Chapter 350: A Qing Embroidered Shoe

Baidu Tieba

Search within this forumSearch by tags

Total 1 pageReplies: 1

While checking for updates, don't forget to click the "sign in" button in the top right corner.

"Sword Snow Stride" by Feng Huo Xi Zhu Hou

PC reading address:Address:

Red tickets are free. After registering a Zongheng account and accumulating a certain number of points, you will receive red tickets.

Each account can bookmark "Sword Snow Stride".

Chapter serialization master post: tieba.baidu.com/p/1692359607

Do not post in between paragraphs before the main text is released. Please wait patiently.

Appendix: Tieba QQ Group Arbitration Team: 1681655; Monster Club YY: 1655

Xueba Administration Log Link: tieba.baidu.com/p/2440873435

Those who post in between paragraphs before the updated content is fully released will be temporarily banned for one day.

***

Xu Beizhi was usually tight-lipped; it was only after drinking, especially when he was drunk, that he couldn't control his tongue and would say anything and everything. Perhaps he had too much knowledge to impart, as he would always fall into a deep sleep before he could express himself fully or clearly.

The Rouran Mountains traversed Jinchuan Prefecture from east to west. On the southern foothills, a vast plain stretched out, crisscrossed by irrigation canals. After autumn, the visible landscape was a delightful sight of green and yellow blending together, almost indistinguishable from the agricultural regions of the Liyang Dynasty's south. The northern part of Rouran consisted of expansive grasslands. The Rouran mountain range, with its steep terrain, formed a natural barrier. Aside from the narrow paths created by gaps and valleys, north-south passage was impossible. These paths thus became the vital choke points controlling north-south communication.

Beiman had established five Rouran garrisons here, building fortifications alongside the valleys and stationing troops for defense. These five garrisons were Laohuai, Rouxuan, Jiluo, Gaoque, and Wuchuan. At this time, the White Path of Centipede Valley, which Xu Fengnian and Xu Beizhi were traversing, was within the jurisdiction of the Rouxuan Military Garrison. The Rouxuan path was divided into a main route and a subsidiary route. The main route, located at the bottom of the valley, was wide and suitable for rapid cavalry movement. The subsidiary route was carved into the mountain, dark and damp. The reputation of the Rouxuan Military Garrison was overshadowed by a certain mountain peak. Merchants were sparse on Centipede Path. Besides the subsidiary path being winding and difficult to navigate like a centipede's limbs, the main reason was fear of the local potentate, Fifth Moh. This man, with his rather unusual name, was the master of Tibing Mountain and was privately referred to as the co-ruler of the Rouran Mountains. This was because, in addition to the Rouxuan Military Garrison being under his direct control, the commanding generals of the Laohuai and Wuchuan garrisons also hailed from Tibing Mountain. As a top-tier sect of the Beiman Dynasty, Tibing Mountain was undoubtedly the most closely intertwined with the imperial court, with all its members being skilled fighters. When Fifth Moh's daughter married Dong Zhuo, who was the most promising candidate to become the thirteenth Grand General of the Southern Dynasty, Tibing Mountain was thrust into the spotlight. Immediately, some in the imperial court questioned Fifth Moh's ambitious nature, suspecting he was unwilling to submit to the throne. Fortunately, Empress Bi Xia continued to trust this martial artist, who had once helped her in her time of need. When Fifth Moh's only daughter married, the Empress even sent an unprecedented wedding gift: an imperial decree recognizing her as an adopted daughter. Her rank as a noble lady (Gao Ming Furen) was even higher than Dong Zhuo's official rank, implicitly making "Fatty Dong" a laughingstock in both the Southern and Northern Beiman dynasties. He was mocked as a "soft-rice general" and ridiculed for marrying twice, each time marrying into powerful families, effectively becoming a son-in-law to two households.

Walking on the dim, cool Centipede Path, Xu Beizhi, who had only learned some basic martial arts for physical fitness, walked nervously. Although the path's outer edge had a simple elm wooden railing, the wet stone slabs were slippery. He felt a little more at ease with Xu Fengnian walking right beside him. This auxiliary path, carved into the mountain wall, was over ten feet wide and about fifteen feet high, just wide enough for a donkey or mule to slowly carry goods. Moss covered the inner wall base, and water constantly dripped from the ceiling. Warhorses running here were very prone to slipping. The path, paved with individual flagstones, had many gaps that could cause a horse's hoof to stumble. Unless one was an exceptional rider and the horse was very familiar with Centipede Path, no one would dare to show off their riding skills here.

Xu Beizhi, who now had a wine gourd hanging from his waist, was afraid of heights. Fearing he might get distracted and fall, he remained silent. Their original plan for this journey south, arranged by Xu Beizhi, was to take the Kunduhook Path, which was busy with merchants and easy to blend into. However, Xu Fengnian, nicknamed "Persimmon" by his attendant, heard a rumor at an inn that someone was going to challenge Grandmaster Fifth Moh at Tibing Mountain again. He then excitedly dragged Xu Beizhi along to join the fun. This gave Xu Beizhi, who was accustomed to meticulous planning, a headache. Yet, since this "Persimmon" insisted on witnessing the grandeur of Tibing Mountain, Xu Beizhi couldn't possibly leave him and go to Kunduhook alone. Given the treacherous and rugged Centipede Path, Xu Beizhi often showed his displeasure to Xu Fengnian along the way. Ultimately, both were young scions of powerful families. Xu Beizhi was far from seeing Xu Fengnian as an enlightened lord worthy of his utmost dedication, nor did Xu Fengnian feel the need to pretend to be eager for talent in front of Xu Beizhi. "Eager for talent? My master, Li Yishan, alone is worth several Xu Beizhis!" Compared to Xu Beizhi, Xu Fengnian preferred the blind chess player from the Ten Games of Yongzi Alley or the impoverished scholar he met at Baoguo Temple in Jiangnan, who cherished books more than his life. However, Xu Fengnian did not deny that Xu Beizhi, compared to seasoned court officials like Xu Huainan, still seemed a bit naive, but he was certainly much more capable than Xu Fengnian, who considered himself only half-competent.

Centipede Path was as desolate as the Road to the Underworld, with no one around. Xu Fengnian, therefore, didn't bother Xu Beizhi, who had no discernable martial arts, and personally carried the luggage. Even so, Xu Beizhi still had to stop and rest every dozen *li*. Perhaps out of gratitude for Xu Fengnian's thoughtful stops, which saved his face, Xu Beizhi, emboldened slightly, walked along the open-view railing, gazing at the fertile land extending for a thousand *li* south of the Rouran Mountains. He finally spoke, "Why does Your Royal Highness practice martial arts? Aren't you afraid it will interfere with your future duties in Beiliang military affairs? For the descendants of feudal lords, if one merely drifts along, prosperity and honor are guaranteed, and the Zhao Emperor would surely be pleased. However, to maintain the privilege of hereditary succession, one must always exert oneself to the utmost. King Jing'an, Zhao Heng, even lost his life, and Prince Zhao Xun went to the capital. Wealth and honor are found in danger. Moreover, you will be the Liyang Dynasty's only non-imperial king. The burden is immense; I believe only you, Prince Beiliang, and Your Royal Highness, your father and son, can truly feel it. I had always thought you would be the one who looked down on reckless martial artists the most, after all, Prince Beiliang himself destroyed much of the Liyang *jianghu*'s vitality back then. The Prince of Beiliang's residence is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers, countless loyal subordinates. Why must Your Royal Highness personally learn martial arts and practice the blade? Lure them with fame and fortune, give a command, and countless masters will pledge their lives for you."

When Xu Beizhi spoke without drinking, his tone was often assertive, always carrying a hint of inquiry.

Xu Fengnian was lost in thought and simply ignored Xu Beizhi, who was Xu Huainan's successor, still adrift and yet to find a patron. The ignored Xu Beizhi wasn't angry and continued to speak to himself, "Martial arts can lead to disorder, but both imperial courts have unprecedented control over their respective *jianghu*. Here in Beiman, the *jianghu* has directly become servants of the court, and the Liyang Dynasty also has its 'hawks and hounds' serving the court, with fierce internal struggles. In such a struggling *jianghu*, I truly don't understand why there's any need to personally get involved."

Xu Fengnian suddenly smiled and sat down heavily on the rotting railing, which made Xu Beizhi's heart pound. Xu Fengnian looked at the high-ranking young talent who liked to take a broad view of the current situation and said plainly, "Xu Beizhi, have you personally seen two thousand flying swords? Have you personally seen someone single-handedly make the sea rise? Have you seen a wisp of sword energy destroy a city wall?"

Xu Beizhi calmly shook his head and said, "No, I haven't. But since ancient times, every object has its counter. Didn't the Sword Emperor of Western Shu, who guarded the nation's gate for the Emperor, get crushed to dust by your Xu family's iron cavalry? Why are established *jianghu* figures unwilling to fight on the battlefield? Isn't it because they fear suffering an unexpected setback? Furthermore, elite military units often have specialized martial cavalry or similar forces specifically targeting top experts. I suspect that your Liyang Grand Chancellor Zhang Julu has spared no effort in directing imperial taxes northward these past years to certainly enable Gu Jiantang to foster a force capable of dealing with Beiman's martial power. Don't be fooled by the formidable arrogance of sects like Tibing Mountain and Qijian Yuefu; once they are driven to the battlefield to fight, they won't withstand a few large-scale battles."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Are you being sarcastic? Are you calling me idle?"

Xu Beizhi picked up his wine gourd and took a sip.

Xu Fengnian, far from being angry, laughed and sighed sincerely, "Your view is exactly like my second sister's. It's just that before coming of age, being idle was the only thing I could do without worry. You cannot expect me to both bide my time and harbor malicious intentions. I'm not afraid of you laughing, but to this day, I don't really have any direct subordinates. If I count carefully, it seems only the two or three hundred men of the Fengzi Camp have some connection with me. I do wish someone would bow down to me immediately, but during my second journey, in the battle in the reed marsh outside Xiangfan City, a swordsman from Dongyue in my residence, just before he died, merely cursed me, saying 'What a shitty Prince!' At that moment, I knew no one in this world was foolish."

Xu Beizhi wiped the wine from the corner of his mouth and quipped, "So you're saying you *dare not* sit on the dragon throne, rather than you *don't want* to."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "We're talking past each other."

Xu Beizhi slowly said, "Several major events have occurred recently: first, our dynasty's Taiping Ling has become the universally acclaimed Imperial Tutor; Prince Zhao Kai of the Zhao family, appearing for the first time, entered the Western Regions with a silver vase; the white-robed monk entered the clouds to preach the Diamond Sutra; the Daode Sect, with the Empress's support, began compiling the Daoist Canon with the nation's full resources; Zhang Julu has started to dispatch elite cavalry from several major feudal lords to the northern frontier, with King Yan Chi and King Jing'an Zhao Xun being the most assiduous in their efforts. King Guangling Zhao Yi, who shares the same father and mother as the Emperor, dispatched troops hesitantly and was summoned to the capital by his elder brother and reprimanded face-to-face. The 'Scripture of Converting Barbarians' has begun to circulate in Liyang, showing signs of slandering and denouncing Buddhism. It is said that only one temple will be allowed to remain in each major prefecture and county across the land, and even the Two Zen Temples might not be spared."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "I'm more curious about your Beiman swordsman Jianqi Jin Huangqing ascending Wudang. And then there's Qi Xianxia, who took Lu Zu's relic sword to the south to practice swordsmanship by the sea. As for Zhao Liuding from the Wu family's Sword Mound, who has a grudge with me, I heard he went with his sword attendant to the ruins where the Wu family's Nine Swords once shattered ten thousand cavalry, and brought back three ancestral ancient swords, significantly enhancing his cultivation."

This time, it was Xu Beizhi's turn to say helplessly, "Talking to a brick wall."

Xu Fengnian jumped off the railing and whispered, "The old monk is dead."

Xu Beizhi asked doubtfully, "Monk Longshu, the abbot of Two Zen Temples?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, then remained silent.

With one speaking like "chickens talking to ducks" and the other "playing a lute to a cow," continuing their conversation would be dull, so they pressed on. The Centipede Path beneath their feet wound and twisted, offering no notable historical sites or attractions, making the walk equally tedious. When they reached a fork in the road leading up and down the mountain, Xu Beizhi frowned as Xu Fengnian unhesitatingly headed uphill, asking, "Are you really going to Tibing Mountain?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Of course. I want to see the charm of that Beiman woman who, despite losing once and nearly losing an arm, still dared to challenge the master of Tibing Mountain. If she's beautiful, I'll kidnap her back to Beiliang, and then don't you dare compete with me."

Xu Beizhi, of course, knew the latter part was a joke. He didn't think highly of this "Persimmon," but he didn't dare to underestimate him either. If Xu Fengnian were merely reckless, he wouldn't have survived to this day, even with ten lives. However, despite spending over ten days together, Xu Beizhi had never asked about Xu Fengnian's martial arts cultivation level. When they reached halfway up the mountain, they were blocked by a Tibing Mountain checkpoint. Only then did Xu Fengnian realize that travelers had to stop there; not everyone was allowed up the mountain to watch the fight. Seeing the "bearded giant" beside him smile without speaking, Xu Fengnian obediently, though disappointed, descended the mountain. As Xu Beizhi had anticipated, Xu Fengnian wasn't so crazy as to stubbornly insist on breaking through obstacles. There were two paths down the mountain. They chose a secluded small path, deliberately diverging from the many other Beiman martial artists who had also been turned away. At a suitable viewing spot, there was an elegant pavilion, styled after the architecture of Jiangnan water towns. Outside the pavilion, there were no armored guards patrolling, only a few robust servants dressed in luxurious clothes. Their aura was profound, and their inner power was restrained. In Xu Fengnian's estimation, one of them had reached the second rank, and the others were also near the threshold of this "Dragon Gate." Inside the pavilion, two women, one older and one younger, sat with their backs to them. The younger woman sat cross-legged, leaning against a pillar, resting with her eyes closed. On her back was a long, cloth-wrapped weapon. The little girl was propped up on a long bench, resting her chin on her hand.

On the ground inside the pavilion were two pairs of embroidered shoes, one large and one small, one blue and one red.

The little girl was softly singing a small folk song, her voice clear and crisp:

The teacher in the private school asks, "Do you know? Do you know?""Who is that cicada calling on the tree?"The small moon quietly climbed over the mountain ridge,"Who disturbed the starlight in the pond?""Who shook the bell at the village entrance?"Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-ding-dong...

Xu Fengnian stood rooted, unwilling to leave. Xu Beizhi saw that the formidable retinue had already noticed them and were glaring menacingly, so he tugged on Xu Fengnian's sleeve.

The next moment, Xu Beizhi knew something was wrong, but immediately afterwards, he was filled with a sense of astonishing absurdity.

Xu Fengnian darted into the pavilion, his back to Xu Beizhi and the caught-off-guard Tibing Mountain attendants, and gently placed the blue embroidered shoes onto the feet of the woman in green.

Collapse replies

Too long, you know.Front row!Feels a bit short.Reply to Edison: Screw you!Now *that's* a true front row!Fake front row!Reply to Duke of Zhou Deciphers Your Sister's Dream: Yes! Yes! Yes!

There are 15 more replies.Total 1 pageReplies: 1

Don't have a Baidu account yet?View recently played games.