85 - Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’

Chapter 85: Shang Wu's Special Lesson "From now on, why don't you sleep in my room?" Li Mo suddenly suggested. Clang— Along with his words, the bowl and chopsticks slipped from Ying Bing's hands, crashing into pieces on the ice-covered floor. Li Mo was taken aback and sighed helplessly, "Look around, is this still a place fit for living?" "......" Ying Bing remained silent, her gaze dropping to survey the chaotic scene in the room. It was a complete wreck. Even her bed was precariously supported by unmelted ice. Once the ice melted, the bed would undoubtedly collapse. "You can move to the next room; I’ve been sleeping comfortably in the side room." Li Mo added. "Okay." Ying Bing nodded, picking up a new pair of chopsticks and began to eat her meal slowly, albeit with slightly stiff movements. Li Mo, unsure of what to say, decided that perhaps she just wanted some quiet time. ..... The afternoon was only half gone when the icy figure retreated into the new room, continuing her silence without even practicing. However, Shang Wu returned, her face brimming with confidence and beauty. "Master, did you return from the library after some reading?" Li Mo inquired. "Yes," Shang Wu responded, her spirit high as if she had grasped profound truth. "And have you thought of something to teach me?" Li Mo raised an eyebrow, thinking it logical that his young master, already a distinguished elder despite her age, simply needed a bit of guidance in teaching methods. "I read in a book that a master should teach a disciple what they excel in the most," Shang Wu declared, lifting her chin proudly. "That's right." Li Mo found the reasoning sound. Upon deliberation, Shang Wu claimed, "I consider my expertise boils down to three things," and she raised three slender fingers. Li Mo assumed a posture of eager attentiveness. With a proud demeanor, his master asserted, "Fighting, drinking, and gambling." Li Mo: "....." Indeed, there was nothing technically wrong with that, though he couldn’t help but feel something was amiss. "The book also mentioned that teaching a disciple requires leading by example. Let’s start with the first," Shang Wu said, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Come on, let's have a fight. I'll teach you during the battle." Li Mo: "?" Such an interactive teaching method. "Can we skip the fight?" "No way, I must be a competent master." "Wait!" "What now?" "Before we start, could you please tell me where that book is in the library...." Li Mo vowed to himself that he would find and destroy that book. Shang Wu’s almond-shaped eyes sparkled as she smirked, "I'll tell you after we fight." "....." Li Mo went quiet, a small flame igniting within his eyes. Despite her infamous reputation in the Qingyuan Sect as an innate combat saint and a figure who could deter troublesome children from crying, he wasn’t weak anymore. Having sparred with one of destiny’s chosen girls and breaking through his inner strength last night, he felt he shouldn’t fare too poorly against Shang Wu. Following her through the back door to the open space outside, he prepared himself. As soon as they stepped through, a buzzing sound echoed—Shang Wu’s fiery aura expanded boundlessly, enveloping everything within a hundred meters in a blaze. Instantly, silence descended, and a scorching heat surged from all directions, making Li Mo feel as if he was inside an alchemical furnace, disconnected from the world. Such is the power of a Nascent Realm master, whose inner landscape can influence the surroundings like a tangible realm field. This doesn’t feel right. "Master, aren't you restraining your power?" Li Mo asked in confusion. "The first rule of fighting: exploit your strength to the fullest, never resorting to any useless tricks," Shang Wu instructed with genuine seriousness. Li Mo: "!" I’m not equipped for this competition! Retreat! I need to retreat! However, retreating was not an option, as his beautiful master was eager for battle. ..... Half an hour later. "Ugh...." Li Mo staggered backward, holding his reddened forehead. Although Shang Wu didn’t hold back her level, she didn’t inflict any real harm, relying solely on flicks to counter his attacks. Her seemingly delicate finger became an insurmountable obstacle, countering him with a flick to his forehead every time he attacked. "Is that all?" Shang Wu chuckled softly, rubbing her fingers. "....." Li Mo clenched his fists. Wind Shadow Step! His figure split into eight, lunging at Shang Wu from different angles. Shang Wu, however, merely scoffed. Bang— In the next instant, he was sent flying backward at an even faster pace. "When fighting, never lose your cool. Stay calm. Unlike a hot-blooded protagonist in a tale, rage will only make you lose your edge over winnable opponents." "The true king of fights can even spare the effort to mock their opponent," she concluded. Hearing this, Li Mo, his head spinning from the flicks, instinctively absorbed the lesson. Ha, is that all? Sweet talk? I’m well-versed in that! Without thinking, he blurted out, "Old woman?" Shang Wu's smile froze abruptly. The heated air seemed to stand still, with only the heat slowly rising. "One last piece of advice," Shang Wu, with a sardonic laugh and an unkindly sweet smile, articulated, "never provoke someone you cannot defeat." Li Mo: "!" A gust of fierce wind swept past his face. It was as if some ancient primal beast had awakened. At that moment, Li Mo felt a chill down his spine. Driven by a survival instinct, he summoned the power of his world seed. The Pangu Annihilation Hammer appeared in his hands. Earth-Settling First Form, Mountain Setting. Hum— © All content is copyrighted by its respective owners or authors. Upon utilizing the divine weapon, the air solidified, and everything around started trembling violently. Even objects far outside the field were affected. In her irritated state, Shang Wu raised an eyebrow. Boom!! The earth quaked, and the sun dimmed. This marked Li Mo's first time wielding a divine weapon. Its frightening power permeated the entire area and extended beyond. The strike mimicked thunder, seemingly divine retribution—untamable and fierce. Yet. As the terrifying hammer collided with the delicate palm of the woman, its momentum abruptly ceased. The mighty force dissipated instantaneously. "You brat," Shang Wu remarked with surprise, as the Pangu Annihilation Hammer buzzed in her grasp. Li Mo naturally hadn’t unleashed the full potential of the divine weapon; in fact, it wasn’t within his capability to do so. But merely swinging it was enough to astonish. Even for Shang Wu, it required some effort to intercept. "No more fighting, really. You can flick me to death instead," Li Mo sighed, drained, resembling a salted fish, resigned from the pursuit of becoming a master. "How did you manage that?" Shang Wu poked his face curiously, examining her precious disciple as if he were a rare specimen. Retracting his hammer, Li Mo grinned, "Rage doesn't always unlock potential." "But a will to survive can," he added. What sort of answer is that? Then suddenly, Li Mo feigned shock: "Elder Qian, you've come for the debts?" Shang Wu, temporarily startled, turned in surprise. Nothing there. Where was Elder Qian? Upon turning back, Li Mo had vanished from sight, escaping even Shang Wu's sensing field. This new trick Li Mo had developed taught him something: If you can't win, don’t stubbornly persist. Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, escape was the best. "How did he slip away?" Ying Bing squinted thoughtfully at a corner of the field. She discovered the cause. There was a hole burned through the domain, as if by some flame. "Shang Wu's domain is manifested through the projection of the Southern Bright Flame." "Not only can he employ a divine weapon, but he can also break through a Nascent Realm's domain?" Up in the loft at the window, Ying Bing silently watched the entire spectacle. Her finally settled eyes stirred once again with ripples of emotion.