Chapter 157 A Lucky Night for Women (Please Subscribe)
Wuweitang.
The archive was entirely black, two stories high, and six zhang tall. It was made of black sandalwood, sturdy and heavy. There was a thick lock on the door, which Li Xian tried to break open with several blows, but to no avail.
Helpless, they sent people to search for the key.
After some twists and turns, the door was finally opened. A thick plume of smoke billowed out. Li Xian covered his mouth and nose, and unleashed several palm strikes in mid-air, the force of which carried away the accumulated ash.
Only then can it be put into storage.
It was filled with case files from the underworld, recording the various deeds of vicious criminals.
The position of Wuwei was special. During the revival of the Great Wu Dynasty, every county had a Wuwei, bringing the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) under the control of the imperial court.
But it's difficult to maintain.
Looking at the current situation, among the surrounding counties of Qingning, only Li Xian holds the rank of Military Officer. Therefore, information is scarce, and numerous notorious criminals emerge, yet no one delivers the wanted list.
The archives are mostly stockpiled items from over a decade ago.
Li Xianduan held an oil lamp. Because of the long time that had passed, the files and documents were scattered all over the ground in a mess.
"These criminals, after ten years, have vanished to who knows where. They've disappeared without a trace; there's no way to catch them now."
"But it would be better for me to learn about the dangers of the martial arts world through this."
He randomly found a spot and sat down cross-legged. He picked up a scroll and began to read: "The lame butcher, bloodthirsty and murderous, has a history of massacring entire villages. A reward of five hundred taels of silver will be given."
"The Black-Faced Yama, who claims to be righteous, has set up his own Yama Hall to judge crimes privately, and rewards people with four hundred taels of silver."
"The Four Eccentrics of Laoshan: There are four people in total, each with unusual appearances, strange personalities, and ruthless killings. A reward of seven hundred taels of silver will be given."
"The Flower Thief, a womanizer and wicked man, once broke into the Divine Sword Manor to steal perfume. He had one leg severed, but his lightness skill is superb and his movements are extremely fast. A reward of 19,000 taels of silver is given."
...
Numerous strange entities and appearances, as well as extraordinary and bizarre skills, appear before his eyes. Li Xian is as if he is walking through the martial arts world, dealing with the most wanted criminals.
Through the lines, one glimpses a corner of the martial world. One vaguely senses the existence of places like "Divine Sword Manor," "Ten Thousand Laws Demon Cave," and "Dao Xuan Mountain"...
Many other sects.
But it is ultimately limited.
"As long as I keep going step by step, I may not be unable to get my hands on some of the wonders of the world, the entanglements of the martial arts world, the treasures and divine objects, and the beautiful women."
Li Xian's heart soared, his eyes flickered, and a fire rose within him. But gradually, it subsided and transformed into a torrent of motivation, allowing him to take each step more firmly.
late at night.
Li Xian practiced swordsmanship, hammered his chest, and soaked in a medicinal bath. He accumulated proficiency in the "Sunset Blood Sword" and "Iron Copper Body." Finally, he opened the Heavenly Box, consumed one gram of essence, and slowly digested it.
[You consumed the Essence Treasure, and for the first time, you extracted six strands of the essence of heaven and earth. Your proficiency increased by 1.]
[Eating Essence and Transforming into Morality]
[Proficiency: 5/100]
the next day.
Li Xian's day of rest was not out of laziness, but rather a combination of work and rest to ensure continuous progress. Today, he should strive harder, starting with martial arts practice in the morning, striking his chest with a hammer, followed by a medicinal bath.
[Proficiency +2]
[Proficiency +3]
[Iron and Copper Kung Fu]
[Proficiency: 2982/3000 (Mastery)]
Immerse yourself in the medicinal bath, accumulate enough skill points, and successfully reach the [Perfect] stage.
"I now possess an eighteen-zhang (approximately 13 meters) Qi Lake. My accumulation is becoming increasingly substantial, and every bit of progress is visible. Heaven rewards diligence... It is truly wondrous."
[Iron and Copper Kung Fu]
[Proficiency: 15/5000 Perfect]
[Description: You have pounded your chest and shaken your body, tempering your physique through medicinal baths. You have perfected the Iron Copper Kung Fu. Through repeated hammering, your lungs are far superior to others. You have developed the characteristics of "Iron Lungs."]
All the martial arts he has learned are at least at the [Perfect] level. Although Li Xian is young, his martial arts reserves are already astonishing. The most profound and wonderful one is the "Sunset Blood Sword", which teaches Li Xian to master many techniques such as [Blazing Waves], [Yang Yuan Sword Qi], and [Life-Saving Yang Qi].
Offensively, there's the Sunset Blood-Staining Sword; defensively, the Iron Copper Body Technique; palm strikes, the Azure Silk Palm; and throwing techniques, the Cloud-Soaring Hand. Even basic martial arts like the Four Directions Fist, the Gentle Breeze Leg, and the Great Luo Saber are not entirely useless. They can add endless variations and wonders to martial arts.
...
...
Qiongtianfu.
Buildings stand tall, city gates rise high, and people live a bustling life.
The Cao family made their fortune in the jade trade, becoming one of the wealthiest families in the entire prefecture. Over hundreds of years, the family has multiplied and accumulated a vast fortune, with members spread throughout the region.
Cao Yun died on his way to take up his post. The position of magistrate of Qingning County naturally became vacant. Although Qingning County was remote and poor, in these chaotic times, controlling another county meant having another way out.
Every prominent clan in the prefecture coveted the position of county magistrate. The Cao family dared not delay, and to silence the gossip, convened a clan meeting. They reviewed the clan register.
Cao Kai was selected to serve as the county magistrate of Qingning County.
Cao Kai was skilled in both literature and martial arts, but his literary talent failed to secure him a place on the list of successful candidates, while his martial arts skills were insufficient to earn him a spot. He remained somewhere in between, neither high nor low in status.
But he was much more capable than Cao Yun.
"Elder Nineteen, Cao Yun died there. If I take office, and he uses the same trick again, how will I resist?" Cao Kai asked.
The nineteenth elder said, "You are a member of the Cao clan, why would you be afraid of a country bumpkin?"
"Of course I'm not afraid," Cao Kai said proudly, then added with a smile, "but more protection is always a good thing."
"Don't worry about that," the nineteenth elder said reassuringly. "That military officer is just a country bumpkin, nothing special. If my Cao family wants to subdue him, it will be very easy."
"Those who are like ants, no matter how much they try to jump around, will eventually die."
"Go in peace, your family will always be there for you."
...
...
Outside Yihe Village, on a mountain road several miles away.
It was mid-August at that time.
The summer heat was fading, and a cool autumn breeze was beginning to blow. Li Xian rode his horse along the way and saw that the fruit trees had already borne fruit. Gradually, a fragrant aroma wafted out.
In another month or so, they will be fully ripe.
Passing through some tenant farming villages, the fields were golden, a testament to a bountiful harvest.
Li Xian recalled some rumors: "The fortune of a dynasty can affect the harvest of its people. When the fortune is at its peak, the weather will be favorable and the crops will be plentiful. When the fortune declines, natural disasters will occur frequently."
"This year's harvest is better than last year's."
As the wind blew, the wheat rippled in the breeze, and the people, sickles in hand, harvested the grain. The farmers, seeing Li Xian, greeted him with "Commander Li!" Li Xian smiled and responded, riding past on horseback.
Back in the village.
Ding Hu seemed to have been waiting for a long time. He walked quickly over and said, "Commander Li, you're back!" He took the reins and had the groom lead him to the stable, where he fed him with the best hay.
Li Xian nodded: "Has anything unusual happened in the village recently?"
“Occasionally there are thieves sneaking around, but it’s nothing serious. If I catch them, I break their legs and throw them out of the manor. It’s just…it’s just…” Ding Hu stammered.
"What is it?" Li Xian asked.
“Commander Li, you’ll know once you’re on patrol with me tonight. I don’t know how to explain it,” Ding Hu said.
"become."
Li Xian returned to the Commander's Courtyard. He traveled between the Martial Guard Hall and Yihe Village, both of which were simple and clean.
The courtyard was quiet.
Li Xian has achieved considerable proficiency in many martial arts. In his spare time, he would often choose one to practice at his own pace to pass the time.
[Proficiency +4]
[Proficiency +3]
Li Xian swung his sword several times, unleashing the "Great Luo Sword Technique".
His moves were unrestrained and spontaneous. Sometimes he would strike horizontally, sometimes vertically, even using the back of the blade and the hilt. At first glance, it seemed like random, chaotic fighting, completely whimsical. Only those well-versed in the "Great Luo Blade Technique" could discern some clues and realize his profound skill.
We are not far from reaching the pinnacle.
When martial arts reach perfection, the focus is on the intention rather than the form.
One set is done.
"It's a good thing that I'm personally patrolling tonight. Otherwise, my wife would suspect that I'm getting arrogant and would want to remove me from my post without saying a word."
"However... this military officer position doesn't seem to be very important to me. Now that I've provoked the Cao family, it would be safer for me to resign and hide in the manor."
Night fell in the blink of an eye.
Ding Hu, holding a steel sword and wearing armor, stood behind Li Xian. Tonight's patrol route would begin at Shizhailou, pass through the bamboo forest, cross the fake stone array, circle Yujing Lake, and finally arrive at Yunxianglou.
Once preparations were complete, Li Xian led the way, patrolling the entire dining hall to check for any thieves or cooks lingering.
Next is the bamboo forest.
Li Xian raised his hand and chopped off a snake's head. This bamboo forest was filled with yin energy, cool and damp, and snakes and beasts appeared at night, most of them venomous.
The guards' duty was to kill any snake they saw. They had to leave no survivors; for each venomous snake they killed, they would receive a reward of one coin.
Ding Hu carried a basket specifically to collect snake carcasses.
"Everyone be careful, getting bitten by a poisonous snake can be fatal," Ding Hu shouted to the rear.
The forest was dark, but there was no danger. Having reached this point, Li Xian saw nothing unusual and couldn't help but look at Ding Hu.
"My lord, please continue on your way," Ding Hu said with a strange expression.
Since Li Xian was on patrol, he patiently walked the entire route. The fake stone array was an area of strangely shaped rocks, arranged in a unique way that subtly resembled some kind of formation.
A couple of years ago, my wife would occasionally come here to arrange the stone formations. But she hasn't come recently, perhaps she's forgotten about it.
"Croak!"
As soon as they emerged from the strange rock formation, they heard a strange noise.
Ding Hu's expression changed upon hearing the frog's name. He immediately dispersed the guards and said coldly, "Put your ears tightly in cotton wool and wax. If Madam finds out about this, it won't be as simple as cutting off your ears and hands. Your life might not be spared!"
The guards were prepared. They immediately covered their ears and retreated to a distance. Ding Hu, steeling himself, followed Li Xian toward Jade Serenity Lake.
The moonlight shines down, and the Yujing Lake is as clear and pure as jade.
Ding Hu said with a grim expression, "Commander Li, the strange thing is this place."
“Two days ago, I was patrolling this area when I suddenly heard toads speaking in human language, saying all sorts of...unpleasant things. I ordered all the toads to be killed.”
"I patrolled this place again yesterday, but I never expected to hear such words. Since you weren't here, I dared not report to Madam, for fear...for fear..."
Li Xian frowned. A chorus of croaking erupted from the lake, and one of the toads, surprisingly, spoke in a human voice, saying loudly, "Fellow listeners, please do not leave."
"As we were just talking yesterday, Wen Caishang may seem aloof, but she is actually passionate and insatiable. You can see the desire hidden in her brows and the lust in her eyes."
"Today, I will tell you the story of Madam Wen seducing the guard. Now, let me tell you about Madam Wen. Although she has a great background,..."
Li Xian understood: "It's no wonder that Ding Hu and the others are so wary of this place. Given Madam's temperament, anyone who has heard these words will likely meet a bad end."
He frowned, observing where the sound was coming from. Spotting a toad, he swiftly caught it with lightning speed.
"Ouch, who's there? Who's grabbed me?" the toad said in a human voice.
"Black Tai Sui!" Li Xian smelled the stench and knew where this frog came from. He raised his hand and crushed it, the black flesh wriggling in his palm.
"Kid, it's you again!" the Black Demon said in a human voice.
"How did you get out?" Li Xian asked, puzzled.
Hei Tai Sui said, "Hehe, if I want to come out, who can stop me?"
"Kid, how was the story I told you? Maybe I can include you in it next time."
"I'll make you turn the tables, turn the tables on me, and keep going back and forth. I'll make you as beautiful as pear blossoms overpowering crabapple blossoms, with the gentle sounds of spring and sweet dreams."
Li Xian's lips twitched: "Just say you want me dead."
“Hey,” Black Tai Sui said, “Look at what you’re saying. I don’t like that woman, but I find you quite pleasing to the eye.”
"From now on, you shall obey my orders, and I will guarantee you wealth, honor, and longevity. You will marry a hundred or a thousand beautiful women."
"I took a look and saw that you're a bit ugly and smelly, but you're quite the ladies' man. Hehe, your most recent romantic encounter is tonight."
"Hehe, you're in for a treat tonight, but it's not easy to enjoy it."
"Alright, that's enough!" Li Xian said. "I'll take you back."
Along the way, the Black Tai Sui chattered incessantly, which was quite annoying.
Only after locking it in the wooden box and fastening the hidden clasp did it become completely quiet.
Li Xian sighed softly: "If we encounter the Empress Dowager one day, I'll lock you two up together and then you'll know what true good fortune in love is."
They didn't take the Black Tai Sui's nonsense to heart at all.
But as soon as they left Yunxiang Tower, before they had taken more than a few steps, they heard Qiuyue's voice:
"Li Xian, you really are here. I've been looking for you for ages."
"The lady has summoned you. Why don't you come with me at once?"
(End of this chapter)
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