Chapter 115: Past Affairs, One Sword Breaks Oblivion

As the evening sky darkened, Huang Qianjun returned with a food box in hand.

Ironically, while Feng Xiaofeng knew how to cook, his culinary skills were lacking, and Feng Xiaoran, being young, had not yet learned how to cook. As for Su Yi, he was simply lazy.

Thus, since they moved into Zhuo'an Cottage, they relied on Huang Qianjun to buy their meals from outside...

"Su Ge, while I was buying the food just now, I felt like someone was following me, but I couldn't find anyone suspicious," Huang Qianjun said hesitantly as he arranged the various delicious dishes on the stone table. "Do you think I'm being overly paranoid?"

Su Yi glanced at him and replied, "In these recent days, you, Xiaofeng, and Xiaoran have been staying at home. Once I settle the conflicts outside, you won't encounter any danger, whether you go to Qinghe Sword Mansion to register or have any other plans."

Huang Qianjun quickly agreed and then whispered, "Su Ge, I don't plan to cultivate at Qinghe Sword Mansion anymore."

"Why is that?" Feng Xiaofeng couldn't help but ask.

Huang Qianjun grinned and said, "I think it's better to cultivate by Su Ge's side than to go to Qinghe Sword Mansion."

Feng Xiaoran, by his side, nodded vigorously and said with a clear voice, "I think so too!"

Su Yi remained noncommittal.

After dinner, Su Yi was about to cultivate when the sound of hurried horse hooves resounded outside the courtyard.

Cheng Wuyong arrived on horseback in haste.

"Mr. Su, I received news today that the authorities in the County Governor's Mansion are investigating an incident involving a young man surnamed Su. I came here specially to inquire. If this matter is related to you, my Yuan family will not sit idly by."

Cheng Wuyong respectfully clasped his fists, expressing his purpose.

"So, they're seeking retaliation?" Huang Qianjun froze, his expression changing.

With just a single sentence, Cheng Wuyong instantly understood the situation and couldn't help but turn his gaze towards Su Yi. He said, "Mr. Su, I will go back now. I believe with the influence of my Yuan family, I can mediate the situation and prevent the County Governor's Mansion from acting rashly..."

Su Yi waved his hand, interrupting him, and said calmly, "It's just a trivial matter, there's no need to trouble yourself."

A trivial matter?

Cheng Wuyong was taken aback.

The events that occurred at the Refining Pavilion last night, although suppressed by the County Governor's Mansion, couldn't be concealed from the top forces in the city.

Killing six guards of the County Governor's Mansion and forcing Qin Feng, the son of the County Governor, to kneel—it had a significant impact.

According to the information Cheng Wuyong gathered, the forces of the County Governor's Mansion had quietly taken action last night!

"Mr. Su, you may not know this, but Qin Wenyuan is cunning and ruthless, with a firm grip on the County Governor's Mansion for the past thirty years. Countless forces in the city have suffered greatly under his rule."

"Even the head of my Yuan family once said that Qin Wenyuan is a cunning figure who doesn't let go once he gets a hold of someone. It's best to avoid provoking him if possible."

Cheng Wuyong whispered, "Qin Wenyuan's martial cultivation is also astonishing. Fifteen years ago, he reached the Martial Master realm, and eight years ago, he made another breakthrough, stepping into the Furnace Nurturing stage, the second level!"

"He spent many years cultivating in the Luyang Academy, one of the Ten Great Academies. It is said that the Vice Academy Master of Luyang Academy, 'Xuanyou Long,' was his senior brother, and they had an exceptional relationship."

"In addition, Qin Wenyuan also has some connections with the Governor's Mansion in the Gunzhou region..."

Cheng Wuyong revealed all the details he knew about Qin Wenyuan.

Huang Qianjun and Feng Xiaofeng were both shocked and frightened.

They had never expected that Qin Wenyuan's power and influence would be so terrifying!

The Great Zhou Empire was divided into six major states. Gunzhou was one of them, with the Governor's Mansion overseeing the six counties within Gunzhou.

Yunhe County was one of the six counties in Gunzhou.

As the County Governor, Qin Wenyuan was undoubtedly the most influential figure in Yunhe County, representing the might of the Great Zhou court.

Moreover, he was a Martial Master himself, possessing both authority and strength.

Coupled with his deep scheming and ruthless methods, it was easy to imagine the severe consequences if he were to seek revenge.

However, after listening to all of this, Su Yi merely smiled and said, "Elder Cheng, what you've said is nothing more than a situation that can be resolved with a single sword."

With that, he stood up from his rattan chair, hands behind his back, and calmly said, "In cultivation, the pursuit of the Dao requires decisive actions. We must avoid being burdened by empty fame and power. No matter how extensive Qin Wenyuan's connections and authority may be, in my eyes, he is nothing more than a Martial Master in the Furnace Nurturing stage."

Cheng Wuyong was left speechless.

Was Su Yi being too audacious with his words?

Su Yi suddenly said, "Elder Cheng, do you know why your cultivation has been stuck at the Consummation stage of the Qi Gathering realm and unable to break through?"

Cheng Wuyong's body trembled, and he respectfully clasped his fists, saying, "Please enlighten me, sir."

"There is a saying in Buddhism: 'Practice is meditation, sitting is meditation, speech and silence are naturally in tune.'"

Su Yi's gaze turned slightly towards the night sky as he softly continued, "The path of cultivation is the same. Every action, every word and deed, should be accompanied by a courageous and diligent heart, a fearless spirit. Only then can you eliminate trivial distractions and move forward unwaveringly."

With that, he looked back at Cheng Wuyong and said, "You conduct yourself with utmost care, considering every aspect. However, your mind is bound by worldly power, and when you act, you only think about using that power to mediate and resolve conflicts. How can you have a courageous and diligent heart in your cultivation?"

His words were like a sharp sword, striking deep into Cheng Wuyong's heart, leaving him drenched in sweat, feeling exposed and without any cover.

After a long time, Cheng Wuyong let out a long breath and bowed, saying, "Your words are like a wake-up call, enlightening me. I have learned from your teachings!"

His words came from the depths of his heart, expressing his gratitude and admiration.

Facing such a grand gesture, Su Yi calmly accepted it.

In the cultivation world, this was called "guidance," in Buddhism, it was referred to as "overcoming obstacles," and in Daoism, it was known as "enlightenment."

For cultivators facing bottlenecks, receiving such guidance was no less than a great favor that could help them start anew!

"These are eight characters that I personally wrote. If you can comprehend some of their profound meaning, it will be within your reach to achieve the realm of a grandmaster."

After some thought, Su Yi took out a piece of calligraphy from his ink-jade pendant and handed it to Cheng Wuyong.

These were some characters he casually wrote down when he made some gains in his cultivation while residing in the Xinghuang Cottage in Guangling City. When he left, he placed them inside the ink-jade pendant along with other miscellaneous items.

As Cheng Wuyong opened it, he saw a line of words written on it:

"Old affairs linger, one sword breaks oblivion."

These few words were simple yet profound, exuding an unruly and unconstrained aura.

To an ordinary person, these characters would surely be stunning, seen as the work of a master calligrapher.

But in the eyes of warriors like Cheng Wuyong, each of these eight characters was a sword, emanating an aura that pierced through the heavens and could annihilate everything!

With just one look, it made his gaze and mind feel a piercing sensation.

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Wuyong carefully put away this precious piece of calligraphy and once again bowed, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Su, for bestowing me with these characters!"

His heart was pounding uncontrollably, filled with an indescribable excitement.

He had a strong premonition that if he frequently contemplated these characters, it would be enough to break through the cultivation bottleneck that had trapped him for many years and step into the realm of a grandmaster!

"Go now," Su Yi waved his hand dismissively.

Cheng Wuyong had been stuck at the Consummation stage of the Qi Gathering realm for many years, just one step away from a breakthrough. For him, the guidance he received was merely a casual act.

If it were someone whose realm was insufficient, these words would be meaningless.

The next morning, Su Yi followed his usual routine of cultivation, grooming, and having meals, which seemed mundane.

But this was the path of cultivation.

If one indulged in worldly desires and lingered in the entanglements of the mundane world, they would not only waste time but also neglect and abandon their cultivation.

It seemed that Su Yi's influence had affected the others as well. Feng Xiaofeng, Huang Qianjun, and Feng Xiaoran had become extremely disciplined, diligently practicing without interruption.

Until the evening.

"Su Brother, the carriage is ready," Huang Qianjun hurriedly walked into the courtyard. "Lady Cuiyun from Fengyuan Pavilion has readily agreed and reserved the Ninth Layer's Mountain and River Hall for us."

As he spoke, his expression became somewhat peculiar.

When he arrived at Fengyuan Pavilion earlier, Lady Cuiyun personally came out to receive him, treating him as a distinguished guest without any negligence.

But when she learned that Su Yi had chosen to have a banquet at Fengyuan Pavilion tonight, Lady Cuiyun was stunned. Her beautiful face changed unpredictably, displaying a mix of emotions.

Clearly, the events of that night still haunted her.

However, in the end, she agreed readily and reserved the Mountain and River Hall on the Ninth Layer.

"Good," Su Yi nodded and looked towards Feng Xiaofeng not far away. He said, "Junior Brother Feng, remember to warm a pot of wine for me. We'll share it when I return."

"Senior Brother Su, please take care!" Feng Xiaofeng urged.

"Take care?" Feng Xiaoran pondered seriously for a moment and then said crisply, "Brother, I think it's those enemies who should take care."

Feng Xiaofeng: "..."

Su Yi couldn't help but laugh.

He waved his hand, folded his arms behind his back, and walked outside.

Since he obtained the ink-jade pendant, Su Yi no longer bothered to carry the bamboo staff in his hand.

And when there was a carriage available, he naturally didn't feel like walking...

Soon, Huang Qianjun drove the carriage, carrying Su Yi away from Hulugou Alley.

Although it was dusk, lanterns were already lit in the streets and alleys of the city. The bustling and lively atmosphere fermented in every corner, like a scroll depicting the vibrant and diverse scenes of the mortal world.

Fengyuan Pavilion.

As Su Yi and Huang Qianjun arrived, a middle-aged man in luxurious attire, who had been waiting there, suddenly shivered and hurriedly stepped forward with a smile on his face. He said, "Young Master Su, Young Master Huang, please come in quickly!"

This person was one of the eight stewards of Fengyuan Pavilion. During Su Yi's previous banquet here, he had been waiting outside the main hall for instructions.

Just as they entered the main hall on the first floor of Fengyuan Pavilion, Lady Cuiyun also arrived after hearing the news. She wore a well-tailored black palace dress that made her snow-white and delicate skin appear exceptionally radiant.

When she saw Su Yi, her beautiful and dignified face was filled with smiles, exuding charm and allure.

"If any of the seven individuals on this list arrive, have them come to the Mountain and River Hall to see me," Su Yi took out a piece of paper and handed it over.

Lady Cuiyun's laughter was sweet and pleasant. "Rest assured, Young Master Su. I guarantee that tonight's feast will satisfy both you and your guests."

Su Yi reminded her, "I don't know if the dead will be satisfied or not."

Lady Cuiyun was first taken aback, but when she understood the meaning behind Su Yi's words, the smile on her face instantly froze.