Chapter 81 081 "Some people are blind in their eyes, some are blind in..."
Your father died because of him, and how many others in the镖局 (bodyguard agency) have lost their lives because of him? Don't you hate him?
Don't you hate it?
Don't you hate it?
Jiang Ling'er's long eyelashes trembled, and her fingernails dug fiercely into the flesh of her palms.
How could I not hate it?
How could I not hate it?!
The hatred and resentment that had been deliberately suppressed were now rampant, spreading like a blood-red spider web across her almond-shaped eyes.
Jiang Ling'er looked terrible. The biting wind whipped her long hair, making her already pale and sickly face appear even more grim and pale. She took a deep breath, the cold wind carrying snowflakes and ice crystals entering her body, barely suppressing the burning resentment and vengeful flames in her heart that threatened to devour her.
She raised an eyebrow and gave Pei Xuan a cold glance, showing no further curiosity about him.
"It's none of your business."
He immediately turned away, tightened his pack, and the two parted on bad terms.
After walking a few steps quickly, X suddenly heard a familiar, lazy voice behind him say loudly:
Some people are blind in their eyes, and some are blind in their hearts.
Jiang Ling'er paused slightly, then frowned, clutched her bundle tightly, and quickened her pace down the mountain.
Ignore him.
"More important than learning to throw punches or martial arts moves is learning to observe people carefully."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling'er frowned deeply and walked faster and faster until she almost ran down the mountain.
The biting mountain wind whistled past her ears. She didn't know how long she had run, but when she turned around, there was no one behind her.
"...Why are you speaking in riddles? It's so strange."
Jiang Ling'er muttered to herself, kicked the remaining snow on the ground hard, and suddenly froze, her brows furrowing into a small hill.
Is this guy trying to... mock me again?
……ah?
ah? ? !
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Jiang Ling'er regretted not having a proper discussion with this guy.
At least... at least beat him up!
She returned to the empty massage parlor with a depressed mood.
It was just before dawn, and the streets along the edge were deserted and completely silent.
Especially when you push open the small door of the massage parlor, the narrow and dimly lit room feels even more secluded.
To her shame, it was only last night, when she was drinking with Pei Xuan on a high place, that she saw the blooming plum blossoms in the distance and remembered what Uncle Shui had said.
You should leave when the plum blossoms bloom at the end of the month.
In any case, she should say goodbye to Uncle Shui before leaving Qing Shi Town.
After all, she was the one who left without saying goodbye, and now she's come looking for us so early without a word. To prevent Zhang Liangxiang and Lingxiao's men from finding us, she has to leave before daybreak.
Feeling guilty, Jiang Ling'er softly called out towards the quiet little house:
"...Uncle Shui?"
"Uncle Shui?"
There was no response.
Uncle Shui has always had excellent hearing, so he must have had a few drinks last night and is now fast asleep.
Jiang Ling'er had no choice but to raise her voice and call out twice more, but there was still no response.
What should we do?
Hesitating, Jiang Ling'er looked towards the inner room, where Uncle Shui rested. Although Jiang Ling'er had worked at the massage parlor for a long time, she had never been inside.
Although Uncle Shui had a kind and benevolent face and a personality as gentle as water, which made him popular with the neighbors, Jiang Ling'er had come to understand his true nature to some extent after spending time with him.
Uncle Shui is actually a quiet, eccentric old man.
Especially after she started working at the massage parlor, Uncle Shui would either teach her some internal martial arts in the morning or go into his small room, and they would often only see each other twice a day.
Could it be... that we should go into that small room and wake Uncle Shui up?
But Uncle Shui is getting old, and it's not right for him to barge in without permission...
But this parting might mean she would never see Uncle Shui again in this lifetime... Although she ostensibly came to work for Uncle Shui to repay the money stolen by the little poisoner, how much money could she possibly earn for Uncle Shui with her skillful but reckless work? Not only did she fail to repay the money, but she also caused a lot of trouble. Moreover, by a twist of fate, she learned the method of internal cultivation from Uncle Shui, which was far more valuable than that small bag of silver.
She had clearly struck gold. Although Uncle Shui refused to acknowledge her as his disciple or drink the tea she offered, and even though she had learned extremely valuable methods of internal energy cultivation from him, even if she had only learned the basics and a few moves, Uncle Shui was still half her master.
Not only did she fail to fulfill any of her duties as an apprentice, but she also left without even saying goodbye... She could never do such a thing.
Jiang Ling'er stared at the dark interior room, scratching her head in frustration, torn between two options.
Strangely, staring at that dark inner room for too long... inexplicably gave me goosebumps and made me feel terrified.
That dark corner was like a bottomless abyss. Even though she was the one spying, it felt as if another pair of eyes were watching her from the depths of that dark abyss.
Jiang Ling'er couldn't help but shiver, her hair standing on end. Her hands, which were wrapped around her shoulders, suddenly clenched tightly, her whole body tense, like a bow stretched to its limit.
here we go again.
here we go again.
It was that familiar feeling of being spied on, that dark and eerie sensation.
No, it's a thousand times better than before!
Not only the dark inner room, but the entire small restaurant was quiet and dimly lit. Although it was an environment she knew all too well, she felt as if countless eyes were watching her from the shadows!
Jiang Ling'er had always thought that Pei Xuan, that scoundrel Taoist priest, was lustful and was fixated on her. Now it seems... she had misunderstood him.
But she had checked before she arrived, and there was clearly no one around, especially inside the massage parlor...
Suddenly, something approached her from behind in the darkness...
Jiang Ling'er suddenly looked up, turned around, and threw the package on her back!
Even if you throw a stone into the water, there will be no response, just like a mud ox sinking into the sea. The package thrown out seems to be swallowed by the darkness, without any echo. In the blink of an eye, everything around is quiet again.
Jiang Ling'er looked around; all she saw was deathly darkness. This pitch-black darkness, where she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face, felt like the gaping maw of an abyss, ready to swallow her whole at any moment.
Her face was extremely pale, her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and a horrifying blue vein bulged on the back of her hand.
"...Who is it? Show yourself!"
Her response was a chilling silence, as terrifying as the darkness that engulfed her, a silence that could drive anyone mad.
Jiang Ling'er is someone who responds better to gentle persuasion than force, and she has been bold since childhood. After experiencing extreme fear, she was instead inspired with a fearless and courageous spirit.
She rubbed her nose and sneered, "I hate people who pretend to be mysterious more than anything!" Her almond-shaped eyes swept around, narrowing dangerously. "You'd better hide well, or I'll catch you! Otherwise..."
Before he could finish speaking, something burst through the darkness!
Jiang Ling'er's ears twitched, her body reacting before her mind could process them. She turned to the side, and the next second a golden light flashed before her eyes, followed by a cold sensation that pierced her cheek from behind!
Jiang Ling'er's eyes trembled as she stared blankly at the bronze... teapot spout in front of her!
This is a teapot with a spout as long as an adult's arm. Every morning, the first thing Uncle Shui does is use this teapot to brew a pot of hot tea.
Jiang Ling'er felt a chill run down her spine. If she hesitated for even a second longer, the sharp spout of the teapot would probably pierce her ear!
However, after a brief pause, the cold, sharp teapot spout started moving again, and Jiang Ling'er, taking advantage of her light and agile figure, leaped away to avoid it!
The sharp spout of the teapot stabbed at her repeatedly, but she dodged them all with agile footwork. Under the guidance of Master Ma, Jiang Ling'er had made great progress in her lightness skill.
However, the residual poison from the Heart-to-Heart Gu in her body has not dissipated, and her serious injuries have not healed. This cannot continue, and she will inevitably fall victim to it sooner or later.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling'er narrowly escaped an attack that could have pierced her skull. She leaped onto the crossbeam, gritted her teeth, wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, and, as if having made up her mind, jumped off the crossbeam, giving up on dodging altogether.
Just as the sharp, gleaming teapot spout was about to pierce her brow, she closed her eyes briefly. In a flash, Pei Xuan's words echoed in her mind—
Although women may be inherently weaker, they possess the advantage of combining strength and flexibility, using minimal force to deflect powerful blows. Try using your shoulder and elbow to generate power in your punches; when moving, unleash a swift and devastating attack, and when still, remain as calm as a still lake.
Jiang Ling'er combined the breathing techniques taught by Uncle Shui to mobilize her internal energy, channeling it into her palms. At the same time, the image of Pei Xuan rising into action flashed through her mind, merging with the image of the young Taoist in her mind, and together they rose into action and struck out with their palms!
A flash of lightning, like a dagger, cleaved through the gloomy darkness of the room!
After the lightning subsided, Jiang Ling'er suddenly opened her eyes and grabbed the sharp teapot spout that was right in front of her, almost an inch away from her pupils!
He unleashed his inner strength from his palm and snapped the spout of the copper teapot in half!
Jiang Ling'er gritted her teeth, grabbed the teapot spout, and yanked it over!
Finally, I saw the package hanging from the end of the teapot spout, which was as long as my arm, and the owner of the teapot—
Uncle Shui.
Jiang Ling'er froze, intending to strike the newcomer's chest with her "Thunderclap" palm and finish him off in one move! But seeing Uncle Shui immediately deflate his ego, his mouth slightly agape, he remained stunned for a long time.
"Uncle Shui, you...you..."
Unlike Jiang Ling'er, who was dumbfounded, Uncle Shui remained as gentle and kind as ever. Although blind, he could look directly into her eyes without fail, and smiled with considerable satisfaction:
"Very good, you have made further progress in just a few days. I have nothing more to teach you."
Jiang Ling'er hesitated for a long time before finally breaking down in tears: "Uncle Shui, you scared me to death!"
It's no exaggeration to say that she wasn't as composed as she appeared. Her heart was pounding, her back was soaked in cold sweat, and her hand gripping the teapot spout was still trembling.
Uncle Shui smiled but remained silent upon hearing this, just as always.
Only now did Jiang Ling'er finally relax and let out a long sigh of relief. At the same time, she still had some questions in her mind.
Uncle Shui would occasionally test her skills when the mood struck, which wasn't unusual. What was unusual was that never before had he gone so far as to... relentlessly push her to the brink of death with every move.
She narrowly escaped the cold copper teapot several times, and several times she wondered if the sharp spout would pierce her heart or even her skull!
However… considering that she arrived uninvited first, just as she thought Uncle Shui was a thief, Uncle Shui probably thought she was a thief too…
Moreover, since Uncle Shui is blind, it's normal for him to do this.
With that thought, Jiang Ling'er was completely relieved. She was always easygoing, and once she figured things out, she stopped worrying about it.
After all this commotion, it was almost dawn. Jiang Ling'er was afraid that those old Taoist priests would come looking for her, so she didn't dare to delay any longer. She quickly explained her intention to leave and her purpose for coming, hoping that Uncle Shui would forgive her for bothering him and for coming uninvited.
"I know you are unwilling to take on apprentices, Uncle Shui, but I am deeply grateful for your care and guidance during my time in Qing Shi Town. I have no way to repay you. As I bid you farewell, please, Uncle Shui, drink this cup of tea."
After saying that, Jiang Ling'er got up, poured a cup of tea, and walked to Uncle Shui. Since Uncle Shui did not want to take her as a disciple, she did not kneel down, but bent down and respectfully offered the tea with both hands.
Embarrassingly, she broke the spout of the teapot. She had no choice but to find another teapot and refill it.
Jiang Ling'er waited for a while, and just when she thought Uncle Shui wouldn't drink the tea, she let go of his hands, the teacup was taken, and Uncle Shui finally drank the tea.
Jiang Ling'er then smiled, and although Uncle Shui couldn't see her, she still bowed respectfully.
"Uncle Shui, take care of yourself, no matter how far you travel. As for Ling'er... she's leaving now."
Jiang Ling'er turned to leave, but just as she was about to step out the door, she was suddenly called back.
Uncle Shui's voice was gentle and soothing, as always:
"You're gone, so... what about your little lover?"
Jiang Ling'er was stunned, instantly freezing in place. Seemingly unable to believe what she had just heard, she slowly turned around, her face filled with astonishment:
"……What?"
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The Demon Cave, a thousand miles away.
A middle-aged man with a thick belly, holding a palm-leaf fan, and reeking of alcohol, had a sinister look on his face.
"What do you mean by 'the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'? A copy of the 'Longevity Manual' has actually fallen into the hands of that old poison master! What on earth is Seventh Brother doing?!"
A beautiful woman with long, flowing hair, holding a guqin (a traditional Chinese stringed instrument), merely smiled faintly upon hearing this, seemingly unconcerned.
"Fatty, what's the rush? If the Longevity Manual is lost, it's lost. We can just find it again, right? Isn't that how we've managed all these years? Besides, you're wrong again. Seventh Brother is neither the mantis nor the oriole."
The middle-aged man was spewing the stench of wine and meat, and the "Longevity Manual" he had just obtained had flown away. How could he not be angry?!
He spoke gruffly, still looking furious: "Then tell me, what is he?!"
“It’s a tortoise… no.” The beautiful woman chuckled, her fingertips adorned with cinnamon, tapping her lips. “Even a tortoise can be more patient than him. He’s painstakingly lurked in Qing Shi Town for years, how could he willingly give it up? Just wait, even a tortoise, even a person as docile as water… has a temper.”
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The sky was bright.
A small massage parlor.
The golden sunlight shone through the window frame onto her, but Jiang Ling'er felt a chill run through her body.
She stood there, stunned, staring blankly at Uncle Shui not far away.
Because of the backlighting, it was impossible to see the expression on Uncle Shui's face.
Uncle Shui before my eyes seemed like a completely different person. In the blink of an eye, his gentle, water-like demeanor vanished completely.
No matter what, Jiang Ling'er couldn't believe that such frivolous words came from Uncle Shui's mouth, and preferred to suspect that she had misheard.
"Uncle Shui..."
Uncle Shui emerged from the shadows, interrupting her and cutting straight to the point:
"You still have a copy of the 'Longevity Manual,' right? Hand it over."
Jiang Ling'er's temple veins throbbed instantly, and her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched tightly together!
She inwardly gasped, but her face still held a smile, tinged with a hint of bewilderment.
"The Longevity Manual? Uncle Shui, what are you talking about? I don't understand..."
"Little brat, I have no time for your charade."
After he finished speaking, the room became eerily quiet.
After a long while, Jiang Ling'er's slightly hoarse voice, as if in a dream, finally rang out:
"...Who exactly are you?"
"Seventh of the Seven Great Assassins of the Demonic Cult, Shui Rong."
Surprisingly decisive.
Uncle Shui… no, Shui Rong finished speaking and then chuckled to himself:
"Thank goodness! I thought you weren't coming. I was just wondering where to catch you, you little brat, when you delivered yourself right to my doorstep. You're quite sensible."
Jiang Ling'er found it hard to believe as her fingernails dug deep into the flesh of her palm.
"Could it be that you... were lurking by my side from the very beginning?"
“Not bad. From the moment you stepped into Qing Shi Town, you fell into my territory. That boy’s kung fu is a little better than yours, but that’s about it.” He chuckled softly. “The Asura Duo? You actually managed to kill Di Qing and Huo Wu? That’s quite something.”
Early on, during the "accidental" encounter with Little Poison in the Ghost Market, Shui Rong had already deliberately tested Little Poison's skills. Later, Jiang Ling'er's offer to work at the massage parlor was something he hadn't expected.
I thought the Longevity Manual was already mine—
"I never expected that old poisoner would get there first!"
Shui Rong's kind face suddenly turned sinister as he glared fiercely at Jiang Ling'er: "Young people are just young people. Did you two have a fight over the spoils or something? You actually handed over the 'Longevity Manual' to that old poisoner Gongye Chi! I really don't understand. I thought the two poisoners weren't on the same side, but then they obediently offered up the 'Longevity Manual,' so I thought they were on the same side, and now the master and disciple are fighting to the death..."
Shui Rong paused, then noticed Jiang Ling'er's pale face and suddenly realized something. "It seems... you don't know yet, do you? Your little lover has been tormented quite a bit by his master."
“He…” Jiang Ling’er took a deep breath, her back teeth clenched so hard that she could faintly taste the metallic sweetness of rust in her mouth. She said coldly, “What happened to him?”
Shui Rong narrowed his eyes, and his gloomy face finally softened a little:
"Want to know? Trade me the 'Longevity Manual'."
Jiang Ling'er paused, her back straightening, her pale lips pressed tightly into a line.
She did carry the only remaining copy of the "Longevity Manual" with her, but she couldn't give it to him.
Having gone through so much, she is no longer the simple "Jiang Ling'er" she once was. Shui Rong may not be telling the truth, and the "Longevity Manual" is her only bargaining chip, which she absolutely cannot give to him!
Jiang Ling'er kept a close eye on Shui Rong as he dealt with her, while silently taking one step back after another.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Ling'er saw that the threshold was only a step away from her, and she was secretly delighted. Unexpectedly, Shui Rong suddenly lunged forward without warning and struck her on the back of the neck with a palm!
Jiang Ling'er exclaimed in astonishment: "You can see..."
Before he could finish speaking, he had already fainted.
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The inner room.
When Jiang Ling'er opened her eyes again, she was in a dimly lit small room.
The excruciating pain in the back of her neck took her a while to recover before she struggled to her feet.
But as she looked around, almost as soon as her eyes cleared, a chill and fear that shot straight up from her tailbone nearly engulfed her, and she almost collapsed to the ground again.
It took him a long time to speak before his voice became hoarse, and he murmured:
"What's this?"
The entire four walls were covered with countless pairs of eerie eyes staring at her!
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Meanwhile, at a farmhouse at the foot of Dagushan Mountain.
The blacksmith and his wife leaned against the door chatting, occasionally glancing at the Taoist priest not far away, who was sharpening his sword by the well with his sleeves rolled up.
"What a strange Taoist priest. This is the first time someone has ever paid someone to do the work..."
The peasant woman laughed and pinched the farmer's arm: "Isn't it good that someone is giving you money for free?"
"What's so good about him? I think you've taken a fancy to that Taoist priest, haven't you? Ever since he arrived, your eyes haven't left him..."
"Oh dear, I'm going to die! You're a mother of two, how dare you talk nonsense!"
The farmer couple chased and played around, while not far away, Pei Xuan was intently sharpening his sword.
Without human intervention, they worked tirelessly, from the first light of dawn to the deepening twilight, until finally drawing a bucket of water from the well and splashing it on.
Pei Xuan raised the sword in his hand, and the blade gleamed with a chilling light under the setting sun. He flicked the blade lightly with two fingers.
A clear, melodious sound faintly echoed among the mountains.
That's it.
The young Taoist priest unrolled his long sleeves, put his long sword back on his waist, and finally placed the silver coins by the well.
He ground his thumb into the intricate patterns on the scabbard, his phoenix eyes cold and expressionless. His usually listless and slightly hunched body was now as upright as the tallest birch tree on Mount Dagu.
Let's go, it's time to meet our old friends.
The Taoist priest carried his sword down the mountain and headed straight for Qing Shi Town at the foot of the mountain.
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 07:11:41 on April 9, 2024 and 10:11:57 on April 10, 2024!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: WindWaitingToBeBuried (1);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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