Flying Sword of a Hundred Steps

The bamboo raft came whistling in. Caught off guard, the Tibetan monk was struck so hard that his tendons snapped and bones shattered. Screaming miserably, he fell into the river.

The old Taoist moved with it, swift as a phantom, charging into the crowd.

His palm techniques appeared gentle, yet each strike contained immense force. With every palm he sent out, a Yuan soldier or Tibetan monk fell, the crack of breaking bones clearly audible.

In mere moments, more than ten men had been efficiently dispatched by the old Taoist.

"Excellent skill!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Zu Hao's eyes.

The old Taoist moved so quickly that even with his dynamic vision, Zu Hao had to focus completely to keep track of him.

His internal force control had reached such a level, and his physical explosive strength far exceeded ordinary human limits!

In close combat, my reactions might keep up, but my body might not be fast enough to evade him completely.

Wait. The Han River, an old Taoist, a fisherman's daughter, Chang Yuchun looking like Master Luo... I think I know which version this is!

Zu Hao could now confirm that he had transmigrated into the Hong Kong version of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre. The timeline was when Zhang Sanfeng was seeking treatment for Zhang Wuji.

At that moment, the Yuan commander near the dock saw that they had encountered a formidable opponent. Both alarmed and enraged, he immediately ordered the more than twenty archers in the rear to fire.

At once, over twenty sharp arrows shrieked through the air, converging on the old Taoist and the sickly boy.

With a sweep of his sleeve, the old Taoist formed a Taiji diagram of yin and yang energy before him, catching the arrows aimed at the boy. Just as he prepared to send the second volley back—

Zu Hao sprinted to a point a hundred steps away.

"Taoist priest, let me assist you!"

Zu Hao gave a clear shout, focused his will, and the Black Iron Triple-Edged Sword at his waist suddenly flew from its sheath.

It was not drawn by hand. Instead, it seemed to be grasped by an invisible hand, transforming into a silver streak that shot forth at a speed beyond that of a sword thrown with human strength!

Under the control of his telekinesis, the Three-Edged Sword traced bizarre, unpredictable paths through the air. Like a living venomous snake, it swept precisely across every archer's throat.

Cold flashes flickered in rapid succession, and only then did blood burst forth.

The archers did not even have time to react before feeling a chill at their throats. One after another, they clutched their spurting necks and collapsed, their eyes filled with terror and disbelief.

After completing its deadly passage, the Three-Edged Sword lightly curved through the air, flew back into Zu Hao's hand without a drop of blood upon it, and returned to its sheath with a ringing clang.

Throughout the entire process, Zu Hao had not moved a single step.

"Th-this... what kind of martial art is this?!"

The white-haired elder was none other than the Wudang patriarch, Zhang Sanfeng.

His cultivation was profoundly unfathomable, having already reached the Innate Realm. Hitting a willow leaf from a hundred steps away was no difficult feat for him, yet witnessing this Sword Telekinesis technique—taking lives from a hundred steps away, controlled as easily as an arm or finger—still left him utterly stunned.

Zhang Sanfeng could not comprehend at all how that magnificent longsword had been propelled, or how it had turned and changed direction. It had already surpassed the scope of his understanding of martial arts.

Even with his century of cultivation and a heart as still as water, he could not help but be moved.

Chang Yuchun was even more dumbfounded. Then he was overjoyed and shouted, "Thank you, Taoist priest, and thank you, young hero, for saving my life! Chang Yuchun will never forget this kindness!"

Though he was brave and fierce, he knew well that without outside intervention, he would have had no chance of escaping death today.

Suppressing his astonishment, Zhang Sanfeng looked at Zu Hao. Seeing that the young man was exceptionally handsome and carried himself with extraordinary grace, he silently praised him. What an unparalleled young gentleman. His bearing surpasses even that of the Condor Hero I knew in my youth.

At that moment, the girl in green threw herself over the boatman's corpse and wailed, "Father! Father, wake up! Don't leave Zhiruo all alone..."

Chang Yuchun's face filled with grief and guilt as he explained to Zhang Sanfeng, "Taoist priest, she is the boatman's daughter."

"I wished to cross the river, yet I brought this disaster upon the boatman at the hands of the Tartar fiends. I... I truly..."

As he spoke, tears filled his fierce eyes, and he was deeply remorseful.

Zu Hao stepped forward and said, "The brutal Yuan regime is lawless, ravaging the realm and leaving the people displaced, with human lives as worthless as grass."

"This is not one person's fault, but the tragedy of an era."

"Only by driving out the Tartars and restoring Huaxia can such tragedies truly be prevented from happening again and again."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng focused his gaze on Zu Hao once more. Seeing that he possessed not only peerless martial skill but also extraordinary insight, he could not help but feel curious and appreciative. "Young Hero Zu is exceptionally knowledgeable and harbors great ambitions. This old Taoist admires you."

"This humble Taoist is Zhang Sanfeng. May I ask Young Hero Zu's honored name?"

"This one is Zu Hao."

Zu Hao returned the salute with cupped fists, neither humble nor overbearing. "I have long heard that True Man Zhang is a great master of the martial world. To witness your bearing today is truly my good fortune."

"You flatter me, Young Hero Zu."

Zhang Sanfeng smiled faintly. "I saw you display that divine technique just now. It resembled the immortal art of Sword Telekinesis and was truly astonishing. May I ask under which school you trained?"

Zu Hao's thoughts raced, and he smiled. "It is merely a minor hereditary technique, used only for self-defense. It is hardly fit for refined company."

"On the other hand, your feat of sending the bamboo raft flying and killing formidable foes with your palms was effortless and deeply embodied the essence of Taoist martial arts. That is what is truly admirable."

"Cough, cough!"

Zhang Wuji coughed twice.

Supporting the boy, whose face was twisted in pain, Zhang Sanfeng introduced him. "This is my grand-disciple, Wuji."

"So you are the son of Wudang's Fifth Hero Zhang. It is a pleasure to meet you."

Zu Hao looked at Zhang Wuji. Though he was young and frail, a trace of heroic spirit could still be seen between his brows. At present, however, the cold poison had reduced him to a listless state.

As the two spoke, Chang Yuchun had already hurriedly buried the boatman and several Ming Cult brothers. He then approached with the girl named Zhiruo, his expression grave. "True Man Zhang, Young Hero Zu, this place is not safe to linger in. We should board a boat and leave this troublesome place before we continue our conversation."

Everyone agreed.

The group quickly boarded a small boat moored at the dock.

The boatman was a dark-skinned, slightly plump middle-aged man. Holding an oar, he rowed steadily, and the small boat slowly left the shore for the middle of the river.

The small boat drifted eastward along the Han River, shimmering ripples reflecting the varied thoughts of those aboard.

Zu Hao sat in the boat, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

Zhang Sanfeng possessed the bearing of an immortal Taoist. Chang Yuchun had lost none of his bold spirit. Zhang Wuji was curled up in a corner, his complexion bluish-white as his body occasionally trembled from the onset of the cold poison.

As for the girl named Zhou Zhiruo, she kept her head lowered and silently wiped away her tears. Her slender shoulders looked especially fragile.

Zu Hao's mind raced.

The Zhang Sanfeng before him was a grandmaster of martial arts and the greatest opportunity of this journey.

If Zhang Sanfeng could offer him even a little guidance, it would be better than years of fumbling on his own, allowing him to formally enter the path of martial arts.

Otherwise, even if he obtained martial arts manuals, he would be unable to cultivate them without knowing the proper methods!

The breakthrough undoubtedly lay with Zhang Wuji, who had been struck by the Xuanming Divine Palm.

Zu Hao knew Zhang Wuji's fate well. The Nine Yang Manual was the key to saving his life.

Although he did not remember the exact location clearly, it was roughly in the Kunlun Mountains. Finding Zhu Wu Linked Rings Manor, then searching the nearby cliffs for that hidden cave realm, would not be difficult.

Moreover, Zhang Wuji had learned the Seven Damage Fist from Xie Xun. There was plenty of room to work with here.