Chapter 45: Tang Poetry Sword Technique

Yan Daping's expression changed completely, he spoke solemnly: "You say one cannot judge others by oneself, but aren't you doing exactly that now?"

Feng Yi's face sank, he said slowly: "Rather than saying I judge others by myself, it's more like I, Feng Yi, having left the Longsha Gang, am just like you all, and thus cannot win over everyone."

This was precisely the root of Yan Daping's dissatisfaction with Feng Yi; he immediately raised his eyebrows and said: "Isn't that so?"

Feng Yi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, he said coldly: "My relationship with Ling Tui Si is only because my father died in a fight between the Longsha Gang and the Dongting Gang; he merely gave me condolence money to pacify people's hearts, allowing me to grow up."

But people like me are not uncommon in the Longsha Gang.

After growing up, I still have to work for him.

Ling Tui Si, in order to secure his power, sent undercover agents to Ding the Chivalrous's side, and I am not the only one.

The only difference is that those people were exposed and killed, whereas I survived from Ding the Chivalrous's hands.

Thus, I must also prevent the secret that Ding the Chivalrous is imprisoned by Ling Tui Si from leaking, constantly with swords at my neck.

Being able to escape is a heavenly blessing; naturally I must part ways with him!

However, you few, although you did not receive Old Master Mei's true transmission, you also learned skills sufficient to establish yourselves, and each of you has great fame in the martial world.

It is you who are especially lacking; in order to learn peerless martial arts, you look down on the world.

Thus you ruthlessly attacked your benefactor; such beastly conduct arouses the anger of gods and men, and heaven and earth cannot tolerate it!

From ancient times to the present, whether in court or in the martial world, people like you deserve to be hacked to pieces and have their bones ground to ashes! I, Feng Yi, merely seek to survive and leave the Longsha Gang; how could I be lumped together with you, who for private desires collude, disregard human ethics, and murder your benefactor?

Yan Daping stared wide-eyed; he only said that Feng Yi forced him to go to the Wan Family Longevity Banquet to expose their three's crime of killing their master, because he feared others would attack him with this, leaving him unable to justify himself and in an awkward situation.

Unexpectedly, he understood everything; for a moment his face turned alternately pale and red.

Feng Yi continued: "Ordinary matters may be viewed differently by different people."

But even the most basic moral principles can be set aside for profit and benefit; then, damn it, are they still human? As the saying goes, "One day as a teacher, forever as a father."

Especially we martial artists value respecting teachers and upholding the Way; even those of the dark path must observe "even thieves have their principles."

Because the master teaches the disciple skills to establish oneself, it is equivalent to giving him an extra life, just as one's birth parents give life.

A disciple should treat the master as one would treat one's parents with filial piety! But what about you?

Yet because he did not teach you his most precious thing, you consider him not good enough to you, and you did not treat you as his sons.

If that is truly the case, when Old Master Mei discovered your evil intentions, whether he expelled you from the school or secretly killed the three of you, it would not be difficult for him.

Even on the night you attacked him, with Qi Changfa's meager ability, he could still have driven his sword into your back?

These words struck like thunder, their meaning profound; they made Yan Daping's expression shift repeatedly, his thoughts racing, recalling scenes with his master, and then thinking of the scene where he and the two others killed their master, his expression gradually turned sorrowful.

He realized that in this world, those who are ambushed invariably fall into the hands of the people they trust most, especially martial arts experts.

Feng Yi saw Yan Daping's expression change drastically, then said: "Just now the Snow Mountain Sect also launched a sneak attack from behind, why did it not succeed? Though I and you are enemies, why dare we live together? It is not that I, Feng Yi, am more formidable than Old Master Mei, but that I am constantly on guard against you, while he is not."

Because you are his only relatives! Who would guard against one's own kin?

Yan Daping stared blankly for a moment, then slumped down and sighed: "Yes, if my master truly treated us as we treat him, always on guard, then Qi Lao San's sword would not have struck him."

Feng Yi's expression eased slightly, he said: "In this world, everyone has desires, but not letting desires erase basic conscience and righteousness is what separates humans from beasts."

If everyone were like you, this bright universe would be overrun by wolves and jackals; what kind of sight would that be?

What kind of life would ordinary people still have?

Who would, upon having a beautiful daughter, think to strangle her to avoid trouble? This is also why your master did not pass on the Divine Illumination Skill to you, fearing you would misuse your technique to harm the world, with none able to stop you! After all, given your recent skill in sword-to-sword internal strength, how many in the world could achieve that?

That day, after listening to Ding Dian's detailed account, Feng Yi understood that Mei Niansheng's final moments held only anguish and helplessness.

Clearly Mei Niansheng was not just a namesake; he inwardly hoped these disciples would repent, so when they met their deadly fate, he certainly never expected it.

If he harbored ill intentions like Di Yun's, leading his disciples down a crooked path, Mei Niansheng could indeed refrain from teaching them martial arts; the most important thing would be that he would certainly guard against his disciples!

For if one harms others, how could one not guard against being harmed in return? This is basic human nature! Di Yun's imagining Mei Niansheng as so evil is merely an unconscious attempt to exonerate his own master, Qi Changfa.

Just as Ding Dian recounted the process of Mei Niansheng's murder and the meaning of Qi Changfa's "Iron Chain Across the River," he remained half‑believing, half‑doubting.

Yan Daping listened, his eyebrows rising repeatedly; after a moment of silence he nodded and said: "Yes, my master gave us a Tang Poetry Anthology, but we three lost it."

These years I have been watching Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa's movements; they are the same, and no one has gone about causing trouble.

Alas, if we truly had the Divine Illumination Skill, heh, we would never be idle, and the martial world would never be idle either!

Feng Yi's gaze swept over Yan Daping's face, then he said coldly: "You have never truly understood your master; the sword art he transmitted to you is called the Tang Poetry Sword Technique—why?"

It is because he saw that your intentions were not upright, hoping that while you learned the sword you would use poetry to cultivate your minds; but who among you understands his painstaking effort? You merely think he gave you skills to establish yourselves, and that he did not pass on his supreme art to dominate the martial world, which you deem not good enough of him! Yet you never consider that Old Master Mei is the revered Two Lakes Hero, and also your master!

The virtue of a hero lies in not personally teaching a few invincible demons; this is his responsibility to the martial world and to the world! Moreover, the master prevents him from completely cutting off the path of a few disciples, allowing only a reserved transmission; this is his word as a teacher to you.

If you walk the right path, living under your master's lingering shade, these arts are sufficient for self‑defense. But if you bring calamity upon the world, righteous individuals will surely arise to exterminate you completely! This too is his instruction to you and to the world.

Think about it: if I were now to become a flower‑plucking bandit, who in the world could restrain me?

Yan Daping looked at him, his expression strange, then suddenly pointed a finger at Feng Yi's nose and laughed loudly: "If you really did that, my master would be so angry he'd climb out of his coffin!"

Speaking thus, he gradually lowered his head and sighed softly: "Actually, my original intention was to force my master into desperation to make him hand over the Liancheng Sword Manual; unexpectedly, Qi Lao San turned out to be the assassin."

Alas, after all, we were master and disciple; after his death I also felt some sorrow. Whenever I think of it, I too am filled with regret that cannot be eased.' Saying this, the corners of his eyes actually welled up with two drops of turbid tears.

Feng Yi stopped him: "Enough, whether your tears are crocodile's or tears of regret, I don't care to investigate."

I merely tell you that among the myriad beings, most are greedy by nature, yet the bright universe can still exist, and justice will not perish.

It is precisely because not everyone will, for that slight feeling of resentment, annihilate great righteousness and human ethics! Imagine, if everyone in the world liked beautiful women, that would be lust.

One's own daughter may be beautiful; some will not harbor thoughts about her, while others will say their home‑grown cabbage tastes good!

This is the difference between humans and beasts, and also where human ethics reside!

Yan Daping heard this and shouted sternly: "I am human, not a beast!"

Feng Yi sneered: "That kind of beast, overwhelmed by lust and desire, tramples human ethics—what difference is there between that and you, who for your own ambition plot to kill your master?"

Therefore, since you killed your master, this is a great evil!

You must admit it! Don't shamelessly say before me that your conscience is clear!

Those four words applied to you would all seem disgraceful!

Feng Yi said all this merely hoping that Yan Daping would have some awakening, and at Wan Zhenshan's banquet could act as he had envisioned.

Yan Daping was also in a turmoil of thoughts, his face flushed red, and suddenly said: "What you say is correct; we plotted to harm our master, truly we are worse than beasts! This time, after going to the Wan Family Longevity Banquet, I will expose this matter, letting you off easy!"

Feng Yi let out a loud, long laugh, the sound shaking the roof tiles, and said: "Do you think I'm making you confess this just to let yourself off easy?"

Yan Daping, panicked, tugged at his beard with his hands, his face dejected, and said: "Then what are you doing it for?"

Feng Yi's eyes flashed with divine light, and he said: "You will never understand what it means to be a person, what it means for a great man to know what to do and what not to do, and what is meant by 'a kindness received is remembered for a thousand years'."

I deeply feel that Old Master Mei died wronged, died full of resentment, and since I, Feng Yi, have inherited the 'Divine Illumination Art', I ought to do something for him! You stepping forward to accuse him would both give your master an explanation, so that his bitter smile and tears of sorrow before death wouldn't all become a joke, and also give you a chance to act like a human being!

At the very least, it would give the world a sense that, among his three disobedient disciples, one would finally awaken after his death.

This would also be his final dignity.

Don't let people laugh; the so-called 'Great Hero of the Two Lakes' took in three disobedient disciples his whole life—truly blind-eyed and blind-hearted!

Do you understand?

Yan Daping, hearing this, felt his heart jump wildly; he suddenly dropped to his knees and shouted: "Master Feng, please stop speaking, please stop speaking!"

In an instant, tears streamed down his face, he pounded his head with both fists, crying bitterly.

Feng Yi watched Yan Daping wail loudly, but he didn't want to bother judging whether he was truly awakened or just putting on an act.

For if he truly awakened, I would let him die without too much suffering; but if I let today's effort go to waste, then I would make Yan Daping experience what true pain is.

Yan Daping wept here; at first Feng Yi thought he still had a bit of humanity, but as time went on he grew irritable and snapped: "Can crying bring your master back to life? If you're truly a person, at the Wanzhen Mountain Longevity Banquet, don't think of any other schemes or plots!"

Hearing this, Yan Daping's old face also reddened; he sheepishly stopped his tears, stood up, and choked out: "I won't; your character truly lives up to the master's true transmission."

Nowadays, if I were still scheming and letting my master become a laughingstock, that would truly be worse than a beast.

Feng Yi gave a slight nod and said: "Since I am the inheritor of Hero Mei's legacy, it is only proper that I cleanse the sect using his martial arts!"

Yan Daping nodded and said: "You're right! We have spent half a lifetime pondering our master's divine sword techniques; dying under the Divine Illumination Art is also our fortune!"

Feng Yi gazed at him, unable to help pondering: "Is this person truly awakened or merely pretending? Ah, what does it matter if it's real or fake?"

Surely I can't just let him go because he's repented, can I?

He immediately said: "The Liancheng Sword Technique has been lost; even Hero Ding doesn't know it. Perform the Tang Poetry Sword Method for me to see; if you can reconstruct the Liancheng Sword Technique, then the world will lose one less supreme skill."

Even if you cannot reconstruct it, killing you with this sword method would be all the more justified and proper!

Yan Daping himself was also a smart man; upon hearing this, he also felt it made great sense.

Feng Yi possesses the Divine Illumination Classic; combined with the Tang Poetry Sword Method, it is not impossible to reconstruct the Liancheng Sword Technique.

I have spent half a lifetime trying to learn the Liancheng Sword Technique without success; if I could witness it here with Feng Yi, it would not have been in vain.

He immediately took up his long sword, reciting the sword formula—which is none other than the verses of Tang poetry—and began to gesture the sword moves with his hand.

(End of chapter)