Chapter 130: Apprenticing in Lanling Ward

"Business is this good?"

Li Yan was a bit surprised, and at the same time, his brows furrowed slightly.

He didn't care what trade that Senior Li was in; as long as he had real skills and was willing to teach, paying some price was worth it.

But looking at this situation, he was probably very busy.

Whether he had time to teach him was another matter.

"No, something happened!"

Sha Lifei had sharp eyes and immediately spotted the trick. He whispered, "None of the people blocking the door are patients; they look more like onlookers."

The group looked at each other and immediately quickened their pace.

When they reached the entrance and pushed through the crowd to look inside, something was indeed happening, but it was a bit different from what they had imagined.

Although this Benevolent Heart Hall had a Mystic Sect Daoist physician sitting in, it was no different from an ordinary medical clinic. In the back of the main hall, medicine cabinets were placed; on the left, a statue of the Medicine King was worshipped; on the right was the table for consultations and pulse-taking.

But in the open space in the middle of the main hall, a rack was erected, similar to a horizontal bar, and a man was hanging upside down from it.

The man was short, his coarse black clothes covered in dust, his eyes tightly closed, his face ashen; he had already fainted.

His head was three feet from the ground, and a lotus lamp was lit underneath him.

Standing next to him were two men, both with gloomy and fierce eyes, looking unkindly to the right.

Behind the small table for pulse-taking on the right sat an old man, tall in stature, with gray clothes, white beard, and two long longevity eyebrows.

The old man didn't even lift his head, flipping through a medical book in his hand, turning a blind eye to the fierce gazes of the two men.

The onlookers outside the door were discussing spiritedly.

"Strange, why is the medical clinic roasting human meat?"

"You don't know anything. That Doctor Li sitting in there is a famous doctor in our Chang'an. He's probably treating an illness."

"I've never heard of such a treatment method..."

"Shh, keep it down. Those two don't look like good people."

The commoners watching might not understand, but Sha Lifei was an old hand in the martial world. He immediately saw that something was wrong and whispered, "Yan Yan Xiao Ge Li Yan, those few are mostly 'eating dead man's rice'."

"Let's watch and see."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes and whispered instructions.

He had naturally already seen the background of the two.

The "grave-robber" trade has its rules; first of all, one cannot be too tall.

For one, the grave tunnel is narrow; for every extra foot of width, it takes double the effort, so a small stature is the most cost-effective.

Those tall and spacious royal tombs are not only dangerous but have long been touched by peers throughout the ages.

Most of the ones they enter are the tombs of officials and wealthy merchants.

If you're too tall, even standing up is a struggle.

As for the "five defects and three lacks," that's all to fool outsiders.

This trade is not only dangerous but also a serious crime under Great Xuan law, so choosing a successor is done with extreme caution, fearing they might find an ungrateful wretch.

Furthermore, after doing it for a long time, it's hard not to be contaminated by Yin Sha energy. Either one shows signs of misfortune and defeat, or one is plagued by a hundred illnesses, making it hard to have a good end.

What's more critical are their hands.

The knuckles are thick; that's from practicing the skill of digging graves.

It can crack mechanisms, buckle tomb bricks, and also defend oneself.

But what truly interested Li Yan was the patient, who was emitting the smell of a rotting corpse, and on his back, there was also the bloody smell of being scratched.

Did he run into a zombie?

Li Yan became interested and whispered to Wang Fu, "Daoist Brother, how is corpse poison cured?"

Wang Fu smiled. "I am not a person of this trade. Red Girl knows more than I do."

Li Yan then remembered that Red Yecha was not only good at catching demons and monsters but was also an expert at dealing with things like zombies.

Seeing the group's gaze, Red Yecha shook her head and whispered, "There are many ways to cure corpse poison. Senior Li has chosen the most ruthless one to teach them a lesson."

So that's it...

Li Yan and Sha Lifei smiled at each other and watched the spectacle.

Finally, the accomplice of the "dirt-rat" couldn't hold back his temper any longer and bowed slightly. "Senior, are you playing with us?"

Li Shiqing glanced at him faintly. "Where does this come from?"

The man shouted angrily, "Let's not speak in riddles. We respect you as a senior in the martial world, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit..."

*Swoosh! *

As he was speaking, there was sudden movement nearby.

It was the hanging man who, although unconscious, was being smoked and roasted by the candle, and his head was still covered in a layer of oily sweat, which actually dripped onto the candle.

Soon, there was more and more sweat on his head.

Before long, the sweat actually turned dark gray, and at the same time, a thick, fishy stench spread all around.

"What is that? So smelly!"

"I seem to have smelled it before; it's the smell of a corpse..."

"Did he treat the person to death?"

"Stupid, they are 'eating dead man's rice'..."

Originally, the smell of the corpse could only be smelled by Li Yan, but now that it had spread everywhere, anyone could see that these people were not from a legitimate path.

Someone quick-witted had already turned and run to report to the authorities.

"The old guy is courting death!"

The two accomplices also came to their senses, their eyes showing fierce light as they suddenly pulled daggers from their waists and rushed toward Doctor Li.

"Presumptuous!"

Before they could get close, the young man who had been pounding medicine nearby shouted angrily, leaped out, and at the same time, sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows, held his chest and pulled his back, his right hand suddenly slapping out.

Only two *slap-slap* sounds were heard, like firecrackers.

Before the two men could react, each was slapped once, their bodies spinning as they flew out the door, their faces covered in blood, and they fainted.

"Good!"

Li Yan couldn't help but clap and cheer.

Pigua Palm, also called "Face-Wiping Fist." The clerk looked like he only slapped twice, but even if the two dirt-rats dodged, they still couldn't escape.

The clerk's fist technique was masterful.

This Senior Li must also be a master of this path.

Hearing the cheers, the clerk turned a deaf ear, instead squatting beside the hanging man, smelling the sweat, and prying open his eyelids to observe, before standing up and bowing. "Reporting to Master, the heat is just about right."

Doctor Li nodded. "Hmm, insert the needles."

The clerk didn't say a word, took a triangular needle from the medicine cabinet, and pricked and bled the man at multiple acupuncture points such as Fengchi, Baihui, Yongquan, and Zusanli.

The blood that came out was black and foul.

But soon it became bright red.

The man's complexion also gradually returned to normal, his eyelids trembled, and he groaned in his mouth, as if he would wake up at any moment.

"Move aside! Move aside!"

Just then, footsteps sounded, accompanied by reprimands.

It was a few constables running over with iron locks. They first tied up the two people who had fainted on the ground, then entered the medicine hall and bowed respectfully.

"Mr. Li, this..."

The old man nodded slightly. "The corpse poison is cured, take them away."

"Thank you, Mr. Li!"

The constables were immediately happy, their faces full of smiles.

Near the old site of Haojing of the ancient Zhou Dynasty, a large tomb was robbed, and explosives were used, causing quite a stir. They had simply picked up a merit for free; how could they not be happy?

The onlookers nearby praised them one after another.

Of course, with no spectacle to watch, they dispersed one after another, only some patients squeezed into the medicine hall again.

Li Yan and his group also followed inside.

The old man seemed to have noticed them long ago, first smiling at Red Yecha. "Miss Luo, have you been well?"

"Thanks to your blessing, Senior." Red Yecha bowed respectfully and was about to introduce Li Yan and the others, but was stopped by Li Shiqing with a wave of his hand.

He looked at Li Yan and stroked his beard with a smile. "If this old man isn't mistaken, this young friend is named Li Yan?"

Li Yan was slightly stunned. "Senior knows me?"

Li Shiqing sighed. "Daoist Chen Yuan of the Medicine King Temple at the foot of Mount Zhongnan is a close friend of this old man, and can be considered of the same lineage."

"I heard a while ago that he was injured. This old man rushed over overnight, only to find out that he had misjudged a person, was miserably ambushed, and was saved by a passing hero."

"Just now, this old man heard the roar of the Divine Tiger outside the door. Presumably, you have already retrieved that Divine Tiger Order."

So that's it...

Li Yan was happy in his heart and nodded. "I was fortunate not to fail the mission."

The old man was a Daoist physician and also a person of the Mystic Sect. He probably awakened the Ear Yi Shentong, but he didn't expect it to be the rare power of being able to hear the language of ghosts and gods. Li Shiqing asked again, "What about that traitor?"

"Already beheaded."

"Good!"

Hearing Li Yan's answer, Li Shiqing laughed, then shook his head. "Daoist Chen Yuan is too kind-hearted and is always bullied by others. This old man really can't stand it sometimes."

"The villain has been executed, today we should drink a big cup of white wine!"

The disciple pounding medicine nearby suddenly looked up and said calmly, "Master, I heard this news that day, and you also said you were filled with indignation and should drink a big cup of white wine."

"Mistress said, she won't let you drink."

"Rebellious disciple, shut up!"

Li Shiqing's face changed drastically, as if he was furious. "Wine is the essence of the five grains, a thousand cups can relieve worries. Not even letting me drink a mouthful of wine, don't you know that blocked emotions can cause illness?"

"This is truly unreasonable..."

Although the words were harsh, he didn't mention drinking anymore.

!.

Red Yecha showed a smile on her face and bowed. "Since there is this layer of relationship, this junior will no longer beat around the bush."

"This Yan Yan Xiao Ge Li Yan wants to perfect his fist technique and wants to learn Pigua, so I recommended Senior to him."

"Learning fist technique?"

Li Shiqing pondered for a moment and nodded. "Since you saved Chen Yuan, learning a fist technique is just a small matter, not a problem."

"But this old man only knows how to fight, not how to teach. However, I can recommend the master who taught me to practice fist techniques to teach you."

Li Yan's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "May I ask who this expert is?"

Li Shiqing sighed. "This master is no one else..."

"It is this old man's wife!"

"Her surname is Ma, and her ancestral home is Cangzhou..."

…………

Three days later, in a large mansion in Lanling Ward.

"Pigua means to break; Gua means divination."

Under the eaves of the main hall, an old woman sat on a chair, sipping tea while explaining the principles of fist technique. "Ordinary people think Pigua is stronger in momentum, but they don't know it is more refined in calculation. The so-called two people fighting, first close the five elements..."

As she spoke, she suddenly raised her palm and chopped downward.

"Pizhan belongs to metal, from top to bottom, with the momentum of breaking bamboo!"

Before the words fell, she flipped her palm and wiped upward.

"Huo-da belongs to fire, like fire rising and soaring, to break the Pida!"

"Lv-lan belongs to water, using horizontal to control vertical!"

"Heng-ji belongs to earth, pushing and bumping to control the smooth!"

"This is the usage of the five elements. Qian is three continuous, Kun is six broken, Zhen is an upward bowl, Gen is an overturned bowl... these are the changes of the Eight Trigrams, internal form to external, starting from Qian and ending at Kun."

The old woman had a kind face and a dignified posture. Even though her hair was half white, it was combed neatly. She looked like a housewife of a wealthy family who lived in luxury.

However, when talking about fist techniques, she seemed like a different person.

"Ugh, don't mention it. Do the people in this Chang'an City not know that money is precious? A few dilapidated courtyards and they dare to ask for three thousand taels. I'd have to be an idiot to buy one."

Li Yan was in short clothes, letting the wind and snow fly, his eyes not blinking, standing in the courtyard listening carefully.

The apprenticeship process went very smoothly.

This old woman's background was not simple; she was the young lady of a large Cangzhou escort agency. Since childhood, she had been taught by famous teachers and would have become famous in the martial world, but because of a trip, she fell in love with the wandering physician Li Shiqing at first sight.

Since then, the martial world lost a heroine.

But in Chang'an Lanling Ward, there was an additional virtuous Madam Li...

After finishing, the old woman returned to her kind appearance and smiled. "You are young and have already entered the Dark Energy, which can be considered talented, but you have practiced Red Fist since childhood, and your force-generating habits have been formed. This 'Black Dragon Disk Strike' must be practiced solidly."

"Start."

With an order, Li Yan first clasped his fists, then stood with his legs open, arms level, exchanged left and right bow stances, and swung his arms in a circle.

It looked a bit like a windmill.

He had practiced martial arts since childhood and had excellent control over his body. Before long, he was swinging with a whistling sound, stirring the surrounding wind and snow to spin along.

However, after watching for a while, Madam Li's brows furrowed tighter and tighter, and she shook her head. "Stop."

"Go shake the windlass, and carefully experience it."

"Yes, Master."

Li Yan bowed respectfully, then came to the water well in the small courtyard, lowered the windlass, and drew a full bucket of water.

But after shaking the windlass to lift the water, he suddenly let go.

*Gurgle gurgle! *

The bucket fell, and the windlass spun like wind.

*Bang! * After the bucket fell, Li Yan shook it up again, let go again, and observed the spinning of the windlass.

Black Dragon Disk Strike is also called "Windlass Turning."

Pigua Fist and its force-generating are similar; with the axis as the center, it doesn't rely on brute force, but on the leverage, rotation, and counter-pulling force.

This is the Black Dragon Disk Strike!

Madam Li sat in the chair and shook her head. "Pigua cultivation cannot lack this step."

"This windlass, bucket, and rope of the Li family are specially made. If an ordinary person accidentally gets hit by the windlass's counter-pull, the light result is a broken arm and fainting, and the heavy result is the possibility of losing one's life."

"When I learned fist techniques back then, there was a senior brother who wanted to experience the force early and was accidentally beaten into a cripple. You must not be impatient."

"Fist techniques, this thing, is a lifelong matter..."

As she was speaking, an old servant of the Li family suddenly walked from the front courtyard, bowed, and said, "Madam, Madam Liu has brought her son to visit."

"Hmph!"

The originally kind old woman suddenly looked gloomy. "Her son is useless, lingering in flower districts all day. So what if he has money? He still wants to marry my Tan'er. Truly, a horse doesn't know its own face is long!"

As she spoke, she stood up. "Yan'er, you keep practicing, I'll go send them away. By the way, eat at home at noon."

"Yes, Master."

Li Yan bowed respectfully.

After the old woman left, Li Yan immediately pinched the Yang Seal, took a deep breath, and after feeling that there was no one around, immediately stirred the windlass.

While letting go, he touched it with his hand.

*Gurgle gurgle! *

*Crack! *

His wrist bone fractured, twisting into a strange arc.

Li Yan gritted his teeth and straightened his hand. The fracture recovered rapidly. He shook his hand, and it was already intact.

"So that's how it is..."

Li Yan murmured to himself, as if he had realized something.

What is there to fear about a fracture? In the future, when practicing Thunder Dharma, if necessary, personally inducing lightning to experience it is not a problem.

This is his habit.

Using the Great Luo Dharma Body for rapid cultivation is always better than being beaten to death or crippled when fighting others.

Of course, he also had to find a way to find heavenly treasures as soon as possible...

Having realized it, Li Yan entered the state faster.

When the old woman returned again, looking at Li Yan in the courtyard with arms like wind, and with the sound of breaking through the air, she was first surprised, then showed relief:

"Not bad, almost catching up to me back then..."

…………

The Li family's lunch was simple yet exquisite.

Three meat dishes and three vegetable dishes, six plates in total, were all home-style flavors, but the heat was just right, and the knife skills were no less than those of a restaurant.

Li Shiqing was busy at the medical clinic, and the meal was sent by a servant.

Eating at the same table was also a man, whose face was somewhat similar to Li Shiqing's, but he looked more elegant.

Li Shiqing had two sons. The eldest son was named Li Yunie, who was also a Mystic Sect Daoist physician, inheriting the family medical skills and opening a medical clinic in the East Market where the powerful gathered.

The one who came to visit to propose marriage just now was Li Yunie's daughter, who was also Madam Li's precious granddaughter.

The second son before him, Li Kongqing, did not awaken any supernatural powers, nor did he practice martial arts, but instead entered the Confucian Sect, obtained the scholar title, and served as a companion reader in the Chang'an Prince's Mansion.

Yunie and Kongqing are both ancient medicine names.

Li Yan had practiced martial arts for half a day and had long been hungry, so he buried his head in eating, his chopsticks flying.

But Li Kongqing opposite him was absent-minded and worried.

Seeing this, Madam Li's brows furrowed. "Kongqing, is something wrong?"

Li Kongqing put down his bowl and chopsticks and sighed. "Mother, this job as a companion reader, I really can't go on with it..."

(End of chapter)