First Steps into the Ethereal Void 102. Accidentally Consuming the Spirit Turtle

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The Cut-Path Thief was highly skilled in martial arts. Miaoyu, originally the daughter of a martial arts family, had been forced to become a nun at Jiugong Hermitage after a thwarted marriage left her furious. Her master was the leader of the Jiugong Sect, famed for the unparalleled Jiugong Sword Technique in the martial world. Possessing both her family’s heritage and the true essence of the Jiugong Sword Technique, Miaoyu was far beyond the Cut-Path Thief’s match, quickly defeating him and leaving him gravely wounded in just three moves.

After wounding the thief, Miaoyu took the ape-man with her as she left, saying, “I rescued this ape-man, and he has nothing to do with the Tianhou Hermitage. As a nun, I wish not to create more karma. Once your injuries heal, if you wish to find me, come to Jiugong Hermitage on Snow-Head Mountain.”

Miaoyu brought the ape-man back to Jiugong Hermitage. The Cut-Path Thief did not come to seek revenge, but the ape-man often caused Miaoyu considerable trouble.

The ape-man was male, and the hermitage was a nunnery. Originally a man, he had been turned into an ape-man by some wicked experimenters, covered in ape skin—a pitiable state indeed. Since she had rescued him, Miaoyu could neither neglect him nor simply release him to fend for himself.

She thought of sending him home, but the ape-man could communicate through writing yet refused to reveal his family background, fearing to face his biological parents.

If he returned home disguised in ape skin, his parents would be mortified and disgraced, and his family would lose their standing locally. Thus, he was determined never to disclose his origins, even at the cost of his life.

Miaoyu was at a loss and entrusted him to Meng Biyu, who had also taken vows but had not yet shaved her head. Meng Biyu had suffered from a difficult illness since childhood, and Miaoyu had once rescued her and brought her to the mountain for healing.

At first, Meng Biyu treated Li Hao—the ape-man—as a companion to dispel her loneliness, teaching him her martial arts from scratch. Li Hao was a quick learner.

Many times Meng Biyu pleaded with her master to accept Li Hao as a disciple, but her master said that Jiugong Hermitage was a nunnery and all disciples were female; it was impossible to accept a male disciple covered in ape skin.

Meng Biyu then asked if Li Hao could be accepted as an apprentice under a special arrangement, but Miaoyu still refused to break the rules.

Miaoyu said, “Yu’er, since you have not yet shaved your head and taken vows, you may teach him what you have learned. If he studies diligently, that will suffice.”

Meng Biyu asked, “Master, the ape skin covering him—can it be removed in the future?”

Miaoyu replied, “I saved him hoping to restore his true self. I have inquired widely and heard only the divine healer Dongfang Yuan possesses the rare skill to peel off this ape skin. However, Dongfang Yuan has not appeared in the martial world for a long time; his whereabouts and fate are unknown, and his ancestral medical tome, the ‘Qing Nang Divine Art,’ has not been seen in circulation.”

Meng Biyu inquired further, “Are there any other renowned doctors besides Dongfang Yuan?”

Miaoyu answered, “There is another master healer descended from Su Xian Gong, but his whereabouts are unknown. I have sent someone to Tian Shan to ask a certain nun who might know where this doctor lives in seclusion.”

Meng Biyu, concerned not only for her junior brother’s future but also eager to find any method to restore his true form, persistently asked, “Besides seeking a famous doctor, Master, are there other ways for Li Hao to regain his original face? I feel deeply sorry for him!”

Miaoyu looked at her beloved disciple with a smile and said, “No need for you to say it. As a nun, compassion is my heart’s true nature. He is young and once a scholar. From a humanitarian perspective, I too wish for his recovery. Not only you and I, but also several reclusive masters in the martial world are quietly striving on his behalf. Though many methods exist, none are guaranteed to succeed.”

Meng Biyu hurriedly asked, “What methods?”

Miaoyu replied, “The Dharani Sutra practiced at Famen Temple is said to cleanse the body and bones, but whether it can remove the skin is uncertain. The ‘Tai Chi Divine Skill Manual’ from Yuxu Palace reportedly allows one to transform the body completely. There’s also a secret remedy involving the most venomous snake: when two snakes swallow each other head-to-head, severing the heads and taking the mixture of their venom internally is said to dissolve the ape skin. Since the dawn of time, no one has confirmed its efficacy.”

Meng Biyu couldn’t help but shed tears for Li Hao.

Seeing her expression, Miaoyu said, “Yu’er, I understand well that Li Hao was once a kind and scholarly youth. Although his misfortune garners sympathy, you must restrain yourself.”

Meng Biyu replied, “I only feel pity for him.”

Miaoyu smiled faintly, “Sympathy is the beginning of feeling; young hearts are easily stirred. Even if he is a suffering and righteous youth, many people love animals like hounds, even to the point of sacrificing their own lives for them. Imagine if one loves to such an extent—what wouldn’t they sacrifice?”

Meng Biyu buried her head in her chest, saying nothing.

Miaoyu asked, “You teach him martial arts—how does he take to it?”

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Meng Biyu said, “Li Hao is eager to learn and very intelligent; he progresses rapidly.”

One afternoon, Li Hao was practicing lightness skill alone, racing through the perilous mountains. Unconsciously, dusk fell, and night mist quickly enveloped the peaks.

The evening breeze was chilly. Li Hao reached a deep valley where darkness rendered him unable to see. Unable to return to the bamboo hut, he resolved to wait there until dawn to find his way back.

Carrying a fire striker, Li Hao gathered dry branches in the valley and sparked a fire beneath a cliff cave to keep warm and bolster his courage.

As he warmed himself, he pondered silently: “Whether I can restore my true form depends on fate, not myself. But I must redouble my efforts to master martial arts if I am to avenge my personal hatred.”

“Even if I die after avenging and restoring my appearance, I will have no regrets.”

The more he thought, the more restless he became. Sitting by the fire, he did not feel cold, but his stomach growled loudly.

Suddenly, a turtle as large as a wash basin crawled slowly to the fire and stopped.

Li Hao looked at the turtle and thought, “You are one of the Four Divine Beasts. I suppose you would not harm one of your own kind.”

The turtle suddenly stretched out its head. Li Hao extended a finger toward it, wondering, “Are you as hungry as I am?”

The turtle snapped its mouth and bit Li Hao’s finger. He tried to pull away, but the turtle refused to let go. He punched its back with his left hand, and the turtle, still gripping his finger, retracted with surprising strength.

Li Hao remembered a childhood tale: if a turtle bites your finger, it won’t release unless thunder sounds.

The turtle’s bite grew tighter and more painful.

Annoyed, Li Hao thought, “If you can bite me, why can’t I bite you?”

He bent down and bit the turtle’s long neck.

His hunger rumbled as he bit down, inadvertently breaking the turtle’s neck, spilling its blood into his mouth and throat, and into his stomach.

After a while, the turtle loosened its grip and stopped struggling. Its blood had all been absorbed by Li Hao, who instantly felt warmth flood his body and vigor returning. He began practicing martial arts in the valley, feeling unlike before—his strength seemed inexhaustible. Punching the rocks, kicking piles of stones, and ramming trees, he shattered them with ease.

Li Hao, having accidentally ingested the turtle’s blood, felt as if intoxicated and restless. After struggling through most of the night, he finally felt relief. The fire was still burning; he added more branches, rekindling the blaze.

He tore apart the now lifeless turtle, roasting and eating it. Though lacking salt, the empty stomach made the meal delicious.

At dawn, the large turtle was all consumed.

Suddenly, a clear, melodious voice rang out: “Li Hao, where are you? Li Hao, where are you?”

He hurried toward the sound, feeling light and agile.

Meng Biyu, relieved to see him safe, scolded, “You didn’t return all night. You made me so worried I couldn’t sleep.”

Li Hao smiled broadly and gestured to explain.

Meng Biyu said, “Don’t run off so far again. This desolate mountain is easy to get lost in.”

Li Hao, having drunk the blood of a thousand-year-old turtle and eaten its meat, felt greatly strengthened.

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His body had become especially robust. Cultivating martial arts requires first building physical strength; a sturdy body is the foundation of true skill.

Meng Biyu saw that although Li Hao had no formal status as a junior brother or disciple, all the skills he possessed were taught by her. Miaoyu had saved him out of pity and allowed him to live in a bamboo hut outside the hermitage.

Meng Biyu initially taught him martial arts out of curiosity and amusement. Unexpectedly, he advanced rapidly, surpassing even her own skills in solidity and depth. Although he could not speak, he had excellent handwriting. She pondered day and night and specially designed two weapons for him that could be used to write messages and communicate with others.

One day, Miaoyu tested Li Hao’s martial arts and was astonished. Besides what Meng Biyu taught him, he could innovate and improve upon the original moves—truly “the pupil surpasses the master.” After descending the mountain and making some friends, he would certainly be able to avenge his deep hatred.

After testing his skills, Miaoyu said to Meng Biyu, “With Li Hao’s martial arts, he can go into the martial world to gain experience. To restore his true form, he must make connections in the world. Arrange things well for him, pick a day, and send him down the mountain.”

Meng Biyu, hearing her master’s words, immediately thought of Feng Jiezhen, her junior sister, whose beautiful face had been scarred by a fire at age eleven or twelve, rendering her ashamed to show herself. She said, “If Li Hao has the chance to meet a famous doctor and restore his true face, then Jiezhen’s face might also return to its former beauty. I could send her down the mountain secretly to follow Li Hao and watch over him.”

Miaoyu replied calmly, “Very well. Leave all the planning and arrangements to you.”

Meng Biyu also made a set of weapons for Feng Jiezhen, like those given to Li Hao, and began to consider their next steps after descending the mountain.

The first step was to stir up a great uproar in the martial world to attract attention and draw out various figures.

They needed to obtain the Famen Temple’s “Jialing Sutra” and the secret writings of Yuxu Palace’s “Tai Chi Divine Skill Manual.”

Meng Biyu noted this plan carefully in her diary.

That day, Qiaoyin, one of the four recluses of the martial world, unexpectedly visited Miaoyu. Miaoyu was in meditation, so Meng Biyu received him.

Qiaoyin was a close friend of Biyu’s grandfather. Treating Meng Biyu like a niece, they spoke candidly upon meeting.

When the topic turned to Li Hao, Qiaoyin was both surprised and pleased. The reason? Qiaoyin had an old friend, a down-and-out scholar, whom he admired for his generosity and shared fondness for drink.

Though this scholar was destitute and far from home, he never forgot his family matters and secretly asked Qiaoyin to investigate the situation of his younger brother. When Qiaoyin heard that Li Hao had disappeared from the capital, he was shocked.

Qiaoyin approved of Meng Biyu’s plan and told her he already knew Li Hao’s background. He then left the mountain in haste to find the down-and-out scholar, asking him to bring Li Hao’s father’s portrait and head to Famen Temple beforehand.

Qiaoyin knew that demanding the scriptures from Famen Temple outright was impossible; a roundabout approach—soft or hard persuasion—might succeed.

Li Hao was deeply grateful to Meng Biyu and followed all her ideas. He knew that to avenge his hatred, he must be ruthless. If he fought, he would not spare his life but fight to the death, making a great stir in the martial world with just one battle.

When Qiaoyin descended the mountain, Meng Biyu entrusted him to secretly spread white banners to alarm the martial world.

Martial sects usually mind their own affairs, but Meng Biyu’s actions would anger and awaken the martial world’s figures to seek out and eliminate villains, thereby protecting the good.

Li Hao had always heard that monks of Famen Temple possessed unrivaled martial arts. Having fought and defeated an old monk there, he felt skeptical.

The monks never stopped training. He could win against them, but it was not because his skill exceeded theirs. There must be another reason.

Many things remained unclear and his hopes faint. Thus, he hesitated to descend the mountain again.