Chapter 919 - 885: Halfway Completed

Xu Chunliang said, "Some things are better forgotten completely."

His intention was to comfort Xiahou Mulan, but Xiahou Mulan interpreted it differently. She thought Xu Chunliang was referring to what had happened between them and said blandly, "I’ve already forgotten."

Entering the community was like walking into a Jiangnan garden. Xiahou Mulan said, "You sure know how to pick a place; the environment here is really nice."

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s probably the best community in Dongzhou. I don’t have the financial means for this; the house belongs to my grandfather."

Xiahou Mulan loved this kind of ancient and elegant setting and took an interest in the community’s landscaping. She took out her phone and snapped a few pictures.

Xu Chunliang said, "I feel this place isn’t as good as the garden you have at the base."

Xiahou Mulan said, "Each has its own uniqueness."

Xu Chunliang recalled the first time he saw her wearing traditional Chinese clothing and began the topic on his own: "You really like wearing Hanfu, don’t you?"

Xiahou Mulan said, "It’s a habit. Ever since I was a child, my father... he often dressed me in Hanfu. I never attended school and received a traditional education at the Central State Academy from a young age. While others learned math, physics, and chemistry, I learned the Four Books and Five Classics. While others learned piano and orchestra, I learned the guqin and needlework. While others practiced gymnastics and dance, I practiced Chinese martial arts. Unknowingly, it became a habit. In fact, apart from business, I rarely socialize. I’m not interested in trends and fashion. There was a time when I even felt like I hadn’t grown up yet but was already old."

Xu Chunliang said, "Chinese traditional culture is profound; your kind of education isn’t necessarily bad."

Xiahou Mulan said, "I don’t even have a primary school diploma. When I first left the academy, I felt like an ancient person. I was afraid of social contact and dreaded interacting with others." For some reason, she shared the words that had been buried in her heart with Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang said, "But now when I see how decisive you are, it doesn’t seem like you’re socially anxious."

Xiahou Mulan sighed and said, "I left the academy at sixteen. At that time, he told me to prepare for seclusion and planned to hand over all matters to me. He is inherently suspicious and doesn’t trust others. From then on, he began training me, not only in martial arts but also in strengthening my will and courage."

Xu Chunliang nodded. Every family has its struggles, and living with an old monster like Cao Xinwei requires constant vigilance.

Unknowingly, they arrived at the Xu Family residence, and Xu Chunliang invited Xiahou Mulan inside.

In the past two days, he had already had the house cleaned up. Xu Chunliang told Xiahou Mulan about the time Yan Hong and the others snuck in at night intending to harm him.

Xiahou Mulan thought to herself, in that case, Wu Yuanyi acted first, so even if Xu Chunliang had killed Yan Hong and his three men, it would be completely justified.

Xu Chunliang went to pour tea for Xiahou Mulan, who said, "No need, it’s getting late; I should be going." Suddenly, she felt some abdominal pain, and Xu Chunliang noticed her change in expression and had her sit down, offering to take her pulse.

Xiahou Mulan shook her head and said, "I know my own condition. My inner energy has been a bit disrupted these past two days; it should be related to..." She stopped short, the root cause being the Profound Yin Qi in her body had been dispersed by Xu Chunliang, leading to her Dantian being empty. It would take some time to regulate her inner energy again.

Without saying a word, Xu Chunliang grabbed her wrist to take her pulse and immediately noticed her irregular pulse, fluctuating unevenly. Xu Chunliang thought to himself that he had used the method of using Yang to balance Yin to absorb all of the Profound Yin Qi from Xiahou Mulan’s body. Although he had diffused the crisis of her Dantian bursting and her meridians breaking, he had not yet helped her rebuild her meridians.

Using Yang to balance Yin is not something that can be accomplished overnight; he had simply absorbed Xiahou Mulan’s Profound Yin Qi and left it at that. He would be treating her as if she were just a vessel. However, the best way to help her repair the damaged meridians would still be to use Yang to balance Yin. If he explained, Xiahou Mulan might not understand and might think he was being greedy, wanting to experience it again once he had tasted it.

Xu Chunliang released Xiahou Mulan’s wrist, and Xiahou Mulan saw his deeply furrowed brows, appearing not optimistic, and said softly, "My life shouldn’t be in danger, just some... internal injuries!" Her pretty face flushed a bit, feeling her words seemed a bit improper.

Xu Chunliang said, "Your meridian damage is all because of me."

Xiahou Mulan said, "You were trying to save me too, oh well, we agreed to just treat it like nothing happened."

Xu Chunliang said, "Wait a moment; I have something to show you."

Xiahou Mulan nodded, picked up the teacup, and sipped it slowly. Before long, she saw Xu Chunliang return with something and, upon closer inspection, it was two Copper People. The Copper People were nothing to pay attention to, but the poses of these two Copper People were extremely shameful.

Xiahou Mulan blushed and said, "This is too much!"

Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t mean anything else. I obtained these two Copper People by chance. You’re very familiar with human acupoints too. Look closely at these two lines on their surfaces; they represent a unique cultivation method. Why did Nuwa create humans as male and female? The original intention was Yin and Yang complementing each other. Before birth, people exist in the Innate Realm within the mother’s body, but after birth, they become the Acquired Realm."

Xiahou Mulan realized Xu Chunliang wasn’t deliberately trying to make her feel awkward. She observed the little Copper People along the marked lines carefully.

Xu Chunliang said, "When a baby is in the mother’s womb, the relationship is maintained through the umbilical cord. All the nutrients a baby needs are supplied through this cord. You can think of it as the relationship between the Acquired Realm nurturing the Innate Realm. Using Yang to balance Yin can be understood as promoting the formation of the Innate Realm by absorbing the Profound Yin Qi from the Acquired Realm, but the connection isn’t the umbilical cord."

Xiahou Mulan’s face heated up; that didn’t need to be specifically explained.

Xu Chunliang said, "The method of using Yang to balance Yin can be practiced by anyone, but only those with the Profound Yin Body can achieve the Innate Realm."

Xiahou Mulan whispered, "So you’ve achieved the Innate Realm?" She had only heard of the Innate Realm but had never seen it in reality.

Xu Chunliang smiled, "Almost, thanks to you."

Xiahou Mulan said, "This must be fate." If it weren’t for Xu Chunliang, she might have already fallen victim to Cao Xinwei. If that were the case, she might not have even had the courage to live on.

Xu Chunliang said, "In reality, using Yang to harmonize Yin is a complete cycle. What I mean is, we only went halfway that day."

Xiahou Mulan couldn’t misunderstand his meaning, her pretty face turned crimson.

Xu Chunliang said, "You won’t suspect that I have ulterior motives towards you, right? If so, just pretend I didn’t say anything."

Xiahou Mulan thought, you’ve already said everything. She raised her wrist to glance at the time and said, "I should go."

Xu Chunliang said, "Alright, let me see you off."

Xiahou Mulan said, "No need, I’m driving back." She stood up, eager to leave quickly as it was too embarrassing, but she went in the wrong direction and bumped into Xu Chunliang directly.

"Sorry."

Xu Chunliang smiled and pointed behind her, "The garage is this way."

Xiahou Mulan nodded, "Then I’m leaving, don’t see me off, I can manage on my own."

Xu Chunliang said, "In your current condition, the sooner you get treated, the better, to avoid any long-term issues. Think it over carefully and let me know."

Xiahou Mulan turned to escape, realizing that if she stayed any longer, she might make a mistake, and she couldn’t keep making mistakes.

Once outside, Xu Chunliang followed her out, "Keys! Car keys!"

Xiahou Mulan stopped, took the car keys from Xu Chunliang’s hand, and Xu Chunliang looked at her and said, "Consider it carefully."

Xiahou Mulan hurriedly opened the car door and got in, didn’t even bother to say goodbye, and drove off in a hurry.

Xu Chunliang chuckled as he watched the car go, finding Xiahou Mulan quite adorable.

After Xiahou Mulan left, she received two messages from Xu Chunliang. One was about the Qi Cultivation secret of harmonizing Yin with Yang, and the other was hoping she could find time to visit the Infectious Disease Hospital tomorrow to sign a strategic cooperation agreement. The initial purpose of this agreement was to cover up a lie, but having an outlet would still benefit Xiahou Mulan.

Wang Zhengdao did not inform anyone before coming to Dongzhou. By the time Wang Jianming learned of his arrival, the car was already at the city committee courtyard.

Wang Jianming had some understanding of this uncle. According to his grandfather’s evaluation, he was someone who never put his mind to the right path. If his uncle chose the path of the system, with his intelligence, his achievements would at least be that of a governor.

Uncle was also a very opinionated person, rebellious in his younger days. He chose business despite grandfather’s opposition, yet in the end, he persisted in his decision.

Although Wang Zhengdao achieved success in business, in their family view, business was never quite distinguished. More than three years ago, a strange illness forced Wang Zhengdao to lie low, and recently he miraculously recovered. This illness changed him, making Wang Zhengdao much more low-key.

Wang Jianming had just ended a meeting and was initially planning to discuss some recent issues with Old Li, who was in charge of cultural and health education. But now there was no choice, he couldn’t let his uncle wait in the reception room.

Wang Jianming asked Qin Zhengyang to greet his uncle on his behalf and invite him to his office.

When Wang Zhengdao entered the office, Wang Jianming had already prepared tea for him and was standing in advance to welcome his arrival.

Wang Zhengdao understood that now his nephew was the top leader of Dongzhou, and every move he made attracted attention. If he personally went to the parking lot to greet him, others would certainly be curious about his identity.

After Qin Zhengyang completed his guiding task, he quietly left.

Wang Jianming respectfully said, "Uncle, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you notify me in advance so I could welcome you?"

Wang Zhengdao laughed, "You’re so busy with work, how could I bear to disturb you? I’m very familiar with Dongzhou, even without your reception, I can find my way."

Wang Jianming always felt there was another layer of meaning to his words, hoping he was just overthinking it.