Harlot's Style

Qu Feiyan pointed at Li Zhuoguang and complained to Qu Yang, "Grandpa, he promised you he'd take good care of me, but instead, he makes me wash his clothes every day."

Wang Jingyuan rolled his eyes. Did she think complaining to her elder would make him feel guilty or ashamed? Back then, he'd abducted the Demonic God Veil's pet Babas and never intended to return it.

When he walked past Veil's statue with Babas, was he embarrassed? He simply pretended not to see it and continued walking his dog. Qu Yang, upon hearing his granddaughter's complaint, merely chuckled, "You're not a child anymore. It's time you learned how to do chores and take care of yourself."

Hearing this, Wang Jingyuan knew Qu Yang wasn't here to kill in a fit of rage. He walked over and nudged Qu Feiyan with his chin, "When adults are talking, children should go wash clothes."

Just as Qu Feiyan was about to retort, Qu Yang said, "Feifei, I have a few words I'd like to say to Young Hero Wang."

Qu Feiyan's lips pouted high. She glared at Wang Jingyuan and left. After Qu Feiyan was gone, Qu Yang revealed his purpose, "I met with Brother Liu recently. Although Brother Liu had some reservations about your recent actions... he still approves of your plan. So, he's been keeping an eye on your movements these past few days.

Brother Liu noticed that since you arrived in Hengyang City, you've been constantly on the move, and just now you outsmarted Tian Boguang. It doesn't look like a coincidence.

Brother Liu is injured and cannot travel easily, so he asked me to tell you that you have his gratitude. If there's anything you wish to do, he still has some strength left and can lend you a hand."

Wang Jingyuan smiled. He hadn't expected Liu Zhengfeng to know about the calamity awaiting him so soon. On the brink of disaster, instead of consolidating his resources, he was thinking of repaying a debt of gratitude.

But that was fine. In a way, his movements around Hengyang City were precisely to help Liu Zhengfeng smoothly complete the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony.

Without hesitation, Wang Jingyuan spoke directly, "I do need him to do two things. First, since he's preparing to withdraw from the Jianghu, he'll inevitably sell off some assets that are inconvenient to take with him. Therefore, Liu Manor should be quite wealthy now. I need him to give me as much silver as possible; I have a use for it.

Second, he needs to immediately write a letter to Sect Leader Mo, asking him to come to Hengyang City to meet him before the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony. At that time, you two will need to reveal everything to Sect Leader Mo and request his help."

Qu Yang frowned, "This..."

He could understand the first request, but the second seemed like a path to certain death.

Wang Jingyuan saw his hesitation but didn't explain. He simply said, "I've always thought Third Master Liu was an extraordinary man. As a disciple of the righteous path, he could befriend a Demonic Cult elder through music.

Yet, he can also treat a senior brother he learned martial arts with since childhood like a stranger, to the point that after decades, he still doesn't truly know what kind of person his senior brother is."

Qu Yang became even more confused, but he decided to relay the message to Liu Zhengfeng first and let him decide. Qu Yang gave Qu Feiyan a few more instructions and then left.

Seeing her back leave, Qu Feiyan obediently returned to the courtyard and started scrubbing clothes. Wang Jingyuan shook his head and called her over, "Even though it's fake, you still called me Master, so I might as well teach you something."

Two small swords were sheathed at Qu Feiyan's waist. Wang Jingyuan drew one of them as he spoke.

Holding the small sword with both hands, Wang Jingyuan raised it above his head, the blade hanging behind his back, adopting a posture as if to swing it with full force. But he twisted his waist, letting the blade slash out from his side in a horizontal cut. "This feint is called the Noblewoman's Stance. It's extremely deceptive and is a sword technique from the West.

However, this move requires a large and heavy sword to be effective. Years ago, a friend dragged me to a combat club for a few days. I mainly practiced with a military saber, so I couldn't unleash the full power of the Noblewoman's Stance either.

But I do like these highly deceptive feints, so I modified it slightly."

As he spoke, Wang Jingyuan held his short sword in front of his chest, assuming a posture as if to thrust straight forward. Suddenly, he lowered his body, took a large step forward, but instead of thrusting the sword, he swept it upwards with a backhand motion.

Wang Jingyuan continued his explanation, "The Noblewoman's Stance uses one's back to conceal the changes in the sword and hand, achieving a surprise effect. My move, on the other hand, uses the moment of sinking and leaning forward to conceal with the body, also aiming for surprise.

Because this move is extremely unfriendly to men and is quite insidious, I call it the Harlot's Style. With your small stature, this move will be even more effective. Practice it well."

Qu Feiyan showed a look of disgust, "That name is too vulgar, I won't learn it."

"Fool, once the sword technique is in your hands, you can call it whatever you want. I don't care."

Hearing this, Qu Feiyan grudgingly accepted, "The essence of this stance is to sink the body and conceal the sword. Then I'll call it the Butterfly Pounce Stance."

Wang Jingyuan waved his hand, "Whatever you say. And the essence of this move isn't about hiding the sword. When you're fighting for your life, you use whatever works.

When you use this move, remember to prepare some lime powder. Even if someone blocks the sword, they can't block the lime powder. Also, you use dual swords. You can make a motion of thrusting both swords simultaneously and randomly use the Harlot's Style with one of them."

Qu Feiyan shook her head, "Using lime is too underhanded, I won't use it."

"You Demonic Cult heretic, you find underhanded tactics despicable? You're forgetting your roots!"

"I'll use poison powder."

"That's not impossible either."

By evening, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze returned. During dinner, they mentioned they had visited Liu Zhengfeng. It was then that Wang Jingyuan realized why Qu Yang had chosen to see him today.

After practicing the Zixia Divine Skill, Wang Jingyuan discovered that while it consumed a lot of Internal Energy and couldn't be used frequently, it actually enhanced one's five senses.

Recalling carefully, he remembered that in the original work, when describing Yue Buqun eavesdropping on Lin Pingzhi and Lao De Nuo, it was written, "Yue Buqun knew that if these two were to speak, their voices would be low, so he immediately activated the Zixia Divine Skill. Instantly, his ears and eyes became doubly sensitive, his hearing and sight both extending far."

From Qu Yang's earlier words, it could be inferred that he had been in Hengyang City for the past few days, most likely at Liu Manor. Yue Buqun, a human-sized radar, visiting, would naturally make him want to avoid trouble and leave.

At dinner, besides mentioning his whereabouts for the day, Yue Buqun also emphasized hearing about his disciple outsmarting Tian Boguang at Liu Manor and praised the matter greatly.

He didn't spare any praise for Wang Jingyuan, the subject of the commendation, showering him with compliments for a full fifteen minutes. The disciples at the table who were more familiar with Yue Buqun felt uncomfortable. When had their Master ever praised someone like this?

Moreover, some of the phrasing sounded almost... sycophantic?