A gentle breeze blew, and mist drifted in through the window, shrouding the entire room as if it were enveloped in a sea of clouds and mountains, creating an indescribable ethereal beauty.
The heavenly blue gauze curtains, stirred by the wind, lifted at their corners, swirling enchantingly. Within the gauze curtains, a cute and beautiful creature slept peacefully.
After a night's sleep, her entire small face was immersed in this misty splendor, like a blooming ghost orchid in a secluded valley, exuding an indescribable, striking elegance.
A faint fragrance wafted forth. Her cloud-like ink-black hair was spread across the pillowcase, resembling spilled ink on peach blossoms. Amidst the rich peach blossom hues was a lotus emerging from water, a sight that refreshed the heart and mind.
Wanwan was momentarily stunned, seemingly reluctant to wake her. However, her mother-in-law had returned, and the young lady would surely be overjoyed.
"Young Lady, Jingyun and Mother-in-law are back."
Indeed, as soon as she spoke, the young lady, who rarely woke up in the morning, abruptly opened her eyes, radiating brilliance. Her gaze was like the rising sun in the east, dazzling and captivating.
"You said Mother-in-law is back, is she alright?"
"Yes, she seems fine. She returned with Jingyun."
"That's wonderful," Yun Xiao leaped off the bed, her lotus-root-like jade feet bare as she paced the room, urging Wanwan, "Quick, help me get ready."
Wanwan was amused and exasperated. She quickly came over, helped tidy her hair, then put on a human skin mask, and finally chose a brocade shirt embroidered with cold plum blossoms. In an instant, she transformed into a dashing young man, a sight that made Wanwan sigh.
"If only Young Lady were a man, I would gladly climb into your bed."
Her words were shocking. Yun Xiao broke out in a cold sweat, grateful she wasn't that unfortunate young man. To prevent the girl from continuing her musings, she quickly put her arm around her shoulder.
"Thank you, dear Wanwan. Now, let's hurry downstairs to see Mother-in-law."
"Yes."
The two immediately darted downstairs like sparrows released from a cage, their spirits high. Mother-in-law had followed Yanmei in.
As they looked up and saw Yun Xiao and Wanwan descending, both of them wearing masks, one looking handsome, the other pretty.
Mother-in-law was unfazed, as these masks were ones she wore in her youth while roaming the martial world, and she was quite familiar with them.
However, Jingyun, standing beside them, was astonished. He rushed forward, grabbed Yun Xiao, and examined her from all angles.
"Young Lady, are you trying to outshine me? You're even more handsome than I am! How are others supposed to live?"
Jingyun's playful antics made everyone in the room laugh. Yanmei glanced at the others, knowing they had things to discuss, and bowed, "Young Master, I will go and attend to the patients at the front."
"Go ahead," Yun Xiao waved, and Yanmei retreated. In truth, she knew the Young Master was not a male.
Although she had initially thought she was a man, even marveling at the existence of such a handsome young man in the world – as gentle as a willow, proud as a green pine, his beauty beyond description and difficult to capture in words.
However, after some time, she realized that the Young Lady was actually a woman. But she only concerned herself with her duties, doing more and speaking less being the proper way. At least she had lived up to the Young Lady's original intention of taking her in.
The flower hall in the small building.
Yun Xiao and Wanwan observed Mother-in-law. They saw that her brow was relaxed, her demeanor serene, completely different from her despair at the time. Yun Xiao stepped forward and took her hand.
"Mother-in-law, are you alright now?"
Mother-in-law nodded, looking at Yun Xiao and Wanwan. She sighed inwardly, finally back. From now on, this would be her home, and she would peacefully care for these children.
Yun Xiao led Mother-in-law to sit aside. In the center of the flower hall, Jingyun was already speaking eloquently.
"You don't know, when Mother-in-law and I rushed to Sucheng, the former martial arts alliance leader, Ding Haowen, had already met his retribution. He was bedridden and couldn't get up.
His vast mansion had all fallen into the hands of that courtesan from the pleasure house. That woman was ruthless and had poisoned Ding Haowen.
By the time we arrived, the poison had entered his bloodstream and was beyond curing. Ding Haowen, at his last moment, cried and begged for Mother-in-law's forgiveness.
Mother-in-law forgave him, and he died. Then, Mother-in-law and I killed that courtesan and burned down the entire vast Ding mansion."
"That child?"
Yun Xiao couldn't help but ask. She remembered that the courtesan had a child in her womb. Regardless of the adults' actions, the child was innocent.
"What child? It was all a ruse. That courtesan colluded with another person to frame Ding Haowen. We killed both of them."
After Jingyun finished speaking, Wanwan, standing beside him, pouted and said disdainfully,
"This is what they call retribution."
After Wanwan spoke, Mother-in-law's eyes grew heavy. After all, they had been married for decades, and she had been momentarily misguided. He had also received his due retribution.
Thinking of his death, her heart still felt heavy, but compared to his actions, she was no longer so saddened.
"Wanwan."
Yun Xiao called out, fearing Wanwan would say something else and upset Mother-in-law.
"Alright, from now on, Mother-in-law will live with us."
"Great!" Wanwan and Jingyun's faces lit up with joy. They high-fived and cheered. The small building fell into a deep quiet. Mother-in-law, expressionless, got up and walked towards the upper floor, then threw back a sentence, "Xiao'er, come up. The others stay below. I have something to say to you."
Wanwan and Jingyun exchanged glances. Yun Xiao, looking bewildered, followed Mother-in-law upstairs.
In the small building, it was incredibly quiet. Mother-in-law walked ahead, Yun Xiao followed behind her, and together they walked towards the inner chamber.
As soon as they entered the inner chamber, Mother-in-law suddenly spun around. She moved with lightning speed, as light as a willow branch. In an instant, one hand pulled Yun Xiao's body, and they both sat down on the ground.
Before Yun Xiao could understand what was happening, she and Mother-in-law were already palm to palm. A continuous stream of warm energy flowed from their palms into Yun Xiao's body. This warm current swirled within her, quickly opening the Ren and Du meridians in her body, making the airflow surge even faster.
Although she didn't know what was happening earlier, she now vaguely understood that Mother-in-law was transferring her internal energy to her. Yun Xiao was shocked. She moved, about to withdraw her hand, but Mother-in-law said coldly,
"Don't move, or I will suffer qi deviation."
It turned out she knew that if she told Yun Xiao, she would never agree to it. So, she decided to act first and then inform her. By the time Yun Xiao realized, it was already too late.
Yun Xiao was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead. She had already received so much from Mother-in-law; how could she still take her internal energy? Moreover, this was her means of self-protection.
"Mother-in-law, that's enough."
"I have sixty years of cultivation. I am transferring thirty years of it to you. With the remaining, I can protect myself."
Mother-in-law spoke forcefully. Originally, she had intended to transfer all her internal energy to Yun Xiao, but she knew Yun Xiao would absolutely not accept it.
Furthermore, if she lost her internal energy and encountered trouble, Yun Xiao would definitely not forgive herself and might even be heartbroken.
Therefore, she only transferred thirty years of her internal energy. Coupled with the "Cloud Piercing Sixteen Steps" and "Sound Killer" that she had previously taught Yun Xiao, ordinary people would not be her match.
"Mother-in-law."