The ice cube's tricks have gotten even deeper

The hazy mist within the inner world grew increasingly faint.

Having been tempered by various martial techniques, it was gradually absorbed by the starry shadows within the Profound Pill Scripture, making the stars appear more vivid and perfect.

Each profound pill required the long, meticulous refinement of a martial artist in the Inner Breath Realm, transformed through qi-condensing techniques.

But in Ying Bing's hands, it was as effortless as plucking a chess piece from a basket.

"The Profound Pill Scripture can be cultivated like this too?"

Li Mo had no time to savor the sense of fulfillment brought by the stars in his inner world.

He could tell that while Ying Bing appeared relaxed, each star she hung represented a martial technique mastered to perfection—and all of them perfectly suited his inner world.

If he had to do it himself, the amount of martial insight required would be immeasurable.

He remained at the first layer of the Inner Scenery Realm.

But from now on, the starry sky within his inner world belonged solely to him. When his inner scenery projected outward, it no longer needed to resonate with the heavens and earth.

The stars dimmed as the sun set in the west, casting a serene tranquility over Qingyuan in the twilight.

Li Mo withdrew his inner scenery, feeling as though the suffocating imperial fortune pressing on him had been suppressed by a crimson giant propping up the sky, no longer able to affect him.

As the stars flowed within his inner world, Li Mo snapped open the pill furnace.

Just then, he saw Ying Bing, who had also dispersed her inner scenery, descending gracefully. Spotting someone emerging from the pill furnace with arms outstretched, her usual aloof and sacred demeanor instantly took on a more human warmth.

The disciples of Dan Ding Peak leaned back slightly in surprise.

Was this gentle demeanor really the same person from before?

"How do you feel?"

"I probably won’t sound so imperious anymore."

Li Mo grinned playfully as he steadied her.

"Let’s go home." Seeing him full of energy, Ying Bing finally relaxed, a hint of exhaustion in her voice.

She didn’t even bother insisting he let her walk on her own.

"Mm-hmm, I’ll carry you."

Li Mo simply scooped her up by her long legs, hoisting the "ice block" onto his back. As the old saying goes, behind every successful man is a soft and warm woman.

He could tell Ying Bing wasn’t as unburdened as she seemed.

Li Mo had seen her weakened state many times before—back when she suffered daily from the torment of frost, always frowning. Several times, he had wanted to ask how she was, but the moment he met those frost-cold eyes, the words died in his throat.

But now, she lay softly against his back, arms looped around his neck, lazy as a cat.

"Ying Bing, how did you find so many martial techniques that suit me?"

Resting her cheek on his shoulder, she replied matter-of-factly, "I created them in my spare time. I just picked the ones that fit you."

Li Mo’s lips twitched. Was that even humanly possible?

For a moment, he couldn’t tell who was the real cheat here.

"No wonder I’d never even heard of those techniques..."

"It’s fine. I’ll teach them to you one by one. You’ll catch up." Teacher Ice Block already had the curriculum prepared.

Li Mo suddenly realized something. "Wait, how did you know which ones would suit me?"

"While watching animations in your inner world."

"No wonder you’d stare at the sky for so long afterward. You’ve worked hard—let’s take a bath tonight."

"Okay..."

Ying Bing nodded instinctively before suddenly remembering something.

Tonight was system ranking time.

But there was no way he could know about the system, let alone predict the results in advance. It must just be a coincidence...

She lifted her face to look at him, only to hear Li Mo humming a strange little tune as the wind rustled by.

The melody sounded oddly cheerful.

"What song is that?"

"Pigsy Carries the..."

"Carries what?"

"Ahem, I don’t remember clearly. I heard it from a Buddhist practitioner."

Since when did Buddhist chants have such a bouncy, festive rhythm?

But seeing how earnest he looked, Ying Bing tightened her arms around him and let herself be carried all the way back to Autumn Water Pavilion in a daze.

Though Li Mo had just returned, the pavilion was already alive with the aroma of cooking. Gu Xueqin bustled about the kitchen while Li Dalong assisted.

Even though Li Mo’s culinary skills were now far beyond what they used to be, nothing could replace the taste of his mother’s cooking.

Without even stepping into the kitchen, he could guess that dinner would definitely include baby bok choy.

Aside from the usual residents of Autumn Water Pavilion, even the Southern Suppressing King, Zhong Qin, was present, fiddling with an abacus as if calculating some accounts.

"Uncle Zhong, are you tallying military pay?"

After settling Ying Bing upstairs to rest, Li Mo came back down and casually asked if there were any investment opportunities.

Zhong Qin cleared his throat. "With your help, as long as the southern border remains stable, I have no worries. But I don’t have much personal wealth, yet I can’t skimp on the wedding gift either."

"Wedding gift?"

"Indeed. The imperial decree has already been issued. Once the date is set, I’ll return to the capital to report. His Majesty will handle the arrangements for you. By the way, what auspicious date did you choose?"

"......"

Li Mo had no idea.

The decree was with Ying Bing—whether she had filled it in or what date she picked, he didn’t know.

"Uncle Zhong, if you and His Majesty are already helping, there’s no need for gifts."

Glancing at Ying Bing’s room upstairs, Li Mo asked, "How are royal weddings usually conducted?"

Zhong Qin’s brow relaxed. "Aside from being more elaborate, the imperial family’s weddings aren’t too different from commoners’."

Li Mo’s mind conjured an image of himself in a Western suit and Ying Bing in a wedding dress, exchanging rings after the officiant asked, Do you take her/him...

Wait, no—the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands probably don’t follow that script.

He’d seen it in dreams, but those were hazy fragments, not reality.

"How do commoners do it?"

Just then, Ying Bing descended the stairs, her face serene and beautiful in the evening light.

She walked into the kitchen to fetch dishes, acting as though she hadn’t heard their conversation.

"Life’s major events have many customs, even among commoners. For example, the groom must carry the bride from her family’s home..."

Li Mo nodded, committing Zhong Qin’s words to memory. He’d ask the merchant clan leader for details later. Meanwhile, he casually picked up some baby bok choy from the plate Ying Bing had brought.

Every time Zhong Qin reached a key point, Ying Bing would reappear, conveniently carrying another dish.

"Ying Bing, if you’re curious..."

"Curious about what?"

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting away, wearing an expression that said, This ice block has no idea what you’re talking about.

"......"

At that moment, Li Dalong and Gu Xueqin emerged from the kitchen, the elder Li grinning broadly.

"I overheard just now. Your mother and I have been through this—we know all the details. Want us to demonstrate for you?"

Li Dalong had rarely been able to help his son, often feeling that the boy had long since surpassed him.

Now, he finally had a chance to reclaim some paternal authority.