The Lay Flat Life: My Wife's Cultivation Makes Me Stronger - Chapter 61

Wang Mian’s words left the three of them momentarily stunned.

After a brief silence, Han Feng finally said,
“An ancient body refining technique? So, you’re giving up on cultivating immortality to practice martial arts that were already phased out?”

“Martial arts that have been obsolete for over a hundred million years?” Jiang Surou added, twisting the knife.

Wang Mian let out a bitter chuckle.
“Do I have another choice? My dantian is destroyed—I can’t cultivate immortality anymore. Perhaps the Patriarch took pity on me and granted me this technique so I could rebuild myself.

Honestly, I don’t think martial arts are that bad. Before Han Xianzun appeared, wasn’t this world a martial arts utopia at its peak?

Back then, people didn’t even have the concept of cultivating immortality. Everyone trained in martial arts, and there were still great masters who could fly, walk through walls, boil seas, and set forests ablaze. They were incredibly powerful.

And if I succeed in martial arts, I’ll be pretty amazing too.

Imagine this: I don’t have any immortal cultivation, so when someone scans me with their divine sense, they’ll think, ‘Oh, he’s just a powerless mortal.’ Then—bam!—before they know it, I’ve sucker-punched them into oblivion.

‘Haha, didn’t see that coming, did you? Turns out I’m a martial artist!’”

Wang Mian roared with laughter, showing no signs of despair over his inability to cultivate immortality. If anything, he seemed eager to reassure everyone else.

Jiang Surou, holding the little fox, said calmly,
“But martial artists are rare in this world. You have no foundation, and without a master to guide you, how do you plan to train on your own?

That said, speaking of masters, I remember hearing something from my father when I was little. Apparently, our Yin-Yang Sect once had a senior expert who, during his Core Formation stage, fought someone and had his dantian destroyed, losing all of his cultivation.

Everyone thought his life was over and stopped paying attention to him.

But surprisingly, he secluded himself in the back mountains and devoted himself to martial arts. Decades ago, when our sect was invaded by external forces, with Yunxiao Sect launching a massive attack, he emerged during a critical moment.

That battle was incredibly fierce. That senior stepped in and, with a single punch, incapacitated a Nascent Soul cultivator. Afterward, he single-handedly held off three other Nascent Soul experts without faltering.

Following his efforts, Yunxiao Sect was successfully repelled, and his name rose to prominence.

Later, we joined forces with other sects and counterattacked, ultimately annihilating Yunxiao Sect in one decisive strike.

The Sect Leader invited him to come out of seclusion and serve as an elder, but he refused. He didn’t want any rewards either, choosing instead to remain in the back mountains, focusing solely on his martial arts.

Some people, impressed by his martial prowess, tried sending their less-talented disciples to him as students, but he never accepted a single one.

He’s eccentric, never takes disciples, has no Dao partner, and trains alone.

Because he’s so powerful yet so temperamental, most of us avoid that area entirely.

If we could somehow convince this senior to take you as a student, Wang Mian, then perhaps there’s still hope for you to walk the martial path.”

Hearing this, hope flickered in everyone’s hearts.

But then Wang Mian said,
“But I’m just a poor kid. I have nothing to offer—how could I convince him to take me as a disciple?”

Han Feng immediately replied,
“Plenty of wealthier people have brought lavish gifts to him before, and he still didn’t accept them.

Let’s not overthink it. You won’t get anywhere lying here like this. You’ve got to try, right?”

Jiang Surou nodded.
“Maybe we can ask Master to introduce us. With her reputation in the sect, it might help.”

Han Feng thought of his alluring master and curiously asked,
“Do you think Master’s influence is enough to make that senior accept Wang Mian?”

“Not necessarily,” Jiang Surou said. “But it might at least stop that temperamental senior from killing us. Or, if he does try to kill us, Master could step in to shield us for a bit.”

Everyone was shocked, visibly disturbed by the thought.
Zhang Xiu, unafraid of death, immediately said,
“Then let’s go see Master right now!”

“Master rarely meets people without a proper reason. We’ll need a good excuse,” Jiang Surou said thoughtfully.

“But didn’t Master say Han Feng could visit her after completing his outer disciple registration to receive a gift? We can use that as an opportunity. Worst case, Han Feng gives up his gift in exchange for Master’s help introducing us.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Han Feng agreed immediately.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Surou said, turning to leave.

“Wait, there’s one more thing,” Han Feng said, grabbing her hand.

Both of them froze. Jiang Surou’s cheeks turned noticeably pink as Han Feng quickly let go of her hand.

Jiang Surou’s heart sank just a little.

Is he… rejecting me?

The once-proud prodigy and goddess of Luoxia Peak, Jiang Surou, never imagined she’d feel insecure about how a mere servant disciple perceived her.

She was Jiang Surou, the cold goddess in the hearts of countless young men.

Of course, the thought passed quickly, and she brushed it aside, her expression returning to normal.

Just as Han Feng was about to speak, Wang Mian suddenly chuckled.
“You’re already Dao partners, and you’re acting all shy about holding hands? Zhang Xiu and I sleep together every night! Do you two have to go through this whole ‘dating’ phase or something?

Han Feng, let me give you some advice as your brother. You’re a grown man—be bold! Jiang Surou is the most beautiful flower of Luoxia Peak, and now’s your chance! Don’t mess it up, or one day she might decide she doesn’t want you anymore.

You can’t use the excuse of being a ‘waste’ who doesn’t deserve her anymore. Everyone in the sect knows what a big deal you are now.”

The little fox, thoroughly amused, poked her head out of Jiang Surou’s arms and added,
“Exactly, exactly! Han Feng, stop being so wishy-washy! Just go snuggle up with Sister Little Crispy Meat already.

I hope the next person to sleep in Sister Little Crispy Meat’s arms is you, not me!”

“Both of you, shut up!” Han Feng snapped through gritted teeth, his face flushing red.

Jiang Surou’s face also turned red. For both of them, this was their first experience with such teasing, and neither had any idea how to handle it.

While Jiang Surou couldn’t scold Wang Mian since she didn’t know him well, she did have another outlet for her frustration. She grabbed the little fox by its tail, holding it upside down as she glared into its eyes.

“Care to explain what you mean by ‘Little Crispy Meat’?”

“Little Crispy Meat is a delicious dish!” the fox said earnestly. “You take some meat, cut it into strips, coat it in a batter made of flour and starch, then fry it until it’s golden.

Once it’s fried, you take it out, soak it in a broth with salt and soy sauce, and cook it until tender. Sprinkle some cilantro on top and drizzle with sesame oil before serving.

Even the kids from next door would cry with envy!”

As the little fox began to drool, Jiang Surou’s forehead filled with veins as she snapped,
“Is that what I’m asking you? Why are you calling me ‘Little Crispy Meat’?”

“Because your name is Surou, isn’t it? Doesn’t it sound like ‘crispy meat’? It makes you sound cute!”

T/L Note:
The playful nickname “Little Crispy Meat” (小酥肉, xiǎo sū ròu), as said playfully by the little fox in the original title, is derived from Jiang Surou’s name (姜酥柔, Jiāng Sū Róu). Her name can be broken down into characters that evoke imagery of crispiness or tenderness: 酥 (Su) means “crispy” or “tender,” while 柔 (Rou) means “soft” or “gentle.”

In Chapter 22, Wang Mian previously called her “Little Tender Meat,” humorously contrasting the delicate tone of her name with her cold and stern demeanor. However, in Chapter 61,“Little Crispy Meat” better reflects the playful, teasing tone used by the little fox, as it directly references a popular Chinese dish and adds a layer of humor to the interaction.