Chapter 1089: What are you looking at?

Since ancient times, Chinese martial arts have emphasized the accumulation, circulation, and utilization of internal force within the body. The so-called Eight Extraordinary Meridians, sinking Qi into the dantian, and the Great and Small Heavenly Circuits are all based on this theory.

The overall logic of spiritual energy is similar to that of internal force, but the most obvious difference is that, in addition to accumulation, circulation, and utilization within one's own body, spiritual energy also possesses the ability to be projected externally.

No matter how strong internal force is, it must rely on one's own physical body. A good internal martial arts master can kill a thousand-jin ox with a single punch, or even an elephant.

But even so, they cannot achieve the ability to kill a mouse from a distance.

The reason for this is that internal force cannot be projected externally.

When it comes down to it, internal force is actually just an entry-level, low-spec version of spiritual energy.

And spiritual energy is a hundred and eight thousand miles ahead of internal force.

The gap between the two is like the difference between primates and humans.

Although primates and humans share over 99% of their DNA, the gap between them is still as vast as heaven and earth.

No matter how smart a chimpanzee is, it can never become a human.

Between the two lies an insurmountable chasm.

Among Chinese martial artists, there are at least tens of thousands who can skillfully master internal Qi.

However, among these tens of thousands, almost none can refine internal Qi into spiritual energy.

If not for the help of the "Nine Mysteries Heavenly Sutra" and that earlier spirit stone, even if Ye Chen ate more Soul-Returning Pills, it would be impossible to form spiritual energy within his body.

This is a true great opportunity, an opportunity that ordinary people could not obtain in several lifetimes.

Naturally, Ye Chen could not tell Su Ruoli the actual situation, but a single phrase comparing firefly light to the brilliance of the sun and moon was enough to shock Su Ruoli to her core.

She murmured in her heart: "So his internal force has already reached a higher level... No wonder his strength is monstrously powerful, and he was able to save my life so easily. This is far more powerful than any martial arts I have known..."

At this moment, Ye Chen said indifferently: "Although the toxins in your body have been cleared, your wound is still in an open state. I will help you pull out the crossbow bolt and then clean the wound for you."

Su Ruoli looked at the wound on her leg. The crossbow bolt had almost pierced through her entire thigh from the base. She couldn't help but feel shy and thought to herself: "I'm still wearing black leggings, but if I want him to treat the wound, he will inevitably have to take off or tear open my pants..."

"But... but this area is indeed a bit too private..."

Seeing that Su Ruoli was more or less shy, Ye Chen's first thought was: "Otherwise, I'll just let her handle it herself. A killer like her, who has undergone professional training, must be very skilled at handling such a small wound."

However, another thought immediately popped into his mind: "This woman's personality is as fierce as an untamed wild horse, and her methods are sinister and ruthless. For a woman like this, if I want her to be obedient and submissive from tonight on, I must completely crush her self-esteem first!"

Thinking of this, Ye Chen said with a cold expression: "Come, I'll help you sit on the single recliner. You lie on it, and I'll help you treat the wound!"

Su Ruoli stammered: "That... I'd better do it myself... Please just give me a pair of pliers, and some wound-cleaning medicine and gauze for bandaging..."

Ye Chen said expressionlessly: "It's not impossible for you to handle it yourself, but the leg is rich in blood vessels. When you pull out the crossbow bolt, the wound will definitely bleed heavily. If the wound has already damaged an artery, once you rashly pull out the bolt and open the wound, there will be a life-threatening danger. And if you happen to damage a nerve, you might end up disabled."

Su Ruoli also knew very well that she could handle ordinary wounds, but if it really damaged an artery, it would indeed be difficult for her to handle it herself.

Moreover, if a nerve were damaged, it would indeed leave certain sequelae, and once there were sequelae, her strength would inevitably be affected.

Thinking of this, Su Ruoli hesitated, not knowing whether she should let Ye Chen help.

After all, Ye Chen was a master whose strength far exceeded her own. If he were to treat her wound, it would definitely be much more reliable than her doing it herself.

Seeing her struggling expression, Ye Chen said decisively: "Alright, stop dawdling. Life is more important than anything else, and I believe you don't want your leg to be disabled. Otherwise, a little beauty walking with a limp would be too ugly."

After saying this, he had already reached out his hand toward Su Ruoli and said in an unquestionable tone: "Come, I'll help you to the recliner!"

Seeing Ye Chen's firm and unyielding stance, Su Ruoli suddenly felt a sense of bashfulness deep in her heart, and she hurriedly whispered, "I can do it myself."

After speaking, she tried to use her hands to prop herself up, but after a few attempts, she discovered that her arms simply had no strength.

Seeing her helpless state, Ye Chen said calmly, "Don't waste your energy. Your meridians have all been temporarily sealed by me; your body cannot exert any strength."

Su Ruoli felt a bit horrified, so she had no choice but to obediently hand her hand to Ye Chen, whispering, "Then I'll have to trouble you..."

Ye Chen reached out and grasped her soft, icy-cold little hand, then directly helped her up.

This was the first time Su Ruoli had been held by a man like this, and her heart immediately began to beat like a drum from nervousness.

She had grown up with her mother and had always focused on the arduous practice of martial arts; let alone dating, she hadn't even had the opportunity to interact with boys.

Now, suddenly being held so intimately by a man, she felt a wave of panic uncontrollably.

Ye Chen helped her to the recliner and let her lie down gently, then locked the rocking function of the chair and said to her, "I'll cut your pant leg off first."

Upon hearing this, Su Ruoli's face turned beet red with shame, and she asked herself in despair, "Do I really have to have my pants cut open? If that happens, won't my entire thigh be exposed in front of him?"

Just as Su Ruoli was unable to accept Ye Chen's decision for a moment, Ye Chen had already picked up a pair of scissors and, following the position where the crossbow bolt had entered, cut Su Ruoli's entire pant leg off a few centimeters upward.

Su Ruoli only felt a sudden chill on her right leg, and when she looked down, her slender, beautiful leg was completely exposed to the air; she immediately covered her face in shyness.

Ye Chen hadn't expected that Su Ruoli's legs would be so beautiful, even far surpassing all the women he had ever known.

This might have a lot to do with Su Ruoli practicing martial arts since childhood.

Her legs were not only slender but also very straight, even carrying faint muscle lines; compared to those supermodels, she was not inferior at all, and even a cut above, absolutely a one-in-a-million top-grade pair of beautiful legs.

Seeing Ye Chen staring at her legs without moving, Su Ruoli felt, besides shame, more or less a bit of annoyance; she felt that although this man was very strong, he seemed no different from those lecherous men.

Therefore, she asked with a hint of coquettish anger, "What are you looking at?"

Ye Chen raised his head, smiled calmly, and said frankly, "I'm looking at your legs; your legs are very beautiful."