A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2257 - 1527: This Isn’t Right? (Cold Outside, Hot Inside—What a Headache)
When Duanmu Huai arrived in Yangzhou, it was already late in the day.
Under the light’s glow, the yacht traveled at a leisurely pace, seemingly carefree. Duanmu Huai stood on the deck, gazing at Yangzhou City not far off, and couldn’t help but stretch lazily.
Wang Yuyan and Little Dragon Girl stood on either side of him, but they felt somewhat melancholic about the beautiful scenery before them.
It was only natural for them to react this way, as the trio had traveled downriver, witnessing the chaos and destruction everywhere. Regardless of whether it was the so-called Rebel Army or the official army, they plundered and looted wherever they went. Simply looting would have been enough, but they also forcibly conscripted young men and unabashedly seized young women.
The sight of this chaos and disorder made the two women furrow their brows, their moods sour.
Wang Yuyan also sighed softly and muttered.
"I have heard of the rebellion in the Southern State, but I never imagined it would be this terrifying. No matter if they are official soldiers or Rebel Army, why are they bullying the common people with such brutality? On our journey, we have witnessed countless acts of abducting women and murdering children and the elderly; it truly chills the heart."
"That is the nature of war."
Duanmu Huai sneered.
"Don’t be fooled by the Rebel Army’s high-sounding slogans. In fact, they are nothing more than a band of bandits, except their ambitions are larger than the roadside robbers you normally encounter. To them, the entire world is their target, and for this goal, any action can be justified. Forcing young men into service increases their military strength, looting food boosts their supplies, and exploiting women can raise their morale. Despite their loud slogans, fundamentally, they are no different from bandits."
Throughout history, both ancient and modern, very few armies possess true idealistic beliefs that they can implement—barely enough to count on one hand. Other armies, to put it bluntly, are no different than bandits, with or without official sanction.
It’s like the only difference between the British Royal Navy and pirates is a privateering license.
Essentially, it’s like the difference between a licensed pet dog and a stray dog.
At this point, Duanmu Huai glanced at the two women.
"Don’t involve yourselves too much in unnecessary affairs. Rescuing people is one thing—if you can help them survive a bit longer, then so be it, but afterward, it’s their business and nothing to do with us."
After all, during this entire journey, Wang Yuyan and Little Dragon Girl had intervened numerous times to help oppressed villagers. With their abilities, dealing with the incompetent official soldiers and Rebel Army was no problem. However, the issue lay in their excessive pondering when, in reality, there was little they could accomplish.
Wang Yuyan even pleaded with Duanmu Huai to allow those villagers on board, but he refused outright. As a Judge, he was well aware of how dangerous those desperate individuals could be. Although it is unfortunate that Imperial citizens suffer at the hands of cultists, that does not necessarily mean they are innocent. Humans are capable of anything for survival. Meeting by chance and helping in times of crisis is already enough; how could they possibly take care of them for their entire lives?
"They say Yang Guang is dim-witted and tyrannical, inciting the people’s rebellion, but these Rebel Army soldiers are no better than Yang Guang. Even if they seize the world, what’s the difference for the people now?"
As she spoke, Little Dragon Girl shook her head.
"As the saying goes, when prosperity comes, the common people suffer; when it falls, they suffer too. It’s all the same. Given this era, it’s inevitable to be subject to history’s course."
"...... By the way, you’ve been fishing for half the night, why haven’t you caught a single fish?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Hearing Little Dragon Girl’s inquiry, Duanmu Huai rolled his eyes. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
"Fishing is about reflection, do you understand? Cultivating oneself and nurturing character! Haven’t you heard the story of Jiang Taigong fishing? It invites those who are willing! I’m telling you, fishing is like being a person, only with patience can you reap rewards... oh, look, it’s finally coming!"
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai felt a sudden weight on his fishing rod, clearly having hooked a big catch, and his heart leapt with joy. He gripped the rod tightly and tugged upward with force, watching as the water’s surface broke, a large black object pulled from the depths, swaying a few times before thudding onto the deck.
Yet when they looked clearly at the object, all three were stunned—it was not a big fish entangled on the hook, but a corpse!
"Damn! What kind of luck is this? Can’t catch a fish, but end up with this rubbish!"
Duanmu Huai cursed vehemently while Wang Yuyan sighed softly.
"Such a pity, who knows how many people have perished in the river due to the chaos..."
Only Little Dragon Girl walked over, bending down to carefully examine the corpse before shaking her head.
"No, he was killed using martial arts."
As she spoke, Little Dragon Girl reached out and turned the body over. When Wang Yuyan saw the face clearly, she gasped in surprise. The dead man’s face was covered in frost; though pulled from the river, he appeared as though retrieved from a freezer.
"This is... Yuwen Faction’s Ice Profound Power!"
With just a glance, Wang Yuyan immediately identified the method of death. She promptly furrowed her brow, circled the corpse once, then spoke.
"It seems this must be Yangzhou’s top martial artist, Pushing Mountain Hand Shi Long."
"How did you recognize him?"
Hearing Wang Yuyan’s response, Duanmu Huai looked at her curiously and asked, to which Wang Yuyan extended her hand, pointing as she explained.
"Look at the calluses on this man’s hands, especially thick at the knuckles, his hands tautly clenched inward. It signifies the outward expression of inner strength. In the Jianghu, few people can accomplish this with bare hands, and since we’re in Yangzhou, I deduced he belongs to the Mountain Pushing Palm school."
"How do you know he is Shi Long?"
"I could tell from this Ice Profound Power."
Wang Yuyan pointed again at the icy visage of the deceased.
"Though it’s unclear how long this gentleman has been dead, if he has been floating in the river for some time, even so, frost on his face hasn’t melted, indicating that the cold ice energy still remains within him. Achieving such a state is only possible for top experts of the Yuwen Faction. If it were an ordinary Jianghu person, they couldn’t possibly escape from them. One who can contend with the Yuwen Faction, practicing Ice Profound Power to the Transformation Realm, and even managing to escape from their grasp at the last moment, could only be Pushing Mountain Hand Shi Long."
Wang Yuyan paused at this point.
"Though I’m not sure of the situation, from what we’ve seen so far, Shi Long seems to have had a conflict with someone from the Yuwen Faction, got injured by them, and with his last breath, tried to escape, but ultimately couldn’t avoid his demise."
"Well, you could become a detective with deductions like these."
Upon hearing Wang Yuyan’s reasoning, Duanmu Huai remarked sarcastically. Previously, it was said that Western reasoning had a rule that Chinese kung fu couldn’t be included, or else it couldn’t be called deduction. But seeing Wang Yuyan speak so confidently and effortlessly, she truly resembled a bit of Sherlock Holmes.
This goes to show, in the end, it was just Westerners not understanding martial arts, saying that those skilled in kung fu can’t be involved in deductions?
"Hm?"
At this moment, Little Dragon Girl seemed to notice something. She drew out her Longsword and approached Shi Long’s body, and then a book-shaped item was flicked out, landing on the sword’s edge.
The Longsword used by Little Dragon Girl was not ordinary, yet although the book had been soaked in water for a long time, not a drop was on it, and now, being lifted by the sword, it appeared as pristine as new, quite strange.
"This is really odd; this book doesn’t appear to be ordinary."
At this point, Wang Yuyan came over, carefully examining this book, and then her expression changed slightly.
"Could it be one of the four great books of the Southern Martial World—the Longevity Technique? It is said this book comes from Guang Chengzi, mentor to the Ancient Emperor Huang, written in oracle bone script, profound and difficult to comprehend. Moreover, it is woven of Xuanjin Thread, impervious to water and fire... I never imagined it would be with Shi Long?"
As she spoke, Wang Yuyan reached out and took the book, flipping through it, and then... her face flushed as she closed the book.
"What’s wrong?"
Seeing Wang Yuyan’s expression, Duanmu Huai asked, and Wang Yuyan lowered her head.
"I must have mistaken it; this probably isn’t the Longevity Technique..."
"Oh? If this isn’t the Longevity Technique, what is it?"
Duanmu Huai’s curiosity was piqued, so he took the book from Wang Yuyan’s hand and opened it. Naturally, he knew of the fame of the Longevity Technique, after all, it was considered a top-tier mental method and kung fu. He recalled from novels, two little beggars became top experts after practicing the two diagrams in the Longevity Technique.
Is there something wrong?
Duanmu Huai opened the book and glanced inside, and... okay, he understood why Wang Yuyan had that expression.
Indeed, there were seven diagrams, seemingly training diagrams like those in the Longevity Technique. Except, unlike the broadcast gymnastics-like diagrams in Duanmu Huai’s imagination, these seven diagrams depicted a man and a woman, with one person standing upright and the other locking their legs around the waist...
"Is this supposed to be some kind of Forty-eight Hands technique?"
How do these diagrams resemble moves like Shiyu Tea Mortar, Seven Standing Pine Leaves, Imperial Residence, and so on...
Duanmu Huai silently flipped through, feeling something was amiss.
Wasn’t Shi Long supposed to be comprehending the Longevity Technique?
What is this Dual Cultivation of 48 Hands?
Oh, right, it had a name too.
Dao Heart Planting Demon......
Okay.
Duanmu Huai quietly closed the book.
It seems he indeed ended up in the wrong scene.
What is this mess? What happened to the Longevity Technique, how did it turn into this bizarre thing?
Just as Duanmu Huai was internally complaining crazily, suddenly, several beam lights illuminated the front, and five giant ships approached from another side.
At the same time, a voice sounded.
"May I know who is ahead, please state your name, Yuwen Hua Ji sends greetings here!"
