C11 The Most Perfect Lie!

The birthday dinner stretched on until ten o'clock at night, with Bai Wenling drinking her fair share in gratitude to Wang Baiwan for leasing the T1 plot. Without Su Hao's steadying support, she might have struggled to walk at all.

For her safety, Su Hao escorted Bai Wenling to the Porsche's passenger seat and buckled her in before driving her home.

Their destination was a secluded villa, complete with its own private space, a personal garden, and a basement—a residence with a high degree of privacy.

After parking, Su Hao helped Bai Wenling out of the car. She was quite inebriated, her normally sparkling eyes now hazy and unfocused, like the depths of an impenetrable spring.

A rosy flush colored her pale cheeks, and her hair, once impeccably neat, now fell in disarray, shedding her pristine aura for something altogether more alluring.

In his past life, Su Hao would not have hesitated to claim Bai Wenling in her flushed, tipsy state. But this time around, despite the heat of desire within him, he harbored no thoughts of taking advantage of her.

Reborn, Su Hao knew all too well what was his and what was not.

He retrieved the keys from Bai Wenling's bag, unlocked the villa, and gently guided her to the sofa.

"You really shouldn't drink so much when you can't handle it," Su Hao sighed softly, intending to fetch a wet towel from the bathroom to wipe her brow.

But before he could rise, Bai Wenling's hand shot out, grasping his arm. Su Hao turned, startled, to find her blurry-eyed and collapsing into his embrace.

Her lips, flushed and inviting, were like ripe cherries begging to be tasted.

"She's not thinking of going through with it here, is she?" As Bai Wenling's face drew nearer, a sweet, alcohol-laced scent enveloped him, making Su Hao's eye twitch.

No, he couldn't. As a man of restraint, he wouldn't take advantage of someone vulnerable, not even passively.

He inhaled deeply and lightly tapped Bai Wenling's cheek, hoping to bring her back to her senses.

Unexpectedly, that gentle tap resulted in Bai Wenling suddenly opening her mouth and vomiting all over him, drenching Su Hao in a wave of alcohol.

In the blink of an eye, Su Hao's shirt was soaked through, covered in unsightly residue. "What karma is this?" he muttered with a wry smile, pulling out a tissue to dab at Bai Wenling's mouth. After tidying up the mess on the floor, he retreated to the bathroom.

Emerging later in fresh attire, Su Hao found Bai Wenling's allure undiminished, her captivating eyes slowly closing, her presence exuding an enchanting charm that suggested a state between sleep and wakefulness, utterly belying her recent discomfort.

Approaching her, Su Hao hesitated briefly before gently wiping her face with a damp cloth. He then lifted her into his arms and carried her to her bedroom.

Next, he headed to the kitchen to prepare a bowl of hangover soup, which he carefully fed to Bai Wenling. After ensuring she was comfortable, he softly closed her door and made his way back to his own room.

Inside, chaos reigned. The tea set lay scattered across the table, stools toppled haphazardly, discarded clothes draped over the bedpost, and the blanket tangled in disarray. Books were strewn about, leaving the desk in complete disarray. Su Hao paused, a look of resignation crossing his face. His past self had certainly embraced a disheveled existence.

With a shake of his head, he rolled up his sleeves and set about restoring order to the room, finding satisfaction in the newly tidied space.

"System Notification: Your swagger points have reached 100. Would you like to enter the draw?" the system inquired.

Su Hao, momentarily taken aback, nodded in affirmation. "Let's draw."

"100 swagger points have been deducted for the draw. Your remaining balance is 40," announced the system as a large spinning wheel materialized before Su Hao. The needle whirred before finally coming to rest on a spherical item.

"Ding dong, congratulations, host! You've drawn a Marrow Washing Pill!" the system chimed.

"Marrow Washing Pill?" Su Hao's eyes narrowed in curiosity as he read the accompanying description.

"Marrow Washing Pill: When consumed by an ordinary person, it can rejuvenate the body, transforming the individual from the inside out. It has the power to unlock the Ren and Du meridians, paving the way to becoming an Ancient Martial Artist."

After perusing the notes, Su Hao stood still, his face alight with excitement.

As a direct descendant of the Su family from Jinling Province, he was privy to a world far beyond the grasp of ordinary people, and was well aware of the existence of Ancient Martial Artists.

These practitioners of ancient martial arts honed their minds, cultivated their auras, strengthened their bodies, and elevated their spirits.

The journey of ancient martial arts begins with the Houtian cultivators and progresses with the Xiantian experts as the foundational step. Those with keen insight could ascend to the rank of Transformation Stage Grandmaster, while individuals with exceptional gifts could achieve the status of Extreme Stage Heaven Master. Only those with prodigious talent could reach the pinnacle of ancient martial arts—the God Stage Immortal Master.

Ancient Martial Arts Levels: Houtian cultivator, Xiantian Master, Transformation Stage Grandmaster, Extreme Stage Heaven Master, God Stage Immortal Master.

Each major realm of ancient martial arts is divided into four phases: early, middle, late, and peak. The further one advances, the more formidable their strength becomes.

To embark on the path of an Ancient Martial Artist, one must first unblock the Ren and Du meridians. Once these are open, the eight meridians follow, and with them, the hundred meridians, thereby enhancing one's physique, fortifying bones, and promoting circulation.

Upon clearing the Ren and Du meridians, one can begin cultivating the dantian technique, harnessing the breath of life, tapping into the essence of the universe, and refining one's essence, energy, and spirit to gain strength and speed beyond the ordinary.

Regrettably, Su Hao had been diagnosed with blocked meridians from a young age, making it exceedingly difficult for him to open the Ren and Du meridians, much less practice the dantian technique or become an Ancient Martial Artist.

"They say that reaching the God Stage Immortal Master allows one to fill the seas with a speck of dust, slice the stars with a blade of grass, shatter the void, and ascend to immortality. If I could become an Ancient Martial Artist and attain the God Stage Immortal Master, what in this world could possibly blind me?" Su Hao's heart raced, his breathing quickened with the thought.

In his previous life, after enduring a decade of trials, he came to a profound understanding: in this world, the weak are at the mercy of the current, helplessly adrift, their fates dictated by forces beyond their control. Only the strong can forge their own path and master their destinies.

In this life, to atone for past errors and shield his beloved, he knew he must rise to strength.

Embarking on the ancient martial arts journey would grant him the power needed to stand among the strong.

With a calm resolve, Su Hao requested the system to produce the Marrow Washing Pill. He gazed at the luminescent pill in his hand, inhaled deeply, and with no trace of doubt, swallowed it whole.

As it dissolved, the pill unleashed a peculiar energy that coursed through Su Hao's veins, invigorating every fiber of his being.

A gentle pull emanated from him, stirring the flora outside his window. A filament of green energy, fine as silk, streamed from the cosmos, funneling ceaselessly into him.

The pull intensified, his pores dilated, absorbing the green energy in a voracious whirl.

The once-obstructed meridians cleared, the energy cycled through him in a reinforcing loop, fortifying his veins, organs, and bones.

As moments slipped by, Su Hao felt a buoyancy, a surge of power within, akin to a boundless dynamo.

Concurrently, dark impurities seeped from his skin, emitting a foul stench.

"Purging the body, renewing the spirit..." Su Hao's eyes sparkled. He expelled a wisp of dark mist from his mouth, noting the darkened sweat stains on his clothes with a surge of thrill and vigor.

Post purification, his senses sharpened dramatically. Through the window, he discerned objects shrouded in darkness, the soft symphony of insects audible from afar.

With the final tendril of green energy absorbed, the ritual was complete.

Su Hao rose, flexed his arm, and it crackled like popping beans.

He clenched his fist, feeling a powerful surge of energy coursing through his body, impressively potent.

"Is this what it feels like to be an Ancient Martial Artist?" Su Hao scanned himself, a sharp glint in his eyes. With a sudden thrust, his fist struck the wall with precision.

"Crack!"

The room's wall trembled violently as his punch left a conspicuous, yet not too deep, imprint.

Spiderweb-like cracks radiated from the indentation.

At this sight, Su Hao's pupils contracted, and he involuntarily gasped at the chill.

A mere casual punch had caused such damage; if he were to strike with full force, he might very well punch through the wall.

"To think that a Houtian realm cultivator, the entry point for ancient martial arts, can wield the strength of a thousand kilograms, shatter stones, and rip apart tigers and leopards with their Qi—I had assumed such tales were mere hyperbole, but they're indeed true." Su Hao's heart thumped wildly, his eyes ablaze with fervor.

Embarking on the path of ancient martial arts signified that he now possessed the means to defend himself. The more he advanced in strength, the greater the world he could command.

Someday, he would ascend to the pinnacle of the world, overseeing all life, and dedicate the entire realm to her.

With his heart pounding with excitement, Su Hao stepped into the bathroom and thoroughly cleansed himself from head to toe.

Emerging from the bathroom, he appeared rejuvenated. His skin was exceptionally smooth and radiant, his complexion even more fair and clear. His dark, profound eyes seemed capable of piercing through all facades.

Glancing at the clock, it was already eleven. Su Hao shrugged and readied himself for bed.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

Just then, a series of knocks echoed at the door.

Startled, Su Hao opened it to reveal a stunning vision in a bathrobe.

Her eyes were clear and luminous, her eyebrows delicately arched, and her long lashes quivered gently. Her skin, fair and unblemished, blushed with a soft rosiness, and her lips were as delicate as rose petals.

"Are you awake?"

"Mhm." Bai Wenling's lustrous black hair cascaded down her shoulders, her cheeks tinged with a subtle flush.

"Thank you so much for securing that T1 property for me, for helping me back on my feet, and for the hangover remedy," Bai Wenling expressed her gratitude.

Su Hao offered a dismissive wave and a gentle smile. "You're my fiancée; it's only natural I'd do these things. You threw up earlier, so your stomach must be empty. How about I fix you a bowl of noodles?"

At his words, Bai Wenling's frame shuddered, and her eyes misted over with unshed tears. She had longed for someone to truly love her, to care for her, to cherish her—and she had never imagined that person would be Su Hao. The fear that it was all just a dream, that Su Hao might revert to his old, haughty ways by morning, gnawed at her.

"Feeling unwell?" Su Hao asked, noticing her silence.

"The alcohol from the banquet hit you hard. Maybe the soup wasn't enough. Should I take you to the hospital?"

"I'm okay..." Bai Wenling's voice wavered, and she shook her head, fixing her gaze on Su Hao. After a long pause, she ventured, "Su Hao, will you... always be like you were today?"

Su Hao stiffened, his mouth opened, but words failed him. Maybe, he thought, his abrupt change seemed to her like a mere performance, a quest for excitement. Or perhaps his past failures had eroded her sense of security to the point where she couldn't discern if his current behavior was genuine.

"Wenling, I..."

"It's late. Let's call it a night," Bai Wenling cut him off, turning away and heading to her room.

In that moment of her turning, Su Hao thought he saw a shadow of sadness cross her face. His hesitation, it seemed, had let her down once again.

As he watched Bai Wenling's retreating figure, words bubbled up inside him, yet he held them back. He didn't want to offer empty assurances or become her pillar of support—not when his heart belonged to another.

In the absence of a clear answer, perhaps silence was indeed the kindest response.