Try It and See

"Was this Soul Transfer really that powerful?" Madam Hu was secretly alarmed.

"It often worked wonders against those weaker than oneself or those harboring wicked thoughts," Song Qingshu explained. "For someone like you, Sister-in-law—highly skilled in martial arts and pure of heart—it was useless." Song Qingshu secretly counted himself fortunate. Previously, all his meridians had been severed, leaving him unable to cultivate even with such peerless martial arts as the Nine Yin Manual in hand. Unwilling to accept this, he had repeatedly studied its scripture and, to his delight, discovered that cultivating the Soul Shifting Great Method required no circulation of inner energy at all. It relied entirely on spiritual power. That was when Song Qingshu realized that, once the necessary conditions were met, he might instantly master martial arts.

"I don't believe you. The more you try to hide it, the more suspicious you seem." Madam Hu's voice became exceptionally sweet and innocent.

"Then would you like to try it?" Song Qingshu's heart suddenly raced as he stared straight at her.

Madam Hu glanced at him. Meeting his burning gaze, her heart trembled, and she replied as if possessed, "Try it and see."

"Sister-in-law, look into my eyes..." Having received the beauty's consent, how could Song Qingshu remain polite?

The moment Madam Hu's gaze met his, she felt herself falling into a vast whirlpool, her consciousness beginning to drift away.

"Sister-in-law, come embrace me." Though he wanted to do more, Song Qingshu still retained his reason and did not dare give overly excessive commands.

"Mmm~" Madam Hu answered in an incredibly alluring voice. Sure enough, she walked over step by step, spread her jade-like arms, and tightly embraced Song Qingshu, gently resting her head against his chest.

With her soft, fragrant body in his arms, Song Qingshu thought, I've really gone too far this time. In his panic, he quickly snapped his fingers. Madam Hu regained consciousness and, seeing their position, pushed Song Qingshu away in a mix of shame and anger.

"My mistake, my mistake," Song Qingshu explained awkwardly. "I forgot that I'd just mastered the Divine Illumination Skill. My inner strength might be just a tiny bit greater than yours..."

Madam Hu let out a faint sigh and gave him a complicated look. "Qingshu, this Soul Transfer of yours is truly an evil art. If you... were to lose your way for a moment, who knew how many respectable women's reputations would be ruined."

"Please don't misunderstand, Sister-in-law. I'm not that kind of man." Song Qingshu hurriedly cleared himself. "Martial arts themselves are neither good nor evil; only those who use them can be righteous or wicked. Guo Jing and Huang Rong know this skill as well. Do you think they are villains too?"

"All right, I can never outargue you." Madam Hu smiled faintly. "But promise me that you will never use this Soul Transfer on me again." Yet inwardly, she was both ashamed and angry. What if he lost control for a moment and made me serve him in bed? Wouldn't I...

"Rest assured, Sister-in-law. I will never use it on you again." Song Qingshu composed himself and gave his solemn promise.

"Then I am relieved." Madam Hu smiled radiantly. The rising sun shone upon her delicate, lovely cheeks, and Song Qingshu could not help staring at her in a daze.

Noticing his fixed gaze, Madam Hu made up her mind. "Qingshu, I fear it is time for me to take my leave."

Those few crisp, pleasant words struck Song Qingshu like thunderbolts. "Sister-in-law, I was wrong. I shouldn't have used those unorthodox methods to tease you."

"It has nothing to do with that." Madam Hu sighed softly. "I am a widow. Before, because I was helping you seek a way to heal your meridians, it was understandable for us to travel together. But now that your meridians have been healed, how can I continue to journey with you?"

"Then I would rather my meridians never be healed." Song Qingshu said petulantly.

"You are saying foolish things again." Seeing him occasionally reveal such a childlike side, Madam Hu found it somewhat amusing. After hesitating, she still advised him, "Qingshu, these past days, for various reasons, we have been... closer than an ordinary sister-in-law and brother-in-law should be."

"Our relationship is as pure as the sun and moon. There is nothing for us to be ashamed of," Song Qingshu said anxiously.

"What if I am ashamed?" Madam Hu's familiar words left Song Qingshu stunned. "Have you ever seen a brother-in-law and sister-in-law face each other naked?" Her words stirred both their hearts, and they fell silent together.

"Qingshu, I can also guess a little of what is in your heart..." After a while, Madam Hu continued.

Song Qingshu hurriedly opened his mouth, but Madam Hu gently pressed a slender jade finger to his lips. "Don't rush. Listen to me." The countless words Song Qingshu had wished to say were immediately pressed back into his stomach by that delicate finger.

"Qingshu, it is impossible between us. I am a widow, while you have a bright future ahead of you, and a girl destined for you still waiting." Madam Hu's voice remained as gentle and pleasant as ever, yet Song Qingshu felt profound fear. He knew that he might be losing her forever.

"I don't care!" Song Qingshu roared.

"But I do!" At that moment, Madam Hu's face became incomparably sacred as she said each word clearly, "I am Hu Yidao's wife. Even though he is dead, I am still his wife. I always will be!"

Madam Hu had always been somewhat afraid to confront the changes in her feelings of late. This time, the Soul Shifting Great Method had sounded an alarm, forcing her to make a final decision.

Song Qingshu fell silent. To a modern man, what did being a widow matter? So long as two people loved each other, nothing was a problem. But in this world, propriety and reputation were things everyone valued. He could not ask Madam Hu to be as open-minded as he was.

He had unconsciously avoided thinking about this issue before, but now that he considered it, even if Madam Hu agreed to be with him, the resistance they would face from society was not something the two of them could bear.

Back then, in order to gain an advantage, Song Qingshu had sworn brotherhood with the deceased Hu Yidao. If he ended up getting together with Hu Yidao's widow, not only Madam Hu but Song Qingshu himself would be utterly disgraced, and both would suffer the scorn of everyone in the world.

Song Qingshu was a mature man. Though he could sometimes be impulsive, he had never lacked reason. He quickly understood Madam Hu's decision.

Now he deeply regretted why he had so foolishly sworn brotherhood with Hu Yidao in the first place!

"Have you thought it through?" Seeing his expression gradually return to calmness, Madam Hu's heart ached, but she still hardened herself and asked.

"Mhm." Song Qingshu nodded with a bitter smile. "As I am now, I cannot withstand the storm that may come, much less shelter you from it. But don't worry, Sister-in-law. One day, I will make it impossible for anyone in the world to oppose us."

"What nonsense are you saying~" Madam Hu spat lightly. "I don't care what you are thinking. Since you have understood, I am leaving."

"Sister-in-law, I've changed my mind. I plan to use Soul Transfer on you one more time." Song Qingshu suddenly looked up and grinned.

Madam Hu was startled and hurriedly shut her eyes. "Qingshu, what are you doing?"

"I was only joking." Song Qingshu sighed. "It is just that after all this time, I still do not know your given name. It truly feels regrettable. I thought of using the Soul Shifting Great Method to ask."

Madam Hu glared at him irritably. "Do you know that, aside from one's closest relatives, a woman's given name is generally told only to her husband?"

"I know." Song Qingshu's smiling reply made Madam Hu choke up. She rolled her eyes at him. "I can't be bothered with you." She turned and left on her own.

After walking several dozen paces, Madam Hu looked back and saw Song Qingshu still standing there, staring blankly after her. Her heart softened. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called out, "Brother Hu used to call me Bing Xue'er." Having said that, she used her lightness skill and fled the scene as swiftly as if she could fly.