The Black Fiend Demon Skill manual ran to no more than two thousand characters in total.
The two of them quickly read it through.
Exchanging a glance, they found that the thing was indeed deserving of the name demonic skill.
The method of cultivating internal skill was simple and brutal, yet took an unorthodox approach.
Cultivating this martial art required borrowing a woman's fresh blood in order to draw out the innate primordial yin in her blood.
The most basic requirement for the chosen woman was that she be a virgin.
Better still was being born in a yin year; even better was a yin year and yin month—the highest grade, as far as Zhou Qingmei knew.
To ensure the innate primordial yin was not lost, one could not kill and bleed the victim when cultivating this art.
Instead, while the person was still alive, one had to open a small hole at the Baihui acupoint, press the Laogong acupoint at the center of the palm against the Baihui acupoint, and, according to the demonic skill's secret method, draw the innate primordial yin into the body—from the Hand Jueyin Pericardium meridian into the Qi Sea of the Ren meridian.
Until the woman died and the innate primordial yin completely dissipated.
Afterward, that yin energy had to be transformed into Black Fiend true qi.
From then on, circulate it through the heavenly cycle; once the internal skill had accumulated enough depth, break through the Ren and Du meridians, and the demonic skill would be considered perfected.
The simplicity of this method lay in this: as long as there was enough innate primordial yin, the speed at which internal force accumulated far outpaced anything the internal skills of reputable orthodox sects in the jianghu could achieve.
What's more, Black Fiend true qi was yin-toxic and vicious, ruining one's foundation and damaging one's cultivation—extremely troublesome.
"No wonder the Black Fiend Cult could run rampant for a time back then."
After finishing, Fang Shuwen frowned.
"And there isn't any decent external skill in here either—it was a waste of time."
"Then destroy it."
Zhou Qingmei detested this sort of martial art to the extreme.
Since they couldn't find what Fang Shuwen wanted, she immediately suggested destroying it.
Fang Shuwen didn't hesitate either. He held the manual in his palm, turned his internal breath, and with both hands reduced it to countless fragments filling the sky.
He shook his hand, scattering them outside the tree hollow, where they vanished instantly in the pouring rain.
Seeing this, Zhou Qingmei let out a breath of relief and smiled as she said:
"Actually, if you're looking for external skills, you don't need to look in the Black Fiend Demon Skill."
"I have some right here."
"The martial arts of Zhujige Pavilion can be passed to outsiders?"
Fang Shuwen didn't believe it.
Let alone a major sect like Zhujige Pavilion—even the martial arts of their Four Seas Martial Hall: if someone stole the teachings, their senior brothers would band together to cause trouble for that person.
The best approach was to drag that person into the martial hall and make them an apprentice.
Failing that, they'd get a sound beating, and possibly have the tendons in their hands and feet severed.
It wasn't that the people of Four Seas Martial Hall were ruthless; this was the very foundation of the martial hall. Stealing martial arts was a major taboo in the jianghu. In such a situation, killing the thief outright was only natural.
"Zhujige Pavilion's martial arts naturally can't be passed down, but I've picked up some opportunities while traveling the jianghu."
Zhou Qingmei said:
"Earlier, I once slipped and fell into a mountain cave, where I found a set of palm techniques, profoundly marvelous and extremely impressive."
"My martial arts cultivation lies entirely in the sword. I haven't even fully mastered Zhujige Pavilion's Thousand-Character Swordplay, so naturally I wouldn't devote effort to other martial arts."
"So I've never practiced this set of palm techniques. If you want to learn, I can teach them to you."
"Er..."
Fang Shuwen hesitated a little.
There was no such thing as a free lunch. He could understand some of the reasons Zhou Qingmei had proposed this.
But he always felt that this would make their relationship somewhat complicated.
Originally it was the simplest arrangement of mutual benefit: Zhou Half-the-City paid him to protect her; as long as he protected her well, once the matter was over, they'd collect the reward and part ways, with no further ties.
Although Zhou Qingmei was a rare great beauty, the more beautiful a woman was, the less Fang Shuwen wanted to get involved with her.
After all, women with looks like that always had trouble around them.
And if he received a set of palm techniques from her now—one that even true disciples of Zhujige Pavilion would praise to the skies—it wouldn't be about money anymore; the favor owed would be too great.
If real trouble came up later that he couldn't handle, he'd be too ashamed to run away.
"What are you hesitating about?"
Zhou Qingmei smiled.
"You saved my life twice. Without you, I'd already be dead. A set of palm techniques—what's it worth?"
"You're a grown man; don't be so bashful."
Fang Shuwen didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and nodded.
"Let me make this clear first: what I cherish most in life is my own life."
"Second is money."
"Your father spent money, I protect your safety—everything is natural and proper."
"So even if you don't teach me the palm techniques, I'll continue to protect you."
"Likewise, even if you teach me this set of palm techniques, if we run into danger I can't handle in the future, I'll at most take you and run…I definitely won't risk my life for you."
Zhou Qingmei showed no change in expression upon hearing this, and immediately nodded.
"Exactly right!"
"Life is paramount; what are a few ounces of broken silver, that you should give your life for me?"
"If it's truly beyond your ability, just run. I'll have no complaints at all."
Since things had been put this plainly, Fang Shuwen stopped being bashful and agreed.
But tonight was clearly not appropriate, and the two of them continued examining the remaining loot.
Fang Shuwen had originally planned to split the silver notes fifty-fifty, with each person taking half.
But Zhou Qingmei said:
"We'd best not take these silver notes. This unknown money house—who knows if it has some connection to the Black Fiend Cult?"
"Going to exchange them for silver might be like a sheep entering the tiger's mouth."
Fang Shuwen raised an eyebrow.
"Does that mean the money house itself is a clue?"
"Makes sense."
Zhou Qingmei blinked, nodded repeatedly, and examined the silver notes carefully. The location of the money house was written on them:
"The money house is in Guangning City!"
Fang Shuwen stroked his chin.
"Guangning City has been plagued by a lecher. After you took him down, you offended the Black Fiend Cult."
"The Black Fiend Cult cultivates the Black Fiend Demon Skill, which requires a woman's fresh blood as a guide..."
"The threads of this matter seem quite clear."
"We're mainly facing the Black Fiend Cult now!"
"They're hiding in Guangning City, lying low and cultivating, yet they ran into you, a disciple of Zhujige Pavilion."
"To avoid exposure, that's why they want to silence you!"
Zhou Qingmei thought so too, and immediately smiled as she said:
"This way, as long as we find clues to the Black Fiend Cult from Guangning City, and wait for reinforcements from Zhujige Pavilion to arrive..."
"Perhaps we'll have a chance to wipe out the Black Fiend Cult in one fell swoop!"
"Brother Fang, you used those two characters 'lying low' extremely well!"
"..."
Fang Shuwen gave a dry laugh. Then he wanted to split the silver again, but Zhou Qingmei was rich and generous, thought nothing of it, and gave it all to him.
Finally, there was that letter.
But after opening it, Zhou Qingmei frowned deeply.
There was only one simple sentence on it:
[The Young Cult Master commands: at any cost, execute Zhou Qingmei. If delayed, fear that major complications will arise!]}
Chapter 12