Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 115 Springtime is the Best Time of the Year
The wind blew outside the window, and birdsong drifted into the room.

Chu Tianshu lay flat on the bed, wearing only a pair of trousers and a bandage wrapped around his upper body. He turned to his right and squinted at the window.

It was quite bright outside; it must be close to noon.

After returning home in the middle of the night, he wrapped himself in medicine, calmed himself down, and soon fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of fighting with those messy beasts as usual.

The funny thing is, there was a big, bald bird in my dream last night.

He looks like a vulture, with big wings and long legs, and his height is no less than that of Chu Tianshu.

Although it can't fly, its wings and claws are incredibly powerful.

Chu Tianshu sat up in bed and looked at the phoenix-winged gilded halberd placed on the floor.

"Hey, that bird in my dream, isn't it a manifestation of your evil nature?"

Chu Tianshu sat cross-legged beside the weapon, his left hand forming a sword shape with his fingers together, palm facing upward, placed in front of his lower abdomen, while his right hand also formed a sword incantation, drawing four vertical and five horizontal lines in the air.

"Your cries in your dream were really awful. Let me recite a spell for you."

Where he pointed, a semi-transparent line seemed to remain in the air, faint and lingering.

Since cultivating the Soul of the Warrior, Chu Tianshu's own mental power quality has also been enhanced by the "Shaoyang Blood River Chariot" which guides Yin and Yang.

Originally, when his mental energy left his body, without the support of the Three-Seven Divine Sword, it could only manifest as an invisible and intangible impact.

And now, even after his mental energy leaves his body, it can still temporarily form these lines that are visible to the naked eye.

Nine lines, interwoven, slowly sink down and press down on the phoenix-winged gilded halberd.

This evil soldier, over nine feet long, was like a python that had been playing dead, suddenly branded with a hot iron, its head and tail trembling.

Chu Tianshu ignored it and continued carving.

Eight horizontal and vertical diagrams fell from the front and back, completely suppressing the long and ferocious evil weapon from head to toe, scalding it until wisps of blue smoke appeared.

That wisp of smoke was a mixture of mental energy and evil energy, harmless and neutral, rising into the air and dissipating.

As the evil aura faded, the inner spirit of the soldiers weakened further.

About fifteen minutes later, the Phoenix Wing Blade let out a buzzing sound and then completely dimmed.

Phoenix Winged Golden Halberd: A famous general in golden armor, who was once invincible, unfortunately encountered an unparalleled tyrant and died tragically with hatred and resentment. His soldiers were transformed into evil spirits.

Characteristics: As light as a feather, control over one's own weight, overflowing with evil energy, turbulent currents that lock the soul.

"It really can control its own weight!"

Chu Tianshu was somewhat envious.

Unfortunately, the properties of the evil spirit materials, once used to deduce cultivation techniques, differed from their original nature.

Even with this method of deduction, one may not necessarily be able to develop the ability to control the weight of objects.

However, Chu Tianshu still made his decision.

They will definitely use this evil spirit material as the main characteristic in the mixing process.

He got up, dressed, washed himself with water from the kettle, and then went out carrying his phoenix-winged gilded halberd.

Chu Tianshu intended to look for Blind Cheng, but found no one in the courtyard. Without thinking, he headed towards the kitchen.

Sure enough, Blind Cheng was in the courtyard next to the kitchen, gently tapping a wine jar.

Judging from the sound, those wine jars were all filled with something; I wonder what they were trying to distinguish by sound.

"You're up?"

Blind Cheng laughed, "Perfect timing, lunch will be ready soon."

Chu Tianshu leaned the phoenix-winged gilded halberd against the wall and patted the long pole.

"I have destroyed the spirit of the soldier inside, but this material is very tough. Let's melt it down and make a sword."

Chu Tianshu said, "Your knife is made of mediocre material and is covered in scratches. It's time to retire it and give your Listening Wind Blade Soul a new home."

Cheng the Blind Man raised his scabbard and tapped the long pole.

"You and Lao Zheng really think alike."

Chu Tianshu: "Hmm?"

"He was busy all night, and when he came back in the morning, he brought back six rings."

Cheng the Blind Man said, "Duan Zhong's ring, it is said, although the spirit of the soldier has been scattered, the material is of excellent quality. It was distributed to everyone to be fused into their weapons, and also kept as a memento. Because you were still asleep at the time, it was not sent to you."

Chu Tianshu laughed and said, "Six rings don't weigh much, but mine weighs four hundred jin!"

"I'll make you a knife, and there will still be plenty left over. Consider the rest as an advance gift for you and Wenjing."

Wenjing, the lady, peeked halfway out from the courtyard gate, her eyebrows and eyes charming, her voice melodious.

"Then thank you very much for your kind words, Dr. Chu. Come and try the new dishes I've learned."

Of course, the meal wasn't eaten in the kitchen; everyone helped carry the dishes to a side hall.

There was a long table in the side hall, as well as many folding chairs, which was suggested by Chu Tianshu.

At this time, although there were already furniture such as high tables, stone benches, folding chairs, and small chairs, people were still more familiar with eating by kneeling or sitting cross-legged on soft cushions.

Chu Tianshu changed the furnishings in the side hall, and after everyone gathered there a few times, they all thought it looked good.

By this time, everyone present was already quite familiar with what it looked like to have a large meal together.

Chu Tianshu glanced around and found that almost everyone in the Wen Family Restaurant was present.

The food on the table was steaming hot and smelled delicious.

Besides the dishes I'd eaten at the Wen Family Restaurant before, there were a few other dishes on the table this time that were the signature dishes of the Zheng family's head chef.

Wenjing's wife has learned the tricks of the trade recently.

Stir-fried green beans and bracken, steamed mutton with rice flour, and braised venison in a clay pot.

The venison slices were wide and long, but not too thick.

A large piece is gathered on chopsticks, dipped into the small condiment dish, and it has a slightly salty and savory taste at first, becoming more and more fragrant the more you chew.

It's all lean meat, but it's not dry at all.

Chu Tianshu nodded to himself and ate heartily.

"Doctor Chu, you said last time that you wanted to eat this pancake after you came back from a fight. I don't know exactly which day you fought, but I make some every day. Today I made a few, and I accidentally pressed them too thin, but they tasted quite different after baking. Try them."

Wenjing pointed to a stack of cakes on the table.

Huangqiao sesame seed cakes are not much bigger than chess pieces. They are crispy on the outside but a little soft on the inside.

These flatbreads were pressed too thin, and after baking, they were crispy inside and out.

Chu Tianshu took a bite and suddenly remembered that in his hometown, when he was a child, there were often vendors selling these kinds of flatbreads. They would pack a large stack of them in transparent plastic bags, with the opening tied with a golden wire.

"It's also delicious."

He praised it repeatedly, thinking to himself, "It's only been a few days, and they've already come up with this new idea."

The techniques for making sesame seed cakes are mostly the same.

Although Chu Tianshu had only told Wenjing about Huangqiao sesame cakes in detail, if things continued like this, Wenjing might be able to develop various other types of cakes on her own.

Unfortunately, Chu Tianshu had absolutely no experience in making cakes.

Otherwise, he suddenly wondered if Wenjing could make a cake in this era.

"I heard this morning that the battle outside the city has ended, and the King of Righteousness was defeated, and many of his accomplices died."

Wenjing Niangzi knows a lot of things, but she only talks about things that others in the restaurant also know.

"You heard it last time too, the people who caused trouble in our restaurant may be backed by the Prince of Yi."

"Now that King Yi has fallen, our restaurant should be able to reopen."

Wenjing clapped her hands and said, "I'll find someone to repair the restaurant in the next couple of days."

"The March Festival is a lively affair that lasts for several days. By opening our business, we might be able to catch the tail end of the festival."

The people in the restaurant were delighted to hear this.

Although they have food and lodging here, they are still living under someone else's roof, and since they have no income, they don't feel secure.

With the restaurant reopening, everyone could make money again, and everyone started talking about it.

Dao Baishu held his small wine cup, smiling, but his gaze kept lingering on Chu Tianshu and Blind Cheng.

He thought Chu Tianshu was an inner guard, and that the blind man had an extra injury on his leg last night, which was quite obvious.

But the most crucial point is... Dao Baishu also mingled with the crowd at the foot of Cuiyan Slope in the middle of the night.

He was a storyteller who loved to gather material. Although he was terrified of Hai Donglai, the head of the Imperial Guard, he was emboldened by the presence of others and went to mingle at the back of the crowd.

The person who killed Duan Zhong came and went so quickly that no one saw his face clearly.

But the distance between the hilltop and the descent is much closer than the sound that once drifted from the sky above the Prince Yi's mansion.

Dao Baishu heard that sound in the middle of the night, and now the more he thinks about it, the more familiar it seems.

Chu Tianshu noticed his gaze and glanced at him with a hint of confusion. Dao Baishu quickly shrank back and raised his wine glass.

Chu Tianshu also picked up his wine glass, clinked glasses with him across the glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Gentlemen, I'm preparing to leave in the next few days. It's a pleasure to have us all gathered here. Let me take this opportunity to say goodbye with a drink."

Chu Tianshu stood up, poured himself another cup, and gestured to the others.

The crowd was slightly taken aback, but quickly stood up without being too surprised.

For those in the restaurant business, the constant flow of customers is a normal occurrence.

Chu Tianshu raised his glass and said, "I wish your restaurant business booming, making a fortune every day, and everyone making big money."

Wenjing's wife led everyone and said, "Then we also wish Doctor Chu a smooth journey and that his medical reputation will spread far and wide."

Cheng the Blind Man had only been raising his glass when he heard those four words, but he couldn't help but smile.

medical……

"Brother Chu, I wish you fame that spreads far and wide!"

He believed that Chu Tianshu would one day become famous far and wide, but whether it would be as a renowned doctor was another matter.

Everyone clinked glasses together.

The heat in the hall gradually dissipated.

As lunch drew to a close, Chu Tianshu had already left the side hall.

Dao Baishu was still sipping his wine, staring at Chu Tianshu's position, his eyes darting around.

Aunt Mo was already preparing to clear the dishes when she saw him like this, so she couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder: "Old man Dao, what are you thinking about now?"

Someone nearby laughed and said, "He must be making up stories in his head again."

"Hmph, if you're so capable, then don't listen to me later."

Dao Baishu feigned arrogance, but was also restless and anxious. After thinking for a while, he decided to share his feelings with someone, so he went up to Aunt Mo.

“Aunt Mo, I know you are a steady person. There are some secrets that I can let you know first.”

Aunt Mo exclaimed alertly, "What?"

Dao Baishu said reservedly, "Do you believe that Hai Donglai, the commander of the Imperial Guard, is actually a good person?"

Aunt Mo frowned: "Why do you say that? Aren't you very afraid of the Imperial Guards?"

"Hearing is unreliable, seeing is believing."

Dao Baishu said solemnly, "From what I have seen and heard, I know that many reputations are just rumors."

Aunt Mo asked in surprise, "Who did you see?"

Dao Baishu was extremely solemn, his voice lowered as if he were sharing a huge secret.

"Did you know that Physician Chu... is actually Hai Donglai!"

Aunt Mo's expression at that moment was incredibly strange.

Dao Baishu laughed and said, "Don't tell anyone. When I tell this story in the future, it will definitely be a completely different story, with some twists and turns."

"You're the only one left who can hear the truth."

Aunt Mo began to suspect that she might have been kicked out of the inner defense team because some of the information she had relayed before came from this old man.

Chu Tianshu was unaware that even after he stopped pretending, he still used Hai Donglai's name for a while.

He was in the courtyard of the locust tree, receiving the map that Hai Donglai had brought him.

"Did you just draw this?"

"good."

Hai Donglai said, "Didn't you say you wanted to see those evil soldiers within three days?"

"Ordinary maps are for carriages and horses; with our strength, we don't need to travel those roads."

“It took me about seven hours to get from Chang’an to Nanzhao. This was because I traveled faster and also because I took a different route.”

Chu Tianshu examined the map carefully.

It's obvious that they've had formal training in drawing; the iconic hills and rivers are clearly marked.

Many routes simply follow the riverbank directly.

"With my current physical condition, I cannot get back to Chang'an so quickly. Besides, Guan Changling died here, and Zheng Hui and I still have a lot of things to deal with, and we also need to contact Wei Gao."

Hai Donglai took out a piece of paper and a jade pendant.

"Here's the route map. These two are tokens. When you get to Chang'an, ask about my residence."

"The jade pendant is for the gatekeeper, and the seal and handwriting on the paper are for the steward."

Chu Tianshu nodded: "Only seven hours? Okay, then I won't rush to leave today. I'll set off tomorrow."

Hai Donglai asked, "Is there anything else you need here?"

"one little thing."

Chu Tianshu looked at the big locust tree and laughed, "Don't worry about that. When you have time, practice that Palm Thunder technique more."

"Your original method of strengthening your body was effective, but it was too brutal. If you can master the Palm Thunder technique, your internal organs will be strengthened, your body will be able to exchange qi and blood, filter toxins and prolong your life, which will greatly alleviate your condition."

Hai Donglai said nothing more and left with his umbrella.

The deaths of Duan Zhong and Guan Changling did indeed give him many things to discuss with the delegation and Zheng Hui.

Zheng Hui was even busier. After returning in the morning, he went to the palace again without resting for long.

Yi Mouxun has made up his mind to take this opportunity to purge the loyalists of the King Yi's faction.

They also expressed their intention to have in-depth discussions with the delegation and join hands with the Tang Dynasty to attack Tibet.

Fortunately, although Zheng Hui was injured, he still had the foundation of the Blood Refining Military Strategy, so he wouldn't be unable to hold on because of these things.

But when he returned to his residence late at night after working so hard, he still felt completely enveloped by exhaustion.

He drank a cup of tea in his study, but was too tired to sleep. He then strolled out with his butler.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at his mother's former residence.

"That is……"

When Zheng Hui looked up, he was slightly taken aback and stepped into the courtyard with some confusion.

Several small windmills were glued onto the thick branches of the big locust tree.

Legend has it that Jiang Ziya created the windmill, which was called the Bagua Windmill.

However, these four-leaf windmills, made of bamboo strips, bamboo sticks, and paper, are mostly toys for children.

Peddlers often tucked these items behind their collars to attract children.

Zheng Hui looked closely and saw that all the windmills were a bluish-green color.

At the center of the windmill, what appeared to be a silver needle used to hold the paper in place was a completely bent and deformed needle.

At first glance, the deformed needle-like threads resemble tiny silver characters branded in the very center of the windmill.

The soldiers marched forward in formation.

Numerous windmills, nine words.

"What is this doing?"

Zheng Hui couldn't help but smile. "Using these windmills to impersonate tree leaves?"

The steward said, "These windmills were all made by Doctor Chu himself."

He said, “Running water does not stagnate, and a door hinge does not rust. The yin energy here is pure and the locust tree has a long life force, but it cannot sprout new branches because the former has gone and the latter has not continued, and the middle stream has broken.”

"These windmills can make up for the missing years and allow this tree to sprout new buds again."

The essence of the Nine Syllable Mantra is to emphasize "flow".

Using silver needles and windmills to represent the movement of wind, these windmills, though not magical implements, seem to possess magical effects.

Zheng Hui moved his feet and slowly approached the tree, his gaze already fixed on a branch.

He walked all the way to the tree to make sure he wasn't mistaken.

At the knots of the branches, a few new green leaves had indeed sprouted.

These windmills were stuck on for only an afternoon.

Zheng Hui gazed at the patch of greenery, gently breathing in the night breeze, and chuckled.

"By the way, it's March now, still springtime! And in Nanzhao, it's spring all year round!"

He seemed to have already seen the seasonal changes of the locust tree.

Tonight, the windmills fill the trees; tomorrow, they will be lush with leaves and blooming flowers.

(End of this chapter)