Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Xie Yuan was taken aback.

Then, a realization dawned on him. ’So that’s why the Escort Agency chose the Chunjiang Building for the celebration banquet today. Shen Longteng had another motive?’

The Escort Agency had just fallen for one of the Vajra Sect’s schemes during the day. Although Boss Wu was ninety-nine percent certain not to be treacherous, holding a celebration at the *former* Vajra Sect’s territory, while it seemed triumphant and glorious, still carried a slight risk. At the very least, it was unsettling.

Besides displaying their victory at the Chunjiang Building, an iconic landmark in Yunzhou, was there another reason? Was Shen Longteng inquiring about the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect on Xie Yuan’s behalf?

A wave of gratitude washed over Xie Yuan. He cupped his fist and said,

"I am endlessly grateful for your consideration, Chief."

Shen Longteng waved his hand dismissively.

"It’s nothing. Your contributions have more than earned it."

"The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect is immensely powerful. It is, without a doubt, the number one sect in Yunzhou. Looking at all the sects in Yunzhou, big and small, not a single one disputes this title. They’ve all been thoroughly suppressed and convinced."

"Within the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, the heads and elders of each courtyard are Grandmasters at the very least. Outside, Grandmasters are as elusive as divine dragons, rarely seen by common folk, but inside the sect, they are not uncommon. And the elite disciples of the Inner Courtyard? They’re all at the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm."

At this point, Shen Longteng gave a rare, self-deprecating smile.

"These elite disciples are half my age, or even younger, yet their strength far surpasses my own. As for those at the Third or Fourth Training, out here they could be renowned Martial Artists or local bigwigs. But in a sect like that, they’d only be ordinary disciples, squeezed into the Outer Sect, sleeping on communal bunks and training bitterly day and night."

"A sect of that magnitude has countless top-tier Cultivation Techniques, Divine Weapons, and mystical treasures. As long as you have the talent, you can find your own path there—a path that leads straight to the realm of the Two Bridges of Heaven and Earth, and even beyond. The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect has indeed produced generations of prodigies. Even in the East Sea Sword Conference, their rankings are quite high. Across the entire Great Li Dynasty, they are second only to a few of the most supreme powers."

"That is the strength of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect. With such a foundation, countless young geniuses in Yunzhou would break their heads trying to enter its gates. After all, as long as one can join this sect, everything from masters and peers to cultivation techniques and resources is top-notch. Your future accomplishments would be virtually limitless. The competition to get in is so fierce, describing it as a thousand soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge is no exaggeration. But with your talent, I don’t think that will be a problem."

"Xie Yuan, you should consider it. Think it over for a while, and let me know when you’ve decided. Of course, I still hope you’ll stay with the Escort Agency for a while longer... haha, but it’s all up to you. You have the greatest autonomy in all matters concerning the agency."

Xie Yuan respectfully saw Shen Longteng off, his mind stirring.

Shen Longteng’s words had practically placed him above all other escort leaders, granting him a special status within the Escort Agency.

Having saved the Escort Agency from ruin and wiped out their greatest rival, the Vajra Sect, in a single day, such a reward was to be expected.

However, Xie Yuan wasn’t one to take his list of merits and toot his own horn. He was not so shallow a person.

He would eat when it was time to eat, drink when it was time to drink, and go on escorts when it was time for escorts. He would respect his seniors as he should. At most, he might slack off a little when he needed to enter seclusion to cultivate.

As for the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect...

Xie Yuan made a mental note of it. He would decide after learning more.

A Major Sect like that would surely have all sorts of cultivation techniques, secret manuals, and inherited treasures. They would be of immense help in increasing his strength.

With his talent, the more Cultivation Techniques he had, the better.

But the waters of a Major Sect ran deep. Xie Yuan had his own secrets, and he would be joining halfway. He would have to think carefully about whether or not to go.

Arriving at the gate to his own small courtyard, Xie Yuan’s eyelids drooped. ’The immediate problem is still in there...’

He carried the food box and the Demon Tiger Bone, glancing at the night sky. The moon was already high overhead.

Today was the fifteenth of the month. A full moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver glow that washed out the stars.

Xie Yuan thought for a moment, then silently activated the Celestial Concealment Skill. He gently opened the door without a sound.

He quietly entered the room, then moved toward the inner chamber. He wanted to see if Mu Chaoyun was still there—though he wasn’t sure if he hoped she was or wasn’t.

If she wasn’t, he would be rid of a huge problem and no longer have to worry about a Grandmaster suddenly showing up to kill him, though she had said the possibility was slim.

If she was, having a Grandmaster by his side might allow him to learn much about the Martial Dao, the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, and other things. There was also hope for making progress with the Black Celestial Book, which was a great treasure.

Mu Chaoyun was recuperating from her injuries. Seeing how late it was, Xie Yuan didn’t dare make a sound upon returning home, lest he disturb her rest. Mu Chaoyun was cold, her actions mysterious, and her attitude unpredictable. Being near this Grandmaster felt to Xie Yuan like accompanying a tiger.

He tiptoed around the screen and into the inner chamber. Glancing at the couch, he saw Mu Chaoyun, still in her black robes, lying on her side. Her nostrils flared slightly and her red lips were tightly pursed, as if she were sound asleep.

’Eh, wait a minute?’

Xie Yuan froze, suddenly realizing that Mu Chaoyun’s hood, which had seemed permanently attached to her head, was now down.

This was the first time he had ever seen the mysterious female Grandmaster’s true face.

He saw Mu Chaoyun’s satin-like long hair cascading down from her neck like a waterfall, disappearing into her robes. She had a small, delicate head, a melon-seed-shaped face, and brows like distant mountains. Above her closed eyes, her lashes were long and curled. Her nose was sharp and straight, her red lips small and thin, and her jawline was tight, making her face seem somewhat pointed and gaunt.

Her features were exquisitely perfect, without a single excess or flaw. The lines of her face were distinct, as if carved by a divine hand—a beauty that could only exist in the heavens, never on earth.

Of all the women Xie Yuan had seen, only Situ Qin could compare to such beauty.

But Mu Chaoyun’s beauty was sharp and intense, making one’s heart race and daring one not to stare. Situ Qin, by contrast, was gentler and more playful; though she had an air of nobility, she was still young.

However, Mu Chaoyun’s skin was so pale it was bloodless, almost translucent. Her closed eyelids trembled slightly, and her faint brows were furrowed, as if she couldn’t find peace even in her dreams. The sight couldn’t help but make one’s heart clench.

Xie Yuan’s gaze lingered for a moment, and his heart skipped a beat.

’So she’s this beautiful.’

His eyes quietly drifted downward. Even though Mu Chaoyun was curled on her side and shrouded in a loose robe, her silhouette was still captivating. The curve of her waist dipped in sharply before flaring out magnificently at her hips, followed by a pair of long legs. Even curled up and covered by the robe, it was obvious her legs were astonishingly long. Mu Chaoyun was already very tall, and the proportion of her legs was even more outstanding.

Xie Yuan wanted to be a gentleman, but his eyes had other ideas. Although he’d had several days of "desensitization training" by spending time with Situ Qin, one could never get tired of looking at a beautiful woman. Moreover, this was a beauty who was in no way inferior to Situ Qin, but with a completely different style.

His eyes wandered for a long while before returning to Mu Chaoyun’s face. Then he froze.

A moment ago, with her eyes closed, Xie Yuan hadn’t been able to get a good look at her limpid pupils, much to his regret. Now, however, he could look his fill.

Unbeknownst to him, Mu Chaoyun’s eyes had opened. Those large, deep-lake eyes were staring quietly at him.

Waves stirred in those lakes, followed by an endless chill.

WHOOSH. In a flash, Mu Chaoyun vanished from the couch and reappeared in front of Xie Yuan. Her long index and middle fingers were already resting on the artery on the side of his neck.

"How did you sneak in here?"

Mu Chaoyun’s voice was ice-cold.

Xie Yuan could feel her smooth fingers against his skin, knowing that a single, gentle poke could end his life. He didn’t dare to move a muscle and said with difficulty,

"Miss Mu, I believe this is my room..."

"I asked, how did you sneak in here?"

Mu Chaoyun’s tone didn’t change in the slightest, but the chill in her eyes deepened.

"The Celestial Concealment Skill. I used the Celestial Concealment Skill."

Xie Yuan swallowed hard, not daring to utter another wasted word.

Mu Chaoyun froze for a second, then blurted out,

"The Celestial Concealment Skill? How do you know the Celestial Concealment Skill?!"

An expression of astonishment appeared on her flawlessly beautiful face, as if she couldn’t believe it.

"I comprehended it along with the saber technique that day."

Xie Yuan kept his answer concise.

Mu Chaoyun stared at him, sizing him up, then slowly withdrew her hand. She frowned and said,

"Why didn’t you say so before?"

"You never asked... I was afraid that if we talked about it too much, you’d think I had designs on it."

Seeing her fingers move away, Xie Yuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Mu Chaoyun fell silent for a moment, then said flatly,

"Besides the saber technique, you had another comprehension, and it was the Celestial Concealment Skill... The Cultivation Techniques recorded in the Eight Trigrams Lotus are endless, but the Celestial Concealment Skill is a top-tier Secret Technique that combines its arts of divination and concealment. Throughout history, countless people have controlled this page of the Black Celestial Book, but very few have managed to comprehend this technique. It’s not something an ordinary person can obtain. Your talent... is not bad. You truly have some affinity with it."

She seemed to be trying her best to keep her tone level, but the content of her words and the way her eyes kept sizing up Xie Yuan revealed her inner shock.

Xie Yuan chuckled.

"It’s just average. Didn’t you comprehend it too, Miss Mu? Are you praising yourself?"

Mu Chaoyun’s gaze hardened.

"Don’t get cheeky with me. Even if you know the Celestial Concealment Skill, why did you use it just now when you came in? And don’t tell me it was for practice."

"You were recuperating. I came back late and was afraid of disturbing your rest and angering a Grandmaster. What if you decided to poke my neck with your fingers?"

Xie Yuan shook the food box in his hand.

"This is food from the Chunjiang Building. It’s excellent. You should have some. I imagine it’s been a while since you’ve had a decent meal."

Hearing that Xie Yuan had actually been thinking of her, Mu Chaoyun paused. Her gaze dropped to the food box, and she fell even deeper into silence.

Her body trembled slightly, then her voice turned cold.

"A likely story. Who knows what you might have put in the food?"

Xie Yuan was stunned, not knowing whether to be angry or amused.

"Why would I poison you?"

"You snuck in just now, and your lecherous gaze was clearly that of a libertine."

Mu Chaoyun’s voice was frigid, filled with disgust.

Xie Yuan was suddenly embarrassed and didn’t know how to explain himself. He opened his mouth, but Mu Chaoyun just snorted coldly and looked at his other hand.

"Demon Tiger Bone? Not bad. This will be useful for my recovery. I’ll grant that you were thoughtful."

With a wave of her hand, she pulled the Demon Tiger Bone directly to her, completely ignoring the food box.

Xie Yuan’s mouth hung open, words caught in his throat. He saw Mu Chaoyun looking at him with a sharp gaze.

"What is it?"

"Nothing..."

Xie Yuan sighed.

’Oh well. Once something is in a Grandmaster’s hands, can you ever get it back?’

Dejectedly, he put the food box aside and went to fetch water to wash up.

Mu Chaoyun watched Xie Yuan’s retreating back. A glint flashed in her eyes, and the corner of her mouth curled up in a barely perceptible smile before she quickly suppressed it.