Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Xie Yuan was, in truth, utterly exhausted.

After dealing with the Vajra Sect, he had wanted to return to his room to rest, but then he ran into Mu Chaoyun.

Before he could even recover his energy, Shen Longteng had dragged him to a celebratory feast, and he had only just returned.

He had an attendant bring a large bucket of water. Xie Yuan just wanted to take a nice, long soak, then have a comfortable sleep. He’d even skip his training.

However, after the attendant, completely oblivious, filled the large bathtub in the outer room, Xie Yuan looked at the tub, then at the folding screen, his expression hesitant.

’If I bathe here, will I be mistaken for a lecher again?’

’Forget it. I’d better move the tub out into the courtyard. The escort leader’s courtyard is private and secluded, so no one will disturb me.’

Just as he was thinking this, Xie Yuan glanced into the inner room. He saw the large food box on the table beside the screen and, as if possessed, asked:

"Miss Mu, would you like to bathe?"

She had been on the run for a long time and probably hadn’t had a full meal or a proper rest, which was why Xie Yuan took the initiative to ask.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt it was inappropriate. They were hardly acquaintances. Asking a young woman if she wanted to bathe in his room... Even with someone like Situ Qin, with whom he was much more familiar, he would probably earn a glare.

’Plus, she just had a misunderstanding about me... Hmm, actually, it wasn’t really a misunderstanding.’

Xie Yuan subconsciously took a step back, afraid Mu Chaoyun would rush out and strike him.

But after a long moment, the inner room remained completely silent. Just as Xie Yuan assumed she was ignoring him and was about to move the tub, he faintly heard a soft "Mm."

He froze for a second. If not for his current level of cultivation making his hearing sharp and his sight clear, he would have thought he’d misheard.

"Miss Mu, you want to bathe?"

Xie Yuan confirmed.

"I already said yes. What more do you want?"

An icy voice came from the inner room, seemingly tinged with shame and anger.

Xie Yuan grunted and quickly moved the wooden tub into the inner room. The tub, filled with water, was extremely heavy, but for a Martial Artist like him, it was naturally no great effort.

After carrying the tub inside, Xie Yuan saw that Mu Chaoyun had put her hood back on. She sat quietly on the bed, her face obscured.

’I just saw her real face. Isn’t this just plugging one’s ears while stealing a bell?’ Xie Yuan said casually:

"Miss Mu, why the hood again? It’s..."

"Get out."

Mu Chaoyun’s cold voice came from under the hood.

Xie Yuan pursed his lips but had no choice but to leave the room and close the door properly.

’It’s as if I’m the guest and she’s the host.’

’If it weren’t for the fact she’s a Grandmaster... no, for the sake of the Black Celestial Book, I would have lost my temper long ago.’

’Right, it’s because of the Eight Trigrams Lotus. It’s definitely not because I can’t beat her that I’m being so tolerant. And it’s not because she’s beautiful, or because of that strange, lonely, and helpless aura she has...’

Xie Yuan stood in the courtyard, leaning against the wall, gazing at the night sky as he waited quietly.

Inside the room, Mu Chaoyun slowly removed her hood, revealing a pretty face as exquisitely beautiful and cold as a snow lotus. But on her cheeks, as fair as ice and snow, a faint blush was visible.

She stared at the wooden tub, her eyes sweeping over the man’s room once more before she took a deep breath.

’So be it. These are the only conditions available. I’ll have to endure it for now.’

She unfastened her black cloak. It slid down, pooling in layers on the floor, revealing the white inner clothes beneath. On her abdomen, however, was a shocking, dark red bloodstain.

Mu Chaoyun’s brow furrowed slightly. She slowly removed her inner clothes, revealing a delicate body so fair it was dazzling, and the massive wound on her abdomen.

Clutching her abdomen, she carefully stepped into the wooden tub. The hot water enveloped her entire body, making her unable to resist letting out a soft moan.

Then she pressed her lips tightly together and summoned the Tiger Bone. Clapping her palms together, she actually ground the bone directly into a fine powder and sprinkled it into the tub. With another thought, a veil-like barrier seemed to form around the tub, preventing even the slightest splash from being heard outside.

’There’s a man standing right outside the room... and this room, this very tub, they all belong to him.’

Mu Chaoyun felt extremely uncomfortable and strange; she had never been in such a situation before. But after being on the move for so long, she couldn’t ask for more than a place to rest temporarily. She was a person who valued cleanliness, so she naturally couldn’t pass up the chance to finally bathe. ’Besides, that man...’

Her gaze drifted to the silhouette outside the door. Lightly biting her red lip, she slowly submerged her head into the water as well.

Xie Yuan stood in the courtyard, waiting with his eyes closed. Not a single sound came from inside the room, and he had no idea how much longer it would take.

Suddenly, the door opened silently on its own, and Mu Chaoyun’s voice came from within:

"You can come in."

Xie Yuan entered the room and saw that Mu Chaoyun had already put her cloak back on and was sitting to the side, as if she hadn’t moved at all.

But she was no longer wearing her hood. Her hair was slightly damp, with water droplets at the tips resting on her cloak. She had clearly finished bathing, and her entire being exuded a fresh, dewy aura.

He nodded, moved the tub to the outer room, and called for an attendant to change the water.

Just as the attendant left, a faint voice drifted over:

"What are you doing?"

"Hm? Bathing."

Xie Yuan replied subconsciously.

Mu Chaoyun’s tone became even more obscure and difficult to read:

"...Where?"

"Uh, in the courtyard?"

Xie Yuan thought he was being very considerate and polite.

"...Using this tub?"

"What else?"

Xie Yuan asked, bewildered.

"No!"

Mu Chaoyun said immediately, her voice sharp.

Xie Yuan was also too tired to realize what she meant. He retorted, annoyed,

"It’s my own tub. Why can’t I use it?"

"...You just can’t!"

Mu Chaoyun gritted her teeth, her gaze practically murderous.

Only then did Xie Yuan understand. He grunted and muttered,

"I only have this one tub. You already used it, and I’m not the one complaining..."

"Shut up! In any case, you are not allowed to use this tub!"

Mu Chaoyun’s face flushed red as she spoke loudly.

Xie Yuan had never seen the cold Mu Chaoyun look like this. Two striking crimson blushes appeared on her almost translucent white cheeks, as if she had applied rouge.

The snow lotus of the Heavenly Mountains had become the hibiscus of the Brocade City—resplendently beautiful.

Xie Yuan was almost stunned by the sight. It wasn’t until those limpid autumn eyes turned unfathomably deep again that he shuddered and said through gritted teeth,

"Fine, I won’t use it..."

He had no choice but to have an attendant find a tub from a guest room and place it in the courtyard. He soaked in the hot water, comfortably washing away the fatigue of the past several days.

Listening to the SPLASHING sounds from the courtyard, Mu Chaoyun kept her eyes squeezed shut, the blush on her face refusing to fade.

Whether it was bathing in a man’s room or listening to a man bathe, these were experiences she’d never had in her life.

She gritted her teeth and endured it, feeling as if a whole year had passed.

’Why isn’t he finished yet? Does he really need this long?’

Finally, the sounds of splashing outside gradually faded. Mu Chaoyun’s brow relaxed, though her face still felt hot. She quietly let out a breath.

After a long while, there was still no movement from outside. Feeling a little puzzled, she slowly got up, paced to the door, and peeked out.

Beneath the moonlight, the handsome youth lay back in the tub, his strong, powerful arms resting on the rim. Droplets of water slowly trickled down, reflecting the moon’s glow.

His cheeks were bathed in the silvery light, making it seem as if he himself was glowing. His eyes were closed—he had actually fallen asleep in the tub.

Mu Chaoyun stared at Xie Yuan’s face, stunned for a moment. Her gaze then slid downward, and when she saw his firm chest muscles partially exposed above the water, her already-faded blush inexplicably returned.

Then, her brow knitted, and she lightly stamped her foot.

Xie Yuan jerked awake in the tub, his eyes filled with confusion.

He turned his head just in time to see the corner of a black cloak disappearing into the room.

’I actually fell asleep while bathing.’

Xie Yuan let out a breath, quickly stood up, dried himself off, put on clean clothes, and went into the room.

He deftly took a spare set of bedding from the cabinet, spread it on the floor in the outer room, and cleared his throat.

"Miss Mu, I’ll just make a bed on the floor out here. We’re both people of the martial world; this should be fine, right?"

"As you wish."

Mu Chaoyun said faintly.

Xie Yuan nodded, said, "Rest well," and immediately pulled the covers over his head to sleep.

After all that fuss, the sky would be getting light soon. The moment Xie Yuan’s head hit the pillow, he fell straight into a deep sleep.

The soft sound of footsteps arose.

Mu Chaoyun walked out of the inner room. She glanced at the softly snoring Xie Yuan, then at the food box on the table. With a casual air, she reached out and brought the box over.

She took the food box into the inner room and opened it. Looking at the dazzling array of delicacies inside, she pursed her lips slightly and unconsciously swallowed.

Mu Chaoyun was a little ashamed and annoyed at her own hunger, and her cheeks reddened. She had blushed more today than in the past twenty years combined.

Taking a quiet breath, she placed a palm under the food box. After a moment, the congealed fats on the dishes began to melt. The soup even started bubbling, BUBBLE BUBBLE, as steam wafted out.

Mu Chaoyun’s nostrils flared slightly. She picked up the chopsticks with a delicate hand and began to eat with a speed that was somehow both refined and incredibly swift. In just a short while, the bountiful food box was empty.

It was a good thing Xie Yuan didn’t see it; otherwise, his eyes would have gone wide, wondering how she managed to balance elegance and speed so perfectly, without a single flaw.

Mu Chaoyun elegantly picked up a silk handkerchief, dabbed the corners of her mouth, then packed up the food box, set it aside, and let out a soft sigh.

’It’s been a long time since I’ve had a meal like that.’

She pondered for a moment, then took out several porcelain vials from her cloak, holding them in her hand and slowly turning them over.

’Still a bit hesitant.’

Mu Chaoyun’s gaze swept around the room. It flickered over the bathtub, then the food box, a slight ripple in her eyes.

Then she let out a long breath, her eyes gradually calming as if she had made some sort of decision.

Mu Chaoyun stood up and slowly walked out into the outer room, silent as a ghost.

Her footsteps stopped beside Xie Yuan’s floor bedding. She looked down at the soundly sleeping Xie Yuan, her voice faint, like a whisper in a dream:

"Using a heavenly treasure like the Celestial Cyan Fruit in such a way... it really is a bit of a waste."

’If it had been me, I could have certainly achieved a much, much better effect...’

Mu Chaoyun knelt on the floor and opened one of the porcelain vials in her hand. She gently stroked Xie Yuan’s forehead with one hand, while her other pinched his jaw, forcing his lips open. Then, she poured the entire contents of the vial into his mouth.

Xie Yuan was completely oblivious, allowing Mu Chaoyun to do as she pleased without the slightest reaction.

As the medicinal liquid entered his body, Xie Yuan’s brow slowly furrowed. His body gradually curled up like a shrimp.

A pained expression appeared on his face, yet he still didn’t wake up, as if he had sunk into a nightmare.

Mu Chaoyun knelt beside him, her beautiful eyes like the surface of a lake—clear and deep, reflecting Xie Yuan’s figure.