One Hundred Paces Through the Willow

"Boom..."

The Quchi acupoint of the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian was forcefully opened.

A powerful and vast surge of vital energy emerged, as if a small pond had opened up at his elbow.

Lu Wu-bing felt his entire body's strength increase slightly.

At the same time, the internal energy circulating through the two meridians and his Dantian also became much more robust.

The most peculiar sensation was that his eyes seemed to have become much brighter.

The surrounding scenery appeared clearer, with colors seeming more vibrant.

He knew this was the evolution the human body underwent after opening up meridians with internal energy.

Opening the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian could calm the mind and stimulate thought.

The Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian governed appetite, digestion, and the enhancement of the five senses.

Even before fully opening them, the benefits were already apparent.

However, it wasn't without its drawbacks...

With the immense medicinal power of the wild ginseng, he consecutively opened six acupoints, and after opening eleven acupoints along the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, he discovered that the qi and blood vessels in his arm were experiencing phantom pains.

A swollen, sore, and numb sensation, with a feeling of tearing.

This might have been an illusion.

But it was genuinely affecting his spirit and body.

Moreover, these phantom pains wouldn't disappear anytime soon.

He would have to wait until his body gradually adapted and his meridians stabilized before he could open more acupoints and expand his pathways.

"No wonder Senior Sister Xiaolan said the Celestial Star Sect's [Dripping Water Force] is merely foundational. You can't rush progress. The thickness of the meridians is already determined, affecting the speed of accumulating and gathering qi... After all, this technique fundamentally pursues a slow and steady approach, avoiding problems."

"The sooner I can learn the Celestial River Orthodox Method, the better. I've heard this technique can expand meridians several times over, making the qi pathways like a long river and internal energy like surging waves... Not only does it allow for rapid progress during cultivation, but during attacks, it's also overwhelming, known for its deep, robust, and powerful force capable of throwing bricks."

Thinking of this, Lu Wu-bing's heart soared towards Celestial Star Peak.

"Since that's the case, I'll deal with the so-called [Three Heroes of Chaoyang] as soon as possible and embark on my journey."

He glanced at the sky, the sun setting and the moon rising, night birds returning to their nests. He finished his practice, stood up, and found Senior Sister Xiaolan and Gu Dashi already waiting quietly.

Ouyang Lan, with her long sword strapped to her back and her gear secured, exuded heroic spirit, a hint of killing intent flickering in her eyes.

Gu Dashi's eyes were bloodshot, like an erupting volcano. He held a large bow in his hand, veins bulging on his arm, an arrow quiver on his back, his breathing slightly heavy.

"We've been waiting for you for a while." Ouyang Lan's voice carried a hint of sourness. She was extremely envious. When she cultivated internal energy, meditating for half an hour already made her restless and mentally exhausted, wanting nothing more than to collapse. Yet, her junior brother could persist for an hour during his first attempt at cultivating internal energy. Now, it was even more outrageous; he had been cultivating for an hour and a half. When he finished, he was still full of energy and seemed to have strength to spare. Ouyang Lan thought to herself. Daoist cultivation emphasizes the unity of body and soul, cultivating both the physical and the spiritual. However, most martial artists today primarily cultivate internal energy, or at most, both external and internal arts. There are truly no techniques that directly cultivate the soul. Even the Celestial Star Sect doesn't have them. It's said that senior experts who reached the Innate Realm, with their martial will condensed, could touch upon the cultivation of the soul and spirit regardless of the foundational technique they used. Ouyang Lan was certainly aware of this knowledge. It was also for this reason that she was particularly surprised by Lu Wu-bing's increase in spiritual power.

"Are your meridians aching?"

"That's right. This tonic isn't easy to digest either. Preliminary estimates suggest that after opening six acupoints, I'll need three days of recuperation." Lu Wu-bing said with disappointment.

"Six, six acupoints..."

Ouyang Lan's eyebrows twitched slightly. I've only opened four acupoints, Junior Brother, why are you so amazing?

She had also taken a small slice of ginseng.

Where did my medicinal effect go?

She blinked heavily, deciding not to discuss cultivation with her junior brother for the time being.

Besides, I'm a dog.

Let's think about how to kill the thieves instead.

"When I was transporting grain, I went to the stronghold and specifically noted the positions of all the informants," Gu Dashi said coldly. He shook the great bow in his hand and added, "The Chen brothers wanted to learn that Arrow Through the Willow technique when they joined my sect... I'm good at long-range attacks, so leave the informants to me."

"Good. While the news of Chen Gong and the others' deaths hasn't reached Chaoyang Stronghold yet, the task of luring the enemy ahead will be entrusted to you, Brother Gu."

This was a pre-arranged plan.

Chaoyang Stronghold was located on Chaoyang Ridge in Hengshan. The mountain cliffs were steep, with only one path leading to the summit, making it extremely difficult to travel.

Moreover, their second in command, Ge Zhong, came from the military and understood troop deployment and defense. He guarded the mountain path tightly.

It wasn't impossible to force their way up.

However, doing so would only increase the risk and might also enrage the fierce individuals on the mountain.

If the enemy discovered their strength was too great, it wouldn't be good if they decided to kill people out of anger.

Many women were held captive on the mountain; those people were innocent.

Of course, the most important reason was that San Niang and Er Gou, who had gone out to pick wild vegetables, were also captured by the bandits...

To force the divine archer and hunter Gu Dashi to join them, they had used every trick in the book.

"Don't worry. As long as Chen San-yang and Ge Zhong don't feel truly threatened, they won't harm your wife and children prematurely."

This was based on an understanding of human nature.

Given Chaoyang Stronghold's formidable reputation and Chen San-yang's arrogance, once he felt threatened by Gu Dashi's archery, his first thought would be to capture him personally and torture him severely.

He would also demand to know why his former mentor had been so strict when teaching him.

The tragic experiences of Chen San-yang and Chen Gong's childhoods, and their youthful inferiority complex, had transformed into wolves gnawing at their hearts.

They acted with impunity, cruel and cold-hearted.

Finally, they chose to establish their stronghold in Hengshan's Chaoyang Peak, not far from Gu Family Village.

The implied meaning was clear.

They wanted to get back up where they had fallen.

They also wanted to see familiar villagers groveling at their feet.

Perhaps, they themselves didn't realize it.

Deep down, they desired not only to gain respect and roam freely but also to receive true recognition from someone.

They wanted to say to Gu Dashi, You were wrong.

Do you regret it?

Perhaps, what Chen San-yang wanted most was to see Gu Dashi begging for mercy on his knees.

And, in front of him, to kill his son and take his wife.

This was Lu Wu-bing's deduction of the great leader Chen San-yang's state of mind after hearing Gu Dashi's story.

As for Chen Gong.

He was immediately shot into a sieve by Senior Sister Xiaolan's Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, so there was nothing more to say.

"Pfft..."

The night was cool as water, the mountain wind howled.

A white-feathered arrow streaked through the misty fog, piercing the throat of a mountain stronghold sentry.

From a distance, the man clutched his neck and toppled over.

He hadn't even hit the ground...

From the watchtower seven or eight zhang away, another sentry was already gasping and choking, clutching his throat.

"As expected of a divine archer who can shoot through a willow at a hundred paces."

Lu Wu-bing and Ouyang Lan hid behind a large tree, watching quietly through the branches.

They watched as the sentries in the mountain stronghold fell one by one, torches flared up, and roars echoed from within the stronghold.

Soon, a burly man, as strong as a bear, carrying a large staff, leaped down from the fortress wall, his upper body bare.

The long staff in his hand danced rapidly, smashing an incoming arrow to pieces.

The muscles on his body reflected an oily sheen, like iron armor.

Besides the leading burly man, there was another person, clad in silver armor, dragging a silver spear, with a cold aura, following closely behind like a venomous snake.

"Much easier than I imagined."

Lu Wu-bing took a deep breath; the plan to lure the snake out of its hole had worked unexpectedly well.

He didn't know if these two were overly confident or simply accustomed to arrogance.

They had let their guard down completely.

"Also much stronger than I imagined."

Ouyang Lan, however, began to feel a bit nervous.

She had encountered more martial artists and naturally had her own way of judging strength.

"Outer body conditioning, Golden Thread Robe, Sixth Rank Marrow Cleansing Realm, a thousand jin of divine strength."

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