Finally Obtain Sword Flying Technique

"Xiao Han, why are you still dragging a scholar along?!"

After returning, Yan Chixia casually picked a small ferry boat. When he saw a bashful scholar following them aboard, he grew rather impatient.

"This Brother Ning also needed a boat, and I saw there was still room, so I let him join us."

Xiao Han smiled and recounted to Yan Chixia what had just happened when he met Ning Caichen. Upon hearing that Ning Caichen had been wronged for an act of kindness, Yan Chixia's expression softened considerably.

Then he introduced him to Ning Caichen: "Brother Ning, this Daoist may look a bit fierce, but he's cold on the outside and warm on the inside. You said earlier you aspire to an official career—surely you've heard the name Yan Chixia."

Ning Caichen, who had been standing behind with some fear, seemed to recall something upon hearing Xiao Han's introduction. He quickly stepped forward and bowed to Yan Chixia: "So it's the esteemed Judge Yan Chixia, once famed across the Guandong Guangxi Twenty-Six Provinces, in person. This humble one, Ning Caichen, pays his respects."

"Hmph! Another scholar heading to the capital for the exams?"

Yan Chixia frowned at the words.

He snorted coldly. Upon hearing that Ning Caichen was also one of those scholars chasing fame and fortune, his just-softened expression turned cold again.

Since becoming disillusioned with officialdom years ago, he had withdrawn from the martial world to cultivate alone, devoting himself entirely to the sword. Only through relentless effort had he achieved the renown of the "Number One Swordsman Under Heaven."

Toward the imperial court, Yan Chixia couldn't say he felt no attachment—after all, having served for many years, he naturally wished the country would prosper. But his disappointment left him with little good impression of those in power.

"No, that's not it."

Ning Caichen's face showed some embarrassment. "This humble one is heading to Guobei County this time to collect debts for an innkeeper."

"Oh? You're going to Guobei County too?"

Yan Chixia turned his gaze to Ning Caichen and was about to say something: "Never mind. We're also heading to Guobei County. Since you're going the same way, you can follow us."

Ning Caichen's face lit up with joy, and he repeatedly thanked him: "Thank you, Hero Yan!"

"I didn't expect Hero Yan, who hates trouble, to take in a stranger," Xiao Han teased.

"Guobei County is only a few days' journey from here. What harm is there in taking him along?"

Yan Chixia shook his head. "Besides, the world is so chaotic now. Good people like Brother Ning... are rare."

With that, he sighed again and walked to the bow to gaze at the scenery.

A man with a story too.

Seeing this, Xiao Han quickly followed: "Hero Yan, is something on your mind?"

"Nothing. Just recalling some old memories."

Taking a big gulp of wine, Yan Chixia sat at the bow, watching the ferryman, and asked casually, "Kid, do you want to learn my Sword Flying Technique?"

Xiao Han was startled, then a bit embarrassed, but he didn't deny it. Instead, he nodded openly: "I am a sword cultivator, so naturally I yearn for the art of sword attack techniques. I just don't know what Hero Yan thinks."

"Hahaha!"

Yan Chixia laughed heartily at that. "I knew you had ulterior motives toward this old Daoist. I tested you today, and sure enough, I guessed right."

Xiao Han thought his words had displeased Yan Chixia and was about to explain when he saw Yan Chixia cheerfully slap his shoulder: "Kid, just now I asked if you wanted my Sword Flying Technique. If you'd uttered half a 'no' with false modesty, this old Daoist would have immediately fallen out with you and gone our separate ways! Why? Heh, because I've always hated those sanctimonious hypocrites!"

"So, Hero Yan, you're willing to teach me the Sword Flying Technique?"

Xiao Han's face lit up with joy as he bowed to Yan Chixia, but the latter stopped him.

"Kid, I told you before—I won't take disciples, and I don't want to. The only reason I'm teaching you the Sword Flying Technique is that you suit my taste. After these days together, I can tell you're no great villain."

Yan Chixia helped Xiao Han up, then pressed a finger to Xiao Han's brow. With a dizzying sensation, Xiao Han felt a vast torrent of information flood into his mind.

"The Sword Flying Technique, the Myriad Swords Technique, methods for forging and refining flying swords, the Soul Leaving the Body Technique, Palm Thunder, and Yan Chixia's lifelong insights into the Sword Dao..."

With so much information suddenly in his mind, Xiao Han was ecstatic. He had thought he'd need to scheme for the Sword Flying Technique inheritance, yet Yan Chixia had handed it over so easily—clearly, he truly approved of Xiao Han as a junior.

"Hero Yan, this... Hero Yan, teaching me swordsmanship—Xiao is endlessly grateful!" In his excitement, Xiao Han bowed to Yan Chixia again, and this time Yan Chixia didn't stop him, accepting the gesture.

"I never married, have no children, and no disciples. If I go down below one day, these skills will likely be lost with me. I may not value inheritance as much as the great sects, but I can't let the Ancient Sword Cultivator Lineage rot in my hands.

So, Xiao Han, listen well! Having inherited my Sword Flying Technique, never do evil! Otherwise, even if I have to cross heaven and earth, from the highest heavens to the deepest underworld, I will hunt you down and kill you!" Yan Chixia stood with his hands behind his back, his tiger-like eyes wide open, staring straight at Xiao Han.

"I will surely obey Hero Yan's words."

Xiao Han agreed repeatedly.

Yan Chixia nodded at that: "Familiarize yourself with the Sword Flying Technique I gave you as soon as possible. If nothing unexpected happens, once we cross the shore, we'll face a fierce battle!"

"Is it the demonic cultivators you mentioned some days ago?" Xiao Han's expression changed.

"Exactly those bastards. A month ago, I found several villages where young girls had gone missing. After a hard pursuit, I finally picked up their trail!"

Yan Chixia gritted his teeth and slapped his thigh. "Those dogs lure young girls everywhere to refine them into sex puppets that only know how to drain men's essence. Then they send them to seduce passing young men and suck them dry.

Then they use that stolen essence to heal the internal injuries caused by their twisted demonic techniques! Those beasts! How many innocent families have they destroyed for their selfish desires!"

"..."

After Yan Chixia finished, Xiao Han was speechless. Wasn't this exactly the Tree Demon Granny's modus operandi?

Except the Tree Demon Granny sent ghosts, while these demonic cultivators sent living people who were little better than walking corpses.

Strange—did all evil paths in this world love being pimps and madams?

But the Tree Demon Granny had the Luo Temple as a base. Where did these demonic cultivators' sex puppets do their killing?

Puzzled, Xiao Han voiced the question.

"Their base? It's at the brothel across the river!" Yan Chixia pointed at the riverbed still a few hundred meters away from crossing.

"Wait—brothel!? So those Demonic Cultivators only drain a portion of the vital essence each time, instead of taking it all?" Xiao Han was startled. Damn, these people actually understood sustainable development!

"Naturally. If one or two brothel patrons died, no one would risk their lives to visit anymore. But if they only drain a part each time, at worst the victim is just weak for a while. Once those Lustful Starving Ghosts recover their strength and get a taste for it, they're sure to come back and patronize the brothel again. Those Demonic scoundrels are shrewd!"

Yan Chixia seemed to recall something and let out a long sigh. "Pity those women who were refined into Sex Puppets. They've lost not only their chastity but also their very selves. Even if we rescue them, they'll only be walking corpses from now on."

Xiao Han opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just sighed deeply and fell silent.

Indeed, no matter which world, strength always reigned supreme. If those innocent women had the power to resist the strong, they wouldn't have been reduced to walking corpses.

That was why he had to keep growing stronger—only by reaching the peak could he act as he pleased and truly control his own fate!