Chaotic World Book
Chapter 184 - 180 Bibo Qingyi

Chapter 184: Chapter 180 Bibo Qingyi

Princes from other royal families weren’t exactly a rarity. The previous Crown Prince, who was not just a Prince but the true Crown Prince, had only ever interacted with everyone for official matters.

Just a few years ago, before the Crown Prince was married, Tang Wanju had also recently joined the Demon Suppression Department; everyone still interacted for the sake of official duties. At that time, the Crown Prince had shown some desires, yet Tang Wanju had endured and never acted upon it, feeling absolutely no fondness and rather a significant dislike towards him.

Fortunately, at that time, the Tang family hadn’t produced any notable figures, holding a modest status; no one from the Tang family even considered the possibility of marrying into the Royal Family. After the Crown Prince got married to the Crown Princess Consort, it became even more inappropriate for the members of the Demon Suppression Department to harbor such thoughts, hence interactions became more formally official.

Then the Crown Princess Consort died, and a notable person from the Tang family emerged... And that person was none other than Tang Wanju herself.

Thinking about it was almost laughable.

Once she began to reflect, her thoughts drifted too far. Past events weren’t important anymore; what was important was the existing precedent. Tang Wanju knew she couldn’t casually be good to any Prince.

Because not just any Prince would be empathetic towards her, telling her not to worry about so many issues, playing songs for her on the lute, or urging her to laugh at the mortal world.

Princes would only want her to do more to protect their empire.

After a long while, Tang Wanju slightly turned her head and spoke, "There’s also one other thing, the finger technique I promised you during the day, there’s no secret book for that. Come here, I’ll teach you."

As for the earlier question, she simply glossed over it as if it didn’t exist.

Zhao Changhe didn’t continue to press the matter. Her silence was, in itself, an answer.

"How do you practice this finger technique?"

"This is a set of Acupoint Pointing and Brushing Hand techniques. When sealing an acupoint, it is elusive and incredibly difficult to guard against; after the acupoint is sealed, the technique is so unique that conventional methods to unseal it are hardly effective. Look..." Tang Wanju’s delicate hand subtly raised, as if picking flowers or touching willow branches, akin to a lover’s playful banter, her fingers brushing across the chest.

Her fingers danced, and before one knew it, Zhao Changhe’s crucial chest acupoint was sealed.

Tang Wanju’s mind wandered slightly as she casually remarked, "Did you see how I executed that move just now?"

Before she could finish speaking, her wrist tightened unexpectedly as Zhao Changhe seized it, "Chief, being so absent-minded can lead to overturning the boat in the gutter of the underworld."

How was he not affected by the acupoint seal?

A sense of urgency flashed through Tang Wanju’s mind—had he been fantasizing just now, not really planning to take liberties at this juncture of farewell?

Just as she was about to withdraw her wrist, she suddenly felt a gentle yet immense Qi surge into her meridians, following the Taiyuan acupoint up to Lieque, and then flowing upwards through the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.

Tang Wanju was familiar with the attributes of this True Qi—the Six Harmonies Divine Skill, merely at the Mystical Gate Four Layer level, yet nearly matching others at the Sixth Layer in extent and scope, embodying a tolerance that covered everything like the sky and ocean, a true Emperor’s Intent.

But the manner in which it was circulating was somewhat odd, as if... mingling with her own Qi, reciprocating back and forth?

Dual Cultivation?

Speaking of which, this is called Dual Cultivation, I don’t know if you would reject it, but there’s really no need," Zhao Changhe said calmly, "These past several days, I’ve watched you worry about official duties, others’ affairs, my matters, and you’ve never thought about your own illness. If you won’t think about it, then I will. This bit of Mystical Gate Four Layer Qi might seem worthless in your eyes, Chief, and inadequate for your condition, but I’ve made an effort—even if it’s not useful, I feel better for it."

At that moment, Tang Wanju felt her urge to struggle dissipate.

Silently, she felt his modest stream-like True Qi rush into the Burning Mountain Flames, evaporated utterly clean, a mere drop in the bucket, yet persistently infused, continuously hitting the wall, knowing it was desperate yet unwilling to give up.

Tang Wanju clenched her lower lip tight, her nose strangely acidic for some reason.

"This is truly futile..." Tang Wanju spoke softly, her voice slightly hoarse, "Dual Cultivation is merely an auxiliary art; it’s not a panacea. If you had peeked into the Secret Treasure and had a famous doctor by your side, maybe it could be considered, but now it’s just a pure waste of True Qi."

Zhao Changhe didn’t speak, continuing his stubborn waste of True Qi.

Tang Wanju also said no more, silently experiencing his True Qi.

The summer night deepened in its quietude.

Only the sound of a man holding a woman’s wrist, the woman looking down demurely, the scene eerily reminiscent of a melodramatic script where a man holds onto a woman wanting to break up.

Footsteps shattered the stillness of night, and in anxious tones, Tang Buqi’s voice came through, "Zhao brother, Zhao... uh..."

Both of them turned their heads at the same time and saw Tang Buqi backing away step by step outside the courtyard gate, disappearing in an instant.

Tang Wanzhuang slowly said, "Come in; why are you so flustered? You’re not a child anymore; you should know how to keep your composure."

Tang Buqi peeked his head out from the courtyard gate.

What are you still holding onto? Isn’t it over between you two?

Actually, for us from the Tang family, this scene might not seem significant, but the problem is, which bastard who rejects this arranged marriage do I report to the old master?

Zhao Changhe finally let go of his hand. "Has Brother Tang left seclusion? Have you reached the Mystical Gate Five Layer?"

"Hmm..." Tang Buqi hummed, having completely forgotten what he had originally come to say, as if he had left seclusion specifically to report his progress to his uncle...

Tang Wanzhuang said indifferently, "What you want to say is nothing new but about Maitreya stirring trouble and hoping for help from a friend. Go back; I wanted him to leave. What’s there to hold on to?"

It is obvious that you wanted him to leave and then he grasped at you persistently. Still, you seem to be reluctantly accepting him. Tang Buqi didn’t want to speak anymore; he had seen such scenes often when flirting with girls outside. It turns out his aunt is just an ordinary woman too...

Tang Wanzhuang added, "Your timing is perfect; I actually wanted to talk to you. Recently, I explored the outer perimeter of the Sword Emperor’s tomb and broke some seals. I found some Ancient Elixirs and sword pills, and there are also a few high-grade swords from the collection. Sisi only took a small amount of medicine, and I arranged some for public distribution. The rest can still be considered ours; after all, this place is located in the Tang family’s backyard mountains—it wouldn’t be right not to count it as ours."

Tang Buqi was overjoyed. "I wanted to discuss this with you as well, but I was afraid you would be too public-spirited and give everything away. That would be a huge loss for us! Why should we? It’s from our backyard!"

Tang Wanzhuang replied annoyed, "Your aunt is not a saint; I have my desires too. The items left for the Tang family might not be worse than those distributed publicly; they might even be more useful. Moreover, Changhe has organized some sword techniques. See if he is willing to write a set for the Tang family. What we ultimately want is our own future, not who stays here to help."

Tang Buqi relaxed, "That would be great. Brother Zhao will surely agree..."

Zhao Changhe hummed in response.

Tang Wanzhuang’s beautiful eyes finally focused on his face again, her gaze flickering, concealing unknown thoughts.

After a long time, she spoke softly, "Buqi, if you’ve finished talking, you should go. We still have matters to attend to."

Tang Buqi ran away crying.

I just passed by to talk about business, and you all stuffed my mouth with grain and then gave me a kick. Damn you both!

Zhao Changhe’s feelings of parting were all turned into laughter; he couldn’t help but laugh, "Buqi is really fun."

Tang Wanzhuang smiled tenderly, "He has been fun since he was a child."

After this exchange, the atmosphere returned to normal. Tang Wanzhuang smiled, "Alright, I really don’t have much time; I must teach you this acupoint-pointing technique right away."

Zhao Changhe also moved back a little and said solemnly, "Please instruct me."

"Remember well, this is one of Tang Family’s ultimate skills called ’Bibo Qingyi’, meaning ’a person in the water, ripples spreading in all directions.’ It may look gentle and harmless, but it envelops all major acupoints around the body, hiding lethal intentions, invisible and traceless..."

Zhao Changhe found learning this acupoint-pointing technique harder than learning blade or sword skills.

Because his expertise was indeed in bladed weapons, his bare-handed skills were extremely lacking. This point-pointing technique wasn’t just about pointing at acupoints; it was a complete set of hand-to-hand combat techniques. With his weak foundation and a style completely opposite his usual broad and aggressive moves, naturally, he learned slowly.

But was it partly because the teacher intentionally taught slowly, and the student pretended to be slow?

No one knew.

What was known was that during the teaching, their arms intertwined, and their eyes met, creating an indescribably strange atmosphere.

Zhou Botong and Yinggu would tell you, for opposite-sex master and disciple, one shouldn’t teach such delicate grappling and personal point-touching skills, especially ones involving touching personal acupoints.

It was unclear whether it was training or flirting.

By the end, Tang Wanzhuang, who usually had a pale face, was flushed all over, and her departure looked almost like fleeing. "This technique might not be too suitable for you. If you find the chance, seek a more domineering hand technique... I must go to Jinling now, we will meet again."

Before she finished speaking, her figure disappeared, even jumping over the wall to avoid using the gate.

Zhao Changhe looked up at the courtyard wall she had escaped over, where the morning sun was rising, and the day was beginning to brighten.

Looking down at his own palms, they still carried a lingering fragrance.