Chapter 65

The Path of the Divine Horse (65)

A solitary mountain path, free from the hustle and bustle.

A lone rider was galloping up the mountain path.

The person urging the horse had a face full of worry.

It was Feng Zhencheng.

Not long ago, a messenger bird from Jin Cheng's residence had arrived.

However, because the message's surface was so small, it was difficult to grasp the detailed circumstances, so he had come riding straight away. This was also because he had been on edge recently due to rumors related to Dan Aoxian.

He wanted to go even faster, but the horse was already exhausted, barely able to continue.

Fortunately, the entrance to the Divine Horse Valley came into view in the distance.

All sorts of worries and concerns disturbed Feng Zhencheng's mind.

But as soon as he entered the Divine Horse Valley, he realized it had been an unnecessary fear.

No formations were set up, and the atmosphere was not much different from before. Relieved, Feng Zhencheng dismounted and headed into the valley.

Then he encountered an unexpected scene.

In the distance, he saw Dan Aoxian moving while sweating profusely.

It seemed she was practicing a footwork technique, diligently running along the lines and marks drawn on the ground.

Beside her, Chao Ailiang was watching with a sharp gaze.

Occasionally, he would open his mouth to correct Dan Aoxian's posture and movements.

"You shouldn't think about the next movement before taking a step. Entrust your body to your senses."

It was a stern and piercing voice, quite different from his usual demeanor.

"Before the opponent's force is fully formed, you must forcefully enter with a strong stance (剛在他力前, 강재타력전). Conversely, when receiving the opponent's force, you must smoothly let it pass (柔乘他力後, 유승타력후)!"

Chao Ailiang was imparting the most basic and important teachings of the footwork technique in the form of a mnemonic (歌訣, gējué).

The explanation was so abstruse that Feng Zhencheng, who had not practiced martial arts, felt it was a language from another world.

Feng Zhencheng found a spot to sit and watched Dan Aoxian's practice.

Fortunately, as time passed, the results of her practice seemed satisfactory, and Chao Ailiang's words gradually decreased.

Instead, a faint smile appeared on his lips. In contrast, Hansuehua, who was watching from behind, only cast a worried glance.

Then, at one moment.

"Ah! Oh no!"

Feng Zhencheng suddenly stood up without realizing it.

Dan Aoxian, who had been moving erratically, had tangled her footwork and tumbled roughly.

However, Chao Ailiang did not even blink.

Neither did Dan Aoxian.

Despite the considerable pain from the noisy fall, she simply applied some saliva to her knee and started the footwork again.

Seeing this, Feng Zhencheng involuntarily frowned.

At this moment, someone approached him and greeted him.

"Have you arrived?"

It was Neng Suomi.

Feng Zhencheng approached Neng Suomi with a smile.

"I received the letter you sent. I have a few questions about it."

"I was just about to send another letter because I felt the explanation was insufficient."

Neng Suomi explained in detail what had happened in the meantime.

Feng Zhencheng listened intently, sometimes surprised and sometimes nodding.

"How can these martial artists be so shameless...?"

When Neng Suomi's explanation ended, Feng Zhencheng was genuinely angry but soon became worried.

Those targeting Dan Aoxian would not be limited to just them.

While he was deeply pondering countermeasures,

"Auntie!"

Dan Aoxian, waving her hand, ran over.

Feng Zhencheng smiled and handed her a handkerchief.

"Have you finished your practice?"

"No. I'll continue after resting for a while."

Feng Zhencheng noticed a large bruise on Dan Aoxian's forehead and frowned. Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just her forehead.

Her entire body was covered with scrapes and bruises.

Dan Aoxian smiled sheepishly.

"Don't worry. It's not a serious injury, and I treat it immediately."

"Like applying saliva to your knee."

"Did you see that?"

Feng Zhencheng sighed at Dan Aoxian's embarrassed smile.

"Even if a monk can't shave his own head, you are still a doctor..."

"Hehe, I'm sorry."

Feng Zhencheng, who had known her for a long time, nodded as he gazed at Dan Aoxian.

"At least you look happier. That's a relief."

Dan Aoxian immediately understood what he wanted to say.

"I want to face the world in a different way from my parents."

"You've made a good decision. I'm sure your parents wouldn't have wanted you to live a life cut off from the world."

In fact, Feng Zhencheng had always sincerely hoped that Dan Aoxian would venture out into the world.

Dan Aoxian, who had hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously.

"I lied to you before."

"......?"

"I said I would be happy living here all my life like my parents."

Feng Zhencheng looked puzzled.

He had vaguely heard such words before. But he burst into laughter at Dan Aoxian's next words.

"In fact, I was always curious about the outside world. I just didn't want you to worry..."

"Haha. No need to apologize. I already knew."

Feng Zhencheng smiled warmly and encouraged Dan Aoxian.

"Stay strong. You will surely do well here and out there."

Moved by his sincere words, Dan Aoxian smiled brightly and turned around, heading back to Chao Ailiang to continue her practice.

Watching her back, Feng Zhencheng felt a pang in his heart.

'She has grown so much since I last saw her.'

Feng Zhencheng, who had been gazing at Dan Aoxian, began to unpack his luggage. Since he had come all this way, he wanted to help her in any way he could.

Just as he was busy moving his luggage into the hall,

"Let me help."

Chao Ailiang, who had appeared at some point, lifted the heavy luggage effortlessly.

"Thank you."

Chao Ailiang shook his head nonchalantly in response to Feng Zhencheng's gratitude.

"Are these medicinal herbs?"

"Yes. They are for the Qingyang Pills."

"Qingyang Pills?"

"I have improved the method of making the Shengshu Pill, which was my master's legacy, in my own way."

Chao Ailiang was surprised.

Improvement meant correcting flaws to make something better.

"Are you saying your Qingyang Pills are better than the Shengshu Pill?"

Feng Zhencheng shook his head with a smile.

"That's not possible."

"But why did you say you improved it?"

"Because I corrected the biggest flaw of the Shengshu Pill."

"Flaw?"

Chao Ailiang, who had been puzzled, nodded in agreement as Feng Zhencheng continued.

"The cost of the medicinal herbs required to make one Shengshu Pill is exorbitant."

Moreover, the quantity that could be produced was very limited.

That's why he came up with the Qingyang Pills.

Although they couldn't match the Shengshu Pill, their advantage was that they could produce similar effects using common herbs. While they lacked the efficacy to revive the dying or enhance internal energy, they were sufficient for fatigue recovery and treating internal injuries.

"Think of them as having about one-tenth the effect of the Shengshu Pill. However, the production cost is only one-hundredth of that."

"That's why you called it an improvement."

Chao Ailiang nodded.

To ensure a steady supply, he had sacrificed some of the efficacy to address the cost issue.

"Would it be like the Xiaohuan Pills of Shaolin?"

Feng Zhencheng shook his head with a troubled expression.

"No matter what, can they compare to the secret pills of Shaolin? If it were the Shengshu Pill, perhaps..."

"There's no need to be modest among us. I know your skills well enough."

Feng Zhencheng, feeling somewhat embarrassed, turned his head to look at Dan Aoxian.

Dan Aoxian was practicing with a serious face, determined and focused.

Despite falling and rolling several times, she would immediately get up and correct her posture, exuding a sense of determination and even a hint of ruthlessness.

Chao Ailiang, who had been observing her closely, frowned slightly.

"She's overdoing it."

"Should we stop her?"

Hansuehua, who had suddenly appeared, spoke up.

"It's been a while."

Feng Zhencheng greeted her, and she nodded slightly in response, then looked at Chao Ailiang as if urging him.

While Chao Ailiang was pondering, Feng Zhencheng shook his head.

"It won't do any good."

The two of them looked puzzled, and Feng Zhencheng smiled bitterly.

"Valley Master, when she has that look in her eyes, there's no stopping her."

"What do you mean?"

Recalling an old memory, Feng Zhencheng explained.

"When Valley Master was five, she first learned the method of decocting herbs."

He remembered how she had stayed up all night, tending the furnace to bridge the gap between her decoctions and the master's.

"At the time, her focus and determination were terrifying. The two masters had to intervene to stop her."

The stubbornness of the divine and demonic doctors was unparalleled.

Even they had to yield to Dan Aoxian.

Despite all the persuasion and threats, they couldn't break her will. Eventually, Dan Aoxian fainted from exhaustion.

Feng Zhencheng suddenly smiled bitterly.

He remembered the trouble he had when the two masters argued over who she resembled more, while he was left to take care of the unconscious Dan Aoxian.

"At that time, she had that same look in her eyes."

In the end, Dan Aoxian mastered the decoction of herbs perfectly within a month.

This was far ahead of the half-year or more that the divine and demonic doctors had predicted.

"At that age, to possess such medical skills, it finally makes sense."

Chao Ailiang's words were echoed by Hansuehua's nod.

Suddenly, Feng Zhencheng looked around.

"But where is the other one?"

He couldn't see Fan Jiewei, who had never left Dan Aoxian's side.

"He has some business to attend to."

Chao Ailiang said nonchalantly.

"The ones who tried to harm Doctor Dan must be rooted out."

Thinking of Fan Jiewei, Feng Zhencheng couldn't help but feel worried. Sensing this, Chao Ailiang smiled quietly.

"Don't worry. It's like he's just taking a long walk."

* * *

Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi Province, was an ancient city with a history of two thousand years.

Although it had been pushed to the periphery of the Central Plains due to changing times, it still played a significant role in the Central Plains economy thanks to its noticeable commercial development.

This was the reason why numerous martial sects vied for control and interests here.

However, due to the intense mutual checks and balances, it was difficult for any large sect to establish itself.

Once, the Zhangluo Sect had dominated this area, but after the sect leader died in a full-scale war with the Beggar Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, the sect began to decline.

'Flowers do not remain red for ten days...'

While leisurely sipping tea, Ye Danying smiled quietly, recalling the past.

The reorganization and regrouping of the local martial artists, who had been suppressed by the Zhangluo Sect, began around that time.

For him, who had been demoted to the periphery due to internal power struggles, it was a heaven-sent opportunity.

It was only because he had accurately grasped and utilized the situation at the time that he was able to rise from bitter despair and become a core figure in the organization again.

What was despair for some was an opportunity for others.

Ye Danying was the latter.

As the Yingzuo Temple, known as the Twin Pagoda Temple, came into view in the distance,

Using the entire top floor, he could start his day leisurely enjoying tea. This alone was a sign of his success.

"Good."

Looking down at the bustling people below, he felt a special sense of satisfaction.

However, the good mood didn't last long.

The sound of hurried footsteps climbing the stairs made Ye Danying frown.

It was his favorite time of the day, and his subordinates would not disturb him for trivial matters.

With a regretful expression, Ye Danying put down his teacup.

"What is it?"

A subordinate dressed as a waiter prostrated himself before him.

"The children who were secretly following the Zhangluo Sect have lost contact."

"How long ago?"

"Four days ago."

Ye Danying was puzzled.

Given the nature of informants to act independently in emergencies, losing contact was always a possibility. However, the next words from his subordinate made his face involuntarily stiffen.

"Even the search team and the liaison I sent as a precaution have disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

The words sounded strange, but the answer was shocking.

"Yes. Like pebbles thrown into a lake, they left no trace at all."

"How could this happen?"

The answer came from an unexpected source.

"Where are they?"