Leaning on the railing, watching the undulating Shangshui River winding out of the city, this place was known as Guanlan Hall.
Meng Qi stood inside Guanlan Hall, gazing at the rippling river and the lantern lights under the night sky. He felt the vastness of the heavens and the splendor of the mundane world, as the prosperity of countless homes flowed into the river. In this moment, the detachment from the world and immersion within it were seamlessly united.
“Old Patriarch Tang truly deserves his reputation as a Master of External Scenery; the location he chose for cultivation is indeed remarkable…” Meng Qi, in a good mood, gazed beyond the railing and surveyed the interior of the hall.
Earlier, he had deliberately spoken coldly and enigmatically in front of Tang Mingyue about killing Tang Xu, because failing to give prior notice before suddenly attacking would raise Tang Mingyue’s suspicions about his motives and identity, leading her to resist his plans. By first creating an overwhelming aura and then immediately informing Tang Mingyue afterward, he ensured she would perceive him as deeply strategic, unpredictable, and worthy of being called a prodigal son who had returned after enduring hardships and mastering his blade techniques.
Of course, the feeling of pretending to be profound, pretending to be cold, and overwhelming others with sheer presence was exhilarating—hahahaha!
Meng Qi laughed inwardly, quite pleased with himself. As for the reason behind killing Tang Xu, it was simple: revenge for grievances, settling scores without delay. That’s just the kind of petty, vengeful person he was!
Of course, before killing Tang Xu, he needed to extract all the information Tang Xu possessed.
Therefore, changing into white robes, pretending to be profound, and acting cold served not only his personal preferences but also the crucial purpose of speaking truthfully beforehand to build momentum and suppress Tang Xu psychologically, prompting him to confess. This way, when it came time to kill him, Tang Xu wouldn’t resort to his ultimate techniques and expose Meng Qi’s identity.
Tang Xu, after all, was a seasoned Nine-Orifice expert with profound internal cultivation, capable of projecting his Qi to defend or attack. Even without counterattacking, ordinary Qi-Opening experts would struggle to break through his protective aura. Facing life-threatening danger, he would surely unleash his hidden potential. If Meng Qi failed to create a psychological flaw beforehand and plant the seeds of failure, relying solely on his Qi-Opening blade techniques without using swords or External Scenery techniques, it would be difficult to kill him.
As Meng Qi was contemplating, Tang Mingyue gracefully entered, carrying a set of white robes, her eyes brimming with admiration for her older brother: “Second Brother, Elder Ren will come after arranging the guards for Grandfather.”
“Okay.” Meng Qi took the white robe, entered the eastern warm chamber of Guanlan Hall, removed his battle attire, and changed into it.
Before him stood a mirror made of special copper alloy, nearly human height, offering a crystal-clear reflection—its craftsmanship unknown.
Looking at his reflection—white robes, cold and imposing, paired with a long blade at his waist and sharply defined lines—Meng Qi exuded a strange charm. Unlike the graceful coldness of a swordsman or the serene detachment of an old monk, this was the masculine intensity of a blade-wielder.
“Good, very good…” Meng Qi was extremely satisfied with this appearance. If he could sense the surrounding environment even slightly, it would harmonize with his aura, creating a flawless sensory experience.
He coughed lightly, suppressing his smugness and resuming his calm demeanor, stepping out of the eastern chamber.
“Second Brother…” Tang Mingyue’s eyes lit up. She composed herself and asked with concern: “Second Brother, what exactly did you suffer through out there?”
“This tale is long to tell.” I haven’t even made it up yet…
“I’ll explain once my voice fully recovers.” By then, I won’t even be around anymore…
Meng Qi answered in a hoarse voice, meanwhile scanning the interior of Guanlan Hall for something to “pass the time” and avoid too much conversation with Tang Mingyue that might expose him.
“Okay.” Tang Mingyue knew her second brother’s throat had been injured by an assassin, making speech difficult. His fierce questioning in the ancestral hall had been a strain on him, so naturally, he needed proper rest now.
The interior of Guanlan Hall was elegant and simple, with shelves for incense burners and antiques, and rows of bookshelves, desks, and chairs. Just as Meng Qi was about to pretend to admire the antiques, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a calligraphic scroll beneath the hall’s horizontal plaque.
The scroll, with its flowing, dragon-like strokes, stretched over a hundred characters, hanging there and slightly shimmering in the water’s reflection.
“Guanlan Tie…” Meng Qi read the title, slowly approaching, standing beneath the scroll with hands clasped behind his back, slightly lifting his head to study it.
The calligraphy wasn’t particularly outstanding, nor was the wording especially eloquent, but it flowed naturally, exuding a powerful presence.
“Leaning on the railing, striking the water…” As he read closely, Meng Qi’s gaze suddenly froze. The ink characters on the scroll seemed to transform into waves, surging toward him in an overwhelming, endless tide.
The surging waves reached their climax as a sudden flash of blade light appeared before Meng Qi’s eyes—sharp, piercing the heavens, so fast it was unimaginable. With a single slash, the waves split apart, the great river cleaved, as if one person alone had shattered the force of nature itself!
After the breathtaking illusion of blade light, Meng Qi found himself at the scroll’s end, where a fresh red seal read: “Po Chen.”
This was the name of the Tang Clan’s old patriarch—”River-Sundering Blade” Tang Po Chen.
Meng Qi closed his eyes, savoring the blade intent within the Guanlan Tie, four words naturally arising in his mind:
“River-Sundering Blade Technique.”
The Guanlan Tie was neither a true inheritance of intent nor a martial arts manual. It was Tang Po Chen’s masterpiece, written at the peak of his blade mastery, pouring his blade intent onto paper, fully expressing the two core principles of the River-Sundering Blade Technique: momentum and speed.
Continuous waves, unbroken momentum—only with ultimate speed can one sever a river!
“The old patriarch once said that whoever can imitate the Guanlan Tie to about seventy or eighty percent likeness will have mastered the River-Sundering Blade Technique sufficiently to dominate a region and even break through to External Scenery. Second Brother, will you try it?” Tang Mingyue, delighted by her older brother’s return and his sudden reversal of the situation, couldn’t resist teasing.
If I had time to cultivate the River-Sundering Blade Technique, I’d rather study the Purple Lightning Seven Strikes or the Divine Desolation Nine Extinguishings… Meng Qi inwardly grumbled but replied gently to Tang Mingyue: “My mastery of blade techniques comes from other encounters; I’m still lacking in the River-Sundering Blade.”
Tang Mingyue had seen Meng Qi’s slash against Ye San and knew his blade techniques leaned toward fierce and domineering principles, differing from their family’s River-Sundering Blade. She wasn’t surprised and smiled: “One principle understood leads to understanding all. Second Brother, since you’ve already mastered blade techniques, reading the Guanlan Tie more might naturally lead you into the River-Sundering Blade path.”
“Indeed.” Meng Qi was happy to agree, avoiding further small talk.
Moreover, the blade intent derived from the Guanlan Tie closely resembled some teachings from the “Celestial Blade Essentials.” Previously, Meng Qi had studied these with little progress, but now, with such a masterpiece before him, how could he resist analyzing and imitating it?
Soon, he immersed himself in the imagery of endless waves and the blade light cleaving the river, continuously absorbing and refining it. Using the relevant teachings from the “Celestial Blade Essentials” as roots, and drawing upon the variations of the A-nan Breaking Precepts Blade, Cold Wind Blade, and Five Tigers Severing the Gate Blade techniques he had learned, he sought to integrate the momentum and speed hidden within the Guanlan Tie into his own blade techniques.
In this state, Meng Qi forgot all worldly matters, becoming one with the art.
When Tang Ren, Second Uncle Tang, and Seventh Uncle Tang entered the hall, they all paused, sensing an indescribable aura about Meng Qi, who stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing intently at the scroll. He seemed both detached from the world and ready to strike at any moment, returning to the mundane with a single slash.
His white robes, cold demeanor, and upright posture gave him the presence of a spear—unimposing yet imposing.
This was Tang Xu’s first impression upon entering Guanlan Hall, while the other elders waited outside for the outcome.
“Second Young Master…” Overwhelmed by this aura, Tang Xu saw only Meng Qi, forgetting that Seventh Uncle Tang was now the acting head of the family.
Meng Qi returned to awareness, closed his eyes again, reviewed his recent insights, and without turning around, spoke in a hoarse voice: “Why did you assassinate the Huahua Sword Sect’s leader and his family? Did Second Uncle know beforehand?”
Tang Xu glanced at Second Uncle Tang, who subtly shook his head, so he answered firmly: “Second Uncle was unaware.”
Second Uncle Tang exhaled in relief. He didn’t understand what Meng Xiaoer had experienced outside or how many trials he had endured to become so terrifying—his blade techniques fierce and domineering, his actions like thunder, giving no chance to breathe or react. After a series of bewildering moves, he had silently seized control of most of the family’s power. Both the man and his blade inspired fear.
Tang Xu continued: “Fifth Uncle once saved me and brought me into the Tang family. When he ordered the assassination, I obeyed.”
Tang Xu had originally been an outsider, a famous expert from Huan Province. After getting into trouble, he was rescued by Fifth Uncle Tang and took refuge under the Tang Clan. Later, he married into the family and, with the Tang Clan’s support, finally opened all Nine Orifices at age forty-five, achieving internal mastery.
“Why did Fifth Uncle want to assassinate the Huahua Sword Sect’s leader? Didn’t he consider the consequences?” Meng Qi still faced the Guanlan Tie, back to the group, his white robe fluttering in the evening breeze.
Tang Xu honestly replied: “Fifth Uncle originally had no such intention, but after secretly meeting Young Master Ye San, he decided to take the lead to gain status within the Wang family. After all, it was only against the Huahua Sword Sect leader’s family. With the bribed Lin Leader, there wouldn’t be much backlash. They planned to frame me, who had already fled and disappeared, to resolve the matter. No one expected Lin Leader to die too.”
Tang Mingyue pursed her lips, quietly listening, finding it hard to believe that Ye San would be involved in such a major affair.
“When Fifth Uncle met Ye San, were there others present?” Meng Qi asked without showing emotion, though inwardly surprised. He had always thought Ye San was a typical spoiled noble, capable of minor cruelty but not major schemes. Yet now, Ye San seemed to have played a significant role. Was this the same Ye San who had knelt in fear after a single slash from him?
Tang Xu shook his head, looking at Meng Qi’s back, feeling as though he were the clan leader, confident and in control:
“Fifth Uncle met him secretly; I don’t know if anyone else was there.”
Meng Qi asked a few more probing questions and, seeing that Tang Xu had revealed all he knew, clasped his hands behind his back, opened his eyes, and gazed at the undulating waves of the Guanlan Tie, speaking sternly: “Acting without the clan leader’s permission—this is the first offense.”
“Ignoring the broader situation and acting on personal sentiment, dragging the family into danger—this is the second offense.”
“Failing to take responsibility afterward, shifting blame onto the family and disregarding years of nurture—this is the third offense.”
“Tang Xu, do you acknowledge your crimes?”
He sounded like the clan leader, like a judge. After the series of events, even Seventh Uncle Tang and the others had lost their nerve, feeling it was only natural.
Tang Xu emotionlessly replied: “I acknowledge my crimes.”
“Xu Bo has admitted his guilt and is a Nine-Orifice expert. Why not just punish him severely and keep him alive to serve the family?” Second Uncle Tang suggested.
Meng Qi once again immersed himself in the Guanlan Tie, waves of blade intent surging in his mind, still not acknowledging Second Uncle’s words as he coldly said: “Very well. Since you admit your guilt, your family will not be implicated.”
As Tang Xu and others began to feel relieved, Meng Qi suddenly changed tone: “Fifth Uncle was right about one thing: someone must take the blame to appease the Huahua Sword Sect’s fury.”
“Our family exists precariously between great clans and sects; we cannot act recklessly.”
Tang Xu and the others looked on in shock and uncertainty, unsure what punishment Meng Qi would impose—would it be severed hands, or handing him over to the Huahua Sword Sect?
Meng Qi loosened his clasped hands, his right hand resting on the hilt, coldly declaring: “Therefore, you must die.”
His voice, though not loud, struck like thunder in everyone’s hearts.
Meng Qi finally turned, drawing Xie Jie:
“You must die, so your family may live, so the entire clan may survive!”
As the words fell, the long-anticipated blade slashed forth. The blade light flickered, its transformations bizarre, each defying logic, tugging at the heart. Seeing it was like hearing unbearable noise, recalling unbearable memories.
Ultimately, it was a blade of unresolved sorrow!
This indescribable blade technique sent chills down their spines, a manifestation of Meng Qi’s “Clear Severance Blade Principle” derived from the “Celestial Blade Essentials.”
Only now did Tang Xu finally see the face of “Tang Jing”—features resembling the old patriarch, a straight nose, thin lips, sharp lines, white robes like snow, cold and domineering, imposing and awe-inspiring, making him feel small.
The earlier posture of standing with hands clasped, the calm confidence, and the commanding tone of accusation—all painted a picture in Tang Xu’s mind, extinguishing any hope of victory.
“You must die, so your family may live, so the entire clan may survive!”
The final shout, combined with the unsettling blade technique, made Tang Xu hesitate—family, life, death, all weighing heavily in his mind.
In martial combat, techniques change rapidly; hesitation leads to defeat. How could Tang Xu afford hesitation?
In that hesitation, he had already lost the initiative—Xie Jie had already slashed toward him!
Second Uncle Tang and Seventh Uncle Tang finally reacted, rushing to rescue.
“No!” Tang Xu roared, survival instinct taking over. He thrust both palms forward, unleashing a frigid, scorching palm force, forming a Qi sphere to intercept Xie Jie.
But at that moment, Xie Jie flicked upward, the blade light transforming like surging river waves, continuously crashing toward Tang Xu.
Tang Xu’s eyes narrowed. He realized his hasty attack had slightly misjudged the blade’s trajectory, falling into the opponent’s trap. He had no choice but to strike with his left palm, sacrificing his hand to escape.
“Ah!” Seeing this slash, Tang Ren’s face showed surprise.
Suddenly, a brilliant blade light flashed, severing all hope.
Clang! The blade returned to its sheath. Meng Qi, who had just stood before the Guanlan Tie, now stood behind Tang Xu, his back to him.
Second Uncle Tang and Seventh Uncle Tang had just rushed forward when they saw Tang Xu’s forehead split by a blood line down to his throat, his eyes filled with resentment, before he collapsed with a thud.
“Send his body to the Huahua Rice Shop.”
Without looking back, Meng Qi pushed open the door, stepped out of Guanlan Hall, and said calmly.
The elders outside couldn’t hide their shock. They had just sensed the fight beginning when the outcome was already decided—this was a Nine-Orifice expert!
Meng Qi, however, was certain of the result. In that fight, Tang Xu hadn’t even displayed thirty percent of his strength, hesitating and making the fatal mistake in combat. After Meng Qi’s Clear Severance Blade Principle, any blade technique would have killed him. Thus, he tested two newly grasped blade principles!
In his snow-white robes, hand resting on the hilt, he slowly walked along the corridor under the night sky.
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