Smoothing Edges

"Sister Mian, is my technique acceptable?" After one round of massage, Su Yuan gripped Gao Mian's arm, his fingertips pressing into her firm muscles as he began the routine kneading.

"Your finger technique has improved, though I don't know much about such arts. The martial arts of Great Liang emphasize brute force and ferocity; such delicate skills are rare."

Before her voice had even faded, a strange vibration surged from beneath the skin of her arm, piercing like fine needles and instantly penetrating Su Yuan's fingertips.

The vibration left Su Yuan's fingers numb, followed by a sharp, stinging pain: "Sister Mian, what is this? Stop, please, I'm going to break!"

Gao Mian withdrew her strength and explained: "This is internal energy, the foundation of a brute-force martial artist. It can be projected through the body. Different techniques produce different energies. Blood-condensing martial artists can hardly withstand it. You are not yet a martial artist, so I only used a sliver. By using the energy to counter-stimulate, it may help you quickly temper your finger strength."

"Sister Mian, thank you." Su Yuan felt moved; she was truly putting effort into planning for him.

From then on, Su Yuan continued the massage, while Gao Mian intentionally coated her arms in wisps of internal energy, which Su Yuan had to grind down with his finger strength to train himself.

[Origin-Returning Finger: 231/500 (Minor Accomplishment)]

[Tempering: 1843/2000 (Perfect)]

It really works! Even the tempering skill is improving. If I can obtain a trait from polishing this internal energy, it must be extraordinary.

Su Yuan had an epiphany, and while massaging, he secretly practiced the moves of the Origin-Returning Finger, working even more enthusiastically.

Gao Mian closed her eyes to feel the force at his fingertips, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Once the massage was finished, Gao Mian pulled Su Yuan up, intending to find Shan Xiongqing.

"Sister Mian, will the Young Master acknowledge me as his brother?"

This visit was originally intended to be a confrontation.

Who would have thought that Young Master Chai would avoid mentioning the matter entirely, and the Madam would instead adopt him as her sworn younger brother? This development was truly unexpected.

"Why would I need his acknowledgment? I am merely informing him." Gao Mian's tone was indifferent.

Upon arriving at the main hall, it was clear the two young masters had not yet reached an agreement.

Tie Niu was still standing in his original spot.

Seeing Su Yuan being led out by a tall, striking woman, his eyes widened into circles as he stared over in curiosity.

Su Yuan wanted to pull his hand away, but Gao Mian did not let go.

She raised her voice for all to hear: "From today on, Su Yuan is my sworn younger brother. To see him is to see me."

As her words fell, the servants in the hall looked at one another in silence.

Han Gui was also stunned: The Madam isn't even pretending anymore, but how did they become siblings?

He immediately realized that if seeing him was the same as seeing the Madam, then Su Yuan's status in the Shan Estate would be higher than his own.

This was completely improper!

More importantly, Su Yuan wasn't even a martial artist yet.

If the Young Master found out he had gained a third-class lowly slave as a brother, he would likely be furious.

Tie Niu scratched his head, wondering if he should step forward and call him brother.

Gao Mian, however, said no more and pulled Su Yuan toward the side hall.

"Sister Yun, look at my newly adopted brother. Little Yuan, call her Sister Yun." Gao Mian led Su Yuan to Yun Xu with a smile.

Today, Yun Xu had changed into a plain white dress, looking much thinner, which gave her a unique, delicate charm.

She raised her eyes, her cold gaze locking onto Su Yuan.

"Sister Yun." Su Yuan called out first, feeling somewhat flustered by her stare. "Is it necessary to tell everyone?"

"Hmph, where I come from, family is always the most worth showing off. I did this so you would remember to practice your martial arts diligently and not lose face for me."

"Sister Mian, I will certainly not let you down. I will perform well at the Wolf God Festival in three months and win glory for you," Su Yuan said solemnly.

But Gao Mian shook her head: "Three months is too difficult. Wait for next year; don't damage your foundation just to show off."

Su Yuan's lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.

At this moment, Yun Xu's lips parted slightly, and she mouthed silently: You disappointed me.

Seeing this, Su Yuan spoke up: "Both sisters have changed their attire today, and it has been a long time since I painted for you. Why don't I take this opportunity to capture your portraits?"

Gao Mian nodded upon hearing this: "Alright, but I must go change my clothes. I'm all sweaty and disheveled like this."

"Sister Mian looks beautiful no matter what."

"Smooth talker." Gao Mian scolded him with a smile and turned to leave the hall to change.

Once she was gone, Su Yuan finally dared to meet Yun Xu's gaze: "Miss Yun, the task you entrusted to me has been completed. I apologize for the delay."

He briefly described his experience from last night.

After listening, a glimmer of brilliance finally flashed in Yun Xu's eyes.

She could distinguish the truth of Su Yuan's words, and Shan Xiongqing's behavior this morning did indeed seem more like a deception.

So it was that something had happened at the horse farm, which was why he was so agitated.

A look of relief appeared on Yun Xu's face: "Thank you. You must have been terrified over this past month. Now that the news has been spread, I can be free, and you no longer need to fear that I will expose you."

The chains on her body chimed softly, as if she were about to end her own life.

Su Yuan was startled and blurted out, "Could you allow me to run far away first?"

"..."

Yun Xu's movements paused. "You may go."

Su Yuan subconsciously took two steps back, but then abruptly stopped himself.

"Why haven't you left yet?"

"Miss Yun, you cannot die right now. If you take your own life while we are alone, how could I possibly clear my name?"

"So afraid of death?" Yun Xu's tone was mocking. "At this distance, it wouldn't be hard for me to take you with me."

"Miss Yun, you are a good person. You are just desperate to die and haven't thought it through, not truly wishing to harm me."

Reason told Su Yuan that he should run out of the side hall immediately; perhaps he could even make up an excuse to cover his tracks.

Yet, for some reason, his feet felt rooted to the ground. He took one step back, then two, and then stopped moving entirely.

Yun Xu sighed softly. "You are right. Dying now is not worth it. I should find an opportunity to drag Shan Xiongqing to the grave with me; only then would it be a fair trade."

Su Yuan nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! If Miss Yun holds on for a while longer, perhaps your family will come to rescue you? Staying alive is what matters most; only then can you exact more revenge."

Yun Xu smiled as well. "But my internal energy is constantly draining away, and I fear I cannot deal with him. Come here; I have a method that might help me stimulate my blood and energy, but it requires your assistance."

"This..." Su Yuan hesitated.

"The method is harmless; it only consumes some of your strength," Yun Xu added, a faint flush sweeping across her cheeks.

Su Yuan stepped forward in the end.

What she taught him was a technique of kneading and massage.

Am I about to transition from a carpenter to a masseur?

Su Yuan placed his hands on Yun Xu's palms. They were slender and long with distinct finger bones, cold as jade to the touch, save for the thin calluses on her fingertips from years of martial arts practice, and her wrist bones, which protruded slightly due to her emaciation.

At the moment of contact, Yun Xu's body visibly tensed.

Something Shan Xiongqing failed to do, I have managed to do. Su Yuan felt a sense of pressure.

The trust Yun Xu was placing in him was not light.

The chains rattled, and a flickering force emanated from her palms, with bulges appearing beneath her skin as if something were trying to break through.

Su Yuan was so frightened he nearly pulled his hands away to flee.

Yun Xu said, "Don't be afraid. Grind the energy for me; increase the force."

Su Yuan steeled himself, gripping her hands to continue kneading, working to disperse and smooth out those protruding ridges.

Feeling the firm force, Yun Xu bit her lip, her face flushed as she exerted all her effort to regulate the energy within her body.

[Grinding: 1947/2000 (Perfected)]

Unlike when Gao Mian used energy to counter-stimulate Su Yuan, this time it felt as if he were being squeezed dry. He had exhausted almost all his strength to help her refine her energy, and he collapsed to the ground.

Yun Xu closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, and the color in her face had indeed improved.

She suddenly opened her eyes, revealing a look of shock. "You have become a martial artist? Are you practicing the Golden Horse-Head Technique?"

She remembered that Su Yuan had only taken the manual a little over a month ago.

With his low-tier aptitude, how had he managed this?

This speed was no longer inferior to her own high-tier aptitude.

Su Yuan was also startled: How did she see through it? Just from the strength in my hands?

Yun Xu's lips curled into a faint arc. "You have low-tier aptitude, yet you can progress this quickly; you must be hiding secrets."

Su Yuan's expression darkened slightly.

"Precisely because you have this potential, I must stay alive to keep an eye on you. If I leave you be and you are truly tamed by the Liang People, in time, Great Jing will have gained a formidable enemy." Yun Xu's tone turned stern.

"I stay in Great Liang only because they allow me to grow stronger. To me, Great Jing and Great Liang are no different." Su Yuan spoke frankly; they were both feudal dynasties from another world, ruled by noble families, with no moral superiority between them.

Hearing this, Yun Xu's gaze became even more resolute. "Then I must guide you onto the right path. I will teach you the Cloud-Veiling Art, which can conceal your aura. However, this technique is difficult to master and will require my guidance many times. In the future, you will continue to lurk among the Liang People to pass on information; you can grow just as strong following Great Jing."

Su Yuan was overjoyed. He had long wanted to learn a concealment technique; the fact that the Cloud-Striding Martial Hall had remained hidden until now meant the Cloud-Veiling Art must be the key.

"Then let's begin! And that Cloud-Striding Palm, along with your self-preservation secret arts—can you teach me those as well?"

Compared to the people of the Cloud-Striding Martial Hall, Yun Xu was clearly more trustworthy.

Yun Xu rolled her eyes at him. "In your dreams. We shall see how you perform in the future before I decide."

Su Yuan nodded and listened intently.

Yun Xu began to whisper the incantations and the key points of applying the Cloud-Veiling Art.

In the side hall, only her cold, soft whispers and Su Yuan's occasional questions could be heard.

[Cloud-Veiling Art: 1/500 (Initiate)]

"You've learned it?" Yun Xu noticed the slight change in Su Yuan's aura, her beautiful eyes widening as she whispered, "So that is how it is. Though your aptitude is poor, your comprehension is top-tier."

"Luck is on my side, Sister Yun. May I knead your muscles once more?" Su Yuan suddenly spoke, his stamina having recovered enough to continue grinding his skills.

"You! You lecher!" Yun Xu's cheeks flushed crimson once again.

"Sister Yun, this was clearly your suggestion, and besides, I am doing this for your own good. We must continue this in the future as well." Su Yuan spread his hands.

"Then come." Yun Xu finally cast aside all her reserve.

Su Yuan set his hands to work again, meticulously smoothing out her tension.

[Tempering: 2000/2000 (Perfected)]

[Obtained Trait: Smoothing Edges]

[Through repeated grinding, the sharp edges naturally level out.]

[The muscles and bones of the palms become increasingly resilient, capable of dissipating violent and unruly forces. The circulation of internal energy becomes harmonious, and through repeated polishing, one's innate constitution is slowly improved.]