【The Tale of the Demon Sword】(Volume 29, Chapter 143)

Chapter 143 If You Do Not Return, What Hope Can the Common People

Have? The newcomer was none other than the de facto ruler of Tianluoxiang, the Grand Elder who had assisted three generations of sect leaders, known as "The Executioner of Heaven,"

Qi Shouyun. Although Geng Zhao had never seen Granny Qi's face, he had

heard Hearing it again now, he easily recognized Granny Qi's identity, further confirming his

suspicions.

The mysterious guest secretly monitoring Ying Youyu and the other envoys harbored no ill will towards them; otherwise, given these girls'

carelessness , paralyzing Tianluoxiang from within would have been a piece of cake. Having figured this out, Geng Zhao's thoughts suddenly

opened up: Who would be so worried about these girls that they wouldn't be satisfied without proper control behind the scenes? Even if the spy wasn't Granny Qi

, she must have been a spy sent by Granny Qi; to get in touch with Granny Qi, he had to focus on this person.

Chi Shouyun narrowed her eyes, seemingly scrutinizing the young man before her, before saying after a moment, "You've come to find me simply

to get out, haven't you?" Geng Zhao had prepared several excuses beforehand, but she hadn't expected her to be so direct, leaving

him with none of his prepared statements. He simply nodded

. "Exactly. Please grant me permission, Elder—"

"A reason." Chi Shouyun raised a small hand, the lamplight making her fingertips appear pale and translucent, like thin paper.

"I need a reason to release you, don't I? Do you think my Tianluo Incense is like a temple fair or market, where people

come and go as they please?" Her tone was calm, yet surprisingly serious, devoid of any frivolous or sarcastic undertones. Geng Zhao was familiar with this

earnest tone and demeanor. The old woman before him, in appearance, figure, voice, and posture,

bore no resemblance to Xue Yanqing, even being diametrically opposed. However, their manner of speaking was strikingly similar, almost like

a mother and daughter who had relied on each other for many years. When separated, they always reminded one of the other person present.

(Perhaps Xue Yanqing resembled his grandmother?)

The saying "one is influenced by one's company" seemed to apply to this, Geng Zhao thought. It seemed that Xue Yanqing's

uprightness, integrity, and clear sense of right and wrong were also due to his grandmother's careful upbringing.

The reason Granny Chi wanted to let them pass meant there was a possibility of "letting them leave the valley"—something completely

disregarded , not worth wasting time on. Geng Zhao suppressed the pounding in his heart, considering what he could offer in exchange.

After a moment, he clasped his hands in a respectful bow and cautiously replied,

"Junior Geng Zhao."

Chi Shouyun smiled. "It seems your name carries considerable weight, enough to exchange for your freedom. Unfortunately,

it means nothing to me." She lightly tapped her cane, making a crisp "tap," and took a step towards him.

Her feet were extremely small, the silk slippers peeking out from under her skirt like lotus petals, beautifully shaped, completely

out of place with her deeply etched hands and face, unexpectedly exuding an elegant and captivating charm, yet without appearing frivolous. The yellow-dyed silk on the slippers shimmered with a golden-

red hue under the lamplight, adding a touch of subtle mystery. One could imagine that in her youth, she must have been a

stunningly beautiful woman with exceptional grace and poise.

With Grandma's movement, it seemed as if the shadows outside the candlelight moved with her; with each step, darkness subtly took shape.

Even though Geng Zhao's true energy was weak and his innate senses were dulled, he knew it was a sign that his power was about to be unleashed, and hurriedly added, "This junior

serves under the General of Zhen Dong!"

Chi Shouyun's eyebrows twitched, and she said calmly, "Then we can't let you go, can we?" Her skirt swayed, her lotus-like tip touching the ground,

and she took another step forward. A dark aura swirled around her, like strands of black silk being cut, gradually wrapping around her hand holding the staff. Geng Zhao

finally confirmed that Xue Yanqing was not here, otherwise Chi Shouyun would know his name; and Xue Yanqing

admitted that the attack on the general at the abandoned post station was not at the behest of Granny Chi. Judging from Granny Chi's current hostility towards the General of Zhen Dong's mansion, she already knew about this matter .

She said in a deep voice,

"It seems that this junior has no choice but to exchange the whereabouts of the Xue Sect Master. What do you think, senior?"

"Cunning. Empty words, just to set a price!" Despite saying this, Chi Shouyun finally stopped,

and the black aura around her subsided. She glanced at Geng Zhao and said calmly, "My sect leader is in Murong Rou's hands?"

Geng Zhao shook his head. "No, the place I arranged for my sect leader to stay is very safe, General, you are unaware of this." Chi Shouyun

nodded: "Did you already have ulterior motives, or are you waiting for a better price? Going through all this trouble to hide someone, only to exchange her for your already existing

freedom, seems too unfair."

Geng Zhao still shook his head. "I have no disloyalty to the Bureau, this is not a business transaction. I met my sect leader in a time of crisis

, I saved her once, and she saved me once. If I were to hand her over to the General, it would be too disloyal. Besides, although

your sect is among the Seven Mysteries, your sect leader's actions are rare in the martial world. Although I am not talented, I would like to befriend her

."

He briefly recounted his encounter at Blood River. To avoid revealing the matter of Silkworm Maiden, he only said that the two buried the Golden Armor and went downstream to find

a place to hide.

Chi Shouyun did not interrupt, listening quietly, as if trying to figure out what flaws were in his story.

"...This junior's intrusion into Cold Furnace Valley was purely accidental, not intentional. I beg your understanding, senior." Having waited in vain

for a response, Geng Zhao broke the silence. "If senior still has any questions, please feel free to ask. I will

explain everything I know."

"No need," Chi Shouyun said calmly. "I want to know many things, such as the location of the buried armor, the whereabouts of my sect leader

; why your yang energy is so abundant, and why our sect's 'Heavenly Net Heart-Gathering Technique' has no effect on you...

It 's all too much to explain in a few words. Fortunately, there's plenty of time; you can ask slowly. If you confess honestly, you'll

suffer less."

Geng Zhao's heart skipped a beat. He realized he had fallen for his opponent's delaying tactic. Chi Shouyun had never intended to talk to him; she

only wanted to stall. Geng Zhao was suddenly struck by his blind spot: "Daughters always resemble their mothers"—perhaps that's true.

Xue Yanqing's frankness and straightforwardness had led him to hold the wrong expectations, believing he could be completely open with the person who raised her.

He forgot that cunning women like Yu Xiao'e and ruthless women like Meng Tingshu were also trained by this elegantly dressed old woman, and he even

considered himself her successor—

perhaps Xue Yanqing was the most incongruous and unique exception in this Cold Furnace Valley!

The question is: what is Chi Shouyun trying to avoid by deliberately delaying? And what is she waiting for?

(Grandma's breathing... internal injuries!)

Geng Zhao's mind raced: Xue Yanqing, who couldn't lie, told him personally that Grandma had suffered extremely severe internal injuries;

Miss fought fiercely against the beauties at Lianjue Temple, almost single-handedly destroying the core of Tianluoxiang, rendering Grandma unable to attend to matters. That's

why Xue Yanqing, incited by Mr. Gui, made the wrong judgment to snipe the general... At this moment, Grandma was probably

already . What she wanted to avoid was precisely fighting him!

The thought had barely formed in his mind when Geng Zhao's arms suddenly extended, grabbing the tip of Chi Shouyun's staff.

Chi Shouyun sneered, retracting his staff to avoid the young man's fingers and palm, but he didn't retreat, lest he waste his remaining

strength. He relied on his rich combat experience, always able to dodge attacks with minimal movement at the most dangerous moment.

Whether was only dodging because he was powerless to retaliate, or if he had other plans, remained unknown.

Geng Zhao's dantian was empty, his powerful true qi had vanished without a trace. Relying on his youthful vigor, he charged forward with both arms, unleashing

a series of wondrous "Treasure Chest Hand" moves, as if dozens of arms had materialized out of thin air. However, he used the staff tip in every move, adhering to

the etiquette of a junior asking an elder for a move, and also the principle of "men and women should not touch each other." Although the Treasure Chest Hand technique was described as "a

palm beneath the palm, an arm beyond the arm," its dazzling power was inevitably diminished due to various considerations. Even so,

this tight, impenetrable advance was still effective. The two exchanged blows for over thirty rounds. Geng Zhao flipped his wrist and grabbed,

his fingertips brushing against the brocade sleeve of Qi Shouyun. In theory, this should have penetrated the brocade, generating a resilient, invisible force.

The following three variations attacked from the upper, middle, and lower parts, like reeling in a fishing line. Each one should have pulled the old woman

close , even causing her to lose her balance and fall without touching her.

Unfortunately, Geng Zhao's energy was weak and he lacked the strength to perform the move. He was merely putting on a show. With a flick of Qi Shouyun's sleeve, her entire

right arm was deflected, and the head of her cane struck his chest at the "Shanzhong" acupoint.

This move was undeniably swift, but Geng Zhao was ultimately forty years younger than her. Regardless of his internal strength, his senses,

and physical prowess should have far surpassed that of the elderly woman. He swiftly flipped his right palm and,

with a "snap!" caught the staff head engraved with the shape of a spider. Unexpectedly, Chi Shouyun's lips curled into a slight smile, and she abruptly released his grip, her fingers forming a sword-like shape

as she lunged into Geng Zhao's chest at an unimaginable angle and speed, stabbing heavily into his Tanzhong acupoint!

Geng Zhao still clutched the staff; the outcome was decided in an instant. His vision blurred, and he fell backward, met with the sword-like

finger . Countless thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning, only then realizing that his defeat was entirely justified.

From the moment Chi Shouyun appeared, every word, action, and gesture was a calculated move, designed to deliver this

illogical . Old age, injuries, and inability to walk... these might not all be fake, but more often

they were carefully crafted disguises, intended to lower the opponent's guard and deliver a decisive blow. If

Geng Zhao hadn't been so self-disciplined and hadn't pressed him too hard, he probably would have fallen for it right away and suffered an even faster and more devastating defeat.

He deeply regretted his foolishness and arrogance.

Even if he could endure Tianluoxiang's torture and interrogation and never reveal a single word about Miss Ming,

what ? That woman in black had been secretly watching and must know that Huang Ying was on his side. Now that she had been captured,

who would rescue Huang Ying?

—It's all my fault...it's all my fault!

(Ah Ying!)

Geng Zhao awoke from the terrible dream and tried to get up, but found himself completely exhausted and powerless

. For a moment, he thought his meridians had been severed and he was now a cripple. He broke out in a cold sweat.

"You're awake?" A clear, sweet female voice called out, and a fair, round face with curved eyelashes and large eyes appeared.

The girl was not covered in blood and wailing as he had dreamt, her full-figured, snow-white body being scraped and torn apart by horrifying instruments of torture,

each gruesome wound feeling like a knife to his heart. Apart from a hint of fatigue between her brows, as if she hadn't slept well,

her appearance could be described as "radiant," definitely not that of a prisoner. Even her clothes

had changed from a semi-transparent gauze to a yellow floral dress with an apricot-colored half-sleeved top, so at least he no longer had to worry about where to

look.

"Does your body still hurt? I've brought you a bucket of clean water to wash your chest—" Huang Ying smiled, her eyes crinkling

as she spoke to herself, skillfully wringing out a snow-white cotton towel. Suddenly, the man reached out and grabbed her delicate wrist,

his voice hoarse, "A-Ying...A-Ying! Did they...give you any trouble?"

Huang Ying's face paled as he squeezed her wrist, but she endured it without uttering a sound, thinking, "He just woke up, and the first person

he thought of was me." She couldn't help but feel happy, her cheeks flushed, and she gently stroked the back of his hand, trying to ease his

unease, biting her lip and smiling, "Grandma didn't give me any trouble. It's nice here ." " We have good food and lodging, and beautiful clothes to wear. If

we could come and go freely, it would be almost like paradise."

Geng Zhao felt relieved, and his thoughts gradually returned to normal, but doubts arose. The chaotic thoughts in his mind

were hard to sort out , then frowned and said, "

About two days. It's dark here, so it's hard to tell the exact time; we've already eaten six meals since we arrived, so it should be

two days."

Geng Zhao's last memory was of being poked down by Chi Shouyun with two fingers. Could it be... that someone

saved them from Granny Chi? "No, it was Granny Chi who saved you." Huang Ying shook her head, then suddenly lowered her voice, "I

don't know what happened either. I woke up here. That old hag asked me to take care of you. I think she's quite nice to you

. Maybe she's taken a liking to you." She found it funny herself, chuckled, bit her lip, and revealed a lewd and seductive

smile. Geng

Zhao was completely bewildered, yet couldn't help but laugh, feeling slightly relieved. Suddenly, he heard a voice outside the door

: "Strictly speaking, he saved me, not I saved him." With a creak, the door opened, and it was none other than Chi Shouyun. Huang

Ying was startled, unsure how much she had overheard. She quickly stood up, bowed her head, and placed her hands properly in front of her knees,

obediently replying, "Grandma."

Chi Shouyun didn't even glance at her, her brocade skirt trailing behind her as she walked past, casually tossing out a sentence: "

Go out." She sat directly on the edge of the couch, her eyes slightly narrowed as she examined Geng Zhao's complexion. Geng Zhao had intended to launch a surprise attack while she was taking his pulse,

so he concentrated his energy, only to discover that there seemed to be a wisp of emerald fire true energy swirling within his dantian, extremely weak,

but at least not completely empty.

(She said I saved her...what does that mean?)

After a slight hesitation, Chi Shouyun rose from the edge of the bed and sat on a small stool beside her, without

touching . Their eyes met, and Granny Chi seemed to see through his thoughts, laughing, "You should possess superb internal strength,

but for some reason, all your power has suddenly vanished without a trace. Your meridians are undamaged, and

your methods are as before, yet you've lost your true energy, haven't you?"

Geng Zhao thought, "It must be related to the strange phenomena on my body!" He no longer harbored unrealistic

expectations . The captured spy from outside the valley hadn't been tortured but treated as an honored guest; there must be something fishy about it.

Besides, to know the extent of his recovery, pulse diagnosis was the most reliable method. The diagnostic methods included "observation, auscultation, inquiry, and..."

"Cut," as the saying goes, "Chi Shouyun used palpation instead of observation, which shows there's a reason why he can't touch him." All Geng Zhao could think of was

the bottomless abyss within his own body that devoured all his power.

Seeing his gloomy expression and lack of reaction, Qi Shouyun wasn't angry. She calmly said, "A few days ago,

a and slaughtered many of our disciples. I led the elites of the sect to surround and capture him, but we fell into that

person's trap and suffered heavy losses. Even I was injured."

Geng Zhao thought to himself, "This is talking about Miss Ming." Then he heard Qi Shouyun say, "That person has a very thorough understanding of my Tianluoxiang.

He has developed a unique technique that is specifically designed to break through our 'Abdominal Infant Technique.' Once its power enters the body, it

is like a spark touching saltpeter, causing internal organs to burst and blood to ooze out of the body, resulting in a gruesome death."

She spoke these words calmly, with a smile on her face, as if she were talking about some local gossip. But Geng Zhao

felt a chill run down his spine, thinking of Yue Chenfeng's "Purple Thunder Annihilation."

Ming Zhanxue's exceptional skills were all acquired

through dual cultivation with Yue Chenfeng, giving her a deep understanding of each other's techniques. Moreover, she had previously removed the Thunder Force from his body and suppressed the mental demons that hindered his Azure Fire Skill,

demonstrating considerable . Even if she couldn't unleash the complete Purple Degree Divine Palm, simulating the astonishing power of Thunder Force breaking through the body was simply a matter of her

choice.

Tianluoxiang's internal energy followed the path of pure Yin, where Yin and Yang are inherently both repulsive and attractive, mutually restraining and generating each other.

Tianluoxiang enhanced its pure Yin body by absorbing Yang energy, but a small amount of Yang energy intruding into the dantian

could react violently with the Yin energy, like igniting a fire in oil, ultimately leading to a major disaster. If the evil methods of absorbing and replenishing the body used by Ying Youyu and others were an elaboration of

the former , then Ming Zhanxue directly destroyed the latter's principles, turning great benefit into great harm, catching the Tianluoxiang sect off

guard and maximizing the results of the battle.

Geng Zhao overheard Ying and Xia Ershu mention the battle at Lianjue Temple, and piecing together fragments Huang Ying had heard from various sources, he realized that

even with Ming Zhanxue's unparalleled martial arts and cunning, she couldn't possibly defeat an entire

elite group of Tianluoxiang single-handedly. It suddenly dawned on him. Ming Zhanxue had perhaps spent most of her life preparing for that day,

even defiling herself to help Yue Chenfeng seize the Tiger King Shrine and unearth the "Seven Divine Techniques of the Tiger Register"... all these actions now seemed to have

a reasonable explanation.

Xue Yanqing was straightforward and honest, which could be described as "upright and honest," but in reality, she was clueless about worldly affairs. From

Ming Zhanxue's perspective, to cripple Tianluoxiang, the primary target was Chi Shouyun. Failing

to eliminate even defeating the Eight Protectors wouldn't constitute a victory. With Ming Zhanxue's abilities, even if Grandma miraculously survived,

she wouldn't be far from death.

Chi Shouyun looked into his eyes, seemingly reading his hesitant thoughts. She casually smoothed her skirt and

smiled gently, "You know Heng'er, don't you?" Geng Zhao snapped back to reality, a chill running down his spine. "Heng'er? Is

that Miss Ming's real name?" He wasn't confident he could fool Chi Shouyun and hesitated, wondering how to answer. Before he could reply, Chi Shouyun

smoothed her skirt and smiled,

"If I wanted to find her, I wouldn't need to go through anyone. Just spread the news that 'Grandma isn't dead,' and she'd come

herself . That girl knows better than anyone that unless I fall, Tianluoxiang will never die. Besides,"

the old woman looked directly at him. Her smile, though genuine, sent a shiver down Geng Zhao's spine. He felt

transparent , unable to hide his true thoughts. "The wisp of true energy in your dantian is from the same source as Heng'er's external martial arts lineage;

the movement technique you used to chase Xun'er in the corridor was clearly our sect's 'Hanging Net and Wall Walking'; not to mention the reverse

application of the 'Heavenly Net Heart-Gathering Technique' to Yu'er... If you still can't see the connection between you and her, then I'm truly senile."

"I have no intention of obtaining information about her from you." Chi Shouyun's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You only need to know that, no matter what, I will never, and will not allow anyone else to, harm you. You don't need to deceive me

about anything , because you can't deceive me, and deceiving me will not do you any good. Whatever you want or need, I will help you, without asking why, without considering the cost. So, can you change your perspective and calm down to listen to what I have to tell you?" 　　Geng Zhao was too lazy to even ask "why," he didn't believe a single word Chi Shouyun said. Although the old woman didn't torture him severely while he was powerless to resist, and even treated Huang Ying kindly, these were merely appeasement tactics, temporary expedients . 　　Compared to Miss Ming's whereabouts, she might have something more urgent to resolve right now, such as her life—this kind of deal wasn't the first time Geng Zhao had encountered it. Coincidentally, his cooperation with the Five Emperors Cave was based precisely on Yue Chenfeng's Purple Thunder Absolute, and Chi Shouyun's willingness to lower herself to show goodwill to a prisoner might be because Miss Ming had injected thunder energy into her body, and seeing that forcibly suppressing it would only lead to a serious illness, it was just a last resort. 　　"Take us out of the valley, and I'll help you exorcise the thunder energy." Geng Zhao carefully chose his words to avoid his condition being misinterpreted. "I will only treat you outside the valley. Any further delay will have consequences." 　　Chi Shouyun was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and after a moment shook her head, a helpless smile playing on her deeply etched lips. 　　"I told you, I'm fully recovered, and you saved my life. Now, we have to save you." The old woman said in a deep voice , "To my shame, that day, to subdue you, I used all my strength to poke your chest acupoint, and I couldn't suppress the foreign yang energy in your meridians. I was on the verge of internal burns, but the abyss inside your body that devoured your internal energy not only completely neutralized the force of my fingertip, but also absorbed the foreign yang energy that Heng'er had planted, leaving not a trace. If you hadn't fainted and broken free from my restraints, I'm afraid I wouldn't be here talking to you if it had continued like that." 　　This explains why Chi Shouyun has not dared to touch him until now—even so, Geng Zhao is still half-believing. Even if Chi Shouyun, who it was uncertain whether his gratitude would outweigh the sect's and his own interests. Moreover, Geng Zhao had no intention of saving him at the time; it was merely a lucky accident. Compared to Chi Shouyun's statement, "I will help you," it was utterly unconvincing. 　　Chi Shouyun seemed to have anticipated his doubts and showed no resentment, continuing calmly, "I don't know how you, at such a young age, possess such high internal strength, but otherwise, you would have been completely devoured by the 'Remnant Fist' force within you. Not only would your internal strength be completely gone, but perhaps even your flesh and tendons would be lost, you would have been sucked dry to a skeleton, a gruesome death." 　　—"Remnant Fist!" 　　This was the second time Geng Zhao had heard these two words. Chi Shouyun had assisted three generations of Tianluoxiang sect leaders and was one of the Seven Mysteries...

The highly respected elder, with her extensive knowledge, and the gray-robed man both said that this was "crippled fist," which was probably not unfounded.

Geng Zhao was deeply wary of her, but ultimately curiosity outweighed his caution, and he couldn't help but shake his head:

"I...I've never practiced any kind of 'crippled fist,' nor have I ever heard of such a martial art. 'Crippled fist'...what exactly is it?

Why does it constantly absorb internal energy, causing all the power of fist, palm, and internal energy to vanish?"

"I asked someone this question decades ago, but that person was ignorant and glib, and

whatever he said was inappropriate, which infuriated me. As for that infuriating answer that I couldn't understand, it didn't leave

any impression."

Whether it was Geng Zhao's imagination or not, when Qi Shouyun spoke these words, the sharp lines of her face seemed to

soften, and her smile was distant, yet she lacked her previous indifference and self-restraint. It was as if an old, weathered wooden or clay sculpture had suddenly been infused with

life, and all her emotions became vivid, no longer weathering and decaying with the passage of time, turning into dust.

"The Broken Fist is a kind of martial art."

The old woman seemed to realize the misleading part of her statement, that a single word could render it meaningless nonsense,

and chuckled softly. "It's not a single style, but a kind. The Broken Fist is different from any of the martial arts I know of in the Eastern Continent,

and cannot be explained by existing martial arts theories. What that person told me back then, though seemingly plausible, now seems not entirely without

merit. I can only speculate and strive to improve."

Geng Zhao didn't dare to be stubborn, and cupped his fists in a respectful bow: "Please enlighten me, senior."

Qi Shouyun smiled. "Your internal strength foundation is so profound, able to withstand the residual power of the 'Broken Fist' for

several days and nights without dying. Such skill is rare even among established masters in the Eastern Continent, let alone the younger generation

. Without a wise teacher and extraordinary encounters, it's hard to achieve. Let me ask you: What is internal energy?"

Geng Zhao thought for a moment. "It is Qi. All things in heaven and earth possess Qi; the method of cultivating internal energy is to create a concrete microcosm within

the meridians , circulating like the six directions, thus surpassing ordinary

people who have never practiced martial arts.

In the way of internal cultivation, nourishing Qi and circulating Qi are equally important; those who are good at nourishing Qi can achieve longevity. However, when it comes to applying it to martial arts,

the method of circulation is more important than the quantity."

"With this understanding, you are already worthy of a high level of internal energy cultivation." Qi Shouyun nodded repeatedly and

smiled , "Then let me ask you again, what is the foundation for circulating internal energy?"

"It is based on 'visualization'." Geng Zhao answered without thinking. "Internal energy is formless and intangible, unlike

muscles and bones . It must be guided by intention, with a clear mind and introspection, reflecting emptiness and clarity."

Yu Shouyun nodded and said, "The martial arts I know, whether advanced or rudimentary, are all based on this. 'Crippled Fist'

is different. When ordinary martial arts reach the stage of visualization, one must continuously accumulate internal strength, or use unorthodox methods to stimulate potential

for intention. Following the proper order is the orthodox internal martial arts, while taking shortcuts is evil. The more you accumulate and the better the results,

the divine , the more mediocre it is."

"But cultivating internal strength with the broken fist technique is merely an introduction. After 'visualization,' the next step is 'sitting in oblivion,' which requires abandoning

the limbs and discarding intelligence, separating from form and wisdom, before one can align with the Great Dao. Simply accumulating internal strength is a wrong path. Only by

relinquishing attachment to internal and external forms can one elevate one's will, allowing it to flow freely throughout the universe without obscurity, covering vast distances in an instant,

without any hindrance."

Geng Zhao was unfamiliar

with might not fully believe, let alone martial artists. This left him completely bewildered, feeling that these teachings

were far too abstract.

Although the cultivation of internal strength is not something that can be "reliable by sight," where one can easily observe the changes in internal energy with the naked eye, it still requires

genuine , strenuous practice, with no shortcuts allowed. Although Geng Zhao had encountered numerous fortuitous events to acquire such a profound foundation,

it was only after the three battles at the Lotus Platform, repeatedly tempered on the brink of life and death, that he now had the initial sense of glimpsing the inner sanctum.

The phrase "abandoning limbs and discarding intelligence" is merely an analogy; to truly prevent thought and movement would be like sitting in a daze.

But Chi Shouyun's "grand treatise" went far beyond this.

"After 'sitting in oblivion' comes 'divine liberation'—when the mind can communicate with heaven and earth, unrestricted by external things, then

the power of all things in heaven and earth can be used by you. If internal energy creates a concrete microcosm within the meridians,

allowing you to move like the six directions, then 'divine liberation' is to make the universe itself yours. Imagine yourself as the wind, and you are as light as a feather,

swift as a thousand miles; imagine yourself as a cloud, and you gather and disperse unpredictably… something like that." She stared at Geng Zhao's

face, then suddenly chuckled, covering her mouth as she said:

"I finally understand why he laughed so heartily back then. So that's what my expression was like."

Geng Zhao was taken aback and couldn't help but shake his head, frowning as he said, "Did you ask that person how he achieved his Divine Understanding

Realm ? The explanation can be vague and ethereal, but the process of cultivation is not. He can use the Broken Fist, so he must have found

a practical method."

Qi Shouyun seemed to appreciate his reaction, raising her eyebrows, her smile fading, and she said seriously, "He said it was

from being beaten up. The strange man who taught him martial arts fought with him every day, and every time they fought, it was as if they had some deep-seated

hatred , beating him to death in one fell swoop."

"Every time he woke up and found himself still alive, his skill level would increase by one level; one day, his body 'suddenly felt

a little itchy,' 'like being pricked by a needle'—these are his exact words—and his power poured out. At

that point, his master dared not hold back when fighting him anymore, and a few days later, he ran away while he was fast asleep, probably worried that

his disciple would seek revenge, so he beat him to death in one fell swoop."

These words were not spoken by Chi Shouyun himself. Geng Zhao could

see a silhouette of that person from the nostalgic look she inadvertently revealed and the unguarded faint smile, as if he were sitting next to the old woman in fine clothes,

boasting and making her both angry and amused, unable to help but cover her mouth with her sleeve...

Geng Zhao returned to reality from her imagination. Chi Shouyun had no need to deceive him; she had plenty of opportunities to take his life, and

this time was no exception. While there were indeed villains in the world who deceived and amused others, he saw no malice in the old woman

that from toying with others.

Was it possible… that she was the one holding the wrong expectations?

That she had mistaken him for a descendant of an old friend? Through her peculiar "remnant fist," the old woman

connected the chance-appearing stranger with her deceased loved ones, healing wounds, seeking solace,

and even making amends in the process of reminiscing.

Geng Zhao knew he had no connection to "that person" whatsoever; though his biological parents were of humble origin, their background was clear.

Like his adoptive father, Geng Laotie, neither of them had any involvement in the martial arts world. His martial arts skills were thanks to Miss Ming, and although

he had many , none of them matched the descriptions of his grandmother. She must have been mistaken, terribly wrong.

Considering the situation, this misunderstanding was, in fact, a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune for Geng Zhao. If he hadn't mistakenly believed him to be

a descendant of an old friend, given the cunning and ruthlessness displayed by Chi Shouyun in the corridor, Geng Zhao couldn't imagine how swift

and cruel the Grand Elder's methods would have been in their current disadvantageous situation.

However, for some reason, if he could, he didn't want to take advantage of this golden opportunity that had fallen from the sky.

As if trying to break free from the intense feeling of rejection, Geng Zhao shook his head and followed her words:

"Although I often get beaten half to death, I've never benefited from the internal and external injuries. Before this,

I had never heard of the name 'Crippled Fist,' nor had I ever learned it. If this Crippled Fist has such terrifying power, why is it not well-known in

the martial arts world ? I've never heard of any senior masters using it?"

Qi Shouyun smiled calmly.

"Because it changed its name."

"Changed...changed its name?" Martial arts techniques in the martial arts world are indeed subject to repeated enhancements and modifications, but no matter how they are changed,

only the name remains unchanged, due to considerations of sect lineage. Under a resounding name for a fist or sword technique, there are

often many schools and lineages. Each school may use different techniques, but they all use this name to highlight their lineage. For

a terrifying martial art like the Crippled Fist, even if the practitioner wanted to change the name, they couldn't control the whispers in the martial arts world. They absolutely could not disappear or easily

show themselves in another guise.

"Before Dugu Yi ascended the throne, he was renowned for his two martial arts styles, 'Broken Fist' and 'Defeated Sword,' and was invincible.

After becoming emperor, his ministers fawned over him and couldn't bear to use those names anymore, saying they were inauspicious and

would harm the dynasty's fate, so they renamed them 'Imperial Fist and Imperial Sword.'" Qi Shouyun sneered:

"If it's called 'Imperial Fist and Imperial Sword,' who else can practice it? Wouldn't that be a charge of usurpation, leading to the

confiscation of your property and the extermination of your clan? A dignified emperor, unable even to establish his own school, can only watch helplessly as his unique skills are lost

to time , withered away alone in the capital. This is the most vicious tactic against martial artists."

Geng Zhao was startled and struggled to sit up.

"Broken Fist... Broken Fist is the martial art of the Great Ancestor Emperor Wu?"

Qi Shouyun laughed: "Unrivaled in the world, who else could it be? Only him." A hint of

pride even appeared on his face. Geng Zhao's mind went blank, a jumble of thoughts rushing in like bees to his head: this strange "absorption

abyss" within him had appeared after he desperately unleashed the "Falling Feather Heavenly Style" by the stream, and he couldn't tell if it was a lingering effect of that move

or caused by the gray-robed man's martial arts.

If it was the gray-robed man's doing, then this person might be related to Emperor Taizu Wu—a much more plausible possibility than his own

unreliable "Falling Feather Heavenly Style." Geng Zhao didn't believe that his

crudely crafted swordsmanship, based on his limited knowledge and rudimentary design, could possibly reproduce Emperor Taizu Wu's signature move;

although the gray-robed man's actions were completely at odds with the legendary upright and magnanimous Emperor Taizu, both were equally skilled in martial arts, unfathomable, and perhaps

even of similar age, so it wouldn't be surprising if they were connected.

Qi Shouyun looked at him. "You really don't know where the residual power of your fist came from?"

Geng Zhao honestly shook his head. "I was knocked into a mountain stream by a masked man in gray robes, and this is what happened when I woke up. If

the strange phenomena on my body really come from the martial art 'Broken Fist,' then that man in gray robes must

be connected . Maybe... Emperor Taizu is still alive?"

This time it was Chi Shouyun's turn to shake his head. "He's dead, I know that, and Broken Fist has no successor in this world,

not even his most beloved seventeenth brother, Dugu Ji. I once asked him why he didn't teach Dugu Ji Broken Fist, and he

smiled and said, 'It's too late. I wanted him to enjoy practicing it and have a greater sense of accomplishment, so I taught him a

convenient method for cultivating internal energy. Before I knew it, his internal energy had reached such a high level. He's already made up his mind, and it's difficult for him to go back

to my path! He doesn't enjoy practicing it either. What's the point?

' I said, 'Your brother listens to you too much. Why don't you let him start practicing again?'" "He smiled wickedly, leaning closer

and saying, 'Then I'll make you start over, will you listen to me?' I pondered for a long time, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Only then

did I realize that learning this martial art is as difficult as ascending to heaven, difficult from the very beginning. If you don't find a child with a blank mind and

teach them from a young age, who can cultivate internal strength and then give it up?"

The gray-robed man's internal strength cultivation was astonishing, which did not match what Ji Shouyun said, but Geng Zhao preferred to believe that he

had met an old friend of Emperor Taizu Wu, or even that it was him. "If there is no one else in the world who can use the Broken Fist,

how can you be so sure it's not Emperor Taizu Wu?"

Ji Shouyun took out a small wooden board-like object from the bedside drawer and carefully placed it on the edge of the bed. Geng Zhao

then realized it was a stiffly lined, gold-embroidered book, with a thread-bound silk book bound between thin boards covered with brocade satin. The book

contained not a single word; between the pages were scattered scraps of paper of varying sizes and textures—

a kind of ink-absorbing book used for holding drawings.

Geng Zhao sat up, opened the cover, and saw that the paper was yellowed, old, and wrinkled, as if it had been crumpled into

a ball and then carefully flattened. On the paper, drawn with charcoal, was a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, wearing a

loosely robe that exposed his strong, muscular chest. He held a pair of men's soft boots, which were

dripping water. Although the drawing only showed the upper body and the right hand holding the boots, one could imagine his bare

feet wading through the water. The brushstrokes were slightly immature, but the capture of the spirit was extremely vivid.

"That was our first meeting." Chi Shouyun hugged her knees, head bowed, staring at the charcoal sketch,

a gentle expression on her face. "He made my silver note fall into the water, and he insisted on retrieving it for me. I wanted to

crush his throat with one claw, but alas, I can't swim, so I thought I'd kill him after I pulled him out." She couldn't help but laugh, seemingly recalling something

amusing .

Geng Zhao flipped over the sketch; sure enough, there were large smears of black and red ink. The drawing was actually on

the back of a bank note. Thinking that Granny Chi, who controlled the Heavenly Incense, was a skilled painter, and that she might have been quite

young , and that the person in the painting was none other than the renowned Emperor Taizu Wu… Geng Zhao felt it was all incredibly unreal. If this was

a trap, it was prepared far too meticulously, even the faded past becoming an accomplice,

giving it a nostalgic and intoxicating feel.

The next few sketches were also charcoal sketches, the clothing and appearance of the people in the drawings were all similar, and the paper used for drawing…

Among the items torn from the account book were the lower halves of old Spring Festival couplets; the backgrounds, ranging from the water's edge and mountains to the campfire and stars, seemed

to hint at the traces of their journey. Another painting depicted Dugu Yi asleep, his upper body bare, his head resting on

a strong, outstretched arm, both drowsy and innocent.

Geng Zhao was no longer the ignorant youth who didn't understand human affairs; the tender affection contained in this painting was so intense it almost seemed to leap off

the paper. Only a young girl, utterly satisfied in body and soul after a passionate encounter, would secretly rise at night, wrapped in her blanket, and

leave her lover's innocent, childlike sleeping face on her silk handkerchief.

He glanced at Qi Shouyun. The old woman, who had seen all the ways of the world, was long past the age of shyly turning her head away. She simply lowered

her eyes and smiled, saying softly, "We knew from the beginning that it was just a fleeting romance, at least I knew. At that time, I

was the youngest Weaving Envoy in the sect, ambitious and never thought of spending

my life . That's all I could give him; he couldn't afford anything more."

Geng Zhao flipped through a large stack of charcoal sketches and finally saw the first ink painting. The man in the painting still

had thick eyebrows and was dashing and heroic, but he had changed into a set of swift boots and a brocade robe. A piece of white jade with tassels hung from his belt. Although "

clothes make the man," for some reason, he always felt that this outfit did not suit him.

"...Later, he was taken into the General of Zhen Dong's mansion, and that's when I learned he was Dugu Zhiming's eldest son by a concubine, something

even he himself didn't know. I always thought about how heartbroken he would be when I left him one day, and I practiced for that

day for a long time...Unexpectedly, he was the one who left me first."

The paper on which he drew later no longer looked so messy. On the carefully cut paper, which resembled a letter, was drawn Dugu Yi

dressed in martial arts attire and armor. The drawing was more exquisite than the previous page, and the layout was always orderly,

with the person in the center, the sky and earth left blank, and the foreground, middle ground and background layers well-ordered. The ink was definitely filled in carefully afterward, but it lacked

the excitement and urgency of wanting to capture a certain moment.

More importantly, between the paintings, one can see that the boy has gradually become a young man. Dugu Yi's

figure has lengthened, and the thin, frail appearance of his youth has been replaced by a robust and sturdy physique. The time between each painting has increased, and

the details are more refined. However, some paintings were unfinished or half-finished, then hastily erased with heavy colors and ink.

Ultimately, they couldn't bear to discard them and tucked them into the album.

"We've never lost contact. Perhaps a complete separation would be harder than imagined. At that time, we were both exhausted by

the things around us, and neither of us wanted to talk about separation or reunion." Grandma smiled faintly. "Except for

the years , he came to see me every year, stayed overnight, and left before dawn. Even after he ascended the throne, we saw each other quite often,

meeting once every two or three years. On the seventh day of the fifth lunar month, in the boat house by the lake in Taohuawu, Taoyuan Village, I was usually waiting for him."

Geng Zhao found it hard to imagine what kind of agreement this was. There were no letters exchanged, no news relayed. On one side was the busy

emperor of Pingwangdu, and on the other was the leader of a powerful, scheming sect vying for supremacy in the martial world. Was their relationship one

of affection, love, lust, or friendship? Perhaps even the two of them couldn't say for sure.

"So, he must be dead," Chi Shouyun said softly. "For over twenty years, I've come to Peach Blossom Village every year,

but I've never seen him again. How could this be? If he weren't dead, how could this be?"

This didn't explain Chi Shouyun's attitude towards Geng Zhao. Missing Dugu Yi was one thing; perhaps in her mind,

the invincible Dugu Yi could never have suddenly died. She still went to the cottage in Peach Blossom Village every year, waiting for that person

to suddenly appear silently behind her through the shade of the weeping willows. But Dugu Yi wouldn't become a boy,

and none of his children or grandchildren were Geng Zhao's age. Besides, Geng Zhao's appearance bore no

resemblance . Could it be that the old woman's death was truly just a broken fist?

"The last time we met, he said, 'I came to the East Sea this time to find a successor for the Broken Fist.

Unfortunately , I'm a step too late. That kid isn't bad-natured; he secretly practiced internal energy and swordsmanship on his own and actually got quite good at it. Now

, trying to teach him to start over is as difficult as climbing to heaven. Oh well, everyone has their own destiny, so there's no need to force it. Since you're here,

why don't I pass it on to you?'"

Seeing him dumbfounded, Chi Shouyun showed no displeasure. She brushed her skirt and said leisurely,

"If you took everything he said seriously, you'd be furious. I thought he was just teasing me and

sneered at him, 'You know I can't learn it, are you deliberately trying to annoy me?' Who knew he would actually take out a stack of papers from his pocket

, densely filled with scribbles, without any order or layout. In short, they were extremely difficult to read, and it was obvious at a glance that they were his own handwriting."

"I thought to myself, now that he's the emperor, if he can't find a Grand Secretary to polish his writing, he could at least at least mount it up as a scroll, right?

This is so ugly, who is he trying to blind? Before I could even laugh at him, I thought again: No, this time he's serious.

He doesn't want anyone else to know what's written on this paper, he can only ponder it himself, secretly writing it down; once he's finished,

he immediately rushes to the East Sea to find his chosen successor."

Geng Zhao frowned and muttered, "That's strange. The founding emperor said that Dugu Ji 'has made up his mind,'

and he absolutely cannot go back to practicing the broken fist. Could it be that in his mind, there is another suitable successor in the East Sea?" Qi

Shouyun laughed, "You're much smarter than you look, you've grasped the key point right away." Geng Zhao smiled bitterly:

"I'll just pretend you're praising me, senior." The two smiled at each other, and the atmosphere eased considerably without them realizing it.

"He's never been... a man of principle." After a long pause, Qi Shouyun sighed softly and shook her head.

"He never cared about founding a sect or leaving a lasting legacy. What he did was simply what he wanted to do,

or what he felt he had to do. In the past, when we met, he would always bring me little things to please me, sometimes

delicious pastries, sometimes a pretty wildflower picked from the roadside. I never liked these things; they were all things he liked."

She looked up at Geng Zhao, suddenly pursing her lips into a meaningful, ambiguous smile, and said with narrowed eyes, "What I've always wanted

is only martial arts. When I was young, I only wanted to surpass my peers and quickly become a sect leader; once I held power, I

wholeheartedly assisted the sect leader, making up for the sect's deficiency in internal strength to control the martial arts of the 'Heavenly Net Scripture.' To be honest, my

smooth rise in the sect was largely thanks to him."

"When we were deeply in love, he would teach me everything I wanted to learn without holding anything back. I

probably learned the 'Defeated Sword' many years earlier than Dugu Ji, but at that time he was only just beginning to develop the concept, and there were still many aspects

that had not been fully refined. Later, when I saw him demonstrate it again, it was quite different from what he had taught me back then, and my desire to learn from him faded

. It wasn't so bad to leave it as it was."

The mysterious sword moves that Ying Youyu used were probably the prototype of this still immature "Defeated Sword".

Geng Zhao recalled Ying Youyu's swift and ruthless swordsmanship when she fought the woman in black, a technique that, while not invincible,

possessed an untamed ferocity and wildness. Such a move in combat would indeed be impossible to defend against. Even the rough draft of the sword style created by the Martial Emperor Taizu in his youth possessed such sharpness; what astonishing power must

the complete "Defeated Sword," refined through countless trials and tribulations and used to defeat numerous masters, possess ! The fact 　　that the Infant Qi Technique was insufficient to control the "Heavenly Net Scripture," known as the "Number One Martial Classic of the Seven Mysteries," was the greatest secret of the Heavenly Net Incense Sect. Not only were outsiders unaware, but even within the sect, it was kept secret. Only sect leader candidates like Ming Zhanxue, or those with great power like Granny could hear about it. Although Geng Zhao had heard of it from Miss Ming, he hadn't expected Qi Shouyun to reveal it so frankly. His heart was filled with mixed emotions, and the last vestige of his wariness and caution faded considerably. 　　Grandma continued, "He and Xiao Jianzhi, the 'Thousand-Mile Swordsman' buried in the Imperial Sword Tomb, were taught by the same master . He didn't even hide Xiao Jianzhi's martial arts from me. Old Xiao still knows nothing about them. I know a little bit of his unique skills, the 'Cloud Sea Vast Technique' and the ' Eight Directions Wandering Dragon Sword.'" 　　Geng Zhao's heart stirred slightly, and he pondered, "I heard that the Emperor Taizu had a fight with Xiao Jianzhi, and in a fit of anger, he banished him from the capital. Could it be... that he wanted to give this manuscript to Jianzhi, but couldn't bring himself to do it, so he pretended to ask you, senior, while secretly hoping that one day Jianzhi could obtain it from you?" 　　Chi Shouyun trembled, her faint smile suddenly shattered, leaving only a faint reflection on her face eroded by time. She had to reassess the young man before her: at first she thought he was quick-witted, but then she discovered that he was meticulous, not easily misled by the chaotic external world, and always able to focus on the details. At this moment , she felt that he possessed an extremely sharp intuition about human relationships, enough to see beyond the ravages of time and discern the kindness and sincerity hidden behind them. 　　—He really…wasn't he sent by you? 　　Do you remember leaving something here with me, and now you want to get it? Honestly! I knew it was you the moment I saw it! 　　The old woman remained silent for a long time, as if unwilling to pull herself out of her reverie, before finally wiping her eyes with her sleeve and letting out a long sigh. 　　"It wasn't Xiao Jianzhi. He said, 'When someone appears in the future, give this to him. I don't know when will come, what he will look like, or what his name will be... I can't wait until then, and neither can the charlatans.' I've never seen him so dejected, as if he had done something terribly wrong and could never make amends." 　　He said, "My master told us to wait for the right opportunity to save the common people. When the alien race appeared, we thought time had come... If you've ever seen the alien race, you'll know they're not human at all; they're all monsters. Who wouldn't think that the world is about to descend into chaos, that heaven has sent down demons?" 　　"‘But we were wrong. The time hasn't come yet. The alien races are just bubbles on the surface before the water boils; the truly monstrous thing hasn't arrived yet. The charlatan and I were both wrong, terribly wrong. I used once-in-a-century warriors and unparalleled heroes to fight for the world, and they died or scattered, only to find that the target we were meant to fight hadn't even appeared yet... What if it comes tomorrow? Han Pofan and Wu Dengyong are both gone. What if I lose? Who will save the world ?’" 　　Geng Zhao listened to her murmured, dreamlike tone, repeating those delirious words. He completely understood how such simple, chaotic, and illogical words could be remembered for decades. If they sounded so terrifying in the quiet room, how eerie would they be if spoken by the invincible Dugu Yi! 　　"I've never seen him so worried. He wasn't afraid, just restless and anxious, as if everything was in chaos, yet he couldn't find a way to resolve it. After that, I never saw him again. The following year, news of the Emperor's death came from Pingwangdu . I assumed he had faked his death to escape the court and get rid of those suffocating officials. Every year, I hoped he would get tired of playing in the distance and finally return to Peach Blossom Village so I could return 　　this bundle of papers to him." Geng Zhao turned to the second half of the brocade album. The ink-absorbing silk no longer showed pictures; instead, there were sheets of paper filled with crooked small characters. "Senior—" He didn't dare look any longer and hurriedly closed the album to hand it back, but Qi Shouyun shook his head and didn't reach out. 　　"I didn't understand a word he said that day. All I know is that you suddenly arrived at Cold Furnace Valley at this critical juncture, carrying the remnants of your martial arts prowess. Just as he said, you immediately remembered these papers; there's no way you'd made a mistake. So, I can't let you die like this." The old woman smiled calmly, but her eyes flashed with a piercing light. 　　"We still have time to find a way to save your life. If Dugu Yi is right, the one who will succeed him in saving the world is probably you."

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【The Tale of the Demon Sword】(Volume 29, Chapter 143)

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