Gu Long's Martial Arts World: Starting with the Invincible Demon Blade

Bai Tianyu was arrogant and domineering enough.

In the past six months, he has overthrown, suppressed, and humiliated countless "reputable sects" and "martial arts families" in Biancheng.

He acts without any rhyme or reason, relying entirely on his likes and dislikes, which indeed violates many of the rules of the underworld, and no one likes him.

But who are we? And who set the rules of the underworld?

Naturally, these are the prestigious sects that Li Xunhuan despises the most!

What reason would Li Xunhuan have to dislike someone who, like himself, despises social niceties and code of honor among江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world)?

Since entering the border town these past few days, although he seems to be drinking excessively every day, he has actually done quite a lot and has already thoroughly investigated this recently prominent figure in the border town.

None of the people Bai Tianyu dealt with were genuine ordinary citizens or law-abiding, kind individuals.

Among them are either local tyrants who dominate the market, or outwardly respectable but inwardly corrupt aristocratic families, or self-proclaimed righteous but actually opportunistic fence-sitters.

Even the incident of Bai Tianyu annihilating the Weiyuan Escort Agency was not actually done by Bai Tianyu. Rather, it was Ma Kongqun who deliberately sent someone to raid the Weiyuan Escort Agency at night to wipe out the entire family in order to incite public outrage in the Divine Blade Hall, and then framed Bai Tianyu for it.

This operation was carried out with extreme secrecy, and most of those involved were silenced.

If Li Xunhuan hadn't happened to be a guest at Wanmatang and overheard Ma Kongqun's private conversation with some of his men, this matter would probably have remained unknown to outsiders.

Although Bai Tianyu knew that someone else had framed him, given his personality, how could he possibly explain it to someone else?

Instead of explaining, he readily admitted it, which directly showed that he was not afraid of such petty tricks and did not take anyone seriously.

Therefore, Bai Tianyu's divine blade, like Xue Bufu's demonic blade, may have been stained with too much blood, but it was never used against someone who was truly powerless.

On the contrary, the Wanmatang, Haohanzhuang, or other aristocratic families that Bai Tianyu dealt with were all bullies who preyed on the weak and feared the strong.

Occasionally, a few scoundrels would emerge from his own Divine Blade Hall, and he would quickly behead them and display their heads to the public.

In Li Xunhuan's view, this nature of not bullying the weak and fearing the strong is far more precious than ten thousand high-sounding chivalrous slogans.

Although Bai Tianyu is not a traditional knight-errant, he possesses the toughness and authenticity that Li Xunhuan acknowledges in a man.

That's why the promise was made so readily.

Li Xunhuan didn't need to reveal his thoughts.

Those present understood what was meant to be understood.

If you don't understand, explaining it to the heavens will be in vain.

Fortunately, the men sitting at this table, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, are all people who understand.

Whether the women present understood or not was irrelevant; Li Xunhuan and his companions didn't care at all.

After all, they don't drink with women.

Now, they have indeed started drinking again.

And it's a hearty drinking session!

The more wine you drink, the warmer you feel; the more you talk, the more open you become.

There were only a few people in the hall, but it was very lively.

Just as the excitement reached its peak, Bai Tianyu suddenly slammed the large bowl in his hand down hard, making a muffled sound.

His face was flushed with the effects of alcohol, as if he were already drunk, but his eyes were fixed on Xue Bufeng:

"Xue Bufu, today's fight wasn't satisfying enough, all because Ma Kongqun and his bunch of flies ruined the mood!"

Xue Bufeng toyed with the wine cup in his hand:

"It's not that I'm unhappy, it's just that there was absolutely no need to fight today."

"But there must be a winner between us, a superior one between the divine blade and the demonic blade!"

Bai Tianyu leaned forward, exuding an imposing aura:

"Give me a year. In a year, I'll thoroughly deal with Wanmatang, wipe out all those messy forces in the border town, and get everything done. Then we'll find a quiet place and have a proper fight!"

Xue Bufeng raised his eyes, meeting his ardent gaze, and said calmly:

"Okay, when and where?"

"One year from now, the location will be the summit of the Tianshan Mountains!"

Bai Tianyu waved his hand:

"The mountains there are incredibly treacherous; only those with exceptional lightness skills can ascend them. It's a perfect place for tranquility! Even those who truly possess the ability to reach the top must be top figures in the martial arts world, worthy of witnessing our battle!"

As he spoke, he turned to look at Li Xunhuan and said loudly:

"Li Xunhuan, you must be there to witness this battle. It would be a shame if the ever-sharp-shooting Li Xunhuan didn't witness it."

It seems Bai Tianyu really drank too much today, as he's already started calling Li Xunhuan by his name.

Li Xunhuan didn't mind at all; in fact, he was drunk too. He coughed lightly twice and smiled.

"How could I, Li, miss such a grand event? I will certainly bring wine to the invitation."

"I want to go too!"

Hua Baifeng immediately raised her hand, her eyes sparkling.

Madam Bai, standing to the side, patted Bai Tianyu's arm with a smile, her tone relaxed and teasing:

"You! Fine, challenge me to a duel, but once we're in the Western Regions, you'd better keep your eyes peeled! Don't come back with any more romantic entanglements!"

She spoke casually, without any of the jealousy or tension typical of women.

Everyone present understood that even though a ruthless and ambitious man like Bai Tianyu had grown up with her, he could never have only one woman.

He probably doesn't even remember how many casual affairs he had outside.

But Madam Bai didn't care, or rather, she knew what was important—Bai Tianyu's heart, Bai Tianyu's respect.

For a powerful woman, these two things are enough.

Bai Tianyu, of course, gave him full respect.

Although he had countless women outside, none of them could ever be brought home by Bai Tianyu.

There isn't now, and there definitely won't be in the future.

Bai Tianyu just laughed and squeezed her hand tightly, everything was understood without saying a word.

Everyone smiled and remained silent.

But every feast must eventually come to an end.

Leftovers and cold food, an empty jar lying askew, the lively atmosphere gradually cooled as the night breeze blew in.

The time for parting has come.

Everyone got up to say goodbye.

Bai Tianyu and his brother escorted everyone to the corridor outside the hall.

The two brothers seemed to have drunk their fill, and were extremely drunk, completely intoxicated.

Instead, Madam Bai took Bai Tianyu's arm and thanked Li Xunhuan again in a solemn manner.

Li Xunhuan smiled and nodded, saying nothing more, and strode off.

Xue Bufeng was accompanied by Hua Baifeng, with Thousand-Handed Rakshasa and Ding Baiyun following behind.

Stepping out of the hall and through the courtyard, the noise has vanished.

Although Tie Chuanjia had already come over, Li Xunhuan did not get into the car immediately.

He stood alone in the shadow of the poplar trees where the moonlight couldn't reach, looking up at the cold, lonely moon in the sky above the border town. After a long while, he sighed softly.

The sigh was soft, yet it seemed to carry the weight of ten years of hardship beyond the Great Wall and a sense of inexplicable bewilderment.

"I never expected to run into you again so soon after I entered the country."

He turned his head and looked at Xue Bufeng, who was also not yet on the bus, not far away. His voice was particularly clear in the quiet night:

"I wonder how many more opportunities like this will come in the future, to sit down and have another drink like this?"

Xue Bufeng leaned against the carriage shaft, still slightly intoxicated, a habitual carefree smile playing on his lips, his voice languid and nonchalant:

"What's wrong, Brother Li? Is it because the music has ended but the audience hasn't dispersed yet, and you're already feeling lonely?"

"However, who in the world doesn't know someone like Brother Li?"

"If I really want a drink, I can find one anywhere. But..."

He paused, his gaze falling on Li Xunhuan's somewhat lonely figure.

"Brother Li probably just doesn't want to drink it."

Li Xunhuan was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, his smile containing both helplessness and a faint warmth of mutual understanding.

Li Xunhuan said nothing more.

But everyone knows that there aren't many people in this world who can make Li Xunhuan sit down and have a drink.

Such people are often very lonely.

Lonely people often appear somewhat effeminate when parting ways.

According to Xue Bufeng, Li Xunhuan was a bit effeminate tonight.