Martial Arts Crossover: My Master is Huang Rong

He moved with lightning speed, so fast that his movements were almost impossible to see.

He carried no sword and did not use any palm techniques; he simply extended his right index and middle fingers and gently pinched them together.

"Ding!"

A crisp metallic clang rang out, and the man at the front suddenly felt his hand lighten. His broadsword was being held firmly between two fingers, rendering him unable to move!

He was horrified and was about to withdraw his sword when Lin Xuan flicked his finger lightly.

A surge of powerful internal energy erupted instantly. The man felt a tremendous force coming from him, and his broadsword flew out of his hand with a "hum," soaring high into the air before embedding itself directly in a nearby tree, the blade still trembling.

The speed and force were astonishing!

The other men were horrified to see their companion had even dropped his weapon. They were about to change their tactics, but Lin Xuan gave them no chance.

He moved like a ghost, gently patting the chest of a man next to him with his left hand. It seemed gentle, but his inner strength was already revealed.

The man felt a tightness in his chest and a sweet taste in his throat. He was thrown backward and fell to the ground with a thud. He was in so much pain that he couldn't get up for a long time, and the knife in his hand fell to the side. He tried to struggle, but found that he had no strength left.

The remaining men, seeing this, were terrified and dared not continue. They scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing for their lives.

How could Lin Xuan let them escape? He flicked his right hand, and an invisible burst of energy was instantly released.

"boom!"

"boom!"

Two muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously. The two fleeing men felt a numbness in their backs, and were thrown into the air by a tremendous force, crashing heavily into a tree trunk before sliding to the ground, spitting blood, and instantly losing consciousness.

The other man ran a little further, but Lin Xuan merely flicked his finger, and a pebble, whistling through the air, struck the man squarely in the knee. The man screamed, his legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to move.

From the moment Lin Xuan made his move to the moment the battle was resolved, the entire process took only a flash, so fast that even Shuang'er, who was standing behind Lin Xuan, didn't have time to see how he made his move.

She only saw Lin Xuan's figure flash a few times before the five fierce-looking men all fell to the ground, their fates unknown. This power was far more profound and awe-inspiring than she had imagined!

The young woman was completely dumbfounded. She was considered a skilled fighter in the martial arts world, relying on her family's martial arts prowess, but compared to the young man before her, she was worlds apart. She had never seen such incredible martial arts!

Lin Xuan ignored the thugs lying haphazardly on the ground. He slowly walked up to the woman, looked her up and down, and thought to himself: "Quite pretty."

"The girl's injuries are quite serious."

As he spoke, Lin Xuan extended two fingers and gently pressed several acupoints around the wound on her left arm, and then lightly pressed acupoints on her waist to stop the bleeding.

The woman felt a warm internal energy flow through her body, and her previously burning wounds quickly stopped bleeding. Even the fatigue from the depletion of her internal energy was greatly reduced. She knew that this was no ordinary acupoint striking technique, and her gratitude and awe for her mysterious benefactor were beyond words.

"Thank you... thank you so much for saving my life!" The woman endured the pain and struggled to clasp her hands in a gesture of respect.

Lin Xuan raised his hand to indicate that she didn't need to be so polite. He took out a small porcelain bottle from his pocket and handed it to the woman: "This contains medicine for healing injuries. Applying it externally can stop bleeding and promote tissue regeneration, while taking it internally can help you restore your internal strength. Take one pill a day, and you will be healed in three days."

The woman took the medicine bottle with trembling hands, and seeing the shimmering light emanating from it, she knew it was no ordinary medicine.

"I can never repay your great kindness in this lifetime!" The woman's gratitude was overflowing, and she was about to bow again.

Lin Xuan subtly stepped back, avoiding her kneeling.

"No need to thank me. It was nothing," Lin Xuan said calmly, without a trace of arrogance in his tone.

His gaze swept over the bundle tightly wrapped around the woman's waist, but he didn't ask any further questions. With a wave of his hand, Lin Xuan turned and walked out of the dense forest. Shuang'er, seeing this, quickly followed.

"My benefactor! May I ask your name?" the woman called out again.

Lin Xuan's figure had gradually faded into the distance, leaving only his clear voice drifting in the wind:

"Don't worry about such trivial matters!"

Seeing that Lin Xuan's figure was about to disappear completely, the woman used all her strength to shout clearly in the direction he had gone:

“My benefactor! I am Shui Sheng from the Shui family of Guanzhong! I will remember this great kindness and repay it many times over in the future!”

Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Visit to Mantuo Manor

As they traveled south from Zhongnan Mountain, Lin Xuan and Shuang'er's figures blended into the picturesque scenery of Jiangnan, resembling an ink painting.

The journey may have been dusty, but it was also full of beautiful scenery.

Shuang'er made rapid progress, and under the careful guidance of her master Lin Xuan, she gradually mastered the profound methods of the Nine Yin Manual.

The once delicate and shy Shuang'er now possesses a certain air of composure in every move she makes. Her eyes, brimming with inner radiance, are gradually blossoming with their own unique brilliance.

The destination of this trip was naturally Murong Fu, but Lin Xuan did not steer the ship directly toward Swallow's Nest.

He had other plans in mind.

Outside Suzhou city, on the shore of Taihu Lake.

The Mantuo Manor, which is both a fairyland and a forbidden place, is Lin Xuan's true destination on this trip.

A small, covered boat, carrying two people, glided leisurely across the emerald waves. The creaking of the boatman's oars, along with the sound of the wind on both banks, was as melodious as a folk song from Jiangnan.

Autumn in Jiangnan is completely different from the desolate and bleak landscape of the North.

It doesn't have that overwhelming golden hue; instead, it's like a poem with a drawn-out ending, each rhyme exuding tenderness and warmth.

The water and sky blend into one color, and the distant mountains are like dark eyebrows, shrouded in a thin layer of autumn mist, hazy and indistinct, like a young girl draped in a light veil.

Amidst the withered lotus leaves nearby, a few late-blooming hibiscus flowers still stand stubbornly, adorning this vast expanse of water with their last touch of crimson.

Shuang'er nestled beside Lin Xuan, her little head gently resting on his shoulder, her clear, bright eyes curiously observing this picturesque Jiangnan region she had never seen before.

Her little face was full of undisguised joy and curiosity, like a fledgling swallow leaving the nest for the first time, full of desire to explore everything in the world.

"Young master, this place is so beautiful, it's like a dream."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan smiled gently and pulled her closer.

The small boat glided leisurely through a narrow bend in the river, and suddenly the view opened up before us, as if we had stepped from the human world into a fairyland in an instant.

An island embraced by azure waves lies quietly amidst the vast expanse of Taihu Lake.

The pavilions and towers on the island are scattered in a well-organized manner, with flying eaves and brackets appearing and disappearing among the lush flowers and green trees.

Exotic flowers and rare herbs, vying for beauty, adorn the entire island like a giant brocade basket.

Although it is early autumn, the island is still full of flowers, especially the camellias of various colors, which are blooming most passionately and unrestrainedly, like fire, like a blazing inferno, like clouds, like rosy clouds.

High walls surround the island, obscuring most of its interior scenery, leaving only a few protruding eaves, adding to its mystery and sparking the imagination.

This is Mantuo Villa.

"Young master, this place is even more beautiful than in the painting!" Shuang'er couldn't help but exclaim softly.

Lin Xuan smiled.

"The scenery is beautiful, but the owner of this beautiful scenery may not have a temper as gentle as the scenery itself."

Li Qingluo, the owner of Mantuo Manor, has a well-known peculiar quirk in the martial arts world: she despises all men.

Any man who sets foot on the island without permission will, at best, have his legs broken and be thrown into the lake, and at worst, become nourishment for those beautiful flowers.

Sure enough, as soon as the small boat docked and the two stepped onto the solid bluestone slabs, two maids dressed in blue, holding long whips, blocked their way.

The two maids were agile, with slightly bulging temples and cold, sharp eyes, clearly indicating that they were both highly skilled martial artists.

"Manor of Mando, no men allowed! If you don't want to die, get out of here right now!"

One of the maids shouted sharply, flicking her wrist. The long, black whip cracked in the air with a crisp sound, creating a small shockwave. Her imposing manner was full of undeniable warning.

Lin Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, as if everything before him had nothing to do with him.

He didn't even glance at the two maids, but simply gestured to Shuang'er beside him with a look that carried a hint of encouragement and complete trust.

Shuang'er understood immediately.

She knew that the young master was trying to establish his authority over her.

She took a step forward, her petite figure steadily shielding Lin Xuan behind her.

She raised her head, her clear gaze meeting the angry stares of the two maids without fear.

"We have come to pay our respects to Madam. Please inform her, sisters."

Shuang'er's voice was soft and gentle, like the spring breeze of Jiangnan.

"What a reckless girl!"

The maids were furious that she dared to talk back. "Who are you to meddle in the rules of Mantuo Manor!"

Before the words were even finished, the long whips in their hands had already transformed into two venomous snakes with their tongues flicking out, accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound as one whipped around Shuang'er's slender waist, and the other lashed out at Lin Xuan's face.

The whip technique was ruthless and cunning, and the coordination was seamless, clearly a deadly move honed through extensive training.

A glint flashed in Shuang'er's eyes, and she no longer held back in the slightest.

Her delicate body moved like a wisp of smoke or a fallen leaf, drifting erratically between the whip's shadows. The superior movement techniques of the Nine Yin Manual were unleashed, moving with incredible speed.

Two sharp whip shadows barely grazed the hem of her clothes, without touching a single piece of fabric.

"Humph!"

Shuang'er gave a soft hum, and with a swift turn, she appeared like a ghost behind one of the maids.

She extended her right hand, her index and middle fingers joined together like a sword, a faint white aura swirling around her fingertips. With skillful force, like a nimble snake emerging from its hole, she struck the maid's wrist holding the whip with perfect precision.

The maid felt a piercing numbness in her wrist, and a soft, eerie force penetrated her bone, instantly causing half of her body to lose sensation. Her fingers could no longer exert any force, and the long whip flew out of her hand with a "clang," nearly striking her companion.

Before she could react, Shuang'er's left hand followed her like a shadow, striking two acupoints on her with lightning speed.

The maid's body stiffened, her acupoints were sealed, and she was immediately unable to move. Even her cry of surprise was stuck in her throat, and all that remained in her eyes was endless horror.

The other maid was terrified when she saw this. She quickly put away her whip and went back to defend herself. Her long whip danced into a dense curtain of light, sweeping towards Shuang'er, clearly trying to force Shuang'er back and save her companion.

However, Shuang'er was agile. She was like a butterfly flitting among flowers in a storm, moving calmly and skillfully through the dense whip shadows.

After dodging the sharpest whip tip, she seized the opportunity, lightly touched the bluestone slab with her toes, and her figure rose from the ground, like a fairy flying into the sky, gracefully passing over the maid's head.

As she landed, she released a burst of true energy from her palm, and a gentle yet dense internal force silently invaded the maid's meridians through the Baihui acupoint on the top of her head.

The maid felt a sudden dizziness, as if the world was spinning. The internal energy she had managed to muster instantly became disordered, and the long whip she was wielding became weak and powerless, its movements chaotic.

Shuang'er took advantage of the situation and floated down. With a swift movement, she snatched the long whip and wrapped the cold blade around the maid's fair neck.

She didn't tighten it forcefully, but rather used a clever technique to maintain it. However, the cold touch of the leather and the suffocating pressure were enough to make the maid turn pale, her body stiffen, and she dared not make the slightest movement.

The whole process was swift and decisive; in just three breaths, Shuang'er had effortlessly subdued two skilled maids who were considered experts in the manor.

Throughout the entire process, Shuang'er never used a heavy blow, relying entirely on skillful and light-handed techniques to fully demonstrate the agile and graceful essence of the Nine Yin Manual's martial arts, which emphasizes using softness to overcome hardness.

Lin Xuan stood to the side and nodded in satisfaction.

Shuang'er's growth is faster than he expected; she is now capable of standing on her own.

At this moment, several more guards carrying swords and knives rushed over from a distance upon hearing the commotion.

When they saw their companion standing motionless on the ground, and then saw the graceful and charming girl holding a long whip, and the calm and handsome boy behind her, they were all stunned and hesitated.

They were well aware of the martial arts skills of these two maids, yet they were so easily defeated by a seemingly frail little girl, which was beyond their comprehension.

An old servant in gray robes, who was the leader, stepped forward. His eyes darted back and forth between Lin Xuan and Shuang'er. Seeing that Lin Xuan had a noble and unfathomable demeanor, he knew that he had kicked a hornet's nest today.

Although Mantuo Manor despises men, they are not blind fools. If it were an ordinary thug, they would have already beaten him up with sticks, but this person is clearly a powerful figure who has crossed the river.

"Gentlemen... what brings you to our humble estate?" The old servant's tone softened considerably, carrying a hint of probing and wariness.

Lin Xuan then spoke leisurely, his voice clear and mellow: "My name is Long Aotian. I have come to pay my respects to Madam on the orders of an old friend."

Seeing that he spoke, the old servant, not daring to be negligent, could only cup his hands and say, "Please wait a moment while I go in and inform him."

After saying that, he quickly called for his men to help up the two restrained maids and hurried into the manor.

Lin Xuan and Shuang'er waited quietly outside the manor. Shuang'er casually tossed the long whip she had snatched back to the maid. The maid was both ashamed and angry, but she was intimidated by Lin Xuan's martial arts skills and dared not retaliate. She could only lower her head and retreat.

The wait was short; soon, the old servant returned.

His face showed a mixture of respect and barely concealed doubt as he bowed to Lin Xuan and Shuang'er, saying, "Madam requests your presence. Please follow me."

Following the old servant, Lin Xuan and Shuang'er finally stepped into the legendary Mantuo Manor.

Upon entering the manor, it felt as if one had entered another world.

Clusters of flowers, towering rocks, and winding cobblestone paths lead to secluded flowerbeds.

The air was filled with a rich and fragrant floral scent, a blend of aromas from a hundred flowers that was refreshing yet so intense that it made one feel slightly tipsy.

Camellias of all colors are in full bloom, some as red as fire, some as white as snow, some as pink as the sunset, and some as purple as mist, creating a breathtaking sight.

Along the path, emerald green banana leaves spread their broad blades, and the babbling brook from the artificial hill creates an elegant and vibrant picture of a Jiangnan garden.

The entire villa reveals the owner's passion for gardening and his ultimate pursuit of beauty.