Chapter Thirty: The Fall of a Hero
Chapter Thirty: The Fall of a Hero
"How old do you think I am?" Doctor Mo asked stiffly, his facial muscles twitching slightly.
"Judging by your appearance, you look over sixty. But since you're asking, I assume your age doesn't match your appearance. Are you older or much younger?" Eli Mason replied calmly, though he was somewhat puzzled by the question.
"Indeed, as someone who practices 'Changchun Gong', you've become quite perceptive," Doctor Mo remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice. "I'm actually thirty-seven years old."
Eli's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible!"
"Impossible, you say? Anyone who sees me would assume I'm at least seventy. No one would doubt it," Doctor Mo's voice grew sharp and grating, as if Eli had struck a nerve.
"In my youth, I was renowned in the martial world of Lan Province, Yue Kingdom. I carved out my own territory with my bare hands. Back then, who in Lan Province didn't know the name 'Ghost Hand'? Whether in the righteous or the dark world, they either followed me or faced death," Doctor Mo recounted, his eyes gleaming with a sharp, authoritative light, as if he had returned to his days of glory.
Eli was taken aback, not realizing his nominal master had such a formidable past.
"But my fortune was short-lived. Just as I was about to further my ambitions in middle age, I was betrayed by someone close to me. Though I managed to control the injury with my medical skills, I couldn't fully recover, and my martial arts prowess greatly diminished. I had no choice but to leave my territory and family to avoid further assassination attempts. I wandered other parts of the Yue Kingdom, seeking a cure to restore my strength," Doctor Mo continued, his hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms and drawing blood, his face contorted with rage and bitterness.
Hearing the hatred in Doctor Mo's voice, Eli couldn't help but shiver. A cold chill ran through him.
"By sheer luck, I found a mysterious book in an unknown place. It was incredibly complex, and it took me immense effort to understand even a fraction of it. The book contained a method to restore my strength. Following its instructions, I...," Doctor Mo paused, his face showing a mix of frustration and regret.
"And you ended up like this," Eli coldly finished his sentence.
"Correct. Following the book's method did restore my strength, but it also rapidly aged me, turning me into this half-dead, ghostly figure," Doctor Mo admitted, nodding with a bitter smile.
"You must have figured out the reason by now."
"My method was flawed, allowing evil energy to invade my body. Now, each day I live consumes as much energy as ten days for an ordinary person. Every moment, I'm draining my life force. Fortunately, my knowledge of medicine and a special elixir from the book have slowed the aging process, keeping me alive till now."
"What does my cultivation method have to do with your problem?" Eli bluntly asked, getting to the core of the issue.
"After becoming like this, I discovered from the book that the solution was 'Changchun Gong'. I needed someone who had reached the fourth level to help me circulate my energy and stimulate my vitality, allowing me to reclaim my lost life force."
"Why me? Couldn't you find someone else to cultivate this technique?" Eli asked, voicing a long-held question.
"Do you think 'Changchun Gong' can be practiced by just anyone? It requires a young person to start from scratch, and they must possess the 'spiritual root' constitution. Though I don't fully understand what 'spiritual root' is, I tested hundreds of boys before you, and none could cultivate the technique," Doctor Mo explained, clearly frustrated.
"Is that so?" Eli was surprised, not expecting such stringent requirements for the technique.
"In my remaining years, I despaired of ever finding someone who could practice the technique. I roamed the lands, posing as a wandering healer. By chance, I saved the life of the Seven Mysteries Sect's master, who had been ambushed. Out of gratitude, he invited me to become the sect's advisor. I accepted, intending to spend my final days hidden away in the mountains. But fate had other plans. Although I initially intended to teach you and another boy my skills, I had you both try 'Changchun Gong', driven by a faint hope. To my surprise, you succeeded. Truly, heaven doesn't abandon those in dire straits!"
Doctor Mo revealed the long-hidden secrets with a flushed face, clearly pleased with his good fortune.
"I haven't yet reached the fourth level of 'Changchun Gong'. Why reveal everything to me now?" Eli asked the question that weighed most on his mind.
"Blame yourself. Despite my efforts and patience, you've been playing tricks, progressing slowly. I could wait a few more years, but during my recent journey, I was recognized by an old enemy. Though I managed to kill him, it drained me of my remaining energy, drastically shortening my life. At best, I have one year left. How can I afford to wait any longer?" Doctor Mo's pleased expression vanished, replaced by a ferocious glare as he roared at Eli.
Eli remained calm, his face betraying no emotion despite the storm raging inside him. He had long suspected Doctor Mo had ulterior motives, but the depth of the conspiracy and the extent of Doctor Mo's desperation were beyond his imagination.