Chapter 189

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Chapter 189: The Lonely City Arsenal

A sexually transmitted disease?

Qiao Mu gasped in shock and instinctively glanced in the direction where Earth Sword Immortal had left the temple courtyard. He exclaimed in terror.

After all, he was a Wudang Taoist and could represent the sect in battle. He practiced the rare and powerful Zhenpai skill called "Pure Yang Wuji Skill." Earth Sword Immortal’s status in the Wudang sect was definitely not that of an ordinary disciple.

When these core disciples go out to compete with other sects, they represent the sect’s reputation… especially Wudang, which is a renowned and prestigious Taoist sect. Being afflicted with this sexually transmitted disease is indeed groundbreaking for the Wudang sect.

Seeing Qiao Mu remain silent and look towards the temple courtyard, Lu Yanbei misunderstood and thought he wanted to enter. He quickly waved his hand to stop him.

"Brother Qiao, don’t go into the backyard of the Taoist temple."

"The backyard is his forbidden area, nobody can enter except for him, not even me as his older brother."

Qiao Mu became interested when he heard this.

"Is there a secret hidden in this backyard?"

Lu Yanbei was taken aback and shook his head.

"I once asked him about it, but he avoided giving a direct answer. He just said that the yard only contained unfinished stone sculptures, which were not worth showing to outsiders." Lu Yanbei pondered for a moment.

"If it was just an ordinary woman, I have seen plenty of them before. There is no need for him to hide anything from me."

"Brother Qiao, do you think he secretly has a thousand swords buried in the backyard, waiting for the day to rise and become a legendary hero?"

"I think you’re giving your brother too much credit." Qiao Mu shrugged.

"I think it’s more likely in the backyard, with his many female friends’ statues, but they might not be wearing clothes."

Lu Yanbei was speechless for a moment, imagining his younger brother’s actions and realizing that it could really be possible.

He could only sigh, leading Qiao Mu out of the abandoned Taoist temple.

"If Brother Qiao wants other Spiritual Refining Techniques, there should still be a few stored in the military arsenal in the city. Brother Qiao could try his luck there," Lu Yanbei suggested.

"The arsenal was established by General Li Changge in the past, and it is now guarded by General Li Changge’s younger brother."

"If Brother Qiao publicly reveals the ‘Xumi Mountain King Sutra,’ the military arsenal may also open its doors to you."

Upon hearing about the secret martial arts manuals, Qiao Mu immediately became excited and expressed his desire to go, with Lu Yanbei also showing enthusiasm and offering to guide them.

However, as they walked, Lu Yanbei intentionally or unintentionally brought up the topic of the Earth Sword Immortal.

"As ‘Wooden Sword Walker’, I have been traveling the martial world for many years and have gained some reputation. Over the years, I have also been diligent in upholding morals and carefully selecting students with a sense of chivalry."

"As the elder brother is regarded as a father figure, my brother and I ventured into the world at a young age. I hoped to set a good example, but he ended up going astray. Perhaps it was my fault for not guiding him properly."

Lu Yanbei chatted on and on.

As people age, their speech becomes more fragmented.

In reality, he brought Qiao Mu along to find Earth Sword Immortal with some ulterior motives.

Earth Sword Immortal had been neglecting his responsibilities for many years, and when Lu Yanbei saw Qiao Mu arrive alone, he used a lie about an Immortal Slaying Army to inspire the entire city, dispelling past pessimism.

Holding onto a glimmer of hope, he believed that bringing Qiao Mu, who was a variable, might bring some change to the long-neglectful Earth Sword Immortal.

As for cultivation techniques and such, they were just external things. In his opinion, even Wudang had lost its significance for decades. The "Pure Yang Wuji Skill" had already been stored in the Wuji Association’s library, so there was no need to treasure them excessively.

Therefore, he brought Qiao Mu along.

If Qiao Mu could find a way to alter Earth Sword Immortal, whether it was demanding cultivation techniques or something else, Lu Yanbei didn’t mind lending a hand with this small favor.

"My little brother actually has a good reputation, Brother Qiao can start from this point and cater to his interests," suggested Lu Yanbei.

"I think Brother Lu has an even better reputation," Qiao Mu spoke frankly.

If Earth Sword Immortal really had a good reputation, why would he have such a bad reputation in this isolated city?

Lu Yanbei, on the other hand, was different.

He tirelessly rushed around, fought alongside the old soldiers, and guided Qiao Mu to find Earth Sword Immortal. He was always concerned about how to clean up the mess for his own younger brother.

Hearing Qiao Mu’s words, Lu Yanbei could only smile bitterly.

Despite the bitter smile, he still wanted to restore some dignity for his younger brother in front of Qiao Mu. This was the last stubbornness of an old man like him.

"Actually, he wasn’t like this when he was little, and this probably has to do with the background of us two brothers."

"Both of us, in fact, come from the noble Lu family in the Imperial Capital, we are the illegitimate children of the former Minister of Rites…"

Lu Yanbei is very honest and openly talks about his background.

At his age, with almost one foot in the grave, he has become indifferent to many things.

The secretive background that he used to hide when he was young, he can now openly share with Qiao Mu.

Of course, this is also related to the impression Qiao Mu has given him.

In his eyes, Qiao Mu is an old man who has lived more than a hundred years, older than him by more than twenty years, strictly speaking, a venerable senior with extraordinary magnanimity.

If Qiao Mu were replaced by a twenty-year-old inexperienced youngster, even if he were preaching the "Xumi Mountain King Sutra" on the street, Lu Yanbei, relying on his seniority, would probably not expose his shortcomings.

"My father was a former Minister of Rites, an exemplary scholar and teacher. My mother, on the other hand, was a somewhat famous female knight-errant…"

"Originally, they were completely different and only had a chance encounter…"

The combination of a refined official and a female knight-errant is not really that extraordinary.

It was unbelievable that the next day, the female warrior told Lu’s father to feel at ease and leave. She had strong inner power and could use it to force it out. There would be no more connection between you and me.

Lu’s father believed her.

Many years later, when Lu’s father became the Minister of Rites, his position was soaring. The former female warrior, however, came to his door with the two children she had given birth to, using them as a bargaining chip for money …

"Those days of being dependent on others were really tough. Later, my two brothers quickly left home and went on adventures in the martial world, keeping each other company …"

When talking about the past, Lu Yanbei’s expression was calm and his eyes were mysterious, showing the indifference of an old man.

Seventy to eighty years passed.

Whether it was the Minister of Rites or the martial world female warrior, they had already passed away.

So Lu Yanbei didn’t have much resentment towards his adoptive parents, and even if there was any before, it was gone now.

As for his brother, Earth Sword Immortal Lu Yannan, it seems he wasn’t as scheming…

When the two of them were chatting about the past, they had already reached a corner of this lonely city and stood in front of an old warehouse in the military camp.

"This is the city’s armory, I won’t go there," Lu Yanbei said as he bid farewell, but before leaving, he didn’t forget to remind:

"If Brother Qiao insists on asking for the book ‘Pure Yang Wuji Skill’ from my younger brother, maybe he would be interested."

"Interested?" Qiao Mu pondered for a moment.

"Are there any prostitutes in this city?"

Lu Yanbei chuckled silently and didn’t answer, then turned and left.

Qiao Mu pushed the door and entered the warehouse.

There was an old man with white hair sitting at the front desk, dozing off. When he saw Qiao Mu approaching, he opened one sleepy eye and raised his head.

This old man’s face was scarred and half of his face was destroyed. His left eye socket was empty, giving him a somewhat scary appearance.

When Qiao Mu noticed the hesitation in the old man’s gaze, he calmly explained:

"It’s the Etching Bones Li Fire, a powerful martial art that can quickly strike back and protect oneself."

"Did Elder Lao come to this martial arts library to browse through the various martial arts collected in the city?" The old man clearly recognized Qiao Mu and had a strong impression of him.

After all, in this isolated city, there are only a few martial artists from outside who have managed to survive, let alone someone like Qiao Mu who made such a grand entrance into the city.

"That’s right." Qiao Mu looked up at the shelves filled with martial arts manuals in this library. There were quite a lot of hidden treasures here.

"Elder Lao’s public lecture on the Xumi Mountain King Sutra was truly noble. I admire you, even with only half of your face visible." The old man tugged at his damaged flesh, attempting to smile but it looked quite unsettling.

"If it were up to me, with Elder Lao’s contributions, you could freely browse through the books in this martial arts library."

"However, especially in times of chaos, rules must be observed. Without rules, this isolated city wouldn’t have survived until now."

"Here’s the deal, there are a total of nine different Spiritual Refining Techniques in this city. Elder Lao can choose one to read and study."

The old man led Qiao Mu directly up to the third floor of the storage room and personally brought out a few Spiritual Refining Techniques, placing them in front of Qiao Mu.

As the two walked, a person in the corner of the storage room was attracted by their movement and approached.

"Why is Elder Lao also here in the armory?"

The person speaking was Storyteller Clairvoyance, who arrived in the city with Qiao Mu. He was also holding a thick bound book in his hands.

"What are you looking at? Let me have a look too?" Qiao Mu became curious.

The storyteller at Tide Listening Building was renowned for his vast knowledge, and Clairvoyance was clearly not an ordinary storyteller either.

The martial arts that caught his attention were likely not ordinary.

However, Storyteller Clairvoyance was taken aback for a moment, then handed the book to Qiao Mu.

Qiao Mu casually flipped through the pages and realized that it was not the martial arts manual he had imagined, but… a book of records?

"This is the history book of our city," the old man with half a face sighed.

"Jiu Province may have forgotten us, but we must not forget the brothers who sacrificed their lives… thus, this history book was created."

"Even if we all perish, the future generations who arrive at these ruins of the city may catch a glimpse of the forty years of blood and tears shed by the military and civilians. Our deeds can be passed down through generations."

"If nobody comes, recording the stories of our fallen brothers will at least bring us some consolation."

For forty years, in the vast desert, a hundred thousand soldiers perished one after another, leaving only half the city’s women and children. The history of this isolated city is soaked in blood and fire.

While the remaining soldiers and the young men from the city fought battles outside, some powerless officials and disabled veterans recorded and compiled a book about the history of this isolated city.

Clairvoyance the storyteller was reading such a history book.

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