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

Chapter 76 Emptying the Master's Arms
Zhou Tong rolled his eyes when he heard his special skill being compared to the skills of the Rouge Opera. If he hadn't overheard his nominal apprentice's profound discussion at the banquet, he really wouldn't have been willing to show off his true skills.

After hearing this, he waved his hand and prepared to return to his room to rest.

She had only taken one step when the official grabbed her sleeve.

The official laughed and said, "Master! In this vast sea of ​​people, our master-disciple relationship is a predestined fate from a previous life. Besides, just now you were so happy that you broke my family's 300-year-old ancestral drum. You should at least pass on a few more skills to make it complete."

Zhou Tong was both amused and exasperated, but after observing his words and actions for several days, he still felt that this nominal apprentice was hard to understand. He always seemed to have an inexplicable air about him, as if he were shrouded in a veil.

In the martial world, people value clear distinctions between gratitude and resentment. Zhou Tong pondered for a moment, the wry smile on his face vanishing, replaced by a rare solemnity: "So be it! I have already given you these two Feather Arrows. Whether they bring you fortune or misfortune is up to your own fate. Call me master, and I will teach you a set of Hua Tuo's Five Animal Frolics, a breathing technique for nourishing qi and strengthening the body. That will complete this destiny. From now on, I have given you everything I have, and there is nothing more."

After finishing the lesson, Zhou Tong looked at him strangely, said, "There's someone spying on you over there. She came last night too," and went back to his room.

The official was completely confused by what the master was saying, and looked in the direction Zhou Tong was pointing.

Amidst the white moonlight, pink walls, and floral shadows, a girl with a glossy bun peeked over the wall, her fair face half-hidden by her hair, furrowing her brow and stealing glances in their direction. Though it was late at night, her face shone brightly in the moonlight.

That courtyard was clearly next to Li Ping'er's residence.

Is Li Ping'er spying on me?
Seeing that little head suddenly retract and disappear into the shadows of the flowers and the wall, the official's lips curled into a faint smile, but he was too lazy to point it out and just let her be.

Li Ping'er suddenly pulled her head back, pressing her back tightly against the cold, icy pink wall. Her heart pounded wildly, as if she were holding a mindless rabbit that was thrashing around in her arms, making half of her chest numb.

"Oh dear! Could it be that that old bastard saw us? Or did that scoundrel catch us red-handed?" She covered her burning cheeks, the heat rising to her ears, making her earlobes turn into two ripe red agates. She cursed herself inwardly: "Pah! Li Ping'er, Li Ping'er, you come from a respectable official family, how did you end up learning those shady dealings of eavesdropping and peeping at men?"

These past few nights, she'd gotten the hang of it. Whenever the stars filled the sky and all was quiet, that rascal next door would invariably pick up a short stick, about eyebrow length, and start brandishing it in the open space of his yard. At first, she was just curious, but as she watched, she couldn't take her eyes off it.

The stick seemed to come alive in his hands, whistling and whistling as it danced. What was even more vexing was that whenever he got into the swing of things, that rascal would find his silk jacket in the way, and in a few quick movements, he would tear open the collar, or simply strip it off, leaving his muscular upper body bare! Under the moonlight, the liquid flowed like mercury over his body, illuminating his muscular frame, highlighting its defined lines and bulges, taut and glistening, pulsating beneath his skin like living things with each breath he took!
"Oh dear!" Li Ping'er couldn't bear it any longer at the thought. She cried out inwardly, feeling her mouth dry and her throat stuffed with cotton. She had never seen such a heart-wrenching scene before. His chest was as broad as a wall, the bulging muscles on his arms looked like freshly peeled chestnuts, and especially the grooves between his waist and abdomen, with beads of sweat rolling down them... Thinking of this, Li Ping'er's legs went weak, and she involuntarily pressed herself closer to the wall.

"How shameful!" she cursed inwardly, yet a cat-like itch throbbed within her. She was both embarrassed by being seen and unable to suppress her urge to peek at the chestnut meat again. She only hoped that the wealthy Ximen hadn't noticed her, only hoped that the old instructor would return to his room quickly… so she could… just one more stealthy glance, just one more!
"That damned old bastard! The master is practicing his spear and staff skills perfectly well, but he insists on teaching people to shoot marbles. Isn't that misleading the young? If you don't have the skills, don't come and teach your disciples. This old swindler is obviously just trying to cheat people out of their money. Wu Yueniang, as the mistress, doesn't even help keep an eye on things. If I were the mistress..." Li Ping'er bit her lower lip and cursed inwardly, calling him an old swindler over and over again.

Her face was flushed with spring, her eyes were watery, and half of her body felt weak. Although she was spitting, her toes seemed to be rooted to the spot, and she couldn't move an inch. She just held her breath, pricked up her ears, and waited for the soul-stirring sound of the stick to rise again from the neighboring courtyard.

But after waiting for a long time, all she heard was the sound of marbles. She was so angry that she clenched the handkerchief that smelled of her, pouted, and went back to her room, calling her an old hag who was misleading young people!

Zhou Tong, whom all the outlaws in the land would kowtow to, had no idea that he himself would be cursed like this all night in his old age. The master, having mastered the technique, became so engrossed in practicing that he didn't stop until the moon was setting. The grapevines, which had been covered in grapes, were now scattered and broken, with withered branches and leaves mixed with sweet juice, lying on the ground as if they had been hit by a hailstorm.

Once he was satisfied and his muscles and bones were loosened up, he asked a servant to prepare bathwater. He then used the breathing and guiding techniques taught by Zhou Tong to warm his whole body, sweating profusely. After taking a bath, the official finally felt a little sleepy. It was almost dawn, and the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten. He went back to his room and fell asleep immediately.

As soon as Jinlian got up and washed up, she ran to the study. She was relieved to see Xiangling engrossed in reading a book in the study.

As long as the master doesn't sleep with this little hussy, that's fine.

Hurry up and wait in front of the inner room door.

When the sun was high in the sky, Ximen Qing finally woke up.

Jinlian, who had been standing close to the gatehouse, quickly lifted the thin gauze curtain with her slender hand when she heard the sound. A mixture of warm fragrance and masculine odor wafted towards her.

Seeing her master sit up, wrapped in a brocade quilt, his expression still somewhat weary from sleep, his bare upper body muscular and imposing, especially striking in the dim morning light, Jinlian flew past the rosy clouds, biting her lower lip as she hurriedly carried over the copper basin that had been warming beside the incense burner, its steam rising, and placed it on the low footstool.

"Father's awake?" Her voice was soft and sweet, almost dripping with moisture. She took the fine cotton towel draped over the edge of the basin, soaked it in warm water, wrung it half-dry with her jade-like fingers, and handed it to him.

Ximen Qing grunted in acknowledgment, took the towel and wiped his face, then tossed it back into the basin and casually asked, "Is the injury on your buttocks much better now?"

Jinlian hurriedly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Father. I'm all better now! Even the scabs have completely fallen off. I wouldn't dare to delay your affairs again." She deliberately emphasized the words "wouldn't dare to delay your affairs" in a soft and gentle tone, but her eyes seemed to drift unintentionally towards his waist.

Ximen Qing sat up, his feet touching the ground. Jinlian quickly took the dark blue robe with cloud patterns and went behind him to help him put it on. Her slender fingers worked on the sleeves and adjusted the collar, her body intentionally or unintentionally brushing against his firm back as she moved.

When she bent down to tie the jade belt around her waist, she leaned so low that the ribbon of her peach-colored bodice almost brushed against Ximen Qing's arm.

A strand of black hair fell from her temple, brushing lightly against the bare skin of his neck with her movements. Her breath was sweet as orchids as she murmured, "Father's waist... it's truly made of iron..." As she tied the ribbon, her fingers seemed weak and powerless, drawing a circle lightly around his lower abdomen.

Ximen Qing chuckled, revealing her little scheme: "It's so early in the morning, and the light is so bright. You little hussy, you're quite the troublemaker."

Jinlian blushed, but refused to back down. Instead, she raised her eyes, her peach blossom eyes glistening with tears, and boldly met his gaze. Her voice was soft and seductive, with a hint of seduction: "Father loves his servant... what difference does day or night make? This is the perfect time for our passionate lovemaking!"

(End of this chapter)