"There's no need for compensation. I'm not lacking money either, it's just Young Lord wants something I don't have. Those kinds of techniques are less useful to me than life nourishing arts. For us, prolonging life and improving health is much more cost-effective than cultivating those pathetic offensive abilities.

However... I do have a good idea. If Young Lord truly wishes to learn, there are some secular sects and gangs made up of mortals under us nobles. They possess such inner cultivation methods. Young Lord can choose to join as you see fit. I can even give a recommendation, what do you think?" said Duan Mowan gently.

"No need for that. If Lady Duan could provide some information on nearby gangs and sects, that would be good enough," said Lu Sheng bluntly. Although he didn't know why Duan Mowan valued him so, there was no need to owe more favors. Since he already owed her quite a bit, he might as well impose on her more.

"I'll have someone deliver that to you later," smiled Duan Mowan. She extended a hand, her gaze somewhat blurred, clearly wanting to reach into Lu Sheng's clothes.

"Lady Duan, please restrain yourself!" Though fire also rose in Lu Sheng's heart, he didn't want to get involved with this mysterious woman for no reason, especially when she saw him as a substitute. If her mood swung the other way one day and she no longer wished to play with him, he could very well end up in dire straits.

"Call me just Mowan... just Mowan is fine..." said Duan Mowan languidly, her cheeks flushed crimson, body temperature fiery hot. She was clearly truly aroused.

She reached to touch Lu Sheng's lower abdomen again.

"Lady Mowan," Lu Sheng grabbed her hand. "If you see me as just some replacement, that would not only be self-deceit but also disrespect towards your own body."

"Disrespect?" Duan Mowan was startled. She lowered her head in silence.

After a long while... she suddenly heaved a deep sigh.

"You're right... Mowan wasn't this kind of person before..." She seemed to instantly become listless.

Lu Sheng took two steps back without speaking, only watching her.

"There's a large local gang nearby called the Red Whale Gang. Their techniques are somewhat interesting. Young Lord can take a look if interested. But that gang is too small. I'll find an opportunity to relocate you to the central plains later on. The gangs there are much stronger than Red Whale Gang," said Duan Mowan.

"Many thanks, Lady Mowan. I shall go investigate first. As for the future, we can talk more then," Lu Sheng made a mental note and bowed with clasped hands.

"You still call me 'lady' when you already know my body's feel so well?" Duan Mowan looked at him reproachfully.

Lu Sheng was startled, just about to speak, when he suddenly saw Little Bao peeking faraway at them through the imperfectly shut window outside the guest hall. Her big eyes were opened wide in shock.

His and Duan Mowan's current position was rather ambiguous, with her hand reaching to his lower abdomen area while he grabbed her wrist. They were pressed tightly against each other in extreme proximity.

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first," said Duan Mowan, slowly retracting her smile.

"Young Lord... to tell the truth, do you think Mowan is a terrible and licentious woman?" She looked at Lu Sheng with a trace of longing and inexplicable anticipation, seemingly expecting a different answer from him.

Lu Sheng was rendered speechless. This woman had helped him twice already and even freely provided much useful information. It wouldn't feel right making her lose face by bluntly calling her licentious and a bad woman right to her face when she treated him well.

He had always been the type to reciprocate kindness. Unsure how to respond this time, Lu Sheng carefully considered his next words while scrutinizing Duan Mowan before him.

At this moment, despite her alluring attire, Duan Mowan instead faintly exuded a trace of gentle tenderness and purity. Like a well-behaved little girl next door timidly asking if there was something wrong with her.

"Lady Mowan, you're fine. Everyone has their own way of living. You're just slightly more unconstrained," said Lu Sheng sincerely. After all, there were plenty even bolder than her walking around naked on the internet for countless ogling eyes in his past life back on Earth. So to him, Duan Mowan could only be considered moderately unconventional.

When asking this, Duan Mowan had looked earnestly at Lu Sheng. She was shocked to discover his words were genuinely heartfelt rather than mere consolement. He truly thought this way, holding the view so matter-of-factly and nonchalantly, completely different from the many others she previously asked this same question.

"You..." Complexity flashed through Duan Mowan's eyes. Something inexplicable churned faintly in her heart.

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"Although I don't know what Young Lord wants so many techniques and inner arts for, I have two more here I'll just give you altogether then," she said lowering her head, her expression obscured as she swiftly retrieved two small booklets from her body and placed them on the table.

"Mowan has matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." The moment her voice faded, she had already hastily exited through the door.

Lu Sheng had just reacted and rushed out in an attempt to chase her, only to see the empty courtyard. In but a blink, Duan Mowan had somehow completely vanished.

He froze blankly, standing in the yard unable to gather his wits for a time.

After quite a while, he returned to the guest hall and picked up the two manuals left on the table. They were respectively titled: Yin Yang Attraction, Azure Pine One Will.

Precisely the two secret texts he didn't choose initially when first obtaining inner techniques from Duan Mowan. Looks like these three were the only ones she had on hand. Her taking them out to show him last time was likely just a spur of obscure intentions or some other complex thoughts.

...

Outside Jiulian City,

Duan Mowan's form drifted gently before landing at the edge of Lake Suiyang.

The surface of Lake Suiyang was tranquil as a mirror, like a mirror framed by white snow at the edges.

All around were expansive swathes of white forests covered in snowflakes coating the leaves and branches, lending a scene of silver adorned in white everywhere with ice sculptures scattered about.

"The famous peerless beauty Clear Autumn Princess Duan Mowan actually has such a young maidenly side as well. Making this trip down was truly worth it," an eerie, deep male voice fluctuated from the surroundings.

Duan Mowan wrapped herself tightly in the black mourning clothes, her charming face turning cold. "Zhang Xinyuan, you came all this way to the frigid North just to mock me? Should I help dig out your eyes to see if you can still laugh then?"

"Princess, please quell your anger. The Zhen Clan fought great battles against the Man Rollers. Princess is familiar with Ye Lingmo. I came to humbly ask the Princess to put in a good word for me." The voice continued without the slightest hint of its owner's figure that could indicate a direction.

"Put in a good word? Prepared ample remuneration?" Duan Mowan's expression shifted as she instantly became gently charming and enchanting.

"Of course. This old man has long heard of the Princess's ways. Goodwill is naturally prepared," the voice replied.

Duan Mowan gave a coquettish laugh, her eyes swirling, "Why not consider spending a night accompanying me instead? If you satisfy me enough, perhaps I could even waive your fees?"

"I think I'll have to pass. This old codger still wishes to live a few more years. I've heard of the famous Princess's reputation long ago," the voice said dryly with two hollow laughs. "If the Princess can reveal the whereabouts of that treasure and who finally obtained it, I can increase payment twofold!"

"The Crimson Dragon Calamity is still in the hands of the obsessed Daoist Yin Chan. No one succeeded. The Man Rollers and your Zhen Clan had a huge battle earlier that stimulated sacrifices and caused a massive explosion. All three sides suffered disastrous casualties. If you want to interfere, now is the best and final opportunity. Too many died so the Crimson Dragon Calamity will soon complete assimilation of the sacrifices..." said Duan Mowan swiftly.

"Is that so..." the voice quieted down. "Many thanks for informing me, Princess. Payment will be directly handed to your attendant. This old decrepit one shall take his leave." The voice quickly retreated until disappearing completely over Lake Suiyang.

The smile on Duan Mowan's face slowly faded away. She stared blankly at the mirror-like tranquil lake surface, seemingly lost in thought about something.

...

The events in Jiulian City provoked a deep impact in Lu Sheng.

After Duan Mowan departed, he ate lunch then immediately returned to his chambers to cultivate internal techniques. He also instructed the kitchens to concoct large amounts of medicinal paste similar to deer antler gel that could be easily administered before having them delivered to his room for consumption anytime.

After this period of recuperation, he planned on practicing the two newly obtained life nourishing arts.

From Jade Crane Skill, Lu Sheng understood life nourishing techniques could replace bodily consumption of mental and physical energy to enhance other mystic arts. They were more akin to backup batteries, accumulating reserves during ordinary times that could then play huge roles when needed.

Lu Sheng shut his room door firmly and sat cross-legged on the bed.

He gently flipped open the Azure Pine One Will manual. The rows of words inside were all handwritten somewhat gracefully and elegantly, seemingly penned by a woman.

'One should emulate the azure pine in deeds and temperament, never faltering to gale winds nor perishing in the ice storms. However desolate the land, it thrives on unending.'

That was the only line on the first page.

Lu Sheng turned over. The second page contained a similar image to the Jade Crane Skill back then of an ancient pine.

A blackish-green aged pine tree clung to a barren cliff face, gnarled branches sprawling lushly. It emanated an extremely exuberant aura of thriving vitality.

This life art emphasized stillness to nurture inner qi. Safeguarding mental and physical essence to let the body cycle and breathe following its most instinctive nature, thereby naturally producing traces of purest life qi.

Due to the foundation built from Jade Crane Skill, Lu Sheng quickly grasped such life nourishing arts and swiftly became adept at meditative stance. But it wasn't just haphazard sitting around. There needed to be sudden guided stimulation using special breathing patterns and postures at specific times as stipulated by the technique.

After cultivating for a period based on the method, Lu Sheng got up and ingested a replenishing medicinal paste before preparing to return and train the Dark Destruction skill. He planned on utilizing the deep sapphire color to elevate Dark Destruction to the highest level.

Knock knock knock.

There was knocking on his door.

"Young Lord, Elder Yan's group has arrived," came Little Bao's timid voice from outside.

Lu Sheng opened his eyes and swiftly put on his outer coat and shoes before exiting his room. "I'll be right there!"

He briskly walked into the guest hall and saw Yan Kai, Duan Rongrong, and Zhu Feng already present.

"Young Master Sheng remains in great health I see. Your complexion looks good." Yan Kai cupped his fist as he greeted him lightly with a relaxed tone.

"Please have a seat, everyone." Lu Sheng smiled.

After waiting for the servant girls to finish pouring tea and successively withdraw along with shutting the doors and windows, only then did Lu Sheng speak again: "Elder Yan, what exactly happened last night?" He inquired once more.

Yan Kai also didn't conceal anything. He recounted all the information Duan Mowan provided earlier. By the time he finished, half an hour had already passed. His account this time was even more detailed than Duan Mowan's as he sincerely answered some follow-up questions from Lu Sheng, likely out of guilt for ruining a few horses and wanting to make up for it.