Old Wang’s Story

　　Yang Dong had heard of this formidable Boss from his irresponsible father. His irresponsible father had even expounded that…… his Boss was a peerless and powerful expert in the entire Duanmu Continent and that there were only a few who were worthy of being his opponent.

　　His father had also said that his Boss was an invincible existence amongst the experts ranked below the Martial Immortal, and only the two Martial Immortals were stronger than his Boss!

　　Even though Yang Dong had known about these…… He was still astonished when he heard what had just been said!

　　The item Yang Dong held in his hand was just an ordinary-looking bamboo stick. Mister Teng had only taken a glance at it, so how did he know that this bamboo pole was Yang Dong’s weapon?

　　“Could it be that he’s a seer with prophetic power?” Yang Dong was dumbfounded.

　　“Big Brother Teng, is this his weapon?” Li Jun also revealed an expression of astonishment, while Little Ping appeared puzzled. Teng Shou was the only one who stepped next to the bamboo pole and sniffed it. He then said softly, “It smells of blood!”

　　Yang Dong stared at Teng Shou in astonishment.

　　After following Teng Qingshan for over a year, Teng Shou had grown a lot taller. His height had now reached seven Chi (1.8 meters). Although he was currently slightly shorter than Teng Qingshan, he was already considered an adult and not a teenager anymore.

　　“Does… does….”Yang Dong stammered, completely stupefied as he stared at Teng Shou beside him. “Does he have a dog’s nose?”

　　Yang Dong’s bamboo pole had once been stained with blood, but…… he had already washed it off.

　　After inserting the bamboo pole repeatedly into the snow cover on his way here, the smell of the blood on the bamboo pole was removed. Well, at least he couldn’t smell any blood.

　　“Big Brother Teng, what weapon is this?” Li Jun asked. As she spoke, she scrutinized the bamboo stick in her hand and seemed to have noticed an odd area. As she pulled it forcefully—

　　Chi——

　　Unexpectedly, the uppermost tip of the bamboo pole got pulled off, revealing a ‘sword’! To be more precise, it could only be considered a ‘rapier’.

　　“I see.” Li Jun finally understood.

　　The tip of the bamboo pole had been cut open. The top of the bamboo pole was the hilt, and the bottom of the bamboo pole was the sheath! Additionally, the rapier was really strange. The entire rapier looked like a very round iron stick, but the tip was very trenchant. This meant that… the rapier didn’t have an edge; it only had a trenchant sword tip!

　　It could only kill people with one move—a thrust!

　　“I have never seen a weapon like this,” Li Jun said in astonishment.

　　“A sword that can only use the move ‘thrust’? In the past, Old Wang carried a war blade, but his weapon was his pipe. His son is one level higher. His son carried a war blade as well but hid it in a bamboo pole.” Teng Qingshan flicked a glance at Yang Dong and then immediately began reading the letter in his hand.

　　Based on the writing, Teng Qingshan deduced that the letter was really written by Old Wang.

　　“Boss.

　　“I, Old Wang, can die without any regrets if you are able to see this letter. At least that means my son has already reached you! I spent some money and have arranged for him to be placed in a group of merchants going to Nanshan City. The thing that worries me the most is that this little fella will get into trouble during the journey. However, Boss, besides you, I really don’t know who else can help me.

　　“I won’t ask for anything else. I just hope that Boss can help make arrangements so that Dong can make a living.

　　“Boss, I haven’t taken care of him during these last few years. I searched for him for almost a year, and when I found him, he was already amidst a gang of bandits. He has also acquired a very strange sword art. According to my investigation, Dong probably created this sword art by himself. Although the sword art seems simple, Dong managed to become the Third Master of the small gang through this sword art.

　　“I think Dong has a talent for sword art. I owe this son of mine a lot. I really wanted to teach him the Azure Lotus Sword Art, which you taught me in the past, but Boss told me that I shouldn’t teach anyone without your permission.

　　“Boss is much more powerful than me. So, Boss, you can see with your own eyes. If Dong really has the talent, please simply teach him a few moves, so that this young boy can have something to depend on in this chaotic world.

　　“If Dong isn’t talented, then just simply help him settle down somewhere.

　　“My request may be slightly undue, but I really plead that Boss won’t be offended. As for me…… I must finish what I ought to do. This time, whether I will return alive or not… that is unknown. Besides this son of mine, I have no other worries.

　　“I can tell that Boss really cares about me, Little Ping, and Ah Shou. However, I must say…… Boss, please don’t ask anyone to find me. Even Rising Sun Trading Company cannot find me. I want to make a decision that I will never regret, just like what you advised me. I have made my choice….”

　　This letter instantly made Teng Qingshan feel heavy-hearted.

　　It was just as Old Wang had assumed. When Teng Qingshan saw this letter, his first thought was to search for Old Wang.

　　“Little Jun, you guys stay here. I am going to Nanshan City,” Teng Qingshan said.

　　“Going now?” Li Jun asked in surprise.

　　The chubby teenager, Yang Dong, said in a deep tone, “Mister Teng, there’s no need to go. My father asked you not to search for him.”

　　“Do you know of your father’s plan?” Teng Qingshan asked as he looked at Yang Dong.

　　“I only know that he is going to kill someone.” Yang Dong shook his head as he answered, “I don’t know anything else. However, his enemy should be very formidable. I can’t even win against my father’s first move.”

　　Old Wang had learned the Azure Lotus Sword Art which Teng Qingshan taught.

　　This sword art was the sword art which Teng Qingshan had organized together after comprehending the Celestial Jade Annulus. The Lotus Swordplay was based on the word, ‘fantasy’. Like a blooming lotus flower, his swordplay was so swift that it appeared as though it was traversing between dreamland and fantasy. Whether it be in the Land of the Nine Prefectures or Duanmu Continent, this sword technique could be considered as one of the finest.

　　Old Wang himself was at the peak of the Postliminary Realm. With the use of the sword art, he could be ranked in the 《Earthly Ranking》 of the Nine Prefectures. So, it was not weird that Yang Dong couldn’t even win against the first move.

　　“Big Brother Teng, what happened?” Li Jun asked hastily.

　　“Just read and you will know.” Teng Qingshan handed the letter and instructed, “Take care of Yang Dong.”

　　With this, Teng Qingshan turned and left.

　　Amidst the fierce wind and heavy snowfall, Teng Qingshan was still able to move, with each stride covering a distance of seven to eight Zhang. It was as if he had teleported. With two flashes, he disappeared into the forest. The scene amazed Yang Dong. “What… what is this Qing Gong?” Yang Dong wondered. He had been a bandit for quite some time and encountered many powerful figures, and yet….

　　He had never seen anyone as terrifyingly powerful as Teng Qingshan. After seeing this, Yang Dong could somewhat understand the concept of ‘the peerless expert in the continent’ which his father mentioned.

　　Teng Qingshan felt that the words in the letter were Old Wang’s last words. Regardless, Teng Qingshan viewed Old Wang as his friend and someone on his side.

　　Soon after, Teng Qingshan arrived at the Rising Sun Restaurant in Nanshan City.

　　In the mansion behind the Rising Sun Restaurant:

　　“Mister Teng,” The Sixth Elder promptly welcomed Teng Qingshan into the hall.

　　The moment they sat down after entering the hall, Teng Qingshan immediately said solemnly, “Sixth Elder, I need the Rising Sun Trading Company to help me with something.”

　　“Mister Teng, do tell.” The Sixth Elder’s eyes brightened as he replied hastily, “The Elders have all received instructions. If Teng Qingshan comes to ask for help, they must do their best to help. Actually, it is rare for Teng Qingshan, an extremely powerful expert, to request for any help. Being able to assist a powerful expert like Teng Qingshan is also something that’s worth being happy about.”

　　“The name of my coachman, Old Wang, is Yang Wang. I hope the Rising Sun Trading Company can help me investigate this person,” Teng Qingshan said. “The clearer the information the better.”

　　“Yang Wang?” The Sixth Elder frowned and said, “Mister Teng, I do remember that coachman of yours. An honest-looking man, crippled with only one eye. However, Mister, just the name alone is not enough…… There are too many people with the same given name and surname. It will be slightly troublesome to investigate with just the name alone.”

　　Teng Qingshan’s brows drew together as he asked, “Even the Rising Sun Trading Company can’t look into it?”

　　“No, we can,” The Sixth Elder explained, “However, the more information Mister provides, the quicker the investigation will be.”

　　Teng Qingshan pondered and expounded, “Yang Wang is an adept sword art practitioner and an expert at the peak of the Postliminary Realm. He has a son named Yang Dong! His son should be around twelve to thirteen years old. He has an enemy and the forces of his enemy are great.”

　　When the Sixth Elder heard this, he nodded and said with a smile, “An expert at the peak of the Postliminary Realm? With this information, it should be easier to conduct the investigation. If the investigation is quick, we will be able to have all the information within three days. If the investigation is slow, it will take ten to fifteen days. If there are no results after ten to fifteen days of investigation, then the clues you gave us may be fake.”

　　“Then I shall await for your response,” Teng Qingshan said with a nod.

　　……

　　After reading the letter, Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, and the others were very worried about Old Wang. However, there was simply nothing Teng Qingshan and the others could do for now.

　　It stopped snowing on the evening of the third day.

　　A great number of War Hous exhaling puffs of white air stopped before the Crescent Moon Lake. Several tall and muscular cavalrymen with solemn expressions pulled on the reins. By just standing there, the several dozen cavalrymen already caused the other people present to feel a tense murderous aura. It was evident that these cavalrymen were people with battlefield experience. Before these cavalrymen, there stood a skinny silver-haired elder.

　　“Sixth Elder, sorry that you have come when it’s so late.” Teng Qingshan, who had been called out of the cave by Li Jun, immediately welcomed the Sixth Elder.

　　“I usually have nothing to do anyway,” The Sixth Elder said with a smile. “Oh, Mister Teng, you wanted information of this man named Yang Wang, right? The Rising Sun Trading Company has found the information. All the information is recorded in this book.”

　　As the Sixth Elder spoke, he handed a thread-bound book to Teng Qingshan.

　　“Yang Wang?” Li Jun and the teenager named Yang Dong looked over.

　　Teng Qingshan took the book and began perusing. As he read, his understanding of Old Wang deepened.

　　Yang Wang was 43 years old this year.

　　At a young age, Old Wang had been a beggar who roamed the continent. A kindhearted couple had taken him in, but due to the chaotic world, the life of the kindhearted couple had grown increasingly tough. Yang Wang had always been a filial son. As he grew older, he had done everything possible to earn some money to care for the kindhearted couple. As he tried every means possible to earn money, he accidentally obtained a book which had the records of an inner strength cultivation method.

　　Yang Wang’s inner strength had then increased continuously, and as he practiced assiduously, he acquired powerful sword skills.

　　With his inner strength and powerful sword art, Yang Wang had been able to move into Tianfeng City with his adoptive parents and became the top-notch bodyguard of a great merchant. Since then, Yang Wang’s life had changed completely. He lived a good life, and his parents lived happily as well!

　　Soon after, the 30-year-old Yang Wang had gotten married. He had wedded a beautiful woman named Wu Shuang.

　　Life had been good, and his son had been born in the following year.

　　However, such good days had only existed for two years.

　　Helian Haotong, the good-for-nothing young member of the Tianfeng Clan in Tianfeng City, desired Yang Wang’s wife. Helian Haotong and Yang Wang’s wife had gotten to know each other while Yang Wang had gone out with the great merchant to do business, and they had eventually hooked up.

　　Yang Wang’s wife, Wu Shuang, was rather capable as she actually could captivate Helian Haotong, and Helian Haotong even wanted to make her his concubine!

　　When Yang Wang returned, he then became aware of what had happened. After abruptly acquiring such information, a burning rage had ignited in Yang Wang’s heart, and Yang Wang had immediately wanted to kill that shameless bitch. However, who would have thought that Helong Haotian would barge into the Yang Residence at this very moment. Helong Haotian had immediately sent his men to protect Wu Shuang and ordered to have all the members of the Yang Family killed.

　　With no ability to resist, Yang Wang’s adoptive parents had died on the spot, while Yang Wang had carried his son of two years of age and narrowly escaped.

　　……

　　“I see. His enemy is actually a member of the Tianfeng Clan. No wonder he wouldn’t tell me…” Teng Qingshan couldn’t help but feel that his heart grow heavy