chsdbacks Chapter 69 The Death of Cheng Kun
Chapter 69 The Death of Cheng Kun
Chapter 69 The Death of Cheng Kun
"A master craftsman, with superb skills!"
The next morning, Xu Qingya practiced the Eight Pieces of Brocade and the Five Animal Frolics as the sun rose, feeling his strength gradually returning, and couldn't help but give a thumbs up.
"You should thank my master! The medicine I gave you last night was all prepared by him! I haven't prepared any medicine in a long time since he passed away!"
Cheng Lingsu was also used to going to bed early and getting up early, but she had exhausted her energy last night by giving Xu Qingya acupuncture treatment. In addition, Xu Qingya occupied the only bed, so she could only take a nap with some wine, which is why she got up a little late.
Xu Qingya said, "What a pity for this flower garden! Wolves and rats have ruined this once beautiful paradise, turning it into a river of blood. It's truly a tragedy!"
Cheng Lingsu stared blankly at Xu Qingya. If she remembered correctly, it seemed that it was Xu Qingya himself who went on a killing spree last night, leaving rivers of blood flowing!
Xu Qingya continued, "Ling Su, it's not that I'm taking advantage of your situation, but this place is really not safe to stay any longer. There are too many people eyeing the Poison Hand Medicine King's legacy. Unless you can become like Ping Yizhi or Xue Muhua, otherwise you—"
"Who were you just talking about?"
"The two most famous doctors in the martial arts world."
The "murderous healer" Ping Yizhi believes that treating and saving people is like competing with the King of Hell for business. Therefore, for every person he saves, he requires the patient to kill someone. He treats one person and kills another, so that no one owes anyone anything.
Xue Muhua, nicknamed "Enemy of the King of Hell," is the same "Hua" as Hua Tuo. When others seek his treatment, they must learn a set of martial arts from him. He has practiced medicine for over twenty years and has befriended at least eight hundred or a thousand martial arts masters, learning countless martial arts techniques.
Most importantly, Ping Yizhi and Xue Muhua never discriminate against patients. Righteous heroes, evil cultists, and notorious bandits—they treat them all. Who can guarantee they'll be free from illness and disaster for their entire life? Who doesn't need a divine healer?
Ninety-nine percent of people in the martial arts world need a miracle doctor, a doctor who can treat anyone, regardless of their diet or lifestyle!
Therefore, no matter how eccentric Ping Yizhi and Xue Muhua's personalities were, or how outrageous their actions were, others always fawned over them, and no one dared to offend them.
In this respect, "Butterfly Valley Physician" Hu Qingniu is several levels below. He only treats those who are not disciples of the Ming Cult, and since others cannot find him, they naturally do not care about him.
Ling Su, if I'm not mistaken, Hu Qingniu and his wife Wang Nangu are your senior brothers and sisters!
"A great teacher produces great students!"
Xu Qingya's words were not sarcastic.
Hu Qingniu had a grudge against Xianyu Tong of Huashan, but he neither imitated Ping Yizhi nor asked Wang Nangu to poison the Huashan well. Instead, he wanted to take revenge using martial arts.
I initially thought Hu Qingniu was just being pedantic.
Looking back now, Hu Qingniu wasn't following the Ming Cult's doctrines, but rather the Poison Hand Medicine King's rule: one must not kill with poison, much less with medicine.
Cheng Lingsu smiled wryly, "My senior brothers and sisters have been away from the sect for many years, but they have always strictly abided by the sect rules. Those senior brothers and sisters who do not abide by the sect rules, they all—"
"—They were all shot dead by Qingci!"
Xu Qingya helped Cheng Lingsu finish the sentence.
Who is Qingci?
"Liu Qingci, who is as skilled as a king, is an expert in archery and is best suited to deal with poison masters. Even if she nocks an arrow from twenty feet away, Wen Wan would be helpless!"
Who is Wen Wan?
"The head of the Wen family, a long-established family business in Lingnan, is the foremost expert in poisons of his time, known as the 'Poison Master'!"
"Liu Qingci is a prince, yet you dare to address her by her first name directly. Are you friends with her?"
"A very good friend."
"Oh~"
"Ling Su, let's not talk about this anymore! I have a good friend in Jingzhou who has been poisoned by the Heartbreak Grass. Could you come with me? Time is really running out."
"It is a doctor's duty to treat the sick and save lives. It is no problem for me to go with you. What you just said is right. This valley is not safe. I should find another place to stay."
"Would you like to settle down in the capital?"
"What's so great about the capital?"
"There was a sick man who was alive and well despite suffering from more than twenty diseases. All the famous doctors diagnosed his illnesses and gained great inspiration from him."
Cheng Lingsu stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance.
""
What are you talking about?
Is this what I want to hear?
Xu Qingya smiled and said, "Lingsu, I've settled down in the capital. I can take care of you anytime."
Why are you taking care of me?
"Because you are my attending physician!"
"Young Master Xu————"
"That's too formal. I'm older than you, just call me Brother Xu! Or even Brother Xu!"
"You really know how to push your luck!"
"It's an instinct ingrained in our bones!"
"What instinct?"
"I dream of spring breezes and blooming flowers, I cleanse myself and await the arrival of kind voices, but to receive such a gift from you would be better than being born at all."
"Tch! Shameless!"
Cheng Lingsu went back to her room to pack her things.
Xu Qingya recited a poem from "The Rhapsody of Deng Tu Zi's Lust." The poem itself was fine; it was an extremely beautiful collection of words. However, after the two had known each other for only one day, Xu Qingya was constantly flirting, cooking, and even chopping people up. He changed eighteen times in one day, becoming dazzling and mesmerizing.
Cheng Lingsu quickly packed her luggage. She didn't like wearing jewelry, so she only had a few clothes and was holding a pot of flowers in her hands. Judging from the leaves, it was a crabapple. The petals grew close to the branches, the branches were like iron, and there were seven small yellow spots on the petals, which made it look quite different.
"Ling Su, I've heard that there are two kinds of poisonous plants that are the most dangerous in the world. One is called the Golden Wave Flower, and the other is called the Seven-Heart Begonia. This pot of begonias has seven small yellow spots on its petals. Could it be the Seven-Heart Begonia?"
"That's right, this is the Seven Heart Begonia. This flower is very difficult to grow. My master tried many methods, but he couldn't get the seeds to germinate. After my master passed away, I buried the seeds in front of his grave. When I was paying my respects to him, I poured a jar of strong liquor on them, and by accident, the seeds sprouted!"
"Perhaps this is fate!"
"What kind of fate?"
"I also have someone in my family who likes to drink!"
The road ahead isn't far. Feeding Lao Jiu twenty catties of strong liquor and a stone of fine ingredients will get him there in a day at most. Even if he carries Cheng Lingsu on his back, Lao Jiu's super strength won't slow him down too much.
Xu Qingya didn't mind riding together, treating Lao Jiu as if he were carrying two barrels of liquor. Cheng Lingsu was shy and didn't want to make a scene in town, so Xu Qingya went to town first to buy Cheng Lingsu a horse before the two of them set off.
The town only had inferior horses, and after traveling for half a day, they finally found the Sky Eagle Sect branch and were able to exchange them for a better horse.
Cheng Lingsu had never traveled far from home and knew nothing about horseback riding. Xu Qingya knew that beginners could easily chafe their hips on long journeys, so he specially prepared a cashmere cushion to place on the saddle. With Lao Jiu leading the way, they slowed down their pace slightly.
Good horses are all wild.
But with Lao Jiu, the "Emperor Horse," around, even if Red Hare were here, it wouldn't dare to run wild. The mount prepared for Cheng Lingsu behaved exceptionally docilely.
It was Cheng Lingsu's first time traveling far from home, and everything she saw seemed new and exciting, though she was also a little frightened. Anyone would feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar environment.
This is human nature.
Xu Qingya made full use of his Liaodong background, telling jokes to Cheng Lingsu to ease her emotions.
Nothing happened along the way.
The two returned to Jiangling safely.
Jiangling had returned to calm by this time.
Cheng Kun was too happy too soon!
So what if you escape from the dungeon?
Can you escape the dungeon but escape a dog's nose?
Cheng Kun had been a monk for several years, and his skin was permeated with the scent of sandalwood. Even if he was soaking in a cesspool, Doubao'er could still find him by following the smell. The Eagle Sect controlled the waterways, the Linglong Pavilion provided fast horses, and the Four Heroes of Wudang chased after him with dogs, making Cheng Kun question his existence.
"Cheng Kun, where do you think you're going!"
"Cheng Kun, obediently come back with me!"
"Cheng Kun, anyone who resists arrest will be killed without exception!"
Roars echoed through the jungle, and Cheng Kun was as frightened as a stray dog. He never dreamed that his greatest enemy was not the Ming Cult, nor Xie Xun, but a dog!
He thought he could escape the dungeon and live, but he was chased by dogs and had nowhere to run. No matter how he changed his clothes or disguised himself, Doubao could accurately distinguish his body odor from the crowd.
Also participating in the manhunt were Jiangling constables, led by Zhu Xiawu, nicknamed "Iron Armor, Iron Hands, Iron Face, Iron Net." Whenever injustice occurred and the truth was revealed, he would intervene.
Zhu Xiawu was a man of few words. In a case, from beginning to end, he might only say the two words "should be killed".
He was as taciturn as he was talkative; in his decades in the public service, he had only killed eleven people.
Because the other case files all say "captured alive".
Could Chengkun become the "Twelfth Elder"?
"Cheng Kun deserves to die!"
A middle-aged man dressed in iron armor, with a cold and stern face, and holding an iron net blocked Cheng Kun's path.
Without a second thought, Cheng Kun flicked out a finger.
"Damn it, go to hell!"
The middle-aged man was none other than Zhu Xiawu!
Zhu Xiawu stared at Cheng Kun expressionlessly, then waved his hand and released the iron net in his hand. If Cheng Kun did not stop, Zhu Xiawu would be struck by the Yin Finger, and Cheng Kun would also be bound by the iron net, with no chance of escape.
Cheng Kun was unwilling to fight Zhu Xiawu to the death, so he used the Shaolin Great Shift technique to move five feet horizontally in the air, hoping to bypass Zhu Xiawu. However, Zhu Xiawu followed closely and took a step forward, still blocking his way out.
Cheng Kun suddenly remembered that there was a rumor in the martial arts world that Zhu Xiawu's nickname was a bit problematic. The word "Iron Hand" should be changed to "Iron Leg". Zhu Xiawu was good at casting nets, but not good at hand skills. He was best at leg techniques.
Those skilled in leg techniques are invariably masters of light-body skills.
No matter how Cheng Kun moved, Zhu Xiawu followed him like a shadow. Cheng Kun knew he couldn't afford to be locked in a stalemate with Zhu Xiawu, so he gritted his teeth and, taking advantage of the moment when Zhu Xiawu moved sideways, flicked out another finger strike.
"Zhu Xiawu, die!"
"Snapped!"
He pressed his finger on Zhu Xiawu's shoulder.
Zhu Xiawu's clothes on his shoulder suddenly exploded, revealing most of his shoulder. The finger force left a deep wound, but no blood flowed out. The cold energy of the Yin Finger was too strong, piercing through the skin and completely freezing the wound.
What appeared to be stopping the enemy's bleeding was actually sealing the cold air completely inside the enemy's body. Zhu Xiawu's half body was shrouded in the cold air, but the other half of his body launched several fierce attacks the moment Cheng Kun made his move.
"Snapped!"
Zhu Xiawu gripped Cheng Kun's wrist with his left hand, planted his feet firmly on the ground, lowered his body, and suddenly exerted force from his waist and abdomen, swinging his arm forcefully. With a loud bang, Cheng Kun was slammed to the ground. Because his wrist was gripped, he was still unable to break free.
Wrestling!
In close-quarters combat, a surprise attack can often have a surprising effect.
Cheng Kun stared in horror at Zhu Xiawu, constantly channeling his inner strength to shake his wrist, but Zhu Xiawu's fingers gripped him like iron pincers, his power surging like a vast ocean. No matter how Cheng Kun struggled, he could only be thrown down again.
At this moment, Zhu Xiawu's skill was more than ten times stronger than the battle record in the dossier. Cheng Kun's Yin Finger, which seemed to seal half of Zhu Xiawu's body with all his might, actually had no effect at all.
"You—you are—you—"
"It's too late to realize this now! Cheng Kun, you know too much! You can't get caught!"
"Zhu Xiawu, I—"
"Die!"
The two men held hands, fighting hand-to-hand, looking like street thugs scrambling for punches, rolling around on the ground, throwing wild, random punches.
Outsiders want to get involved, but can't find an opportunity.
Cheng Kun tried to speak several times, but Zhu Xiawu covered his mouth with his true energy. Cheng Kun was increasingly shocked. How could Zhu Xiawu's powerful true energy be like the legendary Yi Jin Jing!
The most powerful internal energy cultivation method in Buddhism!
The Yi Jin Jing is a martial art created by Bodhidharma after comprehending the vast and boundless universe. It contains profound, boundless, and all-encompassing truths, and can absorb the power of heaven and earth for one's own use.
The Yi Jin Jing can encompass all things, and naturally it can evolve all things. Each practitioner can evolve different Yi Jin True Qi based on their own experience.
The problem is that the difficulty of entering the Yi Jin Jing is too high. One must have no intention of learning martial arts, and must comprehend the Prajna Buddhist teachings to understand the true meaning of no self, no person, and no sentient being before one can achieve great success.
According to the records in the Sutra Repository, those who mastered this method were all eminent monks and virtuous masters. Zhu Xiawu was ambitious and his desires were about to burst out. How could he master the Yi Jin Jing?
No one knows Zhu Xiawu's past.
No one knows how he mastered the Yi Jin Jing!
By the time Cheng Kun discovered these secrets, it was too late. The extremely domineering Yi Jin Jing (a type of internal energy cultivation technique) frantically attacked Cheng Kun's eight extraordinary meridians, shattering his vocal cords and tongue. It repeatedly and fiercely slammed him, disintegrating all his joints and destroying his dantian (energy center).
"Bang!"
Cheng Kun was kicked away by Zhu Xiawu!
"Snapped!"
The unseeing corpse lay on the ground!
Zhu Xiawu, clutching his shoulder, slowly rose, looked at the Four Heroes of Wudang, and bowed respectfully: "Many thanks to the Seven Heroes of Wudang for helping me catch the thief. I just discovered that this villain planned to assassinate Master Zhuge and incite conflict in the Central Plains martial arts world. He is a Ming Cult spy, and his contact is Gu Jianhun!"
Yang Yan asked, "Officer Zhu, Gu Jianhun has always been a loner, how did he end up joining the Ming Cult?"
Zhu Xiawu explained in a deep voice: "Miss Yang, you may not know this, but Gu Jianhun and Yang Xiao, the Left Guardian of the Ming Cult, are brothers from the same mother. My disciples and their descendants have personally witnessed Gu Jianhun meeting with Cheng Kun. I will compile the records later, and I ask you to check and fill in any gaps."
Yang Yan smiled and said, "That won't be necessary! I'm not a government official, so it's not convenient for me to look through the files."
Yin Susu kicked Cheng Kun to confirm that he had been killed by Zhu Xiawu, then said, "Cremate this guy's body! Whatever his plans were, a big fire will burn them all to ashes!"
Yang Yan whispered, "Susu, there are rules for police investigations. If a body is burned directly, it will be considered as destroying evidence and concealing the crime! Officer Zhu has had a clean record for decades; he can't afford any blemishes!"
How could the two not see that Cheng Kun's affair was full of suspicious details? Fearing that someone might destroy the evidence, they simply put Zhu Xiawu on the defensive with words, saying that anyone who dared to destroy Cheng Kun's body would be slapping Zhu Xiawu in the face.
The four heroes of Wudang looked up at the sky.
They're here to lend a hand, to put it bluntly, they're just there to be thugs. They don't care about solving the case! They don't understand investigations and they don't want to look at case files.
At the same time, Tai Chi Gate.
Xu Qingya led Cheng Lingsu to Taiji Gate.
The doctor who took care of Zhao Banshan was quite reliable; the poison was suppressed and there were no signs of it spreading.
Cheng Lingsu took Zhao Banshan's pulse, pricked him with silver needles a few times to identify the toxicity, then gave him a few pills, wrote a prescription, and asked a maid to get the medicine. Finally, she took out a gold needle.
The gold needle was thicker and longer than the silver needle, like an awl used for sewing shoe soles. Cheng Lingsu pierced a small hole in Zhao Banshan's ten fingers and massaged his arm. She didn't know what technique she used, but after a short while, black blood flowed from Zhao Banshan's fingertips, and his complexion improved a lot.
"Brother Xu, it's all over! Master Zhao's poison has been suppressed, and he will be fully recovered in three more days."
"sharp!"
"However—this poison—"
"What's wrong?"
Something's fishy!