Why do I have so many masters?

Chapter 765 -57: Renowned Scholars (Combined)_2

Then, he didn’t care much, looking at the people from Zixiao Mountain Villa, feeling rather pleased at their misfortune in his heart. He had never felt comfortable with that young man who could put on airs even better than himself, let alone having been hit by a sneak attack for no reason.

At that time, the situation was critical. If his teacher hadn’t been by his side, his inner strength might have gone awry, drilling chaotically through his meridians and leading to a deviation disaster. So he had no good feelings for these people at all.

Ni Tianxing pursed his lips.

Enwrapped in layers of white cloth, the Divine Weapon Blazing Sword was vibrating at a subtle frequency behind him, sending waves of heat akin to flames from its blade into his body constantly. He was extremely familiar with the Blazing Sword, a weapon his life depended upon. Without even looking, he knew that the patterns on the blade had all lit up, displaying those characters.

The impulse in his heart became clearer and more pronounced.

The thing that led him here was now within One-Leaf Pavilion. He had secretly investigated many ancient texts over the years. The library of the Protectorate General in the Western Regions had mostly been accessible to him. He already knew what lay on that mountain, which should be the “Heavenly Inquiry Scroll Fragment”.

No matter the cause, if he could harness the response between the Divine Weapon Blazing Sword and Heavenly Inquiry, and take “Heavenly Inquiry” into his hands while One-Leaf Pavilion was weak, it would surely induce some transformation in the Blazing Sword.

At that time…

An unusual light flickered in Ni Tianxing’s eyes.

Feeling his master’s intent, the Blazing Sword behind him let out a faint cry. Visible crimson-golden brilliance surged around Ni Tianxing’s left and right.

Yang Yongding spotted the anomaly, froze for a moment, and then suddenly looked towards his teacher.

The celestial phenomena around them changed abruptly, forming a vortex like the Dragon Draws Water, surging towards the mountain they were on. The terrifying pressure, even with Ni Tianxing standing in front of him, still made Yang Yongding’s body heavy and his face pale.

Feeling like he was being suppressed by an indescribable force, he could no longer hold on and violently knelt to the ground. His vast Qi Mechanism whirled madly within him, his chest heaving as Yang Yongding struggled to look up and saw his teacher’s silhouette from behind.

It was as if he was seeing his teacher for the first time.

His robes billowed wildly, his spine erect, the fierce wind rose all around, the clouds in the sky reversed their course, as if between Heaven and Earth, there was only this one person, only me, alone, an aura of proud solitude almost hitting him in the face.

But then, a star in the gloomy sky above seemed to light up, faintly.

One man, one sword.

The explanation Ni Tianxing had given him earlier flashed through his mind, and Yang Yongding’s expression froze slightly. Then disbelief filled his eyes, a thought taking his breath away.

Was his teacher going to strike at One-Leaf Pavilion?!

Had he traveled from the Western Regions to Jiangnan just to make a move on One-Leaf Pavilion?!

He opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but at this moment, he didn’t have the strength to talk. The celestial oppression was such that even a Fourth Rank Martial Artist might get injured, let alone him?

Inside One-Leaf Pavilion, Zhang Zuosheng exerted his Full Strength to stimulate the Qi Mechanism within the Heavenly Inquiry Scroll Fragment in his hand. His demeanor was no longer carefree, and there was no trace of his previous bearing as a scholar.

The oppressive force from the sword-wielding Jiang Yang was almost suffocating him.

If not for the Qi Mechanism of the Heavenly Inquiry Scroll Fragment, he would not have the courage to face his own senior brother. But just as he was extracting the Qi Mechanism from Heavenly Inquiry, the scroll, which had been no more than an object to command at will, suddenly vibrated.

Every character on it glowed with a faint luminescence.

In the next instant, he lost control of the Heavenly Inquiry Scroll Fragment.

His complexion changed in a flash.

Ni Tianxing could sense the excitement of the Divine Weapon behind him.

With just a reach of his hand, the sword could appear in his grasp, ready to unleash a power much greater than before.

That power was enough to contend with the celestial phenomena before him.

And it was within easy reach.

Then, he could storm into One-Leaf Pavilion, drive the Qi Mechanism with his fierce will, and forcibly take the Heavenly Inquiry Scroll Fragment.

Ni Tianxing closed his eyes, but what he thought of was not conquering the world, nor achieving fame and success, nor becoming a Grandmaster. It was instead the home of his youth, seven or eight simple dwellings, a couple of boats, faces lined with wrinkles, cheeks as rosy as apples.

The longing of the Divine Weapon behind him intensified.

A self-mocking smile appeared on Ni Tianxing’s lips as he murmured to himself.

I am but a Scholar.

“What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.”

He bit down hard, fresh crimson blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. Then he opened his eyes, a renewed sense of tranquility and peace filling them, while the Divine Weapon behind him remained desirous. But his heart held only openness.

The Divine Weapon let out a mournful cry and ceased projecting marvels.

The celestial phenomena dissipated.

Yang Yongding was slightly stupefied as the oppressive force lifted; he nearly lunged forward, his left toe tapping the ground as he staggered several times before stabilizing. Looking up at his teacher,

Ni Tianxing, left with only one hand, solemnly adjusted his clothing and straightened his hairpin as if it were a crown.

He then bowed deeply towards the source of that aura.

Yang Yongding said blankly,

“Tea… Teacher?”

Ni Tianxing turned and glanced at him, speaking indifferently,

“Having seen the beauty of mountains and rivers along Jiangnan Road, let’s go; it’s time to leave…”

Yang Yongding was momentarily stunned, but when he saw Ni Tianxing had already turned and was striding away, he regained his senses, patted the dust off himself, and quickly followed.

“Teacher?!”

After walking more than ten steps away, Yang Yongding felt a sense of bafflement. However, he heard his usually solemn Master suddenly look up ahead, his voice calm, and he began to say:

“Today, your teacher will copy the Analects three hundred times.”

Yang Yongding paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but laugh out loud. The laughter grew uncontrollably louder until he stopped himself and said contentedly,

“I will watch over you, Teacher.”

A clear sword cry rang out.

Somehow, the Heavenly Inquiry Scroll Fragment, which had temporarily lost control, fell to the ground, covered in dust. Zhang Zuosheng instinctively reached out to grab it, but only a remnant of the Qi Mechanism remained in front of him, sustaining itself for just a brief moment before being pierced through.

Zhang Zuosheng’s body suddenly stiffened.

A longsword was already pointed at his throat.

The wind surged, and a hundred-meter high waterfall exploded into massive clusters of pure white mist, scattering all around. In just an instant, set against the already beautiful structures of One-Leaf Pavilion, it was like plunging into a fairyland.

Zhang Zuosheng had a moment of bewilderment and confusion.

It was in such a place years ago where his senior brother, now facing him, taught him to read and write, imparting the most fundamental Confucian School skills and scriptures word by word.

To die here wouldn’t be so bad.

Zhang Zuosheng’s eyes regained their clarity. He closed his eyes, waiting for the great sword, carrying the great force of Heaven and Earth and worthy of a Great Grandmaster, to fall upon him. Yet he never felt it, the sound of the sword ceased suddenly, leaving behind only a lingering resonance.

Zhang Zuosheng opened his eyes.

The sword had only stopped in front of his throat.

The longsword broke through his Qi Mechanism and shattered his martial arts, but it did not kill him as he had thought it would. The blade still hummed incessantly, yet not even a hint of Sword Qi leaked out.

Jiang Yang was covered in blood, his expression calm, his eyes looking serenely at his junior brother. Then he smiled faintly, just as he had when teaching as a young man, and said softly,

“Do you understand now?”

With a thunderous sound, the waterfall cascaded down.

Liu Ling extended his right hand, scooping up a handful of clear water from the falling, splashing cascade, tilting his head back and drinking it down. The refreshing liquid wet his white hair.

The old man who had drunk all the wines in the world muttered to himself,

“What exquisite unparalleled liquor of the literati.”

PS: Today combines two updates, cough cough, the word count is rather low because the story at One-Leaf Pavilion is about to end in one or two chapters, so it needs to be written slowly. I also need to revise the upcoming outline and plot details. Thank you, and to everyone, happy Qixi Festival / Dog Festival.