Travel through the heavens

Chapter 281 Xu Weixiong

During the next few days on the river, Xiao Chong would chat with people whenever he had time. He was very humble and soon became familiar with everyone on the boat.

He was even more attentive to Xu Fengnian and the only two female members of the crew, Shu Xiu and Qingniao. Apart from being a little lecherous, he was completely as innocent as a child.

But occasionally, he would act extremely old-fashioned, either leaning on the railing to look at the river or standing alone at the bow of the boat, posing in all kinds of postures that showed he had seen a lot of things in life.

Others just thought he was pretending to be mature and found it amusing, but Fang Muye, Li Chungang and Xu Fengnian, who knew his background, just watched coldly as if they were watching a show.

One day, the boat sailed from Shejiang River into a large lake, and two steep mountains could be seen standing opposite each other in the distance.

"Prince, Li Jianshen, Master Wen, the Shangyin Academy is ahead." Wei Shuyang respectfully reported to the three people standing at the bow of the boat.

Li Chungang picked his nose and said slowly, "The Shangyin Academy has been around for thousands of years, but many people may not know that it has always been a private school. The emperors who have controlled the Shangyin Academy's territory throughout the ages, whether they were wise and capable or incompetent, never tried to interfere with the Shangyin Academy. They may have made some small moves, but they ultimately failed, so they treated it with courtesy on the surface. The Shangyin Academy has always been outside the imperial court and is known as the academy. As long as one building, one book, and one person remain, the cultural heritage of the Central Plains will continue."

Fang Muye nodded slightly. He thought Shangyin Academy was the official academy of the Liyang Dynasty, but he didn't expect it to have such a background.

Xu Fengnian said, "Senior, Wen Hua, we're almost at Shangyin Academy. I thought the others wouldn't get off the boat, but you two have to accompany me."

Li Chungang asked, "Why? Could it be that attending Yinxue Palace would be disadvantageous to you?"

Xu Fengnian whispered, "My second sister is here. In her eyes, my martial arts career is probably just nonsense."

Fang Muye laughed: "Mr. Xu, are you afraid of your second sister?"

"It's not just me who's afraid, it's my whole family." Xu Fengnian's face showed a look of fear, and he continued, "She's already very disgusted with me for not learning the art of war and the art of strategy, but instead picking up a sword to learn martial arts. She's even more angry that I took the risk to go to Wudi City and put myself in danger. This time, when I meet her, I'm likely to lose a layer of skin. If you and Wen Hua were here, I think it would be better. After all, one is a long-renowned sword god, and the other is a rising star who has recently made a name for herself in the martial arts world. My second sister will give her some face."

Li Chungang became curious and asked, "Did she beat anyone at home?"

"It's not the hitting, it's the aura." Xu Fengnian waved his hands, trying to explain why his second sister was so intimidating. But then he suddenly remembered something important and said hurriedly, "By the way, when you meet her, don't mention the word 'Second Sister' in front of her."

Fang Muye asked with a smile: "Why? Isn't she the second sister?"

Xu Fengnian explained, "She doesn't like it. It makes her look outdone by her elder sister."

Fang Muye said, "What can be compared to a birthday?"

"She's such a strong-willed person, she even wants to fight for time." Xu Fengnian sighed and remembered something else: "Also, don't mention Jiang Ni in front of her."

Li Chungang frowned: "Why can't we mention Jiang girl?"

Xu Fengnian stammered, "Well, Jiang Ni and my second sister have always disliked each other since we were young, and we don't get along."

"Incompatible?" The old Sword God glared and snorted, "Jiang girl is weak and delicate, and she's just a servant in your house. She wouldn't fight with anyone casually. But your second sister, as the Princess of Beiliang, has a competitive personality. I bet Jiang girl has been bullied by your second sister a lot."

Xu Fengnian looked embarrassed and didn't know what to say for a moment.

As the ship moved forward, it got closer and closer to the two steep mountains. The Shangyin Academy was magnificent and beautiful, built against the mountain. Even among the lush greenery on the mountain, pavilions and towers could be seen, which were very interesting.

When the ship reached the shore, they saw a woman in plain white clothes sitting on the dock with a sword in her hand. She did not say a word, but just looked at Fang Muye and his group of uninvited guests quietly, like a solitary orchid in a valley, isolated from the world.

The fearless Xu Fengnian subconsciously shrank his neck when he saw the woman, and hid in the cabin in a flash, not daring to get off the boat.

Fang Muye stood at the bow of the boat and looked down, and his eyes met Xu Weixiong's.

She undoubtedly has a pair of bright eyes. Although her appearance is not outstanding, she is also outstanding. She is definitely not what people say is ordinary in appearance. What is even more rare is that she is elegant and dignified, and has the demeanor of a general.

Xu Weixiong saw Xu Fengnian hiding and sneered, "Xu Fengnian! Why, just because you dare to go to Wudi City, you don't dare to see me?"

Although she is a woman, her tone is more sonorous than that of an ordinary man.

The boat has already docked, and Xu Fengnian, who is like a live fish on the chopping board waiting to be slaughtered, knows that he can't escape death even if he survives. He will be chopped off anyway, so it is better to "die early and be reborn early."

He bravely walked out of the cabin, and as he passed by Li Chungang and Fang Muye, he whispered, "Senior, Wen Hua, follow me closely."

Xu Fengnian went up to the dock, forced a smile, and trotted over to Xu Weixiong. He hugged her arm, not giving her a chance to strike with the scabbard, and flattered her, "Sister."

Xu Weixiong shook off Xu Fengnian's arm and unsheathed his sword. However, he did not lecture Xu Fengnian. Instead, he bowed respectfully to Li Chungang as a junior and said, "Xu Weixiong greets Mr. Li. Mr. Li, the sound of the sword from Longhu Mountain is deafening."

Xu Fengnian said with a playful smile: "You already know all about this. It spread so quickly."

Xu Weixiong ignored him and continued, "Thank you for your support along the way."

Li Chungang pointed at the sword in Xu Weixiong's hand and praised: "The sword is good."

Xu Weixiong raised his arm and held the sword horizontally: "This red dragon is for you, sir."

Xu Fengnian smiled and said, "No need, sister, I don't need any swords. Just keep your sword."

Xu Weixiong glanced at him indifferently, and Xu Fengnian immediately dared not say a word.

"I only know swordsmanship, not the way of the sword. This sword in my hand is just a pearl thrown into the dark." Xu Weixiong said calmly.

Li Chungang shook his head slightly. "The sword is a fine one. I know you've put a lot of effort into sword training. You're being too modest by only knowing the art of swordsmanship. A gentleman helps others achieve their goals, while a villain seizes what others desire. I'm neither a gentleman nor a villain who can't stand seeing others succeed. I don't fight for anything. Besides, after the Dragon and Tiger, it doesn't matter to me whether you have a sword or not."

Li Chungang waved his sword, and the red dragon in Xu Weixiong's hand flew out immediately, and the flying sword returned to its sheath.

"Xu Weixiong, there's no need for you, my second sister, to test me. I promised Xu Xiao that this kid would return to Beiliang intact. Whether it's East China Sea or the capital, as long as he dares to go, I can guarantee that he'll leave alive."

Xu Weixiong never bowed like a woman to offer a blessing, but bowed like a man and said softly, "Thank you, Mr. Li, for your promise."

Li Chungang's tone was filled with anger. He ignored Xu Fengnian who was hiding behind Xu Weixiong and winking at him, and asked, "I heard that you bullied Jiang girl."

Xu Weixiong frankly admitted: "That's true."

Li Chungang asked angrily, "Don't you think highly of her?"

Xu Weixiong, never one to stop shocking others, said slowly, "Since ancient times, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law, and sisters-in-law and aunts-in-law have often been at odds. It's not necessarily the case that all mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law are bad people. They simply want married women to think more about their husbands. My mother died early, so I have no choice but to be the bad person."

Li Chungang was stunned for a moment, then his tone became soothing: "So, you also think Jiang girl and this boy can be a good match?"

Xu Weixiong laughed and said, "Even a pig could tell that just the two of them."

Li Chungang looked helpless and said, "I heard that Miss Jiang was bullied by you. I wanted to vent my anger for her after meeting you. Now that you said that, I can't do it. But I still have to say this, Xu Weixiong, you have good talent, but you are still no match for Miss Jiang."

Xu Weixiong glanced at Xu Fengnian, who had already sat aside helplessly: "Did you hear it?"

Xu Fengnian said aggrievedly: "I'm telling you this."

Xu Weixiong rolled his eyes for once: "What does Jiang Ni's swordsmanship have to do with me? It's not me who will be the one to lose power in the future."

Li Chungang laughed: "You are quite interesting, girl. Xu Xiao is so lucky to have children like you."

Xu Weixiong said as a matter of course: "I think so too."

She turned her gaze towards Fang Muye and raised her hand in greeting, "I'm sorry for neglecting Master Wen just now. Master Wen accompanied me during my previous 6,000-mile journey during Feng Nian. This time, I've met Master Wen again, and he's helped me resolve many of my problems. Xu Weixiong would like to express her gratitude."

Fang Muye returned the greeting and said with a smile, "Second sister, you are too polite. Xiaonian and I are brothers, there is no need to be so formal."

Xu Weixiong smiled and said, "Well, since Master Wen has said so, I'll ask you something. A while ago, Xu Zhihu wrote to me to brag about it, saying that Master Wen had taught her a set of skills called 'Eternal Youth Kung Fu,' which can preserve one's youthful appearance. I wonder if this is true?"

Fang Muye nodded: "Yes."

Xu Weixiong chuckled softly and asked, "I have an unwelcome request. I would like to ask you for this technique. I wonder if you can grant me this?"

Fang Muye smiled, said nothing, and looked at Xu Fengnian.

Xu Fengnian jumped up at the sound, rushed to Xu Weixiong's side, took out a booklet from his arms and handed it to her, smiling and saying flatteringly: "Sister, I asked Wen Hua for it a long time ago, and I'm waiting to give it to you."

Xu Weixiong didn't look at or take the booklet from Xu Fengnian's hand. He just bowed to Fang Muye and said, "Thank you, Master Wen."

Fang Muye smiled and said, "Second sister, you are too polite."

Xu Fengnian asked, "Sister, why are you waiting for me here? Did you know we were coming?"

Xu Weixiong snorted coldly: "Now everyone in the world knows your whereabouts."

Xu Fengnian muttered quietly, "How can it be so ostentatious?"

"Aren't you still showing off? Okay, if you have anything to say, let's talk at my place." Xu Weixiong turned to Li Chungang and Fang Muye and said, "Mr. Li, Mr. Wen, Xu Fengnian and I have some family matters to discuss, so we'll leave for now."

The meaning of the words is obvious.

Xu Fengnian sighed helplessly, glanced at Li Chungang and Fang Muye, and followed Xu Weixiong pitifully to Shangyin Academy.