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    Edict of Peace 117

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    Chapter 117: I Have Not Seen the Phoenix, Yet the Phoenix Has Seen Me

    The *Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Divine Skill* was created five hundred years ago by a Chen Kingdom Duke when he reached the pinnacle of his cultivation in his old age. Later generations of masters continuously refined it. It excels at neutralizing heterogenous true qi within the body. However, Si Tu Deqing’s unique internal energy wasn’t outwardly obvious; though extremely pure, its quantity was insufficient.

    After being discovered, he tried to escape but was still absorbed by Li Guanyi’s internal energy.

    Li Guanyi, following the method of this divine skill, refined it.

    After a full incense stick of time, the hidden internal energy within Li Guanyi disappeared. He leaped to his feet. The quantity of his internal energy hadn’t changed. He pondered for a moment, then left the room and went into the courtyard.

    The large stone he used for training in his courtyard was changed daily.

    Old Master Xue would break the stone into pieces and use them as paving stones.

    The old man would use these stones to pave the muddy roads in poor villages, transforming the muddy paths into stone roads. He would then symbolically collect a small fee, so the villagers wouldn’t gratefully revere the Xue family as saints.

    Sometimes, they would feel that the road construction was just a pretext to collect money, and would loudly curse the Xue family.

    In any case, though the Xue family was extremely wealthy, they were also meticulous and thrifty.

    Li Guanyi clenched his fist, gazing at the hard, massive stone. Using the Xue family’s Jade Shattering Fist, he struck it. His physique was formidable, and his internal energy was abundant. With a crisp sound, the entire stone shattered, the fragments clattering to the ground.

    The Xue family’s Jade Shattering Fist is particularly adept at explosive damage.

    When enemy martial artists approached the Xue family archers who had run out of arrows…

    What awaited them were fists no less powerful than those of renowned martial arts sects.

    For the Xue family’s divine bows, close-quarters combat could be considered a second phase. Xue Shenjiang, on the other hand, used a long-range divine bow, a mid-range halberd, close-range swordsmanship, and close-combat hand-to-hand techniques. Except for the current Yao Guang, Xue Shenjiang had no weaknesses.

    Though Li Guanyi hadn’t mastered this fist technique, relying on his physique, the power he unleashed was not much different from a master. Li Guanyi paused, circulated the *Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Divine Skill*, and again used the Jade Shattering Fist.

    This time, the stone remained untouched.

    However, Li Guanyi’s eyes showed a strange expression. He muttered to himself, “Such a sinister internal energy.”

    He extended a finger and lightly poked the stone—a hard rock suitable for paving roads. The youth didn’t use any strength, yet it was as if he’d poked flowing sand. The stone silently turned into fine sand and flowed down.

    This was the characteristic of a casual strand of internal energy from Si Tu Deqing, the tenth most notorious assassin in the land.

    “Cold, domineering, silent… let’s call it Yin-soft energy.”

    Li Guanyi suspected that if Si Tu Deqing had attacked directly, ignoring defenses, it would annihilate the meridians and internal organs. Even a master with a physique like a golden dragon or elephant wouldn’t have internal organs as strong as their muscles and bones. This internal energy, entering his body, wasn’t powerful.

    But as long as Li Guanyi cultivated the second level of the technique…

    Whether it was the orthodox Nine-Aperture system of Central Plains martial arts…

    or the Seven Meridian Wheel system of Western Region martial arts…

    Cultivating the second level requires extreme caution. If this internal energy were to move, Li Guanyi feared his internal organs and meridians would be shattered on the spot, ruining his martial arts, and he could blame Yu Qianfeng, or even Chen Chengbi, who had recommended the technique to him.

    Li Guanyi considered Chen Chengbi’s attitude, then thought further.

    “He didn’t kill me, but crippled me. To exacerbate conflict.”

    “Is it the Crown Prince’s faction…”

    “Or, hidden within the Crown Prince’s faction, is he actually an Emperor’s confidant, inciting a fight between both sides?”

    “The assassin we caught earlier claimed it was from Dantai Xianming. Was it truly him? Or did the Emperor do it, simply using Dantai Xianming’s name? Or did Dantai Xianming give the order, but the Emperor gave another order to Si Tu Deqing?”

    Li Guanyi felt the situation was extremely unclear.

    Even his own Old Master Xue was a cunning old fox.

    He decided to find a way to warn Old Master Xue. He wouldn’t participate in these old foxes’ battles. Compared to these schemes, martial arts were far more reliable. He clasped his hands, attempting to understand the subtleties of the *Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Divine Skill*.

    Emptiness, harmony… it perfectly grasped the essence of Daoist martial arts.

    Yet it used “I” as the king, like an emperor commanding his subjects, to control all kinds of internal energy.

    Even enemies could be used for one’s advantage.

    Underneath the Daoist veneer lies the essence of imperial martial arts.

    One could see the state of mind of the Chen Kingdom Duke back then. Li Guanyi, observing people through martial arts, suspected that if Xue Shenjiang hadn’t been by the Chen Kingdom Duke’s side, the Duke would have rebelled long ago.

    At this moment, Li Guanyi could switch between his *Jade Arm Divine Bow Scripture* internal energy and the absorbed Si Tu Deqing internal energy. After a few days of recuperation to ensure his safety, he would cultivate the *Crimson Dragon Energy*, and a single punch would contain three types of internal energy.

    The White Tiger would break defenses, the Crimson Dragon would burn the meridians, and the hidden energy would penetrate the internal organs.

    Extremely profound.

    This *Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Divine Skill* seemed not to be an internal skill, but rather a secret technique.

    Li Guanyi used the Jade Shattering Fist to strike the stone; he could use domineering internal energy followed by Yin-soft hidden energy; or Yin-soft corrosion followed by a domineering punch to break through. Constantly changing; clearly it’s one Jade Shattering Fist, but because of the changes in internal energy, different effects arise.

    Finally, Li Guanyi pressed his palm against the stone.

    With a flick of his wrist, the stone completely disintegrated into countless fragments.

    Li Guanyi used his hands like weapons; suddenly, he used a sweeping motion, the vortex of internal energy erupting. Using the Yin-soft energy, the stone fragments turned into countless dust particles, swirling and surging. Li Guanyi stepped forward and punched, as if smashing mountains and breaking cliffs.

    [Mountain Crushing]!

    The vortex of the sweeping motion was shattered, instead releasing an even stronger tearing force.

    After discussing with the old man, Li Guanyi received guidance and gained a deeper understanding of these two ultimate techniques.

    He could now use them with his bare hands. Though not as powerful as using divine weapons with all his strength, it was still an extraordinary skill. With the two ultimate techniques combined, the internal energy assisted them, creating wonderful changes, and their power was enhanced.

    The vortex shattered, and a large stone turned completely into dust.

    His palm remained smooth and unmarked.

    He reflected on the feeling he experienced when using his internal energy and thoughtfully said, “Using external heterogenous true qi for my own benefit is ’emptiness.’ The true essence of this skill should be the ‘harmony’ at the high levels…”

    “However, this should be the core of this divine skill from Chen Kingdom.”

    “Old Senior Chen Chengbi didn’t dare to pass it on to me.”

    Li Guanyi felt regretful, but even the first level of the *Six Emptinesses Four Harmonies Divine Skill* was sufficient to control three different internal energies, allowing for numerous variations. Even an ordinary punch, with the continuous changes of these three energies, was a superior martial art.

    This should be the so-called divine skill of the martial world, cultivated to the point that every casual move is an ultimate technique.

    Though Li Guanyi was far from that level, the principle was largely the same.

    When Li Guanyi met Old Master Xue that day, he said he felt something was wrong with Si Qing from the library, but he couldn’t pinpoint the problem. He just felt uneasy and sensed danger.

    So, when he returned, he checked himself using the skill taught by Old Master Chen Chengbi.

    He discovered a strand of heterogenous true qi in his body.

    And only Si Qing had been in contact with him.

    Old Master Xue, whose smiling face had become grave, asked Li Guanyi to demonstrate the internal energy. Li Guanyi extended his hand and gently pressed it on the table. When he lifted his hand, a palm print appeared on the rosewood table, with the hard wood turning into fine dust and flowing away.

    Old Master Xue’s eyes narrowed as he observed the internal energy and remained silent for a long time.

    He said, “Stay away from Si Qing from now on.”

    “I’ll handle this.”

    Li Guanyi felt relieved. He now understood the saying, “Having an elder is like having a treasure.” He sighed in relief and said, “With you, Old Master Xue, I feel at ease.”

    The old man, however, looked at Li Guanyi and sighed with a smile, “It’s me who should be at ease.”

    “You always discover things of great value to my Xue family. Strange, you always seem to stumble upon events, and always end up with something valuable?”

    “I really don’t know whether to say you’re lucky or unlucky.”

    Li Guanyi replied, “It’s because the Xue family is already hostile to them. They dare not move against you, Old Master, or my aunt. Among the younger generation of the Xue family, only I am prominent. They wouldn’t dare move against you, but would they dare move against me?”

    The old man sighed.

    Li Guanyi said, “However, Old Master Xue, I’ve almost fully recovered. When can I return to my post in the Imperial Guard?”

    Old Master Xue looked at Li Guanyi, stroked his chin, and said:

    “Didn’t you take something that didn’t belong to you? From Hou Zhongyu?”

    Li Guanyi awkwardly nodded.

    These old masters had far too much experience in the world. They saw through what he wanted to do at a glance.

    Xue Daoyong burst into loud laughter, heartily exclaiming, “Haha, what’s the big deal? Everyone who’s been in the world has done this. Good, with Old Chen Chengbi covering you, your return is fine.”

    “I’ll arrange it for you right away. You’ll go back today.”

    “If you can’t find a chance to get it back, come to me.”

    “I’ll ‘retrieve’ it for you, but you’ll have to share some with me.”

    The old man had a teasing smile on his face:

    “How about seven-three?”

    Li Guanyi cautiously asked, “Three for you, seven for me?”

    Xue Daoyong shook his head, smilingly pointed at himself, then pointed at Li Guanyi, “Seven for me, three for you.”

    Li Guanyi was speechless. The youth indignantly said, “You’re a swindler!”

    Xue Daoyong rarely saw such an expression on Li Guanyi’s face.

    The old man was happy and laughed loudly.

    The news of Li Guanyi’s return to the Imperial Guard quickly reached Ye Buyi and the others. After returning, Li Guanyi didn’t plan to immediately retrieve the item near Qilin Palace. Instead, he intended to honestly work for a few days. On that day, Zhou Liuyuan insisted on holding a welcoming banquet.

    Several of them removed their armor, dressed in civilian clothes, rode spirited horses, and rode down the long street.

    They went to the largest brothel in Jiangzhou City. Zhou Liuyuan smoothly dismounted, throwing the reins to a nearby attendant. Li Guanyi was reluctant to go, but Ye Buyi said, “This isn’t an ordinary place of pleasure. This isn’t a low-class brothel.”

    “We martial artists have ambitions for the world and martial arts; before we reach the third level we won’t break our chastity.”

    “We are only here to drink and listen to music.”

    “Like Old Zhou, he stole fine wine for you, and only got beaten by his father. If he had broken his chastity, his father wouldn’t say anything, he wouldn’t beat him or scold him.”

    Ye Buyi glanced at Zhou Liuyuan, who was already swaggering into the tavern, and softly said:

    “He would simply treat him as if he had no such son.”

    “We’re different from those good-for-nothings. When we drink, we drink the strongest wine in the world, we ride the fastest horses, we wield the sharpest swords and spears, and we fight in the world. Love affairs aren’t worth it for men like us to gamble our future on.”

    “Even Old Zhou trains extremely hard every day.”

    Zhou Liuyuan turned and laughed, “How is it, brother?”

    “I told you, my old man’s medicinal wine is effective, right?!”

    “Come, come, let’s invite the courtesan, Meng, out. Today my brother has recovered from his injuries and been promoted three ranks, so let’s ask her to play the qin for us.” But the owner of the brothel looked apologetic and said, “Miss Meng… Miss Meng has an appointment, and we’ll have to wait a while.”

    Zhou Liuyuan threw a banknote on the table and laughed loudly:

    “No problem, no problem. We just want to be served first. I haven’t heard the courtesan’s music yet.”

    Suddenly, a scoff was heard: “Indeed, martial artists are uncouth.”

    Zhou Liuyuan raised his eyebrows and cursed, “Who’s farting?!”

    He looked up and saw a group of elegantly dressed young men on the second floor. Li Guanyi had seen the leader before, beside the Crown Prince. The youth had an air of nobility and glanced at Li Guanyi, bluntly saying:

    “Ye Buyi, Zhou Liuyuan, your fathers and brothers are famous generals, yet you debase yourselves by associating with merchants.”

    He gently fanned himself with his folding fan and said, “It stinks, it stinks unbearably.”

    Zhou Liuyuan was furious: “Yan Daiqing, what are you spouting nonsense?!”

    Literati and martial artists have always been at odds, especially the Crown Prince’s faction and Li Guanyi’s faction; these are natural adversaries. Yan Daiqing said calmly, “It’s simply the truth. Besides, what do you think this place is? To see the courtesan, it’s not about money, it’s about talent.”

    “Qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, what do you know?”

    “You only know how to wield swords and spears.”

    Zhou Liuyuan was furious and wanted to fight. Li Guanyi didn’t mind, but Yan Daiqing clearly disliked him. Young people are less guarded than those who frequently deal with officials. Seeing a peer, and an enemy, he couldn’t hold back his anger.

    Not my friend, then my enemy!

    Yan Daiqing and Zhou Liuyuan engaged in a poetic duel, easily defeating the latter.

    The commotion outside grew louder, disturbing even the courtesan’s area. After being informed of the reason, the courtesan said indifferently, “This is common.” The youth in the courtesan’s courtyard smiled, “It seems Miss Meng’s beauty is truly captivating.”

    The youth wore fine silk clothes, held a folding fan, had a red vertical mark on his forehead, and had bright, lively phoenix eyes. The courtesan, Meng, sighed, poured tea with slender hands, and said, “Young Master, please don’t make fun of me.”

    “If you’re willing to dress as a girl, who wouldn’t be captivated? The heroes of the world would all bow their heads.”

    Li Zhaowen smiled calmly. She pointed to the mark between her eyebrows and calmly said:

    “I don’t need to dress as a girl, and I can still make the heroes of the world bow their heads.”

    The courtesan smiled faintly.

    No one knows who can see the girl in red.

    But no one knew that the second son of the State Duke’s Mansion in Ying Country owned such a prominent brothel in Jiangzhou, Chen Kingdom. Li Zhaowen said, “Changsun Wuchou does indeed have talent and ability; he manages to connect with everyone, yet he has established this Changfeng Tower in Jiangzhou City.”

    “Publicly, there are two managers, and there’s also a royal background; he has multiple escape routes.”

    “It’s just unfortunate for you all.”

    The courtesan said softly, “We were originally bought and sold on the black market. Life and death weren’t in our own hands. We are grateful to Lord Changsun for taking us in.”

    There are martial artists to protect them; they don’t have to sell themselves. Men and women who want to leave can leave. Those who want to repay have three places to choose from. This Changfeng Tower is only one of them.

    Changsun Wuchou only asked them to live well.

    If they hear interesting news from the officials who come here, they should tell him.

    Apart from that, he teaches them martial arts, swordsmanship, Qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, and the basics of life. Having seen the darkness of human nature, they’ll cling to this light with all their might. Changsun Wuchou is exceptionally handsome; his skills in Qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting are unparalleled, and countless women in the building are captivated by him.

    Li Zhaowen drank her tea and said, “After three years, you can leave here and go to Ying Country.”

    “The wind and sand are strong outside the pass, not as good as Jiangnan, but it’s free enough.”

    Gongsun Meng said softly, “I’m willing to play the qin for the Young Master.”

    “Your heart is softer than Lord Changsun’s.”

    Li Zhaowen neither confirmed nor denied it, but she heard the commotion outside growing louder. She stood up and smiled faintly, “It seems if I stay longer, a fight will break out. Miss Meng, until next time.”

    The courtesan said, “Safe travels, Young Master.”

    Li Zhaowen waved her hand and looked out from the second floor of the secluded courtyard. She suddenly paused.

    “Hmm? That is…”

    She saw a young man sitting alone. Li Zhaowen smiled slightly.

    In her phoenix eyes, there was interest.

    “A pharmacist?”
    (End of Chapter)

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