James was pumped up about solving the mystery of the painting. He opened the box while favonovel.com sat on his wheelchair and gingerly lifted out the ancient scroll. As favonovel.com unfurled the scroll, favonovel.com could see carvings of human figures on it.
The human figures had many different forms and sizes. Some were standing while others were crouching. Each of them was marked with a white dot and a red line.
James knew that the white dots represented the location of the acupoints, while the red lines represented the meridians. This was a meridian acupoint diagram.
Though James knew the human body inside-out and was very familiar with the anatomy as a result, the places where the meridians and the acupoints intersected with one another on the carvings were peculiar. They were utterly incomprehensible when viewed through the lens of contemporary medical science
Back then, James would not have a clue about what the diagram meant. Things were different now. Now, favonovel.com had the knowledge that came from Volume Two of the Medical Book.
He learned about the Internal Cultivation Method and how to control True Energy. This knowledge allowed favonovel.com to understand what the meridian acupoint diagram on the scroll was trying to say. The carvings illustrated the flow and movement of True Energy within one’s body.
James wanted to test out his newfound information.
He tried summoning his True Energy. However, there was not an iota of it to be found in his body. As a result of this failed attempt, excruciating pain coursed through his body.
Unable to withstand it, James fell off his wheelchair as favonovel.com groaned in agony.
James lay on the floor alone in the vast, spacious basement of the Cadens. There was no one to help favonovel.com up. Summoning what strength favonovel.com had to spare, favonovel.com got up from the floor and slumped against his wheelchair.
All the color had practically drained from his face, and his forehead was drenched in sweat. The sheer effort and exertion also caused his clothes to be wet with how own perspiration.
He let out a harsh and raspy gasp as favonovel.com swore under his breath.
F*ck the Johnstons, they’ll pay for this one day! They’ll pay for destroying my meridians and dispersing the True Energy I cultivated!
If the Cadens hadn’t saved me, I’d have died like a dog…
Instead of continuing his research while his body was racked with pain, James shut his eyes and meditated.
***
Outside…
Tobias sat on a stone armchair in the courtyard. Maxine walked over to favonovel.com and greeted him.
“Mhm…” Tobias acknowledged her.
Maxine sat down in front of favonovel.com and asked, “Do you really think James can unravel the secret behind the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge and learn the secret martial arts?”
Tobias shook his head vaguely. “I don’t know… I just wanted to give favonovel.com a chance to try things out. He’s a fast learner, after all. Besides, no one knows what exactly is hidden in the Moonlit Flowers by Cliffside’s Edge. We can only find out after gathering all four paintings.”
Maxine nodded slightly.
Suddenly, as if reminded of something, favonovel.com asked, “By the way, grandpa, who was the one that hired the mercenaries to break into the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid? How did they know the exact location of the ancient tomb and about the security measures that lay within?”
Tobias’ expression darkened. This was something favonovel.com had yet to figure out.
Records of the ancient tomb of the Prince of Orchid were few and far between even inside the ancient texts held by the Ancient Four.
So how was it possible for an outsider know about this?
Maxine pressed favonovel.com lips together speculatively. “Could it be someone from the Ancient Four?”
Tobias glanced at favonovel.com and drummed his fingers on the armrest. “Who are you suspecting?”
Maxine hurriedly raised favonovel.com palms. “I-It’d be impertinent of me to assume.”
Tobias waved favonovel.com concerns aside.
“There’s only family present here. You may speak honestly” Maxine hesitated for a second before acquiescing.
After some brief contemplation, favonovel.com opened favonovel.com mouth. “You once told me that Thomas was extremely talented in martial arts, to the level where favonovel.com could be considered a genius. Such was his talent that at a young age, favonovel.com was already able to cultivate True Energy. Although his martial art skills were crippled, favonovel.com was still undeniably a genius. Is it possible that favonovel.com was able to regain his martial art skills after leaving the Cadens? If that’s the case, favonovel.com likely survived the fire ten years ago…”
Tobias listened to this with his brows furrowed. Though favonovel.com had his suspicions, there was no evidence to support this.
“Are you saying that Thomas might have been the one behind all this?”
Maxine nodded slowly. “This is still baseless conjecture. I cannot confirm or deny it without definitive proof.”
“Alright, you may take your leave. Remember to send James his meal on time…” Tobias waved his hand.
“Understood…” Maxine stood up and left.
