Chapter 83: Saving Someone

The Green-Robed Dragon King, with a single strike of his pole, caused boats to capsize, horses to be thrown, and men to plunge into the river. The surface of the river instantly erupted in chaos. Many soldiers from the Phoenix Camp were poor swimmers, and with sudden, sharp rocks emerging, several were on the verge of drowning after just a few struggles. Ning Emei, with one hand, pulled up a soldier, and with the other, remarkably, dragged his mount—a tall, jet-black warhorse—forcibly onto the boat deck. After saving both man and horse, he immediately dove into the water. His 'Bu'-shaped iron halberd was a memento from his adoptive father, and Ning Emei would sooner drown than fail to retrieve it. At that moment, the young man in green robes had arrived, floating on a small boat, using a bamboo pole to stir up the waves. Had Ning Emei possessed his halberd then, he wouldn't have been so easily caught by that peculiar assailant.

As Ning Emei burst out of the water, Xu Fengnian drew his Xiudong Blade, swiftly chopping the large boat's railing into more than a dozen pieces, which he then kicked into the Yanzi River. He drifted down, stepping on a piece of timber, bent to grab a Northern Liang armored soldier, and tossed him back onto the main vessel. Simultaneously, Lu Yangshu and two others, along with Qingniao, plunged into the river like flying geese skimming snow, each rescuing people and horses. The boatmen and crew on the remaining three vessels watched, dumbfounded, as figures appeared to skim the water like dragonflies. They had initially assumed these river-crossing soldiers were merely formidable, never suspecting they concealed so many transcendent masters. This was especially true for the handsome young master, clad in white robes with a jade belt, who carried twin blades not merely for show. If the green-robed man who arrived gracefully on a small boat and departed elegantly was the Yanzi River Dragon King in human form, then this young master was a white dragon crossing the river, embodying an indescribably ethereal grace.

Xu Fengnian made four or five quick trips, breathing deeply and steadily, showing no signs of fatigue. Standing on a section of railing he had cut with his Xiudong Blade, he gazed towards the ominous Tongling Ghost Gate Pass, feeling a slight headache. Most of the people and horses swept into the river had been rescued, but two more were on the verge of crashing into the Ghost Gate Pass reefs, with no time left to save them. When navigating, one usually fears not the wind and waves, but the treacherous reefs. Two Northern Liang warhorses struck hidden reefs with a resounding crash, creating a pool of blood that was instantly swept away. Xu Fengnian tapped the railing with his toe, floated towards a reef, then darted away. Just one person was still about to collide with a reef. Xu Fengnian looked back to see Ning Emei at the bow, having just rescued a comrade, holding his halberd, his eyes clouded with worry.

A flash of inspiration struck Xu Fengnian, and he shouted loudly, "Ning Emei, throw me your halberd! Lend me a hand!"

Ning Emei took a step back with his right foot, roared, and hurled the eighty-jin iron halberd directly towards the soldier who was about to strike the reef. Xu Fengnian gripped the halberd, using its momentum to soar, and in the nick of time, successively grabbed the Phoenix Camp light cavalryman from the water. The halberd slammed into the reef. Xu Fengnian placed the rescued cavalryman on the reef, then darted away again and again, finally saving the very last drowning light cavalryman. They sat together on the exposed reef. The river roared and splashed, drenching Xu Fengnian's opulent robes. The red date-shaped mark on his brow shone brilliantly. The Phoenix Camp light cavalryman, having narrowly escaped death, coughed violently, then looked up at the impassive Crown Prince, somewhat bewildered. Was it true he had been saved by the Crown Prince, who was rumored in Northern Liang to treat human lives like grass?

The large boat drifted downstream. Ning Emei successively retrieved the halberds from the reefs and helped the Northern Liang comrades back onto the vessel. Xu Fengnian assisted the dazed light cavalryman as they leapt onto the bow. Yuan Meng, the commanding officer of the Phoenix Camp, wore a complex expression. Not only him, but many light cavalrymen were utterly stunned. Xu Fengnian ignored their reactions, simply instructing, "General Ning, take a count of the men and horses. Anyone who lost a warhorse will be marked for dereliction of duty and must make amends through future meritorious service."

Ning Emei cupped his fists and said in a deep voice, "As you command!"

Even Yuan Meng instinctively lowered his head and responded, "Your humble general obeys!"

A dripping wet Xu Fengnian entered the cabin, where Qingniao attended to him, helping him change into fresh clothes. Xu Fengnian frowned and said, "Thankfully, Shujian Beach was manageable, mostly with visible reefs. If we reach the Ghost Gate Pass further downstream, during low water, hidden reefs emerge like a stone forest, and the channel becomes even narrower. Then, for every person who falls into the water, there will likely be a casualty. Who was that green-robed man? To be able to capsize a large boat with a single pole, his raw strength can no longer be described as tiger-like; his clever technique is even more terrifying. He clearly concealed superior swordplay. My aunt gave me a book on Qingcheng Mountain that specifically discusses how to counter the Wu Family's 'Withered Sword' techniques. I observed that fellow's move with the bamboo pole, and it somewhat resembles 'Mountain Lift' from the Wu Family Sword Mound. Could he be Wu Liuding, the current Sword Champion?"

Qingniao, holding Xu Fengnian's hair with one hand and an ivory comb with the other, carefully styled his hair, speaking softly. "Whether that person was Wu Liuding or not, Young Master, your method of saving people was truly a pleasure to behold. Everyone on the boat, including Ning Emei and Yuan Meng, was just cheering loudly for you. Especially that moment when you flew holding the halberd—even I had to marvel."

Xu Fengnian looked down at his reddened palms and self-mockingly said, "Compared to capsizing a boat with a single pole, my cultivation is far, far behind. Unless the old Sword God Li Chungang is willing to act, no one can stop that fellow who might be Wu Liuding. I could only watch him leave on his boat, which was irritating. But honestly, whether that move was 'Mountain Lift' from the Sword Mound or not, given my aunt's forty years of sword practice insights as a precious guide, and adding the martial arts set taught by the cow-riding elder from Wudang Mountain—which includes a saying, 'Let the mountain be as heavy as it is, I can move ten thousand jin with one liang'—it was a true coincidence. So, watching it just now, I gained some new insights by analogy. That's a good thing. Indeed, I need to hurry and have Lu Qiantang train with me on the blade." After this ordeal, Tongling Gorge appeared even more striking with its abrupt peaks and grotesque rocks, its narrow, winding river, and its imposing grandeur. Only three boats remained within it, repeatedly brushing past reefs in a thrilling, heart-stopping manner.

Xu Fengnian returned to the bow, where two young Kui beasts chased and played at his feet. The old man in sheepskin robes appeared behind Xu Fengnian at some point, chuckling, "Kid, you're quite good at manipulating people's hearts. If I didn't know that green-robed swordsman wasn't one of yours, I might even suspect this was your deliberate arrangement."

Xu Fengnian retorted irritably, "I don't have that much power or influence."

Xu Fengnian pressed, "He really used a sword?"

The elder Sword God nodded and said, "Whether he uses a sword or not, how could I not know? Anyone from the Wu Family Sword Mound carries that musty, pedantic scent unique to the Withered Sword. However, this young swordsman has taken a path that the Wu Family Sword Mound would rather not see taken. His future achievements will surpass those of previous Sword Chieftains, provided he can pass the trials of the Eastern Yue Sword Pond and Deng Tai'a. If he succeeds, ascending from the Zhixuan realm to the Heavenly Phenomenon realm won't be difficult. If he fails, then his 'Withered Sword' will truly be withered. How was that 'Mountain Lift' move? Were you scared? How about I teach you the 'Overturning Seas' technique? Aren't you tired carrying those two blades? How about lending one to me? If you do, I'll immediately show you the sight of a single sword making the great river flow backward."

Xu Fengnian sneered, "Don't even think about it."

The old man picked his earwax, then pursed his lips and said, "So timid, how will you ever accomplish great things?"

Xu Fengnian mused to himself, "What was Wu Liuding's purpose with that pole strike?"

Li Chungang said impatiently, "Kid, are you stupid or foolish? When you roam the martial world, isn't it all about earning a reputation? Otherwise, why would Wang Xianzhi claim to be the 'Second Under Heaven'? Why would Deng Tai'a carry a peach branch and act so eccentric? Once you have a reputation, fighting others becomes legitimate. Otherwise, who would bother with an unknown nobody? When I was young, no matter who I faced, I would cut through them like melons and vegetables. Wasn't that just being impulsive and trying to prove myself? Only as I grew older did my desire for competition lessen. That old Taoist Qi Xuanzhen was truly detestable. Our discussion on swordsmanship caused my mental state to be greatly disturbed; not only did I fail to step into the Land Immortal realm, but even my Heavenly Phenomenon realm became precarious. I lost an arm and was suppressed beneath the Tide-Listening Pavilion. Only then, through misfortune, did I return to the Heavenly Phenomenon realm. Kid, be more respectful to me from now on. When you count the experts in the Heavenly Phenomenon realm, there are only about a dozen of them, barely enough for two hands."

Xu Fengnian extended his arm, and a snowy white gyrfalcon landed on it. He took down a small bamboo tube, pulled out a secret letter, and his face registered astonishment.

The old man, who had just boasted of being one of the few Heavenly Phenomenon masters, now undignifiedly craned his neck to peek. Xu Fengnian didn't mind. Li Chungang paused, startled, then tutted. "Wang Zhonglou giving you the Great Yellow Court cultivation was a life-damaging, losing venture. I had already anticipated that. But that new sect leader, Hong Xixiang, who even disdains the four levels of the Vajra and Zhixuan realms—did he truly reach the Heavenly Phenomenon realm in a single step? Kid, don't try to fool me. Tell me the truth, is this credible?"

Xu Fengnian said with emotion, "If it were anyone else, I wouldn't believe it even if I were beaten to death. But the cow-riding elder? I believe him."

Li Chungang gazed at the river, his expression distant. "Isn't this exactly what Qi Xuanzhen did back then? Twenty years with no progress in cultivation, then reaching the Heavenly Phenomenon realm with a single epiphany, and in another ten years, becoming a Land Immortal."

Xu Fengnian tossed the secret letter into the river, smiling. "Regardless of any Heavenly Phenomenon or Land Immortal, I will practice my blade."