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

Chapter 52 The Death of the Stone Dragon

The next morning.

As dawn broke, a misty fog veiled the fields outside Yangzhou. Ouyang Ke arrived early at the secluded courtyard, pushed open the half-closed wooden gate, and saw that the old locust trees in the courtyard had lost all their leaves, their bare branches stretching towards the gray sky. He took his crutch under his arm and slowly walked to the stone table in the courtyard, where he sat down. A firebird perched on his shoulder, lazily yawning and preening its breast feathers with its beak.

Before long, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard. Ouyang Ke slightly raised his eyelids and saw Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling running into the courtyard, panting. They were dressed in thin clothes, their noses were red from the cold, but their faces were full of excitement.

"Big Brother!" Kou Zhong called out from afar, his steps never faltering, until he reached the stone table before stopping.

A slight smile appeared on Ouyang Ke's lips. These two lads were even more eager than he had expected.

He held a thin booklet in his hand, a copy of the "Longevity Manual" that he had made in advance. Although the paper was not precious, it was bound neatly, with the corners sewn together with fine hemp thread to prevent the pages from falling apart.

"This book is a copy of the Longevity Manual that I copied." Ouyang Ke placed the scroll on the stone table and said calmly, "The most urgent task for the two of you is to decipher its mysteries as soon as possible."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's gazes simultaneously fell on the scroll. It looked similar to the books they had secretly seen outside the private school, only thinner, with no inscription on the cover, just a plain white sheet.

Kou Zhong stepped forward, respectfully took the scroll from Ouyang Ke, and carefully opened it. Xu Ziling also leaned over, and the two looked at it side by side.

However, at first glance, the two were immediately overwhelmed.

The characters on the scroll were crooked and twisted, completely different from the regular script they had secretly learned. Kou Zhong stared wide-eyed, flipping through the scroll several times, only to find the characters resembled drawn talismans, utterly incomprehensible. Xu Ziling was in no better shape, his brows furrowed, his forehead almost touching the paper.

It should be noted that these two were relatively lucky; they had eavesdropped outside the private school for a long time and, compared to other illiterate orphans, at least knew quite a few characters. But this oracle bone script was truly beyond their comprehension.

After a long while, the two were dizzy and their eyes were blurry, still unable to make out anything. Kou Zhong, with a bitter face, looked up at Ouyang Ke: "Brother, how come the characters on this 'Longevity Manual' are completely different from what I was taught in the private school? It's like scribbles, completely incomprehensible."

Ouyang Ke glanced at the two of them, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, "You don't need to worry about anything else, take a look at the next few pictures first."

Upon hearing this, the two quickly flipped to the next few pages. Sure enough, the pages were filled with drawings of naked little figures in various poses—some standing, some lying down, and some seemingly walking. The figures were covered in a dense array of colorful lines, red dots, blue dots, and arrows, making it dizzying to look at. Kou Zhong examined the book several times but couldn't make heads or tails of it. He looked up at Xu Ziling. Xu Ziling shook his head, clearly in the same boat as him.

Just as the two were at their wits' end, Xu Ziling suddenly had a flash of inspiration. As if he had thought of something, he looked up at Ouyang Ke and said, "Brother, could the things on this be acupoints or meridians?"

Although he had never practiced martial arts, he and Kou Zhong had often secretly watched people practice outside the Shilong Martial Arts School. When those martial arts masters practiced, he often heard them talk about meridians, acupoints, and the circulation of internal energy. Xu Ziling heard this many times and memorized it. Now, seeing these colorful lines, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and understood.

Hearing this, Kou Zhong suddenly understood, reached out and put his arm around Xu Ziling's shoulder, and exclaimed happily, "My God!"

"You truly are my brother, Kou Zhong! I used to worry about you so much!"

Xu Ziling rolled his eyes at him, annoyed, and retorted, "How dare I compare myself to you, Young Master Zhong?"

Although neither of them knew martial arts, their senses were naturally sharp. Having spent the last few days with Ouyang Ke, they realized that their elder brother meant them no harm, and thus gradually revealed their true nature. Kou Zhong was sweet-talking, while Xu Ziling was composed; their back-and-forth banter was quite amusing.

Kou Zhong didn't mind at all, and instead said with a smile, "Xiao Ling, you don't need to belittle yourself. When I master martial arts in the future, I will definitely marry five beautiful women for you."

Xu Ziling retorted irritably, "I think it's your own idea."

Watching the two playfully bickering, Ouyang Ke didn't mind at all, and simply smiled and said, "Not bad, it's rare that you two have such insight before you've even started practicing martial arts." He nodded to himself inwardly, the two dragons were indeed exceptionally talented, able to connect the meridians and acupoints without any guidance, their comprehension was truly rare.

The two dragons haven't formally studied the basics of meridians and acupoints yet. In the original story, they were rescued by a Rakshasa woman from Goryeo while on the run, and only after she taught them the "Nine Profound Great Method" did they gain a vague understanding of meridians and acupoints. Now, with Ouyang Ke personally guiding them, their starting point is naturally much higher.

"Next, I will teach you the basic knowledge of acupoints and meridians." Ouyang Ke put away his smile and said seriously.

He explained the eight extraordinary meridians and acupoints of the human body to Shuanglong one by one. From the Ren and Du meridians to the twelve regular meridians, from the Baihui acupoint to the Yongquan acupoint, from the Dantian to the Qihai acupoint, he pointed them out one by one. He explained at a leisurely pace, and after explaining each point, he had Shuanglong feel the corresponding location on their own bodies.

The two dragons were exceptionally gifted; after hearing it only once, they memorized it word for word. Kou Zhong was even more excited, asking questions every now and then, while Xu Ziling silently gestured, firmly memorizing the acupoint locations.

However, even with their exceptional talent, it wouldn't be something the twin dragons could digest all of this in just a day or two. Ouyang Ke wasn't in a hurry either, simply observing the situation. He knew well that in martial arts, haste makes waste, especially when it came to comprehending a timeless classic like the "Longevity Manual."

He observed the changes in the two dragons quietly, naturally not restricting them too much. Every morning he would come to the courtyard to give them some pointers, and then let them figure things out on their own. However, the two dragons were still young, both around fifteen or sixteen years old, and over time, they naturally became somewhat lax.

Kou Zhong, naturally active, saw the firebird and found it extremely cute and seemingly intelligent, so he naturally wanted to reach out and pet it. The small, bright red bird perched on a locust tree branch in the courtyard, tilting its head to examine the two new boys, its coral-like eyes full of curiosity.

Unfortunately, the firebird was naturally perceptive, and it was not something an ordinary person could easily approach. Kou Zhong tried many times to secretly reach out and stroke it, but the firebird haughtily avoided him each time. On several occasions, he took advantage of the firebird lowering its head to peck at food, and quietly reached out, his fingertips barely touching the fiery red feathers.

The firebird turned around with lightning speed and pecked him hard on the back of his hand, making him cry out "Ouch!" and pull his hand back. A small red dot had appeared on the back of his hand.

One day, half a month later.

Sunlight filtered through the locust tree branches, casting dappled shadows, and the courtyard was serene. Kou Zhong squatted beside the stone table, his eyes darting around as he watched the firebird dozing on it. The little creature was curled up in a ball of red fluff, its head buried in its wings, seemingly fast asleep.

Kou Zhong felt a strong urge and quietly reached out, inching closer to the firebird. Xu Ziling leaned against the wall, flipping through a rubbing of the Longevity Manual. He caught a glimpse of Kou Zhong's actions out of the corner of his eye, his lips twitched, but he was too lazy to say anything.

His fingertips were only three inches from the firebird. Kou Zhong held his breath, his heart pounding. Two inches. One inch—

The firebird suddenly opened its eyes, its small coral-colored eyes staring straight at him, showing no sign of sleepiness. Kou Zhong knew something was wrong and was about to withdraw his hand when the firebird pounced like a red lightning bolt!

"ah----"

Kou Zhong screamed and jumped up, clutching his hand. The firebird pecked at the web between his thumb and forefinger; though it didn't break the skin, the pain made him grimace. He turned and ran, but the firebird relentlessly pursued him, flapping its wings in chase.

In an instant, the courtyard was in chaos. Kou Zhong ran wildly around the stone table, the firebird following closely behind, circling above his head, pecking at him whenever it had the chance. Kou Zhong's clothes now had seven or eight small holes, and his hair was a mess from the pecking.

"Young Master Ling! Save me!" Kou Zhong covered his head and fled, hiding under the table, his hands tightly covering his head. But the firebird wouldn't let him go, poking its head down from the edge of the table and pecking precisely at the back of his exposed hand.

"Ouch!" Kou Zhong pulled his hand back, and the firebird pecked at his ear again. He covered his ear, and the firebird pecked at the back of his neck. He curled up into a ball, and the firebird squatted in front of him, tilting its head to look at him, its eyes clearly mocking him.

Xu Ziling suppressed a laugh, shook his head vigorously, and resolutely refused, saying, "Young Master Zhong, I'm sorry, I can't help you with this." During the few days they had spent in the courtyard, the two of them had personally witnessed the power of the firebird—swift as fire, full of intelligence, and incredibly fast in its movements.

But Kou Zhong was incredibly audacious, persisting despite repeated defeats, and insisted on reaching out to touch him. In the past few days, Xu Ziling had seen no fewer than ten holes in his clothes, which was unbearable to look at.

Seeing that Kou Zhong was actually asking him for help, Xu Ziling decisively refused.

"Looks like you've provoked it again." A familiar voice reached my ears.

Kou Zhong peeked through his fingers and saw a white-clad figure standing at the courtyard gate. In an instant, it was as if he had seen a savior, and he shouted, "Brother, save me!"

Looking at the firebird pecking incessantly around Kou Zhong's head, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle: "My firebird is naturally intelligent. If you disrespect it, even I can't save you."

Upon hearing this, the firebird proudly raised its head and cooed, as if to say: Did you hear that?

Kou Zhong covered his head and cowered under the table, pleading loudly, "Brother Bird, I was wrong! I was really wrong! Please forgive me!"

After pleading for mercy several times, the firebird finally let out a loud cry, seemingly extremely pleased with itself, before slowly taking flight and landing steadily on Ouyang Ke's shoulder. It even gently pecked at Ouyang Ke's earlobe with its beak, as if seeking praise.

Kou Zhong then crawled out from under the table in a disheveled state. His hair was a mess, his clothes were covered in dust and holes, and his hands, ears, and the back of his neck were covered in small red spots, making him look extremely comical. Xu Ziling finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Kou Zhong casually dusted himself off and shamelessly said, "Brother, your bird is really something. I haven't been able to touch it even once in all this time."

Ouyang Ke inwardly praised Kou Zhong, noting his unwavering resolve and repeated defeats; no wonder he would achieve great things later. He said calmly, "Although it is a bird, it is a naturally unique species. Ordinary tigers, leopards, and venomous snakes cannot harm it in the slightest. If it intended to hurt you, your eyes would probably be gone by now."

Upon hearing this, Kou Zhong felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively touched his eyes.

Although he could tell the bird was extraordinary, he hadn't expected it to be so powerful. Kou Zhong immediately abandoned his usual mischievousness, respectfully bowed to the firebird, and said solemnly, "Thank you for your mercy, Brother Bird!"

The firebird perched on Kou Zhong's shoulder seemed to understand Kou Zhong's words at that moment. It proudly puffed out its chest and let out a loud cry, as if in response: You're a smart kid.

Ouyang Ke smiled and got to the point: "How have you been doing these past few days?"

Upon hearing this, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's expressions simultaneously stiffened. Kou Zhong scratched his head, embarrassed, and said, "Brother, Xiaoling and I still haven't figured it out these past few days. We've looked at those diagrams countless times, and we can draw them with our eyes closed, but we just don't know how to practice."

Xu Ziling nodded, looking somewhat dejected.

Ouyang Ke remained calm and said indifferently, "No rush, continue to patiently comprehend it. Comprehending such things cannot be forced."

He paused, then seemed to remember something, and his tone turned slightly somber: "These next few days, none of you should go to the city."

Seeing the bewildered look on Shuanglong's face, Ouyang Ke said, "Shilong is dead. Now the soldiers in the city are strictly guarding all the city gates, allowing only entry and no exit. Don't let anyone catch you and throw you into jail."

"Shi Long is dead?" Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's expressions changed drastically.

As native locals, the two younger brothers were naturally aware of Shi Long's great reputation. Not to mention Boss Yan, who had always made things difficult for them, it was said that even Yin Kaishan, the leader of the Bamboo Flower Gang, treated Shi Long's martial arts school disciples with utmost respect and never showed the slightest disrespect. Now that they heard Shi Long was dead, it was as if the sky had fallen.

Kou Zhong muttered, "My God—Xiao Ling, did you hear that? Shi Long is actually dead?"

Xu Ziling looked thoughtfully at Ouyang Ke and tentatively asked, "Could it be that it was my elder brother who made the move?" He saw that Ouyang Ke was highly skilled in martial arts and was very young, so he guessed that he might have accidentally killed Shi Long while challenging him.

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke chuckled and said, "You're half right. Shi Long was indeed injured by me, but I didn't take his life. Someone else killed him."

His tone was calm, but his words were like a cataclysmic event to the Twin Dragons. They had never left Yangzhou since childhood, and Shi Long was the number one expert in their eyes. Now, this number one expert had been injured by their elder brother—their hearts were naturally filled with turmoil.

Mustering his courage, Kou Zhong asked, "Brother, why was Shi Long killed?"

Ouyang Ke didn't explain further, only saying calmly, "Possessing a treasure is a crime."

Upon hearing this, Shuanglong was only half-understanding and was about to ask further questions when Ouyang Ke continued, "This matter is none of your concern. You only need to patiently contemplate and meditate on those few images."

Shi Long's death, however, was just like in the original story. Yuwen Huaji somehow learned that he possessed the "Longevity Formula," so he took the initiative to come to his door to demand it. Shi Long refused, and the two fought, whereupon Shi Long was defeated and died.

Ouyang Ke was not surprised by Shi Long's defeat.

His death was inevitable when he failed to leave Yangzhou immediately.

Although Shi Long's mindset improved after letting go of his obsession with the "Longevity Manual," he was still injured by Yuwen Huaji earlier, and his martial arts were inferior to Yuwen Huaji's. After refusing to hand over the "Longevity Manual" to Yang Guang, he naturally ended up with the same fate as in the original story.

Unexpectedly, although Shi Long was dead, the "Longevity Formula" seemed to have vanished into thin air. In order to search for its whereabouts, Yuwen Huaji had been strictly guarding the city for the past few days, allowing entry but not exit.

When Ouyang Ke learned of this, he naturally wanted to investigate it further.

Seeing that Shi Long was dead and the "Longevity Manual" had mysteriously disappeared, he became interested. Unfortunately, the person who made the move was so skilled that Ouyang Ke was unable to find him for a long time. So he spent several days outside before returning.

As for who obtained the "Longevity Manual," even he doesn't know yet.

Now he wanted to see which unknown expert had infiltrated the city.

Knowing that Shuanglong was impulsive and reckless, he feared that if he didn't know his place and ran back to the city, he might get into trouble. So he made a special trip back to warn them in advance.

Upon hearing this, Shuanglong nodded repeatedly.

Ouyang Ke said, "Very good. I have prepared enough food for a month in advance in the courtyard. As long as you do not step into the city, you will be safe and sound."

Kou Zhong, quick-witted as if guessing something, immediately patted his chest and said, "Brother, go into the city and fight the expert who killed the stone dragon. Xiao Ling and I will definitely not cause you any trouble!"

Ouyang Ke nodded: "That's very good. I will leave the firebird behind to warn you. If anything changes, follow the firebird and you will be able to turn misfortune into good fortune."

Knowing that Shuanglong was intelligent and wouldn't make a mistake on important matters, he moved swiftly, lightly tapping his crutches under his armpits, his white robes fluttering as he leaped over the courtyard wall and disappeared into the morning mist.

Kou Zhong gazed at that dashing figure, his eyes filled with envy: "When will I be able to master such impressive martial arts as my elder brother?"

Xu Ziling did not answer, his gaze falling on the firebird perched on the stone table.

The firebird was tilting its head to look them over when it suddenly nodded at Xu Ziling and made a "coo" sound.

Xu Ziling was initially a little confused, but then he saw the wine pot on the table and seemed to understand something. He tentatively picked up the wine pot and poured half a cup of wine for Firebird.

The firebird lowered its head and took a light peck, then raised its head and cooed twice in dissatisfaction, clearly saying: "Too little."

Xu Ziling chuckled and quickly refilled the glass. The firebird nodded in satisfaction and made a "coo" sound, as if in praise.

Xu Ziling stared wide-eyed at the sight and exclaimed, "My God, Young Master Zhong, Big Brother was right! Your bird really can understand us!"

Kou Zhong was in no better shape than Xu Ziling at this moment. He stared at the firebird, which seemed to be carefully savoring wine, and was dumbfounded for a moment. Only now did he fully believe that the bird in front of him could indeed understand human speech.

No wonder the firebird always looked at him like he was an idiot whenever he reached out to tease it. Recalling this scene, Kou Zhong covered his face and after a long while said, "Xiao Ling, did Brother Bird think I was an idiot before?"

Xu Ziling pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly: "It should be correct."

Kou Zhong exchanged a glance with him and immediately burst out laughing.

Laughter echoed in the courtyard, startling a few sparrows from the branches. The firebird glanced up at them, then lowered its head to continue pecking at its wine, its demeanor calm and elegant, as if to say: "Two fools."

PS: Next, we will use the twin dragons to unravel the mysteries of the two diagrams of the Longevity Manual, and then heal the leg. We won't slow down the pace any further!