Wu Liangchen was deeply shaken by the sight.
Although it seemed like a magic trick, he realized that achieving Aunt Fan's level of effortless, perfect accuracy required incredibly keen perception and immense control.
'She really is a master!'
She was far more skilled than the swordsman he'd encountered outside the city that night.
'If Aunt Fan had been that person, I wouldn't have stood a chance of getting away.'
At the same time, at the sound of footsteps, Aunt Fan stopped what she was doing and looked over.
She paused, slightly taken aback.
"Aunt Fan!" Wu Liangchen called out, bowing his head respectfully.
Putting everything else aside, the fact that she had taught him her techniques was reason enough for his respect.
Aunt Fan, however, paid him no mind. Her eyes fixed on Wu Liangchen, her gaze growing sharp.
"Aunt Fan?" Wu Liangchen tried again.
Before he could finish, Aunt Fan closed the distance in a flash. She placed a hand on his shoulder before he could even react.
Wu Liangchen's body reacted instinctively. His hips dropped slightly, his head snapped up, his spine straightened vertebra by vertebra, and the hair on his arms stood on end.
"Oh!"
Seeing this, Aunt Fan let out a small gasp of surprise. The light in her eyes grew even more intense.
In the next moment, Wu Liangchen felt a mountain-like weight press down on his shoulder, nearly making him stumble and fall.
But just as quickly, Aunt Fan released her grip and took a step back. She stared at Wu Liangchen without blinking, as if she had just discovered a priceless treasure.
"What did you do after you went back last night?" Aunt Fan asked.
"I couldn't sleep, so I practiced the stance you taught me a few times," Wu Liangchen replied.
"And that's all?"
"That's all."
Aunt Fan fell silent.
Wu Liangchen couldn't help but cough lightly and ask, "Aunt Fan, is something wrong?"
"It's nothing." Aunt Fan shook her head and sighed.
"I'm just a bit surprised, that's all."
"Surprised?"
"Yes. It seems the world is truly full of hidden talents, and no one should be underestimated. I always thought that was just an empty saying, but now I know it's the truth."
Wu Liangchen didn't know what to say, so he just smiled.
"Follow me."
Aunt Fan commanded, turning and heading for the back courtyard.
Wu Liangchen followed close behind, and they soon arrived at the courtyard where Yang Lian'Er resided.
At that moment, Yang Lian'Er was fast asleep under a tree, snoring away.
She was wearing loose, light house clothes and was sprawled gracelessly on a lounge chair, dead to the world.
Wu Liangchen took one glance and quickly averted his eyes.
'It couldn't be helped.'
Yang Lian'Er's sleeping posture was just too uninhibited. Forgetting everything else, the sight of her long, exposed legs was startling enough.
Aunt Fan shook her head helplessly, walked over, and gently shook Yang Lian'Er awake.
"Ugh, Aunt Fan, what is it? Is it time to eat?" Yang Lian'Er mumbled, still half-asleep.
Aunt Fan shook her head and pointed at Wu Liangchen.
"Take a look. Do you notice anything different about him?"
Yang Lian'Er rubbed her bleary eyes, studied Wu Liangchen for a long moment, then shook her head in confusion.
"I don't see any difference. Except maybe he's gotten more handsome?"
Aunt Fan: "..."
Wu Liangchen: "..."
A moment later, after listening to Aunt Fan's explanation, Yang Lian'Er's lovely eyes widened in disbelief.
"What? You're saying this kid mastered the basics of the stance in a single day? How is that possible?"
"I also thought it was impossible, but it happened," Aunt Fan said calmly, then turned to look at the equally dumbfounded Wu Liangchen.
"Kid, do you have any idea what it means to master the basics in a single day?"
"I don't."
Aunt Fan pointed to Yang Lian'Er. "There's no need to hide this from you anymore. My young lady here is exceptionally talented, just a little lazy. Even so, it took her nearly a month to master the basics of the Primordial Chaos Stance."
"As for me... it took me fifteen days!"
At this, Aunt Fan's gaze locked onto Wu Liangchen. "And as far as I know, since this stance was first created, the fastest anyone has ever reached the initial stage was ten days. Do you understand now?"
Only then did Wu Liangchen finally grasp just how outrageous his one-day progress with the Primordial Chaos Stance truly was.
'Of course, the real credit for this probably belongs to the Ten Thousand Laws Tripod.'
But that was something Wu Liangchen would never reveal to anyone, so he remained silent.
Yang Lian'Er, however, couldn't contain herself. She circled Wu Liangchen a few times before reaching out and pinching his arm.
"How come I never noticed you had this kind of talent?" Yang Lian'Er said, sounding rather unconvinced.
Wu Liangchen could only offer an awkward smile in response.
"Still, this is great! You're my lackey, after all. The stronger you get, the more impressive I look," Yang Lian'Er said cheerfully, slapping Wu Liangchen hard on the shoulder.
"From now on, you're my chauffeur and my bodyguard. Do a good job. I've got my eye on you!"
Of course, Wu Liangchen wasn't going to leave.
After all, Aunt Fan had made it clear that she would teach him more once he learned the stance.
'Only a fool would walk away from a free teacher.'
So, he asked with utmost sincerity, "What about my pay?"
"What pay?"
"The thirty Eagle Yuan you gave me before were for being a chauffeur. Now that I'm a bodyguard too, shouldn't I get a raise?"
Yang Lian'Er blinked, then burst into loud laughter.
"Alright, kid. I'll double your salary. How's that?"
"Yes, Sister Lian!"
This time, when Wu Liangchen called her "Sister Lian," it was with heartfelt, utter sincerity.
-----------------
Wu Liangchen returned to the front courtyard.
Once he was gone, Yang Lian'Er looked at Aunt Fan and said with a sigh.
"Aunt Fan, did you call him over just to get a rise out of me?"
Aunt Fan nodded. "The thought did cross my mind."
"Heh heh. Nice try, but I'm immune to provocation. If you embrace laziness, nothing can get to you!" Yang Lian'Er giggled.
Aunt Fan, however, wasn't joking. She asked in a very serious tone, "My lady, what do you make of this Wu Liangchen?"
"What's that supposed to mean? The kid's good-looking, sure, but I have no intention of offering myself up in marriage," Yang Lian'Er said immediately.
Aunt Fan: "..."
Then she said with a helpless expression, "I mean, do you think he's reliable?"
"He seems reliable. He can be a bit of a smooth operator sometimes, but his heart is in the right place."
Aunt Fan nodded. "I think so too. It's why I agreed to let him stay by your side."
"Before, he was just a chauffeur, so whether he was truly reliable or not was a minor detail. But things are different now. This man is either backed by a master with incredible power or he's a born Martial Artist, a once-in-a-generation genius."
"And either of those possibilities makes him someone we must do our best to win over."
"So, you're saying..." Yang Lian'Er dropped her playful demeanor and asked seriously.
"I intend to teach him our sect's Martial Arts and train him to be your right-hand man, my lady."