dmims Page 55
Page 55
"Are you afraid that if he becomes stronger and more independent, he will leave the nest and fly away from you again?"
Ding Zhaorong saw right through her inner conflict, and a smile crept onto her lips. "It's funny, someone as afraid of loneliness as you, how could you have been so ruthless back then?"
"Her heart has been hiding from him for eleven years?"
"That's different!" Shen Qingshang suddenly looked up, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes. "..." In these eleven years, although he occasionally went out, his roots remained in Mianhua.
Zong will always return. But if he later attains profound Taoist mastery and wishes to travel the world or seek the truth of what happened back then, then…
"Could it be that he went on a journey and never returned to the sect?" Gu Zhaorong's tone turned solemn, carrying a hint of reprimand.
==================================================
Page 147:
"In these eleven years, hasn't Mu'er spent more time at the sect than outside? Don't Zhao Ning and the others miss him? How could they bear to..."
Be patient and wait?
"A gentleman's concern leads to confusion. If you hinder his growth out of your own fear, how is that any different from when you avoided him out of self-reproach?"
Shen Qingshang was stunned and speechless.
Seeing that she had come to her senses, Gu Zhaorong's expression softened: "Since you've figured it out, let's settle this matter. However, although Mu'er can cultivate both methods, she still needs..."
There is a primary and a secondary focus. Now that he has just begun to grasp the basics of talismans, he should strike while the iron is hot. Why don't we begin practicing the 'Array Formation' method together this afternoon?
"No!" Shen Qingshang immediately retorted, his tone insistent. "This afternoon I've already arranged to continue guiding him to comprehend the deeper changes of the 'Strength' technique, to solidify his foundation."
"The basics. Don't try to take it from me!" he said, getting up as if in a huff, looking like he was on high alert.
Gu Zhaorong chuckled and waved her hands repeatedly: "Alright, alright, I won't compete with you. You can teach him the method of the character 'qiang' this afternoon, and I'll find another time tomorrow."
Shen Qingshang breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to leave. Reaching the door, he paused, his back to her, and said in a low but clear voice, "Thank you..."
Senior sister, please grant my request.
Gu Zhaorong smiled slightly: "There's no need for thanks, it's all for Mu'er's sake."
She paused slightly, then added slyly, "But since you have no interest in vying for the title of 'mother,' would you like to follow Mu'er and call me 'Mother' from now on?"
"Would you like to hear this?"
"Don't even think about it!" Shen Qingshang turned around abruptly, his cheeks flushed, and glared at her in embarrassment and anger.
"Just kidding, you can call me 'sister,' it's not much different from being a senior sister!"
Shen Qingshang rolled her eyes at her and snorted, "You should think about whether you're worthy of being called an aunt! Be more reserved next time you dine with Mu'er."
Don't repeat what you did today, eating until you're stuffed and then constantly rubbing your stomach.
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhaorong's face flushed a rare red. She had been subconsciously pressing her hand lightly against her lower abdomen, specifically the dantian area—where the lingering scent of blood still lingered.
The signature of someone is indicated by their handwriting.
I wasn't exactly stuffed, but I did find the taste quite delicious.
==================================================
Page 148:
Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Energetic Su Mu
In the afternoon, just as Su Mu was preparing to head to the training ground to continue reflecting on what he had learned that morning, a clear and cold voice transmission quietly sounded:
"Su Mu, come to the main peak again, and I will continue to instruct you in the Strong Word Technique."
"Yes, Master." Su Mu replied, then turned and headed towards the main peak.
The heavy palace doors led to the main hall, where a simple and elegant ink-wash screen stood quietly.
"Master." Su Muyi bowed respectfully.
"Hmm." The response from behind the screen was flat and emotionless. "This morning you witnessed the different approaches to the 'Strong' technique used by Zhixiao and your third and fifth senior sisters."
What insights have you gained?
Su Mu pondered for a moment and said, "Reporting to Master, the two senior sisters and Xiaoxiao's understanding of the word 'strong' is indeed exquisite and quite different."
"Fifth Senior Sister emphasizes uprightness, aiming for a straight arrow trajectory to concentrate power on a single point, breaking through the hard and destroying the strong; Third Senior Sister advocates sacrifice, abandoning the complexity of the whip's body and focusing solely on the tip."
Rui; while Xiaoxiao is good at observation, spotting the enemy's weaknesses and acting swiftly like lightning.
"This morning, I also tried to imitate the 'pressing' technique demonstrated by Master, as well as the energy-manipulation methods of my senior sisters. However, since it wasn't from my own heart, I ultimately found it difficult to truly master it."
"Understand and adapt, then use it for your own benefit."
Behind the screen, Shen Qingshang nodded slightly. "It's good that you recognize your shortcomings. So, what are your plans next?"
"This disciple believes," Su Mu raised his head, his gaze firm, "that perhaps only in actual combat, under pressure, can one verify their thoughts and thus inspire..."
To gain deeper insights and find the strength that belongs to each disciple.
"Hmm...okay." Shen Qingshang agreed, but then changed the subject slightly, "However, don't go looking for your senior sisters. Although they have already married..."
Golden Core cultivators, but if you go all out, with your Nine Yang Spear foundation and innate divine strength, they probably can't truly put pressure on you now; the effect of sparring is only...
Fear of limitations.
This statement was made with certainty and sufficient reasoning; it was definitely not because he had seen them using the guise of guidance to pester Su Mu that morning, and then secretly...
Jealous!
Upon hearing this, Su Mu pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, "Then shall this disciple go and consult with my senior uncles?"
Shen Qingshang frowned slightly. His junior sisters never acted like elders in front of Su Mu; if they knew Su Mu wanted to spar with them...
"Ahem," she coughed lightly, suppressing her chaotic thoughts, her voice regaining its coolness, "There's no need for such formalities. Just spar with your master directly."
Before she finished speaking, she lightly raised her hand and pointed towards the wall. A peach wood sword rose up in response, humming softly, and hovered in the center of the hall.
The sword tip pointed at Su Mu. "I will suppress my cultivation at the Golden Core realm. You don't need to hold back, just attack with all your might."
"Yes, Master!" Su Mu took a deep breath, straightened his back, assumed a fighting stance, and focused all his attention on the seemingly simple yet powerful weapon.
On the peach wood sword.
With a soft shout, Su Mu moved swiftly, his right fist shooting straight out. This punch was devoid of any fancy moves, its trajectory straight, its power concentrated—truly embodying the character "正" (zhèng, meaning upright/correct).
The key is to strive to unleash the strongest impact through the simplest and most efficient path!
The fist whistled, stirring up the air currents within the hall. The peach wood sword neither dodged nor evaded, but slightly tilted its blade to meet the fist's attack with its flat surface.
With a muffled thud, a shockwave rippled outwards, but the peach wood sword remained completely still, its blade shimmering slightly with a clear light, steadily absorbing the powerful punch.
under.
"Not bad," Shen Qingshang commented, his voice coming through the screen. "His fist technique is upright and his power is swift; he has grasped the true meaning of 'upright'."
Su Mu changed his fist stance again. He took a deep breath, and his blood and qi surged like a river, with most of his true qi concentrated on his right fist.
Then, his body twisted suddenly like a fully drawn bow, using the power of his waist and abdomen to swing his right fist, which contained all the strength of his body, like the tip of a whip.
Throw it out hard!
This punch, with its sharp, piercing sound of air being torn apart, seemed to rip even space itself apart! It was precisely this abandonment of defense and variation, pursuing a single, fatal blow.
Ultimate power!
"Boom!" The fist slammed heavily onto the spine of the peach wood sword! This time, the peach wood sword emitted a clear hum, the blade trembled violently, and light...
Hua blinked wildly; though not damaged, it was clearly under considerable strain.
"Concentrating power on one point, seeking victory amidst danger. This differs from your third senior sister's approach of combining gentleness with strength; it's more direct and forceful. You can achieve..."
It is truly remarkable that they were able to make use of their strengths.
As soon as Shen Qingshang finished speaking, he immediately focused his mind.
She knew that Su Mu's next move would definitely be based on Xiao Xiao's understanding of the word "strong"—that style of "Farewell to the Old Branch" that directly targets the vitals and breaks the deadlock in one strike.
Could he recreate its essence? A hint of anticipation flashed in Shen Qingshang's eyes.
In a flash, she recalled her discussion with Gu Zhaorong. With a slight twitch of her fingers, the peach wood sword in the air suddenly changed its stance, its trajectory shifting rapidly...
It implicitly conforms to the principles of the character "阵" (zhèn).
This change makes the defense more solid, but if it can be broken, it will also allow one to experience the wonderful fusion of "strength" and "formation".
Su Mu's eyes flashed with a cold light, instantly locking onto the slightest spot where the peach wood sword was striking. He understood the profound meaning behind Shen Qingshang's subtle change of move.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master." He had barely finished speaking when he moved!
A blur flashed by, and Su Mu, fingers pointed like a sword, concentrated all his remaining true energy at his fingertips. This strike abandoned brute force, resembling the skill of a butcher dissecting an ox.
==================================================
Page 149:
It strikes directly at the core weakness of the flowing sword formation. Where the wind passes, its sharpness is unstoppable!
The instant his fingertips touched the sword, the peach wood sword, imbued with the true energy of Shen Qingshang's Golden Core cultivation and possessing a hardness comparable to refined gold, seemed to be...
As if all life had been instantly drained away, from the point of contact, the color rapidly dimmed and turned gray, then shattered like withered leaves, piece by piece.
It turned into a fine layer of ash, which drifted down to the ground.
Behind the screen, Shen Qingshang slowly opened her beautiful eyes, which had been slightly narrowed, revealing an undisguised astonishment and shock.
He actually grasped the true meaning of Xiaoxiao's Cijiuzhi technique, which contained a sliver of the laws of life and death and focused on exploiting weaknesses, to such an extent.
Perhaps, he really can create…
"...This move is not bad." Suppressing his turbulent emotions, Shen Qingshang's voice maintained the dignity of a master. "However, the true energy within your body should..."
"Having used up most of it, can we still continue?"
Su Mu's chest rose and fell slightly, and sweat appeared on his forehead, showing how much energy that ultimate strike had consumed.
But his eyes remained bright, even sharper than before. He took a deep breath, and wisps of spiritual energy from the surrounding天地 (heaven and earth) flowed into his body.
It quickly replenishes what it has consumed.
"Master, please proceed!" His voice was firm, showing no signs of fatigue, as he resumed his stance.
Shen Qingshang nodded slightly, and with a thought, another peach wood sword flew up from the wall and hovered in front of Su Mu.
Looking at the young man's abundant energy and high morale in the hall, Shen Qingshang inexplicably recalled what he had heard that morning about Zhixiao and her two senior sisters.
Whispering.
"My brother has so much energy, he doesn't get tired even after a whole night..."
Her cheeks, hidden beneath her veil, flushed slightly, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
That's true...
==================================================
Page 150:
Chapter Sixty-Nine: Boss Su! Are you there?
"Hmm, not bad. Sit down and rest for a while." After Su Mu practiced for a while, Shen Qingshang's cool voice came from behind the screen.
"Yes, Master!" Su Mu breathed a sigh of relief. He was drenched in sweat and his breathing was slightly rapid, but his eyes were still bright and piercing.
He bowed respectfully towards the screen and sat down calmly. The thin screen became the only barrier between the master and disciple.
Tea had already been prepared behind the screen.
Originally, Shen Qingshang could have easily placed the teacup in front of Su Mu using only his inner energy. But the moment this thought crossed his mind, it was interrupted by another, even stronger...
Suppressing the intense thought, hadn't he already resolved to stop being confused?
Besides, given his intelligence, he might have already seen through this relationship. So, could I try to slightly overstep the boundaries of this "master-disciple" relationship?
The boundary reveals a hint of "past intimacy"?
Having made up her mind, she personally extended her slender hand, picked up the freshly brewed cup of tea, and gently lifted the white jade tea tray, slowly reaching out from the edge of the screen.