As she said this, Mu Yanxi suddenly felt two soft, full mounds press against her back.
The gentle sensation startled her so much she nearly jumped up, only to be firmly pushed back into the chair by Shangguan Yun’s chest.
“I was actually quite relieved back then. After all, I truly didn’t want to marry someone from my grandfather’s generation.”
“Even by cultivator standards, your maternal grandfather wasn’t that old, and he only looked about thirty,” Shangguan Yun said.
“If I had married him, I would definitely have lived under constant restraint, bound by countless rules. If he beat or scolded me, I could only endure it.”
“Compared to that, you’re my age and much easier to talk to, so I was actually glad he didn’t choose me.”
“But later, your grandfather died unexpectedly. The family went to annul your engagement, and you agreed.”
“So I could only continue studying at Lingyue Chuzong and then advance straight into the Spiritual Moon Sect.”
“The Shangguan Family wanted to train me as a tool for the next political marriage, so I had to learn how to serve men.”
As she spoke, Shangguan Yun turned off the showerhead, poured body wash into her hands, and began rubbing it over Mu Yanxi’s body.
Mu Yanxi felt uncomfortable at first, but she quickly realized those hands used an extremely refined technique. It was a massage method.
The body wash was also infused with large amounts of spiritual herb and spiritual medicine essence.
Through the spiritual energy stimulated by Shangguan Yun’s hands during the massage, Mu Yanxi’s meridians were opened throughout her body, allowing the medicinal properties to be driven directly inside and absorbed faster.
This method was far more effective than simply taking elixirs. Even cultivators with no spirit root could absorb spiritual energy this way.
Moreover, the massage process was unbelievably comfortable, so much so that she couldn’t help letting out a soft hum.
“This is one of the things Lingyue Chuzong taught me, how to assist high-level cultivators in their cultivation, how to make them feel comfortable while their cultivation increases rapidly.”
“Soon you’ll understand that the Spiritual Moon Palace has remained prosperous for so long not because it teaches only dual cultivation techniques. Those techniques can be found everywhere on the Dao web,” Shangguan Yun continued.
“Are you wondering why there are quite a few Young Misses in the Spiritual Moon Sect who look like they come from wealthy families? In reality, most great families have many children.”
“It’s common for a single generation to have thirty or forty, or even over a hundred descendants.”
“Only a very few of the most outstanding can obtain inheritance rights or elder positions. The family head can remain unchanged for several thousand years.”
“The rest either become ordinary clan members, while most girls are used as tools for political marriage.”
“And the girls chosen for such marriages are actually the most talented women in the clan. They receive more resources than ordinary disciples, because the daughters sent out represent the family’s prestige.”
“If their aptitude or cultivation isn’t sufficient, they wouldn’t even qualify for such marriages.”
“So I had to enter the Spiritual Moon Sect. I had to study these techniques and methods of serving men properly. I had to become first in my grade.”
“That represents higher value in my family’s eyes, which means more resources, which means I can wait for a better offer and seek a stronger marriage partner.”
“As long as I gain more time, I can cultivate to a higher realm, make the Shangguan Family recognize my potential, and become too valuable for them to casually marry off. Or at least, I would have room to negotiate.”
Shangguan Yun spoke this long passage calmly while continuing the massage. Her tone held no anger or resentment. This was entirely a path she had planned for herself.
After finishing, she turned the showerhead back on and rinsed away the foam from Mu Yanxi’s body, its medicinal effects already spent.
By then, Mu Yanxi completely understood Shangguan Yun’s situation and state of mind.