Chapter 2: Night Conversations
Seeing the Seventh Young Master still so oblivious to the world, Xu Xiaolin, who had little patience to begin with, immediately erupted: "Useless? It could be of great use. If you can truly cultivate this technique to its utmost and open all your meridians, with your true energy flowing endlessly, everyone in the Wang residence will look at you with new eyes. When guests arrive, they will have to come to pay their respects in person. The eldest and second young masters, as well as all the stewards and servants of the estate, will not ignore you. Even the esteemed marquis will take time to summon you personally, bestowing upon you luxurious mansions, beautiful women, gold, silver, and jewels. The young lady will certainly not come to blows with Princess Qingping because of you..."
Gu Qing looked at her eager expression as she tried to explain, and with a light smile, nodded: "Hmm."
Upon uttering the last sentence, Xu Xiaolin suddenly realized that she had let something slip. The reprimanding voice came to an abrupt halt, and she quickly attempted to explain: "Uh, no, no, the young lady actually went home to visit her family."
Gu Qing chuckled lightly: "Reaching the pinnacle of cultivation, shattering gold and destroying jade? So what?"
What did I just say?
As soon as the words were spoken, without waiting for his response, she fled like a person escaping, quickly running towards her own young lady's courtyard
Listening to the Seventh Young Master, who originally had no remarkable qualities in her eyes, discussing the pros and cons in detail, Xu Xiaolin suddenly raised her head and looked at him with some suspicion: "Seventh Young Master... these things you mentioned, you wouldn't have just heard them from someone talking nonsense, would you"
Xu Xiaolin opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no matter what she intended to express, everything seemed so powerless in the face of this statement
Uh ... ... Young Master Seven ... ... Miss she ... ...
As soon as Xu Xiaolin heard this, she immediately rolled her eyes and said, "I have never seen you practice at any time."
I have always worked very hard
"Seventh Young Master, did you truly not hear what I just said, or did you pretend not to hear it?"
"What do you mean it’s useless? How can it be useless!" Upon hearing the completely uninformed Seventh Young Master say that the cultivation techniques collected in the Hou residence were useless, Xu Xiaolin immediately began to analyze: "I won’t even mention the swordsmanship of Prince Qi, the Five Tigers Breaking the Heavens Fist, the Glazed Shattering Gold Finger, the Dragon Coiling Elephant Suppressing Technique, and the Heavenly River Atlas, which all require high talent and comprehension. Let’s just talk about the King Kong Xuan Jade Hand and the Harmonizing and Absorbing Qi Technique, which do not have high requirements for talent. As long as one has perseverance and can use spiritual herbs to condition the body, they can be cultivated well. Although the Harmonizing and Absorbing Qi Technique is a common cultivation method, when practiced to the extreme, it can not only generate powerful true qi within the body but also open up all the meridians. If one has a certain opportunity, they can even step into the eighth realm of the Qi Path, where true qi is thick and powerful, and the body can transform. Even in our Great Qi Dynasty, one could be considered a top expert, easily becoming a general in the military. The King Kong Xuan Jade Hand, as an attacking technique, is even more remarkable. When practiced to the limit, the hands become as hard as fine iron, capable of crushing gold and jade as easily as cutting tofu. For those below the fifth level of the Qi Path who have not yet cultivated true qi, it is almost a guaranteed death with a single touch. How impressive is that!"
Seeing the smile on the Seventh Young Master's face, Xu Xiaolin always felt it was somewhat strange. However, for the future of her young lady and the gentleman before her, she still patiently finished her words: "Seventh Young Master... when you have time, could you practice your swordsmanship more? Look at the Eldest Young Master; he is already a master at the Eighth Level of Qi Path. Even the Second Young Master, who plans to become a civil official, reportedly started working on opening his meridians a month ago, preparing to break through to the Seventh Level of Qi Path. Our Great Qi is a nation established by martial prowess, yet you, Seventh Young Master, spend your days immersed in scribbling and do not focus on your training. That is why the young lady is concerned about you..."
Gu Qing glanced at the startled Xu Xiaolin, then looked at his right hand, which was still suspended in the air. As if recalling something, he slightly shook his head at the picture book and headed straight towards the northern courtyard where he resided
Xiaolin, is there something you need?
Gu Qing slightly reined in the smile on his face and nodded
In the courtyard where he resides, there is a three-story attic, at the top of which various peculiar devices are installed to capture the scattered moonlight and starlight that falls in all directions. Additionally, the walls of the top floor are constructed from special materials, making one feel as if they are immersed in a world of stars, with a breathtaking view of the celestial brilliance all around.
"The choices one makes come with corresponding consequences." At this point, Gu Qing thought of something, and her tone slightly changed as she shook her head: "It's too troublesome"
Gu Qing let out a light laugh and nodded slightly
Heavens, Seventh Young Master, the young lady is your legitimate wife. She is currently being humiliated outside. When she confronted the Second Prince Ning Tianqi, she was even injured by his sword energy. Now she has locked herself in the courtyard, refusing to come out, and is undoubtedly heartbroken... How could you...
Gu Qing chuckled lightly: "This has escalated to the level of what it means to be a man. This is a serious question. So let me ask you, what must I do to be considered a man? Should I draw my sword and storm into the imperial palace for a one-on-one duel with the second prince?"
Seeing him so unyielding, Xu Xiaolin was even more infuriated than she was with herself for being unambitious: "Is that even called martial arts? Is that even called cultivation? If you randomly picked an elderly person over sixty from the street, they could easily defeat anyone using this set of martial arts. Seventh Young Master, you are at least our little lord of the Hou residence. With the sword techniques, boxing skills, and internal cultivation manuals collected by the lord, isn't there at least one that could help you achieve something in your training?"
After much effort, the young master finally relaxed a bit, but Xu Xiaolin was not willing to let it go so easily. She quickly pressed on with her questioning: "What kind of trouble are you referring to, Seventh Young Master?"
This sentence instantly drained all the energy from the originally fierce Xu Xiaolin, making her appear utterly dejected: "Seventh Young Master... you... you... you are truly not a man..."
However, as soon as he touched Xu Xiaolin's soft hair, she suddenly recoiled like a frightened kitten, hurriedly stepping aside and speaking with a hint of panic: "Seventh Young Master, there is a distinction between master and servant, please conduct yourself appropriately..." At this point, she seemed fearful that he might take any further inappropriate actions, quickly adding: "Seventh Young Master, it is getting late, you should return and rest early. I will not disturb you any longer, I shall take my leave now."
Xu Xiaolin pressed her lips together, recalling the temperament of the Seventh Young Master. She no longer concealed her thoughts and straightforwardly said: "In recent days, the Second Prince Ning Tianqi, Princess Qingping Ye Xueqing, General Wang Shendu of the Northern Expedition, the prodigy Lin Daojin, the legendary Sword Saint Nian Wusheng, and the Holy Maiden Fang Ziying of Xuedu, along with all the young talents, rising stars, and esteemed officials of the kingdom, have come from all directions to prepare for His Majesty the Emperor's fiftieth birthday. The young lady accidentally encountered Princess Qingping and, because of you, suffered great humiliation, even..."
Gu Qing saw her looking up at him with a surprised expression, and with a light laugh, he reached out to pat her little head: "Xiao Lin, this star is merely a way station in our lives; we need not..."
So, do you plan to start working hard tomorrow
Looking up, one noticed that the sky had completely darkened without one realizing when it had happened. Throughout the entire royal residence, apart from this secluded courtyard, it was already brightly lit, with various lighting tools illuminating the entire palace as if it were daytime
Gu Qing responded with a sound and fell silent.
If even Young Master Qi is not worried, what are you, a mere maid, fretting about
It naturally absorbed the information
Gu Qing still shook his head
Tell me, Seventh Young Master, do you have any difficulties? If you do, we can overcome them together with the young lady. As the saying goes, a couple united in heart can achieve great things.
Every day, every night, regardless of day or night
Seventh Young Master
Xu Xiaolin stared wide-eyed at the lightly smiling Gu Qing, as if she were looking at a monster
Gu Qing's face still bore a faint smile: "Just say what you need to say."
trouble
According to past times, it should now be between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.
Your young lady has always been very strong
During the day and at night? You spend the day scribbling on the ground and sleep on the rooftop at night like a child counting stars and the moon. Is this what you call cultivation?" At this point, her tone slightly paused, as if she recalled something, and a somewhat gloomy expression appeared on her adorable little face: "Don't tell me that the soft and awkward set of moves you practice every morning, which even an old person could easily perform, is what you consider cultivation?"
"Yes, what is it?"
Huh? Hearing the call, Gu Qing came back to his senses from that temporarily unsolvable problem
These power struggles are too mentally exhausting; my time should not be wasted on such trivial matters. However, what I just said is something that anyone with a bit of sense could think of
Cultivate diligently and reach the Eighth Level of Qi Path as soon as possible, so that your young lady will look at you with new eyes
However, regarding all of this, the party involved, Gu Qing, seemed indifferent. His gaze followed the crisp call and landed on the woman who had spoken. Upon seeing that it was the girl who had destroyed all the formulas and patterns he had drawn today, he lightly smiled and nodded at her.
Gu Qing nodded
Seeing her young master always appearing so indifferent, Xu Xiaolin couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated: "Seventh Young Master, are you even listening to what I'm saying?"
Ah, Seventh Young Master, you haven't been lying low?
Xu Xiaolin curled her lips and said, "You can't even enter the gates of the palace."
Strong
However... but Seventh Young Master, regardless of what is said, the young lady is, after all, your legally wedded wife. Even if the young lady does not have feelings for you, can you really bear to see her, as a girl, suffer the disdain of others because of your lack of achievement
What is the use of those cultivation techniques? What can one achieve after mastering them?
So you have been quietly remaining in the Marquis's residence, could it be that you are biding your time, preparing to make a stunning revelation
What are you talking about
Gu Qing smiled lightly and nodded
What you have displayed is the true you
From 8:00 to 9:00, at this time, the dinner hour had already passed in the Hou residence. However, throughout this period, not a single servant entered this courtyard to summon the Seventh Young Master for dinner. The seclusion of the northern courtyard is one factor, which indirectly reflects how dispensable this Seventh Young Master is within the entire royal residence.
"Hehe, back then the Second Prince abandoned her and chose the powerful Princess Qingping, which was beneficial for his bid for the throne. Angered, she immediately decided to marry me, an ordinary person with no achievements and little recognition. One should have anticipated such an outcome."
The Second Prince has displayed exceptional talent since childhood, excelling in both literary and martial arts, military strategy, and imperial power dynamics. He has mastered all these disciplines and has also honed his own cultivation through blood-soaked battles on the front lines, reaching the pinnacle of the Eighth Level of Qi Path. He is just one step away from advancing to the Ninth Level of Qi Path and achieving the status of a grandmaster. He is regarded as one of the top experts among the younger generation of our Great Qi, with a reputation at its zenith. If he were to establish a connection with Princess Qingping, the daughter of the King of the West, and gain the full support of the King of the West, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, and with the public's expectation, ascending to the throne would be just around the corner. At this moment, if I were to demonstrate any extraordinary talent and rapidly cultivate to the Eighth Level of Qi Path, assisting your young lady in teaching a lesson to Princess Qingping and venting this grievance, before the young expert, the Second Prince, could take action, for the sake of national harmony and stability, the Emperor of Great Qi would not allow any potential threat to the Second Prince's reputation to exist.
You ... ...
What is worth lurking for