Chapter 8

The Wind and Thunder Three Swords, the Qi Cultivation Technique!

Since childhood, Dugu Kang has been practicing.

The Wind and Thunder Three Swords dominate combat; the Qi Cultivation Technique dominates strength.

Having only combat techniques without strength to support them makes it hard to last long; having only strength without combat techniques also makes it hard to last long.

After birth, Dugu Kang's mind was filled with memories of the Wind and Thunder Three Swords and the Qi Cultivation Technique, as if his instinct for survival told him that only continuous cultivation and constant progress could ensure his survival.

From childhood, Dugu Kang began to practice. The Qi Cultivation Technique made his strength grow and his mind sharper; the Wind and Thunder Three Swords made his combat power increasingly formidable.

With these two cultivation techniques as his foundation, Dugu Kang could easily hunt fierce beasts and birds. When other clan members suffered from a lack of prey and went hungry, he was well-fed. The vigorous blood and qi of the animals he ate continuously nourished his body, making him as strong as a young bull.

At this moment, he has even broken through to a profound and wondrous realm.

Unfortunately, Dugu Kang has always been in a state of isolated cultivation, using his skills mostly to fight fierce beasts, rarely engaging with martial arts experts, and thus not knowing his true combat strength!

"Legend has it that in the Central Plains, martial arts experts abound. Shaolin Temple is a holy place of martial arts, with seventy-two extraordinary techniques, each earth-shattering; the Beggar Sect is also a leader in martial arts, with the Invincible Dragon Subduing Palm and the ingenious Beggar's Staff Technique; in Jiangnan, the Murong family is a martial arts dynasty with extensive family knowledge; in Dali, the Duan family's sword techniques surpass all others; in the Western Regions, the Ming Sect is mysterious and incomparable; and at the foot of Mount Tian, the Lingjiu Palace is a melting pot of various techniques..."

"This is just a corner of the martial arts world. There are many known and unknown experts. In the depths of the mountains, there are hidden dragons and snakes; in the bustling cities, there are hidden experts. It could be an insignificant old man on the roadside, who is actually a supreme master!"

Thinking of the vibrant martial arts world, Dugu Kang felt his blood boil.

Without martial arts, one is in danger; with martial arts, one can survive.

Martial power is not omnipotent, but without martial power, one is doomed.

On a small scale, it can protect oneself; on a medium scale, it can bring wealth and honor; on a large scale, it can protect the country.

In the Southern Song Dynasty, which appears to prioritize literature over martial arts and devalue martial power, actually values martial arts. Emperor Taizu of Song relied on martial power to establish his rule, not on scholars. Today, the Song Dynasty spends eight-tenths of its national revenue on building the army, far exceeding the Tang Dynasty.

"I really want to go to the Central Plains and meet those martial arts experts!" Dugu Kang felt a strong desire. "Now that I have broken through my bottleneck and my combat strength has increased, I have fallen into another bottleneck, with my strength growing slowly, even stagnating. Isolated cultivation has little future!"

In the past, his strength was constantly improving, and Dugu Kang could clearly feel the progress. However, after breaking through, although his strength increased significantly, his cultivation speed slowed down, and he even felt a sense of stagnation.

It's like a water tank, where the water level rises clearly as water is continuously added; but a lake, where the water level rises slowly even as water is continuously added.

It's not that the water is added more slowly, but that the surface has become wider!

"However, leaving my parents like this seems inappropriate. 'While parents are alive, one should not travel far away!'" Dugu Kang thought of his aging parents, a trace of reluctance flashing in his heart.

...

At this moment, the Wanyan tribe was entertaining a group of guests.

The Jurchens were entertaining a group of Khitan nobles, including the young man who had robbed Dugu Kang of his deer.

"Uncle Wang, I have my eye on that woman!" Without any pretense, the Khitan youth spoke straightforwardly, his eyes burning with desire. It was as if a dream, a woman as gentle as water appeared in his eyes, and his desire surged.

"Ha ha, if you like her, just take her. Everything here is ours." A Khitan noble, slightly drunk, said without a care.

"Thank you, Uncle Wang!"

"By the way, which woman?" The Khitan noble seemed to sober up a bit.

"That woman!" The Khitan youth pointed out the window.

At this moment, the Khitan youth's residence was the highest, with a wide view. In the distance, a young girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a graceful figure and a handsome appearance, stood out.

"That girl is not an ordinary female slave, but the daughter of the Wanyan tribe's chief, which makes it difficult!" The Khitan noble said, his tone somewhat hesitant.

In recent years, relations between the Jurchens and the Khitans have become increasingly tense. Forcing a marriage at this time could easily lead to disputes and escalate conflicts.

"Uncle Wang, I just like her. I am a noble Khitan prince; am I not worthy of a Jurchen girl?" The Khitan youth was somewhat dissatisfied. He had never let a woman he wanted escape from his grasp.

"Alright, I will propose the marriage!"

Soon, in the chief's room, an argument broke out.

"You barbarians, how dare you be so disrespectful. My nephew has his eye on your daughter, so she will be a princess!"

"No, she has a betrothal!"

But after a heated argument, Wanyan Aguda finally agreed.

After the argument, the next day, the marriage was arranged. The Khitan prince Yelü Ding used fifty taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver, and five hundred sheep as the dowry to marry Wanyan Yinxing, the fifth daughter of the Wanyan tribe's chief.

In this world, there is no deal that cannot be made, only a price that is not high enough.

...

"Damn it, my sister is going to marry that Khitan prince, what a disgrace!"

Zonghan said angrily.

"Since Emperor Tianzuo ascended the throne, the exploitation and extortion of our Jurchen tribes by the Liao Dynasty have become increasingly severe. In addition to the regular and fixed tribute to the Liao Dynasty, Liao officials and corrupt merchants, with the court's indulgence, often go to the market to forcibly purchase ginseng, sable fur, famous horses, northern pearls, eagles, honey wax, hemp cloth, and other items at low prices. It's truly despicable!"

Zongwang also spoke through gritted teeth.

"In the past, they only stole our wealth, but now they are even trying to take my sister. It's truly despicable!"

Zongfu said, "The Khitans are no good, oppressing us Jurchens, treating us like pigs and dogs, and invading us at will!"

"Yinxing, she can marry anyone but not that scoundrel!"

The young Zongbi cursed.

The other young men also cursed repeatedly, extremely dissatisfied with the arranged marriage.

Marrying a close relative is a double blessing; but marrying an enemy is a double disgrace.

"No, I would rather die than let Yinxing marry that beast!"

"Yinxing is Dugu's woman; how can that scoundrel touch her!"

These young men of the Wanyan tribe became increasingly angry as they spoke, heading towards a distant mountain hollow.

Amidst the dense mountains and black smoke, the sound of hammering could be heard. A man was forging weapons, his face flushed by the charcoal fire. Seeing the group of young men approaching, he asked, "Kids, are you looking for my son Kang again?"

"Uncle, your daughter-in-law is about to be taken away by those Khitans!"

"Big Brother Dugu, come out quickly, your wife is about to be taken away!"

From a distance, the Jurchen young men shouted.

"What?"

At this moment, Dugu Kang came out.

"Big Brother Dugu, your wife is about to be taken away!" Zongwang said.

The Jurchen young men present explained the situation in a flurry of words.

"Damn it, how dare they take my wife, they are asking for death!"

Dugu Kang was furious.

The two had grown up together since childhood, with a close relationship and the approval of both sets of parents. In a few years, Yinxing would enter his home and become his wife, but now someone was trying to intervene and take her away.

"Yinxing, wait for me, you are my woman, and no one can take you from me!"

Saying this, Dugu Kang mounted his horse and galloped off into the distance.

"Big Brother, wait for me!"

These Jurchen young men also mounted their horses and chased after him.