The Song Dynasty was the king for thirteen years before he knew that he was Tianlong.

Chapter 413 The Three Evils of the Martial World (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"He keeps saying he doesn't know martial arts, yet he claims he'll capture and question the person who can easily break a wooden bed. Brother, your father is no ordinary man." The crow's voice rang in Zhao Ti's ears.

Zhao Ti shook his head upon hearing this. He had already thought about this matter before. When Yang Jian questioned why he hadn't learned martial arts and implied that his parents hadn't taught him any skills, he had considered that his parents might possess martial arts skills.

As for the reason for not teaching, it's not that important; there must be some reason and hardship involved.

He had never thought of learning martial arts before; he was only forced to embark on this path because the Heavenly Demon had severed his hand.

If his parents don't teach him, he can practice on his own. Once he has mastered the skills, his parents will have no reason to object.

"Perhaps... Father is born with superhuman strength, which is why he speaks like that?" Zhao Ti didn't want to tell Crow about his guess, as it would seem disrespectful to his parents, so he made an excuse.

“I don’t think so. I saw that your father’s lower body was as stable as a rock. Although his every move seemed casual and simple, it was actually in harmony with his waist and footwork. This is not something an ordinary person can do. He not only knows martial arts, but his martial arts skills are also quite high,” said Crow.

"So Brother Crow figured it out all along?" Zhao Ti sighed.

“Of course, your family is actually quite strange. Your mother also knows martial arts, but her aura is very elusive and unpredictable. However, she is no weaker than your father. You, on the other hand, are a weak scholar who cannot lift a finger or carry a heavy load. You only study but have never practiced martial arts…” The crow hesitated and said, “I thought your family was hiding some secret, but I later found out that it was not at all.”

"Brother Crow, what do you mean by that?" Zhao Ti asked, puzzled.

"At first I thought your family had retreated from the world to avoid trouble. After all, a minor hermit lives in the wilderness, a middle hermit lives in the city, and sometimes living in the bustling city is safer than hiding in the mountains." The crow scratched its head with its wing. "But then I found out that wasn't the case..."

"Brother Crow... how did you discover that it wasn't true?" Zhao Ti asked, puzzled.

“It’s simple,” the crow said somewhat embarrassedly. “I can hear some of your parents’ private conversations, which you naturally can’t. It’s not that I’m listening on purpose, it’s just that my ears are too sharp. I can hear not only human conversations, but even the sound of insects crawling under a rock in the distance.”

“Brother Crow… isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” Zhao Ti’s lips twitched. “Even if you heard it at first, you must have been able to block it out. Why continue listening?”

The crow said somewhat ashamedly, "I actually think the same way as you, but what your parents said was quite interesting, so I couldn't help but listen to it."

Zhao Ti asked curiously, "Brother Crow, what exactly did you hear that you couldn't help yourself?"

The crow said, "I heard your parents talk about the past. What really interested me was their identities and why they made you study."

"Huh?" Zhao Ti was taken aback upon hearing this. "There's such a thing? Could it be that the two of them have some special identity? Their mother is a daughter of the Yang family in Huazhou, and their father's ancestral home is in Yuzhou City. They make a living in the city. The neighbors and the ancestral home can all testify to this."

“My dear brother…” Crow shook his head, revealing a mysterious expression: “What you said is not wrong, but you don’t understand the deeper aspects. Your parents are really interesting people.”

"Is that not wrong?" Zhao Ti asked curiously, "Brother Ya, what do you mean?"

The crow laughed and said, "It is true that your mother is a daughter of the Yang family in Huazhou, but do you know which Yang family in Huazhou she is?"

"Which Yang family in Huazhou?" Zhao Ti frowned. "There are many families with the surname Yang in the world. My mother once said that our family is a small and insignificant one. My maternal grandparents have both passed away long ago..."

“Everything else is correct, but this small family…” Crow said, “It is indeed a bit too modest. If your mother’s family is a small family, then there are no great families in the world. The Yang family of Huazhou, the head of the eight great families of the Great Qian Dynasty, how can it be considered a small family?”

"What?" Zhao Ti was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Ya, what did you say? What do you mean by the head of the eight great families?"

The crow said slowly, "The Yang family your mother came from is the Yang family of Huazhou, the head of the eight great families!"

Zhao Ti looked shocked: "How... could it be the Yang family? If my mother is from the prestigious Yang family, why have she and my father lived in Yuzhou for so many years and never returned to their home in Huazhou?"

The crow said, "I didn't hear the more specific reason, but I confirmed your mother's background from your parents' words. She is not from a collateral branch, but from the main line, just not the eldest son's family."

Zhao Ti remained silent for a long time. If his mother was from the Yang family, one of the eight great families, then the matter of the Four Illuminations Divine Skill could be made clear.

Yang Jian did not marry into a wealthy family at all; it was a story fabricated by his father who disliked him. He must have been born into the main branch of the Yang family and possessed extremely high talent, which is why he had this unparalleled skill.

Therefore, Yang Jian did not lie to me or exaggerate the power of this technique. It is true that this technique is the core technique of the Yang family, and only outstanding disciples can learn it.

But there are still questions. Since it is the core skill of the prestigious Yang family, and only talented disciples are allowed to practice it, why is it passed on to an outsider?
Although his mother's surname is Yang, he is not a member of the Yang family.

The rules of aristocratic families are strict, especially when it comes to such unparalleled martial arts skills, which can be said to be the foundation of the family's existence. How could they possibly be revealed to outsiders?

Even if they were direct descendants of the Yang family, they would not be taught the skills if they were not outstanding enough. As someone outside the Yang family, and without having had his talent tested, how could Yang Jian have given him this martial art?

“This is your mother’s identity, as for your father…” Crow continued, his tone rather strange.

"What is your father's identity?" Zhao Ti asked疑惑地, "It's true that my family's ancestral home is Yuzhou..."

“These are all true. The Zhao family has lived in Yuzhou for generations, in their old house and with neighbors all around them, making a living here…” Crow nodded and said, “It’s just that your Yan once roamed the martial world and left Yuzhou for a few years, and even made a great name for himself here.”

"What a prestigious title!" Zhao Ti wasn't surprised that his father had traveled the martial arts world. If he hadn't left home back then, how would he have known his mother? It was impossible for a marriage to fall into one's lap while one was at home.

But then he thought about how he was in Yuzhou, not having gone anywhere, when Zhuge Qingqing suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Wouldn't it be awkward to get entangled with her and leave things unclear? For a moment, he couldn't help but feel a little strange.

“I knew of your father’s reputation back then, but I never expected that such a famous hero would live in seclusion in the bustling city, selling goods, working at sunrise and resting at sunset, living the life of an ordinary person.” Zhao Ti was immediately taken aback. What kind of background did Crow have? He was an outstanding member of the demon race. The demon continent was in the far south. How could Crow, who had crossed other countries to come to Daqian, know about his father’s reputation?

Even if Crow had visited Daqian years ago, would Crow know that Father has such a great reputation?

“This is not my first time in the Qian Kingdom. I have traveled there once or twice before, which is why I said I know some humans. Although I have not met Ling Yan, I have heard of his great name for a long time,” the crow said hesitantly.

Zhao Ti sensed something amiss in his words and pondered for a moment before replying, "My father had a great reputation back then, but it wasn't a good one, was it?"

The crow cawed a few times, its long beak snaking, and laughed, "Brother, then I'll be frank."

Zhao Ti said, "Brother Ya, please speak freely."

The crow said, "When I last came to Qian Kingdom, Ling Yan was very famous in the martial arts world. His behavior was unconventional and unorthodox. He did whatever he wanted, just according to his own will... Actually, this is nothing to our demon race. The demon race respects the strong, but it is not good for the human race. The human race has too many rules and regulations. Your father was temporarily classified as an evil person."

"An unorthodox path?" Zhao Ti's lips twitched.

"He was indeed a heretic, and at the time, he was given a nickname in the martial arts world: one of the Three Evils of Jiangbei," Crow recalled.

"The Three Evils of Jiangbei?" Zhao Ti touched his forehead. "Why such nicknames? And who are the other two evils?"

The crow chuckled and said, "The other two scourges are not human, but the East River dragon and the West Mountain tiger. The East River dragon often stirs up storms, flooding farmland along the river and harming passersby for its own amusement. The West Mountain tiger also reigns supreme in the mountains, robbing people and committing all sorts of evil deeds. Your father often operated in that area, so the three of them were known in the martial arts world as the Three Scourges of Jiangbei."

"So that's how it is. I never imagined my father was such a person back then?" Zhao Ti's expression changed. He asked, "Why have you retired from the martial world? Have you washed your hands of it and turned over a new leaf?"

The crow shook its head and said, "I don't know that. I never met your father back then. When I came back to the martial world this time, the Three Evils were no longer around, so I didn't inquire about them. If you want to know, I can go outside and ask around to see where the Three Evils have gone and why your father retired from the martial world."

Zhao Ti pondered for a moment and said, "That's good. I can't ask my parents, and they probably won't tell me anyway."

The crow laughed and said, "That should be the case. After all, he has been living in seclusion for so many years and has not revealed the affairs of the martial world to you. How could I tell you just because you asked? Also, there is a special reason why your father told you to focus on your studies."

Zhao Ti asked, "What's the reason?"

The crow chuckled somewhat lewdly and said, “Your father had a confidante who was nicknamed Fairy Lingbo. She loved reading, writing, composing poems and lyrics, and she respected and admired those with literary talent. Your father even studied hard because of this, but unfortunately, he had no talent for literature and had to give up in the end. From what your mother said, it seems that he couldn’t forget Fairy Lingbo, which is why he urged you to study hard.”

"What? How could such a thing happen?" Zhao Ti said awkwardly, "Father, this is really too undignified..."

"It's really nothing. We're all just people of the martial world, there's no need for such formalities. Besides, your parents settled down in Yuzhou after their marriage and never had any contact with the martial world again, so they've cut ties. This is what I heard from their conversation. Also, your mother said that the Fairy Lingbo likes scholars, and that's why your father made you study, hoping you would become the object of his fairy's admiration." Crow laughed, "After hearing these things, how could I keep quiet? My curiosity is soaring, I won't stop until I hear the whole story."

“I understand, Brother Ya…” Zhao Ti nodded, looking slightly embarrassed. It wasn’t that he was in any trouble, but rather that it was hard to believe that his father would do such a thing.

In his eyes, his father had always been an honest and upright person, hardworking and diligent in earning money, and impeccable in managing the household. How could this be a three-way scourge, and what kind of confidante did he have? It was simply a reversal of perceptions and unimaginable.

“Originally, my dear brother was just studying and planning to take the imperial examinations to become an official, so there was no need to tell you these things. But now that you are learning martial arts, you will inevitably get involved with the martial world. That’s why I told you to be aware of this.” Crow sighed. “Although you have retired from the martial world, it is hard to guarantee that there are still enemies. If you know these things, you won’t be completely clueless in the future and not know where the danger will come from if you encounter trouble.”

Zhao Ti smiled wryly and said, "Thank you very much for informing me, Brother Ya."

The crow said, "It's a small matter. Let me find out why your father went into seclusion and what happened to the other two scourges before I tell you, my brother."

Zhao Ti said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Ya."

"It's alright, I'll go out first. Brother, you can continue practicing or tidy up and rest as you see fit." The crow said as it flew out the window, which closed without any wind.

Zhao Ti stood there for a moment, thinking that this matter was really unbelievable. His parents had guessed before they learned martial arts, so they were not too surprised to find out now. However, he still couldn't quite put his father's reputation and behavior into account.

He stood there for a while, then began to tidy up the bed, neatly assembling the broken bed boards. He then moved all the items on the table to the wooden box against the wall, and also took the gourd containing the demon-summoning banner.

Then the bedding was laid out on the table. Although the desk was simple, it was long and large enough. Although it was not as spacious as a bed, it was enough for one person to sleep on.

After everything was set up, he intended to rest immediately, but then a thought struck him and he remembered the Peach Blossom Sword Manual.

Since Yang Jian wasn't exaggerating and the Four Illuminations Divine Skill is indeed a top-tier technique, then this sword manual should also be extraordinary.

Yang Jian said he obtained it from an ancient ruin, which turned out to be an ancient sword manual. Yang Jian also seemed to have mentioned that this sword manual was different from some current sword techniques, but it's unclear in what way.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ti's drowsiness dissipated, and he went to the box to pick up the blue sword manual and began to examine it carefully.

Although this sword manual is also in book form, it is clearly made of different materials than the Four Illuminations Divine Skill. The Four Illuminations Divine Skill is written on paper, while this Peach Blossom Sword Manual is made of sheepskin, entirely of leather, and dyed with an unknown blue pigment.

The blue color at this moment is not the sky blue or sea blue. Because it has existed for a long time, it has turned into a dark and dull blue, and it also has a musty smell of decay.

The four characters in the Peach Blossom Sword Manual above are not the commonly used script today, but a type of seal script that was popular more than two thousand years ago.

Zhao Ti reached out and gently turned to the first page, where two lines of poetry came into view: "Peach blossoms drift leisurely on the flowing water, a world apart from the human realm."

(End of this chapter)