From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 380 Parting
It was already noon, and the daytime heat was intense. However, Chongxu Temple was built along the river and was shaded by many ancient trees, so it did not feel hot. Instead, it felt peaceful.

The room was bright, unlike the previous late night. Although Ying Rushi was usually open-minded, she was still a little reserved for a moment. When Meng Yuan wanted to come and serve her, the usually dignified Ying Rushi actually stepped back.

But Yingru was indeed a person who could manipulate Xiangling at will. She had learned from the previous incident, so she set rules in advance, such as not speaking during the operation, not biting randomly, and not using the method of fierce fighting, etc.

At this juncture, Meng Yuan naturally responded to everything.

Seeing this, she turned her head slightly, not looking at Meng Yuan, and slowly removed her Taoist robe.

In the past, one could only see the beauty of a national treasure, dignified yet mysterious. Now, one can witness the prosperity of this place and even step inside to experience it for oneself.

This time, unlike the last hasty encounter, Meng Yuan was able to get a closer look. He saw that Ying Rushi's face was flushed with embarrassment, her delicate hands seemed somewhat at a loss, and her skin was as white as snow, even brighter than the sunlight outside.

Meng Yuan stepped forward, and after some gentle caresses, Ying Ru Shi had long forgotten the rules she had just set.

As you slowly enter the alley, you can hear soft, melodious singing, like celestial music.

Haste makes waste. Meng Yuan was not in a hurry either, just like when he first entered the world of martial arts, he focused on honing his skills before he could even glimpse the wonders of martial arts.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before Ying Rushi responded, and the two became more and more compatible.

For a moment, the two were oblivious to the nature of heaven and earth. As they searched for each other, the world was turned upside down, and there was no distinction between up and down.

At this moment, Meng Yuan felt no fatigue or anxiety, no mental turmoil, as if he were immersed in the ascent of the three steps to heaven. Moreover, as the two became more and more in sync, he felt that he and Ying Rushi had become one, without distinction between you and me, and even felt each other's thoughts and ideas.

Meng Yuan felt that this seemed to be a wonderful Taoist method, but at this point he had no mind to investigate it in detail and only focused on climbing.

Unaware of the passing of time and the changing seasons, and having toiled for an unknown period of time, Meng Yuan was about to step forward when Ying Rushi stopped him.

Yingru pointed out the window and saw the slanting rays of the setting sun, knowing that it was already evening.

Meng Yuan arrived in the morning, and the daytime seemed to pass by in a blur.

"You're disgusting." Ying Rushi glanced at herself, complaining, but her tone was no longer as gentle and warm as before; it now carried a hint of the former master's domineering nature.

Ying Rushi blushed deeply. She brushed the dirt off her clothes with her sleeve, and when she saw Meng Yuan leaning in, she pointed a finger at his forehead. "I have already written to Jiang Tang. She is coming to pick you up."

Meng Yuan was still not satisfied, but after hearing the Third Miss's words, he dared not move again. Ying Rushi had a faint smile on her lips. Without looking at Meng Yuan, she sat cross-legged on the couch, her body glowing with a faint light.

In an instant, Meng Yuan noticed that Ying Rushi's skin was even brighter than when he first met her today, to the point that she seemed to radiate a halo. In addition, she was already a beauty of unparalleled grace and poise, like a goddess. However, since they had just made love, she was now naked and her face was flushed, which made her look somewhat different, and even more captivating.

Ying Rushi had already sensed Meng Yuan's change. She glanced down, muttered something under her breath, and then looked away, her face flushing even more. She was about to scold him, but then she saw Meng Yuan boldly step forward again, his wicked servant's behavior of bullying his master already established.

Helpless, Ying Rushi could not resist, and thinking of the wonderful things he had seen and learned today, he casually scolded Meng Yuan and let him do as he pleased.

When the two regained consciousness, it was already dark outside.

Seeing that Meng Yuan obediently put on the robe this time, Ying Rushi stopped talking, reached out and picked up the Taoist robe on the ground. Seeing that the robe was wrinkled and dirty, she glared at Meng Yuan in annoyance, and then found a new robe.

A faint halo still lingered around her, refusing to dissipate. She put on her robe, the blush on her face gradually fading. She tidied the black hair that clung to her forehead and sat cross-legged.

Meng Yuan observed closely and knew that this must be some kind of Taoist magic, but he couldn't quite grasp its essence. Moreover, the aura around her was sometimes large and sometimes small. When she was calm, it would retract into her body, and when she reached the mountain peak, it would slightly disperse. It was very mysterious.

"Third Miss," Meng Yuan asked, sitting down next to Ying Rushi, "what kind of secret technique is this? It doesn't seem like a method that can help people continue their lineage."

"What do you know?" Ying Rushi glanced at Meng Yuan, then closed her eyes slightly and said, "How could an ignorant martial artist like you know about the secret techniques of Taoism?"

At a time like this, stop looking down on martial artists! This is no longer the time for you to rush me!

Meng Yuan didn't bother arguing, since they'd already argued countless times today anyway, and simply said, "Third Miss, is this some kind of dual cultivation method? Are you borrowing my essence?"

"What do you mean by 'borrowing your essence'?" Ying Rushi, though her eyes were closed, still slightly turned her head, seemingly not wanting Meng Yuan to see her face. "This is a Taoist cultivation method, beneficial to both of us. Examine yourself; do you feel exhausted, or do you feel full of vitality?" "Indeed." Meng Yuan sensed it briefly and knew that what the Third Miss said was true. However, he had been fooling around with Mingyue for a long time without feeling tired, after all, he had tempered his body with essence fire several times and was a veteran of long battles.

But now, seeing the Third Miss looking like a goddess, Meng Yuan couldn't help but think of the flawless bright moon.

"Where did Miss Mingyue go?" Ever since returning to Songhe Prefecture and parting ways with Mingyue, Meng Yuan has not been able to see her again.

"It's admirable that you still think of her." Ying Rushi's eyes remained slightly closed. "She went to find Dugu Ying. You might be able to see her in Shenjing."

Since that was the case, Meng Yuan didn't ask any more questions. He immediately put on his clothes, hung his sword at his waist, and said earnestly as he was about to take his leave, "Since the dual cultivation method is beneficial to the Third Miss, let's practice it more when I return. If it can help the Third Miss advance further, what does it matter if I work myself to death?"

"Do you really think I don't know what you're thinking?" Ying Rushi didn't want to say more, so she waved her hand and the door was wide open, clearly indicating that she wanted to get rid of him.

After they finished playing, Meng Yuan told them to leave without saying anything more. He immediately stepped out the door and closed it behind him.

Outside the courtyard gate, Hu Qian was still guarding the outer room, talking to Jiang Tang who had come looking for them with a lantern.

"Brother, Master sent me to pick you up, why haven't you come out yet?" Jiang Tang stood on tiptoe and peeked into the courtyard, looking very puzzled and curious.

"The Third Miss has encountered a bottleneck in her cultivation and asked me to lend a hand." Meng Yuan didn't dare to elaborate and then took Jiang Tang's hand and left.

Back in the city, Meng Yuan didn't feel tired. He had dinner with Nie Qingqing and Jiang Tang, talked for half the night, and then went to his room with Nie Qingqing.

As dawn broke, the three of them exited through the north gate, where they found Gong Zihua, Zhang Lingfeng, and others already waiting for them.

Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang, dressed in rags and unkempt clothes, were following in front of Lin Yan and his wife.

Nie Qingqing and Jiang Tang had already discussed their parting with Meng Yuan last night. Although the two women were reluctant to part, they didn't say much more.

While Meng Yuan bid farewell to Gong Zihua and the others, Lin Yan held hands with Yuan Yaoniang, their eyes filled with tears.

"If I fail, just find a good family to marry into. I won't blame you." Lin Yan feigned a sorrowful look, as if she was about to leave and never return.

Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang chimed in, praising Brother Lin's noble character and demeanor, calling him a true romantic.

“You don’t need to tell me that. I’ve already asked Xiangling to help me find someone. She has the widest network of connections, so she’ll definitely be able to find someone suitable.” Yuan Yaoniang’s words left Lin Yan speechless with anger, while Jie Kaiping and Dugu Kang exchanged bewildered glances.

Before long, Xunmei arrived with Hu Qian to see them off. Xiangling was hidden in Hu Qian's clothes, which made Hu Qian seem even more extraordinary.

Ignoring Xunmei and Hu Qian's conversation with Meng Yuan, Xiangling went to find Dugu Kang and Jie Kaiping, earnestly imparting many of her experiences in venturing out into the world.

"There are more talented people in the capital than turtles in the Canglang River. You two should talk less and observe more, and find some poets with talent so that you can introduce them to the Laobiekeng Poetry Society." Xiangling never forgot the important matter of the poetry society, and added, "Also, don't forget to help the young castrator. You can't just think about eating and drinking all day long."

Dugu Kang and Jie Kaiping initially thought the club president was showing concern, but in the end, it all fell on Meng Yuan. However, when they saw Xiangling take out two silver coins from her bundle, they realized that the club president really didn't treat them like outsiders.

"Here you two take this, buy some good food." Xiangling, with the seriousness of a parent instructing her children, took the money but didn't offer any. "I heard from the young castrator that when you two were traveling around, you had to beg for leftovers when you were hungry. Use this money to eat."

After she finished speaking, she gave the two of them some money, and then earnestly instructed them, "You two must remember this: when you're begging for food, never say that you're from the Old Turtle Poetry Society!"

However, Xiangling was still worried about the money, so she added, "You two have to be careful with your spending!"

After Xiangling finished her work, she went to find Meng Yuan again. She took out five letters from her small bundle and asked Meng Yuan to pass them on to Huanxi, a young friend at the Imperial Preceptor's residence, and then have Huanxi pass them on to others.

Seeing how well Xiangling was doing in Shenjing, Jie Ping and Dugu Kang felt envious.

Seeing that two fellow members of the club were eavesdropping, Xiangling whispered in Meng Yuan's ear that she had hidden money in the Moon Palace and that Meng Yuan could retrieve it when he ran out of money.

After bidding farewell to everyone who came to see them off, Meng Yuan and Lin Yan, accompanied by two short-haired monks, headed north.

(End of this chapter)