Chapter 43: Ability Limitations
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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On the training ground, Lin Xiu looked at Wang Wei and asked, “Challenge what?”
Wang Wei retorted angrily, “A fight! If I win, you stay away from Miss Ning’er. If you win, I’ll never go near her again.”
The Mystic Arts Academy was filled with spirited young people. Friction was inevitable. Although fighting was prohibited, sparring wasn’t. A fair fight, a display of manly prowess, settled matters cleanly, with the loser conceding and the winner’s victory clear.
Xue Ning’er had noticed the commotion. She rushed over, looking at Wang Wei disapprovingly. “Wang Wei, what are you doing?!”
Then, she turned to Lin Xiu. “Young Master Lin, don’t agree!”
Though she enjoyed having men compete for her attention, this was different. Lin Xiu was her key to defeating Zhao Lingjun. If he lost and stayed away, her plan would fail before it even began.
She wouldn’t allow that to happen.
While Xue Ning’er’s plan hit a snag, Lin Xiu’s was proceeding as expected. How could he let the spatial ability slip away?
Meeting Wang Wei’s gaze, he nodded. “I accept your challenge.”
Xue Ning’er panicked, stepping in front of Lin Xiu, arms outstretched. “No, I don’t agree!”
Lin Xiu smiled at her. “Miss Ning’er, this is a fight between men. Please don’t interfere.”
Xue Ning’er knew this was about a man’s pride. The fight was inevitable.
She could only step aside, hoping Lin Xiu would win.
Even though the odds were slim.
If it were a contest of mystic abilities, the outcome might be uncertain. But Wang Wei had cultivated True Qi. In a physical fight, how could Lin Xiu possibly win?
Instructor Sun arrived.
He didn’t stop them. Instead, he crossed his arms, observing, a spectator to the unfolding drama.
He came from the military, where sparring was commonplace. There was no conflict that a good fight couldn’t resolve. If one wasn’t enough, then another.
Wang Wei had cultivated True Qi, but only a sliver. With him watching, nothing serious would happen.
Seeing Instructor Sun’s inaction, Wang Wei was reassured. He picked two wooden swords from the rack, kept one, and tossed the other to Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu hefted the wooden sword. It was surprisingly heavy, whatever wood it was made of.
“Watch out!”
Wang Wei gripped the hilt with both hands, swinging down at Lin Xiu’s head.
Instructor Sun frowned. Even a wooden sword, with that much force, could cause serious injury, especially with Wang Wei using True Qi. The young man was reckless.
He stood ready to intervene.
As Wang Wei swung, Lin Xiu also gripped his sword. He didn’t block, but swung back.
Crack!
The two wooden swords collided, a sharp sound echoing.
Snap!
One of the swords broke.
It was Wang Wei’s. Lin Xiu’s sword, momentum slightly checked, still arced through the air, striking Wang Wei on the forehead.
Wang Wei felt a sharp impact, his vision blacking out as he crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
It happened so fast. No one expected this outcome.
Victory decided in a single move.
Lin Xiu, holding the wooden sword, looked genuinely surprised. “His sword…seemed a bit flimsy…” he said innocently.
Now wasn’t the time to discuss the quality of wooden swords. Instructor Sun rushed forward, checking Wang Wei’s breathing, then sighed in relief. “He’s just fainted. Quickly, get the Academy physician…”
Lin Xiu immediately squatted down, hoisting Wang Wei onto his back. “My fault,” he said apologetically. “I’ll take him to the Imperial Hospital. I know the physicians there…”
With that, he ran towards the Academy gates, Wang Wei on his back.
Seeing his responsible attitude, Instructor Sun didn’t say anything further.
Within the Academy, Lin Xiu moved swiftly. Once outside the gates, he slowed down.
The Imperial Hospital was five minutes away at most, but he needed fifteen to copy Wang Wei’s ability. He intended to drag out the journey.
Challenging him, Wang Wei had practically asked for humiliation.
He might lack True Qi, but he had strength.
Overwhelming strength rendered a sliver of True Qi insignificant.
Carrying Wang Wei, Lin Xiu strolled slowly, continuously copying the power within him. Suddenly, he felt a stir from the person on his back.
He couldn’t wake up yet. He still needed time.
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Without hesitation, Lin Xiu chopped the back of his hand against Wang Wei’s neck.
The figure on his back went still again.
Fifteen minutes later, Lin Xiu finally reached the Imperial Hospital.
To his surprise, copying Wang Wei’s ability had only taken fifteen minutes, half the time it took for Sun Dali and Hai Tang. The difference was that he had shaken hands with the first two, while he was now carrying Wang Wei.
It seemed the copying speed was related to the area of physical contact.
Lin Xiu made a mental note of this.
Inside the hospital, an old physician stroked his beard, addressing Lin Xiu. “It’s nothing serious. He just fainted. He’ll be fine after some rest.”
Lin Xiu smiled. “That’s good. I’ll leave him here to rest then.”
With that, he left Wang Wei and went out to the courtyard.
Bai Shuangshuang was airing out medicinal herbs. Lin Xiu walked over, taking a box from her. “I’ll help…”
They worked together for a while, finally bringing out all the herbs that needed airing. Lin Xiu looked at Bai Shuangshuang. “Miss Shuangshuang,” he said, “could you teach me how to take pulses?”
He had thought of this while taking Cai Yi’s pulse last time.
Normally, prolonged physical contact with Shuangshuang would be impossible, but under the guise of learning…
Taking pulses was a skill that required hands-on instruction. Wouldn’t opportunities arise from that?
Hearing that Lin Xiu wanted to learn medicine, Bai Shuangshuang readily agreed. “Of course!”
She looked around, pointing to a stone table in the courtyard. “Let’s go there.”
They sat down. “Pulses are categorized into slow, deep, superficial, and rapid. Each pulse has different characteristics, corresponding to different ailments and treatments. You must first learn to recognize each type…”
She was clearly genuinely eager to teach, explaining each pulse type in detail.
Theoretical instruction wasn’t enough. She rolled up her right sleeve, placing her delicate wrist on the table. “You can try taking my pulse. Don’t rush. You can take it multiple times if necessary. It’s better to be thorough than to misdiagnose…”
Lin Xiu was touched. Miss Shuangshuang was so considerate. Each pulse-taking would take at least a few minutes. Even if the contact area was small, prolonging the process would suffice. Wouldn’t today be doubly rewarding?
Suppressing his excitement, he placed three fingers gently on her wrist.
The next moment, his expression froze.
Something was wrong!
Nothing was happening!
Usually, upon contact with a mystic artist, the power within him would stir, uncontrollably flowing into them. But this time, even after prolonged contact, it remained dormant.
Could it be that Shuangshuang didn’t have a mystic ability?
Impossible! He had seen her use it, and she had admitted it herself. There was no mistake.
He quickly realized the problem.
Had he reached his limit?
Typically, an initially awakened ability was weak, requiring further awakenings to strengthen.
“Copying abilities” was, ultimately, also an ability. It was unlikely to have no limitations at its initial stage. Currently, his limit was four. When his Yuanli reached the second awakening, he might break through this limit.
Realizing this, he was relieved.
If his limit was four, he would definitely choose healing over the spatial ability. Now, it seemed he would have to wait to acquire the abilities of Shuangshuang, Xue Ning’er, or Li Bozhang.
Pulse-taking couldn’t be interrupted, so Bai Shuangshuang patiently waited without urging him.
At that moment, a figure hurried into the Imperial Hospital.
Hearing that Lin Xiu had injured someone during martial arts class, Zhao Lingyin immediately dropped everything and rushed over.
But as she entered, she saw Lin Xiu holding another girl’s hand.
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