Chapter 604: What on earth is Ling Baobao’s background?
Mu Hanyan’s heart stirred. She had heard about the method of nourishing medicinal herbs with a foundation built from superior jade, but that was when she had advanced to the Holy-grade, mentioned by a Hidden Cultivation expert—something ordinary people wouldn’t know. How did Ling Baobao come to understand such profound tactics?
Upon closer examination of the Golden Vine, even though the medicinal herb appeared wilted on the surface, Mu Hanyan could vaguely sense the surging Heaven and Earth Qi within it.
It seemed that Ling Baobao hadn’t lied; the method he had taught the old man was correct. It was just unclear where the error had occurred. Although the Heaven and Earth Qi had been gathered within the Golden Vine, it failed to nourish the plant. Instead, it had left the formerly healthy Golden Vine half-dead, much like a person who had consumed too many nourishing substances to the point of suffering from over-nourishment.
"So from what you’re saying, it seems I was wrong to accuse you. You built the jade foundation with your own hands, and you personally collected the Heavenly Dew in the early days. When I noticed something was wrong and questioned you, you fobbed me off with talk of the moon having its cycles and all things having their rise and fall. Then, when I least expected it, you ran away. If you weren’t guilty and scared, why did you run?" The old man, his beard trembling with anger, pointed at Ling Baobao and asked loudly.
Hearing the old man’s words, Ling Baobao was left speechless.
"You claimed my cultivation was misguided and that there were problems forming in my meridians. You even said that there are Hidden Meridians in the human body, in addition to the known meridians. According to you, if I could unblock these Hidden Meridians, not only would I resolve the problems, but my cultivation would reach new heights, promising limitless future achievements. I must have been possessed to have believed you. Trying to unblock these Hidden Meridians, I ended up losing control and nearly spent my entire fortune on healing myself. I won’t be able to quell the hatred in my heart unless I dismember you into pieces," another burly man burst out, eyes ablaze with fury.
Mu Hanyan’s heart jolted again. The existence of Hidden Meridians remained unproven by many Holy-grade masters and was even considered a joke by ordinary Swordsmen. Yet, not only did she know that Hidden Meridians truly existed, but she had also unblocked one herself.
Who exactly was Ling Baobao, and how could he know so much?
"It’s true there are Hidden Meridians, but how was I to know your aptitude was so poor? How can you blame me for that?" Ling Baobao retorted, even more aggrieved.
Mu Hanyan shook her head. To be fair, it was true that the burly man had unjustly targeted Ling Baobao. However, he was also to blame; after all, were Hidden Meridians something anyone could just unblock? Even if Ling Baobao had good intentions, his advice could still have ended up harming the man. So, if trouble knocked on his door because of it, he had no one else to blame but himself.
"How dare you bite back? I will cleave you in two!" the Great Swordsman roared, reaching for his sword.
"Wait, before you act, let him explain if he has engaged in any other deceit or fraud. We’ll not be too late to deal with him once we’ve heard everything. As long as your claims are truthful, I shall see to it that justice is served on your behalf," Mu Hanyan gestured, and a flurry of frost and snow whirled around the Great Swordsman. She grew increasingly curious about Ling Baobao’s background.
"Great Swordsman!" The burly man paused, loosening his grip on the sword handle.
As an Eighth Rank Swordsman, he held sway over others, but he dared not be rash in the presence of a Great Swordsman.
"He said my dear mother’s forehead was shadowed and her divine roots lacked spirit, born in a year plagued by the Grand Duke Jupiter, thus a violent disaster would befall her within a year. He proclaimed that the Seven Stars Life Extension Technique could turn calamity into safety. The way he talked made it seem like he was an extraordinary Star Divination Master. I paid him a great sum of silver to perform the Seven-star Life Extension Technique, and when he did, there were flashes of lightning and roars of thunder, the earth shook, and my mother was so frightened she fainted on the spot. She was incoherent for a whole year.
I sought doctors far and wide and spent tens of thousands of taels of silver before she recovered. It’s fortunate she survived, or killing you wouldn’t even be enough to appease the anger in my heart," said another middle-aged man, dressed in lavish clothes, with tears streaming down his face—a clear indication of his filial piety.