The young nobleman, clad in fox fur and wolf hat, casually discarded the captured hawk. Between his thumb and fingers, blood thickened as he brought it to his nose, sniffing. Clearly, he was a man of deep cunning, with a cruel streak. He wiped his fingers against the fox fur.
The middle-aged man spoke gravely, “Though Longshu the bald monk is a sage, he belongs to one of the three teachings, and his cultivation realm is full of exaggeration and uncertainty. The martial ranking of our dynasty has gathered more than thirty individuals, and these are likely the only ones worthy of your young lordship’s attention. Though the Realm of the Indestructible (Diamond Body) has distinctions of true and false, great and small, the Buddha sect’s Immovable Golden Body is the most revered. But in the end, it’s only about the ability to endure strikes. When it comes to killing, even we cultivators of the demonic path, or even the Confucians and Daoists, would surpass it. Those monks from the Two Chan Temples would make the perfect practice targets for your young lordship’s blade. With a single breath, cleave eight hundred or a thousand strikes, and test whether the Buddha is truly indestructible.”
The old man in brocade robes sneered, “Duanbo Huihui, are you truly foolish or just pretending? A sage is a sage; his golden body won’t be easily shattered. Be careful not to end up like someone who fails to taste the mutton but ends up with its stench. We know each other’s strength well enough. Even if your young lordship possesses extraordinary talent, he is still under twenty. On the path of battling herds of wild beasts, he has yet to reach Realm of the Indestructible. If the three of us go to intercept Longshu’s monk, can we really gain any advantage?”
The middle-aged man coldly laughed, “What’s so difficult about that? The old monk entered our kingdom in secrecy. We can have your young lordship summon a few tribal chieftains and gather one or two thousand cavalry, wear the old monk down with a series of relentless attacks. Once your young master cuts off his head, he will be the only one in the world to have slain a land-bound immortal. Who would dare not submit?”
The old man scoffed, “If the sage truly wishes to escape and avoids battle, even with one or two thousand cavalry, can you catch him?”
The middle-aged man interlaced his fingers, the joints cracking loudly, and chuckled sinisterly, “The old monk eats vegetarian food and practices compassion. We can threaten him with the lives of hundreds of herdsmen. If he dares to flee, one step means one death. How far can he run? If hundreds die because of his cowardice, the reputation of Longshu as a holy monk will be ruined. What face will he have left to discuss Buddhist teachings with our kingdom’s national master, the Qilin Daoist?”
Duanbo, the old man in brocade robes, exuded a sinister grace like a water snake, making one feel uneasy. The sturdy middle-aged man appeared more upright, yet his words were more servile, fitting the role of a wicked servant.
The young noble raised his hand to stop the brocade-clad retainer from uttering a sarcastic remark, then took off a black iron token from his waist and ordered, “Huihui, go to the nearby tribal chieftains’ tents and deliver my command. Within three days, gather one thousand two hundred cavalry archers and assemble at the Yellow Hawk Valley to intercept the monk Longshu. Anyone who refuses, you may kill first and report later. I don’t believe there is any eagle on the grasslands who dares defy the Tuoba clan.”
Duanbo Huihui accepted the order and departed.
To have two of the Ten Villains willingly serve as household slaves, there is no other family in the Northern Liang dynasty besides the royal family and the young noble’s clan.
A standard Liang saber and a famous sword hung crosswise on the same side. The young man in fox fur and wolf hat fell into thought. His departure from home was not only due to anger at his father’s refusal to let him lead troops alone to the border of Gusei Prefecture, but also to hone his martial cultivation. His father had risen to the pinnacle of the imperial court solely through glorious military achievements, yet he favored the eldest son, who spent his days reading Chinese classics. This favoritism was infuriating. Although he disapproved of his elder brother’s actions, their brotherly bond remained strong. Over the years, his brother had always resolved the troubles he caused, even going so far as to clash with many Yelü and Murong clansmen. He was especially grateful for this, particularly at the beginning of the year when his fox-like sister-in-law had actively seduced him, provoking his father’s fury. Without listening to any explanation, his father had intended to strip him of his martial arts, but it was his elder brother who calmed their father’s wrath. Afterward, during a heart-to-heart talk between the brothers, the elder brother brought along the woman, who was technically his wife, and jokingly said that his younger brother’s poor health would lead to an early death, and that it was natural for the brother to marry the widow after his death. Watching his elder brother’s kindness and the woman’s shame, even though he had inherited his father’s naturally sinister and cold-blooded nature, he was deeply moved. He remembered when he was young and his father had not yet gained fame in battle, the two brothers had relied on each other, and his elder brother had been like a father to him, never allowing him to be bullied by any clan members.
This child of the grasslands murmured, “As long as you don’t live past forty and don’t compete with me, I will always regard you as my elder brother.”
The brocade-clad villain, a falconer by trade, paid no heed to his young master’s heartless words.
The young man touched his sword hilt and asked, “Who is the nearest tribal chieftain?”
The old man smiled and replied, “It is Qinch’a of the Uyghur tribe, who controls two or three tens of thousands of people. His tribe is skilled in leopard and lion hunting. Qinch’a was originally a minor official in the eagle-hunting bureau, but he became a tribal chieftain after presenting several good hawks to the Uyghur clan leaders. I’ve heard the women in his tribe are quite charming.”
The young noble said indifferently, “We’ll rest at Qinch’a’s place. As for the women, you can pick as you like.”
The brocade-clad villain, though of noble birth, did not fawn over the young master like the middle-aged man. He laughed heartily, “I know my young master has high standards and looks down on such common things. This old servant won’t hesitate to take advantage.”
The young man merely smiled. To him, among the women of the Northern Liang, aside from a few notable exceptions, such as the imperial court’s pipa virtuoso, who was said to have a romantic connection with the Northern Liang’s Chen Zhibao, the princess known for her exquisite drumming skills on horseback, the Murong clan’s princess in the Golden Toad Prefecture, who liked to keep male favorites, and one of the Ten Villains, a female lute player, there were truly few who could catch his interest.
He suddenly asked, “I heard that the tenth-ranked villain, Xie Ling, is dead?”
The old man in brocade robes replied indifferently, “At his peak, Xie Ling fought against Luoyang and barely survived, but he must have been seriously injured. My guess is that he fell from the Fingers’ Mystery to the Diamond Body. Encountering some extraordinary person, his death is not surprising. The ranking of the Ten Villains is not like the martial arts ranking; it is determined by reputation and cannot convince everyone. The top three are fine, but the seven after me and Duanbo Huihui are a mess. For example, the Dragon King by the side of the Princess of Hongyan County is ranked ninth, but he would definitely have a six out of ten chance against the fifth-ranked female lute player. In the end, on the path of martial cultivation, those who step by step advance from the second to the first class, from Diamond Body to Fingers’ Mystery to Sky Phenomenon, and gradually achieve the realm of land-bound immortality, are the most formidable. Some young talents who seem to have extraordinary gifts and are said to have a bright future are, in my humble opinion, not worth mentioning. Therefore, although Hong Jingyan is strong, his future achievements will likely fall far short of Luoyang, the top villain. Looking back at the martial world of the Northern Liang and Southern Liang dynasties over the past hundred years, there are only five people: the Dragon and Tiger Mountains’ Qi Xuanzhen and Wudang’s Hong Xixiang, who are considered one person. Then come Wang Xianzhi, the master, Li Chungan, and Luoyang. The latter four all progressed steadily. So, young master, don’t be discouraged by the current higher realms of Yelü Dongchuang and Murong Shuilong. Only you have the potential to join these five at the pinnacle. This old servant is eagerly awaiting it, so I won’t die just yet. Ha ha!”
The brocade-clad villain’s laughter was sinister and chilling, like a ghost laughing at night.
The young man stretched lazily and said slowly, “After hearing you speak like this, I feel like killing someone again.”
As the sun set, the herders’ camps migrated to the lakeside. The last rays of the sun gradually faded, the heat subsided, and a gentle breeze brought long-awaited peace and tranquility. The grassland herders mainly ate meat and dairy products. The meat came from naturally deceased cattle, horses, sheep, and camels, as well as hunted wolves, foxes, deer, and rabbits. If cattle or horses died, they would be cut into strips, hung in sunny, well-ventilated places to dry, and their organs would be made into sausages and eaten raw. Freshly slaughtered lamb was a rare feast, thinly sliced and soaked in salt water, skewered with a sharp knife, accompanied by strong tea to remove the gamey smell, and was very delicious. At this time, Xufengnian squatted nearby, watching how the herders milked the horses. The method was peculiar: first, two wooden stakes were driven into the ground, and a long rope was stretched between them. The mare and foal were tied together for a while. The mare would run to the foal one after another and become unusually calm, making the milking process much smoother. If the mare’s milk was fresh, it was sweet and delicious, not inferior to cow’s milk at all. Xufengnian watched Huyan Guanyin and the old chief’s granddaughter, these girls, skillfully milking the horses. The mare’s milk was poured into a large leather bag and then handed over to the young men of the tribe to stir and beat with sticks. It was said that after the “mare’s milk” became sour and fermented, the residue at the bottom of the leather bag was used to feed the livestock and slaves, while the pure part on top was enjoyed by the upper-class herders of the tribe. Some of the best mare’s milk would even be offered to the tribal chieftains.
Beside Xufengnian squatted a child nicknamed Abaoji, who said nothing and just followed the living immortal in his heart from afar, looking at him from side to side and never tiring of watching.
Xufengnian suppressed his passionate mood. Looking in this direction, he could just see the details of Huyan Guanyin’s milking. He clicked his tongue, “Her technique is really good.”
Later, during the formal dinner, the chief Huyan Anbao not only treated this living immortal, who was a benefactor to the entire tribe, with a whole roasted sheep, but also brought out his treasured tiger bone wine and rehmannia wine. The main course was a carefully stewed soup made with barley and lamb, which was almost all the wealth of this tribe. Xufengnian ate voraciously, especially accepting every toast of wine, which increased the goodwill of the dozen or so herders who represented their tents at the banquet. Most of them drank to their heart’s content, got drunk, and fell over each other. The old chief was no exception. As for Xufengnian, with his Dahuang Ting cultivation, he had a vast capacity for alcohol, just his face turned red. After the banquet, he walked out of the tent filled with the smell of wine and meat. The herders, who revered the young man’s martial prowess more than they felt close to him, dared not disturb him. Xufengnian came to the lakeside to nurture the Huang Tong sword embryo. After the flying sword returned to his sleeve, he saw Huyan Guanyin leading the shy Abaoji approaching.
The girl summoned her courage and said, “Abaoji wants to learn from you, Master.”
Xufengnian shook his head, “Impossible.”
Although the child did not understand the language of the Southern Court, he could clearly see the shaking of this living immortal’s head, and immediately his head drooped.
The girl hesitated for a moment and whispered softly, “Please, Master, teach him one or two boxing techniques, any technique will do.”
Xufengnian smiled and said, “Are we that close? Do I owe you money?”
Huyan Guanyin bit her lip, her eyes filled with loneliness. Xufengnian ignored her and broke off a leaf of water grass, flicked it with his fingers, and tore through the calm lake surface. It did not travel straight ahead, but instead twisted like a fish or a snake. Abaoji was awestruck; this was far more impressive than the wrestling masters within the tribe. This was not Xufengnian intentionally showing off in front of them; it was just a spontaneous action. The sixth page of the sword manual, the Shu Style, seemed grand and sweeping, but was actually complex and obscure. The seventh page, the Swimming Fish Style, was still skillful, but compared to the Rolling Dragon Wall sword technique, it lacked sharpness and had more fluidity. As for the latest eighth page, called the Green Thread Knot, it was like a tangled mess, leaving Xufengnian at a loss for how to proceed. When he had free time, he would entertain himself by continuously breaking off leaves and flicking them out, tearing through the lake surface. Wealth in martial arts and poverty in literature—apart from wealth, the essence of martial cultivation ultimately lies in relentless practice, which is also the biggest obstacle. Otherwise, the aristocratic families, who are as rich as kings and nobles, have no shortage of secret manuals, weapons, or expensive medicines to build their physical strength. In theory, they should produce many experts, but in reality, most powerful martial artists still come from common backgrounds. Li Chungan and Lao Huang were both from humble, impoverished origins. This is probably why the martial world is more vibrant and spirited than the literary world.
The Northern Liang martial ranking, aside from its fair and just ranking of ten individuals, is even more attractive because it includes all the experts who have reached the first class in the two courts of the two martial worlds, totaling thirty-two people. Even if there are some omissions, it is an unprecedented feat.
Xufengnian knew that among the Northern Liang’s first-class martial experts, there were several young experts of similar age. Among them were Yelü Dongchuang and Murong Longshui, both members of the royal family. The former was a rising military official in the imperial court, complementing Dong Zhuo in the north and south. The latter was a woman, unfortunately as fat as a pig, with an unattractive appearance.
On the Beiliang side, Chen Zhibao and Yuan Zuozong were both on the list. The former was even regarded as the new generation of spear immortals.
Xufengnian narrowed his eyes, recalling the near situation where a green-robed killer almost faced a white-robed opponent.
Thus, he thought of her dimples.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage