Chapter 101: Half a Month, Gone in a Flash!

Fang Han glanced once at Madam Wang, whose expression flickered faintly, and said nothing more. Leaving behind a single sentence—“We’ll continue tomorrow”—he turned and departed.

As Fang Han’s figure receded along with the sound of his footsteps, Madam Wang hurriedly rose to her feet and shut the door. Immediately after, she slumped down into her seat, drained of all strength.

Truth be told, whenever she was with this man, her heart was a storm of anger, vexation, fear, and dread. Spending two whole hours with him was anything but relaxing.

Only after Fang Han was truly gone did she allow herself to exhale in relief, her whole body loosening.

For a long while she sat, caught in hesitation.

After what had just happened, the trick she had planned—tampering with the pronunciation to mislead him—could no longer be used.

This man was far too cautious in his actions; she might not be able to calculate against him.

It might be better…

to seize this chance and properly cultivate the Xiao Wuxiang Gong. Who knows—perhaps when she truly mastered this divine art, she would no longer need to fear him!

For the first time, Madam Wang felt an unprecedented sense of urgency toward the pursuit of martial arts.

Her thoughts tangled together, surging up one after another.

At one moment, she thought: His martial arts are so terrifyingly profound. That vast, seemingly boundless inner force of his just now was enough to frighten me senseless. Even if I succeed in cultivating the Xiao Wuxiang Gong, I will likely still be far beneath him, with no chance of victory.

At another, she wondered: He is so young—how could he possibly have attained such world-defying martial prowess? Could it be the legacy of his family?

He said his surname was Fang… but I’ve never heard of any renowned martial family in the jianghu with that surname.

Madam Wang continued to let her mind wander in all directions for who knows how long, until suddenly—there came a knock at the door.

Her delicate frame jolted instantly.

Her first thought was that Fang Han had returned. Her eyes brimmed red at once as she stammered in a trembling voice: “You… what else do you want!?”

After a pause, a tender, slightly hesitant voice came from outside.

“Mother, it’s me, Yuyan. Who were you just speaking to?”

Madam Wang froze. She realized she had misunderstood.

Relief washed over her, and she quickly collected herself before replying: “It’s nothing, Yuyan. Why did you come looking for me?”

“Mother, it’s time for supper. I noticed you hadn’t come yet…”

Madam Wang glanced at the sky outside and stamped her foot in irritation.

I am a widow. For him to linger here until this hour before leaving—it is truly the height of impropriety.

Perhaps he even harbored dishonorable intentions…

Tomorrow… tomorrow, no matter what, I mustn’t let him stay so late again.

Mm…

Mm!?

No! The real problem is that I mustn’t allow him to come into my chamber at all!

Madam Wang bit her lip, fuming at herself. I nearly lost my senses from rage—my thoughts almost went astray.

“Mother?”

Madam Wang snapped back to herself, clearing her throat as she said, “I understand. You go ahead; I’ll be there shortly.”

“…Alright then.”

Hearing her daughter’s footsteps fade into the distance, Madam Wang fell back into contemplation.

Should I send Yuyan away for now?

But at this time, making such a rash move could never escape his notice. If she inadvertently drew his attention to Yuyan, the consequences would be terrible.

A long sigh escaped her lips. She truly didn’t know what the best course was.

She pulled her thoughts together and prepared to go eat.

Then she suddenly froze.

“Wait a moment—he still hasn’t told me about that faithless man’s whereabouts.”

Ah! So infuriating!

That scoundrel! To break his word!

Detestable!

🍃

The next day, Fang Han faced Madam Wang, who wore a sullen expression, her face cold.

He didn’t bother concerning himself with whatever she was thinking. Instead, he simply continued asking her about the proper way to read and chant the text.

Madam Wang grew all the more upset. She was angry both that he had failed to reveal Duan Zhengchun’s news yesterday, and that once again he had brazenly intruded into her room today. Yet she dared not voice her frustrations. She had no choice but to obediently teach him.

After two hours, one volume was completed. Then it was time again for the breathing and circulation practice.

Fang Han seized her delicate, soft wrist and channeled his inner force into her body, helping her successfully complete this section of inner cultivation.

For the moment, Madam Wang had no room in her heart for anything else. She focused only on the inner force coursing through her meridians, steadily growing stronger, a look of delight spreading across her face.

“There’s still time. Let’s continue,” Fang Han said softly.

🍃

And so, time flowed swiftly.

Half a month passed in a flash.

In those two weeks, aside from his daily cultivation of Beiming Shengong, Fang Han had been constantly honing the Six Meridians Divine Sword and Yi Yang Finger.

The former’s six sword techniques he had already mastered to perfection. The latter was gradually comprehending in its acupoint-sealing essence and its methods of healing.

Indeed, this progress was not merely the result of half a month, but included the three months of constant practice he had accumulated on his journey before arriving here…

Beyond this, he occasionally studied medicine with Miss Cheng. And of course, he continued going to Madam Wang’s chambers to “seek instruction” in the Xiao Wuxiang Gong

.

Inside the room, Madam Wang sat in an orchid-colored ruqun, her graceful figure accentuated by the flowing silk.

Her beautiful, alluring face glowed with a healthy blush.

Perhaps it was the steady progress in her cultivation of the Xiao Wuxiang Gong, but she seemed even more radiant and dazzling than before.

Madam Wang looked at Fang Han, her brows furrowing slightly. “You just mispronounced that. The tone needs to rise higher, and your tongue should press against the palate, like this…”

As she spoke, she demonstrated with her own lips.

Her red lips parted lightly, her voice tender and elegant.

Fang Han listened carefully, repeating the phrase again. This time, it was correct.

Seeing that this section of the text had been completed, the next step was personal practice.

Almost unconsciously, she extended her soft jade hand for Fang Han to grasp in his palm.

Together they chanted, breathed, and circulated inner force. After the span of two quarters of an hour, this section was also mastered.

By the end of today’s session, only the final manual of formulas remained.

Fang Han took up the brush and carefully copied it down.

He had been rewriting the Xiao Wuxiang Gong in a more straightforward form, for the original text was far too convoluted. Once organized, it was much easier to study.

Madam Wang watched silently at his side, her expression complicated, her gaze deep and distant.

When at last he finished writing, she poured him a cup of tea and asked: “Your martial arts are already so profound. Why do you still need to cultivate this?”

The Xiao Wuxiang Gong was, after all, the divine art her mother had passed down to her. Mysterious and profound, its power was immense!

It was truly one of the top martial arts in the world!

But everything depended on comparison.

Madam Wang had personally experienced his inner force—that vast, seemingly endless energy. Even though she herself had already begun generating the unique inner force of the Xiao Wuxiang Gong, it was still nothing compared to his.

The two could hardly be measured on the same scale.

Thus, it was clear that the martial art he cultivated surpassed even the Xiao Wuxiang Gong.

Yet why, then, was he so intent on learning this as well?

Madam Wang could not comprehend.

🍃🍃🍃

FOOTNOTES

* * * * Xiao Wuxiang Gong (小无相功): “Little Formless Skill,” a top-level internal cultivation art of the Xiaoyao Sect, known for its versatility and ability to imitate other martial arts.

* * * * Beiming Shengong (北冥神功): “Northern Darkness Divine Skill,” an internal energy art that absorbs others’ inner force.

* * * * Six Meridians Divine Sword (六脉神剑): A supreme Dali royal sword technique, projecting sword qi from the fingertips.

* * * * Yi Yang Finger (一阳指): “One Yang Finger,” a Dali martial art combining acupoint striking and healing through focused inner force.

* * * * Ruqun (襦裙): A traditional Han Chinese outfit consisting of a blouse (ru) and long skirt (qun).

* * * * Jianghu (江湖): The martial world of wanderers, sects, and adventurers in wuxia tradition.