5: Chapter 5: If you could be buried with me, I would be willing to die.

His left hand wrapped around Wang Yuyan's waist.

His right hand naturally supported her back.

Holding her like this, his body spun around, circling twice on the spot like a dance, neutralizing the force of her fall.

Only when her feet touched the ground did Wang Yuyan calm down from her panic.

"Is everything alright?"

Zhao Fangcai asked in a concerned tone.

Wang Yuyan slowly came back to her senses.

She discovered she was being held in the arms of this annoying fellow again, their bodies closely snuggled together.

If not for her being shorter, their faces would have almost been touching.

What made her feel even more shy and angry was that in her panic, she had subconsciously hugged him back.

It was as if she had intentionally thrown herself into his arms.

In all her years, Wang Yuyan had never suffered such a grievance.

Finally unable to control herself, she lowered her head, her eyes reddening as tears fell from them.

Her weeping appearance was like a pear blossom stained with rain, making one feel immense pity and affection.

"You... you're a bully!"

Tears fell drop by drop onto Zhao Fangcai's chest, quickly soaking a small patch.

Zhao Fangcai's heart softened; he could least bear to see a beautiful woman cry.

Just as he was about to comfort her.

He suddenly heard the sound of scolding coming from outside.

Zhao Fangcai placed a finger to Wang Yuyan's lips.

"Shh, someone's coming!"

Wang Yuyan froze for a moment, stopped crying, and tilted her ear slightly to listen.

After practicing Internal Skill, her hearing had become sharp and her eyes clear; she whispered, "It's my mother. I suppose my being away for so long has made her suspicious."

"Fortunately, I had You Cao stand guard at the door, otherwise if your mother came in..." Zhao Fangcai said.

Wang Yuyan heard his words.

She suddenly realized she was still embracing Zhao Fangcai.

Her cheeks instantly flushed, yet she said with a hint of defiance, "It would be better if she came in; she'd turn you into flower fertilizer!"

"If I could have you buried with me, I would be willing even in death."

Zhao Fangcai said as he released Wang Yuyan.

"No way!"

She took a step back, stomped hard on Zhao Fangcai's foot, and then walked away briskly, leaving behind the words, "Hide yourself quickly!"

Wang Yuyan hurried to the door, saw Madam Wang entering with her maids, and stepped forward to ask, "Mother, why have you come?"

Madam Wang looked her up and down suspiciously and said, "What's wrong with you these past two days? You're always running off to the Langhuan Jade Cave."

"I sent a maid to call you for dinner today, but you didn't come out. That maid of yours even said you were practicing martial arts, hmph!"

"I bet it's those two little girls, AZhu and ABi, trying to coax you to Canhe Manor again!"

Wang Yuyan's father had already passed away before she was born.

She was raised single-handedly by Madam Wang.

This Madam Wang would threaten to turn people into flower fertilizer at every turn; she was a truly "formidable mother" with exceptionally strict discipline.

Thus, Wang Yuyan was very afraid of Madam Wang.

Just as she was thinking of an excuse.

Madam Wang's gaze, like cold lightning, swept across her daughter's face a few times.

Catching sight of the tear stains on Wang Yuyan's face, she frowned and said sternly, "Fine, could it be that Murong Fu has come secretly and is hiding inside?"

As she spoke, Madam Wang stepped inside, her voice icy. "Their Murong Family has coveted the martial arts Secret Manuals in my Langhuan Jade Cave for more than just a day or two!"

"I forbid him from coming. It's one thing if you secretly bring him Secret Manuals behind my back."

"But to actually let him in here now—I'll gouge out his eyes!"

"Mother!"

Wang Yuyan's heart jolted; she reached out to stop Madam Wang, her Internal Energy surging forth with a whistling wind.

"Oh? Isn't this the 'Dragon Capturing Claw'?"

Madam Wang was startled and took a small step back. She casually raised her delicate palm and struck out, using a method to dismantle Wang Yuyan's Move.

Little did she expect that Wang Yuyan, having learned from previous experience, understood that Moves should not be rigid; her grappling technique shifted mid-way into a Jade Palm.

Bang!

Madam Wang and Wang Yuyan exchanged a palm strike.

The two forces of Internal Energy collided, producing a dull thud.

Madam Wang was knocked backward through the air; after landing, she retreated four or five more steps, only steadying herself by leaning against the wall, her face turning pale and flushed in succession.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuyan stood where she was as if nothing had happened, looking at the power of her own palm strike in astonishment.

"Ah!" the maids cried out in unison.

"Minor Formless Skill, Acquired Fetal Breathing Realm?!"

Madam Wang gazed at Wang Yuyan in shock.

Wang Yuyan seemed to wake from a dream. With a light tap of her toes, she drifted to Madam Wang's side and said uneasily, "Mother, are you alright? I... I was wrong!"

Instead of blaming her, Madam Wang pulled her close with joy and asked, "Have you truly gained enlightenment and been practicing martial arts in the cave?"

Wang Yuyan glanced at You Cao and nodded slightly, answering, "Yes, I was indeed at a critical moment in my training just now."

"Oh, Mother was too reckless!"

"Huh?"

Wang Yuyan was very surprised; in all her years, this was the first time Madam Wang had ever apologized to her.

"Your aunt is always bragging to me about her fine son, 'Qiao Feng of the North, Murong of the South.' Now that my daughter has suddenly grasped the essence of martial arts, isn't she better than her son?"

Madam Wang said with a face full of smiles, "Practice, practice hard! Defeat Murong Fu for me and give your aunt a taste of her own medicine!"

"Was Murong Fu really at Swallows Nest yesterday?"

It was summer then, and the weather was extremely hot.

Madam Wang reclined on a couch, wearing only a thin gauzy robe. A maid fanned her from the side, sending gentle breezes wafting over her.

Blocks of ice were placed in the four corners of the room.

A woman replied, "Indeed! From early morning, the Young Master was practicing and sparring with the four Family Generals, and he didn't stop until evening."

Madam Wang nodded slightly, her heart at ease. She smiled and said, "Even if he practices for eight or ten years, he won't catch up to one day of my daughter's progress."

"You are absolutely right, Madam!"

"The Young Miss has been clever since she was a child. When she speaks of martial arts Moves, she's so articulate; none of us can compare!"

"The Young Miss simply wasn't interested in martial arts before. Now that she's started, one day's results can rival ten or twenty years of anyone else's!"

The surrounding maids and servants also began to chime in with praise.

With everyone speaking at once, Madam Wang felt delighted, her face filled with a look of pride.

Over the years, her life in the Wang family had not been pleasant.

Especially her relationship with her sister-in-law, who had married Murong Bo, was particularly bad.

She hated that woman,

and naturally, she wouldn't like the Murong Family or Murong Fu either.

Unfortunately, she had no son.

Her only daughter was kind-hearted and gentle, with no interest in martial arts, not resembling her at all.

But now, everything was fine.

If Wang Yuyan could defeat Murong Fu, the resentment she had accumulated over the years could be vented triumphantly.

How could she not be smug?

So what if you have a son?

My daughter is far better than your son!

"Have everyone in the manor serve her well. The Young Miss's every need must be met, except for leaving the manor!" Madam Wang ordered.

"Yes!"

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, like a white colt leaping over a crevice.