Chapter 33: Siblings
"Sister… what are you doing sneaking around here?" Su Heng's voice was calm, but an unsettling gleam shone in his eyes.
Su Li took a step back, her back pressing against the sharp edge of a table. In her peripheral vision, the whale oil lamp burned silently. Xiao Qing trembled, but remained hidden in the shadows, prepared for a surprise attack.
"I…" Su Li swallowed, forcing a smile. "Father called you for dinner, and when I couldn't find you…"
"Is that so?" Su Heng tilted his head, seemingly unconcerned. "Then let's go eat."
Before Su Li could respond, Su Heng turned and walked towards the door.
Swish!
In an instant, a flash of fire.
From the shadows cast by the whale oil lamp, two figures clashed.
Su Li's fingers formed a sword, her internal energy surging, emitting a faint cold light as she lunged, aiming for Su Heng's Jiao Gu point (a pressure point in the lower back).
Simultaneously, Su Heng twisted, his palm carrying a surge of enhanced Yang Extremity True Force, striking towards Su Li's abdomen.
Both siblings had chosen to launch surprise attacks.
Su Li struck first, her attack landing on Su Heng.
The human body has three hundred and sixty-one acupoints, and those named "Sea" points are where vital energy is stored. Those named "Valley" points are where large muscle groups connect.
The Jiao Gu point connects the psoas major and iliacus muscles. A strong blow to this point would temporarily paralyze half the body.
Swish! Su Li's fingers pierced Su Heng's muscles.
"Aha! I got him!" Su Li's initial surprise quickly turned to disbelief.
She felt like she'd struck steel; a searing pain shot through her fingertips, almost making her scream.
And the internal energy…
The continuous energy generated by the Evergreen Wood Art was instantly annihilated, like kindling thrown into a furnace.
Her attack not only failed to affect Su Heng, but the recoil caused her own energy to stagnate, her fair cheeks flushing slightly.
Bang! Su Heng's palm landed.
After shattering Su Li's protective energy, Su Heng's internal energy dissipated. To avoid injuring Su Li, he deliberately redirected his palm, avoiding the sharp corners and hooks behind her, striking the empty space beside her.
Even so, the sheer physical force was terrifying.
Su Li was sent flying, crashing against the wall with a dull thud before tumbling to the ground, her clothes and hair covered in dust.
Hiss— A sharp sound pierced the air from behind.
Su Heng turned to see Xiao Qing, pale-faced, her black hair disheveled, her fingertips tinged with a bloody red, resembling a grotesque ghost, lunging at him.
"Child's play!" Su Heng sneered, punching forward.
A violent surge of energy created translucent ripples in the air, spreading outwards, engulfing Xiao Qing.
Crack! A crunching sound came from Xiao Qing's hands as dark red blood seeped from her features, making her appearance even more horrifying.
Despite the severe injury, Xiao Qing refused to give up.
With a strange hissing sound, her loose black hair extended outwards, like living seaweed, wrapping around Su Heng's neck.
"Roar!" Su Heng roared.
The sound was like a muffled thunderclap in the confined chamber, reverberating and amplifying its power.
Xiao Qing felt as if she'd been struck by a heavy hammer; her mind went blank, her eyes rolled back, and her form blurred.
She stumbled to the ground, falling unconscious, completely incapacitated.
"Xiao Qing!" Su Li dazedly scrambled to her feet.
Seeing Xiao Qing unconscious, Su Li screamed.
Transforming into a white blur, she sped towards Xiao Qing.
Su Heng suddenly appeared before her, his tall frame bulging with muscles that seemed to writhe like living things. Energy surged from him, emitting black smoke. He cast a substantial shadow in the firelight, as if the entire chamber was filled to the brim with his presence!
"Sister…" Su Heng's voice was hoarse.
"Get out of the way!" Su Li screamed, pushing against his chest.
Swish! Su Li felt as if her palm had touched a branding iron.
Caught off guard, the powerful recoil of his protective energy surged into Su Li's body.
Despite the brief contact, the intense energy, like burning fire, filled her with terror.
Such a physique, such power, such insight…
"Monster!"
Su Li's face flushed crimson, her lips cracked. The fire poison was spreading through her meridians, becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.
"It seems there's been a misunderstanding." Su Heng moved like lightning, his index finger lightly touching Su Li's forehead.
The fire poison was dispelled.
But the massive expenditure of energy caused a wave of dizziness to wash over Su Li. Su Heng's monstrous figure blurred before her eyes; her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.
Swish!
Before she hit the ground, a large hand, fingers spread wide, caught her at the waist.
Su Heng's other hand grasped Xiao Qing's hair, lifting her casually like a bundle of goods.
"Hoo…" He blew out a breath.
The whale oil lamp went out, plunging the chamber into darkness.
…
…
…
The next day.
Changqing County, Pure Yang Martial Arts Academy.
The sun had just risen, the streets bustling with the sounds of turning wheels.
Ning Wantong, dressed in white, her long black hair loose, held a heavy wooden box, handing it to her father, Ning Zhibai.
"What's this?" Ning Zhibai took the box, puzzled.
"A gift from Zhang Chun. I helped him with something, so I couldn't refuse." Ning Wantong tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling gently, offering an explanation.
"Zhang Chun…" Ning Zhibai's memory stirred. "The boy from Medicine King Village? He has good potential, and he's diligent in his martial arts training. He's thoughtful."
Click!
The wooden box opened, revealing a grayish-white, gelatinous mass of flesh.
The chunk of flesh weighed about five jin, appearing quite elastic, similar to fat with the tendons and blood vessels removed, emitting a faint fishy odor.
Perhaps it was an illusion…
Ning Zhibai felt the flesh subtly wriggling, like some kind of living creature.
He rubbed his eyes, only to find the flesh motionless in the box, setting aside his initial surprise.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 34: Mist
"What is this?"
Ning Zhibai frowned, examining the piece of flesh in the box. He gently touched it, feeling a chill and a faint tingling sensation on his fingertips. He quickly withdrew his hand, scratching the back of his neck.
"It's said to be Flesh Sprout,"
Ning Wantong replied, glancing at the box. "Zhang Chun's father is a mountain hunter. He unearthed this Flesh Sprout and kept it for you. It's said to be beneficial for martial arts cultivation."
"At my age, these things are of little use,"
Ning Zhibai chuckled, replacing the lid. "Give this to Young Master Su. He's in the prime of his life; perhaps he can make use of it."
Ning Wantong reached for the box.
Ning Zhibai swayed suddenly, overcome by dizziness. He almost fell, but Ning Wantong caught him just in time.
"Father?"
Ning Wantong set the box aside, her face etched with worry.
"It's nothing, nothing…" Ning Zhibai chuckled, noticing a faint white line on the horizon, a sign of approaching fog. He didn't think much of it, explaining, "Perhaps it's from that strong tea I drank. While it clears the mind, it's harmful to the body. I must be more careful in the future." Self-reflection was a habitual trait of his.
However, he saw the worry on Ning Wantong's face morph into terror. She covered her mouth, about to scream.
Ning Zhibai was puzzled. He felt an unbearable itch on his neck, where he'd scratched earlier. He reached for it, but found no relief.
Frowning, he scratched repeatedly, his fingers digging in until, with a tearing sound, something came away. He spread his fingers, revealing a horrifying patch of crimson on his palm. A whole section of flesh had been ripped from his neck, yet there was no bleeding. The torn flesh was covered in a layer of white mycelium, which was absorbing blood and expanding, forming soft, dandelion-like heads, though pink in color.
Sizzle!
Instinctively, Ning Zhibai rubbed his neck. The soft heads floated into the air, losing their color until they dissolved into a hazy white mist.
"Hee hee hee…"
Ning Zhibai laughed inanely, white saliva drooling down his chin and onto his chest, wetting his clothes.
"AAAAAH!!!"
Ning Wantong's face contorted in terror, finally letting out a scream. She fled, trying to reach the street for help, but only made it a few meters.
"Thump!"
Ning Wantong fell to the ground in despair. Red spots rapidly appeared on her fair skin, quickly coalescing into a dense, horrifying pattern that would send anyone with trypophobia into a faint.
She dared not scratch, but the intense itching made it impossible to control her hands.
Soon…
A large amount of "mist" emanated from her body, enveloping her in a writhing, white cocoon from a distance.
"Mmm…"
Small, brush-like eyelashes fluttered open. Su Li's eyes opened, her clear pupils reflecting the pink mosquito net hanging over her bed.
She pulled the covers tighter, intending to sleep a little longer and savor the rare tranquility. But as she closed her eyes, she realized something was wrong.
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What happened last night?
Ugh…
Su Li felt a blankness in her mind. Her delicate brows furrowed as she struggled to recall fragmented images.
Right!
Last night, she'd planned to investigate Su Heng's secluded courtyard. In the basement, she'd found the dismembered remains of a demon and was about to investigate further when she encountered… him!
Damn it, how did Su Heng return at that moment?
Was he deliberately setting a trap? That damn brother!
Then…
They seemed to have had a little conflict. Her master said she was an unparalleled prodigy in the Demon Suppression Agency, with an unlimited future. She must have won!
But why couldn't she remember what happened afterward?
"Chirp… chirp chirp!"
Birds chirped outside the window.
Su Li tilted her head, seeing Su Heng sitting on a small stool, legs spread wide. He held a knife in his left hand and an apple in his right, peeling the fruit. He neatly sliced the peeled apple and arranged the segments on a fruit plate on the low table in front of him. He picked a piece and offered it to Su Li.
"Where's Xiao Qing?!"
Su Li's expression turned serious; she slapped his hand away.
"Xiao Qing? You mean the female ghost who always follows you?" Su Heng asked.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Su Li nodded rapidly.
But Su Heng didn't answer. Su Li's mind went blank, and she slumped back onto the bed.
…
In the Demon Suppression Agency, Xiao Qing and Su Li were in the same cohort. They trained together and were close friends. But during a mission with an elder, Xiao Qing was ambushed by a demon and severely injured.
Desperately,
the elder used a secret technique to prolong her life. But this transformed Xiao Qing into a spectral being, subject to many limitations. This explained why she always carried an umbrella to avoid direct sunlight.
She had promised to take care of Xiao Qing for life.
But…
But now…
Su Li leaned against the headboard, overcome with grief, tears welling in her clear eyes.
"Su Li," a slender, white hand waved in front of her face. Su Li's eyes widened as she turned to see a girl in red standing beside Su Heng.
She looked astonished, glancing between Xiao Qing and Su Heng.
"You…" Su Li gritted her teeth, her expression turning dangerous.
Su Heng raised his hands, looking innocent.
"I didn't say anything happened to her," Su Heng protested. "You're just imagining things."
"You're going to die!"
Su Li screamed, punching Su Heng's chest. He didn't dodge or resist, but Su Li's punches only hurt her own hand. Grimacing, she shook her hand and gave up.
She looked at Xiao Qing. Their eyes met.
"Pfft!"
Su Li suddenly burst into laughter, hugging Xiao Qing tightly.
After a moment of affectionate reunion, they noticed the oversized "lightbulb" beside them.
"Ahem!"
Su Heng coughed, turning serious. "Xiao Qing told me some things about the Demon Suppression Agency."
Thank you to book friend 2020081200 for the two monthly tickets.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 35: Innate Aptitude
"You already told him?" Su Li looked up at Xiao Qing, who nodded slightly, after they separated.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Su Heng demanded.
"I…" Su Li hesitated, unsure how to explain.
"No!" After a moment's thought, her brow furrowed, and a hint of suspicion entered her gaze. "You're the one who needs to explain."
"Since you know about the Demon Suppression Bureau, you must know about the Demon Locator," Su Li said. "Why does it react to you?"
Su Heng pondered for a moment before answering seriously, "Maybe it's broken. Anything made by humans can malfunction. We shouldn't rely solely on external tools."
"Impossible!" Su Li declared firmly. "Are you joking?"
She patted herself down, relieved to find the Demon Locator still in her possession. She took it out and activated it with her internal energy.
"What?!"
An unbelievable thing happened. Su Li's eyes widened as she stared at the Locator. The crystal in its center was a dull grey, completely unresponsive.
"How is this possible?!" She shook the Locator vigorously, even pressing it against Su Heng's skin, but still, no reaction.
After much examination, Su Li couldn't find an explanation. She crossed her arms, looking sulky.
"See? I told you it was faulty," Su Heng said, spreading his hands with a smile.
Though he appeared relaxed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After learning about the Demon Locator's function from Xiao Qing and its reaction to him, Su Heng suspected it was related to the Water Ghoul's venom sac within his body.
He had secretly neutralized and absorbed the venom sac.
And as he expected, the Demon Locator no longer reacted.
"Then how do you explain your martial arts skills?" Su Li asked, recalling the dismembered demonic remains in the basement.
"Hard work and dedication, of course," Su Heng declared, his voice rising slightly.
"With a half-finished Pure Yang Art, you reached this level?!" Su Li scoffed, unconvinced.
"I also cultivated the Black煞 Art and the Crimson Poison Art," Su Heng added.
Su Li said, "Those don't sound like legitimate techniques."
"Whether they're legitimate or not, you can't beat me," Su Heng said calmly.
"I was afraid of hurting you, that's why I let you win! You understand!" Su Li insisted, her sisterly authority wavering.
"Yes, yes, you let me win," Su Heng said with a grin.
"Of course," Su Li lifted her chin proudly, though her cheeks flushed slightly.
"Have you considered something?" Xiao Qing, who had been largely silent, finally spoke, her voice slightly hesitant under Su Li and Su Heng's gaze. "If he truly achieved this without demonic influence, your brother's talent is truly terrifying."
"My talent is quite ordinary," Su Heng said modestly, waving his hand dismissively. "I've simply dedicated all my time to cultivation."
In a way, this was true.
Unfortunately, Su Li and Xiao Qing didn't grasp the full meaning, both exchanging knowing glances.
"Come, let your elder sister test your innate aptitude," Su Li said, getting off the bed, suddenly interested.
"Innate aptitude? How do you test it?" Su Heng asked, stepping back slightly before his curiosity took over. "When I trained with Ning Zhibai, I asked him about innate aptitude and comprehension.
But that guy's skills were mediocre. He always spoke vaguely, never getting to the point. Since you're from the Demon Suppression Bureau, a major official organization, you must have a deeper understanding of this, right?"
"Before I answer that, you need to understand something," Su Li said, slowly rolling up her sleeves to reveal her fair, moon-like wrists.
"What?"
"What do you think makes a martial artist strong?"
Su Heng pondered for a moment. "First, inherent strength, that's the most crucial. Then technique, and finally, external factors like weapons."
"Though there are some omissions, it's mostly correct," Su Li nodded approvingly. "Not bad for my brother, Su Li's brother."
"You can skip the last part," Su Heng said.
Su Li ignored him, continuing, "Innate aptitude and comprehension determine inherent strength.
Innate aptitude refers to the inherent strength of the body; comprehension relates to the speed of cultivation. They complement each other, both are essential.
Let me give you an example. Suppose someone, untrained, can lift 500 jin. Through cultivation, they break their physical limits, reach the Demon Form Realm, their strength doubles, and they can easily lift over a thousand jin.
But at the same realm, another person, naturally stronger, can lift a thousand jin without training. After reaching the same realm, their strength would be two thousand jin. That's the impact of innate aptitude.
Comprehension is similar, but it affects the rate of strength increase. The higher the comprehension, the deeper the understanding of the technique, even allowing for the integration of multiple techniques, leading to a greater increase in strength and speed."
"I see…" Su Heng's eyes lit up. He asked, "If someone is born with ten times the strength of a normal person, or even more, and their comprehension far surpasses others, mastering any technique instantly, even a common technique could produce incredible results in their hands. With both multiplied, their strength could surpass that of their peers by a hundredfold or more, allowing them to easily kill those of higher levels, even those far stronger would be killed with a single blow!"
"Theoretically, yes…" Su Li smiled. "But human strength has inherent limits. Twice the strength of a normal person can be explained by exceptional talent, but ten times is a completely different species. As for comprehension, the higher the realm, the harder it is to improve, and the increase from techniques is also limited."
"Wait!!"
Su Li's smile faltered.
She tilted her head, suspicious, turning to Su Heng. "The person you just described… isn't that you?"
(End of Chapter)