weddingnovel Chapter 16 There is an old woman in Peach Blossom Village
Chapter 16 There is an old woman in Peach Blossom Village
"The palm technique used by Sheng Wansong, if classified as martial arts, is truly inconceivable. But if categorized as immortal arts or Buddhist magic, its power is astonishing."
The magic in this world has far more sound and light effects than actual damage. It is incredibly effective against demons and monsters, but its destructive power against people and objects is far less than that of martial arts masters.
"The case was finally closed."
Mo Xie tapped Yuwen Lie's shoulder lightly with the hilt of her sword from behind. "What's troubling you this time, Wudang's number one constable?"
"Senior Brother Moye is joking."
Yuwen Lie collected his thoughts and smiled at his two senior brothers, "I just feel that there are still some mysteries in this case."
"Xiao Lie, I know you are quick-witted and intelligent."
Mo Xie lifted the sword hilt, patted his junior brother's tender face, and said in a rare serious tone, "But right now, what you need to focus on most is the sword appraisal competition three months from now."
The next second, he reverted to his frivolous ways.
"It would be too embarrassing to be kicked to death in front of the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan."
It's unlikely to be killed by a kick, but the probability of being killed by a slap is extremely high.
Yuwen Lie recalled Sheng Wansong's palm strike. Even if his senior brother were to personally intervene, he wouldn't be able to withstand it. "If nothing unexpected happens, the winner of this sword-tasting competition will probably be Brother Sheng Wansong."
"Xiao Lie, why are you boosting others' morale while diminishing your own?"
Mo Xie shook his head and laughed, "For martial artists, the most important thing is confidence!"
"Yuwen Lie is not one to underestimate himself."
Yuwen Lie shook his head, denying his senior brother's statement, and retorted, "But facing the gap squarely and striving to improve is the quality that we martial artists should have."
Only then did the eldest disciple, who had been silent all along, finally speak.
"I have also seen the remains of yesterday's battle."
Senior Brother Mo Xuan smiled and slowly said, "Zhang San has committed numerous evils for over thirty years, and no one has been able to subdue him. He is treacherous and cunning, and his strength is no less than mine."
"Sheng Wansong's palm strike is comparable to the full-force attack of the leaders of major sects. However, according to you, junior brother, Sheng Wansong exhausted his internal energy after unleashing this palm strike and could not stand firm. Therefore, the outcome of the battle hinges on this single palm strike."
"If you can block or dodge it, you will win. Otherwise, you will be the one who defeats Wansong."
Block? Unlikely.
If you try to hide...
"Junior brother, you have successfully found the murderer this time. For this achievement, please ask our master to teach you the Wudang advanced lightness skill, the Ladder Cloud Leap. If you practice it, with skill and the ability to catch the unsuspecting, you may very well have a chance of victory."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Wansong poked his head out from the carriage next to him and said with deep agreement, "That's right."
The three of them were discussing their plan to deal with him, and he was right there listening in. Even Yuwen Lie, who was usually calm and collected, couldn't help but feel embarrassed. "Brother Sheng, what a coincidence."
"It's quite a coincidence."
This time, he tried to plan but failed because he wasn't paying attention.
Sheng Wansong couldn't help but laugh. "Are the three of you going back to Wudang Mountain to report back?"
"Exactly!"
Seeing that Yuwen Lie had not yet recovered, Senior Brother Mo Xuan stepped forward and said, "This time, we were able to subdue Zhang San thanks to Young Hero Sheng's help. After returning to the mountain, I will definitely report to the sect leader. When we meet again in Suzhou, I will present you with the reward you deserve."
"Then I'll wait and see."
Sheng Wansong was not interested in the so-called reward. Wudang Mountain was a well-known male-only temple with no female disciples. He then asked, "It's a pity that I didn't get to see the legendary Cold God Constable this time."
"Rumor has it that something has happened in the Six Doors. Three of the Four Great Constables have requested to leave the Six Doors and establish their own Jianghu sect, the Divine Constables Sect. Only Iron Hand remains in the Six Doors."
After all, he was a disciple of a prestigious family, so his information network was far more extensive than that of a wandering martial artist like Wan Song.
Compared to the other two disciples, Mo Xie was quite casual, leaning against the carriage without any airs of status. "Young Sheng, the Sword Appraisal Tournament is still three months away. Why are you going to Suzhou so early?"
Sheng Wansong shook his head and said, "I need to go back to my hometown first to see my mother and bring her some local specialties from Chu Xiang before I go to Chu Xiang City."
"What is your hometown, Brother Sheng?"
"Peach Blossom Village".
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Taoyuan Village is nestled against the mountains, where the hillsides are ablaze with color and peach blossoms cover the fields.
A stream flows down from the mountains and through the village. With mountains, water, and peach blossoms, Taoyuan Village is so beautiful that it is like a fairyland, hence the name.
In the distance, wisps of smoke rise from chimneys as a horse-drawn carriage slowly enters the village.
"It's Er Gouzi! Brother Er Gouzi is back in his carriage!"
"Ergouzi, you've struck it rich?!"
Sheng Wansong kept a straight face and ignored the villagers' shouts.
An An looked around, searching for the person called "Er Gou".
The carriage finally stopped in front of an old wooden house. The coachman unloaded the supplies from the carriage and then set off back to Chu Xiang.
As for the road to Suzhou, Sheng Wansong planned to travel there himself.
Back home, the old woman from the village was cooking. The food was quite good, with soup and meat.
Sheng Wansong's adoptive mother was named Li.
Li was a woman of misfortune. She was not born in Taoyuan Village, but in a poor village nearby. When she was just a teenager, her parents sold her to a wealthy farmer named Li in Taoyuan Village to be his wife. Who would have thought that on their wedding day, before they even had a chance to pay their respects to their husbands, he was forcibly conscripted into the army due to war on the border and never returned.
The Li family parents, grieving the loss of their only son, fell into depression and, on their deathbeds, forced Li to swear a poisonous oath that she would never remarry.
The two elderly people soon passed away, leaving her alone to guard the Li family's farmland and property.
Li was young and beautiful, with a plump figure, and she was the sole owner of the family property, which attracted the covetous eyes of many men.
Fortunately, many years ago a chivalrous man passed through Taoyuan Village and entrusted the baby he found to Li Shi to raise, which greatly improved her condition.
"It's been three years, and you finally decided to come back!"
Upon seeing her eldest son, Li crossed her arms and sat down on a chair, giving him a sidelong glance, completely ignoring the food in the pot.
"Ha ha."
Sheng Wansong chuckled twice, but his elderly mother, unsure how to respond, pushed An'an from behind her to the front.
An'an panicked, her fingers tangled together and almost knotted.
"Mother, this is my page, Anlan. You can call her An'an."
Upon seeing the adorable little girl, Ms. Li loosened her arms and leaned forward to observe her.
As for An'an, her brain was like mush, and she didn't know what to say.
Should the master's mother be called "mistress"?
"No, no, the mistress seems to be the master's wife, then..."
"Grandma!"
Not knowing what to call her, An Lan blurted out "Grandma," causing Sheng Wansong to facepalm.
My own mother is only 24 years old.
"puff."
Li couldn't help but burst out laughing, her carefully maintained composure completely crumbling. "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
She took An'an's hand and said, "An'an, you can call me 'Mom' or 'Sister Li' too."
Wasn't that too presumptuous? But her body moved before her mind could react, and An Lan instinctively called out in a sweet, delicate voice, "Mother!"
"Good boy. Good boy."
Katsumi quickly went to the stove and accepted the food from the pot.
"Mother, where are my second and third brothers?"