The Prodigal Disciple of Mount Hua: Seizing All Opportunities

The night rain had just stopped, and the moonlight shone like quicksilver onto the ground.

The green tiles and flying eaves of the Jade Maiden Peak of Mount Hua are bathed in a cool and serene atmosphere.

Inside the room, Chen Qianyang did not concentrate on practicing his internal skills as Yue Buqun had requested.

Instead, he sat cross-legged, his mind immersed in the world of swordsmanship, reviewing the match he had fought during the day.

He wasn't holding a sword at the moment, but he had already practiced each move in his mind a thousand times.

The sword strike that defeated Liang Fa earlier that morning, although he claimed it was a remnant of the Sanda Sword technique.

But in reality, it is the product of relying on the talent of "Sword Heart Clarity" to accurately and steadily integrate the essence of Huashan Swordplay with the unpredictability of the Three Swords.

This talent not only increased his speed of sword practice, but also made his understanding of swordsmanship far surpass that of others.

That sword strike was not merely a victory of technique, but also an invisible challenge to the Qi Sect philosophy advocated by Yue Buqun.

It's no wonder that someone as composed as Yue Buqun would show displeasure at that moment.

Qi precedes the sword, but what use is all that internal energy if there is no sword in hand?

Chen Qianyang sneered inwardly; he certainly knew the importance of internal energy in the world of Jin Yong's novels.

The Nine Yang and Nine Yin Manuals, as well as the Yi Jing Marrow Cleansing Manual, are all top-tier martial arts classics.

However, he was poisoned and didn't have much time left.

They don't have the time to spend twenty or thirty years like Yue Buqun pursuing the so-called mastery of Qi.

What he wanted was the fastest and most direct power.

"Squeak!"

Just then, the door was gently pushed open.

A pretty figure tiptoed in.

It was Yue Lingshan, who was holding a steaming bowl of ginseng soup. When she saw Chen Qianyang sitting "obediently" cross-legged, she couldn't help but smile.

She lowered her voice to a whisper: "Little Chen, you're good for being obedient and not secretly practicing your sword. This is something your mother specially made for you, drink it while it's hot."

Although it was said to be stewed by my mother, it was actually cooked by myself with great effort.

Late at night, she entered a man's room, and even though she considered herself a woman of the martial world, she couldn't help but blush with embarrassment.

But after more than a month of getting to know him, she felt that her junior brother was exceptionally handsome and had a strong masculine presence. He was also calm, reliable, and highly skilled in martial arts, having defeated Senior Brother Liang in just one month.

Most importantly... his interactions with me seemed to completely disregard the concept of gender segregation, teasing me from time to time. Although sometimes I was so angry that I gritted my teeth, in retrospect, it was quite heartwarming and interesting.

This feeling is something that none of the many people on the mountain, even the eldest disciple, have ever experienced.

It made her unconsciously want to get closer to him and chat.

She placed the porcelain cup on the table, and the moonlight shone through the window, illuminating her delicate face and making her bright eyes shine strikingly.

Chen Qianyang opened his eyes, feigned exhaustion, and let out a long sigh. He smiled and said, "Senior Sister, is your late-night visit perhaps because you miss me?"

"Pah! You're so glib!" Yue Lingshan blushed and spat, but felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

She walked over to Chen Qianyang and noticed the fine sweat on his forehead, so she naturally took out her handkerchief and gently wiped it away for him.

"Father is really something. You clearly beat Third Senior Brother and didn't do anything wrong, but he still punishes you by making you practice internal energy cultivation. Isn't that just bullying you?"

The girl's delicate fragrance, mixed with the faint sweet scent of her handkerchief, wafted into Chen Qianyang's nostrils, causing his heart to flutter.

He took her soft, boneless hand in his, his tone becoming sincere: "Actually, Master is right. My foundation is unstable, and I should indeed practice my internal strength more. However... I regret that I won't have the chance to practice swordsmanship with you again this month."

His gaze was intense, and Yue Lingshan's heart fluttered as he looked at her, her face flushed red. She struggled to break free, but could not.

She retorted defiantly, "Who...who asked you for advice? Let go! What kind of behavior would this be if someone saw us!"

Just as the two were struggling, a figure flashed past the window, accompanied by a very soft sigh.

Both of them were startled. Yue Lingshan withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted, and stamped her foot in embarrassment and anxiety, saying, "It's all your fault!" After saying that, she ran out without looking back.

As Chen Qianyang watched her retreating figure, the smile on his lips slowly faded.

This little girl will eventually fall into my trap.

But now is not the time.

He knew that the person just now was Linghu Chong.

You should know that Yue Lingshan was the person he admired.

On the other side, Linghu Chong, who had just left, was filled with mixed feelings.

He saw his junior sister go out alone at night and, fearing she might encounter danger, he quietly followed her.

Unexpectedly, he witnessed that scene. His junior sister's shy and angry expression was a girlish demeanor he had never seen before, and that expression was directed at another man.

He felt as if a large rock was blocking his chest, making him feel suffocated.

He always respected his master, and even when his master punished him, he only thought it was because he was naughty and deserved it.

He cherishes his junior sister and feels that as long as she is happy, he doesn't care what happens to him.

But when he saw his junior sister being so intimate with Chen Qianyang, a feeling of inexplicable bitterness and irritation welled up in his heart.

Given that Junior Brother Chen was a young prodigy with exceptional swordsmanship and a witty personality, it's only natural that Junior Sister would be fond of him.

But why do I feel so uneasy?

He wanted to rush in and get to the bottom of it, but then he felt that such an action was neither reasonable nor in keeping with the demeanor of a senior disciple.

Ultimately, what right does he have to question this?

Although Linghu Chong is unrestrained and unconventional, he has an extremely conflicted personality at heart.

The scene he just witnessed tormented him so much that all he wanted to do was get completely drunk.

He turned and walked towards the back mountain, the wine gourd at his waist making him appear even more lonely and empty.

Upon reaching a secluded cliff, they found a figure already waiting there under the moonlight.

There were also two unopened jars of fine wine beside him.

"Senior Brother, I bet you won't be able to sleep tonight."

This person was Chen Qianyang: "I have specially prepared some wine and water. Today, let's chat and relieve our boredom under the moonlight."

"Why aren't you keeping your junior sister company? Why are you keeping a grown man like me company?" Linghu Chong was surprised to find that his words were full of sourness.

"Haha, Senior Brother, you flatter me." Chen Qianyang laughed. "Senior Sister went to bed early, and besides, she's not as important as Senior Brother. I'm just asking you, are you going to drink this wine or not?"

Linghu Chong was taken aback upon hearing this, then laughed heartily and sat down as well: "You little rascal, I was just about to beat you up, but you're like a tapeworm that's crawled into my stomach."

He took the wine jar, and without using a bowl, tilted his head back and gulped down a mouthful of the spicy wine.

The knot in my chest eased a little.

Chen Qianyang also took a sip with him. The two of them were quite tacit, neither of them mentioning what had just happened, and just kept drinking.

After a moment, Chen Qianyang spoke up and asked, "Senior Brother, what is the purpose of our sword practice and martial arts training?"

Linghu Chong was taken aback by his question, and let out a drunken hiccup: "Naturally, it's about upholding justice and bringing glory to my Huashan sect. That's what my master has always taught me."

As soon as he said it, he felt somewhat unsure of himself.

"Is that so?" Chen Qianyang looked at the moon in the sky, his eyes deep.

"But I think that practicing martial arts and swordsmanship should involve drinking the strongest liquor, riding the fastest horse, climbing the highest mountain, wielding the sharpest sword, killing the most ruthless people, and playing with the most beautiful women. It should be about enjoying life to the fullest, riding horses and singing songs, and not being bound by so-called righteousness or rules of right and wrong."

"I'm not saying that Master's teachings were wrong, but that's what I think. If it weren't for the deep-seated hatred I had to avenge, I probably wouldn't have joined Mount Hua. After all, I really can't stand those sect rules."

These words struck a chord with Linghu Chong.

He was naturally unruly and hated formalities the most. Hearing Chen Qianyang say this, he felt as if he had met a kindred spirit.

"Well said!" Linghu Chong exclaimed, taking another swig of wine. "In this life, one should seek only 'joy'! Rules are just for ordinary people! Junior brother's words are delightful; let's drink a big toast."

The two chatted back and forth, discussing everything from swordsmanship to the martial world, from sect rules to human nature, and the more they talked, the more they clicked.

Linghu Chong discovered that although this junior brother was young, his knowledge and temperament far surpassed those of his peers. In particular, his sharp insight into the core of things impressed him greatly.

Although I am a few years older, I am actually less knowledgeable than this boy who is not yet twenty.

After several rounds of drinks, Linghu Chong was already slightly tipsy.

Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Junior Brother Qianyang, what...what do you think of my junior sister?"

He regretted asking the question as soon as he did. Why did he have to ask it? He might lose even his friend after saying it.

I felt like I was being awkward and timid, just like a woman.

Upon hearing this, Chen Qianyang gave him a deep look but did not answer directly.

Instead, he downed his drink in one gulp and said decisively, "Senior Sister is incomparably beautiful, has a charming and adorable personality, and takes good care of me. Of course I like her."

"Huh?" Linghu Chong was stunned. He didn't expect Chen Qianyang to admit it so directly.

For a moment, I didn't know how to respond.

But Chen Qianyang burst into laughter: "Senior Brother, you are a free and unrestrained hero, but you hesitate too much when it comes to 'love.' If you like someone, you like them; if you're unhappy, you're unhappy. Why hide it and make things difficult for yourself?"

"I like my senior sister, and that's it. We men don't need to hide what we like. In my opinion, nothing in this world, whether it's unparalleled martial arts or a beautiful woman's true heart, can be waited for or given away by others. If you want it, you have to take it with your own hands!"

"My relationship with my senior sister is unimportant. What matters is, senior brother, what do you really want, and do you dare to ask for it?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving Linghu Chong lost in thought under the moonlight.

He sat there, stunned, still clutching the cold wine jar in his hand.

Chen Qianyang's words struck him like a heavy hammer, leaving his mind in chaos.

Yes, what am I hesitating about? What am I afraid of?

Looking in the direction Chen Qianyang had left, and recalling that determined look in his eyes, the conflicted feeling in his heart grew even stronger.

He didn't want to see Yue Lingshan fall into the arms of another man.

He also didn't want to force his junior sister to do things she didn't want to do.

After their heart-to-heart talk today, he didn't want to lose Chen Qianyang, his confidant.

Love is a difficult thing to find in this world.

Linghu Chong sighed and drank all the wine in his hand.