Chapter 412 - 197: Revisiting an Old Place
Chapter 412: Chapter 197: Revisiting an Old Place
Fang Shuwen kept busy on the road, studying Night Rain Tower’s Rain Listening Technique and Smelling Dew Technique.
With his current martial arts knowledge and heightened comprehension, Fang Shuwen soon discovered the hidden flaws within these two Martial Arts.
He spent several days restructuring the two Martial Arts and eliminating their hidden flaws. Then, using his threefold comprehension to re-examine them, he ultimately created two new Martial Arts that shared the same core but had slightly different cultivation methods.
Afterward, he merged these two Martial Arts into one.
The two Martial Arts were intrinsically linked. Even after Fang Shuwen had re-envisioned them, they still shared many similarities, which made the integration process exceptionally smooth.
Fang Shuwen meticulously studied the new Cultivation Technique for several more days. Only after confirming it was completely free of any hidden flaws did he finally stop.
Fang Shuwen was in no hurry to practice this newly created Cultivation Technique himself.
He was more interested in obtaining the subsequent Observing Traces Technique, Touching the Subtle Technique, and Knowing Destiny Technique.
If he could combine all five techniques, the resulting benefits would be absolutely extraordinary.
Miao Feichan, however, was quite interested in it, so Fang Shuwen asked if she wanted to give it a try.
Miao Feichan wasn’t one for pretense and nodded directly.
Once she had made some progress, Fang Shuwen asked her about the changes she experienced from her cultivation.
Miao Feichan told Fang Shuwen that every time she cultivated, she felt a strange sensation in her ears and nose.
Her ears would grow slightly warm, and her nose would feel slightly itchy.
The sensation was faint, and her cultivation progressed slowly.
This was to be expected, though. After all, not even Liu Hanyan and the others from Yanyu had fully mastered the Smelling Dew Technique.
It was clear this Technique was not so simple.
In truth, calling it a form of Martial Arts was somewhat inaccurate.
To be precise, it was more of a supplementary Mental Method.
Miao Feichan told Fang Shuwen that after practicing this Technique, she could control her hearing to a certain extent.
This control wasn’t about amplifying or dampening sound, but rather a form of selective filtering.
Only when she focused on them would those sounds become perceptible.
Her sense of smell had changed in a similar way.
When she focused, she could now distinguish scents she had been unable to perceive before.
As her cultivation progressed, she could even memorize a person’s scent and track them by following the trail it left behind.
This was the very reason Night Rain Tower had always been able to find her.
However, the effect weakened over time. The fact that no one from Night Rain Tower had caught up to them on their journey was likely because Miao Feichan’s scent had finally faded.
Beyond that, the Technique also provided a certain boost to her Martial Arts.
Her stronger hearing allowed her to perceive more sounds, and the same was true for her sense of smell.
If someone used a Lightweight Technique so silent that even she couldn’t hear them, she would still be able to catch their scent the moment they prepared to launch a sneak attack.
Naturally, this would allow her to prepare a defense.
But this was just a fusion of two techniques. If all five could be gathered and merged into one...
...then one’s ears, nose, eyes, body, and mind would all presumably undergo corresponding changes.
Superior eyesight could spot flaws in an opponent’s defense.
A sensitive touch would make it easier to grasp an opponent’s weaknesses.
But the final aspect, the ’mind’, was somewhat baffling.
’If it allowed one to cultivate a perception so keen it could "sense the autumn wind before it blows," then my plan to lure out the entire Night Rain Tower would not be so easy.’
This so-called ability to "sense the autumn wind before it blows" was a form of precognition, an awareness of events before they occurred.
It could be used to seek fortune and avoid calamity.
According to Liu Hanyan, the Tower Master of Night Rain Tower was a man who had mastered all five techniques.
’What if he senses that coming after me means certain death? Why would he still come?’
But these were just his own speculations. The reality of the situation remained to be seen.
Even so, Fang Shuwen attempted to use the principles of these five techniques to see if he could deduce a Concealing Breath Technique.
He traveled, observed, and studied Martial Arts all along the way.
For Fang Shuwen, the journey was quite pleasant.
Fang Shuwen didn’t even pause when he passed by Feng Family Manor.
’Normally, I might have stopped for a visit... but I don’t have time for that now.’
After much hurried travel, Cuizhu Mountain Villa was finally in sight.
The last time he left, he hadn’t seen the girl from Divine Pill Valley or the mysterious Elder Nong.
’I don’t know if they were hiding or if they had already left.’
But Fang Shuwen felt the former was more likely.
After all, he hadn’t heard anyone leaving that night.
He just hadn’t wanted to press the issue at the time.
Now, with Miao Feichan’s injuries still not fully healed, he decided to come here to see if he could find that young lady and ask if she had any healing Elixir Pills.
If she couldn’t help, his only other option was to find Ye Feihua.
The physicians of Jinghua Pavilion were also highly skilled.
Upon seeing the bamboo forest on the outskirts of Cuizhu Mountain Villa, Fang Dabao grew restless and turned his large head to look at Fang Shuwen.
When Fang Shuwen nodded, it charged straight into the bamboo forest. With a casual snap, it broke off a stalk, opened its mouth, and began to munch away with great relish.
The panda rolled onto its back, all four paws in the air as it ate.
Fang Shuwen paid it no mind and was leading Miao Feichan forward when he suddenly frowned.
Miao Feichan tilted her head to listen, a look of confusion on her face.
"It doesn’t seem to be as you described. It’s quite noisy."
Having cultivated the Mental Method Fang Shuwen had created, her hearing was becoming increasingly sharp.
Fang Shuwen didn’t say anything more. They had arrived, so they could just go and see what was happening.
The two of them quickened their pace and arrived before the main gate of Cuizhu Mountain Villa a moment later.
But the gate, which had previously been shut tight, now stood wide open.
Two thuggish-looking men stood guard at the entrance, each cradling a broad-bladed saber.
When they saw the newcomers, they exchanged a glance, and both their gazes fell squarely on Miao Feichan.
"What a pretty little thing."
"And here’s one delivering herself right to our doorstep."
Fang Shuwen glanced at the two men.
"Who are you people? Why are you here?"
The two men paused, taken aback. Something about the question felt off. One of them immediately asked:
"Are you the master of this villa?"
Fang Shuwen was not, of course, but he nodded anyway.
"And what if I am?"
Unexpectedly, the two men exchanged another look, then suddenly raised their sabers high and swung at Fang Shuwen from both the left and right.
A cold glint flashed in Fang Shuwen’s eyes. His hands shot forward and clamped onto the two men’s heads.
CRACK! CRACK!
Fang Shuwen had crushed their skulls. He tossed the bodies aside and strode into the villa.