Chapter 238 - 157: Taking the Medicine
Feng Zhiwen cautioned.
"I appreciate your good intentions, Mr. Feng."
Chu Lingguang said with a wry smile.
An unspoken understanding passed between them.
"It’s getting late. You should get some rest."
Feng Zhiwen got up to leave.
"I want to know, what kind of torment is this ’separation of flesh and blood’?"
Chu Lingguang stopped him.
"It’s like your flesh is being peeled from your body, strip by strip. Most people who take the medicine pass out from the pain, only to wake up in agony. This repeats over and over. In the end, all they’ve done is endure inhuman torment for nothing. They don’t gain any enlightenment."
Feng Zhiwen shuddered. He turned to look at the desire burning in Chu Lingguang’s eyes and couldn’t help but add his warning.
At his words, a cold sweat broke out on Chu Lingguang’s forehead and back.
’Flesh being torn from my bones?’
He remembered the sharp pain of pulling a hangnail from his finger once. The memory was still fresh. ’Could taking those two medicines really mean that every inch of my body will feel that same tearing pain?’
’If so, I don’t think I can endure it.’
His voice trembled as he asked, "How long does the pain last?"
"It continues for two hours after the medicine’s effects have worn off."
Feng Zhiwen answered honestly.
Chu Lingguang closed his eyes. ’The pain lasts for two hours *after* the medicine wears off? That’s even more terrifying than I imagined.’
"Chu Lingguang, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have told you any of this. Don’t dwell on it. Just sleep."
Feng Zhiwen saw the sweat of fear on Chu Lingguang. He looked at the boy again—just a youth of sixteen or seventeen. How could he possibly endure such inhuman torment?
’I really might have made a mistake. I never should have come to him on my own.’
Chu Lingguang sat numbly on the bed, as if he hadn’t heard a word Feng Zhiwen said.
Feng Zhiwen felt it would be wrong to disturb him any further.
He stepped out quietly, closing the door behind him.
"Give me the medicine."
But just then, a faint voice drifted from inside the room.
Feng Zhiwen froze. He thought he must have misheard, or perhaps that Chu Lingguang had simply misspoke. He held on to the door handle, neither responding nor leaving.
Chu Lingguang stared at the silhouette on the door, and suddenly, faces flashed through his mind.
"I rendered some lard yesterday. Take a bowl home with you later."
He remembered the words of Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family, spoken after she had been let go by the Wang Family.
"Junior Brother, congratulations on developing Fist Force."
He saw the image of Hei Hu congratulating him at the entrance to the Martial Arts Hall.
"Master Guo has taken on a fine disciple!"
"The people of Baiyang County are fortunate now."
He also saw Butcher Hu, with Chun Ju in tow, leading a crowd to the gates of the Martial Arts Hall with beating gongs and drums. He remembered them thanking him while congratulating Guo Wei.
"Lin Guang, your Second Aunt told me you developed your Fist Force yesterday and that you’ll be formally apprenticed to Master Guo today. I went and prepared a little something for you. Take it to Master Guo later—we can’t show up empty-handed."
He saw Zhang Dayong using his savings to buy a pile of gifts for him to present to Guo Wei. He saw Mrs. Chu of the Zhang Family slipping into his kitchen before dawn to leave him a bowl of lard and two eggs.
"Congratulations to Master Guo’s disciple for taking the top spot in the South City Martial Arts Examination."
Then he saw the crowd of masters from other martial arts halls surrounding Guo Wei to congratulate him after he had taken first place.
Scene after familiar scene washed over Chu Lingguang like a tidal wave.
Yang Shaorong, Wang Chao, Hei Hu, Wu Feihong, Li Murong... even Liu Wan and Li Dayao from the academy, Feng Junyi, and Landlord Zhang himself—all of them seemed to emerge from that shadow.
"If the title of Grandmaster can only be bought with my disciple’s life, then I’d rather not be a Grandmaster at all!"
"Senior Brother, you haven’t changed."
Finally, Chu Lingguang recalled the conversation between Guo Wei and Master Yan in the courtyard.
The images came and went in a flash.
Chu Lingguang swallowed hard. Then, as if summoning every ounce of his courage, just as Feng Zhiwen was about to leave, he called out, "Mr. Feng, leave the medicine behind!"