Vendetta

After Mrs. Cui left, the family's situation became even worse. Without the mistress, the house was deserted, and life was even worse.

Just after the fourth watch, the chickens in the Li family next door hadn't had time to crow yet. It was the cold spring and Fu Ling was still asleep when he suddenly heard a loud "bang".

Fu Ling was startled awake, he wrapped his old cotton coat around his body, staggered out of bed, his eyes were sleepy, and he vaguely saw a person bent over.

"Master?" Fu Ling rubbed her eyes, "Why did you get up so early today?"

Fu Ling shook his head, barely regaining consciousness. He walked over quickly and found that Wu Heng was squatting down, picking up the flour that was spilled on the ground with both hands, and putting it into the bowl next to him: "It's my fault, it's a pity... "

He originally wanted to get up early to make noodles, but after Mrs. Cui left, there was no one to help, and there were fewer steamed buns sold every day, which was not enough to support the family.

Fu Ling helped him clean up the flour. The flour in the bowl was mixed with ashes. Fu Ling smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. We can't make steamed buns for sale. Let's keep them for ourselves."

Wu Heng glanced at the bedroom inside, Wu Zian was still sleeping inside, hesitantly said: "I'm afraid An'er is not willing..."

"I use this for pancakes so you don't see any ash."

Wu Heng was pleasantly surprised: "You can also make pancakes?"

"I saw my wife do it before." Fu Ling stood up holding the bowl, helped Wu Heng to sit beside the stove, and started to light the fire.

The room warmed up, Fu Ling started to knead the dough, chopped leeks and wrapped them in the dough, "Master, I'll get up earlier to help you knead the dough, you can't do it alone."

Wu Heng was chopping wood, when he heard that he put down his axe, he frowned and said, "How can that be done? You still need to practice."

"You have to practice and you have to eat." Fu Ling put aside the wrapped leek cake and started to make the steamed buns that will be sold today. "Look, master, I am practicing and I am doing the horse step."

Wu Heng still shook his head, he stood up, and entered the room with a cane.

After a while, Fu Ling guessed that Wu Zian was about to wake up, and started pancakes. He saw his wife make it many times, but it was the first time he made it. After eating, continue to knead the dough.

The leek pancake just out of the pan was very fragrant, Wu Zian followed the scent, and didn't say anything when he saw that it was mushy.

After taking a few bites, he suddenly asked, "Why is there sand in this cake?"

Fu Ling froze, turned her back to him, and continued to knead the dough pretending to be deaf.

Wu Zian looked at the cake, then at Fuling, and asked, "Fuling, do you mix sand into it?"

Sitting next to Wu Zian, Wu Heng explained, "It wasn't Ling'er, it was me who got the flour on the ground."

"Pick up the ones that fall on the ground and make cakes?" Wu Zian stood up disgusted, and threw the cakes on the table, "I won't eat!"

"An'er!"

Wu Zian didn't answer, didn't touch the steamed buns in the steamer, took the book and left without looking back.

Wu Heng sighed, and ate the cake that Wu Zian left behind.

He knew that Wu Zi'an didn't want to see Fu Ling, so he talked and scolded, but it was useless.

"Master, the steamed buns are ready, let's go."

The two came to the gate of the market, and when it was almost noon, Wu Heng said that Wu Zian didn't eat much in the morning, so he asked Fu Ling to go to the school to give him steamed buns.

Fu Ling went all the way to the school, the small school is very dilapidated, just a small wooden house, only a 50-year-old wife, who come here to study are all children from poor families, at this time it happened to be lunch break, Fu Ling stood on tiptoe, looked out the window Going in, there was no sign of Wu Zian.

A ten-year-old child came out of it, and Fu Ling hurried up and asked, "Excuse me, do you know where Wu Zian is?"

It was the first time for the child to see such a good-looking Fu Ling. He was taken aback for a moment, and then said enthusiastically, "It's just behind the house. I just watched him pass by."

"Thank you."

After Fuling walked around to the cabin, she saw Wu Zian sitting alone on the stone ridge, her shoulders twitching.

"Brother."

Wu Zian hurriedly wiped his face, and said angrily, "Why are you here?"

"Here to bring you steamed buns." Fu Ling took out the steamed buns from his bosom, before they were completely cold, he handed them over, and said softly, "Do you miss my wife?"

In the past, Cui would often fry leek pancakes for them. Wu Zian must have thought of his mother in the morning, so he was so angry when he found sand.

Wu Zian realized that Fu Ling didn't put sand on purpose. He took the steamed buns that were carefully wrapped in cloth, but he couldn't say a word of the harsh words that he usually kept on his lips.

After delivering the steamed buns, Fu Ling returned to the entrance of the street market. He didn't see Wu Heng. He asked Lao Li who was selling wontons next to him, "Uncle Li, where is my master?"

"Running so far hungry, first drink a bowl of soup to warm your stomach." Old Li brought a bowl of wonton soup to Fu Ling, "Your master has gone to the pawn shop opposite."

Fu Ling thanked her, drank the soup in one gulp, and walked to the pawn shop opposite.

When he went in, he happened to see Wu Heng took the money from the counter and put a tassel on the table. An emerald jadeite pendant hung on the tassel. It had no engraved patterns, but it was crystal clear and of excellent color.

Fu Ling stood on tiptoe and looked over: "Master, what have you done?"

"It's nothing." Wu Heng patted his head and said gently, "Master will buy you something delicious today."

Fu Ling didn't believe it. In order to treat her teacher's illness, all the valuables at home were pawned. That jadeite pendant must be an important thing!

Wu Heng didn't want to say more, so he led him out of the pawn door, bent down to look at Fu Ling and said, "Ling'er, you only need to practice martial arts well, and the master will be there for everything else, understand?"

Poria's nose was sour, and she nodded vigorously.

He must work hard to practice martial arts, for revenge and to live up to his master!

With this money, even if I sell less steamed buns every day, I don’t have to worry about food and clothing for the time being.

Wu Heng was able to have more time to teach Fuling knife skills.

"Pay attention to the strength of swinging the knife. The knife is different from the sword. The knife technique changes in thousands of ways but its power remains unchanged. When the moves are connected together, it is like flowing water, continuous and continuous."

"Pierce, wipe, chop, cut, sweep, cut, cut, the knife and knife should not leave the body, and the movements of the feet should not be disordered."

"A man and a sword become one, everything moves and everything stops."

Holding the ordinary wooden stick in his hand, Wu Heng drew a smooth arc in the air. He turned around and slashed down. His steps were extremely steady, and his eyes shone with a light that had never been seen before, as if the disability was not there at all. exist.

Fu Ling was stunned for a moment, he felt that the master's hand was not a wooden stick, but a peerless sword, even though it stood in the square inch behind the house, it was still unstoppable.

When Wu Heng stopped and stood leaning on crutches again, the light in his eyes gradually dissipated, and the momentum on his body also dropped.

Fu Ling hesitated for a while, but couldn't help but said: "Master, you are so powerful, why do you still..."

"You want to ask why you have fallen to this point?" Wu Heng smiled bitterly, and sat down on the stool behind the house, with some memories in his eyes, "I was also a disciple of the Holly Sect, but because of an accident, my muscles and veins were all damaged, and my martial arts I lost everything, and even broke a leg, and I will no longer have a chance to join the world of martial arts in this life, I didn't want to leave behind and embarrass my master, so I went down the mountain."

"What I'm teaching you now is the "Nine Layers of Sword Art" of the Holly Sect." Wu Heng thought for a long time before he said, "Ling'er, I'll take you to Dongqing Mountain to learn your master tomorrow."

Fu Ling put down the dough, rubbed the flour on his clothes carelessly, and ran over in a panic: "Master, you don't want me?"

"It's not that I don't want you," Wu Heng sighed, "Master has no internal strength, so he can't teach you the following exercises. You are very talented, and you will have great achievements in the future. You can't stop here."

Fu Ling hesitated, "But..."

"Ling'er," Wu Heng said softly, "Don't you want to avenge your parents and sister?"

Fu Ling was speechless, what the master said was right, he wanted to take revenge and become stronger, but the master's legs and feet were inconvenient, who would take care of the master when he left?

Wu Heng knew what Fuling was thinking at a glance, he patted Fuling's head, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, master will go to open a breakfast shop with your Uncle Li, so you don't have to worry about food and clothing, besides, there is your senior brother, you How old are you, Master still needs you to worry about it?"

After speaking, Wu Heng leaned on his crutches, turned around and went to the house, took out a knife, and handed it to Fu Ling.

"This is the knife that Master used to pass on to you now. The swordsman takes the knife as a companion and can never be separated. Do you understand?"

The knife in front of him has been with Wu Heng for most of his life, and it has not been unsheathed for more than ten years, and it is still as sharp as before.

Fu Ling nodded, his eyes were red, and he solemnly took the saber.

The current head of the Holly Sect, Zhao Xu, is Wu Heng's uncle. Wu Heng has not been in touch with the sect for more than ten years.

When Zhao Xu first heard about this, he didn't want to pay attention to it. It was like a distant relative who hadn't dealt with him for half his life. Suddenly, his family was ruined and his family was ruined.

Even if the past is not ahead of time, what kind of skills can the apprentices taught by a waste of steamed buns be able to do?How can anyone carry a shoulder pole and sell steamed buns to travel around the rivers and lakes?

The eldest disciple Lu Changen persuaded: "Master, I'm afraid this is inappropriate. If people know about it, they will definitely say that our Dongqing Sect is not humane. He just wanted to send someone in, so he added an outer disciple, saying that he is not qualified enough. If someone mentions it in the future, they will only say that you value love and righteousness, are fair and strict, and do not favor him because of selfishness."

Zhao Xu felt that what he said was reasonable, so he nodded and said, "Then tell me, where are you going to arrange him?"

Lu Changen's eyes showed a bit of sinister: "Wu Heng sells steamed stuffed buns in the town, so his disciples can arrange to cook them."

Zhao Xu: "Then do this."

Fuling packed up some old clothes and said goodbye to Master Wu Heng under Dongqing's door.

Wu Heng told him to study martial arts hard. The man in front of him was leaning on crutches and wearing an old jacket. He looked like an honest and honest man. At this moment, his eyes were red. He saw Fu Ling knelt down and kowtowed to him, and wanted to pull him up, so he bent down , but failed to reach out.

He knew that this was probably the last time Fu Ling kowtowed to him.

After kowtowing, Fu Ling stood up with the knife on her back, "Master, I'm leaving."

Wu Heng nodded: "Master is at the foot of the mountain, come back and have a look when you have time, and take care of yourself."

"Master, don't worry, no matter where I am, you are my master, and I will not let you down." Fu Ling put the knife behind her back and entered the Holly Gate.

The master takes him in, feeds him, and teaches him martial arts and saber techniques. He is grateful to his master all his life. He will work hard to practice martial arts and never disappoint his master's expectations. He also wants to take revenge and comfort the spirits of his parents and sisters.

After walking tens of meters away, Fu Ling suddenly turned her head. The man in the old jacket and on crutches was still standing there, looking at him from a distance.

Fu Ling couldn't see Master's face clearly anymore, but he knew that Master must be bending his eyes at this moment, with a gentle smile on his face. A person who has been reserved and introverted all his life is unexpectedly agitated at this moment. The hand on crutches waved at Poria.

Master was at the foot of the mountain, watching him go farther and farther in the faint afterglow of the setting sun.

"Father! You are biased!" Wu Zian yelled, "You gave him the knife and let him enter the Holly Gate! Who is your son?"

Wu Heng said calmly: "An'er, you will always be my son. When you have practiced the "Nine Layers of Swordsmanship" to the second level, I will also send you to Dongqingmen to learn martial arts."

Wu Zian said angrily: "You just think I'm not as good as him!"

Wu Heng knew in his heart that Wu Zian was indeed not as good as Fu Ling, not only at 01:30, but also in terms of hard work, talent, and even temperament. Not surprisingly, it was impossible for Wu Zian to compare to Fu Ling in his life.

But this is his own son in front of him, Wu Heng didn't want to say it out and hurt him, he just patted his son on the shoulder and comforted him: "An'er, as long as you are willing to work hard..."

"I don't want to hear you say this!" Wu Zian interrupted him, "Why are you being so nice to him? He's a loser, and he killed my mother as soon as he came!"

Wu Heng was so angry that he slapped him across the face: "Nonsense! This has nothing to do with Ling'er!"

"You hit me for him!" Wu Zian covered his face in disbelief, his eyes were red, and he ran away crying.

Wu Heng sighed, leaning on a cane, limping along with his son.

Holly Gate—

There is a holly forest below, and long roots walk on the stone. (Note)

Holly Gate is located in the south of Holly Mountain, built along the mountain, the mountain is lush and lush, like many sects, it is built up from stone strata.

No matter what the inside of the sect looks like, it always looks like a well-known orthodox sect on the outside.

Fu Ling finally got his wish and entered the Dongqing Sect. Before he saw the head of the sect who was very skilled in swordsmanship, he was directly assigned to the kitchen.

Fu Ling wasn't discouraged either, at least he didn't have to worry about food. He still got up at five o'clock in the morning. Nine Layers of Sword Technique" is hidden in his bosom, he has a photographic memory, the content inside has already been familiarized by heart, and he will ponder over the knife technique whenever he has the opportunity.

He didn't dare to let himself be idle, and fell asleep every day when he was tired, so he could have less nightmares. He was afraid of seeing his parents and sisters die tragically in his dreams, and he was also afraid that they would ask him why he hadn't avenged him yet.

Sister Xiaoyun in the village said that the one who killed his parents and sisters was not an ordinary person, and he had to become stronger.

There are a total of twenty outer disciples in the kitchen, who are responsible for the meals of the entire Dongqing Sect. Among them is Fan Bin, who is tall and rough. He is from the same town as Lu Changen's apprentice and has a good relationship, so he naturally became the leader.

Fu Ling came in on the first day, Fan Bin looked at this short turnip head, with delicate features, white and tender like a little girl, he didn't expect much talent, finally a newcomer came in, so he deliberately made things difficult for Fu Ling and asked Fu Ling to chop firewood.

Everyone else in the kitchen gloated, only one named Qiu Yi couldn't stand it and stopped him.

Fu Ling looked over and saw that the man named Qiu Yi was thin and thin, with not outstanding facial features, but a pair of bright round eyes. At this moment, this man stared at Fan Bin with his big eyes, and there was a bit of obstinate foolishness in his black eyes.

Fu Ling didn't think there was anything wrong with chopping firewood. She was a little tired, just to practice the strength and accuracy of the knife.

But he still remembered the scene.

After chopping firewood for several months, Fu Ling felt more and more relaxed. Now he can freely control the strength and accuracy, turning his internal strength on the blade of the axe.

After chopping firewood every day, Fu Ling would climb up to the roof, or hide in a corner, secretly watch the inner sect disciples practice their saber techniques, and then go back to practice by themselves according to the "Nine-fold Saber Technique" given to him by Wu Heng. After entering the door, I gradually became proficient.

Master Wu Heng told him that before he is strong, he must learn to restrain his edge, otherwise he will be easily hated by others, so he has been carrying everyone behind his back, practicing near the kitchen where the waste is dumped. When the weather is hot, the food here is sour and smelly. No one wanted to come, the people in the kitchen bullied Fu Ling because he was young, and asked him to do the usual things, which made it easier for Fu Ling, and let him come here justifiably.

One day, Fan Bin walked in the kitchen after eating too much, but he didn't see Fuling in the kitchen, so he asked casually, "Where did that kid Fuling go to be lazy?"

Others replied that it was time to take out the trash.

Fan Bin sneered and said, "He's going to take out the trash? He's just a trash!"

When Fan Bin passed by, he happened to see Fu Ling practicing sword skills. He didn't pay attention to the level of Fu Ling's practice, but he saw the knife in his hand, which was not like the knife issued by the inner sect for the outer disciples.

"Where did you get your knife? Show me." Fan Bin stretched out his hand.

Fu Ling hesitated for a moment, but still handed it over: "It belongs to my master."

"Your master? Is that the lame Wu who sells buns in the town?" Fan Bin took a closer look. Although he didn't have much experience, he knew it was a good knife. "Is his trash worthy of this knife? How about Give me."

Fu Ling snatched the knife from Fan Bin's hand, and said coldly, "My master is not trash."

Fan Bin didn't expect Fu Ling to have such great strength. He thought that he must have just not paid attention to it and let him snatch it away. He still said: "Your master is a waste, lame Wu, and you are only worthy of selling buns for the rest of your life. Like your master, they are trash!"

Before he finished speaking, Fu Ling was already approaching him with a knife, he quickly pulled out the saber from his waist, and said, "You are overestimating your capabilities!"

In Fan Bin's eyes, Fu Ling is just a weak boy, short in stature, even if he knows a few tricks, it is just a show without internal strength, and he has just broken through the second level of swordsmanship, and he is considered a leader among the outer disciples. Not worth mentioning at all.

But Fan Bin soon realized that something was wrong, Fuling was attacking fiercely, and all the moves were overwhelming him.

Fu Ling had never fought against anyone before, Wu Heng had no internal strength, Wu Zian couldn't beat him, and when he first faced Fan Bin, he was a little uncomfortable.

But soon he entered the state. The first three stages of "Nine Layers of Sword Art" are the foundation, and the third stage is the integration of the first two stages. After fighting against Fan Bin, Fu Ling became more and more proficient.

Fan Bin gradually lost to the enemy, he was startled, he was eighteen this year, and he had only practiced the second weight, but he never thought that Fu Ling had practiced the third weight, and when he came back to his senses, his saber had already fallen aside , and Fuling's knife was resting on his neck.

"My master is not a waste, I am not a waste, you are."

"Yes, yes, I'm a waste," Fan Bin looked at the sharp blade, his spineless knees gave way, and he knelt down in a cold sweat, "You and your master are both good, I'm a waste, please don't kill me……"

"Fu Ling!" Qiu Yi exclaimed in shock. He was worried that Fan Bin would trouble Fu Ling, so he came to see him, but he didn't expect to see this scene.

Fu Ling put away the knife, and said to Fan Bin: "Take care of your mouth."

Fan Bin quickly said yes, and ran away scrambling.

"Fu Ling!" Qiu Yi pulled him back, "Aren't you afraid that Fan Bin will come to trouble you?"

Fu Ling said: "If he wants to make trouble, he will come sooner or later. Why should I be afraid?"

Qiu Yi looked at him like he was watching a sow climbing a tree.

After Qiu Yi left, Fu Ling continued to practice sword skills.

Faintly aware of someone approaching, Fuling swept the blade, unexpectedly, the person who came didn't draw a sword at all, but just waved his sleeve, Fuling felt a strong internal force attacking him, he couldn't even stand still, he stepped back step by step, The knife did not let go.

The visitor was dressed in a white Taoist robe with no accessories, simple and elegant, with a slender chin beard and a fairy-like bone.

Just looking at his internal strength, Fu Ling knew that this person was very skilled in martial arts, but he didn't show any cowardice.

Fu Ling was beaten by beggars before, and he knew that when facing a strong enemy, once he was afraid, his legs would be weak when he ran away, which is a big taboo.

"Who are you?"

A little bit of admiration appeared in the eyes of the man in Tsing Yi, and he said bluntly: "My dao name does not return, you have a good talent, would you like to worship me as a teacher?"

Just now, Fuling witnessed the Taoist priest of no return floating down from the roof in the distance, his body was as light as a swallow, as if he was riding the wind and riding on the clouds.

Taoist Master Bugui said: "This is just one of the tricks in "Six Steps to the Sky."

Fu Ling had never seen anyone perform lightness kung fu, his eyes were filled with wonder and yearning, but he still hesitated and said, "But I already have a master."

Fuling heard people say that one day is a teacher and one is a father for life, and one person has several fathers. What does this sound like!

"Wu Heng?" The Taoist Master of No Return sighed, "He was originally talented, but it's a pity..."

Fu Ling knew what happened to Master Wu Heng. If Master hadn't met that accident, he would be a well-known swordsman by now, instead of selling buns on the streets every day on crutches.

The Taoist priest who did not return asked: "You came to Dongqing Mountain, don't you intend to learn from a teacher?"

Fu Ling didn't answer, but he knew that Taoist Master Bugui was right, even if he came to apprentice, he had to.

"Forget it, that's not a name." The Taoist Master Bugui slightly nodded, "From now on, every day at three o'clock in the afternoon, you can go to the pavilion in the back mountain to find me."

Fu Ling nodded in a daze, today is exactly the fifteenth day, the moon is very round, the curfew is already in Dongqing Gate, and at three o'clock, the disciples in the room with him are all fast asleep. The figure stands in the pavilion.

"I'm not good at using knives, but martial arts in the world are the same, only fast can't be broken. I can teach you to improve your internal strength and light kung fu. The knives can also be as fast as the wind and the moon." The Taoist of No Return clamped a fallen leaf with two fingers and waved it far away. Wrist, the internal strength turned the void into reality, and the fallen leaves flew away rapidly, startling a clump of tired birds.

This night, Fu Ling seemed to be in a dream. He had never seen such exquisite martial arts, never met such a powerful master, and he felt his blood boiling.

In the middle of the night, when he returned to the outer disciple's bedroom, the roommate was snoring like thunder. He was lying on the small broken bed, and the longevity lock on his chest was slightly hot.

In his dream, he didn't see the dazzling blood again. The whole family sat and ate together, Fu Ling sat in his mother's arms, and his father and sister peeled and boiled edamame for him.

Too happy days can only appear in dreams after all.

Waking up the next day, Fu Ling stepped on the stool, and just as she put the steamed buns into the steamer, Fan Bin brought the inner disciple from the same town.

"Boy, aren't you crazy? I'll show you today..." Before Fan Bin finished speaking, he saw Fu Ling throwing something from the stove.

Before he could hide in time, he felt a stabbing pain on his face, and there was a bloodstain.

It's not too deep, because Fuling's internal strength is not enough, but it's enough to startle Fan Bin. It's not a hidden weapon that scratched him, it's just a leaf. If Fuling goes a little further to the left, it's his neck that was scratched!

In fact, Fan Bin was too worried. Fuling just practiced not long ago, and his accuracy and strength were not enough. Just now, he just wanted to cut off a lock of Fan Bin's hair to scare him. It's hard to hit.

However, the effect of scaring people is still in place, I saw that the inner disciple's face changed, and he said "excuse me", before his legs touched the ground, he walked in a circle and stepped out again.

Qiu Yi, who was plucking chicken feathers next to him, put down the bald chicken and applauded Fu Ling: "Amazing!"

Fan Bin turned pale with fright, and has since settled down.

Fu Ling didn't need to chop firewood anymore, Fan Bin arranged for him to sit in the vent of the kitchen, helping to open a window for ventilation all day long, watching the people bustle around.

Fuling sat for a whole day, and when meal time came, someone gave him the meal.

Apart from eating, I just stare into the distance in a daze, and I hate seeing the sow on the opposite side.

Fu Ling decided to personally participate in cutting vegetables and cooking at night, shaking the iron pot and training the strength of her wrists.

On this day, when everyone in the Holly Sect had dinner, they couldn't help talking about it.

Disciple A: "Who cooks the dishes tonight?"

Disciple B: "This cucumber is cut really nicely. Each slice is the same thickness, so thin enough to allow light to pass through."

Disciple C: "But it's really unpalatable."

Disciple Ding: "It's so unpalatable that I can't even put my mouth down."

That night, many disciples ate badly, and the sect thought it was some kind of secret struggle like poisoning. They were on guard for several days, and even the cabbages had to be opened one by one for inspection.

Fu Ling decided to steam the buns honestly.

The author has something to say: There is a holly forest below, and long roots walk on the rocks.

——Du Fu's "Wood Ridge"