"Drawing Malice Into the Body"—a name shrouded in taboo, existing only in ancient legends.
The technique involves guiding malice into the Baihui point, circulating it through a special path, and channeling it out through the Yongquan point. This process instantly unlocks the body's latent potential, causing one's combat prowess, divination skills, and geomantic abilities to surge to extraordinary levels.
However, malice is not akin to spiritual energy. It is one of the most common yet most perilous "poisons" in existence, capable of causing illness, physical debilitation, premature death, and even misfortune.
Feng Shui masters, when selecting locations for homes or gravesites, always avoid areas where malice gathers, opting instead for places rich in spiritual energy. This is because malice brings calamity, endangering those exposed to it. In unavoidable circumstances, Feng Shui masters create talismans or arrange geomantic formations to repel malice and attract spiritual energy.
The malice that naturally exists in the world is typically weak. Yet even the faintest trace, if mishandled, can unleash unimaginable disasters.
"Drawing Malice Into the Body" refers to a method of deliberately absorbing large amounts of malice into oneself within a short period.
Living or working in areas dense with malice already brings misfortune; deliberately drawing it into one's body is tantamount to courting disaster.
While the technique grants immense power for a brief time, the price is steep. It rapidly deteriorates bodily functions, drains vitality, and offsets one's fortune, making it a double-edged sword—killing one's enemies at the cost of one's own destruction.
Legend has it that only three individuals in history dared to use this technique. Two met tragic ends, while the third vanished into obscurity.
The first was Fan Zeng, strategist to the warlord Xiang Yu. Shortly after employing this technique, Fan Zeng was manipulated into falling out with Xiang Yu. On his journey home, he succumbed to a poisoned boil on his back, dying in despair.
The second was Zhuge Liang, the famed chancellor of the Shu Han kingdom. Facing defeat against the Wei army, he used the technique to invoke heavenly might, turning the tide of battle and achieving a resounding victory. Yet soon after, he perished at Wuzhang Plains. Fully aware of his impending demise, Zhuge Liang attempted to prolong his life by arranging the Seven-Star Formation to obscure the heavens. However, fate prevailed—his efforts were inadvertently disrupted by the general Wei Yan, sealing his fate.
The third was Yuan Tiangang of the Tang Dynasty. Whether he died peacefully or succumbed to the backlash of malice remains a mystery, with conflicting accounts circulating through the ages. What is certain is that he withdrew from the world and disappeared.
Since Yuan Tiangang, the method of "Drawing Malice Into the Body" has been lost. Though its name lingers in the mystic realms, its secrets have eluded practitioners. By sheer chance, Chen Yi stumbled upon the technique recorded in the Dragon Command Manual.
This was one of Chen Yi's greatest trump cards, but he refrained from using it unless absolutely necessary. The consequences were dire: even if he survived the immediate ordeal, his body would deteriorate, his fortune would wane, and death would become inevitable. For someone like Chen Yi, whose life was already fraught with hardship, the technique would only exacerbate his struggles. This was why Elder Ai, with his dying breath, predicted Chen Yi's future would be a thousand times more painful than his own. Though exaggerated, a life of suffering and an early death was almost certain.
The amount of malice Chen Yi absorbed was relatively small, merely the residual malice from killing twelve men. Compared to the vast malice drawn by historical figures from the slaughter of armies, it was insignificant. However, Chen Yi's cultivation and mastery of divination and Feng Shui were far inferior to theirs.
The outcome remained uncertain.
The fierce battle between Chen Yi and Elder Ai had unfolded in an instant. Before anyone could grasp what had happened, Elder Ai lay dead, pierced by multiple stab wounds.
Ai Chu, who had been standing beside Han Wenxue, was struck by a mix of shock and fury. He stared at Elder Ai's lifeless body and the bloodied, barely-standing Chen Yi, his rage boiling over.
Chen Yi forced a grin, struggling to straighten his battered body. It was a futile effort—his chest, with several broken ribs, sent waves of excruciating pain through him with every breath. Yet he persisted, defiant to the end.
His face, swollen from Elder Ai's kick, was a mask of bruises and blood. His body, riddled with wounds, seemed on the verge of collapse, as if a mere gust of wind could topple him.
And yet, in the eyes of those present, Chen Yi stood as unyielding as a mountain, as resilient as grass in a storm. No matter how devastating the blow, he faced it head-on, unwavering and fearless.
A man should be passionate.A man should be courageous.A man should be resilient.A man should be like this!
Wu Pangzi's eyes were red, tears streaming uncontrollably as he shouted, "Brother Chen, well done! I've never admired anyone in my life, but today, you've earned my respect! If we make it out of here alive, I'll host a three-day banquet at the Triumph Hotel. And if we die, then we'll walk the Yellow Springs together. In the next life, we'll be real brothers!"
Han Wenxue had stopped crying, standing frozen in place. Her tear-filled eyes remained fixed on the blood-soaked man before her, as if engraving his image into her soul, to remember not just in this life, but in the next.
Whether fortune or calamity, joy or sorrow, she would stand by him.
"You're not leaving here alive, Chen Yi!"
Ai Chu spat each word through clenched teeth, his hatred palpable.
How could he not hate? This man, whom he had dismissed as insignificant, had annihilated his entire squad and even killed Elder Ai, his father's trusted aide. Even if Ai Chu succeeded in severing the dragon vein, his achievements would be overshadowed, potentially jeopardizing his inheritance.
Dark energy practitioners were rare treasures, even within the Ai family, which had only four or five such experts. Losing one over a single dragon vein was an unforgivable mistake.
With a sudden burst of speed, Ai Chu charged at Chen Yi like a maddened bull. He cared nothing for the taboo of malice or the legends surrounding it. In his eyes, Chen Yi, battered and broken, had no strength left to fight.
At that moment, Chen Yi also moved forward. Unlike Ai Chu's powerful strides, each of Chen Yi's steps was labored, yet resolute.
Bang!
Bang!
Their fists collided simultaneously, each landing a heavy blow. Both men grunted, staggering back a step.
Ai Chu sneered. He didn't believe Chen Yi could endure much longer. He was confident he could outlast him.
Blood gushed from Chen Yi's wounds, his face contorted in agony.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of fists striking flesh echoed as the two exchanged blows with relentless ferocity. Neither defended nor retreated. Their eyes reflected nothing but mutual madness.
Ai Chu fought with disdain, convinced Chen Yi would soon collapse.
Chen Yi fought with the last remnants of his strength. The power granted by malice was fading, and his injuries left him no room to maneuver.
Bang!
With a final punch, Chen Yi fell to one knee, his strength exhausted. Ai Chu, blood dripping from his mouth, loomed over him like an executioner savoring his victory.
"Come again!"
Both men roared simultaneously.
Ai Chu swung a fist at Chen Yi's head.
Chen Yi, like a cannonball, launched himself upward.
Bang!
Ai Chu's fist met Chen Yi's forehead, recoiling as if striking iron.
Seizing the moment, Chen Yi wrapped his arms around Ai Chu's waist, lifted him high, and slammed him to the ground.
The two men grappled on the dirt, their fight devolving into a savage brawl, devoid of any martial elegance.
Pinned beneath Chen Yi, Ai Chu struggled to mount a counterattack. His punches landed weakly, causing little damage.
Chen Yi, whether from exhaustion or intent, stopped striking and simply held him down.
From the sidelines, Wu Pangzi and Han Wenxue, their hands and feet bound, could only watch helplessly.
Feng Kun, however, grinned with glee. To him, Chen Yi was a beast making its final, futile struggle.
Ai Chu, too, sensed victory. He felt Chen Yi's grip loosening, his strength waning.
But just as Chen Yi seemed to falter, he opened his mouth and bit down savagely on Ai Chu's shoulder, tearing at the flesh like a dying wolf.
Ai Chu screamed in agony, his attempts to push Chen Yi away proving futile.
"Rip!"
Chen Yi tore a chunk of flesh from Ai Chu's shoulder, but the gap allowed Ai Chu to elbow him away.
Finally free, Ai Chu twisted his body to escape.
Chen Yi, however, feigned weakness, releasing his hold only to tighten his grip around Ai Chu's neck in a rear-naked choke.
Ai Chu's vision darkened as Chen Yi's arms constricted like steel cables. No matter how he struggled, he couldn't break free.
His kicks and flailing arms grew weaker, despair filling his eyes.
Was this truly the end?
Just then, a figure appeared in his dimming vision—Feng Kun, clutching a dagger, limping toward them.
"Chen Yi, it's over!" Feng Kun sneered, raising the dagger high.
A gunshot rang out.
Blood sprayed.
Feng Kun's hand was gone, severed by a sniper's bullet.
Chen Yi's reinforcements had arrived.