Parting Ways

In the middle of the great river, one in white and one in orange figures, each standing on a piece of wood, sword light and palm shadows roared.

Suddenly, the sword light flared, and countless water waves surged with the sword light, transforming into a water blade about five zhang long, which swiftly struck the monk.

Hummm...

The monk could no longer resist. A blood line appeared on his chest, splitting his yellow robe, and he was sent flying backward.

Still in mid-air, he waved his sleeve and flicked out several pieces of broken wood, which landed on the water...

His body sank, and treading on the water as if flying, he had already retreated to the opposite bank.

"Qin Woman Knight is indeed formidable, truly a heroic woman, second to none. This monk has been taught."

Although injured, this person's voice was still full of vigor and deep. As he retreated, he continuously waved his sleeves, stirring up monstrous waves to block his rear.

He plunged into the woods.

Even Qin Huaiying couldn't catch up.

She chased a few steps and then stopped, shooting back.

"Mom, Mom, here."

Ouyang Lan's eyes were filled with excitement.

She quickly waved her right hand.

She rushed over.

The woman in the moon-white dress smiled, her figure flashing, and she embraced her daughter.

"Don't fool around, there are still enemies?"

She looked back at the nearby mountain forest, listening to the roaring sounds coming from within, her eyes showing a hint of vigilance.

Soon, a middle-aged man with a plump body and a sullen expression walked out, rubbing his broadsword heavily on the grass.

He grumbled, "That old scoundrel is too slippery, I couldn't keep him... And the bald donkey escaped from Shijie too?"

"Never mind, guarding our mountain is the priority."

Qin Huaiying shook her head slightly, her gaze falling on the Yinshan Guard soldiers who were retreating. Her expression was tinged with worry.

The worry only showed for a moment. Qin Huaiying put down her daughter and turned to Lu Wu-bing, smiling, "This is my little disciple.

Xiaolan, look at you, clinging to me as soon as you're back, and you haven't even introduced your little junior brother to your mother.

I heard from Yun Chong that this child Wu-bing has astonishing talent in swordsmanship, and his combat power is actually no less than his."

"Disciple pays respects to Shimu."

Lu Wu-bing quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Qin Huaiying's appearance was slightly different from what he had imagined.

He usually heard his Senior Sister Xiaolan talk about her Shimu, how gentle and lovely, meticulous and thoughtful... and also, she had excellent cooking skills, always caring and nagging, just like his own mother.

Now that he saw his Shimu.

It was completely different.

She looked only about ten years older than Senior Sister Xiaolan, and one would believe she was not yet thirty.

Profound cultivation was a cheating thing.

Aging slowly.

The key was that when Shimu made her move, killing intent filled the air, turning water into ice, whistling and rushing.

Full of heroic spirit, majestic and awe-inspiring...

She had completely suppressed the imposing aura of those two groups of soldiers.

Indeed, there are no wrong nicknames, only wrongly named people.

Shimu's nickname was "Seven Kill Sword."

"A couple of days ago, I received news from Hengshan that you fought with those mountain bandits from Chaoyang Stronghold. I was worried sick.

I thought you might encounter many dangers on your journey south..."

Qin Huaiying laughed heartily, "Your Senior Sister Xiaolan is unreliable. Along the way, I'm afraid you, as the junior brother, had to take care of her in many ways. It was truly difficult for you."

"Not at all. On this journey, I relied heavily on Senior Sister Xiaolan's care against strong enemies. If not for her excellent swordsmanship, I probably wouldn't have met Shimu."

"Exactly, Mom, you underestimate me too much. Actually, I also played a very important role. At least, I played thirty percent, no, twenty percent of the role..."

"Haha!"

Qin Huaiying couldn't help but laugh.

She knew her daughter's habit of wanting to save face.

This time, she proactively said she only played twenty to thirty percent of the role along the way, which meant she probably had less than ten percent of the credit.

She had won by taking a free ride the entire way.

In that case, the fact that this child, who had just joined the sect, had such powerful swordsmanship was truly unexpected.

What Yun Chong said might have been a bit of an understatement.

"Come here, this is your Uncle-Master Shen, known as [Subduing Dragon Sword]. He usually resides in Mingyang City and has built up quite a fortune... Previously, Old Devil Xuanyin launched a surprise attack, but he intercepted and repelled him. Unfortunately, he couldn't kill the scoundrel."

"That old devil is ranked thirty-fifth on the Black List, and he has endless ways to save his own life. In a critical moment, he resorted to all sorts of despicable tactics, and I couldn't take him down in time."

[Subduing Dragon Sword] Shen Liancheng chuckled and patted his chest.

"If I meet him again, the old fellow definitely won't escape." His tone shifted, and he looked intently at Lu Wu-bing. "Little Nephew-Disciple, life on the mountain is hard. Why not come to Mingyang City and join my sect?

Coincidentally, your parents are currently living right next door to the Shen residence... Old Brother Lu and I get along famously, we almost became sworn brothers. You definitely won't go wrong following me."

"Get lost, coming here to snatch disciples. You already have so many, and you're still looking for more. When Senior Brother gets back, you'll be in trouble."

Qin Huaiying almost fainted from anger.

Was it easy for them to take in a good disciple? And now everyone was trying to snatch him away.

Seeing Li Feiying also forcing a smile as he rode over, She narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "Junior Brother Li, are you also thinking of taking an interest in my disciple?"

"Don't drag me into this. Who would dare snatch a disciple personally accepted by Senior Brother Ouyang?

Besides, although Nephew-Disciple Lu has extraordinary talent in swordsmanship, he's delicate and not suited for military training.

I just wanted to tell Nephew-Disciple that the Gu family of the Eastern Sea Sword Sect and the Zhao family, the Mingyang Prefect, have quite a relationship. You should be wary."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master Li, Uncle-Master Shen."

Lu Wu-bing finally understood.

His parents had joined Li Feiying's troops that day and traveled south. They might have encountered battles along the way, but thankfully, they were unharmed.

Later, when they reached Mingyang City, they were taken care of by Uncle-Master Shen Liancheng, [Subduing Dragon Sword], which allowed them to settle down safely.

Li Feiying's words were actually a gesture of goodwill.

What he meant was that although the Eastern Sea Sect wouldn't dare make a move openly in Mingyang City, with the Prefect's connections, no one could guarantee what tricks the Gu family might play behind the scenes.

Over time, things could change.

"Who is this little girl?"

It was at this moment that Qin Huaiying noticed Ji Wenxiu, who was standing quietly, holding a small cat, her head bowed.

"Mom, we'll talk about it when we get home."

Ouyang Lan quickly winked at her.

She pulled her mother along, greeted the two Uncle-Masters, and headed in the direction of the Celestial Star Sect.

Lu Wu-bing and Ji Wenxiu naturally followed.

After the group's figures disappeared, Shen Liancheng, who remained standing still, chuckled and said, "What's wrong? Seeing the little princess, you, the official-lover, aren't going to pay your respects? This doesn't seem like you."

Li Feiying, with a cold expression, dragged his long red spear and shook his head, his face expressionless. "Second Senior Brother, my ambitions are not something you, a money-grubber, can understand.

Now that Northern Zhou is about to march south, we need to unite as one. Only a wise ruler can protect the Great Li Dynasty. One wrong step, and we lose everything."

"Wise ruler? Heh heh, a rebel!"

Shen Liancheng chuckled in amusement.

His voice also turned cold.

"Junior Brother Li, listen to Senior Brother's advice. No matter what choice you make, the Celestial Star Sect's three-hundred-year foundation must not be lost.

I only hope that when you make your choice, you will think of all the past sect masters and our Master."

"You don't need to worry about that. I know what I'm doing."

"Hmph..."

The two looked at each other with distaste, too lazy to even maintain superficial pleasantries.

One gathered his troops, the other disappeared into the jungle, and they went their separate ways.

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