Chapter 85 - 83: Stage 3 Tendon Tempering

Chapter 85: Chapter 83: Stage 3 Tendon Tempering

Half an hour later, Su Mu returned to the rear courtyard of the South City Government Office and handed a freshly transcribed musical score to the courtesan, Xiang Dajia.

"You’ve got some moves, Brother Mu!"

Watching the courtesan, Xiang Dajia, leave to prepare with a serious expression, Wang Guan gave Su Mu a suggestive look and a thumbs-up.

Su Mu’s expression was calm.

"What a grandstanding buffoon!"

The Minister sneered. "He thinks he can grab Xiang Dajia’s attention with some random musical score. He doesn’t realize this will only make him a laughingstock, revealing his ignorance and shallowness."

"What’s that, old man? Are you saying Brother Mu is going to win Xiang Dajia’s favor tonight?"

Wang Guan asked.

The Minister’s expression froze. ’How on earth did you get that from what I said?’

The butler and Wang Lai covered their faces, speechless. They’d been through this kind of embarrassment so many times, they were already used to it.

’This is not the time to correct the Second Young Master.’

"See, old man? This just shows how ignorant you are."

Wang Guan chuckled slyly. "Xiang Dajia is still a virgin. What’s the saying? She’s waiting for someone to offer a high price—"

’Waiting for the highest bidder...’ Su Mu thought to himself.

"If you want to sleep with her, Brother Mu, you’re probably going to be disappointed. Let me tell you, Qunfang Building has the City Lord’s backing. We all have to play by the rules. If she’s not willing, none of us can force her,"

Wang Guan said.

This was new to Su Mu. For even Second Young Master Wang to be so wary, it seemed the City Lord’s authority was truly extraordinary.

’Hmm, Luo Anning is a great patron—I mean, a great lady.’

"You’re overthinking it. I really just want to listen to a song," Su Mu said calmly.

With that, he sat down in his seat.

"Do you guys smell medicine?"

Wang Guan suddenly wrinkled his nose. "Where is that smell coming from? Someone! Go find it for me. And bring some potted flowers over to cover up the stench!"

Su Mu sat upright, his face expressionless, as if he hadn’t heard a word Wang Guan said.

The medicinal smell was coming from him.

While he was home copying the score, Su Mu had taken the opportunity to brew the Tendon Tempering Elixir he’d prepared in advance and applied it all over his body.

Although he had wrapped his entire body in bandages so the application wasn’t visible under his clothes, the medicinal smell was ultimately impossible to eliminate completely.

"Brother Mu, what piece did you give Xiang Dajia? Who’d you buy it from?"

Wang Guan shouted, completely tactlessly.

Back in the Inner City, buying musical scores and poems to show off when visiting brothels was a common tactic for dandies like them.

They certainly didn’t have the talent to write any themselves.

In Wang Guan’s eyes, Su Mu was just a Martial Artist. How could he possibly know anything about poetry or music? He was probably just like him—barely able to recognize a handful of characters.

"It was a gift."

Su Mu replied dismissively.

The Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique had indeed been a gift from Luo Anning.

The score he gave Xiang Dajia was from the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds, and it was used to help temper the body’s major tendons.

According to the score, the best results were achieved when the Cultivator played the music themselves.

However, having someone else play it nearby during cultivation also worked, though the effects would be weaker.

Su Mu didn’t care about the difference in effect. If he had to learn an instrument himself, it would take forever before he could play the piece properly.

Xiang Dajia’s musical skill was masterful. By borrowing her talent, as long as it produced some effect, the Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique would appear on his system panel. Then, he would no longer need to rely on others—he could just work hard on his own.

"You like this stuff, Brother Mu? If I’d known, I would’ve given you a few scores,"

Wang Guan said with regret.

"It’s alright."

Su Mu gave Wang Guan a noncommittal reply, his mind already recalling the *Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique*. He carefully mulled over every word he had memorized, preparing to begin his cultivation.

After no more than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xiang Dajia reappeared on the high platform.

She glanced in Su Mu’s direction, a competitive glint in her eyes.

’Trying to challenge me with an unknown score? You’re in for a disappointment.’

She settled into her seat and adjusted the strings of her pipa.

"This piece brought by Su Baiyi, while musically quite ordinary, has a certain charm. Please, enjoy."

The courtesan spoke, her lips parting slightly. Then, the music began.

Su Mu closed his eyes, focusing his entire mind inward.

The instant the music began, he felt a major tendon inside his body tremble slightly.

He followed the instructions in the *Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds Marrow Tempering Technique*, continuously adjusting his posture to match the melody.

"Is Constable Xiao Su planning on dancing to the music?"

The Chief Clerk sitting next to Su Mu noticed his movements and remarked sarcastically.

"Haha, if Constable Xiao Su were to dance for us all, it would certainly be a spectacle for the South City Bureau tonight,"

The Minister jeered.

"Shut up! You’re so loud I can’t even hear the music!"

Wang Guan snapped. "What the hell do you know? Only someone who has grasped the true essence of the music could react like this."

He shook his head, looking as if he understood it perfectly.

The Minister and the Chief Clerk didn’t dare to argue with Wang Guan, so they just pursed their lips in silent resentment.

’Xiang Dajia’s skill is indeed masterful, but this piece is just awful. What’s there to enjoy about it?’

’It’s all Su Mu’s fault. Otherwise, we’d be listening to the *Jade Sea Tide Song* that made her famous.’

’This piece we’re hearing now is an insult to our ears.’

’If I couldn’t at least watch Xiang Dajia’s graceful form, I would have stormed out long ago.’

Regardless of what the Minister and Chief Clerk thought, Su Mu was already completely immersed.

He had even forgotten he was at a banquet.