Chapter 346: A Healer's Heart |
This family is legit. An actual line of cultivators. Not like those fake “clans” who brag just because some ancestor once hit the Qi Refinement stage. They’ve got a spiritual spring on Mount Dafeng and are officially recognized by the Luofu Sect. A true family, through and through.
And they've come all this way, traveling thousands of li just to pay a formal visit. At that point, what more is there to say?
Since they made it to Wulong Mountain, then anything that can be done for them will be done. That is simply how cultivators of Wulong Mountain operate. Nothing fancy about it. They live by two things: honor and loyalty.
Liu Xiaolou was sincere in his manner, and Han Gao was just as straightforward. He did not dodge the issue or hide anything. He went straight to the point and laid his cards on the table.
“Brother Xiaolou, to be honest, I am ashamed to say this. As a direct descendant of the second branch of the Dafeng Mountain family, I spent my early years fully devoted to cultivation, with no distractions. I never thought about carrying on the family line. I believed that once I reached Foundation Establishment, it would be easy enough to deal with. But who could have known that during my breakthrough, although I did successfully step into the path of true cultivation, I made a careless mistake and left behind a hidden injury. I damaged the Foot Lesser Yin Meridian.”
The Foot Lesser Yin Meridian. is more commonly known as the Kidney Meridian.
Liu Xiaolou instantly saw the light and nodded in understanding. “Ah, got it now, I see what’s going on. there is no need to worry, brother.”
“No rush, no rush.” Han Gao gave a small smile as he explained. “It has already been fifteen years. And I don't care that much about the the whole yin-yang bedroom business anymore. What really matters to me is having heirs. The direct line of my second branch can’t end with me. That’s the one thing I can’t let happen.”
“I understand, I understand,” Liu Xiaolou said, nodding.
“If it has been healed, then what is it that troubles you, Brother Han?”
“The meridians are healed, but the problem in my heart has not been resolved.”
“Ah, I see. So Brother Han has come to test the formation?”
“Yes. Over the past three years, I have tried more times than I can count, using every method imaginable... nothing has worked. My disciples at Dafeng Mountain told me that the illusion formation you set up there is said to be highly effective. That is why I came to see it for myself. I ask that you lend me your help. Whether it succeeds or not, I will make sure you are generously rewarded.”
“Brother Han, what are you even saying? What is all this talk about generous rewards or small rewards? I will do everything I can. If we start counting favors and compensation, then you are treating me like an outsider.”
“Yes, yes, of course. Your sense of honor is something I know well. Otherwise, I would not have come to formally visit in the first place.”
“Then you came to the right place. It is not just about testing the formation. Our sect also has methods and secret techniques that work together, inside and out. That is the proper way.”
“I will leave everything to your judgment.”
“Then please stay here at my Qianzhu Ridge for a while, Brother Han.”
“That is only right. There is just one thing. I ask that you keep this matter confidential on my behalf and not let it spread. It is not exactly something to be proud of. If word got out, I would not be able to hold my head up in Lingnan.”
“Rest assured, Brother Han. I have dealt with cases like yours before. I swear upon my own path of cultivation that I will not speak a word of it. If I were to let it slip, then my own path would be doomed forever.”
For cultivators, oaths are taken very seriously. The higher your cultivation, the more weight an oath carries. From Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, and then to Nascent Soul, that weight only grows heavier. Especially for great cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage. At that level, they rarely speak carelessly, because the deeper their fusion with the Heavenly Dao, the greater the chance that a heartfelt oath will bring heavenly punishment if it is broken.
Once the oath was sworn, Han Gao finally relaxed. His mood lifted, and he looked around with a smile. “Where are the two Spiritual Elders of your sect?”
“Spiritual Elders?” Liu Xiaolou froze for a moment, then realized. “Oh, you mean Big White and Little Black? They were just here a moment ago.”
The two beasts slowly and cautiously wandered out of the bamboo grove, peeking toward Han Gao. Han Gao immediately pulled out a pouch of food and walked over to them. As he fed them, he turned back and explained to Liu Xiaolou, “This is dried snake meat I brought from Dafeng Mountain. It was stir-fried with July Fragrant Orchid seeds. I imagine the two Spiritual Elders would enjoy it. Ha ha, Brother Xiaolou, look at that. They really do like it. To tell the truth, I have loved spiritual birds and spiritual beasts since I was a kid. Unfortunately, my fate has always been too shallow. I never had the blessing to raise one myself.”
No kidding, this dried snake really was fragrant. Big White and Little Black were licking their chops nonstop, going ‘honk honk’ and ‘miao miao’ like they’re having the time of their lives.
Whether Han Gao’s affection was genuine or just for show, the gesture itself sat very well with Liu Xiaolou. He watched with a warm smile as Han Gao finished feeding them. Only then did he say, “Whenever you are ready, Brother Han, shall we enter the formation and give it a try?”
Han Gao nodded. “Okay.”
Liu Xiaolou didn’t waste any words. He immediately led Han Gao into the bamboo grove and set up the formation disk.
“After you.”
“Do I need to prepare anything?”
“No need. Just step inside.”
“Should I sit and regulate my breathing for a bit first?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Do I need to take any herbs or some kind of pill beforehand?”
“Brother Han, relax.”
“I am relaxed. I just want to be clear on everything.”
“Right, right. This formation doesn’t require any preparation at all. Just come in.”
“Alright, then this foolish brother is coming in.”
“Please enter the formation, Brother Han.”
“Wait..”
“Brother Han, please enter the formation. Go on, step in.”
After waiting forever with no sign of movement, Liu Xiaolou was completely done. He just sighed, tucked the formation disk into his palm, then casually flung it at Han Gao. If this guy won’t walk into the formation like a normal person, fine. Might as well just slap the whole damn thing over him.
A blur flashed past. Han Gao moved in some unknown Gang Step footwork. In the blink of an eye he had slipped right out of the Abyssal Blackstone Formation’s range.
By the time you reach Foundation Establishment, who doesn’t have a few real tricks up their sleeve? If someone genuinely didn’t want to be trapped, then with Liu Xiaolou’s level of cultivation, unless he resorted to underhanded tactics from behind, there was no way he could hold them.
Especially since Han Gao was already at mid-stage Foundation Establishment. More than ten years ahead of Liu Xiaolou.
After several attempts with no success, it became clear that he really couldn’t trap Han Gao.
Thinking back to those eager young masters from the Impotent Circle who couldn’t wait to jump into the formation, and then looking at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator standing right in front of him now, Liu Xiaolou couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.
By now, Liu Xiaolou could tell. This man’s mental block was no small thing. He had traveled thousands of li just to test the formation, but the second it came time to actually step inside, he chickened out. If that wasn’t a deep-seated hang-up, what was?
After a moment of thought, he simply tucked the formation disk away. “That footwork of yours is seriously impressive.”
Only then did Han Gao stop moving. “My apologies for making a fool of myself, Brother. It’s a secret technique passed down in the Han family, the Spirit-Sealing Step. When spiritual energy comes near, it dodges on its own. That’s how I’ve always thought of it. To be honest... I’ve been on the road for days now, sleeping rough, and I’m worn out. How about I get a proper rest tonight and enter the formation tomorrow?”
Liu Xiaolou thought to himself, with a hang-up like yours, forget tomorrow. You’d probably still be shitting bricks next year. “There’s no rush about entering the formation,” he said aloud. “I have a piece of yin-yang technique here. Tomorrow, we can study it together.”
“A yin-yang technique?”
“Yes.”
“Is it a secret technique from your sect?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, how could I possibly accept that?”
“Why not?”
Right then and there, in the bamboo grove, Liu Xiaolou passed on a section of the cultivation method to Han Gao.
When it came to the Yin-Yang Scripture, Liu Xiaolou had never been the type to hoard it like a precious secret. He had taught it to Dai Shenggao before, and later discussed it together with Sister Qing and Green Bamboo. His master had never said the technique was forbidden to share. Otherwise, how would Sister Qing have learned it in the first place?
This was simply what people meant by a healer’s compassion.
Besides, he wasn’t giving away the entire Yin-Yang Scripture, only the most practical portion of it.
“Practice according to this for seven days, and then you can give it a real try.”
“Thank you, Xiaolou. This foolish brother will work hard and not let you down.”