All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Chapter 115 A Scheme Unfolds, A Test of Skill

Zhang Cheng thought for a moment and then gave another example: "For instance, if you had heard from me not that Wu Yazi had been crippled, but that he had died."

"If the events at Tianlongdiya Valley hadn't happened later, what would your opinion of Wuyazi be?"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiushui remained silent for a moment, her eyes lowered, her fingertips slowly tracing the edge of the teacup, as if she were contemplating another possibility that had never occurred.

After a long while, she finally raised her head, her expression becoming serious: "In that case, I'll have to trouble the sect leader to tell me all about this young master Murong."

The Murong father and son were ambitious and determined to start a war. Li Qiushui wanted to deal with them, but Zhang Cheng didn't bother to interfere.

He told Li Qiushui everything he knew about Murong Fu, including about his father, Murong Bo.

"—Thirty years ago, in order to incite a war between Liao and Song, Murong Bo spread the false news that Liao masters had attacked Shaolin, which led to a bloody battle among the heroes of the Central Plains at Yanmen Pass. It was at that time that Xiao Yuanshan's family was destroyed and killed."

Afterwards, he faked his death to escape and hid in Shaolin Temple to secretly learn the Seventy-Two Arts. In recent years, he has also used scriptures to win over the Tibetan national teacher Kumārajīva and secretly instigated conflict between Tibet, Dali, and Shaolin.

The recent deaths in the martial arts world caused by "an eye for an eye" were all the work of Murong Bo.

After listening, Li Qiushui pondered for a moment and said, "According to you, the Murong family is good at using others to their advantage, hiding in the shadows and inciting others to pull chestnuts out of the fire for them."

She abruptly changed the subject, asking, "If that's the case, do they possess methods like 'soul-searching through sound transmission' or 'life-and-death talismans'—methods for forcibly controlling others?"

Zhang Cheng shook his head.

Li Qiushui's tone became somewhat doubtful: "If their family doesn't recruit soldiers or buy horses, what will they use to fight when the world is in chaos?"

Even if, as the sect leader says, Murong Bo's strength is roughly equal to mine, capable of taking down an entire army, he alone cannot conquer the world.

Zhang Cheng nodded inwardly. Li Qiushui's words hit the nail on the head. What the Murong family lacked was precisely these means to unite people and motivate others.

In terms of strength, the two sides may be evenly matched, but in terms of functionality, these "wonderful little skills" passed down by the Free and Unfettered Sect are really too useful.

Thinking this, he casually added, "So they were using the wrong force. If you really understood his thinking, you should be wearing a big red ball on your nose by now."

Seeing the puzzled look on Li Qiushui's face, Zhang Cheng added, "It's alright, it's just some nonsense, don't worry about it."

Li Qiushui didn't dwell on it any longer, and smiled faintly: "Since that's the case, I know how to deal with him."

I'll ask the sect leader to oversee things for me then. I'll send another letter to my subordinates later, instructing them to expedite the process.

After she finished speaking, she hunched over the table and began to write furiously.

"You're worried Murong Bo might suddenly show up? Well, that makes sense, after all, Shaolin is right on Northwest Road in Jingzhou. But why didn't you ask your senior sister for help with this fight, instead of calling me?"

"Senior sister has probably had a lot of trouble fighting with people lately, hasn't she?" Li Qiushui continued writing, but her tone carried a hint of mischief. "I'm afraid her legs will go weak when she fights."

She looked at Zhang Cheng teasingly: "Although I don't know the cause and details, today's events must be quite interesting. If it's convenient for you, Sect Leader, you might as well tell me some of the things you can say."

"Ask your senior sister for that yourself." Zhang Cheng cursed the woman under his breath, then stood up and said, "I'll go inform the others. We'll set off tomorrow after receiving a reply from your subordinates."

"I will ask when I have the chance. Goodbye, Sect Leader." Li Qiushui lowered her head and continued writing the letter.

After leaving Li Qiushui's room, Zhang Cheng glanced back at his own room, the door still tightly closed.

He sensed the location of his allies in his mind and realized that Duan Yu and Duan Yanqing were both on the long street outside the inn.

He went downstairs and saw a large group of people gathered in a circle on the long street.

In the center of the crowd, Feng Bo'e and Duan Yu were locked in combat, the sounds of clashing swords filling the air. Bao Butong, A'Zhu, and A'Bi were also present.

Duan Yanqing and the others watched the battle from the sidelines.

Feng Bo'e wielded a single sword like a whirlwind, its blade flashing, striking Duan Yu's vital points with every strike, whether aimed at the upper or lower body.

He was a naturally combative man, always eager to spar with anyone. Seeing that this young master Duan was actually holding his own, he grew increasingly excited, his mouth never stopping: "Young Master Duan, your swordsmanship is quite impressive! Come on, take another strike!"

Duan Yu wielded his longsword with a steady and experienced style, every move following the Duan family's sword techniques.

His internal strength was far inferior to Feng Bo'e's, and his sword power was also much weaker. However, the timing and position of each of his attacks were just right, as if he had already seen through the direction of Feng Bo'e's sword strikes.

He advances when he should advance and retreats when he should retreat. No matter how fast or cunning the wind and waves may be, they are always easily deflected by him.

The two exchanged more than twenty moves, yet they were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand.

The onlookers watched with great interest, occasionally letting out gasps of surprise. Bao Butong and Azhu and Abi were also quite astonished.

It wouldn't be surprising if Feng Bo'e fought anyone, but it's quite remarkable that Duan Yu could hold his own against him.

Zhang Cheng probed with his internal energy and discovered that Duan Yanqing was using his internal force to transmit his voice, directing Duan Yu to make moves against the enemy.

"His next strike will be a diagonal upward slash from the lower left. The sword tip will dip down, pressing against the back of his blade, and then push forward with the momentum."

Duan Yu, who was in the middle of the arena, heard this and moved his longsword accordingly. The tip of the sword dipped down, pressing down precisely on the back of Feng Bo'e's blade as it was being swung up, and then thrust it forward.

Feng Bo'e felt a force coming from the blade, which caught him just as he was shifting his power, forcing him to withdraw his blade and take a step back.

"Good!" Feng Bo'e's eyes lit up. Far from being annoyed, he became even more excited. "Young Master Duan, let's go again!"

He changed his stance, switching from a sweeping motion to a slashing one, the single blade spiraling down from above his head, carrying a gust of wind, aiming straight for Duan Yu's right shoulder.

Duan Yanqing's telepathic message arrived again: "Switch the sword to your left hand, turn sideways to avoid the blade, and counter-stab his wrist."

Duan Yu switched his longsword to his left hand, dodged to the side, and the blade grazed his shoulder. He then thrust his longsword forward, the tip aimed directly at Feng Bo'e's wrist, which was holding the knife.

With this sword thrust forward, if Feng Bo'e didn't withdraw his blade, his wrist would be struck first. He let out a "heh," sheathed his sword, and took a step back.

After listening for a while, Zhang Cheng suddenly interrupted their "team voice chat": "Boss Duan is cheating."

His voice suddenly rang out in the telepathic communication, startling Duan Yu and causing his sword strike to slow down by half a beat.

Feng Bo'e's blade was already at Duan Yu's feet, and Duan Yu broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, Duan Yanqing spoke up in time: "Take half a step back and parry with your sword."

Duan Yu did as he was told, barely managing to block the knife and narrowly escape.

Duan Yanqing continued, "Yu'er, I've already shown you most of his swordsmanship. Now, for any moves you haven't seen before, just defend them; for the ones you've already countered, just make your own moves."

After saying that, he kicked Duan Yu out of the team voice chat.