Breaking stones on the chest is impossible, absolutely impossible in this lifetime.
It’s not like she hadn’t seen performers before. Most of them had learned some superficial skills, adding some tricks to deceive the audience. The martial arts content was not high; it was just for fun. Any respectable hero wouldn’t stoop to doing this — after all, if it really came to that, they could always go to Dongfeng Buye Tower to apply for the Jianghu relief fund; no one would starve.
To prove herself, Hua Yan initially wanted to perform a sword dance, but unfortunately, it wouldn’t be practical in this courtyard. She would have to restrain her sword aura, and she couldn’t let her moves be too open, lest the damage be too strong.
More importantly, she suddenly realized that if she really did dance… in her cousin’s eyes, it might confirm that they really were performers!
Hua Yan thought for a moment and suddenly had an idea.
In the courtyard of the Zhou family mansion, there was a towering tree with sprawling branches and leaves that shaded the sky. Hua Yan beckoned to her little cousin, who eagerly ran over with a face full of expectation. “Do you need my help to break stones on the chest…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Hua Yan grabbed his arm, lifted him with her light footwork, and stepped up the tree trunk, ascending straight to the top.
The air was thin up there, and it was slightly cold.
Hua Yan stood on a thick branch, placing her stunned little cousin on the top of the trunk, and clapped her hands, smiling, “How do you feel?”
Her little cousin was completely dumbfounded, sitting motionless on top. The cold wind blew, and he shivered instantly. Looking down at his feet, his legs went limp, and he cried with a long face, “Cousin! I was wrong! Please let me down!”
Hua Yan crossed her arms, feeling delighted, “Who was talking about breaking stones on the chest?”
Her little cousin immediately responded, “Mine! Break mine! Cousin, you’re so amazing, of course, break mine — please let me down!”
Hua Yan, having finally won a round, didn’t want to let him go easily. “Say something nice?”
Her little cousin, clutching the nearby branches and trembling, started to babble, “Cousin! Dear cousin! Help! Cousin, you’re as beautiful as a flower, as lovely as a fairy… you’re a perfect match with Brother-in-law, a match made in heaven, a couple destined by the gods, may you have a long and happy life, and many children, children who don’t speak of strange forces and gods… please let me down!”
Hua Yan finally satisfied, let him down.
Her little cousin, now as obedient as a quail, left no one in doubt.
The Zhou family was all immersed in the shock of seeing a fairy descending from the sky. Even the baby in her sister-in-law’s arms stopped crying, stunned. After a while, her second uncle said, “Do you really have a way? But if Master Zhao…”
Hua Yan smiled and said, “Just let them go find the Qingcheng Sect.”
Without further ado, she and Lu Chengsha set off for the Qingcheng Sect the same day. Since it wasn’t far, they decided to walk after dinner to aid digestion; after all, they both walked fast.
After walking for a while, Lu Chengsha suddenly said, “If he troubles your family, we can go directly to the Zhao family.”
Hua Yan said, “That’s not possible. We can’t just go and kill all the Zhao family. If it’s just a threat, we aren’t afraid, but they don’t know martial arts. Once we leave, if they retaliate, it will be endless trouble. Let’s be more tactful…”
Lu Chengsha nodded thoughtfully.
Hua Yan continued, “You’re always so direct, but it can be a disadvantage. Being flexible can save you a lot of trouble.”
Lu Chengsha nodded, “Hmm.”
Hua Yan went on, “You should learn from our Sect Master; he’s very adaptable…” Before she could finish, she noticed Lu Chengsha’s gaze and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Lu Chengsha shifted his gaze, but he seemed a bit unhappy.
Hua Yan, now quite attuned to his emotions, couldn’t help but say, “What’s with you? Are you actually jealous of our Sect Master?”
Lu Chengsha didn’t want to show it, but it seemed he could never hide his feelings from her. He felt it was petty but still…
“…Our Sect Master?”
Hua Yan burst out laughing, “So that’s what you’re bothered by. I won’t call him that next time. It’s just a habit…”
Lu Chengsha wanted to say that what bothered him was their past closeness, which he hadn’t been part of. It left him with a lingering, inexplicable resentment, but it was something that couldn’t be changed and was merely a self-imposed trouble.
He always wanted to be closer to her, although they were already very close.
Thinking of this, Lu Chengsha glanced at her belly, which she hadn’t noticed.
At first, he found the idea overwhelming and unimaginable, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt an uncontrollable, indescribable, inexplicable… an excitement that left him feeling bewildered.
It hadn’t faded yet — although this hadn’t happened yet, it didn’t stop him from thinking about it.
As he thought about this, he saw her suddenly turn to him, her large eyes curved like stars and moons, making his heart race as she smiled, “What’s up with our dear Sha Sha? What are you daydreaming about?”
Lu Chengsha felt a bit embarrassed.
He was sure that if she kept looking at him like that, she would see right through his thoughts. Steadying himself, he suddenly leaned in.
Hua Yan was startled and then felt Lu Chengsha’s lips brush quickly against hers.
She immediately forgot what she wanted to ask. In the wilderness, all she wanted was to hold onto him and kiss him a bit longer.
When they finally arrived at Qingcheng Sect, they were delayed a bit. Compared to other major sects, Qingcheng Sect was much more relaxed. The entrance was bustling with activity, crowded with people, many of whom were tourists resting after climbing the mountain.
However, the Qingcheng Sect disciples, dressed in blue robes and white pants, were still quite noticeable. They walked in groups of two or three, carrying long swords, either chatting or out for a meal.
After all these years, Hua Yan still thought their sect uniform looked like green onions.
She intended to go straight in and find Senior Sister Tao, but considering the commotion she and Lu Chengsha had caused in their previous visits, it wasn’t surprising that a few Qingcheng Sect disciples recognized them before they got close. Shocked, they exclaimed, “Young Hero Lu… and the demon, demon…” The second half of the sentence got stuck.
A nearby disciple helped by adding, “Miss Hua.”
Hua Yan: “…”
She hadn’t expected her name to have this effect when paired with “Miss”!
Coughing, she said, “…It’s okay to call me demoness! Or, you can call me Heroine Hua?” She was a bit shy by the end.
The Qingcheng Sect disciples exchanged glances. Faced with the charmingly beautiful woman before them, they couldn’t bring themselves to say it. They coughed and said, “Holy Maiden, what can we do for you?”
Hua Yan replied, “Could you please find Senior Sister Tao Caizhou for me?”
“Oh, alright, please follow us inside.” The Qingcheng Sect disciple said, leading them in but couldn’t help looking at them a few more times. As they left, he hesitantly added, “Congratulations on your marriage.”
Hua Yan, in high spirits, smiled radiantly, “Thank you.”
Her beauty was already extraordinary, and her smile made her even more stunning. Her bright and captivating eyes carried the unique charm of a newlywed bride, like a grand flower in full bloom, still adorned with fresh dew, incredibly alluring. Her graceful figure only added to her appeal.
The young Qingcheng Sect disciple, at an age where he admired beauty, was momentarily dazed.
But he soon felt a chill from beside her. Turning his head, he saw the black-clad man’s gaze drifting over. Though not angry, the warning was clear. He quickly snapped back to reality, retracted his gaze, and hurried off.
Hua Yan didn’t notice any of this and followed Lu Chengsha to wait in a side courtyard.
However, they were unaware that after they entered, the Qingcheng Sect disciples outside were buzzing with excitement.
“It’s really them! I didn’t get a clear look at their wedding because there were too many people.”
“Did you see how Young Hero Lu looked at the Holy Maiden? It’s unbelievable! I thought he wasn’t interested in anything other than practicing swordsmanship and killing!”
“I was also shocked! I never believed the rumors before. He always looked so distant, and we thought he would never even glance at a woman, let alone fall madly in love… Who would have guessed he’s actually a romantic?”
“But you have to consider who he’s in love with! I sneaked a closer look just now. That girl is so beautiful… even a disciple from the Fanyin Temple would probably renounce their vows on the spot!”
“Young Hero Lu got lucky!”
“I want to get lucky too. Is there still a chance? Are there any other Holy Maidens in the Zhengyi Sect? I’ll challenge our chief senior brother right away for love…”
“Get out of here! Don’t even think about it! Even if there were, would they even notice you?”
“Wow, are you my senior brother now… Okay, I do admit I’m a bit inferior to Young Hero Lu…”
His senior brother gave him a sidelong glance, “A bit?”
“Does one really have to be the top martial artist in Jianghu to match a great beauty? Isn’t our senior brother also…”
“Shut up!”
Senior Sister Tao arrived shortly after, delighted yet nervous. “What brings you here?”
Hua Yan explained their purpose, and Senior Sister Tao immediately patted her chest confidently, “No problem. We know the area around Lincheng very well. Master Zhao from Baijiang City? We’ll make sure he returns with his tail between his legs and never dares to oppress the common people again!”
It was indeed the right decision to seek help from the local strongmen!
Hua Yan felt reassured.
Seeing Hua Yan and Lu Chengsha standing together, Senior Sister Tao felt comforted as well. Initially, she harbored some resentment due to the incident at the Miyin Dragon Cave, but now that the true culprit was found and the great evil eliminated, she felt at ease. She found the couple extraordinarily pleasing to the eye. She immediately took Hua Yan’s arm and whispered gossip, “How does it feel to be married? Is Young Hero Lu treating you well?”
Hua Yan couldn’t help but smile, “Very well, he’s… exceptionally good!”
Senior Sister Tao’s eyes lit up, “How exactly? Can you tell me more? You two were so busy during the wedding that I never got a chance to ask. Didn’t you stop seeing each other after you burned Tingjian Manor? How did you reconcile? I’m dying to know… tell me quickly!”
Hua Yan: “…?” She was surprised someone was so curious about this.
She glanced at Lu Chengsha.
Lu Chengsha had already heard what Senior Sister Tao was saying and heard Hua Yan’s previous words. He looked completely relaxed, his dark eyes slightly downcast, and said in a gentle tone, “I’ll wait for you.”
Before Hua Yan could respond, she suddenly felt Senior Sister Tao’s grip on her arm tighten.
Tao Caizhou’s scream got stuck in her throat. Seeing Young Hero Lu, now a married man, being so incredibly gentle to the woman beside him was almost unbelievable. Seeing it up close, she couldn’t help but feel her heart tighten!
Is this kind of happiness even real?
Tao Caizhou cleared her throat and asked, “Are you two always like this?”
Hua Yan replied, “Always?”
She immediately recalled the times she and Lu Chengsha would kiss and hug for no reason, her pretty face turning red. She said, “We just got married, so…” She turned to look at Lu Chengsha, her lips slightly pursed. Lu Chengsha looked back at her, and their gazes locked in the air for a moment, filled with a subtle, unspoken affection, a hint of lingering tenderness, almost palpable.
Anyone would think that if there weren’t others around, the two of them would probably start kissing right there.
Tao Caizhou clutched her collar, feeling overwhelmed.
She suddenly felt like a third wheel and wanted to slip away. She had just taken a step when Hua Yan grabbed her, “Hmm? Don’t you want to hear more?”
Tao Caizhou said awkwardly, “It’s not that… I was just thinking… maybe I should find a room for you two to rest for a while?”
Hua Yan’s face turned even redder, “No need! We’ll be leaving soon… we have to get back home for dinner!” But since Tao Caizhou was curious, Hua Yan was also curious. Once they were alone, she asked eagerly, “How about your senior brother and Zuo Jingshuang?”
Tao Caizhou: “…?” Why are you concerned about this?
However, since Hua Yan was asking, she had to answer, “There’s been no real progress. Our senior brother is good at handling sect affairs but pays no attention to his own matters. He likes her, but besides treating her well, he doesn’t know what else to do. I originally thought Zuo Jingshuang was cold and smart, but it turns out she’s a bit foolish too. Our senior brother probably saw her foolishness and wanted to take care of her, but ended up falling for her himself.”
Tao Caizhou sighed, and Hua Yan sighed along with her.
“…Why are you sighing?” Tao Caizhou asked, puzzled.
Hua Yan replied, “Can’t I be concerned? I thought they had potential… Just like you care about me and Lu Chengsha!”
“That’s because…” Tao Caizhou started to explain but then said, “Alright, but in a few days, when the Dangshan Sect comes for a sparring match, if you’re curious, you can come and watch.” She added nonchalantly, “Bring Young Hero Lu with you. If he’s willing, he can give some guidance.”
Hua Yan rubbed her hands together and said, “Actually, I could also…”
Tao Caizhou stared at her for a moment, then shook her head, “I’m afraid that’s… not possible.”
Hua Yan protested, “Why not! My martial arts skills aren’t bad!”
Tao Caizhou looked hesitant and said, “Do you really not know what you look like?” Considering the resolve of those young disciples coming for the sparring match, expecting them to focus on a serious fight while looking at her was wishful thinking!
—
Although they didn’t agree to let her guide the sparring matches, Tao Caizhou quickly took care of the matter.
The Qingcheng Sect sent people to properly discipline Master Zhao and his son, beating them so badly that they were bedridden for half a month. They were warned to behave and not commit any more evil deeds, or there would be a next time. These actions by the prominent sects in the Jianghu were generally not interfered with by the authorities as long as they didn’t cause too much trouble.
Master Zhao still didn’t know what he had done wrong to provoke such powerful adversaries, considering all the evil deeds he had committed. He didn’t dare leave his home for a while. Naturally, he had no time to harass her aunt’s daughter, and her aunt took the opportunity to arrange a marriage for her daughter. Master Zhao and his son were too preoccupied to interfere.
To be safe, Hua Yan also contacted the local branch master to keep an eye on the situation to prevent any further trouble.
The Zhengyi Sect had reformed but certainly hadn’t become pushovers. If Master Zhao dared to commit evil again, they would have no qualms about resorting to deadly force if necessary.
Her second uncle was astonished to find that a problem that had troubled them for so long was resolved effortlessly by Hua Yan. The two of them hadn’t even lifted a finger and spent their days eating, drinking, playing, and wandering the streets buying gifts, like an ordinary leisurely couple.
Meanwhile, her little cousin, after his ordeal, suddenly decided he wanted to give up studying and learn martial arts!
“Cousin! Can you teach me? Or ask brother-in-law to teach me!”
Hua Yan wasn’t good at teaching, so she asked Lu Chengsha.
Lu Chengsha thought for a moment and asked, “…Teach him what exactly?”
Recalling Lu Chengsha’s brutal teaching methods, Hua Yan, considering her little cousin’s fragile physique, imagined Lu Chengsha could knock him down with just a branch. She quickly shook her head, “Never mind…”
Since it was her relative, Lu Chengsha thought again and said, “How about sending him to Tingjian Manor?”
That could work.
Hua Yan then told her little cousin, “If you really want to learn, and your parents agree, brother-in-law can write a letter for you to go to Tingjian Manor to train. But given your age, you’re starting late, so it might be…”
Her little cousin, very nervous, brought over a big stone and held it in front of him, asking, “…Do I have to start by breaking stones on my chest?”
Hua Yan: “…”
After a long pause, she said coldly, “…You’d better go back to your studies!”
That night, her second uncle and aunt gave her little cousin a severe scolding, causing quite a commotion, almost hitting him with a feather duster. They finally made him abandon his unrealistic thoughts, and the next morning, he obediently returned to his studies.
At the same time, Hua Yan was dozing off, nestled in Lu Chengsha’s embrace. She vaguely heard her little cousin’s discontented struggles, and unconsciously nuzzled against Lu Chengsha’s chest. In response, Lu Chengsha kissed her head, nuzzling her back, and thought to himself how beautiful the springtime was.