Chapter 7: The Rising Sun over the Desolate Ridge

Xuanjing observed coldly from the side and suddenly said: "This is the finger technique of Wang Hui, the Thunder Finger. Brother Li, are you his disciple?"

In an instant, the tender feelings in her mind vanished completely, and the horrific wounds before her flickered in her eyes, deeply etched into her mind, never to be forgotten.

She fumbled in her arms for a moment, took out the map, examined it carefully, and then compared it with the surroundings for a long time, saying: "The map indicates that by heading north along this lake and traversing the maze-like valleys, one can reach the palace of the barbarian king"

The eagle nodded slightly, smiled gently, and said: "Let us go, do not delay here."

Li Shuxiu glanced at Cangying and the others, and Li Linhong cleared his throat and said: "I would trouble the princess to have your subordinates swear an oath that, aside from that particular secret manual, they will not touch any other treasures."

Li Shuxiu was somewhat surprised, thinking: judging by his tone, this Taoist is actually more formidable than my master. If I were to fight him with all my strength, I wonder if I could withstand even fifty moves

Li Shuxiu's face flushed, and she lowered her head, thinking: He has known all along. But at this moment, there was no turning back. She recalled the key points taught by her master, and her fingers moved swiftly and nimbly, tapping on the acupoints of her mute gate, chest path, and spiritual platform. This was her first time using the "Wind Comes and Clouds Go" finger technique. Although it felt somewhat unfamiliar, her accuracy in locating the acupoints and her clever internal energy, combined with her unwavering determination, gave her an impressive presence reminiscent of a renowned master.

Zhao Sheng stuck out his tongue, looking apologetic, while the eagle showed no signs of remorse; instead, it raised its head and puffed out its chest, appearing exceedingly proud.

One could see the hawk shedding its battle attire, revealing a lean and muscular upper body. The wounds on its body were shocking and chilling. The claws of the hyenas had left deep gashes, some penetrating the flesh and reaching the bone, still oozing blood at this moment. Subsequently, it suffered repeated injuries, with scars crisscrossing in a dense pattern, as if it had just undergone a brutal execution.

She gazed for a while, and suddenly her face flushed. She thought to herself: It is rather inappropriate for me to look at a man's physique like this. However, as we navigate the world, loyalty must come first. The eagle has saved my life, and I naturally ought to repay that debt.

She thought: The brother of the eagle has suffered such severe injuries, yet he remains silent. This kind of heroic spirit is truly admirable

Li Shuxiu raised her eyebrows and gazed at Princess Jiuhe. When the princess's eyes met hers, a blush appeared on her face, yet she still spoke loudly: "You have also seen how ferocious the hyenas in the valley behind us are, and we do not know what terrifying monsters are waiting for us deeper in this valley ahead. If it is only relying on you people, I fear, I fear we may not survive to the end of this maze"

Li Linhong pleaded in a mournful voice: "Two ancestors, please be more mindful. I, old Li, have indeed been reckless, but compared to the two of you, I am truly as meticulous as a young lady."

Li Linhong let out a long sigh, feeling as if his head were as large as a basin. He gazed at the hidden valley ahead, his heart truly filled with unease and apprehension

Li Shuxiu nodded slightly, feeling quite pleased with herself. However, she recalled her master's words that acupoint striking techniques were not particularly rare in the martial world. It was merely that having lived for a long time in the frontier, this skill was exceedingly uncommon for her, and thus should not be used lightly to avoid causing a stir and revealing her true capabilities. At this moment, with the situation being critical and chivalry taking precedence, she naturally could not conceal it.

The falcon opened its eyes and softly said: "Thank you, aunt. Young man."

At present, the crowd is resting by the lakeside. After filling their water bottles, they reluctantly leave the lake as the day breaks, heading towards the rugged and winding valley to the north

Li Linhong nodded to Li Shuxiu, who said: "Then it's settled between us."

She suddenly recalled that her master had taught her some acupressure techniques to stop bleeding and relieve pain, which were quite effective, but she had never tried them herself

After walking for approximately one hour, the grassland came to an end. The road ahead was rugged, with towering mountain gorges on either side. Individual fir and cypress trees stood tall on the slopes, and the occasional roar of wild beasts echoed in the surroundings

Zhao Sheng cried out: "Brother Cangying, Brother Cangying." He hugged Cangying's waist, pressing his small face against his arm

The Cangying said softly to Zhao Sheng: "Your Majesty, if you are in good health, let us set off now."

A blood-red sun emerged from one end of the valley, instantly causing the lake's surface to ripple with crimson light, while the surrounding trees were also stained with a bloody hue, evoking a sense of fear in those who beheld it

The Cangying said with a smile: "Xiao Sheng, although the lakeside is peaceful, it is merely a resting place on our journey. We bear heavy responsibilities on this trip, and the road ahead is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. If we seek comfort and do not strive for progress, that would be greatly inappropriate. Although we have rashly ventured into dangerous territory and our situation seems unfavorable, as the saying goes, 'without destruction, there can be no establishment.' When fortune reaches its extreme, it transforms; yin and yang rise and fall together, and blessings and misfortunes are interdependent."

She had her back to Lap, her face alternating between red and white, feeling shy and restless, her mind in turmoil. Unable to help herself, she pretended to look around. She gazed towards the direction of the eagles for a moment, and her heart suddenly trembled, prompting her to silently exclaim.

Li Linhong said from the side: "Brother Cangying, you should take a break. I can see that you haven't slept all night, your complexion looks poor, and I'm afraid you might collapse from exhaustion."

Li Shuxiu, from childhood to adulthood, although she has witnessed many tragic events, has never seen such a horrifying scene. Even if she were to indulge in her imagination, she would likely be unable to conjure up such a scenario.

She patted her own cheek, feeling annoyed, and thought: Ah Xiu, you are so unambitious and so disloyal. Your Kazakh friends have suffered heavy casualties, and while Lap is in his most sorrowful moment, how can you think of such things? Moreover, Lap already has someone he cares for, and your coveting of him is simply despicable and shameless to the extreme

Li Shuxiu sighed softly, but being recognized for his lineage could not be concealed; otherwise, it would be a crime of disrespecting his elders. He could only respectfully say: "Indeed, I have greatly benefited from my master and have learned this set of martial arts."

He does not admit that his own teaching is lacking, instead placing all the blame on his disciple, insinuating that the disciple is of mediocre talent and has wasted the teachings of a master of his caliber. With a look of deep sorrow on his face, the Heavenly Virtue Daoist is left speechless, unable to respond.

Lapang raised his head and said: "Everything is according to the will of Allah. If Allah allows you to live and obtain the treasure of the labyrinth, then I have nothing more to say"

Li Shuxiu no longer hesitated, quickly walking to the side of the Cangying, and pressing forcefully on his giant bone acupoint with her hand, allowing her internal energy to penetrate the acupoint, which immediately alleviated his intense pain

The falcon shook for a moment, then suddenly became still. It took a short shirt from its bag and put it on, then clasped its hands in front of Li Shuxiu and said: "Brother Li, your internal strength is remarkable, I am truly grateful."

Princess Jiuhe suddenly said: "Brother Li, I have something to say, you may listen for now, whether you agree or not is entirely up to you to decide"

The eagle was quite pleased, its head raised almost perpendicular to its neck. It said loudly: "That is only natural. Although I am in the military, I possess the aspirations of Lü Meng, and I have also delved into poetry, songs, and the Four Books and Five Classics."

Li Shuxiu looked towards Lap and asked, "Brother Lap, what do you think?"

Princess Jiu swore resolutely in the name of Genghis Khan, and the two Mongolian soldiers also firmly recited a few phrases in Mongolian. Xuanjing and Tiande had somewhat forced expressions, yet they still gloomily swore quietly in the name of the Chongyang Patriarch.

Zhao Sheng laughed heartily and said, "Brother Cangying is capable of wielding the pen to determine the fate of the world and can ride a horse to bring peace to the land, truly a figure of our Great Song." Li Linhong reacted swiftly, immediately reaching out to cover Zhao Sheng's mouth, his expression tense with anxiety. Fortunately, the Mongolians were also engaged in casual conversation, seemingly unaware of what had been said.

Li Shuxiu smiled and said, "We are in the same boat; if it weren't for you, Brother Cangying, risking your life to save me, I wouldn't have had the chance to help you at all"

The hawk sat cross-legged, wiping its wounds for a while. Suddenly, its body shook violently, emitting a series of gurgling cries. Its eyes narrowed, lips pressed tightly together, fists clenched, and veins bulged on its forehead. It seemed that the pain had suddenly surged forth, no longer bearable, and at that moment, it erupted all at once.

Zhao Sheng's voice trembled as he said to the eagle, "Brother Eagle, we might as well stay by the lakeside."

Zhao Sheng held onto Cang Ying and whispered in his ear: "Brother Cang Ying, Uncle Li said that the skilled individuals around the Mongolian have high internal strength, so you should no longer address me in this manner to avoid being overheard by others. From now on, just call me Xiao Sheng."

The Tiande Daoist beside him was looking around anxiously, seemingly sensing an impending disaster. Indeed, Xuanjing patted him on the shoulder and laughed, saying: "Although my little disciple is a couple of years older than you, his skills are... sigh... beyond comparison, beyond comparison. I once sparred with Wang Hui; he is broad-minded and allowed me a move, which I still cherish to this day. Moreover, he has a discerning eye for people, and he is indeed superior to me, Xuanjing."

At this moment, she had just escaped from danger and felt as if she were in a dream. She thought to herself that being in this canyon, she actually had the opportunity to be alone with the one she loved, which made her feel a bit elated. However, upon further reflection, she also felt a sense of shyness and fear.

Li Linhong stood in solemn respect and smiled, saying: "Brother Cangying, I truly did not expect you to speak so eloquently; you must be a scholar who has served in the military."

Zhao Sheng stopped crying, opened his clear and bright eyes wide, and exclaimed: "Brother Li, this must be the renowned acupoint striking technique!"

Xuanjing said with a smile: "More than ten years ago, this Thunder Finger Wang Hui had quite a reputation in the martial world. Later, I heard that he traveled to the Western Regions and has since disappeared without a trace. I never expected he would come here and even find such a talented young disciple. What great fortune, what great fortune indeed." As he spoke, he repeatedly stroked his beard, laughing in a strange and eerie manner.

Li Shuxiu conversed with Lap for a while, noticing that although he appeared listless, he had not sustained any serious injuries. Feeling reassured, she thought to herself: a man as cheerful and robust as Lap, despite being somewhat fatigued at the moment, would soon regain his spirits.

Li Shuxiu came to understand and said, "Do you wish to travel with us?"

The hawk, upon hearing this convoluted name, appeared bewildered, as if a certain thought was rolling and tumbling in its mind, faintly present yet utterly elusive, unable to be recalled.

The eagle washed its hands in the lake, scooped up the lake water, and poured it over the wound. Li Shuxiu widened her eyes, watching his actions, knowing that once the wound was soaked, the pain would double in torment, especially with his kind of injury. If it were her, she would likely faint from the pain. She pondered how to find a way to alleviate his suffering.

Princess Jiuhe nodded and said: "We have come this time to search for a manual titled 'Nine Nether Nine Heavens Ascending Yang and Descending Yin Skill'. As for other treasures, this princess does not regard them at all. Let us set aside past grievances, work together with a united heart, and look out for one another. Once we find the treasure, I swear I will never covet the other treasures."

The eagle secretly chuckled to itself, thinking: This deity has truly put you in a difficult position, yet you remain so steadfast in your faith. The prowess of this religion is indeed admirable