85: Chapter 85: As expected, there was a backup plan; the Yuan army attacked.

Lu Chen brushed off his robes and smiled faintly, "Xiaoyao Sect, Lu Chen. No need for formalities."

"So you are the Sect Master of the Xiaoyao Sect, who has recently been rumored throughout the Jianghu to be specializing in killing Tatars!" Elder Chuangong's eyes lit up, and his tone became a few degrees more respectful.

Lu Chen nodded slightly, "It is I."

"Today at Zuixian Tower, I witnessed your gang opposing the Yuan Soldiers and slaughtering quite a few of them. I was just thinking of making your acquaintance when I encountered this person. He claimed to have assassinated the Chief of the Beggars Gang, so I apprehended him and brought him back." Lu Chen pointed to the assassin on the ground.

"A righteous hero indeed!" Elder Chuangong hurriedly cupped his hands in salute, his admiration for Lu Chen increasing even further.

"May I ask if the injured person is Chief Shi of the Beggars Gang?" Lu Chen asked.

"Indeed." Elder Chuangong sighed, his face showing concern.

"I observed that this person used the Great Strength Vajra Palm. I am also slightly knowledgeable in medicine, so I could perhaps lend Chief Shi a hand!" Lu Chen volunteered.

Upon hearing this, Elder Chuangong was overjoyed, "Truly? That would be wonderful! If Chief Shi can receive Sect Master Lu's help, he will certainly be able to turn danger into safety!"

"This Great Strength Vajra Palm is fierce and overbearing. If the treatment method is incorrect, even if he is healed, I fear he may end up paralyzed!" Lu Chen added, his tone carrying a hint of gravity.

Elder Chuangong's expression changed, "What does Sect Master Lu mean?"

Lu Chen shook his head, "If your gang trusts me, I can treat Chief Shi's injuries."

Lu Chen turned slightly and nodded to Elder Chuangong, signaling him to step aside.

Subsequently, he walked toward the room. His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, "Chief Shi, Lu has come to disturb you."

A slightly weak voice came from inside the room, "Is that Sect Master Lu of the Xiaoyao Sect? Please, come in! I have embarrassed myself in front of Sect Master Lu today."

Shi Huolong was sitting on a straw cushion, his face pale and his breathing weak.

Lu Chen stepped forward a few paces and cupped his hands, "Today at Zuixian Tower, I witnessed with my own eyes Chief Shi leading the Beggars Gang Disciples, fighting bravely against the enemy with a spirit that could swallow mountains and rivers. I did not expect that in the blink of an eye, the Chief would be seriously injured. It is truly a pity."

Shi Huolong smiled bitterly and cupped his hands, "Shi's skills were inferior; I fell for that traitor's sneak attack, and I am truly ashamed before the ancestors of the Beggars Gang. Now that I am seriously injured and unable to move, I implore Sect Master Lu to save me. Shi will be eternally grateful!"

Lu Chen nodded, his expression calm, "Chief Shi, there is no need for such formalities. Saving lives and healing the wounded is the duty of a physician. It is just that the palm force of this Great Strength Vajra Palm is extraordinarily overbearing. If not treated in time, I fear it will leave behind lasting complications."

He carefully observed Shi Huolong's injuries and then said, "Chief Shi, please sit comfortably."

Lu Chen opened the red sandalwood box he carried with him, revealing a row of golden needles shimmering with a faint golden light.

These golden needles were as thin as ox hair, yet they emitted an aura that made one's heart palpitate.

With a flip of his wrist, he took a small wine flask from his bosom and pulled out the stopper. A rich aroma of wine instantly filled the air. This wine aroma was mellow and lingering; smelling it made one feel refreshed.

"This is the 'Drunken Immortal Brew' specially made by my Xiaoyao Sect. It is brewed by soaking dozens of precious medicinal herbs and has the effect of promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, and relaxing the tendons and activating collaterals." Lu Chen explained faintly.

He placed nine golden needles into the wine flask and soaked them for a moment.

"Chief Shi, if you feel any discomfort, please bear with it." Lu Chen said softly.

He took a deep breath, circulated the Internal Energy in his Dantian, and utilized the technique of controlling objects from a distance.

He controlled the nine golden needles and pierced them into nine vital acupoints on Shi Huolong's body.

Every golden needle was incredibly precise, without the slightest error.

Throughout the entire process, Lu Chen's movements were smooth and flowing, done in one go.

It left everyone watching dumbfounded.

This technique of controlling objects from a distance was something everyone had never heard of; it was simply a divine method.

Lu Chen closed his eyes slightly and pressed his hands vaguely against Shi Huolong's back, his palms about a foot away from Shi Huolong's body.

"Concentrate your mind and calm your Qi, guard your Dantian." Lu Chen's voice rang out in the room like a great bell, shaking the soul.

Shi Huolong did not dare to be negligent; he hurriedly composed his mind, followed Lu Chen's instructions, circulated his Internal Energy, and guarded his Dantian.

One could see a faint halo of light vaguely radiating between Lu Chen's hands. A vast, ocean-like Internal Energy poured endlessly from his palms, entering Shi Huolong's body from a distance.

This Internal Energy was incredibly pure, combining hardness and softness, moisturizing Shi Huolong's Meridians like spring rain.

Shi Huolong felt a warm current flowing through his body. Wherever it passed, the blocked Meridians were instantly cleared, and the stagnant Qi and blood regained their smooth flow.

Under the impact of this pure Internal Energy, the palm force of the Great Strength Vajra Palm within his body rapidly disintegrated like melting ice and snow.

His body, which had been in excruciating pain, gradually regained sensation.

"Wah..."

Suddenly, Shi Huolong opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of black, congealed blood. This congealed blood was foul-smelling.

Once the congealed blood was spat out, Shi Huolong immediately felt relaxed all over.

Seeing this, Lu Chen's mouth corners lifted slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.

With a flick of his wrist, the nine golden needles flew out from Shi Huolong's body like arrows released from a bowstring, landing accurately and without error into the red sandalwood box.

The entire process was exquisite to the extreme, leaving one in awe.

"It is done." Lu Chen said lightly.

Shi Huolong slowly opened his eyes, an expression of disbelief on his face.

With the support of the Chief Dragon Head of the Staff, he bowed deeply to Lu Chen, "Sect Master Lu is truly a divine physician reincarnated! My injuries are actually healed! Great kindness needs no thanks; in the future, if there is anywhere you need me, I will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Lu Chen smiled faintly, "Chief Shi, there is no need for such formalities. I have only contributed a meager effort. However, although Chief Shi's injuries are healed, your Origin Qi has been severely damaged, and you still need to rest quietly for a few days before you can recover to your original state."

Shi Huolong nodded repeatedly, "What Sect Master Lu says is absolutely correct; Shi will keep it in mind."

Seeing that Shi Huolong had recovered, Elder Chuangong was also extremely excited and hurriedly stepped forward to congratulate him, "Congratulations, Chief! Congratulations, Chief! The Chief has boundless fortune and heaven's protection!"

Just at this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door.

"Report!"

A Beggars Gang Disciple rushed into the room, looking flustered as he said, "Chief, it is bad! A large group of Yuan Soldiers is heading toward the dilapidated temple!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Huolong's expression changed, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes, "These Tatars are truly like lingering ghosts! Pass down the order: all Beggars Gang Disciples are to assemble immediately and prepare to meet the enemy!"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, and a playful arc appeared at the corner of his mouth, "So that is it. It seems Chief Shi's assassination was not accidental. This assassin fled all the way, seemingly in a sorry state, but in reality, he secretly released a signal to lure these Yuan Soldiers here. Truly a clever scheme."

Upon hearing this, Elder Chuangong immediately beat his chest and stomped his feet in anger, "My Beggars Gang has always been at odds with the Yuan Court. I never thought these damn Tatars would be so insidious as to plant such a deep-rooted spy within my Beggars Gang! It is hateful that we were blind and failed to see through this thief's true colors earlier!"

Shi Huolong's face turned livid with burning anger, and the injuries he had just suppressed showed faint signs of recurring.

Seeing this, Lu Chen stepped forward and cupped his hands, "Chief Shi, your injuries have just healed; it is not suitable for you to engage in combat. Why not let me lead the brothers to meet these Yuan Soldiers?"

"Thinking about it, for the Imperial Court to go to such lengths to surround and suppress the Beggars Gang, those who have come are certainly not ordinary soldiers."

Shi Huolong pondered for a moment, knowing that in his current state, it was truly difficult to contend with the Yuan Soldiers, so he nodded and said, "In that case, I will have to trouble Sect Master Lu. Elders, you must assist Sect Master Lu and ensure the safety of my Beggars Gang!"

The four Elders hurriedly agreed and followed behind Lu Chen.

Lu Chen said no more and turned to walk out of the dilapidated temple. His robes fluttered, and his figure was like an arrow released from a bowstring, drifting toward the Yuan-Mongol army in the blink of an eye.

Leaving behind the Beggars Gang Elders and a crowd of experts who were chasing closely, as well as Lu Chen's whisper, "Tatars, you have come just in time... I will send you to meet Eternal Heaven!"