177: Chapter 57 Meeting the Elder Brother

"Guess."

Hearing Meng Li being mysterious, Zhao Guicheng rolled his eyes. "Am I a child? Still making me guess."

Mu Nianci was somewhat surprised to see the two of them so casual with each other.

At this moment, Zhao Guicheng realized the setting wasn't quite right, so he gestured, "Don't just stand at the door. Come into the mansion and talk."

Meng Li and Mu Nianci readily agreed.

Once inside, the servants finished serving tea and left.

While gently blowing on his tea, Zhao Guicheng said to Meng Li, "Be honest now. What is this young lady's name, and what is her relationship to you?"

Meng Li said, "Her surname is Mu, her name is Nianci. She is the wife I met through a Martial Arts Marriage Contest."

Zhao Guicheng looked astonished. "You're already married?"

"Not yet." Meng Li shook his head, then added, "We'll hold the wedding once we get back this time."

Zhao Guicheng understood, and immediately wore an expression of 'the boy can be taught,' saying with emotion, "It's rare. You run around all day, but you've finally done something proper."

After saying that, he turned to Mu Nianci and said, "Sister-in-law, if he ever bullies you in the future, just come to me. I'll help you teach him a lesson."

Mu Nianci glanced at Meng Li and replied with a smile, "Thank you, Elder Brother."

Meng Li rolled his eyes and said crossly to Zhao Guicheng, "I taught you all your Martial Arts. Where do you get the nerve to teach me a lesson?"

Zhao Guicheng wasn't intimidated at all. "How about we spar a bit?"

Meng Li narrowed his eyes and said thoughtfully, "It seems you have something else to rely on."

Zhao Guicheng smiled without saying a word.

Meng Li's interest was piqued. "Then let's spar."

A moment later, at the Prince's Mansion Drill Grounds.

Meng Li and Zhao Guicheng stood facing each other.

Zhao Guicheng had some understanding of Meng Li's strength. Even with a fortuitous encounter, he didn't dare be careless, so he struck first without hesitation. He used a set of palm techniques. As soon as he started, True Qi surged and floated, quickly condensing into a Flood Dragon, with the faint sound of a Dragon's roar echoing.

Meng Li's gaze sharpened slightly, recognizing that this wasn't the Raging Dragon Palm he had taught.

In this world, there was only one palm technique he could recall that featured both a Dragon shape and a Dragon's roar—the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!

Though surprised, Meng Li's response was not slow at all, meeting each Move as it came.

Zhao Guicheng executed one Move after another, but even after completing the entire set of palm techniques, he couldn't defeat Meng Li.

He sighed and withdrew his stance at the right moment.

After stopping, Meng Li asked, "Where did you learn this palm technique?"

"Guess."

Meng Li: "..."

"Hehe." Seeing him rendered speechless, Zhao Guicheng smiled triumphantly and then said, "After I became Prince Yi, I often went to the palace. Once, I happened to pass by the Imperial Kitchen and found an old beggar sneaking around inside."

"The Imperial Kitchen is responsible for the Emperor's meals. It would be a disaster if something went wrong there, wouldn't it?"

"But I didn't want to reveal my Martial Arts, so I shadowed him in secret. I found that he was only stealing food, so I became curious and followed him secretly, wanting to see what his background was."

"Unexpectedly, halfway through, I was discovered by that old beggar and we exchanged blows."

"His internal power wasn't as good as mine, but he had rich combat experience and exquisite palm techniques, fighting me to a standstill. I met him a few more times later and finally, using gourmet food as a condition, I learned the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from him."

"I thought that with these exquisite palm techniques, I could beat you by a Move or two, but it turns out I still can't."

"As expected, I have no talent for practicing Martial Arts. It's better for me to just be a prince peacefully."

Mu Nianci's gaze was strange.

If she hadn't guessed wrong, that beggar Senior should be the Northern Beggar, one of the Four Masters of the current age.

This elder brother before her could fight the Northern Beggar to a standstill at such a young age, and he calls this 'having no talent for practicing Martial Arts'?

Then what were the Four Masters?

And what were those below the Four Masters?

Meng Li smiled without saying anything.

Because Zhao Guicheng's words were true to some extent.

He practiced the Hun Yuan True Qi, where one year of Cultivation was worth twenty years for an ordinary person.

Even if he wasn't diligent in his Cultivation, he had over a hundred years of an ordinary person's power by now. It was normal for his power to exceed Hong Qi's.

Furthermore, Meng Li had taught Zhao Guicheng many exquisite Martial Arts, such as the Raging Dragon Palm and the Heart Shattering Palm, which were not necessarily much weaker than the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. But despite having superior power and decent Martial Arts, he only fought the other to a standstill, showing that he was indeed relatively weak in combat.

After Zhao Guicheng finished his self-deprecation, seeing that the time was right, he had the meal served.

The three of them took their seats. After a few cups of wine, Meng Li said to Zhao Guicheng, "I'm about to get married. Is there any news regarding your marriage?"

Zhao Guicheng shook his head and said helplessly, "Since I chose this throne, many things are no longer up to me."

"As you said, 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown.'"

Meng Li fell silent, set aside the topic, and chatted about other interesting things.

After the banquet ended, Zhao Guicheng went back to his room to rest.

Meng Li and Mu Nianci walked in the Prince's Mansion garden.

Thinking about how Meng Li and Zhao Guicheng interacted, Mu Nianci said softly, "You brothers have a really good relationship."

Meng Li reached out and gently flicked the tip of her nose, then laughed, "We're biological brothers who grew up together. How could our relationship not be good?"

Having spent time together, Mu Nianci had gradually become accustomed to his frequent intimate gestures. At this moment, her heart felt shy joy, but mostly sweetness, and she didn't blush as she used to.

Hearing this, she nodded slightly and chatted with Meng Li about other things.

When they finished talking, the two of them unconsciously walked to the rooms Zhao Guicheng had arranged.

Seeing the moon high in the sky, Mu Nianci said, "It's getting late. I'm going back to my room to sleep. You should also rest early."

Meng Li nodded with a smile, but had no intention of leaving.

"Is there something else?" Mu Nianci asked.

Meng Li coughed twice and said solemnly, "Now that we've met my elder brother, I think we can take things a step further."

Mu Nianci was puzzled. A step further?

The next second, she understood.

Because Meng Li directly lowered his head and kissed her naturally red lips...

Mu Nianci's eyes widened instantly, then she felt her heart race and her head heat up. She felt dizzy and her body went soft, unable to muster any strength.

When she felt like she was about to suffocate, Meng Li let go.

"Sweet dreams."

He whispered in her ear.

Mu Nianci gave him a shy and annoyed look, then turned and ran into her room, quickly closing the door.

Meng Li smiled and walked into the room next door.

Hearing the movement, Mu Nianci breathed a sigh of relief and lowered the hand she had pressed against her chest. Just now, she felt her heart thumping, like a little deer frantically crashing around in her chest, as if it could jump out at any moment.

It was much better now.

Then, she touched her lips, and the scene from just now flashed in her mind. Her heart immediately began to race again.

She quickly shook her head, trying not to think about it. She took off her outer garment, blew out the lamp, and lay on the bed, but she tossed and turned, finding it hard to fall asleep.

It was because the image of her deep kiss with Meng Li and that unprecedented feeling kept appearing in her mind.

"Really..."

"Really..."

Mu Nianci said "really" for a long time but couldn't think of a suitable word to describe it. In the end, she could only whisper a curse, "You fated nuisance."

...