Chapter 378 Someone Is Behind Alistair
"Qi? What's that?" Larry asked, clearly puzzled.
Alden sighed, rubbing his forehead as he tried to find the right words. He'd only heard about Qi and hadn't even begun to master it himself. It was still a distant goal for him.
"Okay, let me break it down for you," Alden said after a moment. "It's like the energy inside your body. Since ancient times, martial arts have been split into two paths: external, which is all about physical techniques, and internal, which is about cultivating Qi."
He looked at Larry. "Your physical skills are already top-notch. If you want to unlock your full potential, you need to train in Qi."
Larry's expression turned serious. Alden's words had opened up a whole new world for him. He never thought something as mystical as Qi could be real.
"But how do you even start cultivating Qi?" he asked, eyes fixed on Alden.
Alden explained, "You need specific training methods. Throughout history, every great martial arts master had their own unique methods, usually passed down within their family and never shared with outsiders. But over time, many of these methods were lost, leaving modern martial artists with just physical techniques and little knowledge of Qi."
"Do you have a method?" Larry asked, hopeful.
"Of course not." Alden shook his head.
"No? Are you just making this up? Alden, I'm starting to think you're pulling my leg," Larry's face darkened.
"Larry, why would I mess with you? Everything I've said is true. I just don't know myself. If I did, I'd be a martial arts master by now," Alden said, looking frustrated.
These were things his grandfather had told him. A century ago, there were many martial arts masters in the Summer Nation. A thousand years ago, there were countless schools and sects.
Larry fell into deep thought, trying to figure out if Alden was being honest. Judging by Alden's expression, it seemed genuine.
Then he remembered the Artwork of Moonlit. Sirius from the Bennett family had said that the Artwork of Moonlit contained the secret to immortality. In the box unearthed from Victor Veil King's ancient tomb, there was an ancient scroll depicting eighteen small figures with annotations that defied modern medical understanding. If he guessed correctly, the secret in the Artwork of Moonlit was likely an ancient Qi cultivation method. Combining it with the eighteen figures' energy flow diagrams, he could potentially cultivate Qi.
Thinking of this, Larry took a deep breath. He looked at Alden and asked, "Are there still martial arts masters who can cultivate Qi today?"
"Of course," Alden nodded. "The Summer Nation has a history spanning thousands of years. Even though many schools have declined, there are still inheritors and methods that have survived. Most of these people live in seclusion, away from the public eye, which is why no one knows about them."
"Do you know any of these people?"
"No," Alden shook his head. Then he looked at Larry and said, "Larry, you saved me, and I told you how to detoxify yourself. We're even now. Give me the antidote, and we'll go our separate ways."
Larry grinned mischievously. "You really think you can just disappear? You're wanted all over the globe. Where do you plan to hide?"
"That's my problem, not yours."
"Alden, why don't we team up?"
"Team up?" Alden raised an eyebrow at Larry.
Larry nodded, lowering his voice. "Alfonso wiped out your whole family. He's your sworn enemy, and he's mine too. Now, Alfonso's teamed up with Alistair. Like you said, they're working on some terrifying plan that was left unfinished a century ago. If they pull it off, the world as we know it will change drastically. We have to stop them."
Alden shrugged. "Why should I care how the world changes?"
Larry pressed on, "Decades ago, your grandfather refused to join Alfonso because he didn't want to use Gu to wreak havoc on the world. If your grandfather were still alive and saw what Alfonso has done, wouldn't he try to stop him?"
"Of course," Alden admitted.
"Then there you go," Larry smiled. "You and I can work together to dismantle their plan to control the world with a virus."
"Why should I work with you? What's in it for me?"
Alden was an assassin, the founder of the Shadow Syndicate, and had trained many powerful killers. He only cared about money and would kill anyone for the right price.
Larry said calmly, "I heard from Cason that you were planning to retire when you got caught. I believe you don't want to live this dark life anymore. People say you're ruthless and kill without blinking, but I believe you have a sense of justice."
"Spare me the moral lecture," Alden cut in. "I've been locked up for years. Now that I'm out, I want to enjoy my life."
Larry shrugged. "Let's not talk about anything else. What about avenging the Martin family? Don't you want revenge?"
"Revenge?" Alden looked at Larry. "Larry, do you really think Alfonso and Alistair alone can control the world with Gu? They're just puppets. There's someone much more powerful behind them, someone so strong that you and I can't even imagine."
"Are you talking about a martial arts master who has cultivated Qi?" Larry asked.
Alden nodded slightly. "Yes, and even among martial arts masters, there are different levels. Don't think that just because someone has cultivated Qi and become a master, they're invincible. Once you reach that level, you'll understand."
Alden dreamed of revenge. He had founded the Shadow Syndicate for that purpose. But he had given up because he couldn't challenge the people behind Alfonso.
"After being locked up for so many years, I've come to realize that life is short. Why let hatred consume me? I've accumulated enough wealth to live comfortably for the rest of my life," Alden said.
Larry hadn't expected that a legendary assassin, a king of killers, would have such a side.
Alden was a strong ally, and Larry wanted to recruit him. With Alden's help, things would be much easier.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Larry persisted. "You've killed so many people and committed so many crimes. Don't you want to make amends?"
"Don't try to guilt-trip me. I've been locked up for years. Now that I'm out, I want to enjoy my life," Alden stretched lazily. He looked genuinely relaxed, like someone who truly wanted to retire.
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