Chapter 93

Numerous readers were eagerly anticipating that after Di Yun left the mountain, he would return to massacre the Wan family, who had once wronged him.

However, the harsh reality brutally pinned them down, leaving them in despair.

In Chapter 9, "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," Di Yun was given a BUFF, describing how he spent another half a month in the snow valley, perfecting the sword techniques and internal skills from the *Blood Blade Sutra* before descending the mountain.

However, his first destination was his hometown in Xiangxi, Ma Xipu, to visit his only living relative, his master.

To his surprise, when he returned, he found that the old beggar who had taught him three sword techniques, Yan Daping, had bought his old home, surrounded it with a high wall, and was digging deep into the ground, searching for the *Liancheng Secret*.

Just as readers were excited by this new and intriguing plot, Di Yun instead did something seemingly insignificant: he took a *Selected Tang Poems* from the place where he and his junior sister often stayed.

Then came the confrontation between Wan Zhen Shan, his eight disciples, and Yan Daping.

The battle itself was nothing special, but Di Yun's thoughts while watching the fight revealed the foundation of martial arts in the world of *Wuxia*.

"Alas, none of them understand. Learning only the changes in sword techniques, without internal skills to support them, is useless. It's completely useless. It's strange, such a simple truth, even I, a fool, understand it. How can they, all so intelligent, not understand it?"

"These seven circles are all superfluous. In the end, it's just one sword thrust to Master Wan's left chest. Why not just stab directly? Wouldn't that be faster and more ruthless? Master Wan's diagonal slash and continuous cuts, using seven moves to counter Master Yan's seven sword circles, seem clever, but are actually very clumsy. If he had stabbed Master Yan's abdomen, he would have won long ago."

Using an ineffective sword technique in combat is not just "useless"; it wastes opportunities, allowing the enemy to gain the upper hand, putting one's life in the enemy's hands.

Why are the grandmaster, master, and senior uncle so cruel and devious?

It's like the debate in the Huashan Sect about whether to focus on cultivating qi or sword techniques.

In *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*, due to Linghu Chong, the focus is more on using internal skills for protection and sword techniques for combat.

But in other Jin Yong novels, internal skills are absolutely the most fundamental standard for measuring a person's martial arts prowess!

In the old school of martial arts, various bizarre techniques were often used to attract readers and determine the hierarchy of martial prowess. However, in *The Liancheng Secret*, the importance of internal skills is firmly established.

It's easy to imagine that martial arts novelists who read this book would have to revise their own power systems.

This is the purpose of Lin Mu writing *The侠客行* (The Wandering Swordsman): to set the rules for martial arts, and then everyone writes according to these rules.

There might be some non-mainstream excellent novels, but this is already enough.

The subsequent segments hint at Qi Changfa's deep scheming, having obtained the *Liancheng Sword Manual*.

And Wan Gui's scorpion poison had not been completely neutralized, and Di Yun obtained the antidote from Yan Daping.

The main focus of this chapter is to introduce the relationship between techniques and internal skills, as well as the essence of various characters.

The second and third chapters of *The Wandering Swordsman* also highlight the power of those with strong internal skills.

The book describes:

"At that time, the morning dew had not yet dried, and the forest was filled with a fresh atmosphere. Xie Yanke took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Suddenly, his left palm extended forward, and his right palm swiftly struck out. His body moved with his palm, weaving through more than ten large pine trees, moving faster and faster, his palms striking out.

The sound of light slaps could be heard as his palms continuously struck the tree trunks. His feet moved faster, but his palms became slower.

His feet sped up while his hands slowed down, swift without appearing hurried, relaxed without losing ferocity—this was the realm of supreme martial arts.

Xie Yanke, in the midst of his excitement, suddenly let out a clear whistle, and with two slaps, both palms struck the pine trunks. Then, the sound of rustling could be heard, and pine needles fell like rain.

He unleashed his palm technique, sending thousands of pine needles flying into the sky. The pine needles continued to fall from the trees, but the palm wind he generated kept them from touching the ground.

Pine needles are sharp and heavy, unlike ordinary leaves that can be easily blown by the wind. He could make millions of pine needles dance with the wind using his palm power, indicating that his internal skills, though intangible, had a subtle cohesiveness.

Millions of pine needles formed a green shadow, enveloping his swirling figure."

This description of Xie Yanke practicing the "Green Needle Clear Palm" is one of the most detailed depictions of a top expert practicing in Jin Yong's works.

Xie Yanke, the recluse of the Skyward Cliff, the "Green Needle Clear Palm," the "Finger-Pointing Skill," his adherence to a promise, and his refusal to covet the treasures of the Great Sorrow Elder, all portray him as a man of extraordinary talent and integrity, who keeps his word even to a small beggar.

This character can be said to be a reincarnation of Huang Yaoshi.

Their names are similar, their residences are similar, they both possess the "Finger-Pointing Skill," and they are both equally extraordinary and aloof.

With his green robe and short beard, his appearance is gaunt, and he possesses the "Finger-Pointing Skill," making him a living replica of Huang Yaoshi.

Xie Yanke's martial arts, personality, temper, and actions are all similar to Huang Yaoshi's, a proud and unorthodox recluse, whose behavior cannot be measured by conventional standards, acting purely based on personal preferences.

Even the reasons for their reclusive lives are similar.

Huang Yaoshi, due to his greed for the *Nine Yin Manual*, caused his wife's early death, and thus vowed never to leave the Peach Blossom Island.

Xie Yanke, after a major disappointment at the age of thirty, retreated to the Skyward Cliff and rarely ventured into the world.

*The Legend of the Condor Heroes* was written in 1957, and *The Wandering Swordsman* in 1965.

From this, it is clear that Xie Yanke is a continuation of Huang Yaoshi, and can be considered the Eastern Heretic of the *Wandering Swordsman* world.

Jin Yong's fondness for Huang Yaoshi is evident.

Let's return to the main topic.

Xie Yanke, an internal expert, and the Great Sorrow Elder, an external expert, once fought, with Xie Yanke slightly superior, further highlighting the importance of internal skills.

The two magazines had been published for three or four days, but discussions in various author groups were still intense.

Lingxu Shangren: "After so many days, I still can't stop thinking about that great battle in the Great Snow Mountain. The peak of the evil sect, the Blood Blade Ancestor, was truly stunning!"

Dao Xiaoyao: "But the author's setting for internal skills is really rigorous. Internal skills are paramount, but they don't completely determine the outcome of battles. The three confrontations between Di Yun and Hua Tigan highlight the importance of techniques and weapons. In my view, there will probably be many knife experts in this year's books."

Wuyu Xiansheng: "There's no way around it. The Blood Blade Ancestor's Blood Blade techniques are so sharp that even I, a righteous person, have fallen for this evil sect expert. Not to mention those old masters with skewed values..."

PS: Thank you to book friend 131231003649383 for the 588 and Xuan Feng Ming Ming for the 100 donations. During the recommendation period, isn't it a great thing to cast recommendation votes?

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