Chapter 108: Undercurrents at the Lake's Heart, Fragment Shocking the Awakening

Lin Xue did not refute.

While practicing, that sensation indeed added something indescribable between them.

She picked up the blue crystal and examined it carefully under the light.

Those runes were indeed hidden inside; normally they couldn't be seen at all.

"Still practicing?" Lin Xue suddenly asked.

Zhang Jun thought for a moment.

Practice. No matter what Kun intends, this heart method truly can make us stronger. But we must find the complete version; otherwise, practicing further will surely go berserk.

Ask Kun for it?

No." Zhang Jun shook his head. "Since he only gave us fragments, he surely has his own purpose. We have to find it ourselves."

Lin Xue seemed to have thought of something.

The Mo family's library might have some clues.

Yeah, let's check it out tomorrow." Zhang Jun nodded. "But before that...

He stretched out his hand, palm open, Pure Yang Power condensed, a small cluster of golden flame jumping within.

We first need to figure out how to use this merged power.

Lin Xue understood his meaning, also reached out; her fingertips gathered cold air, forming a cluster of icy blue crystal.

Try it?

The two began practicing again.

The indoor lights flickered, reflecting their two focused figures.

Golden and blue halos intertwined, especially conspicuous in the night.

Outside the window, a black shadow silently glided over the opposite roof, watching the clinic's rear yard from afar.

Kun stood on high ground, looking at the window emitting strange light, his face expressionless.

"Not bad foundation, just a bit tender." He muttered to himself.

But... there should still be enough time.

Kun turned and merged into the night.

Only a low whisper drifted in the wind.

The barrier is getting thinner; we need to hurry...

Binhai City, outside the city lies Bibo Lake.

In the lake's center is an island, on which stands Listening Waves Mountain Villa, built by the water; its pavilions and towers show some age, exuding an old-fashioned elegance.

The annual Ancient Martial Arts Exchange Conference is held here.

Mo Tianhe walked ahead with an ebony cane, Zhang Jun and Lin Xue following on his left and right.

As soon as they stepped onto the causeway to the island, they could feel several streams of energy sweeping over them.

Some were purely curious, some were gauging their strength, and some were outright unfriendly.

Hey, the treatment's not bad." Zhang Jun shrugged his shoulders.

The injuries left by the research institute have mostly healed thanks to that half heart method, but the feeling of being stared at like a rarity still sucks.

Zhengyang Technology has been making big moves lately, and Baicao Hall just suffered a loss—hard to go unnoticed." Mo Tianhe's steps didn't pause.

Binhai may look calm on the surface, but underneath it's murky. Those who came today are all local big names, plus some outsiders here to feel out the situation and gather details.

Upon entering the mountain villa's main hall, it was already quite lively.

Men and women, old and young, dressed in various ways.

Some gathered in small groups to whisper, while others found a corner to stay alone, eyes closed, unknown what they were thinking.

The air carried the scent of old wood, mixed with lake mist, and a faint hint of something indescribable... gunpowder.

As the three entered, the hall's buzzing chatter lowered a bit.

Many recognized Mo Tianhe and hurried over to greet him, their attitude quite polite.

But that politeness toward Zhang Jun and Lin Xue faded considerably, replaced more by up-and-down scrutiny.

Elder Mo, this must be Zhengyang Technology's Doctor Zhang? Indeed, young and capable!

A middle-aged fat man in a brocade Tang suit walked over, laughing, wearing a large jade thumb ring on his hand, followed by two people.

Wang Family Head, you flatter me." Mo Tianhe nodded, tone calm. "This is Zhang Jun, and this is Lin Xue."

The Wang Family Head's chubby face piled with smiles as he circled Zhang Jun, his words carrying a sting.

I've long heard Doctor Zhang's medical skill is extraordinary—he even bested Baicao Hall's Zhou Mu in your hands—admirable, admirable!

He changed the subject: "Medical skill aside, at this Ancient Martial Arts Assembly we still need to see actual ability. Doctor Zhang, you're so young—I don't know which master's disciple you are. Don't just rely on Elder Mo's face to come here and make up the numbers."

As soon as he said that, many around showed expressions of watching a show.

The Wang and Zhou families have always gotten along; now that Zhou Mu has fallen, the Wang family looks bad, so they came to save face.

Behind the Wang Family Head, a young man in his early twenties stepped forward, chin held high, looking unconvinced.

I'm Wang Hao, I've practiced some rudimentary martial arts for a few years. I've heard Doctor Zhang is not only superb at healing but also quite capable in combat—even Hengrui's Manager Liu... hum. I'm unworthy, but I'd like to ask Doctor Zhang for a couple pointers, so outsiders won't say Binhai has no talent and let an outlandish doctor take the lead.

His voice wasn't small; the crowd gathered, clearly waiting to see how Zhang Jun would back down.

Mo Tianhe furrowed his brow, about to speak.

Zhang Jun raised a hand to gently stop him.

He glanced at the one called Wang Hao.

The kid's eyes were fierce, but his qi and blood were unstable, his stance shallow—clearly someone pushed forward as cannon fodder.

In the past, he might have just thrown a punch straight at him.

But since leaving the research institute, especially after practicing that half of the Yin Yang Heart Classic, his grasp of his own power has changed from before.

He wasn't angry, nor did he make a sound.

He just stood there.

The pure yang true qi inside him, refined by the heart method and grown more pure, twitched slightly.

It wasn't a violent burst, like mercury flowing over the ground, silently seeping toward Wang Hao.

No heat wave, nor any frightening aura.

It was just something deeper.

It felt as if an invisible hand had gently gripped Wang Hao's heart, making his blood unable to flow.

The arrogance on Wang Hao's face froze instantly.

He felt as if he had plunged into an ice hole; the surrounding air grew so thick he could barely breathe, his heart pounding like a drum yet feeling terribly weak.

He wanted to open his mouth, but his throat felt blocked.

He wanted to retreat, but his legs went soft like noodles.

So many people in the hall were watching him.

Wang Hao's face first flushed red, then turned pale, and finally became dark bluish.

Cold sweat poured from his forehead in layers, his body shaking like chaff in a sieve.

He stood with his mouth open, gasping "heh heh," but couldn't draw in air.

Finally his legs gave way with a "plop," and he fell straight to his knees.

He braced his hands on the ground, retching "wah wah," unable to vomit anything, in utter disgrace.

From start to finish, Zhang Jun didn't lift a finger, nor change his stance.

The hall was deathly silent.

The faces of those waiting to watch the show all froze.

They simply didn't understand what was happening, but Wang Hao's miserable state was real.

This was more unsettling than directly striking someone down.

The Wang Family Head's chubby face flushed like a dye shop, and he hurried over to help the still-retching Wang Hao up.

He glared venomously at Zhang Jun, his lips trembling a few times, ultimately not daring to even fart, and helped Wang Hao slink away into the crowd.