It was night.
After a while of “toil” with Song Xiao Hui, Lu Yan went to the practice room alone, ready to study the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.
“Truly a top-tier palm technique.”
After carefully studying it for two hours, Lu Yan sighed in admiration.
Next.
Lu Yan began to practice the first palm—Rising Dragon Has Regrets.
Steps can be both real and illusory, allowing for retreat and advance.
The raised palm is like a tyrant lifting a cauldron, the advancing palm like a giant pushing a mountain.
Things reach their extreme and must reverse, the rising must have regrets.
With the force of extreme yang, when the powerful arrow reaches its end, having regrets brings fortune, while being stingy brings misfortune.
This practice continued until late into the night.
“Are you an internal martial arts expert?”
Outside the door, a slender figure stood, it was Ao Ming. She had moved in.
Lu Yan didn't object to this.
“You're not just asking for the sake of asking, are you?”
After retracting his fist, Lu Yan picked up the towel on the floor, wiped the sweat off his body, then walked toward Ao Ming, saying, "You keep that cold face all day, don't you get tired?”
“Hm?”
Ao Ming didn't react immediately, saying, "I keep a cold face all day?"
“Isn't it true?”
Lu Yan intentionally scrutinized the slightly chubby face, jokingly asking, "Are all you assassins like this?”
“It's innate, not my fault.”
Ao Ming finally came to her senses, saying, "I have no obligation to please you smelly men."
“Really?”
Lu Yan walked past Ao Ming, saying, "Smelly men and fragrant women, a perfect match.”
With that, he headed to the bathroom.
Looking at Lu Yan's back, Ao Ming snorted, muttering to herself, "Good thing he didn't become my enemy.”
She didn't expect that Lu Yan was an internal martial arts expert. Maybe he couldn't withstand bullets, but bullets couldn't instantly kill him, even if they hit the heart.
In fact, whether it was possible to actually hit the heart was also a question.
Ao Ming had heard rumors from some senior figures in the assassin world. Those truly skilled internal martial arts experts could control the position of their internal organs, thus dodging some fatal injuries.
This was something Lu Yan intentionally let Ao Ming know, a way to intimidate her.
Ten minutes later.
Lu Yan emerged from the bathroom, changed into clean clothes.
“Why aren't you sleeping yet?”
Seeing Ao Ming sitting on the sofa in the living room, staring at the ceiling, Lu Yan walked over and sat opposite her.
He had to admit, those legs of hers were indeed beautiful.
Whether it was Ruan Mei or Song Xiao Hui, their legs were both very nice, but Ao Ming's long legs had a different kind of exquisiteness and allure.
Ao Ming didn't mind Lu Yan's gaze that swept over her legs, and earnestly asked, "Do I still have a chance to practice internal cultivation techniques?"
“You want to learn?”
Lu Yan wasn't overly surprised.
As an assassin, it was natural to desire greater strength.
“Will you teach me?”
Ao Ming asked.
“Practicing is very tough.”
Lu Yan said solemnly.
This was a fact.
There's a saying, “Practice martial arts without cultivating, and you'll end up empty-handed."
Martial arts are better, with talent, less time is needed.
But cultivation is different.
It's a persistent practice, not a day can be missed.
Lu Yan now had to set aside time every day to cultivate the Nine Yang Divine Skill, even after "toiling" with Song Xiao Hui, he had to cultivate for an hour before resting.
It was a habit.
“Very tough?”
Ao Ming, still with her ice beauty face, said, “Do you think my gun skills require hard practice?”
“It’s much tougher than practicing your gun skills.”
Lu Yan said earnestly, not deceiving Ao Ming.
“I want to try it.”
Ao Ming said.
“I'm afraid you won't be able to stick with it.”
Lu Yan said.
“How will I know if I don't try it?”
Ao Ming clearly had no intention of giving up.
“Alright then.”
Lu Yan stood up, walked toward the practice room, saying, "If you can stick with it for a month, I'll consider it, just for your efforts in protecting Xiao Hui.”
Seeing this, Ao Ming immediately followed.
“Stick with what?”
Ao Ming asked expectantly.
“Standing in a horse stance, practicing breathing.”
With that, Lu Yan struck a very basic horse stance, one that clearly looked stable and unwavering.
“Standing in a horse stance, I understand.”
Ao Ming stood in front of Lu Yan, saying, “Practicing breathing, what’s that about?”
“It’s like when you practice your gun skills, you need to maintain a certain breathing rhythm.”
Lu Yan explained briefly.
“I get it.”
Ao Ming suddenly understood, and couldn't help but smile.
“Do you need to change into a practice outfit?”
Lu Yan glanced at Ao Ming’s short skirt.
“No need.”
Ao Ming came to Lu Yan’s side, imitating his stance and started standing in a horse stance, saying, “Anyway, you already took a peek.”
“I swear, I didn't take a peek.”
Lu Yan corrected Ao Ming.
“Right, I was looking openly.”
Ao Ming said.
“Alright, you say so, then so it is.”
Lu Yan didn't dwell on the issue, he had already looked anyway, so he carefully examined Ao Ming, saying, "You actually have a foundation.”
“I practiced a little.”
Ao Ming said naturally.
“Come, spread your legs a bit wider.”
Saying that, Lu Yan used his foot to lightly kick Ao Ming’s shin.
Ao Ming didn’t say anything more.
She didn’t believe she couldn’t stick with it.
So.
Under Lu Yan’s strict requirements, less than an hour later, Ao Ming’s legs started to tremble.
“Alright, go take a shower and rest.”
Lu Yan yawned.
“I can still hold on.”
Ao Ming gritted her teeth, saying.
“Too much of anything is bad, haven’t you heard? Tonight, we stop here.”
Lu Yan said sternly, with the demeanor of a grandmaster.
At least, that’s how Ao Ming felt at this moment.
“Alright.”
Ao Ming was about to retract her horse stance, but her legs buckled, almost causing her to fall. But a strong arm embraced her slender waist, keeping her steady.
“See, not listening to old folks’ advice, you suffer the consequences. Practicing martial arts, practicing cultivation, you can't rush it.”
Lu Yan held Ao Ming’s arm, saying, "Now go take a bath, get a good night's rest, don’t forget you have a mission.”
“Got it.”
Ao Ming, like a little girl who had done something wrong, hung her head, not daring to look at Lu Yan, her strict teacher, for too long.
Lu Yan was so patient because he saw how determined Ao Ming was to learn.
At this moment, Ao Ming was already drenched in sweat, proving her effort.
After sending Ao Ming to the bathroom, Lu Yan glanced at the time. There were still more than three hours until dawn. He thought for a moment, then went to the study, found today’s newspaper, and took a look at international news.
Half an hour later.
Ao Ming walked in with a cup of fragrant tea, placed it in front of Lu Yan, and said, "You should rest early too.”
With that, she turned and left, leaving Lu Yan with a fragrant back.
Lu Yan didn't hesitate, he took a sip of the fragrant tea and continued to read the newspaper.
Ao Ming walked out the door, her eyes catching a glimpse of Lu Yan’s unhesitatingly drinking the tea she brewed, she quickly returned to her room, a strange warmth welling up in her heart.
Lu Yan hadn't even suspected her of poisoning him?!
This was trust.
The feeling of being trusted was wonderful!
It was indeed just a cup of refreshing tea.
Ao Ming didn’t know that Lu Yan had cultivated the Nine Yang Divine Skill, making him immune to ordinary poisons.
Even if he were poisoned, he could use his internal energy to detoxify himself.