Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Shadow Under the Eaves (3)
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Murong Sujing was startled.
"The family's secret arts? Right now?"
"Why? Don't want to?"
"No, it's not that..."
She was genuinely flustered.
She didn't know where the secret manual was or what the family's martial arts truly were, but she believed her younger brother had already mastered the Murong family's techniques that had once shaken the world.
But the thought of him learning them himself felt strangely off-putting.
"Sister, you're the representative of the main house. You have to pass them on to the other branches anyway, so of course the patriarch should learn them too."
"That's true, but..."
Murong Sujing couldn't bring herself to show outright joy.
To learn a top-tier martial art as a martial artist? It was something to celebrate with applause. Especially since it was the family's lost technique, or so they'd thought.
Murong Bi, who had been quietly observing her expression, prodded bluntly.
"What's wrong? Feeling burdened?"
"A little, yeah."
"Or is it those House Hoyeon bastards bothering you?"
Murong Sujing's face stiffened instantly.
"Bi-ya, how much do you know about House Hoyeon?"
"Whether I know about them or not, what's the problem with blood kin learning the main house's martial arts?"
"..."
"Whatever happened between them and the family in the past, a Murong is a Murong."
"I believe what you said about testing if Vice's techniques were real on your own body."
"..."
"But that's not the only reason. You were cautious to avoid House Hoyeon's eyes too, weren't you?"
House Hoyeon.
He had no idea what kind of people they really were.
Sometimes he wished someone would explain everything clearly. But not now.
'I'll find out by experiencing it myself.'
He would investigate, but on his own terms, gathering information actively to avoid biases and mistakes.
So Murong Bi wasn't in a hurry.
"Does that even matter?"
"..."
"No matter what House Hoyeon is like or how the world has changed, it's not strange for a Murong to wield what's ours."
"Well..."
"We can't ignore others' gazes entirely. But worrying about them and being swayed by them are two different things."
"...!"
"We should be aware of how others see us, but if we're confident in ourselves, there's nothing to hesitate over. The same goes for the patriarch. You consider your subordinates' feelings without pandering to them. If you think of yourself as proud Murong blood, there's no need to be timid about something like this."
His words struck her heart.
Murong Sujing thought to herself.
'He's all grown up.'
The day the Black Tiger Gang's on-site manager had come.
Her brother had changed starting then. More precisely, he'd finally revealed his true self.
From that day until now, they'd had quite a few conversations, each one a continuous surprise.
'Just what experiences have you been through without us knowing?'
His subtly playful demeanor could be seen as an effort to shake off past grudges.
But when he delivered insights that shook the listener's heart like now, he seemed like someone who'd weathered every storm in the world.
It felt like receiving wisdom from a senior who'd lived decades longer.
"Alright."
Murong Sujing smiled.
"We're both Murongs, so of course we should learn the Murong arts."
"Exactly, Lady Patriarch."
"One more thing before that."
"Our Lady Patriarch sure doesn't let anything slide easily."
Murong Sujing asked seriously.
"You're really not thinking of taking over as acting patriarch?"
Murong Bi shook his head firmly.
"I told you. I'm not patriarch material. You know it, Suhyang knows it, the chief steward knows it—even the Flower Sword Squad knows. Hell, maybe even the townsfolk do."
"N-not quite..."
"Sister, focus on internal affairs as patriarch. I'll handle the outside stuff as this nominal eldest son."
Murong Sujing wanted to say his presence wasn't nominal—it was a real, shining force.
But she held back. It would just embarrass him.
Anyway, with the conversation this far, it was time to commit fully.
"Fine."
Murong Sujing's eyes sparkled.
It was the most intense, resolve-filled gaze he'd seen from her yet, and Murong Bi smiled inwardly.
"I'll become the patriarch."
"Good."
"You know I'm full of shortcomings. That's why I still feel ashamed even now."
"No one's without flaws in this world. We all just do our best with what we've got."
"But I won't be the sister who holds you back, at least."
"I've tripped you up thousands of times, so pay me back double."
Murong Bi twirled his finger.
"Turn around."
"Okay."
Murong Sujing turned her back and said,
"No wonder the One Yang Heart Method never felt right. Maybe it's for the best."
"Didn't feel right?"
"I didn't notice before, but the true energy flow felt inefficient. Like the pieces didn't fit..."
A subtle smile played on Murong Bi's lips.
'Her instincts are sharp.'
With her body healthier and her energy flow stronger, she'd picked up on the One Yang Heart Method's flaws.
Even so, for someone at her level, she shouldn't have noticed.
'It's not knowledge. It's intuition. Without keen energy sense, no one could spot it.'
His expectations rose.
Murong Bi placed his hand on her Life Gate Acupoint.
Murong Sujing flinched.
"You don't mean..."
"It's not virgin energy, so relax. I want to live too, you know."
"...Okay."
"You trust me?"
If it were him, he'd suspect until the end.
But his Sujing was different. The way she'd embraced her wayward brother all these years showed she had a character worlds apart from a broken soul like him.
"Of course."
"I'm going to circulate true energy now. Focus on the flow."
Tension entered Murong Sujing's body.
Murong Bi commanded firmly.
"Concentrate!"
Woooong.
Without warning, he infused true energy, startling her.
'Suddenly?!'
But the water was already spilled.
She trusted her brother. Without his help, she'd probably be in a cold coffin by now.
Murong Sujing closed her eyes.
Whoooong!
The true energy entering through her Life Gate Acupoint rushed straight to her dantian in an instant.
Murong Sujing was shocked.
'It skipped the meridians and went right to the dantian?!'
She couldn't comprehend it. Controlling energy without meridians would negate their very purpose.
But then it changed.
Murong Bi's Mixed Origin true energy guided her One Yang true energy, slowly tracing each meridian.
It felt like he was calmly explaining which points it passed, at what speed—every detail.
Like teaching a child their first strokes, his energy infusion was full of care and caution.
Her mind eased, Murong Sujing gradually focused.
About two hours passed like that.
"Again."
Murong Sujing's eyelids twitched. Concentrating on the heart method, she couldn't open her eyes or speak.
Murong Bi infused calmly once more.
After three full circulations, he withdrew his hand from the Life Gate Acupoint and asked calmly.
"How was it? You memorized at least half, right?"
"...No."
"Ah, that's fine. It's more complex than any heart method we have. Once it's in your body, you'll adapt quickly."
"Not that."
Murong Sujing spoke awkwardly.
"I memorized it all."
"Huh?"
"The first circulation was a bit iffy, but by the second, I had it all."
"...?!"
"Your energy infusion was so precise."
Murong Bi was stunned.
'All of it in two goes?'
The Mixed Origin Heart Method was basic but advanced enough to elevate someone to first-rate mastery.
It was two or three times more complex than others, so even geniuses needed at least three or four circulations to grasp the flow.
And she'd memorized it perfectly in two?
'Not just smart. I knew her energy sense was sharp, but this much?'
Admiration welled up naturally.
'Brother, this one's a real gem.'
He heard Murong Heon's voice like an echo.
"Of course, whose granddaughter is she?"
The hearty laugh of his brother-echo was welcome.
And there was more to surprise him.
'Her One Yang true energy is already turning into Mixed Origin true energy.'
Formulas and doctrines were like user manuals explaining a technique's essence directly or indirectly.
Yet Murong Sujing had only followed the flow without knowing them, and her energy had changed.
Qi responds strongly to human will—you interpret the formulas and grasp the direction before transforming it.
To change it with just three circulations, without even memorizing? It meant she'd instinctively understood what the heart method pursued from the flow alone.
'This is something.'
Murong Bi inwardly clicked his tongue.
'Forget everything else—in qi cultivation, she's a genius.'
Even his brother, a prodigy born with the same Nine Yin Absolute Meridian, hadn't been this exceptional.
Excited, Murong Bi recited the formulas and doctrines right away. He wondered how quickly she'd memorize them this time.
Murong Sujing met his expectations perfectly.
Once again, she memorized the Mixed Origin Heart Method's formulas and doctrines in just two passes. Not stumbling—they flowed from her lips as naturally as if she'd recited them for days.
"Incredible."
Murong Bi praised her sincerely.
"I didn't expect you'd memorize the circulation and formulas this fast."
"You explained it so well."
"No matter how good the explanation, it doesn't stick without the recipient's talent."
Her brother's praise lifted Murong Sujing's spirits. She was human too.
"So, what's this heart method called?"
"Mixed Origin Heart Method."
"Mixed Origin Heart Method..."
"It's exceptional for true energy utilization. It minimizes strain on the body while drawing just the right amount of yang energy, making it great for healing. It'll help with the meridian blockage too."
"Really?"
"It's the family's foundational heart method."
Murong Sujing was shocked.
'This is the basic one?'
She'd need more study to confirm, but it felt more profound than any heart method she'd encountered. And this was basic?
As she marveled, Murong Bi said,
"The Mixed Origin Heart Method is also the foundation for the Mixed Origin One Qi Technique."
"What's the Mixed Origin One Qi Technique?"
"A supreme art only direct blood kin of the main house can learn. Master it fully, and I think you can completely overcome the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian."
Murong Sujing swallowed involuntarily.
"Martial arts can cure the Nine Yin Absolute Meridian?"
"Depends on talent. Could take five years or fifty. But one thing's sure: as long as you're cultivating the Mixed Origin One Qi Technique, the blockage won't manifest."
"Is that... even possible?"
It was.
"I planned to teach it step by step. Didn't want too much knowledge leading to distractions."
"..."
"But I didn't realize your memory and focus were this good. Your energy sense is top-notch, and with your resolve to become patriarch, I trust you won't rush ahead prematurely."
Resolve hardened on Murong Bi's face too.
"I'll teach you the Mixed Origin One Qi Technique's formulas and doctrines as well."