Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Lin Langyue (Please save, please vote!)
After days of travel, Shi Xiaole stopped at the foot of an extensive mountain.
The mountain was named Wanlin Mountain, and its area was more than twice the size of Mountain Luyan. It was said that there were many rare and precious herbs growing on the mountain, making it a favorite spot for doctors and herbal merchants in the nearby area.
At the foot of Wanlin Mountain was a village of moderate size, home to about a hundred people.
Shi Xiaole, leading his horse, after some questioning, stood in front of two rows of huts surrounded by a fence.
Inside the fence, a slender figure was working with her back to Shi Xiaole, seemingly tending to flowers.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
Noticing movement behind her, she turned around. It was a young woman with delicate features, dressed in a simple skirt and hairpin.
"Miss, I am looking for Wu Taishan, the swordsman."
Shi Xiaole said with a smile.
"There’s no Wu Taishan here, you’ve come to the wrong place."
Hearing Shi Xiaole’s words, the young woman’s face was filled with caution, even a hint of disgust.
"Oh? So, miss, do you know where the swordsman Wu is now?"
"I don’t know, you can leave now."
Shi Xiaole laughed helplessly. It seemed he was not welcome. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly heard a cough from inside the hut.
Yu Fangge had told him that Wu Taishan had been seriously injured by the Chou family years ago, not only losing all his martial arts skills, but also developing a coughing disease.
Seeing Shi Xiaole deep in thought, the young woman became angry and shouted, "If you don’t leave right away, I’ll teach you a lesson myself."
"Miss, I was introduced by a good friend of swordsman Wu, can you..."
Before Shi Xiaole could finish, the girl rushed towards him with a look of undeniable fury, her palm striking straight towards Shi Xiaole’s face, her cultivation had impressively reached the seventh level of Hidden Qi.
Shi Xiaole was slightly surprised. Experienced martial artists could discern one’s abilities at a glance.
Although it was only one move, her internal power and technique were clearly upper tier, even among the Huajian Sect, she was only slightly inferior to Mao Wenjing.
With a thought, Shi Xiaole activated the Flying Phoenix technique, and swiftly retreated backward.
Although the girl’s skill in the Flying Phoenix technique was obviously higher than Shi Xiaole, her technique realm was not as high as his, and thus there was no clear advantage between them for the moment.
"Thief, down."
After several dozens of moves, the girl lost her patience, and her palms moved rapidly, forming layers of palm winds.
A third-tier upper-ranked Palm Skill, the Hundred Illusions Palm.
Instead of retreating, Shi Xiaole advanced, forming a fist seal with his hand. He launched a Hundred Flowers Fist, which seemed to attack and sneak into the gaps in the palm winds.
Thump, thump, thump.
The girl retreated three steps; a look of astonishment appeared on her face. She gritted her teeth and said, "Looking at your skill, you are indeed a thief’s descendant. I will tear you to pieces."
As soon as her words fell, her five fingers spread out, turning from palm into claw. With two swift movements, she encapsulated Shi Xiaole within her reach.
This was the Shattered Shadow Claw.
As a third-tier upper-level martial art, the girl had already trained the Shattered Shadow Claw to near perfection at the Transformation Phase. With this move, she had never lost to anyone at the same cultivation level.
"Miss, we can talk about this."
This time, Shi Xiaole did not move his feet, and he threw out a punch as before. But this time, he increased his internal power level to seventy percent.
Bang!
The girl was forced to retreat seven or eight meters, her pretty face full of astonishment.
The Hundred Flowers Fist was just a third-tier middle-ranked Fist Technique. Even at the Transformation Phase, its power was definitely not as good as the Shattered Shadow Claw. But she didn’t know that Shi Xiaole was cultivating the Fuyang Qi Skill, and his internal power was far stronger than hers.
"Thief, you..."
"Xiaoxian, do not be rude."
Before the girl could speak, a skinny man walked out of the grass hut. He was dressed like a common farmer, his eyes deeply sunken, and his appearance suggested a long-term illness.
Shi Xiaole noticed that the man’s hands were full of calluses. Although his body was weak, his eyes were sharp, his steps steady, and he was no ordinary man.
"On whose instructions did the young master come?"
The man stared at him and asked.
"Spacesky Swordsman, Yu Fangge."
"Do you have any proof?"
Shi Xiaole took out a letter and handed it over.
After reading the contents of the letter, the man’s wary expression changed, and he laughed, "So it turns out that you are a disciple and nephew of Brother Fangge. No wonder your martial arts skills are so astonishing. Young master, don’t mind our initial hostility. In recent days, we suspected that Wu’s enemies were coming for him, hence Xiaoxian was so cautious around you."
After explaining, Wu Taishan welcomed Shi Xiaole into the house like a family member.
"What’s the fuss about? Turns out he is a disciple of Uncle Yu. Why didn’t you say so earlier?"
Wu Xiaoxian muttered a word, her eyes full of discontent as she watched Shi Xiaole’s back. She felt that he must have done it deliberately just to embarrass her.
The interior of the grass hut was simply arranged. Apart from a bed, there was only a dilapidated table and two low chairs.
It was hard to imagine that Wu Taishan, who was once a renowned martial artist, had been living this humble life for the past decade.
But, thinking carefully about it, it was understandable.
Yu Fangge was an obsessed martial artist who sought nothing but martial arts. To be his friend, Wu Taishan was probably of similar character, and would not place too much importance on materialistic enjoyment.
"How has Brother Fangge been these years?"
They both took their seats, and Wu Taishan asked, smiling.
"My uncle remains the same, often in isolation. This time, he didn’t accompany me because he sensed a breakthrough in his realm," Shi Xiaole said.
Upon hearing this, Wu Taishan showed a faint smile. However, within that smile, there was a hint of desolation.
He suddenly glanced at Shi Xiaole and said, "Your purpose of the visit was mentioned in the letter by brother Fangge. I would definitely have to help due to my friendship with him. However, a rule exists in my ancestor’s\nWu Family, forbidding the Stone Touching Skill from being imparted to anyone outside the family unless they are the descendants of the Wu family. Xiaole, I’m sorry!"
Although he had initially known of the difficulties he would encounter, Shi Xiaole felt frustrated when Wu Taishan decisively refused his request. He smiled and said, "I understand your predicament, swordsman Wu."
Afterwards, Wu Taishan deliberately diverted the conversation and inquired about the progress of Shi Xiaole’s martial arts. Not wanting to create an impression that he was exceptionally strong, Shi Xiaole responded with modesty.
"Reaching the seventh level of the Hidden Qi at the age of fifteen, you have already proven yourself to be a remarkable talent in the Cloud Triangle, even Wu Xiaoxian couldn’t be your match," Wu Taishan said with a smile, offering words of encouragement.
Soon after, Wu Xiaoxian brought out five dishes and set three bowls. Shi Xiaole then had lunch with Wu Taishan and his daughter.
Surprisingly, Wu Xiaoxian, while she was hot-tempered, her cooking was excellent and appetizing.
"Is anyone in the house?"
Not long after they had finished eating, someone suddenly shouted outside the door.
"I’ll go and see."
Wu Xiaoxian got up and left.
Unexpectedly, a dispute soon came from outside, followed by the sound of fist fighting.
Both Shi Xiaole and Wu Taishan looked at each other, hurriedly went outside, and sure enough saw Wu Xiaoxian fighting with a young man wearing a golden crown.
Behind the young man with the golden crown, there were several young men and women, laughing, pointing, and appearing to be full of confidence in him.
"Xiaoxian, if you agree to sell the Jiehuan Grass, I’m willing to pay fifty taels of gold," said the young man with a golden crown, laughing and fighting at the same time.
"I’ve already said, it’s not for sale!" Wu Xiaoxian’s hands were a blur, attacking continuously and obviously using all her strength.
"Since you’re being so stubborn, don’t blame me for not being polite," he snapped, his face turning fierce as he drew his long sword. The tip of his sword moved like a rapidly vibrating venomous snake, in an instant slashing towards twenty-three of Wu Xiaoxian’s major acupoints.
In the hissing sound, Wu Xiaoxian’s outer robe was torn in multiple places, revealing the inner wear beneath.
"Haha, Brother Lin, continue. This chick seems to have a good figure," laughed the youths standing behind, while the women showed their jealousy, equally derisive in their mockery.
Wu Xiaoxian, a reputable lady, was so insulted that she turned pale instantly. Ignoring the attacking sword tip, she lunged headlong towards the enemy, apparently ready to fight to the death.
"Xiaoxian, no!" Wu Taishan shouted in panic, his expression changing instantly.
Lin Langyue smirked coldly, "You think you can drag me down with these pathetic moves. Utterly delusional!" He increased the speed of his sword and effortlessly broke through Wu Xiaoxian’s attacks.
Just when it seemed like Wu Xiaoxian would fall into Lin Langyue’s hands, Shi Xiaole, standing behind, sprang into action. He jumped forward, grabbing Wu Xiaoxian’s slender waist, whisking her away from the danger zone.
"Boy, who are you to meddle in others’ affairs?" Langyue squinted at him, his tone icy.
"What’s going on?" Shi Xiaole asked, ignoring Langyue’s comment and looking towards Wu Xiaoxian.
Quickly through Wu Xiaoxian’s narration, he understood the situation.
As it turned out, Wu Xiaoxian frequently travelled to Wanlin Mountain to collect herbs for treating Wu Taishan’s illness. Over time, she inevitably encountered people from the martial arts world, and even conducted transactions with some of them.
This Langyue was the young master of the Lin family, a prominent herb family in Wanlin City, and one of Wu Xiaoxian’s regular customers.
This time, Wu Xiaoxian happened to come across a Jiehuan Grass, which could significantly help in treating Wu Taishan’s illness, so she was, of course, not willing to sell it to Lin Langyue.
Because the Jiehuan Grass was rare, Lin Langyue couldn’t let it go, thus resulting in today’s forceful buying attempt.
"Young Master Lin, I’m severely ill and need the Jiehuan Grass to extend my life. Could you kindly consider selling it to me? I promise, any rare herbs in the future will be sold to you at a low cost," Wu Taishan pleaded, fully aware that he was no match for Lin Langyue.
Lin’s Family was a prominent herb family in Wanlin City with formidable strength and numerous Qi absorption experts.
Moreover, Lin Langyue himself, despite his young age, had already earned the prestigious title ’Langyue Sword.’ He was recognized as the second-level talent in the Cloud Triangle, with exceptional martial arts skills, unmatched among his peers.
Under any circumstance, Wu Taishan couldn’t afford to fall out with Lin Langyue.
"Show you respect? Who do you think you are, Wu Taishan, that I should show you respect?" scoffed Lin Langyue, breaking out into laughter.
On hearing this, Wu Xiaoxian clenched her teeth in anger and was about to confront him, but she was held back by Wu Taishan. He sighed and said, "In that case, Xiaoxian, give the Jiehuan Grass to Young Master Lin."
"Father!" Wu Xiaoxian thought she had misheard.
Wu Taishan simply shook his head.
He was just an invalid man. What could he do besides yielding? If he continued being stubborn, to be blunt, Lin Langyue alone could wipe out his family and put not only Shi Xiaole but also his daughter in danger. Why should he?
Lin Langyue laughed. "Elder Wu is indeed wise. However, about what happened today, that young man ignored me just now. Let him apologize."
"Apologize?" Shi Xiaole was stunned and murmured to himself.
