Volume 1, Chapter 8: A "Survivalist's" Manual???

Confined before his grand wedding, Xie Zheng naturally had to request a three-month leave from his tutor.

Qing'an Palace.

Xie Zheng had moved into his new residence, and the maids and servants assigned to him were dispersed among the various courtyards to tidy up.

As for the boring three months ahead!

Xie Zheng opened a book that Qin Yuan had given him.

"Gou" (The Art of Lying Low)!

Before leaving, Qin Yuan had said with a smile:

"When you become rich and powerful, don't forget me."

What a woman, Qin Yuan; she was already eyeing his private stash of money.

However, it was quite fated. He had always wanted to uphold his "philosophy of survival" by lying low, maintaining the principle that "harmony brings wealth," all so that he, a good-for-nothing, could live safely in this world.

"Lying low—it suits me quite well!"

He opened the slightly worn book. The character "Gou" written on the cover was incredibly elegant; the author must have been a bit of a pretentious eccentric.

The first page read: "When you become rich and powerful, don't forget me!"

It really did echo Qin Yuan's words. He turned to the next page, and what he saw next took him by surprise.

Because this "Gou" manual...

Was a martial arts secret text!

It contained various training techniques, acupoint diagrams, and internal energy cultivation methods!

"This girl, is she trying to get me to train in martial arts to protect myself?"

For a martial artist, finding the right internal cultivation method is essential, as these paths were paved by predecessors who had successfully walked them. Only then could a successor train without fear of deviation!

However, martial arts training also depends on talent; those without it are destined never to practice.

As for whether this secret text was reliable...

Xie Zheng naturally had no way of knowing.

But there was someone who did, so Xie Zheng shouted:

"Ning Ling, get in here!"

As someone close to him, Xie Zheng trusted Ning Ling.

For instance, Ning Ling, who was dressed in a maid's uniform yet possessed such breathtaking beauty that it was impossible not to stare, was quite striking.

Ning Ling asked, "Young Master, what is it?"

Ning Ling was quite the actress. She loved to perform, and when the young master arranged for her to be at Qing'an Palace, she took on the role of a maid with great dedication.

The point was...

She was playing the role of a stunningly beautiful maid!

"Take a look at this book for me. Is it really a martial arts manual? Your young master can't understand it, but you know better than I do!"

Xie Zheng tossed the book to her casually.

Ning Ling glanced at it, immediately covered the title, and said with a playful shift in tone: "Young Master, do you have any idea what such a manual would be worth back in the Northern Zhong Kingdom?"

"How much?" Xie Zheng asked honestly.

"A book worth a thousand gold pieces—that is exactly what this 'Gou' Sutra refers to!"

Ning Ling looked at it with evident reverence.

"Is it that powerful?"

"Of course!"

"How powerful?"

"More powerful than the techniques I cultivate!"

"Then can I practice it?"

"Of course! But Young Master..." Ning Ling looked at Xie Zheng, "You must be prepared to make a trade-off. Practicing this technique might..."

Xie Zheng was speechless: "Don't hold back!"

Ning Ling lowered her voice and said quietly: "It tends to send one's libido soaring, so you will need to find a way to vent that heat in time!"

"Pfft!"

Xie Zheng snatched the "Gou" book back, blurting out: "Is that what Qin Yuan meant by giving me this book?"

Ning Ling replied, "Perhaps the Princess of Anyang doesn't understand this 'Gou' Sutra and only thought it was an ancient text from the Northern Zhong Kingdom with significant value, which is why she gave it to you. It seems the Princess has a very specific agenda for you!"

"To make me stronger, so I can be her invincible henchman?"

"That is possible; she has placed great expectations on you!"

Being analyzed by Ning Ling, Xie Zheng still couldn't fathom that woman's true intentions.

But as for martial arts...

He would definitely train!

If Ning Ling valued it, the "Gou" Sutra couldn't be weak.

To lie low, one must be strong oneself!

Xie Zheng continued to ask: "If I practice now, at what stage will I lose control?"

He was referring to the "fire in the lower abdomen."

Ning Ling was amused by her young master, but she explained: "Rest assured, Young Master. With this technique, one only experiences such desires upon reaching an advanced state."

"What is an advanced state?"

"The Lesser Second Rank, perhaps!"

There were three ranks in the martial arts path, with no specific titles other than the prefix "Lesser."

"Then, with my talent, when can I reach the Lesser Second Rank?"

"Well, three months at the fastest, or half a year at the latest!"

"I'll train!"

Xie Zheng didn't say another word and dove into the work.

Ning Ling, on the other hand, found the current version of her young master much more interesting. While he had always been kind-hearted, he used to be like a silent gourd, never cracking jokes with them.

But now...

He was a little different!

Ning Ling watched for a while before softly closing the door and leaving, so as not to disturb him.

From then on!

Xie Zheng's training of the "Gou" Sutra was divided into three steps. The first volume, which he was currently reading, was called "Silent Accomplishment of Great Deeds"—what an awful name.

But since it was valued by Ning Ling, this "Gou" Sutra was certainly not to be underestimated.

[Silent Accomplishment of Great Deeds]

This volume focused on how to convert vital energy into one's own power, how to circulate it within the body, and how to unleash it in the most powerful way!

It consisted of seven movements!

Simple in appearance, yet as Xie Zheng tried to practice them, he realized how incredibly difficult they were.

A day passed in a flash!

The next day, he continued...

Xie Zheng did not fight or compete, but not fighting meant being passive; just like this current situation, he had no power to refuse.

Therefore, he could only make his fists harder first.

In the days that followed, aside from Ning Ling coming in and out, no one else disturbed him.

Of course, during this time, no one else came to look for Xie Zheng either. The Marquis of Anyang didn't, nor did Qin Yuan, and as for Xu Cheng, there was no news of him at all.

The wedding preparations were underway.

Xie Zheng left everything entirely to Ning Ling to handle.

Three months passed quickly!

Ning Ling had become the steward of Qing'an Palace, directing the household—which had grown somewhat lively despite the master's total indifference—with everything managed in an orderly fashion by the sisters from Yichun Pavilion.

...

Anyang Marquis Estate, Qin Yuan's room.

Qin Yuan was trying on her wedding dress. Tomorrow was the day of her wedding to Xie Zheng. The marriage between a Princess and an Imperial Prince was, naturally, an elaborate and lively affair.

The stunning Princess looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror, quite satisfied.

A maid said: "My Lady is truly the most beautiful woman in the world. The Sixth Prince must be so happy he hasn't been able to sleep well lately, knowing he gets to marry such a beauty!"

Qin Yuan did not respond to the maid's words.

But in her heart, she thought the same. That guy had chased her for so long; it was finally done.

She still had no romantic feelings for him, but at least Qin Yuan wasn't marrying Xu Cheng, whom she absolutely did not want to marry.

Compared to that, Xie Zheng was better!

Of course, women getting married usually have a lot on their minds, and even though Qin Yuan had never been one for trivialities, she had been unusually concerned over the last few days.

But this beautiful, anxious Princess seemed unaware that...

The man she was about to marry seemed to have almost forgotten about his own wedding.

...

Zhenbei Marquis Estate, Xu Cheng was throwing a tantrum.

"Father, why don't you give me some men? I'll go kidnap the Princess, and afterwards, I'll find some scapegoats to say that the Princess and I ran away to the ends of the earth, determined to be a pair of lovers in the world of martial arts!"

As he spoke, Xu Cheng's eyes were filled with the image of him and the Princess sitting by the edge of the world, full of mutual affection.

The Marquis of Zhenbei looked at his son. For a moment, he wondered if the boy was truly his own, as his personality was so vastly different.

However, the Marquis of Zhenbei, who appeared to be a dignified and imposing general, was actually extremely doting on his son due to his own long years of neglecting his home.

Especially regarding his son, even he, the "God of War of the North," was sometimes at a loss, not knowing what to do.

"Son, this must never be done! Kidnapping the Princess means you will carry the infamy of the world, and you will also provoke the Emperor's wrath, ending up in a situation where you have no legitimacy and no standing!"

The Marquis of Zhenbei carefully weighed his words, trying to be as tactful as possible.

If this had been one of his comrades from the battlefield, he would have slapped him across the face and cursed: "I'll be damned, don't pull this nonsense on me."

But his son was his ancestor; there was nothing he could do!

Xu Cheng looked dejected again: "But Father! Why didn't the Princess choose me, instead choosing that bastard Xie Zheng?"

Only his father had the power to let him get away with calling an Imperial Prince a "bastard."

"The Marquis of Anyang and I have been enemies for years, and for so long, we have been sabotaging each other. Naturally, he is unwilling to marry into my Zhenbei Marquis Estate."

Of course, the truth was that when he went to the Anyang Marquis Estate to propose, the Marquis of Anyang had told him: It's not that your son isn't outstanding; it's that your son is too obsessive!

The implication was that his son pursued her too diligently and had become annoying!

The Marquis of Zhenbei had never wanted to interfere in matters of the heart, and he usually didn't care about such affairs.

But he knew his son's nature all too well. If it weren't his own son, he would have wanted to kill anyone else acting like such a desperate fool.

"Well, perhaps... fate just wasn't meant to be!"

He thought that by saying this, his son would understand the implication, but his son suddenly stood up, looking invigorated.

"Right, that must be it!"

"Fate just hasn't arrived yet. Let that bastard have his turn for now. Once fate arrives, the Princess will still be my wife!"

The Marquis of Zhenbei's composure cracked.

What had it come to? It seemed necessary to discuss with his wife about having another child!