Sword Roaring in the Sky

Chapter 90: General Lu, Drifting in the East China Sea (Second update, asking for monthly tickets)

Sun Yanwan was much more cautious during the rest of the journey. Perhaps it was luck that helped her. She didn't encounter any special situations for seven or eight days in a row and the journey was very safe.

Sun Yanwan had experience in renting homestays when traveling, so she seldom chose inns to stay along the way. Instead, she would knock on the doors of some clean-looking houses, rent them for a large sum of money, and invite the owners to go out for a few days. She would live there in an elegant and quiet place, and even prepare the food herself, which was never done by outsiders, which made the two Taoist nuns praise her endlessly.

Although there were always delays along the way, Sun Yanwan still practiced diligently and did not forget to take notes while reading, recording his experience in practicing the Xuanhuang Sutra.

He discovered that it was indeed as the Xuanhuang Sutra said. If one first practiced the Xuanhuang Jue and cultivated the Xuanhuang True Qi, he could then transform it into the Xuanbing True Qi according to the secret mental method. This Xuanbing True Qi could also be reversed into the Xuanhuang True Qi, but if one started practicing the Xuanbing True Qi, that was the Xuanbing True Qi, and there was no possibility of transforming it into the Xuanhuang True Qi.

He dispersed the Xuanbing Qi that he had secretly cultivated but could not convert, and was amazed in his heart, not knowing how to explain this phenomenon.

In the past seven or eight days, he has tried to convert his true qi three times and found that with each conversion, the true qi became slightly more active and the conversion speed was faster.

The first time he converted the Xuanbing Qi, it took him a whole night, but if he continued like this, he might even be able to convert his power on the spot during a fight and catch his opponent off guard.

He also flipped through the book "The Blind Man's Divine Sword" and discovered that this sword technique was actually from the Taoist school, passed down from the Heart Sect of Xuanhuang Taoist Temple.

He had already penetrated the hidden meridians, and he understood this sword technique after only reading it once. However, he had not yet practiced the martial arts of his own school. Although the Blind Man's Sword was ingenious, it was still not as good as the sword technique of the Songyang School. He just looked through the sword manual and did not show any interest in trying to practice it.

Traveling and studying martial arts, these two things intertwine and make Sun Yanwan's life extremely fulfilling.

Sun Yanwan got up early that morning and prepared breakfast. After the two Taoist nuns had eaten, she packed up the carriage and set off to continue her journey.

He had asked before, and if he continued walking forward for another half a day, he would reach Donghai Pass. This pass was nestled between the mountains and the sea, and was located at the junction of two roads. The road outside Donghai Pass was the road outside the pass, and the road inside Donghai Pass was the road inside the pass. After passing Donghai Pass and walking for another five days, he would reach Luojing.

The Donghai Pass guards the capital and is a vital place, so it is listed as a separate route, named Donghai Road. Moreover, because this pass has the responsibility of guarding the capital, there is no Jiedushi, only a temporary general manager, who is replaced every few years and no one is allowed to serve as a permanent garrison commander.

The general manager of Tōkaidō and commander-in-chief of the Donghai Pass who is guarding the pass now is named Ao Riwen. He is a master of martial arts and is said to be at least a second-rank general. He ranks seventeenth among the generals in the Dalang Dynasty!
Sun Yanwan was just planning to pass through the East China Sea Customs. He didn't have any special feelings towards this famous general of the Great Lang Dynasty, and he didn't even ask for any information.

After setting off, he was extra careful along the way and arrived at the East China Sea Customs before noon.

What surprised Sun Yanwan was that there were a lot of soldiers on duty at the East China Sea Customs, which was not the usual appearance. However, they were not very strict in checking passers-by, and seemed to be careless.

Dozens of people surrounded a military general. A flag-bearing officer held a large flag with the word "Lu" on it and stood behind the general, as if waiting for someone.

He drove the carriage and was about to pass through the gate when the general stared at him and shouted, "Little Taoist, which sect are you from?"

Sun Yanwan was about to reply, "Songyang Sect."

Then he heard a mosquito-like voice behind him saying, "Don't report to the Songyang Sect."

Sun Yanwan was slightly taken aback, but still responded readily, "Guan Xin Sect."

He was proficient in the Hu family's demon-slaying sword technique, but it was obvious that it would be less stressful for the Guanxin Sect to impersonate him.

The general seemed unconvinced and shouted, "Go and test his martial arts."

A lieutenant stepped out, drew his sword and shouted, "It's my duty, please don't blame me, young Taoist priest." Sun Yanwan jumped off the carriage and drew the old blind man's soft sword.

When the general guarding the pass saw the soft sword, he immediately believed it about 70%, and thought to himself: "It is indeed not the long sword commonly used by the Songyang School. Those real and fake blind people in the Guanxin Sect love to use this kind of soft sword the most." However, he was cautious by nature and did not stop his men. He still wanted to test Sun Yanwan's martial arts.

The lieutenant held a sword in his hand, showing the demeanor of a veteran on the battlefield. He shouted loudly and chopped down the sword repeatedly with great force.

Seeing that the opponent was at the ninth level at most, although he had entered the martial arts realm, Sun Yanwan also lowered his martial arts skills. Recalling the blind man's swordsmanship he had read, he shook his soft sword, dodged the real attack, and exchanged seven or eight moves with the lieutenant.

He had never practiced this sword technique before, but relied on his swordsmanship foundation to force it out, which had many flaws. Even if he did not lower his martial arts skills, the level of his performance was only above the ninth rank, and he could not go any higher.

The general guarding the gate was an expert. He saw through Sun Yanwan's "foundation" at a glance and thought to himself, "This young Taoist priest has actually opened up the hidden meridians. He is indeed a member of the Guanxin Sect. Although his swordsmanship is ordinary, his internal strength is not bad. After he turns thirty, he will definitely be famous in the martial arts world."

"If we fight, I can defeat Sun Polu. If we fight to the death, I will definitely die under Sun Polu's sword."

"Well, since he's not the person we're looking for, let him be!"

When Sun Yanwan traveled through time, this general might be the first person to comment that he had "good internal strength". If he could hear the general's inner voice, he would be so grateful that he would treat the other party to a white flour cake.

The general shouted, halting the duel and asking, "Who's on your chariot?"

Sun Yanwan replied respectfully, "It's my aunt and a little sister. General, would you like to see them?"

He reached out to pull the curtain, but deliberately chose a vague angle. The general took a look and thought he saw an "old woman", so he waved his hand to let the three people pass.

Sun Yanwan lowered the curtain of the carriage and calmly passed through the East China Sea. Suddenly, he felt a sensation on his back. Looking back, he saw a military general standing on the East China Sea. The general was as firm as a mountain, yet gave people a sense of alienation. Although they were far away, he knew that the general must be looking at him. This feeling was extremely wonderful.

Sun Yanwan folded her wrists, bowed, and left in a carefree manner, but she was still feeling a little uneasy in her heart, as if something had happened quietly without her knowing.

That evening, while Sun Yanwan was searching for a place to stay, he suddenly realized something and thought to himself, "Aren't military commanders supposed to practice powerful external martial arts? The commander who was watching me at the East China Sea was able to resonate with me from such a distance. He must have practiced some extraordinary spiritual skill and reached the level of controlling matter with his mind."

"To be able to cultivate martial arts to this level, he must be a master!?"

"Could it be Ao Riwen, the Grand Governor of Tōkaidō?"

"I have a feeling that things are getting weirder this time in the capital."

At this time, at the East China Sea Customs, General Lu, who was checking passersby, strode into the residence of the East China Sea Customs General Manager...

　Today I changed someone, borrowed the hand speed from Xuehong, and I still have to stand up...

　　Please give me a monthly ticket, please give me a monthly ticket, please give me a monthly ticket...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)