Chapter 25

Deep within the Zhang family mansion, in a room with doors and windows tightly shut.

A thick, almost inseparable scent of medicine mixed with a faint smell of blood swirled in the stuffy air.

On the bed, Zhang Xu's face was as pale as gold, his eyes tightly shut, his chest wrapped in thick white cloth with faint bloodstains still seeping through, and his lower body was properly covered, concealing the unsightly wounds.

His breathing was weak; if not for the extremely slow rise and fall of his chest, he would be no different from a dead man.

By the bedside, an old man with graying hair and a thin face slowly straightened up, pulling the last silver needle, as fine as an ox hair, from an acupoint on the top of Zhang Xu's head.

His movements were steady, without the slightest tremor in his fingertips, but the exhaustion from a night of rescue could not be hidden between his brows.

He was Wang Qingshui, a famous physician in Anxi County known for his miraculous hands.

In the middle of the night, he had been urgently summoned by the Zhang family steward; under the weight of a heavy reward, facing such terrifying injuries, he had to muster all his focus and exhaust his efforts.

Wang Qingshui wiped the fine sweat from his temples with a clean white handkerchief and carefully washed his hands before turning around.

Zhang He had been standing in the shadows at the foot of the bed, his face as heavy as water, his gaze locked tightly onto Wang Qingshui's face, as if trying to squeeze information about his son's life or death from every subtle expression.

Beside Zhang He stood a young man dressed in a light cyan silk robe.

His build was taller and more upright than Zhang Xu's, and his face was five parts similar, but his brows were open and his nose bridge high, lacking Zhang Xu's frivolous arrogance and possessing more steadiness and capability; he was the eldest son of the Zhang family, Zhang Tao.

At this moment, Zhang Tao's brows were also tightly locked, his eyes shifting back and forth between his unconscious brother and his father.

"Physician Wang..." Zhang He's voice sounded in the silent room, suppressed and somewhat hoarse, "How is my son's… injury exactly?"

Wang Qingshui met Zhang He's gaze, which was so solemn it could almost drip water, and sighed inwardly.

Wang Qingshui hesitated for a moment, weighing his words before speaking cautiously:

"Family Head Zhang, your son's injuries… are indeed extremely severe. His chest suffered a massive impact, his ribs are broken, his internal organs are shaken and bleeding, and there is the danger of suffocation from drowning."

He paused, observing Zhang He's expression, and continued:

"Fortunately, the rescue was timely. I have already used the golden needle method to stabilize his heart pulse, expelled the accumulated water from his lungs, and supplemented this with secret medicinal treatments taken internally and applied externally. For now, although his pulse is weak, it has stabilized."

"With your Zhang family's financial resources, I assume there will be no shortage of tonics; after a period of quiet recuperation, his life should not be in danger."

"However..." Wang Qingshui's gaze involuntarily swept over Zhang Xu's lower body covered by the thick quilt, and he continued: "Your son's lower body suffered too heavy an injury; I fear that in the future he will be unable to..."

Although he said this tactfully, anyone who understood would know what he meant.

Zhang Xu was crippled; he could no longer be a man in the future.

"Damn it!!!"

Before Wang Qingshui's voice had faded, an irrepressible roar suddenly exploded.

Zhang Tao's face was full of anger, the veins on his forehead bulging, and he stepped forward, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked, as if he wanted to smash his overflowing rage into the air, looking every bit the picture of brotherly affection.

"That Liu Qingshi and Su Chen are truly damnable, actually allowing their daughters to act in such a way and mutilate my brother to this extent!"

"They simply do not hold our Zhang family in their eyes!"

"I will absolutely not spare them!"

His voice was filled with rage, though how much of it was genuine was unknown.

Zhang He did not immediately respond to his eldest son's roar.

He remained standing in place, his figure like cast iron, his face shrouded in a layer of gloom that could not be dispelled.

The room was left with only Zhang Tao's heavy breathing and Zhang Xu's barely audible respiration.

A suffocating silence lasted for a long time.

Zhang He sighed deeply and patted Zhang Tao's shoulder, "From now on, the Zhang family will have to rely on you."

Having said this, he seemed annoyed to the extreme and, not wanting to stay in this room for another moment, turned and walked out.

The next day, before dawn.

In the Martial Arts Hall's gatehouse, Jiang Ye had already risen.

He stood before the window, his old eyes watching the fish-belly white appearing on the horizon.

Recalling the absurd experience of last night, he still felt a sense of dreamlike trance.

Especially when his mind unconsciously flashed to Liu Yiyi's face, usually cold as snow but flushed with a deep crimson last night, or Su Yan's eyes, which were always gentle and smiling, and that gentle little mouth...

"Cough, cough..."

Jiang Ye coughed lightly in embarrassment.

He subconsciously brought his somewhat stiff legs together.

His old face couldn't help but flush slightly.

People are just like that; before having experienced it, he could remain alone for seventy years, his heart as clear and desireless as water in an ancient well, and he didn't find it hard to endure.

However, after the 'battle' last night, having tasted the sweetness, he found himself somewhat unable to control this aged body.

"This is truly going to be the death of me."

He muttered silently, shaking his head hurriedly to forcibly dispel those untimely wandering thoughts.

The crisp air of early morning inhaled into his lungs brought a trace of clarity.

Not daring to think any further, he immediately set up his stance in the open space before the gate, calmed his heart and breath, and began to practice the "Five Animals Fist" that had already been carved into his marrow.

Tiger crouches, deer runs, bear leans, ape climbs, bird soars.

Each move and style flowed harmoniously, his intent sinking into the fist principles, and his Qi and blood surged accordingly.

Only in the pure control of the body and the movement of force could he temporarily forget those chaotic thoughts and restless instincts.

"Five Animals Fist proficiency +5."

"Five Animals Fist proficiency +5."

"Five Animals Fist proficiency..."

About half an hour later.

Jiang Ye slowly withdrew his stance and stood, his aura harmonious and full; the feeling of being filled with power and having micro-control after breaking through to the Hidden Force realm last night became increasingly clear.

Host: Jiang Ye

Lifespan: 85

Strength: Hidden Force (Early-Realm)

Fate: Ladder to Divinity 【Effect 1: Superb Comprehension】

Mastered Martial Arts: Five Animals Fist 【Great Success, 86/1000】

Mastered True Intent: Tiger's walk seems like illness, Spirit Ape's thousand changes

He glanced at the system panel, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Breaking through to the Hidden Force realm last night and achieving Great Success in his fist technique had added another five years to his lifespan.

"My strength still needs consolidation; the nourishment of Qi and blood cannot be interrupted."

Feeling the gradually calming Qi and blood within his body, Jiang Ye pondered inwardly, "I'll go buy some after closing the hall today."

The four Blood-Replenishing Pills he had previously snatched from Xu Tao of the Wild Wolf Gang were all gone; if he wanted to keep his cultivation progress from falling behind, he should use those five thousand taels of silver to make a big purchase.

After the sky brightened, Jiang Ye went to open the Martial Arts Hall gate and began his duties as the gatekeeping old man.

To his surprise, the first person to arrive at the Martial Arts Hall today was not Shi Lei, but Lin Xiaohe.

This young woman seemed to have just finished a hurried jog; her forehead hair was slightly damp, and her cheeks were flushed.

She tightly clutched an oil-paper parcel in her hand, heat radiating through the paper, and one could faintly smell the charred fragrance of flour and sesame, like a freshly baked sesame cake.

"Old Man Jiang, good morning."

After approaching the gate, Lin Xiaohe greeted Jiang Ye again, which was rare.

She did not rush into the Martial Arts Hall as impatiently as usual; instead, she stood outside the gate somewhat awkwardly, her gaze occasionally darting toward the direction of the long street, her hands unconsciously kneading the oil-paper parcel.

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly.

Being an old man who had seen it all, he knew at a glance what Lin Xiaohe was up to.

She was waiting for Shi Lei.

One could only say that this girl's skin was indeed thick to a certain degree.