Chapter 229: Good?

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Feng Huo Xi Zhu HouWebsite: Follow me on this site to discover the secrets of wealth and those who possess it. Remember this site, and you will be rich.

When he first began blade training on Wudang Mountain, the Crown Prince regretted not having started sooner. He thought he should have let the royal manor's assassins fight each other to witness true killing techniques, rather than merely flashy, seemingly impressive movements. Allowing the bandit leader Song Diao'er and Xiao Qiang to kill each other was not only to ensure Xiao Qiang died with regrets, but also to observe the marvel of the 'Flying Swallow' sword, which leaves the hand and circles. On the Xiangfan official road, the sword-controlling technique of the Wu Family Sword Master had truly opened the Crown Prince's eyes, and to say he wasn't envious would be self-deception. Just moments ago, Song Diao'er, with his venomous soft sword and near-second-rank strength, had forced Xiao Qiang to reveal all his abilities. Later, the Crown Prince's act of scaring Song Diao'er with a flying sword was an impromptu decision, a result of an itch to try it out. Fortunately, he managed to put on a brave face successfully without too much embarrassment. Xu Fengnian's impression of Song Diao'er, a bandit who came from a scholarly background, was not bad. He was calculating, patient, and, rarely, knew when to advance and retreat. But what Xu Fengnian admired most were Song Diao'er's dying words. Perhaps "a dying man's words are good," but it was precisely these words that made Xu Fengnian truly respect Song Diao'er. Song Diao'er had said his second brother was a rare honest person on the border; wasn't Song Diao'er himself just as honest?

After Xu Fengnian walked away, he spat out a mouthful of blood, quickly covering it with his hand. A 'Pifu' short sword flew from his sleeve. After carefully nurturing it, he quietly put it away. Forging a sword embryo by drinking blood, and nurturing a spiritual root with spiritual energy, is the first step to successfully creating a flying sword. A good sword embryo, excellent sword nurturing, and strong sword control are all necessary for a flying sword to kill. Currently, Xu Fengnian can wield a sword without touching it to scare people, but definitely not to kill.

Xu Fengnian had arrived in a hurry but left at his leisure. He recalled how, years ago, he had raided with Yan Chiji's daughter, Yan Dongwu, on a snowy night. After killing those training targets, he had even given her that hideous mask. If anyone claimed he had deliberately shown off in front of the 'cold beauty,' they would truly be wronging the Crown Prince. Had he not communicated with Xu Xiao in this manner, given Xu Xiao's strict control over Beiliang, Yan Chiji would not have been able to go to the capital to become an upright official, nor could Yan Dongwu become an imperial relative by marrying into the royal family. In fact, Yan Chiji wouldn't even have been able to leave Beiliang.

Of the four unreliable friends he grew up with, only Li Hanlin had turned over a new leaf, earning military merits through desperate fighting in the Beiliang army. The other two had surprisingly gone to the capital and, constrained by their families, were forced to stand against Beiliang. This was undoubtedly a massive irony.

Xu Fengnian walked back to the Fish Dragon Gang's outpost and saw Liu Nirong standing far off, her face like frost. When Xu Fengnian had gone out to track Xiao Qiang, he had noticed she was following him, but she had lost him and had to turn back. Liu Nirong waited for a long time, finally seeing the general's son, who had presented too many mysteries, approaching. She sneered, "So, Young Master Xu's qinggong is truly first-rate. You must have a profound family background and guidance from famous masters."

Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "Just average."

Liu Nirong had no intention of beating around the bush and asked directly, "Didn't you see Gang Leader Xiao?"

Xu Fengnian replied straightforwardly, "If I told you I accidentally ran into Gang Leader Xiao practicing his sword, felt an itch to try it myself, and accidentally killed him during our spar... or, that Gang Leader Xiao conspired with four bandit groups to usurp goods and hand Miss Liu over to a bandit leader, all so his son, Xiao Ling, could take over the Fish Dragon Gang. Which would you rather believe?"

Liu Nirong scoffed, "I just want to know how you came back alive!"

Xu Fengnian slowly explained, "There were four bandit groups. One was nicknamed 'Li Heita,' who used a pair of Xuanhua battle axes and a golden sparrow pickaxe. Another was nicknamed 'Old Copper Coin,' who used a po dao. There was also a man with a scar on his face, and the last bandit's nickname is unknown. Anyway, Xiao Qiang was an old acquaintance of one of them. After leaving Daoma Pass, they connected, and the four groups combined forces to raise about a hundred bandit riders. Before reaching Liuxia City, they harassed the Fish Dragon Gang daily with scattered rider skirmishes. On the last day, they were to coordinate an inside-outside attack. If Xiao Qiang couldn't administer the sleeping drug, he was to assassinate Gongsun Yang. Afterwards, they would split four thousand taels of silver. However, they are all dead now. I advise you not to dig deeper into this matter; it won't benefit the Fish Dragon Gang. Just tell Xiao Ling that his father died fighting bravely against the bandits."

Liu Nirong stared intently at Xu Fengnian and said, "Do you think I would trust someone whose surname I just learned with such an important matter?"

Xu Fengnian retorted, "You might know Xiao Qiang's ancestors for eighteen generations, but did you trust him?"

Liu Nirong was momentarily speechless, and the atmosphere grew tense. Gongsun Yang, limping slightly, emerged from the shadows to mediate, smiling, "Miss, I believe Young Master Xu."

Liu Nirong snorted coldly and moved aside. As Xu Fengnian walked up the slope, Liu Nirong watched his detestable back. Her chest finally heaved, revealing her inner anxiety and fear. She turned and softly asked, "Uncle Gongsun, is it really like this?"

Gongsun Yang smiled wryly, "The truth doesn't matter; the outcome is what's crucial. Since Young Master Xu has returned safely, we might as well consider that Xiao Qiang died heroically fighting the bandits for the Fish Dragon Gang. This explanation works for Xiao Qiang, for you, Miss, and for the Fish Dragon Gang. It's reasonable for you to doubt Young Master Xu's identity. However, no matter who he is from the General's Residence of Military Armaments, consider the current state of the Fish Dragon Gang; it's not worth a general's residence personally scheming and framing us. That's enough. Since the Fish Dragon Gang and the General's Residence are still in a cooperative relationship, what does it matter if Young Master Xu's actions are somewhat unusual? In the jianghu, who doesn't have their own secrets?"

Liu Nirong hummed in acknowledgment.

Gongsun Yang hesitated, then said, "Miss, please don't pay too much attention to Young Master Xu."

Liu Nirong looked up and smiled openly, "Uncle Gongsun, you worry too much. How could Nirong be so shortsighted and sentimental? Besides, I only feel aversion towards this fellow."

Gongsun Yang smiled. Liu Nirong, with clear eyes, asked, "Is Xiao Qiang really dead? Was it an internal conflict among the bandits, and then the one surnamed Xu picked up the pieces?"

Gongsun Yang sighed, "I can't figure it out, can't guess it."

Liu Nirong smiled, "Then I won't think about it."

Gongsun Yang said with a forced smile, "That method certainly saves trouble."

Xu Fengnian returned to the bonfire, which was still burning brightly. It must have been Young Wang Dashi who had added dry branches when he wasn't there; there were also many twigs and straw nearby. Spending the night on a hilltop was no pleasant affair due to the significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. The Fish Dragon Gang, unlike those who regularly transported goods, was already full of complaints. However, they had previously been intimidated by scattered bandit scouts, so they were content just to catch some sleep during their rotating watches. Xu Fengnian silently entered a meditative state. The human body has 361 acupoints, like individual post stations, with the twelve main meridians and eight extraordinary meridians forming the main routes. The flow of qi generally progresses systematically and predictably. When practicing swordsmanship or blademanship, most people can pick it up. Yet, why does the same sword or blade yield vastly different results in different hands? Ordinary martial artists' weapon mastery, their "techniques," are merely inherited sets of forms from their masters. Even with occasional luck, acquiring a few secret martial arts manuals, they might only open three or four out of ten acupoints. Their internal qi cultivation remains limited, and their ability to summon it is strained. Daoist practitioners of the 'Great Yellow Court' cultivation aim to open all 361 'grotto heavens and blessed lands' within their bodies, drawing vast qi from heaven and earth, gathering it without leakage. When Wang Chonglou initially infused the Great Yellow Court with his supreme technique, it was, after all, an act against nature. Xu Fengnian lost a quarter of the Great Yellow Court's power then, and even with his cautious and subtle approach to opening acupoints afterwards, he had to lose another fraction. What he truly assimilated was only half of the Great Yellow Court, yet it had already brought him close to the Vajra realm. The immense benefits of the Great Yellow Court were evident from this. Currently, six of Xu Fengnian's major acupoints remain sealed. No matter how he breathes according to the unique incantations, nourishing his yin and yang, moistening his muscles and bones, he cannot break through that final barrier. This was already the greatest achievement obtained under the premise of hundreds of 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes' techniques honed by the old man in sheepskin.

Wang Xianzhi's blademanship manual contained very few explanations of specific moves. Instead, it mostly listed numerous obscure, even illogical, trajectories of qi flow, most of which defied common sense. However, after Xu Fengnian privately verified them, he had a sudden realization regarding Old Sword God Li's explanation of sword intent and moves, given when he tapped walnuts with his Xiudong blade on the boat bow. The more profound a sword move, the more intricate the qi circulation required to support it. Practice makes perfect. Ordinary people only see masters striking effortlessly with the power to level cities and shake mountains, unaware of the arduous difficulties of their cultivation. Li Chungang once claimed that his peak strike in his prime involved qi circulating three hundred li within his body instantaneously. Hence the saying about a sword immortal's strike being a "mind wandering ten thousand li, spirit galloping eight extremes." What kind of terrifying "loss of self" was that?

Xu Fengnian opened his eyes, exhaled a cloudy breath, and self-deprecatingly remarked, "It seems that if one isn't skilled in arcane arts, unless they possess a truly once-in-a-century extraordinary talent, they can't become a martial arts grandmaster."

The Crown Prince looked up at the brilliant, low-hanging starry sky and asked seriously, "Kill six second-rank experts, two Vajra realm practitioners, and one Finger-Mysterious realm master – can you do it?"

Xu Fengnian looked down at the unadorned Chunlei blade and chuckled, "That's certainly easier than bringing home the world's ten most beautiful women to display as vases."

The Crown Prince leaned back, lay on the ground, made a face at the starry sky, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Is it good in heaven?"

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