nyslfriends Chapter 2 The Power of the First Palm
Chapter 2 The Power of the First Palm
Inside the main hall of the Chen family, the atmosphere was as heavy as a frozen pool.
At the head of the table sat an elderly man with white hair and beard, his face ashen and his eyes piercing, fixed on the uninvited guests below.
The old man was none other than Chen Zhan, the current head of the Chen family and Chen Xuan's grandfather.
Although he was quite old, he wore a simple gray cloth long gown.
But sitting there, he exudes an aura of quiet authority, like a dormant volcano.
"Old Master Chen, I heard that your grandson Chen Xuan had a mishap while practicing martial arts a few days ago and is now bedridden. I am very concerned about him."
"My Black Wind Sect possesses some miraculous healing medicines, which may be able to alleviate this urgent crisis."
The speaker was a middle-aged man in black robes, with fair skin, but his eyes gleamed with a cunning light.
It was Liu, the leader of the Black Wind Sect who had come to "visit the sick." Although he spoke politely, the condescending tone in his voice was unmistakable.
Chen Zhan didn't even lift his eyelids. He picked up the rough porcelain teacup beside him, slowly skimmed off the foam, and spoke in a flat, emotionless voice:
"No need to trouble yourself. I will take care of Xuan'er. If there is nothing else, please forgive me for not seeing you off further."
The dismissal was so swift that the middle-aged man surnamed Liu's smile froze for a moment, before he quickly plastered on even more feigned concern:
"Old Master, you are mistaken. Young Master Chen Xuan is the only direct descendant of the Chen family. If anything were to happen to him, how would the Chen family line continue? Besides..."
He abruptly changed the subject, lowering his voice, which only made it sound colder.
"The old man is getting on in years. He can protect it for a while, but can he protect it forever? That 'Azure Destiny Blade Manual' left in the Chen family, now it's probably more of a curse than a blessing, isn't it?"
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, Chen Zhan slammed his teacup down on the table, splashing a few drops of tea. He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze shooting towards the other person like cold lightning:
"As I've said, the Chen family has no such 'Azure Destiny Blade Manual.' Rumors stop with the wise. Master Liu, please leave."
Liu Xiangzhu's face darkened, and his fake smile vanished completely:
"Old Master Chen, let's not beat around the bush. Your Chen family has guarded that sword manual for over ten years; it's time for it to change hands. You have to give it to us today, whether you like it or not..."
He deliberately dragged out his words, and several members of the Black Wind Sect beside him had already placed their hands on their weapons, causing the air in the hall to suddenly tense up.
Chen Zhan slowly stood up, an invisible aura emanating from him, causing his gray robes to flutter even without wind. He stared at Liu Xiangzhu and said, word by word:
"If you don't give it to me, what are you going to do? Does the Black Wind Sect want to test whether my old hands are still as sharp as they used to be?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense!
Liu Xiangzhu's eye twitched. He knew all too well the former fame of "Iron Knife" Chen Zhan; even a weakened camel is bigger than a horse. If a fight broke out, his side might not fare well. He was already calculating how to further pressure Chen Xuan by threatening his safety…
"Grandpa, do we have guests?"
A clear and calm voice suddenly came from the side door of the hall.
Everyone looked over at the sound and saw a young man in a blue robe standing there.
With an upright posture, rosy complexion, and clear eyes, he showed no signs of being seriously injured and bedridden. It was Chen Xuan.
"Xuan'er?"
Chen Zhan was taken aback at first, then his eyes lit up with barely suppressed joy.
But he was mature and composed, and instantly suppressed his emotions, simply nodding slightly.
"Why are you out? Are you feeling much better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Grandpa. Your grandson is fine now."
Chen Xuan entered the hall, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere. His gaze calmly swept over Liu Xiangzhu and his group before finally addressing Chen Zhan.
"Just now outside the door, I seemed to overhear some guests asking about my grandson's injuries? They even mentioned something about... a sword manual?"
When Liu Xiangzhu saw Chen Xuan appear unharmed, his heart sank.
Since Chen Xuan was unharmed, his plans naturally fell through, and he knew that his scheme to force Chen Xuan to abdicate today by taking advantage of Chen Xuan's serious injuries had failed.
Chen Xuan appeared calm and composed, completely different from the taciturn and mediocre youth of the past.
He was even more surprised and uncertain. But he reacted quickly, forcing a smile:
"Hmph, it seems the rumors are wrong. In that case, we won't disturb you any longer..."
"Come whenever you want, leave whenever you want."
Chen Xuan suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly interrupting him, "What do you take my Chen family for? A teahouse or a tavern?"
Liu Xiangzhu paused, his face turning completely grim. He turned to Chen Xuan, his tone now threatening:
"Young Master Chen, what right do you have to interrupt when your elders are speaking? We are discussing important matters with your grandfather; how can we allow a mere child like you to be so insolent! Old Master Chen, is this how you discipline your grandson?"
Chen Zhan frowned slightly, about to speak.
Chen Xuan stepped forward, blocking him by half a body length, so that he could face Liu Xiangzhu directly.
"To discuss important matters?"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chen Xuan's lips, but his eyes held no real joy.
"Are you discussing how to seize by force or how to take advantage of a crisis? Whether my Chen family possesses a sword manual or not is none of your business!"
"You!" Liu Xiangzhu was speechless for a moment, then flew into a rage.
He was already furious because his plan had failed, and now that a junior had openly contradicted him, he couldn't hold back any longer.
"You ignorant brat! You don't know your place! Today, on behalf of your elders, I'll teach you a lesson!"
He was confident in his status and martial arts skills, believing that dealing with a "sickly" boy would be a piece of cake. If he could capture Chen Xuan, he could still threaten Chen Zhan!
Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he no longer held back.
With a swift movement, his right hand formed a claw, bringing with it a foul gust of wind, and struck Chen Xuan's Jianjing acupoint! This claw strike was swift and ruthless, clearly indicating that he was serious!
"Xuan'er, be careful!"
Chen Zhan was both shocked and furious. He hadn't expected the other party to dare to attack a junior directly in the Chen family's hall, and he was even more surprised by his grandson's unusual "recklessness" today.
He quickly channeled his inner energy and prepared to intercept.
However, Chen Xuan was faster than him.
Facing that fierce claw, Chen Xuan neither dodged nor avoided it. He simply turned his body slightly to avoid the strongest part of the claw's wind, and at the same time raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and pressed forward seemingly casually.
This press produced neither wind nor qi; it was as if they were just acquaintances casually waving to each other.
Seeing this, Liu Xiangzhu sneered even more, thinking to himself that the brat was courting death. He increased the strength of his claws by three points, determined to cripple the brat's arm in one fell swoop!
The next instant, their claws met.
There was no sound of bones cracking as expected, nor any intense clash of internal forces.
Liu Xiangzhu felt as if his claw, which had gathered seventy percent of its power, had gripped a divine mountain weighing hundreds of millions of tons!
No, it wasn't a sacred mountain. It was a much stranger feeling; the opponent's skin, flesh, muscles, and bones were seamlessly integrated, incredibly tough and dense.
Furthermore, an overwhelming and unstoppable force, immense and unyielding, naturally rebounded from the opponent's palm!
"What?!"
The sinister smile on Liu Xiangzhu's face instantly turned into boundless horror. He felt an irresistible force surging up his arm.
Every joint in the entire arm bone was groaning under the strain, and the internal organs were being shaken and churning!
"Snap... Pfft!"
First came the sickening sound of bones cracking, followed by Liu Xiangzhu spitting out a mouthful of blood.
He was hit head-on by a charging elephant, flying backward at an even faster speed than he had come, and crashing hard into a hardwood pillar supporting the roof of the hall!
"boom!"
Wood chips flew everywhere, and the sturdy wooden pillar that required one person to hug was dented and covered with spider web-like cracks by his impact!
Liu Xiangzhu collapsed limply to the ground, his chest caved in, his eyes wide open, blood continuously gushing from his mouth and nose. His body twitched twice, then fell silent.
All of this happened in the blink of an eye; from Liu Xiangzhu's sudden attack to his death on the pillar, it was only a breath!
quiet!
Deathly silence!
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Chen Zhan's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his eyes filled with disbelief and shock.
The remaining members of the Black Wind Sect were as if frozen in place; their fierce expressions completely solidified, replaced by boundless terror.
They stared blankly as their highly skilled leader was casually struck by the seemingly weak young man, his bones broken and his body killed on the spot, as if he were swatting a fly!
"Incense Master!!"
"You brat, prepare to die!!"
After a brief period of deathly silence, a frenzied outburst erupted!
The three Black Wind Sect members snapped out of their extreme shock and were instantly consumed by the rage and ferocity that followed their fear!
With their leader dead, they would have little chance of survival even if they returned; their only option was to fight to the death!
With bloodshot eyes, the three roared and simultaneously drew their steel knives from their waists, lunging at Chen Chen from three different directions with a desperate and ferocious attitude!
The blades flashed and the wind howled, all aimed at vital points, leaving no room for error!
Chen Chen's eyes turned slightly cold. He had no intention of committing further killings, but the other party's killing intent was burning fiercely, determined to fight to the death.
He didn't move, but in the instant the three steel knives were about to strike him, his figure seemed to blur for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, three almost overlapping, dull, thuds, like the sound of leather being struck, echoed in the hall.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
There was no clanging of metal, no screams or wails.
The three Black Wind Sect members who rushed forward were struck in the chest as if by an invisible giant hammer, and were sent flying back at an even faster speed than when they rushed in!
"Snap!" "Snap!" "Snap!"
The three men crashed into the wall, the door frame, and another beam, respectively, and the sound of their bones breaking was clearly audible.
They coughed up blood, mixed with pieces of internal organs, and their steel knives clattered to the ground.
The three of them collapsed, their eyes losing their light quickly. Their bodies twitched a few times before falling silent.
The hall fell silent once more, except for the pungent smell of blood.
Chen Xuan slowly withdrew his hand, glanced at his palm, and seemed somewhat surprised by its power, looking at the corpse on the ground;
Although this was the first time he had killed someone since his second life, he was surprisingly unmoved by the killing.
He was not a bloodthirsty person, but he knew the dangers of the martial world. To be merciful to one's enemies was to be cruel to oneself and one's loved ones. Since a deadly enmity had been formed, it was necessary to eliminate the threat completely and leave no future trouble.
Chen Zhan looked at the four corpses on the ground, then at Chen Chen, who stood with his palms closed and whose breathing was as steady as ever. He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.
After a moment, he suddenly came to his senses, rushed to Chen Xuan, looked him up and down, and said urgently:
"Xuan'er, are you...are you alright? What was that just now...?"
His gaze fell on Chen Xuan's fair, slender hands, which seemed perfectly normal.
Looking again at the dented and cracked wooden pillar, and the glaring bloodstain on the ground, even he, with his vast experience, was filled with shock and disbelief.
Chen Xuan looked at the complex expression in his grandfather's eyes, a mixture of ecstasy, worry, and confusion, and felt a warmth in his heart. At the same time, he knew that a reasonable explanation was needed.
Just as he was about to speak, the old steward Zhao Fu arrived with several guards after hearing the commotion. He was horrified when he saw the mess in the hall.
"Clean this place up. Dispose of the body without leaving a trace. No one is to be told what happened today; anyone who does will be punished according to family rules!"
Chen Zhan gave the order in a deep voice, regaining the decisiveness of the head of the family.
"Yes, sir!"
Although Zhao Fu had many doubts (when did the master do this? And what about these signs of damage...), he dared not ask any more questions and quickly led his men to clean up.
Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the waiting hall. Chen Zhan suddenly turned his head, staring intently at Chen Xuan, and lowered his voice, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth:
"Now, you brat, tell me properly, what exactly happened?!"
He simply couldn't imagine what kind of technique could transform a critically injured and dying person into someone with such terrifying strength in just two days.
Chen Xuan met his grandfather's scrutinizing gaze with a calm expression, but inwardly he was already making plans.
I had to come up with an explanation, no matter what. I recalled all the fantastical adventures I'd encountered in novels from my past life.
He instantly made up his mind. He took half a step forward and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, slowly said:
"Grandpa, this is a long story. The other day, when I was seriously injured and unconscious, a... extraordinary person appeared in my dream and taught me a martial art. He used his supreme power to cleanse my marrow and change my meridians. What I used in my panic just now was exactly what I learned in my dream."
His explanation was half true and half false, attributing the "Yi Jin Jing" he received from the system to "being taught by a strange person in a dream."
In this martial arts world full of strange tales and absurd theories, although bizarre, it is not entirely unacceptable, which is better than exposing the "system," a completely incomprehensible existence.
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhan's pupils contracted slightly as he stared intently into his grandson's eyes, seemingly trying to find a flaw in his expression.
But Chen Xuan's eyes were clear and calm, and the incredible power of that palm strike was undeniable, leaving him no choice but to believe it.
"The strange man in my dream... the I Ching cleansing the marrow..." He murmured and repeated it, his eyes filled with even more shock.
He had traveled the world for many years and heard many tales of extraordinary encounters, but he still found it unbelievable that such a mysterious thing had happened to his own grandson.
However, Chen Xuan's incredible martial arts skills, and his calm demeanor that was so different from before, forced him to believe that this was something that could not be achieved through ordinary martial arts.
After a long while, Chen Zhan let out a long breath, then patted Chen Xuan's shoulder heavily, with a bit too much force.
"Good! Good! No matter what happened, the fact that you are safe and sound, and... and that you have the ability to protect yourself, is a wonderful thing!"
"Now that you have this opportunity, you must not be complacent, nor should you bully the weak. You must guard your true nature. In the path of martial arts, strength is important, but character is even more fundamental."
He paused, glanced around the messy hall, and frowned again:
"Killing just one branch leader of the Black Wind Sect won't end this peacefully. That Black Wind Sect leader, 'Black-Hearted Old Man,' is a vengeful person..."
"Grandpa, there's no need to worry too much."
Chen Xuan calmly replied, "We will meet force with force and water with earth. Now that I have been given this opportunity, I will naturally share your burdens and protect the Chen family."
Looking at his grandson's calm face and his eyes that had become deep and determined, Chen Zhan was filled with emotion. In the end, he could only let out a long sigh, which contained a hint of relief and a faint expectation.
The grandfather and grandson spoke in hushed tones for a moment, during which Chen Chen slightly embellished a pre-prepared explanation—the vague image of the "strange person in the dream" and the process of his instruction.
Although Chen Zhan still had doubts, seeing that his grandson spoke sincerely and that his abilities were genuine, he believed him to some extent, and his heart was filled with joy and anticipation.
"Let's go back to our rooms and rest first. We need to discuss today's matters more carefully."
Chen Zhan waved his hand, his gaze falling once more on the dented pillar, his eyes still filled with shock.
Chen Xuan bowed and took his leave as instructed. As he turned to walk towards his own courtyard, he could feel his grandfather's persistent, inquisitive, and worried gaze behind him.
Back in his quiet and tidy courtyard, after closing the door, Chen Xuan's composure faded slightly, and a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
He walked into the courtyard, stood under the old locust tree, and closed his eyes to concentrate.
Within his body, the mellow, gentle, yet vast and powerful energy refined from the Yi Jin Jing flowed slowly like the Yangtze River, constantly nourishing and strengthening his body and meridians.
He hadn't even used his full strength when he made that move; it was just an instinctive reaction and a slight release of power, yet it still had such power.
"This power, the perfected Yi Jin Jing, is stronger than expected."
He muttered to himself, "I just wonder, how does he compare to the true masters of this world?"
The Black Wind Gate... is just the beginning.
He walked to the window, pushed open the wooden pane, and looked up at the gloomy sky. A storm was brewing.
"system……"
He murmured to himself. However, the cold voice that had brought about all the change had been silent ever since it first appeared, as if it had never existed.
Chen Xuan slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound, but he controlled it perfectly so that it didn't escape the room.
Regardless, now that Chen Xuan has come here and inherited this identity and karma, he must carve out a bright and peaceful world for himself in this martial arts world!