Chapter 29: Seizure

Kong Bin had only just managed to barely control his Internal Breath; the thin wisp of Internal Breath within his meridians dissipated after circulating for only a few breaths.

Kong Bin stopped his practice, looking at the ground with a face full of shame and resentment.

As the saying goes, comparing people to people only makes one angry.

Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong, who was still standing there after finishing his practice, and thought to himself: This kid is even more of a freak than I was back in the day!

Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong, who stood holding his blade, and snorted coldly through his nose. Instead, he turned his head to look at Kong Bin and said, "Kid! If you dropped money on the ground, pick it up; don't keep staring at the floor!"

"No... no..." Kong Bin's face flushed red, and he stammered as he raised his head.

Having inadvertently seen Duan Rong's Internal Breath power last time, Kong Bin's confidence had been completely shattered; he understood that he could absolutely never catch up to Duan Rong. This was the first time in his life he had tasted such bitterness of complete powerlessness.

"You don't need to look at him! He's an animal, you're a human! How can a human compare to an animal?" Xiao Zongting looked at Kong Bin and said, "Your progress is normal progress. Internal Breath cultivation is a process of grinding; practice makes perfect. Come here, I will teach you some methods for handling the details of Internal Breath circulation."

Kong Bin glanced at Duan Rong, his complexion recovering slightly. He walked in front of Xiao Zongting, and Xiao Zongting began to instruct him on some specific details and insights.

Duan Rong, however, stood not far away, eyes on his nose and nose on his heart. He didn't crowd over; Xiao Zongting had just called him an animal, so he saw no need to go over and make himself uncomfortable.

But Duan Rong felt very unconvinced in his heart: Is it a mistake for me to practice well?

Xiao Zongting pointed out things to Kong Bin for a full half-stick of incense before nodding and saying, "Go down and practice diligently on your own."

"Xiao Lao, don't worry, I will definitely practice well," Kong Bin said through gritted teeth, his cheeks bulging.

"Go."

Kong Bin cupped his hands and left, glancing at Duan Rong before he went, his expression complex. How could he not know that Xiao Lao letting him go first was to give Duan Rong special instruction?

Duan Rong didn't care at all; he grinned and rolled his eyes at Kong Bin's back. He also knew clearly in his heart that the two of them were not at the same level of progress, so they simply couldn't be taught together!

Seeing Kong Bin leave the door, Xiao Zongting looked at Duan Rong and said, "The Internal Breath is about right; is it as thick as a pubic hair now?"

Duan Rong's breath hitched at Xiao Zongting's vulgar words, and he nearly choked on his own saliva.

Duan Rong gave a dry cough and nodded. But he had to admit, though the words were crude, the logic wasn't, and the description was quite accurate!

Although Xiao Zongting had already seen the strength of his Internal Breath from the force in Duan Rong's moves, he was still greatly surprised to hear Duan Rong admit it himself.

The circulation of Internal Breath is so complex; how could this kid achieve this level so quickly?

"Have you been practicing these three days?" Xiao Zongting asked.

This was the only answer he could think of.

The day he gave pointers, at a certain moment, this kid started circulating his Internal Breath, which showed he had a super-strong natural comprehension for Internal Breath circulation.

In other words, he would soon be able to master complex methods of Internal Breath circulation.

For an ordinary person, this might be as difficult as ascending to heaven, but for certain monsters, it was not impossible.

But even if he mastered the method of Internal Breath circulation, to reach the force he just displayed, he must have practiced diligently without stopping for these three days.

"Yes," Duan Rong replied in a calm tone. "If I use Deer Antler Slices, I can keep practicing."

Xiao Zongting's expression changed slightly!

Talent is one aspect, but temperament is another.

How boring is cultivation?!

How many people can truly endure the loneliness?

To keep practicing—these words sounded calm, but in reality, it meant his Dao Heart was like iron!

"Did you use up all five pieces of deer antler?"

If one could quickly master complex Internal Breath circulation methods and train efficiently, five pieces of deer antler might really not last three days!

"Yes, used them up," Duan Rong replied. "I went to the Raw Medicine Shop and bought ten more myself."

Xiao Zongting's eyes flickered.

As far as medicinal supplements for a Martial Artist go, Deer Antler Slices are already quite low-end medicinal materials, but even so, they are considered precious among worldly herbs.

Ordinary families definitely couldn't afford them.

According to his understanding, Duan Rong's parents were both dead and he was all alone; where did he get the money?

"You have silver?"

"Yes, I earned some myself," Duan Rong answered frankly.

Duan Rong had already considered that he would be living in the Escort Agency sooner or later, and some things couldn't be hidden, so it was better to give an explanation early.

"You earned it yourself?"

Ten pieces of deer antler would cost at least seven or eight taels of silver.

Xiao Zongting was just about to interrogate Duan Rong further, mainly because he was afraid he hadn't walked the straight path and had done some bad deeds.

No matter how good a seedling is, if the roots aren't straight, it's ruined.

Duan Rong also saw that Xiao Zongting wanted to interrogate him, and he wanted to take this opportunity to round out the story in advance; in fact, he had already thought of his excuse.

But before Duan Rong could speak, he heard Zhu Xiaoqi's anxious and shrill cry coming from the Back Courtyard: "Master, the Second Miss is having a seizure!"

Hearing this, Xiao Zongting took off running toward the Back Courtyard.

Duan Rong had never imagined that a lame man could run so fast!

Back Courtyard. Inside Xiao Baijiao's boudoir.

Xiao Baijiao had collapsed on the bed, her whole body convulsing, foam spilling from her mouth; the needlework she had been embroidering fell to her feet.

Xiao Zongting rushed in and immediately gripped Xiao Baijiao's jaw tightly; Zhu Xiaoqi immediately handed a pair of Ebony Chopsticks wrapped in white cotton cloth into Xiao Zongting's hand.

Xiao Zongting, with eyes full of anxiety, wedged the white-cloth-wrapped Ebony Chopsticks between Xiao Baijiao's upper and lower teeth, then checked her upturned eyes before wiping the foam from the corner of her mouth and saying in a rough voice, "Xiao Qi, go find Doctor Gu quickly!"

Zhu Xiaoqi's small face was already flushed red with anxiety; she placed the Needle Pouch of Silver Needles she was holding by the bed, and a red shadow flashed as she darted out of the room.

Xiao Zongting picked up the Needle Pouch left by Zhu Xiaoqi and pulled out a Silver Needle; the needle was as thin as a hair, and Xiao Zongting clumsily pierced the Silver Needle into a certain acupoint on the top of Xiao Baijiao's head.

Xiao Zongting pierced seven Silver Needles in a row!

He was already covered in sweat!

He had experienced life and death throughout his life and had seen every kind of situation, but every time he needled Xiao Baijiao, his calm heart was constantly swallowed by fear.

With the seven Silver Needles inserted, Xiao Baijiao's condition was clearly much better; although her body was still twitching, she was no longer rolling her eyes, and her breathing was steadier and stronger than before.

Xiao Zongting finally let out a sigh, wiped the murky tears from the corners of his eyes, folded the Needle Pouch, and placed it by the bedside.

This emergency acupuncture method had been taught to him by Doctor Gu some time ago, simply because Xiao Baijiao's illness had been flaring up more urgently and severely since the beginning of this year.

Thinking back on what Doctor Gu had said, it made him feel even more alarmed!

"... This illness cannot be cured; with it flaring up like this, in the long run, I fear the person will not be able to endure it..."

Seventeen years ago, Xiao Zongting returned severely injured, his life hanging in the balance!

At that time, Madam Xiao was pregnant with Xiao Baijiao; anxious for her husband's safety and consumed by worry, she died in difficult labor, leaving behind only a sickly baby girl.

Xiao Zongting had always raised this little daughter as if she were the apple of his eye.

But who could have imagined that such a beautiful daughter would happen to suffer from Epilepsy?

Looking at Xiao Baijiao lying there with her eyes closed, she seemed to bear seven or eight parts of the likeness of Madam Xiao from back then.

Thinking of the deep love between husband and wife in those days, and now seeing that he might soon be unable to protect the daughter she had left him, Xiao Zongting felt as if his heart were being twisted by a knife.

"Meng Lian, it is your husband who is incompetent!"

Xiao Zongting sat at the head of the bed, his eyes suddenly brimming with tears.

(End of chapter)