Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 87

Tian Guang praised Lu Wei, and in doing so, also praised himself.

"How does the leader of the martial arts school rank among your generation?"

"I can't resist asking," Hall Master Lu asked.

"I'll be at the bottom. Anyway, I'm nowhere near as good as that six-fingered black knight you met a few days ago."

Touching his chin, Tian Guang teased, half-jokingly...

Chapter 109 The big one is coming

Tian Guang did not stay at Luqiu Pavilion until very late. After he left, Lu Wei returned to the third floor of Luqiu Pavilion and meditated to summarize the experience gained from fighting with Xia Kui today.

Tian Guang's martial arts skills were developed through his years of wandering the martial arts world, interacting and competing with different groups of wandering knights, which allowed him to develop his own unique style.

After becoming the leader of the chivalrous sect, he learned the unique agricultural skills from the Six Sages' Tomb, taking his skills to the next level and reaching his current level.

Therefore, his fighting style is full of chivalrous spirit, and his moves, in addition to being pragmatic, also have the ruthlessness and restraint of a chivalrous swordsman.

These are inherently conflicting characteristics of martial arts, yet Tian Guang manages to adapt them with ease.

According to Xia Kui, in order to embark on the path of a true martial arts master, one must have their own unique style in their moves.

Lu Wei is still young. Even though he thinks he has a lot of practical experience, he still needs to learn to think in order to succeed!

Unless one is an absolutely simple-minded fool whose world revolves solely around martial arts, once a normal person reaches a so-called 'bottleneck' in martial arts, they must learn to 'enlighten'.

At his age, he was just right to attain enlightenment. According to what Tian Guang said before he left: Fu Nian, a Confucian scholar, is about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He has already created his own "Saint King Sword Technique" and is the future leader of Xiaoshengxianzhuang.

Among the various schools of thought, the desire to compete and vie for fame has always existed. Among the current generation of the peasant school, the only one who can rival the Confucian Fu Nian in the future is Lu Wei!

There seemed to be some hidden meaning in those words, but Master Lu didn't think about it at all: he understood that with Tian Guang's usual methods, he must have deliberately created this space for imagination to put pressure on him.

However, upon mentioning the Confucian scholar Fu Nian, the hall master suddenly remembered:

Several years ago, when I was still of lowly status, I had prepared gifts and wanted to visit the Confucian school in Sanghai during my first trip to Chu with the Luqiu Pavilion caravan.

However, due to the hunting and counter-hunting by the Luo Wang (Net of Heaven), the visit plan was forced to be canceled. Later, he was always very busy and had no time to make a special trip to Sanghai City.

Since the chivalrous leader mentioned today that his Whale Drinking Sword Technique is similar to Fu Nian's Holy King Sword Technique, I might consider fulfilling this long-overdue visit when I have some free time...

“Your Highness, now that we have agreed to Yan Yi’s request, we need to make plans for Dongjun of the Yin Yang School as soon as possible.”

At the Golden Terrace Restaurant, the banquet had ended by this time. Sitting in the carriage returning to the Crown Prince's residence, Ju Wu cautiously reminded Yan Dan:

"These martial arts practitioners are of lowly status, yet they dare to 'use martial arts to break the law.' If we fail to appease them, they might endanger His Highness the Crown Prince's safety... Perhaps..."

“Teacher, you shouldn’t concern yourself with this…” Yan Dan paused, then closed her eyes and shook her head. “I know her. Only if I personally explain the cause of the incident to her can the harm be minimized…”

"Your Highness is the Crown Prince of Yan. Nothing you do is a private matter..." Ju Wu was about to continue his persuasion when Yan Dan suddenly erupted, forcefully interrupting him:

"Grand Tutor, I have already arranged the marriage with Yan Yi according to your plan. Let me handle the final matters myself!"

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and Ju Wu immediately shut his mouth.

Did I actually give myself away and let His Highness the Crown Prince discover it...?

“Teacher…” After the chest tightness burst out, Yan Dan quickly regained his composure. He looked at Ju Wu’s aged wrinkles and sighed, “I know that you are thinking of me and this country, which is why I am willing to follow your plan.”

"But... Scarlet Smoke... please leave me some privacy with Dongjun of the Yin-Yang School..."

"...I will obey the Crown Prince's orders."

After bidding farewell to his teacher and returning to his residence, Yan Dan entered the main hall and saw the figure that should have been his wife, but was now most likely to become his enemy.

He instinctively wanted to avoid it, but his good manners made Yan Dan suppress his guilt and step inside without giving anything away.

"Dan, you're back!"

The person before him, at this moment, was entirely a gentle woman in love, not the ruthless Yin-Yang Master Dongjun.

Recalling her conversation with Yan Yi that evening, and the repeated reminders from her teacher Ju Wu, Yan Dan's heart remained calm, her lips barely moving. Even though she knew perfectly well what she should do, in reality, she wasn't as brave as she imagined...

Even the most resilient heart has things it dares not face...

The following three days will be close to the New Year.

Lu Wei spent two days trying to comprehend the Dao, but with little effect. He realized that Tian Guang's path was not suitable for him to improve upon and follow, so he simply gave up.

On the third day, the hall master played with Xiao Yan'er in the backyard, which helped him relax.

Soon after the New Year, Xiaoyan will turn six years old.

At that time, she will be able to formally learn internal energy cultivation and swordsmanship.

Ji Yan possesses profound internal energy from the Rejuvenation Technique. At most, she will have to wait two years. Once she absorbs this internal energy into herself, she will be able to use it against Lu Wei.

If I learn swordsmanship for a few more years, I will be able to kill for the Hall Master!

Based on this calculation, Ji Yan still has plenty of time to learn other skills and play a greater role.

From a practical standpoint, subordinates are already handling tasks such as organizational skills, management, intelligence gathering, talent development, military strategy, and even music and dance. It wouldn't be easy to find another vacancy for Xiaoyan to learn in preparation for future use.

Therefore, it's worthwhile to let her learn all of these things. The child is still young and has a high degree of potential.

In the future, he will be a well-rounded subordinate who can fill any vacancy, making him very easy to use.

Lu Wei was planning the role Ji Yan could play in the future when, just then, Lu Ni and Xue Nu finished practicing their swordsmanship.

This winter, Yan State didn't see much snow, but the clouds in the sky have been piling up thicker and thicker these past few days, as if they're holding back a big snowfall.

Even though her mother and Sister Xue Nu came over, Xiao Yan'er still didn't look up. She was lying on the table, deep in thought, with a very conflicted expression.

Lu Ni didn't pay any attention; instead, after Xue Nu bowed to Hall Master Lu, she bent down and glanced at what Ji Yan was busy with:

The little girl held a brush and drew many squares on the paper. Except for the first four squares which were written with 'Internal Strength', 'Swordsmanship', 'Mathematical Classics', and 'Music', the other six squares were empty.

"I've let Xiaoyan arrange her own courses. You'll have to put in extra effort next year."

Lu Wei stood up and revealed the problem that Ji Yan was struggling with.

Lu Ni and Xue Nu suddenly realized, but they didn't think the Hall Master was being strict: when they were Ji Yan's age, one of them was studying music and dance diligently, while the other was specializing in killing techniques.

Although Xiaoyan has a little more to learn than them, she is in a better environment and has more right to make her own decisions.

Receiving a formal education at such a young age is a luxury in this era. The Snow Maiden crouched down and proactively drew five more squares for Ji Yan, offering suggestions for her design...

------

Inside the Crown Prince's residence, Yan Dan and Six-Fingered Black Knight had another argument, the third time in recent days.

At this time, although the assassination plan for the King of Qin had not yet taken shape, Yan Dan, who had just seen hope after the death of Lord Yan Chun and the increase of his power in the State of Yan, soon broke into a direct conflict with King Xi of Yan, and as a result, this hope was forcibly suppressed.

This led to an even deeper yearning for greater power in his heart.

"Your Highness, the Mohists advocate universal love and non-aggression, and there is absolutely no way they would participate in the disputes of the Yan court!"

The Six-Fingered Black Knight's voice was firm; once he made a decision, he would never change it unless he realized he was wrong.

"Master, I have obtained the most important military power in Yan. As long as the Mohists are willing to fully support me and equip the army with Mohist technology, Yan will be able to stop wars in the world!"

"Non-aggression requires stronger military support!"

Yan Dan persisted in trying to persuade him, refusing to give up. Although many decisions of the Mohist school were made by a vote of the leaders, the Grand Master held absolute authority within the Mohist school.

What he wanted to do required the support of the leader of the Mohist school.

“Your Highness, you need not say any more.” The Six-Fingered Black Knight stood up and picked up the Black Eyebrow: “I took the Crown Prince into the Mohist School and taught him the Mohist doctrines in the hope that Your Highness could practice the Mohist way yourself and thus influence the heroes of the whole country!”

"As the crown prince of one nation, he will demonstrate the essence of the Mohist school to the seven kingdoms!"

"Instead of sacrificing the lives of all Mohist disciples for the sake of power in the hands of the Yan state!"

"Farewell!"

Having said that, Six-Fingered Black Knight turned to leave.

"Giant!"

Yan Dan clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, and called out to Six-Fingered Black Knight one last time before he left:

"I am even willing to sacrifice my own love and marry Yan Yi, essentially just wanting enough power to stop the Qin army from wreaking havoc and to save the people from tyranny. Why is the Grand Master so stingy with such a good deed..."

Bang!

Before Yan Dan could finish speaking, the door was suddenly flung open by a gust of air.

The figure beneath the thick black robe of the Six-Fingered Black Knight stepped back, shielding Yan Dan and deflecting the raging storm. Both men looked towards the newcomer:

The Yin-Yang Master Dongjun and Yanfei, dressed in plain Yan Kingdom attire, stared blankly through the black-clad swordsman at Yan Dan, who was trying to maintain his composure.

"Dan, what does 'sacrificing love' mean?"

She took a step into the house: "What is a 'marriage alliance'?"

As soon as the word "marriage" fell, a dark blue aura appeared and burned in Yan Fei's hand...

...

"Does Xia Kui mean that Prince Dan wants to form a marriage alliance with Yan Yi?"

Tian Guang's sudden visits have become quite common recently, and Lu Wei has long been used to it.

But the news he brought that day still exceeded Master Lu's expectations: "Who and who? Yan Dan and Yan Yi's daughter?"

Lu Wei stood up, went to the window, and gazed at the direction of the Crown Prince's residence in the darkness. After the disbelief in his tone dissipated, he calmly asked, "How did the Heroic Leader find out?"

"These are the words of Prince Dan himself."

Tian Guang was doing carpentry work again, holding a wooden block and a dagger. Judging from the initial shape of his carving, the figure was of Master Lu himself.

“I rarely see you so surprised. This marriage plan shouldn’t warrant such a reaction from our outstanding farming family.”

"I'm truly sorry for being so rude as to let the leader of the knights see this." After analyzing his initial surprise, Lu Wei could now understand Yan Dan's reasons for doing so.

But it remains to be seen whether His Highness the Crown Prince is prepared to bear the consequences.

What kind of toxic fire will ignite in a woman's idealized world when her romantic dreams are shattered? Is he capable of preventing himself from being consumed by that flame...?

...

"Dan, tell me, who are you going to marry?"

Inside the Crown Prince's residence, Consort Yan approached step by step, her entire demeanor one of despair and madness, as her dark blue Yin-Yang magic ignited the entire house.

“Feiyan…” Yan Dan’s expression changed from astonishment to shame. He had not told Yan Fei about the matter last time, but had kept it a secret until now.