At 100 years old, he joined the army in place of his granddaughter, and became a national war god.

Southwest of the Great Qian Dynasty, within the territory of Jingzhou.

Far from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto, surrounded by mountains and flowing streams, this place offers a tranquil and serene escape from the intrigues of the imperial court.

It was late autumn.

Ten miles outside Jingzhou City lies a tranquil bamboo forest, with thousands of emerald bamboo stalks, their verdant foliage cascading down. A gentle breeze rustles through the trees, creating a constant sound, while withered bamboo leaves carpet the ground like a soft blanket, isolating the forest from all the noise of the world.

Deep in the bamboo forest, a smooth and clean blue stone sits atop an exquisite ceramic tea stove. Charcoal fires burn gently, water boils lightly, and the delicate aroma of tea permeates the air.

Beside the blue stone stood a woman in plain clothes, named Shen Luotang.

She wore an elegant white dress, her black hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin, her eyebrows and eyes were gentle and beautiful, and she was calmly brewing tea with her fingertips lightly touching the teacup.

In the clearing in the center of the bamboo forest, two figures moved swiftly and agilely, their swords flashing and crisscrossing.

The young man was Prince Xiao Yunche, who was only in his early twenties.

He was dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit, his posture as upright as a bamboo shoot, his eyebrows and eyes handsome and deep, his eyes revealing a composure and forbearance far beyond his years.

Holding the three-foot-long sword in his palm, the sword light was agile and graceful with the flick of his wrist. The moves were gentle yet contained hidden sharpness. Every stroke of the sword was wrapped with a faint spiritual energy.

His opponent in the game was an elderly man with a full head of white hair and beard.

The old man's name was Wang Yang. He was Xiao Yunche's close advisor who had followed him for many years and was also his martial arts mentor.

Wang Yang has spent half his life traversing the martial arts world, possessing profound experience and exquisite martial arts skills. The longsword in his hand is simple and heavy, and his moves are steady and shrewd, combining offense and defense perfectly, leaving no room for error.

One old, one young; one steady, one agile.

Swords flashed and sword energy surged.

The two fought faster and faster, their figures weaving through the lush bamboo forest, so fast they almost became two afterimages.

The sharp sword energy burst forth in all directions, sweeping across the surrounding lush bamboo groves, causing the yellow leaves on the branches to flutter and dance in the air, carpeting the entire open space with fallen leaves.

The sound of swords cutting through the air was continuous, and the clanging of metal against metal was crisp and piercing, layer upon layer, dazzling the eyes and shaking the mind.

Xiao Yunche was immersed in the sword intent, his mind clear and undisturbed by external things.

Lingxi swordplay emphasizes following the natural flow of the opponent's movements, using softness to overcome hardness, and focusing on artistic conception rather than brute force.

During this period, he practiced diligently every day and had already thoroughly mastered the essence of this sword technique.

At this moment, the movements are graceful and agile, with ease in both advancing and retreating. Every move is just right, without any sense of stagnation.

Wang Yang was increasingly amazed as he fought. His sword moves appeared steady, but he was actually secretly increasing his strength, testing the waters layer by layer, but he could not suppress the young prince in front of him.

A hundred moves can be made in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, two sharp longswords collided in mid-air!

"Clang!"

A deafening, crisp sound rang out in the bamboo forest, and a surge of powerful sword energy suddenly erupted, transforming into an invisible wave of energy that swept in all directions.

The fallen leaves around them were all swept away, the green bamboo branches and leaves shook violently, and a strong wind blew in their faces, biting and piercing.

The two forces clashed and resisted each other. Xiao Yunche and Wang Yang each used the force of the recoil to retreat in mid-air, taking more than ten light steps on the ground before they were able to stand firmly.

The lingering power of the sword energy slowly dissipated, and the fallen leaves gradually landed. The bamboo forest returned to tranquility, with only the faint sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo.

……

Wang Yang sheathed his sword, brushed the dust from his sleeve, and his cloudy eyes were filled with admiration and shock. He then burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha! Excellent swordsmanship!"

He stepped forward, bowed deeply to Xiao Yunche, and spoke with heartfelt admiration.

"The Third Prince is truly a martial arts genius, one in a century!"

"In just six months, to have mastered the complex and profound Lingxi Sword Technique to such a level of consummate skill and transcendence—such comprehension and temperament are unmatched among the younger generation of the Great Qian Dynasty. It is truly astonishing!"

Xiao Yunche also concealed his sharp edge, his slender fingers gently touching the hilt of his sword, steadily returning the longsword to its sheath, his posture upright and humble.

Faced with Wang Yang's high praise, he showed no arrogance or complacency. He bowed slightly, respectfully returned the greeting, and said in a humble and gentle tone, "Sir, you flatter me."

"What Yun Che has gained today is all thanks to Master's meticulous teaching and imparting of all his knowledge day and night. Without Master's guidance, I would never have been able to comprehend the Spirit Stream Sword Intent."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yang shook his head and chuckled, his eyes showing even greater appreciation. He waved his hands repeatedly and said:

"Third Prince, there is no need to be so modest. Techniques and moves can be taught to others, but the elusive and elusive essence of swordsmanship can only be comprehended by oneself; no one else can help."

"To truly understand the essence of swordsmanship, one must comprehend it oneself."

The two were humble towards each other, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Just then, Shen Luotang, who was standing by the bluestone, turned around and smiled gently. Her clear and gentle voice pierced through the forest breeze and drifted over:

"You two, master and disciple, don't need to flatter and be so polite to each other."

"After such a long competition, you must have been exhausted. Come and have some tea to rest. The tea is freshly brewed and the temperature is just right."

Xiao Yunche and Wang Yang exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly, then suppressed their martial arts aura.

"Miss Shen is absolutely right." Wang Yang raised his hand in a gesture of invitation. "Third Prince, please."

Xiao Yunche nodded slightly, and the two walked side by side to the bluestone tea table.

……

Shen Luotang turned gracefully, her slender hands lifting the warm teapot to pour a cup of tea for each of them.

The clear tea soup was poured into the cup, its aroma delicate and elegant, and wisps of steam rose up, dispelling the slight heat and fatigue of the two after their battle.

Xiao Yunche picked up the white porcelain teacup and took a small sip.

The tea is sweet and mellow on the palate, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth. A warm and refreshing sensation slides down the throat, soothing the soul.

Wang Yang also savored the tea carefully, nodding slowly and offering his heartfelt praise:

"Miss Shen's tea-making skills are superb. With ordinary spring water and common tea leaves, she can brew such an excellent tea soup, which is truly rare."

Shen Luotang smiled gently, her eyes tender. After the two put down their teacups, her gaze fell on Xiao Yunche, and she asked softly:

"Third Prince, in Luo Tang's opinion, your Lingxi Sword Technique has reached its peak and is completely perfect, with no room for further improvement."

"Over the past three years, you have devoted yourself to rigorous training and have mastered more than half of the unique martial arts of various sects in Jingzhou. Your foundation is solid and your skills are superb."

"What are your plans for your training next? Will you continue to travel the world and learn various martial arts?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yunche gently stroked the rim of the warm teacup with his fingertips, a calm and composed smile appearing on his lips.

He slowly raised his eyes, gazing at the distant mountains deep within the bamboo forest, his tone calm yet resolute.

"I plan to take a few days off and then go to Qinglong Temple for quiet meditation, to cultivate my mind and temper my character, and to understand the true nature of martial arts, so as to reach a higher level."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yang, who was sipping tea nearby, was suddenly stunned, and his eyes instantly filled with shock and emotion.

He stared blankly at Xiao Yunche, who was no more than twenty years old, his heart churning with turmoil, unable to calm down for a long time.

Most people who practice martial arts are impatient for quick success and instant benefits, obsessed with the strength of moves and the level of skill, and single-mindedly pursue breakthroughs in combat power, exhausting their life's energy to study killing techniques.

However, very few people understand the way of cultivating the mind, and even fewer are willing to give up worldly vanities and travel to ancient temples to meditate and comprehend the Tao.

The path of martial arts is based on techniques and methods.

Muscles and bones are flesh, while mind and nature are soul.

The higher one's level of cultivation, the more one understands the importance of one's character.

Even if one's skills are perfected, if one's mind is unstable and one's Daoist heart is restless, one will never be able to break through the shackles and reach the pinnacle. If one is not careful, one will suffer a qi deviation and be doomed to eternal damnation.

The Third Prince before me is young yet composed, with unparalleled talent. At an age when he should be showing his brilliance and vying for fame and fortune, he is able to calm his mind, see through the essence of martial arts, abandon the temptations of various martial arts schools, and instead focus on cultivating his mind.

This vision, mindset, and composure are far beyond what ordinary royal children or江湖少年 (jianghu shang niang, a term referring to young people from the martial arts world) can match.

Wang Yang was filled with emotion, nodded secretly, and felt resolute...

This third prince was a man of great talent and wisdom, who kept a low profile and concealed his abilities.

He will surely shed his dust and make a name for himself one day, becoming a top martial arts master who dominates the world, and even more earth-shattering achievements are expected!

Just then...

A series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the path outside the bamboo forest, breaking the tranquility of the woods.

A figure in black swiftly weaved through the lush bamboo groves, his movements agile and his expression solemn and urgent, heading straight for Xiao Yunche and his companions.

The person who arrived was Xiao Yunche's personal guard. He was calm and capable, and rarely acted in such a flustered and disorganized manner.

In an instant, the guard arrived before the three men, knelt on one knee, and respectfully held up a sealed, urgent letter, reporting in a deep voice:

"Reporting to the Third Prince! A confidential letter from the Imperial Court, delivered by urgent courier from the capital, is requested to be reviewed by the Third Prince!"

"A letter from the imperial court?"

Xiao Yunche's fingers holding the teacup suddenly paused, a look of surprise flashed across his eyes, and a hint of disbelief appeared between his brows.

Since he arrived in Jingzhou, three years have passed. No one in the capital has paid any attention to him, not a single letter or inquiry has been sent to him. He has long been forgotten by the court and has long been accustomed to the peaceful life in the mountains.

Three years later, without any warning, an urgent secret letter suddenly arrived in Kyoto, which was really too unusual.

Wang Yang and Shen Luotang, who were standing to the side, also instantly stopped smiling, their expressions becoming slightly serious. They looked at each other, their eyes filled with doubt and curiosity.

What could be the purpose of this sudden secret letter from the imperial court?

Could some major upheaval have occurred in the imperial court?

All eyes were focused on the secret letter, and the atmosphere in the forest instantly became heavy and oppressive.

Xiao Yunche suppressed his surprise and took the letter.

Unfold the letter and quickly focus your gaze on the densely packed handwriting on the paper.

In just a few lines, in an instant, Xiao Yunche's originally calm and composed eyes suddenly narrowed!

His pupils trembled violently, and the composure in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by extreme shock and disbelief.

His previously gentle and peaceful expression instantly tightened, his brows furrowed with a solemn and murderous aura, and the relaxed and leisurely atmosphere around him vanished, replaced by a cold and heavy sense of oppression that enveloped him.

Seeing the sudden change in his expression, Wang Yang's heart leaped into his throat, and he quickly asked in a low voice, "Third Prince, what happened?"

Shen Luotang also looked worried and quickly asked, "Has something happened in the court?"

Xiao Yunche looked at the two people before him and said in a deep voice, "Urgent report from the capital... My father has been kidnapped, his whereabouts are unknown, and his fate is uncertain!"