Chapter 17: A gentleman does not stand beneath a perilous wall

Near the hour of hai, the common folk of this era toiled all day for their livelihood, with little entertainment; after dark, they almost always ate a bit early, then huddled with their wives and children to sleep.

Madam Wang approached Fang Xu's cottage with hesitant steps, seeing the gate ajar, she was about to raise her hand to knock, but then glanced left and right at the neighbors' gates, and finally lowered her delicate hand and pushed the door open, walking straight in.

Inside the courtyard, Fang Xu, naked, poured a bucket of clear well water over his head.

In early spring, the well water was still somewhat cold; for an ordinary person, dousing one's head with such cold water would surely bring a chill and a serious illness—but Fang Xu had now reached the Refining Viscera State, his body naturally far sturdier than an ordinary person's, and after that bucket of cold water poured over him, he instantly felt refreshed and invigorated.

He shook the water from his long hair, wiped the well water from his face, and was about to go inside to fetch a clean set of clothes when suddenly he heard heavy breathing behind him!

Startled, he whirled around, only to see Madam Wang standing behind him, wearing a pink shawl and a long sheer gown that exposed her shoulders, staring fixedly at him.

Their eyes met; seeing Madam Wang's gaze drift slightly downward, Fang Xu hastily covered his vital lower parts with his hands.

But with his blood and qi surging, how could his raised member be concealed by just a pair of hands?

Madam Wang stood silently not far away; her originally unwavering beautiful eyes widened a fraction at this moment, and her already slightly rouged delicate face looked even more tender and dewy.

Ah—

Having swallowed a mouthful of saliva in secret, the now-recovered Madam Wang feigned bashfulness, letting out a soft exclamation while covering her eyes with both hands.

Yet, with Fang Xu's eyesight, he could clearly see that the gleam in her eyes persisted through the gaps between her fingers.

Whoosh!

Fang Xu spun around, pushed off with his feet, shot straight into the room, and shut the door.

Inside the courtyard, Madam Wang, seeing Fang Xu's flustered state through the gaps between her fingers, couldn't help but giggle repeatedly; then, feeling somewhat resentful, she approached the room's door and tapped on it with her jade hand.

"Young Master Fang, I… I saw the courtyard gate unlatched, so I pushed my way in, never expecting…"

Inside the house, Fang Xu was straining to mobilize his blood and qi, hoping to calm that proud head, when hearing her voice he instantly felt a stronger surge of blood and qi rising, making his member stand even higher.

"I don't know why Sister-in-Law has come at this late hour; what brings you here?"

Since he couldn't calm himself, Fang Xu simply gave up, leaned against the door, and asked.

Outside the door, Madam Wang fell silent for a moment, then softly said: "Young Master Fang, though I am of withered willow-like appearance, I wish to attend to you left and right, seeking no title or status from you."

Under the moonlight, Madam Wang's graceful silhouette was reflected on the door, while inside Fang Xu's mind a fierce argument erupted.

Fang Xu's first voice: "To refuse meat that comes to your door is against heavenly principle!"

Fang Xu's second voice: "Stay calm! You must hold yourself together! If you can't control your lower half now, you'll invite disaster!"

Fang Xu's first voice: "Calm my ass! It's consensual—one willing to strike, one willing to endure; even if we said nothing, who would know?"

Fang Xu's second voice: "Shut up! A gentleman does not stand beneath a perilous wall; on the path to strength there can be no slip‑ups—even if we really wanted to topple her, we must wait until Wang Erhu and those outsiders have left before speaking!"

Fang Xu's first voice: "I've been single for two lifetimes…"

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Fang Xu slapped his forehead several times in succession, scattering the two bickering voices in his mind.

"Sister-in-Law, this matter is rather abrupt; I haven't made the necessary preparations—might I be allowed a few days to consider?"

The second voice was right: a gentleman does not stand beneath a perilous wall.

Wang Ergou's death involves far-reaching connections; according to Wang Erhu, it seems to implicate the Wu.

Thus, Lyu Yuan from Huang Prefecture will surely conduct a detailed investigation in Maple Forest Town for the time being; moreover, the Yun clan's young lady is staying in Maple Forest Town, and with my present strength, being drawn into this vortex would mean certain death—no chance of survival.

Risking everything for a moment's thrill, putting myself in danger—it's not worth it!

Outside the door, Madam Wang sighed softly, her face clouded with deep disappointment.

"Young Master Fang, do you despise me?"

"No no!" Fang Xu hastily denied, "Damn it, I don't despise you—I'm no Liu Xiaohui; if it weren't for all this messy business, who wouldn't want to be a Cao thief?"

"Sister-in-Law, don't sell yourself short; I am merely at the crucial moment before breaking through to Martial Disciple, and must face it in peak condition—after becoming a Martial Disciple, I'll be able to protect you even better, right?"

Hearing this, Madam Wang's heart warmed a little, then she thought that after Fang Xu became a Martial Disciple his strength would surely increase further…

"So that's how it is; I almost harmed Young Master Fang."

"In that case, I'll wait until Young Master Fang breaks through to Martial Disciple before saying anything more."

With a slight apology, she bowed at the door, then Madam Wang quickly offered her apologies, turned, and left Fang Xu's cottage.

She didn't understand the cultivation path, nor did she know whether engaging in sexual activity before a breakthrough would affect a martial artist; naturally she dared not linger, fearing that if she stayed too long she might cause Fang Xu to lose control and ruin his important endeavor.

After Madam Wang left, Fang Xu leaned against the door and let out a slow breath.

Damn! This is really life‑threatening!

After calming for a long while, waiting for the inner heat to gradually subside, he then opened the door, went to the kitchen, and gulped down the previously stewed blood food in one go.

Inside the room, Fang Xu sat cross‑legged on the bed, his gaze fixed firmly on the floor tiles before him.

Without comparison there is no harm; having experienced the benefits of cultivating with the Divine Extension Canon a couple of days ago, now relying solely on his own austere practice, Fang Xu found it hard to accept for a moment.

"Why not… dig it out to use for now, then rebury it tomorrow morning?"

This idea rose in his heart, making it even harder for him to cultivate with a normal mindset.

He simply got up, went to the courtyard and bolted the gate, returned to the room and bolted the door as well; after doing that, he then took out the Beast Skin of the Divine Extension Canon buried beneath the floor tiles.

Laying the Beast Skin across his knees, Fang Xu took out a Blood Qi Pill, swallowed it, and then began to chant softly.

"All things arise from the Dao's evolution; the spirit belongs to those who follow the Dao…"

His consciousness gradually sank, and soon he entered the Inner Viewing State.

In the Inner Viewing State, he could manipulate his internal blood and qi more clearly and precisely to temper and refine his viscera.

Such a state cannot be matched by ordinary daytime cultivation methods.

Moreover, Fang Xu could clearly feel that the blood and qi released by the entire Blood Qi Pill, under the Inner Viewing State, suffered not the slightest waste—it was completely absorbed and used by him.

According to this, cultivating with the aid of the Divine Extension Canon boosts efficiency by at least thirty percent over his own unaided practice!

Cultivation knows no time; in the blink of an eye it was morning.

The Zhang family was exterminated, the blood‑food stall that Fang Xu had sold to Lu Zhiyuan, and the news spread quickly.

At this time Lu Zhiyuan also opened the gates of Zhi Yuan Hall, widely recruiting Martial Disciples to begin forming his own hunting squad; moreover, he announced that he would personally lead a team into the mountains over the next two days to hunt some fierce beasts, ensuring the blood‑food supply for Maple Forest Town.

Fang Xu didn't care about these matters.

At this moment, he was holed up at home, using Blood Qi Pill and blood food to train, trying not to waste a single moment.

The yamen of Maple Forest Town.

Inside the hall, the carcass of a plow ox lay on the floor; beside it was a wooden tray holding some charred bones, as well as other items.

"Miss Yun, Commander Lu, and honored officials, these are the pieces of evidence I have gathered over the past two days." Liao Yunfeng clasped his fists and spoke.

Inside the hall, upon hearing this, several people gathered around.

(End of chapter)