Chapter 455: Unable to Keep a Widow in the Martial World

Xu Fengnian didn't intend to feign ignorance all the way to Kuai Xue Mountain Villa. He chuckled, "I haven't heard of the Dragon Palace patriarch's enlightened sayings, but I have heard of a significant artifact from the Dragon Palace called the Black Flower Cloud Dragon Censer. It symbolizes the eternal stability of the Southern Tang empire. Its exterior is adorned with black-purple specks, and once incense cakes are placed within and ignited, a rising mist reveals an image of nine dragons emerging from the sea."

The woman smiled at his words. Her unremarkable, average appearance paradoxically highlighted her exceptional classical temperament. She softly said, "Young Master Xu is indeed from an elite family; ordinary gentry wouldn't know about this Southern Tang treasure."

Xu Fengnian merely smiled and asked, "Is the Dragon Palace here to contend for the Martial Arts Alliance Leader position this time?"

The woman countered, "Does Young Master believe the Dragon Palace is qualified to vie for supremacy in the martial world?"

Xu Fengnian waved his hand dismissively, self-deprecatingly saying, "How dare I offer advice?"

The woman had been bending over, using bronze incense tongs to pick up incense cakes. At his words, she paused slightly, glanced at Xu Fengnian, and then placed the cake in the censer. Their conversation seemed to have reached an impasse. As Xu Fengnian swayed and collapsed to the ground, she, who had been quietly holding her breath, finally waved her hand to lightly disperse some of the fragrance. Changing from a kneeling to a squatting posture, she placed two fingers on Xu Fengnian's nose and murmured to herself, "You even know that the Black Flower Censer secretly flowed from the Southern Tang imperial palace into the Dragon Palace, so how could you not know that our sect specializes in transforming men with suitable physiques into human skin puppets? Don't forget that Fu Jiang Hong Jia, one of the Four Grandmasters, originated from the Dragon Palace!"

The woman stared at Xu Fengnian's face and sneered, "You truly have remarkable composure."

As she spoke, her two fingers, sharp as sword edges, their tips like sword points, jabbed fiercely towards one of Xu Fengnian's eyes. The tips were mere millimeters from his eyelid, yet the man remained completely still. The woman let out a sound of surprise, "Is he really unconscious?"

A glint of ruthlessness flashed in the woman's eyes, her fingers still extended. Just as her killing intent flowed forth, Xu Fengnian remained lying down, but one hand grasped her two fingers, while his other hand seized her neck. The woman's face was filled with shock. Her previous two probes had been feigned, mere groundwork. The third time, however, was a genuine intent to kill. For the Dragon Palace, a superior physique was priceless. Whether the man on the ground was truly unconscious or faking it, it wouldn't deter her from striking to kill. Yet, in this cat-and-mouse game, the roles of predator and prey had swapped too abruptly. Xu Fengnian opened his eyes, staring at this Dragon Palace woman who had the face of a celestial being but the heart of a viper. He chuckled softly, "You really intended to kill me? I gave you a chance to be a compassionate Guanyin. We just met by chance; wouldn't it be better if we cherished each other?"

The woman was speechless, her eyes filled with terror. Several small, crimson snakes slowly crawled across the white-haired man's arm, then suddenly burrowed into her arm, like a glutton feasting. The woman, who had been as moist and radiant as if touched by the waters of Jiangnan, rapidly withered. By the time Xu Fengnian released her, she had silently and completely ceased breathing. He supported her leaning body with one hand, and with the other, he lightly tapped near her temples, slowly peeling off a delicate mask. Beneath it was the face of the green-robed official who had been walking in front of the eight-bearer sedan. Having been "ill for a long time, he became a doctor"—his travels in Northern Mang had involved many masks related to witchcraft, making him no stranger to the art of disguise. Xu Fengnian discarded the mask, which was as expertly made as those by Shu Xiu, and after laying the body flat, he presumptuously picked up the incense shovel. He skillfully raked away some of the incense ash. When it came to affectation of elegance, what was the Prince of Beiliang not proficient in? Xu Fengnian turned his head, his gaze casually falling on the "official" with the Southern Tang-style silk fish hanging from his waist. The latter remained indifferent to the corpse, his smile unwavering, his eyes full of amusement. Xu Fengnian asked, "Who was she, and who are you?"

The green-robed woman extended a finger to caress her temple, narrowing her eyes as she softly said, "She? She was me, just now. My true face is even more unsightly than the mask you peeled off. I dare not show it to anyone."

Xu Fengnian replaced the incense shovel. The mysterious woman then spoke directly, "Originally, I just thought the journey to Kuai Xue Mountain Villa would be boring, so I wanted to make a new puppet to pass the time. But now, I feel that would be an excessive waste. How about you come to the Dragon Palace and serve as a 'cauldron'? Countless men in the martial world dream of such a chance. Although your vital essence would dry up and you'd be discarded in three to five years, it's still far more fortunate than being turned into a human skin puppet. Most Dragon Palace women are beautiful as flowers, and you'd enjoy years of nightly revelry. Even if you're a 'silver-tipped spear,' you could still enjoy intimate relations with twenty or thirty celestial beauties, which is much better than living a boring life with one or two 'yellow-faced hags'."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "I say, young lady, where do you get such confidence?"

The woman, whose true face remained unknown, tilted her head and asked, "Are you related to the Li Yang Emperor?"

Xu Fengnian shook his head.

The woman then asked, "Have you reached the First Grade Vajra realm, or did you achieve an instant enlightenment of the Profound Finger?"

Xu Fengnian still shook his head.

The woman pressed on, "Then are you the son-in-law of Grand Secretary Zhang Julu or Gu Jiantang?"

Amused, Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Are you done asking?"

The eight-bearer sedan instantly sank several feet. The eight powerful, burly escorts simultaneously knelt. Xu Fengnian's left hand, fingers like hooks, gripped the green-robed woman's entire face, causing blood to seep from her skin. His right hand slowly rotated, and several flying swords pinned her to several vital acupoints. If she dared to channel her inner energy to resist, she would be killed on the spot. Xu Fengnian slightly increased the pressure of his fingers. The woman, likely accustomed to a high position within the Dragon Palace, now had blood streaming down her face and gasped for air. Without even looking, he knew her eyes must be filled with extreme malice. Xu Fengnian smiled faintly, "Relying on the Dragon Palace's 'Snake-缠-Turtle' pseudo-Vajra secret art, do you truly believe you're an indestructible Buddhist Vajra? The Dragon Palace's ability to stand firm, besides the 'Snake-纏-Turtle' technique derived from Fu Jiang Hong Jia, is merely a few shortcut Profound Finger methods. In the end, they are neither here nor there, a laughing stock. How many genuine First Grade masters would even notice you women? To become a grand master like Wang Xianzhi is not something your unorthodox Dragon Palace methods can achieve. Back then, your Palace Mistress tried to 'offer herself' to Wang Xianzhi, attempting to 'extract Yang to supplement Yin,' but before she even took off her clothes, that old eccentric Wang flattened her with a single palm strike. If you ask me, if a woman is too ugly, she shouldn't try to mix in the martial world."

The woman gritted her teeth and snarled, "Who exactly are you?! Why do you know so much about the Dragon Palace?!"

Xu Fengnian released his fingers, smiling without a word. The woman, indeed somewhat decisive in her actions, sternly ordered towards the gauze curtains, "Continue forward!"

The woman, who had been contemplating an opportunity to bestow a Profound Finger secret art upon the white-haired young man, unexpectedly spat out a mouthful of blood. A flying sword had pierced through her body, and the emerald green blade, as if claiming credit, swirled back to its master's fingers. Xu Fengnian scoffed, "Still not giving up?"

The woman extended her tongue to lick away the blood, forcibly swallowing it along with her saliva. Her eyes were cold, her voice alluring as she said, "A fine display of the Wu Family Sword Tomb's sword control technique."

Xu Fengnian pointed to his white hair and chuckled, "With this, and the turmoil in Tai'an City, you've actually guessed my identity, haven't you? You just don't dare to say it aloud, afraid I'll silence you?"

The woman remained silent. Xu Fengnian asked straightforwardly, "The Dragon Palace is going to Kuai Xue Mountain Villa to join the fun this time. Did Prince Yan Che Zhao Bing and Nalan Youci instruct you to do anything?"

The woman's face was devoid of expression. She seemed to have resigned herself to her fate, waiting for death.

The two were only a few feet apart. Xu Fengnian's change of demeanor was faster than turning a page; he slapped her forehead with a palm. The woman's body became eerily still, only her head swayed for a long time. Blood flowed from her seven orifices, and the concealed vital energy she had painstakingly gathered instantly burst forth like a breached dam. She clutched her mouth, and scarlet blood seeped through the gaps between her fingers, dripping onto the blanket.

Xu Fengnian then slapped the woman's cheek with his right hand. Her head swayed to the left. She struggled to move to the right, clearly sensing a flying sword hovering near her right ear, its chilling sword aura undisguised. She didn't want her head inexplicably pierced by a sword. But Xu Fengnian, taking advantage of her predicament, pressed her swollen cheek against the tip of the flying sword after the slap. This instantly made the resilient woman feel utterly hopeless, her life hanging by a thread, death inches away—a truly unbearable sensation. The woman closed her eyes. The man's palm was warm, yet the flying sword by her ear was bone-chilling. Its tip was precisely against her temple, and a drop of blood slowly traced down her beautiful cheek. After opening her eyes, she sneered, "What, are you worried about the Dragon Palace's ultimate secret art? That if I crush the 'Black Pearl,' I'll take you down with me?"

Xu Fengnian flicked her cheek with his finger. The flying sword swiftly returned to his sleeve. He said indifferently, "Dragon Palace women cultivate themselves like oysters. Their cultivation levels vary, and the 'pearls' they nurture also differ in size. Small ones are like grains of rice, flowing unpredictably with their vital energy, while larger ones are almost like Lingnan longans, transforming into Taoist vital energy that resides in the Dantian."

The woman spat out a mouthful of clotted blood. Xu Fengnian casually blocked it with his palm, then glanced at the pool of black-purple liquid in his hand. It seeped into his skin and vanished instantly, making him frown.

The woman laughed hysterically.

Xu Fengnian chuckled along. "Some unique techniques are too famous for their own good, like a Go opening created by a top national master. They might be world-shattering when they first appear, but over time, methods to counter them emerge. South of Southern Tang, the weather is humid and oppressive, with abundant Yang qi, and all plants and water sources contain noxious vapors. As human vital energy communicates with heaven and earth, naturally, miasma is prevalent. The Dragon Palace, having been rooted in the Southern Borders for a long time, fights poison with poison. They collect the miasma of green grass in March, the miasma of yellow plums in May, and the miasma of osmanthus in September. This non-smoke, non-mist substance is infused into their bloodstream, and when exhaled, it is called Dragon Saliva. The most potent is that derived from essential blood; no matter how skilled you are, as long as you don't possess a Vajra realm physique, a single drop will cause your entire body to rot after the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

The woman stopped laughing, raised her sleeve to cover her face, and wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. There was even a hint of coy charm, as if she wanted to speak yet felt bashful, as she gazed at this noble prince who was intimately familiar with many of the Dragon Palace's secrets. "If you insist on killing me, it will be mutual destruction. If we talk properly, perhaps we can both be happy."

Xu Fengnian raised his palm, and all the Dragon Saliva poison blood was forced out from his palm. The woman did not panic; she fell into deep thought. Xu Fengnian sat near the censer and sighed, "You truly possess an exquisite mind. If I were an ordinary person, even if I could suppress the Dragon Saliva, which ranks among the top five Southern Border蠱 techniques, combined with those incense cakes in the censer that require a medicinal primer, I'd probably be dead beyond dead while bargaining with you. Moreover, the bearded man outside the eight-bearer sedan is just a diversion, not even reaching the First Grade realm. At most, he's just an experienced veteran among Second Grade minor grandmasters. Earlier, when the eight sedan bearers knelt, one of them clearly didn't need to, but still hesitated slightly before disguising it. Dealing with you all is truly exhausting."

With traps set everywhere, and being suppressed at every turn, with someone always one step ahead, the woman, no matter how resolute her state of mind, finally showed a hint of collapse.

She only heard the inscrutable young demon calmly utter a baffling remark: "Do you want to taste what it was like for Fu Jiang Hong Jia to be flayed by the Man-Cat back then? My technique is still immature, and I'm still figuring things out, so would you mind making do?"

Xu Fengnian reached out and brushed the gauze curtains, pulling out several white threads that floated and lingered around his fingers.

She said tremblingly, "I surrender!"

Xu Fengnian smiled, his eyes so sinister that she felt like Guanyin, the Greatly Compassionate Bodhisattva, in comparison.

Her facial skin was forcibly torn off by the white threads.

She lowered her head and cradled her bloodied, disfigured face, then hoarsely choked out, "Yang Maoliang, Zhao Weiping, both of you step back."

In the martial world, where there's good fortune, there are also karmic debts. One might inexplicably acquire a secret manual or be taken as a prized disciple by an extraordinary master. Conversely, even without doing evil, one might be left half-crippled by an eccentric hermit master, or capsize in a ditch, their reputation ruined in an instant. This is the allure of the martial world: you never know what changes or opportunities tomorrow will bring. Generally, the higher one's cultivation realm, the fewer variables there are, but once encountered, they become harder to resolve. Not to mention First Grade masters, who are like needles in a haystack, even the handful of Second Grade minor grandmasters spread across various prefectures rarely cross paths, like well water not interfering with river water. But once a mortal enmity is forged, one side's fate often ends in utter tragedy.

Xu Fengnian stretched a white thread between his hands, looking down at it, not glancing at the woman who now held no trace of her previous arrogance. He said calmly, "I hope you can tell me everything you know, holding nothing back."

Nearing Kuai Xue Mountain Villa, the eight-bearer sedan turned from the main road onto the villa's privately paved path, which surprisingly grew wider. Most of the snow had been cleared, indicating continuous efforts along the way. Nearly a hundred bright-eyed boys and girls held brooms with silk-wrapped handles, and the villa's managers, both large and small, were at the entrance, respectfully awaiting arrivals. Whenever a prominent figure from the martial world presented an invitation, the villa would welcome them with loud cheers. The eight-bearer sedan turned in simultaneously with an ox cart. The child driving the cart looked arrogant; though clearly just a child learning to read, he carried a long sword emanating a chilling sword aura. Behind him sat an elderly scholar in simple attire, possessing an ethereal, immortal demeanor. He held a whisk, an elegant item often carried by esteemed figures engaging in refined conversation. Ordinary people regarded him with reverence, truly exuding an otherworldly aura with his whisk in hand and a breeze upon his shoulders. The thudding of ox hooves announced their presence, and many martial artists entering the villa's private path quickly stepped aside. For the well-known heroes who bravely approached to greet him, the old scholar in the ox cart remained with his eyes closed, resting, completely ignoring them. These martial heroes, despite their "warm faces meeting cold shoulders," showed no dissatisfaction, believing it to be perfectly natural.

Kuai Xue Mountain Villa had taken on the significant responsibility of hosting this grand martial arts event, expending considerable resources. Ultimately, they still had to consider the attitudes of two other powerful factions: one was the Eastern Yue Sword Pond, once strong enough to contend with the Wu Family Sword Tomb for the title of the world's foremost sword sect; the other was the Spring Tablet Thatched Cottage of Western Shu, which had always occupied a corner. The former dispatched Li Yibai, a promising candidate to become the next head of the Sword Pond, along with eighteen sword servants. The latter had few representatives, only two, but their significance was undoubtedly greater. The old scholar holding the whisk was Xie Lingzhen, the current head of Spring Tablet Thatched Cottage. His cultivation was unfathomable; he had never once engaged in combat as an enemy in his entire life. However, it was rumored that he could spar in swordsmanship with the Western Shu Sword Emperor. Could such a scholar truly only criticize with words?

A stir rippled through the road. No sooner had the Dragon Palace's eight-bearer sedan and the Thatched Cottage's ox cart entered everyone's sight than another striking group rode into view: eighteen female swordswomen, all clad in identical fox furs, riding white horses. Their white sleeves, visible beneath their furs, were like snow, ethereal as immortals, and even their sword scabbards were the same snowy white color, a truly eye-opening sight. The Eastern Yue Sword Pond had, throughout generations, selected young girls with spiritual sword potential, meticulously cultivating them as "sword slaves." These women had to remain virgins for life, both for their swords and for preserving the purity of the Sword Pond. However, despite Kuai Xue Mountain Villa's eager anticipation, the Eastern Yue Sword Pond's self-proclaimed unparalleled sword genius, Li Yibai, was nowhere to be seen.

Three riders arrived side by side, elegantly. The young man in the center was handsome and refined, exuding charm with every glance. To his left rode a tall, robust figure in black combat attire, with a horizontal saber at his waist, his expression cold, hair slightly curly, and an imposing demeanor. The rider to his right was far less impressive than his two companions; he carried a short sword, was unremarkable in appearance, dark-skinned, and short-statured. When the central figure appeared on Kuai Xue Mountain Villa's private path, a large group of women who had been waiting for a long time immediately shrieked, shouting "Qing Bai!" their eyes full of adoration, as if in a frenzy. The young knight in black chuckled softly, "Brother Qian, still so popular, eh? Let me see... Oh, there really are a few beauties here. How about you gift them to us brothers?"

The handsome young man was shy and embarrassed. The black-clad swordsman burst into laughter, reaching out to rub his face, "Brother Qian, Brother Qian, your skin is thinner than a woman's!"

Seeing this scene, the women became even more infatuated.

The young man surnamed Qian, called Qing Bai, braced himself and deliberately ignored the women admiring him by the roadside as he passed. His surname was Qian and his given name was Laifu. While Qian was a common surname, Laifu was far from refined. It was certainly amusing that such a dashing young man was given such a common name by his parents. In fact, Qian Laifu hailed from a prominent scholarly family in Lianghuai, a lineage that, two centuries prior, was so distinguished that even imperial princesses would have eagerly sought to marry into it. Today, his family was still considered a thriving noble house. Qian Laifu himself was especially skilled at crafting Qing Bai Scholar's Parchment, which emulated the Langya Hall in Shu, surpassing its predecessor. It was far superior to the work of craftsmen at the Ruyi Pavilion in the capital, and even the Suwu Textile Bureau found it difficult to compare. Initially, this parchment was used in imperial palace halls to write "Yichun Tiezi" poems and fill blank spaces on walls and pillars, earning it the moniker "Palace-Adorning Flowers." Later, it evolved to be used for all imperial appointments of officials and generals. Furthermore, he was adept at writing graceful ci poetry, full of lingering emotions. Among the literati, he was ranked among the "Four Minor Literary Masters," alongside the now-declining Song family's "Young Phoenix," Wang Chudong, who penned "First Snow" by Spring God Lake, and Xu Weixiong from Beiliang. Each excelled in their own way, but Xu Weixiong was considered the best. Not only did numerous noble daughters of the Li Yang Dynasty idolize the esteemed "Qing Bai" Qian Laifu, but there were also many female martial artists who openly declared they would marry no one but him.

Inside the eight-bearer sedan, Xu Fengnian was putting his thoughts in order. The woman beside him, Lin Hongyuan, was surprisingly the next Palace Mistress of the Dragon Palace. She admitted that their presence at Kuai Xue Mountain Villa was indeed at the behest of Prince Yan Che. Their main objective was to promote Li Yibai of the Eastern Yue Sword Pond and help him secure the position of Martial Arts Alliance Leader. For this, the Eastern Yue Sword Pond had secretly gifted six ancient, renowned swords to the Dragon Palace, with a generous reward promised upon success. Xu Fengnian didn't fully believe her; Lin Hongyuan's words were roughly ninety percent truth and ten percent falsehood, which was sufficient. The current contest for the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, a coveted position destined to have imperial backing, saw Xie Lingzhen of Spring Tablet Thatched Cottage as the top contender. Among the first-rate sects, Kuai Xue Mountain Villa leaned towards this Western Shu Thatched Cottage, with whom they had maintained a good relationship for generations. Gangs and sects in the southwest of Liyang were also willing to unite and lend their support. However, it seemed the Young Master of Jizhou's Wild Goose Fortress had also gotten involved. This young cavalry officer possessed an official status that no one dared to underestimate. Furthermore, rumors suggested that the Young Master of Wild Goose Fortress was very popular in the capital, befriending the two sons of the former Minister of War, Gu Jiantang, and even frequently hunting along the border with the First Prince Zhao Wu. Besides these three factions, there were also some scattered minor groups, but they were insignificant compared to the main contenders. However, unlike in the past, the current Martial Arts Alliance Leader could no longer remain aloof from the imperial court. Once appointed, it was almost equivalent to establishing a direct connection with the court, entering the Emperor's view, and after being "recruited and pacified," governing the martial world on behalf of the Emperor. What else could this be but a massive life-preserving talisman?

The cultural lineage of the Central Plains could still maintain a tenuous connection, but sadly, the martial spirit of the Jianghu had been broken.

Xu Fengnian said softly, "Spring Tablet Thatched Cottage, Eastern Yue Sword Pond, Jizhou Wild Goose Fortress. They are all like pretty widows who can't remain chaste; they've secretly taken lovers from above."