Liver into a martial arts legend: starting with Embroidered Spring Blade

Chapter 185 Su Xin's status is above all else!
Inside the guest hall of the Jiang residence.

An old man and a young boy, a man and a woman, two figures waited quietly.

The man was around forty years old, dressed in a Japanese kimono and haori, with a rugged face, white hair tied up, and an aura as sharp as an eagle. He was none other than Yagyu Tajima-no-kami, the leader of the Shinkage school of Japanese Buddhism.

The woman beside him was naturally his daughter, Liu Sheng Piaoxu.

"Father, is it really possible for us to visit like this, openly and honestly?"

Liu Sheng Piaoxu said in a low voice, somewhat worried.

But before she could speak, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami interrupted her: "Shut up!"

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami looked around before whispering, "There are many experts in this manor. We've been watched since we came in. From now on, you can't say a word. I'll say what needs to be said."

"Yes, Father." Liu Sheng Piaoxu nodded in a low voice, her expression slightly solemn.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami let out a long sigh, but he was also somewhat uneasy.

The prince instructed him to find a way to infiltrate Jiang Xuan's inner circle as an informant, and then reveal his identity and win Jiang Xuan over when the opportunity arose.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he still didn't know how to get close to Jiang Xuan.

After all, he was from Japan, and his martial arts skills and identity were too easy to identify.

Finally, after careful consideration, he decided to visit directly under his real identity.

Whether it will be successful depends on its performance in the future.

Tread...  

As he was deep in thought, footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami quickly composed himself and looked back, only to see a man and two women slowly walking in.

The leader, dressed in a brocade robe and black gown, was handsome and had a dignified and noble air. The two women behind him were also beautiful, each with her own unique charm, and were quite remarkable.

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami recognized the newcomer at a glance. His heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward, performing a Japanese greeting, saying, "Yagyu Tajima-no-kami of the Shinkage School of Japan greets Lord Jiang!"

Liu Sheng Piaoxu lagged behind by a step and quickly bowed: "Liu Sheng Piaoxu of the Shin-Kage School of the Eastern Sea pays his respects to Lord Jiang!"

"Japanese?"

Jiang Xuan glanced at the father and daughter with a half-smile.

Strictly speaking, this was the third time he had met Yagyu Tajima-no-kami.

The first time, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami concealed his identity, but the second time, he concealed his identity.

This is the first time the two sides have met so openly and honestly.

Jiang Xuan was very curious about the two men's purpose, so he went straight to the main seat, waved his hand, and said indifferently, "What business do you have with me?"

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami was somewhat surprised by Jiang Xuan's straightforwardness, but after regaining his composure, he quickly followed the plan and said, "This is my first time visiting the Central Plains. I have heard of Lord Jiang's heroic deeds. Not only does he hold a high position of power in the Ming Dynasty, second only to the emperor, but he is also known as the 'Overlord Blade' in the martial arts world. He has repeatedly overpowered various sects and is famous throughout the martial arts world. Therefore, I admire him and have come to pay my respects."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, vaguely guessing the purpose of Liu Sheng and his daughter's visit.

Last time in Jiangnan, Liu Sheng and his daughter went to Wenzhou City with the Giant Whale Gang, intending to help the Giant Whale Gang establish a presence in Jiangnan and seize the territory of the Money Gang.

Ultimately, thanks to the intervention of Yin Tianzheng and Wei Yixiao, the father and daughter managed to escape with their lives, and their whereabouts became unknown afterward.

Now that they dare to visit me under their real identities, if nothing unexpected happens, they should have already recognized my true identity last time in Wenzhou.

Otherwise, if they had no apparent connection with him, why would they suddenly come to visit him?

On the surface, this father and daughter were members of the Yagyu Shinkage School in Japan and martial arts instructors invited by the Giant Whale Gang. However, they had long been colluding with Zhu Wushi and secretly working for him. Their goal was to use Zhu Wushi's power to unify the Japanese martial arts world and revitalize the Yagyu Shinkage School.

Therefore, this father and daughter must have been sent by Zhu Wushi.

Most likely, it's because Zhu Wushi knew he was the leader of the Netherworld and wanted to win him over.

In an instant, Jiang Xuan understood everything, but he remained calm and asked in a low voice, "A visit? My Great Ming Dynasty has long since severed diplomatic relations with your Eastern Japan. I have never had any relationship with you Eastern Japanese people either. What brings you to visit me?"

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami respectfully said, "To be honest, I came to the Central Plains to learn about the martial arts there and hone my swordsmanship. In recent years, the most famous swordsman in the martial arts world is Lord Jiang. Therefore, I have taken the liberty of visiting you, hoping to get to know you and learn about your swordsmanship."

"Want to learn my swordsmanship?"

Jiang Xuan smiled, becoming even more certain of his guess.

As a martial artist from Japan, why do you seek out martial artists from the Central Plains to learn swordsmanship from me, the commander of the Imperial Guard of the Imperial Court?
You really dare to be so bold.

Having discerned their thoughts, Jiang Xuan did not expose them, but nodded and said, "Very well, guests are guests, and since they have come, it is not appropriate for me to turn them away."

"However, I am ordered to go to the Northwest to suppress the bandits tomorrow and will not have time to spar with you. If you are willing to wait, you can wait at the mansion. When I return after I have finished my business, I will come and learn from your Japanese martial arts."

Yagyu Tajima-no-kami quickly replied, "If you don't mind, sir, I am willing to accompany you on this expedition. Along the way, I will wait for you to have time and then slowly learn from you. In return, if there is anything I can do to help, I am willing to lend a hand on your behalf."

That's quite persistent, but it's a bit too obvious.

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "If you're willing to come, then it's up to you."

"Thank you for your kindness, sir!" Yagyu Tajima-no-kami breathed a sigh of relief and quickly expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir." Liu Sheng Piaoxu also stepped forward and gave a graceful bow.

Jiang Xuan glanced at this woman in the drama, who could rank among the top three in terms of both cunning and beauty, and couldn't help but secretly admire her.

It must be said that Yagyu Hyōshū is indeed very ethereal. She has a fresh and beautiful appearance, with relaxed eyebrows and clear eyes. Her red lips add to her charm, and her light gray kimono highlights her gentle temperament. Her hair is neat and her red accessories add a touch of liveliness. Like cherry blossoms in winter, she has a kind of restrained strength hidden in her gentleness, showing the characteristics of Japanese women.

However, over the years, Jiang Xuan has seen quite a few beautiful women, including Qiu Yang and the other two women beside him. In terms of looks, they are no less beautiful than Liu Sheng Piaoxu. He has long since become immune to them, so he doesn't have any other thoughts.

But noticing Jiang Xuan's gaze, Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's eyes flickered slightly, as if he had misunderstood something. Overjoyed, he quickly said, "Lord Jiang, this is my daughter, Piaoxu. She greatly admires the martial arts and culture of your Central Plains, so she insisted on coming with me this time. If you don't mind, I hope you will give her your guidance in the future."

In order to infiltrate the Lord's inner circle, he even used his only remaining daughter as bait.
They'll stop at nothing for power!

Jiang Xuan saw through Yagyu Tajima-no-kami's thoughts, but didn't expose them. Instead, he played along and nodded, saying, "No problem. I am also very interested in your Japanese culture. However, I have other matters to attend to tonight, so I won't entertain you."

"Mo Yan, Zhen'er, please greet our two distinguished guests for me."

"Yes, my lord."

Qiu and Yang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Please, ladies!"

Having successfully achieved their goal, Liu Sheng and his daughter were overjoyed. After expressing their gratitude, they left with Qiu Moyan and Yang Huizhen. Jiang Xuan watched the father and daughter's figures, smiled gently, then turned and went out, taking his gifts with him, and headed alone to the Dragon Guard Manor.

……

Hulong Villa.

Upon receiving news that the rebel leader Li Zicheng had colluded with the Ming Cult and other Jianghu forces to make a comeback, Zhu Wushi's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty. He was also considering whether to take this opportunity to fuel the flames and launch a palace coup.

"Ming Cult..."

Zhu Wushi, draped in a python robe, sat majestically on the throne, muttering to himself.

Mentioning the Ming Cult reminded him of a past event related to it.

Twenty years ago, taking advantage of Gu Santong's challenge to various sects, he hid his identity and infiltrated the sects, secretly absorbing the martial arts of 108 masters from each sect. He unexpectedly obtained a martial art related to the Ming Cult—the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.

Later, when he was refining his internal energy, he also used this to deduce the operating sequence of this martial art.

There were too many people at the time, and he couldn't remember who he had learned this martial art from, nor did he bother to investigate further.

Over the years, through years of hard work, he has only mastered the sixth level of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, but the highest level, the seventh level, remains a distant dream.

He didn't understand whether it was because the person who practiced this martial art back then hadn't learned it completely, or whether his deduction was wrong.

This martial art greatly enhances his strength, so he attaches great importance to it and has been secretly investigating and paying attention to the Ming Cult, hoping to obtain the complete martial arts manual and master the seventh level of the Qiankun Great Shift.

However, the Ming Cult has been developing in seclusion outside the region for years, and he has not been able to find an opportunity, so there has been little progress in this matter.

But now, the Ming Cult has made a comeback, which has given him hope and stirred his heart.

"Should we stay in the capital and take this opportunity to instigate a mutiny by the border troops, disrupt the Ming Dynasty, and seize power, or should we go to the Northwest and seize the complete Qiankun Great Shift?"

Zhu Wushi silently pondered the pros and cons of the two choices.

Yang Dingtian, the former leader of the Ming Cult who had mastered the Great Shift of the Universe, disappeared twenty years ago. Although news recently spread that the Ming Cult had a new leader who had mastered the Great Shift of the Universe in just one day, it was unclear whether this was true or not. In any case, he found the whole thing absurd.

Even though he mastered the Absorption Technique, a martial art that can directly absorb other people's power to achieve rapid mastery, it still took him several months to barely achieve minor success in cultivating the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. How could anyone have mastered it in such a short time?

Therefore, going to the Northwest does not necessarily guarantee a reward.

However, if they remained in the palace and seized the opportunity to launch a coup to seize power, the chances of success would not be very high.

With his current martial arts skills, he is not confident in dealing with that old codger in the palace.

Unless, there's some way to lure that old geezer away...

Just as he was deep in thought, Duan Tianya walked in from outside, looking hurried.

"Father, Jiang Xuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, requests an audience!"

"Jiang Xuan?"

Zhu Wushi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered that he had just given Yagyu Tajima no Kami an order to find a way to infiltrate Jiang Xuan's side and win him over.

Why did this guy suddenly show up at our door?
Moreover, tomorrow is the day of departure, and they suddenly come to our door at this time... Could it be that our plans have been exposed?
Zhu Wushi's heart skipped a beat. He considered various possibilities, but ultimately dismissed them one by one. He took a deep breath, looked at Duan Tianya, and, with a sense of doubt, ordered, "Please let him in."

"Yes, foster father!"

Duan Tianya left.

Soon, footsteps sounded, and Duan Tianya returned, followed by a person, none other than Jiang Xuan.

"Reporting to my godfather, Lord Jiang has arrived!"

Duan Tianya bowed, then turned to look at Jiang Xuan, his eyes filled with wariness and apprehension.

Thinking of Jiang Xuan's terrifying strength, he worried that it would threaten his godfather's safety, so he did not leave.

"Jiang Xuan, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, greets Your Highness. I apologize for this unannounced visit." Ignoring Duan Tianya's wary gaze, Jiang Xuan stepped forward with a smile and bowed to Zhu Wushi.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan had come alone, Zhu Wushi was even more puzzled, but he didn't say anything. He raised his right hand and said, "Lord Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. Lord Jiang is ordered to suppress the rebels, and tomorrow is the day of your departure. What brings you to see me at this time?"

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, I had another important matter to attend to when I left the capital this time, but tonight I suddenly realized that this matter might be related to Your Highness, so I came to visit you."

"Is it related to me?"

Zhu Wushi was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "I wonder what Lord Jiang is referring to?"

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "Three days ago, when I entered the palace, the Emperor bestowed upon me a treasure."

Zhu Wushi frowned. "The Emperor bestowed treasures upon you. What does that have to do with me? Are you suggesting that you offer those treasures to me?"
His relationship with Jiang Xuan was far from harmonious; they had already fallen out over the struggle for the position of head of the Eastern Depot.

Jiang Xuan glanced at Duan Tianya beside him and said with a smile, "Brother Duan, please excuse me for a moment."

Zhu Wushi said in a deep voice, "Speak plainly about what you want. Tianya is my adopted son and the number one imperial secret agent personally appointed by the late emperor. There is no need to hide!"

Duan Tianya felt a warmth in his heart, but he glanced at Jiang Xuan and remained unmoved.

Jiang Xuan didn't mind and asked with a smile, "Isn't Your Highness curious about what this treasure is?"

Before Zhu Wushi could reply, he continued, enunciating each word clearly: "Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom."

Zhu Wushi's expression changed drastically. He abruptly stood up and stared intently at Jiang Xuan: "Are you telling the truth?!"

Duan Tianya was stunned, and then his heart was shaken. He didn't understand what this Tianxiang Doukou was, that it could make his godfather lose his composure like this.
Jiang Xuan smiled but remained silent, quietly meeting Zhu Wushi's gaze.

Zhu Wushi's breathing quickened. After a moment of silence, he looked at Duan Tianya and waved his hand, saying, "Tianya, you can go out first."

"Yes, foster father."

Duan Tianya frowned, gave Jiang Xuan a deep look, and then turned and left.

Zhu Wushi then looked at Jiang Xuan with piercing eyes, bloodshot in them. At the same time, he released his spiritual power, and a terrifying aura locked onto Jiang Xuan.

"You should know what the consequences are for deceiving me, the king!"

Zhu Wushi stared intently at Jiang Xuan: "Is the Heavenly Fragrance Cardamom really in your hands?!"

For him, there was nothing in the world that he valued more than the fragrance of cardamom.

He would give up anything, even the throne, as long as he could save Su Xin's life!
In his heart, Su Xin's place was above all else!
(End of this chapter)