Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 85

Li Tieniu scratched his head, glanced at the steward on his right, and the steward was terrified, cursing inwardly. Then he said, "My name is Tieniu, from Lüliang, Shanxi."

To others, he appeared dazed and slow to respond, prompting them to shake their heads in disapproval.

"Can you speak Mandarin?" Yi Yuchen asked.

Li Tieniu nodded, then stammered, "I...I...can speak, but I'm not familiar with it."

Looking at the child who had almost the exact same temperament as Chen Aniu, Yi Yuchen couldn't help but feel even more favorably toward him.

You see a child who looks remarkably like Ah Niu. Although you know it's not him, their personalities and character are extremely similar, making you feel like a nostalgic old man.

Li Tieniu's aptitude, comprehension, and innate talent are insufficient, limiting his potential in martial arts. Even with diligent training, he might only have a chance of becoming a first-rate martial artist in his lifetime. However, he is a loyal and reliable person.

Seeing the system's voiceover, "Very good, system certified, quality guaranteed." Yi Yuchen nodded and said, "Tell the people at the manor to put in some effort. Three months later, arrange for him to work in the small courtyard."

Yi Liang showed a hint of surprise, knowing that although there were people serving in the courtyard, they were just ordinary servants.

The old master Yi Yun didn't interfere in arranging people; he just waited for Yi Yuchen to choose the right person himself. And this kid named Li Tieniu would become Young Master Sun's confidant.

As the future master of Mingjian Villa, Yi Yuchen sees Li Tieniu as a pig, even if Li Tieniu is a pig, he's a pig that flies to the sky, his starting point already the destination for countless others.

However, these were not things he could question. He simply nodded and said, "Don't worry, Young Master Sun, I will arrange it."

Upon hearing Yi Yuchen's instructions, not only the old steward Yi Liang, but also the other stewards looked at Li Tieniu with surprise, really wondering what had caught the eye of the future master about this child.

Li Tieniu still stood there dumbfounded, staring blankly up at the crowd.

Yi Liang waved his hand, and a burly man in gray clothes below the stage picked him up and put him on the stage. A manager immediately pulled him to stand behind Yi Liang.

Chapter 171 Encountering Three Villains

Upon seeing this, the audience erupted in a commotion that could no longer be contained. Not only were the children surprised, but the surrounding crowd also began to discuss the scene.

The old man standing next to Old Man Li was so surprised that his jaw dropped. He turned his head in disbelief and looked at Old Man Li, saying, "You...you...your grandson...you've been noticed by a big shot?"

Old Man Li also looked incredulous and said, "It should...it should be, right?"

The old man wiped his hands on his clothes, then grabbed Li's hands with both of them, saying urgently, "Brother! Brother! Is your Tie Niu engaged yet? I have a little granddaughter, fourteen years old. I wouldn't say she's a beauty queen, but she's definitely one of the prettiest girls in the surrounding villages. She has a big bottom, which guarantees she can give birth to sons, and she's easy to raise. Think about it..."

Those nearby who overheard this couldn't help but shush, saying, "Grandpa, we have one too..."

The old man turned around and cursed, "Get lost!" Then he grabbed Old Man Li's hand and wouldn't let go, his face full of wrinkles as he smiled, saying, "Brother! I was blind to your greatness, please consider it..."

Old Li said helplessly, "This...this hasn't been decided yet, nothing is clear. Brother Qian, do you want to wait a little longer?"

The old man surnamed Qian muttered to himself, "If we wait any longer, what good will it do for our family? Your doorstep will be trampled flat by today!"

He chuckled, and before anyone could get a word in edgewise, he kicked a man in his thirties in the leg, making him stumble. He then helped Old Man Li onto his back and cursed, "Coward, get out of here!"

After saying that, he turned to Old Man Li and said, "Brother, father-in-law, this is my granddaughter's father, my second son. From now on, you should treat him like your own son. If he doesn't listen to you, beat him to death. Let's go back and talk slowly."

She slapped her son on the back of the head and scolded, "You coward, why aren't you carrying my father-in-law home?"

The man looked bewildered. Hearing his father speak, he turned and ran. Old Man Qian reached out and pushed aside the people in front of him, saying, "Make way, make way..."

Old Li, clinging to the back of Qian's second son, looked utterly helpless, while Old Qian, leading the way, was beaming with joy, practically jumping for joy.

Old Li hadn't gone far on his back when he heard a cold snort behind him. The voice was deep and echoed. When he turned around, he saw that it was the old man standing in front of his grandson who had spoken.

"I wonder who this old man is. He looks like a big shot by that young master's side." Old Man Li was still thinking when the Qian family father and son carried him away.

………………

Yi Liang frowned as he looked at the chaotic scene below, then let out a cold snort. With the support of his true energy, his voice boomed like thunder, carrying a sharp edge that silenced all who dared to make a sound.

"Young Master Sun, would you like to take another look? Is there anything else that catches your eye?" Yi Liang asked, bowing.

Yi Yuchen shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's leave it at that. You can arrange the rest."

Yi Liang nodded and said, "Then I'll accompany Young Master Sun to the estate."

"No need, you can handle all of this. Butler Yi, Grandpa trusts you, and I trust you too. Just do your job well, there's no need to worry." Yi Yuchen shook his head.

"That's enough for today. I'm going back now; I have other things to take care of." Looking at the sky, Yi Yuchen patted Tie Niu's head and said, "From now on, I'll call you A Niu! Study hard!"

After saying that, Yi Yuchen turned and stepped down from the platform. Eight guards immediately followed behind him. After Yi Yuchen got into the carriage, Yi Liang escorted him all the way to the gate of the manor. Only after watching the carriage drive away did he return to continue his work.

………………

On the official road leading from the suburban farm to the Famous Sword Manor, three large trees lay fallen in the middle of the road in front of Yi Yuchen's carriage. The woods on both sides were deathly silent, without a single bird chirping.

The driver and seven guards looked tense, watching their surroundings. The deathly quiet atmosphere made them involuntarily tense.

The lead guard looked around, then drew a soft sword from his sleeve and said, "Young Master Sun, I'll protect you as you leave first."

The narration system popped up and said...

[Shaolin Temple's Liaofan and Wutai Mountain's Qingliang Temple's Zhishan hope to eliminate you to prevent future troubles; Jinshan Temple wants to infiltrate its influence into the Taihu Lake area; the Buddhist forces hit it off and secretly plotted to instigate the Three Fiends of Hongze Lake to ambush and kill you.]

Your fame has spread far and wide. The Taihu Duo, who have been looking for an opportunity to join the Famous Sword Manor, learned of the Three Fiends' whereabouts in advance and are on their way.

[Yi Yun is worried about your safety; the secret guards of Mingjian Manor have already secretly followed you.]

Yi Yuchen couldn't help but smile. Buddhism really was something... it could pique his 'interest' in every world. Originally, Yi Yuchen was quite interested in Buddhism because of the holy monk who could guide Zhang Junbao, but now...

Yi Yuchen shook his head, flicked his wrist, and a two-inch-long gold needle landed in his palm. Looking out through the carriage curtain, he laughed, "No need! These people really can't wait! I wonder which idiot got used as cannon fodder?"

As they were speaking, three figures leaped out from the woods on the right and landed in the middle of the road.

The three men were of different heights: one was dark-skinned and had a towering build, carrying a bronze dragon-patterned staff; the other had a full beard, fierce and narrow eyes, and was tall and thin, holding a pair of short knives.

The short one was short and fat, with his short five fingers holding two short forks, looking exactly like Wu Dalang, the fishmonger.

Yi Yuchen's bodyguards had been making a living in the martial arts world for a long time, and they could recognize these roughnecks at a glance. They only needed one look to identify the three men.

"So it's the Three Fiends of Hongze Lake. You've got some nerve, daring to provoke Mingjian Manor," the guard leader said in a cold voice.

The short, fat man chuckled and said disdainfully, "As long as I have money, what wouldn't I dare to do? Even that old cripple Yi Yun, as long as I hide in Hongze Lake, what can he do?"

The burly man, as tall as an iron tower, brandished his bronze staff and said impatiently, "What did the boss tell him? Once you're done, hurry up and leave. This is the territory of Mingjian Manor."

Hearing that fat man insult Yi Yun, Yi Yuchen had already sentenced them to death. He got up, lifted the carriage curtain, and was already standing on the carriage shaft.

The short, fat man's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Fair skin and tender flesh, and a pretty boy at that."

Yi Yuchen channeled his inner energy, and the soft golden needle in his hand stood upright. He pinched the needle between his fingers, not even glancing at the three of them, and said, "Are you ready?"

A mocking glint flashed across the short, fat man's face as he asked, "Prepare...what?"

The word "accurate" had barely left his lips when Yi Yuchen moved, his figure as swift as the wind, disappearing from the carriage shaft. The other two of the three villains had just shouted, "Be careful!" when Yi Yuchen reappeared, already three zhang away. With a flick of his golden needle, he unleashed the move "Loyal Heart and Azure Blood," the tip of the needle emitting three golden flowers. He touched the Baihui acupoint on the top of the short, fat man's head and the temples on both sides before withdrawing.

The short, stout man had just raised his twin forks and said, "...What are you preparing?" when he froze. At that moment, a staff and two swords attacked simultaneously from behind.

Yi Yuchen felt as if he were rooted to the ground, his body moving without wind, flying diagonally towards the other two. The golden needles in his hands hummed and vibrated with a golden light.

The burly man with the iron tower wielded his bronze staff like a wheel, each strike and chop carrying immense force and creating gusts of wind.

Yi Yuchen smiled dismissively. The golden needle went in as if it were nothing. With a move called "Qi Piercing the Rainbow", the golden needle was unpredictable, seemingly real yet illusory. It passed through the copper rod and pierced his Shenmen and Yintang acupoints before withdrawing.

At this moment, two short knives attacked from behind. The bearded man wielded his short knives like the wind, as fast as lightning. Yi Yuchen twisted his wrist, moving from one space to another, and touched the short knife with a golden needle. With a flick of his toes, he used the momentum to retreat, his figure disappearing like the wind. When he reappeared, he was back on the carriage shaft.

These few swift movements were as fast as lightning; before the others could react, Yi Yuchen had already returned to the carriage shaft.

Chapter 172 The martial world ages quickly, the two heroes ponder their future.

The tall, bearded man faced Yi Yuchen's carriage, his twin swords raised, beads of cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Without turning his head, he said, "Boss, Second Boss, this is a tough situation. Let's retreat!"

He didn't receive a reply after speaking, so he turned his head and saw the giant iron tower's dragon staff fall to the ground with a "thud," and his body slumped on the ground like a deflated balloon, motionless.

Meanwhile, the fall of the Panlong Staff triggered a chain reaction. The short, fat man, his eyes vacant and clutching a pair of short forks, collapsed straight to the ground.

Seeing this, the bearded man's hands trembled, and he ran frantically into the distance. The guards reacted at this moment, and the leader shouted, "Chase him!"

………………

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of hooves echoed on the official road ahead. Two galloping horses came towards them. One of them was dressed in a black scholar's robe, with a short beard and a wild look on his face, carrying a long spear. The other was dressed in a blue Taoist robe, with a white face and no beard, carrying a long sword on his back.

Seeing the bearded man rushing towards them, the figure in the Taoist robe laughed and said, "The Three Fiends of Hongze Lake? Where are you headed?"

As they spoke, the man on horseback, dressed in a black robe and sporting a scholar's beard, leaped up, wielding a long iron spear. The spear moved like a dragon, creating five spear flowers, and thrust towards the face of the bearded man.

The bearded man brandished his twin swords like a butterfly flitting among flowers, slashing densely like rain. The swords clanged and clashed against the spearhead as he angrily shouted, "Wen Lao Er, get out of my way!"

The black-robed scholar, known as Wen Lao Er, twirled his spear at his waist, and with a flick of his wrist, the spear, like a bow, lashed out at the bearded man's waist with a sound like shattering stone. He laughed and said, "Lei Mantang, without those two guys, I'm not afraid of you."

As they spoke, the two were already locked in combat, the one in the Taoist robe holding a long sword nodded and smiled at Yi Yuchen, then stood by and watched from the side.

Yi Yuchen stood on the carriage shaft and nodded in greeting from afar. The head of the guards said, "Young master, these two are the two heroes of Taihu Lake. The one wearing the Taoist robe is the elder brother, Sima Yan, and the one holding the spear is the younger brother, Wen Shijie. They are both rough-and-tumble heroes who make a living in Taihu Lake. They usually do good for the local people and have quite a reputation for chivalry."

Yi Yuchen nodded. Wen Lao Er's spear thrusts were like a dragon, like a dragon playing in the water; the spearhead swept like fire, the flames spreading; the spear technique was a mix of feints and real attacks, a spear tassel leaping like flames, not only blocking Lei Mantang's vision, but also confusing his direction.

Lei Mantang was initially terrified, but now, surrounded by enemies, he could only unleash 70-80% of his strength. Facing a domineering spear, he became increasingly agitated, and his twin swords were riddled with openings.

Thirty moves later, Wen Shijie seized the opportunity and thrust his spear into the same spot on the blade six times in a row. Lei Mantang's left hand trembled, and his five fingers could no longer grip the blade. The two blades were exposed, and Wen Shijie used the move "Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Water" to stab Lei Mantang in the chest.

With his left hand powerless, Lei Mantang could not stop the iron spear with his twin swords. He could only swing his short sword with his right hand, trying his best to avoid vital points in his chest. He slashed the spearhead three times in a row, deflecting the spear.

Wen Shijie's spear swept across Lei Mantang's left shoulder, the spearhead thrusting and then withdrawing, drawing out sprays of blood that stained Lei Mantang's left shoulder red. Before Lei Mantang could retreat, Wen Shijie moved his feet lightly, his spear appearing and disappearing at his waist in a 'returning spear' move, thrusting out from his side.

Lei Mantang's left shoulder injury inevitably slowed his movements for a moment, and in a fight, the outcome could be decided in an instant.

He couldn't get away in time and was stabbed in the waist by Wen Shijie's spear. Wen Shijie loosened and then shuddered, the spear humming and vibrating incessantly, tearing a huge wound in Lei Mantang's waist and abdomen.

Lei Mantang's strength vanished, his eyes bulged, and he was critically injured and on the verge of death. Wen Shijie seized the opportunity and advanced again, his spear swung back and forth like a bow, sending Lei Mantang flying into the air and landing next to the other two corpses.

Wen Shijie flicked his spear, and drops of blood splattered, creating streaks of blood. The two heroes of Taihu exchanged a glance and led their horses over.

Sima Yan glanced at the sign on the carriage and couldn't help but cup her hands in greeting, saying, "So you are Young Master Yi from Mingjian Manor. Your martial arts are extraordinary, no wonder Situ Liang praised you so highly."

Yi Yuchen shook his head and said, "It was nothing more than taking them by surprise and winning with an unexpected move! Master Wen, your spear skills are superb. Today, your iron spear defeated two swords, which is quite a story. I must thank you both for your help."

Seeing that Yi Yuchen was so polite and that his words did not look down on them, Sima Yan and Wen Shijie felt honored.

Sima Yan cupped his hands and smiled...

"We also roam around Taihu Lake, and it is our duty to protect our local community. Why don't we have Mingjian Manor set up camp around Taihu Lake and deter the martial arts world?"

"In the eyes of Mingjian Manor, the three villains of Hongze Lake are nothing more than chickens and dogs. It is their good fortune to die at the hands of Young Master Yi."

Wen Shijie continued, "Even without the two of us brothers, none of the three villains of Hongze Lake would have escaped today. Young master, you have rid the people of this scourge, which is truly admirable."

Yi Yuchen nodded and said, "I have been away from home for quite some time. My grandfather is worried about me, so I need to hurry back to Mingjian Manor. I can only go this far today. If you have time in the future, I would like to invite you both to visit Mingjian Manor. I will be happy to welcome you."

Sima Yan and Wen Shijie showed a hint of excitement and cupped their hands, saying, "Since you have invited us, we will definitely pay you a visit."

After agreeing on a time, Yi Yuchen took his leave. Once the carriage was far away, Wen Shijie said, "This young master Yi is very humble, unlike the arrogance often associated with young people. It seems that it's not impossible for us to establish a relationship with Mingjian Manor."

Sima Yan nodded and said...

"If the two of us are local tyrants, then Mingjian Manor is a sea-suppressing dragon, with influence radiating to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and as far as Yunnan and Guizhou beyond the Great Wall. Normally, how could we, mere commoners, possibly be worthy of its attention?"

"The older one gets in the martial world, the more timid one becomes. We brothers have quite a few enemies in the martial world. We're fine now, but when we get old, we're bound to be targeted for revenge. We'd better not end up in a miserable state."

"Now that Young Master Yi has given us this opportunity, let's go and pay a visit to Mingjian Manor. If it's really a good fit, it would be nice to become a retainer there."

"That's the problem! Mingjian Manor is a large and wealthy family; they've seen all sorts of rare treasures. Where are we going to find some good items?"

Wen Shijie pointed to the three villains of Hongze Lake lying on the ground and said, "I heard that some time ago, these three guys robbed a batch of Jin people in Huai'an as birthday gifts for Qin Hui. They must have had some good stuff. Now that these three guys are dead, the bandits are leaderless. Why don't we invite some people to break into the Hongze Lake stronghold!"

Sima Yan smiled and said, "In this way, we can leave behind a reputation for chivalry and also raise some gifts. Not bad! Xie Kun, the Hunyuan Thunderbolt Hand of Taizhou, has been famous for many years. If we invite him to join us, we can surely invite many heroes."

The two brothers exchanged a smile, then cut off the heads of the three villains and rode off towards Taizhou.

………………

The two heroes of Taihu Lake have accepted your offer, but lacking the proper gift to pay their respects, they have decided to invite their friends to join them in conquering the water fortress of Hongze Lake.

[Following further promotion by the two heroes of Taihu Lake, the reputation of Mingjian Villa has been enhanced once again.]

On the carriage, upon seeing the system's narration, Yi Yuchen smiled and continued meditating to recover his true energy. This body was still too weak; he had exhausted his true energy after only two full-force attacks.

Chapter 173 Sword Transforms into Gentle Breeze to Kill Yue Qing, Yi Yun's Speculation

Not long after the carriage started moving, Yi Yuchen suddenly opened his eyes, his ears twitched, and a faint sound of clothes rustling in the wind flashed by.

Before he could speak, the carriage stopped with a whoosh, causing the horses to neigh. Yi Yuchen lifted the curtain and saw a figure standing in the middle of the road ahead.

The man had two intersecting scars on his face, with the skin and flesh turned outwards, making him look ferocious and terrifying. His left hand was hidden in his sleeve, occasionally peeking out, and it also gleamed with a metallic luster, clearly not something a normal person should have. There was a thick callus on the web of his right hand, and a thick-backed steel knife was on his back.

[Lü Yueqing, a successor of the Five Tigers Severing Blade of Shanxi, betrayed his sect six years ago and was hunted down by Lü Yueyang. He later lost an arm and fled, eventually joining the service of Wanyan Chang of the Later Jin Dynasty as a guard.]

Wanyan Chang forged a left hand for him from meteorite iron, making it impervious to swords and blades, and concealing three hidden sleeve darts as swift as crossbow bolts; two-inch blades could be flicked from his fingertips, and he could also grab weapons while wielding them.