Scraping Bone Blade

This day, Wang Jingyuan and Lin Pingzhi were idly chatting on the second floor of Huiyan Tower, Hengyang City's largest restaurant. Wang Jingyuan was here on a stakeout, while Lin Pingzhi was still being bullied by his fellow disciples and could only follow his senior brother Wang Jingyuan, who was at least an acquaintance.

As for why he didn't follow Yue Lingshan, it was naturally because he realized that the more he interacted with Yue Lingshan, the more he was ostracized by others, especially his sixth senior brother, Lu Dayou.

Although it was a restaurant, they also sold tea. Wang Jingyuan had tried it before; excessive drinking only resulted in a [Drunkenness] debuff, which blurred vision and reduced balance, with no positive benefits whatsoever.

So, he never touched alcohol again. Even in restaurants, he only drank tea. As for Lin Pingzhi, being from Fujian, he was even more devoted to tea.

The first floor was a gathering place for Jianghu figures, but the second floor didn't have as many. Those who were there were usually members of reputable sects, making it much quieter. Perhaps it was because most low-level Jianghu figures had no legitimate income, lived hand-to-mouth, and were too poor to afford the second floor.

Wang Jingyuan had come to understand that the Jianghu here was much like society in his previous life. The bottom of the Jianghu were the "spiritually energetic youths," the upper echelons were the "black and evil forces," and the very top tier had become benevolent and had long since gone legitimate.

As for what Wang Jingyuan was staking out here, it was naturally his senior disciple brother, Linghu Chong. Based on his understanding of Linghu Chong, upon entering Hengyang City, he absolutely wouldn't go to meet his Master first but would come here for a drink.

If the original story hadn't changed, Linghu Chong would inevitably visit Huiyan Tower.

Wang Jingyuan didn't have to wait long. In the time it took to finish a pot of tea, a lecherous-looking man, holding a young nun hostage, ascended to the second floor. Wang Jingyuan bypassed the man, instead scrutinizing the young nun.

She was exceptionally beautiful, with a radiant complexion that lit up the room. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old, with a graceful figure. Though she was wrapped in a loose, dark robe, her slender and elegant posture could not be concealed.

This was Tian Boguang and Yilin. If they were here, could Linghu Chong be far behind?

Wang Jingyuan marveled, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. A masterpiece. One word: exquisite!"

Hearing this, the man's eyes lit up, as if he had found a kindred spirit. He walked over and said, "Young brother, you have a good eye."

Wang Jingyuan completely ignored him. The man frowned and asked, "Didn't you hear me speak?"

Wang Jingyuan directly replied, "Don't talk to me. Our sect rules prohibit associating with demonic outsiders."

Hearing this, Tian Boguang knew his identity had been seen through. He placed his hand on the hilt of his saber and asked, "Then, young hero, are you planning to act on behalf of heaven?"

Wang Jingyuan spread his hands and pushed Lin Pingzhi, who was about to get up, back down. "My martial arts are mediocre; I can handle mountain bandits, but fighting you would be seeking my own death."

This answer surprised Tian Boguang. He asked again, "Then what do you intend to do?"

Wang Jingyuan picked up his teacup. "To fight when you can't win is the act of a fool. I'll just continue drinking tea."

Although Tian Boguang was a flower-picking thief, that didn't stop him from looking down on cowards. He pulled Yilin to another table, no longer bothering with Wang Jingyuan, and ordered food and drinks for himself.

The food and drinks for Tian Boguang's table arrived, and then a pale man, covered in bloodstains, followed them up to the second floor. It was Linghu Chong, whom Wang Jingyuan had been waiting for.

As Linghu Chong ascended, he immediately spotted Tian Boguang and Yilin, and then Wang Jingyuan. Wang Jingyuan waved to him, "Oi, Senior Disciple Brother, are you sneaking out for a drink again?"

Although Linghu Chong found it strange that Wang Jingyuan was there, saving the person was more important. He merely nodded to Wang Jingyuan, then walked to Tian Boguang's table, sat down, poured himself a bowl of wine, and drank it down in one gulp. Tian Boguang found it amusing and struck up a conversation with Linghu Chong.

During their conversation, Linghu Chong mentioned Tian Boguang's name. A disciple from the Mount Tai sect at the next table slammed the table, suddenly drew his sword, and rushed in front of Tian Boguang, shouting, "You are Tian Boguang?"

Tian Boguang replied, "So what if I am?"

The young man exclaimed, "Of course, I'm here to kill you, you lecherous scoundrel! Everyone in the martial arts world wants to kill you, yet you speak so brazenly here. Aren't you tired of living?"

Tian Boguang's body flickered, and he casually unleashed a flash of saber light. The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the air. The Mount Tai disciple felt a tightness in his throat and then felt someone grab him by the collar and drag him backward.

Tian Boguang's gaze sharpened as he looked at Wang Jingyuan, who was dragging the Mount Tai disciple back. "Young hero, you have good skills, but you don't seem to have mediocre martial arts."

Wang Jingyuan sheathed his sword. "With that last strike, I could only unleash three consecutive moves. There's a cooldown, it's considered a big move. My big move could barely block your basic attack. If I really fought you, it would be a dead end."

Just as Tian Boguang was about to mock him, another person attacked him. It was Daoist Tiansong from the Mount Tai sect. Seeing his junior nephew nearly cut down by Tian Boguang, he leaped in front of Tian Boguang and attacked fiercely with his sword, shouting repeatedly.

But Tian Boguang didn't stand up, drawing his saber to block while still seated. Tiansong attacked for twenty to thirty sword strikes, and Tian Boguang blocked them all, remaining seated.

Wang Jingyuan didn't take the opportunity to attack. Instead, he patted the Mount Tai disciple on the shoulder and pointed to Daoist Tiansong, who was being "outplayed" by Tian Boguang. "See over there?"

The Mount Tai disciple was still a bit dazed and subconsciously replied, "Mm."

"If I hadn't saved you just now, would you have died?"

"Mm."

"What's your name?"

"Chi Baicheng."

Unbeknownst to them, Wang Jingyuan pulled out a small booklet from somewhere and began writing in it with a charcoal pencil, saying, "Mount Tai sect's Chi Baicheng owes me a life-saving debt."

"Ah?" Hearing this, Chi Baicheng finally came to his senses.

Wang Jingyuan looked at him. "What, you don't intend to acknowledge it?"

Chi Baicheng shook his head. "No. Young hero, please wait a moment. I need to go help my martial uncle!"

Saying that, he was about to go up again. However, this time, Wang Jingyuan directly stopped him and handed him a bottle of wound medicine. "Special Wound Medicine. Remember to use it on your martial uncle later."

Chi Baicheng was somewhat confused. "What?"

Immediately after, he saw Daoist Tiansong defeated, with a cut across his chest. It was only because of his profound cultivation and Yilin's plea that he didn't lose his life.

Meanwhile, Linghu Chong, who had just helped Daoist Tiansong, had his wounds reopen from forcefully using Taiyue Sanqing Peak. However, Daoist Tiansong was ungrateful and cursed Linghu Chong as someone in league with the lecherous scoundrel.

Even Wang Jingyuan, because he hadn't dared to fight Tian Boguang earlier, was now hated by Daoist Tiansong, who refused to use the wound medicine he provided.

"You claim to be disciples of the Five Great Sword Sects, one a coward, the other a lecherous degenerate. I... Ah!" Wang Jingyuan took advantage of Daoist Tiansong's injured state, unable to move, and sprinkled the wound medicine directly onto his wound.

"Esteemed Daoist, I advise you to speak less. After all, you're already in a bad way. I fear if you continue speaking, I might lose my temper and kill you. I've already completed a significant portion of the Mount Hua main quest, and I really don't want to abandon it."

Hearing Wang Jingyuan's words, Daoist Tiansong trembled with anger. "You! You!"

Even Chi Baicheng glared at Wang Jingyuan, but out of respect for the fact that Wang Jingyuan had just saved his life, he didn't say much, only helping Daoist Tiansong and leaving.

Wang Jingyuan turned and sat down at the table where Linghu Chong and Tian Boguang were. Linghu Chong was currently proposing a duel with Tian Boguang. Wang Jingyuan spoke up to stop them, "This table's wine is finished. Whatever you want to do, hold on for a moment. I'll get some more wine."

Seeing Wang Jingyuan actively join the fray, Lin Pingzhi stood up, gritted his teeth, and was about to walk over.

Wang Jingyuan reached out to stop him, "This table can only seat four people. There's no room for you here. Go to the Qunyu Garden next door and book a private room for me, order a table of food and wine, and remember to get some vegetarian dishes."

Lin Pingzhi glanced at Tian Boguang and turned to leave, but Wang Jingyuan called him back, "Little Lin, do exactly as I tell you. Don't cut corners and don't do anything extra. If I can't eat at Qunyu Garden later, be careful, I'll kick your butt with my boots."

Lin Pingzhi ignored Linghu Chong, who was signaling him, and nodded firmly at Wang Jingyuan before heading downstairs. Tian Boguang was a bit curious about Wang Jingyuan's instructions. He considered himself well-traveled in the Jianghu, but he'd never met anyone like Wang Jingyuan before. However, he had witnessed Wang Jingyuan's performance earlier and felt disdain. It was only because Wang Jingyuan was Linghu Chong's junior disciple brother that he didn't make a move. He snorted coldly, "Kid, you're not worthy of drinking at my table."

But Wang Jingyuan ignored him and instead yelled at the waiter hiding in the corner, "Waiter, bring us a jar of your best wine."

Linghu Chong, who had been secretly signaling Wang Jingyuan to hurry and get reinforcements, forgot to signal and only moved his throat, "Junior Disciple Brother, do you know how expensive the best wine in Huiyan Tower is?"

Wang Jingyuan took out a stack of silver notes from his pocket and said, "Master told me not to mistreat myself."

Linghu Chong stared at the stack of silver notes in surprise. Since he could remember, the money Yue Buqun had given him wouldn't add up to that much. Even Tian Boguang couldn't help but glance at it a few times, "Kid, you're quite wealthy, aren't you?"

Wang Jingyuan handed a silver note to the waiter and fanned the rest in the air, "This thing is sometimes more useful than swords and sabers."

Tian Boguang sneered, "When traveling the Jianghu, martial arts are still the most important thing."

Wang Jingyuan didn't comment. He simply placed the wine jar brought by the waiter on the table and broke the seal. Immediately, a rich aroma of wine wafted out, and Linghu Chong was about to grab a large bowl, but Wang Jingyuan stopped him.

Wang Jingyuan pulled out a packet of powder from somewhere and poured it all into the wine. The wine aroma that emanated from the jar was instantly mixed with a medicinal scent.

Linghu Chong anxiously said, "Junior Disciple Brother, what are you doing? You've ruined this jar of wine!"

Wang Jingyuan glared at Linghu Chong with contempt, "What do you know? My tonic... this tonic is much more expensive than this jar of wine."

At this moment, Tian Boguang's eyes widened. He sniffed the medicinal aroma and murmured, "Morinda Officinalis, Cynomorium Songaricum, Cistanche Deserticola, Psoralea Corylifolia, Epimedium, Cuscuta Chinensis, Deer Antler, Deer Penis... and a few other herbs I really can't identify."

Wang Jingyuan raised an eyebrow, "Oh, an expert."

Tian Boguang puffed out his chest and said, "I just recognize them, I don't use them often. But you're quite knowledgeable. Fine, I'll let you drink with us."

Wang Jingyuan said, "Wait. I heard you were going to have a duel. Since there's a jar of wine here, let's change the stakes."

Tian Boguang frowned, "How do you want to gamble?"

"This large jar of wine, whoever drinks half of it will get drunk. Although my Senior Disciple Brother is a big drinker, he's already had a lot, so it's not an advantage. We'll take turns posing a question. The question must be something you can do yourself. If others can't do it, they'll have to drink a bowl of wine. Getting drunk means losing. The last one sober can have the little nun all to themselves."

Tian Boguang smirked upon hearing this, "I saw your eyes practically glued to that little nun earlier. I said you were one of us, and you denied it."

Wang Jingyuan rolled his eyes. If it weren't for Harmony Mode, the tricks I could pull off wouldn't be imaginable by your meager imagination.

Wang Jingyuan didn't answer, only saying, "If I win, you two won't lose out. If Senior Disciple Brother loses, he'll at least drink good wine. If you lose, you'll also enjoy my precious medicine."

Tian Boguang asked, "And what if you lose?"

Wang Jingyuan replied, "Since I dared to gamble with you, I never thought about losing."

Tian Boguang suddenly laughed, "You're quite an interesting fellow. Fine, I'll bet with you. Who goes first?"

Wang Jingyuan raised his hand, "My martial arts are the weakest, so I'll go first."

Tian Boguang generously said, "You go first."

Wang Jingyuan looked at the food and wine on the table. There was a braised pork knuckle with rock sugar, cooked until very tender. Wang Jingyuan grabbed the marrow bone of the knuckle and with a slight flick, the meat fell off, leaving only the bone in his hand.

Wang Jingyuan placed his hand on the table, then placed the marrow bone in his palm. He then drew the precious sword from his waist and, with a ferocious expression, swung it towards his own palm. It was as if he was chopping not his own hand, but a pig's trotter.

Linghu Chong was greatly alarmed and was about to draw his sword to stop him, but Tian Boguang blocked him. He could only watch as Wang Jingyuan's sword cut the marrow bone, and then... nothing happened. After Wang Jingyuan cut the marrow bone, both Linghu Chong and Tian Boguang saw clearly. His sword did touch his palm, but it didn't injure his palm at all. Wang Jingyuan continued to swing his sword, and soon the marrow bone in his palm was shattered into pieces. He lifted his palm, shook off the bone fragments and marrow stuck to his palm, and his palm showed no scratches.

Tian Boguang suddenly drew his saber and slashed at Wang Jingyuan's palm. After the flash of the saber, only a thin line of blood slowly seeped out. Wang Jingyuan casually wiped it away, and the bleeding stopped.

Tian Boguang clicked his tongue in amazement, "I can tell your martial arts aren't very advanced. But this swordsmanship of yours is something I've rarely seen in my life. I concede this round."

Seeing that he conceded, Wang Jingyuan picked up the wine jar and poured wine for both Tian Boguang and Linghu Chong. Tian Boguang took the wine bowl and drank it down. Linghu Chong was also staring at Wang Jingyuan's palm in a daze. Seeing Tian Boguang drink a large bowl, he also followed suit and drank a bowl. He admitted to himself that he couldn't do what Wang Jingyuan had just done. After a bowl of wine, he felt a warm current flow from his throat into his limbs, warm but also a little strange.

Then, Linghu Chong followed suit, "My martial arts are not as good as Brother Tian's, so the second round will be my turn to pose a question."

Tian Boguang, still savoring the medicinal effects, casually agreed.

As in the original story, Linghu Chong chose to duel Tian Boguang, but this time it was a free-for-all among three. Tian Boguang knew that these two junior disciples would likely team up against him, but he wasn't afraid and immediately attacked Wang Jingyuan with all his might. Wang Jingyuan didn't resist at all, leaping backward and voluntarily conceding to preserve himself. However, as in the original story, Linghu Chong won the match with a clever trick. Tian Boguang lost another round.

If Wang Jingyuan hadn't intervened, Linghu Chong would have settled the score with Tian Boguang in one match and saved Yilin. But with Wang Jingyuan's interference, Linghu Chong barely won, only managing to make Tian Boguang drink a bowl of wine. It seemed like a loss, but Wang Jingyuan, who was he? How could he suffer such a loss?

Wang Jingyuan picked up the wine jar and poured a bowl for Tian Boguang, and another for himself. Tian Boguang, a man of his word, drank the wine in the bowl without a second thought. However, this bowl of wine was different from the first.

The medicinal effects mixed with the wine. The effects from the previous bowl had not yet subsided, and this second bowl seemed to ignite explosives, causing the warmth flowing through his body to burn fiercely.

This fire was not one of anger or jealousy, but a pure lust. This lust flowed directly downwards. Instantly, Tian Boguang's eyes turned bloodshot, and he panted like an ox. His gaze fell upon Yilin, who sat to the side. His burning eyes seemed to pierce through her coarse monk's robes, seeing the alluring curves of her body beneath.

"No, I can't stand it anymore!" Tian Boguang suddenly shouted, and then lunged towards Yilin. Yilin screamed and dodged backward, while Wang Jingyuan timely stepped in front of her.

"Brother Tian, are you cheating?!"

"I really can't stand it anymore!"

Nonsense, anyone could see he couldn't stand it.

Wang Jingyuan immediately said, "Brother Tian is just full of youthful vigor, and he's also taken my precious medicine. I'm afraid he's suffering from a burning lust. I just had my junior disciple arrange a table at the nearby Qunyu Garden. I was thinking that win or lose, we could all have a drink together afterward.

For now, let me take Brother Tian to Qunyu Garden to vent his fire. I've heard the girls there are all voluptuous and very skilled."

Tian Boguang, an old hand in the Jianghu, instinctively felt something was wrong. But friends who often let their lower halves take control know that when the head starts to be controlled by the groin, people will follow their desires even if they feel something is amiss.

Wang Jingyuan grabbed Tian Boguang's wrist and used his Qinggong to head towards Qunyu Garden. Tian Boguang, with his remaining shred of reason, grabbed Yilin and followed Wang Jingyuan.

When Tian Boguang saw the sign for Qunyu Garden, he instead pulled Wang Jingyuan's hand and, using his peerless Qinggong, dragged Wang Jingyuan into Qunyu Garden.

Linghu Chong, fearing trouble, followed them.

As soon as they entered Qunyu Garden, Wang Jingyuan took out a stack of silver notes, found the madam, and pointing at Tian Boguang, said, "I'll take all the girls who are still available. This gentleman here wants to test his limits today."

The madam's eyes lit up as she looked at the thick stack of silver notes in her hand and shouted, "Girls, come out and entertain our guest!"

Instantly, countless prostitutes swarmed towards Tian Boguang. Wang Jingyuan took the opportunity to pull Yilin out. By now, Tian Boguang was too far gone to care about anything else, lost in a sea of swaying hips and bouncing chests.

Wang Jingyuan looked around and saw Lin Pingzhi waving at him from the second floor. He then beckoned Linghu Chong, who had just entered, up to the second floor.

The food and wine that Wang Jingyuan had ordered Lin Pingzhi to prepare were just being served. Wang Jingyuan placed the vegetarian dishes in front of Yilin and began to eat. Linghu Chong asked in surprise, "Junior Disciple Brother, was this all your plan?"

Wang Jingyuan pointed at Lin Pingzhi, "He's the Junior Disciple Brother now. Yes, this is precisely my plan."

Linghu Chong quickly said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry and take Master Yilin away!"

Wang Jingyuan shook his head. "I've been busy all day, and the main course hasn't arrived yet. Why should I leave?"

As he spoke, Wang Jingyuan explained the situation to Linghu Chong: "When I put the medicinal powder into the wine jar, I didn't shake it at all. Most of the powder floated on top. The first bowl I poured for Tian Boguang contained the vast majority of the medicinal powder. Your bowl had much less.

When I poured the second time, I used a special method to add more medicinal powder to the jar. Since it was the same powder, the taste didn't change, and Tian Boguang didn't suspect anything.

However, he consumed a large amount of aphrodisiac in a short period, drank wine, and even fought with you. The medicinal effects naturally surged up all at once.

He's a notorious womanizer, his desires are insatiable. Now that I've pushed him like this, he's burning with lust. I counted just now, there are about twenty to thirty girls in the hall downstairs. Tian Boguang is in grave danger today."

Wang Jingyuan took out another stack of silver notes and fanned himself. "Even if he has extraordinary talent and can handle all the girls downstairs, I can still invite more girls from other brothels in Hengyang City to come and help.

I've always said, this thing, sometimes, is much more useful than swords and blades."