The winter sun in Yangmi was usually weak, but today, perhaps arguing with someone, it radiated a blinding glare from early morning, fighting inch by inch through the window to reclaim territory from the person still burrowed deep beneath the covers.

As the halo of light crept closer, the figure in the bedclothes shrank further inward, punctuated by soft, muffled cries.

“Master, it is time to rise!” A warm, gentle voice drifted out from under the quilt. Ye Wen tentatively poked his head out, saw the relentlessly advancing, imposing sunlight, and muttered, “You’re never this eager to wake anyone up normally. What’s gotten into you today!”

He then lowered his head slightly and whispered back into the covers, “Just a little longer, please!”

As the saying goes, the gentle embrace is the hero’s tomb. Ye Wen currently held soft, yielding warmth in his arms, his hands meeting only smooth, silky skin, coupled with the gentle friction of two small peaks against him. It utterly killed any desire he might have had to get up.

“I’m no hero; the tomb business has nothing to do with me!”

He mumbled distractedly, intending to pull the thick quilt over his head to continue savoring the exquisite morning. However, Huayi burrowed inside, then popped out half a head: “Master, you have to go out today. If the Madam comes…” Blissfully happy, Ye Wen suddenly remembered his current state and what it would mean if Ning Ruxue—his fiancée who wasn't yet his wife—were to see him. He couldn't possibly handle her unleashing the 'Three Thousand Li Sword Qi Across the Heavens' on him.

“Sigh, alright, let’s get up!” Ye Wen sighed, extracting himself from the warm, fragrant nest. He slipped into the adjoining changing area to wash up, then pulled on fresh undergarments. These were much like modern long johns, except the material differed, and the cut for spring, summer, autumn, and winter varied little.

Emerging, Ye Wen looked up to see Huayi already dressed, though the beautiful skirt set she’d worn yesterday lay ruined on the table, ignored. Huayi was only in pure white underclothes, her elaborate hair disheveled, and she held Ye Wen’s outer robes in her hands: “Master, allow this servant to help you dress!”

Ye Wen nodded, taking in Huayi’s appearance from head to toe. A blush still lingered on her face, and her eyes, alluring as autumn water, shimmered slightly when she looked at him, stirring deep desire. With delicate movements, she brought the robe over his body, then slowly smoothed it down, meticulously arranging every fold.

This kind of life: “Truly decadent to the extreme!”

Lifting his chin, Ye Wen took advantage of Huayi’s ministrations to explore her body a bit more with his hands and feet. Finally, Huayi whispered pleadingly, “Master, stop fooling around now. If you wish, this servant will attend to you again tonight!”

Hearing this, Ye Wen realized she was right. She was already his woman; when he could enjoy her was hardly an issue of immediate urgency.

Yet, he wouldn't have known until he tasted it. After tasting, Ye Wen’s nearly thirty years of accumulated savings were almost completely drained overnight. This was only because the woman was new to such things and didn't quite know how to manage her needs. If this happened a few more times and she truly learned the ropes, wouldn't she wring him dry like a mummy?

Moreover, Huayi had practiced dance since childhood, making her body as pliant as silk—perfect for whatever delights Ye Wen wished to explore. He was overjoyed, completely ecstatic.

“What is a ‘Born Seductress’? This Ye has certainly learned today!”

“Master mocks me!” Huayi felt no shame in it. Since she had accepted Ye Wen as her Master, serving him wholeheartedly was her duty. However, the feeling of ascending to the heavens she’d experienced last night was truly wonderful! Thinking of it, her face and neck flushed crimson, her eyes swimming with spring water, and she stole another glance at Ye Wen.

“Oh my, this girl is even more lethal than before!” Seeing Huayi like this, Ye Wen finally understood why women born with natural charm were so hotly contested by men, and why Shen Yuqing had chosen her as a disciple. With Huayi looking as she did now, how many men could resist if she truly employed her seductive arts?

It took a full half-hour to get dressed—the two talking, laughing, and playfully jostling—by the time he was ready, the sun was already high in the sky.

Ye Wen opened the door, glancing left and right first. Seeing the courtyard empty, he gave Huayi a meaningful look. Then, Huayi, clutching her ruined skirt set, scampered back to her own room.

Once Huayi was gone, Ye Wen puffed out his chest, strode out of his room, and casually executed a few movements to stretch his body.

“Huh? I exerted myself all night, yet I feel refreshed and invigorated?” Ye Wen wondered to himself, circulating the True Qi within his body. He found his True Qi seemed to have advanced slightly—not dramatically, but a definite improvement nonetheless. A brief moment of thought brought him to recall that Huayi was still a virgin; her essence of pure Yin Qi was a massive tonic for any martial artist. He must have benefited from Huayi’s pure Yin essence, leading to his cultivation boost.

With this realization, Ye Wen sighed deeply. The problem was that Huayi practiced the Heavenly Demon Skill, and now, before achieving great success, her essence had been broken. He wondered what level she might eventually reach.

“At worst, if we find a better manual later, we can just have her switch cultivation methods!” However, that was only a last resort. It was a pity to abandon a cultivation art that she had already practiced to such a degree.

Sitting down by the stone table, Ye Wen glanced up at the sun hanging high above. As he looked up, the door to Ning Ruxue’s room creaked open. Hearing the sound, Ye Wen turned his head just in time to see Ning Ruxue’s pretty face frozen with frost, her eyes flashing with terrifying fury: “Huayi spent the night in your room?”

“Ah, this…” Ye Wen opened his mouth, surprised his junior sister had noticed.

“What did you two do last night?” Seeing Ye Wen’s reaction, Ning Ruxue needed no further confirmation; she already had her answer.

“That…” Ye Wen scratched his head, unsure how to respond. He couldn't very well say he had ‘eaten’ Huayi last night, but he also refused to lie.

Ning Ruxue walked directly up to Ye Wen, leaned in, and sniffed him aggressively several times. Her expression grew even uglier: “The scent on you is so strong, it’s almost the same as Huayi’s… Did you two last night…?”

Ye Wen felt a pang of guilt seeing Ning Ruxue’s state, but such things had to be faced eventually. So, he simply nodded and admitted it: “Yes!” Hearing this, Ning Ruxue stumbled slightly, saying bitterly, “If that is the case, Junior Sister congratulates Senior Brother and Miss Huayi on a long and happy life together. As for our marriage, then let it be…”

Before she could finish, she suddenly lost her balance as Ye Wen yanked her into his embrace, cutting off her words. Ye Wen sealed Ning Ruxue’s lips tightly, allowing her no space to speak, not even a breath of air.

“Mmmph!”

After struggling fiercely, Ning Ruxue could not break free from Ye Wen’s restraint. Finally, under the full-scale assault of Ye Wen’s ‘three armies,’ she surrendered, collapsing limply in his arms, completely drained of strength.

Ye Wen wasn’t finished, though. He smacked her pert, high hip with an audible slap that could surely be heard outside the courtyard.

The blow made Ning Ruxue almost jump up, and she burst out indignantly, “Why did you hit me?”

“Talking nonsense, deserving of a smack!” Ning Ruxue lowered her head and mumbled meekly, “But you shouldn't hit there…” Her voice was faint as a mosquito’s buzz, almost inaudible—if Ye Wen’s hearing weren't exceptional, he might have missed it.

“This is exactly where I meant to hit you!” Saying this, he raised his hand to strike again, but Ning Ruxue squirmed like a carp out of water, trying to evade the blow.

However, Ye Wen’s strike was just a feint. He lightly rested his hand on her lower back, caressing it gently, and said, “Senior Brother will not fail you, nor will he fail Huayi. You are both dear to my heart, and I will treat neither of you unfairly!” He then sighed again: “Perhaps you will call me a heartless beast…”

Ning Ruxue cut him off before he could finish, murmuring with her head tucked down, “It is Junior Sister who is wrong, acting like a jealous shrew. Senior Brother is such a heroic figure; it’s common for him to take not just one concubine, but several wives. In this world, it’s normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. This is my failure to understand the norms…”

“Oh? Does that mean I can marry a few more?”

This sentence immediately poked the hornet’s nest. Ning Ruxue, who had been showing remorse, instantly changed expression. Her pretty face darkened with a cold glare, and anger reignited in her eyes. She glared at Ye Wen and snapped, “Aren’t Senior Brother and Huayi enough for you? Do you really need a few more?”

“Yes, yes, Senior Brother was confused!” Ye Wen realized his mistake immediately and began apologizing. Since there were no outsiders, his junior sister was practically part of his household now; lowering his head slightly was fine, as long as no one else saw.

After placating his junior sister and getting her to accept the fact that he had taken the maid Huayi into his quarters, the two sat down and talked for a while longer.

“The disciples’ luggage is all packed. After lunch, we will descend the mountain, rest there for a night, and head east first thing tomorrow morning!”

“Head east?” Ye Wen had delegated these matters and hadn't inquired about the specifics. Now that Ning Ruxue mentioned heading east, he felt a bit puzzled.

“Not south?”

Ning Ruxue snorted, throwing him a sidelong glance. “Senior Brother only knows about being with Huayi…” She blushed mid-sentence, perhaps realizing the topic was inappropriate for broad daylight, and quickly stopped: “We go east to the coast, then take a boat south. It will be much faster than walking!”

“Oh, is that so!”

Ning Ruxue then explained the rationale behind this decision. The route originally set by the Shu Mountain Sect was indeed to travel directly south, passing through Dongzhou into Jiangzhou, and heading straight for the Azure Dragon Society headquarters.

However, after Dongfang Sheng moved in recently, during a casual chat about the itinerary, Dongfang Sheng had asked, “Why travel by land? It’s tiring and slow. Wouldn't it be better to head east to the coast and take a boat south?” Everyone then realized that the Azure Dragon Society headquarters was by the sea; sailing would indeed be faster and far easier than walking. The reason they hadn't considered it was simply that few members of the Shu Mountain Sect had ever seen the sea.

“I see!” Ye Wen patted his junior sister’s hand, smiling, “This way, Junior Sister gets to see the ocean! The sunrises and sunsets by the sea are very beautiful, you know!”

“Senior Brother hasn’t been to the sea either, so how do you know?”

“Well… Senior Brother heard it from others!”

“Hmph, tell Huayi to accompany you to see your sunrise and sunset then!” “…”

The two exchanged a few words, argued a bit, then resumed talking. Half the day passed quickly, and they managed to stop bickering. Huayi cracked open her door a sliver. Seeing Ning Ruxue and Ye Wen still talking, she hadn't emerged. Ye Wen finally spotted her and called out, “What are you hiding for? Come out openly!”

“Yes, Master!”

Huayi, now fully dressed, walked out slowly, sneaking a glance at Ning Ruxue, unsure how her companion would treat her now.

Ning Ruxue looked at Huayi, then suddenly stood up. This movement startled Huayi and also made Ye Wen jump. Just as he worried about what Ning Ruxue might do, his junior sister stumbled over her words a few times, finally forcing out, “Follow me, I have something to tell you!” She then spun around and rushed back into her room. Huayi tilted her head and followed her in, leaving Ye Wen sitting alone in the courtyard, full of worry.

After waiting a while and hearing no sign of them coming out, fortunately, there was no sound of a fight from the room, suggesting they were still talking.

“What on earth are they discussing?” Ye Wen quietly crept toward Ning Ruxue’s window, preparing to pry open a small gap to peek in. Just as he moved, Xu Xian’s voice sounded behind him.

“Senior Brother, what are you doing?”

He hastily turned around, made a gesture for silence, and then looked back, only to see the window open. Ning Ruxue and Huayi were looking at him crouched by the window with amused expressions.

“Huayi and I were just discussing matters between women, Senior Brother. What are you doing?”

Ye Wen forced a dry laugh and mumbled vaguely, “Nothing, nothing. See how the weather is warming up? The flowers are about to bloom!” He pointed casually to the spot where many flowers and grasses had been planted. However, at this time of year, there were no blooms, only dirt. Ye Wen lowered his head in embarrassment.

“Senior Brother, stop messing around!” Xu Xian said lightly, then closed the window. Unable to see anything, Ye Wen turned to face Xu Xian with a serious expression: “Junior Brother, what is it?”

Xu Xian, who had been enjoying the little farce, laughed heartily upon hearing this. “Senior Brother, do you have time? There are some things I wish to discuss with you!”

“Is it urgent?”

“Of course, it’s important!”

Ye Wen gestured toward the stone table, but Xu Xian shook his head: “Let’s go somewhere private. This place isn't suitable!”

Hearing this, Ye Wen immediately understood the gravity of the matter. If Xu Xian was being this cautious, it must concern the survival of the Shu Mountain Sect or the secret of its profound arts; it could not be treated lightly.

He initially intended to return to his room with Xu Xian for a detailed talk, but remembering the lingering fragrance in his quarters, his junior brother would probably guess the whole situation the moment he entered. While the matter itself wasn't secret, it would still be awkward. So, Ye Wen suggested, “Let’s go to the back mountain to talk?”

The 'back mountain' Ye Wen referred to was not inside the secluded valley but the spot he usually favored for sightseeing. Standing on that massive rock, one could survey everything around, ensuring absolutely no one could lurk nearby to eavesdrop. It was indeed the perfect place for crucial discussions.

Reaching the giant rock, Ye Wen sat down casually and said, “Go ahead and speak!”

Xu Xian smiled and sat down just as casually. What he said next shocked Ye Wen: “Although I haven't focused solely on cultivation over the years, Senior Brother, I have been pondering ways to improve my power. I discovered a method of dual cultivation…”

“Dual… cultivation?”

Xu Xian didn't grasp the implication at first, merely nodding and continuing, “Senior Brother knows that my cultivation method and Huang Rongrong’s stem from the same source. Although the nature of our internal energy is diametrically opposed, they both spring from one core technique. So, I considered whether I could use this principle with Rongrong…”

Halfway through, he looked up and saw Ye Wen’s expression full of innuendo. He suddenly realized his words might be easily misinterpreted: “Senior Brother is thinking amiss! I mean cultivating alongside Rongrong, using the characteristics of the two types of True Qi derived from one technique to accelerate our progress!”

He then briefly described how he and Huang Rongrong practiced: Xu Xian activated the Supreme Pure Yang Skill, while Huang Rongrong used the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Sovereign Skill. They pressed their palms together, their True Qi circulating back and forth continuously—Xu Xian’s supreme energy refining Huang Rongrong’s sovereign energy, while her sovereign energy refined his supreme energy.

Initially, due to the large gap in their power levels, the effect was limited; most of the time, Xu Xian used his own power to help Huang Rongrong elevate hers. After a period, when Huang Rongrong’s cultivation reached a level comparable to Xu Xian’s, they could finally achieve mutual benefit. Now, when they practiced, the two fundamentally different types of True Qi could coalesce into one entity, circulate within both their bodies several times, and then disperse back into them.

At this point, although they still used their original techniques, they could freely manifest aspects of the other’s skill without any adverse effects—Xu Xian could deploy the domineering Yin force of the Sovereign Skill, and Huang Rongrong could use the Yang force of the Supreme Skill, even without having to perform the previous counter-flow maneuvers.

Simultaneously, because the natures of their skills were so opposite, a subtle effect of mutual containment and competition occurred during practice. Ultimately, this caused their cultivation speed to far surpass what they could achieve alone. Since the practice required them to be together, it was classified as a dual cultivation technique.

“Oh, so that’s the kind of dual cultivation!” Ye Wen nodded, completely unaware he had intentionally misconstrued the situation.

“Otherwise, what kind of dual cultivation did Senior Brother think I meant?” Xu Xian shook his head with a wry smile, but a moment later, his expression turned slightly odd, and he whispered, “However, actually, the method Senior Brother was implying cultivates even faster!”

At these words, Ye Wen adopted an expression of ‘I knew it’: “You rascal, you must have completely conquered Rongrong!” He then recalled Huang Rongrong’s rapid progress in recent days and understood: “No wonder Huang Rongrong’s martial arts have advanced so quickly these past two years. Also—Junior Brother, what level have you reached now?”

Xu Xian grinned sheepishly and held up one finger: “I used that other method a couple of days ago. Now, only one final gate remains to be broken through!”

Hearing this, Ye Wen was momentarily speechless again: “Truly worthy of someone with the protagonist template. I slept with Huayi and only gained a small benefit, but he slept with Huang Rongrong and his power skyrocketed instantly! How unfair!”