Chapter 180: Angelica

Dominance and Turmoil: Playing with Fire

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On Mount Hui, which dominates the martial arts world of the Southeast, if Xuanyuan Jingxuan was a drawn sword, then Xuanyuan Jingyi was a blunt knife, less sharp but more useful to the family. Xuanyuan Jingxuan’s temperament was ill-suited for dealing with people. The eldest legitimate grandson, rarely seen and only devoted to studying, left many burdens to naturally fall on Xuanyuan Jingyi's shoulders. He widely welcomed guests from all corners, excelled at fostering talent and accumulating influence, and in recent years, the second branch's status has steadily risen and become increasingly stable. Guest retainers accounted for six or seven tenths, and the two hundred cavalry were all under Xuanyuan Jingxuan's control and command. Outlaws from nearby prefectures, when speaking of him, would give a thumbs-up and praise him as the 'Timely Rain of Jiangdong'. Once, a maid mocked a limping martial artist who had ascended the mountain seeking reputation. The latter, humiliated and enraged, descended. Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Jingxuan, without a word, severed the head of his favored maid and carried it down the mountain to apologize. This martial artist, then an unknown figure in the martial world, is now the second-ranking guest retainer of Mount Hui.

By the 'Jing' generation, the family had branched into three lines, and resource allocation was naturally a zero-sum game; there was certainly no such thing as parallel development. The eldest legitimate grandson, Xuanyuan Jingcheng, was already a recognized withered tree, with sparse branches and offering no shade. Xuanyuan Jingxuan, on the other hand, was too arrogant, daring to utter absurd boasts like 'eating dumplings and eating sister-in-laws.' Coupled with his self-proclaimed Grandmaster realm, he inevitably gave off an air of pushing people away. Did Xuanyuan Jingyi have the ambition to eventually reside at Mount Guniu? He was now caught in a dilemma, unable to back down. He himself didn't desire it, but being pushed by everyone, it seemed he had no choice but to contend. In noble houses, there are only carefree 'dogs,' never carefree people. The desolate fate of not contending had already been demonstrated by his elder brother, Xuanyuan Jingcheng.

Xuanyuan Jingxuan, with a dignified appearance, was hailed as a dashing young man and a 'marvel of Jiangdong' in his youth. His mild temperament and restrained sharpness made him easy to approach. Currently, confronting the uninvited Northern Liang 'barbarians,' Xuanyuan Jingxuan felt a headache but no fear. With over a hundred archers by his side, whose arm strength was undoubtedly far superior to ordinary soldiers, a single volley unleashed an arrow rain like pouring water. Moreover, upon hearing that the Butcher's son was ascending the mountain, the guest retainers of Mount Hui felt a shared animosity, and even those from the third brother's faction rushed over upon hearing the news. In Xuanyuan Jingyi's view, were it not for the presence of the old Sword God Li Chungang as their trump card, it would be akin to using an ox-slaughtering knife to kill a chicken. Even if Li Chungang was a formidable lone warrior, could thirty guest retainers not surround him? However, many things in the world do not follow ordinary logic. Even in a seemingly winning chess game, Xuanyuan Jingyi dared not be too reckless. What good would it do Mount Hui if, carried away, they accidentally 'slaughtered the dragon' (defeated) the Northern Liang Young Master?

Xuanyuan Jingyi gazed from afar at the Young Master beneath the ceremonial gate. The numbers on both sides were vastly disparate. Since victory was assured in this game, requiring only a careful control of their striking force, Xuanyuan Jingyi's thoughts began to wander. He was confident that his martial arts talent was no worse than his brother's. However, in recent years, his father, Xuanyuan Guoqi, had been passionately devoted to the sword, spending most of the year either in secluded cultivation or exploring scenic wonders to find reclusive masters and hone his swordsmanship. Xuanyuan Jingyi, dedicating all his efforts to managing the prominent family, inevitably delayed his martial arts training. His eldest brother, who, after some basic physical training in his youth, never touched martial arts again; Xuanyuan Jingyi and Xuanyuan Jingxuan were evenly matched; after coming of age until their thirties, Xuanyuan Jingyi even surpassed Xuanyuan Jingxuan. However, after forty, as Xuanyuan Jingyi busied himself with family affairs, his third brother Xuanyuan Jingxuan began to gradually pull far ahead. How could Xuanyuan Jingyi not resent his elder brother? If only Xuanyuan Jingcheng hadn't refused to learn martial arts and wasn't unwilling to bear important responsibilities... Thinking of this, Xuanyuan Jingyi couldn't help but mock himself. A decade ago, he had secretly felt tearfully grateful for his elder brother's lack of contention, only to later realize that his seemingly powerful and glorious position was neither appealing nor secure.

On the formidable Guniu Heights, the impressive guest retainers formed a three-way standoff, clearly divided. Those who had explicitly joined Xuanyuan Jingyi's and Xuanyuan Jingxuan's camps formed two distinct groups, while the remainder remained undecided. With the situation of who would become the next family head still unclear, this group of martial arts elites clearly intended to wait for the rabbit to show before releasing the hawk. Birds of a feather flock together: the Mount Hui guest retainers beside Xuanyuan Jingyi were generally mild-tempered, with good reputations in the martial world. They belonged to the category of chivalrous heroes who eradicated evil and punished traitors, each filled with righteous indignation upon seeing the Young Master and his entourage ascending the mountain, leaving a trail of blood. Xuanyuan Jingxuan's faction, in contrast, consisted mostly of desperate fugitives who had sought refuge on the mountain, all notorious for their wicked deeds. Among them were several of the top bandit leaders in the southeastern dynasty, as well as a notorious 'flower picker.' The last group was neither entirely good nor evil, unconstrained by morals. They were referred to as 'Martial Wanderers' by orthodox officials who held positive views towards the martial arts world. These individuals generally didn't commit great evils; when the mood struck them, they would do small good deeds, accumulating some reputation over time.

At this moment, the gazes of two prominent guest retainers met and quickly darted away, seemingly with aversion. Xuanyuan Jingyi smiled inwardly; this was the effect of his deliberate cultivation. The number of guest retainers on Mount Hui was astonishing, most possessing considerable strength, and even those with mediocre martial prowess had some ingenious skills. Mount Hui consistently spent lavishly to provide these retainers with luxurious and comfortable lives, giving them women if they wanted women, and secret manuals if they wanted manuals. However, the prominent figures of Mount Hui secretly kept a clear account book.

Only a handful, seven or eight individuals, truly caught the eye of Guniu Heights. Among them, Chief Guest Retainer Huang Fangfo and Second Guest Retainer Hong Biao were the most worthy of acceptance. And Hong Biao was the limping nobody from back then. He did not disappoint Xuanyuan Jingyi's high expectations, demonstrating martial arts talent no less than Xuanyuan Jingxuan in the talent-rich Mount Hui. His cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. Because Hong Biao was open-minded and traditional, with a heroic demeanor, he was the most popular among the guest retainers. Not only that, but Hong Biao was also skilled in military strategy. After being given command of the cavalry, he reciprocated by supporting the entire second branch, allowing it to overpower the third branch. He was truly Xuanyuan Jingyi's lucky general.

Mount Hui's Chief Guest Retainer Huang Fangfo was a first-rate Martial Wanderer in the martial world, close to the Grandmaster realm. After encountering a major bottleneck in his martial arts, he came to Mount Hui merely to borrow secret manuals, hoping to 'use stones from other mountains to polish his own jade.' Under normal circumstances, Guniu Heights wouldn't trouble Huang Fangfo with tasks, as guest retainers were not like family lackeys who could be summoned or dismissed at will. Most of these masters followed the rule of staying if compatible and leaving if not. Furthermore, literary giants and martial arts masters were the hardest to please in the world. The originally arrogant and domineering Mount Hui, under Xuanyuan Jingyi's hands, cultivated its power by consistently adhering to the principle of 'harmony brings wealth' for over a decade, unwilling to 'bully customers with a big shop.' This invisibly elevated the status and arrogance of the guest retainers, making their temperaments increasingly difficult. How many could, like Xuanyuan Jingyi, kill a concubine to win over people's hearts? Huang Fangfo was also exceptionally intelligent, proficient in all eighteen martial arts, achieving mastery early on, and rarely encountering rivals in the martial world. Yet, he was inexplicably stuck below the Grandmaster realm, unable to understand why. During this time, he risked traveling to the Western Regions and Beiman, still unable to reach that seemingly attainable level. His final attempt, during which he befriended Xuanyuan Guoqi through a sword discussion on Spring God Lake, leading to mutual admiration, resulted in his invitation to Mount Hui. Now, Huang Fangfo was the foremost figure among the Martial Wanderers. He treated Xuanyuan Jingyi and Xuanyuan Jingxuan with courtesy but was not truly open with them. Instead, he often shared wine and discussed history, or brewed tea and debated heroes, with the unproductive fellow from the eldest legitimate branch, finding them quite compatible.

A prominent family dedicated to dominating the martial world naturally engaged in both petty schemes for minor gains and grand strategies encompassing the entire martial community.

Huang Man'er walked barehanded to the open space in the central plaza. Xuanyuan Jingyi had already received news that this gaunt young man had killed over a dozen people on his way up the mountain, tearing off their limbs, a truly brutal and terrifying method. When the Old Ancestor and his father were absent, Xuanyuan Jingyi was the banner of Mount Hui. Accustomed to a life of privilege in his high position, he valued his reputation above all. He intended to give the Young Master a 'display of power,' and coldly commanded, "Loose arrows!"

The bowstrings twanged with a harsh buzzing sound, and arrows, like swarming locusts, pelted down upon the young man, who seemed oblivious to death.

The First-Grade Vajra initial realm, derived from Buddhist teachings, symbolizes the body of Amitayus (Buddha of Immeasurable Life). The body of a Tathagata (Buddha) is a Vajra indestructible, firm body, and the Vajra Dharma body is proclaimed as the most supreme body in the three realms. The immortal Lu Dongxuan once composed a 'crooked poem': "Having received the longevity art of the Three Pure Ones, I have attained the Vajra indestructible body." It was called 'crooked' because it blended Buddhist and Taoist teachings, yet later generations dared not slight it. Both Buddhist and Taoist traditions used this to highlight their own status. Hence, the Vajra realm in Taoism was also seen as 'Minor Longevity cultivation,' distinguishing it from 'Great Longevity cultivation,' which clearly hinted at Taoist self-importance. The vast majority who cultivate to the Vajra realm after birth do so by borrowing the power of 'unmoving like Mount Kunlun' from their internal essence, making them immune to blades and axes. Both the Vajra and Finger-Gazing realms, the two First-Grade realms below the Celestial Phenomenon, operate this way. Li Chungang's assertion that Vajra masters were as common as ox hair truly overestimated the current martial world. It was genuinely due to the Young Master's prominence attracting trouble. Ordinary people, in their entire lives, would not only fail to witness a Vajra realm master display their skills, but they wouldn't even see a minor Grandmaster who was just one thin paper layer away from breaking into the First-Grade.

The arrows arced through the air, directly aimed at Huang Man'er. Martial artists skilled in archery drew their bows, their accuracy and power far surpassing ordinary archers.

Xuanyuan Jingyi narrowed his eyes, silently waiting for the young man to be unable to dodge and be riddled with arrows like a hedgehog.

Hong Biao was short and stocky, quite inconspicuous in appearance, miles away from the immortal-like demeanor of Chief Guest Retainer Huang Fangfo. Yet, Hong Biao was bold but also exceptionally meticulous, a classic example of a brute who could embroider. Seeing the arrow rain pour down, he worriedly said, "Sir, I heard that Old Celestial Master Zhao secretly took a disciple, the young prince of Northern Liang, whose martial aptitude is quite extraordinary. Could it be this child before us? If we anger both the Northern Liang Royal Residence and Mount Longhu simultaneously, won't the repercussions be endless?"

Xuanyuan Jingyi chuckled softly, "You guess he's the young prince of Northern Liang, but do I not know? Besides, if he truly is Zhao Xizhuan's esteemed disciple, he should have some capability. Otherwise, do you really think Guniu Heights is just a tavern or teahouse down the mountain, where people can come and go as they please?"

Xuanyuan Jingyi and Hong Biao were simultaneously stunned.

The swarming arrows plunged down menacingly from the sky. The young man showed no signs of internal energy flowing; he neither dodged nor evaded, merely reaching out to deflect a few arrows. Those he couldn't deflect struck his body, but the incoming feathered arrows shattered completely, as if hitting metal or stone, meeting the fate of 'throwing an egg against a rock.' A few arrows, aimed at the young man's potential dodge direction, struck the ground, sparking. This demonstrated the immense strength of the archers and the arrows' powerful trajectory, further highlighting the strangeness of the scene: if he wasn't using internal energy to bolster his physique, yet could still cause the arrows to break, the discerning guest retainers of Mount Hui exchanged bewildered glances.

Huang Fangfo calmly said, "What an incredible innate Vajra realm! I used to only hear seniors speak of it as a strange phenomenon and never dared to believe it. Today, my eyes have truly been opened."

On the edge of the guest retainers, a handsome man, fanning himself on an autumn day, possessed a pair of 'peach blossom eyes' but exuded an aura of wickedness no matter how one looked at him. The front and back of his fan were adorned with paintings of more than ten women, their names and families inscribed, and their amorous exploits described in vivid, explicit words. All these women had fallen victim to his clutches. He possessed a dozen or more such 'beauty fans,' all carefully preserved and said to be heirlooms for his descendants. This 'saint of romance,' who boasted of unparalleled skill in both love and painting, had indulged freely in his amorous pursuits over the years. Had it not been for poisoning a prefect's daughter the year before last, completely enraging the authorities, he would never have come to Mount Hui to live by people's whims. How could life on the mountain be as carefree as that below? It was true that Mount Hui boasted beautiful scenery and women, but this earthly tranquility was exclusively enjoyed by the Xuanyuan direct lineage. He had long been discontent and full of complaints. This person's reputation was utterly atrocious; it was hard to imagine that such a lecher, whom everyone wished to punish, could write verses with such grandeur as 'Life is but a fleeting hundred years, let us heartily curse eternity.'

He found the blade-wielding youth, said to be the Northern Liang Young Master, quite displeasing. He hated two types of people above all: ugly women, who would defile his eyes, and men handsomer than himself. He could simply avoid looking at the former, but the latter he would usually torment until they were crippled. The young man in the arena possessed astonishing martial prowess, but he assessed him, noting the lad's dull and wooden expression, and concluded he was merely a brute relying on raw strength. He felt no fear concerning this. To be a 'flower picker,' escaping was the most crucial skill, so his lightness kung fu was among the best even on Mount Hui, which teemed with masters. He found staying on Mount Hui truly boring and tiresome; the remarkable and extraordinary women had all been taken, only to be seen but not touched, which was agonizing. Mount Hui was a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, filled with 'forbidden zones.' Climbing walls to 'pick flowers' here was no different from seeking death. It would be better to descend the mountain and be rid of the sight. Two years had passed, and the storm had mostly blown over; it was time to re-enter the martial world. Those juniors who only knew how to secretly use aphrodisiacs to ruin women were truly disgracing him, the 'saint of flower picking.' Flowers were not plucked that way. The highest realm of 'flower picking' was to enjoy them after plucking and then replant them in a pot, so they could become even more alluring, rather than roughly breaking them, leaving them lifeless. Since he was leaving the mountain, but had enjoyed good food and drink on Guniu Heights for the past two years, he felt obliged to repay a favor. The current situation was tricky, and he surmised that many guest retainers on Mount Hui were inwardly wary of the Northern Liang King's name and dared not act. But he was different. Once he descended the mountain, he wouldn't care if they were a heavenly king or a vassal prince; where could Long Xuanyu not live a carefree life?

Huang Man'er glanced back at Xu Fengnian. After receiving a nod of permission, he began to sprint wildly.

"No more desperate moves like 'Overlord Shedding Armor'," he said. "If we can't win, we run. It's okay to lose face; as long as the green mountains remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood. We'll get our revenge sooner or later." The Young Master turned to Qingniao beside him and quipped, then began to feel a bit regretful, "It's a pity Wen Hua isn't here. In a lively scene like this, he might not be good at fighting, but his cursing skills are absolutely peerless. He could curse someone until smoke came out of their seven orifices, cursing eighteen generations of their ancestors, one by one, without repeating a single word." Even Xu Fengnian, who had learned many verbal techniques from village women, had to admit inferiority to this unique 'Eighteen Curses' technique, unwillingly conceding defeat. Back then, when they encountered Xuanyuan Qingfeng (a woman they had previously misidentified), it was originally just a trivial matter of two rascals refusing to yield the way to a noble young lady. A fight would have merely been an exercise in enduring humiliation, but that bastard Wen Hua's mouth was incredibly wild and unrestrained. He called dogs their father and her their mother, spouted nonsense about her armpit hair having body odor that could smoke out mosquitoes, and even made obscene gestures of pulling down his pants to show his buttocks in public. Even Xuanyuan Qingfeng, with the good temper of a Bodhisattva, would have been enraged enough to hit him. It's a pity that Wen Hua, whose cursing skills were comparable to a land immortal, isn't accompanying them on this trip to Mount Hui.

Qingniao swept out, spear in hand, her figure no less surprising than Huang Man'er's.

First a simple-minded young man, then a delicate woman. Does this Northern Liang Young Master have no other capable masters besides the old Sword God Li Chungang?

Long Xuanyu, following custom, requested to fight Xuanyuan Jingyi. Almost simultaneously, a guest retainer skilled in powerful boxing also stepped forward. When Long Xuanyu saw the green-clad maid approach with a spear, Xuanyuan Jingyi, without needing to say more, gestured for Long Xuanyu to deal with the impulsive woman, while the young man would be captured by the other guest retainer.

The overall situation was decided.

Xuanyuan Jingyi could barely be said to have guessed the outcome, yet it was *his* side that had its fate decided!

The guest retainer renowned for his boxing skills, perhaps harboring disdain, was met head-on by the young man's two fists to his chest in a single exchange. His body remained still, only his feet sinking deep into the instantly shattered floor, and then, with one punch, the young man severed the retainer's head! To say 'severed' isn't quite accurate; the entire head was smashed off the body by the young man. The scene was extremely bloody and chilling.

Long Xuanyu, laughing as he drifted towards the green-clad woman, was about to utter a few playful remarks when he caught sight of this scene from the corner of his eye. Frightened, he swallowed his words. True enough, a spear suddenly swept down, cutting a crack in the ground two zhang long, whose residual force steadily increased. Fortunately, he shifted sideways quickly; otherwise, wouldn't he have been sliced like a watermelon under that single spear strike?

That woman showed the entire Mount Hui what it meant for spear skills to be as fierce as a roaming serpent or exploding thunder.

Long Xuanyu's lightness kung fu was undeniably excellent, but that red spear moved like a shadow, following him relentlessly. Every time the spear touched the ground, countless stones shattered. Even when swept through the air, it whipped and whistled.

The well-informed Huang Fangfo, stunned once again after seeing the innately Vajra young man, muttered, "Has the 'Moment of Spear Immortal Wang Xiu' finally appeared? But even if so, how can a young woman wield such overwhelming power?"

Xu Fengnian kept glancing at the old man in the sheepskin robe. If they didn't seize this opportune moment, while everyone was stunned, to capture the chief culprit Xuanyuan Jingyi, it would be a waste of a great chance.

Li Chungang rolled his eyes and said, "Feeling sorry for that girl, are we? I just don't understand, boy, you clearly care about her so much, so why don't you 'eat' her? For women, that kind of care is the most real."

Xu Fengnian, embarrassed and enraged, retorted, "Stop with the nonsense, senior! Just make your move!"

The old Sword God raised his chin and grumbled, "Wait a bit more, look over there."

Xu Fengnian followed his gaze and saw Xuanyuan Qingfeng slowly approaching. She spoke clearly to Xuanyuan Jingyi, "My father invites the Young Master to Guniu Heights for sightseeing. He has already obtained the Old Ancestor's permission."

As soon as these words were spoken, murmurs broke out.

Xuanyuan Jingyi frowned and said, "Qingfeng, don't be absurd."

He clearly regarded his niece's words as a false imperial decree.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng calmly said, "If Uncle doesn't believe me, you can personally go to Guniu Heights and ask the Old Ancestor."

Xuanyuan Jingyi narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly, "That won't be necessary. However, since the Young Master intends to exchange martial arts pointers, let's wait until the fighting is over." He turned to the second-ranking guest retainer and said, "Brother Hong, why don't you have a spar with that junior? For you to personally step forward would truly demonstrate Mount Hui's sincerity in hospitality."

Hong Biao remained expressionless, ready to act. Xuanyuan Jingyi, meanwhile, observed his niece's subtle change in expression from the corner of his eye. He held no fondness for Xuanyuan Qingfeng. As a woman, she wished to seize power from her own uncle—truly, her ambition was higher than the heavens, but her fate was as thin as paper! Xuanyuan Jingyi waited for her to speak, then concluded that Yuan Tingshan, who was already barely breathing, had been abandoned by his niece. Instead, she had turned to ally with the Northern Liang Young Master, hoping to use external force to contend against the Old Ancestor's residence on Guniu Heights? But did this infamous Young Master have the ability to challenge the Old Ancestor? Still, Xuanyuan Jingyi understood his niece's feelings; after all, for any woman, entering Guniu Heights and then leaving meant two entirely different worlds.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng herself was already agitated, resolved to 'break the jar and smash the pot.' Naturally, she paid no attention to Xuanyuan Jingyi's repeatedly mistaken guesses.

In the backyard of the eldest legitimate branch, a young woman with a serene expression quietly watched the brewing pot, its fire gradually reaching the right intensity.

The wine was named 'Danggui' (Angelica), blended with aged pre-rain tea leaves from Mount Hui and osmanthus flowers picked during every Mid-Autumn Festival. Its color was golden and transparent with a hint of greenish-blue. The wine's aroma combined notes of tea and osmanthus. It tasted slightly bitter at first but, when savored, offered a long-lasting sweetness with an endless aftertaste. This wine embodied the meaning of 'bitterness followed by sweetness,' yet it was not popular on Mount Hui.

Mount Hui was also known as Yaozhao Mountain. The ancient text 'Classic of Mountains and Seas' recorded in its 'Annals of Majestic Mountains' that Yaozhao Mountain had many osmanthus trees. However, after the Xuanyuan family occupied this blessed land, enjoying its tranquility for several centuries, perhaps their good fortune was not long-lasting. Their luck gradually dwindled, causing old osmanthus trees to die one by one. Last year, even the two-thousand-year-old osmanthus tree named 'Tang Gui,' whose life surpassed that of Mount Longhu's sixteen-hundred-year-old Celestial Master's Residence, and which was the last remaining one, withered away. Thus, this Danggui Osmanthus Wine, apart from a few jars brewed last year from the picked osmanthus flowers, would cease to exist.

Everyone on Mount Hui knew that Xuanyuan Jingcheng, of the eldest legitimate branch, was an eccentric. He was fond of drinking Danggui wine while reading classics of sages. The older generation also remembered that every year on Xuanyuan Qingfeng's birthday, this scholar, who had once foolishly yearned to achieve fame down the mountain and steadfastly refused to practice martial arts, would take his young daughter to the Tang Gui tree to mark her height. However, after the age of fifteen, the precocious and worldly Xuanyuan Qingfeng regarded this practice as a disgrace and refused to continue, drifting further and further from her father. In recent years, only Huang Fangfo and a handful of other guest retainers, who could converse with that scholar, had the good fortune to drink a pot of the amber-colored osmanthus bitter wine. Xuanyuan Jingcheng enjoyed its bitterness, living up to his reputation as an eccentric.

Xuanyuan Jingcheng brewed three jars of Danggui wine every year. Two jars were always sent to the courtyard, leaving only one for himself.

Thus, he never had enough wine to drink, yet here, it was never consumed, left untouched year after year. The more jars accumulated over the years, the mellower the wine's fragrance became.

She finally unsealed a jar of wine and brought out a set of long-unused wine utensils, which the man had crafted himself.

In any case, it seemed there was nothing that man wasn't good at, except perhaps martial arts.

Sitting alone, she poured a cup of wine and placed it on the table, seemingly hesitant about whether to drink it. For no reason, she began to resent herself and abruptly slapped the cup off the table.

After a while, she stood up to retrieve the cup, only then discovering two small lines of text carved into its bottom, the calligraphy elegant and refined.

"Life's bitterness is no matter, as long as my beloved returns."