Chapter Thirteen: Guidance / Chapter Fourteen: The Elder and Younger Wu Brothers Challenge Him

Author's note: The contract is almost signed. There are three more chapters today.

Chapter Thirteen: Guidance

That afternoon, the sun shone warmly, and a gentle breeze stirred the emerald bamboo in the Guo Mansion's courtyard, making it rustle softly.

Guo Fu was drenched in sweat as she practiced the palm techniques of Peach Blossom Island on the training ground. She wore a tight-fitting, emerald-green martial outfit that accentuated her graceful, shapely figure. Her full breasts trembled slightly with every thrust of her palm; her slender waist could be encircled with one hand, and her long, straight legs displayed startling explosive power and elegant curves as she moved. Fine beads of sweat covered her oval face and slid over skin as smooth as jade, accentuating her bright, alert almond-shaped eyes and making her look all the more youthful and radiant.

Today, however, she seemed distracted. Halfway through the palm routine, she suddenly stopped. No matter how many times she tried, she couldn't link the moves together smoothly. Irritably, she ran a hand through her hair. A few strands of black hair stuck to her smooth forehead, leaving her looking a little disheveled, though no less alluring.

"Ugh! How am I supposed to make the form disperse without scattering the intent?" she muttered, withdrawing her hand in frustration and angrily kicking the stone stool beside her.

Just then, a clear, gentle voice came from nearby.

"Senior Sister's breathing is a little unsteady, and your palm technique falters here. I imagine you're still puzzled by the move you just performed."

Guo Fu jolted and turned sharply toward the voice.

Lin Xuan stood in a shadowed corner, half-hidden by bamboo. He wore a simple blue robe today, his tall figure upright. His long, ink-black hair was tied back with an unadorned cloth band, with a few unruly strands hanging over his forehead, giving him a casual air. He walked toward her at an unhurried pace, and an understated yet impossible-to-ignore magnetism seemed to surround him.

It was the masculine allure naturally radiated after being nourished by the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique—restrained and steady, yet possessing an intangible pull.

"You... What are you doing here?!" A faint blush rose over Guo Fu's pretty face, mixing embarrassment with irritation. She hated being seen in such a sorry state, especially by Lin Xuan, the fellow she both resented and couldn't help being curious about.

Lin Xuan paid no attention to her annoyance. He stopped three feet away, his gaze calm, without a trace of mockery or teasing.

"I was just passing by and happened to see you practicing." His tone was even and unthreatening. When he looked at Guo Fu, there was none of the disdain she was used to, nor the fawning flattery of the spoiled young masters. There was only pure, untainted curiosity—and... concern.

"The palm technique you were practicing just now is indeed exquisite in how it shifts between solid and yielding. However, the force travels down your arm and disperses somewhat at the wrist. You haven't gathered the strength of your whole body at your fingertips."

His voice was low and unusually resonant, as if it could reach straight into a person's heart. Guo Fu furrowed her brows despite herself. Much as she hated to admit it, Lin Xuan had pinpointed exactly what had been troubling her.

"So what?" she retorted stubbornly, though she guiltily avoided his gaze.

Lin Xuan smiled faintly. His smile was gentle and confident, with the ease of someone who seemed able to see through everything. "To make the form disperse without scattering the intent, you need to focus the force into a single line. Let it start from your waist and hips, pass through your arm, and reach your fingertips. Don't rely on arm strength alone."

As he spoke, he stepped closer, closing the distance by a foot. Guo Fu's heart tightened. She instinctively wanted to retreat, but his clear eyes drew her in, and she felt as if she were rooted to the spot.

"Senior Sister, hold out your hand. I'll show you."

Guo Fu hesitated, torn inside. Reason told her she shouldn't let him get so close. But she remembered the tingling comfort she'd felt when Lin Xuan had guided her a few days earlier, and the temptation of how quickly her martial arts had improved made it hard to refuse. As if in a daze, she slowly held out her right hand.

Her hand was slender and soft. Lin Xuan gently took her wrist, his fingertips warm. Their heat passed through her thin sleeve and reached her delicate, jade-like skin. A strange tingling sensation surged from her wrist and spread throughout her body, making her tremble and her heart race.

The distinctive "magnetic charm" brought by the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique had neither shape nor color, yet it affected Guo Fu's sensitive nerves in a far more direct way. She could clearly feel the warmth of Lin Xuan's fingertips and the pure, masculine vitality of a young man radiating from his palm.

"Look, Senior Sister. Your wrist strength is strong, but when you exert yourself, the force from your elbow doesn't fully reach your fingertips." Lin Xuan's voice was low and resonant. He leaned a little closer, and his fresh, clean scent brushed past Guo Fu's ear.

"Take this move, Empty-Handed Seizes the Blade. If you engage the strength of your waist and hips when you apply force through the wrist, then..."

His left hand settled gently on Guo Fu's waist, with a subtle, indescribable deftness. Her emerald martial outfit wasn't thick, and the warmth of his palm passed through the fabric, pressing directly against her slender, supple waist.

Guo Fu's body stiffened, and her breath nearly stopped. She felt the breadth and strength of Lin Xuan's palm, the sensation of it against her skin, and the faintest brush of his fingertips. Her heart pounded, and her face burned. She'd never been so close to any man—not even the Wu brothers, who had grown up with her, had ever been so "bold."

The tingling spread rapidly from her waist, like an electric current running through her limbs, making her shapely legs feel weak. She felt ashamed and resistant, yet an inexplicable pleasure began to bloom deep within her. It was as if a dormant desire in the depths of her body had awakened, craving the pleasure brought by his touch.

"Senior Sister, using your waist and hips isn't about brute force. Guide the movement with finesse, and you'll be able to gather the strength of your whole body into a single strike." Lin Xuan's voice sounded beside her ear, coaxing her attention back to the martial arts.

He held her wrist and guided her movements gently. Each time she struck out, the hand resting at her waist applied just the right amount of pressure, turning her body slightly and engaging her hips. To Guo Fu's astonishment, her previously stiff movements became smooth and natural under Lin Xuan's guidance, and the wind from her palm seemed sharper as well.

She looked at Lin Xuan, her gaze complicated. The young man before her wasn't being frivolous or acting strangely. He was simply calm and focused, as if all he was doing was teaching her martial arts. But she couldn't fool herself about how her body was reacting.

"What... What's happening?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly, confusion and bewilderment filling her eyes.

Lin Xuan smiled faintly and removed his hand from her waist, but didn't immediately release her wrist.

"This is a method of guiding energy through the meridians. The path of martial arts requires cultivating both the outer and inner self. The outer practice strengthens the sinews, bones, and skin; the inner practice cultivates a breath of energy. Only by perfectly combining your energy with your techniques can you reach a higher level." He explained calmly, with unshakable confidence.

He gently rotated the jade-like wrist he was holding, as if demonstrating a more complicated variation. Guo Fu followed his movement unconsciously, leaning forward. Instead of letting go of her wrist, Lin Xuan guided her along with the motion, turning her around until she faced him.

"Senior Sister, the essence of this move lies in the burst of strength from your feet and its connection to your waist and hips." As he spoke, his gaze fell on her long, shapely legs beneath her martial outfit, then returned to her full breasts, which were rising and falling a little faster after her movements. A hint of scrutiny flickered in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"When you strike, the force begins in your lower body and moves through your waist. It must travel from bottom to top, then erupt from within." He gently rested his left hand on her shoulder to steady her.

"Imagine concentrating the force of a strike at a single point." Holding her wrist, he raised her arm slightly and guided it down in a palm strike.

"Thud!"

The instant his palm came down, Guo Fu felt a strange tremor travel from her wrist through her whole body. It was as if an invisible wave of energy had burst from deep within her.

Now! Lin Xuan exclaimed softly. His palm suddenly left Guo Fu's wrist, then moved downward with a careless yet indescribably deft motion and delivered a firm, light smack to her springy bottom!

"Smack..." The soft sound rang out especially clearly across the quiet training ground.

Guo Fu stiffened as if struck by lightning.

Her blood rushed to her face, making it burn so hot she could almost feel steam rising from her skin.

Her eyes flew wide as she stared at Lin Xuan in disbelief.

He... He... He actually dared?!

Guo Fu's mind roared. She'd never imagined something like this could happen to her—especially at the hands of Lin Xuan, the Junior Brother she hated, yet felt some faint, complicated affection for!

Anger, shame, shock, disbelief... Every emotion surged through her heart at once, tangling into a mess.

Yet for some reason, the hand she raised froze in midair, then slowly fell back to her side.

Lin Xuan had already withdrawn his hand and stood before her with a calm smile. His gaze was clear and sincere, as if that smack had been nothing more than an ordinary part of teaching martial arts. He even explained it with complete seriousness:

"Did you feel that, Senior Sister? That was the point where the force traveled from your waist and hips to your fingertips and burst out. Using your bottom as a pivot lets you unleash such powerful force."

His tone was calm and professional, as if he really were explaining nothing but the pure principles of martial arts, with no connection whatsoever to relations between men and women.

Seeing him act so solemnly only made Guo Fu angrier. She opened her mouth, wanting to curse him, scold him, and demand to know what he was really after. But her pretty red lips seemed glued shut, and she couldn't utter a word.

She could still feel the spot he'd smacked growing warm. As she recovered from the shock, the tingling sensation quietly spread.

"You... You... You..." Guo Fu felt completely drained, her mind in chaos. Her bright, star-like almond eyes had filled with tears. They held a trace of humiliation, along with complicated feelings she hadn't even noticed herself.

Author's note:

Author's note: There are two more chapters. I'll hurry and finish them tonight.

Chapter Fourteen: The Elder and Younger Wu Brothers Challenge Him

Guo Fu's watery almond eyes brimmed with tears as she glared at Lin Xuan, furious and confused. She wanted to curse him out and lash him with her whip, but it felt as if all her strength had been drained away. Her legs were weak, and even lifting her hand felt strangely difficult.

Lin Xuan remained as composed as ever, his eyes clear. It was as though she were nothing more than a specimen for him to study.

"You!" Guo Fu spun around and fled. She moved with an uncharacteristic clumsiness, several strands of hair flying wildly across her smooth, full forehead. Her pretty oval face was so red it seemed ready to drip blood.

She didn't care about her appearance or whether anyone else might see her in such an embarrassing state. All she could think of was running back to her bedroom. Her heart pounded against her chest with every beat, and her blood roiled uncontrollably.

On the training ground, Lin Xuan watched Guo Fu's graceful figure flee in a panic and smiled faintly. There was an indescribable meaning in his smile, as if everything were under his control.

"That girl has a nice ass..." he muttered softly, too quietly for anyone but himself to hear.

Guo Fu hurried back to her bedroom. The door slammed shut, cutting off all the noise outside. She leaned against it and panted heavily, her ample chest heaving beneath her already tight martial outfit, which outlined her curvaceous figure even more strikingly.

She was consumed by shame and fury. That bastard! That lecher! He'd actually dared! He'd actually dared do such a thing to her! It was the height of humiliation!

Strangely, though, cursing him did nothing to ease her anger. Deep down, the tingling sensation kept washing over her like a tide. The spot he'd smacked seemed to still retain his body heat, burning hot with a peculiar itch.

The strange pleasure it had given her was indescribable.

She raised a trembling hand and gently touched her bottom, her fingertips meeting its astonishing springiness through the fabric. The clear sound of that smack echoed in her mind, as if it were still ringing in her ears. Her cheeks grew hotter, as though they might catch fire at any moment.

"How could this happen..." Guo Fu sank onto the edge of the bed, her legs feeling weak. She covered her face with her hands, feeling moisture against her palms—sweat or tears, she couldn't tell.

She remembered Lin Xuan's handsome face, calm as still water, and his eyes, clear as a spring. He'd looked so serious and so "professional," as if he really had only been teaching her martial arts.

But her body's reaction couldn't lie. Her racing heart, the tingling, the urge to be touched again...

Guo Fu felt completely drained, her mind in chaos. Her bright, star-like almond eyes were now full of tears, holding both humiliation and complicated feelings she hadn't even noticed herself.

She'd been doted on by everyone since childhood, and the Wu brothers had always fawned over her. She'd never experienced such "boldness" before. Yet that very boldness held a fatal appeal.

He wasn't as obsequious as the Elder and Younger Wu brothers, nor did he flatter her like everyone else. He always carried himself with a composure beyond his years, as if everything were under his control. And time and again, she lost her composure in front of him.

She picked up the bronze mirror from her vanity. Reflected in it was a face flushed all the way to the neck, her almond eyes hazy, her hair disheveled, and her pretty oval face looking more delicate than ever. She could hardly bear to look at herself and quickly put the mirror down.

She lay on the bed and pulled the covers over her head, but she could still feel the strange warmth and tingling in the spot Lin Xuan had smacked.

She tossed and turned, replaying the scene over and over in her mind. Lin Xuan's masculine palm had roamed gently over her back and waist, leaving her body limp even as her Internal Energy improved.

She felt as if Lin Xuan had completely gotten the better of her. Every time, she thought she could take the initiative and put him under her thumb. But every time, the young man turned the tables in a way she never expected.

She was even growing more and more dependent on him. His unique, fresh, masculine scent seemed to possess a certain magic. Whenever her mood was unsettled, it would quietly creep in and lead her further astray.

On the training ground, two figures strode toward Lin Xuan, full of menace.

They were none other than Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen.

They had been hiding beneath a large tree nearby, hoping to wait until Guo Fu finished practicing so they could go and ingratiate themselves with her. Instead, they'd seen her run off with a blush on her face after Lin Xuan's instruction.

They hadn't heard what the two had said, let alone seen Lin Xuan smack her. But the sight of Guo Fu looking almost as if she were fleeing, together with the meaningful smile on Lin Xuan's face, led them to jump to the wrong conclusion.

"Lin Xuan! You... Did you bully Fu?" Wu Dunru cried, eyes wide as he rushed up to Lin Xuan and clenched his fists, looking ready to stand up for Guo Fu.

He was broad-shouldered and rugged-looking, his face flushed. He seemed quite fierce.

Wu Xiuwen followed close behind. Though he was more slender than his elder brother, his face was tight with anger. "Lin Xuan, you've been in the Guo Mansion for only a few months, and already you dare act so brazenly! Fu is a noble young lady. How dare an outsider like you mistreat her?"

As he spoke, he kept a wary eye on Lin Xuan. The sword in his hand slid an inch from its scabbard with a soft ring.

At their words, Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curving into the faintest smile. As expected, the Elder and Younger Wu brothers were Guo Fu's loyal "lapdogs," unable to tolerate even the slightest offense against her. Yet he wasn't angry. He actually found it a little amusing.

"You two Senior Brothers are mistaken." Lin Xuan's tone remained calm, without a trace of anger. "Senior Sister merely grew flustered when she hit a bottleneck in her practice. I offered a little guidance. How is that mistreatment?"

He held up a small booklet. "These are the martial arts notes I compiled, and I was about to give them to Senior Sister for reference. How is that in any way improper?"

Wu Dunru snorted through his nose, clearly unconvinced. He had no idea that Lin Xuan's method of teaching involved repeatedly making "physical contact." "Hmph! For all we know, that booklet is full of unorthodox, evil techniques! Fu is pure and innocent. How dare someone with ulterior motives like you get near her?"

Wu Xiuwen was even more indignant. "Lin Xuan, Fu has always treated you generously! Yet you don't know how to be grateful and only grow bolder! Do you know what will happen to you if this reaches Master's ears?"

The two of them spoke as if they were Guo Fu's "protectors," their words full of superiority and self-righteousness. In their eyes, Lin Xuan was still the same lowly "country bumpkin" with no known background and little martial skill.

Lin Xuan sighed softly, a trace of mockery in his eyes. He knew there was no point in saying more. These two lapdogs were already blinded by jealousy and misunderstanding. It seemed a "spar" was unavoidable today. Fine—he'd beat them up and make them understand who was boss.

"If you two Senior Brothers insist I'm in the wrong, then name your terms. We can spar. Blades and swords have no eyes, so let's agree to stop before anyone gets hurt." Lin Xuan put away the booklet and set it gently on the stone stool nearby, his manner unhurried.

He wore a blue robe, its hem fluttering in the breeze. The "magnetic charm" he radiated brought an intangible pressure, yet he seemed like a still lake, unfathomable.

Wu Dunru grew even angrier at Lin Xuan's "arrogance." "You've got some nerve, Lin Xuan! You actually dare challenge us brothers! Today, your elder brother will teach you about respecting your elders and knowing your place!"

Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen had both become disciples of Guo Jing. Their martial arts weren't top-notch, but they were still outstanding among their generation. They rarely met an opponent and were usually quite conceited. As far as they were concerned, Lin Xuan was just an inexperienced young man. How skilled could he possibly be?

"Elder Brother! Let him see what we can do!" Wu Xiuwen said, drawing his sword with a sharp ring and pointing its tip at Lin Xuan.

Wu Dunru drew his own sword and strode forward. "Take this!"

The brothers attacked from both sides in perfect coordination. Wu Dunru's swordwork was broad and powerful, fierce as a tiger; Wu Xiuwen's was light and nimble, tricky as a snake. Swordlight flashed, and a chill filled the air as their figures moved in tandem, blocking off every route of escape.

Lin Xuan simply stood where he was, unhurried. He didn't draw the sword on his back. Instead, he clasped his hands behind him, lowered his stance slightly, and let his qi circulate, like an ancient pine rooted in the earth.

Facing Wu Dunru's heavy sword as it came crashing down, Lin Xuan shifted half a foot to the left with uncanny speed. Wu Dunru's sword tip barely brushed the edge of his robe.

Then Wu Xiuwen's slender sword stabbed toward Lin Xuan's waist from a tricky angle. Lin Xuan twisted, engaging his waist and hips to evade it with incredible flexibility. The strength in his torso, seemingly brought to its full potential by the Yin Yang Deficit Supplementation Technique, was so supple that he wriggled like a serpent.

Wu Dunru and Wu Xiuwen were astonished when their first strikes missed, but their anger quickly flared even higher. They'd practiced their coordinated double-sword technique for years, yet Lin Xuan had dodged both attacks barehanded. It was humiliating!

"Lin Xuan! Do you think you can win by dodging?!" Wu Dunru roared. His sword swept around and slashed at Lin Xuan again with the force of a gale. Wu Xiuwen's swordplay grew even more fierce, each move aimed at Lin Xuan's vital points.

Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as his true qi surged and an invisible aura spread from him. He stopped merely dodging and began to counterattack. His movements were graceful and swift. Each step landed on a node in the natural flow of the world, as if he had become one with the training ground.

He used no palm technique or martial art from any sect. He simply dismantled the brothers' attacks through instinctive movements that nevertheless embodied the highest principles of martial arts.

When Wu Dunru thrust the tip of his sword straight toward Lin Xuan's chest, Lin Xuan loosely formed a grip with his left hand. Without the slightest wasted motion, he caught the spine of Wu Dunru's sword with pinpoint precision. His fingers trembled slightly, and a surge of Internal Energy shot along the sword into Wu Dunru's arm.

Wu Dunru felt a numbness in his hand, and his sword nearly flew from his grasp. Before he could react, Lin Xuan's right hand flashed out and gently tapped his shoulder, slow in appearance yet astonishingly fast.

"Click!" A soft sound rang out. Wu Dunru felt a numbness in his shoulder, and his entire arm instantly went limp. His sword clattered to the ground. His Internal Energy seemed to have been thrown into disarray by an invisible force, surging wildly through his meridians in a manner that was hard to bear.

Wu Xiuwen was stunned. He hadn't expected his elder brother to be unable to withstand even a single move from Lin Xuan! Forgetting about attacking, he spun around to help him.

Lin Xuan was faster. He didn't even take a step; he simply turned halfway around, his robe fluttering loudly. As Wu Xiuwen turned, Lin Xuan's toes touched down lightly, and he appeared beside him as if he had shifted through space.

"Senior Brother, this move, Wind Returns Willow Brushes, leaves your center of gravity unstable, making it easy for someone to exploit an opening." Lin Xuan's calm voice sounded beside Wu Xiuwen's ear, with an almost instructive air.

Before Wu Xiuwen could react, he felt a chill at his wrist, followed by a powerful force. The sword in his hand was easily snatched away by Lin Xuan. With a casual flick, Lin Xuan brought the sword tip to Wu Xiuwen's neck. The icy touch made Wu Xiuwen's hair stand on end.

"I yield." Lin Xuan returned the sword to Wu Xiuwen's scabbard, his tone indifferent, as if he'd done nothing more than a trivial task.

The entire exchange had taken less than the time it took to drink half a cup of tea!