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Published at 31st of October 2019 09:20:39 PM


Chapter 30

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Han Changsheng climbed up the hole all the way. Soon, he reached a wide-open area.

The sky was already growing bright. Han Changsheng found himself at the edge of the valley. Withered vines covered this place; that’s why he hadn’t discovered this place before.

After a short walk, he came to the center of the Peach Blossom Valley, and Elder Lan Fang was meditating. Han Changsheng looked at him and didn’t dare go forward: what if this old man felt his training was not enough and came up with another method to torment him, what should he do?

Elder Lan Fang slowly opened his eyes and looked at Han Changsheng with a smile. “Dearest disciple, your understanding is extraordinary. As a teacher, I thought it would take you a year and a half to break through this layer. I didn’t expect it to take only five days.”

Han Changsheng rolled his eyes. If this had been Tianning Cult, if there had been food, drinks, service, and people to accompany him, give him these vines and don’t mention five days, he wouldn’t have bothered cutting them off in five years. If he wasn’t in such a hurry to drive away the Dog Lord, he wouldn’t have worked so hard.

Elder Lan Fang said, “Good disciple, come over and let me see.”

Han Changsheng nervously put on a defensive posture and refused to approach.

Lan Fang smiled, “Don’t be afraid. Swordsmanship isn’t as difficult as you think. I don’t have many things to teach you. All I can do is create opportunities for you to understand. Now let me teach you something: I have nothing to teach.”

This astounded Han Changsheng. Though he hadn’t intended to accept Lan Fang as a teacher, this Shifu was too irresponsible. In only five days, he had nothing to teach.

Lan Fang seemed to read his mind. “What the major sects teach is nothing more than the merit of the internal heart and external fighting. Over my journey of training the internal merit, which wasn’t my strongest point, the accumulation of experience has made it not weak at all. As for the external, I always advocate simplicity. I don’t have any of those Nine Times Nine, and Eighty-One Styles or Seven Times Seven and Forty-Nine Styles. What you have learned isn’t what I’ve taught you, but what you’ve realized yourself. Now you have experienced it, digest your experience. You are young, there is still a long way to go. If you encounter a bottleneck, this old man might give you some advice.”

Han Changsheng relaxed his defensive posture suspiciously and slowly approached Elder Lan Fang. Honestly, his impression of this old man wasn’t terrible. He’d gained a lot in that cave. He was just frustrated it had happened in this crucial moment and delayed the event with the mysterious old man.

Lan Fang took his pulse and stroked his beard. “Not bad. After a few days, your pulse will grow stronger than ever. Don’t let yourself get too tired.” He released Han Changsheng and said, “My Peach Blossom Valley is a good place to practice. If you like it, come here often. If you don’t like it, Teacher won’t force you to come. Later, come on your own account, and as your teacher, I will help you with any roadblocks.”

Han Changsheng hesitated. Before he took more than a few steps, he was overcome by curiosity and stopped to ask, “Old… Elder, why have you focused on external training for so many years?” He found it strange. Every disciple who learned martial arts from a master all began with internal training or perhaps inside and out. Yet Elder Lan Fang, from start to finish, didn’t give him any advice on adjusting his internal training.

Lan Fang said, “When I was young, there was an… I had an old friend. In the beginning, he entered Yuehua Sect in the same year with me. Both of us were clueless in martial arts. I always thought only external force was true martial arts. However he disagreed. He believed the true meaning of martial arts lied in internal strength. Later, because of some reasons, he left Yuehua Sect and became a wandering vigilante. I focused on swordsmanship. Regardless of which side, I pursue the combination of sword and man, the freedom of the sword. What he pursued was to transform himself into a sword through strong internal strength.” Speaking of that man made Lan Fang smile faintly. “To say the truth, we were stupid. In a moment of rage and pride, I deliberately neglected my internal training and almost entered Qi Deviation. I heard he also encountered some bottlenecks. It was really… well, now we’re all old. I don’t know how he is or if I want to see him again.”

As Han Changsheng listened, he wanted to ask who this guy was that dedicated himself to practicing internal strength, but the sky was already bright. For him, time was too precious to be wasted. He turned his head and walked away. He stopped again another two steps away and said, “Thank you, Master… Master.” He ran like he was flying.

He ran to the hill with the speed of the wind and fidgeted some. He wasn’t gasping for breath, though, and headed straight for the disciple dorm.

Han Changsheng stood outside An Yuan’s room. It was just dawn. He knocked, and An Yuan’s gentle voice said from inside, “Come in.”

Han Changsheng pushed open the door and entered. An Yuan had just gotten up and was sitting in front of the mirror, binding his hair. He turned to see Han Changsheng was the visitor and surprise colored his expression, “Renjie? Where have you been these past few days, why didn’t I see you at all?”

Han Changsheng walked over. An Yuan’s waterfall-like hair was very eye-catching. He took the hairpin from An Yuan’s hand and helped put up his hair. “Elder Lan Fang took me to practice for a few days. I just got out and immediately came to see you. How is your foot?”

An Yuan answered, “Very good. I can even leave my bed, but I can’t exert myself. Taking care of myself isn’t a problem anymore.”

Han Changsheng helped him put up his hair then squatted and checked his foot. The wound had grown new flesh and was quick to recover.

He asked, “Can you walk?”

An Yuan nodded, “A few small steps aren’t a problem, just have a bit of a limp.”

Han Changsheng smiled, “Have you been bored? I can carry you and go outside for a bit?”

An Yuan hesitated. He hadn’t gone outside for almost ten days, but if Han Changsheng carried him out and the other disciples saw, it would be weird. “That… isn’t a good idea.”

Han Changsheng said, “What are you afraid of? It’s not time for morning exercise yet. The others are still asleep. Let’s go into the back mountain, no one will be there. I’ll bring you back after you’ve gotten some fresh air. While I was with Elder Lan Fang, I learned a few insights, I can explain a few to you.”

An Yuan excitedly nodded. “Alright then.”

An Yuan stood. Han Changsheng wanted to carry him, but he turned it down. “Supporting me will be enough.”

The two walked out the door. There were few people outside. An Yuan walked with a limp because of his injured leg, and Han Changsheng felt he was moving too slowly. So he wrapped his arm around An Yuan’s waist and took most of his weight in a half-carry, half-hug. An Yuan struggled a little, probably feeling troubled, but Han Changsheng’s hug was domineering and unwilling to let go. An Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. Turning his head away, he stopped struggling.

Whle he was in the cave, Han Changsheng thought of a good idea. There was one more day. He didn’t know if he could make it, but the stinking gods never appeared. None of them told him what to do, and he had to continue acting according to the original plan of driving the Dog Lord out of Yuehua Sect. Even if he missed the timing, at least, he’d tried hard. Those stinky gods couldn’t blame this on him.

As for his original plan, he had to give up. The Dog Lord’s legs and feet weren’t good. Let alone a brothel, it was impossible to go down the mountain. According to Elder Lan Fang, even if he successfully framed the Dog Lord, he might be driven away. The only way to get him out was to result in someone’s death.

It wasn’t a simple matter to end someone’s life. Without good reason, where do you find someone to kill? If they killed someone, Yuehua Sect would have to investigate and collect evidence. It would be too late. There was only way to give Dog Lord a convincing explanation for self-defense and ensure there was no one else that could end that person’s life than the Dog Lord. That was if the “dead person” was this “Li Jiulong.” Li Jiulong was already dead. Han Changsheng would just take advantage of this opportunity to get away.

Unfortunately, he’d spent so long to finally get An Yuan to trust him. He had originally thought after driving An Yuan away, he would also leave Yuehua Sect, but Li Jiulong’s identity could still be retained, pretending to have left in search of An Yuan. He could later borrow Li Jiulong’s identity to do something later. But now, he was afraid that wasn’t going to work. To complete this task, he had to sacrifice Li Jiulong’s identity.

An Yuan didn’t know what Han Changsheng was thinking. The morning breeze made him comfortable, and he smiled slightly.

Han Changsheng took An Yuan to the back of the mountain.

Yuehua Mountain was famous for its peach blossoms. There was a peach blossom valley under it, and there was a peach blossom cliff, and the place Han Changsheng had selected was the cliff. It was the season of peach blossoms, and the lush green hillside was full of exquisite peach blossoms. The wind was quite strong, and the flowers danced in the sky, wondrously.

An Yuan said, “It’s beautiful here.”

Han Changsheng loosened his hold on An Yuan and smiled, “An Yuan, can I show you something with the sword? I learned a lot these past few days.” After cutting the vines, he hadn’t practiced with the swords, and he didn’t know how much he had actually gained underground or how much he could use. An Yuan was eager to look at his achievements, so deceiving An Yuan into fighting was going to be next.

An Yuan happily said, “Really? That’s great!” Han Changsheng was trapped for five days, so he had to have benefited quite a bit. An Yuan was overjoyed that Han Changsheng wanted to share it with him.

Han Changsheng took An Yuan to the side and supported him then took out his sword and stood silently for a moment. He began a sword dance. This time, without the vines, he used the flying peach petals as his targets. A standard swing, chop, slash… Getting rid of all his distracted thoughts, the sword moved with the heart, and the heart moved with will.

Han Changsheng had experienced insight in the cave, but he didn’t know how much it improved his martial arts. Today, besides showing An Yuan this dance, it was also a measure for himself.

The sword fascinated Han Changsheng until a gust of wind blew in his face. He suddenly regained awareness and put away the sword. He turned to An Yuan to find him already watching him, smiling in lost thought.

Han Changsheng walked over, “How was it?”

An Yuan thought for a moment and said, “You move differently now, cleaner, neater.” He looked at the peach blossoms cut in half by Han Changsheng. “You were so fast, I don’t know how to describe it.”

These results satisfied Han Changsheng. The five days in the cave weren’t in vain, and the sword in his hand was smooth to work with like it was part of his body.

An Yuan lowered his gaze and said somewhat sadly, “I admire you, Shixiong…”

Han Changsheng hurried, “An Yuan, how about a spar?”

An Yuan: “A spare?” He looked at his injured leg.

Han Changsheng set the black iron sword back on his waist and took two branches, handing one to him. “Try it casually, we can stop if you can’t stand it, I just want to see your moves.”

An Yuan couldn’t help but be tempted. After thinking for a moment, he stood up and took the branch.

Han Changsheng said, “Come on, attack me.”

An Yuan weighed the branch and made two swings. Finding its balance, he made a move toward Han Changsheng. Han Changsheng avoided the stab and said, “Be serious, come at me with all your strength, so I can test.”

The look on An Yuan’s face became dignified. Though his injury wasn’t healed, he could still tolerate a little movement. Han Changsheng encouraged him and guided him, and they gradually approached the cliffside.

An Yuan suddenly stopped.

Han Changsheng’s heart tightened. “What’s wrong, can’t stand it?”

An Yuan shook his head. “No. Renjie, let’s move back a little, it’s too close to the cliff.”

Han Changsheng smiled. “Don’t worry, I will protect you.” He rushed toward An Yuan with the branch in hand. An Yuan had to block it and continue moving. When he retreated a distance of two or three meters away from the cliff, Hna Changsheng didn’t try again. If he approached the cliff, his intent would be too obvious, and An Yuan would grow suspicious.

Under Han Changsheng’s guidance, An Yuan stepped forward and stabbed toward Han Changsheng’s chest. Han Chagnsheng turned his weapon and, insincerely, “forgot” the foot injury, stabbing toward his foot. An Yuan’s center of gravity was unstable thanks to his foot, and he swayed.

Han Changsheng shouted, “An Yuan, be careful!” He threw away the branch and rushed over to An Yuan. The two clung to each other and rolled across the ground. Han Changsheng pushed An Yuan away from the cliffside, rolling him to safety, but he, himself, rolled over the edge of the cliff due to the inverse force.

“AHHHhhhhh!” Han Changsheng screamed and fell off the cliff.

His scream was so miserable because he was pretending. It didn’t take Han Changsheng long to grasp the vines along the edge of the cliff and stabilize himself.

While it was still early, Han Changsheng had already come by to arrange things. He climbed down the cliff and investigated. He’d found a lot of strong vines here, and as lone as he fell against the cliff, he could catch the vines without danger. The wall was uneven, and he was in the concave. From above, his hanging figure wouldn’t be seen. He was just sparing with An Yuan and had guided him to the right angle to rehearse the whole play.

He had intended to pretend to be tripped and fall off but gave up and changed it to “save his Shidi and accidentally fall off himself.” An Yuan’s guilty conscience would make it impossible for him to defend himself when Yuehua Sect came to investigate. Maybe he would think he really had caused Li Jiulong’s death.

If it weren’t for falling so fast, Han Changsheng would have liked to shout a few words to An Yuan as he fell. “Forget about me!” “Take care of yourself!” “My life for yours is worth it!” Something along those lines, to make this play more beautiful. But now, it was all right. After half a month, he was finally out. Anyway, he’d finished the job. If An Yuan couldn’t meet the mysterious old man, the Black and White Impermanence couldn’t blame him. How did the Dog Lord’s fate look? Let’s see the Dog Lord create his fate. He had been busy for so many days, he just wanted to go and eat a big meal!

Han Changsheng thought the Dog Lord was finally going to be unlucky. Though it was only for a short period, he still felt so relieved he smiled willfully.

Suddenly, a blue figure fell from above. When they reached about the same height, the two men faced each other. The smile on Han Changsheng’s face hadn’t faded yet, and the man saw him. The man’s surprised gaze met Han Changsheng’s.

It lasted only a moment. The other person continued to fall.

Han Changsheng’s smile stiffened on his face, and he bowed his head to watch the Dog Lord fall faster and faster, further and further away from him.

An Yuan, in his hurry to catch Han Changsheng, had followed by jumping himself.

Han Changsheng’s heart trembled with the force of a grass mud horse (slang for motherf*cker). Fucking! Heaven! Toying! With! Me!





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