Tianlong: Starting with Mantuo Manor as fertilizer

Xuan Cheng asked Xie Bu Ruo to perform acupuncture on him because he valued Xie Bu Ruo's powerful acupuncture technique.

His martial arts skills had been destroyed over the decades, and his meridians were severed. Although he could still move around with difficulty, his body was far weaker than that of an ordinary person, and he had long harbored a sense of world-weariness.

Seeing that Xie Bu Ruo was demonstrating acupuncture techniques to the monks, which was extremely dangerous, he was actually eager to try it himself.

He wanted to borrow the Buddha's blessing from the other party's needle and be reborn in the Pure Land.

However, he never expected that he would ultimately underestimate the power of this needle.

The needle didn't kill him, but it made him jump up abruptly.

The monks nearby were all greatly shocked upon seeing this.

Xie, however, was used to giving acupuncture to animals and remained calm about it.

Seeing that the other person hadn't died from the needle, he was completely relieved.

Xuan Yin was both surprised and delighted to see that her senior brother, who clearly had difficulty moving, was able to suddenly leap up. She quickly stepped forward to take his pulse.

I felt that his pulse was steady and there was no danger to his life.

My heart was beating faster, probably from the intense pain I had just experienced.

Upon closer examination, it was discovered that the senior brother's meridians were no longer as congested as before.

Xuan Cheng only realized that he felt a little better after he jumped up.

He moved his arm and, surprisingly, felt no soreness or numbness. He couldn't help but look at Xie Buruo and exclaimed, "Your acupuncture technique is quite skillful!"

Xie Buruo was quite pleased with himself: "Dr. Xue often says that my acupuncture technique is too domineering and can't cure people, but it seems that's an exaggeration. I think this needle was inserted very well."

Xuan Yin was also happy for her senior brother: "Please, young hero Xie, grant my senior brother another acupuncture treatment!"

"Ah!" Xuan Cheng was startled by these words. "I think that's unnecessary. My hands and feet are perfectly fine now."

As he spoke, he walked a few steps to indicate that he was in good health.

Unexpectedly, Xuan Yin and the other monks grabbed his hands and pressed him back into the chair.

"Senior brother, you have a chronic illness. It was only with great difficulty that the acupuncture was effective. How can you give up halfway?"

Xuan Yin then looked at Xie Buruo behind the chair.

"Please thank you for your divine acupuncture skills, young hero!"

Xuan Cheng is not afraid of death, but he is afraid of pain.

"Xuanyin, are you trying to kill your senior brother?! I was indeed a bit strict when I supervised your martial arts when you were young, but you can't retaliate like this!"

Xie Buruo glanced at the monks and, seeing that they all nodded in agreement, decided not to hold back any longer.

Raise your hand and hold the silver needle high, then thrust it sharply into the acupoint.

Another piercing scream rang out.

Before the first needle had even stopped, Xie Buruo, taking advantage of the good feeling in his hand, pierced Xuancheng's Jianjing acupoint with another needle.

After three acupuncture treatments, Xuancheng was covered in sweat and felt completely exhausted.

He muttered to himself, unconvinced, "If I hadn't lost all my power and been unable to use my indestructible body, your golden needles wouldn't have been able to harm me at all!"

Xuan Yin took his pulse again and found that his senior brother's meridians were indeed showing signs of loosening. She suggested that he try another acupuncture.

Xuan Cheng exclaimed in surprise, "Xuan Yin, you're really trying to kill me!"

Xie Buruo, however, had already finished acupuncture: "When I treat livestock, and, well, when I treat the sick and save lives in the countryside, I never administer acupuncture more than three times a day."

This is experience that Xie Buruo gained through countless medical accidents.

Every time he treated livestock, if he applied more than three acupuncture needles, they would either die or be maimed, without exception.

Xuan Cheng was also terrified of being pricked, and upon hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Young man, you couldn't be more right!"

"This old monk wishes to call you 'The Hand That Brings Spring'!"

Hearing this flattery, Xie Buruo became very pleased with himself and told the story of how he was falsely accused of being a "friend of the King of Hell" when he was practicing medicine.

Xuan Cheng slapped the armrest: "The nickname 'King Yama's Friend' doesn't sound right. How about 'King Yama's Laugh' instead!"

Xie Ruo asked, "What does it mean?"

Xuan Cheng thought to himself, "If you could send someone to the underworld with a single needle, even the King of Hell would be overjoyed."

Although he thought this in his heart, he said aloud, "Of course, if you save a life with one needle, even the King of Hell can only smile bitterly."

The monks and doctors of the Medicine King Temple were delighted to see that their senior brother was in good spirits and much more agile. They were also quite surprised.

Unexpectedly, Xie Buruo's acupuncture technique, though seemingly out of control, managed to alleviate Xuancheng's chronic illness.

Xuan Yin couldn't figure out the reason and prepared to discuss it thoroughly with Doctor Xue.

In fact, Xuan Cheng's meridians were damaged by improper internal energy cultivation many years ago.

Although Doctor Xue's medical skills are miraculous, they have not yet reached the pinnacle. He still treats rare and difficult diseases using ordinary medical principles.

Given Xuancheng's high seniority and extraordinary status in Shaolin, he inevitably had reservations when administering acupuncture, prioritizing safety and daring not to overstep the bounds.

Xie Buruo's domineering acupuncture technique, if used to treat an ordinary person, would undoubtedly result in death.

However, Xuan Cheng's meridians had been blocked for decades, and the damage was so deep that it was difficult to reverse. This strong medicine was exactly what was needed to cure him.

Just like the intricate chess game set up by Wuyazi, one must place a piece in a deadly position to survive.

Xie Yu put away his needles and prepared to take his leave.

Xuan Cheng spoke up, "Young brother, please stay for a moment."

He gestured with his eyes for everyone to step outside, clearly indicating that he had something to say to Xie Buruo alone.

Xie Buruo was slightly taken aback, wondering what the other party was planning.

"Did I prick this old man with a needle and hurt him too much, so he's trying to get revenge?"

But considering that the other party was powerless, he was not afraid.

After everyone had left.

Xuan Cheng spoke up, "Young brother, your swordsmanship is incorrect."

This statement came out of nowhere, leaving Xie Buruo completely bewildered.

Xuan Cheng continued, "The sword strike you received from my wooden fish was executed using the swordsmanship of the Free and Unfettered Sect, wasn't it? You're a disciple of the Misty Peak of Tianshan?"

Xie Buruo shook his head, omitting some of the secrets, and briefly explained the origins of his swordsmanship.

Xuan Cheng nodded: "No wonder. I knew it. If he's the old woman's grand-disciple, his internal strength and swordsmanship are rather poor. Give me the sword first."

Xuan Cheng took the long sword from Xie Buruo's hand.

Although he had lost all his internal strength and his cultivation was ruined, his hands and feet were still quite agile after the acupuncture treatment.

Although the movements were extremely slow, each move was distinct and precise, with strict adherence to rules. It was more than ten times better than what Su the Blind Man had performed that day.

Xuan Cheng was out of breath after using only one move. He returned the sword to Xie Buruo and slowly sat back down in his chair.

"You used acupuncture to relieve my illness, and I'll teach you a few sword techniques. That way, we're even."

Xie Buruo was overjoyed. After thanking Xuancheng, he asked, "How did you know about this sword technique, Master?"

Xuan Cheng snorted coldly, recalling the past.

"What's so surprising about that? I've seen even more powerful martial arts in the Free and Unfettered Sect."

"Back then, the old woman and my master, the abbot of Lingmen, were of equal social standing. She often came to Shaolin to play chess and discuss martial arts with my master. At that time, my junior brother Xuanci was still young, and I was always the one serving him tea."

"I've seen her swordsmanship a few times, so I naturally remember some of it."

"However, although her swordsmanship is exquisite, it is no match for the seventy-two unique skills of Shaolin."

"My school's Bodhidharma Sword Technique is not necessarily inferior to it, and there is also the Nine Heavens and Nine Earths Convenient Shovel Technique and the Subduing Demon Staff Technique. Each of them is a groundbreaking skill that has shaken the martial arts world."

At this point, his index finger twitched, and he tapped it on the armrest, wishing he could demonstrate it himself.

"I heard that you were present when Junior Brother Xuanbei subdued the demon. You must have witnessed his Great Vajra Pestle."

Xie Buruo nodded: "Master Xuanbei's Great Vajra Pestle is incredibly powerful. Even someone as skilled as Yue Laosan is no match for it."

Xuan Cheng nodded: "Xuan Bei is a mediocre kid, but he has put in a lot of hard work on this Vajra Pestle. It's not easy for him to have mastered this skill to this extent."

Xuan Cheng sighed softly and changed the subject.

"Many years have passed, and I've forgotten many of the sword moves. Let me think about it, and I'll let you know once I've compiled the sword moves."

Such a good thing, there's no reason to refuse: "Then thank you in advance, senior."

Xuan Cheng waved his hand: "I've already said it, you healed my illness and I taught you swordsmanship, there's nothing to thank me for."

……

That night, it was late and quiet.

Xuancheng slowly walked to the outside of the Sutra Repository alone, dismissed the patrolling monks, and suddenly spoke.

"I know you're here, come out and see me!"

Although the sound was not loud, it could not escape the ears of a master.

The two figures inside the scripture pavilion were startled at the same time.

Two figures, one in gray and one in black, darted out from the library, stood upright on the roof, and looked down.

Upon seeing that the person speaking to the Scripture Pavilion was Xuan Cheng, who had become a cripple, they both felt relieved.

After waiting for a while, no one appeared.

Each of them carried a book of Shaolin martial arts techniques in their arms. They exchanged a glance, said nothing, and drifted away from the east and west respectively.

After the two left, the gray-robed old monk who had been standing behind them sighed, and with a sway of his body, he landed beside Xuan Cheng.

Xuan Cheng didn't stand on ceremony when he saw him.

"I've forgotten a lot of the sword technique of the Free and Unfettered Sect. Demonstrate it to me so I can teach it to others."

The gray-robed old monk shook his head and said, "This is a secret technique from another sect; how can it be taught so lightly?"

Xuan Cheng didn't want to listen to any of his profound道理 (principles/truths).

"What kind of ultimate skill is this? It's not like it's one of the Three Skills of Freedom. Is it that amazing?"

"It's a pity that kid isn't a Shaolin disciple, otherwise I would have personally taught him the temple's unique skills long ago, instead of asking you to teach him this unorthodox sword technique."

"If you refuse, I'll immediately tell Xuanci that a dragon is hiding in the Shaolin Temple's Sutra Repository!"

The old monk sighed helplessly, picked up a withered branch, and began to wield his sword, his steps light and graceful, like an immortal.