Chapter 762: Two-Person Battle, Two-Nation Battle (7)

A dilapidated house, bright moonlight, and a chilling alleyway.

A martial arts grandmaster holding a sword horizontally, a thin, sorrowful youth, a young maiden grasping a whip, a sickly man clutching his waist and gasping, and a peerlessly beautiful woman carrying a purple casket.

To the nocturnal figures stealthily perched on the rooftops, the scene unfolding below made their late-night vigil in the cold less tedious. The nightwalkers were divided into several factions, each serving a different patron. The largest group, exuding an aura of battle, were the elite warriors from Liu Huaixi's manor, who naturally occupied the two adjacent rooftops with the best vantage points. The weapons hanging at their waists were all battle sabers, yet their variety was astonishing: there were slender Miao sabers resembling rice seedlings, battle sabers that flowed from the Northern Steppes and Southern Dynasties into the Western Regions, and even a black-clad leader carried an aged, old-style Liang saber. Only someone intimately familiar with the Beiliang border army would recognize it as a cavalry saber with a more pronounced curve than a standard infantry saber. As Beiliang's control over sabers and crossbows grew stricter, the value of these Liang sabers, which had circulated among the common folk in earlier years, surged, easily fetching exorbitant prices of seven to eight hundred taels of silver. In the Liyang Jianghu, a Liang saber at one's waist, unless wielded by an obvious scion of privilege, would invariably inspire awe and caution.

One man leaned closer to the black-clad figure with the Liang saber, whispering: "Chief Qi, that woman below carrying the purple casket is truly beautiful, even more stunning than Immortal Zi Zhu who visited our manor. Why don't we just make our move now? This entire Snow Lotus City is ours; once we enter, won't their lives be in our hands? Chief Qi, didn't the General say you needed a wife? I think this woman would be perfect. The brothers just agreed: we'll send the snow lotus to the General's manor, and we'll tie this woman up and take her directly to your residence, Chief. Tonight, we'll celebrate your wedding and have a rowdy wedding night – it'll make freezing all night worth it!"

The black-clad man, incited by his subordinates to act like a bandit chief, instinctively stroked his scabbard. Reason overcame desire, and he shook his head, saying, "Do not ruin my godfather's important plans."

He was a direct confidant of Liu Huaixi, the self-proclaimed emperor of Snow Lotus City. He had personally followed Liu Huaixi in and out of the Hundred Thousand Mountains many times, which was why he had been bestowed with this Liang saber, a weapon Liu Huaixi cherished. His mission was to keep an eye on the Central Plainsman wielding a sword. Liu Huaixi was determined to acquire that snow lotus, having openly declared his intention to offer it to a woman in Western Shu with the same name. She was rumored to be an incredibly beautiful woman, but unfortunately, she was someone even Liu Huaixi dared not provoke. The snow lotus obtained by the manor's lotus pickers had another, secret use. As one of Liu Huaixi's adopted sons, having followed him since boyhood, he was privy to some internal information. It was said that Liyang now had ten new great sects, with the Southern Jiang Dragon Palace among them. Its new palace master, Lin Hongyuan, was not only the leader of the Southern Jiang Jianghu but also had a close relationship with Zhao Zhu, the Crown Prince of Yan Chi. He wasn't sure what his godfather was truly plotting, but it was certainly not limited to Snow Lotus City. His godfather had privately expressed a longing for the Central Plains on more than one occasion.

"Chief Qi, look, that fellow seems to be ignorantly trying to meddle. What should we do?"

Liu Huaixi's adopted son frowned, squeezing a single word through his teeth: "Wait."

The sickly man, who had appeared from nowhere to disrupt the situation, called the youth and maiden aside and mumbled to them like an incompetent bookkeeper. As expected, the youth looked suspicious, and the maiden, who came from a prominent family, remained completely unmoved. While the youth and maiden's experience and perspective might differ, they certainly maintained some caution in the face of such drastic events. Who would believe a stranger, seemingly so weak that he could be toppled with a single finger, who suddenly appeared and offered them an impossible dream? After the adopted son on the rooftop secretly glanced at the beautiful woman again, especially seeing her gaze fixed on the scholarly young man, he, who had always considered himself hard-hearted, suddenly felt a surge of blood. He then elegantly leaped down, followed by a dozen of his brothers who had relied on each other for years, all landing swiftly. Only three archers remained on the rooftop by unspoken agreement, while the others descended to support Chief Qi in his impending moment of action. Everyone had a frivolous smile on their faces, almost calling the woman 'sister-in-law'. Xu Fengnian was talking until his throat was dry, telling the youth that if he only got the snow lotus, he could guarantee the maiden wouldn't be forced into marriage. The youth was actually somewhat tempted, but the maiden, who came from a prominent family outside Snow Lotus City, mercilessly exposed his "lie". Xu Fengnian said he could protect them and ensure their safe departure from Snow Lotus City. She retorted, "First, fight the Central Plains swordsman on the steps. If you win, then we can talk about other things." Xu Fengnian agreed. She then added that General Liu in the city had countless experts by his side, and her father's Majia Fort also had a hundred cavalry and two hundred archers. "You not only have to defeat the swordsman, but also fight two more battles at the General's manor and Majia Fort." Xu Fengnian, intending to avoid agreeing too quickly and making the two children doubt his sincerity, casually asked how formidable Liu Huaixi was. The maiden rolled her eyes, saying he was just a Jianghu swindler who wanted to make a quick buck, trying to trick them into giving him the snow lotus so he could run away. Xu Fengnian, feeling weak, squatted down and was about to speak, but the maiden utterly despised him, "considerately" suggesting he lie down to speak, as it would be less tiring for his legs and back. Xu Fengnian chuckled, saying that true Jianghu masters don't go around showing off like grandees; they prefer to feign weakness and act like a grandson, just like him. The maiden, with a sharp tongue, retorted that Xu Fengnian wasn't *acting* like a grandson; he *was* a grandson. The youth, who had been watching the scene unfold, wanted to laugh but held it back, secretly making a gleeful face at Xu Fengnian. Xu Fengnian playfully chided the youth, "She hasn't even married in yet, and she's already taking charge both inside and out. Aren't you afraid your authority as a husband will suffer later?" The youth, good-natured but not truly foolish, chuckled. The maiden, however, flew into a rage, gripping her whip and pointing it at the increasingly outrageous man, her face covered in frost, demanding he "get lost". However, Xu Fengnian's next words completely calmed her. "What, are you feeling guilty for getting Hong Shuzhi into such danger, and now you want to make sure that at the very least, me and that beautiful older sister, two outsiders, don't get involved? Aren't you a bit too soft-hearted, girl..."

Just as Liu Huaixi's enforcers were about to engage, the man with the Liang saber at his waist raised a hand to halt their eagerness, softly saying, "Something's not right."

Immediately after, a wild laughter echoed from inside the house: "You fools who meet a true Buddha but don't recognize him, what are you babbling about?!"

A figure burst out, tearing through the mud house wall as if it were paper-thin, like a wild horse charging through a trough. It first leaped over the unmoving swordsman's head, then darted between Xu Fengnian and Jiang Ni, finally crashing into the ranks of Liu Huaixi's elite warriors. The Liu manor's adopted son, a veteran of many battles, roared in fury. Drawing his saber and gripping it with both hands, he propelled himself forward, his non-linear steps exceptionally intricate and agile, blending the old forms of Western Shu Xingyi and Southern Tang Tongbei. His hand movements were remarkably clean, hacking and slashing, bringing his saber down swiftly onto the figure's head.

The figure that shot out from the house vanished in a flash, brushing past the adopted son in the blink of an eye. It not only struck the latter in the chest with a kick but also disarmed him of his battle saber with bare hands. The figure's momentum remained unchecked as it charged straight towards the dilapidated alley wall, thrusting the saber into it and flipping its body. By the time the young man, respectfully called Chief Qi, steadied his retreating steps and turned to look, he saw an old man whose lower legs, from the knees down, seemed to have been severed by a sharp weapon. The old man was sitting there on his beloved battle saber, looking around proudly, and declared loudly: "Oh, young man, you have some skill, but unfortunately, you've met this old man. Even if you practiced for another twenty years, it still wouldn't be enough!"

The arrogant old man glanced at the middle-aged swordsman who hadn't stopped him from leaving the house, and indignantly said: "This old man has re-entered the Jianghu, and I've waited for so many days in this dilapidated little city. Besides that blockhead on the steps who possesses a killing sword but lacks a killing heart, has no one sensible come forward to offer incense and pay respects? Must this old man go on a rampage of slaughter before you short-sighted frogs at the bottom of the well understand that a Land Immortal has arrived in your Snow Lotus City?"

The local boss of Snow Lotus City, surnamed Qi, turned his head and spat out a mouthful of blood. His eyes were cold and sinister as he shook his wrist and asked with a smile, "Does the old immortal truly intend to be an enemy of the General's manor?"

The old man cackled, "What General's manor? A bunch of blind fools! If you truly provoke this old man, I'll wipe out every single one of you in an instant!"

At this moment, Xu Fengnian chuckled at Jiang Ni, who had quietly moved a few steps closer to him: "Learn from this. Look at how that old senior navigates the Jianghu; he has such style. Let me tell you, in our line of work as dissolute youths, if you don't know how to give a charmingly sinister smile, you're definitely a novice in the Jianghu of playboys. Similarly, for nefarious masters in the Jianghu, that cackling laugh is just a basic skill. As for righteous figures, they must possess an ethereal demeanor. After a single move, they should stand with their hands clasped behind their backs. At night, especially during a moonlit evening, it's most fitting. Just imagine: assuming a pose gazing up at the moon not only conveys a grandmaster's aura but also doesn't strain your eyes. In contrast, it doesn't work as well in broad daylight; it's too dazzling. But there's also a trick: squint your eyes, remain silent, absolutely do not speak. No harsh words, no boasts—uttering anything cheapens your status. If you say nothing, the onlookers, like our large group here, will instead find you unfathomable."

Jiang Ni snapped impatiently, "Aren't you bored?!"

Xu Fengnian glared, "These are golden words of wisdom I've personally gleaned from my Jianghu adventures! Others might want to hear them, but I wouldn't sell them for a thousand pieces of gold!"

The young lady from Majia Fort, who had been secretly eavesdropping on Xu Fengnian's "teachings," quickly dismantled his facade: "He truly is an experienced Jianghu swindler!"

The youth listened with particular relish, finding Xu Fengnian's words very logical. Indeed, the rich young men in Snow Lotus City, whenever they teased girls on the streets, always favored that charmingly sinister smile, didn't they? And every time they opened their folding fans, they did so with a crisp *snap*, and then closed them again with another *snap*. He could never quite master that smile, nor could he afford such a fan. So, filled with curiosity, the youth quietly asked, "Is there more?"

Xu Fengnian hummed smugly, "Of course! There's a profound sea of knowledge here, kid. Let me ask you, are there any female martial artists in your Snow Lotus City whose nicknames start with 'Purple,' or who like to wear purple clothes or purple accessories? There must be, right?"

The youth gasped in surprise and exclaimed with eyes full of admiration, nodding vigorously, "Sir, you're incredible! In the past year alone, there have been three or four Immortal Sisters like that!"

The maiden pouted, "What's so great about guessing something like that? Snow Lotus City is full of young out-of-town heroes who wear white robes and carry two sabers at their waists. Everyone claims to be a secluded disciple of someone or other. They either like to get roaring drunk and lie on the street staring at the moon, or they climb a low city wall and sit there pretending to be in a daze, or they just like to go to Snow Lotus Tower to show off their poetry. My father says they do have some skill, but they're far from the top experts in Snow Lotus City. He also said these young heroes either had their brains kicked by a donkey when they were kids or had their heads flattened by a door panel when they grew up, and told me to always walk around them whenever I see them."

Xu Fengnian said earnestly, "Little girl, you don't understand. These ambitious young heroes are all talented and have bright futures ahead of them! They are destined to become great heroes someday!"

The maiden ignored him, glaring fiercely at the youth, Hong Shuzhi. "Immortal Sister?"

The youth shrank his neck, then, with a flash of inspiration, immediately applied what he had just heard, beginning to gaze up at the moon.

After the old man spoke, the tense situation in the field rapidly deteriorated. "This old man has heard some tales about your master, Liu Huaixi; he's clearly an ambitious figure. Send a message to that General's manor, tell him that if he, Liu, is willing to offer ten famous swords, a thousand taels of gold, and a manor spanning a hundred *mu* with a hundred maids, this old man will reluctantly become his chief guest elder. Even if he faces one of the world's top ten masters in the future, he will have the confidence to challenge them."

The young man surnamed Qi, whose mouth still had traces of blood, had a shifting expression. Finally, he gave a carefree smile and clasped his hands, saying, "As long as senior can handle that annoying swordsman and allow this junior to take the snow lotus to complete his mission, I will do my best to introduce senior to my godfather."

The youth panicked and shouted, "Old man, didn't you say you would take me as your disciple? Didn't you say you would teach me unparalleled martial arts that would easily make me the strongest person in the world, once we descended the mountain?"

The old man burst into laughter: "Silly boy, with your crude aptitude, even if this old man gave you dozens of top-tier secret manuals, you wouldn't become a master. If I hadn't said that back then, would you have helped me break the formation inside the cave?"

The old man suddenly looked at the sickly young man: "Your aptitude is passable, young man. Do you want to join my sect? This old man's return to prominence is destined to make me famous throughout the land. If you agree, I'll ensure you rise to great heights."

The old man's tone shifted, and he looked towards the young woman carrying the purple casket. She was truly stunning to the extreme; even in his wild youth roaming the Jianghu, he had never seen such a captivating woman. If she could be used as a 'cauldron', he might just return to the pinnacle of martial arts. The old man made no attempt to hide his greedy gaze, smacking his lips and cackling: "However, that girl beside you must belong to this old man. Such a first-grade treasure cauldron – to not take what Heaven offers would be to invite disaster. As for you, young man, what's one woman compared to acquiring the world's top-tier martial arts..."

Xu Fengnian smiled faintly: "Alright, alright. I was actually hoping to chat a bit with you, to hear what the Jianghu was like back in the days of that old man in the sheepskin robe. After all, you are a senior Jianghu figure who once crossed swords with Dong Yuanrui of the Eastern Yue Sword Pond. Even though you suffered a crushing defeat and had your legs severed by 'Six Dragonflies,' it's not easy to have lived to this age. But since you're so stubborn, there's nothing for it. You should thank me, actually. If it weren't for me, you'd already be a corpse by now."

Jiang Ni let out a cold snort.

Xu Fengnian's smile vanished. "Speaking of which, if I'm not mistaken, you're that infamous Cauldron Forger, aren't you? The one who specializes in using women as 'cauldrons' to enhance your cultivation by absorbing their yin essence to supplement your yang. A despicable character so vile that even the Demonic Sect's Zhulu Mountain wouldn't accept you."

Dong Yuanrui, Six Dragonflies, Cauldron Forger, Zhulu Mountain.

The old man, who had only just managed to break free from his prison in that snowy mountain cave, felt a massive shock in his heart.

Xu Fengnian was probably tired from talking, and he squatted down, breathing lightly. However, everyone else, except for Jiang Ni, was quickly dumbfounded. Even the Central Plains swordsman was greatly alarmed, as the sword resting across his lap unsheathed itself and flew out, regardless of how he tried to suppress it.

The "flying sword" slowly approached Xu Fengnian's shoulder, subtly quivering, like a little bird clinging to its beloved, or an old horse meeting its master.

The old man was terrified, his liver and guts splitting from fright. He had been away from the Jianghu for many years, but his discerning eye remained sharp. "Sword Control Art of the Wu Family Sword Tomb!"

The old man quickly strained his voice, shouting, "Young master, let's talk this through properly, no need for violence! It's not easy for either of us to have reached our current cultivation..."

The flying sword, like a streak of thunder, shot straight forward.

The old man no longer bothered to maintain his master's posture of sitting cross-legged on the saber. His body shot up several feet, barely dodging the flying sword as it embedded itself into the wall.

The flying sword's tip spun and retracted, carving a bit of earth from the wall.

After creating some distance, it thrust forward to kill once more.

The old man, who had been posing as a grandee and a grandmaster ever since leaving the house, slammed his elbow against the wall, intending to scale it and escape. But the flying sword suddenly accelerated, sweeping upwards diagonally, appearing above his head. The old man had no choice but to sink his qi to his dan tian and execute the 'Thousand Jin Drop' technique.

The flying sword seemed to be toying with him, intentionally or unintentionally missing the old man's vitals by the narrowest margin each time, allowing him to narrowly escape being impaled, yet absolutely preventing him from leaving the vicinity of that wall.

The old pervert, who had been cooped up in the snowy mountains for decades, was driven to the point of wanting to die, constantly muttering strange words that the Snow Lotus City natives present couldn't understand: "That's not Qi-controlled flying sword, it's a superior flying sword art! Who exactly are you from the Wu Family Sword Tomb? How can you control someone else's sword with your spiritual will when you didn't even cultivate it yourself?! Are you the current Sword Crown of the Wu Family, and that woman is your sword attendant? This old man was wrong, young man... no, venerable master, please show mercy and spare my life!"

What made the old man even more desperate was that the fellow even had the leisure to raise his arm, pull out the saber, and lightly hold it in his hand.

Half an incense stick later, the exhausted old man, whose qi had dwindled, was impaled by over twenty sword strikes. Finally, a single sword pierced through his mouth and nailed him to the wall, with the blade entering flat against the wall, creating the cruel effect of a hanging corpse.

Xu Fengnian held the Liang saber, glancing at the corpse. As if still not appeased, the flying sword darted out, piercing the wall repeatedly at an impossibly fast speed. With a series of thudding sounds, the corpse didn't even slide down an inch, but was slowly stabbed into a pulpy mess.

Xu Fengnian stood up. As his gaze fell upon Liu Huaixi's adopted son, the latter seemed to be struck by an invisible force; his back slammed against the wall with a loud crash, killing him instantly. The wall collapsed, and both corpses vanished from everyone's sight, out of mind, out of fear. After sheathing the saber, Xu Fengnian grasped the scabbard that had flown back into his hand, placed the Liang saber into it, and then fastened it to his waist. Ignoring the various groups of nightwalkers in the alley and on the rooftops of Liu's manor who were nearly paralyzed with fear, he made a funny face at the youth and maiden and chuckled, "Well, now you must believe me, right? A true master like me doesn't need to stand; squatting is already quite stylish. If I were to stand, I'd be so dashingly handsome that I wouldn't dare look in a mirror, fearing I'd startle myself. How could there possibly be another peerless master as handsome as I am in this world?"

Jiang Ni rolled her eyes. "Such arrogance!"

The youth shielded the maiden, who hid behind him, her teeth chattering as she whispered, "He's impressive, alright, but his head must have been flattened by a door panel too."

The stubborn maiden tugged at the youth's sleeve. "Right, Shuzhi?"

The youth mumbled quietly, "Right."

But he quickly feigned foolishness, adding two words as an afterthought: "...I guess?"

With a thought from Xu Fengnian, the longsword he had borrowed for a moment flew back into the swordsman's sheath. He smiled faintly, "Thanks."

The Central Plainsman, who had thought himself a top master in the small Snow Lotus City of the Western Regions, stood up and said in a deep voice, "This junior should be thanking senior for the grace of his sword instruction."

Xu Fengnian merely smiled. Then, his entire demeanor transformed, all traces of his previous weakness gone. He turned to Jiang Ni and said, "Actually, my recovery isn't slow at all; it's even faster than Tuoba Pusa's. I could walk on my own two days ago already. Now he and Li Mibi have entered the city. You've already saved me once. This time, I have a chance of winning; it's not a definite loss. So, don't worry about me. First, take these two children and leave Snow Lotus City. Once they're settled, you should return to Western Chu."

Xu Fengnian paused, blinked, and then said with a playful grin, "Perhaps one day, I'll come looking for you too. Then you'll know just how formidable I am, and whether I'm the new Martial Emperor."

Xu Fengnian walked alone into the alley, his right hand resting on the hilt of his Liang saber. With his back to Jiang Ni, he said, "When Cao Changqing took you away back then, I couldn't stop him. As long as I don't die this time, then no one will be able to stop me."

Just then, the youth and maiden saw the man suddenly stumble, almost falling to the ground.

The maiden, who had been inexplicably moved moments before, couldn't help but burst into laughter. "He's still more handsome when squatting."

The youth nodded in agreement.

The Central Plainsman, who had already come to view the sword master with the art of preserving youth as an immortal, also found it a bit painful to watch.

Yet, even as he felt a surge of pity, the swordsman was startled.

Had he just heard the names Tuoba Pusa and Cao Changqing?

Not only was this senior figure connected to Cao Changqing, but his current opponent was Tuoba Pusa, the second strongest person in the world? And was he formidable enough to warrant Tuoba Pusa collaborating with others to pursue him all the way to Snow Lotus City?

Could this senior be a Land Sword Immortal who had never appeared in the Jianghu?

But the next moment, he thought otherwise.

In the distance.

With a stiff face, Jiang Ni swiftly glided behind Xu Fengnian and kicked him, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt. She angrily exclaimed, "Are you addicted to pretending to be a master now?!"