Crisis, refining force

The next day.

Half asleep, Lian Youming heard Yu Wen and Yu Wu making a racket again. This time, however, the brothers were not horsing around. Liu Dabiao had developed a high fever, presumably from an infected wound, and had begun deliriously babbling as though performing a shamanic ritual.

Platoon Leader Yang came over for a look. His expression changed, and he had the man sent down the mountain without a moment's delay.

Lian Youming, on the other hand, was covered in cuts but otherwise perfectly fine, as Dragon-Essence Tiger-Vigor as ever, eating and sleeping without trouble.

After last night's incident, though, and with the injuries he had suffered rescuing someone, he naturally deserved to be treated as a wounded man. He was granted a day's rest, with his injuries to be kept under observation.

Watching them carry Liu Dabiao out in a flurry of hands, Lian Youming lost all desire to sleep. Seeing that dawn had yet to break, he washed up and began practicing grappling and killing techniques on the open ground outside the dormitory.

"I never imagined martial arts could have that kind of power."

Even now, everything he had witnessed last night still amazed him.

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man was over a hundred, yet even an apex predator like the Northeast Leopard had been unable to react to his movements before dying beneath his palm. It was truly incredible.

"Could he be some old monster wearing human skin? Can practicing martial arts actually turn someone into an immortal?"

His thoughts wandered, but the fire in his heart only burned hotter.

Then there was Third Brother Xie.

That White Lotus Sect fiend hiding among the people.

Lian Youming was quick-witted and had already worked a few things out.

There was no doubt that the man had instigated last night's incident.

As for why, that was simple enough. It was probably because of the Mountain-Guarding Old Man.

The beasts had advanced and retreated silently, appearing and disappearing abruptly. Most likely, it had been a test.

A test of what?

Recalling what Third Brother Xie had said yesterday, the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had been guarding this place for sixty or seventy years. Someone like him, a supreme martial artist, had willingly secluded himself in this rarely visited primeval forest. There had to be more to it.

Was he guarding some secret?

Or was he guarding something?

That seemed the only way to make sense of Third Brother Xie's motives.

And last night alone had shown how ruthless and vicious Third Brother Xie was. If the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had not intervened, both Lian Youming and Liu Dabiao would have become food for those beasts.

The man had designs on something, yet had remained concealed for so many years simply because he feared his strength was insufficient to defeat the Mountain-Guarding Old Man. All he could do was wait, biding his time until the old man grew frail and his strength failed. Then he would have a chance of winning.

So last night, had Third Brother Xie meant to use them, the educated youths, as bait to test how much strength the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had left and how much longer he could live?

"That old bastard."

At the thought, a sheen of cold sweat broke out over Lian Youming's back. He shivered, his gaze darkening.

If the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had been no match for Third Brother Xie last night, or had shown the slightest sign of flagging, would everyone at the Logging Camp have had to die?

No.

That was wrong.

The casual look vanished from Lian Youming's face, replaced by gravity.

Because the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had already shown signs of flagging last night.

Lian Youming was only guessing now, but the Mountain-Guarding Old Man surely knew what the other man was plotting. Since they were enemies, he should naturally have killed him to eliminate future trouble. Yet the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had not given chase. Instead, he had withdrawn.

That meant his strength was no longer what it had been, and he was no longer certain of victory.

That was bad.

Last night had only been a test. Before long, Third Brother Xie would surely intend to kill.

Once the fighting started, how could anyone at the Logging Camp survive?

They were all ordinary people, unaware that they had unwittingly been drawn into an unimaginable, deadly conflict in the martial world.

The sudden crisis instantly left Lian Youming feeling as though needles pricked his back and a bone lodged in his throat. He grew restless.

As the saying went, when the city gates caught fire, the fish in the moat suffered too.

He had seen what these extraordinary people could do. If it truly came to fighting, Third Brother Xie could probably kill them as easily as pulling weeds. With the Beast-Driving Technique to cover his tracks, no one would ever know.

And what if that old bastard had accomplices?

No.

Now that he had discovered the signs, he could not simply sit and wait to die.

Lian Youming swallowed hard, suddenly turned, and headed toward the clearing behind the dining hall.

Being secretive was not his style. Better to get straight to the point and speak openly.

However vicious the man was, surely he would not kill him over a disagreement.

Daylight had begun to show. Though Lian Youming had screwed up his courage, the thought of the Mountain-Guarding Old Man's ferocious old face still made him reluctant.

"Boy, what are you doing here?"

Before he could even enter, the Mountain-Guarding Old Man's cold voice drifted over.

The man stood like a ghost in a patch of shadow, staring straight at him.

Lian Youming hesitated. "Senior, could I come inside to talk?"

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man remained expressionless. After a silence, he said coldly, "Come in."

Lian Youming relaxed a little and cautiously entered the old man's earthen house.

Unexpectedly, the interior was almost completely bare. There was only a meditation cushion, a guttering lamp, and a wooden table bearing several memorial tablets. There was not even anywhere to sleep.

Lian Youming glanced at the tablets without betraying anything, barely making out the name "Yang Banhou."

"If you have something to say, say it. If you need to fart, get it out." The Mountain-Guarding Old Man stood with his hands behind his back, his tone impatient.

Lian Youming took a deep breath. Meeting those eyes that looked ready to devour him, he ventured quietly, "I can help you."

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man paused, then sneered. "Boy, with those unorthodox tricks of yours, you'd be better off going home to piss in the dirt and play with the mud. You think you're worthy of joining forces with me?"

"So you knew all along?" Lian Youming had caught something else in his words. His eyes flashed. "Then why didn't you make a move last night?"

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man took a few steps and sat on the cushion. "There's no harm in telling you. More than one person was lurking nearby last night. One was in the open, and another was hidden, his presence concealed extremely well. If I had struck, it would have set everything in motion. I may not fear death, but things would have looked grim for the rest of you."

Then the old man added with a hollow smile, "Besides, people are treacherous. Who knows whether you have designs of your own, boy?"

Lian Youming frowned deeply and remained silent for a long while, seemingly considering how to answer.

Facing the wall with his back to the wooden door, the old man sat like a clay statue. "Still, you're a clever one. You didn't immediately go looking for that Yang boy, nor did you try to escape down the mountain."

Lian Youming raised his eyebrows. He was no fool.

Third Brother Xie had been hiding for so many years that he was presumably already very familiar with Platoon Leader Yang and the others. Speaking up would alert him, and if he had accomplices who lashed out when cornered, it would bring another disaster.

As for going down the mountain, in weather like this, even setting everything else aside, getting lost could mean freezing to death. Besides, when the Mountain-Guarding Old Man had rescued him last night, he had mentioned the White Lotus Sect.

Third Brother Xie had lain low for years. With something in mind, he surely would not allow complications. He might not kill Lian Youming, but neither would he let him fetch help. At least, he would not let him leave the mountain before he acted.

"So you deliberately put me in danger." Lian Youming's face was grim.

"I saved you," the Mountain-Guarding Old Man sneered.

Lian Youming's temper flared too. His face cold, he said, "You saw that I knew some martial arts last night and wanted to tie me to this sinking ship of yours. I'm guessing you aren't certain you can win either, and you're desperate for help. Unfortunately, there are no masters here, just one fellow with unorthodox tricks."

With his intentions exposed, the Mountain-Guarding Old Man narrowed his eyes. His beard and hair bristled, as though he were truly enraged.

Yet just as Lian Youming began trembling with apprehension, the old man smiled again. "You have some cleverness, but you've used it in the wrong place. Truthfully, I never intended to join forces with anyone. Saving you was merely something I did in passing. As for dragging you into this, I simply suspected you were the same sort as Third Brother Xie and wanted to test you... Now, it seems you aren't."

Lian Youming drew a deep breath, curiosity glimmering in his eyes. "What exactly are you all guarding here?"

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man abruptly stopped smiling. His eyes were calm, and his voice equally so. "Simple enough. Anyone who learns of it has to die. Are you sure you want to know?"

Though the words were spoken lightly, Lian Youming felt an indescribably terrifying killing intent envelop him, clinging like a festering affliction to the bone.

Lian Youming paled. "Could you stop putting on your master's airs for a moment? Just tell me what we should do now. Will they kill the people at the Logging Camp?"

"Hard to say." The Mountain-Guarding Old Man first shook his head, then made another startling statement. "That hidden master is lurking among your people."

"What?"

This time, Lian Youming was truly shocked.

What the old man meant was that a Neijia master was hiding among the educated youths too.

"How could this happen?" Lian Youming's expression kept shifting, filled with uncertainty and alarm.

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man snorted. "You're making a fuss over nothing. Presumably, that person used some method of compressing the bones and altering the appearance to fool everyone."

"What should I do?" Lian Youming asked gravely.

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man shook his head. "You'd better pray for yourself. The others might not die, but you're in some danger... Or you could help me kill Third Brother Xie."

Lian Youming's eyes widened. "How is that any different from sending me to my death?"

The old man gave him a sidelong look. "Idiot. There are plenty of ways to kill someone. Who told you to do it openly?"

Lian Youming frowned. "What do you mean?"

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man's eyes flickered. "Do it if you can. If you can't, find somewhere to hide."

"Then I'll find Platoon Leader Yang and tell him about this," Lian Youming said coldly.

"No." The Mountain-Guarding Old Man glared at him. "They might live if they know nothing. Drag them into this, and they'll certainly die."

Lian Youming's brow furrowed deeply. "Whatever the case, I don't want any part of your affairs. But no matter what, I certainly won't sit around waiting to die. Whoever tries to kill me, I'll kill them."

He paused, then his eyes suddenly lit up. "Or I could use a gun. When I'm out in the mountains with him, I'll shoot him from behind. That'll blow his head open for sure."

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man fell silent at that. Only after a long while did he say, "How confident are you? Third Brother Xie is a skilled gunman. You'll have only one chance. If you fail, he might fly into a murderous rage and slaughter everyone at the Logging Camp."

Hearing there was a risk, Lian Youming thought again. "I've thought of another excellent idea."

"Let's hear it!"

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man looked over, his eyes burning, seemingly somewhat expectant.

Meeting the old man's weathered eyes, Lian Youming said with an utterly solemn expression, "That is... you teach me everything you know. Once I've mastered invincible martial arts, I'll wipe them out one by one. Guaranteed."

At those words, the Mountain-Guarding Old Man's cheeks twitched. His lips moved soundlessly, as though he were uttering some filthy curses.

When the old man did not answer, Lian Youming continued without a change of expression. "Then I'll compromise. Teach me a couple of your ultimate techniques. I don't want anything commonplace. They have to be the kind that stun everyone, something truly exceptional..."

As he spoke, the Mountain-Guarding Old Man's breathing suddenly grew erratic. His body trembled, and all color drained from his aged face, replaced by a deathly gray. His gaunt body actually began to shrink and shrivel.

Startled by the reaction, Lian Youming said, "Senior, I was joking. Don't worry. This is a matter of life and death. Even if I only have one chance, I have to try."

The Mountain-Guarding Old Man said nothing. Sitting cross-legged on the cushion, he kept drawing deep breaths. As he inhaled and exhaled, an indescribable stench of decay instantly filled the air, as though he were already dead, his organs failing and his bowels rotten.

Strangely, however, as his breathing changed, his ashen complexion visibly regained some color, and his gaunt, shriveled body swelled considerably.

Only after breathing out a final wisp of foul air like gray smoke did the old man open his eyes again.

To Lian Youming's surprise, the first thing he said upon opening his eyes was, "All right, I can teach you... From now on, come here every night at two. You don't have much time. How much you learn will depend entirely on your talent..."

By the time Lian Youming returned to the dormitory, everyone else had gone out.

His casual, easygoing expression had vanished too, replaced by solemn gravity.

What rotten luck.

He wanted to learn martial arts, but he had never wanted to become embroiled in this sort of deadly martial-world conflict.

Third Brother Xie might be no good, but the Mountain-Guarding Old Man could not be trusted lightly either.

The man had guarded a secret for so many years. Who knew whether he would kill everyone who knew it in the end?

He could not gamble on that. He still had to rely on himself.

Lian Youming sat on the bed with two pieces of Silk Brocade spread before him, his gaze intent. Though he had worked out a few things about them, he had yet to truly try them.

After a brief hesitation, Lian Youming slowly began regulating his breathing.

"Three Yin Earth-Baleful Force."

According to the markings on the human figure, the three yin referred to the six channels of the Three Hand Yin Meridians and Three Foot Yin Meridians, encompassing the vital points of the five organs: the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.

"Press the tongue to the palate, billow the cheeks, hold saliva and draw in fluid, let breath enter throat and tongue, Spirit Roaming the Three Yin Meridians..."

After silently reciting the formula once, Lian Youming tried again.

He stilled his breath and focused, directing it straight into his throat and tongue. Instantly, he felt his chest and abdomen heaving, as though even his heart and lungs were trembling along with them. His previously steady breathing fell into disorder at once, and within seconds, his head was covered in sweat.

He merely opened his eyes briefly before closing them and trying again without hesitation.

This time, he slowed his breathing as much as possible, cleared his mind of stray thoughts, and began inhaling and exhaling again.

Then came the third attempt, the fourth...

Strange. Truly strange.

After several attempts, Lian Youming's face grew paler and paler, but his eyes shone ever brighter.

As he repeatedly drew breath into his abdomen and released it, he discovered a peculiar rhythm hidden within that intangible breathing.

The rhythm rose and fell, grew heavy and light, quickened and slowed. Born from the surging breath, it also generated an Unusual Force, like tiny invisible hammers constantly striking the muscles through which the breath flowed. Yet when light, this force had no power; when heavy, it injured his internal organs. The farther it sank, the deeper that pulsing rhythm spread, until even his organs and bowels faintly resonated with it.

"Could this be its secret?"

Though he had detected the breathing method's extraordinary qualities, Lian Youming could never find the most suitable rhythm. The Unusual Force it generated kept fluctuating in strength. When weak, it was tolerable, but whenever the rhythm grew heavy, his throat and tongue hurt as though he had swallowed steel blades, and his heart and lungs felt as if needles were piercing them.

Moreover, the more he tried, the hungrier he became. He had been full of Dragon-Essence Tiger-Vigor, yet after less than half an hour of practice, he was drenched in sweat and utterly listless.

Realizing something was wrong, he hurriedly put away the Silk Brocade, gathered everything edible in the dormitory, and ravenously stuffed it into his mouth. Even that was not enough. Lian Youming staggered to the dining hall, where, under the dumbfounded gazes of the female educated youths, he ate eight bowls of thin porridge, more than a dozen cornmeal buns, and a boiled wild boar leg, stuffing his belly round.

"What a sinister thing. No wonder it needs dietary supplementation. I'm starving..."

(End of chapter)