Chapter 150: Leaving?

**Beacon Fires for the Feudal Lords**

A man in green stood beneath the pavilion.An old man with green snakes in his sleeves stood atop the pavilion.Two generations of unparalleled masters stood, one atop and one beneath the pavilion.

The martial arts world has always seen new waves surpass the old. Even exceptionally gifted prodigies usually dominate for a maximum of ten or twenty years, with thirty years being the absolute peak. The past century has been somewhat unusual: in the world of Go, a Huang Longshi emerged, and in the martial arts world, Wang Xianzhi took charge of Martial Emperor City in the East Sea. These two are truly once-in-a-century figures, incomparable to the multitude of so-called "rare-in-a-century" talents that have flooded the world. Aside from these two almost immortal, almost demonic individuals, the general trend has always been for newcomers to surpass their predecessors. Wang Xiu, the Spear Immortal and one of the previous generation's Four Grandmasters, lost to his disciple Chen Zhibao. Wudang Mountain produced someone who instantly attained the Dao and rode a green ox. After the Old Sword God Li Chungang retreated into obscurity, the path of the sword experienced only a brief dark period before Deng Tai'a, leading with his peach branch, quickly rose to claim supremacy. Furthermore, Qi Xianxia from Dragon Tiger Mountain, Wu Liuding from Sword Mound, and Lu Baijie, the Tangxi Sword Immortal, have all burst onto the scene.

Older generations of martial artists might have once been genuinely awed by the heroic spirit of "Li Chungang's single sword strike sending the great river eastward." But now that they have aged or passed away, how many young people truly remember the Sword God's immortal grace as he soared over rivers on his sword? If they heard the saying, "Without Li Chungang, the path of the sword would be eternal night," they would find it excessively arrogant and absurd.

At this moment, Cao Changqing, the man in green, confronted the "Two Sleeves Green Snakes" of the former sword master, speaking with arrogance. Given Cao Changqing's grand spirit, he likely had no intention of belittling the older generation's Sword God. However, his words, both explicit and implicit, were clear to all: even if Li Chungang were at his peak, stepping into the Land Immortal realm, Cao Changqing would face him today without a shred of fear. Even the Young Master, who had personally experienced the "Two Sleeves Green Snakes," was deeply worried, fearing that the old man Li, advanced in years and missing an arm, would ultimately be no match for Cao Guanzi, who was at the peak of his cultivation.

When masters clash, they contend not only with strategy, courage, and power, but also with their state of mind. Cao Changqing's life has been tumultuous. Confucianism excels at cultivating righteous qi, and after his country fell, he, as a commoner, dared to defy the emperor's wrath. Without weapons or armor, dressed in a single green robe, he entered and exited the imperial palace three times. His intellect and breadth of spirit were undoubtedly far more resilient and expansive than those of ordinary martial artists. The claim of "Guanzi's invincibility" is beyond doubt. After Wang Xianzhi became unrivaled, he built a city in the East Sea and erected the Disarming Tower. Below its top floor were six levels, each guarded by a martial slave to face challengers from across the world. Typically, supreme masters would rest for some days after defeating one opponent, waiting until their spirit and energy were fully restored before fighting again. Even an arrogant figure like Deng Tai'a, who could defeat enemies with a flick of his finger, would withdraw from the Disarming Tower after a victory, fighting one battle every half day. It took him three days to defeat all six before reaching the top floor. Only Cao Changqing fought continuously for two days, reaching the summit in one go. It is said that he remained composed even when facing Wang Xianzhi, earning the reputation of having immense qi, second only to Qi Xuanzhen. How could Xu Fengnian not fear that the Old Sword God might stubbornly corner himself? This old man cherishes his reputation the most. If truly angered, and he decided to fight Cao Changqing to the death, would he not be utterly exhausted and perish?

While lethal intent permeated one side, the Qu Shui (Winding Stream) debate on kingship and hegemony was nearing its end. The poor scholar, brought into Baoguo Temple by the Young Master, engaged in a fierce debate with the esteemed Yuan Jiangyan, the "Bearded Elder," without showing any signs of losing ground. The scholar's profound knowledge of the intricate theories of righteousness, benefit, kingship, and hegemony, seamlessly connecting various concepts and permeating all aspects, completely dispelled the initial contempt of the three or four hundred observers. They no longer dared to view this young man as a sensationalist commoner scholar. Especially when he first discussed the functions of filial piety, fraternal duty, loyalty, and trustworthiness, then talent, skill, debate, and wisdom separately, and finally brought them together to show how they ultimately lead to the same goal, many renowned scholars who considered themselves pure Confucians were subtly awakened. The poor scholar's statement, "With broad capability and thorough effort, one can become a sage; with capability but no effort, merely empty talk, one can only be a pedant," was a profound challenge to their conventional wisdom.

Yet, Yuan Honghu remained unangered, dismissing it with a smile. The scholar's strenuous promotion of the monarch's achievements and capabilities was also magnanimously overlooked, otherwise, given Yuan Jiangyan's status, a single word could determine someone's fate. Although, in fairness, Yuan Jiangyan still won the debate, he personally declared it a draw, and the abbot of Baoguo Temple, Yin Daolin, nodded in agreement. With that, naturally, no one dared to object. For commoners and impoverished scholars seeking to rise in society, participating in scholarly debates among esteemed figures was a quick path to success, but easier said than done. It was as difficult as ascending to heaven for a commoner to even get a seat, and even harder to impress the eyes of renowned scholars, let alone to win a debate against a truly first-rate scholar like Yuan Jiangyan. Therefore, no one doubted that this scholar, who had been seated at the very end, had now made a stunning debut, with prosperity certainly within his reach.

While some aristocratic families, confident in their noble status, might not yet have been stirred to action, a few second and third-tier scholarly families and high-ranking commoner families were already considering whether they could act first. After the gathering, they planned to quickly claim this "convenient son-in-law" for their families. Once he was integrated, they could have him participate in more Winding Stream gatherings, allowing his reputation to naturally grow, first gaining scholarly recognition, then pursuing an official career. This strategy was no less promising than marrying into families with mediocre or shallow talents. If luck favored them, and this young man could truly gain the favor of a direct descendant of a powerful clan like Yuan Honghu, why would he ever lack a magnificent future?

Inside the pavilion, Xu Zihhu, taking a moment of leisure, watched with a cold eye and an incessant sneer. Why was Yuan Honghu acting so magnanimous? Was it not because the scholar was riding on the coattails of her younger brother? This scholar spoke with an authentic Jiangnan accent, clearly a commoner from Yang Province. Since the Young Master of Beiliang could lead him into the temple to take a seat, then the renowned scholars of Yang Province would care even less about his humble origins, personally elevating his reputation. Which of these two favors was more significant was hard to say. Xu Zihhu thought to herself that Yuan Jiangyan, being able to lead the Jiangzuo scholarly faction, indeed possessed good judgment and was remarkably skilled at being subtly repulsive. From her elevated position, Xu Zihhu observed that after the scholar achieved instant fame, he showed no trace of complacency. He rose gracefully, looking around with an air of desolation that seemed out of place given the circumstances. Xu Zihhu, whose own life had seen many ups and downs, rarely misjudged men; her discernment was truly refined. This struck her as odd. When commoner scholars successfully "leapt over the dragon's gate," some would weep with joy, others would fall into a frenzy. In her memory, this scholar named Chen Liangxi knew Xu Huipu and was fond of her, and he excelled at painting dragons and tigers. Could there be a hidden secret in his accidental encounter with her brother today?

Though Xu Huipu’s temperament was aloof and proud, she was ultimately a caged bird within a prominent noble family. Minor indiscretions might be overlooked, but in major matters, she was, without exception, not her own master. Just like herself back then, did she ever truly wish to marry far away into Jiangnan? The beautiful maid, who had been teased by the Young Master on multiple occasions, gazed longingly at the scholar beside her, her heart filled with admiration. His recent eloquent and forceful arguments were truly exceptional. Even when debating against a preeminent scholar like Yuan Honghu, he showed no trace of nervousness. Furthermore, she had attended countless scholarly discussions and was quite discerning. Handmaidens who could participate in the Qu Shui Liu Shang (Winding Stream and Floating Goblet) gatherings were not simple. First, they had to come from a reputable aristocratic family; second, they needed to be exceptionally beautiful and talented. Like her, she had been fortunate enough to become a maid in the Boling Yuan clan from a young age. Intelligent and gifted, she was chosen and taught poetry, calligraphy, music, and Go. All the handmaidens serving wine today were exquisite women trained by the Boling Yuan clan. When she saw Chen Liangxi rise, she quickly offered him a wine cup. He smiled gently, took the cup, and drained it, using the wine to quench his thirst. Inevitably, she found herself comparing the handsome young man before her with that dissolute rogue. "Hmph," she thought, "that scoundrel of a playboy may be handsome and refined in appearance, but what a waste of good looks!"

The poor scholar Chen Liangxi did not see "Xu Dianxia" and felt a little regretful, as he had genuinely wanted to thank her. Since he couldn't find her, he didn't worry unnecessarily. Turning, he saw a thin, sallow-faced little girl and felt pity. He asked the maid for some fruits and pastries, then guided the little beggar girl to sit down again. After the beautiful maid brought a bento box, the little beggar hesitated to eat, so he picked up the delicate pastries and handed them to the child. The little beggar ate with apprehension, head bowed, seemingly unsure if she would remember the taste. From time to time, he smiled and helped the little girl wipe away crumbs from the corner of her mouth. The beautiful maid saw this heartwarming scene, one that would have been unimaginable in aristocratic families of the past, and her heart softened once more. "This young master is truly a good person."

Outside the pavilion, Xu Fengnian could only ensure he wouldn't retreat further. To advance even a single step seemed harder than ascending to the heavens via the Shu Road.

Cao Changqing, who never carried a weapon into battle, was utterly disdainful. Even when confronting Li Chungang, a legend of the martial world, he strode straight forward, ignoring the Old Sword God's increasingly vast sword intent.

Before the old man in the sheepskin coat even lifted his arm, dozens of crisscrossing ravines instantly appeared on the ground between them.Sword Qi Rolling Dragon Wall!Li Chungang once fought the Sword Saint of Western Shu in the imperial palace. Where Li Chungang's sword qi reached, an entire magnificent Dragon Wall that had existed for hundreds of years shattered beyond repair. Before that, Li Chungang had declared there were no true sword experts in Western Shu, entered Shu alone, and killed sixteen sword masters who blocked his path. Without exception, all were dismembered by his rolling sword qi. At that time, it was undoubtedly the pinnacle of Li Chungang's sword mastery, making him nearly unrivaled in the world.

The ravines cracked and branched, a shocking sight. Yet, as they spread towards Cao Changqing, they seemed to be invisibly blocked, stopping abruptly.

Cao Changqing calmly said, "Senior, you are far more than just the eighth level. The world only knows the unparalleled 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes' of Sword God Li, but they do not know the power of his 'Sword Qi Opening the Heavenly Gate.'"

The further the middle-aged Confucian scholar advanced, the wider and deeper the cracks became.

Only ten steps separated the two.

The old man in the sheepskin coat maintained a leisurely and imperturbable demeanor, allowing Cao Guanzi to advance further and further, merely narrowing his eyes and chuckling, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Cao Changqing smiled faintly.

Inside the pavilion, Jiang Ni, finally daring to look at Cao Changqing, hesitantly asked in a soft voice, "Uncle Qizhao?"

Cao Changqing abruptly halted, nodded emphatically, and was overwhelmed with emotions.

Jiang Ni's eyes suddenly reddened. She wanted to rise but instinctively first glanced at the Young Master. Seeing his expressionless face, she then cautiously turned to look at Xu Zihhu. Seeing this scene, Cao Changqing felt an overwhelming pang of sorrow. Without the need for the Old Sword God's rolling sword qi, the ground in front of the pavilion suddenly sank. Jiang Ni saw Xu Zihhu smile and purse her lips, then she finally stood up and timidly asked, "Uncle Qizhao, could you please not fight?"

Layers of dust fanned out like ripples. The central figure, Cao Guanzi, softly said, "Cao Changqing obeys the Princess's command."

Even Xu Zihhu couldn't help but gape in astonishment. This truly confirmed Chen Liangxi's conclusion from the Qu Shui debate on kingship and hegemony: a pure Confucian is almost corrupted. It was incomprehensible.

The Old Sword God snorted coldly and finally withdrew his sword qi.

Cao Changqing ascended the steps, but did not enter the pavilion; instead, he knelt down once more.This time, he knelt for the once flourishing Western Chu of yesteryear.

Xu Fengnian watched the standing little "mud doll" and the kneeling Cao Guanzi with a complex expression.

Is he leaving now?