I Can Replicate Martial Arts-Chapter 102 - 64: The Six Desires Charm Immortal Technique
How could water just sink into thin air?
Streams and riverbeds are carved out over countless years, and this was high up on a mountain.
Old Hu took a long grappling hook from his backpack and hurled it with all his might toward the area where the water had vanished.
The hook and its rope sailed in a perfect arc, landing precisely in the spot. The group then watched as the hook was seemingly devoured, sinking slowly into the ground as more and more of the rope was pulled taut after it.
Alarmed, Old Hu quickly tied the end of the rope to a large nearby tree.
In just a moment, the rope was pulled completely taut, so tight they could even hear it humming like a plucked string.
"We can’t cross here! The ground is sinking! It’s too soft, like quicksand."
Old Hu hurriedly took a couple of steps back, then said to Zhao Rui and the others, "A few days ago, dogs from several village households vanished in these woods. I suspect this is how they got trapped."
"Sir, to be honest, a friend of ours also disappeared around here. We came to look for him."
Zhao Rui spoke up.
"You’re here looking for someone?"
"Then there’s no point. The Government Office sent people to search the mountain before, and the villagers had a few of us old hunters go up with them. We found nothing."
After speaking, Old Hu said, "Let’s head back. There’s no one on this mountain. I won’t take your money for nothing."
"Can we just go up and take a look? We’ll still pay you."
Li Xinran pleaded.
"Fine!"
Seeing this, Old Hu turned and started climbing upstream along the creek.
This time, they saw nothing else out of the ordinary on their way up. The group successfully reached the summit of Sunset Peak.
The summit was shrouded in clouds and mist, making it impossible to see their surroundings clearly. Only jagged, strange rocks were arrayed on the peak, like a host of loyal guards protecting the mountaintop scenery.
"Zhang Kui, where did you go?"
"Zhang Kui! Is the Martial Dao really that important?"
Facing the mountain wind, Li Xinran yelled with all her might toward the opposite peak.
The howling wind swallowed her echoing cries.
Hearing Li Xinran’s words, the others fell silent.
How could they not know why Zhang Kui had come up the mountain?
He usually seemed carefree and undisciplined, but deep down, he was actually a very sensitive person.
How could he be content to let his journey on the Martial Dao fail to blossom brilliantly?
Everyone wants to prove themselves.
Unfortunately, fate was not on his side, and now he was nowhere to be found.
Zhao Rui thought of his previous life. ’If someone told me I had a chance to become a world champion, but I had to go find something on a mountain... and finding it might change my entire constitution... would I go or not? Humans are human because they have desires, because they have distracting thoughts. It’s like this mountain wind, this mountain mist—they have desires, too. Why they come and when they leave... though they move without a trace, their arrival and departure are intentional. In this entire world, what is truly free, without want or desire?’
The mountain wind was biting, carrying the dampness of the clouds. Zhao Rui was suddenly struck by an inspiration, as if he had gained some new, inexplicable insight into the Cloud Hand Star-Picking technique.
He quickly sat down cross-legged, focusing on digesting the small epiphany he’d had about the application of his Inner Strength.
The others were stunned to see him suddenly sit down cross-legged. Just as they were about to ask what was wrong, the more experienced Cao Guannan immediately stopped the two girls.
He shook his head and said, "He’s having a moment of enlightenment. Let’s not disturb him."
Hearing this, Li Xinran and Qin Rui looked at each other, shocked that Zhao Rui could have an epiphany at a time like this.
The Martial Dao... it really does come down to fate.
About half an hour later, Zhao Rui opened his eyes, let out a long breath of turbid air, and rose to his feet. He said apologetically, "Sorry about that. I made you all stand in the mountain wind for a while."
"Don’t worry about it. Besides, congratulations are in order. You even gain enlightenment just from climbing a mountain."
Li Xinran’s feelings were complicated.
"Let’s head back. We looked around while you were meditating. There’s nothing here but a bare summit and trees."
Li Xinran said, hesitating for a moment, her voice tinged with disappointment.
"Yeah, let’s go. It’s not good to get back too late."
Zhao Rui agreed, then had Old Hu lead them back down the mountain.
After walking for a good while, they arrived back at the stream. Li Xinran suddenly said, "Do you think... Zhang Kui could have fallen in there?"
Everyone’s expression turned grim.
"It’s not impossible!" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Old Hu froze, then said with a trace of fear, "If you’re not careful and walk over that spot, you really could sink in. And if there’s no one around to save you... you’d be swallowed whole."
"This is bad. I need to tell the village right away. We can’t let anyone else come up the mountain."
With that, Old Hu took out his phone, made a call, and explained the situation, warning the villagers not to go up the mountain anytime soon.
Zhao Rui and the others were silent.
The news had to get out; after all, the lives of nearby mountain residents and tourists were at stake.
But as a consequence, the news of them sneaking into the mountains would surely be exposed as well.
Two hours later, Old Hu was driving the four of them down the mountain in his van.
None of the four were in the mood to talk on the way down.
It wasn’t until they had returned to the hotel, climbed over the wall, and entered the lobby that Zhao Rui finally spoke. "It’s highly likely this will get out. Everyone, be prepared."
"Yeah."
The four of them nodded, their expressions holding a hint of the grim determination of young vigilantes.
Early the next morning, Wang Zhanshan gathered the members of the Martial Arts Team and announced that the Taishan practical training was temporarily canceled.
It was uncertain when it would resume.
Everyone immediately started chattering, asking for the reason.
Wang Zhanshan ignored them, then looked at Zhao Rui’s group of four and said, "You four, come with me."
With apprehensive hearts, the four of them followed him to a private meeting room.
"Well? Did you find him last night?"
Wang Zhanshan looked at them coldly, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces.
