Chapter 1

Unaware of his own limitations in the eyes of others, the young man suddenly shouted, "Purple Lightning Pierces the Swallow!" The branch in his hand shot out like lightning, and with a loud crack, it struck a large tree, breaking into two pieces. The young man, however, fell to the ground like a deflated balloon, murmuring, "That old bastard Lei Xiaotian uses this move, Purple Lightning Pierces the Swallow, to pierce through two large trees with a single branch. I don't know when I will ever master it, perhaps I will never be able to in my lifetime. It seems unlikely that I can make him roll in fear. I might as well just starve for three days!"

After just over ten moves of the sword technique, a faint yet surprised "Oh" echoed through the forest, indicating that someone was present, clearly intrigued by Feiyang's mastery of this sword technique.

I said I would teach you martial arts, are you willing to learn

After some thought, I said: "If you were to return to the villa, but not to do menial tasks, rather to learn martial arts, would you be willing?"

Quietly sneaking into the training ground, Feiyang took a glance and felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. Standing in the center of the training ground, with his hands clasped behind his back and pacing back and forth, the person whose face was as dark as thunder, instilling fear in others, was none other than the second master, Lei Xiaotian. Meanwhile, the disciples of the manor, gathered in groups of threes and fives, were engaged in animated discussions.

You ungrateful bastards, foolish pigs, unable to master a set of sword techniques despite repeated practice, while I can learn it just by watching from the side

Xiao Feiyang's eyes lit up: "Do you have a way? Are you acquainted with them?"

Upon realizing this point, Xiao Feiyang could not help but relax, sitting down on the ground and dejectedly saying: "What ability do I have to make them flee in panic? I am merely venting my frustrations with words!"

"Good lad, just a moment ago you were shouting about beating the people of the Divine Sword Manor until they were rolling on the ground in fear, yet now you show such little courage"

Yun Feiyang's home is located in the Wuyi Mountains, where a few simple tile-roofed houses constitute all of his family's possessions. His father relies on gathering firewood from the mountains and selling it in a town ten miles away, earning a meager income. His mother raises silkworms and weaves cloth, barely managing to sustain the family's livelihood

I apologize, I apologize, Second Master, it was an accident!

"Can you teach me how to defeat the second master?" Xiao Feiyang raised his eyebrows.

Then you do not understand the rules and regulations

Yun Feiyang was taken aback, wondering if the mysterious person had overheard his earlier words. If this person was from the Sword Mountain Villa, he would be in for some trouble. However, upon further reflection, he thought that since he was already in this predicament, it didn't matter much. Even if the other party was from the Sword Mountain Villa, they couldn't do much to him. At most, they would give him a good beating; although the people from the Sword Mountain Villa were not good individuals, they were not the type to kill innocents indiscriminately.

The person in blue smiled without answering

The moon slowly rose, and Xiao Feiyang gradually opened his eyes. The forest was already devoid of any human presence, and the mysterious figure in green had long since vanished. Xiao Feiyang felt both excited and puzzled, as if he were in a dream. Who was this master he had picked up? Why was he so mysterious, not even allowing him to see his face?

The person in the blue attire looked at Xiao Feiyang's expression and said calmly, "Indeed, compared to you, some disciples of the mountain villa are not making any progress!"

From anticipation to disappointment, and then to despair, Xiaofei's heart suddenly plummeted from the heights of the sky, shattering into pieces on the ground. Silently turning around, with his head lowered, Feiyang walked step by step towards the exit.

Lei Xiaotian, you bastard, I was just late once, and you expelled me. I hope you choke on your own waste tomorrow and die in the latrine, or that water gets stuck in your throat and you suffocate

Are you new here

With a sense of trepidation, Xiao Feiyang hurriedly began to tidy up the venue, swiftly grabbing a broom and cleaning with great speed. His eyes were fixed on the ground, yet he felt a burning anxiety within, fully aware that the murderous gaze of the second master was fixed upon him. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead uncontrollably. His hands involuntarily quickened their pace, and in an instant, dust filled the air. The male disciples frowned, while some of the female disciples let out exaggerated screams, retreating in unison.

Xiao Feiyang thought for a moment and then said, "Forget it!"

The person in the blue attire pondered for a moment and said: "No, but there is a deep connection with them"

Gazing at the moon hanging high in the sky, Xiao Feiyang fell into a state of worry once again. He had been dismissed from the mountain villa, and his family had lost an important source of income. How could he possibly explain this to his parents upon returning? The thought of his parents' disappointed expressions made Xiao Feiyang curse Lei Xiaotian incessantly.

The man in the blue robe was momentarily taken aback, then couldn't help but burst into laughter, reaching out to throw Xiao Feiyang heavily to the ground, "You little brat, who wants your money?"

Like a thunderclap striking from above, Feiyang raised his head and saw Lei Xiaotian's proud chin. Slowly turning his head, Feiyang pleaded for someone to intercede on his behalf, but as he looked around, he was met with pairs of indifferent eyes. No, it was not indifference; rather, there was simply no reflection of himself in their eyes. Many of them had benefited greatly from him in the past! Whenever he hunted game in the mountains, such as rabbits and pangolins, they were the ones who took it all. Why was there not a single person to speak up for him at this moment? Many of them had benefited greatly from him in the past! Whenever he hunted game in the mountains, such as rabbits and pangolins, they were the ones who took it all. Why was there not a single person to speak up for him at this moment?

The disciple humbly obeys the master's orders; at most, the disciple will make them roll on the ground in fear, but will absolutely not harm a single person. As for the second point, the villa is filled with experts; what need is there for me to offer assistance?

With tears held back, Xiao Feiyang stepped out of the Divine Sword Manor, and as soon as he exited the manor gates, he broke into a run. Tears surged forth like a tidal wave, and he cried out as he dashed along the mountain path, plunging headlong into the dense forest.

However, today seems to be different. This seemingly timid little fellow remained silent for quite a while, instead turning his head to look around, and unexpectedly turned to leave without looking back. Lei Xiaotian could not help but feel furious, saying, "You little rascal, how dare you ruin my mood like this! You better not fall into my hands again, or I will make you wish you were dead but unable to die, and wish to live but unable to live." Filled with resentment, he could not help but direct all his anger at the disciples present: "What are you all doing standing there? Are you blind? Everyone, clean up the training ground!" With a sweep of his large sleeve, he turned and walked inside.

No, I have been working at the villa for two years.

At this moment, Feiyang was cursing with great satisfaction, dancing with the sword in a splendid manner, unaware that someone was lurking in the forest

For this impoverished family, the silver lining amidst their misfortunes is that they have a renowned neighbor, the Sword Mountain Manor, which instills fear in those of the martial world. Even more worthy of celebration is the fact that when he was twelve years old, young Feiyang fortuitously encountered and became acquainted with a young steward of the Sword Mountain Manor while gathering firewood on the mountain. Thus, at the age of twelve, Feiyang secured an opportunity to work at the manor. Although the work was arduous, for a family like his, earning silver was of utmost importance. However, the manor had strict regulations; outsiders were not allowed to reside within its premises. Consequently, young Feiyang could only leave early and return late, traveling over twenty miles back and forth each day, running between the two ends. Despite the exhaustion, the silver was plentiful, and it also strengthened Feiyang's physique remarkably. At a glance, he certainly did not resemble a typical fourteen-year-old boy.

The person in the blue attire slowly stood up, their expression complex, as if contemplating leaving, yet seemingly unable to let go of something. After a moment, the person in blue finally spoke slowly: "If I teach you martial arts, would you be willing to learn"

A few cold laughs echoed, and Lei Xiaotian's indifferent gaze swept over Feiyang's terrified face. He relished this feeling; the sense of power that came from manipulating the fates of others was something Lei Xiaotian thoroughly enjoyed. "You may leave now; the villa does not need lazy people. From now on, do not come back!"

The figure in blue remained silent, extending a hand to break off a branch from the tree. With a casual gesture, he executed a move akin to the "Purple Lightning Piercing the Swallow." The branch, still adorned with a few green leaves, emitted a sharp whistling sound as it shot out like lightning. With a series of sharp sounds, the supple branch astonishingly pierced through four or five large trees. Its momentum unabated, it forcefully embedded itself into another tree, penetrating half a foot into the wood before finally drooping down softly.

What? Xiao Feiyang could hardly believe his ears and quickly turned over to stand up

Feiyang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Are you a person from the villa?"

The person in the forest swayed slightly, and an unusual expression appeared on his gaunt face. What a young man, I thought he was a disciple from the villa, but unexpectedly, he is self-taught and capable.

Feiyang became increasingly tense. In a moment of distraction, the broom swept across someone's instep, instantly turning the pristine doe-skin boots of the other person the same color as the training ground. A cold snort echoed like thunder in Feiyang's ears. Startled, Feiyang looked up to find Lei Xiaotian's piercing gaze fixed squarely on his face. With a loud thud, the broom fell to the ground.

The person in the blue attire laughed heartily, taking a long time to catch their breath, thinking to themselves that this young man is quite amusing

If you achieve success in your studies, you may strike or scold the people of the villa, but you must not kill anyone. Furthermore, if any matters arise in the villa in the future, you are required to assist to the best of your ability

"I’m just waiting for the day when I can learn martial arts and beat you all to a pulp. I... I..." The words that Xiao Feiyang wanted to say rolled around on the tip of his tongue but ultimately remained unspoken. Considering the slim chance of actually beating them to a pulp, he decided it was better not to make such a harsh vow. "I won’t eat for three days!" After thinking for a long time, Yun Feiyang finally came up with something to say. "Hey, I won’t eat for three days and I won’t starve to death." He thought again about the slim chance of beating them to a pulp, and concluded that it was better not to make such a harsh vow. "I won’t eat for three days!" After thinking for a long time, Yun Feiyang finally came up with something to say. "Hey, I won’t eat for three days and I won’t starve to death."

A few cold laughs echoed from the forest, startling Yun Feiyang, who immediately jumped up, his large eyes darting around restlessly. Suddenly, he felt a chill at the back of his neck, as he was lifted off the ground by someone, and then his body was turned around.

From now on, every evening on the fifth day, you shall come here. I will assess your progress in what you have learned, and I will also teach you new things. Today, let me first teach you a set of breathing techniques

In the heat of the moment, Feiyang swung the branches with such flair that he unexpectedly executed a set of sword techniques that would astonish anyone from the Divine Sword Manor, for what he demonstrated was precisely the entry-level sword technique of the manor: "The Phoenix Comes to Greet." The sword techniques of the Divine Sword Manor are unique; at the beginning, they are exceedingly complex and varied, but as one progresses, they simplify, with fewer moves that possess greater power. This "Phoenix Comes to Greet" is the most intricate and versatile sword technique within the Divine Sword Manor. Remarkably, at the age of fourteen, Feiyang was able to perform it with such finesse, truly grasping its essence. While dancing with the sword, Feiyang also shouted curses.

Watching the departing figure of Xiao Feiyang, the person in the green attire slowly stepped out from the forest and pondered, "Have I made a mistake?"

After a while, Feiyang came to his senses and suddenly knelt down in front of the person in green, exclaiming: "Master, please accept me!"

Feiyang's job was to clean the vast training ground of the manor and arrange all the equipment neatly. This task seemed simple, but it was indeed exhausting. Not to mention the enormous training ground, just cleaning and organizing the various weapons was quite a challenge for someone as young as Feiyang. Every day, he had to get up at four in the morning, rush up the mountain from the foot, which took about the time it takes to burn three incense sticks, and then complete all his tasks before dawn. However, today, he was destined not to finish his work. He silently prayed that the second master would not be the one on duty today. With the second master's fiery temper, he would surely dismiss him on the spot. Although this job had been tiring over the past two years, the pay was quite generous, equivalent to what his father earned in half a year. He was just planning to use this month's wages to buy new clothes for his parents when this incident occurred.

Feiyang was taken aback, and his first thought was that he had encountered a bandit from the green forest. He couldn't help but shout, "Hero, I am merely a poor lad, and I truly do not have a single penny on me!"

You must remember what I say today; if you violate it, I will personally punish you

Xiao Feiyang said: "What use is it for me to go in? Not to mention that I have offended the second master of the estate, who will make things difficult for me. Even if he does not make things difficult for me, how will I ever have the chance to defeat him by training with them? Since there is no opportunity, it is better to give up and go home to chop wood with my father."

The person in the blue attire casually sat opposite Xiao Feiyang and said, "I heard you learned this set of sword techniques by secretly observing from the side?"

Master, please speak

Boasting! Feiyang pouted his lips. In Feiyang's view, the martial arts of the second master were the highest he had ever seen

As the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, fourteen-year-old Yun Feiyang hurriedly navigated through the dense forest shrouded in mist. His hair, hastily tied with a strip of cloth, was already dampened by the morning dew, making it appear even darker and shinier, with several strands sticking closely to his forehead. Although his coarse linen clothing was patched in many places, it perfectly accentuated his strong physique. At this moment, Yun Feiyang pressed his lips tightly together, sprinting through the woods with urgency, his heart filled with anxiety. He continuously cursed the large rooster at home that had been raised for seven or eight years: "Damn you, big flower! You always crow at four in the morning, yet today, as it approaches five, you remain silent. If I lose this easy job because of you, I swear I will come back and kill you to make a stew!" Despite his incessant curses, his legs kept pushing forward. The early spring morning was still quite cold, yet our poor Yun Feiyang was already sweating profusely.

The figure in blue revealed a strange glimmer in his eyes, clearly taken by surprise. Xiao Feiyang relaxed and lay back down on the ground, squinting at the little birds hopping around in the forest. Since the other party bore no ill will towards him, Xiao Feiyang felt no further concern.

That depends on how well you learn

The person in the blue attire sighed, "The vicissitudes of life are hard to articulate!" He extended his hand to help the young Feiyang up.

Good lad, still trying to outsmart me! Alright, let me show you something. Tell me, which of the Second Master’s martial arts is the most formidable?

Xiao Feiyang opened his large, terrified eyes, staring at the person before him. Dressed in a long blue robe, with a head of white and black mottled hair casually draped over his head, the man's face was completely covered by a piece of blue cloth, leaving only a pair of piercing eyes that fixed intently on Xiao Feiyang's face. One hand grasped him firmly, while the other hand roamed up and down Xiao Feiyang's body, pinching and prodding, murmuring incessantly, "Good, not bad, good, not bad"

Xiao Feiyang pondered for a moment and said, "I once saw him use a branch to execute a move called 'Purple Lightning Piercing the Swallow,' which pierced through two large trees of this thickness." He extended his arms to demonstrate, and after some thought, he made a concerted effort to widen the distance between his hands a little more.

The sun gradually sank in the west. Lying back in the dense forest, Feiyang let out a long sigh. It was time to go home; how should he explain to his parents? Just thinking about the disappointment in their eyes made his heart sink. Over the past two years, his mother's health had deteriorated year by year due to exhaustion, and she often fell ill. The whole family relied on him to earn money to pay for the doctor. Damn that Lei Xiaotian for driving him out like this. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He sprang up, picked up a branch from the ground, pointed it at the sky, and began to curse. In no time, he vented his anger on everything from the heavens to the earth, using local dialects and expressions. It was impressive how profound and rich the Chinese language could be.

Understood, understood

Lei Xiaotian was waiting, waiting for Xiao Feiyang to plead with him, to cry and beg for mercy, while he would, after having his fun, generously grant him forgiveness, making him grateful, allowing him to feel the transition from heaven to hell, and then from hell back to heaven. Yes, this feeling was truly delightful. In the past, Lei Xiaotian often treated his errant disciples and workers in this manner; this feeling was a form of enjoyment.

Xiao Feiyang's mouth suddenly formed an O shape, and for a long while, he was unable to speak. The man in blue looked at him with a smile, remaining silent as well

"Second Master, I... I woke up late today. I sincerely apologize, I will be ready shortly"

The figure in blue suddenly had a sharp look in his eyes and said, "I can accept you, but there is one condition"

Feiyang retorted, "What do you mean by learning it secretly? I was just a helper at their training ground. When they were teaching swordplay, they didn't ask me to stay away. I found it interesting, so I remembered a bit and practiced for fun!" After a pause, he smiled and said, "You wouldn't believe it, some disciples at the villa are really quite foolish. I learned it just by watching, yet they still couldn't manage it even with hands-on guidance. Once, the second master in charge of sword training got so angry that he beat one of them right on the spot!" When he mentioned the second master, Lei Xiaotian, he couldn't help but touch upon a painful memory, feeling a sense of gloom in his heart, and a shadow flickered across his face.

The sword dance grew increasingly urgent, and the onlooker in the forest watched for a long while, shaking his head and secretly thinking: Although the sword technique is executed well, lacking even a trace of internal energy, it ultimately amounts to nothing more than a decorative pillow, proving to be of no practical use.

Xiao Feiyang was taken aback, immediately recalling how the other party had been touching him all over while continuously praising him. He couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart, wondering if he had encountered a cannibalistic pervert. At the thought of this, his face turned pale, and he involuntarily said, "Hero, I am a mountain dweller, my flesh is tough and not tasty at all!"

Do you understand? What is going on today?

The person in blue asked, "You are unwilling, but you should know that many people wish to enter yet cannot, right?"