Chapter 112: Wu Yazi!

The four of them walked to the wooden hut in the center. Su Xinghe stopped and turned his head toward Fang Han and the others, saying:

“May I ask that Young Master Fang Han go in alone.”

Fang Han gave Su Xinghe a thoughtful glance. Just now, faintly, he seemed to have heard some kind of sound.

Hmm, could that have been sound-transmission through inner force (chuan yin ru mi)?

Cheng Lingsu slightly furrowed her brows. She and Mu Wanqing exchanged glances, both feeling a little wary.

Especially Mu Wanqing—she had already disliked Su Xinghe’s earlier words. Now, seeing him invite no one else inside but Fang Han alone, she could not help but distrust him, worrying about possible traps.

Cheng Lingsu also noticed something odd. Her gaze shifted to the hut and she thought to herself: Why does this wooden house have no door?

Su Xinghe offered no explanation; he simply stood there quietly.

Fang Han turned back and gave Cheng Lingsu and Mu Wanqing a few words of reassurance, then walked forward. The power of Formless Sword Qi gathered upon his fingertip, and with a light swipe, he drew across the hut’s front.

At once, the wooden wall split open, forming an opening. In just a few more strokes, an entrance was cleared.

Su Xinghe stared in shock at Fang Han’s fingers, his expression frozen.

This hut was not made of any special material. Even a person without martial arts could have broken in with enough force. If someone had blasted it apart with palm strikes, he would not have been surprised. But to casually flick a finger like this, and then…

He glanced at the fallen planks. The edges of the cut were astonishingly smooth. His heart gave a sharp jolt.

Just now… what was that…?

Suddenly, a voice filled with slight amazement came from within the hut:

“Six Meridians Divine Sword (Liu Mai Shen Jian)!?”

Su Xinghe, after all, came from the Xiaoyao Sect. Though his martial skills were weaker, his knowledge was broad. In a flash he understood—the technique he had just seen was none other than the legendary Formless Sword Qi!

This man… how could he possibly wield the supreme art of the Dali Duan clan!?

Fang Han gave a faint smile and stepped inside.

The interior was dim and hard to see, but with the doorway now open, some light filtered in. Fang Han’s inner strength was so profound that, needless to say, even in the dead of night he could see clearly.

Straight ahead, in the center of the hut, a man sat cross-legged, seemingly suspended in mid-air. But Fang Han saw clearly—this man’s body was bound by a rope. The other end of the rope was tied to the beam above.

The rope only secured one side, so the body should have swayed slightly, yet this man sat straight and unmoving. Such control was proof of extraordinary skill!

Fang Han’s gaze fell upon the man’s face—handsome and elegant, jade-like countenance, demeanor refined and extraordinary!

Fang Han narrowed his eyes slightly, truly astonished.

Even though he already knew some general things about Wu Yazi, actually seeing him in person revealed how the Xiaoyao Sect’s divine skills had preserved both youth and longevity!

Nearly a hundred years old, yet he appeared no more than thirty!

Suppressing his emotions, Fang Han cupped his hands and said:

“Fang Han pays respects to Senior Wu Yazi!”

As Fang Han observed Wu Yazi, Wu Yazi too observed Fang Han. He saw a tall and upright figure, praised silently for the fine bearing. His face was clear and handsome, with the air of a refined scholar, but with composure and steadiness, his demeanor calm yet full of spirit.

Thus Wu Yazi secretly applauded, his heart filled with joy!

For decades he had been searching for an outstanding young talent to whom he could pass on his life’s cultivation.

First, there would be someone to inherit. Second, to cleanse the sect of its shame.

Alas, the Zhenlong Chess Game (Zhenlong Qiju) he had set up had gone unsolved for many years. Though many geniuses came, either their character or appearance was lacking, or their wisdom fell short. He searched and searched, yet could never find the right one.

Lately he felt his end drawing near—he could not afford to wait. He had planned for Su Xinghe to send invitations far and wide, summoning the heroes of the martial world to attempt the chess game. If anyone could solve it, he would pass down all his cultivation!

Yet before that even began, such a remarkable young hero came knocking at his door!

And from his words, it seemed they even shared some strange connection?

So he had Su Xinghe invite Fang Han in.

When he had just demonstrated that Formless Sword Qi, Wu Yazi had been shaken!

Alongside astonishment came a surge of both delight and regret.

Delight—because to wield the Six Meridians Divine Sword, one must already have reached extraordinary heights in martial arts. At such a young age, he was already a first-class figure in the jianghu!

But regret—because the Duan clan’s Six Meridians Divine Sword required immense inner power. For Fang Han to wield it so freely, his inner strength was unimaginably vast.

If Wu Yazi chose him as successor, before passing down his cultivation, he would first have to dissolve all of Fang Han’s current inner force.

The Beiming Divine Skill (Beiming Shengong) was fundamentally incompatible with all other martial arts. If the recipient did not clear his dantian of all prior inner force, the transfer would result in catastrophic backlash!

But Fang Han’s inner strength had already reached such heights. Would he truly be willing to let it all be erased? That was far from certain.

If unwilling, Wu Yazi could hardly force it. And if unwilling, then the idea of inheritance could not be discussed.

Wu Yazi sighed inwardly. So rare to meet such a talent, and yet fate does not favor me.

Whatever his thoughts, his face remained calm. Looking at Fang Han, he said with praise:

“Your appearance and bearing are extraordinary. Truly, a remarkable young man!”

Hearing this, Fang Han felt a little odd.

So this Xiaoyao Sect really are a bunch of face-value fanatics. They just can’t stand ugliness.

In the original tale, if not because Wu Yazi had no choice, and also felt fate’s will in the matter, he never would have passed his skills to Xu Zhu. With the way he had scorned that “ugly monk,” this opportunity would likely never have arisen.

Fang Han replied calmly:

“Thank you for your seniors’ praise.”

Wu Yazi said slowly:

“You bear the surname Fang, yet you have mastered the Duan clan’s Six Meridians Divine Sword. How very strange.”

Fang Han said clearly:

“That is not strange at all. When the Dalin Monastery was threatened by the Tibetan National Master, who demanded the Six Meridians Sword Scripture, they invited me to assist. They tacitly allowed me to study the sword scripture.”

Wu Yazi chuckled:

“Surely not just that. Perhaps there were other reasons as well. But I will not probe further. Earlier, outside, I seemed to hear you and those two young girls speaking of the Langhuan Blessed Land beneath Mount Wuliang?”

Wu Yazi had more than seventy years of inner strength—how profound! Though crippled, his ears remained sharp. From afar, he had already heard the three of them talking.

It was precisely because they spoke of the Langhuan Blessed Land that he felt there might be a connection, and thus had Su Xinghe invite them in.

Fang Han gave a slight nod but said nothing. Instead, he quietly circulated the Beiming Divine Skill. His immense Beiming True Qi surged within him, and in an instant, the air in the hut seemed to grow heavy and still.

“Hmm!?”

Wu Yazi, though calm before, now widened his eyes in astonishment. Feeling that familiar, kindred inner power, his gaze flared with brilliance, and he blurted out:

“Beiming Divine Skill (Beiming Shengong)!”

His heart was shaken.

Fang Han slowly retracted his qi. Wu Yazi remained silent for a while.

Only after some time did he recover from his shock. With hesitation, he asked:

“This Beiming Divine Skill of yours—could it be that you learned it from that woman who resides in the Langhuan Blessed Land beneath Mount Wuliang?”

Then he muttered to himself:

“Yes! Yes! I should have realized… Since you’ve been to the Langhuan Blessed Land, you must have met her. This Beiming Divine Skill—apart from me, only she, and… know of it.”

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Footnotes

* * * * Chuan yin ru mi (传音入密)– “Secret Sound Transmission,” a martial arts technique of projecting one’s voice directly into another’s ear through inner force.

* * * * Six Meridians Divine Sword (Liu Mai Shen Jian 六脉神剑)– A legendary sword technique of the Dali Duan clan, using inner energy as invisible sword qi projected from the fingertips.

* * * * Formless Sword Qi (Wuxing Jianqi 无形剑气)– Another term for the invisible energy blades produced by the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

* * * * Zhenlong Qiju (珍珑棋局)– “Zhenlong Chess Game,” a nearly unsolvable Go board puzzle created by Wu Yazi as a test for finding a worthy successor.

* * * * Beiming Divine Skill (Beiming Shengong 北冥神功)– A supreme inner cultivation method of the Xiaoyao Sect, capable of absorbing and converting the inner force of others.

* * * * Langhuan Blessed Land (Langhuan Fudi 琅嬛福地)– A hidden sanctuary within Mount Wuliang, containing secret manuals and arts of the Xiaoyao Sect.