Chapter 27: The Sword-Bearing Boy

Having crippled Yuan Ba, Yuan Shan and the others standing outside the pit were all trembling with fear, looking as if they didn't even dare to breathe. No one dared to step forward to assist Yuan Ba.

Liang Yan jumped out of the massive pit, swept a cold glance over them, and spoke: "In the future, if I ever find out that anyone else dares to bully Li Dali..."

Before he could finish, Yuan Shan and the others immediately nodded like pecking chicks, offering forced smiles. "Senior Brother Liang has astonishing cultivation and extraordinary talent. We were blind to your greatness before. We would never dare to be insolent again in the future. We only hope Senior Brother Liang is magnanimous enough to overlook our smallness..."

Liang Yan couldn't be bothered to waste words with them. He waved them off and said, "As long as you don't bother me, I won't bother looking for you."

Feeling as if he had received a great pardon, Yuan Shan knelt down and struck three loud kowtows on the ground. He and the other two men then hurriedly carried the unconscious Yuan Ba and left.

As Liang Yan watched them depart, a cough suddenly came from behind him. Turning around, he saw the gray-clad Witness Senior Brother.

Looking at Liang Yan expressionlessly, he asked, "What kind of cultivation technique is Junior Brother practicing? Why do I not remember such a technique among the Three Veins and Four Paths?"

Liang Yan smiled and said, "This is a secret transmission from an elder within the sect. As for the name, it is not easy to disclose freely."

The gray-clad senior brother nodded. "In that case, it is your own fortune. However, do you know that most duels on Martial Arts Peak are life-and-death struggles? Once you enter the arena, life and death are decided. Why did you grant him a way to live just now?"

Liang Yan was stunned for a moment and answered instinctively, "I have already crippled his dantian, severing his path to immortality. Is that not enough?"

The gray-clad senior brother shook his head, looking at him with a half-smile. "The cultivation world possesses countless secret techniques and spells, not to mention innumerable unorthodox paths. How do you know there isn't a way to make a dantian regenerate?"

Liang Yan was slightly taken aback. He heard the gray-clad senior brother continue, "The cultivation world follows the law of the jungle, where the strong are respected. To be merciful to an enemy is to be cruel to those close to you. Who knows what calamities may come in the future?" Having said this, he spoke no more. After tidying up the records of this life-and-death duel, he turned and headed down the mountain, leaving Liang Yan standing there in a daze.

At this moment, Li Dali and Yang Wei approached. Li Dali spoke to him respectfully, "I did not know Senior Brother Liang possessed such cultivation before. It is laughable and shameful that I had the audacity to call you brother."

Liang Yan smiled slightly and said, "Not at all. I treat Brother Li with sincerity; why would I care about such things?"

Hearing this, Li Dali pulled Yang Wei toward Liang Yan and performed a deep bow.

"Yang Wei only escaped her misery thanks to Brother Liang's help. The two of us are infinitely grateful. If there is anything we can do in the future, we are at your command."

Liang Yan did not step aside, but instead accepted the salute calmly. He pulled Li Dali up and said, "Brother Li, there is no need for such words. From now on, we are still fellow disciples of the Array Vein's miscellaneous duties department."

Li Dali nodded with moist eyes. He was not a man of many words, but he had etched this kindness into his heart. Without further speech, he led Yang Wei toward the foot of the mountain.

After resolving Li Dali's matter, the Array Vein's miscellaneous duties department returned to its usual tranquility. Liang Yan continued his routine of performing chores, studying arrays, cultivating, playing chess, and helping Senior Brother Zhuo refine pills.

After reaching the 5th level of Qi Refinement, his cultivation speed slowed down. He no longer felt the rapid progress of before, returning to his previous slow pace.

As for the Array Vein Library, over the past few years, he had read through most of the major classics, leaving only some obscure formations unread. On the final pages of some books, there were dense annotations, all signed with the name "The Mad Scholar's Reckless Words."

In terms of chess, although he had still never won a single game against Xumu Sheng, he was gradually beginning to see through some of the variations in his opponent's games, allowing him to hold his own somewhat.

More than two months passed like this. One morning, as Liang Yan was walking along the apricot grove path carrying ten bundles of spiritual wood, he suddenly saw a figure standing at the fork in the road ahead.

The newcomer was dressed in white, with crimson lips, bright teeth, and features as beautiful as a painting. Her long black hair was casually draped back, making her look like someone stepped out of a landscape painting.

At this moment, she was looking at Liang Yan with a beaming smile.

Liang Yan's heart skipped a beat for no reason, and he blurted out, "Senior Sister Tang!"

"Haha, good boy, Little Junior Brother!"

Liang Yan's face flushed. He thought to himself, *I am your junior brother, not your little brother. Why say it so bluntly?* He had learned from Xumu Sheng that her full name was Tang Diexian, and he held a good impression of her, after all, it was through her opportunity that he had been able to break through to the 3rd level of Qi Refinement.

Seeing his blushing face, Tang Diexian giggled. "How is it that after only a year apart, my little junior brother's skin has become so thin? By the way, without my guidance this past year, has your chess skill gone to waste?"

Liang Yan replied defiantly, "That's simple. Let's play a game, and we'll see!"

"Forget it, forget it. I didn't come to find you to play chess, but for something else!"

"Oh?" Liang Yan asked curiously, "Is there something you need help with?"

"Help? You could call it help, but for you, it's actually a massive stroke of good luck."

"Then tell me, what kind of massive good luck is it?"

"Do you know that we outer disciples must descend the mountain for training once every three years? This year happens to be my first time descending for training." Tang Diexian paused and then added, "And you, Liang Yan, a miscellaneous disciple of the Array Vein, have been honorably selected to be my Sword-Bearing Attendant for this trip!"

*Thud!* The spiritual wood on Liang Yan's back scattered all over the ground. His eyes widened in disbelief as he asked, "This is the 'massive stroke of good luck' you mentioned?"

Tang Diexian rolled her eyes at him and said coquettishly, "Is this not a good thing? You have the honor of following me down the mountain to broaden your horizons—a chance many people would pray for. If it weren't for that dim-witted servant in my cave dwelling, I wouldn't have come looking for you."

Liang Yan replied irritably, "Then you should go find your servant. I'm afraid I'm not up to such an important task."

Tang Diexian immediately said, "Don't be like that, good junior brother. At least you have the 1st level of Qi Refinement. Although your strength is meager, you can at least manage to help me a little." Then she added in a low, lingering voice, "This is my first time descending the mountain to perform a mission. Would you really have the heart to leave me all alone? What if I fail... what if I die out there and become a lonely wandering ghost, miserable and tragic..." As she spoke, her eyes grew misty and she looked as if she were about to burst into tears.

"Sigh, alright, alright!" Liang Yan immediately waved his hand. "I give in. I'll help you."

"Haha, you said it yourself! I didn't force you!"

Liang Yan looked up to see Tang Diexian with a mischievous glint in her eyes and a wide grin, showing no trace of her previous tearful appearance. His heart sank as he thought, *My lifelong reputation has been ensnared by this woman.*

But since the words had already left his mouth, it was too late to back out. He could only say irritably, "A man's word is his bond. How could I, Liang Yan, break a promise!"

"Haha, wonderful! Truly worthy of being my good junior brother, my good attendant!" Tang Diexian clapped her hands and laughed, placing particular emphasis on the word "attendant."

Liang Yan rolled his eyes and deliberately changed the subject. "What is the mission you've accepted for this training trip?"

Tang Diexian's smile faded, and her expression turned serious. "Our Yixing Pavilion is the greatest sect in the State of Zhao. Many spiritual mines within the state are under our sect's jurisdiction, and our sect dispatches disciples to station there. However, for many small branch mines, it is impossible for us to send cultivation disciples; we usually arrange for some secular internal martial arts experts to guard them. One such small branch is near Yongle Town. In the last two years, they suddenly lost contact with the sect and have stopped paying spirit stones. The mission I received is to go there and investigate."

"I see." Liang Yan nodded. Tang Diexian already had the 5th level of Qi Refinement; if she were handling such a secular mission, there shouldn't be much risk. Since he had already verbally agreed, he would reluctantly go along with her.

While he was lost in thought, Tang Diexian giggled again and tossed something toward him.

Liang Yan instinctively reached out to catch it. In his hands was a precious sword. The scabbard was encrusted with colorful gemstones, looking exceptionally magnificent, and the hilt was adorned with several floral patterns, looking very elegant.

"Catch it well, little junior brother. This is the Hundred Flower Sword. Once we leave the sect, you are my Sword-Bearing Attendant!" After saying this, Tang Diexian made a face at him, turned around, and walked away giggling, leaving Liang Yan standing there alone, holding a precious sword with a face full of exasperation.

***

Seven days later.

The Luling River was a famous river in the State of Zhao. Its waters were clear, and the cliffs on both sides were home to many strange cypresses. The mountains were high and the waters beautiful, making it exceptionally bright and lovely. In particular, the Luling River was tranquil all year round without many waves; traveling upon it was as smooth as walking on level ground, which was quite unique.

At this moment, two wooden boats were drifting slowly along the Luling River.

One boat was seven or eight zhang long and about three zhang wide. Both the front and rear doors were covered by purple curtains, and the lintels were decorated with various jewels, making it look exceptionally elegant.

The other was very small, only about two zhang long, and was entirely pitch black.

Suddenly, the sound of a zither drifted from the elegant boat. The music was lingering, smooth, and flowing—at times tender as water, at times softly humming, making one involuntarily intoxicated.

After the zither solo played for a while, a sound of a flute suddenly came from the black boat. The flute music was indignant and high-spirited, grand and unrestrained, with transitions that were harsh and piercing, as if expressing extreme resentment toward the affairs of the world.

Disturbed by the flute, the zither music soon could not continue. On the vast river, only the solo of the bamboo flute remained.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a voice suddenly drifted from the boat: "Which friend is playing here? To be alone on this great river is quite dull; why not come inside the boat for a chat?" The voice was pleasant and melodious, making it impossible to discern joy or anger.

As soon as these words were spoken, the flute music stopped abruptly, and the river surface fell silent. Then, a figure leaped from the black boat, soaring through the air and landing on the Luling River.

The man stepped upon the river surface, walking on water as if on level ground, reaching the elegant boat in an instant. With a light tap of his toes on the water, he flew into the air and landed lightly upon the boat.

The newcomer wore a long green robe with a black dragon-patterned precious sword at his waist. His features were quite handsome, though he appeared somewhat unkempt with a scruffy beard, and there was an indescribable sense of loneliness and desolation in his eyes.

If a martial arts grandmaster were present, they would nod silently; despite his young age, this man's martial attainments were extraordinary. That technique of walking on water just now was top-tier lightness skill. Furthermore, having walked several miles on water and boarded the boat without his breathing being even slightly disturbed, he clearly possessed profound internal strength and was undoubtedly a highly skilled expert of the martial world.

The man in green stepped forward and pulled back the curtain of the cabin door, glancing inside. He saw a square table with a vermilion ancient zither resting upon it, and an incense burner beside it, with sandalwood smoke curling up like a dream.

Sitting behind the table was a woman in white, her face clear and beautiful, her eyes as bright as stars. Standing behind her was a youth in gray, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with his arms crossed over his chest, holding a magnificent precious sword. The corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, looking somewhat reluctant.

The newcomer cupped his hands in a salute and said, "I am Chen Zhuo'an. Has the lady invited me to board?"

The woman in white glanced at him and said irritably, "Besides us, the master and servant, is there anyone else here?"

(End of Chapter)