Sept nuits de neige

Chapitre 111

Chapter Seventy: Adjustment (Part Two)

Shen Yuntan was as good at making up lies as ever, and Tang Shijiu believed him as always.

Shen Yun said that Tang Yu left with Tian Shu.

This was actually said quite skillfully. Tang Yu did indeed leave with Tian Shu, but Tian Shu carried her away, and judging from her condition, she was probably not going to survive. Recalling Tang Shijiu's deadly moves, Shen Yuntan shuddered.

He also subtly inquired about the situation at the time, but Tang Shijiu was completely confused and clearly knew nothing.

"Tang Shijiu, I have something to tell you." Shen Yuntan decided to be a little more frank, at least to let her know the current situation.

He rarely called her by her full name like that; his tone was distant and not at all intimate. Tang Shijiu felt strange, awkward all over, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on why she felt uncomfortable. She only felt that after that kiss, their relationship seemed to have become much more distant. Or rather, although Shen Yuntan was beside her, he was deliberately keeping his distance.

"Yun Tan, I also have something to tell you," Tang Shijiu said after considering it for a moment. Before Shen Yun Tan could signal her to speak first, she uttered a shocking statement that left Shen Yun Tan speechless for a long time.

She said, "Yun Tan, let's cultivate together."

Just then, Shen Yuntan was about to speak when she was so shocked by her that she bit her tongue, and tears welled up in her eyes from the pain.

Tang Shijiu felt a little hurt: "Even if my martial arts are not good, you don't have to feel so wronged."

Shen Yun covered his mouth with one hand and explained with a thick tongue, "I'm not wronged, I'm not wronged at all."

Women's minds are so strange. Last night she wouldn't even say "I love you" or accept a marriage proposal, but this morning she opened her mouth and went straight to the point. It's really hard to fathom. A tiny glimmer of hope appeared in his heart. Tang Shijiu had taken the initiative to propose dual cultivation, so she must love him.

Shen Yuntan is a normal man. Normal men are all wicked. When they become wicked, they can't help but flirt with the women they like.

"Nineteen, the matter of dual cultivation is not about how good one's martial arts are, but about another kind of skill." Even though he tried his best to appear serious, a hint of lewdness inevitably showed on his refined and scholarly face.

"Your internal strength is probably decent, but it's still not as good as yours." Tang Shijiu pondered seriously. "Your lightness skill is your forte, so it shouldn't be a hindrance."

Shen Yuntan vaguely sensed something was amiss, but when it came to matters of the heart, men often couldn't think clearly and their reactions were much slower than usual, with only their sense of touch being most acute. Seeing that Tang Shijiu showed no resistance whatsoever and seemed quite earnest and longing, the disappointment and coldness of the previous night vanished into thin air. Shen Yuntan's blood boiled, and he pulled Tang Shijiu into his arms again, embracing and kissing her tenderly.

This time, it was even more emotional and provocative than the last. Last time, it was tinged with bitterness, discouragement, and despair; this time, it was a stroke of good fortune, and she absolutely couldn't let it slip by. Shen Yuntan had made up her mind. Since she had said that, she might as well force the issue and make it a fait accompli. Then, Tang Shijiu wouldn't have a chance to back out of the engagement.

It was another surprise-style intimacy; from earlobes to necks to red lips, Shen Yun went to great lengths to please her.

Be meticulous, absolutely meticulous, otherwise you'll annoy Tang Shijiu, and that'll be a loss for life.

Tang Shijiu was so overwhelmed by his kisses that she didn't realize what was happening until his hands slipped unruly into her inner garment.

The consequence of his meticulousness was a resounding slap, leaving a bright red finger mark on his refined and honest face—a truly sinful act.

Shen Yuntan squatted helplessly in the corner—he had just been kicked hard in the butt by Tang Shijiu, and it still hurt so much that he couldn't sit down. He covered his burning face and listened to Tang Shijiu's indignant condemnation of his lewd behavior. He felt extremely wronged.

"You bastard! You've learned to force yourself on respectable women after just a few days!"

"You were the one who said you wanted to practice dual cultivation... I didn't force you!" (These words were only kept in mind; I dared not say them aloud.)

"Dual cultivation! Practicing martial arts techniques together? Who taught you to have such a filthy mind, thinking about such things!"

—Any normal person would think of going to that kind of place!

"It must be Tianxiu who corrupted you! Oh no, you've been hanging out with Tianman all this time, could it be that you've also corrupted my junior brother!"

—Actually, that kid is even worse than me, but you just don't know it.

Shen Yuntan let out a wail. What man isn't a little bad? I'm just a normal person, a normal person. Seeing that Tang Shijiu's anger had subsided slightly, Shen Yuntan carefully said, "Ahem, Shijiu, actually, dual cultivation doesn't mean that."

He was met with a piercing glare: "Still talking!"

Shen Yun sighed inwardly, recalling the beautiful woman who had been in his arms just moments before, her face flushed and her breath coming in short gasps. He still thought that version of Nineteen was more adorable.

Tang Shijiu's anger subsided a bit, and remembering what had just happened, her face immediately turned bright red. Seeing Shen Yuntan squatting pitifully in the corner, her tone softened slightly: "Does it hurt badly?"

Shen Yuntan realized that he was sometimes really reckless: "If you rub it, it won't hurt anymore." — Especially after trying something new.

He had only meant to speak offhand, but Tang Shijiu actually took a handkerchief and placed it on his cheek: "You could have dodged it..."

Shen Yun smiled wryly. This girl was unaware of his progress in martial arts. That slap just now came swiftly and unexpectedly, and he really couldn't dodge it.

“Master and junior brother are both fine. Let’s go to the Tang Sect to bring Father out. You can come with me, and by the way… by the way…” Tang Shijiu blushed slightly, but still said it decisively, “Let’s go propose marriage.”

Someone almost bit their tongue again.

"Didn't you really want to marry me? Didn't you just ask me yesterday if I wanted to marry you?"

—That's true, but Nineteen, your proactive attitude is really exciting for me.

Despite the horror, there was still considerable joy. Shen Yuntan held Tang Shijiu's hand tightly and gently kissed her lips: "Shijiu, I'm very happy, but I still don't understand, what exactly do you want to do with me, um, how do we cultivate together?"

Tang Shijiu blushed and broke free from him. After calming herself down, she finally began to explain the meaning of "dual cultivation".

In Tang Shijiu's dictionary, dual cultivation meant jointly practicing a certain martial arts manual. And this martial arts manual was the Tuanfu Heart Method.

"I've discovered a major secret," Tang Shijiu's serious expression made Shen Yuntan find it especially adorable, and he couldn't help but reach out and pinch it. "The Tuanfu Heart Method should be practiced by two people together."

"That night, I lay in bed lost in thought. I remembered once when Junior Sister Gu sang a folk song for Junior Brother, and he sang along in a low, hoarse voice. For some reason, I suddenly felt that the mantra of the mental cultivation technique seemed to be a dialogue between two people, one speaking and the other speaking." She took out her handwritten copy of the mental cultivation technique and carefully explained the first sentence.

Shen Yuntan's eyes lit up: "Nineteen, you're a genius!" The mental cultivation method differs from martial arts; it always emphasizes inner peace and unity, and must not be disturbed. Even the internal energy techniques associated with the twin swords are practiced separately by the two individuals; it's rare to find a single mental cultivation method practiced together. The Tuanfu Mental Cultivation Method is a treasure of the martial world; once obtained, it's not even shared with one's wife and children. How could it be practiced with others? If Master and Xie Dongsheng hadn't been unable to grasp its secrets, they wouldn't have sought out so many disciples for "experimentation."

In this way, Shen Yuntan finally understood why Tang Shijiu's personality changed drastically when he went into a state of demonic possession, why he couldn't control his killing intent once it arose, and... why Tianxiu could exist in this world.

I remember that my master was eccentric in his later years, sometimes full of masculinity and sometimes effeminate and strange. I guess it was because he practiced the mental cultivation method that should have been practiced by two people.

"Nineteen, you knew about this method a long time ago, why didn't you tell me?" As soon as she said it, she knew the truth in her heart.

Why didn't I tell you? It's because I didn't trust you.