Chapter 184

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Chapter 184: I Asked You to Play a Role, Not to Boast

In the military camp, Qiao Mu passionately recounted the forty years of great changes and hardships in the martial arts of Jiu Province from the Appointing Commander Platform.

The isolated city was not lonely; there were people outside who were also holding their ground, cultivating martial arts in the long nights.

Hai Siyuan was confused and wondered why this outsider, Elder Lao, suddenly started acting.

I asked you to act, not to brag so much…

If Hai Siyuan’s original wish was just to use this lie to give a boost to the soldiers and people of the dying city.

Qiao Mu, on the other hand, didn’t need a boost, he was like a strong medicine, ready to train and strengthen the elderly.

When Hai Siyuan was feeling confused and unsure of Qiao Mu’s intentions, someone gently tapped his shoulder.

He turned around and saw a thin old man with two swords at his waist.

"Captain Hai, even though this old man is from the outside, is he telling lies?" the old man whispered to Hai Siyuan.

Hai Siyuan’s heart skipped a beat.

Wooden Sword Walker Lu Yanbei is one of the only two martial artists from the Jiu Province who survived in this isolated city.

Moreover, he is not like the famous Earth Sword Immortal, who entered the lonely city thirty years ago. Lu Yanbei only came here last year.

This means that the false story about the dramatic changes in Jiu Province’s martial arts forty years ago can deceive others, but it can never deceive Lu Yanbei!

"True," Hai Siyuan reluctantly admitted.

He revealed his plan, expressed his intentions, and tried to persuade Lu Yanbei not to expose the truth.

"I won’t expose this lie… but…" Lu Yanbei sighed softly.

Once this lie is spoken aloud, there is only one path left to follow.

Exposing such a colossal lie that would deceive the entire city’s military and civilians would surely deal a severe blow to their morale.

In that case, it would be better to remain silent…

"At this point, all we can do is help him keep it hidden." Lu Yanbei also made a decision, though he couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful:

Acting is just acting, you’re speaking so eloquently, elevating the martial arts of Jiu Province to such a high level. Are you acting too much?

It’s like walking on a tightrope on a cliff, once you slip and get exposed, there’s no turning back.

So, what happened to Qiao Mu?

After he stepped onto the tightrope, not only did he walk very cautiously, he even tied sandbags to his legs to make it harder for himself, and then did somersaults on the tightrope.

He himself was full of enthusiasm on the Appointing Commander Platform, but Hai Siyuan and Lu Yanbei, who knew the truth, were sweating nervously.

Concern is understandable.

Lu Yanbei and the others did see that the people in the military camp who listened to Qiao Mu’s speech were gradually being influenced by the martial arts vision of Jiu Province that he described.

"The lonely city is not lonely, our difficult survival until now has meaning."

A soldier with a broken leg couldn’t help but shed tears, saying, "Back then, General Li Changge led me and the other soldiers to hold off, wasn’t it all to secure a future for Jiu Province?"

"Today, the situation in Jiu Province is strong and powerful, so we will quietly wait, knowing that one day there will be successors who will carry the torch."

"The rapid progress of martial arts in the outside world indicates that there are indeed like-minded people in other parts of Jiu Province, unseen by us, who are resisting the inhumans, just like us."

For the old soldiers who have fought bravely in these isolated cities for forty years, they are not afraid of death, nor sacrifice.

What they fear is that their sacrifice will have no meaning, that it will only move themselves.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, the lonely city of only three hundred old soldiers is about to be engulfed in the vast desert sand, resisting for forty years without any knowledge from the outside world.

No one knows their desperate fight, no one inherits their will to resist…

At that time, the destruction of the lonely city will be the complete annihilation of the once mighty Great Yan’s hundred thousand elite soldiers.

And now, in Qiao Mu’s portrayal of the martial arts scene in Jiu Province, it is simply as beautiful as a ethereal dream… How can it not stir their hearts?

Lu Yanbei listened quietly, his tightly strung heartstrings also relaxed a bit.

Lies are lies, boasting is boasting, just let it be.

Even if it’s false, he doesn’t want to expose it. Lu Yanbei is tired, having fought on the battlefield all year long in his old age. Even if someone deceives him with hope, he is willing to be deceived.

He is also tired.

No one is invincible. Even if they were ambitious back in the day, after forty years, they will feel weary and disappointed.

Characters who are always hopeful and never discouraged or lost only exist in the words of storytellers.

When even Lu Yanbei himself is ready to accept lies and deceive himself.

On the Appointing Commander Platform, Qiao Mu looked down at the crowded audience and pointed to one person with a smile.

"Words alone are not enough evidence."

"Even if I can speak persuasively, I believe none of you will fully trust me."

"We martial artists are not just skilled in talking, today you will witness the changes in martial arts after forty years."

"You, the old man with two swords hanging from your waist, come forward."

"Let’s have a little exchange to show you what skills I, an old man over a hundred years old, have as a leader in both ancient and modern martial arts."

The audience erupted into murmurs as Qiao Mu pointed towards Lu Yanbei on the stage, attracting countless gazes.

Even in this isolated city, Lu Yanbei was not a small character. As one of the few foreign martial artists, at least half of the city’s residents recognized him.

The name of Wooden Sword Walker Lu Yanbei holds great prestige in Jiu Province. He was once highly regarded by the military and civilians of the isolated city…

Even Lu Yanbei was taken aback.

Invite him to a martial arts competition?

He frowned, realizing that if this Qiao Shuangsen on the Appointing Commander Platform wanted to show his fighting skills, he had chosen the wrong target.

Even though he was old, he was still a worthy master of Jiu Province Swordsmanship. Despite his old age, he could easily play with the young 2nd rank martial artist from the Great Yan Imperial Court using a wooden sword.

As a former representative of martial arts, he had more than enough status, identity, and strength.

Moreover, as a martial artist who specialized in swordsmanship, Lu Yanbei was best at one-on-one duels on the arena.

If it was a battle on the battlefield, an old man like him would be much weaker in endurance compared to a young martial artist, due to his declining physical strength and energy.

But in an arena fight? He wouldn’t be at a disadvantage at all.

"Why did you have to come and find me?" Lu Yanbei felt a slight resentment in his heart.

Qiao Mu, who was on the Appointing Commander Platform, noticed that Captain Hai was whispering to him below. Qiao Mu realized that Lu Yanbei had chosen not to expose him, prioritizing the overall situation. So, did they want him to be a puppet on stage this time?

"This old man with the surname Qiao, brought by Captain Hai, is quite cunning… He knows that I will cooperate with him in acting, and that he will defeat me. This will highlight the ‘Xumi Mountain King Sutra’ and the ‘modern method’ of martial arts he talks about." He deliberately spoke like this.

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