Chapter 70. The Higher the Virtue, the Higher the Demon (道高一尺 魔高一丈)

East of Luoyang, Wulong Hall.

Wulong Hall's main gate was approached by over twenty martial artists. Among them were Qingyun Sword Nangong Tian and Huayong Duxin Nangong Yan, and the Changtian Guard, who were protecting them.

The head of the Nangong family, Sword King Nangong Bi, sent his children to Luoyang in his place, just as he had done twenty years ago when he sent them on their first journey into the martial world.

One of the Changtian Guard's warriors lightly knocked on the main gate.

A moment later, a male servant slightly opened the door and poked his head out.

"Where do you come from?"

The servant looked tense, seeing the unexpected martial artists.

Nangong Tian frowned at this.

In the past, they wouldn't have been so cautious. What had happened to make them change so much?

A Changtian Guard warrior briefly said, "We are from the Nangong family. We have come to meet Lian Wubai."

Only then did the servant open the door and bow.

"Oh! You are from the Nangong family. Please wait a moment while I inform the inner chambers!"

A short while later, a group of people rushed out from the inner chambers.

Wulong Swordsman Lian Wubai called out with a welcoming face.

"Senior Brother! Sister! It's been a long time! If I had known, I would have gone to Luoyang to meet you. Welcome!"

Nangong Tian smiled and replied, "It's fine. I heard you were busy, so it's better for the less busy ones to come."

"Haha! I'm not that busy. Please come inside."

Lian Shengbai, who had been observing the situation, interjected, "Welcome. I am Lian Shengbai."

"Good to see you. How have you been?"

Nangong Tian nodded and looked around.

He wanted to greet everyone, but unlike before, he didn't see Lady Bai.

Nangong Tian tilted his head and then followed Lian Wubai inside.

Lian Wubai led Nangong Tian and Nangong Yan to the guest hall.

They sat across from each other, with a table between the Nangong siblings and the Lian brothers.

After a moment, Nangong Tian, who had been observing Lian Wubai, said, "I heard about Wulong Hall in Luoyang. Are you well?"

"Yes, I'm fine."

"I see. I thought you were still being treated because I didn't see anyone from Wulong Hall at the Luoyang Martial Arts Conference."

"I finished some urgent matters and was taking a rest."

Lian Wubai couldn't bring himself to say that he had been recuperating after the fight with Gong Xianyao.

"I see. What do you plan to do about the upcoming Famous Sect extermination? We're planning to leave for Yuzhou tomorrow or the day after."

"We suffered significant losses last time, so we're considering sitting this one out."

"That's a shame, but understandable."

"Please be careful. The Famous Sect of today is not the same as twenty years ago."

"We heard a rough account from Gentleman Sword Li. The Chaos Sword Demon's martial arts are formidable, right?"

"Not just the Chaos Sword Demon. None of his subordinates were weak. The Seven Pai Men disciples fell like wheat stalks. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes."

"Even the minor disciples were that strong?"

"Ah! Don't even mention it. I only survived by luck. To be honest, I never want to go back to Yinzhang Hall."

"Still, I believe this time it will end well. The Vajra Sword Sage is going."

"That's fortunate. If not for the Vajra Sword Sage, I would have tried to dissuade you, Senior Brother."

"Tsk! They say the higher the virtue, the higher the demon (道高一尺 魔高一丈). It seems that's exactly the case now. When did the Famous Sect become so powerful?"

Lian Shengbai added, "Indeed. Who would have thought that even Gentleman Sword Li would suffer such a defeat?"

In the middle of the conversation about the Famous Sect, Nangong Tian asked, "By the way, I heard that the relationship between Wulong Hall and the Green Forest is bad. Did something happen?"

"To be honest, we don't know. The Five Peaks Mountain Gang is hostile towards Wulong Hall."

"Why?"

"We don't know, which is frustrating."

"If the bandits are causing so much trouble, shouldn't you launch an extermination campaign?"

Nangong Tian was puzzled that a martial hall of Wulong Hall's caliber would just take it.

"In fact, we planned to go to Yuzhou and then launch an extermination campaign, but we suffered too much from the Famous Sect, so we're just letting it be for now."

"The Famous Sect has caused a lot of damage."

"This time, the extermination should go well with the Vajra Sword Sage and over five hundred righteous heroes."

"Unless something unusual happens, it should."

After the conversation wound down, Nangong Tian stood up.

"I should return to Luoyang."

"Senior Brother, you can stay here until you leave for Yuzhou."

"No, it's better to be in Luoyang to hear the latest news. In times like these, it's important to keep your ears open."

Seeing the reason in Nangong Tian's words, Lian Wubai didn't try to keep them.

Nangong Tian and Nangong Yan left Wulong Hall after drinking some tea.

On the way back to Luoyang, Nangong Tian muttered, "Come to think of it, I didn't even greet Aunt. She seemed to be at home..."

A faint smile appeared on Nangong Yan's face.

Nangong Tian, realizing it was a mocking smile, sighed deeply.

"Right, right. I knew it was Aunt's doing when I heard Wulong Hall had become more aggressive. But I didn't expect her to be so high and mighty that she wouldn't even show her face."

Unlike Nangong Tian, who was disappointed, Nangong Yan didn't seem to care.

***

Baofeng County.

Wufeng Mountain.

Lian Jiehua climbed to the peak of Wufeng Mountain as usual.

Switching from a staff to a sword was not as easy as he thought. He had made several mistakes while trying to wield the sword like a staff.

A sword and a staff were very different, not just in terms of having two edges versus one, but also in the center of gravity.

He couldn't stop thinking, "This isn't right," even as he swung the sword smoothly. It felt like wearing clothes that didn't fit.

He couldn't shake off the thought of returning to the staff.

After practicing the Nine Heavens Nine Swords for half a day, a sigh escaped Lian Jiehua's lips.

"Ha! This isn't right."

His body and mind were not in sync.

Lian Jiehua went into the shade and stared blankly at the passing clouds.

When he didn't know anything, practicing the Nine Heavens Nine Swords was easier.

When he practiced with a stick, he didn't feel this kind of disharmony.

Or, when he used the staff to perform the sword technique, it wasn't this bad.

Why was it so difficult to perform the sword technique with a sword?

"Damn! If Heavenly Merchant were here, I could ask him directly."

He felt that Heavenly Merchant would understand why he was struggling.

While sitting blankly, Lian Jiehua heard the voice of Gumiufu Jian Shenyangjue.

"Master, how is it going?"

"Not well."

"Hehe, I expected as much."

Shenyangjue's words piqued Lian Jiehua's interest.

"You expected this?"

"Those who used a staff before find even a leaf sword awkward. It's even more so when switching to a sword."

"Is it just because I'm not used to it?"

"I heard that the first weapon you held was a staff. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"Then it will be even harder. Your body is accustomed to the staff."

"Is that why? It feels stranger to use a sword than to use a staff for the sword technique."

"Because your martial arts are advanced, the gap between the staff and the sword feels larger. The movements with the sword don't feel right. In such cases, it's better to go back to the basics and not rush."

"Back to the basics?"

"Practicing the Nine Heavens Posture with a sword will help you get used to it. I heard that everyone at Wulong Hall uses the Nine Heavens Posture with a sword."

"Ah! That's a good idea. You're right, Old Sheng. Your thinking is different."

Lian Jiehua finally felt he had found the right path.

Instead of forcing himself with the Nine Heavens Nine Swords, it would be better to start with the Nine Heavens Posture. Since he would have to use the sword for the Nine Heavens Posture in the future, it would be a win-win situation.

"By the way, how is Old Sheng? Is your qi circulation improving?"

"Yes, it's still minimal, but it's definitely improving."

Shenyangjue's complexion also looked better.

"Did you come up here just to tell me that?"

"Hehe, I came because you haven't been looking well lately."

"Ha! A man with a long nose worrying about me. Thank you."

"If you do well, I will do well too."

"I see. I'll do well. I can't promise the same for Old Sheng, though."

"Hehe, you speak your mind, which makes it easy to talk to you."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Take it as a compliment. I'll leave now."

Shenyangjue slowly walked down the mountain, not wanting to disturb Lian Jiehua's practice.

Once Shenyangjue was out of sight, Lian Jiehua stood up and began practicing the Nine Heavens Posture with the sword.

There was a difference, but not as significant as when he practiced the Nine Heavens Nine Swords.

Lian Jiehua returned to his初心 and moved each movement calmly.

By dusk, the awkward feeling had significantly decreased after repeatedly practicing the Nine Heavens Posture.

***

Chaohu, Nan County.

About a li (about 400 meters) from the giant freshwater lake Chaohu, south of Hefei, there is a manor with a sign that reads "Chushan Xiaosu."

Late at night.

Over a hundred martial artists gathered in front of the largest hall in the manor.

A moment later, two women in their forties came out.

The gathered martial artists, who were afraid of the two women, dared not look at them directly. This was because both women were White-Headed Demonesses. Though they appeared to be in their forties, they were actually both over sixty.

One of the women, Yuexia Xian, said to Wushan Langlang Li Meihua, who was standing beside her, "You just watch today. We owe the Nangong family and Wulong Hall a debt."

"Hehe, I've heard the stories of Sword King and Crescent Moon Swordsman. The Ten Demon Soldiers era must have been a significant trauma."

"They owe their fame to me. I want to forget the past, but the world keeps reminding me."

"Eliminating the Nangong family today will make you feel better."

"I hope so."

"Once the Nangong family is gone, the Wuji Sect won't be able to exert influence in Nanjing. The Chaos Sword Demon's timely distraction is appreciated. By the way, you should rebuild the temple, right?"

"There's already Wushan Xiaosu here, so I'm thinking of building a temple at Wulong Hall. Wouldn't that be a clean revenge? I'll even have Crescent Moon Swordsman executed."

"That sounds good. If you give such a lesson, no one will dare touch the Famous Sect."

The two women chatted for a while, seemingly unafraid of Sword King Nangong Bi.

***

Hefei.

Nangong Family.

Sword King Nangong Bi couldn't sleep late into the night.

The hot and humid night air was disturbing his sleep, but more so was his unease.

When one's internal and external martial arts reach the realm of enlightenment, like the Ten Great Martial Artists, one gradually senses the flow of destiny.

That night, Nangong Bi felt a clear omen of fate, more certain than any intuition.

He got out of bed and went to the veranda, looking up at the night sky.

Two red stars were converging.

This was undoubtedly the ominous phenomenon known as "Xinghuoxin" (楚惑守心, Mars threatening the Emperor's star), which signifies a change in the fate of the nation.