Chapter 69

The scenery of the Jiangnan region is most enchanting, and Chen Ang had been staying at Canhe Manor for two months without realizing it. He read and practiced martial arts every day, appearing quite at ease, as if his entire mind was immersed in the mysteries of martial arts. Even when the two young maids of the Murong family secretly escaped, he did not take it to heart.

If it weren't for what everyone knew in their hearts, it would be hard to associate the Prohibition Hall, which had stirred up a storm in the Jiangnan martial world, with this calm and composed young scholar. Who would believe that the famous Chen Duwei, whose name could make children stop crying, would be dressed as a devout student?

"Brother Chen, please let Miss Wang go!" Duan Yu ran over hastily and pleaded as soon as he saw Chen Ang, "Although Miss Wang is related to Young Master Murong, I can guarantee that she absolutely knows nothing about the Murong family's plans."

Chen Ang raised his head in surprise and said in confusion, "I haven't mistreated Miss Wang at all. Don't worry, after searching the Langhuan Jade Cave, the Prohibition Hall won't bother the Mantra Manor anymore."

"It's not because of the Prohibition Hall," Duan Yu paced back and forth anxiously, "It's because of Lady Wang! Miss Wang has quarreled with Lady Wang over Young Master Murong and is now under house arrest. She hasn't had a single meal or drink for three days. What can we do?"

"I can't do anything about that," Chen Ang said indifferently, "It's their family matter. What can I do? Should I break her out of prison? If Miss Wang can escape on her own, that would be better."

"Escape on her own." Duan Yu's eyes lit up, suddenly understanding.

He saw Chen Ang copying something word by word and asked in puzzlement, "Brother Chen, I see you write tirelessly, producing hundreds of thousands of words in a day, but they are all very simple principles. Brother Chen, you are a man of great learning. What use is there in writing these?"

"Isn't the purpose of writing to be read by others?" Chen Ang smiled, "Since it's for others to read, it should be as simple and straightforward as possible. Why make it complicated? Even simple things can be like heavenly books to many people. I write these so that everyone can understand and learn. I only worry that they are not simple enough, not that they lack depth."

Duan Yu praised, "Brother Chen, you have great aspirations." He flipped through the manuscript Chen Ang had placed on the table and was surprised to see that it contained simple sketches of farming and weaving, accompanied by catchy rhymes. Duan Yu read them and found them both smooth and tongue-twisting. He frowned and tried reading them in the local dialect.

This time, it became smooth, and Duan Yu read quickly, feeling his breathing gradually stabilize and become rhythmic. He was surprised to discover that these rhymes, when recited, had a balanced rhythm and were a very simple breathing technique. When combined with the sketches he had just seen, they formed a series of the simplest martial arts techniques.

"Brother Chen, is this a martial arts technique?" Duan Yu asked in disbelief, flipping through the stack of notes, which were filled with simple martial arts principles and techniques.

"Are you talking about the 'Hundred Occupations Martial Arts'?" Chen Ang smiled, "Farmers and women are exhausted from daily labor. I created the 'Hundred Occupations Martial Arts' to incorporate breathing techniques and horse stance exercises into their daily simple labor, to strengthen their bodies and keep them healthy, free from illness."

"Brother Chen is truly benevolent. If the people of the Song Dynasty are strong, the Song Dynasty will surely flourish even more," Duan Yu said happily.

Chen Ang smiled in agreement, "The way of martial arts is to make people self-reliant and unceasing."

'Self-reliance and unceasing' could be said to summarize the essence of martial arts, but what Chen Ang did not say was that when these simple martial arts principles spread throughout the land, how many people would benefit, and when all farmers and weavers became martial artists, how many experts would emerge. That would be a golden age of martial arts.

Duan Yu, still young, had been fidgeting for a while, his face showing embarrassment, as if he had something to ask but was too embarrassed to do so.

"Prince Duan, is there anything else?" Chen Ang knew that if he didn't ask, this young man would probably not speak for a long time. Chen Ang was interested in the martial arts Duan Yu possessed, but that didn't mean he liked having someone distracting him while he read.

"Brother Chen..." Duan Yu said hesitantly, "Lady Wang asked me to ask you how long you plan to stay at Canhe Manor!" He quickly added, "Lady Wang has no other intentions, it's just..."

Chen Ang had been extremely rude to Lady Wang, having her capable assistants turned into fertilizer right in front of her. If it weren't for her timely offering of the Langhuan Jade Cave, she might have ended up as a beautiful dead prisoner in the dungeon. After such a scare, Lady Wang still dared to challenge the authority of the court, truly showing her boldness.

"Not long!" Chen Ang interrupted, smiling and looking out at the misty lake, "I'm waiting for someone. When he arrives, I'll leave. Tell her not to worry too much."

"Who is Brother Chen waiting for?" Duan Yu asked curiously, "My four uncles have very good information networks and can help look for him."

"No need! Just a dead man, and he's already here."

Chen Ang's gaze shifted to a distant figure on the lake, a black shadow that quickly glided across the water, lightly touching the surface before appearing on the shore several dozen feet away, just a few steps from Chen Ang.

Even before the figure appeared, his lightness of movement was already impressive. Although there were lightness techniques in the martial world like 'Swallow Three Scoops of Water' and 'Grass Walker,' they were just names. Who could truly 'scoop water' or 'fly'? Chen Ang knew that hundreds of years later, the lightness technique of the Green-Winged Bat King Wei Xiaoyao could make him 'fly' on grass.

Unexpectedly, today he saw a true 'Swallow Three Scoops of Water.' To bring a third-rate lightness technique to such a divine level, the person must be not only an expert but also a master of martial arts.

The black-clad figure spoke in a deep voice, "I thought the Chen Ang who has recently become famous and caused a great stir would be some kind of hero. Today, I see that he is nothing special."

"Just a hollow reputation, not worth mentioning!" Chen Ang smiled, "But why is an old man, who is already dead, coming to join in the fun?"

The black-clad figure laughed loudly, the sound shaking the water off the roof. Duan Yu stumbled, unable to stand steady, "If I don't come out, my grave might be dug up. Even if I become a ghost, I would have to crawl out. I just don't know why my grand plans were seen through by you."

"Murong Bo, you are determined to restore your country, even naming your child 'Fu' (Restore). Your ambition is great, but your methods are too weak. You keep stirring up trouble in the martial world, and I don't see how any of it can be called a grand cause," Chen Ang sighed.

Murong Bo removed his mask, revealing the appearance of an old monk. He glanced at the shocked Duan Yu indifferently and suddenly grinned, "Ha ha ha! Brother Chen, you are joking!" His expression immediately became friendly.

Duan Yu stepped back a few steps, not knowing what this man was up to.

"Brother Chen has great ambitions, and it's understandable that you look down on me. But do you know why I have been hiding my identity for so many years?" Murong Bo smiled frankly.

Chen Ang said calmly, "Old sir, you have hidden your identity and caused a great stir in the martial world. The head of the Funiu Sect, Ke Baishui, and the Shaolin monk Xuanbei were both killed by you. Besides avoiding exposure, the more important reason is to accumulate resources, wealth, and military equipment for your plans."

"Old sir has also been in contact with various bandits, major sects, and even the Tibetan master Jiumozhi. I assume you have gathered a group of fools to join your rebellion."

Murong Bo laughed loudly, "That's right. I have spent half my life gathering money, military supplies, and a large network of contacts. When I call, there will be a cloud of followers, dozens of rebel armies will rise, and the Central Plains will be in turmoil. The Liao, Xia, and Tibetan kingdoms will all come to divide the Song Dynasty, and I will quickly establish a great empire."

Chen Ang shook his head, "If you were really confident, why would you have wasted half your life?"

"You're right!" Murong Bo affirmed, "The Song Dynasty is stable, and the borders are peaceful. The Murong family is small and weak, and rebuilding our nation is no easy task. Without a chance, my half-life of planning would be just empty words."

"The only chance is for the Central Plains to fall into chaos, with constant warfare," Chen Ang added.

Murong Bo laughed, "Exactly. I originally hoped for a war between the Liao and Song, but the Liao people are no longer ambitious and have lost their desire to invade the south. I then tried to contact the Ming Sect and incite them to rebel against the Song, but they were uprooted by you."

Chen Ang smiled coldly, looking at him.

"Only then did I notice you, who also have great ambitions. If we join forces, it will be like adding wings to a tiger. We can divide the Song Dynasty, and you can establish a great empire, becoming a king and founding a nation. Your wealth and power will be passed down to your descendants. Isn't that better than serving the Zhao family?"

Chen Ang shook his head and smiled, "You don't understand me. Don't try to guess my intentions based on your own."

Murong Bo also laughed coldly, "Why hide it? You have the trust of the Song emperor, lead troops, but let the remnants of the Ming Sect escape. Your Prohibition Hall has been accumulating wealth and secretly forging weapons, building fortifications, and extending its influence everywhere, even controlling the number one sect, the Beggar Sect."

"Can such actions be those of a loyal and filial subject?"

"You have unparalleled martial arts. When you assassinate the Song emperor, the country will fall into chaos. The Murong family will raise a banner of rebellion in Shandong, echoing your actions. At the same time, the Tibetan, Western Xia, Dali, and Liao kingdoms will rise, and we can divide the Song Dynasty among the six of us. It's not difficult."

Murong Bo pointed at Duan Yu, "The Prince of Dali is here, and I am familiar with the Tibetan master Jiumozhi. The Western Xia Li family will surely follow, and I have some connections in the Liao. Overthrowing the Southern Dynasty is just a matter of a handshake. What choice does Brother Chen have?"

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