Chapter 135: Learn from Long Xiaoyun!

Night, the fourth watch.

The oil lamp was nearly spent, its flame dim and faint.

Gu Qing held the Book of Compassionate Flowers, studying it closely.

After Gu Qing had taken control of Li Xunhuan and Long Xiaoyun, Lin Shiyin's weaknesses were all exposed; handing over the Book of Compassionate Flowers was only natural.

"Back then, the great hero Wang Lianhua came to Li Garden and asked me to pass this secret manual to you."

As Lin Shiyin spoke of these things, tears fell like rain. "That year you went beyond the pass, severely wounded, and when you returned, you brought with you..."

Li Xunhuan, hearing this, felt the past was like smoke— that year he had brought back Long Xiaoyun, turning his happy life into misery.

"I think the higher your martial skill, the more trouble you attract."

Lin Shiyin said, "So I didn't want to give you this manual—I hoped you'd stay far from trouble."

Lin Shiyin's concern stirred in Li Xunhuan a long-forgotten warmth.

"Since stepping into the Jianghu, I've indeed become entangled with trouble."

Li Xunhuan sighed bitterly.

Lin Shiyin whispered, "It's because your heart is too kind."

Under the oil lamp, Long Xiaoyun watched Lin Shiyin and Li Xunhuan pour out their hearts as if resolving their inner knots, feeling a strange ache within.

He, as their child, felt like an outsider.

Gu Qing sat aside, flipping through Wang Lianhua's Book of Compassionate Flowers. Everything recorded within was written by Wang Lianhua years after the Chronicles of the Outlaw Heroes, when his medical skill had grown even finer—he could nearly revive the dead and regrow flesh and bone—and it greatly aided Gu Qing in mastering his meridians.

In addition, the manual contained Wang Lianhua's fist and foot techniques, mind-control arts, the Miao tribe's venomous gu techniques, poison-making methods, and the unmatched art of disguise.

Gu Qing used Good Deed Points to memorize every detail of the Book of Compassionate Flowers; after closing the book, he looked at Lin Shiyin and said, "Lady Long, you're not being honest."

Lin Shiyin, deep in quiet conversation with Li Xunhuan, suddenly heard those three words—"not being honest"—and her face paled.

Lin Shiyin assumed Gu Qing was accusing her of moral failure.

Li Xunhuan lifted his head.

"Back then, Wang Lianhua had a supreme skill called the Misplaced Soul Hand."

Gu Qing said, "No matter how chaste a woman, once touched by the Misplaced Soul Hand, she would lose her soul and bones, unable to control herself. Wang Lianhua used it to gather a group of female subordinates... Yet why is this absent from the Book of Compassionate Flowers now?"

This was what Gu Qing truly wanted.

Hearing this, Lin Shiyin's face slowly flushed red. The Book of Compassionate Flowers contained many things; when she taught Long Xiaoyun, she removed what she deemed unsuitable, so the version now in Gu Qing's hands was a censored, child-friendly edition.

"Back then, the Thousand-Faced Prince Wang Lianhua was both literary and martial, brilliant and extraordinary, even becoming a rival to the famed hero Shen Lang. Yet his martial arts never reached the pinnacle."

Li Xunhuan spoke softly: "An earthworm has no sharp claws or strong bones, yet it eats dust above and drinks from the yellow springs below—all because of its singular focus."

Li Xunhuan's Little Li Flying Dagger was powerful because of focus; Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng were strong because of focus; A Fei's sword was swift because of focus.

Learning too many things scatters one's energy.

At the summit of the Forbidden City, Ximen Chuixue had questioned Gu Qing on this very point.

Gu Qing looked at Li Xunhuan and smiled. "Are you teaching me how to cultivate?"

Li Xunhuan was now Gu Qing's prisoner.

Gu Qing loved being a hexagonal warrior—true strength lies in comprehensive mastery.

Lin Shiyin entered the room again, this time bringing forth the original version of the Book of Compassionate Flowers that Wang Lianhua had given her, placing it before Gu Qing.

The adult edition.

Much thicker than the version Long Xiaoyun had seen.

Gu Qing flipped through the pages and found not only the Misplaced Soul Hand, but also the Heavenly Immortal Yunmeng's supreme bed technique—he burst out laughing.

After reading every technique and memorizing them all with Good Deed Points, Gu Qing placed the Book of Compassionate Flowers over the oil lamp, setting it ablaze.

Li Xunhuan sighed for the Book of Compassionate Flowers, and for the many lost divine arts and secret manuals of the world.

Long Xiaoyun watched the burning manual, his heart aching bitterly—he had once considered the Book of Compassionate Flowers his own exclusive treasure, never imagining a more complete version existed, and now it had been seen and burned by Gu Qing... Long Xiaoyun would forever be beneath Gu Qing.

"Burn! Burn!"

Gu Qing tapped several points on Li Xunhuan's body, releasing his locked meridians.

As his body loosened, Li Xunhuan stretched his limbs; Long Xiaoyun shot to his feet in an instant.

Li Xunhuan was freed—he could move!

Uncle, strike now!

"Li Xunhuan, we've turned enemies into allies."

Gu Qing spoke.

Li Xunhuan, hearing this, realized Gu Qing had come tonight solely for the manual. "I should thank you."

Had Gu Qing not ambushed, beaten, and immobilized him to bring him here, Li Xunhuan might never have shared such a candlelit conversation with Lin Shiyin.

This night had been the happiest Li Xunhuan had known in years—he owed Gu Qing thanks.

As for the Book of Compassionate Flowers, Li Xunhuan had never cared for it.

"I know Lin Shiyin's heart isn't with me."

Gu Qing looked at Lin Shiyin and sighed. "Her heart is entirely with you. I no longer ask for her hand in marriage."

Lin Shiyin gazed at Li Xunhuan with full affection.

Li Xunhuan's face flushed with excitement; he coughed several times, feeling that last night he had been trapped in the deepest hell, yet by morning he had ascended to the thirty-third heavenly realm.

He had never been this happy.

After all, Gu Qing had already explained: Lin Shiyin could remarry now. Li Xunhuan had never crossed that line, yet it had caused both of them unbearable pain.

"I've changed my approach."

Gu Qing said, "I'll save your life when I get the chance, then appear before you, gaunt and pale, watching Lin Shiyin yearn for you, waiting for you to give her to me."

There were precedents for this.

Li Xunhuan's smile froze; Lin Shiyin's gentle gaze shattered.

"I don't have a friend like you!"

Li Xunhuan trembled with rage.

Even mentioning Lin Shiyin in front of Li Xunhuan made him furious—yet Gu Qing openly revived the topic right before Lin Shiyin. How could Li Xunhuan not panic?

Why bring up the one thing that hurts most?

"Why not have a friend like me?"

Gu Qing immediately gave an example: "Long Xiaoyun is a friend like me—he could be your brother, so why can't I? I haven't even asked for a mansion yet—that's me being kind!"

By Good Deed Points, Gu Qing was undoubtedly a great benefactor: he had released Li Xunhuan's meridians and gained three Good Deed Points; he had declared he wouldn't marry Lin Shiyin and gained another three.

As for not asking for a mansion, Gu Qing felt there must be more Good Deed Points coming.

"Big brother... Big brother..."

Li Xunhuan, before Lin Shiyin and Long Xiaoyun, stammered in desperation.

Lin Shiyin, equally furious, gathered her strength and struck Gu Qing with a heavy palm!

Li Xunhuan, seeing this, was startled—he immediately thought of Shangguan Fei's fate, fearing Lin Shiyin would send Gu Qing flying... Yet under the blow, Gu Qing's body flew backward, drifting gently, landing in the courtyard.

"Xunhuan, my brother."

Gu Qing's voice came from below: "Many unwelcome guests are coming to my home—I'll go ahead and deal with them."

As he spoke, Gu Qing's voice faded into the distance.

Xingyun Manor had already become Gu Qing's private property.

Didn't you say you didn't want a mansion?

Li Xunhuan narrowed his eyes... Oh, the mansion belonged to Lin Shiyin.

(End of Chapter)