Introduction to the work: A short pure martial arts novel, Godly Sword Unnamed 2
Once again, I declare that this article is just an appetizer and has nothing to do with "Xuān Mén". Readers of "Xuān Mén" can ignore it.
Two dogs were stunned, and he thought to himself: "My kung fu? What else can I do besides killing pigs? They want me to compete with this Du Tang Zhu (he doesn't understand the meaning of competing), probably these few people are customers who buy meat, wanting to see my skills in killing pigs and cutting meat." He came hastily, leaving his pig-killing knife at home. At this moment, he turned around and looked around, catching sight of a weapon rack in the corner of the wall, with all sorts of short and long weapons on it. He walked over, picked out a one-foot-long short knife, turned back and said: "This knife is not suitable, lighter than what I usually use. But it'll do for killing pigs. Alright, hurry up and bring the pig over, I'll kill it for you to see."
The last two sentences almost made Du Yuhai furious, and he immediately stood up with a gloomy face, walked slowly to the room, and said sternly: "Du has been wandering in the rivers and lakes for decades, and no one has ever dared to be half-disrespectful. I didn't expect that today I would be treated like a pig waiting to be slaughtered." As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand. The sunlight filtering into the hall revealed Du Yuhai's fingers like hooks, dark and eerie like a zombie's claws. His feet were treading on the southern Li fire position, and he let out a shrill cry: "You stinky little boy! You're going to die!" His body flashed, and a red shadow rushed towards Li Erdou.
Two Dogs suddenly jumped up, his mind still unclear, and the short knife in his hand had already been swung out. Neither fast nor slow, the tip of the knife directly aimed at Du Yuhé's waist. Du Yuhé's fingers stored the cold inner energy of "Xuán Yīn Shén Tōng", and his feet used the excellent light skill of "Fēng Bǎi Yáng Liǔ". He was confident that he could strike first and gain the upper hand. However, Two Dogs' knife move was very strange, neither a traditional knife technique nor an internal martial art, but it seemed to precede Du Yuhé's moves, as if Du Yuhé himself was rushing onto the blade.
Caught off guard, Du Yuhé was unable to change his move and dodge. In a split second, he took a deep breath, his waist and abdomen shrinking inward by four or five inches, his body sliding forward with the blade. His martial arts were strange and ruthless, although his back was turned to his opponent, he suddenly flipped his hand back and grabbed, only to see his fingers like sharp swords, swiftly and mercilessly inserting into Li Er Gou's brain. This sudden change of move was both ruthless and swift, without any warning signs, even if it were the great Luojin Immortal, it would be impossible to dodge.
But the two dogs did not dodge or flash, and did not even turn their heads. The short knife moved from his right hand to his left hand, and with a reverse grip, he flipped his wrist and slashed upwards, the blade pointing directly at Du Yuhé's crotch. Du Yuhé's hands were in front of him, but his waist and legs were behind him. With this move, before he could even grab onto his opponent, he would definitely be stabbed in the groin first. This move was so unexpected that it left no room for defense. Helpless, Du Yuhé used all his might to push off with both feet, and his body flew out at an angle, two zhang away. His breathing was disordered, and his heart was floating, he couldn't stand firmly on his feet, "Pong" - with a loud crash, he fell forward onto the ground, and tumbled into a heap like a hungry dog fighting for food.
These few moves were like a rabbit jumping and a bird falling, and the onlookers Su Jianan and Qi Qishui couldn't see clearly. Even Li Er Gou himself was confused. His heart followed his knife, his knife followed the enemy's momentum, whether attacking or defending, there was no rule, just following the opponent's moves to swing freely. When he saw Du Yuhai fall to the ground, Er Gou finally came back to his senses and secretly wondered: "Wasn't I told to kill a pig? Why is this person fierce and grabbing and hitting? It's strange to say. These wealthy masters, one moment they give you good food and drink, the next moment they see people and hit them, are they all crazy?"
Du Yuhé had never been so humiliated, prostrate on the stone brick ground with shame and anger attacking his heart. He suddenly let out a loud shout, flew up from the ground, his hands spread wide, half claw and half palm, and charged at Li Er Gou again. This time he used "Xuán Yīn Shén Tōng" to the extreme, his sleeves were puffed up like drums, and the wind was rustling. Before he even got close, Su and Xing, two people on either side, had already felt a wave of cold air hitting their faces.
Li Ergou saw this person gnashing his teeth, with a crazed expression, and felt a slight fear in his heart. He stretched out his arm, straightened the blade, wanting to keep the opponent at bay. Unconsciously, the knife tip was again pointing between Du Yuhu's legs.
Du Yuhe let out a shrill cry, hastily retreating several zhangs in a flurry. Before he could steady himself, he turned around and rushed forward again, swinging his palm in a vicious chop at Li Er Gou's throat. This back-and-forth movement was like lightning splitting the sky, or a swarm of butterflies flitting through flowers - it was so fast that it was hard to describe. Meanwhile, Li Er Gou continued to thrust his knife straight ahead, first quickly and then slowly, still aiming unwaveringly at Du Yuhe's lower body. Du Yuhe twisted his waist and retreated once more.
The two men fought fiercely for several rounds, but Du Yuhu was unable to get within three feet of Er Gou's body. Later, Du Yuhu's movements became increasingly swift and agile, with a red shadow swirling around Er Gou in a dizzying dance. Su Jianan watched from the side, feeling dizzy and nauseous.
However, Li Erdou was unmoved, stabbing and chopping horizontally, flipping back and forth with just two moves. After dozens of knives had passed, they all landed on Du Yuhu's lower abdomen, as if determined to castrate him. Du Yuhu jumped and dodged, using the "Wind Sways the Willow" move to its fullest extent, his waist twisting like a water snake, but he still couldn't shake off the shackles of the short knife. After fighting for another moment, the room was filled with flashing knives and thickening killing intent. Du Yuhu's shame and anger gradually gave way to fear, feeling that this young man had grasped his martial arts skills as if they were in the palm of his hand, every move and style seemingly anticipated by him, just like practicing with a fellow disciple.
At this thought, Du Yuhé suddenly had an epiphany, and a notion burst forth in his mind like thunder on a clear day, shaking his heart and making him tremble with fear. He silently exclaimed, "No, no! There's only one person in the world who knows my secret. This young man is determined to attack me below the belt. Could it be that he..."
Originally, Du Yuhé had practiced martial arts since childhood and once had a practice session with his fellow disciple where he was accidentally cut by his senior brother, resulting in the loss of half of his testicle. From then on, his internal energy was blocked at the **hole, unable to circulate through the meridians. Over time, his yang energy gradually weakened, while his yin energy grew stronger, and he inadvertently cultivated a pure yin internal skill known as "Xuán Yīn Shén Tōng". However, his lower abdomen also became the focal point of his energy cultivation, and if he were to receive even a slight impact, he would either lose his martial arts skills or suffer severe injuries that could lead to vomiting blood and death.
Since Du Yuhé was injured and disabled, his senior brother has been filled with guilt and has taken extra care of him. At first, Du Yuhé still had resentment, but as time passed, he underwent a great change in personality and unexpectedly fell deeply in love with his senior brother. Every day, he would be gentle and affectionate, pouring out his emotions, entwining himself around his senior brother until the latter was dizzy and disoriented. He couldn't accept it, nor could he reject it, so he had to secretly flee and disappear into the wilderness, leaving no news behind to this day.
Only Du Yuhe and his senior brother knew the various reasons. This young man had never met him before, he was so young, why did he also know his sect?
Du Yuhe's thoughts were in a daze, and he thought to himself: "If he had moved slightly, every single knife could have hurt me fatally, but why did his feet remain stationary on the ground, not advancing to attack? Isn't this clearly showing mercy? I am not related to him by blood or friendship, what is the meaning of this move?"
As she thought about it, she suddenly realized the truth: "It's true! Brother Shifu must have passed away. His love for me never changed, and he couldn't bear to be apart from me for long, so he attached his soul to this young man's body, using him as a medium to meet with me again." Du Yuhu thought about it more and more, and under the intense emotions, tears streamed down her face. Li Erdou's eyes gradually transformed into Brother Shifu's elegant figure, and she whispered: "Brother Shifu, do you still miss Yuhu so much? Why did you leave me behind back then?"
He was so infatuated that he completely forgot about the fight in front of him. Li Er Gou stabbed with one knife, Du Yuhe didn't move, staring blankly like a wooden chicken, and deeply called out: "Brother...". At the critical moment, the tip of the knife was less than half an inch away from Du Yuhe's crotch. Er Gou had no intention of hurting anyone, shouting loudly: "Be careful!". In the urgent moment, he didn't have time to withdraw his knife, and with a flick of his wrist, he changed the straight stab into an upper slash. A white light flashed, and the short knife swept across Du Yuhe's waist and abdomen from bottom to top.
The blade flashed and had already lightly touched Du Yuhé's lower body. Fortunately, èr Gǒu grasped it just right, with a force that was almost imperceptible, so he didn't cut the skin. Even so, Du Yuhé felt a shock in his dantian, with his qi and blood churning inside. That cry of "Gē" was also cut off midway, turning into a strange "Kēr" sound, like a rooster's crow. Next, Du Yuhé's whole body went limp, his muscles and bones feeling as if they were about to break. His legs couldn't stand steadily, and he stumbled forward and backward several steps before falling onto the ground with a thud.
She Qi Shui was shocked and rushed forward to support him, asking repeatedly: "Du Er Ge, are you injured? Where are you hurt?"
"Good brother, Yuhe has been waiting for you for many years. Although I occasionally find some handsome young men to accompany me, I always kill them afterwards. In my heart, there is only you. Now that we are reunited after a long time, let's never part again. From now on, I will only guard you. Do you think it's good?"
At this moment, Du Yuhu's mind was in a daze, his head spinning, and all the romantic thoughts he had been hiding in his heart were pouring out. Li Ergou looked on, listening with a mixture of embarrassment and disgust, feeling like his skin was crawling, and his hair standing on end from head to toe, and then back again, almost making him vomit up last night's dinner. Xie Qishui also looked embarrassed, speaking in a low voice: "Second brother, what are you saying?"
Du Yuhe's mind was confused, his ugly appearance exposed, and he still faced the two dogs with a greasy tone: "Brother, today is an auspicious day, why don't we enter the bridal chamber early and accomplish something good? Listen to me sing a segment of 'Peony Pavilion' to help the excitement - Ah, what a beautiful scene, alas, heaven!"
Su Jianan saw Du Yuhé being beaten by the two dogs again, and was shocked for a long time with his mouth hanging open. At this moment, Du Yuhé shouted and sang, only then did he come to his senses. He stood up, walked forward, slightly bowed, and said coldly: "Brother Su, it seems that Master Du has suffered internal injuries, which is why he's lost his mind. It's best for him to go back and see a doctor, take some medicine, rest well, and not delay any further."
She Qi Shui knew that today was not the day to take revenge, so he glared at him and said: "Su Jianan, old debts have not been settled, I will not let it go like this. Let's see who comes out on top!" Du Yuhe suddenly interrupted, saying: "Leave? Where are we going? Waaah, I don't want to leave! Someone wants to accompany their dear brother!" She Qi Shui's face turned red with anger, and he wished he could find a crack in the ground to hide in. He lowered his head and said repeatedly: "Let's go, let's go!" Two of his subordinates supported Du Yuhe's arms on either side, half-escorting and half-dragging him as they quickly walked towards the door. A group of people sullenly passed through the courtyard, crossed the threshold, and disappeared behind the screen wall. After a while, the faint sound of Du Yuhe singing "Beautiful Scenery" could still be heard.
Li Er Gou watched as the crowd's backs disappeared into the distance, shaking his head repeatedly. Even now, he still didn't understand what was going on. Meanwhile, Su Jian Nan's eyes shone brightly as he grasped Li Er Gou's hand, speaking in a flattering tone with an expression of having obtained a precious treasure. Although Li Er Gou was inexperienced and lacking in knowledge, he wasn't born foolish, and after encountering this strange event, he had a vague realization in his heart: "Could it be that Old Man Su didn't bring me here to kill pigs, but rather to specifically use knives to fight with people?"
Su Jianan, having repeatedly suffered defeats at the hands of strong enemies, was in a pleasant mood. That evening, he arranged for a banquet to be set up in the flower hall to welcome and entertain Er Gou. He only invited his daughter Su Yuexian to accompany them. Liu Baifei busied herself with the arrangements, directing the servants to lay out the dishes and pour the wine.
The sun sank in the west, and the beautiful lanterns were just lit up. Three people sat around a small round table made of fragrant wood with carved flowers, looking harmonious and warm, like a family. After a while, the servant brought over scented tea to rinse their mouths. Er Gou didn't understand the rules, picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp, upside down, which made Su Yuexian burst out laughing.
The dishes were served: steamed Jiangnan mandarin fish with a cherry blossom-shaped base, bamboo shoots stewed with wild chicken eggs, small roasted quail meat, goose oil pastry, several pieces of braised pork belly, shark fin soup, lotus seed and duck tongue soup, as well as several seasonal small dishes, all fresh and delicious, like a feast at the Yue family. The wine was top-grade Huadiao from Shaoxing's Water Moon Pavilion, fragrant and refreshing. Su Jianan held the wine pot and urged everyone to drink. Er Gou found this wine sweet like honey, and couldn't resist drinking cup after cup, without refusing any. He didn't care about etiquette, his hands moved swiftly, and he ate with gusto. When the wind outside carried the fragrance of lotus flowers, and the clouds played with the moon, the cups were raised high in the hall, and the excitement reached its peak. Er Gou couldn't handle the wine's potency, and fell into a drunken stupor.
Su Jianan saw Er Gou's red eyes and asked tentatively: "Li Yingxiong's martial arts are unparalleled, defeating the world-renowned top masters one after another. I wonder which senior master he came from?" Er Gou shook his head and said he didn't understand. Su Jianan said: "I'm asking - who is your master? What's his name?"
Li Erdou still shook his head and said, "What's this martial arts? No one has taught me, I don't know how." Su Jianan was convinced that he was perfunctory to himself, smiled and said, "Li Hero, no need to hide, if you didn't know martial arts, how could you defeat the two greatest masters of the time with one move? Your knife attacked Du Yuhu's lower three roads, making him powerless. If you don't have profound martial arts, how can you see through the opponent's flaws at a glance?"
Two dogs were speechless and couldn't answer. Su Jianan lightly patted the table, smiled and said: "Ah! Li Hero, this time you should tell the truth!" Two dogs thought silently for a moment, suddenly also patted the table and shouted: "I remembered!" Su Jianan concentrated his mind and listened to two dogs say: "I remembered! If we talk about loopholes, that surname Du has one - when he walks and runs, his belly is facing forward, and his buttocks are shaking wildly. This is called 'selling hips'. Those castrated pigs that are not clean have dregs, and when they run, it's just like that. I've killed a few years of pigs and also castrated a few years of pigs, I won't misjudge - I think that surname Du is probably not clean either, otherwise how could his buttocks be twisted so strangely?"
Su Yuexian was sipping a mouthful of soup when she heard this and suddenly turned her head, spitting it all over Liu Baifei's face with a "plop". She bowed her head and waist, laughing and coughing at the same time. Liu Baifei's face was covered in soup, but he couldn't get angry, and smiled twice, seething with rage inside. He turned his head and glared fiercely at Li Erdou several times.
Su Jianan said with a smile, "Li Yingxiong is joking. Du Yuhu is a number one figure in the Jianghu, how can he be compared to a pig butcher? Moreover, there are countless people who kill pigs in the world, do you think every single one of them is a martial arts master?"
"Hey, don't underestimate the pig butcher. If it weren't for me thinking of that Du guy as a person, I would have taken him down with the first knife. You wealthy masters don't know, but this pig butcher business is quite impressive! From dawn till dusk, we work non-stop, skinning and boning, and on holidays, we have to handle 20-30 heads in one day. It's not a job for the weak."
After drinking, he was originally talkative and mentioned killing pigs with enthusiasm. After taking a sip of wine, he continued: "To say that my method of killing pigs is different from others. Ha ha, in Hangzhou, you can't find another one!"
Su Jianan suddenly became spirited and asked, "Please tell me more." Su Yuexian also found Er Gou's words interesting and said, "Li Ge, how did you kill the pig? Tell me quickly!"
Li Erdou picked up his cup and took another sip before saying, "Actually, pigs are just like people. If you give them food, they'll snuggle up to you; if you hit or kick them, they'll bare their teeth and scare you off. And if you try to kill them with a knife, they'll be afraid, and when they're afraid, they'll flail about and scream loudly, causing all the meat on their body to tense up. You don't know this, but when meat tenses up, it becomes tough and tastes bad. So when killing pigs, you have to strike quickly, so fast that the pig doesn't even have time to be afraid. One swift knife cut and it's all over, heh heh."
He laughed a few times, and Second Dog said: "This method was used by me three years ago. Nowadays, I no longer kill pigs like this. Now, when I kill pigs, I don't use ropes to tie them up, but instead let them run freely on the ground. I just wait for their momentum, take aim at the right moment and give it a knife - haha! This way, the pig dies happily without any suffering, and the meat is tender and delicious. Although this method is good, I practiced for three years to master it."
Su Jianan was half-believing and half-doubting, Su Yuexian giggled, Liu Baifei snorted in disdain. The three of them each had their own thoughts, but then they saw the two dogs getting drunk, sitting unsteadily on the stool, still talking, when suddenly one of them buried his head and fell asleep on the table.
When the banquet was over, Su Jianan ordered someone to help Li Er Gou rest. Su Yuexian and Liu Baifei bid farewell and returned to their respective rooms. Su Jianan sat alone in the flower hall, his mind filled with Li Er Gou's words. He felt that they seemed reasonable, yet absurd and unbelievable. He thought about it until midnight but still couldn't understand, so he went back to his room and slept.
The next morning, Su Jianan summoned his guest Gu Xuezhai and ordered him to go to the countryside to investigate Li Er Gou's background. This Gu Xuezhai was a capable person who got things done, and he returned before noon, saying that he had already inquired about Er Gou's life story clearly. Su Jianan hastily led him into the study, dismissed his attendants, and asked him detailed questions one by one.
Gu Xuezhai reported, "Master, it turns out that this Li Erdou is not a local, and I heard that his ancestors were also escorts who traveled the jianghu."
Su Jian Nan suddenly nodded and said: "That's right! Is he a descendant of a martial arts family?"
Gu Xuezhai replied: "I heard from his neighbor that his father's name is Li Shi Yuan, who was once a guard at the Yang Wei Escort Agency in Cangzhou. He was robbed of the silver he was escorting to Hangzhou and had no way to return and report, so he settled down here. There are many people in the countryside who practice martial arts, and some have even compared skills with Li Shi Yuan, but they all say that his martial arts skills are mediocre, and he only knows how to wield a few sets of single knives."
Su Jianan slapped his thigh and said, "It's clear now! That Li Erdou must be using a family-transmitted knife technique. He was afraid that the ultimate skill would be leaked out, so he deliberately made up a lie about killing pigs to deceive people!"
Gu Xuezhai continued: "Li Shiyuan couldn't return to his hometown, so he got married and had a son here. Half a year later, Li Shiyuan contracted a serious illness and died. Before his death, he left behind a will, forbidding his descendants from practicing martial arts, lest they follow in his footsteps. After his death, Li Erdou's mother and son had no livelihood, and gradually sold all their belongings, leaving only the short knife that Li Shiyuan had used, which they couldn't bear to sell. Li Erdou carried that short knife with him since childhood, going up the mountain to chop firewood, down to the river to catch fish, never leaving it for a moment. In his free time, he would often talk to himself in front of the knife, and the villagers said he was a bit silly. He struggled until he was eight years old, when butcher Zhang Huliu saw that Li Erdou was quick with his hands and feet, so he took him on as an apprentice to kill pigs, and only then could they barely get enough to eat."
Su Jianan furrowed his brow slightly and said, "So his swordsmanship isn't something passed down through his family? If he has an extraordinary skill, why is he in such a predicament?" He stood up and took a few steps forward, thinking to himself, "Could it be that he doesn't know his own swordsmanship is exceptional? Does he still think it's just the skills of a butcher?"
Su Jianan's mind moved and he said to Gu Xuezhai: "Tell someone to bring ten pigs into the house! I want to see Li Er kill the pigs with my own eyes!"
Gu Xuezhai bowed his head and accepted the order, immediately going out to spread the word, calling people to the Zhuangzi to collect pigs, only wanting those with thick skin and sturdy bodies, fierce and biting - Su's family had a total of five large farmsteads, with thousands of tenant farmers, searching for these few pigs was not a waste of effort. However, the people who were ordered to procure them found it difficult to understand the reason, their hearts filled with doubts; "Normally, the living things that are wanted are crane, mandarin ducks, deer, and pugs, all used for appreciation and play. Why this time do they specifically want live pigs? Putting them in the garden would be dirty and smelly, what's there to look at? It must be that the ladies of the house have eaten their fill and have nothing to do, bored and relying on changing things up to find amusement."
The next morning, ten big fat pigs were all ready. Su Jianan ordered people to carry them to the spacious place in the back garden and invited Li Er Gou to come on stage to demonstrate his skill of killing pigs. Su Yuexian was full of curiosity, Liu Baifei wanted to see Er Gou make a fool of himself, and the two of them, along with Gu Xuezhai and several other guests, also watched from the side.
The two dogs have been extremely idle for the past two days, feeling bored and stuffy. Hearing that Old Man Su wants him to slaughter a pig, he suddenly perks up and thinks to himself: "Old Man Su indeed wants me to slaughter a pig, I thought yesterday that he wanted me to specifically take a knife and fight with someone, but it turns out I was wrong."
He tightened his belt, changed into a dark robe and leather boots, and put on an armguard - the Su family didn't have clothes for butchering, only giving Er Gou this set of heroic attire. After finishing up, the house servant led Er Gou to the rear garden. Upon entering the garden, he saw that it was breathtakingly beautiful, with a unique scenery, and a picturesque landscape typical of Jiangnan gardens.
In the Su family garden, on one side were rocks piled up to form a fake mountain, with layers and peaks that couldn't be taken in at a glance. On the other side was a lush green net-like structure where he walked towards the group of pigs. At this time, several large fat pigs had already calmed down and were strolling around the spacious garden. The two dogs' eyes were gentle, their spirits calm and composed, without revealing any fierce aura. Those pigs looked up at him as he approached, but didn't show a hint of fear, still snorting and sniffing the ground, wagging their tails as they moved.
Su Jianan sat in a rattan chair, holding a cup of clear tea, carefully watching Li Er Gou's every move. Su Yuexian stood not far away, wearing a yellow silk dress, with jade bangles shining on her wrists, and pearls glowing on her neck, her bright eyes gazing at Er Gou with great interest. Liu Baifei, standing beside them, felt displeased, kicked over a servant who had just walked over to watch the commotion, and scolded: "You dog slave, what are you doing here, get out of here!"
Two dogs sauntered into the pigpen, and a chorus of high-pitched squeals filled the air. Before anyone knew it, the knife had flashed out, slicing effortlessly into the plump pigs' bodies - one stroke, two strokes... His cuts were swift and precise, opening up the bellies with the ease of splitting rotten wood; the blade moved in and out of flesh and bone with a harmonious rhythm that was almost musical.
The first pig fell quietly, without any struggle or squeal, and with a "huala" sound, its bones and flesh were already separated. When several servants came to collect the blood with large copper basins, the pig's nose was still emitting hot air. At this time, another pig also walked closer, strolling back and forth, completely unaware of anything unusual around it.
Li Er Gou let out a soft cry. The crowd only felt a flash before their eyes, and the pig was already lying peacefully on the ground, dead in an instant. Next, Li Er Gou's sharp blade flew through the air, lightly waving and swinging, as if it were alive. Those pigs that were standing, walking, or lying down all had their skin torn open and their bones scattered, their tendons snapped and their flesh separated. Li Er Gou's knife technique was naturally perfect, without any fixed pattern or special variation. All they saw was the knife slicing into the meat, with not a hint of hesitation or stiffness. It was like clouds hiding thunder, like water concealing a hidden dragon, silently and quietly taking lives. Su Jian Nan watched in awe, his eyes wide with wonder, feeling that there were mysterious principles at work, but unable to grasp the secrets, he could only stare blankly.
The two dogs' enthusiasm gradually increased, and they hummed a little tune in their mouths. Their hands moved neatly and efficiently, but their minds were filled with random thoughts: "Old Master Su really did find me to kill the pig. Hehe, after I get paid, I'll buy a catty of rock sugar for Mother, she'll definitely like it very much... Second Sister, Second Sister will help take care of Mother, and I'll also bring her a piece of orchid-patterned cloth, when she wears clothes made from it, she'll definitely look as beautiful as a lady. Bah, can't think nonsense...". The more they thought about it in their hearts, the more agile their knives became. It was like a cloud flowing across the sky, and when they finished, there was no trace left behind. At this time, the sun was shining brightly overhead, but Second Dog's short knife always avoided the sunlight, its sharp edge hidden and not visible, the blade calm and serene as water.
In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, ten fat-headed and big-eared pigs fell one by one. The onlookers' eyes widened in shock, their mouths agape, speechless and pale. Even Liu Feibai was mesmerized, his spirit drifting away. Yet he felt that this slaughter showed no signs of ferocity, the movements were smooth and effortless, like a dance, light and elegant, pleasing to the eye.
Suddenly, Gu Xuezhai coughed and shook his head, saying: "The one who understands the subtlety of the knife has heard of it, but the blade itself is not thick; with no thickness like having a gap, it is vast and boundless in its movement, and there must be room for maneuver. ... The movement of the knife is subtle, and with a flash, it is already solved, and the cow does not know it is dead. What an extraordinary knife technique! Wonderful! Is this not just Zhuangzi's principle of nourishing life? Seeing your knife skills, I understand the truth of the ancient books, and indeed, the ancients did not deceive me!"
Su Yuexian clapped her hands and laughed: "Right! Butchering the cow like Pao Ding, isn't this just like Pao Ding butchering the cow in the book?"
Chapter 4: Yunqi Wugou Three Women Quarrel Over Words, Zhaoxian Residence Two Dogs Stir Up Trouble
At this moment, the two dogs stood with their knives at the ready, looking around cautiously, their clothes fluttering in the wind, and they seemed to be somewhat "elated and proud". Suddenly, one of them shouted: "Hey, it's been a few days since we last slaughtered pigs, let's get some exercise and sweat a bit!" He inserted his knife into his waistband, undid the buttons, and took off his outer garment, leaving only his grey undershirt. His sturdy, dark-skinned arms were exposed outside. Su Yuexian glanced over and immediately blushed, with two red clouds rising to her cheeks.
Su Jianan calmed down, called the two dogs to his side, and warmly smiled: "Second Dog brothers, I see that your knife skills are superb. From now on, you don't have to slaughter pigs and sell meat anymore. Why not stay here and be my guardian? I won't treat you unfairly." Second Dog said: "How can this be? Master, my mother is still waiting for me to return home early. Can't stay long."
Su Jianan smiled and said, "Your family is always slaughtering pigs, how tiring! Being a guardian is much more comfortable. Usually, you just need to walk around the house, and if you want to go out for a stroll, that's fine too. As for Old Lady, I'll definitely send someone to pick her up and have her live here."
"Bad, bad," said Second Dog, shaking his head. "Killing pigs isn't tiring at all, but my mother is ill and can't get out of bed. She's never left our home before and is also afraid of strangers. Mr. Su gave me the silver, I'll hurry back to take care of Mother." Liu Baifei curled up the corner of his mouth and muttered: "Country bumpkin."
Su Jianan knew that the pig-killing boy was stubborn and couldn't be forced, so he thought of keeping him for a few more days to persuade him slowly. With his mind made up, Su Jianan stood up and patted Er Gou's shoulder, saying: "Heroes have always emerged from their youth. Er Gou, you defeated Du Yuhé of the Wandering Sect today, and soon you'll be famous all over the world. I'll get the accountant to give you the silver. You can stay in the mansion for a few more days, there are still some pigs waiting for you to kill!"
The two dogs heard that they still had to kill pigs, so they stayed. After the dead pigs in the yard were carried out, the sun also rose to the top of the sky. A small servant came over and said that dinner was ready. Su Jianan knew that Er Gou had a big appetite, so he ordered each meal to be prepared with plenty of wine and meat, letting Er Gou eat and drink to his heart's content.
After that, Li Erdou rose to prominence and became the exclusive pig butcher for the Su family. Although he was still of low social status, everyone could see that Old Master Su valued him highly, and they all treated him with respect and courtesy, addressing him as "Li Hero". Li Erdou didn't know what had brought this about, but every day he was showered with flattery and praise, which he found increasingly enjoyable. Moreover, he was well-fed every meal, eating more meat in one sitting than he had in several years, and Li Erdou had never experienced such luxury before, gradually forgetting about the pig-killing incident.
It was a few days later, on an evening at dusk. After dinner, Li Erdou had nothing to do and strolled to the second gate. He heard the sound of people outside the main gate through the wall, as if someone was arguing loudly. Li Erdou felt bored, so he became curious and walked towards the gate.
Still several zhang away from the gate, the two dogs heard the Su family's servants shouting: "Are your dog eyes blind? Look at what kind of place this is! Rushing in with your head down! Get out, get out!" Then a soft and timid female voice said: "I... I'm here to find someone." Next came the sound of something being knocked over, and the servant shouted loudly: "I'll give you two blows to make you remember for a long time. If you still rush in, I'll break your legs."
Two dogs suddenly rushed forward, quickening their pace, and parted the crowd with their hands. Below the stone steps, a tofu vendor's cart had been overturned, and tofu was scattered all over the ground. A young girl sat amidst the mess, wearing a blue shirt and hemp skirt, with a white cloth wrapped around her head, gently touching the wound on her arm as she sobbed quietly. Two dogs let out a loud shout: "Second Sister!" and rushed forward to support the girl's shoulders. The family servants knew that Two Dogs' martial arts skills were exceptional, and even the old master showed him respect. Seeing that this country girl was someone he was familiar with, they exchanged nervous glances, thinking that if "Li Hero" investigated who had beaten someone up, it would be hard to escape blame. At once, the family servants dispersed quietly, and in an instant, they were all gone.
Li Er Gou helped Er Niu up and asked, "Er Niu, how did you end up here?" Er Niu's eyes were filled with tears as she replied, "Since you left, I've been coming to the city every day to sell tofu. Just now, I passed by Old Man Su's house and wanted to take a look at how you're doing, but they wouldn't let me in and even hit me." Li Er Gou was furious, his temples throbbing with anger as he muttered, "Who hit you? Tell me!" Er Niu shook her head and said, "Forget it, Brother Li Er Gou. Let's not talk about this here. Let's find a quiet place to talk." Li Er Gou nodded and supported Er Niu as they walked away from the area.
A few days later, the two of them had a lot to say and wanted to find a secluded place to pour out their feelings. As they walked further, they came to a bamboo forest on the outskirts of town. This place was near Wuyun Mountain and was called "Cloud Dwelling Gorge", also a famous scenic spot in Hangzhou. The gorge was known for its coolness and tranquility. They saw green bamboos blocking the path, colorful butterflies playing among flowers, trees, flowers and grasses lush and verdant, thousands of stems swaying gently in the mist. This place was so beautiful and secluded, with few passersby, it had always been a secret meeting place for lovers.
Two people sat together under the bamboo shade. At this time, the gentle breeze was blowing, and the slanting sunlight seemed like fire. The fragrance of flowers and grasses wafted through the air, intoxicating the heart. The two girls were naturally cheerful and straightforward, chatting with each other, and the grievances they had just suffered were all forgotten. As the sky darkened, the two people whispered to each other. Li Er Gou listened more and spoke less, staring at Er Niu without blinking, but saw that her eyebrows were like smoke, and on her pale face, there were still tear stains, like a small flower with dew. Er Niu felt a bit embarrassed by his gaze, smiled and said: "What are you looking at? It's not like you haven't seen me before." Er Gou sighed and said: "Er Niu, you've lost a lot of weight. Selling tofu is hard enough, and now you have to take care of my mother too." Er Niu smiled lightly and said: "I'm not suffering, and your mother's illness has improved a lot." She took out a pair of shoes from her waist and said softly: "Your feet are big and wear out shoes quickly. Here, I made another pair for you, take it!" Seeing Er Gou stunned and speechless, Er Niu smiled slightly and patted him on the head with the sole of the shoe, saying in a low voice: "Fool!"
With a pat, Er Gou suddenly remembered something, took the shoes and put them away, then pulled out a piece of white silver from his pocket and said: "Er Ni, this is the wages given to me by Old Man Su, take it back and use it for living expenses with my mother!" Er Ni took it over, gently stroking the silver, saying: "Hmm, this silver is really big and white, at least seven or eight taels? If you take it yourself to show your mother, she'll definitely be so happy that she won't be able to sleep!" Saying this, she raised her head and said: "Er Gou brother, come back home with me, the silver you earned is enough for half a year's worth of food, why do you still want to stay at Old Man Su's house?"
The two dogs hesitated for a moment, nodded and said: "You're right, I'll go tell Old Man Su now, and then we can head home!" The second daughter frowned and said: "Let's just leave! What else is there to say?" The second dog hesitated and said: "Uh, they treated me so well, if I just quietly leave like this, it wouldn't be too good, would it?" The second daughter pouted her small mouth, about to speak again, when suddenly a soft and melodious voice called out from afar: "Li Big Brother, where are you?"
People follow the sound and come, two figures flutter from outside the bamboo forest. Walking in front is Su Jia's Miss Su Yuexian; The person behind has a good demeanor, it is Shu Lian. When the two of them approached, Shu Lian saw Li Er Gou and immediately shouted: "Ah, Brother Li, you're here! Hurry up and go back with us! Miss has been searching for you all over the city in her carriage!" Su Yuexian's face is covered with a faint smile, slightly scolding: "Who asked you to be so talkative!"
Li Erdou stood up with a smile and said, "Miss Su." Su Yuexian said, "Why be so polite, what's with the 'miss' stuff? Just call me..." Autumn Orchid took over and laughed, saying, "Just call her Yuexian!" Su Yuexian glared at him again, then covered her mouth and giggled a few times.
Seeing this, Er Niu's face changed slightly, and she pulled on Li Er Gou's sleeve, saying: "Li Er Gou gege, let's go home." Li Er Gou hesitated, touching his head and saying: "Well, even if we leave, I should still say goodbye to Old Man Su. He's been so good to me..." Er Niu stamped her foot, glared at Su Yue Xian, and gritted her teeth, saying: "He's been so good to you, but you can't bear to part with him?" Su Yue Xian snorted coldly through her nose, raised an eyebrow, and shook her head back and forth, saying: "Ah, this forest is quite peaceful, except for the mosquitoes. They're buzzing around, biting people nonstop, how annoying!" Qiu Lan understood the hint and chimed in, saying: "Right! It's just those country bumpkin mosquitoes! Hmph, they're so disgusting, what a nuisance!"
The two girls were quick-witted, but at this moment, their minds were in turmoil and they couldn't speak. Er Niu gritted her teeth and said, "Er Gou brother, let's go!" But Er Gou stood there stupidly, hesitating to say, "I... I can't leave like this! Er Niu, wait for me, I'll go tell Master Su." After finishing speaking, he turned around and ran away. Qiu Lan glared at Er Niu with a cold smile, saying, "You're really shameless, unwanted goods that nobody wants, yet you still cling to them obstinately?" Su Yue Xian snorted again, covering her nose with a handkerchief, her contemptuous disdain was self-evident. Er Niu was both angry and humiliated, she threw the silver ingot on the ground, covered her face and ran away crying.
Li Erdou is an honest man, and he can't rest easy after taking someone else's money. He quickened his pace, wanting to go thank and bid farewell to Su Jianan before returning home. As he approached the mansion gate, he saw a row of attendants standing outside, each with their hands clasped together in respect. Su Jianan was waiting on the stone steps, looking expectant. When he saw Li Erdou from afar, he immediately came forward and said: "Brother Erdou! I finally found you! I had my people look for you everywhere, but Yueshen insisted on going herself - did you meet her?" Li Erdou said: "Master Su, I wanted to tell you..."
Su Jianan waved his hand and said, "Don't mention other things for now. The master of the Wandering Carefree Sect, Liu Chunhou, has personally arrived and is waiting to see you in the main hall!" Er Gou was startled and said, "What, another Wandering Carefree Sect?" Su Jianan's face was full of worry, saying, "That's right, that Master Liu is known as the 'Thousand-Faced Heavenly King', his martial arts are extremely powerful. This time he came in a sedan chair, entered the inner hall and has not yet gotten out of it, he insists on seeing you with his own eyes before he will show himself!"
The two dogs changed color on their faces, and the carefree faction sought revenge. He didn't put his heart at ease, but when he thought of Du Yuhao's exaggerated and artificial coquettishness, he suddenly felt a thrill - but didn't know what kind of strange person this master was?
Li Er Gou followed Su Jian Nan into the courtyard, where he saw dozens of officials and soldiers standing guard with their hands on the hilts of their swords. The stone steps leading to the rear hall were also lined with people, all of whom were burly men in full armor. At the front was a man with a face full of scars, looking arrogant and haughty - it was Xiang Qi Shui, the leader of the Xiao Yao Sect's Tian Feng Hall. Li Er Gou felt anxious and looked around nervously, seeing that the inner hall was brightly lit, with a solemn atmosphere. A large sedan chair with lowered curtains stood in the center of the room, surrounded by eight sturdy porters.
At this moment, Qi Shi's voice rang out, "General Liu of the Imperial Guard has been appointed by imperial decree. How dare you not kneel?" Su Jianan was secretly shocked, wondering how the leader of the Wandering Heroes Gang could also be an official of the imperial court? But with the situation urgent, he didn't have time to think much and quickly pulled Li Er Gou down to kneel together, saying "Scholar Su Jianan from Hangzhou and White-clothed Li Er Gou pay respects to General Liu!" This "scholar" was a title he had bought with 5,000 taels of silver, and seeing the other side showing off their official airs, he also brought out this fake name.
Two sedan bearers lifted the curtain, and a mandarin in brocade robes and jade belt walked out. This Mr. Liu had a plump face, a three-inch beard, and an air of wealth and luxury. His eyes were stern, scanning the two people kneeling on the ground, when he suddenly unfolded the yellow edict and loudly proclaimed: "By the Emperor's decree...". Everyone in the courtyard heard these four words and fell to their knees.
"His Excellency cleared his throat and continued: 'By the Emperor's decree, I have been entrusted with the governance of the universe. My sole desire is to promote peace and education, and day and night I yearn for talented and virtuous individuals to serve as pillars of the state. Now, I appoint Liu Chunhou, Commander of the Imperial Guard, to lead the inspection tour of Jiangnan, to recruit talented individuals for the imperial court. All officials along the way should take note and act accordingly.'"
The crowd looked up to see that the Liu official had a smile all over his face, and in the blink of an eye, he had put on a benevolent expression like Maitreya Buddha. He said with a smile: "This official has heard that there is a young hero named Li Er Gou who is proficient in knife skills, has high martial arts skills, and has defeated several top martial artists in the Jianghu. This official carefully considers the sacred decree, ordering Li Er Gou to enter the palace to meet the emperor. The imperial grace is vast, quickly accept the edict and thank the emperor."
The crowd was stunned, their mouths agape as if in a dream. Suddenly, Liu Chunhou burst into loud laughter, his three tufts of beard blowing straight up, revealing the bold and carefree spirit of a Jianghu master. "Although I am now an official," he said, "I used to roam the Jianghu world. Now, thanks to the kindness of old friends and brothers, I have taken on the position of leader of the Wandering Carefree Sect, but it has been a long time since I last heard news from the Jianghu world." He then turned to Li Erdou and said with a smile: "To be honest, it's embarrassing that Li Xiaoxia defeated all the leaders of my Wandering Carefree Sect. According to Jianghu rules, our sect should not let this go easily. But I remember the imperial edict, put aside past grudges, and recommend Li Xiaoxia to enter the capital to meet with the emperor. Li Xiaoxia should also prioritize national affairs, and can set out on the road tonight."
Su Jianan was overjoyed and stood up, saying: "Master Liu is truly a magnanimous person! Repaying grievances with virtue, such a broad-minded and generous character is rarely seen throughout the ages!" He wanted to flatter him some more, but suddenly Liu Chunhou's eyes widened, and he said sternly: "This official has heard that during his inspection tour of Jiangnan, many local tyrants and corrupt officials have been oppressing the people. No matter how big my heart is, I will not tolerate those treacherous people who deceive the people!" This speech was full of grandeur and official tone. Su Jianan's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he knelt down again with a thud, secretly shocked: "Just now it was 'you', but suddenly it became 'this official'. This Master Liu, nicknamed 'Thousand-Faced Heavenly King', really can change his expression quickly!"
Liu Chunhou suddenly turned to Li Erdou, his angry face instantly transformed into a smiling one. He said warmly: "I've already inquired about it earlier, and I know that Li Xiaoxia's family is poor and has no deep connections with the Su family. This farewell ceremony can be dispensed with. The emperor is eager for talented people to arrive quickly, so please let Li Xiaoxia set off immediately tonight." He beckoned to two men who looked like yamen runners and pointed at them: "These two men are not only from the government office but also members of my gang, the Wandering Heroes Society. One is called Xu Yi'an, and the other is Mao Dapeng; they are both familiar with the road to Beijing. I still have some mundane matters to attend to in Suzhou and Hangzhou, so Li Xiaoxia can travel with these two men first." He gave a signal with his eyes, and the two yamen runners walked forward, standing closely on either side of Erdou. Liu Chunhou smiled again: "I won't see you off since it's a long way; here is a copper plaque from the Wandering Heroes Society that I'll give to Li Xiaoxia to carry with him. If our gang members along the way see this plaque, they will definitely treat him warmly and protect him with all their might." He walked closer and personally hung the copper plaque around Erdou's waist.
Li Er Gou had never seen such a grand scene before, and he was already somewhat nervous and intimidated. When he heard that the Emperor wanted to see him, he became flustered and thought about returning home, but the idea kept turning in his mind and he didn't dare say it out loud. At this moment, seeing two bailiffs sandwiching him, just like a prisoner being led away on stage, he was so frightened that he didn't dare utter even half a "no".
After a brief preparation, Li Er Gou set out with the two escorts that night. The Su family had originally wanted to curry favor with Li Er Gou and host a farewell dinner for him, but they were intimidated by Liu Chun Hou's authority and had to give up. Putting this aside, let's talk about how Li Er Gou and his two companions traveled day and night under the stars. From the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, they headed north for over 20 miles, gradually approaching the borders of Suzhou.
This day they headed northwest for dozens of miles, arriving at a forest of red maple trees. The forest had an inn called "Zhāo Xián Jū". As the three saw that the sky was getting dark and were afraid there would be no more houses ahead, they stayed overnight at Zhāo Xián Jū. The two bailiffs treated Pān Chuān Fēng Shù generously, not stinting on food or lodging for the two dogs along the way.
Three men walked into the inn and saw that there were over a dozen fine horses tied up in the stable at the entrance, all of which were rare good steeds. The two bailiffs asked the shopkeeper and learned that several military officers were staying here. The two bailiffs didn't say much, they immediately asked for two upper rooms, let the shopkeeper help to unpack their luggage and spread it on the bed, and also called for tea to drink.
It was almost dinner time when the sound of horseshoes echoed outside, and another dozen or so guests arrived. They were all dressed in strong attire with arrow sleeves, wearing long swords at their waists, escorting two horse-drawn carriages. The shopkeeper, having seen many things before, knew that these people were escorts transporting goods. However, he noticed that they looked tense, and there was no sign of the escort agency's flag on the carriage. The shopkeeper found it strange but didn't dare to ask questions, so he quickly instructed his apprentices to clean up the rooms.
That night, the clouds were thick and the wind was solemn, the stars hid and the moon fled, the four fields were deep and black, and you couldn't see your fingers when you stretched out your hand. The maple forest was quiet and cold, except for the sound of the night wind blowing through the grass leaves, there was no other sound. The two lanterns hanging at the door swayed back and forth in the wind, adding a bit of eeriness to the night color. The guards at the escort agency took turns standing guard beside the carriage at night.
Li Erdou was exhausted from his journey and fell asleep as soon as he lay down. About three hours later, he was suddenly awakened by the sound of clashing steel outside his window. He sat up with a start and listened to the sounds of fighting, furniture crashing, and people crying out in pain. Li Erdou rubbed his eyes, confused, and muttered to himself: "This place is really strange, why are they still performing at midnight?" Just then, Xu Mao'er rushed in, wearing only his outer clothes, looking terrified, and said: "It's not good! Young Master Li, there's a fight outside! It looks like someone has come to rob the caravan. It's getting very fierce, many people have been killed, and blood is flowing all over the ground. Young Master Li mustn't go out, or he'll get hurt."
Li Er Gou's father had been a bodyguard and had heard his mother talk about his father's adventures in the past. He nodded and said, "Right, being a bodyguard is indeed perilous, that's why my mom didn't let me practice martial arts, she only asked me to slaughter pigs." At this time, the commotion outside grew even more intense. The sound of clashing metal, shattering dishes, and muffled groans filled the air. Someone shouted "Liang Qingzi...", someone else rebuked "Who dares...". There were also the panicked cries of the shopkeeper's apprentices, all sorts of strange noises that pierced one's ears, a cacophony of sounds.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, the door to Li Ergou's room was heavily kicked open. A man who looked like a constable, holding a steel knife, stumbled in, swaying back and forth before falling to the ground. The two bailiffs cried out in surprise, retreating two steps. They saw that the constable had flipped over onto his back, his face covered in blood, his features twisted, his chest stained with a large patch of blood, and his mouth making intermittent groaning sounds.
Li Ergou kills pigs every day and is not afraid of blood. Seeing the injured person pitiful, he hurriedly walked over to help him up, just about to ask questions, when the man's body suddenly convulsed, with fresh blood gushing from his mouth and nose, instantly dying a tragic death. At this moment, Li Ergou suddenly felt a strong gust of wind behind him, turned around to see a shiny long knife chopping down on his head, in the chaos he didn't have time to think carefully, picked up the single knife left on the ground by the deceased and counterattacked with it. With a "clang" sound, he blocked the long knife, followed by flipping the blade, lightly hooking onto the opponent's neck.
The attacker struck before he could defend himself, and all he felt was a flash of light in front of his eyes, a chill on the back of his neck, and before he knew it, his vital points had been seized. He saw that his life was not guaranteed, and just as he was feeling terrified, Li Er Gou slowly withdrew his single-edged sword and said: "You're wearing a bodyguard's uniform, are you a bodyguard? Then you've got the wrong man. He wasn't the one I killed."
The bandit leader looked down at his companion's corpse, slowly backing away. Seeing that Li Er Gou had not moved, the bandit leader secretly let out a sigh of relief and was just about to speak up when he suddenly felt a pair of iron-like hands grab the back of his neck. Before he could even react, he heard a "crack" sound, and the bandit leader's head was twisted off, instantly meeting his demise.
At this sight, Li Erdou was stunned, his brain buzzing. He had killed countless pigs, but he had never seen a person being killed before. The dead man's eyes were bulging out, his tongue was sticking out, and the gruesome state of death made Li Erdou's heart tremble with fear. Suddenly, this terror turned into a bellyful of rage, burning his heart and liver, impossible to suppress.
Two dogs surged with thoughts, silently thinking "it turns out that killing people is even simpler than killing pigs! Killing pigs is for meat, what's the point of killing people? Don't dead people have mothers, wives and children? Who can be so ruthless?" He looked up at the killer. The man was tall and sturdy, with a red face and curly whiskers, around fifty years old. Although his temples were slightly frosted, his spirit was sharp and radiant. His piercing eyes shone brightly, and his wide brocade robe fluttered in the wind, like a majestic male lion.
Li Erdou said in a low voice: "Who are you? How dare you kill people indiscriminately?" The old man sneered and grabbed the dead man's forehead with his huge hand, suddenly shouting loudly and actually tearing off the top of his skull. A red glow flashed, and brain matter flowed all over the ground. The old man said: "You stinky little boy, I don't have time to fight you, if you don't leave quickly, I'll pull your head off!"
Li Erdou was afraid of officials and wealthy masters, but he wasn't afraid of others' threats. He immediately became angry and said: "Everyone is dead, you still want to dig out their brains. Do you think people are pigs?" In a fit of rage, he couldn't hold back anymore and rushed forward, swinging his knife towards the old man's wrist.
The old man was caught off guard, and a strange knife aura suddenly appeared: it was slow and fast, like a paddle rowing water, but also like a whip lashing a horse. It seemed to be chopping towards his wrist, but upon closer inspection, it seemed to be slashing diagonally at his neck. The old man's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he let go of the corpse in his hand and involuntarily took a step back.
Li Ergou took advantage of the situation and stepped forward, his single-edged sword slanting down, its tip stabbing towards the old man's waist. The old man secretly rejoiced, thinking "This is the Yandang School knife technique 'Flying Stream Directly Down', this move is clever but not difficult to resolve." Before he could finish his thought, Li Ergou suddenly flipped over the blade, turning and chopping horizontally, the old man thinking "No! This should be the Kunlun School's famous sword technique 'Peak Returns and Turns'!" But in the blink of an eye, Li Ergou's knife moved with a biased edge, its blade rapidly sweeping across the old man's ribs. The old man was greatly shocked, secretly exclaiming "Not good! This is the Shaolin Arhat Fist's 'Immortal Embracing the Moon', how can this young man use a single-edged sword to execute a fist technique?" It seemed to be but wasn't, mysterious and inexplicable, under helplessness the old man could only retreat another step. But the knife's momentum was swift and fierce, not allowing him to dodge or evade, just hearing "whoosh" as the blade edge passed through the old man's armpit, instantly tearing out a large hole in his clothes.
The old man was rich in combat experience, calm and composed in the face of danger, his five fingers curled into claws as he unleashed his lifelong ultimate skill "Great Strength Eagle Claw Technique". In an instant, a shadowy claw flew across his chest, with a fierce gust of wind, majestic and powerful. However, Li Er Gou still took a step forward, just as the old man's claw was about to grab his face, he muttered softly: "Hitting the tendon with the back of a knife can make pig trotters soft." Before he finished speaking, his wrist turned, and the knife suddenly rose, heavily striking the old man's elbow. The old man's arm went numb, his finger strength disappearing without a trace. Immediately afterwards, Li Er Gou slightly swung his single-edged sword, lightly placing it on the old man's shoulder, the blade's cold air whistling, directly aimed at his neck.
The old man's face changed greatly, his eyes were wooden and he seemed to dare not believe what was happening in front of him. The people in the hall were also shocked and gradually stopped fighting, looking over here together. Everyone stared at Er Gou in confusion and astonishment, all thinking "Who is this young man? He can actually subdue the famous 'Great Power Eagle King'?"
The old man was named Wang Batian, the leader of the Eagle Claw Sect in Henan Province, known in Jianghu as "Great Power Eagle King". Since he started his career at 18, he had been undefeated in all provinces. For nearly twenty years, no one could withstand more than ten moves from him. Now, being forced to retreat three steps by an ordinary young man and almost got defeated was simply an unbelievable event.
Suddenly, without warning, Wang Batian was defeated and humiliated, his dignity lost. In an instant, his waist slumped, his eyes sunken, as if he had aged ten years overnight. Witnessing the downfall of a mighty figure who once shook the martial world, everyone in the room felt a pang of sorrow. Wang Batian let out a long sigh, his face pale and despondent, closed his eyes and awaited his fate.
The house was empty, but suddenly a man clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Heroes have always emerged in their youth. What great swordsmanship, what excellent martial arts!" The tone of the voice was thick and pleasant to listen to, with a hint of majesty hidden beneath. After a brief pause, the voice spoke again: "A master who can make the Eagle King feel so constrained is already among the top few in the martial world today. Haha, I didn't expect that this remote place would produce so many skilled assassins, and also this young man with such extraordinary swordsmanship. Come, regardless of whether you are friend or foe, let's share a drink together first."
Two Dogs originally had no intention of hurting anyone, and seeing the old man concede defeat, he also casually threw his knife to the ground. Turning his head back to look at the person who spoke, he saw a young man sitting next to a chair in the corner, calmly pouring wine. In front of him were four masked big men, and beside him stood an old Taoist priest with a cold expression. Li Two Dogs took a closer look and saw that the young man was wearing a golden-edged python robe, white-soled boots with cloud patterns, his face as smooth as jade, his nose straight, two long strands of hair floating on his chest, exuding an air of elegance and nobility!
At this time, the struggle subsided slightly, and the thick bloody smell spread everywhere. The wounded struggled on the ground, groaning in pain. The lantern at the door cast a dim light, making the night color of the maple forest even more gloomy and quiet.
Inside the house, a group of people stood facing each other, their eyes fixed intently on one another. The majority were from the escort agency, while the opposing side was sparse, with only a handful of people, including that person from back then. Just as things were getting tense, footsteps echoed outside the door, and four masked men and a man in white walked in, silently positioning themselves among the escorts, clearly there to provide backup.
Xu Mao's two attendants hid at the corner of the wall, trembling with fear as they sized up the people in the house. The others didn't seem to be a problem, but then they saw that white-clothed man wearing a hemp rope as a belt, his feet clad in wooden clogs, and his hair tied back in a long braid hanging down behind him, dressed in an extremely strange attire. He held a handle wrapped in a scabbard with a curved blade, neither straight nor curved, resembling both a knife and a sword, yet not quite either of those things. His face was pale, expressionless, his eyes wandering yet focused, staring blankly at some unknown place. Suddenly, as if sensing someone's gaze, he turned his eyes sideways to glance over, the pupils flashing with a cold light, frightening the two attendants into trembling with fear, their teeth chattering.
The two men were clearly of different social classes, but the older man was oblivious and continued to invite Li Er Gou to drink with him. Li Er Gou didn't hesitate and sat down in front of the wealthy man. The older man poured a full cup for him, and he drank it in one gulp, then another, and another... until the fifth cup, when the older man finally asked: "May I ask your honorable surname and given name? How is it that you're carrying the copper plate of the Wandering Heroes Sect? Are you a member of the sect?" As he spoke, he stared at the copper plate hanging from Li Er Gou's waist. Li Er Gou replied: "I'm not a member of the Wandering Heroes Sect, my name is Li Er Gou, yeah, it means two dogs."
Everyone looked at each other, and that person also smiled and said: "Li brothers are very humorous. Eh Er Gou, what school did you come from? What's the story with Eagle King? Why do you want to fight him?"
