11: Chapter 011: The Master Takes Action!
11: Chapter 011: The Master Takes Action!
As dusk fell, Ling Feng had already applied needles on Duanmu Qingshan, temporarily suppressing the internal injury within his body so it wouldn’t erupt at any moment.
However, to completely cure his hidden injury, he could only combine medical treatment with medication.
That could not be rushed, but under Ling Feng’s treatment, the complexion of Duanmu Qingshan had improved considerably.
After gathering sufficient herbs, Ling Feng began to practice in the courtyard the martial techniques he had copied earlier in the day via the “Heavenly Dao Eye”: Black Wind Claw and Chasing Cloud Steps.
Although they were not remarkable martial techniques, Ling Feng had never encountered any martial techniques before, and these two were the only ones he had mastered for now.
There would be more and stronger opponents coming to challenge him tomorrow, and mastering one or two martial techniques would at least ensure he wasn’t completely defenseless.
After all, if the True Qi used to execute copied martial techniques was suppressed during a fight, he feared he could end up in a helpless situation.
Ling Feng continued his training until it was deep into the night and all was quiet, and then he returned to his bamboo house.
There, he made efficient use of the thirty breaths’ duration for which the Human Dao Eye was open, feeling the immense nature’s spiritual energy converging into his body, his own True Qi surged yet again.
The sun rose in the east.
Ling Feng got up early and hurried to the medicine garden behind Duanmu Qingshan’s bamboo house at the first light of dawn.
As a healer, Duanmu Qingshan had been confined on Little Bamboo Peak for over a decade and naturally had cultivated his own Spiritual Medicine Garden.
Taking out a bamboo tube, Ling Feng busied himself for over half an hour, collecting the morning dew, which was also an ingredient to help alleviate the hidden injuries within Duanmu Qingshan’s body.
Inside the bamboo house, Duanmu Qingshan leaned against the railings and murmured to himself, “This kid…”
Ling Feng wiped the sweat off his forehead, let out a sigh of relief, and placed the bamboo tube in his chest, about to head back.
Just then, he heard footsteps coming from outside the bamboo house.
“Humph, I want to see who dares to lay their hands on a disciple of Feixing Peak!”
“Senior Brother Shi, you must avenge us!”
As they spoke, several figures had already stopped outside the bamboo house.
Among them was Ren Yifei, who had been chased away the day before, but the leader was now a tall, muscular man with a square face.
The man with the square face had eyebrows shaped like upside-down number eights, and stood with his hands behind his back outside the bamboo house, commanding authoritatively, “Kid, was it you who beat up Ren Yifei yesterday?”
Ling Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, knowing without having to think that the man meant trouble.
“I beat him, so what?” Ling Feng clenched his fists, warily watching the other man.
The man’s aura was completely different from Ren Yifei and his group, emanating a faint scent of blood, clearly indicating a veteran of countless life-and-death battles.
Such a person, having been through so many life-and-death fights, had both True Qi and martial techniques honed to a seamless transformation of intent.
Dealing with him would be tough!
“What a cocky kid!” Shi Tailong stared coldly at Ling Feng, resembling a chilling, venomous snake, “Cockiness comes with a price!”
Before his words had even ended, Shi Tailong had already lunged forward, stepping out like a fierce tiger descending the mountain.
It was the Chasing Cloud Steps as well, but Shi Tailong’s speed was several times faster than Ren Yifei’s!
The wind from his movement hit the face!
Shi Tailong’s body bulged with muscular strength, erupting with a daunting power.
Shi Tailong’s move was mercilessly ruthless; he clawed out, aiming straight for Ling Feng’s throat.
Ling Feng’s reaction was not slow either; he activated the Chasing Cloud Steps, retreating backward while the Heavenly Dao Eye opened, attempting to copy Shi Tailong’s martial technique.
“Hmph, Chasing Cloud Steps, huh?
You move so pitifully slow!”
Golden Needle laughed menacingly as he extended a claw, a burst of True Qi flowing from his fingers, which instantly turned into five steel knives tearing toward Ling Feng’s chest.
Ling Feng’s eyelids twitched violently.
This type of external True Qi manifestation, akin to True Qi transforming into wings, was impossible without profound and condensed True Qi.
Golden Needle had realized that Ling Feng was merely at the Qi Condensation Third Level, and with an outburst of True Qi, he immediately sealed off all Ling Feng’s possible retreats.
“This is bad!” Ling Feng clenched his fists; he was no match for Golden Needle—unless he used the Golden Needle to stimulate the Bai Hui acupoint atop his head, opening the Third Vertical Pupil!
However, if he opened the Third Vertical Pupil here, he might never have a place in the Wenxian Sect again.
Just as Ling Feng was at his wit’s end, about to be seized by the neck by Golden Needle—
No sooner had he spoken than quickly,
From the Bamboo House erupted an astonishing roar, followed by a wild and tumultuous aura.
A flash of blue, Duanmu Qingshan quietly leaped from the Bamboo House, landing beside Ling Feng.
An invisible Qi Force burst forth from his body; Golden Needle’s form was immediately beyond his control, being violently hurled away, spewing blood violently!
Ling Feng’s eyes shimmered with excitement; his Master was frighteningly powerful!
He simply stood there, not even making a move, and with sheer presence alone, he’d sent Golden Needle flying.
Duanmu Qingshan, hands behind his back, fixed a cold stare at the disciples from Feixing Peak outside the courtyard, his voice icy, “Do you dare to lay a finger on my disciple, Duanmu Qingshan’s?”
Ren Yifei’s legs went soft, and with a “plop,” he collapsed onto the ground.
The aura of Duanmu Qingshan was far too terrifying, simply unbearable for small-fry Qi Condensation Realm Martial Artists like them.
“A few days without action, and has that trash Yang Wei forgotten just how fearsome I am?” Duanmu Qingshan’s frosty voice slowly spread, chilling Golden Needle, Ren Yifei, and the others to the bone.
A surge of enthusiasm rose in Ling Feng’s heart; when would he become as strong as Duanmu Qingshan, able to call the Peak Master of the Wenxian Sect “trash”?
“Master Duanmu, please, please spare my life!” Golden Needle spat out blood, scrambling and crawling to kneel, the arrogance he had earlier completely gone as he continually begged for mercy, “Spare me!
“Hmph, you aren’t even worthy of dying at my hands!” Duanmu Qingshan flung his sleeve dismissively, his voice cold, “Go back and tell Yang Wei that Ling Feng is now my Closed-door Disciple.
If he dares touch a single hair on Ling Feng, he’d better weigh up if he can withstand my wrath!”
Golden Needle, as if granted amnesty, scurried away from Little Bamboo Peak, while the other Feixing Peak disciples, terrified out of their wits, fled even more frantically.
“Thank you for coming to my aid, Master!” Ling Feng turned to look at Duanmu Qingshan; if it weren’t for him stepping in moments earlier, Golden Needle might have truly taken his life.
This enmity, Ling Feng etched into his heart.
“Don’t get too pleased with yourself too soon.
Taking you as my Closed-door Disciple means attracting endless trouble,” Duanmu Qingshan patted Ling Feng on the shoulder, “Kid, from today onwards, I will pass on to you my life’s ultimate skills!”
“Thank you, Master!” Ling Feng’s heart swelled with joy.
Duanmu Qingshan’s prowess, which he had witnessed with his own eyes—if he could learn from Duanmu Qingshan, given time, even that Yang Wei would be nothing in his eyes.
The chance to reclaim his grandfather’s second part of the “Supreme Mysterious Acupuncture Scripture” looked hopeful!