“In the words of a cultivator, it is likely the first line of a mental cultivation method.” Back then, Mu Wan had just made a name for himself as a rogue cultivator at the sect tournament, and this mental method was one of the rewards.
However, having had some fortuitous encounters in his early years, the method did not have much impact on him, so he had simply set it aside after absorbing the content.
Yet, being offered as a reward, this method naturally had its unique strengths.
It combined the best of various traditions, making it suitable for cultivators of any background, and it could lay a solid foundation for them. The line Mu Wan taught to Meng Song was the very first line of a method used by cultivators after they had broken through the Qi refining stage and entered the foundation establishment stage.
In the world of cultivation, the foundation establishment stage is merely the starting point for a cultivator. It symbolizes that they possess a longer lifespan and the opportunity to step further along the path to immortality compared to others.
For the people in this world, however, it already represented a crushing advantage in terms of cultivation realm.
One could even say that for the people in this world, who were seeking breakthroughs once they reached a certain level of cultivation, this simple line would make them feel as if they had been enlightened by divine wisdom.
The more advanced a cultivator was, the more they would understand the benefits it brought.
With such benefits, it would naturally provoke curiosity, and Meng Song, the only person to have come into contact with this mental method, would become extremely important.
Inside the deep mansion, the tall, slender figure behind the screen paused, losing their composure and shattering a porcelain cup at hand.
The other person and Meng Song were both surprised.
“Sir, is there a problem?”
The tall, slender figure shook his head, their gaze piercing through the screen as if to burn Meng Song alive. “What comes next? What is the next part of this sentence?”
Seeing this reaction, Meng Song knew he had successfully bluffed his way through.
“Is this one line not enough?” he asked, pretending to be profound and continuing to spout nonsense based on the information Mu Wan had provided. “I have benefited infinitely from just this one line. However, the immortal once said that given my current level of cultivation, delving any deeper would likely lead to a deviation in my training.”
“Thinking about it carefully, I am also full of guilt, as I am dull-witted and have yet to fully comprehend this line even now.”
In fact, he did not understand what it meant at all.
“Because of this, I have been unable to meet the immortal again.”
“Did you not say the immortal had already departed?” Seeing the tall, slender figure remain silent, the other person asked proactively.
“The immortal promised me that once I understood this line and the timing was right, he would enter my dreams and tell me the rest of the method.”
“I do not know much about these mental methods, but having lived for so long, I have never seen the arts of an immortal. I wonder if the Daoist could show us something to open our eyes?”
“However, the shallower one’s cultivation is, the less one can understand the meaning of this method. Therefore, you must demonstrate some genuine ability to deceive them,” Mu Wan’s words echoed in his ears once more.
Feeling somewhat insulted but secretly acknowledging the wisdom, Meng Song wore a look of absolute confidence. He looked at the two before him and spoke slowly. “Naturally. However, if I demonstrate this immortal art, will you allow me to leave?”
“If you truly possess immortal arts, wealth and glory will be yours for the taking.”
But there was no promise to let him go.
Cursing their craftiness in his heart, Meng Song sighed but agreed for the sake of his own safety.
He only hoped the Prince Consort’s method was truly effective.
Back at the Prince of Jing’s estate, Ning Bumo, having received the answer, did not leave. Instead, he looked at Mu Wan with a hesitant expression.
In fact, Ning Bumo had been like this since morning, as if he had something to say but felt too embarrassed to speak. Seeing that Mu Wan had no intention of paying him any attention, he finally could not help but probe, “Do you not feel that the estate is a bit different today?”
“Different?” Mu Wan played dumb. “It seems so. The servants in the estate are busier than usual, and I heard they invited a cook from outside to prepare dinner. Why, are they trying to reward me?”
With just this remark, Ning Bumo’s expression became dejected again.
“Is there something else I do not know?” Mu Wan pressed, but Ning Bumo became tight-lipped again, unwilling to mention his birthday at all.
He did not know what he was being stubborn about.
If he would not say it, Mu Wan would not bring it up either, leaving him to struggle with his own thoughts.
He knew he was being mean-spirited, but he could not help but want to tease Ning Bumo.
The two of them remained in this state until the banquet began.
As the servants set up the banquet, Ning Bumo looked out the window under the pretext of enjoying the scenery, glancing from time to time at the oblivious fellow beside him, wondering what reaction Mu Wan would have when he finally realized today was his birthday.
It was called a family banquet, but in reality, there were only the two of them. During the day, the palace had sent gifts, which Ning Bumo had accepted himself. But seeing the large crates carried into the estate, Mu Wan had acted as if he had seen nothing at all. His light, airy demeanor was truly infuriating.
Jiang Yi watched this entire scene, feeling helpless. Their Prince really was… completely at the mercy of the Prince Consort.
As for Mu Wan, watching the soup of longevity and birthday peach cakes being laid out, and then being pointedly pushed toward him by Ning Bumo, he could finally no longer contain his laughter.
Ning Bumo looked at him suspiciously. “What are you laughing at?”
Mu Wan did not answer, simply looking at him with a smile. When the man had lost his temper, Mu Wan teased, “So it is your birthday. If you wanted me to celebrate it for you, you should have told me earlier; otherwise, isn’t it a wasted expectation?”
“No, I was not particularly expecting anything.” Ning Bumo instinctively retorted, but he suddenly paused. He looked back at Mu Wan, clutching the wrist Mu Wan was using to hold a peach cake. “Mu Wan, are you playing with me?”
He realized belatedly that Mu Wan might have known his intentions all along, but had intentionally kept him in suspense, watching him struggle and hesitate.
“But you did not ask me, did you?” The man before him spoke with an innocent tone, perfectly turning the tables. He even drooped his brows pitifully. “Are you going to blame me?”
Ning Bumo had been deceived by this innocent look several times already. Every time, he told himself not to soften, but he could never bring himself to say a harsh word. Besides, he was just joking with him; what was wrong with that?
Not to mention, he was the one with the strange temper—clearly wanting a blessing from Mu Wan, yet holding back due to pride. If someone else had treated him like this, he would certainly have found it annoying.
In any case, although he did not know what had happened, Ning Bumo had clearly convinced himself.
The hand gripping Mu Wan’s wrist relaxed, and the birthday boy became the frustrated one. “I apologize. I was a bit too fierce.”
Mu Wan froze for a moment before suddenly placing the back of his hand on Ning Bumo’s forehead.
“What are you doing?” Ning Bumo asked strangely.
“You really are not angry?” Mu Wan knew he had a bit of a mischievous streak. In the cultivation world, he had once stolen a treasure that everyone was fighting over in broad daylight and then walked away, leaving a group of people grinding their teeth in frustration, yet unable to do anything to him.
After all, the struggle for treasures depended on strength, and Mu Wan was the number one person in the cultivation world. He had never been stingy with his knowledge when fellow cultivators asked for advice, yet for some reason, the sight of his relaxed and carefree demeanor made people furious.
Yet today, Ning Bumo had adapted so well that it left Mu Wan stunned.
When Ning Bumo recounted his thoughts honestly, Mu Wan’s shock turned into a subtle sense of guilt.
What foolish psychology, what foolish logic.
However, he conceded. This kind of psychology worked very well on Mu Wan.
When the servants had retreated and only the two of them remained in the warm pavilion, Mu Wan propped his chin on his hands and stopped teasing him. “Fine, I admit it. I did know about it from the start, but I have prepared a gift for you, so you will not be angry, right?”
The approaching face brought with it Mu Wan’s scent. Ning Bumo paused. “I was not angry to begin with.”
As for the gift, Ning Bumo did not care about that. Ultimately, he probably just wanted a blessing from Mu Wan.
Before Ning Yu ascended the throne, birthdays had been happy days for Ning Bumo. Both his parents and his eldest brother had valued him greatly, and he had never felt unsatisfied. Even Ning Yu, that boy, had once been close to his uncle.
But as his family members passed away one by one, and Ning Bumo’s power began to affect others, those around him grew distant. Even his maternal grandfather’s family, with whom he had a good relationship, found it difficult to stay close to him because both sides held influence in the military.
Only Mu Wan was different.
This person had witnessed his worst moments and understood the predicaments he faced. He had descended into his life during his most difficult time. The things that the worldly masses pursued were but smoke and clouds to Mu Wan.
Therefore, in front of him, Ning Bumo was relaxed. Thus, on this special day, he hoped to receive a blessing from this special person.
As for the gift…
“You really prepared a gift for me?” Ning Bumo asked with an expression of disbelief.
Mu Wan began to reflect. “I am not that bad, am I?”
“No, you are not bad at all,” Ning Bumo immediately denied.
He had simply never imagined that Mu Wan would prepare a gift for him in advance. But when he became curious about what the gift was, Mu Wan began to play hard to get. Only after the banquet ended and the servants had cleaned up and gone to rest did Mu Wan ask, “Do you know what technique I taught Meng Song when he left?”
Ning Bumo did not understand the implication.
Mu Wan raised his hand and pointed toward the window. “Look.”
Ning Bumo looked out in the direction he pointed.
It had snowed again today, and the branches were covered in a layer of snow—crystalline and pure—scattering a faint glow under the light of the lanterns. But at this moment, through the open window, a begonia branch pressed inward, swaying gracefully.
Ning Bumo was stunned. He stood up and left the warm pavilion, only to see the entire garden in full bloom—flower after flower, cluster after cluster. Despite the winter covered in white snow, the withered wood had returned to spring, as if tearing away the gray winter to reveal a patch of spring light that moved the heart.
“Ning Bumo, happy birthday.” The blessing sounded.
He looked back.
Against the light of the warm pavilion and the scattered spring colors, the immortal who had descended into his world had vivid eyes and a radiant expression.
In that instant, it felt as though the wind had moved.