Liver penetrates martial arts, instantly becoming a saint.

Chapter 174 Breaking the Silkworm Robe, Cultivating a Husband

The full moon hangs high in the sky, and the inner courtyard remains evergreen all year round.

The Tranquility Tower stands tall and majestic in its blackness, bathed in silvery light, its side closest to the moon appearing as if plated with silver paint.

Upon hearing the telepathic message, Li Xian dared not delay. He stopped his martial arts practice and immediately went to the foot of the tower. Gazing at it from afar, the tower stood tall and imbued with unique charm.

Li Xian paused outside the door. After a moment, his wife transmitted her voice: "Go up the tower!"

The Tranquility Pagoda, with its black bricks and red tiles, is made of extraordinary materials. It can ward off bad luck and bring peace to the home. The lady herself was a woman of wide-ranging knowledge, with expertise in feng shui, geomancy, construction, alchemy, and medicine making, among other things. This knowledge is reflected in every aspect of her life.

As Li Xian entered the tower, a wave of yin energy washed over him, instantly refreshing him. A few steps later, a gust of hot wind blew in. The coolness vanished, replaced by a feeling of restlessness and irritability.

This is the wonder of feng shui structure. The base of the pagoda is shaped like an octagon, which can regulate yin and yang. The clear winds of heaven and earth blow into the pagoda, following the paths of the octagons to divide the winds into yin and yang, before blowing out from the main entrance.

A gentle, cool breeze carries away dust, sweat, fatigue, and distracting thoughts. A dry, warm breeze carries away dampness and stale air…

Upon entering, it immediately has the effect of regulating yin and yang.

The stairs spiraled upwards; the tower was perpetually dark, so dark you could barely see your hand in front of your face. One had to follow the railings for guidance. Li Xian walked for a long time before arriving at a spacious room on the first floor.

There were oil lamps on all four sides, but they were all out.

Exquisite incense burned in the room, its smoke curling upwards from the incense burner, its fragrance lingering and captivating. All around was pitch black, save for the faint glow of the incense burner.

However, the firelight was weak and insufficient for illumination.

Li Xiantong possessed exceptionally strong pupils, granting him easy night vision. Although the place was dark, he could see everything clearly. He quickly spotted the lady's figure and his face flushed slightly.

"The greatest martial arts in the world, those who benefit from them also have their downfall. The benefits are endless, but the downfall is also unavoidable. How could a dignified lady... be in such a sorry and helpless state?"

Li Xian thought to himself, feeling a mixture of schadenfreude, pleasure, and a strange sense of eroticism. He chuckled to himself, "This lady always tries to stab me with her sword. If one day I surpass her, I'll stab her back."

The Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique is a rare and precious skill. It is extremely powerful and bizarre. Those who practice this skill can have a flawless body and an unfailing beauty.

The more advanced a martial artist's skills, the more mysterious they become. They dare not easily reveal them, because the methods of practice often contain weaknesses.

Wearing silkworm clothes, locking the acupoints around the body, practicing internal exercises, seeking perfection.

This skill has no physical stances or movements. It is divided into two parts. The first part, "Silkworm Clothing," is supplementary. The other part, "Internal Cultivation," contains the essence of this skill.

The so-called "silkworm garment" is a kind of "specially made rope" that binds the whole body. Because it is intricately knotted and densely packed, it is sometimes called "silkworm garment" when one is wrapped in it.

The lady sat dignifiedly, yet there was an undeniable allure to her.

He was wearing a "silkworm robe," and all his joints and vital areas—knees, elbows, ankles, and even toes and fingers—were carefully cared for.

Her entire body was entangled in a complex web of silken threads, tightly bound together. Exquisite and graceful, it was impossible to move an inch. Knowing she couldn't escape, Madam Wen didn't struggle. Hearing footsteps approaching, she opened her eyes, revealing a rare look of embarrassment.

Li Xian feigned ignorance, his gaze sweeping over the group briefly. He asked, "Madam... are you here?"

"Why did you call me here so late?"

The sound echoed.

After a moment, Madam Wen pondered, "Qiuyue has betrayed me; this son is the only one who can replace her." She said, "I am here; come here."

Li Xian followed the sound, and to avoid revealing his presence, he closed his eyes. He cautiously approached, taking one step at a time.

Madam Wen said, "Stop where you are, sit down, and then reach out your hand." Li Xian did as she was told, reaching out her hand to touch the skin, which felt like stroking warm jade, cool and smooth.

Madam Wen harbored murderous intent; Qiu Yue's disappearance likely indicated betrayal. Enraged, she wanted to tear Qiu Yue to pieces to vent her anger. But when Li Xian approached, his aura lingering around her nose, her heart fluttered, and the matter of Qiu Yue was forgotten.

Previously, they had shared the sweet rain without any shame. Now, however, she had made a mistake and was unable to extricate herself from it, feeling as if she had fallen into the mortal world, with all sorts of thoughts surging within her. When practicing swordsmanship together, feelings of intimacy arose.

Madam Wen's expression remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil: "To think that I, the dignified Lady of Broken Swords, would be seen in such a sorry state by such a mere boy. Truly, life is full of cruel tricks." Her heart was in turmoil, and she found it difficult to calm down.

Li Xian closed his eyes and casually touched the silken garment. He immediately felt it take root in his flesh, firmly anchoring him within his body. It was no wonder the lady couldn't extricate herself. Martial artists are still human. Though they undergo a transformation and enjoy longevity, their essence remains unchanged. They are living, breathing human beings, with their feet firmly on the ground and their heads reaching the sky. Any martial artist whose hands and feet are restrained will inevitably suffer a loss of strength.

He exclaimed in surprise, "Madam, what...what happened? How...how were you captured? Who dared to treat you like this? I'll kill them!"

Madam Wen coughed lightly twice, the darkness of the night concealing the blush on her face.

Madam Wen had prepared many explanations beforehand to save face. But at this moment, she changed her tune: "I was indeed captured, and the thief is nearby."

"That thief will be back in a moment. My life is hanging by a thread. Are you going to run or not? If you don't, you'll be buried with me."

Li Xian said, "I untied the lady and killed the thief."

"Hmph," Madam Wen said, "With your paltry tricks, you won't be able to untie this incense stick. By the time you do, we'll both be dead."

"I won't run away then," Li Xian said.

Madam Wen's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she felt very gratified, a little happy, but also a little shy: "I gave you permission to run away, and it's only natural for you to flee for your life now. I don't blame you."

Li Xian didn't answer, thinking to himself, "This wicked woman is still testing me." Little did he know that with each test, he had gleaned some of her true intentions.

If Li Xian were to flee for her life, she would definitely blame her. But if she didn't flee, she couldn't quite express her joy. She possessed stunning beauty, but her behavior and temperament made her an enemy to everyone. Although she had many suitors, they were all treacherous and scheming.

Of course, the lady is by no means pitiful.

"Fine, since you're not going to run away, then you can stay here and wait to die with me," Madam Wen said dejectedly, seemingly getting into character.

Li Xian thought to himself, "Would it be better to say some sweet words now?" With renewed courage, he said, "I would be extremely happy to die alongside my wife."

"Do you really think that way?" Madam Wen asked, her voice trembling slightly.

After waiting a moment, Madam Wen said softly, "Light the lamps on all four sides; there are no thieves here."

Light returned to the tower. The flickering flames illuminated the scene clearly. Madam Wen, her face slightly flushed, said, "You don't need to ask me about my current situation."

"Today I will teach you the methods of 'wearing the silkworm robe' and 'shedding the silkworm robe.' I will need your help when I go into seclusion in the future. Come closer now."

Li Xian approached, inhaling the fragrance of the lady's hair, his heart pounding. He thought to himself that this sensual scene was the first he had encountered in both his lives, and that others might not witness such a sight even in a thousand lifetimes. Lady Wen had regained her composure and said, "This silk robe restrains all my joints. My wrists, knuckles, and elbows are all bound. You may walk around me and observe."

"Not only that, you touched my Lingtai acupoint."

Li Xian pinpointed the acupoint, touched it with his finger, and found that a silkworm rope was wrapped around it. He pressed gently and felt a slight roughness. The silkworm rope was smooth; the roughness indicated the knot.

The knots are intricate, yet no detail can be seen with the naked eye.

"I have 361 acupoints throughout my body, many of which are knotted. Because of the special material of the silkworm rope, these knots are extremely fine, even invisible to the naked eye. You are proficient in the Azure Silk Palm, and the method of circulating Qi in your palm is similar to these knots. You..."

"Carry me to that bed, first untie the knots binding my acupoints, then help me remove my silken robe. I will explain the steps to you slowly. Remember them carefully."

"Of course, if you run now, I can't do anything to you. Just like the autumn moon."

Madam Wen said gently, "Just consider it my bad luck, that I misjudged you, and that I'll be left here to starve, exhaust, and die of exhaustion."

Li Xian shook his head and said, "I won't run away; I'm just afraid of offending Madam."

Both of them had their own schemes.

"Hmph," Madam Wen said, "You are all mine, how could you be offending me? I won't hide it from you, your Sunset Blood Sword and my Yin Sword are a combined sword technique. Now that you have cultivated to the second level, we must share the same bath. If you are lucky enough to enter the third level one day, you will naturally advance further. Between you and me, how could there be any offense?"

Her words were calm, and she seemed to view matters between men and women as nothing more than ordinary. But a subtle ripple stirred within her heart, revealing a touch of romance.

It wasn't completely unaffected.

There was no wind inside the tower, yet it wasn't stuffy.

On the bed, Madam Wen instructed Li Xian on the "Silkworm Robe" technique, allowing him to release acupoints all over his body, inevitably resulting in some touching. Madam Wen found this scene incredibly alluring, her eyes sparkling.

She had never felt this way before, when Qiu Yue helped her. When had Madam Wen ever been in such a situation? Without realizing it, she had already leaned against Li Xian's shoulder.

"He saw everything I did today, and I absolutely cannot let him go. This boy possesses a perfect appearance and the talent of the Yang Sword, and now he's at the point where he has to take off my silkworm robe."

Thinking of this, her pretty face flushed slightly: "Looking around the world, it seems there are no two others as close to me as he is. Although Uncle Xiang is absolutely loyal, he is loyal but not intimate. Come to think of it... don't I also want someone to accompany me for a long time and experience the joy of that time?"

"If I were to groom him as my husband, his strength or weakness would be secondary. All that matters is that he is forever loyal, has no other thoughts, and is devoted to serving me."

Madam Wen was intrigued. She glanced at Li Xian and saw that he was handsome and extraordinary, with a spirited air about him. She thought to herself, "His appearance is already perfect, but he still needs to gain more experience and develop a more composed demeanor." She noticed that he was focused on releasing acupoints, with beads of sweat on his forehead and a slight flush on his cheeks.

"If you are tired, please rest for a while. I'm not in a hurry," Madam Wen said softly.

……

……

[Skill: Unraveling silkworm garments]

[Proficiency: 12/500 Beginner]

It was midnight.

Li Xian followed his wife out of the tower. Madam Wen, dressed in white, was graceful and elegant. The events inside the tower seemed to have been forgotten.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, what about Qiu Yue...?"

"Little Fairy," Madam Wen said, "you're a smart woman. Are you saying that Qiuyue betrayed me and left?"

"I dare not speak recklessly," Li Xian said.

"Please speak frankly," Madam Wen said.

Li Xian said, "Perhaps so, Madam. What do you think?"

"I don't think so," Madam Wen said. "But whether she is or not, we need to ask her ourselves."

"Does Madam already know where she is?" Li Xian asked.

"I don't know yet." Madam Wen shook her head and slightly raised her hand. Li Xian helped her up as they walked towards the bathing room, saying, "Normally, Qiu Yue was in charge of brewing the medicinal soup. Now that she's disappeared, it's your responsibility."

"I will teach you today, and you must remember it well. From the day after tomorrow, you will move into the inner courtyard and live next to my room. If you have any questions about martial arts, just knock on the door and ask me."

"Why the day after tomorrow?" Li Xian asked.

Madam Wen sighed and said reproachfully, "You're clever, yet sometimes you're foolish. Tomorrow you'll come with me out of the manor to ask about Qiuyue's situation."

"If she has any difficulties, we, her master and servant, have served her for many years; it's only right that we help her. You..."

"You're new to this world and don't know much. That's fine, that's fine, I'll teach you slowly. But... if you try to run away, I won't let you off the hook."

Her slender fingers lightly touched Li Xian's forehead. Her soft, sweet words were like a sword binding his neck.

(End of this chapter)