A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 72 The Master of Closing
Japan, the Yagyu family's residence
"What did you say? Jincheng died under mysterious circumstances."

With a sharp rebuke, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami shattered the table with a single palm strike, startling his servant who hurriedly pressed his head to the ground, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

"We don't even know who the murderer is, you bunch of useless trash."

Looking at the servant in front of him, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami wished he could kill him with one blow. Yagyu Chikamaru, as the family member he valued most, did not die in a battle with other Daoist schools, but instead died in a small coastal town in the Central Plains. If word got out, people would just laugh their heads off.

“Jin Cheng’s martial arts skills are not weak. He has even mastered the secret technique ‘Snowflakes Falling in the Human World’. There are very few people in the Central Plains martial arts world who can easily kill him. Who is it?”

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami was very confident in his family's martial arts. He believed that, apart from a few masters at the level of sect leaders, Yagyu Chikamaru would be able to protect himself in the current Central Plains martial arts world and would not be like this.

"Have our people thoroughly investigate this matter. The Liu Sheng family will not let this go. As for Qingyan Town, let's leave it at that for now."

With a family expert killed here, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami had no choice but to adjust his plans and concentrate his forces on several other coastal towns.

"Yes, sir," the servant replied hastily, relieved.

After watching the servants leave, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami summoned the clan elders, gave them some instructions, and then took the two elders by boat to Qingyan Town. After changing his appearance, he used secret marks to find the clan's residence there.

Looking at the ruins of the encampment before them, the two elders were furious. Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's expression was also grim. He said in a deep voice, "Go to the next place."

The other outpost, though not in ruins, was heavily guarded by government troops, and no one could enter without a warrant.

Seeing this, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami stopped the two elders who were about to make a move.

"Walk"

The two elders dared not disobey. After glancing at the garrison soldiers, they snorted and followed Yagyu Tajima-no-kami to an inn to stay.

"Patriarch, it seems there must be experts in the government helping us, otherwise these two outposts wouldn't have fallen into their hands so quietly. Those disciples seem to be in grave danger."

Upon hearing this, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami remained silent in thought.

These two outposts, especially the second one, had dozens of elite soldiers who could easily defeat an enemy several times their size. Now that they had been discovered by the government, the fate of those disciples was self-evident.

"It seems that the person who killed Jincheng must have an inextricable connection with the government, and his martial arts skills must be top-notch. He might even be a court official sent by the imperial court."

To be able to clean up both outposts so thoroughly and without a sound before I even received the news, this person is truly terrifying. I can only think of one other than someone from the imperial court.

"Master, I don't think it should be a court official."

The white-haired elder speculated, and seeing Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's gaze, he immediately said, "Patriarch, the court officials are always arrogant. If it were truly their doing, they would surely publicize it widely, instead of keeping it a secret like this, with neither the government nor the court issuing any information."

Hearing this, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami nodded. "You're right. If it really was done by the imperial court and government officials, they would definitely publicize it to boost morale. The reason they haven't made a move is probably because they don't know the temperament of this mysterious master and dare not speculate, lest they annoy him. So they simply remain silent, leaving everyone confused so we can misjudge the situation."

"The head of the family is wise"

"It seems there's more to this than meets the eye. We need to find out who this mysterious person is as soon as possible. Oh, right, isn't the new General Liu Zun greedy and lecherous? Let's start with him."

"Yes"

Qingyan Town, General's Mansion

Deputy General Fang Zhao looked at Liu Zun, who died with his eyes wide open, and felt a chill in his heart. The general had died under mysterious circumstances, and even the murderer was unknown. How was he supposed to explain this to the Liu family?

The initial joy of annihilating the Japanese pirates was now completely gone; what lay ahead was a raging storm.

"This matter cannot be delayed; it must be reported as soon as possible, and we await the arrival of officials from the imperial court to investigate."

Fang Zhao dared not conceal such a matter at all. He first wrote an official document and sent it to the court, explaining the details of the incident. He then sent a letter to his friend in the court, asking him to exonerate Fang Zhao.

After dealing with these matters, Fang Zhao returned to the morgue and asked the coroner, "What is the explanation for General Liu's fatal wound?"

Upon hearing this, the coroner put down his tools and said, "Reporting to you, sir, General Liu only has one wound on his throat. Judging from the marks, it was made with a sharp weapon, which seems to be the work of a martial arts practitioner."

Fang Zhao remained silent after hearing this. In fact, he also suspected that it was done by people from the martial arts world, but none of the martial arts people he knew had the skill to kill Liu Zun so easily in the heavily guarded general's mansion, leaving the latter no time to call for help.

"Okay, I understand. Preserve the body with ice."

Fang Zhao gave instructions to the coroner, returned to his residence, and ordered his subordinate, "Go and bring me the register that General Jiang Bohuan made for the Jianghu people."

The subordinate accepted the order and left, returning shortly with a thick booklet, which he placed on the table.

After quickly flipping through the contents of the book, Fang Zhao felt a headache coming on and rubbed his head.

"Qiu Li, do you think General Liu's death might be related to Jiang Bohuan?"

Previously, Jiang Bohuan was removed from office, which allowed Liu Zun to take over. Those Jianghu figures probably disliked Liu Zun's character and, coupled with personal grudges, took action against him.

Upon hearing this, guard Qiu Li pondered for a moment and said, "Sir, I don't think so. Although those martial arts figures may dislike Liu Zun, they wouldn't be so foolish. If they make a mistake, it won't just be them who suffer."

"That makes sense. The Eastern Depot isn't to be trifled with either, and that Chief Supervisor Bu is not someone to be trifled with."

The current head of the Eastern Depot, Bu Xiao, is highly trusted by the emperor and is used to control various forces in the martial arts world. All sects are registered in the imperial court, and any sect with disloyal intentions will immediately suffer a devastating blow from the Eastern Depot. Some disobedient sects have already become history.

Who exactly is that mysterious person?

Inside the inn, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's face was ashen. Liu Zun was dead, and he couldn't even find anyone to inquire about him. In this area, finding out the mysterious person as soon as possible would be even more difficult.

"Patriarch, those disciples have all been released, and we should have results in a while."

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami remained silent. If he didn't find this mysterious person as soon as possible, how could he feel at ease to take the next step? Being so constrained was truly frustrating.

"Who's there?" Yagyu Tajima-no-kami shouted and rushed to the door. As soon as he opened the door, a dart shot towards him. Yagyu Tajima-no-kami reacted quickly, drew his long sword, and knocked the dart against the door.

"Master!" the two elders exclaimed in unison, only to breathe a sigh of relief when they saw that Yagyu Tajima-no-kami was unharmed.

Reaching out, I pulled the dart nailed to the door. A note was attached to it, and inside was a sentence.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami had studied in the Central Plains for many years and could still recognize Chinese characters.

"To know the reason, gather at the dock."

Putting away the note, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami said in a deep voice, "It seems that this mysterious expert had already noticed us before we entered the town. Very well, let me see who this person really is."

The three used their lightness skills and arrived at the dock in less than a quarter of an hour. Standing in front of them was a tall and upright person, who should be the main person.

It was already late, and after the previous attack by Japanese pirates, there was no one around the dock, only the waves crashing on the shore and the land breeze blowing.

"Who exactly are you?" Yagyu Tajima-no-kami took a few steps closer, but could not sense the other person's aura, so he was certain that this person's skill must be above his own.

"If the Yagyu family doesn't act as local tyrants in Japan, why do they insist on coming to the Central Plains to cause trouble? Do they think the Central Plains is a place where anyone can bully them?"

Gu Xu turned around and asked, word by word.

The clear voice entered their ears, causing Yagyu Tajima-no-kami and the two elders to become somewhat unsettled.

"Was Yagyu Chikazane killed by you?"

"Was the breach of the base also your doing?"

"That's right"

Upon hearing this, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's eyes sharpened. He called to the two elders and immediately drew his sword, charging forward. Now that the main culprit had been found, there was nothing more to say; it was a fight to the death. Although Yagyu Tajima-no-kami knew he was no match for Gu Xu, with the assistance of the two elders, he was not without a fighting chance. Moreover, the people of Japan had always enjoyed challenging the strong, and this man would serve as his whetstone.

The white-haired elder and the black-bearded elder both charged forward with their swords, unleashing two sword energies from the left and right, slashing towards Gu Xu simultaneously. Yagyu Tajima no Kami leaped into the air, swinging his swords in quick succession, and four sword energies followed closely behind, blocking Gu Xu's escape routes in all directions.

Seeing this, Gu Xu stood still, and a golden aura suddenly appeared around his body. The six sword energies struck it, but there was no reaction.

"Golden Bell Cover," Yagyu Tajima-no-kami discerned the opponent's martial arts style.

"I've seen this Golden Bell Shield before, but no one has ever been able to cultivate it to such a level, easily blocking six attacks."

Gu Xu wanted to test the power of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill, so he stood still. This test truly lived up to its reputation.

"It is impolite not to reciprocate, so please take my sword."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Xu touched the ground with one foot and leaped into the air. Reflecting the bright moon in the sky, his long sword was as white as snow, its cold light shining through. A burst of energy locked onto Yagyu Tajima no Kami, who immediately felt his hair stand on end and gripped his long sword tightly with both hands.

The hissing sound of sword energy piercing the air sent shivers down the spines of the three. The two elders, seeing the direction from which the sword light had fallen, ran off together.

"Patriarch, run! This man is not to be fought!" the white-haired elder and the black-bearded elder said with difficulty, despite the oppressive aura.

With a "bang," Yagyu Tajima-no-kami was injured by the aura and then knocked away by the two elders' palms, immediately spitting out blood.

Seeing the two elders struggling to hold on, they took one last look and immediately vanished in a flash, several figures fleeing in different directions for their lives.

Gu Xu glanced at the fleeing Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, scoffed, and added more force to his hand. The two elders were severely injured at the same time, their twin swords were broken by the sword energy, and in the flash of the sword light, they became two corpses.

"Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, you have greater value only if you live. The next time we meet, this will be your fate."

Lift the two bodies and toss them into the sea; this is their best end.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, panting heavily, ran to the sea cliff cave and, finding that Gu Xu had not followed, relaxed and collapsed to the ground.

In order to buy time, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami had no choice but to use the forbidden technique "Shun'ei Ten-Minute", which made his already seriously injured body even worse.

"This person's background is extraordinary; we can only devise a plan for the future."

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami sat upright, silently channeling his inner energy to heal his injuries.

After the official documents from Qingyan Town were sent to the imperial court, the emperor specially dispatched people from the Eastern Depot to investigate.

"Boss, the one who killed Liu Zun must have been a master swordsman. In the martial arts world, apart from the number one swordsman in the world, Jian Jingfeng, there is no one else with such skill. However, Jian Jingfeng has been with Liao Kong and Qilinzi of the Shaolin School recently and has no time to come here."

Chief Steward Qi Yu nodded upon hearing this. "It seems the world of martial arts is unfathomably deep. There's not a single clue about such a person in the Eastern Depot's files. Well, file the record and send it to the Supervisor. We'll deal with it later. Right now, the key is to keep the General's Mansion under our control."

Besides investigating Liu Zun's death, Qi Yu's main purpose in coming here was to secure a general's position for the Grand Eunuch Bu Xiao, so that he could place his own people in the position and expand his influence in the court and among the people.

"Boss, that Fang Zhao is very pragmatic. Boss, would you like to meet him?"

The subordinate touched the silver notes in his sleeve and said in a low voice.

"Oh, then let's give him a chance and see if he's qualified for the position."

Shaolin Temple, back mountain
"Master Liaojie, if you don't strike soon, you're going to lose."

Gu Xu flicked his sword with two fingers, and the sword emitted a clear hum. Streams of sword energy gathered around him. This move was sure to be earth-shattering.

Master Liaojie, dressed in a monk's robe with a compassionate expression, looked at Gu Xu and said, "Amitabha, benefactor, be careful."

With palms clasped together and strength gathered in their bodies, both sides focused their power. Gu Xu saw that Master Jie had already used his famous technique, "Great Compassion Palm," and his expression became more solemn.

This palm technique emphasizes compassion and is closely related to Buddhist cultivation. Currently, only Master Liaojie in the Shaolin School has mastered it, so its power is extraordinary.

In the drama, Master Liaojie defeated Guihai Yidao, who had mastered the "Three Swords of Avici Road," with the Great Compassion Palm. He also used this move to gain the upper hand in his duel with Yagyu Tajima-no-kami. If Guihai Yidao hadn't been distracted and fallen into a trap, the outcome would have been uncertain.

Sword energy surged and palm force pierced the air; although they did not directly clash, their momentum was already astonishing.

Gu Xu let out a soft shout, and countless sword energies shot out, sweeping across the eight directions like a long dragon. Master Liaojie's palm wind was like a surging wave, absorbing all the sword energies into it, intending to use the boundless and vast Buddhist Dharma to dissolve the malevolent energy within.

With several loud booms, the rocks on the mountain shattered, and invisible streams of air swept in all directions, leaving a blank space within a radius of ten feet.

Slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, Gu Xu looked at the longsword in his hand, which was covered in cracks. He withdrew his inner force, and it instantly turned into pieces.

"Master Liaojie's Great Compassion Palm is indeed powerful; I have witnessed it firsthand today," Gu Xu couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

In this world, Master Liaojie's martial arts skills are enough to rank among the top three. Apart from the future Iron-Blooded Marquis Zhu Wushi and the Invincible Rascal Gu Santong, the rest, such as the Traceless Young Master and the Overlord Blade, are far inferior to him.

"Amitabha Buddha, Master Gu Xu's swordsmanship is also quite remarkable; this humble monk greatly admires it."

Master Liaojie looked at Gu Xu with great shock. A few days ago, Gu Xu came to Shaolin Temple and said he wanted to challenge him. He did not agree at the time and instead talked to him about Buddhism. He did not expect that Gu Xu would use Taoist methods to discuss Taoism with him.

The two debated for three days, but neither could convince the other, so they finally had to fight each other in person.

"Master Gu Xu looks to be no more than thirty years old, yet his cultivation in Taoist arts and his martial arts skills are unparalleled in the world. Is it because I have been away from the mountain for so long that all geniuses are like this?"

Suppressing his thoughts, Master Liaojie invited Gu Xu to visit the Bodhidharma Cave. Gu Xu gladly accepted. Just as the two were about to leave, a monk approached.

"Brother Liaojie," the visitor greeted with a Buddhist chant, and Master Liaojie introduced him to Gu Xu.

"Master Gu Xu, this is my junior brother Liao Kong. Junior brother Liao Kong, this is Master Gu Xu."

Greetings, Master Liaokong

"Greetings, Daoist Master Gu Xu"

After exchanging greetings, the two stopped talking and said, "Junior brother, let's talk about this at the Bodhidharma Cave first."

Liao Kong nodded, and Gu Xu said, "Master, the scenery of Shaoshi Mountain is absolutely stunning. I'll take a stroll around the back of the mountain."

"Amitabha Buddha, please make yourself at home, Daoist priest."

Watching Gu Xu leave, Liao Jie then brought Liao Kong to the Damo Cave.

"Junior brother, you've been away from the mountain for so long this time, has something happened?"

"Senior brother, Guihai Bailian is dead."

"What?" Liao Jie was somewhat surprised. Gui Hai Bai Lian was highly skilled in martial arts, had unparalleled swordsmanship, and was a sworn brother of Qi Lin Zi and Jian Jing Feng. He was also a close friend of Liao Kong. How could he have died suddenly?

"Senior brother, this is what happened..."

More than half an hour later, Liao Kong finally explained the whole story. After listening to it, Liao Jie sighed.

"Amitabha Buddha, this matter will inevitably come to light sooner or later, are you aware of that?"

"My junior brother, Qilinzi, and Sword Master Jingfeng have decided to take this matter on us, so that Guihai Yidao won't hold a grudge against Benefactor Lu."

"Very well, let's leave the future to be dealt with in the future," Liao Jie stood up, looked at the portrait of Bodhidharma in the Bodhidharma Cave, and twirled his prayer beads.

(End of this chapter)