Chapter 23

(Everyone, Merry Christmas! Please recommend and vote for Christmas gifts, and add to your favorites! Hehe!)

In the secluded valley, the wind and snow left no trace, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance.

Under the ancient osmanthus tree, the two young Taoist disciples, Qingyu and Qingye, were tense, their eyes blazing with anger, their pupils almost bloodshot.

They came from humble backgrounds and, in terms of various connections, could not compare to the three people in front of them, who were from the surrounding counties of Wudang Mountain, either wealthy or generations of landowners, with scholarly family histories. Therefore, in the outer courtyard, even though they were all Wudang disciples, they formed their own groups. Disciples from poor families like them were almost isolated. The various demon-slaying and evil-eliminating orders distributed by the outer courtyard's various officials and guardians rarely reached them. Even if there were leftovers, they were often extremely difficult tasks that were almost impossible for outer courtyard disciples to complete, with a high risk of death.

Even so, they had their own principles and never actively sought closeness. In the eyes of Jiang Qingliu and others, these poor disciples were eccentric and somewhat reclusive, with a shallow understanding of human relations and social norms, and did not know how to cultivate relationships.

Even clay figurines have a bit of fire, let alone Qingyu and Qingye at this moment. The three people in front of them, Jiang Qingliu and others, clearly treated them like meat on a chopping board, to be allocated and decided upon at will, completely ignoring their existence.

Whether isolated or despised, everyone had their own lives. Luxurious living was one way to live, and simple meals and plain tea were another form of freedom. But such contempt and tyranny, like ice knives and snow swords, pierced deep into their hearts.

"Jiang Qingliu! Zhao Qinghu! Huang Qingli!"

The young Taoist Qingyu's eyes were bloodshot. His voice was heavy, his gaze burning, as he swept his eyes over the three of them.

"Taking away someone's opportunity is like killing their parents. It's an irreconcilable enmity. If you want something, step over our dead bodies!" The fat Taoist Qingye gritted his teeth, his eyes fierce, almost as if he wanted to devour the three people in front of him.

Jiang Qingliu and the others frowned, seemingly not expecting such a strong reaction from Qingyu and Qingye. However, they were not concerned. In their view, these two poor Taoist disciples were a year or two younger than them, and their cultivation of the "Turtle-Snake Technique" was only at the fifth level, while each of the three of them had already reached the sixth level, the final step of bone tempering.

"Why, why do the two junior brothers refuse? We three have good intentions."

Zhao Qinghu's eyes narrowed slightly. He had many freckles on his face, large eyes, and very light eyebrows. At this moment, he emitted a cold aura and said, "Do the two junior brothers look down on us three, thinking we are not qualified?"

"That's right. The two junior brothers should understand that in life, nine out of ten things are not as one wishes. Knowing when to advance and retreat, and knowing when to take and give, is the way to a long life." Huang Qingli added, speaking slowly. He was the only one of the three carrying a weapon, a broad-bladed long sword about four feet long, which he wore on his back with a silk-wrapped ox tendon belt.

"Don't be hasty, I think the two junior brothers are just a bit flustered for the moment."

At this point, Jiang Qingliu interjected, smiling. He was very charismatic, tall and slender, with a handsome face and sharp eyes. Looking at Qingyu and Qingye, he said again, "Let's do this, senior brothers. I think the two junior brothers also want to hone themselves. We shouldn't force them. Some training is necessary. How about this: the three of us each take three-tenths, and the remaining one-tenth is left for the two junior brothers to take away, so this trip won't be in vain."

"Agreed." Huang Qingli nodded.

Zhao Qinghu pondered for a moment and also nodded, saying, "That's fine. Let's not have any more changes."

"Ha ha ha..."

At this point, the fat Taoist Qingye laughed in anger. He pointed at Jiang Qingliu and the others with his index finger and said, "I've never seen anyone so shameless in my nineteen years of life. Do you really think you can bully us? Even if it means a fight to the death, I won't let you have your way today!"

"Three sycophants, acting like big shots, I'll show you who's the boss!"

Clang!

The long sword was drawn, the blade three feet and six inches long. Qingyu raised the tip of his sword, pointing it at Jiang Qingliu and the others. This young Taoist, who usually looked very refined, burst into profanity, which stunned Jiang Qingliu and the others.

On the cliff.

Su Qinen was somewhat surprised, his steps to leave halted. He stood still, his gaze no longer casual, but serious as he carefully examined Qingyu and Qingye. His eyes showed a mix of contemplation, seriousness, consideration, and a blend of coldness and intensity.

Under the ancient osmanthus tree.

After a brief silence, the sound of bones and joints cracking could be heard. Jiang Qingliu and the others, their fists clenched under their Taoist robes, their faces pale, all their blood rushing to their heads.

They never expected that these two poor Taoist disciples, who usually seemed honest and even a bit naive, would now curse like street women, each word like a knife, cutting deep into their faces.

On a normal day, people like Qingyu and Qingye, who were so unremarkable, would not even be given a second glance. If it weren't for this thirty-year-old wild ginseng, they wouldn't even remember what these two looked like.

Wudang's outer courtyard was too large, with over a thousand disciples, and even five or six branch courtyards had been established in Wudang Mountain to accommodate and train so many people. Otherwise, the vast Wudang Mountain, with its majestic Tianzhu Peak, would not have enough space for everyone.

"Good! Good! Very good! Excellent! Absolutely excellent!"

Jiang Qingliu's eyebrows stood up, looking somewhat fierce. His lips were thin, his face pale, then turning iron-gray. His aura changed, becoming somewhat sinister and terrifying, his voice hoarse, and his breath hot.

"You two have a lot of nerve. Born as ants, you dare to criticize us. Let me tell you, ants will never understand the vision of a dragon. Do you think you are something? In life, understanding human relations is also a form of training. Born into poverty, why pretend to be aloof? If you want to live alone, you must be prepared to face the consequences!"

Zhao Qinghu coldly rebuked, "If you speak any more rudely, you'll have to kneel and hand over the item, and even if you straighten your back, we'll break your legs!"

"Kneel!"

Huang Qingli's eyes were cold, staring at Qingyu. "Daring to point a sword at me, it seems you don't understand respect. Kneel now, and you might still have a way out. Although Wudang strictly prohibits killing among disciples, the labor quarters can give you a place in advance!"

Assuming the starting stance of the Turtle-Snake Fist, the fat Taoist Qingye sneered, "Three dogs, trying to act like big shots, we won't beg for mercy. Kneel? Kneel on your own!"

Whoosh!

In the next moment, with Jiang Qingliu and the others' faces turning even more iron-gray, the fat Taoist Qingye took the initiative to attack. His fists like turtle shells, his bones and muscles cracking, he suddenly grew a few inches taller, like an old turtle that had suddenly awakened after years of dormancy. His thick blood and qi burst forth, tearing through the layers of the void. Behind him, a fiery red horse reared up, descending into the world.

"Bold indeed!"

Zhao Qinghu raised an eyebrow, taking a step forward, his hands like seals, performing the fourth move of the Turtle-Snake Fist, "Panning the Wind and Sitting on Water." It seemed to be a memory, his mind moving, and the fist following, the intention preceding the move.

Heart and mind in harmony!

On the distant cliff, Su Qinen's eyes were bright. Most martial arts have four levels of understanding: the first level is the initial grasp, where the techniques are learned and performed smoothly; the second level is the integration, where the techniques are mastered and performed seamlessly; the third level is the heart and mind in harmony, where the understanding of the martial art reaches a certain level, grasping the essence and beginning to explore the origin of the techniques, which can be considered a minor accomplishment; the fourth level is the mastery, where every move is both form and spirit, the principles flowing, which is the realm of great accomplishment.

Usually, during the morning martial arts practice in Xianyao Valley, only the first two levels of the Turtle-Snake Fist were demonstrated. Even if Su Qinen sought guidance before the morning practice, due to certain reservations, he did not ask about the principles of the later levels. Now, seeing the young Taoist's fist technique, Su Qinen was greatly impacted. His eyes were like lightning, his mental energy at its peak, capturing every move and every trajectory of Zhao Qinghu's fist, imprinting them in his mind, and comparing them with his own techniques, filling in the gaps. Unconsciously, his understanding of the five moves of the Turtle-Snake Fist began to improve, showing signs of reaching a new level. (Everyone, Merry Christmas! Please recommend and vote for Christmas gifts, and add to your favorites! Hehe!)