Chapter 46: Scorpion Tail Needle
Chen Shun’an pivoted on his sole, as if strolling leisurely, sidestepping just in time for Ah Hua’s punch to whistle past in front of him.
He raised his knee and crossed over, his right leg shooting out like lightning, piercing Ah Hua’s ribs with a whoosh!
Rib Piercing Leg!
“Hiss…”
Ah Hua only felt his vision blur, a sharp pain suddenly stabbing his ribs, and his whole body immediately fell flat on his face, rolling several times on the ground before stopping.
His entire body was numb, his Qi and Blood stagnant, half his body nearly paralyzed, wishing he could faint right away!
Ah Hua’s eyes stared fixedly at Chen Shun’an, his face full of disbelief.
This was… a fighting technique?
Second-rate Realm!
The onlookers suddenly fell into dead silence.
After several breaths, explosive discussions erupted.
“His granny’s, Old Chen really broke through to Second-rate?”
“San Dezi, you dog, did you know this all along and give us a heads-up?”
“We used to call him Old Chen without picking on you, what should we call him now?”
“Master Chen!”
“This kid Ah Hua finally kicked the Iron Plate.”
“You think Master Chen didn’t do it on purpose, just waiting for this chance to show his hand?”
Water Carrier, who had been watching the excitement, was startled by Chen Shun’an’s crisp counterattack.
The old Water Carrier, who had just shared Chen Shun’an’s indignation, was beyond surprised and beat his chest in regret, tears streaming down.
Both fearing his brother lived bitterly, and fearing his brother became a golden warrior.
Wishing he could take his place!
Scarred Liu kept a straight face, expressionless.
A few young lads exchanged glances, stepped forward, cupped their fists toward Chen Shun’an, and hurriedly helped up Ah Hua lying on the ground.
They found Ah Hua had only been struck at an acupuncture point, with bruising under his ribs, nothing serious, and breathed a sigh of relief.
Circulating Qi and Blood with cool water, Ah Hua gradually recovered, leaning against the Well edge panting heavily, head down, not daring to look at Chen Shun’an.
San Dezi sidled over, face full of resentment, and asked,
“Old Chen, how did you get so strong?”
Chen Shun’an teased, “What did you call me?”
San Dezi fidgeted a bit, then said frankly,
“Master Chen!”
“Aiya!”
Chen Shun’an responded, feeling his bones go soft.
In the past, others called him Master Chen mostly out of respect for his age, honoring the elderly and cherishing the young.
But now, it was because of his strength.
“Strange to say, ever since that day I stumbled and fell into the Well and lay ill in bed, Chen Mou has often dreamed, as if Opening the Apertures… understanding many Reasons.”
Chen Shun’an’s eyes showed reminiscence, and said,
“That’s when Chen Mou started delivering Blessed Water, accumulating merit, praying to the Deity in the Darkness.”
The crowd exchanged looks upon hearing this.
Such a weird thing?
But the Changbai Sacred Dynasty was vast, with wondrous natural fortunes, full of strange tales.
Everyone adjusted after a moment and accepted it.
It’s a pity Master Chen is getting on in years; if he were ten years younger, he might even charge toward First-rate Realm.
As the crowd dispersed one after another, pushing carts to deliver water.
Shopkeeper Li and Lin Shou Zhuo then walked up to Chen Shun’an.
Sun Xiao, Cheng Bin, and other Second-rate Martial Artists followed behind them.
Cheng Bin and the others congratulated Chen Shun’an repeatedly.
But Sun Xiao’s expression was a bit odd.
Clearly recalling not long ago, that rainy night at the Second Meat Shop when he joked with Chen Shun’an.
Saying things like ‘you trip while walking, better train your body with us’ and such…
Well, this one trip birthed a Second-rate Martial Artist!
Is my mouth blessed or something?
Lin Shou Zhuo patted Chen Shun’an’s shoulder, sighing,
“Old Chen, I’ve been at the Well two years before you, watched you struggle and stand firm in this line of work; back then you were only Third-rate Mid-stage cultivation… In a blink, nearly ten years. Good, good.”
Lin Shou Zhuo rarely spoke at length like this.
For the first time seeing up close Lin Shou Zhuo’s triangular head with Toad Eyes face.
Chen Shun’an suddenly felt that Lin Shou Zhuo, once unattainably high and profoundly authoritative, had also grown old.
His face full of wrinkles, beard gone white, needing six taels of Dry Tobacco daily to stay spirited all day.
He, stuck at Second-rate Peak for years, seemed to be showing decline, strength failing.
Thinking of this,
Chen Shun’an felt a touch of inexplicable melancholy.
Heroes in twilight, nothing more so.
Fortunately, I, Chen Mou, grow stronger with age, Golden Spear unyielding, renewing spring!
Shopkeeper Li sensed the faint somber mood and immediately laughed out loud,
“You sly Old Chen, hiding your light! Didn’t shame the Landlord! In a couple days, I’ll take you to meet the Landlord; he’ll be pleased.
From today, your treatment matches Sun Xiao’s: Monthly Salary 12 taels of Silver, Dietary Supplement, Housing Allowance, two bolts of Silk per season…”
At this, Shopkeeper Li lowered his voice, a mysterious smile on his face,
“Besides, one drop of ‘Five-wheel Water’ monthly, drawn from the Freshwater Ancient Well’s dripping Spring. Not only washes the Jade Tree, enhancing Wonderful Sound bone resonance; it also nourishes the Five Wheels, subtly aiding future breakthroughs to First-rate Realm…”
After revealing Second-rate strength, his treatment and Wages multiplying several times didn’t surprise Chen Shun’an.
After all, Second-rate Martial Artists and Third-rate Martial Artists were worlds apart.
The key was this Five-wheel Water?
Chen Shun’an’s heart stirred.
Five Wheels, a concept from traditional Chinese medicine.
Pupil belongs to Kidney as Water Wheel, black iris to Liver as Wind Wheel, corners to Heart as Blood Wheel, white sclera to Lung as Qi Wheel, eyelids to Spleen as Flesh Wheel.
Five Wheels manifest outwardly as the eyes.
Internally as the five viscera.
Unified by Water, Wind, Blood, Qi, Flesh Wheels, containing vast human treasures.
And this so-called Five-wheel Water could enhance Wonderful Sound bone resonance and nourish the Five Wheels?
Not everyone was like Chen Shun’an, able to Choose Gods to Descend, alter Root Bone, increase Wonderful Sound tones.
For most, once adulthood hit, Root Bone aptitude fixed.
Not to mention, this water seemed beneficial for First-rate Realm, slaying the Six Thieves.
Indeed, the Water Station trade could retain Second-rate Martial Artists, even First-rate Martial Artists, for a reason!
Moreover, even the Freshwater Ancient Well bred Five-wheel Water.
What about the Sweet Spring Well?
And those treasure Wells locked in the altar, Prayer Hall, Imperial Palace, Royal Wells?
Mountains, rivers, Four Seas Ferry…
Chen Shun’an’s eyes lit up, heart burning hot.
As Water Origin Great Emperor, these Springs and river veins should all belong to Chen Mou!
……
Delayed a bit, by the time Chen Shun’an pushed his cart out of the alley, daylight was full.
In this sweltering weather, street vendors’ calls continued endlessly; an opera troupe had set up a high stage at the road mouth early, warming up to perform opera.
Others rigged knife ladders, using sharp Long Sabers as rungs, playing mage tricks.
Chen Shun’an then realized Wang Lingguan’s Birthday on the twenty-fourth of the sixth month was less than half a month away.
No wonder these opera troupes had increased.
Chen Shun’an kept his head down pushing the cart, not looking more.
Ah Hua, having circulated Qi and Blood to recover, also pushed his cart out of the alley.
“Master Chen…”
Ah Hua looked at Chen Shun’an, expression uneasy.
As he spoke, Ah Hua suddenly noticed the Package on Chen Shun’an’s Water Cart.
Bulging, not tied tight, revealing a medicine box inside, Medicinal Herbs with Mud, moldy Deer Antler.
“This is…” Ah Hua asked curiously.
Chen Shun’an said casually,
“Some days ago, brothers spent on me, gifting Chen Mou many Pills, Polygonatum; Chen Mou doesn’t know pharmacology, dared not take them rashly, so thought to find a doctor to identify them…”
With that, Chen Shun’an tied up the Package.
At these words.
For some reason, Ah Hua’s face turned deathly pale, all blood drained instantly, he stood stunned, forcing a smile,
“Master Chen is truly cautious.”
“Sigh, when people get old, they turn timid and afraid of death; made Brother Ah Hua laugh.”
Watching Chen Shun’an’s departing back.
Ah Hua stood in place, pupils trembling, suddenly feeling extremely irritable.
Heaven and Earth like a steamer, no shade anywhere!
Hiding anywhere felt like blazing sun, sweat pouring, body sticky, all moisture squeezed dry!
His gaze at Chen Shun’an suddenly turned fierce.
At this moment,
San Dezi came out delivering water from a steamed bun shop, shouting,
“Master Chen, after shift go hear Storytelling. My treat!”
“Still call me Brother Chen… How’d you change? You used to hate listening to the Teacher ramble most… I was thinking of going to Banye Ferry Crossing.”
“Another day! I gotta see what makes Storytelling so captivating, haunting you daily.”
“Alright, as you say, meet at the old spot after shift.”
Chen Shun’an, San Dezi, and the others’ figures successively vanished at the road mouth.
Ah Hua saw this, the fierceness in his eyes gradually receding, head down, resuming his honest and simple look.
He said nothing, pushed his cart away.
But toward home.
……
Moments later, sweat-drenched Ah Hua, as if fished from water, kicked open the door.
Inside, a one-eyed old man sat on the ground, using sorghum stalks for a frame, pasting colored paper strips.
Vaguely a Spirit Official Wang Idol.
This earthen house wasn’t large, only half of Chen Shun’an’s Tile House.
Just left and right rooms, but fairly clean and orderly, furniture neatly placed.
Door suddenly kicked open, evil wind blew, shaking incense ash from the ‘White Speed Fixed Incense’ in the shrine’s Incense Burner, startling the old man.
“Kid, why kick the door?”
Ah Hua slammed the door shut, under his feigned calm face, hid madness surging like erupting Magma.
His eyes faintly red, he said urgently,
“Dad, where’s the Li Tan Banner? Lend it to me again!”
