Why do I have so many masters?

Fufeng Academy, within the Wind Character Tower.

Wang Anfeng sat cross-legged on the floor, with a book of miscellaneous travel notes opened on his knee, detailing a swordsman's years of travel around the Fufeng region. He had visited every county in Fufeng, casually mentioning local customs, delicacies, and landscapes, written in an engaging style. However, the young man's attention was not at all on the stories within the book.

His brow slightly furrowed, he tapped his forehead with a bent finger.

In his mind, he continuously recalled the defeats he had faced the day before.

The idea he had been trying out numerous times in Copper Man Lane was about a nuanced, continuous attack that required exceptional ocular power, experience, and courage, something even the current Wang Anfeng rarely achieved successfully. The continuous failures felt like a stifled breath in his chest he had to release by creating this move of his own.

As the sun gradually approached noon, still having achieved nothing, Wang Anfeng sighed, put the untouched travel book back in its place, stood up from Wind Character Tower, and headed back to his room to eat some food, his mind still filled with the blade and sword shadows of Copper Man Lane.

Stepping out of the Wind Character Tower and onto the path, he was approached by a familiar Mo Family student carrying a thick wooden sword, usually a very steady person. However, this time there was a buoyant sparkle in his eyes. From about four or five meters away, he waved at Wang Anfeng and called out with a beaming smile,

"Brother Wang, long time no see, looking even more dashing than before!"

"Brother Guo… well, that's flattering."

The young man hesitated slightly and then nodded in acknowledgment, thinking that the other had something to ask of him and thus he stopped. But the Mo Family student merely greeted him and briskly walked past, leaving Wang Anfeng slightly stunned. Soon, he heard this usually quiet student humming a cheerful tune, disbelief written all over his face.

After pausing for a few moments to confirm he hadn't misheard, he turned around only to see Brother Guo waving at another acquaintance with that same radiant smile,

"Brother Zhao, long time no see, looking even more dashing than before!"

Wang Anfeng watched the other student's bewildered face and couldn't help but chuckle softly,

"Seems like he's in a good mood today…"

Shaking his head, he decided it was none of his concern and continued on his way, only to realize that something about today's atmosphere was definitely off.

The number of cheerful students seemed unusually high…

On this short stretch of road, most male students appeared quite excited, their voices louder as they talked and laughed, whereas the female students tended to look somewhat displeased, although a few girls also showed signs of eager anticipation.

While Wang Anfeng was somewhat curious, he figured it was just academy affairs that didn't involve him and refocused himself, returning to his wooden hut to wash rice and cook, his mind occupied with perfecting his own sword moves. He had no interest in prying into academy matters.

However, three days later, even if he didn't want to know, he couldn't avoid it anymore.

"Brother Wang, have you heard the latest news?!"

Upon first arriving in Fufeng, the gambler Su Wenchang looked at Wang Anfeng with eyes shining with excitement, his face full of enthusiasm. Wang Anfeng sighed, closed the book he had just flipped a few pages of, looked up at the handsome young man, and said earnestly,

"Brother Su… you've already told me about this."

"You might want to go find Elder Brother Yan Ling; I don't think he's heard it yet."

Su Wenchang's face showed embarrassment as he scratched his head, sat down next to him on the stone, exhaled, and muttered,

"With little sister around, if I go talk to him about this, Elder Brother Yan Ling will surely have a hard time."

"So I had to come to talk to you, otherwise, I'd feel suffocated keeping it to myself…"

Wang Anfeng looked at the familiar student somewhat helplessly and said,

"It's enough to talk about it once."

"Why must you mention it so many times?"

Su Wenchang rolled his eyes dramatically and exclaimed,

"Good heavens, this is about Qingfeng Edge!"

"I could talk about it a thousand, ten thousand times and still feel excited!"

"Talk once?"

"Sometimes I really feel like we're not from the same generation; you're too cold…"

Su Wenchang pouted and drooped his eyes in disdain. Wang Anfeng felt helpless, and seeing that Su indeed had no interest, Su could only sigh theatrically.

This child, how could he act like an old man at such a young age.

Finding no joy here and seeing Wang Anfeng was reading again, Su Wenchang simply stood up, said goodbye, and left to find another target. Wang Anfeng shook his head, understanding Su's unusual enthusiasm but unable to empathize.

'Qingfeng Edge'

This peculiar name was not that of a hero or a divine weapon but belonged to a mountain gate.

A sect hidden from the mundane world, uninvolved with ordinary people.

Qingfeng is the name of a sword, Qingfeng Edge a sword sect, whose disciples excel in swordsmanship, adhering to the philosophy of the sword, discarding notions of 'force' and 'momentum' to find unique charm in plain sword moves, thus transforming those simple attacks.

Rotting grass not shining, transforms into fireflies illuminating the summer breeze.

Qingfeng Edge.

Who can comprehend the intent of Qingfeng.

The Yin Yang Family doesn't practice swordsmanship, thus merely facts about it won't excite Su Wenchang.

But if the supreme teachings of this Sword Sect are all based on Taiyin, and therefore only accept female disciples who stride across Jianghu in vigorous white attire, with young girls carrying swords and black hair cascading over their shoulders, their natural gallant and brisk charm inevitably makes them disinclined to interact with the outside world, speaking very little, which only adds to their aloofness.

This rumor distinctly sets them apart from the graceful demeanors typical of academy ladies, and not just Su Wenchang, but practically all the young men in the academy have been itching with curiosity.

Because disciples of this hidden sect are not so easily encountered.

The voices discussing this matter near his ear were quite intricate; Wang Anfeng sighed, knowing that it was futile to think of reading peacefully among these bamboo woods. He could only close his travel journal, stand up, and head toward Wind Character Tower.

This contact between the two parties was initiated because the Great Elder of Qingfeng Edge was celebrating his seventieth birthday.

Although Qingfeng Edge belongs among the hidden sects, those in hidden sects are still human, not immortals; they too must eat and have interactions with the outside Jianghu world to understand the changes in global affairs. Consequently, they also have familiar sects.

For instance, Fufeng Academy, which ranks tenth in the world for its collection of books.

Since the Great Elder of Qingfeng Edge was celebrating his birthday, both publicly and privately, Fufeng Academy ought to attend and offer congratulations.

Stepping beyond the bamboo wood, joined side by side with several other sword-carrying students, one of whom, a Confucian Scholar with a longsword at his waist, his eyes sparkling, loudly proclaimed,

"We must surely be selected this time!"

"With the Great Elder of Qingfeng Edge celebrating his seventieth birthday, once we get to that Sword Sect, there's no chance they would let us see the Sword Sutra or Sword Canon, but Qingfeng Cliff, Myriad Swords Mountain, and these four words, 'Sword Qi Soaring to Skies,' are undoubtedly going to be openly discussed."

The girl next to him nodded, pressing her hand to her sword, and said,

"For hundreds of years, who knows how many swordsmen have visited this place, creating Myriad Swords Mountain and Qingfeng Cliff, with longswords resounding ceaselessly. Normally, Qingfeng Edge hides within the mountains and rivers, utterly untraceable, only during such occasions, can one glimpse its true face."

"Indeed, the demeanor of our predecessors is worth seeing!"

The two beside her paused their steps, exchanged a glance with a strangely grim expression, and the Confucian Scholar coughed and said,

"Aren't you also interested in the Snow Lotus Pill rumored to preserve youth and boost vitality?"

The girl's expression stiffened, her cheeks flushing red, then she stammered,

"I, as a martial artist,"

"How could I possibly wish to buy a Snow Lotus Pill, impossible, right, absolutely impossible!"

Although the Sword Dao of Qingfeng Edge and Fufeng Academy are extremely cordial, the unique teachings within the sect could never be transmitted to others. Traveling to other sects might not stir up any trouble, but the presence of white-clothed, worldly-detached young girls akin to celestial Immortals, and the unique elixirs found in the world, were irresistible.

Even as martial artists, their human desires and sentiments were no different from ordinary people.

Especially among young men and women.

Wang Anfeng chuckled softly, suddenly understanding. Watching his peers being distracted by these external matters and disrupting their plans, he felt a unique sensation of standing on the riverbank, watching the currents flow, leaves caught in whirlpools, unable to free themselves.

He exhaled, gathering his thoughts. The youth casually pushed open the door to Wind Character Tower, seizing the opportunity of the quiet environment to dismiss his distracted thoughts and contemplate his own matters.

Today, that move should have made progress...

Just as he thought this, Wang Anfeng suddenly became aware of an unusual presence and instinctively lifted his head.

All around him seemed to turn into reflections in a well and flowers in water, no longer real, and his gaze inadvertently settled on the old man in a green robe, who was examining scrolls by his side. His gaze subconsciously swept around, noting that the expressions and actions of other students were as usual; this anomaly seemed to appear only to him.

Realizing this, Wang Anfeng slowly approached the green-robed elder, hands hanging at his sides, and said,

"Elder Ren, are you looking for me?"
Explore more adventures at empire

The elderly man nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the text in his hand, lips unmoving, yet an aged voice arose by Wang Anfeng's ears, saying,

"The Great Elder of Qingfeng Edge is celebrating his seventieth birthday; are you aware of this?"

Wang Anfeng nodded, replying,

"I am."

The old man looked up at him and said,

"That is good."

"Qingfeng Edge, apart from worldly affairs, requires us to send over a batch of ancient book copies."

"Since you are the Keeper of the Scrolls at Fufeng, you ought to accompany them."

"Do you have any objections?"

"..."

Wang Anfeng appeared briefly stunned, suddenly feeling as if the leaves, though caught in whirlpools, were still floating on the water, yet he, the observer, was like a stone, sinking into the water, no longer at ease.

These two states of mind swiftly transitioned inversely; it was a hard place to talk about, yet it gave Wang Anfeng much to ponder, seeming to affirm the words of Golden Bell Shield, while his expression subtly consented with a nod, showing no signs of disturbance.

Since he was the Keeper of the Scrolls and the academy had plans, it was naturally very normal.

"No."

"I will follow the command."

PS: Yesterday's long chapter was missing, today it's replenished, thank you!