All Chapters of Daily Dossier: Secrets of a Lazy Husband: Chapter 11
- Chapter 20
96 chapters
11
At this very moment, Caelum had no idea that mysterious troubles were following his scent, looking for an opportunity to strike. He sat quietly inside the wooden pavilion overlooking the pond, his eyes fixed on the fishing float bobbing on the water's surface, while his mind drifted through various thoughts.Although his period of confinement had been largely dull and monotonous, his harvest had been unexpectedly rich. Not only had he achieved mastery in the Dao of Ink, elevating his calligraphy to a proficient level, but he had also delved into the martial path, possessing a seasoned foundation in the "Great Spear Stance."However, because the restriction on his movements had been lifted so suddenly, he found himself momentarily at a loss for where to go once he stepped outside. Perhaps he would spend his time wandering to explore the local customs of this world, or maybe go to see the famous mountains and great rivers... But he quickly reminded himself that he couldn't go too far fo
12
Ultimately, Caelum agreed to Evangeline’s "request," promising to look after Leo for a period of time. He viewed it as a small compensation for the excellent care the Xiao family had provided him. However, he made his terms clear: Leo was to stay within the confines of the Spring Lotus Garden and not be allowed to run wild; furthermore, Caelum would not be responsible for teaching him any formal academics.Evangeline nodded in agreement, gave Leo a few stern instructions, and then departed with Serena."Eldest Miss, why do you regard the Second Son-in-law so highly?" Serena asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer once they had crossed the threshold of the Middle Courtyard. "In my view, even if he has some talent, he is far inferior to the scholars within the manor, let alone his character being so...""Base." Though Serena didn't utter the word, Evangeline understood her meaning perfectly. Walking gracefully toward a residence on the right side of the courtyard, she replied
13
After Caelum finished his practice, he realized that the narrow guest room was too confined for training the Mountain Crusher boxing technique. Fortunately, practicing the forms without full force only required standard movements to be considered a completed session.Following this, he used his points to raise "Martial Path: Fist" to the Beginner level, leaving him with 6 Destiny points. In the next moment, a sudden influx of profound martial knowledge regarding the path of the fist flooded his mind. Caelum moved his limbs, taking in the surroundings while grasping the subtle details within that revelation.In the martial arts of this world, besides one's own cultivation—physical body and Qi—the most important aspect is technique, which includes hand-to-hand combat, footwork, and various weaponry. The physical strength and Qi serve as the foundation, while technique acts as the external manifestation of strength, followed by the "Martial Intent"—such as Fist Intent or Sword Intent."T
14
The Southern Province was a land of immense proportions, a sprawling urban tapestry characterized by four main horizontal thoroughfares and eight vertical ones. It stretched extensively from East to West, while narrowing slightly in its North-to-South orientation. The grand Noble Manor, where Caelum now resided as a son-in-law, was strategically positioned at the northern end of the city’s central axis on Bashan Street, standing close to the Zhennan intersection. It was a magnificent estate, a fortress of prestige and power that faced South, occupying a vast expanse of prime land that reflected the high status of its owners.After the carriage finally rolled out of the massive manor gates, it made two calculated turns before settling into a steady southward rhythm along the main road. Throughout the entire journey, Caelum could not contain his curiosity; he remained hunched over, his hands gripping the embroidered silk curtains of the carriage as he peered outside with wide, inquisiti
15
Meanwhile, on the other side of the district, Caelum had successfully located the Red Beauty House. Instead of entering, he began to lead the group on a seemingly aimless stroll through the surrounding area, acting as if they were merely tourists taking in the sights. Truth be told, the scent of cosmetics and heavy perfumes in this particular alley—known as Pleasure Alley—was incredibly thick, almost cloying.In this single alleyway, which stretched for nearly a mile, there were no fewer than fifty or sixty different brothels and entertainment houses of varying sizes. Every single doorway was adorned with a row of uniform red lanterns. Some of the more "specialized" establishments even hung bright, colorful undergarments—mostly silk camisoles—outside their doors to attract attention. At a quick glance, they looked almost like large face veils. Butterfly caught a glimpse of them and immediately lowered her head, her face burning with shame, not daring to look a second time.Young Leo,
16
After leaving the Red Beauty House, Caelum instructed Jack to drive the carriage through several other districts in the Southern Province. He soon discovered that they were largely the same; some had more elegant storefronts or larger buildings with the faint sound of music drifting out, frequented by high-ranking officials and wealthy nobles, but there was little real difference. He found it far less interesting than fishing back at the manor. Consequently, Caelum brought the group back to the Noble Estate, not even stopping for a meal outside. Shortly after returning Butterfly and young Leo to the Spring Garden, Eric looked at the surrounding manor guards with a puzzled expression. "Our young master... where does he get such nerve?""Who knows?" another guard replied, shaking his head. "In my opinion, he’s just been cooped up in the manor for too long and wanted to get an eyeful of the south side. If the Old Master or the lords found out, our brother-in-law would be in serious tro
17
The following day, the relentless heavy downpour finally broke, tapering off into a gentle, refreshing drizzle that seemed to wash away the gloom. The entire estate took on a renewed air of purity and elegance, with the scent of wet earth and purple bamboo filling the air. However, the tranquility within the Noble Manor was short-lived, as the milestone birthday of the Old Master was fast approaching. The estate's servants and maids became a blur of frantic activity across every courtyard. Even in the light rain, they worked tirelessly to prepare the grand arrangements required for such a prestigious longevity celebration. The crimson "Double Happiness" lanterns that had hung from the eaves of the Spring Lotus Garden since the wedding of Caelum and Celeste were finally being taken down. They were replaced by grand new lanterns, meticulously crafted and inscribed with the golden character for "Longevity." To prevent the fine silk from being dampened by the lingering mist, the servants
18
Caelum frowned, realization dawning on him like a cold splash of water.First, it was clear that this mysterious girl didn't actually know him personally, or she wouldn't have asked those provocative questions earlier. Second, her presence here was undeniably linked to his wife, Celeste. Was she an old enemy of the Second Miss? It was highly possible; given Celeste’s standing as a General protecting the borders, her enemies were surely numerous and their methods treacherous.Caelum’s brow furrowed instinctively. How could a martial artist so easily bypass the manor’s elite personal guards and reach the secluded Spring Lotus Garden? How truly powerful was this girl? While analyzing the situation, he shifted his weight with calculated silence, leaning his back against a few stalks of purple bamboo while scanning the shadows for any hidden movement. Before he could speak a word to test her further, he sensed a sharp gust of cold wind behind his head, followed by a crisp, melodic giggle
19
Brynlee’s thought process was refreshingly simple, bordering on naive. To her, anyone capable of reaching such a formidable level of martial prowess in such a short span of time had to possess a unique secret or a transcendent cultivation method. Even though the martial arts of her mountain tribe were vastly different from the orthodox techniques of the central provinces, she believed that at the Ninth Rank—the realm of refining flesh and opening the Sea of Qi—all paths eventually converged. *If I can just learn a fraction of his secret, I might finally break through this bottleneck and reach the Eighth Rank,* she mused. Puffing out her chest with newfound determination, she declared, "Brother-in-law, if you agree to guide me, I swear on my life that your secret will be safe with me."Caelum eyed her with deep suspicion. The whiplash transition from a rebellious, "heroic" intruder to a fawning, sycophantic disciple made it difficult for him to place any real trust in her. However, h
21
"Jiaxing Garden?"Caelum stared at the phantom words hovering before his eyes, thinking to himself that the "Undercover Guard" certainly knew how to choose a location. Among the ten residential estates within the Manor’s rear grounds, Jiaxing Garden was currently the most vulnerable. With Lady Celeste’s sisters away, the security there was at its laxest.Caelum recalled his previous nighttime stroll near that area. The artificial mountain and the pond mentioned in the intel were situated just a single wall away from his own Spring Lotus Garden. His decision was instantaneous; for the sake of obtaining this "Destiny," he had to see exactly who this secret agent was.He spent the next quarter of an hour calming his mind and ensuring that Butterfly and the other servants were soundly asleep. Moving with the practiced silence of a predator, he slipped out of the wooden building. This time, fortified by the "Dragon-Phoenix Dance" movement technique, his silhouette was as light and swift as