Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapters 130-141.142.143: Martial Arts Competition, Yet, It's a Matter of Opportunity

"How was it? You sparred with him twice, how did it feel?"

Unable to win the verbal battle, Murong Qing showed no resentment or bitterness, acting as if nothing had happened. She fed the two family guards medicine and then quietly asked Murong Tiangang a question.

A cold glint flashed in Murong Tiangang's eyes: "His sword strikes are incredibly fast, almost too fast for anyone to react to. Moreover, he possesses immense strength. Despite his cultivation level being his weakness, he hasn't gained any advantage in a clash of sword power. In a life-or-death battle, who will ultimately win is still uncertain."

"This was handled poorly. Tuoba boy from the Tuyun tribe, you brought this upon yourself, so take responsibility for it. Why did you have to interfere? And to make matters worse, you couldn't even defeat him... Now, the reputation of the Murong family has become a ladder to help this boy become famous."

Murong Qing shook her head.

She knew her nephew's temperament well. If he said "the outcome is hard to say," it was tantamount to saying "I really can't beat him," which meant he was already feeling guilty and timid.

It should be noted that among the younger generation, the two are equally renowned, and Murong Tiangang has never shown weakness to any rising star.

When commenting on someone, he would usually say things like "can withstand three of my moves", "not a match for me", "a worthless piece of trash", "no hero at all", and no one deserves a good word from him.

"Such heroes are only sixteen years old..."

Murong Qing gazed into the distance, lost in thought for a moment. She pondered the legendary stories she had heard before, wondering who had already reached the top tier of the martial arts world at the age of sixteen.

Several names, as brilliant as stars, flashed through my mind one by one.

Murong Qing stopped thinking about it and her eyes were full of surprise.

If you don’t think about it, you won’t know. Once you think about it, you will be shocked.

Thinking back to the swordsmanship of Lu Wubing that he had seen from afar, he made even more discoveries.

That swordsmanship was so fast that even he himself could hardly see it clearly.

It must possess an extremely unique method for generating and exerting force, or perhaps it has already reached the pinnacle of mastery.

If his internal strength cultivation catches up, apart from innate masters, who in this world would dare to claim victory over him?

Thinking about it this way, I was even more shocked, realizing that I had been deceived by Lu Wubing's slightly immature face.

How could this person be considered a junior disciple of the Heavenly Star Sect?

He is clearly a rising star.

Even if you include all the top three masters in the world, he is no longer considered weak.

This can be seen from Murong Tiangang's reaction.

This leader of the Four Young Masters of Jiangnan outwardly displays a third-rank cultivation level, which, combined with the Murong family's Qiankun Sword and Yin-Yang Millstone, allows him to fight against second-rank opponents.

In fact, as the aunt, she had a deeper understanding of her nephew's cultivation level. She knew that he had secretly taken the precious medicine before the New Year, opened his twenty-second meridian, and entered the second rank of cultivation.

I'm just waiting for the chance to make a name for myself.

But then...

Someone called out to me.

Amidst the surrounding clamor, Murong Qing gently stroked her face; it felt smooth and delicate to the touch, still so soft it seemed to break at a touch…

"It's a pity I'm getting old. The 'Eight Beauties of the Martial Arts World' from back then are gradually no longer mentioned."

"Didn't Qing'er and Yao'er come out this time? Aren't they the most playful? They didn't even come to see such a big event..."

Murong Qing suddenly said.

"Auntie, what are you thinking? He hasn't won yet, he's only won by a small margin, is it really that big of a deal?"

Murong Tiangang blushed crimson, his gentlemanly demeanor long forgotten. He glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention, and said in a low voice, "If what happened earlier hadn't occurred, that boy would indeed be worthy of Qing'er or Yao'er. But now it's impossible. If we let them get together, wouldn't it be like I, Murong Tiangang, sold out my sister and begged for mercy?"

"You still don't understand."

Murong Qing shook his head, looking at the sword wound on his nephew's left cheek, thinking that once you're in the game, it's really hard to get out of it.

This is because one's mind is clouded by anger.

"What has enabled our Murong family to stand firm in the world? What has allowed us to remain standing for four hundred years?"

“Marriage alliance…” Murong Tiangang managed to utter two words with difficulty.

Although I'm unwilling to admit it.

But he had to admit that the family patriarchs of all generations had engraved this family motto deep into the minds of all their descendants.

Which woman from the Murong family doesn't marry well?
For example, a princess, the wife of a sect leader, the stepmother of a prominent family...

When others mention the Murong family, their martial arts skills are not the most outstanding, nor is their wealth among the top in the world. The only thing that people talk about is the Murong family's sons-in-law.

Pick any one of them and the whole world will tremble.

"Later, after the competition, offer a large sum of money to send Xue Yu and Tong Sihai to Lanxiang Courtyard for Lu Wubing to treat them. Doesn't he claim to be a medical master? Perfect, let's see what he's really made of."

Murong Qing covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Her delicate body trembled violently.

Murong Tiangang's heart pounded, and he quickly looked away, not daring to look any longer. He said with a bitter face, "We can't do something like asking someone to treat us after we've been beaten up."

“We can do it. If you won’t go, I’ll go myself…”

Murong Qing spoke with a smile, seemingly casually mentioning, "By the way, minimize contact with the Ziyang Sect and don't listen to anything they say. As for the internal affairs of the Three Gods Peaks, it's best for you to remain an observer. It's easy to talk to me, but not so easy to talk to your brother."

"I understand, nephew." Murong Tiangang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied.

……

"Stunned now, aren't you?" Shen Xinzhu chuckled inwardly as she looked at her brother's slightly dazed expression.

She secretly clenched her fist.

In his heart, he was thinking.

'I knew long ago that Junior Brother Lu was extraordinary, and I thought he would one day soar to great heights, but I never expected that day to come so soon.'

Years have passed since we parted—no, only a few days, more like months. Yet he could slay the Western Desert Mad Blade and defeat Murong Tiangang with his sword… What incredible talent! That [Heavenly Dragon Heart-Protecting Pill] was definitely given to the right person.

Although in Murong Tiangang's mind he hadn't truly lost, as he still had some tricks up his sleeve, he had been somewhat careless and hadn't gone all out when he attacked.

But that's just his opinion.

Anyone with eyes could see that, in just a couple of exchanges, the leader of the Four Gentlemen of Jiangnan was in grave danger and on the verge of imminent peril.

As for Lu Wubing, he didn't even break a sweat, let alone go all out; he just casually unleashed two sword strikes.

When they gained the upper hand, they gracefully retreated, giving their opponents no chance to fight back.

How effortlessly skillful this is!
Shen Xinzhu even felt that Lu Wubing's sword piercing Murong Tiangang's face was intentional, not due to a lack of strength.

Don't be fooled by his fierce and domineering demeanor; he killed two people without batting an eye, all because those two barbarians from the grasslands had crossed a line...

As for Young Master Murong, he didn't really care about such a small verbal dispute, nor did he want to cause the already struggling Tianxing Sect any more powerful enemies.

The Tuyun tribe is located deep in the western desert, quite far away.

No matter how powerful the Supreme Master Nalan Chui was, he would not travel to the Central Plains for the sake of a mere good-for-nothing disciple.

He held a high position and enjoyed great honors, almost comparable to a king of a small country on the grasslands.

Can you imagine a king personally traveling thousands of miles, enduring wind and sand, to hunt down an insignificant enemy?

Therefore, Lu Wubing killed him without hesitation, venting his anger.

And what about the Murong family?
That's right, it's a hornet's nest that you can't mess with. In terms of sheer power and strength, it's in no way weaker than the Heavenly Star Sect.

In fact, if some of Murong's sons-in-law were mobilized, it might be necessary for all three Divine Peaks to be deployed to withstand them.

This powerful family is clearly not one that can be easily defeated in a short time.

Since it can't be killed.

Always leave yourself a way out, so you can meet again in the future.

His casual manner concealed profound meaning, and he won over the hearts of all the disciples of Tianxing in one fell swoop, earning their deepest admiration.

In comparison, although Yue Lingfeng was an outstanding swordsman with a great reputation, he was completely outshone this time.

"You've really got a knack for creating hype, Brother Lu!"

After a long while, Shen Wanjian finally let out a long breath and said bitterly.

He doesn't really care about creating hype or not; what he believes in is that in the face of true strength, everything else is fake.

The problem is that, judging from the three sword strikes the opponent has made so far, each one is far more exquisite than the swordsmanship I have honed at the risk of my life.

Its immense power and swiftness perfectly matched his deepest desires.

In other words, he practiced the Eight Swords of Subduing Dragon to the point that he thought about it during the day and dreamed about it at night.

In dreams, that's the most I can imagine it to look like.

How is this played?
"Sis, do you think Brother Lu only knows these three sword techniques?"

"What you say is true. It's very possible that after he finishes those three sword strikes, he'll be so weak and unable to wield the sword anymore!"

"Really? You think so too, then I knew it..." Shen Wanjian was overjoyed upon hearing this, but then he saw his little sister's ambiguous smile.

"Brother, I'm just a little unwilling," Shen Wanjian said dejectedly, his body slumping down, his fighting spirit completely gone.

"What's there to be unwilling about? Hearing the truth brings joy. So, I'm telling you, Shen Mu Tou, you're a blockhead. This is one of our own. The stronger he is, the better his swordsmanship will be. Isn't that a great blessing?"

If you want to further improve your swordsmanship, you don't need to rack your brains like a headless fly anymore. Just ask for guidance, learn from him, and you'll be fine. How much easier is that?

"Uh... I knew it."

As soon as Shen Wanjian thought about it, he immediately felt a sense of boundless freedom and his mind became clear.

Looking at my younger sister, I feel a sense of awe and admiration.

This guy is definitely not in a normal state of mind; he's beyond the reach of ordinary people.

No wonder, when I was very young, my mother always said, "You must listen to your sister when you grow up. She's much smarter than you, you silly goose."

Thinking of his mother, Shen Wanjian's eyes unconsciously welled up with tears. In his hazy state, he seemed to see that gentle face smiling softly again.

"What's wrong, brother?"

"It's nothing, the wind is really strong on Tianxing Peak today, some sand got into my eyes."

……

Li Feiying narrowed his eyes to slits as he looked at Lu Wubing, who was raising his hands to suppress the surrounding noise, and his heart was filled with turmoil.

Lu Wubing performed exceptionally well, slaying a powerful enemy with his sword.

It's one thing that they overshadowed their senior brother Yue Lingfeng and caused cheers from the disciples of the Wangtianya lineage.

But why did all the disciples of their own Tiger Soul lineage cheer along with them?

Not only the dozen or so elite disciples who came with him.

Even Jin Yutang's side has many supporters.

Such a disciple...

How can you be so virtuous?

Old man Ouyang got all the benefits.

On that day, bah, I couldn't have outmaneuvered him either. Besides, I really didn't intend to rob him that day. If I had played the emotional card more during the escort and built a relationship with Lu Changfeng and his wife, wouldn't the situation be different today?

Hearing the shouts coming from all around.

Li Feiying felt as if he had returned to thirty years ago.

Back then, there was also a senior brother who stood on the mountain like this, raised his arm and shouted, and the clouds all around responded.

He was still a fifteen-year-old kid, standing in the crowd with a face full of enthusiasm.

That man was incredibly sharp and his sword could cut through the clouds. All his senior brothers and uncles followed his lead. What happened to him later?
Everything from the past has vanished like smoke.

When the news of his senior brother's death arrived, he only had time to burn a few pieces of paper money and offer a pot of wine at his cenotaph.

The debt of being saved and the kindness of receiving the sword can never be repaid...

"Adoptive father?"

"Father..."

Hearing Yu Qingshan's questioning voice, which seemed to come from the distant horizon, Li Feiying took a deep breath and shook his head.

"Qingshan, I taught you the word 'struggle,' but I didn't teach you the word 'forbearance.' Do you know that what you're thinking is always written on your face?"

"what?"

What did I write?
Yu Qingshan was completely dumbfounded.

What's wrong with my godfather now?
Were you scared by that kid's swordsmanship?
"Father, don't worry. I will definitely win this competition. Although his swordsmanship is exquisite, it is fast but not powerful enough to break my Golden Body."

Yu Qingshan patted his chest confidently, the sound resounding as if he were patting steel.

"That's not what I meant. Do you remember our discussion on military strategy the other day?"

Li Feiying sighed and said, "I remember, my godfather asked me, 'If the enemy's strength is ten times greater than mine, how should I deal with it?' I didn't answer at the time, but only said that I needed to go back and think about it."

"Have you figured it out yet?"

"Understood. If the enemy's strength is ten times greater than ours, we should first ensure our invincibility, and then wait until the enemy becomes vulnerable..."

"Didn't you ever think that knowing you were no match for them, it would be better to surrender early?"

"Father is testing his child again, isn't he? Before the battle, there is no such thing as victory or defeat. If you don't fight to the bitter end, how will you know the sweetness after bitterness? Of course, you should strive to have no regrets."

Yu Qingshan said with full confidence.

Growing up, he never knew how to write the character "降" (jiàng).
Back then, when the city was locked down by heavy snow, he managed to snatch half a sesame seed cake. He endured being beaten by a dozen or so beggars for half an hour without letting go, and forced himself to swallow the half sesame seed cake with blood in front of everyone.

The dozen or so beggars were so frightened that their hands and feet went weak, and their fists, kicks, and sticks lost some of their strength.

It was in that year that he was chosen by Li Feiying, who took him in as his godson and nurtured him into a talented individual.

And what about the beggars?

After the snow melted, he went to take another look and saw that a large number of people in the dilapidated temple had frozen to death, lying haphazardly.

From that moment on, he understood that only those who laugh last laugh best.

As long as you can survive, what does a little beating matter?
Looking at Yu Qingshan's ignorant yet fearless expression and the raging flames burning deep in his eyes, Li Feiying felt, for some reason, that he had aged considerably.

"I hope you remember what I said today."

"Go, the competition has begun, go draw lots."

……

Lu Wubing drew lot number [B3].

Looking up, I saw a girl approaching with a smile.

For a moment, he almost thought that his master and the others might have secretly rigged the draw for his opponent.

It was actually Senior Sister Xinzhu! How could I possibly strike her hard?
However, looking at those old men, they were all sitting and chatting in a serious manner, and their words were full of hidden barbs and pointed at every turn, so they didn't seem to be faking it.

So there was no cheating in the draw; it was all a coincidence.

"Junior Brother Lu, please go easy on him when you go on stage later."

"Senior sister, what are you saying? When fellow disciples spar, friendship comes first and winning comes second. Senior sister's swordsmanship is certainly good, but actually, I would like to spar with senior sister on the zither."

Lu Wubing smiled knowingly.

"There's a chance."

Shen Xinzhu looked at Lu Wubing with great curiosity, feeling that this junior brother was somewhat amazing.

He was just moments before domineering and arrogant, but now he's as slippery as a seasoned old official, and his words are completely out of character for his age.

I was just testing the waters a little.

His reply contained three layers of meaning.

Firstly, it's to express one's true feelings.

When martial arts are contested among fellow disciples, the aim is not to win by force, but to win people over with virtue.

What is virtue? If you ask Confucius, it's moral character. But in Lu Wubing's mouth, it's self-interest; he talks about friendship when he speaks, but only about self-interest when he doesn't.

Given the current situation faced by the three branches of Tianxing Peak, even if they defeat the other two branches and humiliate them, it will not bring them any benefit.

Because their division into three factions is not based on strength or weakness, but rather on historical issues and differences in perspectives.

Different values, inability to coexist... is because the current Wangtianya faction, in making its choices, did not consider the interests of the majority. Or rather, did not consider their feelings.

When disaster strikes, everyone flees for their own lives. This applies to husbands and wives, brothers, and especially to fellow disciples in a sect.

If your choice does not align with the interests of the majority, it is unlikely to gain support.

Not to mention uniting as one, thinking in the same direction, and exerting their strength in the same way.

Ouyang Zheng, the leader of the Tianxing Sect, saw through the first layer of the mystery: he used the guise of sharing profits to gather the three sects. However, he wasn't truly sharing profits, so regardless of whether his disciples won or lost in the competition, he was destined to lose.

So, Lu Wubing said "friendship is the most important thing" right from the start, how will he maintain this friendship?

Could we do it even better?

Without shared interests, even if he becomes the young sect leader, the Heavenly Star Sect will be nothing more than a fragmented entity, which is not very meaningful.

Moreover, he knew that his swordsmanship was not actually that great; his real strength lay in his zither playing.

How exactly was it discovered?
Was it an unintentional slip of the tongue, or a deliberate hint, that they wanted to join forces to fight a powerful enemy?

If it was intentional, then he would have begun his scheme from that day in Mingyang City, trying to bring Jin Yutang to the same side...

"Senior Sister Xinzhu is overthinking things. Don't forget the saying that too much wisdom can be harmful and deep affection can lead to a short life."

Lu Wubing felt a headache coming on. Shen Xinzhu was good in every way, but her tendency to overthink made her seem difficult to deal with.

She would ponder a single sentence two or three times, savoring its nuances and trying to fully grasp its meaning.

Why bother?
It would be better to lay out our vehicles and horses and have a heart-to-heart talk.

Wouldn't it be much easier and more pleasant than this mutual exploitation?

"Junior brother's words are truly enlightening. Senior sister has learned a lot."

Shen Xinzhu gave a graceful bow and spoke softly, her eyes like waves and mist.

Yes, being with her is so comfortable; she provides a lot of emotional value.

As expected of Senior Sister Kua Kua.

"Senior Sister Ouyang has entered the arena, and her opponent is none other than Yang Tong of the Tiger-Slaying Saber. This battle may be difficult."

The two exchanged a few words, but didn't pay much attention to the first match between Senior Brother Yue Lingfeng and the seventh disciple of [Jin Yutang].

In reality, Cheng Qiao, the seventh disciple of Jin Yutang, only sparred a couple of times before realizing he was no match for him and automatically conceded defeat.

Yue Lingfeng easily overwhelmed his opponent with just two basic sword strikes, putting him in a difficult position; they were not on the same level.

In the second match, we saw Senior Sister Xiaolan take the stage. Her opponent was someone Lu Wubing had seen before.

Earlier at Yingxian Pavilion, when I met Uncle Li Feiying of the Tiger Soul lineage, the first person following behind him was the big guy Yu Qingshan.

The second one, naturally, is the red-browed youth standing here now.

"It even has a title?"

Lu Wubing now has a pretty good understanding of the situation; generally, those with a reputation usually have some skills.

Of course, I'm an exception.

Because he started learning too late and became famous too quickly, the busybodies in the martial arts world hadn't even had a chance to react yet.

However, after today, I estimate that the title will be bestowed upon me, and I won't be able to refuse it even if I want to.

"Where's the Thunder Sword? I want to see the Thunder Sword on the field."

"Yes, I wonder which number Lu Wubing of the Thunder Sword is on stage? His swordsmanship is like thunder and lightning, fierce and ruthless. I can never get enough of watching it."

Several burly men nearby were talking loudly.

Surprisingly, quite a few people responded.

Lu Wubing looked slightly surprised, thinking to himself, "Thank goodness he didn't call it 'Thunderbolt Hand,' that was close."

Shen Xinzhu, standing beside her, couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. She only managed one laugh before quickly suppressing it. However, judging from the way her shoulders twitched, it was clear that her senior sister's threshold for laughter was quite low; she couldn't help it.

It's as if they know that laughing like that is very impolite.

Shen Xinzhu's shoulder twitched for a moment, then calmed down and immediately put on a gentle and sweet demeanor again, introducing: "Speaking of the Tiger-Slaying Saber, this person is quite remarkable. He has all eleven meridians open and is proficient in the Tiger Soul Saber Technique. He once killed a tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead with a single slash, hence the name."

"Among Uncle Li's subordinates, besides Yu Qingshan, he is the most renowned."

Having mastered eleven meridians equates to a sixth-rank cultivation level, which is considered second-rate in the martial arts world.

No wonder Shen Xinzhu didn't think much of Ouyang Lan, believing she couldn't beat her.

I estimate that most people in the room thought the same way.

However, Ouyang Lan's performance was a huge surprise.

She started with a move called "Unquenchable Flame," her sword light flashing like flames, fast and unpredictable.

Although Yang Tong's swordsmanship was fierce, he couldn't even touch Ouyang Lan's shadow; he only felt sword shadows and points of light all around him.

I felt as if I were surrounded by a sea of ​​lights, and it would be inappropriate to swing my knife in any direction.

It's even impossible to tell which sword strike is a feint and which is a real strike.

He could only protect himself with his blade, roaring and slashing wildly.

Every strike pierces the air, every strike misses its mark.

"call out……"

A flash of sword light appeared, and Yang Tong's figure, which had been rushing forward, suddenly stopped, and the broadsword in his hand fell to the ground.

Only then did it become clear that there was a small bloodstain on his wrist where he was holding the knife.

Although he wasn't seriously injured, the sword energy penetrated and trembled his meridians, causing him to drop his weapon, which meant he had lost.

"Junior sister's swordsmanship is amazing, I have lost."

Yang Tong returned to the Tiger Soul lineage in a daze, head bowed, face full of shame, not daring to look his master in the eye, nor daring to listen to the discussions of his fellow disciples.

In the battle among the three lineages, he is the second-in-command of the Tiger Soul lineage. His counterparts, if not Yue Lingfeng, are Tie Zhongshan, or perhaps a newly rising figure known as the Thunder Sword.

As a result, he was easily defeated by Ouyang Lan, who was dragging along the tail of the Wangtianya lineage.

It's best if Miss Ouyang Lan isn't defeated by anyone.

Everyone knows that this sect leader's daughter is notoriously playful and has hardly ever practiced swordsmanship. She's the life of the party on the mountain.

How can I face anyone after losing to her?

Surprisingly, Li Feiying's expression wasn't too bad. Instead, he forced a friendly smile and said, "Senior Brother Ouyang has done a good job teaching his daughter. She's changed a lot in just a few days. My disciple is far inferior to her."

"Junior Brother Li, you flatter me. In truth, I really cannot teach my daughter's swordsmanship. You know her temperament, so how could you not know how her swordsmanship improved?"

Ouyang Zheng gave a wry smile and said awkwardly.

This is not modesty.

He felt that when he woke up, his apprentice was no longer understandable and his daughter had become more powerful.

The cabbages in the field grow on their own, which makes people overjoyed.

Qin Huaiying laughed heartily and said frankly, "Although my little apprentice started late, he has unique methods for teaching swordsmanship. Xiao Lan usually practices swordsmanship with him, so it's normal that she has broken through to higher levels one after another."

"I see."

Everyone suddenly realized what was happening, and their gazes turned even more intensely to Lu Wubing.

It's one thing to be strong yourself, but if you can also help others become strong quickly, then the Heavenly Star Sect has truly struck gold.

"Junior brother, did I play well?"

Ouyang Lan happily ran off the stage and found Lu Wubing.

"It's not just good-looking, but also easy to defeat opponents who are above their level. It's really unexpected. Look, Master and Mistress are ecstatic."

Turning around, one could see renowned figures from all sides surrounding Ouyang Zheng and Qin Huaiying, showering them with compliments... Even Murong Qing, acting like a close friend, was speaking auspicious words to Qin Huaiying.

The two acted as if they had never argued.

“Good tea!”

Lu Wubing was slightly taken aback, and roughly guessed what the woman was thinking.

Turning around, she said, "Senior Sister Xinzhu, why don't we go too?"

"You'd better let me hold out for a few more moves."

Shen Xinzhu was even considering admitting defeat.

She noticed that Yang Tong, wielding the Tiger-Slaying Saber, had almost buried his head in his crotch.

A martial arts competition brings joy to some and sorrow to others. Whether you win or lose, you know how humiliated you are. This is half of the martial arts world in the south.

Once they gain attention, they can become famous overnight.

Making a fool of yourself can also lead to overnight fame.

Lu Wubing nodded: "Not only do we need to withstand a few more moves, but we also need to set an example for everyone. Let them know that sword fighting is not just about swordsmanship, but also about opportunities."

……

Asking for a monthly ticket.

(End of this chapter)