Chapter 29: The Flying Mantis!

The room was deathly silent.

Luo Ning kept her clothes half-unfastened, eyes closed, her face turned to the side. She maintained the posture of a distressed heroine resigned to her fate, not moving a muscle.

One could see the gentle rise and fall of her proud, porcelain-white chest; the breathtaking scenery beneath the fabric was something that could be admired with just a slight flick of her clothing.

Every so often, the sensation of the man’s lips brushed against her shoulder. Her hands were held fast, and the unprecedented embarrassment of the situation made her soul tremble. She felt like a small boat caught in a raging storm, unable to steady itself no matter how hard it tried. She could only desperately suppress her racing heart, fearing that if the ship capsized, she would be completely swallowed by the waves.

Luo Ning felt she should be repulsed by this behavior, yet for some reason, her body refused to obey her will. She knew that if her breathing became too heavy, the thief would see the rise and fall of her bodice, yet her breath only grew more labored. She knew that a flushed face would make her appear weak, yet the scorching heat on her cheeks quickly spread to her ears.

Her throat felt tight and uncomfortable. She wanted to let out a groan, but she gritted her teeth and held it back. If she truly let out a sound in front of the little thief, she had no idea how he would mock or ridicule her in his heart. She would rather die than let that happen.

The soreness in her shoulder gradually eased, but the sensation of his touch became increasingly vivid. Luo Ning felt as though every second lasted a year. She longed to kick this shameless thief away, but after several failed attempts, she gave up—mostly out of fear.

Having just witnessed Ye Jingtang’s overbearing sword technique, she knew that in her weakened state, she might not be able to defeat him.

No matter how shameless Ye Jingtang was, he was at least using the pretext of "treating her wounds" to take liberties. If she attacked him, she would be in the wrong, and if she failed to defeat him and ended up pinned down by this thief again, the consequences would be far worse.

*Hoo... hoo...*

Silence filled the canopy, and no one knew how much time had passed.

Ye Jingtang carefully examined the wound near the window. The previously purple skin had mostly returned to its natural color, with only a few beads of blood seeping out. It seemed he was in the clear.

He breathed a silent sigh of relief. His mouth felt numb and bitter, so he didn't speak. He reached for the medicine, applied it to the wound, and then... his gaze drifted uncontrollably downward.

Ye Jingtang wasn't a villain, but he wasn't a saint either. Before, he had been worried about Luo Ning’s condition and truly had no mind for wandering eyes. Now that she was fine and lying so openly before him, where else could his eyes go?

The fabric covering her chest was of high quality and opaque, yet the subtle, rhythmic heaving was visible. Perhaps the heroine was a bit nervous, or perhaps she was overstimulated—anyway, the embroidered landscape on her bodice was not exactly smooth...

"..."

Ye Jingtang scrutinized her for a moment, then forced himself to look up, meeting her stunning face just inches away.

Luo Ning’s face was bright red. She kept her eyes shut, maintaining her expression of aggrieved resignation, not moving at all. She looked like a celestial maiden who had fallen into the hands of a thief. Some might feel guilt, but others might find themselves growing only more excited.

It was at this moment that Ye Jingtang realized he was not the former. He blinked, and seeing that Luo Ning was still unresponsive, waiting for him to finish the treatment, he deliberated for a moment before leaning in and placing a light kiss on her ruby-red lips.

The touch was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water, yet the fragrant, delicate sensation sent his heart reeling.

"Mmph?!"

The indescribable sensation struck her heart. Luo Ning shuddered violently, her eyes snapping open. She stared at Ye Jingtang in shock, perhaps still unable to process what had just happened.

Ye Jingtang had already pulled back, sitting upright with a calm expression.

"All done. Put your clothes back on."

?!

Luo Ning might have been dazed, but she wasn't stupid. That touch on her lips hadn't felt like a finger...

This was her first kiss!

Disbelief filled her eyes, followed by a visible surge of shame and fury. She drew the soft sword from her waist.

*Clang—*

Ye Jingtang quickly retreated, raising his hands.

"Hey, hey? Heroine Luo, what are you doing? Crossing the bridge after crossing the river?"

"You!"

Luo Ning’s face turned beet red. She pointed her sword at Ye Jingtang.

"You... did you just kiss me?"

Ye Jingtang waved his hands. "No, no, what are you talking about..."

??

Luo Ning was truly provoked by this thief’s blatant lying. She raised her sword as if to strike, but before she could move, Ye Jingtang leaned forward and pinned her down again.

"Heroine Luo, if you keep drawing your sword on me, I’m going to stop playing by the rules."

Luo Ning was startled, and the fury in her eyes dimmed slightly. Perhaps she was afraid that this brazen thief really would do something to her. Gritting her teeth, she suppressed the turmoil in her heart and adopted the persona of an ice-cold beauty. She said coldly:

"Don't think I don't know what you did. If there is a next time, I will never forgive you!"

Ye Jingtang nodded repeatedly, helping her pull her collar up to cover her charms.

"Fine, it won't happen again."

Luo Ning’s eyelashes trembled. She stood up, turned her back to Ye Jingtang, and silently fastened her clothes. She reached up to wipe the corners of her teary eyes and touched her still-warm lips. No one knew what she was thinking, but her eyes were red once more.

Ye Jingtang acted as if nothing had happened. After a moment of thought, he asked casually:

"Heroine Luo, are you married or not?"

"I am married! How many times do I have to tell you?"

"Then why do you keep blowing hot and cold with me..."

??

Luo Ning was stunned by the question. She turned back, looking at him as if he were insane.

"Who is blowing hot and cold with you? It is you who keeps pushing your luck, using such methods to insult a woman, and then making excuses and refusing to admit it..."

"Just a moment ago, you risked your life to save me, and let me treat your wounds..."

"Who risked their life? Who let you treat their wounds?"

With her clothes fastened and her sense of security restored, Luo Ning’s presence grew stronger. Her face was as cold as frost.

"Did I die? I shouldn't have bothered with a thief like you! I risked my life to save you, let you bring me back to Shuanggui Alley, and you ignored everything to carry me here and then take liberties with me. If that isn't returning kindness with malice, what is?"

Ye Jingtang raised a hand slightly. "Fine, fine, let's stop arguing. Can we talk about business?"

Luo Ning bit her lower lip, glared at Ye Jingtang for a moment, and then sat down on a chair, keeping her distance.

Ye Jingtang shook his head secretly and took out his spoils. He first took out the small booklet to read.

"This should be Lu Jieyun’s insights on lightness skills. I have to present it to Prince Jing tomorrow. Come over and explain it to me."

Luo Ning sat on the chair, cold and indifferent, not wanting to deal with him. But upon hearing this, her eyes shifted. Suppressing her annoyance, she turned back.

"Lu Jieyun’s lightness skills are the best in the world. This object is a treasure that martial artists dream of. Why are you presenting it to Prince Jing?"

Ye Jingtang continued to flip through the booklet, speaking casually.

"I can just copy it again, it's not like it can't be duplicated. Don't you want to save Qiu Tianhe anymore?"

That was true...

Luo Ning felt she had been so angry that she’d lost her wits. Ye Jingtang was leaning against the bed reading, and it looked like he wouldn't be getting up. She hesitated for a moment, then stood up, resting her full hips on the edge of the bed as she tilted her head to look carefully.

"These are insights, not a manual, so they are somewhat profound. You must first master lightness skills, then gain your own enlightenment based on these insights to make progress... I saw today that you don't know lightness skills. If you want to learn, I..."

Luo Ning’s red lips parted slightly, but she stopped herself. She didn't seem to want to teach this lecherous apprentice.

After flipping through a few pages, Ye Jingtang looked up and said helplessly:

"There are experts everywhere in the Black Yamen; it wouldn't be hard for me to learn lightness skills. You promised to teach me a martial art. If you won't teach me lightness skills, you have to teach me something else. I think the 'Fourteen Hands of Touching Clouds' is very powerful; you could teach me that instead."

*In your dreams...*

The "Fourteen Hands of Touching Clouds" was a top-tier internal martial art that Luo Ning had obtained from Yuxu Mountain. Created by Master Xuanji, who ranked sixth in the world, it was her ultimate trump card.

If Ye Jingtang had been respectful, she might have taught it to him in private, but this shameless thief had kissed and groped her to his heart's content. If she handed over her family’s secrets now, wouldn't she be a total fool?

"I, Luo Ning, keep my word. If you want to learn lightness skills, I will teach you. However, my lightness skills cannot be considered top-tier; I can only bring you through the door. How you improve depends on how you study these insights."

"No problem."

"Lightness skills" were not just about running fast; they were a systematic branch of martial arts. "Body movement" during combat, "stealth" when lurking, and "walking on water" during travel were all classified as "lightness skills." Learning them was quite complex.

Ye Jingtang didn't rush. He put down the booklet and took out the "Dragon’s Cry Map" to examine it.

"Can this thing be copied?"

Luo Ning was speechless. "If the 'Dragon’s Cry Map' could be copied, whoever got their hands on it would probably immediately find a workshop to print tens of thousands of copies and distribute them to the martial arts world to avoid being hunted down for harboring a treasure. This map cannot be copied, and it is extremely profound. It is hard to teach like ordinary martial arts; people usually keep it in their hands to contemplate for themselves."

Ye Jingtang was slightly surprised. "Does Heroine Luo know how to practice this?"

Luo Ning knew a little, but the fact that the leader of the Pingtian Sect possessed the "Dragon’s Cry Map" was a top secret in the martial arts world, and she couldn't speak of it lightly. Given Ye Jingtang’s aptitude, it probably wouldn't take long for him to figure it out himself. She said coldly:

"How would I know? Figure it out yourself."

Ye Jingtang nodded slightly, examining the indestructible "Dragon’s Cry Map" over and over.

"This thing is impervious to blades and cannot be copied, so it cannot be divided as loot. Once I figure out the method, shall I teach you how to practice it?"

?

Luo Ning was stunned. "Legend says that once you master the 'Dragon’s Cry Map,' you can dominate the world and achieve immortality. You, a little thief, would teach me?"

Ye Jingtang spread his hands slightly. "We obtained it together, and you never thought of keeping it all for yourself. Do you really think I’m so lacking in integrity that I would monopolize it? I am keeping it from you not because I don't want you to study it, but because your aptitude is average; you would surely take longer to study it than I would, and it would only bring you a fatal disaster."

"..."

Luo Ning felt this was an insult, but when she had studied the "Portrait of Eternal Youth" from the Pingtian Sect leader, she had indeed spent nearly half a year studying it until she forgot to eat and sleep.

She wanted to learn the secret arts, but she didn't want to fight this shameless thief for the treasure. She didn't respond. Instead, she stood up, walked to the center of the room, and assumed a graceful, ethereal stance.

"Get up. I’ll teach you lightness skills. You practiced weighted running as a child, which gave you a foundation, but you didn't know the techniques for circulating your energy. You only knew how to use brute force to rush, so you had explosive power but couldn't run fast or jump high. Learn well; I won't teach this a second time. If you can't learn it, figure it out yourself."

Ye Jingtang put away his items, sprang to his feet, and came forward to observe carefully.

Niaoniao, who had been keeping watch at the window, saw that the two were finished and hopped onto the table, staring eagerly. It was likely wondering if, after practicing, the Tangtang could fly higher than it could.

"What is called 'lightness skill' is actually the 'method of lightening the body.' If your 'qi rises,' you become as light as a swallow, moving without a sound. Conversely, if your 'qi sinks,' your body becomes as heavy as a thousand pounds—this is what the martial arts world calls the 'Thousand-Pound Drop.' But it is impossible for ordinary people to learn both at the same time; it is easy to disrupt your qi... If you practice hard and diligently, you should be able to master both..."

Luo Ning spread her feet, retracted her fists to her waist, and assumed a beautiful horse stance, explaining the techniques of lightness skills seriously.

Ye Jingtang imitated her posture nearby, listening intently, and then...

Half a quarter of an hour later.

*Crash—*

In the rainy night, a loud noise suddenly came from the roof of the inn, and a hole was smashed through it.

A handsome man poked his head through the tiles, soaked to the skin by the heavy rain. Half his body was still below, his eyes full of astonishment.

"Great technique!"

Niaoniao also flew to the roof, landing and thoughtfully spreading its wings to help Tangtang shield itself from the rain. It made two old-fashioned "chi-chi" sounds, likely muttering—*it can't even jump as high as a bird; nothing special...*

Inside the room, Luo Ning raised her beautiful face, looking at the "Flying Tanglang" who had soared into the sky only to end up hanging from the roof like a hanged ghost. Her expression was one of shock mixed with speechlessness. She scolded angrily:

"Why did you use so much strength?!"

From the inn, several noisy voices could be heard:

"Dear customers, do whatever you want, but pay for the roof repair tomorrow morning, or this little shop will report you to the magistrate..."

"Who is that? Can't a person sleep in the middle of the night?"

"You still have the nerve to shout? Look at them, they even smashed through the roof... Hey?! Get up, stop playing dead!"