My Exes Are All Over The Martial Arts World - Chapter 4

Hou Danxue didn’t stop pestering Wu Ming until the water temperature had cooled significantly from their splashing.

Wu Ming hurriedly washed herself, changed her clothes, and lay down on the bed.

The bed was massive, yet Hou Danxue insisted on pressing close to Wu Ming. Her hand rested on Wu Ming’s waist and abdomen, occasionally giving her a little pinch.

Wu Ming was annoyed but didn’t dare retaliate.

Her physical constitution was much stronger, but her stamina was far inferior. Wu Ming was certain that if her own hands started acting up, they would end up having to wash themselves all over again, and she didn’t want the extra trouble.

“Once you become the head of the house, I won’t have to squeeze in with you anymore, right?”

“The Head of the House and the Head’s Wife naturally live together. Do you have some grievance with that?”

Wu Ming was very dissatisfied. Her dream was shattered; she had thought she could finally experience the high-class life of owning a private courtyard with a swarm of servants at her beck and call.

But now, Hou Danxue had told her explicitly: she was merely an appendage.

Yet, wasn’t it Hou Danxue who had begged for an alliance in the first place? She hadn’t even achieved greatness yet, and she was already starting to ignore the feelings of her ally!

Wu Ming’s desire to finish this one job and disappear reached its peak—until she heard Hou Danxue murmur in her ear: “Behave, and tomorrow I will take you to browse my family’s treasury.”

Wu Ming immediately dropped the idea of leaving. She shook Hou Danxue, confirming repeatedly: “You won’t just let me look, right?”

“The spiritual bamboo you want should be inside. Whatever else you desire, just tell me.”

Wu Ming’s spirits soared. Her exhaustion was completely washed away by the beautiful prospects of the future.

“Can you make the decisions?”

“I cannot do it alone, and neither can you. But together, we can.”

It seemed she still kept their alliance in mind.

“There’s still so much time until tomorrow. Can’t we go… no, can’t we go browse that treasury right now?”

“Aren’t you tired?”

Being shaken constantly, the last bit of Hou Danxue’s drowsiness vanished. Her hand climbed upward, and her face pressed against Wu Ming’s, their lips touching.

Wu Ming’s body stiffened for a moment before she flipped over and pinned Hou Danxue down.

If it was for the treasures… well, she supposed she could sacrifice a bit of her “beauty.” Besides, speaking of looks, Miss Hou was much more beautiful than her; she wasn’t losing out either way.

Responding to the anticipation in Hou Danxue’s eyes, Wu Ming kissed her, and Hou Danxue clung to her tightly.

Though she was still being held fast, Wu Ming’s experience was much better this time. By pinning Hou Danxue down, the other woman’s ability to entangle her was greatly weakened! Wu Ming felt she had discovered the trick to handling Hou Danxue.

After kissing for a while, Hou Danxue pushed Wu Ming away. “Enough. If we keep going, I won’t be able to leave the house.”

Being pushed away, Wu Ming felt a sense of loss.

Strange. Hadn’t she been very resistant to all this at first? Why was she getting more into it the more they kissed?

Hou Danxue got up and straightened her clothes. Wu Ming followed her out, the joy of finally seeing her beloved treasures overshadowing the sudden pang of loss.

The treasury Hou Danxue led Wu Ming to was the very target Wu Ming had scouted the night before.

The Hou family was wealthy and had hired many martial artists to guard the treasury. Consequently, Wu Ming hadn’t dared to make a move the previous night, only catching a distant glimpse.

Because of Hou Danxue, no one blocked their path. Hou Danxue produced a key and opened the heavy gates of the treasury.

Looking at the endless array of fine goods, Wu Ming finally truly felt the wealth of the Hou family. She would never have to scramble for resources again; the riches here would last a lifetime, and she could improve herself every single day.

Wu Ming gazed affectionately at Hou Danxue, who seemed to be radiating a brilliant light that gripped Wu Ming’s heart.

“Eldest Miss, can everything here be mine?”

Wu Ming hadn’t originally been greedy; she had only been thinking about her stolen spiritual bamboo.

“Only the Head of the House can freely use the items here.”

“But aren’t there just the two of us? What if we quietly take a bit more?”

“The items are tallied every day.”

“Alright then… so when are we getting married?”

“Given Grandmother’s personality, it will be soon. Inviting the guests is what takes the most time.”

Wu Ming looked left and right, eventually hugging her spiritual bamboo and picking out three other spiritual items that paired well with it.

As they stepped out of the treasury doors, she felt a twinge of regret. Since these things would eventually be hers, and there were so many resources, why couldn’t she have kept the spiritual bamboo she had worked so hard to nurture?

“Miss, I want to go back and swap something…”

“You’ve already brought them out. There are eyes everywhere; it’s not good to enter and exit the treasury frequently.”

Only then did Wu Ming shift her focus from the treasures to the guards around them. Even though they were trying their best to hide it, Wu Ming could easily see the thick envy and jealousy in their eyes.

Wu Ming felt a surge of pride and wrapped her arm around Hou Danxue.

Hehe, envy all you want, you’ve got the wrong gender! The Miss likes someone unique like me.

If she were a man, she wouldn’t even have the chance to ally with the Miss, let alone become the future “wife” of the Hou family head.

Hou Danxue didn’t mind Wu Ming’s sudden intimacy; her hand naturally moved to Wu Ming’s waist. Wu Ming’s body stiffened.

The looks from the people around them changed. Wu Ming knew what they were thinking—they must be looking down on her as some “pretty boy” seducing the Eldest Miss.

Fine, a pretty boy then. This “soft rice” really tasted delicious. She was going to stick to the Eldest Miss like glue and catch this overwhelming fortune just to spite them!

“It’s still early. Are you willing to accompany me to visit my father?”

“Of course I am.”

Hou Danxue took Wu Ming to the Head’s courtyard, but they were stopped at the entrance.

“Miss, the Head needs quiet rest. Please return.”

Hou Danxue wasn’t surprised. This courtyard had long been controlled by her Second Uncle; she was merely testing if she could enter. It seemed her Second Uncle still hadn’t given up on the position of Family Head.

Wu Ming didn’t understand why they were being blocked. What kind of logic was it to prevent a child from visiting their critically ill father?

The one blocking them was just a fierce-looking old matron. Wu Ming wasn’t afraid of her at all. She gave the old woman a wicked smile, a hint of killing intent flickering in her eyes as her hand moved inconspicuously toward her sword hilt.

This blatant threat caused the matron to step back immediately. “If the Miss truly wishes to enter, then please… it is indeed time for the Head to see the son-in-law.”

Wu Ming was satisfied with the result and took Hou Danxue’s hand to move forward.

Hou Danxue leaned close and whispered, “Thank you.”

Heavens, what kind of miserable life has she been living? Forced into marriage and unable to even see her dying father. Wu Ming felt even more sympathy for Hou Danxue. She would definitely help her change this tragic fate!

There were many guards outside, but very few people inside. Wu Ming saw only a few servants.

Hou Danxue dismissed all the servants and stood silently, gazing at her father who lay on the sickbed, unable to wake. Her expression was too calm; Wu Ming couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

She should be sad, Wu Ming thought. If her father were healthy, she wouldn’t have to endure these hardships.

Wu Ming sighed and followed her gaze to the man on the bed.

“Sss—Father-in-law’s condition… doesn’t look right.”

“He’s dying. I hope he can last until after our wedding.”

“No! This doesn’t look like an illness. It looks like he’s been poisoned!”

Wu Ming had traveled the world and gained some knowledge. But for someone like the Head of the Hou family, who could poison him? Could it be the power-hungry brother?

“I know. He has been poisoned for a long time. So, there is no saving him.”

“Was the poisoner dealt with?”

“The poisoner… was my mother.”

“What?! Your late biological mother?”

“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 was tainted by it as well. Her constitution was weaker, so she died even earlier.”

“…What a twisted love. Miss, you mustn’t learn from your father in the future.”

Hearing this, Hou Danxue gave a radiant smile.

“What are you afraid of? We are different. You don’t know how to use poison.”

Wu Ming’s heart went cold. The “filter” she had for Hou Danxue shattered with a snap. She could never love her! She could never love someone who would strip her of her freedom!

“Haha, you’re scared! I was joking!”

“That joke wasn’t funny at all.”

“They were originally very much in love. It was just that when my mother went back to her family home to handle affairs, she was accidentally given a ‘Lover’s Gu.’ After that, she had no choice but to change her heart.”

“Death was likely a release for her. My father was trapped by the family and has dragged it out until now to die.”

Hmm… so the mother-in-law’s background wasn’t ordinary either. Wu Ming was curious about what a “Lover’s Gu” was, but since this touched upon Hou Danxue’s trauma, prying would surely cause her pain. Wu Ming was an orphan; though Hou Danxue wasn’t one, she might as well be. Wu Ming understood her pain.

“Miss, I will stay with you. We will face future difficulties together. You won’t be alone anymore.”

“Good…”

Wu Ming hugged Hou Danxue, who leaned into Wu Ming’s embrace. After a long while, her mood seemed to recover slightly, and she pulled a small medicine bottle from her pouch.

“This is?”

“Medicine to prolong his life. He cannot die before we are married.”

Once they were married, Wu Ming would be a legitimate member of the Hou family—the only son-in-law of the Head. Otherwise, her “good” Second Uncle would surely find a pretext to make trouble, and her path to the Headship would be much more difficult.

“Are there no side effects to this medicine?” The man was unconscious; wouldn’t dying sooner be a mercy?

“They loved and killed each other. As their daughter, I never enjoyed a normal love. Since he is dying, isn’t it only right for him to sacrifice a little for me?”

Wu Ming could only be thankful that they couldn’t have children. She felt she was quite unreliable herself; better not to ruin the next generation.

After being fed the medicine by Hou Danxue, the Hou family head indeed lingered on, surviving right up until their wedding.

Heng Xiangyan was efficient and decisive. Despite Hou Chenghong’s constant interference, she prepared the wedding for Wu Ming and Hou Danxue in just ten days. The speed of it left Wu Ming speechless.

She put on the wedding robes and looked at herself in the mirror, feeling dazed. They were actually getting married?

Time waited for no one. Today, she had to parade through the streets. Wu Ming walked out the door in a blur, and just as she left the courtyard, someone slapped her on the shoulder.

By reflex, Wu Ming thought she had encountered an enemy and immediately started fighting the newcomer. That old geezer couldn’t hold back after all, actually hiring someone to disrupt the wedding!

“Wait! Xi Ni! How have I offended you? Why are you hitting people on your big day!”

Wu Ming’s gaze froze. The Hou family had invited guests from far and wide, and she had actually run into someone who knew the original owner of her body!

But if the person recognized “Xi Ni,” surely they could see that she looked completely different from the real one?