Chapter Four: Huang Rong's Fatigue
That evening, the rain finally let up. The setting sun at last broke through the heavy clouds, painting the horizon in rich shades of orange-red and deep purple, as if the heavens were sighing one last time at the end of an exhausting day.
A gentle breeze carried the fresh scents of damp earth and wet grass, mingling with the cooking smoke curling up in the distance. Together, they painted a peaceful evening scene in Xiangyang City, touched by the solemnity of wartime.
As Lin Xuan ate, his gaze drifted casually over Huang Rong. Today, she was utterly unlike her usual lively, spirited self.
Even in the warm candlelight, her face could not hide its deep weariness. Her usually lovely complexion had taken on a pallor that stirred pity.
Two faint shadows hung beneath her eyes, like worn pearls that had lost their usual luster.
He understood. The heavy burden of managing affairs in and around Xiangyang City had fallen almost entirely on the shoulders of the Guo couple.
Huang Rong had been on the go since dawn. In the morning, she had personally inspected the city walls, leaving her slender yet resolute figure along every inch of the battlements, which stretched for hundreds of paces.
When discussing military matters with Guo Jing, she had to remain intensely focused, repeatedly comparing the Beggar Sect's intelligence network with Xiangyang's defensive plans in her mind. Every detail could affect countless lives.
In the afternoon, without so much as a moment to catch her breath, she had hurried back to her quarters to review the Beggar Sect's mountain of documents and handle its endless affairs, large and small.
Such an intense workload would wear anyone down. Even a hero made of iron would struggle, let alone an ordinary person.
Lin Xuan took it all in, a subtle excitement stirring within him. Huang Rong's exhaustion was his best chance to break through her defenses.
He knew her character well: she was both firm and gentle, and exceptionally clever. Ordinary approaches would never get close to her. Only when her mind was most vulnerable and her guard lowest could he find the right opening.
He set down his chopsticks, moving so gently that he made no sound, as if afraid to disturb the quiet of the room.
He spoke at just the right moment, his tone carefully measured—neither so eager as to seem false nor so distant as to sound cold.
His voice was low, with just the right touch of concern. "Master, you've had so much to deal with lately. You seem rather tired."
Huang Rong heard him and managed a faint smile.
Her lovely face was weary to the bone, yet somehow the exhaustion lent her a mature woman's vulnerable charm, like a fragile flower swaying in the wind and rain, inviting sympathy.
She pressed her slender fingers to her temple, trying to dispel the fog in her mind with their cool touch, but to little effect. She sighed softly, her voice tinged with rare fatigue. "Yes. There's so much military business in Xiangyang, and the Beggar Sect's affairs have piled up as well. Sometimes, I really do feel overwhelmed."
Lin Xuan's gaze fell on the fingers at her temple, then on the faint hollows beneath her eyes. He knew the time had come.
He asked as if the thought had just occurred to him, lowering his voice with a hint of hesitation. "Master, have your feet been aching? Do they ever feel a little numb?"
Huang Rong's hand stopped. At his question, she stared at him in surprise, her bright eyes widening.
Her brows, already furrowed, drew tighter, confusion flashing in her eyes. She bit her lip and asked, puzzled, "How did you know? I walked quite a lot along the city walls today, and my feet are a little sore. And... that tingling ache is still there, even now..."
There was a note of frustration in her voice. Her fatigue was genuine.
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Xuan bent forward slightly, a trace of slyness hidden in his eyes. He knew he had guessed right. Huang Rong's condition was just as he had expected.
He calmly explained, "I once came across a travelogue that mentioned an ancient scholar who spent years traveling. Each night, he would soak his feet in warm water and use a special technique to ease fatigue and stimulate the circulation of qi and blood."
He paused to give Huang Rong time to take that in. He knew she might not listen to advice offered without proof. But attributing it to an "ancient scholar" gave it an air of mystery and authority.
He continued, "The book said there are many acupoints on the soles of the feet, connected to the meridians throughout the body. The scholar said discomfort in the feet was really a sign of poor circulation. If left untreated, it could harm the body's foundations, weaken the inner qi, and disrupt the flow of energy through the meridians."
His tone was earnest and sincere, and his words carried a genuine concern for Huang Rong's health. He slightly exaggerated the symptoms and their possible consequences, but his reasoning was sound enough to appeal to Huang Rong's concern for her energy channels as a martial artist.
At Lin Xuan's explanation, a thoughtful gleam flashed across Huang Rong's tired face.
She nodded slowly, her glossy black hair swaying and releasing a faint fragrance against her jade-like skin.
As the daughter of Huang Yaoshi, who was well versed in medicine, she understood acupoints and meridians. She also knew that the claim about the soles of the feet being connected to the body's meridians was true. But this kind of detailed regimen specifically for the feet was different from the breathing and movement techniques she used to cultivate her health through martial arts. She had never studied it in depth.
"Oh? How does one do it?" Huang Rong's eyes regained some of their brightness, and curiosity stirred in them. Lin Xuan had succeeded halfway: she was interested in what he had to say and willing to listen further.
Lin Xuan caught the glimmer in Huang Rong's eyes and knew the moment was right. He replied modestly, "This disciple is too dull to have fully understood it. The book said the scholar used a special technique, pressing and rubbing specific acupoints. But it also said that if someone else helped, using gentle pressure and the proper method, the effect would be even better."
Lin Xuan looked up, his gaze sincere and earnest as it met Huang Rong's exquisite face. There was a force in it that reached straight to the heart. He elevated his request to a point no one could refute:
"Master, you've worked tirelessly for the people and the country. You must take care of yourself. Your health concerns the lives of hundreds of thousands in Xiangyang. If you don't mind, this disciple would be glad to do what little I can and wash your feet to help ease your fatigue."
The moment he said this, the atmosphere in the room froze.
A faint blush spread across Huang Rong's face, adding a touch of mature shyness to her usually composed, beautiful features.
She had never imagined Lin Xuan would make such a request. Wash her feet? A disciple washing his master's feet? It was unheard of, a breach of every boundary between master and disciple, and even faintly improper. Yet the fatigue and longing his words had stirred within her made it difficult to refuse him outright.
"Th-this is hardly appropriate!" Huang Rong refused instinctively, her voice betraying a hint of panic. Even her breathing quickened.
She tried to maintain the dignity of a master, but the shock of his proposal and her physical exhaustion left her sounding less than confident. Her voice carried a note of reproach. "You're my disciple. How can you do such a thing? It goes against all propriety!"
Lin Xuan did not back down; instead, he pressed forward, knowing he had to seize the moment. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and his voice grew so earnest that Huang Rong's refusal might as well have been a rejection of his filial devotion—an outrage against all decency.
He spoke with conviction. "Master, you're mistaken. It's only natural for a disciple to serve his master. You're like a second set of parents to me. How could I stand by and watch you exhaust yourself for the country?"
He played the "filial devotion" card, then quickly followed it with the "greater good." "Besides, the fighting is fierce. Your health is a blessing for Xiangyang and its people. I'm not doing this for personal reasons; I'm thinking of Xiangyang's welfare. And this is merely a common way to relieve fatigue, an ancient health regimen passed down by a learned scholar. What could be wrong with that?"
Lin Xuan had wrapped his intentions perfectly in the trappings of filial piety, patriotism, tradition, and wellness. His seemingly pure and almost obsessive sincerity left Huang Rong speechless for a moment.
She watched Lin Xuan's earnest, resolute gaze, and ripples stirred in her heart. She had thought he was merely gifted, but she had never expected him to be so filial and responsible. The unfamiliar feeling of being cared for and valued stirred a powerful response in her, after years of shouldering the burdens of Guo Jing and Xiangyang.
The blush on her cheeks deepened, and she exhaled a warm breath. Huang Rong's thoughts churned in conflict.
Reason told her it was improper, but the sincerity in the young man's eyes—and her body's deep yearning for complete relaxation—made it hard to refuse.
In the end, her exhaustion and the unexpected warmth of his concern broke through her final resistance like a flood bursting its banks.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they held a trace of reluctant surrender.
At last, she sighed softly and lowered her voice. "Fine... But you must not tell anyone." She knew this was a private matter. If Guo Jing found out, it would cause needless trouble. It was not merely a question of propriety; someone might exploit it to damage the good name of master and disciple.
Lin Xuan was overjoyed, but he remained respectful, even allowing a hint of excitement and gratitude to show at being trusted by his master. "Understood! I swear I won't let a word of this get out!"
He rose quickly, moving with brisk efficiency. He knew there was no time to waste and that he had to act while the moment was right. He left the hall to prepare hot water and a medicinal pouch. His steps were light, and though he was ecstatic, he tried hard not to let it show. He knew he had taken a crucial first step.
Before long, Lin Xuan entered Huang Rong's room carrying a small wooden tub that steamed in the cool air. Knowing how much she valued her privacy, he had already asked a maid to draw the screen beside the daybed, partitioning off this little space.
Candlelight flickered in Huang Rong's bedroom, dim and intimate, casting the furnishings in shifting shadows and filling the room with warmth. It was a world apart from the bustle of the dining room.
A stick of sandalwood incense sent up a thin curl of smoke, filling the room with faint musk and the fragrance of aged wood. Mixed with the freshness after the rain, it created an atmosphere of deep quiet and privacy.
She had changed out of her neat training clothes and into a loose robe for relaxing at home. The moon-white silk draped softly over her graceful figure.
Freed from the constraints of her training clothes, the soft fabric naturally outlined her lovely curves: her slender waist and delicate bust showed faintly beneath the candlelight. Compared with the heroic poise she had shown as a martial heroine during the day, Huang Rong now seemed all the more soft and alluring, with the sensual charm of a mature woman.
She reclined against the daybed, her glossy black hair cascading down like a waterfall. A few unruly strands brushed her fair neck, adding to her languid, captivating grace.
A pair of jade-white feet peeked delicately from beneath her skirt, slender and long, like works of art carved with care.
Her toes were neat and clean, and a faint fragrance rose from them—the same clear, delicate scent that always clung to her.
Chapter Five: A Foot Soak
Lin Xuan set the wooden tub down in front of the daybed, taking care not to let it touch Huang Rong's skirt. He asked softly, "Master, is the water warm enough?"
He dropped the prepared medicinal pouch into the water. As it met the hot water, a faint herbal fragrance spread through the room, mingling with the distinctive scent of Huang Rong's bedroom. The space grew quiet and serene, with a hint of mysterious allure.
Huang Rong nodded slightly. The candlelight made her exquisite face look even softer, touched by a hazy, almost dreamlike beauty.
Watching Lin Xuan kneel before her, his expression serious and his gaze focused, stirred a complex feeling in her heart. Who was this young man, really? How had he managed to make her lower her guard and accept such an intimate gesture? Exhausted, she closed her eyes and tried to clear the jumble of thoughts from her mind, leaving only the anticipation of the relaxation to come.
Lin Xuan's heart raced, but his face remained calm. Carefully, he reached out and gently clasped one of Huang Rong's jade-white feet. His fingertips were warm, with a slightly rough texture.
His palms were dry and warm, in stark contrast to the softness of the skin on the sole of Huang Rong's foot. He gently lowered her foot into the warm water.
"Ah..." Huang Rong let out a soft cry, her voice barely audible and trembling with surprise.
The moment her feet touched the warm medicinal water, a long-missed comfort spread through her body, rising from the soles of her feet and reaching every limb and bone. Her fatigue and aches melted away swiftly and completely, like snow beneath the blazing sun.
It felt as if she had plunged her feet into a warm spring. Every pore seemed to rejoice, and every muscle relaxed.
Lin Xuan looked down at her toes, now even whiter and more lustrous after soaking in the warm water. Her slender toes curled up slightly, their nails smooth and healthy, gleaming with a natural sheen.
He gently lifted both of Huang Rong's feet, supporting them steadily in his palms. The slender, finely shaped arches revealed every bone and tendon, their delicate beauty stirring the heart. The lines around her ankles were graceful and smooth, like a work of art carved with care.
He began gently pressing the soles of her feet with his fingertips, searching for the acupoints he had "read about" in the travelogue. His technique was clumsy, but he was so careful and earnest, handling her as if she were a priceless treasure.
He used his inner power to transfer an even warmth from his palms to the soles of Huang Rong's feet, carefully controlling the pressure so that it relaxed her without causing the slightest pain.
"Master, my technique is crude. Please tell me if anything feels uncomfortable," Lin Xuan said softly, struggling to suppress the surging excitement deep inside him. His entire awareness was focused on his palms. A secret, thrilling energy was quietly flowing into his body from the soles of Huang Rong's feet.
Huang Rong felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation and comfort. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the boy's massage. His technique might not have been professional, but it was full of respect.
She could feel the force of his hands was just right, their gentle yet steady warmth seeming to pass through her skin and reach her bones. The awkwardness she had felt about the intimate gesture gradually faded, replaced by a deep sense of peace.
"It's all right. You... are doing very well." Her voice was languid and husky, making her sound especially charming. The complete trust and dependence in her tone made Lin Xuan even more pleased with himself.
Lin Xuan's thumb slowly traced the perfect curve of Huang Rong's arch, feeling the softness and elasticity of the skin. Through that thin layer, he seemed to sense the powerful inner energy within her, as well as the Primal Yin Energy unique to a mature woman, flowing into him steadily like a gentle stream.
The Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique surged through his meridians, greedily devouring this pure, delightful energy.
A strange warmth shot from his palm up his arm, coursed through his meridians, then converged in his Dantian. Wherever it went, blocked meridians quietly widened, and his inner energy flowed noticeably faster. The sea of qi in his Dantian expanded, as if parched land had finally met rain, and gave a satisfied sigh.
He held his breath as his fingers traced the edge of the bones in her ankles. Her smooth, delicate skin was as warm and lustrous as jade, and every touch sent Lin Xuan's thoughts tumbling.
He could sense every subtle change in Huang Rong's body. Her breathing grew longer and more even, a clear sign that she was deeply relaxed and hovering between wakefulness and sleep.
Almost imperceptibly, she even rubbed her tender feet against the depths of his palms, as if seeking greater warmth and comfort, with the unconscious dependence of a newborn kitten.
Lin Xuan watched Huang Rong's expression carefully. Her lovely face was faintly flushed, her eyes lightly closed, and her lashes quivered like a pair of butterflies about to take flight. The faint shadows beneath her eyes had not entirely disappeared, but they only made her look more alluring.
Her neck was slender, and against the moon-white robe it had the warm sheen of ivory, giving her an air of complete relaxation and vulnerability.
He knew she had completely let down her guard. She would never have trusted anyone like this under ordinary circumstances. A deep sense of satisfaction welled up in Lin Xuan. He knew this was more than just washing her feet: he had planted a seed called "dependence" in the depths of Huang Rong's heart.
Master's feet really are exquisite treasures, Lin Xuan thought, revealing nothing on his face as he continued his ancient massage technique.
He told Huang Rong that the scholar had stressed the importance of acupoints on the soles of the feet, such as Yongquan, Taichong, and Kunlun. They were crucial to the circulation of qi and blood, and pressing them could unblock the meridians and improve circulation.
He even made up a few complex theories, such as the relationship between "reflex zones in the feet" and the internal organs, making Huang Rong feel that this was not just a simple massage but a profound art of wellness.
He worked his way up Huang Rong's calves, gently rubbing her slender ankles and the stretch of fair skin visible below her skirt. Her calves were shapely and well-proportioned, their smooth, creamy skin stirring the imagination.
Each time he touched her, he took care not to lift her skirt, but his fingertips came close to its edge, brushing the smooth skin of her calves. Every boundary he crossed sent a jolt through Lin Xuan and deepened the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique's absorption of her Primal Yin Energy.
"These are the Zusanli, Chengshan, and Yanglingquan acupoints... By circulating qi through them, we can ease aching legs, regulate the spleen and stomach, and improve the flow of qi and blood," he explained softly, his tone steady and professional, as if he were truly administering a sophisticated medical treatment.
He controlled the pressure of his fingers perfectly. Sometimes he used gentle strokes; at other times, he pressed along the lines of her muscles. Each time, he found the deep aches in Huang Rong's muscles precisely, drawing a faint, satisfied moan from her.
Huang Rong had become completely immersed in the soothing relaxation. It was as if a warm mist had enveloped her mind, driving away every worry until only pure comfort and contentment remained.
She could clearly feel the warmth spreading from the soles of her feet, gradually sinking into her bones and washing away the day's fatigue. She even felt lighter, her heavy limbs once again filled with energy.
The Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique was circulating at an astonishing pace within Lin Xuan. His inner energy grew visibly stronger. This replenishment was not a violent plunder. Through subtle contact, while Huang Rong was relaxed and unaware, some of the energy within her naturally flowed to him, forming a strange resonance that nourished them both.
He could clearly sense the abundant, pure Primal Yin Energy within Huang Rong. It was a precious essence unique to women who had practiced superior martial arts for many years. It could do immeasurable good for his martial arts.
Time slipped by beneath Lin Xuan's kneading fingers. Little by little, nearly half an hour passed... Lin Xuan maintained a humble, earnest posture throughout, and each touch seemed to carry respect for his master and dedication to his "healing art."
He felt Huang Rong's breathing grow deeper and her body grow softer, and even caught a faint, sweet fragrance from her. Through his fingertips, he could almost sense the subtle movement of her blood and the steady, powerful beat of her heart.
He repeatedly rinsed Huang Rong's jade-white feet with warm water, then crushed the herbs in the medicinal pouch and gently spread them over her soles, adding deeper pressure.
"The learned scholar Gao Shiyan said that if this method is practiced consistently, it can strengthen the body and clear the mind. It can even benefit one's martial arts," Lin Xuan said softly. By linking this foot-care method to martial arts, he knew he would make Huang Rong take it more seriously. He knew the pursuit of martial arts was one of the most important parts of her life.
Another half hour passed. Lin Xuan felt the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique within him reach a small peak. A sense of fullness spread through his body, and his inner energy became more condensed, as if his entire vitality had been elevated. He knew that if he continued, Huang Rong might relax so completely that she fell asleep, or the loss of Primal Yin Energy might trigger an instinctive warning in her body.
He slowly withdrew his hands, moving with care and gentleness. He picked up a clean, soft cloth and carefully dried Huang Rong's feet, then covered them with a light blanket, treating her as reverently as a priceless treasure. The warmth of the medicinal water lingered on her feet, carrying a faint herbal scent.
Huang Rong slowly opened her eyes. A misty gleam lingered in them, as if she had just awoken from a sweet dream, making her seem both innocent and alluring.
The weariness in her eyes had nearly vanished, replaced by clarity and bright energy. The fatigue had left her body completely. She felt light as a swallow, and her mind was remarkably clear.
She looked at Lin Xuan, her expression complicated. Her gaze first fell on her feet, which he still held in his hands, then slowly moved to his face, flushed from the effort of massaging her. She could feel the faint warmth remaining in his palms, as well as the scent of a young man.
"Lin Xuan... you've certainly opened your master's eyes today." Huang Rong's voice carried an unfamiliar satisfaction and languor.
There was deep gratitude in her tone, but also an indescribable closeness and dependence. It was as if, in that moment, the boundary of rank between master and disciple had disappeared entirely. She even felt a warmth and sense of care she had never known, as if all her burdens had been lifted and this modest young man had quietly taken them onto his not-so-strong shoulders.
"You flatter me, Master. This disciple... was only doing what filial piety demands," Lin Xuan replied respectfully, lowering his eyes to hide the longing deep within them. He knew that the more humble he seemed at a moment like this, the more firmly his filial devotion would be fixed in Huang Rong's mind.
Huang Rong said nothing more. She simply watched him, her deep, lively eyes filled with complicated emotions.
There was gratitude, comfort, and even an unfamiliar feeling she had not yet recognized in herself. Her heart was no longer a still well; ripples stirred across its surface. This was more than physical relaxation—it had moved her heart as well. She suddenly realized how long it had been since anyone had taken such attentive care of her.
Chapter Six: First Kill
At dawn, Xiangyang's banners fluttered along the city walls, snapping in the wind.
After treating Huang Rong the previous day, Lin Xuan's physique had improved subtly once more. He felt his energy was fuller and his senses sharper. He could even hear birds calling clearly in the distant outskirts.
This gave Lin Xuan a deeper understanding of the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique. This cheat is ridiculously powerful.
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