One small chest after another was carried into the stone house by the guards.
Shui Yun unceremoniously took the main seat in the living room, her long, fair legs crossed beneath her shorts and propped up on the table.
The female steward stepped forward and opened the chests.
A faint fragrance mixed with the scent of medicinal herbs wafted through the air.
Glancing at the first chest, Shui Yun said lazily, "Jade Dew Balm: for body tempering. A Martial Practitioner should start refining their body early, but it's not too late since you've just become a Martial Master."
Jade Dew Balm?
Wasn't this something Female Martial Experts used to exfoliate, smoothen their skin, whiten their complexion, and enhance their natural fragrance?
"For me?"
Shui Yun nodded naturally, gesturing toward the women with her chin. "They've been with me for a long time. Let them serve you."
Tang Wen frowned.
The beautiful Shui raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"
Tang Wen said flatly, "Your junior brother here is brimming with vigor, practically bursting with energy. Do you really think it's appropriate to have them rub this all over my body?"
Shui Yun glanced at his thighs, smirking. "At least you understand restraint. The second chest contains Dragon Bone Marrow Pills—great for warming and replenishing primal yang. Very nourishing! But don't take them recklessly."
Tang Wen: "..."
Dragon bone and deer marrow?
This was practically a fuel station for men.
Did he need this?
Hah!
Tang Wen scoffed and curled his lip. "Do I need this?"
Shui Yun stopped speaking and looked at him calmly.
She had spent years immersed in martial training, never keeping male concubines, favorites, or lovers.
Now that she had met Tang Wen, who intrigued her greatly, she wasn't about to let him go—not with that face of his.
She hoped this junior brother wouldn't be ungrateful. "This is a Transcendent-grade Elixir. Even a Transcendent can't handle it. The ingredients are precious, and there are no side effects."
Tang Wen immediately turned to the steward. "Make sure to store this properly! Ahem, not that I need it, but it's the thought that counts from my senior sister."
Shui Yun chuckled. "Junior brother, you're so amusing."
What kind of outrageous remark was that?
Had she even tried it before saying that?
Tang Wen glared at her.
Shui Yun moved on to the next chest. "Blood Boiling Powder, a body-strengthening medicine refined from the Blood Essence of a serpentine Extraordinary Beast. It can stimulate your physique and stamina, making you even stronger."
Maybe it was just his imagination, but Tang Wen felt like she was deliberately emphasizing "physique and stamina."
Even stronger?
He was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle him later!
"This Blood Boiling Powder is just right for a Martial Master as young~ as you."
"Pfft!"
Hearing Shui Yun drag out the word "young," one of the male guards burst out laughing.
Tang Wen turned to look at him.
The man met his gaze without fear.
Tang Wen: Hah, not bad—decently built, with a face about a third as handsome as his! A fairly young Martial Master.
"What's so funny?" Shui Yun asked lightly.
"My apologies, I lost my composure."
Though he apologized, the guard shot Tang Wen a sidelong glance—full of disdain and provocation.
Tang Wen's expression darkened.
What the hell? He was still the Seventh Young Master. How dare a mere guard act up in front of him?
Shui Yun took in Tang Wen's reaction, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Lost your composure? Disrespecting my junior brother? Keeping you around would only cause trouble."
The guard looked up in shock—hadn't she personally chosen him to lead the escort today? Wasn't it because she fancied his handsome looks?
Shui Yun's eyes suddenly darkened entirely as she flicked her wrist toward the male guard.
Bang!
Like a cannonball, the guard was sent flying by an overwhelming surge of mental energy, crashing into a stone wall dozens of meters away.
The stone wall trembled.
Red and white splattered across the ground.
Taking a life over a mere disagreement?
Tang Wen felt a chill in his heart.
But considering this was done to vent his grievances,
it didn't seem so bad after all.
Thud!
With the captain of the guards dead, the remaining guards knelt in unison.
Shui Yun's calm, lazy voice rang out again: "I told you all on the first day—harboring improper thoughts about me is a capital offense. Add to that the disrespect toward my junior brother in my presence, and it's unforgivable."
The guards kowtowed frantically, their foreheads thudding against the ground!
The maids, including the head housekeeper, stood frozen in fear, heads bowed and breaths held.
Tang Wen also lowered his head and stayed silent.
After a moment of silence, Shui Yun suddenly felt bored. What? My move to dote on my junior brother alone doesn't seem to be working?
"Junior brother, why so quiet? Scared after seeing this side of me?"
Tang Wen sighed.
Her heart sank. Did I go too far? Should I not have killed so casually?
Irritation rose in Shui Yun's chest. I shouldn't have bothered with this lovey-dovey nonsense! Knocking him out and dragging him away would've been much simpler!
Tang Wen suddenly lifted his head, revealing a bright, beaming smile.
Shui Yun was taken aback.
He scooted over, plopping down beside her, leaning close to her delicate earlobe as he whispered:
"Senior sister, save me. To be honest, the moment I first saw you, I already had thoughts—I was already scheming about you! What should I do now?"
Shui Yun stared at his face, mere inches from hers, and for the first time ever, her heart raced uncontrollably.
Her eyes gleamed with intensity, as if she wanted nothing more than to execute Tang Wen on the spot!
She thought it—and acted on it, grabbing his arm so hard he grimaced in pain.
"Senior sister—ow, ow, ow!"
Shui Yun instantly lost interest.
It was the kind of disappointment that made her think, I've already taken off my pants, and this is all you've got?!
With a pout, she released his arm, then abruptly wrapped hers around his waist, pointing at the chests. "The rest are body-refining tonics—some for medicinal baths, some for ingestion. Remember to use them after training."
Being held so domineeringly while staring at the opened chests before him,
Tang Wen couldn't help but feel, deep down, as if he were some gigolo at a high-end club catering to a wealthy patron.
But what lay before him were Transcendent Elixirs that even ordinary Martial Masters would trade their lives for.
He decided to surrender.
"Housekeeper, you've noted down how to use the medicine, right? Store it properly for me!"
Then, turning to gaze at her beautiful profile, he declared:
"Senior sister, I'm definitely eating this soft rice of yours!"
Shui Yun chuckled a few times before sighing helplessly. "Hurry up and grow stronger."
"Senior sister, now you're insulting me! You haven't even seen it—you don't know about my extraordinary, enormous talent!"
He spread his arms, gesturing something at least a meter long.
Shui Yun burst into laughter.
The two bantered back and forth, pulling and pushing, jostling against each other.
But as Shui Yun's temper flared, she didn't dare stay any longer. After repeatedly urging Tang Wen to train hard, she hastily left with her entourage.
After all these years of looking down on everyone, she had finally found someone she liked.
She was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold back.
But—a seasoned Transcendent versus a third-rank Martial Master?
The difference in physique was as vast as the gap in strength.
She worried that before her excitement even peaked, Tang Wen would already be spent.
And by "spent," she meant on the verge of death.
A Transcendent woman was not something a man of insufficient strength could handle.
Leaving the stone tower and returning to her quarters,
Shui Yun didn't even bother undressing before diving straight into the cool pool. She swam several laps before finally extinguishing the fire in her heart.
Meanwhile, Tang Wen—the "hidden Transcendent"—was equally unsettled by the teasing.
Regret gnawed at him. Why did I have to hide my strength?
Otherwise, wouldn't that juicy senior sister have been within his grasp?
Looking at the eight Martial Apprentice maids in the room.
His desires stirred.
Eight, surely that would be enough to satisfy him?
Should he indulge? Indulge? Or indulge?
"Clean this up properly." A voice suddenly came from outside the door as several guards were clearing away the scattered remains.
Seeing the blood-soaked mess on the ground, Tang Wen's burning lust cooled considerably.
"I'm going into seclusion."
Descending the stone steps to the underground training chamber.
Tang Wen closed his eyes in meditation, using great willpower to sever distracting thoughts.
Then he began tempering his Dark Night Divine Fist.
The seclusion began - resting upstairs when tired, eating when hungry.
Upon waking, he would train relentlessly, exhausting every last ounce of his energy.
Whether it was Shui Yun's special consideration or the young master's usual lavish provisions, the meals consisted mainly of Transcendent beast meat.
After meals came medicinal baths and bone-relaxing massages.
Of all his secluded training sessions, none had been as comfortable as this one.
Time loses meaning in seclusion.
Before he knew it, over a month had passed.
The Dark Night Divine Fist had broken through.
Tang Wen had no choice but to emerge from seclusion.
Because the Blood Raven had returned from the distant Flame Camp, bearing a letter.
(End of Chapter)