The Smiling, Proud Wanderer: From the Moment He Picked Up Qu Feiyan

Chapter 1: I'm fighting Qu Yang?

Late at night, in the study, the doors and windows were tightly shut, and the walls were imposing. A few oil lamps provided a dim, yellowish light, slightly dispelling the gloom, but making the whole room seem even more sinister and unsettling.

Shen An sat behind the only desk, the smell of burning lamp wick mixed with the scent of pine soot and ink swirling around his nose. He stared blankly at the traditional Chinese book in front of him.

No, I was studying for the civil service exam, what am I doing here?

The old version of the imperial examination system is making a limited-time return; can one start at the level of a department head upon passing the exam?

Just as Shen An was lost in thought, memories flooded back like a tide.

Shen An was from Dengfeng County, Henan Prefecture. His family was too poor to raise him when he was young, so they wanted to send him to Shaolin Temple to make a living. However, the villagers were really ignorant and actually put him in front of the gate of Songshan Sect.

At that time, the Songshan Sect was in a period of rapid expansion, and the Shaolin Temple was competing for students. There was a huge shortage of disciples. The original owner joined the Songshan Sect in a daze. Later, because of his good talent and clean background, he was accepted as a personal disciple by Zuo Lengchan.

"Although I'm not an orphan, it's pretty much the same. The original owner of this body might still have some blood ties to her parents, but I really don't. It's just that this starting point is a bit like Linghu Chong's, isn't it?" Shen An felt a little sour.

The current location is Hengyang City, within the core sphere of influence of the Hengshan Sect. The original owner was sent here two years ago, ostensibly to manage the Bailian Workshop and act as a liaison for the Songshan Sect in Hengshan, but in reality, he was sent to develop underground industries and gather intelligence on the Hengshan Sect.

In other words, the ambassadors sent from Songshan to Hengshan did similar things: communication and intelligence gathering.

The traditional Chinese book in front of him wasn't a book at all; it was an account book of the businesses he handled.

Shen An casually flipped open the account book and used it to accept and sort through the original owner's memories.

First is the Hundred Refinements Workshop, the flagship business of the Songshan Sect. The Hundred Refinements Workshop was initially established to meet the growing demand for weapons as the number of Songshan disciples increased; later, seeing the potential for profit, it gradually opened up to the outside world.

The Songshan swordsmanship is powerful and heavy, known for its fierce and forceful style. The weapons forged by Bailianfang are also heavy, sturdy, and of excellent quality, and were welcomed by the entire martial arts world as soon as they were introduced. Taking advantage of this, the Songshan Sect gradually opened Bailianfang stores in all the gathering places of martial arts heroes. The Bailianfang store in Hengyang where Shen An is located is opened for the Hengshan Sect members, but compared with other places, business here is always lukewarm.

Aside from that, the account books only recorded a few scattered rice shops, pharmacies, and security escort agencies, which were basically insignificant. Indeed, in the area south of Dongting Lake, these were all businesses owned by the Hengshan Sect.

The Five Mountains Sword Sects are of one mind and share the same roots. Although this is just empty talk to their own masters, they would never openly go to the territory of their allies to steal business.

However, these alone cannot support the more than a thousand disciples of Mount Song and the unorthodox masters secretly gathered, nor can they support Zuo Lengchan's ambition to conquer the Five Sacred Mountains and unify the martial arts world.

The real source of wealth for Songshan Mountain lies in the shady, clandestine industries behind the accounting books: private salt production, gambling dens, and usury—all controlled by violence and operating in the shadows.

Shen An instinctively felt disgusted by the businesses that would ruin families and wipe out entire households. Just as he was thinking about how to deal with them, he suddenly heard a creak and the lights flickered without warning.

He looked up and saw that the study door had suddenly opened, but there was no one inside or outside the door.

Was it blown away by the wind? Just as Shen An was wondering, a strange, cool scent, like pine needles after a snowfall, suddenly appeared in the pine soot and ink fragrance in the air.

Gan!

Shen An's scalp tingled instantly, his adrenaline surged, but because his soul was still integrating with this body, he couldn't react. He could only rely on his body's instinct to move his hand to the sword sheath.

"It's not like Mount Song outside, my junior brother, you've become lax."

A voice came from directly behind him, so close it seemed to be speaking right next to the back of his head.

Shen An took a deep breath and slowly turned his head. A tall, handsome middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, scrutinizing him with sharp eyes.

Shen An frantically searched his memory and finally remembered who was in front of him—"Crane Hand" Lu Bai, one of the Thirteen Protectors of Songshan, and also the culprit who ordered the massacre of Liu Zhengfeng's entire family in the original work.

"Third...Third Uncle..." Shen An felt like he had been caught playing on his phone in class by the homeroom teacher, and could only respond in a low voice.

"Your generation is truly the worst generation of disciples in my Songshan Sect." Lu Bai sneered.

It looks even more like it now.

"It's not your fault. The martial world has been relatively peaceful for the past ten years or so, so it's understandable that you've become a little complacent. But as our senior brother's plan is implemented, the martial world will inevitably be thrown into turmoil again. If you continue like this afterward, and you ruin our senior brother's great cause of uniting the Five Mountains Sects, I won't let you off the hook."

"Uncle-Master is right," Shen An could only bow his head and agree.

After finishing his stern talk, Lu Bai softened his tone and patted Shen An on the shoulder: "Alright, don't be so afraid. Just keep it in mind from now on. Your master is doing this for your own good. After all, your senior brother values ​​you so much, and your master doesn't want to see your corpse the next time they meet."

He's using PUA on me!

However, Shen An knew he was right, but he still put on a touched expression.

Then, Lu Bai finally got to the important matter at hand: "Enough with the small talk, I've come to give you a mission."

"Please speak, Uncle-Master."

"You've done a great job these past two years in Hengyang, opening up the Lu Lianrong connection. But that's not enough. The key to the Hengshan Sect still lies with Liu Zhengfeng. I've gathered some information from the martial arts world that Liu Zhengfeng is suspected of secretly meeting with outsiders, acting suspiciously—either with a confidante or involved in shady dealings. You're in charge of investigating this matter thoroughly!"

"Huh? Me?"

I'm calling Qu Yang, is that true or false?

Lu Bai even thought Liu Zhengfeng was keeping a mistress, but Shen An knew for certain that he was truly colluding with the elders of the Demonic Sect.

When I was reading the book before, I was curious about how the Songshan Sect knew that Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang had become friends. Oh, it turns out I found out myself. That makes me feel very involved.

Seeing Shen An's somewhat confused expression, Lu Bai softened his tone:

"Nephew, I know Liu Zhengfeng's martial arts are very high, so it's really asking too much of you to investigate him. But your uncle isn't demanding that you find out everything. Just find out roughly when and where he meets in secret, and someone else will take over later."

At this point, Lu Bai paused slightly before continuing, "You should know that your senior brother values ​​you highly. He has seen all the achievements you've made in Hengyang over the past two years. If this matter is accomplished, you might be able to replace Shi Dengda and take over his position as the eldest disciple to inherit the Songshan Sect in the future."

What a classic example of making empty promises. Uncle Lu, did you work at some big factory before?

However, replacing Stendhal and inheriting the Songshan School is indeed quite attractive.

As Shen An recalled the original plot, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

The original work must have found evidence against Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang, but when Liu Zhengfeng held his retirement ceremony, the disciple who stood up for the Songshan School and prevented Liu Zhengfeng from retiring was still Shi Dengda!

Good grief, trying to trick me, trying to ambush a twenty-year-old young man like me, is this okay? This is not okay.

But there was no other way. Lu Bai had already said so much. If Shen An didn't agree, not only would he not be able to avoid Qu Yang's Black Blood Divine Needle in the future, but he would probably have to experience Lu Bai's Crane Palm right now.

"I understand, Uncle-Master. Leave this matter to me."

Seeing Shen An's resolute eyes, Lu Bai was greatly pleased. He said "good" three times and offered a few words of comfort and encouragement before taking his leave.

Once he was sure Lu Bai had really gone far away, Shen An slumped into a chair.

Not only did I transmigrate, but I also transmigrated to a world where human life is as worthless as grass, and I was immediately drawn into the heart of a conspiracy as the perpetrator.

The threat of death, the moral turmoil, the uncertainty of the future... countless chaotic thoughts surged through his mind like a flood bursting its banks.

"A pure heart remains unperturbed even when the sky falls."

Amidst his chaotic thoughts, Shen An subconsciously closed his eyes and began reciting the "Ice Heart Mantra," a mantra he used to calm his mind whenever he felt troubled before his transmigration.

This was a habit he developed after watching the TV series "Wind and Cloud" when he was a child. There was nothing supernatural about it; it was just a form of self-psychological suggestion to help him concentrate.

But as he continued reading, he realized something was wrong.

"Forget yourself and guard the One, and the six senses will be greatly calmed."

As the mantra flowed, a cool aura seemed to originate from the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head, slowly flowing down. Wherever it passed, his thoughts gradually calmed down, and his mind became clearer than ever before.

If it weren't for the effects of the Ice Heart Technique, Shen An would probably be overjoyed by now.

The martial arts manuals I remembered in my previous life have actually proven useful in this one.

Unfortunately, all I have is this short and catchy Bingxin Mantra, which I memorized as a child to look cool. As for the Nine Yin Manual, I only remember one line: "The way of Heaven is to take from those who have more and give to those who have less."

If you remember the "Great Celestial Immortal Technique" that Monkey King learned when you watch "Journey to the West", what are you afraid of Zuo Lengchan and Dongfang Bubai?

"Untainted by dust and dirt, unstained by worldly appearances."

……

The previously agonizing problems were now clearly laid out in Shen An's mind, their connections, advantages and disadvantages, and solutions beginning to take shape. His thinking became sharper than ever before, and his comprehension seemed to have increased dramatically out of nowhere.

When Shen An opened his eyes again, there was no trace of the previous panic in them, only a calm and clear mind like ice and snow.

Ha, I didn't want to be a beast of burden before I transmigrated. If I end up being one after I transmigrate, wouldn't it be a waste of my time?

Shen An had already decided to slack off and try to fool Lu Bai. After all, he already knew the truth about Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang's meeting, and he could then throw out a few seemingly plausible pieces of information to get by.

Right now, the most crucial thing is the ability to protect oneself.

There's nothing we can do; this world is just too unfriendly to young people.

Jin Yong's martial arts world is mostly filled with chivalry and vengeance; even in tragedies like "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," there is a strong sense of brotherhood and camaraderie. But "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" is different.

This is the darkest, bloodiest, and least like the martial arts world.

Here, there is no chivalry or heroic spirit, only naked calculation of interests and power struggles.

What's even more terrifying is that the old man here has a huge penchant for challenging opponents of higher levels and fighting across different factions. When Linghu Chong first appeared, he was already the undisputed number one among the younger generation, but without any extraordinary encounters, who could he possibly defeat later on?

An unprecedented sense of urgency gripped his heart.

No matter how miraculous the Ice Heart Technique may be, it is ultimately just a supplementary martial art and does not help improve immediate combat strength.

The most urgent task is to thoroughly study the Songshan martial arts that this body has learned by tomorrow morning.