【Azure Sea and Ink Edge - Volume One】【Part Seventeen】

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

Final Chapter: The Melody of the Other Shore - 4
"Hen'er, from now on you'll be alone. You must take good care of yourself and live a peaceful life." A loving mother's gentle voice whispered in his ear, her concerned words drifting away like a dream, a final farewell.
Mo Tianhen suddenly felt a pang in his heart, waking with a start and crying out, "Mother!"
Opening his eyes, he saw a blinding light. It was already broad daylight, and he found himself in a magnificent, golden palace. Mo Wuchunqiu lay peacefully before him.
He reached for his sword, only to find himself bound by layers of black iron chains, unable to move.
"You're awake?" a voice called from the side. Mo Tianhen turned to see Wei Feng sitting on a pillar base, calmly looking at him.
"Where is my mother!" Mo Tianhen cried out angrily. He had traveled thousands of miles north, enduring countless hardships, to finally see his mother safe and sound, only to have his plans disrupted, forcibly separating him and his mother. How could he not be angry, how could he not hate?
Wei Feng said calmly, "I advise you to control your emotions. When you see the Manor Lord later, don't provoke him."
"Manor Lord?" Mo Tianhen asked doubtfully, "Are you talking about Jin Chengfeng?" Wei Feng did not answer, nor did he look at him again.
Mo Tianhen was rebuffed and remained silent in anger. He first circulated his true energy through the Yin-Yang cycle, but found that his meridians were normal, his body was still intact, and he was not restrained. His originally depleted true energy had been fully restored overnight by the Yin-Yang Heavenly Revelation, leaving him only slightly hungry.
So he exerted all his strength, trying to break free of the shackles on his body, but it was in vain. The Yin and Yang energies rushed to the iron rings, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, with no reaction whatsoever!
Unconvinced, Mo Tianhen continued his assault several times, sweat pouring down his forehead as the chains clanged, yet he couldn't break free.
Just then, Wei Feng said, "These chains are made of True Soul Steel. Even a master of the level of the Three Sect Leaders might not be able to break free. You'd better not waste your energy."
Hearing this, Mo Tianhen had no choice but to give up. As soon as the clanging of the chains stopped, the clanging began again in the hall. Mo Tianhen couldn't help but wonder: Could there be someone else like me? Could it be his mother?
Overjoyed, he quickly looked in the direction of the sound, only to be blinded by a dazzling golden light. Amidst the brilliance, a majestic man, adorned with gold and silver, jewels and jade, his ornaments jingling, strolled in, accompanied by an arrogant poem: "The proud Emperor Heng of the Zhu family, silver mountains, gold peaks, who dares to contend? With a flick of the wrist, he stirs up storms, grasping all the wealth of heaven!"
Behind him followed two men. One, dressed as a guard, wielded a double-headed hexagonal mace; tall and with a fierce gaze, he was a man in his thirties, bearing a resemblance to Jin Chengfeng, his demeanor rather cynical. He glanced sideways at Mo Tianhen and sneered, seemingly utterly disdainful.
Wei Feng quickly rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Master, Young Master."
The newcomer was none other than the Master of Jinqian Manor, "The Number One Merchant Under Heaven"—Jin Chengfeng, the Master of Qiankun! The younger man following behind was his only son, Jin Chenggan. The other person was Chen Tiexin, one of the "Four Guardians of Jinqian Manor," Jin Chengfeng's personal bodyguard!
"You're Jin Chengfeng?" Mo Tianhen suddenly struggled to sit up, glaring at him angrily. Jin Chengfeng only glanced at him, walked past him, and went straight to the golden dragon throne in the hall, sitting down before asking, "Little Wei, is this Lu Xuanyin's son?"
Wei replied sarcastically, "Indeed."
Jin Chengfeng then looked Mo Tianhen up and down, suddenly laughing, "This is the 'scourge' that Huyan Nixin mentioned? Ha, it seems he's really had bad luck lately, unable to even deal with this insignificant fellow."
"Old thief! Where is my mother!" Mo Tianhen was furious, disregarding Jin Chengfeng's contempt, and loudly questioned him.
Jin Chengfeng, however, gave Wei Feng a forced smile and asked, "By the way, where's his mother?"
Wei Feng replied, "As requested by the Master, I had Xiao Jiao personally escort her away."
"Xiao Jiao?" Jin Chengfeng asked doubtfully, "Didn't I send Xiao Leng to handle it?"
Wei Feng said, "Reporting to the Master, this kid is not to be underestimated. Even with nine captains of the Eight Guards of Shenjin attacking him in turn, they still couldn't defeat him and were all injured. Only Xiao Jiao was unharmed. Even Bi Jinhu was defeated by him. If it weren't for my subordinate and Xiao Shu arriving in time, I'm afraid the Eight Guards of Shenjin would have been completely wiped out."
"Oh?" Jin Chengfeng finally showed some interest and asked, "It's one thing that Zhang Chuxian couldn't defeat him, but even that ruthless Bi Langteng wasn't his match?" Jin Chenggan also said incredulously, "Master, don't lie to me, none of the masters are his match?"
Before Wei Feng could answer, Mo Tianhen impatiently roared, "You old thief, stop your nonsense! Where exactly did you send my mother?!"
Jin Chengfeng glared at him and said, "Boy, don't think you're invincible just because you beat a few of my guards. You're not qualified to get an answer from me."
Then he said to Wei Feng, "Little Wei, where's your wife? "
“‘Xiao Shu should be at the infirmary with the Eighth Guard Captain,’” Wei Feng said. Jin
Chengfeng nodded and said, “No wonder Huyan Nixin couldn’t deal with him personally. I’m even a little interested in this kid now. Xiao Wei, remove the chains from his body, and go call your wife over. I’ve been having fun for days, so I’ll take this opportunity to relax and loosen up.”
Wei Feng hesitated and said, “Master, you mean…?”
Jin Chengfeng said, “Just do as you’re told. Why so many questions?”
Wei Feng had no choice but to remove the chains from Mo Tianhen’s body, and then silently took his leave. Before leaving, he left Mo Tianhen with a pitying and regretful look.
Mo Tianhen couldn’t figure out Jin Chengfeng’s intentions. Since he had offered a reward for his capture, why did he order him to be released? But he knew that this place was not a safe place, and he needed to escape and find his mother at any time. Therefore, he immediately picked up his sword and became tense and vigilant.
Jin Chengfeng observed all his movements but remained unfazed, laughing, "I've cooperated with Huyan Nixin for many years, and I know his capabilities well. Since you've given him a headache, you must have some real skills. Don't you have a lot of questions for me? I'll give you three chances. Fight two rounds with my Four Guardians of Absolute Gold. Win one, and I'll grant you one question."
"Who exactly is this Huyan Nixin? Judging from his words, could he be one of the masked men chasing me? If so, then isn't it true what Brother Han said—that the masked men wiped out my entire family, and it was this old scoundrel who ordered it?"
Thinking that a blood feud might be imminent, Mo Tianhen felt his blood boil, his inner energy surging wildly. He gripped his ink sword tightly, wishing he could tear this arrogant old scoundrel to pieces immediately!
Having endured many hardships, he knew that impulsiveness would lead to disaster. In his extreme anger, he desperately tried to control his emotions, admonishing himself, "I already struggled to deal with Wei Feng and his wife. This Jin Chengfeng seems to be even more skilled, and there are two others watching me intently, their strength unknown. In addition, there are many guards and servants at Jinqian Manor. A direct confrontation is clearly not the way to go. It would be better to see what tricks he has up his sleeve before seeking a way to break through. Perhaps I can even get a chance to find out the truth about the tragedy that happened at my home!"
Thinking of this, Mo Tianhen suppressed his anger for revenge and followed Jin Chengfeng's lead, asking in a deep voice, "That's only twice. What about the third time?"
Jin Chengfeng laughed, "Ha! Only if you pass the first two tests will you be qualified to ask me questions!"
Mo Tianhen immediately raised his heavy sword and said coldly, "The first test, who?"
Seeing his imposing demeanor and spontaneous spirit, Jin Chengfeng couldn't help but laugh, "He has some presence."
But he didn't take it to heart and said to Chen Tiexin on his left, "You play with him for a bit first."
Chen Tiexin entered the hall, clasped his hands, and said, "Chen Tiexin, one of the Four Guardians of Jinqian Manor, with the indomitable steel forging of earth, welcomes your expert skills, young hero!" With that, he flicked his hexagonal double-headed mace,
adopting the starting stance of a staff technique. Seeing the unusual nature of his weapon, Mo Tianhen dared not be careless. He unleashed the power of a tiger's courage sword breaking a thousand armies, secretly gathering the intent of the Eight Dances Sword, intending to probe Chen Tiexin's martial arts style. After a brief exchange, seeing Mo Tianhen's hesitant attack, Chen Tiexin roared, breaking the stalemate. He swung his double-headed mace horizontally, and just as Mo Tianhen was close, he suddenly raised it, transforming it into a chopping stance!
Mo Tianhen had encountered a similar staff technique in his earlier battle with Hua Xi. Understanding this change, he shifted his stance backward, avoiding the powerful blow. He felt a gust of wind sweep across his face, followed by the mace striking the ground with a resounding clang, shattering the gold bricks covering the floor! Mo Tianhen felt a sudden tremor beneath his feet, and exclaimed in surprise, "This man's staff technique is completely different from Hua Xi's!"
It turned out that Hua Xi's staff technique originated from the Western Regions' Fragrant Goddess's Dance of the Heavenly Maiden. When used, internal energy flowed through her sleeves, making the cloth as hard as iron. However, due to its weight, it allowed for light and varied movements. Chen Tiexin's hexagonal double-headed mace, on the other hand, was forged entirely from refined steel and weighed eighty jin (approximately 40 kg), almost the weight of two ink swords. Although it appeared slow to wield, its power was as fierce as a bear. If struck directly, it would be a stroke of luck to have one's bones shattered and tendons broken!
"I cannot fight head-on; I must find his weakness and then attack!" Having decided on his strategy, Mo Tianhen withdrew his sword, adopting a defensive stance. His ink sword blocked and parried Chen Tiexin's attacks!
However, Chen Tiexin's steel mace was powerful and fierce. After blocking several blows, Mo Tianhen felt his forearm go numb from the impact and dared not take any more direct hits. He channeled his energy into his feet, took several steps, and used his black sword to feint repeatedly, but did not directly confront the steel mace. Instead, he fought around Chen Tiexin.
On the dragon throne, Jin Chengfeng saw that Mo Tianhen neither attacked nor defended, but only dodged. He said with boredom, "Boy, it seems that your defeat of my manor guards was just luck. If you continue to fight like this, you are not qualified to ask me any questions!"
"Old fool, are you trying to provoke me?" Mo Tianhen did not buy it. He did not even spare him a glance, and stared straight at his enemy. As the saying goes, "The key to staff fighting lies in technique, not brute force." Chen Tiexin's hexagonal double-headed mace, though executed with staff techniques, goes against this principle. His thrusts, strikes, hooks, and presses are incredibly powerful, with all his strength concentrated at the tip, making it difficult to parry. One is forced to avoid his sharp edge or choose to close in for a direct attack. However, Mo Tianhen discovered that Chen Tiexin's technique contained subtle variations, with meticulous control over the transitions and movements. Every move left an opening, and his killing moves were hidden. He used wide, sweeping movements to lure his opponent into a trap, then cleverly changed tactics to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy at close range!
"In that case, wouldn't it be impossible to get close?" Although Mo Tianhen had seen through Chen Tiexin's style, he was still troubled and unable to break through.
"A prolonged defense will inevitably lead to defeat; we must devise a plan! His weapon is heavy, so we cannot sustain a prolonged attack. Could we wear him down until he is exhausted, and then launch a counterattack?" With a plan in mind, Mo Tianhen observed Chen Tiexin's condition. He saw that Chen Tiexin's attacks were fierce, yet he left room for maneuver. Thus, despite his relentless attacks, Chen Tiexin remained energetic and unhurried, showing no signs of fatigue. In contrast, Mo Tianhen had to exert all his strength just to dodge Chen Tiexin's attacks. If he tried to prolong the battle, he would likely be the one who collapsed first.
"No, this is only the first round. Even with my Yin-Yang Heavenly Revelation, which allows me to recover quickly, exhausting my strength here would be detrimental to the later battles!" After a moment's thought, Mo Tianhen rejected his previous method and observed Chen Tiexin's staff techniques again. He found that Chen Tiexin's fierce attacks were riddled with traps, making it difficult to find a breakthrough. He had no choice but to continue maneuvering against Chen Tiexin for the time being.
The two remained locked in a stalemate for about a quarter of an hour, still without exchanging blows. At this moment, Wei Feng had brought Qin Youshu into the hall. Seeing the two still fighting, he couldn't help but exclaim, "This young man is truly remarkable! Brother Chen has roamed the Snow Desert of Yabei for thirty years, shattering the dreams of countless heroes with his double-headed mace. If I had met Brother Chen at his age, I'm afraid I would have been a cripple long ago."
Qin Youshu had arrived late the night before and hadn't sparred with Mo Tianhen. Now, seeing that his footwork and swordsmanship were quite familiar, he couldn't help but say, "This child seems to possess Confucian martial arts."
Wei Feng nodded and said, "You noticed that too?"
Qin Youshu exclaimed in surprise, "Husband, then...?"
Wei Feng frowned slightly. Mei, after a moment's thought, shook her head and said, "No need, I am no longer a member of the Confucian school."
Qin Youshu said softly, "I know that, I'm just afraid you'll have something on your mind."
Wei Feng sighed slightly, hesitated for a moment, but said with a hint of helplessness, "I've repaid what I owed, I don't owe the Confucian school anything anymore."
At this moment, Jin Chengfeng said in a carefree manner, "This is so fussy, it's not fun at all. Kid, if you keep fighting like this, I don't want to answer a single question!"
Mo Tianhen knew that he was putting pressure on him, but he had no choice but to do as he was told. Looking at the "open doors" left in the mace's edge, he suddenly gritted his teeth, raised his sword, and stepped into the trap!
Seeing that the enemy had finally fallen into the trap, Chen Tiexin naturally wouldn't hold back. His move immediately changed, and the horizontal parry was suddenly raised, the double-headed mace held together, and he slashed down diagonally towards Mo Tianhen's left shoulder!
Mo Tianhen, anticipating the change in attack, reversed his grip on the sword, Mo Wu Chunqiu, and met the fierce mace strike with the spine of his sword! A deafening crash resounded as Mo Tianhen, unable to withstand the immense force of the steel mace with his single arm, was swept back several steps, sword and all, seemingly numb in his arm and back!
However, at the same time, Mo Tianhen no longer needed to focus on dodging. His right hand formed a sword-finger gesture, unleashing the power of "Sword Breaking the Sky Gate," aiming directly for Chen Tiexin's unsuspecting chest!
Wei Feng, witnessing this from afar, made a startling judgment: "This kid... has lost!"
Just as Mo Tianhen thought he had succeeded, Chen Tiexin twisted his hand, splitting the double-headed mace in two, transforming it into two hexagonal steel maces!
One of them instantly rose, blocking his chest and protecting his vitals. "Sword Breaking the Sky Gate"—failed!
Mo Tianhen's sword strike, "Piercing the Sky Gate," was a surprise attack, hastily unleashed, and its power was naturally different from his previous strikes that could cut through gold and jade; it only left a shallow mark on the hexagonal steel mace. Chen Tiexin blocked the attack, thinking, "Luckily!" He also took a step back, creating distance between himself and Mo Tianhen. After
exchanging blows, although Mo Tianhen had forced out his opponent's hidden move, his left side was numb, making it difficult to provide support for a short time, and he had actually suffered a great loss.
Jin Chengfeng finally witnessed a spectacular duel, slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, and shouted, "Good!" as if watching a show.
Qin Youshu whispered in Wei Feng's ear, "This child is brave and resourceful, but ultimately lacks experience."
Wei Feng replied solemnly, "Experience can be accumulated in actual combat and used on the spot. It's not an insurmountable gap, but that kid's skill is truly frightening; even I misjudged him."
Qin Youshu asked, puzzled, "His moves contain elements of Confucian martial arts, so his internal energy must also be a Confucian mental cultivation method. It's not surprising that it's so pure and refined."
Wei Feng shook his head, "His internal energy is purely righteous but not purely yang. It's not a pure Confucian mental cultivation method; instead, it's quite similar to the Yin-Yang internal energy of Taoism, yet also quite different."
Qin Youshu said, "His mother is a Taoist, so perhaps his internal energy is a mixture of Confucian and Taoist styles." "
Wei Feng still shook his head, saying, "They are worlds apart. If the two schools' internal energies were mixed, how could it appear so perfectly natural? Moreover, his foundation is only on par with the Eight Guards, so why can he single-handedly take on all eight guards, and even fight Brother Chen now? Just now, Brother Chen set traps twice, all for that thunderous strike. If that kid's internal energy hadn't been so pure, forcing Brother Chen to use the Double Dragon Mace Technique to block it, how could he be standing safely in the hall now? I think, even if I only had such a foundation, relying solely on techniques, I probably wouldn't have been able to fight to this extent."
Hearing her husband give Mo Tianhen such a high evaluation, Qin Youshu's heart was also filled with turmoil: "Just who is this child? How can he be so capable?"
Little did they know that if Yin Yang Tian Qi were cultivated with both meridians, the power would far exceed the sum of the two meridians. Nangong Lihen, using this as a foundation, had already reached near the pinnacle of martial arts, with few in the world capable of challenging him. Although Mo Tianhen had only just begun to grasp the basics and was only beginning to understand Yin and Yang, with the aid of this technique, his inner energy had already surpassed that of those with similar foundations. Coupled with the support of his Mo Wu Yi techniques, even if his opponent was slightly stronger, they could still hold their own.
Just as the two were marveling at this, they saw Mo Tianhen's aura swirling around him, his swordplay changing from its wild and unrestrained state to a focused, sword-pointing gesture in his left hand, his right hand holding the ink sword high. His aura suddenly shifted, becoming unparalleled in its weight and unwavering!
Wei Feng, seeing this, widened his eyes in surprise, exclaiming, "Like a Mountain!"
Qin Youshu was also greatly astonished: "The Righteous Tiger's Gall Sword!"
The mace was like a steel dragon, heavy and imposing, but how could any weight or steel compare to an immovable mountain? Mo Tianhen, drawing upon the Eight Dances Sword Intent and borrowing from the Tiger Gallbladder Sword, formally applied the sword intent, revitalizing the old while innovating, allowing it to shine once more!
Chen Tiexin, unaware of Mo Tianhen's specific move, sensed the sword's righteous and unparalleled power, and dared not be careless. He hastily wielded his double maces, their movements swift as the wind. The steel maces, bathed in the golden light of the hall, shimmered with scale-like gold and silver brilliance, their power profound and powerful, resembling two dragons soaring through the clouds, hurtling towards the youth before him! A
majestic mountain clashing with two dragons, an iron sword against a steel mace—the heaviest and most powerful force versus the hardest and most unyielding attack, a clash of extremes! Instantly, sound waves rippled outwards, the sound as resonant as a bell, the floor of the hall trembled, and metal and stone flew!
At the same time, the two weapons collided, sparks flying in the air, and fragments of iron scattered like shattered dragon scales, creating a dazzling display of gold and silver!
After the clang of metal on metal, the two men remained standing. The younger one gripped his sword tightly, panting heavily, while the older one was utterly shocked, for the twin dragons in his hands were shattered!
"Impossible!" Wei Feng and Qin Youshu exclaimed simultaneously, "How could the Tiger Gallant Sword possess such power and might!"
"Good! Good sword!" On the dragon throne, Jin Chengfeng shouted with satisfaction, "Chen Jinhu, come back!"
Chen Tiexin was clearly still in shock. Hearing his call, he finally came to his senses, carefully examined Mo Tianhen, and, holding the two shattered steel maces, clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "Excellent skill, Chen Tiexin is convinced!"
Mo Tianhen knew Chen Tiexin had conceded defeat, and returned the salute, wiping the sweat from his brow, and loudly asked Jin Chengfeng, "First question, where is my mother?"
Jin Chengfeng laughed, "That's the main event. I don't want to tell you right away. If you can defeat me..." , ask this question again. "
Mo Tianhen didn't expect him to reply like this, and said angrily: "Old man! Do you want to break your promise? "
Jin Chengfeng said disdainfully: "I have been in the shopping mall for thirty years and have no integrity. How can I get a foothold? It says it will answer you, and it will. For this first question, you might as well change it.
Mo Tianhen was confused: "Why should I trust you?" If you keep saying, 'I don't want to answer this question,' can't you just put it all aside?
Jin Chengfeng laughed and said, "Even if I stop them all, what can you do?" Ask quickly, I’m still waiting to see the second show!
"You!" " Mo Tianhen was speechless for a moment. He was in jail and had no choice but to be manipulated. So he thought for a moment, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, tell me, why did you instigate people to arrest my mother? "
His question had two main points. Literally, he wanted to ask why Jin Chengfeng abducted his mother. Secondly, he wanted to confirm whether Jin Chengfeng was the instigator of the tragedy of the Mo family's annihilation!
Unexpectedly, Jin Chengfeng wasn't fooled, casually saying, "Capture her? Of course, it's to play with her! You've finished asking, haven't you? Xiao Wei, you two go!"
Mo Tianhen hadn't gotten the answer he needed. Instead, he learned that his mother had suffered a similar horrific experience to Meng Ying and Zi Xun in the Happy Forest. Provoked by Jin Chengfeng's arrogant and flippant words, Mo Tianhen's rage surged. With a mournful roar, his righteous energy soared to the heavens, transforming into a sky full of chilling, blood-red mist, attacking Jin Chengfeng without restraint. It was the Tiger Gallbladder Sword's strongest attack—Blood Soaring to the Heavens!
Jin Chengfeng sat firmly on his dragon throne, watching the enraged youth's decisive move with a smile, seemingly completely unconcerned. Seeing him neither dodge nor evade, Mo Tianhen grew even more furious, unleashing another three-tenths of his power, intending to kill his enemy in one fell swoop!
However, halfway through the attack, he suddenly saw Confucian characters flash, the ink characters forming a curtain, blocking Jin Chengfeng's path! The Blood Rage Ink Sword touched it, and its force was dissipated by seventy percent!
Then, the judge lightly touched the tip of his iron pen, meeting the sharp edge of the ink sword. The force rebounded, and Mo Tianhen's arm trembled violently, rendering him powerless. He had no choice but to withdraw his sword and retreat.
After taking only two steps back, Mo Tianhen felt a wall blocking his way behind him. Turning around, he saw the same Confucian script ink screen as before! Before he could even be surprised, a graceful figure rode a sword through the flowing Confucian script, aiming straight for his vital point between his eyebrows!
Mo Tianhen twisted his waist and dodged, only to see Wei Feng, the Iron Pen Judge, drawing a move with his pen before Jin Chengfeng, while Qin Youshu, the Book of Life and Death, opened the scroll and solidified his power, forcefully blocking the attack!
"The second round, the Golden Jade Scroll Couple, please teach me your skills, young hero!"
Jin Chengfeng said without changing his expression, still proudly, "Wei Jinwei, Qin Jinwei, speaking of which, you were once fellow disciples."
Wei Feng knew that he was reminding him not to be soft-hearted because of their past status, but remained silent.
Mo Tianhen retorted, "If you truly are members of the Confucian school, why are you helping this old scoundrel harm my Mo family!"
Qin Youshu brandished his longsword, saying, "Don't make false accusations! What does the Mo family's business have to do with my wife and me? Besides, we are no longer members of the Confucian school; it's none of your business to interfere!"
Seeing that further discussion was pointless, Mo Tianhen could only raise his sword and ask, "In the second round, will the two of you attack together?"
Wei Feng calmly replied, "Indeed." Immediately, his iron pen spun rapidly, his inner energy surged, and his killing move was unleashed! Qin Youshu followed suit with his iron sword, striking in unison—the ultimate Confucian technique: Words Rise from Dry Bamboo, Life and Death in Order!
Seeing the familiar move being used to protect a treacherous merchant, Mo Tianhen was filled with indignation and also adopted a righteous military stance, "Immediate Execution" to meet the attack head-on! In an instant, the literary and martial arts clashed, swords and pens flew past, and in the brief exchange, Mo Tianhen was struck in the chest and forearm, blood seeping out!
Jin Yujuan and his companions used a single move to establish their power, but it was not enough to sustain them. Wei Feng advised, "You have no great principles to uphold; it's just a momentary act of fighting and ruthlessness. Why risk your life?" After all, he was a Confucian scholar, and even though he was no longer in the sect, he was unwilling to cruelly kill his fellow disciples. He wanted to first persuade Mo Tianhen with his "loyalty and integrity" that there was no need to risk his life here, and not to waste his life on fighting.
Mo Tianhen retorted firmly, "The hatred of annihilating my family and the pain of losing my loved ones cannot be easily forgiven. You aided and abetted the wicked, encouraging evil and suppressing good. How can you claim to be without moral integrity?"
Qin Youshu saw through her husband's thoughts and also advised, "Since you have no evidence, why insist on fighting and invite trouble upon yourself?"
Mo Tianhen raised his head and said, "The evidence is that I found my mother here! The evidence is that he admitted to kidnapping my mother! As the guards of this place, you only protect and obey your master's evil deeds. What right do you have to talk to me about life and death and integrity!"
Wei Feng, as the leader of the Four Guardians of Juejin, naturally knew about the shady business in the manor and knew that Jin Chengfeng often bought and sold women for debauchery and pleasure.
But as a subordinate, he was bound by his superior's generosity and had no choice but to turn a blind eye. Hearing Mo Tianhen's furious roar, he knew that his superior must have committed an outrageous act, attracting the wrath of the enemy. He was filled with inner turmoil, wondering if his "Judgment of the Past and Present" sword could truly deliver justice and punish evil.
Just as he hesitated, Mo Tianhen unleashed another sword strike, the "Mo Kuang Ba Wu" – Sword Howl Across Ten Thousand Miles of Clouds!
The sword intent filled the sky, carrying swirling clouds, both real and illusory, indistinguishable from reality! Qin Youshu stepped forward to block the attack, his "Qi Kuo Dan Shu" scroll opening brilliantly, each word a gem, displaying the ultimate Confucian technique – "Golden Book Like Jade"!
The Mohist school's thousand-year-old secret technique, combined with a famous Confucian move, was revealed. A hundred characters blocked the sword, clouds parted, mist dissipated, and the sword's roar echoed for miles. Half of the move dissipated, but half remained, seemingly real yet illusory, soaring beyond the golden scriptures and jade rules, attacking Qin Youshu!
His beloved wife was in danger, and he couldn't think straight. But Wei Feng intervened just in time, his ancient and modern satirical style flashing like lightning. His move, "Flying Brushstrokes," shattered the illusion and revealed the truth, swiftly striking the ink-wash martial arts annals!
Mo Tianhen hadn't expected Wei Feng to appear out of nowhere; his old moves were hard to adapt to, and his ink sword was instantly deflected by a single stroke!
Seeing her husband regain his senses, Qin Youshu quickly said, "Husband, don't think too much. I can't defeat this child alone!"
Wei Feng nodded and said, "I know. I'm sorry for what happened earlier, Xiaoshu."
Qin Youshu shook her head and said, "Why should we apologize to each other? Let's focus on the enemy!" With that, she took the lead in attacking. The Yan Xie Iron Sword danced with flowing light, exuding a faint fragrance. With her graceful figure, she was like a fairy in a painting. It was the move "Ink Fragrance."
Wei Feng was worried about his beloved wife, so he had to put aside his hesitation for the time being. He used the ancient and modern techniques to unleash dots of vermilion, and all the mistakes and errors were wiped out with a stroke of the pen. It was the powerful move of the Confucian school - Danqian Zheng Yi Li!
The two attacked together again. Mo Tianhen dared not be careless. He activated the Heavenly Enlightenment Meridian Opening, Yin and Yang in harmony. He used the Tiger Gallant Sword - Breaking a Thousand Armies on his right and the Mo Kuang Eight Dances - Sword Controlling a Thousand Autumns Wind on his left, shaking the two Confucian scholars!
The three men made four moves: one Mozi and three Confucian scholars. Qin Youshu moved with the agility of a dancer, his iron sword accompanied by the fragrance of ink, yet a hidden killing intent lurked within. The Iron Pen Scholar stood calmly, his red ink, like blood, punctuating the ancient and satirical works.
However! The wind swept through the hall, the swords seemed to dance through the ages, and the Mozi's heart, bold as a tiger, and righteous energy broke through the enemy lines! Wei Feng and Qin Youshu's combined attack, against the Mozi and Confucian scholars' dual styles, was a draw—the fragrance lingered, the swords were deflected, and the red ink was difficult to approach.
Seeing that even their combined efforts couldn't overcome this enraged youth, the Golden Jade Couple exchanged a glance, their tacit understanding spontaneously changing their moves! Qin Youshu slashed with his iron sword, then unleashed the Qi Kuo Red Book, its pages unfurling in an instant. Wei Feng
, with a flourish of his red brush, wrote of the past and present in a single stroke—the new move, "Poetry and Books Beyond Classics!" The Golden Jade Couple, combining their three moves, finally overwhelmed the Mozi's righteous energy. Mo Tianhen, unable to withstand the opponent's power, trembled violently and was forced to retreat, blood dripping from his mouth!
Seeing Mo Tianhen injured, Wei Feng felt a pang of pity and quickly said, "Don't push yourself any further!"
Qin Youshu also felt a pang of heartache and said, "Child! Stop fighting!" She was over forty years old but had no children, her family life was incomplete, and she naturally felt pity for children and teenagers.
Jin Chengfeng, seeing the two of them constantly trying to break up the fight, said unhappily, "Gentlemen, you're fighting properly, don't make a scene like this. This kid asked for a beating, so why don't you just grant his wish?"
Mo Tianhen fiercely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, raised his head and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but because of the misfortune of my family, and because of my mother's whereabouts, Tianhen... has no choice but to fight, I cannot not fight! If you two are truly worried about Tianhen, please take the initiative to admit defeat."
Seeing his firm gaze, Wei Feng sighed softly and helplessly waved his pen, saying, "My wife and I are eating the food of others, how can we do something untrustworthy? Enough! Let's make our move!" After speaking, Pan Gu Feng Jin suddenly raised his pen high, unleashing a fierce and powerful strike, heavy with force, diagonally slashing towards Mo Tianhen! At the same time, Qin Youshu unleashed his sword, the character
"Ru" filling the air, and launched another combined attack! His iron pen, like an axe, rectified wrongs; his sword, sharp as a carving of classical texts, struck with the power of wood. Their moves were none other than the renowned Confucian techniques, "Pen and Axe Rectify the Green Jade" and "Pear and Date Talk of Spring and Autumn"!
Mo Tianhen also unleashed his full power, displaying his ultimate edge! The young man was surrounded by a pillar of light, his courage soaring to the heavens. It was the combined attack of Mo Kuang Ba Wu and the ultimate form of the Tiger Gallant Sword, the Confucian's strongest defensive technique, "Defend the Mountains and Rivers," and the Mohist's millennia-old punishment technique, "Sword Punishes a Hundred Generations of Sins," their righteous intent powerful and their spirit awe-inspiring!
Without a word, in the blink of an eye, the three's ultimate attacks clashed again, creating an explosive explosion. Sword energy scattered, and the golden bricks on the ground cracked and trembled! The aftershocks caused the pillars of the main hall to crumble, and ashes from the beams fell in a flurry!
Jin Chengfeng waved his hand to block the aftershocks of the three's clash, completely unconcerned about the damage to the hall. Instead, he exclaimed excitedly, "Not bad! Not bad! This is going to be a good show! Kid, you're making this old man more and more interested!"
However, the three below the stage shared his enthusiasm. In the previous exchange of blows, all three had been injured. Wei Feng and Qin Youshu immediately vomited blood and their bodies trembled violently! Although Mo Tianhen had the protection of "Wei Shanhe," he was still no match for the full force of the two Confucian masters. He was blasted back to the corner, his internal energy churning and blood spurting from his mouth!
Having suffered repeated defeats, Mo Tianhen knew he was at a significant disadvantage. But for his tragically deceased father, for his suffering mother, and for the more than twenty innocent souls who had died unjustly in his family, his persistence was not only for revenge, but also to seek justice and fairness!
The more severe his injuries, the more fervent Mo Tianhen's eyes became, yet his mind grew ever clearer: "Using that move here would mean losing my backup plan against Jin Chengfeng, but..." After a slight hesitation, Mo Tianhen's eyes hardened, his resolve hardening. He pointed Mo Wu Chunqiu to the sky and roared, "Again!"
Although Wei Feng and his wife had the upper hand, their astonishment grew. The young man before them, in terms of both willpower and internal strength, far exceeded their expectations. And the move Mo Tianhen was currently preparing even instilled a sense of fear in them!
Qin Youshu hurriedly called out, "Husband!" Their eyes met for a moment, and Wei Feng, understanding his wife's thoughts, sighed deeply, gathering his energy. Pan Gu Feng Jin emitted a pale blue light, and he said regretfully to Mo Tianhen, "This move will end this battle!" Qin Youshu immediately brandished her sword, gracefully stepping forward, also unleashing her ultimate move!
Mo Tianhen, however, closed his eyes, silently reciting the incantation, his mind focused, for the next move would be the key to victory! Suddenly, a clear and melodious zither sound rose from the dilapidated hall, like an echo in an empty valley, elegant and refined. Above Mo Tianhen's head, a zither imbued with sword intent reappeared! Upon seeing
this, Jin Yujuan and his companion exchanged glances and exclaimed in unison, "The Three Perfections of the Sound of Silence!"
Jin Chengfeng smiled slightly upon seeing this move, muttering to himself, "Using internal energy to manifest form, playing the Great Sound of Silence? I've seen this move before. Although your skill surpasses your mother's, you are still no match for those two!"
Wei Feng instructed Qin Youshu, "The Three Perfections of the Sound of Silence requires immense internal energy. With his current cultivation, he can only unleash the first move."
Qin Youshu nodded, "That is, 'The Great Sound of Silence'! I understand!" Having discerned the move, Jin Yujuan and his companion instantly devised a countermeasure. Wei Feng's brush moved like dragons and snakes, and a pair of bamboo slips appeared before him, inscribed with Confucian classics!
Qin Youshu brandished his sword and danced, channeling all his energy into Wei Feng, combining the power of their two moves into one, a supreme and exquisite display of sound!
The zither music began, Confucian texts appeared, and the battle between the three transformed into a final showdown between Daoists and Confucians!
Wei Feng roared, brandishing his iron pen, drawing upon the true energy from his beloved wife. The square green bamboo slip, filled with their combined true energy, floated into the air, carrying the weight of the text, and rained down upon the zither-playing youth!
Jin Chengfeng, seeing this, smiled broadly, thinking to himself, "They're really going all out! Using Qin Jinhu's 'Adding Fragrance to the Red Sleeves and Discussing Confucius and Mencius' as a supplement, they're unleashing Wei Feng's ultimate combined killing move, 'The Square Green Bamboo Slip Confers to the Heavens'!"
Facing the supreme attack unleashed by the Confucian couple, Mo Tianhen neither dodged nor evaded, focusing his energy, channeling his sword intent into the strings. In an instant, clear sounds resonated throughout the hall, dispelling all dust and smoke. The supreme teachings of the Xiyin Daoist sect displayed an unprecedented power!
With a mind free of dust and impurities, and a tranquil mind amidst chaos, the true strings are without melody, returning to the ultimate elegance! Upon opening his eyes, Mo Tianhen's entire aura shifted dramatically. The Daoist sounds throughout the hall returned to their ethereal state, accumulating strength to become powerful—it
was the second move of the Three Absolute Sounds—Great Elegance Without Melody!
"Hmm? A completely different approach!" On the dragon throne in the golden hall, Jin Chengfeng stood up in astonishment, staring incredulously at the young boy playing the zither. Even more astonished were the Jin Yujuan couple, who were currently sparring with him!
Qin Youshu was the first to notice the melody differed from their predictions. Listening intently, her beautiful eyes widened. Before she could even cry out, her body reacted first, her feet pushing off the ground as she raced after her husband!
Wei Fengzhao focused intently, fully unleashing the "Square Inch Green Slip to Heaven," but sensing Mo Tianhen's different move, his killing strike was already like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to be unleashed!
"This is bad! This move is actually... 'Great Elegance Without Music'! Alas..." His mind raced, and memories of the past flashed before Wei Feng's eyes: arguments, betrayals; unwavering faith, companionship—life's many scenes, vividly
before him. The next moment, the small green bamboo slip, without reservation, crashed down like a colossal seal, towards the awe-inspiring yet admirable young Mohist! "Little Shu... I'm sorry... I can't accompany you... on your journey through life..." In that instant of regret, a torrent of elegant Daoist music descended, symbolizing the Confucian scholar's life was beyond saving!
The small green bamboo slip fell from the sky, the elegant Daoist music resounding throughout the heavens!
In the clash of these ultimate moves, the golden palace shattered, brick walls collapsed, and the surrounding buildings shook violently, dust and tiles flying everywhere!
Jin Chengfeng, for the first time, showed a solemn expression, letting the flying sand and gravel hit his protective aura. He stood with his hands behind his back, carefully observing the situation. His gray eyebrows twitched, revealing a look of astonishment!
After the ultimate move, Mo Tianhen knelt on one knee, leaning on his sword, panting heavily. His clothes were torn and his flesh was ripped, blood was everywhere, and crimson blood flowed from his mouth!
But Wei Feng was—completely unharmed!
"Why...why?" Pushing aside the arms wrapped around his chest, Tie Bisheng suddenly burst into tears, his face full of disbelief. He turned around stiffly and gently embraced the increasingly cold body covering his back, choking back tears, "Little Shu...why?"
It turned out that although the Confucian technique "Square Inch Green Slip to Heaven" could block the Daoist's Absolute Sound with a green slip in front, it left the back wide open. If he tried to defend with his strength, he would not only fail to injure the enemy, but also have no chance of blocking. Therefore, Wei Feng had long since disregarded life and death and used all his strength to exchange his life for another.
Unexpectedly, Qin Youshu noticed the change in Mo Tianhen's moves and, before she could even shout, rushed to his back. She arrived just as "Da Ya Wu Qu" unleashed his full power, too late to defend herself. Without hesitation, Qin Youshu covered her husband's back from behind, using her womanly body to create a protective barrier for him!
"Xiao Shu... Xiao Shu..." Tears streamed down her face as she softly called out, unable to bring back the life that was slipping away. Wei Feng was filled with remorse and self-reproach, yet utterly helpless.
At that moment, she saw those slender, delicate hands, once capable of painting and wielding swords, gently cup his trembling hands in their palms and place them upon her heart!
Qin Youshu looked at her husband, heartbroken and filled with remorse, unable to control himself. She had only seen that expression on his face the day he betrayed the Confucian school. It turned out that what she and he had respected throughout their lives was no different.
“Little Shu…you…” Wei Feng, a highly skilled martial artist, knew that the attack his beloved wife had just suffered had destroyed all her meridians. Even a Great Immortal could not save her. For a moment, he couldn't find a single word from the poetry and books he had read to offer any words of comfort.
But then he saw a satisfied smile appear on Qin Youshu's pale face as she weakly whispered, “In life and death, we are bound together; hand in hand, we grow old together…My husband, though I cannot grow old with you, at least I will be by your side for life. This body for your life is…worth it…” Her soft voice trailed off, the book fell, her soul departed, life and death are recorded, but love…is not recorded!
Appendix
Character Strength in this Chapter
Wei Feng 75
Qin Youshu
72 Chen Tiexin 73 Jin
Chengfeng 80 8
Mo Tianhen (During the Money War) 63 20 (Sword Intent Bonus, less effective for those with higher martial arts skills)
Final Chapter: The Other Shore's Melody - 5
Mo Tianhen stared blankly at the couple facing a life-or-death separation. Things had indeed not turned out this way.
Since their first encounter, he had known that Wei Feng and his wife were different from Yang Xianyuan and the likes of Kuaihuolin; they were not wicked. Therefore, from the beginning of the battle, he had never intended to take their lives.
He had never imagined that his path of saving his mother and seeking revenge would be stained with pointless bloodshed. Even though Qin Youshu had previously threatened him with his mother, seeing her protect her husband with her life, her deep and unwavering love until death, made it impossible for him to hate this woman and take her life himself. Instead, he felt a pang of self-reproach and guilt.
At this moment, Wei Feng slowly rose and turned to Mo Tianhen.
Mo Tianhen assumed Wei Feng wanted to avenge his beloved wife, so he quickly took a step back, sword in hand, but saw Wei Feng's face filled with resentment and sorrow as he bowed deeply, his voice trembling as he said, "The Jin Yu Juan couple concede defeat."
This statement shocked everyone else in the hall. Jin Chengfeng angrily exclaimed, "Wei Jin Hu! This brat killed your wife! If you don't avenge her, are you even a man?!"
Wei Feng's expression remained sorrowful as he turned and bowed to Jin Chengfeng again, slowly saying, "Master, Wei Feng had no enmity with him; this was an unjust calamity. Originally, it should have been me who died, not Xiao..."
Mentioning his deceased wife, his throat tightened again before he continued, "Xiao Shu died because of me; the responsibility lies with me. The Jin Yu Juan couple has lost one member; this battle was destined to end in defeat, and the reason for the defeat is that my skills were inferior. Wei Feng is completely convinced."
"You..." Jin Chengfeng was so angry that his stubble stood on end, unable to speak.
Mo Tianhen was also moved and couldn't help but call out, "Senior... I..." Wei Feng didn't look at him, but waved his hand to signal him not to say more. Then, he said to Jin Chengfeng neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Master, after Wei Feng betrayed the Confucian School, he was despised by the world. At that time, all he had was Xiao Shu. It was Master who disregarded my background and gave Xiao Shu and me shelter. This act of kindness in our time of need has always been remembered by Wei Feng."
Jin Chengfeng snorted coldly, "Then why don't you go and fight?"
Wei Feng continued, "Master, I am fully aware of what you have done over the years, but I have never questioned you because of your kindness. However, what you have done is not a good thing. I have condoned evil and wickedness. If I go to the underworld, I will have no face to face Xiao Shu and the ancestors of the Confucian School."
Jin Chengfeng frowned and said, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Wei Feng bowed and said, "Wei Feng's failure in upholding the law is a lifelong regret. My beloved wife's life is enough to repay the kindness of Master who took me in!
" Cheng Feng flew into a rage, slamming his fist on the chair as he rose to his feet: "You ungrateful wretch! Are you trying to betray me? I should have known you were born rebellious; betrayal is commonplace for you! I shouldn't have taken you in back then!"
Wei Feng, however, remained calm, saying, "Master, those who commit many injustices will eventually face justice. This young man will not be the first. You have been kind to my wife and me, and I, Wei Feng, truly do not wish to see you stray further down this path. Let's stop here."
Jin Cheng Feng burst into wild laughter, his aura causing the dilapidated hall to rumble. He said, "Justice? How many such things have I done over the years? Where is justice? With power, who would fear that empty 'justice'?"
Wei Feng sighed softly, then bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Wei Feng has said all I have to say, Master, please." With that, he knelt down, tenderly stroking his beloved wife's pale face, then lifted her gradually cooling body in his arms and walked out of the hall without looking back.
Jin Chengfeng roared, "You bastard! You son of a bitch..." Before he could finish his curse, two people emerged from behind the screen in the main hall. They were Jin Chengqian and Chen Tiexin, who had just dodged the clash of extreme moves.
After hearing Wei Feng's conversation with his father, Jin Chengqian hurriedly ran out and called out, "Master! Please wait!"
Jin Chengfeng had countless women in his life, but only had this one son. Because his martial arts skills came from the Eight Elements of Divine Metal, which could only be practiced when he was wearing the armor, he could not pass them on during his lifetime. He had to let the guards in the manor teach Jin Chengqian martial arts. Wei Feng was his first master. However, Jin Chengqian was playful by nature and had no worries about food and clothing, so he was not diligent in practicing martial arts. Although he had learned the strengths of various schools and had a deep inner strength, his martial arts moves were complicated and difficult to master.
Wei Feng stopped and asked, "Is there anything else you need, Young Master?"
Jin Chengqian rushed forward, and upon seeing Qin Youshu's body, the thirty-year-old man burst into tears, crying, "Master, Master's wife is gone just like that, how come you didn't react at all?"
Wei Feng knew that although he had been spoiled and arrogant since childhood, he still respected his teachers under his tutelage. However, being in a den of evil and influenced by his father, he could not distinguish between good and evil. So he said, "This matter was my fault, and I have no one to blame but myself. Heaven took away Xiao Shu, leaving me to live a lonely life, which is a punishment more fitting than death. Young Master, you will need to refer to the Confucian classics I taught you from time to time. I can no longer teach you those principles, but you must learn them."
Hearing Wei Feng scolding his son, Jin Chengfeng said irritably, "Qian'er, you damn well come back here! What's the point of talking to this traitor?"
Then he added, "Wei Feng! Don't be so smug. Just leave. I'll deal with this brat first, and then I'll settle accounts with you!"
Wei Feng said calmly, "Wei Feng's orders are at your disposal, Master." After saying that, he carried Qin Youshu's body, walked past the bewildered Jin Chengqian, and headed out of the hall.
Although Mo Tianhen was conflicted, he knew this was not the time for sentimentality, and said, "Old fool, I won the second round!"
Jin Chengfeng glanced coldly at Mo Tianhen, reluctantly saying, "Ask whatever you want!"
Mo Tianhen had no idea that the old man was just being sarcastic. He thought to himself, "Let him go? Did he say something wrong? Never mind him! Ask my questions first! If I ask about my mother's whereabouts, he'll definitely find an excuse to brush me off. What should I ask..."
After thinking for a while, he said, "Who exactly is this Huyan Nixin you mentioned? What is your relationship with him?"
Jin Chengfeng laughed and said, "Ha? You don't know who he is? Haha, interesting. Well, let me tell you, that Huyan Nixin is my business partner, who is..." He paused here, then said with a sinister smile, "The one who killed your whole family!" Upon hearing
this, Mo Tianhen felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot, and he was filled with rage! "You old bastard! My Mo family has no grudge against you! Why did you do such a cruel thing!"
Facing the youth's overwhelming rage in the hall, Jin Chengfeng, who had committed such a heinous act, remained unmoved, saying easily, "That should be the next question, right? Ha, fine, since your expression makes this old man quite happy, I'll give you a bonus. Why did I kill your whole family? Because I wanted to fuck your mother! Hahaha!"
Looking at his mortal enemy, who was laughing wildly on the dragon throne, Mo Tianhen felt as if he were bathed in magma. All his thoughts turned into a single blood-red word—Kill!
His angry eyes turned cold, his Yin and Yang surging violently. In his extreme rage, Mo Tianhen unleashed "Blood Soaring to the Sky"! But Jin Chengfeng stood firmly in place, shouting, "Come on!" He neither dodged nor evaded, neither parried nor blocked, completely opening his defenses to take the Confucian killing move head-on! Upon
seeing this, Mo Tianhen's hatred and anger intensified. He channeled his Yin and Yang to their extreme, sending his Mo sword straight forward without hesitation! A surge of crimson energy converged at the edge of the Spring and Autumn Sword, rushing towards Jin Chengfeng's chest. However, the crimson sword energy halted half an inch in front of Jin Chengfeng, unable to advance further!
"This is…" Seeing this, Mo Tianhen suddenly recalled the time when Nangong Lihen fought the masked man, when he also possessed this invisible protective aura. He exclaimed in surprise, "A protective aura!"
"You have some knowledge!" With a cold laugh, Jin Chengfeng gathered his energy and unleashed a powerful palm strike! Mo Tianhen felt the force of the palm wind pressing down on his face. He quickly gathered his energy and threw a punch, using a "strike formation" to counter. The moment their fists and palms clashed, Mo Tianhen let out a muffled groan, blood spilling from his mouth, and was sent flying backward!
In that single exchange, the difference in their fundamental strengths was immediately apparent! Mo Tianhen was shocked by the old man's strength, but he was not discouraged. He activated Yin Yang Revelation again, raised his sword high, focused his energy, and his whole body exuded a sharp and intimidating aura. This was Mo Kuang Ba Wu's invincible move - Sword Breaking the Sky Gate!
Mo Kuang's sword intent was like a black dragon swallowing the sky. Mo Tianhen raised his sword and leaped forward, carrying overwhelming anger and hatred!
But Jin Chengfeng raised an eyebrow, split his feet, and stood firmly in a bow stance. He crossed his arms to protect himself, and then Mo Wu's sword arrived, the wind surging, breaking through his protective aura in one fell swoop!
However, Jin Chengfeng was not alarmed. He raised his arms steadily, his eight elements resonating, blocking the sharp edge!
Mo Wu Chun Qiu's world-shaking sword met with an unusual resistance before his wrist guards and could not advance an inch!
"This..." Mo Tianhen was astonished. Since he comprehended the sword intent, "Sword Breaking the Sky Gate" had repeatedly achieved great success. Even when facing the Lord of the Desire Realm, he had the ability to injure his enemy. Yet now, he had failed miserably in front of this old scoundrel covered in jewels!
"Not bad!" Just as Mo Tianhen was shocked, Jin Chengfeng raised his foot high and kicked him in the face! The kick was incredibly fast, and it even contained a hint of lightness skill. Mo Tianhen could not react in time and had no way to avoid it. He was hit head-on and fell back into the hall. His back was immediately pierced and cut by the rubble on the ground, and he was in unbearable pain!
"Ha, you must really want to kill me right now, right?" Jin Chengfeng sneered. "I hired someone to kill your whole family, fucked your mother for a month, and now I'm using you as a tool to stretch my muscles. If you're a man, get up and show me some real skills! Like playing that tune from earlier to make me happy?"
Mo Tianhen's cheeks were swollen, and his back was throbbing with pain. He struggled to his feet, his eyes still burning like fire, and he said fiercely, "Dream on!" Then, he flipped his sword, which instantly turned crimson like flames! His burning rage was unleashed in one move—Sword Sweeping the Sky with Flames!
"You old bastard! I'll burn your shell!" The sword was as red as ink, radiating a dazzling light. The temperature in the hall rose sharply, and everything in sight turned crimson!
Fueled by boundless hatred and rage, Mo Kuang's sword intent had reached an unprecedented level! Mo Tianhen unleashed his attack without reservation, determined to use this vengeful fire to burn this wicked merchant to ashes!
"Ha! Interesting!" Jin Chengfeng waved his hand, revealing his stance—the move inscribed by the Eight Elements of Divine Gold—Silver Gaze at Jin Chengfeng!
The name was elegant, but the move was domineering! With Jin Chengfeng's first strike, the silver and golden light in the hall intensified, intertwining with the blazing sword light of Mo Tianhen, creating a fierce contest!
The next moment, Jin Chengfeng unleashed a palm strike, its powerful force piercing the air, a whirlwind swirling around it! Before Mo Tianhen could even get close, he was injured again, flying backward and crashing into a stone pillar in the hall. The force was so great that it snapped the pillar in half!
Struck by another powerful attack, Mo Tianhen coughed up a mouthful of blood mist, staining the ground before him crimson!
Jin Chengfeng, basking in the pleasure of crushing the weak, continued his mockery: "What? You think you can kill your father with such meager strength?"
Mo Tianhen was startled and roared, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Jin Chengfeng laughed, "I've been fucking your mother for so long, shouldn't you call me 'Dad'?"
With a loud shout, Mo Tianhen struggled to his feet again. This man had not only committed countless evils, causing his family's ruin for his own selfish desires, but now, facing a seeker of revenge, he showed no remorse whatsoever, instead hurling insults and mockery. His wickedness deserved a hundred deaths!
"You old bastard! I will grind you to dust!" Enraged and filled with hatred, Mo Tianhen disregarded everything, channeling all his true energy and unleashing his righteous and righteous aura of punishment!
"I don't understand why someone like you has had such a smooth life for thirty years. I also don't understand why someone like you has committed evil deeds for so long without anyone standing up for justice. But I do understand—you don't deserve to live in this world!"
"You don't understand, but I do!" Jin Chengfeng confidently pointed to the sky and said, "Because Heaven is favoring me! The imperial court and the three religions dare not fight against me. Why? Because they understand that fighting against me is fighting against Heaven!"
"Bullshit!" Mo Tianhen pointed his sword and angrily rebuked, "You are no longer worthy of being human, much less worthy of calling yourself Heaven!"
"Here, I am Heaven!" As soon as Jin Chengfeng finished speaking, his new move was already in hand. The Divine Gold Technique shone brightly!
The ten rings on his fingers gleamed, each blooming with its own brilliance. Then, ten colorful beams of light shot into the air, pointing directly at Mo Tianhen! Golden splendor filled the hall with spring!
The Eight Elements of Divine Metal each possess profound mysteries. Jin Chengfeng's Ten Commandments, named "Golden Jade Fingers," can increase the lethality and power of punches and palms in close combat. The accompanying martial art allows him to unleash his inner energy in mid-air, displaying a dazzling array of colors—this is the move "Golden Jade Splendor Fills the Hall with Spring!"
Mo Tianhen, having previously fought fiercely against Chen Tiexin and Jin Yujuan, unleashed a series of powerful moves, even exceeding his limits with "Great Elegance Without Melody," severely depleting his true energy. Even with the Yin-Yang Revelation constantly replenishing it, he now had little left. Knowing that a prolonged battle would inevitably lead to defeat, he fully activated the Yin-Yang Revelation, urging on the Mo Kuang Sword Intent, attempting to entrust the outcome of the battle to this move with his absolute power!
The ultimate form of Mo Kuang's Eight Dances—Sword Punishment for a Hundred Lifetimes of Sins!
Powerful moves against powerful moves, both felt the pressure, but their states of mind differed. Jin Chengfeng showed surprise for the first time, his movements momentarily halted!
Having faced formidable enemies along the way, Mo Tianhen, though under even greater pressure than before, remained fearless, his Punishment Technique unstoppable!
In a moment of surprise, the tip of Mo's sword, imbued with righteous energy, pierced through layers of vibrant energy, reaching Jin Chengfeng directly!
In an instant, the protective aura surrounding Jin Chengfeng was violently shattered by Mo Wu's sword intent, gradually dissipating. The sword's wind pressure broke through layers of defense, sweeping past and even scattering his hair, his gray hair disheveled. Mo Wu's Spring and Autumn Sword, pointing directly at him, pierced through the aura barrier, mercilessly stabbing towards his face!
Sensing his life threatened, Jin Chengfeng shuddered, his "Platinum Boots" stomping powerfully, using his lightness skill to drift backward in a disheveled state!
"This feeling...this feeling..." The moment his feet touched the ground, Jin Chengfeng suddenly recalled more than thirty years ago, before he had attained the Eightfold Divine Power. He was merely a local thug, fond of fighting and bullying, spending his days doing nothing but extortion and speculation, and was often suppressed and beaten by the local bullies.
Once, he tried to extort money from a newly opened shop, but unexpectedly, the shop was guarded by a powerful figure. His extortion attempt failed, and he was brutally beaten instead. Being young and hot-blooded at the time, he insisted on retaliating, which only enraged the other party, who beat him until his skin was torn and bleeding profusely, almost killing him! That was the closest he had ever come to the gates of hell in his life, and he would never forget that feeling!
"You...you've brought back that humiliation for me!"
Thirty years ago, Jin Chengfeng stumbled upon the Eight Elements of Divine Gold in the mountains and mastered the martial arts inscribed on this treasure. His first act was to descend the mountain, find that shop, and, using the treasure's power, brutally torture the man who had injured him to death. He beat the man to a bloody pulp with his bare fists, and, ignoring the shop owner's desperate pleas, raped his wife and daughter in front of him. He then seized the cloth shop, thus taking the first step in his legendary thirty years!
From then on, he became obsessed with the thrill of beating and crushing the weak, and he loved watching people grovel before him!
For the next thirty years, Jin Chengfeng rose through the ranks, his business flourishing. In those thirty years, he built a powerful commercial empire that dominated the region and shook the five realms. He was unrivaled in martial arts and commerce. And now, thirty years later, this young man, whom he had treated as a plaything, manipulated at will, had once again made him experience the humiliation of that year!
The Blood Courage Ink Sky Mark's deadly move was dodged by Jin Chengfeng, leaving him filled with immense regret. This single attack had nearly exhausted all his true energy, and even with the boundless power of Yin-Yang Revelation and its rapid energy recovery, it would still take several hours to replenish it. The current situation was extremely disadvantageous for him.
However, upon hearing Jin Chengfeng's words, he stubbornly retorted, "Humiliation? Is this considered humiliation? What you did to my mother, what you did to me, what you did to the women of your manor—weren't all of those humiliating? The humiliation you suffered is humiliation, but what you inflicted on others is not!"
"You lowly dogs! You dare to challenge me?" With his life threatened, Jin Chengfeng had long lost his usual confidence and roared angrily, "You lowly dogs! You bastards! Do you even deserve the same treatment as me? I am the chosen one! I am a born nobleman! I was born to rule you! You... you are only fit to be my dogs and slaves, to please me! What right do you have to lecture me like this!"
Hearing his arrogant and disrespectful words, Mo Tianhen's anger intensified, like a volcanic eruption, surging lava. He gritted his teeth and said, word by word, "Jin... Cheng... Feng! You are indeed unworthy of being human!" With that, Mo Tianhen angrily summoned his last remaining Yuan Gong, and the Mo Kuang Jue Shi was unleashed once more. The Mo Wu Chun Qiu was swung repeatedly, and three crescent moon sword intents converged and struck Jin Chengfeng in the distance. He actually used "Sword Moves the Divine Land Moon" three times in a row!
However, his internal energy was weak at this moment, and his sword moves relied entirely on sword intent, so their power was naturally not as strong as when he was at his peak. Jin Chengfeng waved his hand, and the "Mysterious Gold Steel Bracelet" on his single arm blocked all three sword intents. He roared angrily, "You bastard, you were born to be crushed by me! Your mother was just my plaything! Your whole family! Killing them is like killing chickens and dogs! Now you dare to seek revenge on me, and you even dare to raise your sword against me?"
Mo Tianhen was not to be outdone and said, "Based on what you just said, everyone in the world can raise their sword against you!"
"You little bastard! Die!" Jin Chengfeng had never been so furious since he obtained his treasure. Mo Tianhen's indomitable spirit and fierce rebuke almost broke through his proud protective aura, which almost shattered the dignity he had accumulated over the years in one night! With a raised hand, his inner strength burst forth like rain, as if countless gold and silver were covering the sky, all rushing towards Mo Tianhen. This was his signature move—the Heaven and Earth Throw!
Mo Tianhen's true energy was running low, so he could only rely on the small amount of inner energy that Yin Yang Revelation had rapidly restored. Combined with the Eight Dances Sword Intent, his clothes fluttered wildly as he used "Sword Controlling the Thousand Autumn Winds" to block the rain of gold and silver!
The sharp sword blocked the attack, shattering the silver with a clanging sound. After a moment of wind, the onslaught of gold and silver continued unabated. Mo Tianhen could not continue, suffering from the powerful blows. He groaned repeatedly, blood splattering from his lips, and collapsed to his knees!
Seeing Mo Tianhen suffer another defeat and injury, Jin Chengfeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Regaining his usual confidence, he slowly approached the exhausted Mo Tianhen and looked down at him, saying, "You worthless wretch, you dare to challenge me? I'll give you a chance. Kneel down and beg for mercy, and imitate a few dog barks or pig noises, and perhaps I can keep you by my side as a loyal dog."
Unexpectedly, Mo Tianhen suddenly looked up and angrily retorted, "Old dog! Only you deserve to be called worthless as a dog!"
"You!" Jin Chengfeng's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this young man to still refuse to submit even in this state. Enraged, he unleashed a palm strike. Mo Tianhen was powerless to resist and was blasted against the vermilion gate of the main hall, smashing the heavy wooden door to pieces. He crashed all the way outside the hall, coughing up blood incessantly! Fortunately, Jin Chengfeng wanted to humiliate him and make him beg for mercy in pain, so he held back seven-tenths of his strength. Otherwise, the thousand-year-old Mo Clan might have been wiped out!
Jin Chengfeng arrived at the entrance of the main hall and saw that Mo Tianhen was bleeding profusely, yet still struggling to get up. The crushing pleasure he had just regained vanished almost instantly. He couldn't help but step forward and lift Mo
Tianhen up, sword and all, snarling, "Why won't you beg for mercy? Why are you still trying to stand up? Why do you have to provoke me like this!" A mocking smile appeared on Mo Tianhen's lips. He struggled to raise his ink sword and thrust it towards Jin Chengfeng's abdomen!
However, his attack was a desperate effort, devoid of sword intent and internal energy. With only his last bit of strength, how could he possibly break through Jin Chengfeng's "Golden Jade Robe"? A crisp sound rang out, and the ink sword's edge halted, its effort futile! Jin
Chengfeng, enraged, his eyebrows furrowed, his hair and beard standing on end. His entire body surged with energy, and he hurled Mo Tianhen against the wall of the main hall! The force was so great that it smashed through the thick brick wall!
With that throw, Mo Tianhen felt as if his whole body had fallen apart, writhing in excruciating pain. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he let out a miserable howl!
Hearing Mo Tianhen's scream, Jin Chengfeng went even more berserk. He bent his knees and leaped through the hole in the wall, then grabbed Mo Tianhen by the collar and lifted him up, saying, "If you don't beg for mercy, I'll beat you until you cry!"
Mo Tianhen gave a weak, cold laugh, saying, "Who would wag their tail and beg for mercy from a pig like you!" With that, he spat a mouthful of blood-tinged spittle at Jin Chengfeng's face, but it was completely blocked by his protective aura, not touching his skin at all.
"You…" Jin Chengfeng trembled with rage at this act, his face contorted with rage. He raised his hand and hurled Mo Tianhen into the air! The force was so great that he was thrown two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) into the roof, bursting through the beams!
The roof was pierced, and dust and rubble rained down along with rays of sunlight. Jin Chengfeng stood in the hall, panting heavily, staring at the hole. His anger remained unabated, replaced by a sense of humiliation. Since he had achieved fame and success, when had he ever been so openly scorned?
Jin Chengqian walked to his father's side and comforted him, "Dad, he's just a hothead, what does he know? Don't get too worked up."
Jin Chengfeng, still furious, stared at the roof, thinking, "I can't let him fall to his death like this. I'll torture and humiliate him bit by bit, until he's like his mother, too afraid to utter a sound in front of me!"
Just then, a figure descended rapidly from the opening in the roof, coming from behind the sun. It was Mo Tianhen, who held up the Mo Wu Chunqiu sword, using the force of his fall to unleash "Sword Severing the Path of Evil," a violent sword intent fueled by anger and resentment, slashing down with incredible speed and terrifying power!
Jin Chengfeng cried out in alarm, "Not good!" It was too late to lift his feet. He crossed his arms and raised them, using his "Mysterious Gold Steel Bracelet" to block Mo Tianhen's descending attack!
A loud clang rang out as metal clashed. Jin Chengfeng couldn't withstand the immense force; his knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground! The ground beneath their feet sank half a foot under the immense force of the impact, dust billowed, and cracks appeared!
The instant the two clashed, the air currents surged and scattered, instantly blasting Jin Chengqian back!
The surrounding pillars, already teetering from the previous battle, shattered and collapsed under
the force of their combined power. The roof, losing its support, crumbled as well, wooden beams and broken tiles raining down! In the brief exchange, Mo Tianhen's internal organs were already injured by the recoil, but he ignored it, focusing all his strength on slaying evil!
In a flash, "Sword Severing the Path of Evil" tore through Jin Chengfeng's protective aura, and Mo Wu Chunqiu's sword was already inches from his forehead; a mere ounce of force would cleave his head in two!
Seeing this, Jin Chengfeng's eyes widened in terror, his body trembling uncontrollably, and he let out his first scream of horror!
Just then, a loud roar rang out, and a figure slammed into Jin Chengfeng from the side, sending him flying!
Mo Wuchunqiu, now without resistance, struck down like lightning, instantly splattering blood everywhere as the man was cut in two at the waist!
Jin Chengfeng, aided by this unexpected turn of events, narrowly escaped. Still reeling from the shock, he looked back and witnessed a scene that horrified him! The
person who had pushed him aside, only to be cleaved in two by Mo Tianhen, was none other than his son—Jin Chengqian!
Jin Chengqian's remaining half-body lay prostrate before him, crying out, "Father…it hurts…it hurts…" Behind him, his internal organs spilled onto the ground, a gruesome sight of blood staining the earth. He had died on the spot within moments!
"Foolish son...foolish son...if you wanted to save me, you should have pushed him...push him..." Watching his son die so tragically before his eyes, Jin Chengfeng's face was streaked with tears. He had never imagined his life would be in danger, much less that the one who would risk his life to save him at his critical moment would be his son, who, though past thirty, was still lecherous and playful!
Mo Tianhen stared blankly at the corpse he had cleaved in two. It wasn't the first time he had seen such a scene, but the first time he had personally created it.
Although Jin Chengfeng had ordered the massacre of his entire family, he had never thought of retaliating in kind, only seeking justice from the mastermind behind the conspiracy. Unexpectedly, today, first Qin Youshu, then Jin Chengqian—in fighting Jin Chengfeng, he had already taken two unrelated lives!
Just as Mo Tianhen was deeply shocked, Jin Chengfeng burst into laughter, his energy surging, and he said to him in a frenzied manner, "Very good, Huyan Nixin was right, you really are a menace! I killed your whole family, you killed my son, very good, very good, you lowly dog dared to kill my son, very good..."
At this point, Jin Chengfeng's eyes sharpened, and he unleashed a palm strike, roaring, "I don't want your pleas for mercy! I will kill you a thousand times! Ten thousand times! To pay for my son's life!"
This palm strike was completely different from before; Jin Chengfeng was now driven by murderous intent, and he was attacking without holding back. His only goal was to take the life of this "menace" before him and avenge his beloved son!
Mo Tianhen was surprised by Jin Chengfeng's sudden change in attack, and he was also exhausted. He could only hold his sword horizontally to block the attack, but he did not expect that the palm strike to be so powerful that it bent Mo Wuchunqiu and struck him in the chest through the sword!
This attack, though separated by a thick iron sword, still retained sixty percent of its power. Mo Tianhen felt a sharp pain in his chest, his internal energy churning, he lost his balance, coughed up blood, and flew backward!
"This... is this the full power of a first-rate master..." As Mo Tianhen fell to the ground, he felt that both his body and mind had reached their limits, making it impossible for him to fight again. Facing a furious enemy and the hatred of his own blood feud, what should he do?
His mind raced with countless thoughts, but he couldn't find a single way to defeat his enemy. Mo Tianhen endured the pain all over his body, barely managing to get up, his heart filled with resentment and defiance, all concentrated in his eyes!
What he had left was an indomitable fighting spirit and the courage to uphold justice! As long as he lived, these two would live on forever!
Seeing the boy's unyielding and resolute eyes, Jin Chengfeng clenched his fists, furious, and said, "You're determined to die, so I'll give you a hand!"
Mo Tianhen also raised his head and puffed out his chest, proudly replying, "Even if I die, you won't make me submit!"
Jin Chengfeng's face turned crimson, and he roared, "Who the hell wants you to submit! I only want your life!" With that, Jin Chengfeng frantically channeled his inner energy, swinging both fists simultaneously. The energy shot out like a tornado, its power shaking the heavens and the earth. The houses in Jinqian Manor shook violently, collapsing one after another. The servants, bewildered, screamed and fled, as if the end of the world had begun!
Mo Tianhen knew that if he were hit by this attack, there would be no chance of survival, but he refused to retreat a step. He proudly drew his sword to meet the attack, forcibly gathering his last bit of spirit and energy, intending to fight to the death!
Just as the two were about to unleash their ultimate moves, a powerful palm strike came from afar!
Jin Chengfeng felt the pressure of the palm strike was overwhelming. He hurriedly gathered all his energy and turned around to block it with all his might, only to see his energy instantly dissipate like a violent storm!
Jin Chengfeng staggered back several steps, falling sideways onto the steps of the main hall, a mouthful of blood spraying like mist across the sky!
"Who is it!?" His ultimate move was so easily neutralized; Jin Chengfeng roared in shock.
From the source of the palm strike, a radiant light flowed, holy energy soared to the heavens, and a peerless figure descended from the sky, riding on colorful lotuses and auspicious clouds!
A solemn poem accompanied by a high-pitched and majestic voice resounded—"Heaven and earth are ruthless, I will become a Buddha. All beings return to the other shore of Tathagata!" As the poem fell, the figure also fell. The moment the figure touched the ground, the surrounding area exploded, the earth trembled violently, as if unable to bear its weight!
In the bright light, a man clad in a kasaya, with golden relics gathered in his hair, a crimson dot between his brows, and graying hair hanging down his temples, appeared. His appearance was solemn and dignified, exuding righteousness. It was none other than the Buddha that Mo Tianhen had encountered at the temple—the Other Shore of All Beings, Lie Rulai!
"Senior!" Mo Tianhen was overjoyed to see Lie Rulai arrive.
Lie Rulai bowed to him and asked, "Benefactor Mo, are you alright?"
Mo Tianhen hurriedly shook his head and said, "I'm fine, I'm fine..." He stopped mid-sentence, his legs buckling, and he knelt on the ground.
He had already been severely injured and exhausted, only able to stand until now thanks to his unwavering faith and righteous spirit. Now, seeing his strong reinforcements arrive, he felt a sense of relief but could no longer hold on.
Lie Rulai stepped forward and pressed down on Mo Tianhen's shoulder, slowly channeling a stream of pure Buddhist energy into his body.
Mo Tianhen felt slightly better and was about to look up to thank him when he saw Jin Chengfeng striding forward, attacking with a palm strike. He hurriedly shouted, "Be careful!"
Unexpectedly, Lie Rulai didn't even turn his head, flicking his sleeve and raising his palm to meet Jin Chengfeng's furious attack!
The moment their palms clashed, the shattered hall shook violently, and the broken walls collapsed once more! Lie Rulai remained unmoved, his feet sinking half an inch into the ground, while Jin Chengfeng—spitting blood and flying backward!
Jin Chengfeng landed in a sorry state, his Divine Metal Eight Elements emitting a hollow sound, causing a sharp pain in his back. He looked at Lie Rulai in panic. If it were that Lie Rulai had the advantage of a sneak attack in the first move, and he was no match for him, it would be understandable. But just now, he had used his full strength in a palm strike, yet he was easily repelled by the other man's single palm strike. The difference in their strength was like heaven and earth!
"You stinking bald monk, are you meddling in other people's business?" Jin Chengfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said angrily.
Lie Rulai withdrew his Qi-transferring palm, turned around and put his palms together, saying, "Benefactor Jin, this humble monk has come here only to advise you—to turn back."
Jin Chengfeng asked in confusion, "Turn back? Turn back to what? If you want to chat with me, then step aside and let me kill this brat before we talk slowly!" As he spoke, he was about to step forward.
Lie Rulai remained unmoved, taking a step to the side and blocking Mo Tianhen's path. He chanted a Buddhist prayer, saying, "Those who commit murder will suffer the consequences."
Jin Chengfeng, wary of Lie Rulai's skills, immediately stopped and dared not advance, angrily shouting, "Bald monk, stop spouting nonsense! I don't understand!"
Lie Rulai remained calm and composed, saying, "Benefactor Jin, you have been a businessman for many years. To achieve profit, you may use some business tactics, which is understandable as long as you don't commit serious mistakes."
Then, his half-closed Buddhist eyes suddenly opened, and he said firmly, "But in recent years, you have been buying and selling people for your own pleasure, causing countless innocent families to be broken, loved ones to be separated, and separated by death. This is a grave breach of morality, and this humble monk cannot remain silent and turn a blind eye!"
Jin Chengfeng scoffed, "Meddlesome bald monk, how I make my money is none of your business!"
Lie Rulai retorted, "Is money really that important?"
Upon hearing this, Jin Chengfeng couldn't help but burst into laughter. He scoffed, "Bald monk, are you trying to make me laugh to death? Look at those poor Confucian scholars, why are they fighting tooth and nail to become officials? Because being an official means power, and power means money! You Buddhists always consider yourselves superior, but building temples and performing rituals, including the food you eat for your practice, all cost money! Without money, all your talk of great benevolence and righteousness, of helping the world, is just a joke! So, the most important thing in this world is money. With money, you have everything!"
Lie Rulai shook his head sadly, "Having money doesn't mean having everything. You know what you've lost."
Jin Chengfeng scoffed, "So what? I got what I wanted, but lost what I didn't want! What bullshit about kindness, integrity, and compassion? That's all you hypocrites use to deceive people. Who the hell cares to help those lowly, inferior people?"
Lie Rulai closed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "All people are equal. What is there to noble or lowly?"
"Ha!" Another disdainful laugh rang out as Jin Chengfeng retorted, "Regardless of social status, what use is an emperor to the world? What use is a leader to your three religions? Humans are inherently divided into noble and lowly. The superior are born destined to command the inferior, while the inferior are born only fit to be driven by the superior like dogs!"
"Sigh..." With a soft sigh, Lie Rulai slowly lowered his hands, saying helplessly, "If you are still willing to repent, and from now on engage in honest business, wholeheartedly do good, and contribute your efforts to the common people, perhaps you can wash away your past karmic retribution and regain your purity."
Upon hearing this, Mo Tianhen knew that Lie Rulai did not wish to commit unnecessary killing and hoped to persuade Jin Chengfeng to abandon evil and do good.
Given the wealth of Jinqian Manor, if Jin Chengfeng were willing to do so, it would be a great favor to the common people. However, if he truly did so, seeking revenge, wouldn't he be at odds with the well-being of the people? Thinking of this, he was deeply conflicted, unsure of what to choose.
Unexpectedly, Jin Chengfeng scoffed, "Change? Change what? I run my own business, why should I listen to you? Those lowly people are nothing but tools for me to make money, and you actually want me to give them the money I earn? On what grounds? You keep talking about contributing to the common people, but I see you're covered in gold. Why haven't you ever thought about becoming a real bald monk and giving your head to them to spend?"
"Sigh..." Another sigh escaped Lie Rulai's lips as he slowly said, "I know you've been indulging in power and lust for many years. Holding a high position, you've long since lost all sense of morality and law, and you must feel like you're the only one who matters. But you've taken thousands of lives, yet you feel no remorse, but rather it's all justified. With such a mindset, there's no turning back for you!"
Jin Chengfeng sensed something amiss in Lie Rulai's tone and trembled, asking, "What are you going to do?"
Lie Rulai chanted a Buddhist prayer, clasped his hands together again, and said, "It seems that Lie Rulai can no longer save you today, and can only kill to sever your evil!"
Upon hearing the name "Lie Rulai," Jin Chengfeng shuddered and staggered back several steps, exclaiming in disbelief, "You...you are Lie Rulai?"
"Indeed, this humble monk."
Receiving confirmation, Jin Chengfeng gasped. The monk before him was none other than Lie Rulai, the number one martial artist in the Central Plains, on par with the Chaos Gentleman, the pinnacle of Buddhist martial arts, and the strongest of the three religions—the fearsome other shore of all beings!
He had heard that this man hated evil and was ruthless towards criminals, showing no mercy whatsoever. If he couldn't enlighten and teach them,
he would surely punish them! Facing him today, even with his unparalleled strength thanks to his divine metal eight-element technique, what chance did he have of victory?
Thinking of this, Jin Chengfeng's street-smart nature immediately surfaced, yet he was still unwilling to accept it. He asked in alarm, "Don't you Buddhists emphasize compassion and refrain from killing? What? Do you intend to break the precepts and kill?"
Lie Rulai replied, "If you are unwilling to do good, sparing your life will only lead to more people being harmed by you! If you condone evil and wickedness, how can you claim to be a saint and cultivate Buddhism? Lie Rulai is never bound by rules. If evil people run rampant and goodness is destroyed, Lie Rulai will fight evil with evil, punish evil with violence, and stop evil with killing!" With that, Lie Rulai slightly raised his palm, a lotus flower bloomed behind him, and slowly walked towards Jin Chengfeng. This seemingly peaceful move made Jin Chengfeng feel an unprecedented pressure!
Jin Chengfeng's legs went weak with fear, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, tears streaming down his face, pleading, "Master! Master! I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong, please spare me!" He crawled to Lie Rulai's feet, clutching his legs and begging, "I promise I'll never do evil again! I'll give half of my earnings—no, eighty percent, eighty percent—to the poor...no, the lowly! Please, don't kill me!"
Seeing Jin Chengfeng so disregarding his dignity and desperately begging for mercy, Mo Tianhen felt a strange unease. Whether it was due to blood feud or his actions, he felt an intense hatred for this old scoundrel, unable to muster any pity. Lie Rulai said, "Well said," then closed his eyes, clasped his hands in prayer, and stood still, making no further move.
Just then, an unexpected event occurred! Suddenly, ten thousand golden rays emanated from Jin Chengfeng's body, dazzling beyond compare, and a tremendous burst of energy exploded out, completely leveling the ruins of the main hall!
Exhausted, Mo Tianhen was instantly blasted several feet away by the force of the attack!
Amidst the howling wind, a vicious voice rang out: "You stinking bald monk! Die!" This was followed by a deafening explosion, raising a cloud of dust that filled the sky, shattering the earth and cracking rocks—the entire world trembled!
"Senior!" Mo Tianhen cried out in alarm. Such a powerful attack must have been delivered with Jin Chengfeng's full strength; how could
Lie Rulai, caught off guard, possibly survive? But as the dust settled and the light dimmed, the Buddha's figure stood firmly, catching Jin Chengfeng's attacking punch with a single palm, coldly saying, "If you truly wanted to beg for mercy, why would you have begun to gather your strength while still on the move? You are truly beyond saving!"
Jin Chengfeng was so frightened that he sat down on the ground, retreating backward on all fours. His fear was even greater than when he was beaten half to death years ago! Among the Eight Elements of Divine Gold, the "Crimson Gold Waistband," "Diamond Pendant," "Crystal Gold Thumb Ring," and "Silver Knee Bindings" all have the ability to temper the body and enhance internal strength. The "Crimson Gold Waistband" can even store internal strength for use at any time. In that move just now, he forcefully channeled all his true energy, combining the power of the Eight Elements, and unleashed all the internal strength he had stored up over the years
. But the result was so unbelievable! "No, no... Master, I was just playing around, just playing around... Please, please let me go... let me go..." This time, he was genuinely begging for mercy. However, Lie Rulai slowly stepped forward and said, "A deadly strike filled with murderous intent was just 'playing around' in your mind. You regard other people's lives as trivial. How can I let you live and cause trouble?" With that, he raised his palm and struck!
Just then, Mo Tianhen cried out urgently, "Master, wait!"
Hearing this, Lie Rulai stopped his attack and asked, "What else is there, Benefactor Mo?"
Mo Tianhen replied, "He still owes Tianhen a question concerning his mother's whereabouts. Please allow me to ask."
Upon hearing this, Jin Chengfeng had a sudden inspiration, as if grasping at a lifeline, and hurriedly said, "Yes! Yes! If you spare my life, I will definitely tell you where your mother is!" His business acumen was deeply ingrained; even now, he was thinking of an equal exchange.
Mo Tianhen hesitated, unsure whether to agree to the attack. He was torn, unwilling to lose news of his mother, yet unwilling to let him live and continue his harm. But then
Lie Rulai said, "No need."
He raised his palm, golden light radiating from it, the supreme holy energy of Buddhism flowing forth, pure and solemn. Jin Chengfeng was terrified and turned to flee.
However, before he had taken two steps, Lie Rulai's immense palm energy was already upon him!
The sound of shattering metal rang out, accompanied by screams of terror. Jin Chengfeng's treasured "Eight Elements of Divine Gold" crumbled like fragile paper under the palm of Lie Rulai, scattering into countless tiny gold fragments, a scene of utter devastation, devoid of its former glory!
Having lost his treasure, Jin Chengfeng's physical body was left defenseless, and he was instantly struck down by the holy power of Buddhism, falling to the ground!
A once-mighty business tycoon, a proud and powerful ruler, even though he considered himself invincible and viewed the masses as mere pawns, could not escape the judgment of justice, and was sent to the Yellow Springs by the Buddha of all beings!
Mo Tianhen was shocked and asked in confusion, "Master... this?"
Lie Rulai said, "Before I came here, I rescued all the women they sent away. They are currently behind the manor."
Upon hearing this, Mo Tianhen was overjoyed. After going through countless hardships and brushes with death, he was finally able to find his mother safely. He couldn't help but exclaim excitedly, "Master! Quickly... take me there!"
Lie Rulai replied, "Those women are safe and sound, there's no need to worry. Benefactor Mo, your injuries are severe. Let me heal you first before we go."
Appendix
Character Strength in this Chapter
Mo Tianhen (During the Money War) 63 20 (Sword Intent Bonus, less effective for those with higher martial arts skills)
Jin Chengfeng 88
Lie Rulai 9?
Final Chapter: The Other Shore's Melody - 6
Mo Tianhen followed his advice and sat down cross-legged with Lie Rulai.
Lie Rulai's palm, imbued with Buddhist energy, flowed into Mo Tianhen's body from his back. The Yin-Yang Heavenly Revelation seemed to respond, absorbing and transforming the Buddhist energy for its own use. Mo Tianhen's meridians instantly felt as if bathed in sweet rain, and within a short time, his true energy was abundant!
Lie Rulai withdrew his palm and said in surprise, "Benefactor Mo, your internal energy cultivation is remarkable. This humble monk's Buddhist energy was not intended to transfer energy to you, but rather to stimulate your internal energy circulation, helping you to quickly recover your energy on your own. I didn't expect you to have recovered so quickly."
Mo Tianhen said with shame, "I was fortunate to have met a renowned master who taught me the introductory techniques. I haven't yet mastered them deeply, so please forgive my shortcomings."
Lie Rulai said, "There's no need to be modest. At your age, your swordsmanship and internal energy attainments are already quite remarkable. In the Central Plains, few can compare. However, I just sensed that your meridians seem to be different from... " "People are different."
Mo Tianhen frankly said, "To be honest, I was born with a hidden meridian, called the 'Yin Meridian,' which is why the Chaos Lord valued me and taught me the Yin-Yang Revelation Technique." Lie
Rulai said with understanding, "I see. Although your foundation is shallow, your internal energy is more refined, and you even have a sense of harmony between heaven and earth. No wonder the Chaos Lord can roam the martial world freely."
Mo Tianhen also said, "My master is unrestrained and said that there is only one person in the world whose martial arts can catch his eye. He taught me the technique only because he values my physique and wants to have more opponents to spar with in the future."
"Hmm?" Lie Rulai seemed to be thinking, but asked, "Where will you go after you find your mother?"
Mo Tianhen said, "I should go to the Western Capital to ask my mother to preside over my wedding."
Lie Rulai smiled and said, "So you are about to get married, congratulations."
As they spoke, the two finished circulating their energy.
Mo Tianhen was anxious and hurriedly said, "Master, quickly take me to see my mother!"
Lie Rulai nodded, and the two stepped out of the ruins of the main hall. They saw that a number of servants and laborers had gathered in the distance, watching them with trepidation.
It turned out that the previous battle had been very loud, and after Lie Rulai ended the battle and Jinqian Manor returned to peace, the curious servants had come in
groups to see what had happened. Seeing the two of them coming out together, and noting that they were strangers to the manor, one of the servants boldly asked, "Gentlemen, what exactly happened here?"
Lie Rulai chanted a Buddhist prayer, put his palms together, and said, "Jin Chengfeng committed many evils and harmed countless people. This humble monk has already killed him to uphold justice."
Upon hearing this, the servants present were all in an uproar. Some were shocked, some were happy, but some were also devastated, beating their chests and stamping their feet, weeping bitterly.
The man who had just asked the question was also one of those who wept bitterly, clearly in great distress.
Mo Tianhen, puzzled, asked, "Uncle, why are you crying?"
The man walked straight towards Lie Rulai, wailing, "You monk! How can you be so insensible! Aren't you trying to kill us?"
With that, he unleashed a flurry of punches on the monk's chest! Lie Rulai, however, kept his eyes closed and remained silent, enduring this undeserved calamity.
Mo Tianhen was shocked and quickly pulled the man away, saying, "Uncle! Are you crazy? The master is ridding the people of a scourge, why are you hitting him?"
The man wailed, "He... he's not ridding the people of a scourge! He's clearly harming us!" Others nearby joined in the wailing.
Mo Tianhen was puzzled. He heard the man say again, "Although the manor lord was harsh and strict with us, at least we had a job while he was around. Now that the manor lord is gone, where are we, who only know how to serve others, supposed to make a living?"
Along his journey, Mo Tianhen had encountered many people here who both loved and hated Jin Chengfeng. They hated his cruel exploitation, yet they depended on him for their livelihood, regarding him as their provider. But he still couldn't understand why Jin Chengfeng's death would cause such distress to ordinary manor servants.
After much thought, the young man still couldn't find an answer. Then he heard someone in the crowd shout, "That monk killed the manor lord and cut off our livelihood! Everyone, attack him together, don't let him go!"
This shout transferred the crowd's hatred to the monk. The angry crowd surged towards Lie Rulai, their expressions ferocious like demons, as if they wanted to devour the Buddha alive! Lie Rulai, however, simply stood with his eyes closed, offering no rebuttal.
Fearing the situation would spiral out of control, Mo Tianhen could only shout, "How could you do this? The master is trying to help you!"
The man who had spoken earlier retorted, "We didn't ask you for help! You chivalrous heroes, how can you ignore the lives of ordinary people like us!"
Mo Tianhen was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond. Seeing the enraged crowd surrounding Lie Rulai, punching and kicking him, he hesitated to intervene, fearing for the safety of the civilians. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to first separate the crowd before making further plans. However, just as he was about to draw his sword, he heard Lie Rulai say, "I have committed this crime, and I must bear the consequences. Benefactor Mo, please do not act." Upon
hearing this, Mo Tianhen hesitated for a long time, then turned away angrily, unable to bear watching the compassionate Buddha being brutally beaten. Suddenly, a voice from the crowd shouted, "That kid has blood on him, and he's trying to save that monk! He's in cahoots with that monk!"
These words caused a group of enraged people to turn and rush towards Mo Tianhen! Mo Tianhen was stunned on the spot. His hand holding the sword was trembling. He had lost his mind. Could a person who was only focused on revenge have such a hateful face?
"Alas..." Buddha sighed, filled with self-reproach. He blamed himself for killing evil but failing to bring joy to the people, for punishing sinners but failing to win their approval. He channeled his Buddhist energy to clear a path, using gentle force to push away the beating crowd, and with Mo Tianhen in tow, he soared into the air, escaping the place of fervent anger. His thoughts drifted back to a few days earlier, when he had insisted on coming despite his elder brother's obstruction—"This is the constraint of the three religions. For the benefit of the majority, we can only proceed slowly, even temporarily allowing the wicked to do evil. But if we strike at the root of the problem, swiftly cutting it off, then one hair will affect the whole body!"
"As a Buddha, I despise the world's filth and corruption! To sacrifice the few for the benefit of the many? I also disagree with this view! By what right do we arbitrarily decide the fate of all beings? And by what right do we need to decide their fate for them?!"
"This is responsibility!! From the moment you chose to cultivate Buddhism and do good, to protect all living beings and shield them from calamities, you must shoulder their fate! Because you have already changed their fate, you have already arbitrarily decided their destiny!"
"Stop elevating yourself! My protection of all living beings is not to interfere with their fate, but for their freedom to live! The fate of all living beings should always be freedom, not to be controlled and manipulated by evil and wickedness! That is why someone must punish evil and uphold justice, taking life to protect life!" "
The greater good concerns all living beings; how can killing be decided based on momentary likes or dislikes?"
"The common people don't need the hypocritical pity of the wicked, but need someone to guide them, to bravely do good, and to firmly believe in the future!"
The words, succinct and vivid, echoed in Lie Rulai's mind. He sighed softly, "Senior Brother, did I really do wrong?"
Having just experienced the events, Mo Tianhen's heart was also heavy. Seeing the doubt in Lie Rulai's expression, he asked, "Master, are you alright?"
Lie Rulai replied, "I'm fine."
After a moment's thought, he suddenly added, "Benefactor Mo, revenge is naturally justified, but seeing your enemy brought to justice, do you feel any satisfaction?"
Mo Tianhen shook his head, "This junior feels comforted, but not with satisfaction, after all… so many innocent people were involved."
Lie Rulai nodded, "Hero, you did the right thing by not committing needless killing."
The two were silent for a moment. After a while, Mo Tianhen asked, "Master, I have a question. Please enlighten me."
Lie Rulai glanced at him and said, "Speak freely."
"Master, since you know what Jin Chengfeng has done, why didn't you take action sooner to stop his evil deeds? He colluded with people from the Western Regions, abducted women from the Central Plains, and secretly shattered countless families. If you know this, the Three Religions must also know it. Why haven't they taken any action yet?"
Lie Rulai looked at Mo Tianhen with slight surprise, and after a long while, slowly said, "The Three Religions haven't taken action for two reasons. First, they look down on wealthy families, believing that doing business is useless. They think that large families and great wealth are just fleeting clouds, not even worth a fraction of the spiritual inheritance of the Three Religions. Second, many of the Three Religions' businesses also need the support of Jinqian Manor. Being dependent on others, they can only temporarily refrain from pursuing the actions of Jinqian Manor." "Investigate."
At this point, a hint of expectation appeared in his eyes as he asked, "Benefactor Mo, although Jin Chengfeng has committed countless evils, he disdains helping others and protecting the weak. He even undertakes large-scale construction projects for his own selfish gain, living a life of extravagance and luxury. Yet, he has also saved countless lives. If his evil
deeds were removed, he would be considered to have contributed to the prosperity of this place. Should such a person be executed or spared if he is truly guilty?" Mo Tianhen was silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Contribution does not mean one can do whatever one wants. If one becomes arrogant because of one's merits, keeping him alive will bring disaster to the region. I believe that it is not unjust to kill the wicked, because the weak are the ones we should protect."
"Ha, you only kill the wicked and protect the weak?" After hearing what Mo Tianhen said, a faint smile finally appeared on Lie Rulai's face.
Mo Tianhen was surprised and asked, "Master, do you know about the Mo family's teachings?"
Lie Rulai said, "I have only heard of them briefly. We have arrived." As he spoke, he landed in the air and arrived at a courtyard of the manor.
Seeing that the courtyard was full of women, Mo Tianhen couldn't wait to call out, "Mother! Mother! Are you there?"
The women in the courtyard, seeing Lie Rulai arrive, all stepped forward to bow and thank him. Mo Tianhen called out repeatedly, but received no response, only attracting strange looks from the women!
Mo Tianhen grew increasingly anxious, disregarding propriety, running and weaving among the women, shouting loudly, "Mother! Hen'er is here, answer me quickly!"
Seeing him rushing around, the women quickly moved aside. Mo Tianhen searched everywhere but couldn't find his mother, and collapsed to his knees, saying in disbelief, "Why...why?" Lie
Rulai approached and said, "Benefactor Mo, is your mother not here?"
Mo Tianhen hurriedly asked anxiously, "Master, are you sure all the women you rescued are here?"
Lie Rulai shook his head and said, "This humble monk didn't count them carefully; I simply brought them all back."
Turning to the women, he asked, "Since arriving here, has anyone gone out and not returned?"
The women looked at each other and shook their heads, saying, "We have followed Master's instructions and no one has gone out."
Mo Tianhen hurriedly asked, "Among you, is there a woman named Lu Xuanyin?"
The women all replied, "We have never heard of her."
Hearing this, Mo Tianhen couldn't help but feel annoyed, "Could it be that Mother is really not here?"
Lie Rulai suggested, "When I bring them back, I will also capture the escorts. Wait a moment, I will go and bring them to you."
How could Mo Tianhen wait? He said urgently, "I will go with you!"
Lie Rulai agreed and led him to a small house in a secluded part of the courtyard.
Pushing open the door, he saw more than a dozen guards, bound hand and foot, staring at Lie Rulai in terror. Ignoring everything else, Mo Tianhen immediately asked, "Have you seen my mother?"
The dozen or so guards were completely bewildered. One of them, the bolder one, asked, "You...who is your mother?"
"The woman imprisoned in the Flower King Tower! Where have you hidden her?" Mo Tianhen, impatient, grabbed the nearest man by the collar and roared.
The man struggled frantically, but his hands and feet were bound, and he couldn't move. He cried out, "Young hero, spare me! Young hero, spare me! We were only ordered to send these women to Zangxue Tianguan. We know nothing else!"
Upon hearing the words "Zangxue Tianguan," Mo Tianhen froze. "Isn't that a military camp?" he asked
. The man replied, "We only know that we sent these women to a fixed location near Zangxue Tianguan and handed them over to the soldiers who regularly came to make contact. We really don't know anything else!" "
Zangxue Tianguan...Zangxue Tianguan..." Mo Tianhen's heart skipped a beat. He wondered, "Could this be the reason that masked man sent me to the North Sea?"
But this was not the time for doubt. He asked again, "Who was the person you met? Do you know their name?"
One of the farmhands replied, "It seems their surname is Fan. I heard they are a quartermaster at Tianguan."
Mo Tianhen asked suspiciously, "Tianguan is a military stronghold. Why would they write 'woman' on it?"
The farmhand replied, "We don't know."
Lie Rulai said, "Although Tianguan is a pass, it is also inhabited by civilians, and many soldiers have settled there. Therefore, the number of women at Tianguan is insufficient. Furthermore, the army may need women to handle tasks such as cooking and washing." "Guan is the gateway to the nation, located in a strategically important area. The imperial court should have sufficient corvée labor allocated to it. Why would they accept a woman of questionable origin? This is suspicious."
Mo Tianhen had no time to listen to his analysis. He quickly bowed and said, "Master, the matter is urgent. I must take my leave now!"
Lie Ru didn't even have time to nod in acknowledgment before seeing him hurriedly turn and run out the door. However, just a moment later, he saw him rushing back, asking the group of servants, "Where can you find horses in your manor?"
Seeing him rushing around like a headless fly, Lie Ru stopped him and said, " "Benefactor Mo, I know you are anxious, but concern leads to confusion. You must remain calm."
Hearing his advice, Mo Tianhen's mind eased slightly. He then remembered his mother's request for him to find his maternal grandfather, and a thought struck him. He bowed to Lie Rulai and said, "Master, I have a request."
Lie Rulai replied, "Speak freely."
Mo Tianhen pleaded, "Master, this journey to Tianguan is fraught with danger. I am alone and weak, and I fear I am not up to the task. Therefore, I humbly request that you accompany me. Would you be so kind as to grant my request?"
Lie Rulai sighed softly and shook his head, saying, "Benefactor Mo..." "Since you've invited me, it's only right that I, Lie Rulai, accompany you. However, the people of Jinqian Manor are in a state of rage and there's no one to control them. I fear many innocent people will suffer as a result. And this chaos was all caused by this humble monk, so please forgive me for being unable to offer assistance."
Seeing the sorrow on his face, Mo Tianhen couldn't help but ask, "Master, do you not intend to die...?"
Lie Rulai smiled and said, "Of course not, but I need to give them an explanation and mitigate the negative impact of Jin Chengfeng's death." Upon hearing that Jin Chengfeng was dead, the group of servants showed the same mixed feelings as the others before them—joy and sorrow.
Mo Tianhen said helplessly, "It's a real pity, but maintaining stability here is indeed more important. It was Tianhen who was selfish."
Lie Rulai comforted him, "You were so eager to save your mother that you lost your composure, but that's not a fault. Besides, although you are young, you have a kind heart and a strong sense of justice, which I greatly admire. I hope you will remember the words I gave you that day, and one day, let me witness your mature demeanor."
Mo Tianhen said gratefully, "Master, you have saved my life twice and shown me such favor. I will repay your kindness and appreciation with all my might in the future!"
After bidding farewell to Lie Rulai, he hurriedly found a stable according to the directions given by the servants and rushed out of the manor. As he sped along, he saw chaos inside the manor. People were moving around, carrying away the manor's valuables. Some were even fighting and scrambling. In an instant, the once peaceful and prosperous manor had become a hell on earth, with screams, curses, and blood everywhere!
Seeing this chaos, Mo Tianhen felt a pang of pity and wanted to dismount and stop it several times, but thinking of his mother, he could only suppress his anger and spur his horse on, determined not to see it.
The news spread like wildfire, and soon, news of Jin Chengfeng's death reached the manor. When Mo Tianhen reached the manor's exit, he looked out and saw countless commoners swarming towards him, each face radiating greed for money, like a dense swarm of locusts, sending chills down his spine!
"Without Jin Chengfeng, the peace here has crumbled in such a short time? Is there truly an unkillable villain in this world?" Filled with doubt, Mo Tianhen went against the flow of people, urging his horse forward, unwilling to linger for even a moment longer!
*** *** ***
Jinqian Manor is only about three hundred li from Zangxuetian Pass; if he rode at full speed, he could reach it in three or four hours.
Mo Tianhen changed his clothes and set off at a brisk pace, his mind racing with calculations: his mother must have been sent away last night, not in the same batch as those women, so she should be in Guanzhong by now.
This time, he must first find Brother Han. He has been in Guanzhong for many years and surely has connections or authority; with his help, he could find his mother much faster.
Mo Tianhen traveled swiftly for two hours, already feeling the chill in the air. After traveling several dozen more miles, he could vaguely see distant mountains rising like snow-covered white dragons, stretching for thousands of miles, majestic and magnificent—the northernmost natural barrier of the Central Plains—Yulong Mountain!
With his destination near, Mo Tianhen spurred his horse even faster. Another hour passed, and before him, between two majestic mountain valleys, a magnificent city wall stood tall, connecting the two mountains—the very northern gateway to the Central Plains, the place where martyrs of past dynasties resisted demons and guarded the land—the Burial Snow Pass!
"This is the Burial Snow Heavenly Pass? Indeed, it exudes a cold and heavy aura at first glance." Mo Tianhen gazed at the snow-covered white walls, his heart momentarily awestruck by the majestic pass.
However, his anxiety overwhelmed him, and he couldn't afford to admire this unparalleled scenery; he spurred his horse and galloped towards the pass.
The Burial Snow Heavenly Pass was built against the only gap in the Jade Dragon Mountains, with three walls to the north and only one to the south, facing the Central Plains.
The long valley between the north and south walls, continuously developed by successive dynasties of the Central Plains, had become a complete military base. Behind the three northern walls was the garrison of the Jin Dynasty's troops, and outside the military camp were the dwellings of conscripted laborers and local people, as well as the supply depots for storing provisions and equipment.
Mo Tianhen, dressed as a warrior, arrived at the pass and saw many others dressed similarly to him going in and out.
It turned out that Tianguan was constantly attacked by the demons of the North Sea, and the imperial court alone could not defend it completely. Therefore, disciples of the three religions and martial arts heroes would often come here to help and supplement the fighting force. Han Ningyuan's Jade Dragon Manor, being located nearby, became a mainstay of support for Tianguan.
The three religions also had a meeting place here, but Mo Tianhen was unaware of it. Because martial arts heroes frequently came and went from Tianguan, Mo Tianhen was not questioned much and was allowed in. After learning the way, he went straight to the army camp.
When Mo Tianhen arrived at the Tianguan barracks, he saw two fierce and terrifying white tiger stone sculptures at the foot of the archway at the street entrance. The three characters "Congfeng Camp" were clearly visible on the archway, which was the personal guard camp of the "White Tiger General," one of the twelve divine generals of the Jin Dynasty.
The guards saw Mo Tianhen coming straight ahead and quickly stopped him, saying, "Wait a moment, please show me your official letter."
Mo Tianhen bowed and said, "This is my first time here, and I don't have any 'official letter.' I'm just here to find a friend."
Many of the soldiers at Tianguan have families, and people often come to visit them in the past. The gatekeepers, unsuspecting, asked, "Who are you looking for? We'll go and call him for you."
Mo Tianhen replied, "Thank you, officers. The person I'm looking for is named Han Ningyuan."
The two gatekeepers were immediately surprised. "Oh? You're looking for Staff Officer Han?"
Mo Tianhen said, "That's right." One of
the soldiers asked, "What's your relationship with him? Tell us so we can explain."
Mo Tianhen honestly replied, "My name is Mo Tianhen. I'm a friend of Brother Han from our journey, and I've come at his invitation."
The two gatekeepers confirmed with each other, "The General gave Staff Officer Han a long leave a few days ago, and he only just returned."
Then one of them said to Mo Tianhen, "Alright, you can wait around here."
Another person went inside and told the messenger, returning to say, "We've already sent someone to deliver the message, but the barracks are quite large, and it will take some time for them to come and go. Just stay nearby and don't move around. We'll let you know when Staff Officer Han comes out."
Mo Tianhen thanked him repeatedly, finding a clean spot on the street to sit down, his eyes constantly fixed on the barracks, hoping Han Ningyuan would appear soon.
There was a three-way intersection in front of the Congfeng Camp gate. One main road ran through the entire Tianguan Pass, the most crucial transport route during wartime. The other two led to the civilian residential area and the supply camp, respectively. Therefore, although there was no noise in front of the camp gate, there were quite a few people coming and going.
Mo Tianhen was anxious and couldn't sit still for long. He got up after a while, but couldn't leave, so he just wandered around aimlessly in front of the Congfeng Camp gate.
As they were turning around, they saw two soldiers emerge from the camp, all smiles, walking arm in arm towards the supply depot. One of them excitedly said, "Let me tell you, that new beauty who arrived last night is no joke, she's stunning! Her figure is so mature and alluring, and she's especially good at pleasing men. She'll suck any penis she sees without hesitation, she's a born slut!"
The other waved his hand and said, "Alright, you've been nagging me all night since you came back, stop talking. You'll know everything when you get there."
Mo Tianhen's ears perked up: "She just arrived last night? Isn't that very possible...?"
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Recalling the descriptions the two men had given him, his anger flared up: "If the woman they're talking about is really my mother, then isn't she being humiliated?"
The thought of his mother possibly suffering the same fate as Ru Mengying and the others in the Happy Forest made the young Mo family man unable to restrain himself any longer.
He immediately followed them from a distance. The guards at the gate, seeing him walk away, couldn't help but wonder, "I told him not to go too far, why did he still run away? Oh well, if we miss him, it's not my responsibility."
A quarter of an hour later, a young man in white robes walked out of the Wind Camp. He was handsome and extraordinary, and it was none other than Han Ningyuan.
The two guards saw him and quickly saluted, saying, "Officer Han!"
Han Ningyuan waved his hand, looked around, but couldn't see Mo Tianhen. He asked, "Where is Brother Mo?"
The two guards replied, "We told him to wait here and not go far, but shortly before you came out, he went alone towards the supply depot."
"Supply depot?" Han Ningyuan frowned. "Why would he go there for no reason?"
The two guards both replied, "We don't know."
Han Ningyuan nodded. "Very well, I'll go find him myself."
Meanwhile, Mo Tianhen suppressed his temper and followed the two guards. He saw a flag at the far end of their path, with the words "Supply Depot" clearly written on it. He wondered, "They said they were looking for a woman, why are they at the supply depot?"
He quickly followed to see what was going on, but the two suddenly turned into a side alley when they were still some distance from the supply depot.
Mo Tianhen, fearing he would lose them, quickly followed them in, only to see the two figures enter a doorway in the alley, guarded by two soldiers.
Upon seeing Mo Tianhen, the soldiers sized him up, one of them sneering, "Where did this江湖小子 (jianghu brat) come from? Get out of here! This is a military supply depot, not a place for you jianghu people."
Mo Tianhen faintly heard a woman's moans coming from inside the doorway, identical to the lewd words he had heard during the Yu Lin Festival. He said sternly, "If this is a military supply depot, why are there women's cries? What shameful things are happening here?"
The two soldiers were shocked and immediately pointed their spears at Mo Tianhen, saying, "Boy, you've come here yourself, don't blame us for sending you to meet the King of Hell!" With that, they thrust their spears!
Enraged, Mo Tianhen unleashed his sword intent and energy simultaneously. The Mo Wu Chun Qiu sword broke free of its seal, hovering high in the air, and thrust downwards!
A flash of cold light appeared, and the spear in the lead man's hand snapped in two, the Mo Wu Chun Qiu embedded deep in the bluestone pavement!
Seeing Mo Tianhen's formidable martial arts, another man shouted, "Come out! There's a spy!" Instantly, several burly men, each wielding a weapon, emerged from the house and charged at Mo Tianhen!
The alley was narrow, barely wide enough for three or four people to walk side-by-side, so when the men raised their weapons, it created the illusion of a forest of swords.
However, Mo Tianhen remained unmoved. With a flick of his sword, the Mo Wu Chun Qiu shot out again, flying back into his hand. Then came Mo Kuang's furious strike—Sword Moves the Divine Moon! The
Mo sword swept furiously, a crescent moon arching across the sky. Mo Tianhen's move, a blend of masculine and feminine power, was unstoppable, yet seemingly without edge, barely tearing clothing, yet it had already forced the entire group of men back!
Mo Tianhen seized the opportunity and rushed inside, only to find the room filled with a scene of eroticism and carnal desire. Men and women, disheveled and engaged in intercourse, were in repulsive poses, strikingly similar to those during the Lustful Forest Festival.
"A military camp, a place of such depravity!" He knew that Zangxue Tianguan was not like Qingluo. While Qingluo had brothels, they were located in the rear. Zangxue Tianguan, however, was a frontline stronghold, a purely military camp. Such a situation was punishable under military law!
But Mo Tianhen had no time to investigate. His gaze swept over the women in the room, but none of them bore a familiar face. They all stared at him with strange looks.
Undeterred, Mo Tianhen went further in and saw a group of naked men huddled together, seemingly observing something strange. The sounds of women moaning and men cursing could be heard.
He felt a jolt in his heart, as if sensing something, and hurriedly pushed through the crowd. When he saw the person in the center, he was met with a scene that made his eyes widen in fury!
Lu Xuanyin was completely naked, her full and mature body straddling a burly man's waist, twisting and grinding her hips, while the man beneath her relentlessly grabbed and squeezed her large, soft breasts.
Behind her, another burly man was thrusting his penis deep into her anus, pumping in and out. In front of her, two burly men held two foul-smelling penises, one on each side, across her face. As if smelling the most exquisite fragrance in the world, she picked up the two filthy phalluses with her delicate hands, pulled the two purplish-red glans to her lips, and began to lick them with her fragrant tongue in ecstasy!
Since being brought here last night, the matriarch of the Mo family had never stopped making love. It started with one-on-one encounters, then two-on-one, and later, many men, unable to wait any longer, swarmed her, countless penises releasing their pent-up male essence onto this Daoist beauty, sprinkling it freely onto her womb, her anus, her beautiful face, her full breasts, her flowing black hair, her slender white hands, and every inch of her porcelain-smooth skin!
At this moment, Lu Xuanyin, who hadn't rested all night, was covered in dried, foul-smelling, white semen, a stark contrast to her original ethereal beauty, yet all the more alluring!
The instant Mo Tianhen saw this scene, the four men serving Lu Xuanyin simultaneously erupted, their filthy semen shooting into the honeyed depths of his most respected mother right before his eyes, squeezing out the already overflowing semen from her flower chamber and injecting new essence!
He shot into her already swollen and tender anus, making her originally flat abdomen bulge even more!
He shot onto that beautiful face that Mo Tianhen longed for day and night, adding several layers of lewd gray to that face that fascinated countless people!
"Ah—!!!" With a furious roar, the air around Mo Tianhen surged wildly, and his sword energy shot straight into the sky, exploding in all directions!
The surrounding naked men were all jolted back, utterly terrified! Startled by the shout, Lu Xuanyin regained some of her senses. She saw Mo Tianhen's black hair standing on end, his eyes blazing with fury. Mo Wuchunqiu also sensed this, trembling violently, its hilt flashing with an eerie light!
"Hen... Hen'er...!?" Seeing her beloved son before her, Lu Xuanyin was filled with both joy and sorrow. Joy that Mo Tianhen had escaped, and that mother and son were finally reunited; sorrow that she herself had fallen so low, meeting him in such a shameful state!
"Where did this brat come from? This is a military camp! How dare you trespass!" The burly men who had been jolted back recovered and began to accuse her, but being naked, their threats lacked conviction.
Mo Tianhen ignored her, took off his outer robe and draped it over Lu Xuanyin's shoulders, then kowtowed three times, his voice filled with self-reproach, "Mother... I'm unfilial, I'm too late! I'll take you home right now!"
Upon hearing the words "home," Lu Xuanyin burst into tears. For months, her family had been destroyed, she had suffered humiliation, and had never had a day of peace. Now, it was as if the clouds had parted and the sun had finally shone through, allowing her to no longer endure humiliation and live in hiding. How could she not restrain herself? She repeatedly said, "Good, good, Hen'er, let's... go home!"
With the cry of "home," the mother and son rose together, turning to leave, only to see countless armored soldiers surge into the courtyard, their spears pointed directly at them!
Seeing this, Mo Tianhen brandished his sword and declared loudly, "Today, Mo Tianhen, the patriarch of the Mo family, is returning home with Lu Xuanyin, the matriarch of the Mo family. No one can stop us!"
A military officer stepped forward from the crowd and roared, "How dare you speak so arrogantly! I don't care if you're from the Mo or Daoist families. This is a crucial military stronghold; how can you just barge in and go as you please?" He then waved his hand and ordered, "Seize them!"
Mo Tianhen knew that avoiding battle was impossible, so he steeled himself and felt a surge of heroic spirit: "I've already braved dragon's dens and tiger's lair; what's one more time to storm a military camp!" But he was still calculating. He had to consider his mother, and fighting the soldiers would inevitably be difficult. Han Ningyuan was in Guanzhong; if he could delay him until he arrived, he could avoid a pointless fight.
With this thought, Mo Tianhen raised his sword high, his sword intent soaring through the air, transforming into a towering giant sword, and unleashed the ultimate Mo Kuang technique—Sword Punishment for a Hundred Lifetimes of Sins!
He prayed silently, "Brother Han! You must see this!"
Just as Mo Tianhen sent his message for help, the soldiers swarmed forward, spears thrusting at him!
Mo Tianhen hastily parried with his sword, his ink-black sword flashing, his Yin-Yang True Qi clearing away the front ranks of soldiers!
However, the army of Zangxue Tianguan, seasoned in battle and possessing extraordinary courage, though their front ranks were easily pushed back, their subsequent attacks showed no sign of slowing down, rows of spears pressing in like a
tide! Mo Tianhen shouted, "Come on!" He then flicked his ink-black sword, about to unleash his attack, when a resounding melody suddenly rang out from not far away, followed by a continuous, surging sound!
Mother and son were startled by the strangely familiar melody. They exchanged a glance and exclaimed in unison, "The Great Elegance has no fixed tune!" As soon as they finished speaking
, the zither music suddenly intensified, its clear and resonant Daoist melody echoing across the sky, like ten thousand swords hanging from the heavens, resounding with a clang! Immediately, fingers plucked the strings, and thousands of Daoist swords rained down from the sky! In an instant, the courtyard where the Mo family mother and son were located was struck by a barrage of swords, collapsing in a flash!
None of the soldiers present could withstand the attack; they all fell, screaming in agony. Only the Mo family mother and son remained unharmed, untouched by any external force!
"This…this is…" Seeing this, Mo Tianhen was utterly astonished and bewildered. Lu Xuanyin was already in tears, muttering to herself, but it was impossible to understand what she was saying.
Just then, a graceful white figure descended swiftly from the sky, arriving before the mother and son. Upon seeing the person's appearance, Lu Xuanyin's tears instantly overflowed. She rushed forward, throwing herself into the person's arms, crying out, "Senior Brother! Senior Brother! It really is you!" Her cries were heartbreaking, yet like a child finding a safe haven after enduring calamity, both comforted and aggrieved.
Mo Tianhen was overjoyed. The newcomer was none other than Lai Tiansheng, the chief disciple of the Daoist sect's "Hun Yuan Tai Qing," the top disciple of Xi Yin Guan, Lu Xuanyin's senior brother, the second most outstanding young talent among the three sects, and a renowned master of both the zither and sword, known throughout the world as "Qing Yin Xian Jian"!
"Senior Uncle!" he exclaimed joyfully.
Lai Tiansheng nodded to him, but tightly embraced Lu Xuanyin in his arms, wiping the filth from her head. Filled with apology and tenderness, he said, "Junior Sister, I'm sorry, I'm late... I'm so sorry!"
Each apology was filled with boundless self-reproach and guilt. The day he received the message from Ke Xuanzhi, Lai Tiansheng's Dao heart was severely impacted, causing his internal energy to surge violently, resulting in severe internal injuries. He immediately fainted, his white robes stained with blood!
He remained unconscious for seven days before finally waking up. The first thing he did upon waking was to carry his zither and sword, disregarding his injuries, and travel thousands of miles to find Lu Xuanyin. Finally, after a thorough investigation, he discovered a clue, and they reunited at this moment!
"Who on earth dares to attack the government troops!" The officer, a skilled martial artist, managed to stand up despite being struck by Lai Tiansheng, and questioned him in a trembling voice.
At this moment, they heard orderly footsteps coming from the alley outside. The officer immediately recognized them as his own soldiers and said smugly, "Tianguan is heavily guarded; you have no chance of escaping! Surrender obediently!"
Lai Tiansheng glanced at the officer but said nothing. Mo Tianhen stood beside the two, also holding his sword and remaining silent.
A moment later, the footsteps stopped abruptly in front of the house. Han Ningyuan strode in and shouted, "What happened?"
The officer's arrogant expression froze upon seeing Han Ningyuan, and he stammered, "Han... Staff Officer Han, is that you?"
Han Ningyuan's phoenix eyes swept over the room, and he asked coldly, "Zhan Mowei, what's the deal with these women?"
Cold sweat poured down the officer's forehead, and he stammered, "Reporting...Reporting to Staff Officer Han, they are...these are military prostitutes I bought."
Han Ningyuan raised an eyebrow and said with his head held high, "I thought you'd try to lie to me."
Upon hearing this, Zhan Mowei hurriedly knelt down, stammering, "I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare!"
"Dare not?" Han Ningyuan said sternly, "Dare not? How could you do such a thing that violates military discipline! Come here! Seize him!" The men responded and tied up Zhan Mowei. Han Ningyuan then asked, "Where did you buy these women?"
Zhan Mowei did not dare to look up at him and whispered, "It was...it was silver from the military treasury."
Seeing that he answered honestly, Han Ningyuan nodded and asked again, "Was there any profit?"
"Yes..."
"Where did you use the money?"
"I...I returned it to the military treasury."
"Ha!" Han Ningyuan laughed angrily, "You're quite good at accounting. With all this back and forth, the soldiers have enjoyed the women, and the military treasury is still full. Should I, on behalf of the soldiers of Tianguan, award you a merit?"
Zhan Mowei hurriedly kowtowed, saying, "This subordinate dares not..."
Seeing his confession, Han Ningyuan said no more, ordering, "Take him to the Ministry of Justice for military punishment!"
His men responded and took Zhan Mowei away. Only then did Han Ningyuan say to Mo Tianhen, "Brother Mo, I'm late. Are you injured?"
Mo Tianhen shook his head, gratefully saying, "Thank you for saving me, Brother Han. Otherwise, I fear we would have been at war with the government troops."
Han Ningyuan nodded, "It's good that you're alright. What are your plans now?"
Mo Tianhen thought for a moment and said, "Right now, I only want to go with my eldest uncle to escort her home."
"Eldest uncle?" Han Ningyuan was taken aback, then said to Lai Tiansheng, "You are 'Qingyin String Sword'? I've heard so much about you."
Lai Tiansheng also said, "Second Young Master Han, meeting you today, you are truly extraordinary."
Mo Tianhen said, "Brother Han, Mother has been worried sick these past few days and her health is failing. We should set off now and not disturb you any longer."
Han Ningyuan stopped him, saying, "Wait a moment. My dear brother, I see that you and Mr. Lai both seem to be injured. The journey will be arduous and inconvenient. Jade Dragon Manor is not far from here. Why don't you go there to recuperate for a few days? What do you think?"
Mo Tianhen turned to look at his mother and Lai Tiansheng, who both nodded. He didn't hesitate any longer and agreed, "That would be wonderful, but I'm troubling you again, Brother Han."
Han Ningyuan laughed, "Ha! No need to be so formal. I just returned a few days ago and still have some matters to attend to. Once everything is finished, I will return to the manor and we can drink and chat together!"
Mo Tianhen said gratefully, "It's a deal!" He then set off for Jade Dragon Manor with Han Ningyuan's men.

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