My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion

Hearing such direct words, Chen Yi was still somewhat surprised and asked, "So why do you want to take on a disciple?"

Li Wenhu continued, "Hu Youxing is my true disciple, but this child betrayed and left the sect. Now, in accordance with the rules of Jianghu, I am obliged to 'clean up the sect.' According to tradition, when a master personally kills his true disciple, it means severing his own martial arts."

Chen Yi's face showed confusion.

Min Ning noticed this and softly explained:

"Killing one's true disciple signifies a public declaration to Jianghu that the master's teachings were flawed, and his martial skills were insufficient. It's a disgrace that shames oneself and one's ancestors, so such a master is deemed unfit to take on further disciples."

"You have a direct way of speaking too," Li Wenhu, despite his old age, laughed heartily, "which is why I want to take on a disciple before killing Hu Youxing."

Chen Yi scratched his head, unable to stop himself from silently complaining — Li Wenhu's action was like finding a loophole in the rules.

Nonetheless, the fact that Li Wenhu would rather take on a disciple before committing the act, instead of doing so afterward, revealed just how much the rules of Jianghu still held sway over the older generation like him.

This reminded Chen Yi of You Xu from the White Willow Sect. To be honest, when facing You Xu back then, that fallen swordsman bore little hatred toward him. He had even explicitly stated that after killing him, he planned to seek justice at the Mansion of Prince Jing to avenge his disciple. Whether true or false, Chen Yi reckoned that You Xu and Li Wenhu were likely cut from the same cloth as Jianghu men.

Li Wenhu, seeing Chen Yi's apparent lack of interest and wanting to persuade him further but unwilling to appear desperate, casually said, as if offhandedly:

"In this world, there are no fewer than a thousand forms of spear techniques, if not more. Among the renowned ones are Zhao Zilong's Eighteen Spear Strikes and the Yang Family's Pear Blossom Spear. However, even if I remain humble, my spear techniques are no less exceptional than these famous ones."

"And what if you're not humble?"

"Naturally, it would be the best in the world." Li Wenhu truly knew no humility.

"..."

Chen Yi genuinely did not want to engage further on this topic, even though he bore no ill will toward the old man. So he said bluntly:

"Sir, there's no need to continue. I practice with swords, not spears."

Upon hearing this, Li Wenhu's gaze dimmed slightly. Stroking his beard, he said:

"What a pity, what a pity. Seeing that you know Cangshan Fist, I thought we might have a connection."

In Chen Yi's eyes, a faint glimmer of surprise appeared.

However, before he could respond, Min Ning spoke up and curiously asked first:

"Sir, you know Cangshan Fist?"

When Li Wenhu had recognized Chen Yi's boxing techniques earlier, Min Ning was already somewhat amazed. Now that Li Wenhu mentioned it directly, she naturally followed up with a question.

Li Wenhu nodded slightly, as if recalling past events, his tone tinged with melancholy:

"Naturally, I know it. This boxing technique originated with Min He, a commander of the Jin Yi Wei. Back then, I even sparred with him once or twice. But over time, we lost touch. The next time I heard about him, it was tied to the case of a treasonous prime minister, and his death with dismemberment."

Hearing this, Min Ning couldn't help but say, "Sir, my family name is Min."

Li Wenhu was momentarily startled. Pausing in his steps, his face showed a hint of emotion, but after appraising Min Ning, his expression calmed again and he sighed:

"I never thought I would meet the grandson of an old acquaintance here. What a pity, what a pity — you're not suited for spear techniques."

Min Ning, perplexed, glanced sideways at Chen Yi, her dissatisfaction evident as she remarked, "Why is he suited but I am not?"

"Your aptitude is too great, and your temperament is too straightforward; I fear history might repeat itself." Li Wenhu sighed profoundly, "Alas, alas..."

There was an unspoken story in his words. Hearing this, both Chen Yi and Min Ning fell into silence, neither choosing to respond.

They walked on for some time, during which Li Wenhu glanced back several times.

Chen Yi and Min Ning both blinked in curiosity, but neither asked him anything.

The old man carrying the spear finally grew anxious and said:

"Why aren't you asking? Aren't you curious?"

"Why don't you just tell us then?"

"Just because I don't say it doesn't mean I don't want to say it."

The old man huffed, blowing his beard and glaring, then dropped the pretense and began to speak:

"Everything began with my disciple, Hu Youxing. Back in the day, while escorting goods from place to place, I had neither the time nor the inclination to take on disciples. After retiring from the escort business and settling down, I opened a martial arts school and naturally sought to recruit students widely. However, at the time, I found most who came to me lacked talent, and none were fit to become a true disciple. Thus, I went without one.

Until I met Hu Youxing's father. He had good aptitude, exceptional talent, and a proud nature, which resonated with me. So I accepted him as my true disciple. But to my dismay, after mastering my teachings, he committed heinous crimes, married into the bandits of Langshan Stronghold as their son-in-law, and became wanted by the government. So, I issued a formal challenge to 'clean up the sect.'"

As he recounted his past, sorrow increasingly clouded Li Wenhu's elderly face.

Chen Yi and Min Ning listened silently. The former's expression remained unchanged, while the latter's focus and slight emotional turmoil were evident.

"I killed Hu Youxing's father, and his mother, upon witnessing her husband's death, took her own life as well. As for Hu Youxing, he was only a five-year-old child at the time. I initially had no intention of taking him as a disciple. But a month later, Langshan Stronghold was annihilated by the government, and remnants of the stronghold came to me, imploring me to adopt him in consideration of my relationship with his father."

The old man heaved a long sigh and said:

"As for what happened after, you can more or less guess. Nothing more than Hu Youxing learning of his parents' deaths by my hands, attempting to kill me, failing, and then betraying the sect. He fled to the Southern Border and now serves under the banner of the Prince of Annan."

Min Ning immediately asked:

"He issued you a challenge. Aren't you afraid it might be a trap?"

"If it's a trap, then so be it," Li Wenhu replied with a touch of fierceness, his voice calm. "At any rate, the last of the Li family's daughters passed away four or five years ago. I have no children and no descendants. If I die, so what? If you both are willing, escort me to ten miles outside the military camp; that will be kindness enough."

Hearing this, Chen Yi finally spoke, "What a coincidence — we have had the fortune of meeting the Prince of Annan before. We can likely escort you directly to the camp."

"Well said! Boy, you make me feel that I didn't misjudge — you are indeed suited for spear techniques. It seems my old eyes aren't failing yet," Li Wenhu laughed heartily.

"Talking to yourself again?"

"Can't I praise my own judgment?"

.........…

Time passed unconsciously until it was dusk.

As they neared the Prince of Annan's military camp, Min Ning looked at the familiar little path beneath the horses' hooves. Glancing toward the roadside, she found herself staring at the distant village, momentarily dazed.

Since that incident, it seemed that the Prince of Annan's forces had truly left the little village untouched. The sight before her showed a quiet, peaceful scene, brimming with the same serene charm as before.

However, Min Ning thought of the woman who had offered her water back then, and her heart felt slightly stifled.

She wanted to visit that household again and, if possible, offer them some silver.

Though it was inconvenient now, she decided she'd go on the way back.

Chen Yi, observing from the side, seemed to see through Min Ning's thoughts, feeling an inexplicable sense of gratification in his heart.

Though he mostly acted with a sense of justice, he knew he could easily become a villain if needed. Perhaps it was precisely because of this that he didn't consider himself a good person.

Even so, as someone who occasionally teetered on the edge of decency, he couldn't help but hope the people around him were kind-hearted.

This held true for Chen Yi, and so his little girlfriend's thoughts inexplicably brought him some comfort.

As the group neared the military camp, scouts could be seen in the distance, followed shortly by soldiers barring their path.

However, after Li Wenhu presented his challenge letter, it seemed the soldiers had prior knowledge and allowed them to pass without causing trouble.

Chen Yi casually inquired and discovered that Hu Youxing had become a colonel in the army. After numerous appeals, he had secured the Prince's approval for this duel to the death.

Qin Qingluo, known for her reverence for martial prowess, would likely have sanctioned the duel even if Hu Youxing were no more than an ordinary soldier, Chen Yi thought.

Proceeding through the camp, they soon arrived at the drill grounds. The area was bustling, with crowds gathered both inside and out. Chen Yi glanced upward and saw, atop a platform about ten feet high, the Prince of Annan clad in heavy armor, standing motionless like an unyielding mountain.

Li Wenhu looked up briefly and couldn't help but sigh:

"What a commanding presence. I've heard that the Zhu family's spear technique is as imposing as a towering mountain. Witnessing the demeanor of this independent prince today, its reputation appears well-earned."

Just as he spoke, Qin Qingluo happened to glance in their direction.

Her gaze swept quickly past Li Wenhu.

Then, her pupils contracted slightly, fixing directly upon Chen Yi...

No one could see it, but the hand the Prince of Annan had hidden behind her back quietly tightened into a fist.