Fox Demon: Starts with Lu Zu template

"Bah! That was all old news from three months ago! The latest news says someone saw him in the East China Sea!"

The man paused slightly while eating noodles, then continued eating as if nothing had happened.

The rough noodles and greasy broth are a rare delicacy for him now.

"Boss, check out."

He left the copper coins, put on his hat and walked out of the tavern.

The sun was shining brightly outside the door, shining on his scabbard and reflecting a dazzling light.

"Sword God?" He laughed self-deprecatingly. "Now I'm just a poor visitor without a sword."

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three years, Li Chungang has been traveling around the world as a poor and down-and-out man.

He had watched the sunrise on a fishing boat in the water town of Jiangnan, counted the stars by the campfire in the desert of the northern frontier; he had worked as a temporary bodyguard in an escort agency, worked as a brewer in a winery; he even taught a few naughty kids basic sword moves in a small county town.

Accustomed to being the best in the world, he now travels around as a down-and-out person.

The perception and experience are different.

One day, he led the skinny old horse to a small town on the northern border.

It was the middle of winter, and heavy snow was falling, dyeing the whole world pure white.

"Sir, would you like to stay at our hotel?" the innkeeper greeted warmly.

Chapter 101 The Poor Swordsman

Li Chungang shook his head and pointed to the bag on his horse's back: "Just ask for a bowl of hot water."

The boss looked at his frail figure, a trace of pity flashing in his eyes. "It's freezing cold, come in and warm yourself up. It's free."

In the inn lobby, several hunters were drinking around the fireplace. When Li Chungang came in, one of them suddenly widened his eyes and said, "You...you are..."

Li Chungang subconsciously pressed the hilt of his sword, but heard the hunter excitedly say, "Aren't you the teacher who taught the children swordsmanship in Qingshan Town three years ago? My boy still practices those moves you taught him every day!"

His tense shoulders slowly relaxed, and Li Chungang revealed a sincere smile: "So it's you. How's the child?"

"Thanks to you, sir, I'm now learning martial arts at the county's martial arts school!" The hunter enthusiastically pulled him to a seat.

"Where has the gentleman been all these years...?"

"Travel." Li Chungang said casually, then took the hot tea handed to him by the boss. "Thank you."

The wood in the stove crackled and a warm scent filled the air.

The hunters continued to chat about family matters, bursting into hearty laughter from time to time.

Li Chungang listened quietly and suddenly felt that such an ordinary day seemed not bad.

Late at night, when everyone was asleep, Li Chungang stood alone in the backyard of the inn.

The snow had stopped, and the moonlight shone on the snow, casting a cool glow.

He drew out the long sword from his waist, and it was the broken wooden horse and ox.

"Don't worry, old friend. You'll be able to rest soon."

As his fingertips gently stroked the surface of the sword, Li Chungang's eyes gradually became sharp.

As the saying goes, a swordsman's sword is not in his hand, but in his heart.

It's time for him to let go of the past.

The wooden horse ox trembled slightly in his hands, as if it had come to life.

Under the moonlight, a faint sword energy surrounded it, splitting the falling snowflakes into two.

He looked towards the east, perhaps that was the best place for him to bury the Trojan Horse and Ox.

At dawn, the innkeeper discovered that the strange guest had left.

The old horse in the stable had disappeared, leaving only a row of shallow footprints on the snow, leading straight to the north.

There were a few copper coins on the counter, and a note:

"Thank you for your hospitality - a poor passerby"

The north wind howled, blowing up snowflakes all over the sky.

Li Chungang led the skinny old horse and walked on the mountain path, taking one step deep and one step shallow.

His blue shirt had long been washed white, his chin was covered with stubble, and the wooden horse ox, whose waist had been broken in half, swayed slightly with his steps.

"Hold on a little longer, old buddy." He patted the horse's neck.

"The Shenhuoshan Villa is just ahead."

The old horse snorted, as if it understood what its owner said, and quickened its pace.

After turning the mountain, a group of crimson buildings appeared in the distance.

In front of the villa's gate, two disciples wearing robes with fire patterns were on duty.

"Stop!" one of the disciples shouted sternly when someone approached. "Shenhuoshan is a solemn place. No one is allowed to enter!"

Li Chungang stopped and raised his hand to shield his eyes from the dazzling snow. "Please inform them that a friend of your owner is visiting. My last name is Li."

The two disciples looked at each other.

The owner of the manor has only a handful of old friends, and the one with the surname Li...

"You...you are..." The older disciple suddenly widened his eyes and his voice changed.

Another person jumped up and said, "Sword God Li Chungang?!"

Li Chungang smiled bitterly and rubbed his unshaven face: "I'm no longer a sword god."

The older disciples rushed into the village to report the news, while the younger disciples who stayed behind stood there at a loss, their eyes constantly glancing at the wooden horse and ox on Li Chungang's waist.

"Look if you want." Li Chungang untied the wooden horse and handed it over, "But now only half is left."

The young disciple took the wooden horse and ox, his fingers trembling slightly.

This is the legendary "Trojan Horse Ox"! Although only half is left, every trace on it seems to tell the story of that invincible legend.

"The owner of the manor has arrived!"

With a loud shout, Dongfang Gu Yue strode over.

He was thinner than he was three years ago, and his brows looked more majestic, but at this moment his eyes were full of disbelief.

"Brother Li? Is it really you?"

"Brother Gu Yue, long time no see." Li Chungang bowed with a smile.

Dongfang Guyue took two steps forward, grabbed his old friend's shoulders, and looked him up and down. "How did you become like this?"

"Traveling around and sleeping in the open air is certainly not as good as living in the manor with fine clothes and delicious food." Li Chungang joked.

Dongfang Guyue shook his head and turned to his disciples: "Prepare the feast! Get the jar of century-old wine out of the cellar!"

The main hall of Shenhuoshan Villa is as warm as spring.

After Li Chungang changed into clean clothes and shaved his beard, he finally regained some of his former charm.

But those eyes were deeper than before, as if they contained endless stories.

"Where has Brother Li been these years?" Dongfang Gu Yue poured the wine himself.

Li Chungang took a sip from his wine glass and said, "Let's walk around and take a look. The misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River and the snow in the north both have their own unique charm."

Dongfang Gu Yue in the hall was silent for a moment.

Unexpectedly, this once powerful sword god was defeated by a junior.

"The Trojan Horse Cow...are you still carrying it?" Dongfang Gu Yue asked tentatively.

Li Chungang took out the long sword from behind him and slowly unfolded it - half of the broken sword lay there quietly, and the lines on the sword were still clearly visible.

"Of course I do." He stroked the sword gently. "It's a witness to my rise to prominence."

Dongfang Guyue stared at the broken sword, suddenly took a gulp of wine and said, "Brother Li, you should have won that battle back then..."

"Brother Gu Yue, victory and defeat are common." Li Chungang interrupted him.

“Sometimes losing isn’t necessarily a bad thing. A blessing in disguise.”

"Besides, I was standing alone on that peak. It was so lonely! I don't know how Lu Zu managed to survive back then."

"Now that I have a new target, my sword, Li Chungang, will no longer feel lonely!"

Dongfang Gu Yue understood the truth, but he just wouldn't accept it.

The blue-shirted swordsman who once left an invincible impression in his heart lost just like that!

Seeing that the other person still looked depressed, Li Chungang joked, "Hey, I'm the one who lost, not you. Why are you looking so sad?"

But Dongfang Guyue said angrily: "You, Li Chungang, are so free and easy. You let go of the world's number one just by saying so."

"Life is too short to worry about these things!"

Then he raised his glass and said, "Come, drink. I will not leave until I am drunk with you today."

After three rounds of drinks, Dongfang Gu Yue was already a little tipsy.

He kept talking about the changes in the past three years, and Li Chungang just listened quietly, occasionally taking a sip of wine.

"Brother Li, please stay a few more days at my Shenhuoshan Villa this time. You and I..."

"Brother Gu Yue." Li Chungang suddenly put down his wine glass. "I'm leaving tomorrow."

Chapter 102 Going and leaving!

Dongfang Guyue was stunned: "Where to?"

"Tushan." Li Chungang looked out the window at the snowy weather. "I want to bury the wooden horse and ox there."

Dongfang Gu Yue remained silent. He knew that Li Chungang would not stay with him for long.

But I didn't expect it to happen so soon.

He did not try to persuade her. After all, the other party had already made up his mind. What else could he say?

The next morning, Li Chungang declined Dongfang Guyue's offer to see him off and set off alone, leading the old horse.

Dongfang Gu Yue insisted on giving him a bundle containing dry food, silver and a brand new green cloak.

"Take care." Dongfang Guyue patted his old friend's shoulder. "If you need any help, please send a message anytime."

Li Chungang nodded, tied his cloak and got on his horse.

In the morning light, his back was as straight as a pine tree, with no sign of drunkenness from last night.

"That's right."

But after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and said, "I hope that next time we meet, you'll have a wife and children, preferably two daughters!"

Hearing this, Dongfang Gu Yue glared at the other person unhappily. He was still so young, how could he have children?

However, Dongfang Gu Yue did not refute in the end, but instead agreed with the other party's meaning.

"Okay, next time, you, me, and Brother Shouzhuo, the three of us will not leave until we're drunk!"

Dongfang Gu Yue watched the figure walk farther and farther away until it disappeared in the wind and snow.

……

At this time, far above the Tushan city wall, a red figure was looking into the distance.

Tushan Honghong's fingertips gently stroked the bricks of the city wall, but her thoughts had already drifted far away.

……

The morning mist on Wudang Mountain had not yet dissipated, but Wang Xianzhi had already packed his simple luggage.

He wrapped the remains of the broken sword "Trojan Ox" in cloth and kept it close to his body.

For three years, this broken sword has never left his body.

"Now that you've decided, where do you want to go?"