AST 960 – Favor, Psychological Attack, The Eve Of Departure
Qing Shui understood after a while, recognizing Hu Yanlin's Back Connecting Fist as an 'appropriate method' that could yield twice the result with half the effort. The Back Connecting Fist seemed to have cleared a few points of his meridians, creating a flow of Qi as smooth as an unhindered river stream.
His fists were as fast as thunder, exploding the air with each succession of moves, yet with the smooth movement of flowing water. When he turned around and saw Qing Shui approaching, he flashed an honest smile and went to greet him.
"Mr. Qing!"
Hu Yanlin gave a reverent greeting to Qing Shui, who was smiling back as he walked closer to him. "How does it feel?" asked Qing Shui.
"Very good," Hu Yanlin chuckled with an expression of utmost excitement. Ever since Lady Duanmu and the others returned safely, he didn't manage to get a wink of sleep and continued to cultivate his skills in the backyard. He had been practicing all night while waiting for Qing Shui to come in the morning.
Because Qing Shui asked him to wait for him in the morning, he stayed the whole night until dawn. He didn't know how early Qing Shui wanted to meet him and he didn't want Qing Shui to wait for him, so he decided to stay in the backyard until morning while mastering his Back Connecting Fist, striking the iron while it was hot.
"Eat these." Qing Shui handed ten Five Elements Earth Fruits to Hu Yanlin, whose body constitution was of the earth element. He took the fruits without hesitation and ate all of them quickly.
"Unleash the 'Back Connecting Fist' with everything you've got. Clear your mind of everything else!" said Qing Shui.
Hu Yanlin nodded and proceeded to unleash his Back Connecting Fists. The strength of the fists was strong and ferocious, each striking fist was followed by a distinct blast. However, he was quite tall for his height, making his form seem bit awkward. But it wasn't too unsightly, his form was rough but masculine in a good way.
At the same time, Qing Shui took out a Golden Needle and shot it at Hu Yanlin in a quick flash like a passing ghost, which he continued to do so after each period of time.
After half an hour had passed, a number of Golden Needles could be seen sticking out of Hu Yanlin's body. Qing Shui had no intention of stopping, adding a few more every few moments, increasing the number of Golden Needles in his body. Hu Yanlin pretended like nothing had happened and continued to strike the Back Connecting Fists with increasing momentum. His face was colored an intense red, as he drenched himself in a pool of sweat.
Lady Duanmu and Duanmu Lingshuang were already standing at the gates of the backyard, forbidding anyone to enter and interrupt the situation. They had been watching the two of them for a while now.
"What are they doing?" Duanmu Lingshuang turned to look at Lady Duanmu after witnessing Qing Shui shooting Golden Needles, while Hu Yanlin was striking his Back Connecting Fists.
"Qing Shui wants Yanlin to break through to Martial Saint," Lady Duanmu replied with a smile.
Duanmu Lingshuang was surprised. She swiveled her head back towards Qing Shui and Hu Yanlin in excitement. She knew Hu Yanlin was a Peak Martial King, but it would be extremely difficult for him to break through to Martial Saint because the flow of Qi inside his body wasn't smooth enough. In order for him to break through to Martial Saint, not only did he have to unblock his flow of qi, he would also need the purest item of 'Five Elements Force' as well. The abnormal Five Elements Fruits alone could not assist in his breakthrough even the slightest.
She had thought about his breakthrough before, but she estimated that he would take at least five to ten years before he could become a Martial Saint cultivator. However, that would be possible if he had a diligent restoration to his flow of Qi, as well as a good insight to his cultivation.
Still, if Hu Yanlin managed to break through to Martial Saint, then it wouldn't be difficult for him to advance to Peak Martial Saint with the aid from the Duanmu Clan in a short amount of time. The rest would be up to him should he wish to break away from Peak Martial Saint towards the next level. Even so, the Martial Emperor realm was still far away, even Lady Duanmu was only a Peak Martial Saint cultivator.
"Yanlin should be fine, right?" Duanmu Lingshuang asked in a worried tone, but with a look of anticipation as she continued watching the men in the backyard.
As long as Hu Yanlin could reach a breakthrough, no one would look down on him in the future regardless whether it was the people from the Duanmu Residence or in the Duanmu City. The strength of a Martial Saint was an important marker to achieve, much like the transformation of a sparrow into a phoenix.
The 49th Golden Needle!
Qing Shui stopped immediately. At the same time, Hu Yanlin's movements had become as heavy as an imposing mountain. Every time he tried to strike a move, his actions would seem clumsy and slow.
The Five Elements Acupuncture in addition to the Earth element and the Earth Fruit had allowed his body to reach the point of outburst after a period of time. Qing Shui hoped that Yanlin would continue to endure the extreme fatigue of his body, because the next step towards the realm of Martial Saint was soon to come. The path to Martial Saint afterwards would be smooth and his powers would grow stronger. He would be able to control the capacity of his energy flow with ease, which was a crucial point of being a Martial Saint.
"Keep it up. You can cut back five years if you manage to endure through this stage and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of being a Martial Saint very soon!" Qing Shui said calmly, as he continued to support him from the side.
Hu Yanlin opened his eyes fiercely so that he could stay conscious to lift up his spirits. He wanted to sleep for a while, but he knew he couldn't afford to do that. He couldn't forget the laughing faces of those who looked down on him and he didn't mind that. But he had a wife and a child to protect and he couldn't disappoint Lingshuang any longer. It was a grace from the heavens when Lingshuang chose him as her husband, so he vowed that he would do whatever it took to make her the happiest woman in the entire world.
"Ah!"
With a loud outburst, he struck the ground violently with his fist, emanating a cloud of grey-black mist around him instantaneously. Before this, his body looked like an overfilled water tank. The strike on the ground was the breaking point to the doors of Martial Saint.
Bang bang bang…..
Loud explosions echoed in the air towards the far horizon. Hu Yanlin's muscles did not expand, but had grown more solid than ever. The Qi of Xiantian in his body continued to nourish every part of his meridians, vital organs and bones…
His spiritual energy had increased exponentially as well. The body that had gone through an ordeal of extreme fatigue was brought back to life, brimming with a strong sense of vigor. After the breakthrough, his body was recovered to his best state, restoring his good health in no time.
Because of that, opponents who could reach a sudden breakthrough in the middle of a battle were likely to be feared, because their body would recover to its maximum state of health, in addition to the surge of strength to their power. In any case, the battle was over the moment their opponents were able to recover their full health.
After 15 minutes had passed, Hu Yanlin finally stopped emanating the mist from his body. His face was flushed in a glow of red as he noticed Qing Shui standing nearby smiling at him.
Hu Yanlin approached Qing Shui and gave him a respectful 90 degrees bow and said, "I can never repay the kindness you have shown me today for the rest of my life."
Qing Shui almost laughed at the honest display of the man in front of him. He extended his arms, pulled him straight up and said: "I don't expect you to return the favor. You are Lingshuang's husband and Lingshuang is Lady Duanmu's daughter. The reason is as simple as that."
Although Hu Yanlin was a simple man, he was not stupid, not a bit. He knew what Qing Shui meant, he was able to receive his help all because of Lady Duanmu and Lingshuang.
Even so, he understood his situation clearly. If it weren't for the ladies, he wouldn't be able to meet a man of such strength and power, much less receive a boost to break through to the Martial Saint this quickly.
"Mr. Qing, I know what I should do now," Hu Yanlin said with deep respect. In spite of what Qing Shui said, nothing would affect the respect Hu Yanlin had for him.
"I heard you like to use a hammer as your weapon," Qing Shui said to Hu Yanlin with a chuckle.
"Yes, I feel that hammers can hit very hard," Hu Yanlin replied quickly.
"Then, this is for you!" Qing Shui took out the Thunder God and handed it to Hu Yanlin.
"This….."
"Be a man and take it," Qing Shui smiled.
Hu Yanlin received the Thunder God and remained silent without saying thanks to Qing Shui, but his eyes were so full of deep gratitude that words were simply inadequate. As he held the hammer in his hands, he knew that this weapon was of extraordinary power. A strong aura flowed into his body, filling him with an abundance of explosive energy through his veins.
He had gained twice the strength to his power…
"Watch carefully, my time here is limited, so how much you can absorb will depend on you." Qing Shui then swiveled his head towards Lady Duanmu and Duanmu Lingshuang and beckoned them to come closer.
Unfolding the Thousand Hammer Technique!
Qing Shui kept demonstrating his techniques while he explained the moves thoroughly. It took about an hour to explain while allowing Hu Yanlin to practice on the spot. The sky was already bright and it was almost time to have breakfast. However, no one mentioned a thing about eating, as they continued to watch Qing Shui explaining the hammer technique to Hu Yanlin.
"I will teach you some of the Tiger Forms. Lady Duanmu and Miss Lingshuang should also take note, it might prove useful in the future."
Two hours had passed after Qing Shui had taught them the Tiger Form. It wasn't difficult to learn, but it was more difficult to grasp and adhere to the steps. He repeated the key points of the form several times and demonstrated the form repeatedly so that they would remember clearly. After that, he took out a silk sachet and gave it to Lady Duanmu.
"There are useful items inside. Keep it for now!" Qing Shui smiled as he handed the sachet to Lady Duanmu.
She went ahead and took the sachet before she looked up to the sky and said, "Let's go back and have breakfast. It's getting late."
………
This was a joyous occasion for the Duanmu clan as they had taken over everything that used to belong to the once glorious Lei Clan. The atmosphere outside the Duanmu Residence was quite lively, with every household discussing news about the Duanmu Clan. The power of the public was not to be underestimated, as nearly every household in Duanmu City had already known about the current situation within a mere few hours.
When a man attained the Dao, even his pets were allowed to ascend the heavens. Even though Qing Shui wasn't a member of the Duanmu Clan, in the eyes of the public, it didn't matter. Everyone could see that Qing Shui did it all because of Lady Duanmu. However, no one knew about their relationship – an intimate relationship between a mature woman and a young man.
"Qing Shui, you are leaving, aren't you!"
The two of them stood at the top of the mountain situated in Duanmu City. Lady Duanmu looked at Qing Shui, she already had a feeling that he was going to leave soon after the deed was done.
"We still think alike. So you knew already." Qing Shui turned to look at her. There was no sign of aging on the charming face of the elegant woman.
Her skin was as delicate as gleaming jade, with the luster that could captivate the hearts of men. Based on her appearance, she could be around 30 years old if he compared her appearance to the normal standards of his past life.
Qing Shui recalled about the immortals that were as ancient as old demons, yet as beautiful as maidens in their endearing youth. The Spiritual Qi in the World of the Nine Continents was quite abundant, which Qing Shui had adapted gradually as he grew stronger. To preserve an eternal youth required skills and cultivation of a strong level. If the requirements were met, preserving 200 years of youthfulness would become nothing more than an effortless feat.
When Lady Duanmu caught Qing Shui staring at herself, she quickly turned away from his gaze in embarrassment.
"Don't be shy!" Qing Shui was inches away from her beautiful face. A distinct faint blush appeared on her cheeks, which made his heart beat faster in a rhythmic excitement.
"Qing Shui….."
"I am going soon. But before that, I want my reward from you for winning the bet," Qing Shui said, as he ignored Lady Duamu's bitter anger towards him.
"What kind of reward are you asking for?" Lady Duanmu asked in a soft voice.
She wasn't too worried that someone would spot them together like this. Even though there was no one in this vicinity, someone could have passed by and caught a glimpse of their intimate act. Even so, she wasn't too flustered about the thought at all.
"I want a kiss from you!" Qing Shui teased while he stared at Lady Duanmu.
"Qing Shui….."
"If not, let me kiss you. Your choice. Do you want me to initiate the kiss or the other way around?" Qing Shui reached out, taking her chin gently yet with enough boldness and lifted her head proportionally to his.
His heart was still beating fast, despite already having had the most intimate interaction with her before. But that was a long time ago. Even though they already had sex, they weren't connected together spiritually. Back then, it was a frustration and a mistake he could not erase.
But now, it was different. Both of them were slowly getting to know each other, connecting two hearts together subconsciously. While teasing a mature elegant woman with such boldness and frivolous attitude, he felt anxious yet excited at the same time… He maintained his grasp and touched her chin with his thumb. As he saw the delicate dimples on the side of her desirable lips and her shivering body when she half-closed her eyes, revealing a slight view of her misty eyes and quivering luscious lashes, he couldn't help but feel a rush in his heart as he inched closer to give her a kiss.
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AST 961 – I'm Willing To Do Anything For You, Dongqing Returns Home
Qing Shui stared at the quivering woman akin to the poppy flowers amidst the breeze. His heart was filled with love, as he slowly lowered his head to kiss her lips gently.
A delicate fragrance traveled to his nose, a scent that Qing Shui particularly adored. The softness of her lips was tender and lovely, sending his mind into a blank as he continued to press his lips against her delicate lips and suck on them gently. He held her in his arms, pressing her against his chest unconsciously with a gentle force.
Lady Duanmu couldn't help it, but open her mouth slightly to let out a gasp when Qing Shui embraced her suddenly. He took the opportunity of the moment and slithered his tongue into her mouth, locking his tongue with hers as they continued to share a few kisses passionately.
They continued to do so without the perception of time before they finally stopped. Qing Shui smacked his lips satisfyingly, enjoying the lovely taste of her mouth as he glanced back at the bashful mature woman in front of him.
"Ruyan!"
"Mm!" Lady Duanmu lifted her head slightly, but avoided his glance completely.
"I have to go now. Do you have anything you want to say to me before I leave?" Qing Shui held her hands and let out a few chuckles.
"Be careful on your journey!" Lady Duanmu only said one sentence and stopped. Qing Shui couldn't tell what she was currently feeling, he couldn't sense her emotions clearly.
"Do you want me to leave so badly?" Qing Shui smiled. Yu Ruyan couldn't even see the jesting expression in his eyes, as she continued to avoid his gaze.
"What are you saying, why would I do that?" Yu Ruyan replied quickly.
"Then that means Ruyan doesn't want me to leave. I don't want to part with you either…." Qing Shui said softly. He wasn't sure if that was the truth or just a moment of teasing to fluster her heart.
"Qing Shui!"
When he regained his composure, Yu Ruyan was already holding onto his neck gently. Without saying another word, she held onto him quietly. It was at this moment that Qing Shui realized the genuine closeness between both of them.
"Qing Shui, please wait a bit longer. I only have thoughts of you in my heart. Please?" Yu Ruyan pleaded softly, as she buried herself in his chest.
"As I've said before, I will not force you into a decision. But if you encounter anything in the future, remember to look for me. You will know how to contact me with the items inside the sachet I gave you," Qing Shui snickered.
"Mm, I will."
…….
Qing Shui left directly from the mountain peak where Lady Duanmu was still standing, as she watched him fly away. He only turned away when her silhouette began to vanish from his sight.
He didn't stop by the Cloud Adventurer Guild, but only watched from the outside, observing the finished construction of the building. He didn't want to announce his arrival to the guild members, as they were still in the middle of development stage. His arrival would only disrupt Yun Duan's schedules and arrangements unnecessarily.
Some items he left for her were useful to her cultivation progress. Nonetheless, he made his way towards Cold Ice City to visit the Hai Clan and of course, that woman as well. He wanted to check on her, whether she was living a good life and whether she was still keeping to the words she had said to him before.
That woman from the Hai Clan was definitely strong. Even if they were to become husband and wife, they would not be together most times. Qing Shui had romantic feelings for her, but he was too busy to delve himself into this relationship. If he weren't persistent in his cultivation, he would have drowned himself in the comfort of pleasures and lust of the women he met.
Even so, he had no confidence in himself after a long period of absence in her life. He had lent his help to the Hai Clan once, but that was a long time ago. He wasn't even sure if Hai Dongqing was still single or that she still had romantic feelings for a man like him after all these years.
People change, a fact that would remain until this day. Moreover, Hai Dongqing was born a talented cultivator and based on that alone, her powers would only increase faster than normal cultivators. She was one of the beauties amongst the Portraits of Beauty and she was a woman of her own wealth. He decided to pay a visit to her in order to clear some things in his mind, he wanted to know if she was still waiting for him or not.
Nine Continents Steps!
The distance between Duanmu City and Cold Ice City wasn't that far. With Qing Shui's speed and twice the usage of the Nine Continents Steps, he would only need half a day to reach Cold Ice City.
The closer he approached Cold Ice City, the more the temperature would drop. When he finally entered Cold Ice City, snow was already falling, showering the whole city in white snowflakes as if giving off a sense of purification to the living souls.
The snowflakes were falling slowly and calmly. The temperature in Cold Ice City was lower than usual, retaining the shape of the snowflakes as they fell without melting to the ground. In just a few moments, the ground was covered completely in snow, as if blanketed in a silver-white carpet. The whole world seemed white in that moment, it was majestic and pure.
Qing Shui strode in the direction of the Hai Clan without being distracted. After clearing some things up here, he would head straight to the Di Clan before finally going back home.
The Hai Residence was still the same, with just the addition of a few guards in front of the entrance. Their powers had grown exponentially as well. Qing Shui wasn’t in a hurry to go inside, so he decided to roam the neighborhood and have a look around.
He heard a few things from the neighbors about the Hai Clan becoming the greatest clan in Cold Ice City after all these years. Back then, Hai Dongqing was forced into the idea of marrying into the Luo Clan as a concubine. Even if she did become one, the Hai Clan would still have perished in the end. But now, the situation had turned favorable to the Hai Clan. Ultimately, Tu Clan and Luo Clan had already been destroyed single-handedly by Qing Shui.
Because of Qing Shui's intervention, he was able to reverse the course of events with his power and will. When he recalled the situation back then, Luo Di, the strongest cultivator from the Luo Clan, had the strength of a little bit more than two stars. Qing Shui had to use all his debuffing techniques on Luo Di in order to match his strength against his. Compared to his powers now and before, it was unbelievable how much his power had grown over these years.
The number of people strolling around the street was endless. The street located in front of the Hai Clan was wide and bustling with prosperous businesses. When an umbrella stopped the snowflakes from falling onto his head, he turned around to see who had shared the umbrella with him.
The familiar graceful face capable of showing various emotions was first to catch his attention. Her hair was tied up high and her beautiful eyes gleamed with an air of elegance, as he stared into them. Her skin was as delicately white as he remembered and her neck was as slender and beautiful as always. This woman had a mature air around her, as she stood face to face with Qing Shui under the dancing flurry of snow.
Her body figure was delicately poised and graceful, with bosoms perked perfectly in contrast to her slender waistline. Her full buttocks were captivating as well, creating a perfect figure line that even a flowy dress could not hide. Even so, the flowy dress was able to bring out a sense of a celestial descending upon the world of mortals, enchanting and mesmerizing.
This woman was none other than Hai Dongqing!
Qing Shui had a deja vu of their meeting once more. He realized this was almost the exact situation as last time, but this time she was pleasantly surprised to see Qing Shui at Cold Ice City instead.
She was a woman of a picturesque beauty, elegance and nobility!
Before Qing Shui could say anything, Hai Dongqing quickly let go of her umbrella and leaped towards him by embracing his neck.
"Qing Shui…"
Qing Shui returned her embrace by holding onto her delicate body tightly. Naturally, even without words, he understood everything. Hai Dongqing had been waiting for him ever since the day they parted ways.
"Dongqing!"
"When I saw you, I thought you were an illusion." Hai Dongqing lifted up her head and showed him a wide dimpled smile. He felt delighted to hear those words from her mouth.
Qing Shui felt a skip in his heart. A woman who was still at her delicate age had been waiting for him even in the absence of a promise. However, he suddenly felt ashamed of not doing so in the beginning.
"Are you still well?" Qing Shui asked, as he took a closer look at Dongqing. She looked the same as ever.
"I'm fine. After you left, we made some progress in the Hai Clan. It's all thanks to you, otherwise I don't think I would be alive to see it," Hai Dongqing replied with a delighted smile.
"The gods would not abandon a beauty in distress, so they sent me to punish those useless scum for you." Qing Shui smiled. He then led Hai Dongqing through the snow by holding her hands and that began to garner the attention from the people in the surroundings.
"How about you, still well?" Hai Dongqing felt a moment of true happiness, as she clutched onto Qing Shui's hand while walking side by side with him.
"I'm fine too. I was on my way home, so I decided to swing by and check on you." Qing Shui retained his smile, as he glanced towards Hai Dongqing.
Hai Dongqing stopped in her tracks for a moment and tightened her grip on Qing Shui's hand. "Qing Shui, I've waited for you of my own will. No matter what the reason, I only know that I like you or love… you. I don't want you to feel burdened by my words. If you don't love me, then we can still be friends. I will still be happy nonetheless. I'm willing to do anything for you." Hai Dongqing continued to walk slowly, as she tugged Qing Shui's arm.
Qing Shui wasn't taken aback by her words because she had said something similar before. He stopped his pace and extended his hand to touch the gentle cheeks of her face.
"My heart is now filled with the thoughts of you. I'm fond of you and I want to see you happy. I want to be with you and I want to hold you…. Is this love, I wonder? Even if it isn't, I don't want to let you go. You are mine for the rest of your life." Qing Shui glanced at the shy expression of the woman in front of him after he was done.
"I will forever depend on you then."
"If I have a beauty like you to depend on me, then I must have prayed to the gods a lot in my past life." Qing Shui lifted her up and swiveled twice around the snowy grounds.
The snow was getting thicker. When they returned to the Hai Residence, the snow was already half a foot thick on the ground.
"Clan Head!"
The entrance guard called in respect when he saw Hai Dongqing approaching the door.
Hai Dongqing waved her hand and went inside with Qing Shui.
"Not bad. Hai Clan had made the right choice. Our Qing`er is still the most suitable person to become the head of the Hai Clan." Qing Shui had gotten used to calling her Qing`er.
Hai Dongqing curved a charming smile when she heard Qing Shui calling her Qing`er. Soon after that, Qing Shui was able to meet Hai Long, Hai Dongying, Hai Shiya and the old ancestor of the Hai Clan. When they knew that Qing Shui had come to visit, all of them rushed to see him without hesitation. After all, Qing Shui had given them a chance to rise up again, a grace of rebirth. They were not the types to be ungrateful and they would never forget those who had helped them when they were in the pits of agony. Qing Shui was a perceptive man, he would not be easily swayed by flattery.
Hai Shiya was now a mother of three and Hai Long had managed to get himself a wife, a daughter from the Cheng Clan from Cold Ice City. She was an elegant, yet charming woman.
"Qing Shui has finally come back. Dongqing talks about you every day, you know," Hai Dongying said in a cheery voice.
"Brother, stop your nonsense or I will tell sister-in-law," Hai Dongqing puffed in embarrassment.
"It's good that elder brother Hai and old ancestor are here. I came here today to make a marriage proposal to Dongqing." Even though this was not the first time he had made a marriage proposal, he still felt a bit awkward but less nervous with his approach.
Hai Dongqing's parents had already left the living world long ago. Her brother was essentially her guardian and a father figure to her, so as a gesture of respect, he wanted to ask for Hai Dongying's permission for his little sister's hand.
The old ancestor of the Hai Clan gave a wide smile without saying a word when Qing Shui mentioned a marriage proposal. Hai Shiya, on the other hand, laughed out heartily and said, "Aunt, say something. I knew aunt would fall in love with Qing Shui sooner or later."
"Foolish girl, stop talking nonsense…." Hai Dongqing was shocked, but more pleasantly surprised at the current situation. She didn't expect Qing Shui to propose a marriage when he swung by the residence.
"Fine, I will stop. But aunt, I think you should make a chubby baby soon. By then, you will have lots of fun playing with the little kid every day."
"Alright, fine…. I will stop!"
"Qing Shui, as long as Dongqing is willing, then you have our full blessing. Dongqing, I'm giving you the final decision. Make a statement now," Hai Dongying chuckled.
"Brother, why are you teasing me."
"Alright, alright. Qing Shui, Dongqing and I lost our parents when we were young. She's tough for sure, but she's still a woman. She couldn't tell the world her sufferings and she didn't even have the privilege to act like a spoiled kid. All I wish for is you to treat her well. Make her the happiest woman and I will be thoroughly satisfied." Hai Dongying said as he smiled. He already had faith in Qing Shui. If Qing Shui truly loved Dongqing, then his sister would be happy being together with him.
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AST 960 – Favor, Psychological Attack, The Eve Of Departure
Qing Shui understood after a while, recognizing Hu Yanlin's Back Connecting Fist as an 'appropriate method' that could yield twice the result with half the effort. The Back Connecting Fist seemed to have cleared a few points of his meridians, creating a flow of Qi as smooth as an unhindered river stream.
His fists were as fast as thunder, exploding the air with each succession of moves, yet with the smooth movement of flowing water. When he turned around and saw Qing Shui approaching, he flashed an honest smile and went to greet him.
"Mr. Qing!"
Hu Yanlin gave a reverent greeting to Qing Shui, who was smiling back as he walked closer to him. "How does it feel?" asked Qing Shui.
"Very good," Hu Yanlin chuckled with an expression of utmost excitement. Ever since Lady Duanmu and the others returned safely, he didn't manage to get a wink of sleep and continued to cultivate his skills in the backyard. He had been practicing all night while waiting for Qing Shui to come in the morning.
Because Qing Shui asked him to wait for him in the morning, he stayed the whole night until dawn. He didn't know how early Qing Shui wanted to meet him and he didn't want Qing Shui to wait for him, so he decided to stay in the backyard until morning while mastering his Back Connecting Fist, striking the iron while it was hot.
"Eat these." Qing Shui handed ten Five Elements Earth Fruits to Hu Yanlin, whose body constitution was of the earth element. He took the fruits without hesitation and ate all of them quickly.
"Unleash the 'Back Connecting Fist' with everything you've got. Clear your mind of everything else!" said Qing Shui.
Hu Yanlin nodded and proceeded to unleash his Back Connecting Fists. The strength of the fists was strong and ferocious, each striking fist was followed by a distinct blast. However, he was quite tall for his height, making his form seem bit awkward. But it wasn't too unsightly, his form was rough but masculine in a good way.
At the same time, Qing Shui took out a Golden Needle and shot it at Hu Yanlin in a quick flash like a passing ghost, which he continued to do so after each period of time.
After half an hour had passed, a number of Golden Needles could be seen sticking out of Hu Yanlin's body. Qing Shui had no intention of stopping, adding a few more every few moments, increasing the number of Golden Needles in his body. Hu Yanlin pretended like nothing had happened and continued to strike the Back Connecting Fists with increasing momentum. His face was colored an intense red, as he drenched himself in a pool of sweat.
Lady Duanmu and Duanmu Lingshuang were already standing at the gates of the backyard, forbidding anyone to enter and interrupt the situation. They had been watching the two of them for a while now.
"What are they doing?" Duanmu Lingshuang turned to look at Lady Duanmu after witnessing Qing Shui shooting Golden Needles, while Hu Yanlin was striking his Back Connecting Fists.
"Qing Shui wants Yanlin to break through to Martial Saint," Lady Duanmu replied with a smile.
Duanmu Lingshuang was surprised. She swiveled her head back towards Qing Shui and Hu Yanlin in excitement. She knew Hu Yanlin was a Peak Martial King, but it would be extremely difficult for him to break through to Martial Saint because the flow of Qi inside his body wasn't smooth enough. In order for him to break through to Martial Saint, not only did he have to unblock his flow of qi, he would also need the purest item of 'Five Elements Force' as well. The abnormal Five Elements Fruits alone could not assist in his breakthrough even the slightest.
She had thought about his breakthrough before, but she estimated that he would take at least five to ten years before he could become a Martial Saint cultivator. However, that would be possible if he had a diligent restoration to his flow of Qi, as well as a good insight to his cultivation.
Still, if Hu Yanlin managed to break through to Martial Saint, then it wouldn't be difficult for him to advance to Peak Martial Saint with the aid from the Duanmu Clan in a short amount of time. The rest would be up to him should he wish to break away from Peak Martial Saint towards the next level. Even so, the Martial Emperor realm was still far away, even Lady Duanmu was only a Peak Martial Saint cultivator.
"Yanlin should be fine, right?" Duanmu Lingshuang asked in a worried tone, but with a look of anticipation as she continued watching the men in the backyard.
As long as Hu Yanlin could reach a breakthrough, no one would look down on him in the future regardless whether it was the people from the Duanmu Residence or in the Duanmu City. The strength of a Martial Saint was an important marker to achieve, much like the transformation of a sparrow into a phoenix.
The 49th Golden Needle!
Qing Shui stopped immediately. At the same time, Hu Yanlin's movements had become as heavy as an imposing mountain. Every time he tried to strike a move, his actions would seem clumsy and slow.
The Five Elements Acupuncture in addition to the Earth element and the Earth Fruit had allowed his body to reach the point of outburst after a period of time. Qing Shui hoped that Yanlin would continue to endure the extreme fatigue of his body, because the next step towards the realm of Martial Saint was soon to come. The path to Martial Saint afterwards would be smooth and his powers would grow stronger. He would be able to control the capacity of his energy flow with ease, which was a crucial point of being a Martial Saint.
"Keep it up. You can cut back five years if you manage to endure through this stage and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of being a Martial Saint very soon!" Qing Shui said calmly, as he continued to support him from the side.
Hu Yanlin opened his eyes fiercely so that he could stay conscious to lift up his spirits. He wanted to sleep for a while, but he knew he couldn't afford to do that. He couldn't forget the laughing faces of those who looked down on him and he didn't mind that. But he had a wife and a child to protect and he couldn't disappoint Lingshuang any longer. It was a grace from the heavens when Lingshuang chose him as her husband, so he vowed that he would do whatever it took to make her the happiest woman in the entire world.
"Ah!"
With a loud outburst, he struck the ground violently with his fist, emanating a cloud of grey-black mist around him instantaneously. Before this, his body looked like an overfilled water tank. The strike on the ground was the breaking point to the doors of Martial Saint.
Bang bang bang…..
Loud explosions echoed in the air towards the far horizon. Hu Yanlin's muscles did not expand, but had grown more solid than ever. The Qi of Xiantian in his body continued to nourish every part of his meridians, vital organs and bones…
His spiritual energy had increased exponentially as well. The body that had gone through an ordeal of extreme fatigue was brought back to life, brimming with a strong sense of vigor. After the breakthrough, his body was recovered to his best state, restoring his good health in no time.
Because of that, opponents who could reach a sudden breakthrough in the middle of a battle were likely to be feared, because their body would recover to its maximum state of health, in addition to the surge of strength to their power. In any case, the battle was over the moment their opponents were able to recover their full health.
After 15 minutes had passed, Hu Yanlin finally stopped emanating the mist from his body. His face was flushed in a glow of red as he noticed Qing Shui standing nearby smiling at him.
Hu Yanlin approached Qing Shui and gave him a respectful 90 degrees bow and said, "I can never repay the kindness you have shown me today for the rest of my life."
Qing Shui almost laughed at the honest display of the man in front of him. He extended his arms, pulled him straight up and said: "I don't expect you to return the favor. You are Lingshuang's husband and Lingshuang is Lady Duanmu's daughter. The reason is as simple as that."
Although Hu Yanlin was a simple man, he was not stupid, not a bit. He knew what Qing Shui meant, he was able to receive his help all because of Lady Duanmu and Lingshuang.
Even so, he understood his situation clearly. If it weren't for the ladies, he wouldn't be able to meet a man of such strength and power, much less receive a boost to break through to the Martial Saint this quickly.
"Mr. Qing, I know what I should do now," Hu Yanlin said with deep respect. In spite of what Qing Shui said, nothing would affect the respect Hu Yanlin had for him.
"I heard you like to use a hammer as your weapon," Qing Shui said to Hu Yanlin with a chuckle.
"Yes, I feel that hammers can hit very hard," Hu Yanlin replied quickly.
"Then, this is for you!" Qing Shui took out the Thunder God and handed it to Hu Yanlin.
"This….."
"Be a man and take it," Qing Shui smiled.
Hu Yanlin received the Thunder God and remained silent without saying thanks to Qing Shui, but his eyes were so full of deep gratitude that words were simply inadequate. As he held the hammer in his hands, he knew that this weapon was of extraordinary power. A strong aura flowed into his body, filling him with an abundance of explosive energy through his veins.
He had gained twice the strength to his power…
"Watch carefully, my time here is limited, so how much you can absorb will depend on you." Qing Shui then swiveled his head towards Lady Duanmu and Duanmu Lingshuang and beckoned them to come closer.
Unfolding the Thousand Hammer Technique!
Qing Shui kept demonstrating his techniques while he explained the moves thoroughly. It took about an hour to explain while allowing Hu Yanlin to practice on the spot. The sky was already bright and it was almost time to have breakfast. However, no one mentioned a thing about eating, as they continued to watch Qing Shui explaining the hammer technique to Hu Yanlin.
"I will teach you some of the Tiger Forms. Lady Duanmu and Miss Lingshuang should also take note, it might prove useful in the future."
Two hours had passed after Qing Shui had taught them the Tiger Form. It wasn't difficult to learn, but it was more difficult to grasp and adhere to the steps. He repeated the key points of the form several times and demonstrated the form repeatedly so that they would remember clearly. After that, he took out a silk sachet and gave it to Lady Duanmu.
"There are useful items inside. Keep it for now!" Qing Shui smiled as he handed the sachet to Lady Duanmu.
She went ahead and took the sachet before she looked up to the sky and said, "Let's go back and have breakfast. It's getting late."
………
This was a joyous occasion for the Duanmu clan as they had taken over everything that used to belong to the once glorious Lei Clan. The atmosphere outside the Duanmu Residence was quite lively, with every household discussing news about the Duanmu Clan. The power of the public was not to be underestimated, as nearly every household in Duanmu City had already known about the current situation within a mere few hours.
When a man attained the Dao, even his pets were allowed to ascend the heavens. Even though Qing Shui wasn't a member of the Duanmu Clan, in the eyes of the public, it didn't matter. Everyone could see that Qing Shui did it all because of Lady Duanmu. However, no one knew about their relationship – an intimate relationship between a mature woman and a young man.
"Qing Shui, you are leaving, aren't you!"
The two of them stood at the top of the mountain situated in Duanmu City. Lady Duanmu looked at Qing Shui, she already had a feeling that he was going to leave soon after the deed was done.
"We still think alike. So you knew already." Qing Shui turned to look at her. There was no sign of aging on the charming face of the elegant woman.
Her skin was as delicate as gleaming jade, with the luster that could captivate the hearts of men. Based on her appearance, she could be around 30 years old if he compared her appearance to the normal standards of his past life.
Qing Shui recalled about the immortals that were as ancient as old demons, yet as beautiful as maidens in their endearing youth. The Spiritual Qi in the World of the Nine Continents was quite abundant, which Qing Shui had adapted gradually as he grew stronger. To preserve an eternal youth required skills and cultivation of a strong level. If the requirements were met, preserving 200 years of youthfulness would become nothing more than an effortless feat.
When Lady Duanmu caught Qing Shui staring at herself, she quickly turned away from his gaze in embarrassment.
"Don't be shy!" Qing Shui was inches away from her beautiful face. A distinct faint blush appeared on her cheeks, which made his heart beat faster in a rhythmic excitement.
"Qing Shui….."
"I am going soon. But before that, I want my reward from you for winning the bet," Qing Shui said, as he ignored Lady Duamu's bitter anger towards him.
"What kind of reward are you asking for?" Lady Duanmu asked in a soft voice.
She wasn't too worried that someone would spot them together like this. Even though there was no one in this vicinity, someone could have passed by and caught a glimpse of their intimate act. Even so, she wasn't too flustered about the thought at all.
"I want a kiss from you!" Qing Shui teased while he stared at Lady Duanmu.
"Qing Shui….."
"If not, let me kiss you. Your choice. Do you want me to initiate the kiss or the other way around?" Qing Shui reached out, taking her chin gently yet with enough boldness and lifted her head proportionally to his.
His heart was still beating fast, despite already having had the most intimate interaction with her before. But that was a long time ago. Even though they already had sex, they weren't connected together spiritually. Back then, it was a frustration and a mistake he could not erase.
But now, it was different. Both of them were slowly getting to know each other, connecting two hearts together subconsciously. While teasing a mature elegant woman with such boldness and frivolous attitude, he felt anxious yet excited at the same time… He maintained his grasp and touched her chin with his thumb. As he saw the delicate dimples on the side of her desirable lips and her shivering body when she half-closed her eyes, revealing a slight view of her misty eyes and quivering luscious lashes, he couldn't help but feel a rush in his heart as he inched closer to give her a kiss.
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AST 961 – I'm Willing To Do Anything For You, Dongqing Returns Home
Qing Shui stared at the quivering woman akin to the poppy flowers amidst the breeze. His heart was filled with love, as he slowly lowered his head to kiss her lips gently.
A delicate fragrance traveled to his nose, a scent that Qing Shui particularly adored. The softness of her lips was tender and lovely, sending his mind into a blank as he continued to press his lips against her delicate lips and suck on them gently. He held her in his arms, pressing her against his chest unconsciously with a gentle force.
Lady Duanmu couldn't help it, but open her mouth slightly to let out a gasp when Qing Shui embraced her suddenly. He took the opportunity of the moment and slithered his tongue into her mouth, locking his tongue with hers as they continued to share a few kisses passionately.
They continued to do so without the perception of time before they finally stopped. Qing Shui smacked his lips satisfyingly, enjoying the lovely taste of her mouth as he glanced back at the bashful mature woman in front of him.
"Ruyan!"
"Mm!" Lady Duanmu lifted her head slightly, but avoided his glance completely.
"I have to go now. Do you have anything you want to say to me before I leave?" Qing Shui held her hands and let out a few chuckles.
"Be careful on your journey!" Lady Duanmu only said one sentence and stopped. Qing Shui couldn't tell what she was currently feeling, he couldn't sense her emotions clearly.
"Do you want me to leave so badly?" Qing Shui smiled. Yu Ruyan couldn't even see the jesting expression in his eyes, as she continued to avoid his gaze.
"What are you saying, why would I do that?" Yu Ruyan replied quickly.
"Then that means Ruyan doesn't want me to leave. I don't want to part with you either…." Qing Shui said softly. He wasn't sure if that was the truth or just a moment of teasing to fluster her heart.
"Qing Shui!"
When he regained his composure, Yu Ruyan was already holding onto his neck gently. Without saying another word, she held onto him quietly. It was at this moment that Qing Shui realized the genuine closeness between both of them.
"Qing Shui, please wait a bit longer. I only have thoughts of you in my heart. Please?" Yu Ruyan pleaded softly, as she buried herself in his chest.
"As I've said before, I will not force you into a decision. But if you encounter anything in the future, remember to look for me. You will know how to contact me with the items inside the sachet I gave you," Qing Shui snickered.
"Mm, I will."
…….
Qing Shui left directly from the mountain peak where Lady Duanmu was still standing, as she watched him fly away. He only turned away when her silhouette began to vanish from his sight.
He didn't stop by the Cloud Adventurer Guild, but only watched from the outside, observing the finished construction of the building. He didn't want to announce his arrival to the guild members, as they were still in the middle of development stage. His arrival would only disrupt Yun Duan's schedules and arrangements unnecessarily.
Some items he left for her were useful to her cultivation progress. Nonetheless, he made his way towards Cold Ice City to visit the Hai Clan and of course, that woman as well. He wanted to check on her, whether she was living a good life and whether she was still keeping to the words she had said to him before.
That woman from the Hai Clan was definitely strong. Even if they were to become husband and wife, they would not be together most times. Qing Shui had romantic feelings for her, but he was too busy to delve himself into this relationship. If he weren't persistent in his cultivation, he would have drowned himself in the comfort of pleasures and lust of the women he met.
Even so, he had no confidence in himself after a long period of absence in her life. He had lent his help to the Hai Clan once, but that was a long time ago. He wasn't even sure if Hai Dongqing was still single or that she still had romantic feelings for a man like him after all these years.
People change, a fact that would remain until this day. Moreover, Hai Dongqing was born a talented cultivator and based on that alone, her powers would only increase faster than normal cultivators. She was one of the beauties amongst the Portraits of Beauty and she was a woman of her own wealth. He decided to pay a visit to her in order to clear some things in his mind, he wanted to know if she was still waiting for him or not.
Nine Continents Steps!
The distance between Duanmu City and Cold Ice City wasn't that far. With Qing Shui's speed and twice the usage of the Nine Continents Steps, he would only need half a day to reach Cold Ice City.
The closer he approached Cold Ice City, the more the temperature would drop. When he finally entered Cold Ice City, snow was already falling, showering the whole city in white snowflakes as if giving off a sense of purification to the living souls.
The snowflakes were falling slowly and calmly. The temperature in Cold Ice City was lower than usual, retaining the shape of the snowflakes as they fell without melting to the ground. In just a few moments, the ground was covered completely in snow, as if blanketed in a silver-white carpet. The whole world seemed white in that moment, it was majestic and pure.
Qing Shui strode in the direction of the Hai Clan without being distracted. After clearing some things up here, he would head straight to the Di Clan before finally going back home.
The Hai Residence was still the same, with just the addition of a few guards in front of the entrance. Their powers had grown exponentially as well. Qing Shui wasn’t in a hurry to go inside, so he decided to roam the neighborhood and have a look around.
He heard a few things from the neighbors about the Hai Clan becoming the greatest clan in Cold Ice City after all these years. Back then, Hai Dongqing was forced into the idea of marrying into the Luo Clan as a concubine. Even if she did become one, the Hai Clan would still have perished in the end. But now, the situation had turned favorable to the Hai Clan. Ultimately, Tu Clan and Luo Clan had already been destroyed single-handedly by Qing Shui.
Because of Qing Shui's intervention, he was able to reverse the course of events with his power and will. When he recalled the situation back then, Luo Di, the strongest cultivator from the Luo Clan, had the strength of a little bit more than two stars. Qing Shui had to use all his debuffing techniques on Luo Di in order to match his strength against his. Compared to his powers now and before, it was unbelievable how much his power had grown over these years.
The number of people strolling around the street was endless. The street located in front of the Hai Clan was wide and bustling with prosperous businesses. When an umbrella stopped the snowflakes from falling onto his head, he turned around to see who had shared the umbrella with him.
The familiar graceful face capable of showing various emotions was first to catch his attention. Her hair was tied up high and her beautiful eyes gleamed with an air of elegance, as he stared into them. Her skin was as delicately white as he remembered and her neck was as slender and beautiful as always. This woman had a mature air around her, as she stood face to face with Qing Shui under the dancing flurry of snow.
Her body figure was delicately poised and graceful, with bosoms perked perfectly in contrast to her slender waistline. Her full buttocks were captivating as well, creating a perfect figure line that even a flowy dress could not hide. Even so, the flowy dress was able to bring out a sense of a celestial descending upon the world of mortals, enchanting and mesmerizing.
This woman was none other than Hai Dongqing!
Qing Shui had a deja vu of their meeting once more. He realized this was almost the exact situation as last time, but this time she was pleasantly surprised to see Qing Shui at Cold Ice City instead.
She was a woman of a picturesque beauty, elegance and nobility!
Before Qing Shui could say anything, Hai Dongqing quickly let go of her umbrella and leaped towards him by embracing his neck.
"Qing Shui…"
Qing Shui returned her embrace by holding onto her delicate body tightly. Naturally, even without words, he understood everything. Hai Dongqing had been waiting for him ever since the day they parted ways.
"Dongqing!"
"When I saw you, I thought you were an illusion." Hai Dongqing lifted up her head and showed him a wide dimpled smile. He felt delighted to hear those words from her mouth.
Qing Shui felt a skip in his heart. A woman who was still at her delicate age had been waiting for him even in the absence of a promise. However, he suddenly felt ashamed of not doing so in the beginning.
"Are you still well?" Qing Shui asked, as he took a closer look at Dongqing. She looked the same as ever.
"I'm fine. After you left, we made some progress in the Hai Clan. It's all thanks to you, otherwise I don't think I would be alive to see it," Hai Dongqing replied with a delighted smile.
"The gods would not abandon a beauty in distress, so they sent me to punish those useless scum for you." Qing Shui smiled. He then led Hai Dongqing through the snow by holding her hands and that began to garner the attention from the people in the surroundings.
"How about you, still well?" Hai Dongqing felt a moment of true happiness, as she clutched onto Qing Shui's hand while walking side by side with him.
"I'm fine too. I was on my way home, so I decided to swing by and check on you." Qing Shui retained his smile, as he glanced towards Hai Dongqing.
Hai Dongqing stopped in her tracks for a moment and tightened her grip on Qing Shui's hand. "Qing Shui, I've waited for you of my own will. No matter what the reason, I only know that I like you or love… you. I don't want you to feel burdened by my words. If you don't love me, then we can still be friends. I will still be happy nonetheless. I'm willing to do anything for you." Hai Dongqing continued to walk slowly, as she tugged Qing Shui's arm.
Qing Shui wasn't taken aback by her words because she had said something similar before. He stopped his pace and extended his hand to touch the gentle cheeks of her face.
"My heart is now filled with the thoughts of you. I'm fond of you and I want to see you happy. I want to be with you and I want to hold you…. Is this love, I wonder? Even if it isn't, I don't want to let you go. You are mine for the rest of your life." Qing Shui glanced at the shy expression of the woman in front of him after he was done.
"I will forever depend on you then."
"If I have a beauty like you to depend on me, then I must have prayed to the gods a lot in my past life." Qing Shui lifted her up and swiveled twice around the snowy grounds.
The snow was getting thicker. When they returned to the Hai Residence, the snow was already half a foot thick on the ground.
"Clan Head!"
The entrance guard called in respect when he saw Hai Dongqing approaching the door.
Hai Dongqing waved her hand and went inside with Qing Shui.
"Not bad. Hai Clan had made the right choice. Our Qing`er is still the most suitable person to become the head of the Hai Clan." Qing Shui had gotten used to calling her Qing`er.
Hai Dongqing curved a charming smile when she heard Qing Shui calling her Qing`er. Soon after that, Qing Shui was able to meet Hai Long, Hai Dongying, Hai Shiya and the old ancestor of the Hai Clan. When they knew that Qing Shui had come to visit, all of them rushed to see him without hesitation. After all, Qing Shui had given them a chance to rise up again, a grace of rebirth. They were not the types to be ungrateful and they would never forget those who had helped them when they were in the pits of agony. Qing Shui was a perceptive man, he would not be easily swayed by flattery.
Hai Shiya was now a mother of three and Hai Long had managed to get himself a wife, a daughter from the Cheng Clan from Cold Ice City. She was an elegant, yet charming woman.
"Qing Shui has finally come back. Dongqing talks about you every day, you know," Hai Dongying said in a cheery voice.
"Brother, stop your nonsense or I will tell sister-in-law," Hai Dongqing puffed in embarrassment.
"It's good that elder brother Hai and old ancestor are here. I came here today to make a marriage proposal to Dongqing." Even though this was not the first time he had made a marriage proposal, he still felt a bit awkward but less nervous with his approach.
Hai Dongqing's parents had already left the living world long ago. Her brother was essentially her guardian and a father figure to her, so as a gesture of respect, he wanted to ask for Hai Dongying's permission for his little sister's hand.
The old ancestor of the Hai Clan gave a wide smile without saying a word when Qing Shui mentioned a marriage proposal. Hai Shiya, on the other hand, laughed out heartily and said, "Aunt, say something. I knew aunt would fall in love with Qing Shui sooner or later."
"Foolish girl, stop talking nonsense…." Hai Dongqing was shocked, but more pleasantly surprised at the current situation. She didn't expect Qing Shui to propose a marriage when he swung by the residence.
"Fine, I will stop. But aunt, I think you should make a chubby baby soon. By then, you will have lots of fun playing with the little kid every day."
"Alright, fine…. I will stop!"
"Qing Shui, as long as Dongqing is willing, then you have our full blessing. Dongqing, I'm giving you the final decision. Make a statement now," Hai Dongying chuckled.
"Brother, why are you teasing me."
"Alright, alright. Qing Shui, Dongqing and I lost our parents when we were young. She's tough for sure, but she's still a woman. She couldn't tell the world her sufferings and she didn't even have the privilege to act like a spoiled kid. All I wish for is you to treat her well. Make her the happiest woman and I will be thoroughly satisfied." Hai Dongying said as he smiled. He already had faith in Qing Shui. If Qing Shui truly loved Dongqing, then his sister would be happy being together with him.
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