Great Li Martial God

Zhanliu Manor Master Shen Liancheng stood upright outside the small courtyard gate in his dark green-black robe, bearing a respectful and formal manner. The short blade that had always hung at his waist was nowhere to be seen.

Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong saw who it was and furrowed their brows, looking wary.

At this point, Shen Liancheng bowed formally toward Li Musheng and said, ”Many thanks to you, Sir, for your mercy in not taking our lives last night. My father is not able to move about freely, but he has urged me earnestly to come here without fail and offer our sincere apologies and gratitude.”

The moment those words fell, Wu Shang and Cheng Zhong were briefly taken aback, while Cao Gaoshan, who had been packing the carriage not far away, immediately stopped what he was doing and strained his ears to listen in on the conversation.

”Whether I kill you or not makes no difference to me. But if you want to live a little longer, you would do well to behave yourselves and do fewer wicked things from here on.”

Li Musheng waved a hand and paid no particular mind to Shen Liancheng’s manner.

Shen Liancheng, however, kept his expression grave, and said with his head lowered in a low, steady voice, ”Your words will be kept close to this subordinate’s heart at all times. The Alliance Under Heaven operatives still remaining in the manor have already been quietly dealt with by my people.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Li Musheng and said, ”Please forgive this subordinate for being bold enough to offer a word of caution. Before this, I learned from Jing Chengluo’s mouth that although the Alliance Under Heaven moved against your party on account of the White Sand Gang, in truth their hidden ambitions run far deeper.”

”Apparently this matter may very likely involve the four great sects of Great Li’s martial world. Even Jing Chengluo only vaguely knew of the existence of such a plan, and had no knowledge of the specifics. I hope you will remain vigilant.”

Hearing this, Li Musheng raised an eyebrow and glanced at Hu Rui’an beside him.Seeing the glance, Hu Rui’an immediately understood its meaning, stepped forward toward Shen Liancheng, and said, ”Manor Master Shen may say whatever he needs to say to me directly. The young master has no interest in these matters.”

Shen Liancheng’s gaze shifted, and sure enough he saw that Li Musheng had already turned and climbed back into the carriage, paying no further attention to him.

Shen Liancheng sighed inwardly. Being dismissed this way was genuinely somewhat awkward, but the moment he thought of the man’s unfathomably deep and terrifying martial Dao cultivation, and of Shen Juesheng’s repeated instructions, every trace of discomfort vanished from his heart. On the contrary, he felt that a peerless genius of Li Musheng’s age who could already suppress a renowned elder of the martial world was simply acting as was natural in every way.

After all, in the martial world where cultivation reigned supreme, everything was ultimately determined by strength.

After that, Shen Liancheng chatted with Hu Rui’an for a while. Throughout the entire conversation, he never brought up a single word about Hu Rui’an and Ruan Zhenhui, never questioned him about it, as though nothing had happened at all.

This left Hu Rui’an feeling deeply moved. If it were not for Li Musheng, the man would surely have made sure to finish him off. After all, not everyone was willing to swallow humiliation like that without a word.

Before long, Li Musheng and his companions rode and drove out of the courtyard and left Zhanliu Manor.

At the same time, Zhanliu Manor sent word to all the martial world guests, announcing that the competition for the Third Young Miss’s hand in marriage had been cancelled, and that all further contests were to be discontinued.

The moment this news reached their ears, the many young martial world hopefuls who had come to compete exploded with fury.

The reaction was especially pronounced among the most favored candidates, who had harbored high hopes. Yet when they recalled the sight of Shen Juesheng’s strike the night before, one by one they settled down.

They could do nothing more than go to Shen Liancheng and demand an explanation. Causing an actual scene within Zhanliu Manor was out of the question.

And after Shen Liancheng offered the somewhat dismissive excuse that ”the Young Miss has suddenly taken ill,” the assembled martial world figures could only swallow their frustration and one by one take their leave of Zhanliu Manor in a state of seething indignation.

In a quiet, unremarkable small courtyard deep within the manor, the feeble and pale Shen Juesheng and the respectful Shen Liancheng sat facing each other.

”The child Anran has made up her mind?”

”Yes, Father.”

Shen Liancheng gave a gentle nod, then furrowed his brow slightly and said, ”Even so, what we have done has stirred widespread anger. Is it not somewhat inappropriate?”

Shen Juesheng, seated across from him, shook his head and said, ”It matters not. As long as I still draw breath, even Falling God Peak will not dare move against Zhanliu Manor lightly.”

Hearing this, Shen Liancheng looked at him with concern, saying, ”Your injuries...”

”Do not worry. Though I was hurt badly this time, a few months of recovery should restore most of it.”

Shen Juesheng, his white hair slightly disheveled, waved a hand, then let out a quiet sigh, saying, ”To speak honestly, since last night, the damage to my state of mind has been far greater than anything my body has suffered.”

The elder who had always seemed so fresh-complexioned despite his white hair now looked haggard and worn. He raised his head and looked out toward the direction beyond the manor, saying slowly, ”That punch has not left my mind. I have roamed the martial world for decades and seen countless martial prodigies. But no one has ever made me feel such complete despair.”

”He is simply too young, and his martial Dao cultivation is so fathomlessly deep that I suddenly find myself thinking the decades of bitter cultivation feel almost laughable...”

Seeing the father he had always revered laying bare such a dejected and despondent mood, Shen Liancheng did not know what to say. His own feelings at this moment were not far from his father’s.

Never before had he experienced the feeling of genuine fear welling up from deep within himself when facing a man at least decades his junior. Looking back on that sensation was enough to fill him with profound shame.

At that point, Shen Liancheng’s expression shifted, and he picked up the short blade with the bronze deer-head inlaid scabbard from beside him, set it slowly on the table between them, and said, ”Father, the reason I had Zhanliu Manor secretly join the Alliance Under Heaven and Falling God Peak was to obtain the ’Skyfall Secret Iron’ to repair the Zhanliu Blade. It will be fully accomplished in a little over a month.”

As he spoke, the lingering shadow on his face suddenly lifted, and a sharp gleam entered his eyes, saying, ”Once the Zhanliu Blade is restored and revealed once more, if Father were to wield it, your martial Dao strength combined with the blade’s power might make it possible to stand against that man in battle.”

The moment those words fell, Shen Juesheng lowered his gaze to the Zhanliu Blade on the table, a thoughtful expression on his face.

After a while, a gleam of spirit flashed through his eyes, and the frame that had been slightly hunched began to slowly straighten as he said, ”What Liancheng says is not without merit. If I could deploy an undamaged Zhanliu Blade, perhaps there is indeed a chance of withstanding that punch.”

With that, Shen Juesheng seemed to recover a thread of confidence, and his expression visibly improved.

Seeing this, Shen Liancheng felt a small measure of relief. Having heard that his father’s state of mind had been damaged, he had naturally been afraid the man might sink into a permanent decline and waste away. Helping the white-haired old man before him recover his spirit was evidently even more important than treating his physical injuries.

With that thought, Shen Liancheng mulled it over briefly and continued, pressing the advantage while he could, saying, ”Father need not dwell on this too heavily. Though that man’s martial Dao cultivation is breathtaking, that punch he threw last night was surely pushing him to his absolute limit.”

”And Father’s blade path only reaches its full potential in combination with the Zhanliu Blade. If there is an opportunity next time, you may well be able to surpass him.”

As he said this, Shen Liancheng’s furrowed brow began to ease slightly, and he said, ”After all, that punch of his last night surely was not held back at all.”

...

On the main road far from Zhanliu Manor, an ornate carriage raced onward at speed.

Inside, the Falling God Peak Elder Bei Shi watched the young man opposite smash the small side table beside him into pieces with a single fist, his voice shaking with fury as he said, ”What kind of nonsense is this?”

Bei Shi’s own expression was dark and unpleasant, but he simply waved a hand and said soothingly to the young man, ”Young Peak Master need not be so angry. Zhanliu Manor is nothing more than a subordinate force of Falling God Peak. Were it not for Shen Juesheng, they would not be worthy of our notice.”

”And it is precisely because of Shen Juesheng that we cannot afford a direct confrontation with them right now. But time is on our side. The humiliation of today will be repaid a hundredfold in due course.”

Hearing this, the young man in Falling God Peak’s cloud-peak black robes wore a cold and venomous expression. He gave a slow nod and said in an icy voice, ”Elder Bei speaks with reason. Shen Juesheng may have profound martial Dao cultivation, but he is old and likely has few years left.”

”The moment he dies, we will take the Zhanliu Blade, and destroy Shen Liancheng and Shen Anran’s entire family.”

As he spoke, the young man’s eyes narrowed slightly, saying, ”Shen Liancheng went to Falling God Peak for the Skyfall Secret Iron. It was presumably to repair the Zhanliu Blade. He thinks he has made the best of a deal, but in the end he will only be dressing a bride for someone else.”

”I had intended to take that little wretch Shen Anran as a plaything, but I never expected her to look down on me. Afterward, I will chain her in my quarters and keep her like a dog.”

Bei Shi glanced at the young man and gave a light nod. The ability to swallow a moment’s humiliation was the mark of someone with the makings of a true overlord.

Within Falling God Peak, the disciples were beyond number and the competition among gifted young men was fierce. In such an environment, force of will was often what mattered most.

...

At the same time, somewhat ahead of them, Li Musheng and his companions were also making their way on the road.

Even so, Wu Shang and the others had peculiar expressions, glancing back at the carriage from time to time, and occasionally casting sidelong looks at a lone rider not far behind them.

On a tall, powerful white horse, a young woman in a close-fitted green outfit rode with skin like white jade, her raven-black hair bound simply with a wooden hairpin, her brows and features as elegant as a painting.

She simply followed behind Li Musheng’s group, not too close and not too far, her gaze occasionally drifting to the carriage where Li Musheng was seated.

And facing the peculiar looks Wu Shang and the others kept directing at her, she maintained her composure without the slightest trace of embarrassment, looking entirely at ease and natural.

Inside the carriage, Hu Rui’an and Murong Xiaoya occasionally looked toward Li Musheng. Shen Anran had followed without stopping ever since they left Zhanliu Manor, and both of them had naturally taken full notice of it.

”There is no need to look at me like that. There is nothing to be done about it. It is entirely this face’s fault for being too appealing. I have always been troubled by it myself.”

Li Musheng touched his own face and let out a quiet sigh.

Inside the carriage, the socially anxious Murong Xiaoya had quietly taken a liking to him, and outside the carriage the Third Young Miss of Zhanliu Manor had fallen for him at first sight and was following relentlessly. All of this was undoubtedly the result of his devastatingly handsome looks.

To speak honestly, if he had not already reached the pinnacle of the martial Dao, he would have been tempted to simply coast through life on this face of his.

”Your Highness, our destination is Falling God Peak, and Miss Shen following along the entire way seems somewhat inappropriate. How does Your Highness plan to handle her?”

Hu Rui’an sat there wrestling with himself for quite a while, then finally brought himself to ask Li Musheng.

After all, given his relationship with Ruan Zhenhui, Shen Anran was her daughter. He naturally had some wish to look out for her and did not want to see her get caught up in the business of exterminating Falling God Peak.

At this point, hearing Hu Rui’an’s question, Li Musheng looked thoughtful.

He was not a cold-hearted person. Having someone this lovely pursuing him so persistently naturally filled him with a fair degree of pleasure.

It was rather like those times back in his school days when the prettiest girl in the class, the prettiest in the department, or the prettiest on campus would secretly slip you a love letter, and even if she was not quite your ideal type, you would not feel any ill will toward her.

On the contrary, compared to a complete stranger, you would naturally come to see her through a slightly warmer and more favorable lens.

”Let’s see how things develop. After all, I have too many people pursuing me, so she will have to prove herself first.”

Li Musheng said with a thoughtful air. He had a feeling that this young woman named Shen Anran was perhaps somewhat prone to falling head over heels.

After all, the other young women who had taken an interest in him had all been at least somewhat reserved. None of them had been quite like her, abandoning everything and chasing after him without them having even exchanged two sentences.

A girl this direct and bold was almost too much to handle, if he was being honest.

Hearing Li Musheng’s words, Hu Rui’an opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing further.

Murong Xiaoya beside them gave Li Musheng a pointed look, as though she had some thoughts of her own about the matter.

But she was far too socially anxious to work up the nerve to say anything, and could only turn her head away with a flushed face.

At this point, Li Musheng glanced at Murong Xiaoya and narrowed his eyes slightly.

Without a doubt, this socially anxious young woman was clearly jealous.

Even so, Li Musheng said nothing about it.

After all, there was an old saying from his previous life that put it perfectly: the one who takes the initiative gets to enjoy the sweet romance first.

For a socially anxious person to find love without making the first move would be even harder than pursuing transcendence of the martial Dao.

The horses and carriage traveled on for some time, and by the time the midday sun was at its most blazing, Li Musheng’s group had just come alongside a towering cliff face.

In the blazing heat, the horses were panting and overheated from their sustained gallop. Seeing this, Wu Shang reported to Li Musheng and Hu Rui’an that he intended to rest briefly in the shade at the base of the cliff before continuing.

Hu Rui’an naturally agreed. After all, if the horses were run into the ground, there was no one for miles around in this desolate stretch of road, and finding replacement mounts at short notice would be impossible.

However, when Hu Rui’an and the others arrived at the cliff base, they found a pair of familiar faces.

The old man in hemp and the little girl in pink from their earlier encounter were already there, having arrived ahead of them and tied up their mule to rest in the shade.

Seeing this, Hu Rui’an paid them no particular mind. After all, there was only one road from Zhanliu Manor to Sheng Province. Running into them was not entirely surprising.

Even so, their group had set out from Zhanliu Manor early enough, and the fact that the two of them had still arrived ahead of them was somewhat beyond what Hu Rui’an had expected.

Even so, the two of them did not appear to have any intention directed at his group, and with Li Musheng present, Hu Rui’an gave them no further thought.

With that thought, Hu Rui’an suddenly furrowed his brow, thinking to himself, ”My own martial Dao cultivation is nothing to scoff at, and I am by no means inferior to that old man. Yet for some reason I keep feeling as though I am relying on His Highness for everything.”

Hu Rui’an immediately reminded himself firmly that he needed to adjust his mindset. He was a subordinate, and ought to always be the one standing in front of His Highness.