Martial Arts: After ten years of sword-drawing, the Sword God must bow his head when he sees me

Chapter 194 Benefits Between Friends

Although his face still showed obvious signs of aging, it was no longer covered in wrinkles.

At the same time, Gongzi Yu could also feel a long-lost sense of vitality surging within him.

This sense of vitality was something Gongzi Yu had only experienced before he went mad with power.

Gongzi Yu raised his hand and rubbed his face a few times, his eyes flashing.

They have clearly realized something.

If it were anyone else, they would probably be overjoyed at this moment after such a significant change in their condition.

However, after realizing the changes in himself, Gongzi Yu quickly calmed down.

Looking at Shen Ping'an with great interest, he said, "Didn't you say that my condition requires two years before I can start treatment?"

Shen Ping'an said calmly, "These are just some pills I made after obtaining some medicine from the Yihua Palace some time ago. They can only treat your symptoms for now. To cure your premature aging, you will need to have some free time in two years."

Gongzi Yu asked, "Is this considered a perk between friends?"

Shen Ping'an nodded and said, "That's one way to understand it."

Gongzi Yu smiled and said, "It seems that being friends with you is indeed a good thing. At least I don't have to worry about any health problems in the future."

Shen Ping'an said calmly, "I can treat illnesses and heals injuries, but the cost of the medicine still needs to be paid, and the price will be tripled."

Gongzi Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "Brother Shen, are you trying to take advantage of someone you know?"

"The relationship is established, but it's not appropriate to just rob someone outright. Having a reason is better." Shen Ping'an's lips curled into a smile.

After a few moments of calm, the two smiled and raised their glasses to clink together.

A short while later, as the wine jug that Gongzi Yu had brought was empty, Gongzi Yu sighed and said, "Only now do I suddenly understand what it means to say 'a thousand cups are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend.' If I had known this, I should have prepared a few more jars of wine."

Shen Ping'an said calmly, "Anyway, I'll be in the capital for a while, so it's fine to wait until after the show is over."

“That’s true!” Gongzi Yu nodded.

At this moment, Shen Ping'an changed the subject and recounted the events involving the Twelve Constellations, Nameless Island, and Yihua Palace.

After listening to Shen Ping'an's description, Gongzi Yu asked, "Brother Shen, are you saying that the people behind the siege of Bright Peak by the six major sects and the subsequent siege of Wudang Sect, just like those behind the Nameless Island incident, were all behind the Wan'an Sect?"

“That’s right! So I wanted to ask if you know anything about this Wan’an Gate?” Shen Ping’an asked.

Gongzi Yu shook his head and said, "There are also spies from the Azure Dragon Society and the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion on Nameless Island, but we have never heard of the Wan'an Sect before. If you hadn't mentioned it this time, we wouldn't have known that there was such a hidden force in the Song Dynasty."

Perhaps realizing the extraordinary nature of Wan'an Gate, Gongzi Yu's tone became more solemn as he spoke.

Hearing Gongzi Yu's reply, Shen Ping'an was not surprised.

Although Baixiaoge has established branches in various countries across the Nine Provinces, its core territory is still in the Ming Dynasty.

Among the four kingdoms of Yuan, Song, Sui, and Qin, the intelligence capabilities of Baixiaoge were at most comparable to those of a top-tier power, far from reaching the level of widespread intelligence coverage seen in the Ming Dynasty.

But according to Zhou Hanlin, Wan'anmen was extremely cautious in his actions.

Anyone who joins Wan'anmen even needs to fake their death once to cover their tracks.

Given that such a cautious force is also a force of the Great Song Dynasty, it's normal that the Azure Dragon Society and the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion were unaware of it.

"I will later arrange for people from the Great Song Dynasty to secretly gather information related to Wan'an Gate. I will notify you as soon as I have any news."

“Okay!” Shen Ping’an nodded, without exchanging pleasantries with Gongzi Yu.

After finishing their business, the two chatted for a few more minutes before Gongzi Yu put his mask back on and used his lightness skill to quickly leave.

After Gongzi Yu left, Shen Ping'an frowned slightly.

After a few breaths, Shen Ping'an sighed: "It seems that I may have to make another trip to the Great Song Dynasty later."

Yaoyue glanced sideways and asked, "You want to take action against Wan'an Gate?"

Shen Ping'an said calmly, "From the current perspective, it is necessary."

If Gongzi Yu and Bai Xiaosheng have some understanding of Wan'anmen, it means that the situation at Wan'anmen is still under control.

At the very least, Gongzi Yu and Bai Xiaosheng can help keep an eye on the situation at Wan'an Gate.

But even Gongzi Yu and Bai Xiaosheng are unaware of this, which means that the existence of Wan'anmen is an uncontrollable danger.

Furthermore, the capabilities that Wan'anmen has demonstrated so far surpass those of ordinary top-tier forces.

Including the incidents at Bright Peak, Wudang, and Yihua Palace, Shen Ping'an has interfered in the Wan'an Sect's affairs three times. The feud is now firmly established.

There are no secrets that stay hidden forever.

Few people knew about the Wudang Sect's past affairs, and Zhang Sanfeng and the Seven Heroes of Wudang probably wouldn't reveal their own situation.

However, the Yihua Palace has tens of thousands of disciples.

It won't be easy for Wan'anmen to find out about them.

Shen Ping'an has absolute confidence in his own abilities.

But the Shen family was different.

Unless Shen Ping'an, like Zhang Sanfeng, stays on Wudang Mountain to oversee things.

Otherwise, if Shen Ping'an is not at the Shen family, and Wan'anmen targets the Shen family, or even kidnaps members of the Shen family as a threat, then Shen Ping'an will be put in a passive position.

Instead of being thankful that such a situation won't happen, it's better to nip the danger in the bud.

Suppressing the turbulent thoughts in their minds, the group got up and walked downstairs.

However, no sooner had the group stepped out of Wangjiang Tower than a masked man approached them.

The moment they saw the newcomer, they immediately recognized him from the blood-patterned mask on his face and his figure. He was the same Qinglong Society member who had come to greet Shen Ping'an and his companions after they left Shenjian Manor.

"I have come on the orders of my master to escort Young Master Shen and his companions to the accommodations that have been arranged."

Perhaps considering the large number of people and distractions in the capital, the latter also replaced Gongzi Yu with "master".

"Thank you!"

Facing the man in the blood-patterned mask, Shen Ping'an smiled and gestured.

After an incense stick had burned, looking at the accommodations arranged by Gongzi Yu, Shen Qingshan exclaimed in astonishment, "Isn't this our old house?"

Shen Ping'an looked at the Azure Dragon Society member wearing the blood-patterned mask and asked, "When did he buy this house?"

The latter truthfully stated, "At the end of last year, the owner instructed that this house be purchased and that the environment inside the house should not be changed, only routine maintenance and cleaning are required."

Zhang San Niang looked at Shen Ping An and said, "So thoughtful. It seems that this person is indeed a good friend."

Looking at the old Shen family mansion in front of him, Shen Ping'an couldn't help but think of what he had said before: "a perk between friends."

Therefore, whether facing Lu Xiaofeng or Ximen Chuixue, Shen Ping'an was polite, but he had no intention of getting to know them better.

When facing Gongzi Yu, however, the situation was completely different.

It's not a difference in status or strength, nor is it because the two are somewhat similar.

Rather, it's about Gongzi Yu's attitude towards "friends".

For some people, the friendship between men is worthless.

In the world of martial arts, there are many who would go to great lengths for their brothers for personal gain, or even betray their brothers themselves.

But for some, it is priceless and as heavy as Mount Tai.

Coincidentally, Gongzi Yu belonged to the latter category.

Being friends with someone like that means you can at least truly open your hearts to each other.

Previously in Shanglin City, Shen Ping'an and his group were unfamiliar with the environment, and the members of the Azure Dragon Society wearing blood-patterned masks were indeed members of the Azure Dragon Society.

But this house is the former residence of the Shen family.

Therefore, after welcoming Shen Ping'an and his companions into the house, the Azure Dragon Society members wearing blood-patterned masks did not guide Shen Ping'an as they had done in Shanglin City.

Instead, he followed behind Shen Ping'an and the others, ready to serve them at any time.

This behavior made Shen Ping'an understand why Gongzi Yu had arranged for this person to receive him on both occasions.

While looking around the almost unchanged environment inside the old house, the group walked towards Shen Ping'an's former courtyard.

When the group returned to the villa, looking at the courtyard where they had lived for many years, even Shen Ping'an felt a complex sense of nostalgia, like revisiting an old haunt.

A moment later, while Yaoyue and the others were choosing their rooms, Shen Ping'an entered the garden.

In his hand was the glass sword he had recently acquired.

(End of this chapter)