The charming widow of the Marquis's mansion: The stable boy carries the flag and raises the dra

Wang Long was overjoyed.

His face remained impassive, revealing a troubled expression.

"Young Miss, this is... a bit difficult."

"Difficult to handle?"

Qin Minglan raised an eyebrow, reached out and grabbed Wang Long by the collar, pulling him in front of her.

"I've been stuck at the early stage of Rank 3 for over half a year, and you're telling me it's difficult?"

She paused, her tone carrying a hint of threat.

"Old man, if you can help me break through to the next level, I will reward you handsomely; if you can't..."

She reached out and patted the hilt of the sword at her waist, her smile as radiant as a flower, yet sending chills down one's spine.

"This young lady's sword has no eyes."

Wang Long nodded hurriedly, his face full of flattery.

"Please calm your anger, young lady. This old servant is willing to pass on my family's secret spiritual technique to you!"

Qin Minglan's eyes lit up, and she loosened his collar.

"That's more like it, hurry up and take it out!"

Wang Long was speechless. This little girl was just trying to take things by force. Couldn't she be a little more polite?

That's even better; Wang Long can fool her without any psychological pressure.

Wang Long looked around suspiciously, then lowered his voice.

"This is not the place to talk. If you don't mind, Miss, please come with me to my courtyard, and I will explain everything to you in detail."

Wang Long quickly added a sentence, fearing that Qin Minglan wouldn't believe him.

"Young Miss, this scroll of spiritual techniques is somewhat different. Without my guidance, it's easy to go into qi deviation, which is why you, Madam..."

Upon hearing this, Qin Minglan hesitated for a moment, looked around, then at Wang Long's aged face, and finally nodded.

"Lead the way. If you dare to try anything funny, I'll slice you to pieces with my sword!"

Wang Long quickly bowed and made a "please" gesture.

"This way, Miss."

The two walked one after the other through the moon gate and along the blue brick path toward Wang Long's new courtyard.

Throughout the journey, Qin Minglan kept her hand on the hilt of her sword, her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Wang Long's back, as if afraid he would run away.

Wang Long walked ahead, a slight smile playing on his lips, already plotting how to slowly win over this little girl.

Once inside the courtyard, Wang Long pushed open the door to the main house and stepped aside to let Qin Minglan go in first.

"Young Miss, please."

Qin Minglan strode into the room and looked around.

The room was small and simply furnished, with a four-poster bed, an eight-immortal table, two official-hat chairs, and a desk by the window.

Although simple, it was kept fairly clean.

"Hurry up and take out the incantation!"

Qin Minglan plopped down on the edge of the bed, crossed her arms, and crossed her legs, acting like a spoiled young lady.

Wang Long closed the door, walked to the bedside, but did not sit down. Instead, he stood humbly to the side with his hands at his sides.

"Young Miss, this is my family's secret spiritual technique!"

As Wang Long spoke, he took out a yellowed scroll from his pocket and handed it to Qin Minglan with both hands.

"Please take a look, young lady."

Qin Minglan was very satisfied with Wang Long's attitude. She took the scroll with one hand, unfolded it, and saw five large characters written on it—

The Secret of Yin and Yang Harmony.

Her beautiful brows instantly furrowed into a knot.

"The Yin-Yang Harmony Technique? What the hell is that?"

Wang Long quickly explained.

"Young Miss, this is a dual cultivation technique that requires both men and women to cultivate together, harmonizing yin and yang, in order to break through bottlenecks and advance in realm."

Qin Minglan's face flushed red instantly, from her neck all the way to her ears.

She suddenly stood up, grabbed Wang Long by the collar, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, and gritted her teeth.

"You old bastard, what do you mean?! You want me to cultivate with you?! Are you looking for death?!"

Wang Long quickly waved his hand, looking completely innocent.

"Please calm down, young lady! That's not what I meant!"

"Then what do you mean?!"

Qin Minglan had already raised his fist, spiritual energy condensing on it, ready to smash his head open at any moment.

Wang Long swallowed hard and spoke cautiously.

"Young Miss, what this old servant means is... you only need to practice the introductory chapter of this technique, and this old servant will assist you. You don't need... you don't need that..."

He paused, his voice lowering slightly.

"Dual cultivation".

Qin Minglan stared at him for a long time before slowly lowering her fist, but the wariness in her eyes did not diminish at all.

"Just an introductory guide?"

"It's just an introductory guide, meant to help the young lady break through her limitations; it won't have any other impact."

Wang Long appeared sincere, but secretly he was chuckling to himself.

Once you've practiced the beginner's guide for a while, you'll naturally want to move on to the advanced guide. Take it step by step, like boiling a frog in lukewarm water; you'll be hooked eventually.

Qin Minglan bit her lip, staring at the scroll in her hand, her almond-shaped eyes filled with struggle.

She has been stuck at the early stage of the third rank for more than half a year, and no matter how she cultivates, she cannot break through.

If this "Yin Yang Harmony Technique" can really help me break through...

"Old man, are you sure you're not lying to me?"

Qin Minglan looked up at him, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Wang Long quickly raised his hand, looking very serious.

"This old servant swears to Heaven that if I have uttered even the slightest lie, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

"That's how the First Madam broke through!"

Wang Long was telling the truth.

Qin Minglan stared at him for a while and found that Wang Long's gaze was sincere and he was not afraid of her gaze at all.

He finally nodded.

"Fine, I'll trust you this once."

Wang Long taught her how to comprehend and condense sword energy; this time, he shouldn't be deceiving her.

Unbeknownst to Qin Minglan, she had unknowingly developed a certain trust in Wang Long.

She sat back down on the edge of the bed, unrolled the scroll, and began to examine it carefully.

Wang Long was overjoyed, but his face remained impassive as he stood respectfully to the side.

"but--"

Qin Minglan suddenly looked up, her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, carrying a hint of danger.

"Don't tell my sister-in-law about this."

Wang Long was taken aback, then nodded repeatedly.

If Luo Hanyi finds out that he tricked Qin Minglan into cultivating this "Yin Yang Harmony Technique"...

Even if Wang Long were useful to Luo Hanyi, she would kill him without hesitation!

"Don't worry, young lady, this old servant will absolutely not tell the madam!"

Qin Minglan snorted and continued looking down at the scroll.

As she looked at it, her brows furrowed more and more tightly.

"This technique... why is it so obscure? There are so many parts I don't understand."

Wang Long quickly came over, pointed to the text on the scroll, and began to explain.

"Young Miss, look, this describes the path of spiritual energy. Starting from here, it ascends along the Ren meridian to the Tanzhong acupoint, and then branches out to the limbs..."

Qin Minglan listened attentively, nodding occasionally and asking a few questions now and then.

Wang Long answered them one by one, but inwardly he was filled with emotion.

This girl is indeed quick to understand; she picks things up immediately. Although she's domineering, she's easy to fool and can be quite obedient at times.

She's much better than that cold and aloof woman, Luo Hanyi.

After explaining for most of the hour, Qin Minglan finally understood all the content of the introductory chapter.

She took a deep breath, closed the reel, and looked at Wang Long.

"Old man, from now on, you'll protect me!"

Wang Long nodded and pointed to the bed.

"Please sit on the bed, young lady. This old servant needs to sit cross-legged facing you so that I can better guide the flow of spiritual energy."

Qin Minglan hesitated for a moment, then took off her boots, revealing a pair of flawless white feet, and sat cross-legged on the bed.

Wang Long also took off his boots, climbed onto the bed, and sat cross-legged opposite Qin Minglan, his gaze falling on her fair feet.

If this were...