Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

[Mu Nianci, under the orders of Yang Tiexin, went to Taihu Lake to collect the remains of Wanyan Kang. There she met Lu Guanying and later had three sons. One son took his husband's surname, Lu; one son took his mother's surname, Mu, to carry on the Mu family line; and one son changed his surname to Yang to show that he would not forget the kindness of being raised.]

The world line has shifted dramatically, the future is unknowable, and you have been noticed by 'fate'.

"The will of Heaven..." Su Yuchen snorted inwardly. Now that his primordial spirit had been established, he could act as the will of Heaven in this world. If he couldn't win, he could simply leave.

Seven days later.

Even though the journey was slow, we eventually reached the shore of Taihu Lake. Looking out, the lake and sky blended into one, and the vast expanse of blue water was as clear as if it had been washed. Willows swayed along the shore, and when a gentle breeze passed by, their branches touched the surface of the lake, splashing up rolling ripples.

Su Yuchen lifted the carriage curtain and looked at a huge manor in the distance, which seemed to overlap with the location of the Famous Sword Manor.

"Unfortunately, Taihu Lake remains the same, but the people of the past are completely different."

Shaking his head and lowering the carriage curtain, Su Yuchen said, "Let's find a fisherman's house to stay the night and wait for the people from Luzhou to arrive."

Butler Su responded and drove away from the shore, heading towards the fishing village not far away.

After taking out a large ingot of silver, a fishing family finally agreed to let Su Yuchen and his group stay overnight.

Chapter 479 The Reputation of the Lu Family Village

The next day, Su Yuchen went out.

Then they saw Steward Su squatting on the ground, chatting with the old man who was staying at their place in the yard.

Seeing Su Yuchen come out, Butler Su stood up and said, "Young Master, the Lu Family Manor here is quite domineering. Today they sent people to drive away fishing boats on Taihu Lake, saying that no one else is allowed to go into the water."

Hearing what Steward Su said, the old man who was mending the fishing net smiled and hurriedly said, "Master Lu is a good person! Brother, you've misunderstood!"

Butler Su's eyes widened, and he immediately understood, but he still wouldn't let it go, saying, "Brother, that's not what you said just now."

The old man chuckled awkwardly and hurriedly said, "It's my fault, it's my fault. I didn't explain clearly. I was just trying to brag to you, brother, I didn't expect you to take it seriously..."

"Then you'd better make it clear, otherwise today's drinking session won't count," Butler Su said with a smile, pointing to the wine jug on the ground.

Upon hearing the word "alcohol," the old man pursed his lips, revealing himself to be a seasoned drinker.

Su Yuchen sat down beside the old man to see what he had to say. The old man sighed helplessly, looked around, and then said in a low voice:

"To be honest with you two, within a radius of several hundred miles around Taihu Lake, everyone knows that the Lu Family Village is also involved in river banditry!"

"But he's a real hero!"

"Within a radius of several hundred miles, there are more than a dozen gangs of river bandits and thieves, large and small. Which one doesn't obey their orders?"

"Moreover, they rarely rob or plunder, nor do they bully us poor people. They only target the rich and heartless, those who are tyrannical and domineering."

"To be honest, it's thanks to Lu Family Village that my life has actually become much better! Not to mention anything else, even those yamen runners who always bully us don't dare to impose fees on us arbitrarily anymore!"

Butler Su poured him a cup of wine and asked curiously, "The Lu family is doing this, and the government just stands by and does nothing?"

The old man's eyes flashed with disdain as he said:

"How could we not care? At first, there were dozens of people openly posing as troublemakers, carrying batons, iron rulers, and chains, but they were beaten out."

"After a while, they fought several rounds, and even the government sent people over. I heard they were martial arts masters who specialized in some kind of iron hand technique. But then, for some reason, they stopped fighting, and the county government stopped sending people to manage things around Taihu Lake. Now, people from the county government would go to Lujiazhuang to discuss things, and then Lujiazhuang would notify the surrounding fishing villages."

"Anyway, it's good that they're not coming. With less exorbitant taxes to pay, the local thugs won't dare to bully us anymore. Let them be river bandits; life will be a little easier."

Butler Su clinked glasses with him and then asked, "So what is the Lu family trying to do by sealing off Taihu Lake?"

The old man, seemingly lost in thought, awkwardly replied, "No, nothing. Perhaps the old master just wants to go fishing by himself! Isn't it said that all those literati and scholars have a hobby of fishing on the Dujiang River? Or rather, fishing on the Dujiang River?"

Butler Su chuckled and said, "Brother, you're being unreliable. Just now you said the Lu family was led by bandits, and now you're saying they're scholars and literati. Do you really believe that? Could it be..."

The old man hurriedly said, "Brother, I didn't say anything. You're the one who said it."

Butler Su chuckled and said, "Brother, I didn't say anything. You're just guessing."

The old man watched as he poured himself a glass of wine and placed it in front of him. He pursed his lips, gave a bitter laugh, and slapped himself, saying, "Brother, you're something else! It's also my fault; seeing these two ounces of wine, I was like a cat seeing a mouse—I couldn't resist."

The old man downed his drink in one gulp, savored it for a moment, then clicked his tongue and said…

"Anyway, this isn't the first time."

“In previous years, there were always a few times when Lujiazhuang would notify everyone not to go into the water at will. Actually, everyone is not stupid. After a few times, plus some people always disappear on Taihu Lake, who doesn’t know what they want to do?”

"However, these people who disappeared were either corrupt officials, wealthy but heartless individuals, or bandits who came from elsewhere to commit crimes."

"Hey, someone once fished out loose silver and jewelry from the bottom of the lake!"

"But as long as it has nothing to do with us, we'll just pretend we don't know! We don't have to pay taxes, so if we miss a day of lake time, we miss a day of lake time."

Butler Su gave a thumbs up and praised, "Brother, you know it all."

The old man chuckled and said, "Brother, I can't have lived this long for nothing. In this world, just being alive is good enough."

Butler Su asked, "Brother, do you know why this is for?"

The old man hurriedly waved his hand and said:

"How would this old man know? But if you think about it, you'll realize that there are only two groups of people on the shores of Taihu Lake: those heading south and those heading north."

"However, going north is unlikely. Although the Later Jin have fought less in recent years, there's no guarantee that war won't break out any day. Those officials are all very afraid of dying and are unwilling to go north to serve as officials."

"In my opinion, he should be heading south. I wonder which official he is, who has made enough money and is now going to enjoy the glitz and glamour of Lin'an."

“In the counties and towns within hundreds of miles of Taihu Lake, there are bandits. As soon as they arrive, they will find out everything about you clearly.”

Seeing that the old man was talking more and more and his eyes were glazed over, clearly he had drunk enough, Su Yuchen smiled and got up to take a walk around the village.

Just as the old man had said, no one was using the toilet; they were either chatting together or mending clothes at home.

I strolled out of the village and wandered around the shore of Taihu Lake. The vast expanse of Taihu Lake was empty, without a single fishing boat in sight. Only a small boat drifted on the lake a few dozen miles away.

Straw raincoats, fishermen, and small boats, against the backdrop of vast waves, create a unique scene.

Seeing the two men who had followed him all the way, Su Yuchen smiled slightly and turned back to his residence.

Sure enough, before noon, while Su Yuchen was meditating in his room, the steward came to report that people from the Lu family manor had arrived.

"Please let him in," Su Yuchen said.

Steward Su responded and then turned to leave. A moment later, a young man followed Steward Su into the thatched hut.

Looking up, one sees a man with a jade belt binding his hair, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a smiling face that shows no fear before smiling; his sapphire blue brocade robe accentuates his handsome appearance and outstanding figure.

You met Lu Guanying.

Lu Guanying, the young master of Guiyun Manor in Taihu Lake, is the only son of Lu Chengfeng. He is a disciple of Zen Master Kumu of the Xianxia School and a lay disciple of Shaolin.

[She was destined to be husband and wife with Cheng Yaojia of the Cheng family in Baoying, but due to your interference, the marriage line shifted, and she became involved with Mu Nianci and Cheng Yaojia in succession.]

"Greetings, sir. My name is Lu Guanying, and I live by Taihu Lake. I have loved making friends since I was a child. I came here specifically to befriend you two when I learned that you were staying here," Lu Guanying said with a cupped hand and a smile.

[Lu Guanying didn't know your identities and was afraid you would disrupt tonight's operation, so he specially came to invite you to 'visit' as a side mission.]

Su Yuchen smiled and said, "Young Master Lu should have seen it. My servant and I are escorting the coffin back to our hometown and are passing by Taihu Lake, so we are staying here for the night."

Lu Guanying nodded and said, "I'm sure you've heard that a group of bandits has recently come to Taihu Lake. I'm sending men to apprehend them, and they'll be able to pass through tomorrow. If you don't mind, you might as well stay at my house. It would also be a good opportunity for me to make some friends."

After glancing at Lu Guanying, Su Yuchen decided to accept his offer.

Seeing Su Yuchen nod in agreement, Lu Guanying beamed with joy and left the thatched hut with him. Meanwhile, the old man who had been seeking lodging huddled in a corner, his smile incredibly awkward.

After Su Yuchen and his group left, the old man slapped himself twice: "I told you not to drink, I told you not to drink, I told you not to be greedy for those two ounces of wine." Then he closed the door and went to reflect on his actions.

Chapter 480 Spending the Night at the Lu Family Manor

On the carriage.

On the way to Lu Family Village, Lu Guanying asked curiously, "Brother, where are you from? And how should I address you?"

Su Yuchen knew that he wanted to find out about his situation, and not wanting him to overthink it, he explained, "My surname is Su, and I am from Daxing Prefecture."

“Daxing Prefecture?” Lu Guanying’s eyes flashed and he said, “Young Master Su is from Daxing Prefecture, so you must know something about Prince Zhao, Wanyan Honglie?”

Su Yuchen knew that his target this time was Wanyan Honglie and his group, so he didn't hide it and nodded, saying, "I've dealt with him a few times, but he might not be happy to see me."

"Oh? Young Master Su is very familiar with King Zhao? Judging from what Young Master Su said, it seems..." Lu Guanying asked curiously.

Su Yuchen chuckled and said, "I own a restaurant in Daxing Prefecture, but I'm a bit domineering and have some grudges with the Prince of Zhao's mansion."

Lu Guanying looked surprised and said, "Brother Su is truly skilled to be able to withstand the Zhao Prince's mansion without being at a disadvantage."

Su Yuchen said, "Young Master Lu is no ordinary man. He commands the bandits of Taihu Lake, and they all obey his orders. He also manages not to harass the villagers and protects the peace of the area. This is truly a righteous act."

Lu Guanying clapped his hands and laughed, "Brother Su, you really knew!"

Su Yuchen shook his head and said, "The Lu Family Manor is well-known. You can find out about it as soon as you arrive at Taihu Lake."

Lu Guanying said, “The world is in a difficult state. It’s a pity that there are corrupt officials above who are not ambitious, corrupt officials below who run rampant, and powerful enemies outside who humiliate us. We can only do our best to protect this region.”

"Young Master Lu is a man of great virtue," Su Yuchen praised.

After the two talked things out, they realized that Su Yuchen was probably not an enemy. They chatted and laughed all the way, and Su Yuchen was also familiar with the scenery around Taihu Lake.

"Yixing is a sea of ​​lush bamboo, with waves of bamboo swaying in the breeze..."

Lingyan Temple...

Seeing that he was more familiar with the area around Taihu Lake than he was, Lu Guanying couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother Su's familiarity with Taihu Lake is no less than that of someone like me who has lived by Taihu Lake for generations. If Brother Su hadn't just mentioned that his ancestral home is Daxing Prefecture, I would have thought that Brother Su had also lived by Taihu Lake for generations."

Su Yuchen smiled and said, "I was fortunate enough to visit Taihu Lake in the past."

Lu Guanying assumed he was referring to a childhood visit and didn't take it seriously.

………………

When the carriage arrived at Guiyun Manor, a servant came over and whispered a few words in Lu Guanying's ear.

Lu Guanying showed a hint of surprise and explained to Su Yuchen, "It's quite a coincidence. My father was fishing on Taihu Lake today and made two friends. If Brother Su is interested, you might as well join us for the banquet."

Guo Jing and Huang Rong traveled south from Taihu Lake to Niujia Village to meet Yang Tiexin and his wife.

Su Yuchen shook his head and refused, saying, "I have to travel tomorrow, and I just want to rest early today."

Seeing this, Lu Guanying didn't say much. He personally led them to the guest room, instructed the servants to take good care of them, and then turned and left.

Looking at the pensive butler Su, Su Yuchen smiled and asked, "Uncle Su, what are you thinking about?"

Butler Su looked up and said, "The roads to Guiyun Manor are quite strange; there's something inexplicable about them."

Su Yuchen explained with a smile:

“Guiyun Manor is laid out in the style of Suzhou gardens, with a different view at every step. However, these landscapes, corridors, gates, and rockeries are all arranged according to the Bagua and the Five Elements theory of mutual generation and restraint.”

"Don't be fooled by how smoothly he led us out just now. If it were someone who doesn't understand the principles of divination, they wouldn't be able to find their way out of this courtyard."

“No wonder…no wonder I felt like I was going in circles after walking for so long,” said Butler Su.

Su Yuchen nodded and said:

“Uncle Su, although you have practiced the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique), it is not surprising that you have never seen a Qimen Dunjia formation. An ordinary person would not have the same feeling as you when they come in.”

"Actually, it's not a big deal. If you can calmly study the principles of the I Ching for a period of time, and combine that with your past experience in leading troops and deploying formations, you won't find it strange."

Butler Su nodded and said, "I didn't expect the owner of Lu Family Manor to be such an extraordinary person."

Su Yuchen said, "Lu Chengfeng was originally Huang Yaoshi's disciple, so it's not surprising that he learned some esoteric arts from him."

Seeing that he was indeed interested, Su Yuchen immediately waved his hand, and a stream of true essence shot out, forming a plan in the air. The layout of the houses, corridors, roads, rockeries and streams on the plan were exactly the same as those in Lu Family Village.

Butler Su had already learned the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique), and after listening to Su Yuchen's explanation, he went from knowing the "why" to understanding the "why" behind it.

After explaining the Qimen Dunjia technique of Lu Family Village, seeing that he still had some questions, Su Yuchen casually pointed at the diagram in the air. The diagram dispersed and transformed into the shape of the Bagua, which then evolved into a battlefield formation.

Steward Su was a valiant general in the army, and he grasped the concept of military formations very quickly.

Time flew by as Su Yuchen explained. When he heard a sound coming from the next courtyard, Su Yuchen knew that Guo Jing and Huang Rong had also been settled in. He immediately waved his hand, and the pattern in the air dispersed, with streams of true energy flowing back into his body.

Ignoring the still-pondering Steward Su, Su Yuchen closed his eyes and sat on the bed, calmly honing his supernatural abilities and pushing his primordial spirit to the second stage. He had a premonition that once he returned to Daxing Prefecture and buried his father, he would probably not be far from reaching the second stage of his primordial spirit.

………………

In the stillness of the night, a mournful sound came from the distant Taihu Lake. Butler Su looked up, and a moment later, another mournful sound followed. The sounds rose and fell, echoing each other, clearly a coded signal.

"Son..."

“It’s a message from the bandits of Taihu Lake. It seems that the Luzhou army is escorting Wanyan Honglie here,” Su Yuchen said.

With a single thought, the divine sense swept across the Guiyun Manor, both inside and out. Before people even realized it, the rats, owls, and other birds and beasts with their more acute sense of touch instantly felt a great terror and froze in place, too afraid to move.

Seeing Guo Jing and Huang Rong quietly get up and leave the neighboring courtyard, Su Yuchen smiled slightly, stood up and said, "Let's go and see, and meet that Commander Duan."