Chapter 125

Three years later.

Outside Ruoshui Ju, two figures were fighting.

One could see that as Qin Shuang threw his punches, cold air permeated the area, and everything within five zhang was frozen into frost.

Youruo held a long sword, her sword moves elegant like a dance, yet hiding murderous intent; the frost fist energy was instantly disintegrated by the sword Qi.

"Senior Brother Shuang, don't bring out your 'Heavenly Frost Fist' to make a fool of yourself anymore."

After Youruo finished speaking, she appeared behind Qin Shuang as if teleporting, and with a stance of no thought and no mind, the sword tip pierced his back.

Qin Shuang's figure was steady; he struck back with his fist, bringing up a gust of wind, the momentum like a dragon or snake coiling, appearing to go left yet going right, appearing to go up yet going down, appearing straight yet curved, appearing slow yet fast.

It was a seemingly plain punch, yet it forced Youruo to withdraw her move. Her figure flashed, retreating to three zhang away. She swung her sword repeatedly, and the wind force generated by the sword Qi shaking the air actually formed a scene of wind and snow filling the sky, further attracting petals to follow.

As the wind and snow swirled around her at high speed, it was as if she had turned into a small tornado.

Seeing this, Qin Shuang struck out with fist energy from his sleeve that was continuous and dense, like a long whip and also like mercury.

It was like a soft wall of stone, winding and wrapping around the tornado. After a few breaths, the moment the tornado dissipated, he took the opportunity to strike.

One punch had just been thrown when a second followed; the front force was strong, and the rear force arrived, layer upon layer, like surging waves, with endless residual momentum.

Youruo's jade face and hands both hung down, giving birth to a mysterious aura that was 'in the realm of having method, yet method is heaven and earth', 'containing no method within method', and 'containing method within no method', further erupting with an aura of heaven and earth combined into one.

She slashed out with one sword, like the sky pressing down. Qin Shuang's continuous fist momentum was immediately interrupted, and like a falling leaf, he moved with the wind, retreating rapidly without applying force.

With a few crisp "crack" sounds, seven or eight peach trees not far away were cut down and fell to the ground.

"Father, can this move of your daughter's be considered 'entering the hall and reaching the inner chamber'?"

Youruo stood with her sword sheathed, calling out to the white-haired, black-robed person sitting and tasting wine under an old peach tree.

"The 'Broken Sword Manual' is our family's sword technique. Although its power is extraordinary, it emphasizes being heartless and righteous, which fundamentally does not fit your temperament. That is why I created a brand new technique based on this skill."

"And this martial art, called the 'Heart-Forgetting Heavenly Book', prioritizes having feelings first. Only after having feelings can one forget feelings, and only after forgetting feelings can one have high feelings."

"After having high feelings, one can integrate one's own will and life into any stone or wood in nature, borrowing the power of the universe, heaven, and earth to destroy the opponent, rather than using one's own meager power, which is but a drop in the ocean of nature."

"The 'Heaven's Will' move you just used has only just crossed the threshold; how can it be called 'entering the hall and reaching the inner chamber'?"

Zhuang Buran supported his chin with one hand, playing with the wine cup in the other:

"However, Shuang'er's 'Great Elephant Formless Fist' was used quite well. It seems his practice of 'Hibernating Dragon Sleep' has had some success. In about ten years, he will probably be able to master the 'Mountain and River Hidden Dragon Technique'."

After listening, Youruo was already sitting opposite Zhuang Buran. She suddenly smiled:

"Father, do you know that your current casual and lazy appearance makes you look like a young man with nothing to do?"

"If it weren't for your taller stature and white hair, if others saw us father and daughter, they would only think you were my younger brother."

"Reversing the natural order; I just feel that the long beard is a bit of a nuisance."

Zhuang Buran glanced at Youruo sideways, which immediately made her smile freeze, and she hurriedly got up to pour wine and admit her mistake.

His tone paused slightly, and he laughed in spite of himself:

"I have lived in seclusion for five years; why is there still someone who wants my life?"

Qin Shuang also sensed that someone had broken into the peach grove formation and hurriedly said:

"Master, could it be the former subordinates of the World Association and those enemies of yours again?"

Zhuang Buran looked indifferent, not caring at all about the identity of the intruder, and said lightly:

"As usual, cripple their martial arts, so as not to be misled by hatred and end up with a miserable death in the future."

"Father, this time don't bother Senior Brother Shuang; I will go and send these uninvited guests away."

Youruo picked up the long sword on the table, and her figure disappeared into the peach grove in an instant.

"Shuang'er."

"Disciple is here."

"It seems there is another guest outside the peach grove; go and invite him over."

Zhuang Buran said casually, seeing Qin Shuang's somewhat stunned expression:

"Are you wondering why, since I have already crippled my martial arts, I can still sense things outside the peach grove?"

"This disciple would not dare."

"Martial arts are just a technique for seeking the Dao. If they are gone, they are gone. As long as the Dao heart remains, one can still do what others cannot."

"This disciple will strictly follow Master's teachings."

Qin Shuang's mood was somewhat complicated. After these three years of getting along, he felt more and more the horror of walking on the edge of an abyss.

This was not just because of his master's increasingly youthful appearance, but simply discussing the various martial arts he brought out, they were all unfathomable to the point of being invincible in the world.

Thinking that if this person were to develop any ambition again, I fear no one would be able to resist.

Now, the reason he had been staying in the peach grove was also to have the intention of timely persuasion and prevention, and he did not want anyone to disturb his peace and freedom.

Because he often had a thought: if there was someone in this world who made this former hegemon restless, he feared he would make this world restless.

Before long, Wuming, still wearing a dark blue robe, was led by Qin Shuang and Youruo to the front of the white-haired, black-robed person.

"Xiong, you this..."

As soon as Wuming saw Zhuang Buran's current grace and appearance, he was stunned on the spot, not knowing what to say.

If he didn't feel that the face of the person in front of him was seven or eight parts similar to the World Association leader he had known before, he would have feared he had recognized the wrong person.

"If I said that I have been concentrating on cultivating the Dao in recent years and have been able to return to my youth, I wonder if Brother Wuming believes it or not?"

"I don't know whether to say I believe it or not," Wuming gave a bitter smile.

"Tsk tsk, after not seeing you for a few years, Brother Wuming's power has not advanced but retreated," Zhuang Buran tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, acting as if he had suddenly realized:

"So it turns out you were first poisoned with a strange poison, and then crippled your power to re-cultivate. No wonder your aura is somewhat unstable."

Wuming only felt that the tapping sound of the white-haired, black-robed person seemed to be pulling his own aura, and sword light seemed to be flowing in his pupils. He immediately cut off the strange pulling force contained in the tapping sound and said:

"It seems that after five years of living in seclusion, Brother Xiong has not only re-cultivated his martial arts, but his power is also far beyond what it was before."

Zhuang Buran looked sideways:

"Youruo, in these years, has your father practiced martial arts for even a single day?"

"Senior Wuming, did you misunderstand? In these years, my father has either been napping under this old peach tree or picking peaches to brew wine; he hasn't practiced martial arts at all."

"Even when teaching me and Senior Brother Shuang martial arts, he would lie down rather than sit, and sit rather than stand."

"My eyes and ears might deceive me, but my sword will not deceive me," Wuming stared fixedly at the white-haired, black-robed person.

"Interesting. This sword Qi in your body that can help you control swords, spirit, heal wounds, and protect your heart meridians should be the so-called supreme sword path method, 'Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin'."

A consistent lazy smile appeared on Zhuang Buran's face:

"Speak, why have you come? If I can help, I will certainly help."

"Twenty years ago, Jue Wushen of Dongying coveted the imperial power of the Central Plains and led troops westward. I blocked him, but after he returned helplessly, he learned of the decline of the World Association and staged a comeback."

"I and the major experts of the Central Plains were captured by him one after another. If it weren't for Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun saving us in time, I fear I would have also fallen victim to his poisonous hands."

Wuming explained the cause and effect one by one:

"Since then, I have joined forces with them to deal with Jue Wushen. Because my power has not yet recovered to its peak, and Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun's power is also not as good as Jue Wushen's, we still cannot break his 'Indestructible Golden Body'."

"But now we have some certainty. However, Jue Wushen is already on guard and is hiding in the Wushen Jue Palace, which is full of traps."

"This Wushen Jue Palace is the former station of the World Association. To avoid unnecessary casualties, I have come specifically to ask Brother Xiong for your full support."

A playful smile appeared on the white-haired, black-robed person's face:

"Let me think. How could a mere dwarf defeat the 'Heavenly Sword' Wuming at his peak?"

"Brother Wuming couldn't have known nothing but playing the erhu all day, to the point of being poisoned by someone close to him."

The smile on Zhuang Buran's face became even richer:

"If I remember correctly, Brother Wuming has a disciple."

He slapped the table:

"What a wicked disciple! We should drink a big cup of wine to that!"

(End of chapter)