The Ladder to Seeking the Dao Part 2

...This will be a stepping stone for the pursuit of the Dao.

Three letters, two people killed, two sects destroyed.

The Feihua Sect was determined to drive the other two sects out of Jianchuan, obtain the three sword manuals, and quickly achieve a perfect merit, with everyone ascending - this was the Dao that Hua Ruohong demanded.

The Baisheng Sect successfully broke free from its entanglement with the Feihua Sect and left Jianchuan, a place that restricted the development of the sect, in pursuit of a broader world. - This was the Dao that Zhu Mingchao demanded.

Although the dissolution of the three families' power structure in Jianchuan was not very dignified, fortunately only two people died, completely avoiding a bloody conflict. - This was the Dao that Yan Wufu demanded.

Then, what kind of "Dao" did the Tang saber swordsman, who was manipulating everything behind the scenes, demand?

...

Yan Wufu awoke from his recollections just in time to hear Feng Rugu say, "...When I saw the corpse of that Xiafei Sect disciple lying there with his throat slit, I felt something was strange. Logically speaking, when someone is stabbed in the throat from the front, blood gushing out, and they collapse to the ground but don't die immediately, they will definitely crawl away from the assailant, seeking a way to survive."

At this point, Feng Rugu smiled candidly, "Of course, the position the murderer was standing in when they committed the act doesn't really prove anything. Master Yan, just treat it as me telling a story."

Yan Wufu was neither anxious nor angry. He praised, "Good story. But a story can only ever be a story. I'm not that dull-witted child from the Hua family. If you want to deceive me, Lord Yunzhong, you won't get anything out of it."

Feng Rugu's heart was like a clear mirror.

The Jianchuan matter was extremely complex. Even if he discovered many more clues, there was still no evidence to prove that Yan Wufu had participated in the Tang saber swordsman's murder plan.

The Tang saber could be thrown into deep water, the letters could be used to light candles.

A whole month had passed since the Xiafei Sect disciple was killed. It was too easy to destroy evidence.

He elegantly exhaled a light puff of smoke, the snow-white vapor making his lips appear even softer and redder.

"Then, let's just say I'm telling a story. You and I are both people in the story, and Sect Leader Yan was indeed involved in this matter." Feng Rugu said, "Why did Sect Leader Yan not suspect it was a plot by that Tang saber swordsman when he first received the letter, and instead just trustingly do as instructed and kill as directed?"

Yan Wufu did not speak, but Feng Rugu already had the answer in his heart.

He put down the pipe and smiled as he looked into Yan Wufu's eyes, "...You know him."

"He must have come to Jianchuan before. He is familiar with the terrain of Jianchuan, familiar with the weaknesses and concerns of everyone in the three families. His understanding of Jianchuan was not achieved overnight."

"Alright then, Lord Yunzhong has nothing better to do and wants to hear a story, so I'll accompany you in telling this story," Yan Wufu said. "...I once had a disciple. It was about eight years ago. He came to Jianchuan and became a disciple of Qingshuang Sect. He stayed in Jianchuan for three years, taciturn and stern, a very good student."

"Then suddenly one day, he disappeared, leaving only a short letter."

"He said, thank you for your hospitality, until we meet again."

The handwriting, the stationery - Yan Wufu, who had a photographic memory, remembered it all clearly.

He had always been able to remember every disciple in Qingshuang Sect, including the murdered Su Ping. He would remember him for life.

That swordsman had used Su Ping's life to bring about the disbandment of the three families and deliver two sets of sword manuals and inner cultivation methods.

And he, Yan Wufu, would also use the swordsmanship where it should be used.

He lowered his head and took another puff from the water pipe.

The gurgling sound of the water sent the slightly warm smoke into his throat. It circulated in his lungs before he exhaled it out again.

These two sets of sword techniques, he had not even glanced at them before tossing them into the brazier to be used as kindling.

Just as he had said before, having extra sword manuals on hand only increased temptation, making them more trouble than they were worth.

What Yan Wufu sought was only peace in Jianchuan, for more people to cultivate with a tranquil heart.

Qingshuang Sect having the Qingshuang Sword Technique was enough. This was the rule set by the ancestors. If Yan Wufu monopolized them, after death he would have no face to see his master, and upon ascension he would have no face to see the old patriarch.

...So, let it be like this. All turned to ashes, go, go.

The ancient sword techniques passed down from the primordial powers thus transformed into blue smoke, lightly dissipating into the air.

Feng Rugu was very clever. Seeing Yan Wufu suddenly start smoking the water pipe on the day he received the other two families' sword manuals, then glancing at the fiercely burning brazier, how could he not understand?

He laughed, "Sect Leader Yan won't smoke Feng Er's tobacco, so does Feng Er have the honor of taking a puff of this water pipe that costs an inch of gold per inch?"

Yan Wufu laughed out loud with a "heh". He changed the mouthpiece and passed the pipe to Feng Rugu.

Seeing Feng Rugu slowly exhale the smoke, like a gourmet savoring fine food, Yan Wufu felt something and, after pondering for a moment, spoke, "Lord Yunzhong, you're leaving, aren't you?"

Feng Rugu nodded, "Mm. Before I came, I already told my disciples to pack up. I've imposed on Jianchuan for many days, I'm really sorry about that."

Yan Wufu: "Before you leave, I have some words that I hope Lord Yunzhong can listen to."

Feng Rugu nodded slightly, "I'm all ears."

...

When Feng Rugu left Yan Wufu's residence, Ruyi, Luo Fuchun, Sang Luojiu, and Hai Jing had been waiting outside for a long time.

Luo Fuchun hurriedly came forward, "Master, didn't you say you were going to bid farewell to Master Yan? Why were you gone for so long?"

As Sang Luojiu took the smoking paraphernalia from Feng Rugu's hands and carefully put it away, he couldn't help but also be curious, "What did Master say to Master Yan?"

Feng Rugu couldn't help but think of what Yan Wufu had said to him before they parted.

"Clever people often indulge in their cleverness," Yan Wufu said. "Having been born in Jianchuan, I know well the principle that good swimmers drown in water."

"Lord Yunzhong, I had the fortune of seeing you once in the Heavenly Rankings competition back in the day. You were only thirteen then, the youngest since the Heavenly Rankings began. In your first time participating, you defeated thirty disciples in a row with the Guixu Sword Technique, making a name for yourself across the world. Although there are few young talents of your generation who can compare to those of your master's, you are an exception, not inferior to your master."

"You must have heard such praise many times. But from that time, I saw eight words in you."

"Stunning talent, wisdom to the point of harm."

"Lord Yunzhong, I suffered from being too outstanding all my life, it's too late to change. I still advise you to restrain your edge a bit. The deaths of these sixteen people, could it not be because your brilliance was fully exposed, inciting others' jealousy and resentment?"

...Is that so?

That Tang saber swordsman killed sixteen people in a row, writing the character "Feng", because he was jealous and resentful of him?

Pulling himself out of the brief recollection, Feng Rugu blinked and said playfully, "Chatting away, I lost track of time."

Ruyi, fingering his prayer beads, said mildly, "The Lord Yunzhong has feelings for everyone."

Those words sounded a bit strange. Feng Rugu couldn't help but glance at Ruyi. Who would have thought, those prayer beads unraveled and came straight at Feng Rugu, directly wrapping around his wrist.

Ruyi looked at him, sparing with his words, "...Cross the bridge."

As he spoke, they had already reached the edge of the ice bridge.

Luo Fuchun took the lead, Sang Luojiu brought up the rear, Hai Jing walked second, and Ruyi used his prayer beads to lead Feng Rugu in the middle.

No matter how many times he crossed it, Luo Fuchun still couldn't get used to the feeling of this ice bridge.

As a cultivator, spiritual energy surged within his body, but no matter what he did he couldn't use it. This feeling was truly awful.

He was anxious to cross the bridge, so his pace couldn't help but quicken a bit.

Halfway across, Luo Fuchun vaguely saw someone holding a lantern on the other side of the bridge.

At this moment, mist rose from the deep water, and in the haze, the ghostly light from the lantern made one wonder what kind of peach blossom face the lantern holder might have.

Out of curiosity, Luo Fuchun took a few steps forward, and his expression changed drastically. He immediately stopped in his tracks. "Master--"

The person wore a bronze demon mask!

Dressed in black, his sleeves fluttered as if he could turn into the wind and disappear into the mist at any moment.

However, before Luo Fuchun could finish his warning, the man in black raised his right arm, held up two fingers, and snapped them crisply.

In an instant, the bridge surface where Feng Rugu was standing made a piercing explosive sound. With a crack, large fissures spread out, and it collapsed downward!

In the moment of sudden weightlessness, Feng Rugu's mind was still racing--

The bridge had been tampered with?

The bridge could only be activated by disciples within Jianchuan, when did he have the opportunity to do it?

Feng Rugu only thought for a moment before his mind became clear.

--So that's how it is.

So Su Ping's death could still be put to such use.

With Su Ping dead, Jianchuan had to send someone to investigate, and for the convenience of disciples from various sects, the ice bridge would be rebuilt.

Feng Rugu recalled the Qingshuang Sect disciple he had passed by that night when he went to the grove with Ruyi, his brows slightly furrowed.

Seeing that Feng Rugu was about to fall into the water, Ruyi instinctively surged his spiritual power, wanting to fly him up and escape the disaster.

By the time he realized that spiritual power could not be used above the deep water, the ice beneath Feng Rugu's feet had completely shattered.

At this moment, the black-clothed man who had succeeded in his scheme had an expressionless face, showing no joy or smugness. He simply turned his hand over, and his figure dissipated into mist and disappeared.

In a flash, Ruyi pushed Hai Jing's back with one palm, causing him to stumble a few steps forward and safely land on the other end of the broken ice bridge. At the same time, he exerted force to swing the prayer beads, throwing Feng Rugu in Hai Jing's direction.

As the force was about to run out, he exhausted his strength and shattered his own string of prayer beads.

As the prayer beads carved with wrathful vajra Buddhas scattered, Ruyi lost his balance and fell towards the icy deep water.

However, he clearly saw that amidst the rain of prayer beads, Feng Rugu, who had already escaped danger, took a step forward and unhesitatingly grabbed his hand.

...But his strength was really lacking.

With a loud crash, the cold water submerged both of them.

Author's Note:

The emotional turning point for Little Hongchen is here qwq