DEMI GODS AND SEMI DEVILS BOOK 4 OF 5 (SONG OF THE CAVE IMMORTAL) by Jin Yong

Dreaming Of Real Heartfelt Words In A Tangible Fantasy Part 5

With great difficulty he endured till the next day, after eating, Xu Zhu said: "Senior...." Child Elder said: "You want to know the identity of that lady, how can it be difficult? Even if you want to meet her everyday, never separate again, its also easy......" Xu Zhu is so happy that his eagerness is hard to bear, he don't know what to say. Child Elder said: "You want to know?" Xu Zhu don't dare to reply momentary, he stammered: "I don't know how to repay senior."

Child Elder said: "I don't need you to repay anything. My [Eternal Youth Never Aging Skill] will be perfected in a few days time, these few days are very important, i cannot relax or slack off for a single moment, i cannot even go out to find food, i already prepared all the cooked food and animals. You want to meet that beautiful lady, you have to wait until i complete my skill."

Although Xu Zhu is disappointed, but he knew Child Elder is telling the truth, luckily its only a few days, he have to endure the pain of missing her, he immediately replied: "Yes! All according to senior's command." Child Elder said: "Once my divine skill is complete, i will immediately seek that **** Li QiuShui for revenge. Originally that **** is definitely not my match, but unfortunately that **** broke my leg, i suffered great loss in my energy, i am not certain i can take my revenge. In the event i die by her hands, i can't bring that lady to you, its fated, there is nothing i can do. Unless....unless......" Xu Zhu heart is thumping madly, he ask: "Unless what?" Child Elder said: "Unless you agree to assist me." Xu Zhu said: "Junior's martial art is low and weak, how can i help?"

Child Elder said: "I will duel with that ****, the outcome of the battle will hang by a thin line. Its difficult for her to defeat me, but its also difficult for me to kill her. From today onwards i will teach you another martial art, [Six Solar Palms Of Heavenly Mountain]. At the crucial moment of our duel you will use this palm style, you only need to press your hand on her, her energy will drain off, she will lose for sure."

Xu Zhu felt really awkward, he pondered: "Although i broke Buddhist precepts, i can't be Buddhist disciple anymore, but to assist her in killing someone, this kind of evil deed greatly goes against my conscience, i definitely cannot do it." He replied: "I ought to agree to assist senior, but if you kill her as a result of my action then junior will commit another grave sin, henceforth i will sink into vice and i can't reincarnate anymore."

Child Elder said angrily: "Hey, damn monk, you can't be a monk anymore, but you still have the heart of a monk, what kind of thing are you? Li QiuShui is a evil-doer, how can you sin by killing her?" Xu Zhu said: "Even for wicked traitor and evil person, we ought to instruct and reform them, we cannot be rash and commit murder." Child Elder anger burst out, she said sternly: "You refuse to listen to me, don't ever think about seeing that lady again. You better think carefully." Xu Zhu is so sad that he is speechless, he simply chant scriptures in his heart.

Child Elder saw he is silent for a long time, she said happily: "For the sake for that little beauty, you have no choice but to agree, correct?" Xu Zhu said: "I definitely cannot agree to harm another human life just for the sake of my own happiness. If i can never see that lady again, then its predestined in my past life. Since we exhausted our predestined relationship, i cannot force it. Since i cannot force it, let alone being forced to commit evil? I definitely cannot do it." When he finish speaking, he recited scripture: "Its constructed for a reason, once fate is exhausted it returns to nothing. Gains and losses are predestined, there is no addition or subtraction." Although he said it out loud, but he is aware that he can never meet that maiden again, he is very sad.

Child Elder said: "I ask you again, will you learn [Six Solar Palms Of Heavenly Mountain] or not?" Xu Zhu said: "I cannot comply, senior please forgive me." Child Elder said angrily: "Then get lost, scram, go far far away." Xu Zhu stood up, he bow deeply and said: "Senior you have to take care of yourself." He thought about their meeting, although she made him violate his Buddhist precepts, he can't be a monk anymore, but as a result he get to meet his 'Meng Gu', deep in his heart, he felt more gratitude towards Child Elder and less of hate, he cannot help but feel sad now that they are parting, he suddenly recall that her powerful enemy is still around and she had yet to escape danger, he said: "Senior you have to take care, be very careful, junior cannot serve you anymore." He turn around and walk up the stone steps.

He is afraid that Child Elder will seal his acupoints again and prevent him from leaving, once he set foot on the stone step he immediately leap up, he gathered his [Pure Energy of Northern Darkness] and rush to the 2nd level of the ice storehouse in an instant, immediately after he rush to the 1st level, he stretch his hands to push the door. His right hand touch the door ring, suddenly both his legs and back ached, he shouted: "Ayo!" he knew he was ambushed by Child Elder again, his body sway, both his shoulders ached as if pricked by needle, he collapsed immediately.

He heard Child Elder said gloomily: "You are hit by my hidden projectile, are you aware of it?" Xu Zhu felt some of his wounds are numb and itchy, some of them are aching from being pricked by needle, its like ten thousand ants biting him, he said: "Naturally i am aware of it." Child Elder sneered: "You know what kind of hidden projectile it is? Its 'life-death talisman'!"

Xu Zhu ear is buzzing, at once he recalled Wu LaoDa frightened expression when mentioning the 'life-death talisman'. He only know that 'life-death talisman' is some charm or amulet that can control a person's life and death, unexpectedly its a hidden projectile, Wu LaoDa and his group are all violent and savage, but they become meek and docile when controlled by 'life-death talisman', he can well imagine the power of this hidden projectile.

He heard Child Elder said: "Once the life-death talisman enters the body, there is no cure or antidote. Wu LaoDa and those bastards revolt against Misty Peak, evidently they are not willing to be controlled by the life-death talisman, they wish to steal the method to break the life-death talisman from Vulture Palace. These dogs are deluded, they can keep on dreaming, how can the method to breaking granny's life-death talisman be stolen?"

Xu Zhu felt his wounds are getting more and more itchy, in addition the strange itch gradually penetrate deep, less then the time taken to eat a meal, his vital organs start itching, he really want to smash his head against the wall and kill himself as its much better then suffering this torture, he cannot bear it and groan loudly.

Child Elder said: "The life-death talisman, what is the meaning to the two word 'life-death'? I guess you finally know it?" Xu Zhu said in his heart: "I know, i know! I can neither live nor die." Other than groaning, he did not have the slightest bit of strength to talk anymore. Child Elder said: "Just now, when you are about to leave, twice you told me to take care of myself, your speech shows concern for me, you are not without conscience. Moreover you save granny's life, Child Elder Of Heavenly Mountain differentiate grudge and kindness clearly, i have my own reward and punishment, nevertheless you are vastly different from Wu LaoDa and those scoundrels. Granny planted the life-death talisman on you, its punishment, but i can also get rid of them for you, then its reward."

Xu Zhu groaned: "We must have prior agreement, if you try to use this matter to coerce me, ask me to commit outrageous atrocities, i....i rather die..then....then...then....then...." the phrase 'i rather die then submit', his unable to say it out.

Child Elder sneered: "Heng, i can't tell just by looking at you, unexpectedly you are such a resolute person. But why are you groaning and muttering, can't speak properly? You know why Cave-master An stutters?" Xu Zhu said in alarm: "He is also hit by your life....life....thus he is in so much pain that he stu....stu.....stu....." Child Elder said: "Its good that you know it. Once the life-death talisman flare up, it will get worse day after day, the strange itch and acute pain last for 81 days, after that it will gradually diminish, 81 days later it will progressively intensify again, the cycle repeats itself and never ends. Every year i will send my subordinates to patrol all the Caves and Islands, i will grant pain-killer and medicine that stops the itch, the life-death talisman won't activate for a year."

Xu Zhu finally understood why all the Cave-masters and Island-masters treat Child Elder's subordinates as god, they willingly allow themselves to be beaten, its all for the sake of the medicine that can guarantee 1 year of peace, but won't he also become an animal and allow himself to be manipulated by others for his entire life?

Child Elder live with Xu Zhu for almost 3 months now, she is very familiar with his character and temper, his conduct is soft and amiable on the outside but strong and resolute on the inside, although he is meek and amiable but he can be extremely obstinate and stubborn, he will definitely not yield to threats, she said: "I said before, you are different from Wu LaoDa and those bastards, granny won't give you medicine every year, you will worry everyday and you can't sleep properly at night. I planted nine different life-death talismans on you, i can remove all of them at one go, cut the weeds and eliminate the roots, you will never suffer again."

Xu Zhu said: "Then, many.....many....many....many...." his unable to say the word 'thanks'.

At once Child Elder let him consume a pill, his pain and itch stop for the moment. Child Elder said: "To get rid of life-death talisman, you have to use the internal energy of palm force. I am about to complete my divine skill, i cannot exhaust my energy for you, i will teach you the method to channel your energy and the palm moves, dissolve the life-death talisman yourself." Xu Zhu said: "Yes."

Child Elder taught him how to channel his [Pure Energy of Northern Darkness] from his dantian to his 'TianShu', 'TaiYi', 'LiangMen', 'ShenFeng', 'ShenZang', etc, the various acupoints, afterwards they will pass through 'QuChi', 'DaLing', 'YangHua' and reach the hollow of his palm, the method to channel energy from the meridians to the hollow of the palm is the unique wonderful skill of Carefree Sect, she also taught him how to take in and send out large quantities of energy, how to circulate and revolve the energy, how to disperse the energy, how to control and release the energy, etc, various different methods. Xu Zhu's body contain sufficient internal energy, after training for 2 days he became proficient.