Advancement! Simplified Bright Moon Heart Technique! Huang Shiyun's Wrath [Second Up

Chapter 65 Advancement! Simplified Bright Moon Heart Technique! Huang Shiyun's Wrath [Second Update, Please Subscribe]

The setting sun had not yet faded, and the air above and below the city walls was thick with the stench of blood and weariness.

Su Yang sat alone under the crenellation, quietly wiping the ring-pommel straight sword.

Footsteps sounded from behind, steady and clear, carrying a resilient yet sharp quality.

He didn't look up, and his hand movements slowed slightly.

Shang Xiuxun had removed her armor, standing in the twilight in a plain blue outfit. Her gaze swept over the deep knife marks and bloodstains beside Su Yang, finally settling on the cold, gleaming blade.

"The blade may be polished to a shine, but its menacing aura cannot be wiped away."

Her voice was clear, yet carried a chilling edge.

Su Yang stood up, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Greetings, Lord Shang. Thank you for your help today."

"It's my duty."

Shang Xiuxun spoke calmly, stepping forward: "Today, in the western city defense section, where you were stationed, the gains were the greatest, yet the casualties were the fewest. Zhao Mang, the 'Mountain-Breaking Axe' of the Jianghuai Army, along with his two deputies, were cleaved off the city wall by your single strike?"

"Yes."

"They're not using military tactics."

Her gaze, sharp as a blade, swept across the knife: "Your knife is simpler, more deadly. The dragging force when you strike back is something you learned from piles of corpses."

Su Yang felt a slight chill: "In the heat of battle, one's moves are inevitably a bit wild. I hope the host will forgive my foolishness."

Shang Xiuxun stopped pressing the matter and changed the subject to military affairs: "Based on what you've seen today, how is the Jianghuai Army different from usual?"

Su Yang pondered for a moment and replied, "The offensive is even more aggressive, and they are determined to win. Driving the people to the front is an attempt to win their hearts and minds."

"You have a good eye."

A faint glint flashed in her eyes, and she suddenly asked, "As you wipe your blade, are you thinking of the dead enemy, or the enemy yet to come?"

Su Yang looked up, met her gaze, and said truthfully, "Both. The past serves as a mirror, and tomorrow—only with a sharp blade can the heart find peace."

Shang Xiuxun stared at him silently for a moment.

"Only with a calm mind can a knife be sharp."

She nodded slightly: "The city walls will stand, not because of a single person or sword."

After saying that, he turned and left.

The cloak billowed as the figure disappeared into the deepening twilight.

Dominate the mountain villa.

The lights were on full display, as bright as day.

Inside the main hall, the atmosphere was a strange mix of solemnity and excitement.

On the main seat, Fang Zetao, the garrison commander of Jingling, was dressed in a brocade robe, exuding an air of majesty.

In the lower left corner, Shang Xiuxun, the owner of Pegasus Ranch, had changed into a moon-colored long dress, her black hair flowing like a waterfall, adorned only with a jade ring, exuding a refined and aloof beauty.

On the lower right and to the sides are, in order, several military commanders, civil officials and strategists from the city, as well as prominent local gentry like Huang Shiyun.

Su Yang and Yang Yunxing were seated at the back, almost at the very end.

The candlelight illuminated Su Yang's slightly pale face, now cleansed of blood, and also reflected the unfathomable silence beneath Yang Yunxing's lowered eyes. They could feel countless gazes, some open, some hidden, sweeping over them... curiosity, scrutiny, jealousy...

calculating.

After three rounds of banquet, Fang Zetao suddenly raised his golden cup, his voice resounding through the roof tiles: "Today's bloody battle in Xicheng and the retreat of Jianghuai are all thanks to the bravery of our soldiers and the unity of the people! I, the general, toast to you all!"

The entire room raised their glasses and responded with a resounding cheer.

Fang Zetao's gaze swept across the entire scene like lightning, finally settling on Su Yang: "Among the many brave warriors, Captain Su Yang, who was appointed to a critical mission, led his troops to turn the tide and slay the enemy chieftain 'Mountain-Breaking Axe' Zhao Mang, making a great contribution!"

All eyes were instantly focused on it.

Su Yang stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "It is all thanks to General Fang's strategic planning and the soldiers' bravery. I dare not take credit for it."

"Rewarding merit and punishing wrongdoing are the fundamental principles of military discipline."

Fang Zetao waved his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument: "Su Yang is hereby promoted to Battalion Commander of the Sharp Vanguard Battalion, with the rank of Colonel, and is granted three hundred taels of gold, a set of fine armor, and a precious sword! His original five hundred strong men are all transferred to the Sharp Vanguard Battalion as its backbone, and from this day forward, they will be directly under my command!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment, then a buzz of exclamations and whispers filled the air.

Directly under his command!

What a profound trust this is!

The way many people looked at Su Yang had changed from disdain to burning desire, and then to deep fear.

The jade cup in Huang Shiyun's hand trembled slightly, and the wine rippled gently.

His face quickly broke into an impeccable smile, and he even raised his glass to Fang Zetao first: "General Fang is fair in his rewards and punishments and promotes talented people, which is truly a blessing for Jingling! Su Yang, why don't you quickly thank the general for his great kindness?"

His tone was one of satisfaction and excitement, as if he were sharing in the glory.

Only Huang Zhenggang, who was closest to him, could see that his father's left hand was clenched into a fist in his sleeve, and his knuckles were white.

Huang Zhenggang himself simply held his wine glass elegantly, a perfectly measured smile playing on his lips, as if he were pleased for his colleague. He even gave a barely perceptible nod in Su Yang's direction.

"Thank you for your kindness, General! Su Yang will do his utmost to repay your kindness!"

Su Yang knelt on one knee, his voice deep and resolute.

He felt those gazes, like a tangible pressure falling on his back.

In the corner of his eye, Yang Yunxing still kept his eyes down, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

Fang Zetao nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Huang Zhenggang, his tone softening: "Captain Huang."

Huang Zhenggang calmly stood up: "Your subordinate is here."

"Su Ying is newly appointed and may be unfamiliar with military affairs. As your senior and fellow Jingling native, you should provide guidance and cooperate sincerely in the future." Fang Zetao's words, seemingly a request, actually subtly set the tone for the relationship between the two.

Huang Zhenggang's smile remained unchanged as he bowed and replied, "If the general commands, I dare not disobey. Su Ying is a young and outstanding man, and I admire him greatly. I will certainly seek his guidance in the future."

He turned to Su Yang, raised his cup in greeting: "Congratulations, Commander Su. In the future, we will serve as ministers in the same court. I hope we can work together to protect Jingling."

His words were gentle, and his gaze was peaceful.

But the instant their eyes met, Su Yang felt a faint, yet sharp, chilling sensation, like a needle probing a hole, creep up his spine.

This was by no means a congratulatory gesture; it was a declaration, in front of Fang Zetao and a hall full of guests, in an irreproachable manner, that Huang Zhenggang had taken notice of Su Yang.

"Commander Huang's kindness is too much for me, and I am unworthy of it. I will humbly learn from you."

Su Yang raised his glass in return and drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor is pungent and feels like a knife as it goes down your throat.

Shang Xiuxun sat quietly to the side, taking in all of this.

Her gaze swept between Huang Shiyun's forced smile, Huang Zhenggang's gentle facade, Su Yang's composed demeanor, and Yang Yunxing's sculpted silence, before finally settling on the clear liquid in her glass, lost in thought.

The banquet came to an end, and the lights gradually dimmed.

Outside the villa, the night breeze was already cool.

Su Yang and Yang Yunxing walked side by side in silence for a long while.

"Master————"

Su Yang spoke.

"No need to say more."

Yang Yunxing interrupted him, his voice low but exceptionally clear: "This is your destiny, and also your calamity."

Fang Zetao used you to sharpen a sharp knife, but at the same time, he put you on a dangerous pedestal. Huang Shiyun has lost face and substance today, and he will not let this go easily. As for Huang Zhenggang—”

He paused slightly, looking up at the dark sky: "This man is unfathomable. His every word and action today was impeccable, which is the most terrifying thing. If he wanted to deal with you, he would never have acted so hastily and rashly as his father."

"Disciple understands."

Su Yang nodded: "We'll meet force with force."

"The light block isn't enough."

Yang Yunxing shook his head, his tone grave: "You must quickly establish yourself in the Sharp Edge Camp; those five hundred old subordinates are your foundation. Focus on cultivating the 'Bright Moon Heart Method,' for strength is your only reliance. Remember, from today onward, every step you take is being watched by countless eyes."

The two figures blended into the night.

At this moment, however, the scene inside the Huang family's study was quite different.

Huang Shiyun dismissed all the servants, his face grim and terrifying in the flickering candlelight.

He swept his hand across the table, shattering the valuable inkstone and brush washer into pieces on the floor.

"Fang Zetao—this is outrageous!"

He forced out those words through gritted teeth.

Huang Zhenggang stood quietly to the side, waiting for his father's anger to subside before slowly stepping forward, picking up a shard of porcelain, and saying in a calm tone, "Father, please calm down. Anger cloudes judgment."

"Blinded by reason? My five hundred men, painstakingly built up, were snatched away by a single, careless remark from him! That Su Yang, a lowly guard, actually dared to—"

"Father."

Huang Zhenggang raised his eyes, the candlelight making his gaze seem unfathomable: "What took away your men was Fang Zetao's power, not Su Yang's ambition. As for Su Yang—he is no longer a bodyguard; he is a captain personally appointed by Fang Zetao, the commander of the Sharp Edge Battalion."

His tone was flat, yet every word was like an ice pick, sending a shiver down Huang Shiyun's spine.

"So what are you going to do?"

Huang Shiyun stared at his son.

Huang Zhenggang gently placed the broken porcelain back on the table, his fingertips brushing the edge: "Fang Zetao's actions are nothing more than an attempt to use this opportunity to intimidate and expand his direct line. We shouldn't confront him head-on. Su Yang—he's quite interesting. His martial arts style is far from ordinary, and his speed of progress is even more illogical. Fang Zetao wants to use him, so we—"

A faint, cold smile played at the corners of his lips: "Why not help him grow properly? The army has its own rules. The Sharp Vanguard Battalion is newly established; its provisions, defense zones, and mission assignments can all be taken care of." Besides, the Jianghuai Army has just suffered a defeat; how could they accept it willingly? Border skirmishes and small-scale infiltrations are inevitable. A knife sharpened too quickly is easily broken.

Huang Shiyun's eyes flickered, his anger gradually replaced by a chilling glint: "You mean—"

"Father."

Huang Zhenggang bowed slightly: "Leave this matter to your son. You just need to deal with Fang Zetao as usual, or even—you might as well be more enthusiastic. What we want is never a momentary impulse."

He stepped back, his figure half in the light and half in the shadows: "As for that Instructor Yang—he has a close relationship with Su Yang, yet he hasn't received a single reward. Fang Zetao is also wary of him. Perhaps we can learn something from this 'disappointed' instructor."

The study returned to silence, with only the flickering of the candlelight.

In another quiet guest courtyard of the mountain villa, Shang Xiuxun stood by the railing, gazing at the sparse lights of Jingling City.

"Owner".

The leader of the personal guard appeared as if by shadow.

"How's the investigation going?"

"Su Yang, formerly the head of the outer guards of the Huang family, came from a clean background and was almost an isolated soldier. His swordsmanship was swift and ruthless, seemingly transformed from basic military formation swordsmanship, but the core strength was strange and unlike ordinary internal energy. Yang Yunxing, the head instructor of the Huang family guards, had an unclear background. He appeared in Jingling about ten years ago. His martial arts were mixed, and he had a keen eye. Although he and Su Yang were nominally superior and subordinate, they had a close relationship and were suspected to be master and disciple."

Shang Xiuxun listened quietly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold railing.

Where is Huang Zhenggang?

"Huang's eldest son, outwardly serving as the captain of the Duba Mountain Villa, leading a thousand soldiers, keeps a low profile and has a fairly good reputation."

But—our people have vaguely discovered that he has extremely secret connections with several unidentified underground banks and money laundering operations in the city.

Even deeper, things yet to be touched.

"Unexplained involvement————"

Shang Xiuxun murmured repeatedly, her gaze distant: "The waters of Jingling are deeper than they appear. Continue the investigation, paying particular attention to the martial arts foundations of Su Yang and Yang Yunxing, to see where they lead. Also, don't follow Huang Zhenggang too closely, lest we alert him."

"Yes."

The guards withdrew.

Shang Xiuxun stood alone in the wind, the night breeze ruffling her clothes.

"Su Yang————"

She murmured the name.

At the banquet, the young man's calm yet sharp gaze alternated with his focused indifference as he wiped the blood-stained knife.

"Fang Zetao is raising a tiger, the Huang family is plotting to exploit it. And you—" A sharp glint flashed in her eyes: "Are you a wolf that crawled out of a pile of corpses, or—something else entirely?"

The night was deep, and most of the soldiers in the newly assigned garrison of the Ruifeng Battalion were already fast asleep from exhaustion, with only the regular sound of patrolling footsteps ringing out.

As the battalion commander, Su Yang was assigned a separate mud-brick barracks.

The room was simply furnished with a bed, a table, and a chair. In the corner were the fine armor they had just received and the hundred-refined sword that had been given as a reward.

On the table, the oil lamp flickered dimly. Su Yang sat cross-legged on the cold earthen bed, his mind churning with images.

The bloody battle on the city walls during the day, the piercing gazes at the banquet, the icy touch of Huang Zhenggang's toast, the heavy admonitions from his master—many images churned in his mind, ultimately settling into a cold determination to become stronger.

"Let's start with the top panel."

Su Yang took out the thin booklet passed down by his master Yang Yunxing from his bosom and opened it to read it carefully.

The first page of the thin booklet features eight ancient seal characters that seem to penetrate the paper and contain endless chill, like the backbone and soul of the mental cultivation method: "Taiyin Wuji, Shen Zhao Daqian".

Refining the spirit and controlling the qi, with the spirit as the guiding principle!

Su Yang held his breath; merely reciting this general outline, he felt a majestic, lofty, and chilling aura wash over him.

Then came the specific steps of cultivation, the handwriting turning clear and flowing: "Concentrate your mind on the moon, guide your breath into the subtle. The spirit merges with the moon, the breath transforms into a cold blade... My body is the moon, illuminating the netherworld."

"This mental cultivation method..."

'

Su Yang was startled, and then continued reading word by word.

The requirements for simplifying the panel need to be reviewed four or five times before it can be uploaded.

time flies.

【Moonlight Heart Sutra (Beginner Level 0/2000)】

[The Radiant Moon Cultivation Technique, an internal cultivation method, has been detected that can be simplified. 200 simplification points can be consumed to simplify it. Simplify now?]

As the moon rose high in the sky, a panel flickered in Su Yang's mind.

"Finally, it's on the control panel!"

Su Yang's eyes lit up as he looked at the display on the panel. Then, glancing at the 200 simplification points, he was deeply shocked: "It actually requires 200 simplification points! This cultivation method requires twice as many simplification points as the incomplete version of the Overlord Blade. Doesn't that mean it's on the same level as the Overlord Blade?!"

"simplify!"

Su Yang immediately realized this.

Currently, his simplifications are sufficient.

[You have consumed 200 Simplification Points to simplify the "Bright Moon Heart Sutra" — Simplifying — Simplification successful.....． "Bright Moon Heart Sutra" = Moon Appreciation and Cold Qi Refining!]

The moment Su Yang's consciousness was confirmed, the simplified result flashed on the panel in his mind.

"To cultivate cold energy while admiring the moon?"

Su Yang looked at the simplified result, his eyes showing a thoughtful expression.