Chapter Twenty-Two: A Small Gathering

“It hurts.”

“How about your head? Any dizziness?”

“Yes, and for a moment I nearly lost consciousness.”

Frowning at the martial artists gathering around them, Chen Yu didn’t dwell on it. After consulting with Chen Yuanhu, the two agreed to meet again at a later time for a thorough conversation. For now, neither had the leisure.

He asked a few brief questions, and Chen Yuanhu cooperated readily. He was genuinely curious about the young Daoist’s methods; even though he knew learning them was unlikely, perhaps there was a chance. Otherwise, when Chen Yu brought up the matter earlier, he wouldn’t have delayed so long—he would have acted at once.

Leaving the arena, Chen Yu didn’t even pause to speak with Qian Xuanzhong and Daoist Jiang. He slipped away from the crowd and returned to his quarters in the courtyard.

Outside, talk was rife—everyone sought information about the mysterious master rumored to wield the “Thunder Palm.” Some Daoists scoffed; after all, Thunder Palm was but legend. They preferred to believe it was some secret sonic technique akin to the Tiger and Leopard Thunder or Lion’s Roar.

Such sonic arts did exist in the martial world: the north’s Buddhist Vajra Roar, Zhengyang Temple’s Lion’s Roar, and others. Yet none could shake the earth and startle the crowd as today’s did, impacting even a third-rate martial artist against a master of internal force. The power of this method was evident.

Curiosity abounded; both Daoists and ordinary martial artists probed for answers. At the center of it all, Chen Yu sat upright on his wooden bed, drinking a mouthful of spiritual elixir, then circulating the long-unused Spirit-Calling Strengthening Technique to regulate and heal his body.

After a short while, he rose from the bed, deciding to go out and buy some medicinal herbs. The elixir worked well—addressing the root of his injuries with no residual side effects—but its restorative speed was too slow. He figured he should stock up on healing medicines; it was one thing to recover slowly on the mountain, but here in town, after making such a spectacle, he could not predict when some greedy soul might take a risk. He didn’t wish to wait; he needed to restore his organs quickly.

“The Deficiency of the Rebirth Technique is too great.”

Judging by its effect, its power wasn’t overwhelming—much as he’d expected; it was effective at the level of internal force, especially against those below transformation. Unless the opponent’s will was extraordinarily strong, it would suffice to give them a hard time.

But the price was steep.

“My organs have long been tempered, aided by spiritual elixir, stronger than most martial artists, yet I was still injured.”

He could use it three times and still be lively, but for others, once might be fine, twice would be the limit, and thrice… one of the organs would inevitably rupture.

Creak—

He pushed open the door; the courtyard was still sparsely populated. Chen Yu had kept a low profile; aside from the three Daoist friends he met upon arrival and Qian Xuanzhong and Daoist Jiang, others only knew that an exceptional Daoist had appeared, but not his exact origins.

Even the elders of the Daoist sects were similarly unaware.

However, during the Daoist debate, he had already caught the attention of some senior figures, leaving them with an impression of diligence and curiosity. It was only a matter of time before he was discovered.

“Once I recover, I should leave as soon as possible.”

The trial brought him many insights, but also plenty of trouble; he had no wish to waste time dealing with it and preferred to slip away quickly.

Back to his broken old temple atop the mountain, to tend his fields.

Yet he hadn’t forgotten the important task he’d set himself for this trip down the mountain.

“Secrets of the Five Organs… Medical arts, Daoist texts…”

He had found some clues regarding medical and Daoist books; there were several bookstores in Pingcheng, and as long as he had enough silver, he could buy them without worry.

But anything related to the organs was more difficult.

“Best to find a chance to visit Zhengyuan Temple; if I could get into their scripture library, perhaps I could find something.”

But if he did, it wouldn’t be something mere silver could buy. Fortunately, he had some items on him that might impress the Daoists of Zhengyuan Temple.

Ordinary treatises on the organs, as long as they didn’t involve cultivation or breathing techniques, weren’t particularly valuable.

Yet he could never abandon them. After this ordeal, Chen Yu felt more than ever the importance of texts concerning the organs and viscera; he had barely explored this field and his understanding was shallow.

Leaving the courtyard, he went to the pharmacy and procured two doses of medicine for nourishing the viscera, then visited a bookstore and bought a dozen widely circulated Daoist scriptures—not martial arts manuals.

He didn’t seek out famous works, but chose those with the clearest script and freshest bindings, packed them in a cloth bag, and brought them back to the courtyard.

After handing the herbs over to the apothecary assigned by Zhengyuan Temple for decoction, he spent the entire day holed up in his room, taking medicine for his injuries and sorting through his recent gains.

Outside, as one renowned master after another—famed across counties, prefectures, even provinces—made their moves, the impact Chen Yu had caused was waning.

Aside from some with ulterior motives, most martial artists knew this level of martial art would never be passed on—if Thunder Palm could even be called martial art.

So most merely enjoyed the spectacle; once the excitement faded, they lost interest.

Within the Daoist sects, however, it was different.

“Shouqing, you’re acquainted with the master of Yunhe Temple?”

Facing his teacher, Daoist Jiang respectfully recounted how they’d met.

“Hmm.” Stroking his long beard, the old Daoist mused thoughtfully.

“It seems this one is truly gifted—a blessing for Shiya.”

To destroy a genius? To monopolize Shiya?

He was joking. The old Daoist had never seriously considered it; Haiyun Temple was a legitimate Daoist sect, not prone to such crude thoughts, valuing quiet cultivation.

In fact, were it not for the visible collapse of the world’s order and the need for self-preservation, he could say that ninety-nine percent of the sects present would rather stay secluded on their mountains than mix with the mundane world.

Perhaps only Zhengyuan Temple, located in the prefectural seat, had to interact with the authorities and become tainted by worldly affairs.

The old Daoist’s inquiry stemmed first from curiosity; he’d never heard of a young Daoist from Guangyong’s Daoist circles who rivaled the Green-Clad Sword.

Second, that thunderous technique had truly astonished him and many others.

Tiger and Leopard Thunder?

No, far more than that.

Afterward, some Daoists questioned Chen Yuanhu; since Chen Yu had never declared it secret, the details of the thunder technique became widely known.

Shocking the mind, impacting the organs.

“Such methods are extraordinary…”

Ordinary sonic attacks lacked such power.

…

Time passed swiftly; half a day had gone since the martial contest. At noon, Chen Yu pushed open the door and left the courtyard.

With the rituals concluded, many Daoists had returned, and those remaining had left the courtyard for the many vacant rooms in Pingcheng.

His bundles still lay in his room; he was in no hurry to depart.

Chen Yu decided to seek out the three Daoist friends he’d met upon arrival. If they had nothing, he would try Daoist Jiang and Zhengyuan Temple.

In short, he cared little for secret arts concerning the organs, but any related books or texts—he wanted as many as possible.

“I never paid attention in my previous life; now that I need them, I realize their importance.”

Rubbing his brow, Chen Yu thought so. Of course, it was more likely that the Daoist books of his past life would not be applicable here.

Different worlds, different rules.

Leaving Chengyu Courtyard, he quickly found the group, though Luo Shoudao had left early due to sect matters.

The remaining two accompanied Chen Yu to a restaurant in town, where they ordered vegetarian dishes and plum wine, and talked for more than an hour.