The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

Jiang Ning turned around, his obsidian-like eyes looking intently at Yue Buqun, and said, word by word:

“Whoever prevents the people from living, I will not let them live; whoever causes the people's families to be torn apart and their lives to be lost, I will make sure that their families are also torn apart and their lives are lost.”

Chapter 62: I Don't Want to Kill

“I don’t want to kill people, I want them to live, but they don’t want to, because they don’t want to live.”

Jiang Ning didn't just kill indiscriminately; he also gave them opportunities.

When Jiang Ning massacred the first house, he left a sign that said those who hoarded prices would die. However, this did not deter others. Prices in Taiyuan and Pingyang continued to rise. In the end, Jiang Ning massacred eighteen houses in succession. Only after some Jianghu figures who could not bear to see the miserable state of Taiyuan and Pingyang intervened and killed them out of their fear did they stop.

Jiang Ning saw many disciples of the Five Sacred Mountains Sword Sects in these places, including those from the Hengshan Sect, the Hengshan Sect, and the Taishan Sect.

These disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sect also took action after witnessing the devastation in Shanxi, though they were not as ruthless as Jiang Ning.

Jiang Ning did not make acquaintance with these people when he met them. He concealed his name and identity while doing these things. He left after the prices in Taiyuan and Pingyang finally came down.

"..."

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Yue Buqun hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Given Yue Buqun's personality, if any Huashan disciple dared to argue with him like this, he would definitely be furious. If the person arguing with him was Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun would be even angrier and might even take action to severely punish Linghu Chong.

But this person was uniquely from Jiangning.

Unlike the other disciples, Jiang Ning was Yue Buqun's most outstanding and sensible disciple, and his feelings were extraordinary. Moreover, in his opinion, those people truly deserved to die. However, the difference between him and Jiang Ning was that Jiang Ning was too ruthless. This did not mean that he sympathized with those people, but rather that he was somewhat worried that Jiang Ning's extreme actions might lead him to despair and go astray if he found the world to be so dark that there was not a glimmer of light.

Extreme justice, if subjected to drastic changes, will go down the completely opposite path.

Jiang Ning lowered his head and said, "This disciple has been rude."

Yue Buqun chuckled, waved his hand, and said, "It's alright. Even fathers and sons have disagreements, let alone your master. I think you did the right thing. I'm just worried about you."

Yue Buqun then skipped over the matter and didn't mention it again. Instead, he said to Jiang Ning with a serious expression, "When you saw the lost sword technique of my Huashan Sect at the Cliff of Contemplation last time, you also saw the broken moves patterns left by those corpses, right?"

Jiang Ning nodded.

Yue Buqun frowned and said, "Those broken moves are real. The swordsmanship of my Five Mountains Sword Sect was broken by the corpses trapped in the stone cave."

Just as Jiang Ning predicted, Yue Buqun has discovered that those counter-strategies are indeed true.

"Those moves may not seem particularly special at first glance, but after careful observation, I discovered that they can indeed break the sword techniques of the Five Mountains Sword Sect. My Huashan Sect's sword techniques were completely broken by that person named Zhang Chengfeng."

When Yue Buqun discovered this, his feelings were beyond shock; they were downright horrified.

"I have destroyed all the sword technique patterns on the walls of the cave in the Cliff of Contemplation."

Yue Buqun said softly at this moment.

Jiang Ning looked at him in surprise upon hearing this.

Yue Buqun looked into the distance, a strange look in his eyes: "Those techniques must not be passed on."

He knew that if those broken techniques from the Cliff of Contemplation were discovered and taken out by others, it would be a severe blow not only to the Huashan Sect but also to the entire Five Mountains Sword Sect.

Jiang Ning naturally understood this as well, and thus comprehended Yue Buqun's motives. The stone cave was located deep within Jade Maiden Peak, and it was unrealistic to have someone guard it and prevent others from entering. The best solution was what Yue Buqun had done.

"However, I have already engraved those sword techniques and counter-attacks. Only your master, your master's wife, and you know about this. Chong'er doesn't know either."

Yue Buqun turned to look at Jiang Ning: "In the past few days, your master and I have carefully studied the Huashan sword technique and Zhang Chengfeng's counter-move, and then improved and optimized our Huashan sword technique. Although we still cannot completely get rid of the restraint of those counter-moves, it is not so easy to be broken."

Sword techniques are not static; they are constantly being improved upon by generation after generation. In game terms, Yue Buqun's approach is to update the game and fix the bugs. Although there are still some bugs, they are harder to detect than in previous versions.

Moreover, the techniques for breaking the Five Mountains Sword Sect's moves on the stone wall are only for dismantling each move individually. If they are not so rigid that every sword strike must be executed according to the teachings, the relationship of restraint is not actually that inflexible.

"Oh, right."

Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning and asked, "Are you already learning the sword techniques inscribed on that stone wall?"

Jiang Ning shook his head: "I only learned the Phoenix Comes to Court."

After acquiring the Innate Skill, he spent most of his time practicing martial arts, leaving less time for swordsmanship. Learning is about quality, not quantity. Jiang Ning devoted all his time outside of practicing the Innate Skill to the Phoenix's Arrival Swordplay. He hasn't learned other sword techniques yet, but he sometimes studies them.

"That's good."

Yue Buqun nodded and said, "I have already discussed it with your master's wife. We plan to teach you all of the Huashan Sword Technique. As for the sword techniques and counter-moves of the other Five Mountains Sword Sects, you don't have to learn them, but you need to know how to counter them."

"Yes, thank you, Master."

Jiang Ning nodded.

Now that he has returned to Mount Hua, he has more free time to practice his swordsmanship.

"I haven't finished speaking yet."

Yue Buqun then spoke up again: "After you have fully mastered the Huashan Sword Technique, I want you to forget it all."

After speaking, Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning and smiled, "Do you know why your master asked you to do this?"

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said, "Is it better to have no moves than to have moves?"

"good."

Yue Buqun nodded with satisfaction; his disciple was very perceptive.

"Through the Five Sacred Mountains Sword Techniques and their counters in the Cliff of Contemplation, I have come to understand one thing even more clearly: no matter how exquisite a sword technique is, as long as it is a sword technique, it will be broken one day."

“Exquisite swordsmanship may help us fight better, but it is ultimately just a means to help us fight. In the end, what truly needs to become strong is ourselves.”

"There is no strongest sword technique, only strong people. As long as we are strong enough, even a single move can unleash tremendous power."

Chapter 63: What kind of person is Senior Brother Jiang Ning?

It seems that those counter-attacks really stimulated Yue Buqun.

But as Yue Buqun said, the path of martial arts, no matter how exquisite the sword technique, will eventually lead to the same destination.

"However, although I want you to forget the Huashan Sword Technique, I don't want you to forget it immediately."

At this moment, Yue Buqun instructed Jiang Ning: "You must first understand that you must possess before you can learn to let go. But you can only think about forgetting after you have mastered all the skills. Otherwise, it will only harm you and not benefit you."

Jiang Ning nodded: "This disciple will remember."

Yue Buqun nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's go, it's almost noon. Let's go eat. You've been traveling around, so I'm sure you haven't been eating well."

Yue Buqun flicked his sleeve and walked toward the canteen.

Jiang Ning said with a smile as he walked, "This disciple really misses the food my master's wife cooks."

On their way to the cafeteria, Yue Buqun and Jiang Ning talked about the changes in the Huashan Sect.

Since their return from Xiangyang, nearly a hundred Xiangyang residents have wanted to go back to Mount Hua with them. Most of them are the brothel women who were rescued and their families, while the others are people like the maids of the Iron Palm Sect.

These people settled down in a village south of Mount Hua. Jiang Ning came from the north and came south, so he did not see them.

"Laudeno has returned from Qingcheng Mountain. He said that after learning the cause and course of events, Abbot Yu repeatedly expressed his apologies to our Huashan Sect. But let's not go into those words. He did bring back some interesting news."

Yue Buqun said with a smile, "I heard that the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect practiced swordsmanship every night. It didn't look like the Qingcheng sword style. After I had him demonstrate a few moves, I recognized it as the Evil-Repelling Sword Style."

Evil-repelling Sword Technique?

A look of surprise appeared in Jiang Ning's eyes.

He remembered this sword technique clearly, and Yue Buqun later developed an inseparable bond with it.

Seeing Jiang Ning's interest, Yue Buqun continued, "The Evil-Repelling Sword Technique is the signature skill of Lin Yuantu of the Fujian Fuwei Escort Agency. In the past, Master Yu's master, Changqingzi, lost a few moves to Lin Yuantu and died in depression after returning home. Now, Yu Canghai is practicing the Evil-Repelling Sword Technique with the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect. Perhaps he will go to Fujian to challenge Lin Yuantu's descendants to a duel to avenge the previous generation."

"It just so happens that my Huashan Sect's lost sword technique has been restored, and I have also found the Innate Skill. In order to avoid Lao Denuo discovering anything unusual during this period, I will use this as an excuse to send Lao Denuo to Fujian, which will be a good way to get him away."

Yue Buqun stroked his beard, a faint smile on his face.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ning's expression shifted, and he asked, "When did Lao Denuo go to Fujian?"

"What happened at the end of January?"

Yue Buqun said.

Jiang Ning shook his head: "After leaving Shanxi, I went to Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan in February and found that there were only a few young disciples guarding the Songfeng Temple. I did not find Yu Canghai or the other Qingcheng disciples. I don't know where they went. Now that I think about it, they may have already set off for Fujian at that time."

Yue Buqun asked in astonishment, "What are you going to Qingcheng Mountain for?"

Jiang Ning remained calm and said, "Last time, I heard from my senior brother that Hou Renying and Hong Renxiong from the Qingcheng Sect wanted to harass my senior sister. Although my senior brother stopped them, I thought that since they wanted to be disrespectful to my senior sister, they didn't succeed because my senior brother was there. But what if it were other ordinary people? Would they have suffered at their hands? So I thought I would go to Qingcheng Mountain to take a look. However, I didn't see them when I went, so I came back."

Yue Buqun's eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

He was all too familiar with Jiang Ning's words; usually, whenever Jiang Ning said those words, it was the prelude to starting a killing.

For some reason, Yue Buqun suddenly felt that it was a good thing Yu Canghai and the others left.

Yue Buqun didn't say much about it, but said, "After you return to Mount Hua this time, you must practice your swordsmanship diligently. I will teach you all the Mount Hua sword techniques within this month."

Jiang Ning was somewhat surprised: "A month? Isn't that too rushed?"

Yue Buqun shook his head and said, "It's not that I'm in a hurry, but I have to go to Hunan in a month. The time is indeed tight. Liu Zhengfeng of Hengshan Sect is going to hold the Golden Basin Washing Hands Conference in mid-June and has invited my Huashan Sect. We are all from the same Five Mountains Sword Sects, and I must attend this Golden Basin Washing Hands Conference."

Liu Zhengfeng?

A ceremony to cleanse oneself of worldly desires?

Is the story of Swordsman about to officially begin?

Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "Master, I'll go with you."

"Are you going too?"

Yue Buqun was somewhat surprised.

"Ah."

Jiang Ning nodded and said, "I have been cultivating diligently on Mount Hua, and after descending the mountain, I have mainly been going to Shanxi. I haven't met the senior uncles and elders of the other Five Mountains Sword Sects yet. This is a good opportunity to meet them."

Yue Buqun pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, you're right. You'll have to meet the other senior uncles and senior masters of the Five Mountains Sword Sects eventually, and this is a good opportunity."

As they were talking, Yue Buqun and Jiang Ning finally arrived at the dining hall, where food was already laid out on the tables and several disciples were busy preparing it.

"Master."

"Master."