Chapter 720: Mountain Without Tigers

Wudang Mountain’s connection to Xu Fengnian, and its status as his fortunate place, was widely acknowledged in Beiliang. It was said that Xu Fengnian, the new King of Beiliang, rose to become the world's foremost martial artist thanks to his diligent training on the mountain, where he honed his skills with two successive sect leaders. This rigorous practice led to his astonishingly rapid progress in martial arts.

Consequently, the Elephant Washing Pond, located halfway up Wudang Mountain, had become a new sacred site for martial arts. The stone house behind the waterfall was crowded daily with martial artists from all over, who came to meditate, hoping to absorb some of the "immortal aura" of the world's unbeatable person. Every few days, fights would break out as people vied for a spot. This greatly troubled the young Taoist priests responsible for daily upkeep of the Elephant Washing Pond; they often complained to their master that it interfered with their cultivation and desperately begged for a different assignment. Eventually, Sect Leader Li Yufu assigned his disciple, Yu Fu, to the task. Although Wudang had opened the Elephant Washing Pond to the public, a small thatched hut and a vegetable patch not far from the deep pool remained hidden from outsiders, as instructed by the Beiliang King's Mansion. The young Taoist Yu Fu occasionally went to play by the hut, and the previously overgrown vegetable patch was green once more.

After parting ways with the Yan family, Xu Fengnian followed Li Yufu to the Elephant Washing Pond. Revisiting the familiar place, Xu Fengnian was both amused and exasperated to see a bustling crowd emerge from their tents, cotton towels draped over their shoulders, heading to the pond to wash. He turned to Li Yufu and asked, "Is it like this all year round?"

Li Yufu nodded with a smile. "Yes, indeed. These martial artists generally don't cause trouble, and they manage their own food, lodging, and daily needs. Besides joining the morning and evening boxing practice in the square twice a day, they all cultivate here. Wudang Mountain can hardly turn them away. I don't know who spread the story about our Junior Uncle using a wooden sword to 'cut' the waterfall; in the past six months alone, over a hundred broken wooden swords have been retrieved from the pond. Then another rumor started, claiming that the King achieved his great martial arts mastery by finding a secret manual at the bottom of the pool. Consequently, many people who were complete 'landlubbers' when they came up the mountain are now highly skilled swimmers. No manual was found, but they did collect hundreds of smooth, jade-like pebbles from the bottom. Later, they pooled their resources, found a skilled craftsman down the mountain, and had a set of excellent chess pieces made, which they presented to Wudang Mountain. Though the gift wasn't extravagant, the sentiment was profound. Given that, Wudang really couldn't say anything."

Xu Fengnian was speechless. The martial arts world he knew had always been like this; the lower one was on the social ladder, the more pitiable yet endearing they seemed. He found a small space and squatted by the Elephant Washing Pond, next to two Jianghu men still wearing worn single layers despite the lingering spring chill. Xu Fengnian knew this wasn't some state of imperviousness to hot or cold, but merely a show of bravado. In Jianghu, it was all about not losing face even if you lost a fight. If you wore a fur coat to keep warm in winter, they'd grit their teeth and wear a single layer; some even went bare-chested. It was the same logic as in literary circles, where in mid-summer, many eccentric scholars would wear fur coats and sing loudly to gain notoriety. Xu Fengnian cupped a handful of cold, clear water and splashed it on his face. The burly man to his left glanced over, surprised to see a scholar-like young man joining in the fun, and asked in jargon, "New here? Got a 'mountain'?"

Xu Fengnian nodded. "A 'mountain'?" He thought, *Qingliang Mountain could probably count, right?* With a smile, he asked, "So many people are crowded here; it's uncomfortable even for eating or sleeping, let alone relieving oneself. May I ask, senior, does anyone truly achieve breakthroughs in cultivation here?"

The man strongly agreed, perhaps thinking, "Why not? Just two days ago, a fellow broke through the third-rank martial arts threshold overnight here. His original techniques were quite ordinary, but after the breakthrough, his swordplay was so refined, it was as if not a single drop of water could get past it. Before that, there was an old senior from Lingzhou who was one of the first to come here to seek enlightenment. He'd been stuck at the third rank for over twenty years, but after just three months of meditation here, he actually managed to break through. I heard people say that after becoming a minor grandmaster, that senior was full of vigor, and on a full moon night, he let out a clear, resonant howl, full of internal energy, so loud it could be heard miles away at the foot of the mountain, for a full half-hour, like thunder! Isn't that mystical?"

Xu Fengnian suppressed a smile, nodding solemnly in agreement. "For ordinary people like us, it's hard enough to shout for even a 'tea-drinking' period, let alone half an hour, and we'd certainly be hoarse for a month. For this senior expert to be able to howl for half an hour, his internal energy must be incredibly profound. He's definitely a minor grandmaster."

The "great hero" on Xu Fengnian's right shivered subtly as he washed his face with cold water, then rolled his eyes. "Little brother, don't listen to Kong Xiaomao's nonsense. 'Clear, resonant howl,' 'half an hour'—it's all baseless. Who'd be so idle as to shout for half an hour? Besides, wouldn't that old man be afraid of disturbing the Wudang immortals' sleep? I, Xu Shiying, don't respect any minor grandmasters in martial arts, only the Taoists on this mountain. They have real skill. My grandfather's grandfather personally saw Patriarch Huang, and my grandfather also received favors from the old Sect Leader Wang. Back then, Sect Leader Wang severed a river with a single finger, and my grandfather was right there on the riverbank watching. And now, Sect Leader Li is also a master; just by looking at his boxing stance, I'm completely convinced and give him my full admiration."

The man, whose real name was Kong Dahu but was teased as Kong Xiaomao, turned to look at the thumbs-up gesturing fellow and chuckled, "Give it a rest, Xu Shiying. You spend all day bragging about your connection to the King of Beiliang. Besides the similar sound of 'Xu' and 'Xu,' you two are poles apart; you have less than half a copper coin's worth of relation!"

Xu Shiying angrily flung his cotton towel onto his shoulder, glaring. "My grandpa was one of the first old soldiers to follow the Grand General to Beiliang! My family still has the armor and the eight-dou bow passed down from him..."

Kong Dahu burst into laughter, interrupting him, "If your grandpa really was an outsider like the Grand General, then why do you say your grandpa's grandpa saw Wudang Patriarch Huang Manshan? You're bragging without even getting your story straight!"

Xu Shiying felt a pang of guilt, then angrily retorted, "Anyway, my grandpa was genuinely from the second wave of Liaodong veterans. He followed the Grand General on campaigns long before the court adopted the Yonghui era name. When shooting on foot, my grandpa could draw an eight-dou bow and hit eight out of ten shots. With a six-dou bow, he could hit seven out of ten. Grandpa said even the Grand General himself praised his archery skills back then, saying that once they reached Beiliang, they'd make the Northern Barbarians know the might of Liaodong warriors."

Kong Dahu sneered, "I heard that legendary archers hit a hundred out of a hundred, or can shoot through a willow leaf from a hundred paces. Your Xu Shiying's grandpa only hit seven or eight out of ten, and the Grand General praised that? Xu Shiying, Xu Shiying, are you going to choke on your own boastful words?!"

An outsider sees the excitement, while an insider sees the skill. Xu Fengnian immediately looked at Xu Shiying with new respect. In the early days of the Liyang Dynasty, there was a martial arts examination system, and according to those standards, Xu Shiying's grandfather's archery was indeed superior. It was precisely because Xu Shiying didn't claim "hitting a hundred out of a hundred" or "shooting through a willow leaf from a hundred paces" that his story seemed more authentic.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Elder Brother Xu, why didn't you enlist in the army?"

Xu Shiying sighed, a hint of sadness in his voice. "When my father was young, he wanted to study and pass the imperial examinations, but my grandpa didn't like it; he said studying was useless. My father couldn't defy him, so he had no choice but to join the border army, becoming a minor official at Qianli Pasture. Somehow, he angered a powerful superior, whose patron was even more influential—it seemed to be General Zhong Hongwu. When my father returned, he was half-dead. My grandpa was a man who valued his reputation above all else; he never said anything about it until his death. He simply hoped I, his grandson, would study. Unfortunately, I'm not cut out for academics; I only want to practice martial arts, earn some military merits like my grandpa, and add another set of armor to our family's heirlooms."

At this point, Xu Shiying grinned. "I also have an older brother who's serving in the army on the Youzhou border. He came home last Lunar New Year, and he said he'll soon become a full-fledged ranger. My brother takes after my father; he's excellent at both studying and martial arts."

Xu Fengnian asked curiously, "Since your father suffered grievances at the border, why would he still let your brother join the army? Moreover, scholarly pursuits are flourishing in Beiliang now, and one can have a good future through studying. Plus, with the Northern Barbarians invading, military life isn't peaceful."

Xu Shiying, who usually seemed so carefree, spoke with a rare sincerity. "I don't know what my brother's thinking. At first, he really didn't want to join the army. But a few years later, he actually stopped wanting to study at home. Thankfully, there's someone in our hometown who cares for him deeply and is waiting. Once he becomes one of the most difficult to attain rangers in our 300,000-strong Beiliang border army, he'll surely go home and marry her in grand style. As for my father, when he first returned home from the border, he just drank all day. He drank most heavily after my brother enlisted. But in the last two years, he's been drinking less and doesn't say crazy things anymore. Especially after the Lunar New Year, he even quit drinking. The last time my brother and I went to our grandfather's grave, when my father offered a toast..."

Xu Shiying stopped speaking, lowered his head, and vigorously washed his face again.

Although Kong Dahu and Xu Shiying often teased each other, their friendship was actually quite good. The martial artists who came to the Elephant Washing Pond for good fortune were a mixed bag, with numerous factions. Those without family backing, like them, could only meditate behind the waterfall in the stone house, unable to squeeze into the more auspicious spots by the pond. Some sect disciples, from established families, banded together; they were arrogant, feasted on rich food daily, and had many beautiful young female warriors clinging to them, creating a ruckus in their tents every night. Yet, they emerged looking radiant every morning. People like Kong Dahu and Xu Shiying could only eye them enviously from afar. The braver ones would go listen by their tent walls, provided they weren't afraid of being beaten black and blue by the young heroes from prestigious sects.

A commotion arose behind the three. It turned out someone had recognized Wudang Sect Leader Li Yufu and his disciple Yu Fu, and people flocked forward to greet them courteously. Li Yufu was famously kind and unpretentious on the mountain, not just superficially, but from an inner spirit. This was also the "qi" passed down through the Wudang lineage. Wudang Taoists, regardless of seniority or specific temple, had the duty of interpreting divination slips and even writing letters for common folk on the first and fifteenth of every month. This was an unshakeable rule established since Patriarch Lü. Huang Manshan interpreted slips and wrote letters for people, as did Wang Chonglou, Hong Xixiang, and now Li Yufu. Perhaps the young Taoist Yu Fu would also do so in the future. Wudang's cultivation emphasized cultivating oneself as a person before seeking immortality, and cultivating oneself before seeking the Tao. This was the true essence of Wudang Mountain.

The three of them turned to look at the young sect leader. Kong Dahu quietly introduced, "This is Sect Leader Li of Wudang. He was taken as a disciple by the old immortal Yu Xingrui in the East Sea many years ago. Sect Leader Li has an excellent temperament. There are rumors in Jianghu that he once slew an evil dragon in Difeng Mountain, the foremost blessed land of Taoism, and his cultivation is unfathomable. Some also say the King of Beiliang personally petitioned the imperial court to formally recognize Wudang as the ancestral temple of Taoism, and I think that's quite plausible. Previously, I didn't have much of an impression of the King, but then he stationed troops at the border, refusing the imperial decree to enter Beiliang territory, which was very satisfying. And then he dealt with the arrogant old military head Zhong Hongwu in Lingzhou, which made me feel the new King of Beiliang hadn't disappointed. Now, with the Northern Barbarians invading, I hear the King went directly to the border instead of hiding in Qingliang Mountain. That's truly gratifying! Otherwise, for the world's top master to hide at home would be too humiliating for Beiliang, and we, who travel the Jianghu, would lose face outside of Beiliang, wouldn't we?"

Xu Fengnian smiled wryly.

Xu Shiying whispered, "If the fighting at the border gets intense, I'll ask my brother to introduce me. I'll go kill some barbarians. One kill breaks even, two or more are pure profit."

Kong Dahu couldn't help but scoff, "With your superficial skills, going there would definitely be a losing venture. Do you really think the Northern Barbarians are easy to provoke? Those barbarians have relied on their bows and horses since childhood; their archery and horsemanship are truly excellent. You'd just be wasting your time."

Kong Dahu suddenly, and for no apparent reason, lamented, "The King did something rather ungracious. He gave all the good stuff from the Tide-Listening Tower's arsenal to the Martial Arts Alliance Leader on Huishan. It seems that woman who loves purple must be as beautiful as a celestial being, as rumored, otherwise our King wouldn't be so lavish. Honestly, it would have been nice to leave some scraps for us martial artists in Beiliang. Not even top-tier secret manuals, just a few second or third-rate ones tossed our way would have been fine."

Xu Shiying spat, "With your meager courage, Kong Xiaomao, you expect to become a peerless master? It would be a dream for the King to even give you a pile of manuals!"

Kong Dahu wasn't angry; he laughed, "You, Xu Shiying, have a lot of guts. How about you give me a few pounds of it?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, mediating. "The nameless boxing technique currently taught at Wudang, which anyone can learn, holds profound meaning and embodies Hong Xixiang's enlightenment on the Great Dao of cultivation. I dare say that even if one only practices this set of boxing throughout their life, regardless of whether they previously practiced boxing, swordplay, or blade techniques, it can benefit them for a lifetime. We won't talk about achieving enlightenment or becoming a first-rank master, as that depends on individual destiny. But to say it can strengthen the body, extend life, and 'beg' a few more years from the King of Hell—that's certainly achievable. In my opinion, a hundred secret manuals gathering dust in the Tide-Listening Tower cannot compare to that universally accessible boxing technique."

Kong Dahu asked, half-believing, half-doubting, "Little brother, is this boxing technique truly that remarkable?"

Xu Fengnian nodded. "It's like an essay written in an overly obscure and convoluted style; it might appear learned, but in the eyes of experts, it's nothing special, not truly good scholarship. Similarly, a martial arts technique that's harder to learn or has a higher threshold isn't necessarily a good one."

Kong Dahu chuckled, "That sounds good in theory, but it's not necessarily true. What martial art in this world doesn't have a high barrier to entry? Is the Old Sword God Li Chungang's 'Two Sleeves Green Snakes' easy to learn? Can just anyone learn it? And the New Sword God Deng Tai'a's swordsmanship—even a casual stance is incomprehensible to minor grandmasters."

Xu Fengnian, having been contradicted, laughed heartily. "That's precisely the brilliance of Wudang's boxing technique, and the true meaning of the Great Dao cultivated by Hong Xixiang. The seemingly unattainable Heavenly Dao, in people's eyes, is like the perilous path to the peak of Mount Hua—a mere goat track, albeit one with footfalls, but rarely trodden. However, Hong Xixiang's Great Dao is like the world's flat post road; anyone can walk it. As long as one perseveres, even with mediocre talent, they can go far."

Kong Dahu paused, then pointed at Xu Fengnian and chuckled, "It sounds like a crooked argument, but it actually makes a lot of sense."

Xu Shiying solemnly patted Xu Fengnian's shoulder and said, "Little brother, you have great insight. You'll definitely become a famous master in the future."

Xu Fengnian smiled faintly. "I'll take that as a good omen."

After the three stood up, Wudang Sect Leader Li Yufu was still heavily surrounded by people and couldn't break free. The young Taoist acolyte who had come up the mountain during last winter's heavy snow stood outside, cautiously observing Xu Fengnian. For some reason, the child felt an unexplainable awe towards this mysterious man, whose identity was unknown but whom his master clearly held in high regard. However, a vague, inexplicable sense of closeness quickly blossomed in his heart. Still, fear outweighed respect, so the child remained hidden behind his master throughout, not uttering a single word to the man. Just as Xu Fengnian's gaze met the young acolyte Yu Fu's, and the latter quickly turned away, a handsome young man from a noble family, dressed in brocade and sable fur, stealthily approached Xu Fengnian. He stopped five or six paces away, not daring to come closer, his fists clenched, palms sweaty. Behind him was a retinue of equally idle companions who had come to Wudang Mountain purely for sightseeing and amusement. This group paid no mind to Wudang's sect leader or its boxing techniques. However, in the current official circles of Beiliang's old three prefectures, and among the offspring of officials, their perception of a certain individual had undergone a drastic change. Especially fueled by the embellishments of those young men who, in earlier years, had competed with that person to see who could be more dissolute and wasteful, a consensus had formed: the most manly thing in the world was for a prodigal son to turn over a new leaf—it was priceless!

The young nobleman, looking disbelieving, stopped and timidly, tentatively introduced himself: "My name is Liu Yukun. My father is Liu Gongquan, the Administrator of Danyang Prefecture in Lingzhou."

Xu Fengnian smiled. "Is your elder brother Liu Yushan, the Cavalry Commander of the Dragon Elephant Iron Cavalry? The one who, during the Dragon Elephant Army's deep thrust, personally took twelve enemy heads?"

Liu Yukun, who was considered the most arrogant among his companions, suddenly had teary eyes, his body trembling as if struck by lightning.

Young Master Liu was about to kneel but saw the person before him gently shake his head. He immediately stiffened his slightly bent knees, unsure what to do.

During the farce in Lingzhou official circles last year, many meritorious military generals were forced to shed their armor in plain sight by a young man holding the title of Lingzhou General, each revealing bodies covered in scars. Liu Yukun watched from a distance and, at first, didn't find the scene particularly shocking. It was only later, when he saw his elder brother return from the border—his brother, who had always looked down on him—almost sever ties with their father and the entire family because their civilian-official father had made a few sarcastic remarks at the dinner table. Later, his brother, for the first time, drank with him, intermittently recounting stories of the border wars and how their comrades-in-arms had faced death calmly. Only then did Liu Yukun begin to understand the profound significance of it all. That was why Liu Yukun had made the journey up Wudang Mountain in the lingering spring chill, simply wishing to know how the new King of Beiliang had practiced martial arts back then.

Xu Fengnian did not wish to reveal his identity here, so he kept his conversation with Liu Yukun brief. Then, he bid farewell to Kong Dahu and Xu Shiying, exchanged a glance with Li Yufu, and walked towards the thatched hut with Lu Chengyan.

After he left, Kong Dahu and Xu Shiying exchanged bewildered glances. "How did that guy get involved with the dignified son of a prefectural administrator?" They thought. "From the looks of it, he's at least from a family of similar standing. How could he patiently chat with us for so long?" Xu Shiying's mouth twitched even more. He had even pretended to pat the man's shoulder earlier, fearing that these young masters, rumored to be fond of hidden daggers behind smiles, might turn around and stab him. "Please, don't let me be bagged and drowned in the Elephant Washing Pond before I even become a master!" Liu Yukun, who had bravely observed for a while, seeing the King of Beiliang squatting and chatting cheerfully with two penniless martial artists for a long time, now eagerly scurried forward. Making a toasting gesture, he amiably struck up a conversation: "My two elder brothers, I am Liu Yukun from Lingzhou. Meeting is fate. I have some of the most authentic Green Ant Wine. How about the three of us share a drink?"

Kong Dahu foolishly asked, "Young master, you're not charging us, are you?"

Liu Yukun gave a wry, helpless smile. "Aren't you slapping my face?"

Kong Dahu and Xu Shiying, somewhat dazed, followed Liu Yukun into his luxurious silk tent and, still somewhat bewildered, drank the hot, boiled Green Ant Wine. Around them, a group of brightly dressed young idlers looked at them with admiring eyes, and the few beautiful young female warriors' eyes shone even brighter.

When the two finally learned the man's identity, they were stunned into silence.

In the fourth year of Xiangfu, Xu Shiying, a cavalry soldier from Liangzhou, died in battle at the border, following his elder brother, who served as a ranger squadron leader.

In the sixth year of Xiangfu, Kong Dahu, an infantry soldier from Youzhou, died in battle in Beimang's Baoping Prefecture.

Both died with smiles on their faces, without regrets.

On the mountain path from the thatched hut to Lesser Lotus Peak, Xu Fengnian and Lu Chengyan unexpectedly encountered the Yan family again. This serendipitous meeting struck the elder Patriarch Yan Song as quite remarkable, and in their conversation, his reservations about speaking too freely with new acquaintances lessened. Considering Yan Song's earlier career before Liyang's overthrow of Great Chu, the old man had truly navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for a long time, having successively met four reigning emperors from both the Great Chu and Liyang dynasties. In fact, he had already met the newly enthroned Liyang Emperor Zhao Zhuan, though at the time Yan Song served as Vice Minister of Rites, Zhao Zhuan was merely a young Fourth Prince, unremarkable in all aspects, and would respectfully bow as a student when encountering the elder who often lectured in the Diligence Chamber. Yan Song, with his seasoned discerning eye, naturally didn't mistake Xu Fengnian for an ordinary Beiliang pilgrim. Li Yufu, the Wudang Sect Leader's subsequent hospitality, further confirmed the elder's suspicions. However, both parties tacitly understood the situation without needing to explicitly state it. As for which military family's scion this young man was, Yan Song, having witnessed the highest echelons of the Liyang court, had no connection to Beiliang and saw no need to concern himself with it. Their conversation during the ascent gradually turned to the turquoise-eyed Grand Secretary. For Zhang Julu, Yan Song, standing on the opposing side, felt a sense of regret, saying that Zhang Julu was only half a step away from being a true sage; he had succeeded in benefiting the world but regrettably failed to protect himself.

Yan Song said with concern, "Feudal lords, imperial relatives, eunuchs, military generals, and civil officials. These five types of people, if they do not uphold proper conduct, are most likely to cause great chaos in the realm. In our dynasty, the empress is virtuous, and imperial relatives have never gained significant power, which is a great blessing to the land. Eunuchs, led successively by Han Shengxuan and Song Tanglu, heads of the Directorate of Ceremonials—their characters aside—have been unfailingly loyal to the Zhao Emperor and very cautious regarding power. Our dynasty's eunuchs have largely kept to their duties, so there's no need to worry about eunuch interference in governance. The late emperor, with Zhang Julu's vigorous assistance, greatly curtailed the power of feudal lords and subtly suppressed military influence, achieving considerable success through a balance of strength and flexibility. Among the major feudal lords of the previous generation who could be said to have carved out their own territories, King Zhao Sui of Jiaodong has long lost his ambition, King Zhao Ying of Huainan even died on the battlefield, the new King Zhao Xun of Jing'an is wholeheartedly loyal to the nation, King Yi of Guangling has no ambitions, and your Beiliang is restrained by Beimang, leaving it willing but powerless. So, only King Zhao Bing of Yanfu remains, holding elite troops and skilled at concealing his true capabilities. The Southern Border naturally has no major enemies, allowing Zhao Bing to slowly build up his strength. This will undoubtedly be a grave concern for our dynasty."

Then Yan Song self-deprecatingly remarked, "As for us civil officials, 'scholars rebelling for ten years achieve nothing,' and emperors are easiest to appease. To be a Grand Tutor in life and receive the posthumous title 'Wenzheng' (Literary and Upright) has always been the highest pursuit for scholars. Even if one cannot become a Grand Tutor, there are still so many second and third-rank officials to become, and besides 'Wenzheng,' there's a whole string of other posthumous titles that can be taken to the grave. To take a step back, if one doesn't achieve much as an official, they can still establish a legacy through their writings and leave their name in history. So I say, we civil officials are the most ambitious, yet also the most unpromising. However!"

Yan Song suddenly paused, his expression solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "After Zhang Julu set an example for scholars across the land for twenty full years, things are different!"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "That high-ranking Jin Sanlang, for once, spoke a stark truth that broke through the pretense: 'The people are paramount, the ruler is secondary.' This is precisely what Zhang Julu taught him. And it was this 'pledge of loyalty' from Jin Lanting, submitted to the new emperor, that ultimately made the late emperor decide to bestow death upon the Grand Secretary."

Yan Song said bitterly, "That little scoundrel, utterly unfilial! Unworthy as a subject! Master Tantai was right to strike him!"

Xu Fengnian appeared to dismiss it with a smile, but Lu Chengyan intuitively sensed a hint of murderous intent emanating from him.

Yan Song sighed. "The civil officials and high-ranking ministers of the Yonghui Spring era were almost all excellent in their cultivation, family management, governance, and bringing peace to the world; one couldn't find major faults in them. But having been influenced by Zhang Julu for years, once they lacked the Grand Secretary's magnanimity and vision, they tended to go too far. The more peaceful and prosperous the era, the more easily scholarly disputes devolved into squabbles driven by personal pique. And the terrifying thing was that even the emperor would be powerless. I have many students, including a number of favored disciples—and it's not self-praise, but I truly taught without discrimination, as per the sages' teachings. For the first ten or twenty years, there was no noticeable difference, but by the time I was nearing retirement, a world of difference became apparent. Regardless of whether they came from noble or humble backgrounds, they were all capable and efficient officials, skilled in governance. However, except for a mere two students who saw their careers through to a good end, the others were more or less corrupt. Yet, those from good families managed their corruption more gracefully, while those who suddenly rose to power were quite unseemly. I was perplexed for a while, but after much thought, one of my incorruptible, humble-scholar students revealed the crucial insight: they were afraid of poverty, truly terrified of it. Even if not for themselves, they wanted to accumulate a family fortune for their descendants."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Actually, that's just human nature."

Yan Song shook his head. "As officials, it is human nature to ensure one's descendants are free from want. But to ensure they sit on mountains of gold and silver for ten generations—that's excessive."

Yan Song took a deep breath, forcing a smile. "Perhaps this is just my own limited perspective."

Yan Song said bitterly, "Two years ago, a student whom I had hoped would one day become a high-ranking minister, a man nearing fifty, knelt for hours outside my study after his corruption came to light. I wanted him to die, but every time I thought of his young face and clear, clean eyes when he sought my guidance on scholarship years ago, I simply couldn't bring myself to be ruthless. In the end, I merely had him dismissed from office. Now, I hear with the new emperor's ascension, his ambitions have revived, and he's actively maneuvering in the capital, attempting to regain his position. And mind you, the very people he's now lavishing money on are precisely the imperial relatives and noble families he once vehemently condemned as 'rats and parasites of the nation.' Sigh, I even remember trying to reason with him back then."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Did he succeed?"

Yan Song replied with immense self-mockery, "With plenty of silver to pave the way, and his identity as a student of me, Yan Song, a political opponent of the Grand Secretary, he naturally succeeded, appointed to the Ministry of Rites. Afterwards, he even wrote to me, his teacher, saying he was determined to inherit my mantle and become Vice Minister of Rites."

Xu Fengnian tutted in amazement. "That fellow has quite the thick skin! It would be great if he came to Beiliang."

The old man asked doubtfully, "Why is that?"

Xu Fengnian joked, "His face, as thick as a city wall, could single-handedly help block tens of thousands of Northern Mang troops."

Yan Song immediately burst into hearty laughter, and the Yan family descendants beside him followed suit.

The long mountain path eventually reached its end. At noon, they arrived at the summit of Lesser Lotus Peak. Gazing at the distant vista, their spirits soared.

Yan Song genuinely sighed to Xu Fengnian, who stood beside him. "To be frank, the reason I came to Beiliang is that someone invited me. He happens to be one of my students, and he said Beiliang is a good place to clear one's mind of worldly troubles. I didn't believe him, but that fellow wrote eight letters in one go, annoying me greatly. I thought, why not make a trip to the Northwest frontier before I die? After a lifetime of writing flowery, delicate poetry, perhaps in the end, I could still compose one or two enduring frontier poems."

The old man's grandson indignantly defended him, "Grandpa's 'green verse' was brilliantly written! The late emperor praised it endlessly, and even Huang Longshi, one of the Spring and Autumn Triple Crowns, admired it! How could it have even a hint of effeminacy?!"

The old man, in excellent spirits, countered with a laugh, "Nonsense! 'Admired'? Don't flatter this old man. Huang Longshi merely commented, 'Lacking vigor, but acceptable.' Those six words."

Although he verbally refuted it, it was clear the old man felt a subtle pride regarding this harsh criticism that sounded more negative than positive.

Xu Fengnian smiled. "For Huang Sanjia, who never praises anyone, to say that, it's truly remarkable."

The old man squinted, stroking his beard. "Now that's more like it. Only when an outsider like Young Master Xu says it can I, this old man, openly accept it with a smile. My own grandson flattering me hardly counts."

Lu Chengyan smiled knowingly. This old man was indeed a delightful character.

Lu Chengyan hesitated, then said, "Sir, you previously mentioned that among the feudal lords, Beiliang is willing but powerless. I respectfully disagree."

Yan Song turned his head. "Oh?"

Unexpectedly, Lu Chengyan merely uttered something seemingly irrelevant, countering, "I humbly believe that as long as the Grand General is present, the world will not fall into chaos. Northern Mang will not dare to invade south, Western Chu will not dare to raise an army, and the Southern Frontier will remain dormant. What do you think, sir?"

Yan Song remained silent for a long time.

Yan Song, as if lost in thought, sighed softly and nodded gently. "So that's it. I've been enlightened."

Lu Chengyan hastily said, "I wouldn't dare presume."

The old man's gaze shifted to Xu Fengnian, his expression complex. "If I'm not mistaken, did you once declare in Tai'an City that you would do something for the people of the Central Plains?"

Xu Fengnian asked, "How did you guess that, Elder Yan?"

Yan Song calmly replied, "A woman with such insight must be from a distinguished family. Combined with her Qingzhou accent, and the fact that I served in the imperial court for many years with Lu Feichi, the Pillar of the State and linchpin of the Qing Faction, her identity, and by extension yours, naturally becomes clear."

The old man snorted coldly, then turned and walked away first. Most of the Yan family descendants didn't know why their ancestor's expression had suddenly clouded over from sunny to gloomy; they just followed him down the mountain uneasily, feeling as if their trip to Wudang Mountain had started with excitement but ended in disappointment.

Lu Chengyan apologized softly, "I added feet to a snake."

Xu Fengnian gently stroked her cheek and softly said, "Don't worry. The esteemed teacher of our Beiliang Dao Administrator has actually decided to stay in Beiliang."

Lu Chengyan chuckled, "A pillar of the nation, who, though not a Grand Secretary, is more influential than one, defecting from the Central Plains to Beiliang—that's certainly not good news for the Liyang court."

Xu Fengnian nodded. "Yan Song is essentially closing the chapter for scholars coming to Beiliang."

Lu Chengyan blinked. "Song Dongming is very clever."

Xu Fengnian reached out and tapped her forehead with his finger. "Not as clever as you."

Lu Chengyan beamed.

Xu Fengnian explained, "I didn't come up the mountain solely to accompany you in burning incense and praying for blessings. This is my fortunate place; more accurately, it's a 'territory' of mine. When I fought Wang Xianzhis, if Wudang Mountain hadn't gone all out to set up the True Martial Grand Formation, I wouldn't have had a single chance of winning. Since my birth, because of my identity, fortune and misfortune have been intertwined: the fortune belongs to me, but the misfortune belongs to my family. After I began practicing martial arts, I've had many life-and-death battles, but I never died. And even if I suffered severe injuries, I always recovered afterwards. Initially, I found this strange, but as I gradually reached higher levels in martial arts, I understood a principle: 'a big shop bullies its customers.' I'm like a customer going to a restaurant; though my status is special and I can often eat delicacies, I still can't escape the fate of having to eat whatever 'Heaven,' the shopkeeper, serves me. Huang Longshi once revealed a heavenly secret, saying that I would likely 'eat my last meal' in these few years, and then there would be no next one. This is probably the fated end of 'that me' in this life: to guard the Northwest national gate, but to die in battle, with Beiliang gone, and its 300,000 iron cavalry gone, leaving behind only a few ambiguous words in history, and then that page would be turned. As for what happens to me in later generations, that depends on how Heaven chooses to write the book."

Xu Fengnian's eyes were resolute. "But ever since I started practicing with my blade, I never thought of resigning myself to fate. Back then, I was a good-for-nothing heir, aiming to avenge myself against masters like Yang Taisui and Liu Haoshi. Later, on the mountaintop, I aimed to 'slay dragons' and 'cut down celestials.' Now, I am aiming to preserve Beiliang. That 'last meal' from Heaven, I am not willing to eat. And so you see, Heaven is not easily reasoned with; soon, the worst situation emerged with Northern Mang pressing on three fronts. Perhaps this is the so-called 'heavenly cycle of retribution' at play."

Lu Chengyan tightened her grip on Xu Fengnian's hand.

A cold wind brushed his face, pushing back Xu Fengnian's hair from his forehead. He smiled faintly. "You've suffered a lot marrying me, haven't you?"

Lu Chengyan stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "There's joy amidst the hardship, and an endless aftertaste—enough for several lifetimes."

Li Yufu, with his disciple Yu Fu, arrived at the mountain peak. There were several clean, simple, yet uncluttered thatched huts there. They only saw Xu Fengnian standing by the cliff. Lu Chengyan, being frail and unable to withstand the strong winds at the summit, had gone into one of the huts to rest.

Li Yufu walked over to Xu Fengnian, but the young Taoist acolyte refused to approach, remaining several *zhang* away from the two men.

Xu Fengnian asked softly, "Is he easy to manage?"

Li Yufu glanced back at his disciple, then smiled. "More troublesome than I expected. This child is stubbornly principled and loves to question everything. A few days ago, I interpreted a divination slip for an old man who came to burn incense on the mountain; it was a 'lowest-tier' fortune, indicating his grandson would die at the border. My disciple complained about my handling of it at the time and sulked with me for several days."

Xu Fengnian asked curiously, "How did you interpret the slip?"

Li Yufu replied, "I didn't tell the old man the truth. I simply said it was a 'middle-tier' fortune, mixed with both good and bad, depending on his destiny."

Xu Fengnian asked, "What did the child complain about?"

Li Yufu said helplessly, "He complained that I either shouldn't have lied at all, or I should have gone all the way and 'changed the fortune' for the old man's grandson."

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, saying nothing further. He wasn't the young Taoist Yu Fu; naturally, he understood the complex intricacies involved. He remarked, "It seems the old sect leader Wang Chonglou must have had quite a difficult time dealing with such a junior martial brother back then."

Li Yufu smiled without speaking.

Xu Fengnian softly said, "I'm sorry for squandering most of Wudang Mountain's spiritual energy."

Li Yufu, his Taoist robes' wide sleeves gently swaying, shook his head. "Since ancient times, mountains and rivers gain their spiritual essence from people."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Isn't it 'spiritual because of immortals'?"

Li Yufu smiled. "Huang Longshi once said that there were immortals in the world, and then there were no more immortals around. The more people come to know awe and value heroism, the more 'chivalry' and 'righteousness' will become the backbone of Jianghu and the world. In my humble opinion, cultivating to be an immortal is too difficult, far off in the distance, but being a person is easy, right before us. If a difficult task cannot be accomplished, everyone has excuses. But if even an easy task cannot be accomplished, then finding excuses for oneself becomes much harder."

Xu Fengnian hummed in acknowledgment. "Perhaps I won't climb this mountain again in the future."

Li Yufu softly said, "I, on the other hand, will often descend the mountain."

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "In the future, that child, beat him when he deserves it. After all, he kidnapped my elder sister in his previous life without a word, and he still owes me one."

Li Yufu smiled but did not speak.

Xu Fengnian was not in a hurry to descend the mountain; instead, he spent the night at the summit of Lesser Lotus Peak. Lu Chengyan accompanied him for a while by the tortoise-borne stele before going to sleep.

When she awoke the next day, she wondered if she had been dreaming. She seemed to have vaguely seen a scene last night, but couldn't be sure.

After opening her eyes, she saw Xu Fengnian sitting by the bed. He smiled warmly but offered no answer.

That night.

A father and son stood side by side.

The old man's hands were tucked into his sleeves, his back slightly hunched.

The old man gazed at the territory of Beiliang.

The still-young man smiled faintly. "Father, I've only just realized that without you, this world would be like a mountain without a tiger."

The old man replied somewhat nonsensically, "If you can't bear it, don't force yourself. I only said half a sentence before: there's no reason in this world why a son cannot die. The other half is: but there's also no reason in this world why a son *must* die."

Xu Fengnian shook his head. "I, as the King of Beiliang, do not guard the nation's gate for the Zhao emperor, nor do I defend the Northwest for the common people of the Central Plains. Father, you yourself once said that wherever mother was, that was your home, Xu Xiao's home. Later, wherever we, your children, were, that was your home. So for me, Xu Fengnian, wherever my parents' graves are, that is my home!