Chapter 14: A Sword to Topple the City

Yu Liancheng parted ways with Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou; they were never meant to walk the same path.

Of course, Yu Liancheng did not intend to stand by and watch regarding the Golden Peng Dynasty case.

Whether it was the massive wealth of the Golden Peng Dynasty or the vast influence of the Green Clothes Tower, he wanted to take control of both.

The reason Yu Luosha was so terrifying was not only because of his profound martial arts cultivation, but also because of the Rakshasa Cult that dominated beyond the passes.

But for now, Yu Liancheng would not intervene; he had to wait for Lu Xiaofeng and his group to thoroughly muddy the waters first.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

He was on the fifth layer.

"Half-master, we have been traveling for two hours straight, and it is already late; let's take a rest."

Shangguan Xueer followed behind Yu Liancheng. Do not be fooled by this girl; she looked obedient, cute, innocent, and pure. But in reality, she could lie through her teeth without batting an eye. Even sharp-witted people like Lu Xiaofeng and Hua Manlou had been led in circles by her before.

Yu Liancheng smiled and said, "The master hasn't said they're tired yet, but the disciple is already thinking of resting. I see you will always be just a half-disciple."

Shangguan Xueer pouted: "But I am still just a little girl after all..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a dozen points of cold light suddenly struck from the roof. This hidden weapon technique of "Full Sky Stars" was not rare, but it was highly effective, covering the two of them entirely; one careless move and they would be turned into hedgehogs.

Shangguan Xueer had already let out a scream.

Yu Liancheng's expression remained unchanged. He waved his sleeves like a rolling dark cloud, and the hidden weapons fell to the ground with a "clatter."

"I am leaving for a moment; take care of yourself."

By the time Shangguan Xueer came to her senses, Yu Liancheng's figure had already vanished.

It was late now, and few pedestrians could be seen on the road. Looking at the poisoned "Iron Pear Blossom" on the ground, Shangguan Xueer suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold. In the dark night, it seemed as if a wild beast was staring at her, gnashing its teeth and thirsting for blood.

"Half-master, wait for me."

Yu Liancheng's speed was immense; with a flicker of his figure, he was already several yards away.

But he did not find the culprit, simply because the culprit's light-body skill was also world-class, and that person had intended to throw a handful of hidden weapons and flee from the start.

Just as Yu Liancheng was about to unleash his movement technique to continue the pursuit, a person suddenly walked out from the corridor at the corner ahead.

It was a very old woman, wearing a patched green dress. Her back seemed to be pressed down by a large stone, as if her waist had been broken in the middle.

"Sugar-roasted chestnuts!" She was carrying a large bamboo basket in her hand, covered by a thick piece of cotton cloth.

A lonely, impoverished old woman, already at death's door, still had to hawk her sugar-roasted chestnuts in a voice that was almost completely hoarse—it had to be said, this was a desolate and sorrowful scene.

Although Yu Liancheng came from the Rakshasa Cult, he was undoubtedly a person with great compassion. He beckoned: "Old grandmother, come over here."

"Young master, do you want to buy some chestnuts? Fragrant and hot sugar-roasted chestnuts, only ten wen a catty." The old woman lifted a corner of the cotton cloth; the chestnuts were indeed fragrant and hot, and they were just coming into season.

Yu Liancheng said: "You said ten wen a catty?"

The old woman nodded, still hunched over, as if she were constantly looking at Yu Liancheng's feet, because her waist could no longer straighten.

Yu Liancheng said: "Ten wen is indeed very cheap, but I am a poor man; I cannot even afford ten wen."

The old woman said in a tone of surprise: "How could a young master like you not be able to afford ten wen?"

Yu Liancheng sighed, appearing infinitely wistful: "Don't look at how some people appear glorious on the surface; in reality, they might already be in debt up to their ears. How about this: you treat me to chestnuts, and I will treat you to something. We shall be even."

The old woman hesitated: "Eat what?"

"Eat a palm strike from me!" Yu Liancheng suddenly attacked, reaching out to strike. With a sharp hiss of wind, he enveloped the old woman.

The palm momentum was ethereal like smoke, agile and ever-changing. As he struck, his hand glowed with a lustrous jade color, as if carved from white jade, without a single impurity.

—Yuluo Light Smoke Palm.

This palm strike had already enveloped the old woman entirely. Looking across the entire Edo, I fear ninety-nine percent of experts would be felled by this strike.

But this old woman was clearly not among them.

A withered hand flashed out like lightning to meet it. After a "bang" of impact, the old woman borrowed the force to drift backward. She no longer had any trace of a hunched posture; her movement was agile and light, and the speed of her changes was simply unimaginable.

"The 'Jade-Faced Divine Sword' who shakes the Edo, actually attacking an old woman—aren't you ashamed?" Even her voice had changed; her laughter was like silver bells, more pleasant than silver bells.

"If the world were missing an old woman like Gongsun Daniang, I fear many people would clap and cheer." Yu Liancheng wore a faint smile on his face.

"Heh, you have already treated me; now it is my turn to treat you."

The old woman's wrist flicked, and sugar-roasted chestnuts shot out like raindrops. This "Full Sky Stars" technique was exactly the same as the one used to throw the "Iron Pear Blossom" earlier: "Let me treat you to sugar-roasted chestnuts."

"I dare not eat Gongsun Daniang's sugar-roasted chestnuts; you had better eat them yourself."

Yu Liancheng's palm flickered, the smoke-like palm momentum enveloping the sugar-roasted chestnuts. With a gentle release of Qi, the chestnuts flew back instantly, striking the old woman head-on.

"You dare to refuse a grandmother's sugar-roasted chestnuts? You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."

Gongsun Daniang let out a soft sigh and drew a pair of short swords from her basket. Bright red silk was tied to the swords. As the sword light danced, the chestnuts fell to the ground, each one split into two halves, almost identical.

The sword light flashed again, like a startled swan or a bolt of lightning. The leaves were urged by the chilling Sword Qi, falling one by one, only to be shredded by the sword light in an instant. The brilliance of this sword light was breathtaking and soul-stirring. It was no longer a Sword Technique for taking lives, but a magnificent and gorgeous Sword Technique.

Gongsun Daniang, named Gongsun Lan, was the successor to the "Gongsun Daniang" who was the premier dancer of the Tang Palace during the prosperous Kaiyuan era. Her swordplay was so magnificent that even Du Fu praised it.

"Like the archer Yi shooting down the nine suns, agile like a group of deities riding dragons in flight."

"Arriving like thunder gathering its fury, departing like the sea condensing its clear light."

Yu Liancheng could already feel the cold and brilliant sword light, but his figure did not move, steady as a mountain.

With a "clang" like a dragon's roar, the Duoqing Sword suddenly left its sheath.

The sword light filled the sky, the sword momentum drifting, yet it possessed a beautiful artistic conception.

It was as if Peach Blossoms filled the sky, drifting down one after another.

It was as if a fire tree bloomed with silver flowers, brilliant and dazzling.

It was also as if a beauty danced under the moon, toppling kingdoms, toppling cities...

Every beautiful artistic conception unfolded slowly under this one sword strike.

But beneath the extreme beauty, it hid astonishing murderous intent.

With a "ding," Gongsun Daniang stumbled backward, her throat tasting sweet as she spat out a mouthful of blood, her beautiful eyes wide: "What Sword Technique is this?"

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "All-encompassing, a sword that encompasses all."