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

Chapter 65 Revealing One's Feelings

In Xiangyang, in an unnamed, desolate valley.

After returning from visiting the Sword Tomb ruins, Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Ke temporarily separated in order to track down the Bodhi Serpents that could increase their martial arts skills.

He ventured alone into the secluded depths of the valley to track the snakes so that the snake servants of White Camel Mountain could capture and raise them in the future.

Ouyang Ke and Li Mochou settled down temporarily in the valley, using the cave as their shelter. Although they had developed feelings for each other, they still respected the proper distinction between men and women, so Ouyang Ke built a hut outside the cave and gave the cave to Li Mochou to live in.

At dawn, a thin mist swirled in the valley, accompanied by the clear chirping of birds. Ouyang Ke sat in meditation on the open ground outside the cave, his innate purple energy slowly circulating along his meridians. Li Mochou practiced her sword nearby. The swordsmanship of the Ancient Tomb Sect was inherently light and agile, and when she wielded it, it was like a startled swan or a swimming dragon, causing leaves to flutter wherever her sword light passed.

The two practiced separately, without interfering with each other, but they would often stop at the same time, their eyes met, they would smile slightly, and then each lower their heads again.

The firebird has been quite busy these past few days. Every day at dawn, it flies out of the cave to play with the divine eagle. The eagle and the bird are worlds apart in size, yet they manage to play together perfectly. The divine eagle strides through the valley, and the firebird circles above its head, sometimes landing on its back, sometimes pecking at its crest.

The eagle, annoyed by the firebird's intrusion, shook its head and shooed it away. But the firebird would circle back, chirping incessantly, clearly trying to be affectionate. Sometimes, when the eagle drank from the stream, the firebird would perch on its head, tilting its head to look at its reflection in the water. Other times, when the eagle dozed off at the foot of the cliff, the firebird would tuck itself into its ruffled feathers, leaving only its small head peeking out, squinting in the sun. The eagle and the bird, one large and one small, lived in perfect harmony.

Every time Li Mochou saw this scene, she couldn't help but chuckle. She turned to look at Ouyang Ke and saw him smiling as he gazed at the eagle and the bird, his eyes full of tenderness.

"Brother Ouyang, don't they look like a family?" Li Mochou asked softly.

Ouyang Ke nodded and smiled, "Brother Eagle has lived alone in the desolate valley for many years. Although he has spiritual intelligence, he is still alone. Although the Firebird has followed me around, it is still a bird. Perhaps its closeness to Brother Eagle is just in its nature."

Over the past few days, the distance between them had unknowingly shrunk considerably. He no longer deliberately maintained his distance as before, and she gradually let go of her girlish reserve. They would sit side by side at the cave entrance watching the sunset, or stroll together by the stream, not saying much, yet sharing a tacit understanding.

Li Mochou would occasionally have a thought: how wonderful it would be if she could live in this valley forever, staying with Brother Ouyang.

But she knew that this idea was ultimately just wishful thinking.

She knew that her master would only go into seclusion for a maximum of three months each time, and that she could only stay here for half a month at most before returning to the ancient tomb. Whenever she thought of this, a vague sense of melancholy would rise in her heart.

That afternoon, Ouyang Ke sat cross-legged on a blue stone outside the cave, holding a thin silk scroll in his hands, his brows slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought. Li Mochou curiously approached and asked, "Brother Ouyang, what are you looking at?"

Ouyang Ke looked up at her, handed her the silk scroll, and said, "I'm studying the martial arts techniques that my uncle brought back from the Vajra Sect."

Li Mochou took the silk scroll, which was covered with tiny characters: "The Mighty Vajra Finger," "The Vajra Prajna Palm," and "The Vajra Subduing Demon Divine Power." Although she had never heard of these names before, she could tell from the fierce and domineering aura exuded by the moves that they were no ordinary martial arts. Even in her ignorance, she had heard of the Shaolin Temple's illustrious reputation in the martial arts world.

Seeing the curiosity in her eyes, Ouyang Ke explained, "These three martial arts are all secret techniques of Shaolin Temple, listed among the Seventy-Two Arts. The Fire-Worker Monk of the Vajra Sect was originally a kitchen cook who, unable to bear the humiliation, secretly learned Shaolin martial arts. After defecting to the Western Regions, he founded the Vajra Sect, and these arts were the ones he took with him."

Li Mochou exclaimed in surprise, "The Seventy-Two Shaolin Arts? How could a mere fire-tending monk learn them all?"

Even if she was ignorant, she had heard of the Shaolin Temple's reputation in the martial arts world.

Ouyang Ke nodded and said, "This person is extremely talented. Although he learned by stealing, he has mastered amazing skills. However—" He paused, his tone tinged with emotion, "Martial arts are neither good nor evil. They are good when used for good and evil when used for evil."

That charlatan was wicked; even if he mastered unparalleled martial arts, he would ultimately not escape his uncle's clutches.

As he spoke, he immersed himself in the profound mysteries of those martial arts techniques.

The Vajra Finger technique excels in finger strength, possessing unparalleled power and ferocity; a single finger strike can shatter gold and split stone. This skill is completely opposite to the Serpent Fist of White Camel Mountain; one is extremely hard, while the other is extremely soft. Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment, vaguely feeling that if he could combine hardness and softness, he might be able to forge a new path.

The Vajra Prajna Palm is even more domineering, with powerful palm force that can rupture the internal organs of the victim. He knew from his past life's memories that Zhang Sanfeng had been caught off guard by this palm and, despite his profound internal strength, still needed three months of rest to fully recover. Its power is no less than that of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Of the three skills, the most powerful is undoubtedly the "Vajra Subduing Demon Divine Power." This skill is the most domineering external martial art among the seventy-two Shaolin arts, powered purely by yang energy, making it indestructible and incredibly fierce, capable of killing with a single blow. For thousands of years, this skill has been regarded as the number one external martial art of Shaolin, comparable to the pinnacle of the external martial arts, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

After much deliberation, Ouyang Ke felt that although these three martial arts were characterized by their fierce power, they complemented his innate purple qi's yin-yang balance. If he could master them, it would undoubtedly give him another trump card. However, there was no rush. He closed the silk scroll, put it in his pocket, and looked up into the distance.

As the sun set, its golden rays bathed the valley in warm hues. The Divine Eagle stood at the foot of the cliff, dozing with its eyes closed, while the Firebird perched atop its head, curled into a ball of red fluff, fast asleep.

Li Mochou sat beside him, her arms wrapped around her knees, gazing absently at the sunset. Her profile appeared exceptionally soft in the setting sun, her eyelashes trembling slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. Ouyang Ke watched her quietly, a thought suddenly arising in his mind—if this moment could last forever, it would not have been a wasted life.

Just as I was lost in thought, a familiar sound of footsteps suddenly came from the valley entrance, clanging and resounding with a metallic quality.

"Kerr!"

Ouyang Feng's voice drifted over from afar, his tone carrying a hint of smugness.

Ouyang Ke and Li Mochou stood up at the same time and looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Ouyang Feng, dressed in white, striding over, carrying a bulging leather bag in his hand, with an unusual smile on his face.

"Uncle, have you made a discovery?" Ouyang Ke stepped forward to greet him.

Ouyang Feng nodded, placed the leather pouch on the ground, untied the knot, and a dozen or so emerald green snake gallbladders rolled out, crystal clear and gleaming faintly in the setting sun. "The lair of the Bodhi Serpent has been found. I've specially collected these snake gallbladders these past few days; it'll be enough for us for a while," Ouyang Feng said, his gaze sweeping over the Divine Eagle and the Firebird not far away.

The Divine Eagle smelled the snake gall, opened its eyes, and let out a low cry. The Firebird flew directly from above the Divine Eagle's head, landed on Ouyang Feng's shoulder, and gently pecked at his earlobe with its beak, chirping incessantly, clearly begging for it.

Ouyang Feng, unusually, smiled, reached into his leather pouch, took out a snake gall bladder, and offered it to the firebird's beak. The firebird snatched it in one gulp, tilted its head back, swallowed it, and then hopped onto the Divine Eagle's head, cooing twice as if showing off. The Divine Eagle shook its head dismissively, but also turned its gaze to the leather pouch in Ouyang Feng's hand.

Ouyang Ke laughed, "Uncle, Brother Eagle can't wait any longer." Ouyang Feng then took out two more snake galls, tossing one to the Divine Eagle and handing the other to Ouyang Ke. The Divine Eagle opened its mouth to catch them, swallowed them with a quick movement of its throat, and then let out a satisfied groan.

Ouyang Feng's gaze then fell upon Li Mochou. He looked her up and down, his eyes revealing not scrutiny, but rather a hint of satisfaction.

"Miss Li, have you been settling in well these past few days?" He unusually took the initiative to speak.

Li Mochou was slightly taken aback, and quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your concern, senior. This place is very good."

Ouyang Feng nodded, then took out a snake gall from his pouch and handed it to her: "After consuming this snake gall, you will immediately feel refreshed, and your strength and power will also increase greatly. Miss Li, you should try it too."

Li Mochou gazed at the emerald green snake gall and hesitated for a moment. Having grown up in the Ancient Tomb, she had a simple diet and had never eaten...

She couldn't stomach such raw and cold food. Besides, snake gall was bitter and fishy, ​​and as a woman, she couldn't help but feel resistant. "This—" She hesitated and didn't reach out.

Ouyang Ke watched this unfold, smiled slightly, took the snake gall from his uncle's hand, turned to Li Mochou, and said gently, "Mochou, although this snake gall is a bit bitter when eaten raw, its effects are extraordinary. You'll know once you try it."

Seeing that he spoke, Li Mochou no longer hesitated, took the snake gall, closed her eyes, and put it in her mouth. The tip of her tongue touched the cool, slippery gall bladder, and a strong bitter taste exploded in her mouth. She almost spat it out, but forced herself to swallow it.

"Use your internal energy to neutralize it first," Ouyang Ke's voice rang out at the opportune moment.

Li Mochou dared not delay. She immediately returned to the cave, sat cross-legged, and circulated the Ancient Tomb Sect's inner energy cultivation method, guiding the warm energy rising from her abdomen along her meridians. After a moment, she felt a warm sensation throughout her body, an unprecedented feeling of comfort spreading through her limbs and bones. Her spirits lifted, and her internal energy and blood showed signs of increasing. She was overjoyed, but she forced herself to remain silent.

After watching Li Mochou return to the cave, Ouyang Feng turned to Ouyang Ke and suddenly said, "Ke'er, you're not young anymore. It's time to think about settling down and starting a family."

Ouyang Ke was taken aback, not expecting his uncle to suddenly bring up this matter.

Ouyang Feng ignored his reaction and continued, "I think this Miss Li is quite good. Her looks and talent are in no way inferior to that old Huang Yaoshi's daughter. She is deeply devoted to you and has traveled a long way to find you, so you must not let her down."

Although his voice was not loud when he spoke, he did not deliberately lower it either.

Li Mochou's delicate body inside the cave suddenly trembled, clearly having also heard the conversation between the two outside the cave.

The daughter of Huang Yaoshi was the first thing that piqued her curiosity, but then a sentence that followed made her heart flutter.

Although she pretended to still be practicing her internal energy, with her eyes slightly closed, she heard those words clearly.

But after waiting for a long time, they still didn't hear Ouyang Ke's reply.

At this moment, her heart was pounding like a deer, filled with both shyness and anticipation, and she even subconsciously held her breath.

After a while—or perhaps longer—she finally heard Ouyang Ke's voice: "Uncle, your nephew understands."

These six short words inexplicably saddened her, and she herself did not know why.

Ouyang Feng stood with his hands behind his back under the pine tree, his gaze sweeping across the cave. A slight smile played on his lips as he said, "Ke'er, let me ask you, what are your plans regarding your relationship with Miss Li?"

After hesitating for a moment, Ouyang Ke finally said, "I would like to take this opportunity to visit the ancient tomb."

Ouyang Feng raised an eyebrow: "To the Ancient Tomb?"

"Yes." Ouyang Ke paused. "Mo Chou's master is the current leader of the Ancient Tomb Sect. I would like to visit her."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng glanced at Ouyang Ke and nodded, saying, "That's excellent. Firstly, we can invite the successor of the Ancient Tomb Sect to participate in this Mount Hua Sword Tournament. Secondly—" He paused, his tone now tinged with the satisfaction of an elder, "It would also be a good opportunity to explain your relationship with Miss Li to her face. It's a win-win situation, just as we should."

Ouyang Ke's heart stirred slightly. His uncle was usually cold and ruthless, so it was rare for him to care so much about other people's affairs. Clearly, he was quite satisfied with Li Mochou.

Ouyang Feng pondered for a moment with his hands behind his back, then said, "Ke'er, would you like your uncle to accompany you? When it comes to marriage, it's proper for an elder to be present."

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Uncle. However, I wish to go alone on this trip."

He knew in his heart that his uncle was always domineering and would fight to the death over a single disagreement. The Ancient Tomb Sect leader—Lin Chaoying's personal maid—had lived in the Ancient Tomb for a long time, was aloof and cold, and hated being disturbed by outsiders. It wouldn't be good if the two of them clashed upon meeting. He naturally couldn't say these things to his uncle's face, but he kept them to himself.

After a moment's consideration, he changed his approach: "Mo Chou's master has lived in the Ancient Tomb for a long time, and must be of a solitary nature, unwilling to be disturbed by outsiders. Therefore, I will visit her first. If I need your help in the future, it won't be too late!"

Ouyang Feng listened and gave him a deep look. Although he didn't know the complexities in Ouyang Ke's mind, he felt there was some truth to what he said. He nodded and said, "Very well. Then you decide for yourself. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Thank you, Uncle."

Ouyang Feng waved his hand, picked up the leather bag full of snake gallbladders, turned and walked towards the depths of the valley, saying as he walked, "I'll go deal with those snake gallbladders, you young people chat."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared into the twilight, leaving only the clanging of his footsteps as they gradually faded into the distance.

The firebird took off from the eagle's head, chased after Ouyang Feng for a couple of steps, then turned back and landed on Ouyang Ke's shoulder. It tilted its head and looked at him, making a "coo" sound, seemingly curious as well.

Ouyang Ke reached out and stroked the firebird's feathers, then turned and walked back into the cave.

Li Mochou had clearly already finished her training, yet she kept her head down, feigning ignorance, but the blush on her ears betrayed her.

Seeing her reddened ears, Ouyang Ke gently shook his head and said, "Don't worry!"

Li Mochou trembled slightly, and finally slowly raised her head. In the moonlight, her eyes were as clear as autumn water, the blush on her cheeks had not yet faded, and the corners of her mouth were slightly pursed, whether out of nervousness or anticipation, it was hard to tell.

Ouyang Ke asked softly, "What did you hear just now?"

Li Mochou wanted to shake her head in denial, but as soon as their eyes met, she realized that she couldn't lie to him at all.

A mischievous glint appeared on his handsome face, yet his eyes held an undisguised tenderness. A sudden panic gripped her; she turned her face away, stubbornly replying, "I did hear some things, but so what?"

Although her tone was stubborn, her voice was as light as the wind, and the blush on her ears had already betrayed her.

Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, not revealing anything. He slowly walked to her side, sat down on the bluestone, and stood shoulder to shoulder with her.

Outside the cave, the moonlight, like water, spilled across the undulating mountains, bathing the entire desolate valley in a soft glow. In the distance, a stream murmured, and the firebird had long since slept nestled in the eagle's feathers, occasionally uttering a very soft "coo."

Ouyang Ke gazed at the full moon, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "In a few days, I will accompany you back to the Ancient Tomb, is that alright?"

Before, his legs were not fully healed, his virility was not yet restored, and his future was uncertain, so he had no time to talk about love or romantic relationships.

But he has no such concerns right now. Besides, Li Mochou treats him with such deep affection and loyalty, how could he possibly miss out on her!

Li Mochou's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and stared at him blankly. The moonlight outlined the contours of his profile, and beneath his sword-like eyebrows were a pair of deep and clear eyes, devoid of mockery or hesitation, only seriousness and tenderness.

A warm feeling she had never experienced before welled up inside her, her eyes welled up slightly, and she nodded involuntarily. The smile on her lips was impossible to suppress, spreading like a spring breeze across a lake.

"Okay." She said only one word, but her voice was full of joy.

But the next moment, she suddenly shook her head, a struggle in her eyes, and said, "But—you can't go."

Ouyang Ke tilted his head slightly and looked at her: "Why?"

Li Mochou's expression became very strange. Her bright eyes held both joy and a faint sorrow. She bit...

She bit her lip, her voice lowering: "Brother Ouyang, our Ancient Tomb Sect has its own rules. Disciples must swear an oath to never leave the tomb, unless—"

She hesitated, a hint of pain flashing in her eyes.

Ouyang Ke remained calm, as if he had already anticipated all of this, and said indifferently, "Unless what?"

A glimmer of hope flickered in Li Mochou's eyes, but she still shook her head: "Unless a man is willing to give his life for me. Mochou doesn't want you to do this for me—"

Before she could finish speaking, Ouyang Ke suddenly laughed.

"You don't have confidence in me?"

Li Mochou was taken aback and instinctively shook her head hastily.

"It all depends on human effort."

Ouyang Ke's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples.

"But—" Li Mochou wanted to say something more, but Ouyang Ke raised his hand to stop her.

"Mo Chou, do you think your teacher is a cold-hearted person?"

Li Mochou was taken aback, then quickly shook her head. She had been adopted by her master since childhood, and although her master was strict, he had never mistreated her.

Ouyang Ke reached out and gently took her hand. Her hand was slightly cool and trembling.

"In that case, how could someone who takes you in and teaches you martial arts be so heartless?"

Li Mochou's pretty face flushed, and at this moment she seemed to have suddenly seen the light, her eyes shining with hope for the first time. She no longer dodged, but instead reached out and firmly grasped Ouyang Ke's fingers, their five fingers pressed together and their palms touching.

Under the moonlight, the two looked into each other's eyes and smiled knowingly.

In the distance, the Divine Eagle let out a low cry, and the Firebird poked its head out from its feathers, glanced at it groggily, and then withdrew.

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