https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-157-A-Fresh-Start-for-Li-Xunhuan/12536195/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-159-Lin-Xian-er-Finally-Makes-an-Appearance/12536197/
Chapter 158: A Classic Conversation, A Legendary Scene
Chapter 158: A Classic Conversation, A Legendary Scene
Officer ShangGuan JinHong approached within two zhang of Li XunHuan, his hands emerging from his sleeves. They were empty.
What followed was a classic exchange, one that would become as renowned in the legends of the martial arts world as the climax at the peak of Zijing.
"Where is your ring?"
"The ring is already here."
"Where?"
"In my heart!"
"In your heart?"
"Though I hold no ring in my hand, my heart contains the ring."
Li XunHuan's pupils contracted.
Though no ring was in his hand, his heart contained the ring! Thus, these twin rings were everywhere and nowhere. Perhaps even if you were killed, you wouldn't see the rings' existence!
"Impressive!"
"You understand?"
"Marvelous. Without the ring, there is no self. Without a trace, invincible."
"Good. You truly understand!"
"To understand is to not understand. Not to understand is to understand." ShangGuan JinHong sighed, "You, a talented scholar and a proud son of heaven, why must you immerse yourself in this dirty river and lake, becoming a vagrant?"
Li XunHuan smiled, "I came because I wanted to, and I'll leave when I want to."
"Can you still leave?"
"I don't want to leave, and I can't leave!"
"Good! Please make your move!" ShangGuan JinHong's eyes shone, fixing intently on Li XunHuan's dagger.
"My move is already here."
"Where?"
"In my heart. Though there is no move on my dagger, my heart contains the move."
ShangGuan JinHong's pupils constricted as well.
Though no move was on his hands, his heart contained the move! Though the two men remained silent and motionless, everyone present felt an unparalleled oppressive force, causing them to leave their seats and huddle in the corners.
However...
"Aren't ShangGuan JinHong's twin rings damaged and unusable after being chopped by Bai TianYu?" You LongSheng whispered.
"That's right. So I helped him reforge a new pair, didn't we just give them to him? They're in that pile of gifts, he hasn't had a chance to pick them up yet." Ding BaiYun nodded, whispering back to You LongSheng.
"This is a bit embarrassing. Hasn't ShangGuan JinHong received his weapon yet? Did Li XunHuan come too early?" You LongSheng clicked his tongue.
"But with so many people here, and this being the Golden Money Gang's home turf, ShangGuan JinHong can't afford to lose face, can he?" Ding BaiYun said seriously, then asked, "But why hasn't Li XunHuan made his move yet?"
"Because he's sentimental. He's still a decent person. How can Li XunHuan dare to make a move when ShangGuan JinHong hasn't shown his weapon yet?" You LongSheng whispered, "When has he ever taken advantage of others?"
Li XunHuan, "..."
ShangGuan JinHong, "..."
Although their voices were soft, ShangGuan JinHong and Li XunHuan had exceptional hearing. How could they not hear this conversation?
Li XunHuan felt awkward, but ShangGuan JinHong felt even more so. It had been a long time since he had experienced this feeling of embarrassment, as no one dared to make him feel this way.
But he couldn't deny what You LongSheng had said.
Although his martial arts had reached a transcendental state, and he usually didn't need the twin rings, he would definitely bring his signature weapon when facing Li XunHuan, as he had during the battle at FeiQuan.
In the original story, You LongSheng estimated that ShangGuan JinHong hadn't expected Li XunHuan to show up today.
But in the current situation, it was possible that ShangGuan JinHong truly hadn't had the chance to pick up his weapon yet.
Of course, you couldn't say that ShangGuan JinHong and Li XunHuan were lying. Their martial arts realms had indeed reached a spiritual level that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.
But! There was a 'but'!
Their strengths were relatively evenly matched. Facing the Little Li Flying Dagger, ShangGuan JinHong wouldn't dare to leave his twin rings behind, and facing ShangGuan JinHong, Li XunHuan wouldn't dare to simply rely on the moves in his heart.
Li Xunhuan, accustomed to Yu Longsheng's antics, maintained a slight smile without any hint of movement.
However, ShangGuan JinHong suddenly took a step forward.
No one knew if it was because ShangGuan JinHong couldn't bear the goading any longer, if he was going with the flow, or if he had stabilized his mind and was advancing further. Li Xunhuan's spirit had already condensed into one, entirely focused on the flying dagger in his hand.
A great battle was about to erupt!
But the next moment, an aged voice suddenly rang out, "To move is to be immovable, and to be immovable is to move. Do you understand?"
"If that's the case, then to fight is to not fight, and to not fight is to fight. So, why bother fighting at all?" A crisp female voice replied.
These two voices were transmitted using internal energy, and no one knew where they were coming from.
Ding Baiyun's eyes flickered, "Is it them?"
Yu Longsheng nodded, "Of course."
Ding Baiyun frowned and asked, "What are they trying to do?"
"They're trying to weaken ShangGuan JinHong's aura and give Li Xunhuan an advantage," Yu Longsheng said.
This was because ShangGuan JinHong's state of mind was indeed slightly superior to Li Xunhuan's, and weakening his aura and spiritual power would have a greater impact on him than on Li Xunhuan.
The conversation between Elder Tianji and Sun Xiaohong continued.
"They want to fight because they don't truly understand the essence of martial arts."
"You say they don't understand, but they think they do."
"They believe that reaching the state of 'no ring in hand, but ring in heart' and 'no move in hand, but move in heart' is the pinnacle of martial arts. In reality, they are still far from it."
"How far?"
"Ten thousand miles away."
"Then what is the true pinnacle of martial arts?"
"When there is no ring in hand or in heart, and the ring and I are one, then we're almost there."
"Almost? Is there still a bit left?"
"Indeed, there's still a bit left. The true pinnacle is when there is no ring, no self, and both ring and self are forgotten. That is when one becomes all-encompassing and invincible."
"I see, so it's similar to the principle of Zen Buddhism and the enlightenment of the Sixth Patriarch, Huineng,"
"In this world, when something reaches the pinnacle, the underlying principles are often similar. It's a pity that some people don't understand. When they reach the state of 'no ring in hand, but ring in heart', they become complacent, not knowing that this is just the beginning."
If Yu Longsheng's previous words had only caused embarrassment, the words of Elder Tianji were a direct lesson in the principles of martial arts, inevitably dampening their fighting spirit.
ShangGuan JinHong remained indifferent and said, "Since Elder Sun is here, why don't you show yourself?"
The wind blew, but no figure appeared.
Li Xunhuan sighed, "Like a dragon that shows its head but not its tail, Elder Sun is elusive."
But ShangGuan JinHong coldly smiled, "Anyone can speak of principles, but the question is whether they can practice what they preach."
He had crossed paths with Elder Tianji not long ago and exchanged a few moves. He had a rough idea of the elder's actual combat capability.
Elder Tianji, after all, was already old...
(End of Chapter)
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