Questions and Answers, and the Sword Manual

Commander Chen shot Wang Jingyuan a glare. "Kid, don't ask what you shouldn't."

"Understood. Then this is strange. After all, it was a contribution to the founding. Not to mention being enfeoffed or becoming prime minister like Chang Yuchun and Xu Da, you should at least get to be a wealthy and idle official. Just who are those people on Blackwood Cliff?"

Commander Chen rebuked, "I told you all to stop asking!"

Wang Jingyuan saw Commander Chen's reaction and suddenly understood. "I see. In the previous dynasty, the Ming Cult was roughly divided into two parts. One part was the high-ranking members, represented by the Left Emissary, Dharma Kings, and the scattered members. After Yang Dingtian died, let alone resisting the Yuan, they were practically tearing each other's throats out for the position of Cult Master.

The other part was the middle and lower ranks of the Ming Cult, represented by the Five Elements Banners and ordinary members. They joined the Ming Cult simply because it was open to all, and it provided them with a platform to organize aspiring individuals to resist the tyrannical Yuan.

The tyrannical Yuan was defeated by them, and it had nothing to do with the higher-ups. Moreover, in the later stages, the Grand Ancestor even forced the former Cult Master, who had a fling with Princess Zhaomin, to abdicate.

Coincidentally, the Ming Cult's high-ranking members had a very good relationship with the former Cult Master. After the Grand Ancestor forced him to abdicate, you can imagine how the high-ranking members felt about him. Thus, it's understandable that they ended up in their current positions due to their contributions to the founding."

Commander Chen turned pale with shock. "Shut up! Are you tired of living?!"

"It seems I guessed correctly." Wang Jingyuan nodded with satisfaction and casually patted Commander Chen's shoulder. "Don't be so nervous. You're just a Centurion, not even a chiliarch. The information you know can't be that important."

Commander Chen's hand rested on his embroidered spring saber, his eyes narrowed as he glared at Wang Jingyuan. "My grandfather was Duke Chen, formerly the Deputy Chiliarch of the Yanshan Left Guard during the Hongwu reign."

"Oh~ You dedicate your youth, then your life, then your descendants. So it's a legacy? It seems that after all these years, besides those who fought for the empire together back then, people who came later don't know these things anymore? Then I'd like to ask, what is the current court's attitude towards the Sun Moon Holy Cult? Is there anyone in the palace who remembers old favors and gives them a hand?"

Commander Chen snorted coldly. "How can petty schemers be compared to nobles in the palace?"

"I understand. It's inconvenient to act due to past favors, but if someone else is willing to make a move, they'd be happy to see it. Otherwise, it wouldn't have become the one and only Demonic Cult in the Jianghu after only a hundred years.

For some reason, I, a Jianghu person, will be in conflict with the Sun Moon Holy Cult in the future, and there's a high probability I'll destroy them. I still have a few investment slots available. Brother, do you want to invest a little? The earlier you invest, the higher the return~"

"My Imperial Guard are the Emperor's personal troops, how can I collude with you Jianghu..."

"I only want results, not a bit of credit."

"...Jianghu person. Considering it's your first offense, I'll let you off this time.

Tomorrow is my day off, and I just want to rest. I don't want to go out. Take this piece of silver and bring me some aged wine and a fat chicken from the market tomorrow. My home is the old house facing south in the eastern part of Hengyang City."

Wang Jingyuan took the silver and casually put it away. "Last question. In this Jianghu, are there any sects that cannot be touched?"

Commander Chen gave him a meaningful look. "Who would want to farm if they could be an official? I thought you weren't afraid of anything."

Wang Jingyuan understood. He turned and walked to the front hall with his hands behind his back. "It's not that I'm afraid. In guild PK, the stronger the opponent, the more excited I get. But I'd have to be brain-dead to go head-to-head with the Great Saber Guards."

Commander Chen didn't understand what Wang Jingyuan was talking about. He could only shake his head inwardly, regretting his impulsiveness just now, to have been swayed by this madman.

Wang Jingyuan arrived at the main hall. Most of the guests had already arrived, even Mo Da was there. However, this person was eccentric and, after a simple greeting to Liu Zhengfeng, sat in a corner meditating with his eyes closed. The only one missing from the Five Great Sword Sects was the Songshan Sect.

As for Yue Buqun, he was adept at social graces and was currently exchanging pleasantries with other Jianghu seniors. Upon seeing Wang Jingyuan emerge from the back courtyard, Yue Buqun gave him a knowing glance.

Wang Jingyuan understood perfectly, as it was part of the plan they had previously agreed upon. Yue Buqun began to subtly shift the topic of conversation to Wang Jingyuan, praising him without any shame.

After a period of praise, Yue Buqun reluctantly steered the conversation to another disciple. "As you all know, I recently gained an excellent disciple. However, you may not know that besides Jingyuan, another disciple recently joined the ranks of my Mount Hua Sect."

The crowd's interest was immediately piqued. What was there not to know? Lin Pingzhi had joined the Mount Hua Sect with the Bixie Swordplay as his betrothal gift, which had become common knowledge a few days ago.

After all, Lin Yuantu had truly relied on a single sword in his early years to establish the Fuwei Escort Agency's transportation network today, and his achievements were verifiable. The Bixie Swordplay was renowned throughout the southeastern region.

Yue Buqun continued, "That day, the head escort of the Fuwei Escort Agency sent someone to deliver the family's sword manual. It baffled me, but Lin Escort's hospitality was hard to refuse, so I had no choice but to accept Pingzhi.

To my shame, I read a few books of the sages in my youth and have always disciplined myself with the virtue of a gentleman. I initially intended to return the sword manual directly to Pingzhi after he arrived, but in the end, I couldn't resist and took a few glances."

Yue Buqun admitting in public that he had looked at the Bixie Swordplay manual, besides eliciting envy and jealousy from certain individuals, caused most people to nod in approval.

After all, the sword manual had already been presented to Yue Buqun by the Lin family as a betrothal gift, and how Yue Buqun disposed of it was his prerogative. Yet, he still felt remorse for being unable to resist glancing at it. The reputation of Gentleman Sword was indeed well-earned.

"Alas!" Yue Buqun sighed. "After reading it, I realized that the Bixie Swordplay is indeed a rare divine art in the world, with extremely high requirements for the practitioner's aptitude.

If someone with insufficient aptitude were to forcibly practice it, it would only harm themselves. None of my disciples at Mount Hua, except for Jingyuan, possess such talent, so only he is permitted to study and practice it.

My Mount Hua Sect is sparsely populated, and this sword manual falling into my hands is truly like a pearl cast before swine. Therefore, I intend to make the Bixie Swordplay public. With talents emerging from all sects, there will surely be others who can practice this swordplay.

However, human hearts are unpredictable. If this world-shattering secret art were to fall into the hands of malicious individuals or members of the Demonic Cult, it would instead become a calamity for the righteous sects.

Therefore, I plan to make several copies of the Bixie Swordplay and entrust them separately to Shaolin, Wudang, and the Five Great Sword Sects. Those who wish to learn this swordplay need only obtain the approval of any one of these sects.

This way, it will prevent the swordplay from falling into the hands of villains while allowing it to be practiced by suitable individuals. However, I must still caution everyone here that this swordplay can only be practiced by those with exceptional talent; otherwise, it will bring nothing but harm."

Shaolin, Wudang, and Songshan did not have representatives present, so Yue Buqun first gave the copied sword manuals to the other three sects of the Five Great Sword Sects. However, with this peerless divine art before them, everyone present became somewhat anxious, especially a certain short man.