If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1321 Han Xin at the Liu Family
"Ah, replenishing yin by absorbing yang?!"

As soon as Lü Xu finished speaking, the entire audience was shocked.

Han Xin was also shocked and exclaimed, "Third Miss is such a well-bred young lady, and Daoist Wuyazi is so virtuous and upright, how, how are we supposed to teach her?!"

Lu Xu regained her senses, her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, unsure of what to do with her hands. "It's not the kind of 'yang replenishing yin' you're thinking of. It's a legitimate practice for prolonging life."

Lu Zhi's face also turned red, and she said in a low voice, "The Taoist priest has always been upright. Could it be that you asked him for the technique of replenishing yin with yang energy?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Xu felt both shy and extremely embarrassed.

"You actually have the nerve to make such a request to the Taoist priest?" Lu Shizhi was stunned. "Third sister, you've been going out to listen to storytelling every day lately. Have you been going to teahouses you shouldn't be going to and listening to lewd things you shouldn't be hearing?"

Lu Xu blushed even more, becoming even more shy.

Lü Shizhi stared in disbelief, "You, you..."

Lü Zhi, however, was quite frank, saying, "What's so special about listening to storytelling? She's already Fan Kuai's woman, and she goes out to meet with him in secret every day!"

Lu Gong closed his eyes and sat in the chair like a piece of wood.

Lu Shizhi sighed, "It's only a few days away, Third Sister, what's the rush?"

Lu Xu said in embarrassment and anger, "Why am I in a hurry? I went to the city to hear the gatekeeper recite the 'Proclamation to the People'."

As you all know, there have been so many exciting and sensational events and secrets about the divine lately.

Don't you guys often go to listen to it too?

Fan Kuai's dog meat shop was right at the city gate.

My father had already betrothed me to him, and the shop assistants all call me "sister-in-law"!

They took me to the restaurant a few times for dog meat and a few drinks. Anyway, Fan Kuai and I were not only engaged, but we were also already quite familiar with each other, practically an old married couple, and the wedding was just two days away.

She looked around and pointed at her sister's belly, "You all criticize me, but my sister is pregnant with her second child. Did the baby just appear out of thin air?"

"Hey, what are you talking about? I didn't go out and mess around with Liu Ji before I married him. Besides, this isn't about you and Fan Kuai."

Lü Zhi glared at her sister and shouted, "Even if you consider yourself the mistress of the Fan family, you still have to leave some dignity for the Lü family!"

"A perfectly healthy, unmarried young woman seeking out a Taoist priest for the art of 'absorbing yang energy to replenish yin,' have you lost your mind?"

Lu Gong nodded slightly, thinking that the second son was the most sensible.

Although the second son often ran back to the Lü family to use their rice, flour, oil, and salt to supplement the Liu family's income, at least he didn't mess around. Now he has even earned the reputation of a "model virtuous wife" in Pei County, which is a source of pride for the Lü family and for him.

The third son went out every day to fool around with Fan Kuai, keeping it a secret from the Lü family, but he couldn't hide it from the people of Pei County.

Fan Kuai's dog meat shop was a regular haunt for a group of ruffians, and with so many people and so much gossip, the news had probably spread long ago.

Even if the reputation of the Lu family isn't ruined, they can no longer pretend to be a scholarly family.

Well, it's fortunate that we're still in the Qin and Han dynasties, before the strict rules of etiquette and morality were established. Otherwise, Old Master Lü wouldn't be so calm, and the Lü family wouldn't be so "harmonious and peaceful."

Lü Xu argued, "This is not my fault. The Taoist priest said that I cannot become an immortal, but I can prolong my life."

If one can live for a thousand or eight hundred years and become a centenarian, that would be quite good.

I think the Taoist priest is right.

Since I lack the divine bones and blessings to become an immortal in this lifetime, I might as well live for a few hundred more years!
Then the Taoist priest introduced me to more than a dozen immortal techniques. As I listened to his explanation of the general methods of practice, my head felt dizzy and I felt it was very difficult.

For example, there is a technique called "Purple Qi Comes from the East," which requires practicing for one hour each at midnight, morning, noon, and evening.

It absorbs the essence of the rising sun, the energy of the blazing sun, the light of the setting sun, and the yin of the moonlight, harmonizing the dragon and tiger, and achieving a balance of yin and yang.

How can anyone cultivate under such circumstances?

I was sleeping at midnight, but I got up in the middle of the night to meditate and practice breathing exercises. Is this a sign of brain wind?
"Four hours a day, all year round, without a single day off—it's incredibly difficult."

Lu Gong couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "If outsiders hear such ignorant words, my Lu family will once again be known as someone who has failed to educate his daughter and is ignorant of local customs."

Lu Shizhi, with a jealous look and a reproachful tone, said, "If you want to become an immortal and prolong your life, how can you not meditate, practice your qi, and endure hardship?"

Lu Xu nodded vigorously and said matter-of-factly, "Sure, I'd like to ask the Taoist priest if there's a simple and quick cultivation method that's especially suitable for a matriarch like me."

The Taoist priest then taught me the art of replenishing yin with yang energy, which allows me to cultivate qi and prolong my life while lying down.

"Hehe, the Taoist priest is indeed amazing; he's even so proficient in the Yin-Yang dual cultivation method."

“Isn’t the practice of using Yin to replenish Yang an evil art?” Lü Zhi frowned.

"Others' practice of absorbing yang energy to replenish yin is an evil art, but what the Taoist priest taught me is the orthodox method of the Xuanmen."

"I don't need to go around looking for random men; having normal sex with Fan Kuai is enough," Lü Xu said somewhat shyly.

"Is it really that simple? After you extend your lifespan, won't Fan Kuai suffer from exhaustion and die young?" Lü Shizhi asked in surprise.

"No, it won't affect Fan Kuai at all; it's just me refining my essence into qi," Lü Xu said.

Lu Shizhi was envious and also tempted.

"Third sister, you've lived a long and healthy life all by yourself, while your brothers and family members have all passed away. Life must be tough for you, right?"

Lu Xu glanced at him and sneered, "How can a man like you replenish yin with yang energy? This longevity method can only be practiced by me."

Lu Shizhi said unhappily, "You're just being stingy! Let's not even talk about how cultivation techniques can be modified and the methods of practice can be adjusted. Just think about your second sister, isn't she a woman?"

Lu Xu shook her head and said, "Only I can cultivate, because the Daoist Master infused a wisp of special immortal energy into my body."

If you let someone else practice this, they will only suffer from qi deviation, their vital essence will dissipate, and they will die spitting out silver paste.

The Taoist priest is only giving me a wedding gift this time; he doesn't want his magical arts to be passed on to outsiders.

At this point, she looked at her second sister again and said, "Take my second sister for example, doesn't she have her own magic?"
My second sister spent the whole afternoon with the Taoist priest!

But we were all sensible and never asked.

Lü Zhi slowly said, "The Daoist path also has the saying of 'revealing the Dao of Heaven.' The fact that we have been granted this opportunity by the Daoist Master means that the Daoist Master likes us."

He called us aside to preach, but wasn't the meaning clear enough?
If we were to ruin the good relationship between the Lü family and the Taoist priest, it would be a greater loss than gain.”

Master Lü nodded slightly. Although he had long suspected and even been wary of Daoist Wuyazi's identity, the connection between the Lü family children and the Daoist was at least a positive one. The Lü family would only experience great fortune, without any hidden dangers or harm. "It's getting late, everyone may leave."

He stood up, glanced one last time at the purple jade in Lü Xu's hand with lingering reluctance, then turned to his second daughter and said, "E Xu, while you were talking with the Taoist priest this afternoon, your sister had already finished making the rest of the pancakes for you."

"Just get up at your normal time tomorrow morning and deliver the cakes to Mangdang Mountain. There's no need to get up early and work late again."

Lü Zhi glanced at her sister apologetically, "My sister is getting married soon, and I feel really bad for troubling you to cook."

Lü Xu said, "It's not like I'm marrying into the royal family to become a princess, what's there to be so pretentious about?"
If I really went to the Fan family, I'm afraid I'd be up early and working late the next day, helping Fan Kuai slaughter and cook dog meat at a street stall.

Lü Zhi nodded, "Sister, you are a wise woman. You will surely be able to live a harmonious and prosperous life with Fan Kuai in the future."

After offering her a blessing, she picked up the lantern and walked into the courtyard.

Her mother asked, "The pancakes are all done, what are you doing in the kitchen?"

Lü Zhi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I plan to pack up the cakes and send them to Liu Ji now."

Her mother exclaimed in horror, "You idiot! Walking into the deep mountains and wilderness at night, are you afraid of being caught and eaten by jackals and mountain spirits?"

Lu Gong frowned and said, "How much time could a good night's sleep take? He's already asleep. Even if you send it to him, he'll have to wait until the next day to eat."

Lü Zhi said, "In the past, I would travel hundreds of miles deep into Mangdang Mountain, often walking from day to night and from night to morning. I've gotten used to it."

If we follow the old road now, we won't encounter any mountain spirits or wolves.

I set off at night, and by the time I reached Mangdang Mountain and found Liu Ji, almost a whole night had passed, and it was already dawn. It was just the right time to let them have some fried dough sticks.

Her mother complained, "You're pregnant with another baby. What if you fall in the dark and there's no doctor in the middle of nowhere? You could die out there and no one would even know."

Lü Zhi said, "I also practice martial arts and have even developed internal energy. I can jump and leap, so how could I fall down?"

After saying that, she ignored her parents and went straight to the kitchen.

Her mother wanted to chase after her and continue scolding her daughter, but Lu Gong stopped her and gently shook his head.

He knew perfectly well that his daughter insisted on walking alone at night to see Liu Ji as soon as possible, and that it wasn't just to deliver a few hundred pounds of fried dough cakes.

There were about a hundred starving men on the mountain, and even several hundred kilograms of fried dough cakes would only last them a few days.

E'xu couldn't deliver food up the mountain every day; she would only deliver it every few days to improve their meals. Most of the time, they still had to cook their own meals over a fire.

Therefore, even if it is delayed for a day or two, it will not have a significant impact on the people on the mountain.

It might be a delay of a day or two, but it could prevent Liu Ji from receiving important news: Daoist Wuyazi has returned.

Wu Yazi also had a private conversation with E Xu for the entire afternoon; who knows what they said?
Han Xin handed the sleeping Liu Daya to Lü Xu and said, "Please take care of her for a day, Miss. I will accompany you to Mangdang Mountain."

Lu Xu took her niece and hesitated before saying, "It seems like it's Fan Kuai's turn to accompany my sister to Mangdang Mountain this time. Should I go and call Fan Kuai over?"

Most of the time, Lü Zhi wouldn't carry too much food up the mountain. This time, she made several hundred catties of pancakes purely because the Lü family was having a happy occasion; only a fool wouldn't take advantage of such a bargain.

At other times, Lü Zhi was alone, carrying a basket containing salt, medicine, shoes, and socks.

When it was necessary to carry heavy loads, Fan Kuai would accompany Lü Zhi, carrying the heavy loads of food and wine.

Han Xin was responsible for protecting the Liu family: taking the children fishing, reading, and daydreaming by the river, and taking them back to eat when it was time to eat.

In the "normal history" without Xiao Yu's interference, Han Xin did not meet Liu Ji at this time. Liu Ji still sent a retainer named "Shen Shiqi" to stay at home to take care of his family.

Now, Shen Shiqi still relied on Liu Ji and became his retainer, but he followed Liu Ji to Mangdang Mountain.

On the surface, Han Xin replaced Shen Shiqi, but in fact, the work they did and Liu Ji's arrangements for them were completely different.

In terms of discovering and employing talent alone, none of the heroes of the Chu-Han Contention could compare to Liu Ji. Previously, Liu Ji had received a dream from the "Old Mother of Qiushan," who said she would send him a military genius.

Over the past six months, Liu Ji has had in-depth contact with Han Xin and has truly discovered Han Xin's unparalleled talent.

On the surface, Liu Ji was keeping Han Xin in the Liu family to take care of his own family. In reality, he was having the Liu family continue to properly support this important retainer for him.

To put it bluntly, it was Empress Lü who took care of Han Xin's basic needs.

The original Shen Shiqi served as Lü Zhi's servant, follower, foot-washing slave, and bed warmer, among other roles.

Lü Xu understood Han Xin's role in the Liu family, which is why she hesitated.

Her husband, Fan Kuai, was Liu Ji's follower and underling, the kind of person he could scold and discipline at will.

Han Xin was respected by Liu Ji as a "scholar".

Regardless of what others thought of their "pedantic" manner, Han Xin happened to care about Liu Jixin's rules as well, and Lü Zhi didn't mind at all. The three of them meeting at this moment was truly a serendipitous encounter.

Han Xin said, "It is already late, and Fan Kuai has already gone to sleep."

Besides, he's getting married to the Third Miss the day after tomorrow; making such a trip would be too rushed.

If Fan Kuai were at the Lü family's house at that moment, he certainly wouldn't mind letting his "wife" and Fan Kuai carry hundreds of kilograms of grain on their shoulders and travel hundreds of miles at night, while he and Liu Daya slept soundly at home.

But now that Fan Kuai is not here, and his "wife" is going out, he, as her "retainer," cannot allow her to risk traveling alone at night.

Empress Lü also offered him a few words of advice.

She really did plan to carry the load and climb the mountain alone at night. Well, what she told the old Taoist Wuyazi before was the truth: after achieving minor success in cultivating the "Lady's Skill," she inexplicably became exceptionally brave, unafraid of demons, monsters, strange people, or eccentrics. Strictly speaking, it wasn't a matter of fear or lack thereof, but rather an instinctive sense of superiority that a higher-level life form possesses over lower-level creatures.

It was as if a young dragon was facing an ordinary ferocious beast.

I wasn't afraid at all; I was even a little eager to try it out.

“My lady, I cannot allow you to go to Mangdang Mountain alone in the middle of the night.” Han Xin’s tone was firm.

Empress Lü had no choice but to let him follow.

The two took turns carrying the load.

More than 500 jin of fried dough cakes, plus 200 jin of meat "squeezed" from Lü Xu's wedding banquet.

A modern person definitely couldn't withstand it. Since both of them had cultivated immortal martial arts, it was relatively easy for them.

After leaving the city and walking under the starlight for a while, Han Xin couldn't help but stare blankly at the stars above his head.

(End of this chapter)