Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 14

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Chapter Fourteen:

Merit Equal to Generals and Ministers, Divine Skill Heals Chronic Illness, Recognizing the Prickly Beauty, Comforting Longing. The snow had stopped, but the gale was still blowing fiercely. The ice and snow on the branches fell, "rustling," "rustling," like raindrops. Such a strong wind could not move the dense crimson clouds in the sky; the sky hung so low, gray and desolate. Yin Xuanwei, the only surviving member of the Miaoling Twin Demons, reappeared in the martial world after a hundred years, and her sudden appearance in the Dragon Soaring and Tiger Leaping Beijing City shocked the entire martial world.

On the glazed pagoda at the foot of Jade Spring Mountain, she used her qi to block the life-and-death battle between Hua Yu, the great demon of Gaoligong Mountain, and Master Fa Yi, the high monk of Shaolin. A moment later, she sensed someone attacking her from the top of the tower with ice shards. When she reached the top, the attacker had vanished without a trace. She glimpsed a lone figure searching in the vast snow-covered wilderness below, and without thinking, assumed it was the one who had attacked her. She then swiftly descended the mountain.

She hadn't realized that from the moment she sensed the attack to the moment she reached the top, only a fleeting instant had passed. No matter how agile the attacker, it was impossible to traverse the supposedly seven-mile-high Jade Spring Mountain in such a short time. This slight difference led to a vast misunderstanding. Had she calmly considered the situation at the time, it wouldn't have been difficult to discern the direction the ugly young man had fled.

The Black-Clad Mystic Maiden, Yin Xuanwei, had been injured by the Qilian Elder a hundred years ago, and her lineage had nearly died out. In the past century, this branch of the Miao people had been forgotten in the martial arts world. She used her superior martial arts skills to heal herself, which led to a qi deviation. Time passed quickly, and four years flew by. Her stiff body gradually recovered, and she was finally healed.

In these long, cold years, recalling her former glory and her current desolate state was a stark contrast. She resolved to restore the prestige of Miaoling, and not only that, she would create her own sect, standing out as the undisputed leader in the martial arts world. Therefore, she descended the mountain. Her departure from Yuquan Mountain, along with the Four Demons of Gaoligong Mountain and the Four Shaolin Monks, led them to their respective destinations, awaiting the grand gathering at Mount Tai on the third day of the third month. The

Four Shaolin Monks were certain they could not obtain the "Formless Vajra Palm Scripture" today. Rather than gamble everything, they decided to wait for the right opportunity. As the Zen saying goes, "When the time is right, things will come; when the time is not right, things will separate." Thus they thought.

A profound silence returned to the area beneath the Glazed Pagoda. But in the Jingming Garden beside the tower, on the upper floor of the "Fenghuang Qingting" pavilion, a strangely ugly young man was leaning against the railing, admiring the garden scenery while softly reciting poetry, completely absorbed in his own enjoyment. Jingming Garden was a villa filled with princes, and in this bitter cold and snow, not a single gardener was to be seen; they had probably all slipped away to Beijing to indulge in their revelry.

Around the "Fenghuang Qingting" pavilion, several emerald bamboos swayed in the wind, creating a symphony of sound; even on a hot summer day, being there would dispel all worldly worries. At this time, the scenery of Jingming Garden, though not as vibrant as the blooming flowers of late spring, the lotus blossoms of summer, or the moonlit nights and fragrant osmanthus of mid-autumn, possessed its own unique charm, a pure and ethereal beauty amidst the ice and snow.

Jingming Garden occupies almost half of the foothills of Yuquan Mountain. Starting from Qinglong Bridge, heading south, passing Jiehu Bridge, and going through the stone archway, one reaches the Small East Gate. Yinghu Tower is to the southwest, and the East Palace Gate is to its side. Entering south, one reaches the Small South Gate, which is "Cuiyun Jiayin," the best spring in the country. There is a building called "Fenghuang Qingting" in the middle. To the west of the building is the calligraphy and painting building. Continuing south from there, the mountain peak is called "Yufeng Taying," and to the east is "Renyu Palace." Continuing south, one reaches "Shengyuan," and beyond that is the "Dragon King Shrine." Climbing the steps south, one reaches "Zhulu Mountain House," and beyond that is Yuquan.

Between Zhulu Mountain House and Yuquan, the main hall stands majestically, inscribed with "Kuoran Dagong." Behind the palace lies a lake, its most beautiful spot in summer. The green waves ripple, painted boats and yachts glide by, the air filled with the sounds of monks singing, and the fragrance of lotus blossoms stretches for miles. Especially striking are the thousands of weeping willows and countless lotus flowers lining the lake, their red and green hues contrasting beautifully, their soft branches swaying gently – a scene almost otherworldly. To the west of the lake is the Xu Shou Hall, its inscription above the lake reading "Lotus in the Sunny Sunshine." Passing through the main hall, one arrives at the main gate of Jingming Garden. The scenery is most magnificent in the west of the garden, with verdant mountains, a perfect retreat for those seeking tranquility.

Meanwhile, the strangely ugly youth, though enjoying the breathtaking lake view from the "Wind and Bamboo Listening" pavilion, was lost in thought. After a while, he let out a long sigh. No one knew why he sighed. Suddenly, he raised his hand and removed his mask, revealing a face as handsome and striking as Zidu's. He tucked the mask into his robes and slowly descended the stairs.

Xie Yunyue revealed his true identity at this time because he knew that very few people in the martial arts world had actually seen his face. His elusive nature, combining truth and falsehood, made him unfathomable and thus more effective in his actions. As he walked outside the Xu Shou Hall, he caught sight of a man gazing out the window. This man wore a fine fox fur coat over a dark blue hood with floral patterns. His face was like the moon, and his long, thick black beard, streaked with gray, exuded an air of nobility and elegance.

However, his complexion was pale, his eyes were unfocused, and he frequently coughed heavily, phlegm-filled. Xie Yunyue, sensing the subtle signs, knew this man was seriously ill and couldn't help but look at him a few more times. The man also noticed Xie Yunyue. When Xie Yunyue approached the window where he stood, he smiled and greeted him, "Your refined taste is quite remarkable; I suppose you share my love of nature. Why don't you come inside for a chat?"

Xie Yunyue, already feeling troubled and lonely while wandering the upper floor of "Fenghuang Qingting," readily agreed to the man's invitation. They exchanged surnames; the older man's surname was Hu. Initially, they only discussed landscapes, but later they talked about everything under the sun, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, various schools of thought, and the Hundred Schools of Thought. Xie Yunyue found the old man surnamed Hu to be exceptionally eloquent and insightful, and couldn't help but feel admiration for him.

The old man surnamed Hu had the same thought. Seeing Xie Yunyue's outstanding bearing and overflowing talent, he smiled and said, "With such talent, Mr. Xie, why not serve the imperial family? Within ten years, you will surely be famous throughout the land. If you are interested, I, as a high-ranking official of the imperial family, can lend a hand."

Xie Yunyue smiled and replied, "I am of a simple nature and have no interest in fame or fortune. It seems I will have to decline your kind offer." The old man surnamed Hu smiled and said nothing more, changing the subject.

During their conversation, the elderly man surnamed Hu coughed incessantly, spitting out phlegm with traces of blood. Xie Yunyue couldn't help but ask, "Sir, you suffer from this ailment, why haven't you sought medical treatment? Judging from your cough, you seem to be struggling with your breathing; I fear you may have been misdiagnosed."

The old man exclaimed in surprise, "Phlegm and wheezing are not uncommon among the elderly. How could you, sir, detect a lack of breath? Are you perhaps an expert in this field?" He paused slightly, then sighed and said, "Since I contracted this illness, I have consulted numerous renowned doctors, but to no avail." "Hu, a man of great ambition, became disheartened and indulged in the pleasures of nature, leading a dissolute life."

Hearing the tone of the old man surnamed Hu, Xie Yunyue deduced that he was no ordinary person, not a prince or nobleman, but a retired high-ranking official. A thought struck him, and he smiled, "Why don't you invite Wei Pingluo, the 'Sai Hua Tuo' of Changping, to try?"
The old man surnamed Hu shook his head, saying, "I did invite him, and Wei Pingluo left me some medicine to clear phlegm and regulate qi. After taking it, I felt slightly better. When I invited him a second time, Wei Pingluo had already gone far beyond the Great Wall." His words were tinged with deep regret.

Xie Yunyue couldn't guess why Sai Hua Tuo wanted to invite Wei Pingluo. Medicine is a benevolent art, so why prescribe medicine that doesn't even cause pain? Knowing that he had gone far beyond the Great Wall for the sake of Fu Liuguan, Xie Yunyue carefully examined the old man surnamed Hu and then smiled, "I have some medical skills. If you are not presumptuous, I will try to treat you."

The old man surnamed Hu broadened his shoulders and his face lit up with joy. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your politeness, sir. It is said that a miraculous medicine can be bought for a thousand pieces of gold, but a good doctor is hard to find even after a hundred years. I never thought that our chance meeting today would be the opportunity for my revival. Mr. Xie, please treat me with confidence."

Xie Yunyue nodded, took the old man surnamed Hu's right wrist and felt his pulse. He was surprised and said, "Ah, I was wrong. I thought that you must be an official or a wealthy man. I didn't expect you to be a martial arts master..." He smiled slightly and continued, "In the past, you indulged in too much sensual pleasures, which depleted your vital energy and led to your death. Fortunately, you managed to gather a bit of true energy and not let it dissipate, otherwise..." He suddenly stopped.

The old man surnamed Hu chuckled and said, "Exactly, exactly! Mr. Xie, please continue. I will not hold you responsible."

Xie Yunyue was extremely intelligent. He immediately had a firm idea about his previous thoughts. Without revealing the origin of the idea, he took out a "Longevity Pill" from his pocket and ordered the old man to take it. Suddenly, he pressed his palm firmly on the old man's "Baihui" acupoint. The old man surnamed Hu felt a yang energy flowing down from the top of his head, pushing the medicinal power into the Thunder Palace and Nine Mansions, circulating throughout his body. His panting stopped immediately, and his limbs and bones felt extremely comfortable.

Half an hour later, Xie Yunyue stood up, walked to the table, dipped his brush in ink, and wrote a prescription. He handed it to the old man surnamed Hu, smiling, "Old man, please take the medicine as prescribed. For the next three months, you must abstain from women. You will live to a ripe old age. I have an appointment, so I apologize for not being able to accompany you. We will meet again sometime." He then clasped his hands in farewell.

The old man surnamed Hu laughed loudly, "Mr. Xie, please stay a moment. I have something else to say. I am quite knowledgeable in martial arts. I truly cannot believe that at such a young age, Mr. Xie's martial arts skills have reached such a high level. This is evident from his internal energy healing techniques, especially..." He pointed to the prescription, saying, "Mr. Xie's calligraphy is in the style of Chu Nanhe, with immense power, even surpassing Chu himself. This shows that your talent rivals that of the ancients. I, Hu, have seen many people in this world, but someone like you is truly unique." " Having recovered from my illness, I have no way to repay your kindness, so I offer this as a small gift, hoping you will accept it with a smile."

He then took out an exquisitely crafted silk embroidered pouch from his robes and said with a smile, "The contents of this pouch, though worldly treasures, are not of any interest to you, sir. However, they may be of some help to you in your future travels. I, Hu, admire your talent and would like to request an audience with you in my lifetime. My background is contained within this pouch; I hope you will not hesitate to ask." Having said this, he placed the pouch in Xie Yunyue's hand, turned, and walked out of the "Xu Shou Tang" towards the "Shu Hua Fang" (Painting and Calligraphy Boat).

Xie Yunyue, seeing the profound meaning in the old man's words, concealed the pouch in his tight-fitting bag. After a moment's thought, he put on his mask, and with a swift movement, flew away from the "Jing Ming Yuan" (Quiet Bright Garden) and returned to the Ji Xiang Inn. In his room, he took out the pouch and gently pulled out its contents. A dazzling light burst forth from the pouch, illuminating the previously dim room.

Xie Yunyue was taken aback. He looked closely and saw that the object in his hand was a jade pendant, engraved with a five-clawed dragon amidst clouds. A luminous pearl was embedded in the dragon's mouth, and below the dragon were the eight characters: "Imperial Pendant of Emperor Qianlong, as if the Emperor were present." Xie Yunyue was horrified. He quickly put the pendant back into his pouch and hid it tightly, thinking to himself, "I thought this person must be a prince, but it turns out to be the current Emperor. Why is he wandering alone in Jingming Garden without any entourage?"

He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, thinking, "No wonder Sai Hualun and Wei Pingluo were so cautious about administering drugs. If I had known earlier, I would have let it go. The previous Emperor Yongzheng came from Shaolin and possessed unparalleled skill. Today, few Shaolin disciples can surpass him. Emperor Qianlong received his teachings from Yongzheng, so his martial arts are naturally excellent. There are many good..." "Medicine, given his high status, he fears being harmed and naturally avoids using it."

Just then, a commotion arose outside the inn, and he could faintly hear people talking at once: "A pretty young girl like this, with such great skills, we've been in the escort business for so many years, it's like we've wasted our time. Today we've truly seen something amazing."

Xie Yunyue immediately knew that Hu Ruolan, the beloved daughter of "Master Yiyuan," Hu Gang, had made her move. With her mischievous and shrewish nature, how could she not cause trouble? Thinking this, he put on his mask, left the room, and headed towards the entrance of the Jixiang Inn. The streets of Damochang were crowded with people, forming a dense crowd. Xie Yunyue squeezed into the crowd and saw Miss Hu Ruolan, her figure swift as lightning, chasing two burly men around in circles. Every gesture and movement was extremely unpredictable.

Master Yiyuan, Hu Gang, stood far to the side, stroking his beard and smiling. These two men were also quite skilled, but they paled in comparison to Miss Hu. Upon seeing Xie Yunyue appear, Hu Gang of Yiyuanju greeted him. Xie Yunyue approached and asked with a smile, "Senior Hu, what has caused your daughter to quarrel with someone?"

Hu Gang smiled and said, "It's all because of Lin Meng, the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider. These two have Lin Meng's invitation card, saying they are here on orders to invite my daughter and me to a banquet at Donglaishun Restaurant to apologize. My daughter is indignant, blaming Lin Meng for not coming in person. She's quite arrogant, insisting that Lin Meng come in person with the invitation, otherwise she'll definitely take his head. These two are quite stubborn, so they fought. I only have one daughter, and I've spoiled her rotten. Please don't laugh at me, brother." Xie Yunyue smiled modestly and surveyed the situation.

The two burly men were using the Yang Family Fist of Shandong, a powerful external style. Their coordination was seamless, with the sound of their punches whistling through the air. Despite this, the veins on their foreheads were bulging, and they were sweating profusely, clearly showing signs of exhaustion. In contrast, Miss Hu Ruolan giggled from time to time, her expression extremely charming. Her attacks were incredibly fast, always targeting unexpected spots on the two men. Her techniques resembled the "Tai Chi Illusion" style of boxing, dynamic yet still, fast yet slow. The two men could only see her hands swirling around them like falling snowflakes.

The young woman, intending to toy with him, easily dealt with the two men. One of them, realizing her intentions, tried to escape, but the woman's palm strike trapped him. Every step she took beyond the circle was forced back by her subtle, yin-like energy. These two men, renowned warriors in the martial world, were now being humiliated by a woman in the midst of a crowd. How could they bear such a loss of face? Enraged, they attacked while shouting at Hu Gang, "Master Yiyuan, you're supposed to be a famous figure in the martial world! Disregarding the code of the martial world, you allowed your daughter to attack! Killing is just a matter of a head falling to the ground. We two may die with honor, but how will you face the martial world after this?" Hu Gang, "Master Yiyuan," remained unperturbed, a smile on his face. But Hu Ruolan, upon hearing this, raised her eyebrows, her face contorted with rage, and cursed,

"You murderous bastard!" She leaped two or three zhang high into the air.
The two burly men, suddenly losing sight of the girl, ducked low and spotted two serpentine streaks of blue light slashing towards their shoulders. The dazzling, cold light was blinding. The two men, skilled in martial arts, instinctively twisted and shifted their stance to dodge. However, the two serpentine flashes of light relentlessly pursued them, aiming for their "Tian Tu" acupoints.

These "Tian Tu" acupoints are vital points on the throat; even a slight injury could be fatal. The two men were terrified. The sword light flashed like lightning, just reaching their throats. Suddenly, the sword light lifted upwards. The two men felt a chill on their right ears, and the dazzling blue light abruptly shrank. They saw Hu Ruolan standing two zhang away, holding two strangely shaped, curved swords less than a foot and a half long, smiling gently.

Xie Yunyue saw that the girl's sword still occasionally emitted a sliver of light. This strange and unusual sword was not only unseen but also unheard of. All famous swords in the world have their origins and descriptions; this one was practically outside the realm of sword manuals. The two burly men touched their hands and discovered that their right ears had been severed, blood dripping from their fingers. Their expressions changed drastically, their thick eyebrows furrowing.

Suddenly, a clear whistle rang out from outside the arena, its sound shaking the heavens, clear and resonant, clearly emanating from a master of internal martial arts. Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, was deeply moved. As soon as the whistle faded, five or six figures appeared, leaping over the heads of the crowd and landing like lightning. The newcomers were none other than the Two Heroes of the Palace Gate, the Twin Eccentrics of Qin, Lin Meng, the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider, and a fat, slender lama in a yellow robe with gold rings piercing his ears.

The onlookers, upon seeing the Two Heroes of the Palace Gate appear, all gasped in surprise and scattered two zhang away. The Two Heroes of the Palace Gate wore arrogant expressions. Seeing his subordinate's right ear missing and blood streaming down half his face, and noticing Miss Hu Ruolan wielding two strangely shaped swords, her face ashen, the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider knew his subordinate had been humiliated by the young lady. He thought to himself, "A good man doesn't fight with a woman. I'm speaking out of respect for Hu Gang." His thick eyebrows furrowed, and he angrily said, "Master Hu, your actions are going too far!"

Master Hu Gang laughed heartily, "This is still showing mercy."

Hu Ruolan, still seething with anger because of the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider Lin Meng's lewd behavior at the restaurant the previous day, wanted nothing more than to kill Lin Meng. With her fearless nature, she disregarded the Qin Duo and the Gongmen Erjie. Seeing Lin Meng nagging her father, her anger surged. With a sharp cry, she stomped her lotus foot, unleashing a dazzling azure light that slashed towards the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider's face.

Lin Meng, the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider, suddenly became alert, startled. He leaned back, using a "Carp Reverse Piercing Through" technique, leaping more than ten feet forward. Two sword beams grazed his face, a close call indeed. Lin Meng narrowly avoided the double sword strikes. As soon as he regained his footing, he was about to unleash a curse when the two serpentine sword lights, like leeches clinging to bones, attacked his left and right "Youmen" acupoints. He felt two extremely cold and icy forces pressing down on him from the sword light. Terrified, he closed his eyes, awaiting death.

It should be known that in a battle between masters, even a difference of a millet grain can be fatal, let alone Lin Meng, who had been repeatedly ambushed and had no way to use his skills, leaving him utterly powerless to retaliate. Just as things were getting tense in the forest, the eldest of the two strange men from Qinzhong, Tong Xiang, noticed the girl's strange sword technique and was overjoyed. He let out a low whistle and, without anyone noticing, leaped forward like a lightning bolt, his right wrist outstretched, reaching for the two swords.

Just as the girl was about to succeed, the monstrous boy suddenly attacked. She changed her stance, thrusting her twin swords directly at the boy's "Qi Hai" acupoint. The boy slammed his right wrist down and deflected, producing two clanging sounds. The girl's swords were almost knocked from her grasp, and she was forced to retreat swiftly, her face pale with fright. The boy followed her like a shadow, drawing his longsword with a clanging sound. Before the sound subsided, a crescent-shaped arc of sword light struck the girl's brow. The speed of his attack and the unpredictability of his "Flying Phoenix Sword Technique" were remarkable; no wonder the Qin brothers boasted of being the best in the world.

Hu Ruolan, encountering her nemesis for the first time, tilted her head, her twin swords also unfurling. She unleashed her father's "One Yuan Sword Technique," her wrists flicking to form a circular shield. The sword light hissed with a chilling force; the technique was indeed unpredictable and fierce. However, the eccentric boy was considered one of the most skilled martial artists in the world. His "Flying Phoenix Sword Technique" was incredibly powerful, with a flick of the wrist and a slanted swing, far beyond what the young lady could hope to match. The eccentric boy sneered, "Even a grain of rice can shine." With that, he lowered his wrist and unleashed three sword strikes from below: "The Phoenix Arrives," "The Phoenix Cries in the Sky," and "The Moonlit Wind Soars." These were the three ultimate moves of the "Flying Phoenix Sword Technique." The sky was filled with sword light, like countless golden stars. The most powerful aspect was that the Flying Phoenix Sword Technique was infused with a fierce aura.

Indeed, the Flying Phoenix Sword Technique was extraordinary. How much of a threat could Hu Ruolan possibly have? Forced to retreat repeatedly by the eccentric boy's sword aura, her blood and qi surged wildly. Her grip faltered, and the eccentric boy's sword aura broke through her protective sword qi, thrusting directly at her left shoulder. It seemed that the young lady's entire left shoulder was about to be severed. Two angry shouts rang out almost simultaneously. Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, and Xie Yunyue, the Eccentric Scholar, arrived like lightning, one to the left and one to the right. Xie Yunyue arrived first, his five fingers flashing out. The Eccentric Child Xiang only saw a blur before his eyes, suddenly feeling an incredibly powerful force gripping the sword and causing it to tremble. The Child Xiang was actually pulled back three or four steps by this force. Although he hadn't drawn his sword, he was greatly shocked.

The Eccentric Child Xiang looked closely and saw that standing before him was none other than the ugly youth who had been drinking alone at Qingfeng Tower yesterday. His five fingers were still gripping the sword. The ugly youth sneered, "You claim your 'Flying Phoenix Sword Technique' is the best in the world, but it seems you're nothing special. If you want to make a name for yourself, why not wait for the Mount Tai Gathering? For someone as arrogant as you to lay a hand on a weak woman is utterly shameless." The

grotesque boy, his face contorted with anger and displeasure, could only chuckle coldly. He suddenly exerted force, attempting to snatch the longsword from the ugly boy's fingers. Xie Yunyue laughed heartily, releasing his grip. Caught off guard, the grotesque boy stumbled backward three steps, nearly falling into the murky snow. The two heroes of the palace gate stared at each other, the yellow-robed lama glaring with a gaping maw.

"Master Yiyuan" arrived just a step later, pulling his beloved daughter Hu Ruolan into the fray. Hu Gang was astonished by the ugly boy's incredible speed and profound techniques, a sentiment shared by Hu Ruolan. The two strange eagles, Bashan Diao and Xie Yunyue, swept across the arena like lightning, intending to shout, "Your skills are indeed remarkable, but I'm a little unconvinced by your sneak attack."

Xie Yunyue laughed heartily, "This is merely using their own methods against them. If you're not convinced, wait for me on Mount Tai's Zhangren Peak."

The two strange eagles, Bashan Diao and Xie Yunyue, sneered, "Since that's the case, I'll certainly be waiting for you on Mount Tai." With that, they clasped their fists, called out to the eldest strange boy, and flew over the crowd to leave.

The two heroes of the palace, Iron Arm Golden Sword He Zhongfu and Yin Wind Killing Palm Zhan Wanxiong, had been watching the ugly youth from the sidelines. Now that the two strange eagles had left, they snorted coldly and appeared in front of Xie Yunyue. Zhan Wanxiong , wielding the Yin Wind Fiend Palm, coldly said, "Your Excellency has shown your face enough today..."
"Shut up!" Xie Yunyue shouted coldly and fiercely, "Zhan Fangxiong, He Zhongfu, Prince Jia has repeatedly disobeyed orders, forbidding you from using your official position to interfere in private grudges within the martial arts world. Yet you have repeatedly led your men to stir up trouble, deserving of death by a thousand cuts. I am here on the Prince's orders to monitor you, so get out of here now!" His face was terrifyingly gloomy, and his eyes flashed with lightning.

The two heroes of the palace gate couldn't help but shiver. Suddenly, they heard the yellow-robed lama laughing wildly, "This brat dares to cheat, he's really tired of living. The Buddha comes and goes in the palace and the Prince's mansion, and doesn't recognize you at all."

Xie Yunyue sneered, "It's not difficult for him to recognize me." As soon as he spoke, his ten fingers flashed like lightning, grabbing at the "wrist pulse points" on the yellow-robed lama's hands.

The yellow-robed lama was the chief abbot of the Yonghe Temple, named Huchaktu Living Buddha. He was skilled in the "Western Heaven Buddha Hand Seal" palm technique, and his martial arts were comparable to the two heroes of the palace. He was deeply trusted by the emperor, but he was also arrogant, conceited, and lecherous. His lustful eyes had never left the young lady Hu Ruolan. At this moment, seeing the ugly boy's ten fingers suddenly grabbing at his wrist like the wind, he was slightly startled. He flipped his palms, confident in his "Great Vajra Indestructible Body Technique," which made him impervious to metal and iron. He quickly unleashed the "Western Heaven Buddha Hand Seal" palm technique, intending to kill his opponent with a single blow.

He gathered his strength and prepared to strike, but he was a step too late. He felt a sharp, bone-chilling force emanating from his opponent's ten fingers, and even before the attack landed, he felt a slight numbness. It was too late to retreat, as his palms were already flipping, giving his opponent a handle to exploit. He was caught off guard and let out a bloodcurdling scream. Huchaktu Living Buddha's mouth was agape, his eyes wide, and he was sweating profusely.

Xie Yunyue chuckled coldly and said, "Which palace's bald monk are you from? Speak quickly."

Huchaktu was in excruciating pain, feeling as if a thousand venomous snakes were writhing inside him, an unbearable ache and numbness. He wished for death but could not. If he were to die now, he would probably rather seek immediate release. But he was helpless, restrained, and had no strength left. His usual arrogant demeanor vanished instantly, and he said in a trembling voice, "This humble monk is Huchaktu, the abbot of Yonghe Temple."

Xie Yunyue said with an "Oh," and "So it's you. Considering His Majesty's high regard for you, I'll spare your life for now. Get lost." With a flick of his fingers, Huchaktu's bloated body flew backward three or four zhang away, landing with a thud in a snowdrift up to his waist. Huchaktu scrambled to his feet, covered his head, and scurried away.

Xie Yunyue unleashed a flurry of ten fingers, employing the unparalleled and timeless "Eighteen Releases of Xuanyuan" technique. This technique was considered unmatched and a pinnacle of martial arts skill. Although Xie Yunyue had rarely used it during his years of wandering the martial world, he had recently come to realize that the "Eighteen Releases of Xuanyuan" was indeed an extremely profound and unparalleled art. It surpassed all other martial arts techniques, even his own "Maitreya Divine Skill" fourteen forms and "Bodhi Palm Palm." While any other martial art, when used repeatedly, could be countered by someone, the "Eighteen Releases of Xuanyuan" was mysterious and unpredictable, with no one knowing its origin, let alone how to counter it.

Upon hearing this, the two heroes of the palace gate were horrified. Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider's face turned ashen. Even Hu Gang, the "One Yuan Hermit," was surprised by Xie Yunyue's lightning-fast attack. Even a martial arts master like himself couldn't quite grasp it, finding his technique strange and difficult to understand. He sighed softly and looked at his beloved daughter

, Hu Ruolan, saying, "This man's martial arts are unbelievable. It seems that within ten years, few in the martial arts world will be able to surpass him." Hu Ruolan's starry eyes flashed with astonishment, and she smiled sweetly, "What? Father, you never usually admire anyone, yet today you praise this man so highly."

Hu Gang smiled slightly, "Silly girl, how could I praise someone so highly? Just keep a close eye on him in the future, and you'll discover that this boy truly possesses unparalleled strengths." Hu Ruolan smiled knowingly.

At this moment, Xie Yunyue smiled at the two heroes of the palace and said, "Gentlemen, is there anything else you wish to ask?"

The two heroes of the palace stood there, caught in a dilemma. Hearing this, He Zhongfu, the Iron-Armed Golden Sword, forced himself to remain calm and replied, "Your martial arts are indeed astonishing, but several of your attacks were surprise attacks, making it hard for one to accept defeat." Earlier, when the two heroes heard that Xie Yunyue was under royal orders to monitor them, they couldn't help but doubt his claims. Now, setting aside that, they were convinced that Xie Yunyue's attacks were always unexpected, seizing the initiative to win. Their dissatisfaction truly came from the bottom of their hearts.

Xie Yunyue smiled slightly and said, "If you gentlemen wish to spar with me to verify your skills, that's easy. However, you must first resign from your positions as imperial guards. Now, there's no need for a fight; just produce the royal order, and we can execute you on the spot." After saying this, his gaze became so imposing that it was impossible to look directly at him.

The two heroes of the palace gate turned ashen-faced. He Zhongfu, the Iron-Armed Golden Sword, bowed deeply and said, "Since you say so, we can only wait for another day." After saying this, he and Zhan Wanxiong, the Yin Wind Fiend Palm, turned and walked away slowly.

Lin Meng, the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider, suddenly turned to escape, but as soon as he took a step, he saw a whooshing sound in front of him. The ugly young man had already landed in front of him. With a flick of his right hand, his left "Jingjian" acupoint was grabbed, as if five steel claws were piercing into his bone marrow. He couldn't help but cry out in pain.

Xie Yunyue sneered, "Leaving aside yesterday's events, just consider what happened just now. A hundred deaths cannot atone for your sins. You lied and offered your apologies, tricking Elder Hu and his daughter into a banquet to carry out your wicked scheme. Then, relying on powerful allies, you actually came to our door. Now what do you have to say?" Lin Meng, the Fiery-Eyed Golden Spider, was a newly appointed leader of three points in the four northern provinces. Although he was in excruciating pain, he couldn't lower himself as a leader and forced himself to remain silent.

Xie Yunyue sneered again, "Let's see how long you can hold out!" Lin Meng suddenly felt a tightness in his shoulder blades, his internal energy dissipated, and he looked like he was about to collapse. His face turned from pale to ashen, and he swayed, about to fall to the ground.

Seeing this, Hu Gang, the hermit of Yiyuan, couldn't bear it and rushed forward, laughing, "Brother, spare him! Consider it his first offense. If he does it again,

even I, an old man, won't forgive him." Xie Yunyue released his hand, not caring whether he lived or died, and turned around. Hu Gang, the hermit of Yiyuan, strongly invited him to go to the Sanyuan Inn for a chat, which he readily agreed to. He then entered the Sanyuan Inn with Hu Gang and his daughter. Lin Meng, the fiery-eyed golden spider, was helped out by his henchmen, a burly man who had lost both ears. The onlookers dispersed in a panic. The news spread throughout the nine cities in an instant. As the saying goes, "preventing gossip is like preventing a river from overflowing," and this was absolutely true.

The snow had stopped, and the north wind gradually weakened. The sky was still covered with dark clouds, a hazy gray. The temperature was actually lower than when it was snowing, the air was bitterly cold, breath formed clouds, and water froze instantly. The pedestrians on the street were still noisy, and everyone couldn't help but glance into the Sanyuan Inn. Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, and two others entered the inner room and sat down on the heated platform. The platform was warm and cozy, like springtime. They ordered the waiter to bring some wine and dishes, and began to drink and talk.

Xie Yunyue noticed that the old man Yan Hui from the Hengshan Sect was nowhere to be seen and couldn't help but ask. Hu Gang stroked his beard and smiled, "My old friend Yan Hui rushed back to Hunan last night. I heard that although Hengshan isn't among the nine major sects for this Mount Tai Assembly, it's only right that the Hengshan Sect contributes to upholding justice in the martial arts world. He wants to use this month or so to supervise his disciples to master the Hengshan Two Elements Swordplay, so that they won't be looked down upon at the Mount Tai Assembly."

He paused, his gaze fixed intently on Xie Yunyue, and said seriously, "Brother, even though I claim to be very knowledgeable, I still can't discern your lineage. I only feel that your intelligence and talent are extraordinary, and I have boundless admiration for you. " "I know that you must have some unspeakable secret to hide your true identity, but I am confident that I can keep my mouth shut and will not reveal it. May I ask if you may tell me?"

Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, was once famous in the martial arts world. After visiting Kunlun three times, his reputation spread even further. His martial arts skills were said to be all-encompassing and his personality was extremely strong. Few people could gain his praise and favor. Jiang Taixu, the Hermit of Dragon Slaying, was his close friend and brother. However, when it came to doing things, they still went their own way and did not ask each other about each other. Therefore, he had very few friends in the martial arts world. However, he was very discerning and had seen amazing martial arts from all kinds of schools. Unexpectedly, after returning to the martial arts world twenty years later, he was amazed by Xie Yunyue's strange and unpredictable techniques, which he had never seen before. He was greatly impressed and could not help but ask questions.
Upon hearing the question posed by Hu Gang, the Hermit of Yiyuan, Xie Yunyue felt a pang of unease. After a moment's hesitation

, he replied with conviction, "This junior dares not deceive. Most of my skills were passed down from my late father, and the remainder came from a high-ranking monk. However, due to the burden of family feuds, I must conceal my true identity." Hu Gang was deeply moved. He had never expected Xie Yunyue's extraordinary martial arts skills to be inherited from his father. He wondered who this high-ranking monk was. He knew that no martial arts school in the world surpassed the Shaolin Temple in depth and breadth. However, Shaolin's techniques were numerous and complex, making it difficult to master them all in a lifetime. Therefore, it was extremely rare to find an outstanding individual within the Shaolin school. Other schools, specializing in a single skill, naturally possessed unique and outstanding strengths. However, the origins of martial arts were all from the same source, and in essence, there was not much difference. The only difference lay in the refinement of individual skill. Nevertheless, Xie Yunyue's techniques truly transcended the realm of martial arts, which greatly astonished him.

Knowing that Xie Yunyue's "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan" was an ancient and unique skill, not only was the Yiyuan Hermit Hu Gang unaware of its origins, but even the founding masters of martial arts schools thousands of years ago were baffled by it.

Yiyuan Hermit Hu Gang asked, "Then, brother, what is your esteemed surname?"

Xie Yunyue smiled and replied, "I dare not presume, my surname is Xie."

Yiyuan Hermit Hu Gang gave an "oh," still unable to guess his lineage. This was because Hu Gang had lived in seclusion for twenty years, completely oblivious to outside affairs. He knew nothing of the murder of Xie Wen

, the Soul Chaser, and besides, he didn't know him. The reason was that he and Xie Wen shared similar personalities; both were aloof and hated evil, and both were unpredictable and elusive, hence their ignorance. Sitting beside him, Hu Ruolan's eyes never left Xie Yunyue's face. At this moment, she pouted and said reproachfully, "Father, why does he wear this ridiculous mask indoors? Is he afraid we'll see him?"

Yiyuan Hermit Hu Gang smiled slightly, then fixed his gaze on Xie Yunyue as if making a request. Xie Yunyue knew he couldn't refuse, so he removed his mask. Hu Ruolan's starry eyes lit up, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. Her heart pounded wildly, and she thought to herself, "What a handsome man." She

couldn't help but gaze at Xie Yunyue with affectionate eyes. Xie Yunyue's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly put his mask back on. He knew that the seeds of love could not be sown again; the resulting love was irreparable, and the sea of hatred insatiable. Nothing could be more self-destructive and harmful to others than this. Ever since Xie Yunyue rescued Wanlan in the snow and heard her mournful cries, this feeling had taken root in his heart.

Seeing this, Hu Gang, the hermit of Yiyuan, sighed inwardly. He was meticulous and perceptive, and knew that love between men and women often blossomed at first sight. Seeing the expression on his beloved's face, he knew that she was deeply in love with this young man. However, Xie Yunyue did not seem to love his daughter. It is known that when men and women are in love, the man usually takes the initiative, but the opposite was true. However, his daughter was naturally beautiful, as beautiful as Xi Shi. Even a heartless man would be moved. Xie Yunyue was not necessarily a fool. Thinking of this, he had already guessed that Xie Yunyue must have someone in his heart, otherwise, he would not be acting this way.

Xie Yunyue, not wanting Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, to raise an awkward question at this moment, had a sudden thought and smiled, saying, "The two heroes of the palace must be resentful for retreating now. In my opinion, they will come back again."

Hu Gang asked in surprise, "Brother Xie, how do you know?"

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "Given their personalities, the two heroes of the palace would not have let things go so easily just now. They were just burning with worry, their children had all been taken away, how could they not be anxious to find them?" Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, asked in surprise how he knew, and Xie Yunyue then recounted the scene on the top of Yuquan Mountain in detail, only concealing from Hu Gang the events of teasing the Black-Clad Mystic Woman Yin Xuanwei and encountering Emperor Qianlong in the garden.

Upon hearing that the Black-Clad Mystic Woman had reappeared in Miaoling, Hu Gang was deeply moved. He suddenly stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Brother, do you know my origins?"

Xie Yunyue shook his head, indicating he didn't know. The Hermit of One Yuan continued, "Under the vast sky, I fear there is hardly a single person who knows my background. Even my lifelong friend, the Dragon-Slaying Hermit Jiang Taixu, might not know." He chuckled again, saying, "I am a disciple of the reclusive master of Qilian, who was known as a hermit of the martial world a hundred years ago. My master never showed his face in the martial world; only his defeat of the two Miao demons made him famous throughout the land. It's a pity I was born too late to witness this magnificent battle, a truly regrettable event." "My master often talked about that time. He once made a grand vow to eliminate the two demons of Miaoling. However, seeing that the two demons possessed extraordinary martial arts skills, he couldn't help but feel pity for their talent and hesitated, allowing them to escape. He didn't expect to leave behind a troublemaker."

Miss Hu Ruolan smiled sweetly, brushing her hair behind her ear, and said, "Father, why haven't I heard you mention this before?"

Master Hu Gang chuckled and said, "Even if I told you, you wouldn't know. What would a girl need to know these things?"

Hu Ruolan pouted and said, "Brother Xie, look how old-fashioned Father is." Xie Yunyue smiled. Hu Gang was in high spirits today, recounting his experiences in the martial arts world back then, which Hu Ruolan listened to with great interest.

While Hu Gang was speaking, Xie Yunyue secretly pondered, still unable to figure out who had abducted the children of the two heroes of the palace. However, his sworn brother, Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian, was incredibly resourceful, so it was possible. But how could he have succeeded alone? Unless he had extraordinary abilities, if he did it, it would be a miracle. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Hu Gang shouted, "Who is it?! Come in."

The wooden door swung open, and a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old with a dark complexion peeked in. He stammered, "Is there a great hero named Xie inside?" His expression was very mysterious.

Xie Yunyue was suspicious and smiled, "That's me. What business do you have with me, little friend?"

Seeing the Yiyuan Hermit and his daughter beside him, the boy pursed his lips and said, "Great hero Xie, may I have a moment to explain myself?"

Xie Yunyue and the boy stepped outside and turned to the corner of the courtyard. The boy whispered, "Master Xie, do you have the Beggars' Sect's token? May I take a look?" Seeing that he wanted to see the token, Xie Yunyue knew he was either sent by Cang Xi or acting on Lei Xiaotian's orders. He took out the bronze token and showed it to him.

The boy's expression hardened. He immediately took out a letter from his robes, handed it to Xie Yunyue, bowed, and said, "I must hurry to Qilu. I'll pay

my respects another time." With that, he moved his shoulders and soared over the wall like a crane leaping into the sky, his agility demonstrating mastery of superior lightness skills. Xie Yunyue secretly admired him. He looked at the envelope and recognized it as being written by Lei Xiaotian, the Qiankun Hand. He quickly opened the envelope, took out the letter, and examined it closely. After reading it, he frowned. It turns out that Lei Xiaotian left Yanjing yesterday at noon, heading straight for Jinan. He said that Fu Qing had been accepted as a lay disciple of Shaolin by Master Fayi, and that he also knew that Fu Liuguan and Miss Wan had been rescued, suspecting it was his third brother's doing. The wicked advisor Shen Shangjiu realized he had been fooled and could only keep quiet. Now, scouts were out in Yanjing, determined to find his third brother's whereabouts, so he urged him to be careful.

He also said that because of the Beggars' Sect's conflict, he had broken off relations with Cang Huazi, and in a fit of anger, he broke into the home of the two heroes of the Gongmen Sect at night, taking their son hostage. He originally intended to force the release of the Fu family grandfather and grandson, but now that he had been instructed by his third brother, keeping the hostage was useless. He had already ordered them to be released today. Lei Xiaotian originally wanted to stay in Yanjing to meet Xie Yunyue, but because the two heroes of the Gongmen Sect knew that he was close friends with the Strange Hand Scholar Yu Yun, they would definitely want to find out the Strange Hand Scholar's whereabouts from him, so he had no choice but to leave Yanjing and head straight for Shandong.

His trip to Shandong wasn't solely for this reason. He had received news that Xie Yunyue's father-in-law, Zhao Kangjiu, the "Sword of Zhongzhou," and Zhou Weicheng, the "Hero of Lianghuai," were unwilling to accompany Zhao Lianzhu and Zhou Yue'e to Wu Fengbiao's place at the Northern Pasture. They intended to wait until the flowers bloomed before going, so they stayed at a friend's house at the Yuancheng Escort Agency in Jinan. Unexpectedly, they became involved in a robbery. Now, Wen Lei, the leader of the Red Flag Gang, and his followers, along with the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World, were also in Jinan, intending to avenge the humiliation at the Zhou family. Their arrows were all pointed at Zhou Weicheng, the "Hero of Lianghuai." Both sides were making arrangements, and a major battle at the top of Thousand Buddha Mountain was imminent. Therefore, he rushed to Jinan to lend a helping hand. The Beggar Clan traitor, Hunyuan Zhi Kuai Jun, was also in Jinan. Cang Huazi and the three elders of the Beggar Clan were tracking him down, hoping that Xie Yunyue would come to Shandong immediately after resolving his affairs in Yanjing.

After reading it, Xie Yunyue folded it neatly and put it in his pocket, thinking, "Since I have nothing to do in Yanjing now, I should leave today." He entered the room and saw the Yiyuan Jushi and his daughter smiling at him.
Xie Yunyue saw Hu Ruolan's beautiful eyes, like two beams of cold lightning, piercing through his very soul, and his face flushed. Fortunately, he had a mask to hide it, otherwise he would have been extremely embarrassed. Afraid of being entangled by romantic feelings, he was even more eager to leave. He smiled and said, "A friend invited me earlier, but I have matters to attend to, so I have come to take my leave. We'll meet again at the Mount Tai gathering."

The Yiyuan Jushi was taken aback, but his expression immediately softened, and he smiled and said, "Brother, if you have matters to attend to, please go ahead. We'll meet again sometime. Goodbye." Hu Ruolan, hearing that he was leaving, was about to ask where he was going. Since the father and daughter had nothing else to do, why not travel together? But seeing her father say goodbye, she swallowed the words that were about to slip out and stared blankly at Hu Gang.

Xie Yunyue was in a wonderful mood, the sooner the better. He turned back to Hu Ruolan, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Miss, we'll meet again at Mount Tai." With that, he turned and stepped out the door.

Hu Ruolan's starry eyes reddened, and she was about to complain to her father when Yiyuan Jushi said in a low voice, "Silly girl, if he wants to leave, can we stop him? If he doesn't want to accompany us, can we stop him from going with us? Quickly pack your things, I need to find out which way he went." With that, he darted out the door and walked into the street.

The girl immediately smiled, no longer thinking, and hurriedly packed her bags. Fortunately, martial artists carried few things; she only needed two bundles to carry before quickly leaving. After Xie Yunyue was called away by the boy, the father and daughter talked. Yiyuan Jushi Hu Gang noticed his daughter's feelings; she was deeply in love with Xie Yunyue. He himself had the same feelings, so he probed his daughter's tone, asking if she had fallen in love with Xie Yunyue. Hu Ruolan, being a young girl, was somewhat shy about this matter, but having grown up in the mountains, she was as forthright as a man, and nodded in agreement.

The father and daughter were discussing how to proceed when Yiyuan Jushi's idea was good: have the girl accompany Xie Yunyue. As time went on, feelings would inevitably develop, and things would naturally fall into place. Unexpectedly, Xie Yunyue had already returned, stating he wanted to leave. Yiyuan Jushi was taken aback; that was the reason. But being experienced, he devised this plan of following them.

Meanwhile, Xie Yunyue, unaware that Hu Gang and his daughter would follow him, left the inn, crossed the main street, went to a mule and horse shop, bought a fine steed, mounted it, cracked his whip, and galloped eastward, splashing snow and water. This entire scene was observed by Yiyuan Jushi and Hu Gang. As soon as Xie Yunyue mounted, they also crossed the street, hurriedly bought two strong horses, and followed him.

As soon as Xie Yunyue left Yanjing City, he reined in his horse and galloped towards Wuqing via Majuqiao. The air was colder than when it had snowed; a biting chill permeated the air, and a howling wind swept across the land. The world was white, and the horse slipped frequently on the icy road, its breath forming clouds. On horseback, Xie Yunyue's mind wandered. His thoughts lingered on his unresolved father's death. He knew he had many enemies, both righteous and evil, but he couldn't pinpoint the mastermind, nor who they were, or what methods he should use to avenge his father.

His current personality was a mixture of kindness and ruthlessness; the line between good and evil was thin, and this conflict created extreme inner turmoil, leaving him uncertain about his next move. His enemies were of both good and evil; he was torn between killing the wicked and the righteous. He felt he should eliminate the evil enemies, but what about the righteous ones? Immediately, his mood turned heavy. He didn't know the difference between good and evil, or how to distinguish between them; a tangled mess of thoughts weighed heavily on his mind. If he had been calm, he might have noticed that two people on horseback were following him closely, about two miles behind him.

The whip cracked, the horses galloped, and an hour later, Xie Yunyue was already twenty miles outside the border of Wuqing County. His turbulent emotions subsided, but only for a moment before returning to their tranquility. Images flashed through his mind: first, the bright-eyed Zhao Lianzhu; then, the gentle and amiable Zhou Yue'e; next, the beautiful and charming Fu Wan'er; then, the pitiful Jiang Yaohong; and then, the tender and alluring Gu Yanwen, whose charm was unforgettable. A smile crept onto his face, but when he thought of the mischievous and shrewish Ni Wanlan, he sighed deeply, wondering, "Why am I so unlucky with her? What's wrong with me?" He couldn't even guess the reason. Now, there was Hu Ruolan, as beautiful as Wang Zhaojun, with a graceful figure. Although he didn't want to fall in love again, a sense of loss washed over him. His heart felt as if it were being held captive by Hu Ruolan. He sighed again and muttered to himself, "Better to be bound by love than to be misled by it. Am I being misled by love?" Lost in thought, he unknowingly entered Wuqing County.

Upon entering the county town, Xie Yunyue suppressed his wandering thoughts, slowed his pace, and rode slowly towards the main street. Seeing a large restaurant in the center, he dismounted and entered. As soon as Xie Yunyue stepped inside, all the diners on the upper floor turned to him with curiosity.

Among them was a burly man with a blue turban, who immediately burst into laughter, saying, "Where did this ugly bastard come from? He doesn't look like a human being." Before he finished speaking, the man's face changed drastically, and he cried out in pain. Xie Yunyue, enraged by the man's hurtful words, lunged forward, positioned himself in front of the man, and swiftly grabbed the man's left shoulder with his five fingers. Considering the man's strength, how could he withstand Xie Yunyue's grasp on the "Jingjian" acupoint? Instantly, tears streamed down his face, and he trembled in pain.

It was the burly man's

companion who, with sharp eyes, approached Xie Yunyue, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said with a smile, "Please, sir, have mercy. My companion is a rough fellow and offended us with his words. Please don't hold it against him." Xie Yunyue saw that the speaker was also a burly man with a blue turban tied around his forehead, and everyone at the table was the same type, with weapons tucked into their shoulders. Hearing this

, Xie Yunyue snorted coldly, released his grip, and turned to find a seat. All the diners felt a chill run down their spines, stealing glances repeatedly, not daring to daring to steal another look, lest they invite further trouble. At this moment, the burly man, having recovered from his pain, still shouted, "Who says I'm a rough fellow? The Red Flag Gang is full of tough men. We'll stick together forever!"

Xie Yunyue was taken aback. He hadn't realized that the Red Flag Gang's influence extended to the entire Wuqing County. He secretly took note and noticed that everyone at the table was glaring angrily at the burly man who had spoken. His companion next to him whispered a rebuke, saying they had important business to attend to and shouldn't risk making a powerful enemy. He threatened to report to the gang leader and have him crippled if the man continued. Though the voices were low, they were very clear. Xie Yunyue's heart stirred, and he decided to find out what business the burly man had.

A moment later, the Red Flag Gang members finished eating and went downstairs. Xie Yunyue followed behind, tossing down a silver ingot and instructing the horses on their feeding, telling them to bring it back when he returned. The Red Flag Gang members disappeared outside the city, and Xie Yunyue followed at a distance. He saw them enter a small temple. This small temple was hidden behind a sparse grove of trees, almost completely obscured by thick snow. Xie Yunyue darted away, moving as swiftly as a bird.

Xie Yunyue knew that such gatherings of Jianghu gangs would be heavily guarded outside the area. Upon entering the sparse forest, he slowed his pace, hiding behind a tree to observe the small temple. The dilapidated temple stood forlornly in the snow, surrounded by sparse trees with gnarled, bare branches covered in icicles. The temple entrance bore the messy footprints of the Red Flag Gang members, clearly indicating they were not skilled Jianghu fighters and had not yet reached the level of leaving no trace in the snow.

Seeing no movement, Xie Yunyue was about to rush into the temple when he felt a faint gust of cold wind brush against his shoulder. Instinctively, he dodged, and the wind struck a tree trunk with a loud crack, causing snow and ice to fall like rain from the branches. Xie Yunyue dodged and turned around, only to see clearly the person who had attacked him. It was an old monster with long, flowing hair and a ferocious appearance, whose ten fingers were exceptionally long, dry, and dark, resembling a pair of ghostly claws. He growled, "Who are you?"

The old monster was taken aback when he saw that Xie Yunyue had escaped the force of his "Ghostly Whirlwind" palm strike and that his movements were incredibly strange. When he saw Xie Yunyue turn around, he was even more surprised, thinking to himself, "What a coincidence. How come this young man has such a strange face, so similar to my own?" Although he thought this, he didn't answer and his palms still swiftly reached out like a ghost.

Seeing that the man remained silent and attacked with lightning speed, Xie Yunyue's anger flared. Eager to enter the temple, he swiftly flipped his right palm, meeting the incoming, chilling force with a powerful strike of the "Maitreya Divine Skill" Zhenyu Jue, specifically the "Splitting the Raging Waves" move. Its power was indeed extraordinary; with a muffled groan, the strange man was sent flying backward like a released bowstring.

At that moment, three or four figures darted out from the sparse forest. One of them, moving with lightning speed, caught the blasted-away strange man. The strange man was already reeling from the shock, his face contorted in shock. Fortunately, Xie Yunyue had only used half his true strength; otherwise, he would have been dead. In the blink of an eye, four people emerged from the forest, and the strange man surrounded Xie Yunyue.

The one who caught the strange man who was sent flying was an extremely thin old man with a goatee and piercing ears. He shouted in a deep voice, "Who are you? Now that you've entered the martial world, don't you know the taboo of spying on other gangs' gatherings?"

Xie Yunyue sneered and said, "What do you care who I am? No one who roams the martial world doesn't go to temples. You haven't made it public, so how would I know you're having a gathering inside? Even if I knew, I couldn't stop you from coming in and out, because this little temple isn't your private property." His voice was fierce, and his expression was more sinister than a dead man's.

The five men who appeared in the sparse forest were five of the Thirteen Evils of the martial arts world. The leader of the Thirteen Evils, the Old Man with the Gray Beard, had both his wrists broken by Xie Yunyue's "Six Harmonies Sumeru" palm strike at Zhou Family Village, and then knocked unconscious by a blow to his "Jade Pillow" acupoint. He was taken back to the main altar by Yuwen Lei, the leader of the Red Flag Gang, who treated him meticulously, reattaching his broken wrists with two steel rings. Feeling deeply ashamed, he summoned the other twelve evils. Out of gratitude for Yuwen Lei's treatment, they declared that the Thirteen Evils would forever be protectors of the Red Flag Gang, vowing to avenge the Old Man with the Old Man's blow. So far, all that is known about Xie Yunyue is that his surname is Yan and his given name is Yue. The Old Man with the Gray Beard has been recuperating for a year, constantly thinking of avenging that blow. Otherwise, the shame and hatred of his life cannot be quelled.
Since Yuwen Lei returned from Jiu'ou Peak, he heard rumors that Zhou Weicheng, the great hero of Lianghuai, and Zhao Kangjiu, the swordsman of Zhongzhou, had temporarily stayed at Yuansheng Escort Agency. The Old Man with the Gray Beard then devised a two-pronged, insidious plan to ruin the reputations of Zhao and Zhou, as well as Yan Yue. Consequently, the Red Flag Alliance dispatched numerous experts to orchestrate this conspiracy in Shanxi and Shandong provinces. At this moment, logically speaking, the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World are all ruthless and fearsome figures in the underworld. Why then did they hesitate for so long before attacking the ugly youth before them? It was because they recognized the exact same force in the ugly youth's palm strike as the Old Man with the Gray Beard's, the only difference being the magnitude. If Xie Yunyue had used his full strength, he would have been certain that the ugly youth before him was Yan Yue.

For some unknown reason, the man who had been speaking with Xie Yunyue felt a chill creep into his heart and his heart pounded. This was completely unexpected. He quickly composed himself and shouted, "You think you're so skilled and speak so arrogantly? How do you know you can defeat the combined strength of the five members of the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyue knew that the old man with the gray beard was willing to collude with the Red Flag Gang to avenge the slap he received last year. So he laughed loudly and said, "So it's you. In that case, I can't let you off the hook." As he spoke, his face suddenly darkened, and he used the "Eighteen Disarming Techniques of Xuanyuan" to subdue the dragon, his five fingers hooking at the man's right wrist.

The man hadn't expected Xie Yunyue to strike so swiftly. He stumbled, and before he could dodge, Xie Yunyue's five steel fingers gripped his right wrist, causing him excruciating pain. The strange man who had been sent flying by Xie Yunyue's palm earlier sensed something was wrong and suddenly clashed his palms together, unleashing a chilling, strange force, striking Xie Yunyue's chest from behind.

The other three evil ones also launched their attacks simultaneously, striking with both fists and palms. Their palm strikes were all the same "Bone-Piercing Cold Wind Palm" as the old man with the gray beard, incredibly fast as lightning. The eight palms struck at once, and although the force was soft and yin, it still created a howling wind, like a copper wall pressing down on Xie Yunyue.

Little did anyone know that Xie Yunyue's skill had greatly improved over the years. He had recently comprehended the combined power of three peerless martial arts: the "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan," the "Maitreya Divine Skill," and the "Bodhi Zen Palm." With a flick of his five fingers, the captured evil spirit let out a miserable howl and died instantly. He casually tossed the spirit aside. The figure then soared four or five zhang high in a "Raging Dragon Ascends to Heaven" motion, swirling around the four evil spirits. The poor, dead evil spirit was crushed by the four palm forces, exploding with a series of loud cracking sounds, reduced to a pulpy mess of flesh and bone.

The four evil spirits were startled, only to hear a clear whistle above them and feel an immense, mountain-like force pressing down upon them. Before a bad thought could even form in their minds, three of the evil spirits cried out and perished. Only the first evil spirit managed to dodge the palm force, but suddenly, his vision blurred, and his wrists were gripped by the ugly youth's ten fingers. He felt excruciating pain, and his vision blurred with stars.

Xie Yunyue, suspended in mid-air, suddenly gathered his energy and unleashed the "Maitreya Divine Skill" pressing technique with his left palm, followed by the "Five Finger Illusion Mountain" move, which descended upon him. His right palm then delivered the "Bodhi Zen Palm." Even the thirteen evil figures of the martial world, despite their formidable skills, could not withstand two unparalleled techniques from this ancient and modern master. Meanwhile, one of the evil figures, restrained by Xie Yunyue's "Dragon-Controlling Technique," felt as if insects were crawling within him, and ten thousand snakes were burrowing into his heart—a pain worse than death. He let out a strange howl, a sound like the mournful cry of cattle or sheep on their deathbed, unbearably sorrowful.

Xie Yunyue chuckled coldly, "Now you know there are even more ruthless figures in the martial world than you Thirteen Evils. Just tell me why the Red Flag Gang gathered at the temple, and I'll spare your life."

This Evil was a man of steel, but he couldn't bear the pain any longer and only wanted to die peacefully. Even with his lack of compassion, upon hearing that he was being spared, his will to live was desperate. He didn't care about losing face and revealed the old man's conspiracy in detail. Xie Yunyue's brows furrowed, and he gritted his teeth in hatred.

It turned out that the old man with the gray beard had orchestrated a vicious plan, ordering the Red Flag Gang members to commit crimes everywhere—murder, arson, rape, and looting—leaving Yan Yue's name behind to make him homeless and cut him off from the martial world. The seven or eight Red Flag Gang members in the Wuqing County restaurant were informants, gathering intelligence on wealthy merchants and powerful families during the day to strike at night. Fortunately, the Red Flag Gang was still planning, and the operation was about to begin tonight. They would continue this treacherous scheme along the way, which infuriated Xie Yunyue.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyue sneered, flicked his hand, and with lightning speed, struck several points, crippling Xie Yunyue's martial arts. He then swiftly struck a "silent acupoint," shouting, "Quickly find a place to settle in the southwest. If you run into them again, there will be no more pleasantries."

The man sighed deeply, his arms hanging limply, and staggered away through the snow. Xie Yunyue glanced at the temple gate, then rushed forward. The sparse woods and snow-covered ground returned to their previous stillness, save for the sound of the north wind whistling through the treetops and the faint sigh of the狰狞 (zhengning - fierce/hideous) corpse lying in the snow. Xie Yunyue pushed open the half-closed temple door. There was no one in the front hall. He paused briefly, then rushed to the back of the hall. What he saw there left him stunned and speechless.

Behind the hall lay a large, haphazard mass of Red Flag Gang members, including the vice-leader, Qin Lu, whose death was gruesome. His skull was completely broken, his head tucked into his chest, his eyes wide open like bronze bells, their light fading, and black blood dripping from his mouth. There was also a grotesque old man, his limbs all broken, held together only by thin, frayed skin. He must have been one of the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World. Both men appeared to have been killed in a sudden, unexpected attack. The attackers had either stabbed him with swords or struck his vital points. Even Xie Yunyue, known for his courage, felt a chill run down his spine. He thought, "This man's skill is truly extraordinary. It seems none of the Red Flag Gang members escaped." He secretly admired the man's swift and decisive actions, but who was he? He racked his brains but couldn't guess.

Xie Yunyue pondered for a moment, then leaped outside the temple, landing in the sparse woods where the battle had just taken place. He was startled again; the four evil spirits he had killed with his bare hands had vanished without a trace. Clearly, someone had removed them. He couldn't help but feel a profound sense of awe, for this was the first time he had encountered someone whose actions were even more unpredictable than his own. After a moment of reflection, Xie Yunyue hurried to Wuqing County to retrieve his mount and headed straight for Jinan.

In the snowy, icy landscape, a lone rider galloped swiftly, whip cracking, appearing from afar like a dragon soaring through the sky. On the third day, at dawn, Xie Yunyue crossed Dezhou and entered Shandong. Shandong, the land of sages and a nation of propriety, was renowned for its literary tradition. Even the elders and children were courteous. Su Shi wrote a poem: "The spirit of Eastern Shandong remains to this day; ten thousand households are filled with scholars." This is what it means. Unfortunately, the turmoil of successive dynasties led to the decline of the people. The people of Shandong, who valued integrity and chivalry, transformed into bandits and outlaws, a stark contrast to the Liangshan heroes. This shows how people and their environment change, a truly lamentable situation. Since the founding of the Republic of China, the people have been able to live and thrive for a long time, gradually restoring the old order. The author had lived in Shandong for several years in his youth and found the people of Shandong to be bold, straightforward, and endearingly simple.

On this day, the sun shone brightly, the wind was gentle, and the spring chill was still in the air. He traveled from Dezhou to Jinan, arriving in less than three hours. Jinan, though still chilly in spring, was already showing signs of warmth, quite different from the snow-covered and icy landscape of Yanjing (Beijing). This is because Jinan is bordered by the Que and Hua Mountains to the north, their ridges connected like a
long dike, while the Thousand Buddha Temple stands tall to the south, encircling the city on three sides. Thus, the city wall of Jinan is concave, forming a basin. The climate is relatively mild. Xie Yunyue rode slowly past the West Gate, his eyes lighting up at the truly delightful scenery. Daming Lake came into view, its vast expanse of turquoise water. The Lixia Pavilion stood prominently in the center, its banks lined with willows, and lotus roots planted throughout the lake. Although only bare branches and withered lotus stems were visible at this time, one could still vaguely imagine its magnificent summer splendor. The water stretched to the sky, its shallow, azure blue so clear one could see the bottom. Gulls floated on the surface, and fish could be counted—a beauty comparable to Hangzhou's West Lake. The natural beauty truly lived up to the saying, "Lotus flowers on four sides, willows on three, mountains in one half, lake in the other."

Xie Yunyue dismounted and asked a passerby for directions to the Yuansheng Escort Agency. It turned out the agency was located on the shore of Daming Lake, less than half a mile away. Xie Yunyue thanked the passerby and rode off. In no time, the large characters on the pink wall of the Yuansheng Escort Agency were clearly visible. The stone-paved street by the lake was bustling with people, but several mysterious-looking martial arts figures patrolled back and forth, clearly rivals of the agency. About five or

six zhang from the agency's entrance, a burly middle-aged man with a monkey-like face stood by the roadside, arms crossed. His gaze frequently swept into the agency; a soft whip was tucked into his shoulder, his eyes gleaming, and his lips curled downwards, revealing his sinister and ruthless nature. Xie Yunyue slowly led his horse closer, coughed heavily, and spat a mouthful of phlegm onto the monkey-faced man's foot.

The burly man with the monkey-like face rolled his eyes and roared, "Who are you, ugly brat? Are you looking for death? Hurry up and wipe it off for me!"

Xie Yunyue deliberately provoked him, sneering, "Speaking of ugly youths, you're not much better. Why did you stop me from spitting? Hmph, you dare to ask me to wipe it off for you? If I didn't see your ignorance and rudeness, I'd send a piece of paper to the palace and give you a hundred lashes. Do you think you could handle that?"

Hearing these twisted words, the burly man roared in anger, his fierce eyes flashing, and shouted, "Even if you're the son of the governor, I'll still punish you!" With that, he thrust out both hands, aiming for Xie Yunyue's shoulder.

Xie Yunyue had intended to provoke him into attacking, and this was exactly what he wanted. As soon as Xie Yunyue's palms touched the burly man, Xie Yunyue lightly dodged, appearing behind him and snatching a soft whip from the man's shoulder. When the burly man saw his opponent disappear, he was greatly shocked, thinking, "I've misjudged him this time." Though his mind was racing, his movements didn't falter. Like a whirlwind, Xie Yunyue unleashed a powerful palm strike, a fierce gale aimed directly at his chest.

Though the burly man reacted with astonishing speed, he was unaware that his opponent was the infamous, feared "Strange Hand Scholar." This was futile, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Xie Yunyue laughed heartily, his soft whip whipping out a massive circle. The monkey-faced man's hands were now firmly bound, and with a sharp whistle, he was sent flying six or eight zhang away, crashing into Daming Lake with a thud.

Suddenly, shouts erupted, and several figures lunged at Xie Yunyue. Knowing they were the monkey-faced man's accomplices, Xie Yunyue, impatient with their entanglement, flicked his whip, creating an arc of light with lightning speed. Instantly, the attackers cried out in pain, tumbling to the ground, each with a three-inch-long gash on their cheek, flesh torn open, blood streaming down their faces.

Xie Yunyue chuckled coldly, raised his soft whip, and hurled it into the ground. The tip of the whip, so soft, pierced the ground five inches deep, trembling and swaying wildly. Xie Yunyue said nothing, turned around, and headed towards Yuansheng Escort Agency. The wounded men gasped upon seeing this, scrambled to their feet, rescued their comrade who had fallen into Daming Lake, and vanished in a flash.

Two martial arts instructors who had been standing at the entrance of the escort agency were secretly astonished by Xie Yunyue's extraordinary martial arts skills. Seeing Xie Yunyue leading his horse, they hurriedly stepped forward, smiling and asking, "Are you...?"

Xie Yunyue quickly waved his hand to stop them, saying, "You two need not ask now. Please lead me to see the great hero of Lianghuai, Senior Zhou."

The two men were not offended and smiled as they turned to lead the way. One of them said, "Great Hero Zhou was injured and bedridden while saving our head of the escort agency. Please follow me." With that, he strode forward.

Xie Yunyue carefully observed the people in the escort agency. Most of them wore worried expressions, and although some remained calm, a subtle hint of something amiss could be discerned in their eyes and brows. The agency was filled with all sorts of martial arts figures, mostly there to lend a hand. They all glanced at Xie Yunyue with surprise as he followed the two men so swiftly. Xie Yunyue followed the two men into the three-courtyard compound, heading straight for the main house on the north side. The two men whispered a few words to a burly man in tight-fitting clothes holding a blade standing at the entrance. The man went inside and came out shortly to invite Xie Yunyue over.

Xie Yunyue stepped inside and saw two elderly men with white hair and beards lying on bamboo couches on the east and west sides. One of them was Zhou Weicheng, the great hero of Lianghuai, and the other was undoubtedly the chief escort of Yuansheng Escort Agency. Zhou Weicheng recognized the person at a glance and became extremely agitated. He tried to struggle to his feet, but Xie Yunyue quickly helped him up, saying in a low voice with a smile, "Father-in-law, please rest assured and recover from your injuries. I will take care of everything."

Zhou Weicheng shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid my injuries won't heal. I was poisoned by the Golden Thread Snake of the One-Armed Demon and am only barely clinging to life. The same is true for Gao Zilong, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of Yuansheng Escort Agency. He has temporarily closed his acupoints, but I'm afraid he won't escape the fate of turning into blood." Xie Yunyue was greatly alarmed. The Golden Thread Snake was an extremely poisonous creature. Once bitten, the venom seeped into the body's meridians with the blood, slowly decaying from the inside out until the person turned into blood and died. It was not something that could be cured with ordinary medicine, and he was at a loss for what to do.

Gao Zilong, the head镖师 (chief镖师) of Yuansheng Escort Agency, chuckled hoarsely, saying, "Is this Young Hero Xie? Please do not worry. A hundred years of life is but a fleeting dream. I think that Brother Yue Weicheng and I are both over sixty and not far from our graves. What joy is there in living, and what fear is there in dying? It is only because your brother Zhao Kangjiu disregarded life and death and went to the One-Armed Demon in the Thousand-Foot Abyss of Mount Tai to steal the unique antidote for the Golden Thread Serpent, Crane's Breath Grass. He has been gone for five days and has not yet returned, which makes us very worried."

Xie Yunyue frowned and smiled, "Hero Gao, please rest assured. I will go to the Thousand-Foot Abyss of Mount Tai to find my brother-in-law. If we only have the antidote, then things will be much easier. But what is the situation here? Please let me know."

Gao Zilong seemed to be having a hard time speaking, his face red and he stammered. At that moment, the great hero of Lianghuai, Gao Weicheng, said, "My dear son-in-law, you must go quickly. There is no danger here for the time being. The appointment at the top of Thousand Buddha Mountain is still seven days away."

So Xie Yunyue said, "Then I'll be off." He turned and headed out the door, thinking, "Where's Lei Xiaotian? Could something have happened to him?" He had just heard that Zhao Kangjiu was on the verge of a thousand-foot abyss, and in his haste to get there, he hadn't even asked about the fight after the lost shipment. What was the old man with the gray beard up to? Was he trying to incite a catastrophe in the martial arts world? Thinking of the sinister plot of the Red Flag Gang in Wuqing County, anger surged within him, and he secretly resolved to annihilate the Red Flag Gang. This single thought led to a catastrophe in the martial arts world.

His thoughts were in turmoil. When he left Yuansheng Escort Agency, the two martial arts masters barely noticed him.

Xie Yunyue leaped onto his horse, exited the South Gate, and galloped away. In a short while, he was far from the city outskirts, deep in the wilderness, more than forty li from Jinan City. The sun shone brightly, and before him lay withered hills and grassy slopes, rows of short trees flashing by.

As he rode along, gazing at the scenery, he suddenly saw two figures swiftly disappear into the short woods by the roadside. They moved with the speed of galloping horses, seemingly overtaking him, and he was secretly surprised. He immediately became alert, realizing that someone from the bandit gang was secretly following him, and that the road ahead was fraught with danger, perhaps even an ambush. At that moment, he didn't want anything more; his only thought was to reach the Thousand-Foot Abyss of Mount Tai. Although Mount Tai was vast, spanning thousands of miles, and he didn't know where the Thousand-Foot Abyss was, he knew the name and, with a little effort, it wouldn't be difficult to find. So he whipped his horse and spurred it on, trying to leave the two pursuers behind. He didn't want trouble, but trouble had found him.
For centuries, the path into Mount Tai had always been through Xingren Mountain north of Tai'an County. However, from Jinan to Tai'an, one had to pass through a section of the Tai'an mountain range's tail, from Wande Village to Lu Village southwest of Tai'an, a distance of seventy or eighty li. Once inside, the peaks pierced the clouds, the hills were dense, and the pines and vines covered the sky, making the path rugged and difficult to traverse. When Xie Yunyue arrived at Wande Village, it was already late afternoon. After a quick meal in the village, he resumed his journey.

Upon reaching Mount Tai, the dense forest blocked out the sun, making it as dim as dusk. Xie Yunyue's eyesight was exceptional, so he didn't feel the hardship, but his mount struggled. It moved slowly, taking one step at a time, even slower than a human. Xie Yunyue thought to himself, "At this rate, when will I reach Tai'an? It would be faster to abandon the horse and walk." Just as this thought crossed his mind, suddenly, dozens of hidden weapons shot out from both sides of the forest with lightning speed, creating a loud whooshing sound. Xie Yunyue

was startled and used the momentum to leap back up, rising five or six zhang high in a flash. He swiftly switched to the "Divine Dragon Sweeps Tail" move from the Eight Forms of the Heavenly Dragon, thrusting out two palms, one above the other. His left palm used the thirteenth form of the "Maitreya Divine Skill," "Yin Attains Yang," while his right palm unleashed the fourteenth form of the Divine Skill, "Six Harmonies Unite as One," striking out to the left and right in mid-air. "Maitreya Divine Skill" is the supreme Buddhist method for exorcising demons and protecting the righteous path. It possesses the profound power of both extreme strength and gentleness. When it was unleashed, countless streams of air surged and churned, rapidly pushing to both sides like surging waves. Instantly, mountains crumbled and the earth split, branches and leaves flew everywhere, and the deafening roar was deafening. Dust filled the sky . Not to mention, dozens of pine and fir trees as thick as a large bowl were broken, demonstrating the astonishing power of the "Maitreya Divine Skill."

Xie Yunyue landed, his horse already dead from an arrow wound, lying by the roadside. Enraged, his eyes were bloodshot. He moved with lightning speed towards the edge of the forest, seeing a dozen or so dark figures running swiftly through the woods dozens of feet away. Xie Yunyue thought, "If I let any of you escape today, I swear I will not be human." Though his thoughts raced like lightning, his feet moved as fast as shooting stars.

The forest was dark and gloomy, with thorns and vines tangled together, making it extremely difficult to traverse. This slowed his pace considerably, especially with the dozen or so dark figures darting about, their shadows blurring his vision. The forest was exceptionally dense and seemingly endless. By the time he reached the edge of the forest, an hour had passed. Night had fallen, the waning moon had not yet risen, and only a few scattered stars twinkled in the night sky. A cold wind howled through the treetops, its sound like the crashing of a celestial wave. Before him stretched his vision to the limit, all he could see were rolling hills, with low trees standing like ghostly figures, swaying in the wind, creating an eerie and terrifying scene. The dark figures had vanished without a trace.

Xie Yunyue hurried for about a mile before stopping on a hill, pausing to consider the direction they had fled. Suddenly, a series of low, terrifying laughs came from all directions, carried by the night wind, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves. Even Xie Yunyue, known for his courage, felt a chill run down his spine in the darkness. Startled by the eerie laughter in the desolate mountains, Xie Yunyue was also enraged by the bandits' sinister tricks. He listened intently, but the sinister laughs continued, echoing far and wide, reverberating through the valley. The strange sounds seemed to emanate from every corner, disturbing the mind and increasing the terror.

He located the source of the laughter in the southwest, closer to his hiding place. With a twitch of his shoulders, his "Golden Dragon Shakes Armor" technique, with hooked palms and the force of a thunderbolt, propelled him headfirst towards the source of the sound. His palms unleashed a torrent of energy, striking downwards from mid-air. Suddenly, a sinister laugh rang out. At the edge of his palm strike, a swift black shadow shot up, rising like a nightingale swooping into the air, as fast as a ghost.

Xie Yunyue shifted his body with lightning speed. Before even landing, he gasped for breath, his chest and abdomen flat on the ground as he flipped back up, his hands flashing like lightning as he reached for the shadow's ankles. He shouted, "Friend, what kind of martial arts master do you think you are, pretending to be a god or a ghost?" But he was a step too late; the shadow was a fraction faster and slipped out of Xie Yunyue's hands.

However, Xie Yunyue's "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan," specifically the "Dragon-Controlling Technique" which severed tendons and meridians, was an extremely rare and profound art. Although the man had managed to slip away, Xie Yunyue still managed to strike him with a finger strike. The shadow let out a muffled groan, only slightly slowing its pace before shooting upwards again like a flying crossbow. Xie Yunyue roared, "Friend, where are you going?" His feet pounded again, his figure moving with lightning speed, chasing after the black shadow.

Tonight, Xie Yunyue had revealed the most exquisite martial arts he had ever possessed. This kind of "Three-Change of Wind" movement technique, with its unwavering true power and unpredictable mysteries, was extremely rare in the martial world. Just as the black shadow was about to catch up, Xie Yunyue suddenly felt two surging currents of air pressing down on his feet, gradually becoming heavy and oppressive. Slightly alarmed, he realized he had encountered such a formidable opponent in the desolate mountains. He abandoned his pursuit, his arms suddenly sinking, his fingers releasing force, and he plummeted downwards.

Two black shadows pounced with lightning speed, pushing upwards and unleashing several powerful gusts of wind. Xie Yunyue chuckled, his protective divine power already covering his entire body. He channeled the energy into his arms, his proud fingers striking the "Jianjing" acupoints of the two men. One strike would dislocate their shoulder bones. Knowing the danger, the two hastily withdrew their palm strikes, their bodies plummeting rapidly. The moment they landed, Xie Yunyue, his hands flashing like lightning, caught up. Terrified, they tumbled apart.

The man Xie Yunyue had pursued first, only escaped danger thanks to the two's rescue. Now, as he fell, seeing his two companions in peril, he shouted "Attack!" In the dim starlight, a dozen or so bright, flying beams shot out like a storm. Several soft clanging sounds rang out as the projectiles were deflected by Xie Yunyue's powerful protective technique.

Both sides landed on the hill. Xie Yunyue spotted four dark figures appearing several dozen feet away. They arrived incredibly fast, and within two feet of him, they scattered, forming a seven-star formation around him, joining the first three. The starlight was faint, and Xie Yunyue couldn't make out the faces of the seven men clearly, though he could vaguely discern their grotesque features and advanced age.

Xie Yunyue coldly snorted, "Friend, why have you ambushed me in this desolate mountain in the dead of night? If you can't give me an explanation, I'll have to resort to my ruthless methods." After that, the seven men remained silent. There was only a moment of silence, their seven pairs of eyes gleaming like owl's, darting around erratically.

Suddenly, a strange, piercing laugh echoed through the night sky. After the laugh, they roared, "Who do we have here? It's you, you brat! We've searched high and low, and now you've come to us without any effort. If I don't make you bleed and lie dead tonight, how can I appease my hatred?"

Xie Yunyue recognized the voice immediately. After a moment's thought, he realized who it was and laughed heartily, "Old man with the white beard, you still show no remorse even in death. How laughable! I spared your life last time because I thought your rise to fame was hard-won. Now..." "You dare to block my way in the desolate mountains?

Young master, I'd like to see what kind of extraordinary skills you've learned over the years!" The old man with the gray beard had been chilled to the bone by Xie Yunyue's "Six Harmonies Sumeru" palm strike back in Zhou Family Village. Although his wrists had been reattached by the medicine-filled steel bands and his skills had improved slightly, he still felt lingering fear. Knowing that he might not be able to win in a one-on-one fight, he secretly hatched a plan to take a shortcut and shouted in a deep voice, "You, surnamed Yan, don't think you can get away unscathed tonight. Take a closer look; there are even more formidable adversaries coming."
Xie Yunyue chuckled inwardly. He still believed the man's surname was Yan. In truth, even the eccentric old man with the white beard couldn't figure him out. Ever since the eccentric scholar Yu Yun stirred up a storm in Taiyuan, rumors circulated that his methods resembled Yan Yue's, leading him to suspect a connection between the two, though he couldn't fathom they were the same person. Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyue looked around and, sure enough, under the starlight, three figures were rushing towards them from afar. As they drew closer, he recognized two of them as the "Yin-Yang Twin Swords"—the Huashan Sect brothers, Yi Qing and Yi Fei, whom he had defeated years before. The third was a burly old Taoist priest with white hair and beard, two ancient-looking swords tucked into his shoulders. The three moved with incredible speed and fluid grace, clearly demonstrating that the "Yin-Yang Twin Swords" were no longer the naive individuals they had been years ago; their skill had increased considerably.

Xie Yunyue was secretly astonished at how they knew he was heading to Mount Tai. In fact, the people he had teased at the entrance of the Yuansheng Escort Agency were this very man's men. The old man with the gray beard listened carefully to his subordinate's report and deduced that the man was none other than Yan Yue, his great enemy. He then ordered his men to lie in ambush outside the escort agency. Once they discovered that Yan Yue was heading towards Mount Tai, they instructed their companions to take a shortcut to the Mount Tai passage and wait for him, while he and his men would follow. Xie Yunyue saw two figures darting through the forest; these were the old man with the gray beard and his companions.

The old man with the gray beard considered it the greatest humiliation of his life, having his wrists broken by Xie Yunyue, and vowed to avenge himself. Unable to find Xie Yunyue's whereabouts, he plotted to harm Zhou Weicheng and Zhao Kangjiu. Xie Yunyue, under the guise of a small invitation, came to the scene. He discovered that Zhou and Zhao were at the Yuansheng Escort Agency and that they had just received a shipment of red convoys to be escorted to Yangzhou. He ordered an ambush to be set up near Mount Ni in Qufu, where the entire operation was intercepted. All the escorts were killed, except for one who was released to report back. He instructed Zhou and Zhao to come in person if they wanted the convoys back. Upon

hearing this, Zhou and Zhao indeed rushed to Mount Ni. Gao Zilong, the chief escort of the Yuansheng Escort Agency and a chivalrous swordsman, was also involved and invited several friends to accompany him. Upon arriving at Mount Ni, Zhao Kangjiu, the swordsman from Zhongzhou, displayed his extraordinary prowess, unleashing his signature technique, the "Autumn Wind and Falling Leaves One-Word Sword," to kill several skilled members of the Red Flag Gang. However, both the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World and the Red Flag Gang were renowned figures in the martial arts world. In the ensuing melee, Zhao Kangjiu and his group, outnumbered, fought desperately to turn the tide. Unexpectedly, the eccentric old man with the white beard, his uncle, the One-Armed Demon Cha Kun, appeared out of nowhere. Zhou Weicheng, the chivalrous hero of Lianghuai, and Gao Zilong, the Iron-Pen Hero, were struck by Cha Kun's deadly Golden Thread Snake Liquid-laced flying needles, thus reversing the course of the battle.

Fortunately, the one-armed demon Cha Kun was a reasonable man. He stopped the old man with the gray beard and his men from harming Zhou Weicheng and the others. He said that since the old man with the gray beard's hatred was for Yan Yue, they should wait until Yan Yue recovered before stopping and letting them return to Jinan. Before leaving, Cha Kun told Zhou and Gao that they had been injured by his poisoned flying needles and that no medicine could cure them except for a rare herb called Crane's Breath Grass produced in the Thousand-Foot Abyss of Mount Tai. He also said that if they were not convinced of their defeat, they could fight again at the top of Thousand Buddha Mountain in half a month to settle the score. Hong Biao insisted that Yan Yue personally handle the matter.

After returning to the Yuansheng Escort Agency in Jinan, Zhao Kang, the Swordsman of Zhongzhou, saw Zhou Weicheng and Gao Zilong groaning in pain on their sickbeds. His conscience pricked him, and he resolved to venture into the Thousand-Foot Abyss to retrieve the Crane's Breath Grass. He knew that the One-Armed Demon Cha Kun resided near the Thousand-Foot Abyss, a perilous place with little chance of survival. But how could he risk everything without risking his life? Moreover, he couldn't bear to watch Zhou and Gao turn to blood and gore. Therefore, Zhao Kang set off alone for Mount Tai five days prior and has not yet returned.

The Strange Old Man with the Gray Beard, who had established a branch altar in Jinan, secretly monitored the people sent out by the Yuansheng Escort Agency. Upon hearing of Yan Yue's solo expedition to Mount Tai, he was overjoyed. Just then, the Yin-Yang Twin Swords and the other two arrived, so he invited them to come along. The Yin-Yang Twin Swords and the others had come to avenge Yan Yue's broken sword, which suited them perfectly; they would have come even without being invited.

At this moment, Xie Yunyue, upon seeing the Yin-Yang Twin Swords appear, immediately burst into laughter, saying, "Yi Qing, Yi Fei, how dare you come here seeking revenge, causing me such humiliation? You should repent and become benevolent, protecting the Xuanmen and never leaving the mountain again. I have never seen such shameless people as you!" With that, he laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the valley. The Yin-Yang Twin Swords changed color in anger, but before they could utter a curse, the white-haired old Taoist priest who had come with them sneered, "You are so young, how can you be so arrogant and speak such hurtful words?" His expression was extremely dignified.

Xie Yunyue secretly sized up the speaker. His eyes shone with a sharp light, and his temples bulged high, clearly indicating that his internal strength had reached a high level. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "I have never had any grudges against you, Daoist. Why get involved in this mess?"

The Daoist raised his eyebrows slightly, about to reply, when the hunchbacked old man with a gray beard standing beside him sneered, "Yan Yue, don't be so blind. This is Master Zhiwei, the founder of the Huashan Sect. Why don't you surrender and await capture?"

Xie Yunyue immediately burst into loud laughter, "Someone like me, who has never learned the ways of the martial world, unexpectedly alarmed the head of a sect. I have leaped over the Dragon Gate and my status has increased a hundredfold. How fortunate I am to have reached this point!" He paused, then his face darkened, and he shouted, "Old hunchbacked thief, what are your intentions tonight? Will you come one by one, or join forces to attack? I, Yan, will gladly oblige. If you want to use someone else to kill me, I, Yan, will strike first and eliminate you." With that, he raised his hand.

The old man with the white beard, still haunted by his painful experience, stumbled back three steps in shock. But Xie Yunyue's move was a feint, and he burst into laughter. The old man's face flushed red and then paled, filled with embarrassment. Forcing himself to remain calm, he said, "Young man, don't be so arrogant. If you can break my Seven Star Linked Formation, I will disappear from the martial world forever."

Xie Yunyue couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to himself, "My master, Master Mingliang, taught me the Mysterious Seven Star Steps and Sword Technique, and he said that this Seven Star Sword Steps is the most wondrous and profound in the world. Seven times seven equals forty-nine, containing the Great Derivation Number, and its interactions are all exquisitely subtle. This old monster with the white beard boasts of his Seven Star Linked Formation; it must have its own power. Now is the perfect time to..." "Try what you've learned." He then sneered, "Old monster, all you've got to say is that you want to join forces and attack. You're just stubborn. If I wanted to test your mere Seven Star Linked Formation, I wouldn't have boasted so much. Now, enough talk, activate the formation."

The old man with the gray beard smiled sinisterly, his eyes filled with venom. Without saying a word, he bowed to the Huashan Sect Leader, Zhiweizi. Knowing that the old man with the gray beard didn't need his help at the moment, Zhiweizi and the "Yin Yang Twin Swords" quickly retreated more than ten feet. At this moment, the waning moon had just touched the mountaintop, and the valley was shrouded in a faint glow. The snow-capped peaks were faintly visible, winding like a jade belt. The cold wind swept through the treetops, creating a celestial sound, a sharp whistling sound that resonated in everyone's heart.

The Seven Evils of the Martial World, led by the Old Man with the Gray Beard, had already arranged themselves in the Seven Stars formation. Their faces were incredibly tense, a rare sight among the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World. The Thirteen Evils were renowned throughout the martial world for their Seven Stars Six Harmonies Formation, a formation they had only used twice against their greatest enemies, securing victories each time. It seemed only seven remained tonight; the other six, Xie Yunyue and an unknown individual, had all been eliminated in a small temple in Wuqing County. Unfortunately, the Old Man with the Gray Beard was still unaware of this. Now, they could only use the Seven Stars Formation against Xie Yunyue, its power greatly diminished. The Old Man with the Gray Beard knew that he faced his only truly formidable enemy, and even the Seven Stars Formation might not guarantee victory. But the die was cast; he had no choice but to gamble everything.

At this moment, Xie Yunyue, using the moonlight, saw that the Seven Evils of the Martial World had already formed their battle formation. The old man with the white beard and the second and seventh men were preparing to fight, while the third and fourth men were using swords, and the fifth and sixth men were using two sharp wolf-tooth clubs. All of them had their feet firmly planted on the meridian. He thought to himself, "I still need to go and find the Thousand-Foot Abyss. Who has the patience to fight him for a long time? It would be better to deal with them one by one." After making up his mind, he shouted, "Old monster, should you go first or should I go first?"

The old man with the white beard only replied, "Whatever." Before the words were finished, Xie Yunyue had already used the "Mysterious Heaven Seven Star Steps" technique. His feet moved smoothly past the old man with the white beard and the second man, and he arrived in front of the third man. He channeled his energy into his right arm and struck the third man's right wrist pressure point with lightning speed.

Such miraculous movement techniques were rarely seen in the world. He shouted loudly and slashed forward with his palm. The second man, just as the gust of wind heaved, also struck Xie Yunyue's coccyx. The others launched their attacks, palm strikes, sword shadows, and staff flashes raining down on Xie Yunyue's vital points. At this moment, the third man, completely unprepared for Xie Yunyue's sudden attack, was greatly alarmed. He hesitated for a moment, his attack faltering slightly, and Xie Yunyue seized his right wrist. He felt a sharp, numb pain in his chest and spleen. He lost all his power and fainted.

Xie Yunyue, holding the third man's wrist, suddenly heard the old man with the gray beard shout. He immediately felt a bone-chilling wind rushing towards his back, and the remaining evil palm strikes and sword energy pressed against his body. He realized that the old monster's Seven Star Formation was indeed powerful. Even with one person missing, it could still be perfectly sealed. Just as his thoughts were racing, two sharp swords had already grazed his clothes. He knew that even with his unparalleled martial arts skills, he couldn't possibly defend against attacks from all directions. Although he had captured one person, the remaining six evil figures moved about, meaning that all thirty-six people were attacking at the same time. Wuji moved instantly, letting out a loud shout. He flung the person behind him with his backhand, and then soared six or seven feet into the air like a crane flying into the sky. With his left palm, he unleashed a series of "Maitreya Divine Skill" mantras, and the "Five Finger Illusion Mountain" technique unleashed a raging storm that pressed down on the fifth and sixth Xing.
As the old man with the white beard saw his bone-chilling palm strike and the twin swords of the two evil ones about to strike Xie Yunyue's chest, he was taken aback when Xie Yunyue unexpectedly spun around and pushed the third evil one towards him. The three evil ones, caught off guard, veered to the left, managing to save the third evil one's life. Xie Yunyue, however, seized the opportunity to soar into the sky like a bowstring released from a bow. The fifth and sixth evil ones, their wolf-tooth clubs missing their mark, had no time to withdraw their attacks when they felt a fierce, overwhelming gust of wind press down on them, making them feel suffocated. They hurriedly dodged to the side, their shoulders already touched by the wind, and immediately felt their blood rushing to their head.

Fortunately, Xie Yunyue's palm strike hadn't landed properly; he had already changed his position, darting in front of the old man with the white beard, his ten fingers extending and suddenly clasping at the old monster and the second evil one. The old man with the white beard and the second evil one both knew Xie Yunyue's techniques were unpredictable and swiftly dodged, but even so, the two gusts of wind that had clasped their elbows and arms still managed to sweep past them, leaving them drenched in cold sweat.

Master Zhiwei, the head of the Huashan Sect, stood to the side, his expression changing as he watched. True to his reputation as a master of martial arts, his sharp eyes immediately recognized Xie Yunyue's exceptional skill; his techniques and movements were unpredictable and elusive. However, he couldn't discern Xie Yunyue's origins. Knowing that the Seven Star Formation of the Cangxu Monster would soon be broken, leaving the three of them in a predicament, he quickly devised a plan. He whispered a few words to the "Yin Yang Twin Swords." With a swift movement, two streaks of blue light shot out like dragons, accompanied by a clanging sound, and Xie Yunyue was sent flying.

At that moment, Xie Yunyue, having missed his attack, slightly bent his waist, his body growing longer, and turned to strike at the other evil spirits with his ten fingers like rainbows. This unpredictable and divine movement technique left anyone who witnessed it speechless. Why did Xie Yunyue turn to attack? Because the Seven Star Formation had been honed by the Thirteen Evils of the Martial World for decades, reaching a point where he remained calm even in the face of danger. As he flew towards the old man with the white beard, the rest of the evil forces attacked from behind, even the man who had been held captive earlier had awakened and joined the fight.

Xie Yunyue wanted a quick victory and, in a moment of excitement, turned to attack the evil forces. Just as he was about to unleash the most profound technique of the "Eighteen Dissolutions of Xuanyuan," the "Severing Force and Striking the Pulse" divine move, he suddenly felt two waves of sword energy rushing towards him, accompanied by incomparably fierce and overwhelming sword qi. He immediately felt his body being forced back, so he quickly used the "Maitreya Divine Skill" technique to dispel the incoming force with his left hand, and with a lightning-fast flick, he instantly neutralized the approaching energy. His right hand flicked its five fingers rapidly. A series of clanging sounds rang out, and the two blue rainbows vanished in an instant, revealing the Daoist Zhiwei standing before him with a smile on his face.

Upon recognizing the newcomer, Xie Yunyue sternly retorted, "Even a sect leader resorts to such underhanded tactics as a rat?"

Daoist Zhiwei blushed, recited "Amitabha," and bowed with his sword, smiling, "I dare not. I find your martial arts truly exceptional, and I am ashamed of my inferiority. However, I have come to understand the principle that learning is endless and one should never tire of it, so I wish to ask you for a few pointers." Such demeanor was befitting of a sect leader.

Xie Yunyue, though unable to discern his true intentions, sensed the impending danger. Given the circumstances, he could not afford to be fearful and smiled, "Very well, then please, Daoist, bestow your skills."

As they spoke, the Yin-Yang Twin Swords exchanged several whispered phrases with the old man with the gray beard. Daoist Zhiwei, his laughter offensive, swiftly separated his swords, unleashing a move called "Thunder in Action." This was one of the three ultimate moves of the Huashan Sect's signature sword technique, the "Inverted Yin-Yang Five Elements Sword." A burst of light erupted, and a tidal wave of sword energy, accompanied by the sound of wind and snow, crashed down upon Xie Yunyue. Most remarkably, countless sharp points could be seen within this energy, piercing towards Xie Yunyue's vital acupoints.

Xie Yunyue recognized the overwhelming power of the attacking sword, far surpassing the Yin-Yang Twin Swords technique. He knew that if he didn't subdue Daoist Zhiwei now, he would find it difficult to escape. With a thought, he shifted his body, his ten fingers flashing out to swiftly grasp Daoist Zhiwei's wrists from the side. His Xuan Tian Seven Stars Body Technique was incredibly powerful; the attack was swift and decisive. Daoist Zhiwei was horrified; Xie Yunyue's fingers had already touched Daoist Zhiwei's wrists. Suddenly, Xie Yunyue felt two unprecedented palm strikes pressing down from both sides, instantly causing his chest to tighten and his body to stagger backward.

Like a mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, Xie Yunyue never dreamed that the Yin-Yang Twin Swords and the Seven Evils would launch a combined attack from both sides, their left and right palms striking in unison with incredible speed and power, like a raging storm. In an instant, Xie Yunyue felt his unparalleled skill rendered useless, unable to be used before the nine palms struck, leaving him no time to catch his breath. Although he possessed a protective divine power, he felt unbearable pain all over his body and involuntarily retreated, thinking that he would immediately strike back if he could find the slightest opening. But

in the battle between such masters, even the slightest difference in skill is fatal. Xie Yunyue's opening left him helpless. Daoist Zhiwei, seeing that the opportunity was lost, roared and his twin swords transformed into ten thousand streaks of azure rainbows, unleashing five consecutive moves, pushing out a dense wave of sword energy like a spring tide. Xie Yunbing was now utterly powerless to retaliate, as the demons were giving him no respite. They knew that allowing him even a moment's respite would be tantamount to placing him in utter ruin, so they unleashed a barrage of palm strikes with lightning speed.

Xie Yunyue felt his inner energy stagnate in his chest, causing him immense discomfort. If he were to turn and flee now, he could still manage, but he was unwilling to be defeated and have his life's reputation ruined. He retreated rapidly, unknowingly finding himself on the edge of a misty cliff. Still unaware of his perilous situation, he focused solely on the overwhelming sword waves emanating from Daoist Zhiwei, thinking to himself, "This retreat won't do." He took a deep breath, trying to force the stagnant inner energy in his chest to dissipate, hoping to immediately retaliate once it was flowing freely.

He took a deep breath, and suddenly felt the true energy within his chest and diaphragm becoming unevenly circulated due to the force of the Nine Evils' combined arms. He knew something was wrong; if this breath wasn't flowing smoothly, he would suffer a qi deviation and become paralyzed. At this moment, he could no longer rely on his strength and began to try to escape. Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly saw an incredibly fast and enormous figure hurtling towards him.

Just as the figure reached his chest, it unleashed a palm strike with lightning speed. Poor Xie Yunyue didn't even get a clear look at the figure's silhouette before feeling an incomparably powerful blast of energy strike his chest. His heart ached terribly, his remaining true energy dissipated, and he was instantly blasted away. A scream, like the cry of a monkey in Wushan, was heard, heart-wrenching and unbearable to hear. Under the moonlight, a figure could be seen plummeting straight down into the misty, layered valley… Even Xiang Yu, who faced misfortune on the battlefield, had his downfall. As the man cleaved Xie Yunyue away with a palm strike, he let out a long, arrogant laugh. The man had bushy sideburns, protruding teeth, and fierce eyes that blazed with an overbearing light. His left arm and below were ethereal, with a pair of sleeves trailing behind him. He was none other than the eccentric old man with the white beard, his uncle, the one-armed demon god Cha Kun.

Master Zhiwei, the head of the Huashan Sect, had met Cha Kun once decades ago. He bowed and smiled, saying, "Master Cha, it has been many years since we last met. Your skill has improved considerably, which I greatly admire." He then glanced at the precipitous valley and sighed, "This man was truly a remarkable figure. It is a pity that he perished in this abyss." The

one-armed demon Cha Kun laughed loudly, "When did Master Zhiwei develop such compassionate thoughts? Forgiving enemies is tantamount to being cruel to oneself. What is there to regret about such a person?" He then turned to the eccentric old man with the white beard and said, "A true man distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. Now that your powerful enemy has been eliminated, the Red Escort of Yuansheng Escort Agency must be returned immediately. Do not harbor any intention of plundering." The eccentric old man with the white beard readily agreed. The

one-armed demon Cha Kun then smiled at Master Zhiwei and said, "I still have one matter to attend to. We will meet again another day." With that, he turned and vanished with a single, fluttering sleeve. Seeing the one-armed demon leave, everyone scattered like birds and beasts. At this moment, the moon is half-hidden by clouds, the frontier wind is fierce, and the pine trees seem to weep silently, as if paying homage to this generation of extraordinary heroes… Now, let's talk about mid-July of last year. After Xie Yunyue left for the Central Plains beyond the Great Wall, the two young ladies, Zhao Lianzhu and Zhou Yue'e, felt their hearts wither. They secretly shed tears every day, their hearts filled with countless sorrows, not even touching the hilt of their swords. This situation lasted for half a month before their mood gradually improved. They diligently practiced the martial arts taught by Xie Yunyue in the garden every day, and after several months, their skills improved rapidly.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, heavy snow fell again, and it was the depths of winter. The two young ladies' brows furrowed even deeper. Every day they leaned against the door, hoping for their beloved's return. They remembered that Xie Yunyue had repeatedly said before his departure that he would definitely return for the New Year, but with the New Year approaching, there was no news. They looked at each other and sighed, filled with the sorrow of separation, a unique kind of feeling in their hearts.

That day, Lei Xiaotian, the Master of Qiankun, suddenly arrived from the capital. As soon as he entered the gate, Zhao Lianzhu saw Lei Xiaotian's face and asked, "Teacher Lei, do you have any news about Brother Xie?"

Lei Xiaotian laughed heartily and said, "Don't be impatient, ladies. I do have news, but I can't say for now."

This teasing made Zhao Lianzhu blush with anxiety. She stamped her feet and said coquettishly, "If you dare not tell me, I'll skin you alive!" With a flick of her slender hand, she aimed at Lei Xiaotian's shoulder blade.

Lei Xiaotian, known for his witty and humorous nature, darted to the right of the screen wall, jokingly saying, "Grandma, save your fists and kicks for Third Brother. Second Brother's bones are too brittle for him." He then dashed inside.

Zhao Lianzhu, seething with anger, gave chase, constantly scolding him. They raced into the hall, one after the other. Zhao Kangjiu and Zhou Weicheng were chatting idly in the hall when they saw Lei Xiaotian running in, laughing and joking, followed by a blushing Zhao Lianzhu.

Zhao Kangjiu, always doting on Zhao Lianzhu and knowing Lei Xiaotian's unruly and mischievous nature, couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Lian'er, don't be rude to Teacher Lei!" He and Zhou Weicheng stood up and asked Lei Xiaotian how he was doing.

Lei Xiaotian exclaimed, "Lei Lao Er is perfectly fine. He eats well, sleeps soundly, and wakes up in the morning. It's just that after entering your mansion, he was almost skinned alive by this young lady. I say, Zhao Daxia, you need to keep a close eye on him; I'm afraid Lao San won't be able to handle it in the future."

Zhao Kangjiu laughed loudly, "Who told you to tease her? There's a saying that you shouldn't tease the young, not the older one. You brought this on yourself; you can't blame anyone else."

Lei Xiaotian laughed heartily. "This is called father and daughter being of one mind. Lei Lao Er just has to accept his bad luck." As he spoke, he suddenly turned around and caught sight of Miss Zhao's chubby cheeks, her pouting lips, her red-rimmed eyes, and her tear-streaked eyes, looking pitiful and heartbreakingly beautiful.

Seeing this, Lei Xiaotian narrowed his eyes and bowed deeply, saying, "Oh dear, my dear aunt, I, Lei the Second, was wrong. When the Third Brother comes back, he'll think I, Lei the Second, have suffered so much for you. If the Third Brother gets angry, I can't bear it with just a flick of his little finger."

Zhao Lianzhu burst out laughing, her laughter shaking her body. She grabbed Lei Xiaotian's shoulder with her fair wrist and shook him violently, saying in a sweet voice, "You said Brother Xie is coming back, is that true?"

Lei Xiaotian's eyes widened, inwardly groaning, thinking, "This aunt really knows how to catch people's eye. I said it's because the Third Brother is coming in the future, not that he'll actually arrive soon." He couldn't help but stand there, speechless, with a bitter face.

To be honest, for the past six months, Miss Lian had been longing for her fiancé, her eyes burning with yearning. Zhou Yue'e, too, had been eagerly awaiting his return. Seeing Lei Xiaotian's troubled expression, Miss Lian misunderstood, assuming Xie Yunyue had encountered some danger, and bombarded him with questions. Zhao Kangwan and Zhou Weicheng, seeing this, were slightly alarmed, but these older generation figures were quick to forgive and forget, and their expressions remained impassive.

Zhou Weicheng smiled and said, "Miss Lian, Teacher Lei has come from afar and must be tired. Let him have some water before we talk. Have Yue'e come out and meet Teacher Lei." Zhao Lianzhu insisted on staying, gesturing for the old servant outside to invite him.

Lei Xiaotian, being exceptionally intelligent, immediately realized they had misunderstood again. He coughed lightly, picked up Zhou Weicheng's teacup, gulped down the remaining tea, and laughed loudly, "Don't worry, Third Brother has already left Changbai Mountain!"

Zhao Kangjiu's worries vanished, and he asked with a smile, "Now that I've left Changbai Mountain, where am I now?"

At this moment, Zhou Yue'e gracefully walked out, giving Lei Xiaotian a slight curtsy. Lei Xiaotian had intended to say that Miss Yue'e was indeed well-mannered, unlike Miss Lian, who was so mischievous and shrewish, but upon seeing Miss Lian's pouting cheeks, he swallowed the words that had slipped out. He swallowed his words again, then smiled slightly and said, "Lei Lao Er only learned from Wu Fengbiao, the Flying Cloud Hand from the northern ranch, that Lao San had rested at the ranch for two days and one night, chosen a swift steed, and galloped off to Shanxi. I heard he discovered that a group of his enemies were in the Qingfeng Gang, so he was in such a hurry that he didn't even come back for the New Year."

Zhao Kangjiu stroked his beard and shook his head with a smile, "Young people are so impatient, truly inexperienced."

Zhao Lianzhu felt relieved, but inwardly she thought, "He didn't even come back for the New Year, how heartless of you."

That evening, the Zhao family arranged a grand banquet to welcome Lei Xiaotian.

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