Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 19

She finally reached the top of the steps, but lost her footing and fell down.

No wonder, her master always said that even light-body skills depend on the terrain; she simply couldn't utilize them at all. In utter despair, she rolled a few times before collapsing onto her back.

"What kind of secret passage is this? It's all wet and slippery, who would come in here?" She looked at the broken tinder in her hand, feeling helpless. She put the tinder away, rubbed her back, and got up. Ahead was a corner, with a faint light shining through.

Could someone be there? She cautiously approached, pressed her back against the wall, and listened intently. After confirming there was no sound, she peeked inside cautiously. Then, she froze.

It was just a small, empty room, but she recognized the person lying on the floor.

He took a few small steps over and called out softly, "Grandpa Yin?"

However, Yin Xiao showed no signs of waking up.

Xiao Xiao carefully examined him. His breathing was even, so he was probably just unconscious. But she immediately noticed something was wrong. There were many silver needles on Yin Xiao's body. They weren't the usual Quenched Snow Silver Needles. These needles were slightly thicker. Xiao Xiao recognized these needles; they were the infamous Meridian-Sealing Needles from the martial arts world. They were specifically designed to seal the meridians and cut off the body's true energy. And these Meridian-Sealing Needles were definitely not something that could be removed casually; the slightest carelessness could backfire.

Xiao Xiao examined the locations of the needles; they sealed the points of the eight extraordinary meridians. While it wasn't life-threatening, she would definitely be unable to move. What to do now? Xiao Xiao pondered, head bowed. She was barely able to protect herself, and besides, she dared not remove the needles carelessly. Tsk, refusing to help someone in distress is a basic skill for becoming a bad person.

Xiao Xiao clasped her hands together and said softly, "Grandpa Yin, it's not that I don't want to save you. It's just that I'm willing but unable to. Please don't hate me."

After she finished speaking, she stood up, preparing to leave. However, at that moment, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the skin beneath Yin Xiao's slightly open collar. She was startled and crouched down again. After a slight hesitation, she reached out and lifted his collar. It was a clear blue palm print, with slightly dark blue veins around it, protruding from his skin.

Her small hands trembled, and suddenly she felt short of breath. Her master had been struck by a palm strike that severed all the meridians in her body, and died from the wound. She would never forget what she had seen. Yes, it was that palm technique; her master had died from it.

It was an uncontrollable impulse. She had always known that her master didn't want her to seek revenge. But too many intense emotions surged within her at once. Her master believed in Taoism and was naturally indifferent to matters of life and death. This was how she had taught her daughter. But she simply couldn't achieve that kind of naturalness, that kind of composure. Yes, she wouldn't look for any clues, nor would she investigate the murderer. But at this moment, the clues were right in front of her; was she supposed to ignore them?

She sat down on the ground, trying to calm herself down. She looked at Yin Xiao and clasped her hands together again. "Uncle Yin, if I pull out the wrong needle and kill you, please don't hate me."

She took a deep breath, raised her hand, and quickly removed the needles in the order of Du Meridian, Ren Meridian, Chong Meridian, Dai Meridian, Yin Wei Meridian, Yang Wei Meridian, Yin Qiao Meridian, and Yang Qiao Meridian.

The previously unconscious Silver Owl suddenly choked and slowly opened his eyes.

With two small hands full of pulse-sealing needles, she looked at him excitedly, "Grandpa Yin, you're awake!"

Yin Xiao was visibly startled when he saw her. He slowly stood up, looking at her incredulously, "You saved me?"

Xiao Xiao threw down the needle in her hand, "Let's just forget about it..."

Silver Owl coughed softly, "How did you find this place?"

So Xiaoxiao recounted everything that had happened since she received the letter.

"Actually, it was all by chance. The main reason is that you are blessed with good fortune and divine assistance..." Xiao Xiao even added a summary to flatter him.

"How did you manage to remove the meridian-sealing needles?" Yin Xiao asked, unconvinced.

Xiao Xiao was taken aback. "Huh? Acupuncture needles for sealing meridians? I didn't know that. I just pulled them out randomly."

Yin Xiao frowned, grabbed her left hand, and looked at the silver needle he had inserted. "You sealed the acupoints... the silver needle's movement was a fraction of an inch slower."

How could you tell that? Xiao Xiao was filled with regret.

“The art of acupressure and sealing acupoints is practiced by very few people; it’s not something that can be learned casually. And these pulse-sealing needles are extremely dangerous. Removing them carelessly can endanger your life. Your luck is simply too good…” Yin Xiao finished speaking.

Xiao Xiao was speechless. He seemed quite well-behaved when he was on his deathbed, but look at him now. It seems good people don't always get rewarded.

"Uncle Yin... I know you have a lot of questions... but let's go outside first, okay?" Xiao Xiao said with a forced smile.

Silver Owl wouldn't let go, "Who exactly are you?"

Xiao Xiao immediately burst into tears, "Grandpa Yin, please don't kill me..."

Silver Owl's eyes grew increasingly suspicious, but the pressure on his hand gradually loosened. He turned his head to the side and said, "...I won't kill you. I understand the principle of repaying kindness."

Xiao Xiao was deeply moved, "Thank you, Grandpa Yin!"

Yin Xiao paused briefly to catch his breath, then stood up, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He took a step forward and said, "Let's go..."

Xiao Xiao knew that the murderous aura wasn't directed at her. She breathed a sigh of relief and strode after him.

A secret room

Xiao Xiao followed Yin Xiao for a while, her mind troubled by unresolved questions. She wanted to speak several times, but didn't know how to phrase it. She walked on, head bowed, deep in thought.

Suddenly, Yin Xiao swayed. Xiao Xiao immediately stepped forward and reached out to support him.

"Uncle Yin, are you alright?" she asked hurriedly.

Silver Owl calmed his breathing and shook his head.

With a quick thought, she seized the opportunity to ask, "Uncle Yin, your martial arts are unparalleled, how could that Master Qian Xiyuan have injured you like this?"

Yin Xiao glared at her and said, "I'm just clumsy. Which eye of yours saw that I was seriously injured? I was injured the night before last, and I'm almost fully recovered. That little bitch only used the Meridian Sealing Needle to sever my true energy."

"Ah? But, looking at your injuries..." Xiao Xiao cautiously pointed to his chest.

Silver Owl stopped and remained silent for a moment. "You recognize this palm technique?"

She blinked slightly. "I don't recognize him, but he looks very impressive."

Yin Xiao smiled and said, "It is very powerful. If it were your full palm strike, I would have already ridden the crane."

"Uncle Yin, you are truly blessed by the heavens, as if divinely aided!" Xiao Xiao exclaimed in amazement. "However, can a single palm strike be fatal? Is there really such a powerful palm technique in the world?"

Silver Owl continued walking, unperturbed. "Hundreds of years ago, there was a peerless internal force in the martial arts world. Have you heard of it?"

Xiao Xiao thought for a moment, "'Taiyi Heart Sutra'?"

"You do have some knowledge," Yin Xiao continued. "In the past, the 'Taiyi Heart Sutra' dominated the world, unmatched by anyone. But it was gradually lost, splitting into two schools, namely the current Solar Flow internal energy 'Flame God Awakening Heaven' and the Taiyin Flow 'Mysterious Moon Heart Sutra'. Back then, Chong Hezi, the head of the Daoist Shenxiao Sect, cultivated both of these internal energy methods simultaneously, hoping to obtain a path to the 'Taiyi Heart Sutra'. But he ultimately failed, but this led him to create a set of sinister and domineering palm techniques by chance. This palm technique is not known for its moves, but for its cold and sinister palm force. Those struck by it will have all their meridians severed, and die instantly. It is known as the 'Nether Thunder Palm'."

Xiao Xiao was quite surprised. The name "Nether Thunder Palm" was certainly well-known, but it always carried an air of unrealistic mystique. Chong Hezi of the Shenxiao Sect was once bestowed the title "Master Chongxu Miaodao" by Emperor Huizong. In his early years, he encountered a strange person who imparted to him the Dao, granting him the art of wind and thunder. He was almost a god-like figure. However, it was rumored that Chong Hezi disagreed with Emperor Huizong's political views and left in a huff, his whereabouts unknown to this day. Hmm, could it be that Master really died under such a miraculous palm technique? Then it must be related to the Shenxiao Sect?

“If he really died under the ‘Nether Thunder Palm’, it wouldn’t be a shame,” Silver Owl said leisurely. “It’s just a pity that, judging from that person’s skills and power, he was probably just a nobody who stole the superficial aspects of this palm technique from somewhere.”

Xiao Xiao looked at Yin Xiao and understood something. Although she had never seen her master fight at full strength, she could sense that her master's skill was far superior to Yin Xiao's. In other words, the person who could kill her master with a single blow was not the one who injured Yin Xiao. The Shenxiao Sect was a major Daoist sect; a mere girl like her had no chance of finding the culprit…

"What, are you afraid of this Nether Thunder Palm?" Silver Owl turned around and said contemptuously.

"I'm scared...of course I'm scared..." Xiao Xiao nodded vigorously.

"Afraid that if I die, no one will help you remove the needle?" Yin Xiao asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Xiao Xiao paused for a moment, "Uh, right... oh, no. I'm completely loyal to Master Yin, how could I possibly do this for a mere silver needle..."

"Alright, alright. You silly girl, I really don't know which of your words are true and which are false." Silver Owl waved his hand impatiently. "Let's go."

Xiao Xiao immediately shut up and followed.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Xiaoxiao felt her feet getting wetter and wetter, and water droplets were dripping from her head. The cold water dripped down her neck, and she felt goosebumps all over her body, making her very uncomfortable. After thinking for a moment, she put on the "Fine Embroidered Silk" garment, just in case.

Yin Xiao ignored the people behind him and continued walking. However, there was no way forward, so he stopped and frowned.

Xiao Xiao leaned closer and asked, "Huh? There's no way out?"

“It’s obvious,” Silver Owl replied calmly.

"Uh...Uncle Yin, don't you know the way out?" Xiao Xiao asked.

"Nonsense." Silver Owl looked around. "I saw you as soon as I woke up. What do you think I know?"

Xiao Xiao was speechless. Seeing him walking so fast, she thought he knew the way well. Sigh… No wonder Master said, you have to walk your own path.

“Since the air is flowing, there must be mechanisms…” Yin Xiao reached out and touched the wall, then said, “Silly girl, what are you standing there for? Help me find it!”

Xiao Xiao reluctantly took a step forward, but suddenly her right foot sank into the ground. She stumbled and patted her chest to steady herself. Looking down, she asked, "Uncle Yin, is this it?"

Silver Owl crouched down, looking at the pit he had been stepped on, where a chain was buried. Silver Owl reached out and pulled hard. The wall in front of him rose with a thud.

After the wall was fully raised, Xiao Xiao and Yin Xiao were stunned by the sight before them.

It was a room made entirely of crystal, with square walls and luminous pearls as lamps. The crystal ceiling shimmered with a watery light, making the room sparkle with a watery hue, radiant and beautiful, with an air of decadent illusion and unreality.

"Wow, a Crystal Palace?" Xiao Xiao exclaimed. Then, her gaze was drawn to something in the center of the room. There was a table with a mahogany stand on it, upon which rested a single-edged halberd. The halberd was over six feet long, its gleaming light clear and imposing. Xiao Xiao squinted slightly, admiring it. Although she had never seen such a halberd in the Qi Clan's famous weapon illustrations, just by looking at its gleam, she knew it was a fine weapon.

"In a place like this!" Silver Owl's voice suddenly rang out.

Xiao Xiao was startled and turned to look at Yin Xiao. Following his gaze, she saw something even more shocking. It was an extremely simple wooden box, placed neatly on the table next to the halberd.

Xiao Xiao vaguely remembered that Lady Xi had asked the Second Young Master Mo Yun for this wooden box, saying it was for safekeeping. She never imagined it would be hidden in such a secluded place. However, this secret passage clearly leads to the guest room in the east wing. Could it be that Lady Xi and the Mistress of the Mountain have some connection? Tsk, how confusing.

As she was deep in thought, she heard Yin Xiao laugh.

"Hahaha, I finally know why that little bitch didn't kill me." He looked at the wooden box and laughed arrogantly.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but worry. She stepped forward and asked, "Uncle Yin, are you alright?"

"Stand there and don't move," Silver Owl suddenly shouted.

Xiao Xiao immediately stood still, not daring to move an inch.

Yin Xiao took out a porcelain bottle from his pocket, opened the lid, and sprinkled some powder onto the surface. Silver powder drifted down, adding to the ethereal beauty of the crystal chamber.

Xiao Xiao was somewhat puzzled, but when the powder landed in front of her, she froze completely. She had always thought that this room was empty except for the halberd and the wooden box. But now, wherever the silver powder passed, faint threads appeared. After the silver powder settled, Xiao Xiao could see clearly that the center of the room was covered with threads as fine as hair, crisscrossing like a spider web. She had heard of those threads before; they were the Qi family's famous weapon, "Yisha," used for ambushes. "Yisha" appeared invisible at first glance, and although extremely fine, they were sharp enough to cut through metal. If she had insisted on going forward, her head and neck would be separated by now.

"How dangerous!" Xiao Xiao immediately took a few steps back, exclaiming in her heart.

Silver Owl stood there nonchalantly. He reached out and gently touched the faintly visible thread, his finger instantly slit open, and crimson blood slowly flowed down the thread.

"Grandpa Yin, it's dangerous..." Xiao Xiao warned timidly.

"Don't worry." Yin Xiao turned his head. "There are only a handful of people in the world who know how to break 'Yisha,' and I happen to be one of them. That bitch wants to use me to retrieve the wooden box? Dream on! The Nine Emperor Artifacts are my prey, and no one can get them!"

After speaking, Yin Xiao took a few steps forward. Sharp threads surrounded him; the slightest misstep meant certain death. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and retrieved the Snow-Refined Silver Needle. The tiny silver needle shone brilliantly in the watery light, reflecting brilliantly in his pupils.

Xiao Xiao initially thought that Yin Xiao was going to use "Quenched Silver Light" to sever the "Shadow Kill" threads, but things didn't go as planned. He slightly tightened his fingers, and a silver needle shot out. The "Shadow Kill" threads were extremely thin, but the silver needle hit them precisely. The thread didn't break, but the force of the needle pinned it to the opposite wall. This movement of the thread shifted the positions of all the threads in the room. Yin Xiao quickly adjusted his posture to avoid being hurt by the threads. Even so, his clothes were torn in several places, but fortunately, his skin wasn't injured. The thread pinned by the silver needle just touched the crystal wall when Yin Xiao added another needle. The two needles crossed, forming a cross, fixing the thread in place. Yin Xiao bent down, avoiding a moving thread. A slight sweat beaded on his forehead. He looked at the thread structure around him, quietly pondering. Then, he stood up again, shooting needles, repeating the process.

Xiao Xiao watched in terror, barely daring to breathe. She finally understood why so few in the martial world could break through the "Shadow Killing" formation. Besides using weapons made by the Qi family, which were of equal quality, the speed and accuracy of eyes and hands were crucial, and the appropriate force required over a decade of internal energy cultivation. Judging how to arrange the threads also required mental agility. Most importantly, one had to be fearless. In this "Shadow Killing" formation, nailing a single wrong thread could be fatal. She wiped the cold sweat from her brow. Yin Xiao's skill—wasn't that what they called "high skill, great courage"?

After about a quarter of an hour, Yin Xiao stood up. His face was slightly pale, and he was breathing softly. In front of him, the "Shadow Killing" threads were no longer densely woven, and there was a path that was barely passable.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but clap her hands, "Grandpa Yin, you truly have unparalleled skills..."

Yin Xiao glared at her and said, "Get out of here."

Little Xiao obediently shut her mouth.

Yin Xiao composed himself, carefully walked to the wooden box, and picked it up. He smiled smugly, but the smile vanished instantly. The wooden box, though simple and plain, was impossible to open. Yin Xiao frowned, applying slight pressure with his palm, but the box remained unmoved. He knew something was wrong and carefully examined the box.

"As expected of the Qi family..." he said to himself.

Suddenly, a silver needle on the wall loosened, and a silk thread snapped back to its original position. Startled, Silver Owl immediately shifted his position to avoid it. However, all the silk threads returned to their places, and without thinking, Silver Owl crouched down and rolled along the ground out of the "Shadow Killing" formation.

She took a few small steps over and called out, "Grandpa Yin..."

Silver Owl stood up, clutching the wooden box. Xiao Xiao noticed that his cheek was cut by silk threads, and half of his hair on the left side was shorter. Yet, his smile remained unrestrained.