Huangfu Yuchen's Cultivation
After finishing their evening meal, Yan Ge wiped his mouth and said, “Yuchen, how is your Flowing Sands sword technique coming along?”
“Shall We demonstrate it?” Huangfu Yuchen asked with a smile.
Before Yan Ge could respond, Yan Jin swiftly swallowed the food in his mouth and spoke first, “I support it.”
Observing Huangfu Yuchen’s confident demeanor, Yan Ge’s competitive spirit arose. “Okay, demonstrate it then.”
The group arrived in the courtyard, dismissing anyone unrelated to the matter.
The Flowing Sands sword technique was extremely powerful, so Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen each took a wooden sword.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “You attack first.”
Yan Ge gritted his teeth. This guy was so confident? Not one to be polite with Huangfu Yuchen, he launched an attack first. Since it was a demonstration and not a friendly exchange, it was time to show his true skills.
He executed a deadly strike, slashing across Huangfu Yuchen’s waist with a flash of sword light. Huangfu Yuchen remained calm and composed, lightly leaping into the air. His feet seemed to tread upon invisible steps as he gracefully evaded the strike, swiftly retaliating with a sword swing aimed at Yan Ge’s vulnerable neck.
Yan Ge’s body, enhanced by Foundation Building Pill, was remarkably flexible and astonishingly supple. He abruptly bent his waist, folding his upper and lower body almost in half.
Huangfu Yuchen’s sword aura narrowly grazed past, and he suddenly smiled with an ambiguous meaning, his gaze lingering on Yan Ge’s waist for a while.
“Why are you laughing? Be serious,” Yan Ge felt annoyed by his laughter.
Huangfu Yuchen transmitted his inner strength in secret, saying, “Your waist is quite flexible.”
Yan Ge’s true qi stagnated, the breath in his chest stagnated, and he coughed, “You…,” he lifted his sword to launch another attack on Huangfu Yuchen, feeling enraged and embarrassed.
Huangfu Yuchen smirked inwardly but didn’t dare to be careless. He swiftly retreated three steps, pushing forward with his left palm while holding his sword with his right hand, earnestly engaging in the duel. In the blink of an eye, the two of them exchanged several moves, deconstructing eight or nine forms.
The surrounding flowers, plants, and trees were swept away by their sword aura, scattering in the air. Yan Jin and Deng Mande quickly moved far away, watching with great interest.
After exchanging over two or three hundred moves, neither of them emerged as the clear victor. The Flowing Sands sword technique, employed by Huangfu Yuchen, emphasized ethereal agility and carried a dominating presence, making it even more formidable. Without using his true essence, Yan Ge could barely hold his own, becoming exhausted in the process.
“Let’s stop, let’s stop.” Yan Ge used his wooden sword as a support and focused on catching his breath. “You’ve learned it much faster than I did initially.”
Huangfu Yuchen walked over and embraced him. “It’s because of your foundation.”
Yan Ge nodded in agreement. It wasn’t an inaccurate assessment. When he first learned the Flowing Sands sword technique, he had no martial skills whatsoever. His current achievements were already quite astonishing.
“We can start preparing for Foundation Building.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “I’ve made arrangements in advance.”
The next day, Huangfu Yuchen feigned illness, declaring that he wouldn’t attend court for the next few days.
“Your Majesty…” Deng Mande hesitated to speak. Having accompanied Huangfu Yuchen to the small house where Yan Ge was found, he was aware of the changes in Yan Ge’s body. Some things couldn’t be hidden.
Huangfu Yuchen stated without a doubt, “Deng Mande, Yan Cairen is someone I entrust with my life. Treat him with the same loyalty as you would me.”
Understanding that the Emperor was serious, Deng Mande straightened his posture and knelt down on both knees with a resounding thud. “Yes! I, your humble servant, swear my loyalty to both Your Majesty and Yan Cairen, with unwavering devotion!”
Yan Ge smiled and said, “Eunuch Deng, please rise. Trust me, I won’t harm Yuchen. Please remain here as well. I may need your assistance later.”
“Yes,” Deng Mande stood up and stood aside.
Yan Ge helped Huangfu Yuchen lie down on the bed and fed him a Foundation Building Pill. He held his right hand and said, “I will be here with you all the way.”
In the next moment, his hand was suddenly clenched and then released in an instant.
Huangfu Yuchen looked apologetically at him, exerting all his strength to resist the pain. In just a short while, his face was covered in sweat. The self-control of an emperor was extraordinary. Huangfu Yuchen lay there, motionless except for the sweat on his face. There was a slight twitch of his muscles, and bulging veins on his arm, unlike Yan Ge, who was rolling on the ground and crying out in pain.
Yan Ge felt distressed and whispered, “Yuchen, it’s fine to make some noise. There’s no one else here.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s weak smile was particularly fragile, and his lips turned pale. “It’s fine, I can endure.”
Yan Ge could only stop trying to dissuade him and hold his hand tightly, accompanying him all the way.
Yan Jin couldn’t be of much help here, and he could tell that Huangfu Yuchen’s aptitude was definitely not a problem. He tugged at Yan Ge’s sleeve and said, “I want to go out and play.”
“Go ahead,” Yan Ge replied.
Yan Jin beckoned Qiuju and headed towards the Empress’s Yongyi Palace.
Upon learning of Yan Jin’s arrival, the Empress asked him to come in with mixed emotions. Since the Crown Prince and Yan Jin were together, not only had he become more diligent in his studies but also more sensible, which made the Empress extremely gratified and proud. However, who in the palace didn’t know that Prince Yan and Yan Cairen were so close? The closer the Crown Prince got to Yan Jin, the closer it was to Yan Cairen in her eyes. Yan Cairen was a male consort, and the Emperor’s favoritism towards him felt like a slap in the face.
“Prince Yan, please rise,” the Empress said.
“Thank you, Empress,” Yan Jin asked directly, “Empress, is the Crown Prince here?”
The Empress replied, “The Crown Prince is studying in the study. In other words, Prince Yan, you should leave.”
Yan Jin smiled and said, “I will accompany him in his studies.”
Without waiting for the Empress to object, he walked towards the Crown Prince’s study.
The Empress sat on the cool jade bed, watching his figure disappear, and her face turned cold.
The court ladies could read her expression and patted her back, comforting her, “Empress, please forgive this servant for speaking out of turn. Prince Yan is only the Emperor’s adopted son, and he won’t threaten the Crown Prince’s position. Moreover, Prince Yan has Prime Minister Wen behind him. It’s only beneficial for the Crown Prince to be close to him, with no harm. Why not ease your mind, Empress?”
The Empress remained silent for a long time before sighing softly, “You’re right. I should be more open-minded.”
As soon as Yan Jin entered the Crown Prince’s study, he saw him sitting at the desk, engrossed in a book.
“Crown Prince.”
The young Crown Prince looked up, jumping off the chair with joy. “Brother Yan, you’re here.”
Yan Jin playfully pinched his face and asked, “Have you finished today’s lessons?”
“I’m almost done. I still need to practice five pieces of calligraphy with a brush and five pieces with a pen,” the young Crown Prince replied crisply.
Yan Jin nodded and pinched his soft face again. “I’ll accompany you in your studies, and after we finish, we’ll go out to play.”
“Okay.”
The eunuchs and palace maids on the side watched the two children speak in a serious manner, secretly smiling.
Inside the Tenglong Palace, Huangfu Yuchen was still undergoing the transformation of the Foundation Building Pill. Until late at night, he finally passed out, and was just as filthy as Yan Ge was initially. Yan Ge personally helped him bathe and changed into clean clothes.
After five days, Huangfu Yuchen finally woke up. His height and body hadn’t changed, but his muscles were filled with strength and explosiveness. His facial features became more profound, and he became even more handsome. Yan Ge couldn’t help but feel his heart race when he looked into his deep eyes.
“Great, Yuchen, now you can start cultivating. Let me teach you—”
Before he could finish speaking, Huangfu Yuchen sealed his mouth with a kiss. Huangfu Yuchen teased him for a moment, and Yan Ge was conquered. Huangfu Yuchen’s more powerful attack and hotter emotions left him powerless to resist, and he had no intention of resisting. He wrapped his hands around the man’s neck…
Hearing the commotion, Deng Mande ran in with excitement but saw the bed curtains swaying. Embarrassed, he quickly retreated and ordered the young eunuchs, “Prepare hot water immediately and serve the Emperor and Yan Cairen for a bath.”
“Yes.”
It took a full hour for Huangfu Yuchen to pull back the bed curtains, holding the person wrapped in a blanket in his arms, a satisfied smile on his lips.
After Yan Ge bathed and changed into clean clothes, he placed him back on the bed. Huangfu Yuchen then attended to himself, closing his eyes and soaking in the bath, asking Deng Mande, “Has the court been relatively calm these past few days?”
Deng Mande replied, “Your Majesty, there haven’t been any major events. However, the ministers have grown somewhat perplexed as Your Majesty hasn’t appeared in public for several days. Also, the Empress visited the Tenglong Palace once, and Yan Cairen went out to attend to her. The Empress Dowager seemed displeased when she left, but she didn’t say anything.”
“The matter I ordered an investigation on last time, is there no progress yet?” Huangfu Yuchen asked, displeased.
“There has been no further news since then,” Deng Mande replied. “It seems the other party has also become cautious.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Arrange for me to attend the court half an hour from now.”
“Yes.”
The officials waited in the Hall for a while until Huangfu Yuchen arrived, slightly late.
“Thank you, esteemed ministers, for waiting.”
“We dare not.”
The officials saw Huangfu Yuchen’s radiant expression, improved complexion, and increased aura of dominance, and their doubts about his absence from court vanished.
After showing himself to the ministers, Huangfu Yuchen appointed Prime Minister Wen, and Martial Minister Wu, to temporarily handle state affairs in his stead. Together with Yan Ge, he went to Mingxia Mountain. His time for assimilating the Foundation Building Pill was similar to Yan Ge’s, which meant that their aptitude for cultivation was on par. This reassured Huangfu Yuchen, as he no longer had to worry about being left too far behind by Yan Ge.
Once inside the stone cave, Yan Ge affixed the pre-drawn acupoint diagram to the cave wall, sat cross-legged, and said to Huangfu Yuchen, “Sit down like me and follow my lead, you must not be hasty, or else it’s easy to lose control.”
“Rest assured,” Huangfu Yuchen crouched down, gently brushing his lips against Yan Ge’s before sitting opposite him with determination.
“Center your Qi in your lower dantian, guide it from the tailbone acupoint, through the sea of Qi, the gate of life… to the center of your brow, then return… repeat this cycle…”
Only when Huangfu Yuchen entered a state of deep meditation did Yan Ge relax and stay with him for a while longer. He then deactivated the illusionary formation, and left the mountain cave.
Huangfu Yuchen's Cultivation
After finishing their evening meal, Yan Ge wiped his mouth and said, “Yuchen, how is your Flowing Sands sword technique coming along?”
“Shall We demonstrate it?” Huangfu Yuchen asked with a smile.
Before Yan Ge could respond, Yan Jin swiftly swallowed the food in his mouth and spoke first, “I support it.”
Observing Huangfu Yuchen’s confident demeanor, Yan Ge’s competitive spirit arose. “Okay, demonstrate it then.”
The group arrived in the courtyard, dismissing anyone unrelated to the matter.
The Flowing Sands sword technique was extremely powerful, so Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen each took a wooden sword.
Huangfu Yuchen said, “You attack first.”
Yan Ge gritted his teeth. This guy was so confident? Not one to be polite with Huangfu Yuchen, he launched an attack first. Since it was a demonstration and not a friendly exchange, it was time to show his true skills.
He executed a deadly strike, slashing across Huangfu Yuchen’s waist with a flash of sword light. Huangfu Yuchen remained calm and composed, lightly leaping into the air. His feet seemed to tread upon invisible steps as he gracefully evaded the strike, swiftly retaliating with a sword swing aimed at Yan Ge’s vulnerable neck.
Yan Ge’s body, enhanced by Foundation Building Pill, was remarkably flexible and astonishingly supple. He abruptly bent his waist, folding his upper and lower body almost in half.
Huangfu Yuchen’s sword aura narrowly grazed past, and he suddenly smiled with an ambiguous meaning, his gaze lingering on Yan Ge’s waist for a while.
“Why are you laughing? Be serious,” Yan Ge felt annoyed by his laughter.
Huangfu Yuchen transmitted his inner strength in secret, saying, “Your waist is quite flexible.”
Yan Ge’s true qi stagnated, the breath in his chest stagnated, and he coughed, “You…,” he lifted his sword to launch another attack on Huangfu Yuchen, feeling enraged and embarrassed.
Huangfu Yuchen smirked inwardly but didn’t dare to be careless. He swiftly retreated three steps, pushing forward with his left palm while holding his sword with his right hand, earnestly engaging in the duel. In the blink of an eye, the two of them exchanged several moves, deconstructing eight or nine forms.
The surrounding flowers, plants, and trees were swept away by their sword aura, scattering in the air. Yan Jin and Deng Mande quickly moved far away, watching with great interest.
After exchanging over two or three hundred moves, neither of them emerged as the clear victor. The Flowing Sands sword technique, employed by Huangfu Yuchen, emphasized ethereal agility and carried a dominating presence, making it even more formidable. Without using his true essence, Yan Ge could barely hold his own, becoming exhausted in the process.
“Let’s stop, let’s stop.” Yan Ge used his wooden sword as a support and focused on catching his breath. “You’ve learned it much faster than I did initially.”
Huangfu Yuchen walked over and embraced him. “It’s because of your foundation.”
Yan Ge nodded in agreement. It wasn’t an inaccurate assessment. When he first learned the Flowing Sands sword technique, he had no martial skills whatsoever. His current achievements were already quite astonishing.
“We can start preparing for Foundation Building.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “I’ve made arrangements in advance.”
The next day, Huangfu Yuchen feigned illness, declaring that he wouldn’t attend court for the next few days.
“Your Majesty…” Deng Mande hesitated to speak. Having accompanied Huangfu Yuchen to the small house where Yan Ge was found, he was aware of the changes in Yan Ge’s body. Some things couldn’t be hidden.
Huangfu Yuchen stated without a doubt, “Deng Mande, Yan Cairen is someone I entrust with my life. Treat him with the same loyalty as you would me.”
Understanding that the Emperor was serious, Deng Mande straightened his posture and knelt down on both knees with a resounding thud. “Yes! I, your humble servant, swear my loyalty to both Your Majesty and Yan Cairen, with unwavering devotion!”
Yan Ge smiled and said, “Eunuch Deng, please rise. Trust me, I won’t harm Yuchen. Please remain here as well. I may need your assistance later.”
“Yes,” Deng Mande stood up and stood aside.
Yan Ge helped Huangfu Yuchen lie down on the bed and fed him a Foundation Building Pill. He held his right hand and said, “I will be here with you all the way.”
In the next moment, his hand was suddenly clenched and then released in an instant.
Huangfu Yuchen looked apologetically at him, exerting all his strength to resist the pain. In just a short while, his face was covered in sweat. The self-control of an emperor was extraordinary. Huangfu Yuchen lay there, motionless except for the sweat on his face. There was a slight twitch of his muscles, and bulging veins on his arm, unlike Yan Ge, who was rolling on the ground and crying out in pain.
Yan Ge felt distressed and whispered, “Yuchen, it’s fine to make some noise. There’s no one else here.”
Huangfu Yuchen’s weak smile was particularly fragile, and his lips turned pale. “It’s fine, I can endure.”
Yan Ge could only stop trying to dissuade him and hold his hand tightly, accompanying him all the way.
Yan Jin couldn’t be of much help here, and he could tell that Huangfu Yuchen’s aptitude was definitely not a problem. He tugged at Yan Ge’s sleeve and said, “I want to go out and play.”
“Go ahead,” Yan Ge replied.
Yan Jin beckoned Qiuju and headed towards the Empress’s Yongyi Palace.
Upon learning of Yan Jin’s arrival, the Empress asked him to come in with mixed emotions. Since the Crown Prince and Yan Jin were together, not only had he become more diligent in his studies but also more sensible, which made the Empress extremely gratified and proud. However, who in the palace didn’t know that Prince Yan and Yan Cairen were so close? The closer the Crown Prince got to Yan Jin, the closer it was to Yan Cairen in her eyes. Yan Cairen was a male consort, and the Emperor’s favoritism towards him felt like a slap in the face.
“Prince Yan, please rise,” the Empress said.
“Thank you, Empress,” Yan Jin asked directly, “Empress, is the Crown Prince here?”
The Empress replied, “The Crown Prince is studying in the study. In other words, Prince Yan, you should leave.”
Yan Jin smiled and said, “I will accompany him in his studies.”
Without waiting for the Empress to object, he walked towards the Crown Prince’s study.
The Empress sat on the cool jade bed, watching his figure disappear, and her face turned cold.
The court ladies could read her expression and patted her back, comforting her, “Empress, please forgive this servant for speaking out of turn. Prince Yan is only the Emperor’s adopted son, and he won’t threaten the Crown Prince’s position. Moreover, Prince Yan has Prime Minister Wen behind him. It’s only beneficial for the Crown Prince to be close to him, with no harm. Why not ease your mind, Empress?”
The Empress remained silent for a long time before sighing softly, “You’re right. I should be more open-minded.”
As soon as Yan Jin entered the Crown Prince’s study, he saw him sitting at the desk, engrossed in a book.
“Crown Prince.”
The young Crown Prince looked up, jumping off the chair with joy. “Brother Yan, you’re here.”
Yan Jin playfully pinched his face and asked, “Have you finished today’s lessons?”
“I’m almost done. I still need to practice five pieces of calligraphy with a brush and five pieces with a pen,” the young Crown Prince replied crisply.
Yan Jin nodded and pinched his soft face again. “I’ll accompany you in your studies, and after we finish, we’ll go out to play.”
“Okay.”
The eunuchs and palace maids on the side watched the two children speak in a serious manner, secretly smiling.
Inside the Tenglong Palace, Huangfu Yuchen was still undergoing the transformation of the Foundation Building Pill. Until late at night, he finally passed out, and was just as filthy as Yan Ge was initially. Yan Ge personally helped him bathe and changed into clean clothes.
After five days, Huangfu Yuchen finally woke up. His height and body hadn’t changed, but his muscles were filled with strength and explosiveness. His facial features became more profound, and he became even more handsome. Yan Ge couldn’t help but feel his heart race when he looked into his deep eyes.
“Great, Yuchen, now you can start cultivating. Let me teach you—”
Before he could finish speaking, Huangfu Yuchen sealed his mouth with a kiss. Huangfu Yuchen teased him for a moment, and Yan Ge was conquered. Huangfu Yuchen’s more powerful attack and hotter emotions left him powerless to resist, and he had no intention of resisting. He wrapped his hands around the man’s neck…
Hearing the commotion, Deng Mande ran in with excitement but saw the bed curtains swaying. Embarrassed, he quickly retreated and ordered the young eunuchs, “Prepare hot water immediately and serve the Emperor and Yan Cairen for a bath.”
“Yes.”
It took a full hour for Huangfu Yuchen to pull back the bed curtains, holding the person wrapped in a blanket in his arms, a satisfied smile on his lips.
After Yan Ge bathed and changed into clean clothes, he placed him back on the bed. Huangfu Yuchen then attended to himself, closing his eyes and soaking in the bath, asking Deng Mande, “Has the court been relatively calm these past few days?”
Deng Mande replied, “Your Majesty, there haven’t been any major events. However, the ministers have grown somewhat perplexed as Your Majesty hasn’t appeared in public for several days. Also, the Empress visited the Tenglong Palace once, and Yan Cairen went out to attend to her. The Empress Dowager seemed displeased when she left, but she didn’t say anything.”
“The matter I ordered an investigation on last time, is there no progress yet?” Huangfu Yuchen asked, displeased.
“There has been no further news since then,” Deng Mande replied. “It seems the other party has also become cautious.”
Huangfu Yuchen said, “Arrange for me to attend the court half an hour from now.”
“Yes.”
The officials waited in the Hall for a while until Huangfu Yuchen arrived, slightly late.
“Thank you, esteemed ministers, for waiting.”
“We dare not.”
The officials saw Huangfu Yuchen’s radiant expression, improved complexion, and increased aura of dominance, and their doubts about his absence from court vanished.
After showing himself to the ministers, Huangfu Yuchen appointed Prime Minister Wen, and Martial Minister Wu, to temporarily handle state affairs in his stead. Together with Yan Ge, he went to Mingxia Mountain. His time for assimilating the Foundation Building Pill was similar to Yan Ge’s, which meant that their aptitude for cultivation was on par. This reassured Huangfu Yuchen, as he no longer had to worry about being left too far behind by Yan Ge.
Once inside the stone cave, Yan Ge affixed the pre-drawn acupoint diagram to the cave wall, sat cross-legged, and said to Huangfu Yuchen, “Sit down like me and follow my lead, you must not be hasty, or else it’s easy to lose control.”
“Rest assured,” Huangfu Yuchen crouched down, gently brushing his lips against Yan Ge’s before sitting opposite him with determination.
“Center your Qi in your lower dantian, guide it from the tailbone acupoint, through the sea of Qi, the gate of life… to the center of your brow, then return… repeat this cycle…”
Only when Huangfu Yuchen entered a state of deep meditation did Yan Ge relax and stay with him for a while longer. He then deactivated the illusionary formation, and left the mountain cave.
