Hidden Shadow – CH 135

Chapter One-Hundred-Thirty-Five: Come Pick Me Up!

“Decades ago, the Severing Meridian Palm was a coveted secret manual for external martial arts masters, but now it is completely ignored.” Headmaster Sheng slumped his eyes, looking like he had not woken up properly.

“Why?” An Jiu asked.

Headmaster Sheng leaned against the armrest, yawning. “This manual has long been lost. More importantly, pure external cultivation is very rare now. Admittedly, it is a very powerful martial art, but the process of tempering the body through external cultivation is too cruel and arduous. In the end, even after enduring the hardships, one may not necessarily master the Severing Meridian Palm.

Moreover, because the higher the level of external cultivation, the higher the degree of harmony between spirit and body, the more impossible it is to abandon the body. Therefore, no matter how much one practices, it is impossible to reach the pinnacle. Most people do not dare to abandon internal energy and cultivate this skill alone.” He raised the corners of his mouth.

“Those who choose external cultivation are simply those destined to have no external energy for their entire lives.

Martial artists, they do not really have a choice anyway…” Headmaster Sheng turned his head, pointing to several rows of drawers marked with red ribbons behind him, casually pouring cold water on her enthusiasm. “Those are all external martial artists, the highest being the ninth rank, but they all died while on missions. The Konghe Academy no longer trains external martial artists.”

An Jiu, however, was not discouraged at all. “Thank you. Then… do you know how the Konghe Bureau will deal with Lord Chu?”

“Eh?” Headmaster Sheng leaned forward, propping his chin on his hand, squinting as he scrutinized her. “I am just a lowly manager; why do you think I know about the Konghe Bureau?”

“Intuition,” An Jiu remained sitting upright.

“Oh—” he drawled, a faint smile still playing on his lips, like a white fox. “I do not know the real news, but I can give you a guess… Lord Chu’s martial arts have suddenly reached a state of perfection, which has made some people very envious. They might try to force him to hand over his martial arts secrets, and he will definitely suffer some hardship. But he is, after all, a master of the highest level, and the Konghe Army still needs him, so his life will not be in danger.

Besides,” he paused, “I do not think that Lord Chu is a kind person. Young lady, do not be fooled.”

An Jiu felt a little resistant to his words, but at the same time, she thought they made a lot of sense. She did not believe anyone would be so kind to her for no reason, but she could not think of anything she had that would make him want to take advantage of her.

“I understand. Thank you for the reminder.” An Jiu stood up and bowed to him.

An Jiu had barely stepped out when someone rushed into the room. “My Lord!”

“Come in,” said Headmaster Sheng, resting his chin on his hand and thoughtfully twirling his pen, flicking a drop of ink across the paper.

The man’s tone was urgent. “My Lord, orders have been given for you to personally fetch Physician Mo immediately.”

An Jiu abruptly stopped, halting to listen to what was to come.

“Mo Sigui?” Headmaster Sheng asked.

“Yes, Physician Mo is currently sitting on the street. Some members of the Konghe Army went over, but after some discussion, Physician Mo insisted on coming to the Konghe Academy.”

“Hurry!” Headmaster Sheng immediately put down his pen.

Mo Sigui was someone the Konghe Army had always wanted. Whether he entered the Konghe Academy or directly into the Konghe Army, it was all the same. He had heard that this man had a temper; if he suddenly changed his mind, he could not bear the responsibility.

Headmaster Sheng rushed out. His gaze swept over An Jiu, his steps never faltering.

At this moment.

On Zhuque Street in Bianjing, Mo Sigui sat on his medicine chest in the street. A blue banner stood nearby, its words written in a flamboyant style: “I am going to the Konghe Academy! Come pick me up!”

“Brother Mo, my sister has abandoned me! Please do not abandon me!” Lou Xiaowu pouted, on the verge of tears.

However, she had maintained this expression for the past three days without shedding a single tear.

Hua Rongjian sat in a tavern by the street, looking at him with a radiant smile. “Physician Mo, would you like to come up for a drink?”

The onlookers craned their necks, captivated by his handsome appearance.

Mo Sigui unfolded his folding fan, his captivating peach blossom eyes equally alluring. “No way! I have important business to attend to. Who wants to associate with a philanderer like you?”

“Hey, Physician Mo, yesterday you were saying that the male prostitute I keep is incredibly charming, and today you are turning your back on me! It is truly heartbreaking.” Hua Rongjian leaned against the window, smiling as he sipped his wine, showing no sign of sadness.

“If you cannot bear to part with him, then fine, but you have to drag that male prostitute into it,” Mo Sigui said with a grin. “Rongjian, you are so handsome and have such a charming face. I really like you, but I promised my master I’d heal the sick and wounded, destined to wander the world. Young man, you should find someone else!”

Hua Rongjian, shameless as ever, sighed. “Do not be so stubborn! If you insist on being on top, I will agree!”

In the blink of an eye, a tragic love story involving homosexuality began again!

Hua Rongjian had been quite the character lately. Not long ago, rumors circulated about his impending marriage, and then nothing came of it. Next, he was seen frequenting brothels, and now he’s embroiled in a passionate, life-or-death situation with Physician Mo. Each story was more dramatic than the last, making his life incredibly exciting and dramatic! He himself seemed completely unconcerned, but poor Madam Hua was constantly in a state of utter despair, having fainted several times from the shock.

“Make way! Make way!” A group of constables pushed through the stunned crowd.

Headmaster Sheng strode in, standing at the bottom of the steps and bowing to Mo Sigui. “I am Headmaster Sheng of the Konghe Academy; greetings to Physician Mo.”

Mo Sigui sized him up. The man wore a turquoise official robe, and a half-silver mask covered his face, revealing only his unremarkable, thin lips. His fair skin contrasted sharply with the silver mask, making him quite memorable.

Meanwhile, Headmaster Sheng was also observing Mo Sigui. He wore an ochre robe, his long hair half-tied back with a peach wood hairpin. The purplish hue of his open fan, reflecting the sunlight, shone through his smiling, peach-blossom eyes. The light and shadow, as he swayed it gently, transformed into a distant rainbow, beautiful and mysterious.

He closed his fan, slung his medicine chest over his shoulder, and stepped forward, familiarly pulling Headmaster Sheng along. “Hurry, hurry.”

Before leaving, he did not forget to bid farewell to Hua Rongjian. “If you are born a woman in your next life, let’s continue our bond from this one! I really love women!”

“Me too! I must be born a woman too!” Hua Rongjian said reluctantly.

What was all this about? Everyone felt they’d been tricked.

Lou Xiaowu, who had been holding back her tears, finally let them fall. Mo Sigui truly did not care about her at all; even as a friend, he would not treat her like air.

Hua Rongjian watched the figure disappear, his slender fingers toying with the empty wine glass. Gazing at the Jun ware porcelain, as radiant as the sunset, he suddenly recalled Fourteenth Young Lady’s face, a face somewhere between innocent and alluring.

“What a pity…” He had finally taken a liking to a woman, yet they were destined to be on different paths.

Mo Sigui, pulling Headmaster Sheng along, finally sighed, flicking open his folding fan and fanning himself vigorously. “I hate those mushy farewells.” Even Elder Qi’s death farewell was decisive; his decisiveness pained him.

Mo Sigui’s mood darkened again.

Headmaster Sheng invited him into the carriage and asked, “Why did the Divine Physician not go to the Konghe Army but instead went to the Konghe Academy?”

“Someone owes me a favor, and I owe someone a favor,” Mo Sigui grinned.

The former was Lou Mingyue; the latter, An Jiu.

Headmaster Sheng naturally did not understand, but he was never one to pry.

Upon arriving at the Konghe Academy, Headmaster Sheng neither invited Xu Zhi to read his mind nor added Mo Sigui’s information to the archives. He simply said, “Whatever the Divine Physician’s request is within the rules, I will fulfill it.”

“You are grouped here, right? Assign me to Fourteenth Young Lady’s group.” This was Mo Sigui’s only request.

He was not in a hurry to repay the favor Lou Mingyue owed him, but he felt uneasy if he did not repay what he owed others.

Headmaster Sheng did not mince words and called out, “Someone!”

“Yes!”

“Take the Divine Physician to settle down next to Xuan Ren’s quarters. Also, inform the four instructors that Divine Physician Mo belongs to the Xuan group.”

…

When Headmaster Sheng left, the four instructors received the news. They were all waiting because a Divine Physician like Mo Sigui must possess many beneficial medicines for training, and they were all willing to carefully invite him back and treat him with respect.

Upon hearing the news, the Earth Instructor smashed a table full of teaware in anger.

The Xuan Instructor trembled with excitement.

The other two instructors remained silent.

…

It was broad daylight outside, but the residence of the Konghe Academy was shrouded in darkness.

A man carrying a lantern led the way for Mo Sigui.

An Jiu sat on the stone steps in front of the door, watching the light draw closer, and finally stood up.

“Cousin,” Mo Sigui greeted An Jiu with a smile, as if they had met just yesterday.

“Divine Physician, your room is that one,” the guide said, pointing to the room next to An Jiu’s.

“I know,” Mo Sigui replied.

“I will take my leave,” the guide said, handing him the lantern before departing.

An Jiu stared at him expressionlessly for a moment. “Mo Sigui, this is not a place for you.”

“Of all the places in the world, some dare not go, some are unwilling to go, but who cannot go?” Mo Sigui said, half-jokingly. “The only two women I’ve ever been involved with in my life are here. What reason do I have not to come?”

Lou Mingyue was about to open the door when she suddenly heard these words. She lowered her hand, suppressed her aura, and stood quietly at the door.

“Your life has just begun,” An Jiu said.

Mo Sigui’s medical skills were superb, and his reputation was good. There was really no need for him to wade into this mess.

“You do not understand me.” Mo Sigui closed his folding fan, picked up his lantern, and walked towards the stone steps, extending his hand to An Jiu.

An Jiu knew he was going to take her pulse; this was something he always did when he saw her. So she extended her hand.

Mo Sigui grasped her pulse, checked it for a while, then released it, turning his head to smile at Lou Mingyue’s room. Mo Sigui’s meridian attribute was the extremely rare “Wind,” granting him extraordinary flexibility and sensitivity. He sensed Lou Mingyue’s presence even before she concealed her aura.

As An Jiu had said, his life had only just begun. Yet, he was inherently cold-hearted and devoted to medicine. Elder Qi had instructed him not to betray the word “love,” so his heart simply could not bear too much emotion.

Amidst the chaos of the mortal world and the myriad waters of life, Mo Sigui loved only one thing in his life…

But this love was singular, its depth uncertain.