42: Chapter 42: The First Battle of Harem Resonance

The sky was getting dark. Yang Yuan found a dilapidated temple to stay in.

The temple was not big, just a single main hall, with a statue of the Earth God missing an arm. Hay was piled in the corner, barely enough for sleeping.

He drove the carriage to the back of the temple and tied up the horse. Cheng Ying held little Xue Jian as she got off the carriage, and Lu Wushuang held her saber and checked the temple.

"No one here," she said.

"We'll rest here tonight." Yang Yuan spread out the hay and let Cheng Ying sit down.

Cheng Ying placed little Xue Jian on the hay pile. The little one was already asleep, her small hands clenched into fists.

Yang Yuan sat on the threshold, took out that half of the jade pendant from his bosom, looked at it for a few moments, and then put it away.

He had been calculating something in his heart.

The System had reminded him — Harem Resonance could share the Internal Energy pool for a duration of 30 breaths.

He had never used it because there was no opportunity.

But now the enemy was right behind them, and there was a longer road ahead. He had to test the power of this function.

At night, Cheng Ying coaxed little Xue Jian to sleep and leaned against the hay pile with her eyes closed.

Lu Wushuang sat by the campfire, using a branch to poke at the flames.

Yang Yuan walked between the two and squatted down.

"You two, don't sleep tonight."

Lu Wushuang looked up: "Why?"

"Cultivation," Yang Yuan said, "I'll teach you a new Cultivation Technique."

He called them to the open space in the middle of the temple and had them sit facing each other.

"Stretch out your hands, palms facing each other."

Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang looked at each other, didn't ask more, and did as told.

Yang Yuan sat between them and reached out to hold their wrists.

"In a moment, I will channel my Internal Energy over; do not resist."

Cheng Ying nodded.

Lu Wushuang also nodded.

Yang Yuan closed his eyes and channeled his Nine Yang Inner Energy.

The Internal Energy flowed down his arms into Cheng Ying's body, then from Cheng Ying's body into Lu Wushuang's body, and finally returned to him.

Three sets of Meridians connected into a single river.

***

Cheng Ying's body trembled slightly.

She could feel a warm force flowing and rotating inside her body, warm and comfortable, like soaking in hot water.

Lu Wushuang's feeling was even more obvious.

The Internal Energy that had been stagnant in her body for a long time was driven by this external force and began to circulate at an accelerated pace.

It was like a water channel that had been blocked for a long time being breached by water.

Yang Yuan felt the two streams of Internal Energy converge into his body and suddenly begin to surge.

His Dantian felt like a pot of hot oil had been poured into it, igniting with a boom.

He opened his eyes.

A pale golden light lit up in his palms.

A line of text popped up in his mind — [Harem Resonance has been activated. Duration: 30 breaths. Internal Energy pool sharing in progress.]

Yang Yuan clenched his fists.

This power was at least three times stronger than when he cultivated alone.

***

Early the next morning, Yang Yuan was not in a hurry to get on the road.

He stayed in the temple for another hour, letting Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang familiarize themselves with the feeling of resonance.

They practiced twice; although still unfamiliar, they could at least coordinate.

The three of them set off again. The carriage traveled seven or eight miles along the main road when five men in black appeared ahead.

They lined up, blocking the middle of the road.

Yang Yuan pulled on the reins.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a scar on his face and two sabers strapped to his waist. He saw Yang Yuan and sneered:

"Yang Yuan, someone bought your life."

Yang Yuan didn't speak. He jumped off the carriage and drew his single saber.

The blade reflected the sunlight, dazzling to the eyes.

"Need help?" He looked back at the carriage.

Cheng Ying held little Xue Jian, her expression calm.

Lu Wushuang jumped off the carriage, drew her single saber, and stood by Yang Yuan's side.

Yang Yuan shook his head: "You stay in the carriage."

"I won't."

"Be obedient."

Lu Wushuang bit her lip and didn't move. But she didn't get back on the carriage either.

Yang Yuan didn't persuade her further. He turned his head and gripped the saber hilt.

That shared power was still in his body.

After the resonance last night, the System said the resonance effect could last until the next time he cultivated. Now, Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang's Internal Energy was still surging within him.

He took a deep breath and slashed out with his saber.

The Saber Qi sliced through the air silently.

Before the leading man in black could react, a slit appeared on the clothes over his chest. He looked down, then his whole body was sent flying, crashing into a large tree by the road, vomiting blood.

The remaining four people hadn't even made a move before they retreated several steps.

Yang Yuan didn't stop. He slashed one after another; the Saber Qi crossed in mid-air, and all four people fell to the ground.

It took less than ten breaths.

Yang Yuan sheathed his saber, the blood on the blade slid off, and he walked back to the carriage with an expressionless face.

Lu Wushuang stood in place, staring blankly at the people on the ground.

"Is... is it over?"

"Otherwise? Do you want to chat with them?"

Lu Wushuang opened her mouth, but in the end, said nothing and jumped onto the carriage.

***

The carriage continued forward.

Lu Wushuang sat on the carriage shaft, looking down at her palms.

"Yang Yuan."

"Hmm?"

"I feel... like I'm a bit different."

Yang Yuan turned to look at her: "How are you different?"

"Internal Energy." Lu Wushuang clenched her fists, "The place that I felt couldn't be broken through yesterday, now... seems to be unblocked."

"Normal. That's the effect of Dual Cultivation."

"Then will I in the future..."

"If you cultivate every day from now on, you can still have a Breakthrough," Yang Yuan said, "You've started now, don't stop."

Lu Wushuang looked at him, there was something in her eyes.

But she didn't say it out loud.

Inside the carriage, Cheng Ying leaned against the carriage wall, her face a bit pale.

Yang Yuan looked back: "Cheng Ying, how are you?"

"I'm fine," Cheng Ying said, "Just a bit tired."

She looked down at her palms, then looked at Lu Wushuang's back, and didn't speak again.

Yang Yuan saw it, but didn't ask more.

***

After traveling a dozen miles, Yang Yuan stopped the carriage under a large tree, letting Cheng Ying and little Xue Jian rest in the shade.

He dragged that leading man in black to the side of the road and slapped him awake.

"Who sent you?"

The man opened his eyes groggily, saw Yang Yuan, and shuddered.

"Speak."

"It's... it's the Mongols..."

Yang Yuan stared at him.

The man's eyes flickered.

Yang Yuan slashed his saber into the ground next to him, less than a finger's width from his neck.

"I'll ask one more time. Who sent you?"

"Zhongnan... Zhongnan Mountain!"

Yang Yuan pulled back his saber and stood up.

Zhongnan Mountain.

That person was everywhere.

He walked back to the carriage without saying a word.

Cheng Ying asked him: "Did you find anything out?"

"People from Zhongnan Mountain," Yang Yuan said, "It seems they have joined forces with the Mongols."

Cheng Ying's face turned three shades paler.

Lu Wushuang gripped her saber hilt: "Then what should we do?"

Yang Yuan was silent for a few seconds.

"We won't leave," he said, "Find a town, rent a courtyard. We'll rest for two days."

Cheng Ying was stunned: "But..."

"Your complexion is not good." Yang Yuan looked at her, "Little Xue Jian also needs a good sleep. It's only two days, it won't delay anything."

He took a piece of silver from his bosom and threw it to Lu Wushuang: "Go to the town ahead and see if there is an empty courtyard, pick a quiet one."

Lu Wushuang took the silver, jumped off the carriage, and left.

Yang Yuan drove the carriage under a large tree by the road and tied the reins.

Cheng Ying held little Xue Jian, leaned against the carriage wall, and soon fell asleep.

Yang Yuan didn't sleep. He checked the entire area under the tree, confirmed there were no snakes or insects, and scattered a circle of insect-repellent powder around.

Then he sat on the carriage shaft, holding his saber.

The wind blew past the treetops, carrying a bit of chill.

***

In the afternoon, Lu Wushuang returned.

"Found one. There is an empty courtyard at the east end of the town, with three rooms and a well in the backyard. The rent isn't expensive, three mace of silver a month."

"Rent it," Yang Yuan said.

The three of them drove the carriage into the town and found the courtyard.

Yang Yuan checked the courtyard inside and out.

There were no secret passages in the corners, no signs of the roof being disturbed, and the water in the well was clean.

He nodded.

Cheng Ying held little Xue Jian and entered the eastern room; Lu Wushuang stayed in the western room.

Yang Yuan moved the luggage off the carriage and sharpened his saber again.

***

At night, Yang Yuan brought a chair and sat at the courtyard gate.

The moonlight was very bright, illuminating the courtyard in a grayish-white color.

Lu Wushuang walked out of the west room and sat down beside him.

The two were silent for a long while.

Lu Wushuang suddenly said: "That feeling today... it was really great."

Yang Yuan smiled: "Great, right?"

"Yeah. The kind I've never had before."

"There will be more in the future."

Lu Wushuang didn't speak again. She leaned against the back of the chair and looked up at the moon.

Yang Yuan was just about to respond when a cat's meow came from outside the courtyard.

He pricked up his ears.

He gripped the hilt of his saber and stood up.

Lu Wushuang also stood up, her hand on her saber.

In the alley outside the courtyard, there was nothing.

The moonlight was cold and clear, quiet as if nothing had happened.

But Yang Yuan knew someone was watching him.

He walked back to the chair and sat down, his saber on his knees.

Tonight, he didn't plan to sleep.