193: Chapter 73 Encountering Zhou Botong

Hearing the distant sound of a flute, Meng Li, Mu Nianci, and Guo Jing woke up one after another.

Guo Jing immediately asked, "Elder Brother Meng, could this be Ronger calling us over?"

Meng Li understood that this was Medicine Master Huang using the Azure Sea Rising Tide Melody against Old Imp, not Huang Rong calling them. However, on the surface, he answered vaguely, "Not sure. We'll know if we follow the sound and go see."

With that, he pulled Mu Nianci to her feet.

Guo Jing thought that made sense and quickly got up to follow.

The three of them hurriedly searched in the direction of the flute sound. As the distance closed, the flute music became clearer, yet it was like a Demon Sound, beginning to drill into their heads.

Guo Jing felt uncomfortable and immediately sat down on the spot, circulating his Internal Skill to resist and neutralize it.

Mu Nianci also instinctively used her Internal Skill to resist.

Meng Li narrowed his eyes slightly, operating the Wedding Dress Divine Skill to capture the Internal Energy mixed within the Azure Sea Rising Tide Melody. He combined it with the musical rhythm to comprehend its variations and grasp its underlying principles.

This was a usage he had researched after cultivating the Wedding Dress Divine Skill to its peak.

By the time he had grasped the essentials of the Azure Sea Rising Tide Melody, Mu Nianci and Guo Jing had successively adapted to the assault of the Azure Sea's tide sound and returned to normal.

Meng Li was not surprised by this.

The Internal Skill Mu Nianci cultivated was Hun Yuan True Qi, which emphasized the unity of Hun Yuan. It could even automatically resist the absorption of the Absorbing Qi Technique and the first eight levels of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill's devouring power, so naturally defending against the Internal Energy mixed within the Azure Sea Rising Tide Melody was no trouble at all. If Mu Nianci hadn't had a short cultivation time and relatively shallow skill, she wouldn't have needed to specifically use her Internal Skill to adapt.

As for Guo Jing, he possessed a pure heart of a child with almost no distracting thoughts. Combined with cultivating the Quanzhen Sect's Internal Skill, he also did not fear the assault of the Azure Sea's tide sound.

Seeing they were unharmed, Meng Li spoke up, "Let's go."

The three continued forward, following the flute sound as it twisted and turned, arriving at a cave. Inside, they heard someone howling in pain.

They took a few steps forward and looked, seeing a short, old man with white beard and hair inside the cave, hugging his head and rolling all over the ground. The howling came from him.

Meng Li immediately understood: this little old man was Old Imp, who had been trapped on the island by Medicine Master Huang.

Seeing this, Guo Jing quickly asked with concern, "Senior, are you alright?"

The short old man, Old Imp, seemed not to hear, or perhaps he heard but was in too much pain to respond.

Realizing this, Guo Jing turned his head to look at Meng Li. "Elder Brother Meng, this Senior looks to be in great pain. Can you help him?"

In the original story, when Guo Jing encountered Old Imp, he was alone, so he directly used his Internal Skill to help the other resist the assault of the Azure Sea's tide sound. Now, with Meng Li present, he felt Meng Li was more capable than himself, hence the question.

Meng Li gave a slight nod, walked up to Old Imp, and tapped several of his acupoints.

Then, he transferred a strand of Wedding Dress Divine Skill True Qi over, using its absorption and assimilation ability to help Old Imp expel the Internal Energy that Medicine Master Huang had invaded into his body using the Azure Sea's tide sound.

Old Imp, who had been tormented to the point of death, instantly felt the pain lessen. He hurriedly mustered his full Internal Energy to expel the Azure Sea tide sound Internal Energy within his body.

Soon, the expelling force reached a critical point.

Meng Li quickly withdrew his own True Qi and stepped back.

The next second, pure white True Qi erupted from Old Imp's body, expelling the Azure Sea tide sound Internal Energy from his body in one go.

The pure white True Qi scattered like waves, causing the entire cave to tremble.

Meng Li flicked his sleeve, sending out a wave of Qi to effortlessly neutralize the incoming wave rushing towards himself, Mu Nianci, and Guo Jing.

By the time the aftershocks subsided, the flute sound also ceased.

Clearly, Medicine Master Huang must have sensed the commotion here, thought Old Imp had broken free from the harassment of the Azure Sea Rising Tide Melody, and felt continuing to play would be of little use.

Old Imp then began to stretch his limbs, lively and bouncing around.

After finishing his bouncing, he cupped his hands towards Meng Li and the other two. "Thank you for your rescue. Please accept my bow."

With that, he was about to bow deeply with clasped fists.

Guo Jing hurriedly dodged aside, explaining at the same time, "Senior, it was Elder Brother Meng who acted to save you. If you want to bow, bow to him."

Mu Nianci also stepped aside.

Meng Li reached out to steady Old Imp, smiling. "Compared to such formalities, I prefer something more substantial. If you truly wish to thank me, you might give me something."

Old Imp was taken aback, then seemed to think of something, his eyes growing wary as he sized up the three of them. "What do you want?"

Meng Li stated bluntly, "The Nine Yin Manual - Upper Volume."

Guo Jing and Mu Nianci were greatly surprised.

They hadn't expected Meng Li to suddenly make such a request, nor had they thought this little old man before them would possess the Nine Yin Manual - Upper Volume.

Old Imp stared at Meng Li. "Who are you? How do you know the Nine Yin Manual - Upper Volume is with me? Did Old Evil Huang send you?"

Meng Li replied, "I am Meng Li."

Then, he pointed at Mu Nianci and Guo Jing. "This is my betrothed, Mu Nianci. The other is called Guo Jing, Nianci's sworn younger brother. Guo Jing once studied Internal Skill for two years with the Quanzhen Sect's Immortal Master Ma Yu. Strictly speaking, he should address you as 'Junior Martial Uncle'."

Junior Martial Uncle?

Guo Jing was stunned.

This was the first time he had heard of this seniority.

Mu Nianci was the same.

Soon, Guo Jing reacted, looking at Old Imp in surprise. "Senior, you are Old Imp, the The Real Person of Chongyang's Junior Brother?"

Old Imp nodded, admitting, "Correct, I am Old Imp. My Senior Brother is Wang Chongyang."

Then, he sized up Guo Jing, puzzled. "Is Ma Yu your Master? You don't look dressed as a Disciple of the Quanzhen Sect."

Hearing this, Guo Jing quickly gave a brief explanation of his relationship with Ma Yu.

After listening, Old Imp nodded slightly, then looked at Meng Li and returned to the previous question. "How did you know the Nine Yin Manual - Upper Volume is with me?"

As for the latter part, "Did Medicine Master Huang send you?" he swallowed back.

Because upon further reflection, he thought it impossible.

Meng Li pinched his fingers. "Calculated it."

"Really or not? That amazing?"

Old Imp was somewhat disbelieving, yet his curiosity was piqued.

Before Meng Li could answer, Guo Jing spoke first. "Senior Zhou, it's true. Elder Brother Meng really can calculate. Previously, he calculated the whereabouts of my enemy, allowing me to successfully take revenge and come to this Peach Blossom Island with peace of mind."

Mu Nianci also said, "I can vouch for it."

Old Imp shook his head. "You're together, your words can't be trusted."

Meng Li smiled. "Not bad. It seems you remembered the lesson of being deceived by Medicine Master Huang and his wife about the The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual."

"Naturally, one learns from experience..." Old Imp proudly began to respond, but halfway through, he realized something was wrong.

He looked at Meng Li in astonishment, his face showing shock and doubt. "How do you know?"

When he was deceived by Medicine Master Huang and his wife into giving up the The Lower Volume of the Nine Yin Manual, only the three of them were present.

Such an unsavory matter, Medicine Master Huang and his wife wouldn't have spread it. Later, when Feng Heng passed away because of it, Medicine Master Huang was even less likely to mention it to anyone.

He himself only realized he had been tricked afterwards and hadn't told anyone to this day.

So, how did Meng Li know?

Could he really have calculated it?

"Calculated it," Meng Li answered with a smile, then added, "Not only did I calculate that you were deceived by Medicine Master Huang and his wife, I also know the reason why, despite having greater skill than Guo Jing, you couldn't withstand the Azure Sea Rising Tide Melody played by Medicine Master Huang."

"What's the reason?"

...