Chapter 113: To Take a Master or Not?

Within the Xiaoyao Sect, the transmission of divine skills was divided into three manuals!

“The Bahuang Liuhe Weiwo Duzun Gong!”

“The Beiming Shengong!”

“The Xiao Wuxiang Gong!”

Wu Xingyun, Wuyazi, and Li Qiushui each inherited one of them!

But this did not mean they were ignorant of how the other divine skills were cultivated.

Wu Xingyun, as the eldest disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, was the first to be instructed in martial arts, and so she too knew the Beiming Shengong.

As for Li Qiushui, she had received only the Xiao Wuxiang Gong, yet since she and Wuyazi were husband and wife, they had taught each other their divine skills, so she also knew how to practice the Beiming Shengong.

That is to say, in the whole world, there were three people who knew the Beiming Shengong!

Wuyazi’s expression grew complicated as he looked toward Fang Han and asked:

“The lady within the Langhuan Blessed Land, is she still well?”

Fang Han remained silent for a moment, knowing that this Wuyazi had been somewhat misunderstood.

He still thought Li Qiushui remained inside that Langhuan Blessed Land.

In the original tale, Wuyazi’s words indeed revealed such meaning: at the time he passed his skill to Xuzhu, he also entrusted him with the map of Mt. Wuliang’s Langhuan Blessed Land and a portrait of Li Qiushui.

He told him to go to Mt. Wuliang, to seek out the woman in the portrait—that is, Li Qiushui—

and to have her instruct him in martial arts.

Why had Wuyazi always insisted that his disciple must also be good-looking?

Firstly, it was indeed a matter of preference—he was a yan zhi dang (appearance partisan).

Secondly, it was also because of Li Qiushui.

He knew well that his junior sister favored handsome men. If the disciple chosen was ugly, even if given the token, she might not be willing to teach.

As for why he himself could not teach? His body was paralyzed; how could he?

Once his inner strength was passed on, he would be like an oil lamp exhausted, with no life left to instruct any disciple.

Fang Han gave a slight shake of his head and said:

“That Langhuan Blessed Land has long been uninhabited. I chanced upon it and obtained the manuals of the Beiming Shengong and Lingbo Weibu. I cultivated them on my own, so it was not as Senior says—that the lady taught me. However, within the Blessed Land I did see a jade statue of a woman. Could it be that this statue was modeled after the very person you speak of?”

In his words, Fang Han naturally filtered out matters that were hard to explain, instead offering a version easier for the other to accept.

As he spoke, he secretly observed Wuyazi’s expression.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Wuyazi was stunned:

“She… she has left?”

In his heart, his junior sister had always remained within the Langhuan Blessed Land.

But now, suddenly learning that the Blessed Land had long been deserted, he could not help but feel a sense of desolation.

Of course, Wuyazi would never think that his junior sister’s life had ended.

The divine skills of the Xiaoyao Sect extended one’s lifespan; to live past eighty or ninety, even beyond a hundred, was by no means impossible!

Had he himself not been betrayed and ambushed by his treacherous disciple, falling into a deep ravine, gravely injured and paralyzed, damaging his very foundation—he would not now already feel the approach of death.

Therefore, there was but one possibility:

His junior sister had left the Blessed Land long ago.

But where had she gone?

He did not know.

Given her temperament, perhaps…

Wuyazi’s face turned gloomy. Hearing Fang Han ask about the jade statue only made his heart grow even more conflicted. With a faint sigh, he said:

“That statue… sigh, enough. Those old matters, I no longer wish to bring them up.”

Having spoken, he gathered himself once more, then looked at Fang Han. Suddenly, delight rose in his eyes, and he exclaimed:

“The Beiming Shengong and the Lingbo Weibu must indeed have been left behind by her… You chanced upon them, trained successfully—this is Heaven’s will!”

Before, he had thought that since this youth’s inner strength was already so deep, he might not be willing to accept his transmission. But now he saw that Fang Han had already cultivated the Beiming Shengong—he already had the very foundation of the Xiaoyao Sect!

Thus, not only would Wuyazi not need to expend energy dispelling the youth’s current inner power, but with his own seventy years of cultivation added onto Fang Han’s already immense strength, it would surely be like adding wings to a tiger—his power would soar ever higher!

The only question was… would he be willing?

Yet, before asking, Wuyazi still had one doubt:

“You say you never met the lady within the Langhuan Blessed Land, so how then did you know my name? And how did you learn of my whereabouts?”

After all, the Xiaoyao Sect was a hidden order. Though someone like Tianshan Tonglao had great renown among the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands, in the Central Plains few had even heard of them—let alone of Wuyazi, who had vanished from the world for decades.

Therefore, for Fang Han to come outside and directly state his intent to visit him—this did make Wuyazi feel it all rather odd.

But to suspect that he was with Ding Chunqiu? That was impossible.

That treacherous disciple coveted the Xiaoyao Sect’s divine skills, and for the Beiming Shengong he especially hungered. How could one of his men already have mastered it?

How could a subordinate be stronger than the master?

Moreover, regarding Fang Han’s words, Wuyazi felt little doubt.

If one knew of the Langhuan Blessed Land of Mt. Wuliang, and knew of the jade statue within, then that meant one had indeed gone there in person.

So, he did not overly suspect.

Fang Han smiled faintly:

“The silk scroll that recorded the Beiming Shengong mentioned Senior’s name. As for how I discovered your whereabouts—I have my own ways of knowing.”

Wuyazi nodded slightly at this, his doubts gone.

His gaze upon Fang Han grew ever more affectionate.

His looks were fine—that was plain to see.

His martial skill—displaying the Six Meridians Divine Sword earlier—had shocked even him. Back then he had collected the martial arts of the world, but the Duan family’s Yi Yang Zhi and Six Meridians Divine Sword had eluded him.

And now this young man had not only mastered that sword, but even defeated the Tibetan National Master, Jiumozhi!

This ability, across the Song Dynasty and its neighboring realms, could be called a rare and unmatched peak!

As for natural talent, though not yet tested, to have cultivated the Beiming Shengong—his comprehension and aptitude were beyond doubt.

And from his words and bearing, one could also see the depth of his character.

It could be said—he fit perfectly with Wuyazi’s chosen conditions.

Unable to hold back, Wuyazi asked:

“Good child, would you be willing to take me as your master?”

Fang Han: “…”

Honestly, had this been during his first life’s simulation, upon seeing this scene he would have dropped to his knees without hesitation.

After all, to inherit for free a “max-level account’s” worth of inner strength, and directly take the seat of Xiaoyao Sect’s head—what could possibly be better?

But now, for Fang Han, it was not necessarily essential to do so.

So…

🍃🍃🍃

Footnotes

* * * * Xiaoyao Sect (逍遥派)– A hidden sect in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Tian Long Ba Bu), specializing in unique, profound martial arts.

* * * * Bahuang Liuhe Weiwo Duzun Gong (八荒六合唯我独尊功)– “The Power of the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies, Solely I Reign” – a supreme internal cultivation method of the Xiaoyao Sect.

* * * *

* * * * Beiming Shengong (北冥神功)– “Northern Darkness Divine Skill” – a unique technique that absorbs and transforms the inner energy of others.

* * * * Xiao Wuxiang Gong (小无相功)– “Lesser Formless Skill” – a martial art allowing one to mimic and use other people’s martial techniques.

* * * * Langhuan Blessed Land (琅嬛福地)– A mystical cave-dwelling on Mt. Wuliang, containing hidden martial arts manuals.

* * * * Lingbo Weibu (凌波微步)– “Graceful Step Upon Waves” – a lightweight movement technique, famed for its elegance and speed.

* * * * Yan zhi dang (颜值党)– Literally “appearance faction,” slang for someone who values looks above all else.

* * * * Yi Yang Zhi (一阳指)– “One Yang Finger,” the Duan family’s famous finger strike technique.

* * * * Six Meridians Divine Sword (六脉神剑)– A supreme sword technique of the Duan family, using pure internal energy to form invisible sword qi.

* * * * Jiumozhi (鸠摩智)– The “National Master of Tibet,” a powerful Buddhist monk and martial artist.