Qi Cultivation Starting from the Repair Panel

Chapter 31: Chapter 28: A Way Out

Song Lingxue's eyes instantly widened, and her breathing became even more smooth. She could feel that, in that brief moment, her internal injury had been greatly alleviated.

For a time, the strange thoughts that had just arisen in her heart dissipated into nothingness, and she couldn't help but ask:

"What a miraculous method, where did you learn this from in your medical books?"

"'Pediatric Massage Mental Method'," Chu Zheng replied offhandedly.

He hadn't indeed used much strength just now, only the normal amount to stretch a child's bones, which was too gentle to be of much use to an adult.

'Pediatric Massage Mental Method'...

Song Lingxue quietly noted this somewhat strange name, planning to have someone pay attention to it later.

This was the first time she had seen a massage that also had an effect on internal injuries. In the past, when she had suffered internal injuries, she could only endure them on her own, and the experience was truly indescribable.

To avoid proceeding too quickly, Chu Zheng slowed down his pace.

After thrice administering the massage, nearly half an hour had passed, and Song Lingxue felt completely revitalized, with even the wounds on her body no longer aching.

"Alright, Miss, please get down from the bed and try walking a few steps," Chu Zheng said as he withdrew his hands and turned to open the door.

Song Yun was sitting on the threshold outside the door, his head drooping, shrouded in a thick air of twilight.

Chu Zheng glanced at the panel which displayed two remaining chances for repair and waved to Song Yun:

"Song Yun, come in."

......

......

The next morning, in front of Song Residence.

Three teams were checking the horses and carriages, preparing to set off.

Even though the Song Family showed signs of decline, with Song Tonghai's years of connections, it was easy to gather three teams.

During the preparations, Song Lingxue brought a bundle to Chu Zheng.

Her complexion visibly improved, she was dressed in a robust outfit, striding with the wind, her expression once again exuding her usual confidence.

"What's this?"

Chu Zheng looked puzzled as he felt the significant weight of the package in his hands.

"These are some dry rations I've prepared for you, along with travel expenses. Take care of them, don't lose them, you'll need them on the road," Song Lingxue said, not elaborating much but giving him a couple of reminders before she hurried away.

After using the repair function two more times, Song Yun's injuries had largely healed, and he was no longer affected in his work. This wasn't his first time escorting a convoy, he was well acquainted with the task, handling everything in an orderly manner, without requiring any of Chu Zheng's attention.

Half an hour later.

The three teams left the Song Residence in batches, slowly departing in three different directions.

When they left the city gate, Chu Zheng noticed that Song Yun's breathing paused momentarily beside him, clearly still tense in spirit.

The previous encounter outside the city had obviously left him with some psychological shadow.

However, this time, all was calm.

After leaving Luofeng City, Chu Zheng and Song Yun headed south, not stopping at all, traveling day and night. Only after two days did they finally slow down.

At this moment, they were hundreds of miles away from Luofeng City, even leaving the boundaries of Wuyang County.

Chu Zheng slowed down their pace and stopped to rest for a while.

He opened the bundle Song Lingxue had given him. There were many things inside, not only dry rations but also a stack of silver notes, close to a hundred Golden Leaves, some broken silver, and a map.

The silver notes were not issued by the Great Zhou Bank, but could be cashed in the surrounding countries. The map covered the approximate locations of Great Zhou and over ten surrounding nations.

Besides these items, there was also a letter from Song Lingxue.

Chu Zheng opened the letter and after reading it back and forth twice, he sighed deeply.

The content of the letter was simple: Song Lingxue predicted that on this convoy journey, it was highly likely that only Chu Zheng's party would escape unscathed.

After all, within his group, there were no blood relatives of Song Lingqing, naturally, they were not among those hindered.

Song Lingxue had considered an escape route for Chu Zheng, marking out the route to Giant Marsh Country, indicating that he should head there.

That place was a land of chaos, for someone with Chu Zheng's strength, there perhaps would be even greater room for development.

Even including Song Yun, Song Lingxue had made arrangements; if Chu Zheng did not wish to take him along, once they reached Giant Marsh, he could go on by himself to find her elder uncle, Song Tongxuan.

Chu Zheng carelessly threw the letter to Song Yun, raised his hand to rub his brow, he hadn't been in this world for long, but the difficult choices were far too many.

Now, two paths lay before Chu Zheng, to return or to follow the original route to Giant Marsh Country.

Luofeng City had become a dragon's den, and if he escaped the situation there, it would be like a dragon returning to the sea, once his cultivation was achieved, he could take the world for his own.

The Qi Refining Lineage spoke of devotion to the Dao, demanding tranquility and a pure heart, one's cultivation would flourish, Chu Zheng may not have a pure heart, but he was clear about debts of gratitude and enmity.

From his own perspective, not going back would be to seek advantage and avoid harm, nobody could fault him for that, and in the future, once his cultivation was complete, he could avenge Song Lingxue.

But... after this, his heart, it would be very difficult to calm.

After a long deliberation, Chu Zheng took out his diary, flipped out a pen and ink, and wrote swiftly:

"New Calendar, February eleventh, escaped from Luofeng City, although temporarily out of the quagmire, knowing the truth behind the escort task, my mind is unsettled, after much contemplation... I've decided to turn back."

"To hesitate and look back is not what a great man does, arriving here alone, leaving without taking anything with me, at worst, I die."

Looking at that last character for "death," Chu Zheng crossed it out with his pen, going back didn't necessarily mean a dead end.

"Chu Zheng, I..."

Song Yun's eyes were slightly red, clutching the letter tightly, before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Chu Zheng:

"You stay, continue towards Giant Marsh, I alone will go back."

Having said this, without waiting for Song Yun to speak, he continued:

"You going would be useless, it would just mean another person dead, there must always be someone left to deliver the message, when Second Miss comes back, at least it won't be just bones, dead people can't talk."

"Chu Zheng."

Song Yun took a deep breath, said no more, and knelt to kowtow:

"I beg you to bring back the young miss safely, if there is a chance in the future, I will repay your great kindness with utmost gratitude."

"Then you strive to live a bit longer."

Chu Zheng thought for a moment and took out the book of Martial Path Initial Understanding from his bosom and handed it to Song Yun:

"If by chance, return this for me to Li Mingzhou."

Having spoken, he mounted his horse and headed straight towards Luofeng City.

......

......

Luofeng City, Song Residence.

Within the back courtyard, Song Tonghai and Song Lingxue sat opposite each other, burning incense and brewing tea, the expression on their faces, father and daughter alike, one of silent stillness.

Their experience was different from that of Chu Zheng; they had not traveled more than thirty li from the city when they were stopped. Those who stopped them did not strike, only forcing them back to the city.

This was no different from what Song Tonghai had originally guessed, they did not resist much and returned to the Song Residence as told.

As days passed and there was still no sign of Chu Zheng, they gradually let go of their worries.

Clearly, Chu Zheng had most likely made his escape.

All that remained was to quietly wait for the situation to change.

Suddenly, a maid rushed in, delivering the message:

"The master is informed, someone has arrived outside the residence seeking you," she said.

"Which personage?" Song Tonghai asked with some confusion.

"This servant cannot tell, but he claims to be from the Phantom Spirit Sect."