Chapter 8, Dugu Swordsmanship

This is hardly "the great Hua Tuo"; it is simply "the great Yama"!

For over thirty years, I have traversed the rivers and lakes, vanquishing foes and defeating heroes, leaving no one in the world to oppose me. Helpless, I can only retreat to a secluded valley, befriending the eagles. Alas, throughout my life, I have sought a worthy adversary but have found none, which is indeed a profound solitude that is hard to bear

Upon suddenly hearing these profound principles of swordsmanship, he couldn't help but become lost in thought, murmuring to himself: "I wonder what kind of magnificence the fourth sword possesses?"

Only one person, with eyes as fiery as a lump of charcoal, watched Chen Ang, feeling an itch beneath his vest

Chen Ang looked at his back, unable to suppress a smile. The already exceptionally perceptive Linghu Chong had now grasped the sword principles of Dugu Qiubai. What kind of brilliance would the Dugu Nine Swords exhibit in his hands

Without any mentorship or friends in the martial world, under the name of 'Sai Huatuo', he took a life from the Qingcheng Sect as soon as he appeared, striking Yucanghai's face repeatedly, forcing him to endure it.

These words struck like a thunderclap, resonating in the ears of several people

I mentioned that there are five and a half extraordinary skills in the world. Previously, I only spoke of the five doors, and regarding the remaining half door, I have a piece of advice to offer to Brother Linghu. Before departing, Chen Ang raised a toast to bid farewell, saying, "In the past, there was the sword demon, the senior Dugu Qiubai, who established a sword tomb in a deep valley. Later, the great hero Yang Guo accidentally entered it and obtained the inheritance. According to his account, the sword demon left behind these few words!"

It now appears that Yu Canghai is not a shrinking turtle; on the contrary, he is truly exceptional in his actions and remarkably intelligent. Otherwise, the leader of Qingcheng, Yu Canghai, would have become the late leader of the Qingcheng sect, Yu Canghai. Master Dingyi and Liu Zhengfeng are greatly relieved for him

Chen Ang could not help but deeply anticipate the future, when Linghu Chong would wield the Dugu Nine Swords. At that time, Linghu Chong, who profoundly understood the essence of the Dugu Sword, would be his best opponent and teacher, and their ultimate battle would yield even greater rewards

I am suffocating!" Qu Feiyan patted her chest, her small face flushed, clearly feeling extremely uncomfortable inside. Upon seeing Chen Ang and Linghu Chong drinking there, her eyes lit up, and she raised her hand to grab the wine jug.

Then, another bolt shot dead the famous camel driver of the northern region, Mu Gaofeng

Linghu Chong was just about to say something when he faintly heard the bustling sounds from outside. Upon listening closely, he could even hear Lu Hou'er’s strange cries. He quickly grabbed Yilin and fled without looking back

"It's all right! Come out!" Chen Ang shouted loudly into the room. Then, from inside the cabinet, there came the sound of rustling. Qu Feiyan peeked her head out from the cabinet, glanced at Lin Pingzhi for a moment, and then pulled the nervous Junior Master Yilin out.

At this moment in the venue, everyone changed color, and a sense of oppression filled the air, so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling to the ground could be clearly heard

I only heard the words left behind, "Brother Chen, I will treat you to a drink another day"

Master Ding Yi silently thought: If Yu Canghai had left a little later, I fear there would have been another person lying on the ground!

Chen Ang, as if enlightened, couldn't help but chuckle: "But this is not that half-baked extraordinary skill!"

Upon turning his head, he indeed saw Lin Pingzhi looking at him, his eyes brimming with hope, as if he had glimpsed the possibility of rescuing his parents

Chen Ang, once again it is Chen Ang

Although the Ming Camel of the Northern Desert cannot be considered a top expert, he is comparable to several of the more formidable members among the Thirteen Protectors of Mount Song. Yet now he lies here like a dead dog, making it truly hard for one to believe their own eyes

The members of the Hengshan Sect still had tasks at hand, and Master Dingyi was eager to find Yilin. Seeing that Chen Ang had no intention of letting them in, she and the group of nuns from the Hengshan Sect headed west to search. Liu Zhengfeng led the disciples to follow them. Once they left, only Chen Ang and the others remained outside the Qunyu Courtyard

Indeed, upon hearing Chen Ang's words, Linghu Chong immediately displayed a tense expression on his face. He glanced back in fear, unaware that his behavior had long been noticed by Yue Buqun.

The second sword is the Ziwei Soft Sword: "Used before the age of thirty, it is inauspicious to accidentally injure a righteous person, leading to endless regret, thus it is abandoned in a deep valley." The third sword is the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword: "A heavy sword without an edge, great skill lies in simplicity. Before the age of forty, one relies on it to dominate the world." My commentary for him is: "Lifting heavy as if light, lifting light as if heavy, effortlessly managing both weights!"

He paused for a moment and said word by word: "I assess him as: no sword in hand, but a sword in heart"

Linghu Chong's desire to see Yue Ling Shan is unknown to Chen Ang, but if he were to encounter Yue Bu Qun, he would likely be in for a headache. Given Yue Bu Qun's pretentious and rigid demeanor, seeing Linghu Chong appear in a brothel would certainly lead to dire consequences for him. Even his junior sister would probably not look kindly upon him.

Chen Ang smiled with his hands behind his back, not answering directly, but instead said: "Senior Dugu inscribed on the Sword Tomb: 'After the age of 40, do not be hindered by objects; grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can all be swords. From this point on, refine yourself diligently, gradually advancing to the realm where having no sword surpasses having a sword.'"

Chen Ang also saw his face, which had contorted in pain, and sighed in disappointment: "The world is so vast, why not go and see it? Why must one seek death?"

Chen Ang, however, smiled and said: "Because this is not a divine weapon, but a wooden sword!"

Although Yilin and Qu Feiyan were undoubtedly shocked, their feelings were evident, even the usually carefree and unrestrained Linghu Chong was left with his mouth agape, displaying a look of deep emotion

It is hoped that this will inspire Feng Qingyang, enabling him to advance further. Thus, when he faces Chen Ang in a duel at the summit of Mount Hua, it will undoubtedly provide Chen Ang with greater insights.

After speaking, he laughed and cried, gesturing wildly, unable to contain himself. Suddenly coming to his senses, he bowed deeply to Chen Ang and said: "Thank you, Brother Chen, for enlightening me. Although the Dugu Swordsmanship is described in just a few words and does not detail the sword techniques, it rightfully deserves the name of a remarkable skill, serving as a grand path for us swordsmen"

After a long while, he finally murmured in a daze: "I pride myself on my excellent swordsmanship, and I even have confidence that I can catch up to my master's exquisite Huashan sword technique within ten years. Yet, to my surprise, the Five Mountains Sword Sect is like a vast ocean, and I, a frog at the bottom of a well, am complacently self-satisfied. Is this not a joke, a great joke!"

When we meet again, we may not necessarily be friends, but we must certainly be good rivals

Oh! She rubbed her hand that had been struck by a chopstick from Chen Ang, looking at him with an annoyed expression

As she listened in a daze, Qu Feiyan suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! How could the divine weapon used by Senior Dugu be decayed?"

Linghu Chong was taken aback upon hearing these words, feeling both astonished and impressed. He also sensed the profound loneliness and difficulty contained within, as if an invisible spirit had stirred his heartstrings. Although it was merely a few brief phrases, he remained captivated, his blood boiling with excitement, and his heart was filled with intense emotion

In a state of overclocking, Chen Ang, with his brain highly developed, does not need to seek various extraordinary skills and secret manuals. This is because every unparalleled master he encounters serves as a unique manual, imparting not only their own martial arts but also their distinct insights and wisdom. This is the foundation upon which Chen Ang ascends the path of martial arts.

As if the Monkey King sprang forth from a stone.

He spoke with great grandeur, declaring: "Eliminate all enemies, defeat all heroes! Once the sword is drawn, the world will bow down! The demeanor of the predecessors is truly inspiring!"

Hearing the phrase 'the heavy sword has no edge,' Linghu Chong felt somewhat entranced. When he further heard Chen Ang's commentary 'light and heavy as one,' he was even more greatly shaken. He murmured to himself: 'Among the various sword techniques of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, the Huashan sword technique is perilous, the Taishan sword technique is magnificent, the Hengshan sword technique is tranquil, the Hengshan sword technique is astonishing, and the Songshan sword technique is elegant. Yet, regardless of the school or style, no matter how different the variations may be, they all prioritize lightness and swiftness. This method of the heavy sword truly transcends the boundaries of swordsmanship in this world.'

"What?" Qu Feiyan stood up in surprise, hardly believing her ears. She jumped up and anxiously asked, "How could it be a wooden sword? Why is it a wooden sword?"

Good sword, good aphorism, good praise; the message from Senior Dugu is good, but Brother Chen's comments are even better!" Linghu Chong clapped his hands and laughed heartily. At this moment, he could not yet comprehend these profound truths of martial arts, but being naturally gifted with a sword's essence, he felt a stirring within upon hearing them

He reached out and pushed Linghu Chong out, saying lightly: "If you don't leave now, your junior sister will be here soon! If she sees you here, who knows how angry she will be! As for the matter of that half-closed extraordinary skill, when you meet the person on the back mountain of Mount Hua, you will understand!"

The disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sect, who were whispering below, fell silent as if they had been struck by a spell of immobilization, staring blankly at Chen Ang as if they were gazing at a monster

With a long sword in hand and a flying dagger in heart, engaging in discourse with the heroes, battling at the pinnacle of martial arts, validating the knowledge within, how exhilarating it is

Chen Ang smiled at him, "The Divine Eagle Hero thinks the same way, but when he opened the sword tomb, he found that the fourth sword, both the blade and the hilt, had long since decayed

In the next moment, everyone saw Mu Gaofeng fall heavily from the sky with a loud 'bang', covering his throat with both hands, blood continuously oozing from between his fingers, a dull and lifeless black dart quietly embedded in it

Chen Ang said: "Since this is the Sword Tomb, the senior Dugu naturally left behind the swords he used. The first sword is a gleaming blue sword. The senior Dugu left a message: 'Fierce and powerful, unbreakable, it was used to contend with the heroes of the He Shuo region before reaching maturity.' I have composed a couplet for it: 'No thickness enters the gap, no move surpasses the move.'

With a few steps, Chen Ang slowly pulled the dart out of Mu Gaofeng's throat, inch by inch

He said, "After all, this is not a place to stay for long, Brother Chen, I shall take my leave!" Linghu Chong cupped his fists towards Chen Ang. He was naturally free-spirited and open-minded, never inquiring about the identity or status of his friends, and he could even befriend the notorious flower thief Tian Boguang. After a conversation, he developed quite a fondness for Chen Ang.

"Children should not drink alcohol!" Chen Ang retracted the chopsticks in his hand, poured himself a glass, and smiled, saying: "Brother Linghu, if you do not leave soon, I fear that the person coming down will be someone you do not wish to see."