Chapter 27

(Daily updates and the number of overdue characters will be recorded in the pinned post in the book review section. When I say I will work hard on this book, it is not just empty talk.)

Crouching in the bamboo grove, Niuniu held a piece of bamboo leaf in his mouth, watching the scene. To be honest, this young Master Uncle had no ill feelings toward the Crown Prince, especially after he started practicing sword techniques on the mountain. Each time he brought books to Wudang, there would always be one or two good books unrelated to martial arts. The scenery on the mountain was, of course, beautiful; otherwise, it wouldn't have been called the Crystal World by the ancients. Among the Five Great Mountains, Wudang had been known as the Great Peak for over a thousand years. The buildings on the mountain connected to the heavens and the earth, and even when considered individually, they surpassed the small-minded Longhu Mountain, and the other three mountains could hardly compete with Wudang.

However, after seeing the same scenery for over twenty years, Hong Xiang didn't get tired of it and always hoped to see some new people and new things. The Crown Prince said this was called "liking the new without forgetting the old," which was a good thing. The old people and old stories on the mountain were all deeply cherished by the young Master Uncle. Not to mention the eldest brother, who was like a kind father, and Brother Chen, who had read all the Jade Pillar scriptures, though he was a bit strict. Every time he found Hong Xiang sneaking out to the mountain foot, he would sigh deeply and walk in circles like an ant in front of Hong Xiang, sometimes for more than thirty circles. There was also the silent sword-practicing Brother Wang, whose sword skills were extraordinary. While others tried to perfect their sword techniques and stances, especially the Wu family's sword tomb, which aimed to push the limits of human ability, Brother Wang focused on cultivating sword intent on the narrow path of swordsmanship, much like the legendary Deng Tai'a. Hong Xiang had once seen Brother Wang stand on a large rock by the Xiangxiang Pool and use his sword qi to cut the waterfall into an explosion.

The older brothers, though of different temperaments, were all good people, embodying the ancient style of scholars, and they were especially caring toward Hong Xiang.

However, things became even more interesting after the Crown Prince arrived on the mountain.

Hong Xiang, looking at the tense scene outside the thatched cottage, couldn't help but feel a bit worried for the Crown Prince. Among the people from the capital, except for the woman disguised as a man, the other two were formidable opponents, especially the stern uncle who had exchanged a move with the eldest brother. His internal strength was unfathomable. If it weren't for the eldest brother achieving the rare Great Yellow Court Gate in the Daoist sect, which had not been accomplished in a hundred years, he wouldn't have been able to retreat so easily. The outside world only knew that the Lesser Lao Gate was extremely difficult to break through, but they didn't know that the Great Yellow Court was even harder to exit. The centenarian immortals on Longhu Mountain, who remained secluded in the blessed lands, were mostly stuck in the Great Yellow Court, unable to break free.

The delicate stalemate was easily broken by a man slowly approaching from the waterfall, carrying a sword on his back.

The so-called "first fool of Wudang," Brother Wang!

Brother Wang, who was past the age of forty, had a lean and graceful appearance. He carried a long peachwood sword, named Shentu, which was said to have been used by an ancient immortal to slay a thousand-year-old fox spirit that had brought disaster to the country. The sword possessed both divine and demonic qualities, and only someone with great willpower could wield it.

The old Daoist Wang Chonglou said gently, "Fighting is not suitable on the mountain. Why don't we all go to the nearby Ziyang Palace for some vegetarian food and a simple meal?"

Xu Fengnian laughed and said, "A full stomach gives more strength for fighting."

The woman, who was only moderately pretty but had a fiery temper, sneered, "The Wudang Sect's leader personally intervenes to protect, and even the mountain's top swordsman, Wang Xiaoping, comes to watch. The hospitality of Wudang is truly touching. I will remember this favor, and the next time we meet, I will repay it with a heavy gift."

Xu Fengnian smiled without a care, "From what you say, little sparrow, you don't plan to纠缠不休 (harass) your future husband anymore. Then I, this Prince, will have these hundred crossbow soldiers escort you down the mountain. Once we reach the foot, I'll call for two or three hundred cavalry to escort you out of Liang territory."

She gritted her teeth and said "good" three times, laughing bitterly, "Good, good, good, I will remember. Xu Fengnian, you just wait."

Just as Xu Fengnian was about to speak, Jiang Ni interrupted, inappropriately and naively, "Vegetable garden, compensate me."

Xu Fengnian glared at her, and Jiang Ni glared back, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. But in the eyes of a certain woman, it looked like flirtation. She coldly snorted and stomped on the muddy ground fiercely, as if she wanted to collapse Wudang Mountain. She then led her two attendants away, strutting arrogantly.

On the way down the mountain, she stopped several times, too tired to continue. She sat on a stone slab, massaging her calves, having been so focused on her mission to humiliate her greatest enemy that she hadn't noticed the pain in her feet. Now, removing her boots, she saw the shocking bloodstains and burst into tears, her sobs echoing loudly and mournfully across Wudang Mountain. The two attendants, though of high status, were on edge around their mistress. Hearing her cries, they were even more anxious and dared not offer any comfort. The woman, whose lineage was the most noble in the world, gradually calmed down, put on her exquisitely crafted boots, wiped away her tears, and muttered to herself, "Sun Miaosi, you couldn't defeat Wang Chonglou, and Zhang Huan couldn't defeat Wang Xiaoping. Sigh, I should have brought more imperial guards."

Only the top eunuchs in the palace were called "Miaosi" or "eunuchs," and there were only a few of them, no more than eight in the entire dynasty. Even the most powerful princes and ministers had to pinch their noses and walk around these eunuchs, who had been castrated and thus had no facial hair. Those who had good relations with the eunuchs might even take the initiative to greet them politely. The founding emperor of the Linyang Dynasty had established thirteen stone tablets in a certain hall, explicitly prohibiting eunuchs from interfering in politics and leaving the capital without permission. Since this Sun eunuch could leave the capital in plain clothes, the identity of the woman was clear: only the lawless Princess Sui Zhu could receive such treatment and have the current emperor turn a blind eye.

Sun Miaosi had endured much humiliation from the Crown Prince on Wudang Mountain and had already thought of a hundred ways to make Xu Fengnian's life difficult after returning to the capital. It didn't matter if he couldn't bring down the deeply rooted Xu family; it would be satisfying to annoy the Grand Marshal who was thousands of miles away.

The tall tree. Tall? As tall as the emperor? Sun Miaosi sneered inwardly.

Princess Sui Zhu, who had lost her beloved night pearls, looked up fiercely, "Zhang Huan, I know you will write a secret report to my father. Write that Xu Fengnian has been hiding his true ambitions all these years, and his frivolous behavior was just a facade. This Crown Prince has grand ambitions and treated me very warmly when we met in Liang territory."

The former prince of the fallen Dongyue kingdom was taken aback, unsure whether to agree or not. Refusing would mean failing to pass this immediate test, but agreeing would be a grave offense to the emperor. The Dongyue royal family was already on the brink of extinction, with only a few survivors left.

Sun Miaosi, sensing the urgency, said in a high-pitched voice, "Your Highness, state affairs are no joke. We should report the truth. The emperor won't take sides for you. If he mistakenly believes Xu Fengnian is ambitious, won't he be more determined to marry his daughter to the crippled Xu? Then, Your Highness?"

She thought for a moment and frowned, "Hmm, then I will lose face. Living with such a fool would make me a laughingstock to the world."

Sun Miaosi and Zhang Huan, who carried dual knives, exchanged a glance, both relieved. Despite their initial differences, they had developed a mutual understanding during their trip to Wudang.

Princess Sui Zhu limped down the mountain and asked softly, "Sun Miaosi, what do you think of Xu Fengnian?"

Sun Miaosi sneered, "He is utterly heartless and immoral. I thought the rumors in the capital were exaggerated, but after seeing him in Liang territory, every state and region curses him. Today, I saw it with my own eyes."

Princess Sui Zhu's thoughts were complex, and she lowered her voice, "Zhang Huan, is his sword skill decent? You had to draw both your knives."

The former Dongyue prince smiled, "If I really wanted to kill him, one knife would be enough in ten moves."

The princess said "oh" and cursed Xu Fengnian, then fell silent.

A hundred fierce soldiers from Liang were secretly following and monitoring the three of them from a distance.

On the mountain, the sect leader and his younger brother Wang Xiaoping left, giving Xu Fengnian a bottle of medicinal pills before departing. Hong Xiang, looking listless, went to lead the ox. Only Xu Fengnian was left standing at the edge of the disordered vegetable garden, looking at Jiang Ni, who was staring blankly at the garden.

The Crown Prince smiled, "If she doesn't compensate you, I will."

Jiang Ni squatted down, gently lifting a young seedling, silent.

Xu Fengnian squatted down to help but was pushed away by Jiang Ni, falling into the mud.

She looked up in confusion, seeing that even with his hand over his mouth, blood still seeped through his fingers. He seemed to not want Jiang Ni to see this, quickly standing up and leaving the garden.

Xu Fengnian, who was seriously injured internally, took a fragrant, dark green pill in a small cave behind the waterfall and slowly regulated his qi.

The fight with the knife-wielding bandit had not caused serious internal injuries, only external wounds on his hands. This was not a problem for Xu Fengnian, who had been practicing sword techniques for the past six months. However, the most critical injury came from the eunuch, who would have been fatal if not for Wang Chonglou blocking most of the attack. If not for Wang Chonglou, Xu Fengnian wouldn't have been able to stagger to this place, let alone crawl back.

After practicing sword techniques, Xu Fengnian focused on breathing exercises, naturally circulating his qi in a few small cycles, slightly improving his condition. He opened his eyes to see Hong Xiang bringing some vegetarian food.

The young Master Uncle said softly, "You are a good person."

Xu Fengnian shook his head and smiled, "My servant, I can beat, scold, or tease her as I please. That's my right. If others bully her, what kind of person would I be? Slapping her is like slapping me."

Riding the ox, Hong Xiang sighed, "I don't understand these things."

Xu Fengnian mocked, "You don't understand anything."

The kind-hearted Hong Xiang, who had brought the food, didn't argue. Last time, the Crown Prince beat him up, but didn't hit his face or his private parts, and the content Hong Xiang was grateful. He suddenly seemed to remember something and asked cautiously, "Is that woman really the rejected Princess Sui Zhu?"

Xu Fengnian sneered, "You know?"

The young Master Uncle, who didn't look like a high-ranking Daoist, smiled foolishly, "I heard some stories from the young Daoists and pilgrims about things happening outside the mountain."

Xu Fengnian leaned against the wall, his long fingers caressing the ancient sheath of his sword Xiudong, changing the subject and speaking calmly, "The old emperor wanted to use the martial world to control the country, making all martial artists bow to the emperor and become obedient dogs. But the major princes and generals, some claiming illness, others openly opposing, were unwilling to do this immoral deed. In the end, who took on the responsibility of being the scapegoat? Xu Xiao. The crippled man conquered Xishu, and with the Xu banner, he turned his attention to the martial world, including the roots of some Liang soldiers and their families. This caused great turmoil in the army, with 20,000 battle-hardened veterans requesting to return home, and many martial heroes from the martial world harboring resentment against Xu Xiao and joining other armies. Did Xu Xiao ever complain?"

Hong Xiang was not surprised that the Crown Prince called his father "crippled Xu." He had heard that the Crown Prince would chase the Grand Marshal with a broom if they disagreed. The young Master Uncle didn't understand the world outside the mountain, and he understood even less about this strange father-son relationship.

Xu Fengnian said calmly, "Later, the current emperor was dissatisfied with the Yin Academy. The academy said Xishu should not be conquered as it would harm the dynasty's fortune. The academy also said the Xichu royal family should be treated well, or it would discourage scholars. What could the emperor do? He still made Xu Xiao the scapegoat, conquering Xishu in just two months. As for the Xichu royal family, the emperor himself was killed by Xu Xiao, and nearly a hundred members of the royal family were hanged on the city walls, almost wiping out the Xichu royal family. This way, the emperor could sleep soundly. Regardless of what Xu Xiao has done over the years, even I, who at most harms the virtuous women of Liang, have been targeted countless times. If not for my good luck, I would have died long ago. Jiang Ni is like this, and I accept it. She lost her parents at the age of five and wants to take revenge on me, which is understandable. But why do so many old foxes, who have lived for decades, act so irrationally? Why do they drag a group of young talents to their graves? Isn't it better to live well?"

Xu Fengnian's face softened, and he said gently, "It's better to die and be with my mother."

Riding the ox, Hong Xiang didn't dare to speak, fearing a beating.

Xu Fengnian regained his composure and said, "You might not believe this, but I started wielding a sword at six and killed at nine. My wish then was to be the greatest martial artist, ride the wildest horse, use the largest and fastest saber, and help the oppressed. I wanted to marry a gentle and kind woman like my mother, and that would be a fulfilling life. What does the Liang army have to do with me? But as I grew up, I realized that many things are not as simple as you think. Many people don't listen to reason. So when Xu Xiao told me not to touch a sword for ten years and then travel for three years, I followed his orders. Last year, Old Huang, who had a missing tooth, died. I didn't ask Xu Xiao if he wanted Old Huang to die on the Wu Emperor City wall, and I didn't dare to ask. I practice sword techniques now and will practice swordsmanship in the future. Even if I don't become good at it or give up halfway, I will..."

The young Master Uncle broke out in a cold sweat, too afraid to speak.

Xu Fengnian leaned his head against the stone wall and didn't say his final thoughts, only looking at the night pearl on the opposite wall and saying sarcastically, "You asked me to make sure my sister is happy in Jiangnan. If she is unhappy, I won't be nice to you. This lack of reason, I learned from the world."

Hong Xiang looked distressed, "But I am the most reasonable person."

Xu Fengnian remembered a slender figure he had seen by the Luo River during his three-year journey and said absentmindedly, "The yearning sword is the most deadly."

Hong Xiang was about to flatter the Crown Prince, saying his words were profound, but Xu Fengnian preemptively said, "Shut up."

{Piaotian Literature}