Chapter 22

The Demon Valley (22)

The three of them felt their hearts sink. While leaving them behind, Dan Akseon stood up.

"Where are you going?"

Dan Akseon smiled at Chao Auliang's question.

"To prepare lunch and dinner in advance."

"Already? Didn't we just have breakfast?"

"I think I'll be busy today."

With an excited look, Dan Akseon said,

"I'm going to decoct the ginseng I got yesterday."

"For the whole day?"

"Yes. I need to put in my best effort to get good results."

Chao Auliang stared blankly at Dan Akseon's back as she walked towards the hall.

He had a thoughtful expression.

Finally, when Dan Akseon's figure completely disappeared, Chao Auliang suddenly spoke.

"Hunyuan (混元) is Wuji (無極)."

Fan Jiewei and Han Xuehua looked at Chao Auliang with puzzled eyes. However, their expressions changed as Chao Auliang continued.

"Without a fixed form, there are no limits..."

"Chao, are you talking about...?"

Chao Auliang nodded at Fan Jiewei's cautious question.

"Since we've decided to do it, we should do it properly."

On the other hand, the two of them were still looking at Chao Auliang with surprise.

After all, he was one of the Five Greats of the world.

His pride in his martial arts was greater than anyone else's.

Yet, he was willing to openly share his secret cultivation method.

At that moment, Chao Auliang spoke.

"For that child."

Chao Auliang's gaze turned towards the hall.

"Isn't that child doing his best for us even now? I can't betray his trust."

Fan Jiewei nodded.

"I feel the same. The only person I can think of to pass on my martial arts to is Dan Yishi."

Han Xuehua felt the same way.

"I don't want to disappoint that child."

The three of them nodded at each other, and then one by one, they revealed their secret cultivation methods.

They were willing to collaborate for Dan Akseon's sake.

Thus, a martial arts research meeting of grandmasters, unprecedented in the history of the martial world, was formed.

* * *

Han Xuehua's ear and jaw.

Dan Akseon, who had inserted a needle between them, asked cautiously.

"How does it feel?"

"Still no sensation."

"Is that so? Hmm..."

After a moment of thought, Dan Akseon slightly adjusted the needle, pushing it in a bit deeper.

"Try to circulate your inner energy once."

Following Dan Akseon's words, Han Xuehua slowly gathered his inner energy.

"Ah!"

A short exclamation escaped Han Xuehua's lips.

"How does it feel now?"

"My face feels a bit itchy."

Dan Akseon's face brightened.

"Really?"

"Why are you so happy about it?"

"Because it's a sign that the sensation is returning."

Without waiting for a response, Dan Akseon inserted a short needle into the Yigen point (耳根穴) behind Han Xuehua's ear.

"How about this time?"

"A bit tingling."

"It's a densely innervated area. You slightly frowned when you said it was tingling."

"Me?"

"Yes."

Dan Akseon looked around and sighed.

"I wish I could show you, but I can't. Next time we go to the village, I'll buy a mirror first."

At that moment, Han Xuehua felt his facial muscles twitch slightly.

"Ah! You just smiled."

Dan Akseon smiled brightly at Han Xuehua.

"You smile like that. It's so beautiful."

'What a child...'

Han Xuehua felt a renewed admiration for Dan Akseon, who could be so transparently happy for others.

"Thank you."

"Hehe. It's nothing."

While removing the needles from Han Xuehua's body, Dan Akseon said,

"Understanding the flow of inner energy definitely helps."

"It's thanks to your medical skills."

Han Xuehua's praise made Dan Akseon blush and smile. However, the smile didn't last long.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside.

"Huh?"

Dan Akseon, who had glanced out the window, looked puzzled.

He saw someone confronting Fan Jiewei at the entrance of the Demon Valley.

However, Fan Jiewei's aura was not ordinary.

"Uncle Fan! Wait a moment!"

Dan Akseon shouted and hurriedly ran out of the pavilion.

Fan Jiewei was inwardly surprised.

There were few people in his memory who could withstand the killing intent he had openly released. Moreover, from the trembling legs, it didn't seem like the person had any martial arts training, yet he could endure it.

Even with a threatening warning, the man did not back down.

"I heard that the young master of the Demon Valley has a companion. Could it be you, the great hero?"

Young master of the Demon Valley? Companion?

The man repeated his initial words, looking at the puzzled Fan Jiewei.

"Please inform the young master. Feng Zhencheng wishes to see him."

Fan Jiewei clenched the Daichaozagon (大草子弓) on his back.

"If Doctor Dan doesn't recognize you, it will be hard for you to leave alive."

At that moment,

"Uncle Fan! Wait a moment!"

Fan Jiewei paused at the sound of Dan Akseon's voice from a distance. He saw Dan Akseon running towards them.

"Huff huff."

Feng Zhencheng bowed respectfully to Dan Akseon, who was panting from running.

"Have you been well, Young Master. No, I should call you Master now. Haha, habits are hard to break."

Feng Zhencheng's joke made Dan Akseon sigh.

"Come in first."

Fan Jiewei looked at Dan Akseon with a puzzled expression.

"Do you know this person, Doctor Dan?"

Dan Akseon nodded with a bitter smile. Fan Jiewei, feeling awkward, stepped aside.

As they walked towards the hall, Feng Zhencheng looked around.

"It's been a long time since I've been here. It's a nostalgic scene."

"Did you suffer because of me?"

"A bit surprised, yes."

Feng Zhencheng sighed.

Leaving aside the suspicion that Dan Akseon was related to a black path sect under a death warrant, the news that he had been sent to the notorious Pashadan branch was truly alarming.

'Guo Jia's temperament is like a venomous snake.'

This was clearly a mistake on his part.

Still, as a member of the Martial World Alliance, he never expected such a despicable move. When he arrived at the temporary Pashadan branch after a sleepless night, it was engulfed in flames.

All the Pashadan members were dead.

Rumors spread that they were too drunk to escape the fire, but Feng Zhencheng couldn't believe it. For the elite martial artists of the Martial World Alliance to be completely wiped out just because they couldn't overcome their drunkenness...

Fortunately, Dan Akseon wasn't there.

He tried to resolve the situation quickly, but was tied up for a considerable period by the Martial World Alliance's investigation.

So, he finally managed to wrap things up and come to the Demon Valley.

"I'm sorry."

Feng Zhencheng looked puzzled at Dan Akseon's words.

There was no reason for Dan Akseon to apologize. Then, he recalled the last conversation and smiled.

"Are you just going to talk your way out of it?"

Feng Zhencheng wasn't one to miss such an opportunity.

"Please revoke the expulsion order you placed on me."

"Huh?"

Feng Zhencheng smiled.

"Xue Shuzun, right?"

Dan Akseon, unable to hide his surprise, nodded.

"Indeed, he was staying here."

"How did you know?"

"Rumors about him were widespread. I also noticed the herbs you recently obtained. I couldn't understand why you expelled me so suddenly. So, I thought about it, and that name came to mind."

Feng Zhencheng looked at Fan Jiewei standing a distance away.

"Then, that must be Wangshan Chaozi."

"......!"

"You don't need to be surprised. How could I not recognize that terrifying appearance and the Daichaozagon?"

Feng Zhencheng smiled at Dan Akseon.

"What will you do now? I've discovered the secret you were hiding, Master. Will you still expel me?"

"I don't want you to be in danger. Because of me... again."

"I'm blackmailing you now."

"Uncle..."

Feng Zhencheng took Dan Akseon's hand.

"I understand what you're worried about. Before coming here, I took some precautions."

"Precautions?"

"I assume you expected me to visit the Martial World Alliance."

Nodding, Dan Akseon listened as Feng Zhencheng continued.

"I vouched for your identity there."

Dan Akseon looked at Feng Zhencheng with surprise. Feng Zhencheng nodded as if it was no big deal.

"If you were to become enemies with the alliance, I would become enemies with them too. We're in the same boat."

"Why...?"

"Didn't I already say? Who would abandon their family?"

Feng Zhencheng smiled softly at Dan Akseon.

"If you expel me now, it would be like telling me to go and die, Master."

Unable to respond, Dan Akseon had no choice but to relent.

"I'll revoke the expulsion. And I apologize again. You must have suffered a lot because of me."

"Haha. When haven't I?"

Feng Zhencheng, with a satisfied look, asked Dan Akseon.

"Can you introduce me to them? Since we're in the same boat, it's only right to exchange greetings."

A moment later.

Feng Zhencheng faced the three people.

"I am Feng Zhencheng of the Feng family. I lead a small clinic called Zhenchengyi."

"Zhenchengyi?"

Chao Auliang's eyes sparkled.

He had heard of the Zhenchengyi clinic, which had recently gained a fearsome reputation.

On the other hand, Fan Jiewei and Han Xuehua were indifferent.

Despite their cold gazes, Feng Zhencheng maintained his smile.

"Since I'm in the same boat with Master, I hope you will treat me well."

Chao Auliang nodded and asked with a profound look.

"Indeed. I heard you got involved with the Martial World Alliance?"

"Recently, some matters have connected me with them."

"Martial World Alliance! You're siding with those bastards?"

Fan Jiewei shouted angrily. Feng Zhencheng waved his hand at him.

"It's just a mutual assistance relationship."

"Maybe he's a spy for the Martial World Alliance?"

Despite still harboring doubts, Feng Zhencheng nodded understandingly.

"Words can't erase suspicion. Just know that one of my teachers was a demon."

Mentioning the demon, Fan Jiewei's suspicion eased a bit.

At that moment, Feng Zhencheng placed the items he had brought on the table.

"Since it's been a long time, and as a guest, I didn't want to come empty-handed, so I prepared a small gift."

"Wow! These are things I needed!"

Indeed, the box was filled with hard-to-find medicinal herbs.

"Tell me if you need any more herbs in the future."

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Dan Akseon hugged Feng Zhencheng. Just as Feng Zhencheng was enjoying the warm feeling, he was startled by Dan Akseon's next words.

"Then, can you get me some Qing Shiqing oil (公清石油)?"

Feng Zhencheng's smile vanished for the first time.