The Three of Us Are Too Strong

"Xiao, I considered you a brother, but you peed on me and framed me to ruin my reputation. You... I'll talk to you after I change my pants."

Xu Jixian was furious. He turned around and came back.

Xiang Yuan was startled. Could there be another expert?

"Little Yuan Ge, I'm scared. Come with me." Xu Jixian pleaded.

Xiang Yuan's face darkened. He put away his calligraphy and tucked it into his waist. He had just put on a great show, scoring at least eighty points, but the audience was really not up to par, not worthy of his amazing performance of killing enemies above his level.

What a waste, he thought. If only there was someone who could appreciate it here.

"Stop spouting nonsense. If I hadn't run fast, you would have peed on me."

Xiao He sneered and walked up to Xiang Yuan, supporting his trembling arm. "Little Yuan Ge, the female ghost is gone, and it's not safe to stay here. I'll accompany you back to the Xiao mansion."

"I'll go too, to escort Little Yuan Ge back to the Xiao mansion."

"Hmph, so flamboyant. You should change your pants first."

While Xiao and Xu were bickering, Xiang Yuan closed his eyes and remained silent. After a moment of thought, he decided to accompany Xu Jixian back to his room to change his pants.

The Yellow Springs Dao had lost a disciple, so it was hard to say if there were any companions lurking around. The Xu mansion was not a safe place to stay, but his Primordial Spirit was exhausted. Neither leaving nor staying was safe. Rather than encountering an ambush on a night journey, it was better to stay at the Xu mansion to recuperate.

Furthermore, he had gained something from the Heavenly Saber technique after killing the powerful enemy just now, and he needed to comprehend and digest it as soon as possible.

"Little Yuan Ge is truly righteous. This way, please. Wait in my room for a moment." Xu Jixian seemed to have won the argument with Xiao He, his eyes full of pride.

Xiao He gritted his teeth and followed, supporting Xiang Yuan. He loudly boasted, "Little Yuan Ge, unlike Brother Xu, I come from a family with deep roots and am also a master of the Martial Path. You were too fast just now, and I didn't have a chance to display my full abilities. If I had gone all out, those two ghosts wouldn't have been my match."

Give me a break. You just didn't get peed on by Brother Xu, so why are you pretending to be a master? Even the outhouses at the yamen aren't as full of crap as you are!

Xiang Yuan rolled his eyes, contemplating switching to his jester persona and giving Xiao He a good retort.

Considering his image, he ultimately held back.

Xiao He continued, "Not only can I sing and dance, pfft, I'm skilled in both literature and martial arts. I also know astronomy and geography, and I'm best at observing fate and tracing Qi. The first time I saw you, I knew you were extraordinary and destined for great things."

He said this proudly, as if he had predicted it. His discerning eye for talent had not failed him.

If he hadn't forcefully shared an umbrella that day, Xiang Yuan wouldn't have been able to kill the ghosts today. Therefore, he deserved half the credit for killing the twin ghosts.

The two of us are just too strong!

"And I, I deliberately allowed myself to be seduced by the female ghost and engaged in carnal relations with her, all for Little Yuan Ge to display his might tonight." Xu Jixian forcefully inserted himself into the conversation. If he didn't have merit, he at least had effort; if he didn't have effort, he at least had fatigue. He had to be included.

The three of us are just too strong!

Change your pants first and then brag!

Xiang Yuan was disgusted and didn't want to deal with the two jokers. After entering the room, he sat down to regulate his breathing, using his mind for three purposes: one to circulate Qi, one to remain vigilant, and one to analyze the gains and losses of the battle and summarize his combat experience.

Since transmigrating, he had encountered three fierce battles: the fiend from the Five Poisons Cult, Lingguang the Martial Uncle, and the black-robed cultivator from the Yellow Springs Dao.

There was nothing much to summarize about Lingguang; he was tricked to death by Que Xin. In that battle, except for not peeing his pants, he was no different from Xiao and Xu.

From the perspective of the fiend from the Five Poisons Cult and the black-robed cultivator from the Yellow Springs Dao, both had underestimated their opponents. One died because Xiang Yuan simulated Liu Jingsheng and was caught off guard, while the other died because of the Heavenly Saber Sect martial art 'Lone Star Chasing Moon' taught to Xiang Yuan by his Martial Uncle, also caught off guard.

Both had their methods and their unique ultimate skills. Their abilities were superior to Xiang Yuan's, especially the black-robed cultivator from the Yellow Springs Dao, who was killed with a single strike before he could even unleash his techniques, his life a silent scream against underestimating the enemy.

From Xiang Yuan's own perspective, he concluded that when facing an enemy, if he attacks, he must do so with thunderous force, without any reliance on luck or chance, and without any possibility of retreat. In the battlefield, there are no secondary moves; one move determines life and death.

If possible, try to sneak attack; practice martial arts diligently, as having more skills is never a burden; sneak attack opportunities don't come every time; if you scheme against others, others will scheme against you...

Xiang Yuan summarized a lot, and increasingly felt that his master, Old Daoist Quexin, had made a valid point. Learning is not the goal; applying what you learn is. Martial arts are not practiced in isolation; one must seek knowledge and experience from all quarters.

His path was not on the mountain.

After finishing his summary, Xiang Yuan savored the Heavenly Saber technique 'Lone Star Chasing Moon'. That strike was brilliant and dazzling, the saber moving with the body, the body moving with the mind, and the mind following the will. It was truly superb and could only be unleashed with a heart as still as water.

He asked himself, with his cold-blooded Primordial Spirit, he could grasp one or two essences of this move. How would it be with his steady or jester Primordial Spirits?

After thinking about it, he felt uncertain. A steady approach, seeking stability, would make it difficult to control this one-way, no-return strike. The jester's mind was unpredictable and imaginative. If these two Primordial Spirits were to wield 'Lone Star Chasing Moon', perhaps there would be other profound mysteries, but it would never result in a decisive blow or a desperate escape.

"Controlling the saber with the heart, so complex... so interesting."

Xiang Yuan opened his eyes. His Martial Uncle had left him a treasure trove of martial arts. He had three Primordial Spirits, three mindsets, each with its own chosen way of wielding the technique. He could switch freely when facing enemies. Three minds in one body, he felt a surge of excitement just thinking about it.

This golden finger was quite good.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of cultivation methods started at the Acupoint Opening stage. Only when he himself reached the Acupoint Opening stage could he use the Formless Seal Method for simulation.

One must be strong oneself to forge iron. Cultivation cannot be delayed. He would stay up all night while the iron was hot.

The next morning, the old servant of the Xu mansion returned. Under Xu Jixian's orders, he went to the County Yamen to report the incident.

Soon, the old servant returned with two constables. One was Old Liu, and the other was his new partner, whom Xiang Yuan had seen at the yamen but was not familiar with.

"Huh? Xiang Yuan, what are you doing here? Wait, why are you the one reporting the crime?" Old Liu was taken aback. "You're a constable yourself!"

Xiang Yuan explained and then led the two to see the corpse of the black-robed cultivator from the Yellow Springs Dao. The charcoal had turned to ash and was scattered by the wind throughout the courtyard, leaving only a scorched mark on the ground.

"Who said there are no good people in the Yellow Springs? They turn into spring mud to protect the flowers..."

Seeing this scene, Xiang Yuan softly recited a line and began to explain to Old Liu: "The two young masters were watching the excitement and couldn't help but stir up trouble. They invited Instructor Wang's calligraphy to capture the ghost. I have some knowledge of martial arts and was assigned to protect... The Righteous Qi restrains ghosts, but the later arrival was not a ghost, but an evil cultivator who controlled ghosts. His martial arts were rudimentary, and I killed him with a single strike... The corpse spontaneously combusted, leaving no trace on the spot."

"You're really lucky."

Old Liu's expression turned serious. "If my guess is correct, this person is a disciple of the Yellow Springs Dao. He has considerable spiritual power in raising and controlling ghosts. If his martial arts weren't mediocre, and he had only recently joined, you would have died last night."

"That was truly terrifying." Xiang Yuan nodded.

Old Liu asked about the case. It was easier to handle when it was their own people, and they didn't make things difficult for Xiang Yuan, closing the case simply.

There was no follow-up. Constables earned a certain amount of silver each month; did they expect them to go to the Southern Border to demand an explanation from the Yellow Springs Dao?

Don't be ridiculous, even the Six Doors wouldn't dare.

After seeing off the two constables, Xiang Yuan welcomed two clowns. Without the fun of the female ghost, they couldn't find other entertainment for a while, so the two decided to study at the academy, making a small effort.

Xiang Yuan got into the carriage with them and listened to another crosstalk performance on the way.

As they were nearing the academy, Xu Jixian, for some unknown reason, said, "Xiao Yuan Ge broke off my romantic prospects... demon, you saved my life. I have considerable family wealth and wish to repay you. What do you want, Xiao Yuan Ge?"

Just give me money!

Xiang Yuan opened his eyes. He urgently needed to acquire a mid-grade pill for Acupoint Opening.

He couldn't say it directly. He had established an image as a master last night, and asking for money would be too demeaning. He said calmly, "Brother Xu is kind. My heart is set on martial arts, and I seek nothing else. If you feel indebted, some financial assistance would suffice."

"Then just..."

"Just what, give me some money casually? This is a life-saving debt, and you want to dismiss it with a little money? How can there be such a good thing!"

Xiao He interjected, supporting Xiang Yuan righteously, "Xiao Yuan Ge is fifteen this year and had a difficult childhood. He didn't get to study properly. If you're truly sincere, pay his tuition so he can eat and study with me and the others at the academy."

Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. That wasn't bad either. Wang Wenxu was a capable teacher, and being his student would surely be rewarding.

Anyway, he followed Xiao He to the academy every day, studying during the day and practicing martial arts at night, not neglecting either.

Xu Jixian didn't hear "eat and study together," only "play together." He nodded happily, then said, "That would be great, but the academy isn't enrolling this year. The teacher is incorruptible, and there's no way to bribe him. What should we do?"

"Kneel down and beg him, throw a tantrum, and don't stop until you get what you want. He hates losing face the most; he'll definitely agree," Xiao He offered a clever plan.

"What if he hits me? The ruler really hurts."

"What are you afraid of? Xiao Yuan Ge is a constable. If he's beaten to death, report it to the authorities on the spot."

"That makes so much sense..."

Xu Jixian glared at Xiao He, then looked at Xiang Yuan, gritted his teeth, and nodded, "Fine, I'll go roll around. I don't believe the teacher would actually dare to beat me to death."