The Mongol scout heard the faint, almost imperceptible voice and shuddered violently. The murderous glint in his eyes faded, replaced by confusion and struggle. He tried to turn his head, only to find his body seemed frozen in place. All he could do was stare at Huang Rong.
Huang Rong's voice grew clearer, yet remained as soft as a sigh. It entered the scout's mind directly. "Why did you come here? What have you been hiding? Tell me..."
The scout's eyes grew unfocused, Huang Rong's figure reflected in his pupils. As though his strength had been drained away, his body gradually slumped, and his defenses began to crumble.
"I... I was ordered to... sneak into Xiangyang... and map its defenses..." His voice was hoarse, his words an unconscious murmur.
Under Huang Rong's guidance through the Soul Shifting Great Law, the scout revealed everything he knew about the hidden agents stationed throughout the city, as well as the routes the Mongols had recently used to infiltrate it. The information was fragmentary, but enough to give Guo Jing and the others a clearer understanding of the enemy's infiltration efforts.
Huang Rong did not stop there. Her eyes narrowed, and her voice carried a power that pierced straight to the heart. "You're still hiding something more important. Or perhaps a more important secret."
The scout's body shuddered violently. His pupils contracted, and his eyes filled with terror and disbelief. He seemed to want to resist, but the power of the Soul Shifting Great Law left him unable to break free. In the end, he let out a helpless sigh and pointed to his boot.
Lin Xuan stepped forward and pulled an oilcloth-wrapped envelope from the scout's boot. The envelope had been pressed nearly flat; it had clearly been hidden there for a long time.
Huang Rong immediately took the envelope. Carefully, she tore open the seal with her slender jade fingers and drew out a letter.
She glanced at the writing on the envelope, and her delicate brows knit sharply. When she unfolded the letter and read its contents, her expression instantly turned grave, her face even paling with disbelief.
Her usually tranquil, bright eyes were now filled with shock and confusion.
"So it really is..." she murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
Seeing the grave expression on her face, Lin Xuan's heart stirred. He knew the contents of the letter had to be extraordinary.
Huang Rong handed him the letter, her voice brimming with astonishment. "Xuan'er, take a look!"
Lin Xuan took the letter and read it line by line in the dim lamplight. Its contents made his pupils contract sharply.
The letter had been personally written by a high-ranking Mongol official. And the recipient was addressed as "dear younger brother Murong"! Its contents even mentioned "undermining the foundations of the Southern Song" and "making arrangements in Jiangnan." It was irrefutable proof that the Murong Clan intended to join forces with the Mongols, working from within and without to overthrow the Southern Song!
In this world, Murong Fu was trying to restore his kingdom by becoming a traitor, too? A leopard couldn't change its spots.
He looked up at Huang Rong. Along with shock, her beautiful face was filled with fury and disbelief. Her slender jade fingers clutched the letter so tightly that her knuckles had gone pale.
"Murong Fu... How could he?!" Huang Rong's voice trembled with barely restrained emotion.
Huang Rong was exceptionally clever, and the principles of honor in the martial world weighed heavily on her. Murong Fu's actions amounted to betraying the entire Central Plains Martial Arts World!
Lin Xuan calmly assessed the situation.
"Master, this letter contains several crucial details." Lin Xuan's steady voice helped calm Huang Rong's agitation a little.
"First, the way the letter addresses 'dear younger brother Murong,' along with its tone, is nothing like ordinary military correspondence. This means they have an extremely close relationship and may even have been working together for a long time."
"Second, the letter mentions 'undermining the foundations of the Southern Song' and 'making arrangements in Jiangnan.' That makes it clear that Murong Fu is conspiring with the Mongols to overthrow the Southern Song."
Huang Rong's face turned ashen, and her teeth clenched.
"What he's doing is treason! He's selling out his country for personal gain!" Her voice was low, filled with uncontrollable rage.
"Third, the letter suggests that the Mongols' siege of Xiangyang may have a deeper strategic purpose. And 'cooperation from within and without' implies that Murong Fu and his followers may already have built up a powerful network of agents in Jiangnan or inside the city," Lin Xuan continued.
He looked up at Huang Rong, his gaze clear and keen. "Master, if this letter is genuine, then Murong Fu is a far greater threat than we imagined. He isn't just a martial artist; he's based in Jiangnan and commands considerable resources. If he joins forces with the Mongol army from within and without, it would be a devastating blow to the entire Southern Song."
Huang Rong slowly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, their usual calm and wisdom had returned. She gently ran her slender jade fingers over the letter, feeling the texture of the paper beneath her fingertips.
"You're right, Xuan'er." She sighed, her voice heavy. "This letter confirms our suspicions. The Mongols don't rely on force alone. They're also skilled at scheming and striking at the foundations of their enemies."
She rose and paced around the secret chamber, her slender waist looking especially supple in the dim light.
"However..." Huang Rong paused. "A single letter isn't enough to prove anything conclusively. Forging letters and framing others is nothing new. Murong Fu may be extreme in temperament, but his family still holds a certain standing in the martial world. If we act rashly without conclusive evidence, we could plunge the jianghu into chaos—and play right into the Mongols' hands."
Lin Xuan nodded. Huang Rong's concerns were justified. Murong Fu was no ordinary martial artist; he was connected to an intricate web of forces. Mishandling this could cause tremendous upheaval.
"Master is right. So our priority isn't to make this public immediately, but to investigate Murong Fu in secret," Lin Xuan said gravely. "We need to find more evidence, learn the full extent of his influence, and uncover his plans in Jiangnan."
"This letter must be kept under tight guard. Not a third person can learn of it," Huang Rong said firmly. "Even Brother Jing must not be told for now. This matter is of the utmost importance and involves far too many people. If it gets out, the consequences could be disastrous." She trusted Guo Jing, of course, but he was simple and straightforward, and hated evil with a passion. If he heard about this, it would be difficult to continue the investigation.
She looked at Lin Xuan, her bright eyes filled with a level of trust and expectation he had never seen before.
"Xuan'er, you're careful and clearheaded. Today, you interrogated the scout and uncovered this shocking secret. This matter... we'll investigate it together, just the two of us. Are you confident you can do it?"
Lin Xuan felt the deep trust in Huang Rong's gaze, along with the weight of the grave secret she had entrusted to him. He knew this was not only a recognition of his abilities, but also a test of his character and loyalty.
He bowed respectfully, his expression serious and resolute.
"I won't fail the trust you've placed in me, Master! I'll work with you wholeheartedly and uncover the whole truth!" Lin Xuan declared firmly.
Chapter Nineteen: Nine Yin Manual
Lin Xuan's standing in the Guo residence grew steadily more secure. Guo Jing trusted him more and more, and whenever important military matters arose, he would summon Lin Xuan to discuss them.
Huang Rong valued and favored Lin Xuan more than ever, too. To her delight, he not only understood her intentions perfectly, but also came up with many ingenious ideas she had never considered.
Planning with him made even the most complicated and burdensome tasks feel efficient and enjoyable.
Especially after their tense nighttime pursuit, Huang Rong's feelings for Lin Xuan had begun to surpass the bounds of an ordinary teacher-student relationship. Deep down, she often found herself confiding in him about her worries and secrets.
She had grown accustomed to the faint scent of pine on Lin Xuan, and to the inexplicable sense of security she felt when he was near. This dependence, like a spring tide flowing into the sea, had quietly taken root deep in her heart.
One afternoon, Lin Xuan was in the study organizing maps of the tunnels in and around Xiangyang City. They were his carefully prepared contingency plans for the Mongols' next siege.
Just then, a maid came in quietly and reported respectfully, "Young Master Lin, the chief asks you to meet her in the bamboo grove."
Lin Xuan's heart stirred, and he put down his brush. He knew Huang Rong usually went deep into the bamboo grove to handle highly private matters or practice martial arts that required intense concentration. It was a secluded place where she did not want to be disturbed.
When he entered the depths of the bamboo grove, he saw Huang Rong standing gracefully in the pavilion, waiting quietly. Today she wore a moon-white silk robe, neatly tailored, plain and light, yet perfectly outlining her graceful figure.
Her full bosom, slender waist that seemed almost too delicate to hold, and rounded, shapely hips were faintly visible beneath the lightweight fabric, quietly revealing the mature charm and allure of a married woman.
Her dark hair was simply pinned up, with a few strands playfully falling beside her snowy-white ears, adding a touch of languid, delicate beauty. She was graceful as bamboo—elegant and pure, yet as alluring as a hibiscus.
When Huang Rong saw him arrive, she raised a jade hand as smooth as cream and gestured for him to sit. Her beautiful eyes, clear as twin pools of autumn water, fixed on Lin Xuan with a seriousness and depth rarely seen in her gaze.
"Xuan'er, the situation in Xiangyang is relatively stable for now, but it's only a matter of time before the Mongol army returns. Brother Jing and I can hold out, but even we have our limits." Huang Rong's voice was gentle and lilting, yet carried an undeniable strength.
Lin Xuan cupped his hands respectfully. "Master is right. The Mongol cavalry is powerful. Xiangyang needs more means of defending itself if we're to resist them."
Huang Rong nodded slightly. Her gaze drifted to the swaying bamboo shadows outside the pavilion, and her voice carried the weight of memory and reflection. "The martial arts of Peach Blossom Island are intricate and peerless, and our Qi Men Dun Jia techniques are among the finest in the world. But when it comes to supreme internal cultivation methods, ours still lack the depth and breadth of several other great arts."
She paused, then looked back at Lin Xuan. Her gaze held the resolve and hope of someone who had thought long and hard. "I have a supreme martial art, a pinnacle of the martial world. If mastered, it can elevate one's Internal Energy to the highest level, prolong life, and render one immune to all poisons."
Delight rose in Lin Xuan's heart. He knew Huang Rong had to be talking about the Nine Yin Manual.
But he maintained a humble expression and replied respectfully, "I'm all ears, Master. I wouldn't dare be the least bit inattentive."
Huang Rong sighed softly, a complicated glimmer passing through her eyes. She understood the importance of this technique, as well as how difficult it was to pass down and the secrets it contained.
"This technique is called the Nine Yin Manual." Huang Rong spoke each word distinctly. Though her voice was soft, the name rang out like thunder in Lin Xuan's ears, shaking him to his core.
She continued, "This technique is so profound and complex that only those with exceptional talent and steadfast character can learn it. Brother Jing and I have both studied parts of it, but each of us has our shortcomings. Brother Jing is honest and straightforward, and struggles to grasp its subtle, abstruse principles. Fu'er and the Elder and Younger Wu brothers have only average aptitude and impatient temperaments, making it difficult for them to devote themselves to long periods of practice. That's why I never taught it to them."
Huang Rong's gaze settled on Lin Xuan again, filled with absolute trust and deep expectation. It was as though her eyes could pierce through his heart and reach the depths of his soul.
"But you, Xuan'er—you mastered the introductory internal cultivation method of Peach Blossom Island in just a few months, and you've shown exceptional talent for Qi Men Dun Jia. More remarkable still, you're calm and thoughtful. No matter what crisis you face, you remain composed. Your intelligence, courage, and insight are unlike anything I've ever seen. You're truly a heaven-gifted genius."
Her voice was gentle, and every word brimmed with praise and approval for Lin Xuan, making him feel honored and inspired.
"So after much deliberation and careful consideration, I've decided to teach you the internal cultivation method from the Nine Yin Manual. I hope you'll uphold the spirit of chivalry, carry this supreme art forward, and one day serve your country and its people. Only then will you do justice to this art and to all the effort I've put into teaching you."
Lin Xuan kept his expression composed, but inside, his thoughts surged like waves.
He bowed deeply to Huang Rong and said sincerely, "I'll never forget your kindness, Master! I'll do my utmost to study and practice diligently, and won't let you down—or the people of Xiangyang!"
Huang Rong stood and helped him up herself. Her slender jade fingers touched his arm, their softness faintly cool. Yet the contact of their skin made Lin Xuan's heart burn, as if an electric current had passed through him.
Huang Rong had decided to teach him personally rather than merely give him the manual. This was not only because the Nine Yin Manual was profound and obscure, but also because she trusted Lin Xuan completely and wanted to witness his growth with her own eyes, shaping this uncut jade with her own hands.
Starting the next day, Huang Rong and Lin Xuan began studying the Nine Yin Manual deep in the bamboo grove. To keep others from finding out and avoid needless scrutiny and trouble, they scheduled their practice for early each morning and late at night, when everyone else was asleep.
Dawn broke over the bamboo grove, birds singing softly amid the mist. Huang Rong wore a light, moon-white training outfit, but even its loose cut could not hide her shapely figure. Her graceful form in the mist seemed veiled in a cool, celestial aura, lending her an even more ethereal elegance.
She personally demonstrated the introductory meditation and breath-guiding methods from the Manual's General Principles.
"The general principles of the Nine Yin Manual focus on balancing yin and yang, and on the interplay of emptiness and substance. Beginners should calm their minds and sense the clear yin energy between heaven and earth. This energy is not forceful or yang. It is supremely gentle and harmonious, yet all-encompassing." Huang Rong's voice was soft and uniquely resonant, flowing like celestial music and drawing listeners into its spell.
She sat cross-legged and demonstrated how to regulate the breath and guide the energy. Her full bosom rose slightly as she inhaled, then slowly fell as she exhaled, forming an enticing curve that swayed up and down and made the heart flutter.
Lin Xuan sat opposite her, his eyes gently closed as he felt the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique circulate through his meridians. He could clearly sense that the Primal Yin Energy radiating from Huang Rong had grown richer and more concentrated, like a fine wine.
Her soft, warm palm would stroke his back as she felt the flow of his breath and corrected the circulation of his energy. At times, she even guided him at close range, and the intimacy of their proximity made Lin Xuan's heart race.
Her slender jade fingers, carrying her distinctive, delicate fragrance, would tap his acupoints and correct his posture.
"Xuan'er, your energy is a little sluggish here. You haven't fully relaxed your mind. Come, use my energy to guide you, and feel this supremely yin, gentle force."
As she spoke, Huang Rong unhesitatingly laid her slender, pale hand over Lin Xuan's chest. Her palm rested against his warm skin through his thin clothes, sending her pure Internal Energy into him and guiding him to sense the uniquely gentle force of the Nine Yin Manual.
Lin Xuan's heart suddenly raced. The softness of her palm carried Huang Rong's faint, refined fragrance through his clothes and skin, reaching straight into his heart. He could feel the pure Internal Energy in her palm flowing into him like a gentle stream.
The Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique instantly became a hungry beast, greedily and excitedly devouring the Internal Energy and Primal Yin Energy she had offered. Lin Xuan could clearly feel the supremely yin, gentle energy being rapidly absorbed by the technique and transformed into a surging force of his own. His Internal Energy swelled again, crashing like a rising tide.
This method of transmission was more direct, more effective, and more discreet than any they had used before!
Huang Rong only felt that Lin Xuan's body was like a bottomless pit. The moment her Internal Energy entered him, it was absorbed and vanished without a trace. She was puzzled, but assumed that Lin Xuan had extraordinary talent and could absorb energy at an astonishing rate, so she detected nothing unusual.
Instead, she felt that as Lin Xuan absorbed her Internal Energy, it underwent a strange kind of cleansing and refinement, becoming purer and more condensed. This "mutually beneficial" effect of their cultivation made her even more certain that Lin Xuan was the perfect recipient for her instruction, a gift from heaven.
When she explained the force-generating method of the "Tearing Claw" from the Nine Yin Manual, Huang Rong even leaned against Lin Xuan from behind and wrapped her rounded, full arms around his chest. She used her fingers and wrists to guide his arms, helping him feel every muscle's movement and burst of power.
Her full bosom pressed tightly against Lin Xuan's back. Its astonishing softness and fullness came through clearly even through their thin clothes. Lin Xuan could even feel the faint movements caused by Huang Rong's breathing, while her unique, intoxicating mature fragrance lingered beneath his nose without fading.
Lin Xuan deliberately slowed his breathing, perfectly combining the absorption of Huang Rong's alluring body against him with the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique. With every intimate touch, the Primal Yin Energy from Huang Rong flowed into his body like the tide, where the technique greedily absorbed it and grew stronger.
In just a few short days, Lin Xuan's understanding of the Nine Yin Manual left Huang Rong in awe. He not only grasped its principles quickly, but also drew further conclusions and offered insights of his own. Every time she heard one, delight and admiration would shine in her eyes.
Chapter Twenty: Huang Rong's Test
Deep in the lush bamboo grove, the breeze whispered through the leaves, and swaying bamboo shadows danced in the dappled light of the afternoon.
The place was secluded and peaceful. Only the occasional rustle of bamboo leaves broke the silence, lending this verdant world an ethereal quality, like a painting brought to life.
Huang Rong wore a moon-white silk robe, seeming to blend into the grove's elegance. She sat on a green stone stool, her graceful figure as light as water, yet imbued with a quietness difficult to describe.
Her shapely figure was outlined by the simple robe, elegant as an immortal's, yet filled with all the allure unique to a mature woman. Simply sitting there, she was already a breathtaking sight.
Her beautiful eyes were gently closed, her long lashes like butterfly wings, casting faint shadows in the dappled light.
Her fingertips rested lightly on Lin Xuan's pulse, sending the Nine Yin Manual's purest and most refined Internal Energy deep into his meridians, like a stream of nectar.
This direct method of imparting Internal Energy was worth far more than a thousand spoken explanations.
A disciple could clearly sense the mysteries of energy flowing through the body, making the learning twice as effective with half the effort.
Lin Xuan had closed his eyes as well, feeling Huang Rong's gentle, rich Internal Energy flow into him like a murmuring stream.
His Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique was quietly circulating, greedily absorbing this pure energy from the Nine Yin Manual, along with the vast reserves of Primal Yin contained within Huang Rong, one of the martial world's top experts.
He could clearly feel his Dantian expanding at an astonishing rate as it greedily absorbed her energy, like parched land nourished by rain.
Huang Rong's Internal Energy was exceptionally pure, imbued with the Taoist quality of utmost gentleness and harmony. It nourished Lin Xuan's cultivation wonderfully.
Lin Xuan's Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique also had a restorative effect. As it absorbed her energy, it made the circulation of Huang Rong's Internal Energy smoother, even giving her a wondrous feeling of being cleansed of impurities and returning to her natural state.
This made her even more certain of Lin Xuan's extraordinary talent, and joy welled up within her.
"Xuan'er, unite your mind and spirit and cast aside all distractions. Feel your energy rise from the Dantian, pass through the Governor Vessel to the Baihui acupoint, then descend through the Conception Vessel and return to the sea of energy..."
Huang Rong's voice was gentle and resonant, carrying a unique rhythm as it flowed through the tranquil bamboo grove, soothing Lin Xuan's mind.
She could feel Lin Xuan's energy circulating faster and faster. His comprehension seemed far beyond that of ordinary people. She couldn't help but marvel. The boy truly was a martial arts prodigy.
But behind his talent, there was always a trace of strangeness that unsettled her.
There seemed to be a secret about Lin Xuan that even she could not fathom.
The maturity and depth that occasionally showed through, far beyond his years, always raised alarm bells in Huang Rong's heart. Their several casual moments of physical contact had also made it impossible for her to ignore her wariness.
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, and her long lashes trembled.
A thought occurred to Huang Rong, and she decided to test him.
She slowly stopped transmitting her Internal Energy and focused all her attention on Lin Xuan's mind.
Her voice was no longer her usual guiding tone. Instead, it took on an unusual, almost murmuring ethereality.
Like a breeze brushing willow branches, or silent rain, it quietly seeped into the depths of Lin Xuan's mind.
"Xuan'er... can you hear what your master is saying?"
The Soul Shifting Great Law was formless and intangible, and pierced straight into the most secret corners of the human heart.
Lin Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He almost burst out laughing.
Before you continue