Poison of the Human Panacea

Chapter 32

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Bai Tan carried the youngster on his back, after walking for a while in the Loulan Royal Palace's secret underground pa.s.sage, they accidentally became lost.

This secret underground pa.s.sage was extremely complicated and mistakes could easily be made, he was raised at a young age within the king's quarter and was then sent to Tian Shan. He'd only been to the western region once and his sense of direction was extremely bad, well, it could basically be said he had no sense of direction at all. So he kept forcing the youngster to point the right way, but after they'd been going around in circles for about two hours, the other couldn't find the exit out of the secret pa.s.sage either.

"Are you toying with me? You tired of living now?" Bai Tan was dizzy from going in circles and he couldn't help but harshly pull his hostage off his back and started to take his anger out on him. He used one hand to grab a hold of the other's thin, skinny wrist, threatening, "Don't take me for some nice guy. If you point towards the wrong direction one more time, I will break one of your fingers."

The little prince's shoulders scrunched together as he quivered and he spoke with blinking eyes, "Jiejie, I didn't point in the wrong direction on purpose. The secret pa.s.sage to escape is down here, but I've only been through it once when the royal palace flooded and someone had to carry me on their back."

Bai Tan stared at the pitiful look he wore and couldn't get too mad then. Even though he didn't have any compa.s.sion, he did feel that this young prince had experienced similar types of pitiful events that had happened to him, so he didn't wish to have to use any cruel tactics on him and just snickered coldly, "Acting pitiful? I've been tired of this move of yours for a while now. Since you've been through here before, you better remember it quickly. Or else, later, we can play a game…the game's name is…counting fingers."

"Mn…" The little prince scrunched his head down then pointed towards the turning path on his left hesitatingly, but then he pointed towards the other direction again, "No, it's…it's that way! Yes, that way!"

Bai Tan curved his lips up and his phoenix-like eyes curved up as well while he stared at the other, he pinched onto one of his fingers and made a hand gesture for him to shush. "It's okay, your royal highness, take your time to think. After all, you have ten fingers. I'm warning you, don't play any tricks. I know that you aren't as easy as you look."

A spark of fire lit up within Fu Lin's heart…this beauty in front of him, who seemed to be about the same age as him, appeared as if he would be suited to be his playmate! If he could have his father agree to make the other stay, then in the future, his days would definitely be a lot more interesting.

He lowered his head to hide the smile splayed across his lips and pointed towards the right, "It's…it's that way."

Bai Tan stopped staring and looked at the path towards the right, he then grabbed the hand of the youngster behind him and walked towards the left.

Fu Lin smiled even happier behind him.

After expending the effort to walk through the underground pa.s.sage for half an incense's length, a trail of stone stairs appeared in front of them. The exit above had bits of firelight seeping in and Bai Tan slowed his pace cautiously, the music from outside could be heard clearer and clearer with each careful step he took on the stone stairs. The music had the accompaniment of konghou and pipa, drumbeats mixed in at parts and in between, the bright and clear sounds of the dizi and the singer's long notes slipped in. There was obviously a music and dance performance going on right now.

He immediately pressed the mute point of the youngster beside him and walked out of the underground pa.s.sage. When he looked up, as expected, this was the royal palace's main hall. The exit was even right behind the throne, not off by the slightest measurement.

On the throne was a glamorously dressed woman, she held a child who appeared to be about six or seven in her arms. There was also a short table set up beside the throne and a man with light golden hair was holding a golden wine cup with one hand, as his other hand supported his head upon the table. His posture was extremely relaxed and it didn't fit in with the elegant, royal palace at all, it was easy to see he was someone of Jiang Hu. But not someone like Wu Yanfu, who, once they entered a royal palace, they would look like someone who belonged there, hiding and suppressing all of his killing intent, while displaying elegance and casualty.

Without a doubt, this person had to be Fu Lu.

The urge to fight grew inside Bai Tan so much, he almost couldn't contain it, he wanted to see just how powerful the current number one master of the Wu Lin was. Yet the time and situation weren't on his side so he was about to go back, but the soft laugh of a child rang out behind him.

He turned his head to see the youngster who, just a few moments ago, looked all pitiful, now had a bright smile spread across his face and was obviously proud of his accomplishment.

Then, the music and singing within the palace stopped, it was so quiet that one could hear the sound of a pin drop.

Bai Tan knew he had no way back now, so he quickly reached out a hand to seal the youngster's death point with "Cui Hua Zhe Zhi Shou" and after grabbing a hold of his nape, he leaped out. With a sparrowhawk turn[1], he jumped over the throne and landed on the dance stage within the palace, he then raised his head to look at the man beside the throne. What he saw was Fu Lu slowly getting up while still holding a cup of wine in his hand, it seemed like only half of the cup had been consumed and he wasn't yet satisfied. He didn't care about him at all. His robe collar was wide open, exposing his well-built chest, a string of white, pale Nian Beads hung around his neck, they reached all the way down to his abdomen.

Without a doubt, that was the Mandala Sect's sacred treasure…Rengu Nian Beads.

Bai Tan's pupils dilated slightly and he used one hand to s.n.a.t.c.h up a konghou from one of the musicians on the stage, who were acting like dolls and hadn't moved at all, he held it in his arms with one hand. Since that person didn't seem worried about him at all, good, coincidentally there was just enough wood readied here for a fire. He would let the number one Master of the Wu Lin have a taste of the power of "Zhu Tian Hua Mo Zhang" he had learned.

Even though he didn't have "Gui Ge" in his hand, it was still fine.

After the cup of wine was finished, Fu Lu finally put down the wine cup and smiled at him. He was actually born to be quite a beautiful man, the bloodline of the Loulan race was oddly outstanding. But a chillingly evil aura was exposed between his brows and there was a rather long scar that ran from the corner of his forehead down to his right eye. All of these things made it so even when he smiled, he looked like a cold, strange individual with ill-intentions.

Not caring about the fact that his son had fallen into the enemy's hands at all, Fu Lu stared at the red-robed youth who was about ten steps away from him for a while and let out a weird laugh, "What? Is Sect Leader Bai preparing to play music for me?"

Bai Tan spread his five fingers and laid them upon the strings, there were killing intents hidden in his eyes as he gave a warm, sweet smile, "I've* come here from thousands of miles away and with such a beautiful sight here, naturally I would have the wish to play a song. But I wonder if Tang Zhu Fu would be willing to lend an ear and listen?"

"Sect Leader Bai's offer would be hard to deny, I will accept it to show my respect." When he finished, Fu Lu lifted up his hands and clapped. But the clapping sounds were like clashes of thunder, making echoes within the palace that could almost shake one's ear deaf.

He felt a shapeless sound wave that formed into a huge palm and attacked him upfront, Bai Tan grabbed the youngster beside him and leaned his body to leap, he softly landed on one of the palaces support beams. His fingers plucked a few strings of the konghou in his arms and instantly, sharp, powerful winds followed by the instrument's bird-like cries and tiger-like roars surged out. It was overwhelmingly enough to move the mountains and drain the sea, it immediately broke the shapeless sound wave and even a great and frightening crack split the marble floor, while a few stone pillars were close to collapsing.

After the move was released, even Bai Tan couldn't help but be shocked. He saw that Fu Lu's face had already changed and reaching out a hand, he picked up some kind of item in his palm, it turned out to be an entirely black, nine holed bili[2].

"This is unexpected, it was I who belittled Sect Leader Bai too much."

"That is natural." Bai Tan let out a cold chuckle and didn't want to waste any more time speaking with him, his fingers plucked the strings with no end as his red sleeve flew. The blows of wind from his palm and the instrument sounds were like a thunderstorm, coming one after another unrelentingly. He hardly allowed Fu Lu enough time to dodge them, nor could he find an opening to return the attack at that moment either. All he could do was jump around the palace to avoid the blows and a couple of times, he came dangerously close to being hit.

At that time, neither of the two knew that as the mantis stalked the cicada, the oriole was behind them, going unnoticed. Another person hid on top of the dome and had already, through his eyes, soaked up the current scene, the dull light in his eyes shone brightly, filled with interest.

…This little one, even though his personality was so stubborn and such, but his observation skills were surely good.

If he had taught the other faithfully that year, then he would've probably already been a top notched martial artist within the Wu Lin.

But now, it just made him more…

Thinking like that, the ghost vines all around his body tightened a bit and Wu Yanfu gathered his fingers together, in a position ready to act at any time.

Seeing Fu Lu retreating more and more, Bai Tan became even fiercer as the battle went on, forcing the other to retreat down into the underground pa.s.sage. The other had only dodged and hadn't returned any attacks. He had wanted this person's life for a long time now, and there were also the Rengu Nian Beads right in front of him, so how could he retreat now?

He was just about to jump down the beam support and chase after the other, when unexpectedly, the sound of wind suddenly came from behind him and he felt a tightness around his waist. He was caught off guard and held by a hand, with a sharp pain on his nape, he lost his strength right there and then. The owner of the hand held him in one arm and used the other to grab onto Fu Lu's son. He leaped up to the top of the dome like a giant bird spreading its wing and his steps seemed almost as if he was flying as he went over three palace walls and was out of the Loulan Royal Palace in an instant. He only came to a stop once he reached a forest beside the Lop Nur's sh.o.r.e.

Bai Tan couldn't move at all, so naturally, he couldn't turn his head to see who the person was, but seeing this G.o.d-like speed qinggong, he was able to guess who the person was that meddled in his business. He suddenly felt extremely angered and yelled in rage, "Where did you come from? Why did you save me* first and now come and interfere with my business?! Are you tired of life?"

Tired of life? Wu Yanfu tossed Fu Lin, who had already fainted aside and reached out his hand to grab hold of the konghou. He pushed the person in his arms out of his embrace and after removing the golden needle from his nape, he then tossed the s.h.i.+yue within his sleeve to him.

Bai Tan's body went soft and with just a soft groan heard, an item immediately flew into his palm and he couldn't help but be overjoyed. He looked back to see that it really was the beast masked man and his fighting spirit rose up, he grabbed tightly onto the hook in his hand. Right as the tip of his foot tapped the ground, he went straight for the other. But that beast masked man didn't try to dodge at all, he only softly ran his five fingers across the konghou strings carelessly, a vast and powerful string music played as it shot straight through the clouds. It was like a flying dragon entering the sea and a burning phoenix singing[3]. Bai Tan just felt a thick, strong wave of wind cras.h.i.+ng towards him, like it was some frightful billows and terrible waves of the sea, yet, there were no ripples across the lake surface behind him at all. But he was forced back by at least ten feet[4] and harshly crashed into the water, creating a huge wave.

Just as he jumped out of the water, that person had already closed their distance by stepping across the water and he greeted the other with his swinging hook, yet he couldn't get close to the other's body at all. With such an up-close battle, Bai Tan became more and more surprised as it went on, every move this person made was well-mastered and extremely refined. If the other had just used slightly more or slightly less power, it would've been out of balance, his offense and defense modes were also switched at exactly the right time, with no mistakes that could be spotted. The other's martial learning and skills were already at a G.o.d-like level. He'd never fought with Wu Yanfu in the past, but he felt that this would be what it felt like to fight against Wu Yanfu.

His moves were like they were searching up in the heavens and down in the yellow spring thoroughly. It felt like he stepped onto the clouds then fell down to h.e.l.l. Like it had died once, then lived once again.

Too similar…they were way too similar.

Not paying attention for just an instant, Bai Tan's wrist was grabbed and his whole body was embraced from behind by the beast masked man. His feet seemed to be wrapped in a soft item that was thin, tight and strongly binding. Along with the person, he leaped up lightly across the lake surface and the hook within his hand was lashed out by that person directing his hand. The hook instantly released an extremely soft and delightful sound to the ear, like it was experiencing an extreme pleasure. At the end of the sharp blade, a wildfire burned and even the moonlight was split little by little from being burnt.

This was the first move of San Fan Po, yet it seemed to be slightly different.

Bai Tan's eyes widened and in the next moment, without it wanting to, his body was rotated on the spot and did the second move under that person's direction. A huge wave was immediately raised from the lake's surface and the flow of water was lured in by s.h.i.+yue, rolling the two of them into it. As the water and fire intersected, it was enough to shake the heart and move the soul. They were tied together like yarn and it wasn't like how it was when he used the move, sharp and fierce with no mercy.

He suddenly realized, was this person correcting his moves?

He quickly focused hard and as if he was thirsting for it, he remembered everything without missing a beat. Once all three moves were done, he couldn't wait, but called towards the person behind him, "Let go of me, I wanna exchange a few moves with you!"

The person loosened his grip on him, but his hand was still holding onto his life meridian, not letting it go. Bai Tan was afraid that he might forget about it himself, so not caring if the other didn't let go, he tried to do the three parts by copying. But who knew that just because he didn't finish the first move fast enough, he was pinched on the face. On the second move, he was a bit slow on starting it and was scratched on the earlobe. Before he'd even completed the third part, he was spanked on the b.u.t.t.  (TN: Sounds like foreplay if you ask me, lmao)

Bai Tan felt ashamed and angry, he couldn't endure it anymore, so he threw s.h.i.+yue away in one go and his head dunked itself into the water.

Wu Yanfu looked at the battered youth within the water and his lips curved up deeply behind the mask

Translator: Crispyfry

Proofreader: Grumpykit

QC: Xiao

Xiao's Comments: The descriptions of the fight scenes are so beautiful, I love them~ Also, Wu Yanfu was definitely eating some tofu while teaching Bai Tan those moves~

T/N: Fu Lin is such a cutie. Also, what happened to the cat man from the last chapter???

PR/N: Maybe he was eaten???

Translator's Notes:

[1] Sparrowhawk turn – 鷂子翻身, there's actually quite a few different moves for this name (including moves from dances and such that doesn't involve martial art) you can find on the internet, but this is the one I find the most credible as it is a martial art move and seems like Bai Tan could jumped over a throne with:

[2] Bili – 篳篥, also known as guan, it is a Chinese double reed wind instrument. Image;

[3] "Burning phoenix singing" – 浴火鳳鳴, this isn't a known idiom you could find online so I broke it into two parts, the first part is "浴火" that describes a phoenix suffering from being burned before it could be reborn (known as 浴火重生). The second part would be "鳳鳴" which describes the beautiful singing of a phoenix.

[4] Ten feet – 十丈, would've literally been ten zhang, it was translated into feet for easier understanding as the zhang measurement in some dynasties are the same length as one Chinese foot (chi) which is also very close to the English foot. Though in about every dynasty, zhang has a different length,

                                                                                          Chapter 33