Beichen Sword Sect's Headmaster's Secret Records

Chapter 448 Endless Life

Tie Dan felt something licking his face.

Kun...

He struggled to open his eyes and saw a huge suction cup with tentacles on the outside, like a lotus showerhead. Inside the suction cup were a lot of anemone-like hairs that were dancing, twitching and licking his face, while a lot of sticky, thick liquid was spilling out and soaking his head.

demon……

Tie Dan tried to unleash a burst of sword energy to kill the fiend, but found his lungs and internal organs completely empty. Not only could he not summon sword energy, but his entire body was also exhausted and unable to move. He couldn't even lift the broken sword in his hand to stab someone. It was as if every bone in his body was broken, and his meridians and internal organs were severely damaged and paralyzed as if they had been ravaged by a storm. His inner sea of ​​qi had long since dried up, and he had no more of his thousand years of Dao power. It was as if someone had drained all the essence and blood from his body, leaving him completely unable to move.

However, before Tie Dan could come up with a way to escape, he was lost in his inner vision when, in the blink of an eye, the strange dream suddenly shifted. The demons from before vanished like bubbles, replaced by a beautiful figure. A woman was crawling on top of him, sucking and licking, drawing his vital essence and yang energy from his mouth and nose.

Or is it a demon...?

Tie Dan took a deep breath, about to break free from the illusion, when a sword aura pierced her skull, only to find her Qi Sea still empty. Well, although at the Nascent Soul stage, each Qi aperture could spontaneously breathe and regulate its energy, it seemed that this injury was too severe, almost a complete reshaping of her Dao body. As a result, the true Qi she inhaled and exhaled was prioritized for use by the Blood Jade Divine Art to fill and repair her physical body, so naturally, she couldn't unleash sword power from her Danxi abdomen to kill again.

However, at this moment, Tie Dan suddenly felt a warm current flowing into his meridians and lungs through his mouth and nose. Only then did he realize that this woman was not only absorbing his yang energy, but also exhaling it back to him after it was absorbed into her abdomen. Moreover, the breath that returned was no longer just pure yang energy, but a combined yin and yang energy.

Yes, the woman is currently practicing dual cultivation with Tie Dan to heal his injuries, treating the hidden dangers in his internal organs, and transferring her refined essence to him to repair and restore his Dao body.

With each breath, and the slight movement of her lips and teeth, the woman naturally noticed that Tie Dan had woken up. So she straightened up and stood up from Tie Dan's body. At first glance, her appearance seemed somewhat familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before. However, she was completely naked, and the surroundings were pitch black, with no reference points. She couldn't remember who she was for a moment.

Before Tie Dan could regain his memory and figure out what was going on, the woman took a medicine bottle from somewhere, took a sip in front of Tie Dan, and then bent down to feed it to him mouth-to-mouth.

The cool liquid flowed down his throat, acting like some kind of poison or anesthetic, instantly shutting down all his senses, and Tie Dan fell asleep again.

When Tiedan awoke again, he found himself lying in a tent, his body bandaged like a mummy. His mouth and nose reeked of a strange mixture of blood, sweat, medicine, and rotting flesh. He heard groans and howls all around him. Turning his head, he saw a pile of wounded soldiers, some still groaning, others lying rotten on their beds, neglected and abandoned – a scene of utter carnage. He wondered if the hallucinations he had just experienced were a final burst of energy before his death.

After trying to move his body, Tie Dan found that although his Dao power was still completely depleted and his essence blood was almost gone, his meridians and internal organs had been mostly repaired, and he could barely get up.

"Hey! Lie down! Don't you want to live anymore?!"

Someone lifted the tent flap to come in and change the dressing. When they saw Tie Dan trying to stand up while leaning on his knife, they quickly came over and lifted the bed for him.

Since his muscles weren't strong enough to exert force yet, Tie Dan didn't resist and calmly stared at his opponent.

The man had a fair complexion and a beard, and looked like an ordinary schoolteacher. However, he was now wearing an apron and covered in blood, so it was hard to tell whether he had changed professions to become a butcher or a doctor, or perhaps both.

"Where am I?"

"Where are you? Did you break your brain?"

The doctor glanced at the bloodstains seeping from Tie Dan's forehead, then lifted the tent flap to reveal the towering city walls in the distance.

"Suiyang".

"...How long has it been?"

The doctor moved a small stool down and began to unwrap Tie Dan's bandages and change his dressing.

"Last night, the rebels organized a vanguard suicide squad and launched a fierce night attack, leaving a trail of corpses and bloodshed. They even managed to break through the city wall. If it weren't for the brave men fighting to the death, the city would have been breached."

"You were covered in wounds, and even when you were collecting the weapons, you were still clutching the knife, barely letting go. You were dragged out of a pile of corpses. Do you remember that?"

"..."

Tie Dan looked at the bloody handprints on the knife and guessed that the other party had saved the wrong person.

"Sigh... Anyway, you're injured like this now, there's nothing we can do to help. Just lie down and recover, and leave the rest to us."

Of course, Tie Dan refused to obediently lie down. After the medical staff went to treat other wounded, he stood up with his sword in hand and limped out of the tent.

He still remembered saving someone in Liangdu... but failed... Damn it, Emei, this grudge will be avenged...

In short, Tie Dan clearly remembered being ambushed by the Six Emei Heroes and severely injured by their "Celestial Annihilation Light." Enraged, he wanted to kill them all, but suddenly someone covered his eyes, blinding him. He vaguely remembered being brutally beaten by four people, sustaining serious injuries, and ultimately losing consciousness. As for how he later managed to infiltrate Suiyang, he honestly couldn't remember…

Was it because the sword bore the handprint of the Divine Cult that it was mistaken for someone else? But it's no wonder they saved the wrong person. At this moment, there were indeed quite a few soldiers in the city, their armor and banners a chaotic mix. There were local garrison soldiers, defeated imperial guards, regional vassal armies, servants of powerful clans, local militia, wandering knights recruited from the populace, plus laborers and stragglers, totaling tens of thousands.

A few days ago, a major battle had taken place, resulting in heavy casualties in the city. At this time, the officers and soldiers gathered and reorganized the remaining soldiers, trained elite troops, distributed armor and weapons, and rotated them to guard the city. The rest of the soldiers assisted in maintaining the city's defenses, treating the wounded, and burying the dead.

It has to be said that Tie Dan's bandaged clothes are quite convenient now. The patrolling soldiers did not think he was a spy when they saw his miserable state. Everyone was busy repairing the city defenses and did not pay attention to him. In addition, the broken sword was protected by the blood handprint of the Divine Cult, and no blood god came down to attack him. He actually managed to sneak all the way to the city lord's mansion.

Then, with great ease, Tie Dan found Zhang Xun, the garrison commander of Suiyang.

Finding him wasn't difficult. To reassure the people, Zhang Xun voluntarily opened the gates of the city lord's mansion. Surrounded by a large number of soldiers, officers, and strategists, he planned how to deploy defenses, provide support, and launch a counterattack. He also frequently inspected key checkpoints and granaries, and even personally checked the well water to ensure it wasn't poisoned. Almost everyone in the city had seen him.

Moreover, with the battle at this stage, everyone knows that Zhang Suiyang is the mainstay, and the Divine Cult has placed its core defense on him. Looking up, one sees hundreds of blood-red shadows, like a flock of crows, hovering and circling above the City Lord's Mansion. Ghostly figures lurk in the streets and alleys, hiding countless skilled guards. If Tie Dan hadn't been so frail and weak, it wouldn't have been so easy for him to get close.

To be honest, once I saw him in person, I found that Zhang Xun, the governor of Suiyang, looked like an ordinary old official who had been working on his desk for many years. He had a thin face, narrow eyes, a slightly hunched back, and a few wisps of beard. He was the kind of middle-aged or elderly person who had spent many years working in confidential offices and who would brew strong tea with goji berries in his thermos. Even when he was fully dressed in military uniform and armor, it was hard to say that he looked like a hero.

If there's anything special about him, it's that he's probably on some kind of drug right now, transforming from an ordinary old man into a sharp-eyed, energetic old man, assigning jobs to hundreds of people all by himself, his mouth never stopping, just like a vigorous mountain goat that's ready to butt anyone it sees.

However, I can't really see any other supernatural abilities. Or perhaps, even without any supernatural abilities, being able to organize a group of people to swim against the current, turn the tide, and reverse the situation could be considered a skill in itself...

"You've even made your way all the way here!"

Suddenly, someone came up from behind and grabbed Tie Dan's hand. Tie Dan was about to stab him in the back when he realized that the person was the doctor. He had to stop himself. He lost his footing and was pulled to the ground.

"What's all this noise about!"

The surrounding soldiers immediately became alert, drew their swords, and surrounded the enemy.

The medical staff quickly protected Tie Dan.
"Don't cut, don't cut! I barely managed to revive him with medicine. I'm sorry to bother you, my husband. This guy is badly injured and confused. He's even sleepwalking here to report for duty. I'll take him back right away."

"It's alright, it's alright. Brother Wuqiong, how's the situation on your end?"

Zhang Xun had dismissed the servants and came up to the physician, taking his hand as they sat down on the steps. He even slipped a rice ball to the physician.

The physician smiled wryly.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, my lord. Of the righteous men who guarded the gate last night, only this one survived." Zhang Xun sighed, then, with a kind and benevolent expression, patted Tie Dan's shoulder like a venerable elder.

“Good valiant warrior! If it weren’t for your courage and loyalty, and your desperate fight against the enemy, this city would probably have fallen. On behalf of all the soldiers, I thank you for your great kindness. Brother Wuqiong, please take good care of him for me, and give him priority in receiving all necessary medicines and supplies.”

The doctor nodded. "Of course, you can rest assured that I'll handle things."

This was a perfect opportunity. With the broken sword in hand and Zhang Xun beside him, he raised his hand and stabbed him to death.
However, Tie Dan didn't move, and instead sneered coldly.
"No need, you're already like this, what use are you to me?"

The surrounding warriors all stared in disbelief, but to their surprise, Zhang Xun bowed and said loudly.
"Gentlemen, please calm down! Let me say a few words!"

You are all fearless in the face of violence and fire! Who among you who came to help defend Suiyang is not a brave and valiant man, a man of passion and courage!

"A seven-foot frame, alone he stood against the enemy's blade; swords shattered, armor torn, blood soaked his clothes, yet he did not retreat. His patriotism is evident!"

Then he tore off his armor and looked around at his soldiers.
"Our Suiyang needs this kind of iron will! This kind of righteous courage! This kind of loyalty! This kind of burning passion!"

I have made a promise to you all: I will build a temple for the deceased! I will grant him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households!
"I cannot share wealth and honor with you all! Yet I swear to shed my blood for you all!"

Then Zhang Xun slashed his chest with his sword, and all the surrounding soldiers stared in horror, their beards bristling, their armor trembling, shouting, and drawing their swords to swear a blood oath.
"I am willing to fight to the death!"

"Arrogant and haughty, disliking roundness and favoring squareness, proud of numbers and fame, nitpicking the subtle and insignificant, not specializing in any one skill, strange and eccentric, unusable at any time, only for self-amusement. Waiting patiently for my enemies to be placed..."

The army medic, Brother Wuqiong, didn't participate in the morale-boosting pre-battle celebration. Instead, he carried Tiedan on a stretcher and dragged him back, chatting with him all the way while shaking his head.
"I've studied all my life, but I failed the imperial examinations for ten years, and I was plagued by five kinds of poverty. Do you know what the five kinds of poverty are?"
Poor in wisdom, poor in learning, poor in literature, poor in fate, poor in social connections.

To put it bluntly, it means that after reading a few books, one becomes arrogant and conceited, thinking oneself to be learned and looking down on others. One dislikes being slick and prefers honesty, and is ashamed of doing treacherous things, but loses the ability to be flexible and adaptable, so one runs into obstacles wherever one goes.

However, he was still arrogant and unaware of his own worth, and devoted himself to exploring the profound meanings and subtle principles of the sages, while looking down on the likes of divination and numerology. He could only write strange and useless articles to amuse himself.

Heh, in the end, it's all just wasting time, squandering a lifetime, achieving nothing, and in old age, all you can do is suffer from hunger and cold. Even if someone offers you well-intentioned advice, you'll have to endure rumors and ridicule from others, and if you encounter an enemy, it'll be truly miserable~~

Tie Dan ignored him.

"Later, I finally realized that a fine young man, full of knowledge and learning, should not spend his days wallowing in self-pity and blaming others!"

It's better to rely on yourself than on others! I will work hard! I will strive for self-improvement! Even if I'm plagued by poverty, I can just give up studying!
I refuse to believe there's no path for me in this world! Everyone has their own unique talents! I refuse to believe I'm not talented!

Therefore, I call myself Infinite! I vow never again to be troubled by the five kinds of poverty!
I must make something of myself! So that Heaven will know that someone like me exists in this world!

The medic stopped, raised his arm in a shout, then bent down and continued pulling the cart.

"As a result, I encountered bandits while farming, thieves while trading, and officials everywhere I went demanding bribes and kickbacks."

When he began practicing medicine, he encountered war, floods, droughts, locust plagues, barren lands, and countless deaths.

He barely escaped death, only to be trampled to death by a horse the very next day; there was no way anyone could save him…

So now I understand, it's not me who's the problem, it's the world that's sick..."

The medic dragged Tie Dan back into the tent, threw him among a pile of barely alive corpses, and continued to treat his wounds and change his dressings.

"In short, I can't go on living, but you clearly have a bright future ahead of you, so why come to a place like this to die?"

Tie Dan looked at him.
"To die in a place like this, is that considered a useful life?"

"I don't know either. The garrison commander of Suiyang recruited me just to find a military doctor. I thought he was alright, so I just came here to earn a living."

But now, I really don't understand. Why do so many people come to this place to die, one after another...?

Wuqiong gazed intently at the city wall, then shook his head.

"However, perhaps they each have their own reasons, don't you think?"

Tie Dan remained silent.

"Hey, Egg, you're finally awake."

When Tie Dan opened his eyes again, he could no longer see the military doctor, Wu Qiong. Instead, he saw a blood-red shadow under the bright moonlight, like a cloak floating in mid-air.

"where have you been."

Chen Xuantian said,

"Oh well, since we're stuck here anyway, and have nothing else to do, I might as well wander around and see what's going on."

Tie Dan frowned, his eyes sharpening.
"Trapped in the enemy lines?"

"Eight Gates Golden Lock".

Chen Xuantian lifted the tent flap, looked out at the Suiyang city tower under the bright moonlight, and calculated with his fingers.

"This is the opening of the door. Qian corresponds to Jia and Ren. The Qian position contains Hai, which is the place where Jia wood is born. Jia is also the first of the ten Heavenly Stems."

Therefore, "opening" signifies the beginning of all things and is a gate of great fortune. It is most auspicious for starting a business, engaging in military campaigns, traveling far and wide, getting married, moving to a new house, and seeking medical treatment.

This is called "opening the door brings great fortune." Even if one cannot break through this formation, entering through this door will certainly not bring harm.

Then Chen Xuantian put his hands behind his back.
"Who knew I'd get trapped the moment I rushed in? Damn it, they managed to outmaneuver me, they've got some skills..."

Tie Dan, "..."

"But don't panic, I've already mastered my divine skills. I broke through one gate last night. You go and rest over there. Watch this hanging gate, I'll definitely break it!"

Then he flicked his sleeve, and blood rained down on his face.

When Tie Dan opened his eyes again, he saw that the vast land was no more, the world was completely stained with blood, and all that remained in his vision was an endless sea of ​​crimson blood, stretching to the end of the world, as if the heavens and earth had been swallowed up.

(End of this chapter)