Chapter Twenty-Eight: Is It Really Miss Cang?

Hu Mo crashed straight into a vase; fortunately, his skin was thick enough now that he suffered no injury. As he stumbled up in a daze, he suddenly noticed a woman in white sitting on the edge of the bed—it was her, without a doubt.

Seeing that youthful face again, Hu Mo felt as if he were still dreaming. He pinched his thigh, and the sharp pain told him he was wide awake. The woman in white wore a trace of anger on her face, obviously provoked by his earlier flirtatious words. Yet, as she watched Hu Mo’s awkward state, her lips curled slightly, a hint of triumph in her expression.

“Truly a woman of a thousand faces!” Hu Mo mused silently, though he deliberately put on a sullen look.

“How did you get out? What are you after?” Hu Mo barked unceremoniously, but in his mind, he recalled the scene when she had unleashed the Flowing Wave Storm—a memory etched deep in his consciousness.

The woman in white smiled lightly, her elegant brows arched as she rose gracefully. Her palm became as sharp as a blade, and she struck directly at Hu Mo.

Hu Mo had been preoccupied with every move of the Flowing Wave Storm, when suddenly a fierce gust swept toward him. Startled, he dodged with a flash, stepping lightly to appear in the corner of the room.

Her lips curled, and her silhouette flickered through the room. Soon, countless white shadows filled the space—she was displaying the Flowing Wave Storm once again.

Hu Mo’s expression grew solemn, and he quickly calmed himself. He sensed that although each move she made was filled with murderous intent, there was no intent to kill. The only explanation was that she was helping him, urging him to master the Flowing Wave Storm more swiftly.

Thinking this, a faint smile appeared on his lips. The Flowing Wave Storm was deeply engraved in his mind; how could he ever forget? Now, all he needed to do was to execute this body technique flawlessly.

He stepped forward, narrowly avoiding the woman’s palm. His body danced like a leaf in the wind, yet each step was mysterious and profound. Unconsciously, his eyes closed slightly, and he moved through the room guided only by his understanding.

Gradually, Hu Mo felt himself entering a strange state. His hands began to throw punches and palms instinctively, coordinating with the wondrous body technique until he managed to neutralize much of her pressure.

His fist struck like a tiger descending the mountain, his palm slashed like a dragon soaring through the heavens. Had anyone witnessed it, they would have been so stunned their jaw might dislocate. It was beautiful—not a battle, but an art.

A hint of surprise appeared on the woman’s face; she struck three palms in succession, retreating several steps. Just as she was about to charge again, she sensed a sudden shift in Hu Mo’s aura.

He was still using the Flowing Wave Storm, but with every move, his aura changed.

The heat of fire, the chill and gentleness of water, the continuity of wood, the sharpness of metal, the weight of earth. The power of the five elements radiated openly from him, five-colored lights flashing alternately, dazzling to behold.

“Green Wood, Sacred Water, Silk—are you truly acknowledging this man?” The woman in white stood three yards from Hu Mo, scrutinizing him carefully.

“Is this scoundrel really so special?” she murmured.

She suddenly recalled Hu Mo’s conduct back at Drunken Fragrance. Though he had been showing off, it felt oddly natural. She even saw the shadow of someone else in him, thawing the icy layers of her heart.

Her own question startled her—why was she helping him? What was so special about this scoundrel?

Her mind was a haze, while Hu Mo was at a loss. His thoughts were filled only with the moves of the Flowing Wave Storm, each so clear, his execution smooth as flowing water. Yet, when he completed the technique, the three treasures within him suddenly erupted with five distinct forces.

The Green Wood King Cauldron emitted a powerful force of wood and fire, so intense he felt he might be burnt to ashes. Meanwhile, the Sacred Water King and Silk Lock released the powers of metal, water, and earth, forming the five-element force, circulating in his body according to a certain pattern.

Hu Mo’s mind dove deep within himself, watching the five-colored currents flow inside, unable to decide what to do. One thing was certain—the three treasures would not harm him. This was an opportunity granted to him.

To possess the power of all five elements—if the people of the Continent of War knew, many mighty figures would go mad. To embody the five elements is to become a god—such power belongs only to the divine!

Yet the five-element force Hu Mo now possessed was not his own; it was a gift from the three treasures, an approval.

Five forces unfolded before him, each like a world-shaking treasure. If only he could find the key, he could obtain wealth beyond imagining.

Just then, familiar words appeared in his mind: “The five elements begin with change. Metal is hard, water and fire are formless, wood and earth give birth. Hardness softens, formlessness transforms, birth reaches its limit, death reaches its limit, the limit of all things.”

In that moment, Hu Mo finally grasped the secret of the second layer of the Flowing Wave Technique—transformation of the five elements. That was the key to these treasures!

Dense texts filled his mind, divided into five regions, each marked by three large characters: Metal God Transformation, Water God Transformation, Fire God Transformation, Wood God Transformation, Earth God Transformation.

Hu Mo’s body and mind were completely immersed in these wondrous changes, unaware that a seed had been deeply planted in the sea of his consciousness, slowly sprouting and growing.

In that instant, Hu Mo found his vision expanding many times over; body and mind, spirit and flesh, perfectly united. Only now had he truly merged with this world—this was true rebirth.

Transformation of the five elements, the innate divine skill of the three treasures—after about an hour of fusion, Hu Mo finally mastered its basics. The five-element aura slowly receded, concealed within him.

The woman in white had stayed by his side the whole time, her face calm and steady. She knew Hu Mo was like a butterfly about to break free from its cocoon; when he emerged, everything would truly change and begin anew.

“Once things begin, they don’t end so simply. Perhaps I should have foreseen this long ago,” she said quietly, gazing at Hu Mo with a peculiar softness—a gentleness beyond words.

Hu Mo slowly opened his eyes; the five-colored light vanished, and all returned to peace.

At once, his gaze collided with that of the woman in white, his expression turning bewildered.

“What’s with this enchantress? Why is she looking at me like that? Is she planning something again?” Hu Mo wondered, instinctively stepping back two paces and coughing a few times.

“Ahem, I say, you’ve stared enough. Should I take my shirt off so you can admire my chest muscles?” Hu Mo joked with a grin. Now he had some cards to play; even if he couldn’t beat her, he could at least escape.

The woman in white was momentarily stunned, then her expression changed swiftly. Hu Mo thought, “She really is a changeling—their moods shift faster than flipping pages!”

“So you think mastering the Five Element Transformation makes you special? Frog in a well! Even if you’ve learned a divine skill, don’t expect to act arrogant in front of me. I suggest you don’t anger me. True, I can’t kill you, but I can certainly beat you half to death. If you don’t believe me, feel free to try,” she said coldly. As her words fell, even Hu Mo felt the air around him grow colder.

Hu Mo wasn’t foolish; this woman was unpredictable, and to challenge her willingly would be like smashing eggs against a stone.

He weighed his options, then smiled and said, “Of course, of course, how could I ever defeat you? But I am curious—who are you, really? Why were you inside that stone? And at least you should tell me your name. Otherwise, I’ll have to give you a nickname myself. Honestly, when I first saw you, you reminded me of a famous figure I once met—you’re strikingly alike!”

Hu Mo grinned lasciviously, thinking to himself, “Hmm, she really could rival Miss Cang!”

The woman in white caught his smile and immediately guessed what filthy thoughts he was having. She shot him a cold glare, one so sharp Hu Mo's mind instantly abandoned any further fantasies.

“Don’t look at me that way, or I’ll gouge your eyes out!” she said icily, and Hu Mo felt a sudden pain in his eyes, as if someone had jabbed them.

“My name is Cang Ling—‘Cang’ as in the heavens, ‘Ling’ as in living beings,” she replied, her tone as sharp and cold as a blade.

Hu Mo’s expression froze, his mismatched eyes blinking twice. He muttered, “Could she really be Miss Cang…”

“What did you say? Who is Miss Cang?” Cang Ling’s ears were indeed keen; she caught Hu Mo’s mumbling.

“Ah? Oh, Miss Cang—haha, she’s an artist, beautiful, kind-hearted, with a figure much like yours. Especially her flute skills—they’re absolutely first-rate! When I first saw you, I almost mistook you for her,” Hu Mo replied with a smile, his gaze drifting subconsciously to Cang Ling’s chest.

Cang Ling frowned slightly, asking softly, “She also plays the flute? I don’t believe her skills surpass mine. Are you making things up again?”

Hu Mo was taken aback, waving his hands quickly. “How could I dare lie? Her flute skills are renowned. If you ever compete, you’ll see for yourself.”

Hu Mo chuckled wickedly inside, thinking, “Heh, I wouldn’t mind being the subject of such a contest.”

Cang Ling nodded thoughtfully, still mulling over the matter. She had devoted years to her flute craft—how could anyone surpass her? Hu Mo’s words had awakened her competitive spirit.

“Oh, by the way, you weren’t always outside—you were inside my body, weren’t you? Why did you suddenly come out? Look, a lone man and woman sharing a room—if anyone saw us, I’d have trouble explaining. Your reputation doesn’t matter, but mine mustn’t be tarnished. I am pure and spotless…”

“Go to hell—!” Hu Mo let out a miserable cry as he was sent flying once again.