Chapter 141: 141. Nun's Massage! Snatching the Madam, and Wanting to Occupy His Cultivation Technique Too? (Seeking Monthly Tickets a

"Xiaoya, are you prepared for the 'Empty Cave Facing the Peak'?"

On the second floor, in the main bedroom.

Liu Qingmei had found an excuse to place the Dragon Scale Dream Cloud Water Spirit Bed here.

The entire bed shimmered with brilliant light, and the horizontal boards surrounding it, which resembled dragon bones, were inlaid with various gemstones; the surface of the bed rippled like water, and one could tell at a glance that it would be extremely comfortable to sleep on.

As for the canopy of the bed, it resembled a dreamlike starry sky, as if one could gaze upon the vastness of the entire universe; the nebulae, along with the tangible yet intangible water ripples on the bed, complemented each other and shone in mutual reflection, moving slowly as the water rippled slightly.

At this moment.

The candlelight in the room was flickering, illuminating several pretty, charming, and stunningly beautiful faces.

Added to the radiance of the gemstones, the entire room appeared exceptionally resplendent.

As the protagonist of tonight, Liu Xiaoya had already been stripped and washed clean, and she was lying on the bed, shy and moving.

Her small body was completely nestled into the Water Spirit Bed.

Hearing the voice coming from the young master, Liu Xiaoya shyly covered her face.

To the side.

Were Tong Yuyue and Liu Qingmei.

At this moment, the attire of Tong Yuyue and Liu Qingmei was not so formal.

Wearing semi-transparent black and white gauze dresses, Tong Yuyue wore black, like a bewitching enchantress, while Liu Qingmei wore a white gauze dress, her exquisite curves fully visible under the gauze in the lamplight, resembling a holy fairy.

At this moment, both of them were smiling, their expressions revealing a hint of inexplicable excitement as they stared intently at Ning Mu, who was standing by the bed, and the shy person on the bed.

"Mm~ Young Master~"

Liu Xiaoya could not help but let out a shy, soft murmur.

Ning Mu laughed heartily.

Immediately, he leaned in and pressed forward.

"Unh..."

Accompanied by a muffled groan from Liu Xiaoya, she closed her eyes slightly, embracing the man who occupied her heart, happy tears streaming from the corners of her eyes.

"Don't just stand there, come and massage my back!"

A long time later, Ning Mu turned his head to look at Liu Qingmei and Tong Yuyue, who were standing in front of the bed watching the show, already burning with desire.

The two looked at each other, their eyes bright and shining, yet filled with shyness.

But they had long been moved.

At this time, there was no need for formalities; they got onto the bed from the left and right, and then began to assist.

The next day.

When Ning Mu woke up, he felt comfortable and pleasant all over.

The effect of this Dragon Scale Dream Cloud Water Spirit Bed was truly extraordinary.

He didn't even need to move much; the slightly rippling water allowed him to have a very comfortable and pleasant sleep all night long.

"Young Master, you're awake~"

As soon as Ning Mu opened his eyes, he heard a gentle, moving whisper, filled with a hint of shyness, ring in his ears.

He turned his head to look.

He saw Liu Xiaoya, refreshed and nourished, standing prettily by the bed, her brows and eyes smiling, looking at him with a hint of shyness.

In those gentle, water-filled eyes, it seemed as if countless worship was blooming.

The young master is too strong! Liu Xiaoya couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

Although she didn't know how other men were.

But influenced by Liu Qingmei, she also loved to read, only she read nothing but love stories.

There were even quite a few Erotic Storybooks.

Among them, she had seen many descriptions of a man's ability in this regard.

And her own young master was far more powerful than the male protagonists in those storybooks and novels; it was conceivable that the young master was amazing! "The First Madam and Second Madam have gone to busy themselves with the arrangements, and they instructed that we should start the meal once you wake up~"

Liu Xiaoya thought about those random things in her heart, respectfully picked up his clothes, and served Ning Mu as he dressed and washed.

"Mm, was it comfortable last night?"

Ning Mu pinched Liu Xiaoya's chubby little face and asked teasingly.

"Young Master~"

Liu Xiaoya immediately stomped her feet in shyness, but the happiness hidden between her brows was overflowing.

Ning Mu laughed.

Arriving downstairs, everyone was already sitting or standing in the hall in twos and threes.

Above the steps of the hall was a tiger-skin armchair.

There was no need to guess; this was the throne of the former Stronghold Master of the Tong Family Stronghold.

And on the small platform below the throne, there were two grand chairs placed on the left and right, with a rectangular long table in the middle, and several long benches under the table.

Below the small platform, past the steps.

There were five grand chairs on each side, followed by carved beams and pillars, and a large, empty hall.

The entire hall could accommodate at least a hundred people at once.

It could be seen that the person who built this stronghold back then had great strength, building these houses and structures no worse than those in the city.

"Husband~"

"Ning Lang~"

"Young Master~"

Seeing Ning Mu come downstairs and walk out from the side hall, Liu Qingmei, Tong Yuyue, Chunzhi, and the others, who were chatting, all stood up and looked at him.

"Everyone sit down, when is dinner?"

Ning Mu smiled and waved his hand.

Chunzhi hurriedly said, "Young Master, just a moment, dinner will be served right away!"

As she spoke, she and Xia Chan and the others went into the kitchen to bring out the dishes one by one.

After breakfast.

Liu Qingmei looked at Ning Mu and everyone else, and said, "Husband, there are a few things that need to be discussed in advance."

Ning Mu nodded.

"We are now officially establishing our Mountain Stronghold here. In a day or two, Huang Yutang should be bringing hundreds of disaster victims over, so we must have our rules. The allocation of duties, the provision of money and grain, and the hierarchy—all of these need to have a plan. What do you think?" Liu Qingmei looked at Ning Mu and said gently.

Ning Mu nodded and looked at everyone.

"Behind closed doors, we are all people of the Ning family; when the doors are open, there must indeed be etiquette. I have thought about this matter, let's settle it this way for now."

Ning Mu looked gently at the women gazing at him and smiled, "If we are to establish ourselves as a stronghold, then I will take the position of Stronghold Master without hesitation."

"Given that we are currently short-handed, we won't distinguish between internal and external affairs. Meier, you will take the position of Deputy Stronghold Master to manage the entire stronghold on my behalf. Ayue, you will temporarily take charge of logistics, overseeing money, grain, and supplies. You will also be responsible for maintaining contact with Yonghang for the time being."

"What is... logistics?" Tong Yuyue was stunned and asked.

"Hmm... it means the accounts, the warehouse, and the distribution of money and grain; these are collectively called logistics," Ning Mu smiled and explained.

Tong Yuyue blinked and smiled, "Understood, it's just the manager of the stronghold's granary. Back at the Tong Family Stronghold, my mother held this position. I didn't expect to be taking over the job now."

Ning Mu nodded and said, "Yes, something like that. But since we have arrived here, we naturally need to be more formal. Being bandits is, after all, just a small-time affair."

Hearing this, Tong Yuyue and Liu Qingmei exchanged a glance, a flash of curiosity crossing their eyes.

It seems their husband's ambitions do not lie here! With this realization, the two nodded in unison.

Next, Ning Mu smiled and cast his gaze toward Liuli Shitai, who was sitting upright and holding a Whisk.

"Shitai, how about you take the position of consultant for our Ningyang Stronghold for now?"

Liuli Shitai was stunned, and she nodded with a strange expression.

She felt an inexplicable sense that she was playing house with children.

"For other arrangements, Meier, you handle them. We'll talk once people arrive. Also, Xiaoya will still be responsible for the inner courtyard. Chunzhi and Xia Chan, we will discuss your new duties later," Ning Mu clapped his hands on the table and looked at everyone.

"Understood!" Liu Qingmei nodded.

Liu Xiaoya also bowed slightly.

However, just as Ning Mu was about to stand up, he saw Tong Yuyue suddenly stretch out her fair, delicate hand, looking at him with a smile.

"Husband, hand it over!"

"What?" Ning Mu was stunned.

"Money, of course. I don't have much money, and I can't maintain the expenses of such a large stronghold," Tong Yuyue said as if it were a matter of course.

Ning Mu raised an eyebrow, rolled his eyes helplessly, reached into his robe, and took out all his banknotes.

"I didn't bring much. Liuchun Pavilion and Yichun Courtyard have only just started, so there is only ten thousand taels right now."

Even this ten thousand taels was what Jin Xiangyu and Jiang Fuling had pooled together to give him.

Liuchun Pavilion had basically started to turn a profit, but the costs of collecting fresh flowers, producing Perfume, and labor expenses all required money.

Yichun Courtyard made money quickly through selling alcohol and the gambling house.

But the expenses were also high, and he needed cash on hand for the accounts, so he couldn't take it all.

A look of distress couldn't help but appear on Tong Yuyue's face.

Although ten thousand taels was a lot, several hundred people would be arriving soon. To support such a large stronghold without any income, this little money would be stretched thin.

We must find a way to make money! "I have five thousand taels here, you take it to cover expenses first," Liu Qingmei also brought out her own savings.

She didn't manage money in the Ye Family; it was only after Ye Bufan fell into a coma that she began to gradually take over the affairs of the Ye Family.

During the disaster relief, she had almost used up her own dowry.

These five thousand taels were her last remaining reserves.

"I have a few hundred taels here too."

"I have a little here as well."

"..."

At this moment, Liu Xiaoya, Chunzhi, and Xia Chan all took out their own private savings and placed them on the table in front of Tong Yuyue.

After a final tally, it totaled over nineteen thousand taels.

"Alright, this is our starting capital. Everyone, please think of ways to see if there are any paths to make money. In such a large mountain stronghold, with people to feed and horses to maintain, and the needs for cultivation, this little money is not enough!" Tong Yuyue collected all the money.

Ning Mu looked at this group of women, feeling somewhat moved in his heart.

In his past life, he was destined to be a kept man, and in this life, he still has to rely on them! "Ayue, don't worry. Yonghang is basically able to achieve profitability. I will write a letter to Jiang Fuling, and you can communicate directly with her by letter later to have her send the money over. Besides, I will also find ways to make money. Everyone, I will accept this money today, and I will surely repay you tenfold or a hundredfold in the future."

Ning Mu looked at Liu Xiaoya, Chunzhi, Xia Chan, and the other maids and said.

"For Young Master to say that is to belittle us servants!" Liu Xiaoya, Chunzhi, and the others were all inexplicably moved and bowed their heads one after another.

"Exactly, Husband, you are being too formal. They only have this heart because they consider themselves part of the Ning family," Liu Qingmei also said from the side.

The implication was that if they didn't consider themselves part of the Ning family, would the maids have been willing to take out their hard-earned private savings?

Ning Mu laughed heartily, feeling gratified.

In the following days, Ning Mu also joined the labor force.

Tidying up the environment of the stronghold.

They were all martial artists with powerful strength and endless energy, so they naturally worked quickly.

In three days' time, everyone had given the mountain stronghold a brand-new look. However, this was mostly around the main hall.

The drill ground and the surrounding low-lying houses had not yet been cleaned up.

However, Ning Mu and the others did not need to do these things themselves.

On this day.

Huang Yutang and the others finally led a large group of people up the mountain.

The procession was continuous; because the mountain path was rugged and some places could only accommodate two people passing at the same time, they formed a long dragon.

Huang Yutang and the others had already ascended the mountain.

But the end of the procession was still in the mountain ravine, and it was estimated that it would take another half an hour to reach the stockade.

"Young Lady, Young Master, Miss Tong, we have arrived."

"Originally there were only over three hundred people, but later more and more disaster victims wanted to follow, and there was really no way, so... the number might have exceeded it a little!"

At the stockade entrance.

After Huang Yutang greeted Liu Qingmei, Ning Mu, and the others one by one, he said somewhat awkwardly.

"How much is 'exceeded a little'?" Liu Qingmei asked.

Huang Yutang scratched the back of his head and said awkwardly: "Six... six hundred and thirty people, counting our fellow disciples together!"

???

Liu Qingmei stared at Huang Yutang with an inexplicable expression.

The number of people doubled, and you tell me it just exceeded a little? "But Young Lady, they are all good hands, definitely no old, weak, sick, or disabled ones. There are a few children, but it's not a big problem; their parents are all sturdy." Huang Yutang seemed to know it was a bit excessive, after all, it exceeded the Young Lady's limit on the number of people, so he hurriedly added.

Liu Qingmei was about to say something more.

Ning Mu reached out to interrupt her, shook his head with a smile, and said: "No matter, let them stay since they are here, it's not a big problem!"

"Eh, Young Master speaks the truth!" Huang Yutang hurriedly nodded, looking at Ning Mu with gratitude.

Ning Mu looked at Huang Yutang and smiled, saying: "Yutang, aren't you going to introduce the person behind you?"

At this moment.

Everyone noticed that behind Huang Yutang, there had been standing a young girl with a thin figure, a sallow little face, and a nervous and hesitant expression.

This girl looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old; her figure was tall and slender, but perhaps due to long-term hunger and cold, she was somewhat thin.

However, her clothing did not look like that of a disaster victim.

It could not be called fine silks and satins, but it was several grades better than the attire of the disaster victims.

Hearing Ning Mu's words, Liu Qingmei and Tong Yuyue both cast their gazes toward this girl.

Huang Yutang blushed and scratched the back of his head, then knelt directly on the ground, cupped his hands, and looked at Liu Qingmei.

The girl also hurriedly knelt down, full of fear and trepidation.

"Young Lady, I met A Diao during this disaster, and I have kept her by my side ever since. We are of one heart and hope to grow old together; I hope Young Lady will grant us this."

"A Diao, call her Young Lady!"

As he spoke, Huang Yutang pulled the girl named A Diao, letting her pay her respects to Liu Qingmei.

Liu Qingmei was startled.

This kid Huang Yutang met his sweetheart?

It's just that this girl doesn't look like a cultivator at all; isn't it a bit mismatched!

Liu Qingmei pondered in her heart, but ultimately decided to grant it.

However, she raised an eyebrow and said: "Call me Madam from now on. If there is anything, ask the Young Master; he makes the decisions."

The meaning of these words was that the head of her household from now on would be Ning Mu.

Huang Yutang did not know much about her and Ning Mu's affairs, only thinking they were Personal Disciples with an overly close relationship.

But at this moment, Liu Qingmei's words made Huang Yutang understand instantly.

After a moment of shock, he immediately looked at Ning Mu, kowtowed, and said: "Please, Young Master, grant this!"

Ning Mu couldn't help but smile, hurriedly helped him up, nodded, and said: "Since your Young Lady has no objections, I naturally won't break up a pair of lovebirds, but a man can be fickle, but he must never betray his feelings, understand?"

Huang Yutang was stunned, then immediately nodded excitedly.

"Understood, Young Master, thank you, Young Master, for your blessing!"

"Thank you, Young Master, for your blessing!"

A Diao also nodded and bowed shyly.

"Young... Madam, then what about my father..." Huang Yutang turned his head to look at Liu Qingmei, hesitating to speak.

Liu Qingmei couldn't laugh or cry, shook her head and said: "Rest assured, I will write a letter explaining the reasons. I believe Uncle Huang will not make things difficult, but..."

Speaking of this, Liu Qingmei looked at A Diao with hesitation.

A Diao hurriedly bent her knees and bowed, saying in a crisp voice: "Madam, this servant understands. This servant does not covet the position of the main wife; whether as a concubine or a servant, as long as I can be by Young Master Huang's side, it is enough..."

She was a person with a clear mind.

Liu Qingmei nodded.

Huang Yutang was a bit puzzled; he was merely a generational house servant of the Liu Family, and being able to marry and have children was already a grace from the masters. Why couldn't A Diao be the main wife? But since things had reached this point, at least it had been perfectly resolved, so he couldn't help but hug A Diao and spin her around.

He did not know that his father, Huang Lingbai, had worked hard for the Liu Family for many years, and Liu Qingmei's father, Liu Yutu, had long ago agreed that when the next generation, which was Huang Yutang, married and had children, he could become independent from the Liu Family and form his own clan.

And although Huang Yutang's Martial Arts Cultivation Points were not outstanding, they were not bad either.

Coupled with the support of the Liu Family, the wife he married naturally had to have some status; at least she should be a person of some standing in the martial arts world.

"My lord, put me down, the Young Master and the two Madams are watching~" A Diao was a bit shy and hurriedly pushed Huang Yutang.

Huang Yutang smiled awkwardly, and after putting A Diao down, he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Yutang, you will need to teach A Diao cultivation in the future. Besides, our stockade is newly established, so you will temporarily serve as the Drillmaster. Pick a batch of people from the disaster victims who can cultivate, and then teach them the methods of cultivation, how about it?" Ning Mu said with a smile.

Huang Yutang was stunned and asked blankly: "Then what should I teach?"

Ning Mu turned his head and looked at Liu Qingmei.

"How about teaching the Martial Arts of Cangjian Villa? Start by teaching the 'Roaring Sun Spear Technique', and for those with slightly more outstanding talent, teach the 'Startling Rainbow Spear Art'. You can cultivate a batch of loyal people with good talent and teach them the 'Asking Water Sword Art', how about it?" Liu Qingmei said.

Huang Yutang was stunned, asking worriedly: "Does this count as stealing a master's techniques?"

It was one thing to snatch away their Young Lady.

Now, even their unique cultivation technique was being snatched away; Huang Yutang felt a lingering sense of unease in his heart.

This wave from Cangjian Villa... could truly be called losing the Young Lady and the technique as well! "The Ye Family is already overwhelmed, and sooner or later they will be swallowed whole by the Lieyang Sect and the Fengmo Sword Sect. Only a ghost would come to this deep mountain forest to settle scores with you." Liu Qingmei rolled her eyes speechlessly.

The Ye Family was heartless and unrighteous, so why should she show any mercy?

"..."

Huang Yutang blinked, feeling that his Young Lady's temperament had changed too much, and for a moment, he found it hard to adapt.

As the disaster victims gradually all made it up the mountain.

Next, under Liu Qingmei's arrangement, Huang Yutang selected a group of strong, young men and women to live in the thatched huts surrounding the drill ground.

This group consisted of about a hundred people, both men and women.

The remaining disaster victims were settled along a small path extending east from the drill ground, where there was another large expanse of continuous houses nestled in the mountain forest.

These were originally the living quarters for the fierce bandits under the Tong Family Stronghold.

With so many people, the primary concern was food.

People need to eat, and horses need to chew.

Fortunately, Huang Yutang and the others did not come empty-handed; everyone had brought some supplies, but it was far from enough and they needed to find a way.

However, this did not stump Ning Mu.

Last time Liu Qingmei completed a task, the feedback reward included two thousand catties of premium potatoes, which he had kept in the warehouse and never taken out.

Now, they finally came in handy.

In this mountain forest, the temperature was not high; if they started clearing the land immediately, the potato growth cycle was short, and they could harvest in about two months!

Ning Mu had spent the last two days wandering in the mountains and found several locations suitable for clearing.

There were natural spring water resources and fertile soil; one only needed to cut down the large thickets of thorns and mountain trees, then turn over the soil and set a large fire, which could both prevent the vegetation from regrowing and turn the charred remains into fertilizer.

In the following days, the disaster victims, led by the Action Team, cleared the land and dug the earth, working with great enthusiasm.

As for farm tools, they went directly to the Gu Family at the foot of the mountain to purchase them.

The Action Team was led by Huang Yutang and composed of those ten or so original Disciples of Cangjian Villa; they were currently the only "organized armed force" in the entire Mountain Stronghold.

This day.

Ning Mu was sitting on the balcony of the second floor of the main hall, lying on a rocking chair, watching dozens of men and women dressed in short, tight-fitting martial arts attire practicing under the instruction of Yuzan and Yuhuan on the drill ground below.

Manpower was insufficient, so they had to work in shifts.

One group practiced martial arts, while the other went to clear the land.

The maidservants were also busy, occasionally having to moonlight as instructors.

Ning Mu was not idle either; he had been busy with various matters these past few days, and this was a rare moment of leisure to rest for a while.

Behind him.

Soft footsteps suddenly approached.

Ning Mu did not even turn his head, but smiled calmly and said: "Why is the nun not out in the mountains preaching Buddha today?"

Liuli's footsteps faltered, and she glared at the back of Ning Mu's head with some annoyance.

How did this guy know that she went among the stronghold residents every day to spread the teachings of the Buddha Gate?

She was doing it to atone for her sins.

Because of this scoundrel, she had broken quite a few precepts. Seeking inner redemption, and seeing the disaster victims with their beaming faces, she had a sudden inspiration to preach Buddhism among them. If she could encounter one or two seedlings with deep Buddhist affinity, it would count as accumulating merit and good deeds, reducing some of her own sins.

Therefore.

For the past few days, she had been running back and forth among the stronghold residents, lecturing on scriptures and righteousness.

The residents welcomed her, though not to learn any Buddhist dharma.

It was just that during their busy times, having such a pretty nun to talk to—even if they couldn't understand those convoluted terms—could at least alleviate some of the toil of their busy lives, right? Liuli couldn't help but pout and said softly: "Aren't you worried that I will turn all your stronghold residents into Buddhist followers, and then they will leave you to join the Buddha Gate?"

Ning Mu couldn't help but shrug, turned his chair back, looked at Liuli, and asked with a smile: "Can Buddhist dharma fill their stomachs?"

"..." Liuli was taken aback.

"I can!" Ning Mu laughed.

Liuli's eye twitched; only then did she understand why, despite her professional lectures on scriptures and righteousness these past few days, the residents always faced her with a playful attitude.

They weren't interested in Buddhist dharma, but were instead interested in her birth date, her life before becoming a nun, and so on.

In the end, they only needed to fill their stomachs.

They didn't have many lofty ideals.

Sigh...

Liuli couldn't help but sigh.

Suppressing this matter, she looked at Ning Mu, pursed her lips slightly, her face gradually becoming delicate and charming, and said after a moment of hesitation: "These past few days... you've been quite tired too. Why don't I give you a massage?"

【Task Three: (Time limit: 5 hours remaining) You were too exhausted during the journey to Ningyang Mountain (Task changed to: Your Binding Companion Ning Mu is overworked with the affairs of Ningyang Mountain Stronghold and is exhausted), actively or passively provide a full-body massage and care to your Binding Companion Ning Mu.】

Looking at the five hours remaining for Task Three, Liuli felt utterly helpless.

But she had no choice but to take the initiative to come to him.

To give this scoundrel Ning Mu this full-body massage and care.

(End of chapter)