Chapter 18: The Three Heroes of the Central Plains (Part I)
The saddest thing about a person is that he doesn't know what he is doing.
So I've been busy on the road.
To reach the top, you have to find someone stronger than yourself, and then prove your existence with a sword.
People will remember my name.
King Chuang, Lu Huaishan.
Huaishan's father, Lu Chongyuan, is also a famous hero, just because he saw through the sinister rivers and lakes, he took his wife to live in seclusion. So Huaishan lived a carefree life in the mountains and forests from birth until he was fourteen years old.
One of LΓΌ Chongyuan's friends was hunted down by the enemy and came to join them, but because he was too seriously injured, he died after two days, leaving only a boy the size of Huaishan. The boy's name was Yuan Zhan, and his appearance changed the trajectory of Huaishan's life.
Unlike Huaishan's carefreeness, Yuan Zhan was not only excellent in swordsmanship at the age of fourteen, but the hatred that had accumulated in his heart made him look cold and mature. It's just that he obeyed his father's deathbed words: "For three years, no revenge shall be sought." β
So in three years, Yuan Zhan recognized Lu Chongyuan as his father-in-law, and Yuan Zhan appeared as a companion in Huaishan's life. They practiced swords together and grew together.
Lu Chongyuan didn't teach them to practice swords, but when Yuan Zhan taught Huaishan, and the two didn't fight from time to time, he didn't obstruct them. He knew what Yuan Zhan's father meant, in fact, he wanted his son to forget his hatred for three years, and he simply hoped that Yuan Zhan could be like Huaishan, in the hidden mountains and forests, happy and live again.
But he was wrong, he ignored the power of hatred, and he didn't notice the change in Huaishan.
Three years have passed in a hurry, and Huaishan and Yuan Zhan have grown into tall teenagers. When Huaishan and Yuan Zhan proposed to leave the mountains and forests and set foot in the rivers and lakes, Lu Chongyuan had to frown.
He immediately rejected Huaishan's request and said to him, "Unless I die, you don't want to leave this forest even half a step." β
But he had no reason to refuse Yuan Zhan, he watched this teenager grow and change step by step. He became less sad, clearer, and began to believe in the world. But his hatred has not faded. The more time passed, the deeper the hatred spread in his heart.
Looking at Yuan Zhan's resolute eyes, Lu Chongyuan said, "Yuan Zhan, I won't stop you, but Huaishan can't go with you." β
Yuan Zhan knelt down in front of Lu Chongyuan and kowtowed three times to thank him for his years of nurturing. Then, he looked at Huai Shan and said with a smile, "Good brother, thank you for being here for the past three years." When I was blinded by hatred, it was you who told me that happiness needs to be looked up to, like looking at the stars. I have indeed been looking up for many things. You say, don't be in pain, straighten up, and you'll see the wider sky. But fate is like this, now I'm leaving, to find the world that belongs to me, you take care. When your swordsmanship improves, you can come to me. When the time comes, there will be my name on the rivers and lakes, Flying Sword Yuan Zhan. β
After saying that, Yuan Zhan left without looking back, and Huaishan watched him leave.
Lu Chongyuan didn't say a word, just sighed and was about to turn around, when Huaishan spoke.
"Dad, if I can defeat you, am I qualified to step into the rivers and lakes?"
Lu Chongyuan didn't expect his son to say such rebellious words. But just this sentence ignited the fire in his heart.
And this fire is not anger. It is the fire of pride and ambition that has been silent for many years but has never faded.
Lu Chongyuan seemed to see himself when he was young. The son was the opposite, he should have scolded him loudly and taught him a lesson. He didn't. He laughed, and he said, "Little bunny, are you going to challenge me?"
Huai Shan nodded very resolutely. He looked around, picked up two bamboo knots about four feet long, threw one to Lu Chongyuan, and said, "Dad, I use bamboo as a sword, and I will use it to prove my growth and strength over the years." β
Lu Chongyuan smiled, "Okay, I want to see what Yuan Zhan has taught you in the past few years!"
In the battle between father and son, Huaishan knew that he must be the one who lost, but he did not regret it.
From the age of fourteen to seventeen, he had only practiced swords for three years, and he knew that he was still far behind his father, but he was careful to perfect every move.
Lu Chongyuan always let his son go, and to his surprise and relief, although Huaishan's swordsmanship was relatively messy, it was very cautious and steady, and there were almost no flaws. Enough, for Huaishan, who has no martial arts roots, this is enough. He didn't want Huaishan to practice martial arts, because he didn't want him to get into trouble with the rights and wrongs of the rivers and lakes. But he knew that Huaishan, like him, had a desire for a free world in his bones.
Huaishan had already attacked thirty moves, and Lu Chongyuan blocked thirty moves.
Thirty-first move, he nodded, as if he had made up his mind.
He said, "Huaishan, beware. β
Before Huai Shan could react, Lu Chongyuan had already flashed behind him like a ghost, and the bamboo in his hand penetrated Huai Shan's chest without a sound.
Huaishan immediately fainted in pain. Before he fainted, he heard the sound of the wind in his ears.
When I woke up, it was the next morning.
There was water stains all around, and his clothes were also wet, obviously it had rained. The cold, damp clothes were worn on the body, clinging to the wound, and it hurt incomparably.
There was a fire around him, and there was a little warmth, but he was still lying where he had fainted. In the thatched pavilion not far away, Lu Chongyuan stood there motionless.
He wanted to climb, but he didn't have any strength in his body. So he just whispered, "Daddy." β
There seemed to be tears in the corners of Lu Chongyuan's eyes, but he quickly regained his indifferent expression. He said, "Huaishan, do you know why I abandoned you when you were hurt?"
Huai Shan shook his head, but then frowned slightly, as if he understood the meaning of Lu Chongyuan's words, so he nodded. He tried all his strength to get up. I tried several times, and finally managed to stand up.
Lu Chongyuan looked at him and said, "If I were your enemy just now, you would be dead. If you are not as good as a human being, you may be killed at any time. And there is no one to collect the body for you, you will only rot on the side of the road. The crow will eat your corpse to the ground, and all you will be left in this world is a pile of bones that no one knows. Huaishan, with your current ability, do you still want to break into the rivers and lakes?"
Huaishan endured the pain and said, "Dad, we have been living a carefree life all these years, but the appearance of Yuan Zhan let me know that these are not what I want." Good men are ambitious in all directions, or galloping the rivers and lakes, or fighting on the battlefield. You must have ambition and live vigorously, so that you will not regret it when you are old. Although Dad is now hidden in the mountains and forests, I know that every night, you are wiping your sword, and Daddy's ambition back then, the child also wants to experience. β
Huai Shan finished the last word, and the pain of the wound made him faint again. This time, he seemed to see the smile on the corner of Lu Chongyuan's mouth.
A month later, Huaishan embarked on his own road to the rivers and lakes.
The things he carried with him were simple, a few grains of broken silver, a few changes of clothes, and very little dry food. A book, and a sword.
LΓΌ Chongyuan gave Huai Shan his nameless sword and told him that true swordsmanship has no moves. This Huifeng Sword Chronicle is my father's sword practice experience over the years, you can understand it best, and you don't understand it. As long as you live and have more knowledge and training, you will naturally understand the highest level of swordsmanship in the future. Like the wind, it is invisible.
Lu Chongyuan said to Huaishan: "Since you insist on going to the rivers and lakes, I will give you the word 'Chuang', if you can't break into any fame, don't say that it is my Lu Chongyuan's son." β
Huaishan's wounds have healed, but the scars still remain on his back and chest. Huaishan touched the scar, standing on the top of the mountain, he looked into the distance.
He knew that his road to the rivers and lakes had just begun.
To be famous in the world, you must first survive.
Whether it's rainstorms, cold winds, or scorching sun.
For the next year, he had to survive first, and then slowly become stronger.
He gave himself a year to comprehend what Lu Chongyuan said, the Huifeng Sword Technique.
He knew it was reluctant, and he knew he was just a small person, but he wasn't afraid.
Then he was going to find the man.
Huaishan said, "Yuan Zhan, wait for me to come to you." β
Then they will go together to find those who are stronger than them, defeat them, surpass them.
Men are determined to be in the rivers and lakes, punishing evil and promoting good heroes.
I am the peak of the high mountain, and I am the hero.
But he didn't know that he would never see Yuan Zhan again. If he hadn't met Yu'er later, he would have died.