Film and Television World Life Record

When Ji Kang played a tune on his zither before his execution, he was indeed very dignified. However, his statement that "Guangling San" was now lost forever underestimated the people of later generations.

He didn't compose this piece. He lived during the Western Jin Dynasty. Even if the piece was lost after the Western Jin, does that mean it didn't exist before then?

Qu was quite unconvinced by this statement, so he went to excavate the tombs of emperors and ministers of the Western and Eastern Han dynasties. After excavating twenty-nine ancient tombs, he finally found the score of "Guangling San" in Cai Yong's tomb.

Qu Yang laughed heartily after speaking, quite pleased with himself, but he didn't notice Liu Zhengfeng giving him repeated winks.

Even though Li Mu already knew, hearing it again now, he couldn't help but sigh, "Truly worthy of the Demonic Sect; they act without restraint, digging up twenty-nine ancient tombs for a single piece of music."

Liu Zhengfeng secretly observed Li Mu's expression and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Li Mu remained calm and unmoved. He and Qu Yang were kindred spirits and rare soulmates, but Li Mu's identity was terrifying, and their friendship was difficult for society to accept!

Qu Yang's words just now were extremely improper and did not seem like those of a righteous person. He was really afraid that someone would notice something amiss, and then he would be in big trouble.

Liu Zhengfeng's heart, which had been pounding with anxiety, slowly calmed down. He quickly smiled at Li Mu and said, "My brother Qu here is a chivalrous and righteous man, a true hero. However, he is obsessed with music and deeply admires 'Guangling San.' His actions have gone a bit too far, but they all stem from his sincere love for music! Nephew, please don't take it to heart!"

Li Mu smiled and said, "Senior Qu's frankness shows that he is an open and honest person."

Qu Yang laughed heartily and said, "I knew this young friend was a magnanimous person. How could he possibly have the same perspective as ordinary people? My brother Liu and I became acquainted through music, and our hearts beat as one. We made friends through music. Even if ordinary people couldn't understand how I could become friends with such a noble person, what did it matter?"

"I am a wanderer from the ends of the earth, playing the flute and strumming the strings, carefree and unrestrained!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengfeng couldn't help but sigh, "Brother Qu is also my lifelong confidant and my closest friend. Brother Qu and I hit it off immediately, and we played the qin and xiao in perfect harmony. In this world, I believe that no one can match Brother Qu in playing the qin, and as for playing the xiao, I am second to none!"

Seeing the two men talking about each other, revealing their true feelings as if no one else was around, even the shrewd and worldly-wise Liu Zhengfeng couldn't resist, and could only sigh, "They are truly two fools, it's just that the ending is a bit tragic."

"The harmonious playing of the qin and xiao by these two esteemed elders is a testament to their deep friendship and refined taste, truly enviable. It evokes memories of Yu Boya and Zhong Ziqi, or Guan Zhong and Bao Shu, a perfect match of kindred spirits. If this piece were to be completed, it would surely become a celebrated tale!"

Qu Yang laughed heartily and said, "Thank you for your praise, young friend. My brother Liu and I are devoted to music. Based on 'Guangling San', we spent several years creating this piece. We have no regrets."

Looking at the two men, Li Mu recalled their fates and couldn't help but sigh. The most moving scene in the history of Guangling San was the one that unfolded before Ji Kang was beheaded. Three thousand students were deeply moved and pleaded for him, but they could not save him. After playing the song, Ji Kang looked up to the sky and roared. Guangling San was lost forever!

Who was Ji Kang? He was the leader of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, a famous scholar of the Wei and Jin dynasties. He was executed precisely because of his unrestrained and wild personality.

The "Song of the Smiling Proud Wanderer" not only inherits the melody of "Guangling San," but also carries on the tragic fate of Guangling San and Ji Kang.

Later, Liu Zhengfeng refused to betray Qu Yang and watched as his son, daughter, and wife were executed one by one. His daughter, Liu Qing, shouted angrily and was slashed from the shoulder to the waist with a sword, dying a gruesome death. In the end, Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang also had to sever their own meridians and die.

It seems that Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang died tragically. Liu Zhengfeng was a responsible and loyal person, but he risked his family's lives to uphold his own sense of loyalty.

His family members also showed steadfastness and courage in their sacrifice. Perhaps his youngest son, Liu Qin, showed weakness in the end, which made him seem spineless, but that is only human nature.

Liu Zhengfeng sacrificed his family's lives for his own sense of righteousness. Perhaps he felt that this was the only way to be a loyal person, or perhaps he felt that his family was his private property that could be sacrificed. Perhaps this was the way of ancient etiquette!

To uphold the bond of friendship, he disregarded everything, even the possibility of his entire family being killed.

In fact, if he had hardened his heart and stood up to resist before his family was killed, even if he had been defeated and died, the ending would not have been so tragic; or he could have followed the example of Zhang Cuishan and his wife and committed suicide to atone for their sins. Since Songshan had already established its authority and achieved its goal, what excuse would it have to kill a group of women and children in front of so many people in the martial arts world!

The Demonic Sect was used as a pretext to kill Liu Zhengfeng, and many people in the martial arts world dared not speak out against it because of the prevailing trend. However, Songshan was a prestigious and righteous sect and still needed a fig leaf. Even if they were to exterminate him, they would not do so openly.

In short, Li Mu couldn't understand why Liu Zhengfeng truly valued music and loyalty above all else, even more than the lives of his family.

With these questions in mind, Li Mu didn't disturb the two's discussion on music any further. He took his leave and returned to the inn, as he was going back to Fujian the next day.

Chapter 537 Thinking Over the Cliff

The next day, Li Mu did not linger any longer and set off early in the morning. He left Hengyang, took the route through Jiangxi, and headed towards Fuzhou.

A week later, after four years, I returned to Fuzhou.

"Father, mother!"

"Pingzhi!"

"Pingzhi..."

Several years have passed since I last saw him. The twelve-year-old boy from back then is now sixteen and has become a handsome and dashing young man.

Lin Zhennan and his wife had red eyes and were crying together while holding their son.

Upon entering the Fuwei Escort Agency, dozens of dark-skinned men, each with a straight back and exuding a heroic air, shouted in unison, "Young Chief Escort."

Looking at the familiar and warm scene before me, I'm finally home.

Three days later, Li Mu teased his two-year-old sister, Lin Huizhi, and suddenly asked, "Dad, how's your Zhengyang Gong practice going?"

Lin Zhennan said with a regretful expression, "It's difficult! Breaking through from the third level to the fourth level is too difficult. In addition, I have many other things to do, which has delayed my practice. I have been stuck at the third level of Zhengyang Gong for twelve years, and there is still no sign of a breakthrough."

"Now that I'm getting older, things aren't as good as they used to be, and breakthroughs are becoming increasingly difficult. In the future... it will probably be even harder... I've given up hope!"

He sighed as he spoke.

After a moment, he looked at Li Mu again and said with a look of satisfaction, "I heard that Mr. Yue passed on the Zixia Divine Skill to you. This is a peerless martial arts technique, very powerful. You must practice it well and never be like your father and ruin your martial arts."

Li Mu said, "Don't worry, Father. I just broke through recently, and I've already reached the fourth level of the Purple Cloud Skill. It won't delay me."

Lin Zhennan was startled by his words, his face filled with disbelief: "What? You've reached the fourth level of the Purple Cloud Skill? You've already broken through to the fourth level?"

He had practiced martial arts for half his life but hadn't even reached the fourth level. His son, who was only sixteen, had quietly broken through to the fourth level and was practicing the Zixia Divine Skill, a top-tier internal martial arts technique with extremely high difficulty.

Without saying a word, Li Mu flicked his finger, and with a "whoosh," a round hole appeared in the octagonal table beside him. He then pressed his palm lightly in the air, releasing his inner force, and a palm print silently appeared on the ground.

Lin Zhennan slammed his hand on the table and stood up excitedly, exclaiming, "External Qi Release... You can actually release your internal energy..."

It's no wonder he lost his composure. Ordinary martial artists, even if they are fortunate enough to reach the fourth level, cannot release their true energy without three to five years of practice.

Anyone who can project their true energy outwards is a master in the martial arts world. Pingzhi is only sixteen years old, yet his martial arts have already reached such a level, which both shocked and disbelieved him.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that someone could release their true energy at the age of sixteen.

After being excited for a long while, Lin Zhennan laughed loudly and said, "Good, good... As expected of my son Pingzhi..." He almost cried with joy as he spoke.

Mrs. Lin, standing beside her, was also overjoyed and wept tears of happiness.

Once the two had calmed down a bit, Li Mu said, "Father, Mother, you've been stuck at the third level of your internal energy cultivation for so many years, don't you want to advance further?"

Lin Zhennan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Pingzhi, it's not that your father and mother don't want to go further, the key is that internal energy cultivation is too difficult. We have been practicing for decades and we are only at this level. How easy is it to break through?"

"Besides, we're not young anymore, and our potential is dwindling. Although our aptitude for martial arts is decent, it's far inferior to Pingzhi's, so there's no way we can go any further."

Li Mu said earnestly, "Father, Mother, what if I had a way to help you improve your martial arts skills?"

Lin Zhennan and his wife were stunned.

Li Mu continued, "Have you heard of Huang Shang, the one who presided over the compilation of the Daoist Canon of Longevity during the Northern Song Dynasty?"

Chen Zhennan and his wife shook their heads in confusion. They had been raised in the martial arts world since childhood, practicing martial arts all year round. They had never read many books, let alone knew anything about scholars from previous dynasties.

Li Mu continued, "Huang Shang was the top scholar in the imperial examination back then. Later, his whole family was murdered. During the compilation of the 'Wanshou Daozang', he comprehended a set of unparalleled martial arts from the Daozang."

"But he was, after all, a scholar who had never practiced martial arts. He was also middle-aged and his energy was declining, so how could he possibly practice?"

"After that, he studied the Taoist canon, observed the heavens and the earth, comprehended the mysteries of the heavens, and created a set of Yi Jing bone-forging chapters to improve physical constitution and aptitude. At a very old age, he eventually became the most outstanding master of his time."

"This set of Yi Jing Bone Forging Manual can improve one's physical constitution and aptitude regardless of age. Huang Shang, who was so old, became a top master, and this extraordinary skill played a crucial role in that."

Lin Zhennan was shocked and shook his head with a wry smile, saying, "This kind of unparalleled skill was learned by people from the Northern Song Dynasty, which is hundreds of years ago. Where can we learn it?"

Li Mu smiled faintly and said, "Father, why do you think my internal energy has improved so quickly?"

Lin Zhennan asked incredulously, "You've practiced this?"

Then he frowned and pondered, "I heard that the Huashan School's lineage was passed down from the Quanzhen School of the Song Dynasty. Could it be that... it was passed down from the Huashan School?"

Li Mu shook his head and laughed, "Father, don't make wild guesses. I discovered this amazing skill myself."

Lin Zhennan asked in shock, "You... Pingzhi, how did you find out?"

Li Mu said, "When I was learning martial arts at Mount Hua, I often read some classic texts that have been passed down through generations. I learned a lot of anecdotes about the martial arts world during the Song and Yuan dynasties, as well as some legends about martial arts techniques. Although they are shrouded in mystery, there are clues to follow."

"This extraordinary skill was discovered by me in Zhongnan Mountain based on those martial arts anecdotes and legends."

Lin Zhennan was completely shocked and stammered, "You found out... Does your master, Mr. Yue, know about it?"

Li Mu nodded: "Yes! Master already knows."

Lin Zhennan let out a long breath and nodded, saying, "I understand, that's good!"

Li Mu said, "This skill is profound and difficult to understand. After I discovered it, I returned to Mount Hua and spent the last two years studying it with my master and mistress. Finally, I understood the method of cultivation."

"After Master and Mistress started practicing, their martial arts skills improved significantly."

“Father, Mother, I came back this time for two reasons: firstly, to see you and my sister; and secondly, to pass on this set of Yi Jing Bone Forging Manual to you.”

"As long as you practice diligently, it's not impossible to break through to the fourth level of internal strength, let alone the fifth level, and become a top-notch master in the martial arts world."

Such an extraordinary skill, who wouldn't want to learn it? Lin Zhennan and his wife were thrilled to hear their son's words.

For anyone in the martial arts world, who wouldn't want to advance their skills and become a top-tier master? Unfortunately, it's simply impossible.

Now, the pie has fallen right on my head.

Overwhelmed with emotion, they said, "Child, don't worry, your parents will definitely cultivate diligently."

Li Mu nodded and then cautioned, "Father and Mother, this extraordinary skill is no ordinary thing. Currently, only Master, Mistress, and you two know about it. You must not let it spread, or it will only bring disaster upon yourselves."

Lin Zhennan and his wife were also seasoned veterans, and they nodded quickly upon hearing this.

"Pingzhi, don't worry, your parents know what's important and will definitely not tell anyone."

Time flies, and for the next three months, Li Mu stayed at home, devoting himself to teaching Lin Zhennan and his wife the Yi Jin Duan Gu Jian Pian (a martial arts manual for strengthening tendons and bones). Having encountered such a peerless skill, the two knew its importance and understood that this was an opportunity many martial artists dreamed of.

He studied and practiced diligently every day, even temporarily putting aside his work at the security escort agency.

Given that they frequently traveled the martial arts world and faced considerable risks, Li Mu also passed on the secret techniques for releasing acupoints, holding one's breath, and healing techniques to them.

With these secret techniques, it will be safer to travel the world.