Comprehensive Martial Arts: My Master Is Huang Rong

This was an extremely spacious stone chamber. In the center of the chamber, a stone bed carved from thousand-year-old cold jade emanated visible wisps of cold air, dropping the temperature of the entire room to freezing point.

An ordinary person would likely freeze to death if they stayed here for even a short while.

And on that cold jade bed, a woman in white sat cross-legged.

She wore a white robe as pure as snow, its flowing sleeves untainted by dust. Her skin was as clear as jade, and in the dim stone chamber, it emitted a soft, hazy glow, making her appear almost transparent.

A cascade of raven-black hair fell loosely over her shoulders, a stark contrast that made her exquisite face appear even more serene and otherworldly, unlike a mortal.

Her eyes were tightly shut, her expression indifferent, like a sculpture of ice and snow devoid of emotion, untouched by the mortal world, perfectly blending with the surrounding chill.

Lin Xuan's gaze fell upon her. Even though he was accustomed to the unparalleled elegance of his Master, Huang Rong, he couldn't help but be momentarily lost in thought.

This was an ultimate purity, an ethereal quality untouched by the dust of the world.

Her beauty wasn't in the delicate features of her face, but in an aura that seemed detached from heaven and earth.

Though she sat still, the outline of her figure was breathtaking. The loose white robe couldn't conceal the alluring curves beneath; her slender waist was cinched, flowing down to full, shapely arcs. Truly, she was a creature of ice and jade, born a temptress.

To gaze upon her for too long felt like a sacrilege.

On the other side of the stone chamber, a young man in a grey cloth robe was intently practicing a set of palm techniques.

The young man was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with sword-like eyebrows that reached his temples and a straight nose. He possessed a remarkably handsome appearance.

However, his brows carried an innate arrogance and aloofness, like a wild wolf yet to be tamed, his eyes filled with wariness and a probing curiosity towards the world.

These two were, naturally, Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo.

Lin Xuan and Li Mochou's arrival was silent, yet it ultimately broke the peace that had lasted for many years.

"Who?!"

Yang Guo was the first to sense them. He abruptly stopped his movements, turned around, and his sharp eyes warily fixed on the newcomers.

When he saw Li Mochou's pale, familiar face, a flicker of shock and hostility flashed in his eyes. He shouted sternly, "Li Mochou! You demoness dare to come here again!"

Before his voice even fell, he instinctively reached for the sword beside him.

However, his movement froze the next moment.

Because he saw the composed man behind Li Mochou, and even more so, he saw Li Mochou's unprecedentedly docile demeanor.

This... how was this possible?

Yang Guo's mind went blank; how could the ruthless, arrogant Crimson Fairy act like a mere maidservant following behind a man, not even daring to lift her head?

Little Dragon Girl on the cold jade bed also slowly opened her eyes at this moment.

What clear eyes they were, like a thousand-year-old ancient pool, deep and tranquil, without a trace of impurity or ripple.

She merely looked at the two uninvited guests with pure curiosity, quietly observing them.

"Senior Sister?"

Little Dragon Girl's voice was as clear as colliding jade, ethereal and pleasant to the ear, yet devoid of any emotion. "What are you doing here?"

Lin Xuan took a step forward, subtly blocking Li Mochou's figure entirely behind him.

He wore a gentle smile, a smile like the spring breeze in March, instantly dispelling some of the coldness in the ancient tomb.

The magnetic charm naturally emanating from his Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique spread like invisible ripples.

A faint, almost imperceptible ripple finally appeared in Little Dragon Girl's tranquil eyes.

It was a novel sensation, carrying a hint of "warmth" she had never felt before, like a lake perpetually frozen over being illuminated by a ray of sunlight. It felt unfamiliar, yet not unpleasant.

"I am Lin Xuan. Greetings, Miss Long, Brother Yang Guo."

Lin Xuan cupped his fists in a bow, his voice clear and gentle, neither humble nor arrogant.

"My Master is Huang Rong. I have been sent by my Master and Master's Husband specifically to Zhongnan Mountain to visit Brother Yang Guo."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Yang Guo, his eyes sincere and open. "I went to the Quanzhen Sect first and learned that Brother Yang was no longer there. Hearing that you had come to this ancient tomb, I took the liberty of seeking you out. Master's Husband and Master are very concerned about you. How have you been lately, Brother Yang?"

His words were flawless, clearly stating his identity and purpose, filled with concern, leaving no room for criticism.

Upon hearing him mention Guo Jing and Huang Rong, Yang Guo's expression became somewhat complex.

He was naturally proud. When he was on Peach Blossom Island, he didn't get along with Guo Fu and the Wu brothers. He was also wary and resistant of Huang Rong's all-knowing shrewdness.

Hearing now that they had sent someone to find him, he felt a long-lost warmth mixed with an instinctive resistance.

"I... I'm fine," he replied gruffly, his gaze involuntarily drifting to Li Mochou behind Lin Xuan. "I just don't understand, how did Young Master Lin make this demoness... so obedient?"

This was what he was most curious and shocked about.

Lin Xuan smiled slightly, his tone as indifferent as if he were discussing a trivial matter. "Oh, I happened to encounter Daoist Li Mochou in the mountains. Seeing her indiscriminately killing innocents, I intervened. Daoist Li is wise and understanding, she repented and is willing to follow me, reciting scriptures day and night to atone for her past transgressions."

He said this so casually, yet it stirred up a tempest in Yang Guo's heart.

"Intervened"?

"Repented"?

Who was he trying to fool? To make the murderous demoness Li Mochou behave like this, what terrifying power would that require!

He looked at Lin Xuan's young face, which was not much older than his own, and his evaluation of him instantly soared to an unimaginable level.

Although Yang Guo had his doubts, he had always held deep respect for Guo Jing and his wife since childhood. Hearing that Lin Xuan was Huang Rong's disciple, and seeing Li Mochou remain silent throughout, he half-believed Lin Xuan's story.

He showed a degree of closeness towards Lin Xuan. After all, in the Ancient Tomb, besides his aunt, he had no other friends. Lin Xuan's appearance was undoubtedly a breath of fresh air in his monotonous life.

Little Dragon Girl, however, sat upright like a pine tree, her eyes, as clear as water, calmly shifting between Lin Xuan and Li Mochou.

Naturally pure and unsophisticated, she didn't perceive Lin Xuan's glib tongue.

Yet, she could faintly sense the peaceful yet profound, sea-like internal energy emanating from Lin Xuan. This energy didn't clash with the Ancient Tomb's chilling aura; instead, it created an inexplicable sense of balance, making her feel a strange yet comforting sensation.

She couldn't feel Lin Xuan's subtle pressure on Li Mochou, only noticing that Li Mochou's complexion seemed off. However, she had always been stern with this senior sister who had betrayed their sect and couldn't be bothered to investigate further.

After a few brief exchanges, the atmosphere in the stone chamber eased slightly.

"I would like to impose upon you for a few days. Would that be permissible?" Lin Xuan seized the opportunity to make his request.

"The Ancient Tomb is a place of tranquility and does not permit outside guests."

Little Dragon Girl finally spoke again, her voice still as cool and clear as jade beads falling on a plate. "This place is not suitable for outsiders to linger."

Although she didn't feel Lin Xuan was a bad person, the Ancient Tomb had strict rules: outsiders were not allowed to stay long. This was the dying instruction of their Ancestral Grandmother.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan's face displayed a perfectly timed look of "disappointment," but he quickly regained his respectful demeanor.

He sighed and said, "Miss Long, you are absolutely right. It was my presumption. It's just... this time, venturing deep into Zhongnan Mountain, besides seeking out brother Yang, I actually have another ancestral wish. That's why I wished to stay in the Ancient Tomb for a few days. I implore you, Miss Long, to consider my filial piety and grant my request."

Both Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl looked curious. Yang Guo couldn't help but ask, "Brother Lin, what other matter is there?"

Lin Xuan's expression turned solemn. He bowed deeply to Little Dragon Girl, his tone becoming incredibly sincere, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible pleading.

"To be honest, Miss Long, my name is Lin Xuan, and my ancestral surname is indeed Lin. My elders once told me that my lineage and your sect's founder, Senior Lin Chaoying, share the same origin, only separated due to past turmoil."

"My coming here, besides obeying my master's orders, is also to visit the Ancient Tomb, pay respects to my ancestor's remains, and fulfill my ancestral wish!"

This statement was earth-shattering!

Both Yang Guo and Little Dragon Girl were completely stunned.

Little Dragon Girl had grown up in the Ancient Tomb and knew little about the outside world or her own family history. She only knew that Lin Chaoying was her Ancestral Grandmother, a martial arts prodigy who had a legendary romance with Wang Chongyang of the Quanzhen Sect.

And this man before her claimed to be a "relative" of their Ancestral Grandmother?

This was simply unbelievable!

"You... you truly have a connection with the Ancestral Grandmother?"

A hint of undisguised surprise and confusion finally appeared on Little Dragon Girl's usually indifferent face.

Lin Xuan's gaze was incredibly sincere. He knew this was a crucial moment. He didn't launch into a lengthy explanation of his "family tree," as that could easily be exposed. Instead, he chose the method most likely to move Little Dragon Girl: emotion and storytelling.

"This is absolutely true, and I would never dare deceive you, Miss Long."

Lin Xuan's voice was low, tinged with a hint of reminiscence, as if recounting tales from his ancestors.

"My ancestors once mentioned that Senior Lin Chaoying, though seemingly aloof and detached, possessed a certain pride. When she sparred with Senior Wang Chongyang, she appeared to be constantly vying for victory, but in reality, there was a hidden deeper meaning."

"My ancestors said that Senior Lin, in order to motivate Senior Wang Chongyang to strive harder, deliberately lost half a move to him in martial arts, and then used his own methods against him, employing strategy to win this Tomb of the Living Dead."

Lin Xuan sculpted Lin Chaoying into a more three-dimensional, humanized figure, no longer just a detached symbol living in legend.

"My ancestors also said that Senior Lin didn't spend her days in arduous cultivation in the Ancient Tomb. She also kept a flock of pure white doves. Every morning, as the white doves flew around the tomb, she would talk to these spiritual creatures, and even smile at the sight of a nameless flower blooming in a crack in the rock, or a gust of mountain wind blowing in from the tomb entrance."

Lin Xuan fabricated more anecdotes about Lin Chaoying. These details were things no outsider could possibly know.

His tone was filled with reverence and closeness towards the legendary ancestor, leaving Little Dragon Girl and Yang Guo dumbfounded.

Yang Guo listened with rapt attention. He imagined the cold and beautiful Ancestral Grandmother having such a lively and vivid side, completely overturning his understanding.

Although Little Dragon Girl's expression remained unchanged, the ripples in her clear eyes betrayed her emotions.

She knew little about her Ancestral Grandmother, only her martial arts prowess and her entanglement with the Quanzhen Sect.

Hearing Lin Xuan's words now, these trivial yet human details made her feel as if her Ancestral Grandmother was no longer an unattainable legend, but a real person who had existed, flesh and blood, who could laugh and play.

This made her believe Lin Xuan's words by seven or eight parts.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Lin Xuan continued:

"My coming here is not out of greed for the Ancient Tomb's tranquility, nor do I harbor any covetous intentions. I only wish to temporarily reside in the Ancient Tomb for a few days, to pay respects to Senior Lin Chaoying's remains, to feel the legacy of my ancestors, and to fulfill a wish for myself, so I can report back to my elders."

"Once my wish is fulfilled, I will leave immediately, without disturbing your cultivation, Miss Long, or brother Yang."

He transformed "visiting" into "pilgrimage," making his purpose seem incredibly pure and filial.

Little Dragon Girl was silent for a moment.

She looked at Lin Xuan, sensing again the contained yet incredibly profound internal energy emanating from him.

This energy made her feel inexplicably comfortable and close.

She couldn't sense any malicious intent from Lin Xuan, only feeling that his words were sincere and his reverence for the Ancestral Grandmother was heartfelt.

Being able to approach the Ancestral Grandmother's resting place, and even hear more stories about her from someone "close," was a great temptation for her.

Finally, her gaze settled on Lin Xuan, and her usually cold voice seemed to carry a hint of human warmth.

"Since you are a descendant of the Ancestral Grandmother's acquaintance, then you may stay. Though the Ancient Tomb is simple, it is sufficient for a temporary stay."

"Thank you, Miss Long, for your generosity!"

Lin Xuan's face showed gratitude.

Chapter 9: Days in the Ancient Tomb

The environment of the Ancient Tomb was truly not good.

The air was damp, and sunlight never reached it year-round.

Lin Xuan's arrival was like a ray of sunshine squeezing into a mountain crevice.

He didn't stand on ceremony at all, turning the tables and becoming the master of the house. Within a few days, he had thoroughly mapped out all the winding corridors of the Ancient Tomb.

Yang Guo, who had initially harbored some wariness towards Lin Xuan, gradually became familiar with him.

For a half-grown boy like Yang Guo, life in the Ancient Tomb was an endless torment.

Granny Sun's death was an unhealed wound in his heart.

And his Master, the woman he called "Auntie," was beautiful beyond mortal reckoning, but also as cold as ice.

He respected her, and he feared her.

When he wanted to speak his heart to her, he was usually met with a faint glance and a two-word reply.

That distance could freeze any youth's warmth into an ice block.

His days consisted of only two things: practicing martial arts and staring blankly at the wall.

Lin Xuan's appearance was like a gust of warm wind carrying the scent of the human world, blowing away the stifling atmosphere.

He was more than just a playmate; he was like an older brother who understood everything.

That afternoon, Yang Guo was practicing martial arts in the stone chamber, sweat soaking the hair on his forehead. Lin Xuan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and smiled.

"Brother Yang, your palm technique has a decent foundation."

"It's just a shame," he changed tack, "your power is too rigid. You only know how to charge forward with brute force, completely wasting the essence of the Ancient Tomb Sect's martial arts, which emphasizes 'lightness, agility, skill, and change.'"