even the Golden Armored Guards, being human, could err. Moreover, one person, no matter how strong, had limits.
At a critical moment, a simple diversion could prove fatal.
The most important thing was to strengthen themselves. Teaching Sister-in-Law Zhao Yiyi martial arts—even if she couldn't become a master—if she could merely hold out long enough for the Golden Armored Guards to arrive, he would be content.
“You don’t need to learn much, just one move.” Li Muzhan smiled, stood up, drew his sword, stabbed slowly forward, then recovered his posture, turning to look at her.
Zhao Yiyi nodded and smiled, “That simple?”
“It looks simple, but mastering it requires arduous effort,” Li Muzhan said, handing her the sword and guiding her practice.
Zhao Yiyi was very bright; she imitated the stance far faster than he had, grasping about seven or eight tenths of it after the first attempt. After two repetitions, she was executing it accurately without error.
Then, he placed a hand on her back, channeling his internal energy into her Dantian, letting it flow out, tracing one specific meridian forward until it reached her palm—the route was quite intricate.
After three repetitions, he instructed Zhao Yiyi to circulate the energy herself, while he injected a stream of his own power to constantly correct her, ensuring her internal flow did not deviate.
By midnight, Zhao Yiyi had finally succeeded in learning it.
The elderly couple’s eyelids were drooping heavily, yet they stubbornly refused to leave. Li Muzhan, seeing this, chuckled inwardly, knowing what worried them, but he didn't expose it.
Li Muzhan stood up and urged them with a smile, “Alright, go back to sleep now. Sister-in-Law, use this time to practice... but don't let anyone else see!”
“Why?” Zhao Yiyi asked.
Li Muzhan shook his head with a faint smile, “Secretly teaching martial arts is a grave offense.”
Zhao Yiyi’s expression shifted slightly, and she quickly nodded, “Okay, I absolutely won’t let anyone see!”
She suddenly recalled that her husband had vaguely hinted that she shouldn't learn martial arts from the Third Brother, lest he commit an error; secretly transmitting martial arts was a major taboo that could ruin him.
She remembered it now, but it was too late; she could only ensure no one else saw.
Seeing her expression change, Li Muzhan said no more. Surprise was best; if her martial arts were known and others prepared against them in advance, they would be difficult to utilize effectively.
The next day, when he arrived at the Tianshu Courtyard, He Nanshan and the other two were already awake, sitting on the veranda by the lake, talking.
All three were reclining in chairs with pillows behind their backs, lazily watching the lake surface. They turned to greet him as he entered.
Of the three, He Nanshan was the most severely injured, yet his complexion was the best.
His face was ruddy, and he smiled broadly, “Fifth Junior Brother, I heard from the Eldest Senior Brother that if it weren't for you, I would already be greeting the Buddha!
Li Muzhan smiled, approached, and sat opposite the trio, “Second Senior Brother has a strong will and great fortune. My finding you was sheer luck—a fortunate man is always favored by heaven!”
He Nanshan laughed heartily, “Fifth Junior Brother saying that makes me unworthy of the praise!”
Li Muzhan reached out and took his pulse, nodding with relief.
Yu Chi Ming grunted, “Second Senior Brother, you must have taken some divine elixir; your injuries were worse than ours!”
“Second, Third, and Fourth Senior Brothers, I have an idea!” Li Muzhan announced.
He Nanshan smiled and asked, “What idea?”
Li Muzhan said, “I have cultivated the Jingang Buhuai Shen Gong (Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill) to the second layer, the heart method for bone strengthening and power augmentation. If the four Senior Brothers cultivate it, it might be beneficial!”
He Nanshan shook his head, forcing a bitter smile, “The Jingang Buhuai—we can’t cultivate that!”
Li Muzhan smiled, “Second Senior Brother, I found a shortcut.”
“Oh—?” He Nanshan grew interested, and Cheng Xiaofeng and Yu Chi Ming also grew curious.
Li Muzhan explained, “I will use my internal energy to run through your meridians. I think the effect should be similar!”
“Ah, no, that won't do!” He Nanshan shook his head and waved his hand, “Fifth Junior Brother, forget it, never mind!”
Cheng Xiaofeng nodded, “Fifth Junior Brother, that method won't work, let’s drop it.”
Li Muzhan quickly shook his head, “Second, Third, and Fourth Senior Brothers, earlier when I fought Bai Qingshi, if the Third Young Master hadn't arrived to assist, I might have lost my life!”
He Nanshan nodded, “Indeed, Bai Qingshi is a man of questionable character, but his martial arts are formidable. This time, I was defeated by him!”
Li Muzhan asked, “The next time you meet him, if the Third Young Master isn't there to support you, what will happen?”
He Nanshan shook his head and sighed, falling silent.
They had been lucky this time; the next encounter might bring disaster.
Li Muzhan said sincerely, “Second Senior Brother, the most urgent matter is to strengthen ourselves. We are a family, entrusting our lives to each other. What is a little hardship compared to that! ...Why be strangers with me!”
Yu Chi Ming grunted, “Second Senior Brother, Fifth Junior Brother is right!”
He Nanshan looked at Li Muzhan, then at the other two, and remained silent in contemplation.
“Second Senior Brother, let’s agree to Fifth Junior Brother’s plan!” Cheng Xiaofeng sighed.
“Sigh... very well!” He Nanshan slowly nodded.
Li Muzhan was overjoyed, and so he began.
Starting with He Nanshan, he found three bedsheets, wrapped him up like a zongzi in three layers, and then began circulating his energy. A burst of loud laughter immediately erupted.
The laughter turned into hoarseness, then agonizing screams, and finally, utter silence, as he lost the strength to even cry out.
The two Heart Pearls condensed, crouching in his chest like coiled dragons. His spirit was incredibly vigorous. He first circulated his energy for half an hour for each person, cycling through two rounds, consuming three hours in total.
When he finished, he was still full of vigor, showing no sign of fatigue.
The other three, however, were wilted and drooping, like eggplants struck by frost.
The process of bone-tempering was intensely itchy, and after enduring that ordeal on top of their existing injuries, it was like adding frost to the eggplants.
Li Muzhan could not linger; he had to leave soon to escort the Eldest Miss on a protective mission. He wanted to maximize their strength before his departure.
In the evening, Zhao Yuzhen returned, and Li Muzhan persuaded him as well to let him channel energy to cultivate the second layer of the Jingang Buhuai Shen Gong—bone strengthening.
The next day, he dragged Li Jian in as well.
He utilized his focus in two ways: while channeling energy for them, he was simultaneously cultivating himself.