Chapter 180: Azure Waves Clear Ripples

Chapter 180: Azure Waves Clear Ripples

It was not like she had not met any other princes before. The recently deceased crown prince had not only been a prince, but also the true heir to the throne. However, their interactions had been purely for official business.

A few years ago, when the crown prince had not gotten married, Tang Wanzhuang had just joined the Demon Suppression Bureau. While they did have interactions, it had been strictly business.

At that time, the crown prince had some inappropriate thoughts toward her, but she simply did not bother with it and never took any action. She did not have a good impression of the crown prince; in fact, she even felt repulsed.

Fortunately, at that time, the Tang Clan had not produced any prominent figures, and their status was ordinary. Because of that, they never even entertained the thought of marrying into the imperial family. Later, when the crown prince got married, he could no longer afford to have any improper thoughts about Tang Wanzhuang. As a result, their interactions only became more formal.

Eventually, when the crown prince’s wife died, the Tang Clan finally produced a prominent figure... and that figure turned out to be Tang Wanzhuang herself.

It was quite ridiculous when one thought about how messy a situation it was.

When her thoughts reached this point, she realized that her thoughts had diverged too far. The past was not important, what was important was that the precedent had been set. The fact of the matter was—and Tang Wanzhuang knew it very well—that she would not treat just any prince this favorably.

Because not every prince would care for her and tell her not to worry about so many things, or play nursery rhymes for her, or advise her to enjoy life.

A prince, and especially the crown prince, would only hope that she would do more to protect their empire.

After a long while, Tang Wanzhuang slightly tilted her head and said, “There’s one more thing. The guqin fingering art that I promised to give you. There isn’t a manual for it, so I’ll have to teach it to you right now.”

As for the question that Zhao Changhe had asked just now, she skirted it as if he had never asked it at all.

Zhao Changhe did not push her either. Her silence was an answer in and of itself.

“How do I practice the art?”

“It’s actually a set of acupoint manipulation techniques, and it’s elusive and difficult to defend against. Once you’ve sealed your enemy’s acupoints, this technique is special in that it is difficult to undo its effects using conventional acupoint techniques. Watch closely...”

Tang Wanzhuang’s slender fingers moved as if picking flowers or swaying willows, like someone playfully brushing their hand over their lover’s chest.

With the subtle movement of her fingers, the acupoints on Zhao Changhe’s chest had been sealed without him even noticing.

Tang Wanzhuang’s mind wandered slightly as she casually asked, “Did you see how I executed that move just no—huh?”

Before she could finish speaking, her wrist was suddenly caught in Zhao Changhe’s grip. “Being absent-minded like this can lead to trouble, you know?”

Huh? Why does he seem to not be affected at all?

Tang Wanzhuang was shocked, and a distinct possibility appeared in her mind. He can’t possibly be thinking about making advances right now when we’re about to part ways, right? Could his mind have been affected by the dream he had just now?

However, just as she was about to pull her wrist out, she suddenly felt a gentle and vast aura enter her meridians, flowing upward along her Taiyuan acupoint to her Taiyin lung meridian.

Tang Wanzhuang was no stranger to the nature of his true qi. It was produced by the Six Harmonies Art, with its quality at the fourth layer almost matching the quality of others at the sixth layer. It was as vast and inclusive as the heavens and the seas, embodying an imperial will.

Tang Buqi said, “That should not be a problem. Aunt... Brother Zhao will definitely agree...”

Zhao Changhe nodded in agreement.

Tang Wanzhuang’s beautiful eyes finally focused on his face again, but amidst the flicker of her gaze, it was impossible to discern what emotions were hidden within.

After a long time, she whispered, “Buqi, if you’re done speaking, then leave. We still have things to discuss.”

Tang Buqi felt like crying.

I came here to talk about serious matters, but you just stuff my mouth with food and kick me out the door. You two scoundrels!

Zhao Changhe, who had been filled with the sorrow of parting, could not help but laugh and say, “Buqi is really amusing.”

Tang Wanzhuang smiled charmingly and said, “He’s always been funny ever since he was a child.”

After they exchanged these words, the atmosphere returned to normal. Tang Wanzhuang smiled again and said, “Alright, I really don’t have much time, so I must get to teaching you the acupoint art right away.”

Zhao Changhe also stepped back a bit and said seriously, “Please instruct me.”

“Remember, this is one of the Tang Clan’s ultimate arts. It’s called Azure Waves Clear Ripples, meaning that when a person is in the water, ripples move in all directions. While the ripples appear gentle and harmless, they cover all of the vital acupoints of the body, carrying a concealed killing intent, invisible and traceless...”

Zhao Changhe took a while longer to learn this set of acupoint techniques compared to the ultimate techniques for the saber or sword.

This was because his martial path had indeed been largely focused on the saber, and he lacked unarmed combat skills. This set of acupoint techniques was not just ways to poke people with his finger, but a complete set of unarmed martial techniques. With his weak foundation and the fact that the style was completely opposite to what he was used to, it naturally took him longer to learn.

It was also that...there could be some hidden intentions behind the slow teaching and clumsy learning.

Nobody knew for sure.

The only thing that was certain was that in the midst of teaching and learning, their arms intertwined and their gazes locked, creating a strange and indescribable atmosphere.

If someone were to ask Zhou Botong and Ying Gu[1], they would definitely say that such delicate grappling skills should not be taught between master and disciple of the opposite sex, especially when they involved acupoints.

This was because it would be hard to tell if they were really practicing martial arts or feeling each other up.

By the end of the lesson, whether it was because of heat or something else, Tang Wanzhuang’s face, which was usually pale, was flushed with a tinge of redness. She hurriedly left as if escaping for her life after saying, “This...this technique really isn’t that suitable for you. If you have the chance, you should look for a more aggressive style of barehanded martial arts... I... I have to go to Jinling. Farewell.”

Before her words even reached Zhao Changhe’s ears, she actually jumped over the wall and left, not even bothering to open the gate.

Zhao Changhe looked up at the wall that she had just jumped over and saw the sun beginning to rise above the horizon.

He looked down at his own hands, still carrying her scent.

1. These are fictional characters from The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong ☜