Everyday I Get Up To See The Villain Stealing The Show Chapter 29

Elder Lan Fang threw Han Changsheng into the cave under Peach Blossom Valley, told him to search for an exit, and abandoned him after that. Every night, he would throw down some fruits and freshwater. Han Changsheng could only rely on those fruits to fill his stomach. Continuously not receiving meat, after only a few meals, he could feel it cleansing the impurities in his body. Clear hearted and lacking desire, he could practically start his journey as a Buddhist monk.

Coming to terms with the fact Elder Lan Fang really wouldn't help him, and that those immortal G.o.ds were unreliable, Han Changsheng could only rely on himself to find a way out.

Because the vines were slippery and tough, his process was not smooth, and he often used two or three slashes to remove a vine. Chopping each vine also consumed a lot of physical strength, and he would often have to rest after cutting for around thirty minutes with very sore arms.

Han Changsheng lived on in the cave. Although no one reminded him of the specific time, from the light pa.s.sing over the hole, he knew when the day pa.s.sed. Five remained until the mysterious old man died.

Han Changsheng was anxious, but he also knew being anxious would not help him. To get out as soon as possible, he had to find a faster and energy-efficient method. He slowed down and studied the vines to find a way he could cut one with a single slash. After practicing for a few hours, he found the strength, angle, and technique required to chop off a vine with one hit. The moves learned during martial arts practice were useless because the most efficient way to cut the vines had to be simple and unadorned. All the fancy, confusing gestures were a waste of time and physical strength on the vines.

That evening, Han Changsheng ate some fruits and rested. The results of his second day in the cave were more fruitful than the first. There was a large cleared out s.p.a.ce around him, but it was only a drop in this ocean of vines.

He was bored and so yelled overhead, "Hey, Elder Lan Fang. I've improved. Look, I've figured out how to cut a vine with one slash. Shouldn't you let me out? I'm in a hurry!"

Elder Lan Fang laughed. "Good disciple. This is just the beginning. If you're in a hurry, find the exit sooner."

When the elder finally responded to him, Han Changsheng's back straightened like a jumping carp. "You're listening to me? You should let me go! I can continue this later! I… I have a friend who's dying. I have to see him one last time before he dies! Really! I'm not lying!"

There was no response.

Han Changsheng was so angry he threw his sword at the ground. Stinky old man! Don't you have any humanity? Didn't you hear me say someone would die?!

No matter how long he yelled and cursed, Elder Lan Fang had disappeared again.

Han Changsheng almost lost his temper. The sky still wasn't dark. Han Changsheng chopped the vines some more.

Tianning Cult's martial arts was a collection of hundreds of sect's most well known martial art teachings. It wasn't just swordsmans.h.i.+p, and almost all weapons were touched upon eventually. For example, the highest and most outstanding Hall Master in Tianning, Luo Xin, had almost no weapon he could not use. When anything was placed in his hands, he had the knowledge to master it. Even a piece of cloth could be a weapon to kill. Lu Baiyi and Lu Qingqian could also use over a dozen weapons. The weapon Lu Baiyi favored was a meteor hammer and Lu Qingqian's favorite weapon as the hidden flying needle. As for Han Changsheng, he always thought knowing how to fight was enough, and there was no need to waste time on learning so many. He only knew how to use common sabers and swords. No one had forced him and the old cult leader once said if he was capable enough to use a single weapon to unequaled perfection, it was more useful than the martial arts he would learn from any sect.

During his time in Tianning Cult, Luo Xin said his swordsmans.h.i.+p was too vain. A large part of his martial arts was about deceiving the guys who urged him to practice, so his moves were naturally grandees. Although he tried to restrain himself in front of Elder Lan Fang, who was this elder to not see through his impetuous nature from Han Changsheng's subconscious counters, or even the way he talked and handled things.

Elder Lan Fang's intent was easy to understand too. The reason his swordsmans.h.i.+p was so powerful was that he pursued the sword's true nature. All the flas.h.i.+ness could ultimately be reduced to simplicity and composed of the most basic movements. Dealing with these vines strengthened those basic moves.

Although Han Changsheng understood this, he did not agree with this training method.

What use was there in having him cut these? They were stationary things. In a real fight, no one would stand still and let him study which angle to cut would be most appropriate. He could use one chop to cut these vines, but could he make a breakthrough? These vines he could only cut one per slash, but to speed up the process, he could only increase the cutting speed… WAIT! One vine per slash? Couldn't he slice off more than one per cut?

When he considered this, he immediately changed the way he used his sword. Naturally, it was unsuccessful at first, but he kept trying. A sword chop can only cut one, and he swings once after another, cutting the vine to the right at the same time. Turn, and cut another, and another fell to the ground…

In the beginning, the rebound or slippage of the vines interrupted his ability to make more than one move, but then he could connect three or four strokes. Then, with a dozen strikes… Han Changhseng's movements sped up. Before, he had to chop the tough vines several times before he could cut them off. Now, they were as fragile as paper in his eyes. Originally he could only chop, now he could chop, stab, or swing with success. Any move was as fast as possible, and with less and less energy consumed. Even two hours of cutting at the vines didn't disturb his breathing.

Han Changsheng devoted himself to cutting and gradually forgot the pa.s.sage of time. It wasn't until the sky darkened to the point of no visibility that he realized it was evening again. This was his fourth night trapped under Peach Blossom Valley. In two days, the old man would leave the world of the living.

The weird vines in the cave had been cut in half, but he still hadn't found a way out.

He took a sip of water and rested, then shouted, "Old man, are you kidding me? Is there an exit in this d.a.m.n place?"

Elder Lan Fang's voice echoed down, "Teacher would never cheat you." After a pause, he continued: "Good disciple, you're gifted and intelligent. It took fifteen days for Teacher to reach where you are. It only took you five days."

Han Changsheng took four days to halve the number of vines in the cave. According to this speed, he could clean the entire cave in less than ten days. It took Elder Lan Fang twenty full days to find the exit. So at nineteen, he had surpa.s.sed the Lan Fang from fifty years ago.

Han Changsheng looked around in the darkness and grinned bitterly. Only two days left, could he still make it in time?

"Hey!" Han Changsheng raised his head. "Old man, chat with me."

Every night, he couldn't see around him, which made it difficult to chop. He'd stayed alone in this d.a.m.n place, and Elder Lan Fang would appear and disappear unpredictably. He heard only a dozen words over four days, but he couldn't find a second person to chat with him. He was bored to death.

"What do you want to talk about?" Elder Lan Fang appeared to be in a good mood this evening. He was even willing to talk with him.

"How old were you when you joined Yuehua Sect?"

Lan Fang said, "I joined the sect as a disciple when I was twelve, seventy-six years ago."

Han Changsheng stuck out his tongue. Seventy-six years, that was a long time. He asked, "Since you were here for so long, aren't you knowledgeable about Yuehua Sect's affairs?"

Lan Fang smiled. "More than you. Why, what do you want to ask?"

Han Changsheng laughed twice and said, "Our Yuehua Sect is a famous righteous sect. Our disciples must also be righteous gentlemen. Are there any exceptions?"

Lan Fang: "Exceptions?"

Han Changsheng: "For instance, in all these years, has anyone ever been driven out of the sect? For what reason?"

Elder Lan Fang asked with great interest, "Dearest disciple, why do you inquire about this?"

Han Changsheng: "I was just asking, a little curious about it."

There was no reply for quite some time. Worried Elder Lan Fang had disappeared again, he opened his mouth to shout when he heard the elder's gentle voice. "Our Yuehua Sect's rules are very strict. If you take the wrong step, you'll be in danger of expulsion. However, in reality, that isn't true. You now people that mingle in the world of martial arts often start as wandering vigilantes. Joining a sect, withdrawing, it doesn't matter much. However, if someone's been expelled by a prestigious sect, no matter how good their martial arts are, it would be difficult to stand before the children of the world's martial arts heroes. Unless they can return to their old case, prove their character wasn't tainted, it would ruin their entire life. Therefore, our sect wouldn't easily expel a disciple."

This surprised Han Changsheng. "The rules written on the door, is it really just a scare?"

Elder Lan Fang: "Those words cannot be spoken. It's merely to improve the mental state within the sect. For example, the rule say those who gamble will be expelled, but Yuehua Sect has arrested several disciples who gambled privately. The severest punishment was the removal of their rank and being reduced to field operation." These so-called field operation disciples carried the Yuehua Sect's name, though the sect would't drive them out, they would have no master to teach them, nor did they have the qualifications to practice with others. They could only do odd jobs. After a few months, the disciple would leave Yuehua Sect and become an idle man. Therefore, it wasn't the Yuehua Sect that drove them out.

Han Changsheng pulled at his hair. "Then no one has been driven out?"

Elder Lan Fang: "Naturally, there are a few. If someone's morals are terrible, can we keep them? I remember a disciple in my generation was expelled and became a notoriously vile person. He died before he was thirty."

Han Changhseng quickly asked, "Why was he driven out?"

Elder Lan Fang: "He pulled out his knife and killed a poor younger brother without a word. Such a malicious person, the world of martial arts couldn't tolerate."

Han Changsheng blinked. So, murder really was the biggest sin?

Elder Lan Fang: "Child, your ambition is too unstable. Is it because I tossed you down there, you'll betray and flee the sect?"

Han Changsheng hurried to say, "What are you talking about? How could I do such a thing?!" I just want to drive out your most arrogant disciple here. This is that Dog Lord's fate given by the immortals. None of this is Laozi's business!

Lan Fang: "You practiced well. You're close to being enlightened. When you come out, the sword in your hand is my gift to you. You can keep it." He disappeared again and no longer replied.

Late that night, the lighting wasn't good at all. The starlight and moonlight didn't pa.s.s through, and the entire cave was pitch black. However, Han Changsheng could not sleep. He had practiced to this point, and it had become very easy to cut the vines. With all the impurities flushed out from all this practice, his body felt light and full of vitality.

Since he couldn't sleep, he sat up, reached out to touch the vines ahead, and grabbed the sword Lan Fang gave him. He should chop some in the dark. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could leave.

Han Changsheng closed his eyes and slowly breathed, thinking about his next move.

If he regarded these vines as enemies, right now, he was surrounded by them. All he had to do was cut them all down.

Han Changsheng hesitated and chopped at the slippery vines. With the returning strength of the sword, he knew the vine wasn't cut. This. .h.i.t had failed.

He took in a deep breath, held the sword firmly, and cut again. This one successful.

Just like during the day, he progressed a little. He also explored step by step to speed up his efficiency. He couldn't see, but he could hear. His sword pushed around the vines, so they were stacked on top of each other. If one moved, then several followed, and he could identify their direction. He increased his strokes, one, two, three…

Each movement grew smoother and smoother. If someone could see in the night, Han Changsheng was like a flying bird. His body was light and strong, and he grasped everything within his own hands.

Suddenly, he realized something. These vines, although stagnant objects, were not as difficult to deal with than real enemies. In speeding up, Han Changsheng had completely abandoned the flas.h.i.+ness of swordsmans.h.i.+p. There was an opens pace in his mind. He was here, and enemies surrounded him. They attacked, and he swung his sword, laying down the enemy…

The vines weren't stagnant at all! Their forms were changeable. If he wanted to cut, he had to pay attention to the angle and strength. Even if it were a living person, it would be the same. The vines were dense, like being surrounded. Han Changsheng had to cut faster to finish these enemies in the shortest amount of time possible. He practiced internally. No matter how dazzling the enemy's moves became, he could find their weakness and breakthrough.

His sword returned to simplicity, and it was because of this simplicity that all kinds of moves could be cracked. When he understood his purpose and saw through the opponent's purpose, his sword and thoughts reached their peak. The sword moved with the heart and the heart moved with one's thoughts. He was an illusion, and he had become the sword. Everything was in control.

Suddenly, Han Changsheng's foot met an empty, hollow spot. Han Changhsheng stopped and squatted. It was a hole just big enough for a person to pa.s.s through.

He had finally found it! The exit to the Peach Blossom Valley cave!

Translator(s): Empress
Editor(s): Teo, Dark, Bet