Chapter 24

After several more months, the three of them diligently practiced the true martial arts. During this period, Yue Buqun passed on part of the teachings to Ning Zhongze and Yue Lingshan, and the five of them made great progress in their martial arts. As for the other disciples of the Huashan Sect, due to their insufficient cultivation and questionable status, they did not receive the teachings. However, Yue Buqun improved the Twelve Postures of the Yi Jin Duan Gu Zhang, making it more effective, and passed it on to the inner disciples.

During this time, Yue Fangxing, besides continuing to ponder sword techniques, focused on practicing several complete martial arts from the true scriptures. First was the Yi Jin Duan Gu Zhang, which emphasized both physical and mental cultivation, with both dynamic and static elements. It was somewhat similar to the Hunyuan Gong he practiced, and with the foundation of Hunyuan Gong, Yue Fangxing had already made some achievements in the Yi Jin Duan Gu Zhang. His tendons and bones had become more flexible, and his internal energy had grown more profound, stabilizing him at the first-class level. Moreover, his bones and muscles had improved, making his originally robust body appear more supple, embodying the Daoist concept of harmony with nature. At the same time, Yue Fangxing had gained a deep understanding of the martial arts principles in the true scriptures and tried to complete the incomplete techniques or integrate them into his own skills, making progress in boxing, lightness techniques, and other areas.

One day, after practicing his sword techniques, Yue Fangxing asked Yue Buqun for permission to leave the mountain. Although he had made significant progress during this period, he had only been digesting what he had learned and had not advanced further. Therefore, he planned to go to the seaside to practice against the waves, learning the sword techniques of the divine condor hero Yang Guo.

This trip down the mountain was different from the previous one. The last time, he returned within a month, but this time, Yue Fangxing intended to practice in seclusion by the sea for at least a year or half a year. He estimated that by then, the curtain of "Smiling, Proud Wanderer" would be about to rise, so he specially sought Yue Buqun's permission.

After hearing this, although Yue Buqun was reluctant, he knew that practicing was essential. At Yue Fangxing's age, it was the time for rapid martial arts improvement, and any delay could affect his future development. However, he instructed Yue Fangxing to communicate frequently to avoid worrying the family.

The next day, Yue Fangxing bid farewell to everyone on the mountain and set off south alone. After practicing the Yi Jin Duan Gu Zhang, Linghu Chong's internal energy had progressed rapidly, so he was in intense training and did not need to go to the seaside to practice sword techniques. Therefore, Yue Fangxing traveled alone. He planned to first visit Xiangyang City to see if the "Sword Tomb" outside the city still existed, as it was where Yang Guo had enlightened himself in sword techniques. He also wanted to see if the Bosuqu snakes were still there and try their effects. Moreover, traveling from Xiangyang along the Han River to the Yangtze River and then to the sea would be more convenient.

A few days later, Yue Fangxing arrived in Xiangyang and went straight to find the Sword Tomb. There were many mountains outside Xiangyang, and Yue Fangxing did not know where the Sword Tomb was, so he had to ask the local residents where there were many venomous snakes. He learned of a few places and killed many venomous snakes but did not see any Bosuqu snakes. Upon further inquiry, no one had seen a snake with a golden sheen.

After more than half a month, Yue Fangxing had almost searched all the mountains and forests outside Xiangyang but found no clues. He suspected that the Bosuqu snakes were extinct or that the environment of the Sword Tomb had changed. With no leads, he had no choice but to give up. Fortunately, he had just obtained the Nine Yin Scripture, and there were still many martial arts techniques to practice, so he did not linger. He rented a boat and set off downstream.

On the way, Yue Fangxing did not rush. Being new to the martial world, he naturally wanted to explore. He enjoyed the scenery along the Yangtze River and occasionally went ashore to visit famous historical sites, feeling a deeper connection to the era and gaining new insights.

One day, the boat arrived in Nanjing, and Yue Fangxing went ashore to explore. Nanjing, in the Jiangnan region, was much more prosperous than Chang'an. The streets were crowded with people, and the bustling scene rivaled that of some modern cities.

Unconsciously, Yue Fangxing arrived at the Qinhuai River, which was in its prime, known as the "Ten Li Qinhuai." The riverbanks were lined with bright lights, wealthy merchants, and numerous brothels, and the river was filled with boats, presenting a scene of great prosperity.

As the evening lights came on, Yue Fangxing stopped to admire the scene, amazed by the prosperity of Nanjing. Suddenly, he noticed a man carrying a long sword walking down the street, which caught his attention.

This man caught Yue Fangxing's attention for a reason. He was about forty years old, and his steps were extremely light. Despite walking quickly in the bustling market, he moved as if he were strolling leisurely, a remarkable feat that caught Yue Fangxing's eye.

Yue Fangxing became interested and observed more closely, feeling a sense of shock. He sensed that this man's strength was comparable to his own, and might even be stronger, indicating that he was also a first-class expert. His lightness technique was also impressive, likely a rare skill in the martial world.

Yue Fangxing calmed down and thought carefully. A first-class expert was not to be taken lightly. During his travels, he had gained some experience and knew that first-class experts were not common. Most of the martial artists he had encountered were second or third-class, and he had not been interested in them. Now, encountering a first-class expert, he felt a surge of excitement.

In the martial world, first-class experts were rare. In the original story, Linghu Chong, who was not yet a first-class expert, boasted that he could rank 89th in the martial world, placing Tian Boguang, who was slightly stronger, at 14th. While this was partly due to Linghu Chong's limited experience, it also showed the scarcity of first-class experts. According to Yue Fangxing's estimation, even including the experts from the demonic sects and the half-retired ones, there would not be more than a hundred first-class experts in the martial world.

However, there were also some older experts in the martial world. Although they were slightly below first-class, they had unique skills from decades of experience, and even first-class experts did not dare to underestimate them. These were the reserves of the major sects. For example, the reason why the Songshan Sect acted so arrogantly and wanted to merge the Five Mountains was not only because of Zuo Lengshan's exceptional strength but also because it openly had thirteen first-class and near-first-class experts known as the "Thirteen Protectors of Songshan." It also secretly recruited some wandering martial artists, making its strength comparable to Shaolin and Wudang, and if it merged the Five Mountains, it might even rival Shaolin and Wudang.

Yue Fangxing's thoughts were racing. As the man was about to walk away, he suddenly recalled a name that fit the description of a first-class expert with excellent lightness technique and sword skills—Tian Boguang, the "Solitary Walker of Ten Thousand Miles."

Tian Boguang's reputation in the martial world was as loud as that of the leaders of major sects, though he was infamous for his despicable deeds. His lightness technique and fast sword skills were unique, but there were many who surpassed him. In the original story, he was easily captured by the monk Bujie. However, what made him particularly despised was his behavior as a lecher, which was considered a grave offense in the current era of strict Confucian morals. Women valued their chastity above all, and being violated was considered worse than death, bringing shame to the entire family. As a first-class expert, Tian Boguang's actions in the martial world were highly criticized.

Despite his notorious reputation, Tian Boguang knew his limits and did not provoke major sects. His excellent lightness technique and decent martial skills allowed him to escape several ambushes, making him a free man in the martial world. Now, he was boldly walking through Nanjing, but he had no idea that he had just run into Yue Fangxing, which was a stroke of bad luck.

After practicing martial arts for so many years, Yue Fangxing had reached the first-class level and had long wanted to test his skills against a well-known expert to gauge his true strength. With the influence he had on the Huashan Sect, their strength was different from the original story, and he was unsure of his own capabilities and whether he could handle future challenges. Therefore, he could not let this opportunity to confront someone who might be Tian Boguang pass.

However, Yue Fangxing was not entirely sure if this man was Tian Boguang. The martial world was vast, and there could be other experts with excellent sword skills and lightness technique. Therefore, he carefully concealed his presence and followed the man without making a sound. His skill in concealing his aura, which he had developed from his early enlightenment, was so advanced that even Yue Buqun found it hard to detect, making it easy to hide from Tian Boguang.

Yue Fangxing followed the man through twists and turns until they reached a secluded alley. Nearby was the backyard of a residence, with a faint scent of cosmetics, suggesting that women lived there. It seemed that the man, who might be Tian Boguang, was planning to violate someone's chastity.

Sure enough, the man looked around furtively, as if he was about to climb over the wall. Seeing this, Yue Fangxing was alarmed and quickly leaped out, drawing his sword and pointing it at the man, shouting, "Are you 'Solitary Walker of Ten Thousand Miles' Tian Boguang?"

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