inspire-indiana Chapter 8 Talent
Chapter 8 Talent
Zhang Tieyi stared at the three points of golden light and remained silent for a moment.
Then, a smile unexpectedly appeared on that usually stern face.
"Good, let's call it a day."
Compared to the past, Zhang Tieyi's tone of voice was not different.
But if you listen carefully, Chen Ye can still hear a hint of joy mixed in.
Zhang Tieyi then said seriously, "Young Master has accepted the imperial court's summons and will be setting off for the capital with Lord Xie in a few days. The manor needs to draw some guards to accompany him, and we are currently short-handed. You will also be going with him."
Chen Ye's expression didn't change much when he heard the news.
But several things exploded in my mind at the same time.
From the so-called Tiger-Capturing Fist, to Zhang Tieyi's kick, to the lifespan being worn away by the Blood Ginseng Pill.
All of them were put together.
What they wanted was never any guards.
The sudden mention of guards accompanying the patient is quite unexpected.
Sure enough, it happened.
When Chen Ye looked up, a smile had returned to his face: "It's all thanks to your excellent guidance, sir."
"Oh, forget about all that formalities," Zhang Tieyi said. "Just keep practicing and don't slack off. I'll come to the courtyard to call you when you're ready."
After saying that, he turned and strode away.
Chen Ye stood alone in the empty hall.
Morning light streamed in from outside the door, spreading a cold white light across the floor tiles.
He looked down at the area around his dantian.
The golden radiance had completely dimmed, seeping into the skin and disappearing.
But that warmth was still buried deep inside his flesh, rising and falling with his breath.
He stood there for a long time.
These past few days, while he was practicing martial arts and taking medicine, Zhang Tieyi repeatedly asked him if he felt anything special. This morning, he made a special trip over again, in addition to the bits and pieces of information he had gleaned from Gao Qiaoniang.
Everything is obvious.
The Gao family is using drugs and techniques to catalyze something within his body.
What they really want is not his cultivation level.
What we want is him as a person, or rather, the thing inside him that is being forced to mature.
He didn't know what that thing was called.
But without a doubt, I am, in some respects, a "talent".
There is not much time left for him.
evening.
As usual, Gao Qiaoniang brought him dinner.
After spending these days together, the two are no longer strangers.
Chen Ye gradually figured out Gao Qiaoniang's personality.
He doesn't talk much, but he's kind-hearted at heart.
This time, instead of beating around the bush, he asked directly:
"Miss Qiao, I feel very unwell after taking the pill that Guard Zhang gave me this morning. Is there something wrong with it?"
Gao Qiaoniang remained silent for a while.
It wasn't the usual pauses and pauses in thinking; it was just simple silence.
After a long while, she said in a low voice, "It wasn't this fast before."
"How long ago did the last person start taking this medication?"
"About a month later."
Chen Ye's heart tightened.
He took the medicine in just five or six days.
This indicates that the Gao family's needs are more urgent, or rather, something within him is more vigorous than in the previous person.
Chen Ye looked at Gao Qiaoniang, his expression turning serious, and asked, "Miss Qiao, do you know what this medicine is used for?"
Gao Qiaoniang shook her head and said, "I was only responsible for decocting the medicine; the prescription was given by Zhang Tieyi."
She paused, then added, "But Zhang Huzhi, you'd better not go with him."
Chen Ye looked up at her.
When Gao Qiaoniang said this, she gripped her sleeves tightly with both hands and lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
"Those people were all sent to the Xie family before, and then..."
Gao Qiaoniang did not elaborate on what followed.
Judging from her expression, Chen Ye knew her fate was not good.
It's highly likely that it's dead.
Chen Ye remained silent for a long time before letting out a long breath.
"Thanks."
He knew that Gao Qiaoniang was still a member of the Gao family, and it was already very difficult for her to reveal so much; she had taken a great risk.
Gao Qiaoniang glanced at Chen Ye.
There was no scrutiny or pity in that gaze, only a hint of curiosity.
In the end, she said nothing, pushed the food forward, arranged it, and then left as usual.
Chen Ye suddenly realized that the girl probably sensed that he was different from the other servants.
There was no servility, nor any glib talk.
He doesn't look like a servant; he looks more like a young master or gentleman who has fallen on hard times.
Chen Ye chuckled self-deprecatingly and picked up his chopsticks again.
Gao Qiaoniang came out of the side room, returned to the kitchen, picked up the decocted medicine, and poured it all into the swill bucket.
The medicinal soup spread a dark layer on the leftover food and slowly seeped in.
It disappeared completely with a ladle of water.
Night was falling.
Chen Ye lay on the bed, carefully reviewing the events.
Based on the information he has gathered so far, he can draw two definitive conclusions.
First, the Gao family is indeed "nurturing" something, using the methods of medicinal power and cultivation techniques to catalyze it, and the dosage of the medicine will become more and more potent.
Secondly, there were more than one person like him before, and they were all eventually sent to the Xie family, whereabouts unknown.
In other words, the Gao family was not cultivating him, but rather forcing him to mature prematurely.
Once they are ripe, they will be sent to the Xie family.
What does the Xie family take him for?
Medicinal herbs? Supplements? Or something else?
he does not know.
But there is no doubt that once you go, you can't come back.
Chen Ye sat up and sorted through all the information again in the dim light.
The conclusion remains unchanged.
Chen Ye remembered that when golden light emanated from his dantian this morning, Zhang Tieyi's expression was neither one of appreciation nor satisfaction.
Rather, it's like the certainty of someone who has waited a long time and finally sees the result.
This should be considered a turning point, marking his maturity as a "talent".
Time was more pressing than expected.
If we wait any longer, it's impossible to predict how things will develop.
Fortunately, Zhang Tieyi shouldn't come every day for the next few days.
This is the last chance; we must act before the Gao family sends him away.
Tonight, I'll pawn my life again.
He wanted to push his cultivation level to a point where he could confront Zhang Tieyi head-on ahead of time.
As for the cost, it doesn't matter.
Only those who survived can talk about what happened next.
Having made up his mind, Chen Ye summoned the pawnshop system panel.
He stared at the numbers on the panel and silently did some calculations.
Half a year of lifespan can advance the progress of Peiyuan Gong from minor success to major success. Add another half a year, and it should be possible to advance this martial art from major success to perfection.
After using up one year's worth of life, there is exactly one year left to live, which is kept just in case.
After making his decision, Chen Ye no longer hesitated.
"Pawnshop lifespan: one year!"
[One year of lifespan is deducted, but one year of cultivation points are provided.]
[Cultivating Vitality Exercise (Minor Success)] → [Cultivating Vitality Exercise (Complete Success)]
The expected excruciating pain arrived as scheduled, surging in like a tidal wave and instantly engulfing my entire body.
Unlike the pain last time, this time it was much more intense, as if it was exploding from deep within the bone marrow.
His joints crackled and popped like popping beans, and his flesh seemed to be repeatedly squeezed and reshaped by an invisible force.
Chen Ye clenched his teeth, trying his best to suppress the pain in his body and not let himself cry out.
Its writhing body in the darkness resembled a maggot that could be crushed at any moment.