Blazing Palm

Although Qiulan made it sound trivial, Chen Mo felt a chill in his heart.

Anyone who could open a martial arts school in the county naturally had decent skills and a substantial family fortune.

Over thirty people had died all at once?

They could barely make ends meet?

It was truly shocking.

As for what had happened to the Lei Family's Eldest Young Master, Chen Mo suspected it had something to do with being Possessed by Evil.

The carriage passed through Changle Ward, turned into Flower Willow Alley, and soon arrived at the entrance to Lei Family Martial Arts School.

Its tall gates and sturdy walls could not hide its desolate, dilapidated state.

The two imposing stone lions that had once stood at the entrance were gone, too. A line of shop assistants from various merchants and brokers carried furniture, porcelain vases, and other items out of the school.

Clearly, Lei Family Martial Arts School had fallen to the point of selling off its family possessions just to get by.

Chen Mo climbed down from the carriage with the letter of introduction in hand, then led Qiulan through the school's gate.

The scene inside was even worse than outside.

All the training equipment in the vast Training Ground had been carted away. Even some of the potted plants in the courtyard had been sold.

Several of the workers sighed as they talked.

"Just a few months ago, the Lei Family was a rising star among the county's martial arts schools. People said that in a few more years, it would be able to take on the Three Great Martial Arts Schools. Who could've imagined that one careless step would bring them to this..."

"I heard the Lei Family's Eldest Young Master, Lei Ming, came down with a strange illness and needed a huge sum of money for treatment. Master Lei Peng had no choice but to sell off the family possessions to pay for his son's care."

"Ah, what a pity. Most outsiders who open martial arts schools in the county fold before they can get started. Lei Peng managed to establish himself in barely over a decade, even threatening the county's three old-established schools. That just goes to show he had real ability. How could his son have come down with such a strange illness out of the blue?"

"Once you've fallen, climbing back up is never easy."

"..."

Listening to everyone's discussion, Chen Mo quickly made his way into the inner courtyard. There, he saw a white-haired man leaning against a doorframe, dispiritedly watching the workers carry away the furniture. His face was full of heartache and bleak resignation.

A broker's manager held a ledger and counted the items. When he was done, he handed the white-haired man some banknotes and took his leave.

Chen Mo could tell the man was only in his forties. His blood and vigor were abundant, clearly marking him as a martial arts expert. For a martial artist, that age was the prime of life. And yet, his hair had turned white overnight.

"Are you Master Lei Peng?" Chen Mo stepped up to the white-haired man and cupped his hands in greeting.

The white-haired man glanced at Chen Mo and answered listlessly, "I was wondering who it was. So it's the Second Young Master of the Chen Family. What brings you here?"

Chen Mo didn't beat around the bush. He took out the letter of introduction Zhou Liang had given him and handed it over.

The white-haired man, Lei Peng, read the letter. His expression softened a little, and he glanced at Chen Mo again. "You want to learn my family's secret art?"

Chen Mo cupped his hands. "My elder brother passed away recently from Mad Demon Disease, so I wanted to learn some methods for dealing with ghosts and Evil Spirits. Uncle Zhou told me that Master Lei had a treasured art that could counter them."

Lei Peng put the letter away and gave a quiet snort. "My family does have a martial art that can counter ghosts and Evil Spirits, but why should I give it to you..."

Before he could finish, Chen Mo offered him a stack of banknotes. "I ask you to grant my request, Master Lei."

Lei Peng's pupils contracted.

With his experience, he could tell at a glance that there were probably over five hundred taels in the stack.

At the height of the Lei Family's fortunes, five hundred taels wouldn't have meant much to him. But now the family had fallen on hard times and could barely make ends meet. Five hundred taels was a huge sum.

Chen Mo saw that Lei Peng was tempted and continued, "I only ask to look at the secret art. If you're still concerned, I can read it in front of you."

"Not enough," Lei Peng said.

Chen Mo added two more banknotes, each worth a hundred taels.

Lei Peng's heart thudded hard.

Seven hundred taels!

What a bold offer!

It was simply too much money...

Lei Peng didn't agree right away. "There are too many ears and eyes here. Come inside and we'll talk."

Chen Mo followed Lei Peng into the inner courtyard's reception room. A woman in a simple long skirt poured him some tea.

After a brief introduction, Chen Mo learned that the woman was Lei Peng's legal wife. She wasn't actually very old, perhaps in her thirties. Maybe the family's misfortune and the stress had worn her down; she seemed to have aged all at once.

After some small talk, Chen Mo asked casually, "Master Lei, are you selling off so many family possessions to pay for your son's treatment?"

Lei Peng didn't hide it. "Yes. My son has a strange illness, and the treatment costs a fortune. On top of that, the school suffered a calamity some time ago. Over thirty students died, ruining our reputation. No one has come to sign up for lessons since. That's how we ended up like this."

Chen Mo followed up, "May I ask what illness your son has?"

Lei Peng's expression grew grave. He looked at his wife. Neither of them said a word.

Chen Mo already had a suspicion.

Lei Ming had probably come down with... Mad Demon Disease.

The authorities and the public were wary of patients with Mad Demon Disease. Lei Peng loved his son dearly and had kept the news hidden.

It seemed the Lei Family had fallen because of an outbreak of Mad Demon Disease.

What a heartbreaking turn of events.

If the Chen Family hadn't had a solid foundation, and Chen Mo hadn't crossed over into this world... they might have been dragged into decline, too.

Such was the boundless love of parents.

Seeing that Lei Peng wouldn't open up, Chen Mo could only address the problem directly. "I happen to know of some medicinal ingredients that might slow your son's illness."

"Really?" The woman, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke, her face alight with longing and hope.

Chen Mo took out a small Wei Qi Skin Paste pill and handed it to Lei Peng. "I bought this miraculous medicine from a Daoist priest. It can cure all kinds of illnesses. If you trust me, Master Lei, you could give it to your son."

This was the second batch of Wei Qi Skin Paste Chen Mo had made. He'd brought a small pill with him today.

As Lei Peng's son, Lei Ming had naturally trained in martial arts from childhood. He should be able to take it.

Lei Peng was still hesitating, but the woman couldn't help taking the pill from him. With tears in her eyes, she thanked Chen Mo. "If it can really ease my son's illness, then forget the Lei family's secret art—even taking my life would be nothing."

Then the woman repeatedly signaled to Lei Peng. "Dear, our family has already fallen this far. The Second Young Master of the Chen Family has kindly offered us both money and medicine. What are you still hesitating for? Can that old manual feed us or cure our son?"

In the end, Lei Peng relented. He took a booklet from inside his clothing and handed it to Chen Mo. "This is the secret art passed down through my family: Blazing Palm. Only martial artists in the Muscle Refining Realm, the second stage, can practice it."

Chen Mo gladly handed over the banknotes. After accepting the booklet, he didn't rush to open it. Instead, he asked, "How does Blazing Palm counter ghosts and Evil Spirits?"

"Ghosts and Evil Spirits are mostly creatures of yin. They fear the body's yang heat most of all. In the outside world, that means they're afraid of fire. Blazing Palm takes an unorthodox path, refining your own blood and heat into Fire Poison. Once mastered, your blood and qi boil like fire and carry Fire Poison with them, enough to counter ordinary ghosts and Evil Spirits."

As he spoke, Lei Peng raised a hand and pressed his palm against the table.

When he lifted it, a blackened, scorching palm print remained on the surface. Wisps of smoke curled from it, and part of the table had been scorched.

It was wondrous indeed.

Chen Mo was overjoyed. Lei Peng doesn't seem to be making this up. Blazing Fire really can counter ghosts and Evil Spirits. I came to the right place today.

Just then, Lei Peng added, "But this martial art is extremely difficult to practice. It took me several years just to get started. And the side effects are severe; it's easy to burn through your own sinews and bones. Without someone to teach you, you're unlikely to master it. I'm worried about my son and don't have time to teach you. If you cripple yourself practicing it, don't blame me."

Chen Mo took the pages. "Of course. If I go wrong in my practice, I'll take responsibility myself. I certainly won't blame you, Master Lei."

Lei Peng waved a hand. "Good. These pages are only a copy, anyway. Take them. And one more thing: Blazing Palm won't work against powerful Evil Spirits or ghosts."

"Thank you, Master Lei. If there's nothing else, I won't impose on you any longer."

Chen Mo took the pages and hurried away with Qiulan.

He had his Golden Finger, so he wasn't worried about failing to master it.

After watching Chen Mo leave, Lei Peng shook his head again and again. "The Chen Family has really raised a martial arts fanatic. Does he think having a manual is all it takes to master the art? How naive."

The woman said, "Dear, why didn't you tell him? This secret art is the very reason our Lei Family suffered this calamity."

Lei Peng picked up the seven hundred taels in banknotes. "If I told him, he might change his mind, and then we wouldn't have all this money. Stay home and keep an eye on Xiao Ming. I'll use the money to hire a Daoist priest and see what he can do."

P.S. I've run out of chapters in reserve. The next chapter will be updated at noon~