Chapter 302

【You look toward Su Yun's servant and say slowly, "I fear I cannot fulfill Young Master Su's wish; Xie Guan has already accepted an invitation from another family."】

【Upon hearing this, the servant's expression changes abruptly. This matter was something his master had repeatedly and earnestly charged him with; if he fails, he fears he will not escape punishment.】

【"Young Master Guan, why not accept this invitation for now? It would allow me to have something to report. Once I return, I will surely report the truth to my master and let him make the final decision," the servant pleads.】

【Seeing the sorrowful look on his face, you nod slightly.】

【Seeing this, the servant hurriedly presents the invitation, while the attendants behind him set down the silver, bow, and depart in a rush.】

【Sister Wu Tong gazes at the suddenly increased amount of silver before her, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes, followed by sudden doubt: "Young Master, if we accept so much silver, is it..."】

【Xie Yuan laughs, "Sister Wu Tong, set your heart at ease."】

【"To the Su family, three hundred taels of silver is but a drop in the ocean. If he didn't feel that gifting silver was too insulting, he would likely have sent it by cart and horse."】

【"As for this invitation to the Hundred Flowers Banquet, its value is far beyond what three thousand taels of silver could compare to."】

【Zhang Yunzhi also nods slightly; as the head of the Nine Great Clans, the Su family naturally would not take such a small amount of wealth to heart.】

【It is laughable to say, but the purpose of holding this Hundred Flowers Banquet is actually to raise disaster relief funds for the Jiangnan Circuit.】

【Outside Above Bianjing City, one does not know how many disaster victims have starved to death by the roadside. She once followed her mother to the Longnan Circuit, and on the way, she saw it with her own eyes. Lifting the carriage curtain to look at both sides of the road, there were only dying victims, their bellies swollen like drums, suffering unbearable pain.】

【Driven by extreme hunger, they had no choice but to eat "Guanyin mud" to fill their stomachs, but they could not pass it. They could only let their bellies be stretched round, unable to stand up, waiting in despair for death.】

【However, when the carriage drove into the Jingshi Circuit and entered the prosperous Above Bianjing, what met her eyes was a scene of peace and prosperity.】

【Inside the city, there is laughter and song, dancing and music; outside the city, there is only sighing and a desolate sight.】

【The descendants of the Nine Great Clans are still indulging in wine and pleasure, enjoying their luxurious lives.】

【Zhang Yunzhi shakes her head gently; this is the very reason she does not wish to associate with those young ladies and madams of the Xie family. From the beginning, she preferred to follow Xie Yuan to this dilapidated little courtyard for leisure, as the young ladies and madams of each courtyard only like to compare vanity.】

【Influenced by her father, she has come to understand the vastness of the universe, especially pitying the green grass and trees, and empathizing with the suffering of the world.】

【Hearing this, Sister Wu Tong happily accepts the silver and walks back to the room with a light step.】

【Xie Yuan laughs, "I was just discussing with my Fourth Cousin how we must find a way to obtain an invitation to the Hundred Flowers Banquet for Brother Guan."】

【"It is truly a case of someone sending a pillow just as one feels sleepy," he continues. "When the time comes, Brother Guan and I will ride in the same sedan chair, but since there are nearly two months until New Year's Eve, there is no need to rush."】

【The few of them chat about everything, from the current political situation to interesting anecdotes from all over the world. You rarely express your own opinions, mostly listening attentively.】

【Unknowingly, it is already dusk, and the sun is setting behind the western mountains.】

【Just as Sister Wu Tong is about to prepare dinner, Xie Yuan's mother, Lady Zhuge, sends someone to invite the two of them back to the residence for a meal.】

【Xie Yuan laments that time flies, feeling unsatisfied. Before leaving, he suddenly remembers something and says, "Brother Guan, would you like to come to my courtyard tomorrow? My mother has ordered me to start practicing martial arts; you might as well come and take a look."】

【You ponder for a moment and shake your head.】

【You know in your heart that Xie Yuan is about to begin martial arts training, and you already possess the two martial arts manuals gifted by Sima Ting, the "Great Ancestor Holy Ape Post" and the "Yin Fu Jing," so there is no need to watch others.】

【Thus, Xie Yuan and the other two bid farewell and leave.】

【After the meal, Sister Wu Tong thinks of the four hundred taels of silver already saved in the house, as well as the frequent visitors to the courtyard like Xie Yuan, Miss Zhang, Mr. Zhang, and Physician Hua.】

【The invitations sent by General Sima and Su Yun also lie quietly on the desk.】

【Sister Wu Tong can now feel a bit more friendliness even when encountering the stewards in the main courtyard. She cannot help but say, "Young Master, I seem to understand a little of what you said before."】

【Once upon a time, Sister Wu Tong wondered why you were so intent on befriending Physician Hua An.】

【You replied at the time, "In the past, the State of Qi was weak, yet it still widely befriended the small barbarian states to the east, eventually achieving great things. These small states were all protected because of their sincere allegiance." Now, Sister Wu Tong seems to have gained some insight.】

【You look at Sister Wu Tong, smile slightly, and say, "But this is still far from enough. We are merely borrowing the influence of others; in the end, it counts for nothing."】

【"Like duckweed without roots, once a strong wind blows, the firewood goes out, and the stove grows cold."】

【"The true principles and reliance in this world lie within oneself."】

【Hearing this, Sister Wu Tong nods, seemingly understanding yet not quite, not fully grasping it. She only knows that the Young Master is a capable person.】

【It is already night, inside the room!】

【You light the candle and open the scroll given to you by Xie Hong from the Second Master.】

【This is the authentic handwriting of the Second Master, a copied portion of the "Holy Words," totaling four thousand characters.】

【The paper is filled with clouds and mist!】

【The "Ghost-Slaying Sword" and "Demon-Slaying Sword" in your mind seem to receive a response, simultaneously emitting brilliance.】

【Especially the "Demon-Slaying Sword" obtained today, its light shines even more brightly.】

【You calm your heart and spirit, carefully contemplating the "Demon-Slaying Sword" in your heart's sea, and after repeatedly studying the characters on it, you discover something.】

【These characters, like the Ghost-Slaying Sword, have no pattern to follow, as if pieced together, even interspersed with stories, not at all resembling what a sword manual should look like.】

【The opening passage reads:】

【"Roaming the Northern Peak in the morning, the Cangwu in the evening; the green snake in my sleeve gives me courage. Once the sword art is mastered, take it away; where there are flood dragons, slay the flood dragons."】

【"Wielding the sword, I go a thousand miles through the sky; leaving me at the first watch, returning at the second..."】

【"... Those who learn this sword from me shall slay all the demons in the world."】

【Your mind is immersed in it, just like with the Ghost-Slaying Sword. Until you finish reading all the characters, the light on the character "Hong" becomes increasingly intense, begins to transform, turns into a human figure, and starts dancing with the sword.】

【You see golden light radiating everywhere, and you focus your attention to observe carefully.】

【Having had the experience with the Ghost-Slaying Sword, you were well-prepared; this is the inheritance of sword intent illusion.】

【The thick fog before your eyes strikes and then dissipates; you find yourself in another world.】

【Is this a sense of being there in person?】

【When you see clearly again, you look down and find yourself stepping on the cold lake water. Under the midday sun, the water surface reflects ripples.】

【You raise your head to look at the vast, boundless water, and vaguely, you can see an island emerging from the water ahead.】

【At this moment!】

【You notice that on your side, a bamboo raft is floating quietly on the lake, carrying three people.】

【A man wearing a bamboo hat, whose face cannot be seen clearly, is lying leisurely on the raft, basking in the sun, holding a sword in his arms.】

【A pair of women dressed in bright red bridal attire, wearing phoenix crowns and embroidered capes, stepping in embroidered shoes.】

【The two women are leaning against each other, beautiful in appearance, and their looks are identical; they are actually a pair of twins.】

【However, there is not a trace of bridal joy on the faces of these two brides; instead, they are filled with fear and helplessness. They huddle together tightly, sobbing in low voices.】

【No one is rowing the raft, yet the boat drifts sideways on its own.】

【You are secretly puzzled in your heart; you are like a void spectator, and the three of them cannot notice you.】

【The raft drifts closer and closer, and you finally see a large stone standing on the island, with two large characters carved on it.】

【"Ze Lake."】

【Your heart shudders; so this is the legendary Ze Lake.】

【The eight-hundred-mile water territory of Ze Lake.】

【In the center of Ze Lake, there is an island, and the naturally formed palace on it is the Dragon Palace.】

【You lower your eyes again to look at the deep water bottom, and you see huge dark shadows swimming slowly in the water. They are massive, like giant beasts lurking under the water. Every time they pass by lightly, it is accompanied by a "swish, swish, swish" sound, causing the two women on the raft to be terrified, falling onto the raft, hugging each other tightly, and shivering.】

【The air is filled with a thick smell of blood, and the island is covered year-round by a layer of mist that does not dissipate, adding a bit of mystery and eeriness.】

【Just at this moment, a low and majestic voice suddenly comes from the deep bottom of the water: "Sacrifice to the Dragon King."】

【Before the words fall, the lake suddenly surges with waves, and evil waves tower into the sky. A huge whirlpool suddenly forms, violently flipping the raft, as if it wants to open its mouth wide to swallow it.】

【It seems that the so-called sacrifice to the Dragon King is to throw these two innocent women into the water as sacrifices to the Dragon King.】

【The man in the bamboo hat then slowly stands up, his gaze like a torch staring at the bottom of the lake. He brings his two fingers together, making a sword-finger gesture, and points lightly toward the bottom of the lake.】

【In an instant, the water surface under the raft is dyed blood-red, and the lake surface returns to calm. Immediately after, a huge fish corpse slowly floats to the surface.】

【The two women look at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief.】

【This action seems to have angered the lake water.】

【A voice sounds again from the bottom of the lake, "Offending the Lake Lord, you must die."】

【Before the words fall, huge waves surge in the lake, and huge monsters break through the water surface. They have different forms; some have ox heads and snake bodies, some have several arms, and others have huge pincers, which is shocking.】

【They are massive, like mountains, looking down at the two people on the raft, making the twin women feel even more desperate.】

【Even if you are just a bystander, you can feel the terrifying aura emitted by these great demons. They have probably reached the peak strength of the ninth realm of martial arts, making people feel awe and dare not have any resistance.】

【The man in the bamboo hat just smiles, puts his hand on the sword hilt casually, and slashes out a sword lightly. Like the rising sun, golden spots actually begin to grow on the sword body.】

【Unlike the "Ghost-Slaying Sword" which emits the moonlight like the Mid-Autumn moon.】

【This sword is like the great sun hanging in the sky over the lake!】

【Scorching, burning hot!】

【The lake water backflows!】

【Immediately after, the lake surface begins to rain blood. Those great demons close by instantly turn into skeletons under the blood rain, and the great demons further away are also slashed into several pieces, leaving only pairs of desperate eyes falling into the lake.】

【The scene ends, and finally you see the shock in the eyes of the two women.】

【"Demon... Slaying Sword?"】

【You whisper in your heart, savoring that sword intent like the great sun just now. The demons in the lake were like autumn leaves swept away by the wind, annihilated without a trace, leaving only ripples, reflecting your shocked expression.】

【This contemplated sword intent has added another kind.】

【You withdraw your thoughts with a trembling heart and look at the Second Master's scroll again.】

【Curious in your heart, the Second Master's calligraphy is invincible, and his sword is also invincible, but how could he be bedridden with a serious illness?】

【This leaves you completely puzzled.】

【A thought emerges quietly in your heart about this style of "Demon-Slaying Sword"—it seems to have integrated the rigidity of martial arts with the abnormality of the Cloud God, the two complementing each other, naturally formed, otherwise, when swinging the sword just now, golden spots would not have appeared on it.】

【You gently put away the Second Master's scroll and unfold Xie Hong's calligraphy scroll. In an instant, your eyes light up.】

【Just as Xie Hong said, "If you have seen the Second Master's calligraphy, and then look at Xie Hong's, it won't be bad."】

【One regular script, one cursive script, each has its own characteristics.】

【Xie Hong's brushwork is bold and unconstrained, having reached perfection, every stroke showing exquisite skill.】

【However, compared to the Second Master's free and easy style, it seems to have a bit more deliberate carving, lacking that natural, extraordinary artistic conception.】

【The Second Master's calligraphy is like flowing clouds and running water, free and unrestrained, even better.】

【From now on, besides burying your head in books and the path of cultivation, you also need to add practicing calligraphy.】

【An ancient saying goes: Aim for the top, and you will reach the middle; aim for the middle, and you will reach the bottom.】

【You have already copied the calligraphy scroll gifted by Dong Shao no less than a thousand times. Now, the characters under your brush already possess a certain charm, only lacking that touch of spirit unique to you.】

【All the great calligraphers in the world establish themselves with unique styles. However, without the guidance of a master, relying solely on one's own exploration, it is difficult to master the essence and enter the inner sanctum.】

【Fortunately, you have now obtained the authentic works of the Second Master and Xie Hong, as if meeting a good teacher, and the path ahead is suddenly clear, with no more regrets.】

【You carefully put away these two precious items and walk into the courtyard, thinking about the martial arts training you have yet to complete.】

【Skill is perfected through diligence and ruined by play.】

【It is already near midnight, and Sister Wu Tong has already rested.】

【The Xie residence is also silent, with only the night watchman moving through the various courtyards of the Xie residence.】

【You walk to the sycamore tree in the courtyard and prepare to start practicing the post-standing training, hoping to advance your martial arts.】

【Unexpectedly!】

【Someone has already been waiting in the courtyard for a long time. That person is wearing a white gauze bamboo hat, arms crossed, leaning against the sycamore tree; it is Lu Hua.】

【"What you obtained from the lake should be that legendary Demon-Slaying Sword, right?"】

【"The Second Master realized it at Ze Lake; it is said to be a sword that can slay all the demons in the world."】

【You nod. Lu Hua helped you at the Dengchun Tower today, and you feel she seems to have no ill intentions.】

【Lu Hua laughs and says, "Is it really fate?"】

【"However, you must be extremely careful when practicing this Demon-Slaying Sword. Just now, someone sensed the sword intent and has already sneaked over from the Dengchun Tower side. If I hadn't acted in time to help you conceal your aura..."】

【"You would probably have seen a dragon today."】

【Your heart shudders, and you immediately think of the man with scales on his face you met at the Dengchun Tower. The aura on him still makes you feel lingering fear.】

【"Dragon?"】

(End of chapter)