Time passed, though she couldn't tell how long. Yun Qianyue felt her true energy gradually weakening and depleting, while the formidable iceberg that resided in Rongjing's heart meridian remained stubbornly intact, only a corner of it left, refusing to budge no matter how hard she tried to melt it.
"It's over, my true energy seems insufficient!" Yun Qianyue gritted her teeth and spoke.
"Step back; I'll use my own true energy to melt it," Rongjing said.
"No way, your remaining true energy isn't more than mine," Yun Qianyue shook her head, biting her lip as she pondered, refusing to give up. "Let's think of a solution; there must be a way. If we can just muster a bit more true energy, we can surely dissolve it all."
"But where can we find more true energy now?" Rongjing sighed softly. "Maybe it's fate."
"Bullshit fate! I've never believed in that. What I believe is 'where there's a will, there's a way; burn the boats, and Qin's pass will belong to Chu; a determined heart will not be let down by heaven; endure hardships to regain your courage, and three thousand Yue soldiers can swallow Wu.'" Yun Qianyue scoffed, her spirit unyielding.
"Hmm? Where's that from?" Rongjing asked.
"I'll tell you when we get out alive," Yun Qianyue said, still filled with fighting spirit. She had always prided herself on her resilience, believing that no challenge was insurmountable. There was nothing in this world that couldn't be solved; as long as one had the heart, even a spaceship could take people to the skies, satellites could locate positions, and technology could connect the entire Earth. What couldn't be done?
"Okay!" Rongjing nodded, no longer asking further questions.
"I feel that although my internal energy is depleted, that's just the surface. It seems I have untapped potential within me, but I don't know how to unleash it. Do you have any ideas?" Yun Qianyue believed that two heads were better than one. With Rongjing being the most talented individual in the Heavenly Saint Dynasty, he surely had something to contribute.
"Are you practicing the Phoenix True Scripture?" Rongjing asked.
"Yes!" Yun Qianyue nodded.
"Then try activating your internal power technique," Rongjing suggested after pondering for a moment.
"How can I activate what I don't know?" Yun Qianyue felt like crying. She wasn't the original Yun Qianyue! What kind of internal power technique did she know? At that moment, she regretted not finding the Phoenix True Scripture when she searched for it that day. She should have searched longer, even digging up the floorboards or tearing off the roof. Who knew, maybe she would have found it! But where could she look now?
"You've clearly practiced the Phoenix True Scripture; how can you not know the internal power technique?" Rongjing asked, puzzled.
"How should I know why? I forgot!" Yun Qianyue snapped back.
"Since you've forgotten, it seems we have no way out," Rongjing said slowly. "I practice the Heaven and Earth True Scripture, which is related to your Phoenix True Scripture. However, I'm afraid I can't help you right now. Although we come from the same lineage, they are still two distinct techniques, so it wouldn't work. And I can't activate the source of the Heaven and Earth True Scripture either; otherwise, that corner of ice coldness in my body might grow with the increase in my internal power, since heaven and earth encompass all things, naturally including this cold energy."
Yun Qianyue bit her lip tightly. "Let's think again; there's always a way out!"
"Hmm!" Rongjing nodded.
While they spoke, they didn't neglect the stubborn corner of icy coldness. They used all their strength to resist it. However, after Yun Qianyue had expelled the aphrodisiac from her body and Rongjing had repelled the icy coldness, their stamina was gradually depleting from the two prolonged battles. If they couldn't think of a solution soon, their true energy would run out, and the icy coldness would retaliate. They feared for their lives. The best outcome might be that Yun Qianyue survived while Rongjing would undoubtedly perish.
"Forget it; you should withdraw your hands!" As Rongjing spoke, he was about to pull back.
"Don't move! Although I don't know the Phoenix True Scripture's technique, I know another method. I don't know if it'll work or not. Let's not think so much; we'll treat a dead horse as a live one and give it a try." Yun Qianyue insisted.
"No, if you try and then withdraw, you might not be able to pull back in time. If it doesn't succeed, you'll be either dead or injured," Rongjing shook his head, firmly trying to pull Yun Qianyue away.
"I told you not to move! Did you not hear me? Don't think this is great benevolence on your part to keep me safe. I've never been a coward. It's just a matter of life; at least I'll have someone to accompany me on the road to the underworld!" Seeing Rongjing forcibly trying to push her away, Yun Qianyue was helpless and cried out in frustration.
Rongjing paused his hand.
"Hold on; let me see if I can do it," Yun Qianyue's voice softened.
"Okay!" Rongjing glanced at the row of Buddha statues before him and slowly nodded.
Yun Qianyue sat cross-legged, her hands overlapping with Rongjing's. Now she couldn't stand or walk; she was afraid that if she withdrew her hands, he would soon be consumed. She could only try to summon her intent in her mind to transform it into an image, practicing Tai Chi to see if she could get through this crisis. This was her last sliver of hope with Rongjing.
She had never considered abandoning him to save herself. She couldn't do it. Without him giving his all to help her, she might have died long ago. If she hadn't insisted on breaking his seal and curing his internal ailment, he might still have had a few years to live. As she said, there was no turning back once the bow was drawn.
Even if it weren't Rongjing before her, if it were someone else, she would find it hard to stand by and watch them die. This wasn't an innate sense of justice; it was a deeply ingrained goodness from over twenty years of upbringing and military training embedded in her soul.
"The thirteen postures must not be underestimated; the source of intent lies in the waist. Transitioning between the real and the illusory requires attention; energy permeates the body without stagnation. In stillness, a touch can cause movement; through the changes of the enemy, show the miraculous. The posture resides in the heart, and intention directs its use; it comes effortlessly without effort. Always pay attention to the waist, the abdomen relaxes, and the energy rises; the tailbone straightens, the spirit connects to the crown, and the whole body feels light, suspended at the top. Carefully seek and inquire; stretch and contract freely; entering the door requires oral instruction; the art flows from self-cultivation. If you ask what is the standard of body and application, the spirit and energy are the lord, and the bones are the subjects. Examine closely where intention resides; it prolongs life and prevents aging."
Yun Qianyue recited the Tai Chi Thirteen Postures mantra slowly, starting from the first posture in her mind.
Rongjing was taken aback and began silently reciting the mantra along with her in his mind, feeling an extraordinary resonance.
After a few postures, there was no response from her dantian. Yun Qianyue felt a wave of disappointment but pressed on; she would not give up until the very last moment.
YOU ARE READING
The Dandy's Duchess
ChickLit"The Dandy's Duchess" tells the story of the youngest and most talented general of the National Security Bureau, who sacrifices his life for his country and finds his soul transported to another world, where he is reborn as Yun Qianyue, the only leg...
