Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 240 The Shifting Stars Will Eventually End

A scene of paternal love and filial piety unfolded at the Murong family home. A strange light flashed in the eyes of the nameless old monk, who frowned and asked, "Murong Jushi named his son Fu?"

Murong Bo looked at him coldly, frowned, and said, "Indeed, I wonder what advice you have for me, Master?"

The nameless old monk seemed to have a bitter look on his face as he slowly shook his head: "This old monk knows that you are a Xianbei, and your ancestors were once the royal family of the Great Yan. It is only natural that you have the ambition to restore your country. But in this chaotic world, it is not a problem to have another warlord. Now that the world is at peace, why should you drag countless people into the flames of war for your own selfish interests?"

From the moment he began to speak, Xiao Yuanshan's tiger-like eyes remained fixed on Murong Bo.

Before her death, Xuan Ci betrayed him in a very low voice, and no one else heard it. He had not spoken a word all the way, until now when he suddenly spoke: "That's right! Murong Bo, you killed my wife in order to revive the Yan Kingdom. You are the culprit behind this deep hatred."

Having said that, he swiftly moved and unleashed a powerful palm strike. Murong Bo kicked his son away, forcefully deflected the attack with two punches, and took a step back, saying, "Brother Xiao! For the past thirty years, we were strangers to each other. We've fought three times. At first, I was indeed inferior to you, but by the last time, we were evenly matched. In the past ten years, I've made considerable progress. If we're talking about fighting, I'm not afraid of you, but..."

Xiao Yuanshan shouted, "Nonsense! You were slapped by this old woman Tong, and you're probably badly injured. Do you think I didn't see that?"

The old woman was furious and said, "You little Liao dog, the old woman of Tianshan is forever like a little girl, hence the name Tonglao (Old Woman Tong), not an old woman with the surname Tong! You little Liao dog are so rude, so the old woman Tonglao will also give you a slap to make the two of you fight fairly."

Just as he was about to pounce, Xiao Yuanshan quickly took a step back and said cautiously, "Wait a minute. When we Liao people say 'old woman,' we mean 'woman,' not 'old lady.' Your face is so delicate and smooth. I'm not blind. How could I not see that you're a young woman?"

Jiang Mingzhe raised an eyebrow, thinking that Xiao Yuanshan could actually say such a thing, something Xiao Feng would never say. Did this mean that Xiao Yuanshan was much more dashing and romantic than his son when he was young?

On second thought, it makes sense. Xiao Feng's first master was a monk, and his second master was a beggar. What kind of class could he possibly have? Xiao Yuanshan, a member of a prestigious clan, was probably a dashing young man in his prime.

As soon as Lao Xiao said this, Tong Lao's anger immediately subsided. She relaxed and sneered, "It's not like you little Liao dog's two eyes were wasted."

Murong Bo quickly said, "Brother Xiao, although I am injured, don't forget that my son is still alive. It's not that I'm afraid of you, but..."

Xiao Yuanshan grew angrier as he listened, and interrupted him, saying, "Don't I have a son? Feng'er, come up here!"

Xiao Feng rushed upstairs and said in a deep voice, "Father, your son is here!"

Xiao Yuanshan pointed his halberd at Murong Bo and said sternly, "Thirty years ago, it was this man who, in order to restore the Yan Kingdom, deliberately provoked the Song-Liao War, falsely instigating Xuan Ci and Wang Jiantong to lead men to ambush our family outside Yanmen Pass! Now that Xuan Ci is dead, if we kill this scoundrel, we will have avenged your mother! Son, I'll deal with the old beast, and you deal with his son!"

Murong Fu's face turned deathly pale as he stared incredulously at his father, his heart churning with turmoil: No wonder my father said I was better than him! I thought it was just a loving remark, but it turns out I really am better! All his efforts have turned the Xiao family father and son into my family's mortal enemies. Old man Xiao is one thing, but Xiao Feng is Jiang Mingzhe's sworn brother, and Jiang Mingzhe is my chosen successor, the Crouching Dragon and the Phoenix Chick, Guan Yu! This...this...what am I going to do...?

Then Xiao Feng said in a deep voice, "Brother Murong, you have come from afar to help me, showing great loyalty and righteousness. I appreciate your kindness! However, the hatred for the murder of my mother is irreconcilable..."

Suddenly, he struck out with lightning speed, slapping his left arm with a cracking sound, and the arm bone broke instantly.

Everyone was taken aback, not expecting Xiao Feng to be so resolute. A look of regret flashed in Xiao Yuanshan's eyes, but he repeatedly praised, "Good, good! He is swift in repaying kindness and settling scores, clear in his sense of right and wrong. Truly worthy of being a man of the Xiao family."

Xiao Feng's face paled, but he smiled faintly and said, "This arm is a repayment for your kindness. Now, my father and I will settle the blood debt from thirty years ago with you and your father."

Seeing Xiao Feng sever his own arm, Duan Yu was filled with remorse and cried out in tears, "Brother!"

Xiao Feng waved his hand at him, then looked at Jiang Mingzhe: "Second brother, third brother, if you consider me your elder brother, then stand aside and be a witness for us!"

Duan Yu burst into tears upon hearing this, and suddenly grabbed Kumārajīva, saying, "If I won't help my elder brother, you shouldn't help Mr. Murong either!"

Kumārajīva said with a wry smile, "If your second brother stands here, I'm afraid you'll all join forces against me if I make a move." The Old Woman sneered, "Hmph, this little bastard and I haven't decided who's the winner yet."

Azhu and Abi were pale-faced, and Azi grabbed them one by one, saying, "Don't move either of you, don't make things difficult for my big ginger!"

Seeing the crowd chattering and growing agitated, Xiao Feng shouted, "The feud between the Xiao family and the Murong family is none of your business! You two, let's fight!"

After saying that, he struck out with a palm, which was the ultimate move of the Dragon Subduing Palm, "The Dragon Regrets".

As if he knew his son was about to make a move, Xiao Yuanshan roared and spun his palms halfway inward before thrusting them out with a bang—it was the "One Strike, Two Separations Palm" technique that the monk Xuanji was most skilled at.

The Xiao family father and son unleashed three palm strikes simultaneously. The Murong father and son both recognized the ferocity of the opponent's palm techniques and shouted in unison, mustering all their strength to use the "Dou Zhuan Xing Yi" technique to try and neutralize it.

Fearing that the palm strike would be scattered, Jiang Mingzhe quickly stepped to the side and blocked Azi and the other girls.

Just as the four were about to clash, everyone suddenly saw a blur before their eyes, and the nameless old monk stepped between them, sighing, "An eye for an eye only leads to endless suffering!"

As he spoke, an invisible pillar of energy seemed to surge around him. The Xiao family father and son struck the pillar of energy with overwhelming palm force, which instantly vanished into nothingness.

The Xiao father and son were shocked and feared he would retaliate. They both jumped back a step. The old monk, however, showed no intention of attacking. With a compassionate look in his eyes, he said, "Layman Xiao, is it only when Layman Murong dies that you can vent your hatred?"

Xiao Yuanshan said fiercely, "A blood debt must be repaid in blood. What's there to say?"

Murong Bo's eyes flickered, and he was about to speak when he suddenly heard Tong Lao shriek, "Old bald monk, where did you learn your Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique)?"
Then, with an extremely domineering gaze, he swept over the crowd: "If you have any grudges or grievances, go settle them somewhere else!"

He stared intently at the old monk and asked, "You said you were enlightened by the Lingmen monk forty-three years ago. Before that enlightenment, what was your name and who were you?"

Jiang Mingzhe's eyes flickered as he murmured, "Forty-three years ago... the Lingbo Weibu..."

Duan Yu asked curiously, "Second Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Jiang Mingzhe took a deep breath, looked at the silent old monk, and slowly said, "Master, the martial arts you used to block my Uncle Xiao and Brother Xiao, as well as the martial arts you used to resist the attack of Granny Tong, are they the 'Star Shift' technique of the Murong family?"

Murong Bo and Murong Fu's expressions changed simultaneously. Murong Fu blurted out, "My Dou Zhuan Xing Yi? Impossible!"

Murong Bo's expression was much more complicated.

Jiang Mingzhe noticed his expression and immediately said, "Uncle Murong, you and my brother Murong have both used the Divine Skill of Shifting Stars. Brother Murong's level still requires the use of techniques to redirect attacks, while your movements are much smaller than Brother Murong's. So, if you reach the highest level, will you be able to redirect enemy attacks without raising your hand or moving your body, simply by circulating your internal energy, just like this master?"

Xiao Feng asked in surprise, "Second brother, I also saw Young Master Murong make his move. Although it is amazing to use the opponent's force against them, the force will eventually be redirected elsewhere. This master, however, turned the palm force of my father and me into nothingness."

Jiang Mingzhe said, "Brother, after I received the divine skill from Uncle Xiao, I became much more sensitive to changes in Qi. This master released his internal energy, and although it was not visible, the rotational force could not be hidden from me. Brother, think about it, the stars shift and change, but what if it turns without changing?"

Kumārajīva and Xiao Yuanshan's eyes lit up, and they said in unison, "It will naturally transform over time!"

(End of this chapter)