Я обнял крепкого мужчину за тонкую талию

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I finally opened the box. Inside were a gleaming gold vest and a book titled "Inner Breath." Holding these two items, I realized they weren't ordinary things. The vest, however, was made of a different material than the others. Because my sense of touch is quite sensitive, I could detect the difference.

I looked at my master with a puzzled expression. He seemed to think I was ungrateful, picked up the vest, and said, "Don't look at me like that. This vest is a priceless treasure; even evil spirits can't pierce it." This garment, impervious to evil spirits, the number one weapon in the world—how could it not pierce this vest? It's not that I didn't trust my master; he'd lied to me countless times. He even put laxatives in my favorite sweet potatoes. I was so weak from diarrhea that standing was impossible.

"Hey, let me tell you, and believe me, the most important thing isn't these things, there's also..." Why are you smiling so ambiguously? I always feel like you're trying to sell something. Modern salespeople also start by talking a lot of fancy things, making the item sound like it's the best thing ever. That's the expression I had back then.

"What else? Tell me quickly." I got goosebumps all over.

"That is..." he said, keeping me in suspense. "Well..." He suddenly looked at my chest and said, "This vest is very tight, it can wrap a woman's breasts to their smallest size. Also, if someone accidentally touches it, they will never know it's a woman's breasts because it's very flat. This vest also recognizes its owner; the hundred knots on the buttons cannot be unbuttoned by anyone other than the person wearing it, so you don't have to worry. As for that book 'Internal Breath,' although your body cannot cultivate internal energy, there is a method in it called 'Qi Condensation' that can make your Adam's apple bulge out, forming a man's Adam's apple. After that, not only will it resemble a man's, but your voice will also become deeper, closer to a man's voice." My master raised his eyebrows and said very proudly.

That's great! Even if I were to bind my breasts, it would still be noticeable. Although I'm just a child now and can't tell at all, it might not be the case in the future. Besides, the Hundred Knots, which only I can untie, would be undetectable even if I were unconscious. Also, fake Adam's apples are quite common and can't change a woman's voice, but by using breath control, I can change my voice too. Master, you've really done me a life-saving favor. But your attitude makes me very angry.

"Thank you, Master, but where did you get these things?" I judged that they were most likely stolen.

"Well, that's because the Holy Son from thousands of years ago was also a woman," the master said, looking quite embarrassed.

"You mean, there have been holy children before?" I said, sounding shocked.

My master nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, but that holy son was punished by heaven for altering the destiny of the five kingdoms due to his mortal desires. These things, however, remained." I saw a trace of sorrow in my master's eyes. A thousand years ago, a holy son also appeared, meaning I wasn't the only one who came here.

“You have worldly desires, Master? You mean that the Holy Son fell in love with someone and that’s why he…” I continued to press.

"I can only tell you that originally there were only four of the five kingdoms. It was because of her personal affair that the trajectory of the Eurasian continent was changed. It should have been unified a thousand years ago, but..." Master didn't continue. He just lowered his eyes and stared quietly at my bamboo flute, muttering: "The Thirteen Riders of the Absolute Kill, ruthless and heartless, blood flowed for three thousand miles, and millions of corpses lay in wait. This is the result of her using the Thirteen Riders of the Absolute Kill."

"Master, you mean she used the Thirteen Riders of the Devastating Strike?" I looked at my master in shock. Although I knew the power of the Thirteen Riders of the Devastating Strike, I never imagined so many people would die. "I've told you everything I can. I remember my grandfather telling me it was 'utterly horrific.'" My master walked out of the thatched hut, leaving me alone. Was this the only way to unify the world? Would my hands be stained with the blood of millions, and I have to tread on the corpses of the people of five kingdoms? I wavered. This was the first time I had felt such doubt since I learned of my mission.

Clutching the vest and the "Inner Breath" manual tightly in my hands, my heart was filled with mixed emotions, as if something was blocking my way. But I couldn't stop myself. The war between the five kingdoms had lasted for a thousand years, and the suffering of the common people did not allow me to give up. So I would become the sinner.

I hurried out of the thatched hut and back to my room, where I began reading "Inner Breath." "Inner Breath" contained not only methods for resolving qi stagnation but also techniques for returning to one's breath. These methods could induce a state of suspended animation for up to an hour. After finishing the book, I burned it to ashes; I could not allow any mistake in this mission.

The wind blew through my curtains, and I vaguely heard some noises. It was Bingning's voice. If it was her, nothing good could happen. I immediately got up and hurried toward the source of the sound.

All I could see was Bing Ning carefully carrying a burlap sack on her back, one hand to her mouth, shushing the animals behind her. The sack was shaking violently, making a squeaking sound. The more I looked, the stranger it seemed; Bing Ning was usually so carefree, but now she was moving so stealthily.

I walked up to Bingning, and she looked like she'd seen a ghost, taking a step back and quickly hiding what she was holding behind her back. I squinted and asked, "Bingning, what's that in your hand?" This brat's smile was so fake; it was a classic example of someone with a guilty conscience.

"No, no, you must be mistaken. You can ask Xiaobai if you don't believe me," Bingning stammered. Whenever she lied, her eyes would involuntarily look downwards. She probably didn't even know herself. Xiaobai? You want me to ask a rabbit with a missing ear? How could you even think of that? The few small animals behind her all nodded, indicating they could testify. If I could believe these animals, I'd definitely need to go to a mental hospital. Bingning had adopted and rescued them from a young age.

Bingning has always loved collecting things since she was little—those discarded or unwanted items; her collection is practically a junkyard. Especially injured small animals. The one in front of me is her favorite pet; according to her, it's a kind of imperfect beauty. A white rabbit missing an ear, a wolf without a tail, and a snow fox missing an eye. She irresponsibly named them: Little White, Little Gray, and Little Silver. Except for Little White, the others are all ferocious beasts. Yet, she can tame them all obediently. No one but Bingning can get close; even I can only approach her because of her. My master, on the other hand, is always getting bitten by Little Gray.

It's clear that these animals are all her lackeys, and none of them can be trusted.

"Husband, trust me, I'll make you some soup later," Bingning said coquettishly, habitually moving closer to me. But suddenly, the sack in her hand fell, and a white, fluffy animal jumped out, flapping its wings. It started squawking and making noises. Bingning jumped, staring blankly at me and the child as the bird was being plucked.

"Bingning, what's this?!" I looked at Bingning with amusement. Suddenly, the bird fluttered and landed on my shoulder, giving me a look that said, "Bingning, you're doomed." It raised its arrogant head, looking quite smug.

"You damn bird, get down here! I'll skin you alive next time!" Bing Ning said angrily, her cheeks flushed red.

Bingning disliked Zhun standing next to me and would pick on him for no reason. Bingning, who always loved animals, simply couldn't stand Zhun, a hawk, the king of hawks. But once a child's temper flared, it was uncontrollable, especially towards Bingning; they were like a pair of bickering lovers. Today, I never expected Bingning to pluck all of Zhun's feathers. How could the ever-proud Zhun possibly tolerate that?

"Your woolen clothes?" I turned to look at Zhun and asked.

Zhun quickly pulled out the pile of fur hidden in the grass, leaving not a single feather. He glared at Bing Ning with a mixture of regret and resentment, while Bing Ning gave him a look that said, "You deserve it." Zhun then showed me all the feathers and quickly used them to spell out the words, "This woman is going to stew me into soup."

Faced with the accusation, Bingning angrily kicked Zhun, who easily dodged it, but Zhun's hairless appearance was really funny.

"Bingning, you mean treating me to soup is using Zhun?" I leaned against a locust tree and asked Bingning. Zhun nodded vigorously.

"Tch, you damn bird, I'll pluck your feathers again next time." Zhun quickly hid behind me in fear, and even tugged at my black robe with its claws.

"Alright, Bingning, you've had enough! You were also at fault in this matter, apologize!" I was already getting angry. Seeing the situation was getting out of hand, Bingning's coquettishness escalated, and she started shaking herself like she was on a swing. My neck!

“Zhun, you’d better stay here and reflect on your actions today.” I looked at Zhun.

Zhun, clearly unconvinced, fiddled with its feathers, asking, "Why?" It tried to be affectionate, but Bingning kept lifting Zhun aside with its feet. A comical battle between human and bird ensued.

"How dare you bring that up? You can't even resist a small temptation. You're a disgrace to the name of the Eagle. Zhun, I'm very disappointed in you." Zhun lowered its head in embarrassment after hearing this. I know Zhun is good in every way, but it will never get rid of this gluttonous habit, which will be fatal on the battlefield in the future.

"You're staying here today. Don't go back to your nest. You won't be so lucky to be rescued next time." I put Bing Ning down and walked straight back. If the eagle doesn't know how to survive, it's just an ornament, and I, Yu Zhou, don't need useless trash. Zhun, don't disappoint me.

Bing Ning quickly caught up and asked in confusion, her eyes full of questions. The other animals also followed, saying, "Husband, why did you punish Zheng instead of me?"

"Does Bingning really want to make me angry?"

"No, no, husband, please don't be angry. I didn't mean it. I just really disliked it because it kept looking at my little white dog with such a lewd look." Lewd? It just wants to eat her, okay?

"Did you use Xiaobai to lure Zhun?" I said, pointing at Xiaobai.

"Hmm, husband, how did you know? You must have seen Zhun looking at my Xiaobai with those lustful eyes, but I absolutely will not marry Xiaobai to it." Bingning became more and more agitated as she spoke, staring intently at Xiaobai as she spoke earnestly, making the little white rabbit's eyes redden. (Rabbits' eyes are naturally red.)

"No, Bingning, you're overthinking it. I smelled a faint scent of rabbit blood in the air, and I also saw Zhun's claw marks on Xiaobai's body. A hawk cannot eat food from anyone other than its master; this is a basic requirement of training, and Zhun has violated this rule." I explained to Bingning in detail. To be honest, I was even somewhat grateful to Bingning for helping me conduct a test on Zhun.

"Ah, you mean he's going to eat Xiaobai? He loves my Xiaobai so much that he wants to devour her. What should we do?" Bingning nervously hugged Xiaobai tightly.

"Well, you could say that," I said, and then tried to continue walking.

But Bingning, oblivious to my tact, pulled me back again: "Grandpa said my husband is leaving, is that right?" Bingning's eyes were sparkling, and she kept rubbing Xiaobai's fur, making Xiaobai grimac.

"Bingning, all good things must come to an end. Besides, it's only for three years." I pursed my lips. I knew Bingning wanted to go with me, but that place was different from Tianchi. It was like a battlefield, even more terrifying than a battlefield. Although she was sometimes cunning and eccentric, she was far from being as shrewd as those with deep cunning.

"Husband, can I..." Before Bingning could finish, I interrupted her, "No, if you still consider me your husband, you'd better stay in Tianchi." I was slightly angry. Seeing my face darken, Bingning immediately threw herself into my arms and started crying, "Husband, you're being mean to me, you're being mean to me again." How old is she anyway? How old am I anyway? Why are we turning on each other?

"I'm going there to study, not to play." My father wrote to me, asking me to study at the Six Arts Academy. Actually, he just wanted me to wait another three years before going back.

"I'm not going there to play. My husband, you're so talented, you don't need to study at all," Bingning kept muttering in my arms.

"The Six Arts Academy isn't an ordinary academy. It's known as the 'Three No-Go Zone'—the government doesn't interfere, bandits dare not approach, and wealthy merchants don't provoke it. This shows its influence across Eurasia. No matter who from the five kingdoms lacks talent, even if they're wealthy, they can't enter the Six Arts Academy. Even if I take you there, you still won't be able to get in." I patiently explained to Bing Ning, though I myself wasn't sure. Could I even get into the Six Arts Academy? If I could, entering the Gengyue court would be a piece of cake. Everyone from the Six Arts Academy, especially those from the Confucian Academy, would hold a high-ranking official position. I could also complete the task my master assigned me as soon as possible.

After hearing my words, Bingning lowered her head and fell silent, but immediately asked, "Are there women there?" I thought for a moment, and it seemed that the Six Arts Academy did not say that women could not take the exam! But according to the customs of Eurasia, there shouldn't be any women taking the exam.