Chapter 5 Ye Chen, The Sword Maniac
2077 Words
The sun blazed high, nearing midday.
The two traversed a mountain range of forests, crossed a rushing stream, and rested briefly against an old willow tree.
“We’re nearing the Northern Cang Kingdom,” Jiang Jinyun said, gently stroking Xiao Qi’s neck and brushing the dust off her clothes.
“Further west is Xiajun City.” Her voice was soft, her mood low.
“Do you know why we didn’t go to Jiangbei City?” Ning Bufan washed his face with the stream water, changing the subject before Jiang Jinyun could answer.
“Do you really think those people were sent by other kingdoms? If we went to Jiangbei, we might be ambushed halfway there. That would truly be falling into someone’s trap.”
Their journey was secretive, with heavy guards both overt and covert, yet hundreds of people appeared on their way to Jiangbei, surrounding and ambushing them. Even the Hu general had been ambushed several times while searching for her. Although she had some vague suspicions, she didn’t know who wanted to kill her.
Ning Bufan looked at the Jiang Kingdom princess, who was deep in thought, and asked, "Has the heir apparent of Tianfeng been decided?"
"Father is in the prime of his life, and the position of heir apparent is still undecided."
"In that case, tell me about the princes and dukes of Tianfeng, and I'll analyze it for you."
"Father has three sons and one daughter."
"My eldest brother, Jiang Cheng, is currently leading 100,000 troops in a stalemate with Great Yan in the southern border. He has always been very fond of me. He wouldn't treat me like this."
"My second brother, Jiang Ran, was enfeoffed as the Prince of Changliu last year and will soon be going to his fiefdom. Before leaving, he warned me that there might be danger on this journey, showing great concern. He wouldn't treat me like this."
“My third brother, Jiang Xie, has loved poetry and prose since childhood. He is unrestrained and has no ambition for the throne, so naturally he wouldn’t be so ruthless.” Jiang Jinyun spread her hands.
“This matter may have been orchestrated by Tianfeng, but it was definitely not the work of my three brothers. They have a deep bond with me and would never treat me like this.”
Ning Bufan’s smile deepened. “If they weren’t noble princes and dukes of Tianfeng, who would have the authority to mobilize hundreds of elite cavalry so easily? Do you think these people are just highway robbers?”
“Absolutely not!” Tears welled up in the princess’s eyes as she gritted her teeth and shouted,
“My three brothers would never treat me like this.”
Ning Bufan spread his hands, shook his head, and said nothing more.
He also had several guesses in his mind, but he didn’t want to discuss them with this Princess Jinyun. The hundreds of people who seemed to have come with great force earlier were actually just driving them to flee towards Jiangbei. When the hundreds of people surrounded them, he vaguely sensed something was wrong. Those people ignored him and Jiang Jian, only wanting to kill the guards around them.
It seems there are many truths hidden beneath the surface within Tianfeng Kingdom.
This matter is truly vexing. He only sought his father and the truth, yet he was ambushed the moment he left the mountain. If these things weren't a major issue, he could remain uninvolved, but now they seem to be affecting his goals. Although he possesses a thousand methods, dealing with them one by one would take considerable time. Jiang Jinyun, who is by his side, might be a good bargaining chip, after all, she is King Jiang's only daughter, and besides, he still has much information to extract from this kind-hearted princess.
Thinking of this, he said to Jiang Jinyun, "Your Highness, rest assured, although I, Ning Bufan, am a fool, I have diligently practiced martial arts since childhood and am proficient in several types of weapons. In particular, my swordsmanship has amazed even Old Man Wang at the west entrance of the village. I am truly a prodigy unseen for centuries. It's just that I haven't left Liu Village, otherwise my reputation as Ning Bufan, who can kill in ten steps, would have already resounded throughout the martial world."
"Young Master Ning also has martial arts skills?" Jiang Jinyun had never expected that this top-ranked scholar on the Heavenly Secrets List, already the number one talent in the world, was still a person skilled in both literature and martial arts, which was truly astonishing.
"Yeah, martial arts are a minor skill. I started practicing swordsmanship at the age of three, comprehended the way of the sword at thirteen, and created the Thirteen Styles of Clear Pool Sword Technique. Since then, I have been invincible in Liu Village and have long wanted to compete with the people of the world."
In the past, he was always chased all over the mountain by the big yellow dog that Old Man Wang kept. Fortunately, Old Man Wang took pity on him and taught him the Dog-Beating Stick Technique. He would wave the willow branch around and scare the big yellow dog away from chasing him. He fiddled around with it haphazardly, modifying the Dog-Beating Stick Technique into what he called the Clear Pool Sword Technique.
"Princess, please look," he said, drawing his wooden sword and brandishing it,
"This is the number one treasure of Willow Village in the Unknown Land. This sword, Clear Pool, combined with my self-created Clear Pool Sword Technique, makes us virtually invincible." He proudly raised his head, his white robes fluttering in the wind, his resolute expression making him appear like an unparalleled white-clad swordsman.
"Young Master Ning has already entered the Upper Realm of the Unperturbed?" Jiang Jinyun's expression shifted slightly, yet she was also somewhat suspicious.
Why hadn't Young Master Ning drawn his sword when he was surrounded by dozens of people and faced death half a day ago? If he were truly a Grandmaster who had entered the Unperturbed Realm, wouldn't he be a master who could shatter the sky with a single sword strike and pierce stone with a flick of his finger? It didn't seem to match his disheveled appearance then. And looking at the sword in his hand, was this thing really not something casually carved? Without even a hilt and scabbard, could this thing even be called a sword?
"Um... what is 'not confused'?"
"Does Young Master Ning possess a profound internal energy cultivation method to complement his swordsmanship?" Jiang Jinyun's suspicion was already evident.
Ning Bufan silently recalled that when Grandpa Wang taught him the Dog-Beating Stick Technique, he didn't seem to have taught him any internal energy cultivation method. Could it be that Grandpa Wang forgot? Or was Grandpa Wang just fooling him? No, that Dog-Beating Stick Technique was indeed remarkably effective against the big yellow dog. It was definitely a top-tier, miraculous skill. He pondered for a moment and replied,
"The highest level of swordsmanship is to break through all techniques with a single sword strike. No cultivation method can withstand the power of my sword."
"..."
"Does Young Master Ning know that martial artists in this world are also divided into levels?"
"..." Don't ask, I don't know anything.
At this moment, the sound of cicadas came from the distant woods, growing louder and louder, accompanied by the blazing sun and scorching heat waves rolling in. A figure slowly emerged from the forest. The sound arrived before the person.
"Ye Chen, the Sword Maniac of the Star-Picking Pavilion, a gifted individual, has long admired the reputation of Ning Yu, a disciple of Willow Village who has entered the mortal world. I have come here to learn from your superior skills." The figure moved with seemingly slow speed, appearing a few steps away from Ning Bufan in an instant.
The cicadas suddenly stopped chirping, and a young man dressed in a black robe, with a wooden sword at his waist, disheveled hair, and a stubble-covered face, chuckled and clasped his hands in greeting. "Tian Shun!" Jiang Jinyun exclaimed in surprise, such miraculous movement techniques far surpassing her understanding.
"Not Tian Shun, merely a first-grade Meridian Entrance." The young man waved his hand, his eyes shining brightly:
"I heard from Brother Si Ya that the Willow Village disciple has entered the mortal world and is the top of the Heavenly Secrets Ranking. I have had the honor of meeting Wu Shizi Yang a few times, and I am far inferior to him in both martial arts and wisdom. Therefore, upon hearing that Brother Ning had entered the mortal world, I am somewhat curious. I only wish to meet Brother Ning secretly, and if the opportunity is right, we could have a brief conversation and perhaps become friends, which would be excellent."
Then, he changed the subject: "But I just heard that Brother Ning's swordsmanship..."
"Your Dao is complete. You can kill one person in ten steps, and break ten thousand laws with a single sword. I am ashamed. I have no other love in my life but a passion for the sword. Although my sword intent is far inferior to Brother Ning's, I am still itching to learn. I humbly request Brother Ning's guidance so that I may comprehend your self-created Clear Pool Sword Technique."
Good heavens!
Ning Bufan stood frozen in place. He had only intended to deceive Jiang Jinyun, hoping to extract some useful information. He hadn't expected that while Jiang Jinyun hadn't believed him, this person hiding in the shadows had.
"You say you want to make friends? Who makes friends with a sword to their throat?" His sudden, miraculous movement was truly terrifying. If he were to actually exchange a few blows with him, he would be dead!
"You want me to compete with you in swordsmanship? Do you expect me to wield a half-damaged wooden sword carved by Chen Chen and perform the Dog-Beating Stick Technique? And then you'll cut me down with one sword? Oh, or perhaps I'll be stabbed through the heart?" Ning Bufan thought to himself.
Thinking of this, Ning Bufan straightened his face, clasped his hands, and said, "So it's the famous Star-Picking Pavilion's Journey to the World, Brother Ye!"
He stepped forward enthusiastically, grasped Ye Chen's hand, patted it gently, and said with deep emotion,
"Brother Ye, you are so dashing and spirited! I feel an instant connection with you, and I wish we could become sworn brothers today!"
Ye Chen was startled. Before he could react, someone grabbed his hand, which was about to draw his sword. If it were anyone else, he would have simply cut them down with a single strike. But this person was the world-renowned top-ranked expert on the Heavenly Secrets List, and the only person from Willow Village to walk the path of worldly affairs in hundreds of years. He dared not disrespect this man.
Ye Chen looked suspicious. Was Ning Bufan lying to him?
Ye Chen chuckled inwardly. With Young Master Ning's status, why would he lie to him? Perhaps he was too narrow-minded. Young Master Ning was a man of true character. He was inferior to him. It seemed that he had truly seen his dashing appearance and felt an instant connection with him, a mutual appreciation.
A gentle smile appeared on his face: "I also felt an instant connection with Young Master Ning, and we admire each other greatly. Becoming a sworn brother is perfectly acceptable, but I am obsessed with swords..."
Ning Bufan released his hand, swinging his arm: "What swordsmanship? Nothing compares to the bond between us brothers. I, Ning Bufan, have just come of age, and Brother Ye appears a few years older, so I won't stand on ceremony. Today is the day we become sworn brothers."
With that, his eyes blazed with intense emotion as he exclaimed, "Brother Ye!"
"Uh, this, Brother Ning!" Ye Chen's scalp tingled, unable to bear looking Ning Yu in the eye.
"Brother Ye!"
"Brother Ning!"
Ning Bufan's eyes filled with tears as he tightly embraced his stubborn, adopted brother.
Damn it, this bastard actually tried to kill me with a sword! Clever as I am, how could I let him succeed so easily? Now that our brotherhood is sealed, how can you draw your sword against me?
- Writer
