Zhang Yunniang led Liu Yiyi through the backyard, and the further they walked, the more their eyes lit up. It turned out there was a huge pigsty hidden behind the house. Inside the sty were ten super-sized fat pigs, leisurely walking around, occasionally grunting a few times, as if they didn't care about the two unexpected visitors.
These fat pigs, each like a small mountain, probably weighed around 1500 catties, and lined up together, they presented a spectacular sight.
Liu Yiyi's eyes widened at the sight, and she was so surprised she couldn't speak: "Sister Yunniang, are these really pigs you're raising? They're like elephants, so impressive!"
Zhang Yunniang smiled slightly and said softly, "Back then, I was looking for fruit to eat in the mountains and stumbled upon a litter of twelve piglets. They were tiny, each only a little over a catty. I saw they were abandoned and felt sorry for them, so I brought them all back. Later, they grew bigger and bigger. When they reached three hundred catties, I craved meat, so I killed one. When they reached six hundred catties, I killed another. Now only these ten are left."
At this point, Zhang Yunniang sighed, "At first, I was quite surprised by how fast they grew. But gradually, I got used to it. Now they've all grown to about 1500 catties, and I can't kill them by myself anymore."
Liu Yiyi was stunned and asked curiously, "Sister Yunniang, do you also know martial arts? You can kill a 600-catty fat pig! Are you a second-rate or third-rate master?"
Zhang Yunniang smiled, her face full of confidence: "Before I met my late husband, I was barely third-rate. After years of diligent practice, I'm now considered a top-tier second-rate master. However, killing these thousand-catty fat pigs is still quite strenuous; it's really not easy."
The world of martial artists is boundless, starting from the lowest 'unranked' level, climbing step by step through 'third-rate,' 'second-rate,' 'first-rate,' then to 'half-step Xiantian,' 'Xiantian realm,' with the ultimate goal being the lofty throne of the 'Martial God.' In this world, without displaying martial arts or releasing internal energy, it's difficult to gauge someone's true strength, so it's hard for martial artists to judge who is stronger or weaker based solely on appearance.
In fact, battles between martial artists are not always clear-cut in terms of strength. For example, if five half-step Xiantian martial artists team up against one Xiantian martial artist, although they are at a disadvantage, they can still protect themselves and have a fifty percent chance of winning. From this perspective, an ordinary Xiantian martial artist can probably defeat five half-step Xiantian martial artists, which is equivalent to the combined strength of twenty-five first-rate martial artists, or more than one hundred twenty-five second-rate martial artists, or even six hundred twenty-five third-rate martial artists, or three thousand one hundred twenty-five unranked martial artists. It's worth noting that even the bravest ordinary soldiers on the battlefield are mostly just the best among the unranked martial artists.
If a Xiantian martial artist is surrounded by three thousand soldiers, the outcome is hard to predict. Fleeing might save their life, but a head-on fight would likely lead to their demise. If long-range weapons are added to the attack, they would be in even greater danger. Therefore, although Xiantian martial artists are formidable, they are not invincible. Facing an overwhelming rain of arrows, they must still be cautious.
However, in the eyes of ordinary people, Xiantian martial artists are like invincible overlords, coming and going freely, killing people as easily as cutting grass. Among the wandering knights and high-ranking generals of the court, Xiantian martial artists are numerous, and their influence is considerable. Of course, even among martial artists of the same level, combat power varies. The quality of weapons, the proficiency of martial arts, and even some unorthodox methods can determine the final outcome, making the world of martial artists even more complex and unpredictable.
Previously, Zhang Zhongjing was a top-tier Xiantian martial artist, but he was unfortunately ambushed and captured by despicable means, enduring immense torment. If it weren't for Gui Yuchen's imperial intervention to save him, he would have died long ago, and tall weeds would be growing on his grave. To repay this life-saving kindness, Zhang Zhongjing vowed to protect Gui Yuchen with all his might, a truly moving friendship.
Let's set aside that interlude for now and continue with the conversation between Zhang Yunniang and Liu Yiyi. Liu Yiyi was still persistent, asking, "Sister Yunniang, you're already so powerful, a top-tier second-rate martial artist, how could you be bullied by that nameless nobody? This just doesn't make sense. When I stabbed him, he didn't react like a master at all. If he were truly a first-rate master, he should have at least dodged my sword and exchanged a few moves with me."
Zhang Yunniang listened, a mysterious smile on her face, and said, "That fellow is just an ordinary person, barely an unranked martial artist with some shoddy skills. He gained an advantage because I deliberately let him. It's just that I haven't tasted that kind of intimacy between a man and a woman in a long time, and I was feeling a bit restless. Since he came, I just went with the flow and decided to try. But his technique was too poor; he didn't satisfy me. If you hadn't arrived, I was planning to kill him. How could he live in this world after daring to insult me like that?"
Liu Yiyi understood immediately and said with a smile, "Sister Yunniang is truly a woman of passion, even more heroic than men. Let's stop chatting and get to killing pigs! Afterward, we'll have a big feast and drink a few bowls of good wine. Do you have any good wine at your sister's house?"
Zhang Yunniang's lips curled up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the upcoming feast, and she said with a smile, "Of course there's wine, Yiyi. Come with me, we need to get ready. This pig-killing business, while not as exciting as a martial arts tournament, has its own pleasures."
With that, Zhang Yunniang led Liu Yiyi to an open space in the backyard. She took out two gleaming pig-slaughtering knives from the tool shed, terrifyingly sharp, like two streaks of lightning about to cut through the stillness. She expertly handed one to Liu Yiyi and said with a smile, "Yiyi, I'll be relying on you today. I can't handle these 1500-catty fat pigs by myself. But when it comes to gutting them, I'm an old hand."
Liu Yiyi took the heavy pig-slaughtering knife, feeling the coolness of the hilt, and a surge of eagerness to try it out rose within her. She knew that this was not just a simple pig-killing task, but also a testament to her friendship with Zhang Yunniang, a symbol of their mutual trust.
"Sister Yunniang, don't worry, even though I'm not a top-tier master, I'm more than capable of handling these 1500-catty fat pigs," Liu Yiyi said with a smile.
Zhang Yunniang nodded in satisfaction, and then the two of them returned to the pigsty. The large fat pigs seemed to sense danger and huddled in a corner, grunting even louder, as if protesting their final struggle.
"Are you ready?" Zhang Yunniang whispered.
Liu Yiyi took a deep breath and nodded. With a flash, she moved as swiftly as a leopard, instantly grabbing the fattest pig and leaping out of the pigsty. The pig-slaughtering knife in her hand accurately pierced the pig's neck, a clean and swift movement that left onlookers stunned.
Blood gushed out, the pig let out a tragic cry, then collapsed helplessly to the ground, struggling a few times before falling still. Liu Yiyi's heart was calm, for she was just as decisive when she killed people.
The rest of the work was left to Zhang Yunniang, who skillfully began to bleed, de-hair, and gut the pig, each step performed with such composure, as if it were simply a part of her life. Liu Yiyi helped out, handing tools or receiving the processed pork, and the two of them worked together perfectly.
Zhang Yunniang wiped her sweat and turned to Liu Yiyi, saying, "Yiyi, I really couldn't have managed today without your help."
Liu Yiyi shook her head and said, "Sister Yunniang, you're too kind. I'm happy to be of help."
Zhang Yunniang's eyes flashed with gratitude upon hearing this. She led Liu Yiyi into the kitchen and began preparing lunch. The kitchen was filled with freshly processed pork and various seasonings. Zhang Yunniang skillfully cut, marinated, and cooked the meat, and soon the entire kitchen was filled with fragrant aromas.
Then she stir-fried a few vegetarian dishes picked from the garden, all of them appealing in color, aroma, and taste.
Zhang Zhongjing also returned home for lunch. So, the four of them—Gui Yuchen, Zhang Zhongjing, Liu Yiyi, and Zhang Yunniang—gathered around the dining table, enjoying delicious food, drinking, and chatting. After three cups of wine, all four were a little tipsy, but their bond deepened.
Gui Yuchen was very pleased to hear that Zhang Yunniang was a top-tier second-rate martial artist. He thought to himself, it wouldn't be bad to win her over; firstly, she's beautiful and can attend to him, and secondly, her martial arts skills are good for dealing with danger. How could such a beauty be missed?