A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 37

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Volume 42 Martial Arts Legend Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 9 A New Opponent!

Eighty feet outside the Taiji Hall, two rows of camphor trees stood, their shadows swaying gently.
The trees were majestic, their large canopies providing dense shade, and their pleasant fragrance was not only refreshing but also repelled mosquitoes and insects.
The vast Taiji Hall, with its elegant environment and tranquil scenery, was free from insect bites even in the summer, thanks to this.
Camphor trees were extremely precious and unsuitable for cultivation in the Northwest. The Imperial Guards would avoid them during patrols, lest they accidentally damage this rare treasure.
Now, right there in the camphor grove, a pair of sharp, piercing eyes, flashing with chilling killing intent, were coldly fixed on a corner of the hall—Ren Xiaoyao's bedroom.
At this distance of eighty feet, two teams of Imperial Guards moved back and forth, two teams stood in place, seemingly not closely packed, yet perfectly positioned for defense and security.
Without top-tier lightness skills and exceptional adaptability, no one could possibly get past them!
The shadowy figure waited silently, making no move for a long time until the shift change at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).
No matter how tight or meticulous the defenses, the shift change always presents the most openings and is the easiest time to slip through. The previous shift of guards, thinking their comrades are taking over, inevitably relaxes their guard, while the next shift, feeling they haven't officially taken over yet and the previous shift is still holding the line, naturally also loses focus. The
inexperienced Ren Xiaoyao loved to exploit this weakness. Having mastered three major light-body techniques and combined them with the Shadow Clone Technique to create "Xiaoyao You," he could pass through walls and enter houses freely; there was no place in the human world he couldn't reach.
Throughout history, there has only been one Ren Xiaoyao, so it was impossible to easily slip through.
Besides him, Meng Fei, Xiao Chen, the deceased Long Yin Xiao, and the mentally challenged might also be able to break in. On the evil side, there were only two: Gui Ming Shen Jun and Hen Tian. The Ghostly Lord returned as promised. Hentian, like Ren Xiaoyao, was injured by the combined force of the three internal energies. Recovery at this point was a pipe dream; in other words…
it was normally impossible for the man in black to enter the Taiji Hall.
Normally?!
Yes, the inner guards were loyal and impartial, and the Taiji Hall was an impregnable fortress.
However, the two newly transferred captains were exceptionally skilled in combat and were conveniently assigned to guard the Taiji Hall tonight, working shifts. One slipped and fell, the other suddenly had a stomachache, causing a minor commotion. Although brief, it was enough for the man in black, whose lightness skill, while not quite at the level of the three great masters, was not far off, to rush over and slip into the Taiji Hall unnoticed.
The Taiji Hall was ornately decorated and grand in scale, spanning twenty-four bays and thirty-nine eaves, with a three-tiered pavilion. Its pillars were thirty-six spans in circumference, adorned with painted beams and carved railings, snow-white lintels and elegant pillars, a beautiful well with hanging lotus blossoms, and flowing rainbows. All the gates leading to the Daode Gate were vermilion, studded with gold nails, and the roof was covered in copper tiles, engraved with dragon, phoenix, and celestial horse patterns. Even at night, under the faint moonlight, it was dazzling, a testament to its opulent and luxurious construction.
Inside, however, there were no guards. It was known that Ren Xiaoyao was notorious for his womanizing; it was not uncommon for him to sleep with three or four women a night. He would often wander from room to room in his nightgown, or run around with his wives, playing and frolicking, completely lacking his former dignity and composure. To save face and to prevent his wives from being exposed, the guards, after Ren Xiaoyao's ascension, only guarded the outside of the hall, leaving only maids to serve inside. But now, they were all asleep.
With no one in the hall, the man in black moved without hindrance, easily reaching Ren Xiaoyao's bedroom.
A faint light shone from inside, not because Ren Xiaoyao was still awake, but because all the established rules of the Tianji Sect were set by Zhao Kuangyin, the emperor. As emperor, two lamps were to be kept burning eternally in the palace when the emperor slept. By the time of Long Yinxiao, the latter was a prince of equal rank and, according to custom, could enjoy imperial regalia. This practice became customary, and it remained so even after Ren Xiaoyao ascended the throne.
The man in black was skilled in martial arts. After listening for a while by the window to ensure there were no unusual sounds from inside, he carefully pushed open the door and quietly entered.
The bedroom was spacious, divided into two rooms by a screen in the center.
Ren Xiaoyao was sleeping on a couch in the inner room, his breathing steady and peaceful, clearly having already lost.
The man in black moved forward slowly, step by step, very gently.
Even in his deep sleep, even severely injured, Ren Xiaoyao was still Ren Xiaoyao—a man of profound cultivation, unparalleled martial arts, feared and dreaded by all the villains of the world.
Although he was determined to take Ren Xiaoyao's life tonight, he dared not act rashly in the face of this fiend who had defeated even the Ghostly Netherworld Lord and whose sneak attack by Hentian had failed to kill him.
Finally, he crossed the screen. The man in black was drenched in sweat, his hand gripping his sword trembling.
Seeing Ren Xiaoyao still lying peacefully under the covers, the man in black breathed a sigh of relief, reached into his robes, and then suddenly raised them, sending several sharp, cold stars shooting out.
In the darkness, these wisps of wind flashed with dark light, their sound fierce and their speed extremely fast. Their attacks were incredibly cunning and domineering, striking the chest twice, the face once, and two more sharp points flashing with cold light, spinning and striking the empty spaces on either side of the bed. Even if Ren Xiaoyao wasn't asleep, he wouldn't be able to dodge it instantly.
The technique of launching the hidden weapon was extremely skillful, comparable to Tang Yunhe and Meng Lei, and the weapon emitted a dark light, undoubtedly coated with a very potent poison, demonstrating the ruthlessness of the method.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao on the bed opened his eyes. He didn't dodge or flinch, but simply sat up. The five points of dark light bounced off the moment they touched his body.
Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force!
Completely unharmed, completely unaffected, a perfect Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force.
Damn it, we've fallen for their trap!
The man in black's expression changed drastically. He turned to leave, but Ren Xiaoyao's icy voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"Rain of Pear Blossom Nails!"
The man in black froze, his steps halting. A strike that
inevitably draws blood, an ominous return, a matter of utmost urgency, the king of hidden weapons.
"He's not Ren Xiaoyao; he can't possibly dodge this ingeniously crafted, powerfully powerful, and incredibly fast hidden weapon!"
"Outside Flower Calyx Valley, I'll spare you this time. What, you want to die again?"
The man in black suddenly shuddered, turning around in disbelief.
"You... how did you know it was me?"
"I fought a great battle with the Ghostly Netherworld Lord. His movement techniques would be enough to recognize me—Chen Yixi, Chen Yixi, you think you can kill me? You're simply overestimating yourself."
"You deliberately set a trap, luring me..."
"I wanted to lure Hentian, but I didn't expect you to walk right into my trap." Ren Xiaoyao sneered.
"So what if I walked into your trap? At worst, I'll die!" Now that his identity was exposed, Chen Yixi became even bolder.
"Death? Hahaha." Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, then his laughter abruptly stopped, and he said coldly, "Are you willing to die? Are you willing to give up the position of leader of the Asura Sect that Ghost Netherworld God Lord is destined to create for you? Are you willing to give up your beautiful junior sister?"
Chen Yixi was speechless, and the sword he had half-drawn fell to the ground with a "crack.
" "I... how about we make a deal?" After a long while, he finally came to his senses.
"What a joke! You're already a fish on the chopping block, yet you dare to negotiate with me."
"You..." Hearing his disdainful, indifferent tone, Chen Yixi's anger flared. His eyes blazed with ferocity, like a wolf ready to devour its prey. After a long while, he suddenly slumped down like a defeated rooster, saying dejectedly, "Master agreed to leave, and from now on... will no longer be an enemy of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. Your only remaining opponent is Jue Sha. If... if I can provide intelligence to help your sect eliminate him, or even capture Hen Tian alive, you... you can..."
"Let you go?" Ren Xiaoyao followed up.
"Yes."
"Hmph, Absolute Assassination operates in secrecy; what use could you possibly be?" Ren Xiaoyao chuckled unhurriedly.
Chen Yixi's lips twitched slightly, suppressing his hatred and disgust for Ren Xiaoyao, and he said in a low voice, "These past few years, Master has been single-mindedly cultivating the Blood Curse of No Return, and I've been handling the communication with Absolute Assassination... I know a great deal about their situation... I have a list here, which marks the locations and members of sixteen branches in Guanzhong, Hebei, and Henan. I believe that with your sect's strength, you can wipe them all out overnight once you get your hands on the list."
"Oh, let me see." Ren Xiaoyao smiled faintly, seemingly intrigued.
Chen Yixi rummaged in his robes for a moment, then took out a short note-like object and handed it over.
Ren Xiaoyao reached out to take it, but suddenly Chen Yixi's sleeve unfurled, and a burst of red mist erupted.
Poison powder!
Ren Xiaoyao reacted swiftly, exhaling a burst of energy that instantly dispersed the poisonous mist in front of him. Looking closely, he saw that Chen Yixi was nowhere to be seen; only the window frame nearby trembled slightly.
"Good heavens, even I was fooled. No wonder he's a disciple of the Ghostly Netherworld Lord." Ren Xiaoyao shook his head and smiled bitterly, but showed no intention of giving chase.
"Just like that, you let him go!?" The door opened, and two figures gracefully entered.
Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi.
"With his abilities, he can't handle the heavy responsibility of contacting the Assassins. As for the list and such… humph, the Assassins organization is extremely secretive. Apart from Hentian, even the Five Great Assassins probably don't know exactly how many people are in each region, let alone… ugh!" Before Ren Xiaoyao could finish speaking, he spat out a large pool of blood and collapsed onto the headboard.
"Xiaoyao—" Long Feiyun rushed forward to support him.
"I… I'm fine. Just now… I recklessly used my true energy, which aggravated my internal injuries… a bit." Ren Xiaoyao's face was pale, and he was panting heavily, but a glint of sharp light shone in his eyes, unnoticed by anyone.
"Let me see." Su Hanbi hurriedly took his pulse, then frowned after a moment, "Xiaoyao, what happened to you..."
Ren Xiaoyao flipped his hand over and grabbed her, his movements so swift that it didn't seem like he was injured at all.
"My injury must be kept a secret. No one except the leaders of the branch alliances can know." Ren Xiaoyao's expression was solemn as he stared intently at the two women.
"Mm." Long Feiyun and Su Hanbi nodded in unison.
Ren Xiaoyao leaned against the pillows, closing his eyes to rest. The two women, filled with suspicion, waited quietly to his side.
After a full quarter of an hour, he opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"Xiaoyao, why did you sever your own meridians, forcing blood out of your mouth?" Su Hanbi asked anxiously.
“Also, letting Chen Yixi go would make him clearly tell Hentian that ‘Ren Xiaoyao is completely unharmed,’ which would make our plan…”
“Chen Yixi? Hmph!” Ren Xiaoyao sneered, lowering his voice, “He was just bait to probe my injuries. There are other experts secretly watching outside the hall. If I hadn’t coughed up blood, hadn’t said those things, and hadn’t stopped Hanbi from asking questions, then it would have been a complete failure, letting Hentian know that I was trying to lure him into attacking the six major alliances.”
“Outside the hall? Other experts? How could that be!” Long Feiyun looked surprised and exclaimed, “Mei Nai and I checked carefully, and there were no suspicious people nearby.”
“This person is extremely light, and his ability to conceal his movements is first-rate. Even without my sixth sense, I would have had a hard time detecting him, let alone the two of you.” As Ren Xiaoyao spoke, his face suddenly darkened.
“Chen Yixi got in with the help of an inside man. The person you’re talking about…”
“Lightness skill, pure lightness skill.” Ren Xiaoyao answered directly.
"Impossible. Apart from Ghost Lord, the Hateful Heaven Asura Sect, and Absolute Kill, there are no such masters," Long Feiyun said confidently. "Besides, to deceive Mina's discerning eyes, unless you personally go, there's no other way..."
"If..." Ren Xiaoyao's tiger eyes flashed, and he suddenly interrupted, "If I hadn't become the Grand Master of the Martial Arts in Japan, and hadn't studied and mastered the secret techniques of various schools of ninjutsu, just in terms of lightness skill... especially at night, I might not be as good as that person who was spying on the room from outside just now."
"What!?" The two women looked at each other, both shocked.
"I dare say, this person is neither a member of the Asura Cult nor a subordinate of Hentian, but rather..." Ren Xiaoyao stared intently out the dark window, his breathing becoming slightly rapid, his eyes gleaming brightly, flashing incessantly, as he murmured, "From the Ghost Sorrow Mansion of Goryeo, following Hentian and Ghost Netherworld God, another evil master-level expert!"

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 10 The Lord of Ghost Sorrow Mansion

"Ghost Sorrow Mansion!?" Shinguji Mina covered her cherry lips, her pretty face filled with surprise.
"You haven't even looked at him properly, how do you know that person is from Ghost Sorrow Mansion?" Long Feiyun pressed.
"Lightness skill!" Ren Xiaoyao frowned, looking worried, and said in a deep voice, "Although I am still recovering from my serious injuries, and I have to endure it and rely on medicine to attend each 'event', that's because my internal organs were injured by the Hentian Shock, and my body's functions are in a state of extreme weakness. As for internal strength, because of the special property of the innate supreme qi that can flow freely in broken meridians, my martial arts have not weakened. It's just that any big movement will damage my blood and internal organs..."
"So that means your hearing and eyesight are as usual."
“Well, seeing and hearing rely on years of accumulated experience; true strength is secondary.”
Ren Xiaoyao paused, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice, “I had long anticipated that Hentian wouldn’t dare send assassins to kill me. The additional guards outside the hall were just for show, and I didn’t take any special precautions. Mina was a little worried, so she specially set up barriers of the Four Purple Flame Array throughout the hall. Chen Yixi knew nothing about ninjutsu, and he just barged into the hall as soon as he entered. The feedback from the second barrier woke me up.”
"At the time, I was quite surprised, wondering who was so audacious as to dare to provoke me all by themselves. Activating my sixth sense, I immediately realized it was Chen Yixi, the personal disciple of the Ghostly Netherworld Lord." Ren Xiaoyao's face darkened, his eyes flashing with an unyielding depression. He shook his head and smiled bitterly, "You might not believe it, but from beginning to end, I maintained the operation of my sixth sense. However, it wasn't until I used the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force to deflect Chen Yixi's hidden weapon, and my internal energy suddenly increased several times, that I vaguely sensed someone spying outside the window."
"Vaguely!?"
"Yes, vaguely. I couldn't pinpoint the opponent's location, nor could I determine the direction of their movement."
"Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable!" Long Feiyun's eyes widened slightly as she murmured, "That day, you, Xiuxiu, and Mina were discussing the important matter of canceling the Seven Great Sects Alliance and dividing the ninjutsu world into eleven departments on the top floor of the castle tower. Toshiro was eavesdropping from the fourth-floor entrance hall, and you easily noticed him. His lightness skill and ability to conceal himself are second only to Shihouin-nee among the thirteen division captains."
"That's why I concluded... his lightness skill is definitely no less than mine, and if I hadn't practiced the Shadow Clone Technique, I would have had at least a 70% chance of losing to him in a nighttime duel, and now it's only a 50/50 chance." Ren Xiaoyao sighed, showing a distressed expression of extreme reluctance but having to accept the facts. "I severed my own meridians partly to put on an act for him, and partly to instantly raise my power to its peak, hoping to 'investigate' him thoroughly..."
"And the result? Did you see through his true intentions?" Long Feiyun asked anxiously.
Ren Xiaoyao slowly shook his head: "My heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and spleen are all severely injured. If I hold my internal energy for even a little while, I will not be able to hold on. So... sigh, if I were to recover, I might be able to do it."
"In that case..." Long Feiyun frowned and sighed softly, then asked tentatively, "How do you know that he is from Goryeo and from Guichou Prefecture?"
"After I coughed up blood, you and Hanbi rushed over to support me, your concern evident in your words. Seeing this, the man realized I wasn't faking my injuries and quietly left. Perhaps because he was pleased to have learned the truth, his steps became slightly heavier, and I caught him in those few moments of movement."
"I'm not as knowledgeable as Feiyun, with her photographic memory and encyclopedic knowledge of martial arts anecdotes and strange tales. She can tell the origin and style of any martial art after just one glance. To fully understand this person based on those few moments I caught
is... beyond my capabilities. But at least I could tell that his footwork and physique were definitely not from the Central Plains or that he was a master like the one I had fought before or even seen using his martial arts."
“Hmm, that makes sense.” Long Feiyun looked at him, her beautiful eyes fixed intently. “You’ve met all the masters of the Asura Sect and the Absolute Kill Sect, and you also clearly saw the capabilities of the major masters of the Maitreya Sect a few days ago. Your master has a deep relationship with the Dali Kingdom, so he naturally knows that the Tianlong Sect and the Diancang Sect are known for their finger skills and the Judge’s Pen technique, respectively. Lightness skill is not their forte. As for the martial arts of the Western Xia… they are mostly combat techniques derived from horseback fighting. Although they have their merits, they are mostly known for their brute strength and power, with very few fancy moves or variations, let alone any lightness skill or movement techniques.”
“This person is neither a Khitan, a Tangut, nor a Tibetan, nor is he from Dali, so…”
“This person must undoubtedly be from the Goryeo Kingdom.” Long Feiyun smiled and followed Ren Xiaoyao’s train of thought. Her worries had disappeared, replaced by a hint of playful slyness.
"What, sister, you've guessed who he is?" Su Hanbi's heart eased at the sight of her smile. Her bright, jewel-like eyes darted around in their sockets as she squinted at her.
"Xiaoyao should have guessed too, right?"
Ren Xiaoyao's mood brightened considerably, and he chuckled, "I know a little about his identity, but I don't know much else. I'd appreciate it if Feiyun could enlighten me."
Long Feiyun's expression was calm, her beautiful eyes radiating a sacred light. She glanced at Ren Xiaoyao, sighed softly, and smiled sweetly, saying with a hint of something: "Before you went to Fusang, what you said naturally made some sense, but now that you've been the Grand Secretary of the Martial World for over two years, to say you don't know would just be an attempt to cover up the truth—King Wang Song of Goryeo is ambitious and always wants to launch an invasion to expand his territory. The Song Dynasty has thousands of miles of land and a million soldiers, but he wouldn't dare to act without the support of Liao, Western Xia, and Tibet. Naturally, he's set his sights on Fusang, which is just across the water."
"Don't even mention that you once served as Kanpaku, overseeing the military and political affairs of the entire country of Japan. Even as the Grand Master of the Martial World, you couldn't possibly be completely ignorant of Goryeo, which was eyeing Japan covetously and intending to invade Japan from Hokkaido, sweeping across Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu." Long Feiyun's beautiful and refined face showed a hint of resentment. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she sighed again with a touch of reproach. "You, are you afraid that Hanbi won't understand, so you want me to explain in detail?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, leaning against the cushion without speaking. Su Hanbi, on the other hand, lowered her head, two blushes rising on her cheeks that made her even more delicate and beautiful.
Long Feiyun shrugged her fragrant shoulders slightly, her posture and expression so captivating. She raised her eyes and gave him a jealous look, her eyes clearly conveying the sentiment, "See? I hit the nail on the head." Her voice was slightly tinged with jealousy, but not from Su Hanbi; rather, it was the playful banter between husband and wife.
She knew Ren Xiaoyao was forcing a smile, his heart still heavy with sorrow. She hoped that by displaying this rare display of jealousy, she could ease her lover's depression and anguish, fulfilling her duty as a good wife.
"I'm fine, tell me quickly," Ren Xiaoyao said, a warm feeling welling up inside him as he understood his wife's thoughts.
“Hmm.” Long Feiyun nodded, her beautiful eyes brightening as she slowly said, “Goryeo is a small country with limited territory, at most consisting of twelve prefectures: Yang, Guang, Huang, Hai, Shang, Jin, Zhong, Qing, Gong, Quan, Luo, and Sheng. Nominally, it possesses four capitals, eight pastures, fifteen prefectures, and twenty-nine towns, but in reality, it only has about three hundred counties. This is less than the territory of my Great Song Dynasty (the Northern Song Dynasty was divided into fifteen administrative regions: Jingdong, Jingxi, Hebei, Hedong, Shaanxi, Huainan, Jiangnan, Jinghu South, Jinghu North, Liangzhe, Fujian, Xichuan, Xiaxi, Guangnan East, and Guangnan West). As for martial arts organizations, they are even more scarce, numbering only a few dozen, and most of them are escort agencies and gangs composed of thugs and ruffians—completely insignificant. Let alone the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, even the Beichen One-Sword Style… no, Fei…” Even the Tochigi Matsumoto school, led by Aoki Toshishi, could wipe it out. "
Long Feiyun's expression suddenly turned serious as she spoke, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. "However... just twenty years ago, when the Central Plains martial arts world suffered a catastrophe and the Japanese ninja world flourished under the leadership of the Shinguji sect leader, a mysterious organization called Guichoufu suddenly rose in Goryeo. In just five days, they wiped out the then undisputed overlord of the Goryeo martial arts world, the 'Southern Kingdom' (not that Broken Sword couldn't think of a good name, but it was a joke because he looked down on the Southern Kingdom of Goryeo). The leader of the Southern Kingdom, Choi Chung-heon, was nicknamed 'King of the Southern Kingdom,' and in Goryeo's words, he was incredibly brave and powerful, and incomparably fierce..."
"Pfft—" Su Hanbi couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"The Goryeo Southern Border Kingdom has always boasted of its 'unparalleled bravery and divine might,' but that's just empty boasting. Hanbi, don't take it to heart; just treat it as a joke." Long Feiyun smiled without blinking her long, curved eyelashes. "Although Choi Chung-heon isn't a top-tier expert, he's certainly first-rate. He also has countless guards and followers. Even if Hentian personally went or a first-rate ninja skilled in assassination wanted to take his life, it wouldn't be an easy task."
Long Feiyun's jade-like face straightened, and her long, phoenix-like eyes, which complemented her curved eyebrows, shot out a sharp and intelligent light. She said in a deep voice, "At that time, the Ghost Sorrow Mansion suddenly rose to power, and the members of the 'Southern Border Kingdom' scattered throughout the country were slaughtered. Choi Chung-heon hid in his mansion in the capital, surrounded by guards, hoping to save his life. Unexpectedly, he was assassinated in his room the next day. None of the guards and followers in the mansion, who were sentries every three steps and sentries every five steps, and who were not lacking in brave and skilled warriors, survived."
"Killing everyone in the entire prefecture is not difficult, what's so strange about that?"
"Of course it's strange!" Long Feiyun's pupils contracted, her eyes flashing with a sharp light, and she said coldly, "The operation took place during the day, and Cui Zhongxian's residence is located in a bustling area, yet more than a hundred people inside were all killed within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The merchants, common people, and government officials and constables outside the residence were completely unaware of it."
"You mean that the 'Southern Border Society' members inside didn't even... didn't escape, and didn't even make any unusual noises until they were all dead!?"
"Yes, there were no shouts of killing, no cries for help, and more than a hundred people just died without a single one left." Long Feiyun took a deep breath and said with earth-shattering shock, "Moreover... they weren't poisoned beforehand, there were no traitors among them, they were all killed in an instant by one person using one kind of martial art. Even if they were seen from a distance, they would have died instantly, without even a chance to turn around and run away... or even to shout."
"So powerful, so ruthless!" Su Hanbi's delicate body trembled violently, her pretty face showing undisguised horror. "Could it be... could it be that person is..."
"The grandmaster-level expert who was spying outside the door just now, the one even Xiaoyao couldn't fathom with his sixth sense activated—Ghost Sorrow, the master of Ghost Sorrow Mansion!"

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 11 A Clever Plan to Repel the Enemy

"Ghost Sorrow, what an arrogant name." Su Hanbi covered her mouth in surprise.
"No, this person's martial arts cultivation is indeed terrifying even to ghosts."
"No, this person's lightness skill is indeed terrifying even to ghosts."
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun said in unison, the only difference being the four words "martial arts cultivation" and "martial arts skill." Though
they lacked the wings of a phoenix to fly together, their hearts were connected by a single thread of understanding.
Although the situation was dire, Long Feiyun was overjoyed. What is the purpose of mutual affection between men and women? Isn't it precisely this sentence?
A strange sense of satisfaction filled his heart; it felt so comfortable and reassuring. His heart pounded, and he couldn't help but press it with his hand; his plump breasts were surprisingly hot.
"How much more do you know about the Ghost's Sorrow?" After a pause, Ren Xiaoyao asked in a deep voice.
“He…he…” Long Feiyun raised her head with a sore throat, her agitated emotions taking a long time to calm down. “The martial art he practices is called ‘Ghost Mansion Divine Art,’ which follows a yin and soft approach, exactly the opposite of the innate supreme qi. This art is divided into two parts: the upper part is the internal energy cultivation method, and the lower part is a variety of martial arts techniques derived from the internal energy cultivation method. Currently, we know of three: Ghost Prison Yin Wind Claw, Netherworld Blood Hand, Shadow Profound Nether Slash, and Demon Step, but it is by no means limited to these. It is said that once it is used, it is as if one is possessed by a ghost, and neither humans nor gods can resist it. Especially at night, no matter how skilled you are in martial arts…” "Even with superior cultivation, one can only sit and wait for death in the face of the astonishing power of the Ghostly Axe Technique. Forget about finding an opening to counterattack, he... he couldn't even see his shadow."
At this point, Long Feiyun's delicate brows furrowed, and she let out a haunting, chilling sigh: "Before,
I thought that Ghostly Sorrow's invincibility and widespread fame were due to the small size and limited population of Goryeo, a lack of truly formidable opponents. Now it seems... alas, I was wrong. Even someone as skilled as Xiaoyao couldn't see through him, let alone others."
"Then what about Ghostly Sorrow's mansion? Besides him, how many other masters does it have?" Su Hanbi pressed.
"Our master is known as Ghost Sorrow, and his subordinates are naturally a group of 'people of the underworld.' The Five Ghost Emperors and the Ten Kings of Hell are figures feared by both the righteous and the wicked in Goryeo, but I guess their strength is inferior to the Four Asura Envoys and the Five Great Assassins." Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes flashed with an extremely sharp light, showing her heroic spirit. "However, Lord Cui, who plays the role of strategist in Ghost Sorrow Mansion, and the Black and White Impermanence who are responsible for relaying orders are all hidden talents and should not be underestimated."
"In that case, Ghost Sorrow Mansion is indeed a major enemy of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. Even if we fight them alone, we don't need to worry too much, but if they join forces with Absolute Kill... no, Ghost Sorrow's personal presence here means that he has already made contact with the Asura Sect and Absolute Kill, the situation is not optimistic." Ren Xiaoyao showed a thoughtful expression, as if he was considering a way to deal with it. After thinking for a long time, his brows only furrowed more and more, and even his breathing became rapid.
Su Hanbi watched anxiously, fearing that Ren Xiaoyao's overthinking would worsen his injuries. She gently tugged at Long Feiyun's sleeve and whispered, "Sister Long, how much do you know about the Ghost Sorrow Manor? Telling you everything might..."
Long Feiyun's jade-like face remained calm, a bitter smile playing on her lips. She shook her head and said, "No, that's all. The Ghost Sorrow Manor's operations are no less secretive than Absolute Kill. I know so much thanks to the imperial court's spies planted in the Goryeo royal palace. Very little was actually obtained through the martial arts world." "
The royal palace!?" Su Hanbi exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise. Her beautiful eyes widened. "How could this be? Information about a martial arts organization actually came from the royal palace..."
Long Feiyun lowered her head and sighed softly, her tone tinged with helplessness. "This... I can't understand it either..."
"The answer is simple!" A cold, delicate female voice suddenly rang out from outside the window. "Ghost Sorrow is the son of the former King Seongjong of Goryeo, and the older brother of the current King Wang Song!"
The door opened, and Mina Shinguji, dressed as a ninja and carrying the Ryujin Jakka (Flowing Blade), darted in.
"What? The King of Goryeo's older brother?" Long Feiyun stared at her in astonishment, her eyes filled with disbelief.
The King's brother? That's a prince! Why would a prince with such good fortune choose to build Ghost Sorrow Mansion? He's got nothing better to do!
Although Li Daolin, the leader of the Tangut Association, was also the younger brother of Li Deming, the ruler of Western Xia, the Tangut Association itself was founded by the ruler at the beginning of Western Xia's establishment. Its purpose was to recruit and restrain martial arts masters and maintain and consolidate the country's rule. However, the Ghost Sorrow Mansion was an out-and-out underworld organization that, like the Absolute Killer, engaged in assassination, murder, and plunder. They had a history of attacking and killing court officials and robbing the court's provisions. How could the mansion leader be the ruler's own brother? Wouldn't that be like undermining their own family and creating trouble for no reason?
"Gui Jianchou was the eldest son of Emperor Chengzong. From a young age, he was devoted to martial arts and indifferent to power. More than twenty years ago, when King Zhi was seriously ill, the Imperial Envoy and General Zheng Zhongfu conspired with Cui Zhongxian, the leader of the Southern Kingdom, to rebel. Gui Jianchou was not good at politics, so he simply used his martial arts skills to lead a group of loyal guards to slaughter the Southern Kingdom and all the important officials involved in the rebellion." Zhen Gongji Mina stepped forward and said softly, "Afterwards, Gui Jianchou must have tasted the 'sweetness' of roaming the martial arts world. He simply gave up the position of Crown Prince to his younger brother Wang Song and devoted himself to managing his Gui Chou Mansion. Lord Cui, Black and White Impermanence, the Five Ghost Emperors, the Ten Kings of Hell, and others were originally guards of the Imperial Palace. At this time, they also abandoned their former identities and changed their appearances to stay in Gui Chou Mansion, wholeheartedly serving the former Crown Prince and the current master of Gui Chou Mansion, Gui Jianchou."
"As for Guichou Mansion's erratic behavior and frequent conflicts with the Goryeo court, it was a treacherous scheme devised by Wang Song and Guijianchou. Firstly, they considered the court's reputation. The rebellion of Zheng Zhongfu and Cui Zhongxian had not yet been exposed, and Guichou Mansion's wanton slaughter of important officials had created widespread panic. Suddenly submitting to the court would inevitably invite criticism. Secondly, they could secretly use Guichou Mansion's power to eliminate corrupt and powerful officials who held sway over their own armies. Thirdly, the world was unaware that Guichou Mansion was backed by the Goryeo royal court. Anyone who wanted to destroy Goryeo or eliminate Guichou Mansion would have to unite with one side for support, not knowing that the two were one entity. In this way, they would only waste manpower and resources and achieve nothing."
"Is this true!?" Su Hanbi's expression of shock was evident upon hearing this.
“Yes, Mina, how did you know about such a confidential matter?”
A gentle smile played on Mina Shinguji’s lips as she glanced at him, a captivating look as if to say, “I knew you would ask this.” She spoke softly, “Five years ago, His Majesty the Emperor fell seriously ill. At that time, Prince Kiriko’s evil deeds were not yet apparent. However, news came from Hokkaido that the Kingdom of Goryeo was secretly assembling its navy, intending to launch an invasion. My father was greatly alarmed upon hearing this and urgently ordered the former captain of the Sixth Division, Date Tsurugi, to secretly go and investigate. But… alas, Captain Tsurugi and the dozen or so elite ninjas he took with him never returned. Only the accompanying ninjas (responsible for taking care of food and drink, often equipped for long-term missions involving ten or more people) escaped back. By the time they reached Hueco Mundo, they were barely breathing.”
“Died at the hands of the Ghostly Bureau!?”
“Yes, as soon as Captain Tsurugi arrived in Goryeo, he allied with the Ghostly Bureau, hoping to use their power to thoroughly investigate the matter of Goryeo’s invasion. But…”
"They all died at the hands of Gui Jianchou!?"
Mina Shinguji nodded sadly and said, "Gui Jianchou lured the captain of the dragging ship and his group into a desperate situation, and personally fought against them, saying that if they were defeated, he would let them return to Japan. The captain of the dragging ship fought with all his might and risked his life, but unexpectedly... he only lasted ten moves against him."
"What, ten moves!?" Even Ren Xiaoyao was stunned. He had experienced the strength of the captain of the 13th Division of the Imperial Palace. Kenpachi Zaraki almost killed him in the battle of Kokuyo Forest. In the battle of Hueco Mundo, he almost died at the hands of Aizen Sousuke if he hadn't developed his sixth sense. The other members, such as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Yoruichi Shihouin, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Jushiro Ukitake, were all top-notch fighters. Although Hitsugaya Toshiro, Komamura Sajin, and Urahara Kisuke were slightly weaker, they would not be able to defeat him in more than ten moves if they were to fight him. Date Tsurugi, as the former captain of the 6th Division, was defeated so quickly and so miserably. It seemed that Oni-chan was not only superb in lightness skills, but also had martial arts skills that were comparable to his own.
"Father couldn't believe it when he heard the news, so he entrusted the affairs of Hueco Mundo to Captain Yamamoto and led Captains Zaraki, Kuchiki, and Yoruichi to Goryeo to investigate." Mina Shinguji gazed intently out the window, her beautiful eyes sparkling, and sighed, "This trip lasted for more than half a year. Father used his supreme ninjutsu to enter and leave the Goryeo royal court many times, finally uncovering the inside story of Goryeo's military campaign and the origins of the Ghost City." "
It turns out that the so-called 'assembling of the navy and launching an invasion' was all a lie fabricated by Emishi Magistrate Kakizaki Suehiro. His aim was to swindle the court's supplies and then fabricate military achievements to secure the position of scout in the North Sea."
"Father was overwhelmed with grief upon learning that Captain Tuichuan had died unjustly for the country, but as the head of one of the seven major sects, he could not let personal matters interfere with official duties and provoke conflict between the ninjutsu world and the Ghost City, so..."
"He didn't cause trouble for the Ghost City and came back directly?"
"Yes, we were in the wrong. Investigating someone's palace without solid evidence was... truly an insult to the Japanese." Shinguji Mina sighed again, her brows furrowing slightly, and said in a deep voice, "However, during an investigation of Guichou's residence, Father fought with Guichou. Although they only exchanged ten blows before stopping, Father said, 'I have fought countless battles, large and small, none more fierce than this one. But compared to this fight, it is nothing, like children playing, or receiving praise for admiring flowers and hiking.'"
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. His tiger-like eyes gleamed as he stared intently at his wife, saying in a deep voice, "Why didn't I know any of this?"
"Kashizaki Jiguang's aunt, Kashizaki Jingjia, is... is Empress Shuming..."
"What, Yuguang... no, the Emperor's, His Majesty's mother!?" Long Feiyun exclaimed in surprise.
Shinguji Mina nodded sadly: "Kirazaki Suehiro was Empress Shumei's only nephew. Seven years ago, Empress Shumei passed away from a serious illness. Before her death, she entrusted Emperor Ichijo to take good care of him. Emperor Ichijo, being sentimental, only dismissed Kirazaki Suehiro from his post and strictly ordered that no one in the palace or outside the palace should mention it, or the violator would be executed. The succeeding Emperor Sanjo (Koremitsu) was simple, kind, and benevolent, so naturally he would not pursue his cousin's past mistakes. As for our faction... the death of our captain in a foreign land is a great disgrace, but since we are in the wrong and cannot avenge him, we can only keep quiet and avoid mentioning it again."
"So that's how it is, no wonder... no wonder I, as the Grand Secretary of the Martial World and the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Court, knew nothing about this matter."
Ren Xiaoyao was depressed and sighed to the sky. As he tried to calm down, a sudden inspiration flashed in his mind, and he exclaimed in a voice that he had lost his composure: "I've got it, I've got it! I've thought of a way to deal with the Ghost Sorrow Mansion—Hate Heaven, hate Heaven! You've schemed and plotted, even colluding with Ghost Sorrow to be my enemy. This leader only needs to use a little trick, without wasting a single soldier, and I guarantee that this powerful enemy will be sent back to Goryeo in disgrace, hahaha!"

Volume 42 Martial World Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 12 A Huge Mistake

The women had been following him for a long time and had never seen him so agitated. They couldn't help but look at each other in disbelief.
Ren Xiaoyao, seeing this, laughed heartily, then grabbed Long Feiyun's slender waist, pulled her close, and kissed her passionately, making her blush and pant softly. Only then did he say, "Immediately send a message by carrier pigeon, ordering our sect's naval fleet stationed in the two lakes to set sail and head straight for Japan!"
"What, the navy!?" Su Hanbi, standing to the side, was astonished.
"Yes, order the Tingyuxuan workshop to produce more arrows, crossbows, catapults, and other such items, ready for immediate deployment!"
"Xiaoyao, what are you planning? A navy and bows and arrows, could it be..." Shinguji Mina's pretty face suddenly turned pale, her delicate body trembling, "Are you going to attack our country!?"
"How could I?" Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, "Not to mention that Japan has already formed an alliance with the Song Dynasty, and we are forever friends, even I, Ren Xiaoyao, would not touch the territory of my sworn brother."
"Then... then you mobilize the navy..."
"Xiaoyao wants to use their own methods against them, doesn't he?" Long Feiyun suddenly laughed.
"Oh, Feiyun, you guessed it?" Ren Xiaoyao said with a half-smile.
“Back then, Kakizaki Jiguang falsely reported enemy intelligence, indirectly causing the death of the ship-dragging captain and wasting countless manpower of the Void Palace. This time, Xiaoyao also wants to stage a fake, to greatly deceive the Goryeo Royal Court.” Long Feiyun’s eyes sparkled, revealing an extremely charming smile. Two small dimples rippled across her jade cheeks, and her fragrant lips revealed snow-white, even teeth. With a wise and insightful voice, she said, “Our navy sails from the Yangtze River, through the East China Sea to Kyushu. If it changes course midway, it can reach Goryeo within ten days. Wang Song cannot afford to be careless.”
“Our navy is a battle-hardened elite force, traversing the seas and unmatched in its might. How can a small country like Goryeo withstand it?” Long Feiyun shrugged her fragrant shoulders, her charming demeanor inadvertently becoming more and more apparent. “Gui Jianchou even relinquished the throne, so he must have a deep brotherly bond with Wang Song. Gui Chou’s mansion is also secretly serving the Royal Court. How can they sit idly by and wait for the country to perish without leading their people back to aid them?”
"The brilliance of this plan lies in the fact that the Great Song and Fusang have already formed an alliance. Whether it's sending a navy to bestow generous rewards based on the friendship between the two countries, demonstrating the power of our Great Song, or sending his followers in his personal capacity to take care of Fusang, the country he once ruled, and teaching the naval tactics of the daimyo who were once guided and taught military strategy by him, it would all be reasonable and would not leave any room for criticism. In this way, if Guichou Prefecture does not return to aid us, we can take over all of Goryeo's territory, including the troops from Fusang. If Guichou Prefecture does return to aid us, the navy will still go to Fusang as usual, and Goryeo will not be able to pursue the matter."
"Good, good plan! With this plan, Wang Song is in a dilemma, and Guichou has no choice but to return." Su Hanbi clapped her hands and laughed, her indescribable charm and allure evident in her captivating eyes.
"The navy may not actually be going to move, to avoid wasting resources. A show of force to intimidate Goryeo is enough. What we need to do is intentionally leak this information during the transmission, forcing Guijianchou back to Goryeo before Hentian's operation, and then wiping out Juesha in one fell swoop. In this way, the martial world can be at peace, the Song Dynasty will be safe!" Ren Xiaoyao seemed to have completely forgotten his still-healing injuries, suddenly standing up, his sharp, hawk-like gaze shooting out the window, revealing boundless confidence and arrogance. "Wiping out Juesha within a month, Xiaoyao keeps his word!"
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When Long Feiyun left Ren Xiaoyao's bedroom, the moon was high in the sky. Although the latter shamelessly claimed his chest hurt and wanted Su Hanbi to stay and take care of him, Long Feiyun still forcibly dragged him out.
The chest pain was a lie; his real intention was to have Su Hanbi spend the night with him. The dashing, chivalrous thief… the legendary hero, the dashing hero, wasn't called that for nothing. Even severely injured, he didn't forget to indulge in pleasure with women.
What man isn't a womanizer? What man isn't lustful?
If you're jealous, jealous of the countless beauties around him, the endless romance and pleasures, enjoying the best of both worlds, then go and learn from him.
He single-handedly protected the Heavenly Pole Sect, single-handedly subdued the heroes of Japan, single-handedly saved the Central Plains martial arts world, single-handedly devised a plan that dared to threaten the annihilation of all…
What right do you have to be jealous of him if you can't do those things?
The former Ren Xiaoyao was as strong as bronze and iron, unparalleled in bravery. He could still effortlessly seduce seven women in one night, and even after being severely wounded by Shinjiro Mitsuaki and Yoshihiro Tomoyuki, he could still enjoy intimate moments with Lin Yuxiu. Now, his skill surpasses even his former self. During lovemaking, he remains strong even after ejaculation, thrusting deeply and wildly again and again, each time causing his overflowing semen to spill out and flow down his plump thighs…
However, this time his injuries were far too severe, almost bringing him to the brink of death. Long Feiyun, considering her husband and the greater good of the world, had to urge him to restrain himself to avoid excessive indulgence that could delay his recovery.
—What's lost now can be made up for later!
"By the way, where is Chen Yixi being held?"
Zhen Gongji Mina blushed and said awkwardly, "I...I didn't catch him, he got away."
"How could that be?" Long Feiyun was surprised to hear this. "Sister, you are a first-rate ninja, you are always successful at capturing people at night. Although Chen Yixi's martial arts are not bad, he was scared out of his wits by Xiaoyao, and there are countless cult members guarding outside..."
"He didn't run out, but went through the rooms in Taiji Hall and played hide-and-seek with me... But for some reason, after chasing for a while, he suddenly...suddenly disappeared." Zhen Gongji Mina's beautiful eyes showed a slight sadness, a confused expression that had never appeared on her before. She said, puzzled, "If he had sneaked out of the hall, the hundreds of guards stationed outside would not have failed to notice. If he was still inside the hall...Fengyi, Fengzi, Xiuxiu, and Furong had all woken up at the time and were waiting in their rooms for him to walk into their trap. Senior Meng had set up traps in all the other empty rooms. How could he have just disappeared so suddenly without any warning or sound?"
"That's strange. Could he possibly be able to fly or go anywhere?" Su Hanbi frowned upon hearing this.
"It's my fault...it's my fault for not being skilled enough. Otherwise, if I had used my Eye of Insight again, how could I not have found him?"
"Could he have hidden in our room?" Long Feiyun asked in a deep voice.
“Our lodgings are on the west side, but Chen Yixi ran east.” Zhen Gongji Mina murmured, looking ahead. “Besides, I went back and checked again afterwards. If he had been inside, it would have been impossible not to notice.”
“If that’s really the case…” Long Feiyun’s beautiful face showed a thoughtful expression as she pondered, “In such a vast Taiji Hall, where else could he possibly hide?”
“There shouldn’t be any.” Su Hanbi and Zhen Gongji Mina exchanged a glance and shook their heads simultaneously.
“Yes, there is one more place!” Long Feiyun’s body suddenly froze, her hands trembling slightly in her sleeves, causing them to flutter. “Fenglai Pavilion… Fenglai Pavilion where Miss Xuan is temporarily staying!!!”
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The three women rushed over and quickly arrived at Fenglai Pavilion, located on the east side of Taiji Hall.
This place was originally built by Emperor Taizu Zhao Kuangyin for Liu Xinyi, a talented woman he longed for and dreamed of, when he established the Tianji Sect. [Zhao Kuangyin originally had no great ambitions. It was only because his beloved Liu Xinyi was taken by Gao Jichong, the Prince of Nanping, that he rose up, resolutely joined the army, founded the Tianji Sect, and then donned the yellow robe, established the Song Dynasty, and eventually unified the world (see The Legend of the Twin Dragons of the Song Dynasty)]. When he recovered Jingnan, although he won back Liu Xinyi, she fell seriously ill and only had time to see him once before she passed away. Zhao Kuangyin was deeply saddened. After ascending the throne, he ordered Long Yinxiao to build Xunfeng City and built this "Fenglai Pavilion" in the Taiji Hall to mourn the beauty. The decoration, layout, and furnishings were all extremely luxurious.
After Fenglai Pavilion was built, only Lady Huarui, who bore a striking resemblance to Liu Xinyi, ever lived there. Empress Wang, wife of Zhao Kuangyi, and Xu Yunlan, Lady Huarui's sister and wife of Long Yinxiao, all kept their distance. Ren Xiaoyao, however, unhesitatingly had Xuan Qingqiu move in, his intentions clear.
Long Feiyun and Zhen Gongji Mina both possessed exceptional eyesight, and Su Hanbi was no less discerning. From afar, they spotted a light shining in Fenglai Pavilion, and two figures shimmering behind the gauze window.
Two!?
Yes, two. One was graceful and elegant, her unparalleled beauty palpable even from a distance; the other was not female, but a distinctly male!
The two figures were very close together, clearly indicating that Chen Yixi had forced Xuan Qingqiu to remain silent and not call for help.
The three women exchanged glances, each filled with alarm.
That Chen Yixi, he really did sneak here!
"Feiyun, what should we do?" Zhen Gongji Mina blushed, clearly ashamed of her "negligence," but the genuine concern in her eyes was palpable.
"Qingqiu doesn't know martial arts; forcing her way in might..."
"What we need to do isn't to capture Chen Yixi, but to do everything possible to ensure Miss Xuan's safety." Long Feiyun's sharp eyes shone with an incomparably piercing light, making her even more heroic.
"Like this!" He beckoned, bringing Zhen Gongji Mina and Su Hanbi closer, and whispered a few words in their ears.
"Wouldn't doing this... wouldn't it be a bit too ruthless?" the two women asked almost simultaneously.
"Ruthless? Forget Taiji Hall; as long as we can save Miss Xuan, we'd destroy the main altar of Xiaoyao without hesitation." Long Feiyun's jade-like face straightened, her long, phoenix-like eyes, perfectly complementing her arched eyebrows, shone with a sharp, intelligent light. She calmly said, "Besides, we're just acting, not really..." Her voice lowered, becoming almost inaudible.
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"Fire! Fire!" A quarter of an hour later, a raging fire erupted outside the Taiji Hall. The women's terrified screams were particularly piercing in the dark night.
A corner of the magnificent Taiji Hall was now engulfed in flames, the surrounding heat scorching and burning the skin. The fire seemed to be intensifying, thick smoke billowing, obscuring the sky—a truly terrifying sight.
The guards stationed outside rushed over, frantically trying to put out the fire, calling for help, fetching water, but the fire was too fierce. Buckets of water poured onto the flames instantly turned into white steam. But they couldn't extinguish the flames. Waves of fire and heat shot out, forcing everyone to retreat.
Long Feiyun, Zhen Gongji Mina, and the other women were all lying in ambush outside Fenglai, waiting for Chen Yixi to emerge with Xuan Qingqiu as a hostage so they could capture him in one fell swoop.
Sure enough, at the sound of the shout, the dark figure suddenly stood up, grabbing Xuan Qingqiu and rushing out.
Just as they reached the gate, the women attacked simultaneously.
Zhen Gongji Mina formed a series of hand seals—"Si-Wei-Wu-Mao-Wei-Wu-Mao"—using a technique she hadn't been good at before, but which she now mastered. The Water Prison Technique.
Long Feiyun moved swiftly, using the Illusionary Shadow Technique to fly over, precisely timing the moment Chen Yixi was trapped by the Water Prison Technique as she stepped out, arriving just in time to snatch Xuan Qingqiu away.
Su Hanbi held a packet of "Drunken Immortal Sweet Wine" powder in her hand, one of the five most potent poisons in the world, "Turbidity," which, even a whiff of it, would cause dizziness and headaches, regardless of one's skill level.
The others—Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Lin Yuxiu—were also stationed nearby, either with swords in hand or their inner energy focused, fearing that once Xuan Qingqiu escaped... They wouldn't rest until they'd chopped Chen Yixi into mincemeat.
Chen Yixi stepped across the threshold, and the Water Prison Technique activated instantly. Two jets of water shot up, wrapping around his ankles, then slamming into his legs, engulfing him completely in moments. The Drunken
Immortal Sweet Wine had already been spilled, covering their faces and heads; the women only caught a whiff and were already dizzy. But
who would have thought that Chen Yixi would simply lift his foot, and the water binding his ankles would instantly shatter—the Water Prison Technique, unleashed with all its might by Shinguji Mina, was easily broken!
The Drunken Immortal Sweet Wine was all over his face, but Chen Yixi… Without even a sway, as if nothing had happened, she gently pulled Xuan Qingqiu's hand into her embrace. Long Feiyun's attack was incredibly swift; the Nine Heavens Profound Firmament Sword was suddenly drawn, shooting forward with lightning speed.
This strike was the culmination of her life's work, its speed and power unparalleled.
In a flash, the sword was already within reach of his throat,
its chilling aura piercing Chen Yixi's skin. But Chen Yixi suddenly smiled, extending two fingers gently... With a casual, effortless movement, Chen Yixi
caught the sword before Long Feiyun could even hear his laughter.
His attack was faster than a sound!
At the same time, Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Shui Furong, and Lin Yuxiu attacked simultaneously, their palm strikes and sword winds enveloping the space around Chen Yixi.
Chen Yixi nimbly spun around, his hand already supporting Long Feiyun's right elbow, gently pulling her away. Then came a clashing of metal, several longswords colliding, sparks flying, forcing the women to retreat, staring at him in astonishment. Xuan Qingqiu, however, remained... He was held firmly in Chen Yixi's arms.
Chen Yixi!? How could Chen Yixi possess such cultivation, able to withstand seven women even after being ambushed?!
His near-perfectly handsome face was almost flawless; his leisurely and charming smile was irresistible to any woman; his leopard-like physique, both explosive and possessing beautifully sculpted features, constantly displayed his extraordinary and attractive qualities, and beneath his majestic exterior lay an endless depth waiting to be discovered.
At this moment, his eyes were filled with a melancholic expression that could captivate anyone, a kind of... His expressive power is irresistible; he'd willingly lay bare his heart and lungs, even in such an awkward situation. His dashing, rebellious, and fearless romantic nature makes him not only perfectly at home, but also suggests that only in this way can his unrestrained passion be fully revealed.
Who else but Ren Xiaoyao could be such a man?
Ren Xiaoyao!?
What was he doing in Xuan Qingqiu's room in the middle of the night?!
And after trying to get Su Hanbi to stay the night, only to be forcibly dragged away by Long Feiyun?
The women were all stunned. Seven of them stared at him with their beautiful, arched eyebrows and clear, bright eyes, as if they would not give up until they explained themselves clearly.

Volume 42 Martial Arts Legend Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 13 Mysterious Maiden's Affection

"This...this..." Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face turned red, looking quite embarrassed. Suddenly, his eyes widened, staring unblinkingly ahead, and
he shouted, "Oh dear, such a big fire! Quick, quick, put it out!" "Hmph, stop beating around the bush." Long Feiyun snorted lightly, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the fire. "Before the roofs of each hall were burned, mud and sand were laid on them, then firewood and oil were poured on top, and the fire was lit. Don't be fooled by the frightening sight of the fire; it actually doesn't damage the main hall at all. It can be restored to its original state with a little cleaning."
"Even without that, if the main hall burns down, it's fine. At most, it can be rebuilt." Nangong Fengzi's delicate cherry lips were flat, her posture and expression so captivating. She had no concept of money; tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of taels were just numbers to her. She was more interested in why Brother Xiaoyao went to Sister Xuan's room late at night.
"Speak quickly, explain clearly! " Shui Rurong was the most anxious, her left hand on her hip, her right hand almost poking Ren Xiaoyao's nose.
The other women, having worried for nothing, now joined in the commotion, a cacophony of coquettish scolding, questioning, commotion, and calls for help echoing throughout the Taiji Hall.
The guards, busy dousing the fire, watched, covering their mouths and chuckling. Even their wise and mighty Grand Master could be threatened by his wives!
"Enough!" Ren Xiaoyao shouted suddenly, silencing the women. Before he could speak, he suddenly opened his mouth and coughed up a large amount of blood.
"Xiaoyao, what's wrong?!" "This will be eight tense, concerned cries.
"What happened? You seven... beat me up..." Ren Xiaoyao bent over, clutching his chest, coughing as he answered, "Seven people, they were beating me to death... cough cough..."
Shui Furong glared at him suspiciously, angrily saying, "Hey, you're faking it again. We were fooled by you back at the Shaolin Temple back mountain, we won't fall for it again this time."
"Fooled? Cough cough cough..." Ren Xiaoyao's face was truly pale, even his voice was hoarse, "My injuries... weren't healed to begin with, you guys... cough cough cough..." This time he wasn't faking it. After all, all his internal organs were injured, and he couldn't use his true energy at all. Although he used the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force to deflect the sword and palm strikes of Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi, without using much of his own internal energy, breaking the Water Prison Technique and trapping Long Feiyun's sword were real tests of his skills, so it wasn't surprising that
he vomited blood. "It's true, Xiaoyao isn't faking it." Su Hanbi came over and took Xiaoyao's pulse, her pretty face filled with surprise and tension.
"Quick, help Xiaoyao back to his room!"
"Go brew the medicine!"
"Get a towel!"
All the women panicked.
Only Long Feiyun remained calm. She pointed her Nine Heavens Mystic Sword to the sky, her beautiful eyes flashing with sharp light, her heroic spirit unmistakable. She sternly ordered, "Leave only a small team of inner guards to put out the fire. Everyone else, leave the palace. Remember, everything you see tonight is to be kept secret. Anyone who dares to speak of it will be considered treason!"
"Yes!" "The guards all agreed in unison, forming a line and leaving the hall in order. One of them was disheveled, as if he had just changed, and his face was blackened by smoke. As he was leaving, he glanced back, his eyes flashing with intense killing intent, and a cold smile full of resentment and cruelty appeared on his lips.
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"What exactly happened? How did you end up in Qingqiu's room?!"
Ren Xiaoyao hadn't even finished his medicine when Shui Furong started chattering and asking questions.
"Ugh—" Ren Xiaoyao put down the bowl, almost spitting out the half-eaten mouthful.
"Xiaoyao, slow down." Nangong Fengyi was concerned, patting her lover's back while scolding, "Whatever it is, you can talk about it tomorrow, why not tonight..."
"He had designs on Miss Xuan, of course I have to find out!" "
That's right, big brother was injured, yet he was running around everywhere in the middle of the night." Lin Yuxiu's pretty face was flushed, like a ripe apple, her expression a mixture of shyness and embarrassment. She must have been recalling the scene at the City Palace where Ren Xiaoyao, after being seriously injured, had forced himself on her and begged for pleasure. She thought her big brother was going to do something "bad" again, and the target was Xuan Qingqiu.
Ren Xiaoyao scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "Actually... I didn't do anything, I just went to..."
"You wanted to keep Hanbi here, but Sister Long dragged her away, so you had no choice but to go to Fenglai Pavilion to 'bully' Miss Xuan, right?" "Even Mina Shinguji had her doubts. This is understandable; she and Long Feiyun had heard Su Hanbi clearly about the severity of Ren Xiaoyao's injuries. Instead of resting properly in his room, he inexplicably appeared at Fenglai Pavilion. And the timing was so precise; he practically disappeared the moment they left Ren Xiaoyao. It didn't seem like a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a premeditated plan.
A plan to harm Xuan Qingqiu.
Xuan Qingqiu's family was destroyed, leaving her all alone. Ren Xiaoyao, in order to save..." He had risked his life time and again, so offering himself in return wouldn't have been a problem. Besides, one was handsome and dashing, the other a beauty of unparalleled grace and charm—they were a match made in heaven. Taking them as his bedmates wouldn't have been a problem either.
The problem was that it was the middle of the night, he was seriously injured, and Su Hanbi had rejected him—these factors combined made the situation serious. To put it bluntly, he was a lecherous and shameless man, willing to risk his life for pleasure…
How could his wives not be furious seeing this?
"No… cough cough… I really… really didn't… cough cough…" Ren Xiaoyao tried to explain awkwardly, but his severe injuries prevented him from uttering a complete sentence.
"You've misunderstood. Brother Ren… Brother Ren came to Fenglai Pavilion actually to… to…" Xuan Qingqiu's cheeks flushed crimson, making her even more radiant, beautiful, and elegant beyond compare. She lowered her head shyly and whispered, "To protect… to protect me."
"What, protect you!?" “
Hmm…” Xuan Qingqiu’s cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her head even further, softly saying, “Xiaoyao said he saw…saw Sister Zhengongsi not mentioning that Chen…Chen what…”
“Chen Yixi.”
“Yes, Brother Ren saw that Sister Zhengongsi didn’t mention Chen Yixi, and knew that he hadn’t caught him…he was afraid, afraid that Chen Yixi would have nowhere to hide, and would find an opportunity…find an opportunity to kidnap me, so he came to Fenglai Pavilion to protect…to protect…”
The women looked at each other, all stunned.
“He…he’s in such a crippled state and he’s protecting you!?” Shui Furong puffed out her cheeks, half believing, and glared fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao with her delicate little mouth.
“There’s…no need to fight. After taking one of my Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Techniques, that good-for-nothing will probably run away in fear.” Ren Xiaoyao leaned against the pillow, forcing a smile, bloodstains between his teeth. “
The Taiji Hall is heavily guarded. It’s easy for Chen Yixi to get in…but getting out won’t be so easy.” Ren Xiaoyao lowered his eyes and said haltingly, "Mei Nai is... cautious. If she hadn't caught up with Chen Yixi... she would have guessed he was hiding and would have thoroughly searched the empty rooms in the Taiji Hall. At the same time, she would have thought of Feng Yi, Feng Zi, Fu Rong, Xiu Xiu... you guys are all skilled in martial arts, and with your precautions, Chen Yixi would never risk kidnapping them. The only possibility is... that he went to Feng Lai Pavilion."
Ren Xiaoyao gasped for breath and said in a trembling voice, "After Fei Yun, Mei Nai, Han Bi, you left, I... I became more and more worried, so... cough cough cough, so I went there... cough cough cough, but then I suddenly heard a fire... I thought... I thought it was Chen Yixi who set it off..."
"Alright, Xiaoyao, stop talking. It's our fault, we misunderstood you." Seeing his miserable state, Shui Furong knew she was in the wrong and almost cried with regret.
"Big brother, Xiuxiu is bad, Xiuxiu is wrong, Xiuxiu was wrong." Lin Yuxiu's eyes were filled with tears, she almost threw herself into Ren Xiaoyao's arms and wailed.
Xuan Qingqiu stood at the back, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ren Xiaoyao, who had disregarded his own injuries to protect him, was misunderstood by his wives, and even vomited blood on the spot, making a fool of himself in front of the cult members. A faint mist rose in her beautiful eyes, casting a complex and unfathomable expression, her thoughts drifting back to half an hour ago.
—When Chen Yixi had just escaped to Fenglai Pavilion.
×××××××××××××××××
"Bang—" The window was smashed open, and a dark figure flew in.
"Who!?" Xuan Qingqiu had been awakened by the commotion outside. She was lying there fully clothed when she was startled. She grabbed the dagger she always carried and shouted in a sharp voice.
This dagger was called "Qilin Fang," a rare treasure accumulated by the Khitan royal family over many years. Its power to cut hair in an instant and slice through iron like mud was secondary; once cut, it would cause uncontrollable bleeding that would last for three days and three nights. When she was young, she accompanied the Ghostly Lord to the Liao palace and happened to meet Empress Dowager Xiao of Liao. Empress Dowager Xiao, seeing her intelligence and obedience, took a liking to her and casually gave her the Qilin Fang for emergencies.
At that time, she was still young and her martial arts skills were weak, so she naturally needed a sharp blade for self-defense. Over time, she developed the habit of carrying it everywhere. However, later, having fully mastered the Ghostly Lord's skills, she was only capable of taking others' lives, never encountering any danger herself. The Qilin Fang thus became a mere decorative item to be played with.
After taking the Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth Pill, her body underwent a complete transformation. The Five Absolute King Gu poison was completely cured, and all the martial arts she had cultivated since childhood vanished without a trace. Although she had been practicing her inner cultivation techniques whenever she had the chance, she had only recovered a mere 20% of her power. She had no choice but to once again wield the Qilin Fang, a weapon even the Ghost Netherworld God Lord feared.
"It's me, Junior Sister." Her voice was hoarse and hurried, with heavy breathing.
"Senior Brother!?" Xuan Qingqiu exclaimed in surprise.
"You... what are you doing here?"
"I received news that Ren Xiaoyao was seriously injured, and I wanted to assassinate him, but who knew that this guy was faking it, deliberately... deliberately luring me into a trap." Chen Yixi cursed through gritted teeth, striding to the bedside. By the moonlight streaming in from the window, it was clear that he was covered in sweat and looked extremely disheveled.
"What?! You want to kill Brother Ren?!"
"Yes! That beast tricked Master into making a solemn vow that he would never be an enemy of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance again. Killing him is not enough... not enough to vent my anger!" Chen Yixi leaned against the wall, panting heavily. "Luckily, my senior brother was smart enough to escape, but who knew we'd run into that female ninja from Japan again." Her words were filled with anger and hostility towards Ren Xiaoyao. Even though Guiming Shenjun had sworn that Ren Xiaoyao wasn't responsible, she blamed him entirely.
"Good heavens, this little pump girl's lightness skill is quite high. If I hadn't practiced the first two levels of the Wuwang Blood Curse, I probably would have been intercepted by her long ago." Chen Yixi hurriedly wiped away her sweat. "
Sister Xuan is a Jonin of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, the number one ninja school in Japan. Her martial arts are naturally superb."
"I might not be afraid of her in a one-on-one fight." Chen Yixi, trying to save face, stammered.
"A ninja master like that could take on ten opponents with 'Cataclysmic Fire,' and I heard Brother Ren defeated him, so at least..." For some reason, Xuan Qingqiu started speaking up for Ren Xiaoyao.
"Brother Ren, Brother Ren, you call me so affectionately!" Chen Yixi sneered.
"Affectionately? Hmph, if I didn't call him that, Ren Xiaoyao would trust me, and I could stay by his side without being exposed." Xuan Qingqiu raised an eyebrow, a cold glint in her eyes, and retorted sarcastically.
Chen Yixi paused, then lowered his voice and pressed, "If that's the case, Master told you to hold off Ren Xiaoyao and prevent him from reaching Xunfeng City during the Martial Arts Tournament, but why did you fail! Do you know how much effort Master put into this plan, how many arrangements he made before and after..." He gasped for breath, his teeth grinding, and said fiercely, "A flawless plan! Every detail was perfectly controlled, forcing those so-called righteous masters to question themselves one by one. The great cause of unifying the martial arts world was about to be accomplished in an instant! This... such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will never come again! Now, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly arrived at the last moment, and Master was careless and defeated by him. According to the oath we made to the Great God Mani, we can no longer be enemies with the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. You... you..."
"What do you mean, 'I'? I tried my best!" Xuan Qingqiu bit her pink lips and awkwardly explained, "According to the usual travel days, I delayed for at least ten days in Hua'e Valley. No matter how hard they rushed, they wouldn't have made it in time. But... Tingyu Pavilion is incredibly wealthy, and every horse is a top-quality steed, incredibly fast. I realized something was wrong, so I pretended to be sick on the road to delay the journey as much as possible. I should have succeeded, but then I encountered a mentally challenged old monk in Jiangling. And to make matters worse, the mentally challenged old monk had told Brother Ren a few years ago, 'If you and I meet again, the martial arts world of the Central Plains will surely suffer a catastrophe.' Brother Ren realized something was wrong, so he and several seniors set off first, changed to the fastest horses, and traveled day and night without sleep..."
"You..."
Chen Yixi was about to argue when Xuan Qingqiu pressed on, "Didn't you send people to raid Shaolin? How come you failed and this old monk escaped? Otherwise... otherwise none of this would have happened. You don't even reflect on your own actions, and you're blaming me? You're truly ungrateful. Don't you think about how much I've suffered, how much hardship I've endured all alone by his side? I've lost all my martial arts skills, and now I can only rely on the Qilin Fang for self-defense. I wanted a word of comfort, but instead, I got a beating..." "Swear..." These words came out in a rapid, swift voice she had never used before. She only realized later that she was defending herself; Chen Yixi had been relentlessly cursing and slandering Ren Xiaoyao, and she wanted to avenge him. That's why she was so furious with her senior brother. Her pretty face was flushed red, and a thin layer of sweat covered her cheeks. Her expression and demeanor were no different from a young girl in love defending her lover. Luckily, it was nighttime and her senior brother couldn't see, otherwise he would have been furious.
Chen Yixi had never seen her delicate, beautiful, and charming junior sister so angry. She couldn't bear to say anything more to her and said awkwardly, "Alright, junior sister, it's our fault. We didn't complete the mission, which caused you to suffer for nothing. All our efforts were in vain..."
"Alright, what's the use of saying all this now? Let's go."
"Go? Why? I want to stay here for the night," Chen Yixi said urgently.
"Brother Ren will definitely come to my place soon. Do you think you should leave?"

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 14 Night Talk in a Small Building

"What!? Ren Xiaoyao is coming to your place in the middle of the night!?" Chen Yixi was even shocked, his eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and rage, and he shouted wildly.
Xuan Qingqiu seemed to be deliberately provoking him, a barely perceptible smile escaping from the corner of her cherry lips. She casually remarked, "Xunfeng City belongs to Brother Ren, and so does Fenglai Pavilion. Of course, I'll come."
"You...you..." Chen Yixi's breathing suddenly quickened. He trembled as he raised his hand, his face as pale as paper, his teeth chattering. His eyes, like those of a hungry wolf, gleamed with a fierce, predatory light in the dark night. "You...you and him...no, no, no, it was him, it was him who...he..."
Chen Yixi panicked, his words becoming incoherent. "It...it must be! Ren Xiaoyao, that beast, is a womanizer, despicable and shameless. He sleeps with every girl he sees, ruining countless girls, let alone a beauty like you, Junior Sister...Ahhh!" He suddenly gripped the hilt of his sword, as if to draw it.
"What do you want to do?" Xuan Qingqiu's beautiful eyes didn't blink as she uttered a single, indifferent sentence.
"I'm going to kill him!!!" Chen Yixi roared, drawing his sword halfway before freezing in mid-air. He realized that his martial arts skills were far inferior to Ren Xiaoyao's, and that he would be lucky to escape, let alone kill him.
Seeing his anxious, angry, yet helpless expression, Xuan Qingqiu smiled instead. Her long, curved eyelashes remained unblinking as she calmly said, "Since coming to the Central Plains, I've often heard people say an old saying, 'Judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person.' I never understood it before, but today I've finally seen the light." "
You're calling me a petty person!?"
"Yes, isn't that right?" Xuan Qingqiu's expression was indifferent, her demeanor regaining the composure and certainty she possessed when she was in the Asura Sect. "Ren Xiaoyao is an enemy of the Holy Sect, and even more so, my master's mortal enemy. I don't deny that. But even from his perspective, I can't deny that he is a virtuous and principled gentleman, possessing every virtue—benevolence, righteousness, reason, wisdom, and filial piety—one in a million."
"Nonsense! Don't try to flatter him just to annoy me!"
"I'm not lying." Xuan Qingqiu's heart suddenly fluttered, making it pound. Her cheeks, which had just recovered from their initial flush, began to burn slightly. She couldn't help but defend Ren Xiaoyao, "In terms of benevolence, he risked serious injury to save countless heroes of the Central Plains from dire straits; in terms of righteousness, he risked his life to vouch to the world that his sworn brothers were not among the assassins; in terms of reason, he single-handedly facilitated the alliance between the Song Dynasty and Japan, benefiting millions of people in both countries; in terms of wisdom, he outnumbered 400,000 to 100,000, forcing the Liao Dynasty's war god, your most admired invincible general Yelü Xiezhen, to commit suicide; in terms of filial piety, he constantly thought of his deceased parents, saying that once the assassination was over, he would go to the Tianshan Mountains to retrieve his mother's remains and bury her with his father."
Chen Yixi saw his junior sister... While secretly annoyed, Xuan Qingqiu, who was now pleading on Ren Xiaoyao's behalf, suddenly heard the phrase "retrieving Mother's remains from Tianshan." A thought flashed through her mind, and her cunning eyes darted around as she said, "Junior Sister, you wouldn't be trying to deceive me, would you? You said he was a gentleman who hadn't done anything improper to you, so why would you tell him such a crucial matter—the leader of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance and the Marquis of the Great Song Dynasty, instead of staying in Xunfeng City, he's going all the way to Tianshan.
If word gets out, it'll probably cause another uproar." Xuan Qingqiu, busy suppressing her daughterly emotions, casually replied, "Believe it or not." Little did she know the fatal secret hidden in her words. These few words would later almost cost Ren Xiaoyao his life, and his many wives would experience the heartbreaking sorrow of being separated from their loved ones forever.
"Let's go quickly, Brother Ren is really coming soon."
While Chen Yixi was plotting her scheme, Xuan Qingqiu, who had recovered, urged her anxiously. Despite losing her martial arts skills, she was completely oblivious to her senior brother's cold smile and the murderous intent and hatred in his eyes.
"How did you know he would come? Did you arrange it beforehand?" The bitterness in Chen Yixi's voice had noticeably lessened, probably because she had already figured out a way to kill Ren Xiaoyao.
“Since the assassination attempt failed, the area outside must be completely surrounded. You can’t leave at all. Wei Yi’s only options are to hide in the Taiji Hall and wait for an opportunity, or to take a hostage and threaten Ren Xiaoyao to let you leave.” Xuan Qingqiu exhaled a fragrant breath, glanced at him, and said with a hint of sarcasm, “Among the girls living in the Taiji Hall, I am the only one who is ‘powerless.’ If I can’t be found in any of the places where people can hide, you must have infiltrated the Fenglai Pavilion!”
“That’s perfect. I’ll take you hostage and force Ren Xiaoyao to comply and obediently send me out. This way, it won’t take any effort at all, and it will also make him less suspicious of you.”
"Hmph, do you think Ren Xiaoyao is still the same greenhorn who barely scratched the surface and jumped off a cliff to avoid your sword?" Xuan Qingqiu subtly curled her lip and moved her chin slightly to the side. Although it was night and she didn't make any big movements, Chen Yixi could still feel her disdainful expression in the faint starlight and moonlight filtering through the window. However, this time he didn't react. He silently kept it in mind—the deeper the hatred and the heavier the resentment he harbored now, the more pleasant and exhilarating it would be to watch Ren Xiaoyao step by step into a desperate situation in the future!
"I won't go into detail about the Innate Supreme Qi, Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, Soaring Sky Sword Technique, Flying Immortal Transformation, Illusionary Shadow Capture, and Crossing the River on a Reed. As for the Shadow Clone Technique, Instantaneous Movement Technique, Mist Concealment Technique, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Lightning Blade, which of these have you heard of or seen?" Xuan Qingqiu's beautiful eyes sharpened, but her tone remained calm as a still well. "And that move, so powerful it shook heaven and earth, nearly killed you on the spot. If I hadn't feigned poison and shouted 'Swallow Return Secret Sword,' you might not even have a trace left—holding me hostage—the sword at my neck wouldn't have even had time to move before you went to see the Great God Mani."
Chen Yixi's lips twitched slightly, clearly suppressing her anger, and she said in a deep voice, "Fine, whatever you say, I'll do."
"Go, leave immediately. Go hide in the third room to the left of the main gate and leave tomorrow morning when the shift changes."
"What?! The third room to the left after turning left at the main gate?!" Chen Yixi was taken aback, then stepped forward and said coldly, "Ren Xiaoyao's residence is just a few rooms away. You want me to hide there? That's suicide!!!"
"What do you know? The most dangerous place is the safest place." Xuan Qingqiu's pupils contracted, a sharp light flashing within them, revealing a glint of wisdom. "If they can't find you here, Sister Long and the others won't sleep. They'll definitely call the guards in to search the place thoroughly again. Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts are superb, and his intuition is unparalleled. Logically, you wouldn't seek death by hiding nearby. So the guards will definitely check that place last. With your abilities, you wouldn't not know how to use this time difference to cleverly create an opportunity to leave, would you?"
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Less than a moment after Chen Yixi left, approaching footsteps sounded outside the door.
The footsteps were quick and light, almost inaudible in the tranquil night.
Xuan Qingqiu's expression changed upon hearing them.
If it was Brother Ren, how could he possibly make a sound while moving?
With his unparalleled lightness skill, even if Xuan Qingqiu had all her strength left, she couldn't possibly hear a sound from him.
Was it Sister Fengyi or Meina?!
No, that didn't sound like a young lady's footsteps.
Then who could it be? Who would come to Fenglai Pavilion in the middle of the night?
Xuan Qingqiu began to panic, unconsciously gripping the Qilin Fang tightly.
"Miss Xuan, are you asleep?" A voice rang out—it was Ren Xiaoyao!
Xuan Qingqiu froze, forgetting to return.
"Cough cough..." A series of violent coughs followed for a while, then he softly asked again.
"Brother Ren... is that you?" Partly incredulous, and partly to conceal her identity, Xuan Qingqiu had to portray the fragility expected of a wealthy young lady whose family had been destroyed. Her voice trembled slightly, a stark contrast to the aggressive, unyielding demeanor she had displayed when 'teaching' Chen Yixi a lesson.
"Yes, it's me... cough cough..." Ren Xiaoyao suddenly pushed the door open, stumbling forward several steps before regaining his balance.
"Brother Ren, what's wrong?!" Xuan Qingqiu was stunned, only remembering to help him after a moment.
"No... nothing... I'm fine, just caught a chill." Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand, trying his best to appear unharmed, but his trembling voice and the fact that he needed to lean against the wall to stand betrayed him.
If Xuan Qingqiu were truly the eldest daughter of a Xuanmen sect, she might have turned the tables. However, she was skilled in martial arts, and her skills were considerable. She also knew Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts prowess and abilities perfectly. She immediately recognized that his old injuries had flared up and were even worsening. With his innate supreme internal energy, even the most severe internal injuries could be suppressed with a little manipulation, or at least he could appear to be moving normally. Yet, Ren Xiaoyao was not only pale, but his body was also swaying precariously, like a candle in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment—truly alarming.
—To come and protect him despite such serious injuries was truly touching.
"Brother Ren, don't move around. Here, have some tea; it will make you feel better."
Xuan Qingqiu moved a chair over and helped him sit down, then handed him a cup of hot tea, her concern evident.
Ren Xiaoyao raised the cup and gulped it down, finally calming his turbulent chest.
“Brother Ren, why are you so late…”
“Just now, a bad guy entered the Taiji Hall, and Mina accidentally… cough cough… failed to capture him.” Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, trying to suppress the slight tremor in his voice, “I was afraid that this person would be desperate and break into Fenglai Pavilion to disturb you, so I… cough cough cough…”
“But… but you’re like this…”
“Cough cough, you don’t understand martial arts…” Seeing that the beauty was unharmed, Ren Xiaoyao’s heart was relieved, and his eyes were slightly better than before, with a few traces of color returning, “This bad guy was just a minor character. Even if I only have a few layers of strength left, it’s more than enough to deal with him.”
“Yesterday I heard Sister Su say that your injuries are more serious than ever before, and you’ll need at least ten days to recover. Even if… even if you wanted to protect me, you shouldn’t have come personally. Sister Huanlong and Sister Zhengongji could have done it for you.” Xuan Qingqiu opened her beautiful eyes wide and said anxiously.
“Sigh, they’ve been busy enough these past few days, they really need a good rest. After all this commotion, it’s almost midnight, they’ll be exhausted if they don’t get some rest soon.”
Xuan Qingqiu bit her lip, speaking quickly and anxiously, “But you’re even busier than them, often disappearing during the day, and you’re seriously injured, shouldn’t you be even busier…”
"I'm busy because of my duties as the leader of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, while Meina, Hanbi, and Fengyi are doing their best to fulfill their duties as wives, hoping to use their strength to share my burdens, relieve my worries, and help me recover as soon as possible." Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, looked out the window, and said slowly with a heavy heart, "Now I should fulfill my responsibilities as a husband, stay by your side alone, protect you, and let them get a good rest in the middle of the night—it doesn't matter if I feel a little uncomfortable or in pain, as long as it's for them, for you, no matter how hard or tiring it is, it's all worth it."

Volume 42 Martial Arts Myth Shakes the Jianghu Chapter 15 One Word Binds Eight Hearts

Xuan Qingqiu suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes shooting out an extremely complex expression, staring intently at Ren Xiaoyao.
This man, this uniquely good man in the world, this man who is seen by everyone as a womanizer and a philanderer, actually said such words.
"It doesn't matter if I feel a little uncomfortable or in pain, as long as it's for them, for you, I'll gladly endure any hardship."
In this era where men are revered and women are merely appendages and playthings for pleasure under the bed, devoid of any status or power, Ren Xiaoyao was willing to come here to protect her, despite his still-healing injuries and the constant threat of collapse, so that his beloved wives could sleep a little longer.
What profound affection and deep concern!
He had completely abandoned worldly conventions, placing his wives on an equal footing with him… no, on a position even more important than himself. Such
an ordinary, seemingly insignificant act revealed a depth of love as vast as the sea. How could she resist such a man, so devoted and loving?
Xuan Qingqiu grew up in the Asura Sect, witnessing the hardships and cruelty of the world. She had seen countless despicable, shameless, and fickle men, but Ren Xiaoyao was like a crystal-clear stream in a vast ocean of humanity, an eternal flame in the darkness. He showed her that not all men in the world were like those she had seen or imagined; at least there was one Ren Xiaoyao, a man of deep affection and true love.
Long before, when Ren Xiaoyao fell from a cliff to retrieve the Wooden Treasure Fruit to save her, sustaining severe injuries, she had already developed feelings for him. For days, she had tried to shake off these feelings, but to no avail. The excruciating pain tormented her, causing her the most heartbreaking period of her life.
Now she understood: Ren Xiaoyao was a uniquely good man in the world. Loving her was her honor; losing him would mean losing everything, and her life would lose all meaning.
"Aren't you afraid...aren't you afraid your injuries will worsen, prolonging your recovery, or even leaving you with a lifelong, incurable illness?" Xuan Qingqiu's heart was completely overwhelmed by an unprecedented emotion, and she couldn't help but ask.
"Afraid, of course I'm afraid!" Ren Xiaoyao suddenly raised his head, his eyes, slightly dimmed by his injuries, filled with a thousand tender feelings and boundless affection. He slowly said, word by word, "But what I fear most is that you will be hurt, even in the slightest way. That's why I came, to protect you, even dragging this crippled body that you see as a candle in the wind."
Xuan Qingqiu's mind went blank for a moment, a strange feeling of having a thousand words to say but not knowing how to express them.
He...he would give up his life for me...for me!!!
Xuan Qingqiu closed her beautiful eyes, her exquisite, curvaceous breasts rising and falling, incredibly alluring. A warmth more intense than ever before overwhelmed her entire being. When she opened them again, her eyes blazed with an incomprehensible intensity, her gaze fixed intently on Ren Xiaoyao. A tremor ran through her heart; she feared that what she saw and heard was merely a fleeting illusion, and that some sudden change would cause it all to vanish.
She almost lost her mind, almost throwing herself into Ren Xiaoyao's arms, offering him a passionate kiss that would melt his soul. Fortunately, she managed to hold onto the last vestiges of her reason, but her gaze could no longer leave him.
Ren Xiaoyao was also gazing at her, his eyes unblinking. She returned his burning gaze, her concerned look gradually replaced by a deep, boundless affection, as if she wanted to reveal her innermost feelings to him without reservation, surpassing a thousand words or tender whispers. He felt pity, love, and tenderness for this frail girl, whose entire family had been tragically murdered, leaving her alone and destitute. His initial concern and help had transformed into boundless love and compassion.
Even with his experience in the world of romance and his numerous affairs with women, he, like Xuan Qingqiu, almost couldn't control himself. He nearly couldn't resist embracing the beauty before him, seeking her fragrant lips, kissing her passionately, caressing her soft, boneless shoulders, and expressing his love for her with all his passion and strength.
Their gazes were drawn to each other like magnets, unable to look away. In a trance, only he and she remained in the world. Their spiritual essence, like a tide, receded from the real world and returned to the realm of pure hearts, uniting them in the most intimate contact. Though their bodies were separated by a table, their hearts were intimately connected, pressed together, and merged into one.
Time seemed to stand still, and their emotions, like a bursting dam, were beyond the reach of any human power to stop or restrain.
"Fire! Fire!"
A woman's terrified cry suddenly rang out from outside the door, followed by a cacophony of shouts and footsteps.
And of course, there was the sight of flames shooting into the sky.
Ren Xiaoyao jolted awake, staring at the thick smoke rising from the window. He was furious at Chen Yixi for burning down the palace, trying to reduce this building, which had cost so much of his manpower and resources, to ashes. He was even more enraged that Chen Yixi had ruined his peaceful time alone with Xuan Qingqiu. He roared, "Good heavens! He actually dared to set fire to the Taiji Hall, intending to create chaos and escape!" He got up to grab the man, but as soon as he stood, he stumbled and nearly fell.
Xuan Qingqiu rushed to help him, but Ren Xiaoyao waved her hand. He swayed slightly, a fleeting blush crossing his face, before straightening his back and regaining his balance. His exhaustion vanished.
If Xuan Qingqiu didn't understand martial arts, this might have passed by now. But she did, and not just a little, she understood. She immediately saw that Ren Xiaoyao was forcefully suppressing his injuries by circulating his inner energy—in his current state, he couldn't possibly use his internal strength, otherwise, even the slightest mistake would result in permanent damage to his internal organs. What
others would consider for a long time, or even try their best to avoid, Ren Xiaoyao acted decisively and without hesitation. Seeing the fire, he didn't even think twice before immediately channeling his inner energy to prepare to go out and capture the person.
Yes, in his heart, the woman he loved was always more important than himself.
Xuan Qingqiu was moved, truly moved. This cult saintess, raised by the Ghostly Lord from childhood and raised by him to be cold, ruthless, proud, and aloof, unmoved by anything, had a single, crystal-clear tear slide down her cheek.
Although her tears vanished in an instant, replaced by an icy calm, Ren Xiaoyao had undoubtedly left an indelible mark on her heart.
She would never forget him in this lifetime!
Ren Xiaoyao took a few steps away, then suddenly turned back, saying in a deep voice, "I had excess energy before, and now I can't use my intuition. If the bad guys are hiding outside, I might not be able to detect them. If they rush in and harm you as soon as I leave, I'm afraid... You should come out with me. That way, even if his master comes, I will fight with all my might to ensure you are not harmed in the slightest."
Xuan Qingqiu's heart pounded, her eyes filled with shy love. Her delicate, white teeth gently bit her red lips, her appearance indescribably alluring.
Ren Xiaoyao had no interest in admiring her. His strong hands grasped her slender hands, and he walked straight towards the door.
A stunning beauty was indeed a stunning beauty. Her long legs flowed gracefully, her figure swaying gently. Though covered by a silk blouse and skirt, it couldn't conceal the long, smooth curves of her chest, waist, and legs. Looking from behind, the silk skirt billowed, revealing her milky-white trousers, allowing one to imagine the long, shapely legs beneath. "
Fragrance of the night stains her clothes, beauty of the morning is intoxicating." Such a captivating beauty was worthy of Ren Xiaoyao; who else could she be worthy of?
To conserve his strength, Ren Xiaoyao didn't activate his sixth sense. Xuan Qingqiu, having only recovered twenty percent of her inner energy, also failed to notice Long Feiyun and Zhen Gongji Mina lying in ambush outside the door.
The moment the door opened, Ren Xiaoyao was caught off guard. He knew that even if Chen Yixi had the audacity of a bear and a leopard, she wouldn't dare provoke him. However, he never dreamed that he would be mistaken for Chen Yixi.
When the Water Prison Technique was activated, he was still somewhat confused, not knowing who or why this technique used to imprison enemies was being used on him. He only thought about protecting Xuan Qingqiu, enduring no matter how fierce the attack, and not letting him get past him. It wasn't
until Long Feiyun's life-gathering "Moon Dance at the End of the World" struck that Ren Xiaoyao suddenly came to his senses. He quickly used the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, borrowing Long Feiyun's power to block the fierce attacks that followed from the women. He wasn't sure if Chen Yixi had already escaped, so he used one hand, while the other hand held Xuan Qingqiu firmly from beginning to end. This method of using his power was at least three times more efficient than using both hands!
Don't be fooled by how he lightly pinched and flicked the water with two fingers, instantly neutralizing all the attacks. In fact, he had used at least 60% of his innate supreme qi. His damaged internal organs suffered another powerful blow from within, to the point that he vomited blood on the spot, unable to hold back even if he wanted to.
"Xiaoyao, how could you be so foolish! Just give us a command to protect Qingqiu, why..." Mina Shinguji's sweet cry pulled Xuan Qingqiu back from his reverie.
"I saw you were heading west, so I thought you were going back to rest, so... cough cough cough..." Ren Xiaoyao gave him a gentle look, his meaning clear even before he finished speaking.
All the wives were stunned, just like Xuan Qingqiu, deeply moved by the tender care and boundless affection revealed in this seemingly small matter.
Who says that many women will inevitably be jealous? That's because this man hasn't made them love him to the extreme.
Ren Xiaoyao, however, managed to completely capture seven... no, eight hearts in one night.
He is the only chivalrous saint, and also the most romantic!
"Master!" A burly man in brocade robes rushed in. It was Jing Si
, the Chief of the Inner Guard and the Golden-Armored Heavenly King.
"Uncle Jing, what's wrong?" Long Feiyun asked in surprise.
Jing Si was a highly senior member of the Tianji Sect. He had followed Zhao Kuangyin in conquering the land when Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong were still teenagers, which allowed him to enter the sect leader's bedchamber without prior notice. However, the usually steady and experienced Jing Si was walking in such a hurry, with resentment in his eyes, clearly indicating that something was amiss.
"A corpse was found in a corner of Fengque Pavilion."
"What, a corpse! Whose?" Long Feiyun asked urgently.
"Zhang Lixing, the captain of the third squad."
"Oh no, Chen Yixi must have killed him, then changed into his clothes and fled in the chaos... Sigh!" Long Feiyun sighed deeply, rubbing her forehead.
"His right hand, from the wrist up, was completely severed by Chen Yixi, and there were torn pieces of clothing lying nearby." Jing Si's voice choked with grief as he said, "I think he... he was still holding onto his opponent until death, refusing to let him go even as he breathed his last. It's just a pity that the other guards didn't notice, all for naught..."
Upon hearing this, the women all felt a deep sorrow.
What a loyal and unyielding man who would rather die than submit.
Ren Xiaoyao, lying on the bed, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and silently mourned the martyr. After a good while, he asked, "Who else is in his family?
" "His only son, Zhang Chumo, is a former sergeant in the Xiongwu Army. His grandson, Zhang Tao, is seven years old this year."
"Pass on my decree: give Zhang Lixing a grand funeral, provide him with the rites due to a captain, transfer Zhang Chumo to the Longxiang Army, and tell Qin Xiang to take Zhang Tao as his disciple and teach him martial arts properly."
"Master, this...this..." Jing Si was stunned and astonished. "A grand funeral is certainly appropriate. The Longxiang Army is the elite of our sect. Only those of the rank of clerk or above can apply for enlistment. Afterward, they must undergo three training sessions and five trials before they can enjoy the same treatment as a captain. As for having Vice Hall Master Zhang take his grandson as a disciple, this...this is a bit too generous..."
"Zhang Lixing sacrificed himself for our sect without hesitation. How can such a loyal and brave martyr be without a successor!" "Ren Xiaoyao's voice trembled, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, flashing with a sharp light, "Tell Zhang Lixing's family that these are all what they deserve. As for revenge... one day, this leader will personally behead Chen Yixi and use his head to pay tribute to the martyrs in the afterlife!" "

Volume 42, Martial Arts Legend Shakes the Jianghu, Chapter 16:

Flirting with Beauties in the Blink of an Eye. More
than half a month has passed. Ren Xiaoyao has been living a secluded life, focusing on recuperating in the Taiji Hall. All matters requiring public appearances are handled by Long Feiyun in disguise.
The women are also using their skills to serve the Tianji Sect wholeheartedly. Nangong Fengyi is in charge of managing the sect's accounts at the Qiande Division; Zhen Gongji Mina is busy training the "Flying Feathers"; Su Hanbi is at the Medical Camp; Nangong Fengzi is at the Forging Bureau; Shui Furong and Lin Yuxiu are busy helping out here and there.
The woman Ren Xiaoyao has his eye on is definitely not just a pretty face!
He himself is just sitting in the Taiji Hall all day with nothing to do, quietly waiting for his internal organs to fully heal.
In his boredom, he is fortunate to have Xuan Qingqiu.
Her unparalleled beauty, her gentle charm, her pure and refined elegance, her..."
In short, everything about her attracted Ren Xiaoyao, making him utterly irresistible.
Aside from sleeping, Ren Xiaoyao spent half of the past two weeks at Fenglai Pavilion, enjoying tea, appreciating flowers, composing poems and lyrics, discussing life and ideals… Many
of the joys Ren Xiaoyao had longed for, hoped for, and yearned for, but were unable to realize due to his heavy burdens and numerous affairs, finally became a reality because of this unprecedented serious injury.
Only the object of his affections changed from his many wives to Xuan Qingqiu.
Previously, his love for Xuan Qingqiu stemmed three-tenths from pity for her tragic life story and seven-tenths from her unparalleled beauty and captivating charm.
Now, Ren Xiaoyao realized that what truly attracted him to Xuan Qingqiu was not her stunning appearance, but her inexhaustible inner qualities, enough to make any man unconsciously want to explore and discover them.
She possessed all the virtues that women have.
No, to be precise, she embodied all the virtues of women.
She was exceptionally talented, with elegant speech, effortlessly composing poetry and prose, her literary talent rivaling that of the four great female poets of ancient China: Cai Wenji, Li Qingzhao, Zhuo Wenjun, and Shangguan Wan'er.
She was skilled in musical instruments; while her qin (a seven-stringed zither) technique was slightly inferior to Nangong Fengyi's, she was proficient in all kinds of instruments, including the xiao (
vertical flute), dizi (transverse flute), sheng (mouth organ), xun (ocarina), guzheng (zither), and pipa (lute). She was well-read, knowledgeable in history and current affairs, and often chatted with Ren Xiaoyao for hours on end, covering astronomy, geography, human relationships, and local customs—her knowledge sometimes even surpassing Ren Xiaoyao's.
… Her virtues were so numerous that she had no flaws, not even a hint of mediocrity. Ren Xiaoyao repeatedly wondered if he was dreaming, how could such a perfect woman exist in the world? He had already fallen in love with Xuan Qingqiu, and now his love was even more unwavering. In the past, if Ren Xiaoyao fancied a girl, he would eagerly try every means to possess her, indulging in passionate lovemaking and enjoying all the pleasures of the world. But this time, facing the ethereal and refined Xuan Qingqiu, Ren Xiaoyao felt a strange sense of unease, a reluctance to infringe upon or defile her. He intuitively sensed that Xuan Qingqiu's heart was not yet fully open to him, that she harbored some unspeakable secret. He couldn't fathom what this secret was, but he knew that until all the knots in her heart were untied, a faint, indescribable barrier would always exist between them. Until this barrier was removed, even if he possessed Xuan Qingqiu's body, he could not truly win her heart. Therefore, Ren Xiaoyao chose to wait, waiting for Xuan Qingqiu to be moved by him, waiting for her to open her heart to him. "Even heroes find it hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman," this saying is true. But the saying "The land of gentle pleasures is the hero's grave" doesn't apply to Ren Xiaoyao. While lingering at Fenglai Pavilion, he did not forget the cultivation of martial arts. Since he could not use his internal energy for the time being, he focused all his energy on improving his moves. He learned from many masters, especially after learning the innate supreme qi and comprehending the sixth sense. He could understand the essence of any martial art with just a glance, and then use it to his advantage. With his powerful internal energy, he could forcefully unleash it. Therefore, he could use the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the Heaven-Defying Divine Palm, the Great Vajra Palm, the Vajra Lion's Roar, the Nine Dragon Control Techniques, and the Fiery Sky-Supporting Sword. The power of these techniques was even greater than his own. The problem is that no matter how powerful each move, style, or technique is, if it cannot be fully understood and perfectly integrated, it's like several top masters without coordination; no matter how high their individual skills or cultivation, their power is limited. Therefore, in combat, he mostly uses the Lingxiao Sword Art and the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm. He uses the Nitian Divine Palm and the Yulong Nine Techniques relatively often because of the guidance from Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan. Other profound and unique techniques he has "seen" are only used occasionally, either to subdue or confuse the enemy, or to be activated with internal energy, purely for exchanging blows. If he could find the time to calmly and carefully ponder and refine them, with his current martial arts cultivation and experience, he wouldn't be unable to fully understand and integrate them into his own learning. However, this requires time and a peaceful and tranquil mind; it cannot be achieved overnight. Unfortunately, Ren Xiaoyao cannot find the time. While in Japan, he carried the heavy responsibilities of being the head of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school, the martial arts grandmaster, and the regent, leaving him no time to spare. He had already spent countless hours and energy mastering the three great lightness skills—Flying Immortal Transformation, Illusory Shadow Capture, and Crossing the River on a Reed—and supplementing them with the Shadow Clone Technique to create the "Free and Easy Wandering" movement technique. He had no time to think about anything else. Upon returning to the Central Plains, he was busy sparring and learning from the four grandmasters on the ship, thoroughly mastering the Heaven-Defying Palm, the Nine Dragon Control Techniques, and the Meng Clan's hidden weapons. Just when he finally had a moment to consider other martial arts, he encountered Xuan Qingqiu, who was suffering from a deadly poison… The rest is history: seeking medical help in Flower Calyx Valley, quelling the rebellion in Jiangnan, risking his life to obtain the exotic fruit, rushing to Xunfeng City, encountering the mentally challenged, and traveling day and night… until finally defeating the Ghostly Netherworld Lord and revealing the true form of Hentian. During this time, he probably didn't even have a single good night's sleep, let alone time to contemplate martial arts. Until this time, his internal organs were severely injured, the severity of his injuries was beyond repair. The reckless use of his inner energy that night had also ruined his several days of recuperation, forcing him to obediently stay in the Taiji Hall to recover. After more than half a month, his injuries had healed to a considerable extent, and his analysis, reflection, comprehension, and integration of the various martial arts techniques he knew were also nearing completion. What, so fast!? Of course, firstly, the company of beautiful women made him feel relaxed and happy. Half a day was spent enjoying the flowers and moon at Fenglai Pavilion, and the other half contemplating and studying in his palace. This balance of work and rest allowed him to progress much faster than if he had buried himself in thought day and night. Secondly, with the Asura Sect retreating to the Central Plains and the assassination attempt imminent, all external affairs were handled by Long Feiyun, freeing him from worry and naturally reducing the time required. Thus, Ren Xiaoyao entered a new realm in his pursuit of martial arts. Fists, swords, palms, knives, clubs, spears, whips… no matter the weapon, no matter the move, there was nothing he couldn't see through, understand, or comprehend. With a willing heart, he could effortlessly wield any ultimate skill. —Of course, except for the "Eternal Elegance in a Laughing Conversation" technique left by his father. In other words, purely in terms of technique, the twenty-three-year-old Ren Xiaoyao was already the undisputed number one in the world. ××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× One day, Ren Xiaoyao, having nothing to do, summoned Liu Yong to teach him poetry and literature. The mischievous little boy of yesteryear had now grown into a robust and spirited young man. His martial arts had naturally improved, and his literary talent surpassed not only his peers but also many seasoned scholars who had studied their entire lives. Fortunately, Ren Xiaoyao had been raised by the Four Sages of Qin, Qi, Shu, and Hua since childhood, and had learned their skills thoroughly. His trip to Japan had also taught him waka poetry, making him more than capable of being Liu Yong's literary tutor. Xuan Qingqiu accompanied him, teaching Liu Yong to compose lyrics in the pavilion of the back garden. Ren Xiaoyao gazed tenderly at his beloved and recited: "Fish sink and geese fall because of her furrowed brows, her beauty is captivating, her eyes are enchanting, a smile can topple cities, the Yellow River's turbid waves are clear, her ice-like skin and proud bones are radiant, all flowers are jealous, a hundred flowers surpass her. A hero is helpless because of his affections, longing arises, a lonely shadow lingers. Even if I wield my sword of wisdom, how can I sever this heart? Fallen flowers and flowing water, how can they be heartless? My heart is broken, I weep and sing." "Good, good, what a beautiful poem, 'A Hundred Flowers Surpass' from Jiangcheng!" Liu Yong jumped up and down excitedly, clapping his hands, his tender face flushed red. Xuan Qingqiu trembled under his intense gaze, unable to resist the shyness of a young girl, lowering her head to avoid his burning eyes. Ren Xiaoyao's poem clearly praised her unparalleled beauty, then expressed his admiration with the line "Heroes are helpless against their own affections," and the final lines, "My heart breaks, I weep," were a true reflection of his sorrow at missing this chance. Did she not love Ren Xiaoyao? No, she did! After all these events, Xuan Qingqiu was already head over heels in love with Ren Xiaoyao. However, she could not accept it, because Ren Xiaoyao was the son of her master's enemy, the greatest foe of the Holy Sect. The Ghostly Lord had raised her, and the Asura Sect had provided her with over a decade of protection and care. She could not forget her master's kindness, nor could she betray the Ghostly Lord who had raised and cared for her. Therefore, she could not accept Ren Xiaoyao's love no matter what, because once she did, she would be deeply involved and unable to extricate herself, making it difficult to complete the tasks entrusted to her by her master and the Holy Sect.

Ren Xiaoyao, unaware of this, seized the rare opportunity of teaching Liu Yong to compose lyrics and poetry to continue his declaration of love: "The azure sky reflects my red makeup, spring flowers and autumn moon, winding streams and floating wine cups. Ten years have passed since we parted, yet I cannot forget you. My longing turns to tears, my sword-like brows are now frosted with age. We are like two mandarin ducks, each wandering aimlessly, our earthly ties unbroken, the sight of you brings me sorrow.
The cold wind and rain break my heart, in this world and in heaven, life and death are uncertain." This was actually a description of the heartbreaking scene after ten years of separation from Xuan Qingqiu, the line "in this world and in heaven, life and death are uncertain" revealing his longing for her in vain, his heart breaking, and his desire to prove his love with death.
Xuan Qingqiu's delicate body trembled violently, her flawless cheeks instantly flushed crimson, making her even more radiant and captivating. She glanced shyly at Ren Xiaoyao, seemingly annoyed by his abrupt and direct confession, yet also seemingly overwhelmed with a mixture of shyness and joy, annoyed that he stared at her intently. Her resentful eyes seemed to say, "You silly boy, what's so great about me that you treat me like this?" Then she lowered her head, her expression a captivating mix of shyness and inner turmoil, unsure whether to accept or reject.
"A youth without romance is a wasted youth, a carefree life is not the way of a saint. Beside the flowers and moon, accompanied by a beautiful woman, two hearts in love soaring high, their love unwavering, enduring until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble. This love is stronger than gold, like the lingering smoke of clouds and rain over Wushan, a love that laughs proudly in this mortal world!"
"Xiaoyao—" The third poem, "Yu Meiren: Love," had barely left her lips when Xuan Qingqiu's delicate body trembled again, hot tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Liu Yong stared in disbelief, marveling at the wondrous power of poetry. Ren Xiaoyao reached out and gently took her soft hand, intending to pull her into his embrace.
Suddenly, Xuan Qingqiu looked up, her beautiful eyes becoming clear as water, gazing at a white cloud floating in the sky. She took a deep breath, then looked at him, her previous shyness and timidity vanishing completely.
"Xiaoyao, actually I..."
"Xiaoyao—" Almost simultaneously, a sweet cry rang out from afar.
Ren Xiaoyao turned around and saw Long Feiyun rushing towards him, clutching several short notes in her hand. Judging from her speed and posture, and her unusual urgency, something big must have happened.
Was it a matter of the martial world? A matter of the martial arts community? Or a matter of the state? A matter of the world?
"Feiyun, what's wrong?!"
Ren Xiaoyao disregarded his personal feelings, leaving Xuan Qingqiu behind to greet her, and asked urgently.
Long Feiyun stopped, her breathing rapid and labored, her pretty face showing intense excitement. Her lips trembled slightly as she uttered four words in a high-pitched voice: "Absolute Annihilation!"

"

What? What did you say?! You...you...you...say it again!" Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently. It took him a long time to recover, and he asked in a trembling voice, seemingly unable to believe his ears.
Long Feiyun gasped for breath, revealing her immense excitement, and exclaimed, "Just as you predicted, Juesha struck first, dispatching elite assassins to launch a night raid on the three major alliances of Jiangnan, Jiangbei, and Shuzhong. Sect Leader Nangong, Gang Leader Xiong, and Sect Leader Tang cleverly laid an ambush, annihilating them all in one fell swoop—here, these are messages sent by carrier pigeon."
"From your father-in-law, Tingyuxuan."
"On the seventh day of the fifth month, at the hour of Hai (9-11 PM), Fenri and Jueyue led eight hundred assassins to launch a surprise attack on Tingyuxuan. Master Zhuge cleverly devised a plan, luring them into a trap. Five ambushes were launched in quick succession. Fenri and Jueyue died on the spot, and none of the rest survived."
"Excellent! A flawless plan, accomplished in one night. Truly worthy of Master Zhuge!"
"This one is from Gang Leader Xiong."
"On the fifth day of the fifth month, Zhuiming and Shepo, together with the traitors Zhang Jinchao and Chen Peng, launched a coordinated attack, sending a thousand assassins to infiltrate Junshan under cover of night to wipe out our gang. Fortunately, our fourth brother informed us of the list of inside agents, allowing us to prepare in advance and annihilate them in one fell swoop."
"In one fell swoop? That means Zhuiming and Shepo also died on the spot, hahaha."
"The rest is a message from the Tang Clan Master, three pages in total, detailing the entire process of eliminating the main force of Juesha on the eighth day of the fifth month."
"Tang traveled day and night, secretly returning to the Tang Clan, settling all affairs within the clan in advance, and secretly instructing his Iron-Blooded Thirteen Eagles to monitor the traitors Tang Ruiqing, Tang Maolin, and Tang Yanxiang. On the fifth day of the fifth month, Tang Ruiqing secretly entered Chengdu under the pretext of purchasing equipment to meet with Duohun, discussing a coordinated attack from within and without, and plotting against the clan's strategy; on the sixth day of the fifth month, Tang Maolin and Tang Yanxiang secretly replaced the guards of the three passes of Zhuhai with their own trusted men, and under the pretext of welcoming the clan master, tricked Tang Li'ang and Tang Xiaozhong into going to eastern Sichuan."
"I anticipated the impending assassination, so I personally led the Thirteen Iron-Blooded Eagles to secretly capture the three men. I then used the 'Myriad Manifestations of the Netherworld' poison left by my late father. Those afflicted with this poison experience aches, numbness, and itching all over their bodies, as if bitten by thousands of ants, unable to live or die. They need to take the antidote daily to slightly alleviate the pain. Tang Maolin, Tang Yanxiang, and Tang Xiaozhong, seeking a reprieve, bowed their heads and confessed everything, obediently revealing that on the eighth day of the fifth month, Hentian and Duohun led the main force of the assassination attack on my Tang Clan. I, Tang, turned the tables and mobilized all the elites of the sect to set up an ambush at the Three Passes of the Bamboo Sea."
"On the eighth day, Tang Maolin and others led Hentian, Duohun, and two thousand assassins to attack our sect. After the vanguard of Juesha had entered and the rearguard was halfway there, all the mechanisms, traps, and ambushes were activated at once. Nine hundred disciples from the three branches of swords, crossbows, and darts surrounded us from all sides, fighting a bloody battle. We fought from dawn to dusk, with more than half of our men killed or wounded, and blood flowing like a river. Finally, we annihilated the main force of Juesha in one fell swoop. Duohun was killed by the Thirteen Eagles of Iron Blood, and Hentian led his remaining troops to retreat into Broken Heart Cliff. For the sake of justice in the martial world, I, Tang, disregarded the ancestral teachings and led my men in hot pursuit. Finally, we surrounded Hentian at the top of Broken Heart Cliff and used the 'Three Rivers Night Rain,' which I had created with more than ten years of effort
, to knock him off the cliff!" "The martial world is settled! The martial world is settled!" After reading the letter, Ren Xiaoyao did not laugh loudly or shout, but instead knelt down with a "thump," his tiger eyes filled with tears.
The Asura Cult retreated to the Western Regions, its members annihilated, and the martial arts world of the Central Plains finally found peace
. The world of martial arts was now tranquil! The things his father and father-in-law had devoted their lives to, and which they hadn't been able to accomplish even in their final moments, had finally come true in his own hands. They could finally rest in peace in
the afterlife. Through tear-blurred eyes, he seemed to see his father, severely wounded and on the verge of death, using his last breath to carve the Eighteen Forms of the Soaring Sky Sword Technique in a cave at the bottom of Cloud Valley, and the wall covered with his deeply moving and profound final words.
"I have no regrets in life, only my wife and children. I hope someone will pass on my last words, and that they will not worry about me."
Father, I will bury your body with my own hands. I have memorized the precious sword and sword techniques you left behind...
"The Lingxiao Sword Technique is also a righteous sword. I hope to use it to sweep away the wicked and petty villains and the treacherous and wicked in the world. I will then rest in peace with a smile."
Father, I have not failed your expectations. Since I left Yunwu Valley, I have used the Ice Soul Frost Sword and the Lingxiao Sword Technique to kill countless members of the Asura Cult and annihilate villains. A month ago, I even defeated the Ghost Nether God, forcing the Asura Cult to retreat to the Western Regions and no longer be an enemy of the Central Plains martial arts alliance. In these days, I have been strategizing and devising ingenious plans, finally luring out the main force of the Juesha Cult, and then annihilating them in one fell swoop. With Hentian dead, no one can overthrow the Central Plains martial arts world anymore!
Xiaoyao is your son, and my actions will never disappoint you.
Ren Xiaoyao snapped out of his daze and found that his many wives had gathered around the pavilion.
They were passing around the short note that Long Feiyun had brought, their faces beaming with joy.
"Great! Big brother, the martial world is finally at peace!"
"Yes, just like the ninja world that has been wiped out by Aizen Sousuke's faction and Prince Kirito, there will be no more turmoil or killing."
"I hope the losses in the battle at Tingyu Pavilion weren't too great."
"The traps I set in the manor will definitely come in handy."
"Hmph, I didn't run into any, otherwise I would have killed a hundred or so of them to vent my anger."
"Now Xiaoyao can rest assured, his injuries should heal in three to five days."
The women chattered excitedly, completely unaware of Xuan Qingqiu in the pavilion, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Isn't Juesha very powerful? How come the Tang Clan of Shu alone wiped out the main force?" Liu Yong blinked his big, bright, and intelligent eyes, asking in confusion.
"It was Big Brother's brilliant strategy!" Lin Yuxiu affectionately stroked his little head, adopting the posture of an older sister (or master's wife?), and said sweetly, "Big Brother asked several seniors to take action and found Juesha's spy hidden in the Tang Clan of Shu beforehand, and then..." Her pretty face flushed red, overflowing with admiration and love for Ren Xiaoyao.
"Oh, Master used the substitution trick... um, and there's also the trick of luring the snake out of its hole." Liu Yong was even clever enough to guess correctly halfway through the conversation.
"That's right, then you should learn more from Big Brother in the future, so that you can shoulder the responsibility of the Tianji Sect."
"What if Hentian fell off the cliff and didn't die?" Liu Yong pointed to his chin, asking innocently.
"Hahaha, Broken Heart Cliff is a sheer precipice, its bottom teeming with poisonous insects and plants. Hentian was already severely injured before falling; even if he didn't die from the fall, he would have been poisoned to death." Ren Xiaoyao flicked his sleeves and laughed loudly, "It's time for this wicked dog to meet his end!"
Long Feiyun walked to Ren Xiaoyao's side and sighed softly, "Although it was an ambush, everyone in the Assassins was a fearless and highly skilled assassin. The fact that the Tang Clan could annihilate two thousand enemies with only nine hundred disciples shows that the Tang Clan leader was decisive and skillful in command, making full use of the unique terrain of the Bamboo Sea Three Passes and the pre-arranged traps to compensate for the Tang Clan disciples' lack of numbers and individual combat capabilities."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded, composed himself, and said in a deep voice, "As the saying goes, 'A desperate army is bound to win.' Tang Tianying, the Great Protector, and the three young masters of the Tang Clan all died tragically in the Assassins' attack. The Tang Clan..." From Alliance Leader Tang Yunhe down to Putong's disciples, everyone was united in their hatred of the enemy, and in battle, everyone fought bravely and eagerly. In contrast, Juesha, believing they had an inside man to help them infiltrate Tang Clan's territory undetected and wipe out the Sichuan martial arts world, was instead outmaneuvered and ambushed. Their panic and terror were unimaginable. The Bamboo Sea Three Passes were the gateway to Tang Clan, a strategically important location riddled with traps and mechanisms. With a little more preparation… Hmph, Hentian and his group probably wouldn't even see a Tang Clan disciple before being overwhelmed by hidden weapons from all directions.”
Long Feiyun nodded slightly, a look of sadness appearing on her breathtakingly beautiful face. She murmured, “That's true, but with Juesha's strength, they'll surely inflict heavy losses on both sides. If this battle goes on, the Sichuan Tang Clan will likely… alas, rivers of blood will flow. How many of those blood will be shed by Tang Clan disciples?”
"Yes, the ferocity of this battle is self-evident..." Ren Xiaoyao's voice suddenly choked, his eyes involuntarily moistening. "However, compared to the 23,976 deaths and over 80,000 injuries suffered by the Central Plains martial arts alliance in the Battle of Wuyun Mountain, the sacrifices of the Tang Clan, Tingyu Pavilion, and Beggar Clan of Sichuan were worthwhile."
"The sacrifices of our heroic predecessors only brought eighteen years of peace to the martial world. I wonder what will happen this time..." "
Forever!!!" Ren Xiaoyao abruptly interrupted her, raising his head high, his tiger-like eyes blazing as he gazed at the sky, his gaze radiating a resolute and powerful confidence. He declared loudly, word by word, "As long as I, Ren Xiaoyao, live, I will not allow anyone to stir up bloodshed, nor will I allow anyone to have any power to touch the Central Plains martial arts world!"
Each word pierced the heavens, each phrase resounding through the clouds! His
heroic spirit surged, his ambition soared to the heavens!!
As long as he lived, he would dedicate all his strength to protecting the Central Plains martial arts world!!
This is our dashing hero, this is our supreme martial arts master!
This is the lover in our hearts!
All the women stared at Ren Xiaoyao in a daze, their eyes filled with longing, admiration and respect for his heroic courage, and of course, a deep love as rich as wine and as sweet as honey.
"Fei Yun, immediately proclaim to the world in the name of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader that on the fifteenth of July, the heroes of the Central Plains will gather in Xunfeng City. I request His Majesty to give them, and to those virtuous men who sacrificed themselves to uphold the justice and morality of the martial world, a satisfactory explanation!"

Volume 43, Chapter 1: A Thousand

Years of Achievements. The dates are now being recalculated: June 7th, the Martial Arts Conference; June 8th, the Martial Arts Competition; June 13th, Liu Yuxu reveals his hatred for the Heavenly King; June 24th, Ren Xiaoyao becomes the Alliance Leader; July 19th, the Beggars' Sect exterminates a thousand assassins; July 21st, Tingyu Pavilion ambushes and kills eight hundred assassins; July 22nd, the Tang Clan eliminates the main force of the Absolute Killing; Hentian falls off a cliff and dies. Two months later, on September 22nd, the Martial Arts Conference will be held again.
The following text uses the new dates; any discrepancies with the previous text will be resolved by the latter.
September 22nd.
Tianji Sect, Xunfeng City, Qilin Hall.
The training ground outside Wangyue Pavilion.
Banners fluttered, and the air was filled with the clamor of voices. Heroes from fifteen regions under the Song Dynasty's rule—Jingdong, Jingxi, Hebei, Hedong, Shaanxi, Huainan, Jiangnan, Jinghu South, Jinghu North, Liangzhe, Fujian, Xichuan, Xiaxi, Guangnan East, and Guangnan West—all gathered here. The number of participants and the diversity of factions surpassed even the previous gatherings of Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, the Tianji Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces, and the Shaolin Temple Heroes' Gathering three years prior.
Every established martial arts organization from various regions, even those without a sect, and many long-retired senior figures were all present.
In the past, they always participated in martial arts gatherings with heavy hearts and heavy minds. Even if they were spirited and high-spirited during the gathering, the inevitable aftermath of battles would bring endless losses—even
the loss of life!
Therefore, every martial arts gathering, though outwardly grand and imposing, was inwardly filled with sorrow and grief for every participant, for a great battle was inevitable, and death was inevitable.
They were all chivalrous heroes, unafraid to die, but the loss of brothers, relatives, fellow disciples, close friends, masters, and students... the grief in their hearts was beyond words.
Only this time, the situation was entirely different.
All the heroes arrived in Xunfeng City with joy and elation, for the ruthless killer was dead, the Central Plains martial arts world was now at peace, and there would be no more turmoil in the martial world.
"The Alliance Leader has arrived!" A long cry rang out, and the entire arena fell silent.
Ren Xiaoyao still wore that brocade robe embroidered with dragon patterns, a five-colored amber-inlaid belt around his waist, and a towering crown on his head, exuding the aura of a king who reigned supreme over the world.
Behind him followed the six leaders of the Six Alliances: Nangong Bubai, the world's richest man, a powerful figure in the business world; Lin Feifan, one of the eight masters of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, a renowned figure for a long time; Tang Yunhe, the undisputed king of hidden weapons, dominating Sichuan; Xiong Xiaotian, the leader of the world's largest gang, commanding tens of thousands of followers with a mere gesture; Ye Zhiqi, not yet thirty, controlling the heroes of thirteen provinces, his orders swaying countless underworld figures; and Xiao Xingchen, a son of a tiger and a dragon, whose "Sun Wheel Breaks Yi" technique stunned the entire martial arts tournament, making heroes from all over the world take notice.
But compared to Ren Xiaoyao, they were merely green leaves to set off the flower.
The current Ren Xiaoyao had long since weathered countless storms and overcome numerous trials and tribulations. He was no longer the naive and inexperienced young man he once was, but a great hero who stood tall and protected the country and its people.
If when he first took command of the Heavenly Pole Sect, it was through his quick wit, the devoted assistance of Long Feiyun, and the unwavering support of veteran generals like Qin Huaiyu, Zhang Jinghong, and Liu Ningtao that he was able to quell the chaos left by Long Yinxiao's passing and lead the crumbling Heavenly Pole Sect to defeat the ferocious Khitan army of 400,000.
However, after taking over the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, which had lost Shinguji Ryūken, he largely relied on his own strength to reorganize the Hueco Mundo, which was plagued by the defection of its three captains and internal turmoil. In just half a month, he eliminated all the forces planted by Aizen Sōsuke, reorganized the 13th Division, and the Hokushin Ittō-ryū's power and status in the ninjutsu world rapidly recovered, surpassing even the influence of Shinguji Ryūken before the Seven Great Clans Peace Conference.
Afterwards, he became the Grand Master of the Martial Arts, vigorously promoting the construction plan of the eleven ninjutsu systems. He was completely in charge of the process, with the opinions and suggestions of others serving only as references. The strong support of Kishimoto Masashi and the leaders of various sects was merely an external factor that accelerated the process.
By the time he was appointed Kanpaku and assumed the position of acting emperor, he was fully capable, courageous, and magnanimous in controlling the people's livelihood and political affairs of the entire country.
It wasn't just that Ren Xiaoyao was lucky; he always had various positions to hone his skills, cultivating a kingly aura, a world-conquering courage, and a domineering spirit. Only then did he return to the country to take over the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, creating a martial arts legend that was unprecedented and unparalleled in history.
Rather, it is said, "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests their will, strains their muscles and bones, starves their body, empties their resources, and frustrates their endeavors, so as to
strengthen their resolve and increase their abilities." In this world, only Ren Xiaoyao can single-handedly save the martial arts world from peril and rescue the Jianghu from its dire straits!
It is as if it were the will of Heaven; the events Ren Xiaoyao experiences are all preordained.
His extraordinary talent, his tireless efforts, and his unwavering will and determination are destined to overcome all difficulties and obstacles, helping him create a martial arts legend.
The aura of a war god, bearing the mission bestowed by Heaven, is beyond the reach of ordinary people.
"Alliance Leader!" The assembled heroes faced the high platform, bowing in unison.
Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down, and said loudly, "Several months ago, right here, I was honored by your support and elected as the leader of the martial arts alliance. At that time, I swore to the heavens that I would quell the extermination within a year, bring peace to the martial arts world within two years, and eliminate the border troubles within three years. Now..."
"Alliance Leader, don't be so modest!" Tang Sihan, sitting in the front row of Tang Clan disciples at the east end of the square, shouted. "The promise of pacifying Juesha in one year was meant for us. As for the leaders of the various branch alliances..." Nangong Wushang
stroked his beard and smiled: "Young Hero Wei, you don't understand. Our son-in-law... no, Alliance Leader, deliberately spread the word to confuse Juesha, so that we can achieve our goal in one fell swoop and eliminate this scourge for the Central Plains martial arts world!"
Daoist Yuling said longingly: "'Not one year, but one month. Within a month, I will wipe out all of Juesha's forces in the Central Plains. Hentian will either be killed by me on the spot or obediently roll back to Liao Kingdom with his tail between his legs!' What passionate words, what courage and boldness! Only the Alliance Leader could utter such bold words!"
"The Alliance Leader set the plan on June 24th, and on July 22nd, the main force was wiped out in Shu, all within just twenty-eight days." Deng Tao stood up, exclaiming with heartfelt admiration, "The Alliance Leader's strategy is profound and flawless, we admire him greatly, please accept Deng Tao's bow." He bent his knees and immediately knelt before Ren Xiaoyao.
"Please accept our bow!"
The heroes rose from their seats and knelt on the ground.
"No, please rise quickly."
"The Alliance Leader's righteousness is beyond our ability to express our respect without prostrating ourselves!" Deng Tao kowtowed five times on the spot, and the heroes followed suit.
"Xiaoyao, what virtue or ability do I have to accept such a great gift..." Ren Xiaoyao was about to step down to help him when he suddenly felt a large hand press on his shoulder from behind.
"This is what you deserve!" The old and vigorous tone, the deeply moved voice, and the kind face that had weathered many storms yet remained vigorous and spirited.
"Senior Dugu!" Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback.
Dugu Yu tightened his grip on Ren Xiaoyao's hand slightly and said earnestly, "Thanks to your plan, the martial arts world of the Central Plains was spared a bloodbath, and all the heroes no longer needed to risk their lives. What harm is there in receiving such a grand salute from everyone now?"
After speaking, he strode to the center of the arena and said loudly, "Heroes, listen to what Dugu has to say!"
The heroes bowed and returned to their places, listening attentively to the words that this grandmaster and elder of the martial arts world was about to proclaim.
"Seventy years ago, when Yelü Deguang led his army into Bianliang and destroyed the Later Jin Dynasty, the land of China was plunged into chaos. The martial arts world of the Central Plains was on the verge of collapse. Countless patriots and heroic predecessors selflessly sacrificed themselves to save the country and bring peace to the people, even at the cost of their lives."
Dugu Yu stroked his beard and sighed, his expression filled with reminiscence and remembrance. He murmured, "First, there were the Four Sages of Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua, and Hua, who agreed to retire from the martial arts world and never return to the Central Plains in exchange for Chi Li leading the Shura Sect to retreat to the Western Regions. Then there was the idiot master, Brother Murong (Murong Shaozong)..." "Situ Ning, Xue Yilong, my sister Yiqiu and I stormed into Bianliang to eliminate Yelü Deguang... Alas, that battle was so tragic and fierce. Brother Murong, Xue Yilong, and Yiqiu died on the spot, sacrificing themselves for their country. My sister Yiqiu, the mentally challenged master, and Situ Ning were also seriously injured. If it weren't for the timely arrival of the great hero Feng Renqiu, who defeated the powerful enemy with his innate supreme qi, the martial arts world of the Central Plains would have been in ruins!"
Xiaoming, Xiaochen, Xiaoxuan, Xiaokong, and Xiaojing, the five great monks, all of whom had experienced the event, couldn't help but sigh with emotion when they heard Dugu Yu recount it.
"Master Feng's martial arts and character are unparalleled in this world. If he were to rule the Central Plains martial arts world, the stability of the martial arts world would be just around the corner. However, Master Feng has suffered a setback in love and is heartbroken. Although I have tried to comfort him many times, his desire to retire is irrevocably changed." Dugu Yu's eyes shone with intense emotion as he spoke loudly, "New talents emerge in every generation, replacing the old. Several years later, Zhao Kuangyin, the son of King Wu Zhao Hongyin, will emerge. His talent and ambition, his civil and military achievements, will be unparalleled in this world. I will do everything in my power to help him establish the Tianji Sect, hoping to shake up the martial arts world and revitalize it. However, at that time, the world was in chaos, with warlords vying for power, and the people were suffering greatly. Kuangyin, with his boundless righteousness, wanted to relieve the people's suffering and save them..." The people were in dire straits, so at Chenqiao Post Station, he donned the yellow robe, ascended the throne, and vowed to first unify the Central Plains before settling the martial world.
At this point, Dugu Yu trembled, almost bursting into tears: "But heaven is jealous of talent. Kuangyin toiled his entire life, his great undertaking unfinished, before passing away prematurely. His adopted son, Yinxiao, was skilled in both literature and martial arts, inheriting all of Kuangyin's true teachings. The affairs of the martial world should have been entrusted to him, but Guangyi succeeded to the throne, planning the Northern Expedition to continue his elder brother's unfinished work. Yinxiao led the heroes of Tianji in battle, unable to attend to anything else. The Northern Han was pacified in one battle, and it seemed that the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were about to be recovered, the nation's external threats were quelled. Unexpectedly, the Asura Sect and Juesha invaded the Central Plains, and the already unsettled martial world was suddenly plunged into a bloodbath."
"Guangyi acted decisively, ordering Yinxiao to lead the entire Tianji Army back to reinforce the area. In the Battle of Wuyun Mountain, our Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance finally achieved a pyrrhic victory. However, the imperial army was defeated by Yelü Xiezhen, and the Northern Expedition fell short. The exceptionally talented and skilled hero, whom I deeply admire, Ren Qiaocui, also fell victim to a treacherous plot and died with deep regret."
"For the next eighteen years, although the martial world was at peace, Hentian was not dead, and the Shura Sect was stirring in the north. We heroes harbored concerns and did not live in peace. Until Xiaoyao became the alliance leader, the Shura Sect promised to return north, and Juesha was completely annihilated. After more than eighty years of turmoil, the Central Plains martial arts world finally regained peace!"
"Three generations of heroes, countless warriors, the selfless sacrifice of countless martyrs, the countless tears and blood shed in their heroic deeds—all these have brought about a reward. I am deeply gratified, truly gratified!"
Dugu Yu's words were a fair assessment of Ren Xiaoyao's achievements from the perspective of his predecessors. Zhao Kuangyin unified the Central Plains, bringing peace to the land and ending the chaotic Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Ren Xiaoyao upheld order in the martial arts world, bringing peace and tranquility to the Jianghu, sweeping away the evil demons and rebels who plagued the world. From then on, the people, the nation, and the world enjoyed peace.
To put it bluntly, Zhao Kuangyin and Ren Xiaoyao unified the country and brought peace to the martial arts world, together forging the impregnable Song Dynasty and the happy and stable lives of its people.
Of course, in this era of absolute imperial power, it was impossible for most people to objectively equate Ren Xiaoyao with the founding emperor, but only Dugu Yu could!
The Zhao brothers, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Kuangyi, held him in the same esteem and reverence as the countless heroes present held for Ren Xiaoyao!
As the most senior and highest-ranking elder in the Central Plains martial arts world, he naturally had to express his praise and commendation for Ren Xiaoyao without reservation or bias.
"Imperial decree has arrived!" At that moment, a clear and resonant shout rang out from the end of the square. (

Volume 43, Chapter 2: A Generous Conferment of a King)

I went out for a trip during the May Day holiday. It was a rushed trip, and I didn't have time to ask for leave. I hope my fellow readers will forgive me. I'm updating 4000 words now, and there will be another 4000 tonight
. Please stay tuned. The assembled heroes turned around in unison, and saw a troop of burly soldiers in armor, carrying banners high, escorting an elderly man with three long strands of white hair. He was wearing a bright red court robe with
a square collar, his face was ancient and simple, and his humility was dignified. He was none other than Kou Zhun, the current Grand Councilor and Chancellor. Among the crowd were many familiar with court etiquette. Seeing the 64-man entourage behind Kou Zhun, each soldier in red trousers and black boots, their armor gleaming, their helmets adorned with sharpened daggers, and the swan feathers on their helmet plumes fluttering in the wind, they knew he was the most elite of the Imperial Guards and were secretly astonished.
Such a ceremony required…
Kou Zhun ascended the high platform, while the soldiers in charge of the ceremonial guard stood in two rows below.
Ren Xiaoyao and the leaders of the Six Alliances hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. Kou Zhun bowed to each of them, and finally faced Ren Xiaoyao, solemnly saying, “His Majesty has decreed that this old minister shall read it aloud before all the heroes of the world.”
The Heavenly Pole Sect’s left and right stood up and prepared an incense table. Kou Zhun nodded slightly, and the Hanlin Academy scholars standing behind him immediately presented a tray containing the imperial edict.
Nangong Bubai saw this and his heart skipped a beat. At that time, there were four types of imperial edicts: yellow brocade, three-colored brocade, five-colored brocade, and seven-colored brocade. Among them, the seven-colored brocade was the most prestigious, representing the highest honor and glory, and sometimes even the emperor himself might not see one during his entire reign.
The imperial edict in Kou Zhun's hand was made of jade, representing the highest rank of the court. It was woven with seven colors—gold, crimson, coffee, ochre, and orange—with two cranes as the background and auspicious clouds evenly distributed around them, its splendor and elegance self-evident.
Everyone faced the direction of Bianliang and knelt down.
Kou Zhun unfurled the edict and read: "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."
Nangong Bubai was startled again. Ordinary imperial edicts were usually written as "昭曰" (zhāo yuē), dictated by the emperor and written by someone else. This time, the use of "制曰" (zhì yuē) indicated it was written by the emperor's own soldiers!
"...The leader of the Heavenly Pole Sect, Marquis Champion, and Commander-in-Chief of the military affairs of the six states of Guandong, Ren Xiaoyao, possesses both courage and integrity, and is unparalleled in benevolence and virtue. His previous journey to Japan facilitated an alliance between the two countries, opened ports for trade, and deterred the northeastern barbarians, among other achievements. His merits are immeasurable. Now, he has forced the Shura heretical sect to retreat and exterminated the Demon Party, bringing peace to the Central Plains martial arts world and restoring stability to the Jianghu. The wishes of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizu have finally been fulfilled. His merits benefit the nation and will shine for millennia. Therefore, he is hereby granted the title of Prince of Wuling, a title that echoes the meaning of 'martial arts world,' to command all the heroes of the Jianghu. He is also granted the titles of Pillar of State, Grand General of the Three Departments, and will oversee the four routes of Jinghu, Xichuan, Shaanxi, and Jingxi, serving as the nation's guardian in the Northwest and purging foreign invaders. This is the imperial decree."
What?! A title of prince?!
The heroes were stunned for a long time before finally reacting.
Since the founding of the Song Dynasty, apart from Prince Zheng, Chai Zongxun, whose empire was seized by Zhao Kuangyin, and Prince Deng, Qian Chu (formerly the King of Wuyue), who surrendered with his kingdom, no living non-royal prince had ever been granted a title (founding elders like Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi, and Gao Huaide were posthumously granted titles, and even then, they were only lower-ranking princes). Ren Xiaoyao, at such a young age, had actually ascended to the throne, second only to the emperor—what an honor and privilege!
"Ren Xiaoyao thanks Your Majesty for your great favor."
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in cheers. Everyone, including the venerable elders like Dugu Yu, Yi Tianhan, and Fu Longyuan, who were indifferent to fame and fortune, and the eminent monks like Xiaochen, Xiaoming, and Xiaokong, could not contain their excitement and joined in the shouts, their faces beaming with joy.
To be granted a title at the age of twenty-three—aside from the hereditary royal family—truly a first in history!
They had witnessed Ren Xiaoyao's growth, fought alongside him, and seen him create the peaceful and stable martial arts world of the Central Plains, a world now free from turmoil, from which the world had been like a candle in the wind. With this unparalleled honor of creating and witnessing history alongside him, they had no regrets in their lives for fighting for the peace of the martial arts world!
Ren Xiaoyao carefully accepted the imperial edict, handed it to Long Feiyun who was standing nearby, and then walked to the high platform, waving his hand to signal the assembled heroes to cease their discussions.
The entire hall fell silent. Ren Xiaoyao cleared his throat and said loudly, "The peace and tranquility of the martial arts world is not solely due to my efforts. It is the result of everyone's concerted efforts and valiant struggle that has enabled us to fulfill the wishes of Emperor Taizong and Emperor Taizu, and the peaceful martial arts world that countless predecessors and sages hoped to achieve by sacrificing their lives."
"Our leader's martial arts are extraordinary; he defeated the Ghostly Netherworld Lord. His brilliant strategies and plans led to the complete annihilation of the evil faction. We have only contributed our meager strength; how dare we claim credit?"
"No!" Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and sighed deeply with emotion, "If it weren't for everyone's valiant fighting and relentless effort, even with the wisdom of Zhuge Liang, how could I have succeeded with a single plan? This time, the Tang Clan, Tingyu Pavilion, and Beggar Clan of Shu contributed greatly, with countless disciples sacrificing their lives and giving their lives to ensure lasting peace in the martial world..."
At this point, Ren Xiaoyao's voice choked, and tears welled up in his eyes: "Especially the Tang Clan of Sichuan, in the battle of the Three Passes of Bamboo Sea, nine hundred disciples were killed or wounded. The four protectors (Tang Chaohui took over as protector after Tang Tianying's death), the six elders (Tang Chaohui was promoted, Tang Ruiqing, Tang Maolin, and Tang Yanxiang rebelled, and others filled in), most of them were seriously injured, and almost all the inner disciples and guards at the steps were wiped out..."
Tang Yunhe suddenly stood up and said in a long voice, "Twenty-three years ago, when the Asura Sect and Juesha invaded the Central Plains, my father made a promise to the martial arts world of the Central Plains."
"Without the leader's order, we will never retreat, we would rather fight to the last man!"
The two hundred Tang Clan disciples present shouted in unison.
"In the Battle of Wuyun Mountain, three hundred and forty-seven disciples of our Tang Clan bravely sacrificed their lives. In the Battle of the Three Passes of Bamboo Sea, the number of casualties reached four hundred and fifty-nine. Whether fallen disciples or alive, no one within or outside the Tang Clan regrets it, for we, like our predecessors and martyrs, have witnessed the solemn promise of those years with our own blood."
Upon hearing this, the heroes sighed deeply, many even shedding tears of emotion.
Ren Xiaoyao nodded to Kou Zhun, who then took out a scroll of imperial edict from his tray.
"Heroes, heed the decree!"
Everyone was stunned, unable to react for a long time.
An imperial edict? The Emperor issued a decree to us commoners!?
"Kneel down!" Ren Xiaoyao gave a signal, and tens of thousands of heroes knelt down in unison.
"...Your proposal has been approved by me. The martial world is now at peace, and the Jianghu is at tranquility, all thanks to the concerted efforts of all the heroes who fought together against the evil forces. Their achievements are remarkable. All the fallen heroes deserve to be honored for their loyalty and integrity. I hereby grant the request of the Prince of Wuling to erect a 'Monument to the Heroes' at the Chengtian Gate, the headquarters of the Tianji Sect, to commemorate the heroes who sacrificed themselves for maintaining peace and stability in the martial world over the past eighty years. They shall be honored with sacrifices at the four seasons, and all those who pass by the Chengtian Gate shall dismount from their horses and carriages to show their respect. The heroes who died in the battles of Junshan, Hangzhou, and Shuzhong Mountain shall be buried with the honors due to fallen officers, funded by the imperial court. Their surviving family members shall be exempted from taxes and corvée labor, and given generous compensation. This is my decree!"
Upon hearing the imperial edict, the heroes were all moved to tears. First, they shouted "Long live the Emperor!" and then a chorus of shouts of "The Prince of Wuling is wise!" To sacrifice one's life for the peace of the martial world is the duty of every martial artist, yet Ren Xiaoyao petitioned the Emperor to erect a monument in their memory and bestow generous honors upon the fallen heroes.
All those passing through Chengtian Gate were ordered to dismount and alight from their carriages in mourning.
This was an unparalleled honor reserved for the loyal and righteous Elder Yang of Tianbo Mansion and his six sons who died for their country. They—a group of martial artists perhaps considered as lowly as pigs and dogs in the eyes of the literati—received the same heroic treatment as the nationally revered Yang family martyrs. "
Your request has been granted.
" These were all bestowed upon them by the Alliance Leader through his petition!
Righteousness reaching the heavens, benevolence unmatched.
He never ceased to think of his heroes, never ceased to remember the fallen warriors.
This was Ren Xiaoyao, their Alliance Leader, Ren Xiaoyao.
"Gentlemen, let us observe a moment of silence for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the greater good of the martial world and the principles of martial arts." Ren Xiaoyao received the imperial edict, flicked his sleeves, and slowly bowed his head towards the east.
Tens of thousands of heroes bowed their heads in unison, and the vast training ground fell silent instantly.
Rest in peace, your deaths are heavier than Mount Tai, your deaths will bring lasting peace to the martial world.
In their hearts, each person silently spoke of their deceased disciples, relatives, and close friends.
For a long, long time...
Ren Xiaoyao raised his head, his eyes fixed on the horizon, gleaming, as if foreshadowing the coming of a peaceful and prosperous era for the Song Dynasty, where countless people would live happy and healthy lives...
"Prince Wuling, there is another imperial edict here." Kou Zhun's words pulled Ren Xiaoyao back from his thoughts.
"For me?"
"Indeed." Kou Zhun nodded slightly.
Ren Xiaoyao knelt down, and Kou Zhun read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that the father of the Prince of Wuling, Qiaocui Gong, and his mother, Mei Ruoxue, devoted themselves to protecting the martial arts world, but were ultimately harmed by a vile woman and died far from home, their remains difficult to reunite. The Prince of Wuling, being a filial son, wished to go to Tianshan to retrieve his mother's remains and bury them with his father. However, the martial arts world was not yet settled, making the journey difficult. Now that the martial arts world is at peace and the world is stable, you have no more worries and can depart in peace. Qiaocui Gong died a loyal and righteous death, his heroic spirit still alive. Although his name is widely known in the martial arts world and admired by all, the court has not fully honored him, which is unfair. Now, I personally issue this decree, granting Qiaocui Gong and his wife, Mei Ruoxue, the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, to be worshipped by future generations, and to share in the nation's prosperity. This is the decree."
"Ren Xiaoyao thanks Your Majesty for your great grace and will depart for Tianshan immediately!" Ren Xiaoyao accepted the imperial decree, tears already streaming down his face.
Hangzhou and Tianshan are separated by a thousand miles. His parents' love, as deep as the sea and as radiant as heaven and earth, is tragically destined to be separated even in death, unable to rest in peace together. Upon learning of his origins, he longed to travel to Tianshan to retrieve his mother's remains. However, the martial world was in turmoil, the nation unstable, and he carried heavy responsibilities, leaving him no time for anything else.
The dilemma of loyalty to one's country and filial piety had been a constant, unending pain in his heart!
Now, the Asura has retreated, the killing is over; the Song Dynasty and Japan are forever allies, the threat from Goryeo has been completely quelled; the Yang family army is stationed in Tanyuan, deterring the Liao Dynasty from rash actions; the 100,000 heroes of the Tianji Sect hold sway in Guanzhong, forcing the Tubo and Western Xia to retreat in fear. If not now, when?
"Gentlemen," he declared, "on the day of Xiaoyao's departure, the martial world of the Central Plains is entrusted to you!"
"Rest assured, Alliance Leader," the heroes responded in unison. "We will do our utmost!"
Ren Xiaoyao turned to Nangong Bubai and the other branch leaders, bowed deeply, and solemnly said, "Father-in-law, Sect Leader Tang, Father-in-law (two fathers-in-law, haha), Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, I will return in three months at the earliest, half a year at the latest. Please take care of things in the martial world."
"Yes, when you return, we will definitely restore peace and stability to the martial world." Everyone nodded in unison.
They kept their promise, but Ren Xiaoyao…
did not!

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