FVN Chapter 15: One Man, One Sword, Attending the Ten Thousand Horses Hall
Chapter 15: One Man, One Sword, Attending the Ten Thousand Horses Hall
The carriage drove out of the imposing and tall city gate of the border town.
Beyond the city walls lies a completely different world.
The vast grassland stretches to the horizon, its tender green waves undulating like the sea in the still chilly spring breeze, emitting a continuous, mournful sound.
The sky is high and the land is vast, and people, horses, and carriages travel within it, appearing as insignificant as mustard seeds.
Fortunately, Pan Xiaoan's luxurious carriage bumped along the grassland, but the thick, soft bedding inside made it not too uncomfortable.
Xue Bufeng closed his eyes and leaned against the most comfortable cushion, his blood-stained knife resting horizontally on his knees as the carriage swayed.
Yuanyuan and Bingbing sat close to him on either side, their bodies trembling slightly, their pretty faces pale.
Although they had witnessed Xue Bufeng's swiftness in killing, the thought of facing the Wanma Hall, which dominated the border town, and the legendary array of experts and cavalry, filled them with dread as if it were ice water seeping into their very bones.
No matter how skilled a person is in martial arts, can they defeat hundreds or thousands of people?
The Thousand-Armed Rakshasa sat opposite him, his face paler than usual.
Of course, she also knew about Wanmatang.
Of course, she absolutely did not want to face Wanmatang like that.
She even believed that no one could possibly go to the meeting alone, with only three women in tow, and face Wanmatang!
So, looking at Xue Bufeng's nonchalant demeanor, as if he were just going to a friend's house for drinks, she finally couldn't help but speak:
"You...are you really confident you can deal with Wanmatang?"
Xue Bufeng opened his eyes, glanced at her, and smiled:
"I've never dealt with Wanmatang before, and I know absolutely nothing about their background. Where do I get my confidence?"
He paused, and under the horrified gazes of Yuan Yuan and Bing Bing, and the astonished gaze of the Thousand-Handed Rakshasa, he continued:
"Besides, no matter how you look at it, how could I possibly kill them all by myself?"
"Even if hundreds or thousands of pigs stood in front of me and I had to kill them one by one, even if I wore out my knife, I still wouldn't be able to kill them all."
"You!" Thousand-Armed Rakshasa could hardly believe her ears, her beautiful eyes widened, and she almost stood up:
"If you're not confident, why are you still going? Didn't you see through Hua Mantian's goading tactic perfectly well?"
"Of course I understand it, but that's precisely because I understand it that I'm going."
Xue Bufeng's smile deepened as he observed the Thousand-Handed Rakshasa's unpredictable expression, but his tone suddenly turned cold, like a drawn blade, as his gaze fell upon the approaching cluster of towering buildings outside the window:
"And I'm confident that although it's impossible to kill them all, I'm still capable of cutting off Ma Kongqun's head before I die."
"That alone is enough."
silence.
Inside the carriage, there was a deathly silence!
The only sounds were the rumble of wheels rolling over the grass and the howling wind outside the window.
They seem to be getting closer and closer to Wanmatang.
Yuanyuan and Bingbing were so frightened that they dared not even tremble, and covered their mouths tightly.
The Thousand-Armed Rakshasa stared at him, his chest heaving, and after gritting his teeth for a long time, he said resentfully:
"Anyway... I've paid the deposit! You have to find me the Golden Silk Armor, not do this pointless adventure! This is practically suicide!"
"rest assured."
Xue Bufeng withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes again, and lazily pulled Yuanyuan and Bingbing, two soft and fragrant bodies, into his arms, leaning them together against the comfortable cushions.
"The golden silk armor will be mine sooner or later. It won't sprout wings and fly away. Now that it's in the hands of my old friend, it will never change hands again."
"Are you that confident?"
"Why do you ask that? Whether I'm confident or not is irrelevant. The key is whether you trust my old friend. If you don't trust him, why don't you try to take the golden armor from him now? I haven't restricted your freedom."
The Thousand-Handed Rakshasa was speechless for a moment.
She knew Xue Bufeng was right.
In the martial arts world today, the person who can snatch something from Li Xunhuan, who is ranked third on the weapon ranking list and whose "Little Li Flying Dagger never misses its mark," is probably not even born yet.
It's absolutely impossible for her.
After that, no one spoke.
Only the horse-drawn carriage headed resolutely towards that heavily fortified stronghold deep within the vast grassland.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Wanmatang.
It stands proudly in the heart of this vast grassland, backed by a gentle hill, like a giant beast dominating the land. High walls surround it, watchtowers stand tall, and banners flutter in the wind.
Even from a distance, one could hear the faint neighing of horses coming from inside the wall, thousands upon thousands, converging into a deep and powerful sound.
Wanmatang, with its name meaning "Ten Thousand Horses Galloping," truly lives up to its reputation!
The gate was wide open.
In the open space in front of the gate, flowers bloom in the sky and clouds stand side by side.
Hua Mantian's face was a little pale, but his posture remained as straight as a spear.
Yun Zaitian remained indifferent, but his eyes sharpened as the carriage approached.
Behind them stood two rows of knights in tight-fitting armor, each with a long sword at their waist, standing silently and solemnly, exuding an invisible pressure.
The carriage stopped in front of the gate.
Xue Bufeng lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out first. His eyes swept across the entire scene, but he seemed to ignore the grand spectacle.
Thousand-Armed Rakshasa followed closely behind, his face also tense.
Although she thought it was not a wise thing to go against Wanmatang, since she was already here, she, Thousand-Handed Rakshasa, could not show weakness in front of the people of Wanmatang.
Yuanyuan and Bingbing, supporting each other, followed cautiously down the steps, barely daring to look up at the imposing gate and the menacing knights.
Hua Mantian and Yun Zaitian exchanged a glance, knowing that the main character of the day had arrived, and stepped forward.
Hua Mantian clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice hoarse:
"Your Excellency is a trustworthy person, please."
There were no unnecessary formalities, and not even a check to see if anyone else was inside the carriage.
Xue Bufeng didn't bother with any more words. He nodded slightly and led the three women through the tall gate, guided by Hua and Yun, into the Wanma Hall.
Inside lies a much more open world.
The huge training ground could accommodate hundreds of riders galloping, and in the distance stretched rows of stables and barns, with figures moving about.
Many disciples of Wanmatang, still unaware of the situation, were either training or riding their horses in the distance, but their eyes all turned to this group of uninvited guests, their expressions varied.
The group walked across the training ground and headed toward the tallest and most imposing building in the center.
Wanma Hall.
When Xue Bufeng stepped into the magnificent hall, the atmosphere was completely different from before.
On both sides of the long table, the same people, dozens or even hundreds, sat in an orderly fashion at one table:
Gongsun Duanqiu, with his bushy beard and bristling halberd, saw Xue Bufu and the blood-stained knife at his waist. His large, bony hands pressed against the strangely shaped curved knife with a silver sheath and black handle, and his eyes almost spit fire.
Flowers in the sky and clouds in the sky quickly returned to their places;
Others, such as Old Master Liu, Young Master Zhao, and Young Master Sun, had uncertain expressions as they looked the newcomer up and down.
The previous shock and anger were no longer visible on Ma Kongqun's face, which was now filled with a deep expression.
It was so profound it was almost frightening.
Isn't he often just as calm as he is on the eve of a storm?
Only those eyes!
When Ma Kongqun looked at Xue Bufeng, there was a murderous intent deep in his eyes!
Li Xunhuan remained seated, pouring himself a drink, as if everything around him was irrelevant.
Ding Baiyun remained as cold as ice.
But when Xue Bufeng walked in, a faint hint of curiosity flashed in her cool eyes.
But it's more of a form of scrutiny.
She was also curious about what abilities this swordsman possessed that allowed him to kill members of the Wanmatang in the border town and then swagger into the Wanmatang.
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on Xue Bufu.
This swordsman, who killed Ma Kongyun and dared to attend the meeting alone, was so young, so handsome, and so calm.
It was so calm that it didn't feel like stepping into a den of thieves or tigers, but rather like walking into an ordinary tavern.
silence.
Only silence permeated the hall.
The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the occasional soft cough from Li Xunhuan and the sound of pouring wine.
This old drunkard is still drinking?
Those around him frowned upon hearing his light cough, feeling quite displeased.
I wonder where this person came from, being so rude.
Now that Wanmatang is facing one crisis after another, and the enemy has already come to their doorstep, it's one thing for him not to help them fight the enemy, but he's still drinking non-stop.
In the past, if there were such an ungrateful guest at Wanmatang, other guests eager to curry favor with Wanmatang would probably have rushed to teach him a lesson.
Fortunately, everyone's attention is on Xue Bufu right now, so no one is making things difficult for him.
After scrutinizing the other party for a while, Ma Kongqun suddenly stood up slowly, even managing to force a smile that could be described as amiable.
Without a doubt, Ma Kongqun was a ruthless and ambitious man.
Even though he secretly wished he could tear Xue Bufu, that madman, to pieces, he would never let the other party see what he was thinking.
"Your Mightiness……"
Ma Kongqun was about to speak—
But the result was beyond everyone's expectations.
Xue Bufeng's gaze bypassed his local host and the menacing figures in the room, landing directly on the disheveled, haggard middle-aged drinker who seemed like an outsider.
He curled his lips into a smile and walked straight toward Li Xunhuan.
The entire room was stunned!
Ma Kongqun's smile froze completely.
Under the gazes of countless people, some surprised, some angry, and some puzzled, Xue Bufeng walked to Li Xunhuan's table, casually pulled over an empty chair and sat down, as if this place were his home.
"I knew you were here, you old drunkard."
Xue Bufeng spoke, his tone familiar.
Li Xunhuan put down his wine cup, looked up at him, and smiled—a genuine smile tinged with weariness.
"I also want to thank you; your words saved my life."
"You are welcome."
Xue Bufeng said, "I thought you wouldn't listen to me."
Li Xunhuan sighed and coughed twice:
"I've always understood one thing: you should never ignore the advice of a good friend, just as you should never refuse a drink offered by a good friend. Because I understand this principle, not only am I safe now, but I've also gained something that everyone wants."
"Actually, that thing..."
Xue Bufeng looked at him and said bluntly, "I want one too."
Li Xunhuan smiled, but there was a hint of helplessness in his smile:
"I can tell, otherwise you wouldn't have followed me here so soon after I left."
He paused, then raised his glass to Xue Bufeng:
"I had no interest in that thing to begin with, so you can take it if you want, but remember to tell me something in the future."
"You mean that most beautiful woman in the martial arts world?"
"Indeed, I am very curious about what the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world looks like that can drive people all over the world so crazy. It makes me curious too."
"Perhaps it is precisely because so many people are curious about her that so many people are going crazy for her."
The two spoke in turns, their voices not loud, yet clearly carrying throughout the silent hall.
They talked about life and death, treasures, and beauties, discussing almost everything, but they completely ignored the elites of Wanmatang and the heroes of the border town who filled the room.
"This is outrageous!"
A thunderous roar exploded!
Gongsun Duan could no longer contain himself and suddenly stood up, slamming his huge hand on the table, causing the cups and plates to shake!
His hair stood on end in anger, and he pointed at Xue Bufu, roaring at Ma Kongqun:
"Brother! This madman has gone too far! We have an irreconcilable hatred for Second Master! Let me kill him right now to avenge him!"
The sound shook the rooftops, and a murderous aura filled the air!
Although Ma Kongqun's smile had long since vanished, he still raised his hand to stop the enraged Gongsun Duan.
He didn't look at Li Xunhuan, but instead shot his gaze like cold lightning towards Xue Bufu, his voice carrying the deep anger and imposing aura of a powerful warlord:
"Heroes emerge from among the young; I never imagined you were so young."
"I simply don't understand how my brother came to have such a deep-seated hatred with you, that you would behead him? Is it really worth taking a life for such a trivial grudge? Is it really worth you making a life-or-death feud with my Wanmatang?"
Xue Bufeng seemed to finally notice Ma Kongqun, slowly turned his head to meet his oppressive gaze, and sneered.
"My reason for killing him is very simple."
Xue Bufeng held up two fingers, his voice clear and distinct, each word striking a chord in everyone's heart:
There are only two.
"First, he spoke rudely to the women around me, so it can only be said that he was blind and walked right into a trap."
"second……"
He surveyed the room, his gaze sweeping over the faces, some shocked, some angry, before finally settling on Ma Kongqun's ashen face. He softly uttered a sentence:
"When I want to kill someone, I never care whose dog he is."
These words caused an immediate uproar in the hall! Everyone's face showed shock and anger!
Old Master Liu was so angry that his beard trembled, and he shouted that the brat was too arrogant!
Young Master Zhao's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, indicating a desire to challenge the opponent.
Young Master Sun's eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he shared the same thoughts as Young Master Zhao.
Gongsun Duan's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and he almost drew his sword and lunged forward!
Even Yun Zaitian, who had always been indifferent, frowned deeply.
Ma Kongqun's chest was filled with rage, his facial muscles twitched slightly, and his eyes were fixed on Xue Bufu, his gaze almost piercing through him.
So many years...
He thought no one would dare to be so arrogant and domineering in front of Wanmatang and Ma Kongqun, treating him like he was nothing!
But now, this person has appeared.
"You are far too arrogant. How dare you run wild in my Wanmatang?"
Ma Kongqun's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, chilling to the bone.
"Since I dared to come, I dare to be arrogant, right?"
"Otherwise, do you think I'm here to apologize? Even if you were willing, I wouldn't."
Xue Bufeng sat there, his disdainful gaze sweeping across the entire room, his wicked smile growing ever more pronounced, yet he showed no intention of drawing his sword.
furious!
How arrogant!
The atmosphere on the field was already tense!
The air was so tense, it was like a fully drawn bowstring!
Ma Kongqun quickly weighed the options in his mind.
The threat from the Divine Blade Hall was like a thorn in their side, and it would be unwise to fight to the death with this mysterious and highly skilled killer at this moment.
But with his younger brother killed in front of everyone, if he were to swallow his anger any longer, Ma Kongqun and Wanmatang would lose all their prestige and would no longer be able to stand in the border town!
This is a path with absolutely no other choice.
The silent command seemed to have been issued.
A series of light, dense footsteps sounded outside the hall, quickly filling the area around it to the point of being completely blocked.
Inside the hall, Gongsun Duan, Hua Mantian, Yun Zaitian, and the others had already gripped their weapons, waiting for Ma Kongqun's order to pounce on them and tear this arrogant scoundrel to pieces!
Yuanyuan and Bingbing were pale as ghosts, hiding behind Xue Bufeng, holding each other's hands so tightly that their nails were almost digging into their flesh.
Thousand-Handed Rakshasa's breathing quickened slightly, her hidden weapon in her sleeve poised to strike, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xue Bufeng's tall and aloof back.
Li Xunhuan sighed, put down his wine cup, and freed his hand.
At this critical moment, when blood seemed about to splatter across the hall—
A cold, clear voice suddenly rang out, breaking the suffocating silence.
"I don't know your knife..."
Everyone turned around in astonishment.
Ding Baiyun, the "Fairy of White Clouds" who had always been as cold as ice, had raised her head at some point.
Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, were quietly fixed on Xue Bufeng, her lips slightly parted:
"How does it compare to the invincible divine blade of Bai Tianyu?"
After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent.