Chapter 139: A Jar of Daughter

The sky was pitch black.

The night sky was dotted with stars.

Moonlight shone into the mountain stream in the jungle, revealing mottled, intermingled moon shadows.

Dew overflowed everywhere.

Liu Qingmei did not know if she was still considered a proper Young Lady in Xia Chan's heart.

But at this moment, she only wanted to be an improper person.

Yet she was afraid of disturbing the moonlight, causing it to hide back into the clouds once more.

But at least, she knew that in the ears of Liuli, she was no longer a proper Martial Dao True Person.

That softness, like a cloud, was almost kneaded into a flower in her husband's hands.

The beginning of the Hour of the Dog.

Led by Xia Chan, the four of them arrived at the core area of Ningyang Mountain, inside Ningyang Stronghold.

This was a large stronghold filled with an aura of simplicity and desolation.

It stood among layers of clouds and overlapping peaks, with a thousand crags and ten thousand ravines, and mountains upon mountains.

The main gate of the Mountain Stronghold was situated between a mountain ridge and a valley. Once inside the gate, what met the eye was a drill ground the size of half a football field, overgrown with weeds. Surrounding it were rows of low-built thatched huts, long neglected and in disrepair, with many already collapsed.

And at the end of the drill ground was a high platform rising three levels, and atop the high platform was a magnificent, towering building.

To the left of the high platform were several lush green trees.

The trees grew on the edge of a cliff, and below them was a bottomless Heavenly Pit.

Surrounding the Heavenly Pit stood various buildings of different sizes, including watchtowers, high pavilions, and palace halls.

Near the Heavenly Pit, there were protective railings, but they were also long neglected and in disrepair.

To the right of the high platform were even taller pavilions.

"Husband, Sister, you have finally arrived!"

"Greetings, True Person!"

Just after entering the main gate, they saw several figures holding torches, and against the backdrop of the crackling torches, they trotted over to welcome them.

The voices arrived before the people did.

The next moment, Tong Yuyue appeared before them, her hair tied up behind her head, sleeves rolled up, and dressed in simple everyday clothes. She was with Chunzhi and the others. Their pretty faces, filled with anticipation and brightness, were slightly flushed under the glow of the torches, looking so charming and moving.

"Ning Lang~"

Tong Yuyue called out crisply, looking at Ning Mu, who was riding on the back of the old driver while holding Liu Qingmei, her eyes sparkling with hope.

Ning Mu jumped off the back of the old driver and walked over, opening his arms.

Tong Yuyue was stunned for a moment, then, like a swallow returning to the forest, she handed the torch to Chunzhi and threw herself into Ning Mu's embrace.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries.

Tong Yuyue led them across the drill ground toward the high platform.

After ascending the three-level high platform on the right and passing through a pavilion, they arrived at the magnificent Yishiting.

"These past few days, we have tidied up the Yishiting and the living quarters behind it. We don't have enough manpower, so we are taking it slow."

"The Yishiting has three levels; the upper ones can also be used for living. The mountain is damp, so I think it is better to live on the second floor. What do you think, Ning Lang?"

Compared to Liu Qingmei's dignified demeanor in front of outsiders.

Tong Yuyue appeared more lively.

She took the initiative to hold Ning Mu's arm, introducing the furnishings, layout, and environment of the stronghold as they walked.

"Hmm, then let's live on the second floor. Arrange the rooms." Ning Mu smiled and nodded, agreeing to Tong Yuyue's proposal.

"Hmm~ The second floor also has a courtyard layout with a patio in the middle. The three rooms on the north side near the mountain wall were my father's main chambers, serving as a bedroom, a study, and a hall respectively. Ning Lang, you should live in that one."

"On the left, there are two rooms and a storage room. Those two rooms should be for Sister to live in."

"I will live in the two rooms on the right."

"The south side, facing the main chamber, is the balcony hall. Let's go up and take a look."

Saying this, Tong Yuyue pulled Ning Mu from the side hall up to the second floor, with Liu Qingmei and Liuli Shitai following, and Chunzhi and Xia Chan trailing behind to serve them.

As for Qiuxiang, Dongxue, and Liu Xiaoya, they went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

To celebrate, they had even secretly prepared a performance.

The second floor.

Standing in this spacious hall, listening to the birds, beasts, and insects in the mountains, there was a unique charm to it.

Ning Mu couldn't help but lean against the railing. Although he couldn't see the mountain scenery shrouded in the night, the gentle mountain breeze brushing against his face still made him feel refreshed and quite heroic!

Here.

This was the new starting point of this life! "The third-floor rooms are lower, so they can be used as a walk-in closet or to store some daily utensils."

Ning Mu leaned against the railing, listening to Tong Yuyue introduce things to Liu Qingmei with a silver tongue.

Liu Qingmei's eyes were burning, listening carefully.

Come to think of it, this used to be the Tong Family's stronghold, but now, times had changed, and she would be the mistress of this great stronghold... one of them!

Since she was a mistress, she naturally had to keep all the furnishings and layouts firmly in her mind, so she could arrange things at any time in the future.

After simply noting them down.

Liu Qingmei's gaze shifted, and she saw Ning Mu standing in front of the railing, looking into the distance as if moved by something. Her expression flickered slightly, and she waved her hand at Tong Yuyue, then walked forward with light steps, standing side-by-side with him on his left.

"Husband, at this moment today, do you have a feeling of bidding farewell to the past and being reborn?" Liu Qingmei asked in a soft, gentle voice.

A glimmer of expectation flashed across Liuli's expression.

Her gaze turned toward the position on Ning Mu's right.

But just as she was slightly moved and had lifted her foot.

Suddenly.

Tong Yuyue was seen walking over happily to occupy that empty seat.

Liuli hurriedly withdrew her foot, a flash of dejection crossing her deep eyes, and she turned away with an extremely unnatural expression to look at the central courtyard.

Deep in her heart, a feeling she had never experienced before could not help but rise.

She did not know how to describe this feeling.

It was like sorrow, like bitterness, like worry, like pain...

Could it be?

Is this what the romance storybooks call the onset of jealousy?

Liuli's gaze dimmed, her expression filled with melancholy.

Ning Mu turned his head, glanced at Liu Qingmei, and could not help but reveal a heroic smile.

Immediately after.

He was seen opening his arms.

The beauty understood and entered his embrace.

Holding one in each arm.

Embracing the Martial Dao True Person Liu Qingmei and the lively, spirited Tong Yuyue, Ning Mu gazed at the boundless night, his heart full of heroic spirit as he faced the whistling mountain wind.

"The world turns, the sky spins; all things are difficult at the start. Eighteen years of battling frost and defying snow, the majestic sword Qi still remains cold." 【Song Dynasty, Anonymous】 His voice was loud and spirited, his waving sleeves stirring the wind.

"Mei'er, Ayue, and also Shitai, before today, I was nothing but a house slave who raised horses. Thanks to Mei'er's favor, taking me in as a personal disciple and bestowing her heart upon me, I was able to shed my slave status and have the company of you beautiful ladies. I am deeply grateful!"

"After today, I will surely do my utmost, using all my abilities to create a brand-new tomorrow that belongs to us!"

"Changing the world is not to be regretted; as time flows, our feelings shall never shift!"

Ning Mu spoke with great emotion, hugging Liu Qingmei and Tong Yuyue, his gaze turning back to look at Liuli Shitai, who was currently feeling lost, dejected, and conflicted within.

The three women were undoubtedly moved by these words of his.

He mentioned his past without any hesitation; his status as a horse-raising house slave was something Liu Qingmei and Tong Yuyue never dared to bring up, fearing it would make Ning Mu unhappy.

But now, he had brought it up himself.

Clearly, he was completely prepared to welcome a new life.

Striving toward the goal of changing the world, but more importantly, as time flows, this bond of affection will never shift!

How could such love words not be intoxicating?

However, the next moment.

Tong Yuyue's eccentric eyes could not help but look curiously at Liuli Shitai, full of strangeness.

A Shitai? How is this possible!

Being suddenly stared at by Tong Yuyue, Liuli was instantly incredibly embarrassed.

She felt like she could dig a hole in the floor with her toes! Fortunately, at this moment, a cheerful call rang out from downstairs, making her heart heave a sigh of relief.

"Young Master, Young Lady, Miss Tong, Shitai, come down for a meal~"

It was the voice of Liu Xiaoya.

"Haha, let's go, let's go eat!"

Ning Mu laughed heartily, directly hugging Liu Qingmei and Tong Yuyue as he walked toward the stairs.

This first meal, naturally, had to be eaten well.

Liuli followed step by step, her face burning hot.

While walking down, she could not help but open the System Task Interface to take another look.

【Task Two, Sub-task One: False Speech Precept. Announce to everyone on Ningyang Mountain that you love your Binding Companion Ning Mu deeply, which is why you are willing to follow him with joy.】

【Task Two, Sub-task Two: Singing and Dancing Observation Precept. On the day of celebration after settling down on Ningyang Mountain, take the initiative to perform a piece of music and dance for your Binding Companion Ning Mu in front of everyone!】

【Task Two, Sub-task Three: Drinking and Lust Precept. Drink with your Binding Companion Ning Mu and his prospective wife Liu Qingmei, and in front of Liu Qingmei, take the initiative to pass wine to him mouth-to-mouth!】

"..."

Looking at these three tasks.

Liuli's expression was filled with hesitation.

False Speech Precept... This task, am I truly speaking falsely?

At this moment, Liuli's heart was incredibly complex; looking at Ning Mu's dashing back in front of her, her deep eyes unconsciously revealed a touch of tenderness.

Although everything was crude.

This first meal, however, was not crude.

Under Liu Xiaoya's arrangement, the long table in the middle of the main platform in the Yishiting was wiped clean and used temporarily as a dining table.

It was covered with various dishes.

"Young Master, this is the venison I hunted in the mountains yesterday, absolutely fresh, and there is also this deer whip..."

Liu Xiaoya blushed slightly, placing the plate of stir-fried venison and the clear-stewed deer whip in front of Ning Mu.

With good food, how could there not be good wine?

Tong Yuyue brought over a jar of wine that still exuded the fragrant scent of earth.

Xia Chan, following behind, also carried two jars.

"Ning Lang, this is the Daughter Red that my father buried when I was born; it has never been opened. I dug it up the day before yesterday." "I do not ask for a grand wedding; today, I use this wine as a celebration, and let it count as me entering the Ning family from now on!"

Tong Yuyue's eyes were glistening, her expression charming, looking at Ning Mu with longing.

Ning Mu smiled gently, stood up, and lightly stroked Tong Yuyue's face, saying: "I have wronged you, Ayue. Although there is no wedding, from tonight on, you are Ning's woman!"

"Mm! Thank you, Husband!"

Tong Yuyue nodded affectionately.

"Young Master, Young Lady, to welcome Young Master home, we servants have privately choreographed a few dances to celebrate~ We invite Young Master and Young Lady to enjoy them~"

At this moment.

The lively Xia Chan stepped forward and suddenly spoke.

Behind her, in the center of the hall, Liu Xiaoya, Chunzhi, Qiuxiang, Dongxue, and Ning Xiaoxiu were all present.

The clothes the six of them wore made Ning Mu's eyes light up.

In a trance.

If not for the antique-style hall before him, he would have even thought he had returned to modern society.

As far as the eye could see.

He saw six pretty little maids, all wearing black skirts above the knees, revealing smooth, fair thighs, with knee-high socks below, and white off-the-shoulder camisoles on top.

And they all had ponytails.

Except for their different faces and figures, their outfits were exactly the same.

"Hehe, Young Master, I secretly asked Young Lady Fuling for these; there are other styles too~"

Seeing Young Master's surprised expression, Xia Chan couldn't help but chuckle, a flash of pride crossing her face.

Ning Mu gave a satisfied thumbs-up to Xia Chan.

And at this time.

Liu Qingmei reached out and interrupted the group about to dance.

"Xiaoya, Chunzhi, don't call me Young Lady from now on, call me Mistress!"

Liu Qingmei's expression was solemn.

Her bright peach-blossom eyes glanced at Ning Mu, flickering with a hint of shyness.

Tong Yuyue had suddenly brought out several jars of Daughter Red to enter the Ning family.

She could not fall behind.

Although everything was unspoken, she was also Ning Mu's woman.

But there had to be a proper title.

Otherwise, if the name is not right, the words will not be proper, and if the words are not proper, the task will not be accomplished.

Liu Xiaoya, Chunzhi, and the others were all stunned.

Especially Chunzhi, whose silly, cute eyes flickered with confusion.

Last time at the small residence in Yonghang, she was told not to call her Mistress, why change it today? But Liu Xiaoya and Xia Chan quickly understood.

Young Lady... no, Mistress has completely embraced the role of Young Master's wife.

"Very well, Mistress~"

Next.

Everyone took their seats, and Ning Mu picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

The empty mountaintop was usually shrouded in clouds and mist, with a chilling aura.

But today, a faint light shone amidst the clouds and mist.

The atmosphere was no longer so cold and terrifying; the zither music ringing in the hall was melodious and pleasant, and the occasional cheers and dancing, accompanied by the music, spread out, attracting countless birds and beasts from the mountains to watch from afar.

Dongxue played the zither.

The other five danced passionately in the hall.

These dance moves were clearly also learned by Xia Chan and then taught to them.

All were taught from the Image Recording Spirit Jade in the Yichun Courtyard.

While enjoying the dance, Ning Mu briefly told Tong Yuyue about the Gu Family matter down the mountain.

Tong Yuyue immediately looked at Liu Qingmei opposite her and said gratefully, "Sister, Grandpa Gu treated me as his own, and the Gu Family's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain. Since you were able to help, Ayue toasts you!"

"You're being too formal!" Liu Qingmei raised her wine cup.

And just at this moment.

A flash of white clothing rose gracefully with the dance, followed by a streak of black falling through the air.

Chunzhi, Xia Chan, Liu Xiaoya, and Qiuxiang hid Ning Xiaoxiu behind them.

As the white clothes and black skirt drifted down onto the steps.

The next moment.

They saw the four of them dancing again to the zither music.

And as the four separated.

Ning Xiaoxiu, wearing not a stitch of clothing, knelt on the ground and, following the passionate melody of the zither, crawled up the steps like a cat bewitching all living things.

And then.

She crawled under the long table.

"Oh!"

Ning Mu immediately braced his hands on the edge of the table and let out a sigh of satisfaction.

Liuli frowned slightly.

This extravagance and indulgence made it hard for her, who had always been accompanied by the Wooden Fish and Buddhist sounds, to adapt.

Especially watching those young, beautiful maids dancing fragrantly under the seductive zither music.

Even.

That little demoness of the Demon Sect, Ning Xiaoxiu, was even more shameless.

She had shed her clothes.

And brazenly, in front of everyone, crawled under the table.

She naturally understood what he intended to do.

She even felt that if she stretched her foot out slightly, she could step on this little demoness.

This was too absurd!

Could he not cover it up a little?

Liuli's face flushed red to her ears, and she wished she could leave this place immediately.

But watching her task constantly jumping, she could only press her legs together, squirming uneasily, and quietly wait for the right moment.

Finally.

The zither music played its final note.

Liu Xiaoya and the other maidservants, all glistening with fragrant sweat, came to the steps and stood in a neat row.

"Young Master, Madam~"

"Not bad, you danced wonderfully!" Ning Mu was the first to applaud immediately.

In truth, their dance was still quite unpolished.

They certainly could not compare to those young ladies of the modern era who swayed their hips.

After all, they had only been secretly learning for two days.

But because they were all practitioners of Martial Dao, their physical flexibility far exceeded that of modern young ladies, so in terms of visual effect, although unpolished, there was a beauty in the perfect blossoming of their limbs!

Unlike modern young ladies, whose limbs mostly appeared stiff.

"Many thanks for the Young Master's praise~"

Several maidservants were all joyful and excited.

Liuli frowned slightly, her complexion incomparably bright and vivid; after hesitating for a moment, she finally made a decision and stood up abruptly.

This sudden action of hers.

Immediately caused everyone present to be startled, and they all looked at her, confused.

Liu Qingmei was lost in thought, Tong Yuyue's gaze was suspicious, and the maidservants looked blank.

Only Ning Mu, who was enjoying Ning Xiaoxiu's oral service, revealed a subtle, imperceptible smirk.

The next moment.

Under the gaze of everyone, Liuli coughed lightly, held her Whisk, pressed her palms together under her chin with one hand, bowed slightly to pay respects, and recited a Buddhist chant.

"Goodness... I presume all you benefactors are very curious as to why this poor nun has followed everyone to this wild borderland..."

Speaking of this, Liuli's gaze subconsciously turned to Ning Mu, who was sitting in the main seat and feigning a look of curiosity as he watched her; a hint of shyness and helplessness could not help but flash through her eyes.

If she were to tell Ning Mu in private of her "deep love and desire to follow him," she could barely manage to cope with it.

But.

To have to speak of her love for Ning Mu in front of Liu Qingmei, this newly promoted Martial Dao True Person, in front of Tong Yuyue, in front of Liu Xiaoya and the other maids, and under the table... that little demoness Ning Xiaoxiu, who knew not the meaning of shame and only thought of pleasing her master—in front of this group of beauties, she could not bring herself to say it! Even worse, she had to dance for him! And even more outrageous, she had to pass wine to Ning Mu mouth-to-mouth in front of Liu Qingmei! She was, after all, the dignified Divine Nun of Ciyun, a Disciple of Zen Master Poluo!

With a resounding reputation in the martial arts world, there was no one who did not respectfully call her "Divine Nun."

Yet, she, who was so solemn, elegant, pure, and icy-clean, who only pursued the true meaning of the Buddha Gate and the vastness of the Martial Dao, and who had never had the slightest gossip with any man.

Now had to, in public, disregard the teachings of the Buddha Gate, betray the precepts of the Buddha Gate, speak such shameless words, and perform such base and seductive acts.

How could this befit her status? If this were to spread, what kind of turmoil would arise in the world of the jianghu?

As the dignified Divine Nun of Ciyun, she feared she would become a demoness of the Buddha Gate in the eyes of the world! How could she ever raise her Whisk again and shout at the remnants of the Demon Sect: "Evil person, pay with your life!"?

All sorts of thoughts surged into her mind as the moment arrived.

Her mind felt like a paste, as if in a state of primordial chaos.

With the words on the tip of her tongue, her heart pounded, and her pretty face was visibly covered in a brilliant, dazzling glow.

Suddenly.

Another scene appeared in her mind.

Just now on the second-floor terrace, the spot she had taken a fancy to had been snatched by Tong Yuyue, and she had lost that position.

On the road here, when Liu Qingmei and Ning Mu were nuzzling on the back of the old driver, her outward disgust and inner yearning...

Those scenes flashed through her mind.

She immediately cast everything aside, gathered all her courage, and said in a clear voice, filled with shyness yet also a hint of determination.

"The reason this poor nun has lingered by Young Friend Ning's side for so long without leaving is only because... only because this poor nun's heart has long since been deeply rooted in love for Young Friend Ning!"

"These roots of love have disturbed this poor nun's Buddhist nature and wisdom, causing this poor nun to fall into an endless hell, no longer able to have a clear mind, and no longer able to face the solemn Buddha Lord!"

"This poor nun... has fallen in love with him!"

(End of chapter)