Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 1

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Upholding the Legacy, Learning Unique Skills from a Master; Seeking Enemies Across the Seas for Revenge
Chapter 2: Assisting with Fist, Displaying Divine Skills, Evils Terrified;
Competing at a Banquet, Showcasing Unique Skills, Gaining Fame Chapter 3: Ambush Attempts Fails, Petty Men are Helpless; Mingzhu Expresses Love, Peach and Plum Blossoms Compete
for Spring Chapter 4: Outstanding Talent, Two Women Serve with Hairpins; Divine Might Overwhelms the World; A Single Word Breaks the
Heroic Spirit Chapter 5: Xuanyuan's Divine Finger; Qingfeng Withdraws from the Altar; Filled with Regret; White-Clad Scholar; Fallen Flowers in Vain; Intentionally Forging Feathers; A Journey Against the Tide
Chapter 6: A Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Dragons and Tigers Hidden; Steadfast and Green Zhuang Mantian, the wind and snow drive away the two old men, the pre-banquet talk of the past, the bright moon and stars, the nine returns to the pavilion, the soul flies away, the three enemies,
Chapter Seven: the torrential rain like thunder, the concubine snake, the divine whip, seven amazing skills, the flying horse runs away from Taiyuan, the villain plays the thief, greed always comes to nothing
, Chapter Eight: the Indian monk comes to the cliff cave to protect the Zen scriptures, talking about the past in the Central Plains, the demons dance, the icy and snowy valley frequently appears, a single thought of greed remains,
Chapter Nine: falling off a thousand-foot cliff, but the will to live is not yet gone, all kinds of reasons, the life is pregnant with a peerless treasure, which disappears for no reason, flying away a thousand miles away, suffering Chapter
10: Midnight Thieves, Two Heroes Take Action;
Chapter 11: Bodhi Resides in a Single Thought, Good Deeds Will Be Rewarded;
Chapter 12: A Hero Recluses in Poyang Lake, A Solitary Journey of a Thousand Miles, Upholding Righteousness; Chapter 13: The Beggars' Sect on Qingliang Mountain, Brothers Divided and Separated;
Chapter 14: Deceitful Words, A Wicked Advisor Fooled; Released from Prison in the Underground Chamber, He Feigns Composure; Chapter 15: A Beauty's Appearance on the Tower, Unexpectedly Stunned;
Chapter 16: Merit Equal to Generals and Ministers, Divine Skill Heals a Chronic Illness;
Chapter 17: Silver Snow Covers the Fields, Wind Surges, Fire Rages, Thieves Run Wild, Startled Horses Rush, Swords and Knives Flicker, Beautiful Girl Punishes the Culprit;
Chapter 18: Repaying Kindness with Enmity, The Heart of a Petty Person is Easily Turned Upside Down, Love is Hard to Let Go, Deeply Engraved, Love is Not Too Close, Not Too Close;
Chapter 19: Desire Turns to Enmity, Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens Return to Paradise, Passionate Love Turns to Hatred, Difficult to Become a Couple, Vowing to Escape to the Buddhist Temple;
Chapter 10: Three Heroes of Longjiang Bring Their Own Humiliation, Four Demons of Miao Territory Lose Their Legs;
Chapter 10: Shame and Anger, White-Haired Man Kills Him in Chaos Chapter Twenty: The Jade Maiden's Hair Dispersed, Unharmed; Chapter Twenty-One
: The Iron-Fingered Pipa, Indestructible Vajra; The Two Children Vanish from Huanbi Villa; Chapter Twenty
-One: The Two Children's Solitary Peak, Snowy Ground, Icy Sky, Difficult to Cross the Thunder Pool; Two Women Trapped in the Attic, Cold Wind and Dark Night, Both Bet on Being Prisoners;
Chapter Twenty-Two: A Chance Encounter, A Daughter's Love, Soul Broken in the Cold Pond, The Demon Venerable Teases the Divine Beggar; Chapter Twenty-
Three: The Heavenly Pillar, Golden Summit, The Three Elders of Wudang Suffer from the Cold Ice, True Qi; Boating on the Han River, the Two Heroes of the Inner Court Only Blame the Hand of the Scholar;
Chapter Twenty-Four: Observing the Subtle and Knowing the Gradual, Becoming a Ghost, Becoming a Domain, Cleverness Backfires, Drawing Fire from Under the Cauldron, Eliminating the Catastrophe Depends on Human Planning;
Chapter Twenty-Five: Persuasion is Not as Good as Provocation, Yunmeng's Poisonous Heart and Ruthless Heart Lead to Disaster, Mistakes in the Technique, The Demonic Monk Uses a Knife to Kill, But It Helps to Fulfill the Purpose; Chapter Twenty
-Six: The Three Gorges' Perilous Passage, Qutang's Turbulent Current, A Neighboring Boat Unintentionally Glances at the Traces of Enemy, Jian Ge's Perilous Path, Can Jing, Gorge, Cave Heaven, Surprisingly Hearing the Story of That Year;
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Bearing the Hair, Holding Teeth, Betraying Righteousness, Good Friends, Heaven Takes Away Their Souls, Spewing Out Demonic Schemes, Seeking Kindness and Repaying Favor, Unkind and Evil Friends Overturn Chapter Twenty-Eight: Repentance Reduces Past Sins
, Ten Thousand Merits, Earnest Instructions, Supplementing Buddhist Tathagata's Disfigurement, Unbearable Hatred, Deeply Protective of His Child, Misunderstanding, One-Sided Listening, Losing the Sect Leader,
Supreme Chapter: Enmity Settled, This Life Will Not Ask About Jianghu Affairs, One Dragon and Nine Phoenixes, Only Envy the Mandarin Ducks, Not the Immortals,

Chapter One: Upholding the Legacy, Learning Unique Skills from a Master, Seeking Enemies Across the Four Seas for the Sake of Relatives and Avengers.

In the mid-Qianlong era, a strange genius appeared in the martial arts world. His origins and the school of his martial arts were unknown. All that was known was that his martial arts were superb, his actions were unusual, he came without a trace, and he was elusive. At the gathering of heroes at Furong Peak of Mount Hua, dozens of masters from both the righteous and evil factions were slaughtered by him. After that, he was never seen again. He was like a dragon whose head appears and disappears without a trace. Even decades or centuries later, people in the martial arts world still liked to praise him and spread his story. Elders and old men used it as a topic of conversation, describing it vividly and eloquently after meals. Whether true or false, the author offers his own interpretation, and the reader should not dismiss it as baseless.

In the remote mountains fifty li southwest of Xingguo County, Jiangxi Province, lies a large monastery called "Baohua Ancient Temple." Although secluded in the wilderness, it is renowned far and wide. Legend has it that it was built during the Five Barbarian Invasions, and that the immortal Mazu attained enlightenment here in the early Tang Dynasty. The temple is built against the mountain, stretching all the way to the peaks, resplendent in gold and magnificent in its spaciousness.

At the lower end of the plaza in front of the Linggu Hall (note: after the passing of monks, their ashes were cremated and interred here), two towering ancient cypress trees stand on either side of the steps. These ancient trees, twenty or thirty zhang tall and with a circumference that can be encircled by four people, are said to have been planted by Mazu before his enlightenment, and are over a thousand years old. (Note: The author did not fabricate this; he personally witnessed it in 1939.) There's a saying, "Old cypress becomes sandalwood," and the monks would cut down young branches and burn them in the incense burner, producing a fragrant aroma. The

abbot was Master Mingliang, over seventy years old. In his youth, the old monk was a poor scholar who, despite his talent, repeatedly failed the imperial examinations. Disheartened, he sought solace in nature, traveling extensively to famous mountains and rivers. In the northern Tianshan Mountains, he met an enlightened monk who guided him, shaved his head, and ordained him as a monk. The old monk was well-versed in Buddhist scriptures, music, chess, and poetry. He was proficient in all books, especially epigraphy, but no one knew if he was skilled in martial arts, not even the monks who had been in the temple for many years. Despite being over seventy, the old monk always wore a greyish-white cloth robe, walked with a straight back and brisk steps, his silver beard flowing, making him look like a man in his thirties or forties, showing no signs of old age.

One morning, the fog was thick, the sun had not yet risen, and a light rain was falling. He descended from Maitreya Peak opposite Baohua Mountain... A young man in white robes moved with lightning speed, his feet barely touching the ground, towards the left side gate of Baohua Temple, "Yingyun," passing through a corridor built along the mountainside from below, and heading straight for the old monk's quarters in the third main hall. This young man was handsome, with a jade-like face and red lips, a broad back and a slender waist, but his brows were heavily furrowed, and his face was filled with anxiety. Upon encountering the monks, he gave a slight nod of greeting, but did not linger. Although the monks were puzzled, they did not inquire further.

Master Mingliang and the others had just finished their lessons and were meditating in the quarters with their eyes closed. Hearing hurried footsteps outside, he opened his eyes and saw the young man enter, his face filled with worry. The old monk, recognizing him immediately, frowned slightly but still asked with a gentle smile, "Yunyue, you've come so early. Judging from your complexion, has your father's old illness relapsed?"

The young man quickly bowed and replied, "Indeed, my father's old illness flared up again this morning around midnight. However, this time it's different; he coughs up blood frequently. My father says he feels..." His blood surged, his inner energy was unequaled, but he had just taken the elixir left by the old monk, and now he felt a little better. His father said that this time…” He paused, his starry eyes reddening, then continued, “So he instructed his disciple to invite the old monk to come.”

The old monk sighed and said, “Yun Yue, this was bound to happen sooner or later, as you know. Don’t show it to your father and make him uncomfortable. There shouldn’t be any problems in the next two or three days. You go back first, and I will follow shortly.”

The young man bowed and agreed, leaving the hut and the mountain gate. He traversed the fields and arrived at the foot of Maitreya Peak. He paused briefly, looked around to make sure no one was there, took a deep breath of inner energy, and used his superior lightness skill to rush upwards. He leaped like a monkey and a crane, and in a moment, reached the summit. The young man let out a long sigh and then ran towards the back of the mountain. The back of the mountain was barren, a desolate expanse.

The young man sped along the ridge, and soon… Standing at the end of a side peak of the mountain behind, looking down, all that could be seen were sheer cliffs. Only where the boy stood did a massive boulder, several dozen feet high, protrude from the cliff face. Near its tip, a small crevice was visible. The boy pressed his hands down into the air, his shoulders swaying slightly, and in a flash, he was seven or eight feet high. He paused in mid-air, about to fall, when he kicked with both feet, suddenly rising another five or six feet. Then, with a sudden outstretched arm and a spin, he quietly landed at the crevice's edge. On a rocky outcrop, this "Ladder to the Clouds" and "Seven Birds Body Technique" were unparalleled lightness skills, completely devoid of any fire element, a truly rare sight.

The crevice was barely tall enough for a person to pass through. The young man bent down and entered the cave, only to hear a weak, aged voice asking, "Yun'er, has Master arrived yet?" The young man replied, "Master said he'll be here soon, almost there." "Hmm," the response was so faint and desolate, so different from usual, that the young man felt a pang of sorrow.

Inside the cave, a single oil lamp wick burned, its flame flickering two inches high. With every movement of the boy, the flame danced, sending up a thick cloud of smoke that was rather unpleasant to the nose. The cave contained two interconnected stone chambers, carved from the rock's interior. The rear chamber held a stove, table, bowls, ladles, and other utensils, with dozens of thread-bound books haphazardly piled in one corner.

The entrance chamber contained only two identical bamboo couches. On the western couch lay an old man, his cheeks gaunt, breathing heavily, his beard and hair long and disheveled, as if he hadn't washed in a long time—though it was only been one night. From the moment the boy entered, the old man's lifeless eyes never left him. The boy sat down beside the old man and exclaimed, "Father, is your chest feeling any better now?" He then reached out and unbuttoned the old man's shirt, his hands rubbing his chest repeatedly.

The old man seemed to feel a great weight lifted from his chest. He sighed and said, “Yun’er, all these years, I’ve been so grateful to you, but I’ve also made you suffer. There are many things you don’t know, things I’ve kept hidden in my heart, things I haven’t dared to tell you, for fear that they would distract you from your studies. Now I know my life is nearing its end, and leaving this world is just a matter of a moment. This blood feud is all yours to avenge. Master Mingliang knows all the causes and effects, as well as my origins. When he comes later, he can tell you. Fortunately, you’re an adult now, so what else could I worry about? It’s just that I haven’t been able to see you settle down and start a family, which I truly regret.”

Upon hearing this, the boy’s eyes filled with tears, and he hurriedly said, “Father, why say such discouraging things? Master Mingliang said you…” Before he could finish speaking, a figure flashed at the cave entrance, and with a gentle breeze, Master Mingliang had already floated inside.

The young man rose and bowed, while the old man struggled to sit up. The old monk quickly stopped him, smiling, "Brother Wen, it's better to lie down. You can't move around now." He then handed the old man a pill.

The old man took it and swallowed it, then smiled bitterly and said, "Then I'll respectfully accept your offer." He then coughed and said, "Master, why go to such trouble and waste a 'Longevity Pill'? This morning I carefully examined my own pulse and found it scattered and disordered. It's beyond saving. Even with miraculous medicine, it can only prolong my life for two or three days. Rather than lingering in suffering, why not let go sooner?" "Because my heart is still unfulfilled, I have instructed Yun'er to invite the Grand Marshal here to entrust him with a matter. For many years, Yun'er has received guidance from the Master from time to time, but I have never fulfilled my duties as a disciple. From today onwards, I command Yun'er to become the Master's disciple, hoping that the Master will strictly instruct him. In six months, I will pass on the 'Xuanyuan True Scripture' that I, your foolish younger brother, have obtained to him. After he has completed his studies, I command him to descend the mountain to find his enemy and to convey to him the details of how the feud began. I hope the Master will not be stingy in granting my dying wish."

The old monk smiled and said, "I will handle the rest of the matter myself. You should not speak too much now and waste your energy. Take a nap." As he spoke, he pressed his finger on the man's sleeping acupoint, and the man's mind went blank, and he fell into a deep sleep. The old monk pondered for a while and then called out, "Yun Yue, come here."

The young man, who had been standing by his bedside, weeping, was summoned to the master's side. The old monk sighed and said, "Yunyue, do not be sad. Everyone dies eventually. How many in the martial world can have such a peaceful end as your father?" He

paused, then continued, "Your father repeatedly begged me to take you under my wing, but I resolutely refused. It was not out of feigned politeness, but for a deeper reason. None of the monks in the temple know that I know internal martial arts; at most, they guess that I have a rudimentary understanding of boxing techniques, which I use for health. Once you become my disciple, my address will have to change, and your father has many enemies. If I were to make a mistake, it would not only attract your father's deep-seated enemies but also bring endless suffering to Baohua Temple. Therefore, I have insisted on refusing. Over the years, you have learned most of your father's skills, but your mastery is still slightly lacking." "I see that you have neither good character nor talent, and I have long admired you, but the time is not right, so I am unwilling to grant your request lightly. From today onwards, I will accept you as my disciple. When the time comes, I will come here to teach you. Do not go to the temple lightly, as it will attract attention."

The young man was filled with mixed feelings of sorrow and joy. He respectfully bowed three times and called out "Master." The old monk smiled and told him to get up. Three years ago, the young man heard his father say that Master Mingliang's martial arts were superb, and that no one in the martial arts world could match him. It was said that the master's skills were passed down from Master Wuwei of Chayun Cliff in the Northern Tianshan Mountains. Master Wuwei was recognized as the number one extraordinary person two hundred years ago, and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since. His father also said that as long as one or two tenths of what Master Mingliang had taught him was enough to benefit him for a lifetime. Now that he could become a disciple of the master, if it weren't for his father's critical illness, he would be overjoyed.

Seeing the boy's beaming face, yet also his deep concern for his father's critical illness, Master Mingliang thought to himself, "This boy's background is truly pitiful. With my limited knowledge, I fear I cannot mold him into a martial arts prodigy. However, he will likely instigate endless bloodshed in the martial world, causing boundless calamities. Perhaps I will have to use the vast power of Buddhist compassion to avert this." Having thought this, he then said to the boy, "Yunyue, you came to Maitreya Peak with your father when you were six years old. There are many things you don't understand. Your father, Xie Wenben, is a renowned hero of Guanluo." His martial arts were unique and his father kept his lineage a closely guarded secret. Even those in the martial arts world were unaware of his origins. Before he turned thirty, he had already become a renowned figure in Guanzhong and Luoyang, earning him the title "Soul Chaser" in the martial arts world. This was because of his upright and unyielding nature, his hatred of evil, and his ruthless killing of any underworld figure who crossed his path. Not only that, but even members of righteous martial arts sects who occasionally committed offenses were often dealt with severely, their ears and noses severed, or even their martial arts skills crippled, before being released. His methods were extremely cruel. Over time, this incurred the wrath of both righteous and evil factions, who all wanted to kill your father. However, your father was elusive and had no fixed abode. Even when they encountered him, they were outnumbered and dared not act. Several years passed in this way, and your father remained unchanged. “

That year, I stayed at Wuyou Temple on the banks of the Jialing River. Your father often came to the temple to visit. Over time, we became friends. Knowing his temperament, I often advised him, and that's how he became more discreet.” The following year, your father and mother married and settled in a small fishing village on the banks of the Jialing River. They stayed at home, never venturing out, and never concerning themselves with the affairs of the martial world. You were born in the third year. Logically, your father should have secretly retired from martial arts and lived out his days in peace. However, he was entangled in karma, and nothing could be forced. When you were three years old, your father accompanied you to the temple to visit me. We stayed for three days. I noticed that your father had dark lines on his face and urged him to return. However, upon arriving home, I found your mother lying dead in front of her bed. The dark shadow of seven fingers on her chest was clearly visible, indicating that she had been killed by a violent attack. Your father tearfully prepared your mother's body for burial and then destroyed his family to seek revenge. I advised him to endure the hardship and raise you to adulthood before leaving, but he insisted on not listening, so I had no choice but to let him be. At that time, I was recommended by my senior brother to become the abbot here. I left my address and bid him a hasty farewell. Your poor father carried you on his back, searching for revenge across the world, enduring wind and rain year after year, yet he still could not find out who had murdered your mother. "

Afterwards, your father found a copy of the 'Xuanyuan Sutra' at a cliff on Mount Hua. It was full of oracle bone script, and he could not decipher a single character. Your father remembered that I had some knowledge of oracle bone script, so he rushed to Jiangxi. It is likely that he was spotted on the way, and his enemies gathered more than ten masters, all wearing black handkerchiefs, and attacked him in the dark on the shore of Dongting Lake in Hunan. Even though your father had unparalleled martial arts skills, he was no match for more than ten masters of internal martial arts from various schools, both righteous and evil, especially since he was carrying you. After a long battle, he suffered multiple internal injuries to his chest and was also struck on three vital acupoints. Fortunately, your father protected his heart and chest vitals according to the Vajra Zen Kung Fu that I had taught him, and thus he was not fatally injured. However..." Severely injured, knowing that continuing the fight would only lead to their deaths, he fought desperately to break free of the encirclement. Traveling by day and night, he finally reached my place. I settled you and your father on the back of Maitreya Peak. This area is barren, and no one would suspect your father's whereabouts. However, your father's vital energy was severely damaged; even with my "Evergreen Pill," he could only extend his life by a dozen years and could not fight. Every spring and summer, his injuries would flare up and cause him great pain. Knowing he was no longer able to seek out his enemies, your father devoted himself to passing on his unique martial arts to you, hoping you would inherit his wishes.” He finished with another sigh.

Xie Yunyue was now in tears, choking back sobs. The old monk said, “My disciple, there is no need for such grief. Your father will wake up in two hours. I will leave now, and I will naturally return when the time comes.” After saying this, he got up and walked out of the cave. Xie Yunyue saw him off. He saw the old monk leap into the air and fly down the cliff like a gray crane. After landing, he leaped up again and disappeared in a few leaps.

Xie Yunyue thought to himself, "If I can master half of my master's skills, I will surely become famous in the martial arts world in the future. I vow to eradicate the person who killed my parents and kill anyone who has even the slightest connection to them." "This thought already foreshadowed boundless bloodshed to come, but that's a story for another time.

Five days later, Xie Wen passed away. Xie Yunyue cried out in anguish. For over a decade, father and son had depended on each other for survival; to be separated so suddenly was unimaginable. The old monk Mingliang was by his side on his deathbed and managed to stop Xie Yunyue's weeping. They found an auspicious spot on the back mountain to bury Xie Wen's body. From then on, whenever Xie Yunyue reflected on his life, he would always go to the grave to weep bitterly. A bouquet of fragrant flowers, the cuckoo's mournful cry—this scene was one where heaven and earth wept together."

One day, the old monk came to the cave behind Maitreya Peak and summoned Xie Yunyue to his side. With a solemn expression, he said, "Yunyue, today I will begin to teach you the basic breathing and sitting exercises of our sect. You must persevere and not interrupt them even for a day. This will greatly benefit your future learning of the 'Maitreya Divine Skill.' In addition, you must review the seventy-two forms of the Cloud-Chasing and Moon-Picking Sword Technique and the ninety-seven forms of the 'Flying Dragon Palm' that your father taught you before his death. Practice makes perfect. These two sword and palm techniques are unparalleled in the martial arts world today, and your father also became famous for them." "Having said that, he imparted the breathing techniques to Xie Yunyue before getting up and leaving.

From then on, Xie Yunyue practiced breathing exercises diligently, sitting cross-legged morning and evening. He found that practicing in the morning left him feeling refreshed, and practicing before bed at night eliminated all his fatigue. He also reviewed his sword and palm techniques daily, making rapid progress each day. He could now draw his sword back immediately after drawing it out, knowing this was due to the power of breathing exercises. He was overjoyed and often practiced these exercises more than ten times a day.

Another month passed in the blink of an eye. The old monk returned to the cave and, seeing Xie Yunyue's inner radiance, knew he had made considerable progress and was happy for him. He then began to teach him the "Maitreya Divine Skill" techniques again, patiently explaining each of the twelve forms and movements of the skill." The old monk explained it to him two or three times from beginning to end, and then demonstrated it himself. Xie Yunyue was intelligent and had a foundation in martial arts, so he understood it immediately. The old monk said, "This 'Maitreya Divine Skill' and Xuanmen Gangqi are two kinds of extraordinary qigong in the martial arts world. However, Xuanmen Gangqi seems to be too domineering and too fierce, and it is easy to release but difficult to control. Maitreya Divine Skill does not have this shortcoming. The intensity can be adjusted according to one's will. When you master it, you can almost injure people invisibly. You will also be as hard as steel. No heavy technique can hurt you. I will pass on the breathing techniques and this 'Maitreya Divine Skill' to you. Both are supreme internal skills that cultivate both body and mind. I hope you will study hard and diligently. I will come back in a month." Having said this, he left.

Every day before dawn, when the stars filled the sky, Xie Yunyue would rise and practice the "Maitreya Divine Skill" on the cliff. At first, he didn't see any benefits, but after half a month, he felt a warm current of energy flowing through his entire body, making all his senses feel extremely comfortable. When he focused his energy and released his palm, tree branches the size of bowls snapped in two. He was secretly amazed: "The twelve forms of the 'Maitreya Divine Skill' taught by my master have such great power!" He practiced continuously, and indeed, wherever his mind went, rocks flew.

The old monk arrived on time and ordered Xie Yunyue to demonstrate the twelve forms of the "Maitreya Divine Skill" for him. After watching, the old monk smiled and said, "It's rare that you are so talented. You've learned quite well. This is a secluded place in the mountains, so you can practice anytime." He then taught him the thirty major forms of the "Vajra Subduing Tiger" palm and the eighty-one moves of the "Mysterious Seven Stars" sword technique. After that, the old monk came every three to five days, occasionally teaching him internal and external skills, as well as palm techniques, swordplay, hidden weapons, and special techniques.

Xie Yunyue's martial arts improved by leaps and bounds, regardless of sunshine, rain, heat, or cold, without interruption. Every moonlit night, he would run alone to his father's grave and weep bitterly, saying, "Father, rest assured, I will definitely avenge you."

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. One day, a monk came and took out a parchment booklet, saying solemnly, "This is the 'Xuanyuan True Scripture' that your father obtained. Inside is the true interpretation of acupoints on the human body. If you practice diligently according to this, you can touch acupoints in mid-air and release them, thus controlling life and death. There is also a secret medical method of acupuncture with golden needles. This book is also known as 'Xuanyuan Eighteen Explanations.' I will explain one section to you every day. You can figure out the content yourself. With your talent, it is not difficult." "

After that, Xie Yunyue would take out that booklet every day to memorize it. The pronunciation of the oracle bone characters was extremely difficult, but fortunately, he was persistent and not afraid of hardship. He studied diligently, as the saying goes: 'Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.' The old monk found a leather mannequin and drew acupoints on it, instructing Xie Yunyue to perform acupoint striking in mid-air. This was extremely difficult for Xie Yunyue. At first, he was dizzy and made many mistakes, but over time he became more proficient. After a month, he could even injure people by throwing flowers and leaves. From then on, the monk instructed him to practice martial arts in the morning and literature in the afternoon, and also taught him medicine and advanced light-body techniques, including the aerial footwork.

After a year, Xie Yunyue had grown to be eighteen or nineteen years old." Years had passed, and he was handsome as jade, but taciturn and deeply calculating. The old monk often worried about his character, which was understandable, as he had been in this desolate mountain area since childhood and had little contact with people. Over the long thirteen years, he had slowly developed this kind of personality.

One day, the old monk came to the cave and said to Xie Yunyue, "I have passed on all my knowledge to you. The only thing missing is the refinement. You can go down the mountain to avenge your parents now. However, I hope you will be mindful of Heaven's will, not kill the innocent, choose your friends carefully, and not be stubborn. Also, never reveal my name, and unless absolutely necessary, do not use the twelve forms of the 'Maitreya Divine Skill' lightly." The old monk

had traveled the world extensively, and was intimately familiar with all the figures, sects, martial arts specialties, and rules of conduct in the martial arts world. He described everything in detail, which Xie Yunyue memorized. The old monk then took out two hundred taels of silver and a black gold soft sword, instructing Xie Yunyue to descend the mountain the next day and not to come to the temple to say goodbye. Xie Yunyue's eyes welled with tears; he was naturally reluctant to part. The old monk, too, was saddened by this, but hardened his heart, stamped his feet, and left. Although Xie Yunyue was reluctant to leave, the thought of his grudge made him wish he could sprout wings and fly away, so he went into the cave to collect his belongings. After tidying up, he went to his father's grave that evening to pay his respects.

The next morning, Xie Yunyue packed his belongings, fastening his black-gold soft sword to his waist. His books had been taken away by his master half a month earlier for temporary storage, leaving behind only some pots, salt, and bowls. He had nothing else, only the lingering attachment to his decade-long life in the mountain cave. After a moment of melancholy, he turned and walked out of the cave, bowing four times in the direction of Baohua Temple. Then, gritting his teeth, he leaped down, head held high, and galloped away.

From then on, bloodshed erupted in the martial world, all because of those burdened with familial vendettas, stirring up the bonds of loyalty and vengeance. Resentment.

Xie Yunyue, carrying his travel bag, descended Maitreya Peak. Looking back, he thought of this parting, wondering when he would be able to return to his old home of thirteen years later. With a sigh, he turned and hurried on his way. Thirty li south of Maitreya Peak was Longkou Market. Downstream from Longkou to Ganzhou, it was only a hundred and sixty li by water. When Xie Yunyue arrived in Longkou, it happened to be market day. Villagers from nearby towns flocked there, and four or five thousand people suddenly gathered on the short, three- or four-hundred-foot-long cobblestone street. It would be incredibly crowded.

Xie Yunyue finally managed to squeeze into the street, found a restaurant, ordered some food haphazardly, and leaned against the wall, pondering: "I need to decide on my future course of action. Why not take a boat directly to the provincial capital? Nanchang Prefecture is a hub of culture and a melting pot of all sorts of people. My master said that the best way to find out the whereabouts of martial arts figures is through escort agencies or gangs. Once I arrive, with my martial arts skills, getting into an escort agency shouldn't be a problem. Alternatively, I could head west to Sichuan to pay respects at my mother's grave and look for clues from back then." Having made up his mind, he called over the waiter and asked if he had a boat to take him.

The waiter replied with a grin, "Sir, it's not difficult to get a boat. I have a distant uncle who owns a large ship with a capacity of 800 shi (a unit of dry measure), which is setting sail this afternoon directly to the provincial capital. You've come at the perfect time; I'll have someone accompany you." The waiter called over a villager at the shop entrance, gave him a few instructions, and then went with his companion. Xie Yunyue calculated the cost of the meal, gave him some loose change as a tip, and got up. The waiter thanked him

profusely and saw him off. The riverbank was a dark mass of boats, with many large and small vessels moored. Although it wasn't a vast expanse of boats with endless sails, there were at least three or four hundred of them. Xie Yunyue followed the villager to the riverbank, where the villager shouted loudly. A man emerged from a large boat moored in the river and beckoned to them. The villager then led Xie Yunyue across the boat, passing through more than a dozen other boats before boarding the large vessel.

The boat owner, surnamed Zhang, was an honest and upright businessman with a kind face. Upon hearing their purpose, he hurriedly said, "Welcome! Although it's more than a thousand miles from there to the provincial capital, with favorable winds and currents, we can arrive safely in about twenty days." Then, Xie Yunyue was led into the cabin .

Xie Yunyue hurriedly thanked the villagers and entered the cabin. It turned out that this giant ship had eight cabins in total, four in the front and four in the back. The middle cabin was a communal cabin for cooking and dining, so it could actually be called a nine-cabin cabin, but the common name still excludes the middle section. Except for the last cabin which was used for the boatmen's accommodation, the other three cabins in the back were full of local products such as leather and tobacco, which were transported to the provincial capital for sale. The first two cabins in the front four cabins were used for the boat owner's family to stay in, and there were two empty cabins left. (Note: The reader may have doubts) The ship is stern-heavy and bow-light, which might lead one to doubt the author's unrealistic speculation. However, the four cabins in front and under the deck of the bow are actually stocked with goods and food supplies. Before setting sail, a large quantity of firewood, rice, oil, salt, vegetables, and meat must be purchased for unforeseen needs.

Xie Yunyue chose the fourth cabin, as it was relatively convenient to enter and exit. After entering the cabin, Xie Yunyue was delighted to find it bright, clean, and exceptionally spacious. He negotiated the fare with the ship owner and thanked him repeatedly. The ship owner exchanged a few more polite words before taking his leave and returning to the fore cabin.

After the boat set sail, Xie Yunyue often stood on the bow deck gazing at the river scenery. He found the mountains and waters beautiful, the waves shimmering, the fishermen singing in the evening, and the wild geese flying in all directions, all of which refreshed his spirit. Over time, he learned many boatmen's skills and slang, and occasionally he would pole the boat and steer it. This was only what he had learned from chatting with the boatmen when he was in a good mood. Apart from this, he never left the cabin, keeping the windows and doors tightly closed, and diligently practiced his "Returning to Origin Sitting Posture" and "Maitreya Divine Skill." As soon as the boat docked and anchored, he would go ashore alone to a secluded place to practice his palm and sword skills before slowly strolling back to the boat. He never went to the town with anyone.

As time went on, the people on the boat grew curious about his unique personality. They felt that although the young man was warm and approachable, he was somewhat taciturn and disliked being in groups, which seemed to go against common sense. This thought remained unspoken, as everyone had their own freedom, and he had not offended them, so it was inappropriate to ask.

The journey from Xingguo through Ganzhou to Luling Prefecture, a distance of over 600 li, took the boat half a month. Although the current was favorable, they encountered headwinds. It was the end of the year and the beginning of the twelfth lunar month, and the northwest wind was strong. They could only travel a maximum of 30 to 40 li per day. Sometimes the wind was so strong that they could hardly move an inch, and all the boatmen had to go ashore to pull the boats to the shore. Fortunately, Xie Yunyue had no urgent business and remained calm.
After passing Luling Prefecture, the boats had formed a convoy, with more than 20 boats lined up end to end. Whenever they reached the shore, the boats would gather together, smoke would rise from the chimneys, and there would be a lot of noise. Combined with the shouts and laughter of children jumping and playing on the bows and decks, it formed a lively floating village. Xie Yunyue, having lived alone in the mountains since childhood, was suddenly seized by the sight of children playing and jumping, which stirred his childlike spirit. He spontaneously joined the children's group, playing hide-and-seek and bluffing.

On a neighboring boat, a bodyguard named Li Daming, around forty years old, with a round face and a constant smile, always greeted Xie Yunyue with a wide grin. After a few days, they became close, with Li Daming frequently crossing the boat to chat with Xie Yunyue and often inviting him to his cabin for food, drink, and conversation. Xie Yunyue, refusing to reveal a word about his martial arts, talked about everything under the sun.

Xie Yunyue, hearing that he was a bodyguard, and seeing his muscular physique and rough hands, realized he seemed to have mastered six or seven tenths of the five external martial arts techniques—and this was no exaggeration. He saw this as an opportunity to befriend him, hoping to learn about his father's past or, through his friends, uncover some clues. Li Daming was a second- or third-rate bodyguard at the Zhentai Escort Agency in Nanchang. He was traveling with his family to Ganzhou for his father-in-law's funeral. Afterwards, to avoid the hardship of traveling by land and horse, he chartered a boat directly to the provincial capital.

Accustomed to the ways of the martial world, Li Daming had developed a hospitable and generous nature. Seeing Xie Yunyue's handsome appearance and refined manners, he took a liking to him. They became close, spending their days traveling together by boat, exchanging stories of martial arts and literary anecdotes. When in high spirits, Li Daming would boast about his experiences as a bodyguard, his face beaming. Xie Yunyue would simply nod and smile, occasionally chiming in with a few words, mostly praising poetry. Xie Yunyue knew it was too early to try and extract information about Li Daming's father's life; if he didn't know, it would only arouse his suspicion.

Xie Yunyue's martial arts skills are now almost perfect, but he is unaware of it because he has never fought anyone. When ordinary people cultivate their internal energy to a high level, their temples bulge, but he does not have this. This is because the "Returning to Origin Sitting Exercise" has completely contained his essence, energy and spirit. Apart from a little bit of spiritual light in his eyes, he is no different from ordinary people. As someone who makes a living in the escort business, Li Daming has seen many people in the martial arts world, but he never realized that the young man he was associating with was someone who possessed extraordinary skills but did not reveal them.

One day, Li Daming suddenly asked Xie Yunyue, "Brother, are you going to the provincial capital to visit friends and relatives, or are you preparing for the imperial examinations?"

Xie Yunyue laughed and said, "Brother Li, who goes to take the imperial examinations in the dead of winter? Isn't that making fun of me?"

Li Daming blushed and said awkwardly, "Brother, don't misunderstand me. In the past, candidates who came to the provincial capital to take the examinations would rent a house there a year or two in advance and study diligently until they entered the examinations before returning home. I thought you were like them, and I wasn't making fun of you."

Xie Yunyue said "Oh," thinking to himself that he was new to the world and knew nothing about many things. He would have to be more careful with his words in the future. Li Daming had brought up this question before, and I had only said that I was going to the provincial capital to see the cultural relics. Li Daming seemed unconvinced, so he brought it up again today. I laughed and said, "Brother Li, I was just joking. Please don't take offense. I've been forbidden from becoming an official since childhood by my family. My father passed away, and his dying wish was for me to go to the provincial capital to find a job. I have no other intentions."

Li Daming slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Ha! My good brother, why didn't you say so earlier? It's not that I, Li Daming, am bragging, but I have many acquaintances. I'll introduce you to..." "A place to make a living shouldn't be a problem." After a moment's thought, he added, "I remember something. Three months ago, our escort agency's accountant passed away due to illness. When I left, the position hadn't been filled. I don't know if a replacement has been made yet. If not, I can put in a good word for you at the east gate of our shop; it should be successful."

Xie Yunyue quickly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Then, I thank you in advance."

Li Daming laughed, "We're brothers; there's no need for such formalities. Come, my good brother, let me toast you." With that, they raised their cups and drank together.

As the boat passed Zhangshu Town, the weather worsened, with the north wind blowing even stronger and relentlessly in gusts. Snowflakes, like goose feathers, fell in abundance, blanketing the riverbanks, peaks, houses, vegetation, and fields in a dazzling white. The landscape was desolate, devoid of human presence. This snow scene was strikingly different from the lush, evergreen landscape of southern Jiangxi. Xie Yunyue couldn't help but lean out of the cabin to admire the view, reciting Tang Dynasty poems about appreciating snow. Li Daming, seeing this, thought to himself, "What a bookworm! What's so interesting about this snow scene?"

The journey on the boat took many days, and they finally arrived in the provincial capital on the 26th of the twelfth lunar month. Xie Yunyue disembarked with Li Daming's family, carrying only a bag, ready to leave immediately. Zhentai Escort Agency was located in Yangjiachang, with its imposing gate and a pair of stone lions. The location was a bustling commercial area, densely populated. Despite the heavy snow and freezing temperatures, with the Lunar New Year approaching, people were still coming and going, a constant stream of people buying New Year's goods.

Xie Yunyue was staying in the courtyard of a guesthouse opposite the agency. Although the position of accountant at the agency was still vacant, Li Daming, because the New Year was fast approaching, hadn't yet brought it up with the head escort, planning to discuss it after the spring. However, Li Daming frequently visited him at the guesthouse to go to the nearby old-established Songheyuan restaurant, ordering a couple of dishes and enjoying light drinks. He also often invited Xie Yunyue to the agency. Li Daming's wife was very virtuous, treating the young man like her own nephew, always so attentive when he visited. Xie Yunyue was deeply moved and harbored a desire to repay her kindness.

Over the past few days, Xie Yunyue had visited all the famous historical sites outside Nanchang, such as Tengwang Pavilion, Baihuazhou, and Fang Shouguan. He lingered for half a day at each place, leaning on the railing and reciting poetry. People were always curious, wondering where this young man got so much leisure in the dead of winter. Little did they know that Xie Yunyue didn't spend his free time like that.

The head镖师 (chief镖师) of Zhentai Escort Agency was surnamed Xiahou, named Xin, and known as the Multi-Armed Divine Ape. He was over sixty years old and a lay disciple of Wudang. His lightness skill and agility were like that of a monkey. He had two rows of twenty-four phoenix crossbows mounted on his arms. When his arms were taut, the crossbows would shoot out like a rain of arrows, never missing a shot. He was incredibly powerful. However, Xiahou Xin rarely used this skill unless he encountered a formidable enemy. This was how he earned the title of Multi-Armed Divine Ape. He also had the thirty-nine forms of "Tai Chi Hand" and the sixty-four moves of "Dragon Tiger Soul-Severing Blade," which were the martial arts he relied on to make a name for himself.

Old镖头 Xiahou had a son and a daughter. His son, Xiahou Yi, was eleven years old, and his daughter, Xiahou Wanzhen, was only nine. The old镖头 loved his son and daughter dearly. He had already laid a solid foundation for their martial arts, and in his spare time, he would pass on all his knowledge to his children. However, the old镖头 was not very learned and always wanted to find a tutor to teach his children literature, so that they could excel in both martial arts and literature and achieve great things in the future. Xie Yunyue and Li Daming occasionally visited the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security agency in China) and had met the old镖头 once or twice. The old镖头 found the young man to be gentle and refined, and he harbored this idea, but he didn't know if the young man would be willing to accept it, so he kept it to himself.

After the Lantern Festival, Li Daming went to see the chief镖头 (chief镖头, a kind of bodyguard/escort) and tested the old镖头's attitude by mentioning Xie Yunyue's matter. The old镖头 said, "镖头 Li, how can we ask this young Mr. Xie to be an accountant and spend his days with monks in the market? How about this, I am thinking of asking him to be a tutor to teach my son and daughter literature. I wonder if Mr. Xie can condescend to do this?"

Li Daming grinned broadly and said, "Since the head镖师 (chief镖师) is so kind, of course I agree! What more can I say?" He turned and rushed out of the镖局 (镖局, a type of security agency) into the inn, excitedly pulling Xie Tianyue aside to tell him about it. Xie Yunyue, of course, was full of thanks. They went to the镖局 together to see the old镖师, and after some polite exchanges, the old镖师 called out his son and daughter to pay their respects to their teacher, and a feast was held.

That very night, Xie Yunyue moved into the study in the backyard of the镖局, where he taught them classical texts like the *Youxue Qionglin*, *Zengguang Xianwen*, and *Qianjia Shi* every day. All the镖师,镖伙 (镖师 is a type of security agency), and 途手 (途手 is a type of security officer) in the镖局 became familiar with Xie Yunyue. They all felt that this tutor was warm and approachable, but his eyes had a piercing light that made people feel uneasy. Sometimes, Xie Yunyue would also go to the martial arts training ground to have the old镖师 teach his children martial arts. The old镖师 would always ask him how his teaching was going, and Xie Yunyue would just smile and say that he was an amateur in martial arts.

The old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) and his wife respected him greatly. Seeing that he had too few clothes, they made him more than ten pieces in one go. He thought, "How can I repay this kindness?"

Two months passed quickly. One day, the old镖头 suddenly looked worried and sat in the hall discussing something with the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) in the agency. I don't know what they were talking about. He had sharp ears and eyes and could hear the sound of falling leaves and flying flowers within twenty or thirty feet. However, to avoid suspicion, he ran away.

After dinner, I went to Li Daming's hospital. Pulling him aside, I asked him a question. Li Daming said, "Last March, the escort agency was protecting a shipment of goods to western Hunan. Passing through Jin Feng Ridge in Lingling, the so-called 'Three Evils of Eastern Hunan'—Nine-Tailed Eagle Ai Hua, Flying Centipede Cheng Yi, and Black Arhat Wu Ming—came down the mountain to intercept the shipment. A fight broke out, and Black Arhat Wu Ming died under the old escort leader's Phoenix Crossbow. Unexpectedly, Wu Ming was a disciple of Master Xiao Hongyi of Dabei Temple in southern Sichuan. That Master Hongyi is the most famous evil star in the southwest; both the righteous and evil factions give him a wide berth. His Bone-Piercing Yin Wind Palm..." He was most famous in the martial arts world, and it was rumored that he had come west to seek revenge. How

could the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) not be worried? He was sending someone to invite skilled people to come and help. Xie Yunyue listened and smiled, "Old镖头 is kind and honest, he will surely turn bad luck into good. I don't think Monk Hongyi is necessarily harmful."

Li Daming frowned and said, "Brother, you are a scholar, how would you know that there are many strange and wicked people in the martial arts world? There are countless people with a few tricks of farming." Xie Yunyue smiled and said nothing more. He turned and walked away, thinking to himself how to help.

Several days later, after noon, two experts came to the镖局 (bodyguard/escort agency). One was Lei Xiaotian, the Qiankun Hand, and the other was Xu Dongping, the Two Elements Swordsman. Lei Xiaotian was the sole disciple of the Qinling Yisou, who was famous throughout the north and south of Henan fifty years ago. His martial arts were amazing. He rarely encountered an opponent with the Thirty-Six Forms of Qiankun Hand. He was humorous by nature and was known in the martial arts world as a difficult person to deal with. He was not yet forty years old, with a thin figure, regular features, and bright eyes.

Xu Dongping, the Two-Element Swordsman, was the top disciple of the Hengshan School and a future sect leader. Known as one of the Four Swordsmen of Jiangnan, he appeared as a middle-aged scholar with a long, three-pronged beard and a captivating air. He was about fifty years old. A venerable sword slung across his back.

Of the two, the Two-Element Swordsman had come on horseback to invite them for help, while Lei Xiaotian arrived uninvited. Lei Xiaotian was a wanderer, and since he was a guest at the Two-Element Swordsman's home, he accompanied Xu Dongping. The old镖头 (镖头 is a term for a镖师, a kind of镖师 who specializes in镖师 who are skilled in martial arts and martial arts), upon seeing the two, laughed heartily and greeted them, saying, "Brother Lei, you've arrived! Old brother can

finally relax." Lei Xiaotian's face hardened, and he said, "Old monkey, don't flatter me too much. I'm afraid I'll fall and break my back. Your镖商 (镖商 is a type of镖师 who specializes in镖师 who are skilled ...

That evening, a grand banquet was held. Xie Yunyue was seated at the west table, and Lei Xiaotian was invited to join him. During the banquet, Lei Xiaotian paid close attention to the young man. He vaguely recognized him and wondered if he had seen him before. After some thought, he realized that the young man's surname was Xie. Could he be related to Xie Wen, the "Soul Chaser" who was rumored to have died in the martial arts world years ago? Xie Wen and his master, Qinling Yisou, were close friends. Every year, Lei Xiaotian would visit his master in Qinling. At that time, Lei Xiaotian had not yet completed his apprenticeship and served by his side. Xie Wen was only in his early thirties at the time, and his facial features were very similar to Xie Yunyue. After entering the martial arts world, Xie Yunyue encountered Xie Wen several times and gained many benefits from him. Therefore, he paid close attention and truly believed that Xie Yunyue was Xie Wen's second incarnation. However, there was a rumor in the martial arts world that after Xie Wen was besieged by more than a dozen righteous and evil masters, although he escaped, the masters still refused to let go and tracked him all the way. They found the skeletons of an old man and a child in Wugong Mountain. The flesh was gone, and only two skeletons remained. Only then did the masters let go and return, believing that the Soul Chaser was dead. If this was true, then this boy was not Xie Wen's youngest son. He was full of doubts and couldn't figure it out. However, the more he looked at him

, the more he resembled Xie Wen from back then. Xie Yunyue noticed that Lei Xiaotian kept looking at him with a strange expression. He nodded and smiled at Lei Xiaotian, but he was very suspicious in his heart. He thought to himself, "This Lei Xiaotian is really strange. He keeps looking at me. Could it be that he has seen through my flaws?" Thinking this in his heart, he still remained calm and composed on the surface and continued to offer wine and drink with him.

Seeing Lei Xiaotian constantly scrutinizing Xie Xixi, the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) Xiahou stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Brother Lei, don't let Mr. Xie's youth fool you; he is incredibly talented and learned. All the documents and correspondence in your镖局 (

bodyguard/escort agency) are written by him. His writing is elegant and refined, and his calligraphy, especially his elegant and powerful characters, is truly rare." Lei Xiaotian quickly laughed heartily, "I also noticed Mr. Xie's captivating presence and refined manners; I couldn't help but take a few extra glances." These words were a perfect cover-up.

After the banquet, Xie Yunyue excused himself and went to his room. Lei Xiaotian then said to Xu Dongping and Xiahou Xin, "I think Mr. Xie is a man of hidden talent and extraordinary skills. How come Brother Xiahou hasn't noticed anything amiss? It seems you've misjudged him this time."

Xiahou Xin said, "What's suspicious about a scholar? If he truly possesses extraordinary skills, why would he condescend to be a tutor in a security escort agency? Is he here to escape revenge? Even if he is, he could hide anywhere. Why would he openly come and go from a security escort agency? Isn't he afraid of being discovered?"

Xu Dongping also said, "This man is indeed as Brother Lei says, a bit suspicious. The depth of his martial arts skills can be seen from the gleam in his eyes. Mr. Xie's eyes have a gleam that is..." "Don't look too closely, there's nothing unusual about him. It's hard to believe that someone under twenty could have mastered such a superior martial arts technique, able to internalize all his vital energy. Let's leave that aside for now. But this man has an upright air about him, so there's no need to worry. Even if he possesses extraordinary skills, he has his own compelling reasons."

Lei Xiaotian squinted and smiled, "This time, the bald thief Hongyi came from the west seeking revenge. Although he's powerful, he alone might not be able to do anything to me, Lei Xiaotian. The only concern is that the bald thief has someone capable by his side. I had some concerns along the way, but now that I've met Xie Xixi, all the Yin Ba has been swept away. He'll definitely secretly help me. Old monkey, you've struck gold! If you don't believe me, let's make a bet." Xiahou Xin listened, seemingly convinced.

Despite Lei Xiaotian's humorous nature and seemingly cryptic speech, he didn't reveal the matter of Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser. He knew that if Xie Yunyue was truly a descendant of the Soul Chaser, the reason he kept it hidden was to find out who had hunted down his father. If he revealed it, it would cause a huge uproar in the martial arts world and bring considerable trouble upon himself. What if Xie Yunyue came to hate him? This was his cleverness.

Xu Dongping said, "From tomorrow onwards, when you see Mr. Xie, act as usual, and don't show any unusual expression, lest he become suspicious." Lei Xiaotian laughed and remained silent.

For several days in a row, Qiankun Shou went to Xie Yunyue's study to chat, and they got along very well. The Recluse of Qinling, renowned as a talented scholar in the martial arts world, lived in seclusion in the Qinling Mountains. He had built a separate room with walls filled with books, where he spent his days reading. Lei Xiaotian was his sole disciple, and under his tutelage, Lei Xiaotian possessed profound learning and exceptional eloquence. He was well-versed in poetry, prose, calligraphy, painting, music, and chess, and his arguments were insightful. His humorous nature added to his conversation, often leaving Xie Yunyue in stitches.

Xie Yunyue gradually realized that Lei Xiaotian was exceptionally skilled in both literature and martial arts, and was also kind and approachable. They became close friends, discussing only literary matters and never mentioning martial arts. When the two young servants, Xiahou and his brother, came to his study, they would always ask Uncle Lei to teach them some unique techniques. Lei Xiaotian would sometimes agree, occasionally showing off a move, partly to test whether Xie Yunyue actually knew martial arts.

Xie Yunyue, his eyes wide with astonishment, exclaimed, "Today I have broadened my horizons and witnessed the wonders that exist throughout the land. The ancients were right. Indeed, your knowledge is beyond what I have ever seen before. You are truly a man of great talent and character, and your dedication to upholding justice and eliminating evil is truly admirable." He showered Xie Yunyue with praise.

Lei Xiaotian felt that this man was as good as a dragon when he pretended to be one, and as good as a tiger when he pretended to be one. His composure was beyond the reach of ordinary people. One day, Lei Xiaotian went to the study again to have a heart-to-heart talk with Xie Yunyue. Just as they were chatting and laughing, Lei Xiaotian casually rolled up his sleeve and pulled it down to his arm. He rested his head on his hand and laughed. Xie Yunyue suddenly noticed a purplish-red scar about five inches long on his left elbow and wrist. He was surprised and asked about it.

Lei Xiaotian sighed and said, "Brother Xie, if you want to know the origin of this scar, it happened about twenty or seven years ago. Not long after I entered the martial arts world, I passed through Baling and, to uphold justice, I clashed with the Four Heroes of Southern Shaanxi. We fought fiercely for half a day. As the saying goes, two fists can't beat four hands. I was finally slashed on my left hand by a poisoned knife. Blood gushed out, and the poison seeped into my skin. In that critical moment, I was fortunate to be saved by my uncle Xie Wen. Uncle Xie Wen's reputation in the martial arts world is 'The Soul Chaser,' and his martial arts are unparalleled. He was indignant that the Four Heroes had joined forces, violating the rules of martial arts combat. He fought four against one and unleashed his killing blows. In an instant, three were dead and one was injured. Unexpectedly, the Four Heroes were third-generation disciples of the Qionglai Sect. The injured one escaped and stirred up trouble. From then on, the Qionglai Sect hated Uncle Xie Wen to the bone and vowed to eliminate him. They took the opportunity to rob him, but fortunately, they failed. Uncle Xie Wen was my mentor and friend, and I benefited greatly from him." I met him several more times after that. More than a decade ago, I heard that he was in Hunan, carrying his young child, when he was secretly ambushed by masters from both righteous and evil factions. He died from his injuries. I thought of him as a kind-hearted man with a cold exterior but a warm heart, a true gentleman. However, he was also upright and hated evil as if it were his enemy. I never expected that he would die for this. It shows that the grudges and right and wrong of the martial arts world are not easy to judge. Now that we are separated by death, I am filled with emotion when I think of his wounds and the past. He sighed repeatedly, glancing furtively at Xie Yunyue's expression.

Upon hearing Lei Xiaotian recount his father's past, Xie Yunyue's face showed a flicker of surprise, but it vanished in an instant. Lei Xiaotian, a shrewd man, immediately grasped the situation, understanding its significance. But how to explain the remains of the old man and young boy in Wugong Mountain? He didn't reveal it for now, knowing the answer would come when the time was right.

Then Xie Yunyue said calmly, "Such matters of grudges and feuds in the martial world are beyond the understanding of a mere scholar like myself. But Brother Lei, being a chivalrous figure and a junior of Xie Wen, it is only right that you avenge him. How can you let his injustice sink to the bottom of the sea, his resentment lingering in the mountains?"

Lei Xiaotian was deeply moved and sighed, "Brother, your criticism is quite right. However, rumors are hardly reliable evidence. Moreover, those who participated in the ambush are tight-lipped, not uttering a single word, making it extremely difficult to find their names. Even now, I still find it hard to believe that my Uncle Xie Wen died in vain. Perhaps he is still alive, having traveled the world for over a decade searching for clues." Xie

Yunyue's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "In that case, Brother Lei is indeed a thoughtful person."

Lei Xiaotian laughed loudly, "Brother, you haven't yet become close to me. You will eventually see my true character." Xie Yunyue looked ashamed and hurriedly said, "

Brother Lei, I didn't mean to mock you. I came uninvited for Xiahou's sake. Such righteousness is comparable to Yang Zuo's. This alone shows my respect. I am far inferior to him, how dare I..."

Before he could finish, Lei Xiaotian interrupted, "Brother, I was a little too harsh just now. You don't need to flatter me like that. Besides, it really makes me feel ashamed." The two then stopped talking and chatted about unrelated matters before Lei Xiaotian took his leave.

Xie Yunyue sat in his study, thinking to himself, "Lei Xiaotian's words seem trustworthy, and he has a connection with my father. I will surely find many clues in him in the future. However, I bear a blood feud and cannot reveal it lightly. I'll deal with this matter slowly." That

night, Xie Yunyue was restless and couldn't sleep. Finally, he came up with a plan. He realized that as a scholar, mingling with his friends in the martial arts world would only make them keep their distance. He decided to reveal himself, letting them know he existed, but without revealing his background or his deceased father's unique martial arts skills. Fortunately, his own skills were extensive and profound, so no one could guess his identity. With this resolve, he fell asleep peacefully.

The next day, the sun was high in the sky, and sunlight streamed in through the window. Xie Yunyue woke up and couldn't help but chuckle, thinking, "Usually, I wake up at the slightest sound, but last night I slept so soundly. It seems that agitation is the greatest taboo for martial artists."

Usually, Xiahou and his two young companions had finished their lessons, but today, after visiting three times, they found their teacher fast asleep and dared not disturb him. They reported back to their father, the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort), who said, "Don't wake the teacher. I'll give you a day off in his place." The two children, overjoyed at the news, jumped out to play. Lei Xiaotian, hearing that Xie Yunyue was still asleep, raised his eyebrows, guessing what was going on, but no one paid any attention to his expression.

Xie Yunyue, having finished washing up, saw that his class time was over and was happy to have some free time, so he decided to go to the outskirts to enjoy the spring scenery. Xie Yunyue walked alone out of the escort agency and slowly headed towards the Shunhua Gate. He saw the willows were newly green, peaches were blooming on the branches, rice seedlings were swaying in the wind, and everything was coming back to life, making him feel refreshed.

After walking quite a distance, he faintly heard the Two Elements Swordsman Xu Dongping laugh and say, "Why are Brother Xie and Brother Lei so familiar with each other? Is it really as Brother Lei said?" "

As he was enjoying himself, a fast horse suddenly rushed out from a side road. Because the rider had been walking slowly on the side road, he suddenly tightened the reins and charged forward. Neither was paying attention, and a collision was inevitable, one of them would be injured. Xie Yunyue, quick-witted and agile, swiftly sidestepped the horse's head, then with one hand up, he lifted the horse's neck, and the magnificent Mongolian steed was pulled away by him." With a sudden jerk, the horse's forelegs were raised high, causing it to lose its balance and tumble into the roadside paddy field. The horse, lying in the field, let out a long neigh, kicked its hooves, and sprang back to its feet, shaking its head to splash water before leaping onto the main road.

As the horse tumbled, the rider pressed down on the mane with one hand, his body rising five or six feet into the air, landing diagonally in the road. He angrily shouted, "Who are you, brat, blocking your way? Do you want to die?"

Xie Yunyue carefully examined the newcomer. He was dressed in a black, tight-fitting outfit, with tightly knit eyebrows, a flat nose, and bloodshot eyes. His gaping mouth made him look extremely ferocious. Xie Yunyue was furious upon hearing this. He had been recklessly galloping in the middle of the road; if it had been anyone else, they would have been killed instantly. So, he raised an eyebrow and sneered, "Friend, are you blind? How dare you gallop in the middle of the road? You'd pay with your life if you killed someone. I think you're in a hurry to attend a funeral."

The man rolled his bloodshot eyes, his blood-red mouth gaping wide as he roared, "Boy, you dare to talk back to me, the Nine-Tailed Eagle Ai Hua? Your death is near! I'll beat you!" The word "beat" was barely out of his mouth before he swiftly stepped forward, his right palm striking Xie Yunyue's chest. Upon hearing the man's name, Nine-Tailed Eagle Ai Hua, Xie Yunyue recognized him as one of the three villains of Xiangdong mentioned by Li Daming, and knew it was the bald thief Hongyi. Seeing Ai Hua's attack aimed at Xie Yunyue's chest ,

Xie Yunyue was secretly enraged. If he didn't teach this man a lesson, he'd see how arrogant he remained. He chuckled lightly, neither dodging nor avoiding, but Ai Hua's palm arrived. Xie Yunyue swiftly extended his right hand, like lightning, seizing Ai Hua's pulse point, and with a flick and a throw, Ai Hua was sent flying five zhang away, lying on his back, clutching his right arm, his eyes wide with shock.

Xie Yunyue slowly stepped forward, saying, "Brother Ai, what's wrong?"

Ai Hua felt a sharp pain in his arm as Xie Yunyue gripped his pulse point, realizing something was wrong. He was then thrown to the ground, dazed and terrified. He thought to himself, "I'm really unlucky. I couldn't even defeat an unknown youth in one move. If word gets out, what face will the Three Evils of Xiangdong have left in the martial world?" Hearing Xie Yunyue's mocking words, he sprang to his feet with a "carp leap," shouting, "Boy, I'll fight you to the death!" He drew two red copper acupuncture hoes from his back and lunged forward, striking Xie Yunyue's "Youmen" and "Qihai" acupoints with both hands.

Xie Yunyue chuckled and tapped his left foot, his body flashing to the side. With a swift movement of his right hand, Ai Hua felt a blur before his eyes, and his hands went numb. He involuntarily loosened his grip, and Xie Yunyue had easily snatched away the two acupoint hoes. He was shocked and was about to leap out when Xie Yunyue struck his "Zhongfu" acupoint with his left palm. With a cry of pain, Ai Hua tumbled to the ground.

Xie Yunyue smiled and said to him, "Uncle Ai, don't embarrass yourself in front of me. With your skills, it would be futile even if you went back and practiced for ten or eight years. I've already crippled your martial arts by striking your acupoints. You're not allowed to use any martial arts for three years, or you'll be half dead. I think these two useless weapons are pointless to keep, so I might as well destroy them for you." As he spoke, he lightly circled his hands, forming a two-inch-thick red copper acupoint hoe into a double ring, and casually tossed it into the paddy field. He added, "Ai Hua, what urgent matter brings you to Nanchang? Could it be that that bald thief Hong Yi has arrived and ordered you to go to Zhentai Escort Agency for a duel? If that's the case, there's no need for you to rush here like this."

After Ai Hua's "Zhongfu" acupoint was struck, he was already weak in all four limbs and sweating profusely. He cursed himself inwardly for having other important matters to attend to and for insisting on his own way, thus delaying Master Hongyi's business. He knew he would suffer when he returned. Then, he heard the young man opposite him reveal his mission. He knew that the old scoundrel Xiahou from Zhentai had invited a skilled man. Judging from the man's amazing skill, Master Hongyi and his two companions might not fare well. So he lowered his voice and said humbly, "Young hero, Ai Hua was ordered by Master Hongyi to go to Zhentai Escort Agency to meet Xiahou Xin. I was sent by someone and offended him out of ignorance. I hope that you will be merciful and release my acupoints. From now on, I will stop my evil deeds and never commit evil again." After saying this, his eyes showed a pleading look.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyue thought to himself, "How can this thief be so spineless? He seems to be too much of a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong." He then sneered, "You, surnamed Ai, since you call yourself one of the Three Evils of Xiangdong and a bandit, it's clear you're an incorrigible scoundrel who oppresses the good. Forgiving you for your first offense and striking your acupoints is already being extremely lenient. Anyone else would have been killed long ago. Forget about undoing the strikes. I'll handle the duel; you don't need to go. Give me that invitation card, and you can go back to that bald thief's den." " The son reported back, saying we will arrive on time."

Seeing that he refused to release the pressure points, the Nine-Tailed Eagle Ai Hua knew that revenge was hopeless. He reached into his robe, pulled out a red paper, and handed it over, saying hatefully, "Who are you? Please tell me your

name. As long as the man surnamed Ai is alive, I will repay you in the future." Xie Yunmin angrily shouted, "You scoundrel, you dare to ask my name? You must want to die." As he spoke, he flicked his palm, and Ai Hua was so frightened that he fled in terror, abandoning even his Mongolian horse.

Xie Yunyue smiled slightly as he watched him escape. This scoundrel was truly a coward. Why did he even abandon his horse? He took the horse, mounted it, and rode back to the escort agency. Along the way, he secretly pondered, how could this scoundrel be so weak, yet dare to call himself one of the Three Evils? How could he know that his attack just now contained the "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan"? How much skill did Ai Hua possess to dare to compare himself to this martial arts masterpiece?

He suddenly let out a soft "Ah!" on horseback, perhaps remembering something. He pulled on the reins, and the horse lurched forward. It slowed down immediately. It turned out that he had taken the visiting card from Ai Hua and put it in his pocket without ever looking at it. After returning to the escort agency, he was asked by everyone about how he received the card. How could he explain it in a way that made sense? He was stunned on horseback.

He reached for the large red paper note, unfolded it, and read only a few words. The gist was that he would await instruction at sunrise the next morning at the summit of Meiling Peak in Xishan. It was addressed to Abbot Hongyi of Dabeisi Temple in southern Sichuan, and Gong Qing, the "Deathbringer" and "Twin Demons of Lancang," Zhu Baipei. He thought to himself, "Excellent! Tomorrow morning will surely be a fierce battle. I wonder who these Twin Demons of Lancang are. This Zhu Baipei, known as the 'Twin Demons,' is probably skilled in palm techniques. I wonder if my mother's death, caused by a vicious attack, is related to him. I'll go back and listen to their discussion. Ask about the note's mention of being forwarded by Ai Wen; otherwise, I'll deal with it as it comes."

He then took the note... He folded the visiting card neatly and tucked it into his bosom. With a flick of the reins, the horse galloped faster towards Shunhua Gate. The man was as handsome as a jade tree, and the horse as swift as a dragon. Passersby couldn't help but stop and watch, praising, "Whose son is this? He's truly exceptionally handsome."

Back at the escort agency, he dismounted and handed the horse to a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) to take it for sustenance. The镖师's eyes widened like copper bells, thinking, "This tutor, seemingly weak and powerless, can ride such a swift and spirited steed. It's truly strange. It would be a real injustice if he were to fall and die." He muttered these thoughts to himself, but dared not say them aloud. Maintaining a cheerful expression, he led the horse away to prepare it.

Xie Yunyue coughed lightly, swaying slightly as he calmly strolled into the hall. The old镖头 (bodyguard/escort) was chatting and laughing with Xu Dongping, the Two-Element Swordsman, Qiankun Hand Thunder Xiaotian, and an unidentified short, withered old man. Upon seeing him enter, the old镖头 stood up with a smile and said to Xie Yunyue, "Mr. Xie, let me introduce you to an extraordinary person." As he spoke, he pointed to the old man and said, "This is a marvel of Mount Tai, the short, wielding Cui Jian. Although we are of different paths, we should still get to know each other." He then led Xie Yunyue over, and Xie Yunyue clasped his hands in greeting, repeatedly expressing his pleasure at the meeting.

The short, shrewd eyes of the young man Cui Jian kept scrutinizing him. Before Xie Yunyue arrived, they had discussed how this tutor was a man of extraordinary skill, someone who kept his abilities hidden. Thus, despite their observation, they couldn't discern anything unusual. Cui Jian thought to himself, "Just now, the three of them mentioned that I had boasted that I could prove myself with a single test. Why don't I give it a try?" He then laughed loudly, "Brother Xiahou mentioned that Xie Junliang is as handsome as gold and jade, with an extraordinary demeanor. I have been eager to see him, and now that I have met him, he is indeed a dragon among men. I am but a simple, ignorant man from the mountains, and I believe what Brother Xiahou said. We should get to know each other better." With that, he clasped his hands in a fist salute, and thrust out a force that contained twenty percent of his true strength.

Seeing Xie Yunyue's clasped fists, the force emanating from his fingertips, Xie knew he had this intention and quickly said, "How dare you, Elder Cui, you flatter me." He took two steps forward with a quick movement, his movements as natural as an ordinary person's, and handed the red paper invitation to the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort).

Cui Jian saw that he had effortlessly avoided his true force, seemingly unintentionally, yet it was done flawlessly and perfectly. He secretly praised him, "This boy is so clever; it's truly rare to see such a person." Lei Xiaotian winked at Cui Jian, as if to say, "I'm not afraid of your experience; you've met your match this time."

Old镖头 Xiahou took the invitation and glanced at it, his expression changing slightly. He said, "Brother Lei, just as you said, the bald thief Hongyi has come with the Lancang Twins, challenging us to meet at sunrise tomorrow morning at Meiling in the Western Hills. These three are all ruthless, making this matter quite troublesome."

Lei Xiaotian laughed wildly, "Old monkey, why are you so afraid? Even if the Twins are unparalleled in martial arts, I, Lei, will fight them."

Xu Dongping, the usually taciturn Two Elements Swordsman, spoke up this time, saying, "Looking at the world today, there are very few masters who can rival the Twins. I've heard that the Lancang Twins have never been defeated except for two times, when they were defeated by the Emei Sect Master Taixuan Zhenren and the Soul Chaser Xie Wen. Although we may not be defeated tomorrow morning, we are unlikely to be able to win. Brother Lei, you must not underestimate them." Xie Yunyue's heart stirred when he heard Xu Dongping mention his father's name.

Upon hearing this, Cui Jian, the short, unconvinced, rolled his eyes and said, "Hmph, this old man hasn't set foot in Sichuan or Yunnan for twenty years, otherwise, how could I have allowed him to be so arrogant until now? Today, given the opportunity, this old man will teach him a lesson."

Seeing the situation, Lei Xiaotian knew that Cui Jian was stubborn and combative, and that further discussion would only escalate the conflict. He suddenly stood up and laughed, "In any case, we will definitely go tomorrow morning. Enough with the nonsense. Hey, Brother Xie, let's play a game of chess." With that, he bid farewell to Xie Yunyue and the other two.

Xie Yunyue's heart stirred, and he secretly... Glancing at Lei Xiaotian's face, seeing that he seemed not to have heard and remained unmoved, Lei Xiaotian suddenly asked, "Brother Xie, it's really strange that this visiting card happened to be in your hands."

Xie Yunyue cursed inwardly, "You cunning devil, always picking on me." But he replied aloud, "When I returned, not far from the escort agency, a man claiming to be Ai Hua handed me the visiting card, asking me to pass it on. Brother Lei, is there anything wrong with that?"

Lei Xiaotian twitched his nose and smiled, "Oh, is that so?" He seemed to believe it but not quite.

The two men set up a chess game in the study, concentrating intently on their moves. Unexpectedly,

Lei Xiaotian made a careless move, losing a large portion of his pieces. He then laughed loudly, "Brother, your moves are divinely inspired! I've been neglecting my skills for too long; if I continue like this, the game will fall apart." Xie Yunyue smiled slightly, glanced at Lei Xiaotian, and said, "Brother Lei, you are indeed very observant. I will tell you everything about my matter after tomorrow. I will need your help in the future."

Lei Xiaotian laughed loudly, "From our first meeting, I suspected you possessed extraordinary skills, and I was right."

Xie Yunyue laughed, "What extraordinary skills? I know you've gone to great lengths to investigate me these past few days, but I know my skills are far inferior to yours. Rather than embarrass myself, I'd rather keep my abilities hidden." " It's because I bear a deep-seated blood feud and have too many enemies involved.

If I alert them, all my efforts will be in vain, and I'll regret it for the rest of my life." Qiankun Shou Lei Xiaotian said solemnly, "I, Lei, know the characters of all factions in the martial world, both righteous and evil, inside and out. This will be of little help to you in your revenge. If you have any doubts, I, Lei, can certainly give you some advice. My dear brother, you know I'm a straightforward and impatient person. I can't wait until after Mingda. Tell me, and I will never reveal it to anyone."

Xie Yunyue, hearing his sincerity and eagerness, couldn't help but laugh and said, "In that case, why don't we go to Songhe Garden, order a couple of dishes, and talk all night?"

Lei Xiaotian slapped his thigh and laughed, "Alright, let's go! Lei's treating."

The two left the escort agency and entered Songhe Garden. The shopkeeper, seeing that they were acquaintances of the escort agency, quickly smiled and led them to a private room to sit down. It was still chilly in early spring, and the heavy cotton curtains had not yet been removed. The room was unusually warm. Lei Xiaotian ordered three catties of Shaoxing wine, ten stuffed pancakes, braised turtle, dried bean curd and meatball soup, and braised chicken and several other dishes.

Lei Xiaotian poured Xie Yunyue a full cup of wine, then poured one for himself, raising his cup with a smile, "Brother, it is the happiest thing in my life that I have met you. Do you have any connection with my Uncle Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser?"

Xie Yunyue's eyes reddened, and he replied resolutely, "Xie Yunyue is a descendant of Xie Wen."

Lei Xiaotian jumped up, grabbed Xie Yunyue's shoulders, and exclaimed with delight, "Heaven has eyes! Just as I expected, with my Uncle Xie Wen's unparalleled skills, how could he be so easily harmed by such a lowly person? Brother, where is Uncle Xie Wen now?"

Xie Yunyue sighed, resting his head on his hand. "My father passed away two years ago."

Lei Xiaotian sighed deeply, his expression somber. "Uncle Xie Wen died young, a mere dream. It's truly a pity that life is like a fleeting spring dream.

My dear brother, are you here on his dying wish to search for our enemies?" Xie Yunyue replied in a deep voice, "That's exactly what's troubling me. I originally planned to spend a year and a half in the escort agency, getting to know all the characters in the martial arts world, and then find out who had a grudge against my father. I would then visit them one by one to demand their forgiveness. But recently, I've been thinking about it and feel that this plan is somewhat impractical, too time-consuming, and too difficult to implement alone. I've been feeling lost all day, and there seems to be no solution." "Brother Lei, what should we do? Could you offer a good strategy?"

Lei Xiaomie blinked and smiled, "Brother, staying with the escort agency isn't a good idea. You still need to venture into the martial world. Once you make a name for yourself, you won't have to worry about not finding people. If you have any reservations, then lie about your background and origins so that no one will suspect you're a descendant of Xie Wen. That would be easy. However, Uncle Xie Wen has unique martial arts skills that others don't know. If you reveal them, people will know you're either his descendant or his disciple. That's quite worrying."

Xie Yunyue suddenly laughed, "That's not a concern. Although my father's unique martial arts skills were high, they were still not half as good as my master's. I..." "I will never reveal what my late father taught me."

Lei Xiaotian stared wide-eyed in surprise, "What? My dear brother, have you sought out another master? As you said, even my Uncle Xie Wen's unparalleled skills are not half as good as your master's. Your master must be a highly accomplished senior. May I ask him?"

Xie Yunyue shook his head and smiled, "The commander's family strictly forbids any disclosure. I hope Brother Lei won't take offense."

Seeing that he didn't speak, Lei Xiaotian knew it was the truth and didn't press him. He smiled and said, "Even if you don't say it, my dear brother, you can't escape my discerning eye. Let's put this matter aside for now. I've already thought of a plan to kill several birds with one stone for you. I know..." Those who pursued Uncle Xie back then included members of both righteous and evil factions, but it's unclear who was involved. It's said that Wudang, Kunlun, Huashan, the Three Righteous Sects, the Qionglai Sect, the Yellow River Three Rings Gang, the Xiangjiang Pai Sect, and even internal martial arts masters not belonging to any particular sect might have been involved. After you broke through Wan'er, my virtuous brother, humbly befriended them, specifically targeting the arrogant, self-important, and belligerent, stirring up sectarian differences. They weren't afraid to keep quiet about what happened back then, and now they've become unrestrained and are making a fuss. My virtuous brother, what do you think of this plan?"

Xie Yunyue clapped his hands repeatedly and praised, "Indeed a good plan! How about it? " "Since we can't see this, let's do it this way." He paused for a moment, then said, "Brother Lei, my late mother was brutally murdered, and there are seven finger bruises on her back. Brother Lei, you know all the figures in the martial world, do you know of any person born with seven fingers?"

Lei Xiaotian pondered for a long time and said, "I've never heard of anyone with seven fingers. Brother, you can start by considering those who use heavy-handed methods. It shouldn't be difficult to find them. The Mighty Ghost King Zhu Baipei of the Lancang Twin Fiends is also a suspect. After being punished by your father, he disappeared and never returned, harboring deep hatred for your father. Could it be him? However, I only say suspicious, not confirmed."

Xie Yunyue lightly... He chuckled and said, "Regardless of whether they are my mother's killers or not, their bandit names alone suggest they are not good people. Wouldn't it be great to eliminate them tomorrow morning and rid ourselves of a great scourge?"

Lei Xiaotian thought to himself, "This sworn brother of mine has quite the nerve. I, Lei, dare not easily provoke these two fiends. Even with Cui Jian, Xu Dongping, Xiahou Xin, and myself, the three of us would struggle to defeat them. How can he so casually claim to eliminate them?" He then thought, "It's hard to say whether my sworn brother truly possesses extraordinary skills." He then smiled and said, "Brother, with your help, how can we not capture them easily? For tomorrow morning's appointment, will you go alone or with us?" "?"

Xie Yunyue said, "I will go alone. Brother Lei, you must not tell anyone. Even if I go, I will only act secretly and will not show my face."

Lei Xiaotian laughed, "If you don't act, then there's something to say. But if you do act, even if I don't say anything, are the three of them dead? Let's not talk about that. My dear brother, I have a bold request. Since we are so close and trust each other, why don't we become sworn brothers and acknowledge me as your elder brother?"

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "Even if Brother Lei doesn't say it, I have the same thought." So he called over the innkeeper, prepared some incense and candles, swore an oath of brotherhood, and addressed each other as brothers. That night, the two of them returned home drunk.

The next day, before dawn, Xiahou Xin and the other three rode off to Meiling. After the four of them left, Xie Yunyue set off alone. When he left the city gate, the earth was still dark, the croaking of frogs filled the air, and there were no pedestrians on the road. He immediately used his lightness skill and ran wildly, following the four riders at a distance.

Just over an hour after reaching the foot of Meiling Mountain, the sky was beginning to lighten. Xie Yunyue saw Lei Xiaotian and the others abandon their horses and ascend the ridge. He immediately switched to the "Soaring Through the Air" technique, heading straight up the ridge from the side. This "Soaring Through the Air" technique was truly astonishing; with just a branch or leaf as support, one could glide seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) in

a single leap. This was akin to riding the wind through the air—a rare and exceptional martial arts skill. Although the ridge was called Meiling (Plum Ridge), it did not produce plums. The entire mountain was covered with tall, verdant bamboo, swaying in the wind, creating a symphony of bamboo waves that soothed the spirit. Xie Yunyue reached the summit before them. At the top was a grassy area of twenty or thirty zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) in diameter . He looked around and saw a huge black rock not far away, the perfect hiding place. He immediately concealed himself behind the rock.

A moment later, three figures flew up from below and landed on the grass. Xie Yunyue knew these three were the Smiling Impermanence Master Hongyi and the Lancang Duo. Master Hongyi was seven feet tall, dressed in a purple monk's robe. His features were fairly regular, but his eyes gleamed with a fierce, shifting light, revealing him to be a fickle and capricious person. His long beard flowed freely, and a gleaming steel staff was tucked into his back.

The Lancang Duo were both dressed in black, tight-fitting clothes. One of them was extremely ugly, with a thin, horse-like face covered in blue veins, triangular eyes, a bulbous nose, and thick lips. He had a pair of weapons, the Judge's Pen, tucked into his back. His body was enormous, twice the size of an average person.

Xie Yunyue thought, "This person must be the Mighty Ghost King Zhu Baipei."

The Deathbringer had a sinister face, droopy eyebrows, a pair of fish-like eyes that revealed a ghastly green light, a hooked nose, and two fangs that were slightly parted at the corners of his mouth. Judging from his appearance, it was obvious that he was a cunning and ruthless demon. A three-pointed Erlang Blade was tucked diagonally into his back.

After landing, Zen Master Hongyi glanced around and smiled, "The feng shui here is excellent. It's too good for old man Xiahou to die here." Before he finished speaking, a voice rang out, "Not necessarily," and four figures, accompanied by several bursts of laughter, floated down one after another.

The ever-smiling Zen Master Hongyi recognized Xiahou Xin and the other two as the most formidable figures in the martial arts world: Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian, the top disciple of the Hengshan Sect, the Two Elements Swordsman Xu Dongping, and a short, withered old man. Although he didn't recognize them, he figured they were all martial arts masters. Although he had two formidable opponents, he wasn't necessarily unable to defeat them, but the outcome was uncertain. He couldn't help but slightly change color.

Xiahou Xin stroked his long beard and smiled, saying, "I am Xiahou Xin, and I have come as invited. But may I ask what brings you here, Master?"

Upon hearing this, Master Hongyi's long eyebrows twitched, and he sneered, "Benefactor Xiahou, you are asking a question you already know the answer to. Even if my disciple Wuming offended me before the New Year, you should not have acted so rashly. And yesterday, I ordered Ai Hua to send a letter requesting an audience with proper etiquette, yet he was also stripped of all his martial arts skills. Isn't this going too far? What else do you have to say?"

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Xin was startled. "Yesterday, Xie Yunyue handed me the letter in person, without mentioning who delivered it to him. Judging from Master Hongyi's words, could it be that Master Xie truly possesses extraordinary skills?"

Before he could even think of a reply, Lei Xiaotian burst into laughter and said, "Hongyi, you make it sound so easy. Wuming, relying on your name, has been running rampant in Xiangdong, his evil deeds are well-known. Let alone whether he offended Brother Xiahou, even without offending him, he would hardly escape death if he encountered someone like us. Ai Hua's letter was inappropriate, and he was dealt with by my friend Lei. It's already a stroke of luck that he's left alive. What are you still yelling about?"

Hongyi was so angry that his face turned blue. Just as he was about to retort, Gong Shou, the "Deathbringer" of the Lancang Twins, suddenly sneered, "Today's matter, right and wrong, cannot be resolved with pleasantries alone." "If we fight and prove ourselves, the victor will be right. My brother and I have traveled a thousand miles eastward to see the masters of the Central Plains. It would be a waste for us to act like those arrogant and boastful scoundrels here and now."

Lei Xiaotian snorted angrily, "Who are you arrogant scoundrels? What are you? I, Lei, don't even recognize you."

Upon hearing this, Gong Shou, the Deathbringer, whose already ugly and sinister face became even more hideous, his eyes flashing with a ghastly green light, drew his three-pointed Erlang Blade without uttering a word, flicked his wrist, and struck Lei Xiaotian's shoulder blade like lightning.

Lei Xiaotian, originally renowned for his unparalleled swordsmanship and palm techniques, earned the title of "Qiankun Hand" from his palm techniques due to his rare use of the sword. Seeing the Deathbringer draw his weapon, fearing accusations of arrogance, he instinctively drew his sword, knowing it was a feint by Gong Shou, and didn't dodge. Just as the blade reached his left shoulder, he abruptly stepped back, then slashed at Gong Shou's right wrist with a reverse stroke. This move was from the Tai Cen Mountain-Suppressing Sword Technique, a signature move of the "Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams" sword style: "Turning Yin into Yang," the sword flashing with a blue light, incredibly sharp.

The Deathbringer's reputation as a formidable opponent was not undeserved; his missed attack revealed his formidable foe. He had encountered a thorny adversary. His second blade swiftly slashed upwards, dodging the sword attack, while his left palm followed with a powerful strike, the five fingers forming a halberd, cleaving Lei Xiaotian's left chest with incredible speed. Lei Xiaotian let out a soft whistle, dodging the attack with a sway of his shoulder. His sword continued its relentless motion, sweeping from right to left in a "jade belt around the waist" style, slicing at Gong Shou's waist. This move was exquisitely executed; he didn't withdraw his sword,

but instead changed tactics, a flash of light appearing as he struck like lightning. Gong Shou, the Deathbringer, hadn't anticipated Lei Xiaotian's swift change of attack. He hurriedly pulled in his stomach and hunched his waist. Though Lei Xiaotian was fast, the sword's momentum was even faster. A soft hiss was heard, and two inches of the hem of Gong Shou's upper garment were sliced off by the sword. Upon seeing this, the Deathbringer's ugly face turned pale with rage. He let out a shrill, piercing cry, and swung his three-pointed Erlang Blade, seizing the initiative. With three rapid attacks, he targeted Lei Xiaotian's three vital acupoints: Tianfu, Zhangmen, and Qihai. This Deathbringer Erlang Blade technique was a strange and unpredictable set of moves he had painstakingly developed over many years, targeting unexpected locations.

Seeing that Gong Shou's three attacks were strange and difficult to parry, forcing Lei Xiaotian to retreat three steps, Lei Xiaotian was enraged. He swung his longsword and unleashed the ultimate move from the Twenty-Eight Forms of the "Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams" sword technique, performing a series of rapid strikes. He subtly stepped on the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams positions, each move strange

, fierce, and accurate, aiming at Gong Shou's vital points. The two exchanged blows for nearly twenty or thirty moves, and the air around them was filled with the flashing of swords and the sound of thunder. At this moment, Lei Xiaotian, the master of the Qiankun Hand, was already impatient. Gong Shou used the move "Erlang Subduing Demons" to strike at Lei Xiaotian's right arm with lightning speed. Unexpectedly, Lei Xiaotian took a risky move, advancing instead of retreating. His longsword, "Golden Thread Entangling Wrist," fiercely slashed at Gong Shou's right wrist pulse point. He then took another step forward, extending his left hand to swiftly strike Gong Shou's "Abdominal Knot Acupoint."

The sword and palm strikes were exquisite. In a battle between masters, a slight touch is enough for retreat; how could anyone advance so aggressively? Seeing this, the Mighty Ghost King Zhu Baipei cried out in alarm, knowing his sworn brother was in trouble. He leaped into the fray, but it was too late. Gong Shou was greatly surprised to see Lei Xiaotian taking such a risky move. With his opponent's desperate advance, he was wide open and had no way to avoid it. When he was struck, a sharp pain shot through his abdomen, and he collapsed to the ground.

Wang Rufeng swiftly advanced, bent down and scooped Gong Shou into his hands, examining his injuries. Seeing sweat dripping from Gong Shou's forehead, his brows furrowed, and his face contorted in pain, he knew the injury was severe. He glared at Lei Xiaotian and sneered, "Your methods are so insidious! If I don't have you dismembered, the name of the Lancang Duo will be forever buried at the bottom of the sea!"

Lei Xiaotian, the Qiankun Hand, smiled and said, "I, Lei, have long said I've never heard of the Lancang Duo. Don't be afraid of being ridiculed if you keep shouting like that."

The ever-changing, smiling Zen Master Hongyi, seeing that the Deathbringer was already injured by Lei Xiaotian, felt his heart tremble. Even if he defeated Xiahou Xin, the other three were no pushovers. Knowing he was in deep trouble today, he secretly pondered a foolproof plan.

Upon hearing Lei Xiaotian's harsh words, Ding Zhu Zipei, the Mighty Ghost, bulged with veins on his face, his gaunt, horse-like face contorted with grime, making him even more ugly and ferocious. He chuckled incessantly, then placed Gong Shou, whom he had been holding, on the ground. He bent over, holding a pair of judge's pens in his hands, and coldly said, "Since you don't take me seriously, let's settle this with a fight and determine who is stronger."

Lei Xiaotian had barely uttered a word of agreement when Cui Jian, the Dwarf Basket, rushed forward, saying, "Brother Lei, since you've won one round, why not let this old man have a go?" Lei Xiaotian had won the previous round by a narrow margin and knew that the Mighty Ghost King was far more skilled than his sworn brother and would be no match for him. He figured it was better to withdraw while he was ahead and slowly retreated from the arena with a smile.

Seeing the short, empty-handed Cui Jian enter the arena, the mighty ghost Zhu Baipei roared, "Who are you, old man? Why don't you take out your weapons and let's see who's better!"

The short, empty-handed Cui Jian sneered, "This old man's name is Cui Jian. I haven't used a weapon in ten years. I'll just face your two pens with my bare hands."

The mighty ghost king Zhu Baipei laughed wildly, "I don't believe you, old ghost, are better than me with your palms." As he spoke, he put away his Judge's Pen and tucked it into his back, his palms ready to strike. He added, "Let's fight palm to palm. If I can't defeat you within thirty moves, I, Zhu, will turn and leave." The short, empty-handed Cui Jian said, "Very well," and his palms flew out swiftly, launching two rapid attacks in one go.

The Mighty Ghost King had already gathered his strength and focused his mind. Seeing Cui Jian launch two attacks simultaneously, he swiftly met them with both palms. The Mighty Ghost King was indeed skilled in palm techniques; this move contained all his true power. Under the fierce impact, Cui Jian was knocked back three or four steps. The short, stocky Cui Jian, known as the "Wonder of Mount Tai," was unparalleled in the Southeast with his Snake-Shaped Piercing Palm technique. He was usually very arrogant, but now, having been thwarted in one move, his white hair stood on end. He pressed forward again, his palms moving like serpents, swiftly targeting his opponent's vital points, accompanied by wisps of wind.

Zhu Baipei, despite using all his palm power, had only managed to knock his opponent back three or four steps without sustaining any injury. Now, with his own attack, he was understandably alarmed and dared not be careless, unleashing his "Three-Plate Yin-Yang Palm" technique to the fullest extent. His "Three-Plate Yin-Yang Palm" technique subtly incorporates the principle of yin and yang counteracting each other. Each strike consists of three moves, targeting the opponent's upper, middle, and lower body. The technique is also unpredictable, with the palms striking out one after the other, reversing yin and yang, making it impossible to discern which palm comes first or last—truly wondrous.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows, with no clear victor, and the wind howled throughout the arena. Xu Dongping, the Two-Element Swordsman, stood outside the circle. Seeing the ever-changing expression on the face of Zen Master Hongyi, whose eyes seemed to be fixed on the arena, and whose face was unpredictable, he walked to his side and said with a smile, "Master Hongyi, this morning's appointment was initiated by you. It's not pleasant to stand here idly; why don't we go down and test our skills?"

Seeing the Two-Element Swordsman challenging him, Hongyi thought, "Do you think I'm afraid of your Hengshan Sect?" He smiled and said, "Since Benefactor Xu wishes to be taught, this old monk will not refuse. However, we have no enmity between us, so how about we stop when we've made our point?" Xu Dongping smiled and said

, "I have long admired Master's Eighty-One Forms of Wind and Thunder Staff Technique, which is exquisite and unparalleled. I dare to ask for your guidance, but I have no other intentions." Zen Master Hongyi knew that there were many masters in the Hengshan Sect and did not want to make enemies, so he spoke first. Seeing that Xu Dongping's words did not seem particularly hostile, he smiled and said, "Alright." Thus, the two began to fight, one with a staff and the other with a sword.

Lei Xiaotian stood with his hands behind his back outside the arena, a faint smile playing on his lips, his gaze fixed on Xie Yunyue's hiding place. Meanwhile, the Mighty Ghost King Zhu Baipei, anxious from his long defeat and worried about his sworn brother's injuries, suddenly unleashed his ultimate move, "Three Rings Encircling the Moon." His right hand gripped Cui Jian's left wrist,

while his left hand simultaneously struck the "Youmen" and "Yinlian" acupoints. This change in tactics by the Mighty Ghost King gave Ai Jialan an opportunity, and he was overjoyed. Originally, the two men's palm techniques each had their strengths: Cui Jian excelled in agility and lightness, while Zhu Baipei specialized in fierce and unpredictable attacks. After a long struggle, Cui Jian hadn't managed to advance a single move, and the Mighty Ghost King seemed to be repelled by a steel wall, demonstrating the immense power of the Mighty Ghost King's Three Yin-Yang Palms. The Three-Plate Yin-Yang Character is a palm technique within the Three-Plate Demonic Scripture of the White Bone Sect. The Mighty Ghost King originally came from the White Bone Sect. Fortunately, the Three-Plate Demonic Scripture of the White Bone Sect is only passed down to the sect leader's disciple; otherwise, the Mighty Ghost King would have been even more arrogant.

Years ago, Cui Jian, a young martial artist, accidentally discovered the "Spirit Serpent Palm" technique's inscription on a stone wall in a dark, damp cave hidden by vines behind Sunset Peak on Mount Tai. Unfortunately, it was incomplete, with most of it destroyed by the first discoverer. However, even though the essence of the technique was lost, what remained was still incredibly powerful. The inscription stated that when the Spirit Serpent Palm was unleashed with Xuanmen Qi, its force could kill anyone within a ten-zhang radius.

When Cui Jian was young, he had also learned Xuanmen Qi from his master, but his master himself only possessed two or three tenths of his skill, and he passed on very little to Cui Jian. Nowadays, masters of Xuanmen Qi in the martial arts world are extremely rare, numbering only a handful. At that time, Cui Jian practiced according to the diagram, but after practicing for a long time, he still couldn't fully master it because it was incomplete. Cui Jian spent a year adding moves and connections according to his own ideas, and thus became famous with this incomplete set of the Spirit Snake Palm Technique. This time, when he encountered the Mighty Ghost King, he realized that his learning was still insufficient. The moves he added according to his own ideas had too many loopholes, and he was always caught off guard by his opponent. If it weren't for his extremely fast change of moves, he would have been seriously injured.

When Cui Jian saw Zhu Baipei change his moves, he changed his palms from striking to seizing, grabbing Zhu Baipei's wrists. Both of his moves were lightning fast. Zhu Baipei laughed and quickly withdrew with "Three Rings Encircling the Moon". His right palm changed to "Black Bird Drawing Sand" and he pushed off with both feet. He was already up in the air, flipped in mid-air, and landed behind Cui Jian. He shouted, "Old man Cui, you've been tricked!" and spit out his palm, pressing down on Cui Jian's back chest.

Ai Jialan's attack missed its mark. Hearing the sound, he became alert, but a gust of wind already struck from behind. With no way to dodge, he quickly dove down, using the Eighteen Rolling Steps of Yan Qing to escape the palm strike. The Mighty Ghost King Zhu Baipei didn't pursue. He leaped to where Gong Shou lay, scooped him up with one hand, and coldly laughed, "Good friend, our friendship remains unchanged. We'll meet again." With a slight sway of his shoulders, he vanished into the bamboo forest, not even bothering to greet Zen Master Hongyi, and simply walked away.

Ai Jialan Cui Jian, though not having lost the move, had suffered a defeat, his thin, withered face turning pale with anger. The Two Swordsmen Xu Dongping and the Smiling Impermanent Zen Master Hongyi were locked in a fierce battle. Seeing that the two slayers had left, Xu Dongping leaped out of the circle and said with a smile, "Master, in my opinion, it would be better to stop now. Besides, Chief Escort Xiahou did not know beforehand that Wuming was a disciple of the Master, otherwise, he would have certainly saved the Master's face." As he spoke, his bright eyes were fixed on the face of Master Hongyi.

Knowing he wouldn't fare well today, and that he was alone, Master Hongyi decided to swallow his anger and return later. He vowed that if he didn't tear Xiahou Xin to pieces, he wouldn't be able to vent his hatred. So he said to Xiahou Xin, "Benefactor Xiahou, we haven't settled things today. Out of respect for Benefactor Xu, let's call it even for now and meet again another day." He then smiled and clasped his hands together at the Two Elements Swordsman Xu Dongping, saying, "We'll meet again." With a flick of his sleeve, he leaped into the air and soared into the bamboo forest. Just as he was about to land, a piercing scream echoed from the bamboo grove below. Everyone was startled and rushed towards the sound. Master Hongyi also leaped up and followed behind them.

Lei Xiaotian and the other four rushed to the source of the sound. They saw the two corpses of the Lancang Twin Fiends lying beside a protruding rock in the dense forest. Gong Shou had passed away peacefully with his eyes closed, showing no sign of fear. The Mighty Ghost King Zhu Baipei had bulging eyes, a slightly open mouth, and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Five fingers had been pierced into his chest with a heavy hand, and blood was still gurgling from the five round holes. His death was extremely gruesome.

Suddenly, Cui Jian cried out in surprise, "What is that?" Several lines of writing had been inscribed on the bird-shaped rock with bamboo twigs. The writing was deeply engraved, resembling patterns painted on the rock. Everyone stared intently. The gist of the writing was: "Lancang Shuangran's actions in recent years have been nothing but violence and tyranny, his crimes countless. I have twice descended from the mountain to carry out his punishment on behalf of Heaven. Master Hongyi, originally a member of the Buddhist order, should not have so easily believed rumors and acted rashly without cause, thus inciting a blood feud. Given his notorious reputation, he truly deserves execution. However, considering that he has not committed any excessive crimes at this time and place, I have released him. But he is forbidden from seeking revenge against Xiahou Yi again; otherwise, the Great Compassion Temple in Southern Sichuan will surely be reduced to rubble. Signed Xie Wen, the Soul-Chasing Judge." Upon seeing the writing, the ever-smiling Master Hongyi's expression changed drastically. He flicked his sleeve and disappeared into the bamboo thicket.

Qiankun Hand Thunder Xiaotian knew that this must have been done by his sworn brother Xie Yunyue. He secretly admired his skill and the accuracy of his timing. He waited until the bald thief Hongyi was about to leave before killing the Mighty Ghost King and letting out a scream to lure Hongyi to this place. Through Hongyi's words, he said that the Soul Chaser was not dead, which caused shock and chaos in the martial arts world. He said that his sworn brother was a hero among men and he was ashamed of his inferiority. At that moment, Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian smiled at Xiahou Xin and said, "Old Hou, you can rest easy now. With the Soul Chaser Xie Wen backing you up, the escort agency doesn't need to close down. Just say the word, and you can continue operating as usual."

The multi-armed divine ape Xiahou Xin sighed slightly and said, "If Brother Lei hadn't taken the risk to win today and made a preemptive strike to suppress the bald thief Hongyi, Hongyi's Yin Wind Bone-Piercing Palm wouldn't have been kept hidden. What Brother Lei said is true. With the Soul Chaser Xie Wen in charge, things are much easier. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to make the Twin Fiends and Hongyi stop fighting. However, it was widely rumored that the Soul Chaser Xie Wen died in Wugong Mountain more than ten years ago. Could it be that the rumor is untrue?" Lei Xiaotian laughed, "

Who said the Soul Chaser is dead? I didn't believe it when the story first came out. Extraordinary people always have extraordinary deeds. With this person's emergence, the martial arts world will have a good show to watch from now on."

The Two-Element Swordsman Xu Dongping said with a melancholy expression, "That's right. From now on, the Hengshan Sect will also be drawn into this vortex of trouble. Our sect didn't participate in the ambush of the Soul Chaser back then, but the incident occurred in Hunan. The Soul Chaser is arrogant and self-willed, and he became suspicious. Our sect will have no way to atone for it."

Lei Mantian smiled but remained silent. Ai Jialan, who had been silent since his setback, finally said, "Let's talk about it back at the escort agency." After the four of them descended the mountain, they mounted their horses and rode away in a cloud of dust.

Upon returning to the escort agency, Lei Xiaotian's first act was to find Xie Yunyue. Entering the study, he found Xie Yunyue writing a scroll for Li Daming. Seeing Lei Xiaotian enter, Xie Yunyue put down his brush, stood up, and smiled, saying, "Brother, you've had a hard day."

Lei Xiaotian, wielding the Qiankun Hand, blinked and said, "Brother, don't pretend in front of me. Today's events showed extraordinary wit. You did a brilliant job, brother. Your brother has been navigating the martial world for decades and is quite resourceful, but I was defeated by you. I admire you greatly. From now on, just follow my plan to kill several birds with one stone..." "I fear the various martial arts sects might unleash a bloodbath, but I have business to attend to in Yanyun tomorrow. Would you rather accompany me, or stay here for now?"

Xie Yunyue shook his head and said, "No, going with you tomorrow would arouse suspicion. It would be better if you went first, elder brother. I can ask for leave in half a month, and take the opportunity to travel around and see the sights. Just tell me where we'll meet, and I'll be there the day before the Dragon Boat Festival."

Lei Xiaotian nodded and said, "That's fine. We'll meet at Lugou Bridge the day before the Dragon Boat Festival. See you there!" The two brothers agreed, and Lei Xiaotian left the room.

After Xie Yunyue finished writing the central scroll, he saw that it was already noon, so he stood up and walked to the front hall to meet everyone. A large number of people had gathered in the hall, discussing the matter. The chief镖头 (head镖师, chief镖师 of the eight major镖局 (镖局, escort agencies) of the provincial capital and their subordinate镖师 (镖师) had all heard that the events of this morning were still unresolved, and they were all gathered together. Xie Yunyue greeted everyone with a polite gesture, and all the conversation revolved around Xie Wen's return to the martial world. After nearly an hour, the crowd left in batches, and the hall returned to calm. Servants then set out an exquisite banquet.

At the banquet, Xu Dongping, the Two-Element Swordsman, suddenly smiled at Xie Yunyue and said, "Mr. Xie, a wise man doesn't lie. I know you must have witnessed what happened this morning. It's strange that you kept it hidden."

Xie Yunyue couldn't help but laugh heartily and said, "I know that you all have noticed my martial arts skills these past few days. As for why I haven't revealed them, firstly, I have my own unspeakable difficulties, and secondly, my skills are shallow and far inferior to yours. It's better to hide my abilities. This morning, I not only saw your fight clearly, but I also witnessed Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser, killing the Mighty Ghost King. Unfortunately, I was too far away to hear his questions to Zhu Baipei." He then described Xie Wen's physique, clothing, and appearance. Of course, this was all a lie. How could a biological father be wrong? Everyone present, except for Lei Xiaotian, believed it to be true. Even Lei Xiaotian, the Qiankun Hand, pretended not to be surprised.

The short, wiry Cui Jian stared at him with his small eyes and asked, "Brother Xie, since you possess martial arts skills, what school or sect do you belong to?"

Xie Yunyue shook his head and said, "I don't belong to any sect."

The short, wiry Cui Jian frowned and said, "Martial arts don't have sects or not. If you don't tell me, aren't you looking down on your older brother?"

Xie Yunyue laughed and said, "In fact, I don't belong to any sect. Since Senior Cui says so, let's call it the Wuji Sect."

Cui Jian exclaimed, "Ha! Wuji Sect? I've lived for sixty-five years and never heard of such a sect! Anyway, you have to show us your skills after dinner."

Xie Yunyue firmly refused, shaking his head and saying, "I'm just a novice, what's there to show off? Rather than be laughed at by experts, it's better to avoid making a fool of myself. However, I'd like to ask for leave from Elder Xiahou in half a month to visit relatives in the north. I should be back in November. During this half-month, I'd like to pass on what I've learned to Elder Xiahou's son and daughter. Is that alright?"

Xiahou Xin looked delighted and said, "This is exactly what I'd like to do, how could I refuse?" He then called out the two children. When the two children heard that Master Xie knew martial arts, their four lively little eyes kept looking at Xie Yunyue's face. Then, when they heard that Master Xie would pass on his martial arts to them during this half-month, they couldn't help but show their joy.

After leaving the escort agency, Xie Wenyue stopped at a restaurant called "Sishanchun" that day. He overheard two men talking about the Qiankun Hand Grenade Xiaotian. He listened intently and learned that one of the men was surnamed Wu and the other was named Ma Yaozi You Sanhe. They were also talking about a girl. Xie Wenyue ordered some food and drinks and enjoyed them while listening to the two men's conversation.

"That woman passed by my manor, and my sworn brother, the skilled镖师 (bodyguard/escort), Jin Yun, seeing her beauty, couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks. The woman angrily rebuked Jin Yun, but instead of getting angry, he attacked her. However, the woman was skilled in martial arts and kicked Jin Yun to the ground, thoroughly humiliating him. Before leaving, she went into the manor and took the Golden Swallow Flag I had kept, declaring that anyone looking for her could go to the Jinhua Sanying Escort Agency. I wasn't there at the time, otherwise, she wouldn't have left so easily. But the Golden Swallow Flag is a symbol of the gang; losing it would be extremely difficult to bear the gang leader's punishment. It was for this reason that I sent Xu Laosan to Jinhua to politely request an audience and ask him to hand over the flag." The women came out, and while the three heroes of Jinhua spoke politely, Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian stubbornly refused, saying he wouldn't return the command flag unless that Divine Dart Hand Jin Yun came to apologize in person. You was furious but hadn't come up with a good plan. Yesterday, one of our men returned from Jinhua and heard that Lei Xiaotian had left for the north. So today, we asked Xu Laosan to go to Jinhua again, only asking for the return of the command flag, nothing else. What do you think that woman said? Hey! Didn't you come before? What did we tell you last time? Tell that guy surnamed Jin to come to Jinhua and kowtow to apologize. Why hasn't he come yet? Does he think your girl is inferior? Getting the command flag isn't that easy. That guy surnamed Jin won't come. Even if you come ten times, it'll be in vain. Think about it... "The command flag concerns my life and property. How can I, Ma Yaozi, fall for this? It makes me furious!"

The man surnamed Wu continued, "In that case, that girl is really going too far. Killing someone is just a matter of a head falling to the ground, but Jin Lao Er has already fallen into her hands. What more do she want? In my opinion, brother, you're too weak. Why not go and tell the gang leader that the woman came to cause trouble and stole the Golden Swallow Command Flag? Wouldn't that work?"

Ma Yaozi shook his head and sighed, "I've already thought about that. No matter what, the crime of losing the command flag is like violating the three major gang rules. How can I afford to lose face like that?" The man

surnamed Wu said "Oh," pondered for a moment, and then smiled, "How about this? Two high-ranking members have come to the gang these past few days... " "Our guests are Ling Fei, the Mourning Swordsman from the Qionglai Sect, and Hao Tiancang, the Seven Yin Hands Hegemon from Longxi. These two are top figures in the martial arts world. If we encourage them to step forward, we can easily catch them off guard. The Three Heroes of Jinhua are all disciples of Shaolin, and Shaolin and Qionglai have been at odds for many years, almost to the point of falling out. Now, if we just stir up their sectarian differences, are we afraid they won't fall into our trap?"

Ma Yaozi You Sanhe said, "Hmm, with them stepping forward, things will be much easier. Whether Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian is in Jinhua or not doesn't matter. Brother Wu, this is indeed a good plan. Let's do as you say." At this time, all the food and wine on the table were served, and they stopped talking and busied themselves drinking and toasting.

Upon hearing that his sworn brother Lei Xiaotian had gone north, Xie Yunyue felt a sudden sense of loss. Hearing that they intended to stir up trouble and incite conflict between the two factions, he thought it was a good thing, saving him the trouble. He stood up, called the waiter to pay for the food and drinks, and left the Sishanchun Restaurant, entering the Ying'an Inn. The waiter greeted him with a smile, ushering him into the bedroom and brewing a pot of good tea. He asked, "Sir, is there anything else?"

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "Innkeeper, what kind of person is that 'Hawk You Sanhe'?"

The waiter looked surprised and replied, "Sir, you seem to be an outsider; how would you know Master You's name?"

Seeing the fear on his face, Xie Yunyue couldn't help but smile and said, "Don't be afraid, innkeeper. I just saw him at the Sishanchun Restaurant mention his name, so I thought he must be someone important, hence the question."

The waiter's expression calmed down, and he first... When Xie Yunyue knocked on the door, he assumed the young man was there to cause trouble for Ma Yaozi. However, realizing the boy was clearly a scholar, he wondered why he would associate with such a thug. He chuckled and replied, "I thought you wanted to see Master You for something. Since that's the case, it's no trouble for me to say it. Master You is the leader of the Five Swallows Gang in Zhejiang, with many followers. They specialize in bullying the good and extorting merchants. Even our Ying'an Inn has to pay ten taels of silver a month in fees."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyue's eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light. The waiter, seeing Xie Yunyue's startled expression, shuddered and thought to himself, "This gentleman has such a strong murderous aura in his eyes." Xie Yunyue, noticing his renewed surprise, smiled and asked, "I've never heard of the Five Swallows Gang. I wonder who their leader is? He must be extremely powerful."

The waiter couldn't help but laugh and said, "Not that I'm being presumptuous, but matters of the martial world aren't something you can learn just by listening to others. Even I don't know much about it. I only know that the leader is called Luo Wenxi, the Golden Eagle Eight Swordsman, and he usually lives at Qinghu Manor. Not only have I never met him, but I've also heard..." Even many members of the gang had never seen it.

Xie Yunyue said, "Qinghu, could it be a lake with beautiful scenery?"

The waiter chuckled, "Sir, you're mistaken. It's about twenty li south of the city, called Qinghu. It's a village of about a few hundred households. Qinghu Villa is not far from Qinghu Village, nestled against the mountain."

Xie Yunyue laughed heartily, "If you weren't so kind, I would have thought Qinghu was like West Lake in Hangzhou, a fun place." The two chatted for a few more minutes before the waiter took his leave.

After the three drumbeats, Xie Yunyue changed into a black long robe, opened the window, and with a flick of his arms, leaped onto the roof and headed straight for the south gate of the city. Qinghu is only twenty miles from Jiangshan. Xie Yunyue used his superb lightness skill and arrived at Qinghu Manor in no time. He concealed himself and observed whether there were any hidden checkpoints. Although he was new to the martial arts world, he knew that the headquarters of such gangs must be heavily guarded to prevent outsiders from intruding. After pausing for a moment and seeing that there was nothing unusual, he leaped onto the manor wall and then jumped onto the tree branch of a large tree in the manor garden.

Suddenly, a deep voice called out from behind the artificial hill in the garden, "Who's there?"

Xie Yunyue was startled and leaned against a giant branch, holding his breath. After a while, another person spoke up, "Old Hu, are you seeing a ghost?"

The man exclaimed, seemingly unconvinced, "I saw a dark shadow go straight up to the treetop, how could I see a ghost?"

The other person said, "That's just night birds returning to their trees. Don't make a fuss. So late, who would dare to come to Qinghu Manor and provoke them? I think you're a bit out of your mind."

Xie Yunyue, perched in the tree, tried his best to look around. Hey, this manor was truly vast. Pavilions and trees were everywhere, a dense, dark forest. The houses were located against the mountain, with buildings and pavilions connected, and a dozen or so lights shining through the shade of the trees. Xie Yunyue knew that there were two people hiding behind the artificial hill. The two bandits were still arguing in hushed tones. He cursed under his breath: "Idiot."

The tree he was standing on was a bitter oak, its branches densely laden with countless bitter oak fruits. He casually picked two or three and held them in his hand. He spotted a spot on the artificial hill, leaped up, and landed on the top, deliberately making a slight rustling sound. The two bandits peeked out, about to shout who it was, when suddenly a blur appeared before them, and each of them was struck hard. The leader felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

After striking two bandits with two sharp blows to their pressure points, Xie Yunyue leaped back and darted towards the roof, as nimble as a cat. In a few bounds, he reached the roof, then ducked, hooking his feet onto the eaves and gripping the rafters. From a distance, he resembled the Chinese character "乙" (yi). Just as he pressed himself against the eaves, he heard someone inside the window say, "Masters, it seems Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser, is indeed alive. Otherwise, with such high skill as the Lancang Twins, it's said they died without even fighting. What would have happened to others? My Five Swallows Gang has no prior grudge against him, and even I, Luo Wenxi, haven't made any enemies with him. We can rely on our strength without resentment." "However, you should be careful. Back then, you and the three tyrants of Wucheng secretly plotted against each other in Badong, resulting in the death of the Soul Chaser's companion. Fortunately, the Soul Chaser survived. Two of the three tyrants died and one was injured. You also managed to escape. The Soul Chaser hates you to the bone. Now that he has reappeared, his skills are even more formidable. I, Luo, still advise you to go back to Tongbai Mountain and restrain yourself."

Then someone replied, "Chief Luo, I know your good intentions. I have trained hard in the deep mountains for fifteen years and am confident that I am no weaker than the Soul Chaser. Even if we meet, I can escape unscathed. The Soul Chaser's reappearance is just a legend, and no one has witnessed it." He then let out several rough laughs. When

Xie Yunyue heard Luo Wenxi mention the Soul Chaser's name, his heart stirred. He thought to himself, "News really spreads fast in the martial world." He didn't expect that this matter had already happened for more than half a month. He said it was fast, but it really was fast. It was enough to spread throughout the north and south of the Yangtze River in three days and two nights.

Xie Yunyue moistened his index finger with saliva, poked a hole in the window paper, and peered inside with one eye. He saw two people sitting upright on a sandalwood bed. From their words, he could tell who was Luo Wenxi and who was Zhu Zhenren. Luo Wenxi was very burly, while Zhu Zhenren wore a Lüliang crown, had a thin, long face, sunken eyes, a hooked nose, and a long mustache. He spoke with a sinister smile.

Xie Yunyue heard that Zhu Zhenren had conspired with the three tyrants of Wucheng to murder his father, and he gritted his teeth. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He thought, "Why don't I use the same trick again and get rid of this old Taoist named Zhu? By using the Five Swallows Gang, the news will spread even further, which will be more beneficial to my future revenge." After making up his mind, he threw the last bitter oak fruit in his hand into the window. Then, he pushed off the roof with both feet, flipped flat, and with a swift movement of his arms, fell like a falling star. When he was almost on the ground, he flipped over and lightly disappeared behind a tree.

The lights inside the room went out abruptly. With a "snap," two dark figures burst through the window and landed. Luo Wenxi, the Golden Eagle Eight Swordsman, shouted sharply, "Who dares cause trouble at the Five Swallows Gang's Qinghu Manor?"

Suddenly, a sound of someone landing five zhang behind Luo Wenxi was heard. Luo Wenxi whirled around to the back, looking around but finding no suspicious signs. Just as he was about to pause, a shrill scream rose from behind him. He was greatly alarmed, then darted back to his original spot. He saw the True Man lying in a pool of blood, five holes piercing his chest, exactly like the legendary deaths of the Mighty Ghost King of the Lancang Twin Fiends. Even Luo Wenxi, the Five Swallows Gang leader, trembled at the sight. At this moment, the hidden guards in the manor and the bandits inside all rushed out, dumbfounded by the scene.

Luo Wenxi sighed deeply and ordered his men to carry the body away for burial. He stopped anyone in the gang who suggested sending someone to track them down. He said, "This was done by Xie, the Soul Chaser. He has no grudge against us, so why chase him? We can only inform the disciples of our fellow Daoists. Whether they seek revenge or not is up to them. However, since the incident occurred within Qinghu Manor, we will be the subject of gossip in the martial world."

Luo Wenxi harbored a selfish motive, fearing that even the Soul Chaser might be hiding nearby. If he offended him, the Five Swallows Gang would be wiped out tonight. He could only swallow his anger. Although Xie Wenxi was the Five Swallows Gang's leader at Qinghu Manor, and could come and go as he pleased, the rumors were not pleasant. However, the Soul Chaser's act of coming to the manor without paying respects and causing death was also against the code of the martial world. In the future, when they met, he would be in the better position and could speak more righteously. Unexpectedly, this aroused the dissatisfaction of the Tongbai Mountain disciples, who hated Luo Yixi, the Golden Eagle Eight Swordsman, for disregarding the code of the martial world. Luo Wenxi almost lost his life under the Five Poisons Blade of Tongbai, but that's another story.

Seeing Luo Wenxi, one of the Eight Swordsmen of the Golden Eagle, and the old Taoist priests leap out of the window, Xie Yunyue had already made up his mind. He bent down, picked up a small stone, and gently tossed it in an arc about four or five zhang behind Luo Wenxi. As Luo Wenxi rolled backward, Xie Yunyue swiftly flipped in front of the old Taoist priests. Unfortunately, the old Taoist priests also heard the sound of the falling stone and tried to pounce on Luo Wenxi at the same time, but Xie Yunyue caught them off guard. Although they felt a strong wind hitting their backs, they couldn't turn around in time. Xie Yunyue used his five steel fingers, employing the Vajra Zen Finger Technique, to pierce their backs. They felt excruciating pain, screamed in agony, and collapsed to the ground dead. After succeeding, Xie Yunyue vanished without a trace.

Xie Yunyue returned to the inn. It was already past four in the morning. Lying on his bed, he thought about what he had done at Qinghu Manor, feeling extremely pleased with himself. He also recalled scattered memories from the past and couldn't help but drift off to sleep.

The next morning, Xie Yunyue woke up to find the sunlight already streaming onto his bed. He quickly got up, washed, and went to the Sishanchun Restaurant for breakfast. After paying the bill, he set off for Jinhua.

The three hundred li journey from Jiangshan to Jinhua was along a wide, gravel road, bustling with travelers. The bells of the post horses and mules jingled melodiously. It was late spring, March, and the willows and peach blossoms lining the road were a vibrant tapestry of tender green and bright red, a sight to behold, just as Cheng Yi's poem described: "The clouds are light and the breeze gentle near midday; I stroll along the riverbank, following the flowers and willows."

The spring scenery was truly delightful. Xie Yunyue rode slowly, following a group of empty caravans returning home. The bodyguards and their crew were all in a relaxed mood, chatting amongst themselves, making small talk. Suddenly, one of the bodyguards said, "Old Zhao, this morning when we set off for the other side of the mountain, we received some shocking news. Last night, the Five Swallows Gang's headquarters at Qinghu Manor was turned upside down. It's said that Zhu Xuantong, the Five Poisons Master of Chunyang Temple on Tongbai Mountain, was eliminated by Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser who was famous in Guanzhong and Luoyang thirty years ago. The most ridiculous thing is that no one noticed how the Soul Chaser came and went. Luo Wenxi is greatly alarmed by this. The Five Swallows Gang has become too rampant in the past two years. Why didn't the Soul Chaser eliminate him as well? It's truly puzzling."

The bodyguard surnamed Zhao replied, "That's right, I heard this news this morning..." "I've also heard that Master Xie, the Soul Chaser, has his own reasons for acting, which are beyond our comprehension. However, I've heard from the head镖师 (chief镖师, a high-ranking镖师 in the martial arts world) that Master Xie was killed by his enemies in Wugong Mountain years ago. How could he have reappeared now? This is very strange. Let's ask the head镖师 what he has to say when we return to the镖局 (镖局, a martial arts organization)."

Xie Yunyue was quite surprised to hear that the person he killed last night was Zhu Xuantong, the Five Poisons Master of Tongbai Mountain. He had heard his father mention him on Maitreya Peak. The Five Poisons Master was extremely lewd and vicious, killing countless people with underhanded methods, and he also condoned the evil deeds of his disciples, which was frowned upon by the martial arts world. Now that he has been eliminated, he has rid the martial arts world of a great scourge, which is very gratifying. Although he felt that his actions were somewhat dishonest, he was eager to avenge his father and could not care about such things.

The镖师 (bodyguard/escort) surnamed Zhao recounted that upon returning to the镖局 (escort agency), he asked their head镖师 (chief镖师) about it, wondering, "Could this镖局 be the Jinhua Sanying镖局 (Three Heroes Escort Agency)?" He then noticed the flag on the镖体 (escort vehicle), a small triangular apricot-yellow flag affixed to the main pillar of the carriage, with a bright red "祝" (blessing) character woven in red silk thread, flanked by images of a lion and an eagle, swaying in the wind—exceptionally beautiful and delicate. Realizing he was mistaken, he glanced at the sky; it was nearly noon. He thought to himself, "Why not hurry to Jinhua Prefecture and rest early?" So he spurred his horse and galloped away.

As evening approached, they had arrived in Jinhua, a bustling metropolis renowned for its ham, famous throughout China alongside Xuanwei ham from Yunnan. Entering the city, they saw crowds thronging the streets, a constant flow of people. Xie Yunyue rode slowly, dismounting at the Guangmao Inn on Fuqian Street. The innkeeper led him to a superior room in a courtyard. After a quick wash, he called over a waiter and asked, "Waiter, which street is the Sanying Escort Agency on?"

The waiter grinned and replied, "Young master, this..." The Sanying Escort Agency isn't far from here. Just turn right after leaving the shop, and it's across from the Confucius Temple. Young master, are you perhaps looking for someone?

Xie Yunyue nodded, then asked for a piece of red paper, wrote a visiting card, tucked it into his pocket, and walked out of the shop. He strolled slowly, and in less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, he arrived at the entrance of the Sanying Escort Agency. A large plaque with the four large, golden characters "Sanying Escort Agency" hung on the wall of the gate, written with powerful strokes, reminiscent of the styles of Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan, clearly the work of a master calligrapher.

A few escorts were squatting on the stone steps at the entrance, chatting and laughing. Xie Yunyue stepped forward, greeted a middle-aged escort with a kind face, smiled, and cupped his hands, saying, "Please inform the head escort that Xie Yunyue of the Zhentai Escort Agency in Nanchang Prefecture, Jiangxi Province, requests an audience." He then took out the visiting card and handed it over.

The escort hurriedly stood up, took the card, and said repeatedly, "Please wait a moment, I'll go right away." He rushed inside to inform the head escort.

A moment later, three men emerged from inside. The leader was tall and slender, with a face like the autumn moon, a long beard, and fierce eyes. Upon meeting Xie Yunyue, he grasped both of his hands and laughed heartily, "Brother Xie, we recently heard Brother Lei Xiaotian speak of you. Your literary and martial arts skills are extraordinary, and we three brothers have always admired you. It's a great honor that you think so highly of us." With that, he led them inside to sit down.

It turned out that the San Ying Escort Agency was run by three brothers, all lay disciples of Shaolin. The eldest was Feng Boxiong, nicknamed Golden-Winged Eagle; the second was Feng Zhongjie, nicknamed Sky-Soaring Eagle; and the youngest was Feng Shujun, nicknamed Mo Yunpeng. All three had mastered the martial arts of the Shaolin external school. The San Ying Escort Agency had grown to a considerable fortune in less than a year, and now, twelve or thirteen years later, it had truly enjoyed smooth sailing. Feng Boxiong asked with a smile, "Brother Xie, I heard from Brother Lei that the Lancang Twin Fiends were eliminated by the Soul-Chasing Judge Xie, and you witnessed it yourself, is that true?"

Xie Yunyue's handsome face flushed, and he replied, "That day, I hid behind a rock to watch the excitement; I witnessed the Soul-Chasing Judge Xie kill the Twin Fiends with the Vajra Finger Technique. At the time, I didn't know who they were, and I only found out after seeing the writing left behind."

Feng Boxiong stared intently at Xie Yunyue and said, "I just heard that the Soul-Chasing Judge Xie Wen has come to Zhejiang Province again. Last night, he eliminated the Five Poison Master Zhu Xuantong of Tongbai Mountain at Qinghu Villa in Jiangshan. This man's martial arts are truly unparalleled." "Extremely, and decisive in his actions, truly deserving of his reputation. Few have heard of him, brother?"

Xie Yunyue laughed, "I just overheard someone from a镖行 (bodyguard agency) talking about him on the road. I think his appearance will surely stir up a bloody storm in the martial arts world."

The third brother, Feng Shujun, chimed in, "Who says otherwise?"

At this moment, servants had already set out a table of food and drink. The three Feng brothers invited him to sit down, but Xie Yunyue repeatedly declined, saying, "Brother Feng, you are both virtuous and respected; how dare I presume?" He insisted on not accepting, and the three Feng brothers, seeing his insistence, had no choice but to give in.

Then, a beautiful young woman with bright teeth and a graceful figure emerged from behind a screen. Upon seeing her, Feng Zhongjie hurriedly said, "Miss Lan, you've come at the right time! Let me introduce you to this outstanding young hero, Xie."

"Miss Lan," Xie Yunyue laughed heartily. Miss Lan sat down without greeting him.

After Xie Yunyue returned the greeting with a smile, he felt that this Miss Lan was indeed bright and beautiful, but seemed to have too much of a masculine air. Hearing the three heroes mention her at the banquet, he learned that her surname was Ni, given name Wanlan, nicknamed "Rakshasa Jade Maiden," and that she was Feng Shujun's aunt. He thought to himself, "This girl, nicknamed 'Rakshasa Jade Maiden,' must be quite ruthless in her actions."

During the banquet, Miss Lan asked Feng Shujun, "Brother-in-law, did Ma Yaozi You Sanhe and that young man surnamed Jin come today?"

Feng Shujun laughed loudly, "Miss Lan, the Five Swallows Gang was terrified after being harassed by the Soul-Chasing Judge Xie last night. They have no time to concern themselves with the Golden Swallow Flag."

Miss Lan pouted and said, "If they didn't come..." "Fine, when he comes, he'll have to bow three steps and beg for the Golden Swallow Flag back."

Feng Boying, the Golden-Winged Eagle, laughed loudly, "Miss Lan, with your arrival, our escort agency is effectively closing down."

Miss Lan said, "Oh, with the formidable reputation of the Feng family's three heroes, are you afraid of a mere Five Swallow Gang?"

Feng Boying smiled and changed the subject, asking Xie Yunyue, "Brother, where are your belongings?"

Xie Yunyue replied, "I left them at the Guangmao Inn not far around the corner."

Feng Boying said, "Brother, aren't you being too polite? Isn't the escort agency comfortable enough?" Without waiting for Xie Yunyue's reply, he immediately ordered his men to fetch Xie Yunyue's luggage from the inn. Seeing his sincerity, Xie Yunyue had no choice but to thank him.

Seeing that only the Feng family's three heroes and Miss Lan were present at the escort agency, Xie Yunyue couldn't help but ask curiously. Feng Zhongjie, nicknamed "Soaring Roc," laughed and said, "The escort agency hasn't had any business for the past two months. All the other escorts have settled in houses elsewhere. The agency rarely comes unless there's a specific reason. If there is, we just need to send someone to let them know, and they'll be there immediately."

Xie Yunyue said, "Oh, I was just being naive. I thought it was like our place in Nanchang, where everyone is housed in the escort agency."

The three Feng brothers smiled but didn't reply. However, they noticed that Feng Boxiong, nicknamed "Golden-Winged Divine Eagle," looked uneasy, as if he had some major worry. Xie Yunyue was secretly surprised. Seeing Feng Boxiong's expression, Lan Girl giggled and said, "Brother Feng, are you worried about the Seven Killers tomorrow?" "Are you worried about coming here for revenge? What's the big deal? With Young Hero Xie here, he can surely deal with the Seven Fiends."

These words were a veiled compliment, a subtle dig at the heart. It turned out that Miss Ni was a disciple of the Divine Nun of Yanshan, possessing superior martial arts skills. Spoiled by her master since childhood, she had developed a cold and arrogant demeanor, never yielding to anyone's temper. Not long after she entered the martial arts world, she was nicknamed the Rakshasa Jade Maiden because of her ruthless and heartless nature. This time, she came to Jinhua to visit her sister. Hearing Lei Xiaotian's effusive praise of Xie Yunyue, she felt a little awkward. Upon meeting him, she found Xie Yunyue to be handsome and developed a crush on him. However, Xie Yunyue hadn't even glanced at her before the banquet. In a fit of pique, she blurted out these words.

The three Feng heroes, experienced as they were, immediately understood the implication. Unable to stop her, they frowned secretly. Xie Yunyue was extremely intelligent. As soon as she spoke, he understood her intention, but his expression remained smiling. He then looked at Miss Lan with a bright gaze, and Miss Lan felt that his two eyes were too intense to look at directly.

Xie Yunyue then turned to the three heroes of the Feng family and asked, "Who exactly is this Seven Fiends Hand?"

Feng Boxiong, the Golden-Winged Eagle, sighed and said, "The grudges of the martial world are often complicated. I, Feng, have never offended anyone in my life. Three months ago, I carelessly discussed the origins of martial arts with his disciples, which led to a debate. Out of anger, I criticized them for not being true to the orthodox martial arts tradition and thus unworthy of respect. His disciples considered this a great humiliation and brought their master to challenge me. The Seven Fiends Hand claims his martial arts were passed down from a high-ranking monk in Qinghai. His skills are unpredictable, and he is somewhere between good and evil. Once he becomes enemies, he will fight to the death, making him extremely difficult to deal with. Therefore, I, Feng, am in a dilemma."

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "This isn't some deep-seated hatred. My own martial arts are not orthodox either; I'm more of a charlatan. Although the Seven Fiends Hand is eccentric, he wouldn't be so petty as to hold a grudge over such a small matter."

Miss Lan sneered and said, "If you don't believe me, just wait and see..." "How will you deal with him?"

Xie Yunyue thought to himself, "Isn't this just you trying to pick a fight with me? I haven't offended you at all." He was furious and replied in a deep voice, "Miss Lan, I never said I could get rid of the Seven Fiends. As for you, Miss Lan, since you were able to humiliate that Jin, the Divine Escort of the Five Swallows Gang, in Jiangshan, your skills must be quite good. Sending the Seven Fiends back tomorrow would be a piece of cake for you. Why put me, Xie, on your shoulders?"

Miss Lan was taken aback. She realized her mistake was her harsh words. He was a guest from afar, and the meal hadn't even warmed up yet. Why offend him? He knew everything she had done in Jiangshan County. No wonder he didn't even give her a second glance. Although she knew she was wrong, she was used to being willful. Her fair face still turned pale with anger. She stomped her foot and got up to go to the backyard without even saying goodbye. Xie Yunyue chuckled coldly.

Seeing that the two had fallen out, Feng Boxiong apologized repeatedly. Feng Shujun, secretly annoyed by his sister-in-law's lack of manners, chuckled and said, "My sister-in-law is always willful and has a fiery temper. She speaks without thinking, offending others without realizing it, causing them so much trouble, yet she shows no sign of repentance. I'm truly worried about her habit. Brother Xie, women are often prone to being temperamental, please don't take offense."

Xie Yunyue's expression gradually softened, and upon hearing this, he smiled and said nothing more. Seeing his expression soften, Feng Boxiong, the Golden-Winged Eagle, felt relieved, thinking to himself, "They're just young people with tempers. They argue over nothing. They're just greenhorns, arrogant." "Very bad, who knows how much trouble I'll have to endure in the future."

At this moment, the atmosphere relaxed, and Feng Boxiong said to Xie Yunyue, "Brother Xie, why don't you stay at our escort agency for a while? Anyway, it's still early before the Dragon Boat Festival date agreed upon by Brother Lei, and I, your humble brother, still need to learn more from you."

Xie Yunyue couldn't help but laugh and said, "I came north this time for no particular reason, but I wanted to take the opportunity to see the cultural relics and scenic spots of various places. Since you've invited me to stay, I dare not refuse. But please don't believe what my sworn brother Lei Xiaotian said. In fact, I don't have any real skills. If you value them so much, it will only cause trouble, making me feel uneasy."

Feng Boxiong laughed loudly, "How could the words of the Qiankun Hand be wrong..."

Suddenly, Feng Zhongjie roared like thunder, leaping from his seat to the roof like a released arrow. His lightness skill was truly remarkable. He soared from the hall through the doorway towards the courtyard, like a great eagle, truly deserving of the title "Soaring Eagle." Feng Zhongjie shouted, "Good friend, why don't you stay here with me?"

The newcomer replied in a sinister, hoarse voice, "You three Feng brothers are not worthy to keep Wu Zhi, one of the Four Masters of Tiannan, here. You'd better go back and make your own arrangements, lest you be caught off guard tomorrow."

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