Chapter 192: Xiaoxiangzi’s Undercover Mission, Cultivating Qi with the Great Reviving Pill
The four scrolls of clouds were in the azure sky, with no clouds. A faint fragrance wafted from the Chan courtyard.
“I was escorting adart to the Western Regions, near Wuwei, and stopped at an inn. I happened to encounter a group of Western Regions martial artists ambushing Master Tiancong and an Indian Monk. Thus, I was drawn into this matter. The Master was heavily injured, and entrusted the letter to me when he left for the west.”
Zhou Yan spoke concisely, recounting the encounter with Master Tiancong, the interrogation of Luan Jie, and the general circumstances of the Vajra Sect’s ambush.
“Amitabha, good, good,” Ku Cheng said upon hearing this, clasping his hands together. “Head Escort, you are benevolent. This old monk is deeply grateful.”
“Abbot, you are too polite,” Zhou Yan said, then turned to ask, “Master and the accompanying Indian Monk owe me a debt of gratitude. May I ask why the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions is ambushing the Master?”
Ku Cheng replied, “This is an internal dispute of the temple, not convenient to discuss. Thank you, Head Escort, for delivering the letter. I will send the escort fee later. Head Escort, you are free, you may stay in the temple for a few days to rest and recuperate.”
“Master, you may not know, but I once escorted adart to Xianyang and was attacked by people from the Vajra Sect and the martial world of the Western Regions who tried to rob and kill me. That is why I asked. There is also one more matter that I should inform the Abbot of.”
“Head Escort, please speak.”
“I venture to guess that the letter is definitely related to the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions, and this sect is currently secretly associating with Prince Wanyan Kang of the Jin Dynasty.”
Ku Cheng remained outwardly calm and inwardly undisturbed. “Thank you, Head Escort, for informing me.”
“Does the Vajra Sect of the Western Regions have a grievance with your temple?”
“Indeed!” Ku Cheng said briefly, his gaze returning from the letter in his hand. “The sect leader of Shaolin in the Western Regions is my junior brother. He sent martial nephew Tiancong to deliver a letter, stating that the Vajra Sect would be detrimental to this temple.”
Zhou Yan understood everything.
Back then, Huo Gong Toutuo rebelled against the temple, killing all those within the temple who had grievances with him, and fled to the Western Regions. Now, with the involvement of Changfeng Escort Agency, Yang Kang, and others, the other party has harbored a desire for revenge.
However, those who had grievances with Huo Gong Toutuo had long since died under his palm. This act of seeking revenge is directed at Shaolin. The Vajra Sect of the Western Regions wants to contend with Shaolin Temple.
Huo Gong Toutuo, this person, not only held grudges but also had great ambitions.
Zhou Yan thought to himself, and said, “Abbot, do you have any news to send back to Shaolin in the Western Regions? I can escort it for you.”
“I am already immensely grateful, how could I trouble you? Disciples of the temple can go to the Western Regions.”
“If that is the case, I bid farewell.”
“Head Escort, please wait.”
Ku Cheng rose and left the meditation room, summoned a young novice monk, and instructed him a few times. The young monk hurried away.
The old Abbot walked back in, and they exchanged pleasantries. Ku Cheng casually inquired about the Indian Monk.
The Indian Monk and Master Tiancong first met at an inn in the Western Regions. They were about to travel south together but encountered misfortune. Zhou Yan had already learned of this when escorting the monk to Zhongdu.
He spoke slowly, mentioning the poisonous insects of India and the monk’s journey to Western Hunan to seek the Golden Doll. Ku Cheng’s white eyebrows drooped, and his expression moved, saying, “My Buddha is merciful.”
The young monk returned, handing a brocade box to Ku Cheng.
The old Abbot took the brocade box and said to Zhou Yan, “Head Escort, you are thoughtful. Inside the box is the escort fee, and a Great Reviving Pill that strengthens the body and restores energy. Please accept it.”
Zhou Yan did not decline. “Abbot, your kindness is overwhelming, I cannot refuse.”
“Thank you, Head Escort.”
Ku Cheng had the young monk escort Zhou Yan out of the temple. Under the bright sunlight, several old monks entered the courtyard one after another. The younger ones were sixty or seventy years old, and the elder ones were in their eighties and nineties.
The old Abbot, who had shown no anger or agitation in front of Zhou Yan, finally became solemn. He said, “Brothers and junior brothers, junior brother Ku Hui sent a letter from the Western Regions, stating that Huo Gong Toutuo, whom we could not find anywhere in the north and south of the Great River back then, had actually founded the Vajra Sect in the Western Regions.”
“Amitabha.” The monks’ expressions were all stirred, with a mix of daze, grief, and hatred.
Ku Cheng said, “Junior brother also mentioned that the Vajra Sect will be heading south. Let’s discuss how to deal with it.”
…
Zhou Yan left the temple, carrying his sword, and summoned “Night-Shining Jade Lion.”
When he reached the foot of the mountain, he opened the brocade box gifted by Ku Cheng. Inside were one hundred taels of silver ingots, and a porcelain bottle containing a pill of jade green color, emitting a clear fragrance when smelled.
Seeing is believing, but this opportune moment was perfect. He could take the pill to temper and open up a meridian, Zhou Yan thought to himself.
He was not worried about the Vajra Sect provoking Shaolin Temple. Regarding the sect’s conflict, Yang Kang would not mobilize a large army to assist the Vajra Sect in attacking Shaolin Temple. Although the Abbot was old, in the world of Heaven Sword, Zhang Sanfeng was over a hundred years old and had reached the peak of his cultivation. It was likely that Ku Cheng was no match for Huo Gong Toutuo.
If Yang Kang and others in Kaifeng Prefecture made any moves, the scouts Yang Miaozhen had stationed there would be able to transmit the news to Zhongdu. He would then rush over to investigate.
As for the Nine Yang Manual, there was no opportunity for it yet.
Zhou Yan did not believe he would have the same fortune as Zhang Wuji in the world of Heaven Sword, who, after cultivating the Nine Yang Manual for several years, coincidentally gained assistance from the monk Bu De’s “Qiankun Yi Qi Bag” and achieved great success in his cultivation.
However, he always had a premonition that if he obtained the Nine Yang Manual, Jade Guanyin would have miraculous effects. Alternatively, like Zhang Sanfeng and Guo Xiang, even if he only obtained a part of the Nine Yang essence, it would serve as a reference and comparison with the Nine Yin Manual, which would be ideal.
The Nine Yin Manual was hailed as the general outline of all martial arts in the world, and the Nine Yang Manual had the characteristic of “all martial arts in the world can be easily acquired.” With both in comparison, it would also be beneficial for him to analyze and deduce the martial arts of his opponents in the future and develop his own martial arts.
His thoughts returned, and he spurred his horse towards Zhongdu.
…
The jade toad squatted in the sky, and the moonlight flowed.
A group of over ten people stopped in a forest hundreds of miles away from Kaifeng Prefecture.
The young master in the center, with red lips and white teeth, was naturally Yang Kang.
In the entourage, there were Helian Chuncheng, Ni Mo Xing, Yin Kexi, and Monk Lingzhi.
There was also a tall, thin man with a pale complexion, resembling a zombie.
Yang Kang was full of spirit. His southward journey was not in vain. The Iron Palm Sect had a great reputation and connections with local officials. With Qiu Qianren’s assistance, when the Jin Dynasty marched south in the future, they could cooperate from the inside and outside to capture cities and territories with ease.
Moreover, on the way back, he encountered Xiaoxiangzi from Western Hunan and took him in, gaining another master.
The campfire crackled, and everyone sat around it. Helian Chuncheng said, “Crown Prince, what do you think of the Hero Banquet convened by Prince Huo Du of Mongolia?”
Huang Rong heard the news from Taihu Lake and traveled north along the river. The markets in Jingxiang were prosperous, and people from the martial world came and went, so the news had already spread.
As Helian Chuncheng asked, Yang Kang pondered for a moment, then stood up and bowed to Xiaoxiangzi, saying, “Sir, help me.”
Xiaoxiangzi quickly stood up and returned the bow, saying, “I am honored by the Crown Prince’s appreciation. If there is anything you need, I will not hesitate even unto death.”
Yang Kang said, “Prince Huo Du of Mongolia is convening a Hero Banquet to recruit personnel. With your martial arts, you will surely be highly valued.”
Xiaoxiangzi, being a shrewd planner, said, “Crown Prince, you want me to use the Hero Banquet to gain Huo Du’s trust and gather intelligence.”
“Originally, Mr. Ni Mo and Mr. Yin could also go, but they have both appeared in Zhongdu before, so it is inconvenient. Only you, sir, can undertake this task.”
“Alright.”
“Thank you, sir. When I achieve great things, whatever you need, I will surely offer it with both hands.”
“No problem, Crown Prince, just wait for my news.”
The two sat down, and they talked at length.
At another campfire, Ouyang Ke was talking about the Ancient Tomb.
As the night deepened, everyone used wild grass as mats and the sky as blankets. When the dawn light was faint, Xiaoxiangzi led a horse and left the group, heading straight for Zhongdu.
…
Outside Zhongdu, in a valley in the West Mountain.
After several days of heavy rain, the waterfall cascading from the mountain peak became turbulent and white due to the accumulated rainwater, crashing against rocks and cliffs, creating a cool mist that swept with the mountain wind.
Zhou Yan swallowed the jade green pill gifted by the Abbot of Shaolin Temple.
Within moments, the medicinal properties dissolved, and Zhou Yan felt a surge of heat rise from his chest and abdomen, which quickly spread throughout his body. He felt as if he were embracing a furnace, and his blood boiled like water in a kettle.
Zhou Yan skillfully circulated his blood and qi using the Quanzhen Internal Energy cultivation technique, stimulating internal force with his pulse qi. In just a few hundred breaths, his Dantian suddenly warmed, and a wisp of pure internal qi was generated, followed by a second, then a third…
After a full half hour, no more internal qi was generated. Zhou Yan assessed that the effect of this Great Reviving Pill on increasing internal force was second only to the Big Treasure Snake raised by Liang Zi Weng. It far surpassed snake gallbladders and Hundred Herbs Wine.
It added a year’s worth of internal force from diligent cultivation.
It was now five days after Zhou Yan arrived in Zhongdu. He informed Zhang Wangyue and Huyan Lei about the Vajra Sect’s impending southward move towards Shaolin Temple.
He waited for Duan Huai’an and Duan Zhaoxi to return before mentioning his resignation. Unexpectedly, upon hearing the news, Huyan Lei exclaimed that he should not be a Head Escort. He should enter the world of martial arts, emulate Yang Miaozhen, and be able to kill Jin and Mongolian soldiers, as well as participate in grand martial arts events and seek revenge with joy.
Zhang Wangyue scolded him, saying that a Head Escort had a family to support, and the Young Master had just taken charge of the escort agency. How could he be unrighteous?
Huyan Lei dismissed Zhang Wangyue’s previous remarks but was dejected by the word “unrighteous,” sighing repeatedly.
Zhou Yan quickly comforted him.
If he left, Head Escort Huyan truly could not leave now.
The Jin and Mongolian armies were fighting on the Hebei and Shanxi fronts, and the southern trade routes were blocked. The escort agency did not travel to the Western Regions. Many escorts and runners were idle, waiting to watch the excitement at the Hero Banquet.
Zhou Yan, meanwhile, went to the West Mountain to cultivate.
With an additional year of internal force, Zhou Yan felt his internal qi surging through his meridians, constantly washing, stretching, and expanding his muscles. He guided the qi with his intent, tempering the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin.
The pure internal qi flowed like a great river, passing from the Dantian through the diaphragm, solidifying the meridians along the way, and cleansing nine major acupoints such as “Tianchi,” “Tianquan,” “Zhongchong,” “Quchi,” and “Guangchong.”
Like refining iron with fire, after half an hour of stretching meridians, solidifying acupoints, and strengthening bones, his bones and muscles suddenly resonated.
He used the Finger Flicking Divine Skill, and a wisp of pure, subtle internal qi, like condensed energy, shot out from the “Guangchong” acupoint with a “chi” sound, extending over two feet.
With the Pericardium Meridian of Hand Jueyin unblocked and internal qi emitted externally, Zhou Yan had stepped across the threshold of emitting internal force, even though he only mastered the two methods of circulating qi through the main and secondary meridians of the Finger Flicking Divine Skill.
He was overjoyed. He picked up a stone and propelled it with internal energy. With a “chi” sound, the stone flew three zhang, hitting the tree trunk with a “pa,” causing bark to fly in all directions.
The power had increased by at least thirty percent. How astonishing would it be if Huang Yaoshi used the Finger Flicking Divine Skill with all his might?
Zhou Yan sighed, shed his robe, and leaped into the waterfall to begin practicing and refining the Subduing Dragon Eighteen Palms. He unleashed a palm strike, “Kanglong Regret,” sending water splashing in all directions, creating a rainbow across the sky, a magnificent sight.
The clouds flowed, and dusk gathered.
After practicing palm techniques, fist techniques, and swordplay in the rapids, Zhou Yan, carrying the two mountain chickens he had shot, whistled to summon “Night-Shining Jade Lion” and headed straight for the city.
