Old friends met, and they gave each other a big hug.
After a long time, Lao Hu looked over Xu Lang, concerned, "You little rascal, how did you end up here? And you look so ragged! You know, when you ran away from home, leaving only a letter, you made Old Branch Secretary and the others crazy with worry. They kept scolding you, calling you a heartless little rascal!"
Xu Lang remained silent for a moment, then asked, "I've been here for two years. A few days ago, I went to explore Karami. I was attacked by wolves on my way back, and if it weren't for Brother Chu Yi's gun, I would never have seen you."
“I wrote to Old Branch Secretary and Yan Zi Jie before. Are they doing alright? How come you're a soldier now? Are you here on a mission?”
“Tell me everything that happened in the last two years, the more detailed the better. I have all the time in the world now.”
Lao Hu sighed softly, "You're still so restless. This time, it was a mission gone wrong. I can't tell you the specifics. We have confidentiality rules. I went home to see my family at the end of the year you left, then joined the army. I haven't been back since.”
“Before I left, Old Branch Secretary and the others were doing well. Actually, not long after you left, Fatso and I went to the grasslands. A lot happened there. We almost didn't make it back.”
“We went to Baiyan Grotto. The Japanese Imperial Water Supply Unit used to be stationed there. We saw so many strange things, encountered so many strange things. Don't even ask, I'm afraid you'll be tempted to sneak off to the grasslands.”
“While I was gone, take care of Gema's family. Forget it, you're just a little kid. First, take care of yourself.”
Lao Hu seemed unwilling to talk much about Baiyan Grotto, so Xu Lang didn't ask further.
The two of them chatted about everything under the sun. Gema was paralyzed due to the injury, and it was uncertain whether she would ever recover.
Before long, Lao Hu left. He had to return to his unit.
The unit Lao Hu belonged to was stationed near Kunlun Mountain, but he didn't say the exact location. Naturally, Xu Lang didn't ask too much.
However, before leaving, Lao Hu repeatedly warned him not to go to Kunlun Mountain. There are very scary bugs there that can instantly incinerate people to ash.
If Xu Lang was right, the bugs Lao Hu was talking about were the legendary Dap Ghost Worms!
This was Xu Lang's first time seeing Gema in the two years he had been in Gazebuqing. Her delicate face was pale, and she wore two long black braids. She was about twenty years old.
Seeing the unfamiliar Xu Lang, Gema smiled and greeted him.
Looking at the strong girl in front of him, Xu Lang couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. A young girl in the prime of her youth might never walk again.
Suddenly, the memories buried deep in Xu Lang's heart resurfaced.
In his previous life, when Xu Lang was young, a once-in-a-century earthquake led to many people like Gema.
It was precisely because of this that Xu Lang decided to join the army after graduating from college. However, on the eve of his enlistment, he inexplicably found himself in this world. His dream of becoming a soldier was unattainable, but in his previous life, it was the Chinese soldiers who gave him a second chance at life.
Coming back to his senses, Xu Lang immediately decided he had to do something, even if he couldn't make Gema walk again.
It was one thing to be unable to do it, but whether he did it or not was another. At least he had to try.
As for whether it was worth it, or if it would expose him, he had his own plans.
In life, there are things worth doing and things not worth doing.
In his previous life, when he was desperate and facing death, the Chinese soldiers risked their lives to save him. They didn't think about whether it was worth it.
With this thought, Xu Lang said, "Thanks to Brother Chu Yi for taking care of me these two years. I didn't expect to meet Lao Hu here. Actually, the place Lao Hu went to as a young intellectual before joining the army was in our village."
Chu Yi sighed, "It's good that you're back safe. Don't go there easily in the future. Since you can kill a dozen wolves, that means you're qualified to join the Wolf-Hunting Team. Are you interested in joining?"
Obviously, Chu Yi had heard some of the conversation between Xu Lang and Lao Hu, because they were talking at the entrance of his tent, and they weren't trying to hide it. It would be strange if Chu Yi hadn't heard anything.
Xu Lang thought for a moment. Joining the Wolf-Hunting Team wasn't bad. It would at least provide him with extra income. But doing so would definitely delay his cultivation.
However, the Wolf-Hunting Team was very free and didn't require a fixed schedule. It was just an occasional trip. Having extra income was a good thing after all. Chu Yi's suggestion was definitely a good thing for him.
Xu Lang smiled, "Then I'll leave it to Brother Chu Yi to take care of me in the future. But you have to make more yak beef for me in the future. Your yak beef is so delicious. And teach me how to practice cold weapons."
Hearing Xu Lang's words, both Chu Yi and Gema laughed.
Chu Yi laughed, "No problem, I'll treat you to the best yak beef and the best Qingke liquor. And teaching you cold weapons is only right. We'll hunt wolves together in the future, and we might need close combat.”
After a while, Xu Lang tried to make his voice serious and said, “Brother Chu Yi, I know Gema Sister's condition is difficult to recover. I've been practicing my family's qigong, and it might help Gema Sister. But I hope you can keep it a secret, don't tell anyone, okay?”
Although Chu Yi had some doubts about Xu Lang's request, he agreed. There was no harm in trying.
Hearing Chu Yi's assurance, Xu Lang didn't hesitate any longer. He walked to Gema's bedside and gently took her slightly rough hand, a wisp of spiritual energy slowly flowing into her body.
After the experience of treating Huamei last time, this time was significantly easier.
Gema was still a little skeptical. There were many rumors about qigong, but no one had actually experienced it.
At this moment, Gema only felt a cold and icy energy flowing through her body. Her whole body felt relaxed. She had never experienced this kind of comfort, and even her spirits were lifted. Her pale cheeks gradually became rosy.
Until the cold and icy energy left her body, Gema, feeling a lingering sense of satisfaction, happily said, “Brother, it really works. I feel so relaxed. It's like a cool and icy sensation..."
Xu Lang nodded gently, "I don't know if I can cure you, after all, I'm not a doctor. I can only use qigong to nourish your body. As for whether I can make you walk again, or how long it will take, I can't say for sure.”
Despite this, for Gema's family, it was already a huge piece of good news. After all, this was their last hope.
Time flew by like a white horse passing through a gap.
In a blink of an eye, seven years had passed.
Over the past seven years, Lao Hu had only come twice, once without even seeing Xu Lang. However, he hadn't come to Gazebuqing in the past few years. Perhaps he was on a mission somewhere else.
Lao Hu was very happy to see that Gema's condition had improved.
Over the past seven years, Xu Lang had treated Gema every half a month. Three years ago, Gema was finally able to stand up and walk.
Over the years, Xu Lang had also gained a lot from treating Gema. For example, he had gained experience in the precise control and operation of spiritual energy.
Chu Yi had a child, named Ram. The little guy was adorable, and they were a happy family.
Although Gema was cured, her body had been nourished by Xu Lang's spiritual energy, so it was very good. But her leg strength was still weaker than that of ordinary people. There was nothing Xu Lang could do about this. He had already done his best.
This also made Xu Lang realize that spiritual energy was not omnipotent. It also had many limitations.
Since joining the Wolf-Hunting Team, Xu Lang's life was very fulfilling. His skills had already surpassed Chu Yi's, and his marksmanship was excellent. Every day, he would eat at Chu Yi and the brothers of the Wolf-Hunting Team's houses, giving him more time to cultivate.
At this moment, even if Xu Lang was to fight a small pack of wolves in close combat, he was confident he could kill them all.
In the early 1980s, Xu Lang finally completed the first three layers of the Qing Yuan Sword Art.
Unfortunately, Xu Lang couldn't refine magical artifacts. He didn't have the right materials, nor did he have any refining experience or refining flames. At the very least, he would need the spirit flame generated at the Foundation Establishment stage. To imitate magical artifacts, it would require the method used to refine magical treasures at the Golden Core stage.
The dream of sword-flying that Xu Lang had always yearned for seemed far out of reach for him.
Of course, at the Golden Core stage, one could fly without needing any external force, but that was even further away.
If Xu Lang had the formula to refine pills, why would it take so long to cure Gema? He could only use the Qing Yuan Sword Aura among the many methods of cultivators.
The sword aura summoned by hand, after ten years of continuous practice, he could finally do it.
If he could break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Xu Lang would be able to summon flames at will. By then, the basic spells of the Qi Refinement stage would naturally become less important.