Unsheathed

Chapter 327 (1): Tossed Out of the Observing Dao Temple

The human heart wasn't like the streets. It couldn't be washed clean after a heavy downpour.

In the eyes of the emperor and officials and peddlers and commoners in the capital, the shockwaves from the fight between the cultivators were still rippling without pause. When Chen Ping'an helped Zhong Qiu teach Yan Shijing and the young girl fist techniques, their young friends who hung around and joined in on the fun were one of these ripples.

After Old General Lü left the city wall and bragged about his friendship with Chen Ping'an to his grandson and granddaughter, that was also one of the ripples. The many families moving away from Champion Scholar Alley were again a ripple.

Ding Ying was dead, while Yu Zhenyi had stepped onto his flying sword and flown away. Thus, the mess was left to Zhong Qiu to clean up.

After accompanying Cao Qinglang to the private school, Chen Ping'an returned the same way that he had come, holding the oil-paper umbrella in his hand as he walked along the silent and deserted streets. Following the imperial court's decision to gradually ease the enforcement of martial law in this district, one could already see a few people returning to the streets.

However, the streets were still largely lifeless, and the people striding through them were mostly daring members of the cultivation world who had come here to admire the battlefield. They would click their tongues in wonder when they laid eyes on the extremely deep ditch in the ground caused by Lu Fang's sword strike.

Bull Mountain and the surrounding areas were still sealed off, with the imperial court decreeing that anyone who dared enter without permission would be executed without mercy. Many officials from the Ministry of Astronomy appeared in this area, and the simple thatched cottage that Yu Zhenyi had constructed nearby was demolished as well.

When the gallant travelers from the cultivation world saw Chen Ping'an, they simply treated him as a fellow member of the cultivation world who had come here to admire the profound power of those grandmasters.

Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment before walking to that martial arts school and asking to enter. The doorkeeper saw that he didn't look like someone who was here to challenge the school or rip down their sign, and noticed that the young boy possessed a very powerful aura. Hence, he didn't dare to delay, and quickly went inside to inform the owner about this visitor.

The old master who taught fist techniques personally walked out to welcome Chen Ping'an. Upon hearing that the young boy had come here after hearing of the martial arts school's reputation, the old master couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The pupils standing behind him also felt a sense of shared honor.

This was largely because Chen Ping'an was able to accurately describe the routines and methods of the martial arts school's fist techniques. As a result, he was able to leave a good impression on the old master after saying just a few words. It was evident that Chen Ping'an had indeed heard of the martial arts school's good reputation before.

The true income of this martial arts school in the capital came from a few descendants of wealthy clans who dreamed of entering the martial arts world. It was thanks to the financial support of these wealthy pupils that the martial arts school had enough money to keep operating. Talented pupils were the foundation of this martial arts school, while the wealthy pupils who had come here to play were the face of this martial arts school. Each was as important as the other.

The old master invited Chen Ping'an to the main hall and instructed a pupil to bring some tea over. The two of them then started to chat.

When they reached the topic of Examining the Dragon, something that related to the fundamental principles of martial arts, the old master didn't go too deep into the topic. However, he naturally wouldn't be so impolite either, so he casually picked a few surface-level concepts to talk about.

At the same time, he also sighed with emotion and lamented that it was truly difficult to find pupils with good aptitude. If he were fortunate, he could find one good pupil every four to five years. If he were unfortunate, however, then he might not find a single good pupil in ten years.

The old master also explained that practicing fist techniques wasn't for the sole purpose of improving one's health. Rather, it was much like handing his pupils a sharp blade. Thus, martial virtue was the most important quality.

Otherwise, if his pupils possessed poor character, then the more powerful they were the more harm they would cause. They would relish bullying the weak and causing trouble, and they might even kill their victims in two or three punches. In the end, they would also implicate their fellow pupils and the martial arts school.

Chen Ping'an asked some questions about external martial arts. The old master was evasive in the beginning, not willing to reveal too much. There was a troubled expression on his face. Chen Ping'an immediately put on an expression of realization, saying that he had forgotten some proper matters before retrieving twenty taels of silver and placing them on the tea table in front of them.

Chen Ping'an explained that he planned to come here to learn fist techniques for the next while, although he couldn't guarantee that he would come every day. The old master's eyes lit up, and only then did he start to speak without reservations and reveal everything that he knew. He expounded to Chen Ping'an the most common and basic principles regarding fist techniques.

Chen Ping'an committed everything to memory, and he attempted to find commonalities between these principles and the principles of the Mountain Shaking Guide. After listening to the old master's explanation of these common and basic fist technique principles, Chen Ping'an finally decided that he would collect some martial arts scriptures from this world.

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He would collect a range of them from low-level to high-level, but he wouldn't collect too many of each. In the future, he could casually go over these scriptures when he took a break from practicing fist techniques. Perhaps he might even receive a pleasant surprise.

This was just like how he had incorporated Zhong Qiu's Mountain Peak fist stance into the Mountain Shaking Guide's six-step walking meditation before. This act had allowed Chen Ping'an to break through the barrier of the fourth tier and soar to the fifth tier in a single go. Moreover, the process had been as smooth and natural as could be.

Thinking back to Ding Ying's aura when he walked into the great hall of White River Temple, and considering Zhong Qiu's aura when he approached Chen Ping'an for the first time, Chen Ping'an felt like the so-called act of becoming one with the heavens practiced in this world was full of mystery and secrets. Perhaps he would obtain some benefits from this knowledge when he returned to Majestic World.

Moreover, it was extremely likely that the key opportunity pertaining to his advance from the fifth tier to the sixth tier had something to do with this concept. Chen Ping'an speculated that he would descend into a state of sluggish cultivation after leaving the Lotus Flower Blessed Land.

This would be similar to what Fan Wan'er had experienced outside the main hall of White River Temple back then, as if there were heavy boulders weighing on her shoulders as she slogged her way through thick mud. It would also feel similar to those times in the past when Old Man Yang had stuck four True Qi Talismans to his hands and feet.

Ever since starting to practice fist techniques, this was the first time that his fists had become "alive." He was finally attempting to consider the gains and losses of his techniques. A good example of this was comprehending Zhong Qiu's Mountain Peak fist stance while fighting against the imperial preceptor.

In the beginning, Chen Ping'an had practiced the Mountain Shaking Fist for the sake of staying alive. He had practiced the fist technique as earnestly as he could, and he had followed the Mountain Shaking Guide to a tee without daring to deviate a single bit. He had practiced the six-step walking meditation and the sword furnace standing meditation again and again, almost to the state where they had become second nature and fused together with his soul.

Even when Cui Chan's grandfather taught him fist techniques in the bamboo building afterward, Chen Ping'an had still done exactly as the old man had told him.

This wasn't to say that adhering strictly to the fist techniques was a bad thing. If Cui Chan's grandfather saw it, he would label it half-dead and barely alive. And this was a very difficult state to reach—yet it still wasn't enough. If he wanted to progress further, simply being able to endure pain and hardship wouldn't be enough. He would need to encounter the correct fated opportunities to attain enlightenment. Outsiders couldn't reveal the answer, and even if they did, it would do him no good.

What Chen Ping'an didn't realize was the fact that he had only attained such enlightenment after throwing more than one million punches. Meanwhile, he had learned to manipulate sword techniques in a lively manner very early on.

There was Mr. Qi's sword strike outside the rundown temple that had shattered Liu Chicheng's technique, the sword spirit's sword strike in the Scholarly Sage's picture scroll, and his sword strike toward Middle Earth Divine Continent's Tassel Mountain...

All of these had already become Chen Ping'an sword techniques.

A'Liang had once said that Chen Ping'an would definitely enjoy more success with the sword than with his fists.

This was the reason.

The loftier and more profound the fist techniques and sword techniques of one's teachers, the more difficult it would be for one to transform these "dead" techniques into "living" techniques.

Just how difficult was this task? Zheng Dafeng was a good example of just how incredibly challenging this was. His talent was sufficient, and his cultivation base was also high enough. He had already been a mighty eighth tier martial artist, yet it was only when he reached the brink of death in Old Dragon City that the words of Chen Ping'an, an outsider, had allowed him to comprehend the principle of a disciple not having to be inferior to their master. It was only because of this that he had managed to break through the barrier and advance to the ninth tier.

Practicing fist techniques required one to cultivate one’s mind. Chen Ping'an had twice asked Zhong Qiu's young direct disciple, Yan Shijing, why he hadn't dared to throw a punch.

However, why hadn't Zhong Qiu felt overly disappointed in Yan Shijing? This wasn't because Zhong Qiu lacked high hopes in the young boy, but rather because Chen Ping'an had already given the answer. Zhong Qiu had taught his disciples the principle of not using their fists rashly, and it was perhaps the case that Yan Shijing was still unable to achieve this.

On the other hand, after practicing fist techniques for so long and experiencing so many battles, Chen Ping'an was already able to speak and achieve the principle of not retreating even if he were facing the founders of the three teachings. Since Yan Shijing was still unable to grasp the essence of his master's principles, there was naturally no need to be excessively strict on him.

There were many intricacies regarding this, and one truly needed to travel through the cultivation world and throw one million punches by themselves to truly attain enlightenment.

Through listening to Yan Shijing and his junior sister's conversation, Chen Ping'an had already become aware of his "unusual" nature. Regardless of whether it was Zhong Qiu's supremely talented disciples, the demonic force's Ya'er, or Zhou Fei's son Zhou Shi, they were surprisingly all inferior to Chen Ping'an when it came to both cultivation talent and character.

Even so, Chen Ping'an was still unable to clearly understand his peerless standing in the Lotus Flower Blessed Land. Fortunately, however, he was at least able to vaguely sense his ability to become one with the heavens. This was not just a solid step forward for pure martial artists, but a solid leap. It was a fated opportunity for the mind's realm that most eighth tier and ninth tier martial artists in Majestic World wouldn't be able to experience.

Chen Ping'an left the martial arts school and returned to the courtyard in the small alley. The skinny little girl was sitting under the eaves and zoning out, and the heavy downpour had already transformed into a light drizzle. The skinny little girl cracked a smile when she saw Chen Ping'an.

Chen Ping'an discovered that her clothes had been slightly drenched by the rain, but he pretended that he didn't see anything at all. He grabbed the box that held the broken pipa, and prepared to visit the impoverished scholar with the surname Jiang who lived four districts away. It wasn't exactly close.

When Chen Ping'an finally left the courtyard and walked out of the small alley, the skinny little girl ran over in a furtive manner and hurriedly bolted the courtyard door shut. She then stood under the eaves and started to practice fist techniques in a seemingly proper manner. She had stolen this stance from Chen Ping'an—the stance where he emulated Ding Ying as well as the blind old Daoist priest's lightning technique stance. One of her palms faced the sky, and her other hand was clenched into a fist in front of her as she slowly walked forward.

The basic threshold for both of these stances was incredibly high. One was the stance of Ding Ying, previously the most powerful person in this world, and one was a stance that pertained to the lightning element techniques of Qi refiners. To say nothing of the skinny little girl, who had never practiced fist techniques before, even Chen Ping'an was only barely able to imitate the stance, with no true intent to speak of.

The skinny little girl felt slightly bored after emulating this fist technique for a while, so she started assuming other stances that she had stolen from people on the streets. There was one of Zhong Qiu's fist stances, there was Lu Fang's stance when he had carved that deep ditch into the street, and there was Chen Ping'an's six-step walking meditation. The skinny little girl stumbled around awkwardly, and it was clear that she was unable to even emulate the most basic forms of these stances.

After mucking around for a long time, the skinny little girl let out a shout and performed a vicious roundhouse kick. However, she ended up crashing to the ground in a brutal manner. She felt a little hungry after picking herself back up, so she limped over to the kitchen to steal some food.

The skinny little girl felt like she had already mastered a host of profound martial arts techniques, so she planned to use Cao Qinglang as a training dummy when he returned from school. Of course, she would naturally pick a time when Chen Ping'an wasn't present.

Chen Ping'an frowned as he watched her mucking around from a nearby rooftop. After a while, he left without making a sound.

When chatting with her last night, Chen Ping'an had asked her how old she was. She had replied nine, and she had casually raised both hands and bent one of her thumbs to show that number.

In addition to this, Chen Ping'an had carefully observed her breathing and footsteps when she had fetched water from the well.

Walking along the street with an umbrella in his hand, Chen Ping'an decided that he wouldn't practice walking meditation in the small courtyard again in the future.

Jiang Quan was an impoverished scholar, and he had studied hard despite his situation for over ten years. He had memorized many poems and books, and was widely recognized as a child prodigy and then a talented scholar in his home country. However, he had failed to pass the imperial examination, yet he didn't blame the heavens or other people even though he was in such a miserable state right now.

He was renting a place with some fellow scholars from his hometown, and he continued to study earnestly every single day. However, there was a faint hint of worry between his brows, and he would walk into the alley as if waiting for someone after becoming tired from studying every day.

Jiang Quan's two housemates were aware of his worries, so they brought him to a nearby bookstore to purchase some books today. Even though they said this, the three scholars were actually too poor to afford anything fancy. They flipped through some copies of sagely books that were relatively rare, and they glanced at those lone copies and rare copies of books about stunning beauties in the distance. This was simply to satisfy their eyes.

Under the shopkeeper's annoyed gaze, the three impoverished scholars finally huffed and walked out of the bookstore. As they came out the door, they saw a young boy holding an umbrella and carrying a case on his back standing outside.

The young boy looked at Jiang Quan and asked, "Are you Jiang Quan? I'm Gu Ling's relative from the capital, and I have something to discuss with you."

Delight instantly spread across Jiang Quan's face, and he exclaimed in excitement, "That's me, that's me, I'm Jiang Quan, alright. Where is she?"

The capital of Southern Garden Nation was quite dangerous right now, yet Gu Ling had vanished without a trace after heading over to borrow money from her relatives last time. Not only that, but someone had even died in an alley near where he lived. Back then, the administrative soldiers had angrily broken up the crowds and shooed them away. Afterward, they had covered up the corpse and took it away.

As a result, Jiang Quan only heard that the victim was a woman from the cultivation world who had died a tragic death, with some people speculating that she had died due to someone exacting revenge. This made him feel extremely anxious and uneasy. As the days went on, this feeling intensified to the state where he couldn't even calm his mind to properly read anymore.

The young boy looked at him and said, "Our Gu Clan is a clan of officials in the capital, so even though the branch clan that Gu Ling belongs to is a failure in terms of scholarly pursuit, it is still ultimately part of our Gu Clan, after all. I've heard that some members of this branch clan have even entered the cultivation world, but they've been too embarrassed to contact us for quite some years.

"Gu Ling voluntarily sought us out this time, yet the first thing she said was that she needed to borrow money. The seniors in the clan were fairly unhappy, and this wasn't because they cared about some measly amount of silver. Rather, they felt like this was an embarrassment to their clan and a humiliation of their clan culture, so they were unwilling to acknowledge her as a relative.

"Even so, Gu Ling still insisted on borrowing some silver, and she even promised that you would definitely pass the imperial examination in the future. Because of this, it wouldn't take her long to repay the debt. Not only that, but the scholar would even organize an official wedding with her.

"However, the seniors in the clan are well aware of just how difficult it is to pass the imperial examination. That being the case, how could they believe that an impoverished scholar would pass the imperial examination and gain a scholarly title? In the end, they asked Gu Ling for this pipa and only agreed to lend money to her after obtaining it.

"At the same time, they also asked her to agree to one condition. That is, they'll only allow the two of you to reunite after you pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi.[1] She's already returning to the main clan now, and she most definitely won't exchange any letters with you."

Chen Ping'an grabbed the case from his back and handed it to Jiang Quan. He then took out a bulging sack of silver and said, "There are fifty taels of silver inside, and also two bank notes. Spend the money wisely, and it will be more than enough to last you until the next imperial examination. Jiang Quan, if you're not confident that you can pass the imperial examination, I can actually help deliver a message to Gu Ling and suggest that the two of you elope instead.

"With one of you abandoning your clan values and one of you abandoning the sagely books, you'll be a perfect match for each other, and you'll still at least be able to survive. In my opinion, this is better than suffering for three years and still being openly broken up by your elders and seniors in the future.

"Oh, that's right, the seniors in the clan were very angry at her being so persistent, so they smashed her pipa and caused it to break. You can buy her a new one if you get the chance in the future."

Jiang Quan was completely dumbfounded.

The impoverished scholar didn't doubt that the young boy in front of him was genuinely a descendant of a wealthy clan. In fact, Jiang Quan felt a slight sense of shame and inferiority as he stood in front of this person.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked in a nervous voice.

"I'm not helping you; I'm helping Gu Ling," Chen Ping'an replied.

Jiang Quan accepted the pipa, but didn't accept the bag of coins. There was curiosity in his voice as he asked, "Aren't you a descendant of the Gu Clan? Why are you willing to favor Miss Gu instead?"

"Since Gu Ling likes you so much, I wanted to come here to see just what kind of person you are."

Chen Ping'an fell silent for a moment before slowly continuing, "The books say, if love between both sides can last for aye..."

An understanding smile appeared on Jiang Quan's face, and a wisp of confidence welled up in his heart as he nodded earnestly in self-encouragement and finished, "...Why need they stay together night and day?"[2]

Jiang Quan then shook his head and said, "I don't need the money. Setting up a stall and writing letters, couplets, and other things for people is always an option to keep myself fed and sheltered. There's no reason for me to accept this money and cause Miss Gu to suffer back at home. I don't want her to get the side-eye from other people. However, I need to trouble you with writing a letter to her. Tell her to wait for me, to wait for the day that I obtain the title of Jinshi!"

A beaming smile appeared on his face as he dreamed, "Perhaps she can even become an honorary lady in the future."

However, he hurriedly shook his hands and said, "Please don't include this in the letter. I might not be able to achieve it, so I'll simply keep this aspiration in my heart. If I genuinely succeed one day, then I'll bring her over to visit you and have her know that I already aspired to achieve this a long time ago."

Chen Ping’an was also a strange person, and he insisted on giving the bag of silver to Jiang Quan. He finished with a strange remark, saying, "You definitely have to accept this silver. This is Gu Ling's will. This is also the cleanest silver in the world."

The two other scholars also encouraged Jiang Quan to accept the bag of silver.

The young boy turned around and left.

"Little brother, how will I find you after I pass the imperial examination?" Jiang Quan asked loudly.

Chen Ping'an turned around and replied, "Someone will find you and tell you everything if you pass the imperial examination."

A light drizzle descended upon the world again.

1. Jinshi refers to a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination. ☜

2. This is a line from Qin Guan's poem, Immortal at Magpie Bridge (鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧). Qin Guan was a Chinese poet of the Song Dynasty. ☜