Chapter 34

Chapter Thirty-Three: Fragrance Fades, Jade Withered

Huang Rong's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that Magistrate Ling has been affected by the Nine Yin Manual?" She was about to step forward to investigate, but seeing Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua's current happy state, she hesitated for a moment.

Her thoughts turned to the marriage between Ling Shuanghua and the Lu family's young master, which had caused a rift between the Lu and Ling families. She thought it would be better to let things come to a conclusion, allowing both sides to let go of their hopes. Her husband, Jing, was always preoccupied with state affairs and never considered family matters, but she could not neglect the family's future. Fu'er was growing up, and the young master of the Lu family, a nobleman with both literary and martial talents, could be a good match for her. If they could become in-laws with Lu Wenhuan, he would likely no longer hinder or guard against Jing.

Having made up her mind, Huang Rong smiled faintly and let the group leave. As Song Qingshu passed by her, she lowered her voice and said with a smile, "Young Master Song, your practice of the Nine Yin Manual is quite impressive."

Madam Hu was already waiting outside the mansion to meet them. The four of them left Jingzhou City under the cover of night. It wasn't until they reached a dilapidated temple on the outskirts of the city that Song Qingshu let out a sigh of relief. His back was drenched in cold sweat. Despite all his calculations, he had forgotten that Huang Rong had also practiced the Nine Yin Manual. He wondered why she hadn't exposed him and felt extremely lucky.

Coughing lightly, Song Qingshu approached Ding Dian and Ling Shuanghua: "Ding Daxia, I told you that you and Shuanghua would be able to be together. Let me wish you both a happy marriage and many children... But I hope you will keep your promise and tell me the second half of the Shenzhao Scripture."

Ding Dian chuckled, "Sure, listen carefully."

Song Qingshu focused intently and leaned in, but Ding Dian suddenly punched him.

Madam Hu had sensed something amiss when Ding Dian laughed and had been watching closely. Unfortunately, Ding Dian's punch was too fast, and she only managed to throw herself in front of Song Qingshu.

Ding Dian's punch hit Madam Hu's back, and she let out a muffled groan, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Song Qingshu's eyes widened in rage as he held Madam Hu in his arms. She felt limp, as if she had no bones, and he didn't know how badly she was injured. He turned to Ding Dian and shouted, "Are you crazy?"

Ding Dian looked at his fist in a daze, regretting his actions, but hearing Song Qingshu's accusation, he sneered, "Hmph, you and Ling... your scheme may fool others, but not me."

Song Qingshu was almost driven to madness, "Are you out of your mind? I got Ling Tuisi to personally promise his daughter to you. What more do you want?"

"That's right, Dian Ge, is there some misunderstanding here?" Ling Shuanghua, standing nearby, was also stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Frosthua, you don't understand the treachery of human hearts. When he said he had a way to bring us together, I became suspicious and secretly followed him. I discovered that this was indeed a plot he had discussed with your father. I played along, which is how I managed to bring you out of Jingzhou City. This time, they will end up losing more than they gain!" Ding Dian recounted the details of the plot he had overheard to Ling Shuanghua.

Song Qingshu laughed bitterly, "Are you an idiot? I infiltrated the Ling mansion alone. How could I have succeeded without lying to the old fox, Ling Tuisi? Besides, Ling Tuisi values the Liancheng Secret, but I don't. Why would I need to conspire with him?"

Ding Dian was taken aback, remembering that Song Qingshu knew the secret of the Liancheng Secret. This meant he had no motive to collaborate with Ling Tuisi. Reflecting on the entire situation, he suddenly realized his mistake. He had been deceived by Ling Tuisi and, accustomed to the cunning of others, had assumed everyone was evil. He had subconsciously categorized Song Qingshu as someone with ulterior motives and selectively believed his initial suspicions upon finding some evidence.

Seeing her lover's expression, Ling Shuanghua knew he had wronged a good person. She knelt down to examine Madam Hu's injuries. Her face was pale, and her breath was faint. Ling Shuanghua's complexion turned ashen: "Dian Ge, Sister is in grave danger. You must find a way to save her!"

Song Qingshu's teeth were clenched, his eyes filled with hatred as he stared at the two. He thought that if it weren't for him, his sister-in-law wouldn't have lost her life...

His eyes bloodshot, he looked at Ling Shuanghua's white neck. His mind went blank, and a mad smile appeared on his lips. He quietly drew a dagger from his sleeve, preparing to slash her delicate neck, making her accompany his sister-in-law in death, so that Ding Dian would regret it for the rest of his life. As for the revenge Ding Dian would take afterward, that no longer mattered.

"Save her!" Hearing Ling Shuanghua's voice, Ding Dian snapped out of his daze and said quickly.

Song Qingshu's heart skipped a beat, and he looked up at Ding Dian, his pupils gradually regaining some color.

"Why don't you save her?" Ling Shuanghua said, frustrated, thinking that Dian Ge had suddenly become so indecisive.

Ding Dian hesitated, finally stammering, "I can save her with the Shenzhao Scripture, but Madam Hu's injuries are severe. I will need to remove her clothes and use my energy to circulate through her meridians. This... this is inappropriate for a man and a woman, I... I..."

Seeing him turn red with embarrassment, Ling Shuanghua knew her lover was a man of principle and not trying to take advantage of the situation. However, she was concerned about a woman's reputation... She glanced at Song Qingshu, uncertain.

Hearing that Madam Hu could be saved, Song Qingshu was overjoyed and no longer cared about anything else. He quietly put away the dagger and shouted, "Don't hesitate, save her quickly!" As a穿越者, he was not bothered by such matters. He could just consider it a full-body spa for Madam Hu.

At that moment, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Madam Hu's eyes slightly open, her voice weak but firm, "Qingshu, forget it. I will never let another man see my body. Promise me, don't let another man touch me!" Seeing Song Qingshu nod hesitantly, she smiled faintly, her eyes beginning to lose focus, murmuring, "Take care of Fei'er in the future. He was born without a father, and now he has lost his mother. It's so pitiful..."

Feeling her voice growing weaker, Song Qingshu's vision began to blur. Thinking of how she had been the best person to him in this world, he couldn't help but feel a deep sorrow and held her, sobbing uncontrollably.

Ding Dian stood helplessly, watching Song Qingshu cry, filled with regret. Ling Shuanghua was also heartbroken, even beginning to wonder if this was a punishment from heaven for breaking their vow. They had finally overcome their obstacles, only for this to happen.

Suddenly, they noticed the crying had stopped. Coming to their senses, they saw Song Qingshu slowly raise his head, his voice cold and icy, "Recite the second half of the Shenzhao Scripture to me, quickly!"

Chapter Thirty-Four: The Essential Healing Scene in Martial Arts Novels

"Does he want to learn it himself to save Madam Hu?" This thought suddenly crossed Ding Dian's mind, and he tried to persuade Song Qingshu, "Young Master Song, your intelligence is unmatched, but the Shenzhao Scripture is profound. It's impossible to learn it in a short time."

"Recite it, stop talking so much, and speak faster!" Song Qingshu replied coldly.

Seeing his crazed expression, Ding Dian knew he was under a spell, but feeling guilty for his earlier actions, he still recited the second half of the Shenzhao Scripture: "Heaven covers and earth supports, all things come to life. Those not yet out of the earth are called yin within yin; those that have emerged are called yang within yin..."

Ding Dian recited faster and faster, and Song Qingshu's eyes grew brighter. When Ding Dian finished the last sentence, Song Qingshu waved his hand, "Both of you, get out!"

"How is this possible!" Ding Dian couldn't help but look back as he left. Song Qingshu's meridians had been severed, but now, after hearing the Shenzhao Scripture, his eyes were bright and his aura indicated he had just completed the initial stage of the Shenzhao Scripture.

"I must be crazy!" Ding Dian pinched his thigh hard, the pain confirming he wasn't dreaming. He was already proud of his martial talent, having mastered the Shenzhao Scripture in five years without a master's guidance. But this time, he encountered someone even more extraordinary, who had learned the Shenzhao Scripture just by hearing it once, and he had been a cripple with severed meridians!

"It seems this is just a game!" Feeling his meridians fully healed and his energy surging, Song Qingshu laughed bitterly. The idea of learning a martial art just by hearing the manual was something he had only seen in games in his previous life. Players could obtain a manual, and as long as they met the conditions, they could instantly master the skill by right-clicking.

After a while, he still didn't hear the cold voice of a system NPC. Looking at the woman in his arms, he smiled with a sense of acceptance, "Whether it's a game or not, I am real, and my sister-in-law is real. That's enough."

As a well-traveled Earthling, since his arrival in this chaotic world, Song Qingshu had always been skeptical and had made several hypotheses. The one he considered most plausible was that after his car accident, he had been taken by scientists for a secret experiment, and his consciousness had been extracted and placed in this designed game world...

In fact, Song Qingshu was overthinking. The universe is vast, and Earth's scientific system is just a drop in the ocean, unable to explain many wondrous phenomena. Unfortunately or fortunately, soul transmigration is one of them, and how this familiar yet chaotic world was formed is another.

Because Song Qingshu's soul had transmigrated, his soul power was several times stronger than that of the natives of this world. This difference in strength brought a qualitative change. What others needed years to learn, he could master in a short time.