Gu Long's World: Starting with the Legend of Chu Liuxiang

Xue Yiren stared at the dark tunnel, the entrance to the abyss for his brother.

Xue Yiren said blankly, "I don't understand. The wealth in my manor is enough for him to live on for several lifetimes. Why would he still kill for money?"

Jiang Fengyue sighed, "It's because what he wants isn't money, but power; he enjoys the power to control other people's lives."

Yidianhong said, "With his martial arts skills, he could have enjoyed a great reputation in the martial arts world, but..."

Jiang Fengyue said, "It's just because his brother is the number one swordsman in the world. He tried his best to catch up, but to no avail. He knew that his achievements could never surpass his brother's, so he wanted to start a new career, but he went down the wrong path."

Xue Yiren looked utterly exhausted, letting out a long sigh, like a hero in his twilight years.

He left the room, but before he left, a sentence drifted over from afar.

Xue Yiren said, "Tomorrow at noon, take your sword. I'll be waiting for you here. You should know that blood feuds are never truly over."

Jiang Fengyue was stunned. If she still had to take action in the end, why did she go through all this trouble?

Yidianhong asked, "What does he mean by that?"

Jiang Fengyue smiled wryly, "He must be asking me to a swordsmanship contest."

Ying Wanli sighed, "Young Master Jiang has already proven that he did not kill the wrong person. In my opinion, he should just leave and not bother to keep this appointment."

Jiang Fengyue said, "I cannot leave, nor can my sword be defeated."

Ying Wanli said, "You've only been in the martial world for a short time. I know your martial arts skills are not low, but that's Xue Yiren. You won't stand a chance."

Jiang Fengyue said, "No matter how this matter ends, I am very grateful to Senior Ying. However, I must go to this battle."

These were Jiang Fengyue's heartfelt words. The white-robed divine ear he received from Ying Wanli had provided him with great help throughout his growth. Now, Ying Wanli was helping him investigate the matter of the silver notes free of charge, and he could only lament that there were too few righteous people like him in the world.

Ying Wanli shook his head and said, "I have official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

He took a few steps outside, then turned back and said, "I only hope that in the future, I will still be able to hear stories about Young Master Jiang in the martial world."

Jiang Fengyue smiled and said, "Definitely."

As he spoke, Ying Wanli had already gone far away.

Yidianhong and Qu Wurong were very distressed. They knew that Jiang Fengyue never did anything without being sure of success, and it seemed that everything that happened was within his expectations. They should trust this friend, who had the ability to face all the difficulties in the world.

Qu Wurong was afraid, afraid of the resounding reputation of being the world's number one swordsman. Yidianhong was afraid, afraid that Xue Yiren was Xue Xiaoren's brother, a being whose swordsmanship was even more terrifying than Xue Xiaoren's.

They should always be worried about their friend in this matter.

Yidianhong said, "I know you've always been reluctant to desert your post. I just hope you survive."

Qu Wurong continued, "Even if it means being a coward just once, you have to live on."

Jiang Fengyue smiled and said, "Okay, I will definitely live on."

The assassins were still inside, having grown accustomed to waiting for orders and not yet comfortable with their own freedom of action.

Jiang Fengyue turned to look at them and said, "Why aren't you leaving yet?"

The assassins did not respond; they were all sword geniuses and did not want to miss the duel between two top sword masters.

The following day at noon, Xue Yiren, dressed in a white robe, had been standing in the scorching sun for a long time. Whenever Xue Yiren killed someone, he would wear a white robe so that the victim's blood would splatter onto the robe and then be collected.

Jiang Fengyue also arrived. Under the bright sun, there were a few other people: Yidianhong and Qu Wurong, as well as the five assassins who stayed behind to observe the swordplay. At least subconsciously, no one thought Jiang Fengyue could win.

"Check-in!"

"Sign-in for Xue Yiren successfully, and you have obtained the martial art Blood-Clad Sword Technique."

Jiang Fengyue did not intend to use this sword technique in this duel, because he already had his own sword technique, and the most powerful sword techniques in the world would only be icing on the cake for him.

Xue Yiren stared coldly at him, and after a long while, he said, word by word, "If I were to take your life, would you feel it's unfair?"

Jiang Fengyue stood with her sword in hand and said, "I don't know, please enlighten me, senior."

Neither of them said anything more. Top masters don't talk much when exchanging blows, because everything they need to say is already in their moves.

Xue Yiren's sword flashed and stabbed out like lightning. This sword was too fast. No one present had ever seen such a fast sword, nor could they have imagined such a fast sword.

Jiang Fengyue did not dodge. Xue Yiren's sword was almost at his throat, but he suddenly stopped. It was not because Xue Yiren stopped, but because Jiang Fengyue's sword had already thrust out.

It was an ordinary sword strike, the kind that could be found in almost any sword technique, yet no one saw where it came from, nor when Jiang Fengyue made the move.

Jiang Fengyue's sword had already pierced Xue Yiren's chest. There was only a thin layer of blood on his white clothes. The sword had not penetrated completely, because if it were just half a foot forward, it would be Xue Yiren's heart.

Jiang Fengyue would certainly not kill; he would not let any evil person in the world go unpunished, nor would he kill any good person.

Xue Yiren's sword fell to the ground, while Jiang Fengyue's sword was already sheathed.

Xue Yiren is not dead, but his sword heart is dead; the invincible sword heart has vanished.

He now had another white robe stained with blood, but this time it was his own blood.

Those present were still in shock, unable to believe that the world's number one swordsman had been defeated in a single move.

Jiang Fengyue, however, understood that when swordsmanship reaches a certain level, a single move is all that's needed in a fight. Xue Yiren's sword was fast, but her own sword was even faster.

Yidianhong sighed, "Only today do I understand what true invincibility in swordsmanship really means."

Everyone else had left, but Xue Yiren was still standing there. Perhaps he didn't really want to avenge his brother, but just wanted to hone the swordsmanship of the younger generation of sword masters. Now he had indeed become a good whetstone.

Once they left Xue Family Village, it was time for the assassins to truly depart.

Jiang Fengyue said, "These are the silver notes I promised to give you, two hundred thousand taels each."

The assassins took the money and left. They might live ordinary lives, or they might go back to killing after they run out of money.

The silver notes were obtained in exchange for the treasures gifted by the King of Kucha; these were only a small part of it.

Xue Xiaoren's five million taels eventually ended up in Jiang Fengyue's pocket, simply because Ying Wanli said that even if the money were handed over, it would only end up back in the hands of those who paid it.

Yidianhong and Qu Wurong are coming to say goodbye again, simply because they also yearn for a peaceful life.

Jiang Fengyue said, "Come with me to one last place."

Yidianhong asked, "Where?"

Jiang Fengyue said, "Yongcui Mountain Villa."

Yidianhong asked, "What are we going there for?"

Jiang Fengyue said, "I want to witness a grand feast of swordsmanship."