Chapter 81. No Weaknesses to Be Found.

The sword techniques of Gouyang Wujie, organized by Jicheng, consist of a total of eight moves. I had already learned the first four moves, as I could roughly imitate them, so I counted them as mastered.

1. Long Sword Technique (長劍式): Emitting qi.

2. Short Sword Technique (短劍式): Compressing qi.

3. Ten Thousand Sword Technique (萬劍式): Spraying sword qi like a rain of flowers.

4. Draw Sword Technique (拔劍式): The subtlety of performing the first three moves while drawing the sword.

However, the last four moves of the Wuji Sword Technique were difficult even for me.

5. Thunder Sword Technique (雷劍式): Transforming sword qi into thunder. How am I supposed to do that?

6. Wooden Sword Technique (木劍式): Performing five techniques with a wooden sword. Isn't it normal for a wooden sword to break?

7. Qi Sword Technique (氣劍式): Performing all techniques without a wooden sword. If that's the case, why learn sword techniques at all?

8. Wuji Technique (武極式): Instantly exploding with the sword, spirit, and inner strength. This move is so absurd that I have nothing to say.

After reading it three times, I quickly, cleanly, and decisively gave up on the last four moves.

If it doesn't work, I give up immediately. That's me.

Jicheng's explanation was too brief, so even if I tried to force myself to learn, I would only end up with four instances of self-destruction. This senior always gives brief explanations.

It could be because his level is high, or he might think that detailed explanations are meaningless.

In my previous life, I realized something while learning martial arts.

Some techniques can be easily mastered at first sight, while others, due to my way of thinking, personality, or understanding, cannot be learned.

The important point is that I am not a perfect person.

As written in the Golden Vessel Technique, getting a little stronger each day is enough. Forcing myself to delve into something I can't do won't lead to a good outcome. There are many ways to become stronger, so I don't need to obsess over the last four moves.

I plan to approach martial arts with a slightly more flexible and relaxed mindset than during my demon days.

"Don't force what you can't do."

I put the xian iron in a rather expensive-looking box, put on a mysterious ring, and then went outside.

Perhaps because I had read the book repeatedly, it was already dawn.

After picking up the two jars of liquor from the kitchen without opening the lids, I sat at the outdoor table and watched the sunrise for a while.

The sky at sunrise is just as mysterious as at sunset. It feels like the light is shining from the tightly clasped hands of Yin and Yang as they change shifts.

In any case, whether at sunset or dawn, that mysterious light always resembles my name, Zixia (紫霞).

After stopping my thoughts and reflections, I read Jicheng's afterword at the end of the book.

"Did Gouyang Wujie's sword techniques seem impressive? This man was defeated by me seven times in a row."

I took a sip of the liquor and read it as if having a conversation with Jicheng.

"Amazing."

"Then am I the best in the world? No. As far as I know, there are other experts at my level. Everyone will eventually grow old and die, so how can one boast of being the best in the world at one time? If I don't compete with those experts and only focus on maintaining my health to outlive them, would I become the best in the world? By then, I would also be old and about to die. In summary, the title of 'best in the world' is meaningless. Just wandering the world and discussing martial arts with someone stronger than me would be a blessing and a joy. How can victory and defeat be more joyful than improving one's martial arts level? Martial arts are meant to be learned slowly over a long period. Those who rush will meet the same fate as Gouyang Wujie, harming themselves. Will the successors choose the path of the demon, gaining power in a short time, or will they become a complete swordsman, growing stronger day by day? Think about it. No matter how strong a martial artist becomes, they cannot defeat a swordsman with a strong heart. I know many people disagree with my thoughts, but that's how I see it."

"Hmm, just a swordsman?"

What kind of random discourse on swordsmen is this?

Nowadays, the term 'swordsman' is almost extinct, yet Master Jicheng, an old man, was talking about swordsmen.

If it were someone else, I would have ignored it, but I can't do that because it's Jicheng.

I drank alone and pondered Jicheng's discourse on swordsmen.

Why?

Why are swordsmen stronger?

The content of the book was too short to immediately satisfy my curiosity. Suddenly, I looked towards the Phoenix VIP room and saw Bai Xiaoyao and Hei Xiaoling peeking out, and our eyes met.

I asked, "Running away?"

The two ran over and replied in a businesslike tone.

"Checking if the lights were off."

"Checking if you were here."

I pointed to the opposite side of the table.

"Sit down."

"Yes."

As soon as they sat down, I asked bluntly, "What do you think of swordsmen?"

Hei Xiaoling replied, "I don't think about it. They don't exist anymore, do they?"

Bai Xiaoyao also answered, "When I was young, I learned that swordsmen are admirable people."

I scratched the back of my head and pointed to the two jars of liquor with my chin.

"Have a drink."

"Yes."

"Drinking while watching the sunrise is the best. You can truly taste the liquor when you're in a sorry state."

I drank a few cups with Bai Xiaoyao and Hei Xiaoling, who have the character for 'bright' and 'laugh' in their names, and then gave them a nickname on the spot.

"From now on, I'll call you both Hei Bai Xiaoxiao (黑白昭笑). The name means 'brightly laughing,' so your task is to always laugh brightly."

Hei Xiaoling and Bai Xiaoyao looked at each other and replied simultaneously.

"Understood."

"I will meditate until my subordinates arrive..."

I took out the Flashing Dagger from my robe, stuck it in the table, and said seriously, "If you see a weakness, stab me."

"..."

I appointed Hei Bai Xiaoxiao as my guards and meditated. If I had taken the aphrodisiac, I would have had a naughty dream, but in my dream, I was being beaten by Guangsheng again.

Sometimes that happens.

When I'm sleeping, I can hear my own snoring. Even in my dreams, I hear my snoring. That's me.

I opened my eyes because my posture was uncomfortable, put my feet on an empty chair, and looked at the two with sleepy eyes. Hei Bai Xiaoxiao said, "Sleep well."

"No weaknesses to be found."

I closed my eyes and replied, "That's me."

I snored again, this time with the determination to beat up Guangsheng, and fell asleep.

* * *

"Master, you should wake up."

As soon as I heard Hei Xiaoling's voice, I nodded with my eyes still closed.

"Was the meditation long?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Appropriate."

I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and looked around. The atmosphere was very tense from the start of the day.

On the left side, the Black Cat Gang's subordinates, led by Sishenzhang, were lined up, and on the right side, a group of martial artists in uniform were glaring at the Black Cat Gang. Judging by their appearance and attire, they were from the Southern Brightness Society. Among them, the waiter Zhaoba pointed at me.

"That's not the leader; he is the leader."

"Him?"

The man leading the Southern Brightness Society martial artists glared at me.

I yawned and said to Hei Bai Xiaoxiao, "You two, go to the left. They are my subordinates."

Hei Bai Xiaoxiao quickly got up and moved to Sishenzhang's side. I was still half-asleep and gulped down the two jars of liquor on an empty stomach.

With drool on my chin, my hair a mess, and a drink in the morning, I had the perfect combination of a sorry state.

A Southern Brightness Society officer, who had come to check on the Black Cat Gang, asked me, "Are you the leader?"

I pointed to the opposite side and replied, "As you can see. Sit down."

In the tense standoff, the Southern Brightness Society officer walked over and sat down opposite me.

A natural staring contest ensued.

I had been practicing the art of the staring contest since my waiter days, so I rarely lose.

The one who blinked first said, "I'm Nan Yanfeng of the Southern Brightness Society."

This guy seemed to be related to the chairman, as he had the same surname. I looked at my subordinates and revealed my identity.

"I'm the Black Cat Gang leader."

Nan Yanfeng narrowed his eyes and replied, "A disciple of the Great Temple?"

"I'm the one who killed the Great Temple."

"Is that so? What about Gouyang Fu?"

"He's dead."

"Did you know that Gouyang Fu was paying tribute to our Southern Brightness Society?"

"He revealed it before he died."

Nan Yanfeng looked at me and then at his troops. The number of troops was much smaller on the Southern Brightness Society's side. They seemed to have rushed over after hearing Zhaoba's report.

Nan Yanfeng said, "You're young, but do you know the chairman's personality?"

"What's the chairman's personality?"

Nan Yanfeng rubbed his forehead as if suppressing his anger and replied, "Black Cat Gang leader, go to the Southern Brightness Society and apologize to the chairman. That's the only way to prevent this from getting out of hand. Go back to your room, ask your subordinates about the Southern Brightness Society, and gather information before coming. Come to apologize, understand? If not, you'll be in a full-scale war with the Southern Brightness Society."

"Apologize?"

Nan Yanfeng pointed to the area and said, "Do you think the chairman would get angry over a tribute or the Black Cat Gang? Money isn't important. What matters is why you killed Gouyang Fu without any special reason. Come and explain that. The chairman's sword doesn't discriminate. Whether it's the demon path, the righteous path, or the same black path, it doesn't matter. He wants to prevent this from escalating into killing and being killed."

From his statement that money isn't important, I sensed that the Southern Brightness Society is a strong organization.

I said to Nan Yanfeng, "Tell the chairman that Gouyang Fu was killed by me for cheating in gambling. Whether he paid tribute to you or not, cheating is a separate issue. He only passed on part of the money he cheated to you. If you knew and accepted it, it's a crime of aiding fraud according to the martial alliance's law, and if the Southern Brightness Society helped, you are also accomplices in the fraud. Therefore, it's not right to ask me to apologize. Pass this message along and add my words."

"What?"

I pointed at Nan Yanfeng and said, "I'll be at the Black Cat Gang. Invite me formally in the name of the Southern Brightness Society chairman. Then I'll come and discuss the matter with the chairman. The idea of apologizing must have come from your head..."

I pointed to the Flashing Dagger still stuck in the table and said to Nan Yanfeng, "Yanfeng, do you want to lose here?"

"..."

I leaned forward and said to Nan Yanfeng, "Is the Southern Brightness Society strong? I don't care. By the way, the Great Temple was more arrogant than you before he died. Go back and tell the chairman my words. Save the useless talk for your lackeys. Got it?"

Nan Yanfeng glared at me and then at my subordinates. He seemed to be thinking, but I didn't think he would die recklessly here.

Nan Yanfeng stood up, sighed, and said, "See you later."

I'm a man who holds grudges, so I continued to toy with the strong-acting Nan Yanfeng.

"Yanfeng."

Nan Yanfeng turned around.

"I saved you once. Go."

I smiled, and Nan Yanfeng's face turned bright red as he turned and left. The Southern Brightness Society, which had come in with high spirits, left in heavy silence. Of course, the waiter Zhaoba also followed them.

Only then did I call Xiaojunping and say, "Recover all the money from the women and the Gambling King, and then let's go back."

Xiaojunping nodded.

"Understood."

I called the waiter Yibo with a gesture. I handed him an empty cup and poured him some liquor.

"Good job."

Yibo smiled and replied, "Thank you."

With all my disciples and subordinates watching, I added, "Let's leave within an hour. We'll drink when we get back to the Black Cat Gang. Remember that. Since we made a lot of money today, let's have a grand celebration."

I said this to boost morale, but thinking about it, I hadn't really done much today except drink and toy with the Southern Brightness Society man.

Being a leader is both difficult and pathetic.

Thinking about it, if I were still the demon from my previous life, I would have killed Nan Yanfeng, his subordinates, and Zhaoba.

The reason I didn't is probably due to my sense of responsibility towards my subordinates.

Or maybe I'm changing a little.

I couldn't tell right away.