Chapter Twenty-Six: The Turning Point

Inside a thatched hut to the north of Ghost Doctor Sect, Lei Yan placed three fingers of his right hand on Dong Jiu’s pulse. As Dong Jiu’s pulse beat beneath his touch, Lei Yan’s disappointment grew; judging from the pulse, Dong Jiu’s condition was nothing like his own. His meridians were not atrophied, nor had he ever consumed any rare treasures or medicinal herbs. Just as Lei Yan was about to withdraw his hand, a sharp, hidden force within the rhythmic pulse suddenly transmitted a chilling sensation through his fingertips, piercing his mind.

“What is this?” Lei Yan was drawn by the fierce energy concealed within Dong Jiu’s pulse. He seemed to recall reading about such a phenomenon in a certain book from his family’s library.

After a moment, Lei Yan slowly opened his eyes and looked at Dong Jiu. “No matter how you cultivate, your internal energy dissipates without a trace?”

“That’s right!” Dong Jiu’s eyes brightened. He had heard the same from Sun Ji before, but now he sensed this time was different.

Sun Ji, who had long since been standing behind Lei Yan, nodded as well. The sharp energy hidden in Dong Jiu’s pulse was not something ordinary physicians could detect. Meanwhile, the assistant watching from the side stood agape at Lei Yan; he had studied medicine under Master Sun Ji for decades but had never discovered such a thing, while the sect leader, who appeared no more than ten years old, discerned it in mere moments.

Receiving Dong Jiu’s confirmation, Lei Yan closed his eyes again and felt the rhythm of Dong Jiu’s pulse. About the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Lei Yan withdrew his right hand and sighed inwardly. “The cultivation of martial artists—how would a cultivator ever care for such matters? This is why Sun Ji was unable to treat Dong Jiu.”

The pulse and Dong Jiu’s answers had confirmed Lei Yan’s suspicions: within Dong Jiu’s body was sword energy. This sword energy was, in itself, a form of cultivation—a special method some martial artists used for the sake of their descendants.

“You are very fortunate, yet also deeply unfortunate,” Lei Yan said quietly.

Though Dong Jiu and the assistant did not fully understand, Sun Ji standing behind Lei Yan understood perfectly. With nearly a century of medical experience, he could see that Dong Jiu’s meridians contained sword energy, and human meridians are extremely fragile. If sword energy infiltrates them, the meridians may be torn apart. Dong Jiu’s survival was luck itself. Yet the misfortune lay in the fact that any nascent internal energy would be destroyed by the fierce sword energy.

“I never imagined he understood even these things!” Sun Ji was thoroughly convinced. After nearly a hundred years of practice, he found himself no better than a child of ten. He could not help but sigh inwardly.

Dong Jiu stared wide-eyed at Lei Yan, not quite grasping his meaning.

“You are fortunate because you possess powerful sword energy within you. Yet this is also your misfortune, for the presence of sword energy means you cannot cultivate any internal strength; any newly formed internal energy will be annihilated by it. Moreover, the sword energy in your meridians does not yet belong to you!” Lei Yan could speak so confidently because he had once read a book specifically describing sword energy residing in the meridians.

Dong Jiu stood dumbfounded for a while. He seemed to understand, yet could not grasp the crucial point. “What should I do?”

“It’s simple. Make the sword energy within your meridians your own.” Lei Yan’s tone shifted. “But the actual process is not so simple. When you can fuse sword and heart as one, the sword energy within your meridians will obey your will.” In truth, Lei Yan did not know how to achieve this fusion, but all he had came from what he read.

“Sword and heart in harmony!” Dong Jiu nodded. Lei Yan’s words made him realize that he himself was a treasure; there was no need to seek out so-called cultivation methods. Once sword and heart were united, he would possess the strength to avenge himself.

“Alas…” Sun Ji sighed. He could no longer stay, feeling utterly abashed by Lei Yan’s words. “If the sect leader has no further orders, I shall not disturb you.”

“One moment, senior brother. Does Ghost Doctor Sect have a pharmacy?” Lei Yan asked.

“Senior brother?” Sun Ji felt a flicker of joy. “The pharmacy is in the next hut. Many come here for treatment, but herbs are always in short supply, so every afternoon I go out with the assistant to gather more. Still, the common herbs are always available.”

“I see. That’s enough,” Lei Yan replied.

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Sun Ji bowed slightly and departed from the northern hut.

“You need not follow me now. Go, and seek the fusion of sword and heart!” Lei Yan said to Dong Jiu, who had silently stood at his side since earlier.

Seeing Dong Jiu still lingering, Lei Yan shook his head. “Now, I want you to do something for me—something important for us both. Do you understand?” When Dong Jiu nodded, Lei Yan continued, “Within five years, I want you to achieve the initial fusion of sword and heart. Can you do it?”

Dong Jiu nodded again, saying nothing more.

“In five years, I will send someone to find you. When someone comes to you bearing this, you must obey his instructions without question.” Lei Yan picked up a slip of paper from the table and wrote the character for ‘kill’—a glyph from his previous life, unknown to people of this era. “Have you seen it clearly?” He shredded the slip into pieces.

“I will wait on this mountain,” Dong Jiu said, turning to leave without a backward glance.

Once everyone had departed, Lei Yan sat alone in the courtyard, lost in thought. If he wished for revenge, he must first heal his body. The method best suited to him would be the most effective—but what method was it?

Suddenly, a breeze swept through, carrying a rich aroma of wine mingled with the faint scent of flowers. Lei Yan frowned, drew a gray pill from his waist, and swallowed it.

“Qing Ling, come out!” Only someone from Poison King Valley would dare use poison in Ghost Doctor Sect. Lei Yan had never offended anyone from Poison King Valley—except perhaps Qing Ling.

A tinkling laugh sounded, and a young girl leapt from the large tree opposite. “How did you know it was me?”

“A little Drunken Rose Fragrance isn’t enough to poison me.”

“Poison?” Lei Yan’s mind raced. Since he had some knowledge of medicine, perhaps the method best suited to him was medicine itself. With that, Lei Yan called out instinctively, “Qing Ling, thank you!”

“Thank me?” Qing Ling was momentarily stunned. She had thought Lei Yan looked down on her poison skills, and instantly became annoyed.

“Hmph!” Qing Ling snorted coldly. “I’ll be back!” With a few nimble leaps, she vanished from Ghost Doctor Sect.

(P.S.: Things have been a bit busy lately, so updates are coming late. Please forgive me! Thank you!)