Chapter 552: Chapter 326: Rift Between Master and Disciple, Jingchun Gravely Ill, Emotions in Turmoil, Devotion to Li Xian

It is said that Jing Chun Daoist’s original name was "Zhao Chunxia." She was wrongfully convicted due to He Wentian’s treachery and was falsely labeled as a murderer. She should have been executed publicly, but was secretly transported to this place, imprisoned in a cave within the gorge, never to see daylight again.

Upon realizing He Wentian’s cunning nature, Zhao Chunxia regretted it deeply, but it was too late. Although she was captured and imprisoned, she remained resilient and calm: "He Wentian, you truly live up to your reputation. I trusted your name, only to let you harm me. Since you didn’t kill me on the spot, if I ever get the chance, I will surely ruin your reputation!"

She reassured Ji Hui with her eyes and whispered, "Calm your mind, my disciple. I will quietly wait for the right timing and then find a way to escape!" Ji Hui was greatly comforted and thought to herself, "Master is incredibly capable; with her around, I can feel at ease."

For the first three days, Zhao Chunxia combined her knowledge to examine the flaws in the cave and plan an escape route, trying to understand the enemy’s cultivation and capabilities. Her heart grew heavier with this knowledge, but she remained composed and adaptable, feeling that although the situation was difficult, it was not hopeless.

"Success depends on human effort. Although I wear shackles, my Inner Qi is sealed, and my abilities are less than one-tenth of usual, I still have some tricks. This stone prison is strong, but if I can escape the current predicament, then find a way to break the shackles and restore my state, I can use my skills to resolve the crisis."

Seated calmly, Zhao Chunxia’s face was slightly pale, her long hair flowing. She was serene and beautiful, untouched by dust, composed as always. The cave was narrow and dark, unable to hide her beauty.

The many cave rooms on the mountainside were all carved out of the rock face, with no roads to access them. Only iron chains descended from above, and daily meals and supervision were delivered by servants climbing along these ropes to reach the various cave rooms.

On the fourth day.

Having observed for several days, Zhao Chunxia was full of confidence, feeling that the time was ripe. She quietly waited for a servant to climb along the rope to the outside of the cave room and performed the "Spring Observation Sound as Me," a Martial Arts derived from the "Spring Observation Treasure Manual" Health Care Skill. Using celestial sound and Chest Drum Thunder Sound, it requires no Inner Qi to aid it and invisibly confuses the enemy. As the saying goes, "observe spring as me;" those affected would momentarily feel that they were both "me" and not "me," instead becoming Zhao Chunxia, contemplating matters from "Zhao Chunxia’s" perspective.

If engaged in a duel, the opponent under this celestial sound would no longer be themselves but Zhao Chunxia, while the real Zhao Chunxia stood opposite. This experience was extremely bizarre; who would want to wield their sword against "themselves"? Naturally, they would hesitate and be confused, sometimes striking slantingly to avoid harming "themselves," sometimes voluntarily stepping into the blade, ultimately leading to defeat.

Using this technique here, Zhao Chunxia could make the food delivery servant feel "like me but not me," causing him to see "himself" trapped inside the cave room and naturally find a way to unlock the captivity, allowing "himself" to escape.

This plan was viable. The servant, enthralled by this strange skill, immediately sought to assist.

However, the supervisor of the hidden gorge, named Zheng Decun, was a slender figure with a long face, short nose, fine eyebrows, and large eyes, appearing both male and female. He was a Yin Yang People with a heavy Yin characteristic, difficult to deceive. He instantly noticed the irregularity and killed the servant with a single palm strike.

Zheng Decun was not angry but laughed, a voice filled with treachery: "Well, I’ve been hiding in the shadows, anticipating that you women have no small means. I let you try it out to know how to prevent it!"

Zhao Chunxia’s face was as cold as frost: "Birds of a feather, indeed. When it comes to treachery, you are all of the same breed!" Zheng Decun laughed, "Thank you for the compliment. I’ll go fetch the clavicle pipa chain. You’d better behave, or else this grand instrument will be used on your obedient disciple."

Though Zhao Chunxia was unwilling, she considered her disciple’s life and submitted to the punishment. The "clavicle pipa chain" had four sharp hooks, two large and two small, lethally sharp. The two large hooks penetrated through the clavicle from behind.

The two small hooks were inserted into the ankles, and the iron chain extended, locking in the four corners of the cave. Zhao Chunxia endured the pain in silence, but her heart sank into an ice cave, feeling escape even more difficult. When the iron gate slammed shut, she was still in a daze.

She gritted her teeth through the pain and assessed her body’s condition. The clavicle pipa chain locked bone and Qi alike. When she secretly played the "Spring Observation Sound as Me," the vibration of the bones would inevitably pull the clavicle, causing unbearable pain and a cold sweat. Moreover, the celestial sound played through the bone; the pipa lock connected through it, leading the sound out instantly.

The clavicle pipa chain also had the strange effect of "bone transformation." Worn for a long time, the iron chain would fuse into the bone, becoming one with the person bound and impossible to separate.

When Zhao Chunxia played the celestial sound, the pipa chain rattled noisily, immediately attracting the guard’s attention. Her techniques were difficult to deploy, and with both ankles pierced by hooks, although she could walk, stepping out of the cave was an unthinkable notion.

Ji Hui looked over with concern and anxiety. Zhao Chunxia, not wanting her disciple to feel frightened and hopeless, feigned calm and nodded reassuringly. Yet, she sensed her hope dwindling, feeling panicked inside.

Two more days passed. A servant climbed up to the wrought iron fence outside, ordered to extend his finger. Zhao Chunxia did not want to comply, but the situation was irreversible. The servant pierced his fingertip, channeling Qi to force out blood, filling a jade vial.

Zhao Chunxia realized in a daze: "So, He Wentian went to all this trouble, deceiving me into captivity here, simply to continually extract my blood essence." She attempted to move, letting out a muffled groan, overwhelmed by the intense pain in her muscles and bones.

In the evening, with the sky darkening and an eerie silence around, an occasional chill wind blew.

Jing Chun Daoist wore a bitter expression, her beautiful face full of sorrow, thinking: "I come from the Sword Sect, dedicating my life to eradicating evil as my duty. Calmly cultivating, I gradually mastered the ’Spring Observation Treasure Manual,’ claiming to understand all worldly principles. The Mountain Sword Sect is great with many disciples, inevitably leading to conflicts. I chose not to participate, hence I sought another treasure mountain, spending my days observing spring, thus calling myself Jing Chun Daoist. Who would have thought I would fall prey to evil men when entering the world? I suffer from the torment, and now Hui’Er also faces misfortune. But the most pitiable is my disciple, Wang Long. He... he is not a woman, so he must be... dead."