Immediately, a servant came over with a basin of water and a clean towel.

Lu Yuan quickly wiped the sweat from his body. His strong, muscular physique made the girl holding the basin blush; she stole glances at him from time to time.

"Mrs. Zhuang, I am leaving now."

After wiping himself down, Lu Yuan greeted Zhuang Xiujie and turned to leave the courtyard, which had been temporarily converted into a Martial Arts field.

His spar with Zhuang Xiujie today had been spontaneous. Otherwise, it should have properly taken place in the official training grounds.

"Take care, Little Senior Brother."

Zhuang Xiujie meticulously observed the etiquette.

She watched Lu Yuan leave until his figure disappeared from the courtyard.

Zhuang Xiujie glanced at the mess in the courtyard and also turned to leave.

However, she stopped just as she stepped out of the courtyard's archway. Not far away, she saw a black-haired, middle-aged man standing with his hands behind his back, quietly watching her.

Her eyes flickered, and she called out, "Second Senior Brother."

The black-haired, middle-aged man nodded slightly. His gaze swept past Zhuang Xiujie, seemingly looking towards the courtyard behind her.

"What do you think of him?"

Zhuang Xiujie naturally knew who the black-haired, middle-aged man was referring to. She took a shallow breath and replied with a serious expression, "He's even more monstrous than we anticipated.

I taught him the Crane-shaped Step, and he learned and mastered it completely within a day.

His comprehension is so high, his talent so strong; apart from Ba back then, I've never seen another like him in my life.

Not to mention, he also possesses the Palace of Flesh..."

The black-haired, middle-aged man nodded and said flatly, "My assessment is similar.

The Teacher truly chose the right true disciple with this one."

Zhuang Xiujie hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Second Senior Brother, do you... still intend to contend for it?"

The black-haired, middle-aged man glanced at her and said, "I never intended to contend for anything.

Previously, when the Teacher wanted someone to inherit the Crane Sect, I stepped forward.

Everything I did was to earn the conviction of all of you.

Now that the Teacher has a better choice, I will naturally do my best to assist... Do you understand my meaning?"

Zhuang Xiujie couldn't discern any trace of emotion on the black-haired, middle-aged man's face and didn't know what to say, so she merely hummed in acknowledgment.

"What about Junior Brother Lin?" the black-haired, middle-aged man asked again.

Zhuang Xiujie replied, "He returned to Burnt Rock. For Mo Mo's surgery. He should be on his way to the Sum Nation by now."

The black-haired, middle-aged man fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "The Teacher has instructed me to hand over the White River City businesses to Junior Brother Lin..."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Xiujie's eyes lit up, and a hint of excitement showed on her face.

This soon turned into a wave of emotion as she looked back at the courtyard behind her.

"It seems the Teacher is truly very pleased with accepting this true disciple..."

***

Lu Yuan walked to the door of his resting room. The girl who had brought him the basin of water was still following closely behind him.

"You can go about your work. I'll call you if I need anything."

Lu Yuan stopped at his doorway and said to the girl.

"Yes, sir," the girl responded, but her fidgeting body language suggested a reluctance to leave.

The 'servants' at Linghe Pavilion were all highly paid individuals recruited from specialized domestic service agencies.

Not only were they professionally trained, but regardless of gender, their figures and appearances were quite good.

The girl who had brought Lu Yuan the water basin looked a few years older than him, with a pure and lovely face.

Her figure was also excellent; the loose, traditional-style uniform couldn't conceal her exceptionally full bosom.

Carrying the basin, the girl kept glancing back at Lu Yuan as she walked away, a hint of subtle resentment in her eyes.

Lu Yuan knew what she was after.

Linghe Pavilion was clearly a grand and influential household. Anyone who wasn't a fool could see that the people living in this estate were either rich or noble.

For 'working folk' like her, it was natural to seize any chance to 'marry up' at all costs.

Especially since Lu Yuan not only had a 'distinguished status' but was also well-built and, to top it off, possessed the handsome face of a top-tier young idol.

It was no exaggeration to say that if Lu Yuan showed even the slightest hint of such interest...

within a minute, the girl carrying the basin would willingly be lying stark naked on his bed.

CREAK—

He pushed open the door and entered the room. The first thing that caught his eye was a large calligraphy of the character 'Crane'.

It's actually not that difficult, is it?

Lu Yuan thought.

He was quite certain that if it were his self from his previous life, he would never have let such an opportunity pass.

But over the past few days, he had easily rejected many similar advances.

It wasn't for any noble-sounding reason.

It was simply that... he truly didn't want to.

That pure carnal desire between men and women now seemed very, very faint to him.

Or perhaps, it was easily and casually suppressed by other, stronger desires within him.

Is it because my intelligence has increased, so my willpower has also unknowingly grown much stronger...?

With a firm goal, my will has become like a sharp knife. If I want to reject something, one slice severs it cleanly and decisively...

Meaningless indecision and worries are also becoming fewer and fewer.

Lu Yuan analyzed himself.

He casually sat down on the soft cushion in the center of the room's floor, facing the 'Crane' calligraphy on the wall before him.

The room was very large, spacious, and tidy.

Someone came in to clean it three times a day, and the incense burner on the table burned sandalwood twenty-four hours a day, its fragrance helping to calm the mind and focus the spirit.

If he wanted anything to eat or drink, or had any other needs, he just had to notify Liu Si via his phone.

Within five minutes, someone would immediately deliver it.

Lu Yuan had been living here for ten days, enjoying ten days of a pampered and comfortable life.

Sometimes, he even had the illusion that he had somehow transmigrated once more, becoming the 'young master' of some prominent, wealthy household.

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