Reborn: Revenge of the Concubine's Daughter

Chapter 34 Jiang was my dog

He Danggui awoke at daybreak.

Before she fell asleep last night, she picked out some Zhiming Sticking Plaster with a new chopstick. Then she took them in a bowl of warm water and patted her acupoint in a certain order, channeling the heat from the pill into her limbs. The pesticide effect of Zhiming Sticking Plaster was quite good. When she woke up, she felt her breath grew longer, her pulse grew stronger and her cold hands and feet were warm, too.

Since there was only a useless little stove in the room, He Danggui and Zhen Jing were covered with one quilt in these days. But Zhen Jing didn’t sleep quietly and always had the tendency to kick the quilt and people, which made He Danggui suffer a lot. At this moment, Zhen Jing was asleep. He Danggui got out of bed silently, pulling the quilt for Zhen Jing. Zhen Jing whispered and kicked the quilt again, so He Danggui covered for her again reluctantly.

After a simple wash, He Danggui coiled up a small chignon, put on a coat and went into the yard. Now she had a new affliction but had no solution.

Since last evening, the Zhenqi which was obtained from Lu Jiangbei had been running in her body disorderly. She kept reciting the superb Cultivation Method for Internal Energy and tried to adjust her breath, but the effect was not significant. Throughout the night, these Zhenqi ran around her channels like a naughty child. Although there was not much discomfort, she didn’t know when this situation would get better and when these Zhenqi could adapt to its “new home”.

He Danggui had a faint memory that she had known this phenomenon from one of the martial arts books that she had read before, which was called “Qizhou”. According to the book, Qizhou was very rare. It only happened when ordinary people rose to a higher level by practicing superb internal energy. At that time, if they failed to control the Zhenqi that were generated in the new level, Qizhou would appear.

He Danggui was the most special one from other special cases. She didn’t have any internal force, but she was well aware of many superb Cultivation Methods for Internal Energy. Yesterday she obtained Zhenqi from Lu Jiangbei. It now turned out that she had a significant suspicion of greed and didn’t care whether she could bear it or not before she collected them into her Dantian in whole. She knew that Lu Jiangbei’s original intention was to help her warm her body. But she kept putting her hands on his, probably making him misunderstand that she felt comfortable and warm, so she wanted to stay warm for a while. Therefore, he didn’t withdraw his hands, and conveyed Zhenqi to her for nearly 6 hours consecutively.

What He Danggui didn’t know was that although Lu Jiangbei’s Zhenqi was excellent and pure, it was from a man of masculinity. It was thick and heavy, and was incompatible with women like her. Normally, only those with good boxing and external energy dared to take in a small amount of others’ Zhenqi. Otherwise, wouldn’t many of the martial arts schools in the world be able to cultivate a large number of “artificial seniors”?

At this time, it would be dangerous if she insisted to control the Zhenqi that was not hers, like a beginner riding an untamed horse. Once the Zhenqi went astray, she might have to be reborn as a human again.

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He Danggui was troubled, kicking a withered locust tree beside the wall. Letting the Zhenqi ran in her body freely was now the only solution for her.

Even if she tried to guide the Zhenqi through Jin Zhen Da Xue, at least she should use 3-inches silver needles. But now she only had a few embroidery needles which belonged to Zhen Jing. They were rough, hard and breakable. The last few times she used them were for temporary emergency. Because iron needles not only couldn’t exert the power of gold needles to insert the acupoints, but also had potential risks. Once the needle was broken in one’s body when it was used for treatment, it would be very troublesome to handle. He Danggui sighed. Now she could only make the best needles in the silver shop after she got enough money.

After thinking for a while, she went to the middle of the yard and made two simple preparations, then she shifted her posture to do “Five Mimic-animal Boxing of Hua”, which was invented by Hua Tuo, a famous doctor in the Eastern Han Dynasty. And it was a way to get fit by mimicking the movements of tiger, deer, bear, ape, and crane. It was very popular in their days, because all the nobles and common people shared the same habit of doing the boxing in their spare time. And it was said that regular practice of Five Mimic-animal Boxing could strengthen their bodies and prolong their lives.

After finishing the Tiger Play and Crane Play, He Danggui began to gasp and sweat. When she just began to do one of movements in Deer Play called “Deer Butting”, she saw a black shadow on her right, motionlessly standing in the corner, which startled her.

“Who?! Who is there?” She turned to the right suddenly, but forgot she was keeping her weight on her left shoulder when she was doing “Deer Butting”. A sudden turning was too short for her to keep her balance. As a result, she fell out askew.

She covered her head with her forearm in a hurry, closed her eyes and was ready for the pain. But it didn’t happen, she felt herself fall into the arms with a thin layer of dew, and the fragrance of grass suddenly caught her nose.

“What you did was worse than Jiang.” Gao Jue said coldly and lifted her back to the ground like he was lifting a chicken.

He Danggui was still shocked and felt ashamed to hear what he said. She said angrily as she tidied up her messy clothes, “Master Gao, you scared me! Who is Jiang? Why are you comparing me with him?” She had no foundation in this field. And it was her first time to practice “Five Mimic-animal Boxing” with her new body. How could she compare with those who had practiced martial arts! She thought it was rude of him to come into her yard early in the morning and watch her exercise without a word!

“Jiang is my dog.” Gao Jue answered emotionlessly.

He Danggui’s face turned red. She retorted forcibly in embarrassment, “You must be kidding, how could a dog do Five Mimic-animal Boxing?”

Gao Jue was silent for a while with his lips pressed together, then he took her right hand suddenly and pressed on her fair wrist with his rough fingers, feeling her pulse. A moment later, he frowned and asked, “Why is your breath so messy? No... Tell me why there is Zhenqi in your body?”

He Danggui felt a little flurried and tried to pull her hand back, but Gao Jue controlled her channel. With only one gentle tug, her whole arm went numb, like millions of insects and ants had trodden on it.

“It is so hurt. Let me go!” He Danggui was worrying about the disordered Zhenqi in her body, and now she was in a worse mood because he discovered her secret. At last, she couldn’t help shouting at his cold face, “Let me go! Let me go! It’s none of your business. Dose the Zhenqi in my body break the law? Why are you in my yard? Didn’t all of you imperial guards leave?”

Gao Jue said calmly after a pause, “Close your eyes. You can scream if you feel hurt, but don’t try to resist, or you will only feel worse.” Before He Danggui had the time to respond, Gao Jue held her on his shoulder.

When He Danggui realized what happened, she was already hung on Gao Jue’s shoulder, and all she could see was his broad back. “What are you doing? Put me —ah!” Feeling her hip was against something hot tightly, she couldn’t help screaming out loud.

Gao Jue controlled He Danggui’s kicking legs with his left hand, while used his right hand pointing against the coccyx acupoint on her butt, filling into waves of strong Zhenqi forcibly.

Endless energies traveled like lighting in her channels, along with the messy qi in her body. Within only one breath, the waves of qi had circled her whole body more than 10 times and it caused extremely painful feelings to her. Although she was aware that he was helping her control the Zhenqi, how come he assisted her with such embarrassing gesture and the pain?!

Because of the huge pain, she put out the sharpening wooden hairpin and stuck it into Gao Jue’s back.

But the hairpin didn’t cause any wound! Was it because of his Zhenqi?

She refused to believe it and continued to stick him again and again.

Gao Jue’s tiger-like back seemed to feel nothing, as if it was laughing at He Danggui’s over-confidence. Inside her body, the pain was still making her suffer and finally she couldn’t stand it. The hairpin dropped on the ground and her head fell against Gao Jue’s back, spreading her black hair all over his black clothing.

She passed out because of the pain.

※※※

He Danggui opened her eyes and saw Zhen Jing’s apple-like face approaching, with her eyes blinking. Zhen Jing complained, “Xiaoyi, you naughty girl! Please don’t do this ever again!”

“Water…” He Danggui felt there was fire burning inside her throat. She realized her throat suffered some damage after speaking, “Give me some water…”

Zhen Jing served a big bowl of warm water quickly. He Danggui held the bowl with both hands and drank out the water with small sips. Then she returned the bowl and smiled gratefully, “Thanks, another one please.”

Zhen Jing received the empty bowl with her left hand and served a new one with the right hand. Then a long speech began, “My mother once said, ‘If you have a big bowl, you eat a big bowl of food; if you have great strength, you carry heavy rice bags.’ Xiaoyi, you overestimated yourself so much. You know nothing about martial arts, yet you still chose to do some boxing in the yard. You fell down and passed out for that! Look at me! I don’t know anything about martial arts, and I never tried to do it, so I have never tumbled before! If Master Gao didn’t save you when he passed by, you would have become ill because of faint on the ground…”

“...Master Gao?!” He Danggui caught the key words. And her eyes drifted over the edge of the bowl, looking straight at Zhen Jing’s face.

“Well, yeah,” Zhen Jing blinked, “Master Gao is sitting in the yard. The water you drink was prepared by him. He said you would ask for it when you woke up. Xiaoyi, I heard Master Gao said your butt hurt because of a fall. Are you still in pain...?”

“...My butt?!” He Danggui narrowed her eyes angrily, “Is he still in the yard?”

Zhen Jing was confused and nodded, then she saw He Danggui put down the bowl angrily. She tried to get out of bed, but failed to stand up and fell down. Zhen Jing supported her instantly and asked in worries, “What’s wrong with you? Don’t get up in such a condition. If you want to thank Master Gao, I’ll just call him in! Lie down first!”

He Danggui shouted hoarsely to the door, “Gao, come in!”

A dark shadow floated noiselessly by the door.

He Danggui stared at him ruthlessly and asked coldly, “Mind if I ask when I have ever provoked and offended Your Excellency, so you offered me your helping hands to give me a lesson?”

Gao Jue glanced at her slightly and said, “My time is precious. You wasted it again today. Tomorrow you must get up early. If you can’t walk, I can take you there. But if you can’t go tomorrow, I will not help you anymore.”

He Danggui frowned, “...Doing what?”

Gao Jue stared, “How do I know?”

Zhen Jing couldn’t help laughing and this caught their attention. She waved her hands hurriedly, “Don’t look at me. I, I don’t know, either!”

He Danggui took two deep breaths and finally cleared her head a bit. She stared at Gao Jue’s ice-cold face and asked, “Did Master Duan send you here?” Gao Jue nodded and remembered something. There was a slight look of indignation in his face, revealing his reluctance.

He Danggui asked again, “Have Master Duan and others left?” Gao Jue nodded again.

He Danggui also nodded, “Well, then Your Excellency can leave, too. I don’t need your help anymore. Master Gao, I won’t see you off. Have a nice trip.”

Gao Jue repeated, “Tomorrow you get up early, and I will carry you if you can’t walk.” Then he disappeared from the doorway.

Zhen Jing looked at He Danggui with an innocent face, “Xiaoyi, what are you going to do tomorrow?”

He Danggui stared at the door severely for a moment and then lay back on the bed. The pain on her butt and legs made her feel angry unceasingly. After a difficult turn, she finally lay against the wall. She stared at the mottled wall and said, “Sell the coffin.”