You're the boss. I won't argue with you. Li Hao gave an awkward smile.
This system sure had a sleazy way of doing things, and it held grudges, too. If you offended it, it might just shrink you sideways by a centimeter. That would be tragic.
Well, sideways expansion was sideways expansion! It wasn't a bad thing. Having something was better than having nothing.
"You're awake. How do you feel? Sleeping under the sky with the earth for a bed—wasn't it a rather unusual experience?" Li Hao said with a lecherous grin.
"Please behave yourself, Young Master Li." Lin Shiyin was mortified. She came from a family of scholars; when had she ever heard such lewd talk?
"We're practically an old married couple. Why bother with all those formalities? The most important thing in life is to be happy. As long as you're enjoying yourself, that's enough. Life is short, so why not make the most of it and be your true self?" Li Hao still wore his usual carefree grin.
After all, she was already his, and he'd already gotten his reward. Whatever decision she made was up to her. But for now, he could only do as he pleased with her.
Soon, with the lingering effects of the poison still upon her, Lin Shiyin's face flushed again, and all the feelings she'd kept bottled up over Li Xunhuan's betrayal burst forth.
She had no feelings for Long Xiaoyun, but her cousin had insisted on bringing them together. At first, she had lived for Li Xunhuan; later, she had lived for Long Xiaoyun. Now that things had come to this, she would live for herself from now on!
"Remember this route for circulating your inner breath. Take it slowly and don't let your thoughts wander. It'll do you good," Li Hao whispered in Lin Shiyin's ear.
Earlier, when Lin Shiyin had been drugged with Yin Yang Hehuan Powder, she had remained conscious, but her body had been beyond her control. Li Hao had been afraid something might go wrong, so he hadn't used the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon.
But now she was fully conscious. How could he pass up such a perfect opportunity to practice?
"What is this...?" Lin Shiyin was shocked. She could actually see inside her own body: the flow of her blood, the beat of her heart, even the churning of her stomach and intestines. It was all crystal clear.
"Well? Isn't your man amazing? Now close your eyes and circulate your inner energy through the great cycle."
Lin Shiyin fell silent. She and Li Hao were now the most familiar strangers to each other—even more familiar than she was with Long Xiaoyun. After all, Long Xiaoyun didn't know what the inside of her body looked like, but Li Hao knew everything.
One day as husband and wife meant a hundred days of affection. Counting this time, the two of them had a full five hundred days' worth.
Soon, they both entered a meditative state.
"Sister Ning, where did your husband go? He still hasn't come back." Li Hao's carriage was still parked beside the main road.
After waiting for a long time, Ning Zhongze, Yi Lin, and Qu Feifei had all gotten out of the carriage and set up a fire by the roadside to barbecue.
As for the guards, they divided the work clearly: some fetched water, some gathered firewood, and others hunted game. They were all kept busy.
It was for one reason only: their lady's barbecue was truly delicious, and she was especially generous, always making sure there was enough for them, too.
"Why are you in such a hurry? He'll come back when he's ready. Yi Lin, this one's done. Would you like to try it?" Ning Zhongze handed her a cooked skewer.
"Amitabha. I think I'd better not." Yi Lin licked her lips. Although she'd returned to lay life, she still followed the dietary precepts she'd observed as a nun on Mount Heng and abstained from meat.
"How can you do without meat? Eating vegetarian all the time will stunt your growth. Then your husband won't be happy," Ning Zhongze said, poking Yi Lin in the chest.
After spending so much time with Li Hao, this woman, who had lived for years with the hypocrite Yue Buqun, had completely dropped her mask and become the very sort of person she'd once hated.
She lived without a care in the world—and it was a truly happy way to live.
The two women laughed and teased each other. Nearby, Yan Shun and the dozens of mounted guards didn't even dare look up. They were women of the great demon king Li Hao; looking at them would be asking for death.
Li Hao had had the barbecue grill custom-made, and it had cost a pretty penny. He'd also put together a whole assortment of seasonings, so everyone could use whichever ones suited their taste.
"Smells amazing! Madam's cooking is second to none. I've never had barbecue this good in my whole life. All these decades have been wasted!" Yan Shun gave a thumbs-up.
Being the young master's coachman was a little lowly, but in every other respect, it was a pretty good job.
There was plenty to eat and drink. The food was exquisite and delicious, and the wine flowed like nectar. What more could a man ask for than to find a master like this?
"You lot! Li Hao says that a person should live happily. When he comes back, I'll have him prepare a set of seasonings for you, too. Then, when you go out to handle business, you won't bring shame to the Li family." Ning Zhongze spoke softly.
She made it sound casual, but the aura of a grandmaster she exuded without realizing it left Yan Shun struggling to breathe.
By now, Yan Shun understood that Ning Zhongze was warning them.
Fortunately, after Li Hao had left, they had all behaved themselves and faithfully protected the women's safety. If they'd harbored any ill intentions, the consequences would have been...
At the thought, Yan Shun's back was soaked with sweat. No wonder Li Hao dared to leave two beautiful women and a little girl behind while he went off to have fun. There was an even more terrifying presence here.
"Boss, save me!" Just as everyone was enjoying their barbecue, Yue Laosan, who was tied to a post by the roadside, suddenly shouted.
"Be on guard! Protect them!" Hearing Yue Laosan's cry for help, Yan Shun was alarmed and quickly ordered the guards to surround Ning Zhongze and the others.
"Third Brother, why are you tied up here?" The only person who could call Yue Laosan Third Brother was Yun Zhonghe, who had returned after leaving.
"What the hell do you mean, why am I here? Didn't you ask me to block this road for you? I ended up kicking an iron plate and ran into a tough opponent. You, kid—move that blade away from your grandpa Yue's neck! Or I'll skin you alive in a minute!" Yue Laosan turned to the guard he'd beaten black and blue earlier.
The guard didn't say a word. He only pressed the blade more firmly against Yue Laosan's neck.
Yue Laosan shut up, no longer daring to threaten the stubborn young guard. He could feel the hand holding the blade trembling, and he worried the kid might accidentally finish him off.
"Who are you people, and why have you captured my third brother?" The man at the head of the group spoke in a deep, resonant voice.
"Speaking through his belly. Ugly as sin. A cripple. Madam, if I'm not mistaken, this man is the leader of the Four Evils, E Guan Manying. I don't know his actual name," Yan Shun said beside Ning Zhongze.
"E Guan Manying, I've heard a great deal about you. I never thought we'd meet here today. As for Yue Laosan, he offended my husband, so I tied him up here as punishment. What, do you have a problem with that? Well, if you do, keep it to yourself. I'll settle accounts with you when my husband gets back."
After saying all that, Ning Zhongze felt wonderfully refreshed. No wonder Li Hao liked to do whatever he pleased. It really felt great to be so willful.
System: You really shouldn't be too much like Li Hao.
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