Nowadays, people know only the Plum Wine, but have forgotten the name of the Momentary Spear.
Xu Fengnian sat on a huge rock beside a stream, taking off his shoes and socks, and dipped his feet into the cool, flowing water. Resting on his knees was a long spear, the heirloom of Wang Xiu, the Spear Immortal. Although Wang Xiu’s name contained a soft and charming character, the majority of his spear techniques throughout his life were of the utmost force and ferocity, following the path of pure Yang. Born with extraordinary strength, Wang Xiu was guided into the martial arts by a master and later became famous for refining his skills through endless warfare. He once single-handedly rode into the Northern Barbarian lands, carving a massive hole through an entire generation of their martial artists. Among the previous generation’s four great masters who dominated the Jianghu, Wang Xiu was known as the “Arm Saint,” defeating weaker opponents with sheer power, his spear flashing like thunder. The tip of his Momentary Spear was round and blunt, for with his immense arm strength and unparalleled speed, he no longer needed a sharp point. Wang Xiu’s martial prowess was unrivaled in the northern regions of the Central Plains, though his reputation was mixed—he was seen as lacking in martial virtue. The Spear Immortal was stubborn by nature, always killing his enemies outright, earning countless vendettas. Thus, many in the martial world viewed him as possessing the strength of a Grandmaster but lacking the grace and temperament befitting one.
As one of the rare external martial experts, Wang Xiu’s cultivation actually improved after reaching old age, his spear techniques returning to simplicity and sincerity, reaching a level beyond the mundane and into the divine. His entire martial philosophy was summarized into a four-character maxim. Originally, the Liyang Dynasty found it hard to believe that Chen Zhibai could surpass his master Wang Xiu so openly and decisively at just over twenty years old. However, after battling Hong Jingyan and the Copper Man Ancestor without losing ground, both Liyang and Northern Barbarian factions came to accept that the “White-Clothed Little Butcher” was undeniably the greatest spear master of the age. And the legendary Plum Wine spear, unseen by the world, began spreading across the land.
Qingniao stood beside Xu Fengnian, taking a brief moment to recount her journey northward. “This servant first went to a major sect in Guse Prefecture called Sun Clan Spear Grove. Its leader, Sun Baiyuan, is a renowned spear master from the Southern Court.”
Xu Fengnian chuckled, “That sect must be imitating the name of the Wujia Sword Tombs. As for Old Sun, I’ve seen his records in the secret archives of the Tingchao Pavilion. He’s no ordinary expert—he skipped the Realm of the Diamond entirely, delving into Daoist techniques and reaching the threshold of the Finger Heaven realm. He’s a top-tier pseudo-Finger Heaven expert. How did you beat him? Did you ambush him?”
Qingniao shook her head. “Before going to the Spear Grove, I comprehended the ‘ Collapse’ technique from the four-character maxim while in the desert. When I arrived at Sun Clan Spear Grove, Sun Baiyuan, perhaps having not fought in a long time, was a bit rusty. I shattered his skull with a single Collapse strike.”
Xu Fengnian was momentarily stunned, then laughed. “Then how did you escape?”
Qingniao replied calmly, “I fought while fleeing. As a former assassin, I am skilled in disguise and stealth. I killed about seventy members of the Sun Clan and, in the process, mastered the ‘ Drag’ technique—also known as the ‘returning spear’—which is ideal for turning the tide when cornered.”
Xu Fengnian lightly tapped the dustless ancient long spear and nodded.
Qingniao continued, “In the Huanshuo Garrison of Guse Prefecture, there was a young officer with a peculiar double surname—his name I can’t recall. He was said to be among the top three spear masters in the Northern Barbarian army, and his greatest regret was never facing Chen Zhibai. I infiltrated the garrison, and he happened to be practicing spear techniques late at night on the training ground. His style was extremely sinister and soft, and my Collapse strike couldn’t gain the upper hand. After dozens of exchanges, I used a dragging spear to pierce his intestines.”
She smiled faintly. “He won’t be challenging Chen Zhibai now. The pursuit was difficult—Huanshuo Garrison deployed hundreds of cavalry scouts. I fled for a full month, during which several Spiderweb Bureau agents joined the chase. Only after I entered Longyao Prefecture did they finally give up.”
Xu Fengnian glanced at her cold smile and sighed softly, “That Northern Barbarian general was surnamed Hulü, a male concubine of a powerful royal relative from the north. Killing him was well done. It avenged the old grudge from when the Northern Barbarian Jianghu, under the Empress’s orders, infiltrated Beiliang to assassinate us. It also shows them that we do not tolerate one-sided aggression. You and the White-Robed Monk’s retaliation are quite similar.”
She shook her head. “This servant only knows crude ways of killing. How could I compare to the near-saintly White-Robed Monk?”
Xu Beizhi, who had been eavesdropping nearby, listened intently. Once a scholar who held martial artists in low regard, he had been deeply impressed by Qingniao’s calm and concise recounting. Hearing her last words, he murmured, “Only by slaying many foes can one truly save lives. Young lady, do not underestimate yourself.”
Qingniao had no patience for idle compliments. She gave Xu Beizhi a cold glance that made his scalp tingle, and he quickly lowered his gaze, turning to look at the stream.
Indeed, one person can subdue another. Xu Fengnian couldn’t help but smile and introduced, “This is Xu Beizhi. His grandfather was once the Northern Chancellor of the Northern Barbarian Court. Xu is a man of great learning, filled with wisdom for governing the world. He’s returning with us to Beiliang, though whether he’s willing to advise me remains to be seen.”
Qingniao slightly dipped her chin in acknowledgment. “Greetings, Young Master Xu.”
Xu Beizhi waved his hand.
Qingniao hesitated slightly. “Master, do you know that ten thousand Longxiang cavalry raided Junzige and Wazhu first, followed by the Snow Dragon Cavalry crushing Ligǔ and Maolong?”
Xu Fengnian replied calmly, “I heard. Huangman’er’s ten thousand Longxiang cavalry were nearly wiped out in the Hulukou, colliding with Dong Zhuo’s elite forces. Four thousand were lost, and he was even struck by a Spiderweb assassin known as ‘Half Willow.'”
Qingniao bit her lip and remained silent.
Changing the subject, Xu Fengnian smiled, “Sun Baiyuan and Hulü may be top-tier experts and fierce generals, but they still pale in comparison to Fifth He of the Army Mountain.”
Qingniao said, “The third technique of the four-character maxim is ‘ Arc.'”
Xu Fengnian immediately understood.
The battle that solidified Wang Xiu’s Grandmaster status was his three-day-and-night duel with the Fu General Red Armor. Wang Xiu used the Arc spear technique to create a river-like onslaught, not allowing the invincible Fu General even a single chance to retaliate. Three arcs formed momentum, nine arcs formed a small circle, eighty-one arcs a large circle, and so on, leaving people in awe. However, the true perfection of the Arc technique came later, when Wang Xiu faced Li Chungan, another Grandmaster. At that time, Li Chungan, the Sword God, was truly unmatched, at the peak between his ‘Green Snake’ sleeve and the ‘Sky-Opening’ sword. His sword intent was unrivaled in the world. Wang Xiuzhi was the only one who could force Li Chungan into a real battle, even earning praise from the Sword God for his Arc technique. After the battle, the two shared a drink, and Li Chungan even offered some advice.
The Arctechnique was wide and sweeping, only fully effective against an opponent one could not match, hence the saying: “When the Arc spear no longer arcs, I shall die.”
Xu Fengnian offered no comfort, merely shifting aside and patting the stone. Qingniao hesitated, then sat beside him, shoulder to shoulder.
Xu Beizhi gazed at the pair, master and servant, recalling the scene in the pavilion where he had helped her put on shoes.
Xu Fengnian spoke softly, “When Fifth He arrives, leave him to me.”
Qingniao gripped the Momentary Spear tightly and nodded gravely.
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