Lei Zong Kang nodded silently.
Huang En Gui was unlikely to be playing a trick on him. Moreover, Lei Zong Kang himself didn't like Niu You Dao. And judging by Black Peony's attitude, it seemed she would stick to her point of view until the very end. If she found out about all this, she might blab to Niu You Dao. Therefore, Niu You Dao must absolutely not find out anything. Otherwise, the Liuxiang Sect would not let them go.
Though he would have to keep silent, he was doing it for everyone.
Seeing Lei Zong Kang agree, Huang En Gui stood up and said joyfully:
— Then it's settled.
Lei Zong Kang nodded silently.
Huang En Gui approached him and added:
— Not only our Liuxiang Sect has taken on this matter, but also the entire imperial house of the Yan Kingdom. You understand that in this game, you don't need to resist us. Niu You Dao is currently like a stray dog. I won't say much more, but you yourself understand that you need to work very seriously!
Lei Zong Kang cupped his hands:
— Please don't worry, Sir Huang. I know what to do.
— Good! Then await contact. I don't need to teach you.
Huang En Gui patted him on the shoulder and immediately left, lest someone walk in and catch them.
Lei Zong Kang remained in the room, sighing heavily...
“Thump! Thump! Thump!” A dull thud echoed from the room.
Hai Ru Yue entered the room with her guards and froze. Cultivators stood on either side of her. All of them saw Yuan Gang in the room, clad only in his briefs. Every one of his muscles gleamed brightly under the rays of light. Logs hung on ropes around him, and Wei Duo walked in a circle, forcefully pushing the logs against Yuan Gang.
The Princess, fearing that Wei Duo might use his full power and they would escape, had ordered Wei Duo's cultivation to be sealed. Thus, it was now difficult for Yuan Gang to train, as Wei Duo's ordinary strength was insufficient to strike him hard enough.
As soon as the door opened, the two people inside the room also froze and looked towards the entrance.
From Hai Ru Yue's expression alone, it was clear she was flustered.
Yuan Gang was tall, powerfully built, brimming with explosive strength, his body as if carved from stone. Every line of him was simply flawless.
Naturally, such a sight could set any woman's heart aflame.
Hai Ru Yue had seen many men. When inspecting troops, she often saw sturdy, bare-chested warriors in the camps. Many of them were robust. But she had never imagined that men could possess a physique like Yuan Gang's. He was an Apollo! And the suit of Adam undoubtedly suited him.
As soon as the two guards saw the half-naked Yuan Gang, they immediately rushed to close the door in front of Hai Ru Yue.
But it was useless. A single glance was enough for Yuan Gang's rugged and stirring silhouette to be imprinted in Hai Ru Yue's mind.
She slowly turned and looked away. Hai Ru Yue exhaled deeply and began to compose her breathing. It was indeed difficult to dispel the image that now reigned in her mind.
She had wanted to visit them in Liusu Courtyard, but she hadn't expected to encounter such a scene.
Not long after, the room's doors opened, and a dressed Yuan Gang and Wei Duo stepped out together.
They approached Hai Ru Yue, and Yuan Gang asked in a cold tone:
— How long, in the end, do you intend to keep us here?
Hai Ru Yue turned to him and said with a smile:
— You must understand that this is not my will... By the way, let me also tell you some good news. Shang Chao Zong is fighting well. Soon, he will probably capture the entire Qingshan County!
Yuan Gang seemed utterly uninterested:
— Is there any news from Lord Dao?
Hai Ru Yue: Not yet!
Yuan Gang: I don't wish to disturb the peace and tranquility of your palace. Release us. I will bear all responsibility myself.
Hai Ru Yue turned and said as a final word:
— This man behaves vulgarly. Seal his power, lest anything unexpected occurs.
As soon as she spoke, a cultivator flashed swiftly and touched Yuan Gang's acupoints.
Yuan Gang did not resist. He knew it was futile. He watched the group of people leave, then slowly turned, but at that moment, he swayed. Yuan Gang felt his body grow weak. He couldn't use his strength.
Wei Duo understood what had happened. The cultivators had touched Yuan Gang's acupoints and sealed his power. He immediately went to Yuan Gang and helped him get to the room.
As soon as they reached the room, Yuan Gang pushed Wei Duo away and said in a weak voice, "Close the door!"
Wei Duo immediately closed the door, then turned his head and saw Yuan Gang had already removed his upper garments. He slowly adopted a horse stance, held his hands at waist level, and slowly began to breathe. Yuan Gang's gaze was fixed straight ahead. He was breathing deeply.
Wei Duo's eyes widened. He noticed how Yuan Gang's breathing grew deeper and deeper. Furthermore, he observed white qi, like mist, being exhaled from Yuan Gang's nose. How could white mist form from an exhale at this time of year?
He inhaled through his mouth and exhaled through his nose, while his abdomen also gradually swelled more and more, as if something were contained within it.
Suddenly, Wei Duo noticed Yuan Gang's body begin to change. Red spots appeared on him, which in time also grew larger and reddened further.
Wei Duo quickly realized that these spots had appeared precisely on his acupoints. The bloody spots began to swell.
“Pop!” One bloody bubble burst, and the bloody spot itself diminished, as if it was seeping through.
“Pop, pop, pop!”
A series of pops sounded, and all the bubbles burst, with the bloody spots vanishing thereafter.
Yuan Gang then took a deep breath and inhaled all the white qi back in. He seemed to draw it into his abdomen.
“Boom!”
Yuan Gang's clenched fists seemed to thunder. Wind stirred in the room, and veins bulged on Yuan Gang's arms.
Wei Duo was stunned. What kind of kung fu was this guy using that he could even undo a cultivator's seals on his own body?
It was obvious he had broken the seal!
Standing in his horse stance, Yuan Gang stabilized his breathing and looked at his fists. He felt his strength returning.
Not only his strength, he felt that his qigong had grown even stronger!
He himself hadn't anticipated this.
He had just felt as if something was holding him back and something else wanted to burst forth, to break free from the seal within him. So he had practiced qigong, and as a result, he had achieved this effect.
Yuan Gang understood that this effect was for the best. But what should he do next? He didn't know, and no one had told him.
Wei Duo looked at his hands. He was speechless. He was a Zhu Ji cultivator and couldn't deal with his own seals. Yet this body-tempering warrior could break a seal? What in the world was this?
Yuan Gang put his clothes back on and, turning to Wei Duo, asked:
— Didn't they say they would provide everything we need?
— Yes! — Wei Duo nodded:
— However... however. Th-th-th-they said we... we... we... we... must... must... stay here. Dr-dr-drink, eat, wa-wa-walk. Whatever we want, but only here," Wei Duo finally managed to finish.
Yuan Gang said displeasedly: "I need to write a list of things to buy. Bring me paper and a pen. I'll write the list..."
Niu You Dao stood by the window, gazing into the distance. It was unknown what he was thinking about.
Yuan Fang stood, holding a board with paper, and drew the teapot in front of him with charcoal. He wasn't doing very well.
Black Peony was also trying to draw something on paper, occasionally giggling at her own efforts.
Both had suddenly developed an interest in art. Yuan Fang had asked Niu You Dao to teach him to draw, and he had agreed. He told Yuan Fang to start by drawing a teapot. After all, mastery comes with practice!
When Yuan Fang began his lesson, Black Peony couldn't resist and also asked to learn.
“Knock-knock!” A knock sounded.
Niu You Dao said:
— Enter!
A person opened the door and entered. When Yuan Fang and Black Peony turned their heads, they were surprised. For it wasn't a staff member of Yaoyue Inn, nor Duan Hu or the others, but the front desk manager himself.
The manager smiled and, holding a rolled-up scroll, approached Yuan Fang and Black Peony, who were drawing. Upon seeing their terrible drawings, he immediately smiled and said:
— Our dear guests are busy!
Black Peony asked in surprise:
— Manager, why have you come?
Niu You Dao, standing with his back to them, couldn't help but smile upon hearing this.
The front desk manager, still holding the scroll, looked at Niu You Dao and said with a laugh:
— Sir Huangdi requested a staff member to frame a portrait. It's all done now, so I brought it myself instead of sending an employee.
Niu You Dao turned and calmly said:
— Then I sincerely thank the manager. How much will the framing cost? Please add it to the lodging bill. I will pay it all when I leave.