All Heavens: Starting with Yang Kang playing Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King

Chapter 31 One-Handed Heavy Sword, Shocking Changes Across the World

"The Sword Demon, Dugu Qiubai!"

"What an arrogant name."

"Having roamed the martial world for thirty years without a single defeat, how come I've never heard of such a person before?"

"Could he be a senior figure in the martial arts world before the Jingkang Incident?"

"I wonder what kind of demeanor this senior was back then."

Qiu Chuji said, greatly shocked.

As Yang Kang stared at those few lines of small characters, his double pupils shifted slightly, and he could feel waves of stinging pain.

"Sword Intent!"

"What a formidable opponent, Dugu Qiubai!"

Yang Kang narrowed his eyes slightly, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Qiu Chuji, however, was completely unaware of this, even though his martial arts level at this point was high enough to have sensed the sword intent.

However, this world has its limitations. Decades passed in the blink of an eye, and Dugu Qiubai's sword intent had long since dissipated.

Throughout the world, only Yang Kang, who possessed double pupils, could glimpse his demeanor during his lifetime from the words he left behind.

Those wisps of sword intent transformed into fine needles, piercing into Yang Kang's mind and imprinting themselves on his brain, becoming the resources for Yang Kang's martial arts.

The divine eagle cried out, its voice filled with pride.

Without waiting for the two to continue admiring Dugu Qiubai's letter, he grabbed Yang Kang's sleeve and gestured for them to follow him.

Yang Kang understood and quickly followed.

Qiu Chuji glanced at Dugu Qiubai's letter with reluctance a few times, and then quickly followed.

As the Divine Eagle maneuvered and leaped, it arrived at a cliff. The cliff rose into the sky like a screen, with a large square-shaped rock about twenty feet above the ground.

The words "Sword Tomb" are faintly visible on the stone.

"Sword Tomb?"

"Even swords have tombs?"

Qiu Chuji said in great surprise.

The eagle stretched out its claws, grabbed the footholds between the cliffs, and climbed upwards. In no time, it leaped onto the platform.

Qiu Chuji and Yang Kang exchanged a glance and then flew up one after the other.

The stone platform was several feet in circumference, with two lines of large characters carved in the center with a sharp sword. The strokes were deeply embedded in the stone, powerful and elegant, exuding a chilling aura of swordsmanship.

Sword Tomb

"The Tomb of the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai"

There is a stone tomb on each side, and a stele stands in front of each tomb, with inscriptions on the stele.

"Having roamed the martial world for over thirty years, slaying all my enemies and defeating all heroes, I am now utterly helpless. With no other choice, I have retreated to a deep valley, taking eagles as my companions. Alas, I have sought a worthy opponent in my life but have found none; my loneliness is truly unbearable."

Qiu Chuji read it word by word and remained silent for a long time.

After a long pause, he sighed deeply: "Throughout my life, I have prided myself on my heroic spirit and considered myself a master swordsman. But today, upon hearing the last words of this elder, I realize how laughable I was, like a frog at the bottom of a well."

Seeing the two follow, the Divine Eagle used its claws to move the stones on the mound, revealing three long swords side by side.

Between the first and second swords, there is another long stone slab.

The first sword, gleaming with a bluish light, was about four feet long and incredibly sharp, with inscriptions on the blue stone beside it.

"Sharp and fierce, invincible, I used it to compete with the heroes of Hebei before I came of age."

After reciting the words in a low voice, Qiu Chuji drew his sword and brandished it lightly before putting it back.

"A fine sword, but its intent is too sharp."

"What was useful to me ten years ago is no longer suitable now."

He laughed it off.

"The Purple Rose Soft Sword was used before I was thirty years old. I accidentally injured a righteous man, which was an ominous sign. I was filled with remorse and abandoned it in a deep valley."

Then he turned his gaze to the stone slab.

"A righteous man was accidentally injured and abandoned in a deep valley."

"Is a sword missing here?"

"Dugu Qiubai seems to be one of us chivalrous people as well."

Qiu Chuji nodded.

The third sword was entirely black, with no sharp edge, about three feet long, and resembled iron but was not iron; it was exceptionally heavy.

"A heavy sword has no edge, and great skill appears effortless. Before the age of forty, I relied on it to roam the world unchallenged."

Qiu Chuji tried to pick it up, and although he could wield it freely, the sword movements were slow and lacked any sense of agility.

"Kang'er, this sword is just right for you."

Upon hearing this, Yang Kang took the heavy sword with one hand and casually twirled it in his hand without any hindrance, as if the heavy sword, weighing seventy or eighty pounds, was as light as a bamboo sword in his hands.

As Yang Kang wielded his heavy sword, he stirred up gusts of wind, which caused the Divine Eagle to let out a long cry, as if it were in a good mood.

Qiu Chuji, however, had already looked at the rotten wooden sword.

"After the age of forty, one is no longer attached to material things; grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can all be swords. From then on, one refines one's skills and gradually progresses to the realm where having no sword is better than having a sword."

Qiu Chuji bent down to examine the stone carving next to the wooden sword closely, reading it over and over again, his eyes gradually brightening with a strange light.

"No sword is yet a sword..."

"No sword is yet a sword..."

Qiu Chuji kept muttering to himself.

After a long while, he straightened up, drew the sword from his waist, the sword he had carried for decades in the martial world, its blade gleaming coldly, having slain countless villains.

"Master, what's wrong...?"

Yang Kang was slightly surprised.

Qiu Chuji did not answer, but stared at the long sword in his hand, seemingly reluctant, yet also resolute.

A moment later, he suddenly raised his hand and threw his sword into the deep valley.

The longsword flashed through the air, leaving a cold streak before plunging into the abyss, where it remained silent for a long time.

Yang Kang was stunned.

Qiu Chuji gazed at the deep valley, let out a long breath, turned around, and his eyes were now clear and bright.

"I have cultivated the Tao for decades, obsessed with weapons, techniques, and victory."

"I have forgotten that my Quanzhen School was founded with the lifelong pursuit of my revered teacher, Chongyangzi, which was to bring peace to the world."

He stroked his beard and laughed, his voice clear and melodious.

"Swords are divided into the emperor's sword, the feudal lord's sword, and the commoner's sword."

"The sword of an ordinary person, Senior Dugu has reached the current level, but he can only live alone in the mountains and wilderness, with Brother Eagle as his companion."

"What use would it be if I persisted?"

"From now on, I will no longer roam the world, but will devote myself entirely to cultivating the Tao!"

Qiu Chuji immediately felt refreshed, as if he had been reborn.

The eagle let out a low cry, as if to say, "You're smart to know what's good for you."

The Divine Eagle nodded in satisfaction and stepped aside.

Upon seeing this, Qiu Chuji stroked his beard and smiled.

"Kang'er, Senior Dugu's Sword Tomb contains four swords, each with its own destiny."

"Today, your master has grasped the true meaning and returned to the path of Tao. Today, you are fortunate to obtain the heavy sword. These are all your own good fortune."

Yang Kang carried the heavy sword on his back and bowed to the Divine Condor.

"Thank you for guiding me, Brother Diao."

The eagle raised its head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, then flapped its fan again and leaped away in the blink of an eye.

After a moment of silence, he also leaped down.

After this extraordinary encounter, the master and apprentice were in high spirits.

In the distance, the mountain wind howled, stirring a few unnamed wildflowers on the platform, their petals falling and swirling in the twilight.

The two walked together towards Mu Nianci and the others as the sun set.

Mu Nianci and the others had been waiting for a long time by the small pond.

"Greetings, Senior Qiu. You've finally arrived! Our senior brother and we've been looking forward to seeing you."

Mu Nianci quickly stepped forward and said with delight.

"Nianci, you've grown even more beautiful and graceful in just a few days."

"It seems that Kang'er hasn't been bullying you these past few days."

Qiu Chuji laughed heartily.

"Boss, urgent report from Shandong!!!"

Shi Tianze galloped through the mountains, shouting loudly from afar.

"Hu Shahu murdered the emperor; Wanyan Yongji is dead!"

"The Zhongdu Incident has occurred. Lord Yelü has sent a letter requesting that the Chieftain return to Shandong immediately to take charge of the situation."

Shi Tianze, slightly out of breath, said with a solemn expression.

Yang Kang's eyes turned serious, and Qiu Chuji's expression also changed drastically.

History changed faster than he had imagined. He never expected that even with his appearance, Wanyan Yongji would still be killed by Husha Hu.

"In the Battle of Zhongdu in the past, Hu Shahu achieved nothing and even lost Juyong Pass."

"How could such an idiot have gotten to this point?"

Yang Kang asked seriously.

"In the first battle, the leader returned to the river, preserving the vitality of the Jin Dynasty. In the second battle, he defended Zhongdu, drawing the attention of the world."

"With the gang leader around, Hu Shahu, though guilty, was not overly blamed by Wanyan Yongji."

"After the World Society established itself in Shandong, Wanyan Yongji lost face and prestige, and the court and the people were alienated from him."

"General Wanyan Gang was imprisoned because he let the gang leader leave Zhongdu, which aroused the gang leader's suspicion."

"The strategy of replacing the north with the south has also alienated the talented officials in the court."

"When the Mongols marched south again, he had no one to rely on, so he regarded the ambitious Hushahu as his savior, which led to his current predicament."

"Boss, this might be the perfect opportunity for us!"

Shi Tianze said with great interest.

"Oh?"

"What insightful opinion does Tianze have?"

Yang Kang's eyes remained calm and still. He exchanged a glance with Qiu Chuji but did not give a direct answer.

"The Mongol cavalry are on the outside, while Hushahu murders the emperor on the inside."

"With no leader in Zhongdu, the entire Jin Kingdom is hoping that someone can save the people from their suffering."

"Your Highness can raise an army in Shandong under the pretext of serving the emperor, enter Zhongdu, kill the rebels, and take control of the court."

"With the mighty power of our leader, we can easily defeat the Mongols."

"At that time, the Jin Dynasty's rule will be within the grasp of the leader."

Shi Tianze became more and more excited as he spoke, as if his master was about to enter Zhongdu and become king in the south.

"A very good idea, but Tianze, you seem to have forgotten."

"I am no longer a subject of the Jin Dynasty, so how can I speak of serving the emperor?"

Yang Kang patted Shi Tianze on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

"The gang leader?"

Shi Tianze felt as if he had been doused with cold water. Of course, he knew that Yang Kang's words were just an excuse.

"If I were to become the emperor of the Jin Dynasty, I would simply need to continue being Wanyan Kang."

"Why bother restoring my Han Chinese identity?"

"The Mongols attacked the Jin with hundreds of thousands of troops. I can kill a thousand or two thousand of them."

"Could he possibly kill ten thousand people?"

"Genghis Khan will not make the same mistake again; there will never be a second chance like the one at Yefuling."

"Sending troops rashly will only wipe out all our resources."

Yang Kang shook his head.

"Master, I understand..."

Shi Tianze lowered his head under Yang Kang's gaze, not daring to refute.

However, he didn't take Yang Kang's words about not being able to kill 10,000 people seriously. After spending many days with Yang Kang, Shi Tianze had become almost superstitious about Yang Kang's martial arts skills, and actually believed that his boss could change the course of the Mongol-Jin war single-handedly.

"A skilled hunter must learn to be patient."

"Only through patience can one reap the most glorious fruits."

Yang Kang said calmly.

"Kang'er has indeed grown up and already has the bearing of a wise ruler."

"I was worried that you would act rashly, but it seems I was overthinking it."

Qiu Chuji nodded.

"The situation in the world has changed, and I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my appointment with Jiaxing on the fifteenth of August."

Yang Kang looked at Qiu Chuji and said in a deep voice.

"In the world, there are things of varying importance and urgency."

"There's no need to say more about this matter. I will go to Jiaxing myself and explain it to you."

Qiu Chuji nodded.

"I've revised it again and again; I'm really sorry to my brother Guo."

"Please tell him for me that the safety of the world is more important than personal promises. Let's have another duel at Mount Hua."

After Yang Kang finished speaking, he immediately bowed to Qiu Chuji and took his leave.

The group hurriedly set off to return to Shandong.