Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 21

"Lu Bai wants his disciples to come back and find out exactly where Liu Zhengfeng's family is. Then he will lead a group to ambush Liu Zhengfeng's wife and daughters, and then leave behind the swords of my Huashan Sect."

"This will trigger an internal conflict between the Huashan and Hengshan factions. When we are fighting to the death, he will come out on behalf of Zuo Lengchan to clean up the mess."

Linghu Chong gasped upon hearing this…

"Lu Bai is really crazy. Isn't he afraid of being exposed? To ambush and kill the wife and daughter of a high-ranking official is a capital offense."

“If this happens, even Zuo Lengchan wouldn’t dare to protect him. The entire Songshan Sect could be implicated, and even if they don’t die, they’ll be badly injured.”

Yue Yuchen thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps it's because of the repeated failures of his plans and being tricked by his master at the Golden Basin Retirement Ceremony that Lu Bai has already lost his mind."

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong made a throat-slitting gesture, and suddenly said...

"Since that's the case, why don't we just find a place outside Hengyang City and, without further ado, kill Lu Bai?"

"It would be best to act overnight, without anyone noticing. By tomorrow, everyone will think that Lu Bai has left Hengshan, and after that, no one will know how he disappeared."

Yue Buqun thought for a moment and said, "We can't be the only ones to bear the risk in this matter. This is originally a matter for the Hengshan Sect. It would be best to invite your Uncle Mo and Uncle Liu to join us."

Laudenuo said from the side, "About fifteen miles south of Hengyang City, there is an abandoned manor. It was originally the villa of a wealthy merchant, but it was completely abandoned for some reason."

Yue Buqun said, "There's no time to lose. I'll go to the Liu residence right now and discuss it with your Uncle Mo."

Yue Yuchen said, "It would be best to have Uncle Liu invite Qu Yang to go together, so that the two of them can show their faces at the manor first. That way, even if Lu Bai wants to regret it, he will be blinded by anger."

With everyone contributing their ideas, a plan was quickly devised, and they immediately split up to take action.

Yue Buqun took Linghu Chong and Lu Dayou to discuss the matter with Liu Zhengfeng, while Yue Yuchen and Lao Denuo waited for news there.

Two hours later, Lu Dayou returned with a message. Lao Denuo bowed and went to find Lu Bai.

Yue Yuchen moved and disappeared into the backyard.

………………

Fifteen li south of Hengyang City.

This place was originally an abandoned manor. When Yue Yuchen arrived, he didn't know when, but there were already scattered candlelight in the manor, and occasionally, there were figures moving around.

Yue Yuchen stood in the shadows not far from the manor, holding back his breathing and aura, blending himself into the surrounding environment.

After a moment, Yue Yuchen had a sudden thought. From the woods on the right, he heard rustling sounds, indicating that many people were moving in this direction.

Soon a group of men in black emerged from the darkness, their weapons a motley collection, clearly reminiscent of the style of a demonic cult.

The burly man at the head waved his hand, and more than ten men in black stepped out from behind him. These men were carrying crossbows controlled by the imperial court, and they quickly occupied the high ground on the east side of the manor.

Then the burly man at the head waved his hand, and the remaining twenty-odd men sneaked toward the candlelight in the manor.

Once everyone had infiltrated the manor, Yue Yuchen moved his feet and appeared seven or eight zhang away. In another flash, he appeared at the foot of the earthen slope on the east side.

A man in black on the earthen slope felt a blur before his eyes, and when he opened them again, a young man in a Taoist robe was standing in front of him. Before he could even open his mouth, Yue Yuchen flicked his index finger repeatedly.

Under the moonlight, streaks of shimmering white sword energy, each an inch long, flashed by, leaving a bloody hole in the forehead of every archer.

These people died without uttering a sound on this desolate hillside.

Yue Yuchen casually picked up a crossbow and tested its feel and strength. He drew a long arrow from behind the black-clad archers and quietly looked at the manor not far away.

Under the cover of night, muffled groans and screams soon echoed from within the manor, along with the sounds of clashing swords and shattering doors and windows, creating an eerie atmosphere in the empty city.

Soon, a voice shouted, "There's an ambush!"

The men in black began to retreat in an orderly fashion, heading towards the high ground on the east side. The burly man in black who was in the lead held a broad-backed sword in both hands and looked like a madman.

As they fought and retreated, Yue Yuchen could already see Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun, and Liu Zhengfeng among the crowd when they were still more than ten feet away from the earthen mound.

Having confirmed friend from foe at close range, Yue Yuchen no longer hesitated, holding his crossbow and drawing it to its full extent.

With a series of whistling sounds, the long arrows, like vengeful ghosts, accompanied by howls and screams, blasted blood flowers onto the man in black.

Yue Yuchen already possessed profound internal strength, and his body was also well-trained. In just a few breaths, he shot more than ten arrows. After two rounds, only the two leading black-clad strongmen remained on the field.

One of them had already lost his veil, revealing a head of gray hair, and was now behind Linghu Chong.

………………

Lu Bai held the longsword in both hands. As the sounds of arrows hitting and people falling to the ground rang out around him, Lu Bai felt increasingly powerless. Never before had he felt the sword in his hands so heavy.

Using his sword to force back Yue Buqun's "Boundless Falling Leaves" attack, Lu Bai planted his sword on the ground and ripped off his veil: "Yue Buqun, Mo Da, very good, very good, you are all excellent. I, Lu Bai, admit defeat today."

After saying that, he looked at Laudenuo in the crowd, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Laodenuo, you wolf cub, how dare you betray Senior Brother Zuo."

Laudenuo kept his head down and didn't speak. Just as Lu Bai was about to turn his head, Laudenuo suddenly raised his head and said, "Uncle Lu, you've never understood the difference between the Songshan Sect and the Huashan Sect. I just want to live."

"Even if you live, you're nothing more than Yue Buqun's dog," Lu Bai spat out a mouthful of blood and said disdainfully.

Laudenuo waved and patted Linghu Chong's arm, which was stopping him, then shook his head and walked to the front of the circle...

"Lu Bai, you call me, Lao Denuo, a dog? Fine, then let me ask you, how did you treat me when I wholeheartedly joined the Songshan Sect?"

"You all say I have no talent, so I have to do all the dirty and hard work. After I finish those shady dealings, you reward me with a couple of sword moves like a dog, and I have to be grateful and say thank you."

“At Mount Hua, I was focused on sending the intelligence back, and you slapped me twice in a huff, saying that this wasn’t what you wanted. After the fight, you made me a whole bunch of promises.”

"Hahahaha... When have you, Lu Bai, ever treated me like a human being? And Zuo Lengchan, when have he ever treated me like a human being?"

“You only need me to do shady things when I’m a disciple of the Songshan Sect; when you don’t need me anymore, you can bully me as you please. Lu Bai, what right do you have to criticize me?”

Chapter 42 Yue Yuchen and Dongfang Bubai 1

The entire wilderness echoed with Laudenau's mournful cries. Upon hearing this, Lu Bai laughed and said, "The victor is king, the loser is villain. Laudenau, I'll be waiting for you down there."

Linghu Chong pulled Lao Denuo over and patted him on the shoulder to comfort him.

Yue Buqun raised his longsword and looked at Master Mo, saying, "Senior Brother Mo, Junior Brother Liu, please!"

Master Mo and Liu Zhengfeng exchanged a glance, knowing that this was their pledge of allegiance. Only if Lu Bai died at their hands could their alliance with the Huashan Sect be truly solidified.

Mo Da reached out and stroked the erhu on his back, and a thin sword, as thin as a willow branch, fell into his hand, swaying in the wind under the night.

With a single leap, Mo Da's longsword shifted and changed like a willow in the wind, instantly thrusting nine swords at Lu Bai's chest and back. This was his signature move, "One Sword Destroys Nine Geese."

Lu Bai's raised sword was still paused in front of his chest, his eyes were bulging, a bloody line was cut on his neck, and a gurgling sound came from his throat.

However, in a single move, Master Mo had already severed his neck and throat.

Before Lu Bai could breathe his last, Laudenuo suddenly rushed forward and was already in front of Lu Bai. Then, he slashed horizontally with his long sword, directly severing Lu Bai's head, and blood sprayed onto his collar.

Linghu Chong was taken aback. Looking at Lao Denuo walking back slowly, he sighed, "Junior brother, why bother!"

Laudenau shook his head and remained silent.

Yue Buqun glanced at his disciple, knowing that he could never turn back from this point on. He sheathed his sword, turned and left, saying, "Lao Denuo, you have always been my third disciple, Yue Buqun."

Watching Yue Buqun's departing figure, Master Mo also quietly headed into the distance.

"Thank you, Master." Laudenuo knelt on the ground and wept bitterly.

On the earthen slope, Yue Yuchen's figure had disappeared at some point.

Linghu Chong patted Lao Denuo on the shoulder and gave a shout towards the distance. Soon, a group of figures came running from afar; it was the Huashan disciples led by Lu Dayou and Shi Daizi.

“Senior brother, the ravine is already filled with kerosene and firewood,” Lu Dayou said.

"Leave the rest to your third senior brother. He has been traveling the martial world for many years and has more experience than you. You should learn from him," Linghu Chong said.

Lu Dayou and Shi Daizi were taken aback, then responded and turned to look at Lao Denuo kneeling on the ground, cupping their hands and saying, "Please give your instructions, Third Senior Brother."

"Junior brother, I'm leaving things here to you." After saying this, Linghu Chong turned and left without further hesitation.

………………

The next morning, as if nothing had happened, Yue Yuchen ate breakfast peacefully at the Hengyang Inn, and then strolled out of his bedroom.

Outside the door, Yue Buqun and his wife, along with Linghu Chong, Yue Lingshan, Lao Denuo, Shi Daizi, and Lu Dayi, remained silent.

Yue Yuchen smiled and said, "Master, Mistress, you don't need to be nervous. I'm just going to see a friend."

Ning Zhongze stepped forward and said, "How about we don't go? Dongfang Bubai has been famous for many years, while you have only been practicing martial arts for a few years. Even if others find out, they won't be able to say anything."

Yue Yuchen shook his head and said, "It's a rare opportunity. It's already difficult to meet someone as skilled as me. Besides, she and I are only evenly matched. You don't need to worry, Master's wife."

Yue Buqun turned his right hand and held up a long sword, saying, "This sword is the best treasured sword in the Longquan Sword Cave. Take it with you for self-defense!"

Yue Yuchen shook his head: "Master, there's no need. At the level that Dongfang Bubai and I have reached, these weapons are no longer useful. I am the sword, and all things in heaven and earth, every blade of grass and every tree, are my sword."

At this point, he looked at Linghu Chong and said, "This is a rare opportunity. Second Brother, you are still half a step away from my level. When you go, you should watch carefully, and you may gain something."

Looking at the sky, Yue Yuchen smiled and said, "It's getting late, Master and Mistress, we should be going now."

As Yue Yuchen turned and left, Linghu Chong bowed to Yue Buqun and his wife, then quickly followed.

The door of the inn.

As Yue Buqun and his wife watched Yue Yuchen and Linghu Chong disappear down the street, they felt a deep sense of loss.

When Abbess Dingyi and Daoist Tianmen heard their disciple report that Huashan Sect disciples were gathered at the entrance of the inn, they both came out to investigate.

"Senior Brother Yue, are you returning to Mount Hua?" Abbess Dingyi asked.

Yue Buqun composed himself and said, "We'll probably leave this afternoon; there are still some loose ends to clean up."

Upon hearing this, Abbess Dingyi said, "Then why don't we go out of the city together and then separate halfway, so we can look after each other?"

"Alright, please, nun." Yue Buqun turned and went back to the inn's lobby.

………………

Thirty miles east of Hengyang City, in a dense forest, a celestial river cascades down from the sky, its thunderous roar deafening.

In such an environment, the sound of the pipa could be heard clearly, as if guiding the way.

From a distance, one can see a figure in a bright red palace dress sitting on the blue stone beneath the waterfall, playing a pipa and uttering battle cries.

Thirty feet away, Yue Yuchen stopped: "What a fine ambush from all sides."

He said to Linghu Chong behind him, "Junior brother, you should just watch the battle from here. If we go any further, I might not be able to protect you."

Seeing that there were still more than 30 zhang to go, Linghu Chong nodded and stopped.

Yue Yuchen walked towards the waterfall step by step. With each step, his aura changed, from relaxed and casual to sharp and unparalleled, and finally back to plain and ordinary.

In Linghu Chong's eyes, he seemed like an ordinary person who suddenly transformed into an unparalleled sword, sharp and incomparable, only to disappear before his very eyes.

Linghu Chong watched the figure recede into the distance, becoming increasingly indistinct, as if it had vanished completely. It was right before his eyes, yet he couldn't sense its presence whatsoever.

………………

Beneath the waterfall, Yue Yuchen stood with his hands behind his back, watching the figure three zhang away...

This person has feminine features, with a charming and captivating face, lightly adorned with makeup, surpassing all others in beauty, and a touch of vermilion between her brows adds even more allure.

Wearing a bright red palace gown, this person appeared even more magnificent and extraordinary, like a phoenix soaring across the world, the supreme and noble ruler of the human realm.

This domineering aura did not detract from her beauty; on the contrary, it enhanced her charm, making her even more endearing.

He possessed a noble and elegant demeanor, completely unlike the pretentious and affected image of eunuchs that people typically have.

Only the Adam's apple on his neck indicated that this person was a eunuch.

It is none other than the world's number one martial arts master - Dongfang Bubai!

As Yue Yuchen approached, Dongfang Bubai's rendition of "Ambush from Ten Sides" became even more stirring and magnificent. The invisible sound waves swept across all directions, as if a thousand troops were attacking from all sides.

Yue Yuchen's Taoist robe billowed, his whole body swirling with true energy. With each rise and fall of the robe, every fold was like a sharp sword, annihilating the incoming sound waves.

The contest between the two sides began the moment Yue Yuchen stepped into this place...

Chapter 43 Yue Yuchen and Dongfang Bubai 2

Invisible sound waves and invisible sword energy surged everywhere, and a mist of water would occasionally burst up on the deep beach, which were the aftershocks of the two people's collision of true energy.

As Dongfang Bubai's fingers danced, the sound of the pipa grew louder and louder, like the deadly drumbeats on a battlefield, deafening like thunder.

The thunderous roar even drowned out the sound of the waterfall. The ancient trees all around trembled inexplicably, and leaves fell like snowflakes.

Yue Yuchen waved his Taoist robe with his hands behind his back, and the falling leaves in the air seemed to be summoned, swirling around Yue Yuchen like a long dragon.

Fallen leaves danced and collided in the air, turning into dust one by one. The leaves surrounding Yue Yuchen were like sharp swords, keeping all other leaves at least three feet away from him.

The sharp fallen leaves carved cuts into the ground, spreading towards Dongfang Bubai.

The bluestone, battered by the flowing water, now resembles tender tofu, fragile and easily broken.