Chapter 177: The Gu Master Who Cultivated the Young Hero
It was still dark, the crescent moon was gleaming white, and the elongated shadows of the trees were swaying, but not because of the wind.
The sword shadow flickered, picked up the falling leaves, and let them fall down again.
If someone goes to pick up those leaves, they will find that the seemingly complete leaves have already been broken into many pieces.
The weather in July is very stuffy, and it is only cool in the evening and early morning.
After practicing sword skills, Qi He fetched some water to wash his hands and face again. The water reflected the young man's handsome eyebrows.
Qi He's eyebrows are not sharp sword-like, but of appropriate color. Together with his gray eyes, his eyebrows and eyes are like mountains and rivers hidden in the mist, emitting softness, like the moon in the clouds, bright and clear.
When people see this person, they feel that he must be a gentle and refined person like a flawless jade.
Qi He wrung out the towel, and water drops fell into the basin, splashing ripples and blurring his face.
Qi He pushed open the door of the east wing in the courtyard, skillfully closed the window that had been open all night, and placed the ice basin he had just taken out at the foot of the bed. He used his inner strength to disperse the ice mist, and then used a fan to fan away the heat in the room.
The thin quilt on the bed was rolled up and fell to the side of the bed. Qi He picked it up from the feet of the sleeping young man.
The boy placed his large palm on the young man's exposed abdomen and without lingering for long, he gently placed the quilt on top.
After doing all this, he did not leave, but sat beside the bed, covering the young man's warm feet with his slightly cold hands, so that the master who was suffering from the heat could sleep better.
Lin Zhi became aware of something when Qi He came in, and only opened her eyes after sleeping for a while.
The coolness in the air made him relax his brows and sit up on the bed. When he moved, Qi He had already withdrawn her hand and held his stockings for him.
This situation is not the first time it has happened, it has been going on for about a year or two.
It didn't take Lin Zhi long to go from being uncomfortable to accepting it naturally. After all, Qi He was already sixteen or seventeen years old at that time, and Lin Zhi was used to being served, so she had no resistance.
Especially in the summer, this body is particularly afraid of heat. He has to keep a basin of ice before sleeping at night, but the heat will always dissipate, so he will not close the windows to let the night breeze in for comfort. However, when the sun rises in the morning, the heat in the room will rise again.
Qi He would always help him close the windows and refill the ice before the sun got brighter, keeping the room cool so that he could sleep more comfortably.
Qi He's strategy towards him was like the gentle spring rain that moistened everything silently, invading his life little by little through small things and legitimizing some intimacy that should not exist between a master and a disciple.
Lin Zhi used to take care of Qi He more, but in the past two years, the situation has completely turned around. Qi He has taken care of Lin Zhi's food, clothing, housing and transportation, and Qi He can also take care of some things and business for her.
Qi He heard the sound of clothes rubbing against each other and knew that Lin Zhi was changing clothes.
Even though he couldn't see, he still lowered his head subconsciously.
The long-anticipated martial arts competition will be held soon. The venue has been decided and they have to set off, so the master can no longer wear this cool Miao clothes. Qi He has already prepared a robe for him.
Qi He's eyelashes trembled as he sorted out his master's changed clothes.
Fortunately, the master does not reveal his identity as a Gu Master to others. If he were to walk in front of people wearing such clothes... Qi He tightly grasped the clothes and buried the gloomy emotions deep in his heart.
He can't see it, but others can see it clearly. How unfair it is.
When he looked up again, there was nothing unusual on Qi He's face.
"Mr. Huo's letter arrived last night. I took it."
Qi He spoke, took out a note from his arms and handed it to Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhi took the handwritten letter from Huo Wushuang, sat on the chair and read it. Qi He stood behind him and tied his hair for him.
Lin Zhi usually reads quickly, but this time he finished reading line by line.
The blurry mirror reflected his slightly cold eyebrows when he was not smiling. Lin Zhi closed the letter and exhaled like a long sigh.
Qi He paused, knowing that the situation might not be good.
"Is Mrs. Howe any worse?"
At the beginning of the year, Mrs. Huo vomited blood. Qi He followed Lin Zhi to go there. Although he could not see, he could feel that Huo Wushuang's breath was weak, and he no longer had the strong internal strength he had when he taught him martial arts.
If the mother Gu, which is responsible for nourishment, is in such a state, the child Gu may be even weaker.
"It has been Huo Wushuang's best effort to delay it until now. He wrote to say that he might not be able to go to the martial arts competition to see you become famous. Madam Huo is very sorry about this, so she asked us to visit them after the martial arts competition is over."
When Lin Zhi planted the mother-child Gu for them, he knew that this method of prolonging life would not last long. Huo Wushuang's vitality was being consumed every day, and the fact that he has survived to this day is the result of his deep internal strength and powerful martial arts.
Qi He: "How much time do they have?"
"According to the last time I saw her, Mrs. Huo is now too weak to get out of bed. She can only hold out for another month at most."
Lin Zhi put the letter back into the envelope. Apart from the transaction, he and Huo Wushuang and his wife had a close relationship. It was only because Mrs. Huo liked Qi He very much and treated him like her own son that their relationship became closer.
Although I knew the result long ago and knew that this was just an illusion, parting always makes people sigh.
"Then let's go back and meet them as soon as possible after we finish the martial arts tournament."
Qi He took care of his master's black hair and spoke in a low voice.
Lin Zhi responded, put the letter away, and started to wash up.
After washing up, Qi He had already placed the breakfast prepared in the kitchen on the table, and Lin Zhi's porridge had been scooped out.
"Master, the things have been packed, and the carriage is at the door. You go first, Xiao Qi and I will be here soon after giving him some instructions."
Xiao Qi is a student Qi He found a year ago. Xiao Qi's full name is Qi Song. He is an eight-year-old boy who is like a calf. He is not big but very strong and has great strength, so he eats a lot.
The little brat ate his father into poverty. Qi Song's family could no longer afford to support him before he reached that age, so they sent him to the town to be an apprentice of a martial arts master, intending to let him learn some kung fu so that he could get a job as a security guard. However, because he ate too much and his master's house did not have enough food, he could only run out and wait in a place like an inn, eating the leftovers after the guests left.
It was under such circumstances that Qi He, who was out on business, met him and discovered that he was a good candidate for learning the Haoran Palm.
Qi He promised Wu Feng that he would pass on his unique skills.
When Qi Song heard that he could have a full meal, he happily followed Qi He. Facts proved that Qi He's vision was correct. Qi Song had a simple mind and was born with great strength, so he was very suitable for practicing the Haoran Palm.
Qi He did not let Qi Song call him master. Half a year ago, he brought him back to Miaojiang to meet his real master, Wu Feng. Wu Feng's meridians were all damaged, and he was already at the end of his strength by using poison to fight poison. After Qi Song demonstrated a few moves, Wu Feng closed his eyes with relief, handed him the booklet he wrote, and became a handful of yellow earth in the Miao village.
After Qi Song kowtowed to Wu Feng, he continued to practice martial arts with Qi He.
Lin Zhi did not interfere in this matter, and he even rarely saw Qi Song.
It's not that he hates this child, he just doesn't care about him. He cares about Lin Tang because she is the original owner's niece, and he cares about Qi He because he is his mission target. As for other children, no matter how likable they are, it has nothing to do with him.
Of course, Qi He's intentional or unintentional intervention was inevitable. Qi He seldom let the child meet him. Needless to say, he was worried that his attention would be attracted by other people.
"Well, remember to tell him, otherwise he won't feel uneasy if he doesn't see you for too long."
"Xiao Qi missed food more, which is not like me at all. After all, I was thinking about Master at that time," Qi He chuckled, paused for a while and continued, "Of course, I am thinking about Master now too."
Such intimate and even somewhat ambiguous words that transcend the relationship between master and disciple were spoken very naturally from Qi He's mouth without a trace of concealment, which could easily make those who were skeptical to deny themselves.
Lin Zhi: "He does look like Xiaotang. Speaking of Xiaotang, she will probably join in the fun this time."
When Qi He went back half a year ago, Lin Tang had just run out of the village.
She was not low-key at all. She appeared in Miao clothes and did not hide her methods. In just half a year, she had gained the reputation of the witch of the Gu Cult in the martial arts world.
Lin Zhi always sent people to keep an eye on her and did not interfere with her life.
"The item for the first place winner of this tournament is quite interesting."
"Master, have you received the news?"
Lin Zhi smiled and said, "Forty years of Ice Jade Lotus."
Qi He followed with a twitch of his lips: "It looks like they are going to take action again."
The Ice Jade Lotus is one of the herbs in the prescription for cleansing the meridians and strengthening the marrow. During the past three years, they had heard rumors about the other herbs one by one, and now only this last one had finally appeared.
Lin Zhi wiped his lips and stood up: "Let's go, this year's martial arts competition will definitely be more interesting than before."
It takes about a day's drive from where Lin Zhi lives to the venue for this year's martial arts competition, and the martial arts competition will officially be held in three days.
The tracks left by the carriage wheels stretched into the distance.
Once word got out that the venue for the martial arts tournament had been confirmed, it became extremely difficult to book an inn.
Lin Zhi had property here, so instead of staying in his city residence to rest, he went to the inn and occupied a room with the best view. Qi He lived next door to him.
The next day, which was the day before the martial arts competition, there was a knock on Lin Zhi's door in the early morning.
"Master, I'm afraid something is wrong. In the past, I could just circulate the Qi for a few cycles and it would be fine. But this time, even sitting in meditation for half an hour doesn't seem to be working."
Qi He stopped beside Lin Zhi's bed, with a barely perceptible panic in his voice.
He stood not far away in an orderly manner, like an apprentice who came to ask his master for help when he encountered a problem. His handsome face was full of solemnity, as if he was facing a very difficult and unknown problem.
If his ostentatious object had not soaked through his summer robes, his words towards his master would probably have seemed more convincing.
Qi He expressed this problem three years ago, and since then he has never mentioned it in front of his master, and has not even let his master see him like this.
Until today, the day before the martial arts competition, the master would not ignore him no matter what.
No matter how it ends, according to the master's personality, he will not abandon him.
Qi He had been waiting for this day for a long time. He even thought about doing this tomorrow morning or even on the day of his last competition, but he finally chose today.
If the serious business started, Qi He didn't want his master to think that he had no sense of propriety and was still thinking about such things at the crucial moment.
Although that was indeed the case, he thought about his master day and night.
When I touched the Master's waist and abdomen, and held his feet, it was a pity that he could not see, so he could only use his hands to trace every inch he could touch and then feel it carefully.
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