Chapter 55: Martial Arts Know No Good or Evil

Chapter 55: Martial Arts Are Neither Righteous Nor Evil

Black-and-White had never expected anyone to follow him in. In an instant, his acupoints were struck, his eyes wide with disbelief. At the same time, regret flooded his heart. He had no idea that the prisoner had already been swapped—no longer Ren Woxing. He was still fretting over what would happen if Ren Woxing managed to escape.

Zheng Jian paid no mind to Black-and-White’s thoughts, retrieved the keys from his body, and went straight inside to unlock the cell door.

With the clattering sound of locks, the cell door swung open.

Linghu Chong, trapped inside, was still bewildered, unsure what had happened.

“Linghu, my junior, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and get out!” Zheng Jian, seeing it was indeed Linghu Chong, felt relieved and immediately called out.

Hearing his senior brother’s voice, Linghu Chong was overjoyed. “Senior brother, you—you came to rescue me?”

“Isn’t that obvious? What, you’re fond of this place? If so, sit back down and I’ll leave,” Zheng Jian replied with a hint of annoyance.

Linghu Chong hurriedly got up, suddenly remembering something. “Senior brother, there’s a martial arts manual on the ground. It’s quite extraordinary. Would you care to take a look?”

Zheng Jian knew it was the Star Absorbing Technique and shook his head. “I won’t look. Let’s go.”

The two stepped out of the cell. In the tunnel, Linghu Chong saw Black-and-White immobilized, his hatred flaring. He struck him with his palm.

Just as Linghu Chong’s left palm touched Black-and-White, the martial arts technique from the ground surfaced in his mind. Instinctively, he drew in a surge of internal energy from Black-and-White, flooding into his own body.

Zheng Jian was astonished. He instantly recognized that Linghu Chong had mastered the Star Absorbing Technique. Though the skill was powerful, it was not easy to cultivate; only those who had lost their internal energy could practice it without risk. Otherwise, disaster would surely follow. How had Linghu Chong managed it?

But this was not the time for questions. Zheng Jian let Linghu Chong drain Black-and-White completely, and then the two quietly returned to the surface and slipped away.

Once they had reached a deserted spot outside the manor, Zheng Jian finally stopped and looked at Linghu Chong. “Linghu, my junior, what’s happened to you? How did you end up captured here while wandering the martial world?”

Linghu Chong recalled the events of the past days, his face full of shame, and then recounted everything.

After leaving the mountain, Linghu Chong had gained plenty of experience and his martial arts improved, but everywhere he went, he heard most about his senior brother Zheng Jian’s reputation.

That day, he happened to arrive in Luoyang, where he heard that many martial heroes were gathering to besiege the elders of the Sun and Moon Sect. Linghu Chong, fired up, decided to join in.

Hearing this, Zheng Jian realized it matched the version he’d overheard at the tavern and couldn’t help but chide him. “You really are a calf unafraid of tigers. Do you know who Sun and Moon Sect’s Xiang Wentian is? You just foolishly followed along.”

Linghu Chong was mortified, but Zheng Jian urged, “Go on, finish your story.”

The events were as Zheng Jian had heard: Linghu Chong watched Xiang Wentian unleash his power, cutting through the crowd like a tiger among sheep. Not knowing what possessed him, Linghu Chong rushed forward.

He charged in boldly—and was easily captured.

After Xiang Wentian broke through the encirclement, he didn’t kill Linghu Chong, but let him go.

Instead of leaving, Linghu Chong was moved by Xiang Wentian’s heroic spirit and they became friends.

Next, Xiang Wentian persuaded Linghu Chong to travel to Hangzhou, just like in the original tale, and wagered with the Four Friends of Plum Manor. Since Linghu Chong’s skills weren’t high, Xiang Wentian somehow obtained a set of advanced sword techniques, which managed to deceive the Four Friends. Then, using the chaos, they swapped prisoners and rescued Ren Woxing, but Linghu Chong ended up locked in the lake-bottom cell beneath Plum Manor.

When Linghu Chong finally came to his senses, he realized he was imprisoned there. Strangely, his painstakingly cultivated Huashan internal energy had vanished—his dantian was empty and hollow.

Despair, loss, and rage mingled within him. Later, he discovered the martial arts script on the ground and decided to practice it.

Until today, when Zheng Jian finally rescued him.

After hearing the story, Zheng Jian couldn’t help but rub his forehead. Linghu Chong, meanwhile, asked curiously, “Senior brother, I’m still puzzled—how did you know I was here, and why did you come to rescue me? Who was originally imprisoned there?”

How could Zheng Jian answer that? He couldn’t very well say he had a cheat and knew the plot, guessing that Xiang Wentian had dragged Linghu Chong here.

“Why ask so much? Haven’t you suffered enough? If Black-and-White hadn’t coveted the Star Absorbing Technique, do you think you’d have gotten out alive?” Zheng Jian replied with annoyance.

“The Star Absorbing Technique? What is that?” Linghu Chong asked, bewildered.

“It’s the martial art you mentioned, engraved on the dungeon floor. This skill absorbs opponents’ internal energy for your own use. Otherwise, how do you think you drained Black-and-White dry?” Zheng Jian explained.

“How can such demonic martial arts exist? I—I lost all my internal energy and had no choice but to practice it. Senior brother, what should I do? Will Master expel me if he finds out?” Linghu Chong’s face changed dramatically, panic overtaking him. In the dungeon, he hadn’t realized how terrifying the skill was—absorbing others’ internal energy was unheard of.

“Now you know its power? Are you scared now?” Zheng Jian laughed. “Now that you’ve learned this martial art, not just Master, but the whole righteous martial world will hunt you down. Tell me, are you afraid?”

Linghu Chong’s face turned pale. “What should I do?”

Seeing he’d learned his lesson, Zheng Jian said, “Enough, look at you—all timid! You’ve learned the Star Absorbing Technique, so be it. Martial arts are neither righteous nor evil; it all depends on the person!”

Linghu Chong seemed to grasp the idea, but another question surfaced. “But, senior brother, not everyone learns martial arts to kill, right?”

Zheng Jian nodded with a smile. “You’re right. Originally, martial arts were meant to strengthen the body, but as people grew stronger, their ambitions changed. Once powerful, some seek to dominate the weak, control life and death, pursue glory and riches. ‘Awake, command the world; asleep, beauties at your side’—that’s the truth.”

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