[Martial Arts Fantasy] Laughing and Embracing Beauties of the Three Realms (Complete) - 6

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Chapter 27: Hongmian Leaves

In the throes of spiritual and physical union, the two reached the pinnacle of pleasure together. Zhang Xiaoyu, who had barely experienced any satisfaction in recent days, finally erupted completely today, achieving complete fulfillment.

After savoring the sensations for a while, Zhang Xiaoyu got up, dressed, covered Qin Hongmian with the blanket, gently kissed her lips, and left the room. As soon as he left, Qin Hongmian, lying on the bed, opened her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

Standing outside, Zhang Xiaoyu stretched his arms and twisted his waist. Truly, joy brings a surge of energy; he felt completely refreshed, all sleepiness gone. Looking at the bright moon in the sky, Zhang Xiaoyu left the small courtyard for a stroll.

As he walked, he came to what appeared to be a garden. Although it was night, the moonlight was bright, and Zhang Xiaoyu could clearly see the garden full of flowers, mostly camellias of various varieties. Following the path through the garden, Zhang Xiaoyu walked deeper into the garden. Suddenly, he saw a small pavilion ahead, and a woman's figure stood in it, looking so lonely and pitiful.

It was Dao Baifeng. Zhang Xiaoyu sighed inwardly. This poor woman, how much she must hate him now. Zhang Xiaoyu wanted to turn away, but seeing her trembling body in the moonlight, he stopped himself and quietly walked behind Dao Baifeng.

Zhang Xiaoyu took off his long robe and draped it over Dao Baifeng's shoulders. He could feel Dao Baifeng's body tremble slightly.

"Young Master Zhang, are you still awake so late?" Dao Baifeng didn't turn around, but she knew it was Zhang Xiaoyu. Her deep voice carried a trace of sorrow and desolation.

"My sister isn't resting either. The weather outside is so cold, and she doesn't even wear enough clothes. Wouldn't it worry everyone if she got sick?" "Does anyone still worry about me now?" Dao Baifeng murmured to herself.

"Of course, sister, I'll worry about you. Sister, what do you think people live for?" Zhang Xiaoyu suddenly asked Dao Baifeng this question.

Dao Baifeng was slightly taken aback, lowered her head and thought for a moment, "I don't know what it's for either. I've never thought about this question before. I always thought that living was about being a good wife and mother and passing the time slowly. But now I don't know anything." Dao Baifeng looked confused.

"Sister, the most important thing in life is to be happy, to make those around you happy, and to die without regrets. That's the most important thing. Love requires effort from both sides. If one side's contribution far exceeds the other's, then the love won't last, and it can no longer be called love." "Like the moon in the sky, it always waxes and wanes. Life is like that too. So, sister, don't dwell too much on your grief and forget those who care about you. No matter what, Duan Zhengchun is gone. Sister, you need to sit up straight and think about the future. I know all of this is my fault, but I don't want to hurt you. Now, whatever you want, Xiao Yu will let you do as you please." "Duan Zhengchun also brought this upon himself. You know, I didn't actually do this for him..." "You're heartbroken over his death? Do you think I'm heartless? Even I find it unbelievable that I never truly understood him after all these years of marriage, that I was always deceived. How could I be heartbroken for him? I'm only sad for myself. Thinking about our past relationship, thinking about what I gave him, I don't even know if his feelings for me were real, or if my sacrifices were worthwhile." "Sister, regardless of whether his feelings for you were real or not, he's gone. There's no right or wrong in love, only worthwhile or not. You only loved his false side, which doesn't exist. How much love could you possibly have for the real him, sister?" Yes, the only thing she could still hold onto was that fake Duan Zhengchun from many years ago. Presumably, Duan Zhengchun married her because of Duan Yu! Thinking of this, Dao Baifeng suddenly felt that what she did back then was truly worthless. She could have found happiness with anyone else. After Zhang Xiaoyu said that today, she really understood a lot. She would never do such a foolish thing again.

Thinking of this, Dao Baifeng burst into tears. This crying wasn't just for her past, but also for forgetting it all. From today onward, she would never again grieve for Duan Zhengchun, because it wasn't worth it.

Zhang Xiaoyu placed his hand on Dao Baifeng's shoulder. Seeing that she only paused for a moment without much reaction, Zhang Xiaoyu thought it was fortunate she didn't harbor much hostility towards him. Then, Zhang Xiaoyu gently pulled Dao Baifeng into his arms. At this moment, Dao Baifeng resisted with her hands. Zhang Xiaoyu softly said, "Sister, I just want you to rest well. You don't need to worry about anything else." Dao Baifeng didn't know if Feng Ranqing's words were true or false, but she knew that Zhang Xiaoyu's martial arts were far superior to hers. If he wanted to do anything to her, she wouldn't be able to resist. So, she comfortably cried in Zhang Xiaoyu's arms. After a while, Zhang Xiaoyu felt Dao Baifeng's slow and steady breathing in his arms, knowing she had fallen asleep.

Zhang Xiaoyu held Dao Baifeng in his arms, leaning against a pillar in the courtyard. He channeled his inner energy to protect Dao Baifeng's body, shielding her from the surrounding chill.

Zhang Xiaoyu spent the night holding Dao Baifeng like this. At dawn the next day, Zhang Xiaoyu saw Gan Baobao rushing into the garden, her face filled with anxiety. Seeing Zhang Xiaoyu in the pavilion, she quickly ran towards him.

"Yu Lang, something terrible has happened! Senior Sister is missing!" Zhang Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat. How could Sister Qin be missing? Could she be doing something rash? No, Sister Qin, you can't be hurt! Zhang Xiaoyu stood up anxiously.

Dao Baifeng had already woken up when Gan Baobao arrived, but was too embarrassed to get up. Now that Zhang Xiaoyu was standing, she naturally couldn't continue pretending to be asleep.

"Young Master Zhang, what happened to Miss Qin? Should I send people from the Prince's Mansion to search for her?" Dao Baifeng asked, her face flushed.

"Okay, thank you then, sister. Bao Bao and I will head over now," Zhang Xiaoyu said, releasing Dao Baifeng and quickly walking towards their courtyard with Gan Bao Bao in her hand.

Watching the two leave, Dao Baifeng was lost in thought. When Duan Zhengchun said their relationship was ambiguous, she had some doubts, but now it seemed true. She was the most foolish one; everyone else had found good men who cared for and loved them, while she had foolishly waited.

Dao Baifeng shook her head. Hadn't she already decided to forget everything? Today she wasn't the same person she used to be. From today onward, she would forget Duan Zhengchun. Dao Baifeng silently encouraged herself and quickly sent people to search for Qin Hongmian.

Back in the house, the women were already waiting for Zhang Xiaoyu. "When did Sister Qin disappear? She wouldn't do something rash, would she?" Zhang Xiaoyu asked anxiously.

"We don't know when Senior Sister left. I discovered she was gone early this morning. There was a letter left on the table for you to read, my husband," Gan Baobao said, handing a letter to Zhang Xiaoyu.

Zhang Xiaoyu took the letter and opened it. "

Xiaoyu, by the time you read this letter, I will have already left. Don't worry, I won't do anything foolish. Having walked the edge of death once, I understand how precious life is. Now, my only worry is Wanqing, but I know you can definitely rescue her. Although I don't know what happened between you and Wanqing, I know Wanqing's feelings for you are special. I'm entrusting Wanqing to your care. I'm going to Sichuan to see what's going on. Don't come looking for me. Let's pretend last night never happened. Treat Wanqing well from now on."

The letter contained this information. After reading it, Zhang Xiaoyu felt relieved. As long as Sister Qin didn't do anything foolish, that was good. Now, he needed to find Wanqing first, and then deal with Sister Qin's matter. Duan Yu is not at the Prince's Mansion now. Yesterday, I heard Duan Zhengchun say that Duan Yu really wanted to go to Tianlong Temple.

The group found Dao Baifeng and explained the whole story of Mu Wanqing's kidnapping. Dao Baifeng was also dissatisfied with Duan Yu's actions and wanted to personally lead Zhang Xiaoyu and the others to Tianlong Temple.

Zhang Xiaoyu suddenly realized that Duan Zhengchun must still have his own power here. They absolutely couldn't let them discover that Duan Zhengchun was dead, or something terrible might happen. So he shared his thoughts with Dao Baifeng, who agreed. She then sealed off the news from the Prince's Mansion, claiming that Duan Zhengchun was unwell and refused to see anyone.

The group followed Dao Baifeng to a temple—Tianlong Temple. Located north of the Zhongyue Peak of Cangshan Mountain outside Dali City, its official name is Chongsheng Temple, but the people of Dali habitually call it Tianlong Temple. Backed by Cangshan Mountain and facing Erhai Lake, it occupies a strategically important location. The temple has three pagodas, built in the early Tang Dynasty. The largest is over two hundred feet tall, with sixteen levels, and an iron inscription on the top reads: "Made by Yuchi Jingde during the Zhenguan era of the Great Tang Dynasty." Legend has it that Tianlong Temple possesses five treasures, with the three pagodas being the foremost.

The ancestors of the Duan family who were emperors often abdicated and became monks, all taking their vows at Tianlong Temple. Therefore, Tianlong Temple was the ancestral temple of the Dali royal family, the most prestigious among all temples in the country. After each emperor became a monk, his descendants would visit the temple to pay homage on his birthday, and each homage included offerings for renovations. The temple boasts three pavilions, seven towers, nine halls, and a hundred buildings, a grand scale and exquisite architecture. Even famous Buddhist temples

in the Central Plains, such as Wutai, Putuo, Jiuhua, and Emei, rarely rival it, only its remote location in the south has kept its name unknown. Considering that the monks of Tianlong Temple were all emperors, Zhang Xiaoyu couldn't understand why these emperors would choose to become monks instead of being emperors. He had pondered this question carefully while reading, believing that the emperors of the Dali Duan family who abdicated to become monks were not simply doing so out of a love for Buddhism, but also out of a desire to evade responsibility. Being an emperor in Dali was no easy task. To the east lay the Song Dynasty, to the north the Tibetan Empire, and across the Song Dynasty, the Liao Dynasty was also eyeing them covetously. Dali was confined to the small region of Yunnan, surrounded by powerful states; the pressure of being an emperor must have been immense. Therefore, once they had a son, they would all wave him down and let him succeed them, while they themselves went to become monks and enjoy a life of leisure.

Zhang Xiaoyu stood before the temple, thinking that Duan Yu was inside, so he could find Mu Wanqing soon. Then he remembered that Kumārajīva had come to ask for the Six Meridians Divine Sword manual; he wondered how things were going, and hoped that a fight hadn't broken out.

A young monk in front of the temple clearly recognized Dao Baifeng. Seeing them arrive, he hurriedly ran to greet them, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness," the young monk bowed slightly to Dao Baifeng.

"Is the young master in the temple?" Dao Baifeng asked the young monk.

"The young master is in the temple." Hearing that Duan Yu was inside, the group followed the young monk inside.

Chapter 028: Tianlong Temple At this moment, there were three people in the main hall of Tianlong Temple: a yellow-browed monk, a middle-aged man wearing a dragon robe, and an ugly man leaning on crutches. The middle-aged man was Duan Zhengming, the Emperor of Dali. The ugly man was Duan Yanqing.

The old monk, with his wrinkled face and yellowed eyebrows, held a wooden fish the size of a rice bowl in his left hand and raised a dark wooden mallet in his right hand, striking the wooden fish several times with a clanging sound. Judging from the sound, the wooden mallet was also made of iron. He chanted Buddhist prayers: "Amitabha, Amitabha!" The wooden mallet in his hand drew a line on the bluestone floor.

Seeing the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk's skill, Duan Yanqing exclaimed, "Vajra Finger Strength, excellent skill!" He extended his right iron staff and drew a horizontal line on the bluestone ground, intersecting the straight line carved by the Yellow-Eyebrow Monk perfectly. Normally, the line would penetrate deep into the stone, but this one was perfectly straight. The Yellow-Eyebrow Monk laughed, "Excellent, excellent!" He then used his iron hammer to carve a straight line on the bluestone. Duan Yanqing followed suit, carving a horizontal line. They took turns carving, each focusing their strength, their hammers and staffs moving slower and slower, unwilling to allow their lines to be uneven or crooked, lest they lose to their opponent.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, a chessboard with nineteen lines in each direction was neatly carved. The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk pondered, "Brother Zhengming is right; Prince Yanqing's internal strength is indeed remarkable." Duan Yanqing was even more astonished: "I didn't expect the monks of Tianlong Temple to be so skilled."

Seeing that their internal strengths were evenly matched, the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk stopped and said, "Benefactor, your internal strength is so high that we cannot determine a winner for the time being. How about we play a game of Go?" "Alright," Duan Yanqing replied, as he himself was quite skilled in Go and was not afraid of the old monk's challenge.

A moment later, a monk brought out a Go set and placed it on the table. The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk and Duan Yanqing sat opposite each other at the stone table, and Duan Zhengming also sat down beside them.

The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk said, "I am the host, and you are the guest. You make the first move." Duan Yanqing said, "That's not necessary. The one with the lower skill level can go first." The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk said, "In that case, we can only decide the order by guessing. Please guess how old I am this year. Is it odd or even? If you guess correctly, you go first; if you guess wrong, I go first." Duan Yanqing said, "Even if I guess correctly, you will still deny it." The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk said, "Alright! Then guess something I can't deny. Guess whether, when I'm seventy years old, the number of toes on my two feet will be odd or even?" This riddle was quite strange. Duan Yanqing thought to himself, "Ordinary people have ten toes, so it's an even number. His statement about reaching seventy is clearly an attempt to mislead me into thinking he'll be missing a toe at that age. The art of war says: 'Make the real appear real, and the real appear false.' He may have ten toes, but he's just playing a trick. How can I fall for that?" He said, "It's an even number." The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk said, "Wrong, it's an odd number." Duan Yanqing said, "Take off your shoes to verify." The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk removed his left shoe and sock, revealing five intact toes. Duan Yanqing stared at the monk's face, noticing a slight smile and a calm demeanor. He thought, "So his right foot really does only have four toes." Seeing the monk slowly remove his right shoe and reach for his sock, Duan Yanqing was about to say, "No need to verify, you can go first." But then a thought struck him: "I can't fall for his trick." The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk then removed his right sock, revealing five toes on his right foot as well—nothing missing.

Duan Yanqing's mind raced with countless thoughts as he tried to decipher the other's intentions. He watched as the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk raised his small iron hammer and swung it down, severing his right little toe with a soft crack. His two disciples, seeing their master mutilate himself and see blood flowing before them, couldn't help but gasp. The disciple who had brought out the Go set quickly took out some wound medicine from his robes and applied it to the Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk's wound, then tore off a piece of his sleeve to bandage it.

The Yellow-Eyebrowed Monk smiled and said, "This old monk is sixty-nine years old this year. When I turn seventy, my number of toes will be odd." Duan Yanqing was shocked. "Indeed. Master, you go first." Known as the "Number One Villain Under Heaven," he had seen and done countless cruel and vicious things. Why would he care about cutting off a little toe? But the old monk, determined to gain the upper hand and unwilling to admit his inferior Go skills, resorted to such a tactic. It was clear he was determined to win this game. If he lost, he would have to return home and never return to Tianlong Temple. A sense of unease crept into Duan Yanqing's heart.

The yellow-browed monk said, "Thank you for the concession." He then made his move. The two exchanged moves, each one sharp and aggressive, the battle fierce. As more and more pieces were placed, the game gradually became tense, both players concentrating on their moves and slowing down their pace.

In the end, Duan Yanqing had lost by half a point. If he had gone first, he was certain he would have won. At this moment, Duan Yanqing was filled with regret. He blamed himself for being too confident and not acknowledging the old monk's favor. However, even if he had agreed to go first, the old monk would have found a way to change his mind; the old monk had thoroughly understood his personality.

"Since that's the case, Prince Yanqing, please return. You don't need to come to the temple again to ask for the One-Finger Divine Skill." It turned out that Duan Yanqing had come to learn the One-Finger Divine Skill. As the former crown prince of Dali, learning it wouldn't have been a problem for him. However, he failed to obtain the throne and, filled with resentment, left the royal family, becoming one of the Four Evils and serving the Western Xia's First-Rank Hall. Tianlong Temple naturally couldn't treat him like royalty and teach him the One-Finger Divine Skill. But Duan Yanqing possessed the Duan family bloodline, and since he had come to ask for it, they couldn't simply kick him out of Tianlong Temple. Thus

, the scene just now unfolded. They agreed to a three-match contest. If Duan Yanqing lost, he would never return to Tianlong Temple, while the old monk would teach him the One-Finger Divine Skill if he lost. In the first match, both sides tested their skills, and Duan Yanqing lost. After that, it was a draw and a loss.

"I keep my word," Duan Yanqing said, then walked out, leaning on his crutches, just as Zhang Xiaoyu and the others were entering from outside.

Zhang Xiaoyu looked at the ugly man passing by and immediately realized that he was Duan Yanqing, but he didn't know what he was doing here.

When Dao Baifeng saw Duan Yanqing, her face immediately turned pale. Zhang Xiaoyu sighed inwardly, thinking how much he had felt for this poor woman these past two days.

The group entered the hall. Duan Zhengming smiled at Dao Baifeng, saying, "Sister-in-law, it's been a long time. Why did you leave your Taoist temple and come here today?" "Your Majesty, I have some business to attend to here. By the way, is Yu'er here?" Dao Baifeng knew this wasn't the time to tell Duan Zhengming about Duan Zhengchun, so she asked about Duan Yu first. "

I sent someone to summon Yu'er yesterday. Several high-ranking monks in the temple plan to teach Yu'er the Six Meridians Divine Sword in the next few days. I plan to pass the throne to my younger brother after Yu'er learns the Six Meridians Divine Sword and then become a monk here." Sure enough, Duan Zhengming was planning to become a monk, just as described in the book. Zhang Xiaoyu was truly puzzled. Duan Zhengming, as emperor, had several women in his harem; how could he be so open about it? It was truly incomprehensible.

Dao Baifeng told Duan Zhengming about Duan Yu kidnapping Mu Wanqing, but Duan Zhengming was skeptical. "Yu'er, I watched him grow up. He's not like that kind of person. There must be a reason for him doing this, right?" "Yes, he's deeply in love with Wanqing, but she's rejected him many times. It seems there was some misunderstanding between them, and they got into a fight. Later, Duan Yu kidnapped Wanqing." Zhang Xiaoyu explained the situation to Duan Zhengming.

After hearing this, Duan Zhengming sent someone to summon Duan Yu to the front hall. The group waited in the pavilion for a while before a young gentleman entered the hall—it was Duan Yu.

Duan Yu really did have the potential to be a pretty boy; he was indeed handsome, just like his father in his youth—a dashing figure.

After entering, Duan Yu saw a group of people sitting in the room, and his mother, Dao Baifeng, was also there. His face lit up with joy, and he smiled as he walked up to Dao Baifeng and bowed. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly saw Zhong Ling standing to the side and immediately understood why his mother and the others had come.

"Yu'er, did you capture Miss Wanqing?" Dao Baifeng asked Duan Yu. After all, he was her son, and she couldn't bear to scold him. After all, Duan Yu was her only family now.

"Mother, Yu'er knows he was wrong. I regretted it on the way back with Miss Mu and wanted to release her. But Mother, I really like Wanqing too much. The first time I saw Wanqing, I was deeply attracted by her temperament and her figure. Even though her face was covered by a veil and I couldn't see her true face, Yu'er thought that no matter what this girl looked like, I would marry her as my wife. She gave me such a different feeling. My heart couldn't stop beating fast when I saw her," Duan Yu said hurriedly, his eyes revealing happiness.

"Later, Yu'er saw Wanqing without her veil, and I was immediately awestruck. I never imagined Wanqing could be so perfect; she's simply a gift from heaven. I saw that Wanqing was very unhappy then, so I stayed at her house, wanting to care for her more. But I couldn't control myself, and I confessed my true feelings to her, but Wanqing rejected me. I didn't want to give up, and later Wanqing actually told me that she already had someone she liked. Mother, do you know how heartbroken I was then? I suddenly felt as if the whole world had abandoned me. I was so unwilling, so I had the guards my father sent to protect me arrest Wanqing." Duan Yu became more and more agitated as he spoke, tears streaming down his face. Just moments ago, his eyes were full of happiness, but now they were filled with pain. It seems that Duan Yu is truly deeply in love with Mu Wanqing. Although Duan Yu is also a womanizer, he genuinely cares for women, which is much better than Duan Zhengchun. They are indeed not made of the same genes.

Duan Yu in the original novel is also pitiful. First, there was Mu Wanqing, then Zhong Ling, both of whom were like his sisters. Finally, he won over Wang Yuyan, who was still like his sister. In the new edition, Jin Yong even sent Wang Yuyan back to the insane Murong Fu, perhaps to avoid incest in his story, or perhaps to emphasize Wang Yuyan's devotion. Aren't all of Duan Yu's tragedies the result of Duan Zhengchun's misdeeds?

Zhang Xiaoyu suddenly recalled what Duan Yu had just said. Duan Yu said Mu Wanqing told him she already had someone she liked. Could that person be him? If so, why was Mu Wanqing so rude and cold to him? But if it wasn't him, then who could it be? Mu Wanqing was upset after they parted ways, and she mentioned him several times in her conversation with Qin Hongmian. Sigh, it's really hard to understand.

"Then, Yu'er, where is Miss Mu now? Release her quickly. Matters of the heart cannot be forced." "On my way back, I locked Wanqing in an empty room in the city and had my father's guards watch over her. I'll release her soon." Duan Yu's eyes were filled with complex emotions, both sadness and resentment, but he still spoke up. It seems Duan Yu is truly a good man. He only captured Mu Wanqing out of momentary anger, but he eventually realized his mistake.

With their most pressing concern resolved, Zhang Xiaoyu and the women breathed a sigh of relief.

"May I ask this young master's surname?" Duan Zhengming asked Zhang Xiaoyu.

"My name is Zhang Xiaoyu." "Miss Mu was not harmed. We will have her released shortly. Is Young Hero Zhang satisfied?" "That would be wonderful. Your Majesty, just call me Xiaoyu. There's no need for such formality." Duan Zhengming was a decent person. Although he was the Emperor of Dali, he didn't put on airs or act arrogantly.

"Alright, I'll call you Xiao Yu then. I think we should just let this matter drop. What do you think, Xiao Yu?" Duan Zhengming asked Zhang Xiao Yu with a smile.

"Young Master Duan was just confused for a moment, and he was also too deeply in love, which is why he did this. Besides, Wanqing is fine, so let's just let it go." "Hehe, that's good. Then Xiao Yu, rest in this temple today. I have some things to take care of, and after handing the throne to my younger brother, I'll come and have a good chat with you, Xiao Yu. It's been a long time since I've seen a young man like you, Xiao Yu." Duan Zhengming was pleased.

Hearing Duan Zhengming's words, Zhang Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat. Duan Zhengchun was already dead. Although he hadn't killed him with his own hands, he was still involved. He wondered if Duan Zhengming could judge right from wrong. If Duan Zhengming was biased towards him, things would get complicated. No matter how powerful he was, he couldn't challenge an emperor. The emperor had an army of tens of thousands. Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaoyu smiled bitterly and turned to look at Dao Baifeng. Dao Baifeng was also looking at Zhang Xiaoyu. After a pause, Dao Baifeng probably knew what Zhang Xiaoyu was thinking, so she said to Duan Zhengming, "Brother, do you know if we can find a room? I have something important to tell you." "Alright," Duan Zhengming didn't notice Dao Baifeng's strange expression and turned to lead her inside.

"You all wait here. I'll go over there and explain things clearly," Zhang Xiaoyu said, worried that Dao Baifeng might hesitate to speak about it. After all, she was Duan Zhengchun's wife, and if she spoke ill of him, what would Duan Zhengming think of her? It was best for Zhang Xiaoyu to say it himself, with Dao Baifeng as a witness.

Chapter 29: The Chaos of Dali.

Zhang Xiaoyu followed Duan Zhengming, and Dao Baifeng arrived at a meditation room. This room was probably for guests; it was quite elegant.

Upon entering, Duan Zhengming saw Zhang Xiaoyu follow him in, and Dao Baifeng didn't stop him, which puzzled him.

"Brother, I have something important to tell you, but you mustn't get excited. Wait until I finish," Dao Baifeng said somewhat uneasily to Duan Zhengming.

"Let me explain. It's not really appropriate for my sister to say this," Zhang Xiaoyu said. He wasn't stupid; he knew that if he performed well at this time, he could win Dao Baifeng's favor. Sure enough, upon hearing Zhang Xiaoyu's words, Dao Baifeng smiled gratefully at him—a truly captivating sight.

"What is it? You two can tell me. I've experienced plenty of big things; I'm not easily impulsive," Duan Zhengming said seriously, sensing that the matter might be quite serious and likely related to their Duan royal family. Otherwise, Dao Baifeng wouldn't seem so troubled.

"Your Majesty, there has always been an evil cult in the martial world called the Blood Fiend Cult. I wonder if Your Majesty is aware of it?" Zhang Xiaoyu was unsure whether Duan Zhengming was aware of the Blood Fiend Cult, and wanted to know how much he knew about it. However, he guessed that Duan Zhengming knew nothing at all, since Duan Zhengchun hadn't mentioned any connection between the Duan family and the imperial family.

Just as Zhang Xiaoyu had expected, Duan Zhengming knew absolutely nothing. "What Blood Fiend Cult? I've never heard of such a sect." "This evil cult appeared as early as the Tang Dynasty, but it was constantly suppressed by the Demonic Cult and the Cihang Jingzhai. Later, the cult's leader achieved great mastery of martial arts and nearly destroyed the Demonic Cult and the Cihang Jingzhai. However, as the saying goes, 'killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own,' the cult also suffered considerable losses. Since then, it has rarely appeared in the martial world, operating in secrecy." "Oh, so according to you, what's the latest news about this evil cult?" Duan Zhengming understood the implication in Zhang Xiaoyu's words.

"The previous leader only aspired to unify the martial arts world, but after suffering heavy losses, he could no longer contend with the numerous sects of the Jianghu and had to go into hiding. However, the new leader now has great ambitions. He is plotting a world-shaking conspiracy, and your Dali is part of this conspiracy." Zhang Xiaoyu gradually steered the conversation towards Duan Zhengchun.

"What? It's related to our Dali too? Tell me quickly, what exactly happened?" Although Duan Zhengming didn't want to be emperor, he still cared deeply about the empire his ancestors had built and the people of his country.

"Let me tell you about the Blood Fiend Sect leader's ambitions first. You'll be shocked when you hear it." Zhang Xiaoyu smiled at Duan Zhengming and sat down in the chair next to him.

Although Duan Zhengming was anxious, he refrained from asking questions and also sat down.

"That leader actually wants to become the emperor of the Song Dynasty," Zhang Xiaoyu said slowly.

"What? He's incredibly audacious! A mere martial arts sect dares to dream of conquering the land?" Duan Zhengming thought dismissively. He knew the strength of the Song Dynasty well. Although it was constantly at war with the Liao Dynasty in the north, dealing with a martial arts sect was clearly more than enough.

"Not only that, he also wants to unify Dali, Western Xia, Tibet, Liao, Goryeo, and Japan." Zhang Xiaoyu continued, seeing Duan Zhengming's disbelief.

"Ha, what a ridiculous fantasy! In thousands of years, no one has ever been able to do this. For a small sect like him to think he can do this, don't you find it laughable?" Duan Zhengming truly thought this was the funniest joke he had ever heard in his life.

"Your Majesty, I didn't believe it at first either, but didn't I mention that they have a branch in Dali? Do you know what this branch does? Its purpose is to seize power in Dali and then launch an attack on the Song Dynasty." Zhang Xiaoyu didn't find anything wrong with Duan Zhengming's laughter; who wouldn't laugh at such a thing?

"What? To seize power in Dali? That seems unlikely. I haven't noticed anything amiss around me, nor have any new forces intervened in the court. Although I have no sons yet, I will hand over the throne to Zhengchun in the next few days, and there will be no more unstable factors in Dali." "The biggest unstable factor is precisely Duan Zhengchun." Zhang Xiaoyu finally mentioned Duan Zhengchun.

"Young Master Zhang, how is Zhengchun the biggest unstable factor? What evidence do you have? If you don't, you're ruining my brother's reputation like this. Dali may be small, but it's not easy to deal with." Duan Zhengming was furious. He and Duan Zhengchun had a good relationship.

"Your Majesty, calm down. Since I say this, I must have evidence. Do you know that the leader of the Blood Fiend Sect's Dali branch is Duan Zhengchun? Madam Duan and the four guards can testify to this. Oh, no, now it's the third guard. Zhu Dancheng has already died at Duan Zhengchun's hands." "What? You said Guard Zhu was killed by Zhengchun?" Duan Zhengming's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief, as he looked at Dao Baifeng, seeking her confirmation.

"This is indeed true; we witnessed it ourselves," Dao Baifeng stated confidently to Duan Zhengming.

Hearing this, Duan Zhengming was even more puzzled. Clearly, they had personally witnessed Duan Zhengchun kill Zhu Dancheng. What had happened?

"Duan Zhengchun was originally a member of the Blood Fiend Sect, and the leader of this branch. He joined the Blood Fiend Sect many years ago, a fact he himself has admitted. We were all present at the time." "Impossible, impossible!" Duan Zhengming couldn't accept this conclusion. Now he understood why people said the Blood Fiend Sect wanted to seize power in Dali. With Duan Zhengchun, everything would be simple. Although the story seemed plausible, and Dao Baifeng, as Duan Zhengchun's wife, wouldn't deceive him, Duan Zhengming truly couldn't believe it.

"Your Majesty, this is the truth. Duan Zhengchun didn't join the Blood Fiend Sect voluntarily at first. Later, the Blood Fiend Sect gave him stunning beauties and taught him unparalleled martial arts. Gradually, he became genuinely loyal to the Blood Fiend Sect. Moreover, I can see that Duan Zhengchun greatly admires the sect leader." Zhang Xiaoyu understood Duan Zhengming's inner pain.

"Did Zhengchun tell you these things himself? Where is he now? Take me to see him. I want to hear him say it myself." Duan Zhengchun was still deceiving himself; he had to deceive himself, it was just a form of self-protection.

Zhang Xiaoyu sighed, looked at Dao Baifeng, and wondered what Duan Zhengming would do if he told the truth.

"I sealed Duan Zhengchun's acupoints. I have a martial art that allows me to ask questions when someone's mind is unstable. When I asked about the Blood Fiend Sect's core secrets, Duan Zhengchun suddenly regained consciousness and forcibly broke through my acupoints, severely injuring me. Because he used all his internal energy after forcibly breaking through the acupoints, his meridians were severed, and he lost consciousness." Zhang Xiaoyu told Duan Zhengming the last few details. Surprisingly,

Duan Zhengming wasn't as agitated as Zhang Xiaoyu had expected. He already believed the truth, and while he was grieving knowing Duan Zhengchun was dead, he was, after all, an emperor and knew how to control his emotions.

"Your Majesty, we've concealed the news of Duan Zhengchun's death, but over the years, he must have cultivated his own power base and has people in the court. If news of his death were to spread, Dali would be thrown into chaos." This was something Zhang Xiaoyu had been worried about all along. Duan Zhengming

thought about it briefly and realized it was true. He quickly put aside his grief over his brother's death; as an emperor, he knew exactly what was more important.

"Then I'll hurry back to the palace to take control of the court." Duan Zhengming remembered that some people in the court did indeed have very close ties with Duan Zhengchun. He was eager to go back and control these people.

"Your Majesty, I'd better go with you. There are still members of the Blood Fiend Sect here. Their martial arts are highly skilled, and their internal energy is strange. They won't be easy to deal with." Zhang Xiaoyu didn't know if there were any experts among the remaining Blood Fiend Sect members. Right now, only Duan Zhengming could control the situation, and he couldn't let anything happen to Duan Zhengming.

"Hmm, then I'll call the elders from the temple to come along too." Duan Zhengming thought about it and felt that Zhang Xiaoyu was right. Although he had learned the One-Finger Divine Skill, there was no guarantee that nothing would go wrong.

Hearing that Duan Zhengming wanted to take the high monks from Tianlong Temple with him, Zhang Xiaoyu was happy. That way, they would be absolutely safe. Those old monks were not weak either.

Zhang Xiaoyu asked the women and Dao Baifeng to take Duan Yu to find Mu Wanqing, while he, Duan Zhengming, and a group of monks headed towards the palace.

Meanwhile, the remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect, having lost contact with Duan Zhengchun and his brothers, inquired extensively at the Prince's residence and finally learned of Duan Zhengchun's death; after all, no secret stays hidden forever. Almost simultaneously with Duan Zhengming's return to the palace, they gathered with their counterparts in court to discuss countermeasures. Suddenly, Dali was in turmoil, with undercurrents surging.

Duan Zhengming and his men returned to the palace and had just mobilized the guards and imperial troops when they discovered that the palace was surrounded by troops led by court officials. Leading the charge was none other than Gao Shengtai, the Marquis of Shanchan

of Dali. "Marquis Gao," Duan Zhengming began to employ imperial tactics against Gao Shengtai, "I have treated you well. Why have you colluded with the traitors of Luancheng today? It's not too late for you to turn back now. As long as you surrender, I will not pursue the matter of today."

"Duan Zhengming, you have no heir, yet you fear the Prince of Zhengnan will replace you, so you cruelly murdered him. How can you be emperor with such actions? Today, we will avenge the Prince of Zhengnan and ensure that your son, Duan Yu, ascends the throne." It seems this was their plan; indeed brilliant, a frame-up, perfectly plausible in both reason and emotion.

Duan Zhengming was also furious at Gao Shengtai's words, but he couldn't refute them. Duan Zhengchun was dead, and he didn't want others to know about Duan Zhengchun's deeds, that he would be cursed by the people even in death.

"A good plan, a good plan! In my opinion, it was Marquis Shanchan, Gao Shengtai, who launched a rebellion, trying to use the emperor to command the other lords. Gao Shengtai is insubordinate and attempted regicide; his entire clan should be executed as a warning to others!" Zhang Xiaoyu stepped forward and said, knowing when to shine.

Everyone hurriedly looked towards the direction of the voice. A handsome man in flowing white robes leaped down like a god, striking towards Gao Shengtai's position with a palm strike.

Gao Shengtai was a skilled fighter in Dali, but compared to the martial artists of the Central Plains, he was inferior, let alone Zhang Xiaoyu. Seeing an easy target, Zhang Xiaoyu naturally wanted to take advantage and show off.

Although Gao Shengtai had never seen Zhang Xiaoyu before, he possessed the discerning eye of a master. Seeing the sudden gusts of wind from Zhang Xiaoyu's palm, he knew its power was extraordinary and was horrified. He wondered who this young man was, yet his internal strength was so formidable at such a young age. He immediately retreated, ordering his guards, holding shields, to stand in front of him at all costs and prevent Zhang Xiaoyu's attack.

At that moment, under Zhang Xiaoyu's palm strike, the three guards at the front were sent flying, shields and all, spitting out blood and losing consciousness. The onlookers were all horrified.

Zhang Xiaoyu smiled and walked towards Gao Shengtai.

Seeing Zhang Xiaoyu about to reach him, Gao Shengtai, in desperation, disregarded his pride and hurriedly shouted, "Fire! Fire! Kill this man!" The soldiers Gao Shengtai brought were clearly elite; upon hearing his command, they immediately aimed their crossbows at Zhang Xiaoyu, ignoring the shield-bearing guards standing around him. However,

the arrows posed no threat to Zhang Xiaoyu. He activated the Tai Xuan Scripture, unleashing his inner strength to its fullest extent, forming a wall of energy around his body, allowing the arrows to fly at him without any resistance. Seeing that the crossbows could

n't harm Zhang Xiaoyu, and instead accidentally injured many of his own men, Gao Shengtai reluctantly ordered another attack, using sheer numbers to wear down Zhang Xiaoyu. In Gao Shengtai's view, no matter how high Zhang Xiaoyu's martial arts skills were, his internal energy couldn't be inexhaustible. Once his internal energy was depleted, killing him or capturing him alive would be incredibly easy.

However, Gao Shengtai and his men didn't expect Zhang Xiaoyu to ignore the heavy encirclement and kill indiscriminately. In their eyes, battlefield combat was different from brawls among martial artists. Victory wasn't achieved solely through individual bravery. No matter how high your martial arts skills, being surrounded by an army meant certain death.

Duan Zhengming on the city wall, seeing Zhang Xiaoyu's prowess, was filled with admiration, but he still hurriedly ordered the high monks from Tianlong Temple and the imperial guards to attack the rebels. After all, no matter how skilled Zhang Xiaoyu was, he was still just a mortal and couldn't possibly contend with an army.

The eminent monks of Tianlong Temple were indeed remarkable. Four very old monks used their fingers as swords, constantly emitting energy from them, merely incapacitating those around them without killing them. It seemed these were the four eminent monks: Benguan, Benxiang, Benyin, and Bencan. Zhang Xiaoyu hadn't expected Abbot Benyin and the other three eminent monks of Tianlong Temple to be present; it seemed they took this matter very seriously. However, after thinking about it, he understood. Tianlong Temple was essentially the private Buddhist temple of the Dali Duan royal family, so they certainly couldn't stand by and watch the Duan royal family suffer. These four monks, along with someone who seemed to be called Elder Kurong, were the five who practiced the Six Meridian Divine Sword together. Each of them learned one sword technique, far inferior to Duan Yu. The

Six Meridian Divine Sword was not a real sword, but rather sword energy transformed from the finger force of the One Yang Finger; it had substance but no form, and could be called an invisible energy sword. The so-called Six Meridians refer to the six meridians of the hand: the Taiyin Lung Meridian, the Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, the Shaoyin Heart Meridian, the Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian, the Yangming Stomach Meridian, and the Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridian. However, this sword technique is extremely complex to practice, and it's based on the Lesser Vehicle version of One-Finger Divine Skill. Thinking of how Duan Yu in the original book, despite his formidable internal strength and high martial arts talent, still had times when he couldn't use it effectively, Zhang Xiaoyu understood. This technique was indeed difficult to master, but its power was extraordinary, and the movements

were stylish—truly his sister's best martial art. With the addition of the high monks of Tianlong Temple and the Imperial Guards, the situation instantly changed. Initially, these soldiers, obeying orders, kept rushing forward, attempting to kill Zhang Xiaoyu on the spot. But as the situation rapidly changed, their side dwindled in number; after all, the Imperial Guards were significantly stronger. Finally, a soldier with poor mental fortitude shouted, dropped his weapon, and turned to flee. Following this example, more and more soldiers imitated him, and the battle became one-sided.

Finally, only Gao Shengtai and a dozen or so Blood Fiend Cult members dressed in red and wearing masks remained in the arena. The other ministers were either dead or captured. None of them escaped.

In truth, Gao Shengtai knew nothing about Duan Zhengchun and the Blood Fiend Cult. He was simply loyal to Duan Zhengchun, and the Blood Fiend Cult had deceived him after Duan Zhengchun's death; he had no idea the real cause of Duan Zhengchun's demise.

Gao Shengtai, a man of principle, seeing the situation, cried out, "Your Highness, I am incompetent and unable to avenge Your Highness. Now I will join Your Highness!" With that, he struck his own head and slowly collapsed. "

Alas, indeed a good subordinate, but he followed the wrong master," Zhang Xiaoyu sighed regretfully.

Duan Zhengming, seeing Gao Shengtai's state, also felt a pang of regret.

Looking at the remaining dozen or so Blood Fiend Cult members, Zhang Xiaoyu said to Duan Zhengming, "These are the Blood Fiend Cult members." Duan Zhengming immediately recognized them as the guards protecting Duan Yu. He had always assumed they were guards trained by Duan Zhengchun himself, but he never expected them to be members of the Blood Fiend Cult.

Zhang Xiaoyu, along with the high monks of Tianlong Temple and the Imperial Guards, surrounded the group. Seeing no hope of escape, the Blood Fiend Cult members' eyes flashed with determination. "Stop them! They're going to commit suicide!" Zhang Xiaoyu noticed this time, but it was too late.

Instantly, black blood trickled from the mouths of the dozen or so Blood Fiend Cult members, and they collapsed dead. "

So be it," Zhang Xiaoyu thought to himself. "These lowly people are unlikely to know any of the cult's secrets."

The matter was finally resolved. Zhang Xiaoyu said to Duan Zhengming, "We have destroyed the Blood Fiend Sect's conspiracy in Dali, but there are still many branches like this within the sect, and they probably control many powerful figures in various countries. Does Your Majesty still find that cult leader's ideas laughable?" Duan Zhengming thought about it and realized how terrifying the cult leader was. If his conspiracy had succeeded, he might have actually achieved his ambitions. "We owe a great debt to Xiaoyu this time. Otherwise, we would have been kept in the dark. If we had gone to war with the Song Dynasty, regardless of the outcome, it would have caused great harm to the people of Dali." Duan Zhengming was truly grateful to Zhang Xiaoyu, and the slight resentment he felt over Duan Zhengchun's death had vanished.

"Your Majesty is too kind. I don't know if all the remnants of the Blood Fiend Sect have been wiped out. Your Majesty still has much to do. No one knows what the people are thinking about such a big matter. Your Majesty must continue to eliminate the Blood Fiend remnants while also calming the people's hearts." Duan Zhengming was greatly encouraged. The young man before him was too outstanding. Not only was his martial arts skill superb, but he also had such a clear understanding of the political situation.

"Tomorrow I will issue an edict to announce to the people that Gao Shengtai has rebelled, and that the Prince of Zhengnan has unfortunately died in the war. At the same time, I will exempt the salt tax and reduce the agricultural tax. I believe this will definitely stabilize the people." Duan Zhengming's methods were indeed excellent. This time, Duan Zhengchun was transformed into a national hero, and the people's support for Duan Zhengming would reach a new height.

Duan Zhengming invited Zhang Xiaoyu to rest in the palace. Zhang Xiaoyu, remembering that the people guarding Mu Wanqing were still members of the Blood Fiend Cult, told Duan Zhengming and planned to go check on them himself, just in case something had happened. Although the women's martial arts were now far superior, Zhang Xiaoyu was still worried, after all, they were his beloved women.

Just as Duan Zhengming was about to send someone with Zhang Xiaoyu, a eunuch came to report that Dao Baifeng and the others were requesting an audience outside the palace. Zhang Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed there was no problem.

Once the women entered the main hall, Zhang Xiaoyu asked them what had happened. It turned out that the Blood Fiend Cult members had been ordered to guard Mu Wanqing and were unaware of what had happened in the city. After the women found Mu Wanqing, they seized the opportunity to subdue the men. Unfortunately, apart from Zhong Ling, none of the women knew that the men's mouths contained poison. Zhong Ling, being innocent and naive, had no idea of this, and ultimately, the men committed suicide.

Zhang Xiaoyu saw Mu Wanqing across from him. She had clearly lost a lot of weight in the days since they last met. Looking at her frail appearance, Zhang Xiaoyu wanted to go and embrace her, but he stopped halfway. He still didn't understand what Mu Wanqing was thinking, and it wouldn't be wise to rush in now.

Mu Wanqing was overjoyed to see Zhang Xiaoyu walking towards her with concern, as if to hug her. But Zhang Xiaoyu stopped abruptly again. Mu Wanqing's eyes reddened, she bit her lower lip, and suddenly rushed to Zhang Xiaoyu, burying her face in his waist and sobbing in his arms.

Zhang Xiaoyu felt relieved. He could finally be sure that Mu Wanqing loved him. As for the remaining doubts in his heart, he would ask her about them later.

"Alright, my sweet Wan'er, don't be sad. It's all my fault. I didn't protect you well, and your hand got hurt. I was so worried when I found out you were in trouble. I'm so glad you're alright now." Hearing Zhang Xiaoyu say this, Mu Wanqing felt even more wronged and cried even harder.

Goodness, her clothes are soaked. Women can be really scary when they cry, Zhang Xiaoyu thought to himself.

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