The Affairs of the Martial World - Vol 4: Chapter 9

It was both illusion and reality, and it was both reality and illusion.

Zhu Que felt his entire body being scorched by flames, and then, while his body was burning hot, he was thrown into the cold ice and snow. The extreme pain of both cold and heat felt as if he were wandering back and forth through the levels of the Avici Hell.

This was an ultimate suffering that made Zhu Que think of death; perhaps it would be better to die, to end it all. Yet, it also seemed that he felt he was already dead, his soul enduring this torment as if there was no escape, and the intense pain seemed endless.

Finally, he woke from the nightmare, but only with a slight awareness; the pain in his body caused him to faint again, and he then experienced the suffering from that nightmare.

Waking and fainting like this, he could no longer remember how many times it had happened. Finally, during one of the awakenings, he was able to endure the extreme pain without immediately fainting.

In the blurred vision, a familiar face appeared before him. Although he felt he should recognize this person, his mind was a complete haze, and he couldn’t clearly remember who it was. His mouth felt as if it had been scorched by fire, and he could only moan in a hoarse and weak voice, “Water, water…”

A cool stream of water flowed down his throat and into his body, and Zhu Que felt more awake. He also remembered the person in front of him, who was none other than Quan Zhengyi, one of the Four Immortals of Penglai, feeding himself water with a spoon.

Zhu Que wanted to nod at him to express his gratitude but was horrified that he couldn’t move at all. His consciousness and body felt like two separate entities; he desperately tried to control his body, but it showed no response whatsoever. This fear was far greater than any physical pain. Zhu Que had only one thought in his mind: “Have I really become a useless person?”

He gradually recalled everything that had happened before he fainted. But ever since he was ambushed from behind and lost consciousness, he had no idea what had happened. He wanted to ask where he was and how he had been discovered and rescued by Quan Zhenyi, but the words he spoke were barely audible to himself. This feeling of pain and despair did not last long, as he fainted again.

Waking up again, it was still Quan Zhengyi by his side taking care of him. Zhu Que cleared his throat and was able to speak clearly, “Taoist, where am I?” He could talk, but his body still couldn’t move.

Quan Zhenyi said, “You were found in a cave on a mountain at the mass grave site by the Xie family. Fortunately, they brought you to me in time; otherwise, you wouldn’t have survived.”

Zhu Que said, “But I can’t move my whole body right now. What is happening to me?”

Quan Zhenyi said, “Your limbs and tendons have all been severed, and your spine has been broken by a heavy hand. These people want your life. Are they from the Fragrance Cult?”

Hearing about his tragic situation, Zhu Que’s eyes blazed with anger. He was frustrated that he couldn’t move; otherwise, he would have jumped up. He ignored Quan Zhenyi’s question and said despairingly, “It would be better to be dead than this……”

Quan Zhenyi said, “Many people are born with disabilities, yet they do not seek death. As a person of chivalry, how can you think so hopelessly?”

Zhu Que sighed deeply and said, “Taoist, I have spent my life acting with chivalry and righteousness, and I believe I have never done anything that harms heaven or the people. According to fate, why have I fallen to such a state?”

Quan Zhenyi had no words to respond.

After a pause, Zhu Que suddenly remembered, “There’s also Zhuang Yuxie. He’s been controlled by the people of the Fragrance Cult, probably for Tang Yingying. If that’s the case, Tang Yingying should also be in their hands. Taoist, please help me rescue them. Taoist, I’m begging you……”

Quan Zhenyi suddenly stood up, as if having made a difficult decision, and said, “I won’t go save them.”

Zhu Que asked, “Why? They are good people, Taoist.”

Quan Zhenyi said, “Why don’t you save them yourself?”

Zhu Que asked in surprise, “What did you say?”

Quan Zhenyi said, “Your injury isn’t without hope, but……'”

Zhu Que asked, “But what is it?”

Qian Zhengyi said with difficulty, “If it were only my strength, given your reputation for chivalry as Zhu Que, I couldn’t just stand by. Even if it meant exchanging my life for yours, I could do it. However, you are gravely injured; your physical body is damaged, and more importantly, I can sense that your dantian’s qi sea has also been poisoned. Your internal true qi has been completely depleted, like a pond where the water has been poisoned, making it impossible for fish and insects to survive. The only solution is to drain the pond and refill it with fresh water. As the Suwen Qibo says, ‘To treat it, one must be thorough, without losing the color of the pulse; use it without doubt and treat it broadly.’ If one goes against the natural order, the root and branch cannot be preserved, and the spirit will be lost! To discard the old and embrace the new requires the combined strength of several people to open the meridians and harmonize yin and yang. Right now, your meridians are completely severed, and you cannot circulate qi or exert strength; you can only rely on the strength of others to support the regeneration of your power. I cannot do this alone; we need the combined strength of the Four Oddities of Penglai.”

Zhu Que asked, “Will this harm the four immortals?”

Quan Zhenyi shook his head, remaining silent. He was not concerned about this matter but whether the other three were coincidentally all in Penglai.

Sighed, let fate take its course. He turned to look at Zhu Que and decisively decided to set off; he straightened Zhu’s spine and connected Zhu’s meridians on the way. He wasn’t sure if he could reach Penglai without dying.

The Xie family arranged for several servants to drive a huge carriage and set off for the immortal island, Penglai. 

On the road, whenever the horse could no longer bear it, they would spend money to exchange for a good local horse, and the servants took turns driving the carriage, truly making it a non-stop journey.

On the way, Quan Zhenyi reconnected the meridians that Zhu Que had severed one by one and applied his unique secret medicine. It was expected that the meridians would be properly connected after arriving at Penglai Island, but for now, he could not exert any strength.