Smoothing Edges

"Sister Mian, how are my skills?" After a round of practice, Su Yuan took Gao Mian's arm. His fingertips pressed into her firm muscles as he began his usual massage.

"Your finger technique has improved, but I don't know much about it. Great Liang martial arts favor power and aggression; delicate techniques like this are rare."

Before she could finish, a strange vibration came from beneath the skin of her arm, like fine needles pricking into Su Yuan's fingertips.

His fingers went numb, then a sharp pain shot through them. "Sister Mian, what was that? Stop! My fingers are about to break!"

Gao Mian eased off and explained, "That's force—the foundation of a Savage Strength Martial Warrior. It can be projected beyond the body, and each technique produces a different kind of force. Blood Condensing Martial Warriors have a hard time resisting it. You're not a Martial Warrior yet, so I'll use only a trace. If I let the force rebound against your fingers, it might help you train them faster."

"Thank you, Sister Mian." Su Yuan was touched. She really had gone to a lot of trouble to make plans for him.

After that, Su Yuan continued massaging her while Gao Mian deliberately laid wisps of force over her arm. He had to grind them away with his finger strength, using them for training.

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

[Grinding: 1843/2000 (Perfect)]

"It really works! Even my Grinding technique is improving. If I can gain a trait by grinding away at force, it must be extraordinary."

Su Yuan grasped the idea. As he massaged her, he secretly applied the Origin-Returning Finger technique, working with even greater enthusiasm.

Gao Mian closed her eyes and felt the pressure of his fingertips, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

When the massage was over, Gao Mian took Su Yuan by the hand and led him to find Shan Xiongqing.

"Sister Mian, will Young Master accept me as his younger brother?"

He had come to confront them in the first place.

Who could have expected that the young master of the Chai Family wouldn't mention the matter at all, while the madam had instead taken him in as her sworn younger brother? The turn of events was truly beyond his expectations.

"Why would you need him to accept you? I'm just informing him." Gao Mian's tone was calm.

When they reached the main hall, the two young masters clearly still hadn't reached an agreement.

Tie Niu was still standing where he had been.

Seeing Su Yuan come out hand in hand with a tall, strikingly beautiful woman, his eyes widened. He stared over curiously.

Su Yuan tried to pull his hand away, but Gao Mian wouldn't let go.

Loud enough for everyone to hear, she declared, "From today on, Su Yuan is my sworn younger brother. Treat him as you would me."

The servants in the hall exchanged glances. Silence fell.

Han Gui was stunned too. The madam wasn't even pretending anymore—but how had they become siblings?

Then he understood. Treat Su Yuan as they would the madam? Wouldn't that put his status in the Shan Estate above Han Gui's?

This was outrageous!

More importantly, Su Yuan wasn't even a Martial Warrior yet.

If the young master found out he'd acquired a third-class lowly slave for a younger brother, wouldn't he explode with rage?

Tie Niu scratched his head, wondering whether he ought to go over and call her "Sister."

Gao Mian said nothing more. She led Su Yuan into the side hall.

"Little Sister Yun, look at my new sworn younger brother, Xiao Yuan. Call her Sister Yun." Gao Mian cheerfully brought Su Yuan before Yun Xu.

Yun Xu had changed into a plain white dress today. She looked much thinner, but there was a delicate, poignant grace about her.

She lifted her eyes, fixing Su Yuan with a cold stare.

"Sister Yun," Su Yuan greeted her first. Her stare made him a little uneasy. "Did you have to tell everyone?"

"Hmph. Where I'm from, family is always worth showing off. I did this so you'd remember to practice hard and not disgrace me."

"Sister Mian, I won't let you down. I'll give it my all at the Wolf God Festival in three months and bring honor to you."

But Gao Mian shook her head. "Three months is too soon. Wait until next year. Don't hurt your foundation just to prove yourself."

Su Yuan's lips moved, but in the end he said nothing.

Yun Xu's lips parted too, silently forming the words: You've disappointed me.

Seeing that, Su Yuan spoke up. "Both my sisters are dressed differently today, and it's been a long time since I painted either of you. How about I take your portraits while we have the chance?"

Gao Mian nodded. "All right, but I'll need to change first. I'm all sweaty like this. It's a mess."

"You look beautiful no matter what, Sister Mian."

"Flatterer." Gao Mian laughed and scolded him before turning to leave the hall and change.

Only after she had left did Su Yuan dare to meet Yun Xu's gaze. "Miss Yun, I've done what you asked. I'm sorry it took so long."

He briefly recounted what had happened the previous night.

After hearing him out, a glimmer of light finally passed through Yun Xu's eyes.

She could tell whether he was lying. And the way Shan Xiongqing had acted that morning really did seem more like a deception.

So something had happened at the horse ranch, and that was why he'd been so agitated.

A relieved smile appeared on Yun Xu's face. "Thank you. These past several weeks must have frightened you too. Now that the message has been sent, I can finally be free. You won't have to worry about me exposing you anymore."

The chains around her body jingled softly, as if she were about to take her own life.

Su Yuan jumped in fright. "Could you let me run farther away first?"

"..."

Yun Xu stopped. "You can go."

Su Yuan instinctively took two steps back, then abruptly halted.

"Why aren't you leaving?"

"Miss Yun, you can't die right now. If you kill yourself while it's just the two of us here, how could I possibly escape blame?"

"So afraid of dying?" Yun Xu mocked. "At this distance, it wouldn't be hard for me to take you with me."

"Miss Yun, you're a good person. You're so set on dying that you didn't think it through. You don't really want to hurt me."

Reason told Su Yuan that he should run straight out of the side hall and try to come up with an excuse afterward.

But for some reason, his feet seemed rooted to the spot. He took just one more step back, then another, and stopped.

Yun Xu sighed softly. "You're right. Dying now would be a poor bargain. I should wait for a chance to take Shan Xiongqing with me. That would make it worth it."

Su Yuan nodded again and again. "Exactly! Hang on a little longer, Miss Yun. Maybe your family will come to rescue you. Staying alive is what matters most. Then you can take even more revenge."

Yun Xu smiled too. "But the force inside me is draining away. I'm afraid I won't be able to fight him. Come closer. I have a method that might help circulate my blood and spur my force, but I'll need your help."

"This..." Su Yuan hesitated.

"It won't harm you. It'll only take some of your strength," Yun Xu added. A faint blush even passed over her cheeks.

In the end, Su Yuan went over.

The method she taught him involved a series of rubbing motions.

"Am I going to quit carpentry and become a masseur?"

Su Yuan placed his hands on Yun Xu's palm. Her hand was slender and long, with clearly defined bones, and cool as jade to the touch. Only her fingertips bore the thin calluses earned from years of martial training. Her wrist bone protruded slightly from her thinness.

At his touch, Yun Xu's body visibly tensed.

"I've done what Shan Xiongqing couldn't," Su Yuan thought, feeling the weight of the trust she had placed in him.

Her chains clinked softly. A wavering force came from her palm, and bulges appeared beneath her skin, as if they were about to break through.

Su Yuan nearly snatched his hands away and ran.

But Yun Xu said, "Don't be afraid. Grind away at my force. Use more strength."

Bracing himself, Su Yuan held her hand and continued rubbing. He worked away every raised edge, smoothing them down.

Yun Xu felt the strength of his hands. She clenched her teeth, her face flushed, and poured all her effort into directing the force within her body.

[Grinding: 1947/2000 (Perfect)]

Unlike when Gao Mian had used her force to make Su Yuan's fingers work harder, this time it was as if Su Yuan were being drained dry. Grinding down her force nearly used up all his strength, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Yun Xu closed her eyes and regulated her breathing. Her complexion did look a little better.

She suddenly opened her eyes, astonishment on her face. "You've become a Martial Warrior? Are you practicing the Golden Horse-Head Technique?"

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

How had he managed it with his inferior constitution?

His progress was already on par with hers, despite her superior constitution.

Su Yuan was startled too. How had she seen through him? Just from the strength in his hands?

Yun Xu's lips curved into a faint smile. "You have an inferior constitution, yet you've made such progress. You must be hiding a secret."

Su Yuan's expression darkened slightly.

"Because you have this kind of potential, I need to stay alive and keep watch over you. If I leave you alone and the Liang People truly tame you, Great Jing may one day face another dire threat." Yun Xu's tone turned solemn.

"I stay in Great Liang because they can make me stronger. To me, Great Jing and Great Liang are no different." Su Yuan was frank. They were both feudal dynasties from another world, ruled by powerful families. Neither was better than the other.

Hearing that, Yun Xu's gaze grew even more determined. "Then I have all the more reason to guide you onto the right path. I'll teach you the Cloud-Veiling Art. It can conceal your presence, though it's difficult to master and will take many lessons from me. Afterward, you can keep lying low among the Liang People and passing along information. You can become stronger just as well by following Great Jing."

Su Yuan was delighted. He'd wanted to learn a concealment technique for a long time. The Cloud-Striding Martial Hall had managed to stay hidden until now, and the Cloud-Veiling Art had to be the key.

"Then let's begin! Can you teach me the Cloud-Striding Palm too, along with that secret technique you use to protect yourself?"

Yun Xu was clearly more trustworthy than the people of the Cloud-Striding Martial Hall.

Yun Xu rolled her eyes at him. "In your dreams. We'll see how you behave, then decide."

Su Yuan nodded and listened intently.

Yun Xu began quietly teaching him the Cloud-Veiling Art's formula and its finer points.

In the side hall, only her cool, low voice could be heard, along with Su Yuan's occasional questions.

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

"You've learned it?" Yun Xu noticed a subtle change in Su Yuan's presence. Her beautiful eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "So that's it. Your constitution may be poor, but your comprehension is top-notch."

"I was lucky. Sister Yun, could I rub your arm some more?" Su Yuan suddenly asked. He'd recovered some of his strength and could get back to grinding his skills.

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

"Sister Yun, you were the one who suggested it. Besides, I'm doing this for your sake, and we'll have to keep doing it from now on." Su Yuan spread his hands.

"Then go ahead." In the end, Yun Xu let go of her reserve completely.

Su Yuan set to work again, carefully grinding away at her force.

[Grinding: 2000/2000 (Perfect)]

[Gained Trait: Smoothing Edges]

[Repeated grinding wears down every sharp edge]

[The body's sinews and bones grow ever tougher, able to wear away violent, overbearing force. Inner energy flows with greater ease, and repeated grinding slowly improves one's constitution]