Yue Qianfeng's eyesight was already able to see that city.
As one of the two border cities flanking Jiangzhou, the capital of Chen Country, uniquely constructed on rugged terrain and just about a hundred miles from this spot, Yue Qianfeng, even burdened with this martially ignorant master of mathematics, could reach it within half a day despite the possibility of encountering strong enemies on the road.
Yet, the old man simply sat on the rock, holding a branch in his hand and sketching complex patterns on the thin layer of dirt, indifferent even when an assassin had approached earlier, as he drew a huge circle inscribed with innumerable stars and intricate designs.
It seemed as though the branch in the elderly man's hand was a carving tool, slicing open the circle resembling the celestial sphere, continuously dropping numerous character symbols, growing so complex that Yue Qianfeng couldn't understand it.
Huntian Ge Yuan Method.
Elder Zu was originally a senior of the Taoist sect and one of the twenty-four Sacrificial Wine Masters, proficient in astronomy and a great mathematician, most skilled at deducing, claiming that all earthly matters had already been imprinted in the radiance of the stars above; by eliminating the irrational elements, one could come infinitely close to the truth.
Yue Qianfeng called out a few times before Elder Zu finally looked up, and Yue Qianfeng asked,
"Mr. Zu, should we start our journey immediately?"
Sitting on the rocky mountain, the elder softly said, "Wait for a reply from my dear friend."
"Thank you, General Yue, for spending several days waiting with an old man like me."
Yue Qianfeng understood then.
Before setting out, the old man had already sent out letters to his friends, among them were the great Confucian Wang Tong; the seventh giant of the Mo School who traveled between nations; and the eldest Siming from the Yin Yang Family.
Except for the one from Legalism, all had responded.
Scholars too have integrity, after learning of General Yue being framed, these elderly men with white hair stood up once again, hoping to rescue the hope of the nation.
Elder Zu and his friends had agreed to head to Jiangzhou of Chen Country together, but beforehand, he had Yue Qianfeng use unique methods to change the meeting place to Guan Yi City, saying, "Let me be a bit selfish... Originally, it was to save General Yue, with such a force, I hope to introduce the successor I'm about to find to them."
Yue Qianfeng thought of that legendary organization and said, "The Tianshu Society of the East Continent?"
The elder shook his head, "That's too harsh."
"Just wanting to leave him a way out."
"What we're doing will inevitably enrage the authorities, it's fine for an old man like me, but if I find a disciple, the consequences will inevitably affect him. I've thought it over and there's only one way to protect his life."
"To have a grand reputation, and to be cautious and prudent."
Yue Qianfeng mused, "A grand reputation, cautious and prudent."
"Thus killing him would be harmful and disastrous, indeed it could save his life."
The elder looked down and deduced, calmly saying, "I must bring a great reputation to Guan Yi City."
"Like buckets of rain falling from the sky, dew drenches evenly, how much he can catch depends on his fate."
Yue Qianfeng knew that the great reputation the elder spoke of was also for the sake of building momentum to save General Yue.
The Chen State valued literature, the Ying Dynasty emphasized martial prowess, and different strategies were adopted in different states.
This method could be greatly useful only in Chen State.
He looked at Guan Yi City, determined to ensure the elder's safe entry, the city's defense now commanded by Chen Country's famous defender Lu Youxian, and the strongest in the city likely being the old White Tiger of the Xue Family. Although the two sides were a hundred miles apart and he was alone, it was still like two armies facing off.
"When will Mr. Zu's friends arrive?"
"At the earliest, four to five days; at the longest, half a month."
"Good, at that time, I will catch some fugitives to charge at Guan Yi City, to distract both Ti Qi and the city defenders, and I will directly challenge Lu Youxian and the old man of the Xue Family. In this way, Elder Zu can easily enter the city amidst a great fanfare, and they dare not touch you."
The elder asked, "It won't harm the civilians, will it?"
Yue Qianfeng said, "I naturally have a way to control those fugitives."
"Fugitives cherish their lives."
"The choice between a minuscule chance of survival and immediate death."
"They can always tell the difference clearly."
"As for Xue Daoyong of the Xue Family, he has keen eyesight and a gambling spirit, but after all, he's a businessman; a businessman values profit and will not fight to the death with me."
The elder nodded, drew the final stroke, completing the pattern which had become as beautiful as a piece of art. After further calculations, however, his bushy white eyebrows slowly furrowed, and Yue Qianfeng asked, "What's wrong?"
Elder Zu stroked his beard, "I don't know, perhaps I calculated wrongly."
"Hmm?"
"I used the Circle Cutting Skill today to predict if I would find a disciple, but the vision is somewhat strange, like the celestial sphere, stars densely spread above, it's March in spring now, but at the end of my calculation, the sky is silent, the Dragon Horn appears in the southern sky with the sun and moon passing through it, while the Tiger still appears in the western sky, both shining brightly."
"The south belongs to fire, and with the dragon moving amidst it, it's very ominous."
"Unless I have miscalculated, then it must be that my destined one bears the Dragon and Tiger Dharma Forms, walking the path of warfare."
"And furthermore, they are the Fire Dragon and White Tiger."
The elder couldn't help but laugh, pointing at the Circle Cutting Skill and the marked All Things, he clapped his hands and chanted, "All Things serve as the bracket, the tiles cover the blue sky, unimpeded for many years, forming bonds."
"Successful cultivation travels three thousand leagues."
"Commanding the Fire Dragon and subduing the Tiger, one traverses the land as an immortal!"
......
Inside the Wind Listening Pavilion of the Xue Family, Li Guanyi was perusing the top three lists, with only a few entries in each; the Divine General List had a few more, with a total of a hundred famous generals from various forces listed, fewer in Divine Weapons and Dharma Forms. As the elder brewed tea, Li Guanyi took the opportunity to inquire about the things he wanted to know.
Xue Daoyong, knowing everything, laughed heartily, "Dharma Form?"
"The so-called Dharma Form."
"It's divided into two types, one innate and the other acquired."
"Innate talents are few and far between; in an era spanning a hundred years, there may not be more than ten people, they are so-called natural wonders, the ancient ones with double pupils, protruding foreheads, and dragon-like faces; whereas those who are acquired go through hardships, slaying, and relentless cultivation,"
"Eventually they combine their Martial Arts will with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, transforming into a Dharma Form. Although having an innate Dharma Form is indeed enviable, that's just the way the world is, there are always those born with overwhelming talents, as if they arrived bearing a mission, and talent, well, it's indisputable."
"However, the innate folk are just hearsay, as an old man who has lived 130 years, I have never seen someone with a low Martial Arts realm possessing a Dharma Form."
Li Guanyi nodded in agreement.
The elder continued:
"Aside from being extraordinarily effective in combat, each Dharma Form has unique characteristics."
"For instance, I have heard that some Dharma Forms allow the bearer to master weapons, some make the bearer impervious to all poisons, and another type can preserve one's youthful appearance indefinitely. These properties do not require a specific realm; just possessing the Dharma Form is enough, and they are always effective."
Li Guanyi was indeed curious.
He wondered what special attributes the Red Dragon and White Tiger Dharma Forms possessed.
Knocking sounds came from outside the door.
Xue Daoyong said, "Come in."
The white-haired steward came in briskly with a tray, placed it on the table, and said, "Young master, you have a family, and the Xue family's inner house is somewhat chaotic as well; many men are around, and even as a guest elder, unless one is married to a woman from a branch of the Xue family, one cannot bring family members in."
He picked up a sheet of paper from the tray, pressed it down on the table, and pushed it towards Li Guanyi.
The elder smiled faintly.
"This is the deed to the courtyard where you reside."
"That entire courtyard, along with the land it sits on, is now yours."
"Everything you requested from the archives has already been taken care of as well."
Li Guanyi held the deed to the courtyard; the rent for that courtyard was not cheap, buying it would cost 500 strings of cash, and if the deed was included, perhaps even more...
Was it just brought out like this?
A thought crossed the young man's mind.
Could it be converted into cash?! Even half the price would do.
He noticed that the steward had come in suddenly and not at the elderly man's command, meaning it was very likely that while Xue Daoyong was at the martial arts arena, he had already instructed the steward to change the deed. The elderly man smiled and said, "This is something I would give you, whether or not you wish to become a guest elder, as a gesture of goodwill from my Xue family."
"Only the lowest of merchants fixate on gold and silver; the Great Merchants seek fellowship."
"For the sake of fellowship, even a daughter's value is insignificant."
"Young master is a person of deep emotions and integrity; in exchanging fellowship, I shall not return empty-handed."
"As for the addition of guest elder."
"The monthly salary, from thirty strings of cash, increased to fifty, including the supply of Elixir Pills, all cultivation materials, same as the Xue family's direct descendants and core members."
"This, 'Flying Feather Bullet,' is our Xue family's archery Martial Arts, encompassing both stepping skills and archery; I see that you only know inner strength and swordplay, this technique is not unique in the Martial World but is exceptional in the Jiangnan area."
"As for hand-to-hand combat, there is 'Seven Falling Scattering Hands' obtained from the beggars' sect."
"It's only used as a supplement after losing a weapon."
"These Martial Arts, all by..."
Xue Daoyong originally planned to have the Xue family's instructors teach them, but he paused, suddenly noticing the young girl next to him resting her chin on her hands, listening to the conversation. Because she couldn't chime in, Xue Shuangtao's eyes fixed on a lotus leaf, watching a butterfly flit back and forth, its wings slowly fluttering to her temples, a smile forming in her eyes.
The elder pondered for a moment, then gently smiling, said:
"Let Shuangtao teach the gentleman."
The girl lazily lounging on her arm was startled like a frightened kitten, suddenly raising her head.
Her eyes widened: "Huh??"
Li Guanyi, calculating the price of the deed: "Huh??"
The two looked at each other.
The elder laughed heartily, hoping his granddaughter could also establish this good karma. In the future, whether Shuangtao was to marry into a great aristocratic family or choose to manage the Xue family alone, having such a gifted person by her side would undoubtedly make her path much easier.
Li Guanyi nodded, "If Miss Xue is willing."
The elder was pleased: "I am her grandfather, she will listen to me."
His heart was joyful, and seeing Li Guanyi calm, joy increased even more.
He had already noticed Li Guanyi's gaze occasionally falling on the "Breaking Cloud Sky-shattering Bow," aware that as a young man, he would naturally be curious and yearn for such a legendary Divine Weapon, and now in high spirits, he was reminded of his younger days.
Therefore, the condition for lifting the "Breaking Cloud Sky-shattering Bow" was extremely stringent, but he graciously said:
"Young master, are you curious about this 'Breaking Cloud Sky-shattering Bow'?"
Li Guanyi nodded, "Yes."
The calls of the White Tiger Dharma Form from the bronze tripod nearly gave him a headache.
Xue Daoyong smiled, "Then, why not hold it for a moment?"
Li Guanyi hesitated, but Xue Daoyong moved aside to give him a clear view of the bow.
The young man hesitated for a moment, then reached out with his hand.
Amid the roars of the White Tiger Dharma Form from the bronze tripod, his fingers touched the ancient bow.
He slowly closed his grip.