Chapter 435: The Heart of Decadence (I)

“Xun Yi, Xie Xuan, Jiang Yiwei, Yan Bugui, Murong Bai, Deng Quan and I will go ahead. You will make arrangements for the disciples who will stay in Huashan Town, and then go up the mountain to meet us.”

"As ordered!"

On the morning of the eighth day, Luo Tianjin left a few words of advice to Liu Xunyi, and then left the Seven Star Tower first.

After careful planning and cautious arrangements, Liu Xunyi and Xu Heng worked for a whole morning. They finally divided dozens of disciples into small groups and quietly deployed them in various places in Huashan Town to secretly monitor any movements down the mountain.

The autumn weather is crisp and the sky is clear.

When Liu Xunyi and Xu Heng rushed back to the Seven Star Tower, Qin Ku had already become impatient and was sleeping soundly on a table filled with wine and food, snoring loudly.

Today, the Seven Stars Tower was not as lively as it had been a few days ago. Looking around, there were mostly groups of guests preparing to leave upstairs and downstairs.

The martial arts conference was about to be held. Those who received invitations were in high spirits and went up the mountain to attend the conference. Those who did not receive invitations had to go to the mountains adjacent to the Lunjian Arena to find a good spot in advance and prepare to watch from afar.

No one would stay in the Seven Stars Tower today. After more than a month of frequent influx of guests, today they finally disappeared. The innkeeper and his staff could only watch helplessly as more people left than came in through the inn's gate, feeling embarrassed but helpless.

"Brother Xu, pack your bags, we are ready to go up the mountain."

"Yes."

While Liu Xunyi was instructing Xu Heng, he patted Qin Ku's shoulder and called out, "Brother Qin, wake up! We should leave..."

"Liu Zhishan!"

Before he finished speaking, an old voice suddenly sounded on the stairs. He looked up and saw Teng Cang walking towards him quickly.

"Elder Teng?"

Due to a farce a few days ago, there was a rift between the Xianwang Mansion and the Xiangxi Teng Clan. Seeing Teng Cang coming uninvited, Xu Heng couldn't help but feel suspicious and asked cautiously, "What can I do for you, sir?"

Teng Cang ignored Xu Heng's question, his cold eyes fell on Liu Xunyi, and said: "The clan leader invites Liu Zhishan to come upstairs for a chat."

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Xunyi's eyes changed quietly, and he had already guessed something in his mind.

"The Xianwang Mansion and the Teng Clan have always kept to themselves, so there seems to be nothing to discuss!" Before Liu Xunyi could speak, Xu Heng bluntly refused, "Besides, we are in a hurry to go up the mountain, so we don't have time to waste..."

"The clan leader just wants to invite Liu Zhishan for a cup of tea. It won't take too long."

"you……"

"Since Chief Teng has invited me, I would be disrespectful to decline." Liu Xunyi interrupted Xu Heng and then bowed to Teng Cang, saying, "Please lead the way!"

After saying that, Liu Xunyi gave a relieved look to the uneasy Xu Heng, and then smiled at the sleepy Qin Ku, turned around and went upstairs, disappearing around the corner of the third floor with Teng Cang.

Looking at the direction where Liu Xunyi disappeared, Xu Heng's face became more and more anxious, and he said worriedly: "Brother Qin, what do you think Patriarch Teng wants to do with Hei Zhishan? Is it to settle the old account from the night before?"

"If it was a matter of settling scores, the one who just came wouldn't be just one person, but a group of people."

"Then let's..."

"Just wait!"

On the corridor on the third floor, Teng Cang led Liu Xunyi to a guest room and whispered, "Please come in, Liu Zhishan. The clan leader is waiting for you inside!"

Liu Xunyi looked at the expressionless Teng Cang doubtfully, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly pushed open the door. A faint scent of sandalwood immediately hit his face, which shocked his heart.

"Liu Xunyi, born in Jiangling Fan Humen, learned from the chief of Fan Humen, Zhao Tong. Fan Humen is just a group of inferior green forest bandits, and Zhao Tong is even more of an inferior reckless man. You were originally a nobody, a mediocre person, but in just two years, you have emerged in the martial arts world and rose rapidly with thunder. Until today, you are already a well-known newcomer in the martial arts world. After Renxian Wangfu's Black Fan, you are still on the rise and at the peak of your career. Things are unpredictable. Who would have thought that a young master who is famous in the martial arts world could emerge from an inferior green forest bandit gang?"

As soon as I stepped into the room, Teng Sanshi's voice rang out.

"You have completed a journey that many people cannot complete in their lifetime in just two years. This is incredible and enviable." Teng Sanshi continued, "At such a young age, you have achieved such success in the martial arts world. It is really 'the disciple surpasses the master'. Looking at the martial arts world today, there is almost no other young man who can keep pace with you, Liu Xunyi. Should I praise your ability? Or should I say that you are lucky?" "This statement by Chief Teng makes me flattered."

Liu Xunyi had a good impression of the outspoken Teng Sanshi, because he had seen the shadow of Pan Chuba in Teng Sanshi more than once. Out of respect for Pan Chuba, he was also respectful to Teng Sanshi.

"Liu Xunyi, what has enabled you to achieve what you have today?" Teng Sanshi asked calmly as he sat at the table. "There are tens of thousands of martial arts masters, and countless people who are both civil and military. Why are you the only one who can stand out?"

"This……"

"I have been in the underworld for decades, and have experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature and witnessed the fickleness of the world. I can more or less understand some principles that you young people don't understand."

"Please give me some advice, senior."

"Your martial arts skills are high, but not the best. Your mind is deep, but not even one ten-thousandth of that of a shrewd and calculating person. Your experience is wide, but not enough to see through everything. You are brave and knowledgeable, but there are many people who are braver and more knowledgeable than you." Teng Sanshi's tiger eyes stared straight at Liu Xunyi who seemed to be thinking about something, and said word by word, "Your achievements today are only 30% due to your real talent and knowledge, and the remaining 70% depends on your luck and the support of noble people. If it weren't for God's blessing, you don't know how many times you would have died. Can you admit it?"

"admit!"

"If it weren't for Luo Tianjin's favor, you wouldn't have been able to enter the Xianwang Mansion, let alone be valued. Even if you have a lot of skills, you have no place to use them. Maybe you are still a nobody, or a vagrant wandering around the world. Can you admit it?"

Every word written by Teng Sanshi was like a pearl, and every bit of it penetrated into Liu Xunyi's heart.

"Admit it!" Liu Xunyi nodded and said, "If I hadn't met the Palace Master, I... would really be nothing."

"Luo Tianjin is your benefactor. With his current power and status in the martial arts world, if you can get his careful cultivation and full support, as long as you have some effort and a bit of luck, even a cat or a dog can make a name for himself in the martial arts world." Teng Sanshi nodded with satisfaction, "You are no longer the same as you were before, but you are still willing to admit this. Just based on your humility and rationality, I am sure that you will be able to reach a higher level in the future."

"A word from you, senior, is worth ten years of study. Thank you, Chief Teng, for your teachings!"

Seeing Liu Xunyi's ashamed look, Teng Sanshi smiled calmly and waved his hand, "Don't be shy. If you don't have any real skills, what's the use of having good luck? In the end, you're still a piece of mud that can't be helped. Luo Tianjin praised you, 30% because he loves talent, and the other 70% because he likes you to be his son-in-law. It's a great blessing in your life to be loved by Luo Ningyu. Little do you know that this opportunity that can change your destiny may not come once in a lifetime. I advise you not to miss this opportunity, this may be your only chance to make the leap."

Although Teng Sanshi repeatedly told Liu Xunyi not to be shy, his words made Liu Xunyi feel ashamed.

"I appreciate your kindness, senior. But..." Liu Xunyi said with a wry smile, "Relationships cannot be forced. How can a man of your stature rely on a woman to get to the top? Whether it's God's blessing or the support of a noble, if you want to make a name for yourself, you still have to rely on your own abilities in the end."

"What is ability? Knowing how to take advantage of the situation and learn to go with the flow is the greatest ability." Teng Sanshi laughed, "Throughout the ages, how many people have made a name for themselves single-handedly? Luo Tianjin also relied on the support of his wife Ling Xiaoxiao and his father-in-law Taoist Qingfeng to achieve what he has today. As for Taoist Qingfeng, if he had not been valued by his master, how could he have taken over the position of the head of Wudang? If he could not succeed, he would still be a nobody. Even I, it was with the blessing of my ancestors that I could serve as the patriarch of the Teng clan. If I were born in a side sect and had no power or influence, would you be willing to stand here and listen to my lecture?"

"This……"

"Whether it is passing on the torch or establishing a school, it cannot be achieved alone. Do your best and leave the rest to fate, this is the 'way to success or failure'." Teng Sanshi added, "The sooner a person recognizes this, the sooner he will stand out and even achieve success. It's a pity that some people have passion and talent, but are stubborn and stubborn. They never recognize the reality and are obsessed with their own knots. In the end, they can only regret it for the rest of their lives and die with hatred."

Teng Sanshi's words were like a blow to the head, causing Liu Xunyi to fall into deep thought, unable to extricate himself for a long time.

"As the saying goes, 'More friends, more roads. More enemies, more walls.'" Teng Sanshi said, "When people travel the world, they all want to make friends with heroes. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because making friends means making more noble people. They may be useless in times of peace, but once you are in a life-and-death situation, they may be able to save your life."

At this point, Teng Sanshi raised his eyebrows and smiled in a secretive manner: "Liu Xunyi, I have only met you a few times, but I am willing to open my heart to you. In fact, I want to get to know you, my friend. I will teach you some principles of dealing with people. Will you also be honest with me?"

Hearing this, Liu Xunyi's eyelids twitched, and he instantly woke up from his trance, thinking to himself: "It's really not that simple."

Thinking of this, Liu Xunyi calmed down and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Senior. If you have anything to say, please speak frankly."

"Well!"

Teng Sanshi quickly put away the playful expression on his face, his expression became more serious, and his voice couldn't help but tremble.

"The night before, you told me in private that you had seen an ancient zither in a place that had nothing to do with the Xiangxi Teng people. On the zither, you saw with your own eyes the totem of the Xiangxi Teng people, which was the pattern engraved on gold and silver jewelry. I want to know where you saw the zither? Who is the owner of the zither? And now... where is he?"

……

(End of this chapter)