A Cheating Player, Here Entirely for Martial Arts

Xiahou Feishan led everyone to the gate of the Southern Shaolin Temple.

Since we are here on behalf of the Xiahou Mountain Manor, we should naturally go through the front gate and pay our respects openly and legitimately.

Xiahou Feishan gave this explanation, but then took Lu Shuangyan and went directly around to the back of the mountain.

There is a pavilion at the foot of the back mountain. There seems to be someone inside, but it is not clear.

There were over a hundred fine horses and more than a hundred people waiting around the pavilion.

People and horses are arranged in a staggered manner, stretching from both sides of the pavilion all the way to the distant woods.

The horse was tied to a tree, and its discontented neighing could be faintly heard.

But none of the people waiting there made a sound.

Lu Shuangyan looked at these people with some curiosity. Apart from a few monks, most of them were either rich or noble, judging from their clothing and appearance.

Some of them were clearly wearing official boots, with protruding bellies, yet they appeared quite nervous.

"There are quite a few people in the various government offices along the coast who collude with the Japanese pirates. After they are punished, someone needs to take their place."

Xiahou Feishan explained, "These people were originally on the Southern Shaolin's recommendation list, but Chu Tianshu had them come over in batches so he could take a look and then confirm their promotions."

Lu Shuangyan was somewhat surprised. "To be able to wait for a promotion means that they already had a certain status and should be considered former allies of the Southern Shaolin. How could they be so obedient and come so readily?"

Xiahou Feishan chuckled and said, "After all, they watched their boss lose his head."

"Moreover, the imperial decrees for promotion are all in Chu Tianshu's hands."

"With both sides combined, they no longer have the opportunity to be fence-sitters."

Lu Shuangyan understood. "They're coming in batches to report on their duties, aren't they? It's a way for them to meet each other as colleagues and consolidate their authority, isn't it?"

Xiahou Feishan's voice suddenly lowered. "If it were only for such a small effect, Chu Tianshu wouldn't have made such a big fuss. I think he must have other intentions."

Lu Shuangyan looked closely and saw that everyone who entered the pavilion seemed to be dismissed after only a few words.

When the two first arrived, they saw over a hundred people in the woods.

In just over an hour, most of the people had left.

Given how rushed the meeting was, even if there were other motives, would there really be enough time for them to be effective?

Inside the pavilion, Chu Tianshu would write down the name of each person he saw on the list in his hand.

After everyone left, Chu Tianshu handed the list to Miaokong and Miaoguo, who were standing next to him.

Miaoguo glanced at it and saw that most people had a checkmark in red ink, but a few were circled.

In addition, more than ten people were marked with an X.

Those marked with a checkmark are barely usable, while those circled are both talented and virtuous.

The items marked with an "X" must be replaced.

The positions originally intended for these dozen or so people will now need to be filled by a new pool of candidates.

"It's truly miraculous; just by meeting them and exchanging a few words, they can know everything about these people."

This wasn't the first time Miaoguo had seen such a list, and she was still deeply shocked.

Miaokong nodded in agreement.

When Chu Tianshu did this for the first time, Miaokong and the others were actually quite skeptical.

Those on the recommendation list have had dealings with the Southern Shaolin Temple for many years.

However, there are too many people, Southern Shaolin cannot delve into every single one of them. In the past, they only sought to ensure smooth business operations and did not have the motivation to delve into anything in depth.

The number of people removed from Chu Tianshu's first batch of lists was not large, so the Southern Shaolin mobilized its manpower to carefully investigate them.

It turned out that those people were indeed up to something, and they hid it quite well.

If we hadn't assumed they had a problem and deliberately investigated, we probably wouldn't have found anything at all.

"Seven or eight out of ten people here are just being used as a makeshift solution. The focus going forward should be on selecting new talent from the general public."

Chu Tianshu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked very relaxed.

His demeanor didn't suggest that it took considerable effort to quickly grasp the personalities and abilities of over a hundred people.

It was more like casually viewing some paintings.

Not only did I not feel tired, but I also used it as a time to relax after practicing.

Since his battle with Chen Zuqi, Chu Tianshu has been diligently studying the secrets of "Refining Spirit into Qi" and has made many explorations into the "Secret Incantations of Vertical and Horizontal and Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer".

He gradually discovered that the "Mist and Rosy Clouds Qi Observing Technique" could reflect more than he had expected.

Although very few people in the world today can actively perceive the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer, everyone is actually affected by it.

The interaction between a person and the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer is closely related to that person's life experiences.

Whether this person has done more good or bad deeds, how many people have been rescued from trouble, and how many have been put in danger, may be enough to gain fame and reputation, deceive the eyes of the world, and even this person himself may not have a clear judgment.

After all, in officialdom, besides those who know whether they are doing good or evil, there are always plenty of fools.

However, none of this could escape the perception of the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer.

Chu Tianshu initially used his method of insight, observing people through the Yanxia and clouds, but he could only see a person's emotional fluctuations at that moment.

Now, however, he can roughly know a person's merits and demerits over half a lifetime by distinguishing the colors of light.

This feeling is truly magical.

It allows you to directly see the competence and factional leanings of your subordinates.

It's almost like playing a management game set in ancient times.

" In the Guangdong and Guangxi regions, there lived a man of great talent Lun Wenxu. He was exceptionally skilled in martial arts and had even passed the provincial examination with top honors. However, he had a conflict with the henchmen of the Eastern Depot and had to live in anonymity for several years."

Chan Master Miaokong said, "This person recently wrote to recommend himself, and in his words he revealed that he has traveled to several provinces in recent years and has made many friends."

"Our plan to organize the imperial examinations ourselves still requires careful preparation. If you have the time, Layman Tian, you could arrange a date to meet with these people."

Chu Tianshu nodded. "Sure."

There is no shortage of talent in any era; what is lacking is the opportunity for them to emerge and continue to grow.

Guh!!

Chu Tianshu downed the remaining half-cup of hot tea in one gulp, stood up, and said, "You guys keep going, I'm going for a walk."

He stepped out of the pavilion and headed straight into the woods, heading towards Xiahou Feishan and Lu Shuangyan.

"There must be very few swordsmen in the world who have cultivated Divine Intent."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "If I'm not mistaken, you are the swordsman who defeated Xiahou and specializes in killing assassins?"

Lu Shuangyan stared at him, her expression peculiar. "It's me. You're much younger than I imagined."

"Likewise, you don't look that old either."

Chu Tianshu invited, "The scenery at the foot of this mountain is rather plain, but there are clear springs gurgling over the rocks on the mountain itself. Inside and outside the temple, there are various martial arts training implements and traces of martial arts practice."

"Shall we go up the mountain and sit for a while?"

He turned and led the way, his expression extremely relaxed, his pace as slow as if he were taking a stroll.

Lu Shuangyan didn't rush to speak, and followed along for half the distance.

While Xiahou Feishan found the journey tedious, the two of them enjoyed it immensely.

It was as if the two people's clothes, expressions, minds, and gazes drifted along this mountain journey, changing with the scenery.

Even halfway up the mountain, you can see many monks practicing their martial arts among the trees on both sides of the mountain road.

They tied straw and cowhide to the tree trunks to practice their palm techniques.

In places like the Arhat Hall and Dharma Hall of the Southern Shaolin, there are training grounds for martial monks, and the fertile fields at the foot of the mountain also serve to hone their mental skills.

However, there are many types of martial arts in Southern Shaolin, and for some palm techniques, practicing on naturally growing trees is the most suitable method.

A large tree with deep roots possesses a resilience that is both strong and tough in its counter-force.

Once their kung fu has reached a certain level of proficiency, and they can shake off a large number of leaves with a single palm strike, they will be sent to practice elsewhere.

Leave these trees to the next generation of disciples.

That ancient, lush tree, with its old leather binding marks on its trunk, has probably witnessed the arduous training of several generations.

"While the Southern Shaolin Temple may not possess as many unique martial arts techniques as the Mount Song Shaolin, their dedication and hard work in Mount Song are in no way inferior."

Lu Shuangyan said, "This place could have been a pure land for martial arts, but unfortunately, the monks were too worldly in the past and were unwilling to completely turn away from worldly life, so they were stuck in the middle and wasted the hard work of the younger generation."

"Now that you've completely led them towards worldliness, that's a great thing."

"Even if it can no longer be a pure land for martial arts, it can certainly become a fertile ground for martial arts."

Chu Tianshu's eyes lit up, and his gaze toward Lu Shuangyan was quite different.

He dominated one region and gradually came to rule the world.

With the expansion of this power along the coast, it will be impossible for a group of monks to occupy high positions in the future.

This is fundamentally contrary to the tenets of Chan Buddhism.

Miaoguo, Miaogao, Miaoji, and others will most likely return to secular life in the future, while the newly promoted core members have never actually been monks.

However, it would be inappropriate to abandon the pilgrimage and reputation that the Southern Shaolin Temple has built up among the people.

Chu Tianshu's idea was to transform the Southern Shaolin into a martial arts school and a military academy.

He has already provided a lot of guidance and laid a solid foundation for this, but even Miaofan and others, being in the thick of it, have not yet clearly realized it.

The swordsman before them immediately grasped the changing atmosphere that was taking place at the Southern Shaolin.

"Turn out to be..."

Chu Tianshu suddenly realized, "You came here not for anything else, but solely for martial arts?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Shuangyan smiled.

Strangely enough, this swordsman wasn't someone who liked to keep a stern face.

He hitched a ride with someone from the Xiahou Family and reunited with Xiahou Feishan, during which he showed what appeared to be a smiling expression several times.

But it was more like his expression, blending in with the overall atmosphere, creating a natural change.

Therefore, those laughs didn't leave a deep impression on others; they were simply blended into the atmosphere at the time.

Now, when he laughs, it's as if he has stepped out of the leisurely mountain breeze and become independent.

He held the black-sheathed longsword in his left hand, slung diagonally behind his waist.

The chirping of cicadas, the mountain wind, and the shadows of the forest cannot create such a straight, powerful slant as a swordsman among men.

"Civil and military affairs—these are the foundation upon which all human achievements have been built over thousands of years."

Lu Shuangyan said, "I am not proficient in literature and science, and I cannot derive any enjoyment from them. From a young age, I only wanted to be a part of the study of martial arts."

"Seeing Liu Yun, going to Dongying, I have seven parts motivation for martial arts and three parts displeasure."

"But to see you, I can do it entirely for martial arts."

Chu Tianshu said with delight, "I've heard Xiahou mention your swordsmanship. He said it's the most suitable sword technique for killing in the world. I wonder if it has a name?"

"I've thought of many names for my sword moves, but they're either too long or too short. What seemed suitable yesterday, I think is pretentious tomorrow."

Lu Shuangyan thought for a moment, "When I debated with Xiahou, his sword technique had thirteen moves in total. Since he said it was suitable for killing..."

"Then let's call it 'The Thirteen Deadly Swords'... Hmm, how about ' The Thirteen Death-Claiming Swords '?"

Chu Tianshu blinked. "The Thirteen Death-Claiming Swords?"

He used to watch a TV series about a man surnamed Xie and a swordsman surnamed Yan who had a sword duel.

This sword technique is among them and is considered the pinnacle of martial arts.

Speaking of which, among the Four Great Aristocratic Clans, there seems to be one whose surname is Xie.

However, the Xie Family is small in number and weak compared to the likes of Xiahou, and currently has little presence in the martial arts world.

"You..."

Chu Tianshu still asked, "Do you know Yan Shisan?"

Lu Shuangyan shook her head and said, "Never heard of it."

(End of this chapter)