"Who are you? What are you to that little bitch... ah!"
Amid a chorus of agonized screams, the people who had come to hunt down Mu Wanqing were soon slaughtered by the Water Clones working together.
Although the Water Clones had inherited only a tenth of Nalan Sheng's strength, the Flame-Flame Fruit's power made them strong enough to trounce martial experts like Murong Fu.
The people pursuing Mu Wanqing were merely servants of Mandala Manor, so they naturally had no power to resist the Water Clones.
After disposing of those irritating pests, Nalan Sheng held the sweet-smelling Mu Wanqing in his arms and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, the utterly loyal Shadow Ninjas patrolled around the wooden cabin, keeping watch so that no fool would disturb Nalan Sheng's rest.
Noon the following day
Only when her stomach growled with hunger did Mu Wanqing, aching all over, reluctantly open her beautiful eyes.
Mu Wanqing rubbed her sleepy eyes and instinctively looked around. Finding no sign of Nalan Sheng, she immediately felt a jolt of alarm.
"Husband! Husband! Husband..."
Just as Mu Wanqing thought she had been abandoned, Nalan Sheng walked in through the doorway carrying a clay pot, having changed into a moon-white robe.
"You're awake, my wife~"
Nalan Sheng smiled. "Thank you for your efforts last night, my wife. I had someone cook a pot of porridge. Come have some to fill your stomach and recover your strength!"
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Seeing that Nalan Sheng had not abandoned her, Mu Wanqing inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. But when she recalled yesterday's scenes, a blush spread across her lovely face.
Because Nalan Sheng practiced the Six Vault Immortal Thief, his stamina recovered far faster than an ordinary person's.
If Nalan Sheng wished, a sturdy plow ox like him could keep tilling until the heavens grew desolate and the earth grew old.
Several times yesterday, Mu Wanqing had felt she might simply die like that.
Fortunately, Nalan Sheng still knew how to cherish fragrant blossoms and tender jade. Otherwise, Mu Wanqing would have suffered far more than aches all over.
Although Nalan Sheng had thoroughly worn her out yesterday, Mu Wanqing did not blame him.
After all, satisfying her husband's daily needs was one of a wife's basic duties.
Mu Wanqing merely felt a little useless for being unable to endure even Nalan Sheng's affection. She had already begun considering buying a few personal maids to serve as his bedchamber attendants.
Unaware of Mu Wanqing's thoughts, Nalan Sheng picked up a wooden bowl and spoon, ladled out a bowl of meat porridge, and offered it to her. "Careful, my wife. It's hot."
"Thank you, husband~"
Mu Wanqing accepted the meat porridge from Nalan Sheng and took a small sip. Her eyes immediately lit up, and happiness spread across her face.
Though this bowl of meat porridge had been prepared simply, it tasted wonderful.
Moreover, after just one small sip, Mu Wanqing felt warmth spreading throughout her body. Even her aches and exhaustion eased somewhat.
Perhaps this was the power of love!
In truth, Nalan Sheng had instructed the Shadow Ninjas to make that bowl of porridge with meat from a third-tier magical beast.
The energy contained in third-tier magical beast meat far exceeded that of ordinary beasts. It was highly nourishing, so naturally it restored stamina and relieved fatigue.
By the time Mu Wanqing finished the bowl of meat porridge, she had recovered most of her strength and could finally get out of bed and walk, though her gait remained rather awkward.
Only after stepping out of the wooden cabin, which reeked of photinia blossoms, did Mu Wanqing discover with some surprise that several dozen more corpses lay outside.
Mu Wanqing soon recognized the corpses as the people who had been pursuing her. She could not help looking at Nalan Sheng with eyes full of emotion.
"My wife, these fellows came here after you fell asleep yesterday. I was worried they would disturb your rest, so I took care of them for you."
"Husband, you're so good to me~"
At his words, Mu Wanqing's eyes reddened. She could not help throwing herself into his arms and pressing her cheek tightly against his chest, wishing she could melt her entire body into his.
Ever since she was old enough to understand, Mu Wanqing had believed herself to be an orphan with neither father nor mother.
Apart from her master, Qin Hongmian, Nalan Sheng was only the second person to treat Mu Wanqing so well. It was easy to imagine how deeply moved she was.
Nalan Sheng held Mu Wanqing's slender waist and said with tenderness flowing like water, "Silly girl, you're my wife now. If I don't treat you well, who should I treat well?"
Hearing Nalan Sheng say this, Mu Wanqing was moved all over again.
Had her body not truly been unable to take any more, she would have wanted to battle Nalan Sheng for another eight hundred rounds.
"By the way, my wife, I happen to have manuals for two divine skills that suit you."
Nalan Sheng took out the silk scroll recording the Northern Darkness Divine Skill and Lingbo Steps and offered it to Mu Wanqing. "If you can master the two divine skills recorded here, there probably won't be more than a handful of people in the martial world who can defeat you.
"That way, if you encounter danger again, you'll have more than enough ability to protect yourself, even when I'm not beside you."
Although Nalan Sheng thought little of martial arts like Lingbo Steps, they made perfectly suitable gifts for Mu Wanqing.
"Really?"
A flicker of curiosity crossed Mu Wanqing's eyes. She hurriedly accepted the silk scroll from Nalan Sheng and unrolled it to examine its contents.
When Mu Wanqing saw the portrait of Li Qiushui on the silk scroll, her lovely face immediately flushed faintly, and she could not help giving Nalan Sheng a coquettish look.
Mu Wanqing could hardly be blamed for reacting this way, as she had instinctively assumed the cultivation method recorded on it was a legendary dual-cultivation method.
Only after reading the written introduction to the Northern Darkness Divine Skill did Mu Wanqing realize she had misjudged Nalan Sheng.
"Husband, isn't this divine skill too incredible? It can actually absorb other people's internal energy directly and make it your own!"
Even though Mu Wanqing had not yet practiced the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, merely reading its introduction was enough for her to appreciate its power.
"Since you like it, my wife, switch to practicing the Northern Darkness Divine Skill from now on!"
Nalan Sheng smiled. "Once you've learned the basics of the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, I'll take you to absorb the internal energy of those scoundrels in the martial world."
"Mm."
Mu Wanqing naturally had no objections and began studying the Northern Darkness Divine Skill intently.
After several days of painstaking study, Mu Wanqing finally mastered
the first diagram of the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, allowing her to absorb other people's internal energy through her hands.
Seeing this, Nalan Sheng immediately took Mu Wanqing to Myriad Calamities Valley.
Over the past few days, the Shadow Ninjas Nalan Sheng had sent to follow Zhong Ling had also returned.
According to the information gathered by the Shadow Ninjas, apart from the South Sea Crocodile God, whom Nalan Sheng had already killed, the remaining Three Great Evildoers were all currently in Myriad Calamities Valley.
The Three Great Evildoers were not only formidable but also guilty of countless wicked deeds, making them the ideal candidates to help Mu Wanqing cultivate the Northern Darkness Divine Skill.
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