Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 7

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

Chapter Seven: Torrential Rain Like Thunder, Serpent Whip, Seven Amazing Skills, Flying Riders Escape Taiyuan, The Great Thief's Greed

Leads to Nothing. Part One: Under the tutelage of the Dianchi Fisherman, Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling possess two rare treasures: a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) and four Dragon Palace Pearls. These items are so rare that ordinary people rarely see them, thus attracting the covetous eyes of underworld figures. From the very beginning, Qiu and Li sensed they were being followed. They disguised themselves and took detours, but could not shake off the Black Dragon Society's surveillance. Upon arriving in Yangjiaji Town, Shanxi Province, they were surrounded by the Black Dragon Society. Fortunately, Yu Yun happened to be in Yangjiaji as well, saving Qiu and Li from certain death.

The Black Dragon Society's leader, the Spirit Palace Giant Fiend Hong Changqing, mobilized the elite forces of the Black Dragon Society, tracking them for a thousand miles. After much effort, they finally intercepted them in Yangjiaji, but other underworld figures learned of this and swarmed in, intending to plunder. The cunning and ruthless Hong Changqing, a treacherous and vicious villain, devised a plan to kill two birds with one stone, but it was foiled by the carefree Taoist Peng Fei and the Heavenly Whale King Ji. A dispute ensued, and a fierce battle was about to erupt.

At this moment, Peng Fei, enraged by Hong Changqing's words, roared and unleashed a powerful palm strike, hurtling towards Hong Changqing. Hong Changqing sneered, extending his arm and striking with a double palm strike. With a loud "bang," both were simultaneously thrown back two or three steps by the force of the opponent's palm. Realizing their skills were evenly matched, they surged forward again, each unleashing their most powerful techniques. Their palm strikes were like thunder and lightning, causing snow to fly, earth to crumble, and the sky to overturn.

Yu Yun glanced around and noticed that the skilled spies planted by the Black Dragon Society had been unexpectedly subdued by Ai Fangshuo and his two companions using their unique pressure point techniques. Each of them stood frozen like clay or wooden statues, eyes wide with rage, completely motionless. Yu Yun chuckled inwardly, then a sudden idea struck him. He whispered to Qiu and Li, "My friends, fortunately, the bandits are engaged in a fierce battle tonight. We can't stay here any longer. Please retreat slowly to the stables and lead your horses to the back. I'll catch up soon. Otherwise, if the bandits swarm us, it will be difficult to escape."

The two agreed and moved back a short distance. At this moment, Ai Fangshuo and his companions, seeing Yu Yun and Qiu and Li arrogantly ignoring them, became slightly angry, thinking, "Have we helped the wrong people? This is outrageous!" So, in a fit of pique, the three of them deliberately distanced themselves from Yu Yun and his companions, ignoring each other.

In truth, Qiu and Li, being the parties involved, were more nervous than anyone else, and had no time for such polite formalities. Only Yu Yun feigned arrogance; otherwise, once the three dwarfs Fang Shuo and his companions got involved, he wouldn't have been able to escape. Meanwhile, the carefree Yu Tu Peng Fei and the Spirit Official Ju Sha Hong Changqing were locked in a fierce battle, neither able to gain the upper hand. Both were renowned eccentric heroes of the outlaw world, and neither could tolerate the other's arrogant and domineering attitude. People fight for pride, Buddhas fight for incense, so each used their life's skills to fight to the death. It's lamentable how many heroes throughout history have been unable to escape the shackles of fame and fortune, ultimately ending up dead and penniless.

At this moment, Tongtian Whale King Yi, seeing the two refusing to yield, felt a surge of joy, thinking to himself, "A golden opportunity will not come again. Why don't I, Wang Yi, seize this chance and rob the treasures?" With that thought, he secretly called to his accomplices, and in a flash, more than ten figures pounced on Yu Yun and his companions like a whirlwind.

The moon had disappeared behind the clouds, plunging the earth back into darkness. The bandits darted across the snow, appearing like countless ghosts in the shimmering light, their shadows overlapping, emitting mournful howls that sent chills down one's spine. But as Wang Yi and his men rushed closer, they were shocked to find Yu Yun and Qiu Li already dead. Knowing something was terribly wrong, they abandoned even Ai Fangshuo and the other two, leaping aside like eagles taking flight.

Ai Fangshuo and Jing Fang, seeing Wang Yi and the bandits approaching, had already prepared themselves, waiting for them to get close so they could strike. Suddenly, seeing the bandits dart away from them when they were not far away, they were startled and turned around to look. They immediately realized that Yu Yun and his two companions had vanished. That's why the bandits had rushed to their side and then retreated. However, they were surprised at how Yu Yun and the others had left. With their keen senses, they could hear nothing within five zhang (approximately 10 meters) of falling leaves. Even though the north wind was howling, Yu Yun and the others were only about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) away. They shouldn't be so incompetent as to not have noticed them at all. It was a joke of heaven and

man. They had seen them just moments before, how could they...? Dwarf Fang Shuo shook his head, grinned at Dongfang Yukun and Jiang Zongyao, and said, "Kids, we've really messed up. We helped them, and instead of being grateful, they slipped away in the blink of an eye. What are we still standing here for? To starve or watch ghosts fight? Let's go." Dongfang Yukun and Jiang Zongyao exchanged a smile, turned around with Dwarf Fang Shuo, and disappeared into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

The two, Lingguan Jusha (a powerful and ruthless figure) Hong Changqing and Xiaoyao Yushi (another powerful and ruthless figure), were locked in a fierce battle, their hair bristling with rage, each determined to kill the other, and thus remained completely focused, unaware of the danger. Lingguan Jusha was still using his Black Dragon Society's undercover agents to monitor the enemy; any unusual movement would naturally be reported to his subordinates. He never expected that when Ai Fangshuo and his two companions arrived, they would have silenced both the visible and hidden agents. It was only then that Xiaoyao Yushi's followers noticed, finding not only the enemy gone but also Wang Yi and the others vanished. They cried out, "You two leaders, everyone's disappeared! What are you still fighting for?"

Xiaoyao Yushi Peng Fei, hearing this, was the first to realize what was happening. He unleashed two powerful strikes with his palms, forcing Lingguan Jusha Hong Changqing back a step. With a single leap, he swayed back about three zhang (approximately 10 meters), turning back and shouting, "Hong, I, Peng Fei, am no match for you! Remember that!" With that, he gestured to his accomplices, and more than twenty black figures vanished in the blink of an eye.

Lingguan Jusha Hong Changqing chuckled coldly, feeling a surge of anger mixed with hot blood rising within him. He angrily raised his palm and slammed it into the snow, creating a series of loud cracking sounds that sent snowflakes flying. With his anger released, the north wind blowing against him gradually calmed his mind. Looking around, he saw only seven or eight people, half of whom were injured. He sighed deeply, knowing he was truly defeated. The fact that they could leave so easily despite his well-prepared force, both open and hidden, meant they had never taken the Black Dragon Society seriously. The middle-aged scholar had just displayed a skill he had never seen before—a martial arts master. He predicted that Peng Fei, Wang Yi, and the others would also suffer a humiliating defeat if they caught up. He decided it was better to withdraw now and preserve his reputation. After pondering for a long time, he dejectedly gathered up the remaining forces and left.

As the sun rose, the earth was bathed in a dazzling white light. The north wind still howled in gusts, and the chill was even greater than the night before. It was truly a place where no one could be seen, and birds and beasts hibernated. Just then, three riders appeared on the road from Yanmen Pass to Daixian County. The horses were not galloping, but leaping. Because of the snow that fell the night before, the ground was three feet thick. The snow should have frozen over, but it was only a thin layer. How could it withstand the weight of a man and a horse? The front hooves pulled out, and the hind hooves sank in. They just kept leaping, and the three riders were so exhausted that they were panting heavily and neighing loudly.

Yu Yun held a seven-foot-long horsewhip, spinning it around his head, sometimes making a "crack" sound. Although he didn't say a word, he seemed extremely relaxed. In contrast, Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling looked solemn and tense, their expressions as heavy as lead, a stark contrast to their cheerful demeanor at the Lu'an Inn in Yangjiaji the previous night. They kept glancing back to see if the bandits would let them go.

Yu Yun smiled and said, "You two don't need to worry. Just go ahead. These shameless bandits, if they dare to come, I'll send them back no matter what. I might even escort you two to your destination. Are you two going to Taiyuan?" The three of them hadn't exchanged a single word since entering Yanmen Pass from Yangjiaji, and this was the first time they had broken their silence.

Qiu Qi immediately laughed and said, "I am deeply grateful for your help last night, sir. I cannot express my gratitude in words. I suspect you are a man of unconventional ways. If so, it would seem insincere of me to treat you with such formalities. But may I ask your name, sir?"

Yu Yun laughed heartily and said, "My name is Yu Yun. Calling me 'sir' is a bit undeserved. Since you know I am a man of unconventional ways, please feel free to address me as you wish." He paused for a moment, then laughed again, "You two are quite bold. How could you talk so freely in Yangjiaji, so easily revealing your secrets? Wouldn't that be inviting trouble?"

Qiu Qi replied awkwardly with a smile, "This is called 'when things come to a head, one has no choice.' Actually, there are some Dragon Official Four Pearls, but there are thousand-year-old He Shou Wu."

Yu Yun was greatly surprised and said, "How could such a strange thing happen? People in the underworld would never act without first finding out the details. Is there something fishy going on?"

Li Shaoling then interjected, "It's all because Senior Brother Qiu, in his drunken state, spoke rashly and caused trouble. My master, the Fisherman of Dianchi, had a duel with Yuan Zhenzi, the head of Wutai Mountain, three months ago, over a past grudge, at the foot of Wutai Mountain. Although my master injured Yuan Zhenzi's shoulder blade, he also suffered a chest injury from Yuan Zhenzi's palm strike, causing internal organs to fester. Only a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu could cure him. Fortunately, my master's friend, Abbot Jingchen of Qingshan Temple, told him that his old friend from Beijing, Chen Guangpu, the Minister of Guanglu Temple, had two thousand-year-old He Shou Wu plants. Ten years ago, Jingchen saved Chen Guangpu's entire family from a life-threatening ordeal. Therefore, Chen Guangpu wanted to give him one of the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu plants, but Jingchen declined, saying that he was a recluse and already over eighty years old, and it would be a waste to ruin such a precious herb. He said that if he needed it in the future, he would send someone to fetch it. So, he instructed my brother and me to bring Abbot Jingchen a string of sandalwood prayer beads as a token. Upon seeing the beads..." Zhu then presented the He Shou Wu as a gift. Just as they were about to leave the capital, they unexpectedly encountered a martial arts friend they hadn't seen for many years. He invited them to a banquet at Donglaishun Restaurant. In the midst of the revelry, Senior Brother Qiu showed off his thousand-year-old He Shou Wu and claimed that Buddhist prayer beads were more useful than the Dragon Official Four Beads. Unexpectedly, a Black Dragon Society bandit sat nearby. Apparently, he misheard that we, the foolish brothers, also possessed the Dragon Official Four Beads, and hurriedly left. By the time we realized our mistake, it was too late. Thus, a series of accidents occurred along the way. When we disguised ourselves and fled back, no matter what we said, the bandits refused to believe we didn't have the Dragon Official Four Beads. In fact, we did have them. However, they are now in the Imperial Treasury.

Qiu Qi interjected, "After my master was injured, his life was saved by Master Jingchen's miraculous medicine, but at most, his condition could not be prevented from worsening for five months. After that, even with the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu, it would be difficult to fully recover. This matter was reported from the capital..." "After the bandits learned that my brother possessed a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), the news spread throughout the Guanzhong martial arts world. Therefore, on our return journey, we forwent the shortcut and took a detour, yet we still couldn't escape the bandits' pursuit. This rare elixir, once consumed by a martial artist, instantly increases their power by sixty years. Not only do they covet it, but even righteous people try every means to obtain it. It's truly my fault for being too careless. Although we've escaped the clutches of the Black Dragon Society, from here to Taiyuan, we are flanked by Wutai Mountain to the left and the Yunzhong Mountains to the right. There's no guarantee we won't encounter

enemies within our ranks, hence my worry." Upon hearing this, Yu Yun understood the situation. After a moment's thought, he said with conviction, "Since you two are worried about unforeseen circumstances on the way, if you trust my words, you might as well take the mountain and give it to me. In case of any trouble, I will personally deliver it to your master at Qingchan Temple."

Qiu Qi immediately took out a He Shou Wu from his robes—a form shaped like an infant, with hands and feet, and entirely grayish-white. He handed it to Yu Yun, laughing, "Master Yu, you're joking. I have no reason not to believe you. It's just too much trouble for you. Actually, if you wanted this He Shou Wu, it would be a piece

of cake." Yu Yun smiled and took it, looking at the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu. He noticed a delicate fragrance wafting into his nostrils, which invigorated him. He casually put it in his pocket and sighed, "This rare and precious medicine is too tempting. Even I am tempted." Then his expression turned serious, and he solemnly instructed the two, "No matter who you encounter on the road, if they ask about the He Shou Wu, just say it was stolen by the Black Dragon Society. This method will be exposed sooner or later, but it can buy you some time. We can talk about it again when we get to Taiyuan and the master is cured."

Qiu and Li both agreed with this plan, feeling that Yu Yun was a strange and unfathomable person. Both Qiu and Li had been in the business for over twenty years, yet they had never heard of this person before. However, they hadn't been comfortable asking him about his background, so they kept it to themselves. Yu Yuncha then added, "If there's any trouble ahead, it's best if we pretend we don't know each other."

At that moment, a series of angry roars sounded behind them. The three turned around and saw a dozen or so dark figures rushing towards them across the snow. Yu Yuncha couldn't help but laugh, "There are indeed such fearless people in the world! It seems I must grant their wish. Please, you two, stand aside and let me make my move." Qiu and Li nodded, but their hearts were filled with worry, as if one crisis after another was brewing. Although they knew Yu Yuncha's skill and were certain he would deliver the He Shou Wu, they worried that their own safety was uncertain if they were separated from him.

In the blink of an eye, a dozen bandits had already rushed in front of him. Yu Yun laughed loudly, flicked his wrist with his riding whip—with a "whoosh," a curved steel wall of strong wind suddenly appeared seven feet in front of him. Unfortunately, two of the pursuing bandits were caught in the curved circle. With screams, the two bandits fell backward. It could be seen that both of their right cheeks had been cut three inches deep by the tip of the whip, reaching the bone. Bright red blood kept oozing out, and the flesh was turned outward. Their expressions were extremely terrible. The two bandits had already fainted from the pain.

With this single lash, the bandits were instantly stunned. Tongtian Whale King Yi smiled sinisterly and said, "Who are you? I, Wang, have not asked you for anything, so why are you blocking my way?"

Yu Yun's face darkened as he said, "What do you care who I am? You can forget about the Dragon Official Four Pearls and the Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu in this lifetime. In my opinion, you should all go back now, lest I commit more murders."

Tongtian Whale King Yi's eyes rolled back suddenly, and he burst into wild laughter, a laugh that was extremely harsh and unpleasant. He shouted, "This is the first time I, Tongtian Whale King Yi, have heard such arrogant words! Hmph! Your two tricks are certainly not bad, but they are nothing in my eyes." He then glanced at the bandits on both sides and shouted "Attack!" The bandits immediately moved.

Yu Yun shouted, "You're courting death!" He flicked his wrist again, the whip whistling sharply, followed by a series of loud cracks. Four or five more bandits were sent flying by the force of the whip. Those unaffected, terrified, scattered in panic. Wang Yi, however, remained speechless with shock.

Yu Yun sneered, "Wang Yi, you call yourself the 'Yellow River Monster,' it seems you won't give up until you see the Yellow River." With that, he flicked his right wrist, and the whip shot straight and swiftly toward Wang Yi's "Jianjing" acupoint. Wang Yi had

n't expected such a fast attack and was immediately startled. There was no time to think. He quickly braced himself on his heels, his body arching backward, and with a burst of energy, he lurched back more than two zhang. Before he could even regain his footing, he saw Yu Yun leap off the saddle. With a whoosh of wind, the whip was already at his face. Seeing no way to dodge, he desperately stretched out his palms and snatched the whip from Yu Yun's spinning blade. How could he possibly snatch that long whip? Yu Yun stretched out his body, flicked his wrist, and the whip, swift as lightning, coiled towards Wang Yi's ribs.

Wang Yi tried to grab the whip with both hands, but the whip slipped from his grasp like a nimble snake. Midway through its flight, it suddenly changed course and pierced his own ribs. This terrified him, cold sweat pouring down his face, and he staggered backward. In the blink of an eye, the whip had already wrapped around Wang Yi. Seeing the urgency of the situation, Wang Ji and his followers shouted, drew their weapons, and rushed forward to Yu Yun, trying to rescue Wang Ji.

Yu Yun let out a long laugh, and Wang Yi's massive body was already flung into the air. Then, Yu Yun swung his arms, and the weapons that had been slashing towards them clanged and rang out, all falling into the snow. The bandits' hands were all cracked from the impact, and they were all stunned for a moment. At the same time, Yu Yun whipped his whip back, and the attacking bandits collapsed to the ground without even a groan.

Wang Yi was now lying on the snow, and Yu Yun floated before him, smiling. Although Wang Yi had been flung several dozen feet away, he was unharmed. Seeing Yu Yun land before him, his spirit was not broken. He leaped up with a "carp leaping," and like a mad tiger, swung his palms and pounced again. He unleashed a torrent of energy from his palms, using all his true strength, intending to kill Yu Yun in one fell swoop. But as soon as the palms drew near, he felt his own energy dissipate into nothingness. He felt an immense suction force emanating from his opponent, and he couldn't pull his palms back. Yu Yun slowly sneered, and with a flick of his left hand, delivered a slap to Wang Ji's face, making him see stars, his ears ring, and his right cheek swell up red.

Yu Yun chuckled and said, "Why are you still so persistent? Well then, how many skills do you possess? Please reveal them all."

At this moment, Wang Yi's ferocity vanished. His eyes rolled back, and he could only gasp for breath, unable to utter a sound. Yu Yun smiled again and said, "Why aren't you speaking? Where did your fierce and arrogant demeanor go? I thought you had some amazing skills, but it seems you're nothing special! Get lost, why are you standing in front of me and causing trouble?" With another flick of his left hand, Wang Yi, terrified by their attack, no longer dared to linger. He fled hastily, dodging and running away. The remaining bandits had long since disappeared without a trace, leaving only a few corpses lying stiff in the snow.

Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling watched as Yu Yun, having merely played with the horsewhip and had yet to formally exchange blows, had already subdued or killed more than a dozen bandits, even sending back the mighty Whale King Yi, who was renowned throughout the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Northwest China. They realized that even their master, the Fisherman of Dianchi Lake, might not have been able to accomplish such a feat so easily. They dared not utter a sound, filled with astonishment and doubt. They suspected that Yu Yun was an old master who had reappeared in the world, which explained his unfathomable martial arts skills. However, he appeared to be only in his early forties, so they doubted their guess.

At this moment, Yu Yun mounted his horse and turned back. Qiu and Li were extremely respectful to him, which made Yu Yun very uncomfortable. He laughed and said, "What's wrong with you two? Don't you want to be my friend?"

The two hurriedly replied, "How dare we be impolite in front of a great hero like you?"

Yu Yun shook his head and laughed, "I didn't expect you to be so vulgar. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to let you be." The three of them traveled for an hour, but Xiaoyao Yushi and the others still hadn't caught up. They must have encountered Wang Yi and dared not come to their deaths.

After passing Guoxian County, the weather turned bad again. Dark clouds covered the sun, and the scene before them was like dusk, dark and gloomy. The north wind blew even harder than before, the bare tree trunks along the roadside leaned to one side, the treetops swayed sharply, and goose-feather-like snowflakes began to fall again, followed by a sudden downpour, large raindrops mixed with snowflakes. This scene was rarely seen in Jiangnan. When the rain began to fall, the snow-covered ground instantly became riddled with holes, like a honeycomb. Then the snow began to melt, and finally, a vast expanse of water appeared, the meltwater mingling with the grayish-white snow, rushing downhill.

At this moment, the three horses no longer needed to jump so laboriously; they increased their speed, their hooves splashing water everywhere as they trod through the wet mud and half-melted snow. None of the three had an inch of dry clothing; they were all soaked through by the heavy rain. Their fur robes, soaked through, were heavier than iron armor, pressing uncomfortably against their shoulders.

Three riders galloped through the heavy rain, the surroundings shrouded in mist, visibility limited to about ten feet. Yu Yun, however, possessed extraordinary eyesight. He spotted seven or eight people wearing wide-brimmed bamboo hats approaching at breakneck speed, about thirty or forty feet away. He knew it was the "Mantra" approaching. He quickly reined in his horse and whispered, "My two friends, someone is coming. Go and meet them, and deal with them as we discussed earlier. I'll be there shortly."

The two nodded slightly, then spurred their horses and galloped away. Yu Yun stopped his horse, pondering, "What kind of people are these seven or eight? If they're here to intercept the Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu, how do they know Qiu and Li will be passing by at this time and place? This is truly perplexing." Just

then, he saw Qiu and Li talking to the other party. He then pulled on the reins and galloped closer, recognizing the group as seven old Taoist priests. He knew they were from the Wutai Mountain sect. How could monks be so greedy! Xu Wei, angered, spurred her horse forward, leaping ahead of Qiu and Li, leaving the Wutai Gate disciples behind. Yu Yun shouted, "I thought you'd flown to the heavens! Now I've caught up with you; what more do you have to say? Quickly hand over the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu, and we might become friends!"

Qiu and Li, seeing Yu Yun's convincing act, found it amusing but dared not show it. Qiu Qi coldly replied, "Why haven't you believed me yet? Those two items were indeed stolen by Hong Changqing, the Black Dragon Society's 'Piaoba Zilingguan Jusha' (a high-ranking official). What use are you to us if you don't go after him?"

At that moment, a thin, elderly Taoist priest at the front smiled and said, "Qiu and Li..." "How can you lie and deceive us, benefactors? Just now, we received a message from Master Hong via carrier pigeon, saying that the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu is on you two. We can trust Master Hong's character. Even if we let you go, you will not escape the ambush of the Qingfeng Gang. Why not come back to Mount Wutai with us? We only ask for half a He Shou Wu, which will not be much of a loss for you. Please stay on our mountain for half a month, and then we will escort you to Taiyuan. Half a dose will be enough for your master's illness. Besides, our sect leader and your master can also settle their past grievances. Isn't this a win-win situation?" As he spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Qiu and Li, waiting for their reply.

Yu Yun retorted with a cold laugh, "Hmph, you all make it sound so easy. What about me? Did you think I came all this way just to survive on air?"

The Taoist priest's expression immediately changed, "Who are you? How dare you be so disrespectful to me, Master Jingxu?"

Yu Yun chuckled coldly, "It's unbelievable that a Taoist priest from Mount Wutai has become a bandit, begging for food from fellow Taoists online. Is this the rule of Mount Wutai? Why not make it public to the martial world?"

Master Jingxu blushed at these words, drew his long sword, and stood in the main seat below, revealing his true identity. He sneered, "Since you dare to speak so arrogantly before me, you must possess astonishing skills. If you defeat me, I won't waste my breath. Otherwise, I won't tolerate your insolence."

At this moment, the rain poured down, and the seven Taoists from Mount Wutai were soaked to the bone, their feet submerged in water. A fierce north wind howled, whipping raindrops against their bamboo hats with a rustling sound. Although their voices were loud, they were drowned out by the raging storm, sounding like mosquitoes. Yu Yun, riding his horse, was also soaked to the bone, his face dripping with rain. He kept wiping his face with his left hand. Upon hearing Master Jingxu's words and seeing Jingxu draw his sword, his expression darkened. With a swift motion, he lashed out with his whip, the tip of which was already curled with a luminous object, which he flicked into the air.

Master Jingxu was the head disciple of Wutai Mountain. His martial arts skills, second only to his master, the sect leader Yuanzhenzi, were unparalleled. He was renowned for his mastery of palm techniques, swordsmanship, and hidden weapons, especially his swordsmanship, which he was very proud of. Unexpectedly, before he could even see his opponent's movements, he felt a sudden jolt in his hand, and his longsword was snatched from his grasp. Such humiliation would be unbearable for anyone. Moreover, Master Jingxu was a narrow-minded man. He immediately unleashed two palm strikes, attacking both the man and the horse simultaneously. He noticed that Yu Yun held a long whip, which he could only reach from a distance. He used the opportunity of the injured horse to seize Yu Yun with a grappling technique.

Yu Yun had used a simple "attacking" technique when he drew Jingxu's longsword, not intending to harm Jingxu. He knew that the Wutai Sect Leader and the Dianchi Fisherman had an unresolved grudge, and his intervention was solely for the safety of the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu and Qiu Li. He didn't want to cause further trouble and only wished to warn the Wutai Sect members not to make things difficult for Qiu Li and Qiu Li again. Seeing Jingxu Zhenren suddenly strike with his palm to harm his mount, he was instantly enraged, thinking, "How can a monk's attack be so insidious?" Suddenly, he retracted

his long whip, the blade moving like a serpent, automatically and gracefully flying towards Jingxu's palms. Jingxu Zhenren had never expected the whip in his hand to be so strangely and wielded so nimbly. He was startled and momentarily hesitated to withdraw his palms, which were then tightly bound by the whip, causing him to grit his teeth in pain. Yu Yun, not wanting to push his luck, slightly flicked his right wrist, releasing the whip. Jingxu immediately tumbled back two steps, his face ashen with shock, but the rain obscured his features, so no one noticed. Yu Yun then scoffed disdainfully, saying, "I thought the martial arts of Wutai Mountain were truly extraordinary, but it turns out they're nothing special. Jingxu, you've disgraced Wutai Mountain!" As

soon as he finished speaking, a Taoist priest emerged from the Wutai group. His face was handsome and kind, and he smiled, saying, "In martial arts battles, victory and defeat are common occurrences. Why must you speak so harshly? With your astonishing martial arts skills, why make things difficult for the elders of your sect? We, the Taoist priests, came down the mountain to rescue our master and need half a dose of He Shou Wu for treatment; this is only natural. How can you be so aggressive?"

Yu Yun listened to this Taoist priest... His words were righteous and stern, which made Yu Yun feel a sense of goodwill towards him. So he smiled and said, "What you say seems reasonable, but it's not entirely true. Even if the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu is on them, you can't just rob them. You should escort them to their destination and then politely ask their master for help. Wouldn't that be both polite and righteous?"

The Taoist was speechless. Suddenly, Master Jingxu shouted, "Just now, I was careless and you outmaneuvered me. You think you're invincible. If I don't let you experience the power of the Wutai Sword Technique, I swear I'm not human!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun couldn't help but laugh. He felt that Master Jingxu was incredibly arrogant. If he were to become the head of Wutai in the future, who knew how many storms the martial arts world would be stirred up? "I must teach him a lesson today," he sneered, "Daoist, your sword has already been knocked away, yet you still dare to spout such nonsense. Since that's the case, I'll see your sect's swordsmanship."

A surge of heat rose on Master Jingxu's face as he said in a sinister tone, "We seven brothers have a small sword formation. If we can help you break through it, we won't need He Shou Wu, and we'll return to the mountain immediately. If you dare not, then please..."

Yu Yun laughed loudly, "If I'm no match for you, then please ask me to get lost, is that right? That's up to you. Please reveal your formation."
The Daoist who had spoken earlier was greatly alarmed upon hearing this. He secretly blamed his senior brother for making such a serious promise so easily. If they were no match for him, and their master was seriously injured and lacked He Shou Wu for treatment, that would be terrible. He hurriedly tried to stop Jingxu with his eyes, but Jingxu, although he knew the meaning in his junior brother's eyes, pretended not to see it. He suddenly moved, raised the sword that Yu Yun had knocked away, and prepared to fight.

The Taoist priest sighed helplessly. He and the other five drew their swords and took up their battle formation. It should be known that the rules of the martial arts world are strict, and the senior brother is like a teacher. Even though he knew that what he was doing was wrong, he could not disobey him.

At this moment, Master Jingxu returned to his original position. Yu Yun, still mounted, carefully observed the formation of the Seven Masters of Wutai, which subtly incorporated the positions of the Big Dipper. The formation displayed a dynamic interplay of stillness and movement, demonstrating remarkable skill and balance. Yu Yun thought, "This Seven Star Sword Formation, though strange, is not difficult for me. I suspect it is less than two or three tenths as powerful as my grandmaster Xuan Tian's Seven Star Sword Techniques." Confident in his skill and courage, he laughed loudly, dismounted, and leaped into the formation.

A sudden storm raged, with torrential rain pouring down. The moment Yu Yun landed in the formation, the Seven Masters of Wutai were horrified. Why? Because the rainwater had accumulated into countless surging streams, yet Yu Yun, standing on the water's surface, remained completely still. This extraordinary lightness skill was currently unparalleled in the martial arts world, leaving Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling speechless with astonishment.

Yu Yun, wielding his long whip, spun it above his head, smiling as he called out, "Shall we make our move first, or shall we?"

Master Jingxu merely chuckled sinisterly, offering no reply. With a flick of his wrist, his sword moved nimbly, shifting positions three times in a row. The other six disciples simultaneously changed positions three times as well, their swords flashing like the wind, all thrusting towards Yu Yun.

Yu Yun, intent on discerning the intricacies of his Big Dipper Sword Formation, did not engage in a direct attack. Instead, he unleashed the uncanny "Mysterious Seven Star Steps," weaving through the sword shadows. The seven swords were deflected the moment they approached. Master Jingxu exclaimed, "Excellent footwork!" His sword strikes quickened, his footwork accelerating accordingly. The other six disciples moved in unison, all seven shifting positions simultaneously.

This formation moves swiftly and unpredictably. The mere sight of their seven intersecting movements is dazzling enough, let alone the seven longswords woven into a net. If the opponent notices gaps in this net and thinks they can exploit them, they will fall into a trap. The

seven swords are positioned differently, each with its own gaps. If the opponent attacks through these gaps, they will immediately shift their positions to fill them, trapping the opponent beneath the sword array. Yu Yun had only been within the sword array for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, yet he had already grasped the profound mystery of the Big Dipper Sword Formation. Seven people working together, combining forty-nine variations, this was the masterpiece of the founder of the Wutai School, a work born from a lifetime of effort. Naturally, it was incredibly wondrous. Its power relied entirely on the unity of sword and footwork, implicitly containing the principles of "creating emptiness from solidity" and "creating solidity from emptiness," and adhering to the twelve-character mantra: "If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move; if the enemy moves, I move first," to seize the initiative.

Once he understood, he had no time to waste with them any longer. He let out a long roar, his body shifted rapidly, and with a flick of his wrist, he twisted his whip three times in a flash: extended, bent, and coiled. Needless to say, he intended to sweep away all five swords. But this move was completely unexpected. The moment his whip touched the blades of the seven swords, he felt an immense, powerful force surging towards it, almost knocking it out of his hand.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun's expression changed for the first time. At this moment, disregarding the shock and commotion, he channeled his Maitreya Divine Skill into the tip of his whip. With several sharp clangs, the seven longswords were sent flying through the air, then plummeted down into the torrent of rain. Yu Yun, tense, flicked his left hand, disarming the seven longswords. He was horrified, but his composure remained intact. He swung his palm fiercely. Master Jingxu's vision blurred for a moment, and he didn't even see how his opponent attacked. Suddenly, he felt a tightening on his right elbow. Yu Yun had used the "Unloading and Pointing" technique from the "Eighteen Disarming Techniques of Xuanyuan" to seize his right elbow's "Jingqu" acupoint and pull him out of the formation. The other six attacks arrived too late.

Master Jingxu felt a crawling, numb, and unbearable ache all over his body. Cold sweat poured from his forehead like rain, mingling with the torrential downpour, making it difficult to distinguish. Just as he felt he could no longer endure it, he suddenly felt a release; Yu Yun had already let go. Yu Yun's bright, sparkling eyes met Jingxu's smiling face. Jingxu blushed and murmured, "This humble Taoist admits defeat. We will return to the mountain immediately and meet again later." He turned and sped away in the sudden rain. The other six Taoists glared at Jingxu's back before following him.

Yu Yun turned to Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling with a smile, saying, "Now that Jingxu the Taoist priest has returned to the mountain, he'll surely suffer quite a bit. You can tell from the resentful looks in the eyes of his six junior brothers."

Li Shaoling smiled and replied, "Who told him to act so arrogantly? Who can he blame?" He then glanced around slightly and added, "This rain won't stop anytime soon, Master Yu, let's hurry on."

Yu Yun nodded, leaped onto his horse, and the three of them galloped through the rain. The rain hadn't stopped all day, and the roads were muddy and nearly flooded, making travel extremely difficult. Fortunately, no accidents occurred along the way. Only a few groups of men wearing bamboo hats with weapons tucked into their backs hurried by, their behavior suspicious. Yu Yun and his companions kept their distance, and seeing that they weren't bothering them, they decided to leave them alone. Upon arriving in Guoxian County, it was already late, so they settled down at a small inn in the county town.

Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling arrived at the inn first, followed by Yu Yun a meal later. Pretending not to know each other, they both ordered the innkeeper to go out and buy clothes and shoes as soon as they entered. After taking a bath, they were completely refreshed. Yu Yun stayed in a private superior room, ordering several dishes to be brought to his room. Having not slept for a day and a night, and having eaten nothing all day, he was both hungry and exhausted. Now, seeing the steaming food and tea, the aroma wafting to his nose, his stomach rumbled, and the food tasted delicious.

Outside, the wind and rain continued to rage, a constant rustling sound. The room was damp, and a corrosive smell filled the air. Yu Yun paid no attention to any of this, only glancing out the window and thinking, "How can I possibly set off tomorrow in this weather?" He only wanted to reach Taiyuan as soon as possible.

After finishing his meal, Yu Yun stood up and muttered to himself, "I should go outside and see if anything is amiss." He opened the door and slowly walked towards it. As he passed Qiu and Li's room, he seemingly intentionally or unintentionally bumped the door with his elbow. The door, which was ajar, creaked open.

Yu Yun glanced inside but saw that the room was empty, without a single person in sight. Startled, he quickly moved away, searching the shop inside and out, but still couldn't find Qiu and Li. He thought to himself, "In such heavy rain, why would they be out in the mood? It's strange." He hurried back into the room, where the musty, damp smell returned. He realized the poor air circulation inside had caused the mold to build up. He used a wooden lever to prop open the vertical window halfway, letting in gusts of cold wind, which relieved the musty smell, but it was still extremely cold.

He had just eaten and drunk his fill, feeling hot and sweaty. Now, with the cold wind blowing, the inside of his leather mask felt sticky and uncomfortable. He removed the mask and wiped the sweat away with a dry cloth, revealing a beautiful, jade-like face. A soft "ah" sound suddenly came from outside the window, but it was drowned out by the wind and rain, and Yu Yun didn't hear it.

After putting the mask back on, Yu Yun took out a bright pearl from his pocket. It was something his fiancée, Zhao Lianzhu, had secretly hidden in Zhou Weicheng's house. He held it in his palm, lost in thought. He thought to himself that in his pursuit of revenge, he might have betrayed the deep affection of his beloved. He thought of how, when he left Cangzhou for the north, the eyes of Zhou and Zhao were red and swollen, filled with reluctance, and he felt a pang of sadness.

Suddenly, the room lights dimmed, and a gentle breeze brushed past his ears. The wooden window sill slammed to the ground with a loud thud, the window panels closing automatically after falling. The lights flickered back on, but this happened in an instant. Mingzhen, which Yu Yun held in his hand, was gone. It was truly unexpected that Yu Yun, with his high level of skill, hadn't noticed in time. It turned out that Yu Yun had been lost in thought while looking at Mingzhen. Only when he heard the wind did he realize someone had sneaked into the room. By the time he became alert, it was too late; the intruder had already darted out the window, and the window slammed shut. However, the air still carried the scent of perfume. He deduced that the person who came out must be a woman, but this action didn't seem malicious. After a moment's thought, he opened the window and also darted out.

The rain had subsided somewhat, but it was still quite heavy. Looking around, Yu Yun spotted a dark shadow standing on the eaves. He gave a low shout and leaped into the air. The shadow had already darted seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) away by the time he took a step. Yu Yun secretly praised, "Impressive lightness skill!" This was the first time he had ever seen such a thing since he began his training. He then gave chase. With Yu Yun's unparalleled lightness skill, capturing it would have been a piece of cake. However, due to his unfamiliarity with the terrain, the shadow darted east and west, disappearing in an instant only to reappear in another direction. Yu Yun simply followed, darting east and west across the rooftops. After a while, the shadow disappeared into a large mansion in the city.

Yu Yun stopped on the rooftop, hesitating. He wondered: What is this person trying to do by leading me here? Only then did he decide to go down and find out. He lightly leaped down and landed in front of a window of a house with a light on. It seemed that three or four people were talking. He couldn't help but listen carefully. He heard one of them say, "Those two guys really deserve to die. They actually went to the inn run by the gang leader and got caught without even knowing it. They were like moths to a flame, throwing their lives away."

Yu Yun's heart skipped a beat. Could the two captured men be Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling? He listened intently, and then another man sneered, "Don't be so happy, there's more to spoil the mood. I just came out from inside and heard that two people were captured, but they didn't find any thousand-year-old He Shou Wu or the four Dragon Official Pearls on them. They only found a string of Buddhist prayer beads, something that some bald monk often uses. Hall Master Wei was furious and tortured them to extract a confession. The two men only said that the two treasures were stolen by Hong Changqing, the leader of the Black Dragon Society and the Giant Fiend of the Spirit Palace. They didn't know anything else. Hall Master Wei just didn't believe it because he received reports that Hong Changqing, Peng Fei, Wang Yi, the Five Eccentrics of the Dragon Gate, and the disciples of the Five Platforms Sect had all been involved in the theft of the two items. It's really strange that the two items are missing."

Yu Yun suddenly realized that the captured men were Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling. He then realized that the dark figure had led him here intentionally to lure him to rescue the two men. Who was this person? Another question arose. Then another person said, "Could it be that they used a hidden dart to smuggle the two items on their way?"

"That's not necessarily true," the second person replied. "After the two men landed at the inn, a middle-aged poor scholar came along. Wutai Qidao was defeated by him. I heard that this poor scholar's martial arts skills are exceptionally high. I don't know where he came from. Wutai sent a messenger saying that this man admitted to being a lone bandit. What's strange is that no one in the martial arts world has ever heard of this poor scholar. What's even stranger is that he dared to commit crimes within the territory of our Qingfeng Gang. If he wasn't highly skilled, who would have such audacity? Therefore, Hall Master Wei hesitated to take action, thinking that he would use sleeping incense to knock him out at midnight, and then capture him for detailed interrogation."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun couldn't help but feel angry. He thought that the Qingfeng Gang was too shameless and arrogant to dare to kidnap people in the county town. The hostage situation, where even he himself was targeted, brought to mind the memory of his father's murderer hiding within the Qingfeng Gang, the grief of Jiang Yao and Hong Gu Niang losing their home, and now the abduction of Qiu and Li. All the old and new grudges surged into his heart. He lightly tapped the window paper twice with his index finger, then darted to a corner to hide. An echo came

from inside: "Who's there?" Then, the door creaked open, and a head peeked out. Looking around and seeing no one, it muttered, "Who is it?" As if cursed, it had actually stepped outside. Yu Yun secretly used the "Maitreya Divine Skill" absorption technique, pushing and pulling with his left palm. The man walked as if he were a normal person, moving to the corner of the room. The technique was truly masterful; the man remained silent. Yu Yun tapped a finger on the man, gently placed it on the ground, then quickly knocked four or five times on the window.

An echo came from inside: "Li Liuzi, who is it? What's all the fuss about? Can't we just come inside and talk?" He said this, but instead of moving, he swayed his chair and took a swig of wine.

Another person said, "Old Wang, go check it out. Maybe the headmaster has something to say. I'm on night duty, I don't need to go."

The man called Old Wang gulped down another mouthful of wine and said, "Why don't we just come inside and talk? Why keep popping the window?" He also got up and went outside. Yu Yun used the same method to gently knock him down.

Yu Yun estimated there was only one person inside, then slipped inside. He saw a burly man with thick eyebrows and big eyes sitting on a long bench, his legs propped up, slowly drinking wine. Three or four plates were on the table, containing chicken, meat, peanuts, and the like; bones and shells were scattered everywhere, on the table and floor.

The burly man was enjoying his meal when he suddenly caught sight of Yu Yun. Startled, he stood up abruptly, about to shout, when Yu Yun swiftly reached out and clamped his hand into the man's shoulder blade, hissing, "If you dare to scream, I'll make sure you die a horrible death."

The man nearly fainted from the pain of the clamp, and hurriedly begged, "Great hero, please have mercy! I've never done anything evil, please spare my dog's life!" His face was ashen, and his whole body trembled with pain.

Yu Yun smiled and said, "Sparing your dog's life isn't difficult. Just tell me where the two men we captured are, and I'll release you."

The burly man hurriedly replied, "I was on night duty today and didn't see them. I heard from others that the two men are still in the council hall, and they've been subjected to Wei's dislocated hand technique, but they still refuse to reveal where the two treasures are. I don't know anything else."

Yu Yun then asked, "How do I get to the council hall?"

The burly man replied, "Go left, then right, and go through the corridor."

Yu Yun smiled and said, "While I'm spared the death penalty, I won't spare your life. Please bear with me for now." The burly man's face turned ashen. Yu Yun lightly tapped the back of his head, and the burly man fainted.

Yu Yun followed the path the burly man had indicated and slipped inside. Relying on his extraordinary speed, he didn't notice anyone sneaking in despite the presence of three or four hidden guards in the dark and windy night. As he approached the side of the council hall, he saw that it was brightly lit inside, and two guards were still standing guard outside. He hesitated for a moment, then devised a plan. He lay in the shadows and clapped his hands twice. The two guards outside the hall looked around at the sound. Yu Yun's movements were incredibly swift. He used the "Seven Stars of Mysterious Heaven" step and landed in front of the two men in a flash. He quickly pulled them to the eaves with both hands, and no one inside the hall noticed.

Yu Yun saw Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling lying on the ground, their faces full of pain. In front of them sat three or four people, who were obviously members of the Qingfeng Gang. One of them had thick eyebrows and heavy ears, and a bushy beard. He was pointing and shouting, "If you two don't tell me the whereabouts of the two items, see how powerful my Wei Yan's Bone-Shrinking and Tendon-Bending Technique is!" Yu Yun was furious. He waved his hands, and a gust of wind rushed into the hall. In an instant, all the candles were extinguished, and Yu Yun's figure passed through the wind with his palms.

The hall was pitch black and completely silent. Then Wei Yan shouted, "Men, quickly bring a fire!" Before his voice faded, a loud "thump" was heard. Wei Yan's men, carrying lamps, entered from the back of the hall. They saw Wei Yan and three or four other leaders lying dead on the ground, and the two captured men had vanished. Chaos erupted in the room.

It turned out that Yu Yun, after extinguishing the lamps, rushed in and rescued Qiu and Li, placing them in a corner and releasing their pressure points. He whispered to them, "Please wait here, I'll deal with them first." He then flashed back into the hall, using his unique "Eighteen Releases of Xuanyuan" technique to strike the four men's vital points with lightning speed. He then leaped out again, leaving with the two men, and returned to his room over the wall.

The heavy rain had stopped, but the north wind was still howling. The three of them went to Yu Yun's room and sat down. Qiu and Li thanked Yu Yun for saving them. Qiu Qi then asked Yu Yun how he knew they had been kidnapped. Yu Yun waved his hand and said, "Don't talk about that now. What we need to do now is deal with the fact that this inn was originally opened by Wei Yan of the Qingfeng Gang. I'll punish them first." Yu Yun then slipped out the door. Qiu and Li were stunned, feeling that Yu Yun's intelligence and martial arts skills were unfathomable.

After only a short while, Yu Yun returned to his room with a smile and said, "Alright, everyone in charge of this shop, put me in a stun position on two acupoints and disable all my martial arts skills. Let's hurry to the stables to get the horses and continue on our way."

Qiu and Li knew that the Qingfeng Gang had many informants, and with Wei Yan's death, things were in chaos. They might come to the shop to investigate. Yu Yun wasn't necessarily afraid, but it would still be troublesome. It was better to leave. So the three of them pulled out their horses and continued riding towards Taiyuan. On the way, Yu Yun asked the two men why they had been captured. Li Shaoling replied, "After we had eaten and drunk, we were exhausted from the day's events, so we lay down on the bed and pretended to sleep. We fell into a deep sleep and woke up in Wei Yan's house. You already know what happened after that, but how did you know we were captured?"

Yu Yun then recounted what had just happened, jokingly saying, "It's worth losing this pearl, but I wonder who that person is?" Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling were also puzzled. This person was hiding his face, so he must have some kind of trouble. Their

mounts galloped, splashing mud everywhere. The cold wind was biting, and there wasn't a single star in the sky. Relying on their night vision, the three of them galloped on. A torrential rain fell in the middle of the night, and the road was flooded. The horses made a splashing sound as they passed. After galloping for nearly two hours, dawn was breaking. There were no obstacles on the road, so the Qingfeng Gang probably didn't expect Qiu and Li to escape in the night. The walls of Taiyuan were faintly visible in the distance.

Qiu Qi laughed, "We'll head straight southwest, and we'll arrive at Qingchan Temple in a short while." (Note: Qingchan Temple was originally named Tianlong Temple. Built during the Northern Qi Dynasty, it is one of the three major grottoes in my country, containing twenty-four stone chambers and four stone Buddhas. The stone chamber inscription was carved in the fourth year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty. The carving is extremely exquisite and represents the essence of ancient Chinese art. One li east of the temple, a pond was carved into the wall, next to which is the Tianlong Temple, which contains the Thousand Buddha Pavilion. Because the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Shunzhi, fled to Zen Buddhism to avoid the throne, he stayed at Tianlong Temple for a year. During the Kangxi era, it was renamed Qingchan Temple, and it was not until the end of the Qianlong era that it was restored to its original name, Tianlong Temple.) At this moment, Yu Yun laughed, "Please go first, I will follow shortly." With that, he grabbed a chair and rushed towards Taiyuan.

Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling, the two heroes, headed southwest, slowing their pace to avoid arousing the suspicion of the bandits. After nearly half an hour, they arrived at Qingchan Temple. Upon dismounting and entering the temple gate, they were greeted by the guest monk, Master Guangyuan, who bowed and smiled, saying, "You two benefactors have just arrived; you must be tired from your journey. Benefactor Yu has been here for quite some time."

The two were taken aback, exchanged smiles, and inquired after Master Guangyuan's well-being before hurrying towards the abbot's quarters. They faintly heard the hearty laughter of Yu Yun and his master, the Fisherman of Dianchi Lake. Lifting the curtain, they entered, and Yu Yun immediately stood up, smiling, "I, Yu, arrived first; please forgive my uninvited arrival."

Seeing their master's vigorous spirit, the two knew he had taken a thousand-year-old He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum), and quickly said, "How dare you, Great Hero Yu, for your unparalleled righteousness and protection along the way! We are deeply grateful." They bowed deeply, and Yu Yun repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

The old fisherman of Dianchi Lake laughed and said, "I should thank you, Master Yu, there's no need for such modesty." He added, "Just now, the abbot reported that there were more than a dozen thief corpses left around the forest outside Qingchan Temple. I suppose you were able to dismember them all, Master Yu?"

Yu Yun smiled but remained silent. Beside him, the white-bearded, gaunt-faced Zen Master Jingchen said, "Excellent, a skillful man. Order Guangyuan to take them away for cremation. I might have to burn them for three days to pray for their souls."

The old fisherman of Dianchi Lake laughed loudly and said, "When did you, you old bald donkey, suddenly become so kind?" Zen Master Jingchen closed his eyes and smiled without speaking. Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling realized that when Yu Yun came to Tianlong Temple, there were still many members of the Qingfeng Gang lurking in the pine forest, and they were even more grateful.

After talking for a while, the old fisherman of Dianchi Lake stood up and said with a smile, "Master Yu, my injuries have fully healed, and I wish to return to Yunnan immediately. I earnestly request that you visit my humble abode when you travel to Yunnan, to fulfill my duty as a host."

Yu Yun smiled and replied, "Of course, even if you hadn't asked, I would have paid my respects."

The old fisherman of Dianchi Lake then turned to Master Jingchen to bid farewell, saying, "Master, I have troubled you for many months and have been deeply grateful for your help in healing

my injuries. I have no way to express my gratitude, and I will definitely come to visit you again next year on this day." Master Jingchen opened his eyes and smiled, saying, "Come whenever you wish. Qingchan Temple is very open to all. I have nothing else to say but wish you a safe journey." With that, he rose to see his guest off at the mountain gate.

Before departing, the old fisherman of Dianchi took out a thumb-sized piece of he shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum) and a "Linglu" dagger and presented them to Yu Yun, saying with a smile, "I only consumed half of it, leaving three pieces. I'm giving one piece to you, hero, to enhance your skills. The Linglu dagger was something I obtained by chance in Mangcang Mountain; it can cut through gold and jade. I know your martial arts are extraordinary, and you don't need this, but I'm only doing this to ease my conscience." Seeing his sincerity, Yu Yun had no choice but to accept. Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling were reluctant to part, shedding tears as they followed their master, the old fisherman of Dianchi, back south. Yu Yun also bid farewell to Zen Master Jingchen.

After returning to the "Maoyuan" inn in Taiyuan, Yu Yun slept for half a day, then strolled out. At this time, dawn was breaking, the streets were flooded, the cold air was still biting, and there were few pedestrians. In a few days, it would be the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month. He spent three days touring all eight scenic spots of the provincial capital: "Fierce Rock and Cold Current," "Snow Accumulation at Tianmen," "Divine Cypress of Shangtang," "Red Leaves of Juewei," "Evening Crossing of the Fen River," "Twin Pagodas Soaring into the Sky," "Strange Waters and Misty Waves," and "Verdant Layers of the Western Mountains." The weather had been fine for the past few days, and his enthusiasm for sightseeing had not diminished. He also visited the scenic spots in the suburbs in detail.

On this day, Yu Yun went to "Wind Cave," a few miles outside the city. Wind Cave is a cave carved into the slope of Tianmen Ridge, a branch of the Yunzhong Mountains. It is several hundred feet in circumference and contains more than 120 stone tablets. The tablets are square and engraved with Buddhist scriptures on all four sides. They were written by many people, so the characters are different. Despite the vigorous and ancient calligraphy, the stone tablets were still used for rubbings by calligraphy enthusiasts. According to research, they were carved during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty. This was because Taoism was highly revered during the Tang Dynasty, and Buddhism had suffered several calamities. Therefore, believers carved Buddhist scriptures on stone tablets and buried them underground for posterity. It was

also said that stone tablets should not be altered, otherwise, local disasters would occur, affecting the common people. Therefore, everyone regarded them as divine and dared not touch them. Even those who received rubbings were extremely cautious; this is the origin of the name "Wind Cave." Now, Yu Yun entered the cave. Relying on his profound inner strength of "illumination arising from emptiness," he could see every detail of the cave's interior. Yu Yun had a unique talent for calligraphy, so he lingered over the Buddhist scriptures carved on each stone tablet, reluctant to let go. The cave was littered with burnt candle wax, presumably left by merchants and scholars who made rubbings. By the time Yu Yun had rubbed all the stone tablets clean, it had taken him most of the day.

Just as Yu Yun was about to leave, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the cave. He darted behind the stele and watched to see who it was. He saw two people enter, chatting and laughing. Yu Yun stared intently, thinking, "How did these two little kids get to Taiyuan?" He was secretly surprised and suspicious.

It turned out that the two were none other than Miss Fu Wan and Fu Qing. They sat down on the ground at the corner of the cave, took out two packets of food, and chewed them with relish. Fu Qing laughed and said, "Sister, was that monk lying to us? He said that the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable left three days ago and would not return to the temple for another two days. What a coincidence! Knowing my nature, I'll search his temple thoroughly before I believe him."

Miss Wan scolded, "Brother Qing, you're so willful! We don't mind waiting for two days. We'll go and check if the Eight-Handed Old Monster has returned to the temple after that. Anyway, we won't give up until we get the 'Tai'a' sword back." Qing'er

fell silent. Yu Yun, upon hearing this, suddenly recalled Fu Liuguan's words. He had mentioned that a "Tai'a" sword had been stolen by an unknown evil bandit. This bandit was peculiar in appearance, eight feet tall, shaped like a gourd, with white hairs about an inch long covering his eyes. They must have known that this bandit was the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable. But why didn't Fu Liuguan come himself, instead letting two children risk their lives? He wondered why. He had been away from them for almost half a year. Could something have happened to Fu Liuguan? In his anxiety, Yu Yun couldn't help but slip over.

The two children were enjoying their meal when suddenly a pair of hands reached out from the shadows like the wind and snatched a chicken leg from Qing'er's hand. The two children jumped up in surprise. Looking closely, they saw a middle-aged poor man sitting right where they were, eating heartily on the ground. Qing'er glared and cursed, "How can you be so unreasonable? You snatch food from someone without a word! Haven't you eaten in three years?"

Yu Yun, adopting a northern accent, said, "Little girl, that's an interesting question. I've eaten for three years, have I ever snatched your food?" Then, turning to Fu Wan, he smiled and said, "Girl, don't be angry. Anyway, these two packets of food are more than enough for the three of us. Come on, let's eat together. After I finish eating, I'll give you a little something in return."

He secretly sized up Fu Wan. In the half year since he last saw her, she had become even more mature. Her breasts were high and firm, and she had grown much taller. She looked like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, not fourteen or fifteen. —The faint fragrance of her body wafted over Yu Yun's nose, and he couldn't help but feel a flutter in his heart. Fu Wan stared at him with her large, watery eyes, her cherry lips pouting as she said, "Who wants your favors? You haven't eaten in three years, so you can treat us to something. We don't need anything."

Yu Yun laughed heartily, "That's funny. Don't beg me later. What I say is always final."

Qing'er said angrily, "Who's begging you? You came here on your own. Aren't you ashamed?"

Yu Yun just smiled, then his expression changed suddenly. He swiftly grabbed the two girls, pulling them behind the tombstone to hide them, and whispered, "Quiet, someone's coming." With that, he released them and disappeared into the side of the cave. Fu Wan, a grown woman, was mortified to have her wrists held by a middle-aged man, and she spat repeatedly.

Qing'er, still an innocent child, asked in a low voice, "Sister, is someone coming? Do you think this person is a bad guy?"

Wan'er quickly covered Qing'er's mouth and whispered, "Don't speak, or the thief will hear."

At this moment, footsteps came from outside the doorway, seemingly from a man and a woman, talking as they walked. The man said, "Master, I don't know why, but even a young girl and a child are worth being afraid of. If Master hadn't repeatedly warned me not to start a fight, I would have wanted to see what kind of person this girl and child were."

The girl giggled and said, "What do you know? Master's 'Midnight and Noon Mystic Skill' is only one cycle away from completion. During these twelve hours, it is a crucial moment. If he is distracted, he will suffer a qi deviation. Do you think Master is really afraid of them?" The master also said that they did not yet know the purpose of the girl and the child's arrival, but they should not be easily provoked. He was afraid that the two of them had an elder backing them up, and that they might bring endless troubles to us. For this reason, he prevented us from showing ourselves. The man and the woman walked to the cave entrance and stood still, talking to each other. Fu Wan and Fu Qing became very anxious.

The man chuckled, "Since you're a woman, you're very favored by your master. He only allowed you to enter the tower once in a while. Perhaps you've gained some benefits too? I heard that after mastering the 'Midnight and Noon Mystic Skill,' he combined the newly acquired 'Tai'a Sword' with it to create the 'Midnight and Noon Twelve Sword Styles.' In this way, your master can become a top-tier martial arts master and establish his own sect, isn't that right?"

The woman giggled again, "You're quite clever. Your master has praised you several times. Hmm, you called me here just for this?"

The man leered, "Good junior sister, don't you know your foolish brother's heart? Three days without seeing you, you know how much I've suffered! Good man, just agree!"

The woman hesitated for a moment, then said, "Uh, I don't want to..." Just as the two were tugging at each other, a sudden gust of wind swept by, and the man and woman cried out in surprise, "Ouch!"

Upon hearing that the man and woman intended to enter the cave for their lewd acts, Yu Yun was instantly enraged. He flashed in front of them, catching them off guard. A cry of "Ouch!" escaped their lips, but before the sound could even fade, Yu Yun had struck their pressure points, causing them to collapse to the ground. The man was quite handsome, and the woman was not unattractive either.

At this moment, Fu Wan and Fu Qing also rushed to the cave entrance. Yu Yun saw that Fu Wan was even more beautiful than she had been six months ago, truly possessing a face like a lotus and a spirit like autumn water. He couldn't help but glance at her several times, causing Fu Wan's cheeks to flush red with anger, while Qing'er, with her lively eyes, constantly scrutinized Yu Yun.

Yu Yun chuckled, "These two are of great help to your matter. I, an old man, have eaten your food as a token of my gratitude." His expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed the two men from the ground, urgently saying, "Someone else is coming! Quickly, go inside!" Although Fu Wan and Fu Qing hadn't noticed anyone approaching, they knew Yu Yun must have heard something. The three of them darted into the wind cave. Yu Yun wasn't so afraid of trouble; if he showed himself, it would attract the attention of the evil party. They had already caused enough trouble for Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling; any more trouble would make their future impossible. Just as

the three of them had concealed themselves, they heard footsteps outside the cave and a voice called out, "Junior Brother Xu, Junior Sister Yan, Master has something for you to do." There was no reply for a long time. The person muttered to himself, "Strange, I saw them coming this way just now, but where are they? Did they go into the city?" He called out twice more before turning and leaving.

At this moment, Yu Yun pressed the remaining pressure points on the captured girl to release her from unconsciousness, and laughed, "If you want to know where the Tai'a Sword is, just ask the girl. This old man still needs to eat." After saying that, he began to chew on his food.

The girl had slowly woken up, feeling unbearable soreness all over her body. When she opened her eyes, she saw a girl glaring at her, and a seven or eight-year-old child standing behind the girl. She couldn't help but say angrily, "You used poison in secret, what do you want?"

Fu Wan snorted coldly and said, "Nothing, just tell me where the Eight-Handed He Zun and the Tai'a Sword are, and I will spare your life."

The female bandit knew that she was in someone else's hands, and if she didn't tell, she would suffer. She sighed and said, "Since my master obtained the Tai'a Sword, he has never been away from it for a moment. My master is currently practicing the 'Midnight and Noon Mysterious Skill' in the quiet room on the sixth floor of the pagoda behind the temple. You can go find it yourselves." "

At this moment, Yu Yun spoke again: 'Qing'er, press the third meridian on the right side of the throat of that roe deer man and woman, so that they can remain lovers forever in their dreams.'

Upon hearing this, Qing'er was overjoyed, knowing that he was being taught the acupressure technique. However, upon hearing this, the female bandit's expression changed drastically, and she trembled as she said, 'Please...no...don't...' Before she could finish speaking, Qing'er had already pressed her finger on the throat. With a gurgling sound, she collapsed and died. Qing'er then pressed her finger on the male bandit's throat, and in his unconscious state, his soul traveled to the underworld and ascended to paradise.

Fu Wan couldn't stop Qing'er in time, and since both of them were already dead, she had no choice but to give up. She glared at Yu Yun and grabbed Fu Qing's left hand, saying, 'Brother, let's go to the pagoda behind Zhenfeng Temple and ask the Eight-Armed Heavenly Venerable for the sword.'" "As they spoke, the two were about to leave the cave.

Just then, Yu Yun laughed and shouted, 'Wait! You think you can run rampant just because you've learned the Nine Palaces Yin Yang Forward and Reverse Steps and the White Ape Sword Technique? Listen to me, old man, go again tonight. I can help you get the sword, and we can also take the opportunity to eliminate the Eight-Handed Demon and avenge the deaths of your parents.'

Fu Wan and Fu Qing were shocked. How could he know so much about their affairs? The more they thought about it, the more suspicious they became. What if he tricked them and stole the 'Tai'a Sword' from the Eight-Handed Heavenly Venerable? Then, their wishes would be in vain. So, their faces darkened, and they shouted, 'Who are you? How do you know so much about young ladies' affairs? Speak quickly, or I won't be polite!' At this moment, Qing'er also drew out the Judge's Pen she had snatched from the two birds of Dangshan, her small eyes wide open, waiting for her sister's command to launch it."

Yu Yun laughed heartily, "Why are you two so arrogant? I meant well, I didn't provoke you. Come, follow me outside the cave, and I'll show you who I am." With that, he vanished in a flash, a gentle breeze brushing past his eyes, and he was already outside the cave. Fu Wanfang instinctively felt that this man's agility was no less than that of her beloved Brother Yan, whom she had longed for. So she grabbed Qing'er and rushed out of the cave.

Once outside, they saw Yu Yun smiling with his hands behind his back. Fu Wanfang called out again, "Who are you? Tell me quickly!"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "Miss Wanfang, don't you still know who I am?" At this moment, Yu Yun's voice returned to male.

Fu Wanfang felt she had heard this voice somewhere before; it was very familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. Her large, watery eyes stared at Yu Yun's face, a look of confusion on her face. Qing'er blinked her round eyes, also standing there blankly. Seeing that they still hadn't figured it out, Yu Yun slowly lifted his mask and smiled, "Take another look and see if I'm right."

Qing'er cried out in surprise, leaping up and wrapping her arms around Yu Yun's head, shaking him repeatedly, calling out, "Brother Yan, Brother Yan!"

Fu Wan was also overjoyed, instinctively grasping Yu Yun's right hand with both of hers, and said sweetly, "Brother Yan, you really are... If only you had just said it was you earlier, you'd made me worry so much." For the past six months, she had been haunted by dreams of her beloved, she had shed countless tears for him. Seeing him today, she was overjoyed and without hesitation, held Yu Yun's right hand tightly.

Yu Yun stared intently at Fu Wan's face, only smiling. Fu Wan blushed, suddenly realizing she was holding his hand, and abruptly pulled away, giving Yu Yun a glare. Yu Yun turned to Qing'er and smiled, "Little monkey, now you know who this old man is, right?" Qing'er

released her hands and jumped up and down, saying, "Brother Yan, aren't you ashamed? Last time you called yourself 'uncle,' and now you call yourself 'old man.' If you really get old, will my sister still miss you?"

Fu Wan quickly scolded, "Little brother, stop talking nonsense." She couldn't continue, not expecting Qing'er to see through her thoughts.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun's heart pounded. He felt a deep sense of unrequited love and sighed inwardly. He glanced at Fu Wan and saw her lowered neck, her ears blushing. This infinitely shy expression stirred Yu Yun's heart again, and he could only say, "Let's go inside the cave and talk." So he led Qing'er into the cave, with Fu Wan following behind.

After they sat down, Yu Yun smiled and asked Miss Wan, "Master Fu, are you alright? I'm truly surprised that you two were so carefree as to risk your lives here. You're being far too lenient with yourselves." Miss Wan glanced at Yu Yun, then lowered her head, remaining silent for a long while.

Qing'er then said with a childish laugh, "Brother Yan, you don't know, my sister and I lied to Grandpa, saying we were going to Beijing for a trip and to inquire about your whereabouts. We promised to return home before the New Year. Grandpa initially refused, but after we pleaded and Grandpa Wei persuaded us, he finally agreed."

Yu Yun said "Oh," realizing that was the case, and then asked, "So, how did you learn that the 'Tai'a Sword' was with the Eight Heavenly Venerables?"

The young woman then replied, “Half a month before we left, Grandpa Wei, Saihua Tuo, somehow received news that the ‘Tai’a Sword’ was now with the Eight-Handed Heavenly Venerable Ao Hua, who was residing in Zhenfeng Temple on the outskirts of Taiyuan. He advised my grandfather to retrieve it, but my grandfather remained unmoved, saying that such a divine weapon should only be possessed by the virtuous. He was already old and frail, so why should he cause trouble? If the Eight-Handed Heavenly Venerable lacked virtue and wielded the Tai’a Sword, he would surely suffer a terrible fate. Therefore, he remained indifferent. As soon as I heard this, I was eager to come, but I knew he wouldn’t allow it if I told him directly, so I had to lie to my grandfather.”

Yu Yun laughed loudly, “You two are really too bold! Luckily, you met me, or you would have lost your lives again.”

For the past six months, Yu Yun had been impersonating a middle-aged scholar, and his voice unconsciously carried an air of condescension. Miss Wan said coquettishly, “What’s wrong with you? You’re so old-fashioned it’s frightening. If you continue like this, we’ll never pay any attention to you.” Yu Yun said, "

Alright, I won't take advantage of my age. Tonight, I will secretly help you get the sword, but on one condition: after you get the sword, you must leave immediately and return home, so your grandfather won't wait anxiously."

Wan smiled and said, "Why don't I just go back with you?"

Yu Yun, hearing this, became anxious and hurriedly said, "How can that be? I have other things to do. After I finish, I will definitely stay at your house for a while, otherwise I won't care, and you can do whatever you want."

Seeing his anxiety, Wan giggled and said, "I'll do as you say, why are you in such a hurry? But you must keep your word."

Yu Yun felt relieved and smiled, "How could I, an old man, lie to you?"

Qing'er clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Brother Yan, here you go again! Old man, old man, just how old are you?"

Yu Yun then asked seriously, "Where is Zhenfeng Temple?"

Upon hearing this, Wan laughed and said, "No wonder you act like a bookworm, you really are a bit dull." Pointing upwards, he continued, "It's up there."

Yu Yun looked up, thinking, "Could it be on the mountain? How come I didn't see it when I came?" He stood up, put on his mask, and said, "Don't move, I'll be right back." In a flash, he was out of the cave. Looking up, he saw that above the "Wind Cave" was a continuous cliff, stretching for tens or hundreds of feet. On the cliff were endless towering pine trees. With his eyes straining, he could see a corner of red walls and eaves hidden among the pines and clouds. He suddenly realized why he hadn't found the Zhenfeng Temple when he came, and that's why he went back into the cave. When

Miss Wan saw him return, she couldn't help but ask about Yu Yun's whereabouts over the past six months, and why he wore that mask to pretend to be a middle-aged poor man. Yu Yun, of course, wouldn't tell the truth. He rambled on about all sorts of things, only saying that he came to Taiyuan to fulfill a promise to a friend to investigate his enemy, and that he would return to Beijing afterward. In the past six months, Yu Yun's eloquence had become much smoother than it had been six months ago, and Wan and Qing'er didn't even realize he was lying; instead, they were completely absorbed in listening.

They finally managed to wait until the second watch of the night before rushing out of the cave, only to feel the biting cold wind, unlike the warm spring-like atmosphere inside. The sound of the pine trees and the forest breeze seemed like heavenly music. Under the starlight, the three of them sped along, finding their way to the entrance to the mountain. Yu Yun stopped and said, "You two can go up openly. The Eight-Handed Demon is not finished with his training and cannot show himself. If you encounter anyone else, you can follow the 'Nine Palaces Yin Yang Forward and Reverse Steps' method that I taught you. If you are defeated, you can protect yourselves. I will let out two long howls, and then you will not be able to get your sword. You must not linger and must descend the mountain immediately. We will meet in front of the Wind Cave." "Miss Wan and Qing'er nodded, then darted up. Yu Yun darted into the dense forest beside the road in a flash.

Since receiving Yu Yun's instruction, Miss Wan and Qing'er's lightness skills had improved by leaps and bounds, covering three or four zhang in a single leap, and in a few bounds, they were already ten or twenty zhang away. Yu Yun had not actually gone far, but was only nearby. Seeing their progress, he couldn't help but feel happy for them. The mountain path became steeper and steeper. The two of them had rushed up halfway up the mountain in one breath, and were a little out of breath. So they stopped to catch their breath. Just as they were about to rush up again, someone suddenly shouted sharply from above: "Who goes there, daring to trespass on the mountain?" Then he shouted "Strike!" and two bright silver royal beams shot down from the sky, flying towards them with a sharp "whoosh, whoosh" sound.

Miss Wan was startled and was about to raise her sword to parry when the two silver stars suddenly veered off course, striking the rocks and sending sparks flying. A muffled groan came from nearby, and looking up, she saw a dark figure plummeting down the cliff. Moments later, a bloodcurdling scream rang out, its shrill sound mingling with the rustling of the pines, like a ghostly wail from the deep mountains, piercing the night sky and sending chills down one's

spine. Miss Wan knew that her brother Yan had secretly helped her, and a sweet feeling welled up in her heart. Without pausing, she and Qing'er leaped through the air, their path echoing with screams as the villains fell one after another down the cliff. Emboldened by Yu Yun clearing a path for them, the two girls unhesitatingly displayed their superior lightness skills, flying swiftly along the mountain path.

At that moment, the Zhenfeng Temple bells suddenly rang out sharply, echoing through the night sky and reverberating through the valley. Miss Wan leaped to the top of the cliff, only to see a dark figure rushing towards her. The man unleashed a powerful palm strike, shouting, "Go down!"

Seeing the attack was too swift, Miss Wan didn't dare to meet it head-on. She leaped to the left, managing to call out, "Qing-di, be careful!"

Qing-er laughed from behind, "Sister, this little tricky situation is no problem for Qing-er." It turned out that Qing-er, seeing the thief's sneak attack, had already harbored murderous intent. She swung her arms, rising into the air, and suddenly spun around, bringing her two judge's pens down on the thief's chest.

The thief, also a skilled fighter from the temple, saw the attack come before the woman disappeared. He felt a sudden gust of wind behind him, realizing the danger, and withdrew his palms, forcefully reversing the downward strike. He then spun around, his arms rising, his palms transforming into claws, attempting to snatch Fu Qing's judge's pens. Despite his youth, Fu Qing was remarkably clever. He anticipated the thief's turn to snatch the pen, so his downward strike with both pens was a feint. As soon as his palm struck, the pens separated, and he swiftly launched a "Two Dragons Fighting for a Pearl" attack, aiming for the thief's eyes.

This move was exceptionally fast, unexpectedly swift. The thief, assuming his opponent was young and inexperienced, would surely withdraw and change his move. He never expected Fu Qing to execute a double attack with such speed. By the time he realized what was happening, he was already caught off guard. In the nick of time, he leaned back, his body darting to the side. But as soon as he landed, a sharp shout rang out, and a gust of wind pierced his chest. The thief gritted his teeth, his toes barely touching the ground as he tried to dodge back, but even this couldn't prevent the sword from striking. Wan's longsword had already pierced his left thigh. With a quick movement, a large chunk of flesh was sliced off, causing him excruciating pain. The thief let out a muffled groan and fell. Wan then flicked her wrist, instantly ending the attack.

The two children, followed by a few others, leaped and landed on the open ground outside the temple. It was pitch black outside, a cold wind blew, and the sound of pine trees filled the air. Wan whispered to Fu Qing, "We rushed up when we heard the bell, but now there's no sound."

Qing, fearless as a newborn calf, replied, "Who cares? With Brother Yan leading the way, what's there to be afraid of? Qing will clear the way for you

, sister." Saying this, she was about to rush inside. Fu Wan grabbed her, hissing, "Qing'er, don't be reckless! What if something happens? How will I explain to Grandpa?" Suddenly, several sharp, cold laughs faintly drifted over. Wan was startled and looked back, seeing a group of people standing in the shadows at the other end of the open ground. Because there was no light and no moonlight, they would have been difficult to spot if it weren't for the rustling of their robes.

Several Kongming lanterns suddenly appeared inside the temple, illuminating the area. The group of bandits also appeared like ghosts in front of Fu Wan and her brother. The light reflected on their faces, making them look yellowish and fearless. Fu Wan recognized the leader as Zhi Kong, the abbot of Qingfeng Temple, who had lied to her during the day that the Eight-Armed Celestial Venerable was away and had not returned. Zhi Kong said, "Amitabha, it seems you two young benefactors have returned once again. Zhenfeng Temple is a pure Buddhist sanctuary, yet you young benefactors dared to break into the mountain at dawn, killing and injuring many people. Aren't you afraid of Buddha's punishment?"

Fu Wan smiled arrogantly and said, "Although we climbed the mountain at dawn, we did not come for the master. Why did your temple's men repeatedly attack us, as if they wanted to kill us? What is the meaning of this? As for killing and injuring many people, you have only yourself to blame."

Zhi Kong sneered, "Young benefactor, you speak too lightly. You should know that murder is punishable by death, and debts must be repaid. How can you two escape responsibility? Let's leave that aside for now. May I ask, young benefactor, what is your intention in breaking into Zhenfeng Temple at night?" His eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he pressed Fu Wan for an answer.

Miss Wan let out a clear, long laugh, brushing her hair, ruffled by the night wind, and said, "Master, you ask a question you already know the answer to. Monks are forbidden from speaking nonsense. If it weren't for my cleverness, I would have been fooled by you. Isn't the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable practicing the 'Midnight Mystic Art' on the sixth floor of the pagoda right now?"

Upon hearing this, Zhikong was startled and took two steps back, his expression changing. He shouted sharply, "This... how did you know?" Suddenly, a sinister voice rose from behind Zhikong: "Junior Brother Zhikong, why waste so much breath dealing with these two children? Capture them first." As he spoke, he suddenly surged forward.

Miss Wan saw that the newcomer was a burly man with a broad back and a thick waist. His triangular eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he held two gleaming black serpent spears. At this moment, Qing'er was already impatient. She raised her judge's pen and flashed in front of the burly man, laughing, "You stupid fellow, you still dare to make a fool of yourself. I'll send you to your grandmother's house." "

That big man was usually arrogant and domineering, looking down on everyone. Apart from his master, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable, he never listened to a word of advice from others. How could he tolerate Fu Qing's ridicule? The big man roared and shouted, "You little dog, you're asking for death." "The double spears, with the force of a splitting mountain, came crashing down on Qing'er's head. Qing'er, upon first glance at the burly man, knew his spears were heavy and powerful; to win, she would need unpredictable movements. As the spears struck, Qing'er

swiftly spun around and appeared behind the man. The burly man, seeing Qing'er vanish in a flash, his double spears missed, and he stumbled forward. Realizing the danger, he swung his double spears back with a sharp, sweeping motion, the air whistling through the wind. But as he regained his footing, Qing'er's laughter rang out from behind him. This time, the burly man was terrified and hastily darted several feet away. But when he turned around, Qing'er was standing before him again, holding two pens and smiling. The burly man gasped. He had learned his lesson; he simply held his spears upright, his double spears missing their mark, and the two remained locked in a stalemate."

Upon seeing this, Zhikong frowned. He noticed Fu Qing's strange movements, almost like a ghostly whirlwind, and couldn't discern his skill level. If the lower-ranking one's skill was so unpredictable, the higher-ranking one's abilities were self-evident. Even with his own strength, he might not be able to gain the upper hand. But what did they want with his master, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable? His master was only an hour or two away from finishing his work; it would be better to stall them first. So he pondered what to say.

At this moment, he saw the burly man moving with Qing'er, circling her like a tamed beast. Qing'er perfectly embodied the "stillness" and "speed" taught by Yu Yun, remaining calm and smiling. The burly man was named Mo Hu, the second disciple of the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable Ao Hua, known by his bandit title "Mountain-Suppressing God," and his martial arts were indeed formidable. Tonight, he had initially underestimated his opponent, and secondly, he had been intimidated by Qing'er's strange movements, allowing her to seize the initiative and significantly diminish his own strength.

At this moment, Mo Hu noticed his fellow disciples' gazes fixed on him, and a surge of heat rushed to his face, filling him with unbearable shame. He thought to himself, "I acted rashly and attacked first. My defeat is a minor matter, but delaying Master's 'Midnight and Noon Profound Skill' is no ordinary matter. Master is only a few hours away from completing the elixir. If an enemy disturbs him, he could easily become distracted and suffer a qi deviation. Therefore, Master ordered Seventh Brother Zhikong to handle external affairs. If there is a strong enemy, we should stabilize the situation first. I thought that Seventh Brother Zhikong was intelligent, calm, and experienced. I always thought Master was a bit biased, but after seeing him tonight, it seems I am indeed inferior to him." The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. Seeing Qing'er's disdainful expression, he steeled himself and tightened his grip on the pair of Tengshe spears, launching seven attacks in quick succession, a total of fourteen moves.

Qing'er saw that he had lost his composure and suddenly launched a fierce attack, which was exactly what she wanted. She immediately shrugged and retreated, using the "Zhong Kui Subduing Demons Thirty-Six Strikes" Judge's Pen move. She moved quickly with the "Nine Palaces Positive and Negative Yin-Yang Steps". In this way, the Mountain God Mo Hu's figure was completely enveloped by the strange moves of the two pens. On the contrary, every time the Mountain God Mo Hu made a move, he missed. He could only see the opponent's countless phantoms, unable to distinguish which were real and which were fake. It was no different from feeding the opponent with his own body.

Zhikong, being a discerning eye, stared at the boy for a moment, then muttered to his fellow disciples, "This young boy's Judge's Pen technique is remarkably similar to the Yangshan Two Birds Tanlong's style, though Tanlong's technique is far less unpredictable and profound, and his movement is even less advanced. Could it be that this boy has a different lineage from Tanlong's sect?"

A fellow disciple beside him replied, "I think so too, but our master is a close friend of the Yangshan Two Birds. The boy is as Seventh Senior Brother said. Why would they come to harass our sect while our master is busy practicing? In my opinion, they must have ulterior motives."

Zhikong pondered for a while, then replied, "Regardless of their intentions, we must appease them first. Every moment counts—a moment is a moment. A moment of impatience can ruin a great plan. Our master has instructed us not to fight them now. These two dare to come; they must have something to rely on. Perhaps there are elders behind them. Whatever their intentions, we must wait for our master to intervene." "Unless absolutely necessary, you must not act rashly."

Suddenly, someone behind him interjected, "Senior Brother Zhikong, are you just going to let the dozen or so lives of this mountain go?" Zhikong

snorted coldly and said, "Ninth Junior Brother, blood debts must be repaid in blood. We must settle accounts with interest. Are you afraid they will be shortchanged? But at this moment, Master has been driven into a state of demonic possession. Can you bear the consequences?"

At this moment, Fu Wan stood in the center, holding her sword. Her big, watery eyes were fixed on Qing'er. She was so engrossed in watching her that she couldn't help but chuckle. It turned out that after Qing'er learned the "Nine Palaces Yin-Yang Steps" and "Zhong Kui's Thirty-Six Strikes to Subdue Demons," she had not formally used them. Tonight, when she encountered the Mountain God Mo Hu, she couldn't help but use all her strength. The more she fought, the happier she became. She found that the two martial arts taught by Yu Yun were unfathomable. She tried them repeatedly and even used the Mountain God as her training opponent. No matter how Qing'er turned, Mo Hu turned as well. That's why Miss Wan laughed.

From the moment Miss Wan stepped into the temple square until now, almost half an hour has passed. Miss Wan thought to herself, "This is fine. My goal is the 'Tai'a Sword,' so there's no need to clash with them. Any killing would be too much trouble. But I wonder if Brother Yan has gotten his hands on it yet. Anyway, they're just waiting around without doing anything. I've been thinking the same thing myself. It's really unexpected that Brother Qing is so clever tonight." Seeing that

the Mountain God Mo Hu was being tricked and made a mess of by Fu Qing, Zhi Kong and the others couldn't help but get impatient. Several of them were eager to try, but Zhi Kong gently stopped them. He could tell that Qing'er didn't intend to hurt Mo Hu. In any case, the longer the time went on, the more advantageous it would be for their side. It would be better to let his second senior brother hold him back, so as to temper his arrogant nature. He could then ease the tense atmosphere. So he stepped forward, bowed to Fu Wan, and said with a smile: "Female benefactor, my master is indeed practicing the 'Midnight and Noon Mysterious Skill' on the sixth floor of our temple, just as you said. He is currently at a critical moment. My previous statement was due to my own unavoidable difficulties and was not intended to deceive you. No matter what your purpose is, I will not ask. My master will take care of everything. I wonder if you trust my words?" Seeing Zhikong's submissive attitude, Fu Wan knew he intended to deal with them after Ao Hua, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable, mastered the "Midnight-Noon Mysterious Skill. "

She admired his remarkable forbearance and was about to reply when she heard two soft whistles from the horizon, like the cries of cranes. Knowing Yu Yun had succeeded, she was secretly pleased, but remained outwardly calm, smiling slightly. "Since Master says so, it would be too much to ask if I still don't believe you. Actually, my brother and I came to this treasure mountain to inquire about a past event of your master. Since your master is in the tower, we can come again tomorrow. Please forgive any offense." With that, she called out, "Qing-di, let's go." Fu Qing had also heard the whistles and, seeing his sister call him, immediately stopped and leaped back. The two siblings bowed to Zhikong and then flew down the mountain.

Zhikong and the others also heard the crane's cry, but did not suspect it was man-made. Seeing Fu Wan and her brother leave, they all breathed a sigh of relief, the heavy depression in their chests easing considerably. The mountain god Mo Hu, exhausted and weary, felt his legs go weak upon hearing this, and sat down on the open ground, unable to get up for a long time, muttering, "What a formidable child."

Zhikong then ordered people to go down the cliff to collect the bodies and bury them, saying, "According to my calculations, Master will have at most two more hours to complete the task. Tomorrow, the two little Tathagatas will definitely not escape Master's 'Midnight Profound Skill'." Little did they know that not only was the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable's "Tai'a Sword" taken away, but he also died stiff inside the tower. The Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable's rules were strict, forbidding his disciples from going into the tower without permission. If he needed something, he would keep a small chime beside him, striking it to communicate; for example, striking it five times meant he needed clean water. Therefore, after seven or eight hours, his master still hadn't come down from the tower. Zhikong became suspicious and mustered his courage to go up the tower. He saw that the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable had been dead for a long time and the Tai'a Sword was also missing. Only then did he realize that he had been tricked by the two little devils. He wanted to search for them for two hours, but the two little devils were already five or six hundred miles away on their way.

When Fu Wan and her brother arrived at the foot of the mountain, Yu Yun was already waiting in front of the wind cave, holding a long sword. It was too dark to see him clearly. Upon seeing them, Yu Yun simply whispered, "Hurry up." The three returned to the inn on the outskirts of the city where Yu Yun had stayed. It was nearly four in the morning. They scaled the wall and entered the room, where the travelers and innkeeper were all fast asleep.

Yu Yun took the flint and steel from the table, tapped it lightly, and ignited the tinder. He blew on it, and the tinder turned into a bright flame. He moved it to the lamp holder, igniting the wick, then extinguished the tinder and trimmed the wick further. Now, the room was as bright as day. Yu Yun then gently pressed down on the hilt of the "Tai'a Sword," releasing the spring and producing a long, lingering dragon's roar. He then gently drew it from its sheath, revealing a gleaming, cold light that seemed to pierce the hairs of the blade. The sword, about three feet six inches long, had a two-inch gleaming tip on the sheath, its light like a flickering snake, dazzling and almost blinking. As soon as the sword was drawn, the lamplight seemed to dim. Yu Yun exclaimed in admiration, "Truly a fine sword!" He then handed it to Miss Wan, smiling, "No wonder you traveled thousands of miles and risked your life to obtain such a divine weapon. Now that your wish has been fulfilled, you can depart at dawn." Miss Wan gracefully accepted the sword and thanked him, then inquired about how Yu Yun had obtained it.

It turned out that Yu Yun had parted ways with Fu Wan and her brother while climbing the mountain. In fact, he hadn't gone far, always keeping them in sight. He simply moved among the gnarled branches of the towering pine trees. He landed on the sixth branch and glanced down, noticing a dozen or so dark figures darting towards him from different directions. The first bandit had already encountered Fu Wan and launched a hidden weapon, which Yu Yun deflected with a flick of his wrist.

He remained motionless in the tree, watching as the siblings easily dispatched the bandit in just a few exchanges, their actions clean and efficient. He couldn't help but admire them. Just then, the bandits' screams subsided, and the temple bells rang urgently again. He thought, "Now the temple bandits will rush out to intercept the siblings; they're probably no match for them." With that thought, he slid down and pounced on the bandits in the forest. The dozen or so bandits were positioned every three zhang (approximately 10 meters) along the left side of the mountain path. The bandits had no idea someone was attacking from behind. By the time they realized what was happening, Yu Yun had already grabbed and lifted them, sending them plummeting down the cliff.

Yu Yun's methods were truly ruthless. When he threw the bandits, they could have changed shape mid-air and survived, but instead, their bodies became weak and powerless. How could they possibly survive? Yu Yun was also from a Buddhist background; he should have refrained from killing and anger. However, Yu Yun constantly held this belief, saying that killing one more evil person meant planting one more seed of good karma. Even before leaving the mountain, he sowed the seeds of this boundless bloodshed. For the next ten years after Yu Yun descended the mountain, figures in the underworld suffered horrific slaughter. This was all preordained, a calamity ordained by fate.

After Yu Yun had chopped down all the hidden stakes in the forest, he swung his arms and soared to the treetops, leaping and bounding among the branches and leaves. With a single step, he used the rebound to pounce on another pine branch, moving with the agility of a flying horse. He stopped in front of the temple atop a towering ancient cypress, watching intently as he observed the siblings, wondering how they would deal with the temple's skilled fighters. He then saw Qing'er using the "Nine Palaces Yin Yang Forward and Reverse Steps" technique he had taught her to deal with the mountain god, Mo Hu. No matter how exquisite Mo Hu's spear techniques were, Qing'er could easily evade them with a mere flick of her wrist, displaying incredible agility and elusiveness like the wind. Yu Yun felt greatly reassured. Seeing that Zhi Kong and the others were observing and not intending to attack Fu Wan, he knew they were deliberately stalling for time. A thought struck him, and he slipped away behind the temple.

He estimated that skilled individuals were hidden both inside and outside the temple, as well as in front of the pagoda. After a moment's thought, he decided on his course of action. Relying on his "Mysterious Seven Star Steps" technique, which was unpredictable and elusive, he was determined to prevent the ambush from seeing him. Yu Yun looked down from the temple and caught a glimpse of a dark figure hiding behind a tree, seemingly unaware of Yu Yun's presence. At this moment, Yu Yun stopped. Ten feet away, the seven-story pagoda came into view, dark and towering into the clouds. Each floor of the pagoda had eight lanterns hanging from its eaves, but no light shone from the third floor onwards. Skilled individuals stood against the walls on each floor of the eaves. On this dark and windy night, it would have been difficult to spot them without Yu Yun's keen eyesight.

Yu Yun glanced around and noticed dozens of ambush points set up in front of and behind the tower. He was slightly alarmed, thinking to himself, "This arrangement would be like a lamb being led to the slaughter for anyone else, but it won't stump me." With that thought, he swiftly glided behind the nearest ambush point, quickly extended two fingers, and pressed the thief's pressure point to put him to sleep. Without pausing, he flashed behind a second person and repeated the same trick. His movements were incredibly fast, his figure as elusive as a ghost. Even in broad daylight, his movements were undetectable, let alone in the dark of night without moonlight or starlight. His

figure moved without making a sound, so in less than half a cup of tea's time, he had subdued all the ambush points in front of and behind the tower, leaving only the ambush points against the wall on the eaves that were the most difficult to reach. Of course, it would be effortless for him to subdue them, but he would inevitably have to keep his presence hidden. After dealing with the first level, he would have to climb the eaves and ascend to the second level. This would expose him to the hidden weapons and ambushes on the second level. He could not enter from inside the tower because the tower door was heavily locked and could only be opened by force with his palm. His original intention was to avoid being seen by others; otherwise, why would he go to all this trouble?

Just as he was caught in a dilemma, he suddenly noticed a slanting branch of a towering ancient tree, only fifteen or sixteen zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) from the top of the tower. It swayed precariously in the night wind. While estimating the height from the ground was impossible, his judgment was fairly accurate. He thought, "Why not use this branch to leap to the top of the tower? Wouldn't that be easier?" His mind made up, and he no longer hesitated. He quickly moved to the side of the tree, carefully examining it for any hidden stakes. After a moment's inspection, finding nothing suspicious, he suddenly swung his arms, and like a crane soaring into the sky, he rose seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) high, landing on a branch. He then leaped again, performing several rapid leaps, and was now on the slanting branch closest to the top of the tower. Such superb lightness skill was rarely seen in the martial arts world today.

The night wind was strong, causing the treetops to sway violently. Yu Yun's figure, as if nailed to the ground, swayed from side to side, yet remained perfectly still. He suddenly inhaled a surge of true qi from his dantian, his feet sinking, causing the tree branch near the top of the tower to plummet. He swiftly spread his arms, his legs arching and extending, using the rebound force of the branch itself to launch himself eleven or twelve zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) into the tower at a forty-five-degree angle. Just as he was about to fall, he suddenly bent his limbs, rolled twice in mid-air, and then spread his limbs again, like a night hawk swooping through the air, circling the top of the tower three times before slowly descending. His hands clung to the gourd at the top of the tower; this was the Seven Birds Body Technique of Tianshan; truly exquisite and breathtaking.

Yu Yun then swooped down; his feet hooked onto the eaves, hanging upside down like a beaded curtain, his hands pressed against the tower wall, like a gecko, and darted into the seventh floor, landing inside the seventh-floor tower. He found only a dark, empty space. He realized that the path to the sixth level was blocked by an iron plate. After a moment's thought, Ji Kun slowly inserted two fingers using the "Diamond Finger" technique. The two-inch-thick iron plate was pierced as easily as a sharp blade cutting through rotten wood. He tugged at it with his fingers, then shook his head. He then took out the "Spirit Rhinoceros" dagger, capable of cutting through gold and jade, and with a "whoosh," drew it from its sheath. He inserted it into the pierced hole, circling and cutting, and soon the straight... The circular plate, two feet in diameter, had only one inch of space between the two. He pressed his palm against it, creating a seal and drawing in, instantly cutting the plate away and revealing a hole. A glimmer of light flashed on the wall. He couldn't wait any longer, his body plunging down and pressing against the wall. He immediately saw the Eight-Armed Celestial Venerable sitting cross-legged on a futon, his eyes closed, his facial muscles undulating rhythmically, his palms thrusting outwards. Upon closer inspection, he was almost startled. The Eight-Armed Celestial Venerable was covered in white hair, over a foot long, almost completely obscuring his face; those unaware of his identity would mistake him for an ape-man incarnate.

Yu Yun wanted to use the "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan" technique to subdue the Eight-Armed Celestial Venerable with lightning speed, but hesitated because he couldn't see where the "Tai'a" sword was placed. He feared the sword might be hidden elsewhere, and searching for it would be unnecessary trouble. Suddenly, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable emitted a bellowing sound from his throat, his joints cracking and popping. He stretched out his palms, revealing a sword hilt as the hem of his long robe was pulled up by the upward movement of his hands. Yu Yun was overjoyed at the sight. He knew the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable was now at the point of perfect harmony, the "Heaven and Earth Union Technique" nearing its end, and the opportunity was fleeting; he could not afford to delay any longer. Just as he was about to strike, the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable Ao Hua suddenly opened his eyes, a look of delight on his face. Seeing Yu Yun standing beside him, he reacted with alarm and lightning speed, thrusting his palms towards Yu Yun. If all his energy were released, the top two floors of the tower would surely collapse due to the "Midnight-Noon Mystic Technique."
Yu Yun was incredibly fast. With a swift movement, he struck the Qihai acupoint with his bare hands. The Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable had only released half of his power when he felt a sudden chill and numbness in his right chest. His true energy surged and reversed, followed by a rush of blood and a turbulent flow of qi. His palms drooped limply like deflated sacks. His whole body trembled, and he could only struggle, but the pressure points he had applied rendered him powerless. His eyes, filled with a grimace, glanced at Yu Yun.

It should be known that the "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan," also known as the "Eighteen Dragon Hand Techniques," is a martial arts masterpiece recorded in the "Xuanyuan Scripture." Few in the world today can decipher such a profound and mysterious technique. Yu Yun's move was indeed as swift as lightning. Although it occurred in an instant, to an expert, it was a fight to the death, a battle where every second counted. If the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable seized the initiative, the situation would immediately reverse. Therefore, since his debut, Yu Yun has always adhered to Master Mingliang's admonition: the enemy moves, I move first; the four principles of stability, speed, ruthlessness, and decisiveness have ensured his success. Master Mingliang, a high-ranking Buddhist monk, should have often taught Yu Yun the principles of forgiveness and forgiveness towards others. However, through subtle Zen teachings, he foresaw that Yu Yun's karmic debts were too heavy to be resolved by human effort alone; he could only do his best in accordance with fate.

At this moment, the Eight-Armed Celestial Venerable sighed sadly, looking at Yu Yun and saying, "I, Ao Hua, have killed countless people in my life, all of whom died without knowing why. I never expected that I would end up like this today. It is the cycle of retribution, the result is in the cause. I have never had any grudges with you, but your intentions are already within my imagination. The 'Tai'a Sword' is under your clothes; you may take it yourself." His voice grew weaker and weaker, and he took another breath, saying, "Many of my disciples are of mixed character, some good and some evil. It is up to you." With that, he closed his eyes and passed away.

Yu Yun looked at him and sighed softly. He bent down and took the "Tai'a Sword" from under Ao Hua's clothes. After looking at it, he put it on his back, then climbed back up the tower. He stretched out his arms quickly, displaying the "Seven Birds Body Technique," and with a bent leg, he suddenly climbed to the top of the tree. He stopped in the tree, gazing at the tower, standing there for a moment. He felt a pang of guilt, realizing that his act of secretly killing the Eight-Handed Celestial Venerable Ao Hua to help Miss Wan obtain the "Tai'a Sword" seemed somewhat dishonorable, even excessively malicious. Suddenly, he recalled Ao Hua's dying words, and a thought flashed through his mind like lightning. He abruptly leaped down, defusing all the hidden stakes in the temple that he had used to put her to sleep, and then swiftly climbed to the top of the large tree in front of the temple.

Yu Yunzong noticed that Miss Wan was still standing in the same spot, and Zhikong and the others hadn't considered making a move; the two sides remained locked in a stalemate. Only Qing'er was still engaged in a playful fight with the Mountain God Mo Hu, teasing him until Mo Hu roared in anger. He secretly laughed at Qing'er's small stature but great courage, predicting that she would surely become a demonic star in the martial world in the future. The night deepened, and the north wind whipped around him, a different feeling from the frost and dew of late autumn, only a chilling piercing. Although the past few days had been sunny and breezy, tonight there was not a single star, foretelling another terrible day. Yu Yun looked up at the sky, but it was merely a formality; without stars, he couldn't determine the time, so looking at the sky was useless. He estimated it was probably past midnight. A thought struck him, and he darted away from Zhenfeng Temple in the direction of the wind.

Leaping and bounding among the treetops, he had covered two or three miles in the blink of an eye, then stopped and let out two long howls. Because the wind blew in the opposite direction from Zhenfeng Temple, the howls carried further and further away, fading into the distance. Those in the temple heard them and thought they were the cry of a silver crane taking flight. Yu Yun anticipated that the whistling sound had been heard by Miss Wan and her brother. He turned around and darted back the way he came, leaping down from the cliff. In the darkness, he moved like a black crane soaring through the air, landing silently on the grass beside the wind cave. A moment later, Miss Wan and her brother arrived and joined him, then headed towards Taiyuan City.

After recounting how he retrieved the sword, Yu Yun saw Miss Wan caressing the "Tai'a Sword" with obvious affection. Yu Yun smiled and said, "Miss Wan's wish has been fulfilled tonight. She will surely become a renowned heroine in the martial arts world in the future. I congratulate her in advance."

Miss Wan pursed her lips, smiled down, then rolled her eyes. Yu Yun's heart skipped a beat. Qing'er, being a clever little devil, knew her sister and Xie Yunyue must have something to say to each other. She made a face and laughed, "Brother Yan, I'm going to sleep next door. I know my sister must have a lot to tell you..."

Fu Wan blushed, "Little brother..."

Xie Yunyue's face also turned red, "You little rascal..." Qing'er stuck out her tongue, slipped out of the room, and went to sleep next door.

Fu Wan wore a pale yellow shirt and light green trousers. Her large eyes blinked, and her long eyelashes, like a curtain, concealed the girl's secrets. Xie Yunyue observed her closely; two small mushrooms had already sprouted on Fu Wan's chest, and her swaying waist revealed a woman's graceful figure. Her buttocks were also much fuller than before.

Xie Yunyue sighed inwardly and said, "Miss Wan, my real name is actually Xie Yunyue. Yan Yue is my alias."

Fu Wan exclaimed in surprise, "So, Big Brother is the 'Strange-Handed Scholar'!"

Xie Yunyue quickly cautioned, "Don't reveal this easily. " Fu Wan nodded in agreement. Xie Yunyue said, "You two are going back to Changping first thing tomorrow morning. You two are really too bold."

Fu Wan's eyes reddened. "Don't you like us, brother? Otherwise, why would you send us away as soon as we met?"

Xie Yunyue comforted her, "How could I not like you? It's just that I'm really worried about you two."

Fu Wan looked up at Xie Yunyue affectionately and said, "Brother, tell me honestly, do you like Wan'er?"

Xie Yunyue felt a headache coming on and said, "How could I not like you?"

Fu Wan blushed and looked up at him sweetly, "Since I can't accompany you on your adventures, I don't want you to worry about me. I'll return to Changping with you tomorrow. But, can I stay with you tonight?"

Xie Yunyue was taken aback, his face turning red. "Wan'er, I already have two wives. How can I hurt you too?" Fu Wan, on the verge of tears, said, "

How could my elder brother harm me? I know I am no match for my two elder sisters, but I don't ask for any title. I'm willing to be a maid or a concubine. I won't make things difficult for you."

Xie Yunyue said, "Silly girl, why are you so foolish?"

Fu Wan said sweetly, "Love is tormenting me. I can't bear it anymore. Don't you have any pity for my infatuation, elder brother?" Xie

Yunyue gently pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair and inhaling her faint, virginal fragrance. A surge of desire welled up within him, and his manhood hardened. Xie Yunyue was momentarily stunned, feeling a soft, warm body against his chest, with two small, firm breasts pressing against him. At the same time, Fu Wan felt her breasts pressing against this unfamiliar chest, a tingling, numbing sensation spreading from her nipples, causing her two small nipples to stand proudly erect. This made her even more sensitive, and she felt all her strength slowly draining away.

Fu Wan also sensed the changes in the two little cherries. Looking closely at the girl in her arms, compared to Zhao Lianzhu, Fu Wan was like a dew-kissed flower bud, just waiting to bloom in the sunlight, while Zhao Lianzhu was more like a vibrant rose, dazzlingly beautiful. Looking at Fu Wan's willow-leaf eyebrows, long eyelashes, delicate nose, cherry lips, and her sweet, languid breath, Xie Yunyue felt a surge of youthful passion, his face burning hot, and his burgeoning member burning just as hot.

Fu Wan felt the hot breath on her ear, her body tensing and relaxing in turns. A caterpillar-like sensation crawled through her heart, and she felt a gentle flow of fluid from her private parts, filling her with intense shyness. Xie Yunyue suddenly attacked, his lips sealing the girl's moist, soft lips. As he sucked, a stream of saliva welled up from under Fu Wan's tongue. Both felt an electric shock, as if they had been waiting for this moment for a long time; the kiss felt so wonderful. Fu Wan felt as if a hundred flowers were blooming within her, like a happy butterfly flitting freely among blossoms. Flying, light and boundless, their tongues entwined, sucking at each other, unwilling to part.

Fu Wan was intoxicated by the wonderful feeling, feeling a pair of large hands caressing her from her shoulders to her waist. The warm sensation lingered where they were touched, occasionally playfully stroking her full buttocks—the mounds of a young girl never before touched by anyone. Those devilish hands wantonly grasped and kneaded them, unable to let go. Fu Wan whispered, "Big brother, from now on, Wan'er is yours. I'll do whatever you want, whatever you wish..."

Xie Yunyue gently pressed Fu Wan down onto the bed. She nestled obediently in his arms, gazing deeply into his eyes. Xie Yunyue lowered his head and looked back at her with equal affection. Fu Wan blushed at Xie Yunyue's loving gaze, closing her almond-shaped eyes and tilting her head back to offer her luscious red lips, round and bright like ripe cherries. Xie Yunyue kissed her, sucking hard and exploring her mouth with his tongue. Fu Wan, understanding his intentions, extended her own tongue, letting him suckle gently, and began to clumsily try to imitate him.

Xie Yunyue remained calm, his right hand tracing the shape of her fair earlobe, then down her neck, following the opening of the first buttonhole. At this moment, Fu Wan felt not only an intruder above her, but also something hard pressing against her lower abdomen, bouncing occasionally. Her private parts were being touched repeatedly, making her even wetter, with a stream flowing down her thighs. All her strength seemed to have vanished; she felt as if her bones had been removed, unable to support herself any longer, and could only wrap her arms around Xie Yunyue's neck.

Xie Yunyue's right hand slipped inside her bodice, grasping the fruit that the girl had preserved for so many years. It was a handful of soft, fragrant flesh, irresistible to the touch. Suddenly attacked like this, Fu Wan's virgin breasts, her carefully nurtured, snow-white jade breasts, were being touched for the first time by a hand that didn't belong to her. It was so unrestrained, so pleasurable, that it felt like a sharp blade piercing her heart.

Fu Wan let a pair of demonic hands untie her knots one by one. With a soft "rip," Fu Wan felt a chill as her bra was torn open, and even her pink bodice was half-ripped off, exposing her small, mushroom-shaped right breast to the autumn air. Upon contact with the air, the beautiful young girl's breasts not only sprouted small bumps, but these bumps then spread all over her body. The girl's snow-white breasts changed shape under the demonic hands' ravaging, and the red buds stood proudly erect. Stimulated by this, Fu Wan quickened her pace, and in a few moments, she became completely defenseless. Soon, Xie Yunyue also released his own inhibitions, and the two embraced deeply in a kiss, their tongues intertwining and blurring in their mouths...

Fu Wan's breathing became rapid, and her chest heaved quickly. Her full, firm breasts swelled and trembled against Xie Yunyue's chest, exciting him immensely. Xie Yunyue lowered his head and kissed her full, firm breasts, caressing her sensitive areas all over her body. He carefully examined Fu Wan's alluring body: her round face, beneath her delicate, arched eyebrows, and her bright, almond-shaped eyes shimmering with captivating allure. Her rosy cherry lips were irresistible to Xie Yunyue. Her skin was white and tender, smooth and flawless. Her beautifully curved figure was perfectly proportioned. Her full, fleshy arms were incredibly sensual.

Her high, full breasts resembled two opposing jade peaks, their two bright red nipples like two vibrant pearls. Below was a smooth, soft abdomen, and her slender waist exuded feminine charm and undeniable sensuality. Her thighs, like spring onions, were delicately sculpted, full and tender; at the base of her thighs, the downy pubic hair was neatly arranged in small, slightly curled mounds, covering a bright red slit. In the center of this slit was a prominent, rosy clitoris, like a ruby, adorning this beautiful, tender opening. The entire opening resembled a peach blossom glistening with dew, breathtakingly beautiful…

Fu Wan exuded the warm, alluring fragrance unique to virgins, wafting into Xie Yunyue's nostrils and stirring his heartstrings. Gazing at Fu Wan's exquisitely beautiful vulva, Xie Yunyue couldn't resist the urge to devour it. He lowered his head and began licking her alluring vulva, first the captivating petals, then gently scraping back and forth on her swollen, protruding clitoris with the tip of his tongue.

Fu Wan, aroused beyond measure by Xie Yunyue's licking, moaned softly, her legs trembling and her hips swaying. Her hands clung tightly to Xie Yunyue's head, buried between her legs: "Ah...ah...um...Brother Yun...it's so itchy...it's unbearable...good brother...don't torture Wan'er anymore...please spare Wan'er..." At this moment, Fu Wan was like a lamb to the slaughter, her moans and pleas causing Xie Yunyue's body to burn with desire, his lust igniting like a passion drug.

Xie Yunyue pressed her down, pressing her against her beautiful body, ready to fully enjoy this untouched paradise and bring Fu Wan supreme pleasure. At this moment, Fu Wan's tender orifice was no longer stimulated by lust; "dew" flowed like a mountain spring. Her two moist petals writhed slightly, seemingly eager to bloom. Her already erect clitoris, fueled by rising lust and excessive excitement, became even more engorged with blood, appearing so bright red and prominent. Moistened by her vaginal fluids, it shone even more vividly, captivatingly beautiful.

Fu Wan's lower body writhed restlessly. Xie Yunyue slowly slid one hand down to Fu Wan's lower abdomen, caressing her fine, soft pubic hair, rubbing it up and down, left and right. Her body trembled, her hands tightly embracing Xie Yunyue's back, her cheeks flushing an even deeper red. With the last vestiges of her sanity, Fu Wan
, panting, bit Xie Yunyue's earlobe, her voice trembling almost a moan, and said, "Let Wan'er give herself to Big Brother, take me quickly, Wan'er can't wait."

Xie Yunyue felt a surge of desire; his hard penis throbbed against Fu Wan's thighs. He guided it with his hand, slowly rubbing it above her bright red virgin entrance. Her legs involuntarily parted, and Xie Yunyue's thick glans slowly entered her vagina.

"Ouch..." Fu Wan let out a soft moan, but immediately suppressed it.

"Wan'er, first time is usually painful but sweet. Wan'er doesn't need to endure it. I like to hear Wan'er's innocent cries." Xie Yunyue paused, stroking Fu Wan's body, trying to make her forget the pain of this moment.

"Big brother...you don't need to worry about Wan'er anymore...conquer Wan'er as you please..." Xie Yunyue knew Fu Wan was ready, and he entered her completely in one go. Fu Wan couldn't bear the intense pain and cried out loudly.

"Ouch...brother...be gentle...it hurts...your...is too thick...too big..."

Tears streamed down Fu Wan's face, her fingernails digging into Xie Yunyue's back muscles. Xie Yunyue's penis stopped moving forward, and he kissed her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips. His hands slowly caressed her breasts, rubbing her nipples gently with his fingers. Soon, Xie Yunyue felt Fu Wan's vagina gradually becoming wet, and she gently twisted her body beneath him.

"Brother Yun...you can go deeper...brother...move a little more...ah..." Fu Wan whispered sweetly in Xie Yunyue's ear.

Xie Yunyue slowly retreated to the entrance, then slowly pushed in again. When his member reached its deepest point, she frowned, and Xie Yunyue slowly withdrew. When he reached the entrance, she sighed in emptiness. And so, with each in-and-out movement, Xie Yunyue felt Fu Wan's vaginal mucosa becoming increasingly lubricated, and she seemed to be gradually tasting the pleasure.

"Big brother... Brother Yun... Good brother... Ah... It hurts... It's numb... Brother... Be gentle... Slower... Slower... You can go deeper... Oh... Oh..." Fu Wan's lower body began to awkwardly respond to Xie Yunyue's thrusts.

Fu Wan had been crying out in pain, but after a moment, she began to feel pleasure, murmuring, "Brother Yun... Wan'er feels so good now..."

"Brother Yun... um... Wan'er doesn't hurt anymore... so beautiful... so comfortable... Brother Yun... um..."

"Big brother... now Wan'er is all yours..." Fu Wan twisted her body further, matching Xie Yunyue's movements.

Fu Wan squinted her eyes, her hands sliding down to Xie Yunyue's waist, hugging him tightly, afraid that Xie Yunyue's treasure would slip away. Xie Yunyue began to gently thrust in and out, starting slowly and gradually increasing the speed, then forcefully thrusting and withdrawing. After about a dozen thrusts, she suddenly trembled all over, panting, "Ah... brother... Brother Yun... um... Wan'er... peed... Brother Yun... ah... Wan'er... it's flowing out... Brother Yun... Wan'er... I'm going to die... oh... oh..."

Suddenly, Fu Wan collapsed onto the bed, her body trembling violently. Her vaginal mucosa spasmed, and a stream of virgin heat gushed onto Xie Yunyue's glans, making his penis swell even more. Watching Fu Wanyin, almost paralyzed in a semi-conscious state after her first climax, Xie Yunyue suppressed his growing lust, lowered his head, and gently swirled his tongue around her lips. He kissed her lips, drawing her tongue into his mouth and slowly sucking on it. His hands grasped her full breasts, kneading them with varying pressure...

After a while, Fu Wanyin slowly opened her eyes, gazing at Xie Yunyue with a pitiful and affectionate expression, saying, "Brother, Wanyin is yours from now on. You can do whatever you want with me..."

Xie Yunyue kissed the sweat on Fu Wanyin's forehead and asked, "Does my sister want more?"

Fu Wanyin nodded, her hands stroking Xie Yunyue's back. Gradually, her breathing became rapid again. She shyly whispered in Xie Yunyue's ear, "Brother, are you not finished yet? Wanyin can still..." and began to wriggle restlessly.

Upon hearing Fu Wan's words, Xie Yunyue's penis, already inside her vagina, throbbed even harder. Fu Wan's hands gripped Xie Yunyue's lower back tightly, pressing him forward. Again and again, Xie Yunyue slowly pulled his penis out of her vagina, twisting his hips, then slowly pushed it deep inside until the glans touched her cervix. His penis, swirling inside, scraped around her, then he slowly withdrew, gradually increasing the speed, causing Fu Wan's vagina to overflow with fluids. She gasped for breath, her hair disheveled, her body convulsing.

"Brother... Brother Yun... ah... your big... penis... is going to kill... Wan'er... ah... oh... Wan'er... can't hold back anymore... I'm going to lose it... oh... I'm losing it... ouch..." The usually gentle and introverted Fu Wan was now as seductive and alluring as a harlot, arousing Xie Yunyue's lust. His thrusting movements grew faster and faster.

"Brother... Brother Yun... Ouch... Ah... Ah... Ah... Wan'er is lost again... Lost... Oh... Lost again... Ouch... Oh... Ah... Wan'er can't take it anymore... Ah..."

Fu Wan reached her second climax, gushing out waves of vaginal fluid onto Xie Yunyue's glans, stimulating him to the point that he could no longer control himself. He felt a tingling sensation, and a thick stream of semen shot into Fu Wan's uterus like a fountain, drenching her clitoris, causing her to tremble and moan again. The two embraced tightly, kissing, enjoying the peace and warmth after their lovemaking.

"Wan'er, how's it going, brother? Are you comfortable?"

"Brother, Wan'er feels so good! I never thought doing this would be so comfortable. If I had known, I would have given myself to you the first time we met."

"Wan'er, it's not too late now. Besides, there's plenty of time in the future. We'll be together for a long time."

"Brother Yun, Wan'er loves you to death. Wan'er's body will always belong to you alone. From now on, this tender hole is yours. You can play with it however you want, do whatever you want. If you're willing, I'd even be willing to be fucked to death by you." Unexpectedly, Fu Wan was so bold. Coupled with her deep affection for Xie Yunyue and the wonderful taste of sex she had just experienced, she was currently in a state of lustful passion, so she spoke her mind without restraint.

"How could I bear to part with you, brother? Wan'er, I'll make you happy."

"Brother, Wan'er loves you to death..."

Xie Yunyue gazed at her, and Fu Wan gazed back at Xie Yunyue. Her gaze was so real, so resolute. At this moment, Fu Wan was radiant with spring, exuding charm. She was incredibly beautiful, looking at Xie Yunyue with deep affection, her eyes filled with tenderness and care. The wantonness and debauchery she had displayed during her climax were gone. Now, Fu Wan was like a virtuous and gentle wife.

Moved, Xie Yunyue embraced her tightly, gently kissing her hair, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her virginity and the lingering scent of her flesh. They became intertwined again, locked in a passionate kiss, their bodies expressing the resonance of their souls. They possessed each other not only physically, but also spiritually and deeply…

Fu Wan in his arms had fallen asleep, a sweet smile on her lips. Xie Yunyue couldn't resist kissing her, struggling to break free from their entanglement. He had things to do. After dressing, he left the house and trudged into the street. The cold wind whipped at his face like blades. His eyesight was excellent; even in the pitch-black night, he could see every insect and beast within a few feet. He walked with a steady gait, one step higher, one step lower, for about a quarter of an hour when he heard a faint sound ahead. He paused, then continued on.

In the blink of an eye, a dark figure darted forward and landed lightly in front of him, blocking his path. Yu Yun immediately recognized it as an old beggar, dressed in tattered clothes with three thin straw ropes tied around his waist. The old beggar stared at him with wide eyes, saying nothing. Yu Yun (reverting to his pseudonym) secretly chuckled to himself, "I was just looking for a Beggar Clan disciple, and you've delivered yourself right to my doorstep. Well, this saves me a long journey." He too remained silent, smiling at the old beggar, waiting to hear what he had to say.

The old beggar stood there for a moment, and seeing that Yu Yun showed no fear of him, he was secretly amazed. He thought to himself, "This poor wretch has guts. With my appearance as the 'Three Wonders Beggar Meng Zhongke,' who in Jin Province doesn't know me? Even the powerful Qingfeng Gang doesn't dare to mess with me. Heh heh, tonight they can't even scare this poor wretch away. This is truly strange. Judging from his gait, this poor wretch's steps are no different from ordinary people. He must not be a martial artist. No wonder he doesn't know me." Then, with a blink of his eyes, he asked, "You are traveling alone at night. Is there something you intend to do?"

Yu Yun smiled upon hearing this and replied, "And you?" meaning, "And why are you traveling alone at night?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhongke, the Three-Talented Eccentric Beggar, felt his anger rise. His face darkened, and he said, "A beggar who can't be seen by day can only wander the streets at night. You poor wretch, having a good bed but not sleeping there, wandering the streets in the dead of winter, you must be no good person."

Yu Yun chuckled and said, "So that's what you wanted to ask me? It's no trouble telling you. It's very simple. This old man came from the Divine Dragon Hall in the capital, and just arrived. I'm here to check if the Beggars' Clan has engaged in any illegal activities. Perhaps you've done something unspeakable and are a little afraid?"

The Three-Talented Eccentric Beggar glared at him and chuckled strangely. With a snort, he said, "Afraid? I've never heard that word before. I can't believe you, a poor wretch, dare to use flowery words to fool me. Hmph, do you think you can go to the Beggars' Sect's Divine Dragon Hall? You dare not tell the truth, but I, an old man, will not let this go tonight."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun frowned and thought, "No wonder my elder brother Cangxi often says that the Beggars' Sect has both good and bad members, and there are always troublemakers. However, they dare not disobey the sect rules. Why don't I take out the talisman and try it?" He then touched the purple copper Divine Dragon Lion talisman in his bosom and smiled, "Judging from your tone..." "You're arrogant, you must have a powerful background. Tell me your name and how much skill you possess, then I'll have to assess whether it's worth taking action."

The Three-Unique Beggar Meng Zhongke laughed wildly, "Listen up, you poor wretch, don't be scared! My name is Meng Zhongke, nicknamed the Three-Unique Beggar. What else do you have to say?"

Yu Yun smiled calmly, "That nickname sounds astonishing. What are the Three Uniques?"

Meng Zhongke's eyelids bulged, "What? You haven't heard of them? Let me tell you, it's the Unique Heart, the Unique Hand, and a signature skill called the Unique Tiger Palm. Hence the name Three Uniques."

Yu Yun looked at him ... Knowing that the man's martial arts were extremely high, and that he had never fought against any member of the Beggars' Sect since he began his career, he smiled and said, "Tiger-Slaying Palm." He shook his head and said, "I've never heard of this palm technique before. Why don't you give it a try?"

The Three-Slaying Strange Beggar Hui angrily said, "You poor wretch, you're really courting death! What's there to try? Fine, I'm going to show you my ultimate skill. You still think I'm being stingy." He shouted, "Take this!" His right palm suddenly stretched out, the five fingers slightly hooked, like a tiger's paw; it grabbed at Yu Yun's left ribs, as fast as lightning and as swift as the wind, yet without a single sound of air being cut, it was incredibly fast.

Yu Yun secretly admired the extraordinary skill of the Strange Beggar Three Wonders. He lightly bent his left foot, and the Strange Beggar, halfway through his grasp, changed from a grab to a swift movement, flipping his arm and seizing Yu Yun's left wrist acupoint with lightning speed. The Strange Beggar Three Wonders easily captured Yu Yun's left wrist, and was taken aback, thinking to himself, "Could this poor scholar not know any martial arts at all? How can I attack a scholar who can't even kill a chicken?" Before he could finish his thought, he suddenly felt the fingers that had captured Yu Yun's left wrist rebound with an incredibly strong force. He felt a slight numbness and hurriedly withdrew his right palm. Yu Yun's right hand, with its fingers like a halberd, swiftly slashed at the Strange Beggar Three Wonders' withdrawn right palm. Fortunately, the Strange Beggar Three Wonders released his grip quickly, otherwise his right arm would have been severed instantly.

The Three-Talented Beggar exclaimed in surprise, his left hand suddenly slashing at Yu Yun while his right hand grabbed at him. Thus, neither of them moved an inch, exchanging seven or eight moves in quick succession. Yu Yun used the "Vajra Scattered Hand," a palm technique that, though seemingly ordinary, was incredibly profound and powerful. The Three-Talented Beggar was astonished, thinking, "My Tiger Palm, while not an unparalleled masterpiece, can only be countered by a handful of masters in the martial world. Others can only dodge, but even those who can dodge are few. I never imagined this poor wretch could use the ordinary Vajra Scattered Hand to directly counter and exchange blows. It's truly unexpected." Thinking this, he involuntarily took two steps back and shouted, "Who exactly are you?"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "So you admit defeat?" "No?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Zhongke, the Three Wonders Beggar, bristled with unruly hair, and cried out, "What joke are you talking about? How could an old man like me lose a move?" As he spoke, his palms moved like the wind, grabbing at the target. In the process, he changed his stance three times, each time aiming at a different part of the body. If it were someone with slightly weaker martial arts skills, they wouldn't be able to figure out where he was going to strike. Caught off guard, they would either be injured or killed. This move of the beggar was called "Tiger's Lackey Illusion," a combination of reality and illusion, and it was one of the nine extraordinary moves in his "Absolute Tiger Palm."

Yu Yun smiled slightly. Just as Meng Zhongke's palms were about to strike, Yu Yun flipped his own palms, subtly incorporating the power of "Little Heavenly Star" to meet the attack. With a loud thud, the Three Wonders Beggar staggered back three or four steps, while Yu Yun stood proudly. The beggar's face changed color in horror. At this moment, Yu Yun looked up at the sky. It was around the beginning of the fifth watch. In the dead of winter, dawn breaks late. If it were the height of summer, the sun would probably be high in the sky by now. But now, night had not yet fallen. He thought, "Dawn is not far off. I should stop this joke." So he took out the Purple Copper Dragon Token and said, "Chief Meng, you don't need to be angry about what just happened. Take a look at this, and you will know who I am."

The Three-Skilled Beggar was startled and opened his eyes. Although it was pitch black, he could see things within two or three zhang. He was very careful and there was nothing to hide. When the Three-Skilled Beggar saw this, his expression changed to respect. However, he did not bow down, but only lowered his head. The old man asked, "So you possess the supreme Purple Copper Dragon Token of our sect. According to our sect rules, anyone who holds this token represents an elder and can be ordered to act at will, with the power of life and death. How dare I disobey? If you are dissatisfied with what just happened, I will accept the punishment. However, there is something I don't understand. This Dragon Token has seven sides. Four sides are cast in purple copper and are held by the four elders of our sect. Once this token is issued, even the sect leader must obey orders. The other three sides are cast in Burmese iron and are held by the sect leader. All important matters are decided by the Burmese iron token. The purple copper token has not been used much in the past twenty years. The sect..." Although the rules state that the holder of this token represents an elder of the sect, elders have never lent their tokens to others. Five years ago, the Fourth Elder passed away, and one of his bronze tokens came into the possession of Elder Nine Fingers. A month ago, this old man encountered Elder Nine Fingers in southern Shaanxi. He said that he had given the bronze token to Hero Xie, and that Hero Xie was the Fourth Elder, instructing this old man to wait for him in Jin. Could it be that you are Elder Xie? But your appearance and age are different from what Elder Nine Fingers described. Please forgive this old man for being so presumptuous.”

Yu Yun smiled slightly, put away the bronze token, and removed his mask. Only then did the Three Absolutes Beggar Meng Zhongke see him clearly, and hurriedly knelt on one knee. He knelt down and said, "So it's the Fourth Elder. Meng Zhongke, the branch leader of the Jin Province branch, is here to plead guilty."

Yu Yun helped him up with both hands and smiled, "What crime has Branch Leader Meng committed? Actually, I need to ask for your help with something. I wonder if you would grant me permission?"

Meng Zhongke, the Three Absolute Beggars, bowed respectfully and replied, "Elder, you are too kind. I will obey your orders without hesitation, even if it means going through fire and water."

Yu Yun then mentioned his close friends' grandchildren, Fu Qing and Fu Wan, who had recently retrieved the "Tai'a Sword" from the Eight-Handed Heavenly Venerable. He explained that he wished to stay in Jin Province for a while, so he asked the Beggars' Sect to escort the two children safely back to Changping County. The Three-Talented Beggar said, "The Tai'a Sword must have been retrieved by the elders; no one else possesses such skill. I've also heard that the Tai'a Sword was obtained by Ao Hua. Everyone in the martial world desires such a divine weapon, and I myself have been tempted. However, I then realized that if I were to obtain the Tai'a Sword, it might bring endless disaster to the Beggar Clan, so I suppressed my greed. Escorting the two young Fu siblings is easy, but the Tai'a Sword must be hidden in a secluded place. Otherwise, if martial arts masters hear of it and try to seize it along the way, the consequences will be unpredictable." Yu Yun nodded in agreement.

At this moment, the sky had turned gray, and the first rays of dawn were appearing. He hurriedly said, "Hall Master Meng, please come with me." With that, Yu Yun turned and walked towards the inn, with the Three-Talented Beggar following behind.

Yu Yun and the Three-Talented Beggar returned to the inn and woke the Fu siblings. When Fu Wan saw Xie Yunyue, her delicate face involuntarily flushed, but her brows were brimming with spring-like joy, unable to conceal her inner delight. As for Qing'er, she playfully made a face at Xie Yunyue, causing Xie Yunyue's face to flush red. After Yu Yun had the two of them meet the Three Strange Beggars, he smiled at them and said, "Let's not delay, thank you for your trouble, Master Meng."

The Three Strange Beggars bowed and replied, "I obey your orders. Please, Miss Fu and Young Hero Fu, come with me. It would be best if Miss Fu's face was covered with a black veil, and her Tai'a sword was also wrapped up and placed in the saddle, so that everything would be safe."

Yu Yun nodded and said, "That's a good idea. You can handle it on the way."

Seeing that their parting was imminent, the two were naturally reluctant to part. Miss Wan's eyes reddened, and she looked sad and tearful, her eyes filled with endless sorrow. Yu Yun's heart also ached, but time was of the essence, so he forced a smile and said, "You don't need to be like this. I will go to your residence for a short stay after I finish my business, and I will probably head to Changping at the end of January. I also have a little something for you."

Miss Wan forced a smile, and Qing'er only said, "Brother Yan, don't..." "You're lying to us."

Yu Yun touched Qing'er's face and laughed, "When have I ever lied to you?" He glanced at the sky outside the window and said, "It's almost dawn, you should hurry and set off."

The Three Strange Beggars led the way, but just as they were about to climb out of the house, they suddenly stopped and bowed to Yu Yun, saying, "After I send eight of the gang's best men to escort them, I need to turn back once more. There's a small matter I need the elder to decide for me, is that alright?"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "If it's within my power, why not? You lead them there first and then come back."

Upon hearing this, the Three Strange Beggars turned and climbed out of the house. Miss Fu and Qing'er, their eyes red, said, "Goodbye," and also climbed out of the house. Seeing them disappear, Yu Yun couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, so he lay down on the bed and pretended to sleep.

About half an hour later, the eccentric beggar Meng Zhongke climbed back into the house. Yu Yun stood up and asked with a smile, "Master Meng, have they left?"

The eccentric beggar bowed and replied, "They have already left."

Yu Yun then asked, "Master Meng, do you know of any secluded places near Taiyuan where I can stay for a while?" He then beckoned Meng Zhongke to come closer and whispered something in his ear. After a moment of contemplation, the eccentric beggar Meng Zhongke replied, "There is a Jinci Temple in the suburbs where the elder can reside. Jinci Temple is a famous scenic spot, attracting a constant stream of visitors, but during the depths of winter, it is rare to find..." "Everyone is interested in visiting, so it's unusually quiet now. There's only one Taoist priest at Jinci, a close friend of mine for many years. The elder can act without any hindrance."

Yu Yun smiled and said, "There are quite a few places I'd like to trouble Master Meng to recommend to me." He added, "Master Meng, you just said you needed my help with something. Now that you have some free time, please let me know."

Meng Zhongke, the three-faced beggar, pondered for a moment and then said, "Let me lead the elder to Jinci and then inform him." Yu Yun nodded and said, "That's fine. Master Meng, please wait outside the shop. After I've calculated the bill, we'll go together."

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