Chapter 180: Clear Ripples Of Green Waves

Chapter 180: Azure Ripples on Clear Waves

Had he never seen other princes before? That dead crown prince was not just any prince, but the true heir apparent, and their interactions were nothing but business as usual.

Years ago, before the crown prince married and Tang Wanzhuang had just joined the Demon Suppression Bureau, they still had dealings—still strictly business, wasn't it?

Back then, the crown prince’s eyes held a hint of lust, yet Tang Wanzhuang held back from slicing him with her sword. She felt no fondness for this prince, only aversion.

Fortunately, the Tang family had no prominent figures at the time, their status modest, and no one in the Tang clan ever entertained thoughts of marrying into the imperial family. Later, when the crown prince took a princess consort, he could no longer harbor improper designs on a subordinate from the Demon Suppression Bureau, and their interactions grew ever more formal and courteous.

Then the princess consort died, and the Tang family produced a notable figure… but that figure was none other than Tang Wanzhuang herself.

The very thought was laughable.

Her mind wandered far afield; past matters were unimportant. What mattered was the precedent set before her—Tang Wanzhuang knew she could not treat every prince with such kindness.

Because no other prince would ever pity her, urge her to stop worrying so much, play lullabies for her, or persuade her to laugh at the world’s vanities.

Princes would only want her to do more, to safeguard their realm.

After a long, long silence, Tang Wanzhuang tilted her head slightly and said, “There’s one more thing—the finger technique I promised you earlier today. There’s no manual for it. Come out, and I’ll teach you.”

As for the question just now, she skipped over it directly, as if it had never existed.

Zhao Changhe did not press further. Her silence itself was already a kind of answer.

“How do I practice the finger technique?”

“It’s a set of acupoint-sealing and nerve-striking hand techniques. When sealing points, it’s ethereal and traceless, extremely hard to guard against; after sealing, the method is unique, making it difficult to break through with ordinary means. Watch…” Tang Wanzhuang’s slender hand rose gently, as if plucking a flower or brushing a willow branch, like a lover teasing you in flirtation, her fingers grazing across his chest.

In the twist of her fingers, she had already sealed the vital acupoints on Zhao Changhe’s chest without his notice.

Her mind wandered, and she said offhandedly, “Did you see how that move was executed just now?”

Before she finished speaking, her wrist tightened inexplicably as Zhao Changhe caught it: “Chief, so distracted—you might capsize in a ditch.”

How had he not been acupunctured?

Panic rose in Tang Wanzhuang’s heart. Had this fellow been dreaming of her in a spring dream just now? Was he about to take liberties at their parting?

But just as she tried to pull her wrist back, she suddenly felt a gentle, vast energy burrow into her meridians, following the Taiyuan acupoint up through Lieque, flowing along the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian.

The nature of this true qi was not unfamiliar to Tang Wanzhuang—Six Harmonies Divine Art, barely at the fourth level of the Profound Barrier, yet its quality rivaled that of a sixth-level cultivator. Its vastness, like heaven and sea, embraced all things—the essence of an emperor’s will.

But its current circulation was odd, as if… merging with her own qi, interweaving back and forth?

Dual cultivation?

“This is called dual cultivation. I don’t know if you’ll object, but it’s not really necessary,” Zhao Changhe said calmly. “All these days, I’ve watched you think only of official matters, others’ affairs, my affairs—never once of your own illness. You won’t think of it, so I will. This meager fourth-level Profound Barrier true qi might be laughable in your eyes, Chief, a drop in the bucket for your condition. But I’ve done it, and even if it’s useless, it eases my heart.”

The strength in Tang Wanzhuang’s struggle instantly dissolved.

Silently, she felt his trickle of true qi, like a small stream, rush into the blazing inferno within her, evaporating without a trace—a drop in the bucket. Yet it poured in unceasingly, battering against the wall, knowing despair but refusing to give up, bloodying itself in the attempt.

Tang Wanzhuang bit her lower lip hard, her nose inexplicably stinging.

“This is truly useless…” she said softly, her voice hoarse. “Dual cultivation is merely an auxiliary art, not a panacea. If you had glimpsed the Secret Treasury, with a renowned physician’s aid, it might be worth considering. Now, it’s just a waste of true qi.”

Zhao Changhe said nothing, stubbornly continuing to waste his true qi.

Tang Wanzhuang fell silent too, quietly experiencing his qi.

The summer night grew ever quieter.

Only the man holding the woman’s wrist, the woman lowering her head—a scene like a cliché drama where a lover tries to break up but is held back by the man.

Footsteps shattered the night’s stillness. Tang Buqi’s anxious voice came: “Brother Zhao, Bro—uh…”

Both turned their heads to see Tang Buqi retreating step by step outside the courtyard gate, vanishing from sight in an instant.

Tang Wanzhuang said slowly, “Come in. What’s all this fluster? At your age, you should learn some composure.”

Tang Buqi poked his head in from the gate.

Still holding hands? Haven’t you two had enough?

For us Tangs, this scene might not be a big deal, but the problem is—who was the bastard I was supposed to tell the old master about, rejecting this marriage alliance?

Zhao Changhe finally released his grip: “Brother Tang, you’ve come out of seclusion? Reached the fifth level of the Profound Barrier?”

“Mm…” Tang Buqi grunted, not even sure why he was here anymore. It felt like he’d emerged from seclusion just to report his progress to his future uncle-in-law.

Tang Wanzhuang said flatly, “You want to talk about the Maitreya uprising, to inform your friend and hope he’ll help? Go back. I’m the one driving him away—what’s there to keep?”

Clearly, you’re driving him away, and he’s clinging to you, but you’re still playing hard to get. Tang Buqi didn’t want to say another word. He’d seen this scene too often when chasing girls outside—he knew it all too well. So his aunt was just an ordinary woman after all.

Tang Wanzhuang added, “You came at the right time. I wanted to speak with you anyway. These days, exploring the periphery of the Sword Emperor’s tomb, we’ve cracked some seals and obtained ancient elixirs, sword pellets, and a few treasured swords of high grade. Sisi took only a small amount of medicine; I’ve sorted some for public use. The rest still counts as the Tang family’s share. After all, this place is on our back mountain—it wouldn’t be fair to claim none of it.”

Tang Buqi was overjoyed: “I wanted to talk to you about that too, but I was afraid you’d be so devoted to public service that you’d give it all away. That would be a huge loss for us! Why should we? It’s our back mountain’s stuff!”

Tang Wanzhuang said irritably, “Your aunt isn’t a saint; I have my selfishness. What I’m leaving for the Tang family this time may not be inferior to what’s turned over to the public—it might even be more useful. Also, Changhe has compiled some sword techniques. See if he’s willing to write a set for the Tang family. What we truly need is our own future, not someone staying here to help.”

Tang Buqi relaxed completely: “That’s fine. Brother Zhao will surely agree, right…”

Zhao Changhe hummed in assent.

Tang Wanzhuang’s beautiful eyes finally fixed on his face again, her gaze flickering with something unreadable.

After a long pause, she said softly, “Buqi, once you’ve said your piece, leave. We still have matters to attend to.”

Tang Buqi fled in tears.

I just passed by to discuss some business, and you stuff me full of dog food, then kick me away. Shameless couple!

Zhao Changhe’s melancholy over parting was dispelled by the humor, and he couldn’t help but laugh: “Buqi is really amusing.”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled: “He’s been amusing since childhood.”

After that exchange, the atmosphere returned to normal. Tang Wanzhuang chuckled: “Alright, I really don’t have much time. I must teach you this acupoint-sealing technique right now.”

Zhao Changhe stepped back a little and said seriously, “Please instruct me.”

“Remember this—it’s one of the Tang family’s secret arts, called Azure Ripples on Clear Waves. It means being in water, with ripples spreading in all directions, seemingly gentle and harmless, yet in truth, all your vital points are enveloped, with hidden killing intent, formless and traceless…”

Zhao Changhe learned this acupoint-sealing technique slower than he had learned sword or blade skills.

Because his true skill lay in the blade; his unarmed techniques were severely lacking. And this technique wasn’t just a simple finger method—it was a complete set of unarmed combat skills. With his weak foundation and a style completely opposite to his own bold and unrestrained approach, he naturally learned slowly.

But how much of it was the teacher deliberately slowing down, and the student deliberately being slow?

No one knew.

All that was known was that during the teaching, arms intertwined, eyes met, and the atmosphere was strange and indescribable.

Zhou Botong and Ying Gu would tell you that opposite-sex master and disciple should never teach such delicate grappling techniques, especially those involving acupoint strikes.

It was unclear whether they were practicing martial arts or groping each other.

By the end, whether from heat or something else, Tang Wanzhuang, always pale, was flushed crimson. The way she left was almost like fleeing: “This, this kind of technique isn’t really suited for you. If you have the chance, you should seek a domineering fist or palm art… I, I must go to Jinling now. Until we meet again.”

Before she finished, her graceful figure vanished, leaping over the wall in escape, unwilling even to use the gate.

Zhao Changhe looked up at the wall she had crossed. Above, the morning sun was rising, the sky growing light.

He lowered his head to look at his own palm, still carrying a lingering fragrance.