Chapter 1024: Old Daoist Sends the Manual Across a Thousand Li

Chen Wuji said, "I know this isn't an easy thing, but if you and Lao Kong, the two leaders, also think so and bring it up verbally, then this mountain stronghold will only continue to exist; it will never truly become one, turning into the true knife hidden in a secret corner under my command."

A genuine Spy Investigation Office isn't that easy to set up, especially when it's entangled with military affairs, in which case the difficulty rises sharply.

This world is not a desert for spies; on the contrary, activities like planting covert agents, conducting subversion, and secret assassinations are extraordinarily rich. Whether in the imperial court or the jianghu, forces that make a living selling information have long mastered this set of tricks.

Chen Wuji originally started from scratch using the experience Qin Zhanhong gained at the Imperial City Department; this was inherently difficult, requiring time and countless real-world battles to forge.

Later, although he joined Ciji Zhai, an old-established jianghu force, it too was fraught with problems.

He still needed time to slowly digest and slowly blaze a path suitable for himself.

But this premise requires first eradicating the mountain stronghold's culture.

Qin Zhanhong muttered, "I don't know."

Chen Wuji gave a helpless yet indulgent smile and said, "Why don't you stop being busy first?"

Qin Zhanhong immediately shook his head like a rattle drum, saying, "No, I can't hear you, don't delay."

……

Originally, Chen Wuji had a lot on his mind today; after this disturbance he lost interest, and the Suo 6027 also settled down.

Let's talk about these matters after we're done; for now, don't spoil the mood.

Zhang Xiuer quietly stepped out from the inner tent, biting her lip and hesitating for a moment before asking, "Brother Wuji, do you need me to attend to you nearby?"

Lu Wanwan had gone to Lingshouzhou a few days ago; now only Zhang Xiuer and her servant remain here.

Qin Zhanhong abruptly turned back, his eyes fiery as he waved, "Xiu Er sister, come quickly—you're being so quiet I thought there was no one here with my husband; hurry up and make a sound."

Zhang Xiuer's cheeks flushed faintly; her steps moved, but were tiny, each step making her breathing heavier and coarser, and by the time she reached Chen Wuji, her face was as red as a monkey's butt.

She had known Qin Zhanhong for quite a while, yet she is currently the one who finds his conduct style hardest to accept.

She's only putting up a front out of respect for Chen Wuji's face.

Her mind held just one thought: let her be ashamed.

Zhang Xiuer stiffened like a shy piece of wood, while Qin Zhanhong became thoroughly aroused.

"Xiu Er sister, come, let me help you."

"Ah…… don't."

"Hurry up, what are you shy about? We're all the same anyway."

……

After who knows how long, the strange noises inside the big tent finally ceased.

Zhang Xiuer lay limp beside Qin Zhanhong, while Qin Zhanhong lay on Chen Wuji, eyes closed as if practicing a breathing technique—his posture was not only improper but also somewhat indecent.

Chen Wuji looked on with some curiosity, but he didn't rashly disturb them; only when Qin Zhanhong opened his eyes did he teasingly ask, "What are you doing? Practicing yang‑qi cultivation?"

Qin Zhanhong glanced at Chen Wuji with a sly look and said, "Indeed, but I'm just trying it out; I don't know if it works. Husband, guess who taught me this set of techniques?"

"How could I possibly guess? You're in contact with people from all walks of life, and this line of work is exactly what I'm unfamiliar with—I can't even make out what those jianghu masters are called."

The martial‑arts jianghu of this world is quite exciting, but Chen Wuji currently really has no time to look into these things.

Qin Zhanhong smiled foolishly and said, "The person you know—not only do you know them, you once sat and discussed the Dao together. Moreover, this set of techniques was actually meant to be transmitted to you, but I'm not at ease, so I'm practicing it myself first."

"They said that if you don't find a method, you might struggle to have offspring in this lifetime. This is a cultivation method of an ancient qi‑practitioner that he dug out from old documents, studied for over half a year to understand, and believed would help you, so he specially gave it to me."

"Do I know them? Have I ever sat and discussed the Dao with them?" Chen Wuji felt a bit dazed; his mind turned a full circle, and the image of an old daoist with black hair and a youthful face—whose speech was restrained yet every word a maxim—suddenly sprang into view.

"Is it Zhi Xu Daozhang of Fuyun Guan?"

Qin Zhanhong nodded repeatedly, "Exactly. He said he happened to be wandering through Yan Zhou, but I feel he deliberately came to find me, personally handing this technique to me to pass on to my husband."

"By the way, Zhi Xu Daozhang said he'll come visit my husband in a few days, saying he has a worthless disciple he wants to entrust to my husband for training. I don't know if it's true, but that's his exact words, so I relayed them."

"Zhi Xu Daozhang is a truly virtuous person; he shouldn't be deceiving us." Chen Wuji still holds great respect for Zhi Xu Daozhang.

By observing their words, one knows their nature; a high person's virtue—whether high or low—can be glimpsed somewhat after sitting down and chatting a bit.

Those who deceive can get away with fooling ordinary folks lacking insight, but for someone truly perceptive, if their words lack system, a little carelessness will expose them.

Chen Wuji muttered, bewildered, "How could Zhi Xu Daozhang know I lack offspring and specially send me a cultivation manual? It's a bit far‑fetched—I don't recall giving him my birth characters. Could it really be that someone far away a thousand li can see through another's fate?"

Qin Zhanhong shook his head, "I've heard of such things many times, but I've never actually seen one."

As they spoke, her hands fidgeted restlessly, and her bright eyes once again gathered a spark, exuding a seductive heat.

Qin Zhanhong said, "Even if the old daoist's manual is genuine, husband, don't rush to practice it; let me ponder it a few more days to see if anything changes."

Chen Wuji said, "You don't need to go to all this trouble; we have several grand masters here—if we gave it to them to look at, wouldn't that be faster than you pondering alone? Their insight should be superior to yours, right?"