Chapter 27: Most Deadly

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Hidden in the bamboo grove, the ox rider chewed on a bamboo leaf, squatting to observe the scene and speak his mind. This young Grand-Uncle-Master harbored no ill will towards the Crown Prince. Especially after the Crown Prince began his sword training on the mountain, each time books were brought to Wudang, one or two excellent books unrelated to martial arts would be included. The mountain scenery was, of course, beautiful; otherwise, the ancients would not have called it a ‘Glazed World.’ For over a thousand years, since the previous dynasty, Wudang had been revered as the Grand Mountain among the Five Great Peaks. Its architecture seemed to connect with both heaven's fortune and earth's energy; even individually, its structures surpassed those of the self-important Dragon Tiger Mountain, and the other three peaks could hardly rival Wudang.

Despite having seen the scenery for over twenty years, Hongbaixiang never grew tired of it and always hoped for new faces and events. The Crown Prince remarked that this ‘joy in the familiar’ was a positive trait. The young Grand-Uncle-Master cherished the familiar people and routines on the mountain. His Elder Brother was like a benevolent father. Senior Brother Chen, who had thoroughly read the Jade Pillar scriptures, was a bit stricter; whenever he discovered something brought from down the mountain, he would sigh deeply and earnestly, habitually pacing in circles like an ant in front of Hongbaixiang, sometimes for over thirty rotations. Then there was Junior Brother Wang, who practiced his sword in silence. His swordsmanship was exceptional. While others meticulously studied sword moves and stances, especially those from the Wu Family Sword Tomb who pushed techniques to their human limits, Junior Brother Wang singularly cultivated sword intent on the isolated path of swordsmanship, akin to the legendary Deng Tai’a. He had personally witnessed Junior Brother Wang standing on a large rock at the Elephant Washing Pool, using his sword energy to shatter the waterfall. Several older Senior Brothers, all good people with diverse personalities and the demeanor of ancient alchemists, treated Hongbaixiang with great care.

However, things became interesting once the Crown Prince arrived on the mountain.

Gazing at the tense standoff outside the thatched hut, Hongbaixiang couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety for the Crown Prince. Excluding the wealthy woman disguised as a man, the other two individuals from the capital were formidable opponents. The gloomy uncle, in particular, who had exchanged a move with the Elder Brother, possessed unfathomable internal cultivation. If not for the Headmaster, his Elder Brother, having mastered the Great Yellow Courtyard, a rare Taoist achievement in a century, the enemy would not have been repelled so easily. The outside world only knew that the sect's final barrier was incredibly difficult to breach, but they were unaware that exiting the Great Yellow Courtyard once mastered was an even greater challenge. Many centenarian masters of high seniority on Dragon Tiger Mountain remained reclusive in their blessed grotto-heavens because they had cultivated the Great Yellow Courtyard but subsequently found themselves trapped in an unyielding mental cul-de-sac.

The delicate stalemate was effortlessly broken by a person carrying a sword on their back, who slowly approached from the direction of the waterfall.

It was Junior Brother Wang, known as Wudang's foremost simpleton.

Junior Brother Wang, past forty, possessed a gaunt yet exceptionally dashing appearance. He carried a long, slender peach-wood sword, bronze in color, named Shen Tu. Legend claimed an ancient immortal once used this sword to slay a thousand-year-old fox spirit that had brought disaster upon the nation. The sword bore both immortal energy and demonic essence, making it impossible to wield without immense perseverance.

Old Taoist Wang Chonglou said gently, “Conflict is not suitable on the mountain. Why don't we all go to the nearby Ziyang Palace for a simple vegetarian meal?”

Xu Fengnian chuckled, “Only with a full stomach can one have the strength to fight.”

The anxious woman, whose beauty was only average, sneered, “It's not enough that Wudang's Headmaster personally intervened; even Wang Xiaoping, the mountain's top swordsman, has brought his sword to observe. Wudang's hospitality is truly touching. I've noted this kindness, and I will repay it with a grand gift when we meet again.”

Xu Fengnian smiled nonchalantly, “It seems, ‘Little Sparrow,’ you're no longer interested in bothering your future husband. In that case, I, this Crown Prince, will have these hundred crossbowmen escort you down the mountain. Once we reach the bottom, I'll summon two or three hundred iron cavalry to escort you all the way out of Liang Province.”

She clenched her teeth, grinding them, and spat out three ‘good’s in a row, laughing despite her rage: “Good, good, good! I'll remember all this, Xu Fengnian. Just you wait!”

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to speak, Jiang Ni interjected, inappropriately and naively, “My vegetable patch, compensate me!”

Xu Fengnian glared at her in annoyance, and Jiang Ni glared back, their eyes locking in a fierce, murderous stare. Yet, in a certain woman's eyes, it appeared to be playful flirting. She snorted coldly, stomping fiercely on the filthy muddy ground as if she wished to flatten Wudang Mountain before being satisfied, and then led her two attendants away.

On the way down the mountain, she repeatedly complained of fatigue and stopped to rest, ignoring her status as she sat on a stone slab, massaging her calves. On the ascent, she had been so focused on making the enemy she most wished to crush suffer that she hadn't noticed the throbbing pain in the soles of her feet. Now, taking off her boots, she saw alarming bloodstains and burst into loud, powerful wails, her cries echoing mournfully across Wudang Mountain. The two attendants behind her, though of high status, dared not look directly at her, treading on thin ice in her presence. Hearing her cries, they felt uneasy and dared not even offer comfort. The woman, whose family background was the most noble in the world, cried for a while, then gradually quieted. She reluctantly put on her exquisitely crafted boots, wiped away her tears, and muttered to herself, “Eunuch Sun, you couldn't defeat Wang Chonglou, and Zhang Huan couldn't defeat Wang Xiaoping. Sigh, I should have brought more imperial guards!”

Only top-ranking eunuchs within the palace were referred to as ‘Diao Si’ or ‘Chief Eunuch,’ and they were exceedingly few, a mere handful in the entire dynasty. Upon encountering these high-ranking eunuchs, whose faces remained beardless due to castration, even princes with the closest ties to the Emperor, or powerful, favored ministers, would hold their noses and give them a wide berth. Those on good terms might even go out of their way to exchange pleasantries. The founding emperor of the Liyang Dynasty established thirteen stone tablets in a certain hall, explicitly stipulating that eunuchs were forbidden from interfering in politics or leaving the capital without permission. Since this Chief Eunuch Sun was able to secretly leave the capital, the woman's identity became clear: only the lawless Princess Suizhu could receive such extraordinary treatment, allowing the current emperor to turn a blind eye.

Eunuch Sun had endured complete humiliation from the Crown Prince on Wudang Mountain today. He had already devised a hundred ways to make life difficult for ‘Crippled Xu’ upon returning to the capital. Even if he couldn't topple the deeply rooted Xu family, it would still be satisfying to vex the Grand Pillar Nation, who was thousands of miles from the capital.

“A towering tree reaching the heavens? As high as the Son of Heaven?” Eunuch Sun sneered inwardly.

Princess Suizhu, having lost a beloved pair of luminous pearls, looked up and said viciously, “Zhang Huan, I know you're going to write a secret report to my imperial father. Just write that Xu Fengnian has actually been biding his time all these years, that all his dissolute behavior was a disguise, that this Crown Prince harbors immense ambitions, and that after meeting me in Liang Province, he treated me with great warmth.”

The former prince of the fallen Eastern Yue kingdom was stunned, unsure whether to agree. Refusal meant failing the immediate test, while agreement meant the grave crime of deceiving the emperor. The Eastern Yue imperial family was already decimated, with only a few members remaining.

Eunuch Sun resolved the urgent situation, speaking in a high-pitched, feminine voice, “Princess, state affairs are no child's play. We need only report the truth as it happened. Won't His Majesty still vindicate Your Highness? If His Majesty mistakenly believes Xu Fengnian is truly ambitious, wouldn't he then be determined to form a marital alliance with ‘Crippled Xu’? What then, Your Highness?”

After a moment of serious contemplation, she frowned and said, “Hmm, in that case, I would be utterly disgraced. Living with such a good-for-nothing would make me a laughingstock worldwide.”

Eunuch Sun and Zhang Huan, who carried the two Qadang knives, exchanged a knowing glance, both seeing the other's sigh of relief. The two, who had initially been at odds, had developed a certain unspoken understanding during their Wudang journey.

Princess Suizhu limped down the mountain, quietly asking, “Eunuch Sun, what do you think of this Xu Fengnian?”

Eunuch Sun sneered, “He is utterly devoid of virtue and morality. I used to think the rumors from the capital were exaggerated, but since arriving in Liang Province, there isn't a single prefecture or county where he isn't cursed. What I witnessed today confirms it.”

Princess Suizhu, her thoughts complex, lowered her voice and asked, “Zhang Huan, is he actually decent with a blade? He made you draw both your knives.”

The former prince of the fallen Eastern Yue kingdom laughed, “If I truly wanted to kill him, one Qadang brocade knife and ten moves would be more than enough.”

The Princess mumbled “Oh,” muttered “Xu good-for-nothing,” and said nothing more.

Behind them, a hundred Beiliang elite soldiers trailed far behind, observing the three.

On the mountain, the Headmaster, the old Taoist priest, departed with his Junior Brother Wang Xiaoping, but not before giving Xu Fengnian a bottle of medicinal pills. Hongbaixiang, looking dispirited, went to lead the green ox, leaving only Xu Fengnian standing at the edge of the messy vegetable patch, watching the dazed Jiang Ni within it.

The Crown Prince chuckled, “If she won't compensate you, I will.”

Jiang Ni crouched on the ground, gently propping up a seedling without a word.

Xu Fengnian squatted down to help, but Jiang Ni pushed his hand away, sending him sprawling into the mud.

She looked up, puzzled, and saw blood seeping through Xu Fengnian's fingers, despite him covering his mouth. He seemed not to want Jiang Ni to see this terrible sight, so he abruptly stood up and left the vegetable patch.

Xu Fengnian, suffering from significant internal injuries, swallowed a fragrant, dark green medicinal pill in the small cave dwelling behind the waterfall, slowly regulating his qi.

His desperate fight with the Qadang blade master hadn't caused severe injuries, only superficial wounds on his hands, which were no problem for Xu Fengnian; it had been the norm during his last six months of blade training. However, the most fatal blow came from the individual who was, without a doubt, a high-ranking palace eunuch. Had Wang Chonglou not blocked the majority of the attack, Xu Fengnian wouldn't have even been able to stumble here, let alone crawl back.

After his blade practice, Xu Fengnian prioritized his breathing exercises. He instinctively circulated his qi and blood through several ‘Small Kunlun’ cycles, which brought about a slight improvement. He opened his eyes to see Hongbaixiang, who had brought some vegetarian food.

The young Grand-Uncle-Master said softly, “You're quite a good person.”

Xu Fengnian shook his head and laughed, “She's my maid. Whether I hit her, scold her, or tease her, that's my right. What business is it of others to bully her? Slapping her face is like slapping mine, isn't it?”

The ox rider sighed, “I don't understand these things.”

Xu Fengnian scoffed, “You only understand nonsense.”

The one who had kindly brought the food did not refute him. Last time the Crown Prince came up the mountain, he had beaten him but avoided his face and groin, a fact for which the perpetually content Hongbaixiang was quite grateful. He suddenly seemed to remember something and cautiously asked, “Was that woman truly Princess Suizhu, whom you rejected for marriage?”

Xu Fengnian sneered, “You know all that?”

The young Grand-Uncle-Master, who least resembled a Taoist master, chuckled foolishly, “I've heard some things about the world below from the young Taoists and pilgrims.”

Leaning against the wall, Xu Fengnian's slender fingers stroked the simple scabbard of his Xiudong blade. Changing the subject, he spoke in a flat tone: “Back then, the old emperor sought to dismantle the martial world, which was disrupting order, and compel all martial artists nationwide to subserviently prostrate themselves at the Son of Heaven's feet, like obedient dogs. However, several major vassal kings feigned illness, while others outspokenly declared the plan inappropriate. Whether this outspokenness stemmed from righteousness or self-interest, several great generals were equally reluctant to be the villains who compromised their integrity. In the end, who bore the world's condemnation? It was Xu Xiao. That crippled man went on to annihilate Western Shu, and then, under the Xu family banner, he turned his spearhead against all martial artists in the realm. Among them were many Beiliang soldiers, particularly officers, whose family roots lay in the martial world. At that time, military morale was more chaotic than ever before. Even before the Beiliang army engaged in battle, twenty thousand seasoned veterans resigned and returned home, and countless formidable generals from the martial world, harboring resentment towards Xu Xiao, defected to other armies. Yet, did Xu Xiao ever complain?”

Hongbaixiang wasn't surprised that the Crown Prince referred to his own father as ‘Crippled Xu.’ He had even heard that if there was a disagreement, the Crown Prince would chase the Grand Pillar Nation with a broom. The young Grand-Uncle-Master, who already struggled to comprehend the people and affairs outside the mountain, found this most peculiar father-son pair utterly baffling.

Xu Fengnian said calmly, “Later, the current emperor expressed various dissatisfactions with the Shangyin Academy. The Academy argued that destroying Western Shu would harm the dynasty's fortune and that the Western Chu imperial family should be treated kindly, lest it dampen the spirits of scholars nationwide. What could His Majesty do but have Xu Xiao be the scapegoat? In one decisive stroke, he utterly destroyed Western Shu in just two months. As for the popular Western Chu imperial family, Xu Xiao even killed their old emperor with a single sword thrust, and nearly a hundred royal family members were hanged on the city walls, virtually eradicating Western Chu. With that, the emperor could sleep soundly. Setting aside Xu Xiao's actions over the years, even I, a mere profligate who at most would vex respectable young ladies in Liang Province, have faced countless assassination attempts. If not for sheer luck, I would have died long ago. With Jiang Ni, I accept it. For a little girl who lost her parents at five to hold a grudge against me, that's understandable. But why are so many old foxes, who have lived for decades or even a full cycle, so unreasonable? Why drag promising young talents, whom they painstakingly cultivated, to their graves as sacrifices? Isn't it better to just live well?”

Xu Fengnian's expression became surprisingly soft. He said softly, “It's fine if they died. They can just go accompany my mother.”

The ox rider dared not speak, fearing a beating to his face or groin.

Xu Fengnian regained his composure and said, “You might not believe it, but I held a blade at six and killed at nine. Back then, my aspiration was to become the world's foremost master, ride the fiercest horses, wield the fastest and largest Mo Dao, draw my blade to help whenever I encountered injustice, and later marry a woman as gentle and kind as my mother. Only then would life be truly satisfying. What do the hundreds of thousands of Beiliang iron cavalry have to do with me? But after growing up, I learned that many things don't go as one wishes, and many people refuse to listen to reason, no matter how you try to explain. So when Xu Xiao told me not to touch a blade for ten years, and then to travel for three more years, I complied. Last year, Old Huang, who had a missing tooth, died. I didn't ask Xu Xiao if he wanted Old Huang to die on the Wudi City wall; I dared not ask. Today I practice the blade, and later I will practice the sword. Even if I don't become proficient in either, or even if I give up halfway, I will still...”

The young Grand-Uncle-Master broke out in a cold sweat, becoming as silent as a cicada in winter.

Xu Fengnian rested his head against the stone wall, not voicing his final thoughts. He simply looked at the luminous pearl on the opposite wall and said self-deprecatingly, “You asked for my sister to fare well in Jiangnan. If she's unhappy, I won't be polite to you. This unreasonableness, I learned from the rest of the world.”

Hongbaixiang said with a bitter expression, “But I am the most reasonable of all Taoists.”

Xu Fengnian recalled a graceful figure he had seen from afar by the Luoshui River during his three years of travels. He stared blankly and said, “The blade of longing is the most lethal.”

Hongbaixiang was about to flatter the Crown Prince, commenting on the profound wisdom of his words, but Xu Fengnian, sensing it, preemptively said, “Shut up.”

My QT room has been opened. The official QT room number for Fenghuo Xizhu Hou is [1655].

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