Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

Inside the study of the Liu family mansion, the candlelight flickered, casting dappled light on the walls.

Liu Yuru had just changed into clean clothes. The wound on her shoulder was wrapped in thick burlap. Her face was still pale, but she could not hide the brightness in her eyes.

"Father, I noticed that the young hero seemed quite indifferent. Although he was surprised by the wild ginseng you gave me, he didn't seem to care much about it."

Liu Yuru said softly.

"That's precisely what makes him extraordinary."

Liu Chengzong shook his head, his tone full of approval.

"Think about it, even wealthy and noble families would regard a five-hundred-year-old wild ginseng as a treasure. Yet, this young man on his journey could remain calm and ungreedy in the face of such a precious gift. His character is far beyond that of ordinary people."

He paused, recalling the scene at the inn.

"When I spoke with him just now, although he was young, he was not at all intimidated. He neither tried to flatter me nor acted arrogantly. When faced with my request, he did not blindly agree. Instead, he first asked for the reason and even made a special condition of 'not harming the innocent.' It is clear that he has his own principles and bottom line and is by no means a reckless and impulsive person."

"What's even more commendable is his caution."

Liu Chengzong added.

"When going downstairs, he kept his hand on the sword hilt, showing extreme vigilance; when talking about Qin Wanshan, he didn't ask unnecessary questions or reveal his own background. He spoke directly and without beating around the bush, maintaining his own boundaries while giving each other enough leeway."

"At this age, it is rare to be able to remain calm in the face of honor and disgrace, to be cautious and measured, and to still have a bottom line."

Liu Chengzong sighed.

"With him here, we can say that we're almost certain of victory this time."

"He doesn't seem very enthusiastic about our plans. What if he changes his mind at the last minute?"

Liu Yuru was somewhat worried.

"Won't"

Liu Chengzong shook his head.

"Although he doesn't want to get involved in grudges, he has a chivalrous heart. Qin Wanshan has committed many evils, and since he has already killed Zhao Heitan, Qin Wanshan will never let him go. He has no way out. Moreover, he needs to cross the river, and we can help him solve the problem of the Shanzhou outpost, which is a necessity for him."

As they were talking, the study door was gently pushed open, and a tall, upright young man walked in. He was half a head shorter than Liu Yuru, and his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to Liu Yuru's. He was Liu Chengzong's son, Liu Yufeng, who was sixteen years old.

He was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe of the finest quality. Although it was not adorned with gold or silver, it was clean and crisp. At his waist was a short sword with an ivory handle, the scabbard of which was carved with intricate intertwined branches. It was clear at a glance that it belonged to a scion of a noble family.

The boy's brows lacked the vibrancy of his peers; instead, they were furrowed with an unyielding entanglement, and his eyes were somber, carrying a weight beyond his years.

Upon entering, he respectfully bowed to Liu Chengzong, his voice clear yet tinged with a hint of dejection.

"father.".

He then turned to Liu Yuru and called her "sister" again. He stood silently to the side, his gaze fixed on the window frame, his fingers unconsciously stroking the hilt of his short sword, lost in thought.

Looking at her younger brother's appearance, Liu Yuru felt a pang of heartache and helplessness in her eyes. How could she not know what was on his mind? Three months ago, Yufeng was taking a walk at Qixia Villa outside the city when he met a beautiful and lively young woman. The two hit it off immediately and often played chess and talked about poetry under the flower trellis in the villa. Before long, they developed feelings for each other and even secretly pledged their lives to one another, exchanging tokens of their affection.

However, Yu Feng had only recently discovered that the girl was actually Qin Yue, the legitimate daughter of the Qin family, and the beloved daughter of his mortal enemy, Qin Wanshan. On one side was his childhood sweetheart with whom he had pledged his life, and on the other side was his enemy with whom he had a long-standing feud and a hidden blood feud. Liu Yu Feng was caught in a dilemma, tormented day and night.

Liu Chengzong and she both saw it, but neither of them said anything. They had been plotting to eliminate Qin Wanshan for a long time. The matter was dangerous, and they did not want Yu Feng to be caught in the middle, so they kept the plan a secret from him.

Liu Chengzong glanced at his son, his tone gentle.

"Yufeng, are your preparations complete for our departure tomorrow morning?"

"Father, the birthday gifts for Grandfather have been prepared, but are you really not going?"

Liu Yufeng looked at his father, his brows furrowed.

"Your sister and I have important matters to attend to. You're all grown up now, so it's your father's turn to go."

Liu Chengzong waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Okay, I'll go rest now. You guys should get some rest too."

Liu Yufeng paused, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just sighed softly, cupped his hands to the two of them again, turned around and left the study, his steps heavy, his back full of struggle.

Liu Yuru gazed in the direction her younger brother had left and sighed softly.

"Father, Yufeng, he..."

A complex look flashed in Liu Chengzong's eyes, a mixture of concern and resolve.

"In chaotic times, romantic feelings are often beyond one's control. Qin Wanshan has committed many evils, and this action is also for the sake of the people of Hezhong Prefecture. Let's get rid of him first, and then slowly guide Yufeng."

Meanwhile, in a private room at the Yuelai Inn, Su Yan cut off a piece of the five-hundred-year-old wild ginseng that Liu Chengzong had sent and put it in his bosom, carefully putting away the rest.

Carry some with you so you don't run out of energy when you break through; the rest will definitely come in handy when you break through in the future.

Silent all night.

The next morning, Su Yan began his daily cultivation practice.

He first practiced the Su family sword technique, his sword moves were fierce and fluid, each move was full of power, and the dust in the room fell down as the sword wind swept by; then he switched to the monument-throwing hand, his fists danced, his fist power concentrated, and the amplified heavy blows made the air hum slightly; finally he used the leaping technique, his body moved and dodged in the small room, and the lightness effect made him land silently.

The proficiency level on the panel is steadily increasing.

Host: Su Yan

Age: 16

Martial arts:

Rank E - Su Family Sword Technique (Mastery, 258/400) [Consumable -25%, Armor Penetration +25%, Pressure +30%]

Rank E - Leap Technique (Mastery, 372/400) [Consumable -25%, Agility +30%, Evasion +30%]

Rank E - Monument Slayer (Mastery, 124/200) [Critical Strike +10%]

Realm: Third-rate martial artist.

At 9 PM, the night was as dark as ink. The guards sent by the Liu family were already waiting downstairs at the inn. Su Yan instructed Xiao Nian'er to stay at the inn and lock the door, then followed the guards to the Liu family residence.

The Liu residence was located in a secluded part of the city, with high walls made of blue bricks. Four strong guards stood at the gate, with swords at their waists and vigilant eyes, exuding a solemn air of readiness for battle.

Upon entering the mansion, the courtyard was well-organized, the stone path was swept clean, and several oil lamps hung under the eaves, their dim light illuminating the way. Faint voices could be heard coming from the side rooms on both sides, indicating that the invited martial arts figures had arrived one after another.

The guards led Su Yan to the main hall. As soon as they entered, they felt several pairs of eyes looking at them at the same time. The main hall was brightly lit. Liu Chengzong sat in the main seat, and Liu Yuru stood to the side, her face rosy. Apart from the superficial wounds, her body had almost completely healed.

Six people were sitting on the bench below; they were the invited martial artists and the leader of the Beggars' Sect.

Su Yan's gaze swept quickly over the six people, and he had already made a judgment in his mind.

The first one was a burly man with a full beard, about thirty years old, eight feet tall, carrying a thick-backed knife on his back, which looked to weigh about ten pounds. The scabbard was covered with dents and scratches, and his bare arms were muscular and covered with scars. He had a bold look in his eyes, and when he saw Su Yan looking at him, he immediately grinned, revealing two rows of yellow teeth. He was clearly a knife-wielder who made a living on the edge of a knife all year round, and his personality was straightforward.

The second was a woman in green, in her early twenties, with a slender figure and a long, thin soft sword at her waist. Her face was beautiful but cold, and her eyes were sharp as an eagle's. Her hands were tucked into her sleeves, and she did not say a word. She exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay, and was obviously a taciturn and agile swordswoman.

The third was a hunchbacked old boxer, with gray hair, about fifty or sixty years old, wearing patched short brown clothes, his hands were rough and thick, with swollen and protruding knuckles, full of calluses. He closed his eyes to rest, as if indifferent to everything around him, but in fact he was very perceptive and had a keen eye for what was going on, exuding the composure of a seasoned veteran.

The fourth was a free-spirited wanderer, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He wore a short shirt draped diagonally over his shoulders, with a short dagger at his waist. He had a cynical smile on his face, and his eyes were lively. He would occasionally glance at the people in the hall, and his mouth would never stop. He was bragging to the person next to him about his experiences. He loved excitement and boasting, but he also had a carefree attitude like a wanderer of the martial arts world.

The remaining two were leaders of the Beggars' Sect. One was slightly overweight with a dark complexion and a scar on his face. He wore patched Beggars' Sect clothing and had a gourd of wine hanging from his waist. He spoke in a loud voice and had a straightforward personality. The other was thin with sharp eyes. He wore the same Beggars' Sect clothing, had long fingers with dirt between them, and spoke little, but every word he uttered hit the nail on the head, revealing his composure and shrewdness.

"Young Master Su has arrived! Please, have a seat!"

Liu Chengzong stood up to greet him, his tone sincere.

Su Yan nodded slightly, without any further formalities, and walked to the empty bench to sit down. He stood tall and straight, placed his hands on his knees, and looked at Liu Chengzong calmly. He did not take the initiative to speak, but he did not appear distant either. He still had that pragmatic and cautious demeanor.

"Let me introduce you all. This is Su Yan, the young hero who killed Zhao Heitan, the leader of the Black Sand Gang, yesterday."

Liu Chengzong introduced himself to the crowd.

"Young Master Su, though young, is a rare expert. We will need your help in this siege of Qin Wanshan."

"Oh? This is the boy who killed Zhao Heitan?"

The bearded swordsman spoke first, his tone tinged with surprise and admiration.

"To have such skills at such a young age is remarkable!"

The woman in green glanced at Su Yan, her eyes scrutinizing him, but she remained silent. The old boxer slowly opened his eyes, looked at Su Yan for a moment, and nodded slightly, as if in approval.

The wandering knight whistled.

"Good heavens, I've seen that Zhao Heitan fellow before. He's all muscle, but I never expected him to fall for this young man. Young hero, you've got some skill!"

The two Beggars' Sect leaders nodded in agreement, and the fat leader laughed heartily.

"Young Master Su is a promising young man. With your assistance, capturing Qin Wanshan will be a sure thing!"

Su Yan simply nodded. They were all江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) people, and there were no fools like those in novels who would jump out and question things. In addition, with the feat of killing Zhao Heitan in front of him, he naturally wouldn't be looked down upon.

"It's my duty, no need to elaborate. Master Liu, when will we make our move? What are the specific plans?"

He disliked excessive pleasantries and got straight to the point, consistent with his pragmatic style. A hint of appreciation flashed in Liu Chengzong's eyes, and he immediately took out a map and spread it on the table.

"We'll make our move after midnight tonight. At that time, Gang Leader Lei Hong... and the yamen..."