Chapter 121: 121. The Blind Taoist Priest
The paper crane vaguely had characters on it, and upon opening it was revealed to be an invitation card.
A formal invitation card is needed before a proper visit to let the host know the background of the visitor. The vigorous and forceful cursive on it read—
Greetings from all fellow cultivators of the Liao Family Fist.
I am Zhou He of Wudang, who has undergone the Blood-Exchange and Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing.
A month ago, at Richard Restaurant, I chanced upon three individuals exterminating demons and saving people, an act which I greatly admire.
I specially visit today and I hope you will not hesitate to grant me an audience.
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A few lines of casual conversation, but it is the standard invitation among martial artists, clearly stating the background, realm, and purpose of the visitor.
Liao Ya exclaimed in surprise, "This Zhou He Daoist Priest, an ordained Daoist by the Imperial Court, and the Prefectural Governor's confidant... he is actually that blind old man who played the violin!"
Lu Yao was also curious about the spirit refinement expert from the Otherworld, but security could not be compromised. He seriously said, "Then let's meet him, you two stay inside ready to act."
The sisters nodded, pulling the huge bolt of the .50 caliber machine gun, and chambering a round!
Lu Yao opened the gate of the martial arts hall and called out loudly, "Daoist Priest Zhou, please come in."
An old man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a checkered suit approached leisurely. His hair was salt-and-pepper, and his eyes were only white, making it apparent he was blind. But Lu Yao could clearly feel a wave of fluctuations sweep over his body.
This unique appearance immediately reminded them—this was the old man who performed the violin in the banquet hall!
"I am Zhou He, and I apologize for the presumptuous visit. I hope you will forgive me."
"Please don't mention it. That day in the banquet hall, none of us realized that you were such an esteemed expert. We have been disrespectful."
Daoist Priest Zhou was very polite, and despite being blind, he carried himself with elegance and grace. Settling down comfortably, he took out a book wrapped in silk from his chest and placed it on the stone table, saying gravely,
"It's rash of me to come like this. This is a Spirit Refining Method, my gift for this visit, please accept it with a smile."
Lu Yao glanced at the book, titled 'Spring Breeze and Drunkenness', which turned out to be a secret manual for hypnotism! It allowed the wielder to infuse Mind Force into their speech and hypnotize those of weak will.
The knowledge of spirit refinement has long been tightly guarded by the Imperial Court, major sects, and families, and its preciousness goes without saying.
The value of this book far exceeds that of material wealth, making this gift extremely valuable.
Despite receiving such a generous gift, Lu Yao remained composed and said loudly, "Thank you, Daoist Priest, for your generous gift. But I can't accept a reward without having done any merit. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Seeing that Lu Yao was unmoved, Zhou He also privately admired him, and with a cupped fist said:
"This visit is firstly to thank you all for freeing me from the troubles of my inner demons.
To be honest, on that day at the 'Blood Feast', I had the same intention as the Young Master, desiring to eliminate the demons.
But unexpectedly, there were so many of them, and there was even a Kartin not weaker than me!
When the demons were about to feast on humans, I was terribly conflicted about whether to act... Alas, I am ashamed to say, I ultimately did not overcome the fear of death."
Zhou He pointed to his own eyes and continued,
"When I was young and impetuous studying abroad, I had already suffered at the hands of Western demon beasts, having lost my eyes, ears, and the ability to speak. Now, I can only communicate with others by relying on spirit refinement... A seed of fear had been planted in my heart.
Thus, for you to have cleared the court and sweep away the horde of demons, I truly cannot thank you enough, both on behalf of the common people and for myself! Please accept my bow."
After speaking, he stood up, bowed solemnly with a cupped fist gesture, while Lu Yao quickly stepped aside saying, "I dare not accept."
Only after speaking at length did they realize that the old Daoist did not have a tongue and was speaking solely through the vibrations of Inner Breath to assist phonation, leaving one to wonder what he had experienced in his earlier years.
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A cool breeze blew in, causing the Wutong tree in the courtyard to rustle.
After taking his seat again, Lu Yao got straight to the point and asked, "Daoist Priest, surely there is another matter that brings you here?"
Zhou He sighed with a wry smile, saying, "Young Master Lu has a discerning eye, so I will speak frankly—I wish to purchase the 'Blood Core' left behind after Kartin's death."
At this, Lu Yao also became interested. At the time of Kartin's death, he had left behind a ruby the size of a duck egg. This object had been collected in abundance, and its purpose remained a mystery.
"Daoist Zhou, what is the use of this 'Blood Core'?"
Zhou He replied, "In my Divine Land, demon beasts have Demon Cores, and the Blood Core is akin to the 'Demon Core' of Western demon beasts—the essence of their being, which can be used in alchemy."
He took out a jade vial and poured out a red pill the size of a longan. A strange scent wafted through the air, and Lu Yao realized he felt no particular craving, suggesting it wasn't a restorative pill.
"This is the 'Wisdom Spirit Pill' used to nurture spirit pets, as well as the 'Cultivating Origin Pill,' which people can also consume. Both require a demon beast's 'Blood Core' to be made."
Zhou He whistled, and though the sound wasn't loud, it carried an odd vibration that spread far.
Shortly after, an Immortal Crane descended from the sky and landed beside him.
The Immortal Crane was about 1.6 meters long with a wingspan of 2.4 meters—only slightly larger than its kin, but it appeared to be highly spiritual.
When Zhou He reached out to touch it, impatience flashed in its eyes, but it patiently allowed the touch. Then, it pecked at the elixir and swallowed it.
It called out twice as if it still wanted more, but Zhou He showed his empty hands and shook his head. The Immortal Crane then unfolded its wings and flew away without hesitation.
Zhou He put away the porcelain vial and stroked his beard, saying, "The Daoist seeks the Blood Core in hopes of advancing his spirit pet's level so that it can soon carry the Daoist into the sky and soar the heavens in human form! Just the thought fills one with longing."
He watched the direction the Immortal Crane took off with a look of yearning, then solemnly said with a fist held to his chest:
"I ask for Young Master Lu's assistance! Whether it's cultivation techniques, secret manuals, or recipes for elixirs, I will spare none that I have!"
Lu Yao remembered Zhang Xin's white tiger. To tell the truth, he was quite envious and wanted to nurture a "baby" pet of his own.
Moreover, he wasn't lacking in restorative medicines or secret manuals. There was only one thing on this old Daoist that truly caught his interest!
"As the saying goes, 'Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.' How about this—I present the Blood Core and add some silver, and you teach me the art of alchemy. How does that sound?"
Zhou He was stunned on the spot. It was common to ask for the sky and pay back on earth, but to upend someone's livelihood completely was too much.
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After a long silence, Zhou He was the first to speak, "Young Master Lu, may you first restrain your divine skills? My mind force has been sending me warnings."
"My apologies," Lu Yao said with a gesture, and the sound of bullets being unchambered could be heard faintly, as the two vigilant sisters stood down.
Zhou He finally felt more at ease. Ever since he had stepped into the boxing gym, he had been experiencing a strong sense of crisis, even more intense than when he faced thirty demon beasts during the Blood Feast.
And still, there remained a sense of crisis lingering, coming from the young man before him whose realm was much lower than his own. No doubt he possessed some astonishing methods.
Zhou He inwardly marveled: This small sect of merely three people was as dangerous as a dragon's den or a tiger's lair!
But his visit had been presumptuous, so it was normal for them to be guarded.
After considering for a moment, he proposed, "Young Master Lu, the art of alchemy is a Wudang secret not to be imparted to outsiders.
Instead, how about this: Within two years, whenever you require, I can use the realm of Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing to help you reflect upon yourselves, clearly showing the internal changes in your bodies. Such assistance would be like having divine aid during cultivation! How does that sound?"
No sooner had he spoken than both sisters showed a lack of interest—for it was similar to the "Color Ultrasound Instrument" that Lu Yao had brought.
Lu Yao shook his head and said, "We already have the assistance of a master, so we do not need to trouble Daoist Zhou."
Zhou He wasn't particularly surprised. He had already learned—Lu Yao was a wealthy man of overseas derivation who donated millions of jin of food. He had fired silver bullets at vampires as if money meant nothing.
For such a figure to seek the aid of a "Spirit Refinement of Divine Fetal Breathing" master for cultivation assistance was quite normal.
In fact, Zhou He had come with good intentions.
He had a very favorable impression of Lu Yao, sensing that the young man had a righteous heart and compassionate nature, willing to risk venturing into a lair of demons for a few children. This was a rare and precious quality among today's martial artists.
Concerning what secret manuals or elixirs to offer in exchange, Zhou He was pondering this when Lu Yao suddenly said, "Daoist Zhou, why not consider my offer before you decide?"