Devouring Evil Martial Arts, Eliminating Demons from All Heavens

Chapter 223 Original Code
Inside the newspaper office, there was a Western clock that was almost half a person tall.

However, the windows used were still the old-fashioned wooden lattice screen windows, which were lifted outwards and supported by a bamboo pole.

The two potted plants on the windowsill are now in full bloom.

Under the sunlight, the leaves appear even greener and the flowers paler, with a faint fragrance.

The man who came in carrying a wicker trunk grabbed his top hat, pressed it to his chest, revealing a young face, and looked at Chu Tianshu with surprise and delight.

"Mr. Huo."

The newspaper owner walked over and, seeing this, asked in surprise, "You two know each other?"

Huo Ming smiled and said, "This is Doctor Chu, who saved my life."

"Though we have been apart for a long time, Doctor Chu's demeanor remains as elegant as ever."

Huo Ming was Cai Shanjun's personal bodyguard.

Although he was a military man, he had come from the Military Academy and still had a somewhat childish air about him, making him the closest in age to Chu Tianshu.

Now he looks much more mature, and there's a red spot on his left temple.

Chu Tianshu smiled and asked, "Are you acquainted with this boss?"

"Six months ago, I took some people to do something. On the way back, I passed by here and saw half an old newspaper in the corner of the wall. The headline on it was quite shocking."

Huo Ming laughed and said, "A young soldier saw it and immediately stepped into this newspaper office."

"I followed along to take a look, and unexpectedly, we ended up turning the boss into our friend."

As they were talking, Huo Ming walked to the table, put down the rattan box, and immediately grabbed Chu Tianshu's wrist.

"It's been so long, Dr. Chu, and we haven't heard from you at all. If there's nothing urgent today, we must get together."

Chu Tianshu followed his lead and sat back down at the opposite side of the table, which was exactly the same seat he had been sitting in before.

"I was originally going back to Yizhou to visit old friends, and it just so happens that I ran into you."

"By the way, old friend."

Huo Ming also sat down. "Teacher Zhong was shot in the leg, but he has recovered. Teacher Ma helped with some reconnaissance missions and was not injured."

"The Grand Commander is in excellent health now. Oh, and there's also a medicine merchant surnamed Meng, who seems to be an old friend of yours, and he often visits Kunming."

That's good.

Chu Tianshu asked with delight, "What about Lao Yu?"

"Old Yu".

Huo Ming's expression darkened slightly as he pointed to his forehead. "On the battlefield, a bullet pierced through his shoulder and tore off a small piece of my scalp."

"He was already missing an arm, and after this injury, his remaining arm is not very flexible either. Now he is living a retirement life in the military academy."

"If he hadn't been alert and happened to block the bullet when he pushed me, that bullet would have blown my skull off."

After Huo Ming finished speaking, he composed himself and gave a faint smile.

"Although it's only been a little over a year since we last met, it feels like many years have passed."

"Seeing you still like this just now made me suddenly very happy."

The newspaper owner brought over two more cups of tea.

Hearing the two catching up, he adjusted his glasses, looking a little embarrassed.

"Just now I saw that Mr. Chu was a man of great bearing and could not be an ordinary person. I thought that I could recruit talents for the Great Han Military Government and even persuaded him to settle there."

"Actually, I'm ashamed to say that I've never actually been to the Great Han Prefecture. I've only heard a lot about it and often talk with people from there."

"I was truly showing off my limited skills in front of Mr. Chu just now."

Huo Ming said seriously, "You were indeed a bit rash. Today is a good thing, and you are lucky, but you should be careful in the future and not speak too intimately with people you don't know well."

The newspaper owner nodded repeatedly, grabbed a book, walked to the door, leaned against the door frame, pretended to read by the light, but actually kept watch for the people inside.

"There are no warlords stationed in Hanoi, and the living environment is relatively relaxed, so it's no wonder that the boss can't be too wary."

Chu Tianshu picked up the teacup, sniffed the aroma, then put it down and asked, "I've heard that there's only one famous warlord in this area, Liu Xueya."

"Your presence here suggests that you are plotting to take down the Zhen Song Army?"

Chu Tianshu became quite interested when he mentioned this.

He was originally planning to cause trouble.

But take the Zhen Song Army as an example again. This group of warlords alone divided their troops and stationed them in more than twenty counties.

Although Liu Xueya himself had a marshal's mansion, he had to maintain control because most of his subordinates were former bandits. He dared not let his guard down and often patrolled various places. His whereabouts were unpredictable, and he communicated mainly by telephone and telegram.

Even if the decapitation tactic is successfully executed, the aftermath will be extremely troublesome.

Chu Tianshu had previously planned to visit old friends in the southwest and, incidentally, find a large number of helpers.

When the time comes, he only needs to fight his way through, and someone will naturally take over all aspects of the affairs, restrain the defeated army, and occupy the territory for him.

This is also very beneficial to the Han military government.

It is believed that as long as Chu Tianshu demonstrates sufficient strength, he can prove the feasibility of this approach.

Cai Shanjun and others will certainly be willing to give their full support and take the initiative to send troops.

Raising an army is always arduous, and war is always hateful, but in this chaotic world, peace cannot be achieved without fighting.

The battle against Yuan Shikai demonstrates that Cai Shanjun and his men were not lacking in such decisiveness.

"I am indeed here with a heavy responsibility."

Huo Ming spoke, then hesitated slightly.

In the past year or so, he has experienced many battles and intelligence work, which has developed an almost instinctive caution, and he does not speak too deeply with those he does not know well.

But they were sworn brothers with Chu Tianshu. Moreover, given Chu Tianshu's kindness to Cai Shanjun, what if this person suddenly became greedy for power and wanted to rise to prominence?

Joining the Great Han Military Government would be the most convenient option, as it's impossible for them to serve any other force.

Therefore, Huo Ming's hesitation was very brief, and he continued speaking frankly, even tapping the table with his finger.

"But my goal is right here in Hanoi district."

Chu Tianshu asked in surprise, "What could be here?"

Huo Ming lowered his voice: "Doctor Chu, at your age, you are cultivating both your body and mind. Moreover, you had already reached that level in your boxing skills back then. You must have made further progress in the past year or so."

Chu Tianshu smiled slightly and nodded: "You've made considerable progress."

Huo Mingdao asked, "Then, did you obtain the original text?"

Chu Tianshu looked puzzled and shook his head.

Huo Ming then explained it in detail.

Legend has it that since ancient times, there has been a spiritual thread running through the world.

This network resembles a network of rivers and streams, but it is far more intricate and complex than waterways above and below ground, and far more ethereal and intangible than water itself.

This lineage exists in every corner of the world.

Since the time of the Yellow Emperor, the descendants of Yan and Huang have referred to this lineage as the Dragon Vein.

Dragon veins can influence people's lives, and people's lives can also influence dragon veins.

However, dragon veins are ever-changing. If there are disturbances where there shouldn't be, it will be a disaster.

Therefore, from the time of the Yellow Emperor, or even earlier, before the names were standardized, people subconsciously wanted to tame the dragon veins.

I don't expect them to be completely obedient; I'll tame them to the extent I can.

The interference imposed by humans gradually forms various original texts within the dragon veins.

Those who had a great influence during their lifetime and whose fame spread after their death are more likely to add their own unique characteristics to the dragon vein.

Therefore, the power of the original Dragon Vein Classic has undergone a process of evolution through generations.

Later generations devised methods to make more effective use of the original texts.

In their early years, they would imitate the deeds of famous figures from previous generations, trying to make a name for themselves and gradually improve their status.

If one can surpass one's peers in competition along similar paths, one can receive the blessing of the original texts of predecessors.

Once these people have enough influence, they can develop their own unique characteristics, replace their predecessors, and become new symbols.

People who lived later than them could try to emulate their deeds.

Thus, each generation has its similarities and differences, learning and then changing.

The connection between the human world and the dragon veins became increasingly significant, and sorcerers and martial artists also came into contact with the dragon veins through their own means.

However, around the Eastern Han Dynasty, the dragon veins underwent inexplicable changes and disappeared from the human world.

By the end of the Han Dynasty, this marked the last glorious period of people's utilization of dragon veins.

Upon hearing this, Chu Tianshu asked in surprise, "So, the Dragon Vein has returned, and someone has already obtained the power of the original text."

Huo Ming said, "It's not that they've only just returned now. The dragon veins have been returning for decades, but we haven't bothered to explore the secrets behind it before."

Chu Tianshu did notice some clues back then.

When Uncle Ma and Uncle Zhong introduced him to the evolution of martial arts, they mentioned it.

Around the end of the Han Dynasty, the once diverse and vast martial arts schools were suddenly consolidated into a "three-in-one body, martial arts can create gods" approach.

There must have been some tremendous change during that era that led to this result.

Later, when Uncle Ma chatted with him, he mentioned many rumors in the history of magic and secret arts.

And then there's Wujia Village, where the Cave Goddess, who has endured countless years, is struggling to continue her life, experiencing a subtle revival.

On the day Cai Shanjun borrowed the Rainbow Flute and left the village, the flute music that spontaneously emanated from the cave was something that had never been recorded in the history books of Wujia Village.

"The time span is too long, and most people in the world were unaware that the Dragon Vein Codex had returned. However, some people unintentionally encountered certain events from the Dragon Vein Codex."

Huo Ming continued to explain.

The return of the original texts could have been a good thing for China.

For example, the foreigners had already occupied large swathes of land in India.

As a result, a group of people in India received blessings from the original texts of figures from the Kushan Empire, dating back approximately two thousand years.

Although they may be completely unrelated by blood, the original texts on dragon veins do not place much emphasis on bloodlines.

These people, who might have originally been just moderately talented, were blessed by chance and became locked in a fierce and protracted struggle with the foreigners.

It is said that within countries such as England, a small number of high-ranking officials, upon learning of the return of the original text, have become embroiled in irreconcilable conflicts over the chance to obtain its blessing.

Returning to the land of China, let's revisit the heroic deeds of those who emerged nearly two thousand years ago.

It will also bring tangible benefits to the heroes and tyrants of our time.

However, firstly, the internal strife within China has long been approaching an inevitable level, and this addition will likely intensify the fighting.

Secondly...

"When the dragon vein departed, the last batch of original texts that evolved were in response to the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period."

Huo Ming took a sip of tea, his face showing distress.

"And the Three Kingdoms, which was once a time of brilliant generals and abundant talent, eventually suffered from a decline in its talent pool and national strength."

"The world has fallen to Jin."

(End of this chapter)