Li Muzhan stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he watched General Hua unleash his might. In the blink of an eye, the two dozen or so experts were all sent flying by the General’s fists. They landed vomiting blood, their injuries grave; his fist techniques were exquisite, and his internal energy formidable.
Military martial arts and civilian martial arts each had their strengths. Military arts focused on body tempering, enhancing physical conditioning to be faster and more brutal, while civilian arts emphasized cultivating li (power) and honing internal energy for greater agility and speed.
However, even though these men were masters, they were unlucky to face General Hua.
He practiced the Da Long Xing (Great Dragon Form), a pinnacle secret art, coupled with exquisite footwork and fist techniques. They were leagues behind and had no choice but to receive beatings; assassination was merely sending themselves to their deaths.
General Hua had always maintained a low profile, rarely leaving his residence. He appeared refined and cultured, bearing the air of a scholarly general, and few had ever seen him fight; such matters were usually delegated to his subordinates.
This gave people the false impression that General Hua was a strategist whose martial strength was lacking. ……………………………………………… “Good…!” A cheer rose from the crowd, which soon erupted into shouts of excitement. Witnessing General Hua display such divine power was a rare and joyous occasion.
General Hua smiled, clasped his hands in salute, and with a dashing demeanor, turned to say, “Master, let us return.”
Li Muzhan chuckled, “Very well.”
The two men turned immediately. The crowd instinctively parted to make a path for them. They walked away calmly and vanished from sight in an instant.
On the city wall, the four figures reluctantly withdrew their gaze, remaining silent for a long moment.
The thin middle-aged man broke the silence, stroking his beard and sighing, “What profound cultivation!”
Old Peng exclaimed, “I never imagined the General’s skill was this terrifying!”
“Nonsense, do you think just anyone can become a General?” the stout middle-aged man snorted, flexing his hands which were already tingling from exertion. “The General earned his rank through accumulated military merit, carving it out on the battlefield through desperate struggle and slaughter.”
Old Peng laughed heartily, “A true master doesn't reveal his true capabilities. I thought the General had no martial arts at all.” Wang Mazi shook his head and murmured, “All Generals can cultivate more profound martial arts; naturally, they are formidable.” The thin middle-aged man gazed into the distance, stroking his beard thoughtfully, “Master Mingkong is truly incredible!”
Wang Mazi shrugged, “It was nothing, he just flicked his sleeves a couple of times, not a big deal.”
As he spoke, he flicked his own sleeves twice, chuckling, “But Master Mingkong’s movements were truly elegant and beautiful. I can’t manage that!”
Old Peng waved his hand dismissively, curling his lip, “There’s no point talking to someone as blind as you!”
The stout middle-aged man nodded in agreement, “Master Mingkong is indeed formidable. Once an expert makes a move, you instantly know their caliber!”
Wang Mazi scratched his head, puzzled, “Is he really that powerful?”
The stout middle-aged man gestured, “With just one movement like that, could you make a projectile reverse its course?”
“It seems so. Good heavens, how did he cultivate such mastery at such a young age?” Wang Mazi grinned wryly, shaking his head in admiration.
Old Peng snorted, “Damn it, this time we absolutely must investigate thoroughly. In my opinion, we should kick all those useless martial arts masters out of the city; they only cause trouble!”
General Hua and Li Muzhan entered the main tent.
“It’s been a long time since I felt this exhilarated,” General Hua laughed, shaking his head as he sat behind the desk and stretched lazily.
Li Muzhan smiled, “General, I have an idea.”
“Oh?” General Hua looked up at him.
Li Muzhan said, “An eye for an eye. Since they have issued a bounty, why can’t we issue one as well?”
General Hua shook his head, “I considered that, but it’s impossible… The Imperial Court won’t agree. A noble title is the Emperor’s prerogative; to have one bestowed is incredibly difficult!” Li Muzhan smiled, “What about using provocation?” General Hua understood what he meant and shook his head, “The Emperor won’t be fooled. He hates being accused of being petty or stingy, and he won’t pretend to be generous either.”
“Are you very familiar with the Emperor?” Li Muzhan asked with a smile.
General Hua nodded. “My father was a trusted aide from the time the Emperor was still a prince. After His Majesty ascended the throne, my father resigned from office… Everyone thinks I emerged from the common folk, but they don't realize how near impossible it is for a commoner to become a General!”
“No wonder…” Li Muzhan suddenly understood.
Li Muzhan shook his head, “It seems that won’t work then.”
“Even so…” General Hua continued, shaking his head, “One has to admire the Eastern Chu Emperor’s spirit; bestowing a noble title is like carving a piece of flesh from the court. Every Emperor treasures that!”
Li Muzhan pondered for a moment, then sighed, “It seems I must take action myself.”
“You—?” General Hua started, then quickly waved his hands, “No, absolutely not!” He shook his head, “The General of Conquest in Eastern Chu is Ximen Zhan. His martial arts are astonishingly potent; he is known as the foremost master in the military. He cannot be assassinated.”
Li Muzhan raised his eyebrows and chuckled, “The foremost military master? Then I must see him for myself!” General Hua replied, “Eastern Chu martial arts far surpass those of our Great Yan. Their foremost military master is not to be trifled with. Let’s handle this through proper channels!”
Li Muzhan smiled, “General, even if my assassination attempt fails, it serves to return the favor. Otherwise, they will grow bolder and keep resorting to such tricks; it’s too tiresome!”
General Hua shook his head, “It’s too dangerous. I will request the court send someone.”
Li Muzhan fiddled with his prayer beads and chuckled, “If I do not enter hell, who will? General, let me handle it!”
General Hua only shook his head, his expression resolute, unwilling to let him take such a risk.
After Li Muzhan spoke for a while, he finally smiled, “General, I possess a secret technique that stimulates potential. Even if the assassination fails, no one can stop me from escaping.” General Hua pondered briefly, then sighed, “Very well. Since the Master is resolved, I shall not stand in your way… This is merely to issue a warning to Ximen Zhan!”
“Just to put a stop to it,” Li Muzhan nodded with a smile.
Around midnight, outside Shenguang City, the moonlight was hazy.
Moonlight bathed the sprawling camp, which resembled clouds. A gentle breeze stirred the banners, making them sway softly. The entire camp was silent, save for the sounds of heavily armored guards patrolling between the tents.
These guards, clad in iron, held high flaming torches. The fierce flames cast a cold sheen upon the metal. Their footsteps were light and soundless, like falling leaves, as they moved along their designated routes.
Looking down upon the entire camp, the armored guards covered every location, leaving no blind spots and precluding any opportunity for infiltration.
Under the moonlight, Li Muzhan, clad in his grey monk’s robes, floated down from Shenguang City, drifting towards the camp like a wisp of light smoke. It appeared slow but was swift in reality, slipping into the camp in the blink of an eye, vanishing instantly like a drop of ink dissolving into a lake.
On the city wall, General Hua, wearing his Guangming Armor, leaned against the parapet, looking down at the camp.
Having practiced the Da Long Xing which cleansed his marrow, his eyesight was exceptional; the scene in the camp below was perfectly clear. Seeing Li Muzhan infiltrate the camp with such ease, he was quite astonished.
Though he desperately wished to kill Ximen Zhan, he held deep respect for his talent in commanding troops. The camp was arranged impregnably, the guards were strict, and it seemed impenetrable—how could someone slip in so effortlessly?
After watching for a while, he gradually understood.
Li Muzhan moved like light smoke, drifting smoothly. His pace did not appear fast, but it was perfectly timed, always avoiding patrols at crucial moments and finding gaps to advance. He moved with mastery, able to skim the surface or strike the void, truly free and unconstrained.
General Hua secretly nodded. Master Mingkong possessed a profound and mysterious sixth sense that could predict danger in advance—a divine ability of Buddhism. Infiltrating the camp smoothly was not difficult for him.
As Li Muzhan penetrated deeper, General Hua slowly lost sight of him, sighing regretfully, Ximen Zhan was not so easily killed!
Li Muzhan moved like a phantom, his eyes closed, his grey robes clinging to his body as the air parted around him naturally, like water flowing around a stone.
He drifted past tent after tent, suddenly stopping, pressing himself against the back of one. Slowly, he retrieved a bow from his inner folds and drew an arrow.
The bow was silver-grey, dull and lacking luster, blending perfectly with his monk’s robe. The bowstring was dark brown, faintly shimmering. The entire bow looked utterly unremarkable.
This bow had been crafted by the best artisan in the Shenguang camp after Li Muzhan’s arrival. Though his previous Cold Flood Dragon Bow was good, he deemed its range insufficient for long-range execution. He took a short arrow in his left hand; the arrow shaft was pitch black, the tip a triangular cone, radiating a faint cold glint and an almost imperceptible chill. He nocked the arrow, slightly lowered his eyelids, and slowly drew the bowstring back, drawing it fully into a perfect crescent.
Thump! A dull sound, like muffled thunder cracking the quiet night.
Li Muzhan flashed, disappearing from his original spot, and pressed himself against the outside of another tent, his eyes slightly narrowed.
In a tent a li away, the tallow candles blazed fiercely, making it as bright as day. A tiger-skin armchair was set facing due north, occupied by a slender young man whose features were delicate and refined. His eyebrows slanted sharply upwards, and his gaze was piercing.
He was holding a scroll, reading with a faint smile—calm and gentle, the picture of a refined scholar, though the surrounding furnishings possessed a terrifying aura of slaughter.
Li Muzhan observed him through his Void Eye. He had seen this appearance on a portrait before and felt that Ximen Zhan was of the same mold as General Hua: refined in appearance, yet possessing overwhelming martial power.
Seeing him now in person, the scholarly air was even stronger. Slender, he resembled a scholar brimming with books, quiet as a virgin—not like the notorious General.
Suddenly, Ximen Zhan tilted his head. A black light silently pierced past his left ear, and blood immediately welled up, dripping onto his shoulder.
He frowned, put down the scroll, and looked behind him. He could not see his ear, only the blood staining his shoulder a large wet patch.
He looked up and saw a short arrow stuck in the thick, soft white carpet—black against white, a stark contrast.
He tilted his head again, and another black light shot past his right ear, blood instantly streaming down, soaking his right shoulder. His face showed anger; these two arrows had aimed directly for his head, soundlessly, like phantoms. If not for his high martial skill and astonishing intuition, he would already be dead.
He suddenly leaned back and fell to the ground as a black light whizzed past his forehead, burying itself into the white carpet with a hiss.
He let out a long cry and transformed into a blast of wind, rushing out of the tent towards Li Muzhan’s location. Several shadows followed him out.
Li Muzhan, having just finished retracting his silver bow, stood with his hands behind his back, his grey robes billowing.
“Who are you?!” Ximen Zhan appeared abruptly, stopping before Li Muzhan, his brow furrowed in question.
Eight shadows drifted behind him, encircling Li Muzhan.
At this moment, the patrolling guards also noticed the disturbance. Footsteps sounded quickly, gathering in force, layering three deep, surrounding Li Muzhan completely.
This entire process took only a few breaths. Apart from the sound of running feet, there was no other noise. (To be continued)