Volume Two: Inheritance of Honor, Silk and Blood Chapter 121: The Great Brightness Temple

Gu Qinghan saw Yang Ning’s eyes tightly shut, his jaws clenched, his face turning pale, his body trembling slightly, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Duan Canghai placed his palm firmly on Yang Ning’s chest, his expression grave. But soon, his face changed drastically, as if he wanted to retract his hand, yet his arm remained frozen in place.

Zhao Wushang couldn’t help but cry out, “Second Brother...!”

Duan Canghai’s body trembled. Suddenly, he leaned back, his palm lifting off Yang Ning’s chest, and he sank to the ground with a thud, exclaiming, “So… so powerful!”

“Canghai, what on earth is going on?” Gu Qinghan asked anxiously.

Duan Canghai’s expression turned serious as he answered, “Madam, the Ren and Chong meridians of the heir apparent are severely damaged.”

“What does that mean? Is it serious?” Gu Qinghan knew little about meridians and felt overwhelmed with worry. “Canghai, quickly send for a doctor.”

Yang Ning was lying on the ground, breathing heavily but already unconscious.

“Madam, calling a doctor won’t help at all,” Duan Canghai said bitterly. “This isn’t an illness the doctors know how to treat.”

“If it comes to that… then say the Dowager Lady is unwell, and summon the Imperial Physician. When the Imperial Physician arrives, then...!” Gu Qinghan suggested hastily.

Duan Canghai shook his head. “It’s useless. Madam, you don’t know—inside the heir’s dantian, there is a vast reserve of vital energy, but this energy isn’t pure. It’s a mixture of several types of qi, and altogether, it far surpasses mine. I tried to suppress it with my own qi, but when I touched him, even my qi was absorbed.”

“Absorbed his qi?” Zhao Wushang exclaimed in shock. “What kind of technique is this?”

“Now is not the time to explain,” Duan Canghai said sternly. “Actually, I noticed the heir’s qi problem last time and have been trying to find a solution. Although his qi is dangerous, it shouldn’t have caused such a critical problem so soon. But… if I’m right, the Ren and Chong meridians have suffered a sudden change, which is causing the abnormality in his dantian.”

“What kind of change?” Gu Qinghan pressed urgently.

“The Ren and Chong meridians are two of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels. The Ren Meridian begins in the womb, intersects with the Foot Yangming Meridian, and passes through the dantian at the sternum. The Chong Meridian is similar and also merges at the dantian. The Ren Meridian is called the Sea of Yin, while the Chong Meridian is the Blood Chamber—both are vital vessels concerning life and death,” Duan Canghai explained solemnly.

Gu Qinghan’s anxiety deepened. “I don’t understand any of this. Just tell me—what will happen to Ning’er?”

“The human body is a balance of yin and yang. Health depends on their harmony. Now, the Ren Meridian is damaged, meaning yin is impaired, and yang is excessive. The heir was already in danger, and with the Blood Chamber damaged as well, it’s even worse,” Duan Canghai said with mounting urgency. “If this can’t be fixed quickly, the heir… the heir…” He dared not continue.

“Just tell me, what will happen?” Gu Qinghan’s voice trembled.

“At best, paralysis and immobility; at worst…” Duan Canghai’s face darkened. “At worst, life-threatening.”

Gu Qinghan’s legs weakened, her delicate body swayed, and she nearly collapsed. Zhao Wushang quickly caught her. “Madam, you must take care of yourself.”

“Why did this happen?” Gu Qinghan sobbed uncontrollably. “What exactly is going on?”

Duan Canghai said, “It’s my negligence. I only knew the heir’s dantian stored a large amount of qi, but… it seems he has suffered an injury beyond that.” After a pause, he added, “I sensed the Ren and Chong meridians are withering, shrinking in size. That means they cannot withstand the flow of qi in the dantian.”

“I understand now!” Gu Qinghan exclaimed. “Ning’er lied to me. He… he was injured!”

Her words were disjointed, and Duan Canghai and Zhao Wushang didn’t immediately grasp her meaning.

Gu Qinghan was unaware that Yang Ning had once been wounded by the Wood Spirit Lord’s Withering Hand. She only assumed that when Yang Ning had led Zhao Yuan’s men away, despite barely escaping with his life, there must have been a struggle. This current injury was likely inflicted by Zhao Yuan’s group. The thought that Yang Ning had been hurt while protecting her filled her with guilt and grief, twisting her heart with worry and remorse.

Zhao Wushang asked gravely, “Second Brother, the heir is in critical condition—what should we do now?”

“The heir’s body must not be touched at all,” Duan Canghai said with a bitter smile. “Even if we wanted to suppress the qi inside him with our own, we can’t. Any contact causes the heir to involuntarily absorb the outside qi!” He clenched his fist. “But his qi is already unstable. Each time he absorbs more, the danger grows.”

Gu Qinghan’s voice cracked with tears. “Then what should we do? You must find a way.” She crouched down and reached to touch Yang Ning’s forehead, which was burning hot.

Duan Canghai was silent for a moment, then looked up solemnly. “Madam, there are many hidden talents in the capital; there may be experts who can help the heir. I have been searching quietly these days. But the capital is vast, and finding the right person is not easy. Time is critical. We can’t keep searching slowly. For now, there is only one place left to go.”

“Where?” Gu Qinghan asked urgently. “As long as it can save Ning’er, we’ll go anywhere.”

Duan Canghai fixed her with a steady gaze, speaking deliberately. “The Great Brightness Temple.”

Zhao Wushang’s body shuddered, and Gu Qinghan was stunned.

“Second Brother, are you really going to the Great… Great Brightness Temple?” Zhao Wushang hesitated, then asked quietly, “Do you know, it’s not easy to enter the Great Brightness Temple.”

Duan Canghai nodded gravely. “I know. But now, to save the heir, going to the Great Brightness Temple is the only way.” He looked at Gu Qinghan. “Madam, do you know that years ago, the late Marquis also once entered the Great Brightness Temple?”

Gu Qinghan nodded faintly. “I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know the details.”

“That time, the Marquis was also on the brink of death,” Duan Canghai said slowly. “The only reason he survived was because of the Great Brightness Temple. In fact, if not for the front-line battles delaying us, the General would have recovered there even from a grave injury.”

“Second Brother, as the heir of the Marquis of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, entering the Great Brightness Temple shouldn’t be a problem,” Zhao Wushang said thoughtfully. “They will do their utmost to save him, but… but…”

“I know what you mean,” Duan Canghai said solemnly. “You mean the temple’s rule.”

Gu Qinghan frowned. “Rule? Canghai, what rule?”

Duan Canghai said, “Madam, you must be familiar with the Great Brightness Temple in Zhongshan.”

“You mean the Great Brightness Temple on Zhongshan Mountain,” Gu Qinghan said. “The mountain peak is always shrouded in purple clouds, also called Zijin Mountain. The Great Brightness Temple is only there.”

Duan Canghai nodded. “The Great Brightness Temple is an ancient royal temple of our Chu dynasty. Royal ceremonies and sacrifices are held there. When His Majesty passed away, monks from the temple were summoned to perform rites.”

He paused, then continued, “The Great Brightness Temple is the foremost temple in Chu. Not everyone is qualified to enter or receive treatment there. Even the Crown Prince must abide by the temple’s rules.”

“What does the temple’s rule have to do with Ning’er?” Gu Qinghan asked.

Duan Canghai sighed. “If they truly treat the heir, he must become a monk and a disciple of the Great Brightness Temple.”

“No!” Gu Qinghan gasped, then cried out, “How can Ning’er become a monk? That’s impossible! The Marquis’s house depends on him. If he becomes a monk, the Marquis will have no heir!”

Duan Canghai nodded. “Madam is right—the heir is the pillar of the Marquis’s house. If he becomes a monk, the family line ends. But this is the temple’s rule—once there, they will try to save him, but if he recovers, he must obey the temple’s discipline. No one in the world can break that rule.”

He forced a bitter smile. “And that’s because of his status. For an ordinary person, they wouldn’t even get this chance.”

Gu Qinghan, usually sharp and clear-headed, now felt helpless. “Is there no other way?”

Duan Canghai glanced at the unconscious Yang Ning and shook his head. “The heir’s condition cannot be delayed. If we send him to the temple now, it might still be in time. Any longer, and…” He left the sentence unfinished.

“But… you said the late Marquis also went to the Great Brightness Temple,” Gu Qinghan said, her eyes brightening. “Didn’t that rule exist back then?”

Duan Canghai answered, “Since the temple was founded, that rule has stood.”

“But why did the Marquis…?” Gu Qinghan asked.

Duan Canghai explained, “The rule is unbreakable—anyone saved by the temple must become a disciple. However, the temple allows for a substitute to take the monastic vows in one’s place.”

Gu Qinghan’s face softened with relief. “Why didn’t you say that before? Finding someone to substitute can’t be impossible.”

“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be so worried,” Duan Canghai said. “Zhao Wushang and I could substitute for the heir. But in reality, in today’s world, only one person can substitute for him. No one else.”

Gu Qinghan was sharp, and seeing Duan Canghai’s grave expression, she guessed. “Who do you mean?”

“Young Master Qi Yu,” Duan Canghai said slowly and clearly. “Only the heir’s one and only blood brother is qualified to substitute for him.”