Chapter 10

However, the three small willow-leaf knives were indeed used to pierce acupoints. After the six needles, the fresh blood gushing from Chen Guo's palms gradually stopped.

Chen Guo was dumbfounded.

Although he was also considered a martial arts expert, the technique of stopping bleeding by piercing acupoints was something he had only heard about. There were doctors in Qingyuan City who practiced acupuncture, but they were far inferior to Xiao Fan, worlds apart.

Yin Zhengzhong watched intently and sighed, "Truly a miraculous skill!"

Xiao Fan sniffed the blood-stained willow-leaf knives lightly and nodded, saying, "Mr. Chen, the technique of the Yama Hand involves soaking the hands in medicinal solutions, which is originally a legitimate method. Chinese martial arts are profound and extensive, with various training methods. In Buddhism, there is the practice of washing the marrow and changing the bones, and in Taoism, there is the practice of transforming the body. All these require the aid of medicinal herbs. However, the medicinal hand technique you have been practicing, to be frank, focuses solely on the power to harm, which has led you astray. It is not the right path... This is not your fault, but rather a mistake in the teachings of your school. After the cold poison in your body is completely expelled, when you practice your school's techniques again, it would be best not to use herbs like aconite, toad venom, centipedes, and scorpions."

Chen Guo now admired Xiao Fan immensely. Without a second thought, he nodded in agreement, thinking to himself that it was no wonder the old man had retired from the martial world in his forties and hidden in Qingyuan, a place where even birds wouldn't defecate. It turned out that the training method passed down by his school had significant flaws. If he hadn't met someone as powerful as Xiao Fan by chance, his fate would have been even worse than the old man's. At least the old man had the foresight to hide for decades and lived to be over ninety. He couldn't have lasted that long. Even if he had found the Wu Yang wood and taken the medicine as prescribed, using the wrong amount of Wu Yang wood would only hasten his death.

Perhaps it was his destiny not to die, and heaven had sent this great savior to pull him back from the brink of hell.

Xiao Fan examined Chen Guo's face carefully and nodded slightly, saying, "Mr. Chen, your ancestors accumulated much virtue, which should have brought you long-lasting blessings. However, your actions in recent years have been too extreme, and you have squandered much of the virtue and merit passed down from your ancestors. From now on, I advise you to do more good deeds and accumulate more virtue. This will benefit both you and your family."

"Yes, yes, I... I will certainly remember Mr. Xiao's teachings and reform myself, and I will never do anything that violates heaven and reason again..."

Cold sweat dripped down Chen Guo's forehead, and his face turned pale.

"Hmm."

Xiao Fan nodded lightly.

"Jia'er, give Mr. Chen three grams of Wu Yang wood."

Xin Lin took out a small, earth-colored wicker box from her bag. With a slight effort, the box shattered, and the black wicker strips that had been embedded as decorations around it suddenly straightened, trembling as if they had a life of their own.

A cold light flashed between Xin Lin's fingers, and three inch-long pieces of Wu Yang wood were cut off. The cut surfaces were perfectly smooth, gleaming with a black-golden luster, and a faint aura of spirituality flowed through them.

In an instant, Chen Guo felt a wave of heat, and the temperature around him suddenly rose.

Yin Zhengzhong's mouth dropped open, and he sighed, "The second most yang substance in the world, indeed lives up to its reputation."

Of course, this sudden rise in temperature was fleeting. The cut surfaces of the Wu Yang wood quickly turned black and dull, looking no different from ordinary wicker.

Xin Lin extended her snow-white palm, which looked soft and tender, and no one would have guessed that this hand, once holding a sword, could easily defeat the formidable "Yama Hand" of Chen Seven.

Chen Guo hurriedly stood up, extending his blood-stained palms, and respectfully took the three precious pieces from Xin Lin. He examined them carefully in his palm but found nothing extraordinary.

Xiao Fan slowly stood up.

"Mr. Yin, Mr. Chen, we won't disturb you further. Goodbye!"

Chen Guo was immediately alarmed and said in a flurry, "Mr. Xiao, Miss Xin, how can this be? You two have done me such a great favor, saving my life, and you're just going to leave like this? How can I face my friends? You must stay for a few days and let me show my gratitude..."

Such a great favor must be repaid properly.

Chen Seven was not an ungrateful or unprincipled person.

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, I appreciate your kindness. Perhaps I will need your help in the future."

"Of course, of course. As long as Mr. Xiao considers me a friend, I will do anything for you, even if it means going through fire and water. If I hesitate, I will no longer be Chen!"

Chen Guo said, as if making a solemn vow.

"Mr. Xiao, at least stay for one night. Tomorrow, I will treat you to a farewell dinner."

Xiao Fan smiled again and said no more, taking a step forward.

Seeing this, Chen Guo had no choice but to follow, saying, "Then... then please wait a few minutes, Mr. Xiao. I must show my gratitude..."

Without waiting for Xiao Fan to respond, Chen Guo rushed forward, pushed open the heavy carved redwood door of the presidential suite, and instructed Old Six, who was waiting outside with a thick bandage around his wrist, in a low voice, "Quick, get me five hundred thousand in cash, and bring it here as fast as possible..."

It was late at night, and the bank was already closed. Five hundred thousand in cash was all the reserve funds in the Qingyuan Grand Hotel's safe. In this remote mountain city, five hundred thousand in cash could accomplish almost anything.

Old Six didn't dare ask why, just nodded and ran off.

Xiao Fan had no intention of waiting. He smiled, shook hands with Yin Zhengzhong, and walked with Xin Lin to the parking lot of the Qingyuan Grand Hotel. A black shadow darted from the grass beside the parking lot and pounced at Xiao Fan.

"Black麟 (Black麟)."

Xiao Fan smiled and extended his arm.

The black shadow leaped into his arms. It turned out to be a large, pitch-black cat, its fur glossy and smooth, with only its eyes glowing with a greenish light, making one shudder in the dark.

The two people and the cat got into an ordinary domestic car with a license plate from Lingyan City, the capital of Yidong Province. Xin Lin started the car and skillfully maneuvered it out of the parking lot.

"Mr. Xiao, wait, please wait..."

The car had just left the parking lot when Chen Guo, carrying a large briefcase, ran out, shouting and sweating profusely.

The car didn't slow down at all and drove straight toward the main gate.

Chen Guo ran a few steps but had to stop.

They clearly didn't want his reward, leaving him with a huge favor to repay.

Extraordinary people do extraordinary things.

As the car drove out of the gate, two green eyes suddenly appeared at the window, making Chen Guo's hair stand on end, just like the feeling of being watched in the trading hall corridor.

This eerie feeling vanished as quickly as it appeared, and the next moment, the car turned and disappeared into the night.

Chen Guo stood there, stunned, speechless for a long time.

Old Six, who was following behind, peeked at the briefcase in Seven's hand and was amazed.

What kind of people were these, refusing five hundred thousand in cash?

But looking at the car they were driving, it seemed too ordinary to be owned by wealthy people...

Of course, Old Six wouldn't dare say these thoughts out loud to Seven, only wondering in his heart.

Qingyuan City was small, and the car quickly left the city and got on the provincial road. The road had been widened and repaired a couple of years ago, and the conditions were excellent. There were few cars at night, and the road was clear, with good visibility.

"Why help him?"

Xin Lin asked indifferently.

Her face seemed to have changed slightly, becoming even more beautiful.

"From his face, he shouldn't die a violent death. Moreover, his ancestors accumulated great virtue, indicating that he comes from a family of good deeds, which means he will receive help from a benefactor."

Xiao Fan, sitting in the passenger seat, stroked the soft fur of Black麟, who was quietly lying in his lap, and said softly.

Xin Lin pursed her lips and said, "Is this benefactor you? Your Wuji Sect has so many rules."

Usually, the girl was always quiet and ethereal, like a dream, making one feel as if they were seeing a flower through mist, not of this world. This slight pout suddenly added a touch of charm, making her more lively and vibrant.

Xiao Fan smiled and said, "The Wuji Sect is not a pure martial arts sect but a traditional Taoist lineage. Wuji gives birth to Taiji, and Taiji gives birth to the two principles. In a broader sense, Wuji is the ancestor of all Taoist lineages. The Wuji Dao tradition existed before Laozi founded Taoism. This is the biggest difference between the Wuji Sect and your Qimiao Palace."

Xin Lin "hmm"ed, seemingly unwilling to continue the discussion. Her lips, which were slightly red, formed a small arc, looking somewhat stubborn.

The entanglement between the Wuji Sect and Qimiao Palace had lasted for hundreds or even thousands of years. The greatest goal of each generation of Qimiao Palace masters was to defeat the Wuji Sect and trample the proud and annoying men of the Wuji Sect underfoot. What made Xin Lin depressed was that no Qimiao Palace master in a thousand years had ever achieved this feat, and they all passed on this ultimate dream as a legacy to the next generation with great regret.

The Wuji Sect was simply too powerful.

For example, Xiao Fan. Xin Lin had lived with him for three years, almost inseparably, but she still couldn't guess what he was thinking deep down.

If it had been Xin Lin, she would have handled the situation differently.

Three grams of Wu Yang wood were incredibly precious.

Wasting it on someone like Chen Guo was simply inconceivable.

Unlike Xin Lin, Xiao Fan seemed to understand her thoughts clearly and smiled, saying softly, "Jia'er, the Qimiao Palace also has a method for immortality. Pursuing the path of immortality is inherently defying the natural order. Only by doing more good deeds and accumulating virtue can one achieve the transformation of heaven and earth."

"Path of immortality?"

Xin Lin pouted, somewhat disdainful.

"Wait until you find the lost Immortality Chapter of your Wuji Sect."

"The Immortality Chapter has been lost for countless years. Finding it is no easy task..."

Xiao Fan sighed and shook his head.

PS: A request for recommendations in the afternoon, okay? I'm afraid some of you might have forgotten, so I'm asking. Thanks!

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