Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Cross the Line, You’re a Beast

In the next few days, Chen Tang went to the Cyan Dragon Bureau every day to check in and learn about some information regarding Qian Country.

When there was nothing else to do, Chen Tang would practice the Tiger Subduing Fist and White Ape Swordsmanship in the bureau.

Chen Tang rented a large courtyard house with high walls in Wu’an County.

The price of horses in Qian Country is expensive, ranging from one hundred to one thousand taels depending on the breed and strength.

This is mainly because for at least half of the past century, the Divine Land Continent has been embroiled in war, making warhorses one of the scarcest resources.

As for houses and courtyards, the price is not much.

Once a war breaks out, many wooden beams and tile houses would become ruins, becoming ownerless.

Such a large courtyard, located in a very good area of Wu’an County, well-connected, facing north-south direction, even fully furnished, ready to move in, costs only a few hundred coins a month, and just five taels for a yearly rent.

Previously, the money Meng Liangyu extorted from the Evil Wolf Gang left Chen Tang with a few hundred taels on him, which was more than enough to cover the expenses of four people, a horse, and a dog for a short time.

Money is no issue.

Pay annually directly!

The homeowner was delighted by Chen Tang’s straightforwardness.

Chen Tang also felt quite pleased.

Compared to the small single room of twenty or thirty square meters from the previous life, this house was practically a villa.

However, on the first night after moving, Zhiwei had a nightmare.

It was still the same scene, reappearing in the dream.

The voice of the Black Water Gang’s Young Leader, sinister laughter, like a nightmare, incessantly lingering, frequently flashing.

Zhiwei woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, curled up in Qingmu’s arms until she was too exhausted in the morning and fell asleep heavily.

This situation lasted for several days.

Zhiwei’s complexion looked much worse, listless during the day, and perpetually drowsy.

Even Qingmu wasn’t resting well because of it.

Zhiwei felt guilty in her heart, but she couldn’t control the dream, growing more anxious every night.

The more this kind of weakened state, the more the nightmare clung persistently.

That night, Qingmu watched over Zhiwei, seeing her finally fall asleep, and quietly sighed.

But it wouldn’t be long before Zhiwei was startled awake by another nightmare.

I need to think of a way, enduring like this, I can barely hold on…

Qingmu, thinking randomly, dozed off.

After some time, Qingmu was awakened by a slight noise!

These days, she was a light sleeper, waking up at the slightest disturbance.

“Huff!! Huff!!”

Hearing the commotion outside, Qingmu was shocked.

This kind of heavy breathing sound is undoubtedly from a beast like a tiger or leopard. Just hearing it, you can sense a strong oppressive feeling!

“Not good, a beast has entered the courtyard!”

Qingmu quickly got up, gripping her long sword, and rushed outside.

The moonlight was bright, spilling like water over the empty courtyard, but there was no sign of any wild beast.

Yet, the heavy and low breathing sound continued.

Qingmu followed the sound, realizing it was coming from Chen Tang and her master’s room.

Only at this moment did she gradually regain her composure and realized it was impossible that there was any wild beast.

But what about this sound?

Unable to resist, Qingmu quietly pushed open the door.

Unknown for how long, the chubby old man was already awake, standing by Chen Tang’s bedside, looking with an enigmatic gaze at the soundly sleeping Chen Tang, lost in thought.

Qingmu was astonished.

The tiger-like breathing sound she had just heard was actually coming from Chen Tang’s nose and mouth!

Qingmu closed her eyes.

In her mind, it felt as if it was not a person lying on the bed, but a great beast!

She wasn’t just dreaming.

The chubby old man motioned Qingmu to discuss this outside.

In the courtyard, Qingmu couldn’t help but ask, “Master, what’s going on? I just heard the noise and thought a beast had entered the courtyard.”

The chubby old man said, “What you sensed was correct. This breathing technique of his is actually the breathing of a beast, which is also the Bone Forging Inner Breath Technique of the Tiger Subduing Fist.”

“I can almost deduce now that the person behind this young man comes from the previous dynasty’s army, and should be a leader of the previous dynasty’s Hu Ben Army!”

“Otherwise, it would be impossible to comprehend the Inner Breath Technique of the Tiger Subduing Fist to such an extent.”

“Hu Ben Army?”

Qingmu knew little about the previous dynasty.

The chubby old man explained, “Under the Former Emperor Wu of the previous dynasty was the strongest terrestrial warrior force, the Hu Ben Army, claiming a strength of one million. To enter the Hu Ben Army, the minimum threshold was the Ninth Grade!”

In the previous dynasty, everyone valued martial arts, and they did not have the same strict restrictions on martial arts internal strength as the current dynasty.

From the court to the common folk, there were many martial artists.

The chubby old man continued, “The Emperor Wu also commanded a formidable cavalry force, the hundred thousand Dragon Soaring Iron Cavalry, of which ninety thousand were light cavalry, and ten thousand were heavy cavalry.”

“To join the Dragon Soaring light cavalry, one needed to reach the Seventh Grade, while the threshold for heavy cavalry was even higher, needing to reach the Fifth Grade, cultivating inner qi!”

Qingmu listened, her pupils vibrating with shock.

Ninety thousand martial artists above the Seventh Grade.

The Seventh Grade standard, similar to the Cyan Dragon Guard.

The Four Symbols Guard of Cyan Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird combined might not even reach fifty thousand.

Not to mention, there were ten thousand who reached the Fifth Grade in heavy cavalry!

This is not hard to understand.

Only by cultivating inner qi could they bear the heavy cavalry armor, maximizing the heavy cavalry’s power.

No wonder the Former Emperor Wu could end the war in the Northern Divine Continent, eliminate major sects across Jianghu, and unify the major tribes.

But Qingmu turned her thoughts around. Even with a million Hu Ben Army and a hundred thousand Dragon Soaring Iron Cavalry, the Emperor Wu was ultimately defeated, and the Wu Dynasty had long since disappeared into smoke.

Qingmu seemed to think of something and suddenly asked, “Master, you just said Chen Tang was breathing and meditating, is he not sleeping?”

“That’s the amazing part of Entering the Divine State.”

The chubby old man said, “This kid is cultivating even in his sleep, using the Bone Forging Breathing Technique to breathe, so there’s no need to worry about going astray!”

“To be blunt, his cultivation is improving every moment!”

“Alright, nothing much here, you go back to sleep.”

The chubby old man said.

Qingmu stood still.

The chubby old man saw her worried expression and frowned, asking, “What, is it still about Zhiwei?”

Qingmu said, “Master, this can’t go on, you have to think of a way.”

“Actually, the root cause of Zhiwei’s nightmares is nothing more than fear deep inside. Solving it is quite simple.”

The chubby old man said, “The fundamental solution is to eliminate this person or thing that causes her fear. It’s best if she kills this fear herself.”

Qingmu shook her head and said, “That’s easier said than done; that Young Leader isn’t in Wu’an County at all.”

The chubby old man continued, “Another way is to find someone who can help her overcome her fear, someone to be by her side at night, giving her a sense of safety, it should be better.”

“Where can we find such a person?” Qingmu asked.

The chubby old man lazily replied, “Faraway in the sky yet right in front of you.”

“Master, you…”

Qingmu looked at the chubby old man with a strange expression.

The chubby old man coughed lightly, afraid Qingmu would misunderstand, and quickly explained, “It’s not me, it’s that kid Chen Tang.”

“Him?”

“Yes, that kid once stood up and took more than thirty slashes to save Zhiwei. In Zhiwei’s subconscious, Chen Tang is the one who can help her overcome fear and give her a sense of safety.”

“Really?”

Qingmu felt something was off, asking, “What should we do then?”

“Simple.”

The chubby old man said, “At night, just have Chen Tang sleep next to Zhiwei.”

“How can that be appropriate!”

Qingmu quickly said, “Though I trust him, having them sleep together is still inappropriate.”

The chubby old man said, “Aren’t you also there? Just keep an eye on them.”

Qingmu widened her eyes and asked, “All three of us sleep together?”

The chubby old man waved his hand nonchalantly, “No worries, this kid sleeps like a dead pig at night, can’t be woken by thunder, just pretend there’s a dead pig lying on the kang.”

“Don’t you want Zhiwei to break free from the nightmare? This is the only way for now, just give it a try.”

Qingmu heard the chubby old man speak so convincingly, only then nodded hesitantly.

Giving it a try might as well.

If it doesn’t work, send him back!

The master and apprentice returned to the house, the chubby old man impolitely went up and nudged Chen Tang awake, saying, “Get up, Zhiwei is having a nightmare again.”

Chen Tang, still drowsy, said in a daze, “It’s useless to bother me about her nightmares!”

“Who said it’s useless.”

The chubby old man said, “You go over there, sleep in the room with Zhiwei and Qingmu!”

In the dark, Qingmu heard this and her face flushed.

“Why sleep over there?”

Chen Tang turned over, changed position, and lay back down, “Going there is sleeping on the ground. I prefer this warm kang.”

Qingmu lightly bit her red lips and said, “You can sleep on the kang over there, no need to sleep on the ground.”

The chubby old man said, “You hear that, get up, stop dawdling!”

Seeing that the chubby old man wouldn’t let it go, Chen Tang had no choice but to pick up his bedding, get off the kang, and follow Qingmu to that room.

As soon as they entered the bedroom, a faint and pleasant fragrance greeted them.

Not strong, subtly elegant, just right.

The room’s layout on both sides was almost the same, but Qingmu and Zhiwei’s bedroom was different from his and the chubby old man’s rough men’s room.

Zhiwei lay on the left side of the kang, still asleep, with her brows slightly furrowed, as if entangled in a nightmare again.

Chen Tang, still drowsy after being woken in the night, didn’t stand on ceremony with Qingmu. Holding his bedding, he was about to climb onto the kang.

Qingmu quickly grabbed him and whispered, “You sleep on the far right.”

“Why?”

“I’m afraid you’ll act out.”

“Where will you sleep?”

“I’ll sleep in the middle?”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll act out towards you?”

“…”

“You dare!”

Qingmu solemnly placed a short sword between them and whispered, “This sword is the boundary; whoever crosses it is a beast and should have self-respect.”

“If I don’t cross it, I’d be worse than a beast.”

Chen Tang muttered.

“What did you say?”

Qingmu glared at Chen Tang, suddenly feeling like she’d invited a wolf into the house.

Chen Tang, too sleepy, didn’t think much, lay down on the kang with his bedding.

Qingmu stood still for a moment, her face blushing for reasons she didn’t fully understand, before hesitantly crawling under the quilt, keeping a certain distance from Chen Tang.

On the other side.

The chubby old man lay sprawled on the large kang, contentedly muttering to himself, “This is great now, the whole world is quiet! These days, this kid kept snoring, his noise making my head buzz—I finally sent him away!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep