"The Gate of Life and Death! You're from the Gate of Life and Death?" Bai Li asked in shock.
There is a saying about the Gate of Life and Death, but that is a myth that disappeared decades ago, or perhaps just a legend. The Gate of Life and Death determines life and death, like the Book of Life and Death in the hands of Yama, the King of Hell. For anyone in the world, life and death are within their control. If someone is to die today, they will not wait until tomorrow. Decades ago, three figures who once dominated the martial arts world inexplicably received black "death warrants" symbolizing death. They all mysteriously died in their homes that very day, the cause of death unknown, causing terror throughout the martial arts world. Anyone in the martial arts world who mentions the Gate of Life and Death will turn pale with fear.
Bai Li never expected that the Gate of Life and Death, which had been hidden for decades, would reappear in the martial world like a ghost. Bai Li knew that the seemingly peaceful martial world was actually rife with undercurrents of turmoil. Thousands of years of martial world history had accumulated various mysterious forces unknown to the world. Although times had changed and dynasties had risen and fallen, the martial world remained the same, but had become even more complex and bizarre. Throughout history, no one could define what the true martial world was. The kind of martial world where black and white forces ran rampant was merely a facade, a worldly martial world. The true martial world was another unimaginable world.
Cold sweat beaded on Bai Li's forehead. Now that this mysterious figure had revealed his identity as a member of the Gate of Life and Death, whether true or false, the Wind and Fire Hall absolutely could not get involved. Especially given the unapproachable aura emanating from him, he was clearly a master of unfathomable skill. This person had managed to sneak up on him like a ghost; if he had launched a sneak attack, he would likely be dead already.
“Since the Gate of Life and Death is paying attention to this person, the Wind and Fire Hall should give way.” After saying that, Bai Li glanced at Song Hao on the ground, and although he was unwilling, he retreated dejectedly.
"Not bad!" The mysterious man nodded slightly, then walked up to Song Hao.
He first silently sized up Song Hao, then muttered to himself, "An acupuncture bronze figure, plus you, has already stirred up half the martial arts world. The Gate of Life and Death has been lying dormant for decades, but now it has re-emerged for you. It is indeed extraordinary!"
As they were talking, the man casually kicked Song Hao, jolting him awake from his unconscious state.
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Gate of Life and Death (2)
Song Hao opened his eyes and saw a stranger standing in front of him whose face was hidden by clothes and hat. Thinking that this was the person who had ambushed him, he quickly stood up and asked in shock and anger, "What do you want to do?"
"I didn't want to do anything, I just drove away the person who tried to assassinate you," the man said calmly.
Song Hao touched the back of his neck where he had been hit, looked around at the desolate wilderness, and said disbelievingly, "If you didn't knock me out, then who else could it be?"
The man opened his mouth and smiled, saying, "Seeing is not necessarily believing, let alone seeing that it was indeed me who did it."
Song Hao snorted, and with his right hand, he pulled out another needle from his sleeve, secretly holding it in his hand, ready to use his Thunder Needle Technique to subdue the person when he got close.
"Your name is Song Hao, right? To be honest, I was asked by a friend to come and protect you. Now that everything is alright, you can leave." The man raised his hand and rubbed his nose.
Song Hao listened with skepticism and asked, "Who sent you to protect me? And who are you? Are you up to some trick again?"
The man snorted coldly and said, "Do I need to play tricks on you! Listen carefully, I am from the Gate of Life and Death, and I am only doing this for a friend."
"The Gate of Life and Death! Never heard of it. What does it mean?" Song Hao shook his head and asked.
"Of course you haven't heard of the Gate of Life and Death, the gate that determines a person's life or death," the man said solemnly.
"Do you mean those major acupoints all over the body? Actually, every acupoint on the body can determine a person's life or death; it all depends on how the healer applies the technique." As Song Hao spoke, he began to move closer to the person, intentionally or unintentionally.
The man was taken aback upon hearing this, then laughed and said, "What you say is right. The so-called gate of life and death is different in everyone's eyes. Here it is life, there it is death. Between life and death, there is only man."
Song Hao then sneered, "It seems you're also from a certain medical sect, the one called the Gate of Life and Death? You said you drove away the people who tried to assassinate me and came to protect me. You let slip the truth. Since you're from a medical sect, you must be here for that acupuncture bronze figure. Now, take my needle!" As he spoke, he raised his hand and thrust the needle swiftly toward the man's Jianjing acupoint on his right shoulder.
When the man saw Song Hao's movement, he knew something was wrong, but he did not dodge. Instead, he hunched his shoulders and raised his arm, trying to block Song Hao's attack.
Just as Song Hao was about to miss with his needle, he was surprised that his opponent had managed to dodge his quick movement. Suddenly, he saw his opponent reach out to block and show signs of countering him. He was overjoyed and immediately changed the direction of the needle between his fingers. As the needle pierced through the clothes and entered the flesh, the needle trembled and he used a Thunderbolt Needle Technique to strike the Waiguan acupoint, three inches above the opponent's right wrist.
Having landed a successful blow, Song Hao immediately leaped to the side.
The man, who had been secretly laughing at Song Hao's overestimation of his abilities when he saw Song Hao suddenly attack, was about to subdue him when he suddenly felt a jolt in his arm. A strange shockwave instantly spread throughout his body, and his blood and qi seemed to freeze, rendering him unable to move.
"You..." The man froze in shock before he could utter a single word.
"This Waiguan acupoint is now your life-or-death gate! Senior, please don't resort to any more tricks. You didn't kill me when you subdued me, and I won't kill you now. Besides, I'm a doctor; I only save lives, not kill them. I just hope you won't bother me anymore, otherwise it will truly put me in a difficult position. Alright, I'm leaving now. You'll feel better on your own in a while." After saying this, Song Hao turned and ran away.
Watching Song Hao's departing figure, the man's outstretched arm suddenly moved, and the needle stuck in the Waiguan acupoint was ejected on its own, forced out by the man with a strange force.
"How does this Song Hao know Schlumberger's Thunder Needle Technique?" The man took off his hat, revealing a bald head, and said with astonishment on his dark blue face.
Outside the woods, Ghost Hand Diao Cheng stood watching Song Hao's departing figure in the distance, his brow furrowing slightly. Then he saw the mysterious figure emerge from the woods and hurriedly stepped forward respectfully, saying, "Master, why did you let Song Hao go?"
"I'm here to stop Bai Li's Wind and Fire Hall from making things difficult for this kid named Song Hao, and also to repay a favor to a friend. By the way, Diao Cheng, although I've taught you some martial arts, I haven't accepted you as my disciple. You'd better not call me master. Besides, the Life and Death Sect doesn't allow its members to accept disciples from outside the sect," the mysterious man said.
Diao Cheng still respectfully said, "Since you have taught me the skills, there is a master-disciple relationship. Although I have entered Feng Huo Tang to make a living, I dare not forget my master."
The mysterious man shook his head and said, "I really can't do anything with you. Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. You should go back to the Wind and Fire Hall first. It would be best if Bai Li didn't do anything to this Song Hao anymore. Otherwise, you can inform me and send him a life-or-death order. Also, although you are openly working for the Wind and Fire Hall and the Demon Needle Sect, you must secretly protect this young man named Song Hao for me. Besides the acupuncture bronze figure in his hands, this person is also related to a very important matter."
Upon hearing this, Diao Cheng was secretly surprised, but said, "Please rest assured, Master. From now on, Song Hao is no longer someone I need to deal with. I will follow your orders and protect his safety whenever possible. Since Bai Li has indicated his withdrawal, he will not dare to make any rash moves. He is greedy for money, but he values his life even more. However, Luo Beiming will not give up easily."
"The Demon Needle Sect's actions deserve a death sentence long ago!" the mysterious man sneered.
Diao Cheng was taken aback and asked, "Master, is the Life and Death Sect really going to make a comeback?"
"Now that Song Tiansheng's acupuncture bronze figure has appeared in the world, it is time for the Gate of Life and Death to issue the life and death decree!" the mysterious man murmured.
A few hours later, the mysterious figure appeared at a luxurious villa somewhere.
"Brother Xiaofeng, you've had a long journey!" A gentlemanly-looking middle-aged man stepped forward and asked, "Did you see him?" His face was full of concern.
"This Song Hao is indeed extraordinary! I never expected him to be able to use the Lu Men's Thunder Needle Technique. I actually fell for his trick and was subdued by his needle without warning." The mysterious man shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"What!" the middle-aged man exclaimed in surprise. "Who in the world today could subdue Gu Xiaofeng of the Life and Death Sect with a single needle? Even the most renowned masters couldn't do it if they attacked from the shadows. Is Brother Xiaofeng joking? How... how did he learn the Thunderbolt Needle Technique of the Lu School?"
Gu Xiaofeng laughed and said, "Brother Qi, you flatter me! You should know that there are always people better than you, and there's always something beyond your reach!"
“However…” Gu Xiaofeng’s tone turned serious. “This young man, Song Hao, is no ordinary person. Although I don’t know how he obtained the supreme medical treasure, the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man, he is certainly skilled. His escape from the Tang family and his repeated evasion of the Feng Huo Tang and the Luo family of the Demon Needle Sect show that he is no ordinary person. Brother Qi, you must have other intentions besides wanting to obtain the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man by asking me to look after him so much.”
“Excellent! I intend to gain both the person and the goods!” The middle-aged man nodded and smiled, “I was quite surprised to learn a few days ago that the supreme medical treasure, the Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure, had fallen into his hands. However, for me, the most important thing right now is that his safety cannot be compromised. The Song Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Figure is secondary. This Song Hao is of great importance to me, but there are some things that cannot be explained in detail now. I will explain them to Brother Xiaofeng later.”
Gu Xiaofeng laughed upon hearing this, "Very well! Brother Qi has his reasons for doing things. The Life and Death Gate will do its utmost to ensure Song Hao's safety from now on."
"Thank you so much!" the middle-aged man said gratefully, clasping his hands in a fist salute.
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Ji Family of Medicine
Song Hao unexpectedly used his Thunder Needle Technique to subdue the mysterious man, then quickly escaped. When he returned to the highway, there was no sign of any vehicles; clearly, the bus had left before him once the road was clear. Song Hao suddenly realized that the two vehicles involved in the accident must have been a trap set by someone to intercept him. He was particularly surprised that despite his arduous journey, someone had still managed to follow him; the figures in the martial arts world were indeed incredibly powerful.
Sigh! Where should I go? Song Hao hesitated for a moment. If he went back to Qingdao to find his grandfather, it might cause trouble. He couldn't go back to Penglai either, since the Tiansheng Acupuncture Bronze Man was hidden in the secret room of the old house. He couldn't draw other people's attention there again.