Legend has it that there is a martial arts manuscript Bixie Sword Manual in the house of Lin family, which when learned will give the person god-like speed and power. Thus, whoever manages to master it, will become the conqueror of the martial world...
[The old man turned his head back and glared at Linghu Chong coldly. Witha trace of surprise shown on his face, he snorted. Linghu Chong raised his cup."Please!" he said.]
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During the next many days, Linghu Chong remained in a coma. Occasionally, he would regain slight consciousness, feeling as though his body was drifting high in the clouds, before slipping right back into the coma only moments later. Sometimes, it felt as if someone was forcing water down his throat, while some other times, he felt as though his entire body had been roasted on fire. Not only couldn't he move a muscle in his arms or legs, he didn't even have any strength to open his eyes.
Then, one day, when he was finally in his right mind, he felt someone grabbing tightly around his wrists and infusing two streams of burning hot energy into his body, each through an acupoint on one of his wrist. And instantly, they clashed and collided fiercely with the streams of energy already inside his body. Feeling the ineffable pain, he opened his mouth and cry out loud, yet no sound came out of it, while the pain only worsened as though he was experiencing the combination of all tortures known to mankind at the same time.
This went on and on. In his ooziness, Linghu Chong didn't know how many days passed by like that; all he knew was that every time after more inner energy was infused inside him, the excruciating pain and suffering would reduce slightly compared to the last time. Eventually his brain began to function normally once again and it didn't take him long to figure out that someone with very resourceful inner power must have been working on him, curing his internal injuries.
"Could Master and Master-Wife have found a senior grandmaster to save my life?" he thought, "But where did Ying-Ying go? And where are Master and Master-Wife? How about little apprentice sister?" As soon as the thought of little apprentice sister came into his mind, the energy flow in his chest seethed hysterically, and he lost consciousness instantaneously.
Thus everyday, someone came and infused more inner energy into his body, and at last the day came when he was much more clear-headed and was able to open his mouth to speak.
"Many...many thanks to the senior master! Where...where am I?"
He opened his eyes slowly, and then took in the glimpse of a much-crinkled face, which smiled gently at him. This face looked very familiar. Still in a daze, Linghu Chong gazed at him to take a better look, and before long he noticed that there was no hair on the man's head, only burning scars from incense sticks[1] – the man was a Buddhist monk. The indistinct image of a man came to his mind.
"You...you are Great...Great Master...Fang," he muttered.
"Very good! Very good! You can recognize me now. I am Fang-Sheng," the old monk replied in a smile, looking utterly gratified.
"Yeah, yeah! You are Great Master Fang-Sheng," Linghu Chong repeated.
By then, he had just realized that he was inside a small room. A small oil lamp on the table lit the room with dim yellowish glow, and he was lying on bed under a cotton-padded quilt.
