[Wuxia] The Soul of a Great Hero (Complete) - 15

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

[Chapter Seventeen] The Starry Night Demonic Cult Appears in the

Martial World
At dawn, the two arrived at the Wujiang ferry, hastily ate breakfast, and then bought a boat to travel downstream to Jinling. This was Cai Weiwei's idea; she said that traveling by boat would avoid being seen and reduce unnecessary trouble. In fact, after the two boarded the boat, Cai Weiwei kept asking questions, like a clingy little bird. Although she was a bit talkative, it was also quite endearing.
Traveling downstream, the boat moved swiftly, and by evening, they had reached Xiaguan. The two disembarked. It was already dusk, and the streets were bustling with people. The secluded alleys, however, allowed them to walk more quickly. Cai Weiwei had grown up in Jinling and knew its streets very well. Hearing that she was to lead the way, she immediately set off, turning into a quiet alley.
The two of them wandered around, first settling their accounts at the "Wanlong" Inn and retrieving Hua Yunlong's belongings. Then they turned onto East Street and headed towards the Cai residence. The head steward of the Cai residence was named Gu Hongsheng, a robust old man of about fifty. Cai Weiwei returned home and summoned Gu Hongsheng to inquire. She learned that Yu Zhaonan and the others had indeed gone west, and although Cai Changyi had not accompanied them, he had been missing for two days. Upon
learning that he was still in Jinling, Cai Weiwei immediately ordered Gu Hongsheng to send people to look for him. Then she instructed her family to prepare food and drink and to have Hua Yunlong bathe and change his clothes. The Cai family had many servants and a very large courtyard. After dinner, the two of them strolled and chatted in the courtyard, waiting for Cai Changyi to return so that they could inquire about the incident at the Yu family and then decide on their next course of action.
Given Hua Yunlong's current state of mind, he had no interest in idle chatter. Firstly, Cai Weiwei was clinging to him affectionately and seemed quite interested; secondly, having arrived in Jinling, he couldn't rest easy without understanding the Yu family's situation. As the saying goes, "I'm just idling anyway," and if others were troubled, talking would easily dispel their "idle worries."
Cai Weiwei, however, was different. Her mind was solely focused on Hua Yunlong; "the grudges of the martial world, the bloodshed of the martial arts world" were secondary to her. As they talked, the conversation inevitably turned to Master Yuan Qing and the Cai family's background. The Cai family's lineage was indeed illustrious. Three hundred years ago, when the virtue and martial arts of the Martial Saint Yun Zhen were mentioned, who in the martial world didn't admire him? Who wouldn't give him a thumbs up?
During this casual conversation, Hua Yunlong secretly made two decisions: First, based on Cai Changyi's previous remarks, the "Nine Yin" and "Xuanming" sects seemed to be taking separate actions against martial arts seniors. Therefore, he would try to meet with Fang Ziyu, the leader of the "Qiannu Sect," and use the sect's intelligence network to monitor the movements of the two sects while simultaneously inquiring about the whereabouts of martial arts seniors, regardless of their righteousness. He would warn the righteous to be vigilant and avoid harm, and persuade the wicked to avoid being used by the two sects. Second, he considered that evil forces were now widespread throughout the world, each occupying a territory, making it difficult to manage them all. He needed to find a way to eradicate them completely and permanently.
These two decisions, though seemingly broad, reflected a comprehensive plan. However, these were secret decisions; he did not speak them aloud, nor did he discuss them with Cai Weiwei. Later, his family members who had been sent away returned one after another, all saying they could not find Cai Changyi. Unable to contain herself any longer, Cai Weiwei asked Hua Yunlong, "What should we do? Should we talk about it tomorrow, or should we go to the 'Medical Cottage' to investigate first?"
Hua Yunlong hesitated for
a moment, then said, "Let's go investigate." Cai Weiwei nodded and said, "Okay... men's clothing looks good. I'll go change into men's clothes. You wait for me in the front hall."
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At midnight, the two of them, both dressed in men's clothing, arrived at Xuanwu Lake. From afar, the "Medical Cottage" was already reduced to ashes. Rushing closer, they saw only broken walls and rubble. What had once been a magnificent estate was now a scene of utter devastation, a complete ruin. This manor was a place Cai Weiwei had frequented before, and Hua Yunlong had also visited twice, staying overnight each time. Now, facing the ruins and the cold wind, the lingering smell of burnt coals filled their nostrils, causing the two to grit their teeth in silent resentment.
After a moment, Cai Weiwei coldly snorted, saying, "What a vicious heart! Brother Long, Uncle Yu was known as a Confucian doctor, saving countless lives and never holding a grudge against anyone. Yet someone destroyed his manor and kidnapped him. Does this person have any humanity?"
Hua Yunlong's hatred was no less than hers. Hearing this, he also coldly snorted, saying, "If they had any humanity, how could they have done such a heinous thing? Talking is useless now. Let's examine the ashes and see if we can find any clues." As soon as she finished speaking, she rushed out. Cai Weiwei, seeing this, said no more and followed suit.
The two men, treading on broken tiles and using their swords to pick at shattered bricks, meticulously examined the ruins of the front hall, side rooms, corridors, and backyard. However, upon reaching the broken walls of the backyard, they found nothing. This was highly unusual, and Hua Yunlong was secretly alarmed, thinking, "The person in charge is a formidable character. How could such a large complex be completely devoid of any suspicious traces?"
As he pondered this, he glanced around and suddenly noticed a sliver of light beneath the artificial hill to the east. The light was faint and indistinct, easily missed unless viewed from the perfect angle. Upon seeing this light, Hua Yunlong was both surprised and delighted. He quickly pulled Cai Weiwei along, saying sweetly, "Weiwei, come with me, be careful."
Even though Cai Weiwei was naive and unaware of the dangers, she dared not be careless upon hearing his words. She quickly concealed her short sword behind her back and cautiously followed Hua Yunlong towards the artificial hill. It was an artificial hill made of piled stones, surrounded by water on all sides, with wooden bridges connecting it on the east and west sides. The water was of varying widths, the narrowest point being about 15 or 16 feet, forming a long and narrow lake. At the northern end of the lake were five or six newly built mounds of yellow earth, presumably the burial place of those who had recently died. To the south was a long lawn, beyond which was a flowerbed. Beyond the flowerbed were the ruins of a long corridor that led to the former main house.
The two of them first circled the area, assessing the situation and making sure no one was around, before crossing the water from the east and ascending to the top of the artificial hill. This artificial hill was several feet high, but about 50 feet in circumference. Because of its uneven slope and the presence of cypress, bamboo, and other flowers and grasses, the ray of light was long gone from the hilltop.
Fortunately, Hua Yunlong had sharp eyesight and had memorized the source of the light. He paused slightly at the top, then leaped down, landing lightly on the western slope of the artificial hill. There, on the western slope, stood a row of verdant bamboo. On the northern western wall, there was a three-square window, one of which had a wooden door. The door was tightly closed, but a lamp was still burning inside. This indicated that the sliver of light from earlier had leaked through the crack in the window, filtering through the swaying bamboo. No wonder it was so faint and difficult to spot.
As the saying goes, "Where there's a window, there's a house; where there's a house, there's a door." Upon this discovery, Hua Yunlong was overjoyed and immediately beckoned Cai Weiwei over. Pointing to the window, he whispered, "Weiwei, look. There's a lamp burning inside. It's a stone chamber. You stay here and guard it; I'll go find the door."
Cai Weiwei saw the window too, nodded, and whispered, "No, you stay here and guard it. I'll go find the door. Listen to my signal, and then shout to reveal his whereabouts." She turned and prepared to run along the foothills.
Upon seeing this, Hua Yunlong hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Wait! In my opinion, this person is not from the murderer's group. Otherwise, how could he dare to hide here?"
Cai Weiwei disagreed, saying, "That's not necessarily true. Some people are bolder than the heavens, unaware of their own mortality..."
Before she could finish speaking, a silvery voice rang out, saying, "Thank you for your praise. Since I am here, there's no need to look for a sect." Upon hearing this, Hua Yunlong was startled. Turning his head, he saw a white figure standing prominently on the lawn on the opposite bank.
Although the starlight was dim, Hua Yunlong's skill allowed him to see clearly. The newcomer was dressed in flowing white robes, holding a dove-headed staff. It was none other than Mei Suruo, the new leader of the "Nine Yin Sect," who was as beautiful as a peach blossom yet as cold as ice. Without Cai Weiwei even raising her breath, her delicate body gracefully leaped across the pond like a swallow, landing less than ten feet in front of Mei Suruo.
She had met Mei Suruo in Zhongshan. Although they hadn't exchanged a single word at the time, she had heard Hua Yunlong and her brother talk about her afterward. However, she was innocent and naive and didn't harbor any ill feelings towards Mei Suruo. On the contrary, she was very friendly and smiled sweetly, saying, "Sister, are you Sister Mei? You are so beautiful."
Having witnessed Cai Weiwei's unparalleled skill in descending gracefully, Mei Suruo was deeply wary. Seeing Cai Weiwei rushing towards her, she assumed she intended to attack and was on high alert, gathering all her strength. Unexpectedly, Cai Weiwei greeted her with a smile. Seeing Cai Weiwei's beautiful, innocent, and charming smile, Mei Suruo couldn't bring herself to speak coldly. She paused, her expression softening slightly, and said, "I am Mei Suruo."
Although her tone softened, it was still icy. Cai Weiwei was somewhat displeased, thinking: What's with the airs? Humph, what's so great about her? Hua Yunlong, however, fearing her sudden attack due to her aloofness, eccentricity, and unpredictable temper, leaped to Cai Weiwei's side, cupped his hands, and said, "Congratulations, Miss Mei, on taking on such an important task."
Mei Suruo didn't return the courtesy, saying, "You should be too busy grieving." Hua Yunlong knew her meaning, but feigned surprise, asking, "What do you mean by that, Miss Mei?"
Mei Suruo opened her mouth as if to speak, then suddenly closed it again, coldly snorting and raising her head. She seemed disdainful of explaining, but then she suddenly saw Hua Yunlong and Cai Weiwei standing side by side, the man as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, the woman as delicate as a flower reflected in water—clearly a match made in heaven. Her heart was inexplicably in turmoil; whether it was jealousy or hatred, even she couldn't tell.
Hua Yunlong pressed, "Miss Mei, could you please explain the meaning behind your words?"
Mei Suruo suppressed her emotions and said, "Are all the disciples of the Hua family ignorant of manners?"
She was now the leader of a sect, her status extraordinary, yet Hua Yunlong addressed her as "Miss Mei" repeatedly—it was indeed extremely impolite. However, Hua Yunlong's actions had a purpose; Mei Suruo's question was exactly what he had expected. He replied loudly, "The disciples of the Hua family are quite polite, but I..."
Mei Suruo blurted out, "And what about you?"
Cai Weiwei frowned slightly, tugging at Hua Yunlong's sleeve, and said, "Brother Long, this sect leader is very arrogant. You might as well..." Before she could finish, Hua Yunlong gestured for her to remain silent and observe. She felt that Hua Yunlong, upon seeing Mei Suruo, was wasting time on these trivial matters instead of pressing her about the tragic events at "Medical Lu," hence her words of advice.
Hua Yunlong's signal, coupled with her quick wit, made her realize that Hua Yunlong must have a reason, and she indeed remained silent. Hua Yunlong stopped Cai Weiwei from speaking, then said, "As for me? Flattery and sycophancy are despicable; there's no need to say anything else."
He used Mei Suru's words about him at Zhongshan to describe himself. Mei Suru, unsure whether to be pleased or angry, paused slightly, then said, "The Hua family has produced a son like you. Humph, it's time to divorce him."
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, his mind racing, having already considered the situation thoroughly. He felt that Mei Suru was a crucial lead that couldn't be overlooked, but direct questioning would be futile; he had to probe indirectly. His laughter subsided, and he said casually, "Miss Mei, don't you think the title 'Miss' is much more intimate than 'Master'..."
Mei Suru interrupted sharply, "Shut up."
Hua Yunlong indeed stopped, smiling at Mei Suru; his gaze was unspoken. Mei Suruo blushed inexplicably as he stared at her, her heart skipped a beat, and she turned away to the side. Suddenly realizing that such a show of weakness was excessive, her starry eyes flashed with a sharp edge as she glared back, slamming her dove-headed staff down and sternly saying, "Hua Yunlong, are you courting death?"
Hua Yunlong calmly replied, "Death? It's quite common."
Cai Weiwei's brows furrowed, thinking to herself, "Outrageous! All your conversations with her have been nothing but nonsense. How could you possibly glean even a shred of information?" She hurriedly interjected, "Who lives and who dies will be decided by our strength. The Yu family's affairs must be explained clearly first."
Mei Suruo coldly smiled and said, "You think it was me who did it?"
Cai Weiwei said, "Even if you didn't do it, the Nine Yin Sect..."
Hua Yunlong interrupted, "The Nine Yin Sect is the most prestigious sect in the world. How could it act like thieves, killing and burning? Weiwei, don't talk nonsense."
Mei Suruo coldly said, "Fawning and currying favor, groveling..." She suddenly stopped, swallowing the word "despicable."
Cai Weiwei, however, persisted, saying, "I'm talking nonsense, but you're speaking seriously?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Since Weiwei has made things clear, it seems difficult to elicit the truth through indirect methods." A thought flashed through his mind, and he smiled, saying, "Miss Mei seems to know the whole story. If you could show me the whereabouts of my Uncle Yu and his wife, I would be eternally grateful." He raised his hands to his forehead and bowed deeply.
Mei Suruo remained unmoved, saying, "I don't need your gratitude..."
Hua Yunlong repeatedly cupped his hands, saying, "Please, please."
His manner was so convincing, as if he were consulting a friend; only Hua Yunlong could do something like this. Mei Suruo was both amused and exasperated, pausing before saying, "You're joking around with me..." At this point, Cai Weiwei burst out laughing; how could she not laugh at Hua Yunlong's comical appearance?
Upon hearing this, Mei Suruo suddenly changed her tune, saying, "You want to know the whereabouts of the Confucian physician from Jiangnan?"
Hua Yunlong was filled with doubt and surprise. It would be unbelievable if Mei Suruo were to reveal the location of the physician's captivity, but he said, "I would be eternally grateful for your guidance."
Mei Suruo coldly replied, "Gratitude is useless; there's a price to pay."
Hua Yunlong asked, "What price?"
Mei Suruo said, "The price is too high; I'm afraid you can't afford it."
Hua Yunlong said, "I'm willing to pay any price."
Mei Suruo's jade-like face hardened, and she sneered, "Your life? Can you afford it?"
Cai Weiwei couldn't help but scold, "Nonsense, you're talking nonsense..." Mei Suruo ignored her, coldly staring at Hua Yunlong.
Hua Yunlong said calmly, "Why is Wei-mei angry? Bargaining is ridiculous. If the price is unfair, we can discuss it slowly."
Mei Suru said, "There's no room for negotiation."
Hua Yunlong pretended to frown and said, "That's difficult... I don't know whether I should offer my life with both hands, or let you take it?"
Mei Suru said, "If you want to offer it yourself, given your cowardice, that's absolutely impossible..." Hua Yunlong smiled faintly, showing no anger.
Cai Weiwei angrily said, "If you're not afraid of death, then offer your life up here."
Mei Suruo ignored her and continued, "Do you know the location of our sect's Jinling branch?"
Hua Yunlong laughed, "Of course, I wonder if the elm tree that was hanging upside down for three days is still intact?"
Mei Suruo was incredibly intelligent; how could she not know that he was mocking the location of the Nine Yin Sect leader's residence, where Gao Tai had broken the large tree and suddenly left? She was secretly annoyed and wanted to mock Hua Yunlong for being hung upside down for three days, but she felt that she had no merit in such a matter. She paused for a moment and said, "With my status, how can I argue with a rogue like you..."
Cai Weiwei interrupted, "Shameless! The Nine Yin Sect is a heretical sect; what's so great about it?"
Mei Suruo's beautiful eyes flashed with murderous intent, but she still ignored him and said, "Tomorrow at noon, I will be waiting for you in the hall. You want to know the whereabouts of the Confucian physician from Jiangnan?" "Just one person came..."
Although Hua Yunlong was frivolous and playful, he was extremely meticulous and wouldn't let any detail slip by. He said, "After I arrive as promised, will Miss Mei immediately show me the whereabouts of my Uncle Yu and his wife?"
Mei Suruo said indifferently, "If you want to know, then come. Whether you tell me or not depends on my mood."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Judging from this girl's tone, she has no sincerity whatsoever." He laughed loudly and said, "That's a bit too unfair, Miss Mei."
Mei Suruo said, "If you think it's unfair, you don't have to come. Since you're willing to come, then you should die without regret. I didn't force you." Hua Yunlong was both amused and exasperated, thinking to himself, "This counts as not forcing me?"
Cai Weiwei raised an eyebrow and said, "If I capture you, do you think you won't talk?" She meant what she said, her right palm making a fist, her index and middle fingers seemingly extended yet bent, her jade arm lightly extended, and her delicate body leaning forward.
Mei Suruo saw that this move was neither a fist nor a finger, wavering and seemingly powerless, yet it had already enveloped the major acupoints on her right chest and abdomen: "Yingchuang," "Qimen," "Shenfeng," "Daheng," and "Fujie." Mei Suruo thought to herself, "What kind of move is this?" Not daring to be careless, she unleashed a full-force attack with her dove-headed staff, "Ghostly Shadows." Dark light filled the sky, strange howls arose, and the nine ghostly heads on the staff seemed to come alive, like nine fierce ghosts, baring their fangs and claws, ready to devour anyone.
Cai Weiwei was, after all, a young girl, and did not take the power of this move seriously, but the ghostly shadows on the staff terrified her so much that she screamed and retreated abruptly. She suddenly felt that she had been forced back by a single move, and her face flushed red with shame and anger. She said, "Fine, your staff does indeed have some ghostly tricks. I'll accept your 'Unpredictable Changes,' and see if you can accept my 'Flowing Through the Six Voids.'" Knowing that her move would be incredibly powerful, Mei Suruo didn't even have time to utter a sarcastic remark. She simply raised her staff to protect her front. Hua
Yunlong suddenly said, "Sister Wei, stop."
Cai Weiwei had already extended her right palm diagonally, her middle finger upright and her index finger slightly bent, about to strike. Hearing the call, she withdrew her palm and turned around in surprise, saying, "Brother Long, what is it?"
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "I am here on time for our appointment. Please, Leader Mei, proceed."
He suddenly addressed Mei Suruo as Leader, and Mei Suruo's heart skipped a beat. She seemed to have lost something, but she composed herself and said, "I await your instruction." She turned around and suddenly looked back, saying, "You are Cai Changyi's sister. What is your name?" She had seen Cai Weiwei twice. The second time was when Cai Weiwei was dressed as a scholar and used the alias Xuanwei. She recognized her at a glance, but she still didn't know Cai Weiwei's name. She only knew that there was a "Wei" in her name from Hua Yunlong's address.
Cai Weiwei, indignant at her aloofness, retorted coldly, "My name is Cai Weiwei, the Wei of Ziwei. Remember that." Mei Suruo didn't reply, turned and walked away. Her snow-white dress fluttered in the wind, seemingly slow but actually fast, and in the blink of an eye she disappeared into the ruins.
After Cai Weiwei left, she said reproachfully, "Brother Long, why did you let her go?"
Hua Yunlong saw her slight frown and gentle reproach, which revealed her dimples. Her charming appearance was even more captivating. A beautiful woman is usually both happy and angry, and it was rare to see Cai Weiwei being angry. It gave him a different feeling. He couldn't help but gently stroke her cloud-like hair with his right hand and said with a smile, "Mei Suruo is cunning and calculating. How could she come here alone? She must have made preparations in advance..."
Cai Weiwei said, "Nonsense. Apart from her, where have we seen half a ghost?" As soon as she finished speaking, a clear whistle suddenly rang out, followed by whistles from all directions. Some were loud, and some were low, but each one contained strength and restraint. They all came from the mouths of masters.
Hua Yunlong laughed, "How about it?"
Cai Weiwei blushed and said, "It's nothing. The leader of the Nine Yin Sect is nothing special, and her subordinates are even worse. If they all come at me, I'll beat them to a pulp."
Hua Yunlong said, "The Nine Yin Sect's subordinates are all highly skilled, and Mei Suru is also a master. If they all rush at us, we might be able to escape unscathed, but it will be difficult for us to gain any advantage. Weiwei, you mustn't underestimate them."
Actually, the reasons he gave were secondary. The biggest reason was his chivalrous nature. He thought that Mei Suru was now the leader of a sect, and given her proud nature, if she lost to Cai Weiwei, she would most likely commit suicide in anger. The whereabouts of the Jiangnan Confucian Physician were still unknown. Why bother? Of course, he couldn't tell Cai Weiwei about these thoughts.
Cai Weiwei, being exceptionally clever, sensed something amiss with her youthful intuition. Her dark eyes darted around, and she said, "Brother Long, you and Mei Suruo were exchanging glances earlier..."
Hua Yunlong laughed and scolded, "Nonsense! What do you mean by 'exchanging glances'?"
Cai Weiwei said seriously, "You stared at her, and she stared back at you. Isn't that exchanging glances?"
Hua Yunlong chuckled, "You call that exchanging glances? Don't talk nonsense about things you don't understand."
Cai Weiwei pouted, "Little kid, how old are you?"
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily and changed his tune, "Sister Wei, what palm technique did you use just now? That move, 'Circulating Through the Six Voids,' is somewhat similar to the second of 'Chi You's Seven Dissolutions.' Can you tell me?" Cai Weiwei said, “
Why not? These two moves are the second and seventh forms of the ‘Four Symbols Transformation Palm,’ created by Master Yun after decades of effort, combining the essence of various palm techniques from different schools. They are complementary to the ‘Limitless Balance Mind Method.’ If Brother Long wants to learn, I will teach you.”
Hua Yunlong said solemnly, “How can your family’s unique skills be passed on privately?”
Cai Weiwei shook her head and said, “No, since my father-in-law has already passed on the ‘Limitless Balance Mind Method’ to Brother Long, he clearly intends to impart all his skills. Teaching Brother Long the ‘Four Symbols Transformation Palm’ is not considered passing on privately. Besides, the patriarch’s teachings state that when encountering someone with both excellent temperament and talent, regardless of whether they can be accepted as a disciple, one should carefully consider the circumstances and cultivate them.”
Hua Yunlong’s heart stirred, but he did not want Cai Weiwei to teach him martial arts. He recited the moves briefly and said, “Let’s talk about it later. Let’s search the stone chamber where the light is shining through first.” He leaped across the water and returned to the wooden window he had just discovered, with Cai Weiwei close behind.
Hua Yunlong glanced at Cai Weiwei and said, "There's no spare time right now..."
Suddenly, he noticed that Cai Weiwei's head was lowered, looking listless and sullen. He paused, surprised, and said, "What's wrong? Are you still angry about my joke just now?"
Cai Weiwei raised her head and stammered, "Brother Long... Brother Long..."
Hua Yunlong said softly, "Sister Wei, what is it that you are dissatisfied with your brother Long? Just say it."
Cai Weiwei shook her head and said, "It's not that I'm dissatisfied."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "That's strange." He said aloud, "Then why is it?"
Cai Weiwei thought for a moment and said, "Brother Long, are you familiar with the life and deeds of my ancestor Yun?"
She suddenly brought up something unrelated, and Hua Yunlong was greatly surprised, saying, "This foolish brother is not very familiar with it." "
Cai Weiwei said, "When my ancestor Yun first started out, his martial arts were weak, not even worthy of being called a third-rate fighter. His internal energy cultivation was the 'Luo Hou Heart Method,' which he obtained by chance, while his fist and palm techniques were taught by his mother. However, this did not diminish his reputation as a 'Martial Saint'..."
It turned out that when the Martial Saint first started out, he only learned one set of "Happy Palm," which was truly inferior to even a third-rate fighter. He was taught fist and palm techniques by Fairy Ziwei Gao Jie during a sparring session, a period that lasted for a year. As she finished speaking, Hua Yunlong realized her intention. Seeing how much effort she had put into getting him to accept martial arts, a feeling of pity involuntarily arose within him. Gazing at her beautiful face, he was momentarily speechless.
Cai Weiwei continued, "I think those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Brother Long, you..." She stopped abruptly, her beautiful eyes looking at Hua Yunlong with eager anticipation.
Her seemingly simple statement, "Those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles," surged through Hua Yunlong's heart like a tidal wave. Hua Yunlong cried out in his heart, "Yes, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles! The demonic calamity is now raging, its momentum overwhelming; it will surely be an unprecedented catastrophe. I should be striving to improve myself, how can I be bound by trivialities, failing to understand the greater good, and forgetting the eternal peace of the world?" Though his heart churned like a raging torrent, wanting to roar with unrestrained joy, he forcefully suppressed it, remaining silent for a moment.
Seeing his prolonged silence, Cai Weiwei assumed he was refusing her request. Her eyes welled with tears, and she whispered, "I... I misspoke?"
Hua Yunlong gently embraced her slender waist, saying, "Wei-mei, we're like family, so I won't thank you."
Cai Weiwei smiled through her tears, saying, "Brother Long..." Her brows were filled with joy, yet her cheeks were streaked with tears; even the image of a pear blossom in the rain couldn't describe it. The more Hua Yunlong looked at her, the more he loved her. He couldn't help but lower his head and gently kiss her tear-streaked cheeks, then his lips on her cherry lips. Cai Weiwei's delicate body trembled, and she let out a soft "Eek ," collapsing limply into Hua Yunlong's arms.
After a long while, they seemed to awaken from a dream. Hua Yunlong raised his head and softly called out, "Wei-mei." Cai Weiwei buried her head deeply, overwhelmed with shyness, and murmured "Mmm," but remained silent.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Wei-mei is so girlish; I mustn't embarrass her." He whispered in Cai Weiwei's ear, "Wei-mei, wait a moment, watch me catch the thief." He gently released his right hand and said loudly, "Friend, you've been patient for so long, can you come out now?" He raised his hand and smashed the wooden window.
Wood chips flew everywhere, and in the lamplight, a flash of light revealed a long sword already slashing towards his right wrist. It turned out that someone was hiding inside the window, knowing Hua Yunlong's skill, and had been holding his breath, waiting for an opportunity to ambush him. Unexpectedly, Hua Yunlong hadn't entered for a long time, and he couldn't hold his breath any longer; his breathing became slightly heavy. Hua Yunlong, with his skill, certainly knew this. He smiled coldly, and with his right hand, he "attacked to kill," swift as lightning, striking the wrist pulse of the swordsman. The man cried out, and the long sword clattered to the ground.
Hua Yunlong didn't hesitate any longer; his figure lengthened, and he entered through the window. Cai Weiwei was stunned for a moment, then felt embarrassed and annoyed, and followed him into the room. With her skill, she should have noticed someone was there long ago, but firstly, she lacked experience, and secondly, her entire focus was on Hua Yunlong, neglecting everything else, and thus she failed to notice. Now, angered by being disturbed, she felt a murderous intent she had never felt before.
The stone chamber was only about two zhang wide, containing only a couch, a table, three or four wooden chairs, and an oil lamp on the table—nothing else. The one who drew the sword was a burly man in purple robes. Hua Yunlong recognized him at a glance as one of the eight men who had appeared with Qiu Hua in the Sima family's mourning hall. The man's right arm hung limply, his face filled with fear, his eyes darting around as if he intended to escape.
Hua Yunlong snorted inwardly, but smiled and said, "Friend, we seem to have met before. What is your name?" The burly man in purple robes was slightly startled, then turned and ran towards the door. Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, blocking his path, and said, "Friend, you think you can leave without a word? What? Am I unworthy to associate with you?"
The purple-clad man was both shocked and furious, and said, "Get out of my way!" He struck Hua Yunlong's chest with his right palm.
Cai Weiwei coldly snorted, her slender fingers swiftly pointing. With her skill, how could the purple-clad man dodge? He groaned, struck at the "Chengfeng" acupoint, and collapsed. Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, and said, "Friend, you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Why bother?" The purple-clad man gritted his teeth and glared angrily, but remained silent.
Cai Weiwei said sternly, "Brother Long, I think we need to use torture."
Hua Yunlong understood the young woman's feelings and knew she was unhappy, but he didn't want Cai Weiwei to be involved in such things, damaging her pure and kind heart. He smiled slightly and said gently, "Wei-mei, how about I handle this?" Cai Weiwei dared not disobey, and reluctantly took a step back.
Hua Yunlong, composed and unperturbed, asked, "Friend, what is your surname?"
Knowing he couldn't escape, the burly man in purple glanced around and replied, "Chen."
Hua Yunlong, with a friendly expression, asked, "What is your name?"
The burly man in purple replied, "Mingda."
Hua Yunlong said, "Chen Mingda, a fine name. May I ask what rank you hold in the Xuanming Sect?"
Chen Mingda coldly replied, "I cannot disclose that."
Hua Yunlong, without anger, smiled and said, "Your sect was responsible for the medical clinic, wasn't it?"
Chen Mingda pondered for a moment, then coldly replied, "That's right."
Cai Weiwei couldn't help but angrily say, "What deep-seated hatred did my Uncle Yu have with you? How could you commit such a heinous act? Do you have any humanity left?"
Hua Yunlong's anger also surged; however, he remained calm and asked, "Where is my Uncle Yu now? Can you tell me, Brother Chen?"
Chen Mingda coldly replied, "I don't know."
Hua Yunlong smiled and said, "Brother Chen, perhaps you think I'm too stingy and haven't served you any fancy dishes, so you're unwilling to tell me?" Chen
Mingda felt a chill in his heart, thinking to himself, "This kid is a smiling tiger; I wonder what ruthless tricks he's going to pull?" He steeled his heart and roared, "Hua family brat, whatever tricks you have, go ahead and use them on your grandpa. If your grandpa even flinchs, he's not a true hero!"
Cai Weiwei, seeing his insolence, scolded him, "You want to suffer? It's not hard enough." She raised her hand, ready to strike.
Hua Yunlong quickly said, "Sister Wei, wait a moment." His face hardened, and he said, "Who were the people who participated in burning down the medical hut? Tell me."
Chen Mingda said in a sinister voice, "You want to know?"
Hua Yunlong said, "Of course."
Chen Mingda said menacingly, "It was Ren Xuan, Tian Yizi, the Nine Yin Sect Master, and your grandpa. Are you satisfied now?"
Hua Yunlong was furious, thinking to himself, "Without some drastic measures, this guy won't tell the truth." He laughed and said, "Satisfied, extremely satisfied." He pressed
several acupoints on Chen Mingda's body with his right hand. Chen Mingda immediately felt a tingling and itching sensation all over his body, as if ants were crawling on him. At first, he could grit his teeth and endure it, but in the end, it felt like thousands of ants were biting him. The pain was bearable, but the itching was so intense that it went straight to his heart, itching every part of his internal organs. He wished he could tear out his internal organs to feel any relief. This pain was truly unbearable. With his acupoints pressed, he couldn't even crawl. He howled miserably, "If you have the guts, then kill your grandfather!"
Hua Yunlong was not angry at all and said, "The more you curse, the longer you will suffer."
Seeing that his insults were ineffective, Chen Mingda changed his tune, pleading, "Hua Yunlong, please do me a good deed and kill me with one blow, and your Hua family..." He couldn't help but scream again. Hua
Yunlong frowned, thinking to himself, "Who is this 'Xuanming Sect Master'? How strict are his rules? Even in this situation, Chen Mingda doesn't dare to utter a single word."
Cai Weiwei saw that Chen Mingda's "Bingfeng" acupoint had been struck, rendering him unable to move, but his muscles were convulsing violently, and his screams were extremely shrill. She felt a pang of pity. Kind-hearted, she stammered, "Brother Long, I want to..." but then stopped abruptly.
Hua Yunlong looked at her, only to see her cherry lips move as if she wanted to speak but hesitated, her jade-like face filled with reluctance. He knew she wanted to plead for Chen Mingda, but felt the matter was too serious to let easily go. He sighed inwardly, clapped his hands several times to release the "Ten Thousand Ants Drilling the Heart" technique, and said sternly, "Chen Mingda, is my Uncle Yu dead or alive?"
Chen Mingda, still shaken by the pain of "Ten Thousand Ants Drilling the Heart," blurted out, "He's alive."
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "If I asked you where my Uncle Yu is, you would never dare to say, and you might not even know. I only ask you, what brings you here alone?"
Chen Mingda was taken aback, then suddenly asked, "How do you know I came here alone?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, this man is all bark and no bite; he must have a mission here. I want to see what he's up to. Laughing, Hua Yunlong said, "Fine, I won't ask why you've come here. You must know where your young master Qiu is staying, right?"
Chen Mingda was surprised that he had suddenly become so agreeable, and his heart was filled with doubt. After a long while, he said, "Anyway, in Jinling City, you, Young Master Hua, are all-powerful. You won't go looking for him yourself."
Hua Yunlong said seriously, "Tell me, and I'll let you go."
Chen Mingda was greatly surprised and said, "How can I trust you?"
Hua Yunlong said solemnly, "With the reputation of the Hua family, would we lie to you?" Indeed, since Hua Yunlong's ancestor Hua Yuanxu, the Hua family had been the pillars of chivalry. It could be said that their words were the scriptures, their actions were the law, and every word and deed was a model for martial arts. Even their enemies could not help but believe what the Hua family said.
Chen Mingda hesitated, saying, "I've told you, but you don't believe me. What can I do?"
Hua Yunlong replied, "Just tell me, and I, Hua, will distinguish the truth from the falsehood. You don't need to worry about it."
Chen Mingda's eyes flashed, and he said, "I took everything without losing a single item?"
Hua Yunlong chuckled inwardly, "You're admitting it without being asked." He glanced at Cai Weiwei, and the two exchanged a knowing smile, both having already noticed.
Cai Weiwei used a secret telepathic transmission technique, her Qi forming a thread, to say, "Brother Long, should we search him?"
Hua Yunlong also used a secret telepathic transmission technique, saying, "No need, I have my own plan." His expression turned serious, and he said, "Alright, tell me."
Chen Mingda pondered for a long time, then said, "In the Chaotian Palace, believe it or not is up to you."
Cai Weiwei scolded, "Chaotian Palace is not a place for ordinary people to enter. You're lying."
Chen Mingda, fearing Hua Yunlong would make a move, hurriedly said, "We climbed over the wall to get in. The palace is so large that we could hide anywhere. There are few people in the palace, so they won't notice." He paused and added, "Our sect's experts are all here. There's no need to hide it from you." As soon as he said it, he regretted it, but it was too late to take it back.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself that his words were somewhat believable. He asked, "Who came? Are all eight of Qiu Hua gathered? Where is your sect leader?"
Chen Mingda was still panicking because of his slip of the tongue. Hearing this, he angrily said, "Hua, you said you only wanted to know where our young master lives. I've already told you. What are you going to do about it now?"
Hua Yunlong laughed and slapped open his "Chengfeng" acupoint with his palm, saying, "Alright, you can leave now." Chen Mingda didn't expect him to be so straightforward. He couldn't believe that he was letting him go so easily. He stood up and was stunned.
Cai Weiwei coldly said, "What? Don't want to leave? Fine, then stay." Chen Mingda was startled, afraid that Hua Yunlong would change his mind again. He didn't even dare to say anything polite, glared at the two of them angrily, opened the door, and hurriedly fled.
As soon as Chen Mingda left the room, Cai Weiwei urged, "Brother Long, chase after him!"
Hua Yunlong, however, remained calm and said, "He can't escape. Let's wait a while."
He looked around and found the bamboo bed with its four legs made of bamboo tubes to be the most suspicious. He had been mischievous since childhood, and he was truly an expert in searching and hiding things. After playing around for so long, no secret could escape his sharp eyes. He approached the bed, squatted down, and searched briefly. He immediately found the secret: one section of the bamboo tube could be opened, but the seam was so fine that it was not easy to see.
He opened it and found it empty. Hua Yunlong was still not giving up and put his index and middle fingers in to feel around. Cai Weiwei gracefully approached him. Seeing his tireless searching, she grew impatient and scolded, "Come on, really! If there was anything, I would have taken it long ago. Why are you here to snatch this cheap trifle?"
Hua Yunlong chuckled and was about to get up when a thought suddenly struck him. He felt something smooth and hard against the wall of the tube, unlike bamboo. Too lazy to bother pulling it out, he smashed the bamboo tube with his palm, revealing a long, shimmering object. He pulled it out casually; it was a jade ruler. Engraved on it were six large characters: "Nine-Bend Palace Sutra Repository." The ruler was covered with characters smaller than fly heads and figures, crooked and uneven in size and density.
At a glance, he knew it was something left behind by the "Nine-Bend Divine Lord," but he wondered how it had been hidden so well. Cai Weiwei, seeing him from behind, couldn't help but ask, "Is that the Jade Ruler?"
Hua Yunlong, not having time to examine it closely, handed it to her casually, saying, "It's not jade; jade can't withstand my palm strike." He searched the bamboo tube broken in two again, but found nothing else. He loosened his grip, the bamboo couch collapsed, and he stood up.
Cai Weiwei asked again, "What is the Nine-Bend Palace?"
Hua Yunlong turned around and said, "The Nine-Bend Palace was built by a person known as the 'Nine-Bend Divine Lord,' located in the Nine-Bend Mountain in Sanjiang County, Guangxi."
He paused, then said, "The life of that 'Nine-Bend Divine Lord' is quite bizarre and interesting; I'll tell you about it in detail another day. There were also three 'Nine-Bend Treasure Hunts,' which were extremely thrilling and exciting, but the treasure of the 'Nine-Bend Palace' was emptied during the third treasure hunt..." Suddenly, seeing Cai Weiwei intently looking at the Jade Ruler, he asked in surprise, "What's on the jade ruler that you're so interested in?"
Cai Weiwei excitedly said, "Brother Long, the figures on the ruler seem to be some palm techniques and internal energy cultivation manuals. "
Hua Yunlong asked in surprise, "Is that so?" Cai
Weiwei frowned slightly and said, "However, these palm techniques and mental incantations are chaotic and incomplete." As she spoke, she handed the jade ruler to Hua Yunlong.
Hua Yunlong took it and said, "I guess these palm techniques and mental incantations must have been written by the 'Nine-Bend Divine Lord,' and perhaps this jade ruler is the writing material." He put it into his robes and said, "There's no time to ponder them now; we should hurry and catch up."
They felt they had wasted too much time and dared not delay any longer. They left the stone chamber, climbed to the top of a dragon cypress on the artificial hill, and Cai Weiwei pointed east and said, "There's a dark figure over there; that's probably Chen Mingda." The two dared not delay and immediately gave chase.
Neither of them paid much attention to this unexpected acquisition, little did they know that this jade ruler would later be of immense use to Hua Yunlong in vanquishing the demons. It was truly a divine intervention. Hua Yunlong casually guessed, and his guess was remarkably accurate. This jade ruler had indeed been used as stationery by the "Nine-Bend Divine Lord," who would inscribe his discoveries on it. The
"Nine-Bend Divine Lord" had another purpose in doing so: being an arrogant man, he hoped that what he used daily would one day be treasured by someone else, hence the inscription of his life's work on it. He had casually hidden this stationery among his secret texts, and by sheer coincidence, it ended up among the "Hua Tuo's True Classic" that Yu Shangde had obtained. There were simply too many secret manuals at the time, and they weren't discovered during the distribution. By the time Yu Shangde noticed, the treasure hunt was over, and everyone had gone their separate ways.
His skill was insufficient, and the mental techniques and palm techniques on the ruler were scattered and disorganized, lacking any profound meaning. He considered sending it to the Hua family of Yunzhong Mountain, but feared it was a worthless item, causing a stir and inviting ridicule. After much consideration, he decided to carefully preserve it, waiting for an opportunity. He had originally intended to have Hua Yunlong appraise it during Hua Yunlong's recent trip south, but Hua Yunlong's hasty departure meant he hadn't paid much attention to it and put it aside. Unexpectedly, after several twists and turns, the jade letter still ended up in Hua Yunlong's hands—a truly coincidental turn of events.
The two of them moved with lightning speed, quickly catching up. Sure enough, they saw Chen Mingda hiding and making his way to secluded spots, frequently looking back, clearly aware that he was being followed. Hua Yunlong secretly admired Cai Weiwei's keen eyesight; he himself probably wouldn't have noticed. Cai Weiwei suddenly leaned close to his ear and said, "This guy is lying. Chaotian Palace is outside the west gate of the city, it should be to the west. He's heading towards Zhongshan. I really want to chop him to death with one palm."
Hua Yunlong laughed, "It's not worth getting so angry. We'll just not fall for it." Suddenly, he tugged at Cai Weiwei's sleeve and said, "Slow down." It turned out that the two had already chased each other to within ten zhang, and Hua Yunlong was afraid that if they got too close, Chen Mingda would discover them.
Cai Weiwei said, "Brother Long, why don't we just keep watch from the treetops? What do you say?"
Hua Yunlong glanced around and saw that the area was densely wooded. Tracking on the ground would make it easy to get lost and be discovered, so he nodded. Without saying a word, Cai Weiwei pulled Hua Yunlong up to the treetop. Hua Yunlong let her drag him along without expending any effort. He felt as if he were floating on clouds, extremely comfortable. Looking back at Cai Weiwei, he felt as relaxed as if he were strolling across a plain. He couldn't help but exclaim, "Sister Wei, your sect's cultivation method is truly wondrous." He was praising Cai Weiwei's high level of skill.
Cai Weiwei hummed in agreement and said, "There are other reasons."
Hua Yunlong said "Oh," and asked, "You must have taken some kind of elixir. What kind of elixir?"
Cai Weiwei replied seriously, "It's the Jade Elixir."
Hua Yunlong laughed and said, "Oh, is it the thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum?"
Cai Weiwei chuckled and said, "It's the Jade Elixir from the Queen Mother of the West's Peach Banquet."
Hua Yunlong, realizing she was just making things up, and being naturally mischievous, said, "So, Sister Wei is a fairy from the Peach Banquet. I, a mere mortal, am truly fortunate to have the opportunity to serve by your side."
Cai Weiwei chuckled and said, "If you don't believe me, I'll get it for you to try when we get back. I guarantee that after you drink it, your power will be ten times greater than mine."
Hua Yunlong was skeptical and said, "That would truly be a blessing from nine lifetimes of cultivation."
Seeing his disbelief, Cai Weiwei changed the subject and said, "Brother Long, since you know that it was the 'Xuanming Sect' that abducted Uncle Yu, I think you don't need to go to Mei Suruo's appointment tomorrow night." Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "
I'm afraid that's not a good idea." Though his voice was slow, his tone was resolute.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Cai Weiwei thought for a moment and said, "If the Nine Yin Sect reforms, would Brother Long be happy?"
Hua Yunlong replied, "Of course I'd be happy, but it's simply impossible."
Cai Weiwei said, "I have a way to make the Nine Yin Sect turn to the path of chivalry. Brother Long, would you like to hear it?"
Hua Yunlong, seeing her serious demeanor, wondered what she was up to and laughed, "Tell me."
Cai Weiwei said, "From ancient times to the present, the most difficult thing in the world is persuading people to do good. The so-called 'washing one's face and changing one's heart' is extremely difficult..."
Hua Yunlong interrupted, "I know that getting people to change their ways is the most difficult thing in the world. You don't need to explain how difficult it is."
Cai Weiwei forced a solemn expression and said, "Even if you can persuade evil people to lay down their butcher knives, the person who persuades them will have to endure countless humiliations. The saying goes, 'When Master Sheng preaches, even stubborn rocks nod in agreement.' This Master Daosheng must have expended a great deal of effort, his lips parched and his tongue exhausted, just to..." "It's enough to make that stubborn rock nod slightly."
Hua Yunlong, hearing her constantly talk about the difficulty of being kind to others, smiled and said, "Alright, alright, what magic weapon do you have? Hurry up and hand it over, do you think I'd steal your credit?"
Cai Weiwei chuckled and said, "My method is the most wonderful one in the world. If it succeeds, not only will you have unparalleled merit, but you'll also have unparalleled good fortune."
Hua Yunlong suddenly realized what she meant, his face darkened, and he lightly patted her jade arm with his left hand, feigning anger, "Nonsense, I'll punish you properly."
Cai Weiwei said, "Really? Mei Suruo is so beautiful. Marrying her would be killing two birds with one stone, wouldn't it?"
Hua Yunlong laughed and scolded, "Wishful thinking." But a thought struck him. He thought about Cai Weiwei's words and realized they weren't unreasonable. He was naturally fond of mingling with girls, unrestrained and unconventional, and only cared about his conscience. He never cared much about the praise or criticism of the world, and naturally, he would disdain deceiving others. But in fact, he wasn't uninterested in Mei Suruo. His feelings for Mei Suruo were purely admiration, and he hoped to travel with her. Looking ahead, they suddenly saw majestic and precipitous peaks ahead, covered in lush forests; they had arrived at Zhongshan Mountain, which appeared even more imposing in the night. Chen Mingda was running ahead, sweating profusely, unlike the others who were chasing each other in the treetops, still laughing and chatting leisurely.
Entering Zijin Mountain, they soon came to a valley. The valley was very narrow, with steep walls on both sides. Around the valley entrance, the miscellaneous trees and grasses had been cleared away, revealing a clearing. As soon as Chen Mingda approached, several beams of light shone on him, and someone shouted in a deep voice, "Halt! Password!"
Hua Yunlong whispered, "Sister Cai, can you cross the open space and subdue the visible and hidden guards on the other side in one go?"
Cai Weiwei estimated that the area was about five zhang (approximately 10 meters) wide and pondered, "Perhaps." At this moment, Chen Mingda had already given the password, and another burly man in purple robes came out of the valley entrance. After verifying the identification number and confirming its accuracy, they were allowed to enter the valley.
Hua Yunlong chuckled, "It seems very secure. Sister Wei, listen carefully, are there only five guards at the valley entrance?"
Cai Weiwei focused her mind slightly and said, "Only five. Unless someone has higher skill than me, they can't possibly hide it from me." This is because the deeper one's internal energy, the longer one's energy channels and the fainter one's breath. Therefore, those with high skill can detect the opponent's skill level simply by observing their breathing. This has never failed them.
Hua Yunlong said, "After you subdue the five men, that Chen fellow..." Before he could finish speaking, a flash of light appeared before his eyes, and with a gust of fragrant wind, Cai Weiwei had vanished like a startled swan. He then heard several soft, muffled groans coming from the valley entrance, knowing she had been subdued. He thought to himself, "So fast!" and also flew into the valley with lightning speed.
In a glance, he saw some of the purple-clad men hanging unconscious from branches, others collapsed on the ground. Cai Weiwei, however, was beckoning to him from under a tree about three zhang away. He rushed over, only to find that Chen Mingda had also been subdued. Cai Weiwei whispered, "Search them, I'm not in a position to."
Hua Yunlong nodded, squatted down, and searched carefully. Besides finding a jade bottle about two inches tall in his boot, he only found a bronze plaque and some gold and silver items. He handed the jade bottle to Cai Weiwei, saying, "This is probably the jade bottle. Do you think it belongs to Uncle Yu?"
Cai Weiwei took the bottle, glanced at it, and said, "Yes, there's Uncle Yu's bell mark on the bottom." She then casually put it into her pocket.
Just then, Hua Yunlong pried open Chen Mingda's teeth, inserted his finger into his cheek, and asked curiously, "What are you looking for?"
Hua Yunlong said, "I've heard that members of secret societies usually wear dentures or similar items so they can commit suicide when captured by the enemy, to prevent them from revealing their secrets under torture. The 'Xuanming Sect' should have something similar."
Cai Weiwei found this quite interesting and said, "Oh, I see. Next time I capture him, I'll definitely search him first, lest he commit suicide because he can't endure the torture."
Hua Yunlong smiled, thinking to himself: "I'm afraid you won't even have time to run away when the torture begins." After searching for a while without finding anything, he stood up and said, "It seems the 'Xuanming Sect' only has methods to control its followers." Zhang glanced around and said, "I'll hide the captured sentries, otherwise it'll be easy for them to discover we've infiltrated the valley." Before Cai Weiwei could reply, he quickly shoved the purple-clad men into hiding.
Cai Weiwei had stayed close to him the whole time. Her heart was just beginning to open, and she felt a pang of loss if Hua Yunlong wasn't by her side. Seeing him hide them properly, she blinked and asked, "Will we be undetected like this?"
Hua Yunlong shook his head and said, "It's not that easy."
Seeing Cai Weiwei's puzzled expression, he added, "The Xuanming Sect definitely has patrols, so we'll still be discovered eventually. But we'll stall for time. At worst, we'll fight it out and leave."
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "We've wasted too much time. Let's hurry." "
The valley was densely forested, and with no starlight or moonlight, no matter how many sentries were present, the two men easily infiltrated, moving stealthily and stealthily. However, Hua Yunlong knew that the removal of the whistle would soon be discovered, and tonight's efforts would likely be in vain. A moment later, the two suddenly saw flickering firelight in the forest and faintly heard voices. Knowing they were close to the enemy leader, they became even more cautious.
After walking another three zhang, the view suddenly opened up. It was a clearing only twenty or thirty zhang in circumference, with only piles of stones and not a single clump of weeds. In the center of the clearing, a pile of firewood was burning brightly. To the left and right of the fire sat two groups of people. On the left were about fifteen or sixteen people, all with their hair tied in a Taoist bun, wearing apricot-yellow knee-length robes with wide sleeves reaching only to the elbows, round collars with slits at the chest, thin-soled black shoes, and high-waisted white socks.
This..." Without needing to say a second word, it was clear that these were members of the Starry Sea Demonic Sect. The leader, with a gold-threaded belt, crimson eyebrows and beard, was extremely ugly. Upon seeing him, Hua Yunlong was immediately struck by his appearance, recognizing him as Fang Long, the sect's second-highest expert and the chief disciple of Dong Guo Shou. To the right, another group was led by an elderly man with a long beard and narrow eyes, dressed in a black robe. Behind him sat four martial artists in navy blue brocade outfits, short cloaks of the same color draped over their shoulders, and ancient swords at their waists. The others, about eighteen or nineteen in total, were all dressed in purple. Hua Yunlong didn't have time to examine
them closely, focusing intently on the conversation between Fang Long and the black-robed elder. After listening for a while, aside from the occasional slightly louder phrases like "your sect leader" and "no," the crackling of the firewood and their superior position made the conversation somewhat unclear. He was greatly alarmed, thinking to himself, "The valley is heavily guarded; they must be discussing something important. How can I get closer?" He glanced around and saw that the distance between them and the two leaders was about seventeen or eighteen zhang, but it was completely empty and without any cover. Turning his head, he saw Cai Weiwei's delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she were listening intently. He quickly transmitted his voice, "Wei-mei, what are they saying?"
Cai Weiwei's delicate brows relaxed, and she said softly, "Brother Long, look how ugly those people in yellow are."
Hua Yunlong looked back and indeed saw that in the dim red firelight, the people of the Xingxiu Sect looked even more eerie, and Fang Long's face was even more terrifying. He glanced at her quickly and asked, "Listen carefully, what are they discussing?"
Cai Weiwei listened intently again, and after a while, said, "They seem to be arguing about who the leader is."
Hua Yunlong urged, "Tell me more details."
Cai Weiwei listened as she spoke, "The one with the red beard said..."
Hua Yunlong explained, "That man's name is Fang Long, and he is the number one expert after Dong Guo Shou."
Cai Weiwei said "Oh," and then changed her words, "Fang Long said, 'Based on past status and age, your leader should respect my master as the leader of the alliance.' The old man in black robes said, 'There is no order of learning, only the accomplished are respected. Our leader is a genius with unparalleled skills. This position of leader of the alliance should now belong to our leader.' Fang Long kept sneering, seemingly very angry..."
Hua Yunlong blurted out, "Did Fang Long have any debate about the difference in martial arts skill?"
Cai Weiwei shook her head and said, "No." After a pause, she said, "It seems that the 'Master of the Xuanming Sect' is more skilled than Dong Guo Shou."
Hua Yunlong remained silent, deeply shocked. He thought that the "Master of the Demonic Sect," Dong Guo Shou, was so powerful that even the Master of the Nine Yin Sect could only fight him to a draw, perhaps even slightly weaker. Under heaven, apart from Hua Tianhong and the Cai family, he was practically invincible. Yet now, a "Master of the Xuanming Sect" had appeared, whose skill was even greater than that of the "Master of the Demonic Sect." Considering the demonic flames spreading like wildfire, it was no wonder he was so worried. After thinking for a moment, he still couldn't figure out who the "Master of the Xuanming Sect" was. He urged, "Wei-mei, did they mention the name of the 'Master of the Xuanming Sect'?"
Cai Weiwei listened intently again and said, "No, the old man in black robes referred to the 'Master of the Xuanming Sect' as 'our Master' or 'our Sect Master,' while Fang Long referred to him as 'your Master,' or simply 'him.' The two seemed to be at odds." She then added, "They also talked about the Nine Yin Sect Master, and seemed quite dissatisfied. The Nine Yin Sect should have participated in tonight's meeting, but Mei Suruo didn't send anyone..." Hua
Yunlong asked anxiously, "Did they discuss how to deal with Mei Suruo?"
Seeing his anxious state, Cai Weiwei said, "They discussed tearing that girl surnamed Mei into eight pieces and throwing her into the river to feed the fish. Are you heartbroken?" Hua Yunlong chuckled, knowing she was lying, but didn't press further.
Cai Weiwei pursed her lips and said, "I was just trying to scare you. They only mentioned it briefly before moving on." Suddenly, after listening intently for a while, she said, "Now we're talking about Uncle Yu."
Hua Yunlong asked, "What are they talking about?"
Cai Weiwei said, "It seems the 'Master of the Xuanming Sect' forced Uncle Yu to manufacture some kind of medicine. Uncle Yu initially refused, but now, for some reason, he's agreed."
Hua Yunlong blurted out, "Uncle Yu is unyielding; how could he submit to force? Impossible!"
Cai Weiwei said, "I didn't say that. Would I lie to you?"
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "Anything else?"
Cai Weiwei said, "The old man in black robes said, 'Everything is ready, except for the 'Four-Day Heavenly Centipede' and the 'Three-Legged Jade Spider.' He hopes the Xingxiu Sect will part with them.'" Fang Long was pondering. As Hua
Yunlong listened to her melodious voice recounting her story, he kept his eyes on the black-robed elder and Fang Long. Suddenly, he saw a burly man in purple rush towards the black-robed elder, and he knew something was wrong. Sure enough, after the burly man in purple whispered a few words to the black-robed elder, the elder's narrow eyes widened, scanning the surroundings with a sharp, piercing light. He laughed loudly and suddenly stood up, saying, "Which friend has dared to visit? Please, let's have a chat. Meng Weiqian has been very negligent." The elder's laughter echoed through the mountains and valleys, rustling the treetops, demonstrating his extraordinary skill. Behind him, Qiu Hua and the burly man in purple all stood up, scanning the surroundings.
Hua Yunlong knew he couldn't hide any longer and whispered, "Wei-mei, when things get serious, don't hold back."
Cai Weiwei was startled and asked in alarm, "Kill her?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Wei-mei is kind-hearted; I shouldn't force her." "The two of them did not use telepathy to communicate, but Meng Weiqian and Fang Long had already used their internal energy to search, and their eyes immediately flashed like lightning as they looked at them. Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, stepped out of the forest, and said, "Since Senior Meng has spoken, I cannot refuse an elder's command. I dare not refuse to pay my respects. I am here to greet you." He bowed deeply.
He was naturally cunning, and even with a formidable enemy at hand, he still managed to appear cheerful. The Qiu Huas all became furious. Qiu Hua, who had appeared at Sima Changqing's funeral hall, stepped forward and sneered, "Boy..."
Meng Weiqian reached out to stop him, saying, "Young Master, please wait."
The eldest Qiu Hua stopped speaking and said, "What does Elder Meng intend to do?"
Meng Weiqian said, "The sect leader instructed that the matters concerning Jinling should be decided by this old man first."
The eldest Qiu Hua was taken aback and said, "This..."
Meng Weiqian interrupted, "Please, Young Master, give this old man some face." "Chief Qiu Hua looked displeased, but still retreated sullenly.
Hua Yunlong had already walked to within two zhang of the fire, and Cai Weiwei followed closely behind like a little bird. Meng Weiqian cupped his hands, turned to look at Cai Weiwei, and said, "This young lady is exceptionally beautiful. I am overjoyed to have witnessed her beauty, and dare not ask her name?" His words were sincere, for Cai Weiwei was like a peerless flower under the bright sun, her fragrance intoxicating, and anyone would feel an urge to be close to her.
Cai Weiwei was delighted and said, "My name is Cai Weiwei." She smiled brightly and said, "I think you are a very nice person, why are you mixing with this group?" "She was innocent and naive, and because of Meng Weiqian's praise, she developed a great liking for him. Her words were extremely charming and silly, but they left Meng Weiqian speechless. The members of the Demonic Sect were sitting cross-legged on the ground, silent, watching the fire from the sidelines.
At this moment, Fang Long suddenly said in a savage voice, "Hua family brat, you are probably the bastard raised by Hua Tianhong and Bai Junyi."
Hua Yunlong was furious when he heard Fang Long's words insulting his parents. He pretended to look around and said, "Strange, I clearly heard mad dogs barking, but I can't find a single dog."
Cai Weiwei chuckled and said, "A dog in human skin, how can Brother Long find it?"
Fang Long stood up angrily and sneered, "You little brat, you're courting death." With a cracking sound, his fingers curled like hooks, his palms hollow, and his breath thundered, he struck Hua Yunlong's chest with a "heh! "
Cai Weiwei coldly snorted, stepped forward, and with a slight tremor of her jade-like hand, took the blow. Those watching couldn't help but lament the loss; such a delicate girl was about to die from this punch. In his rage, Fang Long had used ninety percent of his strength in this punch, and no one believed Cai Weiwei could withstand it. Some even secretly cursed Hua Yunlong for sending this timid girl to her death, unworthy of being a member of the Hua family.
Fang Long, though also secretly regretting it, was consumed by rage and still struck. Unexpectedly, upon contact, with a resounding "thud," Cai Weiwei's body swayed slightly before she instantly stood firm as a mountain, while Fang Long was forced back a step, barely managing to stay upright, swaying for a moment before finally refusing to retreat further. This punch greatly shocked the members of the Xuanming Sect and the Demonic Sect. Knowing Fang Long's skill was so high, even Bai Xiaotian, the leader of the Divine Flag Gang, dared not claim victory, yet he was defeated by Cai Weiwei in a single punch.
Meng Weiqian stroked his beard and thought to himself, "This girl is only sixteen or seventeen years old, how could she have mastered such skill? Isn't her master even more astonishing? Oh no, judging from how intimate this girl is with the Hua family boy, they'll be a couple sooner or later. If their two masters are allowed to join forces, how can the Xuanming Sect not be utterly defeated?"
Fang Long was also shocked, and asked with a fierce but weak voice, "Little girl, who is your master?"
Cai Weiwei curled her cherry lips and said, "You are not worthy to ask."
Fang Long was furious, but although he was hot-tempered, he was not without cunning. He knew that if they started fighting, he would most likely lose. He thought to himself, "Could there be a more wondrous cultivation method than the Hua family's in Yunzhong Mountain? If..." Thinking this, he couldn't help but glance at Meng Weiqian. Meng Weiqian smiled. They shared the same thought: tonight, they would use any means necessary to capture the two men, or at the very least, capture Hua Yunlong alive, leaving themselves a way out for the future. To think that success was guaranteed was wishful thinking on their part.
Suddenly, Hua Yunlong asked, "May I ask, Senior Meng, what high position do you hold in the Xuanming Sect?"
Meng Weiqian thought to himself, "Telling this kid won't hurt." He laughed and said, "This old man is unworthy, but I am deeply ashamed that the Sect Leader has bestowed upon me the position of 'Heavenly Mystery Altar Master,' a position I hold without merit."
Hua Yunlong said, "So you are second only to the leader?"
Meng Weiqian replied, "Not at all. Our sect has countless masters, many of whom surpass this old man."
Hua Yunlong smiled calmly and said, "Oh, even so, to have the sect leader's chief disciple obey orders so utmost, one can imagine the extent of his power." Meng
Weiqian cursed inwardly, "What a cunning brat! I haven't even spoken yet, and you've already started stirring things up." He stroked his long beard and said, "Young Master Hua, you are mistaken. How could I possibly give orders to the sect leader's disciple? This is the sect leader's command, my duty, and I have no choice but to do so." The four enemies of Hua Yunlong all changed their expressions slightly when Hua Yunlong spoke, but they were relieved after Meng Weiqian finished explaining.
Hua Yunlong's eyes were sharp as lightning; he had already memorized it and felt that since the other party had a grudge against him, he might as well take advantage of it. Hua Yunlong's mind raced, and he said, "So your sect uses the altar to determine rank? I wonder if there are positions like hall or captain below the altar?"
Meng Weiqian replied, "Our sect is not like ordinary gangs; we do not have such positions."
Hua Yunlong then asked, "Do you have a recommendation hall like the Nine Yin Sect?"
The horse-faced Qiu Hua Laosan suddenly interjected, "Those who are enemies of our sect have no other way but death; why would we need such a thing?"
Meng Weiqian glared at him angrily and laughed, "Our sect's third young master was just joking; Young Master Hua should not take it seriously." After a moment's thought, he said, "Although our sect does not have a recommendation altar, if Young Master Hua is interested in joining, I will act as your introducer. Our sect leader, considering our kinship, and seeing Young Master Hua's great talent and ambition, haha, second only to the leader, above ten thousand others, none other than you would be fit for the position."
Hua Yunlong had been waiting for this, and hurriedly said, "Who is your sect leader, this esteemed senior? I humbly request Altar Master Meng's guidance." "To avoid Hua Yunlong being impolite."
Meng Weiqian was taken aback, then said, "Young master, you will know once you've seen him. Forgive this old man for not daring to tell you without orders."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This old man is so tight-lipped. It seems difficult to find out what kind of person the Xuanming Sect Master is. The longer it goes on, the more things might go wrong. I have to act decisively." With a firm decision, his face
darkened, and he said, "Since that's the case, Hua Yunlong wouldn't dare to make things difficult for Master Meng. Please explain the matter of the medical hut clearly, Master Meng." His sudden change of attitude greatly surprised Meng Weiqian. He thought to himself, "This kid is as steady as Hua Tianhong, and even more cunning and eccentric than Bai Junyi. He's a tough character to deal with. Heh heh, if he's allowed to grow up, he'll clearly become the second Hua Tianhong. I can't let him live." His killing intent surged. He felt that if he couldn't capture Hua Yunlong alive tonight, he would at least kill him. However, he was a deep-seated strategist, and his outward appearance remained calm.
Fang Long flicked his wrist, and instantly the dozen or so Xingxiu Sect disciples scattered, blocking Hua and Cai's retreat. He shouted sternly, "Hua family brat, you're like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, barely able to save yourself, yet you want to meddle in other people's business?"
Hua Yunlong acted decisively, whispering, "Wei-mei, charge!" His sword was already drawn, and with a swift movement, he lunged forward.
He was met by two men in yellow robes, one wielding a Heavenly King Whip, the other holding two copper hammers—both heavy weapons, especially the copper hammers, which were as large as wine bowls. Without the strength of a thousand pounds, one couldn't wield them freely. Although Hua Yunlong's attack was unstoppable, they didn't dodge at all. The one wielding the Heavenly King Whip thrust diagonally at Hua Yunlong's right rib. The one holding the copper hammers, one on each side, used "Double Wind Piercing the Ears," both blocking the sword and striking.
Hua Yunlong gave a cold sneer, shifting his body to the side, dodging the Heavenly King Whip aimed at his right rib, and using his sword to deflect the wrists of the one wielding the copper hammers. His move was effortless, striking where the opponent had to defend, forcing the copper hammer to dodge with all his might. Hua Yunlong didn't hesitate, instantly brushing past him and breaking through the encirclement. Suddenly, a gust of wind rose above him, a powerful force hitting his face. In haste,
he used the "Embrace the Origin" technique to completely defend himself, then switched to "Crane Crossing the Cold Pond," flying two zhang horizontally. The one who made the move was Fang Long. He had originally intended to catch Hua Yunlong off guard and capture him in one fell swoop, but Hua Yunlong's two moves were the supreme defensive and evasive techniques from the "Sixteen Divine Moves of the Hua Family Heavy Sword." Their solidity and weight made him feel like an impenetrable wall. But Fang Long was no pushover. He pounced stealthily and launched a series of deadly attacks. Hua Yunlong felt immense pressure and dared not be negligent. He swung his sword, unleashing a flurry of heavy sword techniques, including "Nine Heavens Melodies," "Vast Expanse," and "Yin and Yang," forcing Fang Long to retreat.
Fang Long was furious, thinking, "If I can't even take this bastard of Hua Tianhong and Bai Junyi, how can I talk about revenge?" He hardened his heart and unleashed the "Five Ghosts Yin Wind Claw," five wisps of black energy bursting from his fingertips with a hissing sound as he launched a full-force attack.
His skill far surpassed Hua Yunlong's, and even with his unparalleled heavy sword technique, Hua Yunlong, whose skill was still lacking, couldn't withstand the onslaught and was forced to retreat repeatedly. However, it was still impossible for Fang Long to defeat Hua Yunlong within ten or eight moves. As Hua Yunlong shouted "Charge!", Cai Weiwei paused, her body moving like a swallow, intending to leap out into the air. Two men in yellow robes simultaneously unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, creating a whirlwind as they attacked Cai Weiwei.
Cai Weiwei paid them no heed; with a flick of her wrists, the two men felt an immense force, staggering back five or six steps, their blood churning, already severely injured. This was only because Cai Weiwei had shown mercy; otherwise, they would have been dead. Using the force of their blows, Cai Weiwei deftly slashed and struck, her delicate body landing lightly seven zhang away. If she wanted to escape, it would be effortless; no one could stop her. However, turning back, she saw Hua Yunlong being intercepted and fought by Fang Long, and immediately turned to pounce.
This was also part of Fang Long's calculations; he knew that as long as he could stop Hua Yunlong, Cai Weiwei wouldn't be able to escape, so he focused solely on dealing with Hua Yunlong. Meng Weiqian was already prepared and immediately met the attack with a palm strike. His skill was no less than Fang Long's, yet Cai Weiwei couldn't immediately break through. After three exchanges, Cai Weiwei raised an eyebrow and angrily said, "I thought you were a good person, but you're not. I won't hold back anymore!"
Meng Weiqian smiled and said, "This old man is on duty, please forgive me, young lady." As he spoke, he unleashed his "Eight Palms of the Divine Eagle," a technique he had honed throughout his life, unpredictable and elusive, like an eagle pouncing on a falcon.
Cai Weiwei coldly snorted, her right palm feigning a clench, her index and middle fingers bending and straightening, swaying as she covered more than ten acupoints on her right side. This was the first move of the "Four Symbols Transformation Palm," created by the Martial Saint Yun Zhen, known as "Unpredictable Change." Meng Weiqian was shocked, realizing he couldn't withstand it. He combined his strength with a move called "Divine Eagle Peeling Feathers," his palms separating, seemingly striking and intercepting, as he spun and struck out, barely managing to block the attack. However, Cai Weiwei's slender fingers still lightly brushed past his right shoulder. A sharp pain shot through his right shoulder, and half his body went numb. He cried out, "Nine-Turn Dragon Tongue!"
Cai Weiwei didn't seize the opportunity to attack. Instead, she spun around and lunged towards the area where Hua Yunlong and Fang Long were fighting. Before Meng Weiqian could act, he had already ordered his men to set up an array. All the Xuanming Cult members drew their longswords, their sword energy chilling under the firelight. At his command, a dazzling display of light erupted, a curtain of swords like lightning sweeping towards Cai Weiwei. Cai Weiwei was startled at the sight. She paused, channeling her inner energy to unleash a palm strike. Even without using her full strength, her power was formidable, and no one dared to underestimate her.
This revealed the profound mystery of the "Nine-Turn Dragon Tongue Sword Formation." Just as she was about to leave the formation, several gusts of cold wind attacked her vital points on her back, forcing her to defend herself and halting her attack. Both sides attacked with lightning speed, exchanging seven or eight blows in the blink of an eye. Cai Weiwei, her heart filled with anxiety, shouted sharply, "Hey, if you keep blocking me, I'm going to use my killing move! Get back now!" The group of burly men ignored her, launching a relentless assault. Their swords formed a dense, continuous curtain, like a screen radiating cold light.
Seeing that no one listened to her, Cai Weiwei gritted her teeth, channeled her full power, and unleashed "Nanglun Xuqu" and "Riyue Xiangtui." Two muffled groans followed, and the two purple-clad men, each struck by a palm, coughed up blood and flew several feet away, dead. Both of her palm strikes were techniques from the "Four Symbols Transformation Palm." Even though these purple-clad men possessed extraordinary skill and the profound mysteries of the "Nine Revolutions Dragon Tongue Sword Formation," how could they withstand such attacks?
With the two dead, the remaining men, witnessing this overwhelming power, stood frozen in shock. Cai Weiwei, killing for the first time, felt a jolt of fear, but her mind was solely focused on Hua Yunlong. She hesitated for a moment, then lunged forward. The Xingxiu Sect disciples surrounded Hua and Fang, watching them intently, but didn't intervene. Seeing Cai Weiwei's approach, though horrified, three still met her attack.
Each used a different technique: one employed "Xuanji Finger Force," the right "Heavenly Demon Palm," and the left "Bone-Melting Divine Fist." Their combined martial arts—fist, palm, and finger—were like a whirlwind, endlessly varied. The three believed that with this combined attack, even with Cai Weiwei's exceptional skill, they could easily hold her off for seventy or eighty moves. However, Cai Weiwei, repeatedly thwarted, ignited her killing intent, coldly shouting, "Seeking death!" She unleashed the full power of "Unpredictable Change" and "Nanglun Xuqu."
Two of them, having just extended a finger, suddenly saw a blur before their eyes as a pair of slender, white jade palms were already pressed against their chests. Instantly, their heart meridians shattered, and they roared wildly before collapsing to the ground, dead, blood still flowing from their seven orifices. The man on the left was struck on the "Zhongfu" acupoint by her finger and collapsed to the ground. This was only because Cai Weiwei, seeing the man's gruesome death, had a change of heart and changed her palm to a finger. Without further hesitation, she attacked Fang Long from behind in a flash.
Upon hearing the voice, Fang Long recognized who it was and quickly dodged to the left. Cai Weiwei's series of movements were as swift as lightning; by the time the members of the Demonic Sect shouted angrily and reached out to stop her, it was already too late. Weiwei's beautiful eyes darted around, only to see that the Xuanming Sect had already surrounded them, setting up three "Nine Revolutions Dragon Tongue Sword Formations." Meng Weiqian also held a gleaming sword, personally overseeing the inner formation, while the four Qiu Huas also joined the formation. The Xingxiu Sect members, however, formed another outer encirclement, heavily surrounding them, seemingly determined to keep them there.
In the blink of an eye, the situation changed. Meng Weiqian laughed and said, "Miss Cai, I advise you to be a little reluctant and stay for now. Our sect will certainly treat you as an honored guest."
Cai Weiwei forced herself to remain calm and spat, "Dream on."
Meng Weiqian said, "Even if Miss Cai herself is not afraid, don't you think about Young Master Hua?"
His words struck a nerve with Cai Weiwei. She glanced back and saw Hua Yunlong still standing behind the curtain, using his internal energy to expel the poison. She thought to herself, "What should I do? I don't know when Brother Long will finish. I can protect myself, but I can't take care of Brother Long..." She was filled with worry and at a loss, and she forgot to answer.
Fang Long, standing outside the formation, sneered, "Brother Meng, why bother arguing with this girl? Whether she agrees or not, just say the word."
Cai Weiwei, still anxious, suddenly heard a cheerful, resonant voice singing: "Willow embankment, bamboo stream, sunlight casting golden shadows, leaning on a cane, I stroll slowly towards the fishing spot; watching the gulls and egrets leisurely play, farmers and fishermen, diligently working; unaware that he is in a painting, sitting and drinking amidst such scenery, even without wine, he would be intoxicated." The singing was loud and powerful, piercing the eardrums, immediately recognizable as the voice of a master.

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