Seeing the clouds

Chapter 43 Chapter 42 30 Years

Lu Shuo, a famous craftsman in Western Chu, was frail and sick since childhood.Although his knife-making skills are the best in the world, due to his temperament, he has never been able to make a good finished knife.It's not that the knives he forged are not good, but because he pursues perfection in making knives, so that if he feels that the knives he forges are not good enough, he will either recast the knives or recast them. The knife was destroyed on the spot.His extreme temperament and strange behavior made many people in the world sigh that many good swords were missing in the world.

Of course, Lu Shuo only cared about the quality of the forged sword and didn't care about other people's opinions.

Lu Shuo had no wife or children throughout his life, and was obsessed with making swords.Because he had always lived a poor life, when Lu Shuo was over fifty, he unfortunately contracted tuberculosis and his physical condition deteriorated.Later, while making a knife, he suffered from tuberculosis and a sweet and fishy taste rose up in his throat. He actually coughed up blood on the blade that was about to be formed.

Lu Shuo didn't take it seriously at the time, but when the sword came out of the furnace, the sunlight shone on the blade, and the entire blade turned red.When the sword was returned to the dark place, the blade returned to the silvery white color it was when it was freshly baked.

Lu Shuo was delighted and surprised by the change of the sword, but he did not figure out the reason for the change of the sword, so the swords he forged afterward never had such effect again.No one could have expected that Lu Shuo's unintentional coughing up a mouthful of blood would add a rare good sword to the whole world and even the torrent of history.

Because the sword changed due to illumination, Lu Shuo named the sword Yang Yan and gave it to his best friend, Huang Xiang, who was the Minister of Western Chu at the time and was called "Jiangxia Unparalleled" by the Emperor of Western Chu.Lu Shuo, who forged a handle of Yang Yan, did not stop there. Instead, he became even more obsessed with forging swords.

Later, there was a swordsman who was new to the world. He heard that there was a famous swordsmith with an eccentric temperament in Western Chu. He wanted to get a good sword for himself, so he went to visit him in the mountains.Unfortunately, what he found in the end was the body of the master swordsmith and a suicide note and a piece of work beside the body.

Hard work pours into hard work, scarlet upon scarlet.

After the young man buried the master who had been obsessed with making swords all his life, he took the master's last wish and the sword and went out into the world.

After that, there was the story of Chu Kuangsheng and Mirage Tower.

Chu Kuangsheng held the mirage tower in his hand, walked out of the wooden house, and said to Zhang Yue: "At the beginning of the month, come here."

Zhang Chuchu walked back to the wooden house.

Chu Kuangsheng handed the treasured sword that had been with him for countless years to Zhang Chuedue and said: "This mirage tower was obtained by chance when I was young. It has accompanied me through too many experiences. Now I have used it. I will entrust it to you from now on. It has not been able to be immortalized in my hands. I hope it can be realized in your hands. It can be regarded as helping the master who created it to fulfill his wish."

Zhang Chuchu took over this precious sword, which had once appeared in the world together with the name Chu Kuangsheng, and had a lot of thoughts in his heart.

Zhang Chuchu felt the temperature on the scabbard of the Mirage Tower for a while, thought for a while, handed the sword back, and said to the old Taoist priest: "A gentleman does not take what others like. This Mirage Tower has been with you for so long, Grandpa Chu." , I believe that Grandpa Chu and it have already developed an inseparable relationship. I thought about it and let it go."

Chu Kuangsheng stretched out his right hand, pressed it on the scabbard, and shook his head: "No, if the Mirage Tower is placed in this broken wooden house, it will only be buried in the bottom of the prison like the Fengcheng Dragon Sword. Over the years, although I have seen I have passed many amazing geniuses, but they are all too arrogant and do not treat people as people and swords as swords, and they are destined to achieve nothing. At the beginning of the month, you... I don't know how to describe it, but... you are very good. "

The old Taoist priest nodded again and repeated: "...very good."

Zhang Yue took back the mirage tower and held the sword in both hands, which was slightly longer than Yu Gong by two feet but not inferior to him at all. A scene of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers seemed to appear in front of his eyes.

Chu Kuangsheng said happily: "From now on, you will bring these two precious swords with you. Yugong will use them to cultivate Qi and improve his realm. Holding the Mirage Qi Tower to fight with others will help you become a real swordsman. Grandpa Chu Grandpa Zhao and I have high hopes for you. We are both very old, so you must not let us down. Otherwise, one day the news comes from Wudang Mountain that you were beaten to a pulp by someone in the arena, and Grandpa Chu will be very angry. I must die in front of you. I, Chu Kuangsheng, was expected to become the best in the world back then. Even if the disciples I taught were not the best in the world, it would not be difficult to be the tenth in the world, right?"

Zhang Chuchu didn't speak, just held the Mirage Tower tightly with both hands and nodded vigorously.

Chu Kuangsheng said: "You can continue to stay in the back mountain these two days. Grandpa Chu will come to see you from time to time. If you have any questions about the martial arts and swordsmanship, you can ask them. Then Grandpa Chu, I will go back first. Because the four of you went up the mountain, the little Taoist priests on the mountain began to become a little restless these past two days. After all, I am also the one in charge of the disciplines on Wudang Mountain, so I have to take care of it, so you should practice your sword well and there is no need to send it away."

After saying this, the old Taoist priest left again, leaving Zhang Chue alone, holding the mirage tower.

So Zhang Chuchu stayed in the back mountain for another two days. During these two days, in addition to Chu Kuangsheng who often came over to see how things were going, Chu Kuangsheng and Zhao Qingxi's other senior brothers also came to visit one after another. Taoist priest Li Zhiyu, who was mainly responsible for alchemy on Wudang Mountain, even sent some elixirs that nourished the soul and nourished the body.

Zhang Yue was naturally very grateful for the care of the elders on Wudang Mountain, so he became more diligent in practicing swordsmanship and nourishing his energy.And he was finally able to walk through the entire pond in one breath, although the process was not too smooth.

In the early morning of the third day, Chu Kuangsheng brought Su Zhai to Zhang Yue as he did the previous two days.Zhang Yue had also gotten up at this time and was practicing swordplay by the pool. When he saw the old Taoist priest coming, he put away the mirage tower in his hand and walked to the stone table, ready to eat.

The old Taoist priest looked at the calm young man in front of him and said with a smile: "There is a manual of swordsmanship hidden under the bed in my wooden house. It was written when I was [-] years old. It collects all my knowledge of swordsmanship in the first half of my life. I hope it will be useful for your martial arts and swordsmanship. helped.”

Zhang Chu said: "Such a good thing, Grandpa Chu, you couldn't have taken it out earlier."

The old Taoist priest smiled and scolded: "You can't become fat with one bite, and you can't reach the horizon with one step. Don't you understand that swallowing jujube is not only useless, but harmful?"

Zhang Chuchu also laughed: "I have been taught, I have been taught."

After a while, Zhang Yue asked: "Grandpa Chu, you have been on Wudang Mountain for so long. Is there anything you particularly want to do or regret?"

Chu Kuangsheng thought for a while and shook his head: "No."

Zhang Chuchu continued to ask: "Is there anyone you particularly wanted to win when you were young?"

Chu Kuangsheng seemed to have heard some joke and couldn't help laughing: "Your Grandpa Chu has never lost when he was young, who else wants to win?"

He paused, seemed to remember something, and added: "I should have only lost to you, Grandpa Zhao."

Zhang Chuchu asked curiously: "Then don't you want to win it back again?"

Chu Kuangsheng said indifferently: "After so many years, it doesn't matter whether we win or lose. What's more, we still probably can't beat them."

Zhang Chuedue said: "A senior once told me that you won't know until you fight whether you can beat him or not." Chu Kuang waved his hand: "You can't beat him."

Zhang Yue said reluctantly: "What if I have been beaten?"

Chu Kuang said: "No chance."

Zhang Yue was afraid that the world would not be in chaos: "When Grandpa Chu was young, he was not afraid of heaven and earth. Why did he give in when he got older? Give it a try. It won't be embarrassing if you lose. If you win, won't your blood go to grandma's house?" "

The old Taoist priest felt a little shaken, but still did not speak.

Zhang Chuchu then continued: "Grandpa Chu, think about it. If you hadn't lost to Grandpa Zhao, you might be number one in the world now. Don't you want to avenge your past? Don't you say that the Taoist priests on Wudang Mountain are the best?" Do you care about following your heart?"

The old Taoist priest couldn't stand listening anymore. He stood up suddenly, slapped the stone table and said loudly: "Just give it a try!"

Suddenly a voice came from a distance: "Junior Brother, I have been waiting for this battle for 30 years. Today I specially brought Zhenwu with me. With the Patriarch on my side, you must not regret it."

As soon as he finished speaking, an old Taoist priest with gray hair and childlike face walked out, carrying a slender straight sword behind him. The front and back of the sword were engraved with the polarity of yin and yang. It was the Zhenwu sword known as one of the three treasures of Wudang.

The visitor is naturally the current Wudang headmaster Zhao Qingxi.

Chu Kuangsheng looked at Zhao Qingxi who suddenly appeared, and then turned to look at Zhang Yue who was sitting on the stone chair holding back a smile. He immediately understood what happened, raised his eyebrows, pointed at Zhang Yue and said with an angry smile: "Okay You little brat, Grandpa Chu, I have tried my best to teach you, but you actually teamed up with your Grandpa Zhao to trick your Grandpa Chu, won’t your conscience hurt?”

Although Zhang Yue wanted to laugh, he was really afraid of being slapped to the ground by the old man next to him. He had never performed the apprenticeship ceremony, but he was actually his master. So he still suppressed his laughter and said, "You can't blame me for this." Ah, I was forced by Grandpa Zhao. If Grandpa Chu is angry, report it to Grandpa Zhao quickly, but you must not vent your anger on me."

Zhao Qingxi also smiled and said: "Junior brother, you are already old, so don't worry about children. If word gets out, you, the majesty of the Wudang Mountain Discipline Elder, will not be able to hang on."

Chu Kuangsheng blew his beard and glared: "Senior brother, aren't you afraid that if you lose to me later, the headmaster will lose face?"

Zhao Qingxi said: "I haven't experienced your vicissitudes in 30 years. Senior brother even misses you. But if junior brother wants to win against me, senior brother, I'm afraid there is little hope in this life. You can try in the next life."

Chu Kuang said: "Senior brother, please don't regret it later."

After saying that, Chu Kuangsheng turned to look at the instigator, Zhang Yue, and said, "Don't be complacent. I'll deal with you after your grandpa Chu wins. Why are you looking at it? Return the mirage tower to me as soon as possible."

Zhang Chuchu handed the Mirage Tower to Chu Kuangsheng and asked curiously: "Can you win?"

Chu Kuangsheng took over the mirage building, his face full of arrogance, as if he had turned into the Chu Kuangsheng in his prime, and said disdainfully: "Hmph, don't be so scared that your eyes will fall to the ground later, let's Look at the swordsmanship that I used to defeat all the heroes in the world - the vast ocean."

Zhao Qingxi, who was in the distance, stretched out his right hand, straightened the index and middle fingers of his right hand, pressed his ring finger and little finger with his thumb, and made a sword seal, the most common sword seal used by swordsmen to control luck swords, and the Zhenwu sword behind him was unsheathed out of thin air.Then Zhao Qingxi raised his right hand to hold the hilt of the Zhenwu sword flying in the air, and pointed the sword edge at Chu Kuangsheng.When Chu Kuangsheng saw Zhao Qingxi's posture, he directly pulled out the Mirage Tower from the scabbard. Holding the scabbard in his left hand, he threw it to Zhang Yue. He held the handle of the Mirage Tower sword in his right hand and kicked it off with both feet. He was nearly seventy years old. Chu Kuangsheng jumped directly towards Zhao Qingxi.

Chu Kuangsheng landed less than a foot in front of Zhao Qingxi, raised his right arm and made a simple vertical chop, but was directly blocked by Zhao Qingxi's horizontal sword.Although the sword move was blocked, a thousand waves seemed to surge behind Chu Kuangsheng and hit Zhao Qingxi. Zhao Qingxi held the Zhenwu in his right hand to resist the mirage tower, and pinched the Three Mountains Jue in the sleeve of his robe with his left hand. Suddenly, there was a seat in front of him. The mountain peaks are looming, directly blocking all the waves.

The two of them were in a stalemate, and no one took advantage.

Zhao Qingxi smiled and said: "Junior brother, you are really merciless. Once you get up, you have the ability to break through thousands of feet of waves."

Chu Kuangsheng also laughed and said: "Senior Brother, he talks so easily, but he doesn't suffer any losses. Isn't it not good to work so hard for my defeated general, Junior Brother?"

Zhao Qingxi said: "Senior brother, there is nothing you can do about it. If you, junior brother, win by chance, will you still be proud of me for 30 years?"

Chu Kuang said: "That depends on me, junior brother, if I can live for 30 years."

Zhao Qingxi stopped talking, and changed his gestures in his robe sleeves, making a single white crane gesture. Suddenly, a rainbow light came down from Chu Kuangsheng's head.Chu Kuangsheng saw the situation and laughed: "Still the same old thing." Then he withdrew the mirage tower that was in a stalemate with Zhenwu, and rotated in place with the knife, like a whirlpool in the water, smashing the rainbow light from top to bottom.Not to be outdone, the headmaster Zhao Qingxi took off Zhenwu with his right hand, and the Zhenwu sword floated in the air. Then he stretched out his hands from the sleeves of his robe, clasped his hands together, and the gesture was Beidou Jue, and seven qi swords came out of the ground and circled in the whirlpool. Form a circle around them.

Chu Kuangsheng stopped the whirlpool and said: "Senior brother, your Big Dipper Formation couldn't trap me 30 years ago. Could it be that it will be able to trap me 30 years later?"

Zhao Qingxi smiled and said, "I just want to see if your strength has declined."

"I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint my senior brother." Chu Kuangsheng inserted half of the Mirage Qi Tower into the soil, twisted it, and a stormy wave-like momentum rushed out of the soil, scattering the seven Qi Swords.

Chu Kuangsheng kept saying: "At the beginning of the month, open your eyes wide and take a closer look at why the Mirage Tower is called the Spirit Sword."

Before Chu Kuangsheng finished speaking, the mirage tower in his hand had already been slashed out. Chu Kuangsheng's sword actually had two movements, two Chu Kuangsheng!Zhang Yue, who had been watching with his mouth open for a long time, quickly rubbed his eyes, but no matter how he rubbed them, he could indeed see two Chu Kuangsheng fighting Zhao Qingxi with his eyes. Apart from the movements of their hands, the two Chu Kuangsheng Completely identical from head to toe, Zhang Chuo was shocked beyond measure.

Zhao Qingxi held the Zhenwu Sword floating in the air, blocked Chu Kuangsheng's attacks one by one, and said with a smile: "You can deceive Yue Yue with your deception, but you can't deceive me."

Zhao Qingxi made a Hunyuan Jue gesture with his left hand, wrapping himself in the two poles of yin and yang, no longer caring about Chu Kuangsheng's sword movements.

Chu Kuangsheng saw this and said with a smile: "Senior brother, it seems that I won this time..."

(End of this chapter)