Chapter 243: Duckhead Green

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Xu Fengnian longed to tell the naive youth, new to the martial world, that even the white-robed heroes who roamed the land with their swords still worried about three meals a day. Those seemingly ethereal beauties also had their petty jealousies and narrow-mindedness. Even the swaggering regional lords endured their share of humiliation, forced to swallow their pride and their blood. Yet, he ultimately decided against it. For a young man, a martial arts dream, even if it was just a daydream, was a good thing if it could last one more day. Xu Fengnian bent down and stroked the soft mane of his brown horse. His father, who had immediately slandered his wife upon their first meeting, predictably received a sound beating. Yet, what truly astonished the world was how this young soldier from Liaodong, after countless close escapes from death, had climbed step by step to the pinnacle of power. Beyond the typical armor of a general, he also donned the blue satin python robe, known to all throughout the dynasty. However, in the Prince's eyes, formidable titles like King of Northern Liang, Grand Pillar of the State, and Grand General were rarely deeply considered, perhaps due to their constant presence. His most vivid memory was of Xu Xiao sewing cloth shoes year after year. As a boy, he found Xu Xiao utterly boring, and even now, he still found him boring.

How boring, indeed. The Butcher Xu Xiao had so much to say, but Zhao Changling was gone, and so many old brothers who had shared his life but not his death were also gone. He had never remarried, and his children were either married, studying abroad, or traveling far. Who was left for him to talk to?

Xu Fengnian let out a long breath, suddenly realizing he, too, was quite bored; at least, this journey north certainly was. The Prince found himself inexplicably recalling Wooden Sword Wen Hua's favorite phrase: "I'm feeling rather melancholic right now."

The Fish Dragon Gang reached the vicinity of Yan Hui Pass without incident, whereupon Xu Fengnian turned north. He had avoided heading directly into the heart of Longyao Prefecture from Liuxia City, fearing that the old fox Wei might notice something. His refusal to accept Chun Nong Qiushui had already raised suspicions, and Xu Fengnian wished to avoid further complications over such minor matters. His departure from the Fish Dragon Gang evoked neither sadness nor joy; it was as calm as still water. The Fish Dragon Gang, not daring to enter the city, had to camp overnight on a loess plateau. Sleeping with the sky as their blanket and the earth as their bed was not pleasant—it was the kind of hardship people would reminisce about only after achieving success. At that moment, few were willing to endure such difficulties.

As expected, only the young man from the Fish Dragon Gang saw Xu Fengnian off. As the sun set, Xu Fengnian paused before mounting his horse and smiled, "The boxing technique I taught you isn't some profound martial art; it relies on persistence, like water eroding stone. Just treat it as a way to strengthen your body. As for the sword move called 'Three Pounds,' you might never be able to execute it in your life. If you knew that the swordsman who created this stance was an old blacksmith with missing teeth, you'd surely be disappointed. His name is Huang, from West Shu. He lived a life of poverty, with no wife and no disciples. So, I'll take you as his disciple on his behalf. You both are a bit foolish, but a foolish master doesn't mind a not-so-clever disciple. There are too many sly characters in the martial world, all like cunning foxes trying to become spirits; I am one of them. Truly honest people are as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns, and you are one. So, don't learn from me. If I don't make it back to Northern Liang, at least one of his sword techniques will be preserved."

Once Xu Fengnian mounted his horse, he, his mount, and his Spring Thunder blade set off towards Beimang.

Wang Dashi stood gazing into the distance until Young Master Xu's figure vanished. He then clenched his fists, steeling his resolve, and vowed never to be lazy. Turning around, he saw Liu Nirong standing nearby, and his freshly mustered courage instantly dissipated. The young man was left with nothing but awkwardness. Liu Nirong merely smiled, and they walked back up the hill together. Even as slow-witted as Wang Dashi was, he could sense the underlying tension between her and Young Master Xu. He cautiously remarked, "Young Master Xu truly is a good person."

Liu Nirong said softly, "For you, he is indeed a good person; I don't deny that."

Wang Dashi's face flushed red. The young man, simple and honest, found himself tongue-tied, unsure how to articulate his thoughts.

Riding north alone, Xu Fengnian practiced a foundational Daoist qi-cultivation technique while on horseback, perfectly synchronizing one inhale with six exhales with the horse's gentle undulations. He blew qi to dispel heat and calm his mind, exhaled to stabilize the "eight winds," breathed out to "plant green lotuses," and sighed to "nurture dragons and tigers." He constantly supplemented this with internal "teeth-tapping" and "gold-knocking jade" sounds echoing in his mind. The qi flow within his body grew increasingly skilled with practice. Over time, his physique felt as agile as a bear stretching or a bird extending its limbs, naturally forming the "Three Pure Heavens" and the "Great Yellow Court Ascending Heaven Pavilion." Most notably, a protective layer began to form around his heart. Different Daoist texts offered varying interpretations of this phenomenon: some described it as a golden core forming a nascent immortal soul, while others referred to it as a longevity lotus taking root in the heart. Xu Fengnian could now clearly feel six vibrant streams of qi swirling joyfully around his heart, like dragons clasping pearls, providing powerful protection. While he was still far from the internal vision required for soul-travel, his continuous, intense absorption of the Great Yellow Court allowed him a nascent, albeit vague, understanding of drawing upon celestial phenomena and connecting with earthly energies. Though still a mere "window paper" away from the Vajra Realm, Xu Fengnian was confident that his understanding of this realm more closely resembled the Heavenly King form of the white-robed monks of Liangchan Temple, distinct from that of ordinary top martial artists. Had it not been so, he would have long since perished by Miss Hehe's hand-knife assassination. The Great Yellow Court's profound "Qi Unifying the Three Pure Heavens" meant, in simple terms, that before his mind and qi were utterly exhausted, even if his limbs were severed, his combat effectiveness would not be severely compromised. This was far more practical than the invaluable silk soft armor he wore.

Thus, the realm of the Sages from the Three Teachings was far more conducive to becoming a Land Immortal than the path of the martial world's "dragons and pythons" who sought validation through strength. However, a high realm did not necessarily translate to superior killing prowess. While Buddhism spoke of the Vajra's wrathful gaze subduing demons, its ultimate focus remained on the Bodhisattva's compassionate gaze upon the six realms of existence. This was precisely why Beimang's martial arts rankings painstakingly placed Imperial Advisor Qilin True Man and the Abbot of Liangchan Temple outside the conventional martial arts evaluations. As for Cao Changqing, the man in green, one should know that he was once an unparalleled scholar-general who led armies in battle. He was lauded as a unique anomaly who could instigate murderous intent in heaven and earth and cause dragons and snakes to rise from the ground—the foremost outlier among millions of scholars across the Liyang and Beimang dynasties. As Xu Fengnian's own realm ascended and his perception of the world sharpened dramatically, his recollection of their encounter on the Jiangnan road allowed him to increasingly sense Cao Guanzai's profound hidden depths at that time.

Freed from the need to account for the Fish Dragon Gang, Xu Fengnian rode alone, enduring the scorching sun by day and traveling under the stars and moon by night. Within five days, he reached the heart of Longyao Prefecture, with just one more day's journey to Feihu City. His mount, an ordinary, inferior horse, was utterly exhausted. Xu Fengnian himself, covered in dust from head to toe, had become a disheveled, unkempt man. Indeed, he no longer even needed his disguise; no one would have recognized this sword-wielding wanderer as the elegant Prince. In the vast, sun-baked desert, with heat shimmering off the road, Xu Fengnian slowed his horse. He found himself truly missing the misty rains, small bridges, and flowing streams of Jiangnan. Even the village girls there exuded a natural freshness. When thirsty, one could simply bend down and drink from a stream. But in this desolate wilderness, even relieving oneself felt like a regrettable waste, as if one were losing several taels of silver.

Alone and solitary, Xu Fengnian unhooked the waterskin from behind his horse and drank the last mouthful, which had become surprisingly hot. He grinned. A hundred miles of uninhabited land also had its advantages. When the mood struck, whether practicing sword nurturing, sword control, or unleashing "sword qi rolling dragon walls," he could do so without restraint. This vast land teemed with scorpions and poisonous insects, and whenever he spotted one, he would try to slay it with his unrefined flying sword. Eight out of ten times, the angle would be off, causing him to miss. Occasionally, he would hit, but often, due to obstructed qi flow, the force would be too weak, rendering the attempt futile. Yet, in those rare, accidental successes, our Prince would throw his head back and laugh like a madman. Indeed, who but an utter madman would bring twelve flying swords to Beimang?

Alone in the vast, desolate landscape, the bored Prince, with no one to talk to, no worries, and no external reliance, truly achieved single-minded focus. As he refined his Great Yellow Court, bringing it closer to perfection, he also perused blade manuals, carefully studying complex qi circulation diagrams to guide his qi through vital acupoints. Unbeknownst to him, his cultivation surged forward by leaps and bounds.

That thin "window paper" grew increasingly translucent. Xu Fengnian was in no hurry. His hungry, emaciated mount had begun to slack off, its head drooping, hooves heavy and sluggish, refusing to move forward, letting out weak snorts. Xu Fengnian gently nudged the horse's flank, leaned down, and stroked its dry mane, which was thick with fine yellow sand. He chuckled softly, "Most of the water from those several waterskins on this journey went straight into your mouth. Don't whine now. Just a few more miles; I can already see smoke. It might very well be an inn. Good buddy, I promise you won't be mistreated once we get there."

Although signs of human habitation were indeed visible, Xu Fengnian knew that "looking at mountains could exhaust horses," and his sole companion, the poor horse, was clearly at its limit. He dismounted, loosened the reins, and allowed it to follow behind. Freed from the 140-150 jin burden, the bony, lazy creature finally regained its breath and immediately began trotting with light steps, not forgetting to rub its neck against its master. Xu Fengnian watched its playful antics with a mix of amusement and exasperation; despite its poor stamina, it wasn't foolish. Man and horse slowly made their way towards the rising smoke. Xu Fengnian looked up, surprised to see that the inn was quite substantial, built around a courtyard with a three-story main building capable of accommodating over a hundred travelers when full. Besides five or six carriages, a simple stable outside the inn was packed with more than thirty horses, most of them sleek, tall, and robust. The neighs of several steeds even carried an arrogant air, enough to make the Prince feel self-conscious about his own mount. Outside the inn, a dark-skinned stable boy was squatting on a dry tree stump, dozing. At his feet, a clear spring emanated cool, refreshing vapor. In a desert where travelers' throats could burn, such a well was more enticing and enviable than a beautiful woman in one's bed at night.

Xu Fengnian observed the stable boy sleeping soundly, a string of drool at the corner of his mouth, and smiled with a knowing glint—a look men understood, wondering which beautiful woman who had passed through the inn he was dreaming of, likely one with fair skin and a shapely figure, a common preference in this desolate place. Not wanting to disturb him, Xu Fengnian quietly approached, turned the surprisingly hot wooden mechanism, drew up a bucket of water, took a spoonful to drink, and was about to wash his poor, skinny horse's nose when the dark-skinned, muscular stable boy suddenly awoke. Seeing the "theft" of water, he leaped off the stump and, without a word, delivered a kick. Xu Fengnian, unperturbed and with a calm expression, instinctively tensed his abdomen, absorbing the fierce blow that would have laid an ordinary man up for half a year. Noticing the young stable boy's arrogant expression and his inability to retract his leg, as he prepared to spin for another kick, Xu Fengnian quickly offered a small smile and said, "I had no intention of drinking this water for free, young man. Just charge me the going rate. I'd like to stay here; could you help me arrange a room?"

Like the saying, "men rely on clothes, Buddha relies on gold," the immobilized stable boy, though defeated physically, refused to be defeated in spirit. Still fuming, he glared and cursed, "If I hadn't woken up, you'd have drunk this water for free! Stay in this damn inn? Look at you and this beast—you're both so poor, it'd be a miracle if you had a coin in your pocket! Get out now, or I'll use my ultimate technique! Then, your life or death won't be my concern!"

Xu Fengnian wore a helpless expression, about to retreat a few steps to de-escalate the situation, when unexpectedly, a middle-aged woman appeared at the inn's entrance, hands on her "bucket waist." Her cheeks were smeared with thick, caked rouge, clearly applied without any skill, making her appearance strikingly conspicuous. She bellowed like a lioness, "Qin Wuzu! Your paltry 'three-legged cat' skills are your 'ultimate technique'? You're ruining the inn's business! I'll make sure you have no descendants!"

The dark-skinned man, who possessed a rather impressive name, became as quiet as a cicada in winter. He forced a smile, though his glance at Xu Fengnian remained anything but friendly. Withdrawing his leg, he let out a cold snort, "Consider yourself lucky, kid."

"Qin Wuzu! Thoroughly wash this young master's precious steed and feed it top-grade horse feed! If you dare to play any tricks, I'll carve you up!"

The woman, whose heavily made-up face was as domineering as her "bucket waist," turned to Xu Fengnian with a much warmer and more sincere smile. She gestured, "Young Master, please come right in! Our 'Duck Head Green Inn' offers food, drink, and lodging at fair prices, with no deception. In this part of Longyao Prefecture, we are a well-known establishment. Once you stay with us, Young Master, you'll discover our genuine hospitality."

Xu Fengnian patted his skinny horse, which had finally found some relief, and walked alone into the notably spacious courtyard. However, the moment he stepped inside, he sensed gazes from all directions, as if he had slain their ancestors for eighteen generations. In comparison, the stable boy now seemed positively endearing. The woman with the "bucket-snake waist" smiled and softly explained, "Young Master, don't mind them. These rough men haven't had a woman's company in ten days to half a month. They look at everyone with such hungry eyes. Our 'Duck Head Green Inn' has a total of sixteen ladies for guests, and they go to the highest bidder. These poor devils are just afraid of other valiant men with fatter purses than theirs."

Xu Fengnian burst into laughter, realizing he had, in fact, walked into a brothel.