Mi Fengjie had just entered the realm of Zhixuan, and gradually showed signs of an old tree blossoming anew in spring. Most martial cultivators in the world are like this; the closer they approach the First-Rank realm, the more they cherish their cultivation. After all, not everyone can be a rare genius like Li Chungan, who might appear only once in a hundred years, leaping through realms every few years. However, the roadblock before him was far too young. Mi Fengjie did not consider him a life-or-death enemy, merely intending to display a warning strike to force the person back before continuing on his way. Without even drawing his sword, he exhaled gently. Previously on Fulu Mountain, he had gifted the youth a collection of ancient swords, totaling thirty-five, one of which was an unsheathed sword hidden among the pile. Delicate as a girl’s little finger, it flew toward the young official from Beiliang who rambled nonsense. After guiding the sword through the air, Mi Fengjie narrowed his eyes appreciatively. The emerald thin blade, moving at an extreme speed, twisted through the air like a young bamboo viper, subtly curving, with faint red sword qi seeping from its tip, just like a green snake flicking its crimson tongue.
Xu Fengnian appeared to casually extend his hand, pinching the bamboo-green sword between thumb and forefinger, instantly crushing the sword qi. Once the sword was immobilized by his fingers, Mi Fengjie decisively severed the connection of energy, but the residual momentum of the sword’s energy still caused the tail end of the sword, named Qingye, to vibrate violently. No longer daring to underestimate, Mi Fengjie spread his arms wide, summoning six ancient swords to draw and kill. At that moment, the young man softly laughed, saying, “My name is Xu Fengnian. Do you really want to fight?”
Mi Fengjie’s expression changed drastically. He forcefully swallowed a surge of energy, and the six swords, drawn at varying lengths, returned to their sheaths in a blink, settling down. Somewhat astonished, upon hearing the young man’s self-introduction, he had no doubts but was greatly surprised. What was the Prince of Beiliang doing coming to Fulu Mountain? You are already the sixth strongest in the world; would you really go out of your way to quarrel with me, a mere swordsman of the Zhixuan realm? Would you neglect matters of state to specially travel deep into the mountains and forests? Mi Fengjie smiled faintly, “The Prince of Beiliang truly has refined tastes, to take notice of a few pitiful bandits.”
Xu Fengnian discarded the precious ancient sword whose sword-soul had been destroyed, not minding the hidden sarcasm in the words of the Sword Master of Shenjian Cave. He asked, “Before his death, Song Nianqing of Dongyue Sword Pool passed on fourteen sword techniques. Would you like to learn them? If you would, stay in Beiliang under my command, and you may peruse any secret manuals in the Tingchao Pavilion’s lower six floors.”
Mi Fengjie’s expression darkened, his thoughts unknown, and he remained silent for a while.
Xu Fengnian smiled, “Wait until the day you attain the Tianxiang realm; you can leave Beiliang anytime you wish. I can promise you that during this time, even if there are deadly battles, I won’t ask you to risk your life, nor send you to the border for warfare. I just need you to secretly protect some people. Beiliang currently lacks top experts to guard its prefectures.”
Mi Fengjie sneered, “Is there really such a good deal in this world?”
Xu Fengnian crooked a finger, drawing back the thin sword whose sword-soul had been destroyed, and ran his fingers slowly over the blade. A dazzling scene emerged, the new sword-soul nearly perfected, an arcane feat akin to instant enlightenment in Buddhism. Xu Fengnian gripped the new sword in his hand, pointing it at Mi Fengjie, and took a light step forward.
There was no overwhelming momentum or intricate sword techniques. Even Xu Fengnian’s previous stance and the subsequent step were casual and natural, without the slightest air of a grandmaster, like an aging man watching the setting sun and taking a step forward in pursuit.
Yet Mi Fengjie still retreated more than ten zhang, his face pale.
Before this sword’s momentum fully emerged, Mi Fengjie realized that none of his thirty-six swords and thirty-six techniques could counter it, forcing him to surrender before the battle even began. Xu Fengnian tossed the ancient sword back to Mi Fengjie calmly, saying, “This is the beginning of Song Nianqing’s final earthly sword technique. Do you believe me now? Of course, I’ve only grasped about fifty to sixty percent of its essence.”
Mi Fengjie gritted his teeth and was about to kneel.
Xu Fengnian waved his hand with a smile, “Forget it. You know, even four or five years ago, an expert like you, Mi Fengjie, would have been someone I’d have to worship with incense in my heart. Let’s get serious. First, return to Xianguan Cave and relay my command to Huangfu Ping, telling him to show mercy. Anyone you want to keep alive can survive. Whether they choose to enlist at the border or serve as a personal guard for a local general is up to them. As for the accumulated treasures of Xianguan Cave over the years, consider them payment for the military expedition to Fulu Mountain from Youzhou.”
After Mi Fengjie left, Xu Fengnian picked up a branch and returned to the smoke-filled Fulu Mountain, sitting at the mountain gate.
Wei Jin descended the mountain to report the battle situation to Zhang Gonglian, the mountain master. The situation here had become perilously precarious, with over a hundred able-bodied men retreating step by step to the foot of the mountain, having fought their way out of encirclement. Lu Haiya, who had contributed to Fulu Mountain, had withdrawn midway in a hurry to rush to Xianguan Cave. Zhang Juxian had sustained minor injuries, while Liu Yu, Wei Jin’s senior apprentice, was severely wounded. In the heat of battle, he was caught off guard by Colonel Su Zhen, who “grabbed a cheap victory.” A single sword stroke sliced off half of Liu Yu’s shoulder, and then an arrow pierced the other shoulder. If Liu Yu hadn’t instinctively turned his body, he would have been skewered through the heart. Originally, with Zhang Juxian and Nan Baoyu, two experts, as twin pillars of stability, even though Fulu Mountain was vastly outnumbered, they could still repel the hundred armored soldiers led by Su Zhen. However, Fan Xiaochai and Wang Shiwei suddenly joined the fray. Their brutal interference directly led to the death of the twin-hammer wielding Nan Baoyu. At that moment, the young woman, wielding a newly acquired copper-rusted sword, slashed Nan Baoyu with a flick of her blade. The two-hundred-jin man was actually lifted into the air by the arc of the strike. The new sword pierced Nan Baoyu’s heart more than a dozen times, completely tearing out his heart. The corpse bore a shocking, bowl-sized hole. As the female demon dragged her blade toward Zhang Juxian after decapitating Nan Baoyu, the blade carved a blood groove from his abdomen to his forehead, a straight crimson line.
After she joined the battle, Zhang Juxian was engaged, and Liu Yu was ambushed by Colonel Su Zhen at that moment. This group of soldiers relied on the steady advance of well-trained infantry, skillfully coordinating swords and crossbows with coordinated formations, far superior to the bandits of Fulu Mountain who only knew brute force and killing. Moreover, behind the hundred armored soldiers were the pursuing constables, who might not be strong in direct combat but were quite capable in chasing down the defeated. Additionally, each of them had crossed over the bodies of more than ninety fallen comrades, which genuinely stirred their bloodlust. Thus, naturally, the forces of Fulu Mountain collapsed like a mountain, and without Wei Jin’s support covering their retreat, not even ten people could have escaped back to the foot of the mountain.
These bandits, who were more or less injured, were chased and slaughtered like stray dogs on their own turf, all filled with lingering fear. They had long dealings with government constables, which led them to develop a contempt for the Beiliang army as well, thinking they were no different. They always believed the so-called Beiliang cavalry, famed across the land, couldn’t be that strong. Otherwise, with 120,000 cavalry and over 200,000 infantry, totaling the 300,000 Xue Iron Cavalry, why hadn’t they crushed the Northern Barbarians? But when they finally encountered Colonel Su Zhen’s troops, they realized that the real Beiliang soldiers, clad in armor and wielding Liang blades, were worlds apart from those wearing mere official uniforms.
Xu Fengnian sat beneath the archway at the mountain gate, watching the remaining half of Fulu Mountain’s able-bodied men hastily ascend the mountain. After some thought, he decided not to reveal his identity in front of these bandits and returned to the courtyard. The battle continued, with the defenders of Fulu Mountain having nowhere left to retreat. Upon hearing the colonel’s order to take no prisoners, they began to fight like cornered rabbits, relying on the terrain and the weapons stored on the mountain. From noon onward, they managed to hold out for over an hour, with both sides exchanging arrows most of the time. Wei Jin was well aware that Fulu Mountain’s side was drinking poison to quench thirst, as the bandits’ archery skills could never match those of the soldiers, especially the elite troops from Youzhou’s Wu Army. However, if they didn’t use arrow fire to block the path, engaging in close combat in the narrow alleys would give Fulu Mountain an initial advantage, but even trading severe injuries for enemy lives was not worth it, considering the enemy still had over four hundred men left, and Fulu Mountain would ultimately face annihilation. Some women, children, the elderly, and servants who couldn’t escape in time on the outskirts of the mountain fought desperately, while others feigned surrender only to stab their enemies with hidden daggers, choosing mutual destruction. This unexpected turn of events made the soldiers and constables, who had originally been ordered not to exterminate everyone, stop bothering with the pretense of sparing those who surrendered. A furious deputy officer, after several of his close guards were killed, would casually bring an extra weapon each time he led his men into a courtyard, tossing it to the bandits without caring whether they would resist. Then, with a cruel grin, he would raise his arm, and all within sight would be slaughtered.
Colonel Su Zhen did not seem eager to wrap up the battle. In an open area with a clear view, he had someone set up a table and placed several jugs of wine on it, beginning to drink leisurely by himself. Few had the privilege to sit with him, and Wang Shiwei, the head constable of Qing’an County, was certainly among them, though he did not sit down. Instead, he stood nearby, watching the battle unfold, discussing strategies for attacking with several veteran constables by his side. Bai Shangque, the county magistrate covered in blood, approached first, exchanging a few pleasantries, but upon hearing that the battle in one of the courtyards was at a stalemate, he immediately took a dozen elite constables and rushed off with swords drawn. Wang Shiwei did not see the female devil with the surname Fan; she must have gone to rescue Xu Fengnian, which was why he resisted the urge to seek out the clerk.
Song Yu, who had killed an entire platoon’s worth of enemies during this campaign, sat down quite openly. Su Zhen gave a nod of approval to this young aristocrat. When County Magistrate Feng Guan took a seat, he received a sidelong glance from Colonel Su, and the moment Feng’s behind touched the chair, he quickly lifted it again. Seeing that this local official still had a bit of sense, Colonel Su, with his legs crossed, pushed a jug of wine toward him. Only then did Feng dare to sit down, pouring himself a cup of wine, gulping it down to calm his nerves, and leaning back in the chair, feeling utterly relaxed. This campaign into the mountains to suppress the bandits in Bishan County had brought great credit. It was only natural that the credit should go to Colonel Fu Shui, sitting across the table. How could Feng Guan dare to compete for it? The constables from the two prefectures had also put in considerable effort. But to be fair, Bishan County had not been idle either. As the county magistrate, Feng had risked his life to personally enter the mountains, surely making him an undeniable hero. Thus, it was only a matter of time before he gained real power in the city of Yanzhi County. Feng Guan raised his cup to toast Colonel Su, then leisurely savored the aftertaste of the wine, turning his gaze to the distant battle and the cries of pain filling his ears. He smiled to himself, thinking that he must have become the image of a refined general, calmly sipping wine amidst the smoke of war.
The slower the battle dragged on, the cleaner and more thorough the young clerk with a penchant for beautiful women would be eliminated, leaving no chance for him to escape. With a vacancy for a clerk in Bishan County opening up, and a beautiful widow appearing at the same time, wouldn’t these both become Feng County Magistrate’s prized possessions after a single arrow struck two birds?
After enduring for another half hour, a large group of armored archers suddenly appeared. Wang Shiwei was taken aback; where had these archers come from in Fulu Mountain? The leader was a young man with a dignified appearance. According to physiognomy, men with feminine features often have deep blessings. As Wang was puzzling over this, he saw the arrogant Colonel Fu Shui, Su Zhen, suddenly rise to his feet, stride forward, and respectfully bow with clasped hands, saying, “Colonel Su Zhen of Fu Shui pays homage to Commander Yu!”
Despite his arrogance, Su Zhen dared not be careless upon seeing this person. Not long ago, at the General’s Mansion, he had personally witnessed this young man deftly navigating between the two top officials of Youzhou—Governor Hu Kui and General Huangfu Ping—with neither servility nor arrogance. At that time, the respectful Su Zhen had been quite impressed. Later, he asked the old squad leader, already a junior officer, who this young talent was. He learned that this young man was the eldest grandson of the prestigious Yu family from Guangling, Yu Luandao—the most eye-catching among the scholars who had come to Liang. The old squad leader had also whispered that the Prince of Beiliang had highly praised Yu Luandao’s “Liangzhou Horse Song,” so Yu Luandao’s rise in Youzhou was a foregone conclusion. Su Zhen was merely a colonel; how could he dare to act high and mighty in front of this young commander of the archers?
Yu Luandao returned the bow, his smile warm and gentle, saying, “Colonel Su, you’ve worked hard. General Huangfu has already wiped out Xianguan Cave and will arrive here shortly. At the celebration banquet, I’ll be sure to have a good drink with you, Colonel Su, who has earned the first credit.”
Seeing that this person lacked the affected airs of a typical scholar, Su Zhen found him increasingly likable and grinned, “You bet, sir. My drinking capacity is passable, but my conduct when drunk is beyond reproach. As long as Commander Yu is willing to drink until he drops, I’ll make sure to keep drinking with you until the end.”
Yu Luandao smiled slightly, his eyes catching sight of a man in the official robes of a civilian official cautiously approaching. Yu, who had not yet gone to the border to seek military merit, asked with a slight smile, “Are you Magistrate Feng of Bishan County?”
Feng Guan was flattered and immediately nodded, wondering how this young general had come to know his name and position.
Yu Luandao did not continue the conversation. He snapped his fingers, and more than forty elite archers surged into the battlefield from behind him.
Colonel Su Zhen did not fall behind either, personally leading his troops into the fray, determined to capture Fulu Mountain in one go and make a good impression in front of the general of Youzhou.
In one of the courtyards, more than a dozen ferocious constables kicked open the door, seeing two female servants clinging to each other, trembling behind a stone table. The two leaders exchanged knowing glances, each grabbing a woman by the hair, pulling them onto the stone table. Finding the cumbersome clothing inconvenient, they tore the clothes off, and as they loosened their belt straps, exposing their bare buttocks, they listened to the women’s pitiful whimpers. The two constable leaders laughed wildly at the same time, thinking that even spending silver at a brothel couldn’t provide such a fresh experience. Just as one constable grabbed the woman’s slender neck and pulled her back, preparing to mount her, he saw an unwelcome sight: the inner courtyard door was open, where a young man sat with a few chicken coops by his side. This bandit didn’t even try to escape, instead asking, “Since you’ve already earned military merit and rewards, why not wait until you go down the mountain to find women? If I’m not mistaken, unless there’s an order to massacre the city, Beiliang forbids disturbing the people after capturing a city.”
The constable leader thought this kid had his head smashed by a door panel. He jerked his head, signaling a few subordinates to go and take the kid’s head. His hands didn’t stop, and he sneered, “Disturbing the people? Every one of these bandits deserves to die. We are doing the people a favor. After my brothers finish their fun, a single stab will finish them off cleanly.”
In a moment of distraction, the leader was grabbed by someone who smashed his head hard onto the stone table, cracking the table itself. The other constable leader, who was about to indulge in forced intimacy, met the same fate. The two women, who had narrowly escaped death, sat on the ground, desperately trying to cover themselves.
Xu Fengnian sat on the stone bench, pushing aside a corpse whose head had been placed on the stone table.
Fan Xiaochai stood at the doorway, silently watching the scene unfold.
Xu Fengnian said to her, “Go and pass on a message—don’t say it was from me. Just say that killing is fine, but it must be done according to the rules.”
Fan Xiaochai silently left.
Xu Fengnian folded his sleeves, thought for a moment, then got up and went into the house to fetch two loose outer robes, bending down to hand them to the two sobbing women.
Their eyes filled with fear, they only backed away. Xu Fengnian smiled, tossing the clothes in front of them, saying, “Don’t worry, the foot of the mountain isn’t all knives and fire.”
One of the women, although frightened by the official’s ruthless killing methods, perhaps finally recalled the days she had spent chatting and laughing with this young man, wiped her tears, and bravely asked, “Lord Xu, will we die?”
Xu Fengnian shook his head and smiled, “Of course not.”
Xu Fengnian vanished in a flash, arriving at the summit of Fulu Mountain, where the light was beginning to wane toward the west.
Xu Fengnian sat cross-legged on the ground and softly asked, “Wang Xianzhi, is it really true that as soon as I enter the realm of a land immortal, you will come out to kill me?”
Xu Fengnian sighed helplessly, “Can’t you wait another year or half a year? Even the Northern Barbarians know to give Beiliang a moment to catch its breath, but you. Are you in such a hurry to ascend to heaven?”
Xu Fengnian suddenly stood up, his face darkening.
Huang Sanjia only ranked him sixth in the martial arts world, clearly intending to delay his final confrontation with Wang Xianzhi, giving Xu Fengnian time to absorb the essence of Wang Youshu’s forget-sorrow divine marrow. However, it was evident that Wang Xianzhi was not so easily deceived. Moreover, Yuan Qingshan had also mentioned that the heavenly gate might close at any moment, and Wang Xianzhi, who wished to remain invincible even in the Nine Heavens above, was certainly impatient.
Then what was the point of the girl’s departure?
At first, Xu Fengnian thought she was going to see Huang Sanjia one last time, but now it seemed that even if he hadn’t guessed wrong, upon learning that Wang Xianzhi had left the Eastern Sea, she would surely recklessly block his path along the way.
He could only hope that the all-seeing Huang Longshi would, even if it meant binding her, prevent her from doing anything foolish. If necessary, knock her out.
Xu Fengnian looked up at the sky, smiling bitterly, “Has my luck really run out? It seems my father was right all along—I’m always a jinx.”
Xu Fengnian suppressed his smile. Since there was no need to hide anymore, he would just wait for Wang Xianzhi to come to Beiliang!
Xu Fengnian took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the ground again.
And began to gather something.
At the summit of Fulu Mountain, the atmosphere was magnificent, truly displaying the grandeur of a mountain that faces north and swallows the south.
This thing is called “the fortune of mountains and rivers.”
Since the old fortune has ended, then I shall create a new fortune that swallows ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains, unprecedented and never to be repeated.
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