Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 947 Thousand Families
Just as Song Zhenrong was filled with doubt and surprise, Diao Xiaohui made a move.

She silently moved closer to her brother, her eyes filled with a strange anxiety. She reached out a finger and carefully, very lightly, touched the spot on Song Zhenrong's severed finger wrapped in cloth, her brows furrowing deeply.

Song Zhenrong felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that his sister's actions were a silent expression of concern and worry.

He immediately straightened his back and said with a forced smile, "It's alright! Look how well Miss Linghu has recovered! With a little more practice, I'll get back into the swing of things! A few fingers can't possibly stump me!"

Despite his bold words, both he and Diao Xiaohui understood that on the path of martial arts, once the body is crippled, the future is like a ladder to heaven being cut off. Maintaining the status quo would be difficult enough, let alone making further progress.

Upon hearing this, Diao Xiaohui's eyes quickly welled up with tears, but she forced them back.

She clenched her fists tightly, her gaze fixed on the closed pharmacy door like a nail.

All hope rests on the divine physician Ding inside.

If she could be reborn from the ashes... then a few fingers... shouldn't be too difficult, right?

As the group waited in silence, each lost in their own thoughts, a figure appeared silently outside the moon gate of the courtyard.

The newcomer was an elderly man in a cloth robe. He was not tall, but he possessed an air of profound composure and imposing presence.

He walked through the courtyard without looking to the side, as if Song Zhenrong, Diao Xiaohui, Zhuge Shi, and Linghu Xiang, who was still practicing hard, were just background figures in the courtyard, not worthy of his attention at all.

Zhuge Shi was startled and reacted the fastest, immediately curtsying and bowing respectfully: "Greetings, Master Ouyang!"

Song Zhenrong and Linghu Xiang immediately realized that the old man who could move around so freely in the Ouyang residence was no ordinary person, and they quickly bowed in greeting.

However, Master Ouyang completely ignored everyone's greetings and gestures.

He walked steadily straight to the door of the pharmacy, which was covered with an invisible array.

Through the heavy wooden door, he could almost see the busy figures inside.

“Master Ouyang! Physician Ding is still refining medicine, we must not disturb him…” Zhuge Shi’s heart tightened, and he hurriedly reminded him in a low voice.

But before he could finish speaking, Master Ouyang calmly extended a strong finger, hovered the fingertip, and very lightly and quickly touched the door panel.

"Buzz——"

A faint yet incredibly clear buzzing sound rang out!
A blue ripple pattern, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, instantly appeared on the door panel, spreading violently like a stone thrown into a still lake!
The light of the array power contained within flashed and disappeared in an instant, and a powerful repulsive force tried to repel the finger that dared to touch the array!

Master Ouyang's fingers remained as steady as a rock the instant they made contact!

He did not confront it head-on. The blue light at his fingertips turned slightly, and the array power that was enough to send an ordinary person flying several feet away was easily smoothed out by the blue light at his fingertips, just like ice and snow melting away. The light patterns quickly dimmed, faded, and disappeared into nothingness.

He slowly withdrew his finger, looked down at the faint spiritual sensation remaining on his fingertip, and a very subtle, almost satisfied smile finally appeared on his usually calm face.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone whose hearts had almost stopped, he took a step forward!

This time, he didn't push the door open, nor did he ram it open!
His not-so-tall figure was like an invisible stream of water, or perhaps the heavy wooden door was just a thin phantom!

They just walked straight through!
There were no lighting effects, no sounds, and no clashes of forces.

It was as if the wooden door, which was strong enough to withstand the impact of an ordinary demon king, along with the mysterious array on it, was nothing but air to him!

The entire courtyard seemed frozen in time.

Song Zhenrong's pupils suddenly contracted, and he blinked hard twice in disbelief, wondering if he was hallucinating from his recent serious injury!

“Just now…that master…he…” Song Zhenrong’s throat was dry and his voice was hoarse.

"Silence."

Zhuge Shi gave the command almost in a whisper, his face more solemn than ever before.

In this Ouyang mansion, everyone must maintain absolute reverence for Master Ouyang, for he is the true master of this place!

An invisible pressure enveloped the courtyard. Everyone held their breath, and even Linghu Xiang, who was practicing her sword, quietly stopped and dared not make the slightest move.

Time passed silently, exceptionally slowly.

The flowers and plants in the courtyard seemed to have become exceptionally quiet because they were enveloped by an invisible force.

About half an hour later, with a soft creak, the door opened.

The first thing to emerge from inside was that cloth robe.

Master Ouyang's figure passed through the doorway.

He walked with an unhurried pace, as if he were simply returning home after a walk, completely ignoring the few people who stood silently outside the door.

Through the crack in the door, everyone saw that Doctor Ding was concentrating intently on refining medicine inside, completely ignoring the people outside.

Clearly, Master Ouyang's trip was only to discuss and offer guidance on formations.

The master's figure quickly disappeared outside the moon gate.

Only when they could no longer feel that faint pressure did the people in the courtyard, as if they had been suffocating and had returned to the surface of the water, exhale heavily and in unison the breath they had been holding in for so long, and the stagnant air instantly loosened a little.

"Lord Zhuge..."

Song Zhenrong's voice was still a little unsteady. He cautiously approached Zhuge Shi, his face filled with undisguised awe and curiosity.

"Who exactly is this Master Ouyang? Forgive my ignorance, but my knowledge of the true masters of the capital is truly limited."

Although he was also a member of the Foolish Underworld, his rank was not high, and he had no way of accessing many real secrets. Information about great figures like Master Ouyang, who only existed in rumors, was even more scarce.

Zhuge Shi glanced at the closed pharmacy door, then at Song Zhenrong and the equally attentive Linghu Xiang and Diao Xiaohui. She knew she had to clarify the master's status to prevent these newcomers from offending him and implicating her. "That Master Ouyang..."

She lowered her voice, her tone carrying an unprecedented seriousness...

……

Qianfu.

Inside and outside the main hall.

As the sun sets in the west, it casts long shadows of the carved window frames onto the polished floor.

Inside the main hall of the Qianjia Mansion, the lingering warmth of the guests' enjoyment still remained.

With a perfectly measured smile on his face, Qian Chongyue, the head of the Qian family, personally escorted several officials in their robes to the threshold of the hall, bowing respectfully in farewell, displaying both demeanor and the bearing of a family head.

"Please take your time, gentlemen. Your presence at my humble abode today is an honor. I will certainly return the visit another day."

"Master Qian, you're too kind. Please wait a moment."

The officials returned the greetings with smiles, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then, led by servants, disappeared into the winding corridors leading to the mansion gate. As the voices faded into the distance, the hall fell completely silent.

The air was filled with the scent of precious incense and the fragrance lingering from the official robes.

The smile on Qian Chongyue's face vanished as quickly as the tide receded, and a look of seriousness crept onto his brow.

He rubbed his temples, turned and strolled back into the hall. Just as he was about to sit down and ponder, a graceful figure emerged from behind the huge screen, as elegant as a solitary orchid.

Madam Shen Xinlian moved with light steps, yet with a hint of cautious probing, like a cat tiptoeing.

She was born with exquisite features, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes and skin as white as snow. Although she was already a mother of two, time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her, leaving almost no trace on her. At first glance, she still looked like a young girl in her late teens, bright and charming.

Standing beside her was the middle-aged Qian Chongyue, whose temples were already streaked with frost, exuding a dignified air but also carrying a hint of weariness typical of middle-aged men.

The two stood together, their appearance so different from that of a loving couple; they looked more like a father and his pampered daughter.

However, the truth is that this beautiful lady has been married to Qian Chongyue for more than 20 years.

Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

But even in this luxurious mansion, Shen Xinlian remained constantly on edge, proceeding cautiously and as if walking on thin ice.

There is no other reason.

She knew very well how she had replaced the previous generation's Lady Qian.

That happened nearly twenty years ago.

Qian Chongyue's lecherousness was no secret among the major families in the capital, though everyone kept it to themselves.

However, compared to those families with chaotic inner affairs and favoring concubines over wives, Qian Chongyue appears unusually "devoted".

He was extremely cautious every time he changed wives. Each of his principal wives could remain in that position for at least ten or twenty years before she could be replaced by a younger and more favored newcomer.

As for how many years a wife can remain in her position, that depends entirely on her skill and ability to manage her husband.

The current Shen Xinlian is naturally extremely confident.

She firmly believed that in terms of appearance, figure, charm, and methods, she far surpassed her ex-boyfriend, and it would be difficult to find a woman in the entire capital who could outshine her in every way.

Nevertheless, she dared not relax her vigilance against Qian Chongyue for a moment, especially to prevent his "cheating" outside from jeopardizing her position as the mistress of the inner quarters.

She could turn a blind eye to casual affairs outside the marriage and pretend she knew nothing about them.

But if any wild woman were brought back to the mansion, it would be the most direct challenge to her status as the empress!
Therefore, she was extremely sensitive to any visitors who could get close to Senjōdake or those brought home by Senjōdake, and kept a close watch on them secretly.

She has now held the position of Lady of a Thousand Households for more than 20 years, far surpassing the previous "predecessors" who left the stage in obscurity after only a decade or so. By all accounts, this position is already as secure as Mount Tai.

However, Qian Chongyue's reputation for "changing wives every ten years" hung like the Sword of Damocles over Shen Xinlian's mind, forcing her to be constantly vigilant. This was the reason why she had quietly appeared and urgently inquired at this moment.

"Master, are you tired?"

Shen Xinlian's voice was soft and sweet, like a spring breeze in March. She considerately helped Qian Chongyue sit down in the main seat, and at the same time, she picked up the warm jade pot and poured him tea at the right temperature. Her movements were smooth and graceful, revealing the intimacy that she had been accustomed to for many years.

"Why did you invite those gentlemen to the manor today? I recall it's been several years since I've seen you host a banquet for them at home." Her tone was gentle, but her eyes subtly swept across Qian Chongyue's face.

Unexpectedly, these words seemed to touch a nerve with Senjōgaku.

He glanced at Shen Xinlian, his eyes suddenly turning cold, and his tone becoming impatient: "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

The tone was stiff and distant.

Shen Xinlian's heart sank.

This sudden cold attitude?

In the past, whenever she showed even the slightest grievance, Qian Chongyue would coax her with gentle words!
A thousand grievances welled up in her heart in an instant, and Shen Xinlian's signature act almost burst forth.

Tears instantly filled her almond-shaped eyes, misty and glistening, her nose slightly red, giving her a pitiful and delicate appearance, as if she was about to burst into tears.

In the past, Qian Chongyue would have already felt sorry for her and stepped forward to comfort her.

However, today, Qian Chongyue merely watched coldly, his eyes as stern as ice-cold knives, his gaze silently conveying a clear warning: You dare to cry? If you dare to spoil the fun, then get out!
Shen Xinlian had never seen that look in his eyes in over twenty years!
Her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles; a mix of grievance and anger almost made her lose control on the spot.

Sure enough, men are all unreliable and fickle!

This change in attitude definitely means she's found someone new!

But Shen Xinlian was no ordinary woman. She was extremely determined. She secretly clenched her fist hidden under her wide sleeves, her nails digging deep into her palms, causing a slight pain. With this fierce determination, she forced back the tears that were already welling up in her eyes!

Qian Chongyue was clearly surprised that his wife could be so patient. Her stubborn way of holding back her tears made him feel a sense of surprise, followed by a feeling of familiarity mixed with heartache.

The frost on his face softened slightly, and he leaned forward and said gently, "What is Madam doing? It's just that the matters discussed with those officials were extremely boring and mundane official business, tedious and dull. Madam must not have liked listening to them, so I didn't want to spoil your mood."

He reached out, as if to stroke her cheek.

Shen Xinlian knew the importance of knowing when to stop and understood the essence of using retreat as a strategy for advancement.

Forcibly suppressing her emotions, she smiled gently and said meekly, "If Master says it's boring, then it must be boring. Whatever you say is true. I was just being nosy."

With this back-and-forth maneuver, the timing was perfect, subtly turning the tide of the previous stalemate.

Qian Chongyue seemed quite pleased with her submissiveness, and his stiffness softened somewhat: "Oh! It's really nothing serious,"

He seemed to be aroused by her gentleness and wanted to confide in her. "It's just that recently a so-called 'masked men' organization has appeared in the capital. They appear and disappear without a trace and specifically target us aristocratic families to carry out assassinations! There's a lot of fear going on, so I invited those officials to my residence to find out what kind of plan they have."

"Huh? The masked man?"

Shen Xinlian immediately opened her eyes wide in agreement, her voice filled with the innocent confusion of a young girl, perfectly satisfying the man's sense of superiority.

"Then... has my lord found out any useful information? I'm quite frightened by what I've heard."

She leaned forward slightly, displaying an expression of both fear and extreme trust in her husband's abilities.

"Of course, of course!"

Qian Chongyue was indeed pleased, straightened his back, and waved his hand as if the masked man was nothing more than a clown.

"How could a few cowardly rats possibly cause any trouble in my capital? Madam, there's no need to worry. Those officials said that the higher-ups have already taken action and are determined to bring these lawless masked men to justice. I expect this trouble will be quelled in no time!"

He spoke casually, but a barely perceptible anxiety lurked deep in his eyes.

(End of this chapter)