Reborn Song Qingshu: Besieging Bright Peak at the Start

The so-called One-Finger Divine Skill is a superior finger technique created by Duan Siping, the founding emperor of the Dali Duan family.

This finger technique combines ranged attacks with precise acupoint striking. When using it, internal energy is concentrated in the right index finger, and the strike can be executed quickly or slowly.

His demeanor was gentle and refined, displaying the qualities of a true gentleman.

It is as fast as lightning, making a sound as it cuts through the air.

The point of his finger was perfectly accurate.

It can engage in close combat and seal acupoints to subdue enemies, as well as injure people from a distance of several feet away invisibly.

The One-Finger Divine Skill is divided into nine grades according to the depth of skill, with each grade increasing from the ninth grade to the first grade.

The lowest level, the ninth rank, can only strike acupoints at close range. When one reaches the fourth rank, one's finger power can penetrate through the air. And when one reaches the first rank, a single finger strike from a distance of ten feet is enough to shatter gold and stone.

Back then, Emperor Duan Zhixing of the South was a master of the One-Finger Divine Skill. With this finger technique, he was known as one of the Five Greats, alongside Hong Qigong's Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, Wang Chongyang's Innate Skill, Ouyang Feng's Toad Skill, and Huang Yaoshi's Finger Flicking Skill.

However, there is a strict requirement for practicing One-Finger Divine Skill—it requires extremely strong Yang internal energy as a foundation.

Those who lack internal strength and force themselves to cultivate will, at best, lack the strength to move their fingers and only achieve the form, and at worst, their meridians will reverse and they will injure themselves.

The reason why the One-Finger Divine Skill has gradually declined in the Zhu Wu Lianhuan Manor over the past few generations is that the internal strength cultivation of the later generations has not kept up, so they have the method but cannot exert its true power.

What a coincidence!

What Song Qingshu has in abundance right now is internal strength.

After mastering the Nine Yang Divine Skill, the internal energy in his dantian was vast and inexhaustible.

The internal energy cultivated by the Nine Yang Divine Skill is the purest and most yang true energy in the world.

One-Finger Divine Skill requires the purest and most Yang internal energy—isn't that a coincidence?

Is there any internal skill in the world purer and more yang than the Nine Yang Divine Skill?

Thinking of this, Song Qingshu couldn't help but shake his head.

Zhu Changling, Wu Lie, and the others possess unparalleled martial arts skills left by their ancestors, yet they do not cherish them. Instead, they are single-mindedly plotting to obtain the Dragon-Slaying Saber. They are truly begging for food while holding a golden rice bowl.

No matter how sharp the Dragon-Slaying Saber is, it is ultimately an external object; no matter how tempting Xie Xun's whereabouts are, they are ultimately an illusion.

However, the One-Finger Divine Skill is a genuine family secret passed down through generations. As long as one is willing to put in the hard work to practice it, why can't one restore the family's reputation?

Unfortunately, these people are overly ambitious and neglect the treasures left by their ancestors, instead chasing after things that are neither here nor there.

  

"Since you do not cherish the wealth left by our ancestors."

Song Qingshu muttered to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Then let me, Song Qingshu, carry forward this unique skill for you."

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this one-finger divination technique was tailor-made for him.

Think about it, striking an enemy from a distance, without a trace, the opponent may not even be able to detect when he made the move before he's already on the ground with his middle finger down—this is far more insidious than any sword, spear, or halberd, no, far more ingenious.

Moreover, the One-Finger Divine Skill can not only attack enemies, but also use finger strength to clear meridians, heal injuries and cure diseases.

Back then, the Southern Emperor used the One-Finger Divine Skill to open up Huang Rong's meridians, helping her to neutralize Ying Gu's palm strike.

Where can you find such an all-around skill that can both attack and heal?

Thinking of this, Song Qingshu straightened his Taoist robe, which had been ruffled by the mountain wind, and strode toward Zhu Wu Lianhuan Manor.

Two evenly spaced footprints were left on the snow, which were quickly covered by fresh snow blown up by the wind, as if no one had ever been there.

After walking for a while, Song Qingshu suddenly stopped and looked down at the moon-white Taoist robe he was wearing.

The sleeves and shoulders of his Taoist robe were embroidered with the Tai Chi pattern of the Wudang School. Anyone who had spent a couple of days in the martial arts world could recognize him as a Wudang disciple at a glance.

After a moment's thought, he decisively turned around and found a sheltered rocky spot, where he took out a spare, smart long robe from his pack and put it on.

The hair ornament was removed, and a blue cloth strip was used to tie it up casually instead.

A moment later, the dashing young swordsman Song from Wudang transformed into an ordinary wandering knight.

His face was still handsome, but he had lost the noble air of a respectable family and gained a more unrestrained and carefree demeanor.

Just kidding, how could doing something like this expose Wudang's origins?

The Wudang Sect is known for its chivalry in the martial arts world. If people find out that Song Qingshu is doing such a thing, what will happen?

Although with his current strength he wouldn't take Wu Lie and the others seriously, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Song Qingshu understood a principle well: doing this kind of thing is like writing a novel; you have to wear a disguise when necessary.

……

……

After traveling for about half an hour, a series of manor houses came into view.

From afar, one can see green bricks and gray tiles, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys.

In front of the gate of Wu Family Village.

Song Qingshu stopped and looked up to examine the scene.

The vermilion gate had four large, gilded characters on the lintel that read "Blizzard Manor".

Zhu Changling's Red Plum Manor was burned to the ground that day, while the Wu family's Snowstorm Manor was not greatly affected.

Even through the courtyard wall, one could faintly hear the bustling noise inside the manor.

Come to think of it, Zhu Changling went all in and burned down Hongmei Manor. Wu Lie was just playing along, and his losses were far less severe than those of the Zhu family.

Zhu Changling died in a cliffside cave, and Zhu Jiuzhen was later killed by Zhu'er, thus ending the lineage of the Zhu family.

Although the original novel states that Zhu Jiu was indeed killed by Zhu'er, Song Qingshu always felt that there was something fishy about it.

Think about it, even though Hongmei Manor was burned to the ground, the land deeds, gold and silver and valuables that were left behind should still be there.

Zhu Changling is dead, leaving only Zhu Jiuzhen, a young woman. No matter how willful and capricious she is, she is just a girl spoiled by her father. How can she support the family business?

Zhu Jiuzhen is infatuated with her cousin Wei Bi, and Wei Bi... although he is not described much in the original work, he is clearly a man of some skill, able to navigate between two women, Zhu Jiuzhen and Wu Qingying, without causing any trouble.

What's even more intriguing is that Wu Lie's daughter, Wu Qingying, is also infatuated with Wei Bi.

With Zhu Jiuzhen dead, who will take over the Zhu family's assets?

With the Zhu family losing its leader, the most convenient family to take over was naturally the Wu family, who had a long-standing friendship with the Zhu family.

If Wei Bi marries Wu Qingying, wouldn't the century-old foundation of Zhu Wu Lianhuan Manor fall entirely into his hands?

The more Song Qingshu thought about it, the more he felt that his guess was pretty accurate. However, the mess in Zhu Family Village was not of much concern to him. His purpose in coming here was only to find the cultivation method of One Finger Divine Skill.

If Wu Lie is sensible, he can exchange his possessions for peace, and everyone can part ways amicably. If he is not sensible, then he will inevitably have to "waste" some effort.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in them, before quickly returning to normal.

He immediately stepped forward and knocked on the brass ring on the gate of Blizzard Manor.

"Knock knock knock—"

The sound of the copper ring striking the door echoed clearly in the empty valley.

……

……

Meanwhile, in a secluded pavilion within the village.

The interior was somewhat cluttered.

The tables, chairs, and benches were all askew, the dressing table was leaning against the corner of the wall, and even the bronze mirror was tilted on one side.

A man and a woman were sprawled out on the bed.

The man was quite handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, and a lazy smile on his lips.

The woman was beautiful, with an oval face, cherry lips, fair skin, and long eyelashes.

If they were dressed and standing together, they could barely be considered a perfect couple.

The woman seemed to slowly wake up from a brief fainting spell, her body limp as she climbed into the man's arms, drawing circles on his chest with one finger.

But the moment she opened her mouth, her delicate voice shattered the beauty of the moment: "Senior brother, you won't blame me for killing Zhu Jiuzhen, will you? Who told me to catch you and her in a secret rendezvous... You can only be mine, belonging only to me."

The man pulled her closer to him, gently stroking her back with his hand, his voice incredibly tender:

"Junior sister, you must believe me. You've always been the only one in my heart. That Zhu Jiuzhen was shameless and seduced me. It was just a fling between us. Don't you understand my feelings?"

Hearing this, the woman was delighted and wrapped her arms around his neck, saying sweetly:

"I knew my senior brother only loved me, otherwise I wouldn't have killed that slut in my anger..."

The man readily agreed, and then spoke softly and gently.

The two embraced again, displaying a sweet and affectionate scene.

What the woman couldn't see was that beneath the man's gentle words, a hint of mockery and smugness flashed in his eyes, completely at odds with his tone.

These two were naturally Wu Qingying and Wei Bi.

Wei Bi held the soft, warm body in his arms, his smile deepening.

If Wu Qingying knew what he was thinking, their tender moment would likely turn into a bloody tragedy in the boudoir.

His secret rendezvous with Zhu Jiuzhen that day was not accidentally discovered by Wu Qingying—it was deliberately arranged by him.

He calculated the exact time, the exact location, and even more accurately, he calculated Wu Qingying's jealous nature.

He deliberately wanted Wu Qingying to see that scene when she passed by.

He bet that Wu Qingying would turn her love into hatred, that she would lose her temper and become irrational, and that she would personally eliminate Zhu Jiuzhen for him.

He won the bet.

Not only did he win the bet, but he also comforted his junior sister who had "accidentally killed someone," making her even more devoted to him from then on.

With Zhu Jiuzhen's death, the Zhu family village had no successor.

Wu Lie is old and frail; he won't last many more years.

Once he gets rid of Wu Qingying—that simple-minded, love-obsessed fool—the century-old foundation of Zhu Wu Lianhuan Manor will fall into Wei Bi's hands effortlessly.

Thinking of this, Wei Bi almost burst out laughing.

He casually twirled a strand of Wu Qingying's hair with his fingers, his eyes filled with smug satisfaction.

At this very moment—

"Clang—clang—clang—"

A sudden, heavy chime rang out without warning, its dull metallic roar instantly shattering the tranquility of the manor, even causing the windows of the attic to tremble slightly.

Wei Bi and Wu Qingying's expressions changed drastically at the same time, and they instinctively sat up.

This is the highest level of enemy attack alarm in Blizzard Manor—three rings of the bronze bell signify that uninvited guests have intruded into the manor.

Wei Bi and Wu Qingying exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.

Wujiazhuang is located deep in the Kunlun Mountains, and few people usually come here, let alone be warned by someone knocking on the door.

"Who dares to trespass on my Blizzard Manor?"

While frantically grabbing the clothes scattered around the bed and putting them on, Wu Qingying asked through gritted teeth.

Wei Bi also quickly dressed and fastened his belt, his face grim.

What he was thinking about wasn't some grand "protecting the bank" righteousness—he had painstakingly set up a scheme that was about to be closed, how could he allow outsiders to cause trouble?

Who cares who he is?

Wei Bi took the longsword off the wall, pushed the guard out half an inch with his thumb, and then shoved it back into the sheath with a snap, his tone icy.

"If you dare to provoke us at this critical juncture, don't even think about leaving alive."

The two quickly finished tidying up, pushed open the attic door, and strode towards the front yard.