The Great Martial Saint!

Chapter 747 Gentle Breeze and Bright Moon, Martial Arts Master (Bonus Chapter for 5000 Monthly Tickets in October)

"The Gu family patriarch wants to see me?"

Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, and the scene outside Canglong City from years ago flashed through his mind.

Under the hazy moonlight, a figure stood suspended in mid-air. A mountain breeze blew by, lifting half of his robe sleeves, leaving them hanging empty.

A long sword, wrapped in linen, was carried on his back, its sharpness completely hidden.

A gentle breeze caresses the mountain ridge, and the bright moon shines over the great river.
The Sword of Gentle Breeze and Bright Moon, the Gu Family Patriarch, Gu Tianren!

Chen Ping'an never expected that he would be able to meet with the Gu family patriarch before leaving Xuanling.

Chen Ping'an had both high expectations and deep apprehension towards this renowned martial arts master.

The scene outside Canglong Prefecture left a deep impression on him; the oppressive feeling under that will was something he had never seen before in his life.

Gu Tianren was no ordinary martial arts master. At the height of his power, he once killed a master with his sword, which startled the Bicang County Prince's Mansion so much that it dared not forcibly interfere in the affairs of Canglong Prefecture.

Although the Prince of Bicang's mansion was powerful, it dared not provoke such a strong person.

"A martial arts master, a true martial arts master."

Chen Ping'an tilted his head slightly, his face showing anticipation and his eyes sparkling with excitement.

This is the first time in his cultivation journey that he is about to come into contact with a powerful expert of this level.

A celestial being, a true martial arts celestial being.

The Canglong Gu family's territory is vast, with gardens scattered throughout, mansions like clouds, and palaces and pavilions like stars scattered across the sky.

As the most prestigious family in Canglong Prefecture, the Canglong Gu family enjoys considerable influence.

The Gu family's back garden is a secluded and beautiful place with a tranquil environment.

Two people stood respectfully in front of a wooden cabin and thatched hut.

"Ancestor, your unfilial descendant Gu Zhengnan respectfully obeys your command and has brought Chen Ping'an to pay his respects." Gu Zhengnan, dressed in white, bowed with his hands clasped, his attitude extremely respectful.

Chen Ping'an stood to the side and joined in with a bow.

At this moment, his spirituality was restrained, and he guarded his spiritual platform. With his current spiritual abilities, he could freely sense and observe a pseudo-celestial being without being detected. However, he lacked this confidence in front of a true martial arts celestial being.

This martial arts celestial being, in particular, is one of the strongest among the celestial beings.

Even though he was extremely confident in the panel, he dared not be careless at all when he saw it up close.

"come in."

The door of the thatched cottage opened, and a deep, weathered voice came from inside.

"Yes." Gu Zhengnan bowed respectfully and led Chen Ping'an into the thatched cottage.

As soon as Chen Ping'an entered, he saw a figure standing in front of the offering table in the main hall, dressed in a gray linen shirt, his expression unreadable.

His back view was weathered, neither broad nor thin, and showed no emotion whatsoever.

"Ancestor." Gu Zhengnan bowed respectfully.

"Junior Chen Ping'an greets Ancestor." Chen Ping'an followed suit and bowed in greeting.

The Gu family patriarch, known as the Qingfeng Mingyue Sword Master, should embody the spirit of a gentle breeze and a clear moon, following a carefree, open-minded, and insightful path. But upon meeting him now, even from just his back, Chen Ping'an felt none of that.

Instead, there was a strange sense of oppression and heaviness.

This sense of heaviness, if not keenly felt, would be difficult to detect, but he felt it sincerely the moment he stepped into the wooden house and thatched hut.

Although it was just a formal greeting, Chen Ping'an noticed that Gu Tianren did not have the long sword he had seen before.

"Chen Ping'an." Gu Tianren slowly turned around, revealing a middle-aged face that had witnessed many vicissitudes of life. At first glance, he didn't look like a swordsman, but rather like a down-on-his-luck scholar who had failed the imperial examinations many times.

“You are outstanding, far more outstanding than I was back then. It is my family’s good fortune and luck to be able to marry you.”

Gu Tianren's voice was calm, and his eyes were expressionless.

"You flatter me, Ancestor. I am unworthy of such praise," Chen Ping'an replied with a cupped hand, speaking humbly. "I rose from humble beginnings to this day thanks to the Gu family, which has been like a towering mountain, sheltering me from wind and rain and protecting me greatly. You, Fairy of the City, are as pure and aloof as the moon, untouched by worldly dust. I fell in love with you at first sight. To have such a wonderful partner is truly a blessing from fate and a stroke of good fortune. This marriage is also a blessing for me."

Chen Ping'an spoke sincerely.

As he spoke, his thoughts shifted, as if he were returning to the scene of their first meeting.

Their conversation was subtle and understated, conveying nuanced emotions within its calm surface.

and also
The scene from that day resurfaced in Chen Ping'an's mind once again.

The golden wheel hangs high, dazzling and so bright that it's hard to open one's eyes.

Beyond the golden wheel, the sky was ablaze with rosy clouds, beautiful and dreamlike. Within the rosy light, a bright moon seemed to rise, and within the moon, the faint silhouette of an ancient sword could be seen. In a fleeting glimpse, one could almost see the mysterious patterns covering the sword's blade, bearing the vicissitudes of time and the secrets of the past, its invincible sword intent seemingly capable of severing everything in the world.

Thunder roared among the clouds, carrying the weight of the heavens.

Golden wheel, rosy clouds, bright moon, ancient sword, Divine Firmament
"The awe-inspiring might of Heaven."

Even just a few memories can still bring back that heart-pounding feeling.

He was fortunate to meet such a noblewoman, and their fate was sealed.

Such wondrous events, if not blessed by fate and favored by destiny, what else could they be but a stroke of good fortune?

Gu Zhengnan stood aside, his eyes twitching slightly. He hadn't expected Chen Ping'an to have the ability to lie through his teeth.

If he hadn't been so good at maintaining his composure, he probably would have already been visibly shocked.

He could understand her being as pure and aloof as the moon, untouched by worldly dust.

It's not too bad if you fall in love at first sight.

But what's with this stroke of fate and destiny?

Among the younger generation of the family, Gu Qingcheng is undoubtedly outstanding and a pillar of the family's younger generation. But is saying this a bit too much?
With Mang Dao's current talent and ability, if the position of his wife and partner had not already been arranged by the Gu family, he probably wouldn't know if anyone else would have coveted it.

Even so, there are probably quite a few forces still thinking about how to undermine this talent!
The Hidden Dragon Prodigy, ranked twenty-ninth on the list, is a martial arts grandmaster at the age of twenty-seven. With such talent, not to mention those far away, even within the Bi Cang region, sects like Hengshan Sect and Wenxin Sword Pavilion probably have the same ambition.

Not to mention other forces, even the Bi Cang County Prince's Mansion probably still has their eyes on Mang Dao's wife and Daoist partner.

If Mang Dao were willing, with his current prestige and status, he could even get close to the most favored little princess in the Prince's mansion!

Under such circumstances, how could Mang Dao utter the phrase "favored by fate, blessed by destiny"?

Thinking of this, Gu Zhengnan's face darkened, and he glanced at Chen Ping'an out of the corner of his eye.

His expression was sincere, his face honest, and he really was...
That's incredibly shameless!

Following the Azure Dragon Feast, Chen Ping'an's impression on him was refreshed once again.

Chen Ping'an's words did not cause the slightest ripple on Gu Tianren's face. He simply looked at Chen Ping'an with deep eyes and remained silent for a long time.

Chen Ping'an's expression was honest, his eyes clear, without the slightest change.

"Do you know what a Daoist partner is?" Gu Tianren stared directly at Chen Ping'an.

"The Great Way is our aspiration, and we are companions who walk hand in hand. On the path of the Way, those who support and care for each other are Daoist companions. Those who are bound by life and death and entrust their lives to each other are Daoist companions! Those who experience life and death together and share prosperity are Daoist companions!" Chen Ping'an said calmly without hesitation.

"Those who share life and death, and prosperity, are bound by a deep bond and entrust their lives to each other, are true companions!" Gu Tianren looked deeply at Chen Ping'an: "If that day ever comes, I hope you will remember what I said today."

"I will remember this," Chen Ping'an said solemnly.

A true wife or Daoist partner is incomparable to anyone else; she is a companion on the path to enlightenment, someone with whom one can reach the pinnacle of enlightenment. If such a bond can truly be realized, it transcends all other emotions; such a person is both a Daoist partner and a comrade-in-arms.

Hand in hand, we'll weather the storms of life and enjoy its splendor.

"Okay." Gu Tianren looked weary, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and nodded lightly.

hum~
A bright green bamboo skewer appeared out of thin air.

Keng!
A resounding clang of a sword rang out.

"Celestial Sword Intent!"

Chen Ping'an felt a slight chill.

The instant the clanging of swords rang out, Chen Ping'an felt a chill run through his body, as if a sharp pain were piercing his skin. But this sensation came quickly and went just as fast, vanishing in an instant.

The emerald green bamboo stick, shimmering with a bluish light, gradually fell and landed in front of Chen Ping'an.

"This contains a wisp of my sword intent, which, when unleashed, can rival even the heavens and men, and can serve as a protector of the Dao." Gu Tianren's weathered and steady voice rang out: "This item is now given to you."

With the growth of hair, one can rival even the heavens and men!?
Chen Ping'an's thoughts shifted, and his expression turned slightly solemn. He cupped his hands in a salute: "Thank you for your gift, Ancestor. I will remember it forever."

Gu Zhengnan stood aside, his expression unchanged, having already sensed this situation.

Since the patriarch had met Chen Ping'an, he naturally couldn't have come empty-handed. This sword intent was clearly the patriarch's greeting gift.

However, the weight of this gift slightly exceeded his expectations.

This emerald green bamboo stick carries the ancestor's sword intent; when triggered, it can rival that of a celestial being. Such a weapon of slaughter is extremely precious, a rare treasure even for a pseudo-celestial being.

Although it is only a one-time consumable item, it can be used as a trump card, and its value is even higher than that of ordinary top-tier divine weapons.

Chen Ping'an looked solemn, held the emerald green bamboo stick in his palm, and bowed again: "This junior has a presumptuous request, and hopes that the ancestor will grant it."

Ok?
Gu Zhengnan looked slightly surprised, not expecting such an unexpected turn of events.

An unkind request?

What do you want?
Just as Gu Zhengnan was surprised, Gu Tianren's response rang out from inside the wooden house.

"speak."

Chen Ping'an's expression was solemn, and his words were earnest: "I lost my mother at a young age and my father in adulthood, leaving only my younger sister to depend on me. I have had many worries along the way. My sister is not skilled in martial arts, and now the academy's assessment is imminent. It is her first time traveling far from home, and I am burdened with an important position, unable to accompany her. I am very worried about her, fearing that she may encounter some misfortune. Now, thanks to the grace of the Ancestor, I have been given a protective item. I dare to ask the Ancestor if I may entrust this protective item to my sister to protect her on her journey."

Should we entrust the task to our younger sister, to protect her along the way?
Gu Zhengnan was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Chen Ping'an to make such a request.

Who would have thought that Chen Ping'an, the rough-and-tumble swordsman, would be such a loyal and righteous person!

Even he was somewhat tempted by such a protective artifact, capable of rivaling even celestial beings. It was incredibly rare for him, and even more so for Chen Ping'an. Yet, Chen Ping'an willingly relinquished this treasure, entrusting it instead to his younger sister for protection.

Such choices of mindset.
Gu Zhengnan was momentarily dazed.

It is common for someone to rise up and protect their family with ordinary things. But to willingly give away one's own precious, life-saving possessions to one's younger sister for protection is a rare occurrence.

Mang Dao's temperament is a blessing for the Gu family.

Inside the wooden house, Chen Ping'an bowed respectfully, his expression solemn and his words earnest.

Gu Zhengnan's thoughts shifted, and he was subtly moved.

Gu Tianren stood calmly in front of Chen Ping'an, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

As Chen Ping'an finished speaking, the wooden house fell silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat stagnant for a moment.

After a long while, Gu Tianren's voice finally rang out.

"can."

"Thank you for your kindness, Ancestor. I am deeply grateful." Chen Ping'an bowed solemnly.

"It's alright." Gu Tianren's face was weathered, but his expression was calm. "Now that this item has been given to you, it is up to you to decide what to do with it."

What Gu Tianren said makes sense.

But in most things in this world, the concept of reason is often overlooked.

If there were only reason in the world, then many things wouldn't be so complicated.

Chen Ping'an remained expressionless, his face showing gratitude. He solemnly said, "Ancestor, you are so magnanimous. On behalf of my younger sister, I thank you."

After presenting the emerald green bamboo sticks, Gu Tianren seemed to have nothing better to do.

After asking a few simple questions, he slowly turned around.

As he turned, his robes swayed, revealing that the sleeve under his right arm was empty.

If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, probably no one would believe that the Gu family patriarch, renowned for his swordsmanship, was actually one-armed. And the arm he lost was his right hand, the one he used to wield his sword.

The Gentle Breeze and Bright Moon Sword, crafted by Gu Tianren, is a divine swordsmanship, especially skilled with his right hand. His sword intent flows like a gentle breeze and a bright moon, traversing three hundred miles.

Can.
My right hand is severed, how can I hold a sword?!

"If there is nothing else, you may leave now."

As Gu Tianren's voice came, Chen Ping'an, Gu Zhengnan, and the others understood and bowed to take their leave.

As he cupped his hands in greeting, Chen Ping'an glanced sideways and landed on the offering table directly in front of the wooden house.

On the altar were some items, the most eye-catching of which was a long sword without a scabbard.

The longsword was covered in rust and looked worn and faded.

Above the longsword, at the very center of the offering table, is a spirit tablet.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Ping'an had finished bowing and walked out of the wooden hut with Gu Zhengnan.

After the two left, the cabin fell silent for a moment.

Gu Tianren stared at the offering table token in front of him, his expression as serene as a cold statue. He looked at the token for a long, long time, and suddenly, countless memories seemed to surge into his mind.

His expression trembled slightly as he took a step forward as if stumbling, leaning against the altar as if half-leaning, and tremblingly reached out his hand to gently stroke the words on the memorial tablet.

Looking back, tears streamed down my face.

The grief was silent, as if time had frozen, frozen on the memorial tablet.

The position of his deceased wife, Wu Min.

He slightly raised his eyes, gazing at everything in the wooden house, and vaguely, he seemed to see again that bright and elegant girl holding a jade sword.

可那
That happened hundreds of years ago.

In my entire life, I have cultivated the gentle breeze and the bright moon, but I have never seen my beloved wife grow old with me.

I've cultivated a life of tranquility and harmony, yet why can't I cultivate a lifelong bond with you?

This gentle breeze and bright moon.
It's better not to fix it!

hum~
The magnificent artistic conception is like the rain of heaven and earth, silent and sorrowful, yet seemingly full of emotion; the sword's momentum is like mountains and seas, as boundless as the high sky!
This sword is named Remembrance.

Since I started practicing, I've only used one sword strike!
"Ping An, what's wrong?"

After walking out of the wooden house for a while, Gu Zhengnan noticed that Chen Ping'an seemed to be in a daze, so he couldn't help but ask him.

"It's nothing," Chen Ping'an replied with a slight smile, composed himself.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but just now, he felt a sudden, throbbing sensation in his heart. The source was unknown, but it was a powerful, unsettling feeling.

"Is it an illusion?" Chen Ping'an lowered his eyes slightly, a quiet and profound look appearing on his face.

At his level of cultivation, illusions are extremely rare. If they do occur, they are usually caused by illusory techniques. The fact that they are happening without any apparent cause speaks volumes about the situation.

The Gu family's backyard was extremely large. Only after parting ways with Gu Zhengnan and leaving the latter part of the garden did Chen Ping'an feel a little relieved.

He thought that the completion of the second refinement of the Qingyang Blood Refining Technique would give him considerable confidence, but now he realizes that there are always higher levels to reach and more capable people to surpass.

The martial arts path leads to the understanding of the heavens and earth, and those who can become "heavenly beings" roam the world, but there are also distinctions of strength and weakness.

Within the territory of this single Canglong Prefecture, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers. If one were to look out over the entire world, how vast it would be!
The Azure Dragon Continents, the Azure Lands, the Northern Sea, the Eternal Snow God Palace, the Vast Northern Frontier, and the Four Realms of the Dynasty.

With a broad vision, one can survey mountains and rivers; with stars scattered across the sky, one can traverse the heavens!
The journey is long and arduous; throughout this life, we should always remain vigilant and cautious.

Chen Ping'an's mind gradually calmed down, his face became calm, and his expression became peaceful as he walked out along the quiet stone path.

They had only walked a short distance when a melodious sound came from the moon gate beside them.

"Young Master." The voice was clear, sweet, and charming.

Chen Ping'an stopped and slowly turned around, where he saw a pretty young girl holding a long sword, standing gracefully at the entrance of the moon cave.

　Strive harder and keep improving!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)