Chapter 1305: Passing on the Skill

Before all this, he had one more task: he summoned the manor's guards and purged those who had been ineffective or even colluded with the enemy during the recent invasion. He also generously rewarded the guards who had fought valiantly, promoting them to higher positions. Although he was alone, in this world where strength commanded respect, no one dared to defy his Grandmaster-level presence. Combined with the former Duke's lingering authority and the three women's familiarity with the manor's affairs, a major overhaul of the ducal manor quickly took place.

However, after a day of turmoil, the ducal manor was severely weakened, and its defensive capabilities were clearly strained. Zu An pondered and decided to summon the guards from the Yu family. The Yu family was currently leaderless due to Yu Yanluo's departure and had been in disarray recently. As he was now Yu Yanluo's nominal husband, sure enough, the Yu family guards joined his ranks without much resistance. They were also deeply grateful that the Duke had taken them in under such circumstances.

Zu An noticed Gong Pan among them. In the preceding period of chaos, Gong Pan had led his subordinates to defend the Yu family, enduring several severe conflicts, and had sustained considerable injuries himself. Through their recent interactions, he understood Gong Pan's loyalty. However, he did not reappoint him as the captain of the guards. This was because Gong Pan was considered an 'old guard' from the previous administration, and Zu An's true identity would eventually be revealed. He needed to promote his own trusted confidants and direct subordinates, so that when the truth was finally exposed, those individuals would rally around him due to their own vested interests.

Therefore, he promoted an intermediate guard who had shown bravery during the recent events to be the new captain of the guards. He also granted him permission to freely practice the various secret techniques within the ducal manor to enhance his strength. The guard, named Guan Wu, never expected to be entrusted with such an important responsibility by the Duke. His voice trembled with excitement as he swore an oath to be loyal to the Duke and defend the ducal manor with his life. While many others felt envious, he had been at the forefront during the chaos and had sustained severe injuries, earning everyone's admiration. Moreover, with the Duke's lingering prestige from the recent battle, no one dared to utter a word of dissent.

After successfully arranging everything, he left his subordinates to clean up the disheveled ducal manor. He then returned to his room with the three women. Although he had arranged for guards from both families to protect them, he knew that in this world, being weak meant one couldn't command respect or secure their own position. However, to reassure the Duke of Cloudtop back then, Liu Ji and Chu Ji (sent by Yu Yanluo), and Zhang Ji (sent by Jian Taiding), had all been deliberately chosen for their ordinary cultivation levels. Therefore, Zu An intended to help them improve their cultivation. Having experienced the recent turmoil, the three women naturally understood the importance of personal strength.

However, Zhang Ji still caught the underlying meaning in his words: "Duke, are you going to leave?"

"I have something important to attend to and will be away for a while," he said. "Of course, externally, it will be announced that I am in seclusion. You just need to know the truth." After all, these were the Duke's closest companions, and using the excuse of seclusion might not truly deceive them.

"Ah, you're leaving again?" Not only Zhang Ji, but even Chu Ji and Liu Ji felt a pang of reluctance. Although they knew he was an imposter, having him by their side made them feel exceptionally secure.

"That's why we need to quickly raise your cultivation," Zu An comforted them.

"But in the path of cultivation, how can one improve so easily?" Zhang Ji sat to the side, her long, straight legs elegantly pressed together and slightly angled, a look of distress on her face.

"Indeed, it might be difficult for us to meet your expectations in a short time," Chu Ji said, standing by the window. Sunlight filtered through her clothes, highlighting the truly beautiful and graceful curve of her waist.

"Oh, if only we had known, we should have started cultivating sooner," Liu Ji sighed, pressing her hand to her chest, a soft undulation rippling with the movement.

Zu An said, "Under normal circumstances, it would indeed take many years of arduous training. However, I have a method to quickly raise your cultivation. The only drawback is that it might affect your ability to reach the pinnacle of cultivation in the future."

Zhang Ji pursed her lips and smiled, "Duke, you must be joking. Why would people like us need to aspire to the pinnacle? We'd be grateful just to become ordinary masters with the ability to protect ourselves. Besides, isn't it the same for us as long as the Duke reaches the peak?"

Liu Ji and Chu Ji echoed her sentiments. They knew their own aptitudes were better than ordinary people's, but they were by no means peerless geniuses, so they naturally didn't hope for great achievements in cultivation.

Zu An nodded, "If that's the case, let's begin. Sit properly beside me."

He then instructed the three women on the basics of meditation and breathing techniques. Immediately after, his fingers moved swiftly, tapping various vital points on each of the women, using his own cultivation to open the meridians necessary for their internal energy circulation. With his current Grandmaster cultivation, accomplishing all this was not difficult.

Next, he infused each of them with internal energy. This method of rapid improvement was simple and direct, but generally, no cultivator was willing to do it. This was because the expenditure for the practitioner was too great; no one wanted the internal energy they had painstakingly cultivated to benefit others. Moreover, it wasn't a matter of transferring a certain amount of internal energy and the recipient absorbing the same amount. Often, less than one-tenth would be effectively absorbed. Therefore, no one would undertake such a thankless and strenuous task.

But Zu An was different; he possessed the Gluttonous Heavenly Devouring Art. After dealing with the troublesome masters who had invaded, he had almost instantly drained their cultivation. At his current level, these individuals' cultivation was of little use to him, but it was perfectly suited for imparting cultivation to the three women.

Several hours passed. Steam rose from the women's heads, and their bodies were drenched in fragrant sweat, even soaking their clothes. The process of having their bodies cleansed and strengthened by internal energy was at times excruciatingly painful and at other times incredibly comfortable. Initially, worried about disturbing Zu An, they gritted their teeth and endured. But then, it was unclear who started it, and soon low moans and whimpers rose one after another.

Zu An's own blood and energy were already surging from the cultivation. Then, the various subtle fragrances emanating from the three women, intensified by the heat, combined with their soft, husky moans, nearly made his mental fortitude waver.

Once the cultivation transfer to the women was finally complete, he quickly said, "You now have roughly the cultivation level of a preliminary sixth-rank. Of course, your actual combat strength can't compare to a true sixth-rank, but you now have some ability to protect yourselves. Additionally, for the next period, I will arrange for various combat techniques for you to practice. You are all intelligent, so you should master them quickly. I'll return to my room to rest first."

Watching him leave, slightly hunched and flustered, Chu Ji and Liu Ji exchanged glances, their faces slightly flushed.

Zhang Ji, however, was somewhat puzzled: "Sisters, why do I feel like the Duke is deliberately avoiding us?"

Originally, the women had some rivalry and strained relationships. But during these recent tumultuous times, they realized they shared both glory and hardship. Facing various difficulties together, their earlier competitive spirits faded, and their relationship became quite harmonious instead.

"Perhaps because he is a gentleman," Chu Ji and Liu Ji said. They, of course, knew what was truly happening, but unfortunately, they couldn't tell her the truth.

"A gentleman?" Zhang Ji found it very strange. Why would they use such a word to describe their husband?

She pondered for a moment, then quietly leaned closer to the two women and whispered, "Sisters, don't you think the Duke is a bit different from before?" Chu Ji and Liu Ji's hearts skipped a beat. They immediately thought she had noticed some flaw, and their faces filled with worry: "Different how?"

"Well..." Zhang Ji's face flushed slightly. She glanced around nervously, and only after confirming no outsiders were present did she lower her voice and say, "It's just that now the Duke is much more... vigorous than before."

Zhang Ji's words brought certain images to Chu Ji and Liu Ji's minds, making their hearts pound. "Perhaps... perhaps the Duke's cultivation has recently improved again," they stammered.

"Is that so? But I didn't see him like this when the Duke's cultivation improved before," Zhang Ji said, looking confused.

"You're all sweaty. Go back, bathe, and then meditate to refine your cultivation. Don't waste the Duke's efforts." Chu Ji and Liu Ji worried that if Zhang Ji delved deeper, the truth might be revealed, so they nervously made their excuses and left.

"How strange~" Zhang Ji mumbled. But soon, she seemed to recall something, and her expression turned dreamy.

Meanwhile, Zu An returned to his room to circulate his internal energy and regulate his breathing. He finally managed to calm his surging blood and energy, repeatedly reminding himself that a gentleman does not take advantage of others. He had impersonated the Duke to uncover the truth and avenge him, and now he could no longer do anything that would betray the Duke.

Just then, a soft knock came from outside the door, followed by a graceful figure pushing it open and entering.

"Liu Ji?" Seeing her undulating gait, Zu An couldn't help but think of Da Manman. Unfortunately, he hadn't seen her for a long time.

"Duke, you must be tired after your efforts," Liu Ji said, placing a steaming, fragrant bowl of cordyceps, goji berry, dried scallop, and squab soup in front of him. "This will replenish your body well."

Zu An looked perplexed. He was already feeling quite heated up; was he really supposed to eat something so powerfully tonic? However, it was hard to refuse her kind offer. He didn't want to hurt her good intentions, so he picked up the bowl and tasted it. The flavor was indeed very delicious. After rushing back all this way, he was truly quite hungry. He wondered if Yan Xuehen had eaten anything...

As he was lost in thought, Liu Ji's voice pulled him back: "Duke, has Madam successfully returned to the Snake Tribe?"

Zu An nodded, "Yes, everything is peaceful there..." He then recounted the situation with the Snake Tribe in detail.

Noticing him occasionally yawning, Liu Ji came up behind him: "Let me give you a head massage."

"Uh, I don't think that's appropriate."

"What's wrong with it?" she asked. "I used to massage the Duke like this before, but unfortunately..."

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Zu An found it difficult to say anything. Moreover, he was indeed tired from his journey, so he stopped refusing. Her fingers were very gentle, and her technique was incredibly thoughtful and meticulous. Zu An slowly closed his eyes. Liu Ji noticed his tensed neck. She couldn't help but smile faintly and softly said, "Relax~"

Guided by her hands, his head settled into a soft, warm place. He opened his eyes, about to speak, but then hesitated.

Liu Ji softly said, "Duke, this is your home. Don't treat yourself as an outsider."

Zu An was a bit dazed. Was she implying something?