Chapter 9

Li Xian said: “Your Majesty, I do not conceal it—I practice a set of obscure martial arts, unknown in the martial world, called the Kuihuabaodian .”

The Kuihuabaodian —indeed, it is the Kuihuabaodian !

Even Zhao Ti, who had long concealed his emotions and maintained calm composure, could not help but show a faint change in expression.

“The Kuihuabaodian ?”

“Indeed…” Li Xian’s eyes glimmered with memory: “It is a complete system of martial arts, encompassing six cultivation methods.”

Six methods? Zhao Ti was startled—could the Kuihuabaodian contain other techniques beyond that strange flying-needle art?

“I beg you to elaborate.”

“It seems the Prince of Yan truly loves martial arts. Then this old minister will speak at length—I haven’t discussed martial matters with anyone in a long time.” Li Xian’s voice carried a mournful tone.

“The core of the scripture is the Kuihuazhenqi , which powers several martial techniques. Additionally, there is an internal art called Zixiajin , which can be cultivated alongside the Kuihuazhenqi .”

“ Zixiajin ?” Zhao Ti frowned—this name, too, sounded vaguely familiar.

“I have never cultivated Zixiajin . When I inherited the scripture, this method was missing. Perhaps… the Chen family of Huashan still possesses it.”

Zhao Ti glanced at Zhou Dong: “How could the Chen family of Huashan have the Zixiajin ?”

Li Xian smiled: “That is a long story—it requires mentioning the creator of the Kuihuabaodian , my master’s ancestor.”

“Oh?” Zhao Ti said: “Minister Li, who was the creator of this scripture?”

Li Xian replied: “You may have heard of him—he was Dou Shenbao, the great eunuch of Emperor Taizong’s reign.”

So it was Dou Shenbao. Zhao Ti’s mind instantly eased—if Li Xian had created the Kuihuabaodian , he might have doubted it; but if Dou Shenbao had founded it, there was no question.

Dou Shenbao was the foremost eunuch of early Song, born into a eunuch lineage—his adoptive father, Dou Siyan, had been a famed eunuch of the Five Dynasties, renowned for his martial prowess on horseback and on foot.

Dou Shenbao entered the Jin Prince’s household as a child and became Emperor Taizong’s most trusted confidant. He accompanied Taizong on southern campaigns, helped destroy Northern Han, guarded him during the Yongxi northern expedition, saved Taizong’s life after the Gaoliang River battle, and later commanded troops along the northwestern frontier, repeatedly driving Li Jiyuan, the founding emperor of Western Xia, into desperate flight.

His life was legendary. In old age, he resigned all official posts, returned to the inner court, and spent his final years as Director of the Imperial Palace Surveillance Bureau until his death.

But Zhao Ti’s focus was on Dou Shenbao’s participation in Taizong’s southern campaigns—during which Taizong had crushed martial sects and noble families, seizing countless martial manuals. Someone must have managed these texts—and that person was almost certainly Dou Shenbao.

Dou Shenbao was already a formidable martial artist; if he had studied all these manuals, synthesized their essence, it was no wonder he created the extraordinary Kuihuabaodian !

But what was Zixiajin ? And what did it have to do with the Chen family of Huashan?

“After Master Dou created the Kuihuabaodian and achieved great mastery, he once sparred with the Elder Chen Tuan. The outcome was unknown, but after their exchange, they jointly created the Zixiajin —an internal art that did not conflict with the Kuihuazhenqi , so Master Dou included it in the scripture.”

“So that’s it!” Zhao Ti nodded: “Then the Chen family’s Zixiajin was passed down from Elder Chen Tuan?”

“Your Majesty is correct,” Li Xian said. “But when the scripture passed to the reign of Emperor Renzong, troubles arose. The inheritor at that time was Guo Huai…”

“Guo Huai—the same Guo Huai from the folk tale of the Limaohuantaizi ?”

“Precisely. Your Majesty knows this is a folk distortion—there was no such event. But the man referred to is indeed this Guo Huai. Emperor Renzong, having been raised under Empress Zhangxian Mingsu, resented her for concealing his true origins and deliberately assigning his birth mother, Empress Zhangyi, to guard Emperor Zhenzong’s tomb, severing all mother-son contact. Only after Empress Zhangxian Mingsu’s death did Renzong learn the truth, and he blamed Guo Huai, executing him. At that time, the scripture had not yet been fully transmitted to his disciple, and the Zixiajin section was missing.”

“Since it doesn’t conflict with the Kuihuazhenqi , wouldn’t its absence be inconsequential?” Zhao Ti mused.

“After years of cultivation, I feel the original five arts of the Kuihuabaodian form a complete system: the Kuihuazhenqi as the core, with Zhuanrizhen and Meiyingbu as techniques, and Shuihanzhang and Roushangfa as supplements. The Zixiajin seems superfluous—I cannot fathom why Master Dou included it.” Li Xian looked puzzled.

Zhao Ti blinked, then said: “This scripture sounds extraordinary. Could you show it to me, Minister Li?”

Li Xian froze, then smiled bitterly: “If Your Majesty desires the scripture, I would gladly offer it—but truly, truly…”

“What is it?” Zhao Ti asked.

“If Your Majesty did not practice martial arts, it would be harmless—a mere curiosity. But since you are devoted to martial arts, showing it to you may destroy you!” Li Xian shook his head urgently.

“Why do you say that?”

“Your Majesty, this scripture can only be cultivated by those who have been castrated. Its power is so profound and mysterious that any martial enthusiast who sees it will be unable to resist—leading them to cut themselves. If Your Majesty… how could I face the late Emperor? Even if I were ground to dust, I could never atone for such a sin.”

Zhao Ti rubbed his nose: “Minister Li, besides this scripture, do you have any other martial arts I might study?”

He didn’t necessarily need the Kuihuabaodian —after all, to cultivate its divine art, one must sever oneself. The cost was too great; he could not do it. His purpose in visiting Li Xian was to find another profound internal art, then journey to Wuliang Mountain to seek the Lotus Step and the Northern Dark Divine Art.

“Your Majesty, though I have fought countless battles in my life, I have cultivated only this scripture. I know no other martial arts,” Li Xian said sadly.

Zhao Ti felt a slight sinking in his chest—there were no other martial arts. Li Xian had no reason to lie; he hadn’t refused the Kuihuabaodian , so if he had other arts, he would have offered them. It must be true—he had none.

He sighed, unable to think where else to find powerful martial arts, and said offhandedly: “Minister Li, just show me the scripture. I’ll only look—I won’t take it.”

Li Xian hesitated for several breaths, then glanced at Zhou Dong and the others. Zhao Ti waved his hand behind him: “All of you, wait outside.”

Zhou Dong and the others, hearing the scripture’s danger, paled: “Your Majesty, this…”

Zhao Ti snorted: “Are you afraid that after seeing it, I’ll cut myself? If I lack the willpower to resist, then I might as well cut myself now and be done with it!”

They exchanged glances, then reluctantly withdrew to the doorway. Tong Guan made to leave as well, but Li Xian called him back: “Dao Fu, stay. Light the lamps, then help me up.”

Tong Guan’s face lit up: “Yes, Dry Father!”

Li Xian reached into his robe and pulled out a stack of yellow silk cloth. Unfolding it revealed a bound manuscript: “Your Majesty, after Guo Huai’s death, the original scripture was lost. This is a reconstructed copy—missing only the Zixiajin section, but otherwise identical to the original. Dao Fu, give it to Your Majesty.”

Tong Guan took the manuscript, stepped forward three paces, and handed it to Zhao Ti. Zhao Ti glanced at the four characters— Kuihuabaodian —then opened it.

To cultivate this divine art, sever yourself. Eight bold characters stared back.

He ignored them, turned the page, and spent roughly half an hour reading the entire manuscript. His expression grew solemn.

Though he had never cultivated internal energy himself, he had seen several manuals. Precisely because those were crude, he had never practiced. Now, with this comparison, the Kuihuabaodian ’s profundity immediately stood out.

The Kuihuazhenqi was an internal energy method.

The Zhuanrizhen was a technique for flying needles, also adaptable to swordplay, though slightly less potent than the needle art.

The Meiyingbu was a movement technique.

The Shuihanzhang was a palm and fist technique.

The Roushangfa was a healing method.

This scripture encompassed nearly every skill a martial artist needed—no other arts were required. Mastering this alone sufficed. That was why Li Xian possessed no other martial arts.

Zhao Ti took a deep breath, closed the manuscript, and looked at Li Xian: “Minister Li, is there truly no way to cultivate this scripture without castration?”