Chapter 666: Jianghu Ascends

Going Alone to Beiman

The martial arts world was buzzing with activity.

Mount Hui suddenly sent out hundreds of invitations, known as "hero's invitations," to martial arts masters across the land, inviting them to the Cloud-Reaching Crescent Moon Tower on the Great Snow Plain. Almost no one questioned or ridiculed this, as the recently emerged Purple-Clad Woman of Mount Hui, though perhaps not physically imposing, possessed undeniable strength. Legends claimed she was once a favored guest of the new King of Northern Liang, only to later part ways with him. Her interception of Wang Xianzhi on the Great River was an undeniable feat, a life-threatening incident that unexpectedly brought her great fortune, propelling her to the true Heavenly Phenomenon realm. After her seclusion, who knew if she had ascended to the ranks of a Land Immortal? Furthermore, gossips fueled speculation, claiming that during Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan's incognito tour of the south, an unrevealed and exciting story unfolded between him and the purple-clad woman.

Mount Hui, already accustomed to a steady stream of visitors, was now swarming with climbers, shoulder to shoulder. Experienced martial arts veterans began tallying which sects and factions had arrived. For instance, Wu Shizhen, the young Daoist master from Qingcheng Mountain's Qingyang Palace, was staying at the Mount Hui Monastery. Wei Chi Liangfu, master of Kuaixue Villa, brought his beloved daughter Wei Chi Duquan, who was making her first appearance in the martial arts world. The spokesman for the newly emerging Daozhuang in Liaoxi, Northern Lands, also swaggered onto Guniu Ridge. The arrival of Lin Hongyuan, the young palace lord of Southern Frontier Dragon Palace, was as grand and astonishing as ever. Then there was "Xie Xie," the new owner of Spring Post Thatched Cottage in Western Shu, who had also consecutively topped the Rouge Beauty rankings. When she appeared, countless men regarded her as a divine being, yet no one dared cause trouble, remembering her intricate connection to King Chen Zhibao of Shu. Longhu Mountain, a neighbor of Mount Hui for centuries, saw its new Celestial Master, Zhao Ningshen, personally leave the Celestial Master's Residence to be a guest on the Great Snow Plain. These elusive, god-like figures, normally as hard to find in the martial arts world as a dragon's head without its tail, were now appearing en masse. This left the common onlookers, who weren't privileged enough to be guests at Crescent Moon Tower, exclaiming how fortunate they were to witness such a spectacle, feeling that the small travel expenses to Mount Hui were utterly insignificant. Besides the powerhouses listed among the New Top Ten Factions like Longhu Mountain, Spring Post Thatched Cottage, and Kuaixue Villa, many established martial arts sects, considered leading forces within their prefectures, also sent their most influential leaders to Mount Hui after receiving the hero's invitations. Even the Beggar Gang and the River Transport Gang, wealthy enough to rival nations yet fond of feigning poverty, did not miss out. All were either leisurely climbing the mountain to enjoy the scenery or were rushing to arrive.

There was also a long list of reclusive martial arts masters and prominent figures, all proud to have received a hero's invitation. For instance, Fan Qingsong, known in the martial arts world as the Central Plains Swordsman, at ninety years old and with one foot in the grave, still gritted his teeth and mustered all his remaining strength to rush to Mount Hui. As for the martial arts newcomers who had made a name for themselves only a few years into their journeys, each was filled with ambition and high spirits, dressed in the finest clothes, riding the best horses, and carrying the best weapons. Those who were handsome strove to appear as elegant and refined as possible; those with less fortunate looks made sure to be as eye-catching as possible. They understood the importance of outward appearance better than seasoned veterans, leaving many elders sighing with emotion, truly a testament to how the new waves push the old, and even if the old waves don't die, they're half-dead on the beach. Interestingly, very few women received hero's invitations this time. The famous female martial artists and "fairies" in the jianghu were few and far between. However, just because Mount Hui didn't invite them didn't mean they were willing to miss this once-in-a-century martial arts event. Those with strong connections accompanied major sects and factions, while those who hadn't yet gained recognition from sect leaders would still refuse to lose face. At the very least, they would coax their admirers, who knelt at their feet, to open their purses and willingly act as their patsies. These mostly attractive women, subtly or overtly, competed for attention, inadvertently adding countless topics of conversation for Mount Hui's visitors during their leisure time.

While it was one thing to join the fun, tour Mount Hui, and see the legendary figures, finding a place to stay was a significant challenge. All habitable places in the surrounding prefectures, towns, and villages were packed. Not just inns, but even postal stations and private homes had been opened with silver. Now, neighbors around Mount Hui were busy daily arguing whose distinguished guests were more eminent martial artists. For a time, people from all walks of life, both good and bad, mingled there. There were indeed some who committed wrongdoing or tried to fish in troubled waters, but they were all either expelled or even killed on the spot by Mount Hui's guest elders responsible for patrolling outside the mountain. During this period, a few influential figures, relying on their official connections, flouted the law, only to be personally and decisively killed by the Grand Guest Elder Huang Fangfu. Afterward, from the county magistrate to the prefect and even the provincial governor, not a single person dared to retrieve their bodies. It was then that the martial arts world first truly recognized Mount Hui's hidden strength.

Thousands of martial artists eagerly sought to ascend higher on Mount Hui, considering it an immense fortune just to make an appearance at the Sword-Unsheathing Stele. Perhaps, navigating the martial arts world was inherently a journey of climbing high and looking far. Some stopped at the foot of the mountain, others struggled to reach the halfway point, only to watch the backs of the lucky few who continued to ascend. As they went higher, the crowd thinned, until those who made it felt a secret delight, yet self-deprecatingly remarked, "It's lonely at the top."

Even though the martial arts gathering was still three days away, visitors thronged the mountain, and several climbing paths were heavily congested. Impatient individuals had already begun grumbling and cursing, interspersed with the cries and whimpers of many children.

At the foot of Mount Hui, numerous temporary tea sheds and wine stalls had been set up for visitors to rest. Not far away was a ferry pier, where no fewer than a hundred boats of various sizes traveled between Mount Hui and Longhu Mountain.

Inside the tea houses and wine stalls, boisterous discussions filled the air. Loud voices pontificated on the world's affairs. Among them, a lavishly dressed guest was commenting on the world's heroes who had passed away like flowing rivers. Each time he named one, he would inevitably drink a cup of wine. Those he mentioned, in no particular order, included Wang Zhonglou and Hong Xixiang, two generations of Wudang sect leaders; the sword fanatic Wang Xiaoping, whose sword remained unyielding even after his death; Han Shengxuan, the "Human Cat," unrivalled beneath the Land Immortal realm; the Dragon Tree Monk of Liangchan Temple; Song Nianqing of Dongyue Sword Pond; Yang Taisui, the "Black-Clad Sick Tiger"; Jian Jiuhuang, the blacksmith of Western Shu; Xie Lingzhen of Spring Post Thatched Cottage; and a pair of grandfather and grandson, Xuanyuan Dapan and Xuanyuan Jingcheng; the two Celestial Masters from Longhu Mountain who ascended together; and of course, the old Sword God Li Chungang, and most importantly, Wang Xianzhi. Finally, he spoke of Lu Baijie with considerable regret, mentioning that Tangxi Swordsman, who had the potential to become a Land Sword Immortal, had even given away his treasured sword after becoming the Minister of War.

At a nearby table, a bright-eyed child nestled in his graceful mother's warm embrace. His father, a smile on his face, sipped his drink slowly. On the table lay an ancient, unadorned longsword, its sword energy subtly emanating. From his demeanor, he was clearly no ordinary martial artist. The child's voice, clear and melodious, looked intently at the burly man, who reeked of wine and spoke with a boisterous air about heroes, and asked curiously, "Excuse me, Uncle, after Wang Xianzhi of Wudi City died, is the King of Northern Liang truly the number one in the world? My elders said that after his fight with Wang Xianzhi, his realm was bound to drop significantly. Can he still defeat the Northern Mang God of War, Tuoba Pusa?"

The child's innocent words were not annoying.

The man, having just finished a cup of wine, wiped his mouth and burst into laughter. He reached for the wine pot to pour another drink, only to find it empty. Just as he was about to ask the shopkeeper for more wine, the child's father extended a finger and lightly tapped the neck of an unopened wine jar on his own table. The jar spun leisurely, completing a full rotation, and landed precisely in front of the man. This method of delivering wine was not mystical, but the unnamed swordsman's brilliance lay in his mastery of force, reaching a peak where the wine jar, upon touching the table, seemed to take root, unmoving. This level of perfected skill clearly indicated a cultivation level of at least a second-grade minor grandmaster. The man, without formality, nodded in acknowledgment, poured himself a bowl of wine, and drank it in one gulp. He said cheerfully, "Little Young Master, I, Wang Bopo, am not one to speak idly. I only speak of things I know for certain. Regardless of whether the surname Xu's different-surname king's realm has fallen or risen, I only know that after his battle with Wang Xianzhi, the current head of the Wu Family Sword Mound personally came out of seclusion. He went to the Youzhou border, where people and swords gathered, and used the fourteenth sword, yet still failed to stop that young King of Northern Liang. Now, another old sword master who has never appeared in the martial arts world has gone to Liangzhou. I suspect there will be another earth-shattering, ghost-wailing peak battle."

The child waved his hand, "I'm not a young master yet, at least not now. My dad says I have to wait until I come of age before I can travel the martial arts world alone. My mom has already picked out over ten impressive nicknames for me, but unfortunately, like my yearly New Year's money, I can only save them up. Sigh, why is growing up so hard?"

Men and women throughout the tavern burst into laughter, amused by the child's innocent charm. The woman gently tapped her son's small head, while the swordsman's eyes held a gentle blend of affection and pride, emotions common to any father looking at his child.

The child continued in his childish voice, "I really admire the King of Northern Liang! Someday, I'm going to apprentice myself to him!"

The man couldn't help but chuckle, teasing, "Well, then you'll have to see if 'the old man' will take you as a disciple."

The child paused, then puffed out his chest, declaring, "Dad said I'm extraordinarily gifted, a once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy! If I had been born sixty years earlier, I could even spar with the Great Master Qi from Longhu Mountain next door! If King of Northern Liang, 'the old man,' doesn't take me as a disciple, that would truly be... truly... Mom, what's that word again?"

The woman said gently, "Casting pearls before swine."

Laughter once again filled the hall, and the child's father wore a helpless expression.

Inside the tavern, the man and the child joked and bantered, creating a joyful atmosphere. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the tavern. Soon, someone ran in, shouting, "Little Lu Zu Qi Xianxia, who left the Celestial Master's Residence years ago to roam the martial arts world, has also disembarked from the ferry and started climbing the mountain!"

Not just in this tavern, but seven or eight out of ten nearby tea stalls also emptied out. The child, hearing the name Qi Xianxia, merely curled his lips, perhaps finding the name not worth his attention. Unwilling to move, he leaned on the table, watching his father slowly drink. Taking advantage of the near-empty tavern, he whispered in an accent unfamiliar to Central Plains residents, "Dad, does the King of Northern Liang disdain to attend this kind of martial arts gathering?"

If Xu Fengnian, who had traveled through Northern Mang, were present, he would certainly recognize it as an authentic Beiting dialect.

The middle-aged swordsman smiled faintly, "He's busy dealing with our million-strong army moving south, so he has no time for this. Otherwise, I think he would come. That man, I believe, deep down, yearns for the martial arts world."

The child extended a palm, sighing, "So many top masters have left the Liyang martial arts world, but we're much luckier. Out of the Five Great Sects, only Fifth Mo from Ti Bing Mountain died. The Princess's Tomb's thoughts, great and small, are still there. Hong Jingyan of Qijianleyu, Sword Qi Jin, and Tong Ren — not one of them died."

At this, the child chuckled, "Dad, you're different from them. You alone are an entire sect, and you rank even above Qijianleyu! If Mom weren't from Liyang, you could go challenge the old King of Northern Liang. Then, you could lose to him, and I, conveniently, could use that opportunity to get to know him."

The man looked at his wife and chuckled in pure Liaodong dialect, "Wife, look, our daughter isn't even grown yet, and she's already siding with outsiders. What will she be like in the future?"

The man, whose face had been warm and smiling, suddenly exuded a formidable aura. The ancient sword, previously radiating sword energy, abruptly retracted its sharpness. The woman gently chuckled and asked, "Who has arrived? Who is worthy of such a reaction from you? Surely not your mortal enemy Tuoba Pusa and that new white-clad demon?"

The man glanced at her, his immense aura slowly dissipating. He said with a hint of bitterness, "Unfortunately, both have arrived."

The woman said nonchalantly, "You've long since said you retired from the Northern Mang martial arts world. They can't possibly force you back, can they?"

The man, whose appearance was not remarkable, stroked his chin. "Back then, Empress Wu, she was..."

The woman glared, pinching him. "What 'back then' are you thinking about?! Didn't she just want to take you as a son-in-law? What, you regret marrying me, a 'yellow-faced old hag' who's holding you back? Then go back!"

The man just smiled without speaking. At this moment, anything he said would be wrong, and the more he spoke, the more mistakes he'd make. Better to remain silent.

In this world, devoted men, regardless of their status, generally believe that loving a woman is a mistake, and they hope to persist in that "mistake" for a lifetime without changing.

The child asked, "Dad, you're not a swordsman, so why do you always like to carry a sword? You never told me why before, so tell me now? If Mom blames you, I'll teach her a lesson for you. Anyway, in our family, you're the third, I'm the first, and everything has its weakness."

The man cautiously glanced at his wife. Seeing no reaction from her, he chuckled softly, "Your mother, when she was young, only admired wandering swordsmen in green robes. Even though I possessed extraordinary skills, your mother didn't think much of them, so I had no choice but to carry a sword to put on a show. Wife, how many years have I carried a sword now?"

The woman reached out and held her husband's large hand, saying tenderly, "You've carried a sword for as many years as the child is old."

The man couldn't help but sigh, "Indeed."

Outside the tavern, a short, middle-aged man with arms as long as an ape's glanced at the tavern, hesitated for a moment, then continued climbing the mountain, inconspicuous amidst the crowd.

The man surnamed Tuoba chose Mount Hui as his first destination upon entering the Liyang Dynasty because Wang Xianzhi hadn't waited for him, and Xu Fengnian was already waiting for him at the Liang-Mang border. Thus, the Great Snow Plain, where heroes gathered, became his top choice.

After this person ascended the mountain, three new guests arrived at the tavern: one in white robes, one in red robes, and a burly man carrying a satchel.

They sat at the table opposite the family of three.

The man, who didn't practice swordsmanship yet carried a sword with astonishing sword energy, smiled. He didn't look at the heroic white-robed figure but instead turned to the man with the satchel and asked, "Deng Mao, a defeated general's defeated general, what's this? Relying on backup to bully the few?"

Deng Mao said coldly, "Aren't you also three people?"

The man was momentarily stunned by the rather blunt retort. "Your shamelessness, boy, is truly just as it was back then."

He then ignored Deng Mao, who had a broken spear in his satchel, and turned to look at the white-robed and unusually eye-catching red-robed woman. "Luoyang, you destroyed that divine weapon in the extreme northern ice plains, disrupting the great battle between Tuoba Pusa and Wang Xianzhi. Why did he pass you by and not trouble you?"

The master of Zhulu Mountain, dressed in white, poured herself a cup of wine with a serene expression and said nothing.

The child suddenly broke the silence, chuckling, "Your name is Luoyang, right? Among all men in the world, I only admire the King of Northern Liang, my future master. Among women, I only admire you. Why aren't you two together? In the future, I can call both of you Master and Madam!"

Luoyang burst into laughter, tilting her head back to finish the wine in her cup in one gulp.