Chapter 30. The Ximen Family Patriarch Dared Not Compare to Him

Ximen Xiong's right hand was pulled in front of his eyes, causing his pupils to tremble.

Crack, crack. His fingers danced, twisting like thin strips of dough. Five knuckles broke and bent backward, and Ximen Xiong finally burst into tears. In sync with his sobs, his wrist began to turn. It curled and broke to the side, dangling, and then the blood vessels and tendons in his arm burst, turning his skin red. Despite the arm bending outward and breaking, it continued to twist.

Crack, crack, crack!

"Ah, ah, kuaaaaaaah!"

As he screamed, his tilted neck snapped back. For a moment, Jiaoling began to shake Ximen Xiong's entire body.

When applied to oneself, it becomes the Bone-Shrinking Technique, but when used on others, it becomes a cruel form of torture. Ximen Xiong writhed and twisted in the bathtub, his neck turning, his arms and legs contorting wildly, and blood spewing from his mouth, making him look like an eel thrashing in saltwater.

"Kuaaaaaaah! Lian Changan! Kuaaaaaah! Is it you! Did you poison me to avenge the family... Kuaaaaaah!"

Ximen Xiong's anguished screams echoed loudly.

The screams of the two maidservants who witnessed the scene added to the chaos, tearing the night of the Ximen family apart.

The Ximen family patriarch arrived at that moment.

He embraced his convulsing son.

Ximen Xiong writhed wildly even in his father's arms. He tried to meet his father's eyes, but his neck kept bending, making it difficult. Still, he desperately tried not to take his eyes off his father's face.

"Calm down! What happened? What, what happened?"

"Kuaaaaaaah!"

Only screams in response.

Pfft,

The Ximen family patriarch stopped the convulsions by pressing acupoints.

His eyes widened.

The acupoint pressure didn't work.

He then placed his palm on the Mingmen point and checked the internal energy. The qi was flowing through the eight extraordinary meridians, and seven streams of energy were colliding, stimulating his body.

He shouted to the outside.

"Bring Xian Yezhen immediately."

***

An hour later.

Xian Yezhen was drenched in sweat.

Ximen Xiong's convulsions were now intermittent.

But it was too early to relax.

Ximen Xiong had shrunk and curled up like a ball, his body reduced to half its size, and his face had become grotesquely deformed. The convulsions had merely stopped.

"Huff... The immediate crisis is over."

"Master, can he be fully cured?"

"I need to move to a different place."

Wiping the sweat from his sleeve, Xian Yezhen stepped out, and the Ximen family patriarch followed. As soon as they stepped outside, Xian Yezhen's expression turned serious.

"Patriarch, what happened? Who did you offend?"

"What do you mean? Isn't it demonic possession?"

"It's not demonic possession. Someone deliberately did this. How can you say you don't know?"

"..."

Xian Yezhen's annoyance was evident, but Ximen Chui genuinely didn't know.

"Remarkable technique. Whoever can perform such acupoint manipulation must be a highly renowned figure or a great master from the past. Who have you offended? Please don't hide it. We need to know who did this to take appropriate measures!"

"..."

Despite Xian Yezhen's persistent questioning, the Ximen family patriarch was at a loss for words.

He was bewildered. Xian Yezhen's pressing questions seemed to reveal fear.

"Ah, nothing happened."

"What do you mean? You can't tell me?"

Xian Yezhen's face contorted.

Ximen Chui's brows furrowed.

Under normal circumstances, Xian Yezhen wouldn't dare be so rude. Even though he was known as a divine doctor in northern Anhui, his current attitude was excessive.

"Master, the eldest son has been at the main house all day and only hosted a banquet. He didn't quarrel with anyone."

"Didn't quarrel with anyone?"

Fear flashed in Xian Yezhen's eyes.

Ximen Chui seemed to recall something and gasped.

"Then it must be an insider?"

"Yes, that's likely."

Ximen Chui's eyes burned with anger.

There could be many enemies, or none at all, as he had never left any traces.

But if it was an insider, the situation was different. However, this thought made Xian Yezhen's fear even more puzzling.

"Master, what level do you think the person is at?"

"Hard to say. My concerns might be exaggerated. Even someone with low martial arts skills can do this if they specialize in acupoint manipulation. Is there anyone among the insiders who comes to mind?"

"..."

No one came to mind. Acupoint manipulation was more associated with Qingyue Sect, but that was not worth considering.

"Master, you will find this person. And I have a request."

"Request? Nonsense. Speak freely."

"Please arrange a residence for me here. This won't be cured in a day or two. I need to observe and treat for at least a month."

Ximen Chui took Xian Yezhen's hand.

"Thank you. I will never forget this kindness."

"It's too early to make promises. I'll go and gather the necessary herbs and needles for now. Please provide the herbs I need later."

"Of course."

Xian Yezhen left the Ximen family compound and immediately rushed away. Despite being skilled in martial arts, he usually preferred to walk leisurely. This was the first time in years he had run so quickly.

As soon as he arrived, he didn't even catch his breath before gathering his family. His pale face upon returning from the Ximen family compound had everyone, from his wife to his brothers and sons, on edge.

Upon hearing the story, everyone's mouths dropped open.

"O, he shriveled up?"

"Yes, someone twisted him like a piece of dough."

"Who, Father?"

"I don't know. I don't know, and the Ximen family patriarch doesn't know either. At first, I suspected he was hiding something. It seemed impossible for him not to know. But after talking, it was clear he genuinely didn't know."

"How could he not know? There must have been a reason he couldn't tell his brother."

Xian Yezhen didn't respond to his brother's comment.

After a long pause, he spoke.

"Knowing who it is might not change much. What's certain is that the enemy the Ximen family faced this time is truly terrifying. The Ximen family patriarch dared not compare to him. I hinted that the person might only be skilled in acupoint manipulation, but from the effects, it's clear this person is not just skilled in acupoints. The interaction of hundreds of roots in seven meridians causing bone shrinking and twisting is beyond my comprehension. The truly frightening part is that, considering the eldest son's movements today, the acupoint manipulation used is likely a delayed effect."

"Huh?"

Everyone was incredulous.

"There was a banquet today. If nothing happened today, it could have been done yesterday or the day before. If it's not a delayed effect, it's even more serious. It means the person infiltrated the Ximen family compound unnoticed and acted. The level of skill is unimaginable. Do you know what the Ximen family patriarch asked me?"

"What did he ask?"

"He asked what level the person might be. Despite not knowing, he was boldly guessing."

"Who on earth did the Ximen family offend?"

***

At that moment.

On the roof of Xian Yezhen's residence, a heated conversation was taking place.

- Senior Brother, you mean the delayed effect of acupoint manipulation? That's amazing. If someone is struck by a hidden acupoint, they could die without even knowing why.

- Ignorant fool. Haven't you heard of it before?

Yin Angkai and Chuyun Kai, lying side by side, exchanged telepathic messages. They had heard the screams from the Ximen family compound but didn't dare enter. Instead, they followed Xian Yezhen as he rushed out of the compound.

- Oh, you've heard of it.

- Yeah, I've heard of it. But they seem to be overreacting.

- Why?

- According to Master, Hou Gong played such tricks.

- Who? Hou Gong? He's overstepping.

Yin Angkai squinted his eyes.

- Anyway, what happened to the Ximen family's eldest son to make Xian Yezhen so shaken?

- He seems to be overreacting.

- Exactly.

At that moment, the family meeting below was concluding.

Xian Yezhen warned everyone to avoid going out and not to reveal any information if asked.

Meanwhile, the two beggars on the roof had already vanished like shadows.

A little later, the two shadows became three as they raced through the darkness.

Ideally, shadows should be discreet, but,

"Wow! I want to go to the Tianhua Library! Racing through the night, the wind in our hair~~."

"Little brother, can you be quiet?"

***

Tianhua Library.

Past midnight.

Hou Gong met the three beggars at Fenghua Pavilion.

He had anticipated they would come in a group, and indeed, they did.

Meeting in a study or residence would mean enduring their smell and dealing with the lingering stench afterward. Fenghua Pavilion, with its open space, was the perfect place to meet them.

He wished they would bathe, and he could have arranged it, but he had long realized that the beggars of the Beggar Sect were beyond reform.

He had once tried to wash Kun Ouxin, the leader of the Beggar Sect.

After washing, the beggar returned to his original state within half a year, much to his surprise.

Still, he didn't dislike the beggars of the Beggar Sect.

In fact, he had a soft spot for them.

True non-attachment.

While the monks had temples, these beggars roamed the streets, upholding righteousness without a home or temple.

Desireless beings.

"Yum... Wife, bring the meat quickly. Yes, bring it right away! I know beef is best when slightly cooked. Yum..."

"Senior Brother, isn't this the best beef you've ever tasted?"

"Don't talk. If you want to live."

"You talk the most and then get mad at me. Why are you staring like that? Want to fight?"

"Let's eat first."

"Okay."

Hou Gong's eyes became heavy.

"..."

The desireless beings were a lie.

He had prepared a midnight snack for them, but once the feast began, their greed was otherworldly.

They were hard to adapt to.

"Brother, it's so delicious. Do you like our Beggar Sect? I really like the Tianhua Library. I might live here with you. Nom nom."

"..."

This one was also hard to adapt to.