Yin Qiushi shook his head and said, "No, Young Master Tang Yi is even bolder and more unafraid of gossip than the Eldest Miss was back then. I always remember the Eldest Miss's instructions, and I never try to dissuade her, no matter how outrageous her actions may seem to others. Since coming of age, Young Master Tang Yi has rarely stayed at the Tang Clan. All I can do is stay here and wait for her to return so I can brew her a cup of hot tea. When I heard the news of Young Master Tang Yi's death, I went to Mount Shu to investigate. I stayed at Mount Shu for half a year, but still found nothing before returning to the Tang Clan. Who knew that her grave had already been erected? I think the Eldest Miss always planned things carefully before acting, so it's possible that she secretly arranged for someone else to take care of Young Master Tang Yi."
Mo Xi asked, "Senior Yin, do you know who else followed Senior Tang Xin back then?"
"There was another girl who was chosen by the young lady at the same time as me. She was originally the young lady's maid, but when the young lady turned sixteen, she secretly left the Tang Clan and was never heard from again. I never saw her again."
Mo Xi then asked, "Senior, have you ever heard of the person 'Pink Rakshasa'?"
"Of course I've heard of it. This witch has come to cause trouble for the young lady many times. But each time the young lady forbids me from being present. I only know that the last time the two fought, the witch was no match for her and left injured. She has never appeared since."
Tang Huan asked, "Does Elder Yin know the whereabouts of the Langya Staff?"
"Well, all I know is that the young lady passed it on to Young Master Tang Yi. As for where the Langya Staff is now, I have no idea."
Mo Xi suddenly remembered the records about the martial arts hidden in the Langya Staff, and asked, "Was Senior Tang Xin skilled in water during her lifetime?"
"The young lady was devoted to poison arts and lightness skills throughout her life, and she certainly practiced these diligently. As for whether she could swim, please forgive me for not knowing. I have never seen the young lady swim. However, after the young lady left the Tang Clan and went off to be with Young Master Meng Tao, I did not see her for a long time. It is possible that she later learned to swim." He paused, his expression seemingly returning to the past, and continued, "Back then, I was only ten years old and often followed the young lady to and from Tibet, watching her practice lightness skills. Her favorite thing was to fly up at sunset to see the lantern that pierces the wind. I chose to hide here for peace and quiet because I often came here back then. Moreover, there is a white marble relief here that Young Master Meng Tao personally made for the young lady. I was also fortunate enough to witness the young lady's amazing dance back then."
Mo Xi thought to herself: So Elder Yin volunteered to be exiled to Tibet. Tang Xin must have a special fondness for that lamp, otherwise why would she be practicing her lightness skill indoors? Moreover, there are countless valuables in Tibet; isn't she afraid of accidentally breaking one and being reprimanded?
Tang Huan said, "Thank you for your explanation, Elder Yin. Because it concerns the Langya Staff, we came here specifically to inquire about the past of Senior Tang Xin. Please forgive us, Elder Yin."
Yin Qiushi said, "Sect Leader, there's no need to be so polite. It's exactly what I'd like to have someone talk to about the young lady. Besides, the Langya Staff is of great significance to the Tang Clan, so it's only right that you look into it. If you need anything, please feel free to come and find me anytime."
The two bid farewell to Yin Qiushi and went to Tibet.
Mo Xi asked, "Are there any martial arts manuals of the Tang Clan in Tibet?"
Tang Huan smiled slightly and said, "Yes, there is, but Tang Clan's martial arts are not outstanding. With your excellent martial arts skills, you definitely wouldn't be interested."
Mo Xi laughed and said, "I don't care about your martial arts manual. I was thinking that if Tang Xin got the martial arts from the Langya Staff, would she make a copy and store it in the archives for future generations of the Tang Clan to read and learn from?"
Tang Huan said, "Now that you mention it, it's quite possible. Let's go look for it in a bit."
Author's Note: Every time I lay the groundwork or reveal a secret, I count the threads on my fingers. I've really tried my best to write this as quickly as possible, sigh...
Hehe, everyone, the treasure hunt begins!^^
The next story is torn between ancient and modern settings. If it's ancient, the style will likely be grand and epic, with romance as a secondary element. If it's modern, it will be pure romance. Although I'd love to start a new story, I probably won't for now, as filling this one has already been incredibly difficult. ^^
Breathing techniques
( ) As soon as the two entered Tibet, Tang Huan led Mo Xi straight to the seventh floor. Upon arriving at the white marble railing on the seventh floor, Mo Xi couldn't help but stop and look at the Wind-Tracing Lantern. The lantern consisted of two layers, an outer hexagonal one with a finely painted landscape on its semi-transparent gauze surface, and an inner cylindrical one, faintly revealing the silhouette of a beautiful woman in a gorgeous palace dress. The two layers rotated slightly due to the airflow, making it look like a beautiful woman lingering amidst the landscape.
Tang Huan said, "The books on martial arts recorded by the Tang Clan are all categorized. They mostly contain common fist and foot techniques, as well as swordplay. Or they contain methods of internal energy cultivation. Before my legs were healed, I never went up to the seventh floor. Firstly, it was inconvenient for me to move around, and secondly, I was focused on studying medicine at the time, so I wasn't particularly interested in martial arts. Later, after my legs were healed, I did come up here, but there are more than twenty rows of bookshelves, and there are many books that I haven't even browsed. I didn't know where to start."
Mo Xi said, "Let's split up and search. Let's start with the categories."
The two then started searching from opposite ends of the twenty-row bookshelves. When they met up, they discovered that there was no "swimming" category, so they exchanged a helpless look and began their needle-in-a-haystack search.
A full hour passed, and still nothing was found.
Tang Huan turned around and saw Mo Xi bent over, engrossed in the sea of books. She couldn't help but say, "Why don't we go back and have lunch first, and then come back to continue the search?"
Mo Xi said, "It's alright, we should press on with this matter." She looked up and smiled slightly, saying, "If you feel bad about it, you can treat me to a good meal later."
Tang Huan laughed and said, "You glutton, I'll definitely treat you later."
Mo Xi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.
Someone else had said the same thing to her in the same tone before.
Mo Xi's gaze returned to the books after a short while. Suddenly, a small gray booklet caught her attention. On its spine was a pictographic character for "water." She pulled it out and read it carefully. On the title page was written: "The Ling Shu Qi Jue Pian: 'The upper burner opens, perfuming the skin, filling the body, and moistening the hair, like the irrigation of mist and dew.'"
Mo Xi quickly flipped through the pages, his eyes growing brighter with each page. Simply put, this book, *The Treatise on Decisive Qi*, teaches practitioners to relax, regardless of whether they are sitting or lying down, and to disperse their intention throughout their body, gradually reaching the pores, listening to their opening and closing. Like dew and mist irrigating the land, this describes the process of lung qi nourishing the skin. The skin can also release lung qi. When the lungs and skin become one, breathing through the mouth and nose gradually ceases, the opening and closing of the pores stops, and the pulse becomes so weak it is almost imperceptible, as if one were dead. This is entering a state of "fetal breathing," allowing one to feel as safe and comfortable as a fetus in amniotic fluid.
While it's unclear whether this is a hidden martial art within the Langya Staff, if one could truly breathe through their skin after practicing it, it would undoubtedly fulfill the meaning of "diving." However, rather than describing it as a martial art teaching how to dive, it's more accurate to describe it as a breathing technique, offering benefits far beyond simply holding one's breath underwater.
Mo Xi knew that if she told Tang Huan about her findings right now, he would definitely not let her continue searching. To avoid missing anything, she simply put the booklet aside and continued to search carefully.
Another half hour passed, and the two finally met up next to a bookshelf in the middle of a row, and smiled at each other.
Mo Xiyang held up the booklet in his hand and said, "Take a look and see if this is it."
Tang Huan took it, quickly flipped through it, and said excitedly, "Whether it's true or not, this method is indeed wonderful." After a pause, he gazed at Mo Xi and smiled slightly, saying softly, "You are truly my lucky star."
Mo Xi said, "Fuxing is starving." He thought to himself, "This child is so honest. He doesn't remember that I was originally here to harm him, nor does he remember that I tricked him out of his treasure. But he only remembers this insignificant favor."
Tang Huan smiled and said, "Come on. I'll take you to have dinner now."
―――――
Cloud Terrace.
Ouyang Jin idly fiddled with the tea set on the table. When the little maid came in carrying a red enamel vase with white plum blossoms, her eyes lit up and she said, "Did Brother Tang ask you to give this to me?"
The young girl was taken aback and said, "The sect leader told us to take good care of the young lady. These plum blossoms were just picked from the forest."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Jin sat down with a look of disappointment on her face and muttered to herself, "I thought that after begging my father to come out, I could see him more often once I got to the Tang Clan, but who knew that I would never see him again." After saying this, she angrily threw down the teacup in her hand.
"What a big grudge! Who made you angry?" It was Ouyang Hui who arrived.
“Sister Hui, yesterday I followed your advice and caused a scene at the place where the thunderbolts are made, and Brother Tang did come. But today when I went to look for him, the servants said he wasn’t there. I don’t know what he’s busy with all day. Even our father isn’t as busy as him. But no matter how willful I am, I can’t cause trouble all the time.” She paused, then frowned and said, “Sister Hui, do you think he might be deliberately avoiding me?”
Ouyang Hui said slowly, "Just ask the people around him what he's doing, and you'll find out. Silly sister."
Ouyang Jin pouted and said, "None of those people who serve him can be trusted. Take that girl named Lüyun for example. I even gave her a phoenix hairpin and a pair of agate bracelets, both of the best quality and the newest designs, but she refused them. She acted like she knew nothing about them."
Ouyang Hui laughed and said, "My dear Jin'er, this is the Tang Clan, and the person you found is his most capable person. How could he be easily bought off by your petty favors?"
"What should I do then, Sister Hui? Please teach me again. Please," Ouyang Jin said disappointedly. She shook Ouyang Hui's arm as she spoke.