A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 312 Xuanwu Encounters Danger
Commander Qiu glanced at his subordinate lying on the ground, took a deep breath, stared intently at Bi Yusheng, and slowly drew his long sword. A flash of cold light suddenly appeared, followed by a series of sword moves resembling plum blossoms attacking Bi Yusheng. These plum blossom sword moves were extremely ruthless, with points of cold light flying out, specifically targeting Bi Yusheng's vital points.

Seeing this, Bi Yusheng's expression remained unchanged. He closed his folding fan and dodged to the left and right. A burst of clear light fell like a net, completely enveloping the incoming plum blossom sword light. With a forceful sweep, the plum blossom sword light was instantly refined cleanly, while the net seemed to have not been damaged much at all, continuing its momentum towards Commander Qiu.

"Your Cold Plum Sword Technique is quite good, comparable to that of the Old Man withered plum tree back then. However, you are too eager for quick success and have lost the essence of this Cold Plum Sword Technique."

Commander Qiu watched the incoming net of light without changing his expression. With a flick of his wrist, the sword light rose from below and then swept upwards, followed by a horizontal slash. A cross of sword light crisscrossed and met the net, breaking through Bi Yusheng's attack in the blink of an eye.

“Mr. Bi is very knowledgeable, and I, Qiu, am humbled. Even though the Cold Plum Sword Technique is full of flaws, I am not giving up. Mr. Bi, I apologize.”

Upon hearing Bi Yusheng's words, Commander Qiu was not discouraged at all; instead, his momentum increased even further. The longsword in his hand hummed repeatedly, and a cold light flowed forward from the hilt to the tip of the sword. Suddenly, it shone brightly and exploded. Upon seeing this, Bi Yusheng's expression also became solemn. As he retreated, his folding fan snapped open.

"Ten Thousand Plum Blossoms Point to the Stars!"

Bi Yusheng was slightly startled. This sword technique was the most powerful move in the Cold Plum Sword Technique. Once it was used, it could cover an area of ​​several feet. Enemies deep within the attack range could only defend themselves. If they couldn't withstand it, they would be cut into mincemeat by the sword light.

Because of its immense power, few who practice this sword technique are able to master it. This is the first time Bi Yusheng has ever truly witnessed such a move since he began his journey in the martial arts world.

"I never imagined that you would also be able to master this move after the Old Man of the Withered Plum."

Commander Qiu remained calm, seemingly ignoring Bi Yusheng's words, and continued to gather his sword energy. The burst of cold light danced around him like fireflies. Bi Yusheng, eager to witness the perfect strike of this move, waved his folding fan and waited for Commander Qiu to build up his power.

A moment later, a clanging sound was heard, and Bi Yusheng paused in his fanning motion. Looking closely, he saw that the long sword in Commander Qiu's hand rang out clearly, and the hazy white light that had covered the sword began to recede at a visible speed. However, a murderous aura spread out, making Bi Yusheng feel a chill. He let out a soft shout, and his aura surged, forming a transparent protective aura that covered his entire body.

"drink!"

Commander Qiu let out a deep shout, his longsword trembled, and he leaped forward. A sharp and unparalleled sword light shot out, followed by a series of fine sword lights that simultaneously bloomed from the white light fluttering around him, slashing towards Bi Yusheng from all directions.

The sword light flashed and disappeared in a flash. All that could be heard was the sound of the sword light hitting the protective shield. The sword light that hit the shield first exploded suddenly, then formed into the shape of plum blossoms, sticking tightly to the shield. The sword light continued to fly towards it. In just a few breaths, Bi Yusheng's protective shield was riddled with holes by the sword light. The cold sword energy passed through the shield and attacked his limbs and bones.

Bi Yusheng sensed the approaching sword energy, but his expression remained unchanged. He circulated his qi, and a warm current forced the chilling sword energy out of his body. His aura trembled, and both his protective aura and the plum blossom sword energy shattered. Before Commander Qiu could make a move, Bi Yusheng channeled his inner strength, and his folding fan spun around, heading straight for Commander Qiu. Upon seeing this, the latter's expression changed slightly, and his sword move, which he was about to execute, was interrupted. He had no choice but to retreat, raise his sword, and leap forward, sending a burst of sword energy flying to deflect the incoming folding fan back.

However, to his surprise, the folding fan, after circling around, actually dissipated the sword energy and, taking advantage of Commander Qiu's lack of leverage in mid-air, continued to spin back.

Commander Qiu sensed the power emanating from the folding fan, but his expression remained unchanged. Using the force of the fall, he thrust his sword straight down. The longsword struck the folding fan with a clang, but the powerful internal force caused his blood and qi to surge, and the sword itself to bend. If it hadn't been made of fine steel, it would have been shattered by now. Commander Qiu forcibly suppressed the suffocation in his chest, exerted force in his hand, and bent the sword again. With a deft maneuver, Commander Qiu landed steadily three zhang away.

"What a brilliant move to shed one's scales and armor."

Bi Yusheng reached out and pulled back the swirling folding fan. He looked at Commander Qiu with admiration. This move, "Shedding Scales and Removing Armor," was not a profound martial art, but the fact that it could be used so skillfully made him even more delighted than the "Ten Thousand Plum Blossoms Dotting Stars."

"I admit that I am no match for Mr. Bi's martial arts skills, so I can only try to teach him a lesson. I am grateful to Mr. Bi for showing mercy, otherwise I would have lost this arm no matter what."

Commander Qiu sighed. Although he had successfully broken Bi Yusheng's Thirteen Forms of Flying Fan, it was only because the opponent had not used his full strength. If Bi Yusheng had changed his flying fan circling technique just now, his "Shedding Scales and Removing Armor" move would not only have failed to get him out, but would have also trapped him in a deadly situation, leaving him either dead or crippled.

"Mr. Bi, I am ashamed to ask you about what happened tonight, but it is my duty to inform the hall master about this in the future. Mr. Bi, you should take care of yourself."

Upon hearing this, Bi Yusheng chuckled, closed his folding fan, and slowly walked towards Commander Qiu. He clapped his hands with the fan and said, "Commander Qiu is upright and honest, which I, Bi Yusheng, greatly admire. In that case, I have a word of advice to offer."

Looking at the expressionless Commander Qiu, Bi Yusheng said in a deep voice, "You must know Shangguan Yunfeng's style. He is cruel and tyrannical, not a wise ruler. Most of the upheavals in the martial arts world are closely related to him. Why don't you abandon the darkness and seek another way out?"

Bi Yusheng, also moved by the sudden surge of talent, was unwilling to let the Cold Plum Sword Technique be used as a sacrifice for Shangguan Yun. Upon hearing this, Commander Qiu said calmly, "We have different paths, so we cannot work together. I appreciate Mr. Bi's good intentions, but I have been supported by the Hall Master since I was a child and will never betray him. Mr. Bi, there is no need to waste your breath."

Commander Qiu was well aware of the Hall Master's style, but he had his eye on Shangguan Yun. No matter what the future held, he had fulfilled his loyalty and had not betrayed his conscience.

Upon hearing this, Bi Yusheng's face showed regret, and he sighed softly, "Everyone has their own ambitions and their own fate. Shangguan Yun has done many unrighteous deeds and will surely perish. Commander Qiu, just watch carefully. Although Zhongxin Hall has integrated most of the martial arts forces, it is entirely dependent on Shangguan Yun to maintain it. Once Shangguan Yun makes a mistake, not only will Zhongxin Hall be destroyed, but most of the martial arts world will also be buried in his hands. In this way, countless innocent people will become victims in this chaotic war."

Bi Yusheng shook his head at Commander Qiu, waved his folding fan, and gradually walked away.

Commander Qiu watched Bi Yusheng leave, sighed, walked over to his subordinates, woke them up one by one, and after tidying up a bit, Commander Qiu immediately led everyone back to Zhongxin Hall.

Meanwhile, Commander Wang had rushed back to Zhongxin Hall. When Jiang Che saw him return alone, his heart sank. After asking him questions, he learned that more than one person had infiltrated the place.

"Commander Qiu is leading his men to fight those bandits. I'm worried something might go wrong here. Brother Jiang, is there anything amiss on your end?"

Seeing Jiang Che deep in thought, Commander Wang asked him a question. Jiang Che's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he realized something was wrong. He hurriedly headed towards the inner courtyard. Commander Wang's expression also changed upon seeing this, and he quickly followed. Just as they arrived at the inner courtyard, they saw that the subordinates guarding the inner courtyard had already fainted. Jiang Che's face was very grim. After walking a little further, they saw the woman in tight-fitting clothes leaning against the eaves, and the room had been opened.

"This is……"

Before Commander Wang could finish speaking, Jiang Che darted forward and entered the room in the blink of an eye. After lighting the candles, he saw a person lying on the table—it was He Yanrong. Jiang Che hurriedly and cautiously stepped forward, and after scanning the room again, he did not find Shangguan Feiyan. He apologized and put his hand under He Yanrong's nose to check her breath, then breathed a sigh of relief.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Che turned to leave the room, but suddenly smelled a faint sweet scent that went straight into his nose. However, as soon as the scent entered his body, Jiang Che felt tired and sluggish. Knowing that this was a sleeping potion, he immediately gritted his teeth, circulated his true energy, and refined the weak strange power. In just a few breaths, a thin layer of sweat covered Jiang Che's face.

"That 'Dream Sweet Fragrance' is amazing, I almost fell for it."

Jiang Che wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, still feeling lingering fear. This "Dream Sweet Fragrance" was a top-grade aphrodisiac, made by melting the juice of various exotic flowers. It had a sweet and intoxicating aroma and was originally intended to calm the mind. However, someone with ulterior motives adjusted the formula and dosage, which is why it became a notorious aphrodisiac in the martial arts world.

Once inhaled, one will become mentally exhausted and lose consciousness completely in a short time, becoming delirious. Moreover, the more one resists with internal force, the faster the onset of the illness. This is only due to the faint trace of Meng Tianxiang's scent and Jiang Che's profound internal strength; otherwise, he would have also been defeated by this.

Jiang Che covered his nose and opened all the windows. A breeze blew in, completely eliminating the remaining smell in the room. Jiang Che turned and left the room. He saw Commander Wang waiting anxiously outside and gave him a wink. The latter understood, waved for the others to leave, and walked forward.

"Brother Jiang, your wife and young lady?"

"Come with me."

Commander Wang, bewildered, followed Jiang Che into the room and saw He Yanrong lying face down on the table, her life hanging in the balance. He was immediately horrified; if the hall master knew what had happened here, he knew he would surely lose his life.

"Madam has been poisoned by the Sweet Fragrance of Dreams. She will wake up in two hours. However, Miss is missing. This matter can no longer be kept secret. Commander Wang, you must immediately take your men and search the surrounding area thoroughly. Make sure you don't miss anything. This matter is of great importance. If we fail, we will not be able to explain to the Hall Master."

"This person was able to easily evade us and abduct the young lady without making a sound, so his martial arts skills must be extremely high. Once something happens, immediately send out a new signal."

Jiang Che knew that the current situation was very passive, but he still calmed down and made arrangements one by one. Commander Wang, who was originally a little impatient, calmed down immediately after hearing this.

"Brother Jiang, please keep a close watch on the hall. I will take men out to search immediately." Commander Wang clasped his hands in a salute to Jiang Che, then turned and walked out. He called out, and his subordinates immediately split into several teams and left Zhongxin Hall.

After Commander Wang left, Jiang Che had someone carefully guard He Yanrong's room, while he immediately wrote a letter and sent it by carrier pigeon to the Sun and Moon Duo. As for the Hall Master, Jiang Che planned to report back after things took a turn for the better.

In the inner courtyard room, after Jiang Che and the others left, He Yanrong, who had been unconscious, slowly opened her eyes, got up and moved around a bit. Looking at the figures outside, she couldn't help but snort coldly. After hearing footsteps outside, she returned to her original state.

After returning to Zhongxin Hall with his men, Commander Qiu immediately headed towards the main hall. Before he had gone far, he saw torches lit in the square outside the main hall. His heart sank. He waved to the people behind him and quickly walked over. As soon as he approached, a subordinate immediately stepped forward, bowed to Commander Qiu, and said in a solemn voice, "Commander Qiu, Commander Jiang invites you."

Commander Qiu nodded upon hearing this and strode into the main hall. Jiang Che breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Commander Qiu had returned unharmed.

"It's good that Commander Qiu is alright. I wonder if that little thief could figure out his origins?"

Commander Qiu was taken aback upon hearing this, then said with a strange expression, "That person is none other than the all-knowing scholar, Bi Yusheng."

Upon hearing Commander Qiu's words, Jiang Che was taken aback, then his face turned frosty, and he said sternly, "Bi Yusheng!"

Jiang Che never imagined that this renowned beauty would do such a thing; it was simply unbelievable.

"Commander Qiu, we've fallen for their trap. Madam is under the influence of Meng Tianxiang, and Miss is missing. I've already asked Commander Wang to lead a search party. This matter is of great importance. Commander Qiu, do you have any thoughts on this?"

Next, Jiang Che briefly explained the situation.

Commander Qiu was shocked after hearing this. Other things were one thing, but this young lady was the apple of the hall master's eye. If something went wrong, it would be no laughing matter. Just thinking about the hall master's methods, cold sweat immediately poured down Commander Qiu's forehead.

"The hall master has important matters to attend to and cannot be distracted. We can only inform Elder Riyue and ask them to return to take charge. In addition, I have a slight suspicion that perhaps Miss is not in any danger at the moment."

Jiang Che looked puzzled upon hearing this, but then a thought flashed through his mind, and he blurted out a name.

"Lu Yi!"

Commander Qiu nodded hurriedly and said in a deep voice, "According to Brother Jiang, if the person who came is an enemy of Zhongxin Hall, he will definitely not show mercy to Madam and his subordinates. He even used a rare item like Dream Sweet Fragrance, which is really not worth the loss. Considering the recent events, if Lu Yi and the Black and White Heroes make a move, this is very likely."

Commander Qiu, with his meticulous mind, connected the causes and consequences of the matter and analyzed it step by step. The original fog of confusion immediately dissipated, and Jiang Che's mind became clear, his eyes becoming brighter and brighter.

“Brother Qiu, this matter is already seven or eight parts complete. Now that we have a direction, let’s search in that direction. I have been entrusted by the hall master and cannot leave without permission. I can only trouble you, Brother Qiu.”

As Shangguan Yun's direct subordinate, Jiang Che's status was higher than his own. Upon hearing this, Commander Qiu quickly said, "Commander Jiang, you are being too serious. This is our duty. There is no need to say 'hard work'. With you in charge of everything in the hall, everything will be done perfectly. Without further ado, I will take people to search the surrounding area."

After bowing to Jiang Che again, Commander Qiu left the main hall. After resting for a while, he led more than twenty people away from Zhongxin Hall and headed southeast, where his subordinates had previously reported that they had spotted the Black and White Duo.

After several days, Commander Qiu and Commander Wang finally found Shangguan Feiyan's whereabouts in an unnamed valley a hundred miles southwest of Zhongxin Hall.

Just as Zhongxin Hall was searching for Shangguan Feiyan's whereabouts, Shangguan Yun, after losing two good horses, finally arrived at Si'an City. After some searching, Shangguan Yun finally met Xuanwu Shangren, who was accompanied by a handsome young boy who was eating his seventh bowl of rice.

"Uncle, can I have another bowl?"

Cha Muxue raised her eyes, her innocent gaze fixed on Xuanwu Shangren. The latter looked at the seven porcelain bowls stacked on the table, along with the remaining dishes, and couldn't help but twitch his lips.

"Xue'er, it's not that your uncle is trying to save money by not letting you eat, it's just that eating so much isn't good for your health. How about we eat some later? There's a candied hawthorn skewer over there, how about your uncle buys you a skewer?"

Master Xuanwu was really afraid that Cha Muxue would eat too much and burst her stomach, so when he saw a candied hawthorn vendor not far away, he immediately changed the subject.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Cha Muxue turned around and saw the candied hawthorn vendor. She immediately put down her chopsticks and looked at Xuanwu Shangren with pitiful eyes. Xuanwu Shangren's heart softened, and he immediately called out "Boss!" After paying the bill, Xuanwu Shangren took Cha Muxue's hand and led her to the candied hawthorn vendor.

"Give me one skewer, give me two skewers of candied hawthorn."

Master Xuanwu originally intended to buy one skewer, but after a moment's hesitation, he bought one more. The old man selling candied hawthorns chuckled and took the two skewers from Master Xuanwu, who then handed him four copper coins.

"Sir, here is your candied hawthorn."

Master Xuanwu held two skewers in one hand, bent down, and handed one of them to Cha Muxue. The latter immediately called out "Uncle," then took the candied hawthorn, her eyes shining. She carefully licked it with her tongue, and a sweet taste filled her mouth, causing Cha Muxue's eyes to narrow.

"Alright, we should get going."

Master Xuanwu led Chamu Xue towards the city gate. Suddenly, his mind stirred, and he paused slightly, but quickly recovered. However, he involuntarily tightened his grip on Chamu Xue's hand. Seeing this, Chamu Xue looked up at Master Xuanwu, who shook his head slightly. Chamu Xue immediately understood that someone was plotting against them.

"Uncle, let's hurry to the outskirts of the city. Once we're there, the bad guys won't be able to catch us."

Cha Muxue whispered something, and Xuanwu Shangren immediately hugged Cha Muxue in his arms and ran out quickly. In just a few breaths, they disappeared into the crowd.

Seeing Xuanwu and the other person disappear from a distance, Shangguan Yun snorted coldly in his heart, put down a piece of silver, and moved swiftly. Using the connection between the Dragon Pearl and Cha Mu Xue, he quickly chased after them to the outside of the city. After another round, he chased in one direction and soon saw Xuanwu and the other person running ahead.

"Xuanwu, don't run!"

Shangguan Yun shouted, and then unleashed a powerful Golden Palm strike. The fierce palm wind swept across the sky and earth like a flying dragon, stirring up dust and forming a solid mass of sand that attacked Xuanwu Shangren.

"Shangguan Yun!"

Upon hearing the sound, Master Xuanwu was startled. He turned around and saw the palm wind that was already close at hand. He drew his long sword and slashed with all his might. A clear light burst forth, tearing through the sky and earth. After a moment of brightness and darkness, the sand clump was instantly split in two and scattered on the ground. Although Master Xuanwu broke through this move, he was also shaken so badly that his blood and qi surged. He took three steps back before the power dissipated.

"uncle!"

When Cha Muxue saw Xuanwu's face turn pale, she immediately jumped out of his arms, placed her palm against his back, and a flash of golden light disappeared, instantly calming the restless true energy within Xuanwu's body.

"The power of the Dragon Balls!"

Upon seeing the familiar power released from Cha Muxue's palm, Shangguan Yun's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Perfectly controlling the power of the Dragon Ball was exactly what he had been dreaming of. He had already made up his mind to capture this child. As for Xuanwu, let the damned go where he was supposed to go.

(End of this chapter)