Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 51: The Twin Dragons, The Deal.

Two days later, at Hai hour (9-11 PM).

The cool moonlight slanted through the clouds in the night sky, casting shadowy images of the ruins of the abandoned manor east of Yangzhou. Most of the buildings in the manor had long since fallen into disrepair, decaying under the ravages of wind and rain, and riddled with termites and insects. Only a small stone house huddled forlornly in a corner, its perforated roof boarded up, barely serving as a place to live.

Outside, weeds grew wildly, rustling in the night wind, adding to the desolate atmosphere.

A groan came from the darkness inside the room, followed by the sound of a body turning and rubbing together.

A childlike voice rang out, softly calling, "Xiao Ling, Xiao Ling, are you still in pain?"

After another groan, another boy's voice responded: "Damn Boss Yan, every punch is aimed at vital spots. Sigh, we shouldn't have gone to that old place to exchange money with that damn grass. That guy is both stingy and tries to bargain, and we should have told Boss Yan that scoundrel that he even stole the last bit of our hidden savings."

The speakers were Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, who were staying there. After their parents and family were killed by bandits while fleeing the war, the two had relied on each other for survival, enduring hardship in this dilapidated house. The floor mats inside were tattered, a few pieces of scavenged dry biscuits were piled in the corner, and a musty smell permeated the air.

Not long ago, the brothers encountered a remarkable person who not only didn't hold their pickpocketing against them, but also gave them a gold ingot so they could improve their lives.

At the same time, the words that person left behind before leaving completely ignited the flame that had been hidden in their hearts for a long time.

But their good fortune didn't last long. Just as the two were full of ambition and ready to make their mark, they were stumped by the question of "how to melt down this gold ingot." After all, they were just two small-time hoodlums with no connections whatsoever, and they simply didn't have enough connections to exchange for a single gold ingot.

If they had gone to a legitimate shop, they would have been caught on the spot and reported to the authorities.

Finally, despite his lofty ambitions, Kou Zhong was forced to seek out his old acquaintance, "Fortune Teller." Kou Zhong intended to split the gold with Fortune Teller equally, and the latter, out of consideration for the gold, naturally wouldn't tell Boss Yan. However, reality was cruel; they were severely beaten by Boss Yan and only slightly recovered after two days in bed.

In the darkness, Kou Zhong got up from the mat, crept to Xu Ziling's side, and comforted him, "It's good that you weren't crippled."

Xu Ziling slumped to the ground, rubbing his still burning jaw, and said thankfully, "Luckily, we paid off Sister Zhen's debt in advance, otherwise we would have really worked for nothing this time."

Kou Zhong looked up at the moonlight outside the window. The moonlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden planks, casting pale shadows on the ground. He suddenly said, "Xiao Ling, it's almost midnight. We should set off."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ziling subconsciously straightened up and looked towards the alleyway where they had originally agreed to meet. The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of tension and anticipation in each other's eyes.

child time.

-

The cool moonlight slowly shone on the long street. It was late autumn, the night was long and the air was chilly, and a thin layer of frost had formed under the eaves of the houses. The night watchman had long since taken shelter from the wind, and the entire street was deserted, with only the sound of the wind howling at the alley entrance.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, dressed in only thin clothes, hid quietly in the alley, waiting for the person to appear. Their clothes were pitifully thin, and the autumn wind chilled them to the bone. After an unknown amount of time, Kou Zhong's face turned blue from the cold, and snot was almost running from his nose.

He rubbed his arms, looked up at the cold moonlight, and couldn't help but complain, "This damn weather! It's already this cold in late October; what will it be like in winter?"

Xu Ziling, whose face was also turning blue from the cold, no longer had the strength to echo Kou Zhong's complaints. He simply hunched his shoulders, tucking his hands under his armpits, trying to conserve his meager body temperature.

Just as the two were shivering from the cold, they suddenly heard distinct footsteps behind them. The footsteps were unhurried, each step firm and clear in the quiet night. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling instinctively turned around at the same time, only to see a white-clad figure suddenly appear out of nowhere in what was clearly a dead-end alley.

The newcomer was dressed in flowing white robes, with a crutch under his arm and a small, bright red bird perched on his shoulder. The bird was observing the extremely disheveled twin dragons with great interest, tilting its head and letting out a very soft "coo".

The moonlight bathed the man, making his white robes appear as white as frost and snow. His face looked refined and otherworldly in the moonlight, and even with crutches under his arms, his dashing demeanor was undeniable. A firebird perched on his shoulder, its small, coral-like eyes gleaming faintly in the dim light, like two rubies.

Seeing the two men's disheveled appearance, how could Ouyang Ke not guess what they had encountered in the past few days?

He said calmly, "It seems you two have already made your choice."

Kou Zhong, being quick-witted, immediately bowed deeply to Ouyang Ke, saying, "Xiao Ling and I—"

However, Ouyang Ke merely glanced at him, and a gentle force lifted him into the air. Kou Zhong felt an invisible force supporting his arms, preventing him from bowing. This miraculous scene naturally left Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling dumbfounded, further awestruck by Ouyang Ke's extraordinary abilities.

"This isn't the place to talk. Come with me for now." Before Shuanglong could even reply, Ouyang Ke walked out of the alley.

Seeing this, Shuanglong instinctively said, "Wait, it's still curfew—"

However, a moment later, Ouyang Ke's voice drifted over from afar: "If you're scared, you don't need to follow."

The voice wasn't loud, but it reached their ears clearly, as if the speaker were right beside them. The two dragons exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and mustered their courage to follow the sound.

Although the journey wasn't long, it kept Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling on edge. Walking on the streets during curfew meant that if they were caught by the patrolling soldiers, they would be severely beaten or even imprisoned.

However, not a single person was seen on the long street that night, not even the night watchman had disappeared. The time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed, and no matter how fast Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling quickened their pace, they remained several feet away from the figure ahead, as if an invisible chasm separated them. They ran breathlessly, while the figure in white remained unhurried, lightly tapping the ground with his crutches under his arms, each time floating more than ten feet away, utterly composed.

Finally, the two arrived at a long-abandoned earth god temple in the city.

The temple gate was dilapidated, and the gold paint on the plaque had long since peeled away, leaving only the blurry outline of the three characters "Land God Temple." The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and a stone path was barely discernible, completely submerged. Ouyang Ke lightly tapped his crutches under his arms and gracefully entered. Shuanglong followed closely behind, trudging through the rubble and debris.

The flickering candlelight cast long shadows, and several oil lamps had been lit on the offering table in the temple. Ouyang Ke stood quietly before the statue of the Earth God, a statue that was already weathered and incomplete, yet the dim candlelight added to its solemnity. A firebird perched on his shoulder, motionless, as if it too had become part of the solemn scene.

Bathed in candlelight, Ouyang Ke appeared as if a god had descended to earth. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling stood breathlessly behind him, gazing at the white-clad figure, a profound and indescribable awe welling up within them.

"You two, extend your hands." Ouyang Ke turned around, looked at the panting Shuanglong, and paused before speaking.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were puzzled and didn't know what this meant, but after exchanging a glance, they obediently extended their hands.

Their hands were rough, covered in chilblains and scars, a stark contrast to the slender, clean-cut man in white.

Ouyang Ke reached out and placed his hand on the wrists of the two men, releasing a burst of true energy to carefully examine their bodies. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling felt a warm current emanating from Ouyang Ke's fingertips. In the blink of an eye, the warm current began to move, burrowing around in their bodies like a little mouse. The places where the warm current flowed felt indescribably comfortable, and the bruises and swellings inflicted by Boss Yan gradually melted away under its warmth.

In the blink of an eye, the injuries that Shuanglong had suffered from being brutally beaten by Boss Yan two days ago began to improve in a bizarre way. Not only did the pain decrease, but the two of them also felt warm all over, as if they were soaking in a hot spring. They felt indescribably light and comfortable, and almost groaned out loud.

Ouyang Ke let out a soft "Eh," a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. After some investigation, he discovered that the twin dragons' physical attributes and talent were unparalleled in the world. Although they had never practiced martial arts and their meridians were stagnant, they were wider than those of ordinary people, making it extremely easy for them to absorb true energy.

His inner energy flowed smoothly through their meridians, almost without any obstruction. After a long while, he withdrew his hand, shook his head, and said, "The aptitude of the two of you is truly impeccable."

His words were not empty boasts, but the truth. Having practiced martial arts for so long, he naturally knew that in his younger days, he couldn't even come close to Shuanglong's talent.

Kou Zhong was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly boasted to Xu Ziling beside him, "Xiao Ling, did you hear that? I was right, even our eldest brother praised us."

Xu Ziling remained silent, but a clear look of joy appeared in his eyes. He looked down at his hands, as if discovering for the first time that these hands held some incredible secret.

Seeing their joy, Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "Don't be so happy yet. It's really rare that you haven't gotten sick after all this trouble these past few days; you've just been out of luck."

The two asked in unison, "What kind of luck?"

Ouyang Ke said calmly, "Naturally, it's about the timing of your training. Anyone who wants to become an outstanding master must start training from childhood. The most important period for anyone to learn anything skillfully is the ten years between the ages of five and fifteen. Just like learning a language, if you start learning after this period, your pronunciation will never be correct. The same applies to martial arts. If you are only starting now, no matter how hard you work, you will only achieve half the results with twice the effort. It's not that you can't be mediocre errand boys, but the world is dangerous, and perhaps the next moment you two will be lying in a pool of blood."

The two men froze, feeling their hands and feet grow icy cold, as if the world had lost all life and meaning. The flickering candlelight in the temple cast their shadows long and short, as if mocking their foolish delusion.

Kou Zhong, true to his stubborn nature, retorted, "Perhaps we're the exception? Besides, you praised our talent, brother, so surely we'd be a little different, wouldn't we?"

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said slowly, "You two are indeed exceptionally talented, but it's a pity you missed the best age to learn martial arts."

The two men's faces drained of all color instantly, leaving them speechless. An awkward silence filled the temple, broken only by the occasional soft crackling of the candlelight and the occasional cooing of the firebird.

Just when the two were in utter despair, Ouyang Ke's words reached their ears again: "But that's not entirely true."

In an instant, a glimmer of hope returned to their eyes as they looked expectantly at Ouyang Ke. Ouyang Ke sighed, "You two are already old, and ordinary cultivation methods are naturally of no use to you. But I happen to have a rare book that might change your fate."

Upon hearing this, both dragons perked up. Kou Zhong clenched his fists, and Xu Ziling held his breath.

Ouyang Ke slowly said, "The extraordinary book in my hand is called the Longevity Manual, one of the four great martial arts books, a Taoist classic, written in oracle bone script by Guang Chengzi, the teacher of the ancient Yellow Emperor."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were astonished upon hearing this. They were not unlearned; they had secretly studied under the window of the old master's private school in the city many times, so they knew how important the Yellow Emperor's teacher was.

Kou Zhong raised his hand like a student listening to a lecture and said, "I've heard this story before. It's said that the Yellow Emperor eventually ascended to heaven riding a dragon. So, was his teacher even more powerful?"

Ouyang Ke nodded slightly: "Not bad."

But then his tone shifted: "However, since the 'Longevity Scripture' spread throughout the world, it has passed through the hands of countless outstanding talents, all of whom ultimately gained nothing. But you two are exceptionally talented; perhaps you can glean something from it."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were greatly encouraged upon hearing this. Kou Zhong was beaming with pride, while Xu Ziling frowned, seemingly hesitant. He was by nature more cautious than Kou Zhong, and felt that it was too strange for such a great stroke of luck to fall into their laps.

Seeing the change in their expressions, Ouyang Ke continued, "However, let me make this clear first: there are conditions under which I am passing on this book to you."

Hearing this, Shuanglong wasn't disappointed. Having spent so many years in Yangzhou, they knew all too well that there's no such thing as a free lunch. For example, even for ordinary people wanting to join the martial arts school of Shi Long, Yangzhou's top expert, it would cost several dozen taels of silver.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance and said at the same time, "Just give the order, brother. Whatever the request, Xiaoling and I will do our best to fulfill it."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke smiled calmly and said, "I wouldn't say I'd risk my life, but I hope you won't regret it later."

Seeing Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's sudden change in expression, Ouyang Ke was secretly delighted and laughed, "You two little rascals, are you scared already? Don't worry, the things I asked you to do will definitely not cost you your lives."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. Kou Zhong scratched his head, and Xu Ziling also lowered his head.

Ouyang Ke said calmly, "If you can glean any insights from this book, I will borrow it to take a look."

Upon hearing that this was the only condition, Kou Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "So that's the condition. Please rest assured, Brother, if Xiao Ling and I achieve anything, we will definitely not hide it from you."

Xu Ziling, however, was not as optimistic. He said with some worry, "But even my elder brother couldn't master it, which shows that the Longevity Technique must be incredibly profound. We two know nothing about it, how could we possibly succeed?"

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "It is precisely because you understand nothing that you have the potential to master this Longevity Technique. Anyone who has achieved mastery of martial arts must first dissipate their own internal energy before attempting to cultivate this technique. Since you have no martial arts foundation, this is naturally not a burden for you. Furthermore, the two of you possess extraordinary talent, the most outstanding I have ever seen. If neither of you can master it, then no one else in the world can."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across their faces, and continued, "Do you know that since its creation, countless heroes and geniuses have obtained the 'Longevity Scripture' over the past thousand years, yet none have been able to master it? Why? Because they all possessed martial arts skills and were unwilling to relinquish them. You, however, are like two blank sheets of paper. Only on blank sheets can one create art."

The reason he went to such lengths to invite the two dragons to this place was precisely to uncover the secrets of the Longevity Formula through them.

After all, the "Longevity Manual" is one of the Four Great Wonders, and it shares the same origin as the "War God's Record". It is the most likely martial art in the world to break through the "Void". Moreover, the "Longevity Manual" directly cultivates innate true qi, which is completely different from the path of various schools and sects that first cultivate acquired true qi and then return to the innate from the acquired.

However, Ouyang Ke was naturally unwilling to waste his cultivation for this, since no one would be willing to gamble their own power on that one-off event.

This is just like the "Great Method of Planting Demons in the Heart of the Demonic Sect". Once you reach the third chapter, "Establishing Demons", you must disperse all your skills so that the unfathomable demonic seed can emerge and take charge without being suppressed by the orthodox innate true qi of the Xuanmen.

The Demonic Sect's "Evil Extreme Sect" has countless successors and a continuous stream of geniuses throughout the ages. Even Mo Yiming, Xiang Yutian's master, a rare talent in the Demonic Sect, did not have the courage to take the step of crippling his own power—this is human nature.

Furthermore, although Ouyang Ke's learning is not as good as the "Longevity Manual", as long as he follows the steps and masters the Nine Yang Divine Skill, he can still continue to climb along that path and eventually reach the summit.

Moreover, he is not as indispensable as the "Evil Emperors" of the past. He still has the two dragons as his hope. As long as they master the "Longevity Technique", they can use the mysteries of the Longevity True Qi to comprehend the profound mystery of the "Longevity Technique".

He knew Shuanglong's character well and understood that the more honest he was with them, the more they would trust him. With these two lads, there was no need for any pretense or tricks; honesty was key, so he went straight to the point.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Brother, we are willing to learn!"

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