novelapdf Chapter 27 The Price of the Spiritual Energy Tide
Chapter 27 The Price of the Spiritual Energy Tide
In the abandoned warehouse area on the outskirts of Jiangnan City, a cold wind swirls dust, making the air stifling.
Two days ago, Zhao Tiancheng was a real estate tycoon who could command the winds and rains in Jiangnan City. But now, he could barely stand. The list he was holding was wrinkled from sweat, his knuckles were white, and the cold sweat on his back had soaked through his expensive suit—a "lifesaving gift" that he had risked half his life to collect.
For these fifteen century-old medicinal herbs, he sold three luxury homes in the city center, pulled strings in both the legitimate and underworld circles, and turned the medicinal herb market in Jiangnan Province upside down. Those top-quality Hetian jade pieces were his most treasured possessions, his only bargaining chip to beg Lu Yuan to save him and his entire family.
"Mr. Zhao, all the goods have been counted and loaded onto the truck!" The bodyguard captain jogged over, his tone tinged with impatience. "Let's go now. We'll be at the hospital in half an hour and can deliver them to Mr. Lu in time."
Zhao Tiancheng let out a huge sigh of relief, staggered forward, and patted the truck bed, his voice trembling: "Quick! Drive! Every second we delay, we'll all die!"
Before the words were even finished, a deafening explosion rang out—
"boom!!!"
The warehouse iron door, weighing several hundred pounds and with its hinges welded shut, was kicked off its frame from the outside and flew off like two pieces of torn paper, crashing into the front of the truck! With a loud "bang," the hard front of the truck was instantly smashed into a large dent, the paint peeled off, and the crisp, grating sound of twisting metal was extremely jarring.
Zhao Tiancheng was so frightened that his legs went weak, and he stumbled back four or five steps before crashing heavily into the warehouse wall. The list in his hand fluttered to the ground, and he trembled like a leaf.
Three figures in cyan robes slowly entered through the entrance, their flowing garments exuding a cool and arrogant aura befitting someone long accustomed to the deep mountains. The young man at the head of the group was about thirty years old, with a tall and straight posture. An ancient scabbard hung at his waist, and even without drawing the sword, a chilling aura of swordsmanship emanated from him. He slightly raised his chin, his eyes sweeping over the crowd with disdain, as if looking at a group of ants.
The young man walked straight up to Zhao Tiancheng, looking down at him with a chillingly cold tone: "You're Zhao Tiancheng?"
Zhao Tiancheng's throat tightened, and he dared not even breathe loudly. He nodded with difficulty, "It's...it's me. And you are?"
"Medicine King Valley, Lin Fei." The young man spoke calmly, his gaze sweeping over the truck bed, his tone carrying an undeniable domineering air, "The medicinal herbs in this truck are requisitioned by Medicine King Valley."
Zhao Tiancheng looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief. The fear he had felt moments before was instantly replaced by anxiety. He even forgot how terrifying the other person was, and rushed forward, roaring, "You're lying! I bought this with my own money! It's something I used to save my life! What right do you have to steal it?!"
"Why should I?" Lin Fei scoffed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, his contempt growing even stronger.
He didn't even move the longsword at his waist; he simply slowly raised his right hand, palm facing the truck bed, and lightly clapped it in the air—
"Bang!"
A dull thud rang out again. The heavy truck, which could withstand minor collisions, had its alloy cargo box bearing a clear handprint, deeply dented. The entire truck shook violently, and the sounds of cargo colliding were incessant.
Release your internal energy outwards!
Zhao Tiancheng froze, a chill running from his feet to the top of his head. Although he didn't understand martial arts, he had heard the rumors in the martial arts world—those who could project their internal energy and injure objects from a distance were all reclusive martial arts masters, and crushing a worldly businessman like him was no different than crushing an ant!
"You ants of the mortal world, do you even dare to ask me what gives you the right?" Lin Fei withdrew his hand, his tone indifferent yet carrying an overwhelming arrogance. "The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been restored. My Medicine King Valley has been sealed off for a hundred years, and today we officially emerge! From this day forward, Jiangnan Province is the backyard of my Medicine King Valley. Everything here must obey us!"
He raised his chin, gesturing to the two attendants behind him: "Consider these medicinal herbs your gift, Zhao Tiancheng, to the elders of Medicine King Valley. Move them."
Two attendants in green robes immediately stepped forward and were about to open the truck door.
"No! Absolutely not!" Zhao Tiancheng's eyes turned red with anxiety, and a wave of despair washed over him—this was no ordinary medicinal herb; it was the "life-saving money" he had given to Lu Yuan! If it were stolen, and Lu Yuan became enraged, not only would he be wiped out, but the entire Zhao family would be reduced to ashes!
He gritted his teeth and roared with all his might, "These medicinal herbs are for Mr. Lu! You can't touch them! Anyone who does will die!"
Lin Fei stopped in his tracks, slowly turned around, raised an eyebrow, and a hint of amusement appeared in his eyes: "Mr. Lu? Which Mr. Lu? In Jiangnan City, is there anyone who dares to snatch things from my Medicine King Valley?"
Zhao Tiancheng, grasping at this last straw, hurriedly said, "His name is Lu Yuan! He's an extremely dangerous person! The vice president of the Martial Arts Association was killed by him with a single sword strike! If you dare touch his things, he will never let you off!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Lin Fei suddenly burst into laughter, his arrogant laugh shaking the dust that fell from the warehouse: "The Martial Arts Association? A bunch of trash who only know how to practice external martial arts and can't even touch the basics of internal energy! Killing that kind of garbage, they dare to call themselves dangerous?"
As the laughter subsided, Lin Fei's eyes instantly turned cold and piercing. He approached Zhao Tiancheng step by step, looking down at him with a threatening tone: "Go back and tell that Lu Yuan that Medicine King Valley is determined to have this batch of medicinal herbs."
"If he's not satisfied, let him come to Qixia Mountain to find me himself."
"Remember my name, Lin Fei—an inner disciple of Medicine King Valley."
Before he could finish speaking, Lin Fei kicked out hard, slamming his foot into Zhao Tiancheng's stomach!
"Ugh—!"
Zhao Tiancheng let out a piercing scream, his entire body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, flying five or six meters away before crashing heavily onto the cold cement ground. His chest heaved violently, and a mouthful of blood gushed out, staining the ground in front of him red. He could clearly feel that at least three of his ribs were broken, and with each breath, it felt as if countless needles were piercing his internal organs.
He could only watch helplessly as Lin Fei and the other two boarded the truck, started the engine, and drove off, the roar of the truck gradually fading into the distance. Zhao Tiancheng clutched his stomach, writhing in pain, tears mixed with cold sweat streaming down his face—he knew he had truly gotten himself into a terrible mess this time, caught up in a "battle of the gods" that even he couldn't possibly participate in, and he was merely the most innocent and tragic victim.
……
Half an hour later, in the VIP ward of the First People's Hospital.
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, falling on Lu Yuan beside the hospital bed. His fingertips twitched slightly, and a fruit knife spun nimbly in his hand, the peel slowly sliding down the blade in a complete arc.
Lu Qingxue, lying in the hospital bed, had regained a lot of color in her face, and the paleness in her eyes had faded, replaced by a lively spirit. Since Lu Yuan used his true energy to help her regulate her meridians, the hidden injuries from the car accident had long since healed. At this moment, she was leaning against the pillow, puffing out her cheeks and complaining softly, "Brother, I've been in the hospital for several days now. When can I be discharged? It's so stuffy here. I want to go home and eat your cooking."
Lu Yuan stopped what he was doing, handed her the peeled apple, and the coldness in his eyes instantly turned into tenderness. He said gently, "It'll be soon. Once I've prepared the medicine, I'll cleanse your marrow and meridians to completely eradicate your hidden injuries, and then we'll go home."
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the ward door, and then two bodyguards helped Zhao Tiancheng in.
Zhao Tiancheng's face was ashen, blood still lingered at the corner of his mouth, his clothes were disheveled, and he could barely stand. As soon as someone helped him into the room, he knelt heavily on the ground with a thud, his knees hitting the floor with a dull thud.
"Mr. Lu... Mr. Lu..." His voice was hoarse, trembling with sobs, and he was trembling violently. "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... the medicinal herbs... they were stolen!"
Lu Yuan's hand, which was peeling an apple, suddenly stopped. The fruit knife clattered onto the table. The sound wasn't loud, but it carried an inexplicable sense of oppression, and the temperature in the entire ward instantly dropped.
He slowly turned his head, his gaze falling on Zhao Tiancheng. His eyes were terrifyingly calm, devoid of anger or reprimand, only filled with an unfathomable coldness. He asked, word by word, "Who did it?"
The tone was so calm, yet it sent a chill down Zhao Tiancheng's spine, making him forget even the pain. He swallowed hard and stammered, "They...they claim to be from Medicine King Valley, saying...saying that the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has been restored, that they have been reborn, and they also said...and they also said..."
As he spoke, his voice grew softer and softer, and he lowered his head even further, not daring to look Lu Yuan in the eye—he was afraid, afraid that Lu Yuan's anger would devour him instantly.
"What did you say?" Lu Yuan's voice was still very soft, but it carried an irresistible authority, like a cold knife held to Zhao Tiancheng's neck.
Zhao Tiancheng trembled all over and said with all his might, "They said... they said if you're not satisfied, go to Qixia Mountain to find them... They also said that killing the vice president of the Martial Arts Association is nothing..."
Lu Yuan slowly stood up, walked to the French window, and looked towards the direction of Qixia Mountain in the distance. The sunlight fell on his profile, but it could not penetrate the coldness in his eyes.
The side effects of the spiritual energy revival were faster than he had anticipated.
Those hidden sects that have been dormant on Earth for thousands of years, once they smell the aura of spiritual energy, think that they can be above the secular world, that they can turn the world upside down with a flick of their wrist, and even dare to run up to Lu Yuan, steal his things, and provoke his bottom line.
"Medicine King Valley".
Lu Yuan murmured these three words, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes, and a faint but extremely dangerous smile curving his lips.
He was just worried about not finding a spiritual vein to help Qingxue establish her foundation, to help her completely shed her mortal body and embark on the path of martial arts. Unexpectedly, someone actually offered it to him—Qixia Mountain, Medicine King Valley, perfect.
He turned his head, his gaze falling on Zhao Tiancheng kneeling on the ground. His tone returned to calm, but carried an unquestionable command: "You stay here and guard Qingxue. You are not allowed to leave her side, and no one is allowed to disturb her."
Zhao Tiancheng immediately kowtowed, his voice choked with emotion, "Yes! Mr. Lu! I will definitely protect Miss Lu!"
Lu Yuan stopped looking at him, raised his hand and pushed open the French windows. A cold wind rushed in instantly, blowing his robes. He leaped forward, his figure like a blur, disappearing outside the window in an instant, leaving only a cold and domineering sentence echoing in the ward:
"I'm going to Qixia Mountain."
Anyone who dares to touch Lu Yuan's people, anyone who dares to steal the things he uses to protect his sister, no matter if you are from Medicine King Valley or any hidden sect, you will all pay the price today!