Chapter 428: Grandfather and Granddaughter Selling Charcoal

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He Xinliang

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Xu Fengnian held a cup in one hand and covered it with the other. A mark on his brow changed from red to purple. Those accompanying him in drink merely assumed this reclusive immortal, whose reputation in the martial arts world was not widely known, was lost in thought and contemplation. They continued to clink their cups and drink amongst themselves, not daring to disturb him. Zhang Chunlin had always been arrogant, holding the respected martial arts status of the Youyan Villa, whose "Tiger Elder Frame" remained unbroken. He himself was outstanding, blessed with good looks. He maintained a respectful distance from women who admired him, never getting involved. Yet, for some unknown reason, upon seeing the purple-clad woman, cold as frost and snow, he instantly became infatuated. Unsure of her relationship with his benefactor, he was torn, his brows etched with uncertainty and despair as he drank alone with a desolate air. As a mother knows her son best, the woman who had fled the isolated island in the South Sea sighed softly. Zhang Dongling, with his rough temperament, lacked the subtlety to read people's expressions and was solely focused on drinking with his old family friends, Cao and Duan. Xu Fengnian slowly exhaled a long breath. Cao Yu and Duan Mao stopped their cups and turned their heads, their faces bewildered. They watched a wisp of mist drift like a wandering white snake, seemingly twisting and wagging its tail in the air. Wherever it passed, snow was crushed into powder. Xu Fengnian abruptly put down his wine cup and stood up, excusing himself. He walked directly towards Chixue Courtyard but passed the gate without entering, his steps light and almost staggering. With a grimace on his face, he hesitated for a moment, then swept through the air, his body plummeting like an arrow straight into the lake, sinking to the bottom.

The people in the Purple Bamboo Forest, unaware of the truth, exchanged bewildered glances, seeing doubt and shock in each other's eyes. Could this be the legendary "spitting sword energy like a flood dragon" rumored in the martial arts world?

Since ascending the mountain, Wang Xiaoping had gripped his sword for the first time, demonstrating exceptional talent among his Wudang brethren. He had always been regarded as an excellent sword embryo, born for the sword, and he himself always insisted that one day he would die for the sword. Carrying the three swords—Fenghui, Xiaofei, and Goulutou—from Youyan Villa crisscrossed on his back, this sword fanatic slowly approached the lake, guarding its surface for the young man at the bottom. When Xu Fengnian first arrived at Wudang, Wang Xiaoping dismissed him. What could a notorious scion hope to achieve by practicing blade arts on the mountain? Even his Senior Brother sacrificing his Dahuangting cultivation for the four words "Wudang Shall Prosper" filled Wang Xiaoping with rage. Out of spite, he simply descended the mountain to hone his sword heart, seeking a clear mind away from it all. To this day, putting aside his identity as a True Martial (Disciple) and Wudang Mountain's hidden agenda, Wang Xiaoping didn't have much affection for Xu Fengnian. However, in terms of their pure martial arts journeys, he genuinely held some admiration.

Patriarch Lü once said, "When we cultivate the Dao, we must not become mere theatrical performers or watchdogs."

Wang Xiaoping sat cross-legged, remaining motionless until dawn.

Three hundred li south of Youyan Villa lies Jiangnan.

A sudden, continuous heavy snowfall blanketed everything in silver. All things seemed to wear fox fur cloaks without spending a single coin. In the cold, clear snowy night, an elderly man in black walked across the white landscape, his hands tucked into his sleeves. Where he walked, there was no village ahead and no inn behind; the nearest resting village was thirty li away. An ordinary elder would very likely freeze to death in such snow. However, judging by the old man's gait, he seemed to be a martial artist with some skill. Although he did not exude the overbearing aura of a grand master, he probably wouldn't freeze to death on the journey. The old man wore a wide-sleeved black robe and thick brocade boots dusted with snow. His hair was completely frost-white, and as snow ceaselessly fell on his head, it was as if more snow was being added to his frosty hair, creating a desolate and serene aesthetic.

The old man walked expressionlessly, seeing neither people nor objects. Even when more than a dozen white-robed immortals floated past, like flying swans on muddy snow, he remained oblivious. What's more, one young woman among them carried a hundred flying swords behind her, majestically riding her sword. The black-clad elder simply looked straight ahead. This, surprisingly, made the usually detached and worldly cultivators take a second look. Cultivators were known for observing celestial phenomena, sensing terrestrial energies, and reading human faces. After their appraisal, they still couldn't fathom him. The leading old woman gently waved her sleeve, pushing a sect junior who had paused slightly a few zhang away. She then stopped. The heavy snow covered everything, making roads indistinct. Yet, this old woman, who hadn't made a move when Xu Fengnian faced such a formidable display outside Youyan Villa, now adopted a humble posture, as if a junior encountering a senior, yielding the way. The cultivators split into two groups: one had already swept past the black-clad elder's straight path, while the group behind the old woman remained still. Not only was the barefoot woman controlling the swords staring, utterly perplexed, but even the core disciple of the Guanyin Sect who had comprehended the Finger Sword technique was somewhat surprised, not to mention the other cultivators on this journey for experience, all gazing at the old man who had walked directly past them at a distance.

Collapse Replies:September 22, 2013, 9:48 PM: HahaSeptember 22, 2013, 9:49 PM: HahahahahahahahahahahaSeptember 22, 2013, 9:49 PM: Front rowSeptember 22, 2013, 9:53 PM: ————From the Hongwu Sect, where talents emerge in succession (client)September 22, 2013, 9:54 PM: Cutting inSeptember 22, 2013, 9:58 PM: Cutting in, cutting inSeptember 22, 2013, 10:28 PM: First time this closeSeptember 22, 2013, 10:41 PM: Don't understand, but impressedSeptember 22, 2013, 10:43 PM: Reply to Life's Bittersweetness: You're going to be sent to the "little black room"!September 22, 2013, 10:43 PM

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The black-clad elder suddenly stopped. He did not turn his head, yet everyone sensed a wisp of aura emanating from the tall, black-robed figure, firmly locking onto the sect's "Water-Dropping Guanyin."

The old woman's expression remained normal, but her feet sank deep into the snow.

The black-robed figure, who had moments ago seemed like an old demon lord descending, retracted his aura, looked North, and after a blink of an eye, continued his journey. Fan group: 1681655

The old woman, an influential elder of the Guanyin Sect, sighed in relief. The previous group of cultivators drifted back, gathering around the old woman, all looking somewhat moved and horrified. Only after the black-clad man disappeared from sight did the old woman reveal the truth with a single sentence: "It's Han Diaosi."

The youngest but highest-ranking barefoot woman chuckled, "The Man-Cat, right? I've heard my junior sister mention him. Because he excels at 'Finger Profundity' and 'Killing Celestial Phenomena,' he's unmatched among those below the Land Immortals. Drip-water, why did he fixate on you?"

The old woman's lips held a bitter twist, and she remained silent. It was the Finger Sword cultivator, resembling a beautiful aristocratic woman, who spoke up to clarify, "Senior Martial Aunt, you might not know, but this villain is disparagingly called the 'Man-Cat.' His notorious reputation spans across the Spring and Autumn era. He has always been considered one of the three great fiends of this age, alongside Huang Longshi of the Top Three and Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang. Besides Han Shengxuan being the Li Yang Dynasty's foremost powerful eunuch and the most trusted attendant of the Zhao imperial family, it's also because he consistently enjoys brutally murdering first-rank masters. Among the previous generation's Four Grandmasters of the martial arts world, the 'Talisman General Red Armor,' whom all cultivators in the world found helpless against, was stripped of his talisman armor by Han Shengxuan with his bare hands, his body torn apart, and his head hung on a flagpole. If the Talisman General Red Armor suffered such a fate, imagine the martial arts masters who were merely at the First-Rank Vajra realm. The Beiliang martial arts evaluation (Wuping) generally created a balanced state. If not for this grand eunuch secretly killing an unknown number of Vajra realm experts over the past twenty or thirty years—some of whom were even turned into cruel talisman armors, severely damaging the entire martial arts world—the Li Yang Dynasty would certainly have more than just five individuals on the list of the 'Top Ten of the World' when the Wuping was released!"

The beautiful woman cautiously glanced at the old woman, "Martial Aunt, you comprehended three divine abilities from the Celestial Phenomenon realm, including 'Holding a Bottle and Dripping Water.' Perhaps Han Diaosi saw through them, but for some unknown reason, he ultimately didn't make a move."

The young woman let out an "Oh," then lightly lifted her foot to kick the snow, her eyes bright and eager.

The male cultivator who had been embarrassed by the lake snorted coldly, "Even if the Man-Cat is invincible, he isn't truly invincible in the world. Otherwise, Cao Guanzi wouldn't have been able to enter the imperial palace repeatedly, and he wouldn't dare to provoke our Guanyin Sect alone."

A typical frog-in-the-well mentality. Major sects and influential schools have never lacked such individuals, who, merely because their "well" is slightly larger, perceive themselves as seeing the vastness of heaven and earth. However, although the Guanyin Sect is isolated in a corner of the South Sea, it truly possesses the foundation to look down on others and disdain the martial arts world. Yet, when facing Han Diaosi, who is considered one of the few top-tier masters, this cultivator's arrogance seemed rather inappropriate.

The old woman did not encourage the junior's blind underestimation of the mainland martial arts world. She shook her head and spoke frankly, "If Han Shengxuan truly intends to kill, our sect's only hope for a battle would be after the Sect Master emerges from seclusion, and even then, the chances of victory are extremely slim."

At these words, silence instantly fell upon everyone.

The black-clad elder walked until dawn, arriving outside Shenwu City, a major town in Jiangnan. The city gates were not yet open, so he quietly waited outside, mingling with the common folk who had come from outside the city for the market. A foot of snow had fallen inside and outside the city during the night. At dawn, an elderly villager, thinly dressed, drove a cart loaded with charcoal, rolling over the icy ruts of the post road. To get a good price, both he and his ox cart had clearly arrived early. There was still some time before the curfew was lifted. The old charcoal seller, knowing the severe cold of winter snow, got out of the cart, stomped his feet hard, and shivered. Reluctant to use his shoes to clear the snow, he bent down and used his hand to clear a small patch of ground beside the ox cart. Only then did he lift his young grandson, who was wearing a tattered cotton felt hat, from his head, placing him in the clear circle of ground. The old man and the child relied on each other; neither felt at ease separated. So, on this snowy day, they could only grit their teeth and endure the biting cold. The child's skin was dark, and his figure emaciated. Leaning against the ox cart for shelter from the cold, he didn't forget to stand on his tiptoes, holding his grandfather's hand, trying to help rub it warm. Inside the city, scholars and gentry, clad in furs and brocade, could enjoy the snowy weather by a warm stove, reciting poetry. Their charcoal fires blazed, warm as spring. After eating and drinking to their fill, they could sigh a few lines about how spring would not be seen without the severity of winter, or how a new brush was too cold to lift, or how clay stoves kept fine wine warm. Yet, few knew that in such deadly weather, impoverished families would be so miserable their fingers would be too stiff to bend. The black-clad old man, with hair full of silver frost, glanced at the city wall, then at the charcoal-selling grandfather and grandson. His eyes showed no ripple of emotion. Since they were not imperial palace personnel, he would not concern himself with martial arts affairs or kill martial artists. After leaving the palace, he had paid no attention to the martial arts world whatsoever. Otherwise, with his temperament, encountering that group of cultivators last night who were unwilling to submit to the imperial court, especially that old woman, he would have long since dismembered them and severed their heads. For him, he was no longer Han Diaosi, the powerful eunuch of the imperial palace, but simply Han Shengxuan, the self-abandoned eunuch.

Before that poor woman died, she entrusted Zhao Kai to him, not to the Zhao family's Emperor. A single act of kindness was enough for Han Shengxuan, who in his life distinguished gratitude and grudges most clearly, to repay with his life.

Han Shengxuan's eyes sharpened. Fan group: 1681655

The city gates slowly opened. A white-clad woman gracefully approached, walked behind the ox cart, and quietly began pushing it. Fan group: 1681655

The old charcoal seller noticed something amiss. He let out a gasp, pulled the old ox, and stopped the charcoal cart. The young child, whose fingers were chapped and bleeding from chilblains, jumped off the cart and looked at the "fairy sister" behind the cart with a bewildered expression.

The woman stopped, her face smiling as she asked, "Why has the ox cart stopped?"

The child dared not speak; the "sister" before him was simply too beautiful.

The Grand Senior Aunt of the Guanyin Sect bent down, stroked his head, and gently, with a smile, asked, "My name is Charcoal Girl. What's yours?"

The child hid his hands behind his back and timidly replied, "Shuibian (Water's Edge)."

He quickly added, blushing, "My mother gave birth to me by the water."

The woman chuckled, "Then you can call me Big Sister Charcoal."

Where would the child find such courage? He mumbled nervously, dared not reply, and scurried back to hide beside his grandfather. The barefoot woman nimbly leaped onto the tattered cloth spread over the cart of charcoal and sat down quietly. The old ox then moved forward with a slightly quicker pace.

Han Shengxuan, who had initially felt a surge of intense killing intent, withdrew the hand he had extended from his sleeve and did not enter the city.

Quietly waiting for Xu Fengnian.

Collapse Replies:September 22, 2013, 9:47 PM: Cut in!September 22, 2013, 9:48 PM: Check check check check check check check check check check check check check checkSeptember 22, 2013, 9:49 PM: Ahhhhh!September 22, 2013, 9:49 PM: Holy cow!September 22, 2013, 9:50 PM: Front row?September 22, 2013, 9:50 PM: Cutting inSeptember 22, 2013, 9:50 PM: Cutting inSeptember 22, 2013, 9:50 PM: Front rowSeptember 22, 2013, 10:01 PM: Waiting for FengnianSeptember 22, 2013, 10:38 PM: Cut in!

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