Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 37 The Sha Family of Luoyang

The carriage was quite spacious and decorated in an antique style, exuding an air of both scholarly refinement and wealth. A small table was placed at the entrance, on which sat a set of celadon tea utensils. By the window was a large peach wood bed with a light blue gauze curtain hanging down, embroidered with a few orchids, elegant yet noble.

Ouyang Ke stepped into the carriage, sat on the edge of the bed, reached into the brocade quilt, and found the child's small hand.

His hand was burning hot, yet trembling slightly. He closed his eyes and concentrated, slowly channeling his Nine Yang True Qi into the child's body, allowing it to circulate along the child's meridians. Wherever the true qi passed, a strange intuition surged into his heart: this was not an illness, but poison.

He opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the two people in the carriage without making a sound. The young mistress, Cheng Bisu, sat opposite him, wringing her handkerchief in her hands, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, filled with anxiety and anticipation. Beside her, her maid, Xiaozhu, lowered her head, her body slightly turned towards the carriage door, as if trying to hide, or perhaps ready to escape at any moment.

Ouyang Ke withdrew his gaze, his expression remaining unchanged.

"Young master, how is my son's condition?" Cheng Bisu asked softly, her voice trembling and her eyes already red.

Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Young Madam, the young master has been poisoned."

Upon hearing this, both people in the carriage were startled.

Cheng Bisu's face drained of color instantly, and she swayed, nearly falling. Xiao Zhu quickly caught her, but her arm was stiff; the movement was more of an instinctive reaction than a proper support.

"Madam, what's wrong?" Sha Fu's voice came from outside the carriage, sounding somewhat anxious.

Cheng Bisu took a deep breath and forced herself to say, "N-nothing." But tears were already streaming down her face. Her eyes were fixed on Ouyang Ke, and she said in a trembling voice, "Young Master—Young Master, do you have a way to save him?"

Ouyang Ke did not answer immediately. He moved his hand down, placing his palm on the sole of the child's right foot, closed his eyes for a moment, and said calmly, "This is a strange heat poison, deeply hidden within the internal organs, slowly eroding the young master's life force. I am absolutely certain that this is the truth."

Cheng Bisu finally couldn't hold on any longer. She placed her hands on the small table and sobbed softly, "Young Master, can you cure him?"

Ouyang Ke opened his eyes, his gaze calm, but he did not make promises lightly: "I can only promise Madam that I will do my best."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, and said, "Please trouble Madam to get out of the carriage and wait. I need to use my internal energy to expel the deadly poison from the young master's body."

Cheng Bisu was startled and subconsciously looked at Xiaozhu. Xiaozhu had her head down, so her expression was unreadable. She only said softly, "Madam, let me help you down."

Sha Fu, who was outside the carriage, also heard this and exclaimed, "Young master, do you perhaps know the method of circulating qi to expel poison?"

Although he wasn't a member of the martial arts world, he knew that using internal energy to heal others was extremely difficult. To expel toxins hidden in the internal organs and integrated with the blood, only a top-tier expert could do it. Although the Sha family was extremely wealthy and had many skilled guards in their mansion, none of them could do this—not because they couldn't afford to hire them, but because such experts simply disdained guarding the homes of merchants.

The Sha family would never dare to make such a request, as it would only be seen as an intentional insult and could even create an irreconcilable feud.

Upon hearing this, the man driving the carriage puffed out his chest and proclaimed loudly, "Young Master Ouyang is a newly joined guest elder of our Great River Alliance!"

"A guest advisor to the Great River Alliance?"

Cheng Bisu was startled. Although she was a woman confined to her home, she knew the weight of the Great River Alliance on the Yangtze River. She knew that the Alliance was a major power on the river, and its strength should not be underestimated. It would never easily promote a young man to the position of guest minister.

Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, the coachman became even more smug: "Although Young Master Ouyang has only recently joined our Great River Alliance, his martial arts skills are so high that even our chief admires him greatly!"

Shafu and the others exchanged glances, feeling somewhat reassured.

Inside the carriage, Ouyang Ke had already begun to practice his internal energy.

He placed his hands on the child's shoulders, and slowly channeled the Nine Yang True Qi into the child, where it converged in the dantian. After five or six breaths, the child shuddered and sat up with a cry of "Ah!", opening his beautiful big eyes and looking around blankly.

"My son!" Cheng Bisu cried with joy, rushing forward to hug the child tightly.

Ouyang Ke remained calm, but slowly moved his other hand behind his back. That hand had turned completely black—he had just used the "absorption" technique to directly absorb the remaining poison into his palm. Otherwise, the child could never have recovered so quickly.

He secretly circulated his inner energy, forcing the poison in his palm to one spot, temporarily refraining from neutralizing it. With the power of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, this residual poison would be completely neutralized in less than half an hour.

Outside the carriage, Sha Fu and the others were both surprised and delighted to hear the child crying, and they all rushed over to express their gratitude. Only the maid Xiao Zhu stood at the edge of the crowd, her face stiff, and she managed a weak smile, which looked worse than crying.

Ouyang Ke saw all of this but didn't point it out.

Just then, the little child suddenly poked his head out from his mother's arms, pointed at Xiaozhu, and exclaimed in a childish voice, "Mommy! Sister Xiaozhu is pricking me with a needle!"

All eyes turned to Xiaozhu.

Xiao Zhu's face suddenly turned deathly pale, and a fierce glint flashed in her eyes. She didn't argue, but snorted coldly, and her figure had already darted several feet away in an instant. Her lightness skill was no less than that of a top-notch martial arts master.

Before the crowd could even gasp in surprise, she had already leaped onto the roof of a building on the side of the street. Just as she was about to use her strength to escape, she suddenly felt a weight on her shoulder, and a hand had firmly landed on her.

"Miss, you should stay." Ouyang Ke's voice came from behind, calm and indifferent.

Xiao Zhu's face turned deathly pale. She had clearly already darted several feet away, but this person followed her like a shadow, and she hadn't even noticed when he caught up with her.

She knew full well that there was no chance of survival today, so she made a clean break.

The next moment, a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and he bit his tongue and committed suicide.

Ouyang Ke's brows twitched slightly, and he loosened his grip. He had naturally noticed the change in Xiaozhu, but he deliberately delayed for a moment.

Xiao Zhu's body went limp and fell down, her eyes showing little fear, but rather a sense of relief.

Cheng Bisu held her child, her face pale, but she forced herself to remain calm. She glanced at Xiaozhu's body, then turned and, pulling the child along, bowed to Ouyang Keying: "Young Master Ouyang, your kindness and virtue are unforgettable."

They refused to mention what had just happened.

Ouyang Ke nodded slightly, not asking any further questions. As an outsider, he neither wanted to nor could he get involved in such internal conflicts within powerful clans.

At this moment, the guards patrolling the streets of the city had already rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Sha Fu stepped forward and exchanged a few words with them. The head guard glanced at the Sha family's carriage, then waved his hand, ordering his men to carry away Xiao Zhu's body without even asking any questions.

Ouyang Ke observed this and understood. The fact that the Sha family held such a prominent position in Luoyang suggested that their marriage ties with the Dugu clan were likely true.

Holding the child, Cheng Bisu, surrounded by Sha Fu and others, walked up to Ouyang Ke and curtsied, saying, "Young Master, I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. Please, Young Master, come to the Sha residence on Shihu Street in the south of the city, so that I may do my best to be a good host."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes were clear as water, yet they revealed deep affection and gratitude. Ouyang Ke initially intended to decline, but seeing her expression, he couldn't refuse, so he nodded and said, "I'd be honored to accept."

When Cheng Bisu's eyes met his, she was slightly taken aback. She had seen many handsome young men, but she had never seen eyes like his. They were neither particularly bright and sharp, nor particularly deep and unfathomable, but rather contained an indescribable clarity and composure, as if he understood everything in the world, yet was in no hurry to reveal it.

She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Please, young master."

The Sha family mansion was located south of Luoyang, covering a vast area with a tall and imposing gate. The two stone lions in front of the gate were even larger than those at the Xiangyang Dajiang Lian headquarters. The copper nails on the vermilion gate gleamed, indicating that it was an ordinary family's residence. Even when an official from the imperial court came, he would have to present his visiting card first.

Old Master Sha had already received the news and personally went to greet them at the door. He was in his fifties, with a dignified appearance, and although he was dressed in casual clothes, he possessed a natural air of authority. Old Madam Sha stood beside him, elegant and graceful, exuding wealth and peace; she and Old Master Sha were a very well-matched couple.

"This must be Young Master Ouyang?" Old Master Sha cupped his hands, his voice booming, "I am Sha Tiannan, thank you so much for saving my grandson's life!"

Ouyang Ke bowed slightly: "You're too kind, sir."

Madam Sha sized him up and down, noticing that although the young man carried a crutch under his arm, he possessed a composed demeanor, dressed in pristine white robes, and exuded an elegant and refined air. She couldn't help but nod in approval. In her youth, she had seen many heroes of the martial world, but few like him.

"Young master, please come inside to talk." Madam Sha stepped aside to make way.

The hall was already packed with people. The three sons of the Sha family and their wives and concubines sat on either side, along with several elders of the clan, and servants, making a total of more than ten people. When Ouyang Ke entered, all eyes fell on him, some with curiosity, some with scrutiny, and some with indifference.

Sha Tiannan introduced them one by one. The eldest son, Sha Chengjiu, was in his thirties, shrewd and experienced, his eyes scrutinizing people, the kind who wouldn't easily trust anyone. The second son, Sha Chenggong, was twenty-five or twenty-six, flamboyant in demeanor, a typical playboy with a smirk playing on his lips. The third son, Sha Chengde, was in his early twenties, handsome and refined, more like a scholar than a merchant's son, gentle and kind, and quite friendly towards Ouyang Ke.

Sha Tiannan invited Ouyang Ke to take a seat, personally instructing a maid to serve tea, and solemnly said, "Young Master Ouyang, if it weren't for your help today, my grandson would probably be in grave danger. I cannot express my gratitude enough. If you ever need my help in the future, the entire Sha family will do our utmost."

Ouyang Ke took the teacup and said, "Old man, you flatter me. It was nothing, just a small favor."

Sha Chenggong suddenly interjected, "I heard that Young Master Ouyang is a guest advisor of the Great River Alliance?"

Ouyang Ke nodded: "Exactly."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Sha Chenggong's eyes as he pressed on, "The Sha family has long heard of the Great River Alliance's power on the Yangtze River. For someone so young to be valued by the Great River Alliance, your martial arts must be exceptional. May I ask who your master is?"

The question was somewhat presumptuous, and Sha Tiannan glared at his son but did not stop him.

Because he himself was quite curious.

Ouyang Ke said calmly, "My martial arts skills are all inherited from my family. My uncle has lived in seclusion for many years, focusing on studying martial arts. I'm afraid few people in the martial arts world know about him."

Sha Chenggong was about to ask another question, but Sha Chengde interrupted, "Second Brother, since Young Master Ouyang is unwilling to say more, why force him? However, the fact that Young Master used his internal energy to expel the poison from my child on the street just now is truly astonishing."

Although Sha Chenggong was somewhat unwilling, he wisely kept quiet.

Sha Tiannan hosted a banquet, with exquisite dishes and fine aged Shaoxing wine. Ouyang Ke only took a few sips, while Huo Niao, however, was quite unreserved, perching on the rim of the cup and pecking at it with relish. The Sha family members were all amazed by this.

During the meal, Sha Chenggong inquired about Ouyang Ke's background. Ouyang Ke only said that he was from the Western Regions and had come to the Central Plains to travel. Because he admired the scenery and customs of the Central Plains, he traveled south alone.

As for the matter of Dajiang Liankeqing, it was merely a coincidence.

Sha Chenggong suddenly asked, "I wonder if your uncle will ever visit the Central Plains in the future?"

After a moment's thought, Ouyang Ke said, "My uncle will head south in a year at most, or half a year at least. He has long admired the martial arts masters of the Central Plains and has been eager to learn from their skills."

His words were not unfounded. In the Tang Dynasty, there were many masters, and he alone was weak and powerless, so he naturally needed some help.

If I could return to the world of Condor Heroes, I would naturally want to invite my uncle to come along.

The martial arts world of the Tang Dynasty is a golden age of martial arts. Although my uncle cannot compare with the three grandmasters or the masters of the demonic and Buddhist sects, this gap does not stem from a large difference in talent or aptitude, but rather from the difference between the two martial arts worlds.

Without the stimulation of masters of the same caliber, it is natural that no one can emerge who can rival the three grandmasters.

Sha Chenggong's interest grew even stronger, and he was about to ask another question when Sha Chengde changed the subject and said to Ouyang Ke, "Young master, is there anything my Sha family can do to help you in your trip to the Central Plains? You have saved my Sha family's life, so please do not hesitate to ask if we need your help."

He knew that with Ouyang Ke's current martial arts skills and character, mentioning even a half word of monetary reward would be an insult, so he took the opportunity to ask about his needs.

Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment and said, "There is something I need to trouble you with, Third Young Master."

Sha Chengde said solemnly, "Please speak, young master."

Ouyang Ke lowered his head, looked at the crutches under his armpits, and said, "In a month, I will be facing a formidable enemy, and right now I lack a suitable weapon."

Sha Chenggong eagerly replied, "That's easy. My Sha family has countless weapons, including many famous and powerful ones—"

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "Second Young Master, you may not know this, but the weapon I want is different from others. It is a soft whip, about three zhang long, and it needs to be made of silver wire mixed with refined steel. It must be tough yet unbreakable, flexible yet not soft. A barb must be added to the tip of the whip, and the handle must be wrapped with gold wire to prevent slipping. I wonder if you know any craftsmen in your household?"

Upon hearing this, the three of them fell silent for a rare moment.

Sha Chengde pondered for a moment and said, "Leave this matter to me. I know an old craftsman who used to work in the Imperial Armory. He has now retired and returned to his hometown, which is west of Luoyang. He will definitely forge this whip for you within half a month."

Ouyang Ke rarely returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "In that case, thank you very much, Third Young Master."

After the banquet, Sha Fu led Ouyang Ke to his guest room to rest. After passing through several corridors, they arrived at a quiet courtyard with several clumps of green bamboo. Under the moonlight, the bamboo shadows swayed, creating a serene and elegant scene.

Sha Fu pushed open the door, lit the candles, and bowed, saying, "Young master, please rest early."

Ouyang Ke nodded and led the firebird into the courtyard.