30: Chapter 30 Deer Tribe

The Deer Clan Tribe was nestled in a valley deep within the Mist Forest, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing water on the other. The tribe was not large, with only about a hundred households. At the center of the tribe stood a massive ancient tree whose canopy blotted out the sky; its trunk was so thick it would take over a dozen people to encircle it. Chen Yuanji was settled in a stone house near the ancient tree. Lu Yao brought over the tribe's Physician, a white-haired old woman. The old woman examined Chen Yuanji's injuries and frowned.

"The internal injuries are severe, the Meridians are cracked, and your qi and blood are depleted." The old woman looked at him. "What medicine did you take?"

"A qi and blood pill." Chen Yuanji did not hide it.

"A qi and blood pill?" The old woman's frown deepened. "That is a Medicinal Pill of the Human Race, and its properties are overbearing. How many did you take at once?"

"Five."

The old woman gasped, looking at Chen Yuanji as if she were looking at a dead man.

"Five? You're lucky to be alive." She took several herbs from her medicine chest, crushed them, and applied them to Chen Yuanji's chest. "These herbs can help you repair your Meridians, but recovering from qi and blood depletion takes time—at least one month, and as many as three."

Chen Yuanji nodded. One month was longer than he had anticipated, but it was better than being dead. After the old woman left, Lu Yao walked in carrying a bowl of hot soup.

"This is deer bone soup; it's good for replenishing qi and blood." She placed the bowl by the head of the bed. "Drink it while it's hot."

Chen Yuanji picked up the bowl and took a sip. The soup was thick with a faint medicinal fragrance. After it entered his stomach, a warm current of air rose, nourishing his depleted qi and blood. Lu Yao watched him, her purple eyes filled with curiosity. "Chen Yuanji, can you teach me what you mentioned about not cultivating Yuan Power and only training the Physical Body?"

Chen Yuanji set down the bowl. "You want to learn?"

"I do." Lu Yao nodded. "Our Deer Clan is naturally unsuited for combat. Our yuan pulse is narrower than the Human Race's, and our cultivation speed is slow. If there's a technique that doesn't require Yuan Power, I'd like to try it."

Chen Yuanji was silent for a moment. "We'll talk about it once your injuries are healed." Lu Yao was stunned for a moment. "You're the one who's injured, not me."

"You have injuries too." Chen Yuanji looked at her. "Was your right arm injured by the White Wolf?"

Lu Yao's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously covered her right arm. "How did you know?"

"I sensed it," Chen Yuanji said. "The flow of qi and blood in your right arm is obstructed; it must ache every time it rains. If left untreated, that arm will be useless in a few more years."

Lu Yao lowered her head and remained silent for a long time. "Aunt White injured it. Five years ago, I snuck out of the tribe and encountered Aunt White. She didn't eat me; she just swiped my right arm with her claws as a warning." She looked up, a trace of sadness in her eyes. "Aunt White wasn't always like this. She was my mother's Contracted Beast. After my mother died, she went mad."

Chen Yuanji didn't press further. "I can treat your right arm."

"Really?" Lu Yao's eyes lit up.

"Really!" Chen Yuanji said. "But it will take time. The problem with your arm isn't the bone; it's the fascia. The fascia is misaligned, compressing the flow of qi and blood. Once the fascia is realigned, the qi and blood can flow freely again."

"How do you realign it?"

"Massage." Chen Yuanji reached out. "Give me your hand."

Lu Yao hesitated for a moment before extending her right arm. Chen Yuanji grasped her arm and closed his eyes. His perception of Hua Power permeated through her skin, probing the fascia inside her arm. The misalignment was three inches above the elbow joint, where the fascia had twisted into a knot, tightly blocking the passage of qi and blood.

"It will hurt a bit, so bear with it." His thumb pressed against the knot, and Hidden Power slowly seeped in, vibrating the fascia at a specific frequency to make it loosen on its own. Lu Yao clenched her teeth, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead. Pain radiated from her arm, as if someone were pricking her bone with a needle.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chen Yuanji let go. "Move it around."

Lu Yao moved her right arm, her eyes widening. "It doesn't hurt anymore." She moved it a few more times to confirm it wasn't an illusion. "It really doesn't hurt! Chen Yuanji, you're amazing!"

Chen Yuanji didn't respond. His face was somewhat pale; using Hidden Power just now had consumed quite a bit of his qi and blood. Lu Yao noticed his complexion and hurriedly helped him lie down.

"Rest first. I'll go brew your medicine." She ran out with the empty bowl, her steps light and brisk like a happy fawn.

Chen Yuanji settled down in the Deer Clan Tribe. Every day, Lu Yao would bring him deer bone soup and herbs. The old woman's herbs were very effective, and combined with the nourishment from the deer bone soup, Chen Yuanji's qi and blood were slowly recovering. The inner core in his Dantian also went from being dull and lusterless to having a bit of a sheen, though it was still far from its peak state. Lu Ming's injuries were also healing quickly; the wound on his leg had already scabbed over, and he could walk with a crutch.

"Chen Yuanji, you said before that you'd teach me kung fu once my injuries were healed. I'm better now; can you teach me?" Lu Yao came in carrying the medicinal soup.

Chen Yuanji glanced at her. Lu Yao's right arm had indeed recovered; she could move it freely, and her qi and blood were flowing smoothly. "I can, but my kung fu cannot be mastered overnight. It requires patience."

"I have patience," Lu Yao said seriously.

"Very well. Starting tomorrow, come to me every morning at dawn. I will teach you Zhan Zhuang."

"Zhan Zhuang?" Lu Yao frowned. "Just standing still?"

"Yes, standing still."

The next morning, before dawn, Lu Yao arrived. Chen Yuanji was already standing in the courtyard, assuming the Three-Body Stance. "Watch closely. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, your center of gravity on the Yongquan point, knees slightly bent, tailbone centered, Hollow the chest and pluck up the back, and suspend the crown to lift the spirit." Lu Yao imitated his posture and stood. Her body was much more flexible than a human's, and she quickly mastered the form.

"Maintain this posture and stand for two hours."

"Two hours?" Lu Yao's eyes widened.

"Think that's too short? Then make it four."

Lu Yao didn't dare speak further and gritted her teeth to endure. After an hour, her legs began to tremble. After two hours, her clothes were soaked with sweat, and she was swaying unsteadily.

"Time's up," Chen Yuanji said.

Lu Yao slumped onto the ground, gasping for air.

"This is more exhausting than running ten miles."

"That's how Stake Training is," Chen Yuanji said. "It looks like you're not moving, but in reality, your whole body is. Your bones, qi and blood, and fascia are all being tempered in the Stake Training."

Lu Yao nodded, only half-understanding.

"Tomorrow, we continue."

In the following days, Lu Yao came every morning to practice Zhan Zhuang. Her progress was rapid; in less than ten days, she could stand for a full two hours, and after half a month, she could manage a full three hours. Chen Yuanji's qi and blood had also mostly recovered, and he could now exert seventy percent of his Dan Power. Although he hadn't reached his peak yet, he should be able to protect himself.

One night, while Chen Yuanji was cultivating in his room, he suddenly heard a commotion coming from outside the tribe. He stepped out and saw the tribespeople running toward the village entrance. He pulled someone aside and asked, "What's happening?"

"The White Wolf is here!" The person's face was pale.

Chen Yuanji's gaze narrowed, and he walked quickly toward the village entrance.

At the village entrance, the massive White Wolf stood under the moonlight, its snow-white fur fluttering in the night wind. Its golden eyes looked coldly at the tribespeople, and in its mouth, it held none other than Lu Ming. Lu Ming was struggling in the wolf's mouth, his face covered in tears.

"Save me! Save me!" Lu Ming cried out for help.

Chen Yuanji stepped out from the crowd and stood before the White Wolf. "Let him go."

The White Wolf's gaze fell upon him, a hint of killing intent flashing in its eyes. It bit down harder on Lu Ming, who let out a scream. Chen Yuanji moved. His Dan Power surged at full capacity as his figure appeared before the White Wolf like a phantom. He threw a right punch, a Crushing Fist striking directly at the bridge of the wolf's nose—the most vulnerable spot on a wolf. The White Wolf hadn't expected him to take the initiative to attack and couldn't dodge in time; its nose was struck.

"Bang!" The White Wolf recoiled in pain and let go. Lu Ming fell to the ground and scrambled back toward the crowd. The White Wolf let out a furious roar and swiped its sharp claws at Chen Yuanji. Chen Yuanji was prepared; he dodged the claw strike with a flash of his Bagua Footwork. At the same time, he reached out with his left hand, his fingers hooking onto the White Wolf's ear. Hidden Power erupted, and the vibrating force traveled through the ear into the White Wolf's skull. The wolf felt a sharp pain in its head, its vision went dark, and its body swayed.

The White Wolf struggled to shake off his hand and retreated several steps, its golden eyes filled with rage and shock. This Human Race member was even stronger than last time.

"What is your name?" the White Wolf asked.

"Chen Yuanji."

The White Wolf stared at him for a long time before turning and vanishing into the night. The tribespeople erupted in cheers. Chen Yuanji stood where he was, looking down at his right hand. His fingers were trembling slightly. He had used his full strength in that punch; if the White Wolf hadn't retreated, he might not have won.

Lu Yao ran over and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Chen Yuanji."

Chen Yuanji patted her back without saying a word.