nyslfriends Chapter 21 Appraising the Sword in Qingzhou
Chapter 21 Appraising the Sword in Qingzhou
All eyes in the room instantly focused on Chen Xuan.
Somewhere in the audience, Guo Furong sat with several close friends.
Seeing this, he curled his lip, his face showing a look of "let's see how you make a fool of yourself."
He whispered to his companion, "This big guy looks formidable. I doubt Chen could withstand three moves from him."
Chen Xuan frowned slightly. He didn't want to reveal too much of his strength in this situation, but since the other party had already named him, if he didn't respond, he would inevitably be seen as cowardly, which would damage his reputation.
Dongfang Ling chuckled softly and whispered:
"Young Master Chen, this Lei Biao is ranked forty-second on the Leizhou Heroes List. His Mountain-Splitting Axe Technique is powerful and heavy, but lacks variation. His strength is diminished when he doesn't use the axe."
"If you wish to win quickly, attack his left rib area, three inches below; that's the point where his luck will shift."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan couldn't help but glance at Dongfang Ling again.
The girl's seemingly casual advice was actually spot on.
He had observed Lei Biao's matches and noticed the flaw here, but he hadn't expected the girl to have such sharp eyes.
"Thank you," Chen Xuan nodded, then stood up and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lei Biao on the stage.
"Brother Lei has invited me, and I dare not refuse. However, fists and feet have no eyes, so I will stop when I have made my move."
"Good! That's awesome!" Lei Biao laughed, shoving his thick-backed machete into the ground and assuming a fighting stance empty-handed.
"Then let's have a bare-handed spar!"
Chen Xuan walked slowly onto the stage, his steps steady and his breathing calm.
Seeing how young he was, the crowd below couldn't help but whisper among themselves, some doubtful, some expectant, and some gloating.
"Please." Chen Xuan stopped three zhang in front of Lei Biao, standing casually without any particular starting stance.
"Take this!" Lei Biao was impatient and didn't hold back. He roared, stepped forward, clenched his right fist, and, with a whistling sound, aimed straight at Chen Xuan's face.
This punch was powerful and heavy, a testament to his "mountain-splitting strength".
Chen Xuan neither dodged nor avoided the fist until it was less than a foot away from Lei Biao's face, at which point he suddenly turned to the side, and at the same time his left hand reached out like a snake, grabbing and pulling Lei Biao's wrist.
Lei Biao felt a gentle yet irresistible force coming towards him, his fist involuntarily deviated in direction, and he staggered forward.
With a slight shift in his footwork, Chen Xuan moved to Lei Biao's side, his right hand forming a halberd, and with lightning speed, he gently pressed down three inches below Lei Biao's left rib.
Lei Biao was instantly struck as if by lightning. His strength dissipated, and he groaned as he staggered back five or six steps before regaining his footing. His face was filled with horror.
He felt a soreness and numbness in his left rib area, and for a moment he couldn't muster any energy.
"You flatter me." Chen Xuan withdrew his hand and said calmly.
There was a moment of silence in the audience, followed by a burst of enthusiastic discussion.
"What happened? Why did Lei Biao quit?"
"I didn't see clearly, but it seems like Chen Xuan just tapped it?"
"You won already?"
"Holy crap..."
Guo Furong's previous arrogance was replaced by shock and immense confusion, and she subconsciously murmured:
"How...how did he do that?"
Her companion's exclamation brought her back to her senses, but she didn't comment further. She just pursed her lips, her eyes glancing at Chen Xuan's profile from time to time with a complicated expression.
Most people didn't understand it. Only a few with keen eyesight, such as Bai Yu, Xue Bing, Guo Xiaotian on the stage, and several old镖头 (bodyguards), could see Chen Xuan's incredibly swift press.
It may seem like a casual remark, but in reality, the eye, speed, and timing are all exquisite.
Lei Biao's face flushed red and then turned pale. He knew that his opponent had already shown mercy. If that finger strike had been three times stronger, he would probably have been injured and fallen to the ground.
He was quite a man, and with a fist and palm salute, he said, "Young Master Chen, your skill is superb! I, Lei, am completely convinced of my defeat!" After saying that, he jumped off the stage and left without lingering.
Chen Xuan was about to step down when a cold, clear voice rang out:
"Wait a minute."
The speaker was Xue Bing, who was sitting in the front row on the right. She slowly stood up, her black outfit making her skin look as white as snow, and her gaze was as cold as ice as she looked at Chen Xuan.
"Young Master Chen is exceptionally skilled. Xue Bing, seeing an opportunity, would like to learn a few moves herself. Would Young Master Chen be willing to offer his guidance?"
Chen Xuan frowned slightly. This Xue Bing was ranked thirty-fifth on the Qingzhou Heroes List, higher than Lei Biao, and came from Tingyu Tower, so his methods were probably even more unpredictable.
He was a low-key person and did not want to take action, but since the other party had already spoken, refusing would make it seem like he was afraid of Tingyulou.
Just as he was pondering how to respond, Guo Xiaotian, sitting in the main seat, laughed and smoothed things over, saying:
"Miss Xue, my nephew Chen has just sparred with Brother Lei Biao and his internal energy hasn't fully recovered. How about letting the other young friends demonstrate their skills first?"
Xue Bing glanced at Guo Xiaotian, then at Chen Xuan, and said calmly:
"In that case, Xue Bing will find someone else to compete against." After saying that, he sat down again and actually closed his eyes to rest.
Her challenge to Chen Xuan was not purely out of belligerence, but rather based on her killer instincts and a test of someone like her who could "accurately capture and exploit the weaknesses of others."
Chen Xuan seized the opportunity to step down from the stage and return to his seat. Dongfang Ling smiled and said, "Young Master Chen is truly a man of great talent; I admire him greatly."
Chen Xuan shook his head: "It was just luck."
Then, more people went up on stage to compete, with swords clashing, but after the interlude involving Chen Xuan, Lei Biao, and Xue Bing, the subsequent competitions seemed rather dull.
The sword-tasting competition lasted for more than an hour before it ended, during which Chen Xuan showed no intention of making a move.
The three precious swords were ultimately won by three outstanding young men.
Among them, the "Autumn Water" sword was seized by Bai Yu, who defeated his opponent in just three moves, demonstrating remarkable strength.
...
After the event, Guo Xiaotian hosted a private banquet.
After the banquet, he made it clear that he had important business to discuss and invited Chen Xuan to his study for a talk.
Chen Xuan understood and, together with Su Wan, followed Guo Xiaotian to the study.
Inside the study, Guo Xiaotian dismissed everyone except Chen Xuan and Su Wan.
"Nephew, Miss Su, please have a seat." Guo Xiaotian's expression was solemn, and without exchanging pleasantries, he went straight to the point.
"I have invited you two here today to discuss a matter that concerns the very foundation of my Sihai Escort Agency."
He went behind the desk, took out a thin scroll, and handed it to Chen Xuan:
"A month ago, a shipment from my escort agency bound for Yunzhou was robbed at the border between Qingzhou and Yunzhou. All eight elite escorts perished."
Chen Xuan took the scroll and unfolded it to examine it closely.
The case file records the details of the "lost goods case": the time, place, casualties, and descriptions of various martial arts traces left at the scene.
Finally, there was a rudimentary map that indicated the last known location of the robbers was near Black Wind Gorge.
Black Wind Ravine is located at the border of Qingzhou and Yunzhou, but it is closer to Qingzhou and is still under the administrative jurisdiction of Qingzhou.
"The robbers are cunning; the scene was deliberately staged," Guo Xiaotian continued, lowering his voice.
"But I also have capable men under my command. Upon closer inspection, they discovered at least three completely different styles: the fierce and fiery palm strikes of the Western Regions, the sinister and cunning hidden weapon techniques of the Tang Clan, and the traces of insect poison from the Southern Frontier that are impossible to guard against."
He paused, then looked at Chen Xuan:
"These shouldn't have appeared at the same time. I suspect someone is deliberately trying to confuse the situation. But the number of forces capable of mobilizing these three groups simultaneously, or having subordinates proficient in these three martial arts, is extremely limited."
"In the Eastern Region, the most likely candidate is the 'Shadow Pavilion'."
Guo Xiaotian slammed his hand down: "Moreover, what they stole was neither gold nor silver, but a strange object called the 'Seven Star Stone'."
"The person who entrusted the shipment was vague, only saying that the stone was related to an ancient legend. I didn't believe it at first, but considering the great commotion caused by the Ying Pavilion... this matter is definitely not simple."
"What does the chief镖头 (chief镖头) expect me to do by telling me all this?" Chen Xuan asked.
"I would like to ask my nephew to help me investigate this matter. If you are willing to take on the task, I will be extremely grateful; if not, I will not force you, and will simply treat today as an ordinary gathering of friends to appreciate swords."
"Why me?" Chen Xuan asked the most crucial question.
"There are many experts on the stage today. Bai Yu and Xue Bing are both more skilled and renowned than the younger generation. The chief镖头's subordinates are also full of outstanding fighters."
"This is precisely the result of my careful consideration," Guo Xiaotian said in a deep voice, his words clear and logical.
"First, strength and mentality. In the battle of Qingyang, my nephew, you were able to remain calm and kill your powerful enemies in the face of poison and encirclement. Bai Yu and Xue Bing may be skilled in martial arts, but they may not have experienced the life-and-death trials that you have gone through."
"This matter is dangerous. What I need is someone who can survive and uncover the truth, not just someone with high martial arts skills."
"Secondly, motives and stance." His gaze sharpened.
"My dear nephew, you have a blood feud with the Shadow Pavilion; it's a fight to the death. You are to investigate; I have no doubt that you have no connection with the Shadow Pavilion. As for the other young people, their backgrounds are complicated, and they have conflicting interests; I don't trust them."
"Thirdly, status and convenience," Guo Xiaotian said, his tone softening slightly.
"Nephew, you are a stranger in Qingzhou, and no one recognizes you. You can investigate Black Wind Ravine on your way to Yunzhou under the guise of 'traveling and honing your skills,' which will not arouse any suspicion."
"That's why I didn't participate. If it were someone from my escort agency, or a famous person like Bai Yu, I'm afraid the real rats would have already burrowed back underground by the time they arrived at Black Wind Ravine."
"As for the reward," Guo Xiaotian pushed a silver note and an iron token in front of Chen Xuan.
"This thousand taels of silver, along with this guest elder token of the Four Seas Escort Agency, can be used to access resources and gather intelligence at our branches in both Qing and Yun provinces. Furthermore, regardless of success or failure, there will be a generous reward afterwards."
Chen Xuan remained silent. His parents' last known location was in Yunzhou, and this might be a good opportunity to track them down. The Shadow Pavilion's elaborate scheme to seize the 'Seven Star Stone' indicated its immense importance. Following this lead might yield some results.
The thought became incredibly clear and intense at that moment, like a key gently turning a hidden mechanism.
"bite……"
"The host has been detected to have touched upon clues to a core grudge and is facing a significant challenge in territorial exploration. This is an opportunity for the 'hidden dragon to emerge from the abyss'."
"Task issued: [Dragon Leaps from the Abyss]"
Trigger: The Entrustment of the Four Seas Escort Agency - The first proactive intervention in a complex regional event involving suspected secrets of the Shadow Pavilion and the previous dynasty, marking the beginning of stepping out of Qingyang and leaping out of the abyss.
Requirements: Successfully uncover the truth behind the "lost convoy" incident and obtain at least one key token.
Reward: The ultimate martial art "Lingbo Weibu"
...
"System? Lingbo Weibu?" The cold and clear notification sound rang out directly in the depths of Chen Xuan's mind.
Chen Xuan was surprised that the system had issued a task at this moment, and the reward was the top-level lightness skill that he currently lacked!
"I'll take this on." Chen Xuan said without further hesitation, putting away the silver notes and token.
"The Sword Appraisal Tournament is over, and I originally planned to take my leave and head to Yunzhou in two days. But I happened to come across this, so I will take the opportunity to investigate Black Wind Ravine in detail along the way."
"Great!" Guo Xiaotian's face showed a relieved smile.
"I will arrange for two absolutely reliable bodyguards who are familiar with the local terrain and all sorts of people to act as your guides on the surface, and to be at your disposal in secret, my nephew."