[Wuxia] The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea (Complete) - 13

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

In Chapter 18 of Liang Yusheng's *The Jade Bow and the Cloud Sea*,

Li Qinmei, looking somewhat displeased, rolled her eyes at Jiang Nan and said, "Everyone has their own unique temperament. Many people say
Jin Shiyi is strange and unapproachable, right? Even you, Jiang Nan, seem a bit odd to me. But
you are all the best people."
Jiang Nan smiled and said, "I didn't say Miss Li was a bad person, I just think she's eccentric."
Gu Zhihua originally had some things to say to Li Qinmei, but hearing her words so protective of Li Shengnan, as if she were grateful
for Li Shengnan's two rescues, she thought for a moment, and swallowed those words.
Li Qinmei was a little reluctant to part, pulling Gu Zhihua aside and saying, "It's a pity we only had two days together; I haven't even had a chance to ask you for
swordsmanship ." Gu Zhihua replied, "There's plenty of time in the future. Even if we don't have a chance to meet, I will go to Tianshan to find you. Hmm,
I hope you can find Jin Shiyi."
Jiang Nan suddenly asked with a grin, "Miss Gu, you and Master Jin are quite close, aren't you? Why don't you
put aside your other matters for now and come with us to find him?" Gu Zhihua laughed and said, "No wonder people call you 'the talkative
Jiang Nan ' I said I wouldn't go, and I won't." Actually ,
Gu Zhihua was speechless after Jiang Nan's question, so she had to evade it and instead scold Jiang
Nan .
After parting ways, Li Qinmei, along with Chen Tianyu and his wife, and Jiang Nan, retraced their steps to catch up with Jin Shiyi. On the way, Jiang Nan
recounted to her the incident of encountering Jin Shiyi and Gu Zhihua. Li Qinmei couldn't help but think, "Brother Shiyi has always had a hard time getting along with others
. Besides me, the only woman he's close to is the Ice Maiden. But from what Jiang Nan said, Sister Gu and
Sister seem to have known him for a short time, and their relationship seems quite good. Has his personality changed after all these years?" Li Qinmei
, innocent and naive, hadn't yet grasped the concept of jealousy; she simply found it strange.
Another thing that puzzled her was Gu Zhihua's resolute refusal to accompany them. Although she didn't understand social etiquette, she
sensed that Gu Zhihua's excuse about visiting her adoptive father's grave was merely a pretext. She thought to herself, "Jiangnan's reasoning is quite sound.
Since her relationship with Brother Shiyi is so close, why can't she put aside other matters for now? Several years have
passed since she last visited her adoptive father's grave, so why the rush? Sister Gu is usually a warm and generous person; although we've only known each other for a few days,
she treats me like a sister. Why won't she stay a few more days with me? It seems she's suddenly become cold and heartless." Li
Qinmei, filled with doubts, remained sullen throughout the journey, her only hope being to find Jin Shiyi. Chen Tianyu and Jiang Nan
rode together, with Jiang Nan's original horse given to Li Qinmei. After a day's journey, they arrived at Xin'an Town at dusk.
Chen Tianyu went out to inquire, asking many people, but none of them had seen anyone with Jin Shiyi's appearance. Later, based on
Li Shengnan's words, they went to the local temple behind the town to investigate. Sure enough, there was a dilapidated temple, but it was covered in dust,
as if no one had been there.
Youping also became suspicious, saying, "Could we have come to the wrong place? Isn't this the temple that Miss Li mentioned?" Jiang Nan
said, "I've already asked the locals, and this is the only local temple. How could we be wrong?" Youping said, "Does this place look like
someone has been here?" Jiang Nan smiled and said, "It doesn't look like it. I haven't come to the wrong place. What Miss Li said might not be true
." Li Qinmei said, "Why would she lie?" Chen Tianyu also said, "Perhaps there's another reason, perhaps
Miss Li has misremembered." Jiang Nan said, "Perhaps what? There are so many possibilities. I'd say ninety percent of the time she's deliberately
playing a trick on us." Li Qinmei said, "You always have a prejudice against Miss Li. Why would she play a trick on us for no reason?" Chen Tianyu
said, "Yes, let's not speculate wildly. Let's go back the way we came and investigate. We'll talk about it again in a few days." Actually, he
had already become suspicious of Li Shengnan's words, but he thought that since they didn't know Jin Shiyi's whereabouts, even if Li Shengnan was deliberately playing a trick on them, not finding
Jin Shiyi wouldn't harm them. Besides, he couldn't think of any other reason why Li Shengnan would want to play a trick on them.
Two more days passed, and they investigated along the way, but they hadn't heard of anyone like Jin Shiyi passing by. On the third night,
Jiang Nan , unable to contain himself any longer, said to Li Qinmei, "Miss Li, please forgive my intrusion, but I think that Miss Li is indeed a bit strange
." Li Qinmei said, "Don't start criticizing her right away." Jiang Nan said, "You trust her so much, do you even know her
background?" Li Qinmei said, "I don't know. I'm not like you, always meddling. If others don't like to talk about it, I won't investigate."
Jiang Nan smiled and said, "And don't start criticizing me right away either. What I don't understand is: why do you trust
her so much?" Li Qinmei said, "I've never met her before, but she's freed me twice. The most recent time, you know,
and the other time was in Meng Family Village, when I was imprisoned in a cave by Old Monster Meng, and she was the one who rescued me." Jiang Nan said:
“Hmm, that’s a bit strange. Did she mention Master Jin to you then?” Li Qinmei asked. “What do you
mean ?” Jiang Nan asked. “What did she say to you after she released you?” Li Qinmei said. “She told me to find my senior brother. I followed
the direction she pointed out and found him.” Jiang Nan asked. “Didn’t she tell you to find Master Jin?” Li Qinmei said. “
No. Aunt, why are you asking like this? Do you know about that incident?”
Jiang Nan smiled again and said. “It seems that being talkative has its advantages. I heard that Master Jin caused a great disturbance at Meng Family Manor that time.”
"That's what Miss Gu said. Qiu Shanpei's Yi Zhongmou, Xie Yunzhen, and others were also there at the time. However, when Master Jin told Miss Gu, he
didn't mention this Miss Li. And now, from what you've said, this Miss Li is the one who saved you, so she must have seen Jin Shiyi at Meng Family
Village . She clearly knew you were looking for Jin Shiyi, but she didn't tell you, instead deliberately pointing you to your senior brother. Ha:
Isn't that a bit strange?" Li Qinmei frowned and said, "Is this true?" Jiang Nan said, "Absolutely true: Do you believe
me or her?" Li Qinmei remained silent, lowering her head in thought. Jiang Nan continued, "I know you don't quite trust me, so let me
ask you again, do you trust her or Lady Gu?"
Li Qinmei thought for a moment and said, "I trust both of them." Jiang Nan asked, "How do you compare them?"
Li Qinmei said, "Sister Gu's master has a very deep connection with our Tianshan Sect, so of course I trust Sister Gu more. Hmm,
what do you mean by asking that?" Jiang Nan said, "You're a smart person, don't you understand what Lady Gu is saying? That day she
repeatedly refused to travel with us, implying that she didn't trust that Miss Li." Li Qinmei was directly exposed by Jiang Nan,
and upon thinking about it, she realized it was true. She couldn't help but say, "She said Brother Shiyi changes his mind quickly, could it be, could it be..." Jiang Nan smiled and said, "I think..."
"It wasn't that Master Jin changed his mind, but that Miss Li lied," Li Qinmei said.
"So he went to Qingdao to prepare for sailing, and Miss Li said he was going to Suzhou to find you, is that right?" Jiang Nan immediately chimed in, "[It's made up.]" Li Qinmei said, "
Why make up this lie?" Jiang Nan said, "Ask her, how would I know?"
Li Qinmei was a simple and straightforward girl. Once she became suspicious, she wanted to go to Qingdao immediately to find out the truth, but she
didn't dare to be sure that Li Shengnan was lying. She was very undecided, so she went to discuss it with Chen Tianyu and his wife. Chen Tianyu and his wife also became suspicious,
and finally decided that Li Qinmei would go to Qingdao alone, while Chen Tianyu would return to his hometown in Suzhou. Whoever encountered Jin Shiyi would wait
there . Li Qinmei said, "This is for the best, neither side will be disappointed. We will definitely meet him somewhere." So
they parted ways, and Li Qinmei rode alone to Yeshan.
Let's leave Li Qinmei aside for now. After leaving the group that day, Gu Zhihua was filled with deep doubts. She couldn't understand
what kind of person Li Shengnan was. How much of what she said was true, and how much was false? She pondered for a long, long time,
finally deciding to postpone her visit to her adoptive father's grave and instead go to Qingdao to see for herself. She didn't even
understand . Was she trying to expose Li Shengnan's lies, or did she actually want to see Jin Shiyi again?
Gu Zhihua bought a horse in town and rode without stopping. By dusk, she had traveled approximately 150 li (about 750 kilometers)
and arrived in Tongan County, where she found lodging. She entered the city and, before finding an inn, was
stopped by two men who looked like innkeepers. They greeted her with smiles and asked, "Miss, is your surname Gu?" Gu Zhihua hesitated for a moment and replied,
"What?" The two men said, "We are staff from Xiangtai Inn. In Tongan County, our inn has
the best facilities and the most rooms, including elegant rooms specifically for female guests. We have already prepared a room for Miss Gu, and are just waiting for you to
grace us with your presence." Gu Zhihua said, "Wait a minute, how did you know my surname is Gu, and how did you know I was here today?" The
men said, "Someone booked a room for you at noon today, saying you would definitely arrive at this time. We have been waiting for you
for almost half an hour." Gu Zhihua hurriedly asked, "Who is this person?"
The men smiled and said, "It was your brother who booked the room, there's no mistake." Gu Zhihua hesitated for a moment and said...
"What, my brother?" the innkeeper said. "Your brother was waiting for you at the previous stop. Didn't you come from Qiu and head to Shangqing Palace
on offer incense? Your brother made it clear, and he's already prepaid for your room and meals."
Gu Zhihua was greatly surprised, thinking, "Besides Jin Shiyi and Li Shengnan, who else knew I was going to Laoshan? Is Jin Shiyi
joking with me? Or is it Li Shengnan?" The person joking had already told the innkeeper it was her "brother," so of course she
could see his face. She thought: I need a room and food anyway, so I might as well make the best of it and see what other tricks he has up his sleeve.
The innkeeper treated her very well, providing her with a room in a traditional-style room and the famous local spicy chicken, along with several exquisite
side dishes .
It seemed the person who booked the room for her must have given her a generous tip.
Gu Zhihua was a person with experience in the ways of the world. Although she guessed that this was the work of Jin Shiyi or Li Shengnan and that they probably didn't mean any
harm, she was still very cautious and didn't sleep well all night. Nothing happened that night, which only made Gu Zhihua more
puzzled .
The next day, Gu Zhihua traveled all day and arrived at a town called "Qinglongji" near dusk. Qinglongji
was a fairly large town, and Gu Zhihua should have stayed there. However, she disregarded her pretense and took a detour,
traveling another ten miles or so. At dusk, she finally reached an unnamed small town ahead, thinking, "Let's see if you can still joke with me
now."
But as soon as she entered the town, a man who looked like an innkeeper came to greet her, bowing respectfully and saying, "Are you Miss Gu
?
Our inn has prepared a room for you, please do us the honor of patronizing it." Gu Zhihua assumed that the man who had joked with her must
have booked a room for her in Qinglongji; she hadn't expected such a formality to be done in this small town as well. She smiled and asked, "Was this the house my brother booked for me
?" The shopkeeper was taken aback and replied, "We didn't see your brother, young lady. We only saw your father. He asked us
to prepare this for you, and we've already paid for the room and meals."
This time, it was Gu Zhihua's turn to be stunned. She thought to herself, "This man is truly despicable. Impersonating my brother is bad enough, but
now he's impersonating my father. Humph, my father is a terrible person, so go ahead and impersonate him if you want!" Then she thought, "
Wait , could it be someone else? If he dares to impersonate my father, he must be older or younger than me, which is much easier
to fake than impersonating my brother." She had initially suspected Jin Shiyi or Li Shengnan, but now that she thought it unlikely, a sense of fear crept into her heart. However, since the man
was impersonating her father, she felt even more reluctant to ask about his appearance.
But the innkeeper spoke first. Seeing Gu Zhihua's stunned expression, he said, "Since you are surnamed Gu, and your appearance
matches the old man's description, there can't be any mistake, right? Isn't your father a white-bearded man with some sparse hair?" It turned out that
the inn in this small town was short of capital, and the innkeeper was especially careful, fearing he might have picked up the wrong person, so he verified with Gu Zhihua.
The person the innkeeper described was indeed Meng Shentong. Gu Zhihua was greatly shocked, thinking, "Could it be
an imposter ? Is it really him? Is it really him?" But how could Meng Shentong know she was going to rescue him? Besides, if he wanted to chase
her back, why would he be so mysterious, like a joke? Yes, he was a wicked man who could do anything, but in any case,
he shouldn't, and didn't need to, play such a joke on his daughter!
The shopkeeper continued, "Your father is in good spirits. He said even if there are a few petty thieves ahead, you don't need to worry; he
can handle them all by himself. Young lady, are you bodyguards?" Bodyguards often passed through this road. This shopkeeper had
some experience in the martial arts world. Seeing the sword at Gu Zhihua's waist, he thought she seemed to be skilled in martial arts. He figured that it wasn't uncommon for a father and daughter to be bodyguards, with the father going ahead
a day to look after each other. Furthermore, the old man's words and lavish spending last night
all hinted at his identity as a bodyguard, so the shopkeeper assumed Gu Zhihua was a female bodyguard.
Gu Zhihua's suspicions grew: "If it really is him chasing me, I can't avoid him even if I want to. If it's not him, I want to
see what kind of person this joker is. He'll have to show his true colors eventually." She then said, "That's right, it's my father.
Did he have anything else to say?" The shopkeeper said, "That old man said you've traveled a long way today and must be tired. He told you to rest
well so you can travel a shorter distance tomorrow." His words suggested that the "father and daughter" had already agreed on the route. Gu Zhihua slightly...
With a smile, she didn't argue and said, "Alright, then give me a room."
Gu Zhihua followed the innkeeper into the shop to rest, secretly thinking, "I wonder who this person is, but he's incredibly clever: he actually anticipated that
I wouldn't stay in Qinglongji tonight. I've traveled too much, and I've fallen into his trap. Tomorrow I'll deliberately travel
an extra mile and see what he does."
Just like the inn yesterday, the hospitality was very attentive. Soon after entering the room, the innkeeper brought over a roasted, fragrant, plump
chicken, a pot of fine wine, and several side dishes. Gu Zhihua had a low alcohol tolerance and couldn't drink strong liquor, but wine was her
favorite, and the side dishes suited her taste. However, because she needed to get up early to continue her journey, she didn't dare drink too much, only a small sip from the small
pot.
For some reason, she slept exceptionally well that night. When she woke up the next day, the sun was already setting in the west; it was past noon
. She was taken aback. First, she checked her belongings; her sword, money, and the Xuan Nu Sword Manual on her person were all intact
. She then tried circulating her internal energy, but found nothing amiss. Only then did she feel relieved. But why had she slept for so long? Even an
ordinary person, mindful of their journey the next day, wouldn't sleep until the sun was high in the
sky . She suspected the wine had been drugged, but firstly, she couldn't taste anything unusual last night; secondly, drugging someone would have an ulterior motive,
and since she hadn't suffered any loss, what could they possibly want? Even with Gu Zhihua's exceptional intelligence, she couldn't immediately grasp the reasoning.
Gu Zhihua called the innkeeper in and scolded him, "Look at the time! Why didn't you wake me up?" The
innkeeper smiled obsequiously and said, "That old man said you didn't need to travel today, so we didn't dare to disturb you."
Gu Zhihua was so angry that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but then she thought that since she hadn't told them beforehand, she couldn't blame them. Besides,
when she checked into the inn last night, the innkeeper had already told her what the "old man" had said, and she hadn't denied it at the time.
The shopkeeper asked, "Miss, what would you like for lunch? I'll bring you that half-full jug of wine from under the ruins."
Gu Zhihua replied irritably, "Speaking of that jug, it's your wine that's causing all this trouble. What kind of medicinal wine is it? It made me sleep until the sun
was high in the sky and I still hadn't woken up by New Year's Day!" The shopkeeper exclaimed, "Oh dear, miss, you've misunderstood me. That jug of wine was left to you by your father
. How would I know if it was medicinal wine?" Gu Zhihua said, "Oh, he left it for me. Why didn't you say so earlier?" The
shopkeeper was quite surprised, thinking, "This escort has quite a temper. He calls his own father 'he,' 'he,'
without any manners." He then said irritably, "..." "Could the wine your father left you be poison? That fat crane and those side
dishes were also pre-ordered for you. I've explained everything to you now. If you want the same dishes again, we can't do it today
." Gu Zhihua said, "I'm not eating lunch. I'm leaving now." The innkeeper was eager for her to leave, saying, "
The old man has already paid for the room and board. You've had your fill. Please take good
care of ."
Gu Zhihua walked along, lost in thought, when she suddenly realized, "The person who tricked me put a sleeping potion in the wine. If he
didn't want to steal my things, then he must have wanted to delay my journey!" But why would that person do this? Gu Zhihua
was completely baffled.
Gu Zhihua ate some cakes haphazardly at a roadside teahouse. By dusk, she had asked a passerby and learned that a town was about
seven or eight li ahead. She deliberately avoided the town for lodging, taking a detour instead. As night fell, she abandoned her mount and
used her light-footed skills to travel through the night, thinking, "If you want to delay my journey, I'll make sure I get there two days earlier."
Ahead lay a mountain path. A crescent moon hung in the sky, its light dim. The mountain was rugged and jagged, and the cries of wild animals
echoed .
Gu Zhihua, burdened by the torment she had endured over the past two days, felt a pang of fear, even with her exceptional
skills . Suddenly, she heard a strange, mocking laugh from the hillside. Gu Zhihua drew her sword and shouted, "Human or ghost?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a loud crash resounded, and a large rock rolled down the hillside. Gu Zhihua used the "White Crane Soaring to the Sky" movement technique, his body
rising several feet into the air, just as the large rock rolled past his feet.
Gu Zhihua drew his sword and roared angrily, "Who dares to ambush me? If you have the guts, come down and fight!" A
gloomy voice from the mountaintop said, "Come on, you dare? Let me feed you two stones first." Another voice said, "
Where is Jin Shiyi? You have no one to back you up now. If you know what's good for you, throw down your sword." The voices of these two people seemed familiar,
especially the old woman's laughter, which was particularly grating. Gu Zhihua immediately remembered that these two people were the two demons
he , one was Kunlun Hermit, and the other was Sangmu Granny. Gu Zhihua's heart skipped a beat. He thought, "These
two fiends are incredibly skilled. Fortunately, the strongest one, Gu Bajin Ridan, hasn't shown himself yet. If they
were alone together, I wouldn't be able to escape their clutches tonight."
Gu Zhihua reasoned that even if he couldn't guarantee victory against these two fiends with his own abilities, he wouldn't necessarily be defeated. In any case,
this fierce battle tonight was unavoidable. So he immediately used the "Yellow Magpie Soaring to the Sky" movement technique, leaping several feet into the air and coldly
saying , "So it's you two, Kunlun Hermit. My master once spared you..." " Your lives are in grave danger. Master Jin spared
your If you had any conscience, you should have hidden your tracks and reformed. Instead, you've turned around and tried to harm me. This is truly
unforgivable!" Kunlun Sanren, having already suffered two defeats—once to Lü Siniang and once to Jin Shiyi—considered it a great humiliation. Gu Zhihua's
words only fueled his anger, and he roared furiously, "Let's see who will beg for mercy tonight! Hmph, you want me to spare your life? Kneel down and
kowtow three times!" While he was speaking, Gu Zhihua leaped several feet higher and flicked her wrist, throwing a pebble at him.
Gu Zhihua used the Flying Star Hundred Acupoint Striking Technique. Kunlun Sanren was surprised to see her throw the small stone so far, and even in the darkness,
she could recognize the acupoints. He immediately dodged and cursed, "You wild girl, you still dare to be stubborn even when you're about to die!
Even if you kneel down and kowtow to me now, I won't let you off!" He and Sangmu Granny moved a large stone, which rumbled and pushed down.
Gu Zhihua attacked from below, and stones rained down, making it very difficult to dodge. Especially since they would occasionally push down millstone-sized stones,
the sound was even more frightening. The hillside was full of strange rocks, and the terrain was narrow. Several times, she was almost rolled by the large stones. Gu Zhihua thought,
"This is bad. If this continues, even if I get to the top of the mountain, I will be exhausted. How will I have the strength to fight them?" But
if ran away, they would attack her from behind with stones, which would be even more dangerous.
Gu Zhihua was still undecided when she suddenly heard Sangmu Granny scream, and the stones stopped falling. Gu Zhihua looked up and saw...
Seeing Kunlun Sanren and Sangmu Lao rushing down the mountain from the other side, a red shadow flickered in the distance in an instant—it was Kunlun Sanren's
flowing hair. The faint sound of Sangmu Lao's earrings jingling could be heard. One could imagine the tension and fear they felt as they fled!
Gu Zhihua was greatly surprised. What had these two demons encountered to be so frightened?
Gu Zhihua ran up the mountain and called out loudly, "Which senior secretly helped us? This disciple greets you." But the wind rustled
the treetops , the moon cast shifting shadows on the flowers, and all was silent and still—no one was there. Gu Zhihua's suspicions deepened. She thought, "If someone wasn't secretly
helping , why did those two demons flee in such a panic? If someone was helping, why have they disappeared without a trace?" Gu Zhihua
had practiced the Qiu Shan School's unparalleled lightness skill with Lü Siniang since childhood. Her keen senses and swift movements were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Even she couldn't detect the slightest
trace . If someone truly was secretly helping, wouldn't that person's martial arts be incredibly high?
Gu Zhihua initially thought, "Could it be Jin Shiyi?" Then she thought, "Even Jin Shiyi might not have such abilities." Then
another question arose: "Are these four people the same person who has been toying with me these past few days? But
the person who toyed with me tried to disrupt my journey, while this person helped me repel a powerful enemy, allowing me to continue my travels. It doesn't
seem like the same person." Thinking it over and over, even the person who had toyed with her these past two days didn't seem like the same person. Truly,
many , and she couldn't figure it out no matter what.
Gu Zhihua rested for a while and continued her journey. By dawn, at her pace, she had traveled at least two hundred li. Unable to use her light-footed skills
during the day , she bought a fine blue horse from a nearby farmer at a high price. Although not as fast as a horse,
it was much faster than walking. She traveled for about a day, covering approximately one hundred li. At dusk, she arrived in Laiwu, which was already
a county in Shandong province.
Gu Zhihua sought lodging in the county town, thinking, "Let's see if you can still predict my journey."
This time, as expected, no innkeeper came out to greet her. Gu Zhihua found an inn to stay in. Having learned from yesterday's
lesson extremely cautious about food. She dared not drink wine, and she tested the food with silver. The silver remained unchanged in color, confirming there was no poison,
before daring to eat.
Gu Zhihua had traveled for two days and one night, and was exhausted. She dared not sleep soundly, but instead meditated on the bed to rest. Fortunately, she practiced
authentic internal energy cultivation. After a while of breathing exercises, her energy was restored and her fatigue vanished. Around midnight, she suddenly heard someone knocking on
her door.
Gu Zhihua shouted, "Who is it?" The innkeeper's voice replied, "Some friends have come to see you." This was completely
unusual . She was a single woman; even if it were truly friends visiting, it shouldn't be at this late hour, and the innkeeper shouldn't have let
him in. Gu Zhihua was about to scold him, but then she thought, "Could it be the person who tricked me? Fine, since he's come to my door, I
can't refuse to see him." She drew her sword and opened the door, only to be startled by what she saw.
Three officers stood outside. Two of them were Qin Dai and Geng Chun, the commanders of the Imperial Guard and disciples of the monk Jianfa.
The third , older officer, was unrecognizable. Qin Dai sighed and exclaimed, "So it really is that thieving girl surnamed Gu!"
Judging from his tone, he seemed unsure beforehand that the woman in the room was indeed Gu Zhihua.
Gu Zhihua looked closely and saw that it was indeed these three officers, not the monk Jianfa. Her composure softened, and she
sneered , "So it's Lords Geng and Qin. You haven't even finished displaying your power at the Qiushan gathering, and you want to use it here too? Too bad I'm not
your master. " "Without your master's composure and skill, you dare to insult him!" Geng and Qin were captured by Jin Shiyi at the Qiushan gathering,
publicly beaten and humiliated, and forced to curse their master. This was an unprecedented and unbearable humiliation in the martial arts world. Now, Gu Zhihua
had spoken of it in front of their companions, which was even more painful than being slapped twice. Geng Chun jumped up in anger and shouted
, "You little brat, you dare to curse even when you're about to die!" Gu Zhihua chuckled and said, "Insulting is your specialty, but I
didn't insult you. I'd like to ask, what heinous crime have I committed? I haven't killed or set fires, nor have I insulted my parents or
teachers , so why am I facing death?" Before Gu Zhihua could finish speaking, Qin Dai had already drawn his sword, ready to strike. Gu Zhihua
sneered, "I'm a little afraid of you for cursing, but if you want to fight, you're asking for trouble!" "With a horizontal sword strike,
the sound of slicing through gold and jade was heard. Qin Dai used the 'Disorderly Wind' quick sword technique, his blade flashing as he slashed six times, only to be effortlessly deflected
by Gu Zhihua In the blink of an eye, Gu Zhihua's sword had already struck Qin Dai's blade eight times.
Gu Zhihua's sword was a precious sword, and Qin Dai's Hundred-Refined Red Haired Knife instantly suffered six nicks. Fortunately, he used a quick sword technique, the blows
passing by in a flash, without much force. Otherwise, his blade would have been destroyed and his body injured.
Gu Zhihua hated them for digging up her master's grave that day. Before she could retract her sword strike, she unleashed a palm strike. She had seen
the skills , and although she was quite good at it, she was confident she could handle them. She estimated that Geng Qin would definitely not be able to avoid her palm strike, which was a fatal blow to her sword.
Therefore, she held back five-tenths of her strength, preparing to slap Geng Chun immediately after striking Qin Dai."
The older officer, who had been observing the fight, suddenly clicked his tongue and leaped into the air
, grabbing Gu Zhihua's head with a powerful Eagle Claw technique. As he rose, a gust of wind rushed towards them. Gu Zhihua was startled, but fortunately,
she had some residual strength. She deflected her palm, striking the officer's palm near the edge. Both felt a tingling numbness in their tiger's mouths. However, Gu Zhihua's
numbness was caused by the internal force of the attack, while the officer's numbness was caused by her fingers striking a pressure point.
Outside Gu Zhihua's room was a courtyard, quite spacious, with two Wutong trees. It was
late at night , and the guests who had been chatting had long since left. The officer rushed down the steps, untied a soft whip, and said loudly, "Miss Gu, your
'Flying Cloud Hand' move is quite impressive. People have heard that Lü Siniang's Xuan Nu Sword Technique is unparalleled in the world. How about letting me broaden my horizons as well
?" Gu Zhihua heard that the officer was very polite. Judging from his demeanor, his rank seemed to be above Qin and Geng.
To return the courtesy also held her sword and said, "I have only been in my sect for a few years, and what I have learned is just a little bit of skill.
It is barely enough to deal with a small town. How could it be worthy of your attention, sir?" Her words were ostensibly a compliment to the officer, but in reality, they were a dig at Geng and Qin.
Geng Chun snorted and said, "I suppose
you're no match for Lord Bai. If you know what's good for you, you should lay down your sword and await your fate." Gu Zhihua said, "Ah, so this is Lord Bai. May I ask, Lord Bai, do you want to spar with me, or are you here specifically to
arrest me? What law of yours have I broken?" The middle-aged officer smiled slowly and said, "Miss Gu
, don't take it personally. Of course, I only want to see your swordsmanship before sparring with you. As for your grudges with those two,
well , well, I don't care."
"Well, Miss Gu, no need to be so polite, please give me your first move." Gu Zhihua, pondering
the meaning behind his smooth reply, casually replied, "If Lord Bai insists on giving me your guidance, I can only offer my humble opinion. Please, Lord Bai, give me your first move." This
was originally a polite exchange before a martial arts duel, and seeing his courteous treatment, Gu Zhihua naturally didn't want to make the first move. She assumed that
"Lord Bai" would also decline, but before she could finish speaking, the middle-aged officer laughed and said, "Since that's the case, please
don't be polite." He swiftly brandished his soft whip, unleashing a vicious
attack
guard, Gu Zhihua was almost grazed by the tip of his whip, but fortunately, she was light and agile, managing to use a "Wind Terrace Fall" in the midst of the chaos.
Using her "flower" agility technique, she nimbly spun around about three times, barely managing to dodge the attack. The middle-aged officer, however, didn't let up. He immediately followed up with
his signature "whip-and-palm" technique, circling the whip and forcing Gu Zhihua to leap two steps forward to the left. He laughed, "
Miss , you don't need to be so polite!" His left arm shot out, his five fingers like heavy weights, and
he ripped down with a sharp "ripping" sound. Even though Gu Zhihua dodged quickly, a piece of her sleeve was torn off!
This wasn't an ordinary contest; it was practically a death trap! Gu Zhihua suddenly realized that this Lord Bai was using
the contest as an excuse to severely injure her. At the very least, he would exhaust her before letting Geng and Qin capture her. No wonder
he said he didn't care about their past grievances; this was simply to show off his status and avoid being ridiculed for using a war of attrition.
Gu Zhihua had initially felt some goodwill towards this Lord Bai, but upon thinking of his malicious intentions, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. She coldly
said , "Lord Bai is absolutely right. Once you start, there's no need to hold back. This humble woman will respectfully comply." A sword flashed, its cold light
suddenly rising. With a left sword strike, "Spring Thunder Unleashed," and a right sword strike, "Flowing Spring Unfolds," she immediately unleashed the exquisite moves of the Mysterious Maiden Sword Technique
, each strike pointing towards... The middle-aged officer's vital point was the Xuan Nu Sword Technique, a top-tier sword technique of the time. Unfortunately, Gu Zhihua
lacked the necessary skill, failing to unleash its full power and only managing to block the "arrogant man." The "Bai Lord" possessed a long and powerful whip,
coupled with his formidable Eagle Claw technique, making it impossible for Gu Zhihua to get close, no matter how hard he tried. The two fought for
over thirty minutes, still evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand. The Bai Lord inwardly groaned, fearing he
would lose face in front of his subordinates, while Gu Zhihua secretly wondered, "How did they know I lived here?" "
It turned out that this middle-aged military officer was named Bai Liangji, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard. He was ordered to assist the Shandong governor in capturing
a notorious pirate. After Qin Dai and Geng Chun were driven down Qiushan by Jin Shiyi, they had no face to see their master again and returned to the capital.
Bai Liangji had a good relationship with them, so he petitioned the emperor to appoint them as his assistants to accompany him on his mission to Shandong.
One day, they arrived in Laiwu and rested at the county government office. At the second watch of the night, a night traveler suddenly came and dropped a
secret letter through the window. Even someone as clever as Bai Liangji didn't hear a sound. By the time he discovered the letter and went out to check, the person had already
vanished without a trace. Upon opening the letter, he read only, 'The beauty of Qiushan Valley, staying at the Ruyi Inn.'" Ten large characters. It seems this night traveler
came specifically to inform on someone.
Bai Liangji already knew Gu Zhihua's background and the origins of their feud from Geng and Qin. Geng and Qin
then asked Bai Liangji to help them capture Gu Zhihua so they could atone for their sins before their master. Bai Liangji had official business to attend to and was initially reluctant to get involved,
but then he thought of Lü Siniang, a sworn enemy of the Manchu imperial family. Forty years ago, in the case of Lü Siniang's assassination attempt on Emperor Yongzheng, the imperial family, for the sake of dignity,
dared not openly order the arrest of the culprit, but secretly harbored deep hatred for Lü Siniang and the Qiu Shan faction, waiting for an opportunity to find fault with Qiu Shanyuan. Now that
Lü Siniang was dead, and her master, Gu Zhihua, was her only successor, he could seize this opportunity to help Geng and Qin capture her, thus atone for the sins
of the court. It would be a meritorious deed, and besides, it would also allow him to curry favor with the monk Jianfa. Why not? Therefore, at the earnest request of Geng and Qin, Bai
Liangji finally agreed.
They went to the Ruyi Inn to investigate and, sure enough, found Gu Zhihua. Bai Liangji was a cunning man. Since the court dared not publicize the case of Yongzheng's assassination for the sake of
secrecy , nor dared to openly retaliate against the Yeshan Sect, he would also
act according to the rules of the martial arts world. He would treat the matter between Gu Zhihua and Geng and Qin as a personal feud, first "competing" with Gu Zhihua until she
was exhausted , and then letting Geng and Qin capture her. Although this was not very honorable, it was still
permitted in the martial arts world to "help a friend," and it would not give anyone any leverage. Bai Liangji was the prized disciple of the legendary镖师 (bodyguard/escort) Yun Lao in Datong, Shanxi,
and had also learned the Mighty Eagle Claw Kung Fu from Sha Tianjun, the leader of the Sui Claw Sect. Mastering two martial arts techniques, he was arrogant and self-assured. Although he knew Gu Zhihua was
Lü Siniang 's last disciple and that her Xuan Nu Swordplay was exquisite,
he didn't take her seriously. However, after their exchange, things turned out completely unexpectedly. Even using his two signature techniques, he could only manage a draw, gaining no advantage whatsoever.
In the blink of an eye, the two had fought forty or fifty moves. Whips flashed, swords gleamed, and the battle grew increasingly fierce. The two Wutong
trees in the courtyard, already sparsely leafed in late autumn, were further weakened by their fierce fight, their branches broken and leaves fallen, leaving them almost bare
. Just as the fight was reaching its climax, a sharp, cold voice suddenly rang out, shouting, "
Outrageous Fighting in the middle of the night! You may not be able to sleep, but others can! If you want to fight
, go outside!" The voice came from an inner room, and Bai Liangji felt a chill run down his spine. Guests in such small inns were always wary of trouble, especially since
they were officers of the Imperial Guard. The innkeeper had already closed the doors, not daring to utter a sound. For a
guest to suddenly tell them to "get lost" was highly unusual.
Bai Liangji's heart skipped a beat. He thought, "Who is this informant? I was too careless,
coming to arrest them without knowing their background. Could I have fallen into a trap they've set?" He suspected that
Gu Zhihua , and that the informant had deliberately led them there. In fact, Gu Zhihua had no idea that someone had secretly informed on her
, and she also suspected that Geng and Qin's cronies were hiding in the inn.
Just as Bai Liangji was about to test the waters, Geng Chun couldn't help but shout, "Who dares to meddle? Come out and meet your
master !" The guest inside paused, his voice extremely piercing, like a sharp arrow piercing through several doors, striking Bai Liangji's ears
. Startled, Bai Liangji hurriedly said, "We have a bit of a grudge here, please forgive us for disturbing our friends.
We ." The guest snorted again and said coldly, "Who cares about your grudges? If you know what's good for you,
get out of here!" His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like he was scolding them right next to their ears.
Qin Dai, slightly more composed than Geng Chun, couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Imperial Guard officers are arresting criminals here! If you know what's good for you,
retreat!" Bai Liangji inwardly cursed, thinking, "Geng and Qin lack experience in the ways of the world. Do
you think someone with such skill would be intimidated by the mere mention of the Imperial Guard?" Before he could finish his thought, he heard the strange man sneer again, "How arrogant! Just
because you're wearing a tiger skin, you think you can act like a tyrant?" Then they heard the sound of someone getting out of bed, as if groping in the dark,
slowly making a clattering noise against the furniture.
Geng and Qin chuckled inwardly: [Isn't this all bark and no bite? If they really wanted to fight, why would they need to put on such
a show ?] Bai Liangji was filled with anxiety. The longer the strange man delayed, the more uneasy he became. In a duel between masters, there was no room for
distraction Suddenly, a sharp "whoosh" was heard as Gu Zhihua unleashed a fierce sword technique, the blade slicing across Bai Liangji's shoulder and
tearing through his protective armor. Only then did they hear the door open inside. Geng Qin and the other man assumed Bai Liangji was injured, and both shared
the same thought: they had to deal with Gu Zhihua before the strange man came out. They attacked simultaneously, each wielding a single sword,
flanking In the midst of the chaos, they unleashed their swift sword techniques, each striking one of Gu Zhihua's arms. This
swift sword technique was one of Qiu Shan's secret martial arts, and among the Eight Heroes of Jiangnan, Zi Taiguan was the most
skilled
in it; Gu Zhihua, of course, knew its power. If it were only Geng Qin and the other two, she could easily neutralize them with her Xuan Nu Sword Technique, but now, tightly bound by Bai Liangji, if she turned to parry their swift swords, she would inevitably suffer a fatal blow to her forehead from Bai Liangji's powerful Eagle Claw technique. Just then, she suddenly heard a
familiar voice call out, "Sister Gu, don't panic, I'm here to help you!" It was Li Shengnan's voice. Gu Zhihua was greatly surprised, never
expecting it to be her. She thought to herself, "This voice doesn't match the one from before!" "Geng and Qin's blades were incredibly swift. Before she could even
suspect anything, the sound of metal slicing through the air was already behind her. Gu Zhihua had no time to think; in the nick of time, she used the 'Great Bend and Willow Branch'
light-footed movement technique, bending low and lunging forward. Geng and Qin's single blades slashed past her back. Before Gu Zhihua could regain her balance and raise
her head, she heard a whoosh, and Bai Liangji was already in front of her, reaching down to grab her. Gu Zhihua thought to herself, 'My
life is over!' Just then, she suddenly saw Bai Liangji, seemingly frozen, standing stiffly before her, his five fingers as heavy as iron, less than three inches from her forehead
. Then came the 'plop, plop' sound of rain. " Geng Chun fell to its left, and Qin Dai to its right, as if
suddenly pressure points had been struck. Gu Zhihua was greatly shocked. Just imagine Bai Liangji's martial arts skills! Gu Zhihua had witnessed Li Shengnan's
abilities; Bai Liangji's martial arts were second only to hers, not inferior. Although Gu Zhihua knew Li Shengnan was cunning,
this kind of pressure point strike was not something that could be achieved through trickery. Even if Li Shengnan knew how to use plum blossom needles to strike pressure points, she might not be able to harm
Bai Liangji. Besides, Geng Chun and Qin Dai were no ordinary fighters either; how could they have been ambushed by her at the same time?
Gu Zhihua was stunned for a moment, then called out, "Sister Li, is that you?" "Strangely enough, Li Shengnan just called out for Xiaofei, but
she hasn't shown up yet. Gu Zhihua called her, but she didn't respond. This made Gu Zhihua even more horrified, because even if
a small hidden weapon like a plum blossom needle was used to strike a pressure point, it couldn't possibly hit through a wall. Li Shengnan's lightness skill was inferior to Gu Zhihua's,
and she couldn't possibly have disappeared without a trace in front of Gu Zhihua. So who was playing tricks on Bai Liangji? Was it Li Shengnan, or that strange guest who was making a ruckus
just now ?
Gu Zhihua's doubts remained unresolved when another strange thing happened. Of the three people, Liangji was the most skilled in martial arts. He seemed to have released his
pressure points by circulating his qi, and suddenly stretched his back, his limbs moved again, and he shouted loudly: "Sneaking ambush, what kind of hero are you?
One fight!" She brandished her soft whip, striking the air with a "pī duō" sound, but before she could finish speaking, she suddenly cried out, "Ouch!" Just
then, she heard that old-fashioned, cold laugh again, pausing before saying, "You think you're worthy of such a thing?" The laughter seemed to reach a mile
away. The courtyard was quiet, without a sound. Gu Zhihua was extremely shocked. The strange man was still slowly
opening the door . Could it be that in this instant, he could injure the enemy and then escape? Unbelievable!
Looking closely, she saw a leaf stuck to Bai Liangji's temple. Bai Liangji cried out, "Ouch!" and tore off the leaf.
The leaf's imprint was now on his temple. Bai Liangji, as if he had encountered a ghost, turned ashen-faced, grabbed Geng Qin
and the other man , jumped over the wall, and left. It was truly a case of "plucking leaves and flying flowers to chill the enemy's courage, the heroine of Tianshan descending the mountain.
" To find out what happens next, please read the next chapter.

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