Liver penetrates martial arts, instantly becoming a saint.

Chapter 163 The Lady Passes on the Sword, Desiring to Annihilate the Heavenly Rebellion

He commands the entire academy.

Li Xian held a bowl in his right hand, filled with clear broth and white porridge, garnished with chopped scallions. With a slurp, the broth mixed with the porridge slid into his stomach, satisfying his hunger and providing a very pleasant feeling.

Left hand, fingers together like a sword, tapping, stabbing, sweeping, and deflecting in the air… The words of the lady echoed in my mind:

"This is the second level of the Sunset Bloodfall Sword, a rare and superior martial art."

"Go and cultivate. If you feel unwell, come and find me. If you are loyal to me, I will help you with your martial arts."

"Those who have mastered this sword technique must come to see me at midnight in the middle of each month. If you dare to be negligent, you can decide for yourself what the consequences will be."

Li Xian uses his fingers as swords. He strikes, pokes, sweeps, and flicks with effortless ease. Having already mastered the first level of foundational knowledge, he progresses smoothly and successfully enters the realm of martial arts.

[You have mastered the second level of the Residual Sun and Decaying Blood Sword technique.]

[Proficiency +1]

[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level Two]

[Proficiency: 1/800 Beginner]

[You can practice the first and second levels together, or you can practice them separately.]

Li Xian possesses the destiny of being rewarded by Heaven, seeking no shortcuts but only steady progress. He treats separation and combination as equals, naturally continuing his habits, first practicing separately, and then combining them into one when he has reached perfection.

Hot porridge is not enough to fill you up.

Li Xian broke open a steamed bun and added it to the hot porridge. There were also some pickled vegetables, salted vegetables, and wine in the courtyard, all sent by the tenant farmers and guards of various levels who had gone to great lengths to provide them.

Add it to the porridge. Take a sip and enjoy the burst of flavors in your mouth. It's quite a unique experience.

"I should really study cooking properly when I have some free time."

"Martial artists live long lives. If they only focus on practicing martial arts, wouldn't that be a waste of time? They should also indulge in wine, women, wealth, and passion. Only then will their lives not have been in vain. However... they must not become decadent."

Li Xian was enjoying the gentle breeze. The summer heat had subsided, and the wind carried a fragrance and coolness, making this the most comfortable time of year.

A year ago at this time, Li Xian was taking her younger brother to the forest to pick wild fruits. They were quite sweet and delicious.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps. Ding Hu ran over quickly and said that some villagers were looking for Li Xian, seemingly on urgent business. Li Xian put down his chopsticks and immediately went to see them.

The villager cried out in a panic, "Commander Li... Commander Li, no... something terrible has happened!"

Li Xian said, "What's wrong? Tell me in detail, there's no need to panic."

"You...you're wanted!" the villager gasped for breath, took a few breaths, drank some water, and calmed himself down before speaking.

Li Xian was puzzled and asked for the reason. The villager stammered and told him the truth.

He was originally a tenant farmer in Yihezhuang, a village near the county seat, and he frequently traveled to and from the county town. This year, the grains ripened early, resulting in a good harvest. Li Xian had rectified the social atmosphere, and the guards of Yihezhuang and the officials of Qingning County had all behaved themselves.

After paying the taxes, the family had some money left over, so they decided to go into the city to buy clothes in preparation for the cooler autumn and winter. But as they entered the city, they heard a commotion.

Following the sound, they found that the Wuwei Hall had been sealed off. All the guards inside had their hands and feet broken and were being held in prison carts.

It was transported to the county jail.

Again, yamen runners were seen posting portraits of Li Xian in markets, restaurants, and outside government offices, issuing a large-scale warrant for his arrest.

The village farmer was illiterate, but he knew that Li Xian had a red mole between her eyebrows. When he saw the wanted poster, he sensed that something was wrong and that it might be bad for Li Xian.

He couldn't remain indifferent, remembering Li Xian's kindness. With gritted teeth and a determined heart, he decided to go all out, walking and running for dozens of miles in one breath.

Pass on the message.

The farmer said, "Commander Li, that soldier is fierce! You'd better run away quickly!"

"Bah! Those corrupt officials can't stand to see you doing well, they deserve to die!"

Li Xian patted his shoulder, channeling his inner energy into his body to calm his breathing, and said, "Alright, I understand. Thank you for passing on the message. Go back now, and whatever you do, don't say you've seen me. They are ruthless; you don't want to be implicated."

Grateful for the farmer's generosity, he gave him all the silver he had on him and then escorted him out of the village.

Li Xian's expression grew cold. It must be the Cao family's doing. He wasn't about to sit idly by and wait for his doom. He said, "Ding Hu, disguise yourself and go into the city to gather information for me!"

Upon hearing the news, Ding Hu dared not delay. He stepped forward and said, "Yes!" He immediately changed into plain clothes and rode into the city.

Li Xian took out rouge and applied it to his face, concealing the red mole between his eyebrows. After another round of embellishment, he transformed into a coarse, burly man.

However, it has too many flaws, making it obvious at a glance.

"Fine, my disguise techniques are nothing but a pipe dream."

He decided to smear his face black and went to Qingning alone.

Seeing that the city was heavily guarded and that carriages and horses were being strictly inspected, the guards took his wanted poster with them.

The soldiers guarding the city were tall and all unfamiliar faces; they must have come from the prefectural city.

Li Xian pondered to himself, "This Cao family lad is ruthless and swift in his actions; he should not be underestimated. He appointed me to the Martial Guard Hall and issued a warrant for my arrest; his next step... is probably to instigate the powerful figures in the county to rebel."

"It would be too risky for me to go in now. Let Ding Hu find out the situation first before making a decision."

Calm down and remain composed. With nothing else to do, survey the surrounding mountains and discover a wild mountain called "Kanfeng Mountain" four miles east of the city. Its terrain is secluded and different from the area in the city.

They climbed halfway up the mountain and found a stone pavilion with a stream beside it.

Li Xian washed his face with water, sat in the stone pavilion, gazed at the distant city gate, and quietly waited for news from Ding Hu.

Half a day later, as dusk fell, Ding Hu spurred his horse out of the city and headed back to Yihe Village. Halfway there, Li Xian stopped him and led him to Kanfeng Mountain to discuss the situation.

Li Xian asked, "What's the situation now?"

"Commander, this is bad!" Ding Hu said anxiously, "The magistrate says you colluded with the old man who swallowed the child and committed many evil deeds. He's going door to door publicizing your crimes."

"His methods are ruthless. When ordinary people spoke out on your behalf, he even used their children to blackmail them, forcing them to curse you!"

"He even held a public banquet for the three schools and two factions, and powerful families, to weaken your influence. All the constables of the Martial Guard Hall have been arrested. I have a distant relative who works in prison."

"I heard him say that those constables are being tortured. Magistrate Cao Kai wants to force a confession out of them so that they can come forward and accuse you of committing numerous evils and oppressing the people."

"I don't know... I don't know how long they can hold out."

"Commander, what should we do now? How can we clear our names of this crime? If the rumors spread, the truth will become false, and the false will become true, and that will be a real problem."

Hearing these words, Li Xian was furious. The Cao family was ruthless and had no bottom line. But he remained calm and said, "Indeed troublesome. They'll find a reason to frame you, and explanations are useless. Only... blood will do."

"Commander, you..." Ding Hu was startled, thinking, "Only Xue Er, could it be that I have to fight him? But I am outnumbered, how can I possibly be a match for him? Never mind, who is the commander? He must have a plan to solve this."

His blood boiled, and he asked firmly, "Commander, what is the plan? Please give your orders!"

Li Xian said, "That Cao family is something else! They're powerful and oppressive, turning pretense into reality and disregarding life. Since that's the case, I'll just have to...see if they can stand firm!"

"Since you are so ruthless, don't blame me for being unjust!"

He said, "If you leave the city too often, it might arouse suspicion. When you enter the city again tomorrow, please call someone out for me first."

Li Xian whispered the details in Ding Hu's ear. Ding Hu nodded repeatedly, promising to complete the task.

That day… Li Xian pondered a plan until late at night, and only when the bright moon hung high in the sky did he slowly fall asleep. A gentle breeze blew, causing his hair to flutter, and a hidden killing intent was brewing.

Small-scale killings are like thunder, large-scale killings are silent.

The next day.

Ding Hu disguised himself as a merchant and entered the city. He found Luo Xia, brought her out of the city, and met Li Xian at Kanfeng Mountain.

Upon seeing Li Xian, Luo Xia strode over and teased, "Who would have thought that a dignified military officer like yourself would become a wanted criminal so quickly? Well, what do you want from me?"

Li Xian smiled and said, "Sit down." He then poured her some tea.

Luo Xia sat down but didn't drink the tea. She looked at Li Xian curiously and said, "You're really calm, but they're not having an easy time."

"They are all good brothers, enduring torture, yet no one testifies against you."

Li Xian said, "The more critical the situation, the calmer I need to be."

Seeing this composure, Ding Hu was deeply impressed. He remained calm and composed in the face of danger. Even when the situation seemed to be collapsing, he remained as calm as ever.

Ding Hu thought to himself, "Fighting with people like this is the most terrifying thing. Commander Li rose from a menial laborer to his current high position as commander; it's no accident!"

Luo Xia said seriously, "You called me out here to ask me to help you, right? Let me make it clear first, I'm happy to help with small things. But I won't risk my life for you."

"That would be perfect!" Li Xian said, "But this time... I need your help with a big favor."

"I guess you'd be happy to."

"Oh?" Luo Xia asked curiously.

Li Xian said, "You once asked me if I was interested in joining the army. I answered that I was not."

"You say that those who enjoy going to battle must be fierce and tyrannical. I am not that kind of person, but I know that you are."

"Tch." Luo Xia curled her lip, but a glint of shrewdness shone in her eyes.

Li Xian said, "Today's situation requires your help. With inside help and outside coordination, we must wipe out Qingning County completely. Let's set fire to that county government office until the walls collapse and the tiles crumble!"

"Kill that county magistrate Cao Kai on his horse!"

"How dare you!" Luo Xia exclaimed in surprise. "Your actions are tantamount to rebellion."

"Wrong," Li Xian said. "This isn't a rebellion. The emperor is far away, and if I win, what's wrong with saying it was the work of bandits?"

"Can…"

Luo Xia's heart was surging with emotion, imagining the county government office ablaze, its flames reaching the heavens. The hypocrites wailed, the opportunists were terrified, and those in power were filled with fear... painting a magnificent picture.

"If the officials are unjust, what harm is there in burning them?" Luo Xia thought to herself, "A young man should have this spirit; if he encounters injustice, he should draw his sword immediately!" Her voice rose and fell as she said, "But I cannot do it alone."

"Who said you were going it alone?" Li Xian laughed. "You should know, we are the true heroes!"

Take out the county magistrate's edict.

"Is this the county magistrate's warrant?" Luo Xia held it in her hand, confirming it was correct, her eyes gleaming. "How did it end up in your hands?"

"With this order, you may use the county magistrate's verbal command to mobilize the county troops," Li Xian said. "At that time, I will lead three hundred guards to attack from the outside, and you will mobilize the county troops to cooperate."

"Dare to let Cao Kai... his head fall to the ground, and Qingning be engulfed in flames!"

"Excellent!" Luo Xia said, "This plan is feasible! Hahaha, Li Xian, you have truly opened my eyes! How could there be such a traitor as you in this world!"

Li Xian thought to himself, "You seem to thrive on chaos. I'm just an honest man; I only bite people when pushed to the limit."

He said, "Oh, right, there's one more thing that needs to be returned to its rightful owner." He took out the fish-scale armor.

Luo Xia was taken aback, then immediately snatched it away, overjoyed: "How did this get into your hands?"

Li Xian said, "To be honest, we have quite a history. I was the one who bought your armor back then."

"So it was you!? You looked so disheveled and miserable back then!" Luo Xia exclaimed in surprise.

Ding Hu suddenly said, "Commander, look quickly." He pointed to the city wall.

Cao Kai hung a corpse on the city wall. The corpse was stripped naked, and there were words on its body, which were slashed out with a knife: "The Evil Commander Appears."

This corpse belonged to Fang Er, a constable of the Military Police Bureau. He could not withstand the torture and was killed as a warning to others. Even in death, he was humiliated.

They hung it on the city wall to force Li Xian to show himself.

Cao Kai laughed loudly, "You wicked Li Xian, let's see how long you can hide!"

Li Xian said coldly, "I'll give you one night to plan. Tomorrow the plan begins: break through the East Gate! Take Cao Kai's head straight for him!"

"Alright!" Luo Xia picked up her teacup, drinking it like wine, then smashed it to pieces after finishing it, and said sternly, "Why wait until tonight? Anytime is fine. I'll do whatever you say. When do we start?"

"Since that's the case..." Li Xian slowly rose, drinking tea instead of wine, pointing his sword at Qing Ning, and said loudly:

"Tomorrow at dawn, in broad daylight, the world will be turned upside down!"

Luo Xia was a seasoned veteran of countless battles, having heard countless inspiring words, most of which were enticements aimed at personal gain. But at this moment, these twelve simple words sent chills down her spine.

In broad daylight, I have a clear conscience.

The world is turned upside down, but my power is as vast as a flood.

(End of this chapter)