The correct answer to this question, specifically posed for time travelers, is actually quite subtle.
Anyone who has read Jin Yong's The Smiling, Proud Wanderer knows that the Dugu Nine Swords was created by Dugu Qiubai, with Feng Qingyang merely his descendant. The most famous user of the Dugu Nine Swords is likely Linghu Chong.
The combination of Feng Qingyang and the Dugu Nine Swords is truly misleading.
So even a simple yes or no statement would reveal something in Fang Bie's words.
However, Lin Xue's answer is, in a sense, the standard answer.
After all, in this world, the Dugu Nine Swords and the Purple Cloud Divine Art are both the Huashan Sect's signature techniques, and their actual power may be even greater than described in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. However, Fang Bie has never read the Dugu Nine Swords manual, nor seen anyone perform it, so he can only speculate.
However, learning some familiar martial arts names, even if they are somewhat similar, is a significant benefit for Fang Bie.
Because his martial arts style was different from anyone else's in this world.
"Since you're an outer disciple of Emei, what are the seven great sects today?" Fang Bie asked, following up on the previous question, fearing Lin Xue might have noticed something unusual about him.
After his home was robbed, Lin Xue was forced to study under an outer disciple of the Emei sect, where he learned the rudiments of Emei martial arts for a few years. Then, unexpectedly, he stumbled upon the training camp of the Beehive, where he was trained as a Bee Wing and assigned to Fang Bie as his partner. That was all Lin Xue's information.
However, the camp where Lin Xue trained was recently raided by the Six Gates Jinyiwei, who were dispatched like a beehive, after Beehive risked their lives to assassinate Zhou Haitian, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Although the troops were evacuated, all the camp's property was completely destroyed.
"Shaolin Temple in Henan, Wudang Mountain in Hubei, Mount Emei in Sichuan, Mount Hua in Shaanxi, Kunlun Mountain in the Western Regions, Bailu Academy in Jiangxi, and Penglai Pavilion in Shandong," Lin Xue named each of these prestigious sects one by one.
After all, it's a well-known name in the martial arts world, a reputable brand.
Besides the five names mentioned above, which frequently appear in traditional martial arts novels, Jiangxi Bailu Academy is a sect that cultivates righteousness. Its ancestors, like Huang Shang in Jin Yong's novels, learned the true meaning of martial arts from Confucian classics, forming a unique school of martial arts. They can rise to high positions in the imperial court or retreat to the distant realms of the martial arts world, becoming a prominent
figure in their own right. As for Shandong Penglai Pavilion, it's a different story. It's said to have received a legacy from a Taoist immortal, resulting in incredibly high martial arts skills and very little worldly practice. Fang Bie didn't know if they were as powerful as the Xiaoyao Sect, but it was always a good idea to avoid those you don't understand.
Thinking this way, Fang Bie casually asked, "What is Shaolin Temple's signature martial art?"
This question was a no-brainer, and Fang Bie was feeling a bit lost in thought. Shaolin Temple, as the foremost of the Seven Great Sects, was renowned, boasting the most signature martial arts. The Yi Jin Jing, the Seventy-Two Secret Skills, and the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art were all legendary, to name a few.
"Yi Jin Jing?" Lin Xue asked tentatively, as the question seemed a bit simple.
"The Yi Jin Jing is incredibly famous, known to everyone in the martial arts world," Fang Bie said calmly.
By this time, Fang Bie had already laid down his sword. They stood in the small room, but Lin Xue still felt a sense of respect, like her father, using a ruler to supervise her memorizing the mantras for the Purple Air Coming from the East.
"Besides the Yi Jin Jing?" Fang Bie asked.
"I don't know!" Lin Xue said, emphasizing each word. "If you have the guts, ask the Emei Sect."
The Emei Sect was Lin Xue's original lay disciple, and the one she was most familiar with. This statement was essentially a rebuttal and a counterattack.
However, Fang Bie remained unfazed and continued, "May I ask who is the current head of the Emei Sect?"
"Master Zhenru," Lin Xue said.
Mount Emei is one of the Four Great Mountains of Buddhism and the dojo of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Its martial arts are primarily Buddhist, making it a prestigious Buddhist sect. The only slightly awkward aspect is its mountain-guarding formation.
"So, what is the Emei Sect's signature martial art?"
Lin Xue, entering her area of expertise, answered without hesitation, "The Two-Polarity Dust-Separating Formation."
Fang Bie smiled inwardly. Indeed, the Two-Polarity Dust-Separating Formation is the Emei Sect's signature technique and a mountain-guarding formation. Its power is immense, so powerful that even the most elite masters are said to be unable to escape unscathed. It is truly utterly domineering and powerful.
However, this powerful formation isn't a Buddhist one, but a unique Taoist formation acquired by the Emei Sect's founder himself. Honestly, it can be a bit awkward to use.
But people in the martial arts world don't care; as long as it works, it's enough.
"The formation doesn't count. Try another one," Fang Bie said.
Lin Xue nodded. "That's the Samantabhadra Heart Sutra."
The Samantabhadra Heart Sutra is the Emei Sect's supreme internal cultivation technique, and it's not wrong to say it's the sect's guardian technique. Fang Bie nodded and continued, "List me three Emei Sect palm techniques."
Lin Xue looked at Fang Bie. "I'm your bee wing," she emphasized, not wanting to be coerced into answering so many endless questions.
"No, not yet," Fang Bie shook his head. "How do I know you're not someone else impersonating me?"
"I have the organization's seal and code. Isn't that enough?" Lin Xue said calmly.
Fang Bie looked at her. "Anyone could come here with the organization's seal and code."
Lin Xue stared coldly. "You don't even trust the organization?"
This was a heart-piercing question.
But Fang Bie nodded. "Yes, I don't."
In this world, he preferred to trust himself. He couldn't trust an entity as vast as the Hive.
Even if he was still inside it, struggling to protect himself.
Lin Xue could only sigh. "Golden Top Cotton Palm, Piaoxue Piercing Cloud Palm, Nine Intercepting Hand Styles."
She chose to answer Fang Bie's previous question.
"What do you know?"
"Piaoxue Piercing Cloud Palm." "
What's the next move after Piaoxue Piercing Cloud Palm, which pierces the clouds and breaks the air?"
"Clear the clouds, reveal the moon." "
What's the next move after Piaoxue Thousand Miles Away?"
"Clouds Disappear, Rain Clears."
"What's the next move after Smoke Dissipates?"
The two began to ask each other mechanically. No matter how much Lin Xue disliked the cold man before her, she had to pass this level.
"Piaoxue Piercing Cloud Palm doesn't have this move,"Lin Xue said.
Fang Bie nodded.
"Alright." Fang Bie smiled. Lin Xue really didn't like this boy's smile right now. Although it looked nice and clean, it made her feel all over.
"You can go now," Fang Bie said.
"Go?" Lin Xue looked at him. "Did I pass?"
Fang Bie shook his head. "No, you're out."
"I don't want a bee-wing like you."
Lin Xue felt her whole body tremble. She didn't know where she had gone wrong.
"Why? What did I say wrong?" Lin Xue asked.
If she couldn't even succeed at the first leg, she would surely die if she returned to the Jinyiwei. After all, this mission itself was a life-or-death struggle. She either succeeded or died here. Returning to the Jinyiwei alive would be disobedience and desertion.
Either way, Lü Yuan could execute her according to Jinyiwei's military orders.
"You didn't say anything wrong," Fang Bie said.
"But—your answer was too perfect." The young man smiled, a pure smile that left Lin Xue feeling cold.
"Let me ask you, a person whose parents died when she was nine, who was adopted at the age of nine, and who has only mastered the basics of Emei Kung Fu."
"How can you answer all my questions perfectly?"
"This kind of perfection itself is a kind of failure."
(End of this chapter)