Chapter 195 - 124: Middle Stage
Du Lingchuan saw it clearly. The Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear that Chen Qing had just demonstrated was far beyond a beginner’s level; it was at least at the Great Success Realm.
A knot of tension formed in his chest. ’Since when did Elder Peng have another talent like this under his wing? If this boy is really his Direct Disciple, knowing that old codger’s personality, he would have been banging gongs and beating drums, parading him around for everyone to see. He’d definitely have flaunted him in my face by now! So how have I never heard a thing?’
The thought had barely formed when Du Lingchuan could no longer restrain himself. Before the Treasure Ship had even steadied, he called out in a deep voice, "Is that a disciple of the Wutai Sect ahead? I am Du Lingchuan of the Xuanjia Sect! Was that the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear from that old fellow Peng Zhen you were practicing? Judging from your Spear Momentum, you’ve grasped its very essence. Are you, by any chance, Elder Peng’s new Direct Disciple?"
His tone carried a hint of urgency; he was intensely interested in his old rival’s activities.
’Broken River Spear, Du Lingchuan?!’
This man was also a famously formidable expert in Yunlin Prefecture, ranked among the top five in the Xuanjia Sect.
"Chen Qing, disciple of the Wutai Sect’s Cyan Wood Institute, guarding this waterway under orders from Elder Shen Xiuyong!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing cupped his fist and announced clearly, "I was indeed practicing the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear. This Spear Technique is part of the Sect’s collection in the Armory, and I came to understand it through my own efforts. I was not taught it personally by Dean Peng."
"The Cyan Wood Institute? You figured it out on your own?"
Du Lingchuan was stunned for a moment, then the tension in his heart instantly eased. He couldn’t help but praise, "To be able to practice a Spear Technique like the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear, which relies so heavily on Momentum, to the Great Success Realm... rare! Truly rare!"
He was in a magnificent mood, and his tone became light and teasing. "Oh, Elder Peng, Elder Peng, your Kun Earth Institute is sitting on a Treasure Mountain, yet you let a pearl be covered in dust! Such a promising talent mastered a spear technique right under your nose, and you didn’t even notice? HAHA! If he finds out, he’ll probably beat his chest and stamp his feet, so angry he won’t be able to eat for three days!"
The thought of the look on his old rival’s face upon realizing he had missed out on such a talent made Du Lingchuan feel a sense of comfort wash over him, more refreshing than drinking from an icy spring on the hottest day of summer.
The more he looked at Chen Qing, the more he approved. He remarked, "It takes a year to learn the saber, a month for the staff, but a lifetime for the spear! The spear is the most treacherous of all weapons, and the hardest to master. In Yunlin Prefecture’s younger generation, there are plenty who practice saber and sword, with notables like Nie Shanshan and Yan Yaoyang, but when it comes to the path of the spear..."
He paused, a touch of arrogance and disdain in his voice. "Those who can catch my eye are few and far between! As for those so-called elites under that old fellow Peng Zhen, they’re nothing special."
His eyes shone as he looked at Chen Qing, and he praised him without reservation, "You, kid, you’re really something! Even though you weren’t taught by Peng Zhen personally, your spear form already has a formidable air to it! Much better than those useless disciples of his!"
That last sentence was clearly the main point.
Chen Qing quickly and humbly cupped his fist. "Elder Du, you praise me too highly. I am unworthy. Dean Peng’s Spear Technique is divine; I am merely gleaning from the work of my predecessors, a pale imitation at best. How could I dare compare myself to the senior brothers of the Kun Earth Institute?"
’There were indeed a few disciples in the Kun Earth Institute with impressive skill in Spear Technique; that Li Lei seemed to have reached the Great Success Realm as well. But in truth, his own Spear Technique had already reached Perfection. The true subtlety of Martial Arts techniques was hard for an observer to gauge without seeing them in action. He was well aware of this and had no intention of pointing it out.’
Hearing this, Du Lingchuan’s mood became even more cheerful, and he waved his hand dismissively.
Just then, Chen Qing noticed many figures on the Xuanjia Sect’s Treasure Ship. They were still shaken, dressed in varied attire—mostly merchants, with a few Martial Artists among them. Every one of them wore an expression of exhaustion and the lingering terror of having survived a disaster.
Chen Qing asked, "Elder Du, these people on your sect’s ship are...?"
Du Lingchuan’s expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "These are all hostages abducted by the Nine Waves Island Water Bandits from various places. They were being held in a secret Water Prison behind the mountain. We found them last night while cleaning up the remaining bandits, so we rescued them all. We’re preparing to take them to the Prefecture City to be settled and see if we can find their families."
’Hostages?’
Chen Qing’s heart stirred, and he immediately recalled the task Wu Manqing had entrusted to him.
He quickly cupped his fist and said, "Elder Du, I’ve been entrusted with a task: to find a young Martial Artist named ’Wu Feng.’ He’s about twenty, has a Six Forms Root Bone, and hails from a branch of the Wu Family in Yunlin Prefecture. I was wondering if he might be among these people?"
"Oh? Wu Feng?"
Du Lingchuan looked at a disciple behind him. "Zhenshan, go and ask if there is such a person."
"Yes, Master!"
The lead disciple, who was at the Mid-stage Embracing Pill Power, accepted the order, turned, and walked quickly into the ship’s cabin.
Before long, Tang Zhenshan came out with a young man who was being supported by two Profound Armor Disciples.
The young man’s face was as pale as paper, his aura weak, and his chest was wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage. One of his legs also seemed to be injured, making it difficult for him to walk. It was Wu Feng!
Although he was seriously injured and weak, a trace of the will to live remained in his eyes.
"You’re Steward Chen?"
When Wu Feng saw Chen Qing at the bow of the ship, a faint light flickered in his dim eyes.
A member of the Wu Family would of course recognize their own Tributor.
Chen Qing quickly leaped onto the Xuanjia Sect’s Treasure Ship and came before Wu Feng.
He swiftly took a Jade Bottle from his robes and tipped out a green elixir that exuded a peculiar, clean fragrance. It was a Hundred Fragrance Pill, a healing Holy Medicine with each pill worth a hundred taels of silver.
Chen Qing had bought a few and kept them on him for emergencies.
"Take this."
Chen Qing put the elixir into Wu Feng’s mouth and at the same time placed a palm on his back, over his heart. A gentle stream of Cyan Wood Evergreen True Qi slowly flowed into him, helping him dissolve the elixir’s power and nourish his damaged meridians and organs.
The vibrant life force contained within the Cyan Wood True Qi had a miraculous effect on healing injuries.
As the elixir’s power began to circulate, aided by the nourishment of the Cyan Wood True Qi, a trace of color finally returned to Wu Feng’s pale face. His breathing stabilized slightly, and he gave Chen Qing a grateful look, saying weakly, "Th-thank you, Steward Chen!"
"Just focus on recovering."
Chen Qing nodded, then turned to Du Lingchuan and Tang Zhenshan. "Elder Du, Brother Tang, I have no words to thank you for this great kindness! This young man is an important disciple of the Wu Family. I must ask if your sect could take him to the Wu Family in the Prefecture City, since you are heading that way!"