Chapter 622: New Figure in the Martial Arts World

After the first year of Xiangfu, the night curfew in Liangzhou City became extremely strict. However, as Xu Fengnian approached the city gate, a group of elite spies from the Fushui Society had been waiting for a long time. The large gates slowly opened, and Wang Sheng could clearly see the faces of the armored soldiers under the lamplight in the gate archway. Regardless of their age or youth, their faces exuded a contradictory aura that felt unfamiliar to her: a burning reverence and a chilling valor. The carefree Lu Yunchang didn't feel much, but he keenly sensed that these armored soldiers were taller, sturdier, and more dangerous than the light cavalry and frontier guards they had encountered elsewhere. Compared to the latter, the former were like noisy chickens and ducks waiting to be fed daily by their owner, while these soldiers were like wild dogs digging for food in the wilderness—they didn't bark much, but they could truly kill. For this fortunate pair of youngsters, the title of Prince of Beiliang, a non-imperial prince of Liyang, was too distant and unattainable. It seemed far less approachable than the tranquil demeanor of their immortal-like master beside them. However, Lu Yunchang quickly formed a vivid impression when he personally saw the two jade lions, each two men tall, at the entrance of Qingliang Mountain Prince's Estate. He was utterly astonished. He darted to one of the lions, reaching out to touch its cool, massive paw, exclaiming in wonder and chattering incessantly. One moment he was saying how incredibly grand it was, how no family in Wudi City had such a frontage. The next, he was speculating how much silver it would fetch if he stole it and sold it.

Though the Prince of Beiliang had returned from his long journey, there was little stir in the Prince's Estate. Only a middle-aged steward came out to symbolically guide them into the estate. As the steward walked behind Xu Fengnian, speaking softly, Wang Sheng and Lu Yunchang, two country bumpkins, stared wide-eyed, overwhelmed by the sights. The path wound and turned, revealing new wonders at every bend, a world unto itself. The two children stared for a full incense stick without any sign of stopping, only then grudgingly blinking their aching eyes. They exchanged a smile, both recognizing the other's discomfort. It was then that these two formerly quarrelsome children found a bit of understanding, no longer engaging in verbal sparring as they had during their journey. Lu Yunchang felt as if he had stepped into a celestial realm. The ladies there were like divine maidens from temple murals, dressed in an overpowering elegance, their aura something the uneducated youth couldn't quite articulate. Any one of them could outshine Xiao Mei, the girl from the alley next door in Wudi City who loved to apply heavy rouge, by more than eighteen streets.

Lu Yunchang, walking at the very end, turned his head to look at a young woman in a distant corridor. Her figure was graceful, and even from afar, he found her charm so captivating that he couldn't tear his eyes away. She walked slowly beneath a large white lantern, then suddenly turned her head, meeting his gaze. Her sweet smile almost stole Lu Yunchang's soul. Lu Yunchang pulled his gaze away, shook his head, and gave an embarrassed smile, thinking to himself that this lady was truly stunning.

Wang Sheng, walking slightly ahead, found her view suddenly opened up. She stopped in her tracks, not moving even when Lu Yunchang bumped into her from behind. Lu Yunchang stepped aside, and together they stood captivated.

Before them lay the renowned Listening Tide Lake. Xu Fengnian's two newly accepted disciples had completely different reactions upon seeing Listening Tide Lake. The ambitious Lu Yunchang immediately looked up at the pavilion—the Listening Tide Pavilion on Listening Tide Lake. He knew that it contained countless secret martial arts manuals, and possessing just one could make him a regional master. Lu Yunchang hadn't entirely believed it before, but after witnessing his master's skill in wielding artifacts outside Wudi City, he was now convinced. Wang Sheng, however, looked down, gazing at the tranquil water in the distance, illuminated by the lakeside lanterns, resembling a sheet of dark red silk. She wondered if there truly was a ten-pound golden Heavenly Pond Koi there.

In the center of the lake was a pavilion, and in it stood a lonely, timid, and scrawny shepherd boy. For some reason, Wang Sheng and Lu Yunchang almost simultaneously raised and lowered their gazes, spotting this child who, apart from his strange attire, was quite unremarkable and looked four or five years younger than them. The three children, sharing a silent understanding, exchanged glances. Xu Fengnian had already dismissed the steward to attend to his duties. He glanced at the child in the pavilion and smiled, "His name is Yu Dilong. He is your senior disciple brother."

Lu Yunchang's mouth twitched, and he started to act as if he were older and more experienced. "What? This little kid is my and Wang Mutou's senior brother? Dilong? That name sounds impressive, but he looks so scrawny, with hardly any strength in his whole body. I bet he can't even carry my blade."

Wang Sheng softly said, "In my hometown, 'Dilong' means earthworm, and it can be used in medicine."

Xu Fengnian nodded, "Indeed."

A figure suddenly appeared before the master and his two disciples. Neither tall nor short, Lu Yunchang was surprised to see it was someone in a wheelchair. But not only Lu Yunchang, who was adept at reading expressions, but even Wang Sheng noticed that their immortal-like master seemed to have encountered a land immortal a hundred times more powerful than himself. He was incredibly nervous, his steps a little unsteady. Lu Yunchang whispered, "Could it be a peerless master from the Prince of Beiliang's Estate who never shows himself?" Xu Fengnian quickly walked to the lakeside embankment, helping to push the wooden wheelchair, his lips pressed together in silence. Lu Yunchang, perhaps swayed by his initial impression, was very wary of this young woman in the wheelchair, and the youth dared not be flippant. Wang Sheng, conversely, felt an immediate sense of intimacy upon seeing her.

The woman did not speak to Xu Fengnian but turned her chair to look at the two children, finally resting her gaze on Wang Sheng, who carried a sword strapped to her back. She smiled faintly, "She's a natural sword embryo. If my mother and your master's mother had seen her, they would have been very happy."

Wang Sheng was shy and embarrassed, unsure how to respond, but feeling the lady's kindness, the tall girl could only offer a knowing smile. Her originally rough and unrefined features, in that instant, became as serene as distant mountains veiled in mist, or clear waters reflecting green hills.

Lu Yunchang didn't treat himself as an outsider, and he could tell that the woman, though of average appearance, held a transcendent status and had no particular fondness for him. Not daring to overdo it, he secretly slipped away to the pavilion to bother that little brat. Although the youth was displeased with Wang Sheng's senior brother status, Wang Mutou had, after all, gained the advantage of entering the sect earlier. Lu Yunchang was usually just bored and wanted to bicker and argue, not genuinely caring about who was the senior or second disciple. The youth knew that having strong fists, great skill, and especially a fast blade, was the most fundamental and irrefutable truth in the world. But who was that fellow in the pavilion? How could he rank as the elder brother before him and Wang Sheng? As soon as Lu Yunchang entered the pavilion, he heavily struck his still-sheathed Great Frost longblade against the ground and asked with a dark face and deep voice, "Yu Earthworm, dare you take a strike from my blade?"

The little shepherd boy, who had been brought to Qingliang Mountain by Xu Yanbing and then left unaddressed, had been living in a daze until now, understanding almost nothing. He only knew one thing: this was the Prince of Beiliang's home, and his master would be the most influential person in Beiliang. At this moment, questioned by a stranger a head taller than him, he wore a bewildered expression. "Who is he calling Yu Earthworm? Why does he want to take a blade to me as soon as we meet?"

Lu Yunchang, who disliked bullying the weak, quickly lost his enthusiasm. It turned out the boy was just a naive little fool. He had almost unleashed his ultimate blade technique for nothing.

Lu Yunchang said sternly, "From now on, I'll only call you Senior Brother in front of our master, but for every time I call you that, you have to call me 'Big Brother' twice in private!"

Lu Yunchang quickly added, "And you also have to call Wang Mutou 'Second Brother.' See him? The tall, sturdy one by the lake. I use a saber, he uses a sword."

At this point, Lu Yunchang asked, puzzled, "What weapon do you use?"

The little shepherd boy, who had suddenly acquired the nickname "Yu Earthworm" and two new "brothers" out of nowhere, was still a bit dazed. After hearing Lu Yunchang's question, he glanced enviously at the longblade in the youth's hand and shook his head, "I don't have anything."

Lu Yunchang's eyes darted around, "Is your father a high official in Beiliang?"

Yu Dilong vigorously shook his head.

Lu Yunchang pressed on, "Then is your father the founder of some martial arts sect in Beiliang?"

After instinctively shaking his head, Yu Dilong quietly asked, "What does 'founder' mean?"

Lu Yunchang sat on the bench, slapping his forehead. "Damn it, we're talking past each other. Having a senior brother like this, I've really had the worst luck for eight lifetimes, it's humiliating! How am I supposed to make a name for myself in the martial world now?"

Yu Dilong hadn't spoken much with people in the Prince of Beiliang's Estate. Although this sturdy youth currently looked quite fierce, Yu Dilong was still a child at heart and enjoyed company. He carefully sat beside Lu Yunchang, staring at the Great Frost longblade, and murmured to himself, "You only have one thing, but it's as thick as my thigh. The one by the lake, I counted fifteen things, but each one is as thin as my pinky finger. You still look more formidable."

Lu Yunchang feigned ferocity and asked, "What's all this 'thigh-thick, pinky-thin' nonsense? Is your brain waterlogged or something?"

Yu Dilong pointed at Lu Yunchang's frost blade, a wronged expression on his face, and said, "Isn't there a wisp of white energy on your blade? Can't you see it?"

Lu Yunchang maintained a calm facade, but inwardly his thoughts were in turmoil, a mix of shock and pleasant surprise. He was shocked that if this child wasn't just spouting nonsense, his eyesight was truly extraordinary. He was pleasantly surprised that he had indeed progressed further than Wang Mutou in martial arts.

Lu Yunchang suddenly fixed his gaze on this strangely originated "little Senior Brother" and asked, "What about you? Do you have a similar wisp of energy?"

Yu Dilong chuckled, saying nothing.

Lu Yunchang rolled his eyes, "So you're not stupid after all."

Wang Sheng walked into the pavilion and saw that Lu Yunchang and the shepherd boy had naturally bonded, feeling a mix of envy and disappointment.

Yu Dilong agonized for a long time, scratching his ears and cheeks, and finally mustered the courage to say, "Junior Sister?"

Perhaps he felt it was inappropriate to call an older girl "Junior Sister" upon their first meeting, so he tentatively asked, "Or should I call you Senior Sister instead?"

Wang Sheng, her identity exposed, bristled slightly with annoyance, and immediately sword energy surged within the pavilion.

Yu Dilong seemed completely oblivious, scratching his head with genuine apology, unsure of what he had done wrong.

Lu Yunchang let out a strange cry, "Damn my dog eyes, I knew something was up when Wang Mutou would run seven or eight li just to pee! So you're actually a little girl?!"

Wang Sheng furiously retorted, "Since your dog eyes are blind, then shut your dog mouth!"

Lu Yunchang suddenly stood up, "Wang Mutou, don't push your luck. Are you looking for a beating?"

Although Yu Dilong was the youngest, he quickly and naturally stepped in to mediate, saying anxiously, "Don't fight, don't fight! If you must, hit me!"

Lu Yunchang couldn't help but roll his eyes, "You're truly a paragon of righteousness."

Wang Sheng smiled, cupped her fists, and said, "Senior Brother."

Yu Dilong was flustered, able only to offer a foolish grin.

By the lake, Xu Weixiong withdrew her gaze, no longer paying attention to the three children's playful antics in the pavilion. She remarked, "So this is the martial world's destiny you inherited from Wang Xianzhi?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, "That's roughly it. Otherwise, how could I have found three such exceptionally gifted children all at once? Lu Yunchang possesses a fierce martial aura, which is why he earned the recognition of the Great Frost Longblade. Wang Sheng is a natural sword embryo, a rare find in a hundred years. As for Yu Dilong, he inherited thirty percent of Wang Xianzhi's legacy. My three disciples, I'm afraid, could each secure a place among the top ten masters of the martial world in the future. How good would that sound if word got out? Even Wang Xianzhi couldn't achieve this when he was alive. You see, not only did I defeat Wang Xianzhi, but even in taking disciples, I'm more successful than that old man."

Xu Weixiong looked up, glancing at her brother, and calmly said, "Look at you, secretly gloating. Quickly close your mouth, or you'll split it all the way to your ears."

Xu Fengnian crouched beside her and asked anxiously, "Sister, aren't you angry? When I went to Wudang Mountain to practice my blade, you wouldn't even speak to me after coming home. Then, during that trip to Beimang, you almost didn't acknowledge me as your brother."

Xu Weixiong clasped her hands on her knees, gazing at the lake's calm, mirror-like surface. Her eyes were warm as she softly said, "Back then, Father was in charge, and you were just fooling around. Now, you are in charge, and you are bearing a great responsibility."

Xu Fengnian nodded, rubbing his cheeks with both hands. "Don't worry, I won't have time to cause trouble in the martial world anymore. I'm heading to the border soon. Unlike the last inspection, this time I'll be calling all fourteen colonels, which means almost fifty of Beiliang's most powerful generals will be meeting."

Xu Weixiong turned her head and flicked Xu Fengnian's forehead with her finger. "Still just showing off!"

Xu Fengnian gave a helpless, wry smile and offered no explanation or rebuttal.

Xu Weixiong tapped the edge of her wheelchair with one hand, propped up her cheek with the other, and smiled brightly, stating with pride, "The entire martial world is watching you. In the future, both empires will have to defer to your judgment. Regardless of success or failure, how many people in a thousand years could achieve what you have?"

Xu Fengnian simply looked up at the sky.