Chapter 42: Questions, Answers, and the Sword Manual

Commander Chen glared at Wang Jingyuan and said, "Kid, don't ask about things you shouldn't."

"Understood. But that makes it rather strange, considering it was a merit of founding a dynasty. Setting aside attaining marquisates and premierships like Chang Yuchun and Xu Da, they should at least have secured the status of wealthy idlers. So, just what kind of people are those up on Blackwood Cliff?"

Commander Chen reprimanded angrily, "I told you not to ask anymore!"

Observing Commander Chen's reaction, Wang Jingyuan was suddenly enlightened. "I see. Back in the previous dynasty, the Ming Cult was roughly divided into two factions. One consisted of the cult's upper echelons, represented by the Left Envoy, the Dharma Kings, and the Wandering-散人. After Yang Dingtian's death, let alone resisting the Yuan, they fought tooth and nail for the position of Cult Leader.

The other faction consisted of the middle and lower strata of the Ming Cult, represented by the Five-Element Flags and ordinary disciples. They attached themselves to the Ming Cult simply because the Cult turned no one away, providing them with a platform to organize people of noble aspirations to resist the tyrannical Yuan.

The tyrannical Yuan was defeated by them, which had nothing to do with the upper echelons. Moreover, in the later stages, the Founding Emperor even forced that former Cult Leader—who had some ambiguous romance with Princess Shaomin—to abdicate.

As it happened, the upper echelons of the Ming Cult had an extremely close relationship with the former Cult Leader. After the Founding Emperor forced him to abdicate, you can imagine the upper echelons' attitude toward the new regime. Thus, given their dynastic founding merits, falling into their present state today is somewhat forgivable."

Commander Chen turned pale with fright. "Shut your mouth! Do you have a death wish?!"

"It seems I guessed it all correctly." Wang Jingyuan nodded with satisfaction and casually patted Commander Chen's shoulder. "Don't be so nervous. You're merely a Commander of the Hundred Households, not even a Thousand Households. Information that even you can access can't be all that crucial."

Commander Chen's hand had already rested on his Embroidered Spring Saber, narrowing his eyes as he pressed Wang Jingyuan. "My ancestor, Lord Chen, whose taboo name is Qi, served as the Vice Commander of the Left Guard of Yanshan in the Hongwu era."

"Oh~ dedicating your youth to a lifelong devotion, and then your descendants after that—so there is indeed a lineage behind this? It seems that after all these years, aside from the families that helped conquer the realm back then, later generations are entirely in the dark about these matters? Well, I'd also like to ask, what exactly is the current imperial court's attitude toward the Sun Moon Divine Cult? Is there anyone in the palace harboring lingering sentiments who is providing them with an umbrella of protection?"

Commander Chen sneered, "Those scurrying, sycophantic rats cannot be mentioned in the same breath as the nobles within the palace."

"Understood. They are difficult to move against due to past sentiments, but if someone else is willing to make a move, they would be more than happy to see it succeed. Otherwise, how else could it become the one and only demonic cult in the martial world after barely a hundred years?

For certain reasons, I, a martial artist, will inevitably clash with the Sun Moon Divine Cult in the future, and there is a very high probability that I will destroy it. I still have a few investment slots open right now. Would my elder brother care to invest a little? The earlier the investment, the higher the returns, you know~"

"My Brocade Guard are the Son of Heaven's personal troops. How could I, with you, a martial—"

"I only want the results. I don't want a single ounce of credit."

"—martial artist, collude? Considering this is your first offense, I will spare you this time.

Tomorrow is my rest day, and I only wish to rest and have no desire to go out. Take this scrap of silver; go to the market tomorrow and buy some aged wine and a plump chicken to bring to me. My home is located in the south-facing old residence in the east of Hengyang City."

Wang Jingyuan took the silver and stowed it away casually. "One last question. In this martial world, which sects are off-limits?"

Commander Chen gave him a meaningful look. "If one could be an official, who would want to farm? And here I thought you were a kid who feared nothing."

Wang Jingyuan understood inwardly, turned with his hands behind his back, and walked toward the front hall. "It's not that I'm afraid. In guild PKs, the stronger the opponent, the more excited I get. But I'd have to be out of my mind to stubbornly throw myself against elite guards."

Commander Chen could not understand what Wang Jingyuan was talking about and could only shake his head inwardly, regretting that he had been a bit too impulsive just now and allowed himself to be swayed by this madman.

When Wang Jingyuan arrived at the main hall, most of the guests had already arrived, even Mo Da. However, that man possessed a reclusive temperament; after simply exchanging greetings with Liu Zhengfang, he retreated to a corner to close his eyes and meditate. The only major faction of the Five Yue Sword Sects absent now was the Mount Song Sect.

Meanwhile, Yue Buqun, adept at social pleasantries, was conversing with other seniors of the martial world. Catching sight of Wang Jingyuan emerging from the back courtyard, Yue Buqun cast a subtle glance in his direction.

Wang Jingyuan knew full well, as this was a plan the two of them had previously agreed upon. Yue Buqun began to steer the conversation unobtrusively, pivoting the topic onto Wang Jingyuan and unashamedly showering him with high praise.

After praising him for a while, Yue Buqun, still seemingly unsatisfied, steered the topic toward another disciple. "As you all know, I recently acquired an exceptional disciple. But perhaps you are unaware that besides Jingyuan, another disciple also recently entered the gates of Mount Hua."

Upon hearing this, the crowd perked up. Unaware? Why, Lin Pingzhi offering the *Evil-Warding Sword Manual* as his tuition to join the Mount Hua Sect had become common knowledge days ago.

After all, Lin Yuantu had truly relied on a single long sword in his early years to carve out the transport network that the Fuwei Escort Agency possessed today, a record verifiable by all. The *Evil-Warding Sword Manual* was a thunderous name throughout this southeastern region.

Yue Buqun continued, "On that day, Chief Escort Lin of the Fuwei Escort Agency sent someone to deliver their ancestral sword manual, which left me utterly baffled. Yet, Chief Escort Lin's kindness was hard to refuse, so I had no choice but to accept Pingzhi.

To my shame, I read a few books of the sages in my youth and have always restrained myself with the virtues of a gentleman. I originally intended to return the sword manual directly to Pingzhi after his arrival, but in the end, I couldn't resist and glanced at it a few times."

For Yue Buqun to openly admit in public that he had read the manual of the *Evil-Warding Sword Manual*—aside from a few who felt envy, jealousy, and hatred—most people nodded inwardly.

After all, this sword manual had been presented to Yue Buqun as tuition by the Lin family; how Yue Buqun chose to handle it was entirely his prerogative, yet he still felt remorse for failing to resist reading it. The reputation of the Gentleman Sword was indeed well-deserved.

"Alas!" Yue Buqun sighed. "Only after reading it did I realize that this *Evil-Warding Sword Manual* is truly a rare and wondrous divine technique in this world, yet it places exceptionally high demands on the practitioner's aptitude.

If someone lacking sufficient aptitude were to force themselves to practice it, it would only impair their own body. Among my Mount Hua disciples, apart from Jingyuan, not a single one possesses such natural talent, so I only permitted him to study and cultivate it.

With our Mount Hua being sparsely populated, for such a sword manual to fall into our hands is truly allowing a bright pearl to be covered in dust. Therefore, I intend to make this *Evil-Warding Sword Manual* public. With talented individuals emerging in all sects, surely others will be able to master this sword technique.

Yet, human hearts are unpredictable. If this astonishing and peerless technique were to fall into the hands of schemers or members of the demonic cult, it would instead become a catastrophe for us of the righteous sects.

Thus, I plan to have copies of the *Evil-Warding Sword Manual* made, to be held respectively by Shaolin, Wudang, and the Five Yue Sword Sects. Anyone wishing to learn this sword technique need only obtain the approval of any one of these sects.

In this way, it prevents the sword technique from falling into the hands of villains while allowing those suited for it to cultivate this art. However, I must still warn everyone here: this sword technique cannot be practiced by anyone lacking exceptional talent; otherwise, it will bring a hundred harms and not a single benefit."

Since Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Song had no representatives present, Yue Buqun first handed the copied sword manuals over to the other three of the Five Yue. Yet, with this peerless divine art right before them, everyone present grew somewhat restless, especially a certain short fellow.