Volume One: The Youth Enters the World Chapter Twenty-Five: Restoration

Just as Chen Shikang was still moved by the scene before him, one of his subordinates approached one of the ice sculptures, reaching out to touch it. He was just about to make contact when Chen Shikang caught sight of him.

Seeing his subordinate about to touch the human-shaped ice statue, Chen Shikang immediately shouted to stop him, “Don’t touch that! Get back here!”

Startled by the sudden shout, the man’s hand slipped and brushed against the ice. Frost shot out from the point of contact, rapidly spreading over his entire body. In an instant, he too was frozen into a human-shaped sculpture, not even managing to cry out.

Chen Shikang frowned as he looked at the subordinate who had been turned to ice, and sternly ordered the rest, “Don’t move! Stay where you are!”

The others nodded hastily at his command, having just witnessed what had happened. They obediently stood in place, awaiting further instructions.

Once he saw that none of his people were making any reckless moves, Chen Shikang strode toward the statue that contained Chen Shiqing. Standing before it, he gently placed his hand on the surface. Immediately, frost began to creep up his arm, just as it had with the other man.

The subordinates behind him saw their clan leader touch the statue and called out in alarm, “Clan Leader! Don’t touch it!”

But Chen Shikang paid no heed. He watched as the frost crept up to his shoulder, then suddenly activated his spiritual energy. With a few sharp cracks, the ice shattered from his arm.

He shook off the remaining frost and muttered to himself, “What a formidable martial technique! For most, once touched, the cold would keep spreading. Luckily, much of the spiritual energy has already dissipated. Otherwise, I might not have escaped unscathed.”

As he spoke, the subordinates sighed in relief, seeing their leader shatter the ice with ease. They gathered around him.

One of them suddenly asked, “Clan Leader, what should we do now?”

Chen Shikang considered for a moment before replying, “We’ll wait. Judging by this, we can only wait for the ice to melt on its own.”

He said this because he had noticed droplets of water beginning to form on the surface of the statues, and the energy within was gradually fading. As for why he didn’t simply shatter the ice, he feared that doing so might bring unforeseen consequences. If he were to break the ice and Chen Shiqing lost his life as a result, regret would be all that remained.

The subordinates, hearing his instructions, fell silent and stood by, waiting with Chen Shikang.

Time passed slowly, and the human-shaped ice sculptures gradually began to melt. After several hours, the ice had completely dissolved, revealing the people within. As the support of the ice disappeared, those who had been encased toppled to the ground one after another.

When Chen Shikang saw Chen Shiqing about to collapse, he rushed forward to catch him. Checking the unconscious Chen Shiqing’s pulse, he was relieved to find that he was still breathing.

He realized then that Fang Tian had shown mercy. Moreover, if the Chen clan wished to seek trouble with Fang Tian now, they would have to think twice, lest calamity befall them.

Chen Shikang promptly ordered his men to carry the fallen back as quickly as possible. The subordinates wasted no time, hoisting the injured and heading back without delay.

Walking behind them, Chen Shikang looked up at the sky. The horizon was already turning pale; dawn was near. If they didn’t hurry, being seen on the road would bring disgrace to the Chen clan.

This incident left Chen Shikang in no mood to let Fang Tian off lightly. Especially after today, when so many of the Chen clan’s men had been defeated by a mere youth, his pride was stung.

He pondered repeatedly how to deal with Fang Tian, realizing that the Chen clan alone could not prevail. Other means would have to be found.

With furrowed brow, Chen Shikang thought for a while, but finding no immediate solution, he decided to head home first. He stopped gazing at the sky and followed his men back.

Meanwhile, at the Zhou family residence, Fang Tian had already returned to his own room and entered the space within his sword.

Inside that space, Fang Tian lay bare-chested in a medicinal pool, healing his wounds. Eyes closed, he allowed the medicine to be absorbed by his body, slowly recovering from his injuries.

After some time, he opened his eyes and moved his limbs. His body felt somewhat better, but not yet fully healed—he would need to remain in the sword’s space a while longer.

He hadn’t expected the technique Chen Shiqing used to be so fierce, inflicting such serious wounds upon him.

Thinking he could handle things easily, he hadn’t anticipated nearly suffering a major loss. Ultimately, it had been his own carelessness. With little real combat experience—his only previous fight being when he slew the bandits—he was unfamiliar with the finer points of battle.

Through this fight, he realized the importance of maintaining a steady breath in combat; if his breathing faltered, his attacks weakened, and he couldn’t unleash the full power of his martial skills, leaving openings for the enemy.

He sighed lightly, chagrined that he’d been forced to use a new technique—almost as if he were too weak. Shaking his head, he dismissed thoughts of the earlier battle. What was done was done; dwelling on it was useless. No one was going to show up just to let him practice his moves.

Besides, with his injuries not yet healed, training was out of the question. Forcing himself to train would only worsen his condition—hardly worth it.

However, Fang Tian took comfort in the fact that time flowed more slowly in the sword’s space than in the outside world. Otherwise, he would have had no end of trouble.

For now, he would focus on healing before making further plans.

Pushing aside all other thoughts, Fang Tian resumed tending to his wounds. Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and slowly absorbed the spiritual energy that filled the sword’s space.

Guided by his will, the spiritual energy gathered around him, helping speed his recovery.

Beyond the effects of the medicine, absorbing spiritual energy was also essential to healing, for it was not only a source of strength, but the primary means by which cultivators restored themselves from injury.

Having already soaked in the medicinal pool and recovered somewhat, Fang Tian now needed only to draw in spiritual energy to finish the process.

As time passed, his wounds steadily healed, and the exhaustion that had marked his face gradually faded.

So Fang Tian continued to recuperate within the sword, as unnoticed, the world outside moved on.