"Brother Lu, what are you two chatting about!"
Li Mochou had just finished her Qigong practice. Seeing the two of them, one tall and one small, she walked lightly to Lu Zhanyuan's side, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Mochou, come here, let me wipe your sweat!"
Lu Zhanyuan gently took out a handkerchief and delicately wiped the beads of sweat from Li Mochou's temples.
"Junior Sister, we were just talking about the Third Best in the World!" Xiao Longnü said eagerly, her small face full of excitement.
"Oh? The Third Best in the World?"
Li Mochou tilted her head slightly, looking at Lu Zhanyuan in confusion, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Heehee... Senior Sister, Brother-in-law just said he is the number one martial artist in the world, you are the number two, and I can only be number three!"
Seeing Xiao Longnü looking so smug, Lu Zhanyuan smiled and added:
"That's right, by then the top three martial artists in the world will all be our own family!"
"Haha... Brother Lu, you two are hilarious!"
Li Mochou was doubled over with laughter by the two of them, holding her stomach as she laughed. Her crisp laughter echoed in the air like silver bells, full of joy.
"Haha... Haha... I can't take it anymore, I really can't!"
Lu Zhanyuan looked at Li Mochou, who was bent over laughing, with dark lines on his forehead, and asked helplessly: "Mochou, is it really that funny?"
"Exactly, Senior Sister, what are you laughing at? What's so funny about this?" Xiao Longnü also looked puzzled, her little brow furrowed slightly.
"Alright, you want to laugh, do you? Soon I'll make you cry so hard you won't even be able to!"
With that, Lu Zhanyuan walked over to Li Mochou, scooped her up into his arms, and walked deep into the Ancient Tomb.
"Long'er, Brother-in-law is going to go teach your Senior Sister a lesson. Go play by yourself for a bit!" Lu Zhanyuan's voice carried a hint of mystery.
Watching Lu Zhanyuan carry Li Mochou away, Xiao Longnü muttered in confusion:
"Why do they have to go inside to be taught a lesson? Can't it be done out here? Is there some kind of lesson you can't teach in public?"
...
Inside the Ancient Tomb, in the stone chamber where Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou lived, the candlelight flickered like dancing elves.
The soft glow fell upon Li Mochou's breathtaking face. Her snow-white skin was flushed with a faint pink hue like a ripe apple, adding an even more enchanting and alluring charm to her.
Lu Zhanyuan carefully pulled the freshly disciplined Li Mochou into his embrace, gazing at the slight upturn of her lips—a blissful smile like blooming spring flowers.
Li Mochou's breathing was smooth and steady like a melodious tune, her chest rising and falling gently with each breath like ocean waves, exuding a serene and tranquil beauty.
A satisfied smile bloomed on Lu Zhanyuan's face as he gently stroked her silky hair, as if touching the softest clouds in the world. His gentle movements were full of love and tenderness, and gradually, Lu Zhanyuan drifted off into a sweet dream.
I don't know how much time passed before Lu Zhanyuan slowly opened his eyes to find Li Mochou still sound asleep in his arms.
He gazed quietly at Li Mochou in his arms, her face so beautiful and tranquil, like a sleeping flower exuding a charming fragrance.
Unable to resist, Lu Zhanyuan pressed a light kiss to her forehead, moving so softly for fear of waking her.
A moment later, Li Mochou's long eyelashes fluttered, and her closed eyes slowly opened.
Meeting Lu Zhanyuan's adoring gaze, Li Mochou felt incomparably happy and gently rested her head against his chest.
"Brother Lu, how long have you been awake?" Li Mochou's voice was soft and lazy.
Lu Zhanyuan smiled with doting affection. "Not long. You looked so peaceful sleeping that I didn't have the heart to wake you."
Li Mochou burrowed deeper into his embrace. "Brother Lu, with you by my side, I sleep exceptionally soundly."
Lu Zhanyuan held her tighter. "You worked hard yesterday, sleep a little longer."
"You still have the nerve to say that... you're just like an ox... completely merciless!" Li Mochou complained playfully, her face overflowing with a blissful smile.
Lu Zhanyuan reached out to stroke Li Mochou's face, looking into her autumn-water eyes with a soft chuckle.
"Hehe! Can you really blame me when my Mochou is just too enchanting?" Lu Zhanyuan's voice was full of affection and teasing.
Hearing this, Li Mochou's lips curved upward slightly. She said no more, simply resting against Lu Zhanyuan's chest to enjoy his warm embrace.
The two remained locked in an embrace, quietly enjoying the cozy morning.
A moment later, Li Mochou raised her head slightly and looked at Lu Zhanyuan, her eyes filled with surprise and admiration.
"That's right, Brother Lu, how did your martial arts progress so fast? In just over two years, I'm already far, far behind you!"
"Hehe! Mochou, perhaps I am the legendary, one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy!" Lu Zhanyuan smiled proudly, a confident gleam in his eyes.
"Mm! You really are a prodigy. My man is amazing!" Li Mochou found a more comfortable spot in Lu Zhanyuan's arms, her eyes full of adoration.
"Brother Lu, what realm have you reached now?" Li Mochou asked curiously.
"My previously practiced Nine Yang Divine Skill has broken through to the sixth layer (great completion). Once I break through to the seventh layer and complete the Nine Yang Divine Skill, my internal energy should reach the Xiantian Realm."
Li Mochou looked up at Lu Zhanyuan and asked in confusion, "What is the Xiantian Realm?"
"Mochou, do you know about the Five Greats of the pugilistic world?"
"I know. I heard Granny Sun mention them. She said they are the five most powerful martial artists in the martial world!" Recalling Granny Sun's words, a look of yearning flashed in Li Mochou's eyes.
"Well, you can think of the Xiantian Realm as reaching the same height in internal energy as those five!
Of course, upon first reaching the Xiantian Realm, one's internal energy certainly won't be as profound as theirs!
If you want to rival them, your other martial arts techniques must also reach the same level!"
Lu Zhanyuan explained patiently, his eyes burning with longing for the future.
Li Mochou looked at Lu Zhanyuan in astonishment, never expecting his internal energy to have reached such a realm.
"Brother Lu, you're amazing! The internal energy mental art of my Nine Yin Manual has only reached the completion of the third layer. I'm still far behind you!"
Lu Zhanyuan reached out to stroke her smooth back, offering gentle comfort:
"Mochou, don't worry. When we go down the mountain this time, I will take you to a place where there are treasures capable of greatly increasing one's internal energy! I believe you will reach the Xiantian Realm very soon as well!"
Li Mochou shook her head gently. "Brother Lu, I never imagined such treasures existed in this world. Since it's so precious, you should take it yourself. I don't need it!"
"Silly girl, there are plenty of those treasures there. Just eat them with peace of mind!"
Looking at Li Mochou in his arms, who was thinking entirely of him, Lu Zhanyuan's heart swelled with deep tenderness.
He lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Sensing Lu Zhanyuan's pampering, Li Mochou was moved to passion. She sat right up, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him deeply.
"Brother Lu, love me..." Li Mochou's voice was full of longing and deep affection.
How could Lu Zhanyuan refuse a beauty's invitation? He began to respond with passionate enthusiasm.
Amidst the flickering candlelight, their shadows gradually merged together on the stone wall.
...
Three days later, at the gates of the Ancient Tomb, sunlight fell upon the ground, yet it could not dispel the sorrow of parting.
Xiao Longnü looked tearfully at Lu Zhanyuan and Li Mochou before her, her eyes brimming with reluctance.
"Brother-in-law, Senior Sister, you must remember to come back and visit Long'er!" Xiao Longnü's voice trembled, tears swirling in her eyes.
"Junior Sister, don't worry, we will definitely come back to see you!" Li Mochou gently comforted Xiao Longnü, her own eyes filled with reluctance.
Lu Zhanyuan squatted down and beckoned to Xiao Longnü. "Long'er, come here for a second!"
"Brother-in-law... what is it?" Xiao Longnü looked at Lu Zhanyuan in confusion, her little face full of anticipation.
Seeing her puzzled expression, Lu Zhanyuan reached out and pinched Xiao Longnü's chubby cheeks a couple of times, savoring their bouncy feel.
"Long'er, you must practice your martial arts hard today too!"
With that, Lu Zhanyuan leaned close to Xiao Longnü's ear and whispered:
"If you manage to practice the Nine Yin Manual to the sixth layer and your Senior Sister and I still haven't returned, you can come out into the pugilistic world to find us!"
Xiao Longnü's eyes lit up as she looked at Lu Zhanyuan in pleasant surprise. "Brother-in-law, really?"
"Of course it's true, but on the condition that you finish reading those copies of *Guide to Walking the Pugilistic World* I left you!" Lu Zhanyuan said with a smile.
"Brother-in-law, you mean those books like *How Young Girls Should Protect Themselves* and *Thirty-Six Stratagems for Ward Off Wolves*..."
"You know which ones! Better not mention the rest!" Finally, Lu Zhanyuan pinched her chubby cheek one last time, stood up, and turned to leave.
"We're off, Long'er!" A hint of reluctance lingered in Lu Zhanyuan's voice.
Watching their retreating figures, tears streaming down her face, Xiao Longnü cried out loudly: "Brother-in-law, Senior Sister, take care... Long'er will miss you..."