Simultaneous Transmigration: My Strength Comes Entirely from My Own

Page 139

"It's just a friendly spar. Do you think your throwing knife is aimed at my throat?"

Luke, however, disagreed. Fighting doesn't necessarily have to be a life-or-death struggle. Besides, if it were a life-or-death struggle, he had a hundred or a thousand ways to prevent Li Xunhuan's throwing knives from being thrown.

Li Xunhuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Since Brother Lu has said so, I can't be ungrateful. But the throwing knife is sharp, so be careful, Brother Lu. This knife is going to hit your shoulder."

As soon as he finished speaking, a willow-leaf throwing knife appeared in Li Xunhuan's hand.

Li Xunhuan paused for a long time, holding the throwing knife, his slightly tired but deep, night-like eyes fixed on Luke.

He wasn't hesitating; he was fully focused on this throw.

Although the throwing knife is small, it carries not only his skills, but also his lifelong beliefs and pursuits.

His fingers trembled slightly, not from fear or hesitation, but from extreme focus—like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to be released.

Suddenly, in a moment of pause, Li Xunhuan's throwing knife flew out of his hand like a shooting star.

This seemingly simple action actually embodies the principles of nature: fast but not chaotic, steady but not impetuous.

The throwing knife made a faint whooshing sound as it sliced ​​through the air, like the first clap of thunder in spring, silent yet awe-inspiring.

In that instant, time seemed to stretch out, and everyone could clearly see the trajectory of the throwing knife as it hurtled toward its target with incredible speed and precision.

However, Luke did not sit idly by and wait for his death. His figure suddenly shifted, changing positions eighteen times in the blink of an eye!

Each movement was extremely strange, like a ghost wandering in the void.

Ordinary people simply cannot track him down, let alone predict his next move.

However, no matter how fast Luke moved, Li Xunhuan's throwing knife always followed closely behind, as if bound by an invisible thread, firmly locking onto his shoulder.

What a level of attainment this is!

People in the martial arts world only know that "Little Li's flying dagger never misses its mark," but few truly understand its mysteries.

The reason why Li Xunhuan's throwing knives are so magical is not entirely due to his exquisite technique, but rather stems from his profound insight into the laws governing all things in the world.

In his eyes, no matter how unpredictable the opponent may be, they will ultimately not escape the simple truth that "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line".

He used his mind to perceive the enemy's every move, used his experience to predict the enemy's every reaction, and then used his throwing knife to turn all of this into reality.

"Ding!"

A crisp metallic clang rang out as Li Xunhuan's throwing knife pierced Luke's shoulder, eventually falling limply to the ground.

Although it was just a light brush, it made Luke frown. He looked down at his shoulder, then looked up at Li Xunhuan, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Excellent swordsmanship, truly living up to its reputation."

Luke said slowly, "I admit, that last strike was beyond my expectations."

Li Xunhuan sheathed his flying knife and smiled calmly: "Brother Lu's movement skills are amazing, and I didn't expect that he had actually cultivated an indestructible body. If it were anyone else, they would probably have lost their lives here long ago."

Li Xunhuan's throwing knife was very accurate. Luke had changed positions eighteen times, each change exceeding the limits of human visual perception, but Li Xunhuan still managed to hit him.

Moreover, Li Xunhuan's throwing knives were very sharp. Although Luke did not use his full strength, his protective aura was not something that anyone could break. However, Li Xunhuan's throwing knives treated Luke's protective aura as nothing, and were unstoppable.

Such sharpness cannot even be described using the phrase "cutting tofu."

Even cutting tofu, though simple, can still be fraught with obstacles.

However, Li Xunhuan's flying knife ignored this obstacle, as if it had crossed that layer of space.

Luke could clearly sense that the moment Li Xunhuan threw the knife, Li Xunhuan's aura changed.

This kind of energy is not the internal energy cultivated by martial artists, but something far more mysterious.

Vast and boundless, immense and powerful, it surged forth without any unusual phenomena. Yet, Luke could sense that as long as he remained in this tavern, he could not escape the lock-on of Li Xunhuan's aura.

This energy is not powerful, but it is very righteous; it is a force of good.

This righteous spirit is not the kind of righteous and awe-inspiring righteous spirit we usually talk about, but rather a very upright spirit.

A sheer cliff stands tall and firm; without desire, one is invincible. Anyone who reaches this level can be called invincible.

Take being an official as an example. If an official is upright, he will be fearless and even dare to criticize the emperor. For example, in the official history, Hai Rui submitted a memorial to the Jiajing Emperor, who was so angry that he was almost driven mad. However, he only imprisoned Hai Rui and did not kill him.

Of course, this analogy may be somewhat idealistic. After all, even though Hai Rui was upright, there was nothing he could do if he encountered an unreasonable and treacherous ruler who would risk being infamous for eternity to get rid of him.

But the principle remains the same and will not be changed because of certain people or events.

If one is upright, one will be reasonable. And as long as one is reasonable, no matter how much a person who is unreasonable argues, they will be powerless.

Li Xunhuan's flying daggers embody this principle, a result of years of Confucian education, or what Mencius, the Confucian master, called the "righteous spirit," which is both great and unyielding.

"What a fine throwing knife! It even embodies the righteous spirit of Confucianism. You should become an official, not roam the martial world."

Chapter 254: Martial Arts Chronicle: Luke's Gain, Insights from Little Li's Flying Dagger

Luke wasn't just saying that casually; he genuinely thought so.

Despite being betrayed by his brothers and constantly near death from poisoning in the original novel, Li Xunhuan always appeared half-crippled.

But all of this is simply because Li Xunhuan is a sincere person and willing to trust his friends.

In fact, it's certain that Li Xunhuan was exceptionally intelligent to be able to pass the imperial examination as a third-place scholar.

After being schemed against, he always manages to see through the tricks and find the flaws to thwart their schemes. Such a person is bound to be shrewd and calculating.

If someone as intelligent, shrewd, and resourceful as him were to become an official, he would certainly be a capable minister, if not a world-class one.

Li Xunhuan smiled and said, "I don't need to be an official. I'd rather have an easier life."

Even now, Li Xunhuan still holds the title of Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). If he wants to become an official, he only needs to go to the capital, pass the Ministry of Personnel's re-examination, and then ask his fellow graduates to pull some strings. I dare not say anything else, but he can certainly become a seventh-rank county magistrate.

After all, Li Xunhuan was a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations, and among so many reliable scholars in the Ming Dynasty, he was ranked in the top three.

The worst among his classmates was a county magistrate, while many who did not perform as well as him are now high-ranking officials.

In addition, the Li family has always been a scholarly family. His father and brothers were all Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) or Tanhua (third-place winners in the imperial examinations). After his father and brothers died, these connections fell into Li Xunhuan's hands.

Li Xunhuan had always been a wanderer in the martial arts world, so these connections were naturally of no use to him. However, if he wanted to enter the officialdom, then these connections would be useful.

To be honest, the officialdom is Li Xunhuan's true domain; the martial arts world is merely a side story for him.

Unfortunately, Li Xunhuan just loved playing dungeons and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Of course, it's more likely that Li Xunhuan couldn't stand the darkness of officialdom!

After all, if he were to enter the officialdom, his abilities would certainly be unquestionable, but he might very well send certain corrupt officials to their deaths with a single dagger because he couldn't stand them.

Luke was just saying that casually. Since Li Xunhuan was unwilling, he wouldn't continue. He shrugged and picked up the wine jar.

"This wine is not bad, at least it's strong enough."

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp, and only put it down after three breaths.

Luke (cbdd) doesn't like alcohol, but he drank so much today, simply because he was in a good mood.

Li Xunhuan's throwing knives helped Luke understand some things he had never been able to figure out before. By drawing inspiration from Li Xunhuan's righteousness, Luke also found his own kind of energy.

This kind of energy cannot be cultivated through any martial arts manual; it is an energy that can only be transformed from the depths of one's heart when one's mind is strong enough.

This energy may not make Luke stronger at this stage, but it can unify Luke's spirit and energy.

The so-called integration means maintaining the three forces of essence, energy, and spirit in a state of balance, reducing the excess and supplementing the deficiency.

Luke merged with his many selves from different worlds, resulting in rapid growth in power and an increase in potential many times over. Although his temperament was also strengthened due to the characteristics of the misty space, there were still shortcomings.

That's because his potential was being realized too quickly, so quickly that even his strong and resilient willpower could hardly keep up with his ever-increasing power.

However, the lessons learned from Li Xunhuan's flying daggers solved this problem invisibly.

.................................................................................................................................

In recent years, in the martial arts world of the Ming Dynasty, there has been a gang that has been growing rapidly at an incredible pace.

This sect is the Money Gang.

The leader of the Money Gang is named Shangguan Jin Hong, who ranks second in the Weapon Ranking and is known as the "Dragon and Phoenix Ring".

He wielded the "Mother and Child Dragon and Phoenix Rings" and had already reached the level of "no ring in hand, but ring in heart." He had been silent for many years and rarely heard of, but he gathered seventeen masters from the "Weapon Ranking" to form the "Golden Money Gang." Overnight, he swept through the martial arts world with the demeanor of an unparalleled hero. "When money falls to the ground, heads are lost." His reputation was comparable to that of the "Beggar Gang."

Shangguan Jin Hong prioritizes power above all else, and he is willing to do anything for it. Killing is as natural to him as breathing. Coupled with his strong leadership, iron-fisted discipline, and countless riches, anyone willing to work for him and prove their worth can get what they want. Thus, he quickly swept through the martial arts world of the Ming Dynasty.

His capable subordinates were all quite famous yet willing to be subordinate to others. There was also someone who resembled him, Jing Wuming, the fastest swordsman in the Ming Dynasty's martial arts world, who was just as ruthless as him. The two were like light and shadow, and the most peculiar thing was that their walking steps and footprints were connected.

Although the Money Gang is a powerful force that dominates the world, controlling all 63 provinces in the south and north, and possessing wealth comparable to that of a nation, none of the world's luxuries can tempt him.

Aside from power, there is absolutely nothing in the world that can truly move Shangguan Jin Hong.

He never rode in a carriage or on a horse; he always preferred walking. He often said that a person is born with two legs precisely to walk.

The house where he lived at the headquarters of the Money Gang was just a very simple stone room with no decorations. Apart from two beds and a large table full of files, there was nothing else in the room—no chairs, no stools, not even a cup.

This house is even more rudimentary than the dwelling of an ascetic.

He worked standing up because he believed that "sitting down relaxes one's mind, and a relaxed mind is more prone to making mistakes."

He never drinks alcohol or tea, and only drinks water, because he believes that "water can purify the mind, and a person who only drinks water will never have a chaotic mind."

Even a peerless beauty like Lin Xian'er, the most beautiful woman in the Ming Dynasty's martial arts world that everyone desires, is nothing more than a tool in his eyes.

Yes, in this world, Lin Xian'er had already seduced Shangguan Jin Hong and even gave birth to a woman for him, but she was still discarded by Shangguan Jin Hong like trash.

But Lin Xian'er dared not retaliate against Shangguan Jin Hong, because she knew that Shangguan Jin Hong would really kill her.

His vision is sharp, and every step he takes is irresistible. Just like his martial arts skills, his style of doing things is also characterized by stability. He will never make a move unless he is absolutely certain of success.

But Shangguan Jin Hong is now somewhat uneasy because he has learned a very important piece of information, information that could disrupt his plans.

Chapter 255: Martial Arts Chronicle: Eating the Destitute

Shangguan Jin Hong's surname is Shangguan, and Shangguan Hai Tang's surname is also Shangguan. Their Shangguan is the same person.

Strictly speaking, Shangguan Haitang should address Shangguan Jin Hong as her cousin.

Shangguan Haitang's original surname was Hai, but Shangguan was her mother's surname. After the Hai family was wiped out, she changed her surname to her mother's.

Shangguan Jin Hong is Shangguan Haitang's mother's distant cousin.

However, the relationship between the uncle and nephew was not very good.

The reason for their strained relationship was not only because they were distantly related by blood, but also because of some past events involving the Shangguan family.