The Predecessor Is All Over The Martial Arts World Chapter 4
byChapter 4: Just Looking?
It wasn’t until the water temperature had noticeably cooled down from their splashing and playing that Hou Danxue finally gave up pestering Wuming.
Wuming quickly washed herself, changed into clothes, and lay down on the bed.
The bed was large, but Hou Danxue insisted on sleeping right next to Wuming. Her hand rested on Wuming’s waist and abdomen, constantly giving it a little squeeze.
Wuming was annoyed but didn’t dare retaliate.
Hou Danxue’s physique was much stronger than hers, but her energy was far less.
Wuming was certain that if her hands weren’t well-behaved, they would have to wash up again, and Wuming did not want any more trouble.
“Once you become the Family Head, I won’t have to squeeze in with you, right?”
“The Family Head and the Family Head’s spouse must naturally live together. Do you have a problem with that?”
Wuming was very displeased. Her dream was shattered. She had thought she could experience the life of a noble, having an entire courtyard to herself with a host of servants attending to her.
But now, Hou Danxue was clearly telling her that she was merely her subordinate.
Yet, she was the one who begged her for an alliance in the first place!
She hadn’t even reached the peak of her success and was already ignoring the feelings of her ally?!
Wuming’s desire to finish the job and leave reached its peak, but then she heard Hou Danxue whisper in her ear: “Be good, and tomorrow I will take you to tour my family’s treasury.”
Wuming immediately dismissed the thought of leaving. She shook Hou Danxue and confirmed repeatedly: “It won’t be just looking, right?”
“The Spirit Bamboo you want should be inside. Tell me anything else you desire.”
Wuming’s spirit soared, and her fatigue was completely washed away by the beautiful prospects of the future.
“Can you make that decision?”
“I alone naturally cannot, nor can you. But together, we can.”
It seemed she still remembered their alliance.
“There is still a long time until tomorrow. Can’t we go visit that treasury today—no, right now?”
“Aren’t you tired?”
Hou Danxue was being constantly shaken, and the little bit of drowsiness she had vanished.
Her hand reached up, and her face pressed against Wuming’s, their lips meeting at the corner.
Wuming froze, paused for a moment, and then flipped over, pinning Hou Danxue beneath her.
If it was for the sake of treasure… well, she supposed she could sacrifice her beauty a little.
Besides, purely based on looks, Young Miss Hou was far more beautiful than her. She wouldn’t lose out either way.
Responding to Hou Danxue’s expectant gaze, Wuming kissed her, and Hou Danxue clung tightly to her.
Though she was still being tightly clung to, Wuming felt much better than last time.
Pinning Hou Danxue down greatly reduced her ability to entangle her! Wuming felt she had found the trick to dealing with Hou Danxue.
Hou Danxue only kissed for a while before pushing Wuming away: “That’s enough. If we continue, I won’t be able to leave the house.”
Wuming was pushed away and felt a pang of disappointment.
Strange. Wasn’t she very resistant to all this at first?
Why was she getting more and more into it?
Hou Danxue got up and tidied her clothes. Wuming followed her out, the joy of soon seeing the treasures she longed for overriding the sudden sense of loss.
The treasury Hou Danxue led Wuming to was precisely the target of Wuming’s exploration of the Hou Manor last night.
The Hou Family was wealthy, attracting many martial artists to guard the treasury, which was why Wuming hadn’t dared to act rashly last night, only gazing at it from afar.
Thanks to Hou Danxue, no one blocked their entry. Hou Danxue took out the key and opened the treasury door.
Wuming looked at the countless valuable items and only then truly grasped the wealth of the Hou Family.
She would never need to scramble for resources again. The resources here were enough for a lifetime, allowing her to improve daily.
Wuming gazed affectionately at Hou Danxue before her. She seemed to be radiating brilliant light, gripping Wuming’s heart tightly.
“Eldest Young Miss, can everything here be mine?”
Wuming was not greedy originally; she was only concerned about the Spirit Bamboo that had been snatched from her.
“Only the Family Head can freely take items from here.”
“But aren’t we the only two here? Can’t we quietly take a little extra?”
“The items inside are inventoried daily.”
“Alright, then when are we getting married?”
“Given Grandmother’s temperament, it will be soon. The most time-consuming part is inviting the guests.”
Wuming looked left and right, finally taking her Spirit Bamboo and three other spiritual items suitable to complement the bamboo.
As she walked out of the treasury door, she regretted it again.
Since these things would all be hers in the future, and she had so many resources, why couldn’t she keep the Spirit Bamboo she had painstakingly cultivated?
“Miss, I want to go back and exchange the items…”
“Now that they are out, there are eyes everywhere. Frequent entry and exit from the treasury is not good.”
Only then did Wuming divert some of her attention from the treasures to the surrounding guards.
Even though they tried hard to suppress it, Wuming easily saw the intense envy and jealousy in their eyes.
Wuming felt smug and wrapped her arm around Hou Danxue beside her.
Hehe, envy is useless; their gender is wrong! The Young Miss only likes unique people like her.
If she were a man, she would never have had the chance to form an alliance with the Young Miss! Let alone become the future Madam of the Hou Family.
Hou Danxue did not object to Wuming’s sudden intimacy. Her hand naturally rested on Wuming’s waist, causing Wuming’s body to stiffen.
The expressions of the people around them changed. Wuming knew what they were thinking—they must be scorning her as a pretty boy who seduced the Eldest Young Miss.
Fine, a pretty boy is a pretty boy. This soft rice is truly delicious.
She would cling tightly to the Eldest Young Miss and accept this immense wealth, making them all green with envy!
“It’s still early. Would you like to accompany me to visit my father?”
“Of course, I would.”
Hou Danxue took Wuming to the Family Head’s courtyard, but they were blocked at the entrance.
“Miss, the Family Head requires rest. Please return.”
Hou Danxue was not surprised by this. This courtyard had long been controlled by her second uncle. She was just testing if she could get in.
It seemed her second uncle was still unwilling to give up the position of Family Head.
Wuming didn’t understand why they were blocked at the door. What sense did it make to prevent a child from visiting her critically ill father?
The person blocking them was just a fierce-looking matron, and Wuming was not afraid of her at all.
She gave the matron a wicked smile, a hint of killing intent in her eyes, and subtly touched her hand to her sword sheath.
This blatant threat immediately made the matron step back: “If the Young Miss truly wishes to enter, please do… It is also right for the Family Head to see the son-in-law.”
Wuming was very satisfied with this result and pulled Hou Danxue forward by the hand.
Hou Danxue leaned close and whispered: “Thank you.”
Heavens, what kind of miserable life had she lived before?
Not only was she forced into marriage, but she couldn’t even see her own critically ill father.
Wuming felt even more sympathy for Hou Danxue. She would definitely help her change this tragic fate!
There were many guards outside the courtyard, but very few people inside. Wuming only saw a handful of servants.
Hou Danxue dismissed all the servants and stood quietly, gazing at her father lying unconscious in bed.
Her expression was too calm; Wuming couldn’t guess what she was thinking.
She should be sad, right? If her father were healthy, she wouldn’t have to endure these hardships.
Wuming sighed and followed her gaze to the person on the bed.
“Hiss—Father-in-law’s condition seems wrong.”
“He is dying. I hope he can hold on until after we are married.”
“No! This doesn’t look like an illness. He seems to have been poisoned!”
Wuming had some experience from her time wandering outside.
But for a person like the Hou Family Head, who could poison him?
Could it be his brother who wanted to seize power?
“I know. He has been poisoned for a long time, so he is beyond saving.”
“Has the person who poisoned him been dealt with?”
“The person who poisoned him… was my mother.”
“What?! Your birth mother who died young?”
“Yes, she fell in love with someone else and wanted to divorce my father. My father refused and imprisoned her, so she poisoned him. But the poison was too potent; she also contracted some of it. Her body deteriorated faster, and she died sooner.”
“…What a twisted love. Miss, you must not follow your father’s example in the future.”
Hou Danxue smiled brightly at the comment.
“What are you afraid of? We are different. You don’t use poison.”
Wuming’s heart chilled, and her idealized view of Hou Danxue shattered with a crash.
She would never love her again! She couldn’t possibly fall in love with someone who would take away her freedom!
“Haha, you’re scared! I was just joking!”
“That joke is not funny at all.”
“They were very much in love originally, but when my mother returned to her family to manage affairs, she was accidentally afflicted with a Lover’s Gu. After that, she had no choice but to change her heart.”
“Death was probably a release for her. My father was trapped by the family and has been dragging on until now to die.”
Hmm… then the mother-in-law’s identity must also be extraordinary.
Wuming was curious about what a Lover’s Gu was, but this touched upon Hou Danxue’s painful past, and her probing would surely cause her harm.
She was an orphan, or as good as one, and she could understand her pain.
“Miss, I will stay with you. We will face future difficulties together. You won’t be alone anymore.”
“Good…”
Wuming embraced Hou Danxue, and Hou Danxue naturally leaned into Wuming’s arms.
After a long time, her mood seemed to have recovered somewhat. She took out a small medicine bottle from her pouch.
“What is this?”
“Medicine that can prolong his life. He cannot die before we are married.”
After they married, Wuming would be the legitimate member of the Hou Family, the Family Head’s only son-in-law.
Otherwise, her “good” second uncle would surely use it as an excuse, making it even harder for her to secure the position of Family Head.
“Does this medicine have side effects?” The man was already unconscious from illness; wouldn’t an early death be a release?
“They loved and killed each other. As their daughter, I didn’t receive normal love. Isn’t it only right that he pays a little for me now that he is dying?”
Wuming could only be thankful that they couldn’t have children.
She felt she was quite unreliable; it was better not to harm the next generation.
…
After being fed the medicine by Hou Danxue, the Hou Family Head indeed lingered, surviving until their wedding.
Heng Xiangyan was swift and decisive. Even though Hou Chenghong kept causing trouble, she prepared the wedding for Wuming and Hou Danxue in just ten days, a speed that left Wuming wide-eyed with astonishment.
She changed into her wedding attire and looked at herself in the mirror, feeling completely dazed.
They were getting married just like that?
Time waited for no one. She had to parade through the streets today. Wuming vaguely walked out the door, and just as she exited the courtyard, someone patted her shoulder.
Wuming instinctively reacted, thinking she had encountered an enemy, and immediately started fighting the newcomer.
That old coot finally couldn’t hold back and hired someone to disrupt the wedding!
“Wait! Xi Ni! How did I offend you! Why are you hitting people on your wedding day!”
Wuming’s eyes narrowed. The Hou Family had invited many guests, and she had run into an acquaintance of the original body!
But since the person recognized Xi Ni, they should also be able to tell that she looked completely different from Xi Ni.