Chapter 286: Chapter 174: A Life Not Meant to End (Part 2)

A small error leads to major subsequent mistakes.

When you feel the distance is about right, you must search the surroundings.

However, this area is one of the few desolate places within the Iron Blood Hall, not connected to large rivers or streams, with strange terrain and perilous mountainous regions scattered around.

It’s important to know that when trying to thrive, the most crucial prerequisite condition is a water source!

Without a water source, naturally few would gather around this area.

Desolation is a matter of course.

Chu Qing found a higher vantage point and surveyed in all directions, spotting a rather strange dense forest.

So he led his white horse toward that place.

Moments later, they arrived in front of that dense forest.

Miss Ling Fei glanced at it and said:

"This forest is strange; there’s a hidden array within, we must approach cautiously." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Hearing this, Chu Qing simply said aloud:

"Having learned acupuncture from Chief Chen’s acupoint bronze figure, I wish to meet the senior Yin Yang Hermit!

"I would kindly ask the senior to grant me a meeting!"

His Inner Power was profound, and as soon as he spoke, the snow on the treetops in the forest fell with a rustle, and birds started into flight, while some creatures hidden among the trees became nervous and restless.

Yet after this shout, there was no response.

Chu Qing frowned slightly and shouted again.

This time his voice was even louder, causing even White Brother to snort repeatedly, glaring at Chu Qing.

Just then, a voice emerged from the forest:

"Humph, shouting for what? Trying to show off your Martial Arts, huh?

"If you want to visit me, break my array first if you have the skill!"

Chu Qing smiled wryly at this:

"Since the senior has this interest, I will give it a try!"

"Huh? You really don’t know your limits..."

Before the voice could finish, the Dragon Roar sounded suddenly, followed by deafening explosions.

The forest before them was instantly leveled with over a dozen large trees toppled.

The tail end of the voice suddenly rose:

"...Stop!!!"

Chu Qing obliged easily:

"Yes, I will stop, senior!"

"Outrageous, I told you to break the array, and you do it like this?"

Just hearing the voice conveyed a sense of frustration and heartache.

This forest, with its hidden array, was not easily developed, and how could it be damaged so casually?

Chu Qing spoke righteously:

"Perhaps the senior is unaware, but I’m not adept at arrays; attempting to break it rationally isn’t feasible... better to level it with one palm for convenience."

Ling Fei’s face darkened; you should have said earlier you weren’t skilled, and let me handle it!

If this enraged the Yin Yang Hermit to refuse to give Cao Qiupu the antidote, what good would it do?

Unexpectedly, the voice floated out:

"Makes sense... if there’s an easier way, why trouble yourself?

"Very well, very well!"

At the last two words, a person had already walked out from the forest.

This person looked odd, and if one had to describe them, it should be divided into two parts.

The left half of the face was old, with wrinkled skin, white brows, and white beard.

The right half of the face was young, with red lips and white teeth, black brows, and black beard.

The clothing was also two colors: white on the right side, black on the left side.

Like the essence of life and decay all in one, black and white integrated, Yin and Yang forming a unity.

He twirled his beard, seemingly still pondering Chu Qing’s words, occasionally looking up at Chu Qing before saying:

"You mentioned you have my acupuncture bronze figure?"

Chu Qing took out the acupuncture bronze figure from his bosom as a gesture:

"Please have a look, senior."

"Come in then."

The Yin Yang Hermit scanned it briefly before turning around:

"Follow behind me, don’t wander off.

"And to the young disrespectful one as well, refrain from reckless acts... further damage to my array, and I fight you furiously."

Chu Qing nodded, gave White Brother a look, and White Brother snorted, following behind Chu Qing.

Thus, they followed the Yin Yang Hermit and the group entered the forest.

The further they went, the more startled Ling Fei became, secretly communicating to Chu Qing:

"The array in the forest is extraordinarily complex; this person is no ordinary being... we must proceed with caution."

Chu Qing nodded, feeling quite envious of such ’Sound Transmission’ skills.

Though his Martial Arts were strong, he somehow couldn’t grasp ’Binding Sound into a Line’ or ’Sound Transmission’ techniques.

Now seeing not only Chen Zhengnan but even Miss Ling Fei possessing such skills...

If one day he truly wanted to deal with Ling Fei, he’d need to force her to reveal these methods while she’s still alive.

Ling Fei was unaware of Chu Qing’s thoughts; otherwise, who knows if she would even dare to follow behind Chu Qing.

This way, after walking for the length of time it takes to sip a cup of tea, the group passed through the forest.

Ahead lay a cottage.

The house had two or three rooms, and a large courtyard. Although it was winter, there were still plants in the yard.

Chu Qing casually glanced around and raised an eyebrow.

In this courtyard, there were not only common medicinal herbs like ginseng and lingzhi but also legendary items like Vermilion Fruit, which were said to enhance one’s Inner Strength.

They were all bright red, who knows how many years they had been nurtured.

Even in this frigid season, there wasn’t the slightest sign of withering.

In front of the courtyard stood a young child.

Upon seeing the Yin Yang Hermit, the child clasped his fists in respect, appearing only seven or eight years old, but with a demeanor of maturity beyond his years:

"Disciple greets Master, and all fellow Martial World companions."

Chu Qing and the others watched in amazement, and the Yin Yang Hermit waved his hand:

"Go prepare, we have work to do."

"Yes."

The young child turned and said to Chu Qing and the others:

"Fellow companions, please follow me."

Chu Qing carried Cao Qiupu and followed the child, while Gentle and the others dismounted, also bringing Tie Chuming along.

They entered a cottage and placed Cao Qiupu on a wooden bed.

Chu Qing then explained the situation:

"My friend here has been poisoned with a mysterious toxin, and only through Chief Chen’s guidance did we learn..."

"No need for nonsense."

The Yin Yang Hermit waved his hand and looked at Cao Qiupu:

"Is it him? Save him, and in return, you’ll return the acupuncture bronze man to me, settling the debt owed to that Chen Zhengnan fellow."

"That’s right."

Chu Qing nodded.

"Then why aren’t you stepping aside?"

The Yin Yang Hermit waved his sleeve to clear the area, and Chu Qing quickly moved aside, watching the grandiose hermit sit down, pressing three fingers on Cao Qiupu’s wrist for a check.

Moments later, his expression changed dramatically:

"This... the favor might not be repaid."

Ling Fei’s face turned pale instantly:

"Even the hermit can’t cure this poison?"

"...I could before, but not now."

The Yin Yang Hermit seemed a bit embarrassed:

"This poison is stubborn and deeply ingrained, with a rapid onset. Someone used Exotic Cold Inner Power to seal his Acupoints, allowing him to hold on until now.

"But... to expel this poison, I need to employ a unique technique to be effective."

"In that case, please perform it, elder."

Ling Fei immediately said.

"That’s the issue. My unique technique is called the [Blood Spirit Thirteen Needles]."

He said, producing a needle pouch from his bosom and unfurling it, revealing only twelve needles:

"These thirteen needles are forged from extremely rare materials.

"Unique in this world.

"But an ungrateful person I once saved stole one of the most crucial needles when I wasn’t paying attention.

"Thus rendering this technique unusable... to save him, we must find the needle I lost!"

Upon hearing this, everyone thought Cao Qiupu was beyond saving.

Not to mention when the needle was lost... or who stole it, even if they found the person and demanded it, would that person willingly return it?

By the time they retrieved it, Cao Qiupu would likely have passed long ago.

Ling Fei dropped to the ground helplessly, as if losing all vitality.

But Chu Qing blinked and carefully examined the silver needles, then took one out from his own bosom and inserted it into the needle pouch:

"Elder, please see, is this the one?"

"!!!"

The Yin Yang Hermit’s eyes went wide in disbelief:

"How can this be? Where did you find it?"

"By a stroke of luck..."

Chu Qing didn’t know what to say:

"Someone once tried to kill me with this needle, and it could pierce a long sword. Recognizing its uniqueness, I kept it... unexpectedly, it belongs to you, elder."

"This, this, this..."

The Yin Yang Hermit’s expression was strange:

"Could it be destiny?

"This lad’s fate shouldn’t end here.

"You all go outside and wait. I’ll perform the acupuncture now.

"Do not interrupt mid-process, or else, hmph, I die, and he dies too!"

Chu Qing and the others dared not speak further, quickly leaving the room.

Ling Fei thanked Chu Qing profusely, but he waved it off, telling her to wait there while he asked the young child for a room to rest.

The child, suspecting nothing, led Chu Qing, Gentle, and Tie Chuming to another cottage.

Chu Qing had Gentle stand guard for him and sat at the bedside, summoning the system with a thought.