Comprehensive Martial Arts: My Master Is Huang Rong

In the evening, the main hall of the Guo Mansion was brightly lit by candlelight, filled with the aroma of wine. A grand celebration banquet was underway.

The soldiers drank heartily, their laughter and cheers echoing throughout the hall, dispelling the lingering gunpowder smoke and the scent of blood in the air.

Guo Jing sat in the main seat, his expression still honest and simple, but the joy in his eyes was undeniable. He frequently raised his cup, a broad smile on his face.

Huang Rong sat beside him. Today, she had changed into an elegant, pale pink silk dress. Exquisite hidden patterns were embroidered on the hem, and with every slight movement she made, the skirt flowed like moving spring water, subtly outlining her curvaceous and graceful figure.

Her dark hair was like clouds, loosely tied up with a simple white jade hairpin, accentuating her slender neck and snow-white cheeks, making her look pure and untainted by the world. Her understated attire did not diminish her peerless beauty; instead, it added a touch of the gentle intellect unique to mature women.

Her face appeared even softer in the candlelight, but deep within her beautiful eyes, a hint of an imperceptible complex emotion remained.

Lin Xuan was seated at a guest table below Guo Jing and Huang Rong, adjacent to elders of the Beggar's Sect like Lu Youjiao. He was undoubtedly the focus of the night.

"Young Master Lin, I toast you!" Lu Youjiao raised his bowl of wine first, his voice booming. "If not for Young Master Lin's brilliant strategy, we might not be able to drink this wine tonight!"

The soldiers and disciples of the Beggar's Sect nearby also rose, raising their cups in unison to toast Lin Xuan.

"Thank you, Young Master Lin, for achieving a peerless feat for Xiangyang!"

"Young Master Lin is a great drinker; we must drink to our hearts' content today!"

Lin Xuan smiled and stood up. Today, he was wearing a moon-white long gown, which made him appear tall and upright, with a handsome and refined face. Amidst the clinking of glasses, he seemed composed and unhurried, naturally earning everyone's favor.

He raised his wine bowl, gestured to everyone, and said in a clear voice tinged with a smile, "All the soldiers, all my brothers, Lin Xuan thanks you all for your kindness first!"

He then drank the wine that everyone had offered him in one gulp, his movements bold and decisive, without any hesitation. Seeing this, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"Excellent! Young Master Lin has great capacity for drink!" Lu Youjiao exclaimed first, slapping the table in approval.

Lin Xuan accepted every toast, drinking bowl after bowl of wine offered by everyone. His capacity for alcohol seemed unfathomable; no matter how much he drank, there was no sign of drunkenness on his face, and his eyes remained as clear as water. He chatted and laughed with everyone, his tone gentle and steady, neither arrogant nor lacking in heroic spirit, making people feel as comfortable as basking in a spring breeze.

As the wine flowed and the atmosphere heated up, Lin Xuan suddenly put down his wine bowl, looked around, and his deep, clear eyes, illuminated by the candlelight, seemed to hold specks of starlight.

He gestured for everyone to quiet down, then slowly stood up, picked up a full bowl of wine, and respectfully walked towards Guo Jing and Huang Rong.

Seeing him approach, Guo Jing thought Lin Xuan was about to say something humble again and waved his hand with a smile, "Xuan'er, no need for formalities. You are the greatest contributor today, just drink to your heart's content!"

Huang Rong's gaze fell softly on Lin Xuan. She looked at his face, which seemed even more handsome in the candlelight, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart. She noticed that although Lin Xuan had drunk a lot, his complexion remained calm, showing no signs of intoxication.

However, Lin Xuan did not raise his cup immediately. Instead, he first bowed deeply to Guo Jing, his voice sincere and earnest, "Master's Husband, I have something on my mind that I must express."

He then turned his gaze to Huang Rong. His eyes were deep and sincere, as if they could penetrate the human heart, yet they held a fiery passion that others couldn't perceive, a passion only Huang Rong could understand.

Huang Rong felt Lin Xuan's intense and focused gaze, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat, as if pricked by an invisible needle. A faint blush spread uncontrollably across her cheeks, and her heartbeat quickened.

Lin Xuan's voice echoed through the hall at this moment, each word clear and powerful, carrying an undeniable sincerity and affirmation:

"All the soldiers, all the people!" Lin Xuan raised his voice slightly, carrying a power that could infect everyone. "Today, our Xiangyang City has achieved this great victory, burning the Mongol army's provisions, crushing the enemy's morale, and resolving Xiangyang's urgent crisis! This immense achievement is by no means the work of Lin Xuan alone!"

He paused, then turned his gaze back to Huang Rong, his eyes burning with admiration and gratitude:

"The true credit, the true wisdom, the true strategic planning, all belong to my Master—Sect Leader Huang! Sect Leader Huang has been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, possessing profound knowledge. She is skilled in Qi Men Dun Jia, understands military strategy, and knows the changes of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements."

Lin Xuan's voice was filled with affirmation and praise for Huang Rong, each word striking Huang Rong's heart like a heavy hammer.

"In Xiangyang City for so many years, in every crisis that arose, it was her wisdom that turned danger into safety!"

The more he spoke, the more excited his tone became. "I, Lin Xuan, was merely lucky enough to notice some details that others missed and proposed some rudimentary plans. But how to put these plans into action, how to turn the illusory into reality, how to coordinate all parties... all of this was due to my Master working tirelessly behind the scenes, day and night, meticulously planning!"

"Master's efforts, Master's sacrifices, everything Master has done for Xiangyang far exceeds everyone's imagination!" Lin Xuan's voice was filled with deep emotion, a hint of hoarseness that was barely perceptible, as if he were speaking up for Huang Rong, or perhaps pouring out some deeply hidden affection.

He suddenly raised the wine bowl in his hand, his gaze meeting Huang Rong's beautiful eyes, which had widened slightly in shock, as if he wanted to draw her into the depths of his soul:

"This bowl of wine, I, your disciple, offer to Master! To Master's selfless dedication to Xiangyang! To Master's peerless wisdom!"

Lin Xuan's words were like a bombshell, stirring up a huge wave in the hall.

Everyone was stunned by Lin Xuan's sincere and impassioned speech. They had always known Huang Rong was intelligent, but no one had ever so explicitly listed all her contributions and elevated her to such a high status.

The crowd raised their cups one after another, shouting in unison, "To Sect Leader Huang!!" The sound shook the heavens.

Huang Rong sat in the main seat, her exquisitely beautiful face flushed red. This was not only because of Lin Xuan's public praise but also because his words had stirred the deepest memories within her.

She recalled the last time in the bamboo forest, when she had used the Soul Shifting Great Law on Lin Xuan, attempting to probe the secrets of his heart. Lin Xuan, in his "dazed" state, had made that "unconscious" confession, those sincere words that seemed to come from the depths of his soul.

"Every day, I see Master toiling for the country and the people, and my heart aches. Every sigh from Master pierces my heart like a knife. I just want... I just want to help Master bear everything, I just want Master to... always be this beautiful and captivating!"

That sentence echoed clearly in her mind like a spell.

At this moment, Lin Xuan, in front of everyone, praised her passionately, attributing all the credit to her. This was so similar to what he had said during the Soul Shifting Great Law!

Huang Rong's heart clenched violently, as if gripped by an invisible hand, making it difficult for her to breathe. The flush on her face quickly spread to her fair, snow-like neck, and even her delicate earlobes were tinged with a tempting, rosy hue, as if they could bleed.

Her fingertips trembled as she tightly gripped the wine cup beside her, almost spilling the wine within.

Shame, shock, emotion, confusion, and a strange feeling that she couldn't quite define churned in her heart, tangling into a messy knot.

A young male disciple harbored such... such intense admiration for her, his married teacher?

Huang Rong tried to calm her mind, striving to appear composed, but her chest heaved violently with her rapid heartbeat and disordered breathing.

Beneath the pale pink silk dress, her already voluptuous curves surged with her rapid heartbeat, almost breaking free from their confines. Each breath pulled at the soft flesh, stirring the heart.

Her gaze involuntarily drifted back to Lin Xuan, but she quickly averted it, not daring to meet his eyes.

Everyone was immersed in praising Huang Rong and the joy of victory, not noticing Huang Rong's subtle changes.

Only Lin Xuan's gaze had never left Huang Rong. The barely concealed blush on her cheeks, the almost imperceptible tremor of her fingertips, and even the alluring pink at the base of her ears were all clearly seen by him.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Mongols Play Dirty?

Inside Xiangyang City, several bizarre incidents had recently occurred.

At first, it was just one or two ordinary patrol soldiers found dead in secluded alleyways. Their bodies bore no external wounds, yet their faces were purplish-blue, pupils dilated, and their bodies stiff as iron, as if frozen by extreme cold for days.

People initially attributed it to the harsh winter or some strange illness. But as time passed, the death toll began to rise. The victims were no longer limited to ordinary soldiers; they even included several respected low-ranking generals and military captains within the city.

What was most chilling was that all the deceased met the same end: no obvious injuries on their bodies. However, upon meticulous examination by the coroner, the soldiers' hearts, lungs, and internal organs were found to be covered in a strange frost, as if instantly frozen by an invisible, extreme cold force.

An experienced old coroner reported with a trembling voice that this was clearly the work of an extremely sinister and vicious martial art, by no means a natural death.

Upon hearing the news, Guo Jing was greatly shaken. Such martial arts were by no means within the capabilities of ordinary Mongol soldiers; it was clearly a rare, cold-element internal martial art from the martial world.

He immediately ordered the news to be suppressed, the matter investigated thoroughly, and patrols and sentries within the city to be strengthened.

Lin Xuan keenly sensed the change in the soldiers' morale within the city. He had repeatedly mentioned to Guo Jing and Huang Rong the need to be wary of Mongol infiltration and subversion tactics.

Now, upon hearing of these bizarre deaths, his heart tightened. He realized this was no coincidence, nor was it some strange illness, but an organized, targeted assassination operation. He immediately volunteered, requesting to participate in the investigation.

"Master, Master's Husband, the extreme cold energy remaining within these deceased individuals could never be achieved by ordinary martial arts," Lin Xuan said in the council hall, pointing to a coroner's report with an unusually grim expression.

"I've examined their bodies. Those frozen marks... it looks like the renowned Xuanming Divine Palm from the martial world. This technique... is extremely skillful and extremely vicious. Clearly, the perpetrator intends to demoralize our army through these bizarre killings."

Guo Jing frowned deeply and said in a low voice, "I too sensed a faint, elusive cold internal energy, but the perpetrator is extremely cautious, fleeing immediately after each success without leaving a trace. Now, even several captains have fallen victim. If this continues, the army's morale will surely collapse."

Huang Rong also looked grave and analyzed, "The perpetrator always chooses secluded locations, and the targets are mostly mid-to-low-ranking generals, not acting recklessly. This indicates that the other party is not only highly skilled in martial arts but also extremely adept at concealing their movements, possessing intimate knowledge of Xiangyang City's patrol routes and the generals' daily routines."

Lin Xuan's heart stirred upon hearing this. He thought of his own Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique. This technique not only improved his physique and learning ability but also granted him superhuman perception, especially sensitivity to the flow of Yin and Yang energies in the world.

Ordinary internal energy fluctuations became exceptionally clear to him.

"Master, Master's Husband, allow me to personally examine the bodies of those soldiers. Perhaps I can discover some clues they overlooked," Lin Xuan earnestly requested.

Guo Jing knew Lin Xuan to be meticulous, and many of his proposed strategies had achieved remarkable success. Thus, he nodded in agreement, "Very well, be careful."

Lin Xuan led a few guards and returned to the camp where the fallen soldiers' bodies were stored. The air inside the barracks was cold and damp, filled with a nauseating smell of blood and the decay of death.

Although it was the depth of winter, this chill felt particularly abnormal.

Lin Xuan dismissed all unnecessary personnel and entered the morgue alone. He took a deep breath and activated his Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique.

In an instant, the entire world seemed to change in his eyes. The subtle fluctuations in the air imperceptible to ordinary people, the residual aura of death, and even a strange, chilling energy field, all clearly presented themselves to his perception.

He carefully examined each corpse. Their faces were contorted, their eyes filled with fear and unwillingness.

Lin Xuan placed his hand on his chest, feeling a faint but exceptionally pure cold internal energy, like a persistent leech, solidified deep within the soldiers' internal organs. This internal energy was purer and more lethal than any cold martial art he knew.

Lin Xuan closed his eyes and slowly extended his internal energy, sensing it against the residual coldness on the bodies. He discovered that this coldness was not dead but carried a unique frequency of fluctuation, like a kind of imprint. Following this imprint, he began to explore.

He even knelt on the ground, carefully examining the floor beneath the bodies. Sure enough, around several corpses, he found extremely tiny, almost invisible fragments of ice crystals. These fragments, which should have melted quickly in the surrounding environment, had miraculously preserved themselves, emitting a faint coldness. This was not ordinary residual ice and snow but solidified matter transformed by internal energy.

Lin Xuan followed these imperceptible ice crystal fragments and the unique cold internal energy fluctuations, step by step. He first retraced his steps to the locations where the soldiers had been killed.

In those secluded alleyways and patrol blind spots, he also discovered similar ice crystal traces and a more concentrated residual cold energy fluctuation in the air.

Like a keen hound in the cold wind, he used all his senses to capture the slightest clues. His Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique seemed to allow him to see those invisible energy flows, tracking that unique coldness.

This perception was something ordinary people, or even top masters, would find difficult to achieve. He knew that such a powerful force could not have left absolutely no trace.

Lin Xuan tracked through the city for a full half-day, from the northern patrol routes to the southern secluded alley entrances, and then to an abandoned temple in the city. The cold energy fluctuation, faint and intermittent, continuously pointed in the same direction—an abandoned mansion in the city that had been uninhabited for a long time.

This mansion was located on the outskirts of the bustling city, but due to rumors of ghosts, no one dared to approach it. It was adjacent to a dark river and had a hidden underground passage, making entry and exit difficult to detect.

When Lin Xuan reached the vicinity of the mansion, the special coldness and internal energy fluctuation finally became clear. He lowered his posture and cautiously approached.

Through a broken window, he saw deep within the mansion, two figures vaguely sitting in meditation, radiating pure and cold internal energy. They seemed to be adjusting their breathing, preparing for their next move.

Lin Xuan knew he had found the culprits.

And the strength of this aura, even with the enhancement of his Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique, made him feel a powerful sense of oppression. It was not one person but two, and both had reached the pinnacle of their cultivation, cooperating seamlessly. It was no wonder they could stir up a bloody storm in Xiangyang City, filled with masters, without a sound.

He did not act rashly. He immediately returned to the city defense camp and quickly reported his findings to Guo Jing.

Guo Jing's eyes sharpened as he said in a deep voice, "Good, Xuan, you have done well! Such villains lurking within the city pose a grave danger. I shall accompany you at once to round them up!"

Without alarming more people, they took only a few trusted elites and, under the cover of night, quietly infiltrated the vicinity of the abandoned mansion.

Lin Xuan pointed out the location, and he and Guo Jing, one on each side, silently approached the wing room.

Inside the room, the two figures were still meditating, surrounded by swirling cold energy that enveloped the entire room in a chilling atmosphere.

One was tall and thin, the other short and stout. Their faces were obscured by the darkness, making them indistinguishable, but the sinister cold aura sent a shiver down Lin Xuan's spine. He could clearly feel that the ice-cold internal energy within these two had reached a state of perfection; with a mere gesture, they could freeze everything.

Guo Jing's eyes turned cold, and he hesitated no longer. His body moved like lightning, and he burst through the door, shouting, "Heretics, die!"

The tall, thin, and short, stout figures did not expect their movements to be discovered and were still adjusting their breathing, caught completely off guard. But their reactions were extremely swift. They opened their eyes almost simultaneously, two cold glints shooting out, and the cold energy around them erupted.

The tall, thin man leaped up, pushing out his palms. A cold wind howled, rushing directly at Guo Jing's face. The short, stout man rolled rapidly, drew a short knife from his waist, and with a flash of cold light, aimed directly at Guo Jing's lower body.

What was Guo Jing's cultivation? The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms were the ultimate in rigidity and Yang, the ultimate in power. With a roar, he pushed out his palms, executing "Dragon Ascending to Heaven!"

Pure Yang energy instantly broke through the door's obstruction, rushing towards the two like an overwhelming tide.

"Boom!"

The palm wind collided with the ice-cold palm energy, erupting in a deafening roar. The pure ice-cold internal energy, under Guo Jing's fierce palm force, was actually scattered by more than half, like ice melting in the sun.

The tall, thin man was struck head-on by Guo Jing's palm, grunted, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His body flew backward, smashing through the wall and landing in the courtyard. Although the short, stout man avoided the direct impact of the palm force, he was still shaken by the residual wave, his qi and blood churning. His short knife flew from his hand, and he stumbled back a few steps.

However, the martial arts of these two were truly bizarre. After the tall, thin man landed, his body twisted strangely in mid-air, dissipating most of the force. When his feet touched the ground, he merely tapped his toes, and there seemed to be no significant damage.

He shook his body, let out a strange cry, and took two dark pills from his chest, flinging them violently at the ground.

"Pfft!" Two streams of dark green smoke instantly exploded, filling the entire courtyard with a pungent, irritating odor.

"Master's Husband, be careful, it's poisonous!" Lin Xuan called out from outside the door.

Guo Jing, after all, was a top expert in the world. Upon hearing this, he immediately held his breath.

He charged out through the smoke with astonishing speed, pursuing the tall, thin man, striking out with consecutive palm blows, determined to capture him.

The tall, thin man and the short, stout man exchanged glances, their eyes revealing fierce determination. They knew well that they could not linger here; Guo Jing's martial arts far surpassed their expectations.

The tall, thin man's figure flickered like a phantom within the smoke, while the short, stout man broke through from the flank, his palm radiating cold air once more. He struck out repeatedly, repelling the several guards who had closed in.

"Go!" the short, stout man grunted.

The tall, thin man's movement technique was bizarre, as if he had merged with the smoke. Each step he took landed in an unexpected position, making Guo Jing's pursuit extremely difficult.

Under the cover of the smoke, the short, stout man suddenly charged towards a rock garden. Behind the rock garden, a hidden cave entrance was revealed. Clearly, they had been prepared and had left an escape route.

Although Guo Jing was brave, in this situation with obscured vision and cunning enemies, he found it difficult to lock onto them completely for a moment. He only felt gusts of wind hitting his face, two figures appearing and disappearing in the smoke, radiating a chilling aura.

He exerted all his strength and, just as the short, stout man was about to disappear into the cave entrance, he struck out with a backhand palm, hitting his opponent's back.

"Pfft!" The short, stout man spat out another mouthful of blood, staggering a few steps. However, relying on his powerful ice-cold internal energy, he managed to endure it and finally plunged into the cave entrance, disappearing from sight.

Immediately after, the tall, thin man, using the smoke as cover and the moment the short, stout man took Guo Jing's palm strike, flickered and also slipped into the cave.

The smoke gradually dissipated, leaving only a scene of disarray in the courtyard. Guo Jing stood in place, his robes rustling, his face ashen, his eyes filled with a trace of annoyance and anger.

He did not pursue, for he knew well that the passage beneath the dark river was extremely long and underwater. Although his Qinggong was superb, in such an environment, a forceful pursuit might lead him into their trap.

Lin Xuan walked into the courtyard, looking at the ruined scene and the bloodstains on the ground, his brow furrowed. "They got away."