Chapter 97: Only children distinguish between right and wrong; adults only look at benefits

More than ten days later,

The three of them walked out of the secluded valley surrounded by deep emerald mountains. Kou Zhong and his companion did not dare to speak too much, simply following the blue-robed youth southward.

After walking continuously for several days, they finally encountered a village that appeared quite desolate, with only a dozen or so households, and only two or three of them could afford to light a lamp.

Another ten-plus days passed, and the blue-robed youth, as if on a leisurely outing, brought Kou and Xu to the east of Poyang Lake.

This was a prosperous Jiangnan water town. Although it was only a quarter the size of Danyang and lacked high walls or city gates, it still housed over two thousand families, making it quite a thriving population.

After entering the large town, the blue-robed youth, hindered by his own appearance, put his bamboo hat back on his head, causing Kou and Xu to sigh inwardly:

"If only this person's temperament were as good as his appearance, how wonderful that would be!"

While passing by the town office, they saw that besides being plastered with recruitment notices for the army, there were three exceptionally familiar wanted posters.

This made Kou and Xu lower their heads in a hurry, wishing they too were wearing bamboo hats.

"Master, we've been put on a wanted list!" Kou Zhong whispered.

"That is just as well. True gold fears no fire, and pine and cypress fear no bitter cold," the blue-robed youth said indifferently.

"I have taught you for so long; it is time you experienced real combat. Only through the slaughter of blood and fire can one climb to the pinnacle of the Martial Dao."

Upon hearing this, seeing that he was as fond of entrapping people as ever, they were actually becoming somewhat accustomed to it.

In the days that followed, perhaps because the flames of war were rising everywhere under heaven and the situation was becoming increasingly chaotic, they remained safe and sound. However, on the journey north, the closer they got to the Chang Jiang, the more they could feel the chaotic situation.

From time to time, they would encounter refugees, and these people couldn't even figure out if they were fleeing from the righteous armies or the Sui army.

The road was not peaceful either; bandits would always emerge to rob them. Whether they were poor or rich, naturally, it was Kou and Xu who took action.

In this way, they gained several fast horses, as well as money and sharp swords and blades.

Kou Zhong began using a sharp sword, no longer using a bamboo sword for practice as he had in the secluded valley.

Although Xu Ziling was practicing the "Heavenly Object Blade," because his internal energy was not deep and he was a beginner, he followed the principle that all things under heaven are my blade, intending to master blade techniques first, then integrate them into his fists and palms before practicing other things.

Through many days of riding, the two of them had also developed exquisite horsemanship. To have such progress, besides relying on the "Longevity Secret," the robbery technique played an even greater role.

This day.

The three of them rode their horses to the outskirts of a small village when they heard the sound of hooves. They saw a cavalry troop of sixty or seventy men driving a large group of villagers out of the village.

Every one of them wore a green scarf on their arm and was dressed in chaotic, disorganized attire. They were clearly not the Sui army, but the so-called righteous army.

They drove the terrified and crying villagers out of the village and divided them by gender. Afterward, they forcibly conscripted the able-bodied men. Those who showed the slightest disobedience were met with horse whips, beaten until they were half-dead.

Immediately, they skillfully tied them into a string with ropes, preparing to drag them away later.

The leader of the cavalry troop, accompanied by several personal guards, walked straight toward a village girl with a beautiful appearance.

During this time, although a youth of about twenty, tall and majestic, spoke up to stop them, saying there were military orders not to plunder women and children, he was shouted down, told that military orders could not control his desire to take a wife and have children.

Seeing that the righteous army was even more barbaric and lawless than the bandits they had encountered before, and hearing the wails of the villagers whose families were torn apart and homes destroyed, Kou and Xu's expressions became incomparably ugly.

"Seeing injustice on the road and drawing a sword to help—that should be a thought that appears at the beginning of your martial arts training. Why are you still indifferent?"

Zhuang Buran flicked his sleeve, and the wind from his sleeve swept past. The black horses under Kou and Xu neighed, raised their hooves, and charged toward the cavalry troop.

"As the Master of the Zhengdao Sect, I cannot bear to see this scene. There are only sixty or seventy of them; I imagine you can certainly kill them until they are turned upside down."

The blue-robed youth's words drifted over lightly. Kou and Xu could not afford to think too much and drew their sharp blades and swords.

"How bold!"

Hearing the sound of hooves, the cavalry leader saw the martial artists he hadn't wanted to bother with earlier charging at them with weapons. With a single order, he had his subordinates mount their horses quickly to meet the enemy.

The righteous army soldiers who could come to conscript able-bodied men were mostly old veterans who had crawled out of piles of dead bodies. These people might not have been as orderly or brave in battle as the Sui army, but their competitive spirit of not fearing death truly exceeded many, let alone two greenhorns who dared to charge a military formation.

This was the first time in their lives Kou and Xu had encountered such a crisis, and instinctively, they used all their strength.

One person's sword momentum was majestic and dignified, like a mountain, heavy and unparalleled. With one swing of the sword, three or four men in front were cut down from their horses.

The other person's blade technique was swift and erratic, and extremely precise, as if he could see through the enemy's flaws at a glance, taking several lives in an instant.

These people remained unmoved, as if they were accustomed to life and death, intending to surround and annihilate the two of them.

Seeing this, Kou Zhong's sword momentum changed, beginning to become treacherous and unpredictable. He used the Dui Sword Path corresponding to a swamp, coordinating it with the Gen Sword Path corresponding to a mountain he had just used, which had the miraculous effect of trapping the enemy invisibly.

Xu Ziling was also fighting for his life. Trapped in the military formation, if he could not defeat the military momentum in one go, the consequences would be unimaginable. He also fundamentally did not believe that his so-called Master would help.

He unleashed a biting force, immediately turning the flying sand and stones around him into fierce, absolute hidden weapons, knocking down one enemy after another who came to surround them.

Not long after, when the two of them, stained with blood, had killed more than half of the cavalry troop, the righteous army was, after all, just a righteous army. Their morale vanished instantly, and they scattered in all directions, fleeing for their lives.

"Xiu xiu xiu!"

Leaves flying in sheets were like the sharpest blades in the world. The heads of those attempting to flee fell one after another.

The blue-robed youth rode his horse not far from Kou and Xu. Seeing that they had more or less some injuries on their bodies, he understood this was due to a lack of experience.

"The essence of the 'Heavenly Object Blade' lies in turning all things into blades. Whether it is grass, trees, sand, or stones, or even air and water droplets, all can become fatal weapons, making it difficult for opponents to predict the source of the attack."

"Ziling, you used the sand and stones splashed by the horse's hooves as blades just now, which shows you have grasped the essence of this martial art. However, this martial art has three levels of realms; turning all things into blades is only the first level."

"As for Xiao Zhong, your sword technique was used well. One day, if you can suppress the so-called Three Great Grandmasters, then it will be a great success. If you can pacify the world with sword techniques, your martial arts will definitely be above the Three Great Grandmasters."

Kou and Xu took several heavy breaths and bowed:

"Master, you overpraise us."

"That fellow who spoke of military discipline just now was quite sharp; he actually stood there without moving." Zhuang Buran glanced at him casually.

Kou and Xu couldn't help but look over, seeing the sturdy man untying the villagers while comforting them.

"It can be seen that this person is still kind-hearted and did not associate with them in their evil deeds." Kou Zhong spat out a mouthful of turbid air.

"Indeed." Xu Ziling nodded.

"Kind-hearted?" The blue-robed youth chuckled softly:

"Only children distinguish between right and wrong; adults only look at benefits. Your innocent and naive appearance leaves me speechless."

The sturdy man comforted the villagers and then walked over with large strides, his expression showing not the slightest panic:

"I am Li Jing, greetings to the young heroes."

"Aren't you afraid we'll kill you along with them?" Kou and Xu asked suspiciously.

"You are all heroes who see injustice and act, not fearing the strong. How could I feel afraid?" Li Jing said solemnly:

"Furthermore, how could I be one of those treacherous and vicious people like them? At first, I thought Du Fuwei had a great reputation and was a resounding figure, but I didn't expect him to indulge his subordinates and be greedy for small immediate gains, forcibly conscripting commoners into the army, causing heaven's anger and people's resentment below, so I had already developed the intention to leave."

"Then why haven't you left yet?" Xu Ziling asked.

"Although my martial arts are not as good as yours, I consider my archery to be passable. I wanted to take advantage of the night to shoot these heaven-defying thieves to death, release the conscripted commoners, and then leave."

"It seems you really are a good man who distinguishes right from wrong." Kou Zhong laughed heartily.

Li Jing glanced at the blue-robed youth, then turned his gaze to Kou Zhong:

"This person was right just now. In the current chaotic world, disputes are constant. People who are not ruthless enough are destined to be forgotten. Thus, kindness sometimes has to be abandoned. Distinguish right from wrong, the meaning of friend and foe; as long as you can live up to your own conscience, that is enough."

"You are quite good, truly a clever person. I wonder when the wicked disciples I have taken in will have your adaptability." Zhuang Buran squeezed his horse's belly:

"Xiao Zhong, Ziling, I give you the time of one stick of incense to clean yourselves up. I will wait for you in the bamboo forest not far away."

Once these words were spoken, Li Jing's solemn expression relaxed slightly, and Kou and Xu hurriedly dismounted.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 98 =====