Chapter 4: Years in the Mountains

  The sky is clear, the sun shines everywhere, and the air after the rain still has a hint of moisture. When smelled with the nose, there is a special flavor, which seems to be a kind of refreshing fragrance, slightly accompanied by a faint scent similar to jasmine flowers that makes people feel refreshed and relaxed.

  Outside the cave, Tang An set up a rack with several stones. At this moment, on the rack was roasting a pheasant with golden brown skin and dripping yellow oil.

  The wind blows, and the tempting fragrance wafts out in waves, causing the wild beasts in the mountains to frequently poke their heads out, as if suspecting that this mountain had ever had such a tempting fragrance.

  Muhongyu took the "Universal Antidote Pill" and broke his intestines for three days. This toxin is very potent, but it's also being slowly stripped away from his heart meridian and blood vessels.

  Tang An could see that Mu Hongyu's condition was gradually improving, at least her complexion had started to show some color, and although she was still talking nonsense, at least all of this indicated that her body was recovering in a good direction.

  Mu Hongyu couldn't eat anything, so Tang An was afraid she would starve, and he crushed those foods into a liquid and fed it to her.

  These days, she seems to have gotten used to being force-fed by Tang An and no longer chokes.

  Three more days passed like this.

  That day, Tang An did as he always did, blocking the entrance with stones and going into the mountains to hunt for some wild game.

  He found a strange fungus growing not far from the cave, like mushrooms but with very small heads. He deliberately cooked it and tried it on a rabbit, which was non-toxic. After tasting it himself, he confirmed that there were no side effects half an hour later, before daring to put the mushroom into a large piece of limestone that he had hollowed out with his dagger as a pot.

  "Mushrooms are stewed with rabbit meat, which is extremely fresh and delicious. She must like it too."

  Thinking of this, for some reason, Tang An's heart also felt a little warm, it turned out that taking care of others could also bring happiness.

  Happiness comes from satisfaction.

  Watching Mu Hongyu's condition improve day by day, the weak internal energy also began to flow in his body like a thin thread, and Tang An's heart was filled with joy.

  Because she finally came back to life. All his efforts have finally paid off!

  "The cave is too damp, since the rain has stopped, I'll take her out to bask in the sun after a while. Hopefully, the warmth of spring will also take away her illness. Today is already the third day, if nothing unexpected happens, she should wake up."

  Tang An took a sip of the mushroom soup and found it a bit bland, but since she was ill, she couldn't eat anything too salty, so something light was better for her.

  He hastily scooped a bowl of clean water with a stone basin and sent it to Mu Hongyu.

  Just then, as he walked into the cave, in the flickering firelight, across the flames, he suddenly saw those eyes that he had been waiting for seven days.

  Although still dim, although the eyes were still unfamiliar to himself, although a hint of doubt flashed in those eyes. However, those eyes were indeed emitting a bright light!

  That bright light was like a willow tree in the spring breeze outside, full of vitality and spirit.

  Tang An's face had already begun to overflow with a smile that couldn't be stopped.

  He swiftly ran to Murong Yu's side, skillfully placing the dry grass under her back, so that she would feel more comfortable.

  Mu Hongyu didn't say a word, only a hint of curiosity flashed in her eyes as she watched Tang An's familiar movements. She had already understood that this was not his first time doing so. She herself had been unconscious for who knows how long, and during this period, it must have been him taking care of her.

  Looking at Tang An busily lowering his head, although his face looked resolute, he was still a child who had not yet shed his childishness.

  "What's that delicious smell?"

  Muhongyu's nose twitched slightly, and suddenly she caught a whiff of an enticing fragrance in the air.

  She immediately saw a strange stone bowl placed on one side by Tang An.

  There was a bowl of soup in it, and there were also several green leaves floating on the surface. I don't know what kind of plant they are, but just smelling the aroma should be extremely fresh and delicious.

  Tang An's hand rested on her wrist, feeling her pulse finally return to normal, that "thumping" beat, clear and smooth with a steady rhythm, her vitality had begun to recover!

  "Your poison should have been resolved, but your body is still very weak. Can you now circulate your internal energy? If so, circulate it three times a day, no more, and you will recover within seven days."

  Jian Mu Hongyu kept staring at the stone bowl placed on one side, and Tang An suddenly realized something.

  "Oh, I forgot, you must be hungry! But since you just woke up, you can't eat meat, only something liquid-like, or your stomach won't be able to take it."

  As she spoke, Tang An immediately handed over the bowl. Mu Hongyu reached out to take it, but her hands were weak and couldn't even hold the bowl steady. Her hand trembled uncontrollably as soon as she lifted it up.

  "Let me feed you."

  Tang An said, skillfully sitting behind her back, letting Mu Hongyu lean against his chest, then half-turning his body, handing the bowl to her mouth.

  Feeling a bit strange, Mu Hongyu hesitated for a moment, but she still opened her mouth and lightly licked it.

  As soon as the soup entered his mouth, a warm feeling spread throughout his body.

  This feeling was something she had never experienced before in her life, it was very strange, but she liked it extremely.

  In less than a moment, this delicious hot drink was finished.

  After eating, she had energy in her body, but her complexion became even more despondent.

  Muhongyu lay on the bed, her eyes empty and hollow, as if she had lost her soul. She silently stared at the protruding rocks on the mountain cave, sighing: "Can't go back home, don't know where to find my aunt. It seems that this world is left with only me, alone and solitary."

  Tang An had gathered the hay outside and brought it back, then took another bundle of dry grass to spread out a mat on the platform outside. The sun was just right now, shining warmly but not too brightly on her face, but if she waited any longer, it would be scorching hot.

  Thinking of this, Tang An happily returned to the mountain cave, went to pick up Mu Hongyu and put her on that pile of grass.

  The haystack is very soft, it must be extremely comfortable.

  Mu Hongyu looked up at the sky with a dejected expression.

  The sky was clear with no clouds, when suddenly a flying bird flashed by, followed by another bird chirping loudly as it chased after the first one.

  Two birds chirped and frolicked, flying for a while before landing on a branch. The two birds occasionally stretched out their necks to nuzzle each other.

  This scene was seen by Miao Yu, but it was so enviable.

  When was it, that her brother also pulled her to run wildly in Qinghe Town? When they did something wrong, he would always stand up and take the blame for her. Even when their father scolded them until their skin cracked and bled, he would cry silently on the side, but still wink at her mischievously. Thinking back, those were such happy times...

  "I thought brother would always be this good to me, but why, growing up, everything changed?"

  Muhongyu looked up at the sky, her eyes already slightly moist, but she bit back her tears and refused to let herself cry.

  Tang An sat on her side, gazing out at the endless mountains and peaks of Shu in front of her.

  "Beyond this mountain, that side is Yangzhou. In the blink of an eye, a year has already passed. I still always think that tomorrow my old mother will hit my little butt and call me to get up and eat bird's nest congee. The road in Jianghu is too long, ten years are nothing, but for me, it really is too long!"

  Just then, he suddenly felt Mu Hongyu pulling at his sleeve, and turned around to look at her in surprise.

  "Anything wrong?"

  Muhongyu didn't say a word, but slowly pulled out a silk handkerchief from her own bosom.

  Taking a closer look, Tang An soon discovered that the handkerchief was covered with words, seemingly a secret martial arts manual.

  "This is the 'Shu Mountain Sword Classic' given to me by my master. The red characters on it are my master's notes during his cultivation. If you follow this secret book, you will definitely be able to cultivate to the fifth level of Tianren without any unexpected events. I don't know why you want to leave Shu Mountain, and I don't want to know either. I know how severe the poison in me is, and it must have cost you a great deal to detoxify me. I, Miao Hongyu, do not like owing others. This sword classic can be considered as repayment for my life."

  Tang An glanced at the sword manual, but pushed her hand away and shook his head in refusal: "Although I very much hope to get this sword manual, I saved you, but it's absolutely not for any reward. You don't understand, so please don't assume! Otherwise, this rare friendship will fade. I regard you as my partner, that's why I saved you."

  At this point, Tang An suddenly turned his head and stared at Mu Hongyu with a piercing gaze: "I saved you just because I wanted to, what does it have to do with you?"

  Muhongyu was taken aback, it turned out that in this world she wasn't alone after all, at least there was someone who considered herself a partner.

  Thinking of this, her heart became even more stubborn, and the sword manual was forced into Tang An's hands. She tilted her head and said: "You saving me is your business, I giving you the sword manual is my business, as for whether you accept it or not, that's another matter. Even if you turn around and throw it away next, I don't care."

  In the end, Mu Hongyu added another sentence: "Actually, you didn't need to save me, and you could have obtained the sword manual from my body."

  "But I've already saved it!"

  "Yes. You saved me, so I'm alive. To thank you, I'll give you the most valuable thing on me. What's wrong with that? Why won't you accept it? Don't you want to be free from my debt of gratitude for life? If so, how can I consider you a partner in the future?"

  Hearing this, Tang An burst out laughing: "Alright, I'll take it. After I memorize it, I'll return it to you!"

  "I don't need to, but next time you meet Jin Jian Nan, you must help me kill him! No, killing him is too easy, I must find a more painful poison to let him experience the taste!"

  Perhaps thinking of Jin Jian Nan's painful appearance at that time, Mu Hongyu suddenly burst out laughing.

  Tang An looked at her and smiled somewhat crazily, suddenly shaking his head: "Silly girl."

  "Brat!"

  "You!"

  Seeing Tang An's speechless expression, Mu Hongyu burst out laughing and the gloom on her face for many days was swept away in an instant.

  After a while, Mu Hongyu began to plan how the two of them would travel the world, uphold justice and righteousness, and also considered whether they should first go to rob the rich in Jinzhou City, a major city in Sichuan, to redistribute wealth.

  At that time, Jianghu will have another strange rumor, and Muda Female Chivalrous will become another great legend in Jianghu without hesitation.

  When she got excited, saliva flew everywhere, and Muge Female Chivalrous wanted to order Tang An to bring a bowl of mushroom soup to moisten her throat. However, Tang An had already quietly slipped away to study the Shu Mountain Sword Classic when she mentioned "Night Battle of Jinzhou Defense, Long Sword Sweeping Eighteen Generals".

  Tang An now realized that the person he saved was not some kind of noble lady or a talented young girl from Shu Mountain, but rather a crazy woman.

  No way, and I have to add a prefix, "crazy girl with a screw loose"!

  But it seems that's his only friend, so he'll just go crazy then.

  "Unfortunately, although this world is vast, how many people are willing to go crazy with me on the long and winding road of Jianghu?"

  Seeing that crazy girl over there shouting loudly "Tang An, Tang An, quickly get a cup of water for sister", Tang An shook his head and continued to ignore her.

  …………

  Meng Chongshan, a wonder of the world, with an altitude of several thousand meters, its peak is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round.

  Meng Chong Mountain, also known as Qianyuan Mountain, stretches for thousands of miles, from the southern part of Yanzhou to the south, connecting with Shu Mountain, without any boundaries, extending straight into the depths of the Nanman wilderness, and no one knows its length!

  Moreover, there is a legend that the founding emperor of Great Yan once lived in this place and had the same dream for three consecutive years.

  In his dream, the nine rivers flowed through this land and suddenly transformed into nine colorful divine dragons that surrounded him and galloped around. Just as he was about to wake up, it suddenly rained in the sky, startling him awake, washing away his beautiful dream, but allowing him to comprehend the extraordinary martial art of the Nine Dragons Dry Universe Technique, from then on becoming the greatest master under heaven.

  Then the world was in great chaos, and Emperor Zu recruited brave men from the countryside to rise up and conquer the world, creating a magnificent foundation for the nine states and 80,000 miles of mountains and rivers that would last for ages!

  In the mountains, trees stand tall and upright, with dense undergrowth, thorny thickets, and some slippery leaves on the ground, as well as cloud sparrows flying leisurely across the sky.

  All of this seems just like eight years ago, with almost no change at all.

  It's already early spring now. The Mengchong Mountain is towering into the clouds, and there is still a bit of spring chill on this mountain. The cold wind blows by, and people can still feel a hint of coldness on their bodies.

  The sky has turned gloomy, accompanied by the rumbling of thunder, and it seems that it's going to rain again. The south is abundant with rainwater, especially during this early spring season. However, such rainfall is what farmers love most. Spring rain nourishes all things, and naturally, it also benefits the crops in the fields.

  "Brushing"

  In the quiet forest, a faint rustling of leaves suddenly sounded, as if the wind had blown through the branches, so slight and subtle that it was easy to overlook.

  But in a little while, the sound suddenly grew louder and louder.

  "Boom!"

  A loud crash, even the earth shook slightly. That was Tang An throwing a huge boulder onto the empty ground! He is now testing the weight of those boulders, selecting one that suits him for tempering.

  Tang An wore only a pair of shorts, his upper body bare as he was currently undergoing physical refinement. On top of his head, he held aloft an enormous boulder that was several sizes larger than himself. His arms were coiled and the muscles on them seemed like steel cables, bursting with terrifying power.

  He kept squatting down and standing up with a huge stone.

  “1.2.3.4……1000！”

  At last, his forehead was covered with sweat, and he finally reached the limit, suddenly throwing the giant stone to his side, and the earth shook again.

  Tang An abandoned the giant stone, but didn't immediately return home. Instead, he pulled out a long sword from one side.

  This sword looks extremely ordinary at first glance, and it can't even be called a treasured sword. However, when Tang An wields it, one will discover that the cold light on the sword is dazzlingly brilliant.

  A sword changes with the person. If it's an ordinary person, even a precious sword is nothing but a decorative useless sword! If it's a master, even broken copper and rusty iron can be a deadly sharp weapon!

  Suddenly, Tang An moved, and in an instant, he was like a ghostly shadow, sweeping through the mountains and forests like the wind. His movements were so fast that people couldn't see them clearly, and in the blink of an eye, they could only see a flash of extremely bright cold light, which was emitted by the sword in his hand.

  He either treads on withered branches, wandering and dancing, or leaps over the withered wood on the ground, shuttling in mid-air. His shadow flits through the forest like a butterfly, as agile as a monkey. Although his feet are bare, they don't even touch half a speck of mud, because his qinggong has already reached an ethereal state, and he can borrow momentum to take off with just one point.

  His qinggong has reached this level, and crossing the river with a single reed is no longer just a legend.

  His sword started extremely fast, like lightning, but after a while, the sword slowed down, and the killing intent became even stronger. It was as if an eagle was soaring in the sky, its sharp eyes fixed on the prey on the ground, and once it moved, it would only take an instant to hunt it down!

  "Shu Mountain Sword Classic, indeed lives up to its reputation! I've finally cultivated it to the peak of the fifth stage of Tian Ren, just one step away from entering the Heavenly Realm!"

  Tang An thought to this place, suddenly shook his head, he had been practicing this sword for eight years, the places that should be polished, had already been polished countless times. It's just that martial arts training is not a one-day effort, the more he studied it carefully, the more he found the profundity of this, as if it had subtly stirred up the power of heaven and earth.

  "But martial arts are clearly just a way of cultivating one's body, so how can they be connected to heaven and earth?"

  Tang An naturally didn't understand. If he had understood, at this moment, he would no longer be in the fifth realm of Tian Ren, but in the sixth realm, the Heavenly Boundary!

  "One sword's chill light covers the nine provinces!"

  Tang An's mouth suddenly let out a soft whistle, and in an instant the long sword in his hand transformed into a sheet of light and shadow, swallowing and spitting it out. The light and shadow overlapped each other, flying out in all eight directions around him, but if one looked closely, there was clearly another beam of sword light that shot upwards towards the top of his head.

  "Hmph!"

  With a burst of noise, in an instant, the towering trees surrounding him all "cracked" and broke their branches, toppling over.

  "Hmm"

  After Tang An made this sword move, he only felt that the internal energy that was originally full and overflowing suddenly became empty and hollow, like a water tank that had been drained of all its water.

  "This move is too powerful and consumes too much internal energy. If you're not forced into a desperate situation, using this move would be self-inflicted suffering."

  Tang An sat on the ground, taking big breaths of air, the wind blowing on his body, a refreshing coolness that felt extremely comfortable.

  His eyes gazed at the distant and endless mountains and rivers.

  For eight years, day after day, Tang An has been diligently practicing the Shu Mountain Sword Classic.

  At present, all the sword moves that can be recorded in writing and pictures in the Shu Mountain Sword Classic have been mastered by him. What's left are only those sword intents that can't be verbalized, need to be felt with the heart, and can't be imitated by others. However, for Tang An now, this is a bit too vague and elusive.

  Since Tang An entered the fifth realm of Tian Ren, his progress has been greatly slowed down over the past few years.

  It has been four years since the fourth major breakthrough of Tianren entered the fifth stage.

  For the past four years, Tang An has not been lazy for a moment, and his martial arts training has become even more diligent than before. However, since last year, Tang An has not made any progress at all.

  Tang An vaguely sensed that he had encountered a bottleneck!

  The Ten Realms of Heaven and Man are divided into two major realms: the Pre-Heavenly Realm and the Post-Heavenly Realm.

  Heavenly Man's fifth stage, but it's just a mortal's trick. The sword energy and knife edge are ten meters away from the body, this is already the strongest move that can be made in the fifth stage of Heavenly Man.

  If one reaches the sixth level of Tian Ren, true energy transforms into true yuan, internal energy solidifies, fills the meridians, and can wield sword energy and knife edges to the extreme, even killing enemies 50 meters away!

  Moreover, the sixth layer of Tian Ren will cause the body to produce a protective true energy, making it difficult for swords and knives to inflict injury, unless one encounters an opponent of similar level who can be injured by sword energy. Furthermore, internal energy transforms into true yuan, rendering all poisons ineffective, and even appearance remains youthful forever!

  The fifth and sixth tones, although they differ by just one step, are actually worlds apart!

  "Heavenly Man, Heavenly Man, I'm afraid it's only by stepping into this sixth level that one can truly catch a glimpse of Heaven's will."

  "It seems that if I continue to seclude myself and cultivate in isolation, I will inevitably fall into a predicament. This cultivation should also be stopped for the time being, perhaps going out into the world and meeting various heroes will bring me unexpected surprises."

  Tang An thought of this, and suddenly a clear cry came from the valley, it was Mu Hongyu's!

  "Tang An, it's time to go home and have dinner!"