Chapter Ten: The Art of Unfettered Wandering

It was a magnificent day, the sun rising in all its brilliance.

The crowd bustled with activity. Ren Yi gripped a sword tightly in his hand—a steel sword worth a mere one tael and two mace. With silver threads draped over his shoulders and a black scabbard at his side, the combination of silver-white and pitch-black symbolized sorrow and ill omen. In his vacant, lonely eyes, it seemed as though one could truly glimpse death itself.

Ren Yi was a changed man. Though his gaze remained filled with the aura of death, his person radiated the youthful vitality of a man in his prime. A faint smile still lingered on his face, appearing peaceful and at ease. He smiled with such natural grace and handsome composure that his entire being seemed unbound, giving off an impression of exuberance, unruliness, a hint of recklessness, and a touch of indulgence. At this moment, he seemed more like a youth than any youth could ever be.

Pedestrians came and went along the street, and Ren Yi was among them. Yet, under the bright sun, with his youthful looks and white hair, he appeared utterly out of place—as if he were the only person left in the entire world. His eyes were hollow and lonely, yet he himself was free—completely unrestrained, uninhibited, and wild.

As Ren Yi walked, his thoughts drifted far away. His learning was exceptionally vast. By the age of twelve, he had already mastered the thirty-three supreme skills of the Wudang school. In the six years that followed, he traveled across the length and breadth of the martial arts world, encountering countless figures and studying every form of martial art he could find. A natural genius, he did not fall into the trap of being a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. Instead, through study, he gained understanding; through understanding, he achieved mastery; through mastery, he attained enlightenment. Every martial art he practiced was refined to perfection, achieving astounding heights.

Drawing upon the strengths of many, three years ago, Ren Yi synthesized more than a dozen light-body techniques—including Wudang’s Cloud-Ladder Leap, the Eight-Step Chasing-Cicada, the Eight-Bird Style, the Instant Thousand-Mile technique, the Triple-Layered Clouds, the Flying Sand and Rolling Stone, the Ethereal Art, the Phantom Demon style, and the Snow-Treading Trace—to create the "Zongyi Xiaoyao Jue" (The Untethered and Carefree Technique).

The Zongyi Xiaoyao Jue harnessed the Yin and Yang of heaven and earth, hiding the Eight Trigrams within the body and stepping upon the Nine Palaces. It aligned internal energy with external form. Refined over three years, it had reached a state of near-perfection, consisting of three movement patterns: the Cloud-Piercing Step, the Ground-Vaulting Step, and the Wind-Pitying Step.

The "Cloud-Piercing Step" was an art of elevation, focusing on the agility of the body. It did not rely on complex footwork to confuse the opponent but emphasized light, nimble movement, allowing one to advance or retreat with ease.

The "Ground-Vaulting Step" was for climbing and pursuit, testing endurance and breath control. It moved energy through the heart, with long, deep, and rapid breathing. Over time, all impurities were expelled, and the breath settled into the Dantian, continuous and unbroken. With the waist like an axle and energy like a wheel, one could travel dozens of miles without fatigue.

The "Wind-Pitying Step" focused on agility and speed. The body moved like lightning, with the footwork concealing the myriad formations of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams. It was light and swift, as if riding the wind; one could shift horizontally or vertically across a dozen feet in the blink of an eye.

Ren Yi’s self-created "Thirteen Heaven-Startling Strikes" were the fastest sword techniques in the world precisely because they were supported by the Zongyi Xiaoyao Jue.

"Hey, Brother Ren, wait for me!"

A crisp, melodic voice called out—one that belonged to an incredibly lively and adorable young girl. A girl of thirteen or fourteen years old ran up behind Ren Yi. She wore simple yellow clothes, with a round face and large eyes. Her two pigtails swayed as she moved, and there were bits of grass on her face. Her expression was innocent and charming, overflowing with pure cuteness.

Her large, dark eyes rolled around, showing a hint of cunning and mischief. This was the girl who had been catching snakes on Mount Huanggang.

"Why are you following me?"

The girl asked, "Are you going to attend Grandfather Liu’s Golden Basin Hand-Washing ceremony?"

Ren Yi replied, "And what if I am?"

The girl giggled and said, "Then let's go together! I’m going too. My surname is Qu, and my name is Feiyan. My grandfather calls me Feifei; you can call me Feifei too."

Ren Yi glanced at her but said nothing.

Qu Feiyan grabbed his right hand and suddenly said, "Brother Ren, I’m all alone and miserable, with no one to play with. Why don't you play with me for a while? I’ll take you to an interesting place."

She pulled at him, but he didn't budge.

Ren Yi said coldly, "Aren't you afraid I’ll kill you?"

Qu Feiyan blinked, showing no fear at all. "Why would you want to kill me?"

The next moment, her left pigtail was yanked by Ren Yi.

"Ouch! Let go!" Qu Feiyan’s tears fell as soon as she spoke. Not only did she start crying, but she also shouted, "Bullying the small! How shameless! If you don't let go, I’ll tell my grandfather to beat you up!"

Ren Yi released his grip and smiled. "Where is your grandfather?"

The crying stopped instantly. Qu Feiyan asked, "Are you looking for my grandfather?"

Ren Yi nodded.

...

At two o'clock in the afternoon, the Liu residence was even more bustling than it had been over the past two days. By noon, several hundred guests from afar had poured in like a flowing stream. Among them were the Deputy Chief of the Beggar Sect, as well as various masters, sect leaders, and disciples from the Six-Harmonies Sect of Zhengzhou, the Sea-Sand Gang of the East Sea, and the Cinnabar Gate of the South Sea.

Among these people, some possessed true fame and status in the martial arts world, while others were of dubious character. Some of the hundreds of guests were old acquaintances, while others had only heard of each other by reputation. The main hall was filled with greetings and introductions, creating a deafening roar of voices.

Taoist Priest Tianmen and Abbess Dingyi were both in the side chambers, avoiding the idle chatter of the crowd.

Suddenly, the sound of drums and music erupted outside the gates. The heroes were startled to see Liu Zhengfeng, dressed in a new robe of fine silk, striding out from the inner hall in a hurry.

Passing by, Liu Zhengfeng offered a slight bow to the crowd before hurrying toward the gate.

Shortly after, a government official accompanied by Liu Zhengfeng walked in. The crowd was puzzled. The official entered with an arrogant air and stood in the center. The bailiff behind him knelt on one knee and raised a golden scroll high above his head with both hands.

At this, everyone understood what the scroll was, but their confusion only deepened. They heard, "Liu Zhengfeng of Hengshan, receive the imperial decree!"

Even though the heroes had already guessed, they couldn't help but be shocked. Liu San-ye’s Golden Basin Hand-Washing and his retirement from the world of blades were personal matters—why was an imperial official here to read a decree? Countless suspicions arose.

"Your humble servant, Liu Zhengfeng, receives the decree."

"Humble servant?" Everyone was stunned.

"By the grace of the Emperor, the Governor of Hunan has reported that Liu Zhengfeng of Hengshan is righteous, public-spirited, and meritorious to his homeland. Skilled in archery and horsemanship, he is a talent worthy of great use. He is hereby granted the rank of Canjiang (Assistant General). Henceforth, he shall serve the imperial court and not fail my expectations. This is the decree."

Discussions broke out immediately. No one had expected that Liu San-ye of the Hengshan Sect would be granted an official title. Martial artists generally held the belief of staying away from the imperial court and remaining free and unfettered. Why would he step into the court after choosing to retire? Almost everyone looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment.

Upon learning that an official had arrived with a decree, the members of the Taishan, Hengshan, and Huashan sects also emerged from the hall.

Liu Zhengfeng exchanged a few pleasantries with the official before seeing him out of the residence. A moment later, he returned to the crowd, his face beaming with joy, and invited everyone to take their seats.

The guests, though bewildered, could only sit down. Servants began to serve dishes and pour wine. Liu Zhengfeng’s two disciples, Mi Weiyi and Xiang Dalian, stepped forward to attend to the guests.

Liu Zhengfeng spoke loudly, "My fellow heroes and friends, I, Liu Zhengfeng, first wish to thank you all for traveling such a long distance. I am truly grateful. Today, I wash my hands in the golden basin, sealing my sword and withdrawing from the affairs of the martial arts world. Just now... as you have all witnessed, I have accepted the grace of the Imperial Court. From this day forward, I shall step away from the Jianghu. I hope you will all serve as my witnesses!"