Chapter 82

As the day approached Kaifeng, they were still some distance from the city. Yue Buqun led his disciples to Zhuxian Town to pay respects to the sites of Yue Fei's resistance against the Jin. Linghuchong had been feeling gloomy for days and did not go along, staying on the boat with Yue Fangxing.

Before long, Yue Buqun and the others hurried back to the boat. Seeing their hurried expressions, Yue Fangxing wanted to ask what had happened, but suddenly heard a chorus of voices shouting, "Linghuchong, Linghuchong, where are you?"

The voices sounded like five of the Six Freaks of Peach Valley. Yue Fangxing's face changed, and he saw six people rushing to the dock. Besides the five of the Six Freaks of Peach Valley, the other was short and fat, with a large head and a small mustache, shaking his head and nodding, looking quite comical. It must be Ping Yizhi, the famous doctor.

Seeing the Hua Shan Sect members, the six people cheered loudly. Five of them leaped up and jumped onto the boat.

Yue Buqun and the others had hurried back because they encountered the Five Freaks of Peach Valley. Seeing them approach, Ning Zhongze drew her long sword and thrust it at Tao Genxian's chest. Yue Buqun, however, struck out with his own sword, making a clanging sound as he pressed down his wife's blade, whispering, "Don't be rash!"

The boat's bow dipped slightly as the Five Freaks of Peach Valley stood on it. One of them shouted loudly, "Linghuchong, where are you hiding? Why don't you come out?"

Linghuchong was furious and shouted, "Am I afraid of you? Why should I hide?" The strange true qi from these people had tormented him greatly, and he couldn't help but be angry.

At that moment, the boat swayed slightly, and another person appeared at the bow. It was Ping Yizhi, the famous doctor, who asked, "Which one of you is Brother Linghuchong?" His words were surprisingly polite.

Linghuchong slowly walked to the bow and said, "I am Linghuchong. May I ask your honorable name and what you need?"

Ping Yizhi looked Linghuchong up and down and said, "Someone has asked me to treat your injuries." As he spoke, he reached out to grab Linghuchong's wrist.

Yue Fangxing, standing nearby, intercepted him and said, "Who asked you to come? Can you tell us?"

Seeing this person come for no apparent reason, Yue Fangxing was naturally suspicious. Could it be that Ren Yingying had truly developed feelings for Linghuchong, and this news had spread throughout the martial world, prompting Ping Yizhi to come?

Ping Yizhi exclaimed, "Hmm," surprised that this young man could stop him. He didn't answer the question but said, "You are a disciple of the Hua Shan Sect, right? Master Yue has taught you well. I am here to treat your senior brother's injuries, and you are trying to stop me?"

One of the Five Freaks of Peach Valley said, "He is Linghuchong's junior brother." Another said, "So if Linghuchong dies, he can take over as the sect leader." Another said, "No wonder he doesn't want Ping Yizhi to treat his senior brother." Another said, "That's not right. Linghuchong isn't the sect leader yet. He has to wait until his master dies." The first one said, "That's just a matter of time." The five of them started arguing.

Hearing their nonsense, Yue Buqun was annoyed and said, "Xing'er, let Mr. Ping take a look at your senior brother." He had brought Linghuchong here to find Ping Yizhi to treat him. Although he was suspicious of this person's sudden appearance, he still let him examine Linghuchong.

Yue Fangxing had no choice but to set aside his suspicions and step aside.

Ping Yizhi placed his index finger on Linghuchong's pulse. His eyebrows suddenly raised, and he exclaimed, "Hmm," again. After a while, his brows furrowed, and he exclaimed, "Ah," looking up at the sky, scratching his head, and muttering, "Strange, strange!" After a long time, he placed his finger on Linghuchong's other wrist, sneezed, and said, "Very strange, I have never encountered anything like this in my life."

Yue Fangxing said, "The palm strike Master Linghuchong received earlier was not serious, but the six different true qi from the Six Freaks of Peach Valley conflicted with each other. In desperation, Master had to suppress them."

Ping Yizhi said, "That's not right. It's clear that his injuries have changed recently, and Master Yue injected true qi to treat him."

Yue Fangxing was greatly surprised. This Ping Yizhi could even see that? He replied, "A few days ago, Master Linghuchong's dantian was struck, dispersing his true qi. The six different true qi lost their balance, and Master had to inject true qi to suppress them."

Ping Yizhi nodded and then shook his head, saying, "That was indeed a good move at the time, but it has made it even harder to treat Linghuchong's injuries."

At this moment, Linghuchong suddenly said, "Senior Ping, I've heard that you have a rule: after saving someone's life, you ask them to kill someone for you." Ping Yizhi said, "That's right, I do have that rule." Linghuchong said, "I am unwilling to kill for you, so you don't need to treat me."

Hearing this, Ping Yizhi laughed and looked Linghuchong up and down as if examining a strange object. After a while, he said, "First, your condition is very serious, and I cannot cure it. Second, even if I could cure you, someone else will agree to kill for me, so you don't need to do it yourself."

Although Linghuchong had been mentally prepared for this, he still felt a wave of sadness when he heard this famous doctor, known for his miraculous healing, declare that his injuries were incurable.

Yue Buqun and Yue Fangxing exchanged glances, both thinking: Could it be the "Holy Maiden" of the demonic sect? Who else could have such influence to bring a notorious figure like the "Killer Doctor" to treat a patient?

Ping Yizhi continued, "Brother Linghuchong, you have eight different true qi in your body that cannot be expelled, transformed, subdued, or suppressed. This is why it is so difficult. I was asked to treat you, but it's not that I am not trying my best. Your condition is related to true qi, and it cannot be treated with acupuncture or medicine. In my years of practice, I have never encountered such a case, and I am powerless. I am very ashamed." He took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, poured out ten red pills, and said, "These ten 'Mind-Calming Qi Pills' are made from precious herbs and are difficult to produce. Take one every ten days, and it will extend your life by a hundred days."

Linghuchong took the pills with both hands and said, "Thank you." Ping Yizhi turned to leave, but suddenly turned back and said, "There are two more in the bottle. I'll give them to you as well." Linghuchong didn't take them, saying, "These pills are so valuable. It would be better to save them for someone else. Living a few more days won't benefit anyone."

Ping Yizhi looked at Linghuchong for a while and said, "To face life and death with such calmness is truly the mark of a great man. No wonder, no wonder! Alas, alas! Shame, shame!" He shook his large head and leaped ashore, walking away quickly.

Yue Fangxing was about to ask who had asked Ping Yizhi to come, but he was already far away. The Hua Shan Sect members were saddened to think that even the famous doctor Ping Yizhi could not cure Linghuchong and that he had only a hundred days left to live.

Looking into the cabin, they saw the five troublesome spirits, the Five Freaks of Peach Valley. Yue Lingshan and the other Hua Shan Sect disciples had seen them tear Cheng Buyou to pieces, and the memory still haunted them. They looked at each other, none daring to look at the five men. They were discussing how to drive the five away when Ping Yizhi's wife came over, carrying one of the injured freaks, saying they were to take care of Linghuchong. She then left.

The Hua Shan Sect members did not want to travel with these six people, but Yue Buqun's words had been interrupted by the Five Freaks' nonsense. If they tried to force them away, it would lead to a fight, and the six were strong, likely causing many injuries to the Hua Shan Sect disciples. They had no choice but to let the six stay and continue their journey.

Yue Fangxing didn't pay much attention to the six freaks, as they hadn't harmed anyone else in the Hua Shan Sect besides Linghuchong in the original story. He was thinking about whether to seek the "Yi Jin Jing" at Shaolin or take Linghuchong to Mei Zhuang to learn the "Xing Xing Da Fa." Since Ping Yizhi had said there was no cure, these were the only two options, but the "Yi Jin Jing" was hard to obtain, and the "Xing Xing Da Fa" had flaws, leaving him undecided.

As they traveled, the sky grew dark, and they stopped to rest and eat. However, various groups kept coming to bring them wine and gifts.

Yue Buqun, of course, did not dare to accept them and was suspicious, wanting to leave with everyone, but the Six Freaks of Peach Valley were already feasting.

Suddenly, a voice from the shore shouted, "Good wine, good wine!" Everyone looked up to see a ragged scholar under a willow tree, holding a broken fan and sniffing the wine aroma from the boat.

Yue Fangxing, seeing the man's large belly, suddenly asked, "Are you Zuo Qianqiu?"

The man exclaimed, "How do you know my name?"

Yue Fangxing said, "The name of the old ancestor of the Yellow River is known to all. Are you here to see my senior brother?"

Zuo Qianqiu neither confirmed nor denied it, quickly approaching the boat.

Yue Fangxing said, "You are a person of the evil path. What do you want with my senior brother? Is it the Holy Maiden's order?"

Zuo Qianqiu, who had not been paying much attention, suddenly changed his expression when he heard "Holy Maiden," stopping and saying, "What nonsense! I just smelled good wine, not to find any Linghuchong!"

Then he looked around and said, "Ha! There's good wine over there!" and hurried away.

Seeing this, Yue Fangxing was no longer in doubt. It must be Ren Yingying's doing. But he wondered what Linghuchong had done to make her fall in love with him so quickly and spread the news throughout the martial world, prompting people to treat his injuries.

Just as he was wondering, someone shouted, "Zuo Qianqiu, you scoundrel, give me back my pill! One is missing, and I'll tear you apart!"

Everyone saw a ball of flesh rolling towards them, getting closer and closer. It was a person, extremely short and fat, almost not human. He had no neck, a flat and wide head, and his face, nose, and mouth were stretched out.

Yue Fangxing said, "You must be the old man of the Yellow River old ancestors. Zuo Qianqiu just fled in that direction!" pointing in the direction Zuo Qianqiu had gone.

The ball of flesh, without saying thanks, rushed away.

Hearing "Holy Maiden," Yue Buqun was even more suspicious: "Could these people all be sent by the 'Holy Maiden'? What is her plan?" He saw that these two were extremely strong and thought about the mysterious groups bringing wine and food. He was on high alert and wanted to leave, but it was dark, and the river was swift, making it unsafe to travel at night. They had no choice but to stay on the boat.

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