[Wuxia] The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea (Complete) - 6

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

In the ninth chapter of Liang Yusheng's *The Jade Bow and the Clouds*

, Xie Yunzhen, feeling utterly bored, shook his head. Wu Dingqiu snorted and said, "This woman's origins are unknown.
Her disrespect towards the elders' questions is truly absurd!" Yi Zhongmou said, "You're new to the martial world; you don't know
the many taboos there. This woman may have some hidden secrets. Although we consider her a friend, she may not dare to confide in
us ."
The group discussed the woman animatedly, finding her mysterious and
unpredictable standing aside in quiet contemplation. Before leaving, the woman had specifically reminded him to remember the third watch of the night, referring, of course, to
her arranged rendezvous with Li Qinmei. Jin Shiyi was overjoyed at the thought of seeing Li Qinmei at midnight,
but he also had some doubts: "This woman is strange; she can't be joking with me, can she?"
Xie Yunzhen and her group disliked Jin Shiyi, but they shared a common hatred and couldn't treat him as an outsider. Xie
Yunzhen spoke first: "Jin... Master Jin, have you seen Qinmei? I heard she's imprisoned in the Meng family." She really
didn't want call Jin Shiyi "Master Jin," and those three words lingered on her lips for a long time before she finally said them. As for the jade
hairpin, which she had placed in Jin Shiyi's room, she refused to mention that.
Jin Shiyi smiled slightly, bowed respectfully to Xie Yunzhen, and said, "No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite. You
can still call me the Poisonous Hand Mad Beggar as before; I've heard you calling me that behind my back. As for rescuing Qinmei from danger, heh
heh, with her sect's disciples here, why should I bother?" Jin Shiyi deliberately pretended to be refined when speaking to Xie Yunzhen,
but his words were full of sarcasm, making Xie Yunzhen both amused and exasperated. Wu Dingqiu was even more impatient, but he was ultimately a little afraid
of Jin Shiyi , and although his face was full of anger, he dared not lash out.
Yi Zhongmou chuckled and said, "Of all the professions in the world, beggars are the most carefree and
comfortable . Brother, you are the most outstanding person in our line of work. It's a pity we only just met today; let's get to know each other better." He even used
humor to lighten the awkward atmosphere. Jin Shiyi laughed loudly, "You're the leader, and I'm just a beggar.
Leader , I dare not get close to you. Ha, if you really want to get close to me, my hand is poisonous, you know that?" Jin Shiyi was known as the "
Poisonous Hand Mad Beggar," and in the martial arts world, he was considered a madman. Madmen were already terrifying, but with a "poisonous hand," he was even more terrifying.
Yi Zhongmou was stunned for a moment, wondering if he was talking nonsense. Instinctively, he withdrew his outstretched hand slightly. Jin Shiyi laughed loudly,
"Leader Yi, you should rest well. Meng Shentong has left, and I'm leaving too." As he walked past Wu Dingqiu, he suddenly whispered in his
ear , "Remember, you mustn't curse people behind their backs, or you'll have to eat more rotten mud in the future!" Wu Dingqiu was
so angry that his eyes blazed. After Jin Shiyi had gone far away, he began to curse loudly.
Jin Shiyi, having thoroughly enjoyed teasing them, went to a nearby hilltop and took a long nap. In his dream, he saw Li Qinmei
holding a Tian Shan snow lotus, slowly walking on the sea. The sea was as smooth as a mirror, and the beautiful colorful clouds in the sky seemed about to cover it.
Suddenly, Gu Zhihua also appeared. Just as Jin Shiyi was about to greet them, the woman surnamed Li also appeared. Suddenly, the waves split open,
and Li Qinmei and Gu Zhihua sank, leaving only the woman surnamed Li laughing heartily!
Jin Shiyi awoke with a start. Looking up, he saw twinkling stars and a bright moon in the sky; it was nearly midnight.
Jin Shiyi chuckled to himself, "What a long sleep I had, and what a ridiculous dream!" Suddenly, he remembered the three girls in his dream. Li Qinmei
was deeply in love with him. She was naive and seemed completely unaware of the ugliness of the world. Being with her often made him feel
ashamed of himself and also touched by her childlike innocence. Jin Shiyi wanted to cherish her like a little sister. Gu Zhihua was Lü Siniang's
disciple . Jin Shiyi respected both Lü Siniang and Gu Zhihua, and although their meeting was brief, it left an indelible impression on him.
Gu Zhihua was knowledgeable, broad-minded, and kind. Although Jin Shiyi was older than her, he always felt as if she were his
older . Jin Shiyi could laugh and rant with anyone, acting unrestrained and carefree, but in front of Gu Zhihua, his first meeting with her made him
instinctively restrain himself. As for this woman surnamed Li, strangely enough, Jin Shiyi felt she was full of wickedness and had an
inexplicable aversion to her, yet he couldn't
help
but think about her, as if she were someone he knew very well, even seeing a reflection of his past self in her. A person can get rid of anything, but they can never get rid of their own shadow. Perhaps this is why Jin Shiyi both hated and missed her.
In short, these three girls in his dream, though different, had all occupied a place in his heart; otherwise, he
wouldn't have seen them in his dream.
As the moon neared its zenith, Jin Shiyi reached the summit of Jinji Peak in the Taihang Mountains. At this moment,
the images of Gu Zhihua and the woman surnamed Li faded from his mind, while the image of Li Qinmei emerged. He was about to see Li Qinmei
; he hoped this wasn't just a dream!
The Milky Way was dim, the moonlight hazy. Jin Shiyi climbed to the summit of Jinji Peak, passed through a grove of trees, and indeed found a towering ancient
cypress. Beneath this cypress, he saw the back of a woman in black. Jin Shiyi's heart surged with excitement. The woman surnamed Li
hadn't lied to him; Li Qinmei had indeed been waiting here.
Jin Shiyi used his superb skill of skimming the water like a dragonfly, silently darting over, intending to play a surprise
joke , blowing a cool breath towards her neck.
Just then, Jin Shiyi suddenly felt something was amiss. Before the chill could even escape his lips, he heard the woman
chuckle turned around and said, "Jin Shiyi, you really keep your word! It's the third watch of the night!" It wasn't Li Qinmei at all; it was
that woman surnamed Li!
Jin Shiyi trembled with anger and shouted, "So, you were just joking with me!" The woman giggled and said, "
Jin Shiyi , do you remember what you said?" Jin Shiyi asked, "What?" The woman said, "You said you'd allow me
to offend you three times without getting angry." Jin Shiyi was speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
The woman laughed again. "I've heard you're good at playing pranks, so I'll just joke with you once, it's nothing."
Jin Shiyi said, "Fine, you've gone too far with the joke. So where exactly is Li Qinmei?"
The woman said, "You're asking me? How would I know?" Jin Shiyi said, "Then you were lying to me about
meeting ?" The woman said, "I wasn't lying." Jin Shiyi said, "Then why
haven't I seen her yet?" The woman said, "I did arrange to meet her here at midnight tonight, but later, at midnight, I was at this..."
"I met her on the mountaintop, but I suddenly changed my mind and asked her to leave." Jin Shiyi shouted, "Why?" The woman giggled and
said , "What? You said you wouldn't lose your temper, but you're throwing a tantrum again. Don't expect me to answer you."
Jin Shiyi was helpless. He was also anxious to know Li Qinmei's whereabouts, so he had to suppress his anger and ask again, "
What ? You clearly knew I wanted to see her, so why did you ask her to leave?" The woman smiled and said, "Because I knew
that besides you, there were others who wanted to see her. I said to her, 'Qinmei, isn't your senior brother a boy named Zhong Zhan?' She said
yes, there is such a boy. I said, 'Your senior brother is looking for you, and there's a boy surnamed Wu with him
. They're both looking for you.' So after he thanked me, he hurriedly ran down the mountain." The woman spoke while gesturing, mimicking
Li Qinmei 's tone remarkably well.
Jin Shiyi almost cursed her, but remembering the promise he had made to her, he held back. The woman laughed again, "I
think did a good job. They're fellow disciples, so they're family. Would she see you before her own people
?"
Jin Shiyi said, "Hmph, well done. Then tell me, why did you lure me here in the first place?" The woman said,
"The moon is bright and the wind is gentle; I'm quite bored. It wouldn't hurt to have someone to chat with. Besides, I know you like to joke. Since we bumped into each other
by chance , I might as well crack a joke with you." Jin Shiyi coldly said, "I'm not in the mood
for idle chatter tonight. Fine, you've gone too far with your joke. I can't keep you company any longer!"
The woman suddenly called out, "Jin Shiyi, you stand there!" Jin Shiyi, who had already taken a long stride,
was stopped involuntarily by her call . The woman giggled, "Jin Shiyi, I was just joking with you
!" Jin Shiyi retorted angrily, "I know, no need to nag!" The woman laughed, "You don't know anything. What do you
know ? I mean, what I said earlier about inviting you here tonight was just to chat, just a joke
. The very act of saying it was a joke. Do you understand? To put it bluntly, I invited you here because I have
something very important to discuss, and it's not a joke at all!"
Jin Shiyi, hearing her solemn tone, was half-convinced but still walked back, asking, "What's so important?" The woman
replied, "Is your life important?" Jin Shiyi, angered, said, "Fine, this is the second time you've joked with me
!" The woman said, "Don't make wild guesses. This time I'm not joking at all. I'm very serious. Take a breath
and see if you follow my instructions. Circulate your internal energy to impact the acupoints of your Gallbladder Meridian!"
Jin Shiyi decided to give it a try. Following the girl's instructions, he circulated his internal energy to impact the acupoints of his Gallbladder Meridian, from Wushu,
Shendao, and Jumei to Yangling acupoint on his calf. After circulating it once, it flowed smoothly without obstruction. Just as he was about to rebuke the girl, he
suddenly felt a slight tingling sensation in the acupoints that his energy had impacted. He was startled, and in an instant, he felt a chill throughout his body, especially
in his been plunged into a freezing spring on a cold winter's day.
The girl laughed and said, "How about that? I wasn't joking with you, was I?" Jin Shiyi pondered in silence for a long time before saying, "
I didn't expect Meng Shentong's Asura Yin Sha Gong to be so powerful!" The girl said, "That's because your internal strength is profound, so it didn't
take effect at the time." However, the chilling energy of his Asura Yin Sha Technique has remained in your body. Although you circulated your qi to expel
the cold afterward, you didn't completely get rid of it. The chilling energy burrowed into the place of least resistance, gathering in your heels. Don't you feel that the Yongquan acupoint on your heels
is the coldest? That's it!" Jin Shiyi nodded. The girl continued, "Fortunately, it was you. If it were someone else, the chilling energy would have attacked
their heart, and even a god couldn't save them. Take Yi Zhongmou, for example. He was struck by Meng Shentong's palm, and although he took two Biling Pills, he would probably
have been seriously ill. Your skill is profound, so the chilling energy cannot rise. It invades your heart and instead descends to gather in your heels. You
have already realized that with your skill, if you practice your qi three times a day to resist it, you can prevent the chilling energy from rising. In this way, you
might be able to save your life, but at the very least, you will be paralyzed on one side, and your legs will be crippled forever." Jin Shiyi smiled bitterly, "
What's the point of living like this? Besides, I have to suffer even more every day!" His bitter laugh turned into a wild laugh, and he turned to leave. The girl asked, "
What ?" Jin Shiyi replied, "Meng Shentong has been poisoned by my needle, and he'll likely fall seriously ill.
While he's still recovering his strength and I can still walk, I'll challenge him to another fierce battle. At most, we'll both perish!"
The girl sneered, "Is your life so worthless?
You think you can just take Meng Shentong's life with you? Besides, Meng Shentong has his disciples protecting him, and his junior brother has already reached the fifth level. You might
not !" Jin Shiyi's heart stirred. Hearing her words make sense, he stayed, thinking, "Judging from her tone, could she possibly be able
to save him?" But given Jin Shiyi's temperament, he wouldn't even accept Li Qinmei's kindness, so how could he possibly ask her for help?
The girl had already seen through Jin Shiyi's thoughts and smiled, "Jin Shiyi, I have a favor to ask of you!" Jin Shiyi said, "
If I'm already half-paralyzed, what can I do to help you?" The girl said, "I beg you to help me take revenge. Although I haven't
mastered the Asura Yin Sha Technique, I'm the only one in the world who knows how to cure it. Looking at your expression, you find it strange, don't you? You're probably
thinking : how can you know how to cure it if you don't know this skill? That's because Meng Shentong only stole the three
manuals for practicing the Asura Yin Sha Technique; the method of cure is still in my hands. Are you willing to make a deal with me? I'll cure you, and you'll help me
take revenge ?"
Jin Shiyi was incredibly clever; he immediately understood the girl's intentions. He thought to himself, "Taking revenge on Meng Shentong is easier said than done. Perhaps
it will take three, five, or even ten years to avenge this grudge. Once I make a promise, I'll be bound by her, and whether I
like it or not, I'll have to become her friend." "But besides this woman surnamed Li, no one in the world can save me
. Am I willing to become a cripple? Death isn't so bad; being half-dead is the worst." Jin Shiyi thought to himself
, "Who knows if this isn't her good intention? She's afraid I won't accept her kindness, so she's suggesting this method, making it seem like
she's begging me, to avoid embarrassing me?" Jin Shiyi guessed correctly; the woman indeed had two intentions—wanting to bind
him, yet afraid he wouldn't accept.
The woman waited a while, and seeing no reply, smiled, "What? You won't accept my begging? This kind of deal is
mutually loses out, and neither of us benefits from the other. Isn't that the best?" Jin Shiyi sighed inwardly and said, "Alright,
you cure me, and I'll help you take revenge. It's settled."
The woman said, "Close your eyes." Jin Shiyi asked, "Why?" The woman said, "I'm afraid you'll be frightened."
Jin Shiyi laughed loudly, "I don't know what in the world could frighten me!" The woman smiled, her eyes narrowing, and said,
"Really?" Jin Shiyi's heart trembled; for some reason, he found this woman somewhat terrifying! The woman said solemnly,
"I will perform the technique on you. Not only must you not be afraid, but you must also absolutely trust me." Jin Shiyi laughed, "I am
a patient , and a patient must listen to the doctor. Just perform the technique; I'm not afraid!" The woman took out a handful of silver needles, each
about two inches long, and said, "If you're not afraid, just watch. You absolutely must not use your internal energy to resist." With a flick of her wrist, a silver needle was inserted into
his temple. The temple is one of the most dangerous acupoints on the body. Jin Shiyi had barely thought of it when the needle was already deeply inserted,
causing a sharp pain. Jin Shiyi gritted his teeth and endured it. In an instant, the girl had inserted a silver needle into each of Jin Shiyi's twelve most dangerous acupoints.
The pain came in waves, one after another, with intense pain following one after another. The chill in his body naturally disappeared.
Amidst the excruciating pain, Jin Shiyi thought, "This treatment is truly strange. And what's even stranger is why I willingly let her
manipulate me ?"
The needles were aimed at his vital points, yet Jin Shiyi didn't die, proving the treatment was effective. However, Jin Shiyi hadn't known beforehand that the treatment
was effective , and the woman exuded an air of malevolence. Yet, Jin Shiyi didn't suspect her ill intentions, and indeed, he didn't resist. He then
realized that he genuinely trusted this woman, and it wasn't just lip service. Throughout his life, Jin Shiyi
rarely trusted anyone, except for a very limited number of people. Yet now he trusted this woman, who had deceived him more than once
. Why would he trust her so much, allowing her to attack his vital points? Even Jin Shiyi himself was baffled.
The excruciating pain gradually subsided, and the woman said, "Now, stretch out your right foot." Jin Shiyi obeyed. The woman
held his heel with both hands and gently pressed his Yongquan acupoint.
Upon pressing the hand, Jin Shiyi immediately felt an intense itch. Pain was bearable, but the itch was unbearable. Jin Shiyi couldn't help but laugh out loud
. Strangely enough, after laughing, he suddenly felt relaxed all over; not only was the pain greatly reduced, but his blood and energy flowed smoothly. The woman chuckled,
"You haven't washed for at least six or seven days, have you? Your feet stink! And you're still laughing!" Jin Shiyi replied, "No,
no , I bathed in the Qingxi River just the day before yesterday." Although Jin Shiyi knew the woman was joking, he still felt embarrassed.
The woman's palms were soft and smooth, and as she gently massaged him, Jin Shiyi experienced a strange, indescribable feeling. His mind
raced , and even the itch subsided, allowing him to suppress his laughter. After a while, a warm sensation rose from his Yongquan acupoint,
circulating throughout his body, gradually dispelling the chill.
After massaging his right Yongquan acupoint, the woman followed the same method, healing his left foot. Jin Shiyi's blood and qi flowed smoothly, and the coldness in
his heels immediately lessened. The woman waited for a while, and seeing Jin Shiyi's face turn from white to red, she
removed the silver needles from his twelve vital acupoints one by one. Jin Shiyi felt comfortable all over, but also weak and limp, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.
The woman smiled and said, "Your merit is complete. Are you hungry? I'll find two wild rabbits to roast for you. Besides, I need to go to
the mountain stream to wash my hands. You can stay here for a while." Jin Shiyi meditated and continued his practice, and his strength recovered slightly. Suddenly, he thought, "
If I take this opportunity to escape, what can she do to me? She's teased me enough, why don't I tease her back once?" But then he thought,
"No, no! I can joke about other things, but she healed my injuries. If I tease her, won't she suspect that I'm an ungrateful
person?" The thought arose and then vanished, and in the end, he stayed.
After a while, the woman returned with two wild rabbits. She lit a fire, roasted the rabbits, and shared them with Jin Shiyi
. She kept trying to engage him in conversation, asking about the scenery of Snake Island, and said, "I've never been to the ocean before, and I always dream of one day
sailing on the sea. Would you be willing to steer for me?" Jin Shiyi replied, "I haven't been back since I left Snake Island.
Alright , when I return, I'll tell you, and you can ride my ship." The woman said seriously, "A gentleman's word
is his bond. You mustn't sneak away without telling me."
Looking at her gentle smile, Jin Shiyi suddenly remembered a myth an old beggar had told him when he was young. It was said that on a very high
mountain lived a demon who loved to buy human souls. If you liked money, he would give you gold; if you wanted to be an official, he would help you
achieve fame and fortune. But what he wanted was your soul. After signing a contract of servitude with him, your life would be at his command. Jin Shiyi
agreed to avenge a woman, and for some reason, he felt as if he had signed a contract of servitude with her, recalling this absurd
myth.
The woman stared into Jin Shiyi's eyes and said, "What are you thinking about?" Jin Shiyi's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "Nothing."
The woman said, "You promised to help me take revenge, and that's not just empty talk. Tell me, what makes you think you can help me? Do you think your
martial arts are better than Meng Shentong's?"
Jin Shiyi's anger surged, and he coldly said, "You saved me, and at most, I'll add interest and return your life." The
woman chuckled and said, "Judging from your tone, although you're embarrassed to say it, you admit that your martial arts are inferior to Meng Shentong's,
so you plan to fight to the death... " "My life is at stake." Jin Shiyi said, "I'll help you take revenge, at most I'll just give my life for you,
what want?" The woman laughed, "Of course I'm not satisfied. It doesn't matter if you die, but I still won't be able to take revenge! Besides
, if you can't defeat Meng Shentong, even if you lose your life, you still won't have fulfilled the promise you made to me."
Jin Shiyi spread his hands and said calmly, "What can I do? All I have is a worthless life!"
The woman said, "I have a way. When your martial arts greatly surpass Meng Shentong's, help me..." "Revenge? Wouldn't that be
as easy as turning your hand ?" Jin Shiyi laughed out loud. "I wondered what method you had? Well, I might as well tell you the truth.
I'm afraid it would take me at least ten years to defeat Meng Shentong. Even if my martial arts improve within ten years, I'd probably
only be able to fight him to a draw, without being injured by his Asura Yin Sha Gong."
The woman laughed. "Now you know how powerful the Asura Yin Sha Gong is? With your current martial arts foundation, you really need to practice for ten years
to defeat Meng Shentong, and that's assuming Meng Shentong's Asura Yin Sha Gong doesn't improve. If... " " He's reached the ninth
level . Even ten years from now, you might not be able to defeat him." Jin Shiyi was greatly discouraged and asked, "Then what method do you have?" The
woman said, "As long as you listen to me, I can make your martial arts surpass Meng Shentong's within three years. Within ten years, no one
in the world can rival you! Not only that, I can also make you the greatest martial arts master of all time!" Jin Shiyi's
heart stirred, and he guessed a bit of what was going on. Immediately, suspicion arose, but he deliberately feigned confusion and asked, "If you have such abilities,
why do you need to ask me for help?"
The woman moved closer to him, her two round, bright eyes looking directly at him. She said, "I'm not joking with you.
There's a reason for this." Jin Shiyi asked, "What reason?" The woman said, "First, I want you to believe I'm not joking
. Consider Meng Shentong's Asura Yin Sha Gong; it's only three chapters of my family's secret manual. And as far as I know, the martial arts recorded in my
family's manual are based on oral accounts from a senior martial artist.
Compared to what my family has recorded, that senior's entire martial arts are like a small stream compared to the ocean. If we find the martial arts left behind by that senior, what's there
to fear even if there are a hundred Meng Shentongs?" Jin Shiyi said, "That senior has been dead for three hundred years. How can you find the martial arts he
left behind ? And how do you know he definitely left any martial arts behind!"
The woman was extremely surprised and jumped up, saying: "You know about this too? That's right, the extraordinary senior I mentioned is none other than
Qiao Beiming, who died nearly three hundred years ago. Do you know who I am?" Jin Shiyi said, "Indeed, we've known each other for two days, and
you still haven't told me your name." The woman said, "My name is Li Shengnan. That's not what I meant by asking you. Do you
know who I am?"
Jin Shiyi said, "I know you're the one seeking revenge against Meng Shentong." The woman said, "That's what I told you."
Jin Shiyi said, "Indeed, how would I know if you didn't tell me?" The woman laughed, "So you were speaking in circles
. In that case, before you met me, you had no idea I existed." Jin Shiyi said, "I was born
a few years surprising that you know of me." The woman said:
"On the other hand, it's strange that you know my name, isn't it? But I do find it a bit strange that you know there was a Qiao Beimo three hundred
years ago , but you don't know who I am?" Two clear eyes stared intently at Jin Shiyi, as if they could tell he
wasn't lying, and then they breathed a sigh of relief. After pausing for a moment, she said, "I've never told anyone about my past. Since you know about Qiao
Beiming's affair, I'll tell you today." Jin Shiyi said, "I guess your past is related to martial arts secrets.
If that's the case, it's better not to tell you."
The woman said, "We'll rely on each other from now on, so why not tell you?" Hearing her mention relying on each other, Jin Shiyi
shuddered, thinking, "She's treating this 'indenture' contract as a done deal." The woman continued, "Qiao Beiming has
a disciple named Li Kangtian, who is utterly loyal to him. He is both Qiao Beiming's disciple and his steward.
He has read all of the Qiao family's martial arts manuals, and he also recorded Qiao Beiming's martial arts insights from the first half of his life. Because Qiao Beiming's fame is so great
, people still know about him three hundred years later. As for his steward, he has long been forgotten." "Ah, so
Li Kangtian is your ancestor," Jin Shiyi said. The woman replied, "That's right, he is my ancestor seven generations ago. Qiao Beimo was the first
villain , offending many chivalrous heroes. Later, he was wounded by the sword of the great hero Zhang Danfeng, faked his death, and fled overseas. My ancestor did not
go with him. He was afraid that people would seek revenge on him, and even more afraid that others would steal his martial arts manuals, so he went into hiding and passed it down through generations,
never revealing his identity in the martial arts world." Jin Shiyi said, "Your ancestor is good at protecting himself. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to keep quiet." The woman
said, "Qiao Beiming fled to an island in the East China Sea. Only my family knows this news. He left behind his life's
martial arts , and only my family knows that too." Jin Shiyi laughed, "I already knew that." He thought of the strange painting and wanted to ask the
woman about it, but then he thought better of it and held back. The woman glanced at him and said, "Actually, even if others knew, it wouldn't be
of any use . Even if others found that island, they wouldn't be able to obtain the martial arts manual left by Qiao Beiming, because there's a
secret within it that only my family knows. Right now, only I know it."
Jin Shiyi said, "You want me to go to that island with you to discover the martial arts left by Qiao Beiming?" The woman said, "
That's right ." Jin Shiyi said, "Why don't you go by yourself?" The woman said, "Firstly, I don't know anything about navigation. Secondly, that island is
a notorious demon island; having someone with me is better than going alone." Jin Shiyi remembered his master's warning against
going to that island and thought, "Could there be something strange on that island besides the volcano?"
The woman continued, "There's a third reason. My martial arts foundation is still..." "Even if you possess
the martial arts , you probably wouldn't understand their mysteries. If you blindly study them, you might grow old without ever succeeding, let alone
avenging yourself. Your master, Venerable Poison Dragon, is the first martial arts prodigy in nearly a century. The martial arts path you've learned is
different ; to put it bluntly, it's unorthodox rather than mainstream. It might coincide with the path Qiao Beiming took. If you obtain Qiao
Beiming's martial arts manuals, you'll surely achieve twice the result with half the effort, and before long, you'll become a martial arts master."
Jin Shiyi said, "Didn't you say that your family still has some secret martial arts manuals? If you learn all those martial arts, could you
subdue Meng Shentong? To be honest, based on what I've heard passed down through generations, I have no good feelings towards Qiao Beiming and don't want to be his
disciple ." The woman laughed loudly, "Everyone says you're eccentric..." "They say you're the greatest demon of our time, but I never imagined you'd
be as pedantic as those disciples of prestigious sects! It's been passed down through generations in the martial arts world that Qiao Beiming acted evilly, but
what does that have to do ? He Kan has been dead for three hundred years! What harm is there in taking his martial arts? You don't want to be his disciple
in this life, but does his ghost possess you and force you to become his apprentice?"
Jin Shiyi remained silent, thinking, "Before Qiao Beiming died, he told the sea traveler: 'Whoever can bring his coffin back to
the Central Plains will be his disciple in this life.' I've never easily accepted favors. If I were to learn his martial arts, how could I forget his
kindness and not consider him my master? It's better to deceive the living than the dead. To
betray a deceased senior, no matter what kind of person he was, is wrong."
Jin Shiyi was hesitating when the woman... She continued, "The martial arts manuals in my family are merely Qiao Beiming's
insights from the first half of his life, and not even complete. Even if I had mastered them all, I still wouldn't be comparable to the current martial arts masters. Besides, the three most important manuals,
the Asura Yin Sha Gong , were stolen by Meng Shentong." Jin Shiyi asked, "How did Meng Shentong steal them?" The woman
replied, "That happened twenty years ago. Somehow, Meng Shentong discovered my family's secret and came looking for trouble. My father
was not yet thirty years old at that time, and he had only mastered the third level of the Asura Yin Sha Gong. Although I severely injured him, I was struck by his hidden weapon
and injuries. I wasn't born then; I was my mother's posthumous child. My mother had hoped I would be a boy, but she was
disappointed, so she named me Shengnan (meaning 'victorious man'). Alright, I've made everything clear to you. You made a promise to me, so..."
"It's a deal? If you want to help me get revenge, you must find the martial arts manual that Qiao Beiming left on the island."
Jin Shiyi thought for a while. Although he didn't want to be Qiao Beiming's disciple in another life, after thinking it over,
he realized there was no other way to help him get revenge. So he said, "Alright, I'll do as you say. On the night of the full moon three months from now,
wait for me in front of the Shangqing Palace on Laoshan Mountain by the East China Sea!"
The woman asked, "Why three months from now?" Jin Shiyi laughed loudly, "I only agreed to help you get revenge, not to
follow you around all day. No need for further explanation, we'll go to sea together in three months!" With that, he turned and left.
Suddenly, the woman let out a strange shriek and chased after him!
Jin Shiyi angrily said, "I've already agreed to go to sea with you three months from now to find the martial arts manual left by Qiao Beiming.
Why are you still bothering me?" Before he could finish speaking, the woman had caught up with Jin Shiyi from behind. Suddenly, she lashed out with her fingers like halberds,
forcefully stabbing his "Zhitang" acupoint on his back. This "Zhitang" point is one of the most dangerous acupoints on the body. Jin Shiyi never expected the woman to
suddenly attack him like this, especially since his poison wounds had only recently healed and his spirits were not yet fully restored. Even if he had been prepared, he was no
match for the woman. With a "thud," Jin Shiyi was struck squarely and immediately collapsed to the ground. In his dizziness, he only heard the woman
sigh and seem to say something, but Jin Shiyi couldn't make out what she said.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he woke up to find the morning dew still wet and the sun just rising; it was already the
early . Jin Shiyi was quite surprised: "How come I'm still alive? Was I dreaming?" Looking around, the woman was gone.
On the ground were two lines of writing, drawn by the tip of her sword: "Remember your promise. Three months later, on the night of the full moon, I will wait for
you in front of the Qing Palace on Mount Lao."
Jin Shiyi tested his inner strength and felt his blood flowing smoothly. He casually chopped down, splitting a rock, proving his martial arts had fully
recovered . He was both surprised and delighted. Looking at the pool of blood on the ground and noticing the ointment on his heels, he
suddenly realized, "So that woman saw I was determined to leave, and the lingering poison in my body hadn't been completely removed. Therefore, she used this method to knock me
down so she could heal my injuries. The Asura Yin Sha Gong is extremely strange. Last night, she used silver needles to insert into my vital points to heal me. When I left,
she used a heavy hand to press my vital points, presumably for the same reason as inserting silver needles to remove poison and heal. But she acted
so suddenly and silently, it was truly terrifying!" "But then I thought, if that woman had explained things clearly last night, and I had insisted on
leaving , she probably wouldn't have believed me. Thinking of this, I unconsciously felt a little grateful to her. I hated
her clinging last night, but now that she's gone, I feel a little lost.
Jin Shiyi descended the Taihang Mountains, first searching for news of Li Qinmei. He inquired in Xin'an Town, but found that Zhong Zhanwu and Ding Qiu's group
had already left. Jin Shiyi didn't know where they had gone, but he figured Li Qinmei must have gone with them." As he walked away, he thought of Li Qinmei's
deep , her longing to see him, and how they had missed each other so close by. He wondered when they would meet again. Thinking of this,
Jin Shiyi couldn't help but feel resentment towards that woman surnamed Li.
The Taihang Mountains were only two or three days' journey from Mangshan. Since Jin Shiyi couldn't find Li Qinmei, he naturally thought of Gu Zhihua
.
He had originally planned to go to Mangshan to pay respects at Lü Siniang's grave, so he crossed the Yellow River and headed towards Mangshan.
When he was still sixty or seventy li away from Mangshan, Jin Shiyi... Recalling his life's hardships, and the vastness of the earth, he wondered who among them could truly understand him.
Just as he was about to burst into song, two riders on horseback suddenly galloped past him. Hearing his wild singing and strange laughter, the riders couldn't help but
look at him. Upon seeing them, the two men both let out a strange cry and spurred their horses away. Jin Shiyi recognized the two men: one was
Lu Yinghao, son of Lu Mindan, and the other was Bai Yingjie, son of Bai Taiguan.
Lu Mindan and Bai Taiguan were Lü Siniang's senior brothers, and they had long since passed away. Their sons had inherited their family's learning... He had earned
a formidable reputation in the martial world . When Jin Shiyi first ventured into the martial world,
he specifically sought out established figures to cause trouble, defeating many heroes and warriors across the land. Lu Yinghao and Bai Yingjie had also suffered at his hands, so upon recognizing
him, they immediately spurred their horses and fled, not daring to provoke him.
Jin Shiyi chuckled, but then felt a pang of sadness: "So these disciples of prestigious sects all
regard me as an untouchable demon! What wrong have I done? At most, I've only exposed their secrets. What reason do they have to be
so wary and hate me?" "Little did they know that these prestigious figures in the martial arts world were most afraid of having their martial arts skills exposed.
Jin Shiyi made things difficult for famous figures everywhere, so how could he not make enemies everywhere?
Thinking of this, a feeling of self-abandonment suddenly arose in Jin Shiyi. He deliberately tore his clothes, messed up his hair,
and smeared mud on his face, dressing up as a beggar. He looked up at the sky and laughed: "Fine, you think I am the Mad Beggar with Poisonous Hands?
Today I will restore my true appearance as the Mad Beggar with Poisonous Hands!" "After changing his appearance, he gazed at his reflection in the stream, and his self-destructive mood brought him a strange
sense of exhilaration, yet also a touch of melancholy. He had been thinking of the Ice Goddess. Five or six years ago, he had always
disguised himself as a 'mad beggar,' frolicking among the world. Then he met the Ice Goddess, who disliked his disguise, and
only in recent years had he appeared as a normal person.
Now, thinking of the Ice Goddess, he felt a profound sense of loss, thinking, 'Unless I meet another kindred spirit, I will
live out my life as the Poisonous Mad Beggar.'" Just then, Gu Zhihua's image surfaced in his mind. Although he
had only met Gu Zhihua briefly, he felt that Gu Zhihua seemed to admire him more than Li Qinmei.
After a while, Jin Shiyi encountered two familiar people: Cheng Hao, Zhou Xun's disciple, and Li
Ying, Li Yuan's son. These two had also suffered at Jin Shiyi's hands before, and they avoided him from afar. Jin Shiyi suddenly remembered that
Lu Mindan, Bai Taiguan, Zhou Xun, and Li Yuan were all fellow disciples of Lü Siniang, that is,
members . He felt a little strange and thought, "Why do I keep running into disciples of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan today? Could they also be going to Mangshan
?"
After walking for a while, only about thirty miles away from Mangshan, he suddenly heard the sound of horse bells behind him. Jin Shiyi thought to himself, "Let's see
which of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan's disciples this is?" He simply sat down by the roadside and opened his eyes to see that there were three riders approaching, none of whom
Jin Shiyi recognized. The first rider was an elderly woman nearing sixty, with a dignified demeanor, like a wealthy lady
. Behind her were two boys of about fifteen or sixteen, with delicate features and still somewhat childish. Even with his extensive
experience , Jin Shiyi couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, thinking, "This old lady doesn't seem like a江湖人士 (jianghu figure), but judging from her vigorous spirit and agile movements..."
Ming was a man with excellent martial arts skills. These two boys also seemed to know martial arts; perhaps they were his grandsons?
Jin Shiyi had some doubts and couldn't help but glance at them a few more times.
Seeing Jin Shiyi's strange behavior, the two boys became somewhat frightened and suddenly shouted, "You wicked beggar, how dare you
wink !" With a quick bend and a backward turn on their horse, while the mount continued its gallop, they had already grabbed two clods
of dirt from the ground, their movements incredibly agile. The old woman in front had just said, "Young man, don't cause trouble!" when the two
boys threw the two clods of dirt at Jin Shiyi.
Jin Shiyi laughed, "Are you the Crown Prince? Afraid of being seen! If you're afraid of being seen, you should stay at home!" With a swift flick of his finger
, he sent both clods of dirt flying back with two "thump-thump" sounds. The old woman was startled. Clay clods are soft and brittle,
difficult to handle; too much force and they would crumble, too little and they wouldn't bounce back. Jin Shiyi's flick was perfectly timed. The
old woman was a master of martial arts; seeing him display such superior skill, how could she not be astonished?
Just as the two boys reached out to catch them, the clods of dirt, about to reach them, suddenly veered and flew towards them with unpredictable
speed . The boy saw that Jin Shiyi was about to strike their pressure points, but he didn't know which ones. He missed
and was terrified. Just then, the old woman suddenly reined in her horse. Her two grandsons' mounts caught up, and
the two clods of dirt that Jin Shiyi had flicked back flew towards them. The old woman flicked her sleeve, her movements incredibly graceful. With a "pop,"
the two clods of dirt split open in mid-air, raising a cloud of dust. The old woman shouted, "With your skill, how can you stoop to the level of a mere boy
!" Jin Shiyi suddenly snapped to attention and exclaimed, "Are you Old Lady Zhao? Ha, a descendant of the Seven Quicks of Jiangnan, you are the most skilled
! I, the beggar, am eager to learn from you!"
The old woman was greatly surprised and immediately guessed that Jin Shiyi must be the "Poisonous Hand Mad Beggar" of the martial arts world. She coldly said,
"I don't have time right now. If you want to find me, please come to Zhao Family Village in Zhuo County. I'm ready to teach you anytime!" With two sharp cracks of the whip, urging his horse forward,
Jin Shiyi vaguely heard the two boys ask, "Grandma, is this the Poisonous Hand Mad Beggar? Why don't you show
him some skill?"
This old woman was Cao Jin'er, the daughter of Cao Renfu, one of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan. Cao Renfu
was the eldest , making Cao Jin'er the oldest of their children, already fifty-eight years old.
She was married to a scion of a prominent family surnamed Zhao in Zhuo County. Her husband was not a martial artist, and over the decades, she had gone from a young mistress to an
old lady. Although she hadn't given up her martial arts, her江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) spirit had faded. That's why she didn't want
to fight .
Jin Shiyi snorted, thinking, "How dare you act like an old lady! If it weren't for
the friendship , and also because of your advanced age, I would have pulled you off your horse!" "In a single day, he encountered seven or eight
disciples and juniors of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan. He guessed that something must have happened, so he quickened his pace and arrived at Mangshan at
noon .
It was the transition from spring to summer, and wildflowers were everywhere. The waterfalls hanging from the peaks shimmered with golden pearls of foam under the bright sun.
Jin Shiyi felt refreshed. Remembering that he was going to pay his respects at Lü Siniang's grave later, he washed the mud off his face by the waterfall,
tidied himself up, and walked for a while. He passed a path between two rows of locust trees, and the cemetery was in sight when he suddenly heard someone shout:
'The Poisonous Hand Mad Beggar is here!'
Jin Shiyi looked up and saw groups of people of varying heights on the mountaintop, including Yi Zhongmou, the leader of the Jiangnan Beggars' Gang, and his widowed sister-in-law
Xie Yunzhen. Jin Shiyi thought to himself: 'So the disciples of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan are gathering here. I just happened to run into them.'" Just as they were checking to see if Gu
Zhihua was there, several young men, including Lu Yinghao and Bai Yingjie, rushed over angrily
.
It turned out that today was the fiftieth anniversary of the death of their grandmaster, the One-Armed Nun. Disciples of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and friends from the martial arts world
had gathered at Mangshan. Lu Yinghao and Bai Yingjie, relying on their numbers, boldly tried to stop them. Lu Yinghao shouted first, "Jin Shiyi, is
this a place for you to run wild?" Jin Shiyi sneered, "Is Mangshan yours? Why can't I come?"
He continued walking, ignoring them. Enraged, Lu and Bai drew their swords simultaneously. The two were as close as brothers, and they had practiced a combined sword technique,
extremely fierce. One sword pierced Jin Shiyi's left side, targeting the "Qimen" acupoint, and the other his right side, targeting the "Jingcu" acupoint. Jin Shiyi
laughed , "You're being unreasonable? Then I'll be the unreasonable ancestor!" With a swift, coiling step, Lu Bai and his companion's swords missed their mark, emitting only
the clanging sound of raindrops. Their swords flew into the air; in that split second,
Jin Shiyi had used his "Iron Finger Zen Skill" to flick their wrists, striking them squarely. It was only because Jin Shiyi had shown mercy that their wrists were
broken !
A chorus of curses erupted. Jin Shiyi swung his arms, knocking the two men down. Old Granny Cao, enraged, stood up and shouted,
"Jin Shiyi, are you here to see me?" Her two grandsons replied, "Why should we need your help today!" Before they finished speaking,
more than a dozen hidden weapons flew towards Jin Shiyi. Enraged, Jin Shiyi swung his iron crutch, and a deafening clang filled
the air. A large pile of broken metal lay on the ground; all the incoming weapons had been reduced to fragments. Jin Shiyi sneered, "You have hidden weapons, and I
have hidden weapons too. If you don't stop, I won't be so polite!" Jin Shiyi's "Poison Dragon Needle" was renowned throughout the land. The crowd, realizing that
even if they could subdue him, they would likely suffer heavy casualties, immediately lost heart, and none dared to launch another hidden weapon. Old Lady Cao slammed
her dragon-head cane down, intending to invite some of her most skilled disciples to fight Jin Shiyi, when Yi Zhongmou quickly said, "Sister Cao, ask him
his intentions first." Though her voice was soft, Jin Shiyi heard her and laughed heartily, "You disciples of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, who always
pride yourselves , are actually so unreasonable!" Indeed: Seeking the Jade Maiden on Mount Mang, a sudden storm arose from nowhere.
To find out what happens next, please turn to the next chapter.

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