In the midst of the rain's downpour, a solitary boat sailed along the river. An individual in azure attire stood silently at the bow, gazing at the mighty Yangtze River. Behind him, a delicate girl clad in red, gripping a book, sighed in frustration.
"Brother Chen! Do we really need to study these things alongside our martial arts practice?" She squinted in disappointment, laying the book on the table, pained at the sight of the 'Geometry Original' emblazoned on its cover.
"Hey! If you can't handle it, don't bother with my martial arts. I have the 'Purple Dawn Divine Merit,' a difficult one. You should check out the 300-volume Dao Scripture, grasp the essential 30 volumes, and I'll pass them on to you!" Chen Ang smiled, ruffling her hair while teasing her.
"Ah!" Qu Feiyan's pained expression resembled that of a helpless young animal. Her voice faltered, "Aren't there any martial arts that don't require such learning? I've heard of the 'Attracting Star Great Technique.' Even that demanding martial art doesn't need these prerequisites! Let me learn it, that simple-minded approachable skill. Why not for me?"
"It's called the 'Northern Dark Remnant Sheet,' and you can learn it too. Today, I'll recite the 'Southern Flower Scripture.' Tomorrow, I'll give you a few volumes of 'Nanhua Note' and 'Taiping.' First, skim through the 36 volumes. After mastering the 'Tai Ping Qing Ling Dao,' proceed to copy the 'Dao Scripture Taiping' and related 'Nanhua' scriptures several times. Then, you'll just about manage to get started!" Chen Ang advised.
Listening to this, Qu Feiyan looked at the towering stack of books in her hand, then glanced at Chen Ang with a dejected expression. "Why is it that nothing in the martial arts world is easy to grasp? Why is it that to learn something as simple as lightness, I have to go through this… this 'fluid mechanics'? What is that even?" She groaned in annoyance, tugging at her hair.
Taking one scroll from the Taoist literature, Chen Ang looked at Qu Feiyan's despondent state and chuckled softly. "If you want something simple, Lin Pingzhi brought me a martial art a few days ago. It's beginner-friendly and relatively fast to learn. Although it's meant for men, I've tweaked it so that women can practice it. Step by step, you can become a top-tier master if you put in the effort. It's much easier for you!"
Qu Feiyan's eyes lit up. "Such a great martial art, why didn't you tell me earlier? Wait, didn't you say that no martial art can be learned overnight? That martial arts without sufficient accumulation are not righteous paths. Won't this martial art pose a hidden danger due to its rapid approach?"
"You're mistaken! This martial art doesn't need that kind of approach. The process of cultivating it involves deep accumulation. Not only does it promise a bright future, but it can also be considered a one-of-a-kind school," explained Chen Ang.
"Really?" Qu Feiyan's eyes expressed disbelief. She had witnessed individuals becoming accomplished in three months, but solving three hundred diverse problems related to different ages and body types seemed impossible. Her faith in Chen Ang took another step after learning about this.
"Of course, but there's a small catch," said Chen Ang, eyeing the Taoist scroll without turning back.
"Oh!" Qu Feiyan murmured but couldn't help asking curiously, "What's the catch?"
"I've mentioned that this is for men to practice, so a woman learning it means pretending to be a man! It's not a big deal; perhaps your voice might deepen, your skin could tan, muscles might bulk up, and you might even grow a beard!" Chen Ang answered, pouring himself a glass of warm wine from the boat's red stove, smiling as he spoke.
"That's too much!" Qu Feiyan deflated.
Chen Ang stated earnestly, "Though there might be a bit of difficulty initially, tremendous transformations occur later. After succeeding, practitioners undergo a change, evolving into the most perfect form. It's the most beautiful transformation!"
"Is it that incredible?" Qu Feiyan looked at him curiously.
"The most incredible part isn't this; it's that the practitioner, whether male or female, ultimately becomes a person without any gender-based traits, just like someone from the heavens!" Chen Ang stated solemnly.
"You... what kind of martial art is this? It's completely bizarre, not masculine or feminine—this is outright abnormal!" Qu Feiyan was taken aback.
"Not abnormal, it's a transcendent, ah! No, it's a heavenly being, a metamorphosis, an unfettered individual!" Chen Ang replied with a serious tone.
After laughing heartily, he drew the boat's curtain slightly aside, pointing outside. "Take a look; that's an abnormality!"
As Qu Feiyan glanced over, she noticed several large ships suddenly emerging amidst the white river, filled with numerous people, some appearing disorganized, each wielding a Qimen weapon, giving the impression of a motley crew.
The fleet of ships maneuvered swiftly, encircling the small cluster of boats where Chen Ang was positioned. Dozens of figures stood on the ship decks—men and women. Qu Feiyan frowned slightly, then exclaimed, "They are from our Sun Moon Divine Cult! But they seem like characters from the dark side of Jiang Hu. Could it be that the Eldest Young Lady has come?"
"It might not be so!" Chen Ang observed the people with interest.
As they conversed, the individuals on the larger vessels separated, creating a pathway. From the most resplendent ship upfront, a melodious voice reached their ears.
"Is the renowned Southern Yangtze River divine doctor on that boat?" A Miao woman adorned in vibrant traditional clothing, adorned with a dazzling headpiece, stepped forward and called out to the small boat.
"A divine doctor may not dare to boast about fame. I might not be the most famed in Jiangnan. I am Chen Ang. Are you seeking me?" Chen Ang raised his glass with a smile.
The Miao girl smiled gently, "What else would the doctor find here? We suffer from poor health and seek the doctor's aid!"
Qu Feiyan looked at the Miao girl's revealing attire and snorted disdainfully, "Who seeks a doctor's help with a strong bow, a warship, and dozens wielding swords and knives? Isn't it a bit excessive?"
"Oh! Isn't this Younger Sister Qu?" The Miao girl's eyes glanced over Qu Feiyan's flat chest with a sarcastic twinkle, insinuating a deeper meaning. "Jealousy!"
"Doctor Chen, it's not an ordinary doctor," the Miao girl stated, gazing at Chen Ang alluringly.
"If a doctor, bereft of skills, challenges Mount Tai, Hengshan, and Huashan; engages in combat with Ding Mian and Lu Bo, forcing Fei Bin's retreat and inflicting heavy losses, then returns defeated to Lushan—then our Sun Moon Divine Cult would not need to involve itself in Jiang Hu!" Chen Ang said with a smile.
"Is that so?" Chen Ang replied with a smile.
"But I see you're not here for Sun Moon Divine Cult; instead, you're a turncoat!" This proclamation caused an uproar among those on the large ships. Soon, an impatient voice broke in, "Blue Phoenix, why bother with the kid's nonsense? Inform him; we have many people here. If he refuses, he'll die!"
Blue Phoenix retorted sharply, "Mind your tongue, or I'll silence you!" Then she scanned the crowd and sneered, "You're not together, yet all of Mr. Chen's enemies have come. What's your intention? Show Mr. our sincerity!"
The large chests aboard the sinister ship opened, revealing a dazzling treasure, blinding everyone's eyes. Several boxes filled with gold jewelry were placed before Chen Ang, leaving even Qu Feiyan nearby breathless. Chen Ang glanced briefly at the gold and silver jewels but fixated on a few boxes containing unassuming paintings.
Suddenly, Blue Phoenix blinked and found Chen Ang standing on the big ship, unfurling a scroll. She was bewildered by Chen Ang's apparent disinterest in the treasures, realizing their true value lay in those jewels.
"This is incredible!" Blue Phoenix was astonished. She hadn't expected Chen Ang to deceive her completely. His lightness surpassed hers. Had there not been so many people here on the river, Chen Ang might have left Blue Phoenix far behind.
"True colors!" Chen Ang sighed. "Truly the finest in the world!"
Placing the scroll inside the box, he pulled out a few ancient books and caressed their yellowed covers. Chen Ang murmured, "Unfortunately, apart from these ancient books, the rest are merely trinkets to Chen. Worth nothing!"
Blue Phoenix was stunned. Observing Chen Ang's composed demeanor and clear gaze, she was taken aback that he showed no interest in the gold and silver jewels strewn around. "No one in the world can resist wealth and glory. You don't even glance at these objects," she marveled.
"Indeed," Blue Phoenix chuckled, eyes teary from laughter. Then she lifted her head and sighed, "I don't see these treasures in our carriage, but you see them as a sign of our inability. With our prowess, every form of wealth and power is within reach. You have lofty aspirations! My Blue Phoenix labors tirelessly, yet it's all a dream!"
"Haha!" Chen Ang couldn't help but laugh. "I think you overestimate yourself!"