What a lucky world!

Chapter 135: Four Cities and Three Strongholds! Sword Qi Attacks the Heart!
"You have to pass on the Taegeuk Sword Technique to Brother Mu." At this point, Zhuge Nanxian began to negotiate terms. "Also, as a master, you can't not give your disciple a little gift, right?"

Old Man Qin: (｀;)?

The gift of becoming a disciple...isn't it given by whoever becomes the disciple?
"As for luck money, since you're a Grandmaster, let alone three or four coins, at least one coin should give you 100,000..."

"I need at least seven or eight protective talismans, the kind that can protect me from Grandmasters..."

"In addition..." Zhuge Nanxian was about to make more conditions, but was quickly stopped by Zhang Mu.

Didn’t you see that Senior Qin’s forehead is covered in sweat?

"Senior, Nanxian was just joking with you." Zhang Mu bowed and said, "It is my great honor to inherit your sword skills."

"However, I don't dare to hope for the title of master and disciple. I am very satisfied to be a nominal disciple."

He is now the young leader of Qianyuan Wuzhai. He has no idea what impact worshipping this master will have on the village.

It would be better to adopt my father’s previous method and become a registered disciple.

Hearing Zhang Mu say this, Old Man Qin and Zhuge Nanxian were both stunned for a moment. Zhuge Nanxian was about to speak when Old Man Qin interrupted her: "Zhuge girl, please step aside."

Zhuge Nanxian looked at Zhang Mu. Zhang Mu nodded at her and gave her a reassuring look. Zhuge Nanxian then returned to the inn with some concern.

Seeing Zhuge Nanxian walking away, Old Man Qin waved his hand, and suddenly a sword intent burst out from his body, wrapping up the two of them.

"Okay, now no one can detect our conversation," said Old Man Qin. "Tell me the truth. Is there something you're hiding?"

Zhang Mu exhaled lightly, "Three months ago, a demonic disaster broke out in Yongning Prefecture, and Wan'an County, where I live, was one of the cities affected by the disaster."

Old Man Qin nodded: "I've heard of it."

"It was later discovered that the demonic disaster was caused by County Magistrate Zhou Yangyou."

"In righteous indignation, I assassinated him in the street!"

An ambiguous look flashed across Old Man Qin's eyes. He looked at Zhang Mu again and said, "Who will protect you?"

Zhang Mu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Wu Zhai!"

Old Man Qin raised his eyebrows when he heard this and chuckled, "Are you afraid that if you worship me, your luck will be connected to mine and affect the martial arts village behind you?"

Zhang Mu nodded.

"Hahahaha..." Old Man Qin suddenly laughed twice and hooked his finger at Zhang Mu, "Come on!"

Zhang Mu hurried over upon hearing this, and heard Old Man Qin say, "I have something to tell you, don't tell anyone else."

"Senior, please speak!"

"I... am also from Wuzhai!" Old Man Qin said lightly.

Zhang Mu:!!!∑(Дノ)ノ

Shit, are you kidding me?

Are you a grandmaster and a member of Wuzhai?
It’s over, the world is over!

Seeing Zhang Mu's expression, Old Man Qin nodded at him and said, "You are so ignorant!"

"There are many forces in the world today that refuse to obey the imperial court, but there are only four cities and three strongholds that have truly established their own destiny and unified the country!"

Zhang Mu widened his eyes and listened carefully to what Old Man Qin said.

"The Four Cities refer to the four Wuchengs in the east, south, west and north. Since the founding of the Dayun Dynasty, they have paid tribute but never submitted to the court, and have been independent of the court."

"Draw all the water from the West River and pour it into the Big Dipper. Beiyuan, the Big Dipper City."

"This heart is bright, what else is there to say? Western Desert, Yangming City."

"Floating light sparkles like gold, still shadows sink into the jade. East China Sea, the City of Still Shadows."

"The Cangshan Mountains are covered with snow, illuminating the southern sky. Southern border, Tiannan City."

"These four cities are like foreign lands, with their own laws and officials, and are not subject to the control of the imperial court." Old Man Qin paused after speaking, and then continued, "But in addition to these four cities, there are three martial arts strongholds that compete with the imperial court and are each quite powerful."

"In the cultural and elegant Jiangnan region, there was a family called Fang who preached the White Lotus Sect and established a stronghold based on the religion, calling it the Land of No Life."

"In the northwest border, there are seventy-two green forest camps, called the Righteous Alliance."

"In the southwestern Tianfu area, the Qionghua Sect was dismembered back then, but now it has been reunited and named the Qionghua Mountain Stronghold. In reality, it is still the Qionghua Sect, ruling a separate area."

"These three martial arts forces have been fighting the imperial court for decades and are currently in a state of standoff."

After listening to this, Zhang Mu looked at Old Man Qin and asked, "Senior, which faction are you from?"

Old Man Qin pinched his beard and smiled: "I am honored to be the elder of the Grandmaster Hall of the Yiqi League."

Zhang Mu felt relieved upon hearing this, but then he started to wonder, "Then why did you come to Lanling City?"

Lanling is located in the east, far away from the northwest.

"Alas... I owed someone a favor back then, and I promised to protect him for three years!" Old Man Qin waved his hand, "Let's not talk about it."

Zhang Mu nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He just said, "Then if I accept you as my master, will it really not affect my luck?"

"No!" Old Man Qin laughed, "If you were also a Grandmaster, you might be implicated, but with your current luck, it won't affect you at all."

"Master, please accept my disciple's greeting!" Zhang Mu immediately knelt down and paid homage with the etiquette between master and disciple.

Old Man Qin also laughed, helped Zhang Mu up, and said, "Get up."

"I'm just a casual cultivator, there's no need for so much!"

"This sword is for you!" Old Man Qin handed the Shenying Sword to Zhang Mu and said, "Your cultivation is still shallow, and you may worry about the backlash of spiritual weapons. This level is just right for you."

After saying this, Old Man Qin looked at Zhang Mu carefully again, and finally revealed a kind smile. He said, "Well, after many twists and turns, I have finally found a disciple that suits my needs."

"It's late today. You just used the Yama Sword Technique. Your energy and spirit are not at their peak. I won't teach you today."

"I will come again tomorrow and teach you the Taegeuk Sword Technique!"

Zhang Mu cupped his hands and replied, "Yes!"

"Oh, you don't have to be so polite now that you've become my disciple!" Old Man Qin patted Zhang Mu on the shoulder. "Okay, that's all for today. I'm leaving first..."

"I'll send you off!"

"No, no!" Old Man Qin stopped Zhang Mu, his expression suddenly furtive, "Just coax that little Zhuge girl."

"The Dayan Sword Technique of Tiannan City is one of the top three sword techniques in the world. If you can learn it, then learn it. I think Zhuge girl is pretty good. If you raise her for another two years, she will be a stunning beauty. You won't lose out!"

"But don't do anything rash now. Even if he has several elders as teachers, he won't be able to handle it."

"It still depends on time and effort..."

Zhang Mu was stunned when he heard this, and quickly explained: "Master, that's not the case, you are mistaken..."

"I know, I know. Children are too proud to be mentioned. I won't say anything more!" Old Man Qin smiled and said, "I have my own way."

After saying that, Old Man Qin raised his hand, and a wisp of sword energy emerged from his fingers, striking Zhang Mu in the chest. Zhang Mu suddenly felt his internal organs churning, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked at Old Man Qin in disbelief: "Master, you?"

Old Man Qin didn't even look at Zhang Mu, but shouted to the inn: "Alas, my unique skills are not so easy to learn. Now, the sword energy is attacking the heart..."

"Zhuge girl, come and take care of my disciple!"

"The old man is leaving first."

After saying that, Old Man Qin blinked at Zhang Mu, and his figure moved and disappeared from Zhang Mu's sight.

Zhang Mu: (*□`σ)σ
You're just a CP guy, but you don't have to really make me bleed...

(End of this chapter)