Comprehensive Martial Arts: My Master is Huang Rong

Guo Jing let out a heavy sigh and said in a deep voice, "These two have extremely high martial arts skills, meticulous minds, and are also superb at escaping. To have injured one of them is considered a gain."

He looked at Lin Xuan, his eyes filled with praise and a hint of solemnity. "Xuan'er, if it weren't for your keen observation in finding the lairs of these heretical cultists, they would have likely continued to cause trouble in the city, harming countless soldiers."

"Master's Husband, you need not blame yourself. These two have wicked martial arts and their movements are mysterious. However, who exactly are they? Why would they inflict such cruel harm on our Xiangyang soldiers?"

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Master's Husband, I venture to guess that the martial arts these two employ are precisely the long-lost Xuanming Divine Palm from the martial arts world. And to have cultivated such sinister martial arts to this level, especially with the two of them working together, they are likely the renowned 'Xuanming Elders' of the jianghu."

Guo Jing said gravely upon hearing this, "Xuanming Elders? Weren't they already missing for many years? If it truly is them, then the situation is even more complicated. Why would they appear in Xiangyang, and why would they target our soldiers?"

A cold glint flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. "I believe they must have been instigated by the Mongols. Unable to breach the city walls, the Mongols want to demoralize our army from within. The Xuanming Elders are powerful and ruthless, exactly the kind of pawns the Mongols need."

Guo Jing clenched his fists and said angrily, "Well done, you Mongol Tartars, resorting to such despicable tactics! Xuan'er, your deduction is extremely astute. It seems we must not only guard against the enemy outside the city but also be wary of the undercurrents within."

The two looked at each other, their hearts heavy. The defense of Xiangyang City was far more difficult and complex than they had imagined.

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Inner Demons

Within the Guo Mansion, the clear breeze still rustled, and bamboo shadows swayed gracefully.

Huang Rong, always known as the Beggar's Sect leader with wisdom in her grasp and a composed demeanor, was now like ice suddenly thrown into boiling water. Unprecedented confusion and inner torment had completely dissolved her.

Recently, scenes of Lin Xuan passionately confessing his love to her kept replaying in her mind – that lingering kiss, his warm embrace.

She had tried to attribute it all to Lin Xuan innocently falling under the Soul Shifting Great Law, acting against his will.

However, whenever she tried to convince herself, Lin Xuan's eyes, which were hazy in a state of "chaos" yet burned as if to consume her whole, and his low, hoarse, and aggressive growl of "This disciple has improper thoughts about his Master," were so real, so real that any self-deception on her part seemed pale and powerless.

She even felt a sense of absurd relief that he still had amnesia, that he was as innocent as a blank piece of paper. Otherwise, facing this disciple who had planted a forbidden seed in her heart, she truly didn't know how to conduct herself.

Lin Xuan's behavior, however, was flawless – his innocence and humility left her no room to find fault.

Every morning, he would respectfully send someone with a nourishing soup to soothe the heart. He claimed it was a secret recipe he'd stumbled upon while studying ancient texts late at night, specially ordered to be meticulously brewed by the cook, with the miraculous effects of "calming the spirit, pacifying the qi, and benefiting inner strength."

As soon as the medicinal soup arrived at the study, a faint, elegant aroma of herbs wafted out. Huang Rong knew there must be a deeper meaning behind it and intended to refuse outright. But for some reason, when that wisp of sweet herbal scent gently brushed against her nose, her body, as if possessed, felt an instinctive craving.

After drinking it a few times, she was even more astonished to find that the soup indeed calmed her restless emotions. Even the faint heat deep within her body seemed to be gently soothed, finding a peculiar relief.

Occasionally, Lin Xuan would even, seemingly inadvertently but precisely, praise Huang Rong's efforts for Xiangyang and her unparalleled wisdom in front of Guo Jing.

His words were filled with the sincerity and reverence unique to a young man, seemingly without impurity. With a sigh akin to a child's pure heart, he would say, "Master worries tirelessly for Xiangyang, losing sleep. This disciple sees it and feels it in his heart." Or he would sincerely praise, "What Master says always enlightens this disciple. The depth of her wisdom is something this disciple can never reach in a lifetime."

Everything Lin Xuan did was like an all-pervasive spring tide, silently permeating Huang Rong's heart.

Deep down, she knew she should remain vigilant, but the meticulous filial piety and deference Lin Xuan displayed at this moment made it impossible for her to find any flaws or to act.

She felt as if she were quietly enveloped by an invisible yet resilient net. No matter how she struggled, the net tightened silently, making it impossible for her to escape the tangled and complex emotions – both shameful and strangely comforting – that Lin Xuan brought her.

This contradictory and agonizing emotion consumed Huang Rong's mind day and night.

She was horrified to discover that she had developed a strong, almost pathological craving for Lin Xuan's unique scent.

Whenever Lin Xuan occasionally walked past her, that faint, unique scent of pine wood from a young man, mixed with the fiery masculine aura emanating from him, would cause her graceful body to tremble slightly. A indescribable numbness and heat would surge from her Dantian.

She would even hold her breath, unconsciously taking a deep inhale, like a parched traveler greedily drawing in that intoxicating fragrance.

This increasingly intense craving agitated Huang Rong, severely affecting her inner cultivation. She was horrified to find her inner qi becoming unprecedentedly turbulent, sometimes stagnant like ice, and at other times raging like wildfire, as if an invisible and powerful force was crashing within her, making it difficult to continue and impossible to concentrate.

At night, she tossed and turned, lying fully clothed on the bed, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter what. In her mind, Lin Xuan's young and resolute face, his deep and magnetic voice, the heat of his fingertips touching hers, replayed like a carousel, making her feel as if a burning karmic fire raged within her delicate body, with nowhere to vent, only to clash internally, scorching her heart meridians day by day.

She tried to suppress this forbidden inner demon herself.

She attempted to cleanse her inner turmoil with the clarity of martial arts, to suppress the unspeakable craving deep within her body with the power of her inner strength.

However, the effect was minimal, even counterproductive. Whenever she forced herself into meditation, Lin Xuan's young and wild figure would involuntarily appear in her mind. The heat of his lips, the lingering touch of his fingertips, the unique pine scent on his body, all clung to her like the most vicious curse, making it impossible for her to truly calm down.

Huang Rong's inner strength surged and stagnated in her meridians, rushing left and right, causing her waves of tearing pain. She knew all too well what this meant. This was the most dangerous sign of qi deviation.

As the beloved daughter of Dong Xie Huang Yaoshi, she was well-versed in the ways of martial arts and knew that inner cultivation was most susceptible to a disturbed mind. Yet, the more she tried to suppress the craving deep within her body, the stronger it became; the shame buried deep in her heart also deepened, intertwining to form an unsolvable vicious cycle, pushing her towards the abyss.

Huang Rong felt unprecedented loneliness and helplessness.

One afternoon, an urgent report of large-scale Mongol troop movements suddenly came from outside Xiangyang City, and battle was imminent.

Huang Rong was in the study, reviewing mountains of military intelligence, her heart filled with anxiety. She forcefully circulated her inner qi, trying to detach herself from her chaotic thoughts, but unexpectedly, her inner qi suddenly reversed, and a piercing, bone-chilling pain shot up from her Dantian, instantly spreading throughout her delicate and graceful body.

Her slender, delicate body trembled violently, and the brush in her hand fell to the ground with a crisp "snap." "Mmm..." Huang Rong let out a low groan of extreme suppression. Her usually rosy complexion instantly turned as pale as paper, and her smooth, full forehead was covered in large beads of cold sweat. She felt as if her meridians were being torn apart by an invisible force, and violent inner qi raged within her body, as if it were about to explode her graceful form. She knew she was showing signs of qi deviation!

A thought flashed through Huang Rong's mind like lightning – Lin Xuan!

Her entire body stiffened as if struck by lightning, but she also instantly became clear-headed. She remembered Lin Xuan's mysterious "Primal Essence Return Breath" technique. She even, without warning, recalled that night on horseback, the heat radiating from his powerful body, and the pleasure that made her delicate body completely lose control and surrender.

She had once thought that memory was an eternal shame, an untouchable taboo. But now, on the brink of life and death, that sense of shame was replaced and crushed by a strong instinct for survival and a desire for martial power.

She desperately needed him! She needed Lin Xuan to calm the chaotic and reversing inner qi within her, to alleviate the excruciating pain in her body, and even more, to dispel the inner demons that had plagued her for so long!

Huang Rong struggled on the verge of death. Her slender, jade-like fingers tightly gripped the edge of the desk, her knuckles turning pale from excessive force.

She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain that could make one faint, and with the last of her strength, she rasped, as if squeezing the words from her throat, "Someone... someone!"

The maidservant heard the call and rushed in, only to see Huang Rong's unwell face, her expression instantly turning ashen. She exclaimed, "Madam! You, what's wrong?!"

"Go... go call Xuan'er!" Huang Rong's voice was extremely hoarse, with a hint of uncontrollable urgency. "Just say... just say my inner cultivation... my inner cultivation has encountered a bottleneck and requires his... assistance in guidance!"

Although the maidservant was puzzled, seeing Huang Rong's urgent situation, she didn't dare to delay and immediately turned and ran out quickly.

Huang Rong leaned weakly back against the chair behind the desk, gasping for breath.

Her body still trembled uncontrollably from the intense pain, but deep within her heart, a peculiar sense of relief, almost like liberation, surged.

She knew she had finally bowed to Lin Xuan, to that forbidden desire. But she also knew it was the only way out. For her gravely ill self, for the precarious Xiangyang, for the greater good, she had to do this.

She tried her best to calm her rapid breaths, attempting to restore a trace of color to her pale face, to appear calmer, less exposed in her current predicament and embarrassment.

She slightly raised her delicate hand, tidying her slightly disheveled clothes from her struggle, and gently brushed aside a few strands of hair that had fallen onto her smooth, full forehead. In her heart, over and over again, almost numbly, she admonished herself: this was only for martial arts, for Xiangyang, for the greater good of the world, nothing more.

Before long, Lin Xuan, led by a maid, strode quickly into the study.

At a glance, he saw Huang Rong's face was as pale as transparent jade, her once rosy lips had lost their color, and her delicate, frail body seemed as though it could collapse at any moment. Concern flickered in Lin Xuan's deep eyes.

"Master! What's wrong?!" Lin Xuan hurried forward.

Huang Rong forced herself to maintain composure, managing to squeeze a smile from her pale, delicate face. Her originally beautiful face, like a hibiscus, peerlessly lovely, though now touched by a sickly pallor, held a more captivating, pitiable fragility.

"Xuan'er... you've come." Huang Rong's voice was hoarse, with a hint of pleading dependence that even she hadn't noticed. "I... I've encountered some bottlenecks in my recent internal energy cultivation. My inner breath is somewhat chaotic and difficult to calm. I want... I want to ask you to assist me again, to perform the 'Primal Essence Return Breath' technique, to help me guide my inner breath and break through the bottleneck."

She attributed her dual predicament of physical ailment and inner demons, seamlessly, to an internal energy bottleneck, skillfully defining Lin Xuan's help as assistance in guidance. She chose her words carefully, striving to make her tone sound calm and natural, as if this were merely a most ordinary martial arts exchange, entirely unrelated to romantic feelings.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan maintained a humble and obedient expression, but his heart churned!

"Master is too kind! Your disciple will do everything in his power to assist you!" Lin Xuan bowed respectfully, his tone firm and sincere.

Huang Rong, propped up by her weak body, managed to stand, signaling Lin Xuan to follow her to the bamboo grove. She had not chosen the quiet study, nor any place where others might pass.

Deep within the bamboo grove, that secluded spot was her last bastion, and the only place she dared to let down her guard and seek "help."

As the two stepped onto the winding path shrouded by green bamboo once more, a breeze rustled the bamboo leaves, creating a soft swishing sound, like a lover's whisper in one's ear.

Dappled sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo leaves, casting fragmented shadows on the ground, adding a touch of ethereal beauty to this verdant world.

The air was filled with the unique freshness of bamboo leaves, mingled with the dampness of the earth, and the faint, elusive orchid fragrance emanating from Huang Rong. Everything seemed so tranquil, yet it held a hint of heart-stopping ambiguity.

Huang Rong walked directly to the center of the pavilion. Instead of sitting down as usual, she chose to stand facing away from Lin Xuan.

She was dressed in a moon-white silk gown, its fabric soft and light. The loose robe, however, did nothing to conceal her graceful and slender figure.

Her full, milky bosom, her waist so slender it seemed unable to be grasped, and her round, full, high-set hips were subtly revealed beneath the thin fabric.

Silently, she exuded the unique charm and allure of a mature young woman, her demeanor graceful.

Her dark hair was simply tied up, with a few strands playfully falling by her snow-white ears, adding to her languid, delicate beauty. Her back, perfectly proportioned and gracefully curved, possessed an innate allure.

Huang Rong tried to calm her turbulent inner breath, attempting to make her voice sound calm and natural.

"Xuan'er, my inner breath is unstable and difficult to calm on my own. Your 'Primal Essence Return Breath' technique was truly effective last time."

She paused, her voice carrying a barely perceptible stiffness, as if deliberately maintaining distance from Lin Xuan.

"Today, I'll trouble you again to guide me."

She didn't even turn her head, fearing that a glance exchanged might reawaken the shameful memory of that night's kiss in the bamboo grove, a memory that filled her with mortification and anger.

Lin Xuan stood several paces behind her, his gaze fixed on her graceful, alluring back. He knew Huang Rong was deliberately keeping her distance, but this was precisely what he needed.

He bowed respectfully, his voice steady and magnetic, possessing a calming power: "Master is too kind. It is my honor to be able to share your burdens, Master."

"However... the 'Primal Essence Return Breath' technique emphasizes the interaction of energies and the unity of mind and spirit. To achieve deeper guidance, a closer resonance of breath is required for twice the results."

He slowly stepped forward, each step taken with the perfect rhythm, unhurried yet unwavering.

Huang Rong's delicate body trembled slightly. She could clearly feel Lin Xuan's presence drawing nearer. His masculine aura, mixed with a faint scent of pine, enveloped her like a tide.

She instinctively wanted to retreat, but her body seemed frozen by an invisible force, unable to move.

Lin Xuan finally stopped behind Huang Rong, just half a step away. He didn't touch her immediately, but instead raised his hands as if brewing something.

His voice sounded again, with a touch of well-placed weariness and sincerity: "Master, when I guided your inner breath last time, I discovered that although your inner energy was strong, there were a few subtle blockages."

"To thoroughly clear them, I need to channel my internal energy through the acupoints on your back, directly to your heart, to guide the energy back to its source."

Huang Rong's breathing grew somewhat rapid. She knew Lin Xuan wasn't lying; internal energy cultivation did indeed have methods of guiding energy through acupoints on the back. But such close proximity made her heart pound and her blood race.

She bit her lower lip, and finally sighed softly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's: "Fine... you... just proceed."

She slowly closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling like two startled butterflies, revealing her inner struggle and helplessness.

A faint smile curved Lin Xuan's lips. He slowly extended his hands, his palms radiating a gentle warmth, and softly, yet firmly, placed them on Huang Rong's back.

The moon-white silk gown, soft and light, offered no resistance to the warmth from his palms. He could clearly feel the warmth and smoothness of Huang Rong's skin, as well as the hidden stiffness and soreness deep within her back muscles.

The Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique instantly awakened like a hungry beast, circulating wildly within him, emitting a desirous growl. Streams of potent Primal Yin Energy poured into Lin Xuan's palms from Huang Rong's body like a bursting dam.

This direct and abundant absorption was far beyond what was possible during the foot bath. Lin Xuan felt his entire meridians instantly filled with a warm current, every cell cheering, his internal energy surging at an unprecedented speed.

Simultaneously, Lin Xuan also channeled a portion of his pure internal energy back to Huang Rong through his palms. This internal energy carried the unique nourishing power of the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique, penetrating rapidly into Huang Rong's meridians like spring rain.

Huang Rong felt an unprecedented sense of comfort instantly spread throughout her body. Starting from her back, the stiffness and soreness dissolved like melting snow. A warm, tingling sensation spread from top to bottom, relaxing every muscle in her body. Her body trembled slightly, a primal reaction to being overwhelmed by extreme comfort. She even felt her breathing become long and deep, as if every pore was cheering, greedily enjoying this unusual warm current.

"Master, please relax your mind and feel the flow of your inner breath," Lin Xuan said softly, his voice reaching her ears with a soothing gentleness.

He slightly lowered his palms, resting them on the spot where her nape met her spine, the Dazhui acupoint. Using the unique energy channeling method of the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique, he infused his internal energy into her body, combined with massage techniques, as if clearing a blocked river for her.

Huang Rong felt an indescribable heat rise from her spine, instantly spreading throughout her body. She could even clearly feel the stagnant internal energy within her beginning to reactivate under the guidance of this power, flowing joyfully through her meridians.

Her fair, jade-like shoulders presented a captivating, almost perfect curve under Lin Xuan's palms. Her soft, dark hair fell between his fingers, carrying an intoxicating fragrance.

Lin Xuan's palms were now pressed firmly against Huang Rong's back. He could clearly feel every vertebra of her spine, and the soft muscles attached to it.

Her body was so delicate and graceful; even through the thin silk gown, the undulating curves stirred his heart. He deliberately controlled his strength, gentle yet with a subtle hint of provocation.

Huang Rong's pretty face grew even more rosy, as if shrouded in a layer of dew-kissed mist. She felt blood coursing faster throughout her body, and the tingling sensation within her grew stronger. She clearly sensed Lin Xuan's fingertips, each touch carrying a warm and precise power, like a skilled physician pinpointing the root of her pain. The gentle friction through her clothes, however, brought about a strange feeling that made her blush and her heart race, leaving her feeling weak all over.

Seeing that Huang Rong's body had completely relaxed, even unconsciously leaning towards him, Lin Xuan knew the time was right.

He slowly moved his hand downward, caressing her slender waist with a gentle touch. His fingertips, with a sense of exploration and teasing, softly circled and kneaded the soft skin of her waist.

"Master, Blood Essence must flow downwards to clear the meridians and thoroughly relieve fatigue," Lin Xuan explained in a low voice, his tone carrying a seductive guidance. He slipped his fingertips beneath her clothes, directly touching her tender skin.

Huang Rong's delicate body trembled violently, her breathing nearly stopping. She felt Lin Xuan's fingers, with a slight coolness, pressing directly against the delicate skin of her waist. It was an intimacy she had never experienced before, making her feel ashamed, yet a strange tingling sensation rapidly spread from her waist, like an electric current flowing through her limbs, making her jade-like legs feel weak.

She tried to tell herself that this was merely internal energy guidance, meant to clear her meridians. But the sensation from Lin Xuan's fingertips, that invasive warmth, made self-deception impossible. She felt a hidden pleasure awaken deep within her body, a mix of shame and annoyance, yet tinged with a strange sense of surrender.

Lin Xuan's fingertips softly brushed her waist, then he slowly moved his palm down, gliding over her slender waist.

Finally, gently, yet with an undeniable force, he pressed down on her high-arched, full, and rounded buttocks.

Huang Rong's delicate body trembled violently again, and she let out a suppressed moan, like a startled fawn. Her cheeks instantly burned crimson, the heat almost enough to draw blood. She had never imagined Lin Xuan would be so bold, daring to touch her most private, plump, and alluring parts!

The pads of his fingers circled and kneaded the soft, full curves of her buttocks with a gentle yet firm pressure, even with a hint of a grip.

The sensation was so clear, so invasive, as if stripping away her reason. She could even feel Lin Xuan's body tensing due to the extreme intimacy. His firm, burning chest pressed against her through their clothes, constantly transmitting heat, making her senses completely succumb.

Huang Rong's breathing grew increasingly rapid, punctuated by soft gasps. She felt an unprecedented desire surge from the depths of her body, the tingling sensation spreading from her buttocks to her entire being, making her delicate body go soft and causing her to involuntarily moan. Her mind was blank, shame and pleasure intertwined, making it difficult to distinguish reality from illusion. She even began to actively respond to Lin Xuan's caresses, her body unconsciously wriggling, seeking deeper, more intimate contact.

Time passed, no longer measured in ordinary ways. In Huang Rong's perception, it felt like an entire century had gone by, yet also like mere an instant.

She was lost in the extreme comfort and shame, reveling in the forbidden touch on her back, waist, and buttocks. Her consciousness blurred, almost completely swallowed by a surging tide of emotion.

Finally, Lin Xuan felt that his internal Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique had reached a stage of saturation.

He slowly withdrew his hands, his movements gentle and unhurried, as if reluctant to let go. The moment his fingertips left Huang Rong's skin, they still carried that soft lingering sensation, the unique fragrance of Huang Rong, and the warmth of her body.

"Hoo..." Huang Rong let out a long sigh and slowly opened her eyes. Her clear pupils were now filled with an unprecedented brilliance, weariness and fatigue completely swept away.

She felt her whole body filled with strength, her internal energy circulating like surging tides, and her realm seemed to have advanced.