Chapter 207: Recollections

"Song Tianxing?"

Yang Chen, who had just removed his hand from Yunmiao's back, was utterly confused upon hearing Abbess Yunmiao's emotionally charged question.

"Don't pretend you don't know anything! The internal energy you used to heal me just now is clearly from our Shushan Sect's Wangnian Derivative Scripture. Aside from Song Tianxing, there is no other successor of this internal energy! You used the authentic derivative energy, so how could you not be connected to Song Tianxing?! Tell me! Where is that scoundrel Song Tianxing now?!" Abbess Yunmiao rapidly fired off a series of questions, leaving everyone around her stunned.

Yang Chen frowned slightly. He gradually understood what Abbess Yunmiao was referring to, but this realization only brought more confusion.

Huilin blinked curiously and asked, "Master, are you talking about Uncle Song Tianxing?"

"That's right," Abbess Yunmiao said, her gaze fixed on Yang Chen. "I wondered why I felt such an intense aversion when I first saw him. It turns out that he has cultivated the internal energy from the Wangnian Derivative Scripture. That energy... how could I ever forget it?"

Yang Chen thought for a moment and said, "Abbess, whether you believe me or not, I genuinely did not know this skill was called the Wangnian Derivative Scripture. I didn't know it originated from Shushan, but I think I can tell you some things you might want to know about the person you mentioned, Song Tianxing."

Abbess Yunmiao's eyes glistened with tears, "Really? Then please, tell me quickly!"

Yang Chen glanced around and said to Tianlong, Leaf, and the others, "Everyone, please leave for a bit. The conversation that follows contains matters that are not suitable for public discussion."

"Come on, what's the big deal? We're curious too," Tianlong said nonchalantly.

"Tianlong, get out!"

Abbess Yunmiao's cold glare swept across the group. Even the thick-skinned Tianlong could only mutter a few words before leaving Panlong Courtyard with the others.

In the main hall, only Yang Chen, Abbess Yunmiao, and Huilin remained.

"You can speak now," Abbess Yunmiao said, her face full of eagerness and anticipation.

Yang Chen nodded, gathered his thoughts, and began, "This story starts with the Zero organization. Abbess, I assume you're familiar with Zero."

Abbess Yunmiao frowned, "Zero? Of course, I know it. It was once the world's top assassination organization. However, I heard it was later eradicated by you alone. I didn't believe it before, but after seeing you in action earlier, I believe you have that kind of strength. Your combat skills have surpassed what humans can achieve."

Yang Chen smiled bitterly, "What many people don't know is that I used to work for Zero. In fact, from the earliest memories I have, I grew up in Zero."

"What?!" Yun Miao asked in confusion, "But why?"

"This, Reverend, is not something you need to ask about. But I can tell you, the person you're looking for, Song Tianxing, is also in zero. When I was about eight years old, I happened to meet him in the organization. I didn't know his name back then, but he was probably an important figure within the organization. I remember, he was just curious when a child of the Yanxia lineage appeared in the organization, and then he wanted me to learn a martial art with him, which is the 'Derivation Scripture' that Reverend mentioned. At the time, I didn't know what it was, but every time after training, as long as I practiced according to his method, my body could recover quickly."

At this point, Yang Chen's eyes revealed a hint of nostalgia, as if that sloppy middle-aged man from years ago was still in front of him, laughing foolishly with a bottle of wine in his hand.

"Later, when I was ten years old, I underwent an experiment with many children from other countries. All the other children died, only I survived. It was then that I realized that the martial art was definitely not just about speeding up my body's recovery. I have always been grateful to that man until now. It wasn't until today that I learned his name, Song Tianxing, which is somewhat ironic."

Reverend Yun Miao forced a smile and said, "The Derivation Scripture was created by a talented but formerly evil and bloodthirsty figure among the predecessors of Mount Shu. After he corrected his ways, he created this miraculous technique. It not only allows the body to constantly transform and recover rapidly after injury, but more importantly, it does not produce inner demons. By borrowing the natural laws of the universe to derive all things, it allows one to naturally increase their power in daily life. However, because it is extremely obscure and difficult to understand, and also requires a fortuitous chance, out of a thousand people, perhaps only one can successfully cultivate it. Brother Song must have seen the potential in your aptitude and passed it on to you. Otherwise, this martial art would truly have been lost."

"So that's how it is," Yang Chen realized, no wonder he could suppress his own ferocity with this inner skill. He wondered whether Song Tianxing had calculated this beforehand or if it was an unintentional act, but either way, the martial art he taught him was just right to help him through difficult times and even allow him to find a way to escape from the killings and bloodshed.

"Oh, your inner energy is indeed vigorous. At what level have you cultivated it to?" Reverend Yun Miao asked with concern.

"The eighth level, but that was five years ago. So far, I haven't been able to touch the threshold of the ninth level no matter what I try," Yang Chen said helplessly.

"What?! The eighth level?!" Reverend Yun Miao looked at Yang Chen as if he were a monster, "There are only nine levels in total. Even Brother Song, who only cultivated to the seventh level, has never been able to break through. You, you've reached the eighth level at such a young age?! No wonder you consumed so much true energy to heal me just now, yet you seem fine."

Yang Chen chuckled, "I have no choice. If I don't progress quickly in cultivation, I'll have big trouble."

If it weren't for the rapid progress brought by this martial art, reaching the eighth level at such a young age, even if Jian's medicine were effective, Yang Chen would not have been able to control the turmoil within his brain in time.

Reverend Yun Miao pondered for a moment, hesitating before asking, "So where is Brother Song now?"

"He's no longer in this world," Yang Chen said regretfully, "When I was nine years old, just after learning the complete set of mental techniques, he poisoned himself."

"What?!"

Yun Miao Reverend's legs went weak, almost collapsing to the ground if not for Huilin hastily supporting her, barely keeping her standing.

"Brother, until the end, you're unwilling to forgive me? You won't even see us one last time?" Yun Miao Reverend painfully opened her mouth, tears streaming down her face, crying helplessly.

Seeing Yun Miao Reverend crying so sorrowfully, Yang Chen felt it inappropriate to say more. He sighed and walked out of the Panlong Hall.

Unexpectedly, this incident in Zang District also unraveled the mystery in his heart. The man who taught him this extraordinary skill turned out to be someone from Mount Shu, and since Yun Miao Reverend was an elder of the Flame Tribe, then Song Tianxing, as her senior brother, must also be a remarkable figure in the Flame Tribe.

However, why would Song Tianxing go abroad, and even become such a formidable assassin in zero?

With a series of questions, Yang Chen didn't feel comfortable asking the tearful Yun Miao Reverend. He could only wait until she felt better before probing further.

Waiting outside the hall, Tianlong and others saw Yang Chen come out, not asking much about what was discussed inside, but showing grateful smiles at Yang Chen. After all, their lives were saved by Yang Chen regardless of past grievances.

"Big Brother Yang," Yezi had been pondering questions all along and finally had the chance to ask, "Why did Sister Mo and Aunt Ma suddenly detoxify? Weren't they both unconscious?"

Yang Chen chuckled, "Let's consider that my little secret. Anyway, after I took them back upstairs, they were already detoxified."

That day, after Yang Chen carried Mo Qianni and Ma Guifang into the room, he used his blood to detoxify them and left a note, saying he had to run an errand and not to worry.

Although it was a trivial matter for Yang Chen, he didn't want everyone to know about his blood's detoxifying ability. If they knew he was immune to toxins, they would be cautious, and Yang Chen didn't want too many cards revealed. While he wasn't afraid of toxins, they might not hesitate to experiment on him if they felt uneasy. The people around him were still not safe.

"Stingy," Yezi grumbled.

Tianlong stepped forward with a smile, "Um, that, do you still have the spherical object you had just now? Is it something from Venus? Let me take a look."

Yang Chen shook his head, shrugging, "Gone. The main god protective talisman dissipates after one use."

"That's bizarre," Tianlong said unhappily.

Beside them, Kuang Feng nudged Tianlong and said, "Tianlong, didn't you say you wanted to spar with Yang Chen? Giving up now?"

Tianlong's face turned red, he coughed twice, glanced at his wrist, "Um, it's getting late, I'll go back to the camp to pack up." With that, he scampered away.

"This guy, what's the point of wearing a watch if you don't even check the time!" Kuang Feng grumbled.

As everyone was chatting and laughing relaxedly, the communicator of Hai Xiao restored communication and received a signal.

"Got it, we'll head back immediately!"

Hai Xiao listened, then said to everyone, "The General has arrived at the camp, let's hurry back."

At the mention of the "General," everyone's spirits lifted, and they all sprinted towards the camp in unison.

Yezi, seeing Yang Chen not moving, hurriedly grabbed his hand. "Big Brother Yang, come on, the General is here! You're the hero of this mission; you'll definitely get rewarded by the General!"

"Who's the General?" Yang Chen asked.

"Of course, it's the leader of our Flame Tribe. The General is a hero of our country, and all the Eight Divisions and Dragon Team follow the General's orders!" Yezi said proudly.

Yang Chen chuckled, "Well, he might be your leader, but he's not mine. Strictly speaking, I might be a thorn in his side."

Yezi paused, then remembered that Yang Chen wasn't originally from the Flame Tribe. She released his hand with regret and said, "Oh, then I'll go first."

As Yezi had just left, Hui Lin, a novice nun, supported the pale-faced Yun Miao Reverend out of the Panlong Monastery's gate. Yun Miao Reverend, who had looked no more than fifty, suddenly seemed to have aged ten years, with deeper wrinkles on her face.

Seeing Yang Chen standing outside the gate, Yun Miao unexpectedly smiled, "Let's go. Even if you're not part of the Flame Tribe, you still need to meet that person."

Yang Chen didn't understand why Yun Miao Reverend said this, but he nodded. At the very least, he needed to catch a plane back to Mo Qianni's hometown.