FVN #291 - The decisive battle of Huangtugang
#291 - The decisive battle of Huangtugang
The sudden turn of events for the ship immediately threw the officers and soldiers on board into chaos.
A large number of people ran back and forth, trying to plug the hole.
As large amounts of water poured into the ship's hold, the ship's speed noticeably slowed down, and it even began to tilt.
The ship Liang Jin was on easily caught up with the large ship and overtook it.
As the two ships passed close by.
Everyone saw Zhao Xiling standing on the deck, one hand holding the railing, the other pointing at Liang Jin, and angrily shouting:
"Bastard! How dare you attack my ship?!"
"I will definitely chop off your head!"
"Even if you had nine heads, they wouldn't save you!"
The small boat carrying everyone quickly passed the large ship, heading forward with the wind.
Liang Jin sat at the bow, leisurely playing his zither.
The others couldn't help but gather at the stern, watching the slowly tilting, gradually sinking ship from afar.
It seemed it wouldn't be long before the princess really had nowhere to stand.
Jiang Lengxue couldn't help but sigh helplessly:
"We're done for…"
"If anything happens to the princess, we're afraid we'll be hunted down by the imperial court."
Her face was filled with worry, her eyebrows tightly furrowed.
Lu Qiannan, standing beside her, snorted coldly:
"What's there to be afraid of!"
"My Taiping Dao has hundreds of thousands of members. If the princess wants revenge, she'll have to think twice!"
Lu Qiannan didn't want to provoke the princess either.
But since Liang Jin had already made a move, she naturally stood firmly on Liang Jin's side without hesitation.
For a moment.
Jiang Lengxue felt that Lu Qiannan was too young and didn't understand how easily imperial power could crush people.
Lu Qiannan felt that Jiang Lengxue was too timid and didn't dare to risk her life to resist.
This made both of them feel that the other was difficult to communicate with, and they were unwilling to continue the conversation.
Liang Jin sat alone at the bow, playing his zither leisurely.
The boat sailed with the wind, heading towards Qingzhou City.
… … … …
Qingzhou City.
Early in the morning, a large number of martial artists had already gathered outside the city.
Over the past few days, the news that Wang Daizhen, the Sect Leader of the Senluo Sect, would have a decisive battle with the Great Teacher of the Taiping Dao had spread throughout the martial world of Qingzhou.
Therefore, many martial arts sects, even those from far away, had sent their disciples to observe.
After all, a public duel between fourth-rank martial artists, especially a life-and-death battle, was very rare.
Wang Daizhen, the Sect Leader of the Senluo Sect, was not only famous throughout Qingzhou but also widely known in other states.
The Great Teacher of the Taiping Dao, with his use of talisman water to treat illnesses during this outbreak of plague, had also spread his good name far and wide.
Vendors selling peanuts, melon seeds, and small stools were already wandering through the crowd, starting their small businesses.
"Look!"
"Quick, look, the people from the Senluo Sect are here!"
Accompanied by someone shouting, everyone turned to look.
Sure enough, a group of majestic Senluo Sect disciples were slowly walking out of the city gate.
They had obviously come early to clear the area.
These Senluo Sect disciples came to the vicinity of the Huangtu Ridge outside the city and stood guard, strictly prohibiting anyone from approaching.
Huangtu Ridge was a loess slope outside the city.
The terrain here was open and the view was wide, making it a good place for a duel.
Time slowly passed.
In the blink of an eye, the sun had already risen to the dome of the sky.
It was noon.
Everyone was even getting a little impatient.
They had agreed to a duel today, so why hadn't either of the main characters appeared yet?
This made everyone unable to help but discuss it:
"What's going on? Why haven't either Sect Leader Wang or the Great Teacher appeared yet?"
"That's right. Could it be that they've rescheduled the duel? That's not right either, the Senluo Sect disciples have already cleared the area."
"You guys don't understand! There's also a lot of attention paid to the order of appearance in a duel. The first to arrive is the challenger, and the last to arrive is the challenged. If Sect Leader Wang doesn't appear, the Great Teacher certainly won't show up."
"But I heard that the first to arrive is usually the lighter weight, and the last to arrive is the heavier weight. Sect Leader Wang and the Senluo Sect have been famous in Qingzhou for decades, so they should be seniors. But the Great Teacher has only just emerged, so he's a junior. How can a junior make a senior wait?"
"That's not entirely true either. Anyway, you can think of it as a secret contest between the two sides."
… …
Everyone discussed it for a long time, but they couldn't come to a conclusion.
Just when everyone was feeling restless.
"Clang! ! !"
Suddenly, a clear sword cry rang through the sky.
After hearing this sword cry, many martial artists present were moved.
This iconic sword cry was extremely familiar to anyone who had been in the Qingzhou martial world for many years!
Because it often foreshadowed the appearance of Wang Daizhen, the Sect Leader of the Senluo Sect!
Sure enough!
Only a clear whistle was heard spreading throughout the audience:
"Qingzhou's sword dares to soar the sky, Daizhen is the only hero!"
This clear whistle echoed continuously in the sky, lasting for a long time.
Everyone felt a shock in their ears, as if this clear whistle could enter their minds from their ears.
Everyone also subconsciously turned their heads and looked in the direction from which the clear whistle came.
Only to see.
On the towering city tower on the city wall, a figure stood with his sword on his back.
This person's face was as calm as water, his eyes were deep, and he was wearing a wide, light blue robe.
He held an ancient long sword in one hand, carrying the sword on his back.
Seeing this figure standing on the city tower, everyone couldn't help but get excited:
"It's 'Lone Shadow Sword' Wang Daizhen! It's Sect Leader Wang of the Senluo Sect!"
"He's finally appeared! The legendary 'Lone Shadow Sword' Wang Daizhen is aloof and proud, as his reputation suggests. As soon as he appears, he stands at the highest point in everyone's sight!"
"Sect Leader Wang is usually elusive, and today we can finally see the figure of Qingzhou's number one swordsman!"
… …
Just as everyone couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
Only to see on the city tower, the figure had already moved.
He raised his hand and stabbed forward with his sword.
Then the whole person also flew down towards the front of the city tower in the direction of the sword stab.
It was like a fleeting shadow in the clouds, a white crane soaring into the sky.
This lightness skill is the Senluo Sect's 'Spirit Crane Step'.
Even when a person has nowhere to borrow strength in mid-air, once the 'Spirit Crane Step' is used, it is as if the person has grown a pair of wings that can change direction.
Obviously, Wang Daizhen's 'Spirit Crane Step' had been cultivated to the extreme.
Not only was his flying speed extremely fast, but it was also very elegant and graceful, with a beautiful posture.
Wang Daizhen glided down from the city wall, and was about to land on the loess slope.
The disciples of the Senluo Sect had already taken action:
"Lay the carpet!"
Several Senluo Sect disciples picked up a roll of carpet and then threw it out with a bang.
A luxurious and expensive wool carpet immediately landed at the highest point of the loess slope.
As soon as the carpet was laid, Wang Daizhen landed steadily on it.
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He sat cross-legged on the ground, and his sharp sword fell from the air, landing right in front of him.
Such a handsome appearance.
Naturally, it aroused cheers from the crowd!
At this moment.
Suddenly, someone exclaimed:
"Look!"
"The people from the Guiyi Sect are here!"
"Heavens! The Sect Master of the Guiyi Sect, Di Moyu, has come in person!"
Everyone heard this and looked in another direction in unison.
Sure enough.
A team of carriages was approaching.
The flags planted on the carriages were the flags of the Guiyi Sect.
There were many disciples of the Guiyi Sect, at least one or two hundred people.
Their carriages also seemed to be carrying some heavy objects.
As the Guiyi Sect disciples arrived near the scene, they immediately took the heavy objects off the carriages.
It turned out to be daily necessities.
Tables, chairs, benches, teacups, silver pots, incense burners, feather fans, screens, curtains, and so on.
The Guiyi Sect disciples arranged these items, making the scene look like an exquisite private room.
The Sect Master of the Guiyi Sect, Di Moyu, strode into the private room and sat down at the table.
He sniffed the fragrance in the incense burner while savoring the fragrant tea brewed in the silver pot.
The appearance of the Guiyi Sect also made many warriors feel that there was a good show to watch:
"I heard that the Senluo Sect and the Guiyi Sect have always been at odds. What do you think Di Moyu, the Sect Master of the Guiyi Sect, is planning by appearing here?"
"What else could it be? Of course, it's to take advantage of the鹬蚌相争 (yù bàng xiāng zhēng -鹬 and clam fight, the fisherman benefits). When Wang Daizhen of the Senluo Sect and the Great Virtuous Teacher of the Taiping Dao are both exhausted, he will take action to solve both of them, so that the Guiyi Sect can become the overlord of Qingzhou!"
"The Guiyi Sect is really making a good calculation, but I don't know if the Senluo Sect and the Taiping Dao have any countermeasures for this?"
… …
While everyone was discussing.
Suddenly, they heard another sound of horses' hooves.
Everyone turned their heads to look, and saw a team of riders galloping from the city gate.
After seeing the appearance of this team of riders, the warriors were so surprised that they subconsciously took a step back.
This team of riders was all wearing black uniforms, they were actually from the Six Doors!
As the Eagle of the Imperial Court, the Six Doors specializes in managing martial arts affairs and is responsible for martial arts cases.
They have extremely high authority in the martial arts world.
The team of riders quickly came to the edge of the loess slope and then stopped.
A middle-aged man at the front dismounted, and his subordinates immediately brought him a chair.
The middle-aged man sat on the chair with a great golden knife.
Although he was just sitting quietly, his aura was particularly solemn and majestic.
Especially the golden eagle embroidered on his black uniform was extremely dazzling in the sunlight.
A group of warriors were greatly surprised to see this person:
"He is actually wearing the uniform of the commander of the Six Doors. Could it be that he is the newly appointed commander of the Qingzhou Six Doors?"
"After the death of the previous Commander Qi, I heard that a master named Liang Qizhi would be transferred from Dongzhou to serve as the new commander of the Qingzhou Six Doors. It seems to be him!"
"When did this Commander Liang arrive in Qingzhou? Why is there no news at all? If he hadn't shown up today, I would have thought that the position of commander of the Qingzhou Six Doors was still vacant."
"It seems that the Six Doors is here to maintain order and restrain all parties. The Taiping Dao and the Senluo Sect have hatred, and the Senluo Sect and the Guiyi Sect also have hatred. This duel is very likely to trigger a multi-party war, and only the Six Doors can suppress the situation."
… …
Just as everyone's attention was being attracted by the Six Doors.
Suddenly.
Two teams of people actually walked down from Shenlu Peak.
One team, wearing yellow turbans and yellow clothes, turned out to be people from the Taiping Dao.
The other team, wearing red and white uniforms, with their weapons uniformly swords, turned out to be people from the Chihuo Sword Sect.
The appearance of these two teams immediately caused another uproar in the audience:
"The people from the Taiping Dao are here! Could it be that the Great Virtuous Teacher has finally arrived! Now the dueling parties are complete, and the good show is about to begin!"
"Huh? Isn't that the Chihuo Sword Sect? Why are they mixed up with the Taiping Dao?"
"You don't understand this, do you? The former Sect Master of the Chihuo Sword Sect has passed away, and before his death, he passed the position of Sect Master to the Great Virtuous Teacher."
"Really? No matter how the position of Sect Master of the Chihuo Sword Sect is passed on, it shouldn't be passed to the hands of the Great Virtuous Teacher! If this is the case, wouldn't the Great Virtuous Teacher be in charge of the Taiping Dao and the Chihuo Sword Sect?"
… …
Everyone was suspicious, searching for the figure of the Great Virtuous Teacher among the crowds of the Taiping Dao and the Chihuo Sword Sect.
Many people have not yet seen the Great Virtuous Teacher with their own eyes, so they are particularly expectant.
However.
They were soon disappointed.
Countless gazes searched these two teams, but they could not see the shadow of the Great Virtuous Teacher.
Even the disciples of the Senluo Sect couldn't help but loudly question:
"Where is the Great Virtuous Teacher of your sect?"
"The Sect Master of our sect is already waiting here, why hasn't the Great Virtuous Teacher shown up yet?!"
Faced with the questioning.
Zhang You, the Libationer of the Taiping Dao, replied loudly:
"The Great Virtuous Teacher's immortal蹤 (zōng - trace) is elusive, how can mortals窥透 (kuī tòu - peep through) it?"
"Only when the time comes, the Great Virtuous Teacher will naturally appear."
"With us here, why should your sect worry? Just wait patiently."
This answer made the disciples of the Senluo Sect very dissatisfied.
Only Wang Daizhen was still sitting cross-legged on the loess slope, closing his eyes and not saying a word, as if he had entered a state of meditation.
Under the sunlight, everyone could only wait patiently.
Suddenly!
A burst of zither music wafted from the Xuan River…