Chapter 184: Finger Flicking Divine Skill, Huang Rong Learns Her Art
The sunlight suddenly fell straight down, and the dense bamboo dripped with clear sounds.
Several cultists of the Five Venoms Sect who fled into the bamboo forest swayed and fell like withered bamboo with broken roots. Huang Rong walked out of the bamboo forest leisurely.
Zhou Yan’s Qingfeng Sword was swiftly sheathed.
The Hundred Herbs Immortal finally recovered from the shock of Zhou Yan’s stunning swordplay.
“Thank you both for your righteous assistance.”
“Elder, you are too polite. Who is this person?”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal said, “The villain is the Deputy Cult Leader of the Five Venoms Sect.”
Zhou Yan was slightly surprised. It was actually the Deputy Cult Leader. His martial arts cultivation was slightly inferior to Hou Tonghai’s, so it seemed his skills were mainly in poison techniques.
“May I ask the Young Hero and Young Lady’s names?”
Zhou Yan chuckled inwardly. Chef Ren easily discerned that Huang Rong was disguised as a man, and the Hundred Herbs Immortal did the same, even blurting it out frankly.
He said, “My name is Zhou Yan.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal had rich experience in the Jianghu, but he couldn’t recall this name no matter how hard he tried. He secretly marveled, as logically, Zhou Yan should have become famous long ago with such swordsmanship and been heard of.
Huang Rong bowed and said, “Junior Huang Rong, I came to Hundred Herbs Valley with guidance from Chef Ren.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal suddenly realized, “So that’s how it is. I was wondering how you found this place. Are you seeking medical treatment?”
“Precisely.”
“Introduced by Chef Ren, you must be seriously ill. Where is it?”
“Please wait a moment, Elder?”
Zhou Yan projected his voice, “Xiaowu.”
He wasn’t deliberately showing off, but the journey was long and time-consuming.
As soon as he spoke, the forest birds and beasts in the valley were startled, and the echoes rumbled.
The Hundred Herbs Immortal was astonished, thinking to himself that Young Hero Zhou’s swordsmanship and archery were superb, and he didn’t expect his internal force to be so profound. Judging by his age, he seemed not yet twenty. How did he cultivate this? Even Hundred Herbs Wine couldn’t achieve such cultivation.
While the echoes still lingered, Zhou Yan asked, “How did the Hundred Medicines Sect and the Five Venoms Sect become enemies?”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal sighed, “It’s all because of medical skills. A few years ago, a martial artist poisoned severely somehow learned of the valley and came to seek treatment. I was itching to try, and I dissolved the poison. Little did I know that these martial artists were rivals of the Five Venoms Sect, and the news of my treatment spread.”
Huang Rong said, “The Five Venoms Sect must consider you a serious threat.”
“Exactly. They insisted I join the Five Venoms Sect. Previously, some low-level Hall Masters came, and I repelled them. This time, it was the Deputy Cult Leader. My martial arts are inferior, and it’s easy for them to poison me, but difficult for me to detoxify. I am constantly under pressure.”
“Indeed, poisoning is as easy as flicking a finger.”
“That’s the principle.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal suddenly asked curiously, “How did you two Young Heroes know Chef Ren? His temper is very eccentric.”
Huang Rong smiled, “By chance, we met while cooking.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal laughed heartily, “No wonder. To be appreciated by Chef Ren, your cooking skills must be superb, young lady.”
“Junior would like to use the kitchen to let Elder taste.”
“I would be delighted.”
Interacting with such extraordinary individuals, Huang Rong was truly in her element. It seemed there would be more Hundred Herbs Wine to drink, Zhou Yan thought.
While the three were talking, Liang Xiaowu arrived by carriage near the bamboo forest. Zhou Yan returned and carried Mei Chaofeng over.
The Hundred Herbs Immortal pricked Mei Chaofeng’s cheek with a golden needle. Blood flowed, and he observed its color, sniffed its scent, and then took her pulse. He said, “It’s toad poison.”
After he said this, he asked in confusion, “This toad poison is considered extremely rare in the world. Logically, the young lady should have died long ago.”
“There’s a long story behind this. Shall we talk about it slowly?” Zhou Yan said.
“Please escort the young lady to my humble abode.”
Zhou Yan instructed Liang Xiaowu to deal with the corpses. The Hundred Herbs Immortal was about to stop him but saw Liang Xiaowu and the Runner wrapping their hands with deer skin pouches. He knew they were experienced Jianghu travelers, so he felt at ease. However, out of caution, he still sprinkled a lot of medicinal powder on all the corpses.
Mei Chaofeng was taken to the bamboo hut, and the Hundred Herbs Immortal asked Zhou Yan to leave.
This was not out of concern for revealing medical skills, but due to the distinction between men and women.
Zhou Yan exited the bamboo house. The Hundred Herbs Immortal asked Huang Rong to remove Mei Chaofeng’s outer clothes. He took twelve small copper pieces and channeled internal force to insert them into twelve acupoints on Mei Chaofeng, such as the “Zhongji Acupoint” below the Dantian, the “Tiantu Acupoint” below the neck, and the “Jianjing Acupoint” on the shoulder.
The “Zhongji Acupoint” is the convergence of the three Yin meridians of the foot and the Ren Meridian. The “Tiantu Acupoint” is the convergence of the Yinwei Meridian and the Ren Meridian. The “Jianjing Acupoint” is the convergence of the Shaoyang meridians of the hand and foot, the Yangming Meridian of the foot, and the Yangwei Meridian.
With the copper pieces inserted, the twelve main meridians and the eight extraordinary meridians were blocked. This also prevented the poison from spreading to the Pericardium. Then, he used aged mugwort to moxibustion the related major acupoints along Mei Chaofeng’s meridians.
While treating her, he explained the principles to Huang Rong.
Huang Rong practiced the “Orchid Finger Flicking Hand” and was extremely familiar with the human meridians. Her father was Huang Yaoshi, and she understood some medicinal principles. She would ask questions from time to time and also mention some medical theories she heard from her father.
Huang Yaoshi was such an extraordinary person that some meridian theories required the Hundred Herbs Immortal to ponder deeply. This conversation made him speak volubly.
Huang Rong praised the Hundred Herbs Immortal for his great inventions and insights in “medicine.”
He spoke of things that previous sages had not. The Hundred Herbs Immortal felt a sense of kindred spirit. Seeing Huang Rong’s intelligence and ability to draw inferences, he revealed all his research findings.
Their mode of conversation surprisingly turned into the Hundred Herbs Immortal imparting knowledge.
Huang Rong was a prodigy. She found it difficult to focus on learning martial arts, but she was very interested in esoteric arts. Coupled with her own experience of severe injury, she was exceptionally focused.
Unknowingly, more and more methods for detoxification and treating internal and external injuries were remembered by Huang Rong.
Zhou Yan listened outside the bamboo house for a moment. He smiled and thought that if Huang Rong stayed in Hundred Herbs Valley for several tens of days, she would be able to learn most of the Hundred Herbs Immortal’s skills.
“Head Escort.”
Liang Xiaowu finished burying the corpses and arrived at the bamboo forest.
Zhou Yan walked over.
“These were all found on the corpse of the Deputy Cult Leader of the Five Venoms Sect.”
Liang Xiaowu held a porcelain bottle and a cultivation technique manual.
Zhou Yan took the porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and sniffed the exotic fragrance. “This should be a detoxification pill.”
Looking at the manual again, it clearly read “Five Venoms Secret Transmission.”
Zhou Yan flipped through it, memorizing the contents. The book contained the secret to cultivating palm techniques. Once the technique was mastered, those struck by the palm would be severely poisoned, their wounds would turn blood-red like cinnabar, and they would die in extreme pain and itching, with a darkened complexion.
“Li Mochou practiced this cultivation technique, didn’t she?” Zhou Yan was stunned for a long time. He had not only encountered Li Mochou when she was just starting out and prevented her from going astray, but he had also cut off her opportunity to achieve her famous peerless skill in the Divine Condor Jianghu.
He sighed and collected his thoughts, then asked Liang Xiaowu, “The manual contains the cultivation method for the ‘Five Venoms Divine Palm.’ Since you found it on the corpse, are you interested?”
Liang Xiaowu said solemnly, “I fear it would disrupt my state of mind, so I dare not dabble in poisonous techniques.”
Zhou Yan said, “In that case, I will keep the manual.”
“Naturally.”
As the sun set in the west, Huang Rong and the Hundred Herbs Immortal emerged from the bamboo house. The Immortal looked tired and said to Zhou Yan, “Tomorrow and the day after, we will perform cauterization treatment. After more than ten days of recuperation, she will be fully recovered.”
“Thank you, Immortal.”
“You are too polite.”
Zhou Yan took the porcelain bottle and said, “This was found on the Deputy Cult Leader of the Five Venoms Sect. Please take a look, Immortal.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal took the porcelain bottle, opened it, and sniffed. He said, “This is ‘Tongxi Pill,’ extracted from the exotic rhinoceros in Miao territory and refined with medicinal herbs. It can treat poisons from snakes, scorpions, and other five venoms.”
Zhou Yan was overjoyed and handed the porcelain bottle to Liang Xiaowu, saying, “Decant some into small bottles.”
“My humble abode has pill bottles.”
The Hundred Herbs Immortal had the Medicine Boy fetch several pill bottles. Zhou Yan poured most of it into the bottles, gave one to Huang Rong, and kept the rest with him.
Huang Rong agreed to cook a few small dishes. She asked the Medicine Boy about the available food in the kitchen. After the Medicine Boy replied, Huang Rong asked Zhou Yan to accompany her for a walk in the valley to pick some wild vegetables and bamboo shoots. Zhou Yan was to shoot some beasts, and preferably catch a snake.
The Hundred Herbs Immortal regulated his breath, and the two entered the bamboo forest. Huang Rong selected suitable bamboo shoots for cooking, while Zhou Yan took out the 《Five Venoms Secret Transmission》.
“Found on the Deputy Cult Leader of the Five Venoms Sect.”
“It’s definitely a poisonous technique like the Five Venoms Divine Palm,” Huang Rong said with a smile, not taking it.
“Indeed.”
Her eyes sparkled, “Are you perhaps going to have me give it to Mei Ruohua?”
“She or the Medicine Boy can cultivate it.”
“Good idea! Her claw techniques and the Five Venoms Divine Palm will surely make zombie monsters flee in panic. The Medicine Boy can also cultivate it.” Huang Rong smiled and took the book, saying, “Mei Ruohua will take more than ten days to recover. While talking with Elder, I really want to learn some detoxification and internal and external injury treatment skills.”
“You plan to stay for a while?”
“Yes, after Mei Ruohua recovers, I’ll go to Luxi, and then to Guiyun Manor.” Huang Rong took out an escort order and handed it to Zhou Yan.
“Thank you!” Zhou Yan took the escort order.
“Consider this a heads-up. If you need escort services in the future, you can still hire me.”
“If you can hire me, then of course.”
“Heh!” Huang Rong clapped her hands, suddenly beaming with joy, “Bamboo rats! Bamboo rat meat is tender and has a slight sweet bamboo fragrance when eaten. A rare delicacy.”
Zhou Yan looked in the direction Huang Rong pointed. About four or five zhang away, there were indeed several plump bamboo rats.
Huang Rong picked up a few pebbles, and her figure suddenly moved, the sound of breaking air suddenly loud.
The flying pebbles had considerable force but lacked accuracy. With several “bang bang” sounds, the pebbles missed their targets, and the bamboo rats scurried into their holes.
Huang Rong stomped her foot in anger.
“You try.”
Zhou Yan picked up his bow.
“Heh, you can also be careless. These bamboo rats are smaller than wild rabbits. The arrowhead will split them in half. I’ll teach you how to hit them with pebbles.”
Without waiting for Zhou Yan to speak, Huang Rong quickly explained the method of generating force, how internal energy flowed through the main and secondary meridians.
Zhou Yan’s heart stirred. Could this be the “Finger Flicking Divine Skill”?
After finishing, Huang Rong giggled, “This is my father’s ‘Finger Flicking Divine Skill.’ Father said that one can only achieve mastery after opening the Ren and Du meridians. I was too lazy to learn it, so I only remembered one method of guiding energy between the main meridians, but it’s more than enough for hitting bamboo rats.”
Zhou Yan gave a wry smile. This was like the 《Six Meridian Divine Sword》; he had learned one path, and Huang Rong, just by talking about eating bamboo rats, revealed a method of guiding energy.
“Aren’t you worried about your father saying you’re spreading his techniques?”
“If Father were to scold me, I wouldn’t have left Peach Blossom Island,” Huang Rong smiled, her smile brighter than the stars.
What Huang Rong remembered was the method of guiding energy between the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin and its secondary meridians in the “Finger Flicking Divine Skill.” Although Zhou Yan had not opened this main meridian, he had tempered it frequently, so his meridians could carry internal energy without issue.
He circulated his energy according to the method. His profound internal force flowed from the secondary and main meridians, then to his armpit, along the inner midline of the upper limb to the elbow, past the wrist, into his palm, along the radial side of the middle finger to the terminal “Zhongchong Acupoint.”
“Try it.”
Zhou Yan picked up a pebble, channeled his energy to “Zhongchong,” and propelled the pebble.
“Swoosh!”
The pebble hit a bamboo pole two zhang away, causing the wrist-thick green bamboo to sway for a while.
Zhou Yan marveled that even with only two or three tenths of its power, this “Finger Flicking Divine Skill” could tear flesh and skin. The Finger Flicking Divine Skill was truly extraordinary.
He was skilled in archery and had excellent hand-eye coordination for judging distance. After practicing with pebbles for dozens of times, he could hit the target with every shot.
Moments later, sounds of “bang bang…” echoed through the bamboo forest.
Huang Rong ran over, shouting excitedly, and picked up four bamboo rats.
Perhaps it was meeting like-minded people like Chef Ren and the Hundred Herbs Immortal, and the fact that Mei Chaofeng could be treated and cured, Zhou Yan felt that this was the happiest and most carefree moment for Huang Rong since he had met her.
