Celestial Master： I Have an Otherworld-Chapter 48 - 4: Listening Skill
"Elder Yuan."
Du Qiaoyun showed a worried expression and asked softly:
"How is my father’s condition?"
"Alas!" The bearded doctor shook his head and sighed, frowning:
"Master Du was first stabbed in the abdomen and then invaded by corpse energy. Although he survived thanks to his strong physique, his primordial energy is severely depleted."
"Now the corpse energy is swirling within his five viscera, and it requires great medicine to purge it."
"However..."
He hesitated:
"The medicine to remove corpse energy is very potent. It would normally be fine, but now... I’m afraid the Master won’t be able to withstand it."
"What should we do then?" Du Qiaoyun looked anxious:
"We can’t just keep dragging it out like this."
Back then, the Pan She Martial Arts Hall was tasked with going out of the city to eliminate bandits, but they were ambushed instead. Master Du Sheng used all his skills just to escape.
He was severely injured.
Not long after, the chaos caused by the Cyan Wolf Bandits in Gu’an County forced Du Sheng to act, which only worsened his injuries.
He has been bedridden for so long without improvement, and the situation is only getting worse. If this continues, he might die beyond the help of medicine.
Du Qiaoyun cannot lose her father.
The Pan She Martial Arts Hall cannot do without the Master’s presence.
"Cough, cough!"
Du Sheng on the sickbed coughed laboriously, while someone next to him patted his back to clear the phlegm. Only after spitting out some bloodied froth did he rasp out:
"Let’s take a gamble!"
"Father!"
Du Qiaoyun’s eyes filled with tears, full of worry.
"If I don’t gamble now, I fear I’ll have no chance left." Du Sheng forced a slight smile:
"Don’t worry. Even the Cyan Wolf Bandits’ ambush couldn’t kill me; mere corpse energy won’t take my life!"
"It seems that’s the only option." Doctor Yuan nodded:
"In the next two months, I will adjust the Master’s body. Miss Du, it would be best to make some preparations. To resist the potency of the medicine, you’ll need a large amount of ginseng and antler, which are not cheap."
"Rest assured, Elder Yuan." Du Qiaoyun quickly replied:
"I will prepare these and hope you will work your magic by then."
"No problem, no problem!"
"Cui’Er."
Du Qiaoyun beckoned:
"See Elder Yuan off and prepare fifty taels as a consultation fee."
"Yes."
The maid Cui’Er walked in from outside, bowing slightly:
"Elder Yuan, please."
After sending off Elder Yuan, Du Qiaoyun chatted with her father before leaving her aunt to care for him and bowed as she left the room.
Closing the door, her expression darkened.
"Miss."
The steward Uncle He spoke softly:
"These days, money is spent like water, and the Martial Arts Hall is already running at a deficit. I’m afraid we can’t afford much of the treasure medicine needed to save the Master’s life."
"Buy as much as you can." Du Qiaoyun gritted her teeth:
"My father cannot fall ill!"
"..." Uncle He looked up with a challenging expression, then sighed helplessly:
"Understood."
The situation at Pan She Martial Arts Hall was dire.
In the bandit elimination mission, not only was Master Du Sheng seriously injured,
but several of his proud disciples were also severely wounded or killed, including the senior brother and fourth brother with a Qi Blood Third Transformation cultivation base who died on the spot, and the compensation to their families cannot be lacking.
The Martial Arts Hall’s strength was greatly diminished, and some people tried to take advantage of their misfortune.
The escort business and the South City Winery fell into decline, and many disciples became disheartened; all of these burdens fell on Du Qiaoyun.
She dared not tell her father, fearing Du Sheng could not withstand the blow.
"Young Martial Arts Hall Master!"
At this moment, someone hurriedly ran over, panting and stammering:
"A high-spender... has come!"
*
*
*
In the main hall of the Martial Arts Hall.
Fang Zheng stood with his hands behind his back, admiring the paintings on the wall.
One could tell Master Du had a bold taste, with paintings of landscapes featuring fierce beasts and bold calligraphy.
As for the painting skills...
That’s up for debate.
"Young Master Fang."
A clear voice rang out.
Fang Zheng turned at the sound and saw a woman with skin as white as snow and hair like a black waterfall, walking towards him. Her blue-green outfit outlined her graceful figure.
This woman had distinct and enduring features, with a serene demeanor in her bright eyes, differing from the gentle manner found in other women.
Du Qiaoyun?
Rumor had it she was a genius martial artist expected to break through to the Qi Blood Third Transformation this year.
"Young Martial Arts Hall Master."
Fang Zheng cupped his hands:
"I’ve heard much about the Young Martial Arts Hall Master. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you; your reputation is well deserved."
"Just a false reputation." Du Qiaoyun also examined Fang Zheng, finding a unique aura around this ’businessman.’
Very strange.
Yet somehow comforting.
"Young Master Fang."
She looked at Fang Zheng and said:
"Do you wish to learn martial arts at Pan She Martial Arts Hall?"
"Yes and no." Fang Zheng began:
"I’ve long heard of the martial arts at Pan She Martial Arts Hall and naturally wish to learn a bit, but I have another legacy requiring the use of someone from your Martial Arts Hall."
"Oh!" Du Qiaoyun responded:
"Tell me more."
"The cultivation method I practice is called the Tai Chi Listening Skill, which requires a Human Pole Brushing Force." Fang Zheng explained:
"If the Young Martial Arts Hall Master could assist, money would not be an issue."
"So Young Master Fang is here to practice force." Du Qiaoyun understood:
"That’s simple."
Martial arts are honed and fought for; skills without actual combat are foolish, a principle that applies in both worlds.
In martial arts training, actual combat is necessary.
Practicing a hundred times is not as good as fighting once!
Some people would specifically act as human poles, taking hits for money. Wealthier disciples in the Martial Arts Hall would often use people this way, so Fang Zheng’s request was not surprising.
She gestured:
"Shall we have a quick practice?"
Cultivation techniques vary, as do their training methods. Skills like Eagle Claw and Poison Palm, which can be deadly, must be approached cautiously.
"Okay."
Fang Zheng nodded and extended his hand.
Du Qiaoyun raised her eyebrows, mimicking his motion and touching hands with him. As soon as their four hands made contact, a surge of force emerged.
This force wasn’t strong.
Du Qiaoyun’s body tilted slightly, and she soon felt the force changing with her movements, trying to topple her to the ground.
She quickly stabilized, feeling her body swaying back and forth, while the invisible force surged between them.
"Such power!"
Du Qiaoyun stepped back, her eyes shining:
"Forgive my ignorance, Young Master Fang, but I’ve never heard of this martial art, where merely touching the body allows one to sense the opponent’s movements and predict their actions."
"Listening Skill, indeed worthy of its name!"
Once mastered, such a skill could throw anyone it contacts, similar to the Eighteen Coil Throw technique.
In combat, it also allows one to control the situation, a mysterious skill indeed.
In Du Qiaoyun’s view, the Tai Chi Listening Skill seemed to be an excellent legacy, but not yet top-tier, due to its many limitations.
"Overrated." Fang Zheng shook his head:
"If the Young Martial Arts Hall Master resisted with force, I couldn’t control it at all. It seems I’m far from mastering it, let alone reaching perfection."
"Perseverance ensures success." Du Qiaoyun said:
"I can arrange for Human Poles to practice with you, but regarding the price..."
"Price is not an issue."
"Then it’s settled. I’ll first arrange for a few people to practice with Young Master Fang."
Du Qiaoyun didn’t rush to discuss the price. She called several people to the Martial Arts Arena for Fang Zheng to test, then asked about his impressions.
"Strange."
Fang Zheng frowned:
"Although these people are decent, I feel the effect is far less than with the Young Martial Arts Hall Master."
"That’s to be expected." Du Qiaoyun laughed:
"The forces interact; since I’m a Qi Blood Martial Artist, practicing force on me naturally yields better results than with ordinary people."
"I see!"
Fang Zheng’s eyes lit up:
"Could the Young Martial Arts Hall Master possibly assist me in practicing force? Price is negotiable!"
If Du Qiaoyun aided in training, he could certainly master the Tai Chi Listening Skill within a month, whereas others might take half a year or even longer.
"You want me to help you practice?"
Du Qiaoyun’s expression changed, her eyes turning cold.
She was, after all, the Young Martial Arts Hall Master of Pan She Martial Arts Hall, a person of status and rank in Gu’an County, unsuited to such lower tasks.
Fang Zheng held up one finger.
"Ten taels of silver a day!"
"..." The rebuke caught in Du Qiaoyun’s throat, as she forcibly smiled slightly:
"No problem!"
Fang Zheng was overjoyed, but suddenly felt dizzy, his vision darkening, nearly collapsing to the ground.
