C5 Thousand Silk Becomes One

Rupert directed the group, "Daniel, help Esmeralda stand up. Position yourself in front of her and shield her abdomen. I'm going to strike with my fist, and if I exert too much force, she could get hurt. You'll need to protect her..."

Daniel understood that Rupert was about to unleash a powerful force, akin to the legendary blow that could punch through mountains and strike a bull from afar. If someone were to block it, only the residual force would pass through, potentially saving the person behind. Daniel protested, "No! I should be the one to endure this pain. How could I let you take this on, Rupert? No, absolutely not! If you truly consider me a brother, don't let me suffer any further injuries."

Having said that, Daniel promptly positioned himself in front of Esmeralda, ready to absorb the impact. He braced himself, knowing full well that without the proper technique, the blow could draw blood. "Zach, make sure you support her well and keep an eye out for what she might vomit. Stand firm and protect her abdomen. Are your hands and feet steady?"

Rupert then gathered his strength, keeping everyone on their toes. They watched as he assumed a stance, with his feet set apart and his arms extended, his fingers curling into tight fists. Rupert seemed both frenzied and as if he were reciting an incantation, murmuring, "From a thousand strands comes a singular force; from nine revolutions, a single breath emerges."

An invisible surge of energy struck Daniel in the abdomen and then reached Esmeralda. Daniel, withstanding the force of the punch that weighed as much as a hundred kilograms, didn't utter a sound. All that could be heard was the noise of retching, yet nothing came out. "Zach, is she vomiting anything?"

"There's nothing..." Zach quickly replied, shaking his head with concern.

"Can you withstand another blow, Daniel? If the force isn't right, it could damage your internal organs. I'll have to apply my strength carefully to avoid injuring you..."

"No problem. Enough with the fuss, brother. Are you worried I might outlast you? Your punches feel as weak as a mosquito bite; they seem to lack force." Daniel was acutely aware that Rupert's strength was overwhelming and that he was nearing his limit. Yet, for the sake of saving his wife, he was prepared to exert every ounce of his own strength.

Rupert chuckled and rose to his feet once more, reciting an incantation, "One Thousand Threads Transform into One Strength, Six Paths Become One Line." The force was immense, surpassing the previous surge in both brevity and intensity. Daniel's chest roiled with tumultuous blood and Qi, and upon hearing Esmeralda spit out a mixture of white froth and black liquid, his concern deepened.

Zach exclaimed with urgency, "There it is, the white foam along with some black saliva. Could it be that..."

"Indeed, the ancient method of our Ancestor still holds some efficacy. Yet, we must press on with greater effort..."

"You might as well beat me to a pulp, otherwise you're underestimating me. Brother, have we not shared unspoken words?" Rupert responded by tightening his grip on his fist and pulling back, readying himself for the next move. "Stand firm, my good brother. Whether we save your wife or not, it's all in the hands of fate now."

Rupert positioned himself in a bow stance, mindful of the power he wielded. A misjudged strike could be fatal. Nonetheless, he continued his chant, "One Thousand Threads Become One Qi, Three Unite in a Single Moment." Daniel's abdominal pain was so severe that he passed out, leaving Zach at a loss as to whom he should tend to first.

Following the ordeal, they heard Esmeralda vomiting blood that contained traces of a dissolved pill. "She's expelled blood and there's pill residue. Do we need to continue?"

Rupert, feeling a touch of satisfaction, replied, "Is that so? If that's enough, then let's proceed." He retrieved a jar from his pack and poured out a black pill. "Zach, fetch a glass of water, crush the pill into it, and let the lady sip it slowly."

Zach followed the instructions, and as Mr. Cook lay unconscious, Rupert advised, "Leave him be for now. He's merely fainted and will come to after some rest. First, let's assist the lady into a seated meditation posture..." With expert fingers, Rupert unblocked Esmeralda's acupoints and emitted a gentle aura to aid in clearing her meridians.

Several people were now seated atop the racing carriages! Esmeralda gradually came to her senses, jostled by the carriage's motion. Seeing her husband and her people, she was puzzled, only remembering that she had taken poison in an attempt at suicide. "What's happened? I thought I was a goner. How am I still here?"

Daniel sat at the front, unable to contain his laughter upon realizing his wife was awake. "Haha, Rupert really is something... I had thought he was only slightly more advanced in martial arts than me, but who knew he had that powerful move up his sleeve? He was adamant about saving you because he didn't want his sister-in-law to come to any harm."

As it happened, when Daniel regained consciousness, he saw Rupert using his internal strength to help Esmeralda regain her vitality. Daniel felt a profound sense of guilt, yet he remained concerned for his wife's safety. Every martial artist understands that one must not be distracted while channeling internal strength, for fear of losing control and succumbing to madness. After fifteen minutes had passed...

Rupert, with a smile, reassured, "You're out of danger now. I've expelled the poison. Your sister-in-law is safe, but you must continue to take your medicine on time. The injury isn't critical, but the residual poison must be gradually healed. However, we need to convince Xavier that his sister-in-law has passed away. We'll have to burn the body, too, to prevent him from relentlessly pursuing her with his sinister intentions..." Daniel nodded in agreement.

"Great! I'll handle everything, so you won't have to feel guilty or hesitate in your actions. Erik has already brought back a body to dress in your wife's clothes, and the coroner has issued a certificate. They're likely burning the body in the backyard to ensure nothing is left. Now, you must quickly hand over your seal and command baton to your lieutenant, Peyton. Also, your brother asked me to give you the appointment letter for the coastal county position. Once you receive it, you should head to Egeswood with your family under the cover of night. I'll take care of the rest with Peyton's help..."

Daniel quickly gathered some personal items. Before departing, he turned to Rupert and said, "Brother, I'm in your debt. How can I ever repay you? Otherwise, I'll be plagued by guilt for a lifetime..."

Rupert simply whispered in Daniel's ear, "Your grandmother's bear!"

Daniel was initially puzzled—was Rupert cursing? But after a moment, both men exchanged bewildered glances and then burst into hearty laughter. Rupert gave the horse a firm pat, urging it forward.

"Brother, until we meet again..." Daniel said, waving his hand goodbye.

Esmeralda clutched Daniel's hand tightly, a mix of tension and relief in her voice. "Master, what's happening? If I didn't take my own life, why am I still here?"