Chapter 29

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One sword, two punches!

The sword was the Wudang basic sword technique "One Qi Transforms into Three Purities," one punch was "Turtle and Snake Collide with the Mountain," and the other was "Pan Feng Sit on Water," which then transformed into a hidden current surge.

The Hanxue Bao Ma (Sweat-Blooded Horse) stepped into the air, its fiery mane fluttering, and even the two others who acted were stunned by its majestic appearance, feeling a bit dazed and enchanted.

Pfft!

The sword tip pierced through, and the two punches simultaneously landed on the front and back of the chest. The miscellaneous Taoist's body trembled, and he remained motionless.

His pupils instantly contracted, then dilated, and until the last moment, he stared at Su Qiniang, as if trying to forever engrave the image of this young man in his soul, carrying it into the next life.

"Sure enough, as you predicted, Su Qiniang, this person has indeed been secretly watching us. If he knew our whereabouts, there would be no more opportunities for us."

Sheathing the sword, Qing Yu said solemnly, "But I didn't expect it to be that person. He has a clean background, just like us, from a humble family. I never thought..."

Qing Ye chuckled and straightened his slightly paunchy belly, saying, "You can't judge a person by their appearance. These days, a wasp's sting is at the end of its tail, and a man is not a man unless he is ruthless. Not only do demons eat people, but many people eat people too. But if we say this now, no one will believe us. We can only keep it to ourselves for now."

"First, we cut off this tentacle of the Xianyao Valley. He was an outer court disciple demoted to the miscellaneous service room. Instead of striving for progress, he was plotting and scheming, looking for shortcuts," Qing Yu mused. "It seems calm now, but there are hidden currents, and at any moment, they could sweep us away. The trip to Qingyang Gorge is urgent."

Su Qiniang understood that not only he but also Qing Yu and the others were likely not at peace in the outer court. Those people had not yet made their move, probably because they were still investigating the identity and background of this mysterious outer court disciple.

Wudang's rules prohibit killing among fellow disciples. The death of a miscellaneous Taoist might not be a big deal, but if an outer court disciple dies, even if they haven't been officially admitted and had their nameplate engraved, there would be a thorough investigation in Wudang Mountain. This involves Wudang's thousands of years of reputation and dignity, which absolutely cannot be desecrated by disciples.

"The sky is already dark today. Tomorrow at dawn, the three of us will prepare and enter Qingyang Peak for an investigation."

Qing Yu bit his lip and spoke, feeling the pressure mounting. If they were not prepared, it would be difficult to resolve the situation well.

Su Qiniang nodded, then bent down and closed the eyes of the miscellaneous Taoist, who had died with them wide open. This was the first person he had killed in this life, and he felt a bit of reflection, but no guilt. As a scholar, he was upright in his heart, and he knew he had done nothing wrong, so he had nothing to fear.

...

The moon was high in the sky.

Su Qiniang quietly returned to the Xianyao Valley. As for the body of the miscellaneous Taoist, there were too many beast dens in Wudang Mountain, and some fierce beasts that had not yet hibernated needed to replenish their food and blood qi.

The moon was like a plate, hanging high in the sky, and the north wind howled outside the window. Su Qiniang gazed at the full moon, a faint sense of longing rising in his heart.

It was almost a month. Over a month ago, his Su Mansion was sealed, and all the servants and maids were dismissed. His father, Su Wangsheng, and mother, Lady Su, were thrown into the imperial prison, and his elder brother, Su Qiming, had given up his status as a scholar and was exiled to the northern border to fight the deep-sea demons, buying five years of survival.

However, fighting enemies and resisting demons in the military was not easy. At the northern border, blood flowed every day, and countless human soldiers were buried far from home. To earn a pardon through military merit in the Han Empire, one needed to kill at least one supreme demon, and each of these supreme beings was renowned throughout the land. Not just in the Han Empire, but even in the surrounding countries, their names were well-known.

And within the Han Empire, even the few major sects and top families had not produced any supreme beings.

"I wonder if Father and Mother are well, and if Elder Brother is safe..."

Su Qiniang murmured, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. There were people in the court who wanted to eliminate all variables. His parents were in the imperial prison, a place where the Han Empire kept its most dangerous criminals, guarded by many imperial experts. The royal family would not allow anyone to interfere. But the northern border was different. His elder brother was exiled to a cannon fodder camp, always at the front line, whether luring enemies deeper or charging into battle, always the first to face danger, with the lowest status and the highest mortality rate in the military.

He had already entered Wudang Mountain and faced various窥视 and plots. He could only imagine that his elder brother's situation was even more difficult, several times worse than his own.

Taking a deep breath, Su Qiniang reined in his thoughts. Five years was not a short time, but for martial artists, improving one's skills was not easy. Without decades of hard practice, how many could achieve anything? Practicing martial arts, seeking immortality, breaking through the void, and pursuing the Dao—how many predecessors had shed blood and broken the path? How could he, Su Qiniang, dare to say he would definitely succeed?

The only thing he could do now was to seize every opportunity. Otherwise, even if he successfully built his foundation, left the criminal registry, became a Wudang disciple, and later achieved martial prowess and fame in the martial world, it would be meaningless to walk alone without his family by his side.

A determined look flashed in his eyes, and Su Qiniang sat down on the wooden bed. His breathing was long and deep, and as his "Turtle and Snake Technique" improved, his bone-strengthening practice was nearing its end. As soon as he sat down, he entered a meditative state effortlessly, and his sitting practice improved further without him realizing it.

When he woke up again, Su Qiniang felt energized all over. Looking at the moon's position, he realized he had been in meditation for slightly less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

"The body is the boat, the soul is the helmsman. The soul steers the boat, navigating through the world. They are like the yin and yang of the Taiji, inseparable. Therefore, as one improves, the other naturally progresses as well."

Su Qiniang thought to himself. Martial artists must understand their own bodies and seek breakthroughs, but they must also know the source of their improvement. Only by solidifying each step can they truly achieve unobstructed and vigorous progress.

...

Dawn.

On this day, the sun did not rise in Wudang Mountain, and the drizzle brought a chill to the air.

In the thatched cottage, Su Qiniang finished his demon tiger meat soup, and his blood and qi surged. His 206 bones tingled, and after a few rounds of boxing, his "Turtle and Snake Technique" steadily advanced to the sixth level, completing half of it. His strength also increased, and when he exerted his full power, he could match the strength of a fine horse, with a hint of the Sweat-Blooded Horse's vigor.

In such weather, some of the suspended death row inmates in the Xianyao Valley still chose to enter the mountains. In the eighth volume of the "Demon Classic," some herbs bloomed and bore fruit during rainy weather, reaching maturity. If they missed this opportunity, someone else might get there first.

Of course, for these suspended death row inmates, such cold and damp weather made them even more depressed. No one wanted to stay in the house, and no one wanted to miss the demon tiger meat soup at noon and night.

Each suspended death row inmate had a different suspension period. Even those from noble backgrounds dared not say they were certain to build their foundation. No one was willing to give up even the slightest accumulation in their daily lives. Only by gathering small streams into a river could they hope to transform into a butterfly one day.

A moment later, Su Qiniang pushed open the rotten wooden door, put on the tattered raincoat in the thatched cottage, and walked into the drizzle.

In the secluded valley, the ancient osmanthus tree was green and fragrant, its scent lingering in the rain. When Su Qiniang entered the valley, Qing Yu and the other two, wearing raincoats, were standing under the tree. They exchanged glances and started walking together, quickly disappearing into the old forest.

Qingyang Peak.

One of the seventy-two peaks of Wudang, located north of Jin Suo Peak, it stands tall and prominent, with lush forests. According to legend, the first Han Emperor once rode a green sheep here, and there is a clear spring in the mountain, which flows from Qingyang Gorge.

Qingyang Peak is about 400 zhang (about 1,300 feet) high, with a majestic and rugged terrain. The clear spring and waterfall can be seen from a distance.

At the foot of the mountain, Su Qiniang and the others did not linger or take the mountain path. Led by Qing Yu, they followed a hidden trail winding upward.

The mountain path was rugged and overgrown with thorns, but it did not stop Su Qiniang and the others. In just half an hour, they reached the halfway point of the mountain. After passing a steep cliff, they saw Qingyang Gorge.

Qingyang Gorge was not on the other side of the mountain but was located 50 zhang (about 164 feet) below the halfway point of Qingyang Peak, in a sunken area. There was no carved path, only a faint stone trail, very steep and rocky. Even with Qing Yu's and the others' skills, they had to be extremely careful when entering the gorge, their muscles tense, and they dared not be the slightest bit careless. (Please give recommendations and add to favorites, it seems that getting a thousand recommendations today will be difficult.)