All the heavens, starting with Little Li Flying Dagger

Chapter 81 Top-Level Reading Comprehension
After leaving Hangu Pass, we continued westward for six hundred li.

After passing through Mount Hua and Tongguan, we arrived at another key node on the Western Regions route: Chang'an, the ancient capital of six dynasties.

Chang'an truly lives up to its reputation as the ancient capital of six dynasties; its prosperity far surpasses that of Baoding and Luoyang.

The ten-mile-long street was bustling with activity, lined with shops.

An extremely luxurious carriage appeared on the streets of Chang'an, but no one gave it a second glance.

Because this is Chang'an, where there is no shortage of luxury cars and extravagant lifestyles.

He couldn't take his eyes off just because one person glanced at him a second time.

The man was dressed in black, with a black sword sheath hanging at his waist; his entire body was black.

It's less about what he was looking at the carriage, and more about the people inside it.

He slowly walked forward and began to speak.

"Brother Xie, it's been a long time."

Xie Tianling sat in the carriage, his expression turning serious, because the person coming from the opposite direction was not only an acquaintance, but also an enemy!

"It's been a long time since I've seen Guo Songyang!"

Guo Songyang was still dressed in all black, as if this was the only set of clothes he owned.

"I didn't want to see you under these circumstances."

Xie Tianling sighed.
While his old rivals were living carefree lives, he was working as their coachman.

He's the number one swordsman in the south, doesn't he have any pride?
"Yes, I thought you would be more likely to appear next to some female expert with slicked-back hair."

As a long-time rival, Guo Songyang was well aware of Xie Tianling's character.
Just like his swordsmanship—slippery.

Among swordsmen, one can shamelessly challenge someone three times, and even when at a disadvantage, one can escape quickly without any sense of shame.

Guo Songyang had only ever seen two people with that kind of shamelessness.

Xie Tianling's expression froze, and his face became somewhat unnatural. This old rival had hit a nerve.

"I heard that not long ago, the Great Joyful Bodhisattva was seeking a handsome and dashing swordsman as her male concubine,"

"I was so scared that I quickly hid."

Guo Songyang sighed.
"You had just challenged me to our fourth sword duel, but after you left for Tiannan, I didn't hear from you for a long time, and I thought..."

Keng!
Xie Tianling drew his sword, pointed it at Guo Songyang, and gritted his teeth.

"You better not think that way! Don't you think you're being a bit too talkative?"

"There's no better time than today, let's have our fourth sword duel!"

"This time, I won't lose again!"

Guo Songyang snorted coldly and drew his sword as well.

“Perfect, after I defeat you, I’ll challenge the person behind you.”

Guo Songyang was somewhat delighted; the person inside the carriage must be very strong to have Xie Tianling willingly act as his coachman!

Without any prelude or probing, the two top swordsmen began their battle in an instant.

Both of them were as fast as lightning!
Speed ​​is just the most basic element of a master in Gu Long's martial arts world. If you want to truly become a renowned master who has been tempered and refined through countless trials, you must cultivate a certain characteristic to the extreme.

For example, Guo Songyang's sword is grand and righteous, using force to suppress people.

For example, Xie Tianling's sword is unpredictable and agile, with hidden variations.

No wonder they became rivals, because these two sword styles are fundamentally contradictory and represent two different sword philosophies.

In the past, Guo Songyang was often the better swordsman because his sword was more steadfast and faster.

"You're still using the same old tricks; you won't win against me that way!"

Guo Songyang sighed, and suddenly the sword in his hand flew out.

An extremely powerful sword aura overflowed, slashing straight at the flaw in Xie Tianling's sword technique!
But Xie Tianling, from being a male concubine of the Great Joyful Bodhisattva to becoming the sword-wielding attendant beside Wang Gan, has certainly improved his swordsmanship through such experiences!

He learned a lesson: when facing someone stronger than you, you need to be more gentle in order to survive; only by living can you have hope.

The instant the Songyang Iron Sword touched Xie Tianling's sword,

A strange thing happened: the sword in Xie Tianling's hand suddenly went limp!

Like a noodle, it fell straight down.

It was this sudden softening that caused Guo Songyang's fierce sword energy to lose its foothold, and its indomitable momentum was greatly diminished!

Xie Tianling flicked her wrist, and the supple blade of the sword, like a venomous snake, completely coiled around the Songyang Iron Sword.
The sword tip, like a venomous snake's tongue, sliced ​​through the air and pecked at Guo Songyang's face!
hiss!
A bloody scratch appeared on Guo Songyang's resolute face. He took two steps back, his expression one of surprise.

"Tempered steel transformed into silken softness?!"

Guo Songyang never expected that Xie Tianling's swordsmanship, which was originally yin and soft, would not change in the direction of softness turning into hardness, but would actually change into another layer of soft force!

It was truly caught off guard, and he lost by half a move!
However, Guo Songyang vaguely felt that this unpredictable and elusive style of martial arts looked somewhat familiar.

Xie Tianling smiled smugly, finally letting him win this time.

Fortunately, Wang Gan had thoroughly humiliated him when he was at Shaolin Temple, using all sorts of strange and unusual sword techniques to kill him mercilessly.
After ten days to half a month of this, Xie Tianling's swordsmanship had to improve considerably.

"Brother Guo, it's been a long time!"

A voice that Guo Songyang found particularly memorable came from inside the carriage.
So that's the guy!
Guo Songyang felt a sharp pain in his teeth, which also caused a dull ache in his chest, and his previously healed injuries were about to flare up again.

No wonder Xie Tianling's swordsmanship is now cunning and wicked; it turns out he's been mixed up with this evil stuff.

Wang Gan stepped down, looked at the old acquaintance opposite him, and smiled.

But Guo Songyang quickly took a few steps back, his expression full of vigilance.

"Hey! Brother Guo, don't be so nervous. You know I don't hold grudges!"

Wang Gan patted his chest, indicating that he was very magnanimous.

Guo Songyang's lips twitched repeatedly. This guy was definitely like that; his opening remarks were enough to make people lose their composure.

Wasn't he the one who got beaten half to death last time?
Wang Gan still held a favorable impression of Guo Songyang, who was not only highly skilled in the original novel but also chivalrous.

Finally, in order to help Li Xunhuan break Jing Wuming's sword technique, he took the initiative to sacrifice himself, deliberately letting Jing Wuming stab his body dozens of times. He was truly a man of courage.

"So it's the legendary 'Hand of Impermanence,' Master Wang! Master Wang, you're still as dashing as ever!"

Guo Songyang cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and turned around quite naturally.
"Oh, right! I just remembered the fire in the stove is still burning. Let's talk another day!"

Snapped!
Guo Songyang had only taken one step when Wang Gan patted him on the shoulder.

"Since we have just arrived in Chang'an, let Brother Guo do his best to be a good host."

Wang Gan was a little embarrassed and scratched his head.

"That's not good."

Guo Songyang cursed inwardly.
If you know it's not good, just let go. Why use so much force?
Chang'an, Guo Mansion
As a top swordsman in the martial arts world, Guo Songyang was not short of money. He owned a huge mansion in Chang'an, which was filled with rockeries, green gardens, and flower gardens, making it a feast for the eyes.

Guo Songyang was not stingy; he ordered a table at the best restaurant in Chang'an and had it delivered to his residence to entertain Wang Gan and his entourage.

Wang Gan could only marvel at how popular he was.

Wherever he went, he was treated well, just like Li Xunhuan.

In fact, Wang Gan and Guo Songyang had no real grudges against each other; they had only fought once.

Between men, nothing is impossible to resolve over a drink; after a few rounds of drinks, everyone becomes friends.

"To be honest!"

Guo Songyang's face flushed red as he raised his wine glass.
"Actually, I've known you, Wuchang Shou, for a long time!"

"Ever since our encounter at Yihong Pavilion, I've wanted to meet you again." Wang Gan's expression remained unchanged, though slightly flushed.
"How to say?"

Wang Gan was somewhat puzzled. Would a swordsman like Guo Songyang, who was fearless and defiant, admire someone?
Guo Songyang was a little embarrassed and took out a well-worn book from his pocket.

"This is.."

Wang Gan was somewhat surprised.

"I've read this 'Li Xunhuan' book over and over again; it's truly a classic among books!"

Guo Songyang touched the book cover as if it were a precious treasure.
"Only after reading this 'Record of Seeking Pleasure' can one know that Wu Changshou is incredibly talented. The characters in the book are vivid, the details are exquisite, the sentences are novel, and it is a popular and well-known book. It is truly a first-rate masterpiece in the world!"

"Although the book describes pornography, it is intended to stop pornography."

"The fate of Lin Xian'er and others reveals the profound truth of the martial arts world: those who disregard morality and indulge their desires will face karmic retribution!"

Wang Gan stared wide-eyed, stunned for a long while.

Is this the legendary top-level reading comprehension?!
Wang Gan swears that he originally just wanted to write a story about the Little Imperial Uncle to annoy people, and he didn't think about it at all.

Wang Gan sighed.

"I wanted to keep a low profile, but I never expected that the profound meaning I hid in the book would still be discovered!"

"And I never expected..."

Wang Gan patted Guo Songyang on the shoulder.

"Brother Guo has such refined taste!"

Wang Gan and Guo Songyang exchanged a knowing smile and burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

Xie Tianling, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but close her eyes.
Because he couldn't stand seeing others blatantly lie.

Based on what he had learned about Wang Gan these past few days, he was certain that Wang Gan was a complete yellow man, with his mind full of yellow thoughts.

Xie Tianling gave Guo Songyang a complicated look.

His old rival was acting so convincingly that for a moment he couldn't tell if this guy was a shill or a true fan.

"Since Brother Guo is such a kindred spirit to me, I am not a petty person."

Wang Gan waved his hand.

"Little Xie, bring that book to your Uncle Guo."

Xie Tianling was shocked. It was one thing for him to be Wang Gan's pageboy, but how come Guo Songyang was given an even higher seniority?!

"Um?!"

Wang Gan frowned.
Xie Tianling reluctantly took out a book and handed it to Guo Songyang.

"Haha, thank you for your trouble, Little Xie Sect Leader."

Guo Songyang laughed heartily, a smug smile curving his lips.

Xie Tianling took a deep breath. Damn it. This guy definitely did it on purpose!
"This is.."

Guo Songyang looked at the book in his hand, his expression changing slightly.

'The Story I Had to Tell About My Shadow'

First author: Xie Tianling?
Guo Songyang looked at Xie Tianling with a puzzled expression. Xie Tianling felt the gaze from the other side, closed her eyes in despair, and refused to face it.

Okay, he probably wasn't the author.

Second author...The most handsome man in the world?
Guo Songyang looked at Wang Gan with a puzzled expression. He saw Wang Gan standing tall with his face like a statue, exuding righteousness.

It doesn't matter, it was written by this shameless person.

The book's title doesn't reveal anything, but the cover is very eye-catching.

Because the cover image is absolutely stunning!

The painting depicts a majestic man holding a pair of dragon and phoenix rings, while atop his head sits another aloof man holding a sword in his left hand.

The two men, one on top of the other, overlapped each other, their serious expressions making them look utterly comical.

hiss!
Guo Songyang gasped.
Although ancient painting techniques were not realistic, it would be difficult for anyone in the martial arts world not to know who these two people were.

Even Shangguan Jin Hong dares to fabricate such a story?! Is this fickle writer risking his life just to write a book?!
Although still shaken, the cover's sensationalism was enough to tempt Guo Songyang to open the book and see what it contained.

Guo Songyang quickly flipped through the entire book and took a deep breath.

This book is different from the previous one, 'Li Xunhuan'; it contains absolutely no explicit sexual scenes.

It describes how Shangguan Jin Hong, who never rode a horse, trained a partner in light-footed skills to travel together, all in order to save time.

Jing Wuming, who was trained by Shangguan Jin Hong from childhood as his shadow bodyguard and buddy in light-footed skills, had various secret stories unfold between him and Shangguan Jin Hong.

During this process, a subtle, unspoken affection that transcended master and servant arose!

"This book is amazing!"

Guo Songyang clapped his hands in amazement, his tone excited.

"Although it depicts a master and servant, it transcends the roles of master and servant!"

"It reflects the suppressed and distorted male emotions under the high pressure of infighting and power struggles in the martial arts world, as well as a completely new way of thinking about the relationships between ruler and subject, master and servant, and men and women!"

Wang Gan also took a deep breath.

He seemed to hear the echo of the Chinese language exam!

You're so good at reading comprehension, are you planning to take the postgraduate entrance exam?!

"Brother Wang, may I keep this book?"

Guo Songyang was a little embarrassed and made the request.

"No problem at all!"

Wang Gan waved his hand dismissively, displaying great magnanimity.
"I've already had Xie Tianling memorize the entire book. I'll give you this copy; I'll have Xiao Xie copy it later."

Guo Songyang was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly, carefully hiding the book in his bosom as if it were a precious treasure.

Xie Tianling looked completely bewildered.
Why am I the only one who gets hurt?
Damn it, am I not human?

During the meal, Wang Gan and Guo Songyang enjoyed themselves immensely, considering each other as bosom friends, and had a truly delightful time.

Only Xie Tianling felt heavy-hearted. He came to a conclusion: no wonder Guo Songyang had always been able to keep him in check. With such subtle and effective methods, he truly deserved to lose!

After several rounds of drinks, the party ended.

Wang Gan first washed up quickly and then returned to his room.

The room was empty, and Wang Gan couldn't help but feel a little bored. His eyes darted around...
So he went up to the next room, Sun Xiaohong's room.

She left the banquet early to wash up, since women spend more time washing up, and she had finally found a place to stay on the road, so she had to wash up properly.

Sun Xiaohong, her hair damp with dew, was sitting in front of her dressing table wearing a red silk nightgown.

Sun Xiaohong's figure is not as tall as Bai Hua's, nor as voluptuous as Lin Xian'er's, but she has a perfectly proportioned figure—not too plump, not too thin.

In the bronze mirror, Sun Xiaohong's lips curved into a smile like a newly blossoming peach, her dimples deep, exuding a free and spirited air.
Holding a ram's horn comb, surrounded by a misty haze, what a beautiful picture of a woman emerging from a bath, truly captivating.
Wang Gan quietly circled around behind Sun Xiaohong and hugged her tightly.

"So lovely!"

"She is more beautiful than the flowers!"

Sun Xiaohong's lips curved into a smile.
"Have you said this to other women as well?"

　Just wanted to give you an update. It's a bit of a shame the first subscriptions didn't reach 3000, but thank you all for your support! I'll definitely try to update more often, around 6 chapters a day is guaranteed. Sorry about last night, I had a bit of writer's block and couldn't manage a single chapter. (Here's something interesting: the part about Jing Wuming and Shangguan isn't something I made up. There's a detail in the original novel where Jing Wuming takes a pill before sleeping with Lin Xian'er. Given Gu Long's style, he wouldn't have included such a plot point out of nowhere. There's no explanation in the text before or after that Jing has an illness or such a habit. It's very likely that Jing and Shangguan are just in a spiritual Platonic relationship. Also, the dialogue between Jing and Shangguan is quite interesting; you can check out the original novel.)
　　
　
(End of this chapter)