The splendor of the Red Chamber, the power that reigns supreme.

Chapter 164 Romantic Affairs in the Inner Quarters, Secret Schemes

The official held the excited Yue Niang in his arms, a smug smile spreading across his face. He lowered his head and pecked her still tear-stained, smooth cheek, his voice carrying a hint of lighthearted pleasure:
"My dear wife, this is nothing! It's just a nominal title, is it worth all this fuss? Your husband will rise higher and higher in the future, eventually wearing purple robes and gold belts, becoming prime minister and marquis! He will wield immense power in the court! That will be true glory for our ancestors! It won't be too late for you to cry then!"

These bold words resonated deeply, immediately drawing the gaze of the Moon Maiden in his arms upwards. Her beautiful eyes, still glistening with moisture, were overflowing with admiration and longing.

Her plump body trembled slightly in the man's arms. A soft, warm hand unconsciously stroked her flat stomach, the fingertips gently massaging through the fine silk.

Inside was her greatest worry as the wife of the Ximen family, a lingering pain—her womb was so unreliable!
"Your future is naturally a great joy..." Yue Niang's voice softened, tinged with a barely perceptible sob, her gaze filled with a humble plea as she looked up at Ximen Qing, "This concubine... this concubine is foolish and doesn't understand those things. I only hope... I only hope to give our Ximen family more offspring, to have more descendants... to continue the family line..."

As she spoke, the hand that was stroking her lower abdomen tightened slightly, as if trying to squeeze all her expectations into that small space. Her voice lowered, carrying an almost sacrificial resolve: "I, Wu Yueniang... have no regrets..."

However, Ximen Qing's gaze had already passed over Yue Niang's cloud-like hair and was fixed intently on the two little figures behind him who were already mesmerized—Pan Jinlian and Xiang Ling.

Following the gaze of the high-ranking official, Yue Niang glanced around and suddenly realized that there were two pairs of eyes staring intently at her from behind. Instantly, her shyness and "propriety" as the mistress of the house returned. Her face flushed, and she began to squirm uncomfortably in Ximen Qing's arms, her soft hands pushing against his chest, her voice tinged with a shy and flustered tone:
"My lord, let go... This is outrageous... My lord, please... please embrace these two maids in the inner chambers... They... they miss you dearly, they're suffering terribly too..."

How could Ximen Qing let her break free? His iron-like arms not only didn't loosen, but instead pressed her voluptuous body even tighter into his embrace, holding her firmly. He laughed and said, "Foolish! This embrace of mine isn't some cramped little house; it can't hold three of you darlings?"

Before he finished speaking, he had already opened his two strong arms and embraced the two young ladies who were already unable to contain themselves, saying, "Come! Come into my arms!"

Upon hearing this, Xiangling and Pan Jinlian could no longer restrain themselves. Xiangling called out sweetly and timidly, "Good master!" Her voice was so sweet it could drip honey. She flew into Ximen Qing's left arm like a swallow returning to its nest, light yet eager.

Pan Jinlian was even bolder and more outspoken. With a sharp, hooked cry of "Dear Father!", she pressed herself against Ximen Qing's right side like a soft, burning flame.

In an instant, the three soft, fleshy little dumplings were firmly nestled into Ximen Da Guanren's broad and sturdy arms!
Fortunately, Yue Niang was plump, Jin Lian was alluring, and Xiang Ling was petite; the three of them squeezed together, and there was still room for them.

Three delicate heads pressed against Ximen Qing's chest and shoulders, greedily inhaling the scent of the long-lost master—domineeringly penetrating the three women's nostrils, causing their hearts to tremble and their bodies to become increasingly weak.

Three distinct yet equally alluring fragrances of women rose up, hot, sweet, and soft, mingling and swirling, until Ximen Qing was completely overwhelmed and his heart was filled with desire.

He tightened his two iron arms, holding her tightly in his embrace.

Three delicate bodies pressed close to him, conveying different temperatures and sensations. That heavy, soft, and fragrant feeling of fullness and possessiveness soothed him from his skin to his very bones, making him feel so comfortable that he almost groaned out loud.

He looked down at the three beautiful women on his chest, smelled the intoxicating aroma of their flesh, and felt the intoxicating crowd. A sense of "having everything under control" and the pride of "having the blessing of multiple wives" welled up within him. He felt that there was no greater pleasure in life than this.

The moment this fragrant, fleshy body was firmly embraced, Pan Jinlian and Xiangling, having received the mistress's tacit approval and deeply immersed in the intoxicating embrace of the master, could no longer restrain themselves. Their clever mouths immediately became as if coated with honey, their floodgates opened, and they transformed their longing accumulated over countless days into hot and seductive words of love, vying to whisper them into Ximen Qing's ears.

Pan Jinlian, the most bold and outspoken, wrapped her voluptuous body tightly around Ximen Qing's right arm, tilting her face back, her eyes brimming with desire, so alluring they seemed to drip with moisture. Her red lips pressed against Ximen Qing's neck, her breath sweet and fragrant, as she softly called out:
"My dear father! I miss you so much! You heartless father, you've been gone for so long. Do you know how I've been holding the mandarin duck pillow you used to sleep on at night? I miss you so much that my heart feels empty and my body feels weak. The brocade quilt is so cold... I just hope my dear father will come back and take good care of me. Feel me, I've gotten so thin." She spoke the word "take good care of me" in a soft, sweet voice, with a trembling tone that seemed to scratch at the heart.

Xiangling was originally a timid person, but these days, under the influence of the enchantress Jinlian's words and deeds, she has become less shy.

At this moment, she was tightly held in the arms of the official, smelling his powerful and unsettling scent, and emboldened by Jinlian's shameless words.

She buried her burning face in Ximen Qing's shoulder, like a kitten seeking shelter. Her voice, though not as loud as Jinlian's, carried a tender, shy, and bold quality, like a young girl experiencing love for the first time.

"My dear sir... Xiangling... Xiangling misses you terribly too... During the day, when I practice calligraphy, my handwriting often goes awry... At night... at night, when I hear the wind rustling through the bamboo leaves outside the window, it sounds like your footsteps..."

By the end, her voice was barely audible, filled with unbearable shame, yet her body pressed even closer, conveying a silent longing.

Wu Yueniang was tightly sandwiched between Ximen Qing's chest by these two shameless little vixens!

Jinlian's blatant flirting and Xiangling's wet, sweet words were like two scalding streams that unabashedly entered her ears.

She felt incredibly hot, as if she were in a steamer, with heat rising from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, burning her neck and even her ears.

Her voluptuous body squirmed restlessly in the master's arms, trying to escape this embarrassing scene, but Ximen Qing's iron grip held her immobile. Moreover, the two young men on either side were saying increasingly inappropriate things, becoming more and more ashamed.

Their bodies pressed even closer together, and the three different body heat and fragrances mingled and steamed, making her dizzy, her heart pounding wildly, and her legs felt as if they had no bones, going weak and almost unable to stand.

Meanwhile, in the Ximen Mansion, where the powerful official was present, all was in harmony, while in the Rongguo Mansion...

Wang Xifeng lay sprawled on the kang (heated brick bed) in the warm pavilion, her face so dark it looked like it could be wrung out of water.

The curtain was violently yanked open with a "whoosh".

The nun Jingxu was carried in by two old women like a plucked chicken, each holding one of her thin arms, her feet dangling off the ground.

Her worn-out blue satin monk's robe was torn and disheveled, her monk's hat was askew, revealing sparse gray hair underneath, and her face had lost all its usual kind and gentle features. Only deathly paleness and panic remained, her forehead was covered in sweat, and she kept muttering, "Amitabha... two mothers, please have mercy... be gentle... this humble nun will walk by herself... walk by herself..."

The old women had no patience for this. They dragged him to the front of the kang (a heated brick bed) and shoved him forward like a bundle of rotten straw.

Jingxu's legs went weak, and she collapsed onto the cold, hard brick floor with a thud, her whole body trembling like a rotten leaf in the autumn wind.

Sister Feng sat up straight, looking down at her with eyes like icy knives, but a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth: "Oh, Master Jingxu, what a big shot you are! You have to go through my troubles to 'invite' you? What's wrong? You've done too many bad things and are afraid to come out in the light, so you don't dare to see me?"

Jingxu trembled even more violently, her head almost buried in her chest, her voice trembling: "Second Madam...this humble nun...this humble nun would never dare...I don't know why Madam summoned this humble nun...what are your orders..."

"Give orders?" Sister Feng scoffed, slamming her Buddhist prayer beads heavily onto the kang table, making the teacups clatter. "How dare I give orders to someone as powerful as you? You're all-powerful now, even daring to interfere in cases in the Chang'an government! You're quite capable!"

Jingxu shuddered violently, his face turning from white to green, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

Sister Feng leaned down, getting close to her, her voice extremely low, yet carrying a chilling aura that could freeze a person to the bone:

“I’m asking you, a few days ago you shamelessly came to me begging for my help, talking about the messy marriage dispute between the Chang’an garrison commander’s family and that rich Zhang family, wanting me to pass on a word to pressure the garrison commander’s family to break off the engagement so that the Zhang family’s daughter could marry someone better… Did I agree to that?”

"No...no..." Jingxu's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, tinged with sobs.

"That's good!" Sister Feng suddenly raised her voice, her phoenix eyes widening as she shouted sharply, "Am I, Wang Xifeng, such a lawless and heartless person? To break up someone's arranged marriage for your measly little money? Haven't I made it clear to you that this is wicked and immoral, and I won't do it! I'll tell you to give up on that idea as soon as possible?"

Jingxu was so terrified by her shout that she kowtowed repeatedly on the ground, her forehead slamming against the bricks with a loud thud: "Yes, yes, yes... Grandma has a kind heart... It was this poor nun who was blinded by greed... It was this poor nun who deserved to die... deserved to die..."

"Of course you deserve to die!" Sister Feng's voice was so shrill it could pierce one's ears, filled with a heart-wrenching hatred. "But even if you died ten thousand times, you still wouldn't be able to fill those two pits of unjustly killed lives!"

"Speak! If you couldn't get my help, who did you go to beg? Hmm? Who backed you up and gave you the guts to deliver that death warrant, forcing the garrison commander's family to break off the engagement?"

"And who was it that caused that unfortunate young couple to hang themselves from the roof beam and jump into a deep well, becoming drowned ghosts with nowhere to cry out for justice?!"

“Two living, breathing lives! You old bald monk!” Sister Feng’s voice was hoarse with rage, like a broken gong. “A bloody debt of lives! It’s on your shoulders! And on… the shoulders of the person who stood up for you! Tell me! Who is it?!”

"Yes...yes...Madam..." Jingxu collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, like a lump of mud. "This humble nun...this humble nun begged Madam...Madam Wang...Madam, you are merciful...you...you granted my request..."

The word "Madam" struck Wang Xifeng like two thunderbolts, hitting her hard on the top of her head!

"Om-!"

Sister Feng felt as if a swarm of red-hot wasps had been stuffed into her head, and a sharp pain exploded with a deafening roar! Stars danced before her eyes, and the world spun around her. That familiar, excruciating headache felt like countless steel needles piercing deep into her brain from her temples!
Her vision went black, her body swayed, and she suddenly fell backward, her fingers gripping the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) so tightly that her knuckles turned white, barely managing to keep from fainting on the spot. Large beads of cold sweat instantly rolled down her pale forehead and temples.

She gasped for breath, her chest heaving violently, staring intently at the nun lying on the ground like a pile of mud. A hoarse sound came from her throat, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out a few broken words through clenched teeth: "Get...out...of...me!"

The old nun Jingxu was so frightened that she quickly propped herself up and scrambled out of the way.

Ping'er rushed to the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), caught the swaying Feng Jie, and hurriedly wiped away her cold sweat with a scalding hot handkerchief, her voice trembling with tears:
"Grandma! My dear grandma! Please calm down! Be careful not to hurt your precious body! If the sky falls, there will be tall people to hold it up! Anyway, it's Madam... Madam has spoken and made the decision, so this matter... this matter is over."

"Those two short-lived fools couldn't think straight and took their own lives. It was their own bad luck and lowly fate, they can't blame anyone else! It has nothing to do with you, Grandma! Just pretend you don't know, please don't take it to heart! It's not worth getting upset over such a dirty and rotten thing, it will ruin your precious health!"

Feng Jie kept her eyes tightly shut, letting Ping'er massage her throbbing, needle-like temples. The excruciating pain rendered her speechless, only able to gasp for breath. After a long while, the agonizing dizziness finally subsided slightly.

She slowly opened her beautiful eyes, which were filled with terrifying red veins like a spider web, but her gaze was clear as ice, staring straight at Ping'er's face, a cold smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Sister Feng's voice was hoarse and low, each word like a stone pulled from an ice cave, cold and hard:

"What annoys me is that Madam meddled in this mess? She's the head of the household, and if she wants to, no one can stop her! If she thinks she should, she should just write a letter, stamp it with her official seal as the head of the Rongguo Mansion, and manage it openly and honestly! Who can say a word against her?"

She gasped for breath, the bone-chilling cold almost solidifying into icicles: "But... how did she do it? She! While I was out of the room, she secretly took my personal seal! Using my name, Wang Xifeng! To deliver that death warrant! To smear the blood of those two unjustly killed ghosts!"

Sister Feng stared intently into the empty space, her gaze as if she were looking at something intangible. She spoke slowly and deliberately, "She knows it perfectly well! This matter is stained with blood! It involves lives! It involves lawsuits! If things go wrong and it causes a huge uproar, it will be considered a crime of manipulating lawsuits and taking lives!"

"She pocketed those five thousand taels, but the black and white paper, stamped with my bright red personal seal, is irrefutable evidence! If there truly comes a day of reckoning, will she, the innocent Madam Wang, or will I, the 'audacious, corrupt, and murderous' Second Madam Lian, take the blame and pay the price for my sins in the underworld?"

"I'm her own niece!!!"

This is inside the Ximen Mansion.

Ximen Da Guanren crawled out of that warm, fragrant, soft, and creamy flesh, his whole body still feeling a tingling sensation.

He still felt his muscles and bones were not yet relaxed and his lustful desire had not been completely quelled, so he slipped on his shoes, put on only a thin silk shirt that was open at the waist, revealing his strong chest, and went straight to the training ground in the backyard.

He picked up a staff with a wrought iron head, and disregarding the slippery night dew, began to wield it with great skill on the bluestone ground. The wind from the staff sent fallen leaves fluttering, and the cool morning air was tinged with the smell of sweat and heat.

He swung the stick in a flurry of chopping, sweeping, pointing, and thrusting, the stick flashing like a monstrous python emerging from its cave, until his whole body was steaming with heat, and beads of sweat rolled down his bulging muscles, before he finally stopped.

Looking up, I saw another small head looming over the top of the wall.

The official gave a wry smile. Could it be that Li Ping'er really couldn't sleep?

The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly on my backside.

The three lovely ladies, exhausted from all the commotion, were finally awakened by their husbands getting up and dressing themselves, and barely managed to sit up. Wu Yueniang rubbed her sore waist, her face showing a mixture of weariness and reproach, and glared fiercely at the nonchalant husband, her eyes filled with a mixture of love and hate, a hint of malice hidden in her charm.

She didn't bother with a proper wash and grooming. She hastily gathered her disheveled hair, straightened her wrinkled dress, and, maintaining the dignity of a mistress of the house, went out. She called Xiaoyu over, and, supported by the maid's arm, swayed as she returned to her own room, leaving this test flight site.

Pan Jinlian and Xiangling looked at each other and each made a vivid face—Jinlian pouted and her eyes sparkled, exuding a wanton spring air, while Xiangling stuck out her little tongue, her pink cheeks puffed out, her coquettishness revealing a shyness.

The two of them quietly got out of bed to help the master wash up.

Then a clever little maidservant brought over a black lacquered and gold-painted food box, delivering steaming hot porridge, side dishes, and delicate pastries.

Ximen Qing stretched and yawned as he got up, revealing his bare, muscular upper body with several fresh rouge scratches from the previous night. He sat down and devoured the food in a whirlwind.

He pushed aside his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and called out loudly, "Dai'an! Where have you been? Prepare the horses!"

The master and servant left the mansion, but instead of heading to the bustling streets, they turned a corner diagonally opposite the back gate of their own mansion.

Now, that small courtyard, which was originally an inconspicuous place on the street, had long been quietly bought by Master Ximen with silver.

The courtyard wall was no more than a person's height, made of thin bricks and broken tiles, and could not block out the deafening roar of noise inside.

All that could be heard was a cacophony of shouts and curses, the muffled thuds of fists hitting flesh targets, and the grating sounds of knives, spears, and clubs clashing together. Interspersed among the men's heavy breathing and the boisterous laughter and cheers of those who loved to watch the spectacle, it was a scene straight out of a barbarian village!

This is precisely where the pack of fierce beasts kept by Master Ximen guards his residence. During the day, these monstrous creatures practice their fists and clubs here, sharpening their teeth and claws.

Ever since Wu Song arrived, he has been in charge of disciplining these guards.

As soon as Ximen Qing stepped into the dusty, sweaty courtyard, he felt a wild and untamed atmosphere wash over him.

Before he could even stand firm, a towering black figure swept up to him with a whoosh – it was Wu Song! He lowered his stance, clasped his hands in a fist salute, performing a very proper and respectful gesture, and his booming voice made everyone's eardrums tremble: "Master!"

That shout, like a tiger's roar in the mountains, silenced the commotion in the courtyard. The group of fierce guards who were playing with stone locks, fighting in pairs, and brandishing knives and sticks in the courtyard immediately stopped, like chickens with their necks being choked.

One by one, they hurriedly clasped their hands in greeting to Ximen Qing, shouting in a jumbled mess of words, "Greetings, sir!" and "We kowtow to you, sir!" which startled several crows on the eaves, causing them to flutter away.

Although the sounds were noisy and uneven, they still managed to form a semblance of order, a far cry from the previous chaotic and disorderly scene.

Ximen Da Guanren grunted an "Mmm" through his nostrils, which was taken as his agreement.

He slowly swept his gaze over the group of muscular, sweat-drenched, strong men in front of him.

Among these people, there are quite a few hardened criminals who have traveled all over the country and have blood debts or unclear criminal records on their hands!
But Master Ximen had his own rules: he only accepted people from Qinghe County or the surrounding area whom he knew well, who had families to support, or who had been guaranteed by his trusted confidants.

Those scoundrels with shifty eyes, dubious origins, and glib tongues—even if they had three heads and six arms, Ximen Qing wouldn't accept them.

These guards, if used well, are your own henchmen; but if you keep some with questionable backgrounds, they can become boning knives hidden under your pillow, and one day they might slit your own throat!

The official's eyes swept across the crowd and landed on the few timid men a few steps behind Wu Song.

Those were the original leaders here, but now they were like wilted eggplants, hunching their necks like quails, standing obediently with their hands at their sides, not daring to even breathe loudly.

It seems that the fierce look on his face, which used to be stern and resentful, had been completely wiped away by Wu Song's iron fist. All that remained was the awe a mouse would show to a cat, and a trace of fear emanating from his bones, for fear that if he didn't fight back, that fist the size of a sand bowl would come down on him again.

Ximen Qing was very perceptive:
In this filthy place where only fists matter and parents don't care, and whoever has the strongest arm is the boss!

No matter how tough your head is or how stubborn you are, if you fall into the hands of Wu Er, this god of death, you'll only get a few good beatings, until your muscles are sore and your bones are soft, until you don't even recognize your own parents!

This will teach you whether the Horse King's three eyes grow horizontally or vertically, so you'll obediently tuck your tail between your legs and behave modestly from now on!
The official waved his hand lazily: "Keep playing around! Use every ounce of strength you have! Stop pretending to be dead dogs!"

As if granted a pardon, everyone responded with a thunderous roar, the sound almost lifting the courtyard wall. The courtyard erupted in chaos once again, filled with the sounds of fists and feet hitting flesh, shouts of "Hey-ha!" and the muffled thuds of stone weights pounding the ground, all mixed with the earthy smell and the stench of sweat, which filled everyone's nostrils.

Ximen Qing then slowly turned his head and looked at Wu Song, who stood obediently behind him like a nail.

This towering man stood ramrod straight before him, his head bowed slightly, his hands pressed tightly against his trouser seams. He looked like a Vajra in a temple, forcing himself to appear human, his fierceness masking a submissive strength after being subdued.

"Boss Wu Ding!" Ximen Da Guanren slowly sipped his tea, not even raising his eyelids, and only uttered a sentence from his throat, "How is your brother who sells pancakes doing these days? Is he still able to keep up with his work from dawn till dusk?"

Upon hearing his name called, Wu Song's angular, somewhat menacing, purplish-red face suddenly welled up with a warm feeling of gratitude. He hurriedly clasped his hands and bowed, his voice radiating warmth: "To the master, thanks to your great fortune! My elder brother is still quite robust."

"Speaking of this," Wu Song's smile deepened, "I really have to thank you, sir, for your compassionate heart! That woman in distress that you sent over by Aunt Xue a few days ago is quite a clever one! She knows how to be considerate, appreciates what she has, sees through the ways of the world, and is very perceptive. And her hands and feet, wow, she's so efficient at everything—frying, cooking, cleaning, and tidying up inside and out, she's more efficient than if she'd been washed with clean water!"

"Now that she's helping me out, my brother's burden has been lightened considerably! His complexion has become noticeably rosier, and the two of them are living a blissful and peaceful life together!" As he said this, a blush crept onto Wu Song's rugged face, revealing a deep joy from the bottom of his heart.

He paused, then suddenly lifted the hem of his black cloth robe, and with a "thump," knelt down on one knee. His two large, iron-like hands clasped above his head, his voice heavy and echoing as he struck the ground.

"Master! I, Wu Er, am a straightforward and honest man, I can't be good with sweet talk! Your kindness to my Wu brothers is heavier than Mount Tai!"

“You’ve given this brute Wu Er a place to stay and a decent meal… and that’s not all,” he said, his throat bobbing, his voice becoming even more earnest.

"You...you even gave my poor brother such a caring and loving wife! I, Wu Er, am but a blade of grass, I dare not dream of any great wealth, I only pray that my brother is safe and sound, and that I can earn a few taels of silver here with my own strength to repay my brother's kindness..."

"But...but I don't know what evil spirits we encountered!" Wu Song's grateful expression suddenly darkened, his brows furrowed, and he sighed heavily. His sigh carried the wariness characteristic of a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone who travels the martial world), and also revealed a sense of helplessness brought about by fate.
"Perhaps it's just my nature, as Master scolded me, that I'm a lump of raw iron ready to ignite at the slightest provocation, too reckless... Or perhaps Heaven can't stand to see us brothers live in peace? Just when things are finally settling down, when we can finally breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy a few days of comfort... a storm can erupt from nowhere! From some filthy corner, some unexpected and sordid deeds can emerge! Sigh..."

That sigh was deep and heavy, like a stone hitting someone's heart.

He paused, then said loudly, "Now, I am able to live here in Qinghe County, relying on the meal you bestowed upon me, and with my own strength, I can protect your residence and repay your kindness!"

"I can earn some extra money to support my brother's family without having to endure the hardships of life on the streets or the constant threat of being caught by the authorities. This is the happiest and most fulfilling way of life for me, Wu Er!"

"Not to mention, you are my master's disciple in name only, so you're practically family!"

Ximen Da Guanren raised his hand in a perfunctory manner, a smile plastered on his face: "Get up, get up, Wu Ding! Since you say we're brothers, why the need for such formality!"

Wu Song cupped his hands in greeting again and stood up, his overflowing gratitude still clearly written on his face, almost spilling out.

The official looked at the guards who were training: "Captain Wu, what have you been teaching those new lads these days?"

Wu Song clasped his hands and gave a respectful bow, his purplish-red face plastered with deference: "Reporting to Your Excellency, these burly fellows are quite tough. I taught them a few deep and powerful fist techniques and rehearsed some encirclement and grappling formations."

The official nodded slightly, but then abruptly changed the subject: "Wu Ding, you are an honest man. However, the key to disciplining these people lies elsewhere."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly: "You must understand, even if these people put in their best effort to learn, they're already quite old. When it comes to real, hard-fought combat skills, how can they possibly compete with those seasoned, notorious bandits?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song's purplish-red face immediately turned solemn. He straightened his back, clasped his hands, and said in a deep voice, "Please enlighten me, Master! I, Wu Er, am all ears!"

The official leaned forward slightly: "The important thing is to teach you more of those... well, 'unique' techniques from the martial arts world!"

"The important thing is to teach you more of those... well, those 'low-level' tricks of the outlaws!"

"For example: how to keep watch, to be observant in all directions, and to be able to hear from all sides, so that even a mouse crossing the street cannot escape your notice! How to recognize people and discern their true nature at a glance!"
"When it comes to fighting, how do you seize the opportunity, use that lime powder to dazzle the eyes without letting it bewitch your own brothers? How do you quietly trip someone up and use tripwires to attack their underhanded ways!"

"How to form a defensive formation when encountering cavalrymen robbing goods, and how to patrol and guard against thieves who raid the village at night!"

"For example, how to cast a fishing net and wield a flying rope to specifically entangle someone's hands and feet, rendering them unable to exert their strength... These inconspicuous, low-level martial arts 'skills' are their most important 'livelihood' right now! They'll be useful for guarding the Ximen family's house and escorting goods!"

Wu Song's thick eyebrows furrowed slightly at first, then suddenly relaxed, a look of understanding flashing in his eyes. He nodded heavily and said, "Master is right! Wu Er understands! I get it now!"

"Speaking of fists and feet..." Before the official could finish speaking, he suddenly reached behind him and grabbed the servant Dai'an by the back of the neck like an eagle catching a chick. Without saying a word, he forcefully pulled him down, making him stagger to his side.

Dai'an was dozing off when he was suddenly pulled out of bed. His heart sank, and he knew it was no good!
That once fair and clean face instantly shriveled up like a dried orange peel.

The official, pinching Dai'an's slender neck, said to Wu Song, "Wu Dingtou, look at this fellow! He's young, in the prime of his life when strength is bursting from his bones. He spends all his time scheming and fooling around with women, wasting all his brute strength. I might as well give him to you to learn some proper martial arts, so you won't waste all your energy on women in the future!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Song did not reply, but instead stretched out his large palms and pinched Dai An's thin arms, shoulders, waist and back several times with his iron-like fingers.

Dai'an's bones creaked from being squeezed so tightly that he winced in pain, tears welling in his eyes, but he didn't dare to utter a sound, like a cat whose throat had been pinched.

After kneading him, Wu Song nodded: "Master has a discerning eye! He's a good prospect! Though his bones are thin, his foundation is solid; he's a piece of meat that can be worked! Hand him over to Wu Er!"

He pondered for a moment, then his eyes flashed with a sharp light. "Make him spend three hours every day, coming to my place at dawn to check in, and then practicing for another two hours in the evening before resting. I'll definitely straighten out his lazy bones and limp muscles, train him until he's..."

Wu Song's voice boomed like a bell, then suddenly stopped, "His footwork and fighting style are as strong as iron, and his punches and kicks are as swift as the wind. Three or five rough men wouldn't even be able to get close to him!"

Upon hearing phrases like "three hours," "the hour of Mao (5-7 AM)," "pulling tendons and bones," and "coming again tonight," Dai'an was so frightened that most of his soul flew away!

His bitter face instantly contorted into a grimace, and he disregarded all decorum, grabbing Ximen Qing's sleeve tightly, pleading in a tearful voice:
"Oh, my dear father! Please spare me! I... I'm still so young, like a kitten, still growing! How can I withstand this..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ximen Qing glared at him, his eyes flashing like sharp arrows. Dai'an was instantly like a chick being choked, the rest of his words stuck in his throat, turning into a chill.

He hunched his neck, lowered his head, and didn't dare to breathe loudly.

In his heart, however, he had already cursed Wu Er's ancestors for eighteen generations: "Damn Wu Er! He's a living Yama, a soul-chasing demon! How can my delicate skin withstand your rough handling? Three hours a day? Are you trying to turn me into your elder brother... a tiny, stunted wreck!"

After saying all this, the official's expression turned serious: "Alright, I have another extremely important matter to discuss with you, and it can only be resolved by you, Wu Ding!"

(End of this chapter)