《Sky Jade》


 Chapter : 1 - Lucky Day

    They thought tonight would mark the beginning of their glory. They thought tonight would bring them a mountain of riches, wealth they would use to build a grand palace on the eastern coast to solidify their dominion. They thought tonight would be filled with joy, feasting until dawn and reveling in the company of beautiful women.


    But that was merely what they thought.


    Reality was far from it.


    A treacherous betrayal from those they once considered allies had turned against them. Now, those very people had defected to the warriors and were determined to destroy them.


    Long Wei severed the ship¡¯s mooring ropes even before his father gave the order.


    ¡°Fall back!¡± he shouted. ¡°Get back to the water! Stay away from the shore!¡±


    The dozen or so of his father¡¯s men who had yet to board the ship immediately leaped onto it. Some were left behind and had to swim against the currents of the Bai He River, struggling for several feet before finally hauling themselves aboard.


    ¡°Fire the arrows!¡± Long Wei shouted again as he saw enemy boats giving chase. ¡°Unfurl the sails! Hurry! Move!¡±


    The black sails, emblazoned with the words "Sea Ghost" in white ink, billowed in the wind as they headed toward the open ocean.


    Long Wei approached his father, who stood silently at the stern, observing the situation.


    ¡°Father, Zhu¡¯s people won¡¯t let us escape.¡±


    His father slammed his fist against the ship¡¯s railing. ¡°Damn traitors!¡± he growled. ¡°Keep sailing east, to the open sea.¡±


    Yet, Long Jian, Long Wei¡¯s father, knew that escape was no longer an option. They were surrounded. The smaller boats were fast, and soon, they would catch up.


    Before Long Wei could turn to carry out the order, a thunderous crash erupted behind him, followed by the sight of one of the ship¡¯s masts collapsing. Long Wei gasped in horror when he saw the one responsible.


    Behind him, Long Jian let out a furious growl.


    ¡°Death Hand! You liar!¡±


    The man stood atop the fallen mast, surrounded by Long Jian¡¯s crew, who brandished their sabers and spears. But Death Hand merely let out an irritating chuckle.


    ¡°I have no interest in hearing that from a lowly pirate.¡±


    Long Jian unsheathed his massive sword and leaped, his body soaring through the air like a great bird.


    Death Hand cackled even louder, jumping up to meet him.


    Their clash midair sent shockwaves rippling in every direction. Some of the men standing too close stumbled backward, unable to withstand the force of their Qi colliding.


    As their bodies descended, the battle resumed the moment their feet touched the deck. They lunged at each other once more.


    ¡°Wei-ji, handle them!¡± Long Jian commanded.


    (The suffix "-ji" is commonly used by parents to affectionately call their child, showing intimacy and care.)


    Long Wei turned and saw that the pirates of the "Sea Devil" crew had boarded their ship.


    He drew his sword and raised it high. ¡°Charge!¡±


    A fierce battle erupted. Flanked by two of the elite members of the Sea Ghost crew, Long Wei engaged the enemy, his small frame, barely reaching an adult¡¯s shoulders, moving nimbly to dodge attacks and strike back with slashes and thrusts.


    However, his focus wavered when he caught sight of his father¡¯s battle. Long Jian was being pushed back¡ªDeath Hand¡¯s martial arts were beyond anything he had ever seen.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Despite using only his bare hands and the wide sleeves of his robe, Death Hand fought against Long Jian¡¯s massive sword without a hint of fear. His feet never fully touched the deck, one foot was always moving, whether to strike or to deceive his opponent. He would spin unpredictably, and before anyone realized it, a devastating blow would land on Long Jian¡¯s shoulder.


    Just as the battle reached its peak, a white blur flashed through the air above them.


    Then, a deafening explosion rang out, momentarily deafening everyone.


    And suddenly.


    CRAAACK!!


    The ship split in two.


    ¡°Liar!¡± Long Wei roared in rage at the sight of the old man¡¯s face.


    ¡°So this is what it means to be a so-called righteous warrior?¡± he spat. ¡°Is this the honor of noble warriors, brave fighters who are just as skilled at deception as they are at battle?¡±


    ¡°Silence, you insolent brat,¡± the man¡¯s voice carried a powerful resonance, heavy with authority. ¡°To rid the world of worthless pirates who terrorize innocent people, any means are justified.¡±


    ¡°You self-righteous bastard! We have more honor than you¡ªArgh!¡±


    Long Wei was forced to roll forward, toward the part of the ship tilting into the water, narrowly avoiding a sword strike from behind.


    ¡°Damn it!¡± Long Wei clung to a broken beam, the wood threatening to snap at any moment. One wrong move, and he would plunge into the river.


    A creeping dread gnawed at his heart as he saw the leader of the Sea Devil pirates, a man surnamed Zhu, approaching on a small boat. Long Wei could see the faint smirk forming on the man¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Traitor,¡± Long Wei seethed.


    Two of his Sea Ghost crew members slid down, trying to help him. But before they could reach him, the very same person who had attacked Long Wei from behind swiftly ran them through.


    ¡°Damn it¡­ Damn it all!¡±


    Without warning, a bloodied body plunged into the river, nearly colliding with Long Wei as he dangled. Water splashed high into the air, and Long Wei¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.


    For a brief moment, he refused to accept what he had just seen.


    But when the body resurfaced, the face of a middle-aged man came into view¡ªa man with a thick beard and wide, lifeless eyes.


    Long Wei¡¯s breath hitched. His chest tightened.


    Then¡ª


    ¡°FATHER!¡± he screamed in anguish.


    The young man screamed in terror again when the piece of wood he had been clinging to broke, or rather, was broken. His body was swept into the swift current of the Bai He River.


    He swallowed a large mouthful of water before desperately trying to surface. He had been dragged much farther than he realized. The battle continued on the ship, now tilted and carried away by the river¡¯s flow. Rather than a battle, what was unfolding there was better described as a massacre.


    Tears welled up in Long Wei¡¯s eyes as he looked across the river, where his father¡¯s body was carried away by the much stronger current.


    Furious, Long Wei glared at the old man in white standing on the ship, now side by side with the man in all black, Death Hand. The two of them were looking right at him.


    "Come back in a few years and take our heads when you''re ready," the old man in white called out, his voice echoing loudly due to his Qi.


    The leader of the Sea Devil pirates, his sword stained with blood, laughed loudly, intentionally amplifying the sound.


    Long Wei¡¯s body was swept farther down the river, and the last thing he remembered was his own vow to sever the heads of the three men.


    ***


    The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke over the towering mountains to the east, the old man with the wide-brimmed hat, who looked as though he had long given up on life, emerged from his small hut.


    His skin was wrinkled, and his hair, eyebrows, mustache, and beard were all white. He stretched his body for a moment, then grabbed his fishing rod leaning against the side of his hut.


    ¡°I¡¯ll probably only catch one or two fish today,¡± he muttered as he gazed up at the cloudy sky. His brow furrowed. ¡°If I¡¯m lucky.¡±


    He walked toward the river, his back slightly hunched with age, but his steps were steady and quick.


    Arriving at the edge of the Bai He River, he was greeted by the sound of the rushing water smashing against the black rocks. The old man chose the largest, smoothest rock to sit on, baited his hook, and cast his line into the river. He sat and waited, sighing repeatedly.


    Time passed, not long at all, barely the length of one incense stick, when suddenly, the old man¡¯s eyes widened and he shouted loudly.


    ¡°This is my lucky day!¡± He gripped his bamboo fishing rod. ¡°It¡¯s a good day!¡± And, laughing, he began to reel it in with all his might.


    A large black object shot into the air, making the old man gape in astonishment. At first, he thought it was a giant fish, but only a fool would think something that large could be a fish. And even more foolish would be someone who thought it was a crocodile, considering it had hair and no tail.


    ¡°Demon!¡± The old man leaped back, his movements quick and agile.


    However, as the ¡°catch¡± came closer, he realized that his hook had caught onto a man¡¯s robe. The old man¡¯s face went pale as the person fell headfirst toward the black rock where he was sitting.


    ¡°Hyah!¡± he shouted loudly.


    With swift, graceful movements, the old man flew into the air, spinning. In the next moment, he caught the unfortunate man by the collar.


    The old man quickly dropped his ¡°catch¡± onto the ground and punched his stomach. Instantly, water sprayed out of the man¡¯s mouth.


    The old man parted the man¡¯s hair and discovered that the individual was remarkably young, perhaps around fifteen.


    He jumped back in shock when the young man¡¯s eyes suddenly opened.


    The young man shouted, ¡°You lying bastard!¡±


    Without thinking, the old man muttered a curse. ¡°Ungrateful little demon!¡±

 Chapter : 2 - New Life

    ¡°Eat.¡±


    Long Wei stared at the half-burnt fish with little interest, but he accepted it solely because his stomach had been growling persistently.


    Yang Feng, the old man with the wide-brimmed hat who had ¡°saved¡± Long Wei, ate his own portion of the grilled fish. As he chewed, he casually threw out a question that immediately reignited Long Wei¡¯s anger. ¡°So, what happened to you? How did you end up floating down the river?¡±


    Long Wei¡¯s mind immediately flashed back to the events of the previous night. It was like a scene playing before his eyes, the moment his father fell lifeless into the river and the challenge issued by the two great warriors.


    His gaze wandered along the Bai He River, taking in the surroundings. It became clear why there were no other bodies floating by or pieces of shipwreck. He had been carried far downstream toward a southeast bend, while the remnants of the battle likely headed westward.


    ¡°I was on a ship, and it was attacked by river pirates,¡± Long Wei answered, not completely lying.


    The old man nodded, his face showing a hint of pity. ¡°I¡¯m Yang Feng. What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Long Wei,¡± he replied briefly before taking another bite of his burnt fish.


    ¡°Long Wei¡­¡± Yang Feng repeated the name a few times, clearly trying to commit it to memory. ¡°I found you drifting here alone. Did you board the ship by yourself?¡±


    Long Wei opened his mouth. He wanted to say that he was the only one who survived, but his mouth snapped shut. After a few moments, he finally answered, ¡°Yes, I was alone.¡±


    Yang Feng nodded again. ¡°Where are you headed?¡±


    ¡°To the Eastern Sea. If it weren¡¯t for those damn pirates.¡±


    ¡°The Eastern Sea? I¡¯ve heard rumors lately that the pirates there have been getting more brutal.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s me, old man!¡± Long Wei thought, but his mouth responded, ¡°I know. I won¡¯t go too far out to sea, just along the coast to visit distant relatives.¡±


    Yang Feng nodded again. ¡°After this, will you still go there?¡±


    Long Wei lowered his gaze.


    After his father¡¯s forces were wiped out, Long Wei had no place to return to. The Sea Ghost pirates had been his home, his refuge, but it was destroyed now.


    Long Wei wondered in his heart whether he should return to the East Coast and become the target of mockery from the pirates, or wander off to become whatever he needed to survive. He quickly made up his mind.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go somewhere else.¡± And stay a pirate, but perhaps a land pirate this time.


    Yang Feng¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What about your relatives on the East Coast?¡±


    ¡°I can visit them another time when things are better.¡±


    Yang Feng finished his fish, which was now reduced to bones, then tossed them into the river and stood up.


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    ¡°You can stay at my house until you¡¯ve recovered,¡± Yang Feng smiled. ¡°And help me with fishing, of course. I haven¡¯t had a fishing buddy in a long time.¡±


    From that day on, Long Wei stayed at Yang Feng¡¯s modest, almost crumbling home. Since the house only had one room, Long Wei slept in the front area on a thin mat with a blanket that was no thicker than a single sheet.


    As a fighter from the Sea Ghost pirates, Long Wei wasn¡¯t a weakling. It took only three days for his wounds to heal completely. In reality, most of that time wasn¡¯t spent healing his external injuries, but rather, his internal wounds.


    On the third morning, Long Wei opened a conversation between their usual routine of fishing by the river.


    ¡°Elder, I¡¯ll be leaving tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you can go,¡± Yang Feng answered casually.


    Long Wei was surprised. He immediately turned his head to look at the old man beside him.


    ¡°What I mean is, tomorrow evening, I¡¯ll be heading up the mountain for meditation. The full moon tonight is a great time to strengthen my Qi. I¡¯ll return here tomorrow morning, close to noon. You can wait for me, if you want.¡±


    Long Wei furrowed his brow, surprised that someone so old would still care about their Qi. He thought, shouldn¡¯t he be worrying about his own grave, considering there was no one else to help him in this forest?


    ¡°Oh, alright, but sorry, I can¡¯t wait,¡± Long Wei replied. He was worried that Zhu¡¯s men might be pursuing him.


    Night came quicker than expected. Yang Feng had left at sunset, and now Long Wei was ready to continue his journey, heading anywhere far from the Eastern Sea. He still didn¡¯t want, or more accurately, couldn¡¯t face the Sea Devil pirate forces led by Zhu Ren in his current state.


    But before he left, Long Wei remembered his next goal: to become a pirate too, but on land. Perhaps, a bandit.


    It wasn¡¯t surprising. Long Wei had grown up among pirates¡ªbrutal men who were experts at taking things by force. The same malicious desire began to rise in him when he realized he was alone in the house.


    ¡°This is my first step,¡± he grinned.


    Long Wei searched through every corner of Yang Feng¡¯s small house. It didn¡¯t take long, there wasn¡¯t much to find, and the place wasn¡¯t big. But there was a small rectangular box hidden beneath the bamboo platform bed where Yang Feng slept.


    Long Wei took the box and opened it without hesitation. His eyes widened.


    Inside lay a beautiful, bright green jade bracelet. The last time Long Wei had seen such a fine piece of jewelry was when one of his father¡¯s men had raped a rich princess and demanded ransom. But this bracelet was far more beautiful.


    Long Wei¡¯s hands trembled slightly as he picked up the jade bracelet. He felt an odd impulse in his heart, as if telling him to treat it gently.


    ¡°This... I have to have it¡­¡± Long Wei laughed, mesmerized by the extraordinary object.


    And so, the young man left Yang Feng¡¯s house, his departure marked by the theft of its only treasure. He smiled all the way as he journeyed northward.


    Time passed, and night gave way to morning. Small boats and a large ship soon docked by the small hut. A dozen people jumped off the boats, their demeanor frightening, like pirates.


    Yang Feng, who had just returned from his meditation, frowned. ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    An old man dressed entirely in white, along with another old man in all black, appeared on the deck of the large ship. The man in white shouted, ¡°Yang Feng, hand over the Sky Jade!¡±


    Yang Feng¡¯s eyebrows nearly met. ¡°White Ascetic, you¡¯re still chasing after that ridiculous thing?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie, you have it!¡± the old man in black snapped.


    ¡°Death Hand,¡± Yang Feng chuckled. ¡°Still pretending after your defeat all those years ago? And now you¡¯ve brought so many friends?¡±


    The White Ascetic and Death Hand leapt from the ship, their bodies floating and landing softly on the ground.


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to play around. The Emperor wants it,¡± Death Hand said, his tone threatening.


    ¡°I¡¯m not playing either. If you want to know, the gods are on my side this time,¡± Yang Feng chuckled again, nearly laughing.


    ¡°Hand it over!¡± The White Ascetic waved his hand, summoning a strong wind that swept toward Yang Feng, who was still laughing.


    ¡°It¡¯s gone!¡± Yang Feng responded with a sweep of his own hand.


    The two tremendous forces collided, creating a distant rumble and an overwhelming gust of wind. Only the three powerful figures remained in place, while the others were pushed back three steps.


    ¡°I¡¯m not lying,¡± Yang Feng continued, somehow holding a long bamboo pole that he usually used for fishing. ¡°So your search is in vain. Just tell that arrogant Emperor to look among his concubines. Maybe one of them is hiding it. Hahaha.¡± Yang Feng laughed louder.


    ¡°Find the jade!¡± the White Ascetic ordered his rough men, and with that, they charged at Yang Feng, joined by Death Hand.

 Chapter : 3 - Yang Officer

    It was exhausting having to run from an entire village the whole night after being caught stealing a treasure chest. The chest was small, even two hands would be too big to hold it, but Long Wei had to admit, the contents were far from trivial.


    Various pieces of jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, and other trinkets. Long Wei was even confused about what to do with such a fortune.


    ¡°Just sell it,¡± he muttered to himself, without realizing it, just as the food he had ordered was served on the table.


    The waitress bowed briefly before going to the kitchen to prepare food for other customers.


    This small inn was located at a very strategic intersection. Though surrounded by dense forest, it was only a five-li distance to the nearest village. This made it convenient for travelers who didn¡¯t need to go into the villages just to fill their stomachs.


    Long Wei had chosen to stop here for that very reason. He would simply eat for a moment before continuing his journey.


    ¡°He¡¯s been going around the villages nearby for about two weeks now.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s causing trouble.¡±


    Long Wei¡¯s attention was drawn to a conversation between two men. He glanced back and saw two rough-looking figures dressed like woodcutters, each carrying a bundle of wood by their seats.


    ¡°Has your village had any victims?¡±


    ¡°Just last night. A chest of treasure from one of the wealthier villagers disappeared.¡±


    Long Wei nearly choked. Who else could have done it if not him?


    The young man smiled bitterly in silence. After he had stolen the beautiful jade bracelet from Yang Feng, Long Wei had been living as a thief, targeting the homes of the rich. With the martial arts his father had taught him, it wasn¡¯t difficult to sneak in and out unnoticed.


    Furthermore, his youthful face, only fifteen years old, made no one suspect that Long Wei was a thief.


    But Long Wei didn¡¯t mind his path in life. Since childhood, he and the Sea Ghost group had been accustomed to taking people¡¯s valuables. In this way, like now, he could buy expensive clean clothes and a useful short sword to intimidate his victims.


    ¡°We¡¯ll take a break here.¡±


    Long Wei changed his mind about leaving when three large horses arrived in front of the open inn door. Judging by their riders¡¯ attire, they were imperial soldiers.


    Long Wei couldn¡¯t help but smile as a wicked thought quickly entered his mind. They must have a lot of money, he thought as he noticed one large metal container being carried in by two men.


    ¡°Tribute!¡± one of the soldiers barked.


    The innkeeper immediately shrank behind the counter, lowering his head in fear. ¡°You came last week, sir. We don¡¯t have that much money yet.¡±


    The table was slammed hard. ¡°Are you planning to rebel?¡±


    ¡°No... no...¡±


    Long Wei lost interest in listening to the argument. He stepped outside the inn and passed by another soldier who was calming the three horses. Long Wei smiled faintly.


    He walked a fair distance to slip behind the trees and then returned to the inn¡¯s location. He picked up a stone the size of his fist and threw it with a bit of internal force toward the rear end of one of the horses.


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    The horse neighed and reared, kicking the other two horses and the soldier. Its head shook violently to escape the soldier¡¯s grip. Long Wei threw another stone.


    ¡°Damn, the horse¡¯s loose!¡± the soldier yelled.


    One of the soldiers who had been extorting them came out to investigate. Only one horse had been saved by his companion. He grew angry and slapped the horse keeper¡¯s face. ¡°Useless! There¡¯s no rain, no wind, how could it escape?¡±


    ¡°It suddenly got angry,¡± he winced in pain as he replied.


    Meanwhile, inside the inn, chaos erupted as Long Wei leapt back in through the window, launching an attack on the soldier holding the tribute money container.


    With one swift move, Long Wei targeted the man¡¯s unprotected neck. Of course, the soldier managed to dodge, though it was difficult since he had to hold onto the container with one hand.


    ¡°Thief!¡± the soldier shouted.


    But Long Wei was quick, kicking the man¡¯s knee and sending him crashing down. In an instant, Long Wei stepped on his neck and snatched the container.


    ¡°Thanks.¡± Long Wei quickly left.


    The commotion inside the inn was overwhelming. They had never expected a thief to be so bold as to strike in broad daylight.


    One soldier, who had slapped his companion earlier, didn¡¯t bother to check on the others. He immediately jumped on his horse and chased after Long Wei¡¯s retreating silhouette.


    ¡°Gather the soldiers from the nearby villages!¡± he ordered before spurring his horse forward.


    Long Wei continued running into the forest, choosing paths lined with thick trees. From the sounds behind him, he knew his pursuers were on horseback, so the dense forest would only make it more difficult for them to follow on horseback.


    His body darted nimbly between the trees, darting down sharp inclines, leaping and swinging from one tree to another.


    They chased for about two li before Long Wei suddenly fell.


    ¡°Damn!¡± The sound of rustling came as he tumbled across the thick, thorny grass. His clothes were torn, and a few scattered coins were quickly gathered by him, while others were ignored.


    ¡°Stop!¡± a shout came, followed by the whoosh of sharp wind.


    Instinctively, Long Wei tilted his head to the right, and an arrow passed by, missing him by mere inches before embedding itself in a tree trunk halfway through.


    His pursuer had arrived. Long Wei had to admit the man¡¯s skill in controlling his horse, as he managed to cover the terrain much faster than Long Wei had anticipated.


    ¡°I¡¯m not giving up! Let¡¯s fight one-on-one!¡± Long Wei unsheathed his short sword and lunged.


    ¡°Good!¡± the soldier threw aside his spear and drew a machete.


    Clang!


    Sparks flew as Long Wei¡¯s sword almost sliced the soldier¡¯s neck but was perfectly blocked by the soldier¡¯s weapon. Still, the soldier stumbled and fell from his horse.


    The tribute container also slipped from Long Wei¡¯s grasp and spilled its contents. However, Long Wei didn¡¯t have time to worry about that, as another strike was incoming.


    They clashed weapons amidst the thick trees, each intent on defeating the other. The imperial soldier originally intended to capture Long Wei, but seeing the young man¡¯s skill, he changed his mind. Long Wei was simply too skilled to be caught.


    ¡°You¡¯ve lost!¡± Long Wei called as he darted to the side and thrust his sword into the soldier¡¯s side.


    Blood splattered across the grass, but the wound was shallow.


    The soldier smiled. ¡°You¡¯re quite a skilled thief, boy, at least worthy of your arrogance.¡±


    The fight continued. The sounds of clashing steel echoed far, serving as a guide for the seven new soldiers called from the nearby village.


    ¡°There!¡± the lead soldier pointed when he saw the two combatants in the distance. ¡°Don¡¯t shoot arrows. It¡¯ll endanger our comrade.¡± He stopped someone from pulling out a bow.


    One of the men behind him suddenly stood up on his horse, drawing a machete, and leapt off. His body seemed to float, signaling he was a martial arts master.


    ¡°Stop fighting!¡± the figure roared, parrying both Long Wei and the soldier¡¯s weapons, sending them flying.


    It was then that Long Wei saw the man clearly, an elderly man, certainly over sixty, with long white hair, beard, and eyebrows. Yet his movements were impressive.


    ¡°There¡¯s no point in killing a small thief like him. Why are you trying to kill him?¡± the old man scolded the soldier.


    ¡°Officer Yang, I was only defending myself,¡± the soldier lowered his head respectfully. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t, I would have died.¡±


    The other six soldiers arrived, quickly helping the injured soldier to his feet.


    The old man snorted in annoyance. ¡°You, and you, help me deal with this small thief. The rest of you, continue with your tasks!¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    After bowing, they mounted their horses and left the area.


    One of the soldiers pulled out a rope from his pack, but Officer Yang quickly applied pressure to his shoulder, causing the soldier to faint.


    ¡°Officer Yang, what¡­?¡±


    The soldier collapsed immediately after receiving the pressure point strike.


    Long Wei, watching this, was stunned¡ªnot because of the pressure point, but because of Officer Yang himself.


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    ¡°We meet again,¡± Officer Yang said with a slight smile. ¡°You still have the bracelet, boy?¡±


    ¡°Elder Yang Feng?¡±

 Chapter : 4 - Thank You

    Riding the horses taken from the two unconscious soldiers, Yang Feng led Long Wei away from the scene. Judging from the direction of their shadows, they were heading north.


    Long Wei followed the old man dressed in imperial armor, who had not uttered a single word since they had left. Not that it really mattered, Long Wei had no particular destination in mind.


    Yang Feng slowed his horse as they reached a small tributary connected to the river behind the tavern. He scanned the surroundings, ensuring that the area was truly safe. Once satisfied, the old man dismounted and sat on the thick grass.


    ¡°So, what was that all about?¡± Long Wei finally spoke, still puzzled by everything.


    Yang Feng chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re awfully wary of me, boy.¡± He noted that they were separated by a distance of about two spear lengths, with Long Wei¡¯s hand already resting on the hilt of his sword. ¡°I just wanted to say thank you.¡±


    Long Wei¡¯s expression shifted instantly. His mouth hung open, his eyes widened.


    Yang Feng continued. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re curious now, aren¡¯t you? Sit down so we can talk properly.¡± He patted the grass beside him.


    Still harboring suspicion, Long Wei approached Yang Feng cautiously. He tethered his horse to a tree some distance away and took a seat, though still keeping a gap of about two steps between them.


    Long Wei was no fool, despite his youth. Having spent his life taking things that belonged to others, he had learned how to distinguish valuable treasures from common trinkets. He could tell which items were cherished and which were not. And he had long since concluded that the jade bracelet was something of immense importance to Yang Feng.


    Then why did I follow him all the way here? Long Wei wondered to himself.


    Yang Feng couldn¡¯t help but smile at the young man¡¯s exaggerated wariness. ¡°Very well, if that¡¯s how you want it,¡± he said at last.


    ¡°So, what do you mean by thanking me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯m talking about the jade bracelet you took.¡±


    Long Wei was even more confused. Who would thank a thief for stealing from them?


    Seeing his bewildered expression, Yang Feng quickly explained. ¡°In truth, this is a stroke of fortune, one bestowed by the heavens. I truly believe that. The heavens have allowed justice to remain in this land, otherwise, you would not have been permitted to steal it from me.¡±


    Now the old man was spouting nonsense, at least, that¡¯s how it seemed to Long Wei. The heavens permitting theft? Even he, a pirate since birth, had never thought of something so absurd.


    ¡°Why?¡± Yang Feng deliberately provoked his curiosity, deepening Long Wei¡¯s confusion.


    Unknowingly, Long Wei took the bait. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°That is the Sky Jade.¡± Yang Feng pointed at Long Wei, as if he knew exactly where the jade was hidden. ¡°A sacred relic, crafted by the eight founders of the Tian Empire¡¯s first generation. They were powerful figures of their time. According to legend, their abilities were godlike, though of course, that¡¯s just a tale. You shouldn¡¯t believe everything you hear.¡±


    Long Wei instinctively clutched his left chest, where the bracelet was tucked inside his robe¡¯s pocket.


    ¡°There are eight pieces of Sky Jade, each in different forms. A pair of earrings, three rings, one bracelet, one necklace, and a hair ornament in the shape of a hairpin, altogether, eight.¡± Yang Feng counted on his fingers as he spoke. ¡°When united, they are said to summon a legendary dragon. And supposedly,¡± he emphasized the word supposedly, ¡°this dragon descends from the heavens. It was the imperial family¡¯s guardian beast for generations, sworn to protect the land and serve as the embodiment of true power.¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Long Wei cut him off. ¡°What¡¯s your point in telling me all this?¡± He stood up, narrowing his eyes. ¡°I already stole it from you, and now you¡¯re telling me all of this? To the thief?¡±


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    ¡°Hah?¡± Yang Feng feigned an idiotic look. ¡°You actually believe me?¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re lying?¡± Long Wei¡¯s temper flared. He felt like he was being toyed with. ¡°You help the guy who stole from you, I follow you here even though I know you¡¯re the owner of what I stole, and then you tell me all this? And you¡¯re surprised that I believe you? Who¡¯s the insane one here?¡± he snapped, eyes blazing.


    ¡°Calm down, boy.¡± Yang Feng rose to his feet as well, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect you to believe me.¡±


    ¡°I never said I believed you!¡±


    Ignoring his outburst, Yang Feng removed his outer garments. He let his iron armor fall to the ground before stripping off the inner layer. Before Long Wei could ask what he was doing, the young man was rendered speechless by the sight before him.


    The old man¡¯s body, still sturdy despite his age, bore the mark of a dark handprint burned into his chest. The imprint was so deep that it had slightly caved inward. Just looking at it made Long Wei feel the pain.


    Then, on Yang Feng¡¯s right shoulder, there was another wound¡ªa deep, slashing cut. The flesh inside had turned stark white, completely white.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Long Wei stammered, horrified. ¡°Why are you showing me this?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because of the Sky Jade you stole, boy. Someone tried to take it from me, and I fought them off. To be honest, I nearly died. Thankfully, you had already stolen the jade. Otherwise, I would have had to retrieve it from my chest before escaping, and if that were the case, I doubt I would have made it out alive.¡±


    Yang Feng put his clothes back on properly, armor and all. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m thanking you. So, you still have the jade, don¡¯t you? You didn¡¯t sell it, did you?¡±


    Long Wei swallowed hard, still haunted by the sight of those two wounds. At the same time, he was deeply impressed by Yang Feng, who spoke about them as if they were nothing.


    Slowly, the young man retrieved the Sky Jade from his pocket. Seeing it, Yang Feng let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Good¡­ good¡­ I thank you once again.¡±


    ¡°So, what should I do now?¡± Long Wei was still confused.


    ¡°Return it to me, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± Yang Feng said, extending his right hand. ¡°As you¡¯ve seen from my wounds, people won¡¯t hesitate to kill you the moment they find out you have that bracelet.¡±


    Long Wei hesitated again. This jade was an incredibly valuable treasure, so mesmerizing that he felt reluctant to part with it. He had no intention of selling it, he wanted to keep it as an heirloom, a kind of talisman.


    Seeing the doubt in Long Wei¡¯s eyes, Yang Feng found it understandable. ¡°Do you know who gave me these two wounds?¡±


    Long Wei shook his head. Of course, he didn¡¯t.


    ¡°They were inflicted by two men known as the Death Hand and the White Ascetic, huh?¡± Yang Feng stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Long Wei¡¯s grip on the bracelet tightening. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He halted his story, sensing something serious.


    Long Wei growled. ¡°I have a personal vendetta against them. They were the ones who killed my father the night before you saved me.¡±


    Yang Feng¡¯s eyes widened. This revelation was beyond anything he had anticipated. He never imagined that the unfortunate young man who had crossed his path by sheer chance already had unfinished business with those two warriors.


    ¡°Fate¡­ fate¡­ it truly works in mysterious ways. This must have been written by the heavens, it can¡¯t be mere coincidence.¡± Yang Feng withdrew his hand, shaking his head. ¡°Fate is a mystery of the universe, one that can never be unraveled.¡±


    Long Wei remained silent.


    Yang Feng suddenly fixed Long Wei with a piercing gaze, so intense that it sent a chill down the young man¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Long Wei, I take back my request for you to return the bracelet. I have a feeling my death isn¡¯t far off, and so the heavens have chosen a successor to take on my duty of safeguarding one of the Sky Jades.¡± His voice carried an air of authority, but Long Wei still didn¡¯t quite understand.


    The old man continued, ¡°So, I¡¯ll change my question. And at the same time, I have a request. Will you take this bracelet, protect it from wicked hands, and inherit all of my knowledge?¡±


    Long Wei didn¡¯t need to think twice to understand what he meant. ¡°You want me to be your disciple?¡±


    Yang Feng nodded slowly.


    Long Wei hesitated even more. He stared at the jade bracelet, its beauty unmatched, then at Yang Feng before returning his gaze to the bracelet. This back-and-forth continued for quite some time, neither of them moving from their spots.


    He saved my life, Long Wei thought. He was wounded by the same men who killed my father, the voice in his head echoed again.


    ¡°Well?¡± Yang Feng was still patiently waiting.


    Long Wei had made his decision.


    ¡°I, Long Wei, from this day forward, will inherit the teachings of Elder Yang Feng. I do this as a token of gratitude for having my life saved twice.¡±


    Yang Feng didn¡¯t entirely agree with that reasoning, what he truly cared about was protecting the Sky Jade. But even so, he smiled and nodded.


    ¡°There¡¯s just one thing you must agree to,¡± Long Wei said, his gaze now sharp.


    ¡°Oh? And what is that?¡±


    Before answering, Long Wei swallowed hard. ¡°A message from my late father: ¡®A man should never bow easily to anyone.¡¯¡±


    Yang Feng¡¯s smile faded for a brief moment before returning.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite an arrogant statement¡­¡± The old man then let out a hearty laugh. ¡°But I want you to hold on to that principle for as long as you live.¡±


    Yang Feng¡¯s laughter echoed through the quiet night. ¡°You don¡¯t need to kneel to acknowledge me as your teacher, nor do I require you to be my disciple in the traditional sense. What matters is that you inherit my knowledge, use it to protect the Sky Jade, and walk the path of righteousness.¡±


    Long Wei didn¡¯t respond immediately, his thoughts hadn¡¯t reached that far yet.


    His mind was consumed by one thing: his father¡¯s death. The Death Hand. The White Ascetic. Inheriting Yang Feng¡¯s knowledge. And revenge.

 Chapter : 5 - Qinglan Village

    Since Yang Feng¡¯s previous dwelling was no longer safe, they wandered from place to place. Their journey was made on the same horse, heading north.


    When Long Wei asked why they were traveling north, Yang Feng replied that there was no particular reason. The only certainty was that it would be too dangerous to stay near the capital in the western region, which stood at the foot of the Yuling Mountains.


    Although Long Wei followed Yang Feng not out of a genuine desire to become his disciple, but rather for revenge and a sense of gratitude, he still obeyed all of Yang Feng¡¯s commands. When they had to sleep under the open sky, Long Wei would gather firewood and food for them. When they reached a village, they would help anyone in need in exchange for money, and Long Wei was diligent in this regard. Because of this, Yang Feng grew even more fond of and sympathetic toward the young man, especially after hearing about his past.


    Yet, even after nearly a week of traveling, Yang Feng had yet to teach Long Wei any martial arts.


    ¡°Qinglan Village, a peaceful place.¡± Yang Feng took a deep breath, savoring the cool morning air. ¡°Have you ever been here before?¡±


    Long Wei could feel the tranquility of this village, something he had rarely experienced. The village had a unique aura that made anyone feel at ease. With three towering hills surrounding it and a dense forest to the west, the air was refreshingly crisp and soothing.


    Long Wei shook his head. ¡°No, this village isn¡¯t on the Bai He River route, so I¡¯ve never been here.¡±


    The Bai He River was the usual route taken by the Sea Ghost pirates when they ventured deeper inland.


    ¡°You¡¯ll like Qinglan Village.¡± Yang Feng chuckled. ¡°I also have an acquaintance here, and I¡¯d like to pay them a visit. Care to join me?¡±


    ¡°Where else would I go if not with you?¡±


    Yang Feng laughed heartily.


    As they passed through the village gates, the natural silence seemed unbroken by the laughter of children playing tag or the chatter of women gossiping on their porches. Long Wei took a deep breath, mimicking what Yang Feng had done earlier. Immediately, a sense of peace filled every fiber of his being.


    If only I could stay here forever. But then, thoughts of the Sky Jade, Deadly Hand, and White Ascetic crept into his mind. Long Wei smiled bitterly, such a thing was impossible.


    Yang Feng led them to the outskirts of the village, quite far from the entrance, where a modest house stood amidst vast rice fields. The house also had a stable and a goat pen in the backyard. From a distance, a beautiful young woman was practicing martial arts in the front yard.


    ¡°Good morning, Cang Er. You¡¯re growing more beautiful, child,¡± Yang Feng greeted, startling the young woman, who immediately turned around.


    The strikingly beautiful girl, with long black hair and a mole on her right chin that enhanced her charm, broke into a smile. ¡°Elder Yang.¡± She ran up to him and bowed in respect. ¡°Father will be pleased to see you.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯d better be, hahaha!¡± The old man dismounted. ¡°After all, he¡¯s the one who told me to stop by if I ever came to Qinglan.¡±


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    ¡°Come inside,¡± Cang Er invited. She noticed Long Wei standing behind the elder but pretended not to see him since she didn¡¯t recognize him.


    ¡°Ah, let me introduce you. This is Long Wei, the one who will inherit all my martial arts,¡± Yang Feng introduced.


    Cang Er bowed again, and Long Wei did the same in return.


    ¡°You¡¯re quite fortunate, Brother Long, to be the disciple of the mighty Iron Palm warrior from the east.¡±


    Long Wei had already heard of Yang Feng¡¯s grand title and indeed considered himself lucky. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    They entered the modest house, which had a surprisingly spacious interior. Chairs were neatly arranged in the living area, and the walls and tables had decorations that appeared to be handcrafted.


    ¡°I made this.¡± As if reading Long Wei¡¯s mind, Cang Er pointed to a small clay teapot on the table. ¡°Though I¡¯m afraid it turned out terribly.¡±


    To Long Wei¡¯s eyes, it was anything but terrible, there was an intricate carving of koi fish chasing one another.


    Cang Er called for her father, who appeared shortly after. A man dressed in farmer¡¯s attire, with his long hair tied back and a thin beard, hurriedly entered. His face lit up when he saw Yang Feng, his old friend.


    ¡°Elder Yang, you actually came.¡± He bowed in respect.


    ¡°And you haven¡¯t changed a bit,¡± Yang Feng replied, patting the man¡¯s shoulder.


    Noticing the young man beside the elder, he was about to ask when Yang Feng beat him to it. ¡°This is Long Wei, the one who will inherit all my knowledge. And this is Lu Kwan.¡±


    Long Wei bowed in respect, and Lu Kwan nodded in approval. ¡°You¡¯ve found a talented young man, Elder Yang. He has good bone structure,¡± he commented after observing Long Wei¡¯s physique.


    ¡°Where¡¯s your wife?¡±


    ¡°She went to the village to buy something. She should be back soon.¡±


    By midday, Long Wei and Yang Feng were treated to a feast at Lu Kwan¡¯s home. Assisted by Cang Er, Lu Kwan served roasted meat, noodle soup, sweet wine, and stuffed buns for dessert.


    Yang Feng let out a loud burp after consuming the majority of the meal, much to Long Wei¡¯s shock. He had never seen the elder eat this much before. It turned out that, during their journey, Yang Feng had been holding back to conserve food.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve eaten this well. Thank you, child.¡± Yang Feng burped again. ¡°But where is your wife? Why isn¡¯t she back yet?¡±


    Lu Kwan and Cang Er had been worried for a while, exchanging glances.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go find her, Father.¡± Cang Er stood up.


    Lu Kwan nodded in agreement.


    But just as Cang Er stepped outside, she let out a startled cry upon seeing her mother collapsed in the yard.


    Yang Feng, Lu Kwan, and Long Wei rushed outside, sharing the same shock as Cang Er.


    ¡°Mei Mei!¡± Lu Kwan ran to his wife¡¯s side, cradling her injured body. He gently placed her head on his lap. ¡°What happened?¡±


    Mei Mei panted heavily, her eyes half-open. Her words were hoarse, barely above a whisper.


    Lu Kwan massaged her neck and chest to ease her pain so she could speak more clearly. His efforts paid off.


    ¡°Officer Kai¡¯s troops¡­ they came to me¡­ He¡­.¡± Her words trailed off when she saw Yang Feng standing behind her husband. ¡°Oh¡­¡± And then she fainted.


    ¡°What? Officer Kai? What kind of trouble do you have with an imperial officer?¡± Yang Feng asked, his curiosity piqued.


    Lu Kwan didn¡¯t answer right away. He carried his wife inside, instructing Cang Er to tend to her wounds. Fortunately, they were only minor injuries and not life-threatening.


    Afterward, he rejoined Yang Feng in the main room. ¡°That officer has been pursuing my daughter for some time now. He wishes to marry her, but I¡¯ve always refused¡ªI don¡¯t want any dealings with the government. Besides, Cang Er despises him. And now he¡¯s come to Qinglan for the third time in a month. He never used to be this persistent.¡±


    Yang Feng narrowed his eyes. ¡°So he beats your wife over something so trivial?¡±


    Lu Kwan nodded. Then, suddenly, he bowed deeply. ¡°Please help my family, Elder Yang. It must be fate that you are here.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I won¡¯t let this go unpunished!¡± Yang Feng declared. ¡°Long Wei, come with me. We¡¯re going to teach that arrogant officer a lesson.¡±


    Long Wei nodded without hesitation.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go too,¡± Lu Kwan said firmly. ¡°Mei Mei is my wife, I can¡¯t sit idly by.¡±


    ¡°Good, that¡¯s the spirit of a warrior. Now, lead the way. I¡¯m going to break that officer¡¯s nose.¡±


    Unbeknownst to them, Cang Er had overheard everything from the bedroom. A sense of dread filled her heart. She quickly tended to her mother¡¯s wounds and prepared to follow them. Something about this felt ominous.

 Chapter : 6 - Battle in The Qinglan Village

    The village of Qinglan was thrown into turmoil, shocked by the sudden arrival of Officer Kai. Twenty soldiers, fully armed and mounted on mighty horses, had ridden into the village under his command.


    The uproar grew even louder when the officer wounded a woman,someone they all recognized as the wife of Lu Taihiap (Warrior Lu). Some young men tried to stand up for Mei Mei, but all they received in return were harsher blows from Officer Kai¡¯s subordinates.


    Then, yet another commotion erupted with the arrival of Yang Feng, his voice amplified by internal energy, making it several times louder.


    "Who here goes by the name of Officer Kai?"


    Roosters crowed and scattered in fear. Pigs, cows, goats, and other livestock cowered as if terror had descended upon them. Moments later, the sound of horses neighing echoed from one side of the village. Yang Feng turned toward the source and saw a group of horses tied to the trees.


    It was a modest roadside inn where Officer Kai and his men had stopped. Soon, all twenty soldiers emerged, led by the officer himself.


    "I am the one you''re looking for," Officer Kai declared, his voice also infused with internal energy, a display of his own strength.


    Yang Feng strode toward them without hesitation, his every step unwavering. Long Wei and Lu Kwan followed behind him.


    As the two groups stood face to face, the villagers watching from the sidelines immediately sensed trouble. They hurried into their homes or fled as far as possible.


    "You imperial soldiers, the ones who should be protecting the people, why are you oppressing us instead?" Yang Feng¡¯s face had turned red with rage.


    Officer Kai answered in the manner of a true officer, his head held slightly high. "Who are you referring to?"


    "The woman you cruelly tormented earlier, she is the wife of my dear friend!"


    "That woman?" Officer Kai furrowed his brows, then turned his gaze to Lu Kwan, pointing at him. "I know she is his wife."


    Yang Feng¡¯s eyes widened as he glanced between them, his shock apparent. But he quickly brushed it aside and roared, "If you knew, then why did you still do it? Do you even realize who he is? He is Lu Taihiap, a righteous warrior who has beheaded countless villains. If the world learns that his wife has been wronged, you can be certain that your body will be torn apart by the gallant warriors who come to avenge her!"


    Yet, Officer Kai showed not even the slightest hint of fear.


    "I have brought him, just as we agreed."


    Yang Feng and Long Wei turned toward Lu Kwan, their faces filled with unmasked confusion.


    "What do you mean?" Long Wei, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.


    Lu Kwan¡¯s expression hardened. "He is Yang Feng, one of the holders of the Sky Jade."


    "You bastard!" Yang Feng bellowed. "What do you mean by that, boy?"


    The sound of weapons being drawn filled the air, followed by a thunderous command.


    "Seize them!"


    Officer Kai¡¯s sword sliced through the wind, producing a sharp whistling sound.


    Yang Feng, the primary target, swiftly leaned back until his body was nearly parallel to the ground. In the same motion, he kicked Officer Kai¡¯s sword-wielding arm while propelling himself into the air.


    "Fight them, Wei Ji!" he shouted. "Fight! Stay alive!"


    Long Wei ducked just in time to avoid a cleaver aimed at his neck, rolling to evade another soldier¡¯s thrusting sword. As he sprang to his feet, he saw the two soldiers were relentless in their pursuit to gut him.


    Of course, he would not allow that. Drawing his short sword, he struck back.


    The sound of clashing steel rang through the air, echoing for several moments before one of the soldiers screamed in pain,Long Wei¡¯s blade had sliced into his neck.


    Meanwhile, Yang Feng was fending off an onslaught from four soldiers at once, their strikes aimed directly at his vital points.


    "Follow your officer¡¯s orders, you fools!" He struck one of the soldiers on the head, sending him tumbling. "He said to capture me, not to behead me,get lost!" He parried another attack with his bare hands, instantly snapping the blade in two.


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    The remaining soldiers hesitated, standing motionless as they observed the battle.


    Lu Kwan whispered something to Officer Kai, his face pale with fear, while the officer grinned in amusement.


    "Lu Kwan, what are you doing?" Yang Feng shouted as he leaped high into the air to dodge an attack. "Did they threaten you? Speak the truth!"


    Long Wei had just taken down another soldier, but the one still facing him was far more formidable. His skill was leagues above the others, leading Long Wei to suspect he was a senior soldier.


    As the enemy¡¯s sword came swinging, Long Wei spotted an opening near his right rib. He would not let this chance slip away.


    Closing the gap with a single step, he lashed out with a lightning-fast kick. Just as expected, the soldier slashed at his leg, but Long Wei smirked,his kick was merely a feint. His true attack was a powerful left-handed punch aimed straight at the soldier¡¯s ribs.


    Crack!


    "Aaaarrrgghhh!" The soldier screamed in agony.


    Long Wei seized him by the throat and forced him down to waist level before,sraaattt,severing his head clean off.


    Seeing their comrade slain, three more soldiers charged at Long Wei, who only grinned in excitement.


    "Come!" he shouted. "I¡¯ll take your heads just like his!"


    The secret conversation between Lu Kwan and Officer Kai seemed to have ended. The officer¡¯s grin widened.


    "Steel Palm Warrior Yang Feng, I suggest you surrender and hand over the Sky Jade to me. The Emperor needs it greatly."


    Yang Feng gritted his teeth. "I swear to protect it with my life. I would rather die than let that tyrant of an Emperor lay a hand on this jade."


    "You brought this upon yourself." Officer Kai was still grinning. "Kill them all." The remaining soldiers who had yet to join the fight now rushed forward.


    "Damn you. I will remember this, Lu Taihiap." Yang Feng glared at Lu Kwan, who averted his gaze. "I will remember. Wei Ji, we retreat."


    In truth, Yang Feng could have ended this fight by slaughtering them all. He was the great warrior from the east, known as Steel Palm. There was no way twenty soldiers and a single officer could trouble him.


    However, the old man did not want to take unnecessary risks. Long Wei was there, and he had to protect him. Long Wei was also the bearer of the Sky Jade. If he kept fighting, it would be difficult to protect Long Wei at the same time. That was why Yang Feng chose to retreat.


    Officer Kai had no intention of letting them escape so easily. He mounted his horse at once and blocked Yang Feng¡¯s path. The old warrior growled in anger and unleashed his lightness skill, soaring through the air like a giant bird.


    "Move aside." With a loud roar, he launched a palm strike aimed at Officer Kai¡¯s face.


    Their close proximity, combined with Officer Kai¡¯s inferiority in skill compared to Yang Feng, left him no time to react. His sword had barely swung up to defend, but the palm strike was too fast. It still managed to land on his chest.


    The officer screamed in pain and fell from his horse.


    Yet his efforts were not in vain, as Yang Feng and Long Wei found themselves surrounded once again. Just as Yang Feng decided to use his highest-level martial arts to end the battle quickly, a sharp, high-pitched cry pierced the air.


    "Cang Er..." Long Wei muttered unconsciously as the beautiful woman with long black hair slashed down two soldiers from behind.


    "Elder Yang, Brother Long, hurry."


    For a moment, Yang Feng was dumbfounded, feeling a slight suspicion that the girl was aiding her treacherous father. But when he saw Long Wei already dashing forward, he had no choice but to follow.


    "Get out of the village quickly. I will hold these soldiers back," Cang Er said without looking at them.


    "Don¡¯t be foolish, girl. Do you really think you can face all of them?"


    From the side of his face, Long Wei could see Cang Er give a faint smile. "This is my redemption for my father¡¯s betrayal." She then looked sorrowfully at her father, who was watching from a distance with wide eyes. "He owes me an explanation. Now go." Cang Er spun her sword as the soldiers charged at her ferociously.


    Yang Feng and Long Wei exchanged glances. "The Sky Jade is worth more than anything," Yang Feng said. "Go. I will help Cang Er."


    "But,"


    "Go quickly. I can handle them."


    After a brief hesitation, Long Wei had no choice but to leave. He was the bearer of the Sky Jade. He understood that, and he had to protect it.


    "I will return," he said briefly before heading toward Qinglan Village¡¯s gate.


    Yang Feng could finally breathe easier, seeing the young man obey him. He then turned back to face the oncoming soldiers and assist Cang Er.


    "Don¡¯t be reckless, Er Ji." Lu Kwan leaped high, his lightness skill truly remarkable.


    He swung his cleaver to block the soldiers pressing against his daughter, sparks flying upon impact.


    Cang Er stepped back cautiously, meeting her father¡¯s gaze without fear. "Why did you betray them?"


    "We cannot fight the empire. Our family was threatened. You know that."


    "Is that the stance of Lu Taihiap?" Cang Er roared in fury. "Then what? A great warrior should fear death?"


    "Cang Er." Lu Kwan snapped angrily. "Listen to your father. Do not attack."


    "I am following your teachings." Cang Er bit her lip, holding back a tear that threatened to fall. "For the sake of justice, I do not fear death. That is the true nature of a warrior." She then turned and attacked her father.


    Lu Kwan felt a deep sadness as he faced his only daughter¡¯s assault. "You don¡¯t understand right from wrong," he muttered. "I did this for you and your mother." He swung his cleaver with such force that it made Cang Er¡¯s hands tremble.


    Yang Feng, who had been busy fending off the soldiers, saw this and quickly dashed forward, placing himself between Lu Kwan and his daughter.


    "Your fight is with me," he said coldly, eyes locked onto Lu Kwan. "Cang Er, take care of the rest. Most of them are already wounded. They won¡¯t be too difficult for you."


    Though slightly worried, as he could tell Cang Er¡¯s skills were not yet fully honed, there was no other choice.


    The blade of a cleaver nearly reached Yang Feng¡¯s back, but its wielder immediately perished from Cang Er¡¯s thrusting strike. The girl then charged forward, determined to cut down the remaining soldiers.


    "You are injured. I have known from the start," Lu Kwan said, unsurprised.


    "Your strength has weakened tremendously. You won¡¯t be able to fight me now."


    "This is not about winning or losing." Yang Feng took his stance. "This is about betrayal and the honor of a warrior."


    Lu Kwan looked somber. "You must forgive me." He readied his weapon. "I will kill you, Elder Yang."

 Chapter : 7 - Sad Ending

    The village gate was already in sight, just a few steps away. However, a sudden thought struck Long Wei, furrowing his brows. He just realized that during the battle earlier, officer Kai was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is he?" The young man halted in front of a house, causing its occupants to become even more frightened and quickly hide.


    His eyes scanned every direction, searching for officer Kai in case the man had secretly followed him. Long Wei drew his short sword and assumed a combat stance.


    Another sudden realization hit him shortly after. "Could it be..." Without hesitation, Long Wei sprinted toward Lu Kwan''s house.


    ***


    With his massive broadsword, Lu Kwan slashed at Yang Feng''s head with all his might. That weapon was not to be taken lightly, as it was the very sword that had earned him the title of the renowned warrior, Lu Taihiap.


    Yang Feng cursed inwardly at having to fight his own friend. He was already severely wounded, which was understandable,his battle against Sea Ghost and the White Ascetic a few days ago had been no trivial matter. It was a miracle he was still alive.


    "Lu Kwan, are you sure you want to fight me?" Yang Feng blocked the incoming strike, creating a loud metallic clang. "Do you really think that just because I¡¯m injured, I will lose to you?"


    "Save your breath," Lu Kwan replied. "You should be thinking about how little time you have left."


    Yang Feng knew that Lu Kwan was doing this against his will. He had known Lu Kwan for a long time, and Lu Taihiap was not the type to betray easily. There had to be a strong reason behind all this.


    However, that did not quell Yang Feng''s fury. He never expected Lu Kwan to act like a coward by selling out his own friend. He began to suspect that officer Kai¡¯s proposal to marry Cang Er was nothing but a lie.


    Yang Feng decided not to hold back. Although he did not intend to kill Lu Kwan, he unleashed one of his most formidable techniques,Thunderstorm Shattering the Clouds.


    A sharp, ringing sound echoed repeatedly as his palms struck Lu Kwan¡¯s broadsword, forcing him to retreat. Lu Kwan was utterly shocked to see Yang Feng immediately resort to such a powerful technique.


    "You leave me no choice! Surrender!" Yang Feng shouted, still trying to be merciful.


    His movements grew faster, his palm strikes targeting vital points,neck, heart, stomach, and solar plexus. Those were all key targets of the Thunderstorm Shattering the Clouds technique.


    Combined with Yang Feng¡¯s overwhelming internal energy, Lu Kwan¡¯s arms trembled every time he tried to parry.


    Lu Kwan¡¯s broadsword technique, Falling Star, was no match for the relentless waves of the Thunderstorm Shattering the Clouds. The heat and electric-like shock that accompanied each strike made it even worse. As the battle progressed, Yang Feng gradually gained the upper hand. Lu Kwan was gasping for breath, his body now covered in wounds.


    "Are you still unwilling to surrender?" Though exhausted, Yang Feng launched a kick. Lu Kwan dodged. "Lu Kwan!"


    "You are injured. You won¡¯t be able to save Cang Er and Mei Mei," Lu Kwan stubbornly insisted.


    Suddenly, Yang Feng¡¯s left palm struck Lu Kwan¡¯s chest with great force. The impact sent him stumbling back five steps, coughing up fresh blood. Fortunately, Yang Feng halted his assault.


    "That would have killed you if you don¡¯t treat it immediately," Yang Feng said, panting but only lightly wounded.


    Meanwhile, Cang Er had managed to subdue the remaining soldiers. Though she couldn¡¯t kill them all, she had rendered them incapable of fighting any further.


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    Yang Feng actually felt pity for Lu Kwan, who now lay groaning in pain. He wanted to help his old friend, but then a woman¡¯s scream pierced the air.


    "Aaakkhhh!"


    "Drop your weapons!" officer Kai shouted, pressing his broadsword against Mei Mei¡¯s neck. "Hand over the Sky Jade!" He glared at Yang Feng.


    The elder clenched his fists, blood boiling with rage. His sharp, piercing gaze was enough to make officer Kai and even Lu Kwan tremble. But officer Kai still had Mei Mei as a hostage, allowing him to maintain his smug grin.


    "Hurry up and hand it over, or she dies."


    Lu Kwan looked at Yang Feng, pleading, while Yang Feng returned the gaze with deep sympathy.


    He took a long breath before speaking. "I no longer have it."


    Lu Kwan¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He immediately shouted, "Liar!"


    Yang Feng avoided his gaze.


    "Liar! You have it! You are the bearer of the Sky Jade in bracelet form! Give it to him,at least do it for Mei Mei!" Lu Kwan¡¯s voice was hoarse with sorrow.


    Cang Er stood frozen in place, unable to move, staring at her mother with wide, teary eyes.


    Yang Feng then looked at Mei Mei, her face deathly pale. The woman seemed frail and pitiful. Anyone witnessing this scene would feel sympathy. However, Yang Feng was taken aback by the unwavering determination in her eyes.


    Then, Mei Mei suddenly shouted, shocking everyone. "As a great warrior, do not disgrace yourself by surrendering such a sacred artifact! Elder Yang, I will die to prevent you from being burdened. Kill this emperor¡¯s dog!"


    Before anyone could react, Mei Mei pressed her own neck against officer Kai¡¯s blade. Blood gushed, staining the ground beneath her feet. A choked, heart-wrenching sound escaped as her body went limp.


    "Mei¡­ Mei¡­" Lu Kwan stared in disbelief.


    Cang Er covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.


    "Useless wench!" Officer Kai spat as he tossed Mei Mei¡¯s lifeless body aside. A moment later, he realized he no longer had any leverage.


    "Die!"


    Officer Kai flinched at the furious cry. He turned to see a young man charging at him, wielding a short sword.


    "Uaahhh!" Officer Kai clumsily blocked. "You little demon, you are the one who will die!"


    Long Wei slashed at officer Kai¡¯s throat in blind fury. He was enraged at himself for not running as fast as Yang Feng, which caused him to arrive too late at Lu Kwan¡¯s empty house. That delay also cost him the chance to save Mei Mei.


    Fueled by seething rage, Long Wei¡¯s attacks became completely unpredictable. Though officer Kai was skilled, Long Wei¡¯s fighting style was entirely different.


    The young man had grown up among ruthless brigands who fought with brutal efficiency. His father¡¯s martial arts technique also disregarded aesthetics, focusing solely on killing. Because of that, every one of Long Wei¡¯s sword strikes aimed only at vital points,either the heart, the neck, or the face.


    Amid their increasingly fierce battle, Lu Kwan, kneeling and leaning against his broadsword, sobbed uncontrollably. Cang Er was the same, covering her face with both hands as she wept. The wounds from the earlier fight were nothing compared to the unbearable pain of witnessing her mother''s tragic death.


    "You despicable coward! Long Wei, I''m coming to help!" Yang Feng prepared to launch himself forward again.


    But suddenly, Lu Kwan¡¯s cries stopped. His eyes widened as he forced himself to his feet, then charged straight at Yang Feng. "You killed my wife!" he roared.


    Yang Feng was startled to see Lu Kwan executing a move from the Star Breaker technique. It was an advanced variation of the Falling Star blade art, but unlike its predecessor, Star Breaker was a reckless, suicidal technique that focused solely on attacking with no regard for defense.


    Having lost all hope after his wife''s death, Lu Kwan seemed to no longer care about the future. He charged at Yang Feng with every last ounce of strength, putting everything he had into his final strike.


    Yang Feng clenched his teeth. He had no choice. Blocking the attack would only worsen his injuries. The only option left was to counter. "May the gods forgive you," he whispered before stepping forward to meet Lu Kwan¡¯s attack.


    A massive surge of internal energy crashed into Lu Kwan¡¯s broadsword, shattering the blade into several pieces. His body was sent flying several meters, blood spurting from his mouth. When he finally hit the ground, he remained still.


    "Ugh..." Yang Feng collapsed to one knee, the impact from their clash having inflicted further damage on his already battered body.


    Cang Er let out a terrified scream as she rushed to her father''s lifeless body. Her cries echoed through the battlefield, even louder than before.


    "Now, only you remain." Long Wei continued his relentless assault on officer Kai. "Your men can no longer stand. Now let me send you to hell!"


    Long Wei¡¯s sword sliced across officer Kai¡¯s cheek, and his foot slammed into the back of the officer¡¯s knee, forcing him to kneel.


    Seizing the opportunity, Long Wei swiftly swung his sword, aiming for officer Kai¡¯s forehead. But at the last moment, a sharp pain tore through his side,Kai had managed to slash his stomach.


    Ignoring his own injury, Long Wei let his blade pierce through Kai¡¯s skull, pinning him to the ground. Only then did he stumble back, clutching his bleeding wound. Fortunately, the cut wasn¡¯t too deep.


    As his fury subsided, watching officer Kai convulse in his final moments, Long Wei suddenly noticed Cang Er standing before Yang Feng. The old warrior was seated in meditation, trying to recover.


    Long Wei''s heart nearly stopped,Cang Er had raised her sword high above her head.


    "Cang Er, stop!"

 Chapter : 8 - Cang Ers Decision

    Despite his severe injuries, Yang Feng was still a great warrior known as Iron Palm. His heightened awareness allowed him to sense Cang Er¡¯s sword strike clearly.


    The blade stopped mid-air, trembling as Yang Feng caught it between two fingers. Cang Er gasped in shock and tried to pull her sword back, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.


    Yang Feng only smiled gently, showing no sign of anger. "Forgive me, child¡­ This is my fault for failing to protect you."


    Cang Er froze for a moment before falling to her knees, burying her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook violently as she sobbed, her cries filled with unbearable grief. The sound pierced Yang Feng¡¯s heart.


    Long Wei let out a relieved sigh upon seeing Yang Feng unharmed and walked toward them.


    "Are you alright, Elder?" he asked.


    Yang Feng shook his head. "My internal injuries have worsened. This is not good. We need to stop by the house of the Mystic Devil for help."


    "The Mystic Devil?" Long Wei frowned.


    Back when he was still a pirate, he had heard the name a few times. People said he was an eccentric, half-mad man whose actions were unpredictable. But everyone agreed on one thing,the Mystic Devil possessed extraordinary martial prowess.


    "I heard he isn¡¯t sane," Long Wei said hesitantly. "Isn''t he one of the great figures of the eastern lands?"


    Yang Feng simply nodded before turning his gaze back to Cang Er, who was still sobbing uncontrollably. The old warrior pulled her into a firm embrace.


    "You have suffered so much." Yang Feng¡¯s voice trembled with emotion. "I must apologize, even though I know you may never forgive me. Come with me, child. If you still hold anger toward me, you may take my life once I have passed down all my knowledge to Long Wei."


    Long Wei was stunned.


    Cang Er slowly lifted her tear-streaked face and looked at Yang Feng. "We should take care of my parents first."


    The groans of wounded soldiers caught Long Wei¡¯s attention. He clicked his tongue before barking at them, "Tend to your comrades and get out of here!"


    Only about six of them were still alive, all gravely injured. Yet none dared to disobey Long Wei, no matter how much they wanted to. With heavy hearts, the remaining soldiers carried their fallen comrades, each man hauling three corpses. They secured the bodies onto the backs of the horses still tethered nearby, then left the village without a word.


    "Let¡¯s go," Yang Feng said, lifting Lu Kwan¡¯s lifeless body while Long Wei carried Mei Mei.


    "I want them buried in the backyard," Cang Er suddenly said, surprising them both.


    "Are you sure?"


    She nodded. "I¡¯ll give the goats to the village chief. As for my father¡¯s horse, I will take it and set out on my own journey."


    Without another word, they returned to the late Lu Kwan¡¯s home. A solemn silence accompanied them all the way to the front yard. They made their way to the back, preparing for the burial.


    As Yang Feng and Long Wei dug deep into the earth, Cang Er continued to weep. She carefully wiped away the dirt and blood from Lu Kwan and Mei Mei¡¯s bodies using a cloth, then straightened their clothing.


    Once the burial was complete, Long Wei placed a large stone over the graves, and Yang Feng carved words onto its surface using his internal energy:


    "Here lies Lu Taihiap and his wife."


    "Rest in peace. I will atone for my sins by putting an end to this injustice," Yang Feng murmured, pressing his palms together.


    The world seemed colorless in Cang Er¡¯s eyes. Just a few weeks ago, her father had bought her a new red robe adorned with lotus patterns as a gift for her fifteenth birthday.


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    But now, her parents had gone to a place she could never reach while still alive. Only now did she realize,that red lotus robe had been her father¡¯s final gift.


    "I can¡¯t believe Lu Kwan betrayed me. Do you know anything, child?" Yang Feng asked.


    Cang Er wiped her tears and stood up. "Let¡¯s talk inside."


    Once they were seated in the front room, Cang Er finally answered. "Officer Kai came to us and threatened to do something terrible. In this household, only my father knew martial arts. I was still training and nowhere near his level, and my mother had no interest in learning martial arts at all. That made us easy targets for officer Kai."


    Yang Feng narrowed his eyes as he began to piece everything together.


    Before he could speak, Long Wei cut in. "Was it about the Sky Jade?"


    "Yes." Cang Er nodded. "Somehow, officer Kai found out that my father was close to the Iron Palm Warrior and forced him to demand the Sky Jade from you. My father had no interest in that jade, especially since it was brought by his own friend, but officer Kai continued to threaten and pressure him. This happened about two weeks ago."


    Long Wei¡¯s eyes were filled with suspicion. "Then why did you seem so happy when we arrived?"


    "I thought my father would ask Elder Yang for help. Of course, I believed Elder Yang could crush that bastard officer. But things didn¡¯t turn out that way." Cang Er¡¯s voice broke as she started sobbing again. "I never expected this. That¡¯s why I was so shocked when my father lied and said officer Kai wanted to marry me."


    "You nearly killed Elder Yang," Long Wei said sharply.


    "I was just overwhelmed. I never imagined things would end like this, and I made a foolish decision!" Cang Er snapped back. "I watched my parents die before my eyes. And my father was killed by the man I saw as my grandfather. Do you have any idea how that feels?"


    Long Wei¡¯s mind suddenly drifted back to that fateful night, to the memory of his father¡¯s lifeless body drifting down the Bai He River. A flame of rage ignited in his chest as he rose to his feet. He felt mocked by the girl in front of him.


    "Your father was a coward and,"


    "Long Wei!" Yang Feng¡¯s voice boomed. "Sit down!"


    Long Wei obeyed, clenching his fists in silence. The girl sobbed once more.


    Yang Feng sighed deeply. "I was already injured when I arrived, and your father saw that. Maybe he intended to ask for my help at first, but he changed his mind after seeing my condition."


    "He underestimated you," Long Wei said bitterly.


    "I know, child." Yang Feng shook his head. "He truly did. He thought I was too weak to help, so instead of selling out his wife and daughter, he chose to sell me instead. He must have known that even if he asked, I would never hand over the Sky Jade."


    "Please forgive my father." Cang Er dropped to her knees, bowing at Yang Feng¡¯s feet. "I know he was a coward and a traitor, but as his daughter, I beg for your mercy."


    The old man smiled gently, his expression filled with patience. "I have already forgiven him, even without you asking, child. Now, stand up."


    Cang Er rose and returned to her seat.


    "Long Wei and I will be visiting the Mystic Fiend soon. He may be the only one capable of treating this wound. Are you certain you don¡¯t want to come with us?"


    Yang Feng truly hoped Cang Er would join them and become Long Wei¡¯s martial sibling. He also wished to pass on his knowledge to her as a way to atone for what had happened to Lu Kwan. Even though it was he who had been betrayed, he couldn¡¯t help but blame himself. If only he had arrived in good health, none of this would have happened.


    But Cang Er shook her head firmly. "I¡¯m sorry, Elder, but I must refuse."


    "But why?"


    She simply shook her head again, offering no explanation.


    "So, you¡¯ve chosen to become a wanderer?" Yang Feng asked. "The world is full of dangers, child."


    "I know, and that is precisely why I must learn martial arts to protect myself." Her gaze was unwavering, leaving Yang Feng no choice but to give up persuading her any further.


    The old man finally took a deep breath. "Very well, if that is your decision. Just remember this,beware of those who wear the mask of kindness. Wolves often hide in sheep¡¯s clothing. You understand what I mean."


    Cang Er nodded, taking his advice to heart.


    Deep inside, Yang Feng was truly impressed by her courage. She had chosen the path of a wanderer despite being no older than fifteen. She was still just a child.


    "I wish you the best," he said before bidding his farewell and leaving.


    ***


    The next morning, Cang Er departed from Qinglan Village on Lu Kwan¡¯s horse. She took one last look at the place she had called home for so long.


    She had truly wished to stay here forever, but life had its own way of unfolding, and its rules did not always align with human desires.


    "I¡¯m leaving now, Father, Mother," she whispered before urging her horse forward.


    She had a duty to fulfill,her father¡¯s final wish. He had wanted her to join one of the most powerful sects in the eastern region, a group feared and respected for their remarkable deeds. They were known for helping the weak and eradicating the wicked.


    The name of that sect was White Raven. It was located west of Qinglin Village, separated by two towering mountains. Becoming a disciple of White Raven had been her father¡¯s lifelong dream, one he had never achieved. And so, he had entrusted that dream to her.


    She still remembered the way he had spoken about the sect, his voice filled with passion.


    Er Ji, one day, you must become a disciple of White Raven. They are a noble sect that upholds justice and vanquishes evil. Their leader is a great warrior, the most renowned fighter in the east. He is known as the White Ascetic.


    Cang Er clutched her chest and made a silent vow.


    She would become a disciple of the White Ascetic.

 Chapter : 9 - Disciple

    Yang Feng did not immediately teach Long Wei anything because he wanted to test the young man''s loyalty and obedience. Though not much time had passed, Long Wei had already proven himself willing to risk his life by facing the assault of officer Kai¡¯s soldiers.


    On the other hand, that very conflict had also forced Yang Feng to begin teaching him sooner than planned. This was why their journey to meet the Mystic Devil took longer than expected,they had to make frequent stops along the way so Yang Feng could instruct Long Wei.


    "From what I can see, you are not using your inner energy," Yang Feng commented on a misty morning during the second day of their journey. "You are not channeling your inner energy," he repeated.


    Long Wei frowned. He had just struck Yang Feng¡¯s palm as instructed. "But that¡¯s how my father taught me."


    Yang Feng shook his head. "That is not inner energy, only external force. You can generate powerful strikes by using basic breathing techniques to harden your muscles."


    "So?"


    "Have you ever practiced meditation?"


    Long Wei shook his head.


    A pleased look crossed Yang Feng¡¯s face. "Good. That means your body is still untainted, which will make it much easier for you to meditate under my guidance. Now, sit on that rock. I will teach you."


    They sat down on a flat stone surface.


    Their resting place was a large cave, which had likely once been a lair for wild beasts. Yang Feng had chosen it as a suitable spot for Long Wei¡¯s training.


    "Feel the air around you. Take a deep breath and hold it for eight counts, then release it over seven counts. You will slowly feel your soul being drawn into emptiness. When you sense a silence so deep it feels endless, that means you have entered true meditation."


    "What if an enemy attacks me while I¡¯m still meditating?"


    "A good question," Yang Feng said with a smile. "Once you are experienced in meditation and have developed a high level of skill, your inner energy will naturally flow through your entire nervous system, allowing you to sense anyone or anything approaching. This will instinctively awaken you in an instant. But for now, do not concern yourself with that. Just focus on your meditation,I will keep watch."


    Long Wei nodded in understanding. He immediately sat cross-legged, keeping his back straight and placing both hands on his thighs.


    He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A cool stream of air filled his chest before spreading evenly throughout his body. After a few moments, he exhaled.


    Yang Feng could not help but smile as he watched Long Wei take his training so seriously. Perhaps the young man was not yet ready to call him master, but Yang Feng could see that there was still hope for him.


    Leave the past behind and become a great warrior, he thought to himself.


    Suddenly, a sharp pain flared in his chest,the lingering wounds inflicted by Iron Palm and Lu Kwan¡¯s final attack. The old man gave a bitter smile. My time is running out. Not even the Mystic Devil will be able to save me.


    Long Wei continued practicing his meditation in the cave for a full week. He only paused to eat or when exhaustion became unbearable. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he was still unable to reach the deep silence Yang Feng had described. It frustrated him to no end.


    On the eighth day, heavy rain had been falling since morning. Long Wei watched as Yang Feng practiced martial arts movements inside the cave. He furrowed his brows.


    "Why don¡¯t you teach me martial techniques first?" he asked.


    Yang Feng was surprised to hear Long Wei¡¯s voice. Since his back had been turned, he had not realized the young man had stopped meditating.


    "Why did you stop your meditation?" Yang Feng asked instead.


    Long Wei scowled. "It¡¯s too difficult to reach the silence you mentioned."


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    "Hahaha, of course it is. When I first started, I was no different from you."


    "What about the Mystic Devil? Aren¡¯t you injured?" Long Wei suddenly recalled the purpose of their journey. "We¡¯re wasting too much time here. We could be doing this while traveling."


    Yang Feng chuckled and shook his head before gesturing outside the cave. He spoke calmly. "Do you not see the heavy rain?"


    Long Wei, however, argued back. "We can push through it."


    "We can, but wouldn¡¯t it be better to take shelter here and continue your training? My injuries are not that serious,don¡¯t think I¡¯ll suddenly drop dead because of them."


    Long Wei had a feeling Yang Feng was hiding something, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He knew how severe the old man¡¯s wounds were. After all, they had been inflicted by two of the most powerful fighters on the continent,Iron Palm and the White Ascetic. Combined with the injury from Lu Taihiap, any other man would have perished long ago.


    "How about we continue our journey once the rain lets up?" Long Wei tried to persuade him. "Perhaps the Mystic Devil can give me some guidance on how to quickly enter deep meditation."


    Yang Feng shrugged. "Very well, if you insist. But don¡¯t expect too much from that old man. I¡¯m not even sure he¡¯ll be home when we arrive. He loves wandering the world. You¡¯re better off continuing your meditation."


    Feeling dissatisfied, Long Wei closed his eyes once more and resumed his breathing exercises. However, this time, it was much harder to concentrate.


    ***


    "He is scaring us."


    "Has he come by multiple times?"


    The woman nodded quickly. "For three days and three nights, he kept knocking on our door, trying to force his way in. If my son hadn¡¯t hit him with a bamboo stick every time he came, things might have turned out worse."


    The old man speaking to her furrowed his brows. His wrinkled skin, white hair, and long, equally white beard showed his age. Yet, his sharp, commanding gaze remained crystal clear, like that of a newborn. Eyes like those signified only one thing,great mastery.


    "Where does he appear?" Another man asked. He was a young man dressed in all white, just like the old man, for he was his disciple. "I''ll go take a look."


    "After leaving our house while ranting to himself, he always heads toward the forest over there," the woman pointed. "Please, sir, we live here alone, far from neighbors and villages. Warriors rarely pass through this area to help us."


    The old man patted her shoulder. "Do not worry. Go inside and tend to your husband. My disciple and I will handle that madman."


    The woman nodded and did as she was told. Once the door was shut, the old man turned to his disciple.


    "Liang Kun, this will be your first real training. You will deal with this troublemaker while I observe."


    "Understood, Master," Liang Kun replied.


    They made their way into the forest the woman had pointed to. Along the path, there were scattered houses, spaced quite far apart. It wasn¡¯t exactly a village,whatever it was, both the old man and Liang Kun could imagine how difficult it would be for these people to get help in times like this.


    The forest had tall, widely spaced trees. This was an advantage, as the "troublemaker" wouldn¡¯t have many places to hide,or so they thought.


    "Master, I hear something over there."


    "I hear it too." The old man immediately changed his direction, turning right.


    The sound of rocks being struck against each other grew louder as they walked. Then, at a slightly downward-sloping turn, they finally saw someone pounding stones together.


    "Fool! Won¡¯t even let himself be helped!" the man muttered angrily.


    Liang Kun and his master approached carefully. The young man flinched when the figure suddenly turned around with an oddly quick movement.


    "Oh, visitors!" The man grinned widely. "Good morning."


    The old man frowned. "Are you the one who has been harassing the family in one of the houses nearby?"


    The man, an elderly figure in his sixties with a small frame, messy hair, and cross-eyed gaze, responded, "Harassing? No, I never bother anyone."


    "Don¡¯t lie. The description matches you perfectly. Ragged clothes, knee-length trousers, disheveled hair, and a frightening face," Liang Kun snapped.


    The strange old man looked utterly shocked at Liang Kun¡¯s words. He even stood up, revealing that his hunched back made him only shoulder-height to Liang Kun. "Who told you such nonsense?"


    "A woman whose house you¡¯ve been visiting for the past three days!"


    "Oh!" The old man suddenly seemed to remember something. "There is a sick man in that house. I know her husband was bitten by a venomous snake in this forest, so I was trying to help him."


    "Lies!"


    "See for yourself, boy!" The old man was starting to get angry. "What do you know? Looking at your face, you¡¯ve probably never even been in a real fight where someone forces you to draw your sword. Am I wrong?"


    Liang Kun grew even more furious at the man¡¯s sharp words. His youthful temper flared, and without thinking, he unsheathed his sword. "Mad troublemaker, get lost!" he shouted.


    Liang Kun swung his sword toward the old man¡¯s waist. His master did nothing to stop him.


    However, to their shock, the old man simply flicked the tip of Liang Kun¡¯s sword, sending the young man¡¯s hand flying backward.


    "Well, well, a little brat trying to play hero? Don¡¯t bother me,I¡¯m making medicine!" The old man turned his back on them and resumed his task, grinding medicinal ingredients on a rock.


    Liang Kun was about to charge again, but his master held him back. The elderly man in white frowned deeply, feeling as though he recognized this strange figure.


    An old madman who only cared about healing others. Could it be...?


    He quickly asked to confirm. "Are you the one they call the Mystic Devil? From your hunched back and crazed behavior, it seems likely."


    "Heheheh..." A chilling chuckle escaped from the hunched old man. "White Ascetic, I¡¯m surprised your eyes have gone blind if you can''t recognize me."


    The White Ascetic''s eyes widened in shock,just like Liang Kun''s.

 Chapter : 10 - Rescuer

    The real name of the elder known as the White Ascetic was Cao Yin. Only a handful of people knew his true name, most of them being prominent figures in the martial world, one of whom was the Mystic Devil.


    On the other hand, Cao Yin did not know the real name of the Mystic Devil because the man was truly peculiar. He claimed to have forgotten his own name and always introduced himself as the Mystic Devil. Because of that, no one knew when his real name was last heard in the world.


    "Stop acting like a hero, Cao Yin," the Mystic Devil snapped as he continued pounding. "Do you think you can cure that woman''s husband if you kill me?"


    Cao Yin hurriedly clasped his hands together and bowed in respect. Laughing, he said, "Hahaha, what a small world. The man I thought was a mere rogue turns out to be the greatest medicine deity in the world. How have you been, Mystic Devil? And why are you here?"


    "If I were unwell, I wouldn''t be here. The reason I''m here is because I''m perfectly fine. Now shut up and stop talking!"


    Liang Kun, who had been watching their conversation, could only stand in stunned silence, his shoulders slack. Never had it crossed his mind that the man who deflected a sword with a flick of his finger was yet another great figure in the martial world. Reality had taught Liang Kun that all this time, he had been like a frog in a well.


    He glanced at his master, who was also looking at him sharply. Liang Kun hurriedly sheathed his sword and bowed deeply. "I, the ignorant Liang Kun, apologize for my disrespect."


    "Silence!" The Mystic Devil hurled a stone at Liang Kun''s head. Fortunately, the young man was quick enough to deflect it. "I''m not here to play around. A life is at stake!" The Mystic Devil grabbed another stone and pounded even harder and faster.


    Cao Yin approached his disciple and whispered, "Don''t take it to heart. He might be the strangest person you''ll ever meet in your life."


    "Done!" The Mystic Devil jumped to his feet. "If I''m not let in this time, I''ll tear down that house wall." And with that, the old man sprinted toward the house where the frightened woman had been earlier.


    Liang Kun stood frozen again, eyes wide in amazement at the old man''s incredible lightness skill. His movements were agile and astonishingly light. Due to his hunched back, from a distance, he even looked like a giant frog leaping. However, Cao Yin quickly followed in his wake, knowing another commotion was about to erupt in that house.


    Sure enough, when the two arrived, a loud uproar could be heard from afar. By the time Cao Yin and Liang Kun reached the house, the door was already open.


    "Get out! Get out, you devil!" A woman''s voice shrieked hysterically.


    There were also male voices, along with the sounds of blows landing relentlessly.


    Cao Yin grew concerned. He knew exactly who was being beaten. He took a long stride into the house and shouted, "Stop!"


    The young man who had been thrashing the Mystic Devil with a large bamboo stick immediately froze, while the woman in the corner gasped in shock. "Master warrior, please help us."


    However, Cao Yin only smiled gently. "Madam, you can rest assured now. With this man''s help, your husband will definitely recover completely."


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    The woman widened her eyes in disbelief. "How do you know that?"


    "Do you think I''m blind?" the Mystic Devil barked, glaring. His neck was already red from being struck repeatedly by the bamboo, but he showed no sign of pain. "Do you think I''m a thief here to steal that worthless shiny junk around your neck?" He pointed at the golden necklace adorning the woman''s throat. "Do I look like a robber to you? How insulting!"


    "Hey, old man, stay away from my mother!" The bamboo swung again.


    Liang Kun swiftly intercepted the strike. "Calm down and trust us," he said.


    The young man looked at his mother, while the woman looked at Cao Yin with a furrowed brow.


    Cao Yin nodded. "Trust us."


    After a brief silence, the woman finally stepped aside. "My husband is inside."


    The Mystic Devil strode in as if it were his own home. The sound of a door being flung open was followed by a startled scream from inside the room. Cao Yin and Liang Kun hurriedly followed, along with the household members.


    What they witnessed was astonishing. They had expected to see some miraculous healing technique from the Mystic Devil, but what they saw instead looked more like abuse.


    The old man forcefully shoved the pounded medicinal ingredients into the ailing man''s mouth. The woman screamed in horror, but Liang Kun held her back. Meanwhile, Cao Yin was busy restraining their son, who once again lifted the large bamboo stick.


    "Now, time to heal!" The Mystic Devil rubbed the remaining crushed ingredients,those that hadn''t been forced into the poor man''s mouth,onto the snakebite wound. The man convulsed in pain, his eyes bulging, but the only sound he made was a gurgling noise as the crushed medicine was still stuck in his throat.


    "Done." Suddenly, the Mystic Devil leaped out of the window and vanished. His laughter echoed ominously in the distance.


    It seemed the man had passed out from the unbearable pain. His wife rushed to his bedside, weeping uncontrollably. Liang Kun was still unsure about the situation and turned to his master.


    "Master, is this..."


    "Never doubt the Mystic Devil''s abilities," Cao Yin replied with a broad smile. "I assure you, before sunset, this man will be up and jumping again."


    Liang Kun remained silent.


    Time seemed to pass quickly, and before they knew it, dusk had arrived. Cao Yin and Liang Kun deliberately stayed to make sure everything was alright.


    Cao Yin''s prediction was spot on. The two of them, waiting outside, heard the woman''s cries grow louder, but then the son emerged with a beaming face.


    "Father is awake," he said excitedly. "He even stood up and jumped right away, even though his leg was nearly paralyzed yesterday."


    Liang Kun''s eyes widened in disbelief, while Cao Yin burst into laughter.


    "Hahaha, told you so. Never underestimate that man''s abilities."


    The young man bowed deeply, full of respect and gratitude. "My family and I are deeply grateful to both of you. This is an immense kindness."


    Hurried footsteps came from inside the house. The woman, her face still wet with tears, immediately prostrated before Cao Yin.


    "Thank you... thank you, and please convey my apologies to that great medicine master."


    "Hahaha, no need to be so formal. That man might get angry if you thank him too much. I''m not joking." The woman immediately stood up.


    Her husband arrived shortly after, relief evident on his face. "Thank you for coming. I don''t know whether it''s a blessing or a disaster that your friend treated me. Regardless, thank you."


    Cao Yin nodded slightly. "It''s time for us to leave now."


    The family was somewhat reluctant, but Cao Yin insisted, and they could not stop him. As a token of gratitude, they were given some food supplies, not much, but greatly appreciated by both Cao Yin and Liang Kun.


    They continued their journey late into the night and rested in an open field deep in the forest. The place was quite far from the previous house. Just before dawn the next day, Liang Kun was startled by the sound of battle in the distance.


    "Master!"


    "I hear it." The old man quickly packed up their belongings. "Let''s go see."


    With their considerable lightness skills, they swiftly maneuvered through the dense foliage, heading toward the commotion. Upon arrival, they saw a wrecked carriage being defended by a young woman in a red robe adorned with lotus patterns. She stood against seven fierce-looking men.


    "You two, find a safe place!" the young woman said, grimacing as she endured the pain from a wounded shoulder. "I''ll hold them off."


    "But what about you? They''re incredibly strong," said a man, appearing around twenty-five years old, his expression filled with worry.


    "I''m not afraid to die if it means protecting others!" the young woman shouted, launching an attack at her assailants.

 Chapter : 11 - Meet Mystic Devil

    According to Xi Yan, the man she had helped, the people currently surrounding them were disciples of the Blood Serpent Sect. A white, horned serpent emblem was visible on their backs. At first, Cang Er had no idea what it meant until she was told.


    Their five-year-old daughter cried loudly at the chaos, but Xi Yan quickly pulled his wife and child to hide. Now, only Cang Er stood bravely against the seven rough-looking men from the Blood Serpent Sect.


    "You''re asking for death, girl," said a tall, bald man. He wielded a long chain weapon with a spiked iron ball at the end, looking incredibly heavy. "We only came for that Xi fellow. Why are you interfering?"


    "Do you think I''ll just stand by and let evil unfold right in front of me? Keep dreaming!" Cang Er snapped. "Now, I am your opponent."


    The bald man''s eye twitched. "If you insist." He then gestured with his hand, signaling his men to attack.


    They showed no regard for martial ethics whatsoever. Against a mere young girl like Cang Er, the Blood Serpent disciples had no qualms about ganging up. Six men, armed with swords and sabers, quickly surrounded her.


    Cang Er dodged a thrust, only to face a saber swing that nearly grazed her chest. She struck back to her right at the swordsman, but a blunt strike from another saber landed on her leg.


    She gasped as her body was suddenly lifted and slammed onto the ground.


    "Kill her!" someone shouted.


    Cang Er''s eyes widened as she saw the glinting weapons poised to pierce her stomach. She rolled in a random direction, parrying as best she could. By the time she got back on her feet, blood had already stained her leg and left arm.


    "Bastards," she muttered as the six men charged again.


    Summoning all her strength, she unleashed her father''s martial art, Falling Star. This formidable technique was anything but weak; in the right hands, it could be terrifyingly powerful.


    However, Cang Er was no Lu Kwan, the master of Falling Star. She had yet to grasp even a quarter of its full potential due to its immense difficulty. Furthermore, her internal energy control was not strong enough to defeat six Blood Serpent disciples at once.


    While her movements became more refined, they lacked substance. For the first three moves, her opponents were caught off guard, but soon, they began to see the openings in her attacks and exploited them.


    As Cang Er slashed, she left a wide opening from her armpit to her right waist. One man blocked her blade while another thrust at her ribs from the right.


    "Aahhh!" she screamed in terror, leaping backward. Had she been just a fraction slower, her chest would have been skewered from the side.


    She had to block again as a saber came at her from behind. Unable to fully evade the next sword strike from the left, a deep cut appeared on her cheek. Her robe was torn at the back by a saber swing she hadn''t even seen, narrowly missing her spine.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Within ten moves, Cang Er''s attire was in tatters, her vision darkening. Blood soaked her body from head to waist.


    Despite the excruciating pain, Cang Er remained standing.


    "A truly tenacious warrior," the bald man remarked, signaling his men to step back. He bowed slightly. "You have my respect."


    Panting heavily, her sword barely keeping her upright, Cang Er scoffed, "To hell... with your... respect...."


    "I shall end your suffering." The bald man raised his chain weapon, spinning it faster and faster. "Remember my name. I am Mu Lin Dong, head disciple of the Blood Serpent Sect."


    "I fear you not," Cang Er forced herself to lift her sword. "Come at me!"


    However, her vision only grew darker. Just before everything went black, she caught sight of Lin Dong swinging his chain. But before it could reach her, a man dressed in white intercepted the attack. Then, another white-clad figure, an elder, struck Lin Dong from the side.


    After that, her world turned to darkness.


    ***


    What should have been a two-day journey had taken far longer due to frequent stops for training. Even after two weeks, they had yet to reach the Mystic Devil¡¯s abode.


    Yang Feng kept assuring him they were close,very close, in fact. Yet, Long Wei saw no signs of "closeness."


    Even so, Long Wei had to be grateful to Yang Feng, for this long journey had granted him immense benefits. The internal energy within him had grown purer and stronger,at least, that was what Yang Feng claimed. He was now practicing how to strike using that internal energy while maintaining his daily meditation every morning and night.


    "Why morning and night?" Long Wei asked, still confused. "Before this, you told me to meditate all day."


    "Morning sunlight strengthens your bones," Yang Feng explained. "At night, especially during a full moon, moonlight enhances your internal energy."


    "Then why didn¡¯t you tell me this from the start? Why only three days ago?"


    "Ah, well, that¡¯s my own foolishness." Yang Feng scratched his graying head. "More importantly, we¡¯re out of money. We need to find work in the village so we don¡¯t starve."


    As they stepped into a small village, Long Wei still didn¡¯t quite understand. "We can hunt for food. We don¡¯t really need money, do we?"


    Yang Feng shook his head. "Right now, we do. We need to buy at least two more sets of clothing so we¡¯re not always wearing the same ones." The old man sniffed his robe and immediately grimaced. "The smell is unbearable."


    Long Wei did the same and had to agree. "How many days has it been since we last washed these?"


    "Two, I think. The last time we found a stream was four days ago. That¡¯s why we need more clothes,so we have something to wear while one set is being washed. Imagine if an enemy attacked while we were stuck wearing just our undergarments. That would be disgraceful."


    Yang Feng led Long Wei to a small restaurant. It looked wealthier compared to the simple village houses. He grinned widely.


    "A perfect place to work in exchange for money."


    "Do we even know how to cook?"


    "I meant washing dishes. Look at how busy it is. The dishwasher must be overwhelmed. Come on, let¡¯s help!"


    "And what about you?"


    "I¡¯ll sit and wait for you to finish and get paid." Yang Feng chuckled.


    Long Wei sighed but didn¡¯t argue. The old man was eccentric,he always made Long Wei work in villages, yet never lifted a finger himself.


    As soon as they stepped inside, a loud slap echoed through the restaurant, stunning everyone.


    "You¡¯re coughing up blood, and your body looks terrible! Look at your pale face, your frail frame, the dark circles under your eyes! Keep working, and you¡¯ll be dead in three days from exhaustion!" shouted an elderly man from behind the curtain separating the dining area from the kitchen.


    "And who are you?" another man retorted. "She¡¯s helping her parents."


    "A disgraceful father! Forcing a sick child to work? Fight me! If you win, you can keep your beautiful daughter!"


    "Damn you!"


    Long Wei was shocked as a fat man was sent flying from behind the curtain, one of his eyes swollen shut.


    Shortly after, a hunched, cross-eyed old man emerged.


    Before Long Wei could react, Yang Feng leaned in, whispering with a pleased tone, "That¡¯s the Mystic Devil."

 Chapter : 12 - Mystic Devil

    Of course, the visitors became restless. This was the first time they had seen the owner of the shop, a man as big as an elephant, being thrown like that,especially by a hunched old man.


    Fear began to spread, creeping into the hearts of those who witnessed the scene. They started whispering among themselves. Who was this hunchbacked elder? A powerful outlaw who had just come down from the mountains? Or simply a madman looking for trouble?


    That fear was quickly dispelled by Yang Feng¡¯s hearty laughter. ¡°Still picking fights, I see. You do remember your age, don¡¯t you?¡±


    Mystic Devil shot an angry glare at the shop owner but quickly brightened up when he saw who was standing at the entrance. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. Where have you been?¡± As if forgetting the previous commotion, he stepped over the fallen shop owner and patted Yang Feng on the shoulder. His face suddenly wrinkled in concern. ¡°You¡¯re not well.¡±


    Yang Feng bowed slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve been wandering, as usual.¡±


    ¡°Wandering?¡± Mystic Devil raised an eyebrow. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. You¡¯re supposed to stay home and ¡®watch over it,¡¯ aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Yang Feng said, shaking his head.


    ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡± Mystic Devil turned his gaze to Long Wei.


    The young man bowed respectfully, just as Yang Feng had. ¡°I am Long Wei.¡±


    ¡°Who is Long Wei?¡± Mystic Devil¡¯s eyes narrowed, one looking off to the side while the other focused sharply on him. ¡°Who?¡±


    For some reason, Long Wei suddenly felt nervous. This man¡¯s presence was overwhelming, his sheer aura enough to make one shrink under his gaze. A cold sweat broke out on the back of Long Wei¡¯s neck, and his entire body stiffened.


    ¡°He will inherit all my techniques,¡± Yang Feng¡¯s voice broke the tension. ¡°More importantly, you should tend to that young girl over there.¡± The old man gestured toward the back of the shop.


    ¡°Ah, right.¡± As if just remembering, Mystic Devil turned to find the girl trembling behind a curtain. ¡°Let her rest for a full week and have her take this medicine once a day.¡± He tossed a bundle of medicine to the shop owner. ¡°If you force her to work again, I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    The shop owner flinched in terror, shuffling backward. But even so, he clutched the medicine tightly.


    None of the other customers dared to resume their meals or conversations. This encounter between two eccentric masters was anything but ordinary. No wonder the entire village was both startled and bewildered,strangers like these rarely set foot here.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to eat now,¡± Yang Feng clapped his hands twice with a grin.


    ¡°You cook for us,¡± Mystic Devil pointed at the shop owner. Then he turned to the girl. ¡°And you, go to your room and take the medicine.¡±


    That was just how Mystic Devil was. It was also the reason his name was so well-known and respected. He wasn¡¯t feared for single-handedly wiping out a bandit lair, nor for standing up against the tyranny of the imperial forces. Instead, he was infamous for something entirely different,he simply couldn¡¯t bear the sight of a sick person. Whoever they were, if they were ill, he would cure them,by force if necessary.


    No one knew exactly where this strange obsession of his came from. He earned the title ¡°Devil¡± because of his unpredictable appearances,sometimes in the north, sometimes in the east, west, or south. Yet, when people sought him out, he was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, ¡°Mystic¡± referred to his near-miraculous ability to heal almost any illness. There were very few cases where he had failed to cure someone.


    After finishing their meal and paying, they left the shop, which instantly erupted into chatter about what had just transpired. The entire village was abuzz with rumors about these strange newcomers,one who forced people to get better, and the other who treated him like a perfectly normal person.


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    ¡°My house isn¡¯t far from here. That one, over there,¡± Mystic Devil pointed to a small hut after grumbling impatiently while waiting for Yang Feng and Long Wei to buy new clothes. The hut stood at the very tip of a land formation that jutted out from the peak of a cliff.


    Seeing it made Long Wei¡¯s stomach churn. The ground beneath the hut was dangerously narrow and sharp, yet there it stood.


    ¡°Come on. It''ll be easier to talk there.¡±


    It took them about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to reach the hut. Inside, it was a single square room, not very large. There was no sign of wealth, only piles of dried medicinal herbs stacked in a corner and a small cabinet filled with prepared remedies.


    ¡°I already know what¡¯s wrong with you,¡± Mystic Devil said before Yang Feng could even begin explaining. ¡°You have internal injuries,wounds from battle, and they¡¯re severe.¡±


    Yang Feng lowered his head but smiled. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Long Wei was a little surprised. Whenever Mystic Devil spoke to Yang Feng, he seemed almost... normal. At the very least, he wasn¡¯t barking orders or making abrupt declarations.


    Yang Feng briefly recounted what had happened,how he sustained his injuries and even what he had learned about Long Wei¡¯s past as a former pirate. Long Wei was shocked that Yang Feng spoke so openly about it. Wasn¡¯t the existence of Sky Jade supposed to be a closely guarded secret?


    ¡°That damn White Ascetic!¡± Mystic Devil cursed. ¡°I just ran into him on my way back here. He acted all righteous, even helped me treat the sick. Turns out he¡¯s been colluding with pirates? Damn him!¡±


    You¡¯re the real devil here, Long Wei thought to himself.


    Yang Feng shook his head with a chuckle. ¡°I suppose I should be grateful that the old man still upholds some sense of righteousness. At least he helps the sick.¡±


    Mystic Devil¡¯s gaze sharpened instantly. ¡°You¡¯re always too soft on your enemies. Do you think I can always heal you?¡±


    ¡°Am I wrong to think so?¡±


    ¡°Idiot!¡± Mystic Devil smacked Yang Feng¡¯s head. ¡°White Ascetic and Iron Palm are formidable warriors, their strength is not below ours. I might be able to heal wounds inflicted by one of them, but not both at the same time. Maybe if you had come to me two days after receiving those injuries, there would have been hope. But now, the wounds have been festering in your body for too long, and the poison from Iron Palm¡¯s attack has already spread, disrupting your internal organs,¡± he explained furiously.


    Suddenly, Yang Feng burst into laughter. ¡°Hahaha, I already knew even you couldn¡¯t fully heal this.¡±


    ¡°Who said I couldn¡¯t at all?¡± Mystic Devil cut in. ¡°I can still stop Iron Palm¡¯s poison, but that¡¯s as far as I can go. As for the damage caused by White Ascetic, I can¡¯t restore you completely. Many of your organs are severely damaged and barely functioning.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I meant.¡± Yang Feng laughed again. ¡°Now that I know I can¡¯t be fully healed, I want to see how long I can last.¡±


    ¡°At most ten years. And that¡¯s if you burn through all the luck you have left in this life.¡± Mystic Devil replied without hesitation.


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Yang Feng then turned to Long Wei, who had turned pale at some point. ¡°I will train you for the rest of my life, and you will inherit my duty,to protect Sky Jade.¡±


    Long Wei snapped out of his thoughts. ¡°So the wounds really can¡¯t be healed?¡±


    ¡°Are you deaf, boy?¡± Mystic Devil barked.


    Long Wei clenched his fists. No matter what, he still had unfinished business with White Ascetic and Iron Palm. He had to settle it himself in the future. But if even Yang Feng,known as the Iron Palm Warrior,had been rendered helpless, what chance did he have?


    As if reading Long Wei¡¯s hesitation, Mystic Devil shouted again, ¡°Are you afraid to face them, boy?¡±


    Long Wei hesitated. ¡°I think... it will take time.¡±


    ¡°Ah, a coward! Yang Feng, just throw this spineless brat away. He¡¯s only bringing shame to the name of the Iron Palm Warrior.¡±


    Long Wei was taken aback. He quickly turned to Yang Feng, anxious to see his reaction. But the old man simply smiled and said to Mystic Devil, ¡°Your jokes are truly cruel. You know very well this boy will surpass me. I¡¯m sure you can see his natural talent. His bone structure is exceptional.¡±


    Mystic Devil gritted his teeth audibly. ¡°What¡¯s the use if he¡¯s a coward?¡±


    ¡°I swear!¡± Long Wei suddenly shouted. ¡°I will settle my old debts with White Ascetic and Iron Palm!¡±


    Mystic Devil was momentarily stunned by the sudden oath. But he still wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°And what if you break that vow?¡±


    The young man gritted his teeth, frustrated by the old man¡¯s stubbornness. ¡°Then may my entire bloodline burn in hell.¡±


    ¡°Good!¡± Mystic Devil praised, while Yang Feng laughed heartily. Then Mystic Devil continued, ¡°Alright, old man, I¡¯ll treat you as best as I can, just as I said earlier. Then, you two will stay here for two weeks.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Yang Feng¡¯s eyes widened with interest. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m going to pass down a technique that will allow this greenhorn to surpass even us in the future. Combined with the techniques you¡¯ll pass on, I¡¯m certain he¡¯ll become an unrivaled warrior.¡±


    ¡°You have such high hopes.¡±


    Mystic Devil huffed in annoyance. ¡°For years, no one has been worthy of inheriting this technique. And I¡¯m already old, with one foot in the grave. I¡¯ll be joining you in the afterlife soon enough. I don¡¯t care if he was once a pirate. You¡¯ve chosen him, and I trust you.¡±


    Yang Feng simply laughed in response. His heart swelled with joy,Long Wei was about to inherit an extraordinary technique from Mystic Devil. Opportunities like this never came twice.

 Chapter : 13 - Two Weeks

    Long Wei never imagined that his life would take such a drastic turn. He once thought he would be a pirate until death, inheriting the Sea Ghost crew from his father and becoming a feared pirate king.


    But now, he was entrusted by two legendary masters, whose names carried immense weight. In his pocket, Long Wei held the most sought-after treasure in the entire martial world. More than once, he wondered if this was all just a dream, but reality proved otherwise.


    Naturally, he was overjoyed and grateful upon hearing that Mystic Devil would pass down a martial art to him. This meant he would become stronger, and his chances of seeking revenge would increase significantly.


    As promised, that very afternoon, after Mystic Devil finished treating Yang Feng, he immediately explained the theory behind the martial art he was about to teach.


    "Its name is Im-Yang Mystic Art. ''Im'' represents cold energy, while ''Yang'' represents heat. To my knowledge, no one else in this world has ever been able to master this technique except for me."


    Yang Feng, who was also listening, was startled. "Are you sure you want to pass down that sacred technique?"


    Suddenly, Mystic Devil burst into loud laughter. "Then let me ask you, are you certain about choosing this former pirate boy as the heir to your martial arts?"


    "Absolutely. I believe this is fate."


    "Well, that''s my answer to your question." Mystic Devil turned back to Long Wei. "Once you fully master this technique, you will become a rare and extraordinary warrior. That¡¯s all you need to know for now. Watch closely."


    The old master then demonstrated the movements of the Im-Yang Mystic Art. First, he brought his palms together in front of his chest, as if in prayer. Then, suddenly, his hands moved alternately, delivering strikes and slaps in succession. Several times, he also moved his legs in swift motions.


    Each attack created a gust of wind so strong that Long Wei¡¯s robe fluttered, even though they were more than three spears apart. The young man was in complete awe. If Mystic Devil had been serious, he would have been sent flying by now.


    "That was the first technique," Mystic Devil said before continuing with the second movement of the Im-Yang Mystic Art.


    The longer Long Wei watched, the dizzier he became, his eyes wide with amazement. No matter how hard he tried to focus on every step and attack, his memory could barely retain even a quarter of the twelve techniques of the Im-Yang Mystic Art.


    "So, have you memorized them? Now, perform it!" Mystic Devil commanded.


    This immediately triggered Yang Feng¡¯s loud laughter, as he had been attentively watching the entire time. "You are truly a terrible teacher," he commented between his booming laughs.


    Mystic Devil squinted his eyes. "What do you mean?"


    "Look at Long Wei. Do you think he understands?" Yang Feng pointed at Long Wei, who remained frozen in place. "His head might start smoking any moment now."


    Mystic Devil stomped his feet in frustration. "You fool, you idiot! You have eyes, why don¡¯t you use them? Did you not see me demonstrating just now?" he shouted, clenching his fists, ready to smack Long Wei¡¯s head.


    The young man shrank back. "You demonstrated it too fast."


    "That was already the slowest I could go. Do you want to see the real speed of the Im-Yang Mystic Art? Watch this!"


    Mystic Devil leaped to the same spot where he had demonstrated before. This time, he performed the movements at an incredible speed. Long Wei grew dizzier just from watching.


    The Im-Yang Mystic Art was, by nature, a technique designed to confuse opponents. Not only did its attacks alternate between Im (cold) and Yang (heat), but its rapid movements played a crucial role in disorienting the enemy.


    Thus, it was not an exaggeration when Mystic Devil claimed that if Long Wei could master this technique, he would become an extraordinary warrior.


    "Stop!" Yang Feng suddenly called out as he stood up. Mystic Devil immediately halted his movements. Yang Feng then said, "I¡¯ve memorized the movements. How about I teach Long Wei the forms while you instruct him on energy control?"


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    "Excellent. Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?" Mystic Devil glared at Long Wei. "Now, you fool, pay close attention to your teacher."


    Mystic Devil then took a seat while Yang Feng began demonstrating the movements of the Im-Yang Mystic Art. As a seasoned martial artist with vast experience, it was natural for someone of his caliber to memorize martial techniques at a glance. However, this did not mean Yang Feng understood its essence,he could only recall the movements.


    After finishing the first technique, Yang Feng instructed Long Wei to repeat it.


    Long Wei nodded and stood up. He bowed to Mystic Devil. "Forgive me if I make any mistakes." Then, he began performing the first technique of the sacred martial art.


    Both Mystic Devil and Yang Feng were taken aback by the young man¡¯s performance. In just his first attempt, Long Wei had made almost no errors. After seeing the demonstration twice,once from Mystic Devil and once from Yang Feng,he had already memorized it.


    Mystic Devil could not hide his delight. His anger toward Long Wei for being "slow" had completely vanished. "Your eyes are indeed sharp. You have truly found an extraordinary heir," he said to Yang Feng, who simply smiled.


    After Long Wei completed the first technique, Mystic Devil spoke again. "Now perform it again, but this time, channel cold energy whenever you strike with your left hand and hot energy whenever you strike with your right hand."


    Once again, Long Wei was left stunned.


    "Ah, I haven¡¯t taught him how to strike using Im or Yang energy yet," Yang Feng admitted.


    "Fools, all of you!"


    And so, Long Wei remained at Mystic Devil¡¯s hut for two weeks, undergoing rigorous training to master the incredible Im-Yang Mystic Art.


    ***


    The first thing Cang Er saw when she opened her eyes was the face of an old man smiling at her. His expression was so calm that it made Cang Er feel at ease for a moment before she suddenly jumped up and snapped.


    "Cowardly dogs, only daring to attack in groups!" She reached for her sword, only to be shocked when she realized that the weapon she usually carried on her back was gone.


    "Ah, Miss, you''re awake."


    Cang Er turned to find Lady Xi there with her daughter.


    "Where are those Blood Serpent bastards?" Her anger was replaced by shock when she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder. She suddenly remembered that she had been injured during the battle.


    "Calm down, young lady, sit down." The kind-faced old man, none other than Cao Yin, guided Cang Er to sit. "You''re still not fully recovered."


    Lady Xi handed her a drink, and Cang Er, still confused, accepted it.


    After finishing the drink, she asked, "What happened?"


    "When you were overwhelmed and lost consciousness, these two heroes saved you, Miss Cang. Fortunately, they arrived in time; otherwise, who knows what would have happened to you." Lady Xi''s face was filled with worry.


    Cang Er quickly turned to the old man beside her and bowed respectfully. "Thank you. I hope I can repay this debt someday."


    "Hahaha, among comrades of the same path, there''s no need to talk about debts. I saved you, you''re safe, and that''s that," the old man said.


    Cang Er couldn''t help but smile at his words.


    Just then, Liang Kun and Xi Yan arrived after gathering the remaining valuables from the wrecked carriage. Xi Yan immediately smiled. "Ah, Miss Cang, you''re awake."


    "Thanks to these two heroes." Cang Er immediately realized that the man dressed in plain white standing next to Xi Yan must have been one of her saviors. She bowed to Liang Kun.


    "You are truly brave, worthy of being called a heroine," Liang Kun responded with admiration.


    Cang Er''s cheeks flushed slightly at the compliment. Who wouldn¡¯t be pleased to be praised as a valiant warrior, especially by a handsome young man?


    "Where were you headed? Why were you attacked by the Blood Serpents?" Cao Yin asked. "Before that, allow me to introduce myself. I am Cao Yin, and this is my disciple, Liang Kun."


    "I am Xi Yan, and this is my wife and daughter. We are just small merchants returning home after delivering goods to Baizhu Village, but we were ambushed here." Xi Yan looked gloomy. "Fortunately, heroes like Miss Cang and you two arrived in time."


    "Hahaha, this must be fate. It was already written that the Xi family would survive this ordeal. Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t able to defeat that bald one, Mu Lin Dong. A shame... a shame... someone as strong as him still roams free, and that¡¯s a serious threat." After letting out a long sigh, he turned his gaze to Cang Er. "And you? Where were you headed?"


    The question immediately reminded Cang Er of Qinglan Village and the tragedy she wished to bury deep within her heart. Her expression darkened, and she lowered her head. "I don''t know where I''m going," she muttered.


    "It¡¯s dangerous for a young girl to wander alone," Liang Kun remarked.


    Cao Yin nodded in agreement. "That is indeed very dangerous. Why are you traveling alone?"


    Cang Er clenched her fists unconsciously. "To become stronger." That was her only response.


    No one pressed the matter further, fearing they might touch on painful memories.


    "I believe Miss Cang has yet to introduce herself," Liang Kun changed the subject. "May we know the name of this heroine?"


    "You flatter me too much," Cang Er said with a faint smile. "My name is of no significance. My surname is Lu, and my given name is Cang Er."


    Both Liang Kun and Cao Yin widened their eyes in shock.


    "The Lu family?" Liang Kun asked in disbelief.


    "Lu Taihiap,what is he to you?" Cao Yin inquired.


    Though puzzled by their reaction, Cang Er still answered, "Lu Taihiap is my father."


    The astonishment on the faces of master and disciple grew even more, while the Xi family, who were unfamiliar with the situation, remained silent, observing.


    Cao Yin burst into loud laughter, even louder than before. "Hahaha! Fate truly works in amusing ways. Liang Kun, my disciple, we traveled so far to visit Lu Taihiap, only for the one we sought to appear right before us. Isn''t that funny?"


    Liang Kun''s face turned red, and Cang Er, noticing this, became even more curious.


    "What is this about?"


    "I was planning to arrange a marriage between my disciple and Lu Taihiap¡¯s daughter."

 Chapter : 14 - Arranged Mariage

    Even Xi Yan and his family were utterly shocked by Cao Yin''s words. They had never expected the old man to speak so openly about an arranged marriage.


    Seeing the confusion on Cang Er¡¯s face, Cao Yin laughed again. ¡°Hahaha, you must be bewildered. Very well, I¡¯ll explain along the way. You¡¯re heading west, aren¡¯t you?¡± he asked the Xi family.


    Xi Yan simply nodded in confirmation.


    ¡°Good, then we¡¯re going the same way. It¡¯s best if we travel together. There¡¯s a small town about ten li from here where we can buy some horses.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s actually our destination, Sir.¡±


    ¡°Excellent, a fortunate coincidence.¡±


    And so, the group left the area, with Cao Yin leading the way while Cang Er walked beside him. The two quickly became engrossed in their conversation about the unresolved matter of the arranged marriage.


    Liang Kun deliberately distanced himself from the pair, feeling incredibly awkward.


    ¡°Your father, Lu Taihiap, was a great and extraordinary warrior. I was overjoyed when he came to my school, asking to become my disciple.¡±


    Cang Er widened her eyes and quickly interrupted before Cao Yin could finish his sentence. ¡°The White Raven Sect?¡±


    ¡°Oh? So he¡¯s told you about it?¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°Yes, the White Raven Sect.¡±


    At once, Cang Er bowed deeply. ¡°Am I truly standing before the legendary warrior known as the White Ascetic?¡±


    Cao Yin chuckled again. ¡°You exaggerate, child. Now, rise.¡± He helped Cang Er to her feet. ¡°Listen to my story.¡±


    Cao Yin continued his tale. He explained that Lu Kwan, or Lu Taihiap, had indeed come to his school requesting to be accepted as a disciple, but Cao Yin had to refuse. Lu Kwan¡¯s martial arts skills were already advanced, and the White Raven Sect had a strict rule forbidding disciples from learning techniques outside the school¡¯s teachings.


    ¡°If you had accepted my father, wouldn¡¯t the White Raven Sect have grown stronger? It¡¯s not as if my father was incapable of learning a new style,¡± Cang Er argued.


    Cao Yin smiled faintly. ¡°At that time, your father¡¯s skills were already highly refined despite his youth. I could see that the White Raven Sect¡¯s techniques were incompatible with his. Forcing him to learn them would only hinder him, and I would have been responsible for taking away a righteous warrior from the world. Instead of wasting time learning from the ground up at the White Raven Sect, he was better off continuing his duty as a warrior,defending the oppressed and punishing the wicked. Especially in times like these.¡±


    Cang Er nodded in understanding. She grasped what the old master meant.


    It was true that once a warrior had fully developed their techniques, learning a completely different style became increasingly difficult. This meant that Lu Kwan¡¯s foundational martial arts were so drastically different from the White Raven Sect¡¯s that Cao Yin had no choice but to turn him away.


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    ¡°Was there truly no hope for my father to join the White Raven Sect?¡± Cang Er asked.


    ¡°There was, but he would have had to start from scratch. The foundation of his martial arts was vastly different from ours. We focus on raw power with every strike, while your father relied more on speed and weapon techniques.¡±


    ¡°My father was also skilled in barehanded combat,¡± Cang Er interjected.


    Cao Yin maintained his smile. ¡°And we, too, can wield sabers or swords. But as I said, the differences were too great to overcome in just a year or two. That would have been too much time wasted,time your father could have spent fulfilling his duty as a warrior.¡±


    Cang Er could not argue further. Now she understood why her father idolized the White Raven Sect and the White Ascetic so much. Lu Taihiap might have been rejected as a disciple, but in the end, countless criminals had fallen by his hands,criminals who might have continued their reign of terror had Lu Taihiap chosen to train at the White Raven Sect instead.


    Cang Er found herself admiring the old master even more. Not only was he a formidable warrior, but he also possessed great wisdom and a noble heart, placing righteousness above his own school¡¯s interests.


    ¡°We are now on our way to the White Raven Sect. Since I¡¯ve found you here, there¡¯s no need for me to continue my journey to your home. Eh?¡± Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, Cao Yin stopped in his tracks. ¡°Now that I think about it, why have you traveled so far from home?¡±


    Hearing that question, Cang Er was instantly reminded of the massacre in Qinglan Village. ¡°My father and mother have passed away.¡± That was all she said, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Cao Yin did not probe further, though the shock of her words struck him like a thunderbolt. What had caused Lu Taihiap¡¯s death?


    ***


    Two weeks had passed, and Long Wei had memorized all twelve complex movements of the Yin-Yang Mystic Martial Arts. He had also learned how to channel his inner energy throughout his body, allowing him to use it both offensively and defensively in combat.


    Fourteen days of rigorous training under two formidable masters had left his face grimy from rarely washing, and his clothes were in no better condition. For fourteen days, Long Wei had trained relentlessly, day and night, stopping only when hunger or exhaustion forced him to rest.


    Although his progress was not yet remarkable, it was evident. His movements had become smoother, and he could now channel his inner energy into every strike.


    ¡°Good... very good,¡± Yang Feng praised, clapping his hands.


    ¡°Idiot!¡± Mystic Devil cursed. ¡°Fool!¡± he added.


    Long Wei stopped practicing the Yin-Yang Mystic Martial Arts. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.


    He knew he was far from mastering the technique. At best, he had only grasped its outer form. Even though he could now infuse his strikes with inner energy, it still could not be considered true Yin-Yang Mystic Martial Arts.


    ¡°You are a fool, but I believe you will master it one day,¡± Mystic Devil said, still looking annoyed. His face was red with frustration, and he struck the nearby rocks several times.


    ¡°He¡¯s still young and has only just started learning martial arts. This is already an impressive achievement,¡± Yang Feng laughed heartily.


    ¡°Fine... fine... say whatever you like, old man.¡±


    Yang Feng rose to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s been two weeks.¡±


    Mystic Devil scowled and turned away. ¡°You think I forgot?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, that would be impossible.¡±


    Long Wei approached them and bowed respectfully, following Yang Feng¡¯s lead.


    The man known as Iron Palm spoke with deep reverence. ¡°Thank you for your teachings.¡±


    ¡°Swear that Sky Jade will never fall into the hands of those greedy men!¡± Mystic Devil suddenly roared. His right hand shattered a nearby rock for no reason.


    Long Wei¡¯s body trembled at the intensity of his voice. ¡°I swear to protect it.¡±


    ¡°At the cost of your life?¡±


    ¡°At the cost of my life.¡±


    ¡°Good. A man¡¯s word is his bond. A warrior who makes an oath must never break it, even in death.¡± Mystic Devil leaped to his feet, his wandering eyes staring into the distance. ¡°Beware of the White Ascetic.¡±


    The master and disciple duo nodded. They understood the warning.


    ¡°We will always remember your words.¡±


    ¡°Go now,¡± Mystic Devil said as he walked toward his house. ¡°And if you break that oath, I¡¯ll kill you myself. Though I doubt that will happen, hahahaha!¡±

 Chapter : 15 - Mingxia Village

    "Why is Sky Jade being fought over? They''re useless unless all eight are together."


    Yang Feng shrugged. "Simply put, if I manage to gather all eight, then the dragon that descends will be mine."


    "The dragon''s oath to the emperor." Long Wei was confused. This was different from the stories he had heard.


    "Maybe whoever summons it will receive the dragon," Yang Feng said. "But the dragon has sworn an oath. Once made, it will never be broken. Perhaps the dragon''s power is the reason why the eight jades have never been united before a worthy imperial heir is found."


    "So all of this is part of the dragon''s game?" Long Wei suddenly felt a surge of anger. "We''re being toyed with!"


    "You''re wrong... you''re wrong...." With the air of a wise man, Yang Feng waved his right hand dismissively. "Think of it this way. What if all eight Sky Jades fell into the hands of someone evil and the dragon was used for their selfish ends?"


    "They say the eight Sky Jades can never be gathered except by the rightful imperial heir, and that is the dragon''s will."


    "I said, what if?"


    Long Wei furrowed his brow. He didn''t need to think to answer such a simple question. "Chaos, of course."


    "Exactly!" The old man pointed at him. "So, rather than letting the Sky Jades fall into the wrong hands, isn''t it better that we safeguard them?"


    Deep inside, Long Wei still felt conflicted. Did people not understand that the eight jades could never be gathered because that was the dragon''s will?


    "That''s just a myth, Long Wei...."


    Long Wei was startled. Yang Feng seemed to know exactly what he was thinking.


    "It''s a myth, and no one has ever proven that this chaos is the dragon''s doing to keep the Sky Jades apart. However, the altar atop Mount Yuling is real. People call it the Dragon Summoning Ground. So the question is, what if the myth is wrong and the Sky Jades fall into the hands of evil? Like you said, chaos."


    Long Wei fell silent, choosing not to press the matter further. He figured he would learn more once he had honed his skills and set out on his journey one day.


    Their journey had lasted nearly a week,six days and one more night until a full week had passed. Yang Feng was adamant that they had yet to find a suitable place to retreat. They no longer traveled north because of Yang Feng''s concerns about the growing conflict between the empire and the small tribes there. Instead, they went west,not to approach the capital, but because they had no other choice.


    During their travels, Long Wei did more than just walk. He diligently meditated under the morning sun and bathed in moonlight at dusk. Beyond these two times, he rigorously trained in the art of Mystic Yin-Yang Martial Arts.


    Under the guidance of a master like Yang Feng, Long Wei had made astonishing progress within a week. By now, Yang Feng was confident that his disciple could take on at least ten grown men without much trouble.


    Time passed, and that night, they arrived at the outskirts of Mingxia Village.


    "Of course, it''s quiet," Long Wei remarked as they passed through the unguarded village gate.


    "Well, naturally. It''s already late." Yang Feng glanced around, his ever-present smile not leaving his lips. "Now we just need to find an inn. I can''t wait to lie on a soft bed."


    Deep down, Long Wei had no such expectations for a soft bed in a village like this.


    As they continued walking, searching for a place to stay, the sound of a door creaking open came from a house on their left. Both of them instinctively turned, and Yang Feng immediately smiled and waved as a child stepped out.


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    "Come here!" the boy whispered, waving frantically.


    The two stopped in their tracks.


    "Come on!" The boy whispered again, louder this time. "Hurry, unless you want to end up as headless ghosts."


    Yang Feng chuckled. "My dear boy, what kind of ghost goes around lopping off heads?" The old man glanced around, pretending to be on guard. "Where? Where? Let me behead it first."


    The boy stomped his foot in frustration. "You arrogant outsiders!"


    Yang Feng burst into laughter. "Alright, alright...." He and Long Wei then approached the child. "Now, my friend and I have answered your summons. What''s the matter?"


    But the boy immediately tried to push them inside the house. Of course, he wasn¡¯t strong enough to move them, only adding to their confusion.


    "What is it?" Yang Feng caught the boy¡¯s hand. "Tell us."


    "Just come inside first." The boy glanced around nervously, his face suddenly pale. "Quickly."


    Sensing something was off, the two men had no choice but to comply.


    Once inside, the boy hastily shut the door. His breathing was uneven for a moment before he calmed himself.


    "Oh, sorry to intrude." Yang Feng bowed to a serene-looking woman sitting in the front room. "Your child insisted."


    "I know. I was the one who sent him." The woman smiled.


    Long Wei could see how beautiful her face was,if not for her sickly pallor and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Yang Feng, too, silently took note of the same and became increasingly certain that something was very wrong here.


    So the old man spoke first, this time without jest. "What exactly is happening in this village?"


    The woman ran a hand over her chest, inhaling deeply. "It''s terrifying...," she murmured.


    What''s wrong? Long Wei, growing impatient, joined in and directed the question at the boy.


    The boy took a deep breath. "A pair of demons may have just escaped from hell."


    "Huh?"


    "I''m not lying!" the boy retorted. "Two twin men,one wields a bamboo staff, the other a flute. They''re unbelievably strong."


    "And then?" Long Wei pressed when the boy suddenly stopped, his breath ragged. He failed to notice that Yang Feng¡¯s expression had subtly shifted at the mention of those weapons.


    "They keep challenging the young men of the village to duels. Every week, they come demanding a fight,this is the fourth time now. We don¡¯t know where they came from. They just showed up and started causing trouble."


    "What are their names?"


    Everyone in the room flinched at Yang Feng¡¯s sudden outburst.


    "I don¡¯t know," the boy said, shaking his head. "None of us do."


    Now Long Wei turned to Yang Feng. "Why? What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Good heavens, Wei Ji." The old man¡¯s face had gone slightly pale. "If my guess is correct, those must be The Death Twins."


    Long Wei frowned.


    "Who are they?" The woman,likely the boy¡¯s mother,who had been silently listening, finally spoke.


    "Ten years ago, those two led a traveling opera troupe that toured many regions. But in reality, it was nothing more than a facade to mask their crimes." Yang Feng clenched his fists.


    "What kind of crimes?"


    Yang Feng turned to Long Wei. "They would harm anyone who watched their performance without making a donation. Worse yet, they forced passersby to stop and watch. Many warriors attempted to put an end to their tyranny, but they all fell to the opera troupe."


    The woman shuddered. "Then... does that mean they''ve been hiding their troupe all this time?"


    "Let¡¯s hope they haven¡¯t built a new one." Yang Feng took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Ten years ago, Mystic Devil and I destroyed them. We were gravely wounded, but the opera troupe was annihilated. Unfortunately, the two leaders escaped, managing to steal both our weapons,my bamboo staff and Mystic Devil¡¯s flute."


    Long Wei tensed. The fact that Mystic Devil and Yang Feng had both suffered severe injuries at their hands, just how powerful were The Death Twins?


    Yang Feng continued, "They were also critically wounded, far worse than us. I crushed the elder twin¡¯s right eye, and Mystic Devil severed the younger one¡¯s left leg. And yet, hearing this story, their behavior remains just as reckless and insolent!"


    "Then what does this have to do with this village?" Long Wei asked.


    Yang Feng was silent for a moment before finally answering. "We crushed them before The Death Twins ever made it here."


    "No wonder we never knew about them," the woman said. "So, what do we do now, sir? The young men and our husbands have all gathered at the village chief¡¯s house, planning to ambush those two."


    "Not a single man in this village would be able to match even one of them. I''m certain of that."


    The woman began to sob, and the boy was already crying at the thought of his father.


    "Why the village chief¡¯s house?" Long Wei asked, keeping his composure.


    "Because that''s where they always appear first to issue their challenge, before spreading throughout the village and provoking the men into fighting."


    "Bastards!" Yang Feng¡¯s face had turned crimson with rage.


    These powerful martial artists are truly strange, Long Wei mused to himself. "We have to go there."


    Before Long Wei could even close his mouth, a sharp scream echoed in the distance, followed by more shouts filled with fury.


    The woman¡¯s face went pale as a corpse. "They''re here...."


    "Damn it!" Yang Feng''s figure blurred as he dashed outside, Long Wei following close behind.

 Chapter : 16 - The Death Twins

    Yang Feng moved with incredible speed. The moment he dashed out of the house, Long Wei could only catch a glimpse of a white blur streaking further into the distance. He sighed inwardly, frustrated that he still hadn''t mastered the art of light-footed movement. Even so, his speed was already far superior to that of an ordinary person, though he remained unaware that his training in the Im-Yang Mystic Martial Arts had also contributed to his agility.


    Long Wei''s sharp eyes tracked the white blur of Yang Feng until they arrived at a grand house, brightly illuminated. Torches were mounted on every side of the walls, and the interior was equally well-lit. From afar, the sounds of commotion grew clearer as they approached.


    "Hold your weapons!" Long Wei, still outside the courtyard, heard Yang Feng''s commanding voice.


    His shout was immediately followed by the clatter of metal and startled cries. When Long Wei leaped into the courtyard, he saw two strange men standing over three villagers who lay sprawled at their feet. The other men stood at a distance, fear evident on their faces.


    The two men were strikingly unusual. They appeared to be in their forties, their faces identical down to the hair. Their eyes were narrow and sharp, their thick eyebrows framed prominent noses, and their firm jaws exuded arrogance.


    The only difference between them was that the man wielding a flute had his left eye covered with a cloth, while the man with a dark yellow bamboo staff stood on a single leg,his right leg. They were none other than The Death Twins.


    "What do you want by causing trouble here?" Yang Feng''s voice carried a menacing edge. "I refuse to believe the villagers did anything to disturb you."


    The two men exchanged glances. Their brows furrowed, their expressions twitching as if communicating without words. Then, in unison, they nodded.


    The one-legged man spoke. "I am Beng Kui, and this is my younger brother, Beng Sui. Who are you to stand in our way?"


    "The Death Twins,who could forget how you were destroyed near this very place ten years ago? Am I wrong to assume you''re here for revenge?"


    Beng Kui''s face flushed red, his eyes widening as if realizing something. "Yang Feng, you wretched old bastard! So you''ve finally shown yourself!"


    "Oh? So you were looking for me?"


    The one-eyed man stepped forward. "We stirred up trouble here to lure you out. Now that you''re here, it''s time to settle our old scores!"


    Without warning, Beng Sui lunged, thrusting his flute toward Yang Feng''s left eye. As if wanting to exact revenge for the past, he aimed for the same eye. His flute, moving with piercing speed, emitted a high-pitched, ear-splitting shriek.


    Yang Feng chuckled. "You''re no faster than before!" He sidestepped and countered with a swift kick.


    Beng Sui blocked with his left hand while slashing his flute toward Yang Feng¡¯s neck. In response, the old warrior bent his body so low that he balanced on a single foot. A moment later, Beng Sui let out a pained scream,Yang Feng''s fist had struck his right side.


    "Stay out of this!" Long Wei shouted as he noticed Beng Kui preparing to assist his brother. The young warrior drew his short sword and sprinted toward Beng Kui, who had begun hopping toward Yang Feng.


    "Annoying brat!" Beng Kui snapped, irritated as he vaulted over Long Wei¡¯s sword strike aimed at his knee. Twisting midair, he swung his staff toward Long Wei¡¯s head.


    Twice, Long Wei dodged the sweeping attacks before launching another strike, this time channeling the Im-Yang Mystic Martial Arts. Though the technique was meant for barehanded combat, Long Wei was surprised by how seamlessly it adapted to swordplay.


    Beng Kui¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Long Wei''s movements, while swift, still lacked polish. However, beneath that rough execution lay something extraordinary.


    Beng Kui quickly deduced that whatever martial art his opponent was using was of a high level but not yet fully mastered. He decided it was best to kill Long Wei now before he could become a future threat.


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    "Die!" Beng Kui roared as their battle reached twenty exchanges. Evading two thrusts from Long Wei¡¯s sword, he spun his staff and struck at the young warrior''s knee.


    Long Wei had expected an attack to his chest. He had already moved his sword to guard his upper body when the bamboo staff landed on his knee.


    His left knee buckled instantly, forcing him to kneel. Before he could even catch his breath, Beng Kui thrust his staff toward his head.


    Long Wei knew he must not panic. Yet, for the first time, he felt his life genuinely threatened in battle. During his encounters with the pirates, he had either won decisively or, at worst, barely scraped by. But he had never been pushed this far.


    Is this the kind of opponent Elder Yang Feng faced before? The thought crossed Long Wei¡¯s mind as the staff closed in.


    Just as he was about to resign himself to fate, another thought flashed in his mind,Sky Jade and revenge. If he died now, wouldn¡¯t everything be in vain? He had been entrusted by two great warriors to safeguard Sky Jade. This realization reignited his fighting spirit, awakening the indomitable will of a pirate.


    Suddenly, Long Wei tilted his head to the side. The bamboo staff barely missed him, grazing past his ear by the width of a finger.


    Having trained in the Im-Yang Mystic Martial Arts, every movement he made, whether offensive or defensive, naturally aligned with its principles. Even his reflexes followed its form. Without hesitation, Long Wei slashed at Beng Kui¡¯s right shin.


    Though his blade didn¡¯t sever the limb, it cut deep enough to make Beng Kui let out a piercing scream.


    Beng Kui''s body staggered forward. Long Wei shifted slightly to avoid being crushed under it. In one swift motion, he thrust his sword deep into Beng Kui''s ribs.


    "Aaaakkhhh!" Beng Kui roared just as his body collapsed to the ground.


    Blood stained the grassy earth in the village chief¡¯s courtyard. Gasps of shock, admiration, and horror echoed from the villagers who had been watching.


    Beng Kui''s body convulsed, his eyes wide open with deep-seated hatred. Just when Long Wei thought he had truly won, Beng Kui forcefully pressed his left hand against the ground, propelling his body high into the air, reaching about waist height. While mid-air, he spun, spraying blood everywhere, and swung his staff at Long Wei¡¯s head.


    Instinctively, Long Wei raised his sword to block the attack. A sharp clang rang out as he was sent flying three zhang away. Beng Kui''s body crashed lifelessly onto the ground, and only then did Long Wei realize his sword had shattered.


    His face paled at the thought of what would have happened if that staff had struck his head.


    "Wei Ji, watch out!"


    Long Wei turned his head swiftly. He barely caught sight of a green flash and a whistling sound before realizing that a flute was already inches away from his face, aiming to stab him.


    Once again, his reflexes saved him. Somehow, he managed to deflect the flute and leap to his feet. At some point, his left leg had also been freed from the acupoint strike.


    He struck out with his right palm, and a loud boom erupted as their internal energies clashed. Another sharp sound followed when Long Wei¡¯s left hand blocked Beng Sui¡¯s flute strike with the cold energy of Im. His right hand, imbued with Yang energy, countered Beng Sui¡¯s left hand, forcing the one-eyed man back by two steps.


    "I''ll let you hold onto Sky Jade a little longer!" Beng Sui growled at Yang Feng, grimacing in pain before swiftly darting over to Beng Kui¡¯s body. Carrying his brother, he disappeared into the night. "This isn¡¯t over!" his voice echoed in the distance.


    Silence filled the air, broken only by Yang Feng¡¯s coughing as he clutched his chest and Long Wei¡¯s ragged breathing. The earlier clash of internal energy had taken its toll on them both. Somehow, fortune had spared Long Wei, and he was grateful that his meditation training had yielded results. At the very least, his internal strength was not far below Beng Sui¡¯s.


    The watching villagers were in a daze. The battle had unfolded too suddenly. None of them had expected to witness a duel between martial experts in the village chief¡¯s courtyard that night. Those who had been ready to fight to the death with whatever weapons they had, now found themselves inexplicably safe.


    "Taihiap!" A young man rushed toward Yang Feng, intending to help him up.


    His actions prompted the other villagers to quickly assist both Yang Feng and Long Wei.


    "Taihiap, please stay in my home tonight. I will prepare everything you need," the village chief offered, his face pale.


    Yang Feng gently brushed off the hands reaching to support him. Though his gesture was soft, it was clear he felt slightly uncomfortable. "Don''t worry about us. Take care of your fallen brethren first."


    That night, both sorrow and joy spread throughout Mingxia Village,sorrow for the loss of three villagers, but joy that one of The Death Twins had been slain.


    The villagers praised the bravery of the two warriors, eagerly competing to offer them a place to stay. Yet, both Yang Feng and Long Wei saw through their insincerity.


    "They are just afraid and seeking protection," Long Wei whispered.


    Yang Feng gave a bitter smile. "Yes¡­ that is human nature. You must get used to it."


    That night, they both stayed in the village chief¡¯s residence. However, by dawn, the entire household was shocked to find that their saviors had already left.


    Yang Feng had been uneasy. During the night, he had seen the glow of a bonfire deep within the forest near the village. He suspected it was Beng Sui spending the night there.


    At the break of dawn, they set off in pursuit, reaching the supposed bonfire site just as the sun rose fully above the horizon.


    Both stood frozen, their faces pale with disbelief at what they saw.


    They had come prepared for another battle, yet before them lay Beng Sui¡¯s lifeless corpse.

 Chapter : 17 - Yang Fengs Teaching

    Long Wei had circled the entire cottage but found nothing. The state of the house remained largely unchanged, except for the front floor, which was soaked in blood, and the scratches on several surfaces,clear signs that a battle had taken place not long ago.


    The bonfire in front was now blackened, emitting only a thin wisp of smoke, likely extinguished the night before.


    Yang Feng, examining Beng Sui¡¯s corpse, estimated that he hadn¡¯t been dead for long.


    ¡°Not even two sticks of incense have passed,¡± he said somberly, lamenting the loss of the Mystic Devil¡¯s treasured flute.


    Long Wei widened his eyes. ¡°Really?¡±


    The old man nodded.


    ¡°That means it just happened, and the killer hasn¡¯t gone too far yet.¡± Long Wei studied the two lifeless bodies sprawled in the courtyard. Beng Sui¡¯s eyes remained wide open in shock. ¡°What do you think the killer gained from murdering them?¡±


    ¡°I believe I can guess,¡± Yang Feng said seriously. ¡°I haven¡¯t told you about what happened ten years ago when the Mystic Devil and I clashed with them, have I?¡±


    Long Wei nodded in acknowledgment. To be honest, he hadn¡¯t been too curious before, but now that Yang Feng seemed to know the implications of this event, his curiosity suddenly stirred.


    ¡°Is it related?¡±


    ¡°Very much so.¡± Yang Feng walked to the side of the cottage. ¡°But before that, we need to bury them first.¡±


    Long Wei immediately frowned. ¡°These scoundrels?¡±


    The old man, who was just about to strike the ground with his internal energy, paused and turned to Long Wei. ¡°And what of it?¡±


    ¡°They slaughtered the villagers of Mingxia. I¡¯d bet my head that they never buried a single victim,¡± Long Wei said, his voice laced with anger. ¡°Let them rot here. We should focus on finding a hiding place.¡±


    ¡°The hiding place is near. Trust me, I know a perfect spot in this area.¡± Long Wei began to dig into the ground with his immense internal strength, swiftly creating a deep hole. Then, he stopped again. ¡°You seem to hate them a lot.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Remember your past. How many people do you think cursed your pirate crew when you raided them?¡±


    Long Wei froze, his breath catching for a moment. His past,an entire lifetime filled with crime,had never crossed his mind in this way.


    Still, he defended himself. ¡°We didn¡¯t kill people at random. At least not for fun.¡±


    ¡°Then what for?¡±


    ¡°For wealth.¡±


    ¡°Wealth stained with the blood of innocent people?¡±


    Long Wei clenched his teeth. ¡°Many of them fought back. Some even hunted us.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°We defended ourselves.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


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    ¡°We took their treasures.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    Sensing something amiss, Long Wei halted his rebuttal. His breathing grew heavy, his face reddening.


    Yang Feng stopped digging. ¡°And then what?¡±


    Long Wei averted his gaze, staring bitterly at the two corpses, feeling cornered by Yang Feng¡¯s words.


    ¡°If you had never resorted to piracy in the first place, do you think you would have been hunted and pursued?¡±


    ¡°Life at sea is harsh. When all you see is the vast ocean, anything can happen,whether it¡¯s being attacked by sea beasts or other pirates. If we didn¡¯t pillage, we¡¯d be the ones pillaged.¡±


    Yang Feng nodded in understanding. ¡°That makes sense. But what I¡¯m asking is,if you, or rather your crew, had never turned to piracy, would you still have been hunted and despised?¡±


    ¡°I already told you, pirates would have hunted us first!¡± Long Wei shouted. ¡°They would have come for us first.¡±


    Yang Feng¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°You had the strength to fight back. That¡¯s what true self-defense is,an honorable fight. Unless, of course, you were the ones who attacked first.¡±


    Seizing the chance to steer the conversation away, Long Wei pointed at the two corpses. ¡°Self-defense and honor? Fine. And yet, the ones we¡¯re about to bury are men who killed indiscriminately. I know my past was filled with crime and dishonor, just like theirs. Do they deserve to rest peacefully in the embrace of the earth?¡±


    Yang Feng suddenly laughed. ¡°That¡¯s funny, but you have a point.¡± His laughter grew louder until his shoulders shook and his head tilted back.


    Long Wei smirked in victory, thinking Yang Feng had changed his mind about burying them. Without hesitation, he spat on the faces of Beng Kui and Beng Sui.


    ¡°But we are humans with hearts,¡± Yang Feng said. ¡°Let¡¯s say we hated them while they lived. What we despised was their actions, not them as individuals.¡± He turned back, smiling meaningfully. ¡°Wei Ji, look at their bodies. Do they look any different from ours once we die? Will our corpses glow just because we were slightly better than them?¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Long Wei still refused to accept it. ¡°If their bodies are devoured by wild beasts and left to decay, it¡¯s simply the consequence of their actions in life. That¡¯s justice.¡±


    ¡°And who are you to decide what is just? Are you a god who sets the laws of this world?¡±


    ¡°It is justice! They were evil in life, and the world will treat their corpses just as cruelly!¡±


    ¡°Well, well... now you¡¯re sounding like a god yourself.¡± The old man shook his head. ¡°Wei Ji, when someone dies, as humans, our only duty is to take care of their remains with respect. We don¡¯t need to concern ourselves with justice or the consequences of their past actions. Just handle the burial, and that¡¯s that.¡±


    ¡°But,¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what separates us from those you call scoundrels.¡± Yang Feng gave a brief smile before turning back and digging again. ¡°Think about it and choose. If you want to remain the same as you were in your past,a life of crime, meaningless existence, and no honor,then stand there and wait until I¡¯m done. But if you wish to follow my path, the path of a warrior, to leave the past behind and reclaim your honor, then forget their wicked deeds and see them as mere humans who deserve a proper resting place.¡±


    Long Wei clenched his fists, tempted to crush the corpses into dust. But after standing in silence for a while, an inexplicable force compelled him to help Yang Feng.


    ¡°Why not use that treasured staff to dig? It¡¯d be faster.¡±


    ¡°Idiot, this is a heirloom staff. Do you think it¡¯s so lowly that it should be used just to dig graves?¡±


    ***


    ¡°The Mystic Devil¡¯s real name was Tui Keng. He was my junior disciple when we trained under the legendary warrior known as the Black Lion. Have you ever heard of the Black Lion?¡±


    Long Wei pushed aside the overgrown vegetation blocking their path. ¡°Never. Not even once.¡±


    ¡°If you had, that would be strange, because his name disappeared nearly fifty years ago.¡± Yang Feng laughed heartily. ¡°Tui Keng and I traveled across the land fulfilling our master¡¯s orders,upholding justice and eradicating evil. Along our journeys, we often crossed paths and traveled together for some time before parting ways again.¡±


    ¡°After several years apart, Tui Keng inherited extraordinary medical knowledge from a reclusive sage whose name he never disclosed. He was also the one who turned this flute and staff into powerful relics, coating them with a special medicinal substance that greatly enhanced their durability. Later, he gifted this staff to me,¡± Yang Feng said as he stroked the bamboo staff resting at his waist.


    As they spoke of the past, they continued their ascent up a towering mountain that Yang Feng assured would be a perfect sanctuary. Now, Long Wei was convinced,reaching even the mountain¡¯s base had been a grueling task.


    ¡°One day, we met near Mingxia Village with the same goal,to eliminate the Death Twins. We succeeded, but at the cost of our stolen relics.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard that part before,¡± Long Wei interjected.


    ¡°And also one of the Sky Jade.¡±


    Long Wei stopped dead in his tracks. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You heard me right,¡± Yang Feng said seriously. ¡°The Sky Jade was stolen by them.¡±

 Chapter : 18 - Isolate

    "So, he was once the owner of the Sky Jade as well?" Long Wei asked, half in disbelief.


    "He possessed the necklace form of the Sky Jade, an inheritance from his master, who passed down that miraculous healing technique. However, when he clashed with The Death Twins, not only was his treasured weapon stolen, but also his Sky Jade."


    Now everything made sense, Long Wei thought. No wonder the Mystic Devil had such faith in him and even passed down a powerful technique,he had once been the heir of the Sky Jade himself.


    Yang Feng let out a long sigh. "That was when his mind started to unravel. He felt ashamed for failing to protect the gift from his master,the weapon and the Sky Jade. After that, he vanished without a trace. When I met him again, he was already known as the Mystic Devil, the man you see today."


    Long Wei paused, processing everything Yang Feng had just told him. This was an overwhelming experience. He had just suffered the catastrophe of losing the pirate crew he considered his family, and now he was entangled in the complications surrounding the Sky Jade.


    "When we searched The Death Twins'' hideout, the Sky Jade was nowhere to be found," Long Wei recalled.


    "That means whoever killed them also stole the Sky Jade."


    Suddenly, Long Wei turned to face him. "Is that why you were so eager to chase them down that night and refused to stay at the village chief''s house?"


    The old man chuckled in response.


    Long Wei continued, "What if the necklace falls into the wrong hands?"


    "The Death Twins were ruthless," Yang Feng said firmly. "Let¡¯s hope that whoever took the Sky Jade was a righteous warrior angered by their cruelty. Come on, let¡¯s keep going. We¡¯re almost at the summit."


    The path they took could hardly be called a trail, with thick undergrowth and tangled roots blocking their way. Long Wei struggled as vines coiled around his legs, and more than once, he almost stepped into a hole he feared might be a snake¡¯s den.


    As the sun rose higher, exhaustion weighed on Long Wei, but he was relieved to see the trees thinning and the frustrating bushes diminishing. Yang Feng had said they were getting close when they heard the distant sound of a flowing river.


    Then, suddenly, an open expanse of grassland stretched before them. Long Wei''s mouth slightly parted in awe at the breathtaking sight.


    "We''ve reached the summit. This is where we¡¯ll stay for a while,until your skills are refined or until my life ends, hahaha."


    A pang of sadness struck Long Wei at those last words, but he knew there was nothing he could do. Even the greatest healer acknowledged there was no cure.


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    However, that sorrow was short-lived, replaced by awe at the extraordinary scenery around him. Below his feet, cotton-like clouds drifted lazily in the wind, and in the distance, other towering peaks stood like silent competitors vying for grandeur.


    His reverie was interrupted when Yang Feng spoke. "Let¡¯s build a hut." He pointed at a group of trees slightly below the peak. "Cut down those trees and bring the wood here. I¡¯ll take care of the rest."


    Long Wei didn''t argue, even though he knew Yang Feng wouldn¡¯t lift a finger for the actual cutting, as usual, only giving orders.


    He quickly descended to the trees, each trunk as thick as an adult¡¯s embrace. Tilting his head back to gauge their height, he swallowed nervously. Doubt crept into his mind about whether he could bring one down.


    "Just do it!" Yang Feng shouted.


    Long Wei nodded and took his stance. He gathered his inner strength into his right fist and took a deep breath. When he was ready, he held his breath and struck.


    Braakk! A loud sound echoed.


    Long Wei was stunned,his own strike had nearly shattered the tree¡¯s entire diameter. Just a little more, and the trunk would be completely severed.


    His amazement was cut short by a loud cracking noise. The tree was falling,toward him.


    He leaped away, rolling across the ground. A deafening crash followed as the tree slammed into the earth, fully uprooted.


    "Well done! Now bring it here!" Yang Feng''s voice carried clear excitement, truly pleased with Long Wei¡¯s incredible feat.


    For the rest of the day until evening, they worked together to construct a simple hut at the mountain peak. By nightfall, only half was completed, forcing them to sleep outside. The next day, by midday, their modest shelter was finally finished and ready for use.


    It was a stilted house, raised about the height of a man from the ground. Yang Feng explained that this design would protect them from snakes. The roof was made of dried grass and leaves, painstakingly gathered by Long Wei.


    The hut had only one room, but it was spacious enough for them to sleep, talk, or simply sit in silence,not that such a thing was likely to happen.


    The moment the hut was standing firm, Yang Feng immediately instructed Long Wei to prepare himself for a new lesson.


    "With just the Sacred Im-Yang Mystic Arts, you have already mastered both offense and defense. It is a peerless technique, but it is already at an advanced level," Yang Feng explained, his tone wise and composed. "This time, I will teach you a striking technique. It may not be as powerful as what the Mystic Devil passed down to you, but that doesn¡¯t mean it is weak. This technique will also help conceal your Sacred Im-Yang Mystic Arts, making it harder for enemies to gauge your true strength."


    Long Wei listened intently, his excitement making him tense. Without realizing it, he had already developed the hunger for martial knowledge, much like the warriors of the martial world.


    "This strike is called East Wind Topples the Mountain. Watch carefully."


    Yang Feng took his stance, spreading his legs wide and bending his knees slightly. "Despite its name, ''Topples the Mountain,'' this technique is actually a contest of endurance,yours versus your opponent¡¯s. In my opinion, it possesses exceptional defensive capabilities while incorporating precise strikes."


    The old man''s hands moved in slow, deliberate strikes, yet Long Wei could feel the force behind them. His footwork followed a simple but firm pattern,slow yet unshakable.


    The East Wind Topples the Mountain consisted of four moves. Three were defensive, and one was offensive. Now, Long Wei understood why Yang Feng regarded it as a defensive technique supplemented by attacks.


    "It is based on Yang energy," Yang Feng continued after demonstrating all four moves. "The stronger your Yang energy, the more powerful this technique becomes."


    Long Wei nodded and sprang to his feet. "I''ll give it a try."


    From that day forward, Long Wei secluded himself in the mountains, training under Yang Feng, honing his skills year after year.

 Chapter : 19 - Agree

    Outside the city of Hunnan, about two li to the east, stood a grand structure surrounded by towering walls. The entire building was dominated by shades of white. Four massive towers stood at each corner of the wall, proudly flying banners adorned with the image of a crow. This was the headquarters of the White Crow Sect, a gathering place for valiant warriors whose names were renowned throughout the Tian Empire.


    Lu Cang Er held back a gasp as she caught sight of the majestic building from afar, its surface gleaming under the sunlight. Beside her, Liang Kun gave a small smile, noticing her reaction. Of course, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride.


    The Xi family¡¯s entourage had stopped in the previous city a day earlier before continuing their long journey to Hunnan on horseback.


    "Welcome to our home," Cao Yin said as they arrived at the gate.


    Moments later, the massive wooden gate, built from the finest quality timber, slowly swung open, revealing a vast courtyard surrounded by various buildings. Cang Er had no idea what each of them was for.


    She only recognized two structures,the most magnificent one with a statue of a man standing before it, and another beside it, a tall tower with four levels.


    "Welcome, Master."


    Members of the White Crow Sect immediately approached, bowing in respect. Cao Yin responded with a short nod and a wave of his hand.


    He led Cang Er across the expansive courtyard, passing by many curious and admiring gazes. Cang Er felt uneasy, fully aware that every pair of eyes was now fixed on her.


    It was at that moment that she realized Liang Kun was no longer by her side. She turned her head, glancing back to find him whispering to one of the members.


    The man''s face suddenly lit up in shock. "Young Master''s fianc¨¦e!" he blurted out, just as Liang Kun smacked his shoulder, his face turning red. But instead of stopping, the man only laughed louder. This time, he announced it even more boldly. "Lu Cang Er, daughter of Lu Taihiap, Young Master''s fianc¨¦e!"


    Cang Er''s entire face flushed crimson. She tried to ignore the growing chorus of voices echoing the same words by lowering her head.


    Cao Yin laughed. "It seems you''re being warmly welcomed here, Er Ji." He looked around, seeing the friendly, smiling faces of his disciples.


    What he did next only made Cang Er even more flustered. With a sudden burst of internal energy, Cao Yin bellowed, "Welcome Lu Cang Er, our new sister and Liang Kun¡¯s fianc¨¦e!"


    "Lu Cang Er!"


    "Welcome, Sister Er!"


    "Congratulations, Young Master Liang! Wishing you happiness always!"


    Cang Er lowered her head even further as Cao Yin''s laughter grew louder.


    By the time they reached the grand statue in front of the most imposing building, Liang Kun had rejoined them. Cang Er shot him a sharp glare.


    "What did you tell them?" she hissed.


    "I only said that you were a new sister here."


    "Only that?"


    "And mentioned your name." Liang Kun looked away.


    ***


    It felt like a dream. She had just lost both her parents in a single day, right before her eyes, and now she was suddenly taken in by someone her father deeply admired. Not only that,she had even been betrothed to his disciple.


    Cang Er was no fool. She knew Liang Kun was someone special to Cao Yin, which meant he must be highly skilled. After all, he had the privilege of studying directly under a grandmaster.


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    This realization left her deeply conflicted. Earlier, Cao Yin had offered her a place to stay, and she had readily agreed. But his second request,that she become his direct disciple,left her hesitant, as it felt like accepting her engagement to Liang Kun.


    "Father... Mother... what should I do?" she murmured unconsciously, gazing at the night sky from her room. Per Cao Yin''s orders, she had been given a private chamber.


    At that moment, footsteps approached her door, followed by three knocks. Cang Er snapped out of her thoughts, immediately recognizing the voice calling out to her.


    "Cang Er, I brought your dinner."


    She quickly stepped forward and opened the door. Just as she expected, Liang Kun stood there.


    The young man¡¯s face reddened slightly upon seeing her. He quickly averted his gaze, making sure to avoid direct eye contact with those clear, mesmerizing eyes. For some reason, ever since he had met his betrothed in person, Liang Kun always found himself flustered whenever he was near her.


    "Master asked me to bring it to you," he said.


    Cang Er hesitated for a moment. "Oh, thank you." She accepted the tray filled with steaming dishes and placed it on the table.


    An awkward silence followed. She couldn¡¯t just rudely shut the door in his face, not when he was still standing there.


    "Cang Er, about Master¡¯s offer¡­"


    "Yes?" She startled herself with how quickly she responded, nervous about speaking alone with him,her betrothed.


    Liang Kun took a deep breath before finally meeting her gaze with determination. "I know you must be confused and overwhelmed. You just experienced something tragic, then suddenly came here with us and got engaged to me. Honestly, I was surprised you didn¡¯t object at all."


    Cang Er lowered her head. If she were to be honest, she hadn¡¯t resisted,not because she agreed, but because she didn¡¯t know how to react. On one hand, she was being betrothed, but on the other, joining the White Crow Sect had been her late father¡¯s dream for her.


    "I assume you came here to fulfill your father¡¯s wish. Am I right?"


    She was slightly taken aback by how easily Liang Kun seemed to read her thoughts. "Yes," she admitted softly.


    "A devoted child," Liang Kun said with a small smile. "Truthfully, I didn¡¯t bring your dinner on Master¡¯s orders,I did it of my own accord."


    Cang Er¡¯s eyes widened.


    "I mean¡­" Liang Kun scratched the back of his head. "I, uh¡­ convinced the servant who was supposed to bring it to let me do it instead."


    Cang Er still said nothing.


    "I wanted to talk to you," he continued. "About Master¡¯s request this morning. To be honest, I don¡¯t mind whether you accept the engagement or not. But I would be very happy if you chose to stay here as Master¡¯s disciple and carry on your father¡¯s wishes."


    "But Master Cao Taihiap may have only accepted me as his disciple because of the engagement."


    Liang Kun shook his head. "I know Master¡¯s true intentions. He always planned to take in Lu Taihiap¡¯s child as his disciple, no matter who it was. He arranged this engagement simply because you¡¯re a girl. If you had been a boy, he still would have taken you in as a disciple. That¡¯s what he told me before we left for your home in Qinglan Village."


    "Why would he take in Lu Taihiap¡¯s child? Is it because my father was never accepted here, and Master Cao wants to make up for it?" Cang Er asked.


    "I asked him that myself," Liang Kun replied. "Master said he always intended to take in Lu Taihiap¡¯s child before they turned twenty. He knew about you since the day you were born and had been waiting for this moment."


    "My father never told me anything about this."


    "He did. Once. That¡¯s what Master told me. Maybe Lu Taihiap never mentioned it to you."


    Cang Er gasped softly. Was that why her father had always insisted she get accepted into the White Crow Sect? Had he known all along and trained her to be worthy?


    She hesitated before answering. "Father always said he wanted me to be accepted here."


    "This is your chance, Cang Er," Liang Kun said with a reassuring smile. "And that¡¯s what I wanted to tell you tonight. You don¡¯t have to think about the engagement now. I¡¯m sure Master won¡¯t mind. Just say you want to become his disciple to honor your father¡¯s wishes. As for the engagement, you can accept or reject it whenever you decide. Master is not someone with a narrow mind."


    Cang Er was surprised. "Are you sure?"


    "Trust me," Liang Kun said firmly.


    The next morning, Cang Er and Liang Kun met with Cao Yin in his private chamber. Cang Er conveyed everything Liang Kun had told her,that she wished to become his disciple and stay at the White Crow Sect.


    "However, regarding the engagement¡­ I don¡¯t think I can make a decision just yet," she admitted, lowering her head.


    Cao Yin stroked his long beard. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, unexpectedly, the old master smiled and looked at Liang Kun, nodding several times.


    Liang Kun suddenly felt self-conscious and lowered his head as well. He knew that Master had already figured out what had happened the previous night in Cang Er¡¯s room. There was no escape now.


    "Very well. That is your decision, and I won¡¯t force you. What matters most is that I am delighted you¡¯ve chosen to train here! Hahahaha!"


    Cang Er lifted her head, looking at him in disbelief. Liang Kun had been right. She was relieved that she had trusted him.


    She turned to look at him and smiled sweetly. "Thank you," she whispered.


    Liang Kun felt his heart leap out of his chest. He was completely taken by the beauty of Lu Cang Er, the daughter of Lu Taihiap.