Chapter 954: Wudang Mountain Has No Grandmaster

On the stone steps of the divine path, figures of pilgrims gradually appeared. Xu Fengnian quietly made his way to Xixiang Pond, took off his outer robe, and squatted by the pond to wash it. Just as adept as he was at "snatching opportunities," Xu Fengnian was equally skilled at these chores.

Last night's breathtaking battle between heaven and man had intentionally kept Jiang Ni and Li Yufu out, yet several grandmasters from the Central Plains, who were guests at Wudang, watched the fight from near or afar. A white-robed qi practitioner gazed towards it from the peak of Yuzhu Peak, likely harboring the thought of profiting from the conflict. After all, whether it was the Zhang family's saint or the new King of Northern Liang, Xu Fengnian, whoever died would bring a significant boost to her fortune. If both were to perish, and she was lucky enough to simultaneously absorb both fortunes, a true terrestrial immortal, who would not only live a long life but also be free from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao, might just appear in the human world.

The three top masters from Southern Xinjiang, Lu Xuanlang, Cheng Baishuang, and Ji Liuan, stood together on a suspended walkway, observing from a distance. The blind female zither player Xue Songguan walked slowly, eventually stopping half a *li* away. However, the one closest to the battlefield was the person in purple.

While Xu Fengnian skillfully washed clothes on a bluestone slab, people from the martial world had begun to gather in twos and threes around Xixiang Pond. Wudang Mountain was now widely recognized in the Central Plains not only as a blessed land for cultivation but also as a geomantic treasure trove for martial artists to comprehend the essence of the heavens. Most of the martial heroes who came after hearing the news were individuals who had encountered bottlenecks in their martial arts. When idle, they enjoyed sitting cross-legged here, watching the waterfall, the pond, and the giant rocks, imagining how the previous Grandmaster Hong Xixiang once practiced boxing here, how King Ji Xin drew his sword here, and how Grandmaster Xu Fengnian practiced his blade here. They would jostle and compete for a spot, much like pilgrims scrambling for the first incense stick.

Xu Fengnian accidentally overheard a group of people nearby whispering. It sounded like a nursery rhyme: "Wood dragon versus stone tiger, fifteen million in gold and silver, whoever can unravel it, will buy Yangzhou Prefecture." It was said that the old King of Northern Liang, Xu Xiao, had long anticipated the northern barbarians' million-strong army pressing at the pass, and thus prepared for a rainy day. He had already dispatched the gold, silver, and treasures accumulated by the Xu family from the Spring and Autumn Period's aristocratic families to be meticulously hidden in a secret location by the Fushui Chamber's elite agents. The purpose was that if the Xu family could not withstand the southward advance of the Northern Barbarians' cavalry, they could use these assets to rise again and continue to contend for dominion over the land.

At first, Xu Fengnian found it amusing, but he quickly discerned the unusual implication, and his mood grew heavy. Yangzhou Prefecture in Guangling Dao had always been the wealthiest and most important prefecture in the Central Plains. The simple five characters "buy Yangzhou Prefecture" vividly depicted to the common people the immense hidden silver of the Xu family. Nevertheless, hearing these people idly chat, it seemed that even Listening Tide Lake, which should have been the primary suspect, was being completely disregarded. Instead, they were directly speculating about Qingcheng Mountain and Linyao Military Town. This couldn't help but alarm Xu Fengnian. According to those who believed the rumors, the basis for the latter (Linyao Military Town) was the speculation that Li Yishan himself had been in charge of the Xu family's massive silver and treasure hiding operation back then. That 'poisonous scholar' who had wholeheartedly advised the Xu family his entire life had used a diversion tactic, openly expelling refugees to Liuzhou to confuse the public, while secretly colluding with Landa Mountain in the Western Regions – a truly foolproof plan. As for why the former (Qingcheng Mountain) was Qingcheng Mountain, bordering Liang and Shu, those people from the martial world couldn't explain it. But Xu Fengnian knew clearly that Xu Xiao had six thousand armored soldiers hidden deep within Qingcheng Mountain. This was a highly confidential matter, known to very few even within the Fushui Chamber. It was obvious that the person deliberately spreading this nursery rhyme not only harbored hostility towards Northern Liang but also had deep infiltration into Northern Liang's military and political affairs.

Xu Fengnian had always been wary of prophetic nursery rhymes that had once caused chaos in the Eight Kingdoms of the Spring and Autumn period. Back then, Huang Sanjia was the patriarch who founded his sect through such matters, causing nearly all emperors and monarchs immense headaches. Xu Fengnian hadn't expected Northern Liang to also suffer such a misfortune now. It's not to say that these nursery rhymes could truly shake Northern Liang's foundation. In fact, given Northern Liang's long-standing custom of valuing martial prowess over literary pursuits, coupled with Xu Fengnian's series of measures after inheriting his position, especially the decisive victory in the first Liang-Mang war, which had already fulfilled the opening requirement in his master Li Yishan's will: "Be sure to maintain the structure of our Northern Liang, meaning the Xu family." Therefore, even if dozens more such prophetic songs appeared, it wouldn't matter. However, Li Yishan had repeatedly stressed during his lifetime that "the wind rises from the tip of a duckweed, and waves form from slight ripples," meaning that in governing a nation and its army, one must always guard against potential problems before they escalate. Even that strategist, Li Yishan, had humbly stated: "I, Li Yishan, possess no exceptional talent, nor outstanding strategies; my life has been one of caution," to warn Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian suddenly felt puzzled. Since this person possessed such deep insight into Northern Liang's internal affairs, why would they resort to such pointless and meaningless methods?

It was like the Peach-Tiger Deity fighting a second-rank fierce master, when they could clearly finish the fight with a single sword stroke, but chose instead to play cat and mouse for a hundred moves. Perhaps that well-informed fierce master would find it sickening.

Was it adding fuel to the fire, or simply gilding the lily?

Xu Fengnian fell into deep thought.

Not far away, a man with shifty eyes greeted him, "Brother, do you have some bloodstains on you? What, did you run into an enemy on Wudang Mountain yesterday?"

People from Northern Liang wore thick clothing, so after Xu Fengnian took off his robe, not much of what was underneath was stained. Xu Fengnian, carrying his outer robe, now washed and rolled into a bundle, stood up and squatted down near the person who had called out, not too close, about four or five steps away. He spoke directly, chuckling softly as he asked, "Indeed, I was pretty badly beaten up. I won't beat around the bush. It's clear, brother, you're a 'night watchman' on the streets. How much silver does it cost to break a leg? And what's the price if it's a beating to the death? If the price is fair, according to the old rules, I'll pay half up front for the first installment."

When ordinary night watchmen patrolled the streets, they often collected rubbish. So, a 'night watchman' on the streets referred to someone who took money to help others deal with trouble.

The man's eyes lit up. He didn't rush to accept this windfall business, carefully sized up the young man with an authentic Northern Liang accent, and in the distinctive officialese of the Central Plains' Wu-Yue region, he said, "Brother, let's be clear first: is your enemy a 'local stick' or a 'sea stick'?"

'Local stick' means a local, like a local strongman. And 'sea stick' refers to an outsider, like a powerful newcomer.

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "A local stick."

The man immediately frowned. Dealing with local Northern Liang people was far trickier than handling unfamiliar outsiders, the 'dragons crossing the river'. He involuntarily lowered his voice, "What, could it be a 'trained magpie', or even a 'sea horse' from around here?"

The 'trained magpie' was the design depicted on the official's embroidered badge for a ninth-rank civil official in the Liyang imperial court, while the 'sea horse' was for a military official. To the common folk, these were the county magistrates who could ruin families, and the prefects who could wipe out clans. County magistrates, as the 'father and mother' officials of a county, were often of the eighth or ninth rank. Thus, 'trained magpie' and 'sea horse' became underworld slang for officials and soldiers. They were all individuals absolutely not to be easily provoked. One must know that ever since Xu Xiao, the 'Human Butcher,' the court had established a bloody rule of sending the heads of disobedient martial artists to the Nine Borders. After Liyang unified the Spring and Autumn lands, especially after Xu Xiao's campaign through the martial world, the entire martial world had to become increasingly submissive. Otherwise, why would the Minister of Punishments in Tai'an City, who held authority over the bronze fish pouches, be privately called the 'Emperor of the Rivers, King of the Lakes' by martial artists, and regarded as the martial arts alliance leader in the imperial court?

Xu Fengnian slowly said, "That fellow only had a grandfather who was once a 'trained magpie,' but he passed away long ago, and his family has no remaining influence in the legitimate world. Think about it, around here, what's a 'trained magpie'? The 'sea horse' is the real boss. However, that person has a formidable personal guard; he's unarmed, doesn't even carry a weapon, and I reckon he has strength around the fifth rank."

The lean man exchanged glances with his four companions, quickly weighing the pros and cons. All five of them were 'greenwood' fellows from the southern capital region, accustomed to a life of violence. They had traveled together in Northern Liang, and their friendship had deepened; moreover, they all knew each other's backgrounds and originally intended to formalize their brotherhood by 'slaughtering a chicken and burning yellow paper' once they returned to their hometown. So they had no qualms about openly discussing this business. According to the young man, the guard was old, and his fifth-rank strength was quite respectable. But 'fists fear the young, and staves fear the old master'. All five of them had some martial skill, and if they joined forces, it would be a foregone conclusion that they could 'beat an old master to death with wild punches'. However, all five were worried about causing trouble in Northern Liang; if word got out, they would certainly end up like hedgehogs, shot by Northern Liang's strong crossbow cavalry. But 'even a single coin can stump a hero'! They were mostly big spenders; after only two or three rounds of drinking with courtesans, they were completely broke. Coincidentally, these past two days, it was as if their ancestors' graves were emitting green smoke, as they were fortunate enough to meet a renowned underworld figure from the southern capital region, who was even willing to befriend them. So, to enter a temple and burn incense to Buddha, one needs incense, and even more, incense money! What's the use of merely saying how long you've admired someone's great reputation, how their name rings like thunder in your ears?!

The lean man cautiously asked, "Which Taoist temple on Wudang Mountain does he belong to?"

This question was very particular.

Of Wudang Mountain's eighty-one peaks, only a few were actually open, fewer than thirty. Taoist temples of varying sizes were scattered high and low across these peaks. Perhaps Wudang Mountain Taoists didn't care about the size or elevation of their cultivation spots, but people from the martial world certainly did. For this Wudang debate, it was natural to prefer to stay at famous peaks and Taoist temples. If none were famous, they would try their best to stay at higher elevations.

It was said that many renowned sects had developed grudges over this, but they only tolerated it because they feared the Northern Liang government.

In the minds of well-informed martial artists, there was a clear hierarchy: martial arts seniority, rankings, and seating arrangements. For example, the more recognizable guests at Great Snow Plains of Huishan, totaling over fifty individuals, were all renowned figures who were either 'immortals' or grandmasters. One should never plot against them. The next group consisted mainly of those qualified to enter the imperial capital's Ministry of Punishments. These shadowy figures were even more untouchable than the dozen or so behemoths from the old and new rankings. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the sects and gangs capable of dominating the martial arts scene in a given province, from their leaders and sect masters, to guest elders, and even their direct disciples. The last group, such as Feng Zongxi, the 'Divine Fist of the Central Plains' renowned for his generosity, and the Liaodong Sandalwood Monk, also a 'scattered immortal,' generally traveled the martial world alone. One should clearly remember their names and appearances to avoid offending them. Otherwise, if one thinks that 'two fists cannot contend with four hands,' it wouldn't be a mere mishap in a ditch, but deserved drowning in the great rivers and waves.

Xu Fengnian said with disdain, "He's in a small Taoist temple on Shaoyou Peak. He only got a spot there because his grandfather was a major patron of that place. Otherwise, with his meager abilities, he would have long been squeezed out and sent packing."

The lean man said with a smile, "May I ask, brother, what kind of business are you in? And what's your grievance with that person?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Brother, that breaks the rules. Money in this world doesn't have a surname."

The lean man, realizing he was in the wrong, chuckled awkwardly, "Money's surname is Zhao anyway."

Xu Fengnian smiled and pointed to the bluestone slab, saying, "But here, its surname is Xu."

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to casually bring up the nursery rhyme, following the thread of their conversation, an uninvited guest interrupted them.

Tong Shanqian, who wore the two renowned blades Wude and Tianbao at her waist, walked directly towards Xu Fengnian, making no attempt to conceal herself.

Xu Fengnian wasn't annoyed by this. He believed that the Fushui Chamber's spies on Wudang Mountain were already aware of this matter. Even if they didn't attach as much importance to it as he did, he would personally instruct them later. After all, Wudang Mountain was still Northern Liang territory; despite the mixed populace of various sects and backgrounds, one could still find clues with enough effort. As long as the other party harbored any illusions of luck, wasn't just doing a one-off deal, and dared to continue fanning the flames, the Fushui Chamber's spies would make them wish they were dead. Xu Fengnian wasn't merely confident about this; he was utterly arrogant. The world only knew the reputation of Northern Liang's iron cavalry, but few understood how elite the Fushui Chamber was, capable of surviving and growing stronger amidst the Liyang Zhao Gou and Northern Barbarian Spiderweb. Only high-ranking military commanders in Northern Liang knew that the new King of Liang held more respect for Northern Liang's spies and elite agents than for the White Horse Bowmen outside Liangzhou Pass!

Xu Fengnian didn't stand up. He looked up and asked with a smile, "Master Tong, have you come to comprehend the blade again?"

The master of Jincuo Blade Manor, whose nature was quiet but whose blade style was exceptionally grand and fierce, smiled faintly and nodded gently.

With a light tap of her toes, she gracefully glided towards a large rock in the pond. She sat cross-legged, facing the waterfall, with her two blades laid across her knees.

The lightness skill she naturally displayed was devoid of any ostentation, and thus didn't appear overtly superior or profound.

However, the young woman's grandmaster aura was fully evident.

The lean man muttered to himself, "How is she somewhat similar to the legendary young master of Jincuo Blade Manor? Does she also wear two blades at her waist, and possess national beauty? Or perhaps she's a Central Plains swordswoman who admires Tong Shanqian."

Xu Fengnian quipped, "Brother, do you think I could possibly know such an unapproachable martial grandmaster?"

In the world of ordinary martial artists, forget the Great Snow Plains, even for a revered martial arts sanctuary like Jincuo Blade Manor, what was written on the plaque hanging above its main gate, the world-renowned 'Green Waist' peony within the manor, the two treasured blades Wude and Tianbao worn by the young master Tong Shanqian, the quality difference between them and someone's 'Embroidered Winter, Spring Thunder' twin blades worn at the waist, whether Tong Shanqian and Chen Tianyuan of the Taibai Sword Sect, also from Liyang's southwest, were truly an immortal couple, if they had a fleeting romance, or even if she had secretly conceived a child for that young banished immortal—these were all stimulating topics for post-meal discussions in the Central Plains martial world, enough for several cups of wine.

The 'fish and shrimp' living in this kind of martial world naturally carried a strong scent of earth and fish.

They never spoke the lofty words associated with heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, nor could they accomplish the feat of a single sword strike that chills thirty provinces of the Central Plains.

They had visited Wudi City to admire the high wall once adorned with divine weapons from all under heaven. They had seen heavy snowfall at Great Snow Plains of Huishan. They had seen the seven cursive characters 'Mountains high, waters deep, sword qi long' carved at Dongyuejie. They had watched swords being forged in the Longyan Sword Furnace at Youyan Villa. They had drunk 'green ant wine' at a tavern near the Fish-Dragon Gang in Liangzhou, Northern Liang. They had admired the Spring God Lake scenery at Kuaixue Villa.

These were the fortunate experiences they dreamed of.

A young swordsman carrying a sword-box, who was passing by Xixiang Pond, saw Xu Fengnian by chance and his face lit up with surprise. He was precisely Zhang Chunlin, the young master of Youyan Villa. Yesterday, when Xuanyuan Qingfeng of Huishan was taking medicine, he had already recognized Xu Fengnian, who was squatting at the neighboring stall, gnawing on a pancake. After Zhang Chunlin returned to his lodging yesterday, it took him a great deal of effort, talking endlessly, to finally learn the exact whereabouts of the new King of Liang from an old Taoist priest of the Qing generation at Wudang Mountain. Back then, the notoriously infamous Crown Prince, out of sheer idleness, came to Wudang Mountain to practice his blade. In fact, the Taoists on the mountain were quite dismissive and nobody took him seriously. They weren't immortal true masters with foresight, how could they have imagined the current situation? After Xu Fengnian inherited his position, Wudang Mountain blocked the path from Xixiang Pond to that thatched hut. In reality, they just set up fences on the small path. In those years, probably only the young martial grand-uncle, who had yet to ride his crane south of the Yangtze, would frequently go to help tend the vegetable garden, allowing that greenery to last year after year. Later, Xu Fengnian personally wrote to Chen Yao, the Master of Discipline at Wudang Mountain, asking the mountain to help maintain the tranquility around the thatched hut. Wudang Mountain then erected another green bamboo fence, and that was all.

Xu Fengnian reached out and greeted him, "Xin has arrived."

Zhang Chunlin was filled with mixed emotions. The first time they met, Xu Fengnian, then still the Crown Prince, had a head full of white hair; he had mistakenly thought he was a terrestrial sword immortal who had returned to his true self and achieved eternal youth. The second encounter was in the Western Regions, where they didn't have much of a deep conversation, which the young swordsman, who had even named his personal sword 'Frost Blade,' considered a regrettable matter.

Zhang Chunlin squatted beside Xu Fengnian, looking slightly awkward and uneasy.

Xu Fengnian teased, "Carrying so many swords around, are you a sword vendor?"

Zhang Chunlin blushed.

It was strange, perhaps due to his background in a sword-forging family, Zhang Chunlin didn't have much obsession with the way of the sword, nor did he possess the lofty ambition of needing to stand out alone among all swordsmen in the world. For a hundred years in the martial world, sword grandmasters had emerged endlessly. Zhang Chunlin wasn't particularly reverent towards sword immortals like Li Chungang and Deng Tai'a, nor was he particularly yearning for the Wu Family Sword Mound or Dongyuejie. Instead, he most admired that Yellow-Footed one. His greatest wish was to collect renowned swords from all under heaven into his sword-box, just like that old swordsman from Western Shu, and be content simply carrying them as he traveled the martial world.

Xu Fengnian asked with a smile, "Xin, have you given yourself a nickname yet?"

Zhang Chunlin's face turned red, and he shook his head vigorously.

Xu Fengnian, speaking from experience, earnestly advised, "You must choose an impressive title for yourself early on. Otherwise, if someone inexplicably saddles you with a silly martial arts nickname, you'll regret it too late. There are many precedents for this in the martial world. For example, that swordsman from Jiangnan Dao with naturally white hair and long, ape-like arms; his swordsmanship was actually quite good. But after being called 'White Monkey' when he was young, he could never shake off the name for the rest of his life. Even though he would declare 'I am the Divine White Ape Sword, so-and-so' every time he performed a heroic deed, people didn't care; they just kept thanking 'White Monkey Hero' for saving their lives. Don't you think he felt aggrieved? And there was that famous grandmaster of boxing from Southeast Jianzhou. He was clearly a righteous *xia* who moved in the legitimate world, but because his surname was Wang and he was the eighth child, he didn't introduce himself properly when he first entered the martial world. As a result, he ended up with the nickname 'Turtle Fist Immortal.' If a turtle can become an immortal, what else could he be but an old turtle?"

Zhang Chunlin, whose mind was suddenly enlightened, nodded continuously like a chicken pecking at rice. He nodded incessantly, deeply agreeing.

The lean man was about to interrupt the young nobleman's rambling, but was tugged on the sleeve by his companion.

He turned his head and understood a simple message from his companion's eyes.

'This guy is unreliable. Even if this business is real and he's not vague about the silver, can such an unreliable person really keep a secret?'

The lean man thought for a moment and realized it was true.

He sighed, still feeling a bit regretful. He gave a heavy cough, attracting the young man's attention.

The lean man patted his shoulder, "Brother, unfortunately, we just remembered we have urgent business to attend to. It seems we can't help you with your trouble. But even if a deal isn't made, the goodwill remains. Allow me, an elder brother, to offer a piece of advice: if you want to make a name for yourself in the martial world later, you must always be down-to-earth!"

Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile, "Brother, you speak wisely!"

The young master of Youyan Villa was dumbfounded.

After the five men left, Xu Fengnian chatted with Zhang Chunlin by Xixiang Pond for a moment. As more and more martial artists came to comprehend martial arts here, Xu Fengnian took the lead and stood up to take his leave.

Although Zhang Chunlin still felt he hadn't had enough, he could be considered to have arrived eagerly and departed content. It was just that the young man didn't understand why his benefactor had ultimately discussed the female master of Jincuo Blade Manor. So he casually offered his own thoughts. He heard that the woman surnamed Tong had extremely high talent and practiced her blade exceptionally hard, but her personality was rigid, so even if he, Zhang Chunlin, met her, they would never get along. Finally, Zhang Chunlin added with a smile that a beauty riding a horse and drinking heartily was the most stunning, and thus, even if that female manor master had a beauty that could topple cities, she couldn't be considered truly stunning. Zhang Chunlin spoke with great enthusiasm. Before the young lord left, he also patted Zhang Chunlin's shoulder and earnestly advised him with words that utterly confused Zhang Chunlin: "The martial world is said to be vast, yet also tiny. In the future, if you encounter Master Tong, do not speak so straightforwardly."

Zhang Chunlin watched Xu Fengnian depart.

Then, he seemed to feel a murderous aura behind him.

He whirled around to see a young, unfamiliar woman sitting alone on the giant rock. She turned her head to look at him, then smiled faintly: "Jincuo Blade Manor, Tong Shanqian. Greetings, Young Master Zhang."

People universally said that after Huishan's Purple-Clad, who exclusively claimed the three top spots of Xiangfu:Among female sword immortals, there was Empress Jiang Si of Western Chu.Among grandmasters of boxing, it was Lin Ya of Wudi City.And among female blade saints, it was Tong Shanqian of Southern Zhao.

Zhang Chunlin looked as if he had been struck by lightning. His mouth twitched, unable to utter a single word.

Tong Shanqian, who would likely never ride a horse and drink heartily in her life, slowly turned her head back, no longer paying attention to the young master of Youyan Villa.

Xu Fengnian strolled leisurely back to the thatched hut. Jiang Ni was sitting on a small stool under the eaves.

Xu Fengnian said gently, "It's nothing, just got into a muddled fight with someone, and ended up gaining a huge advantage."

She blinked.

Xu Fengnian extended his hands, which were empty. He smiled and said, "You can't earn even half a copper coin from things like this."

She asked softly, "When are you leaving Wudang Mountain?"

Xu Fengnian moved a stool and sat beside her. "I have to leave soon."