Silver Hairpin Saintess

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

Sun Lanjuan, feeling her skills had greatly improved and her confidence soaring, followed closely behind. She gazed at the bright figure of her brother Lin below,

watching him descend faster and farther, her heart beginning to race with anxiety. The cold wind in the cave grew increasingly biting, and her descent

created a sharp whooshing sound, but she didn't feel particularly cold. A series of alarming howls

drifted through the cave, growing clearer with each passing moment. In the blink of an eye, the bright figure of her brother Lin disappeared.

Sun Lanjuan felt a surge of anxiety and anger, and thus, she suddenly accelerated her descent. Gradually, a faint light appeared

beneath her feet ; after descending a few more steps, she reached the bottom of the cave. Looking ahead, the cave was wide and

flat. A dozen or so feet away, amidst a patch of lush greenery, the sounds of swords clashing and their cold light flashing filled the air. Sun Lanjuan's heart skipped a beat. She wondered who

her brother was fighting. With a sharp cry, she moved like lightning, rushing towards the flashing sword light. Upon approaching, they saw

Brother Lin using the Tenglong Thin Sword to carve a hole in an extremely thick, horizontal bark.

Sun Lanjuan glanced around and saw that the hole was about two zhang high and five zhang wide, long and flat, resembling a fish's mouth, completely

obscured by wild grass. Several zhang inside, there were two side holes, their destinations unknown, from which gusts of wind

emanated. At this moment, Tianlin had already carved a round hole in the wild grass, and turned to Lanjuan excitedly,

saying, "Juan-mei, let's go out." With that, he sheathed the Tenglong Sword, moved swiftly, and leaped out

of the hole. Sun Lanjuan followed closely behind, leaping out of the hole.

Wei Tianlin stood still and saw a wide, flat area about a li in front of him, with a few sparse peach trees, all

less than five chi tall, their branches spreading horizontally, their blossoms abundant, resembling several flower mounds. The ground was covered with lush green grass, and wildflowers vied for attention, a riot

of colors, the scenery extremely beautiful. In the distance ahead, a semi-circular cliff rose several tens of feet high, stretching out to

both sides . The dense forest they had come from was atop the cliff, and below lay the precipitous ravine.

Looking up, the sky was a clear, azure blue, bathed in the bright sunlight without a single cloud. Behind them, the peaks were draped with vines and

slanted pines, obscuring their summits. Wei Tianlin, observing this, inwardly praised it; it truly was a paradise on earth.

Suddenly, his sister Juan beside him said, "Brother Lin, this place is so beautiful! Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could build a house here and live here someday

?" Wei Tianlin smiled and nodded, saying, "The scenery here is indeed extremely beautiful." With that, the two walked hand in hand

forward.

After walking for a while, Juan pointed to a peach tree and said, "Brother Lin, let's sit here for a while." Wei Tianlin saw

that the peach tree was very low, its branches almost touching the lush green grass, and countless wildflowers—white, blue, red, and purple—

were incredibly beautiful. So, he nodded, and the two sat down together.

Lanjuan leaned against Lin-gege's chest, looking up. She could already see the peak dozens of feet high. Thinking of her mother, who had been away

for a night, she wondered how anxious her mother must be. But remembering the tender moments she and Lin-gege had shared in the cave

, she blushed with embarrassment. So, she turned to Tianlin and said anxiously, "Lin-gege, let's go up

. I think Mother must be worried sick about not seeing me." With that, she stood up.

Wei Tianlin, who was also eager to see Shanzhu and Yinchai Shengnu, stood up and pointed to

the precipice with its slanting pines and hanging branches, saying, "Juan-mei, let's go up from here." The two of them floated to

the edge , and with their long bodies supported by the slanting pines, they both rose straight up to the summit.

In an instant, they reached the summit. Tianlin looked up and immediately saw the natural artificial hill. He exclaimed, "

Look! Isn't this a garden?" Just as Tianlin finished speaking,

a sharp shout rang out from below the artificial hill: "Who goes there?" Immediately afterward, a blindingly cold light, accompanied by a sharp whooshing sound,

shot towards Tianlin like lightning.

Wei Tianlin had encountered this white light once before on the Purple Canopy Peak of Hengshan Mountain, and knew it was the

silver hairpin that the Silver Hairpin Saintess used to gain fame. So, he slightly shifted his body, swiftly extended his middle and index fingers, and caught the flying silver hairpin between his fingers.

Looking down , he saw that it was a red-eyed silver phoenix hairpin about three inches long and two-tenths of an inch wide. Sun Lanjuan

was stunned by this sudden change. After regaining her composure, she immediately cried out, "Uncle-Master, it's me, Juan'er..." With that cry,

she leaped forward.

Wei Tianlin followed closely. Beneath the artificial hill, a pale purple figure cried out "Juan'er!" and rushed towards Lanjuan

. Upon seeing this, Sun Lanjuan cried out "Mama!" and threw herself into the pale purple figure. Wei

Tianlin looked closely and recognized the figure as the heroine Shanzhu. At this moment, the heroine Shanzhu had Lanjuan in her arms,

crying, "Child, you were out all night, why didn't you tell your mother?" She lovingly stroked Lanjuan

's hair.

Seeing her mother's red and swollen eyes, Sun Lanjuan knew her mother had cried bitterly for a long time, and thus, she was even more heartbroken

and speechless . Wei Tianlin hurried to the heroine Shanzhu and respectfully said, "Disciple Wei Tianlin greets Master's wife

with boundless blessings." He then knelt on the ground and performed the deepest kowtow to his master's wife.

Upon seeing Tianlin, Shanzhu felt a surge of anger and asked sternly, "Where did you take Juan'er? Why are you

only returning now?" Wei Tianlin knelt on the ground and respectfully replied, "This disciple came to Taihua Peak to inquire about the well-being of my master's wife

and to pay respects to the venerable elder Nanzhao, inquiring about the whereabouts of my father, the Tenglong Swordsman Wei Zhenqing. It was already late when we arrived,

so Juan'er and I sat here for a while, but unexpectedly..." Sun Lanjuan saw her senior sister, the Silver Hairpin Saintess, standing several feet away, her face pale and

her eyebrows filled with murderous intent. She hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Brother Lin, don't say anymore." But it was too late.

Tianlin had already mentioned Xuemei pushing a stone down, nearly crushing the two of them. The Silver Hairpin Saintess's eyebrows furrowed,

her phoenix eyes flashing, and she shouted sharply, "Shut up..." With that sharp shout, she slowly walked towards Tianlin, who was kneeling on the ground.

Sun Lanjuan was greatly alarmed and immediately said to the heroine Shanzhu, "Mother, quickly tell Brother Lin to get up!"

The heroine Shanzhu had already sensed that her senior sister, the Silver Hairpin Saintess, had ill intentions and hurriedly shouted at Tianlin, "Get up now!" Wei Tianlin

immediately stood up.

Upon first seeing the precious robe on Tianlin's body, the Silver Hairpin Saintess immediately pictured Sun Langping's handsome and dashing appearance. Then,

seeing Wei Tianlin kneeling before his junior sister, the heroine Shanzhu, addressing her as "Master's Wife," she was consumed by jealousy and her murderous intent surged. Hearing Tianlin

mention that Xuemei had pushed a boulder down the mountain, she became even more enraged. Seeing the elegant and refined Silver Hairpin Saintess,

her face knew she was plotting murder and immediately became vigilant.

The heroine Shanzhu, her heart pounding with emotion, pleaded, "Senior Sister, Langping has been unfaithful to you; it's his

fault. You shouldn't take it out on his disciple." The Silver Hairpin Saintess glared at her with cold, piercing eyes, and snapped, "

Shut up! Who needs you, you lowly servant, to interfere? Are you his master's wife?" She paused, then gave a cold laugh, suddenly…

However, she suddenly shouted, "Today, I will destroy you too!" Seeing the Silver Hairpin Saintess's unreasonable behavior, Wei Tianlin remembered

the dying words of the Demon Fan Scholar and knew he had to explain. He bowed deeply and said, "Saintess, please

don't be agitated, please hear me. My master has long resided on Purple Canopy Peak of Hengshan Mountain, and every night he would visit you in the pine forest to

ease his longing. This shows that my master has not failed you..." Upon hearing this, the Silver Hairpin Saintess shouted angrily, "Nonsense!

Since you are so close, why doesn't he come to see me?" Wei Tianlin said painfully, "That's because my master's appearance is ruined,

his body is crippled, and he has no face to see you again." "What did you say?" The Silver Hairpin Saintess was stunned. At this moment, a red shadow flashed, and

Xue Mei was already standing beside her. Upon seeing Tianlin and Lan Juan, her fair face changed drastically. Upon seeing

Xue Mei immediately whispered the events of the previous night to the Shan Zhu Heroine.

Wei Tianlin then asked, "I just heard Sister Juan say that the Western Heaven Demon Harp is in your possession, senior. May I ask

how you obtained it?" The Silver Hairpin Saintess replied, "The Western Heaven Demon Harp was obtained by Xue Mei from a black-clad villain who was killed with a palm strike

." Wei Tianlin's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the black-clad villain must be a trusted henchman of Zhang Daotian, the Iron Palm Master of Jiangnan. He

then asked, "May I ask, senior, was that black-clad villain killed by Miss Xue Mei?" Before the Silver Hairpin Saintess

could speak, Xue Mei immediately retorted angrily, "It wasn't me, but it wasn't your master, Sun Langping either." Seeing Xue Mei's

utter disrespect for Uncle Sun, Wei Tianlin flew into a rage. His

sword- at him and retorted sharply, "It was a masked assailant." Wei Tianlin threw his head back and burst into loud laughter, his voice shaking the mountain peaks

and soaring into the heavens, echoing through the sky for a long time. The heroine Shan Zhu and the Silver Hairpin Saintess both paled, while

Lan Juan and Xue Mei were both deeply shaken. Wei Tianlin suddenly stopped laughing and said arrogantly, "That hooded stranger with a black veil

is none other than my esteemed master, the Demon Fan Scholar Sun Langping." The Silver Hairpin Saintess trembled, but still

asked sharply with disbelief, "You're talking nonsense! How could Sun Langping be dressed like that?" Wei Tianlin said, "If you haven't

forgotten, senior, my master once sent me to save you and Miss Mei from a calamity." The Silver Hairpin Saintess was slightly

taken aback and asked, "When?" Wei Tianlin said, "When Zhang Daotian

, the Iron Palm Shakes Jiangnan..." The Silver Hairpin Saintess's pale face turned purplish-red, her body trembled, and she was speechless. Wei Tianlin continued, "

The reason wore a black gauze hat was because his appearance was disfigured by a villain, so..." He continued, "

Moreover, my master was poisoned and endured humiliation for over ten years. Furthermore, because you injured me, he

died from the poison while trying to heal me. Senior, ask yourself, have your actions been worthy of my master?" The Silver Hairpin Saintess

turned to Shan Zhu and asked, "Junior Sister, is this true?" Shan Zhu nodded tearfully, "It's

true. Before, I, like you, misunderstood him. By the time I knew the truth, it was too late. I took Juan'er to

see his grave. He didn't wrong us; it was we who wronged him.

" Shan Zhu gazed at Xue Mei's retreating figure and whispered... Sighing, she said sadly, "This child was originally very kind,

but she became so extreme because of her master's influence. I hope that from now on, the master and disciple can

change their ways." She paused, then looked at Tianlin and asked, "Tianlin, how did you and Juan'er know that the cave you entered last night

was the abode of the Demon Lord?" Wei Tianlin explained, "Juan'er and I only

knew ." He paused again and asked, "Does Master's wife know about the Demon Lord's past experiences and deeds?" The heroine Shanzhu said

, "Only Lan'er's grandmaster can know this." Tianlin asked urgently, "When will Elder Nanzhao open the gate?"

The heroine Shanzhu pondered for a moment and said, "It will be on the Dragon Boat Festival next year." Wei Tianlin felt very disappointed.

Shanzhu, the female knight-errant, said again, "Tianlin, now that you've seen your sister Juan, you can leave the mountain. It's not that

I don't want you to stay here with Juan a little longer, but you're Juan's senior brother, older and more sensible than her. I feel at ease letting you two play

together ." Tianlin blushed, and Lanjuan immediately lowered her head.

Sun Lanjuan twisted her shoulders and said, "Mom, I want to go with Brother Lin. I really don't want to stay here any longer."

Shanzhu, the female knight-errant, stroked Lanjuan's hair and comforted her, "Juan'er, your brother Lin has many things to do.

He'll come to pick you up when he's done, Juan'er, understand?" Wei Tianlin also replied, "Yes

, I'll come back to pick you up as soon as I'm done." Sun Lanjuan glanced at Tianlin and fell silent.

Shanzhu, the female knight-errant, looked at the sky and said, "Tianlin, you should go now. You can still reach the foot of the mountain before sunset."

Wei Tianlin glanced at his sister Juan, whose eyes were glistening with tears, and bowed in agreement.

Lanjuan asked Tianlin in a low, plaintive voice, "Brother Lin, when will you come back?" Wei Tianlin, also

feeling a pang of sadness, replied somberly, "I'll come back as soon as this is over." Lanjuan, her voice trembling with tears, said again, "Don't

forget our vow." Wei Tianlin said sincerely, "I will always remember it." The heroine Shanzhu walked

ahead, listening intently to the conversation between the young couple behind her. Remembering her own bittersweet

love story , she couldn't help but sigh helplessly. She silently prayed to Heaven, hoping that the young couple would achieve

their goal.

The three walked out of the bamboo grove. Shan Zhu, the heroine, turned to Tian Lin and said, "Tian Lin, you can go now. "

Upon hearing this, Wei Tian Lin's expression darkened, immediately revealing his reluctance to leave.

He glanced at Juan, whose cheeks were streaked with tears, then turned to Shan Zhu, bowed deeply to the ground,

and respectfully said, "Take care, Master's wife. This disciple is leaving." With that, he leaped into the air, soaring several meters, landing

directly in a few leaps, he reached the opposite cliff. Tian Lin waved to them, saying, "Juan,

I will descend the peak immediately. After finishing my business, I will return to Zhongnan Mountain." Shan Zhu and Lan Juan

waved back to Tian Lin repeatedly. Wei Tian Lin also waved a few times, glancing at the sky; the sun was already setting, and he knew it was time to leave. So,

he looked one last time at the opposite cliff, and said loudly, "Take care, Master's wife. This disciple is leaving." With that,

he vanished into the dense forest behind him. Emerging from the dense forest, he cascaded down the mountainside.

Wei Tianlin's skill had greatly increased; his body felt as light as cotton. Descending the mountain was far faster than his ascent. Just as dusk was falling

, he reached the foot of the mountain. The surrounding area was shrouded in gloom, and the official road was deserted. Wei Tianlin continued to use his lightness skill, and

before , he reached the gates of Ganzhou City. Entering the city, the streets were bustling with people, and the shops were still brightly lit. He returned to the inn,

ate and drank, retrieved his saddle and silver, and then went to his room to sleep.

The next day, before sunrise, as the city gates opened wide, Wei Tianlin rode his fiery steed, the Red Fire Steed, out of Ganzhou.

West Gate. A gentle morning breeze caressed their faces, the air was fresh, and both Tianlin and his precious horse felt refreshed and incredibly comfortable.

On the official road, few pedestrians were around. The fiery red steed, Hua Liu, let out a long neigh and galloped forward with

incredible speed. Suddenly, Hua Liu let out a long, angry neigh, the sound echoing across the fields, piercing and startling. Wei Tianlin was jolted

awake from his reverie. Looking up, he saw a sturdy horse galloping along the village road ahead, kicking up clouds of dust. Upon closer inspection

, he saw a thin figure dressed in white, a long sword tucked into his back. Wei Tianlin was overjoyed. He

swung his whip, striking the horse's rump with a sharp crack. The precious Hua Liu neighed angrily, its head raised, ears

erect, mane bristling, and galloped forward like a wisp of red smoke.

Wei Tianlin waved his whip and shouted joyfully, "Sister Bing, Sister Bing!"

The slender , hearing the familiar call from afar, immediately reined in his horse and turned to look at Tianlin approaching on horseback.

Wei Tianlin and his horse galloped through the swirling dust, and seeing that the figure in white on horseback had stopped and was turning its

horse to look at him, he immediately shouted again, "Sister Bing, Sister Bing, what brings you here?" Wei

Tianlin was overjoyed, but as he rode closer, he swayed and almost fell off his horse. For the person riding on horseback

was not Sister Bing, but Sister Rong, who had rushed back from Hengshan. Lin Lirong wore a silver satin turban, a

white silk robe, and a Demon-Subduing Sword on her back, its crystal hilt and emerald green tassels making her appear even more beautiful. Her mount was a

tall and magnificent yellow horse, no less than the Red Fire Steed.

But Lin Lirong's fair face was as cold as frost. Her phoenix eyes stared coldly at Tianlin, her cherry lips tightly closed

, and not a trace of a smile could be found on her beautiful face. Wei Tianlin stopped his horse, knowing that Sister Rong was angry, and he

knew why. So, he forced a smile and greeted her, saying awkwardly, "Why is Sister Rong

dressed as a man? I almost..." Before Tianlin could finish, Lin Lirong interrupted him coldly, "Almost

thought she was your Bing-mei?" Wei Tianlin's handsome face flushed red, and he quickly explained, "No, no, I almost didn't recognize

Sister Rong." Lin Lirong was even more jealous, and she snorted coldly, saying resentfully, "With Bing-mei around, how could you recognize

your sister?" With that, she turned her horse around and slowly rode forward.

Wei Tianlin secretly groaned, blaming himself for being too hasty. He had only seen a

figure before shouting out. Now, Sister Rong was angry. Wei Tianlin flicked the reins and followed. He dared not

mention Bingmei again, so he looked up at the red sun already hidden in the western sky and asked softly, "Sister,

do you also want to cross the Zha River before sunset?" Lin Lirong didn't even look at Tianlin and coldly said, "Why

ask when you already know?" Wei Tianlin heard a slight tremor in his sister's cold voice. He turned his head and saw

his sister on the yellow horse beside him, two lines of crystal tears already hanging on her pink cheeks. He felt a pang of guilt and immediately lowered his head. He dared not

ask . But the two magnificent horses, walking side by side, were unaware of their masters' sorrow. Hua Liu gently nibbled at Huang Biao's beautiful eyes,

and Huang Biao gently bit Hua Liu's lips.

Seeing the two horses' affectionate display, Wei Tianlin blurted out with a laugh, "Sister, your horse is a female."

Lin Mianrong's face flushed instantly. She immediately lowered her head, her tears turning into a smile. She lightly bit her cherry lips and scolded softly, "Shameless! You're

so shameless!" Before she finished speaking, she flicked her wrist, and with a crack, the whip struck the horse's rump.

The yellow horse, still captivated by the sight, suddenly felt a sharp pain in its rump, let out a startled neigh, and galloped away. Wei Tianlin

found this amusing and couldn't help but laugh heartily. The white horse, without a sound, suddenly bolted forward. Caught off guard, Tianlin

was startled and immediately stopped laughing, scrambling to his feet and nearly falling off. Wei Tianlin hurriedly grabbed the saddle,

regained his composure, and, filled with rage, raised the whip to strike.

Suddenly, he heard Sister Rong's cheerful laughter from ahead. Tianlin looked up and saw Sister Rong covering her mouth with her sleeve,

giggling sweetly. Though dressed as a man, she still possessed the charm of a woman. The whip in her hand was still raised, but before it could strike, Hua Liu had already caught up

with Huang Biao. Tianlin's handsome face flushed, and he shook his head with a smile, saying, "I don't know." Lin Lirong

knew this was a lie. Turning her head, she saw Tianlin's embarrassed expression

,

and her heart ached. The words that were on the tip of her tongue remained unspoken. She immediately changed the subject, asking, "Did you see Miss Juan when you went to Zhongnan?" Seeing that Sister Rong's tone was much calmer, Tianlin felt much more at ease and nodded, saying, "Yes, they stayed at the hermitage of

the Iron-Faced ." Lin Lirong immediately said... "I know," Tianlin said, "that place is like

a paradise on earth . I went there twice with my master several years ago." Before Lirong could finish speaking, Tianlin asked urgently, "

Is your master the same Master Jingfan, known throughout the martial arts world for her hatred of evil?" Lin Lirong immediately nodded solemnly and said, "Yes,

it is indeed her." Wei Tianlin then asked, "When you returned, did the master reprimand you?" Lin Lirong shook her head

and said, "No, after I told her what had happened and asked Xilai to come after you, my master immediately agreed."

"She agreed and instructed me to convey her regards to the Divine Nun Wuyin when I passed through Mount Taibai." Wei Tianlin was startled and

asked urgently, "Sister, have you ever met the Divine Nun?" Lin Lirong nodded and said, "Yes, several years ago, when I

traveled , I met the Divine Nun once at Xueyun Peak of Mount Taibai." She paused, a strange light

flashing in her phoenix eyes, and continued, "Fortunately, the Divine Nun favored me and imparted to me the peerless martial art of the Remote Finger Flicking Skill, which had been lost for nearly a hundred years

..." Tianlin hurriedly said, "That's wonderful!" "Yes, I'm going with my sister to pay respects to the nun."

Lin Lirong asked, puzzled, "What do you want to see the nun about?" Wei Tianlin quickly explained, "My mother is there."

Lin Lirong asked even more curiously, "Your aunt is with the nun?" Wei Tianlin nodded and said, "Yes, I don't know

the specifics , but I'll know everything once I see my mother." By this time, it was getting dark,

and a vast expanse of reeds appeared a mile ahead, their white plumes like snow, swaying gently in the river breeze. Hua Liu and

Huang Biao, seeing the white reeds, let out a long neigh and suddenly increased their speed. Wei Tianlin frowned, looking at

them and said somewhat uneasily, "We haven't seen a single fishing light; we probably can't cross the river today." Lin Lirong

pondered for a moment and said, "I'm afraid the boats are all hidden in the reeds." As they spoke, they were less than half a mile from the reed marshes.

The two immediately reined in their horses and rode slowly and lightly. Arriving at the riverbank, the reeds in the river were about twelve feet tall, still

several dozen feet from the shore. From within the reeds, one could hear fishermen singing to each other, exchanging sweet nothings; only the songs could be heard, not the fishermen themselves. Lin Lirong remarked with

emotion , "For fishermen, their boat is their home. At sunset, they haul in their nets and watch the evening glow. Their way of life gives one

a sense of transcendence." Wei Tianlin seemed to remark with a hint of realization, "Perhaps hidden in such a vast expanse of reeds are..."

"Extraordinary people who have renounced worldly life and come here to cultivate in seclusion." Lin Lirong immediately said meaningfully, "The world is vast and full of wonders

. Remote and impoverished areas are often places where hidden talents reside. Therefore, those extraordinary people with superb martial arts skills are often

humble and unassuming, keeping their abilities hidden." Wei Tianlin was exceptionally intelligent and understood his sister's meaning. He immediately replied

, "Sister is absolutely right." Lin Lirong glanced at her brother Lin and, seeing his sincere expression, smiled charmingly.

The two waited by the river for a while, but no boats emerged from the reeds. Wei Tianlin grew impatient and

immediately called out to the reeds, "I am eager to cross the river. Who is willing to make the trip? I will reward you handsomely."

As soon as Tianlin finished speaking, many songs stopped. Then, the reeds swayed, oars splashed, and several fishing boats broke through the reeds

and emerged. Several smaller fishing boats, seeing the two young guests and two tall horses on the shore, all stopped automatically

. One of the larger boats, however, rowed over with great speed. Tianlin and Lirong were overjoyed to find a boat willing to ferry them.

Upon closer inspection, they saw a young woman in green steers the boat, while an elderly man with white hair and beard wielded the oars, quickly bringing it to the shore.

Wei Tianlin observed that the old man had a ruddy complexion and bright eyes; just moments before, he had rowed the boat with incredible speed,

revealing him to be a reclusive swordsman of the water. So he clasped his hands in a fist and said gently, "My brother and I have urgent business and need to cross the Zha River

tonight . We would be grateful if you could ferry us across, and we should offer double the fare." The old oarsman

glanced at Tianlin, then at the gleaming sword hilt peeking out from behind Lin Lirong's shoulder, and laughed, saying, "No need for modesty,

please put your horses on board." He then turned to the girl in green behind him and said, "Girl, steer carefully. The horse is heavy,

so be extra careful." The girl in green gripped the rudder, her large, watery eyes looking shyly at Tianlin and

Lirong. Hearing the old oarsman's instructions, she immediately blushed and replied, "Don't worry, Father, I understand."

Wei Tianlin knew the old man was a reclusive knight-errant and saw no need for him to deliberately hide his abilities. So he moved slightly, gracefully leaping onto

the deck . His descent was as light as a willow catkin, and the boat didn't move an inch. The old oarsman smiled, his expression composed.

The young woman in green

person with extraordinary skills.

Wei Tianlin stood still, waved slightly to the precious horse, and said softly and naturally, "Hualiu, come aboard." The horse

was indeed intelligent, extremely docile, and gave a low neigh. Its front hooves gently touched the gunwale, and then with a slight leap, its hind hooves landed

on the deck. Wei Tianlin exerted a little force with his foot, and the boat remained stable as usual.

The old man who was rowing laughed heartily and said calmly, "What a fine red-fire Hualiu! A dragon-bred steed,

rare ." Wei Tianlin smiled slightly and said modestly, "Old man, you flatter me." Before Tianlin finished speaking, a white shadow flashed,

and Li Rong had already flown onto the deck, landing without a sound. The yellow horse was even more obedient than Hualiu. As soon as Lin Li Rong landed, it

had already quietly followed her onto the boat. The young woman in green was flustered for nothing; she hadn't expected the two tall horses to be so

gentle lovable. The old oarsman, looking at Lin Lirong standing before the young woman, said with concern, "The river is about six li wide,

and the current is extremely swift. It will take at least half an hour to cross to the other side. This young lady might as well sit on the stern of Qi'er's horse." Wei

Tianlin was slightly taken aback, impressed by the old man's keen eye. Lin Lirong blushed and politely smiled, saying, "

Thank you, sir." She then sat down beside the young woman on the stern.

The old oarsman glanced at Tianlin and said again, "Young hero, please sit as well." Wei Tianlin thanked the old man and

sat down on the side of the boat.

The fiery red horse seemed to have found its mate, full of energy, its lips constantly nibbling at the yellow horse's ears, cheeks, and

neck, showing extreme affection. The yellow horse's eyes were still half-closed, its expression extremely gentle, seemingly absorbed in receiving the affectionate

gestures of the white horse. At this moment, the old oarsman had already pushed the boat away from the shore, rowing towards the reeds. The old oarsman was indeed extraordinary;

with a flick of the oar, the boat darted forward like an arrow.

Wei Tianlin examined the reeds closely; they were as thick as a child's arm, densely packed, seemingly offering no way out. Upon closer inspection, he realized the bow of the boat

was positioned precisely where the reeds were thinner. With a rustling sound, the boat

had entered the reeds, revealing a waterway about two zhang wide. The boat sped through the waterway, veering left and right, and soon entered the heart of the reeds. On both sides of the waterway,

many fishing boats could be seen scattered among the reeds.

Moments later, they emerged from the reeds; the river was as calm as a mirror, stretching as far as the eye could see. A bright moon had just risen, reflecting on the river's

surface, shimmering and exquisitely beautiful.

Looking ahead, on the distant horizon, lights twinkled like stars, their brilliance shooting straight up into the sky.

Wei Tianlin, puzzled, asked, "Old man, is that the big town on the other side?" The old oarsman frowned,

sighed softly, and said, "Several large ships from Xunyang have been anchored there for several days,

driving away all the fishing boats nearby. It's said that the boats are all filled with martial arts figures." Wei Tianlin's eyebrows shot up, and he said angrily, "Have those

driven-out fishermen just given up?" The old oarsman gazed at the light shooting into the sky and said, "Most fishermen are weak and

powerless; how dare they contend with those martial arts figures?" Wei Tianlin was furious upon hearing this and was about to say something

when he suddenly saw Sister Rong gesturing to him with her eyes. Therefore, he remained silent. By this time, the fishing boat had reached

the middle of the river , where the current was swift. The old oarsman, concentrating intently, wielded the oars with incredible speed, but the boat's course veered slightly downstream

, and its speed slowed considerably.

Wei Tianlin was eager to see the large ships on the opposite bank, wondering what powerful figures were so arrogant and unreasonable

. Continuing in this direction, he feared he would only drift further away. So, he channeled his energy into his right arm, palm facing the water, and released a burst of hidden force. Instantly,

the boat shot forward like an arrow, cutting through the water with a loud thud, its speed increasing dramatically. The old oarsman laughed heartily, saying, "Young hero

, you're quite impatient! I'll take you and this young lady to see those large ships." With that, he gathered the oars to

his side , pushed forward with his right arm, palm down, unleashing an invisible force that struck the water.

The bow rose high, spraying waves everywhere, its speed like that of a giant flying fish, the sound of the boat breaking the water

deafening. Both the swift steeds, Hua Liu and Huang Biao, were stunned, heads raised, ears perked, eyes gleaming with surprise. Lin Lirong's delicate brows furrowed and then relaxed

, and she smiled at the old man, saying, "Uncle, we'd better stay away from those boats." Neither Tianlin nor the old man

answered.

The girl in green slightly steered the rudder, and the boat flew diagonally against the current, the waves at the bow higher, the sound of breaking the water louder.

In an instant , they had crossed the middle of the river, the current had slowed, and the opposite bank was faintly visible in the moonlight. Wei Tianlin and the old man exchanged

a glance, then simultaneously withdrew their hands, and the boat continued to fly forward for several dozen feet before slowing down.

The old man picked up the oar beside him and praised Tianlin, saying, "Young hero, you must be a disciple of an extraordinary person, with profound strength

and astonishing skills. I, an old man, am humbled by your inferiority. Young hero, may I ask your master's name?" Wei Tianlin, still...

Not knowing the other party's background, and finding it inconvenient to reveal his own, he bowed slightly and said respectfully, "My name is Wei

Tianlin. My master has long since retired to the mountains and disappeared from the martial world; his name is no longer used. Please forgive him, sir." The old man rowing the boat was very

experienced and knew that reclusive masters were often indifferent to fame and fortune and did not want their disciples to publicize their names. Therefore

, he did not mind and immediately smiled and said, "Not at all, not at all." Wei Tianlin also wanted to know who the old man was, so he asked in a gentle voice, "

Sir..." "You must be a reclusive hero of the water. May I ask you, sir, what is your name?" Before Tianlin could finish his question, the old man rowing the oars

laughed loudly and said, "I no longer use my name. People call me Iron Oar Azure Dragon..." Lin Lirong's heart skipped a beat,

and she blurted out, "So it is Senior Wu Hanying. My master often talks about Senior Wu and Senior Song, the Lord of Dongting,

who are both hailed as the two heroes of the water in the martial arts world. I have long admired them. It is an honor to meet them here today." She then bowed

in greeting.

Iron-Oared Azure Dragon let out another hearty laugh, saying, "The moment I saw your Demon-Subduing Sword, I knew you were

a disciple of the Abbess. I never imagined the Abbess would still remember me, Wu Hanying." He paused, glanced at Wei Tianlin,

and continued , "Just now, while I was in the reeds, I heard Wei Xiaoxia's powerful shout and knew a master had arrived. Seeing

that you two are actually children gave me quite a fright." He then pointed to the girl in green on the stern, saying,

"This is my daughter, Wu Xiaoqi." Wu Xiaoqi immediately smiled and nodded to Tianlin and Lirong. Wei Tianlin and

Lin Lirong simultaneously greeted her politely, "Miss Qi." At this moment, they were less than two li from the opposite bank. Wei Tianlin

looked towards the brightly lit area ahead and saw several large warships scattered and moored, the largest one in the middle resembling

a painted boat.

The boats were studded with lights, with the central painted barge, adorned with about a hundred palace lanterns, swaying gently in the river breeze. Further on,

the view became clearer; the central painted barge, shaped like a palace, shone brilliantly under the light of its hundred lanterns, exuding

unparalleled splendor. On the central barge, figures moved about busily, while the other boats, though brightly lit, remained

eerily quiet.

Gradually, melodious music drifted from the painted barge. At this point, no more than twelve or thirteen zhang from the large ship ahead, the iron-

oared dragon boat had stopped; another two or three zhang would bring it into the illuminated area. Wei Tianlin focused his gaze intently

. On the painted barge were both men and women; the men were all robust and splendidly dressed, while the women were all beautiful and graceful,

their robes flowing.

Seated in the center was a man wearing a golden crown and a brocade robe, with a black beard reaching his chest, a face as white as jade, and bright, intelligent eyes;

his features were not yet fully discernible. Wei Tianlin's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "Senior Wu, is this

perhaps a prince on an inspection tour?" Tie Jiang Canglong smiled slightly and said, "At first, I also suspected that, but

after diving to investigate, I didn't see any escorting official boats or government insignia, so I suspected they might be

people ." Wei Tianlin asked, puzzled, "Senior, did you find out their purpose for coming here?" Tie Jiang Canglong shook his head and

said, "No, I went for two nights in a row and saw them drinking, making merry, singing and dancing, seemingly with nothing to do. Except for the people on

the painted boat were dressed in fine clothes, the other four boats were mostly filled with burly men in strong armor." Wei Tianlin's heart stirred, and he guessed:

"Senior, are they waiting here for something, like the appearance of a treasure in the river?" Iron-Oared Azure Dragon

gave a soft "Oh," pondered for a moment, and said, "I've lived on this Zhashui River for nearly twenty years, and I've never heard of

any ..." Just then, the precious steed suddenly raised its head, prickled up its ears, its eyes flashing with alarm,

and let out a long, deafening neigh that pierced the night sky. Tianlin and the other three were all secretly startled. Lin Lirong's phoenix eyes flashed, and

she said urgently, "Senior, lower the boat downstream and dock immediately." As soon as Lin Lirong finished speaking,

figures flashed on the painted boat in the middle of the boat, several people leaping out and waving to the people below.

Immediately afterward, several small, diamond-shaped boats darted out from behind the painted boat, moving swiftly through the current. At this moment, Iron-

Oared Azure Dragon paddled the water, Wu Xiaoqi pulled the rudder, and the boat tilted sharply, heading downstream at breakneck speed. Several

shuttle-shaped boats, illuminated by the moonlight, slicing through the calm river, splashing water and shouting as they gave

chase .

Iron-Oared Azure Dragon knew that Tianlin and Lirong couldn't swim, and that even with their superior martial arts, they couldn't easily use them on the river,

so quickly steered the boat diagonally towards the opposite bank. The shuttle-shaped boats, having discerned Tianlin and his companions' intentions, immediately

cut them off diagonally. Given the distance of ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), and the small boats' high speed, they closed the gap to within five zhang in the blink of an eye.

Lin Lirong turned her head to examine the boat closely and saw that each boat had three burly men in gray, tight-fitting clothes; two were steering, and one stood at

the bow with a sword across . Iron-Oared Azure Dragon snorted angrily and muttered, "These damned bastards, they're really asking for trouble."

Just as he finished speaking, shouts erupted from several small boats that had cut them off diagonally, "

Stop right there, or we'll catch up and kill them all, one by one!" Wei Tianlin's sword-like eyebrows shot up, his eyes

flashing , his left arm brimming with power, his gaze fixed on a man with a sword drawn on the lead boat. Lin Lirong

said to Iron-Oared Azure Dragon, "Senior Wu, you row the boat, let me deal with them." With that, she flicked her wrist,

producing a very faint snapping sound.

At the same moment, a muffled groan and a splash followed, and

the burly man tumbled into the water. A commotion erupted from the other small boats. Suddenly, Lin Lirong's jade-like wrist flicked swiftly

, her slender fingers snapping repeatedly. All the burly men with swords on the following boats groaned and tumbled into the water.

Immediately afterward, figures leaped and splashed, water spraying high, shouts echoing. All the burly men navigating the boats plunged

into the water, daring not to surface again. The young woman in green, Wu Xiaoqi, was completely stunned. Iron-Oared Azure Dragon's tiger-like eyes

flashed with , then he excitedly exclaimed, "To witness the legendary martial arts

technique, the 'Finger Flicking Skill,' which has been lost for nearly a century, in my lifetime is not a wasted life at over eighty years old!" Iron-Oared Azure Dragon's words had barely faded

when suddenly, the precious steed, Hua Liu, its eyes gleaming, gazed at the opposite bank, head raised, ears perked, tail swishing, and let out

another piercing, alarming neigh. Wei Tianlin and Lin Lirong immediately became alert, following the steed's gaze,

searching the distant opposite bank. The neigh of the precious steed still lingered on the boundless river. Several deep, resonant howls

rose from the gray sky.

A powerful whistle, brimming with inner strength, pierced the night sky, approaching from afar, seemingly hurtling towards the riverbank. Iron-Oared

Azure Dragon rowed the boat to the shore, urgently calling out, "Young Master Wei, Miss Lin, hurry ashore!

The experts returned!" Lin Lirong, her white robes flashing, floated onto the riverbank, her two steeds, Hua Liu and Huang Biao, following silently.

Wei Tianlin flicked his sleeve, and Iron-Oared Azure Dragon slightly propelled himself forward, the two simultaneously leaping onto the ground. At this moment, the whistle grew even closer.

Suddenly, the music on the pleasure boat on the riverbank stopped abruptly. Several burly men in fine clothes stood on the gunwale, looking towards the source of the whistling.

Wei Tianlin immediately whispered, "Judging from the situation, the newcomers don't seem to be experts from the pirate ship." Lin Lirong also looked at the pleasure boat and

said softly, "These long whistles are probably a show of force to these pirates; otherwise, the music inside the pleasure boat wouldn't have stopped."

Tie Jiang Canglong stroked his silver beard and nodded slightly, saying, "You're absolutely right, Miss." Suddenly, several deep, long whistles stopped

simultaneously . Immediately afterward, a rapid whooshing sound of clothes tearing through the wind came from afar. Wei Tianlin and the others looked quickly in the direction of the sound

. They saw several broad, dark figures, moving with the speed of the wind, skimming across a pebble beach about a mile wide, heading towards several large

ships with lightning speed. After reading this, Iron-Oared Azure Dragon's eyes lit up

.

He brandished his iron oar and said, "Young Master Wei, Miss Lin, would you two like to go and take a look? If the people who come are chivalrous individuals who are ridding the fishermen of this menace, we can lend them a hand." Tianlin and Lirong both readily agreed, "What you say is exactly what we've been thinking." Iron-Oared Azure Dragon was extremely

pleased. He turned to Wu Xiaoqi on the boat and said, "Girl, stay here and don't move. Your father and Young Master Wei will go and take a look.

Leave the two precious horses here and look after them. If there are any changes, immediately send a signal to notify me." Wu Xiaoqi sat quietly on the boat,

nodded slightly, and softly agreed.

Wei Tianlin felt that leaving Xiaoqi alone to watch the boat would only create more problems, so he said to Tie Jiang Canglong, "Senior,

horses don't need watchmen. Even three or five ordinary martial arts masters wouldn't be able to get close to Hua Liu. I think it's better to let Miss Qi go with us."

Lin Lirong had already seen that Wu Xiaodi was very eager to go, knowing she wouldn't dare disobey her father's orders. So, she turned to Tie Jiang Canglong and

said, "My Huang Biao is even more formidable. Senior, let Miss Qi go with us; she can see for herself."

Tie Jiang Canglong thought it was a good idea and immediately turned to say, "Girl, come on up." As soon as Tie Jiang Canglong finished speaking,

a flash of green, and Wu Xiaoqi was already beside Lin Lirong. Wei Tianlin was startled; he hadn't expected Wu Xiaoqi's lightness skill

to be so astonishing. Tie Jiang Canglong's martial arts skills were also quite impressive. Lin Lirong was also somewhat surprised,

unable to resist gazing at Wu Xiaoqi's fair face with her phoenix eyes. Wu Xiaoqi blushed, especially at Wei Tianlin's gaze, which made her heart

pound.

Suddenly, a loud and resonant "Amitabha!" came from the pleasure boat ahead. Wei Tianlin and the other three looked in the direction of the sound

, and a few dozen feet away, a grove of low trees conveniently obscured the view of the shore in front of the pleasure boat. At this moment, a rough and angry shout

came : "Where did these bald monks come from? What business do you have here? Speak up quickly! If you've lost

your way, inform the island lord for special mercy and he'll spare your lives. Otherwise, hehe..." Upon hearing this, Tie Jiang Canglong said urgently

, "A group of monks have come. Let's go see." Before he finished speaking, he was already several feet away.

Wei Tianlin flicked his sleeve and followed like the wind. Lin Lirong held Wu Xiaoqi's slender hand and followed closely

behind , riding side by side like a golden couple. Wu Xiaoqi's hand was held by Li Rong. Although she knew Li Rong was also

a woman, she still felt a little embarrassed when she saw Li Rong's scholar's cap and flowing long robe.

The four of them arrived at the edge of the low trees, still a dozen or so feet away from the painted boat on the riverbank. On each side of the painted boat, two large warships were

moored, about four or five feet away from the riverbank. The five boats were brightly lit, illuminating the area within ten feet of the riverbank as if it were

daytime . At this moment, six old monks wearing identical yellow robes stood on the shore. They were all kind and benevolent, with long, silver

eyebrows and white beards flowing down their chests.

Some of the six old monks held a precept knife, some wielded a golden mace staff, and some held a crescent-shaped shovel. One was in front, and five

stood behind him, all with bright eyes, watching the group of richly dressed, burly men on the painted boat. Looking at the painted boat, it was about five feet high,

with rolled-up windows...? The ship's gunwale was covered with red felt, and the palatial cabin was adorned with dragons and phoenixes, magnificent and opulent,

surpassing even the imperial palace's dragon boats. Illuminated by hundreds of palace lanterns, it shone brightly, eclipsing the moonlight.

A dozen or so burly men in fine clothes stood on the gunwale, each with imposing stature, fierce brows, and swords at their sides, exuding

arrogance and a menacing aura. In the center stood a white-faced, beardless man in fine clothes, his left hand lightly touching the sword at his waist, his right

hand pointing at six old monks on the shore. His eyes blazing, he roared, "Bald monks, even if you don't speak, we know why you've come .

Since you've come to die, quickly tell us what mountain and temple you belong to, so we can send you to

the Western Paradise to worship your Buddha!" As soon as the white-faced, beardless man finished speaking, the dozen or so burly men around him

burst into a loud, contemptuous laugh. The old monk standing on the shore, hands clasped together, murmured

a Buddhist chant, and then said loudly, "We, the six of us, are the elders, stewards, and abbots of Jingfo Temple on Mount Wutai. We

heard that you, our benefactors, have driven away all the fishermen who make a living by fishing here and have forbidden them from fishing in the vicinity. We, your humble servants, have come to advise you, our benefactors, for the sake of the livelihoods of hundreds of fishermen..." Before the old monk could finish speaking, the burly man in fine clothes shouted, "Shut up! Who do you think you are, meddlesome like this?" The old monk's expression changed slightly, and he said loudly, "We, the elder monks of Jingfo Temple, Master Chenkong, along with Iron-Headed Hu Zhuang..." He chuckled smugly and said disdainfully, "Those who drove away those who disturbed the peace of our island master were none other than Master Hu..." "Duty." Upon hearing this, Wei Tianlin in the forest turned to Tie Jiang Canglong and asked in confusion, "Senior, do you know who in the martial arts world is known as an island lord?" Tie Jiang Canglong pondered for a moment and said, "There are many who use 'island lord' as their nickname. In the west, there is Haixin Island Lord of Qinghai, Basa Island Lord of Baitinghai in Ningxia, and Yumen Island Lord of western Gansu." He paused, smiled , and continued, "In the East Sea, there are many more, such as Dong'ao Island Lord, Peach Blossom Island Lord, Langya Island Lord, and Jinzi Island Lord. These people named after islands are countless." Suddenly, Hu Zhuang in the arena roared, "Bald monk? Yu Long? Since Master Hu dares to come out, he will not consider the consequences." As he spoke and swung it down at Zen Master Chenkong. 　　With a cry of "Amitabha," a yellow shadow flashed, followed by an old monk wielding a golden mace. He leaped forward, shouting, "Donor, do not be rude! This old monk, Jingqing, will deal with you!" Before his shout was finished, his golden mace conjured a halo of light, accompanied by a gust of wind, sweeping towards Hu Zhuang's descending ghost-headed saber. With 　　a clang, a flash of cold light sent the saber soaring into the air. Iron-Headed Hu Zhuang cried out in alarm, his hand splitting open, staggering back several steps. The group of richly dressed, burly men on the pleasure boat were all stunned, realizing the six old monks on the shore were no ordinary men. After chanting a Buddhist prayer, the old monk Jingqing hurriedly said, "This old monk couldn't stop in time, please don't be angry, Benefactor Hu." Iron-Headed Hu Zhuang, his hands clasped together, didn't even look at where his ghost-headed knife had flown, his small eyes glared, and he said sharply, "You bald monk, you're hypocritical ? Do you think I can't kill you without a knife?" As he spoke, he slowly approached the old monk Jingqing.

"Go!"

A short, elderly monk, brandishing his dagger, said in a deep voice, "If Benefactor Hu continues to be so rude,

this old monk Jingxin will have to punish you." Iron-Headed Hu Zhuang roared, "If you dare to talk so much, you'll die first..."

With that roar, he swept his shoulders aside, and a large head flashed towards Jingxin's chest.

Jingxin laughed furiously, shifting his body and swiftly blocking with his dagger. A

sharp sound rang out, sparks flying—it was indeed an iron head. Jingxin was startled, staggering back two steps. With a loud crash,

Hu Zhuang's head struck nothing, hitting a pile of pebbles on the riverbank, sending gravel and pebbles flying everywhere. Hu

Zhuang knew he was in trouble and performed a lazy roll, tumbling two zhang away.

Just then, several shouts rang out, and figures flashed—six burly men in fine clothes leaped off the painted boat.

Of the , two men—one with a pale face and no beard, the other with a dark

face and a beard—were included. The remaining four were all around thirty years old, carrying long swords and exuding a murderous aura. The pale-faced, beardless giant, seemingly the leader of the group, waved his hand at the other five and roared

, "Attack!" With that, he drew his long sword and lunged at Zen Master Chenkong.

Instantly, figures leaped and fell across the riverbank, shouts echoing endlessly. The glint of swords and

the whistling of staffs created a horrifying and brutal spectacle. Wei Tianlin, watching with growing impatience, was eager to join in.

Lin Lirong had already seen through Tianlin's intentions, but in front of Tie Jiang Canglong and Wu Xiaoqi, she couldn't openly stop him. So, she

deliberately said to Xiaoqi, "These masters from Mount Wutai are indeed extraordinary. These burly men are probably

no match for them." Wu Xiaoqi smiled slightly and said shyly, "These masters are all

eminent monks from Jingfo Temple on South Mount Wutai, deeply respected by the fishermen in this area." Due to the shouts and roars in the arena, and the howling wind, Wu Xiaoqi

's voice was raised considerably.

Wei Tianlin didn't know who the other three old monks were, so he turned to Wu Xiaoqi and asked, "Does Miss Qi know the Dharma names of these

masters?" Wei Tianlin had barely finished speaking when

Tie Jiang Canglong roared, "You rat, you're courting death..." Wei Tianlin's heart skipped a beat, and he turned to look. He saw

Tie Canglong, wielding his iron paddle, lunging towards Tie Tou Hu Zhuang, who was secretly bumping into Zen Master Chen Kong.

A scream rang out, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and Hu Zhuang was cleaved in two at the waist by the passing iron paddle.

Immediately afterward, with a loud thud and a muffled groan, the burly, white-faced, beardless man in fine clothes was also sent

flying by Zen Master Chenkong, falling horizontally into the water. A shout rang out from the pleasure boat, and a figure darted down like lightning, rushing towards the flying figure.

With a loud splash, water sprayed high, and both the flying figure and the burly man in fine clothes fell into

the water.

Several shouts rang out, and a small, shuttle-shaped boat immediately darted across from the large boat on the left. Meanwhile,

the fighting on the shore continued fiercely, a chaotic scene of flashing swords and daggers. Zen Master Chenkong, having sent the burly, white-faced man flying with a single palm strike,

immediately murmured "Amitabha," repeatedly saying, "Forgive me, forgive me." Chenkong was about to turn around

to thank the Iron Oar Dragon, who stood with its oars across the water, for his assistance.

Suddenly, several burly men on the pleasure boat shouted simultaneously, "Stop!" This sudden shout from several

men was like a thunderclap in the sky. The fighting on the shore stopped instantly, and everyone's eyes

were fixed on the pleasure boat. On the boat and on the shore, there was complete silence, except for the rumbling sound of the river

.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/178881.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=178881&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : She helped her husband steal their son.

Next Page : Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Silver Hairpin Saintess

comment Open a new window to view comments