Chapter 21. Blocking a Stream with a Hoe

Li Wuliang, the Heaven-Slaying Swordsman, became a renowned expert in Henan Province through the Six Harmonies Sword Technique of the Huashan Sect. Although the Six Harmonies Sword was a basic sword technique, even the disciples of the main temple found it difficult to master its essence. After he accomplished this difficult feat, he became the chief of the Nanyang Merchant Guild.

Naturally, he never thought that his opponent, who had initially been struggling to dodge, could block his attack.

Kacha.

The sound of metal scraping was loud.

Li Wuliang's eyes widened as he stared at the sword tip.

Blocked?

The sword and the broadsword he was thrusting with were now stuck together, sparks flying.

"Ah! Surprised!"

Lian Jieha roared and swung the broadsword horizontally and vertically.

Although it seemed like he was swinging wildly, there was a certain pattern to it. This was the Demon-Slaying Sword Technique he had learned from the fan master, Zhuo Gao Ming, last year.

Ching. Ching. Ching.

Li Wuliang stepped back, deflecting the broadsword.

The force behind the broadsword was so great that his grip on the sword felt like it was being torn apart.

But Li Wuliang focused on the incoming broadsword rather than his own hand. If he were to receive a direct hit, his sword might break.

After a gust of wind swept by, Li Wuliang let out a sigh of relief. He thought the opponent had used the sword technique from start to finish.

As the saying goes, the first time is hard, but the second time is a bit easier.

Just as he was thinking this, the tip of the broadsword aimed at the ground again.

'Of course! He's using it again!'

Li Wuliang secretly gathered his inner strength.

Since he had seen it once, he planned to find a weakness and counter this time.

Then the broadsword slowly rose diagonally.

Rumble.

Suddenly, the wind stopped, and a faint thunderclap seemed to be heard from somewhere.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed that the broadsword had been raised straight up, not diagonally.

'What? What is this pressure?'

In the next moment, the broadsword, which had been drawing a semicircle in the air, fell directly onto his head.

'Huh! Wu Mi Wu Bian?'

No, Wu Mi Wu Bian contains myriad changes in a single strike. But now, three blades were falling on his head, and the terrifying part was that each one felt like it contained myriad changes.

"Aaaah!"

Li Wuliang blocked his head with his sword, screaming involuntarily.

He even raised the scabbard in his left hand to protect his head.

Ching.

A clear metallic sound rang out above his head.

'Am I alive?'

Just as he was relieved, blood spurted from both his arms.

The three blades were not illusions.

Then, his arms began to tingle and gradually went numb.

He tried to channel his energy to regain strength, but the flow was blocked at his shoulders. It seemed that the blades had not only cut through his skin but also his bones.

Lian Jieha approached the dazed Li Wuliang.

Li Wuliang asked with a pained expression, "What do you plan to do with me?"

"How should I deal with someone who said he would cut down anyone, regardless of age or gender?"

Li Wuliang said urgently, "Please spare me."

"If you promise not to challenge the Wufeng Mountain Bandits again."

In fact, Lian Jieha had no deep grudge and had no intention of killing him.

"I promise."

"Uncle, it's best to keep that promise."

"I understand."

Lian Jieha waved his hand as if to dismiss him.

Li Wuliang, with his arms hanging limply, walked slowly toward the Nanyang Merchant Guild's warriors.

After taking a few steps, Li Wuliang turned around, curious about the name of the final technique.

However, he couldn't bring himself to ask and continued walking.

The warriors of the Nanyang Merchant Guild, who had witnessed the chief's defeat, packed their belongings without a word.

As the Nanyang Merchant Guild left, the bandits gradually emerged from the broken planks.

After confirming that the Nanyang Merchant Guild had descended the mountain, the bandits cheered.

"Damn! We are the masters of Wufeng Mountain!"

"Never come back! You bastards!"

"Yaaah!"

The bandits' cheers echoed throughout Wufeng Mountain.

***

In Shouzhou County, the Manshui Merchant Guild.

Early in the morning, the chief clerk, Guo Yuanhao, rushed to the guild leader's office.

"Guild Leader!"

"What is it so early in the morning?"

"The people we planted in Hajiavillage have returned."

"What's the result?"

"It seems to have failed."

The guild leader, Guo Zhe, frowned.

"If it failed, it failed. What do you mean by 'it seems to have failed'?"

"They suffered five injuries on the first day of entering the mountain and left Hajiavillage the next day in a gloomy mood."

"Any more deaths or injuries?"

"No. They all left the next day, unharmed."

"That's quite unusual."

"Yes. Given the gloomy atmosphere, there should have been more casualties."

"Has the Nanyang Merchant Guild reported anything related to this?"

"Not yet. They probably won't inform us even if they failed, to save face."

"Tsk! This is awkward."

"Rumors are already spreading among the gangsters in Hajiavillage that the Nanyang Merchant Guild has been defeated. It seems the bandits' claims are true."

"Li Wuliang was defeated? By that young bandit? I find it hard to believe. He's only seventeen, right?"

"That's what I've heard."

"Ha! Is it possible for a seventeen-year-old to do this? Am I the Bodhidharma?"

"Even Bodhidharma might not have been able to do this. Are you still planning to send the chief to the Wudang Sect? Or...?"

Guo Yuanhao trailed off.

He was a bit hesitant because the young bandit was exceptionally talented. If the bandit were just a common thief, it wouldn't matter, but the Green Forest was a bit concerning.

"Or? Are you suggesting we bow to the Wufeng Mountain Bandits now?"

"Today, I suddenly thought that the young bandit might have some connection with the Green Forest Chief, the Heaven-Shaking Demon. How could he be so skilled if he's not one of the Heaven-Shaking Demon's people? And he appeared during the period when the Heaven-Shaking Demon was expanding his influence..."

"Surely you don't think the young bandit is a hidden disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Demon?"

"There are few people in the Green Forest who could cultivate such a skilled individual."

"Hmm! You're not entirely wrong. But we can't just jump to conclusions about such a significant matter. The Heaven and Earth Merchant, the chief's teacher, can determine if the young bandit is a disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Demon."

With that, Guo Zhe took a sealed letter from a drawer.

"This is a letter requesting assistance in the suppression of the Wufeng Mountain Bandits. Send it to the Wudang Sect through the chief. Also, prepare five hundred taels of silver for him."

"Yes. But is it really safe? If the young bandit is one of the Heaven-Shaking Demon's people..."

It would be like poking a hornet's nest. The Heaven-Shaking Demon would go berserk.

"Don't worry too much. The Heaven and Earth Merchant won't publicly kill a disciple of the Heaven-Shaking Demon. If the Green Forest rises up, the Wudang Sect will also have a headache. They'll reach a compromise."

Guo Yuanhao's tense face relaxed.

He had briefly worried that they might be overreacting, but the guild leader's words reassured him.

A master like the Heaven and Earth Merchant would handle the situation appropriately.

***

Mid-April.

Wudang Mountain, Huguang Province (old name for Hubei Province).

The Wudang Sect's leader, Tai Xu Zhenren, summoned the elder, Tian Ji Shangren, to the Zisong Palace.

Tai Xu Zhenren smiled and asked after Tian Ji Shangren took a sip of tea.

"This time, Longjing tea from Xihu was sent as a gift. I heard you enjoy tea. How is it? Does it suit your taste?"

"The fragrance is subtle, and the aftertaste is clean. I like it."

"Since you like it, I'll give you a package."

Tai Xu Zhenren took out a package of Longjing tea and quietly handed it to Tian Ji Shangren.

"Hehe, such a precious gift, there must be something you want to discuss."

"Ah! You've seen through me? The person who sent the tea is Shang Wu Tian from the Manshui Merchant Guild. I heard he is your lay disciple."

"Yes, a disciple I taught briefly about twenty years ago. He visited me yesterday to pay his respects."

"I see. By the way, I heard that bandits are causing trouble in Wufeng Mountain, causing great suffering to merchants?"

"I've heard about it, but the main temple is busy, and it's hard to find the time."

"How about taking a break and enjoying the fresh air with your lay disciple? You can entrust the management of Taihua Palace to someone else for about two months."

"Hehe! Two months off? Is it really okay?"

Tian Ji Shangren grabbed the tea package, looking eager.

Two months off for a package of Longjing tea! It seems the Jade Emperor looks favorably upon me.

That afternoon, Tian Ji Shangren, the manager of Taihua Palace, descended Wudang Mountain with his lay disciple. His shoulders bounced with excitement as he walked, embarking on his first journey in ten years.

***

Bofeng County, Henan Province, Wufeng Mountain.

Wufeng Mountain Bandits' Camp was bustling with an unexpected construction boom. They were rebuilding the broken huts that the Nanyang Merchant Guild had burned down about a month ago and building a new wall.

Originally, there were only two broken huts, but Feng Yanchao wanted to build five. The number of people joining the bandits was increasing.

With the camp overflowing with money, Feng Yanchao hired carpenters from Hajiavillage. This led to not only bandits but also ordinary people frequently visiting the camp.

Feng Yanchao looked at the buildings under construction with a pleased expression.

The new buildings, built by carpenters, had a proper house-like feel.

To think that there would be actual houses in such a deep mountain!

Building such structures in his camp, which was on a scale of a major bandit camp, felt like a dream.

Fan Master Zhuo Gao Ming approached Feng Yanchao, who was standing in the courtyard, smiling.

"Big Brother, aren't you too happy?"

"Hehe, why? Don't you like it?"

"Tsk! You never know when they might burn down, so don't get too attached."

"Man, you never know when you might die, but you still live your life, right? Be more positive. You, who even ate temple food, why are you like this?"

Zhuo Gao Ming, pouting, said mockingly, "Ah, yes. Since we're building new houses, why not build a dining hall and hire a cook? The number of mouths to feed has increased, and it's getting hard to manage."

"Hmm, good idea. I should ask the village chief if there are any women willing to work as cooks."

"Whoa! Big Brother, I was just suggesting. A sane woman wouldn't want to work in a bandit camp."

"Why not? Carpenters and laborers are already working here and getting paid. How many people in Hajiavillage haven't benefited from us recently?"

Zhuo Gao Ming scratched his head.

Thinking about it, Big Brother's words made sense.

The money the bandits spent in the village's taverns and restaurants was significant!

Feng Yanchao, rolling his eyes, said firmly, "I'll ask the village chief to find us a cook today. Your suggestion made me suddenly want a proper meal. Make sure the bandits don't touch the cook. Anyone who touches her will lose a limb."

"Really? Wow! Damn. That would be great."

Unaware of the dark clouds gathering over Wudang Mountain, the two bandits chatted excitedly.