“Come in.”
Chen Muyue’s voice came from inside.
After receiving her permission, Hongtao immediately led Hai Dali into the pavilion.
As soon as he stepped inside, Hai Dali smelled an even stronger medicinal fragrance. He subconsciously looked around at the interior. The layout was very simple. A lamp stood at each of the four corners, and in the center of the pavilion sat a pill furnace.
Chen Muyue was seated on a meditation cushion beside the furnace, studying Hai Dali with curiosity.
Hai Dali immediately bowed and said, “This subordinate greets the Eldest Miss.”
Chen Muyue nodded slightly and said in a gentle yet surprised tone, “I didn’t expect that after not seeing you for a while, you would change so much.”
She naturally recognized Hai Dali, but her impression of him before had not been good.
Previously, when Hai Dali followed Chen Muxue, he had looked like a typical lackey, flattering the strong and bullying the weak.
She had looked down on him.
Now, however, Hai Dali seemed reborn. His entire temperament had undergone a great transformation.
That was precisely why she had called him here.
Not knowing how to answer, Hai Dali made something up. “Perhaps experiencing life and death made this subordinate more mature and steady in conduct, so the Eldest Miss feels that I seem quite different.”
As he spoke, he discreetly glanced at her face a few times. Before, he had not dared to look too much for fear of being noticed.
Now that they stood so close, surely a few glances would not cost him his life.
Comparing her to Chen Muxue, he found that both were rare beauties. One appeared gentle and refined, the other bright and flamboyant.
Then he heard Chen Muyue ask, “I heard you lost your memory?”
Her voice seemed full of concern.
“Yes,” Hai Dali replied stiffly, unsure of her intention.
He was not surprised that she knew about his “amnesia.” As the Eldest Miss of the Chen Family, it was normal for her to be aware of household matters.
“You lost your memory, yet you were still sent on a mission. That must be difficult for you,” Chen Muyue said with a sympathetic expression. Then her gaze fell on the sword in his hand. “That sword was given to you by Muxue, wasn’t it?” Read this novel at NovelPing for the best experience.
When Chen Muyue had first obtained that sword, she had shown it off quite a bit. She was very familiar with it.
“Yes. The Second Miss, seeing that this subordinate lacked a suitable weapon, lent it to me,” Hai Dali answered respectfully.
Inwardly, however, he thought, “You clearly recognize it, so why ask? Wasn’t it because of this sword that you kept me here?”
“You’ve lost your memory, yet my younger sister granted you a treasured sword. It seems she values you greatly,” Chen Muyue said with an ambiguous smile.
Hai Dali felt confused. The relationship between the two sisters did not seem harmonious. Why did her tone carry such a subtle edge?
Could he be dragged into a rivalry between them?
Imagining Chen Muyue and Chen Muxue pulling each other’s hair, Hai Dali suppressed the urge to laugh and said, “It is thanks to the Second Miss’s appreciation that this subordinate has what he does today.”
“Oh? Then you must be quite capable. My younger sister’s standards are not low,” Chen Muyue said teasingly. She understood her sister well. The man before her must have offered quite a few questionable ideas to earn such favor.
“No, no. I’m merely fortunate to have been promoted by the Second Miss,” Hai Dali said with an awkward smile.
“Then you must perform well this time,” Chen Muyue said sweetly, watching his uneasy expression. The more she observed him, the more certain she became of her guess.
Looking at her gentle smile, Hai Dali felt increasingly uneasy. He had no desire to stay any longer.
He feared she might make things difficult for him under some pretext, assigning him exhausting and dangerous tasks.
The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He forced himself to say, “Certainly. If there is nothing else, this subordinate will take his leave and not disturb the Eldest Miss.”
“Oh? Very well. I had intended to keep you a while longer. Since you do not wish to stay, I won’t delay you,” Chen Muyue said, feigning helplessness and even putting on a faintly hurt expression.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Hai Dali replied quickly, lowering his head and not daring to look at her further. He bowed and hurried out, worried she might play another trick on him.
“Between life and death, there is indeed great terror. Before and after, he is almost like a different person,” Chen Muyue murmured as she watched his departing figure.
…
Hai Dali returned quickly to his bamboo hut. Seeing him back, Xu Peng asked curiously, “What did the Eldest Miss want?”
“Nothing much. She just asked about the Second Miss,” Hai Dali replied casually before returning to his hut.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he recalled his earlier conversation with Chen Muyue and muttered inwardly, “Green tea. She’s definitely green tea. I didn’t expect Chen Muyue to be like this.”
His situation was far from ideal. At any moment, he might have to fight demonic beasts.
With no real combat experience, the best solution was to overwhelm opponents through cultivation level. He had to work even harder to raise his realm.
Later, someone delivered food. Chen Ping called Hai Dali and Xu Peng over and said, “You were given time this afternoon to settle your personal matters. Starting tonight, someone must patrol and stand guard at the Spiritual Herb Fields. Each of you will take turns daily. That way, your cultivation won’t be greatly delayed. Decide among yourselves who goes first.”
Hai Dali and Xu Peng exchanged glances. Xu Peng said, “You gave up the house earlier. I’ll take the first shift.”
Hai Dali nodded, having no objections.
After they settled it, Chen Ping said to Xu Peng, “I’ll take you on a round tonight. Afterward, you can take Dali around.”
“Yes, Uncle Ping,” Xu Peng agreed. Hai Dali also nodded.
After dinner, Hai Dali returned to his bamboo hut. Looking at the sword beside him, he felt that simply owning a sword was not enough. He needed sword techniques as well.
Although he practiced his fist technique daily, that could remain a hidden card.
If he carried a sword wherever he went, who would suspect that someone wielding a sword could also fight skillfully with his fists? That would catch others off guard.
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. So he searched within the Great Yin-Yang Unity Art and found a sword technique called the Ruyi Sword Art.
This sword art could change freely according to the user’s intent, making the sword moves ever-shifting and unpredictable.
He was very satisfied. Not only could he flexibly adapt his moves to confuse opponents, but others would also struggle to discern the origin of his swordsmanship.
He found a secluded spot and began practicing the Ruyi Sword Art.
With the enhancement of his special state, he quickly wielded the sword with decent form. He felt that combined with the Yin-Yang Phantom Step, defeating three to five peers should not be a problem.
Thinking that he had been in this world for so long without fighting anyone, he suddenly felt an itch to test himself. He had learned several techniques and felt unwilling not to try them.
Then he slapped himself hard.
He realized he was becoming arrogant. With such limited strength, how could he fail to know his place?
He was only at the 7th stage Qi Refining Realm. If he provoked a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator and that person grew angry, he could be killed with a single slap.
He repeatedly reminded himself that he was not some invincible protagonist. This was a real world. Being reckless would cost him his life. He only had one life.
He must remain steady and low-profile.