Pearl Order [Complete] - 24

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

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Flower Master Displays His Power.

Rong Jingzong released Tang Jincheng's wrist, swiftly stepped forward, and activated the mechanism. A soft creaking vibration was heard, and a dark doorway cracked open in the wall. Rong Jingzong held a fire tablet in one hand, pointed forward, and shouted, "Tang Jincheng, you go first and lead the way for me." Tang Jincheng's acupoints were sealed, rendering him unable to move his hands or speak. He dared not resist in the slightest and obediently stepped towards the door. Although Tang Jincheng had three acupoints sealed, only the acupoints were partially sealed; his martial arts skills remained intact, and he could still move swiftly. As he stepped through the stone door, he immediately leaped forward like a wolf, shooting forward two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) like an arrow.

Rong Jingzong, seeing him suddenly leap up, couldn't help but laugh angrily, and was about to strike with his palm. Tang Jincheng was armed with firearms from head to toe. After leaping two zhang away, he instantly vanished into the shadows, and with a flick of his wrist, three cold stars shot towards Rong Jingzong in a triangular formation. Rong Jingzong had long heard of Tang Jincheng's prowess with firearms, which was why he had Ling Junyi strike two of Tang Jincheng's "Phoenix Tail" acupoints, rendering him unable to raise his hands. However, he hadn't expected that even with his hands immobilized, he would still be attacked with hidden weapons. Seeing the three cold stars hurtling towards him, he dared not reach out to catch them. He shouted and swung his palm, striking out. The force of his palm instantly swept away the three cold stars. Then, with three "clangs," three "clangs," three hidden weapons simultaneously embedded themselves in the stone wall to the left. Immediately afterward, a soft hissing sound came from the stone wall, and the three hidden weapons actually burst into flames, like lamp wicks, stuck to the wall and burning.

Rong Jingzong watched with growing alarm, thinking, "Tang Jincheng's firearms are truly vicious. What would happen if someone were hit by one?" In this delay, Tang Jincheng had already vanished without a trace. Rong Jingzong couldn't catch up and had to let him go. Only after everyone entered the stone gate did he whisper, "Entering this gate, especially after that Tang fellow escaped, our current situation is extremely dangerous. We could be ambushed or forced into combat at any moment. Everyone must be careful and maintain a distance from each other to allow for retreat." Ling Junyi

said, "Old man, your concerns are very valid."

As soon as Rong Jingzong finished speaking, he still held the fire tube in one hand and his right palm against his chest, using both his ears and eyes to move forward. Just then, a shout came from around the corner ahead, followed by a muffled groan. The groan sounded like something was stuck in the throat, preventing sound from being uttered, but rather a forced sound! Amidst the somber atmosphere, tinged with a sense of desolation, though it was a muffled groan, it was nonetheless deeply moving! Ling Junyi exclaimed in surprise, "That means the man surnamed Tang has met his match."

Rong Jingzong nodded, "Indeed."

Just then, a loud shout rang out from the passageway: "Those who block my way shall die!" A figure flashed out, rushing towards them.

Rong Jingzong, holding a fire tube in one hand, stepped into the path, blocking the way, and shouted, "Halt!"

The person rushing towards them was extremely fast; Rong Jingzong had barely taken a step and blocked the middle of the passageway when the person had already reached him. The two sides met each other, their movements incredibly swift. Upon seeing someone blocking his way, the person shouted from within, "Get out of the way!" Without asking any questions, he raised his hand and pointed.

Rong Jingzong, holding a fire tube in one hand, glimpsed the finger pointing at him in the firelight; its color was a glaring, blood-red. "Blood Shadow Finger," with a cold laugh, swung his hand and struck out, coldly shouting, "Who are you? Why do you attack without warning?"

The wind from his finger hissed, the palm wind surged like a wave, and upon clashing, the charging man uttered, "Those who block my way die!" He was immediately forced back three or four steps by Rong Jingzong's palm wind.

Ling Junyi, maintaining a distance of eight feet from Rong Jingzong, heard the shouts and quickly leaped forward, calling out, "Uncle Rong, please have mercy! He's from the Hundred Flowers Gang!"

The charging man stopped abruptly, then shouted again, "Those who block my way die!" and charged forward. Upon hearing that this man was from the Hundred Flowers Gang, Rong Jingzong exclaimed "Oh!" and dodged to the side.

Ling Junyi leaped forward, blocking the man's path, and shouted, "Brother Ran, stop immediately!" It turned out that the man was none other than "Blood Shadow Finger" Ran Yuchun.

His clothes were torn, and he bore several sword wounds. His eyes stared straight ahead, as if he didn't recognize Ling Junyi. He shouted, "Those who block my way shall die!" His right hand formed a hand seal, his middle finger dripping with crimson blood, and he struck at Ling Junyi with lightning speed.

Rong Jingzong was shocked at the sight and whispered, "This man has lost his mind. Young Master Ling, be careful!"

Ling Junyi had already dodged to the side, avoiding the finger strike. He grabbed Ran Yuchun's wrist with his left hand, and in a swift movement, he moved behind Ran Yuchun, striking his "Lingtai" acupoint with his right hand. These few movements were quick and swift, earning Rong Jingzong's secret applause! Ran Yuchun spat out a mouthful of blood and slumped to the ground. His eyes began to move, looking at Ling Junyi, and suddenly he exclaimed with surprise, "Chief..." He seemed to struggle to his feet.

Ling Junyi hurriedly waved his hand, saying, "Brother Ran, you are exhausted from the long battle. Please quickly circulate your qi and regulate your breathing. Do not speak."

Ran Yuchun still managed to say, "Chief...they...are still trapped inside...the traps...are extremely dangerous."

Ling Junyi nodded, saying, "Brother Ran, please don't say any more. I already know the situation here." In truth, he had no idea what the situation was like; these were merely words of comfort. Ran Yuchun knew his injuries were serious, but seeing Ling Junyi put his mind at ease. He indeed said no more, sat cross-legged on the ground, and began to circulate his qi.

Rong Jingzong glanced back at the two black-clad swordsmen behind him and then instructed, "You two, stay here and protect him. You don't need to go in." The two black-clad swordsmen bowed and accepted the order.

Rong Jingzong said, "Young Master Ling, let's go."

Ling Junyi replied, "Uncle Rong, we'll likely encounter members of the Hundred Flowers Gang along the way. It's

best if I go first to avoid any misunderstandings." Rong Jingzong stroked his white beard and nodded, "Young Master Ling is right. If I hadn't recognized the method to counter the 'Blood Shadow Finger,' I would have been injured by it." Ling Junyi said no more and led the way into the passageway. They were at a bend in the road, and after turning two corners, they faintly heard a rustling sound coming from several feet away! Because the passageway was pitch black, and Ling Junyi was carrying a "Dragon Pearl," he was in the dark, making him a conspicuous target. He had been extremely cautious. Hearing the rustling sound from several feet away heightened his alertness, but upon closer listening, it was completely silent. Ling Junyi, skilled and daring, didn't stop for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, he was almost at the source of the sound.

In the darkness, the light from the "Dragon Pearl" could illuminate several dozen feet. His gaze swept across the area, and he saw another stone wall blocking his path. [A figure stood against the left corner of the stone wall.] This person was dressed in a blue, close-fitting outfit. Ling Junyi recognized the attire from afar; it was the protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang. He immediately shouted, "Brother Ling Junyi, who is that ahead?" The man stood against the wall, seemingly oblivious to Ling Junyi's shout.

As Ling Junyi's shout rang out, he had already approached within a few feet. Looking closely, he could now clearly see the blue-clad man standing in the shadows—it was Ye Kaixian, the protector who had come with Gang Leader Mudan along with Ran Yuchun. Ye Kaixian's face was deathly pale, his eyes tightly closed, and he leaned against the stone wall, motionless. Judging from his torn clothes, blood-soaked body, and at least a dozen sword wounds, he had clearly been in a fierce battle and was seriously injured, currently circulating his internal energy to recover.

Ling Junyi was secretly shocked. Both Ran Yuchun and Ye Kaixian were top-tier martial artists, yet they both had over a dozen sword wounds. Unless they had encountered a peerless swordsman, they must have escaped from a sword formation. A thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately walked towards Ye Kaixian, saying, "Brother Ye, how are you injured…?"

He quickly moved from a distance of five zhang to about two zhang when he suddenly saw two bursts of blue light fly out from under Ye Kaixian's armpits, shooting straight towards him. When these two bursts of blue light shot out, they were just a few blue stars, but after reaching a distance of about one zhang, they gradually expanded into two large bursts. Ling Junyi's eyesight was exceptional, and he immediately saw that the two bursts of blue light were actually dozens of blue plum blossom needles, each needle tipped with a tiny flame. Just then, Rong Jingzong called out urgently from behind, "Young Master Ling, be careful! This is Tang Jincheng's 'Azure Phosphorus Needle,' which ignites upon contact with anything." Ling Junyi spoke even faster than him, flipping his left wrist and the short sword in his hand immediately emitted a burst of azure light in front of him.

Two volleys of "Azure Phosphorus Needles" shot towards him like lightning, but upon contact with the sword light, they fell to the ground as if hit by hot water. Even the tiny sparks at the needle's tip vanished instantly! It turned out that Tang Jincheng's "Azure Phosphorus Needles" consisted of thirty-six needles per volley, fired simultaneously from both hands, totaling seventy-two. If even one needle struck a person, it would immediately ignite, and this flame, refined with poison, would kill instantly. However, this time, every single one of the seventy-two "Azure Phosphorus Needles" was severed by Ling Junyi's sword, all at the needle's tip. Even the most potent Azure Phosphorus flame couldn't withstand the overwhelming sword aura and was extinguished instantly.

In that split second, Ling Junyi had already seen someone hiding behind Ye Kaixian—undoubtedly Tang Jincheng. Ye Kaixian was clearly severely injured, which was why he had been subdued by Tang Jincheng, and thus, he couldn't make a sound when Ling Junyi called out to him. Thinking this, Ling Junyi suddenly shouted, raising his left wrist and pointing a finger at Ye Kaixian in mid-air. His shout, delivered with internal energy, was like a sudden clap of thunder, making Tang Jincheng's ears ring and his heart leap with shock! Just then, a whistling finger strike landed with a "bang" on the stone wall behind his right ear, sending stones flying and causing a burning pain in the back of his neck.

Of course, Ling Junyi had deliberately deflected the finger strike slightly; otherwise, it would have been fatal for Ye Kaixian. But Tang Jincheng was suddenly taken aback. He hadn't expected this young man to possess such profound skill. Although he had managed to release the three acupoints Ling Junyi had sealed in a very short time—the "Dumb Gate," "Phoenix Tail," and other major acupoints that had been sealed were all powerful points; a slightly heavier touch could be fatal. Therefore, the strike must have been extremely light, and someone with pure internal energy could release them on their own after a period of time. But as he escaped, he bumped into Ran Yuchun on the road. Both were in a fierce struggle, and he was unintentionally injured by Ran Yuchun's "Blood Shadow Finger." Therefore, he used Ye Kaixian as a shield, secretly launching a sneak attack with his "Azure Phosphorus Needle."

At this moment, he heard Ling Junyi's thunderous shout, his ears already ringing. The finger strike to his right ear startled him. He shouted, "Attack!" Silently channeling his inner strength, he pushed Ye Kaixian out of thin air, throwing him towards Ling Junyi. His body suddenly flashed to the left, his hands about to rise…

Ling Junyi's "One-Finger Zen Divine Skill" deliberately missed slightly, combined with his shout, aiming to seize the initiative and make his opponent realize the power of the attack. This was a psychological warfare tactic! Seeing that Tang Jincheng had indeed fallen for the trap, pushing Ye Kaixian towards him while simultaneously dodging to the left, Ling Junyi was overjoyed. He parried Ye Kaixian's incoming attack with his left hand, and immediately followed up with a powerful palm strike of his right, a gust of wind aimed directly at Tang Jincheng. In the blink of an eye, Tang Jincheng, who had just dodged and was about to fire his weapon, suddenly felt a powerful palm strike coming at him. He had just experienced the force of Ling Junyi's finger strike, which was powerful enough to penetrate metal and stone; how could he dare to take this palm strike head-on? In his haste, he forgot about firing his weapon, shrinking back to the right.

Ling Junyi's right palm struck out just in time, and with his left hand blocking, he caught Ye Kaixian. Upon catching Ye Kaixian, Ling Junyi was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. Ye Kaixian's body was ice-cold; he was a corpse. Although Ling Junyi didn't genuinely want to be the Chief Protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang, he had served as so for a time. Ye Kaixian was initially a protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang, and ultimately, his subordinate. Both professionally and personally, he had an obligation to avenge Ye Kaixian's blood debt. In that instant, Ling Junyi's handsome eyes flashed with two beams of cold light. He decisively withdrew his right hand, raised it high above his head, and struck forward.

Tang Jincheng dodged to the right, avoiding Ling Junyi's palm strike. He then raised both hands again, palms facing upwards, and from his sleeves, more than a dozen silver streaks flew out in succession. These were thirteen silver-white short arrows, appearing to flicker and spit out continuously from his hands, their momentum incredibly rapid. However, after reaching about seven or eight feet, their momentum suddenly slowed! The earlier arrows had caught up, and the later ones, though also approaching seven or eight feet, also slowed down. The thirteen silver arrows that had been fired in rapid succession now stood in a row, suspended in mid-air, as if blocked by something, unable to be fired any further. The silver arrows wouldn't naturally stop in mid-air; they didn't fall because the residual force of their launch hadn't dissipated.

Tang Jincheng also suddenly felt something was wrong when the "Silver Phosphorus Arrows" were fired. It was as if there was a suffocating pressure in the air. This happened in an instant, as Ling Junyi unleashed his "Muni Seal" palm strike, a massive, invisible force pressing down like Mount Tai. The thirteen "Silver Phosphorus Arrows" that had been suspended in mid-air reacted the fastest, suddenly turning around and reflecting back at Tang Jincheng. The

"Silver Phosphorus Arrows" were ten times more powerful than the "Azure Phosphorus Needles," and of course, they were also "poisonous flames." Tang Jincheng was already terrified when he saw the "Silver Phosphorus Arrows" encounter resistance and fail to fire. Now, seeing thirteen silver arrows reflecting off him, he panicked even more. It was too late to dodge; he cried out and fell backward. The thirteen "Silver Phosphorus Arrows" struck him simultaneously and vanished in a flash. The "Silver Phosphorus Arrows" were extremely powerful, instantly igniting anything they hit, but this time they were reflected back by the immense force of the "Muni Seal." The "Muni Seal" exerted immense pressure; an invisible palm force extended a full ten feet. Under the palm's influence, there was no air, and no matter how powerful the "Silver Phosphorus Arrows" were, they could not ignite.

Ling Junyi killed Tang Jincheng with a single palm strike. With his left hand, he placed Ye Kaixian's body on the ground and examined it carefully. He saw that Ye Kaixian had eighteen sword wounds all over his body; the fatal blow had pierced his right waist, almost five inches deep. This proves that Ye Kaixian was not killed by Tang Jincheng, but Tang Jincheng is both a Qing court henchman and a master of deadly firearms; such a person cannot be allowed to live. Rong Jingzong had already come up, looked at Ye Kaixian's corpse, and asked, "Was he a member of the Hundred Flowers Gang?"

Ling Junyi's face was solemn as he looked up and said, "His name is Ye Kaixian, a protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang, with extremely high martial arts skills, but he was struck by eighteen swords almost simultaneously. Judging from his sword wounds, the opponent's swordsmanship was so fast and powerful that it surpassed even the 'Ten Absolute Sword Formation.' Do you know what kind of sword formation this is, that it is so powerful?" Rong Jingzong

shook his head slightly and said, "Although Shui Qingying is the head of the Azure Dragon Hall, she also serves as the director of the Black Dragon Society, making her practically the supreme ruler of the Black Dragon Society. I only know that when she came from the capital, she brought a foreign monk with her, and they addressed each other as brother and sister." The other two were Yang Zhigao and Tang Jincheng, who were said to be third-rank imperial guards, their status no less than Han Zhankui's. Besides these three, no one else accompanied her. Apart from these three, the Azure Dragon Hall only had swordsmen and maids. Four of the maids had come with Shui Qingying. As for the swordsmen, while their martial arts were not weak, they were about the same as those of the Black Dragon Pool swordsmen, with no outstanding masters.

Ling Junyi's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he said, "This is strange. With Ye Kaixian's martial arts, it's impossible for him to be struck by eighteen swords at roughly the same time..."

Rong Jingzong nodded, "That's right. Although I haven't seen how skilled this Ye is, Young Master Ling says his martial arts are extremely high, so they must be. However, judging from these eighteen sword wounds on his body, unless he had no ability to defend himself and stood still..." "Let them stab him with swords, otherwise it would be extremely difficult for him to be so badly injured..."

Ling Junyi looked at the stone wall blocking the way a zhang away. This was naturally another hidden door. He thought of Peony, Magnolia, Rose, Crape Myrtle, Peach Blossom, and the others, who might be inside this stone door, or perhaps some of them were injured. Even with Ran Echun and Ye Kaixian's martial arts skills, they were still so badly injured; the situation of the others trapped inside was naturally very dangerous. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel anxious and said, "Uncle Rong, this is probably another stone door. I don't know how to open it. We should hurry in."

Rong Jingzong glanced at Tang Jincheng, who was dead in the corner of the stone wall, and suddenly a thought struck him. He wondered, "Tang Jincheng has already escaped here. Why doesn't he open the stone door and go in? Why does he use this Ye's corpse as cover? Could there be a very powerful ambush inside this stone door?" Thinking of this, he unconsciously stroked his white beard and pondered, "Although I don't know what kind of traps are installed here, seeing that Tang Jincheng fled here and dared not go in, it is clear that there must be a powerful ambush inside the stone gate. After I open this stone gate, Young Master Ling must not act rashly, but must look carefully before going in."

Ling Junyi said, "This junior is a novice when it comes to traps and ambushes, but I will follow your instructions, sir." Rong Jingzong smiled slightly, took a few steps forward, pressed his hand on the stone wall twice, immediately placed his right palm against his chest, and quickly retreated.

After a slight tremor, the stone gate slowly cracked open, but there was no further movement. Inside the stone gate was another passageway, about three feet wide, pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. It was also deathly silent, without a sound. Ling Junyi couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Of Peony's group, besides Ran Yuchun and Ye Kaixian, one injured and one dead, where are the others? How come none of them are here?" The group led by Peony consisted of the gang leader Peony, the steward Yulan, Ziwei, Furong, Fengxian, Yurui, the guide Mingyue, the left protector Nine-Fingered Judge Leng Chaozong, the protectors Ran Yuchun and Ye Kaixian, and the gang leader's four maids Jasmine, Ruixiang, Dujuan, and Qiangwei.

Just as Ling Junyi was pondering, Rong Jingzong had already taken two round iron tubes and more than a dozen "silver phosphorus arrows" from Tang Jincheng's body, and said with a smile, "Young Master Ling, come, step back and let this old man try."

Ling Junyi did as he was told and stepped back, but Rong Jingzong stepped forward, took a "silver phosphorus arrow" in his right hand, and threw it towards the south path. A flash of silver light pierced the darkness, shooting six or seven zhang away, followed by a "boom" as a burst of silver fire suddenly erupted from the ground, and a patch of light suddenly appeared in the dark tunnel. Ling Junyi stared intently, and the tunnel seemed to have a bend at about seven or eight zhang. Although he couldn't see what was inside, this section of the road was a smooth path, and he couldn't see anything unusual about it.

Rong Jingzong observed carefully for a while, finding no movement, and secretly wondered, "If there's no ambush in the passage, why won't Tang Jincheng go in?"

Ling Junyi said, "Uncle Rong, let's go in and take a look."

Rong Jingzong, being cautious, shook his head slightly and said, "I always feel that Tang Jincheng clearly knows how to open and close the stone gate, yet he'd rather fight us than go in. There must be something

fishy going on." Ling Junyi continued, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained. We'll just have to be careful. Uncle, you wait at the entrance while I go in and try."

Rong Jingzong said, "If we're going, let's go in together, so we can have backup."

Ling Junyi said, "No, if I go in alone, even though there might be an ambush in the passage, I can retreat immediately if I sense anything amiss. But if we all go in, the passage isn't wide. If we encounter an ambush ahead, the people behind will become an obstacle, and wouldn't we all be trapped?"

Hearing this, Rong Jingzong could only nod and say, "Since Young Master Ling has said so, I will not insist. However, one should not venture too far alone. If we encounter any danger, we should immediately retreat and then discuss a solution." Ling

Junyi replied, "I understand." Having said that, he took up his sword in one hand and carried the luminous pearl in the other, and strode towards the path.

Rong Jingzong's eyes were fixed intently on Ling Junyi's back, unblinking. Although the path was dark, Ling Junyi carried a luminous pearl in his hand, and as he walked slowly, the pearl's light illuminated each step clearly. He appeared very calm, as if there were no ambush. Rong Jingzong was deeply surprised. If there was no ambush in the path, why wouldn't Tang Jincheng come in? That meant he didn't know how to open the stone door. Ling Junyi had already walked more than ten feet away, almost twenty feet, and still hadn't made a move. But just as he took a step to be two feet away from the cave entrance, the cave door suddenly and silently closed.

Rong Jingzong stood at the doorway, his eyes fixed on Ling Junyi, not expecting the stone door to close suddenly at this moment. When he became alert, his heart skipped a beat, and he exclaimed inwardly, "Not good!" He hurriedly reached for the mechanism to open the stone door, but the door, which had opened easily just moments before, remained firmly shut no matter how many times he pressed it.

Rong Jingzong had lived in this mountain cave for forty years, and he was quite familiar with the mechanisms on the various stone doors, having carefully observed them. He had even built a cumbersome hidden door in his own secret chamber using only his hands, based on the mechanisms of the other doors. Now, unable to open the door despite repeatedly pressing the mechanism, he realized that he only knew the ordinary method. There must be a special mechanism hidden inside, a highly dangerous ambush. Ling Junyi was undoubtedly caught in one. No wonder Tang Jincheng preferred to stay outside and fight him rather than risk his life.

Rong Jingzong grew increasingly anxious, sweat beading on his forehead. He abruptly took two steps back, handing the fire tube to Xiao Tao. He slowly inhaled, raised both palms to his chest, causing his blue robe to billow. His eyes widened, and he exhaled sharply, channeling all his strength into his palms as he struck the stone door. A deafening roar erupted, and a gust of wind swept through the passageway! The force of his own palm strike forced Rong Jingzong to involuntarily take a step back! The fire tube went out, plunging the passageway into darkness! Without waiting for instructions, Xiao Tao immediately relit the fire tube. Rong Jingzong stared intently; despite his full-force attack, the stone door remained intact, unmoved. Unwilling to give up, he clasped his hands together and pushed against the stone door again. He unleashed three palm strikes in quick succession, and a series of "thump" sounds echoed from the stone door. The passageway shook violently, the sound astonishing, but how could it possibly shake the stone door open? Rong Jingzong had exhausted all his strength with these three palm strikes, and he sighed dejectedly. The fierce power he had just displayed had vanished, replaced by a weary expression. Holding a fire tube, Xiao Tao whispered beside him, "Steward Rong, why don't you take a rest?"

Rong Jingzong sighed, "I knew there was something fishy going on inside. Alas! If Young Master Ling were to slip and fall, how could I explain to Madam Tie?"

Xiao Tao bit her red lips and thought for a moment before saying, "In my opinion, Young Master Ling is highly skilled in martial arts. Good fortune will prevail; perhaps he will escape unharmed."

Rong Jingzong looked up at the tightly closed stone door, let out a long sigh, and said, "I hope so."

Ling Junyi, sword in hand, entered the stone door. Because Rong Jingzong suspected there might be an ambush in this passage, he dared not be too careless. Fortunately, the light emitted by the "Li Long Pearl" could illuminate several dozen feet away, so he didn't need to worry about being attacked from the shadows. Moreover, he had already activated his "protective true qi" when entering the cave, so even if someone attacked, he had nothing to fear. However, he still used his senses carefully, proceeding cautiously step by step. He had already walked more than ten feet, and all around was quiet, without the slightest sound.

To be honest, although the pearl light only illuminated a distance of thirty feet, within ten feet, anyone lurking would not escape his ears. Because people need to breathe, he had already discerned that there was no one lurking in this stretch of path, about seven or eight feet long. Even the slightest sound from any trap or mechanism would make a sound when activated, and he believed he could detect and react immediately. But after walking this distance, there wasn't a single sound. Ling Junyi couldn't help but smile! This secret passage in the mountain was the work of the Divine Calculator. He had installed a stone gate on each section of the southern path to prevent outsiders from easily passing through and infiltrating the Black Dragon Society. Therefore, each stone gate had a different method of opening and closing. Considering how many sections of path and how many stone gates he had passed through since entering from the Yellow Dragon Cave, besides encountering numerous attacks, when had he ever encountered a dangerous trap or ambush? Thinking this, he quickened his pace.

But just as he reached about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), he suddenly heard a soft "bang" behind him, and the stone door inexplicably closed itself. Ling Junyi's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "Something's definitely not right." A highly skilled martial artist, when cautiously advancing, always keeps their escape route in mind. If you've only gone about a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) and then realize the stone door is about to close, you might be able to use a swift movement technique to retreat; but at this distance of about two zhang, even if you realize it in time, it's impossible to retreat.

This happened in the blink of an eye. Ling Junyi's heart tightened, and at the same time, he faintly heard a slight creaking sound coming from within the stone walls on both sides! As the sound reached his ears, a flash of cold light appeared, and countless long swords suddenly pierced out from the stone wall on his left. The stone wall, about three zhang (approximately 10 meters) long and seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) in length, was practically a wall of swords, with at least two or three hundred of them! The wall was only about three feet wide, yet the thrusting swords were two feet six or seven inches long.

Ling Junyi had been on high alert since hearing the sounds coming from the stone walls on either side. His movements were incredibly swift; before the swords even reached him, his right hand wielded the Giant Sword, a streak of blue light flashing. A series of rapid, clanging sounds followed, and within a five-foot radius to his left, all the thrusting swords were severed. At that moment, a similar cold light emerged from the stone wall to his right, followed by countless thrusting swords.

Without hesitation, Ling Junyi's short sword flew, creating another rapid, rain-like clash of metal. The longswords thrusting from the five-foot-wide wall to his right were also severed. He now stood within this five-foot radius, the safest spot on the sword path. The remaining broken swords on both walls, though still constantly extending and retracting, were no longer dangerous. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the swords didn't thrust out simultaneously from the left and right walls, but alternated. A sword on the left would thrust out and immediately retract, but at the same moment, a sword on the right would follow. This meant that entering this path meant certain death. Because if you saw a sword protruding from the left, you would inevitably dodge towards the right. In a three-foot-wide passage, the swords thrusting out were two and a half feet long. You would try your best to draw in your chest and abdomen, pressing yourself tightly against the right wall. But at that moment, a dense barrage of swords would thrust out from the wall behind you. This alternating, extending and retracting motion would surely leave you with dozens of holes in your body.

Seeing this scene, Ling Junyi suddenly realized that Ye Kaixian's eighteen sword wounds were probably inflicted in this way. However, for someone to break through such a dense array of swords and escape the stone gate was an incredibly difficult feat, requiring not only martial arts skills and intelligence but also unparalleled lightness skills. Although Ye Kaixian was dead, the fact that he managed to escape the stone gate with only eighteen sword wounds was already extremely remarkable. Thinking of Ye Kaixian, he couldn't help but think of the group that had come with Mudan; how many had died from sword wounds in this dense forest of swords? This thought sank his heart. He had to go in and see for himself, and he had to destroy these vicious swords. With this thought,

he immediately transferred his short sword to his left hand, and simultaneously drew his Yitian Sword with a whoosh in his right hand, unleashing both swords simultaneously as he charged forward. Two dazzling silver lights appeared, enveloping a figure that danced up and down. Wherever the sword light touched, a dense, rain-like clashing of metal resounded. Longswords hidden on both walls were sliced in half by the precious blade, scattering broken pieces all over the ground. Ling Junyi advanced, wielding his sword, and reached the corner, where he saw a blood-soaked corpse lying on the ground. In the light of the pearl, the man was none other than the Left Protector, Nine-Fingered Judge Leng Chaozong. He had nine sword wounds in a row on his back and several on his chest, though none as deep as the ones on his back. Although the old man was highly skilled in martial arts, he never used weapons, and this time he suffered a great loss. Clearly, he had noticed the longswords thrusting out from the left wall. How could his bare hands withstand such a dense barrage of swords? So he dodged to the right wall, but unexpectedly, longswords also suddenly thrust out from the right wall. Therefore, the sword wounds on his back were deeper than those on his chest.

Ling Junyi sighed inwardly, saying, "Old Leng, rest in peace." He continued wielding his sword, charging forward. The path curved diagonally inward; about seven or eight zhang further on, a large stone wall blocked his way.

Ling Junyi cut through the path like a thorny thicket, destroying all the longswords on both sides of the passage. Although his two swords, one long and one short, were incredibly sharp, this fifteen or sixteen-zhang-long passage contained at least a thousand longswords. It took him the time it takes to brew a cup of hot tea to completely cut through them all and reach the end. Looking back, he saw broken swords everywhere. Without his two swords, capable of cutting through metal and iron, he would never have been able to pass through this sword-forest-like passage. Just as he was pondering this, the clanging sounds from between the stone walls suddenly stopped. The broken sword fragments remaining on the wall, which had been extending and retracting, now retracted into the stone wall without leaving a trace, and everything was restored to its original state.

Just then, Rong Jingzong's voice suddenly rang out, loudly calling out, "Young Master Ling..." His voice was loud and clear, with a long, drawn-out ending, echoing through the passageway, clearly tinged with anxiety.

Ling Junyi hurriedly replied, "Uncle Rong, I'm here." A joyful exclamation came from around the corner.

Rong Jingzong, a tall and thin figure, also flew over, and upon seeing Ling Junyi, even before he arrived, asked with concern, "Young Master Ling, are you alright?"

Ling Junyi was deeply moved and hurriedly greeted him, saying, "Uncle Rong, I was fortunate to have two sharp swords, which allowed me to destroy all the longswords lying in ambush here." He then briefly recounted what had just happened.

Rong Jingzong stopped and looked Ling Junyi up and down. Seeing that Ling Junyi's clothes were not even torn, he stroked his beard and smiled, "Fortunately, it was Young Master Ling who came in. If it were me, I would have been stabbed too." As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly asked, "Was that corpse around the corner a member of the Hundred Flowers Gang?"

Ling Junyi replied, "He was Leng Chaozong, the Left Protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang, the Nine-Fingered Divine Judge. This old man came from the Eagle Claw Sect and was skilled in finger techniques. He never used weapons, which is why he suffered this misfortune."

Rong Jingzong nodded and said, "That's right. In this passage, there are many mechanisms and swords everywhere. Those who do not use weapons naturally suffer greatly." As he spoke, Xiao Tao and a black-clad swordsman arrived.

Ling Junyi said, "Uncle Rong, there's probably another stone door here. I'll have to trouble you then." Rong Jingzong smiled and nodded, took a step forward, carefully examined the stone wall for a while, then pressed down several times. The stone door in the wall opened, revealing another dark passageway.

Ling Junyi, holding a pearl in one hand and a sword in the other, said, "Uncle Rong, let me go in and take a look."

Rong Jingzong shook his head slightly and said, "Let's go together. There won't be any more swordplay here. This door is difficult to open from the outside, but it opens automatically once someone inside walks through. From this, it seems the Hundred Flowers Gang members are probably trapped here."

Ling Junyi said, "In that case, please, Uncle Rong."

Rong Jingzong said, "No, please go first, Young Master Ling. I'm not familiar with the Hundred Flowers Gang members, and encountering them could easily lead to misunderstandings." Ling Junyi

said, "Then I'll clear the way for you, Uncle Rong." He took the lead and quickly left.

Rong Jingzong, carrying a long sword, followed them in, with Xiao Tao and a black-clad swordsman close behind. The path was perfectly still, without any turns. Having learned from his previous experience with the "Sword Path," Ling Junyi proceeded with extreme caution. After venturing three or four zhang in, still finding nothing unusual, he quickened his pace, running straight ahead. This stretch of road took the time it takes to drink a cup of hot tea, yet there was still no sign of the Hundred Flowers Gang.

The path finally ended, and the scenery changed dramatically. In the firelight, they saw a spacious stone chamber ahead. No, it was a hexagonal open hall. Besides the passage they had come from, there was no other way out. In the center was a round blue stone table and six stone benches, nothing else. Around the open hall were six long arched doorways, but no stone doors. The interiors were dark, making it unclear whether it was a stone chamber or just another path. Rong Jingzong stopped, letting out a soft "Eh?" Ling Junyi turned and asked, "Uncle Rong, have you noticed something amiss?"

Rong Jingzong stroked his beard, pondering, "I've been the chief steward of the Black Dragon Society for thirty years, yet I knew of such a place."

Ling Junyi said, "Uncle Rong, didn't Han Zhankui just say they've renovated the original secret passage? If the Hundred Flowers Gang members are carrying the old map, they're walking into a dead end. Perhaps this is the one they renovated later."

Rong Jingzong... Nodding, he said, "I only knew that a secret passage was built behind the Azure Dragon Hall as a prison, but I didn't know there was such a large place. These six doors are not covered by doors, and I wonder where they lead." He stared at the open hall, feeling that although it was deserted, there was a faint air of killing intent. He frowned slightly and said to Ling Junyi, "Young Master Ling, please wait here for a moment and do not move. I will go in and take a look." As soon as he finished speaking, he immediately used his internal energy, focused his mind, and slowly walked into the open hall.

Although the hall was empty except for a round table and six stone benches, Rong Jingzong was very careful. He carefully examined each stone bench and then slowly walked around the four walls of the open hall. He especially focused on the six doors, standing at each one and listening intently for a while, but still could not find anything suspicious. Ling Junyi stood there for a while, growing impatient, and was about to follow when he suddenly heard the faint sound of clashing weapons! Ling Junyi's senses were incredibly sharp; his gaze immediately turned to the third door on the right side of the hall. Rong Jingzong, with his refined internal energy, had also discerned that the clash of weapons was coming from the third door, and simultaneously turned around.

Of the group led by Mudan, two of the three men—Left Protector Leng Chaozong, Ye Kaiguang, and Ran Yuchun—were dead, and one was wounded. Only Mudan, Yulan, Rose, Ziwei, Furong, Fengxian, and Yurui remained, along with the abbess Mingyue of the Stone God Temple, who had yet to appear. The sounds of clashing weapons suggested that one of them might have encountered a powerful enemy, causing Ling Junyi great anxiety. Without hesitation, he leaped into the hall and whispered, "Uncle Rong, please wait here. I'll go in and see if the Hundred Flowers Gang has encountered a strong enemy and is fighting." Before Rong Jingzong could speak, he darted towards the third door.

Seeing his haste, Rong Jingzong didn't dare to stop him, nor did he have time to. He could only say to those behind him, "Young Master Ling, be careful. I have a feeling something is amiss with these six doors in the hall."

Ling Junyi had already dashed several feet away and turned back, saying, "I understand." Inside this doorway was still a narrow passage about three feet wide.

Holding the "Lilong Pearl," Ling Junyi used both his ears and eyes, following the sound of clashing weapons. He moved extremely fast, and in the blink of an eye, he had already covered more than ten feet when a narrow passage suddenly appeared in front of him. The sounds within the passage were extremely difficult to discern, especially the sound of clashing weapons, which came and went. Clearly, the two combatants, one strong and one weak, or one fleeing and one chasing, had gradually faded into the distance.

Ling Junyi reached the crossroads and had to stop to listen carefully, but as soon as he stopped, the sound of clashing weapons suddenly fell silent. After a long while, he could faintly hear the clash of weapons coming from the left, but the sound had already faded into the distance. Ling Junyi, without hesitation, turned and rushed towards the left-hand passage. However, after walking only three or four zhang (approximately 10-12 meters), he suddenly heard a sharp, clear shout from afar. The shout sounded very familiar, but he couldn't identify who it belonged to. Startled, he quickly stopped and listened intently. But the person only shouted once and then fell silent.

Ling Junyi carefully discerned the direction and confirmed that the shout was coming from behind him, directly opposite the direction of the clash of weapons. His delay had made the sound of the clash of weapons barely audible. The shout shouldn't be too far away. His mind raced, and he immediately turned and rushed towards the passage behind him. This time, he only ran about five or six zhang before catching a glimpse of a slender figure darting out from around the corner and running towards him. Both were in motion, and naturally, they quickly reached each other.

The slender figure was incredibly fast; seeing someone running towards her, without even recognizing who it was, she let out a clear shout and swung her hand in a palm strike. No, even as her jade-like palm rose, a puff of light smoke came hurtling towards him. Ling Junyi had already stopped running and called out, "Wanmei, it's me." A puff of fine, smoke-like powder sprinkled all over Ling Junyi's face, and at the same time, with a "smack," a jade-like hand slapped Ling Junyi's shoulder.

The slender figure paused slightly, then let out a surprised "Ah!" "Big brother, it's you..." It was Wen Wanjun. With that, she swiftly threw herself into Ling Junyi's arms, her jade-like arms outstretched, embracing him tightly. Her delicate lips brushed against his ear, and she whispered, "Big brother, I almost didn't see you again."

Ling Junyi noticed that her clothes were torn in several places by the sword blade, stained with blood, and her hair was disheveled. She seemed extremely tired and disheveled. He gently smoothed her hair. "Wanmei, are you injured?" Ling Junyi asked

. Wen Wanjun replied, "It's alright, just a few scratches. Ah! Brother, when did you arrive? Why are you alone?"

Ling Junyi said, "It's a long story. I came looking for you. If it weren't for your shout just now, I wouldn't have been able to find you."

Wen Wanjun leaned her head on his shoulder and said, "There are many narrow passages here. It's like being in a maze, unable to find a way out. That's how we gradually got separated. Moreover, the enemy was hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to attack. These people are all extremely skilled in martial arts and swordsmanship. If I hadn't brought the sleeping incense with me, I would have been injured by their swords long ago." She paused slightly, sighed, and chuckled, "But I've already killed two of them thanks to the sleeping incense."

Ling Junyi asked, "When did you get separated?"

Wen Wanjun said, "Quite some time has passed, about an hour. Ziwei was originally with me, but then we heard the sound of weapons clashing. We chased after them, but who knew..." "Someone ambushed me at the corner. By the time I dealt with that guy, Ziwei was gone."

Ling Junyi said, "You've been wandering around in circles?"

Wen Wanjun said aggrievedly, "Yes! All the tinder I had with me burned out. I was groping around in the dark, and the more anxious I became, the less I could find a way out..."

Ling Junyi laughed, "Are you scared?"

Wen Wanjun tightened her arms around him, buried her head in his chest, and said stubbornly, "You still dare to say that."

Ling Junyi felt that her breath was as fragrant as orchids when she spoke, making him feel intoxicated. Especially with her soft, jade-like body pressed against his chest, their hearts beat together, as if they had been electrocuted, and their whole bodies were burning! He gently lifted her face and said softly, "You don't have to be afraid now." Their eyes met, and he saw Wen Wanjun's long eyelashes, her watery eyes, her red lips... Their faces were already very close, but now they were even closer. Wen Wanjun let out a soft "Oh," and her body trembled slightly.

Just then, in the dimly lit passageway, a flash of sword light appeared, a chilling gleam shooting towards the two. The attacker was incredibly fast, arriving silently, and his sword strike was swift and merciless. Ling Junyi immediately became alert, leaning to the right and turning Wen Wanjun's body. His left hand, with three fingers moving with lightning speed, blocked the sword tip. His right foot flew up, delivering a powerful "Heart-Piercing Kick" towards the attacker's chest. As he parried the sword tip, his palm flipped, and the previously concealed pearly light suddenly shone brightly. It turned out that the attacker was a man in a blue robe, appearing to be in his early fifties, not quite sixty. Judging from his silent arrival and the force of his sword strike, his martial arts were extremely high; he was undoubtedly a master of the Azure Dragon Hall.

The man in the blue robe had only seen a figure on the road before rushing forward to thrust his sword. He hadn't expected it to be a young man and woman, especially the young man in the blue robe who, with a flick of his wrist, caught the tip of his sword. Startled, he quickly stepped back, slapping away Ling Junyi's kick with his left hand, and with a flick of his right wrist, unleashing a sword strike. His wrist flick, channeling his power into the sword, would have surely severed three of Ling Junyi's swords. But Ling Junyi's three fingers, gripping the tip, were equally powerful, like steel clamps. In the struggle, a sharp "crack" was heard, and the sword tip snapped. This account is somewhat slow, but in reality, it was only a fleeting moment, and the two figures were separated.

The man in the green robe was taken aback, then laughed angrily, "Good lad, you're actually a disciple of Shaolin!"

Ling Junyi asked, "Are you one of the Thirty-Six Generals of the Black Dragon Society?" The

man in the green robe hesitated, then asked, "How did you know?"

Ling Junyi replied, "The Thirty-Six Generals were all trained by the former leader of the society. They should be loyal and righteous men. You, sir..."

The man in the green robe stared at Ling Junyi in surprise, interrupting him, "Who are you?"

Ling Junyi said, "You don't need to know who I am."

Suddenly, the man in the green robe's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he shouted, "You know too much, kid!" He then thrust his sword at Ling Junyi with a swift motion.

Ling Junyi deftly shifted his body to the side, dodging the sword's attack, and shouted, "I not only know a lot, but I'm also here to clean house for the old leader. You're a traitor among the Thirty-Six Heroes, a lackey who sold himself to a foreign race; you'll die today."

Wen Wanjun said, "Brother, we must capture this man alive."

The man in the green robe missed his target with his sword, and was momentarily stunned. Hearing Ling Junyi's words, he was filled with rage again, and coldly snorted, "Boy, what arrogant words!" As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his wrist and thrust out two more swords in quick succession.

As Ling Junyi clapped his hands, a short sword gleaming with a cold blue light appeared in his hand. He didn't retaliate, remaining stationary, only slightly swaying his upper body to follow the thrust of the sword. The two swords thrust by the man in blue missed their mark. Ling Junyi waved his right hand, and with a clang, he pressed down on the opponent's longsword. Just then, a slender hand emerged from beside Ling Junyi, its five fingers spreading out a puff of light smoke. Seeing Wen Wanjun release the "bewitching powder," the man in blue knew something was wrong, but with his sword pressed down by Ling Junyi, he didn't even have time to draw his sword and retreat. He smelled a strange fragrance, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Wen Wanjun said, "Alright, alright, we've finally caught one alive."

Ling Junyi asked, "What do you need a live prisoner for?"

Wen Wanjun smiled brightly and said, "This place is full of branching paths, like a maze. Wouldn't it be better to have someone guide us?"

Ling Junyi suddenly remembered Rong Jingzong's words: "I only knew that a secret passage was built behind the Azure Dragon Hall for imprisoning people, but I didn't know there was such a large place." Indeed, Tang Wenqing and Fang Ruping were being held captive somewhere, and the Hundred Flowers Gang members were scattered in these branching paths. They all needed someone to guide them. Thinking of this, he nodded and smiled, "You've thought of everything. We need just such a person."

Wen Wanjun smiled and said, "I hate them so much that I didn't leave any alive. Later, when the tinderbox ran out, I wandered around and got lost. I wanted to capture someone to guide me, but I didn't encounter any more thieves. I really regret that I acted too quickly earlier. The shout you heard just now was the sound of footsteps I heard. It was probably him." Then, with an "Oh," she asked, "Brother, have you found your two friends?"

Ling Junyi shook his head and said, "Not yet."

Wen Wanjun said, "Isn't that perfect? Capturing this man would be very useful to us."

Ling Junyi said, "I'm afraid he won't work for me. Come on, Wanmei, let's take him out first and let Uncle Rong persuade him. Maybe he'll be willing to obey."

Wen Wanjun asked, "Who is Uncle Rong?"

Ling Junyi said, "He's my late father's friend and the manager of the Black Dragon Pool of the Black Dragon Society. He's outside. I only rushed in because I heard the sound of weapons clashing."

Wen Wanjun asked curiously, "Outside? What place is outside?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "The so-called outside is naturally still inside the belly of Kunyu Mountain, just outside this alley." He then said, "The story is a long one, and we don't have time to talk about it now. Let's go out first." He grabbed the man in the blue robe, slung him over his shoulder, and turned back to say, "Wanmei, please come with me." Holding the "Lilong Pearl," he turned and walked towards the tunnel. Before long, he emerged from the stone gate and returned to the hexagonal hall.

Rong Jingzong, who had been anxious because Ling Junyi had been gone for so long, was overjoyed to see him carrying someone out. He went up to him and said, "Young Master Ling, why have you been gone for so long? If you hadn't come out soon, I would have gone looking for you." Before he finished speaking, he saw a young woman behind Ling Junyi and quickly nodded, asking, "Was that clanging of metal just now, this young lady fighting with someone?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "No, that clanging of metal faded into the distance, and I couldn't find it." Upon arriving, Ling Junyi introduced Wen Wanjun, saying, "Wanmei, this is my late father's good friend, Uncle Rong." He then turned to Rong Jingzong and

said, "Her name is Wen Wanjun, the daughter of Wen Yifeng, the head of the Wen Manor in Lingnan." Wen Wanjun lowered her head and, following Ling Junyi's lead, greeted him, "Uncle Rong."

Rong Jingzong repeatedly said he dared not accept such praise, feeling surprised, and asked, "How did Miss Wen get in?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Uncle, you misunderstand. She disguised herself as Rose and infiltrated the Hundred Flowers Gang to secretly help this junior."

Rong Jingzong nodded. "I see."

As he spoke, Ling Junyi put the man in the blue robe who had been draped over his shoulder down and asked, "Does Uncle Rong recognize this person?"

Rong Jingzong's gaze sharpened. "His name is Gu Hongsheng. He was originally one of the Thirty-Six Generals, and now he is one of the eight commanders of the Black Dragon Society."

Wen Wanjun asked, "Commander? What kind of position is that?"

Rong Jingzong replied, "A commander, as the name suggests, should be in charge of many people. However, in the Black Dragon Society, a commander is similar to a protector. The position isn't too low, but there's no real power." Originally the title of Qing Dynasty military officers, the eight commanders were all assigned to the Qinglong Hall as servants.

Wen Wanjun said, "Uncle Rong, since you know him, I'll wake him up first, and you can persuade him; perhaps he'll willingly obey." Rong Jingzong looked at Ling Junyi and asked, "Does Young Master Ling want me to persuade him?"

Ling Junyi immediately pointed out that the inner passageway was a maze, and the Hundred Flowers Gang members were gradually getting lost and trapped inside, unable to find a way out. He also didn't know where his two friends were being held captive. Gu Hongsheng naturally knew about these two matters; if he could persuade him, the problem would be easily solved.

Rong Jingzong stroked his white beard and nodded, saying, "Gu Hongsheng is one of the Thirty-Six Generals, and I know him very well. He is extremely ambitious, and now, as a sixth-rank official in the Qing court, it will be difficult to persuade him to give up his fame and fortune..." After a moment's thought, he hummed in agreement and continued, "There is only one thing that might make him submit."

Wen Wanjun smiled brightly and said, "I understand. I have my own methods to make him obey."

Ling Junyi asked curiously, "What methods do you have?"

Wen Wanjun smiled brightly and said, "Anyone who values fame and fortune is not afraid of death."

Rong Jingzong nodded and said, "What you say is very true."

Wen Wanjun stopped talking, walked up to Gu Hongsheng, and suddenly extended two slender, jade-like fingers, pressing three acupoints on him in succession. Then, she took out a small jade bottle from her bosom, unscrewed the cap, picked up a little powder with her fingernail, and flicked it onto Gu Hongsheng's nose. This was incredibly effective. Upon smelling the powdered medicine, the unconscious man immediately sneezed and snapped his eyes open. His gaze shifted, and seeing Rong Jingzong, Ling Junyi, Wen Wanjun, and others, his expression changed slightly. He abruptly sat up, only to realize that his pressure points had been sealed, rendering him unable to move his limbs.

Rong Jingzong asked, "Brother Gu, are you awake?"

Gu Hongsheng looked at him and said, "It's good that Steward Rong is here; I've been sealed." He was indeed a coward, readily begging for mercy upon seeing Rong Jingzong. This was understandable; it was the Qing Dynasty, and he was a "meritorious dog," having risen to officialdom. Almost every official wanted to climb the ranks. Climbing meant a bright future; how could one's life be worthless?

Rong Jingzong stroked his white beard and said, "Brother Gu, do you know that Han Zhankui is dead and Shui Qingying has fled?"

Gu Hongsheng was shocked and asked, "Is it true

, Chief Steward Rong?" Rong Jingzong said, "I am no longer the chief steward of the Black Dragon Society. Brother Gu, you no longer need to address me as chief steward. I have known you for forty years, and I must advise you, we are descendants of the Yellow Emperor, fellow believers who have kowtowed before the Sun God. We should not be lackeys of foreign races..."

Gu Hongsheng's face changed drastically, and he exclaimed in horror, "Chief Steward Rong, have you rebelled?"

Rong Jingzong said, "That's right. Brother Gu and I were both trained by the old leader in the past. After the Black Dragon Society fell into the hands of the Qing government, it became the executioner of our fellow martial arts practitioners. We should no longer be used by others. Now is the time for you to wake up. As long as you are willing to cooperate with us, I guarantee that you will not be harmed in the slightest." Gu Hongsheng seemed to be torn between his own mind and his own, unable to make up his mind. He closed his eyes slightly and remained silent in contemplation.

Wen Wanjun said, "Gu, let me tell you, the acupoints I pressed are a unique technique of the Wen family of Lingnan. If you try to release them yourself, be careful not to misdirect your energy."

Gu Hongsheng's eyes widened, and he said coldly, "What do you want?"

Wen Wanjun said, "That depends on your attitude."

Gu Hongsheng said, "I am in your hands, my life and death are in your hands, what can I do?"

Wen Wanjun said, "You only have one path to take: those who obey me live, those who defy me die. Life or death, the choice is yours." Gu Hongsheng glanced at Rong Jingzong, who pretended not to see him and turned his head away.

Gu Hongsheng said, "Even ants are afraid of death. It's better to live a wretched life than to die a good death. But I'd like to hear about these two paths: how to live, and how to die?"

Wen Wanjun said, "It's quite simple. The first path is what Old Man Rong just said: as long as you cooperate with us and don't harbor any illusions or attempt to escape, after we leave Kunyu Mountain, regardless of whether you are good or evil, friend or foe, we will let you go. As for the second path..." He suddenly stopped speaking.

Gu Hongsheng asked, "What about the second option?"

Wen Wanjun replied, "The second option is for you to reveal the location of this tunnel and your prisoners. If you refuse, we will torture you severely, even to the point of death."

Gu Hongsheng showed a hint of fear, lowered his head, and muttered to himself, "How can I, a man of my age, die so quietly?"

Wen Wanjun said, "Yes! Once you leave the Black Dragon Society, we can let you go. Isn't it a pity to die like this?"

Gu Hongsheng glanced at Wen Wanjun and said, "Alright! Tell me first, how do you want me to cooperate?"

Wen Wanjun... Jun said, "So you've agreed. Good. There are two points to our cooperation. First, you must guide us to find the Hundred Flowers Gang members who are lost in the alley. Second, you must lead us to the place where the prisoners are and rescue Brother Ling's two friends."

Gu Hongsheng said, "Just two things?"

Wen Wanjun said, "That's right."

Gu Hongsheng said, "Alright, I agree. Release my pressure points."

Ling Junyi turned to look at Rong Jingzong and asked, "Uncle Rong, is what he said reliable?"

Rong Jingzong stroked his white beard and chuckled, "That's hard to say. Although I and Brother Gu were once ranked among the Thirty-Six..." Among generals, once they become henchmen of the Qing court, they rarely have any integrity.

Gu Hongsheng looked at Rong Jingzong, indignant, and thought, "Rong Jingzong, haven't you considered that you also surrendered to the Qing court back then? Even now, I'm just a sixth-rank officer, while you, surnamed Rong, are a sixth-rank general. You keep calling others Qing henchmen, aren't you a henchman yourself?" But he dared not say this aloud, only smiling bitterly, "Brother Rong, we've known each other for decades, don't you trust your brother?"

Before Rong Jingzong could speak, Wen Wanjun continued, "Yes! Uncle Rong, we've known each other for decades..." "If I don't trust you, how can I trust you?" She then suddenly reached into her robes and pulled out a pill, saying, "How about this? Swallow this pill, and I'll release your pressure points."

Gu Hongsheng glanced at her hand and asked, "Is this poison, young lady?"

Wen Wanjun suddenly smiled and said, "No, the Wen family of Lingnan never makes poison. This is called the 'Soul-Stealing Pill.' If you don't get the antidote within twelve hours after taking it, the effects will kick in, leaving you like a lost soul, forgetting everything, like an idiot, beyond cure for life."

Gu Hongsheng said, "This pill is indeed very vicious."

Wen Wanjun said, "Don't worry, I have the antidote. After you take the 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' I'll give you two antidotes, which will last for six hours."

Gu Hongsheng asked, "After six hours, do I still need to take the antidote?"

Wen Wanjun said, "You're right, after six hours, I'll give you the antidote again." Gu Hongsheng said, "

Miss, you mean that you have to take the antidote every six hours?"

Wen Wanjun said, "That's not necessary. Taking six antidotes will be fine. We might be out in less than six hours. At that time, I will give you the other four antidotes together."

Gu Hongsheng said, "That means that until I have obtained all the antidotes, I must do my best to protect your safety."

Wen Wanjun looked at Ling Junyi and smiled gently, "I don't need you to protect me. When I'm with Brother Ling, no one can hurt me." She spoke very naturally, but everyone could tell that she and Ling Junyi had a deep love and unwavering trust. Xiao Tao stood to the side, secretly glancing at Ling Junyi, a hint of girlish jealousy rising in her heart.

As soon as Wen Wanjun finished speaking, she continued, "Alright, I've made myself clear to you. Now, swallow it quickly." Gu Hongsheng looked at the pills, feeling hesitant.

Wen Wanjun smiled and said, "Your acupoints are sealed, so I don't need to waste my breath on you." Suddenly, she reached out with her left wrist, pried open Gu Hongsheng's jaw, and swiftly put the pills into his mouth with her right hand. She then slapped the back of his neck and put his jaws back in place.

Gu Hongsheng was furious at being captured, but dared not speak out. Only after Wen Wanjun put his jaws back in place did he exclaim loudly, "Miss, where's the antidote?"

Wen Wanjun smiled and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I promised to give it to you, so naturally I will." As she spoke, she flipped her hands, slapping and patting to release his sealed acupoints, took out two vermilion pills, and handed them over, saying, "This is the antidote."

Gu Hongsheng stood up, took the antidote with one hand, quickly swallowed it, and with his other hand, he swiftly grabbed Wen Wanjun's wrist, pulling her back three steps to shield her from his attack. He roared, "Anyone who dares to come closer, I'll kill her first!" His attack was incredibly fast; Ling Junyi and Rong Jingzong were caught off guard, watching as he and Wen Wanjun retreated three steps. Rong

Jingzong coldly snorted, "Gu Hongsheng, I wasn't wrong, was I? Once you become a lackey of the Qing court, you have no integrity whatsoever."

Gu Hongsheng laughed loudly, "What integrity is there to talk about with you traitors?"

Wen Wanjun let him hold her wrist, following him step by step, screaming, "What are you doing?"

Gu Hongsheng said smugly, "Little girl, if you hand over the antidote, I'll spare your life." "

Wen Wanjun said, 'Don't forget I'm from the Wen family of Lingnan.' The Wen family of Lingnan was renowned in the martial arts world for their sleeping potions, hence the saying: 'The people of the Wen family of Lingnan are covered in sleeping potions.'

Just then, someone suddenly said, 'Brother Gu, first acupuncture her pressure points.' As soon as the words were spoken, six men dressed in blue, carrying long swords, appeared simultaneously from the six doors around the open hall.

Rong Jingzong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he shouted, 'Yang Zhigao, you've come at the right time.' In the blink of an eye, there was a 'bang,' and Gu Hongsheng suddenly fell to the ground.

From the door on the left at the head of the hall appeared a middle-aged man of medium height and fair complexion, none other than Yang Zhigao, one of the two trusted confidants that Shui Qingying had brought from the capital. Just by looking at his bright eyes, one could tell that he was not only highly skilled in martial arts but also a very capable and shrewd man." As soon as Yang Zhigao appeared, he saw Gu Hongsheng suddenly collapse silently. Startled, he hurriedly shouted, "Why aren't you there to help him?" His shout was followed by two men in blue robes lunging towards Wen Wanjun.

Wen Wanjun coldly smiled and said, "Who dares to come closer?" With a flick of her wrist, a cloud of black smoke flew out. The two men in blue robes, having heard her say she was from the Wen family of Lingnan, recognized her power upon seeing the cloud of black smoke. They dared not be negligent; the one who had rushed forward hurriedly held his breath and leaped backward.

Wen Wanjun smiled gently and said, "Look at you, so afraid of even a handful of sand. What kind of reputation do you have?" Her handful was indeed sand, but no one dared to approach her. Wen Wanjun ignored them, taking out a jade bottle from her bosom, picking out a small amount of medicine with her fingernail, and gently flicking it onto Gu Hongsheng's nostrils. Gu Hongsheng sneezed, suddenly waking up. He rubbed his eyes and stood up straight. Wen Wanjun looked at him, turned her head, and smiled, "Commander Gu, are you still going to hold my wrist and force me to take the antidote?"

Having learned his lesson, Gu Hongsheng dared not act rashly again, especially since he had been forced to swallow the "Soul-Stealing Pill" and had only taken two antidotes, angering Wen Wanjun. If she didn't give him the antidote, wouldn't he have made things worse? He cherished his life immensely, and thinking of this, he couldn't help but put on a smile, repeatedly saying, "Miss, the drug is indeed powerful. I have already experienced it. Since we have a prior agreement, we must both abide by it, right?"

Wen Wanjun said, "Don't worry, if we can get out of the secret passage inside the mountain within six hours, I will give you all four antidotes at once."

Gu Hongsheng said, "Okay."

Wen Wanjun said, "But inside the secret passage inside the mountain, you have to listen to me."

Gu Hongsheng said, "It's a deal."

Wen Wanjun's eyes flickered, and she whispered, "They're about to make their move. Come with me." After saying that, she moved lightly towards where the group was standing.

Gu Hongsheng, already aware of the potency of Wen Wanjun's drug, dared not harbor any further thoughts of sneak attack and obediently followed behind her. It turned out that in this short time, the two sides had become extremely tense, seemingly on the verge of immediate conflict. Ling Junyi, concerned for Wen Wanjun's safety, had only been watching the situation closely; he only felt relieved when he saw her walking towards him. Rong Jingzong, the leader of the group, was now facing off against Yang Zhigao, the two exchanging accusations.

Yang Zhigao shouted, "Rong Jingzong, the court has treated you well, yet you dare to spout nonsense and utter such treasonous words! Are you rebelling?"

Rong Jingzong laughed loudly, "Yang Zhigao, you are also a descendant of Yan and Huang, a member of the Han people. You are the one who has forgotten your ancestors and recognized a thief as your father; that is rebellion. Let me tell you, the Black Dragon Society is the Black Dragon Society of the Sun Sect, controlled by your Qing court's lackeys for twenty years. It has become a gang that slaughters fellow martial artists. Any martial artist with blood in their veins would kill it. Now, the culprit who betrayed the Black Dragon Society, Han Zhankui, has been executed, and your master's confidant from the capital, Shui Qingying, has also escaped. As for a nobody like you, Yang Zhigao, I'm too lazy to lift a finger. You'd better surrender yourself."

The words "Han Zhankui is dead" and "Director Shui has escaped" shocked Yang Zhigao. Judging from Rong Jingzong's expression, it seemed to be true! But then he thought again, and realized something was amiss. How could Rong Jingzong and a young man in a blue robe possibly be a match for Director Shui? Besides, Director Shui had a red-robed master under his command who was a master of yoga, unmatched by anyone… His mind raced, and he laughed loudly, “Rong Jingzong, don’t be so arrogant. Once you enter the Azure Dragon Pool, you can forget about getting out.” It turned out this place was called “Azure Dragon Pool.

” Rong Jingzong said, “Very well, there’s no point in saying more. Let’s see who’s the real deal.” With a clang, he withdrew his longsword.

Ling Junyi suddenly stepped forward and said, "Uncle Rong, why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? Let this junior deal with them."

Wen Wanjun called out, "Brother Ling, slow down."

Ling Junyi turned around and said, "Wanmei, what's the matter?"

Wen Wanjun smiled and said, "I wonder if this Yang fellow is qualified to fight you? I think it would be better to let my friend Gu test his moves first." Saying this, she smoothed her hair and turned her face away, saying, "Friend Gu, for the first round, you should go up and take a few moves from that Yang fellow." Although her voice was gentle, her words were tantamount to an order to Gu Hongsheng.

Gu Hongsheng was taken aback and hesitated for a moment, but his life was in their hands, and he dared not disobey. He raised his right hand, withdrew his long sword, and stepped forward to approach Yang Zhigao. This sight made Yang Zhigao's heart skip a beat. He stared at Gu Hongsheng's face and shouted, "Gu Hongsheng, what's wrong with you? Have you been bewitched by that demoness?"

Gu Hongsheng bowed and said, "Reporting to the steward, I'm fine." It turned out that Yang Zhigao was the steward of "Azure Dragon Pool.

" Yang Zhigao said, "Then stand aside."

Gu Hongsheng smiled bitterly and said, "Please forgive me, steward, I was forced by circumstances..."

Yang Zhigao was taken aback and shouted, "You want to rebel too?"

Beads of sweat dripped from Gu Hongsheng's forehead as he said, "I've been poisoned by the Wen family's 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' I had no choice."

Wen Wanjun urged, "Gu friend, what are you talking about? Hurry up and do it! If you let him go today, do you think he'll let you go after we get out of the secret passage in the mountain?"

Gu Hongsheng's heart suddenly trembled, and he gritted his teeth and said, "That's right, Yang Zhigao, today I have no choice but to fight you." With a flick of his wrist, Yang Zhigao thrust his sword forward.

Furious and anxious, Yang Zhigao flipped his right wrist, and with a clang, blocked Gu Hongsheng's longsword, shouting, "Gu Hongsheng, they only have a few men left, and they're already in dire straits. How long can they hold out? How could you listen to the rebels?"

Gu Hongsheng swiftly withdrew his sword, shook his head, and said, "No, brother, without the antidote, I won't live past tomorrow."

Yang Zhigao retorted sharply, "You've all become traitors; you won't live past today." He brandished his sword and roared, "Why aren't you all attacking and taking down these traitors?" Before each door stood a man in a blue, tight-fitting outfit. They had clearly heard the "General Manager's" order to attack, yet they remained standing firm, unmoved.

Yang Zhigao's face turned ashen with rage. He roared, "Are you all dead? Why aren't you surrounding them?"

Wen Wanjun smiled faintly and said, "They're not dead, but they won't listen to you anymore."

Yang Zhigao was startled and shouted angrily, "You tampered with them?"

Wen Wanjun scoffed, "You're right. They've all been poisoned by my invisible incense, leaving only you. I gave you to my friend Gu." Yang

Zhigao was terrified, but his face remained impassive. He snorted, "What a vixen! Her methods are indeed ruthless." As he spoke to Wen Wanjun, his left hand lashed out with a "whoosh," striking Gu Hongsheng directly in the face. He used the momentum to leap up, swiftly leaping backward towards a doorway behind him. This all happened in the blink of an eye. He thought that this sudden attack would force Gu Hongsheng's pursuit, allowing him to retreat safely into the doorway. Once inside the forked mountain path, no one could stop him.

But just as he leaped up, Ling Kanyi shouted, "Where do you think you're going?" and struck out with his left hand. With this strike, a powerful force surged forth. However, the palm strike didn't land on Yang Zhigao, but instead struck four or five feet behind him, right in front of the stone door. Ling Junyi's internal energy was refined, and his experience against formidable enemies had greatly increased. The timing of this palm strike was perfect; just as his palm struck the doorway, Yang Zhigao, who was retreating, had just arrived. As a third-rank imperial guard, Yang Zhigao's martial arts skills were naturally not weak either. As he retreated, he suddenly sensed an unusual wind behind him. In his haste, he inhaled sharply, his body suspended in mid-air, and forcefully twisted to the left, his left hand flashing out horizontally to protect his chest.

Even though he reacted quickly, his palm struck the edge of Ling Junyi's palm wind surging towards the stone door. The two forces collided, and he, launching his palm strike while suspended in mid-air, was naturally at a disadvantage, being thrown back several steps. But this was something he had anticipated; his main purpose was to escape Ling Junyi's palm wind. Therefore, his body was thrown into the air, landing a few feet away before he regained his footing. With just this one palm strike, he realized the young man in the blue robe possessed a level of skill far exceeding his expectations. With just this one palm strike, Ling Junyi also realized Yang Zhigao was a formidable opponent. Because Yang Zhigao, retreating suddenly caught in the palm's force, should have been caught off guard even with his defensive power. But just as he was about to be struck, Yang Zhigao, while in mid-air, actually twisted his body, delivered a horizontal palm strike, and then used the momentum to gracefully retreat—something only someone with profound internal strength and exceptional lightness skills could accomplish. After delivering his palm strike, Ling Junyi did not pursue.

Rong Jingzong stroked his graying temples and chuckled, "Yang Zhigao, you can probably see the situation today. If you don't surrender, leaving this place alive is harder than climbing to heaven."

Yang Zhigao's fair face turned ashen, and he brandished his long sword, shouting fiercely, "Rong Jingzong, do you dare to fight me to the death?"

Wen Wanjun interjected, "You and your friend Gu haven't even exchanged a single blow, and you're already trying to escape? You dare to challenge Old Master Rong?"

Gu Hongsheng hesitated to act because Yang Zhigao was ultimately a third-rank imperial bodyguard. If he wanted to climb the ranks, he couldn't afford to offend him. But now the situation had completely changed. Judging from Rong Jingzong's tone, Yang Zhigao had no chance of escape. Since Yang Zhigao no longer posed a threat, and Rong Jingzong's side had gained an absolute advantage, when was a better time to act? Those who only wanted promotion and wealth were always opportunistic, and Gu Hongsheng was no exception. As soon as Wen Wanjun finished speaking, Gu Hongsheng stepped forward with his right foot, raised his longsword, and pointed forward with his left hand in a sword gesture, saying, "Chief Steward Yang, I'm forced by circumstances and have no choice but to offend you. Please."

Yang Zhigao snorted angrily, "Fine! Colluding with traitors is the same crime as traitors. I'll use you as a sacrifice!" With that shout, his longsword flashed out horizontally.

Gu Hongsheng shouted, "Good!" He whirled around, seizing Yang Zhigao's flank, and unleashed a powerful "Golden Eagle Spreads Its Wings" sword strike, its sharp edge flashing as it pierced the enemy's shoulder and arm. Yang Zhigao's movements were incredibly fast; with a single strike, he shifted position, countering with a swift backhand. A clang rang out as the two swords clashed, both men involuntarily taking a step back. Gu Hongsheng felt a burning sensation in his hand; his sword had been deflected several feet, and he was secretly shocked.

Yang Zhigao let out a cold laugh, suddenly closing in and unleashing five consecutive thrusts. Gu Hongsheng, naturally unwilling to back down, responded with his own swordplay, attacking and defending in quick succession, parrying five strikes and returning three in return, before separating. Yang Zhigao, aiming for a swift victory, quickly returned the favor and attacked again. The two clashed twice, neither daring to underestimate the other, each employing their full skills in a fierce and relentless struggle. Yang Zhigao used the "Changbai School Swordplay," a style characterized by its fierce and powerful strokes. His longsword moved with the grace of a dragon or snake, or a hawk soaring through the air, its sweeping movements creating a powerful and ferocious effect. Gu Hongsheng's swordplay, on the other hand, was light and agile, its variations complex and ever-changing. He moved with a swirling aura of blue light, appearing and disappearing like the wind.

In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged thirty to fifty moves. Yang Zhigao, initially confident in his skill, assumed Gu Hongsheng was merely a subordinate and could be easily defeated. Eager for a quick victory, he repeatedly took risky moves in his attempts to gain the upper hand. However, Gu Hongsheng's swordplay was extremely agile, and his defenses were impenetrable. After thirty to fifty moves, Yang Zhigao not only failed to gain the slightest advantage but also nearly fell victim to Gu Hongsheng's longsword several times due to his haste, causing him to feel increasingly frustrated and angry. In truth, Yang Zhigao was unaware that Gu Hongsheng was struggling even more. Although his swordplay was light and varied, his skill was ultimately inferior, and he could only manage a draw by exerting all his strength. Moreover, every time their weapons clashed, he felt an immense force emanating from the opponent's sword, like a hammer blown by the wind, pressing down on his chest. He constantly circulated his inner energy and desperately tried to withstand it.

They exchanged another twenty or thirty moves. By this time, Yang Zhigao had realized that although Gu Hongsheng's swordsmanship was not weak, his internal strength was inferior to his. Upon this discovery, Yang Zhigao couldn't help but sneer. He changed his swordsmanship, secretly gathering his internal strength, his sword filled with true power. With each strike, the sword wind surged, hissing loudly within a few feet! With a series of clangs, Gu Hongsheng, although he blocked several of his sword strikes, was still forced back several steps by the impact.

Yang Zhigao, having succeeded in his move, coldly sneered, "Let's see how many more of my swords you can withstand!" In just a few moves, Gu Hongsheng had been forced into a disadvantageous position, and under Yang Zhigao's relentless pressure, he had no choice but to raise his sword to parry. Swords clashed, the clang of metal ringing out. Gu Hongsheng grew increasingly exhausted, forced back in sweat, barely able to retaliate.

Wen Wanjun whispered, "Brother, Gu Hongsheng is finished. You must intervene!"

Ling Junyi smiled faintly, "It's alright, he can still hold out for a couple more moves."

As he spoke, a sharp "hiss" was heard as Yang Zhigao's sword slashed through Gu Hongsheng's left sleeve. Startled, Gu Hongsheng hastily retreated. Yang Zhigao suddenly lunged forward, sweeping his sword again. Gu Hongsheng hastily raised his sword to parry, but a clang rang out as he felt a sharp pain in his right arm, his sword deflected. Now he was wide open. Yang Zhigao's eyes were bloodshot. Without a sound, he flicked his wrist, unleashing a flash of cold light, faster than lightning, aimed straight at Gu Hongsheng's chest. In that split second, Yang Zhigao felt a sudden gust of wind beside him, as if someone was directly attacking him. Before he could even think, his right wrist was suddenly gripped tightly, and a powerful force surged from the other person's hand. The fingers loosened, and he involuntarily trembled and fell backward.

It was like a nightmare; he hadn't even seen the other person's shadow before he was thrown off balance. But Yang Zhigao was, after all, a master of the Imperial Guard, with superb martial arts skills. Using the momentum of the fall, he swiftly tapped his longsword on the ground, flipped his feet over his head, and landed upright. Looking closely, he saw Ling Junyi standing gracefully before him, his hands

empty. Yang Zhigao didn't know who the young man in the blue robe was. He was both shocked and furious. Seeing that the other person was empty-handed, a sudden surge of malice welled up inside him. He shouted and swept his sword across the room. His sword strike, imbued with resentment and momentum, flew like a bolt of lightning, its light stretching eight feet. He assumed his opponent, empty-handed, would find it difficult to dodge, and that cutting him in two would be incredibly satisfying. But to his surprise, the sword missed its mark. Ling Junyi's movements were strange; he didn't know how Ling Junyi had dodged it, and Ling Junyi remained standing there, not even moving a step.

Yang Zhigao was stunned. He couldn't believe that after two or three decades of dedicated swordsmanship, he couldn't even pierce the hem of a person's clothes with empty hands. Surrounded by powerful enemies, and with all five of his companions already drugged by the little girl, if he didn't catch them off guard, fell them one by one, and hastily escape, he feared he would truly perish here. Thinking this, he didn't hesitate any longer. His longsword spun around, and with two swift strokes, he slashed forward. These two strikes followed a sweeping attack, and although they seemed slower, they were merely the blink of an eye. To onlookers, after his sweeping sword strike missed, he immediately unleashed two more.

This time, Yang Zhigao saw it clearly: with the first strike, Ling Junyi slightly shifted his body, the sword light grazing his right side as it fell. The second strike was naturally even faster, aimed at Yang Zhigao's leftward dodge. But Ling Junyi seemed to have eyes; before the sword strike landed, he shifted his body again, and the strike missed once more. Yang Zhigao felt as if he had encountered a ghost; he had never encountered such bizarre movement techniques since he began his career, and was momentarily stunned and at a loss. Suddenly,

Ling Junyi let out a long laugh, his right hand flashing out a four-foot-long sword. Pointing the tip at Yang Zhigao, he said loudly, "Yang, if you put down your sword now and surrender, we can spare your life if we cripple your martial arts. But if you..."

At this point, Yang Zhigao was desperate and shouted, "Old Yu will fight you to the death!" He flicked his wrist, the sword moving with lightning speed, aiming straight for Yang's chest. Ling Junyi sneered, twisting his longsword in a backhand motion, and with a "thud," struck Yang Zhigao's sword. Yang Zhigao felt a jolt of pain in his arm, his fingers throbbing with agony, and he could no longer hold the sword, which clattered to the ground.

Ling Junyi raised his right wrist, and the gleaming, chilling tip of his sword was already pressed against Yang Zhigao's throat. He sneered, "Yang, what else do you have to say?" Yang Zhigao remained silent, closing his eyes.

Rong Jingzong sensed something was wrong and quickly leaped out, striking Yang Zhigao's pressure point with his finger. Then he forcefully pried open Yang Zhigao's jaw, and black blood slowly flowed from his mouth. Rong Jingzong stamped his foot and exclaimed, "This bastard really did poison himself!" He released his grip, and Yang Zhigao's body fell backward with a "thud."

Wen Wanjun exclaimed in horror, "What a potent poison!"

Rong Jingzong replied, "This is a specially made poison from the Imperial Palace. A mere flick of the tongue followed by a bite will cause immediate death, with no cure. I was careless and let him ingest it."

Seeing Yang Zhigao die from poison, Gu Hongsheng felt a weight lifted from his heart. He quickly went over, bent down, and rummaged through Yang's robes, pulling out three coins strung on a red thread. He handed them to Rong Jingzong, saying, "Chief Steward Rong, these are the keys to the stone gate of Qinglongtan. Please accept them."

Rong Jingzong took them and noticed that the coins were slightly thicker and heavier than ordinary coins, suggesting they were made of pure gold. He asked, "Qinglongtan stone gate? Where is Qinglongtan?" It turned out that despite being the chief steward of Heilongtan, he was unaware of the name "Qinglongtan."

Gu Hongsheng said, "Qinglongtan is where Qinglongtang imprisoned people. Those imprisoned there are all serious traitors..."

Rong Jingzong stroked his beard with one hand and said in surprise, "As the steward of Heilongtan, I didn't know about this."

Gu Hongsheng said, "This was built by Yang Zhigao after the Water Supervisor arrived. The whole area is called Qinglongtan, and Yang Zhigao is the supervisor here."

Ling Junyi asked, "Where is the stone chamber you mentioned?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "The stone chamber is below this hexagonal hall."

Rong Jingzong asked, "How do we get down?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "To open the first door, six people must work together to push the six stone benches towards the center at the same time, until the benches are under the stone table, and then the door will appear."

Rong Jingzong looked back and saw that he... Five people, plus Gu Hongsheng, made six. They said, "There are six of us, so let's all work together."

Wen Wanjun glanced at the five men she had charmed and asked, "Uncle Rong, what should we do with these five?"

Rong Jingzong replied, "My suggestion is that we rescue the people imprisoned in the underground chamber first."

Immediately, Rong Jingzong, Ling Junyi, Wen Wanjun, Xiao Tao, the black-clad swordsman, and Gu Hongsheng each stood separately in front of six stone benches. Rong Jingzong gave the command, and everyone simultaneously pushed the benches towards the center. These six stone benches, which would have been impossible for one person to move, were strangely easily pushed under the stone table by six people pushing them simultaneously. Just then, a soft rumbling tremor came from the ground, and the round stone table slowly sank.

Gu Hongsheng hurriedly said, "Steward Rong, this stone table is the elevator leading to the stone chamber. It can take six people down at a time

. Those who want to go down should wait until the stone table sinks to the same level as the ground before stepping up." Rong Jingzong glanced at him and said, "Young Master Ling, this old man, and Brother Gu can go down. Miss Wen can stay up here for now." As he spoke, the stone table gradually sank to the same level as the ground, and Rong Jingzong took the lead and stepped onto it.

Ling Junyi and Gu Hongsheng followed suit. The stone table sank very slowly at first. But after sinking into the ground, the descent became much faster than before. Wen Wanjun was worried, so she held a fire tube and stood at the circular opening, peering down. Ling Junyi held the "Lilong Pearl" and looked around. The place where they were descending was like an ancient well, and the three of them were descending straight down with the table. In no time, the stone table had landed in the middle of a stone chamber and stopped. Ling Junyi secretly estimated that this straight descent meant they were at least ten zhang below the cave ceiling.

Gu Hongsheng said, "We've arrived. You two can go down now." With that, he leaped to the ground.

Rong Jingzong, being cautious, waited until Gu Hongsheng landed before following suit. It was a square stone chamber, about five or six zhang in size, but apart from a stone table and six stone stools that had descended from above, the surroundings were empty. After landing, Gu Hongsheng's first action was to hurriedly move a stone stool aside and quickly sit down. Rong Jingzong said, "Brother Gu, what are you doing?" As he spoke, his right hand was already gathering power, ready to kill Gu Hongsheng at any moment if he made any unusual move.

Gu Hongsheng gave him a bitter smile and said, "My life is in Miss Wen's hands, and I don't want to die. After this stone table descends, if no one moves the stone benches, it will automatically rise again. At that time, besides the six people on top pushing the stone benches, we won't be able to get up after it descends."

Rong Jingzong said, "I see." As he spoke, he also moved a stone bench and sat down, asking, "This stone chamber has no doors. How can we open it?"

Gu Hongsheng gave a sly laugh and said, "There are three stone doors here. Chief Steward Rong... " The Black Dragon Society, having wasted for forty years, was naturally intimately familiar with the stone gates throughout the secret passages within the mountain. The methods for opening these three stone gates were no different; any member of the Black Dragon Society could open them with a mere flick of the wrist…”

Rong Jingzong scoffed, “Then what use are these three coins?”

Gu Hongsheng smiled, “This is to guard against the possibility that the Black Dragon Society might have an internal traitor, or that the imprisoned person might be a high-ranking member of the Black Dragon Society. Someone might risk their life to infiltrate and rescue them. Seeing that the method of opening the stone gates is no different from the other stone gates, they would naturally reach out and press the trigger.” But as soon as the stone gate opens, it triggers the ambush inside. Immediately, extremely powerful hidden weapons will be launched, making it extremely difficult for even the most skilled martial artist to dodge once the gate is opened.

Rong Jingzong sneered, "What a vicious scheme! Then what use are these three coins?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Therefore, before opening the stone gate, one must first drop in a coin to close the ambush before pressing the trigger to open the gate."

Rong Jingzong said, "I hope you, Brother Gu, won't try anything funny in front of me."

Gu Hongsheng said, "Please rest assured, Chief Steward Rong, as I said, I don't want to die. " "You know it, "

Rong Jingzong said. He took out three coins and handed them to Gu Hongsheng, saying, "Then I'll trouble you, Brother Gu, to open all three stone doors at once."

Gu Hongsheng took the three coins and smiled, saying, "Steward Rong is very suspicious."

Rong Jingzong said, "That's called 'it's always good to be wary of others.' I know your character very well, Brother Gu."

Gu Hongsheng shrugged and said, "Steward Rong doesn't trust me, so there's nothing I can do." He pulled his hands apart, breaking the red thread that strung the coins, stood up, and walked towards a stone wall in front of him. Rong Jingzong immediately got up and followed, raising his right hand, gathering strength in his palm, ready to strike at any moment. Ling Junyi was not slow either and followed closely behind.

Gu Hongsheng approached the wall and said, "This stone chamber is for imprisoning higher-ranking individuals. There are two rooms inside, and they are quite comfortable. No shackles are needed, because once you're inside, even someone with extraordinary abilities can't escape." As he spoke, he bent down.

There was a very fine crack at the base of the stone wall, almost invisible without careful observation. Gu Hongsheng bent down and dropped a coin into the crack. A soft "clink" was heard, followed by silence. Gu Hongsheng straightened up and pressed twice on the wall. Two stone doors slowly opened and slid to the sides. Inside, the walls were divided into two rooms, each with a thick iron gate and an iron door. The rooms were small, but contained a wooden bed, a small table, and a chair. The two stone chambers were identical, but no one was inside. Rong Jingzong said, "Brother Gu, there's no one here."

Gu Hongsheng replied, "As I said, these two rooms are for imprisoning higher-ranking individuals, so naturally there's no one here. But I still have to open them for you to see." With that, he restored the stone door to its original position.

Rong Jingzong asked, "What about the ones on the other side?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "These two are ordinary prison cells, men on the left and women on the right..."

Ling Junyi said, "Go and open the stone chamber on the right first."

Gu Hongsheng asked, "Are your two friends, Young Master Ling, women?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Yes." Gu Hongsheng said no more, approached the stone wall, dropped in some coins, and then reached out to open the stone door.

As the stone door opened, a delicate, crisp voice rang out from inside, cursing, "Bah! You thieves and bandits, you dog robbers! What can you do to me? One day, I'll smash your den and kill you all one by one..." This girl had a fiery temper; she started cursing as soon as the stone door opened, but her rapid-fire, crisp curses, though swearing, were melodious and pleasant to hear. Ling Junyi didn't need to see her; just by hearing her voice, he knew it was Fang Ruping.

In that instant, Ling Junyi felt a surge of emotion and quickly called out, "Sister Ping, I've come to rescue you! Are you with Miss Tang?" With that, he carried the "Dragon Pearl" and walked over. Inside the stone door was another iron door. There were no beds or chairs. Inside were three girls imprisoned, their hair disheveled, dressed in men's clothing—long blue silk robes and thin-soled pink boots—looking not only haggard but also incongruous. Needless to say, they were dressed as men when they were captured and brought here; it was only later that it was discovered they were women. These three were Tang Wenqing, Fang Ruping, and Zhu Yaqin.

Fang Ruping was startled when she heard Ling Junyi's voice. How familiar and longed-for was that voice? These were the very words she had yearned for day and night. She and her sister Tang talked about him countless times every day; only by mentioning him could they escape their loneliness, their worries, and their lovesickness! He was their only hope. Now he had truly come, standing before them. Two streams of tears suddenly flowed from Tang Wenqing's bright phoenix eyes as she trembled and said, "Brother Ling, is this a dream?"

Fang Ruping, overjoyed, also cried out, "Brother, you really came! I knew you would come to save us. You really came!" Through the iron bars, tears welling in her eyes, she spoke and laughed, like a lily with raindrops, as charming as ever, only much thinner.

Ling Junyi was both happy and heartbroken. He had entered the martial world and Fang Ruping was the first person he met; she held a very important place in his heart. Because he had thought of her almost constantly for the past two months, now that they were face to face, even separated by iron bars, he almost wanted to embrace her and gently comfort her. But this was just a fleeting emotional surge; he immediately realized that he had lost his composure in front of Rong Jingzong and Gu Hongsheng, so he frowned and asked, "How did you get captured by the Black Dragon Society?"

Fang Ruping pouted and said, "It was that witch called Fairy Liu. Fairy Liu? Humph, she calls herself a fairy, but she's just a witch, a demon. Sister Tang and I wish we could stab her a few times to make us happy."

Rong Jingzong asked, "Brother Gu, how do we open this iron gate?" There was no lock on the iron gate; it was naturally operated by a mechanism.

Gu Hongsheng continued, "This brother doesn't know. How to open this iron gate is probably only known to Yang Zhigao."

Rong Jingzong frowned slightly, turning to Ling Junyi and asking, "Young Master Ling, do you think your sword can cut through it?"

Ling Junyi, reminded by his words, quickly replied, "This junior will try." He casually drew his sword, then said, "Pingmei, you all step back." Tang Wenqing, Fang Ruping, and Zhu Yaqin obediently stepped back.

Ling Junyi stepped forward, slowly exhaled, and channeled his energy, slashing at the iron gate. With a "crack," a thick iron pillar was severed in two. Ling Junyi, emboldened by his success, swung his sword several times, creating a large hole in the iron gate. He sheathed his sword, and Fang Ruping, overjoyed, quickly darted out of the hole.

"Big Brother!" Having suffered nearly two months of injustice, she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions of joy and sorrow, and without regard for others, she threw herself at Ling Junyi.

Ling Junyi caught her and said softly, "Pingmei, stand up straight. Don't be childish, or people will laugh at you." Fang Ruping blushed deeply at his words and stood up. At this moment, Tang Wenqing and Zhu Yaqin also emerged from the hole.

Ling Junyi greeted Tang Wenqing with a smile, "Second Sister, you've both suffered these past few days."

Tang Wenqing's eyes welled with tears, and she brushed her hair aside, forcing a smile, "We've been longing for Big Brother Ling day and night, and finally, we've seen him." Unlike Fang Ruping, she didn't throw herself at him, but her tender and affectionate expression conveyed even more deep feelings. Though she said little, her words spoke volumes.

Ling Junyi looked at Zhu Yaqin and said, "Second sister, this young lady..."

Fang Ruping interrupted him before he could finish, "Big brother, she's the cousin I often mention to you, Zhu Yaqin." Turning to Zhu Yaqin,

she said, "Cousin, he..." Zhu Yaqin blushed at the mention of "the cousin I often mention," pursed her lips, and smiled, "You don't need to say anything, he's your...cousin..."

Ling Junyi, flustered by the two girls' teasing, blushed slightly and quickly said, "Come, ladies, let me introduce you. This is my late father's friend, Uncle Rong, and this is Hero Gu. We were able to rescue you all thanks to their great help."

Tang Wenqing, Fang Ruping, and Zhu Yaqin bowed to the two men, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Rong and Hero Gu."

Rong Jingzong repeatedly said, "You're too kind." Ling Junyi then introduced the three young ladies to Rong Jingzong.

The group split into two groups. Ling Junyi accompanied the three young ladies to the stone table first. Gu Hongsheng moved the two stone benches together, and the round stone table rose slowly, carrying the four of them to the hexagonal hall. Once the stone table was back to its original position, the six stone benches immediately moved away automatically. Ling Junyi then asked everyone to push the stone benches together again, and the stone table began to sink down. Tang Wenqing, Fang Ruping, and the other two young ladies watched in amazement. After the stone table was lowered, Ling Junyi introduced Tang Wenqing, Fang Ruping, and Zhu Yaqin to Wen Wanjun. The young ladies hit it off easily and quickly became close, calling each other "sister" and "brother." Before long, the second group of two young ladies also came up. Wen Wanjun took out the antidote and flicked it into the nostrils of the five men in blue. The five men sneezed and immediately woke up.

Rong Jingzong's eyes flashed with a menacing light as he sternly proclaimed, "Have you all heard this? The Black Dragon Society has collapsed. Han Zhankui has been beheaded, Shui Qingying is on the run, and Yang Zhigao, the chief steward of Qinglongtan, is dead. Considering that you have not committed any great evils, I am unwilling to engage in further bloodshed. If you swear never to be lackeys of the Qing government again and find the Hundred Flowers Gang members who are trapped in the maze, you will be released once you are out of the mountain. Are you willing?"

Seeing that Yang Zhigao was dead and that all was lost, the five men clasped their fists in unison and said, "..." "Sir, I was originally a江湖 (jianghu) person, recruited last year, and had no idea that the Black Dragon Society was a lackey of the Qing government. How could I refuse if you spare my life?"

Wen Wanjun said, "That's good. Swallow these five pills. This is the 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' a secret recipe of the Wen family of Lingnan. Without the antidote within twelve hours, you will become an idiot for life, beyond cure. But if you find the person trapped in the maze, I will give you the antidote once you're out of the mountain." With that, she took out five pills and placed them on the stone table. The five men in blue robes looked at each other hesitantly upon hearing they were to swallow the "Soul-Stealing Pill."

Gu Hongsheng scolded, "What are you hesitating for? Didn't I just swallow one? Miss Wen promised to give you the antidote when you leave the mountain, so it counts. Swallow them quickly, don't waste any more time." Hearing this, the five men in blue robes each took one and swallowed it.

Rong Jingzong's eyes flashed as he glanced at everyone and said, "We have quite a few people here, but among the Hundred Flowers Gang members, only Young Master Ling and Miss Wen are acquainted. If we enter the maze to search for someone, and the two sides don't know each other, it's very easy to cause misunderstandings. After careful consideration, I think it's more appropriate for the two of you to go in."

Ling Junyi said, "Uncle Rong, you're too kind. Saving people is my aunt's dying wish, and it's my duty. It should be the two of us who go in." Hearing "the two of us" from these words made Miss Tang and Miss Fang's hearts skip a beat. Tang Wenqing was introverted by nature, and although she felt something was amiss, she didn't dare to say anything.

Fang Ruping blinked and looked at Ling Junyi, saying, "Brother Ling, I want to go too."

Ling Junyi said, "Little cousin, this path is full of forks and is extremely dark; we could encounter danger at any moment. You should rest here with Miss Tang and Miss Zhu for a while. Once we find the Hundred Flowers Gang, we'll retreat immediately and meet here. Too many people will only cause inconvenience."

Rong Jingzong said, "That's right. Everyone, please wait here. We can only split into two groups for now. After searching one gate, we'll retreat and search the next. If you stay here, you can guard our retreat route and help us..." " One of them will be there to meet us,"

Gu Hongsheng said. "Steward Rong, it turns out you don't understand. Although this is the exit of Qinglongtan, the six gates are completely interconnected once inside. We have two groups of people, each searching separately, which will be enough. As long as we plan the route beforehand and search each gate one by one, we can meet up and exit through the same gate in the end."

Rong Jingzong stroked his white beard and laughed, "I see, haha, that makes things much easier. Young Master Ling, let's not delay. You and Brother Gu will lead the two of them. Miss Wen and I will be led by the three of them. Everyone, take plenty of fire starters and let's set off."

Ling Junyi said, "This junior obeys."

Gu Hongsheng said, "The people from Qinglongtan each carry a specially made fire tube, but the route must be agreed upon beforehand to search them one by one so as not to miss any."

Rong Jingzong said, "I'll trouble Brother Gu to arrange this."

Gu Hongsheng turned to the five men in blue and said, "Two groups can enter through the Heavenly Gate, turn right, and exit through the Earthly Gate. The other group can enter through the Earthly Gate, turn right, and exit through the Heavenly Gate."

The five men in blue responded in unison, "Yes." Immediately, Rong Jingzong and Wen Wanjun led three men in blue, lit their fire tubes, and entered through the Heavenly Gate on the left. Ling Junyi and Gu Hongsheng led two men in blue, lit their fire sticks, and entered through the Earthly Gate on the right. The rest of the men stayed behind in the hexagonal hall. After Fang Ruping and the others left, Tang Wenqing frowned slightly and asked, "Sister Tang, I wonder who the Hundred Flowers Gang that Brother Ling and the others went to find are?"

Tang Wenqing replied, "Didn't the Black Dragon Society mistake us for members of the Hundred Flowers Gang? Perhaps these two gangs have had a major conflict recently, and Brother Ling helped the Hundred Flowers Gang defeat the Black Dragon Society, which is how we were rescued." She then turned to Xiao Tao and asked, "Miss, am I right?"

Xiao Tao bowed and said, "Miss, you flatter me. My name is Xiao Tao, and I serve Steward Rong. I don't know much, but that Young Master Ling is the Chief Protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang and has a blood feud with Han, the leader of the Black Dragon Society. Steward Rong is a good friend of Young Master Ling's father, so he helped Young Master Ling defeat the Black Dragon Society."

Fang Ruping asked, "And what about that Miss Wen?"

Xiao Tao replied ... "This servant just heard Young Master Ling say that Miss Wen was originally acquainted with him. Young Master Ling infiltrated the Hundred Flowers Gang, and Miss Wen disguised herself as Rose of the Hundred Flowers Gang to infiltrate in order to assist him. She was just rescued from the maze by Young Master Ling."

Zhu Yaqin said, "Since Young Master Ling infiltrated the Hundred Flowers Gang, how did he become the Chief Protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang?"

Xiao Yao said, "This servant doesn't know."

Tang Wenqing said, "I think there must be many twists and turns in this. It's not too late to ask Brother Ling after he comes out."

Fang Ruping pursed her lips and smiled lightly, "If you want to ask, go ask him."

Ling Junyi and his group were led by Gu Hongsheng, who was holding a fire tube. The second was Ling Junyi, who was holding the "Lilong Pearl". Two men in blue robes also held fire tubes and followed behind Ling Junyi. In the pitch-black path, three torches blazed, their light so bright that even from ten feet away, one could clearly see faces. Ling Junyi had only entered the two stone gates and gone about ten feet deep, unable to decipher the "maze's" secrets. This time, guided by Gu Hongsheng, he entered the "maze," finding it a labyrinth of twists and turns, with countless forks in the path, like a spiderweb. Many of these winding paths led to dead ends, only to lead to other paths when one turned back.

Without a guide, a wrong turn could leave one lost for ages. Ling Junyi's mission was to search for those trapped in the "maze," so he had to explore every fork in the path, even dead ends, checking for people before turning back. Ling Junyi paid close attention. Although the path was crisscrossed and confusing, making one dizzy, he always turned right at the wider main paths without fail. Although there were only six main passages in the maze, the intersecting paths were extremely complex. Sometimes, after walking for quite some time, one would still be on the same passage. Finding someone required exploring every corner, which was naturally very time-consuming.

As they walked, Ling Junyi suddenly heard a faint sound coming from about ten feet away. The sound was even fainter than a falling leaf; unless one's internal energy had reached a high level and one was listening intently, it would be almost impossible to hear. Because the four of them were running, the sound of their footsteps was already drowned out by other sounds. To find a sound even fainter than footsteps among their own footsteps was extremely difficult. Moreover, the sound was still more than ten feet away; perhaps it was just a startled mountain rat darting across the stone wall. In short, the sound was extremely faint, but Ling Junyi listened for a moment and then suddenly stopped, whispering, "Brother Gu, please wait. Is there a fork in the road ahead?"

Gu Hongsheng stopped as instructed and replied, "Yes, but it's about ten zhang away from here."

Ling Junyi said, "There are people lying in ambush at the fork in the road ahead. I wonder if they are friend or foe?"

Gu Hongsheng asked in surprise, "There are people lying in ambush at the fork in the road ahead? How does Young Master Ling know?"

Ling Junyi said, "I vaguely heard the breathing of eight or nine people about ten zhang away, but what lies ahead of us is..." A straight road stretched out before them, devoid of any figures; they must have been hidden in a side path.

Gu Hongsheng, startled, exclaimed, "Young Master Ling, you've already heard their breathing?"

Ling Junyi smiled calmly, "Even if the sound travels far, the other side is hiding in the shadows, eager to ambush us. Their tension naturally makes their breathing heavier than usual."

Gu Hongsheng sighed softly, "Young Master Ling's skill is truly admirable."

Before his words had even faded, a rustling sound of clothes being tossed about was heard, and four figures flashed out from the two side paths. Immediately afterward, a beautiful woman's voice shouted, "Halt! Those who value their lives, drop your weapons and leave them here, or none of you three thieves will live!" It seemed she had already recognized three of them as members of the Black Dragon Society, and her demand to "leave them here" was a misunderstanding, assuming Ling Junyi had been captured and was being escorted through this area. In front of Ling Junyi stood Gu Hongsheng, wielding a long sword; behind him were two men in blue robes. The scene certainly resembled that of someone captured.

Upon hearing Ling Junyi's voice, his heart leaped with joy. He quickly rushed forward, loudly proclaiming, "Chief, I've come looking for you!"

"Ah..." A soft "Ah..." of surprise and delight rang out from the darkness. A slender figure flew towards Su Ran, calling out, "Brother Ling..." Her heart was filled with joy, as if she had encountered a family member, and she rushed forward. She was a girl, especially trapped in this dark, sunless passageway. Once she encountered the lover who had haunted her day and night, she wanted to throw herself into his arms wholeheartedly, without reservation. She needed his comfort and his caresses.

But she was, after all, the leader of the Hundred Flowers Gang. In front of outsiders and four maids, she couldn't lose her identity as leader. It was Ling Junyi's address of "Chief" that reminded her of this. The person rushing towards her suddenly stopped a few feet away. Her phoenix eyes were already brimming with tears of overwhelming joy. She smiled gently and said, "Brother Ling, how did you find this place? Are you alright? We all got separated..." Although she was smiling, two lines of tears rolled down her cheeks. She continued, "Look, now there are only eight of us left. I really don't know how to explain this to Master." Ling Junyi looked and saw that

it was Furong, Fengxian, Yurui, and her four maids. All seven of them were in the same boat, their eyes filled with tears, gazing at him with such tenderness. Ling Junyi comforted her, "Chief, don't be sad. This is the Azure Dragon Pool Maze. Those who get separated can always be found. I came here to find you."

Mudan glanced at Gu Hongsheng and the other two and asked, "Aren't they from the Black Dragon Society? How come..."

Ling Junyi didn't let her finish. He smiled and said, "The Black Dragon Society has been broken..."

Peony was both surprised and delighted. Her phoenix eyes shone with an unusual light as she said affectionately, "Brother Ling has done a great service again! Alas! I am truly ashamed."

Ling Junyi couldn't say much for the moment, but urged, "I have finally found the leader, but there are many forks in this maze. We entered in two groups to search. Our group hasn't finished searching yet, and time is precious, so the leader will have to travel with me."

Peony smoothed her hair and smiled gently, "We have been wandering around here for so long that even our tinderboxes have burned out, so naturally we will travel with you."

Ling Junyi raised his hand and said, "Brother Gu and the other two have tinderboxes, so please go ahead." So Gu Hongsheng and the other two led the way, with Peony and Ling Junyi in the middle, and Hibiscus, Phoenix Fairy, Jade Bud, and the four maids following behind them.

As Peony and Ling Junyi walked side by side, Peony turned her head and asked, "Who is the other group?"

Ling Junyi thought for a moment, deciding that he would have to tell her sooner or later anyway, so he smiled and said, "This person was once very familiar to the gang leader, but it's not actually her anymore."

Peony asked curiously, "Who is Brother Ling talking about?"

Ling Junyi said, "Rose."

Peony scoffed, "You mean Ninth Sister..."

Ling Junyi said, "Rose was someone you sent to infiltrate the Black Dragon Society, but she was already exposed and killed by the Black Dragon Society. The

one disguised as Rose now is Wen Wanjun..." Peony's expression changed, and she said, "She's from the Black Dragon Society."

"No," Ling Junyi said, "She's from the Wen family of Lingnan, and I used to know her. She accidentally discovered that I was the one in Yu Rui and the others' sacks, so she disguised herself as Rose and followed them all the way..."

Peony glanced at him, smiled mysteriously, and said softly, "You two were already very close, weren't you?" Her smile contained a faint resentment and a melancholy expression, making one feel that her feelings were wavering.

Ling Junyi blushed. Before he could speak, Mudan said softly, "No need to explain, I won't blame you." She spoke so softly that only Ling Junyi could hear her, but her face flushed crimson.

Ling Junyi also felt his face burning, a surge of emotion welling up inside him. He whispered, "Thank you..."

The two walked silently with the others for a while, then Ling Junyi said, "Chief, there's something else, probably unexpected."

Mudan blinked her clear eyes and asked, "What is it?"

Ling Junyi said, "Do you know who I am?"

This question truly surprised Mudan, who asked, "Who am I to you?"

Ling Junyi said, "My aunt, my mother's sister."

Mudan exclaimed in surprise, "Really! Ah, I remember now, you said your aunt's surname is Tie, how did you know?" Ling Junyi then recounted how his maternal grandfather founded the Black Dragon Society, how the Supreme Elder left in anger on his mother's wedding day, and how Han Zhankui betrayed the Black Dragon Society.

Peony murmured, "So there were so many twists and turns. No wonder you asked my third sister to tell me not to mention that Aunt's surname is Tie. Oh! Aunt is here too?"

Ling Junyi replied, "My mother has already passed away. She's at Yuegu Temple now. I'll lead the gang leader to meet her."

"Ah." A blush unexpectedly rose on Peony's face, but she couldn't hide her excitement and joy. She asked softly, "Is my master also at Yuegu Temple?" Ling Junyi hesitated for a moment, giving a vague reply. Fortunately, they had reached the exit. Everyone filed out and returned to the hexagonal hall.

Fang Ruping greeted them, "Brother Ling, we found Baihua..." Before she finished speaking, a stunningly beautiful woman followed Ling Junyi out. She wore a narrow-waisted rose-purple jacket, a pale yellow vest embroidered with a large peony on the chest, and a bright green skirt with pomegranate patterns. A sword hung at her waist. Her hair was styled in a palace-style bun, adorned with a pearl phoenix ornament. Her dark hair was slightly disheveled, suggesting it hadn't been combed for at least a day or two. Yet, her lips were naturally red, her eyebrows naturally dark, her face like jade, and her eyes like autumn water. She possessed an air of refined elegance, devoid of extravagance. Graceful and dignified, she was known as the leader of the Hundred Flowers Clan, charming and affectionate—truly the queen of beauties. Behind her were seven other women. Fang Ruping was momentarily stunned, swallowing her words.

Peony asked with a smile, "Brother Ling, is she the Wen family's sister?" Tang Wenqing secretly thought to himself, "Why is she another girl so familiar and affectionate towards Brother Ling?"

Fang Ruping shook her head and said, "I'm not Sister Wen, my name is Fang Ruping, and Sister is..." Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly pointed to a stone door opposite and said, "Sister Wen is coming out too." Sure enough, a group of people filed out of the opposite stone door: two men in blue robes, Rong Jingzong, Wen Wanjun, Yulan, Ziwei, and an old nun in gray sleeves carrying a long sword—Mingyue.

Wen Wanjun, Yulan, and Ziwei saw Mudan at a glance and exclaimed in surprise, "Chief!" They rushed over together, bowing respectfully. Fang Ruping was also secretly surprised to hear everyone call her "Chief."

Peony stepped forward, grasped Wen Wanjun's hands, and said gratefully, "Miss Wen, I am deeply grateful for your assistance along the way, and for rescuing my third sister and the others. I don't know how to thank you enough."

Wen Wanjun was taken aback and asked, "Sister, you already know?"

Peony nodded and said, "Brother Ling just told me." Her gaze shifted, and she continued, "Are we missing the Left Protector Leng Chaozong, Ran Yuchun, and Ye Kaixian along the way?"

Ling Junyi said sadly, "Leng Chaozong and Ye Kaixian are both dead. Ran Yuchun broke out of the 'Sword Path' and suffered eighteen sword wounds. He is currently healing outside."

Peony's expression darkened, and she said, "We have suffered a terrible defeat along the way." Suddenly, she raised her eyes and asked Ling Junyi, "Brother Ling, have you seen my second sister and the others?"

Ling Junyi said, "When I came in, I encountered Cai Liang on a side road. He was badly injured and could only point in the direction with his finger; he could no longer speak. " Later, judging from Han Zhankui's tone, the deputy leader and his group were probably trapped in the Flying Dragon Hall. We'll leave from here and head to the Flying Dragon Hall to rescue them.” He then introduced everyone present.

Rong Jingzong stroked his graying temples and said, “Young Master Ling, now that this matter is settled, let's hurry and leave.”

Led by Rong Jingzong, the group left the hexagonal hall, exiting via the same route. As they passed the “Sword Path,” they couldn't help but gasp in amazement. Gu Hongsheng stepped forward and eagerly opened the stone door. Ran Yuchun rushed forward first, bowing deeply to Mudan and Ling Junyi, and said, "The gang leader and the commander-in-chief have both come out, and I was very anxious. There are thousands of sharp swords lying in ambush inside this stone gate. I don't know if the commander-in-chief and his party can overcome the danger. They can't find the mechanism to open the stone gate..."

Ling Junyi asked, "Brother Ran, have your injuries healed?"

Ran Yuchun replied, "I was fortunate to be treated by the commander-in-chief, and I am finally well."

Ling Junyi said, "Now that I am no longer the chief protector of flowers, Brother Ran, you should not address me like that."

Yulan glanced at Mudan and said in surprise, "Master Ling, what happened..." The sisters had already agreed to use the gang's titles in front of outsiders.

Ling Junyi smiled bitterly and said, "To my shame, before I chased them into the Yellow Dragon Cave, almost all of the protectors were wiped out. When I met the Supreme Elder at the Black Dragon Pool, I had already resigned from my position as the Chief Protector of the Hundred Flowers Gang. Later, I learned that the gang leader and deputy gang leader's groups had also been led astray by the Black Dragon Society and were trapped in the Green Dragon Pool and Flying Dragon Hall. Therefore, I volunteered to ask the Supreme Elder for orders to rescue both groups and atone for my past mistakes. Once I left this secret passage in the mountain, I was no longer a member of the Hundred Flowers Gang." Because the Supreme Elder was his aunt and she was already dead, he didn't bother to mention the explosives planted in the sedan chair.

Peony smiled gently and said, "Brother Ling, even if you don't become the Chief Protector, you're still one of the Hundred Flowers Gang's own people, isn't that right?" Ling Junyi blushed and didn't reply.

Fang Ruping noticed that every short distance they walked, there was a stone gate, all opened and closed by mechanisms. She was filled with astonishment and whispered, "Sister Tang, if Brother Ling hadn't come to rescue us, even if they had let us go, we wouldn't have been able to escape."

Zhu Yaqin said, "It's a pity Father didn't come. He's a lifelong scholar of civil engineering. If he saw this mountain path, with its many mechanical gates, he probably wouldn't have been able to leave." The group walked and talked, and soon they reached a wider passageway.

Rong Jingzong stopped and turned around, saying, "Everyone, pay attention! We've now left the 'Azure Dragon Pool' area. Beyond that stone gate lies the Flying Dragon Hall. Although the Flying Dragon Hall's most powerful 'Ten Absolute Sword Formations' and 'Twelve Constellations' have been annihilated, they are an external organization, and there are still many skilled fighters among them. Everyone must be extremely careful." "With these words, he strode forward. After walking a short distance, he indeed reached the end, where a stone wall blocked his path."

Rong Jingzong stopped, pressed his hand twice on the wall, and the stone door opened by itself. He strode out. The path outside was still the same, but Rong Jingzong had only walked about four or five zhang when Gu Hongsheng hurriedly approached and whispered, "Chief Steward Rong, please wait."

Rong Jingzong turned around and asked, "What is it?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Chief Steward Rong, I'm afraid you haven't been to 'Flying Dragon Pass,' have you?"

Rong Jingzong asked in surprise, "Flying Dragon Pass? I certainly haven't been there. Where is Flying Dragon Pass?"

Gu Hongsheng smiled ingratiatingly, "Flying Dragon Pass and Green Dragon Pool are both names given after the reconstruction. They are both under the jurisdiction of the Water Management Director and are the two most secret locations of the Black Dragon Society. If you walk straight there, you'll be going to the Flying Dragon Hall."

Rong Jingzong snorted, "In that case, I've been the Chief Steward of Black Dragon Pool for over twenty years, and it's all been for nothing." He then continued, "Where do you think Flying Dragon Pass is?" Gu Hongsheng said, "

The hidden door to Feilong Pass is right here. However, when this door opens, both sides automatically block off. Since there are many of us, we'll have to squeeze together." He then had everyone stand together. Gu Hongsheng first felt around at the foot of the right-hand stone wall, then at the foot of the left-hand wall, and similarly. A rumbling sound came from the ground, like a sluice gate, blocking the cableway. What was once a straight passageway had instantly become a horizontal passage. The group was lucky to be standing together; otherwise, they might have been separated by the stone wall.

Rong Jingzong stared in disbelief and groaned, "When was this rebuilt?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "It's been about ten years, since Qi Chengchang was concurrently the director of this association, when construction began." He pointed to the right-hand side of the gate and said, "If the Hundred Flowers Gang attacks Flying Dragon Pool, we can lead them into Flying Dragon Pass from here without even lifting a finger. Once they enter Flying Dragon Pass, it's the same as entering Green Dragon Pool. We just need to seal this place off, and they'll never be able to get out."

Rong Jingzong said solemnly, "Then what should we do once we're inside?"

Gu Hongsheng said, "Please rest assured, Chief Steward Rong, the mechanism for this gate is right below it. After the gate is changed, it can't be opened from the outside. We just need to send a few people to guard this place, and we'll be fine."

Peony glanced at everyone and said, "Third Sister, you, Ziwei, Furong, Fengxian, Yurui, Master Mingyue, and Jasmine should stay here."

Ling Junyi was afraid that their strength was insufficient, so he smiled and said to Peony, Tang Wenqing, and the others, "We're just going in to rescue people. Since this place is called 'Flying Dragon Pass,' there might be some powerful ambush. Sending too many people would be bad." In my opinion, the leader, Miss Tang, Miss Zhu, Miss Wen, Little Sister Fang, and Little Peach should all stay here and not go in.”

Peony said, “No, I am the leader of the Hundred Flowers Gang, so naturally I must go in.”

Rong Jingzong said, “Then let’s do it that way. You all stay here and guard Fudao; we’ll go in to rescue them.”

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