Chapter 22

Without waiting for Xu Fengnian to ask, Xu Xiao blurted out everything, "Back then, the Xueyuan Academy was grand, boasting three thousand scholars from the Hundred Schools of Thought. In reality, only nine schools truly held power: Daoism, Confucianism, Legalism, Military Science, and Yin-Yang. Our dynasty values Legalism, while the other eight states each had their own support. One could say that the true battlefield was at the Shangyin Academy. For example, the Western Shu believed in the non-contention of the Yellow Emperor and Laozi, occupying a strategic position, with no great ambitions. At the time, the academy had already unified, recognizing that Western Shu could continue to remain in a corner. However, I led my troops to crush them, causing widespread public resentment. The nickname 'Butcher' was thus firmly established. Along with the palace eunuch Han Diaosi and the reclusive scholar Huang Longshi, we were known as the three demons that everyone wanted to eliminate. My relationship with the academy has always been poor, except for that Mr. Jishang, who spoke many words that defied the world on my behalf. At the time, Mr. Wang had just won the debate on names and reality, his reputation was at its peak. If nothing unexpected happened, he would have won the title of the next Grand Sacrificial Master and planted a tree of virtue in the Moral Forest. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. That's why I sent your second sister to the Shangyin Academy."

Within the dynasty, there are several well-known sacred and forbidden places. Apart from the imperial palace, there is the Longhu Mountain, which has usurped the orthodox position of the Wudang Daoism, the Tingchao Arsenal of the Beiliang Mansion, the relic tower of the Two Chan Temples, the Wu family's sword tomb, and finally, the Shangyin Academy's Moral Forest, which symbolizes the cultivation of virtue over a thousand years. As for the three demons, the eunuch surnamed Han was called the 'Man-Cat,' and his reputation in the dynasty was only slightly worse than Xu Xiao's. However, the white-robed Huang Longshi was the most controversial. He personally shed little blood, even less than some martial artists, but his mouth was incredibly powerful. Most of the wars among the nine states were instigated by him. He was the most outstanding student of the Shangyin Academy, calling himself 'Huang Sanjia.' This was not self-praise; Huang Longshi was universally recognized as the best in the nineteen lines of Go, the best in cursive script, and the best in Yin-Yang divination, earning him a reputation across the land. In the end, it was widely rumored that the Shangyin Academy almost erected a stone tablet banning Huang Longshi from ever stepping foot there again.

Xu Fengnian's second sister, Xu Weixiong, is now secretly referred to as the second Huang Longshi by many scholars in the academy, indicating her remarkable talent.

Xu Xiao gently said, "Mr. Wang came today to ask for something, but I didn't agree."

Xu Fengnian said helplessly, "You really don't give the Shangyin Academy any face."

The hunched and limping Grand Marshal, with his hands in his sleeves, looked like an old farmer, but his words were extremely arrogant: "Those scholars have been cursing me from thousands of miles away for years, filling several large jars with their spittle. I don't feel it, but your second sister is there every day, slapping their faces, making a loud and clear sound. In debates, they can't match your second sister, and in chess, it's the same. As for fighting, your second sister's sword can cut through a hundred scholars without even breaking a sweat. The Shangyin Academy is good at talking, but when it comes to fighting, they are quite mediocre."

Xu Fengnian said, "Don't hit people in the face; leave some room for them. You really don't."

Xu Xiao laughed, "Your father doesn't read many books, so where would I get all those big principles?"

Xu Fengnian sneered, "That's a pretentious statement."

Xu Xiao turned to glance at the Xiu Dong knife in his son's hand and said, "It's not pretentious. Speaking with a knife is the most effective."

Xu Fengnian said softly, "That's how I talk to the one in the capital."

Xu Xiao, who always spoke freely with this son, said bluntly, "Of course. With 300,000 Beiliang iron cavalry, even a fart shakes the heavens. Even if you don't want to smell it, you have to."

Xu Fengnian was preparing to go to the lake bottom to practice his knife skills and couldn't just say, "The emperor's turn will come to my house tomorrow."

Xu Xiao asked, "Are you really going to keep practicing?"

Xu Fengnian was puzzled, "What else?"

Xu Xiao pulled out his hand, blew on it, and slowly said, "Then go to Wudang. Someone is waiting for you."

Xu Fengnian was surprised, "It's not to learn the Jade Pillar Heart Method from Hong Xiangxiang, is it? That would be too embarrassing. The scenery there is nice, but practicing my knife skills there wouldn't be enjoyable. If he won't come down the mountain, I'll go up. Honestly, I don't have that kind of elegance. I'd rather be scolded by the old man, with his spittle flying all over my face, than be a guest at Wudang."

The Grand Marshal smiled faintly, "That little Taoist Hong doesn't have that ability. You will meet Wudang's current abbot, Wang Chonglou."

Xu Fengnian was shocked, "That old Taoist who practices in seclusion? Did he really split the Canglan River with one finger? That's too godlike, truly unbelievable!"

The Grand Marshal thought for a moment and said, "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but Wang Chonglou almost single-handedly resisted the four Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain. He's not just a fame-seeker. Moreover, Li Yishan, in his early years, pointed out this Daoist master as a potential candidate for the highest realm. At that time, Wang Chonglou was just a middle-aged Taoist with little fame. As for the truth of the one-finger split, you'll know when you go to Wudang."

Xu Fengnian was confused, "Wang Chonglou teaching me to practice my knife skills? Impossible. Is he going to teach me the fastest and most advanced Wudang heart method?"

Xu Xiao smiled, "You'll know when you get there."

Xu Fengnian didn't refuse. Wang Chonglou was a renowned master with a long-standing reputation. It would be good to see and learn from him, even if it was just to get a taste of Daoist mysticism. He hoped it wouldn't be another worldly master like Mr. Wang from the Shangyin Academy. Most importantly, Xu Fengnian had been practicing his knife skills at the lake bottom, and he thought of the deep, bottomless Bai Xiang Pool on Wudang, which had been carved by a waterfall over hundreds or thousands of years. He wanted to practice there.

That year, Xu Fengnian entered Wudang alone at dusk.

Under the Xuanwu Archway, only two Taoists stood, one young and one old.

One was the young Master Uncle Hong Xiangxiang, and the other was an old Taoist with a youthful face and a robust build, not inferior to the old man at the lake bottom. Such a physique was rare among Daoists.

Seeing Xu Fengnian with his knife, the two Taoists didn't exchange pleasantries but silently led the young prince up the mountain.

Climbing the mountain is a physical task. In the past, Xu Fengnian needed to rest several times while climbing. After practicing his knife skills for half a year, he had improved a lot, but he still couldn't reach the top in one breath. Whenever Xu Fengnian felt tired, the tall old Taoist would stop immediately. When he stopped, Hong Xiangxiang would stop too.

Xu Fengnian sneered inwardly, thinking this was more cunning than hundreds of Taoists welcoming him together.

The three stopped near the Bai Xiang Pool, where there was only a small thatched hut, surrounded by a bamboo fence. A table and chairs were placed in front of the house. After Xu Fengnian and the old Taoist sat down, Hong Xiangxiang took a simple tea set from inside the house and squatted to brew tea.

The old Taoist, whose identity was obvious, smiled kindly and said, "Sword techniques are divided into standing sword, walking sword, and sitting sword, with increasing difficulty, but the ultimate height they can achieve is uncertain. We at Wudang do not recommend the sitting sword method, as it goes against the natural way. However, we have some insights into standing sword and walking sword. Do you want to learn standing sword or walking sword, Your Highness?"

Xu Fengnian said calmly, "I came to practice my knife skills."

Hong Xiangxiang rolled his eyes.

The old Taoist said kindly, "Sword and knife techniques ultimately aim for the same goal: the art of one person fighting a hundred. For example, Deng Tai'a, who only carried a peach blossom, could be talking about a sword or a knife."

Xu Fengnian didn't want to waste time discussing Daoist principles with the old Taoist, so he asked, "What's the difference between standing sword and walking sword?"

The old Taoist chuckled, "In simple terms, standing sword involves more frequent drawing and stopping of the sword, with a more rapid and fierce momentum, like thunder in winter, which is startling when it strikes. Walking sword emphasizes continuous movement, like a heavy summer rain, pouring down like ink. If you prefer standing sword, there are a few well-known sword techniques on the mountain that, when combined with Wudang's unique heart method, the 'Zhaiyuan Jue,' complement each other. If you prefer walking sword, there is a book called 'Lushuiting Jiazi Xijian Lu' on Yuzhu Peak, which contains profound and subtle insights into the essence of sword techniques."

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment and asked, "What about the sitting sword method that Abbot Wang mentioned?"

The old Taoist was hesitant, "The sitting method is a family secret of the Wu family's sword tomb, and outsiders don't know about it."

The young Master Uncle handed a cup of tea to each of them. The tea was wild tea from the mountain, and the water was spring water.

Xu Fengnian took a sip and said, "I forgot to congratulate Abbot Wang on his emergence from seclusion."

The old Taoist smiled and nodded.

Hong Xiangxiang, however, sighed quietly.

Xu Fengnian hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Did Abbot Wang really split the Canglan River with one finger?"

The old Taoist shook his head, "No."

Xu Fengnian felt relieved. Since the robust old Taoist ranked below Wang Xianzhi, it was good to know he had some weaknesses.

Hong Xiangxiang muttered, "It was two fingers."