Starting from the world of martial arts in the Condor Heroes, practicing martial arts across the hea

I spent more than a month resting and sightseeing around Taihu Lake, but I didn't see Lu Chengfeng and Lu Guanying, the owners of Lu Family Manor. I didn't deliberately look for them in Jiangnan either; I just let things take their course!

Those destined to meet will find each other even from a thousand miles away; those not destined will not meet even if they are face to face!

Since we are not destined to be together, why bother searching?

Of course, the main point is that they are not the main characters, nor are they beauties, so they have no special privileges in Jiangnan!

Heading south along Taihu Lake, Jiangnan, accompanied by Huang Rong and Xiaolongnu, with a green ox pulling a motorhome, drove towards West Lake in Lin'an.

During their journey, Jiangnan introduced Xiaolongnu to Taihu Lake, which they were about to leave, and West Lake, which they were about to arrive at:

"Taihu Lake stretches for thousands of miles, its vast expanse shrouded in mist, with no end in sight. It spans Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, and Huzhou, nurturing the Wu and Yue regions."

West Lake is surrounded by mountains on three sides and nestled against the city on the other. The harmonious blend of mountains and water, its exquisite beauty, is the epitome of the splendor of Jiangnan. It is located in Hangzhou, a city renowned as "Paradise on Earth."

The beauty of Taihu Lake lies not in its pavilions and towers, but in its wildness, vastness, and seclusion.

When the wind rises, the waters are vast and misty, concealing the turbulent world of martial arts; when the waves are still, the waters are clear and tranquil, containing the chivalrous spirit of a chaotic world.

The boundless lake, encompassing the grudges and feuds of the martial arts world and carrying the chivalrous spirit of a thousand years, is the purest Jiangnan martial arts world.

This lake lacks the exquisite craftsmanship of West Lake; instead, it possesses the vast and untamed spirit of nature.

The vast lake stretches to the sky and down to the earth. When the wind blows across the lake, thousands of fine waves surge, creating a magnificent scene resembling a blue sea.

The reeds along the lake stretch for miles, vast and boundless, shrouded in mist and fog that never dissipates, giving the entire Jiangnan water region a deep and tranquil feel.

The waterways are winding and crisscrossed, islands are scattered like stars, and fishing boats are hidden in the depths of the misty waves. There is no noise of cars and horses, only the creaking of oars and the gentle sound of water.

This is the ancient land of Wu and Yue, a place steeped in the secrets of the martial world. It's not like a bustling metropolis, but rather a hidden realm of martial arts legends tucked away in the dust of the world.

The beauty of West Lake lies in its elegance, refinement, and purity.

There are no towering storms, no hidden dangers, only green mountains and clear waters, and gentle breezes and moonlight.

It is a pure land in the martial arts world, a peaceful dream in a chaotic world, where chivalry is hidden and tenderness is contained.

This place lacks the vast wildness of Taihu Lake; instead, it presents exquisite scenery where human intervention blends seamlessly with nature, offering picturesque views in every season and a poem at every turn.

"Beyond the mountains, green hills rise; beyond the buildings, more buildings stand. When will the songs and dances of West Lake cease?"

"If you want to compare West Lake to Xi Shi, she is beautiful whether she is lightly or heavily made up."

"In the morning, a thin mist shrouds the lake, creating a hazy, ink-wash painting-like scene; at dusk, the setting sun melts the lake with gold, making the water shimmer and linger with tender beauty."

The Su Causeway and Bai Causeway lie like green ribbons across the blue water, with long willows hanging down, gently brushing the lake surface in the wind, shattering the reflections of the sky and clouds on the lake.

Three Pools Mirroring the Moon stands serenely in the heart of the lake, Leifeng Pagoda stands majestically on its shore, Lonely Hill is tranquil and lush with trees, and Broken Bridge lies across the water. All these features, softened by the passage of time, exude an air of scholarly elegance.

  

Jiangnan spoke of the differences between the scenery of Taihu Lake and West Lake, but in his heart he thought that West Lake in The Condor Heroes was a quiet corner of the martial arts world, far away from the bloodshed.

Niujia Village, nestled beside West Lake, is a place of ordinary life; Peach Blossom Island, though hidden in the misty waters of the nearby sea, shares the same spirit as West Lake—pure, aloof, and detached from worldly affairs. Huang Yaoshi's proud elegance and transcendence of worldly concerns perfectly embody the spirit nurtured by the landscape of West Lake—cool, refined, solitary, and otherworldly.

"Taihu Lake nurtures the chivalrous spirit of the Jianghu (江湖, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry). It is vast and boundless, yet it harbors conspiracies and intrigues. It is a Jianghu lake where heroes roam and grudges rise and fall."

West Lake nurtures the refined character of scholars, exuding elegance and tranquility, imbued with poetic charm and otherworldly beauty, making it a secluded paradise where hermits can live in peace and seclusion.

As they approached West Lake, with nothing to do, Jiangnan thought of Taihu Lake during the time of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and West Lake in the world of The Return of the Condor Heroes. Feeling moved, Jiangnan told Xiaolongnu and Huang Rong about the Jianghu story of "all love is a curse" from the Northern Song Dynasty a hundred years ago.

The story begins with the martial arts manuals collected at Mandala Manor and Canhe Manor in Taihu Lake, recounts the legends of "Qiao Feng in the North and Murong in the South" in the Tianlong Jianghu, and discusses the reclusive masters that circulated in the Jianghu a century ago… From Mandala Manor in Taihu Lake, the story extends to the romantic escapades of Duan Zhengchun, the Prince of Zhennan of Dali, the love-hate relationship between the Dali prince and his "sisters," and the absurd and laughable actions of the Xianbei Murong clan driven by their ambition to restore their kingdom… From Abi's soft Wu dialect fishermen's evening songs to the sisters Azhu and Azi dying for love…

The story recounts the secrets of the martial arts world: how Qiao Feng modified and condensed the Beggars' Sect's ultimate skill, the Twenty-Eight Subduing Dragon Palms, into the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms; the Dali Duan family's secret techniques, besides the One-Finger Divine Skill, also include the Six Meridians Divine Sword, a secret and invisible sword energy; the Northern Darkness Divine Skill, which can absorb the power of others for one's own use; a comparison of the Murong family's ultimate skill, the Star Shift, and the Ming Cult's secret technique, the Great Shift of the Universe; and speculation on which is more powerful, the Shaolin Yi Jin Jing or the Divine Foot Jing…

When Jiangnan thought of Huang Yaoshi and mentioned the most described and mysterious sect in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils"—the Free and Unfettered Sect—he introduced its rules for accepting disciples:

One rule is the age requirement. The Free and Unfettered Sect has always only accepted young children as disciples. The best age to enter the sect is between three and six years old, because children's meridians are still soft and flexible, and their bones and muscles have not yet solidified. This makes it easiest for them to cultivate a spiritual and ethereal spirit and learn the Free and Unfettered Sect's light and agile internal energy techniques. Anyone who is older and whose bones and muscles are already fully formed is generally rejected.

Huang Yaoshi's acceptance of disciples seems to have been similar; otherwise, disciples like Mei Chaofeng, Lu Chengfeng, and Feng Mofeng, who were expelled from the sect, wouldn't have been so respectful to Huang Yaoshi, and Huang Yaoshi wouldn't have been so heartbroken when Mei Chaofeng died.

Secondly, there's appearance. From the founding patriarch onwards, the Xiaoyao lineage has always been obsessed with looks. Disciples are required to have exceptional appearances and elegant bearing. There are never any vulgar or ugly members. The sect's core values ​​are refined elegance and transcendence. Their martial arts and demeanor are like flowing clouds and celestial beings. Those with mediocre looks and talents, in the words of Wu Yazi, the second-generation leader of the Xiaoyao sect, are "born unworthy to inherit the Xiaoyao martial arts."

Huang Yaoshi's disciples were all good-looking, otherwise Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng wouldn't have developed a romantic relationship.

Thirdly, there is the matter of innate talent and aptitude. The martial arts of this school are too profound and unpredictable. The Northern Darkness Divine Art, the Lesser Formless Art, the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies Supreme Art, the Lingbo Steps, the Tianshan Six Yang Palms, the Tianshan Plum Blossom Hand, the White Rainbow Palm Force, and the Transmission of Sound and Soul Searching Technique—all these unique skills contain the secrets of heaven and earth and cannot be mastered by brute force alone. Therefore, the school requires disciples to be exceptionally talented, with a keen and insightful mind and unparalleled comprehension. Dull and impetuous individuals, no matter how much they yearn for it, will never have the chance to become its disciples.

Huang Yaoshi's disciples certainly didn't have the same innate talent and comprehension as the disciples of the Free and Unfettered Sect. Ding Chunqiu was able to comprehend the Dissolving Power Technique from the incomplete Northern Darkness Manual, while Mei Chaofeng could even turn the Taoist true skill Nine Yin Divine Claw into Nine Yin White Bone Claw by following the manual... It's really hard to know what to say...

Fourthly, they must strictly adhere to the precepts of moral conduct. The primary requirement for members of the Xiaoyao Sect is to be indifferent to fame and fortune in the martial world. They must not covet empty titles in the martial arts world, nor be fond of fighting and killing indiscriminately, and they must never publicize their lineage outside the sect. The Xiaoyao Sect has long remained hidden from the world, and even when its disciples travel the world, they will never reveal the slightest trace of the sect. Those who are rebellious and greedy are of impure character and will never be allowed to join the sect.

I haven't heard of any rules on Peach Blossom Island; disciples probably just need to listen to their masters.

Finally, there is a unique requirement: while other sects only require rigorous training in martial arts and internal energy, the Xiaoyao Sect cultivates both martial arts and literary skills. Music, chess, calligraphy, painting, medicine, and esoteric arts are all compulsory subjects for the sect. Disciples must be well-versed in these refined and miscellaneous studies in order to comprehend the true meaning of the Xiaoyao Daoist teachings.

Huang Yaoshi never required his disciples to be proficient in miscellaneous skills. It is estimated that Huang Yaoshi also understood that his disciples were not cut out for it, and that it would be good enough if they just practiced martial arts well.

Throughout the century since the founding of the Xiaoyao Sect, its rules have never changed. The only exception was Xu Zhu, the third-generation successor, who was the only person to break the rules since the sect's establishment.

He was already over twenty when he entered the sect, and was a young novice monk in Shaolin Temple. He was plain-looking and of average talent, lacking the demeanor, comprehension, and innate qualities expected of a disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. It was only due to the fateful encounter with the Zhenlong Chess Game that Wuyazi, severely injured and near death, made an exception and accepted him as his last disciple, allowing him to inherit the Xiaoyao Sect's legacy.

However, after him, no more rumors of the Xiaoyao Sect were heard in the world. It is estimated that the Xiaoyao Sect disappeared after him!

Jiangnan looked at Huang Rong and sighed, "If the Xiaoyao Sect still existed, it would be quite a perfect match for Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic. Astronomy, geography, astrology, medicine, divination, Qimen Dunjia, the Eight Gates of Divination, geomancy, formations and mechanisms, farmland irrigation, craftsmanship, civil engineering, music, calligraphy, painting, poetry, chess, cooking, tea ceremony, poisons and witchcraft, classics, and the teachings of the Hundred Schools of Thought..."

These miscellaneous subjects are all contained in the collection of books held by the Free and Unfettered Sect. Moreover, these are not just basic books; the advanced texts even contain detailed records of surgeries such as eye transplants and limb transplants!

Little Dragon Girl, being young, listened to Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils as a storybook; Huang Rong, on the other hand, felt her heart surging with excitement and was very interested in the grudges and love affairs of the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world and the reclusive sect, the Xiaoyao Sect!

"Brother Nan, could you tell me more about the Free and Unfettered Sect? I've never heard of this sect before! There's no record of it in any martial arts classics or family heirlooms. What kind of sect is this Free and Unfettered Sect?"

"The carefree are those who follow their own hearts, go with the flow of heaven and earth, and are unrestrained." Jiang Nan spoke slowly, each word elegant, revealing the true meaning of the Taoist school of non-action yet all-encompassing action. "This school was founded hundreds of years ago during the early years of the Great Song Dynasty. It does not respect etiquette or follow customs, does not covet the power of the court or compete for hegemony in the martial world, and takes 'carefree and unrestrained, following one's heart' as the foundation of the school."

People practice martial arts for various reasons: to gain fame and fortune, to protect their community, or to dominate the world. Only the Free and Unfettered Sect practices martial arts solely to understand the great principles of heaven and earth, appreciate the beauty of nature, and cultivate a free and unfettered mind. They are not bound by sect rules, nor constrained by worldly grudges; they act as they please, coming and going like the wind. They are arguably the most enlightened and free-spirited sect in the history of martial arts.

He paused briefly, gazing at the misty rain, and slowly recounted the long-forgotten stories of the Tianlong Jianghu.

The first patriarch of the Xiaoyao Sect, Xiaoyaozi, was a peerless master of extraordinary talent and insightful understanding of the world. Born into a chaotic era, he lived through the turmoil of five dynasties, witnessing the devastation of the land and the suffering of countless lives. He saw the bloodshed and the vanity of fame and fortune in the martial world. People were obsessed with power, martial arts, and entangled in grudges, living in constant fear and unease. Xiaoyaozi lamented that all beings were bound by their attachments, unable to find true freedom. Therefore, he traveled to famous mountains and rivers, observing the rising and setting of the sun and moon, the changing landscape, and comprehending the mysteries of heaven and earth. Finally, amidst the misty mountains of the Western Regions, he attained enlightenment, founded the Xiaoyao lineage, and established his own school.

Xiaoyaozi possessed unparalleled martial arts talent throughout history, and his mind was exceptionally insightful. He didn't fixate on the pinnacle of a single martial art; instead, he absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, integrating the myriad wonders of the world to create a comprehensive and ethereal martial arts system. Completely different from the heavy, steady, and purely righteous martial arts of Shaolin, and the expansive, domineering martial arts of the Beggars' Sect, Xiaoyao martial arts had no fixed forms, no rigid rules of offense or defense. Light as flowing clouds, swift as a gentle breeze, agile and ever-changing, every movement embodied the principles of nature. Seemingly gentle and without edge, it concealed profound power, its strength unfathomable.

What's even more remarkable is that the Xiaoyao Sect never confines itself to martial arts. The disciples' studies encompass a vast array of subjects, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, medicine, divination, astrology, singing, dancing, acrobatics, and even esoteric arts… Any refined and exquisite skill in the world is a required course in the sect. The founder said, "Martial arts strengthen the body and enlighten the mind, refined arts nourish the heart and allow one to follow one's nature; only by cultivating both can one attain true freedom." Therefore, over the past century, every disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect has possessed exceptional grace and refined character, each possessing unique skills and elegant demeanor. When traversing the martial world, they are not like martial artists fighting fiercely, but rather like immortals descended to earth, elegant scholars wandering the world, their style unparalleled.

Jiangnan sighed softly, his voice tinged with a sense of vicissitude: "Unfortunately, prosperity must eventually decline, and things must eventually reverse. Everything in the world is subject to the cycle of nature, and even peerless sects cannot escape this principle. That's why I admire Shaolin Temple so much; it has managed to survive for so long."

At its peak, the Xiaoyao Sect was arguably the most transcendent sect in the Tianlong martial arts world. Its disciples were scattered across the land, boasting a wealth of masters and talents, yet it never sought dominance, never vied for supremacy, never vie for the title of number one in the martial arts world, and never sought power. Instead, it indulged in the beauty of nature, cultivated its mind and spirit, and lived a life of unrestrained freedom. However, it was precisely this extreme freedom that destined it to be short-lived.

At that time, Wu Yazi, the second-generation leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, was a genius of his generation. He had inherited the true teachings of the first patriarch, possessing superb martial arts skills and profound knowledge. He was exceptionally handsome and elegant, with a free and unrestrained personality. He was obsessed with the beauty of nature and the great principles of the universe. He could have led the Xiaoyao Sect to continue its legacy, but in the end, he could not escape the tribulations of human emotions and worldly attachments, which sowed the seeds of the sect's decline.

Wu Yazi was a man of profound understanding, yet he could never comprehend the meaning of "love." He, his fellow disciples Wu Xingyun (the Heavenly Child Granny of Tianshan) and Li Qiushui (his junior sister) were childhood sweethearts, growing up together and practicing the Xiaoyao martial arts. Their deep bond was intertwined with a lifetime of love, hate, and obsessive entanglement. The Heavenly Child Granny was exceptionally talented, with a fierce and aloof nature, and her martial arts were domineering and sharp. She ruled the Lingjiu Palace on Piaomiao Peak of the Xiaoyao Sect, and her power shook the Western Regions. Li Qiushui was stunningly beautiful, with a gentle and lively temperament, and her martial arts were elegant and exquisite. She was also exceptionally intelligent. Both of them were in love with the peerless Wu Yazi, but unfortunately, their deep affections were in vain. Wu Yazi loved Li Canghai, the junior sister of the Xiaoyao Sect, or rather, the jade statue he had carved. This caused Wu Xingyun and Li Qiushui to be entangled in a love-hate relationship for decades, an endless and unresolved entanglement that lasted until their deaths.

The entanglements of love among three top masters of the Free and Unfettered Sect completely disrupted the sect's stable order. Former fellow disciples, who once shared a common path of enlightenment and cultivation, grew estranged and distant due to romantic entanglements. The once harmonious and transcendent sect was gradually shrouded in resentment and hatred. Wu Yazi, torn between love and despair, hesitated and remained melancholic, neglecting sect affairs and the transmission of martial arts. Tianshan Tonglao, burdened by regret over love, became increasingly eccentric and withdrawn, retreating to Lingjiu Palace and ignoring all sect matters. Li Qiushui, filled with resentment, angrily married into the Western Xia, never again concerning herself with the sect's past.

For decades, the three remained locked in a stalemate. The once carefree immortals, who had sought enlightenment side-by-side, ultimately became infatuated individuals entangled in love and hate. The sect was leaderless, its lineage broken, and its disciples without leadership. The once orderly and disciplined Xiaoyao lineage gradually disintegrated, its members scattered and demoralized. Even more lamentable was the fact that Xiaoyao martial arts were too refined, profound, and unpredictable, emphasizing "following the natural way and understanding the Dao through one's own heart." There were no fixed moves or formulas, no strict methods of transmission; everything depended on individual talent, comprehension, and mental cultivation. In prosperous times, geniuses emerged, allowing the sect to maintain its glory; but in times of chaos and strife, ordinary disciples struggled to grasp its profound principles, and the essence of its martial arts gradually faded away.

Huang Rong's eyes flickered slightly as she listened, and she sighed softly, "So the downfall of a peerless sect is never due to battles in the martial world or invasions by powerful enemies, but rather to the obsessions and entanglements of human hearts and minds. The Free and Unfettered Sect established its path on 'freedom and unfetteredness,' yet it ultimately declined because of the most common human obsessions and entanglements of love and affection. It's truly ironic and a real pity."

"That's right." Jiang Nan nodded, gazing at the misty rain outside the RV, and said, "The Xiaoyao Sect pursues a life of freedom and unrestrained ease, exploring the great principles of heaven and earth and breaking the shackles of worldly conventions, but they can't break through the love, obsessions, and entanglements of human emotions. The rules of heaven and earth and the rules of the martial world can all be broken, but the obsessions of the human heart are the hardest to transcend. This is the greatest shackle in the world."

"In his later years, Wu Yazi realized his mistakes and deeply regretted his lifelong entanglements in love and relationships, which had harmed his sect, his fellow disciples, and countless other students. He was filled with remorse. He spent half his life's cultivation setting up an intricate chess game, hoping to find a successor with unparalleled talent and a pure heart to inherit the lineage of the Free and Unfettered Sect, continue its legacy, and atone for his lifelong errors. However, the world is unpredictable and fate is unkind. Despite the chess game being set up for many years, he still could not find a suitable successor. He barely managed to find one to help clean up the sect, but the glorious heyday of the Free and Unfettered Sect was ultimately gone forever."

With the passing of Wu Yazi, Tianshan Tonglao, and Li Qiushui, the Xiaoyao Sect was left without any top masters, and its core lineage was completely severed. This once-renowned and aloof sect, which dominated the Tianlong martial arts world, gradually vanished like smoke in the long river of time. Its surviving disciples scattered across the land, some hiding in the mountains, indifferent to worldly affairs, others wandering the martial arts world, concealing their whereabouts, no longer identifying themselves as disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, and no longer passing on the sect's name.

The once all-encompassing and ethereal martial arts of the Free and Unfettered School gradually scattered and disappeared. Most of its ultimate techniques were lost to the world, with only scattered, rudimentary methods remaining, their origins unknown to anyone. The once numerous and exceptionally talented disciples of the Free and Unfettered School vanished completely, their presence never heard of again. Through the changing times and dynasties, hundreds of years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now, in the martial world of the Song Dynasty, the world has long forgotten the existence of such a transcendent and unparalleled sect. Only the misty rain of the Cangshan Mountains and the snowy ice of the Kunlun Mountains still remember the unparalleled elegance of the Free and Unfettered School.

Jiangnan stopped speaking slowly at this point. A gentle breeze blew in through the window, fluttering his clothes and dispersing the lingering aroma of tea on the table.

Huang Rong remained silent for a long time, the tea in her hand growing slightly cold, her eyes filled with melancholy and emotion. She had lived on Peach Blossom Island with Huang Yaoshi since childhood, and was naturally free-spirited and disliked restraint. She detested the hypocritical rules of the martial arts world and the cumbersome formalities of the secular world. Upon suddenly hearing about the carefree and detached spirit of the Xiaoyao Sect, she had already felt an infinite longing in her heart.

She sighed softly, "People say that true freedom is an illusion, but little do they know that hundreds of years ago, there really was a group of people who took freedom as their way and ease as their heart. They did not strive for fame or fortune, nor did they crave worldly riches. They simply traveled the mountains and rivers and understood their true nature. They won all the martial arts talents and enjoyed all the worldly splendor, but in the end, they lost to the obsessions of the human heart. It turns out that true freedom is not about possessing unparalleled martial arts skills or having supreme strength, but about seeing through obsessions, letting go of attachments, having no worries in one's heart, and letting everything go as one pleases."

Jiang Nan smiled slightly upon hearing this, his eyes filled with approval: "Miss Huang is intelligent and insightful, and her words have revealed the true meaning of freedom. What the Free and Unfettered Sect leaves behind in the martial world is not unparalleled martial arts or secret techniques, but a way of life and principles. The world is vast, the mountains and rivers are boundless, a hundred years of life is but a fleeting moment, fame and fortune are all fleeting, and grudges will eventually dissipate. Only by being free in one's heart and following one's heart can one truly be free in this world."

Outside the window, the misty rain continued, distant mountains shrouded in mist, and the scenery was boundless. The RV stood quietly beside the pipes, the three of them sitting silently, the aroma of tea wafting in the air, the wind whispering gently. Those carefree tales, sealed away in the world of Tianlong, spanning hundreds of years, came alive again in the gentle narration of Jiangnan. The unparalleled glory of the once-powerful sects, the poignant entanglements of love and hate, the vicissitudes of life from prosperity to decline—all were blended into the misty rain and the gentle breeze, flowing quietly, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

The world of martial arts is ever-changing, sects rise and fall, but only the carefree heart and original intention remain clear, pure, and unchanging through the vicissitudes of time.