Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 33 Gu Menglai's Daughter, the "Heart Swordsman"
“Your mansion is truly luxurious. Even the prime ministers of the two ministries in the capital could not afford such a residence without an official gift!”

Being surrounded by a retinue was ultimately inappropriate. Once they reached the central courtyard, the crowd dispersed, and it was Tang Lei, the second-ranking member, who led Zhan Zhao to a bright and spacious guest room in the inner courtyard.

Zhan Zhao looked at the furnishings in the room and commented.

Tang Lei had been looking around the whole way, clearly a first-timer, but upon hearing this, he immediately puffed out his chest: "That's right! My Yunqi Manor is a first-class scenic spot in Jiangnan. Countless martial arts practitioners come to the manor just to see its beauty. Now that we're in the capital, our accommodations can't be any less impressive!"

Zhan Zhao looked at him and smiled, "Brother Tang, you'll have to manage this huge business well when you inherit it in the future."

"Oh dear! You can't say that now!"

Tang Lei waved his hands repeatedly, but couldn't help but grin.

It can't be suppressed, it's completely uncontrollable.

"Your master has only disappeared; his fate is still uncertain. Isn't it premature to consider Yunqi Manor and even Madam Yun's family's assets as yours?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head secretly, somewhat looking down on him.

But it is also known that with such a foundation laid out before them, few could resist the temptation.

With Yun Heming missing and Gu Lin dead, according to seniority, the second disciple, "Angry Cloud" Tang Lei, really had a chance to inherit the family business. In the previous battle against the Six Doors, it was this giant who charged into battle and stood at the forefront.

As expected, Tang Lei's tone became more like that of the host as he spoke: "Brother Zhan, you will surely become a legend in the martial world one day. I hope you will not forget us, your friends. I will certainly clear the path and prepare tea to welcome you."

Zhan Zhao said, "Brother Tang, what are you saying? When I go to Jiangnan in the future, I will need your esteemed estate to take good care of me."

"Haha! The journey through life is long, only by sharing weal and woe can we persevere to the end ...!"

Tang Lei grinned widely.

He considered himself to be shrewd despite his rough exterior, and not a simple-minded person, but rather someone who was well-versed in the ways of the world.

The martial arts world isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions!
However, Zhan Zhao echoed him only to better introduce the main topic: "Previously in front of the Six Doors, I heard Brother Tang emphasize that the secret manuals treasured in your manor were stolen?"

"Yes!"

Tang Lei was immediately struck on a sore spot and said indignantly, "That's a supreme secret manual left behind by a grandmaster of swordsmanship. It must have been stolen by Pei Handeng, and now it's probably in the hands of the Four Great Constables!"

Zhan Zhao said, "Could it be the sword manual 'Six Lines Formless Sword Qi' by Senior Yun Qingxiao, the 'Immortal Swordsman'?"

"It is indeed this sword manual..."

Tang Lei nodded repeatedly, his large, bell-like eyes darting around, and leaned closer, asking, "Brother Zhan, are you interested?"

"I've practiced this sword technique since I was a child, what do you think?"

Zhan Zhao found it quite intriguing, and said, "As a swordsman, I naturally hope to witness this supreme sword technique. I wonder if Brother Tang could demonstrate it for me?"

"I can't do it, I can't do it, I don't know this sword technique!"

Tang Lei was a little embarrassed, but quickly tried to make amends: "Even the senior brother doesn't know how."

Zhan Zhao asked with a soft "Eh?": "Your master hasn't taught any of his disciples?"

Tang Lei lowered his voice: "To be honest, Brother Zhan, my master doesn't actually know this sword technique either..."

Zhan Zhao asked, "Why is that?"

"Alas! The Six Lines Formless Sword Qi is indeed an unparalleled skill, but it is also truly difficult to master!"

Tang Lei sighed, "My master once said that when he was young, he practiced this supreme sword technique, but he almost suffered a qi deviation and became a cripple. He had no choice but to put it away!"

"As for us disciples, he taught us meticulously and often tested our swordsmanship skills, but unfortunately, we were of mediocre talent..."

"Only our eldest brother has exceptional talent. He can master all the martial arts that the rest of us know with ease, but he still can't meet the requirements for practicing the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi. However, if nothing unexpected happens, perhaps in a few years he will be able to practice it. What a pity!"

Tang Lei's tone was both fervent and regretful.

'That's not true, is it? '

Zhan Zhao felt completely bewildered.

It is a common understanding that all divine skills and extraordinary techniques are difficult to master.

Even within a single martial art, there are different levels of advancement.

Achieving some success, gaining proficiency, reaching great perfection, and attaining the pinnacle are all different.

To put it bluntly, those with low aptitude and talent may never be able to master a skill to a high level in their lifetime, but they can eventually achieve a minor level of proficiency through decades of dedicated practice.

The Six Lines Formless Sword Qi may be more difficult to learn, but Yun Heming is not the kind of person who sits on a mountain of treasures and does not enter it, simply because he is afraid of going into qi deviation.
Wait a minute!
Zhan Zhao thought of a suspicious point: "After your senior brother met with misfortune, the secret manual in his room was stolen, which proves that the sword manual was in his possession at the time. May I ask if he secretly obtained it after your master disappeared?"

"no no!"

Tang Lei waved his hand and said, "Brother Zhan, you misunderstand. The sword manual was given to our eldest brother for safekeeping by our master." "Brother Tang, don't you find this contradictory?"

Zhan Zhao frowned: "Your master said that the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi is unfathomable and that forcibly practicing it can easily lead to qi deviation and demonic possession. He forbade his disciples from practicing it. Then, your master placed the sword manual in the hands of his eldest disciple, Gu Lin, and ordered him to keep it safe?"

"No contradiction! No contradiction!"

A strange look flashed in Tang Lei's eyes, but he quickly explained, "Senior Brother has always been the heir of the manor. Several years ago, Master gradually handed over the affairs of the manor to him, and it was at that time that he also entrusted him with the sword manual! Master must have trusted that Senior Brother has the composure to not secretly learn the sword manual!"

"Is that so?"

Zhan Zhao's eyes showed a thoughtful expression.

If what Tang Lei said is true, then Yunqi Villa has indeed chosen a very good successor.

With this kind of determination alone, Gu Lin can ensure the continued prosperity of the estate when he inherits it.

pity.

The eldest disciple was murdered.

The motive remains unclear to this day.

After pondering for a moment, Zhan Zhao discovered another point of doubt: "I have another question, and I hope Brother Tang can enlighten me."

Tang Lei felt a little impatient, but then he thought that this was another sign of their closeness, so he immediately said, "Brother Zhan, please ask..."

Zhan Zhao said, "Previously, Su Wuqing referred to Madam Yun as Lady Gu, and also said that Young Hero Gu was a disciple adopted by your manor from a young age. I suppose that surname was given to him after the adoption?"

"But since Gu Lin is an adopted child, why doesn't he take the surname Yun, which belongs to Master Yun, but instead takes the surname Gu, which belongs to Madam Gu?"

"As the first disciple, wouldn't it be closer for master and disciple to share the same surname?"

"this!!"

Tang Lei was stunned for a moment, then seemed to realize something, and his expression became extremely interesting. He said, "Whatever the eldest brother's surname is, it's already become a habit. Who cares whether it's the same as Master's or Master's wife's surname?"

Zhan Zhao keenly sensed that his answer was not entirely true, but he was not in a hurry. He simply asked in return, "Is that so?"

Tang Lei's eyes darted around, and after a moment he lowered his voice: "Brother Zhan, if you ask anyone else, they'll definitely not know. But you've come to the right person by asking me!"

Zhan Zhao tilted his head forward slightly: "Oh?"

"This is probably because of Master's wife's status!"

Tang Lei asked mysteriously, "Do you know the Four Swordsmen of 'Heavenly Heart Immortal'?"

"of course."

Zhan Zhao nodded: "The Heavenly Immortals, the pinnacle of swordsmanship, these four sword masters reign supreme in the world, who doesn't know them?"

"But the world only knows that Master is the nephew of 'Immortal Swordsman' Yun Qingxiao, but they don't know that Master's wife is closer to 'Heart Swordsman' Gu Menglai!"

Tang Lei paused intentionally before revealing the answer: "She is Gu Menglai's eldest daughter, her biological daughter!"

"Oh!"

Zhan Zhao suddenly realized: "Then is Madam Yun's martial arts skill also very high?"

"That's incredibly high!"

Tang Lei was proud: "I remember it clearly. When I was a child, a group of thieves broke into the manor. I guess they were after the sword manual of the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi. It just so happened that my master was visiting a friend and was not in the manor. We were terrified at the time. But those thieves had the misfortune of breaking into the inner courtyard. Guess what happened?"

"What's wrong?"

"From beginning to end, the master's wife did not appear. There was only a sword whistle, and the group of bandits suddenly fell to the ground, crying or howling, and died suddenly. Their deaths were gruesome and terrible, and unbearable to look at."

Tang Lei described, "At that time, I felt that my master's wife's martial arts skills seemed to be even higher than my master's, and..."

He swallowed the words "much higher," because even if his master was missing, such a statement would be somewhat disrespectful.

Zhan Zhao, having already made his judgment, slowly nodded: "Does Madam Yun's martial arts have any names?"

He actually knew what the "Heart Swordsman's" ultimate skill was. The Drunken Taoist had described the four swordsmen of the Heavenly Heart Flying Immortal. At this moment, he mainly wanted to verify it and see if Tang Lei was lying.

After all, people in the underworld often boast without any basis; they'll make up anything they want with just a few words.

"Of course!"

Tang Lei answered without hesitation: "What my master's wife learned is the unique skill of 'Heart Swordsman' Gu Menglai—'Heart Sword Divine Technique'!"

(End of this chapter)