Chapter 244: The Number One Under Heaven

"The Four Evil Ones have gone somewhere, but Shaolin Temple must always send monks to protect the region—I used to think it was Abbot Xuan Ci taking the peace of the Wu Lin upon himself, but now it seems he's afraid the situation will escalate."

"Who could have imagined that the abbot of Shaolin Temple would have an affair with Ye Erniang?"

"Even Duke Duan had already admitted it—if Duke Duan had acted a moment faster, Abbot Xuan Ci wouldn't have killed himself."

"Duke Duan was indeed too slow."

…

"Grandmaster Gu…"

"Within a single day, you met your parents, then lost them both again—truly heartbreaking… Xu Zhu, how much martial arts have you learned?"

"This humble monk learned only the Arhat Fist and the Vajra Palm while at Shaolin Temple."

"Your foundation is solid. I have a scripture here—the Sutra of the Three Samadhis for Attaining Supernatural Powers—originating from Shaolin. I'd be willing to teach it to you. Would you like to learn?"

…

"Alas, tragedy, tragedy."

"Master, what's wrong?"

Just now I learned that Kumārajīva, after encountering Xiao Yuanshan and studying Shaolin's Seventy-Two Superior Arts, has stopped rescuing Murong Fu… Considering the timeline, Murong Fu should have been executed by the end of autumn. This is terrible—your Aunt Bi will surely weep.

"Prince Murong's fate is his own doing… Master, why are you smiling?"

"I wasn't smiling!"

…

"Fenghuang'er, A Luo, Hongmian—they three get along like sisters, which is delightful, but once I show up, they turn hostile. Ever since I came here, each of them gives me the cold shoulder…"

"Three monks, no water to drink."

"There's no water to drink, Gu Qing. I hope you'll take care of them, for the sake of Yuyan and Wanqing."

"Even without them, I'd still care for them. Duke Duan, we're kindred spirits!"

"True, we are kindred spirits—but you're far more fickle than I am. I see every young lady and married woman in the Sky Soaring Palace is utterly besotted with you."

The Tianshan Virgin is indeed a young lady.

…

Gu Qing lay on the boat, the waves rising and falling, the sea wind salty.

Gu Qing stretched lazily, glanced at the black-clad teenager beside him, and smiled: "We're still an hour from Japan. You might as well try to sleep."

Across this vast ocean, direction could only be judged by magnetic needle and stars. Gu Qing's sudden remark stirred some commotion on the boat. After a moment, an elderly sailor said: "Young master, you're mistaken—this place is at least two hours from Japan."

This sailor frequently made the voyage and had his own way of timing it.

"If you say so, then it is."

Gu Qing did not argue.

The black-clad teenager's gaze was distant. He suddenly asked: "Have you been to Japan?"

"Perhaps."

Gu Qing said.

The black-clad teenager fell silent.

Gu Qing looked at the black-clad teenager and smiled.

This man was a master swordsman, trained by a famed hypocrite. He once bore grave injuries; a girl risked everything to save him. In the end, he broke ties with that hypocrite. He is… Duan Tianya.

"If you're afraid of seasickness, press the Neiguan point."

Gu Qing said: "Better still, use internal energy." Duan Tianya, upon hearing this, lightly pressed his Neiguan point—and immediately felt much better. He looked at Gu Qing, his eyes holding quiet gratitude, and began speaking more freely.

"Sir, are you traveling from the capital to Japan?"

Duan Tianya asked.

Gu Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled: "How can you tell?"

"The silk and stitching on your robe are the work of Old Yang's shop in the capital. And this garment is new—not old."

Duan Tianya looked at Gu Qing's chestnut-brown robe and said: "I've always liked to observe closely."

After being discovered by Iron Shield Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi, Zhu Wushi gave Duan Tianya preliminary training, greatly enhancing his perceptiveness.

After all, Zhu Wushi trained him to the highest standard.

Gu Qing smiled and said: "I did live in the capital for a time, touring mountains and rivers, gaining much."

In this world of the Number One Under Heaven, one naturally must go to the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison to farm scriptures. Gu Qing went to the capital to obtain the Diamond Unbreakable Divine Art and the Absorbing Power Great Art.

"The capital's scenery is fine."

!

Duan said: "But the rules are too many."

"And there are too many rigid-minded people."

Gu Qing spoke of this with a touch of helplessness.

Gu Sanshong in the Ninth Level of the Imperial Prison is universally recognized across the myriad worlds as one of the elder sages—he transmits power and scriptures more efficiently than Wu Yashu. The Diamond Unbreakable Divine Art and the Absorbing Power Great Art are among the supreme martial arts in the martial world. Especially the Diamond Unbreakable Divine Art: entering the Golden Man state is like a Saiyan transformation—invulnerable to blades and bullets, with extraordinary defense and massive power boosts.

At this moment, the Iron Shield Divine Marquis and Cao Zhengchun are at the height of their power—but even now, neither can defeat Cheng Fei, once transformed into the Golden Man.

Unfortunately, Gu Sanshong is too rigid. Gu Qing's verbal persuasion only won him half the scriptures. The other half requires Gu Qing to deliver Cheng Fei—only then will Gu Sanshong willingly transmit them.

The story's beginning is still far off. Gu Qing could not find Cheng Fei at the moment, so he simply joined Duan Tianya's voyage to Japan to pursue women.

You must learn Japanese!

You must control the sisterly pair!

Duan Tianya, upon hearing "rigid-minded," smiled silently. By his side, the Iron Shield Divine Marquis had gradually turned him into a rigid-minded man himself—the many beliefs the Marquis instilled had sunk deep into his heart.

Gu Qing watched Duan Tianya lost in thought, saying nothing.

The Iron Shield Divine Marquis trained the Three Secret Agents—Tian, Di, Xuan—to become his trusted aides. But after killing Cao Zhengchun, these three agents became his stumbling blocks. His flawless disguise in the first half of his life became the very chain that bound him in the second—a case of overreaching cleverness, ultimately sealing his own fate.

"The wind's rising."

Duan Tianya suddenly sensed it. The ship's sails were fully unfurled, cutting through the waves toward Japan. The sailors cheered. Duan Tianya, sensing something, silently calculated the time—about an hour later, the ship indeed entered Japan and docked at the pier.

Gu Qing leapt, gliding gracefully ashore.

Duan Tianya hurried forward, blocking Gu Qing's path, his face slightly startled: "Was this wind part of your calculation?"

Gu Qing said one hour—and it was exactly one hour.

"Let's say it was."

Gu Qing smiled.

Having crossed many worlds, Gu Qing had absorbed and mastered many forms of wisdom. Like the old man from the Lu Xiaofeng Chronicles, who could use wind and waves to send objects automatically to the Nameless Island, Gu Qing now, through calculation, could wield similar abilities.

"May I know your name, sir?"

Duan Tianya asked.

Such a wise man—he wanted to learn more.

Gu Qing did not answer. He stared at Duan and said: "Actually, I know Japanese ninjutsu and swordsmanship. Would you like to learn from me?"

(End of Chapter)