[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 8

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Ten: A Private Heart-to-Heart Talk
"Ren Lanting, courtesy name Weiyi, 'Lord Lanting' of Liufeng Kingdom, is the nephew of Empress Ren of the Western Palace of Liufeng Kingdom. His birth date is unknown, his age is unknown, his martial arts skills are unknown, his personality is unknown, and his hobbies are unknown..."
After reading aloud from a piece of paper, Jinggong Hideyoshi smiled faintly, "Your Highness is shrouded in mystery, so how can Hideyoshi feel at ease sharing the same fate with you?"
Jinggong Hideyoshi was not one to be subservient to others. He and I considered similar things, both wanting mutual assistance and benefit. However, I was neither arrogant nor contemptuous of him because he had read out so many "unknowns."
My origins, arranged by Yunfu and concealed by myself, were flawless. The "unknowns" he read out indicated that he had carefully investigated these aspects, which was no small feat.
I had already preliminarily demonstrated my unfathomable martial arts skills, which also showed the strength that allowed for mutual benefit. Now it was time to give him a taste of his own medicine.
"I know Your Highness needs some assurances. How about this, I'm willing to give you fifty million gold coins for Your Highness's restoration efforts."
"Is that truly true?"
asked Hideyoshi.
I didn't answer, but instead took out five gold notes and neatly placed them before him.
Hideyoshi stared intently at the five ten-million-coin notes for a long while before slowly putting them into his pocket.
From that moment on, I knew my cooperation with him had begun.
At this stage, what these people needed most was money. As far as I knew, the manpower, weapons, provisions… everything needed for restoration cost money like water. They worked so hard to open shops and earn money, precisely to prepare for future wars!
Even the two princesses personally participated in two assassination attempts; didn't that also indicate their recent surge in need of money? So, I invested heavily, using a huge sum of money to break through the hesitant heart of Prince Keimiya Hideyoshi. But...
now, if anyone is foolish enough to say things like "money is just an external thing," "money lost can be regained," or "wealth gone, life is peaceful," their fate will be terrible. They will be brutally beaten to death by the indignant young master of the Liu family!
Damn it, fifty million! I just managed to steal some money and it's already gone! This is undoubtedly a devastating blow to the money-loving young master.
No way! I have to get my money back! So, I said calmly, "Since I have shown my sincerity, I ask that Your Highness also show some sincerity!"
Prince Keimiya Hideyoshi, who was prepared, looked in the direction my eyes were looking and smiled slightly, "If Your Highness is willing, Miwa Aya is willing to serve Your Highness for life."
I had long heard that the men of the Yamato people don't treat women like human beings, and today I see that it is indeed true. For the sake of a hollow restoration, Hideyoshi was willing to give up his only two relatives without hesitation. But I immediately realized I was wrong.
Since you're so generous, I won't be polite either. I took the small hands of the two women who had sat down beside me following Hideyoshi's gesture. "Thank you, Your Highness, but I think you've lost out on this deal. These two princesses are more than money could ever buy!"
This was the truth; in my heart, beautiful women always came before money.
"Then why do you still call me Your Highness?"
Hideyoshi feigned anger. "Am I not worthy to be your brother-in-law?"
"Ren Lanting and his wife pay their respects to their elder brother!"
Without me pulling them, the two obedient beauties joined me in bowing three times to him. An elder brother is like a father, and I performed this courtesy willingly.
"Get up! Get up!"
A hint of sadness flickered in his eyes. "Mi and Aya, today you are married out of the Goyoji family. You no longer need to suffer with your good-for-nothing brother. So be it! From now on, you should stay home and raise your children well. You don't need to concern yourselves with the Goyoji family anymore!"
His words surprised me. For Hideyoshi Keimiya, the head of the Goyoji family, to say this was tantamount to expelling Mi and Aya from the clan, disowning them as members of the Goyoji family, and ending their status as exiled princesses of Yamato.
However, from another perspective, this restoration effort was extremely dangerous. No one involved could guarantee their survival. Releasing them was a good way to save their lives. Of course, this didn't rule out the possibility that he was playing the long game.
“No… Brother!”
The two girls’ faces flushed red. “Mi (Aya) won’t abandon you!”
“Never mention that again!”
Hideyoshi shook his hand. “From now on, you will both bear the surname Ren!”
When a woman of the Japanese tribe marries into her husband’s family, she will give up her own surname and take her husband’s surname. Like Mi and Aya, they should now be called Ren Mi and Ren Aya.
Since leading his sister away five years ago, Hideyoshi had completely taken the place of their father in the two girls’ hearts.
At this moment, his words were filled with unwavering determination, and Mi and Aya bowed down again: “Big brother…”
When they rose, their eyes were filled with tears, but they tried hard to hold them back.
Hideyoshi smiled with initial relief, then his expression turned serious: "You all go pack your things first. My elder brother and your husbands have some serious business to discuss!"
"Tell them to leave too."
I stared intently at the two women's beautiful figures disappearing into the distance, then pointed at the others without looking at them. "I only want Kyotaro to serve me."
Hideyoshi seemed to sense something, his expression shifting slightly before he nodded and waved them away. "In an instant, only the three of us—me, him, and Kyotaro—remained in the large hall.
"Brother-in-law, you should have met me a month earlier."
I uttered this inexplicable remark.
Hideyoshi was taken aback: "You...know?"
"My Ren family is also skilled in medicine...you must have heard that the current Empress Nishimiya was cured by a member of my Ren family, right? It's a pity..."
"I have."
Hideyoshi smiled faintly. "You mainlanders have a saying, 'A knife kills those who deserve to die, but medicine cannot cure them.' Hideyoshi's life and death are predestined, so why should you care, Lanting?" "
Kyotaro, who remained behind, was definitely not a fool. Although he was initially confused by our rambling conversation, he had now come to his senses. His previously calm face twitched, and he stammered, 'Your Highness…'
Kyotaro couldn't understand why his radiant master would have such a premonition of impending death. He desperately wanted his master to tell him that what he was hearing was all an illusion, but unfortunately, our subsequent conversation shattered his small hope.
Hideyoshi looked at him. 'Kyotaro, listen!'
'Yes!'
Kyotaro showed absolute obedience.
'Who was the first person to cause you such great harm?'
During this time, I had diligently observed Hideyoshi's body and had already reached some conclusions.
In medicine, among the four skills of 'observation,' a skilled physician can discern everything about a patient with just a glance. Although my medical skills cannot reach my master's level, the depth and mystical power of my inner energy compensate for that."
"It's Ryuzo Jugoro."
His calm voice concealed a raging rage. "He was the second most powerful man in Japan. My father and three uncles died at his hands."
Every member of the Yamato royal family was a top-notch martial artist, otherwise they wouldn't be worthy of using the "Five Gods of the Yamato Clan" and the "Demon Sword Muramasa."
"I only managed to withstand three of his blows before I passed out... If it weren't for Kyotaro's parents risking their lives to save me, I wouldn't even have had these past few years."
Fusang is another name the Yamato people use for themselves, even many ronin who have lost their homes like to use it.
"How many moves could you have taken a month ago?"
"At most three!"
Hideyoshi Keimiya gripped his short sword, a desolate smile on his face, "And that includes this 'Broken Cloud'."
So that's the short sword "Broken Cloud" he just used—one of the "Five Gods of the Yamato." No wonder I couldn't shatter it.
I quickly calculated in my mind that I could defeat Hideyoshi Keimiya in three moves, but that would require a tremendous effort... In that case, Ryūzō Jugorō is a formidable opponent!
But I'm not afraid! At most, I'll call a few of my wives, plus Little Turtle, Little Bird... With so many people, we can crush this old man!
"Who was that opponent a month ago?"
Although the palm strike that Ryūzō Jūgorō used to injure Kōmiya Hideyoshi was serious, for some reason, Kōmiya Hideyoshi's fatal injury did not come from that palm strike, but from a sinister blade aura that forcibly severed his six extraordinary meridians.
"This man is Fukiishi Yagyu, the third best swordsman in Japan,"
sighed Hideyoshi. "Fukiishi Yagyu was the martial arts instructor of several of our princes. His swordsmanship was the best in Japan, so the late emperor invited him to take up the teaching position... He didn't participate in the rebellion, and he even escorted Mi and Aya out of the capital. A month ago, I learned that Uesugi Nobukatsu, a powerful minister of the rebels, had gone to the Yuan Dynasty to discuss trade. So I led nine masters to assassinate him, but we were stopped by Fukiishi Yagyu. He injured me as well, and he only used ten swords..."
He seemed to recall the cruelty of that day, his eyes filled with confusion: "My master said that Uesugi Nobukatsu came to discuss trade for the happiness of the people of Japan. As long as he has a breath left, he will not allow anyone to harm Lord Uesugi—not even me, his most beloved disciple." In recent years, the
Yamato people have suffered from natural disasters and man-made calamities, and the island's inhabitants have been suffering terribly. Meanwhile, the ronin outside the islands have been robbing and committing all sorts of evil deeds. The ronin were homeless and nomadic, and the Yuan dynasty's officials were unable to eradicate them for a long time. With no other countermeasures, the Yuan dynasty could only blockade its coastline to defend against them.
This severely impacted normal trade with the Yamato people. The already impoverished people of the Yamato Islands suffered even more hardship, with bandits and rebellions rampant. To resolve the domestic problems, the new Yamato Emperor, Keihito, dispatched Foreign Minister Uesugi Nobukatsu to the Yuan dynasty to negotiate terms for restoring normal trade.
"I know nothing about this, and it has nothing to do with me!"
Hideyoshi's face hardened. "I only know that he led 40,000 Uesugi soldiers and slaughtered over 3,000 households loyal to my imperial
family in Kyoto… I, Hideyoshi, cannot forget this grudge, nor dare I forget it!" On the night of the bloodshed in Kyoto, Uesugi Nobukatsu's 40,000 iron cavalry had truly unleashed a massacre. Not only those three thousand-plus royalist factions, but countless innocent civilians also perished. The mainland intelligence agencies conservatively estimated that "two hundred thousand soldiers and civilians in Kyoto died in the rebellion." "But Fukiishi Yagyu ultimately couldn't let go of his pride. He said he would only use ten strikes, and 'Oni-mu' wouldn't appear before me for the eleventh time."
It seems that Hideyoshi's respect for his master outweighs his resentment. "I never thought that after practicing my master's 'Seirei Hachiryū' swordsmanship for over ten years, I couldn't even withstand eight strikes... Our painstakingly trained assassins were wiped out in just two strikes... Such unparalleled swordsmanship, Hideyoshi, though defeated, is still glorious... If my master had helped me, even if I couldn't restore the country!"
He suddenly perked up at this point: "But fortunately, I have you..."
Hideyoshi's eyes looked at me, filled with hope: "Although my swordsmanship is not good, my judgment is definitely not bad! Lanting, your martial arts are unfathomable, even your master may not be as good as you... In Japan, you only need to be wary of Ryūzō Jugoro!"
I never expected that he could see through my secret, nor did I expect that his expectations of me were so high.
I simply couldn't find the words to refuse. From the moment he offered his sister away and drove them out of the Haoyeji family, our "cooperative" relationship ceased.
I didn't want to settle scores between family members.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but smile bitterly: I had always been unwilling to get involved with him, yet in the end, I had to fight alongside the Haoyeji family. And this time, we were facing the ruling faction of the He clan, which was even more troublesome than the Fu family and the Yuwen family combined!
However, Young Master Ri wouldn't regret boarding this united warship. Since the storm had chosen me, let it come even more fiercely—only through trials and tribulations can one see the vibrant rainbow.
Seeing me nod slightly, Keimiya Hideyoshi picked up a cup of tea and placed it in front of me. After I drank it in one gulp, he smiled and said, "The Keimiya family has nothing to give you, only the sincere heart of Keimiya Hideyoshi."
I didn't answer him, but instead refilled the teacup in front of him, presented it with both hands, and silently told him, "Leave it to me!"
Without any other words, Keimiya Hideyoshi drank it all in one gulp.

Chapter Eleven: Master-Servant Bond
"Kyotaro!"
A call brought Kyotaro, who was immersed in grief and anger, back to his senses. He looked closely and saw his master holding a cup of tea in both hands, offering it to him.
"This..."
Kyotaro knelt down. "Your Highness, what are you doing?"
The rules and hierarchy of the Yamato people were even stricter than on the mainland. Although Lord Hideyoshi was usually quite kind to them, this was the first time he had personally served him tea.
"You've had a tough few years,"
said Hideyoshi, his face showing undisguised weariness. "Ever since your parents died for their country five years ago, I've known you've been forcibly practicing the 'Swordless Technique,' but I didn't stop you... because I secretly hoped for another powerful assistant."
"That's not Your Highness's fault. In my Fusang Kingdom, only Master Wuwei's 'Swordless Technique' can break Ryūzō Jugorō's 'Thousand Snow Technique.' The hatred for my parents is irreconcilable, and the crime of treason is unforgivable. Kōtarō had already considered the consequences... Moreover, if it weren't for Your Highness's secret assistance during this time, Kōtarō wouldn't have made it this far,"
Kōtarō said calmly, his head bowed.
“If Master Wuwei were still alive, what would Ryuzoju Goro have to fear… But even he didn’t live past forty, let alone you?”
said Hideyoshi Keimiya. “While Lord Lanting is here today, let him help you break your curse and make you an ordinary person!”
Kyotaro suddenly raised his head, his face showing determination: “Please, Your Highness, retract your order. Kyotaro is not afraid of death.”
“…”
Hideyoshi Keimiya just looked at him like that, and after a long while, he sighed sadly, “Perhaps I really was too selfish, actually rejoicing because of Kyotaro’s idea… So be it! When we meet in the afterlife… Hideyoshi will apologize to you again!” Kyotaro
clenched his fists and then released them, “Your subordinate is willing to follow Your Highness forever.”
“Good!”
Hideyoshi Keimiya’s aura suddenly turned fierce, “From now until the day we meet in the afterlife, Kyotaro… wipe away your tears! Those who have lost their country and their homes have no right to shed tears… We can only use the swords in our hands to make the enemy cry in their nightmares!”
“Yes!”
To be honest, I’m really not used to the mushy scene between two grown men, but I still admire Kyotaro a little. If I heard correctly, the "No-Sword Technique" he practices is the family secret of San Yue Wuwei, the number one expert of the He tribe ten years ago.
This technique is said to combine the killing intent of the He tribe's martial arts into one person, making one invincible when unleashed; the drawback is that everyone who practices it dies from mental breakdown—no one can bear so much killing resentment.
The genius of the San Yue family, Wu Wei, died at the age of forty, having exhausted his skills; he was already the longest-lived. Furthermore, the San Yue family never passed on their skills to outsiders, so this technique… therefore, although the "No-Sword Technique" was invincible, very few people knew it.
"Brother-in-law,"
I said to him as we parted, "could you lend Kyotaro for a few days?"
He agreed without hesitation.
When Kyotaro accompanied me and the two beauties out of the tunnel, we were already two miles away from "Jiwu Pavilion," and it was afternoon.
They said they were going to pack their luggage, but when they came out, the two maids had nothing in their hands. When I asked them curiously, they softly replied, "Brother sent it to the Lu residence."
Kyotaro, however, was carrying a large black package.
"Kyotaro, would you be willing to demonstrate the 'No-Sword Technique' for me?"
I asked him through the carriage curtain as he drove.
This spacious and bright carriage, with four fine horses at the front, was a gift from Hideyoshi Keimiya. Inside, it was even more luxurious and comfortable. Sitting on the cool cushions and sipping some Yamato rice wine was quite a treat.
Kōtarō wasn't as reserved with me. He smiled and asked, "Here?"
I asked casually, "Do you know where that Yamato delegation is now?"
"In Dongluo City, the secondary capital of the Yuan Dynasty, 1600 li away from here."
Kōtarō vaguely sensed something in my words, his tone carrying a hint of excitement and murderous intent. "With the lord's 'Kirin Chariot,' traveling day and night, they can arrive in three days!"—He even said what he shouldn't have.
"Then let's hurry!"
I laughed. Let's go and meet the third strongest Yamato warrior! "After saying this, I held the two women's hands and found that they gave me a sweet and shy smile... But during my detailed conversation with Hideyoshi earlier, I already knew that these two beautiful girls were not as docile as they appeared.
The first time they disguised themselves as 'prostitutes,' it was a secret deed they did while Hideyoshi was assassinating Uesugi Nobukatsu; the second time they came to assassinate me, they overheard Hideyoshi's intention to kill me and wanted to atone for their mistake.
Fortunately, it was them; if it had been a few male ninjas..." The words had long been silenced by Young Master Ri.
Such a bold beauty—I'd never seen one like her before. Looks like she needs some proper training! I thought to myself, gazing at the two smooth faces nestled in my arms.
The Great Yuan truly deserves its reputation as the wealthiest of the Three Kingdoms; judging from the journey, its city construction and the standard of living far surpass those of Liufeng Kingdom.
As the two little girls innocently praised these facts, Young Master Ri said sourly, "Give me more money, and I can build Wushuang County even better than the capital of the Great Yuan!" "
Although they didn't know how big Wushuang County was or what its development conditions were like, almost instantly, both of them simultaneously smiled at me with their pink lips... After three days of hurried travel, our group of four finally arrived at Dongluo City, the secondary capital of the Great Yuan Dynasty, surrounded by the two giant dragons of the Jingjiang and Weijiang Rivers.
As a secondary capital, Dongluo City was naturally second only to the capital of the Great Yuan Dynasty in size.
Dongluo City consisted of two parts: the outer city and the palace city. The palace city was located in the central northern part of the capital, and the various wards within the outer city guarded the palace city and the imperial city from the left, right, and south. The Xuanwu Avenue in the center served as the boundary, dividing the city into the Qianqiu and Gongde offices to the east and west.
The palace city was the residence of successive imperial family members, while the outer city was where ordinary people lived, each with its own layout. The outer city had seven north-south avenues and eleven east-west avenues, the widest of which was the Xuanwu Avenue, which was as wide as the Heavenly Avenue of Dongluo City, reaching thirty zhang in width, enough to accommodate thirty tall horse-drawn carriages lined up." They advanced side by side.
Besides Xuanwu Avenue, the most famous places in Dongluo City were the southeast market and the western slave market, each occupying three wards. Each market had four streets, forming a crisscrossing "well" shape, dividing the city into nine districts. Each district faced four streets, with shops of various trades lining the streets, many even operating 24/7…
This luxurious city, open day and night, attracted numerous tourists and merchants, bringing with it a constant stream of business opportunities. For example, the slave market here once sold a record 4,025 slaves in a single day.
It is well known that the capital of any country is no exception: many officials, many rules, and many troubles. These three points are precisely the biggest taboos in business: business requires excellent information and adaptability; it requires convenience and speed, quick cash flow; and it requires security and reputation… Therefore, even if a country's capital has the largest population, its economy is definitely not the most developed. Dongluo City was established under these circumstances. Although the initial investment was enormous, the gold coins earned through Dongluo to this day... would make the Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty smile in his sleep.
Its prosperity doesn't mean its security has deteriorated with the influx of people; on the contrary, Dongluo City's strong defenses make it one of the safest megacities on the continent.
Regarding military garrisons, the southern suburbs of Dongluo City are home to the elite "Tiger Roar Army" of 50,000—the second largest of the Great Yuan's five major armies after the "Dragon Soaring Army" in the capital. In terms of official control, Dongluo implements a policy of "mutual support and checks and balances." The Qianqiu Division and the Gongde Division each take over half of the other's power over finance, commerce, criminal law, and population, while simultaneously monitoring and supervising each other to achieve factional balance and normal development, thus preventing any one faction from becoming too powerful.
As for the influence of the martial arts world, the Great Yuan Emperor personally requested the First Family of the Great Yuan... The Nangong family moved here, and they were granted the title of "Hereditary Duke of Lu." They now jointly govern the city of Dongluo, along with the Prince of Fu, the second brother of the current emperor and a prince of the Great Yuan Dynasty. With the powerful Nangong family residing in Dongluo, it's difficult for martial artists to cause trouble.
Coincidentally, the current Yamato delegation is residing in the Nangong family's residence, one of the two major prefectures in Dongluo.
I gasped, alarmed by the difficulty of this operation. It's not that I'm afraid of the Nangong family, but being in someone else's territory, it's always best to be discreet and cautious.
In the past two hundred years, only one master has emerged in the martial arts world—Nangong Yueyi, the twenty-sixth head of the Nangong family.
Under his leadership, the Nangong family swept across both the legitimate and underworld, saving and consolidating its position as the leading family of the Great Yuan Dynasty. Unfortunately, subsequent family heads were better at maintaining the status quo than expanding, and not a single exceptionally talented genius has appeared in the past century.
"But no one can underestimate one of the oldest families on the continent, nor can anyone disregard the once unparalleled martial arts of the Nangong family..."
These were the words of his master, and only a near-invincible master like him could make such a comment. To others, the Nangong family would always be an unyielding giant in the martial world—just look at how peaceful and prosperous Dongluo City has been for centuries.
His master, relying on the powerful and fierce Heavenly Demon Art, combined with the ever-changing and ruthless demonic arts, had been a dominant force in the martial world for over twenty years, enjoying unparalleled prowess. Even his wife didn't know that Dongfang Daming possessed another extremely powerful skill—swordsmanship.
Yes! Dongfang Daming wasn't skilled in swordsmanship. But Tang Wujiu, one of the two greatest physicians in the world, was known as "the most skilled swordsman in the martial world..." The title "The Most Unpredictable Sword" has its origins. Fifteen years ago, the divine physician Tang Wujiu, in his first battle against the "He Lian Swordsman," ranked among the top 100 swordsmen in the world, pierced his opponent's heart with a single sword strike after one hundred moves. Twenty-three years ago, he again fought the "Thunder Swordsman," ranked sixty-seventh, and again pierced his opponent's heart with a single sword strike after one hundred moves.
Until his final battle seventeen years ago, where he killed the fourth-ranked swordsman in the world, "Deer Chaser" Wang Mie, with one hundred sword strikes each time, Tang Wujiu consistently used exactly one hundred sword strikes to defeat his enemies. This sparked great interest in his hidden strength among the martial arts world, including two of the "Three Swordsmen of the World." Furthermore, because he killed the second son of the head of the Liufeng Kingdom's royal family, he incurred the Wang family's nationwide manhunt…
In short, for reasons unknown to others, after that battle, the legendary physician Tang Wujiu vanished from the martial arts world. This mystery is listed as one of the top ten mysteries of the past fifty years.
The reason is actually quite simple: that year was the birth of his first daughter. As a new father, he happily stayed home, enjoying family life and completely forgetting the entanglements of the martial arts world.
When he finally wanted to return to the martial arts world after fulfilling his fatherly desires, he was betrayed by his wife… Thus, the four men known as "the most romantic man in the world," "the most skilled martial artist in the world," "the most skilled physician in the world," and "the richest man in the world" all truly and completely disappeared from the martial arts world.
The soft sword "Jue Tian" that my mother left me is bound to my waist. This sword has been with me since I received it, never having had a chance to be used. Now that I've come to the Great Yuan, let it, along with the physician's "Dragon-Slaying Sword Technique," shake the martial arts world.
As for my identity, I am, of course, the disciple of the legendary physician Tang Wujiu… doctors are always in high demand!
That evening, we passed through the city's lax security checkpoint and went directly to the Panyun Inn, one of the major inns in the southern part of the city, located two streets away from the Duke of Lu's Mansion. While the fifteen small courtyards of the Panyun Inn were expensive, their greatest features were their tranquility and seclusion. Another reason I chose it was because the owner was Zhao Ju.
Zhao Ju was the third steward of the Prince of Fu's Mansion, and the Prince of Fu's people had always been at odds with the Nangong family. Therefore, the two spies who were following our group of four didn't follow us in after seeing us enter the Panyun Inn, but I assured them that as soon as we left, we would be monitored again.
The Nangong family's spies were no pushovers. Before entering the city, I had changed out of the "Qilin Carriage," instructed Gong Taro to dress as a mainlander, conceal his clan's greatsword, and had Mei and Cai wear veils. I even changed into the plain mask I wore when I dressed as "Tian Sha." Even so, someone still managed to follow us; their intelligence network must be enormous.
Young Master, I never procrastinate. Before entering the "Panyun Inn," I drew the coded message to contact the spy from Liufeng Kingdom, intending to act immediately after receiving the intelligence.
Launching a surprise attack in the shortest time, catching the enemy off guard, acting with lightning speed—this is the consistent style of the Demonic Sect.
Damn it, even if the entire Nangong family stood in my way, Young Master Ri would still cleave the sword of Uesugi Nobukatsu, and then… calmly escape.

Chapter Twelve: Open Night Raid
. Less than the time it takes to brew a pot of tea had passed when Gong Taro, who was waiting at the door, returned with a handsome and elegant young man in fine clothes. Upon seeing the "Heavenly Dragon Gold Medal" I had placed on the table, the young man's expression relaxed, and he respectfully knelt and bowed, saying, "Your subordinate, Mi Beiming, from the Ministry of Justice, the Imperial Inspector, pays respects to His Highness 'Lord Lanting'!"
Oh! A fifth-rank official from the Ministry of Justice. In terms of authority, the physician was second only to the Minister and the Left and Right Vice Ministers, making him arguably the most important figure the court had sent here. My mind raced through the names of high-ranking officials: "Get up. You… your surname is Mi. What is your relationship with General Mi Shaoci of the Ministry of War?"
"Your Highness, General Mi is my father."
A hint of unease flickered in his smiling eyes.
Hmph, so he's the son of Mi Shaoci, one of the two trusted generals of the Prince of Zhennan, a "lackey." No wonder he's already a fifth-rank official at such a young age.
"You… want to go back? Tell the truth!"
After he slowly nodded, I leisurely sipped my tea. "If I handle this matter well, I'll plead with Lord Tang to let you go back… Don't laugh yet, if you mess things up, you'll have to stay for another three years!"
Lord Tang, as I'm referring to, is the Minister of Justice of the Inner Court. The Inner Court is the open spy organization of our Liufeng Kingdom, while the "Secret Bureau," with its spies directly under the inner palace, operates covertly.
His exquisite and luxurious attire must have cost at least several hundred gold coins, and then look at his ridiculous face… Damn it, chubby pants!
I looked at my own utterly ordinary clothes and felt extremely resentful, so I inevitably spoke in a rather pretentious tone.
Mibemin seemed to sense my dissatisfaction with him, and his smile faded, replaced by seriousness: “Your Highness, what can I do to serve you this time?”
His earnest demeanor completely transformed his initial image, turning him from a playboy into a shrewd cheetah in the blink of an eye.
“Guess.”
He paused for a moment, then lowered his head to think, “…It’s for the guests from the Nangong family and the He tribe, isn’t it?”
“State your reason!”
Although I remained calm, Mibemin’s spirits clearly lifted.
“Firstly, Your Highness is staying near the Nangong Mansion, not in the bustling ‘Two Markets’; secondly… although the official who brought me in earlier was well-disguised, I noticed he was wearing a kimono underneath, and the girls in the room behind Your Highness were also adorned with precious Yamato perfumes; thirdly, coincidentally, a group of Yamato envoys arrived half a month ago and are currently residing in the Nangong Mansion; fourthly… Your Highness!”
He stopped talking abruptly when he saw me turn to enter the room.
“Have you practiced martial arts?”
Just as Mibemin was feeling dejected, I stopped at the door and asked him with my back to him.
“Yes!”
he answered loudly, “I have practiced martial arts with my father for many years.”
“Rest here for a while, and come with me to the Nangong Mansion tonight.”
He paused, “Afterwards, you can come with me!”
“Thank you, Your Highness!”
The Nangong Mansion is truly… enormous. Although we had glimpsed the outline of the Nangong Mansion before checking into the inn, I was still taken aback standing in the distance in front of it.
This Nangong mansion, more accurately described as Nangong Castle, is surrounded by high walls and thick ramparts, isolating it from the outside world. To prevent sneak attacks, the surrounding area is open for hundreds of meters, standing alone with an imposing and awe-inspiring presence. In Dongluo, a city where land is incredibly valuable, the existence of such a mansion speaks volumes about the Nangong family's immense power and prestige.
"Kōtarō, come with me,"
I decided. "Mi, Aya, you take Mibemin to the carriage outside the city and wait for me."
Just by looking at it, I knew the Nangong family was more dangerous than I had imagined. I couldn't guarantee what would happen, so I let the beauties go first to eliminate any potential threats. Then, it would be easier for Kōtarō and me.
When it comes to escaping, few techniques could stop my Demonic Sect's "Mad Demon Flying Sky," but why bring Kōtarō along? "Isn't it more convenient for one person? Cough cough, this involves my agreement with Keimiya Hideyoshi, so I can't say."
"Hmm... We'll wait for our husband's victorious return!"
Two soft voices whispered in my ear.
Seeing them looking at me with the eyes of someone revering a god, the young master's rebuke that was on the tip of his tongue immediately turned into, "Alright, alright! Don't worry. I'll make you my brides when I get back."
"This servant...aren't I already my husband's bride?"
Ignoring the two idiots, I turned to Mi Beiming and said, "Before you leave the city, send someone who usually has a good relationship with the Prince of Fu's mansion to inform them that a powerful assassin is going to assassinate 'Duke of Lu' tonight, and tell them to strengthen their defenses."
The Prince of Fu's mansion and the Nangong mansion were already at odds, and after this, they would definitely not care about anything happening near the Nangong family tonight. Moreover, I heard that the defenses of this city and the defenses of the three prefectures and twelve counties of Dongluo City are all controlled by the Prince of Fu's faction.
"Understood!"
Mi Beiming nodded clearly.
The Demonic Sect's protective magic is truly extraordinary; even though I was carrying a living person, in the eyes of the guards, it was just a dark cloud passing by.
The interior of the Nangong Mansion matched its exterior. Nine towering main buildings, subtly incorporating the principles of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, surrounded dozens of smaller buildings. Despite the sheer number of structures, the layout was clearly defined, with straight roads and low-lying plants perfectly adorning the spacious courtyard.
The Nangong Mansion was now brightly lit, and the magnificent third building—the Star Gazing Tower—was bustling with activity, as if a grand ceremony was taking place.
"Kōtarō, go!"
I stood before the Star Gazing Tower and instructed him to carry out my plan.
"Yes!"
Kōtarō bowed and sprang to the entrance, his long sword spinning powerfully, a surge of energy erupting towards the gate.
The sword energy sliced through, neatly cleaving the three golden characters "Star Gazing Tower" in two. With a flick of my wrist, I sent the two pieces of ink-scented sandalwood that had fallen into the bustling hall. If I wasn't mistaken, they should have landed on the "All Under Heaven Belongs to the People" plaque in the center of the hall.
With
two sharp clangs, the commotion in the hall abruptly ceased.
In the blink of an eye, a robust middle-aged man shot out. While still airborne, he spotted us standing alone in the open space in front of the building and, without a word, unleashed a powerful "Mount Tai Pressing Down" strike.
The booming air currents indicated his extraordinary inner strength.
"Hmph!"
Kōtarō, who had already retreated to my side, charged forward like a tiger, his longsword flashing a chilling pale yellow light under the moonlight, meeting the attack head-on.
The newcomer recognized the attack's power, withdrew his hand, and tried to evade the blow, only to find Kōtarō already wielding his cold, sharp blade along his retreat path, the blade's energy already upon him.
"My life is over!"
The newcomer had no time to regret his recklessness, watching helplessly as the unstoppable blade cleaved towards his chest… but suddenly felt a lightness in his body. A hand deftly lifted his falling form, and at the same time, a gentle, pleasant voice sounded in his ear: "Brother, please hear me out!"
Oh, it was "him"! Hearing the familiar voice, the middle-aged man opened his eyes and saw a tall, elegant, and handsome young man in white standing beside him.
He smiled, holding a folding fan with a white jade frame and a silk surface, and casually spoke to the two mysterious enemies, showing no outward anger.
However, the dozen or so young men of similar age behind him lacked such composure—their private quarters had been trespassed on and people injured, and the young and arrogant group couldn't bear the loss of face.
If it weren't for the outstanding young man in white at the front maintaining order, they would have already drawn their swords and fought the young master to the death!
On the other hand, Kyotaro had no choice but to stop; I clearly saw what had just happened.
Just as Kyotaro's sword was about to strike the middle-aged man, a figure flashed out of the hall like lightning. He first swiftly pulled the middle-aged man out of the sword's range, then skillfully used his folding fan to deflect the long sword that was slashing at him from its direction.
Although it was a clever move, I could tell his skill far surpassed Kyotaro's, so I raised my hand to stop Kyotaro's next attack.
As the atmosphere relaxed and my savior appeared, the middle-aged man's tense nerves loosened, and his body naturally went limp, only to be supported by the young man in white, who ordered his men to take him away.
The young man in white acted with complete composure, his young age belying his extensive experience. Coupled with his signature "Affectionate Fan"... I thought, I know who he is!
His words were directed at me, the leader of the thieves. A smile appeared on my unassuming face: "Seventh Young Master Nangong, what can I do for you?"
Yes! The newcomer was none other than Nangong Yuanyue, the seventh young master of the Nangong family, who at the tender age of fourteen had already achieved the highest honors in both the civil and military examinations, was said to have mastered the seventh level of the Nangong family's "Great Luo Secret Technique" at eighteen, and at twenty-one commanded 30,000 "Wolf Howling Army" to defeat the 160,000-strong army of the Eight Generals of Huayun. He was hailed as the most outstanding genius of the Nangong family in a century—the "Heavenly Pride," Nangong Yuanyue.
Upon hearing this, Gong Taro, who had been eyeing Nangong Yuanyue with predatory intent and preparing to attack again, suddenly suppressed his murderous aura, his gaze softening as he looked at Nangong Yuanyue.
Indeed, there was nothing shameful about anyone of his age being defeated by Nangong Yuanyue! Because since Nangong Yuanyue turned eighteen, even the head of the Nangong family, Nangong Wangjiang, the number one expert in the Great Yuan Dynasty and Yuanyue's father, could only manage a draw against him.
Before that, the position of the number one expert in the Great Yuan Dynasty had remained unchanged for ten years. From then on, the number one expert in the Great Yuan Dynasty became the "Twin Heroes of the Great Yuan." The 23-year-old next head of the Nangong family, in the prime of his life, held a folding fan painted with a beautiful woman, gently waving it, and leisurely replied, "My household has important matters to attend to today, and I have missed this opportunity. Nangong Yuanyue is willing to warmly entertain you both on behalf of my father."
He didn't need to say anything; Young Master Ri knew that the Nangong family must have important business today. Among those who hadn't come out of the hall, there were at least twenty-five "top-tier experts" and forty-one first-class experts.
Normally, it wouldn't be surprising for a major martial arts family to possess so many experts; I even suspected that the Nangong family's strength was more than that! But the problem was… the internal energy cultivation methods, breathing techniques, and conversations of this group of experts were all incredibly diverse. It was clear at a glance that they came from various martial arts sects of the Great Yuan Dynasty.
“I’ll be frank,”
I said, “I’m here today on a mission to borrow some heads from your esteemed residence.”
As soon as I said this, everyone around me frowned slightly in surprise… Compared to Nangong Yuanyue’s refined elegance, my words seemed rather crude—tch! I’m just a self-taught martial artist, how could I compare to this scion of a scholarly family who’s been immersed in books since childhood?
While they scorned my vulgarity, they didn’t care about my murderous intent.
To boast of killing someone in the Nangong residence, a place teeming with experts and seemingly impenetrable defenses, in front of Nangong Yuanyue, the “prodigy” personally appointed by the Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty… this man has completely lost his mind! Gong Taro’s astonishing martial arts prowess was utterly ineffective against the “prodigy,” further solidifying their belief.
One of the pillars of the Nangong family, yet not arrogant enough to disregard the world, glanced at Gong Taro's and the clan chief's sword, then looked back at me and said, "Brother, you know that the Duke of Lu's mansion is ordered to protect the Yamato delegation, yet you come to take lives at this time. Doesn't that put our Nangong family in a difficult position?"
*Ahem*, "Tianjiao" is no pushover; his quick wit rivals that of Young Master Ri! But don't think I don't know that the task of "hosting the Yamato delegation" was something your father, "hereditary Duke of Lu," Nangong Wangjiang, forcibly snatched from the "Prince Fu"! What "ordered to protect" nonsense? Isn't it just an attempt to use official authority to pressure me?
“Young Master Nangong, we are both from the same mainland, why should we ruin our harmony for the sake of outsiders?”
I said. “How about this, you go and confront them. If my employer doesn’t have a valid reason to kill the Yamato delegation, I’ll immediately back off, how about that?”
Upon hearing this, Nangong Yuanyue didn’t even hesitate. He gave a few instructions, and someone went to fetch the Yamato delegation.
Wait a minute? I couldn’t quite figure out his intention in showing weakness, but then I saw a similarly handsome seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy in purple robes stride angrily out of the crowd to Nangong Yuanyue’s side. “Seventh Brother, you’ve really disgraced the Nangong family!”
After saying this, the boy ignored Nangong Yuanyue’s reaction, stepped past him, and arrogantly said to us, “You, draw your swords!”
Perhaps he had read too many heroic tales, the boy in purple robes thought he was being cool by beckoning us with his right index finger.
"Hmph! Nangong Yuanyue, I'll teach your little brother a lesson!"
I said, waving my left hand with my thumb pointing down, making an even more lewd gesture—Damn! You're nowhere near as lewd as Young Master Ri!
I didn't even look at his fiery eyes: "Kyoutaro, in someone else's home, you have to give the master some face... Just break a bone and teach him a lesson!"
Amidst his shouts of "Boy! I'm waiting for you to teach me a lesson!"
, Kyoutaro nodded to me and walked out. Before Kyoutaro could get close, the purple-clad youth silently bent his fingers, palms sunken, and drew a simple, direct arc, grabbing towards Kyoutaro's left chest with perfect speed and force.
If this "Heaven-Capturing Claw" technique of the Nangong family were used by Nangong Yuanyue, Kyoutaro would definitely have to retreat to avoid its edge. However, the purple-clad youth's level was simply not on Kyoutaro's level, so there was no need for him to retreat. Those powerful and swift eagle claws lost their target before even touching Kyoutaro's clothes.
After all, the purple-clad youth was a direct descendant of the Nangong family and had received rigorous training. He roared, swiftly turning his forward-leaning body, his hands still moving in a flurry of clawing shadows as he tried to regain the upper hand.
Kyoutaro, already standing behind him, laughed heartily, his body disappearing into the clawing shadows. His left hand slowly but decisively seized the purple-clad boy's right elbow, then with a quick pull, a "snap" and the clawing shadows vanished. The purple-clad boy, pale-faced, clutched his right hand and retreated to Nangong Yuanyue's side.
The purple-clad boy was filled with shame and was about to step forward again…
"Yici, are you alright!"
Nangong Yuanyue grabbed his hand, concerned. "Bear with it, I'll set your bones!"
He skillfully set the purple-clad boy's bones, but this simple treatment caused the boy to scream in agony, as if Nangong Yuanyue was not helping him, but killing him.
Fortunately, Nangong Yuanyue quickly finished. Seeing the pale, ashen-faced boy in purple being helped into the main hall, Gongtaro next to me visibly relaxed. His naturally strong character was deeply disapproving of the cowardly behavior of yelling after being injured.
Conversely, Young Master Ri's expression turned grave. At this moment, any goodwill I had previously felt towards Nangong Yuanyue vanished without a trace!
Damn it! Nangong Yuanyue! Don't think that Young Master can't see through your actions; you deliberately intensified the pain! And don't think that Young Master doesn't know that you made him scream in pain to cover up your low, urgent words.
"Listen carefully! That other person's martial arts are even better than mine… Go to the secret room immediately and ask Father and the others to come out!"

Episode 5: Step by Step

[Episode Synopsis]
Gongtaro successfully took down Fukiishi Yagyu's head, but fell into a coma. How could Young Master Ri, known as the Little Divine Doctor, not be at ease? Facing the relentless pursuit of the "prodigy" Nangong Yuanyue, though he narrowly won the palm strike, the formidable Nangong family was a formidable opponent... Alas! It seems this path of the martial world is even more perilous and unpredictable. The ten beauties on the "Flower Phoenix Ranking" have been my long-desired targets. Now that the Miao holy maiden, ranked third, has offered herself up... Hehe! How could I let her go? As the saying goes: enjoying delicious food, singing songs, and chasing girls... that's one of life's greatest pleasures! Have these princes been eating too much? They actually joined forces to impeach me, trying to sabotage me and bring me down? No way! If I'm not having an easy time, neither will you! The young master of Yizhou County's martial world is determined to have her!

Chapter One: A Straightforward Journey
Chen Fuyue, the Crown Prince of Chu of the Southern Wind Kingdom; Nangong Yuanyue, the Seventh Prince of the Duke of Lu of the Great Yuan Kingdom; and Dugu Shangyue, the Prince of Ping'an of the Flower Cloud Kingdom. These three young men, due to their exceptional talent, noble birth, and the fact that their names all contain the character "moon," are collectively known as the "Three Bright Moons" of the Sea Mi Continent. Chen Fuyue was transferred to the northwest frontier by Emperor Kangzong two years ago, and I had never met him. Dugu Shangyue is also thousands of miles away, so today, facing Nangong Yuanyue, is my first encounter with one of the "Three Bright Moons."
If it were the young master Ri who had previously mastered the "Seventh Level of the Heavenly Demon Technique,"
he certainly wouldn't be a match for Nangong Yuanyue. From my observation, Nangong Yuanyue has not only mastered the seventh level of the "Great Luo Secret Technique," but he has probably already mastered the most difficult eighth level! He is only one step away from the ninth level of the "Great Luo Secret Technique," which his ancestor Nangong Yueyi relied on to dominate the world.
Unfortunately, he has encountered another genius, one that appears only once every few centuries. By a stroke of luck, the young master Liu, who had mastered the eighth level of the Heavenly Demon Art, was far superior to me… even though he had also entered the ranks of "Peerless" level experts.
The Nangong family must have a secret method to detect the flow and depth of another's true energy, which is why Nangong Yuanyue could quickly sense that my skill was superior to his.
What I couldn't understand was, since you, Nangong Yuanyue, are already the top expert of the Nangong family, why didn't you fight him yourself, instead of asking your father, Nangong Wangjiang, who was slightly inferior, to come? The
Nangong family was quite efficient; a moment later, a group of people arrived simultaneously from the inner hall and the east side.
The four people in the inner hall were all at the "Peerless" level; the twenty people on the east side included two at the "Peerless" level, and the other eighteen could only be considered first-level experts. I was shocked: when did the Nangong family suddenly produce four "Peerless" level experts? —Damn it, this joke has gone too far!
Just as he was thinking that the "runaway general" tonight was none other than Young Master Ri, he inadvertently looked up and caught a glimpse of murderous intent flashing in the handsome eyes of "Prodigy" Nangong Yuanyue. Upon closer inspection, however, the Seventh Young Master Nangong's face was still adorned with a gentle smile—hmm? Was he hiding something?
"Which blind fool dares to cause trouble at my Nangong family?" The speaker, a burly, imposing middle-aged man with an imposing
appearance and a heroic air, was none other than Nangong Wangjiang, a high-ranking official of the Great Yuan Dynasty. "Damn it, get past me first!"
Damn! "This is the head of a high-ranking official and a long-established family?
I've long heard that 'the Duke of Lu is disliked by the emperor because of his upright nature'—so this is what they call 'upright nature'?
" "It's your old man!"
When it comes to arguing, I, Young Master, have received specialized training.
"You've got guts!" "
Nangong Wangjiang laughed in fury. He took a step forward, his sheathless Xuan Tie heavy sword at his waist shifting from a downward hem to a pointed point. A powerful and chilling sword aura surged towards me, but I found that my true energy couldn't even break through the enemy's defenses.
He let out a long howl, leaping into the air and hurtling towards me with lightning speed.
The Xuan Tie heavy sword instantly conjured thousands of sword shadows in the air, forming a tight net of light that surrounded me with incredible speed. Each strike carried a heavy force, and it was upon me in no time. It was the renowned "Death Net" sword technique of the Nangong family.
Damn! Do these aristocratic families really need to use such fancy moves?
I remained calm. My right hand pressed and twisted at my waist, drawing my soft sword with a "whoosh." I channeled my energy into it, my body moving like a light goose, raising my sword to meet the attack, my target the tip of the Xuan Tie heavy sword. My body seemed to transform into a whirlwind rushing upwards, trying to break free from the sword net's encirclement.
"Whoosh!" Even with the downward force ,
the moment the two swords clashed, Nangong Wangjiang felt a vast, rapidly surging internal energy rush into his body. Caught off guard and not yet at his full strength, he was thrown back by my attack, staggering before regaining his footing and assuming a fighting stance. His
first move backfired in front of so many people, and Nangong Wangjiang's face immediately turned ugly.
"Boy, have the guts to take another move!"
He pointed his heavy iron sword again, his imposing body motionless, his eyes turning solemn… He was unleashing his signature technique, the "Great Luo Secret Method"—the powerful Nangong family head was ready to get serious!
"Brother Nangong, wait!"
The one-handed Taoist who spoke was one of the three top experts who had accompanied Nangong Wangjiang; the other two were a gaunt monk and a middle-aged poor scholar.
Seeing them advance alongside Nangong Wangjiang, I deduced that the four of them weren't a family; otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to immediately dampen Nangong Wangjiang's spirit.
"Hmm? Master Dajie, what's your opinion?"
Nangong Wangjiang sheathed his sword, retracted his foot that had taken a step, and asked in astonishment. His tone revealed a hint of impatience, but he had no choice but to listen because of the speaker's status.
"This humble Taoist hopes that Brother Nangong will spare this young man for my sake!"
The Taoist pointed at me with his remaining right hand.
The gaunt monk opened his long, long eyebrows and spoke in an extremely loud voice: "This old monk makes the same request!"
The middle-aged poor scholar laughed and said: "Since both masters have stepped forward, I, Xiao, naturally cannot stand aside... I also want to ask Lord Nangong for a favor!"
Apart from the three of them, everyone's mind went blank for a moment.
"Master Kuye, Master Dajie, Brother Xiao..."
Nangong Wangjiang's temper flared up, "For hundreds of years, no one in my Nangong family has ever dared to act wildly at our doorstep! If I don't teach them a lesson today, I would be unworthy of being a Nangong person... I'm sorry!"
After saying that, he moved aside to attack, but was surrounded by the three of them in a flash.
Looking at the bewildered and angry Nangong Wangjiang, the three exchanged glances. The gaunt Taoist sighed softly and said, "Brother Nangong, we agree to your suggestion from inside!"
"..."
With just those words, Nangong Wangjiang's anger vanished instantly. He seemed to have forgotten his displeasure, stopping, withdrawing his feet and fists, and then laughing heartily.
Then, Nangong Wangjiang turned and grabbed the three men's hands. "Gentlemen, we still have some details to discuss... Yuanyue, help me ask these two to leave. Don't make things difficult for them!"
He said, pulling the three men inside, no longer caring about anything else.
"Wait!"
The bewildered young master shouted angrily, "I'm here for revenge! If you want me to leave, you have to hand over the 'Hezu Delegation'!"
Damn it! I beat you, Nangong Wangjiang, to a pulp, and now it seems like you're forgiving me?
"Oh!"
Nangong Wangjiang continued without stopping, "Yuanyue, call out the clansmen and tell them that if they can defeat these two brats, my 'Duke of Lu's Mansion' will plead with the Emperor on their behalf... Boy, take their lives if you can."
"Father, they just injured me!"
Nangong Yici, whose arm had been broken by Gong Taro, jumped out from behind the crowd, aggrieved, "Are we just supposed to swallow this insult?"
"Son, tomorrow I'll allow you to take 'Little Peach Blossom' as a concubine, how about it?"
"Good!"
By the time he happily agreed, Nangong Wangjiang and the three others had already disappeared into the hall.
From their appearance to their departure, the three—Zeng, Dao, and Ru—hadn't said a single word to me.
Although I was about to achieve my goal, I couldn't feel happy at all. Why would three complete strangers, all super experts, oppose my acquaintance, Master Nangong, for my sake?
When I broke through the "Dead Net" sword technique, I used the "Ascension Slaughter" move from the "Dragon Slaying Sword Technique." At that moment, I clearly felt four sharp eyes, seeing my struggle with Nangong Wangjiang.
Nangong Yuanxiao, Zeng, Dao, and Ru were there, and the three behind them visibly trembled when I drew my sword…
Therefore, the most likely explanation is that Zeng, Dao, and Ru had a life-or-death relationship with the "Divine Physician."
But then I thought again, and that didn't seem right. Nangong Wangjiang is, after all, the head of the first family of the Great Yuan Dynasty, the hereditary Duke of Lu. For him to react like that, it couldn't be anything trivial. Furthermore,
from the slightly helpless tone of Zeng, Dao, and Ru, I felt even more strongly that the inside story was definitely not simple, and naturally, the scale of this plan wouldn't be small. Therefore, I'm certain that these three made a considerable sacrifice to get Nangong Wangjiang to let me go.
In the martial arts world, everyone clearly distinguishes between "public" and "private," especially the leaders of prestigious sects, whose every move affects the lives of hundreds or even thousands of disciples. If it were just a private relationship, there would be no reason to pay such a high price... Therefore, I seem to be able to cross out the answer of "old friend of my master."
As I pondered, I heard Nangong Yuanyue's gentle voice again: "Mr. Shangshan, Mr. Chuishi, since you're here, why not come out for a chat?"
Hearing this, I pulled myself together and looked to the east.
Hmph! It's not just you, Nangong Yuanyue, who knows! From the moment I fought Nangong Wangjiang, those twenty people have been standing in the bamboo grove behind the two houses, observing the situation and waiting for changes!
As Nangong Yuanyue called out, there was a gradual movement from that direction.
A short, unassuming man in his fifties and a tall, thin man whose age was unclear, accompanied by eighteen armored attendants, walked to Nangong Yuanyue's side.
The short man glanced at us first, then spoke, "Seventh Young Master, if we defeat these two, then this trade treaty..."
His unhurried voice carried a faint foreign accent, yet it sounded quite strong.
"Of course, as long as you don't all lose your lives, Yuan Yue will plead with the Emperor on behalf of my father. And so far, the Emperor has not rejected any of the Nangong family's requests... At the same time, Yuan Yue humbly requests that you two not harm them."
Nangong Yuan Yue smiled politely, then turned to me and said, "Yuan Yue feels that this is not quite fair to our guests, so I suggest a limit of ten moves per person. Within those ten moves, they will only defend and not attack. What do you think, brother?"
I naturally wouldn't disagree, so we both agreed to his proposal.
At this moment, Gong Taro gently tugged at my sleeve and explained, "Young Master, that short middle-aged man is Uesugi Nobukatsu, and the other is Fukiishi Yagyu. Don't let his youthful appearance fool you; he's actually sixty-two this year."
"Choose one. Who do you want to face?"
I said with a smile.
"Fukiishi Yagyu!"
As he spoke, Kyotaro's eyes gleamed with unwavering resolve. "I will avenge my master!"
I understood his feelings. Hideyoshi was someone Kyotaro's parents had saved with their lives, and he was the object of his sworn loyalty. In a sense, Hideyoshi was Kyotaro's purpose in life.
Now, faced with someone who could kill him, even if that person was beyond his reach, Kyotaro was determined to fight him to the death—to the death with the clan's sword god, Fukiishi Yagyu.
"Then go!"
I tossed him a pill, simultaneously striking six acupoints on Kyotaro's body—Benjing, Jiaohui, Qihai, Yinjiao, Shenque, and Shuifen—with both palms in quick succession. "I've used a secret technique to enhance your power… Now, take his head and use it as a wine jug for your master!"
Unconsciously, a strange light flashed in my eyes.
Kyotaro tried to circulate his energy, his heart filled with joy, yet he showed no emotion. He nodded to me again and stepped into the arena.
Kyotaro steadied himself, first raising his hands in a "large stance" before slowly lowering them horizontally until the tip of his blade was directly facing Fukiishi Yagyu's chest. Although the movement was slow, the invisible killing intent emanating from it made even the Yamato clan's top swordsman raise an eyebrow.
"Kyotaro, son of an old friend, humbly requests your guidance, sir!"
My earlier actions and the effects of the pill had made Kyotaro's hands, gripping the sword, slightly red. He felt his blood boiling, eager for a fierce battle.
"Draw your sword!"
Fukiishi Yagyu calmly walked to the center of the arena, his arms cradling his renowned "Oni Dance," showing no intention of drawing his sword. Yet, even those of us, including myself, didn't perceive him as arrogant; such unwavering composure was not something everyone could achieve.
With a long howl, Kyotaro raised his longsword and whirled towards Fukiishi Yagyu like a tornado. Each spin created a rhythmic, powerful whooshing sound; with each step, the sharp blade weaved a web of energy, relentlessly enveloping Fukiishi Yagyu. A
strange energy, unlike any other martial art from the mainland, surged from him like a raging sandstorm, attacking Fukiishi Yagyu with overwhelming force as Kyotaro closed in.
When the storm reached him, Fukiishi Yagyu suddenly swayed sideways. Just when everyone thought he was dodging Kyotaro's seemingly unstoppable attack, he shot forward with lightning speed, his sheathed sword flashing out.
"Clang!"
The sword, swift as lightning, pierced the web of blades, clashing at a speed barely visible to the naked eye. Then, with a whirlwind, he formed a fist into a blade, slashing fiercely at the edge of Kyotaro's sweeping attack.
A sinister and unpredictable force surged into his body as their swords clashed. Kyotaro groaned, staggered back three steps, sword and all, swept away by the longsword. When he stopped, he discovered a thick stream of energy rapidly rising from his dantian, instantly assimilating Fukiishi Yagyu's unique "ghostly energy." Kyotaro's confidence soared, and he lunged forward like a tiger. His longsword traced a swirling arc, like a shimmering half-silver fan unfurling, aimed directly at Fukiishi Yagyu, who had fallen back to his original position.
This time, his sword strike was both incredibly powerful and subtly graceful, a seemingly impossible feat to achieve by blending these two extreme opposites.
"Brilliant!"
Fukiishi Yagyu's sharp eyes gleamed for the first time, his longsword flying forward with a fluid, lithe motion, thrusting straight towards Kyotaro's left chest.
Strangely, although he attacked after Kyotaro, it felt as if he could strike Kyotaro first—although it was a sheathed longsword, in Fukiishi Yagyu's hands, the effect of striking was no less than that of a real sword. And indeed,
that was the case. Before the longsword touched Fukiishi Yagyu, the ethereal longsword pierced a point on the silver fan, seemingly lightly touching Kyotaro, then retreated, the sheath flying out, taking advantage of Kyotaro's momentary lapse in internal energy, knocking away Kyotaro's longsword that was so close at hand.
"Pfft!"
Fukiishi Yagyu clearly increased the force; before his internal energy could react, Kyotaro felt a heavy blow to his chest, and he could no longer hold back a mouthful of blood, spitting it out violently. He almost lost his grip on the longsword that had been knocked away.
By the time he had coughed up the blood and regained his footing, Fukiishi Yagyu's black longsword was already pressed against his heart through his clothes.
Just when everyone thought Kyotaro would retreat and look for another opportunity to attack, the sharp "Oni Dance" deflected and rammed against his chest, deflecting it from the center, allowing the longsword to pierce his left shoulder. The longsword, which had been hanging limply, simultaneously emitted a dazzling light, unleashing another powerful horizontal slash at close range.
Even the experienced Fukiishi Yagyu was startled. But he reacted quickly; before he could even draw his sword, his other hand flashed downwards, his index and middle fingers firmly gripping the blade of the longsword. He then channeled his inner energy, channeling a cold, insidious true energy through the longsword, and unleashed it like a storm towards Kyotaro's wrist.
He wanted Kyotaro to release his grip.
If it were anyone else, Fukiishi Yagyu would have undoubtedly spun the "Oni Dance" without hesitation, severing the enemy's heart. With his skill and unparalleled swordsmanship, he was absolutely confident he could end the enemy's life before the longsword struck him. But he hadn't forgotten his heavy responsibility for "trade." Nangong Yuanyue, who held the key to "trade," had told him not to harm Kyotaro, so he had no choice but to refrain from killing him.
"Foolish!"
I sneered inwardly, only to notice Nangong Yuanyue, who was watching from the sidelines, also frowning.
Huh? Did he see through it too?

Chapter Two: The Boy's Revenge
According to my estimation, if Nangong Yuanyue were to act now, his "Great Luo Secret Technique" should be able to save Fukiishi Yagyu. However, he merely raised and lowered his lips, then snapped open his folding fan.
Ha! It seems the situation is quite interesting; the Nangong family isn't entirely as I imagined.
When my attention returned to the arena, the situation had already drastically changed.
Fukiishi Yagyu's sheathed sword pierced Kyotaro's left chest without error, exiting through the chest, dripping blood that stained the "demon aura" and even faintly swirling around the "Demon Dance."
The slight resistance encountered by his left hand's two fingers vanished in that instant... This time, he was truly enraged and didn't want to linger with Kyotaro, because his real opponent was the calm and collected blue-clad youth standing to the side—that was me!
As the longsword pierced through the enemy's flesh, Fukiishi Yagyu sighed inwardly. This young man from his own clan, barely in his twenties, had already mastered the imperial secret technique "Aoyo-ryu" to such a level. In this respect, he was the second most talented martial artist in Japan in the past fifty years, second only to his beloved disciple, the imperial prince, Hideyoshi Goyoji.
But alas, after severing Hideyoshi's life with a single sword strike last time, another potential prodigy to revive Japanese martial arts had been sent to his death by him... For the sake of the people of my country, how many of my clansmen must I kill?
His thoughts flashed by, and the Sword God looked up, only to see the young man, pierced in the heart and who should have been dead long ago, looking at him with a half-smile.
"Your Excellency,"
Kyotaro smiled, "no matter what, you are one of the people I admire most!"
Fukiishi Yagyu felt his words were like those of a victor speaking to a dying man… How had the roles reversed?
Kyotaro continued, "Now, please accept this gift from Lord Hideyoshi!"
His voice suddenly lowered, only the two of them could hear it.
"No-Sword Technique!"
With a low growl, Kyotaro's left hand transformed into a blade, unleashing a dazzling light as it hurtled towards the swordsman Yagyu like a meteor.
Shocked, Fukiishi Yagyu heard those three words as if struck by three powerful thunderbolts in a clear sky, shattering his calm and composed mind.
He instinctively tried to unleash his Demon Dance, but found his sword tightly gripped by Kyotaro's muscles, unable to break free.
Fukiishi Yagyu, with a low whistle, withdrew his sword with one hand and transformed his other hand into a hand blade, channeling his "Demon Aura" to its peak, hoping to temporarily withstand Kyotaro's attack. Once he drew his "Demon Dance," he wouldn't need to fear any magical weapon his enemy possessed.
However, the moment his left hand touched the blade to block Kyotaro's attack, he was invaded by a sinister aura far surpassing his own.
The "No-Sword Technique," the strongest in Japan, was unmatched by any other Japanese martial art; it seemed to be the overarching principle of Yamato martial arts, controlling all other techniques. Of course, this only applied when their skill levels were roughly equal.
Originally, the skill gap between Kyotaro and the third-ranked swordsman of Yamato should have been enormous, but with my demonic cult's secret technique, the situation was entirely different. As Kyotaro attacked, he discovered that the "No-Sword Technique" he unleashed was more powerful than ever before, emanating an unprecedentedly thick aura of resentment, grief, and agonizing slaughter
. Under such circumstances, even a swordsman as strong as Fukiishi Yagyu was unable to withstand its ghostly killing intent and resentment.
The "ghostly energy" he had cultivated for decades vanished without a trace upon encountering it, like snow in early spring meeting the sun. For a brief moment, his internal energy was disrupted, rendering him powerless.
Kyotaro pressed his advantage with a counter-attack, and the swordsman felt a chill on his wrist as his left hand was severed from his body. Fukiishi
Yagyu tried to release his half-drawn "Ghost Dance" and retreat, but it was too late. Kyotaro's hand slashed into his chest with a single, powerful motion. Those present only had time to see a flash of white light disappear before Fukiishi Yagyu's chest.
A cold wind blew, chilling even the onlookers to the bone at the brutal battle.
Looking around, one duelist had been pierced through the chest by a sword, while another had his left hand shoved into his chest. Yet, the duelists themselves stood expressionless.
It was all due to habit. If, when Kyotaro activated his "No-Sword Technique," the Sword God hadn't drawn his sword as usual but had instead retreated gracefully, he might have escaped the trap Kyotaro had set with his life.
Kyotaro used his body as bait, both absorbing the Sword God's "Demon Dance" and maintaining optimal distance between himself and Fukiishi Yagyu.
Indeed, who would guard against a dying man with a pierced heart? Yet, this seemingly harmless young man delivered the most fatal blow to Yamato's third-best swordsman, the God of Swordsmanship!
Kyotaro's "No-Sword Technique" hadn't reached the fourth level, "Falling Flowers Desire to Be Seen," like Mitsuki Mui's. His third level was insufficient to deal with a sword god like Fukiishi Yagyu; in fact, he would have died under the "Demon Dance" sword before even having a chance to use the technique after the sword god drew his sword.
Fukiishi Yagyu sighed first, "You..."
He hesitated, looking at Kyotaro.
Fukiishi Yagyu's previous all-out attack had severely injured Kyotaro, but he secretly rejoiced that without Lanting-dono's medicine and true energy, his "No-Sword Technique" would have been useless. Even so, he was still trembling, his lips pale. But he understood that the sword god was more seriously injured than him, so he was overjoyed—not because he could kill the Japanese sword god, but because he had helped his master kill an enemy.
Kyotaro knew what he wanted to ask, and he said weakly, "I didn't die because my heart is different from ordinary people; it's located on the right side."
"Hahaha..."
The Kazuma swordsman suddenly laughed, looking up at the sky, feeling his life slowly slipping away.
In his last moments, he appeared very calm, looking at Kyotaro and saying, "Listen to me, go back and tell your new master that Fukiishi Yagyu ordered him to ensure that the people of Japan would never suffer again, no matter what!"
"Understood, junior!"
"Then cut off my head and send it to your master... Tell him that Yagyu is waiting in the underworld to apologize to him!"
Fukiishi Yagyu said it lightly, as if the one being beheaded wasn't him.
"Yes, sir!"...
"Young master, I did it!"
When Kyotaro stumbled to me carrying the severed head, he blurted out, "Look, this is the master's wine jug!"
"Stop, stop!"
I kicked him. "You're making such a fuss over killing someone, you're really shameful!"
Even as I said this, I swiftly pressed the acupoints on his chest, first sealing his blood flow, then removing the "Oni Dance" from his body. After that, I sprinkled some of my secret medicinal powder on him. A puff of white smoke rose, and his wounds completely closed. The whole process was as smooth as flowing water, without any pause, fully demonstrating the exquisite skills of this little divine doctor.
"Ah! Ah!"
The only downside was that when I sprinkled the medicine on Kyotaro's chest, he let out this pig-like scream.
"Damn it... shut up! Is this more painful than a sword piercing your chest?"
"Compared to your damn powder, young master, I'd rather take another stab!"
Kyotaro couldn't stand it any longer and sat down on the ground. "Young master, here!"
Before I could change my expression, he pointed to the clansmen who were lifting up the corpse of Fubuki Yagyu. "After we've dealt with them, let's go home!"
Go home? Hmph, Kyotaro, you're still too green. Our show hasn't reached its climax yet, how can it end like this?
I patted the powder off my hands and walked towards the remaining nineteen clansmen, smiling slightly. "My dear guests from afar, don't be discouraged! If you defeat me, I think this fight will still count as your victory... right, Seventh Young Master?"
Looking at the lifeless swordsman Yagyu in the samurai's hands, the short Uesugi Nobukatsu's eyes widened, and he turned to Nangong Yuanyue, receiving a reply that he was willing to leave. So Uesugi Nobukatsu looked at me coldly and said, "Uesugi wishes to challenge you with a sword formation!"
I've heard that Uesugi Nobukatsu is efficient and decisive in his dealings with people, and he's even stingy with his words.
"Is it the 'Wind Formation,' the Uesugi family's signature formation?"
Nangong Yuanyue chuckled from the side. "Perfect, Yuanyue would also like to see it."
He smiled and stepped aside, casually sitting on the ground.
Uesugi waved his hand, and the eighteen armored guards behind him immediately swarmed forward, forming two arcs of different sizes around me, then slowly retreated, and then returned to their original positions.
"My Uesugi family's 'Wind Formation' was a gift from the Izumo War God to the Uesugi family. If you can break this formation within half an hour, Uesugi will admit defeat."
As soon as he finished speaking, the formation was activated.
Wind Formation? Hmph! I'll see just how fast your wind really is!
First, the six people in the inner circle spun rapidly in the direction of the Bagua. Although everyone was moving at high speed, their images never disappeared from the scene.
What masterful phantom shifting techniques! The six figures remained unchanged because each movement overlapped with the shadow of the person in front.
Then there were the twelve on the outer circle, rotating in a reverse Bagua formation. Their phantom shifting skills were the same as the inner circle, but their speed was twice as fast. This constant forward and reverse rotation, coupled with the inconsistent speed, would overwhelm anyone with slightly weaker skills without needing assistance. But, in my eyes, it was still… too slow!
Damn it, like a few ants, slowly swaying around me, it was driving me crazy.
As Uesugi gave the attack command, I sneered, “Uesugi, count carefully!”
At that moment, Uesugi witnessed a breathtaking spectacle.
From the two black whirlwinds, a dazzling light suddenly shone, rapidly spreading outwards from the center.
"Clang!"
"Snap!"... Amidst the clashing of swords, layers of white waves spread out, swiftly engulfing the two small black whirlwinds...
"Whoosh!"
With the sound of a sword returning to its sheath—a flash of light followed by a sudden stillness—the arena returned to calm, leaving only a standing person and eighteen neatly arranged corpses.
"Which move was that?"
I asked the dazed Uesugi with a smile. At the same time, I noticed that Nangong Yuanyue, sitting on the ground, had a glint in her eyes, which she quickly concealed.
"One...one move!"
Uesugi murmured, but when he looked up, his eyes were piercing. "Since you've taken their lives, sir, please grant Uesugi Nobukatsu's wish!"
He roared, drew his long sword, and leaped into the air, wielding the sword with both hands, bringing it down on me with overwhelming force. A ten-foot radius around me was enveloped in intense killing intent and sword intent. With
this attack, his short body had at least fifty-one openings, but his desperate, all-or-nothing fighting spirit made me reluctant to make a move. It wasn't that his moves or killing intent made me wary, but rather that I suddenly felt like I was on a battlefield, facing a vast army.
"Truly a general who has returned from a hundred battles!"
A general dies after a hundred battles, a brave warrior returns after ten years. Warriors returning from the battlefield always possess a certain ferocity that surpasses that of ordinary people... whether towards enemies or themselves. Like this strike, even knowing it was a one-way trip, Uesugi still unleashed a final, powerful blow.
Just as the blade's energy was about to strike, my left hand moved faster than the enemy, forming a hundred thousand hand seals like falling petals. Then, I used the Taoist "Disarming" technique to deflect his powerful blade energy. Before he could react, my left hand, through the blade's edge, deftly and fatally struck his abdomen, leaving six small plum blossom-shaped dots.
I knew the strength of my strike; although his internal organs were now shattered into a pulp, he still retained a sliver of life.
"You are a true warrior. If you cannot complete the mission, it is only fate. Go peacefully and do not concern yourself with the conflicts of the world!"
Looking at the bewildered figure standing before me, I withdrew my fingers and said.
Strangely enough, upon hearing my words, he immediately collapsed. Hmm... it seems my martial arts have reached a high level; I've actually reached the point where I can kill with just a few words. Truly worthy of a reward!

Chapter Three: The Obstacles on the Road:
When Gong Taro and I swaggered out of the "Duke of Lu's Mansion," not only did Nangong Yuanyue
, who was sitting on the ground watching the battle, not stop us, but even the old men who had entered the house earlier didn't come out to say a word. Without a leader's permission, the experts of the Nangong family could only watch helplessly as we strolled out of the "Duke of Lu's Mansion." Therefore, the climax I had anticipated never materialized.
Originally, I planned to kill a few more direct descendants of the Nangong family to establish my authority, but let alone those in power, even Nangong Yici, who had previously wanted to fight me to the death, stood timidly behind Nangong Yuanyue, his legs trembling and his face filled with fear.
It seemed that the matter I had asked Mi Beiming to handle at the Prince of Fu's Mansion had taken considerable effort. When we reached the streets, there wasn't a single constable or patrolman in sight, not even a night soil thief.
After walking only two streets, the wounded Gong Taro began to take a few steps and then rest.
"Kyotaro, do you want someone to help you?"
I teased, looking at Kyotaro's pained expression.
Right now, all he wanted was to climb into a carriage and lie down comfortably for a while! But we were still several miles away from our carriage, and although I had applied medicine to his wounds, he was practically immobile due to his injuries.
"Your Highness, you've finally had a change of heart and are willing to help me? To be honest, I really don't have a single bit of strength left!"
Looking at Kyotaro, who was now grinning and leaning close to me, I even wondered if the steady, resilient, and promising young man I had first met was his twin brother.
I shook my head: "I can't, but there are two helpers right now… Come out!"
I called out to the darkness behind me. With my call, two blurry figures gradually appeared behind Kyotaro and me.
Kōtarō reacted quickly. Before I could finish speaking, he warily picked up his "Oni-Dou" (a sword that could be used as both a sword and a blade). After I finished, seeing the Rain Man appear, he immediately sheathed his sword, pointed to the gray sky, and said emotionally, "Ah! How beautiful the moonlight is tonight… Young Master, I suddenly feel full of power again!… Young Master, Young Mistress, let's go!"
The two women before me were Princess Miyabi and Princess Aya of the Yamato Imperial Family.
Black, form-fitting outfits clung to their bodies, fully displaying their alluring curves. Their veils were removed, revealing their delicate, snow-white faces glistening with sweat, their ample breasts rising and falling with their breath. Such charming beauties, in the darkness, were quite tempting.
"Husband… what are you thinking about?"
Their voices were usually mixed up, but now there was a hint of unease in their voices.
"Bosses, have you dealt with those thirty-eight spies who were following us?"
"Yes, none of them were left alive!"
I nodded in satisfaction, waved for them to come over, and then, mimicking Lu Jie's actions, stretched out my hands and pinched their tender cheeks like I was disciplining children. "Little girls, why are you so disobedient?"
The two girls were stunned for a moment, then their eyes reddened, and two crystal tears fell from their eyes.
"Uh?"
Young Master Ri was kind-hearted by nature and couldn't bear to see others cry. "Don't cry, don't cry!"
I hurriedly released my hands from pinching their pretty faces, but the two girls only intensified their crying and threw themselves into my arms,
sobbing : "Waaah...waaah..."
After sobbing and telling what had happened, they whispered, "Mei and Cai...we were...worried about our husbands!"
I should have known that these two ignorant little devils wouldn't be so obedient.
Using the title of "Ladies of the Orchid Pavilion," the two women forced Mi Beiming to accompany them on a reconnaissance mission, planning our retreat. They then sent Mi Beiming alone to wait at the carriage outside the city while they themselves used Japanese ninjutsu to infiltrate the Nangong residence, ready to rescue Gong Taro and me…
Thinking of their past deeds, I shook my head inwardly, about to give them a warning, when I found them leaning on my shoulder, their eyes brimming with tears, looking utterly pitiful. My heart softened again… Sigh, I'll settle this score in bed!
The two women pulled away, and when I looked back, Gong Taro's mouth was agape, wide enough to fit a fist.
"This… Young Master… Princess…"
It's no wonder he was so vulnerable; Gong Taro had never seen such weakness from these spoiled princesses after they'd done something wrong. Now he couldn't help but sigh, truly, there's always someone who can subdue another!
I knew the return journey wouldn't be so simple. Sure enough, after we boarded the "Kirin Carriage" and traveled eight hundred li, we finally encountered the enemy.
The sky was beginning to brighten, and only one person blocked the road: a young man in flowing white robes stood in the middle of the official road, holding a fan with a white jade frame and a soft silk surface, smiling as he looked at the stopped carriage.
In truth, the carriage hadn't stopped on its own; Mi Beiming was no pushover. Since I gave the order to "return to Liufeng as quickly as possible," he had already knocked down seventeen pedestrians in the hundreds of miles traveled.
This time, he shouted for the young man in white to dodge, but the young man in white didn't move aside. Mi Beiming lashed out with his whip, intending to use a clever trick to lift him up and pull him to the side of the road. This way, although a fall would be inevitable, it would at least prevent him from being trampled by a wild horse—he had done the same to the previous people.
But this man was different; before the whip even reached him, it seemed to have been sliced by a knife, breaking into several pieces in a regular pattern.
Before Mi Beiming could react, the two magnificent horses of the "Qilin Carriage" rushed towards the approaching figure. However, it was as if the horses had crashed into an iron wall; their outstretched hooves were forcefully stopped, and their massive bodies were thrown to the ground.
"Hiss—"
The two horses let out a mournful cry, lying on the ground unable to rise for a moment.
In the instant the horses were thrown, several gusts of wind shot out from the enclosed luxury carriage, bypassing Mi Beiming and precisely severing the six reins, so that the carriage came to a safe stop in front of the horses when they fell.
"Nangong...Yuan Yue?"
Mi Beiming, regaining his composure, suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
The elegant young man who appeared before them was actually the "Heir Apparent of the Duke of Lu"—the "Prodigy" Nangong Yuan Yue—who should have been hundreds of miles away in the Nangong Mansion of Dongluo City.
Nangong Yuanyue nodded gently: "Mr. Mi, I would like to see the person in the carriage."
"You... how did you know... me?"
"I knew on your very first day in Dongluo. It's easier to monitor a spy whose identity has already been exposed than to painstakingly search for the mastermind hiding in the shadows. Since I have already made this clear, please allow the distinguished person in the carriage to come out and meet me."
"Damn it, Nangong Yuanyue, are we incompatible? What are you trying to do, haunting us like this?"
I opened the car door and got out, with Mei and Cai standing behind me.
Nangong Yuanyue didn't seem to care about my vulgar words. He laughed, "I ran my two beloved horses to death on the way here, covering eight hundred miles of mountain roads to catch up with you... but all the hardship was worth it."
He kept his eyes fixed on me, never glancing at the two stunningly beautiful women, Mei and Cai.
The rumors that Nangong Yuanyue was "charming and romantic, a womanizer and a lover of women" seem to be untrue! Behind his seemingly gentle smile, however, lurked a chilling killing intent—his face was smiling, but his eyes held no smile, only murderous intent.
"Why do you want to take our lives?"
I've never liked beating around the bush, especially when facing an enemy with whom I'm about to fight to the death.
Seeing me remove my mask, revealing my true face, Nangong Yuanyue's smile paused for a moment: "Before that, Yuanyue would like to ask your name."
"Ren Lanting, a citizen of Liufeng Kingdom."
"Oh?"
For the first time, he put away his smile. It was indeed the 'Lord Lanting,' the most renowned person in Liufeng Kingdom recently, who had personally come to Dongluo. Yuanyue was truly honored to meet you! Originally, seeing Mr. Mi driving his carriage, Yuanyue had assumed that your status was not low, but who would have thought it would be so high... Lord Ren, do you know that if you hadn't displayed such superb martial arts skills today, Yuanyue would never have been willing to take your life? "Go to hell! If you didn't want my life, would you have come all this way to chase us for hundreds of miles?"
I cursed his hypocrisy inwardly, but then I immediately understood the true meaning behind his words. "
Think, if Liufeng Kingdom has another prodigy to restrain Prince Chen Fuyue of Chu, then the law of 'two tigers cannot share one mountain' will apply to us.
The struggle between the two major domestic powers will only weaken the nation's strength and its external military power. In this way, the Great Yuan can advance or retreat as it pleases, gaining the initiative, and the Nangong family can exploit our conflict for their own benefit.
But after I revealed my martial arts, Nangong Yuanyue was forced..." "Don't kill me. The future me will definitely be a greater threat than Chen Fuyue. Not to mention that the Nangong family will benefit from my struggle with Chen Fuyue, who can guarantee that I won't suppress domestic opposition and launch an invasion a decade or so later? By then, I will be much more powerful and easier to deal with than now. Weighing
the pros and cons, Nangong Yuanyue naturally wants to eliminate me as soon as possible. But can you, Nangong Yuanyue, bully the current 'Lord Lanting'?
Having figured it out, I laughed along with him.
Seeing my expression, Nangong Yuanyue said, 'Your Excellency is mistaken. I'm not killing you for the sake of the Great Yuan.'
He seemed to think I was doomed today, patiently explaining his thoughts: 'Are kings and generals born with a special destiny? Nangong Yuanyue's ambition is to rule the world. Looking at the world today, apart from a handful of people, I don't even consider the rest. And you are definitely one of them. For the sake of future world domination, you have no choice but to die.'" "
He seemed absolutely certain he could capture the five of us, so his words were quite reasonable.
Oh? So his ambitions are that great.
I looked at him and said, 'Young Master Nangong, you'll need some strength to eliminate me, won't you? Do you think you can take us down with just your eighth level of the Great Luo Secret Technique?'
'Then let's try!'
Nangong Yuanyue arrived gracefully, his folding fan opening wide, unleashing hundreds of shadowy attacks that swept towards me, blocking my escape routes with both feints and real strikes.
I struck forward with both hands, simultaneously unleashing countless palm prints, also combining feints and real attacks against Nangong Yuanyue.
'Shatter! Bang!'
The sound of clashing energy shattered the morning's tranquility.
As a test, we retreated immediately upon contact, standing on either side, preparing for the next real duel.
Nangong Yuanyue put away his fan, placing it at his waist... It seems his expertise lies in his hands; the folding fan is just something he uses to intimidate.
'You two watch from the sidelines, don't interfere.'" "
I gave instructions to Mei, Cai, Mibei Ming, and Gong Taro, who got out of the car after hearing the noise.
Just now, Nangong Yuanyue only used the seventh level of the 'Great Luo Secret Technique.' He was intentionally hiding his strength, hoping to deliver a fatal blow to me in the next attack. Young Master Ri was also very cooperative with him; his Heavenly Demon Qi, which moved at will, barely suppressed him, showing that the gap between us was not that big.
After exchanging a strange smile, we flew forward and silently clashed palms together, striking each other solidly more than a dozen times.
'Boom!'
'Boom!' 'Boom!'
'Boom!'
Huge sound waves and air currents resounded through the sky, and the sandstorm rose where the two of us stood, causing the surrounding ground to sink several feet.
Damn it! Nangong Yuanyue is tricking me. Feeling the increasing force of his palm strikes, Young Master Liu was in agony.
'Damn it, what eighth level... He has clearly already reached the highest level of the 'Great Luo Secret Technique'—the ninth level!'" "
Damn it, I'm facing a second Nangong Yueyi now. But Nangong Yuanyue isn't having an easy time either... Nonsense! Didn't you see his face is redder than mine, and his breathing is even more labored?
Because we both misjudged our opponent's strength, we both used all our strength from the beginning, trying to defeat the enemy with all our might. Unexpectedly, our strength and power are evenly matched. Now, neither of us can stop, nor can we use any more exquisite moves to defeat the other.
Whoever lets go will be suppressed by the other's energy, and the subsequent all-out attack will take their life. From Nangong Yuanyue's tightly clenched lips, you can tell that he is currently relying purely on willpower and belief to sustain him.
Damn it! You have goals and pursuits, but don't I, Liu Ri, have them too?
I still want to seduce all the beauties in the world and acquire all the wealth in the world... A wonderful life is still waiting for me." Enjoy.
Hanging here? —Are you kidding me!
So I also put all my strength into it, exchanging palm strikes with him, one after another.
Twenty palm strikes passed… thirty palm strikes passed… forty palm strikes passed… We were both nearly exhausted.
What am I afraid of? Even if I fall, I still have experts like Mei and Cai behind me. Although normally, Nangong Yuanyue doesn't take Mei and Cai, or even Kyotaro together, seriously, but now… Hmph, you'll be beheaded!
Nangong Yuanyue obviously realized this as well. His eyes revealed a hint of anxiety, and his mind wavered, his internal energy becoming even more turbid.
Finally, on the fifty-third palm strike, Nangong Yuanyue suddenly withdrew his palm, leaped up, and used his waist to receive my earth-shattering palm strike.
I sneered and mercilessly struck his waist heavily… Damn it! I'll cripple you!
"Bang!" "
With a single blow, Nangong Yuanyue spat out a mouthful of bright red blood, yet his momentum didn't diminish as he flew several feet forward, his toes barely touching the ground... After a few leaps, his figure quickly disappeared into the hazy sky.
The sound of the blow was this, not the 'smack' of flesh hitting skin, and what I shattered was a block of material, warm as it was, but something was still wrong...
Huh! I was out of my mind, forgetting that Nangong Yuanyue had placed the 'Soothing Fan' on his left waist.
With the 'Soothing Fan' as an obstacle, of course I couldn't turn Nangong Yuanyue into dust."
This fan was clearly no ordinary item; it absorbed at least 80% of my force, so the actual impact on Young Master Nangong wasn't much, which allowed him to escape. However, the strength of a "peerless master" is no joke. Even 20% of the force was enough to give Nangong Yuanyue, whose power was currently severely depleted, a lot to bear.
The blood clots he spat out were incredibly red and somewhat congealed... a clear sign that he had been struck by my Demonic Sect's supreme martial art, "Heavenly Demon Qi." According to my estimation, he won't be fully recovered for at least a year.
Hmph, it's fortunate that Nangong Yuanyue realized the danger early, otherwise, today the young master would have turned Hai Mi's three moons into two!
Doesn't he realize that the young master of the Liu family is named Ri (Sun), and it's only natural for the sun to ride on the head of the moon!
However, I'm not doing well either; my true energy is being rapidly depleted, and it won't recover in just a day or two.
My master, that old man, is truly outdated. His predictions like "Mastering the seventh level of the Heavenly Demon Technique will make you invincible; mastering the eighth level will make you unrivaled" almost caused me a lot of trouble. The saying
goes, "Talented people emerge in every generation," and the world today is no longer what it was decades ago. We can no longer have a situation where "when the tiger is away, the monkey is king." If it were Dongfang Daming facing Nangong Laoqi, the title of "Number One Under Heaven" would definitely have to be changed. After

the attack on the Lu family in Chapter Four
severely injured Nangong Yuanyue, the return journey was unusually peaceful. Even with our horses galloping, we still returned to Cangzhou City, the capital of Yizhou Prefecture, in three days.
There was only one small incident along the way… Gongtaro's blood vessels burst, and he fell into a coma.
This was, of course, intentional on the part of Young Master Ri.
When I had a detailed discussion with Jinggong Hideyoshi in the secret room, one of the topics was about Gongtaro.
Prince Keimiya Hideyoshi's son is already twelve years old, so he isn't worried about the succession after his death. His biggest concern is how to gain enough strength to reclaim the throne from the Goyoji family.
After years of fighting and strife, he has very few capable men under his command. If "Lord Lanting" were a member of the Kazuya clan, he could entrust me with this great responsibility and watch the throne return to the Goyoji family from beyond the grave. However, he fears that I might seize the hard-won restoration of the dynasty, so he can only borrow my strength, but he needs to find a suitable talent to counterbalance and restrain me—Kyotaro is definitely the best choice.
Because those who practice the "No-Sword Technique" always die young, Kyotaro is destined to die before the age of forty. That means Kyotaro has less than fourteen years left to live… Hideyoshi's only option now is to beg me to spare Kyotaro's life.
I'm starting to hate my "Little Divine Doctor" title, always ending up doing things that are exhausting and pointless. But for the sake of the two girls from the Kyouya clan, I agreed to his request, though the young master had one condition—just save his life, nothing else.
Actually, saving Kyoutaro's life was too simple; all I had to do was disable his "No-Sword Technique." However, for martial artists, "dispersing one's power" is a very taboo thing.
As far as I know, many disciples of the Demonic Cult have had to resort to dispersing their power to survive because of improper training methods, but even then, the success rate is extremely low.
It's a delicate balance; the excruciating pain of dispersing one's power often causes people to give up halfway, and stopping halfway often results in death. Even if one successfully disperses their power, the aftereffects greatly increase the likelihood of suicide.
It was for this reason that even after Kyouya Hideyoshi was struck by Fukiishi Yagyu's deadly sword aura and was nearing the end of his life, I still hesitated to dispel his power.
Hideyoshi promised me that he'd do anything to save Kyotaro's life.
Heh heh, but young master Hideyoshi has his own plans and won't directly dissipate Kyotaro's power. Even if he succeeded, Kyotaro wouldn't be grateful; on the contrary, it would be good enough if he didn't chase after me with a knife. Of course, that's assuming he can still wield a knife.
I can't do unprofitable business; maximizing profit in every transaction is young master Liu's style. Even if he doesn't mention assassinating the Yamato delegation, I've already set a trap for him.
Therefore, the pills I gave Kyotaro before his fight with Fukiishi Yagyu weren't some kind of "spirit-strengthening and heart-protecting" medicine, but rather a real sugar-coated poison—"One Day, Three Autumns." "One Day, Three Autumns" is one of my master's classic creations; in my understanding, it means "using the strength of nine months in one day." It's a powerful drug that stimulates the body's potential and pre-emptively draws on life force. My master took it that day, which allowed him to escape the encirclement of so many masters.
The reason he died so quickly, besides the severity of his injuries, was also due to "One Day, Three Autumns."
Don't think that just anyone can use this drug. Even martial arts masters, if they pre-emptively draw on nine months of life force, they should be grateful if they don't die on the spot—only top-tier masters like my master can use it.
Kyotaro's strength couldn't withstand the drug's effects, which is why I later applied the "Heavenly Peace and Earthly Tranquility" technique to his six acupoints: Benjing, Jiaohui, Qihai, Yinjiao, Shenque, and Shuifen… This was the real way to save his life.
"Kyotaro, you've pushed yourself too hard! How could you possibly compare to Fukiishi Yagyu's skill?"
When Kyotaro collapsed in the carriage, bleeding profusely from the effects of the drug, Mi and Aya rushed forward to help him by applying pressure points and bandaging his wounds… I watched with a heavy sigh, my heart filled with compassion. "The pills and internal energy I gave you were simply not enough to resist his insidious internal force…"
Kyotaro said with difficulty, "Your Highness, why worry? Kyotaro has already gained by exchanging his life for the life of the Fukiishi Sword God."
These were the words the young master had been waiting for. I was secretly pleased, but then shook my head heavily and remained silent.
"Husband!"
Although the bleeding had stopped, seeing Kyotaro's increasingly pale face, Mi and Aya panicked even more. "What…what do we do?…You…you save him!"
They supported the already powerless Kyotaro, their beautiful eyes already red and swollen.
Kyotaro had carried the two girls on his back since they were little, and it could be said that he was more like a brother to them than Hideyoshi Kōmiya. Of course, they couldn't bear to see their brother die like this.
"Hmm... let me think!"
I pretended to think for a while, and seeing that Kyotaro was about to faint, I finally spoke, "There is a way... but, it's very difficult. Even if we save his life, he might lose his martial arts skills..."
"Ah?"
Kyotaro's eyes widened, and he shook his head resolutely, "No... as a samurai... I'd rather die than lose my martial arts skills!... Absolutely not!"
I smiled bitterly: "Then I have no other choice!"
At the same time, just as Miyako and Ayako were about to say something to him, I heard a faint voice... After a short while, they nodded in unison and smiled sweetly at me.
"Kyotaro, you've been with the Goyōji family for so many years, have we ever mistreated you in any way?"
Ayako Kōmiya asked Kyotaro.
"My lord's kindness to Kyotaro is as heavy as a mountain; even if I were to die, I could not repay even a fraction of it."
"Then tell me, would you rather remain alive to continue serving the Goyōji family, or die upholding your so-called samurai spirit?"
"..."
Kyotaro remained silent.
Seeing Kyotaro's silence, Miyako said softly, "Actually, in Miyako and Ayako's hearts, Kyotaro has always been our second elder brother. We truly hope that you can assist our elder brother in the future, to restore our homeland... Even the greatest martial prowess is merely the courage of a brute; our elder brother desperately needs a capable confidant like you to assist him."
"..."
This time he remained silent, perhaps thinking of Hideyoshi's impending death.
After sending a telepathic message to Mi and Aya, instructing them on how to persuade Kyotaro, I leisurely played with the jade beside me, thinking to myself: "Hmph, one soft approach, one hard one; the warmth of family combined with the burden of entrustment—I don't believe you won't compromise!"
Sure enough, after closing his eyes for a while, Kyotaro said resolutely, "Please, Your Highness, save Kyotaro's life!"
Therefore, before returning to Cangzhou, I sealed several of Kyotaro's vital acupoints, keeping him unconscious. This would significantly slow down the flow of his blood and prevent his injuries from worsening. Having made the necessary preparations, I waited to return to Cangzhou to heal and disperse his internal energy.
I wasn't idle during the journey. Besides the necessary few hours each day for healing and recuperation, I spent the rest of the time groping and kissing the two beautiful Japanese girls. Not only were their eyes flushed and their breath coming in short gasps, but I myself was also thoroughly aroused.
The two women were already completely obedient, but the timing and location were both wrong… Of course, I wouldn't mind a “carriage battle”—if it weren't for that lying obstacle next to me.
By the time we arrived at the city gate of Cangzhou, it was already noon.
At this time, the city gate was crowded with people entering and leaving the city… In just a few days, the four city gates of Cangzhou, a major trading city, had become unusually heavily guarded, and there were even a few clusters of military camps visible beside the city.
With Mi Beiming's Ministry of Justice token, we successfully entered the city through a side gate.
As we left, I heard the city guard officer's laughter and muttering: “What's going on these past few days? First the Secret Service, then the Ministry of Justice…”
Hmm? Secret Service? My heart skipped a beat. Unless there was something that absolutely required revealing their identities, the spies of the Secret Service were usually forbidden from revealing their identities. I knew… I suddenly shivered, and an ominous feeling welled up in my heart.
Unfortunately, Kōtarō's injuries couldn't be delayed, so I had to instruct Mibemin, under the direction of Miyako, to hurry to the "Jiwu Pavilion" in the southern district of Cangzhou. The carriage entered through the back door of the "Jiwu Pavilion," and as soon as the door closed, Misa anxiously ordered the servants to carefully carry Kōtarō inside. Instantly, all the servants in the courtyard rushed over. "In the midst of this chaos, a figure suddenly swept in from outside the courtyard and landed beside the carriage. The guards were truly confused by the chaotic situation. They only had time to fire dozens of random arrows, but they were all easily caught by the newcomer's hands. But as soon as he landed, the people in the courtyard reacted, drawing their weapons and surrounding the newcomer.
"Stop!"
I frowned slightly. "Kinko, were you waiting for me here?"
If I hadn't already seen his face clearly, this "Deputy Commander of the Southeast District of the Secret Service" would already be dead before he even landed.
"Yes."
He bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, I have important matters to report!" His
tone betrayed his anxiety.
"Come here!"
I waved for the people surrounding him to disperse.
He rushed to me in a few strides: "Your Highness, the Lu family has been attacked!"
"Oh, I see! Go down first, I'll tell you after I've finished my business here!"
Even though my heart clenched, I pretended to be relaxed.
Damn it, if it were Young Master Ri, his first reaction would definitely be to grab a knife and slaughter the entire family of those bastards who attacked the Lu family, then hang them all on the city gate as a warning. But firstly, the
way of an official is to never let subordinates know your emotions; secondly, seeing that Jinzihu still had the guts to wait for me here, I deduced that the few people in the Lu family I cared about were still safe and sound—if something had happened, these spies would have no time to wait for me to report information, except to slit their own throats or flee to the ends of the earth. So, after I finished speaking, I took Mei and Cai and walked into the hall.
"Husband...it hurts!"
Without realizing it, I tightened my grip on the two women's hands. The two women felt wronged and cried out in a soft voice.
I let go of them and reached out to pinch their smooth little faces: "Bosses, go find a room without any drafts, prepare a large pot filled with water, put firewood on it, and then put Gong Taro inside." "Remember, don't make the fire too big, just keep the water warm!"
I paused. "Also, make sure Mi Beiming is settled; I need him."
"Understood!"
The girls nodded obediently, then changed the subject, asking sweetly, "Then... honey, what about Sister Jie..."
The two girls were quite loyal, immediately asking about Lu Jie.
"Don't worry, after I've settled Gong Taro's affairs, I'll take you to see her... When we do, you must kill as many of her enemies as possible!"
"Okay!"
they readily agreed, "Everyone who offended Sister Jie... we'll slaughter their entire families!" "
Sigh... Even as Lu Jie's husband, I don't possess the same fiery temper and murderous intent as these two little devils. Just watching their graceful retreating figures, who would believe that these two charming fourteen-year-old girls could be so bloodthirsty and ruthless?
Anxious, I briefly spoke to Hideyoshi Keimiya, agreeing to return tomorrow to treat Kyotaro's injuries, before leaving his room.
After checking on Kyotaro, stripped naked and thrown into the cauldron, and instructing those nearby to monitor the heat, I then boarded the '…' with Misa and the other two, and Kaneko." The "Qilin carriage" departed.
The fine horses and saddles, coupled with the skillful maneuvering of the deputy commander of the southeastern district of the secret service, meant we soon returned to Rongxian.
As expected, security here was even tighter than in Cangzhou. However, the soldiers by the city gates, upon seeing Jinzihu from afar, immediately parted the queue of people waiting to enter, making way for us. Jinzihu, on the other hand, ignored them and drove straight in.
Unlike Cangzhou, once inside the city, soldiers were also stationed there, patrolling the streets and alleys of Rongxian in pairs.
Before I boarded the carriage, I had already... According to Zihu, although the Lu family suffered a fierce attack from the Yan family of Wanggu County, they successfully repelled the attack because Li Ruoshui, the commander of the southeastern district of the secret service, received advance warning and led his elite troops to join the Lu family, serving as the main force in resisting the enemy. While our side suffered considerable casualties, most were concentrated on the spies.
Jin Zihu said that since the Lu family did not participate in the fighting, the entire family was unharmed. However, near the end of the final battle, a small team attempted to raid the Lu family's basement. My two newly recruited female... The slaves suffered heavy losses in their resistance.
The carriage quickly entered the Lu family mansion. Compared to the bustling streets and crowds outside, the Lu mansion appeared somewhat deserted. Although the Lu family had thoroughly cleaned the place, the traces of the great battle were still evident upon alighting.
The straight road connecting the main hall was almost gone, riddled with potholes and covered in black and red stains; the once neat and elegant flowers and plants were ravaged beyond recognition, and the once towering pine trees were covered in black marks from the fire, appearing crooked and bent…
"Husband..."
A soft, alluring voice, tinged with a slight hoarseness, revealed the owner's state of mind, a mixture of extreme tension and sudden exhilaration.
I, who was surveying the damage to the Lu family mansion, turned around upon hearing this, and unsurprisingly, a smooth, soft body nestled in my arms. A low sob quickly reached my ears, "Waaah... I... I thought... I'd never see... my brother... again..."
Holding the warm yet trembling body, I channeled a calming inner energy into her back, gently soothing the beauty. Young Master Ri's eloquence was no ordinary matter; within a few words, Lu Jie was amused and stopped crying.
Looking up, I saw Li Ruoshui, Lu Zhong, and the others who had come out with her standing before me.
“My dear son-in-law…”
Lu Zhong’s round face, beaming with smiles, suddenly turned to look behind me with surprise and suspicion. This was because he saw the two women, Mei and Cai, whom I had labeled as assassins, standing charmingly behind me.
But Lu Zhong was a shrewd old man, and he chuckled and said, “There are too many people here, let’s go inside and talk!”
I nodded, first instructing the Jing Palace sisters to return to the Peony Pavilion to rest, then taking Lu Jie’s small hand and following behind them, heading towards the basement located below the main hall.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/10177.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=10177&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : [Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 7

Next Page : [Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 20

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Fantasy] My World (Complete) - 8

comment Open a new window to view comments