Chapter 460: All Parties

On a large ship.

The Old Sword God Li Chungang, having re-emerged into the Edo, casually gripped a Beiliang Saber. Two streaks of green Qi instantly burst forth from the ancient, simple Beiliang Saber, swirling and circling like two profound Green Snakes.

"Kid, didn't you want to see my Two Sleeves of Green Snakes? I'll let you see enough of it right now."

The Old Sword God chuckled, using the saber as a sword. With a casual slash, the Sword Qi was awe-inspiring, and the Green Snake swept straight toward Xu Fengnian's face.

Xu Fengnian knew the Old Sword God was teaching him the mysteries of the Two Sleeves of Green Snakes, but he knew the terror of the technique even better, so he dared not take it lightly. The long saber at his waist flashed from its scabbard. With a "Clang!", he blocked this streak of Sword Qi, but he ended up rolling all over the ground. Under the impact of the surging energy, his shoes and sleeves were torn apart.

The old man in the sheepskin coat, however, was bullying him with his superior power, and the Green Snake rose again, coming with fierce momentum.

Xu Fengnian danced his long saber wildly. It wasn't that he didn't understand how to avoid the brunt of the attack, but he couldn't escape it at all, so he could only use the most clumsy method to meet it head-on.

Fortunately, the Old Sword God held back some of his strength and did not strike too ruthlessly, like a soft knife cutting meat.

But even so, Xu Fengnian was in a wretched state. If he hadn't obtained the Great Huangting cultivation from the Wudang Sect Leader Wang Zhongyang, he would have collapsed long ago.

Clang!

Another strike.

Amidst the splashing sparks, Xu Fengnian was sent flying. His head bumped into a large lump, yet he still performed a carp-leap to his feet. His handsome face carried a trace of killing intent as he charged at the Old Sword God once more.

Lao Huang, who was missing his front teeth, sat to the side, watching the Old Sword God discipline his young master with a silly grin on his face.

He had spent some time recuperating in Wudi City before returning to Beiliang to roam the Edo with the Prince again.

When the Old Sword God had finished tormenting Xu Fengnian to his heart's content, he finally stopped and chuckled, "Kid, are you dead yet?"

Xu Fengnian groaned, forcibly suppressing the surging energy within his body. He sat up and said weakly, "Not yet. You old man are not playing fair; you suffered a loss at the hands of Cao Guanzi, so you're taking it out on me."

The young girl beside Cao Guanzi was the maid Jiang Ni, who followed by Xu Fengnian's side.

The Old Sword God held Jiang Ni in particularly high regard and wanted to take her as his disciple to pass on his mantle.

Unexpectedly, Cao Guanzi had come knocking to demand the Western Chu princess.

Although Li Chungang and Cao Guanzi did not engage in a real life-or-death battle, Cao Guanzi still managed to take Jiang Ni away.

Even though the Old Sword God didn't make a move out of concern for Xu Fengnian's life, there was no doubt he had lost face to Cao Guanzi.

"Cut the crap. When I first made a name for myself in the Edo, that Cao Zhangqing was still just an obscure Chess Waiting Official." The Old Sword God tossed the saber aside, curled his little finger, and began picking his nose with a look of disdain.

"Cao Zhangqing is likely taking the little mud-person to Wudi City to watch the battle. There are only two of them, and with Cao Zhangqing's methods, reaching the East Sea is not a difficult task."

Thinking of that little mud-person who was often bullied by him—who was very timid yet always baring her fangs and brandishing her claws—a flash of gloom crossed Xu Fengnian's eyes: "It's just a pity that even if we wanted to go to the East Sea now, we'd be too late. Besides, I still have to go to Jiangnan to see my eldest sister. Old Sword God, who is stronger, Brother Murong or Wang Xianzhi?"

The Old Sword God said leisurely, "Things like this can only be known after a fight. In any case, they are both experts that a kid like you will never catch up to in your entire life. Even if you ran over to watch the excitement, you probably wouldn't even see a shadow."

"I can't compare, I have self-awareness," Xu Fengnian muttered. "But how do I remember someone first getting beaten up by Wang Xianzhi, beaten into self-seclusion in the Listening Tide Pavilion, and then after leaving the pavilion, getting beaten by Brother Murong again?"

The Old Sword God Li Chungang sneered, "Kid, have you rested enough?"

"No, no, my legs hurt, my arms hurt, I can't even stand up," Xu Fengnian shook his head hurriedly.

"Learning martial arts requires not fearing hardship. If you can't even endure this little bit of suffering, you might as well go back to being your playboy."

Li Chungang did not coddle this Beiliang Heir; he picked up the Beiliang Saber and lashed out. The Green Snake Sword Qi danced wildly on the blade, and in terms of ruthlessness and ferocity, it was even more intense than before.

A moment later, the wails of the Beiliang Heir echoed on the ship.

Lao Huang, missing his front teeth, just sat to the side with a silly grin.

……

South Sea.

The Peach Blossom Sword God, who had decided to go out to sea to visit the immortals, stood on a cliff on a lonely island, looking far into the distance—the direction of Wudi City.

The Eating Sword Ancestor, who had once traded an arm with Li Chungang and had been wounded by Yu Liancheng, stood beside Deng Taie and asked curiously, "What? Those two fellows are both rare experts seen once every five hundred years. They are fighting; aren't you going to take a look?"

Deng Taie smiled, "Senior, why don't you go?"

The one-armed old man said proudly, "I have my own Sword Dao."

Deng Taie smiled, "The old senior is right."

"Heh, you kid really has carved out your own path. The younger generation is to be feared."

The one-armed old man praised him, then his eyes rolled, and he rubbed his stomach: "I'm hungry. Deng Taie, you are the junior, why don't you hurry up and show some filial respect to me."

A gentle smile, as always, hung on Deng Taie's face: "I wonder what the old senior would like to eat? I still have some dry rations in my pack. If that won't do, I'll have to go into the forest to hunt some game. It really is troublesome without Sanlu by my side."

The one-armed old man chuckled, "The twelve Flying Swords in your Sword Box would be just fine."

Deng Taie shook his head, "Those are for a junior I intend to gift them to. Please forgive me, but I cannot agree to that."

"Haha, showing respect to a senior is more practical. Give them to me." The one-armed old man opened his mouth and spat out a streak of Sword Qi, stabbing toward Deng Taie.

"Since the senior is interested in making a move, then Deng Taie will accompany you."

Thus, on this small island, two top-tier swordsmen began their clash.

……

In a small town, there was a small teahouse.

The teahouse waiter was named Wen Hua, a man who carried a wooden sword. Clearly, he didn't know even the most basic martial arts, yet he spent all day holding that wooden sword, dreaming of being a young hero. However, he was righteous and enthusiastic, and not at all annoying.

The teahouse owner, Huang Laotou, had traveled the Edo in his youth and had seen the world. No matter what happened, he was always calm and composed, and he had a belly full of Edo stories to tell.

Huang Laotou had a beautiful granddaughter who was quite exquisite, though her face was a bit cold and she didn't like to smile. At most, she would just make a few expressionless "Hehe" sounds. One "He" meant it was funny, two "Hehe"s meant it was very funny, and as for "Hehehe"? Wen Hua had yet to hear it.

Business at the teahouse was slow that day. Wen Hua pestered the old man surnamed Huang, serving tea and water, and even cooking scallion noodles, before finally getting Huang Laotou to open his mouth and tell some Edo anecdotes.

"The decennial Martial Evaluation hasn't been released yet, but it's just the same old thing. It'll probably be Wang Xianzhi, Murong Tonghuang, Deng Taie, Cao Guanzi, and that Li Chungang who has re-emerged into the Edo."

Huang Laotou grew interested and began to comment on all the various experts with great flair. Only, for some reason, when he spoke of Murong Tonghuang, he glossed over it.

Wen Hua interrupted him, saying, "Wang Xianzhi and Li Chungang are all old news. You should talk about Murong Tonghuang instead."

"Hmph, he's just a reckless brute without any vision. What's there to talk about?" Huang Laotou's face darkened, and he snorted coldly.

"Hehe."

The young girl beside them laughed, making the sound twice.

"Daughter, you're siding with outsiders. You can't be so biased just because that kid is from the Xu family's side."

Huang Laotou shook his head, his gaze once again looking toward the direction of Wudi City.

Today's battle, regardless of who wins or loses, will change the landscape of the martial arts world.

In the past, he always looked down on martial artists, but if a martial artist reaches the level of these two, they can truly be considered a match for an entire nation.

……

－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－

Reborn in 1993: I Am Truly Not a Rich Second Generation

A friend's new book, a rebirth story with a novel theme and fluent writing; guiding his old father to become a rich second generation. Those who like it can take a look; the direct link is below.