Chapter 191 Dawn
Chapter 191 Dawn
By the fire, Wang Sumo calmly recounted the whole story, and everyone around fell into a deathly silence.
Previously, I only thought that He Huai'an's martial arts skills were unfathomable, but I didn't know the ins and outs of it.
Now, I suddenly realize that this is no longer a hot potato, but an intractable dead end.
We are blocked by the river ahead and cannot proceed for the time being.
The only main road will surely be completely blocked by He Huai'an's men, leaving them in a dilemma.
He Huai'an orchestrated the event, orchestrating the gathering of the Four Heroes of Meizhou in Meizhou, demonstrating meticulous planning at every step.
Beside the campfire, it was so quiet that only the sound of the river lapping against the shore and the crackling of the flames could be heard.
Wang Sumo sat by the fire, her mind replaying the events of the day...
He Wenxue stepped forward.
“Master He.” Wang Sumo looked at him.
He Wenxue had just finished healing the wounds of the man who had just exchanged blows with He Huai'an, and had been injured by the force of He Huai'an's palm strike.
Fortunately, He Huai'an did not intend to kill Qu Guan at the time, otherwise Qu Guan would not have only suffered minor injuries.
"How is the old man?" Wang Sumo asked with concern.
She had wanted to ask earlier, but Master He was treating the old man's injuries, and she was afraid of disturbing him, so she waited at a distance.
“Not bad, He Huai’an…” He Wenxue paused, then changed her words, “Lian Xu didn’t intend to take Lao Qu’s life, or rather, he didn’t intend to seriously injure Lao Qu, so he left room for maneuver.”
He Wenxue stopped short of making a point, and Wang Sumo understood.
But both of them knew that Lian Xu's final palm strike was already filled with murderous intent.
On Mount Kunlun, Lian Xu felt a sense of kinship with his junior brother who had withdrawn from the group.
In the end, in order to preserve the character of Junior Uncle in the Guan Yin Citta incident, she did not hesitate to give up the identity of Junior Uncle Tan Huisheng.
For Lian Xu, the old man and Luo Song are very similar.
The old man on Kunlun Mountain reminded Lian Xu of Luo Song when he was young.
The death of Luo Song must have touched Lian Xu deeply.
But the dead cannot be brought back to life.
In a sense, marrying the old man is a continuation of Luo Song in Lian Xu's heart, a kind of loss and recovery.
Therefore, Junior Uncle has been maintaining his unfollowing.
Even if unfollowing causes trouble everywhere.
Junior Uncle is handling the aftermath of the unfollowing.
Because Luo Song was the only ray of light on his sickbed when he was young, and he himself extinguished that ray of light...
Therefore, for those who want to unfollow, the time spent on Kunlun Mountain is a unique experience for Junior Uncle.
Beyond the old-fashioned way of eating fish, it's another kind of spiritual sustenance.
It was also the most significant chapter of that period in the Kunlun Mountains.
But Lian Xu knew very well that he was not on the same path as those who unfollowed him.
He had his own pursuit of immortality, and he went to Kunlun to retrieve the other third of the "Longevity Scripture" and the Kunlun Thumb Ring.
He will definitely part ways with those who unfollow.
Lian Xu killed the fat man without hesitation and framed Jinniang, but at the point of unblocking the gate, Lian Xu left the old man a way out, allowing him to leave Kunlun...
For decades afterward, regardless of his status, he always avoided the old man.
Luo Song will always be a regret in Lian Xu's heart.
Therefore, marrying the old man was Lian Xu's way of making amends to himself.
Back then, he probably thought that even if Luo Song didn't achieve immortality with him, the two would forget each other in the vast world. I desire immortality, but you need not worry about me...
In the end, however, he never expected that Luo Song would die at his hands.
Lian Xu must have gone through a period of time even darker than when he was on his sickbed before he went to Kunlun.
As a result, he encountered the young Master Qu in Kunlun.
Lian Xu saw Luo Song's shadow in the old man from back then in Kunlun, and he also subconsciously placed his longing for Luo Song in the old man.
It was as if the person he was drinking with in front of the fake apricot blossom wine was the same young man who had risked his life to climb to the top floor of the Wind Pavilion in Kunlun a long time ago.
But he could never bring himself to drink that ridiculously fake apricot blossom wine with him under that ancient tree.
So he told the old man, "Let's go, don't stay in Kunlun, because in Kunlun, I'm afraid it will be another Luo Song's solution."
In the end, Lian Xu gave up his identity as Junior Uncle.
Over the years, the "maintenance" of unfollowing eventually came to an end.
Until today, when the old man harbored murderous intent towards him...
"Master He, is there any chance of winning?" Wang Sumo asked Master He in a low voice.
Wang Sumo always remembered that, according to the old man's recollections, Master He was the one with the highest martial arts talent among the martial arts figures of that generation.
So from the moment he went to Kunlun, the old man spent his whole life trying to catch up with Master He.
If, in the eyes of Master He, there is no chance of defeating Lian Xu, then perhaps Luo Song's last words will truly come true—"If I do not kill you, no one will be able to kill you in the future."
He Wenxue smiled faintly and did not answer.
Wang Sumo's heart sank slightly, as if she already knew the answer.
Wang Sumo even thought that if the problem couldn't be solved in this generation, another genius might be born in the next generation...
But He Wenxue's gaze turned towards the center of the river, and she said softly, "I'm thinking..."
Wang Sumo looked at him.
He Wenxue also looked at her: "Girl, call Xiaobai over."
Wang Sumo was stunned for a moment, then quickly got up.
He Wenxue smiled.
After a moment, Bai Cen stepped forward: "Old Master."
He Wenxue smiled gently and said softly, "The Silver Dragon Jade Belt and the Ninefold True Qi are naturally restrained by the Longevity Scripture. Silver Dragon Jade Belt, what level have you reached?"
Bai Cen replied, "The Silver Dragon Jade Belt created by our Grandmaster has no layers. Instead, the more one comprehends it, the stronger one's inner strength becomes. In particular, the Silver Dragon Jade Belt under the Ninefold True Qi complements each other, making it even more powerful."
He Wenxue nodded and continued, "Master Yu'an transferred ninety-nine percent of his true energy to you to suppress the poison in your body. Can you use this true energy on your own?"
Bai Cen also truthfully replied, "Over the years, I've solved it many times and become familiar with it. I wouldn't call myself a master at it, but I'm not bad at it either."
He Wenxue nodded again, then continued, "I remember you said that the Ninefold True Qi is like an outer garment, which can encompass and integrate into any internal energy cultivation technique..."
Bai Cen nodded: "That's right."
He Wenxue: "You didn't let Fang Rushi detoxify you because you were afraid that there wouldn't be a last person who knew the Silver Dragon Jade Belt."
Bai Cen's gaze faltered slightly. He hadn't mentioned this earlier, but Bai Cen suddenly realized that it was Wang Sumo who had told Master He.
Bai Cen had nothing to hide, but said, "Right now, He Huai'an's martial arts have reached their peak. Even with the Silver Dragon Jade Belt, he is no match for him."
"Because you were poisoned. Even if you weren't poisoned, your internal energy wouldn't be enough to support the free movement of the Ninefold True Qi within your body and maintain the perfect form of the Silver Dragon Jade Belt," He Wenxue said, hitting the nail on the head.
Wang Sumo seemed to have picked up on something.
Master He's meaning...
Master He reached out and patted Bai Cen on the shoulder: "What if Lao Qu, Lao Liu, the Eight-Sided Formation-Breaking Umbrella, and Master Weng transfer our internal energy to you?"
Bai Cen was surprised.
Wang Sumo was also secretly excited.
Yes, the reason Lian Xu is so difficult to deal with is because he has been constantly turning around, accumulating internal energy and martial arts skills. Therefore, even the old man's palm technique cannot contend with him, because Lian Xu has lived long enough!
Wang Sumo suddenly understood what Master He meant!
Master He continued, “We will transfer our combined internal energy to you. You will have enough internal energy to maintain the Silver Dragon Jade Belt and the Ninefold True Qi. Only the Silver Dragon Jade Belt and the Ninefold True Qi can restrain the Longevity Scripture. Only in this way will we have a chance to contend with Lian Xu.”
Master He knew very well that this was the last chance.
Wang Sumo also looked at Elder He: "Elder He, if you transferred all your inner strength to Bai Cen, then you..."
Master He laughed and said, "The people who come and go in the martial world are the same people. Wherever they are, that's where the martial world is. Whether their martial arts skills are profound or not is no longer important."
Wang Sumo saw magnanimity in the eyes of Master He.
*
Around the fire, several people surrounded Bai Cen. Old Master Weng reminded him, "Bai Cen, if you can't take it..."
Bai Cen said confidently, "I can."
My master is still in Lian Xu's hands. Lian Xu has taken countless lives, and my master also died at his hands. If Lian Xu is still alive, the martial world will never be truly peaceful.
My master said that the method of marrow cleansing might be used three, four, or five times, but the effect would become worse over time. In order to achieve immortality, Lian Xu would definitely continue to study medical techniques and classic texts, and continue to experiment on more and more people.
There will be a second Bewitching Town, a third Bewitching Town...
The reason Lian Xu was so fearless at the martial arts tournament was simply because even if he abandoned the identity of He Huai'an, there would be another "He Huai'an" in ten years.
As long as he lives long enough, eliminating a long-standing threat is far more important than the identity of He Huai'an.
For Lian Xu, it's simply a matter of starting over under a different identity.
But once a long-standing hidden danger is eliminated, one can rest easy.
Bai Cen said gently, "If it wasn't me, it would have been someone else; but if it wasn't me, perhaps we'd have to wait many years for another person, someone with enough talent, who might accidentally learn the Silver Dragon Jade Belt and Ninefold True Qi, or create a technique to counter the 'Longevity Scripture.' Relatively speaking, both are too slim. Who knows how many more people will die at Lian Xu's hands..."
The old man looked at him and said in a deep voice, "If your meridians can't withstand it..."
Bai Cen laughed: "Anyway, after this, Lian Xu will take my life anyway, so it makes no difference."
Wang Sumo looked at him.
He looked at her and smiled slightly.
Wang Sumo recalled the first time he met him, when he was holding a pancake in one hand and covering the whip in the dock manager's hand with the other, and then the pancake fell and was snatched away by Dahuang, and he actually wanted to chase after it.
She probably won't meet anyone more cowardly, interesting, sycophantic, pain-averse, silver-tongued, and adamant about "I can't cure poison" than Bai Cen...
"Let's begin." Bai Cen closed his eyes. If he didn't go to his senior uncle, his senior uncle's life would be in danger.
My master's merchant ships are still in the shipyard in Weizhou...
When the internal energy from Grandpa He's palm entered his body through his right back, he felt a gentle, humble, and refreshing internal energy.
The old man's internal energy was drawn into his body from behind his left back, and he could feel a powerful, surging, and ceaseless sense of life.
Liu Henshui's inner strength is a magnificent, weathered, and ever-flowing force that has weathered countless storms.
The Eight-Sided Formation-Breaking Umbrella is a superb, provocative, and highly aggressive internal force.
Weng He's internal energy was like a trickle, not as powerful as the others, but like a clear spring flowing through him, easing the collision of different intensities of internal energy within his body.
The leader of the Lingxiao Sect was the oldest among them. He felt the all-encompassing nature of water, which is like the highest good, and all rivers flow into the sea, from the internal energy surging into his chest.
The Lingxiao Sect leader's internal energy protected all his meridians and heart from being injured by the sudden influx of internal energy.
"Bai Cen, Ninefold True Qi," He Wenxue reminded him.
Bai Cen suddenly opened his eyes amidst extremely greedy absorption and extremely painful endurance, clasped his hands in front of his dantian, and released the nine layers of true qi within his body.
The Ninefold True Qi was like a gentle spring breeze, or a light veil, constantly and gently enveloping and entwining these chaotic, profound, and diverse internal energies.
Like a vine made of light gauze, it constantly twists and turns several completely different internal forces together like a twisted rope, making them rotate, tumble, and twist into one place.
At first, all the internal forces struggled desperately, none of them wanting to be captured by the Ninefold True Qi, and all wanting to break free from the shackles of the Ninefold True Qi.
Therefore, the Ninefold True Qi continuously entangled and bound all the internal force within Bai Cen's body.
Like an older brother leading several mischievous children who run around everywhere.
"Bai Cen?" Old Master Weng asked worriedly.
But Bai Cen had already entered a meditative state...
No one stopped; they were all guiding this internal energy into the binding force of the Ninefold True Qi.
The leader of the Lingxiao Sect was getting old, so Qin Feng took care of him.
Lu Wenqu and He Lingyun watched from a distance. Their great-uncle had instructed them to keep an eye on them and, if anything went wrong, to use their palms to shake one or more of them away.
"Are you badly injured?" He Lingyun asked.
Lu Wenqu shook his head and said calmly, "No, my great-uncle blocked it for me."
He Lingyun said softly, "You're back. Your great-uncle is very happy."
Lu Wenqu smiled and said earnestly, "Ah Guan, we brothers will never be separated."
He Lingyun's eyes reddened slightly, then she reached out her hand, and the two of them high-fived in the air, just like when they were children.
He Zhen and He Ping stood guard at the cave entrance to ensure that it was safe outside.
"Is the master of the manor alright?" He Ping asked worriedly.
He Zhen shook his head: "I don't know. I only know that the Master is still in the dungeon of Qingyun Manor. The sooner we go back, the greater the chance that the Master will be alive. Before leaving, He Huai'an kept the Master alive to frame him for everything. Now it's no longer necessary. The Master is in danger."
He Ping fell silent.
He Zhen looked at him and said, "You're lucky to have escaped death. What about He Lin?"
He Ping sighed softly: "He Huai'an spared He Lin's life so as not to alert the other disciples. He's still lying here, but his life isn't in danger."
It's all a stroke of luck amidst misfortune...
On the other side, Wang Sumo was with Jiang Yutang. The more nervous Jiang Yutang was, the less she liked to talk.
He originally came to Bazhenlou to find the old man, but gradually he realized that perhaps the maternal grandfather she was looking for was Old Master Weng.
She just hadn't expected to run into He Huai'an. Once this is over, she should ask Old Master Weng for clarification...
Everyone has their own thoughts and worries.
While Wang Sumo watched Bai Cen with concern, he reached around his neck and took out the necklace containing the vajra pestle, along with the key...
Where is the real Vajra Pestle?
Wang Sumo looked up at the starry sky.
— The left hand holds a compassionate palm, the right hand a vajra.
Evil people are common, but compassion is rare. If the descendants of Kunlun no longer brandish the Vajra pestle in the future, then behind compassion there should also be an object for subduing demons...
— Chi Sanren destroyed the earlier Vajra pestle and forged this smaller one. Even if no one wields the Vajra pestle anymore, there will still be a powerful tool for subduing demons.
— The more powerful something is, the greater the danger it poses; it is a double-edged sword.
Wang Sumo frowned. Where exactly was the real Vajra Pestle...?
*
Time passed slowly, and at dawn, the sky began to lighten with the pale white of fish's belly.
The faint sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, making Wang Sumo and the others tense.
He Zhen and He Ping had already gone to see it, and soon He Zhen returned: "It's the Eight Treasures Pavilion."
Bazhenlou?
Brother Zhao and Huo Ling?
Wang Sumo and his companions were overjoyed and went forward to greet him. Sure enough, they saw Zhao Tong driving the carriage. As soon as the carriage stopped, Duan Wuheng and Huo Ling jumped down: "Master! Wang Sumo!"
Everything's fine!
It's good that you're alright! It's good that you're alright!
Then Fang Rushi got off the carriage with a displeased expression, but her eyes relaxed slightly the moment she saw Wang Sumo.
"What's wrong with you?" Wang Sumo only asked one question.
Duan Wuheng and Huo Ling started talking all at once, without Zhao Tong even needing to speak.
Duan Wuheng: "Brother Zhao is back. He said something happened. Let's go!"
Huo Ling: "We asked where we were going, and Brother Zhao said he didn't know either, but this place must not be safe, so we should find a safe place."
Duan Wuheng: "We wanted to leave, but the main road was blocked and guarded by people, so we couldn't get through to Bazhenlou. Brother Zhao drove Bazhenlou from a distance and changed direction."
Huo Ling: "Duan Wuheng was bored earlier, so he got a map from the innkeeper. The waiter said there was an abandoned dock behind a cave. Around noon, fishing boats might come and go on the other side. Only locals know about this, and not many people know it. It's not fishing season now, so I guess there's only one boat a day."
Duan Wuheng: "Brother Zhao brought us here. It's very secluded, inside a cave. We waited here for the boat to come. Brother Zhao asked Fang Rushi and Uncle Ding to take us to the other side first. He said he was going back to find you, but I didn't expect you to be here!"
After Duan Wuheng and Huo Ling finished speaking, Ding Bo and Qing Wu both nodded, almost without missing a single word.
"It's good that you're alright." Wang Sumo said gently, "Once the ship arrives, you can leave first."
Zhao Tong, standing nearby, looked at Bai Cen and asked, "What's wrong with Bai Cen?"
Wang Sumo told him the whole story.
Zhao Tong frowned: "I'll go with him. Master, once the boat arrives, you take them away first. I'll go with Bai Cen."
Wang Sumo looked at him, while Zhao Tong's gaze shifted to Liu Henshui: "Bai Cen and the old bald monk are both here, it's time for Qingfeng and Mingyue to draw their blood..."
By the river, Bai Cen slowly opened his eyes, and He Wenxue and the others also stopped their palms one after another. It was as if everyone had aged ten years overnight.
But when they looked at Bai Cen, they were all relieved.
"What seniors?" Bai Cen asked worriedly.
"It's alright," Grandpa Weng and the others said gently.
Only the old leader of the Lingxiao Sect said softly, "The nine layers of true qi in your body are only temporarily stable. The longer it goes on, the greater the risk may be. We should not delay and should set off."
After finishing speaking, the leader of the Lingxiao Sect stroked his beard.
Qin Feng reached out to help him, but the man grabbed his hand instead. Qin Feng was slightly surprised, clearly feeling something in his palm.
When Qin Feng unfolded it, he saw that it was the thumb ring of the Lingxiao Sect's leader.
Qin Feng looked at his master in surprise: "Master?"
But no one answered.
Everyone around looked over.
"Master?" Qin Feng knelt down, his eyes bloodshot, but the Lingxiao Sect leader had already bowed his head.
"Master!" Qin Feng choked up.
Wang Sumo's eyes darkened slightly. The leader of the Lingxiao Sect had passed away...
"Amitabha." Liu Henshui put his hands together in prayer.
At this moment, everyone was filled with countless emotions.
As dawn broke, the sun rose in the east.
"Old Ding, Fang Rushi, when the boat comes from the other side around noon, please take them across the river," He Wenxue instructed.
Ding Bo's eyes were filled with tears: "Yes."
"Grandpa!" Huo Ling choked up.
Grandpa He reached out and patted his head: "Didn't I tell you that everything would be alright, provided that you believed it?"
Huo Ling nodded repeatedly, her nose slightly red.
"Listen to what Old Ding says," Grandpa He instructed again.
Huo Ling nodded.
The old man also looked at Wang Sumo: "When the boat arrives, leave. Don't be reckless."
Wang Sumo nodded, her eyes red-rimmed, and whispered to the old man, "Girl..."
Wang Sumo stepped forward and embraced him.
In that instant, it seemed as if the old man was letting go of many things: "Take care."
Wang Sumo wept uncontrollably.
Lu Wenqu was sharpening a dagger by the river when He Lingyun looked at him and said, "Your skills are so poor, like a cat's."
Lu Wenqu laughed: "What if we're just short of this knife?"
He Lingyun found it both amusing and exasperating.
Both brothers remember Lu Wenqu saying, "We two brothers will never be separated."
He Zhen and Jiang Yutang helped bury the Lingxiao Sect leader. Qin Feng kowtowed and said, "Master, I will bring the other fellow disciples back to the Lingxiao Sect safely."
On the riverbank, Old Master Weng and Bai Cen were together.
“You’re just like your father,” Old Master Weng said with his hands behind his back. “During the flood, if he hadn’t insisted on staying and evacuating the people first, he would be the prime minister today…”
Bai Cen laughed: "I'm my father's son, so of course it's the same!"
Grandpa Weng looked at him and said gently, "You are better than he was back then."
Bai Cen looked at him: "Uncle Weng."
Weng He reached out and patted him on the shoulder, saying kindly, "He didn't have so many people helping him back then. There was a flood, and the court was arguing endlessly about water conservancy projects. He turned around and went to the disaster area to evacuate the people. The court was full of political enemies waiting to see him make a fool of himself. But who knew that he never cared..."
Bai Cen was stunned.
Grandpa Weng said gently, "He always said that he didn't want you to enter the imperial court, so he sent you to your master's side. That was his choice, and it was also your choice. Therefore, Uncle Weng respects your choice."
"Uncle Weng..."
Grandpa Weng patted his shoulder again: "Come back alive, Su Mo is waiting for you."
Bai Cen turned his gaze and saw that Wang Sumo was indeed looking at him with his arms crossed. His eyes had been red from the previous incident because of his marriage to the old man.
Bai Cen stepped forward and teased, "Oh, has the boss turned into a rabbit?"
Wang Sumo was both amused and annoyed: "The contract has already been signed, don't expect to finish it in a year!"
Bai Cen couldn't help but laugh.
Wang Sumo reached out and pinched his arm. Bai Cen: "..."
Bai Cen really didn't expect that at a time like this, she would still pinch him!
Wang Sumo asked earnestly, "Does it hurt or not? Tell the truth..."
Bai Cen: "..."
Bai Cen smiled and said, "It doesn't hurt."
Bai Cen laughed as soon as he finished speaking; it was truly laughable that he was lying through his teeth.
Then Wang Sumo couldn't help but laugh along.
That's how painful it is!
At the cave entrance, He Ping turned back: "The horses are ready, let's go!"
[Author's Note]
Take a breath, it's finally here.
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