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

Chapter 59 Return to Shooting the Eagle, Uncle and Nephew Reunited!

The river breeze gradually subsided, and the bright moon sank in the west.

Ouyang Ke sat cross-legged inside the small boat cabin, his eyes slightly closed, and innate purple energy slowly circulated in his meridians.

In his battle with Li Zitong, he appeared to have calmly repelled his enemy, but in reality, he had exhausted a great deal of his internal energy.

The fierce power of the nine-section copper whip clashed with the innate purple energy on his white python whip several times. Each time, he had to expend a lot of innate purple energy to suppress Li Zitong.

In the end, if Li Zitong hadn't been wary and dared not fight to the death, even if he had won, he certainly wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed.

He took a deep breath, and the wisps of purple-gold energy in his dantian slowly moved, like streams flowing into the sea, circulating gently along the meridians throughout his body. At each acupoint, a cool and warm sensation flowed in, repairing the minor damage left after the great battle.

The firebird perched on his shoulder, tilting its head, its small, coral-like eyes staring quietly at him, occasionally letting out a very soft "coo," as if asking him a question.

Over the past few days, it has gradually gotten used to Ouyang Ke's seclusion and meditation, but as a naturally born spiritual creature, it can sense changes in Ouyang Ke's aura with extreme sensitivity, so it is naturally still worried.

"It's alright," Ouyang Ke replied softly, reaching out to stroke the firebird's feathers.

The small boat drifted with the current, the boatman long since gone. The river was now vast and empty, deserted except for the moonlight that shimmered on the water like countless silver ripples. The occasional cry of a waterbird in the distance only amplified the desolation of the night.

Ouyang Ke closed his eyes and focused inward, his innate purple energy slowly circulating along the energy pathways of the two dragon paintings.

Starting from the head, enter through the Tianling acupoint, pass through the twelve-story tower, descend along the meridian, ascend along the Du meridian, then follow the left and right Yin-Yang meridians, and finally return to the Dantian in the hand.

With each cycle of energy circulation, he felt his spirit and internal energy increase. However, tonight's consumption was too great. Even after several cycles, the innate purple energy in his dantian had not fully recovered and was far less abundant than usual.

Li Zitong's nine-section copper whip was extremely powerful, and he had to take every strike seriously. In addition, he had previously used his true energy to control a boat across the water, so this battle had taken a heavy toll on him.

He sighed softly, about to finish his practice, when suddenly he felt a warmth around his waist.

The jade pendant hanging at his waist—the ancient jade engraved with the character "潮" (chao)—suddenly began to heat up.

Ouyang Ke frowned slightly and reached for his waist. The moment his fingertips touched the jade pendant, a warm power surged into his body, resonating with the innate purple energy in his dantian.

"This is----"

Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat. Ever since he arrived in the Tang Dynasty, this jade pendant had been constantly absorbing his true energy, like a bottomless pit. Tonight, his internal energy was greatly depleted, yet the jade pendant was behaving strangely again.

Suddenly, the innate purple energy accelerated its circulation in the meridians, becoming faster and faster, as if drawn by some invisible force.

The purplish-gold energy threads in his dantian surged and churned like boiling water, showing signs of breaking free from his body.

The firebird sensed something was wrong, took off from his shoulder, circled in the air, and cried out urgently.

Ouyang Ke tried to suppress the true energy within his body, but found that he could no longer control it. The resonating power was too strong; his innate purple energy resonated with a certain power in the jade pendant, and the two stirred each other, growing increasingly intense.

Purple light burst forth from his body, illuminating the entire cabin.

The firebird cried out and flew further away, transforming into a flowing ball of fire in the night sky.

The next moment, Ouyang Ke felt dizzy, and the scenery before him began to distort and blur. The river, the bright moon, the distant mountains—everything seemed to be crushed by an invisible hand, turning into countless points of light. His body became light and airy, as if it had lost its weight, and he was swept into a vortex by an irresistible force.

The wind howled in my ears, mixed with the anxious cries of firebirds.

He instinctively reached out, trying to grab something, but only grasped at empty air.

I don't know how much time passed.

It may be a moment, or it may be forever.

The vortex force suddenly disappeared.

A sudden feeling of weightlessness washed over me, and the descent was incredibly rapid, as if I were plummeting into an abyss.

Caught off guard, Ouyang Ke instinctively activated his lightness skill. He gracefully spun in mid-air, like a dragon coiling, and landed firmly on his feet. As he landed, a crutch tucked under his arm and a ball of fire fell from his shoulder—a firebird.

The man and the bird moved with fluid grace, devoid of any trace of human emotion.

Ouyang Ke stared intently and saw moonlight streaming obliquely into the cave entrance, illuminating the uneven stone walls. The air was filled with a damp, musty smell, mixed with the cold scent of the rocks.

This place was very familiar to him.

It was in the mysterious cave where he first discovered the jade pendant.

He is back.

Ouyang Ke gazed around intently. The stone table, the stone benches, the cave—everything remained as before, as if he had never left. Even the scroll of the "Water-Dividing Sword Technique" on the table was still there, only covered with a thin layer of dust.

The firebird gently pecked at his earlobe with its beak, making a low "coo" sound, as if complaining that he had frightened it.

Understanding the firebird's complaint, Ouyang Ke reached out and stroked its feathers, saying softly, "You're back."

The firebird tilted its head and looked at him, seemingly understanding but not quite.

He looked down at his waist, where the jade pendant with the character "潮" (Chao) hung quietly in its place, the water ripples flowing around it, but it was no longer hot. The moonlight shone on the jade pendant, and the character "潮" returned to its original appearance, without any of its previous abnormality.

Ouyang Ke remained silent for a moment, seemingly having guessed the reason why the jade pendant had suddenly opened.

Earlier, when he used the bodies of the two dragons to explore the mysteries of the "Longevity Formula", the "Misty Purple Qi" in his body responded actively, merged with the true qi of the two dragons, and finally circulated within the three of them along the unique qi circulation route of the two dragons.

After several cycles, the "misty purple qi" transformed into "innate purple qi," and he also benefited from the misfortune and entered the innate realm. The excess Nine Yang True Qi that had been dissipated was completely absorbed by the jade pendant at his waist.

After leaving Yangzhou, the jade pendant continued to absorb his transformed innate purple energy, which may have just met the conditions for the jade pendant to be reactivated.

Thinking of this, Ouyang Ke's heart stirred. He seemed to have understood the rule for opening the jade pendant—as long as enough true energy is accumulated, one can travel between the two realms.

Based on this calculation, as long as the true energy absorbed by the jade pendant meets the requirements, he can return to the Tang Dynasty world in the next moment.

Thinking of this, a purple glint flashed in Ouyang Ke's eyes, and a smile gradually spread across his lips.

He stood up, leaning on his crutches, and walked to the cave entrance. The night breeze caressed his face, the pool below the stone wall remained unchanged, and several clumps of unknown flowers and grasses grew by the pool, emitting a faint fragrance.

The distant roar of surging tides could be faintly heard, like thunder and drums, just as it always has.

He took a deep breath, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

During his months in the Tang Dynasty, he successively defeated Ba Feng Han, defeated Shi Long, severed Yu Wen Hua Ji's arm, and repelled Li Zi Tong. In a twist of fate, he also mastered the innate purple qi, which was equivalent to the "Longevity Technique" of the Twin Dragons, giving him the qualifications to compete with the three sects of the Demonic Sect, Buddhism, and Taoism in the future.

However, now that he has returned to Shooting the Eagle and is standing in front of this familiar cave, he suddenly feels as if he has been transported to another world.

Ouyang Ke gazed into the distance, the sunlight dimming, his mind filled with countless thoughts. He had seemingly only been in the Tang Dynasty for a few months, but he had no idea how much time had passed since the Age of Condor Heroes.

Judging from the dust inside the cave, the difference in their time flow rates shouldn't be too great. Thinking of this, he felt a slight sense of relief—if the difference in their time flow rates were too large, then things might be in trouble.

"Let's go, let's wait a bit before visiting Brother Diao, and first let's go back to our old house in Sheyang County."

The firebird took flight, circled above his head once, and emitted a clear call, clearly responding.

Ouyang Ke lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits, his white robes fluttering, and slowly walked along the mountain path towards the valley's edge.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long and long, casting it on the road he had walked countless times.

After several days of effort, Ouyang Ke and his bird finally returned to Sheyang County.

After several months away, standing on the street and looking into the distance, the small courtyard still stood there quietly, the old jujube tree in the courtyard with its lush branches and leaves, even greener than when I left.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the green tiles, bathing the entire courtyard in a warm, golden hue.

The firebird let out a soft cry, unable to contain itself, and transformed into a ball of fire, heading straight for the jujube tree in the courtyard. When it was in the mountains and forests, it had a special fondness for jujube trees, and used to love to perch on the branches of the jujube tree and take a nap.

The moment the firebird flew into the courtyard, someone in the courtyard suddenly let out a soft "Eh," the tone of which was extremely familiar, carrying a hint of surprise and alertness.

The next moment, a white figure flashed out from inside the house.

It was a tall, white-clad man with a high nose and deep-set eyes. His face and beard were brownish-yellow, and his brows were full of fierceness. It was none other than Ouyang Feng.

He heard the firebird's distinctive cry and became alert.

When he looked up, he saw a red glow circling above the jujube tree branch. The bird was entirely crimson, exceptionally beautiful, and unlike anything he had ever seen before. Even more strangely, the bird emitted a faint, exotic fragrance that was refreshing and pleasant.

Ouyang Feng's gaze sharpened, and he naturally became interested. His right palm suddenly shot out, his five fingers like hooks, moving as fast as lightning, and he reached straight for the firebird.

How spiritual is the firebird?

Sensing danger, it flapped its wings and, just as Ouyang Feng's fingertips barely touched its feathers, transformed into a streak of light and flew diagonally away, narrowly avoiding the grasp.

His movements were so swift that they resembled those of a martial arts master using light-body techniques.

"Huh?" A hint of surprise flashed in Ouyang Feng's eyes. Although he hadn't used his full strength in that grab, it was so fast that he could catch ten ordinary birds. How could this little red bird dodge it?

He became interested, changed his footwork, and moved swiftly, striking again. This time he used three-tenths of his true strength. Under the influence of his palm wind, the firebird's space to move left and right was completely sealed off, and it was about to fall into his palm.

Just as Ouyang Feng was about to close his fingers, a clear voice came from outside the courtyard: "Uncle, show mercy!"

Ouyang Feng recognized the voice and shuddered, his outstretched hand abruptly stopping in mid-air. The firebird seized the opportunity to slip through his fingers, flew to a high place in the jujube tree, tilted its head, and cooed twice, as if complaining.

Ouyang Feng, however, paid no attention to the bird. He turned around abruptly, his gaze passing over the courtyard wall and landing on the figure in black at the alley entrance.

In the afterglow of the setting sun, a young man dressed in black stood quietly, crutches under his arm.

A gentle breeze blew, and his jet-black hair fluttered lightly across his broad forehead, which seemed to be carved from jade. A purple light seemed to flow between his eyes, and his whole person exuded an elegant and otherworldly temperament, making him a completely different person from a few months ago.

It was a composure and confidence that emanated from the very core of one's being, as if one had undergone some kind of transformative metamorphosis.

"Kerr!"

The murderous intent in Ouyang Feng's eyes vanished, replaced by unbelievable joy. His usually cold face showed a rare excitement.

"uncle!"

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits, and gracefully entered the courtyard. His movements were even more elegant than before.

Ouyang Feng strode forward, looking his nephew up and down with disbelief in his eyes. His nephew, whom he hadn't seen for several months, seemed like a completely different person.

With his keen eye, he could naturally see that his nephew's martial arts skills had improved significantly. But what surprised him even more was that, with the perspective of a martial arts master, he couldn't immediately discern Ouyang Ke's current level of skill.

"Ke'er, is it really you?" Ouyang Feng couldn't help but ask, his voice trembling slightly.

Ouyang Ke understood his uncle's surprise and cupped his hands, saying, "Uncle, it's me, Ke'er."

Looking at Ouyang Ke before him, Ouyang Feng's eyes immediately lit up with joy—a joy that came from the bottom of his heart. He suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "Ke'er, I've found the Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment! Your legs can finally be restored!"

Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat. Even though he had expected it, hearing it with his own ears still brought a look of surprise to his eyes: "Uncle has already found the Vajra Sect?"

Ouyang Feng nodded, a hint of smugness in his voice: "That old bald monk from the Vajra Sect is quite skilled in external martial arts, but he's no match for me. After I captured him alive, I interrogated him and learned that he was actually a traitor to the Shaolin Temple."

He paused, then continued, "The reason I haven't returned for so long is twofold: first, to verify the efficacy of the 'Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment'; second, that bald monk's martial arts skills are quite commendable, and I was eager to test his abilities, so I stayed a few more days. The Vajra Sect's palm techniques..."

His finger techniques are exquisite, quite different from those of Central Plains martial arts. If Ke'er wishes to learn them in the future, your uncle will teach you as well.

Ouyang Ke was not surprised to hear this. The Fire-Worker Monk who betrayed Shaolin Temple was indeed exceptionally talented, and he might have had a chance if he encountered any of the other Five Greats. But encountering his own uncle was like encountering his nemesis.

With my uncle's methods, as long as we capture the other party alive, we won't have to worry about him not confessing honestly.

A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and he bowed respectfully again, saying, "Uncle, you've had a long and tiring journey."

Ouyang Feng reached out to support him, and his usually cold face showed a rare tenderness: "This is nothing."

"As long as your legs can be healed, Uncle will go through fire and water for you, it will all be worth it."

Ouyang Ke felt a warmth in his heart. He looked up at his uncle, who appeared cold and ruthless to outsiders but was incredibly caring towards him. All his unspoken words were condensed into one sentence: "Uncle—"

Ouyang Feng waved his hand, and the light fell on him again. He looked him up and down, then suddenly frowned and said, "Ke'er, what's going on with your martial arts? You've been completely transformed in just a few months. I couldn't even sense your presence before you spoke."

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly and was about to speak when the firebird flew down from the jujube tree, landed on his shoulder, and tilted its head to look at Ouyang Feng.

Ouyang Feng looked at the fiery red bird, then at Ouyang Ke, and shook his head, saying, "This little fellow is quite interesting; it managed to dodge both of my attacks just now. Ke'er, is this your pet?"

Ouyang Ke nodded, reached out and stroked the firebird's feathers, and said, "It's called Firebird, a companion Ke'er met while traveling. It's intelligent and perceptive. Just now when Uncle attacked, it only instinctively dodged, not intentionally offending him."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng naturally wouldn't pursue the matter further.

But after staring at the firebird for a moment, he suddenly laughed and said, "This little guy is quite intelligent and indeed has some extraordinary qualities."

""

The firebird seemed to understand him, puffed out its little chest, and let out a proud "coo".

Upon seeing this, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but chuckle. Looking at the white-clad man before him, whose face was cold but whose eyes were now full of concern, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Months ago, he saw his uncle off on his journey to the west in this small courtyard. At that time, his legs were still unable to walk, and his future was uncertain. Now his uncle has returned with the Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment, and he himself has made great progress in martial arts, even mastering the Innate Purple Qi.

All of this feels like a dream.

He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Uncle, what Ke'er has experienced these past few months—"

Ouyang Feng's gaze fell on the crutches under Ouyang Ke's armpits, but he shook his head and said, "Ke'er, we can talk about these things later. Right now, I'll help you recover your legs!"

His tone left no room for doubt, as if the biggest secret or the most mysterious martial arts were not as important as getting his nephew to stand up right now.

A warm feeling welled up in his heart, and Ouyang Ke lowered his eyes and said softly, "Thank you, Uncle."

Ouyang Feng didn't turn around, he just waved his hand, but the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide.

P.S.: I only have a little bit of draft left, so I won't be able to update twice a week anymore!