Pearl Order [Complete] - 5

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

Chapter Seven: Dragon Sleep Manor.

Some time had passed when a cracking sound came from outside the next room. Ling Junyi opened his eyes to find the sun high in the sky, its rays filling the window. Looking down, he saw Fang Ruping staring at him with wide eyes. Ling Junyi said, "You woke up a while ago, why didn't you wake me?"

Fang Ruping kissed him and whispered, "I wanted you to sleep a little longer."

The two quickly jumped out of bed. Soon, a waiter brought water for washing their faces. Ling Junyi quickly washed up, and the two ate breakfast together. Fang Ruping whispered, "Brother, are we going to Tongcheng now?"

Ling Junyi nodded and said, "Since we've lost contact with Old Master Jin, we should naturally head to Tongcheng to see who this person who bought five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou textile is."

Fang Ruping looked at him, then spoke, "Brother, I have something I want to discuss with you. I wonder if you'd be willing?"

Ling Junyi said, "What can't we say to each other? Just tell me what it is."

Fang Ruping said, "Brother, you're so kind."

Ling Junyi said, "What is it?" Fang Ruping

said, "I want you to disguise me." Ling Junyi

said, "Are you afraid someone will recognize you?" Fang Ruping

hummed in agreement and said, "Brother, is that alright?"

Ling Junyi said, "If you want to disguise yourself, of course you can, but not here."

Fang Ruping said, "Why?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "This is an inn. When you woke up this morning, you were still a young man..." "But when we go out, you'll turn into an old man. Won't that arouse suspicion?"

Fang Ruping said, "I don't want to become an old man. I'll look so awkward with a big beard."

Ling Junyi said, "Then what kind of person do you want to dress up as?" Fang

Ruping said, "Naturally, a young gentleman. As long as it doesn't look like me

, that's fine." Ling Junyi said, "Handsome or ugly?"

Fang Ruping blushed slightly and said, "Handsome, of course. I wouldn't feel comfortable dressing up as an ugly monster."

Ling Junyi nodded and smiled, "Good brother, don't worry, I'll dress you up as the most handsome man in the world. I know girls like handsome men."

Fang Ruping protested, "Brother, you're teasing me again."

Ling Junyi said, "Alright, let's go." Fang

Ruping said, "Okay, let's go."

They went out of the room first, then went to the inn, rode their horses slowly, and went out of the south gate. Not far away, there was a dense forest at the foot of the mountain. Ling Junyi gestured for Fang Ruping to dismount, tied up the horse, and found a secluded spot. He then began to disguise Fang Ruping. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Fang Ruping had a completely different appearance. Although still a young man in a blue robe, she now had long eyebrows, bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, and a face as white as powder—even more beautiful than before. Fang Ruping took the small bronze mirror from Ling Junyi, admiring herself from left to right, overjoyed. She giggled and said, "Brother, your skill is truly amazing! When will you teach me?"

Ling Junyi replied, "That's easy. Someone as clever as you can learn it in two days."

Fang Ruping blushed and said, "I'm so stupid."

Ling Junyi said, "There's just one thing that I'm afraid you can't learn overnight."

Fang Ruping asked, "What is it?"

Ling Junyi said, "Your voice. After you learn to disguise yourself, you'll also need to change your voice. Otherwise, people will recognize you as soon as you open your mouth." Fang Ruping

... "How long will it take?"

Fang Ruping asked. Ling Junyi replied, "At least a year and a half, at most three years."

Fang Ruping said, "That's too long. I just need to learn how to disguise myself. Big brother, will you teach me starting tomorrow?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "That's fine, but you have to become my apprentice."

Fang Ruping rolled her eyes at him and said, "Isn't calling you big brother enough?"

Ling Junyi said, "Didn't you used to call me Uncle Ling?"

Fang Ruping sniffed and said, "You still dare to say that! That was because you were deliberately trying to take advantage of me, pretending to be a country bumpkin to fool people."

The two walked out of the woods, mounted their horses, and continued on their way. Before long, they had arrived in Tongcheng. Fang Ruping seemed very familiar with the city streets. She took the lead, guiding Ling Junyi through two side streets, turning onto East Street, and pointing to a teahouse, saying, "Brother, it's still early. Shall we have a cup of tea and rest here?"

Ling Junyi nodded and said, "Alright, this teahouse is quite large."

Fang Ruping said softly, "My cousin and I have been here before. The upstairs private rooms are very quiet."

Ling Junyi said, "You two are really wild girls, daring to come to teahouses and taverns?" Fang Ruping

giggled and said, "My cousin and I were only pretending to be two scholarly gentlemen..." "We went up there,"

Ling Junyi said. "Did anyone notice?" Fang Ruping

replied, "Of course not."

The two rode slowly to the teahouse entrance, where a waiter greeted them, holding their horses' hooves and smiling, "Gentlemen, please come to our private seats upstairs."

Upstairs, Fang Ruping walked to a table facing the street on the north side and said, "We sat here last time we came."

Ling Junyi sat down opposite her, glancing up to see a five-storey silk shop across the street, its gold signboard prominently displaying the six characters: "Defengyu Silk Shop." The tea server asked what tea they wanted and then withdrew.

Ling Junyi laughed, "Brother, you found a good seat."

Fang Ruping smiled smugly, "Last time my cousin and I came here to Defengyu to pick out fabric for my aunt. We each bought a set of men's clothing, changed our clothes back at the inn, and went out shopping."

Ling Junyi said, "No wonder you know the streets here so well."

The tea server brewed tea for the two of them and brought out a plate of melon seeds. Fang Ruping grabbed a handful of melon seeds, cracking them with her teeth as she said, "Brother, I know the streets here better than you do. I'll follow the person who bought five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou textile later."

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "Alright." Fang Ruping

raised her eyebrows and said happily, "Brother, we agreed, you have to wait for me here."

Ling Junyi said, "If you go, I'll naturally wait for you here."

That's the advantage of having a private room upstairs; the people drinking tea are all refined and cultured, some sipping tea and discussing poetry, others cracking melon seeds and playing chess. The vast hall was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaotic scene downstairs. Just then, a man ascended the stairs. He wore a melon-shaped hat, a long blue cloth robe, and carried a small lacquered box on his shoulder. He had a mustache and appeared to be around fifty years old. He looked like a traveling physician, or perhaps a jeweler. Upon reaching the top, his gaze swept quickly across the room before he approached an empty seat by the window to the right of Ling Junyi and Fang Ruping's seats. He placed his box on the table, stroked his mustache, and sat down against the window railing.

The tea server followed, smiling and greeting, "What kind of tea would you like, sir?"

"Scented tea," the old man in the melon-shaped hat replied casually, glancing at the Defengyu Silk Shop across the street.

Ling Junyi had already seen him. While the tea server was talking to him, he whispered, "Brother, from now on, don't mention that matter again."

Fang Ruping was startled and turned to look at the old man in the melon-shaped hat, but she only saw his back. She couldn't help but move closer and asked softly, "Who is this person?"

Ling Junyi shook his head at her, then switched to using telepathy, saying, "I'll tell you later."

Fang Ruping heard a voice like a mosquito's buzz, yet every word was crystal clear. She knew her elder brother was speaking to her telepathically. However, her own skill was insufficient; she hadn't learned telepathy. She secretly thought, "It seems my elder brother's cultivation is no less than my uncle's."

Ling Junyi took a sip of tea and smiled, "Brother, I heard your cousin is very beautiful. Tell me, just how beautiful is she?"

Fang Ruping pouted and snorted, "What do you care how beautiful she is? You already have..." She suddenly stopped.

Ling Junyi asked, "What have I had?" Looking at Fang Ruping, he gave a soft "Oh," and smiled, "I have a cousin."

Fang Ruping's cheeks flushed red, and she spat, "No, I'm talking about my god-sister." She was so happy that she unconsciously revealed two rows of neat, pearly teeth, and quickly pursed her lips.

Ling Junyi laughed, "Brother, you've forgotten again."

Fang Ruping exclaimed "Ah," lowered her hand, and still chuckled softly, "One day, when you see my cousin, you'll definitely get dizzy."

Ling Junyi laughed, "Brother, don't tease me. What kind of person do you take me for?"

Fang Ruping said, "It's human nature to love beauty. When you see a beautiful flower, wouldn't you like it?"

Just then, they suddenly heard the clatter of hooves coming from the street. Judging from the cacophony of the hooves, there were at least four or five horses. Ling Junyi and Fang Ruping looked up at the street at the same time. They saw five strong horses slowly galloping down the street. On the first horse sat a tall, burly old man with thick eyebrows and piercing eyes. He wore a blue cloth robe and a small melon-shaped hat. He had a mustache and a serious expression. He rode with great style. Behind this man, on four horses, sat four men dressed in light blue, each with a single sword at their waist, looking imposing and proud. The five horses moving in a line naturally led one to guess that the purple-faced old man with the mustache was a clerk from some high-ranking government office.

Fang Ruping glanced at the purple-faced old man on horseback and unconsciously moved her lips slightly. The purple-faced old man led the way, stopping his horse in front of the Defengyu Silk Shop. As soon as he stopped, the men on the four horses behind him immediately dismounted. Two of them rushed forward; one helped the purple-faced old man control his horse's head, while the other immediately reached out to help him. Only then did the purple-faced old man slowly mount his horse. It was quite obvious that a big customer had arrived at the Defengyu Silk Shop. In an instant, all the shop's employees and accountants came out to greet him, like stars surrounding the moon, welcoming the purple-faced old man inside. Ling Junyi and Fang Ruping had already taken notice of the purple-faced old man. They were across the street, peering out their window, and could clearly see the commotion inside the Defengyu shop.

The accountant in the silk shop ushered the purple-faced old man into the shop, being extremely attentive, repeatedly saying, "Please sit down." The

purple-faced old man didn't stand on ceremony, sitting down imposingly at the head of a purple-lacquered octagonal table. A shop assistant respectfully served fragrant tea, and another immediately brought out a white copper water pipe. The purple-faced old man picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and then turned to say a few words to the accountant. The accountant bowed, smiling obsequiously, and replied, "Yes," before turning to the shop assistants and giving them a series of instructions. Several shop assistants immediately busied themselves, each carrying several bolts of silk and satin from the display case and presenting them to the purple-faced old man. The purple-faced old man carefully selected several bolts of silk before pointing to a few at the accountant and nodding in approval.

The shop assistants then took the remaining bolts to the counter. The purple-faced old man spoke a few more words to the accountant, seemingly indicating he wanted other silks. The accountant bowed repeatedly and personally directed the shop assistants to open the counter and take out five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou silk. The shop assistants carried them out of the shop and handed them to the strong-looking man, who tied them to his horse. Fang Ruping almost exclaimed "Ah!" when she saw the shop assistants bring out the five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou silk. At the same time, the old man in the melon-shaped hat who had been drinking tea by the window at the table to their right took out a few copper coins, placed them on the table, picked up his small red lacquered box, and hurried downstairs.

Seeing him leave in such a hurry,

Fang Ruping immediately asked in a low voice, "Brother, who do you think that person is?" Ling Junyi quickly glanced around before whispering, "He's the old man with the braided hair who delivered the 'Pearl Token,' but today he's wearing a melon-shaped hat."

Fang Ruping exclaimed, "Ah! He rushed downstairs; was he delivering something?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou silk, tied to the horse at the door—it couldn't be more conspicuous. Naturally, he had to deliver it."

In the time it took to say those few words, the old man in the melon-shaped hat had already crossed the street and headed straight for Defeng Silk Shop. A shop assistant greeted him, clearly indicating that he shouldn't wander in. The old man in the melon-shaped hat smiled obsequiously at the shop assistant, then, with his back turned, pointed to the purple-faced old man and whispered a few words, as if to say, "I'm delivering something for that person."

This time, the shop assistant nodded apologetically, raised his hand, and said, "Please, sir."

The old man in the melon-shaped hat, carrying a small red lacquered box, stepped into the shop and bowed respectfully to the purple-faced old man. The purple-faced old man only nodded slightly, raised his eyes, and asked him something. The old man in the melon-shaped hat, with a forced smile, walked forward obsequiously, then placed the small red lacquered box on the table. He took out a key, unlocked the brass lock, opened the box, and reached inside to take out several strings of pearl necklaces, phoenix pendants, pearl flowers, jade bracelets, and several small, exquisite brocade boxes. He respectfully placed each item in front of the purple-faced old man, while constantly smiling and talking. The "Pearl Token" was, so it turned out, contained in one of the brocade boxes. The purple-faced old man casually picked out seven or eight items, two of which were in brocade boxes. He then slowly took out a silver note from his sleeve and handed it to the old man in the melon-shaped hat. The old man in the melon-shaped hat happily accepted the silver note, put away the lacquered wooden box, thanked him profusely, and hurried out onto the street. At this time, the Defengyu shop assistants had already wrapped up several more bolts of fine silk and brought them out, handing them to the strong-looking man to be loaded onto the horse.

Fang Ruping said urgently, "Brother, let's go quickly."

The two paid for their tea and hurried downstairs. The young shop assistant immediately led the horses for them. Fang Ruping rewarded him with a string of coins, mounted the horse, and galloped off onto the street. Ling Junyi initially assumed Fang Ruping was chasing the old man in the melon-shaped hat, since the purple-faced old man had given him a silver note; checking which bank it belonged to would easily reveal the old man's background. However, he now realized his guess was completely wrong. Fang Ruping wasn't chasing the old man at all; she wasn't chasing anyone.

Outside the north gate was a stone-paved road, which, judging from the situation, wasn't a main road. There weren't many travelers, and the two horses galloped four or five li in one go. Fang Ruping then abandoned the stone-paved road and took a side path. It was already dusk; the setting sun dipped behind the mountains, birds flew back to the forest, and wisps of smoke rose from the distant foothills.

Ling Junyi felt a sense of unease. Even with his usual patience, he was starting to lose his composure. He spurred his horse forward, catching up with Fang Ruping's horse. He Xuan asked, "Brother, where are you going?"

Fang Ruping turned and gave him a mysterious smile, saying, "I'm taking you to see someone."

Ling Junyi asked, "Who is it?"

Fang Ruping giggled, "Once you see him, I'll introduce you to him, brother."

Ling Junyi asked, "Is this person related to our trip?" Fang

Ruping kept urging her horse on, replying, "Brother, you don't need to ask. You'll find out when the time comes." She was still deliberately being difficult.

Ling Junyi frowned, saying nothing more. The two mounted horses, carefully selected by the Tang Clan of Sichuan, incredibly fast, and in no time they had covered twenty or thirty miles. The mountains in this area were not high but beautiful, the water not deep but clear, with tall pines and bamboos—a picturesque scene! Ling Junyi suddenly had a thought, remembering that Old Master Jin had mentioned "Longmian Manor" located in the northwest of Tongcheng. Could this be Longmian Manor? Fang Ruping, who was ahead, reached the foot of a mountain. Suddenly, she turned her horse, slowing its gallop. She lightly dismounted, led the horse, and headed into a dense grove of trees.

Ling Junyi followed, dismounting, and asked, "Have we arrived?"

Fang Ruping replied, "Not yet. Let's hide the horses first."

Ling Junyi asked, "Are we going to Longmian Manor?"

Fang Ruping asked in surprise, "How did you know, brother?"

Ling Junyi replied, "I was just guessing. This is Longmian Mountain. Where else would we go besides Longmian Manor?"

"Hmm," Fang Ruping murmured, saying nothing more, but simply leading the horse into the forest. It was a dense pine forest. After tying up the horses, Ling Junyi said solemnly, "Brother, although the people of Longmian Manor rarely travel in the martial world, it is said that the manor lord, Qianlong Zhu Wenhua, is not only extremely skilled in martial arts, but also adept at mechanisms, intelligence gathering, poisons, and hidden weapons. You mustn't act recklessly." Fang Ruping

said, "Don't worry, brother. We won't provoke them."

Ling Junyi pressed, "Then who exactly are you going to see?" Fang

Ruping said, "Brother, just come with me." She still wouldn't say for sure.

Ling Junyi said, "Alright." Fang Ruping led the way, climbing the small hill. They saw towering peaks, lush forests, and a wide, flagstone path leading to a manor, seemingly about a mile away. It was already dark; from a distance, only a vast, dark mass of manor could be seen – that was undoubtedly "Dragon Sleep Manor."

Fang Ruping whispered, "Let's go down." She descended a path behind the hill, walking through the woods, and soon reached the side of Dragon Sleep Manor. The manor's tall walls were now in sight. Fang Ruping stopped, turned, and beckoned to Ling Junyi.

Ling Junyi rushed to her side. "What is it?"

Fang Ruping asked, pointing to the wall. "Go in from here. Inside the wall, there's a wide stone path encircling the village. To enter, you have to cross this path, so it's heavily guarded. There are eight checkpoints in total, with two people and a contracted dog at each post. We'll be at one of these checkpoints if we go in from here..."

Ling Junyi asked, "Are we going in?"

Fang Ruping replied, "Of course we're going in! Otherwise, why would we have rushed here?"

Ling Junyi asked, "What are we going in for?" Fang Ruping

said, "Never mind that."

Ling Junyi shook his head. "Okay, I don't care. So how do we get in?"

Fang Ruping said, "That's exactly what I wanted to tell you. After we jump over the wall, you need to use lightning speed to instantly immobilize the two guards. Once the contracted dog notices someone, I'll..." "Deal with them. Then you release their pressure points, but don't let them notice. Use your lightning-fast movements to hide in the shadows of the row of houses across the street and wait for me."

Ling Junyi asked, "How do you deal with the 'son-in-law'?"

Fang Ruping smiled and said, "I have my own way. You just need to do as I say, and you don't need to ask any other questions." Ling Junyi was secretly surprised, thinking, "She seems to know Longmian Manor very well."

Fang Ruping glanced at him and chuckled, "What are you thinking about, brother? We should go in now, or Steward Yin will be here soon."

Ling Junyi asked curiously, "Who is Steward Yin?"

Fang Ruping said, "Steward Yin is the purple-faced old man who bought five bolts of Hangzhou silk at Defengyu Silk Shop just now. His name is Yin Tianlu, and he is the steward of Longmian Manor."

Ling Junyi said, "So you know him."

Fang Ruping lowered her head and said, "If I didn't know him, would I have found this place?"

As soon as she finished speaking, they suddenly heard the sound of a car rushing in the distance. Fang Ruping said hurriedly, "They're here, brother, let's go in quickly." She took Ling Junyi's hand with her slender hand, and then said, "Brother, this wall is at least three zhang high. If I jump up, I'm afraid I'll make a sound. Brother, could you help me?"

Ling Junyi held her soft, boneless hand, and Fang Ruping urged softly, "Let's go quickly." The two held hands and flashed out of the forest, immediately using their superior lightness skills, like two shooting stars, so fast that it was dazzling. In the blink of an eye, they had already swept across a patch of grass outside the wall. Just as they were about to reach the wall, Ling Junyi shouted, "Rise!"

Without crouching down or shaking his arms, he simply touched the ground with his toes, and he and Fang Ruping were already flying into the air, landing gracefully on the wall. Looking around, they saw a smooth stone path inside the wall, at least four or five zhang wide. Not far from the wall, two men dressed in light blue, close-fitting clothes stood shoulder to shoulder. At their feet sat contracted dogs, which looked extremely alert and even more formidable than humans. Before climbing the wall, Ling Junyi had already prepared two small pebbles in his hand. As soon as he landed, he threw the pebbles at the two men, whispering, "Get down quickly."

Fang Ruping didn't dare to delay. She leaped down. Before she even landed, the contracted dog, already alert, stood up abruptly, its brown fur bristling, ready to pounce. Fang Ruping landed on the ground and softly called out, "Don't bark, it's me."

Hearing Fang Ruping's command, the dog's bristling fur slowly subsided. It lowered its head, sniffing the hem of Fang Ruping's clothes, wagging its tail affectionately. Fang Ruping patted its head and walked forward, the dog obediently following her. Ling Junyi was slightly taken aback, thinking, "Could she be from Longmian Manor?"

Fang Ruping lured away the contracted dog, and Ling Junyi immediately landed gracefully, lightly brushing his hand across the two men. His figure moved as fast as a shooting star, disappearing into the shadows of a row of houses opposite. At this moment, the sound of horses' hooves grew closer, as if they had already arrived at the manor. Ling Junyi was looking around when Fang Ruping flew over and whispered, "Brother, let's hurry."

Ling Junyi had many questions in his mind, but it was inconvenient to ask them now, so he could only silently follow Fang Ruping. The two of them, one in front and one behind, concealed themselves in the shadows and made their way forward. Fang Ruping was extremely familiar with the layout of Longmian Manor, passing through corridors and houses, turning corners as if she were back home. In no time, she had passed through several buildings without being noticed. Finally, after passing through a long corridor, they found themselves in a flower hall, with a moon gate on each side. Fang Ruping led Ling Junyi swiftly through the right-hand moon gate. Inside was a small courtyard, lush with flowers and trees, featuring a small pond and a stone bridge. Potted plants lined the white stone path. Under the night sky, it appeared exceptionally tranquil and pleasant! At the top of the stone steps were three exquisitely furnished study rooms. Apparently, the flower hall led directly to the study rooms, so although there were two carved doors on the steps, they were rarely opened. However, the six lattice windows on the left were all wide open.

Fang Ruping gently tugged at Ling Junyi's sleeve, quietly disappearing into a grove of flowering trees. She crouched down in the study, where a red candle burned. Looking out, she saw books filling the walls. Before the desk sat a person in a sky-blue satin robe, quietly reading by candlelight in a reclining chair. Because he was sitting sideways, only half of his profile was visible, and his face was obscured. Ling Junyi turned his head, about to ask Fang Ruping a question. Fang Ruping looked nervous, raising a slender finger to cover her cherry lips, signaling him not to make a sound. Just then, light footsteps came from outside the moon gate along the long corridor, stopping at the door of the study. Then a slightly husky voice rang out, "Master, I've returned."

Ling Junyi was secretly startled, thinking, "So the one reading this is Qianlong Zhu Wenhua, the master of Longmian Manor." A clear voice from the study said, "Come in."

Then someone opened the curtain and entered the study with light footsteps. The husky voice said, "Since the weather is getting hot, all the brothers in our manor need to change their clothes for the season. This time, I went to Tongcheng and brought back five bolts of Hangzhou silk." The clear voice asked

, "Did you buy everything that Madam and Miss asked you to buy?"

The husky voice replied, "Yes, I bought everything. It cost a total of three hundred and thirty-two taels of silver."

The clear voice asked, "What exactly did they ask you to buy that was so expensive?"

The shady voice said with a forced smile, "Seven bolts of silk and four bolts of brocade will cost only twenty-four taels of silver. The other two pearl hairpins and the string of pearl phoenixes that Miss wants will cost one hundred and fifty taels of silver. Before I left, Madam instructed me that if you're going to buy anything, you must buy two sets; if Miss has a watch, Miss must have one too..." Ling Junyi's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he glanced back at Fang Ruping.

A clear voice hummed in agreement and asked, "Have you sent them all in?"

The shady voice replied, "I've already had Caihua send them in."

The clear voice said, "Good..." and then asked, "Did you hear any news when you went to Tongcheng?"

The shady voice said, "I was just about to report to the Master of the Manor when news came from Taihe and Yingzhou a few days ago that the third and seventh sons of the Tang family in Sichuan, the second son of the Wen family in Lingnan, as well as Jin Ding and Jin Kaitai of the Shaolin School, and the Copper-Armed Heavenly King who rarely travels in the Central Plains, are all here..." "Appearing on the road..."

The clear voice grunted, "These people entered Anhui province at the same time. Have you found out their motives?"

The sharp voice replied, "I have already sent out several capable brothers, disguised as various merchants, to secretly investigate their movements. What are their motives? I don't know for the time being, but I received reports from three of my brothers in Tongcheng..."

The clear voice asked, "What did they say?"

The sharp voice said, "They said these people are in Fuyang, Yingshang, Lu'an, and Shucheng..." "They all disappeared one after another along this road." Ling Junyi's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and he thought to himself, "These people have all vanished."

The clear voice suddenly asked, "What did you say? These people have all disappeared one after another?"

The sharp voice said, "Yes, it is said that they were originally acting independently. Since they have come all this way, they must have had a purpose. But the strange thing is that they all seem to have disappeared underground one after another. Before they even reached Shucheng, not a single one of them was seen."

The clear voice said, "Could such a thing have happened?"

The sharp voice said, "What I said is true."

The clear voice said, "What about those brothers?"

The sharp voice said, "I have ordered them to continue their detailed investigation and report back by noon tomorrow."

The clear voice said, "Very good, but their intentions are unclear. You should send more people to patrol our manor and be on high alert."

The sharp voice responded with a "Yes," and then asked, "Does the manor lord have any other instructions?"

The clear voice said, "No."

The sharp voice said, "I take my leave." Then, a series of light footsteps were heard as he left the room.

The sharp, raspy voice was none other than Yin Tianlu, the purple-faced old man he had seen at the Defengyu Silk Shop, and the steward of Longmian Manor. After he left the study, the old man in the green robe stood up from his reclining chair, put his hands behind his back, walked to the window, sighed, and slowly said, "It is indeed strange that so many people can disappear into thin air." As he approached the window, Ling Junyi could clearly see his face through the gaps in the flowering trees. This renowned master of Longmian Manor looked to be no more than forty-four or forty-five years old, with fair skin, a flowing black beard, and a gentle and refined appearance, resembling a scholar. However, his eyebrows were rather thick, and his eyes shone like stars, clearly indicating that he was a master of internal martial arts.

Fang Ruping, hiding in the flowering bushes, saw the old man in the green robe stop and approach the window. A sense of fear gripped her heart, and she couldn't help but gently tug at Ling Junyi's sleeve. This movement caused a branch to touch a few leaves, which swayed slightly. The branches rustled, the sound faint, but the man in the green robe flashed his eyes like lightning, aiming directly at where the two were hiding. He coldly demanded, "Who's there?" Though his voice wasn't loud, it carried a chilling authority, forcing the two to abandon their concealment.

Fang Ruping rose from the bushes and whispered, "Uncle, it's me." It turned out she was the old man in the green robe's niece. She immediately turned and said, "Brother Ling, come with me quickly." With that, she parted the flowers and willows, gracefully walking out. Her sudden change from "Brother" to "Brother Ling" was a bit too intimate in front of her uncle; this young lady was quite shrewd.

Fang Ruping appeared, and Ling Junyi had no choice but to follow. The two figures, one after the other, entered through the window and stood before the man in the green robe. The man in the green robe glanced at the two of them, especially noticing Fang Ruping's attire. His thick eyebrows twitched slightly as he asked, "Are you Ruping?"

Fang Ruping chuckled, "I've been calling you uncle for a long time. Who else could it be but me?" She then turned to Ling Junyi and said, "Brother Ling, this is my uncle, the master of Longmian Manor."

In fact, even without Fang Ruping's introduction, Ling Junyi already knew that the man in the green robe was Qianlong Zhu Wenhua, the master of Longmian Manor. Ling Junyi could only clasp his hands in a fist and bow, saying, "I am Ling Junyi, greetings to Master Zhu."

Fang Ruping said from the side, "Uncle, this Brother Ling has saved my life twice. I brought him here specifically to meet you."

Zhu Wenhua's gaze was cold as he merely sized up Ling Junyi, then nodded slightly and said, "Brother Ling, please sit. Ruping, go and tell them to make tea."

Fang Ruping said softly, "Uncle, Brother Ling and I are coming to see you tonight, but we can't let anyone know. There's no need to make tea."

Zhu Wenhua thought to himself, "This little girl, coming to see me in the middle of the night, I wonder what brings her here, acting so suspiciously?" He stroked his beard, staring at Fang Ruping, and slowly said, "What do you want?"

Fang Ruping lowered her voice and said, "We have a very important matter..." "It's a secret matter, I'll report it to you later, Uncle."

Zhu Wenhua was slightly surprised and asked in astonishment, "What secret matter?"

Fang Ruping's eyes darted around

, and she said seriously, "Uncle, this matter is very important, and not a word of it can be leaked." Seeing her solemn expression, Zhu Wenhua was filled with doubt and suspicion. He frowned slightly and said, "Ruping, no one is allowed to enter my study without being summoned. You can speak freely."

Fang Ruping said, "I know, but I think it's best to close the window."

Zhu Wenhua stroked his beard and said, "Is it that serious?"

Fang Ruping hummed and chuckled, "We were hiding outside the window just now, and we heard everything Uncle and Steward Yin said, didn't we?" She turned and walked to the window, closed it, and casually drew the curtains.

Zhu Wenhua had already sat down in the head chair and asked, "Ruping, is your mother doing well at home?"

Fang Ruping shook her head and said, "I didn't go back."

Zhu Wenhua asked, "Then where did you go?"

Fang Ruping blushed slightly, glanced at Ling Junyi, and said, "I met Brother Ling on the road and stayed with him."

Zhu Wenhua's gaze then shifted to Ling Junyi's face, and he said with a smile, "I can see that although Brother Ling is young, he possesses a hidden brilliance and his knowledge is quite remarkable." "Who is your master?"

Before Ling Junyi could speak, Fang Ruping interjected, "Uncle, you have excellent judgment! Brother Ling is a disciple of the Buddhist monk, Reversed Hand Tathagata."

Zhu Wenhua was moved and said, "So Brother Ling is actually a disciple of the Buddhist monk, Reversed Hand Tathagata. I am deeply sorry for my lack of respect."

Ling Junyi bowed and said, "You flatter me, Master." Fang

Ruping was secretly pleased to hear her uncle's high regard for Reversed Hand Tathagata, and whispered, "Uncle, Brother Ling is here to investigate the 'Pearl Token' matter."

Zhu Wenhua nodded and said, "I have heard rumors in the martial arts world that the heads of the Wen family in Lingnan and the Tang family in Sichuan disappeared without a trace, and their families found a pearl engraved with the character 'Token' in their bedrooms. A while ago, the words 'Pearl Token' caused quite a stir in the martial arts world, but time has passed and it has gradually faded away. Brother Ling, do you have any leads in your investigation of the 'Pearl Token'?"

Fang Ruping interjected, "Uncle, Brother Ling's mother also disappeared three months ago. It was Brother Ling's master who sent him to the martial world to investigate the 'Pearl Token.' Brother Ling's first step was to go to Kaifeng to find Jin Ding Jin Kaitai, because Master Leshan, the abbot of the Shaolin Temple's Medicine King Hall, also mysteriously disappeared three months ago..."

Zhu Wenhua's expression changed drastically: "The abbot of the Shaolin Temple's Medicine King Hall has also disappeared? How come I haven't heard anyone mention it?"

Fang Ruping said, "That's a long story, Brother Ling, why don't you tell us?"

Ling Junyi immediately recounted how he had sought an audience with Master Jin to view the "Pearl Token," how he had suddenly received a secret letter on the streets of Kaifeng that night, how he had followed the blind man, and how he had encountered Fang Ruping… Zhu Wenhua stared intently and asked, "Brother Ling, do you know what's inside that brocade box?" Fang

Ruping giggled and said, "Uncle, just listen patiently, and you'll find out." Ling Junyi then went on to tell how the Ghost-Seeing-Sorrow Master Tang had kidnapped Fang Ruping, and how he had gone to Mount Bagong… …

Zhu Wenhua stroked his beard, scoffing, “The Tang Clan of Sichuan actually dared to bully you! Ruping, when are you going to capture Guijianchou and hang him for three days and three nights?”

Fang Ruping smiled sweetly, “No need, Uncle, I’ve already recognized Old Madam Tang as my godmother.”

Zhu Wenhua asked, “How did that happen?”

Fang Ruping replied, “Brother Ling went to Bagong Mountain and broke the Tang family’s ‘Eight Seals Blade Formation’ with a single sword strike. Old Madam Tang summoned me and recognized me as her goddaughter.”

Zhu Wenhua asked, “Old Madam Tang has also come to Jiangnan?”

Fang Ruping turned to Ling Junyi and smiled, “Brother, why don’t you tell him?” As soon as she spoke, her face flushed slightly. Wasn’t calling him “Brother” in front of her uncle a bit too intimate?

Ling Junyi said, "Not only the Tang family of Sichuan, but as far as I know, the Wen family of Lingnan has also joined forces with the Xiao family of Nanxiang and Dong Tianwang. Additionally, the Shaolin people, led by Master Jin Ding, have

also been tracking them." Zhu Wenhua frowned and asked, "What exactly is being transported that has attracted so much attention?"

Fang Ruping winked at Ling Junyi, who then continued, recounting how, after leaving Bagong Mountain, near Zhengyang Pass, they discovered the secret signal left by Master Jin. The two of them had followed it all the way. However, upon reaching Shannan Pass, Master Jin's secret signal suddenly disappeared, as if he had vanished into thin air. Not only Master Jin, but also the other two groups (the Tang family of Sichuan and the Wen family of Lingnan) seemed to have disappeared from Shannan Pass onwards. Zhu Wenhua waved his hand and said, "Wait a minute, after you met Wen Lao Er and Xiao Fenggang at the Wang family's feeding hall, you haven't seen them since?"

Ling Junyi nodded in agreement. Zhu Wenhua continued, "They left in such a hurry that night because they discovered the emergency markings left by King Dong, and that's why they rushed there?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Exactly."

Zhu Wenhua stroked his beard, pondering, "King Dong dominates Tiannan, and his cultivation is extraordinary. His emergency markings are quite significant..." He paused slightly, his gaze fixed on the two men, and slowly said, "From Shannan Pass onwards, all those who were following them have vanished without a trace. It's impossible that all three groups were wiped out in one fell swoop. Their disappearance north of Shannan Pass suggests they were lured away by a ruse." At this point, his gaze suddenly sharpened, and he said with a knowing look, "They..." "North of Shannan Pass, they've lured away all the people following them. Could it be that the delivery is almost there?"

Ling Junyi listened, secretly admiring him, thinking to himself, "People in the martial world say that Zhu Wenhua, the Hidden Dragon, is cunning and resourceful. It seems the rumors are true." Fang Ruping raised her eyebrows and secretly smiled, "Uncle is right."

Zhu Wenhua asked, "Where did they deliver it?"

Fang Ruping said, "Brother Ling, tell us quickly."

Ling Junyi then recounted how he encountered the blind man in Huaxi, how he followed him, subdued the old man with the small braid on his head, and opened the brocade box. He discovered that the box they had been secretly transporting contained a "Pearl Token." Zhu Wenhua stroked his black beard and frowned, saying, "A 'Pearl Token' doesn't need such a complicated explanation. Are they deliberately being mysterious to attract attention, perhaps with ulterior motives?" At this point, he looked at Ling Junyi and asked, "Brother Ling, what happened next?" Ling

Junyi then placed the old man with the braided hair in the incense burner at the local temple, took out an instruction, and told them to deliver the "Pearl Token" to the person from Tongcheng Defengyu who was buying five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou textiles. Upon hearing this, Zhu Wenhua's expression changed, and he asked, "Did you continue to follow him?"

Fang Ruping smiled and replied, "Of course we did."

Zhu Wenhua said, "So you saw who the old man with the braided hair gave the 'Pearl Token' to?"

Fang Ruping pursed her lips and chuckled, "We were having tea at the teahouse opposite Defengyu; we couldn't have seen it more clearly. However, that old man with the braided hair disguised himself as a jewelry merchant today and cleverly slipped the 'Pearl Token' into other jewels. If you didn't know his background, you'd just think he was buying jewelry for the eldest young lady..."

Zhu Wenhua's eyes flashed coldly, and he said in a deep voice, "It was him."

Fang Ruping said, "Uncle doesn't believe me?" Zhu Wenhua glanced at the two men slowly, then pondered, "

Yin Tianlu has served me for over ten years, always faithfully performing his duties without fault. To say he harbors ulterior motives is truly unbelievable..." He then grunted and looked at Ling Junyi, saying, "Brother Ling, you were waiting in the teahouse; you must have seen everything clearly. Could you describe the situation in more detail?" Ling Junyi then recounted the events in detail.

Zhu Wenhua pondered for a long time before saying, "They gave the 'Pearl Token' to Yin Tianlu; could it be that they intended to kidnap me?"

Fang Ruping said, "I think so."

Ling Junyi said, "When I left Kaifeng, Master Jin mentioned Master Zhu to me."

Zhu Wenhua asked, "What did Jin Kaitai say?" Ling Junyi said, "Old Master Jin once said that the people kidnapped by the 'Pearl Order' gang are all related to poison and antidote. In the martial arts world, besides the Tang Clan of Sichuan, who are famous for their poisons and hidden weapons, and the Wen Family of Lingnan, who are skilled in using sleeping incense and drugs, Master Zhu is also a master of poisons..."

Zhu Wenhua's expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he gave a soft snort. Fang Ruping opened her eyes wide and asked in surprise, "Uncle, how come I've never heard of you being able to use poison?"

Zhu Wenhua's expression quickly returned, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief, saying, "Our Zhu family has never been involved in the martial arts world. It's just a rumor. Your maternal grandfather once saved a seriously injured old man in front of our manor. That old man recuperated for three months, and before leaving, he left behind a secret recipe. At that time, bandits were rampant, raping, looting, arson, and murdering wherever they went, leaving nine out of ten houses empty." The old man instructed your grandfather to prepare the medicine according to the prescription and scatter the powder three miles outside the village in a circle, so that the bandits would not dare to invade..."

Fang Ruping asked, "Is that an extremely potent poison?"

Zhu Wenhua nodded and said, "That's right. Not long after, a large number of bandits attacked. All the bandits who stepped into the area three miles outside our village immediately fell to the ground and died. Longmian Manor was thus saved. Outsiders, unaware of the truth, only thought that our Zhu family was skilled in using poison, and even now, everyone still says so."

Fang Ruping asked, "Uncle, what about that prescription?"

Zhu Wenhua smiled faintly and said, "What you're talking about is from fifty or sixty years ago. Your grandfather didn't pass down the prescription."

Fang Ruping said, "What a pity."

Zhu Wenhua stroked his black beard and slowly said, "From this, it seems that these bandits bribed Yin Tianlu, intending to kidnap me, probably for that prescription." Fang

Ruping asked, "Uncle, what are you planning to do with them?" Zhu Wenhua

's face darkened with anger. "I'll call Yin Tianlu here and ask him clearly," he

replied. Ling Junyi, who hadn't spoken for a long time, interjected, "Master Zhu, you mustn't alert them.

" Zhu Wenhua said, "I'll ask him face to face; I'm not sure he won't tell."

Ling Junyi said, "If your manor has been bribed by thieves, or if there are spies lurking within, then it's certainly not just one or two people. Even if Yin Tianlu wouldn't dare not speak out in front of the manor lord, he could still conceal the truth from several people, and the manor lord would remain unaware."

Zhu Wenhua sighed and said, "Brother Ling is right. Alas, Yin Tianlu has served me for over ten years, yet he willingly betrayed me to the enemy. It's truly disheartening to think about."

Ling Junyi said, "My mother has been missing for several months. According to my master's deduction, she was likely kidnapped by the 'Pearl Token' gang. They bribed your manor's steward, Yin Tianlu, and issued the 'Pearl Token,' clearly plotting to kidnap the manor lord. I have a humble suggestion; I wonder if it's feasible?"

Zhu Wenhua's gaze sharpened, and he raised his eyes, saying, "I'd like to hear your insightful opinion."

Ling Junyi said, "My idea is that the manor lord shouldn't make a fuss for now. Let's turn the tables on him."

Fang Ruping blinked her large eyes and asked, "How do you intend to turn the tables on him?" Zhu Wenhua looked at Ling Junyi, stroking his beard in silence.

Ling Junyi said, "I will use a little disguise to impersonate Master Zhu and let them kidnap you. This way, we can not only find out where their hideout is, but also find out their leader and their purpose."

Zhu Wenhua said, "This plan is good."

Ling Junyi said, "For me, it will allow me to act according to the situation and rescue my mother; for Master Zhu, it will allow me to secretly monitor Yin Tianlu's actions and catch all the spies lurking in your manor in one fell swoop..." Zhu Wenhua

nodded repeatedly and said, "That makes sense. Let's follow Brother Ling's wise suggestion."

Fang Ruping said, "Brother Ling, you are impersonating your uncle and infiltrating the bandits' lair. What about me? What do you want me to do?"

Ling Junyi said, "You have already returned to your uncle's manor. You can wash off the disguise and stay here for a few days. The martial arts world is currently in chaos, so it is not advisable to go out again." Fang Ruping said, "

I don't want to. No one will notice me like this. I can secretly follow them and pass messages to my uncle."

Zhu Wenhua said in a deep voice, "Ruping, you mustn't be fooling around anymore. Brother Ling is absolutely right. You're a girl, you shouldn't run around like this. Stay here for a while, and I'll send someone to inform your mother." Fang Ruping didn't dare to say anything in front of her uncle, she just pouted and remained silent.

Zhu Wenhua said, "Nothing will happen tonight. If anything changes, it will be tomorrow night. Brother Ling can stay in my secret room tonight. Ruping, quickly wash off the disguise, change into women's clothes, and go back to the backyard."

Fang Ruping said, "No, Uncle, Brother Ling might leave tomorrow. He promised to teach me the art of disguise. Let him teach me tonight before he leaves."

Zhu Wenhua said, "How can one learn the art of disguise so easily? It's not too late to learn from Brother Ling when he returns. " Little did he know that Fang Ruping had other plans.

Fang Ruping said, "No, I want to learn tonight, even just a little bit. Brother Ling, please teach me, okay?"

Ling Junyi couldn't refuse her, so he nodded and said, "Alright, since you want to learn, I'll teach you a simple method tonight."

Fang Ruping jumped up with joy and said, "Brother Ling, you're so kind."

Ling Junyi blushed in front of Zhu Wenhua. Fang Ruping continued, "Brother Ling, what I want to learn is how I look right now. Just teach me how to disguise myself like this first."

Zhu Wenhua said, "Since you want to learn disguise from Brother Ling, then go with Brother Ling to the secret room."

Fang Ruping was puzzled and looked around, asking, "Uncle, how come I didn't know there was a secret room in this study?" Zhu Wenhua smiled and said, "

This secret room in the study was originally used by your maternal grandfather for practicing martial arts. Even your aunt didn't know about it, so how would you know?"

Fang Ruping asked curiously, "Then my cousin doesn't know either. Uncle, where is the secret room?"

Zhu Wenhua smiled slightly, walked to the front of a row of bookshelves on the east side, and gently pressed a button. The two rows of bookshelves slowly slid open, revealing a doorway. Fang Ruping exclaimed with delight, "Uncle, so there's a doorway here!" With that, she ran briskly inside.

Zhu Wenhua shouted, "Ruping, stop!"

Fang Ruping took three steps forward, but upon hearing her uncle's shout, she quickly stopped and turned back, saying, "Uncle, what did you call me for?"

Zhu Wenhua stepped forward, pressed the door twice, and then said, "You can go in now."

Ling Junyi, seeing his actions, thought to himself, "I've heard from the legends that Zhu Wenhua is an expert in traps and intelligence. Longmian Manor is full of traps, and outsiders who don't know the way can't move an inch. Fang Ruping and I came in without noticing anything unusual. But this secret room is clearly an ambush."

Zhu Wenhua picked up an exquisite oil lamp from the table and handed it to Fang Ruping, saying, "Light the lamp and lead the way for Brother Ling."

Fang Ruping agreed, lit the oil lamp, and turned back, saying, "Brother Ling, let's go in quickly."

She led the way into the secret room, and Ling Junyi followed. Behind them, the door was silently closed. A quick glance around revealed that the secret room, though small, was spotless. Against the wall stood a carved wooden couch, flanked by two drum-shaped porcelain stools. Several paintings and calligraphies by famous artists hung on the walls. In the center was a carved eight-immortal table and four high-backed wooden chairs. To the left was a bookcase filled with ancient books and jade antiques, along with several small, unlabeled porcelain gourd-shaped medicine bottles, their contents unknown. It seemed that Qianlong Zhu Wenhua often practiced his internal energy here alone. Fang Ruping placed the oil lamp on the table and smiled sweetly, "Brother, this secret room is really nice. No wonder Uncle often hides alone in the study for most of the day, not allowing anyone to disturb him."

She found it very interesting, walked to the wooden couch, sat down, and said with a smile, "This wooden couch was probably used by my grandfather when he practiced his martial arts. The carving is really exquisite."

She didn't know what she touched, but the wooden couch silently moved to the left, revealing a cave several feet square on the ground, with a stone staircase leading down to it. It turned out to be an underground passage. Fang Ruping sat on the couch, and as the couch moved away, she was startled. She quickly jumped off the couch and looked at the dark cave on the ground, even more amazed. She whispered, "Brother, shall we go down and take a look?"

Ling Junyi said, "No, this is your uncle's secret room. You need to quickly restore the mechanism."

Fang Ruping said, "What's the big deal about going in? He's my uncle."

Ling Junyi said, "Everyone has their own secrets. Even your aunt doesn't know about this secret room of your uncle's. He told me..." "You've come in; this means you trust us. How could we possibly spy on your uncle's secrets behind his back? You should quickly restore it to its original state."

Fang Ruping said, "I accidentally triggered the mechanism, and I don't know how to restore it to its original state."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhu Wenhua's voice chuckled, "What secrets do I have? This tunnel is merely a shortcut to the artificial hill in the back garden. In the past, my late father enjoyed strolling in the garden after practicing his martial arts; there were no secrets to speak of." As he spoke, the wooden bed moved slowly and automatically, restoring itself to its original state.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "This Master Zhu is indeed very cunning. Although he has sealed the gate, he is not at ease and is still secretly monitoring the two of us. This shows that even though he is in the study, he can still see the movements in the secret room. His actions are tantamount to warning the two of us not to touch anything in the secret room." Thinking of this, he hurriedly said, "Miss Fang, didn't you want to learn disguise? Come here quickly, let's begin." After saying that, he pulled out a chair and sat down, then took out a small wooden box from his bosom, opened the lid, and placed the disguise items one by one on the table.

Hearing him call her "Miss Fang," Fang Ruping knew it was to prevent her uncle from eavesdropping, so she smiled sweetly at him and sat down on the chair to Ling Junyi's right. Ling Junyi took out a honey-colored cleansing pill and taught her to first wash off the disguise on her face. Then he taught her how to draw her eyebrows, how to draw her eyes, how to apply color, and where to use light and heavy makeup. As he explained, he used a small mirror to demonstrate on his own face, explaining in great detail. Fang Ruping was intelligent and quick-witted, so she learned quickly and grasped the concepts very well. However, when she tried to imitate it on her own face, it didn't go right, and she needed Ling Junyi's guidance to wash off the disguise and start over. It was almost midnight when the sound of fingers tapping came from the study door. This was the maid bringing ginseng soup to Master Zhu Wenhua every night before he went to bed. This was a habit he'd maintained for years, a perfectly ordinary thing on any other day. But tonight, the knocking on the door startled Zhu Wenhua. He ate breakfast alone in his study every day, but that was in the early morning, broad daylight, making it impossible for thieves to strike. Lunch and dinner were eaten in the back hall with his wife and daughter, attended by maids and servants, again making it impossible for thieves to do so. Only this bowl of soup, delivered from the back courtyard late at night, when he was alone in his study, presented the perfect opportunity for the thieves to strike… A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately called out in a deep voice, “Who is it?”

A woman's voice answered from outside, “This maid, Guihua, has brought ginseng soup for the master.”

Zhu Wenhua said, “Come in.”

The curtain parted, and Guihua, carrying a vermilion lacquer tray with a delicate dish on it, gracefully entered. Setting down the lacquer tray, he held the porcelain bowl with both hands and presented it to Zhu Wenhua, saying softly, "Master, please have some ginseng soup."

Zhu Wenhua sat upright in his reclining chair, his two cold, electric eyes slowly landing on Guihua's arm. Guihua was a girl of eighteen or nineteen, extremely sensitive. She noticed that the Master's gaze was fixed on her. This had never happened before, and she felt a chill run down her spine, her cheeks instantly flushing red. She stood to one side, her head bowed, not daring to lift it even slightly. Zhu Wenhua thought to himself, "This girl is quick-witted. She said she was introduced by Yin Tianlu, yet she completely absolved herself of any blame from him." He deliberately nodded, reached out to lift the lid of the bowl, picked up the ginseng soup, and was about to drink it. Guihua stood to the side, secretly glancing at him, a hint of joy on her face.

Zhu Wenhua saw this but showed no sign of it. Apparently, the ginseng soup was too hot, so he didn't drink it. He placed it back on the table and then asked, "Did you make this ginseng soup?"

Guihua replied, "Yes, Madam ordered it."

Zhu Wenhua asked, "When you brought the ginseng soup tonight, did you encounter anyone?"

Guihua's face changed slightly, and she said, "No...no."

Zhu Wenhua's eyes suddenly widened, and he said in a deep voice, "Did you leave while you were making the ginseng soup?"

Guihua gradually felt uneasy and lowered her head, saying, "No."

Zhu Wenhua frowned and said, "This bowl of ginseng soup smells a little off."

Guihua exclaimed in surprise, "No, this is what the Master drinks. I dare not be negligent in the slightest. Perhaps I put in too much ginseng tonight, making the smell slightly stronger than usual."

Zhu Wenhua smiled coldly and said, "Is it because I put in too much ginseng? Do you think I can't even smell the ginseng?"

Guihua said timidly, "Then I'll go and get the Master a new bowl." As she spoke, she reached for the porcelain bowl.

Zhu Wenhua said, "Wait."

Guihua was terrified and stammered, "What are your orders, Master?"

Zhu Wenhua said, "Since you personally stewed it, drink it."

Guihua was even more shocked and took several steps back, saying, "Master, even if I were incredibly bold, I wouldn't dare drink ginseng soup."

Zhu Wenhua said, "It's alright, I want you to drink it."

Guihua's face turned pale, and she hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare..."

Before she could finish, Zhu Wenhua said in a deep voice, "You dare disobey me?" Suddenly, he leaped up, grabbed Guihua by the back of her collar, lifted her chin with his left hand, pried open her teeth, picked up the porcelain cup, and poured a bowl of ginseng soup into her mouth. This move was incredibly fast; Guihua didn't even have time to groan before she was acupunctured and knocked to the ground.

Fang Ruping was exceptionally intelligent, and with Ling Junyi's guidance, she had grasped eight or nine tenths of the essentials of disguise in just half a watch. Now she could disguise herself as a handsome young man, or as a thin, white-haired old man with a face full of wrinkles. The joy she felt was indescribable. Only the accent was something she couldn't learn immediately, but that wasn't too important; as long as she spoke less, she could get by. Fang Ruping looked at Ling Junyi with joyful eyes and said sweetly, "Brother, if I'd known disguise was this easy, I should have asked you to teach me these past few days."

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "Although you are exceptionally intelligent and learn quickly, you've only learned the basics. It's a long way from mastering it completely."

Fang Ruping said, "Am I not convincing enough?"

Ling Junyi said, "You are naturally convincing, but you can only disguise yourself as a young man or an old man, that's all. If I asked you to disguise yourself as your uncle, or as me, could you do it convincingly?"

Fang Ruping was stunned and said: “You didn’t teach me, so naturally I don’t know how,”

Ling Junyi said. “To impersonate someone, you have to carefully observe their facial features. This requires time and experience; it’s not something you can learn overnight.”

Fang Ruping asked, “How much time will it take?”

Ling Junyi replied, “It’s hard to say. Someone as smart as you should have enough time, two or three months, to really get the hang of it.”

Fang Ruping blushed and hummed in agreement, “I’m so stupid.”

Just then, they caught a glimpse of the hidden door leading to the dark room slowly opening. Zhu Wenhua, carrying a woman in green on one arm, strode in. Fang Ruping hurriedly got up and went to greet him. "Uncle, this person... wait, she's Guihua," Zhu Wenhua asked.

Zhu Wenhua put Guihua on the ground and said to Ling Junyi and Fang Ruping, "There's something wrong with the ginseng soup that Guahua brought me."

Ling Junyi said, "You've already made your move?"

Fang Ruping said, "Uncle, what do we do now?"

Ling Junyi had a sudden inspiration and said, "Now it's naturally my turn, but this Guihua... right, Miss Fang, you can impersonate Guahua, that way the enemy won't expect it."

Zhu Wenhua, who hadn't spoken until now, said, "Brother Ling is indeed quick-witted. Without further ado, Brother Ling, quickly disguise Ruping."

Immediately, Ling Junyi quickly disguised Fang Ruping as Guahua. Fang Ruping looked at Ling Junyi and said reluctantly, "Brother Ling, you're in deep trouble, you must be careful." Ling Junyi

smiled and said, "Miss Fang, please rest assured, I don't take these thieves seriously yet."

Fang Ruping said, “No, the two old masters of the Tang Clan in Sichuan and the Wen Family in Lingnan are both powerful figures in their respective regions, and their martial arts skills are naturally not weak. Furthermore, Master Leshan, the abbot of the Medicine King Hall at Shaolin Temple, is a top-tier master of Shaolin Temple. After they were kidnapped, they disappeared without a trace, which shows how powerful the bandits are. Brother Ling, you must not be careless.” Ling

Junyi saw the concern on her face as she spoke and felt a surge of emotion. He forced a smile and said, “Although their martial arts are high, they were drugged and taken away, so they can only be manipulated. This is different from me. Since I wasn't drugged by them, I will be careful in every way. You should go now.”

Fang Ruping nodded, took two steps, and then turned back, saying, “Then where should I look for you?” She had mustered the courage to say this in front of her uncle. Wasn't it obvious that a young woman wanted to find a grown man?

Ling Junyi said, "Miss, you must not wander the martial world alone anymore. I will come to see you after I rescue my mother." Fang Ruping thought to herself, "No, I don't want to stay here. I will find you no matter where you are." But she only thought these words in her heart and did not say them out loud.

Zhu Wenhua could naturally see that his niece was in love, but time was of the essence, so he hurriedly whispered, "Ruping, Guihua has brought some soup. It's getting late, you should go."

Fang Ruping glanced at Ling Junyi and had no choice but to leave. Zhu Wenhua stroked his beard and said, "Brother Ling, you are exceptionally clever, so there's no need for me to remind you. I wish you success in rescuing your mother, and that you'll come back to my manor for another chat. Don't let Ruping wait in vain." Ling Junyi

blushed and clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your kind words, Master."

Zhu Wenhua smiled slightly and said, "Brother Ling, please forgive me for not seeing you off."

Ling Junyi said no more and stepped out of the secret room, the bookcase behind him slowly closing. At this moment, Fang Ruping picked up a lacquer tray, gracefully lifted the curtain, and went out. Ling Junyi slowly approached the rocking chair, sat down comfortably, closed his eyes, and secretly circulated his qi to regulate his breathing. After an unknown amount of time, a series of hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by the sharp voice of Steward Yin, who whispered at the door, "Master, I have an urgent matter to report..."

Ling Junyi, of course, remained silent. After a while, Steward Yin, realizing he hadn't heard the Master's voice, continued, "Is the Master asleep?" He knew that Zhu Wenhua had drunk the ginseng soup and was currently unconscious, but he still dared not be careless. He spoke, but remained standing at the door, not immediately entering.

After another while, Yin Tianlu exclaimed in surprise, "That's strange. With the Master's internal strength being so superb, how could he be sleeping so soundly?" This was the reason he broke down the door! This time, Yin Tianlu shouted loudly, "Master, what's wrong with the Master?" His henchmen had already been deployed around the study, so even shouting loudly wouldn't disturb anyone.

He shouted, but with a loud bang, the study door was pushed open, and as the curtain was lifted, he rushed into the room. A quick glance revealed Zhu Wenhua's eyes were closed; he was fast asleep in the reclining chair. Yin Tianlu feigned surprise, leaping to the chair and urgently asking, "Master, Master, what's wrong? Wake up!" He touched Zhu Wenhua's forehead, a sinister smile flashing across his face. Suddenly, he struck with both hands, his ten fingers flicking rapidly, striking eight major acupoints on Zhu Wenhua's chest with lightning speed. Ling Junyi was prepared, silently circulating his protective inner energy to safeguard all his acupoints, naturally preventing Yin Tianlu from striking his vital points. Hidden in the secret room, Zhu Zhanghua was unaware that Ling Junyi had already mastered protective internal energy. He watched with growing astonishment, thinking, "Yin Tianlu originally came from the underworld, and his martial arts were already quite strong. In recent years, with my guidance, his skills are comparable to even the top masters of our time. His Eight-Finger Strike is incredibly fast and his acupoint targeting is extremely accurate. Even though Brother Ling wasn't drugged, he's still at their mercy, like a lamb falling into a tiger's den."

Yin Tianlu straightened up, slowly approached the south-facing window, pulled back the curtains, opened the window, picked up a candlestick from the table, and waved it three times towards the window. A short while later, with a "whoosh," a figure entered through the window. Yin Tianlu hurriedly stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying, "Brother Hou, please."

The one who flew over was a tall, thin man in blue, who coldly said, "Brother Yin, you delivered the man on time; that's a considerable achievement."

Ling Junyi's heart stirred upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "Could this Hou be Hou Tieshou?" But since both men were in front of him, he couldn't open his eyes to peek. Yin Tianlu chuckled dryly, "Brother Hou, you flatter me. I received the order from above and immediately began making arrangements. Fortunately, I was able to deliver on time; how could I claim any merit?" He then pointed to Zhu Wenhua on the reclining chair and said, "Master Zhu is right here. I've already placed my trusted men around this study. How to transport him is entirely up to Brother Hou's instructions."

The tall, thin man in blue said, "This matter needn't trouble you, Brother Yin. I will take him away myself. But will there be any problems with the route you arranged for him to leave the manor?"

Yin Tianlu said, "Don't worry, Brother Hou, there won't be any problems."

The tall, thin man in blue said, "Very good." He turned to face the south-facing window and clapped his hands three times. Two more "whoosh" sounds rang out, and two figures swiftly darted in through the window. They were two burly men dressed in gray, one carrying a burlap sack on his shoulder. The tall, thin man in blue waved to the two men, pointing at Zhu Wenhua, and said, "Put him in the sack." The two men bowed and

obeyed. One opened the sack, while the other lifted Ling Junyi and placed him inside, tying it tightly. The tall, thin man in blue said, "Brother's gone. How should we handle things here? Brother Yin, you don't need my instructions, do you?"

Yin Tianlu nodded repeatedly, saying, "Brother knows, Brother Hou, please." The tall, thin man in blue didn't speak, but gestured to the two men in gray, then leaped out the window. The two men in gray didn't hesitate. One carried the sack, the other following closely behind. They moved nimbly, leaping out the window after the man in blue, their toes barely touching the ground before they were over the wall and disappeared. Ling Junyi, stuffed into a sack, heard everything they said clearly. He felt the sack bobbing and swaying on someone's back, and soon they were out of Longmian Manor. After running for about ten paces, they suddenly stopped.

He heard someone ask from not far ahead, "Did you succeed?"

Then Hou Tieshou's voice replied, "Yes, young master, we succeeded."

Ling Junyi's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Hou Tieshou calls him 'young master,' that must be the blue-clad young master Tian we met on the streets of Kaifeng." He

heard young master Tian say, "Very good." As soon as he finished speaking, young master Tian turned and left, and the man carrying the sack quickly followed.

Ling Junyi listened carefully to the footsteps. There were only four people: the blue-clad young master Tian, Hou Tieshou, and two men in gray. Only four people dared to venture deep into Longmian Manor and kidnap Qianlong Zhu Wenhua. Although Longmian Manor already had an informant, these people's audacity was extreme! This journey took the time it takes to eat a meal, and they estimated it was at least ten miles from Longmian Manor before the group of four finally stopped.

A deep voice called out from the roadside, "Young Master is back?" Young Master Tian merely grunted in response.

Then, the sound of someone lifting the carriage curtain rang out, and Young Master Tian stepped aboard. At the same time, the man carrying the sack lowered it from his shoulder, quickly untied the opening, and two men in gray helped Ling Junyi into the carriage. Ling Junyi kept his eyes closed, feigning unconsciousness, allowing them to do as they pleased. He found the carriage quite spacious. The two men placed him on the right side, settling him in, and then withdrew. Next, Hou Tieshou jumped onto the carriage and sat down beside him. Then, the carriage started moving. The driver cracked his whip in the air, and the sounds of hooves and wheels mingled together. The carriage gradually increased in speed, and the carriage swayed slightly.

Although Ling Junyi didn't open his eyes, he could imagine that the carriage must be extremely luxurious, not only spacious but also exquisitely decorated. The fact that the carriage only swayed slightly despite the two horses galloping so fast demonstrated the meticulous design during its construction. Knowing that the master and servant were highly skilled in martial arts, Ling Junyi, to avoid being discovered, simply leaned against the carriage, letting the jolting motion pass by, and closed his eyes to rest. He was already infiltrated; they would take him to his destination, so there was no need to spy on him along the way. Young Master Tian and Hou Tieshou, also sitting with their eyes closed, remained silent. The two horses galloped extremely fast, truly moving with the speed of lightning. As night turned to dawn, light gradually filled the carriage, and Ling Junyi became even more cautious, not daring to be careless in the slightest. The carriage gradually slowed down and finally stopped at the edge of the woods. The two drivers quickly jumped off their seats. Before the woods, it seemed someone was already waiting. Then, a man approached the cell and, through the curtain, respectfully said, "This humble servant, Chu Songjiu, greets the young master." Young Master Tian didn't even move his head, only snorting a curt "Hmm.

" Hou Tieshou coldly said, "Where's the breakfast you prepared for the young master? Bring it up quickly." The man repeatedly replied, "Yes," opened the carriage door, and respectfully handed over two vermilion lacquered food boxes. Hou Tieshou reached out and took them, and the man immediately lowered the curtain and retreated. By this time, someone had already unharnessed the horses and replaced them with two strong horses, harnessed the carriage, and even changed the driver. The carriage began to slowly move forward again.

Then, the voice of the man surnamed Zhu sounded from behind the carriage, "This humble servant respectfully sees the young master off." Of course, no one answered him.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "These people are indeed meticulous in their actions. This way, they can travel day and night without stopping. I just wonder where their hideout is located?"

Hou Tieshou opened the food box and respectfully said, "Young Master, please have your breakfast."

Young Master Tian took the food box and began to eat alone. Ling Junyi sat beside him, smelling a fragrant aroma—it seemed to be a plate of steamed beef dumplings and a bowl of beef soup. Watching others eat always makes Ling Junyi's mouth water. Although he had no eyes, his nose could smell it, and he suddenly felt incredibly hungry. After Hou Tieshou served Young Master Tian his breakfast, he opened his own food box, quickly finished eating and drinking, and casually tossed the two food boxes out of the carriage, saying, "Should we prepare something for this Master Zhu for lunch?"

Young Master Tian replied, "No need, he won't wake up for twelve hours." Ling Junyi inwardly cursed, "Oh no!" Twelve hours to wake up meant he'd be starving for a whole day and night.

The carriage sped along, arriving at a market town around noon. It stopped by the roadside, and Tian Gongzi and Hou Tieshou, without even getting out, were presented with an exquisite food box and a pot of fragrant aged Shaoxing wine. The drivers were also served food, and they ate their fill under the shade of a tree before continuing their journey. To feign unconsciousness, one only needs to close their eyes and curl up motionless—a very simple thing anyone could do. But to remain curled up and motionless for a whole day and night is not an easy task.

If it were an ordinary person, after so much time, their legs would feel numb, as if a thousand needles were pricking them. Ling Junyi, of course, didn't care about this. His internal energy was pure; with his eyes closed and breathing regulated, his blood and qi flowed smoothly, so he wouldn't feel numb! What bothered him most was his empty stomach; he couldn't resist the temptation of the aroma of wine and meat, and his mouth was watering! After a hearty meal and drinks, Young Master Tian tilted his head back and dozed off against the carriage canopy. The two strong horses set off, their wheels rolling forward like lightning. A day passed quickly, and dusk was falling.

According to Ling Junyi's estimate, they had covered at least three hundred li that day and night. Since dusk, the carriage had been quite bumpy, and now the swaying was even more intense, the whip cracking incessantly in the air. Clearly, the carriage had turned from the main road onto a side path, and then onto a mountain path, now speeding towards a mountainous region! After about another hour, the journey suddenly became smooth again, as if they were on a level, smooth gravel road, the carriage making a soft, rustling sound. Suddenly, a loud shout came from not far ahead: "A match made in heaven!"

Ling Junyi's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Could we have arrived? This man shouted it out; it must be a secret signal." Just as this thought crossed his mind, Hou Tieshou poked his head out and snorted, "You blind fool, didn't you see whose carriage this is?"

At the same time, four or five men's voices rang out from both sides, saying, "Your subordinates pay their respects to Fairy Chu."

Hou Tieshou shouted angrily, "You scoundrel! The one in the carriage is Young Master Chu!"

The four or five men hurriedly said, "Your subordinates didn't know it was Young Master Chu; please forgive us." The carriage had already sped past.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "We've indeed arrived." After a short while, the carriage slowly came to a stop. The driver quickly jumped down and lifted the curtain. Young Master Tian turned to Hou Tieshou and instructed, "Tell them to take Master Zhu to the VIP room to rest. I'll go see my godfather immediately." After saying this, he turned and got out of the carriage and left.

Hou Tieshou jumped out of the car and beckoned to two men in gray not far away, saying, "Help him inside."

As Hou Tieshou got out, Ling Junyi quickly glanced outside. The car had stopped in front of a large manor house, nestled at the foot of a mountain, surrounded by overlapping peaks. Two men in gray rushed over and jumped into the car. The man on the left immediately took out a black cloth and blindfolded Ling Junyi. This was completely unnecessary; the person being transported was already unconscious, so why blindfold him? Perhaps it was just routine.

Ling Junyi naturally let them do as they pleased. The two men half-carried, half-supported Ling Junyi out of the car, then one of them squatted down and carried him inside. Hou Tieshou walked in front, with the two men following behind him. Although Ling Kanyi was blindfolded, he listened carefully and could still discern quite clearly that Hou Tieshou and his two companions were not entering through the main gate, but rather through a side gate on the left. Upon reaching the gate, another man quickly stepped forward, past Hou Tieshou, and softly called out three times at the door.

With a "snap," a small window opened in the door, and an aged voice called out, "Who goes there?"

Hou Tieshou hurriedly replied, "Old Wu, it's me, Hou Tieshou."

The aged voice grunted and then asked, "Where's your token?" Hou Tieshou presented his token, and then the side gate creaked open. The aged voice said, "Come in."

Hou Tieshou, along with the two men, strode inside, followed by the sound of a door being bolted and locked. The three of them moved quickly, and Ling Kanyi deduced from their winding movements that they had traversed corridors and several courtyards. Soon they arrived at another door. The same man stepped forward, knocked twice on the copper ring, and immediately retreated. This time, as the door opened, a slight tremor emanated from the ground, making it seem quite heavy. Ling Junyi's heart stirred; he thought to himself, "An iron door." Hou Tieshou, as usual, stepped forward, verified the token, and turned back, saying, "Give him to me."

The man carrying Ling Junyi responded with a "Yes," immediately squatting down and placing Ling Junyi on the ground. Hou Tieshou lifted Ling Junyi with both hands, saying, "You wait here," and strode inside.

After Hou Tieshou entered, the iron door creaked and closed again. It seemed this was not only an iron door, but also one controlled by a mechanism. Ling Junyi quickly replied, "The defenses here are so tight, I wonder what kind of place this is?" As his thoughts raced, he felt a breeze and faintly heard the rustling of leaves. Hearing the wind blowing through the courtyard meant they had reached the back garden. Hou Tieshou walked very quickly, but the path was clearly winding. After walking for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Ling Junyi smelled a delicate orchid fragrance. Just then, Hou Tieshou suddenly stopped and gently knocked twice on a wooden door. The door opened, and a sweet, youthful voice asked, "Who is it?"

Hou Tieshou replied, "I am Hou Tieshou, sent by the young master to deliver someone."

The sweet-voiced woman asked, "Who is this person?"

Hou Tieshou said, "He is the master of Longmian Manor. You must serve him well."

The sweet-voiced woman said, "Alright, take him inside." She then turned and went inside. Hou Tieshou followed her into the house. Ling Junyi thought to himself, "This is probably the VIP room."

Someone lifted the curtain, and then the delicate woman said, "Just put him on the couch." Hou Tieshou did as he was told and placed Ling Junyi on a brocade couch.

The delicate woman asked, "When will Master Zhu wake up?" This question was very important to Ling Junyi.

Hou Tieshou replied, "Around the second watch."

The delicate woman let out a soft "Ah," and said, "It's already the first watch, there's still one more watch to go."

Hou Tieshou grunted and said, "I'll take my leave."

The delicate woman followed him out, closed the door, then came back in, approached the couch, reached out to untie the black cloth binding Ling Junyi's eyes, and then pulled a thin blanket over him. Judging from her movements, she was undoubtedly a well-trained and shrewd maid. Ling Junyi wondered what their purpose was in bringing Zhu Wenhua and the others here after all the trouble they had gone through. He dared not open his eyes, for he could clearly hear the delicate breathing of the woman standing in front of the brocade couch. Perhaps she was observing him, or rather, she was observing Zhu Wenhua, the master of Longmian Manor.

Ling Junyi lay supine on the brocade couch, not daring to move his eyes even slightly, for any movement would mean he was about to wake. All he could feel was the softness and comfort of the couch, the silk bedding smooth and warm. The delicate woman glanced at him a few times before quietly leaving. Ling Junyi waited until she left the room, hearing only the slight sound of the curtain being drawn, but he still didn't open his eyes. These were the words his master had repeatedly instructed him before his departure: "Disciple, with your current skills, there is nowhere in the martial world you cannot go. However, in the martial world, only three-tenths of your martial arts skills are reliable; the other seven-tenths depend entirely on your wit. There is one thing I must always remember: 'The bolder you are, the more careful you must be.' No matter what happens, you must act cautiously." Ling Junyi had no experience in the martial world, but he was bold and meticulous.

Even though the delicate woman had left, he remained lying down with his eyes closed, not moving an inch. This wasn't a pretense; he was silently circulating his inner energy, concentrating his mind to hear if anyone was still in the room. He knew there would be breathing. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ling Junyi was certain there was no one else in the room. He slowly opened his eyes, though only a slit, but he could see quite clearly! It was a very spacious bedroom, not only spacious but also beautiful. Under the soft light, every piece of furniture was exquisitely crafted and perfectly placed, giving it a refined yet elegant feel. Ling Junyi glanced at it, then closed his eyes again, pondering how to deal with the future situation. It seemed the only way was to remain unchanged amidst all changes. Nearly another hour passed, then a series of light footsteps sounded at the door. Ling Junyi knew the time had come. He lay on the couch, let out a long sigh, and said in a deep voice, "Who is it?" "Is it Guihua? I didn't call you, what are you doing here?"

With these words, he suddenly opened his eyes, and as he did so, he abruptly sat up. As his gaze shifted, he froze! This was a deliberate act. His eyes were fixed on the woman in green who had lifted the curtain and entered, unblinking. After a long while, he exclaimed in surprise, "Who are you? This... what kind of land is this? ... How did I end up lying here?" He uttered three questions in one breath, revealing his immense surprise!

The woman in green was about twenty years old, with a tall and slender figure and a sweet and charming face. Her breasts were high and full, adorned with a thin gold chain and a gold lock, and two thick, black braids hung down on either side. She was naturally beautiful, but beyond beauty, she possessed an indescribable charm that could make most men fall in love at first sight. At this moment, she was carrying a white jade plate in one hand and lifting the curtain with the other. As soon as she stepped into the room, she was met with Ling Junyi's series of questions. She stopped, her clear, watery eyes glancing at Ling Junyi, and smiled sweetly. This smile, like a gentle bloom of rosy cheeks, revealed her pearly white teeth, making her smile incredibly charming! Her voice, with three parts shyness and seven parts sweetness, said, "Master Zhu has woken up. This humble maid, Yingchun, was assigned here to serve Master Zhu." "Of the three questions, she only answered one: her name was Yingchun, and she was sent to serve him.

Ling Junyi had already stepped off the brocade couch, his feet landing on the thick, soft, purplish-red carpet. He still looked at the maid in green named Yingchun and asked, 'Miss, please tell this old man where this is? How did I get here?'

Yingchun noticed Ling Junyi's bright, shining eyes staring intently at her face, and involuntarily lowered her head. She gracefully walked to the couch, placed a delicate porcelain bowl from a white jade plate on the purple pomegranate tea table, and said, 'This is ginseng soup that I specially prepared for Master Zhu.'

Ling Junyi stroked his black beard and slowly said, 'Miss, you haven't answered my question yet.'

Yingchun lowered her head and said, 'This is Juechen Manor. Master Zhu is a distinguished guest invited by my master.' She was sent to serve a distinguished guest, so she was naturally very eloquent.

'Juechen Manor?'" Ling Junyi pondered inwardly, "I've never heard of the name Juechen Manor in the martial world before?" He raised his thick eyebrows slightly and asked, "May I ask your master's name?"

Yingchun raised her head slightly and said respectfully, "My master's surname is Qi. As for his given name, we servants don't know." Although she was unwilling to say, she phrased it very tactfully.

Hearing her say this, Ling Junyi didn't press further. He stroked his beard and said, "This old man would like to meet your Master Qi."

Yingchun raised her eyes slightly and smiled gently, "My master went to great lengths to invite Master Zhu here, treating him like an honored guest. Naturally, I must come to pay my respects to Master Zhu, but..." She hesitated and didn't finish her sentence. Ling

Junyi looked at her and asked, "But what?"

Yingchun met his gaze, then lowered her head and said softly, "But, it's already past midnight, and my master is already asleep." Ling

Junyi, who came on behalf of Zhu Wenhua to investigate his mother's whereabouts, naturally couldn't be too forceful. Upon hearing this, he said "Oh," and nodded, "Very well, then I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see Master Qi again."

Yingchun said, "Exactly."

Ling Junyi's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, and he asked Yingchun, "Miss, could you tell me how you invited me here?"

Yingchun hesitated slightly and said softly, "This servant only knows that my master admires Master Zhu's reputation and thus invited him here. As for how he managed to invite Master Zhu, this servant has no idea."

Ling Junyi smiled slightly and nodded, "Alright, it seems we'll have to wait until tomorrow when we see your master."

Yingchun smiled sweetly and said, "Master Zhu is indeed a wise man." Before Ling Junyi could speak, she smiled lightly and continued... "This humble servant was sent here to serve you, Master Zhu. If you need anything, please just give me your orders."

Ling Junyi said, "Alright, there's nothing I need now. Since it's already late, please, young lady."

Yingchun's starry eyes flickered, and she said, "This bowl of ginseng soup was specially prepared for Master Zhu, and it's almost cold."

Ling Junyi's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself, "Could she have tampered with this bowl of ginseng soup?"

Seeing that he didn't speak, Yingchun pursed her lips and chuckled softly, "Master Zhu, please rest assured, this humble servant would never poison the ginseng soup."

Ling Junyi laughed loudly, "Young lady, you are truly understanding. Even if you had poisoned it, I wouldn't care." He picked up the porcelain bowl, lifted the lid, and smelled the fragrance of ginseng. Without hesitation, he slowly drank it down.

Yingchun giggled and asked, "Master Zhu, are you really not afraid that I might poison you?"

Ling Junyi stroked his beard and smiled, "This old man believes that you are not the kind of person who would poison someone."

Even though he was disguised as Zhu Wenhua, who was in his early forties, his eyes shone with the brilliance of a young man. Every time Yingshou met his gaze, she would inexplicably blush. This time, her cheeks involuntarily turned red, and she lowered her head and took a step forward, saying, "Master Zhu, you can rest now. I will help you undress." Ling Junyi had not eaten for two days and nights and was already very hungry, but after drinking this bowl of ginseng soup, he felt greatly invigorated, and even the feeling of hunger disappeared. Obviously, this bowl of ginseng soup really had nothing to do with him.

Seeing that Yingchun's face was still flushed, and that she reached out her slender hands to help him undress, he felt extremely embarrassed and quickly said, "No need, Miss, please go to sleep."

Yingchun suddenly whispered, "The sleeping potion that Master Zhu took last night contained a poison that disperses his internal energy. Currently, he has lost seven-tenths of his power, retaining only about thirty percent. This servant advises Master Zhu, since you're here, make the best of it."

Ling Junyi was taken aback and looked at Yingchun, saying, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Miss."

Yingchun's cheeks flushed again, and she said softly, "This servant thinks Master Zhu is a heroic figure."

Ling Junyi nodded hurriedly, saying, "Thank you, Miss."

Yingchun put away the porcelain bowl, curtsied to Ling Junyi, and said, "This servant takes her leave." After saying that, she turned and lifted the curtain to leave.

It was just past midnight, the best time for night travelers, but Ling Junyi knew that this manor was heavily guarded. Having finally managed to sneak in, he shouldn't act rashly before seeing their Master Qi. Therefore, after Yingchun left the room, he calmly returned to his bed, extinguished the lamp, and began practicing his internal energy cross-legged.

Fang Ruping, having disguised herself as Guihua and left the study, knew her aunt was already asleep and didn't need her service anymore. She hurried back to Guihua's room, closing the door behind her. She had already planned it all out. After her uncle's disappearance, Longmian Manor would surely be in chaos. She had just learned the art of disguise from Brother Ling that night, and now was the perfect time to disguise herself as a man, quietly leave Longmian Manor, and secretly track down the thieves. She moved a chair to a small table by the window, took out her dressing case, opened the mirror box, and took out the disguise pills Ling Junyi had given her from her bosom, preparing to wash the disguise off her face. Suddenly, a voice called softly from below the window, "Ruping, open the door quickly."

Fang Ruping recognized her uncle's voice and was startled. She hurriedly put away her disguise and opened the door. Zhu Wenhua quickly slipped in and closed the door behind him. Fang Ruping greeted him, "Uncle, how did you get here?"

Zhu Wenhua smiled and said, "Uncle came from the tunnel. Guihua has already confessed everything."

Fang Ruping asked, "What did she say? Where are they planning to take you, Uncle?" She was only concerned about Ling Junyi.

Zhu Wenhua said, "She doesn't know either. She was just ordered to urge Yin Tianlu to drug me. There are other people to help." Before Fang Ruping could ask any more questions, he continued, "Time is of the essence. Uncle doesn't have time to talk to you anymore. Go to the study quickly and tell Yin Tianlu that there is another secret room in the study. Uncle's 'Green Cloud Powder' is hidden in the secret room. You can lead him to the bookshelf, pretend to look for the mechanism to open the secret room, and then lead him into the secret room."

Fang Ruping opened her eyes wide and asked, "What is 'Green Cloud Dispersion'?" Zhu

Wenhua said, "You don't need to ask any more questions. Just tell Yin Tianlu what I said."

Fang Ruping said, "I don't know how to open the secret chamber's mechanism."

Zhu Wenhua said, "Silly child, you just need to pretend. Your uncle will open it from inside." Then he urged, "Alright, go quickly." He opened the door and darted out.

Fang Ruping didn't dare to delay. She blew out the lamp and ran lightly towards the front yard. As soon as she turned out of the corridor, she saw Yin Tianlu holding a "Pearl Token" and rushing towards her. When he spotted Guihua, he quickly waved his hand and whispered, "I've taken care of things. Go back to your room. There's nothing more for you here, Miss."

Fang Ruping lowered her voice and said, "Wait."

Yin Tianlu was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Is there anything else, Miss?"

Fang Ruping's gaze shifted, and she whispered, "This isn't the place to talk. Come with me to the study." She already knew Guihua's status was higher than Yin Tianlu's, so her tone was extremely cold. Yin Tianlu hurriedly replied, "Yes," and said nothing more. He turned and walked ahead, and the two of them moved quickly, entering the study in the blink of an eye. Fang Ruping glanced around and saw that the south-facing windows were all closed, and the curtains were drawn. It seemed that Yin Tianlu was preparing to take the "Pearl Token" to report to the upper floor. If this arrangement were to spread throughout the martial arts world, wouldn't her uncle be mysteriously missing, with no doors or windows open? It seemed that the mysterious disappearances of the old leaders of the Tang Clan in Sichuan and the Wen Family in Lingnan might have been due to traitors, and even the Shaolin Temple might be no exception.

As she was observing, Yin Tianlu stepped closer and whispered, "Miss, what is it? You can tell me now."

Afraid he would recognize her accent, Fang Ruping lowered her voice again, saying, "I forgot to tell Steward Yin earlier, Uncle..." She almost blurted out "Uncle," but stopped abruptly, pausing before continuing, "It's...it's..." Quickly thinking, she lowered her voice even further, "It's that there's a secret room in the Master's study, and 'Green Cloud Powder' is hidden there."

"A secret room in the study? How could I not know anything about it?" Yin Tianlu's eyes flashed, and he asked urgently, "Miss, do you know where the secret door is?" "

Fang Ruping said, "I've only seen it once, it was..." She pretended to think, then turned and rummaged around.

Yin Tianlu said obsequiously, "I've served Master Zhu for over ten years, yet I haven't made such a discovery as you have in just three years..."

Fang Ruping snorted coldly. Just then, there was a slight tremor, and the two rows of bookshelves slowly slid aside, revealing a hidden door. Fang Ruping feigned delight and said excitedly, "I found it after all!" Suddenly, her uncle's voice rang out in her ears via telepathic communication: "Ru Ping, you must let Yin Tianlu go first. Remember, keep at least five feet away from him, don't get too close."

Fang Ru Ping knew her uncle was skilled in the art of communication and intelligence. Last time the secret chamber opened, she was so excited that she was about to rush in when he stopped her. It seemed that there must be a very powerful ambush in this secret chamber. With a thought, she whispered, "Now we can go in."

Yin Tianlu took a candlestick from the table, walked to the dark doorway, stopped, and peered inside. The secret chamber was pitch black; how could he see anything? Clearly, he also knew that Zhu Wenhua was skilled in mechanisms and intelligence and dared not go in rashly. Seeing his hesitation, Fang Ru Ping couldn't help but sneer, "Chief Steward Yin, we don't have much time."

Yin Tianlu quickly smiled and said, "Yes, yes, brother wants to go in and take a look." In the face of no other choice, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk cautiously inside. Fang Ruping kept a distance of about five feet from him and followed him into the secret chamber. As soon as Fang Ruping stepped inside, the two doors behind her closed silently.

Yin Tianlu had followed Master Zhu for over a decade and was familiar with mechanisms and secrets, so he naturally had a basic understanding of them. Now, as the doors behind him closed, although there was no sound, there was a slight tremor in the ground. Yin Tianlu reacted quickly, turning around abruptly. The door he had just entered through had become a wall; there was no trace of the door left. His purple face instantly turned pale. Holding the candlestick in one hand, he asked Fang Ruping, "Did you close it, young lady?"

Fang Ruping replied in surprise, "No! I followed you in and didn't even move my hand."

Yin Tianlu said with a jolt, "That's not right. Once this door is opened, it won't close automatically. It seems there's someone else controlling this secret room."

Fang Ruping cursed inwardly, "This man is indeed a cunning old fox." She feigned fear and asked, "Who could be in this secret room?"

Yin Tianlu's face turned grave, his piercing eyes fixed on the carved wooden couch on the left. He shouted, "Who are you? Get up!" In the candlelight, a person was indeed lying stiffly on the couch, covered by a thin blanket, obscuring their head and face, making it impossible to identify them. The secret room was pitch black, and seeing someone lying stiffly on the couch was truly terrifying. If Fang Ruping hadn't known beforehand that it was her uncle lying there, she would have screamed. The man lay sprawled under the covers, seemingly oblivious to Yin Tianlu's shouts.

Yin Tianlu snorted angrily, "If you don't get up, I'll have to be impolite!" The man remained silent. Yin Tianlu's eyes gleamed, his right hand raised slightly, ready to strike. He lunged forward, yanking back the thin blanket.

In that instant, Yin Tianlu's gaze met hers, his body jolted, and he almost froze! He still held a candlestick in his left hand. Although Fang Ruping hadn't followed, she could still see clearly that lying on the bed was a woman, her long hair disheveled, her oval face greenish-blue, her eyes fixed, even her eyes were green! Green is normally a soft and vibrant color, not frightening. But a human face cannot be green; this green is more hideous than a ghost. This woman was Guihua! It was clear at a glance that she was dead, poisoned by some deadly toxin. Fang Ruping had never seen such a horrific death. Her legs went weak, and she shuddered, quickly averting her eyes, unable to bear the sight. Yin Tianlu, ever as astute as he was, immediately recognized the greenish corpse of Guihua, poisoned to death, on the bed. He whirled around, staring intently at Fang Ruping, and demanded sharply, "Who are you?"

Fang Ruping was about eight feet away from him. She had already heard her uncle secretly instruct her to stand still. Hearing this, she straightened her chest and snorted, "What do you think?"

Yin Tianlu didn't dare to underestimate her, because he had already seen that the poison in Guihua's body was the most potent "Green Cloud Powder" from Longmian Manor. Moreover, since she dared to lure him into the secret room, she must have a plan to deal with him. Therefore, he didn't dare to get too close. He just stood still, his fierce expression masking his inner weakness. He slowly took a breath and said, "You're not Guihua?"

Before Fang Ruping could speak, a clear, cold voice suddenly replied, "She wasn't Guihua to begin with."

When Yin Tianlu entered, he had already seen clearly that there was no fourth person in the secret room except for the person lying on the bed. Now that he knew that the person lying there was only Guihua's corpse, there was no third person. But the person who spoke was clearly in the secret room, and he had heard that accent for more than ten years. He knew it was him without even looking. In that instant, Yin Tianlu was struck dumb, his heart pounding with alarm. He quickly looked in the direction of the sound and saw that a person had appeared in front of a bookcase on his left. This person had his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, but his eyes shot out two chilling beams of light, imposing without anger, directly aimed at Yin Tianlu! Based on those two gazes alone, Yin Tianlu was certain that he was the real Qianlong Zhu Wenhua, without a doubt. A thought flashed through his mind: "Could it be that the person Hou Tieshou took wasn't the Master himself?"

Zhu Wenhua slowly raised his head and said, "Yin Tianlu, what else do you have to say?"

Yin Tianlu's face turned ashen, sweat pouring down his back. He bowed deeply and said, "Master, please forgive me..."

Zhu Wenhua stroked his beard with one hand, the other still behind his back, and said coldly, "Tell me, who is the mastermind behind the group you colluded with?"

Yin Tianlu politely replied, "Master, you are wise. I was confused for a moment..." He glanced at Fang Ruping and added, "It was all Guihua's idea. I know nothing about her background."

Zhu Wenhua snorted angrily, "You know perfectly well that Guihua was Ping'er in disguise, yet you still try to deny it?"

Yin Tianlu was a very cunning man. He had clearly seen Guihua die from poisoning, and by saying this while lying on the bed, he was trying to extract information from Zhu Wenhua about who was impersonating Guihua. He had already suspected it might be the Master's beloved daughter, Yaqin, but he never expected it to be his cousin, Ruping. Of course, Fang Ruping was also an option; she was the lord's niece. If he could capture Fang Ruping in one fell swoop, he could escape death. After hearing Zhu Wenhua's words, he couldn't help but glance at Fang Ruping again. In that glance, he secretly calculated the distances from three sides. Fang Ruping was about eight feet away from him, while the lord was standing in front of the bookshelf on the left, about twelve or thirteen feet away from both him and Fang Ruping. This was a good opportunity. Unless he risked it, given the lord's methods, he would only die! A thought flashed through his mind. He thought of how to keep the lord calm so that he could suddenly attack Fang Ruping. He deliberately put on a look of fear and repeatedly bowed, saying, "Lord, please forgive me..." Suddenly, he spun around and flashed out, rushing towards Fang Ruping.

This time, he caught everyone off guard with incredible speed. Zhu Wenhua couldn't react in time, and Fang Ruping was also surprised that he suddenly pounced on her and closed in so quickly. She was startled and screamed, taking a step back in a panic. She saw Yin Tianlu's right hand already reaching for her shoulder. Just then, Zhu Wenhua laughed and said, "Ping'er, don't panic." Before he finished speaking

, several sharp clanging sounds of metal clashing rang out! Fang Ruping regained her composure and looked up. She saw Yin Tianlu, who had pounced on her, with his hands bound by iron rings and hoisted high in the air. His ankles were also tightly bound by two iron rings that had emerged from the floor. Thinking to himself, "No wonder my uncle insisted on standing still, unable to move."

Yin Tianlu's hands and feet were completely bound by iron rings, unable to move even an inch. He couldn't help but sigh, "My mind is not as sharp as yours, Master. No wonder I've fallen into your trap."

Zhu Wenhua laughed loudly, "You're trying to get information out of me. You've been plotting against Ping'er all along. If I didn't even have this much cunning, how could Longmian Manor still stand in the martial world?" He paused slightly, then continued, "However, if Ping'er hadn't rushed back tonight to report, I would have fallen into your trap too."

A strange light flashed in Yin Tianlu's eyes as he looked at Fang Ruping and asked, "How did Miss Fang know?"

Fang Ruping sneered triumphantly, "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place. I saw five bolts of sky-blue Hangzhou silk at the entrance of Defengyu, and I knew it was you." Yin Tianlu's expression changed several times, but he remained silent.

Zhu Wenhua said, "Yin Tianlu, you have followed me for more than ten years, always faithfully performing your duties without ever making a mistake. How could you suddenly harbor disloyal thoughts? It is truly disheartening." Yin Tianlu lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhu Wenhua's face suddenly darkened, and he snorted, "Others may not know my methods, but you've followed me for so long, you should know them very well."

Yin Tianlu's face turned ashen, and he said, "I have followed the Master for over a decade, and have been treated with great kindness by the Master. Not only have I failed to repay you, but I have also been used by others. I am truly ashamed before the Master. One wrong step has led to eternal regret, and I can only atone for my sins with my death."

Zhu Wenhua said, "I will consider your many years of service and will grant you atonement."

Yin Tianlu smiled bitterly, "It's too late. If the Master had said this earlier, it might have been in time, but now it's too late."

Zhu Wenhua's gaze was fixed on Yin Tianlu's face, and he said, "How do you say it's too late?"

Yin Tianlu said, "I have already swallowed the poison."

Zhu Wenhua's expression darkened slightly, and he said, "If you can be used by others, why can't you be used by me?"

Yin Tianlu said, "I will atone for my sins with my death."

Zhu Wenhua suddenly asked, "How many spies are there in our manor?" Yin Tianlu opened his mouth, his eyes widening.

Zhu Wenhua's gaze was fixed on him. Seeing the way Yin Tianlu opened his mouth, it seemed he was saying the number "eight," and he hurriedly asked again, "Were they all people you brought in?" Yin Tianlu seemed not to hear clearly; his head nodded slightly, but then drooped.

Fang Ruping asked, "Uncle, is he dead?"

Zhu Wenhua slowly walked over, pressed his hand on Yin Tianlu's chest, and nodded, saying, "Dead." He lightly stomped his foot on the ground, and with two "clicks," the iron rings fastened to Yin Tianlu's hands and feet suddenly released, and Yin Tianlu fell to the ground with a "thud." Zhu Wenhua didn't say a word, then stepped forward, took out a small green jade bottle from beside him, picked up a small amount of powder with his fingernail, and flicked it between Yin Tianlu's mouth and nose.

Fang Ruping asked, "Uncle, did Guihua also commit suicide by poison?"

Zhu Wenhua said, "She said she wasn't a member of the 'Pearl Order' and was willing to tell the story. She was bought by a man named Hou Tieshou to deliver messages, and she begged me to spare her life. Naturally, she refused to commit suicide by poison."

Fang Ruping said, "Then did you kill her, Uncle?"

Zhu Wenhua said, "That's right. Judging from her behavior, she was a person who had received strict training, so naturally, we couldn't let her go easily..."

Before he finished speaking, Fang Ruping suddenly exclaimed, "Uncle, his face has turned green too!"

Zhu Wenhua said, "Child, don't be afraid. Come with me quickly and change your clothes first. We have to chase after them tonight."

Fang Ruping was delighted to hear this and asked, "Uncle, do you mean to follow Brother Ling down?"

Zhu Wenhua said, "That's right. Guihua and Yin Tianlu can't say who the leader of the 'Pearl Order' group is or where their hideout is. We have no choice but to secretly follow Brother Ling down there. When we get there, we can give him a heads-up." Fang Ruping jumped up with joy, saying, "Uncle, you're so kind! "

Then, her eyebrows furrowed, and she said, "But they've been gone for almost a whole night since they kidnapped Brother Ling. Where are we supposed to find them?"

Zhu Wenhua smiled slightly and said, "Uncle has already sent men with kennels to lead the way, secretly following them. And they've left marks along the way. Are you worried about not finding them?"

Fang Ruping exclaimed happily, "So Uncle had everything planned out in advance!"

Zhu Wenhua stroked his beard and smiled slightly, "No need to say anything more, hurry back to your room and change. I'll prepare the manor's supplies, and then we can set off."

Fang Ruping said, "Uncle, these two corpses..." She turned around and exclaimed in surprise. The corpses of Guihua and Yin Tianlu, who had been lying on the brocade couch and collapsed on the ground, had vanished in an instant, leaving only a small puddle of green water.

Zhu Wenhua instructed, "Ping'er, there's one more thing you must be careful about. Don't disturb your cousin. That girl Yaqin is a wild horse; if she finds out, she'll definitely come along."

Fang Ruping replied, "Uncle, don't worry, I understand."

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