Pearl Order

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-11 20:20:08

The martial world is never at peace. The brief period of tranquility was soon followed by a series of startling rumors: the patriarch of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, renowned for his poisons and hidden weapons, and the patriarch of the Wen Clan of Lingnan, infamous for his sleeping potions, had both vanished without a trace
. Soon after, Master Leshan of Shaolin Temple, an expert in pharmacology, and Zhu Wenhua, the master of Longmian Manor, skilled in poisons, also disappeared overnight.

Even more astonishingly, a large pearl, engraved with a crimson "令" (order), was found beside the pillows of the missing.

Ling Junyong, the sole successor of the legendary martial arts master Fanshou Tathagata, who had remained secluded for decades, was also ordered by his master to investigate his mother's sudden disappearance.

When he revealed his ancestral pearl order at the Kaiyuan Pawnshop in Kaifeng, he knew he had been drawn into a massive conspiracy within the martial world.

Ling Junyi, disguised as the master of Longmian Manor, was kidnapped by the secret gang Black Dragon Society and taken to Juechen Manor. There, he, along with Elder Tang, Elder Wen, and Master Leshan, were tasked with finding a rare and deadly poison. Just as he was using his ancestral pearl token to neutralize the poison, he was abducted by several young women and taken to the Hundred Flowers Gang, composed entirely of young women, to complete the same mission. He was to outsmart the gang members and become their chief protector, then assist the gang's leader in leading the gang and the protectors to destroy their arch-enemy, the Black Dragon Society.

During the fierce battle with the Black Dragon Society, Ling Junyi narrowly escaped a deadly explosion deliberately orchestrated by the leader. To his surprise, the arrogant, ruthless leader turned out to be his mother, and his mother, who had been missing for days and never practiced martial arts, was also a highly skilled fighter. His maternal grandfather was the first leader of the Black Dragon Society, and the current leader was his father's killer…

When the beautiful and highly skilled Princess Shui Qingying of the current dynasty sent a letter and then quietly disappeared, Ling Junyi realized that this enemy, with whom he had fought several times and was like fire and water, was actually the woman he truly loved and couldn't bear to part with. However, she would be gone from his life forever, and behind him stood several girls who were deeply in love with him.

This is yet another tragedy created by the martial arts world.

Chapter 1 Two Cases

The word "Jianghu" (江湖, the martial arts world) is a name given to the martial arts world by someone, and comparing it to Jianghu is truly apt. The Yangtze River and the great lakes are always full of waves, and even when the wind is calm, the waves are still magnificent, with one wave pushing another, rolling endlessly. Jianghu is the same, with many people vying for fame and fortune, the strong preying on the weak. Treachery and intrigue are constantly emerging, and when is there a day without them?

This spring, the martial arts world, which had been relatively calm for some time, was once again abuzz with two startling pieces of news. First, the Sichuan Tang Clan, renowned for its poisons and hidden weapons, had lost its patriarch, Tang Tianzong, who had suddenly disappeared. Second, the South China Sea Wen Family, famous for its sleeping potions and incense, had also vanished without a trace recently.

It was said that this happened before the Lunar New Year, and because both families kept their secrets, the news only began to circulate three months later. The Sichuan Tang Clan and the South China Sea Wen Family, one in the far south and the other in the far north, seemed unlikely to have their patriarchs missing together. However, the fact that both disappeared before the Lunar New Year was already a coincidence, and if one listened to the rumors circulating in the martial arts world, it would become even more mysterious and intriguing.

It was said that after the two patriarchs' mysterious disappearances, their families found a pearl the size of a soybean beside their pillows. Finding a pearl wasn't unusual, but this pearl bore a tiny, vermilion "令" (order) character, thinner than a fly's head. This very "令" made things complicated. The

"Pearl Order" was practically unheard of in the martial arts world. Did it represent an individual or an organization? Rumors circulated, but no one could say for sure. What was the purpose of the "Pearl Order" kidnapping the two heads of the family? Three months had passed, and it remained shrouded in mystery, without a single clue. Aside from the two families still searching, the "Pearl Order," after its initial sensation in the martial arts world, had faded into obscurity.

April brought clear skies and a sudden shower—a fine day.

Taiyuan Pawnshop on East Street in Kaifeng was the city's premier pawnshop, facing south. The large "噹" (dang) character on its wall alone was over two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) high. Upon entering, there was a wooden screen with a tall "噹" character written on it, blocking the view of passersby. Those who were so poor they had to pawn their belongings were always afraid of being seen.

It was late afternoon, and a young man arrived at the entrance of Taiyuan Pawnshop. He was a young man in a blue robe, appearing to be in his early twenties. He was quite handsome, with fine eyebrows and bright eyes, and a refined air, like a scholar. However, he carried a three-foot-long blue cloth bag on his back, which looked more like a weapon than an umbrella, somewhat incongruous with his appearance.

The young man in the blue robe stepped through the gate of Taiyuan Pawnshop, crossed the small courtyard, approached the counter, coughed lightly, and called out, "Manager."

The old manager, wearing reading glasses and working on an abacus at the counter, hurriedly stood up, glanced at the young man in the blue robe, and immediately smiled obsequiously, "Sir, do you want to pawn something?" The

young man in the blue robe nodded, reached into his robe, and took out a bead threaded with gold thread, handing it over. The pearl was about the size of a pigeon egg, pale yellow in color, and radiant with a brilliant light; it was clearly a priceless gem.

The old magistrate took it, weighed it in his hand, and asked, "How much do you want, sir?"

The young man in the blue robe replied, "Five thousand taels of silver."

The pearl's value was well over ten thousand, but five thousand taels of silver was no small sum. The old magistrate had to proceed with caution, squinting his aging eyes to examine it carefully again. Upon closer inspection, the old magistrate's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. Why? Engraved on the pearl was a vermilion character, "令" (Ling).

The old magistrate's face paled, but quickly turned to joy. This, of course, did not escape the young man's notice, but he pretended not to see it. The old pawnbroker deliberately examined the pearl for a long time, then smiled broadly and said, "Sir, this pearl is priceless. Five thousand taels of silver isn't much..."

The young man in the blue robe asked, "So, the shopkeeper wants it?"

The old pawnbroker replied with a forced smile, "Five thousand taels of silver is no small sum..."

The young man in the blue robe said, "What, you won't accept it?"

The old pawnbroker hurriedly said, "No, no, this is a pawnshop, how could I not accept it? But five thousand taels of silver is a sum I can't decide on my own; I must ask the owner to examine it."

The young man in the blue robe nodded and said, "Alright, then go and ask the owner to come out."

The old pawnbroker said, "Sir, you are a very important customer of this shop. Please come inside for tea. I will immediately send someone to inform my owner." As he spoke, he opened a large door on the right side of the counter and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Sir, please come inside and sit down."

The young man in the blue robe didn't stand on ceremony and stepped into the shop. The old pawnbroker smiled and offered him a seat, and a servant immediately brought over a cup of tea. The old clerk returned the pearl with both hands, saying, "Sir, please keep the pearl safe for now. You can take it out when you see my master." The young man in the blue robe accepted the pearl and put it back in his pocket.

The old clerk whispered something to the servant, who nodded repeatedly and quickly left. The old clerk said with a smile, "My master lives near the South Gate. I've already sent someone to inform him."

The young man in the blue robe said, "Thank you, sir."

The old clerk seized the opportunity to ask, "May I ask your surname, sir?"

The young man in the blue robe replied, "Ling."

The old clerk continued, "Judging from your accent, you don't seem to be a local, do you?"

The young man in the blue robe said, "Yingzhou." He seemed unwilling to elaborate, hence his extremely brief answer.

The old clerk smiled and said, "A fine place." This was a polite remark; the young man in the blue robe simply smiled slightly and remained silent.

Having this, the old swindler had nothing more to say. He took his water pipe, lit a paper tinderbox, and began to puff away. After about the time it takes to eat a meal, a middle-aged man wearing a blue cloth gown and tightly tucked trousers walked in. This man had a purplish face, thick eyebrows, and was quite burly. Behind him followed the servant who had gone to announce his arrival.

The old clerk hurriedly put down his pipe, stood up, and said with a smile, "He's here, he's here."

The young man in the blue robe also stood up. The middle-aged man had already stepped into the shop, his eyes scanning the young man in the blue robe. He clasped his hands in a salute to the old clerk and said, "Is this the gentleman you were talking about, Elder Hu?"

The old clerk nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, this is Lord Ling of Yingzhou." He then smiled at the young man in the blue robe and said, "This is Master Zheng Shijie, the eldest disciple of my master. My master has rarely consulted on matters in recent years; Master Zheng has made the decisions on everything, big or small."

The young man in the blue robe cupped his hands and said, "So it's Master Zheng."

Zheng Shijie returned the salute and said, "I dare not accept such a salute. I have been ordered by my master to invite you to come for a chat."

The young man in the blue robe said, "I've come to pawn some things." Indeed, pawnshops only pawn goods, not people; if you can pawn something, you can pawn it; if you can't, then don't.

Zheng Shijie smiled and said, "My master heard that you're pawning a priceless pearl for five thousand taels of silver. According to the rules of the trade, anything over a thousand taels is considered a big deal and requires negotiation between both parties. Therefore, I urge you to come and help me."

The young man in the blue robe smiled faintly and said, "In that case, I have no choice but to go."

The old man in the blue robe smiled and said, "Yes, yes, it would be best if Master Ling and my master could reach an agreement in person."

Zheng Shijie clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother, I'll lead the way for Master Ling." He took the lead and walked out.

The young man in the blue robe followed him out of the shop, and the old man in the blue robe saw him to the door, saying repeatedly, "Have a good journey."

The young man in the blue robe followed Zheng Shijie, crossing two long streets and walking for about half a mile before turning onto a neat and wide stone-paved road, with ancient trees towering on both sides, providing a shady green. Whether Zheng Shijie was intentionally testing the young man in the blue robe or not, after stepping onto this stone-paved road, he suddenly quickened his pace and walked briskly. Although he didn't outwardly display any flying abilities, he moved with incredible speed; even an ordinary person running at full speed probably couldn't keep up with his pace. The young man in the blue robe followed behind him, not racing, but walking at a leisurely pace, seemingly nonchalant, yet always maintaining a few feet's distance from Zheng Shijie, never falling behind.

The stone-paved path was about two miles long, and Zheng Shijie walked swiftly, reaching a large mansion in no time. He thought the young man in the blue robe was probably far behind, so he stopped and looked back. He saw the young man in the blue robe, his robes fluttering, his expression calm, following behind him and also stopping. He was greatly surprised, thinking to himself, "Among the lay disciples of Shaolin, I am known as the 'Swift Traveler.' Traveling at high speed, unless I use my land-based lightness skill, it's difficult for anyone to catch up with me. This kid's speed is astonishing; he's actually no less than me." As these thoughts raced through his mind, he let out a long sigh and said with a smile, "We've arrived."

The young man in the blue robe looked around and saw a large, imposing mansion with many buildings. At this moment, the two black lacquered gates were already open, and two young men in blue robes stood with their hands at their sides, their features imposing and heroic. This was the famous "Golden Cauldron Manor" in the martial arts world. The old master, Jin Kaitai, was also the head of the lay branch of Shaolin. In the martial arts world, everyone called him "Old Master Jin Ding."

"Jin Ding" was the nickname of Master Jin. It is said that he was originally called "One Punch Shatters the Golden Cauldron," but later everyone found the five characters inconvenient to pronounce, so they simply called him Jin Ding. At the same time, the two characters "Jin Ding" also imply that one's word is as weighty as nine tripods.

Accompanied by Zheng Shijie, the young man in the blue robe entered the gate, crossed the courtyard, and saw two young men in blue robes standing at the second gate

. Seeing Zheng Shijie leading the young man in the blue robe, they immediately bowed and said, "Master is waiting in the West Flower Hall and asked Senior Brother to invite the guests to the West Flower Hall for tea." Zheng Shijie nodded and led the young man in the blue robe inside. After passing through the long corridor, they arrived at the West Flower Hall. This was a bright and clean open hall with lush flowers and trees in front of the courtyard, artificial hills and flowing water, and a tranquil atmosphere. On the steps in front of the courtyard, two young men in blue robes were also standing, apparently all of them were Master Jin's disciples.

The young man in the blue robe followed Zheng Shijie into the open pavilion. On the east side, against the wall, sat a bald old man with white hair and a ruddy complexion. His piercing eyes immediately caught sight of his eldest disciple leading the young man in, and he stood up with a smile.

Zheng Shijie paused slightly, turned around, and said, "This is my master."

The young man in the blue robe stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly, "I have long admired the name of Elder Jin. It is an honor to be summoned."

Zheng Shijie quickly whispered to his master, "Master, this is Master Ling."

Jin Kaitai's narrow eyes merely scrutinized the young man in the blue robe before him. Of course, the most striking feature was the long blue cloth bag slung on his back; anyone with a discerning eye could see that it contained a longsword. Elder Jin scrutinized him, then pointed with his right hand and chuckled, "A rare guest, a rare guest. Please sit, please sit."

The young man in the blue robe did not stand on ceremony and sat down in a chair opposite him. Then, a young man in a blue cloth robe brought over a cup of fragrant tea. Jin

Kaitai coughed lightly and said with a smile, "What is your name, Lord Ling?"

The young man in the blue robe said, "My name is Junyi."

Jin Kaitai asked again, "Where is your residence?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Yingzhou." Jin

Kaitai nodded and said, "I heard that Lord Ling has a pearl that he wants to pawn for five thousand taels of silver?"

Ling Junyi said, "That's right."

Jin Kaitai said, "Could Lord Ling take it out and let me see it?"

Ling Junyi reached into his robe and took out a pearl strung with gold thread, and handed it over. Jin Kaitai took the pearl, examined it carefully for a while, and then slowly said, "I would like to ask you a question, Master Ling. Would you be willing to tell me?"

Ling Junyi smiled faintly and said, "What does Master Jin want to ask?"

Jin Kaitai's gaze sharpened, and he said, "Does Master Ling know the origin of this pearl?"

Ling Junyi said, "It is a family heirloom of my family."

"A family heirloom?" Jin Kaitai pondered. "What was your father's name, Mr. Ling?"

Ling Junyi replied, "My father passed away many years ago. When you inquired about him, I wonder if it was related to this bead?"

Jin Kaitai said, "I was just asking casually. Hmm, Mr. Ling always carries a sword case, so you must be a martial artist?"

Ling Junyi said, "I have some knowledge of fist and sword techniques, and I'm

new to the martial world." A glint of light flashed in Jin Kaitai's narrow eyes, and he nodded and smiled, "Mr. Ling, you seem to be from a martial arts family

, aren't you?" Ling Junyi said, "My father and mother were not skilled in martial arts. My own rudimentary skills were learned from my master."

Jin Kaitai said "Oh," and asked, "What was your master's name, Mr. Ling?"

Ling Junyi coldly replied, "My master has no name and doesn't wish for it to be known."

Jin Kaitai stroked his white beard. The young man nodded and said, "Master Ling, perhaps you are a reclusive and eccentric figure who prefers to remain unknown."

Ling Junyi said, "Master Jin inquired about my background and origins based on a bead passed down in my family. If he wasn't interested in this bead, then he must have some doubts about it..."

Jin Kaitai paused slightly, then chuckled and said, "Master Ling misunderstands."

Ling Junyi paused again, then continued, "I have answered Master Jin's questions truthfully. I would also like to ask Master Jin about something. Would you be so kind as to grant me your request?"

Jin Kaitai still smiled and said, "Please speak, Master Ling."

Ling Junyi said, "I think Master Jin may have seen a bead similar to mine?"

Jin Kaitai's expression changed slightly, and he smiled and said, "Since Master Ling is a member of the martial arts world, he must have heard of the 'Pearl Token' that is widely circulated in the martial arts world." Ling Junyi nodded and said, "

That's right. I came to Kaifeng to see the legendary 'Pearl Token' that's so famous in the martial arts world."

A strange look crossed Jin Kaitai's face as he asked, "Did you see it, Master Ling?"

Ling Junyi raised an eyebrow and laughed heartily, "Then we'll have to ask if Old Master Jin would be willing to lend it to me."

Jin Kaitai's expression changed, and he said angrily, "Master Ling, what are you saying? I have no 'Pearl Token' here!"

Ling Junyi said, "When I set off, I heard that Abbot Leshan of the Medicine King Hall of Shaolin Temple had disappeared, leaving behind a 'Pearl Token.' The Abbot of Shaolin has already given the token to Old Master Jin. Could it be just a rumor?"

Jin Kaitai's eyes narrowed with a cold glint as he asked in a deep voice, "Who told you this?" Ling

Junyi remained calm and replied leisurely, "From my master."

Jin Kaitai said coldly, "From your tone just now, I thought your master was a reclusive master who had never set foot in the martial world..." He didn't finish his sentence, but it clearly indicated, "So your master is just a martial artist who likes to spread rumors."

Ling Junyi laughed loudly, "My master has always liked to meddle in other people's business. He was like that thirty years ago, and he's still like that now."

Jin Kaitai frowned and asked: "Who exactly is your master?"

Ling Junyi said, "As I just mentioned, my master has no title. If Elder Jin insists on asking, then the only answer is to look for it in my martial arts techniques."

Jin Kaitai's face showed anger, and he snorted, "So, you didn't really come here to pawn the bead?"

Ling Junyi laughed heartily, "Likewise, Elder Jin summoned me, but perhaps not really to discuss pawning the bead with me?"

Jin Kaitai said with a sullen expression, "What an arrogant young man." Over the years, no one had ever dared to be so presumptuous in front of him, no wonder he was angry.

Ling Junyi laughed loudly and said, "My master has never put anyone in his eyes in his entire life. I am his only disciple, so who would I put in my eyes?"

These words made Jin Kaitai's face change drastically. He laughed angrily and said, "Very well, I'd like to see whose disciple you are!" He put the pearl in his hand on the table and said, "Since you didn't come to pawn the pearl, please keep it safe."

Ling Junyi said, "Old Master Jin is right." He reached out and took the pearl, putting it in his pocket.

Jin Kaitai's eyes flashed with a cold light as he said in a deep voice, "Shi Jie."

Zheng Shi Jie bowed and said , "Disciple is here."

Jin Kaitai instructed, "Since Lord Ling has come for my sake, why don't you exchange a few moves with him? Perhaps I can discern his lineage from that."

Zheng Shi Jie replied, "Disciple obeys." After speaking, he turned to Ling Junyi, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "If Lord Ling wishes to offer his guidance, please go outside the hall; the space is more spacious."

Ling Junyi smiled slightly and said, "Verifying martial arts is not..." "With spears and halberds, fighting on horseback, a few steps are enough. Let's spar a bit in the hall; Old Master Jin can see it more clearly then."

Zheng Shijie coldly smiled and said, "Since Master Ling thinks the hall is enough to show off, I have no objection." As soon as he finished speaking, he cupped his hands and said, "Then please, Master Ling, give me your moves."

Ling Junyi looked at him and smiled, "I never strike first, Master Zheng, there's no need to be so polite." He clearly didn't take Zheng Shijie seriously.

Zheng Shijie was Old Master Jin's first disciple, and among the lay disciples of Shaolin, he could be considered the best. Now, being so disrespected by Ling Junyi, he couldn't help but feel very angry. He smiled and said, "Then I'll have my hairpin." He secretly took a breath, his right hand raised to his chest, ready to strike.

Jin Kaitai shouted, "Shijie, wait!"

Zheng Shijie quickly withdrew his stance and bowed, saying, "What are your orders, Master?"

Jin Kaitai said, "Lord Ling is a guest from afar; you mustn't strike too hard." "Not too hard" meant not to kill him, but to teach him a lesson.

Zheng Shijie said, "Disciple obeys." He turned around, his left fist raised, and swung it across his chest, saying, "Lord Ling, be careful." His left hand flashed, and his right fist aimed straight for Ling Junyi's left shoulder, using a "piercing flower fist" technique.

Ling Junyi neither dodged nor yielded, waiting for Zheng Shijie's fist to approach before slightly shifting his body, stepping forward half a step with his left foot, and striking Zheng Shijie's right shoulder with his left hand. This move was incredibly fast; although the strike was light, Zheng Shijie's fist missed its mark, and he couldn't stop his momentum, staggering forward five steps.

Jin Kaitai's expression changed slightly, because Ling Junyi's technique was very similar to "Pushing the Dragon into the Sea" from the "Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands" of his sect, except that he used it with a reverse hand. The "Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands" is ranked twelfth among the seventy-two arts of Shaolin. It is a profound technique that was comprehended by the disciples of Bodhidharma from the "Yi Jin Jing" (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic). It is not taught to lay disciples except for the disciples who protect the temple. Zheng Shijie, as the eldest disciple of Master Jin, was pushed back several steps by a palm strike in the first move. Naturally, he lost face. He snorted and spun around, launching a counterattack with a series of palm strikes. He suffered a great loss in the first move, so he changed his stance and used the Shaolin "Tiger-Taming Palm Technique," a martial arts masterpiece known for its fierce and powerful style. When unleashed, it is extremely powerful. Each palm strike brings a whistling wind through the air and has the power to shatter stone tablets, hence the name "Tiger-Taming Palm."

Ling Junyi remained unfazed, standing still with his feet planted firmly on the ground. He merely shifted his upper body slightly to the left and right, easily dodging the two palm strikes. However, Zheng Shijie, enraged, launched a third attack, a "Leopard's Gallbladder" strike, aimed at Ling Junyi's left ribs with lightning speed. This move was incredibly fast; the two were extremely close, and Ling Junyi, having already shifted to the left while dodging the second strike, was unable to evade further. Zheng Shijie watched with a cold smile, channeling his energy into his right arm and accelerating the strike. Just as his palm was about to touch Ling Junyi's clothes, he suddenly felt a tight grip on his right wrist. He was startled and tried to struggle, but it was too late. It all happened in an instant. Ling Junyi, still smiling, flicked his left hand, sending Zheng Shijie, a tall figure, flying several feet into the air.

Zheng Shijie, a high-ranking lay disciple of Shaolin, was naturally skilled. He immediately used the Thousand-Pound Drop technique, landing firmly on his feet. His purple face flushed red, and he forced a smile, saying, "Master Ling is indeed brilliant."

He was about to leap again when Jin Kaitai, with his sharp eyes, recognized Ling Junyi's second move as the "Feigned Indifference" technique from the "Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands," and it was used with his left hand. Jin Kaitai's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, "Could he be that old man's successor?" Before Zheng Shijie could leap, Jin Kaitai hurriedly shouted, "Shijie, stop!"

Hearing his master's shout, Zheng Shijie hurriedly lowered his hands and stood respectfully, saying, "Master, this..." He wanted to say, "This cannot be considered a defeat for your disciple."

Jin Kaitai stopped him, saying, "There's no need to continue. You are no match for Brother Ling." Zheng Shijie dared not say more, but he was truly unwilling to accept defeat.

Jin Kaitai ignored him, suddenly stood up, his face beaming, and cupped his hands to Ling Junyi, saying, "Brother Ling, please sit down."

His sudden change from "Lord Ling" to "Brother Ling" made his tone much more intimate. Zheng Shijie was secretly astonished, but he could guess that his knowledgeable master would surely recognize Lord Ling's background. Ling Junyi smiled casually and indeed sat down in his original seat.

Jin Kaitai looked at Ling Junyi earnestly and said, "This old man would like to ask you a question, brother. Would you be so kind as to grant me your request?" He even changed "this old man" to "this humble one," clearly showing that he regarded this young man with new respect and dared not presume upon him.

Ling Junyi asked, "What does Elder Jin wish to ask?"

Jin Kaitai replied, "I wish to ask if your master is a monk?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "As I just mentioned, my master has no name and does not wish for anyone to know. I am deeply sorry that I cannot answer Elder Jin's question."

Jin Kaitai quickly said, "It is alright. Since Brother Ling is unwilling to speak, how could I dare to ask further?" He paused slightly, then focused his gaze and asked, "So, Brother Ling, you have truly come for the 'Pearl Token'?"

Ling Junyi said, "That's right."

Jin Kaitai then asked, "Brother Ling, could you elaborate?" Ling

Junyi replied, "If you insist on asking, I have no choice but to tell you. My mother suddenly disappeared at the end of last year..."

Jin Kaitai exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? Was your mother also a martial artist?"

Ling Junyi said, "No, my mother didn't know martial arts."

"Your mother didn't know martial arts?" Jin Kaitai asked in astonishment, "That's strange. Could it be that you believe your mother's disappearance is also related to the 'Pearl Token'?"

Ling Junyi said, "I didn't know that at first. My master told me that Master Leshan, the abbot of the Medicine King Hall of Shaolin Temple, disappeared, leaving behind a pearl. He asked me to come to Kaifeng to find you, Master Jin, to see if the 'Pearl Token' is similar to the pearl passed down in my family." Jin

Kaitai said, "The matter of Senior Brother Leshan's disappearance is a secret of Shaolin Temple, and practically no one in the martial arts world knows about it. Since Brother Ling has come under the guidance of his master, I cannot hide it from you. When Senior Brother Leshan disappeared, a 'Pearl Token' was indeed found in his meditation room. Because Shaolin monks rarely travel in the martial arts world, the abbot entrusted me with the task of investigating Senior Brother Leshan's whereabouts. This pearl is indeed with me." He then stood up and said, "Brother Ling, please sit down. I will go and fetch the Pearl Token."

Ling Junyi said, "Please, Elder Jin."

Jin Kaitai turned and hurried towards the side door. A short while later, he emerged from behind the screen carrying a yellow cloth bag and returned to his chair. Opening the yellow cloth bag, he found a small wooden box. He carefully opened the box, took out a pearl the size of a thumb, and said, "Brother Ling, this is the 'Pearl Token'." Ling

Junyi took it and examined it closely. He saw that this "Pearl Token" was also strung with yellow thread, with a vermilion "Token" character on the front. It was almost identical to his family's heirloom bead, except for the size. Even the knot on the gold thread was exactly the same. There was only one difference: the "Token" character on his own bead was engraved with double lines, meaning that the characters were outlined with fine lines along both sides, a technique known as double-line engraving, or hollow characters. However, the "Pearl Token" in front of him only had extremely fine lines engraved on it.

Ling Junyi's gaze sharpened, and he asked, "Has Grandpa Jin found any clues?"

Jin Kaitai shook his head slightly and said with a wry smile, "Even though Brother Ling is unwilling to reveal the origins of our sect, the fact that your master sent you to Kaifeng to find me shows that our connection is very deep. To be honest, Shaolin lay disciples have established as many as forty-five escort agencies across the country, not counting branches. For the past three months, I have ordered all my disciples in various places to keep a close watch and have also launched searches in various places. Not only is there no news of Senior Brother Leshan, but we haven't found a single clue about the 'Pearl Token' either. I think I've thought of something..." He stroked his white beard with one hand, and his voice suddenly stopped.

Ling Junyi asked, "What is it that you're thinking about, Master Jin?"

Jin Kaitai didn't answer, pondered for a while, and then asked with focused attention, "Does your mother know how to use poison?"

Ling Junyi was taken aback, then smiled faintly, "As I said, my mother is not a martial artist, so naturally she wouldn't use poison."

Jin Kaitai continued, "Then is

your mother skilled in traditional Chinese medicine?" Ling Junyi answered without hesitation, "My mother doesn't know anything about medicine either."

Jin Kaitai coughed lightly and said, "That's strange. They seem to have no reason to kidnap your mother."

Ling Junyi said, "I don't understand what you mean, Master Jin."

Jin Kaitai nodded slightly and smiled, "This is my judgment based on three recent events in the martial arts world. Now, your mother is neither a martial artist nor skilled in poison, and yet she has suddenly disappeared. And your master instructed you to come find me. Given your master's abilities, if he believes it's related to the 'Pearl Token,' then it must be related." "But then my old deduction is invalid."

Ling Junyi said, "What is your deduction, Master Jin? May I hear it?"

Jin Kaitai said, "After Senior Brother Leshan disappeared, news spread throughout the martial arts world that the two old leaders of the 'Lingnan Wen Family' and the 'Sichuan Tang Clan' also mysteriously disappeared at the end of last year, and they also left behind a 'Pearl Token'. This proves that the three disappearances, though separated by thousands of miles, were actually the work of the same group of people."

Ling Junyi said, "My mother disappeared, how could the thieves not have left a 'Pearl Token'?"

Jin Kaitai continued, "Of the three who disappeared, the 'Sichuan Tang Clan' is famous throughout the world for its poisons and hidden weapons; the 'Lingnan Wen Family' is known for its sleeping potions; and Senior Brother Leshan presided over the Medicine King Academy and devoted his life to the study of medicine." Therefore, I deduce that the purpose of kidnapping these three people is nothing more than two points…”

Ling Junyi’s expression shifted, and he asked anxiously, “What are the two points?”

Jin Kaitai said, “First, there is an extremely important person among these people who has been poisoned by some kind of deadly poison and is unconscious. He may have already taken various antidotes, but none of them have been effective. Therefore, the only way to treat him is to kidnap the old leaders of the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Lingnan Wen Family, as well as Senior Brother Leshan. This is the good side, because although they kidnapped three people, their purpose is to rescue him.” "

Ling Junyi asked, "What about the bad side?"

Jin Kaitai replied, "Secondly, and also badly, these people have ulterior motives. They kidnapped three people to coerce the two old masters, Tang and Wen, into handing over their ancestral secret recipe..."

Ling Junyi asked, "And why did they kidnap Master Leshan?"

Jin Kaitai sighed slightly and said, "The Shaolin Temple's secret recipe, 'Xuan Tan Wan,' can cure all kinds of poisons. The method of preparation has been passed down through generations, and only the abbot of the Medicine King Academy knows it. They kidnapped Senior Brother Leshan, naturally for the recipe of 'Xuan Tan Wan.' That's a minor matter. If they had kidnapped other skilled physicians besides the two old masters, Tang and Wen, and Senior Brother Leshan, it would be even more terrifying." "

Why?" Ling Junyi asked

. Jin Kaitai replied, "That proves that these people are carrying out a huge conspiracy. They kidnapped people skilled in poisons, sedatives, and medicine to create some terrible drug to harm more people." He then added, "These people are elusive and leave no trace. If they didn't leave this 'Pearl Token,' wouldn't they leave no trace at all?" Suddenly, his gaze sharpened, and he asked, "Brother Ling, do you know the origin of this pearl passed down in your family?" Ling

Junyi replied, "I don't know. Since I was old enough to understand, I've always worn this pearl." Jin

Kaitai asked, "Didn't your master tell you anything about it?"

Ling Junyi replied, "No." He then stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Jin. I'll take my leave now."

Jin Kaitai said, "Brother Ling, please sit for a while longer. " "I have one more thing to tell you,"

said Ling Junyi. "What else do you have to say, Elder Jin?"

Jin Kaitai replied, "Besides the Tang Clan of Sichuan and the Wen Family of Lingnan, there is another family in the martial world renowned for their poisons..."

Ling Junyi asked, "Which family is it?"

Jin Kaitai said, "Longmian Manor. However, they never roam the martial world and are little known. As far as I know, the 'Pearl Token' group hasn't yet made a move against Longmian Manor. You might want to keep an eye on them."

Ling Junyi said, "Thank you for your guidance." After speaking, he took the blue cloth bag from the chair, slung it over his shoulder, and strode out.

Jin Kaitai escorted him all the way down the steps before his eldest disciple, Zheng Shijie, saw him off on his behalf. Zheng Shijie had followed his master for over a decade and knew that this young man surnamed Ling was someone of great importance. After seeing Ling Junyi off and returning to the flower hall, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, did you figure out his background?"

Jin Kaitai's expression was solemn as he slowly said, "He showed two moves, both from our sect's 'Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands,' and he used them with his backhand. If I'm not mistaken, he might be..."

Zheng Shijie exclaimed in surprise, "Master, are you saying he's a descendant of that grandmaster uncle?" Jin Kaitai didn't speak, but simply nodded.

Legend has it that over fifty years ago, a chivalrous thief emerged in the martial arts world. A chivalrous thief is one who is both a hero and a thief. He was righteous and chivalrous, yet also robbed the rich to help the poor. Because of his swiftness, high martial arts skills, and elusive nature, people only knew his name but never saw him, and naturally, no one knew his true identity. Therefore, everyone nicknamed him "A Gust of Wind," saying that he came and went like a gust of wind. "A Gust of Wind" had a strange temper: he hated evil as if it were his enemy. Corrupt officials, wicked bureaucrats, and local bullies—if he encountered them, he would not let them go easily. Those ruthless and wicked criminals in the martial arts world who met him were especially vulnerable; at best, they would lose their martial arts skills, and at worst, they would be killed on the spot, with no chance of survival. Later, for some unknown reason, "A Gust of Wind" suddenly disappeared from the martial arts world. It turned out that he had become a monk at the Shaolin Temple in Henan, taking the Dharma name Datong. Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye. It's said that the Buddhist order is vast, and one could lay down the butcher's knife and instantly become a Buddha. However, one day, he was recognized by an enemy whose martial arts had been crippled as the former "A Gust of Wind." Shaolin Temple has strict rules, and the monks, upon hearing that he was the infamous "A Gust of Wind," felt he had tarnished the temple's reputation. Discussions raged, and some advocated stripping him of his martial arts and expelling

him from the temple. Monk Datong was naturally furious, saying, "Buddha, since you forbid me from laying down the butcher's knife, I don't want to become a Buddha. However, my martial arts skills weren't learned at Shaolin Temple, so you can't take them away. As for what I learned at Shaolin, I can simply not use it after leaving Shaolin."

Monk Datong left Shaolin Temple just like that. Of course, some monks tried to stop him, but after twenty years of quiet cultivation in the temple, his martial arts skills were unmatched. No one in Shaolin Temple could stop him. From then on, the martial arts world gained a peculiar hero who hated evil and called himself Monk Datong. The martial arts he used, of course, also followed the Shaolin style, but he used his left hand, going against the Shaolin methods. Therefore, everyone called him "Reverse-Handed Tathagata," and this was thirty years ago. In terms of seniority, "Reverse-Handed Tathagata" was the senior uncle of the current Shaolin abbot, and naturally, also the senior uncle of "Golden Cauldron" Jin Kaitai.

The sky wasn't completely dark yet, but Kaifeng was already ablaze with lights, the streets bustling with pedestrians, and the clanging of carriages and horses filling the air. At this moment, a young man in a blue robe, carrying a blue cloth bag on his shoulder, was crossing a side street, heading towards the end. There happened to be a narrow alley here, and in the dim light at the alley's entrance stood a person. His face was obscured, but anyone standing in the darkness at this time was either a thug or someone from a respectable background. This person saw the young man in blue approaching, hunched his shoulders, and stared intently at him.

The young man in the blue robe gradually approached. As he passed by the alley entrance, the man instantly spotted what he was looking for on the young man. A purple silk sash was tied around the young man's waist, and on his left side hung a bright pearl strung on silk. The pearl was about the size of a longan. Without hesitation, the man hurriedly stepped forward, catching up with him and saying with a forced smile, "Sir, this is your letter." The

young man in the blue robe paused, abruptly stopping. His piercing eyes, like two frost-covered blades, stared directly at the man's face. The man quickly shoved a secret letter into the young man's hand and turned to leave. The young man in the blue robe was none other than Ling Junyi. He held the secret letter in his hand, feeling a sense of unease. He casually opened it and glanced down, only to see a line of hastily written characters: "To the one-eyed man outside the Black Ridge River Temple."

Ling Junyi was startled again, quickly thinking, "This secret letter isn't for me; this person has clearly mistaken me for someone else." Thinking this, he immediately looked towards the messenger, but the delay had caused him to vanish without a trace.

A thought struck Ling Junyi: "Judging from the tone of the letter, it's probably someone from the martial arts world delivering something. I've come here to investigate the 'Pearl Token,' should I go to the Black Ridge River Temple to find out?" Then he thought, "The secret letter clearly states that the item should be given to the one-eyed man outside the Black Ridge River God Temple. I have nothing to give, so what use is it for me to go? Besides, if the secret letter falls into my hands, the person delivering the item won't be able to deliver it without it." With this thought, he immediately realized that the reason the man had mistakenly given him the secret letter was because the person delivering the item looked similar to him. Why didn't he wait here and see if anyone who looked like him would come along and have him deliver the item to the River God Temple? Wouldn't that be better?

He moistened the secret letter with some saliva, sealed it again, retreated to the alley entrance, took the blue cloth bag off his shoulder, placed it in a dark corner, then bent down, grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground, smeared it haphazardly on his face, and leaned against the alley entrance wall, waiting quietly. A short while later, a figure appeared on the west side of the street, walking towards them. It was a man in blue, carrying a long cloth bag on his back. He was tall and slender, and because of the distance, his face was not clearly visible. The man in blue walked slowly, but with his head held high and an air of nonchalance. In the blink of an eye, he was almost at the alley entrance. Ling Junyi looked up and saw that the man was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, quite handsome, but with a stubborn expression and a cold face.

Ling Junyi waited until he had passed the alley entrance before catching up, saying, "My lord, this is your letter." He handed over the secret letter with both hands.

The man in blue paused slightly, took the letter with one hand, and without even turning his head, casually swung his palm at him. Ling Junyi was caught off guard by the sudden attack. He was about to parry when a thought struck him: "He's trying to silence me; I can't fight back." His mind raced, and he took a deep breath, protecting his vital points to withstand the blow.

A sharp "clang" rang out. The blue-clad man, without even turning his head, struck with pinpoint accuracy, his palm landing squarely on Ling Junyi's chest. Ling Junyi let out a muffled groan and fell backward. The blue-clad man, without even looking back, continued walking forward.

Ling Junyi, secretly astonished by the blow, thought, "I didn't realize he used such a powerful internal martial arts technique." Once the man was far away, Ling Junyi immediately leaped up, grabbed the blue cloth bag, slung it over his shoulder, and followed at a distance.

The man in blue, of course, had no idea someone was following him. He walked leisurely, and upon reaching the north city wall, he was greeted by a wall several meters high. He stomped his feet, his body piercing the clouds like an arrow, leaping onto the wall in one bound, then gracefully descending to the ground below. Ling Junyi watched in astonishment: "Leaping four or five meters high isn't much for martial arts masters, but this young man's skill is so remarkable." He grew increasingly suspicious and wondered what the man in blue had delivered.

With a thought, he leaped up and landed lightly on the wall. Looking up, he saw a figure, swift as an arrow, rushing northward. Ling Junyi dared not be careless. He inhaled his inner energy, landed, and used his lightness skill to pursue the man in blue, following him at a distance. After traveling for about ten miles, they came to a small hill, which turned out to be Black Ridge. The man in blue reached the foot of the hill, his flight suddenly slowed, then he raised his head and walked slowly up the hill.

Ling Junyi watched with amusement, thinking, "This man is putting on airs; he's probably very arrogant."

Having arrived at Black Ridge, the River God Temple was naturally located there. Ling Junyi wanted to see what the man had given to the one-eyed man, so he couldn't stray too far. Fortunately, this yellow earthen hill was covered with a dense thicket of mixed trees. Ling Junyi slipped into the woods, using the trees for cover, and quickly climbed the hill. He then saw a yellow wall emerging from the trees on his left; this was the back of the temple. The River God Temple's gate faced north, overlooking the Yellow River. Ling Junyi didn't know the one-eyed man's identity or background, so he dared not be careless. Still using the trees for cover, he quietly slipped past from the right. The River God Temple consisted of only three buildings. Ling Junyi circled around to the right of the temple gate and indeed saw a one-eyed old man dressed in gray standing quietly in front of the temple. After a while, a man in blue slowly approached.

The one-eyed old man hurriedly stepped forward, bowing repeatedly and smiling obsequiously, "I have been waiting here for quite some time on the orders of the River God."

The man in blue coldly said, "Your left eye is blind, but your right eye is still intact."

The one-eyed man smiled obsequiously, "Yes, yes, I am blind in the left, but not in the right."

The man in blue said, "Very good." He reached into his robes and took out a small paper package, handing it over, and then said, "This is of great importance; you must be careful."

The one-eyed man took it with both hands and bowed repeatedly, saying, "I understand."

The man in blue said, "Good, when you arrive in Huaiyang, someone will tell you where to send it."

The one-eyed man bowed again and said, "I know." The man in blue coldly snorted, his feet stomping as he soared into the air, a figure disappearing like lightning down the mountain.

Ling Junyi, hidden nearby, clearly heard their conversation and thought to himself, "What could be in this little package? He's so careful. The one-eyed man is a messenger; I wonder where he'll deliver it next, and to whom?" Then he thought, "If the man in blue hadn't received the secret letter I gave him, he wouldn't know who to deliver it to either. Therefore, the little package must contain either a priceless treasure or something highly confidential." The more suspicious he became, the less he wanted to let it go, determined to find out the truth no matter the danger. While

he pondered, the one-eyed man had already hurriedly left. Judging from his gait, Ling Junyi's skills weren't particularly impressive, far inferior to the man in blue. Tracking such a person would be effortless for Ling Junyi, given his extensive martial arts training. However, Ling Junyi was meticulous. Considering the twists and turns of the evening and the mysterious nature of these people, he deduced that if the small paper package contained something extremely valuable and confidential, it wouldn't be entrusted to a blind man with such poor martial arts skills. There might even be a hidden expert escorting it. With this in mind, he dared not be too careless. Only after the blind man had gone far away and he was certain no one was lurking around did he slip out of the forest and head down the mountain. The blind

man walked quickly, and Ling Junyi followed at a distance, not daring to get too close. To avoid attracting attention, he even put away the pearl his master had instructed him to wear on his left waist. That night, the one-eyed man traveled seventy or eighty li (approximately 35-40 kilometers), and by daybreak, he had reached Ku County and headed into the city. Ling Junyi followed him into the city. The one-eyed man seemed very familiar with the streets, first eating a bowl of soy milk and some rice cakes at a street stall before entering a small inn called Xinglong at the end of the street.

Ling Junyi knew he had been traveling all night and needed rest, so he sat down at a wonton stall opposite the inn and ordered a bowl of wontons. Just then, a man wearing a felt hat and gray clothes walked from the street towards the inn. Judging from his light and quick steps, he was clearly a skilled traveler, and his decision to stay at an inn at this time indicated that he had also been traveling all night. Ling Junyi's heart stirred, thinking, "Could this man be an accomplice of the one-eyed man?"

After finishing his wontons, he took out some coins, paid the bill, and went into the inn. The inns in this small place were mostly frequented by peddlers and laborers; they all left by dawn, making this the quietest time of day.

As soon as someone entered, the innkeeper hurried over to greet him: "Sir, you are…?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Looking for a room."

Hearing this, the innkeeper bowed repeatedly, saying, "Yes, yes, sir, please follow me." He then led Ling Junyi inside.

As they walked, Ling Junyi asked, "How's business at your inn?"

The innkeeper replied, "Our prices are cheap, so business is pretty good." He then added with a smile, "If more people like you come in the morning, our business will be even better."

This was true; those who stayed the night before had left early, and now others were coming to stay—one room was practically equivalent to two. As they spoke, the innkeeper opened a guest room and said, "Sir, how is this room?"

Ling Junyi nodded, "It's fine."

The innkeeper said, "I'll go make you some tea." He was about to leave when…

Ling Junyi asked, "Do you usually have very few people coming to stay here in the morning?"

The innkeeper had no choice but to stop and replied, "Those who come to stay in the morning are all people who traveled at night the previous night. Recently, the area has been quite unsettled, so there aren't many people traveling at night..." Suddenly, he chuckled and said, "This morning, there are three of you, including you, sir."

Ling Junyi said "Oh," and casually asked, "Where are they staying?"

The innkeeper replied, "Our inn only has six rooms here. The two large rooms opposite are bungalows. This room is number three, sir. The other two gentlemen arrived before you, so they are naturally in rooms number one and number two."

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "So that means the one-eyed man is in room number one, and the man in gray is in room number two."

The innkeeper quickly left and, after a while, returned with a pot of tea, smiling obsequiously, "Sir, your tea is here." He had already poured a cup of tea for Ling Junyi and placed it on the table.

Ling Junyi deliberately yawned and said, "I'm going to sleep. Close the door for me, no need to serve me anymore." The waiter readily agreed, left the room, and closed the door behind him.

Ling Junyi could tell that the gray-clad man next door was still awake. He thought, "If this man isn't an accomplice of the one-eyed man, then he's like me, here to track him down." He picked up a teacup, took a sip, then undressed and went to bed.

With his martial arts skills, even if he was fast asleep, he wouldn't miss the slightest movement from the two people in the next room. Since they would have to pass by his door to leave the inn, he would hear their footsteps. So he slept peacefully. He hadn't been asleep long when he suddenly heard a furious snort from the next room: "Good heavens, you're quite slippery."

Though the words weren't loud, they were enough to startle Ling Junyi awake. He sat bolt upright, listening intently. He heard the gray-clad man in the next room push open the back window, hiss, and leap out. Ling Junyi thought to himself, "Could the one-eyed man have already left?"

Each of the three rooms had a back window, which he had already checked upon entering. Outside was a narrow alley; it was clear the gray-clad man had already caught up. Ling Junyi quickly got out of bed, gently opened the window, and jumped out. Sure enough, the back window of room number two was wide open, and the gray-clad man was nowhere to be seen. Looking at room number one, the window was ajar, and the one-eyed man was also gone. Ling Junyi

silently felt ashamed. If it weren't for the gray-clad man's curse, he wouldn't have noticed anything. It seemed his experience in the ways of the world was still lacking. Back in his room, he slung his sword sheath over his shoulder and went out. The innkeeper, seeing Ling Junyi emerge, rushed to greet him, asking in surprise, "Sir, aren't you leaving soon?"

Ling Junyi replied, "That's enough. I have other matters to attend to. Oh, waiter, I'll pay for room number one too." He had seen the gray-clad man in room number two leave silver on the table, but the blind man in room number one hadn't even paid.

The innkeeper asked curiously, "Do you know that old gentleman?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "From the same village."

The innkeeper settled his bill. Ling Junyi had heard the blue-clad man mention someone waiting for him in Huaiyang. From here to Huaiyang was an official road, so he left the city and hurried south.

Around noon, he arrived at Longqu, a small town with only one noodle shop at the town entrance facing the main road, catering to travelers and merchants. It was midday, and the small noodle shop was already quite crowded. Ling Junyi stepped inside, his gaze sweeping around. The shop was small, with only four or five tables, each occupied by two or three people. The one-eyed man sat at the left-hand table, having ordered a pot of wine and a plate of braised dishes, and was eating and drinking with his head down. At a table near the door sat a man in gray, who, seemingly afraid of being recognized, had deliberately pulled his felt hat low, but Ling Junyi recognized him quickly.

As soon as Ling Junyi entered, the waiter quickly came to greet him, leading him to an empty seat at a table in the middle, pouring him a cup of tea, and asking what he would like to eat. Ling Junyi also ordered a pot of wine and a plate of snacks. After the waiter left, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced around briefly. The diners were all traveling merchants, except for the one-eyed man and the gray-clad man, who were江湖人士 (jianghu figures, people of the martial arts world).

Just then, a man dressed in a blue cloth robe entered the shop. This man was tall and thin, with a yellowish-green complexion. He stepped inside, his eyes flashing, and sat down at a table near the entrance. He tapped three fingers on the table with his right hand and shouted loudly, "Hey, waiter!" Though his tapping was light, the food and wine on the table jumped up.

The gray-clad man, who was eating and drinking, was immediately splattered with food and wine. This time, the gray-clad man could no longer tolerate it. He pushed up his felt hat, wiped his face, glared at the blue-clad man, and angrily snorted, "Friend, didn't you see someone else sitting at this table? You should be a little quieter!"

The man in blue had no smile on his face and said coldly, "You think I'm too rough? Why don't you move it to another table?"

The man in gray, seeing that he not only showed no remorse but actually wanted to move it to another table himself, felt a surge of anger and snorted, "You slammed the table and splashed wine and vegetables all over my face, is that my fault?"

The man in blue said indifferently, "I told you to move it to another table, what's wrong with that?" The diners in the noodle shop, hearing the two arguing, all looked at them.

A glint flashed in the gray-clad man's eyes, and he laughed loudly, "Friend, you're acting so aggressively, you're clearly looking for trouble."

The man in blue spat and said, "Looking for trouble? Do you think you're worthy?"

The shopkeeper hurriedly came over, his face full of smiles, "Gentlemen, this is a misunderstanding, we're all just travelers..."

The gray-clad man suddenly stood up, reached into his long robe and pulled out a goose-feather knife with a whoosh, shouting, "Come on, let's go outside and have a go."

The man in blue sneered, "You want to fight me? Unless you're tired of living."

The gray-clad man snorted angrily, "I wonder who's tired of living."

The man in blue said coldly, "I've already warned you. Since you're courting death, you can't blame me."

As he spoke, his left hand flicked slightly, and a flash of blue light shot straight towards the gray-clad man's throat, not only incredibly fast but also silently. Just then, a wine cup suddenly flew out from the side, intercepting the green light with a "clink," grazing past the gray-clad man's side, and then crashing into the wall with a "bang." Everyone turned around and saw a small, greenish-blue arrow, about two inches long, piercing the bottom of the cup and embedding itself in the wall. Although the bottom of the cup was pierced, it did not break.

The gray-clad man's expression changed, and he roared angrily, "My friend, how dare you attack me from behind!" Suddenly, he lunged forward, his left hand reaching out to grab the green-clad man's shoulder. The green-clad man

sneered, and with a flick of his left hand, before anyone could see clearly, the gray-clad man had already retreated two steps, a bloody gash appearing on the back of his left hand, the wound tinged with green. He only opened his mouth, but without uttering a word, he slowly sat down on the ground. It all happened in an instant. The man in green didn't even glance at the man in gray, but his fierce eyes turned towards the person inside, landing immediately on Ling Junyi. He coldly asked, "Was it you who threw that wine cup just now?"

Ling Junyi replied, "That's right. I can't stand your underhanded tactics."

The man in green said coldly, "Young man, you'd better mind your own business."

Ling Junyi slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the man in gray, and asked, "What's wrong with this friend?"

The man in green said coldly, "He'll be dead in about the time it takes to eat a meal."

Ling Junyi angrily said, "Did you tamper with him?"

The man in green sneered, "You're right, he's been poisoned. Of course, he's going to die."

Ling Junyi's face turned cold, and he asked, "Where's the antidote?"

The man in green said, "Of course we have the antidote."

Ling Junyi said, "Then..." "Hurry up and hand it over."

The man in blue laughed loudly, "What a joke! If I gave him the antidote, I wouldn't have had to hurt him!" Ling Junyi

said, "A life for a life, a debt for a debt. You hurt him, so naturally you have to hand over the antidote. Do you really want to take his life over a few words?"

The man in blue said, "He deserves to die."

Ling Junyi said in a deep voice, "I want you to hand over the antidote."

The man in blue glanced at Ling Junyi and said coldly, "I advise you to stop making trouble for yourself. It would be a pity to lose your life at such a young age."

Ling Junyi's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, and he shouted, "A life is at stake! I want you to hand over the antidote immediately."

The man in blue nodded and said, "Young man, if you insist on getting involved, then I'll tell you, the antidote is in my pocket. If you have the ability, just come and take it."

Ling Junyi said, "Very well." He walked over slowly.

The man in blue sneered, and with a whoosh, his right hand slashed down at him. Just as Ling Junyi was about to capture him and find the antidote, he saw the man swing his palm to strike. Ling Junyi's left hand reached out to grab the man's wrist. His grab contained several subtle variations, but the man in blue moved with incredible speed. Before his right palm could strike, he suddenly withdrew it, while his left hand flashed out again, attacking Ling Junyi's right ribs. Ling Junyi's hand sank, changing his grab to a parry, striking downwards. Their wrists clashed, and both men took a step back. Ling Junyi felt the man in blue's right wrist was hard and cold, as if he had struck an iron rod, and he was secretly horrified.

The man in blue stepped back, not immediately attacking, but merely smiled coldly and waved his hand, saying, "Young man, you forced me to take action. Now you should go back and prepare for your funeral."

Ling Junyi asked, "What did you say?"

The man in blue replied, "You have twelve hours to live, after which you will surely die. Hurry up and prepare for your funeral; there's still time."

Ling Junyi raised an eyebrow, staring at the man in blue, and said coldly, "You poisoned me?"

The man in blue sneered, "You touched my wrist."

Ling Junyi asked, "Your hand is poisoned?"

The man in blue said, "You're right."

A strange light flashed in Ling Junyi's eyes, and he smiled arrogantly, "Since you have repeatedly used poison to injure people, I really can't let you go today." Suddenly, he lunged forward, his left hand, with fingers like hooks, grabbing at the man in blue's right arm.

The man in blue was greatly astonished to see that Ling Junyi, despite being poisoned, could still fight back. Especially considering Ling Junyi's young age and extraordinary skill, displaying the demeanor of a master, the man dared not let him seize his vital points. He suddenly lowered his shoulders and spun around, avoiding Ling Junyi's attack. Ling Junyi's right palm was in front of his chest, while he swiftly seized with his left hand, targeting vital acupoints with unparalleled skill. It was clear at a glance that his art was learned from a renowned master. The man in blue dodged three moves in succession. He thought that after Ling Junyi launched a few attacks, the poison in his body would take effect, so there was no need to entangle with him. Therefore, he dodged three moves. Seeing that he could not dodge the fourth move, he automatically offered his left arm.

Ling Junyi grabbed the man in blue's left wrist, but felt that the man's hand was icy cold, as if he had grasped an iron rod. Looking closely, he saw that the man's left hand was greenish-blue, with five fingers like steel hooks, revealing sharp iron claws. It turned out that the man's left hand was actually a prosthetic hand made of steel, clearly coated with deadly poison. Ling Junyi tightened his grip on the iron hand, sneering, "You actually use an iron hand as a weapon, and it's even coated with deadly poison. You're truly vicious."

The man in blue struggled, but didn't budge an inch. He was even more shocked. Without saying a word, he swiftly raised his right hand and slashed at Ling Junyi's chest. Ling Junyi met the man in blue's right palm with his own. With a "clang," their palms collided, and the man in blue was forced back a step, but his iron hand was still firmly held by Ling Junyi.
Chapter 2 Blue-Clad Master and Servant

The man in blue was both anxious and furious. He shouted and rushed forward, his right wrist swinging repeatedly. In a short time, he unleashed three attacks with his right palm. His three moves were swift and precise, as fast as lightning, forcing Ling Junyi to retreat two steps. However, his left hand remained firmly in place, dragging the man in blue forward two steps. Taking advantage of this momentary opening, Ling Junyi immediately counterattacked, launching three more attacks—finger strikes and palm strikes—all deadly. His left hand tightly gripped the man in blue's iron hand, both men only having one right hand to defend themselves.

These close-quarters combat moves, though not displaying overwhelming power, were incredibly dangerous to experts, a matter of life and death hanging in the balance. The speed of their attacks and the swiftness of their strikes were like lightning; several exchanges occurred in the blink of an eye. The man in blue was astonished that his opponent, a young boy, possessed such superior martial arts skills. What shocked him most was that his left hand was extremely poisonous; anyone who came into contact with even a small amount would suffer immediate effects. However, Ling Junyi had been holding his iron hand tightly, and the man hadn't noticed a thing. For a moment, Ling Junyi had forced him to defend himself, leaving him almost unable to retaliate.

Just as he was retreating, a cold, stern voice suddenly shouted, "Stop!"

The man in blue hurriedly said, "Please let go, sir."

Ling Junyi paused his right-hand attack, but his left hand remained firmly gripping the blue-robed man's iron hand. He asked, "Who is it?"

The blue-robed man struggled, shouting angrily, "Why aren't you letting go?"

Ling Junyi replied, "Hand over the antidote, and I'll release you immediately."

The blue-robed man, unable to break free, panicked and swung his right palm towards Ling Junyi's chest. Ling Junyi stood still, but his robes suddenly fluttered. The blue-robed man's palm strike was like hitting water, seemingly real yet unreal. It felt like something was there, yet nothing was there; the force of his palm strike was impossible to apply. Startled, Ling Junyi pulled his left hand to the left, while his right hand flashed out, striking the blue-robed man's right shoulder and back. He released his left hand, throwing the blue-robed man to the ground. The blue-robed man had no strength to resist and crashed to the ground with a thud, unable to move for a long time.

Ling Junyi stared at the man in blue, coldly asking, "Will you hand over the antidote or not?"

From the moment someone shouted "Stop!" to the man in blue's attack and being thrown to the ground, only a few words had passed. The same cold voice had said, "Good technique."

Ling Junyi looked over and saw a man in blue standing at the door, hands behind his back. This man was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, handsome, carrying a long cloth bag on his shoulder. He stood there, his face cold and his expression extremely arrogant. It was none

other than the man in blue he had encountered in Kaifeng. At this moment, the man in blue had gotten up from the ground and respectfully bowed to the man in blue, saying, "This humble one greets the young master." The man in blue was, after all, his young master. The man

in blue coldly snorted, "You've caused trouble here again?"

The man in blue said, "This humble one wouldn't dare."

The man in blue waved his hand, and the man in blue obediently stepped aside. The man in blue glared at Ling Junyi with two chilling eyes and said coldly, "We seem to have met somewhere before?"

Ling Junyi replied, "I have never traveled the martial world."

The man in blue asked, "What is your name, sir?"

Ling Junyi did not answer but asked, "Is he your servant?"

Seeing that he had given an irrelevant answer, the man in blue was furious, and a murderous intent flashed between his brows. He said coldly, "That's right. I wonder what he did to offend you?"

Ling Junyi smiled arrogantly, "After my servant entered the shop, he got into a dispute with someone and immediately fired a poisoned arrow, which was..." "My wine cup slipped, but fortunately no one was injured. I didn't expect him to use his poisoned iron hand to try and kill me. I feel that to kill someone over a few words is far too cruel, so I demand he hand over the antidote."

The man in blue had a cold expression on his face. He glanced at the man in green and snorted, "Is that so?"

The man in green dared not speak. The man in blue said, "Hurry up and give him the antidote."

The man in green dared not disobey. He reached into his robe, took out a flat porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, and handed it over. Ling Junyi took the pill and nodded to the man in blue, saying, "Thank you, sir."

The man in blue glanced at the man in gray lying on the ground and asked, "Is he your friend?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "We don't know each other." He then said to the waiter, "Waiter, pour me a cup of water."

The waiter readily agreed and poured a cup of tea. Ling Junyi pried open the man in gray's teeth and fed him a pill. At this moment, the one-eyed man had already quietly stood up, paid his bill, and left.

The man in blue looked at Ling Junyi and coughed lightly, saying, "Your skills are extraordinary. May I ask which sect you belong to?"

Ling Junyi smiled calmly and said, "I am Ling Junyi, and I do not belong to any sect."

The man in blue chuckled, "Well said, 'Does not belong to any sect.'" He turned to the man in green and said, "Let's go." He turned and walked out, with the man in green following closely behind.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "He really has been following the one-eyed man all along, secretly protecting him." He suddenly remembered that he had just given his name and should ask the man's name as well.

At this moment, the man in gray stood up, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Ling Junyi, and said, "Thank you for saving me, sir. I am deeply grateful."

Ling Junyi returned the gesture and smiled, "Brother, you're too kind."

The man in gray took out a small silver ingot and called to the waiter, "Pay this gentleman's bill as well; keep the change." The waiter took the silver and thanked him profusely.

The man in gray clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I have urgent business to attend to and cannot delay you any longer.

Please excuse me for taking my leave." Ling Junyi, seeing that he had saved the man's life and that the man hadn't even asked his name before hastily leaving, clearly afraid of being questioned about his background, thought to himself, "I'm afraid you don't know that the blue-clad man's master and servant are from the one-eyed man's faction, secretly protecting him." But he couldn't say this outright, so he simply smiled faintly and said, "Brother, please go ahead if you have business to attend to."

The man in gray clasped his hands again and strode out of the shop. Watching him disappear into the distance, Ling Junyi felt even more strongly that the small paper package the one-eyed man had given him must be something very important. He lost his appetite for drinking and, once the man in gray was far away, he also got up and left the shop, heading out of town. He knew that his display of skill at the noodle shop had likely attracted the attention of the blue-clad man, which would be inconvenient for his future actions. In the blink of an eye, he left the town and, after traveling a short distance, found himself facing a dense forest. Without hesitation, Ling Junyi darted into the woods.

Just as he entered the forest, a sharp shout rang in his ears: "Who goes there? Stop right there!"

The voice barely faded before a blur of movement and a fragrant breeze swept over him. A pair of slender, white hands, as delicate as jade, swiftly pushed towards his chest. Before Ling Junyi could even see the figure clearly, his left hand gripped the wrist that had been pushed towards him.

A sharp cry of surprise rang out as the wrist trembled and pulled back. Another shout followed: "You audacious scoundrel, let go!"

A three-inch embroidered shoe silently flew towards him. This series of events occurred in the instant Ling Junyi had vanished into the forest. Ling Junyi heard a clear, crisp shout, and grasped a smooth, fair wrist. Startled, he quickly released his grip and leaped backward. Looking closely, he saw a girl in light blue clothes standing at the edge of the woods. Her cheeks were flushed, and her clear eyes were wide with anger and shame. She shouted, "You scoundrel! Are you blind?"

Ling Junyi stared at the girl in blue, momentarily stunned. He hadn't noticed and had grabbed her wrist. He had intended to apologize, but the girl's scolding made him furrow his brow slightly. He thought, "I didn't see anyone when I slipped into the woods. She must have seen me enter and then came to greet me. Besides, she attacked first. If I hadn't grabbed her hand, wouldn't I have been slapped? Thinking about it, I haven't done anything wrong." With that thought, he couldn't help but smile slightly.

Seeing that he was only staring at her with lecherous eyes and remained silent, the young woman in green grew even angrier. No, her face flushed even more; she now saw clearly that before her stood a handsome young man with a jade-like face and red lips, standing there with undeniable charm. No, his slight smile was utterly despicable. He had clearly taken advantage of her and was now gloating. This only fueled her anger further; her pretty face instantly darkened, and she coldly snorted, "You lewd scoundrel, what are you laughing at? I think you're tired of living."

Ling Junyi's eyes flashed with a chilling light as he coldly asked, "Who are you insulting, young lady?"

The young woman in green put one hand on her hip and pointed at Ling Junyi, saying, "I'm insulting you. I can tell at a glance that you're no good."

Ling Junyi, angered by her insult, coldly retorted, "Does the young lady have any sense of reason? I believe I have not offended you." "You suddenly barged in front of me, attacked me, and started cursing. Am I still in the wrong?"

The girl in green retorted, "Reason? You're not blind. Where did you get your military service from?"

Ling Junyi replied, "I have already been very tolerant. You should be more polite. Even if this grove belongs to you, you should make it clear that no one is allowed to enter..."

The girl in green's face suddenly flushed red, and she snapped, "I won't let you in, and that's final!"

Ling Junyi asked, "Why?"

The girl in green replied, "No reason, you just barged in, so I'm teaching you a lesson."

Seeing her unreasonable behavior, Ling Junyi coldly smiled and said, "I won't stoop to your level." He turned and walked away.

The girl in green turned pale with anger and stomped her feet repeatedly, saying, "Stop right there!"

Ling Junyi suddenly turned around, raised his sword-like eyebrows, and said in a deep voice, "What else do you want, young lady?"

The girl in green said, "You bullied me, you can't just leave so easily."

Just then, a sweet, bell-like voice came from the woods, "Xiao Yan, who are you arguing with?"

Xiao Yan's face lit up with joy, and she called out, "Alright, Miss is coming out."

A slender figure in a peach-colored dress, a beautiful and charming young girl, had appeared in the woods. Ling Junyi's eyes lit up. This girl not only had a slender, graceful figure, but also a fair complexion with a rosy glow, a face as delicate as a lotus blossom, and eyebrows as graceful as willow branches. Her clear, bright eyes shone with an irresistible charm. She was simply ethereal, beautiful beyond compare, untouched by worldly concerns. Ling Junyi's handsome face suddenly flushed red. Only now did he understand why the girl in green, Xiao Yan, had been guarding the entrance to the forest, preventing him from entering—it was because this beautiful girl was inside.

Upon seeing the beautiful girl, Xiao Yan immediately bowed and said, "Miss, this madman is so audacious."

Before she could finish
, the beautiful girl frowned slightly and stopped her, saying, "Xiao Yan, you mustn't speak hurtfully."

Xiao Yan said, "Miss, he..."

The beautiful girl glanced at Ling Junyi with her bright eyes and said, "I heard everything. You attacked him first, didn't you?"

Xiao Yan hurriedly said, "That's him..."

The beautiful girl said, "No need to say anything more.
Go forward and apologize to this gentleman."

Xiao Yan seemed greatly surprised, her face flushed red with anxiety, and she protested, "Miss, he bullied me, grabbing my hand..."

The beautiful girl said, "Don't say any more, hurry up ..." "Apologize to them."

Xiao Yan blinked, glancing at her young mistress and then at Ling Junyi. She seemed to understand something, pursed her lips, and smiled as she replied, "Yes." She walked up to Ling Junyi, curtsied, and said sweetly, "My young mistress has asked me to apologize to you, sir."

Ling Junyi smiled slightly and said, "Miss, it's all said, why take it so seriously?"

Xiao Yan glanced at him and chuckled softly, "Look at you, if you had been this easygoing earlier, we wouldn't have argued."

Ling Junyi smiled and turned to leave when a sweet voice called out, "Sir, please wait." The voice was like a silver bell, and one could immediately tell it came from the beautiful young lady.

Ling Junyi immediately stopped involuntarily, his eyes fixed on the beautiful girl. He clasped his hands in greeting and said, "May I ask what brings you here, young lady?"

Xiao Yan replied, "My mistress has summoned you; naturally, she has something to discuss."

The beautiful girl said, "Xiao Yan, don't be nosy." Her face flushed slightly, and she said softly, "I see that you, sir, possess extraordinary skills. May I ask your honorable name and how you should address me?" It turned out that she had stopped him simply to ask his name.

Ling Junyi said, "My name is Ling Junyi."

Xiao Yan blinked and asked, "Is it Shuangmu Lin?"

Ling Junyi said, "No, it's Ling as in 'Soaring Ambition.'"

Xiao Yan then asked, "What are the two characters of your esteemed name, sir?" This time, the beautiful girl didn't stop her, clearly wanting to hear more clearly as well.

Ling Junyi said, "The 'Jun' in 'gentleman' means 'to achieve results,' and the 'Yi' in 'to achieve results' means 'perseverance.'"

Xiao Yan tilted her head and asked, "What does 'achieve results' mean?"

The beautiful girl smiled sweetly and said, "These are two sentences from the 'Zuo Zhuan': 'Killing the enemy is the result, achieving results is perseverance.'" Xiao Yan said

, "Oh," and laughed, "This servant understands. It means that Master Ling is very capable and has the art of killing enemies."

The beautiful girl chuckled and lightly scolded, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xiao Yan said, "Am I wrong?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "The 'Yi' in my name means decisive perseverance."

Xiao Yan pouted and said, "Why didn't you just say 'perseverance' earlier?" She paused, glanced at the beautiful girl, and said coquettishly, "My young lady's surname is Wen..."

Ling Junyi cupped his hands and said, "So you are Miss Wen. My apologies for my rudeness."

Xiao Yan chuckled. She chuckled, "I haven't finished yet. Miss's given name is Wan Jun, and it shares a character with your husband's name. Isn't that a coincidence?"

The beautiful girl blushed and softly called out, "Xiao Yan." This "Xiao Yan" contained a hint of obstruction, but if she really wanted Xiao Yan to say it, she should have stopped her earlier. This is called: "Her words seem to express regret, but in reality, she is deeply pleased."

Xiao Yan retorted, "Miss asked for Master Ling's name, so naturally she should tell Master Ling her name as well." Wen Wan Jun rolled her eyes at her, but before she could speak, a long, piercing whistle suddenly rang out from afar.

Wen Wan Jun's expression changed slightly, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Uncle is looking for me! What should we do?"

Xiao Yan said, "The Second Master might be coming soon. In my humble opinion, Miss and Master Ling should quickly hide in the woods."

Wen Wan Jun gazed tenderly at Ling Jun Yi, her mouth opening and closing, but she hesitated to speak. Seeing the expressions of the mistress and maid, which seemed somewhat panicked and flustered, Ling Junyi remained standing still and asked, "Why do I need to hide?"

Wen Wanjun suddenly sighed softly and said, "My uncle has a bad temper." Her gaze fixed on the distance, she said, "I hope my uncle doesn't find this place." As soon as she finished speaking, a long howl echoed from the distance, clearly much closer than before.

Wen Wanjun looked terrified and hurriedly said, "Husband Ling, time is short, come with me quickly." She turned to leave, but didn't move her feet, looking back at Ling Junyi.

Ling Junyi was full of suspicion, but seeing the pleading look on Wen Wanjun's beautiful face, he felt a pang of pity and nodded, saying, "Alright, I'll go hide in the woods for a while."

Wen Wanjun glanced at him gratefully, her cheeks flushing, and turned to disappear into the woods. Ling Junyi hesitated for a moment, then followed her. Xiao Yan followed closely behind the two, also disappearing into the woods. Just as the three of them slipped into the forest, they saw two dark

figures approaching in the distance, seemingly flying. Ling Junyi thought to himself in surprise, "Who are these two? Judging by their lightness skill and martial arts prowess, they must be highly skilled." As he pondered this, he suddenly felt a soft hand gently pulling his right hand, and a clear, melodious voice said in his ear, "Husband Ling, my uncle is almost here. Quickly, crouch down."

Ling Junyi felt a strong fragrance of pollen fill his nostrils, his heart pounded, and he unconsciously crouched down, hiding in the bushes. But he couldn't suppress his curiosity and secretly peeked outside. In the blink of an eye, the two figures streaked across the sky like arrows, instantly landing on the path outside the forest. One was a thin, elderly man in his fifties, dressed in a square bronze robe with a silk sash around his waist. He had a ruddy complexion, high cheekbones, and piercing eyes, and carried a broadsword slung over his shoulder. He was clearly Wen Wanjun's uncle. Behind him followed a young man in a yellow robe, who appeared to be in his early twenties. He was quite handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a face like jade, and lips as red as painted vermilion, though his lips were a little thin and his nose somewhat hooked.

As Ling Junyi observed him, he noticed that Wen Wanjun was holding his slender hand, not letting go but gripping it even tighter, as if it were trembling slightly. He immediately returned the grip, and Wen Wanjun's face flushed even more.

The old man's piercing gaze swept quickly across the room. He stroked his sparse beard and coughed lightly, saying, "Wan'er and the others clearly came this way."

The young man in yellow replied respectfully, "Uncle is right. I just wonder if Wan'er will encounter any trouble?"

The old man coughed lightly, then turned around and smiled, "Nephew, you can rest assured. With Wan'er's skills, she can go anywhere in the martial world. What's there to fear? Perhaps they're resting in town. Come with me to town and take a look." The young man in yellow bowed and replied, "Yes." The two figures quickly darted towards the town.

Ling Junyi thought to himself, "It seems these two are looking for Miss Wen. Why is she hiding from them?" Thinking of this, he couldn't help but turn his head to look. He saw what appeared to be tear stains on Wen Wanjun's cheeks, which made him even more puzzled.

Wen Wanjun seemed to sense something, quickly releasing her slender hand and gracefully standing up, her cheeks flushed. She said shyly, "I was just a little scared. Please forgive my rudeness, Mr. Ling."

Ling Junyi straightened up and said, "Please don't mind, Miss." He paused, then asked with concern, "Is your uncle very fierce?"

Wen Wanjun shook her head slightly and said, "No, my uncle is very kind to me, but... but I don't want to go back..."

Xiao Yan said anxiously, "Miss, the Second Master and Mr. Xiao are looking for us. We should leave quickly."

Wen Wanjun retorted lightly, "I know, I don't want to go back, and no one can force me."

Ling Junyi hurriedly said, "Since you don't want to see your uncle, Miss, it's indeed not advisable to stay here any longer.

" Wan Jun said, "It's alright to stay a little longer. Actually, I'm not avoiding Uncle..." She paused slightly, her beautiful eyes fixed on him, and asked with deep affection, "I see that you, Master Ling, are quite young. You're probably just starting out in the world, aren't you?"

Ling Junyi replied, "That's right, this is my first time venturing out."

Wen Wan Jun suddenly smiled, reached out and took a light green silk pouch from beside her. Inside was a small, flat, white jade bottle. She handed it to him casually, her face slightly flushed, and said softly, "Master Ling and I met by chance, and I have nothing to give you. This is a secret recipe from the Han family called the 'Clear Mind Pill,' which is specially used to counteract all kinds of sleeping potions and aphrodisiacs. Master Ling, please take it with you when you travel the world; it might come in handy." She turned and walked away with her head down, without mentioning that she had woven the pouch herself.

Ling Junyi was taken aback, then immediately understood, saying, "You are so kind, Miss. I don't know how to thank you enough."

Xiao Yan followed closely behind her mistress, walking out of the woods, turning back to say, "Master Ling, we're leaving now. You must come to Lingnan to see my mistress in a while."

As their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, Ling Junyi stood before the woods, lost in thought. He played with the light green silk pouch, faintly smelling a delicate fragrance, and seemed to still faintly hear Xiao Yan's voice saying, "This was woven by my mistress. When Master Ling sees this pouch, it's as if he sees my mistress."

Just then, he suddenly heard someone coldly say, "Friend, what are you holding in your hand?"

Ling Junyi was highly skilled in his field, and how could he not notice someone approaching? It was because he was new to love, and now, holding the gift from his beloved, he was reminded of her, and couldn't help but drift into a reverie. Startled by these words, Ling Junyi quickly looked up and saw a young man in yellow standing before him, a cold smile on his lips, his sharp eyes fixed on the silk pouch in his hand. Ling Junyi immediately recognized the man as the same young man who had appeared in front of the forest with Uncle Wen Wanjun earlier, and hurriedly stuffed the silk pouch into his robes.

The young man in yellow coldly shouted, "Wait! I'm asking you what you're holding!"

Ling Junyi arrogantly replied, "Are you speaking to me?"

The young man in yellow smiled deeply and said, "Is there a third person here?"

Ling Junyi said, "We're complete strangers. What brings you here?"

The young man in yellow impatiently said, "I'm asking what you were holding just now."

Ling Junyi smiled faintly and said, "It's my thing. Why bother asking?"

The young man in yellow said, "It looks familiar. Show it to me."

Ling Junyi said, "I'm afraid I can't comply."

The young man in yellow's expression changed several times. He suddenly took a step forward and said in a deep voice, "Will you hand it over or not?"

Ling Junyi raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly, "Do you intend to use force?"

The young man in yellow seemed to be pondering something, as if he hadn't heard Ling Junyi's words. After a long while, he said, "Could it be hers?" Her? He was naturally referring to Wen Wanjun.

Ling Junyi's face flushed unexpectedly, and he asked, "What are you talking about?"

The young man in yellow suddenly shouted, "That's right, it's something Wanjun wears." As soon as he finished speaking, two murderous gazes fixed on Ling Junyi's face, and he shouted sharply, "Where did you get that silk pouch? Tell me!"

Ling Junyi said, "What business is it of yours where I got it?" The

young man in yellow seemed very agitated, and coldly retorted, "Something from the Wen family of Lingnan, how did it end up in your hands?"

"The Wen family of Lingnan," could it be that Miss Wen's surname is Wen? Ling Junyi said, "I don't know the Wen family of Lingnan. This silk pouch was a gift from someone."

The young man in yellow changed his expression drastically and hurriedly asked, "Who was that person?"

Ling Junyi said, "A friend."

The young man in yellow said, "I asked you who you are?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "My friend. Even if I told you, you wouldn't know."

The young man in yellow asked urgently, "Tell me, what's her surname?"

Ling Junyi said, "Wen."

The young man in yellow pressed, "Is she male or female?"

Ling Junyi smiled and said, "She's my cousin."

The young man in yellow said, "Show me." "Look, as long as it's not Wen's property, I'll return it to you."

Ling Junyi shook his head slightly and said, "You're making things difficult for me..."

The yellow-robed youth's gaze sharpened, and he said coldly, "So, you're saying you're going to refuse a toast only to suffer a penalty?"

Ling Junyi laughed arrogantly, "Sometimes, refusing a toast only to suffer a penalty is quite interesting."

The yellow-robed youth said coldly, "Since you want to suffer a penalty, I'll grant your wish." Suddenly, he flicked his wrist and pointed straight at Ling Junyi's chest, shouting, "Lie down!" With a single flick, he targeted a vital point, showing how ruthless he was.

Ling Junyi laughed arrogantly, "I'm afraid not." As soon as he finished speaking, he subtly shifted to the side, dodging the attack. Just as he flashed away, he suddenly felt a hidden force of a fist strike his chest.

Ling Junyi had already circulated his inner energy to protect himself. Although the punch came suddenly, it was blocked by his protective inner energy, and he was fortunate enough to escape injury. However, he was greatly surprised and said, "When did this punch come out? It's so fast!" Looking up, he saw that the yellow-robed youth's right fist was clenched and held in front of his chest, not striking. Upon seeing this, he was even more impressed and secretly exclaimed, "Invisible Fist!"

The yellow-robed youth saw that his "Invisible Fist," which he had casually unleashed, had clearly struck the opponent's chest, yet the opponent seemed completely unaffected, standing still. His expression changed slightly, and he thought, "So he has cultivated protective inner energy." This happened in an instant. Although both of them were shocked, they did not stop fighting.

The yellow-robed youth sneered, his right fist transformed into a palm, and he swiftly struck Ling Junyi's left shoulder. With a flick of his left wrist, his index and middle fingers struck the "Qi Hai" acupoint with lightning speed. Ling Junyi slightly shifted his body, his right hand executing a "Raging Dragon Pushing Clouds" move, meeting the yellow-robed youth's right hand head-on. His left hand, seemingly parrying, then suddenly tightened its grip with a "Reversed Dragon Horn" technique, easily seizing the yellow-robed youth's index and middle fingers. These two moves were lightning-fast. First, with a "snap," Ling Junyi's right palm struck the yellow-robed youth's right palm.

The yellow-robed youth felt an extremely strong shockwave in Ling Junyi's palm, involuntarily being forced back half a step to the right. At the same time, he felt his left index and middle fingers tighten, being pulled back by Ling Junyi. Thus, the two who were originally facing each other were now facing away from Ling Junyi, the yellow-robed youth's left hand behind his back, his body turned around. Ling Junyi then lightly kneed him in the buttocks with his right knee, releasing his grip with his left hand, sending the yellow-robed youth flying forward four or five steps.

Ling Junyi didn't pursue the matter, and coldly laughed, "Sorry, you'll have to drink the penalty wine yourself."

The young man in yellow suddenly turned around, his handsome face ashen. With a clang, he drew a dazzling silver sword and demanded sharply, "Show me your weapon!" Ling

Junyi sneered, "I have already shown mercy. Are you still unwilling to back down?"

The young man in yellow roared, "Today, it's either you or me! Let's settle this with our weapons!"

Ling Junyi's brows furrowed, and he asked, "Is this necessary?"

The young man in yellow's face was filled with murderous intent, and he coldly said, "No need for words. If you don't show your weapon, I will take your life anyway."

Ling Junyi laughed heartily, "Since that's the case, then there's no need for pretense. Just go ahead and do your thing."

The young man in yellow snorted, "Fine, watch out." With that, he thrust his sword forward.

Seeing the young man's sword strike, which produced a resounding hum and three large, bowl-sized sword flowers, Ling Junyi couldn't help but exclaim, "Excellent swordsmanship!" He took a slight breath and abruptly retreated three feet.

The young man in yellow, seeing that he had only retreated three steps to avoid the sword's attack and still hadn't drawn his weapon, became even more enraged. He smiled coldly, lunged forward, and swung his longsword, unleashing three consecutive strikes. Although he only struck three times, they scattered countless sword shadows, like surging waves, rapidly approaching. Ling Junyi laughed loudly, swiftly raising both hands to grab at the sword shadows. A precious sword capable of cutting through gold and jade—Ling Junyi dared to grab its blade with his bare hands! This time, even the usually arrogant and conceited young man in yellow was taken aback. Although he usually looked down on everyone, he was still a disciple of a martial arts family, well-informed and experienced. A thought flashed through his mind: "This kid wouldn't dare to lightly wield his sword unless he had a unique technique."

Before understanding his opponent's method, how could he let Ling Junyi grasp the longsword? He swiftly retreated half a step, flicking his wrist, sending hundreds of silver threads flying from the sword tip, unevenly arranged, descending upon Ling Junyi. This move, "Ten Thousand Willow Silks," almost completely covered all of his opponent's acupoints. If mastered to its highest level, it could strike thirty-six major acupoints with a single strike—one of the seven renowned ultimate moves of the "Southern Xiang Xiao Family."

The yellow-robed youth's sword strike had barely begun when Ling Junyi roared, his right hand slashing out with a palm strike, while his left hand flashed forward, grabbing the opponent's longsword. The palm strike and the grab were almost simultaneous. With a single palm strike, the wind howled through the air, swift as lightning, lifting the hundreds of silver strands of the yellow-robed youth's hair like willow branches swaying in the wind, sending them flying out the door. At that very moment, his left hand was about to grasp the hilt of his sword. The yellow-robed youth never dreamed his opponent's skill would be so profound. His heart jolted, and he quickly inhaled and leaped back several feet. Little did he know that Ling Junyi's palm strike and grab were of great origin. The palm strike was the "Muni Mudra," derived from the Buddhist martial art "Yi Jin Jing." The grab was "Bare-Handed Dragon Fighting," a move from the "Twelve Dragon-Capturing Hands," only he used his left hand, the opposite of the Shaolin technique.

Just as the young man in yellow leaped back, a figure suddenly appeared before them in

the woods. This person arrived silently and, before the two could make another move, hurriedly shouted, "Stop right now!" Ling Junyi turned to look and saw that the newcomer was wearing a bronze robe with a silk sash around his waist. It was the red-faced old man, Wen Wanjun's uncle.

A hint of joy flashed across the young man's face, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "Uncle has arrived."

The red-faced old man's piercing eyes scrutinized Ling Junyi, and he asked, "Who is this young man? Why are you fighting?"

The young man in yellow said, "I don't know who he is. I only saw the silk pouch he was playing with, which is something Wanjun always carries. So I went up to ask him where it came from, but he hesitated and refused to take it out."

Ling Junyi said, "Nonsense! It was a gift from my cousin. What does it have to do with you?" He was right. All girls in the world wore silk pouches. How could he show something his cousin had given him to an outsider?

The red-faced old man stroked his white beard and smiled slightly, saying, "You two are both young and impetuous. This is a misunderstanding. Once it's cleared up, it's over. It's not a deep-seated grudge, so why fight to the death?"

The young man in yellow said, "But the silk pouch in his hand clearly belongs to Wanmei. I would never mistake it."

Ling Junyi sneered, "You're simply going too far. Is your family the only one in the world with silk pouches?"

The red-faced old man chuckled and said, "That's exactly what you're arguing about. In short, it's youthful impetuosity. Neither of you is willing to back down, so naturally, things are getting more and more tense. Come, come, a fight can lead to friendship. You two are both young talents. Let's clear things up. How about I act as a mediator for you?" Saying this, he turned to Ling Junyi with a smile and said, "I am Wen Yixia." Then he pointed to the young man in yellow and said, "This is Xiao Qiqing, the sixth son of the Xiao family of Nanxiang, known as 'Golden Ring Sixth Son.'" As he spoke, he secretly winked at the yellow-robed youth whose face was still ashen, then looked at Ling Junyi and asked, "Where is my brother? Where is your immortal home? What is your esteemed name?" Ling Junyi

replied, "I am Ling Junyi from Yingzhou."

Wen Yixia said, "Brother Ling, your skills are extraordinary. May I ask how you address the famous and renowned first monk of the martial arts world, 'Reverse-Handed Tathagata'?" It seemed he had already seen through the situation.

Ling Junyi was secretly horrified, thinking, "This person is not only extremely skilled in martial arts, but also very knowledgeable. He immediately saw through my origins. But even if you see my lineage, how do you know that my master intentionally instructed me to show it off? My master said that showing off one's lineage is precisely the way to conceal one's true origins, and even he himself knows nothing about his true origins."

Ling Junyi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Senior Wen is indeed referring to my master."

A look of surprise flashed across Wen Yixia's face, and he chuckled, "Brother, you are indeed a disciple of the extraordinary monk. It's a pleasure to meet you." "A pleasure to meet you." Then, his gaze lingered, and he said, "So, your master is still alive? I wonder where he is now?"

Ling Junyi replied, "My master's whereabouts are unpredictable; I don't know either."

Wen Yixia nodded repeatedly, saying, "In the past, your master roamed the martial world like a dragon in the clouds, appearing and disappearing without a trace. I was just asking casually."

Ling Junyi cupped his hands and said, "I have other important matters to attend to and cannot delay. Please excuse me for taking my leave."

Wen Yixia smiled and said, "Brother Ling, if you have something to do, please do so." Ling Junyi nodded to the two of them and walked away.

Wen Yixia watched Ling Junyi go into the distance, a sinister smile flashing across his face. He turned to Xiao Qiqing and said, "Let's go down with him."

Xiao Qiqing said, "Uncle also suspects this kid..." He still couldn't get over the silk pouch that Ling Junyi had been playing with.

Wen Yixia nodded slightly, uttered a soft "hmm," and said, "I believe there must be a reason for this lad's appearance here." Without waiting for Xiao Qiqing to ask further questions, he hurriedly gave chase.

Ling Junyi traveled swiftly, running for a while before suddenly stopping. His eyes darted around rapidly, and he vanished into a grove of trees by the roadside. He had been tracking the blind man, and because of his display of skill at the Longqu Noodle Shop, he feared he had attracted the attention of the man in blue, which might hinder his future actions. Therefore, after leaving Zhennan, he intended to find a secluded place to disguise himself, but unexpectedly encountered Wen Wanjun and her maid. Although Xiao Yan had falsely claimed to be surnamed Wen to conceal her whereabouts, Ling Junyi now knew they were from the Wen family of Lingnan.

Ling Junyi was the sole successor of the Reverse-Hand Tathagata, a renowned chivalrous thief in the martial arts world before becoming a monk at Shaolin Temple. Masters of disguise, Ling Junyi naturally inherited this skill. He slipped into the forest, found a secluded spot, and immediately began to disguise himself. Before long, he had transformed into a country old man with graying temples and a goatee. He packed his belongings, concealed his longsword, and was about to leave the forest when he suddenly heard two people walking and talking outside.

Ling Junyi stopped abruptly. He heard a young man's voice say, "That kid is quite slippery. He clearly came from this path, how could he disappear so quickly?"

Then an aged voice rang out, coldly laughing, "Actually, we don't necessarily have to follow him. I just feel..." He only felt something... the voice faded into the distance, becoming indistinct. Needless to say, the old man and the young man were Wen Yixia and Xiao Qiqing, the Sixth Master of the Golden Ring.

Ling Junyi was taken aback, thinking to himself, "So they actually followed me down. This truly fits the saying, 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.'" He then smiled smugly and said, "If I were to be followed by you, I wouldn't be a successor of the 'Reversed Hand Tathagata.'"

He arrived in Taikang at dusk. Taikang was a strategically important city, but it only had two main streets, though it was fairly bustling. There were only three inns in the city, none of them large. Ling Junyi strolled around the streets and quickly spotted the blue-clad man and his servant eating and drinking in a restaurant. He didn't go in to disturb them. He then spent some spare change and made dealings with the staff of the three inns, and soon found the one-eyed man's lodgings. It was in a dirty, small inn on a side street. So Ling Junyi stayed at this inn. And, with the innkeeper's arrangement, he stayed in the room opposite the one-eyed man.

Nothing was said that night. The next morning, before the one-eyed man had even gotten out of bed, Ling Junyi had already left. He went outside the city to a secluded spot, changed his clothes again, and disguised himself as a middle-aged merchant. This time, he bought an oiled paper umbrella from a shop, concealed his long sword inside, put it in a cloth bag, leaving only the handle exposed, so that no one would suspect that the bag contained a weapon. Then, carrying the bag, he headed towards Huaiyang.

From Taikang to Huaiyang was only sixty or sixty li, and Ling Junyi, disguised as a middle-aged merchant, naturally couldn't walk very fast, partly to wait for the one-eyed man. Around noon, while stopping for a bite at his hometown market, he saw the one-eyed man hurrying past the shop. Ling Junyi followed him, quickening his pace, and before the sun had even set, he had already arrived in Huaiyang. Ling Junyi, knowing the one-eyed man had arrived at his destination, remained vigilant and continued to follow him at a distance after entering the city. Once inside, the one-eyed man slowed his pace, swaggering through several main streets before entering a restaurant called "Five Blessings Residence."

Ling Junyi quickly followed, his gaze sweeping over the man as he noticed him sitting alone at a table by the window. He then sat down at a nearby table. Night had fallen, the lanterns were lit, and more diners were arriving. The one-eyed man, with his single eye, constantly scanned the crowd. Ling Junyi knew that his earlier wanderings through the streets and his deliberate choice of a prominent seat in the restaurant were primarily intended to attract attention. Having reached Huaiyang, he was now at his destination and unsure who to entrust his belongings to; they would have to find him.

The one-eyed man ordered a pot of wine and ate and drank slowly. Ling Junyi also ordered a pot of wine and ate and drank slowly. The one-eyed man kept an eye on each diner who came upstairs, and Ling Junyi also kept an eye on each diner who came upstairs. But until the diners were drunk and full and went back downstairs, no one greeted the one-eyed man. Now the diners in the restaurant were sparse, and there were hardly any people left. The one-eyed man seemed to have grown impatient and suddenly got up and went downstairs.

Ling Junyi stood up after him, went past the restaurant, and strode out the door, following him at a distance. The one-eyed man suddenly tightened his feet, crossed two side streets, and walked south for about two miles. The area was extremely deserted. After a while, he came to the front of a shrine. He looked back, suddenly leaped over the wall, and entered the shrine.

Ling Junyi followed to the right side of the ancestral hall, subtly leaping over the wall. Looking up, he saw the one-eyed man land in the courtyard, hesitate briefly, then head towards the main hall. Ling Junyi, however, didn't hesitate. He lightly touched the top of the wall with his toes, transforming into a blur of motion, swift as a shooting star, before the one-eyed man could reach the hall. His gaze shifted rapidly, and he darted behind a horizontal plaque hanging high in the main beam—his speed was truly astounding. The hall was spacious, spanning seven rooms. Ling Junyi entered from the right, and the one-eyed man, whose martial arts were mediocre, naturally didn't hear a sound. Apparently, he was a little out of breath from drinking too much. Upon entering the hall, he lay down comfortably on a central altar table.

Not long after he lay down, he suddenly heard two muffled groans outside the shrine. In the darkness of night, all was quiet, so the groans were quite clear. They came from not far outside the shrine, sounding like someone had been ambushed. The one-eyed man was startled and hurriedly sat up. He saw a tall, thin figure appear silently in the corridor in front of the hall, like a ghost, and slowly walk towards the hall.

The one-eyed man, terrified, stammered, "Who..."

Ling Junyi stared intently, recognizing the tall, thin figure as the man in blue with the iron hand in his left arm. The man stopped as he entered the hall, coldly saying, "I've come to deliver a message. So you're called Right One-Eyed?"

Hearing that he was being delivered a message, the one-eyed man hurriedly stepped forward, forcing a smile, "No, no, I'm one-eyed, not one-eyed."

The tall, thin figure snorted, reached into his robes, took out an envelope, and handed it to him, saying, "Take it." The one-eyed man took it, and the tall, thin man, without a word, turned and walked away.

Ling Junyi was secretly puzzled, thinking, "The man in blue delivering a letter to this one-eyed man is quite similar to the situation I had with the man in blue the night before. The letter must be instructing the one-eyed man where to deliver the item. Could it be that it hasn't arrived yet?"

The one-eyed man took the envelope, respectfully saw off the tall, thin figure, examined the envelope carefully for a while, then turned and walked to the altar. With a "snap," he lit a candle, took half a stick of incense from beside the incense burner, lit it over the candle flame, inserted it into the incense burner, and then respectfully placed the letter on the table.

Ling Junyi, hiding behind the plaque, found his actions very strange and was secretly puzzled. He couldn't help but strain his eyes and look down at the envelope on the table. His internal energy was refined, and though the distance was great, he focused his vision and could still clearly see the handwriting on the envelope: "Light the incense and candles on the table, and only open it when the incense has burned out."

Ling Junyi didn't know what kind of mystery the letter writer was playing, but the more he saw it, the more he felt that the small paper package they had been escorting all this way was incredibly mysterious. The incense burned quickly, and the entire hall was filled with a faint fragrance of smoke, which soon dissipated, leaving behind a refreshing aroma. It seemed that the half-burnt incense stick was indeed high-quality Indian agarwood.

As soon as the one-eyed man saw the incense burn out, he immediately took the envelope and opened it. Ling Junyi looked down and saw the one-eyed man pull a note from the envelope. Inside was a white pill, and on the note was a line of scrawled handwriting that read: "Swallow this pill immediately, exit through the south gate, and arrive at the Dragon King Temple before dawn."

The one-eyed man held the white pill in his hand, seemingly hesitant. Suddenly, his upper body swayed, as if he couldn't hold on any longer. He hurriedly put the pill in his mouth, then picked up the note and burned it over a candle flame. Just then, a "ding" sound was heard, and a figure tumbled out of the shrine and fell to the ground.

The one-eyed man was startled, dodging several feet in a flash. His eyes widened as he looked at the man, saying, "No wonder they told me to finish burning the incense before opening it; someone was indeed following me. There's a long-standing order: anyone caught following is killed without mercy. You little brat, don't blame me for being ruthless..." As he spoke, he abruptly drew a sharp, ox-ear-shaped knife from his side and slowly approached.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Stop!" A gust of wind blew, and a stern-faced middle-aged man appeared before the one-eyed man, staring at him coldly. He snapped, "Why don't you get lost?"

His eyes alone were as cold as two sharp swords. The one-eyed man's gaze met his, and he felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly replied, "Yes," and turned to run. This middle-aged man was Ling Junyi. He ignored the one-eyed man, took a step forward, and bent down. The girl in green had her eyes closed, her long eyelashes framed by a delicate, flawless face, as red and radiant as a ripe apple. She possessed a straight, jade-like nose and a small, water-red mouth. This girl was no more than seventeen or eighteen years old, her face still bearing the innocence of youth, charming and adorable.

Ling Junyi understood that the incense stick lit by the blind man was likely a sleeping potion; otherwise, the letter wouldn't have included an antidote, and the girl in green wouldn't have smelled the smoke and retrieved it from the shrine. If it was a sleeping potion, and he had smelled it himself, how could he be unharmed? His mind raced, and he immediately remembered the silk pouch Wen Wanjun had given him, which she said could counteract sleeping potions and intoxicants. He reached into his robes, took out the pouch, and opened the hinge. Instantly, a fragrant aroma wafted out. It turned out that the jade bottle lid had five tiny, plum-blossom-shaped holes, from which the fragrance emanated. Upon closer inspection, the words "Qing Shen Dan" (清神丹) are engraved on the bottle's belly, with another line of smaller characters below: "Made by the Wen Family of Lingnan".

Ling Junzhi quickly unscrewed the bottle cap and discovered that the small jade bottle contained two layers. The upper layer held yellow powder, the fragrance emanating from the tiny holes in the cap. Removing the powder layer, he found half a bottle of tiny black pills, each the size of a sesame seed, underneath. Ling Junyi silently exclaimed "Oh!" He immediately understood. This jade bottle had two layers. The powder on the upper layer, with five tiny holes in the cap, was a special antidote for the sleeping potion. It was contained in a silk pouch, meant to be worn around the neck; once the fragrance emanated from the holes, the sleeping potion would dissipate, rendering it harmless. The pills in the lower layer were for treating sleeping potions. Therefore, if the green-clad girl was under the influence of the sleeping potion, he only needed to bring the bottle to her nose and let her smell it; there was no need to feed her the pills. He immediately capped the jade bottle, then bent down and held the small hole of the bottle to the green-clad girl's nose, allowing her to inhale the medicinal vapors as she breathed.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the green-clad girl suddenly opened her eyes. When she saw herself lying on the ground with a strange man squatting beside her, she was startled and quickly sat up, screaming, "Who are you? What are you doing...?"

Her face turned deathly pale with fright, but as she sat up, she noticed that Ling Junyi was holding a jade bottle and didn't seem to have any malicious intent. Ling Junyi smiled slightly at her and said, "Don't be afraid, young lady. You were just under the influence of a sleeping potion and lost consciousness. What I gave you was the antidote."

The girl in green blushed, her bright, beautiful eyes sparkling. She curtsied to Ling Junyi and said, "Uncle saved me. I don't know how to thank you enough."

Hearing the word "uncle," Ling Junyi was taken aback. He suddenly remembered that he had disguised himself as a middle-aged man, and then smiled wryly, touching his short beard with one hand. He said with a smile, "Young lady, you're too kind. I was just passing by when I encountered a one-eyed man who was about to kill you." "Mother, how can we stand idly by?"

A look of surprise flashed across the green-clad girl's face as she asked, "Uncle said that one-eyed man wants to kill me? I have no grudge against him, why would he want to kill me?"

Ling Junyi said, "That's because he's afraid of leaking secrets, so he's killing you to silence you."

The green-clad girl blinked her eyes and asked curiously, "What secrets does he have? This man is so wicked."

Ling Junyi stared at the green-clad girl, finding her beautiful, lively, charming, and especially captivating. Her voice was clear and melodious, like a warbling nightingale, and he couldn't help but stare at her in a daze. The girl in green noticed Ling Junyi staring at her without speaking, and a slight blush crept onto her cheeks.

She lowered her head and called out, "Uncle." Her call snapped Ling Junyi back to reality. Realizing his lapse in composure, his ears burned. He forced a smile and asked, "Why are you hiding here alone, young lady?"

The girl's face was still flushed. She replied, "I often heard my uncle say that inns are not good places. A young woman alone staying in an inn will be bullied, so I found this ancestral hall..."

Ling Junyi chuckled, "And then you saw the one-eyed man climb over the wall and hide in the shrine?"

The girl hummed in agreement, then her eyes lit up. "Oh, I remember now..." "There was clearly a figure in front of the one-eyed man, who rushed into the hall first, but disappeared in a flash. I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me. It turns out it was you, Uncle. You followed the one-eyed man, didn't you?"

Ling Junyi secretly praised, "This girl is quick-witted and insightful." He then smiled faintly and said, "I was just curious for a moment."

When the girl in green heard that Ling Junyi had indeed followed the one-eyed man and that she had guessed correctly, her face immediately lit up with joy. She hurriedly asked, "Yes, Uncle just said that the one-eyed man wanted to kill me to prevent the leakage of secrets. What secrets does he have? Uncle was just curious, so he followed him to the ancestral hall. I wonder what strange thing he saw?" The girl's curiosity was even more intense.

Ling Junyi said, "He was delivering something for someone. I noticed his strange behavior, so I followed him."

The girl in green wasn't about to let up and pressed, "What is he delivering?"

Ling Junyi replied, "If I knew, I wouldn't have followed him."

The girl in green's eyes widened, and she asked, "Does Uncle know where he's delivering it?"

Ling Junyi said, "It seems to be to the Dragon King Temple outside the South Gate..." At this point, he suddenly realized he shouldn't have told her. The martial world was dangerous; what if she, out of curiosity, secretly followed and was discovered by the blue-clad master and servant? That would be a serious matter. Upon thinking of this, he abruptly stopped speaking, using the excuse of asking, "May I ask your surname, young lady?"

The girl in green replied, "My surname is Fang..." Still preoccupied with the gift from the blind man, she hurriedly said, "The Dragon King Temple outside the South Gate, uncle, we can still catch up if we go now." Sure enough, this little girl was precocious despite her young age and had become curious.

Ling Junyi hurriedly said, "I only came in out of curiosity because the one-eyed man was acting suspiciously. Every gang and sect in the martial world has its own secrets and doesn't allow outsiders to pry into them. Besides, it's at least sixty or seventy li from here to the Dragon King Temple, and I don't want to go. Why should you take that risk, young lady?"

The green-clad girl curled her lip like a red lotus flower and snorted, "I'm not afraid of him at all. If you won't go, I'll go myself. Humph, he used sleeping potion on me; I'll settle the score with him. Otherwise, he'll think I'm easy to bully." Oh no, she's getting stubborn.

Ling Junyi frowned slightly and advised, "He lit the incense only to prevent people from peeping at your secret, not to harm you. Why bother with such a villain? You're out alone; you must have your own business to attend to. Why not rest here for the night and take care of your own affairs?"

The girl in green said, "I'm just out for fun. I have nothing to do. If you're not coming, I'm leaving." She turned to leave, but then seemed to remember something, stopped, turned back, looked at Ling Junyi, and asked, "Excuse me, I forgot to ask your name, sir?" Ling Junyi

replied, "I am Ling Junyi from Yingzhou."

The girl in green said, "I've got it. Goodbye, Uncle Ling."

Seeing her leave so abruptly, Ling Junyi felt a pang of regret. He shouldn't have told her about the blind man going to the Dragon King Temple. What if something went wrong with her, a young woman? Wouldn't he have harmed her? Thinking of this, he quickly called out, "Miss, please wait."

The girl in green had already reached the door, but stopped upon hearing this and turned back to ask, "Uncle Ling, is there something you need?"

Ling Junyi said, "If you insist on going, then come with me."

Hearing that Ling Junyi was willing to accompany her, the girl in green could

n't help but giggle, "Uncle Ling, you're so kind." Her smile was like a lily in full bloom, and two small dimples immediately appeared on her apple-like cheeks, making her smile incredibly sweet. Ling Junyi didn't dare to look at her any longer, turned his head away, and said, "If you're going, then hurry up and go."

The girl in green nodded, and the two walked out of the courtyard. The girl in green deliberately showed off, swaying her shoulders and leaping ahead of Ling Junyi, gracefully soaring into the air and over the high wall. This move, "Purple Swallow Skimming the Waves," was truly agile. Ling Junyi leaped up, laughing loudly, "What superb lightness skill, young lady!"

The girl in green dared not look up, pointing to the corner of the wall, and said, "There are two people over there."

What's so scary about people? Ling Junyi chuckled inwardly, "You only have this much courage, young lady." He comforted her, "Don't be afraid, young lady, let me go and take a look." Looking back, he indeed saw two people lurking in the shadows of the corner.

His eyesight was incredibly sharp; he immediately recognized one of them as the gray-clad man he had seen at the Longqu Noodle Shop at noon, and the other was undoubtedly his companion. Ling Junyi suddenly remembered hearing two muffled groans before the man in green appeared. Could they have already been killed? With that thought, he rushed over and looked down. He saw that the two men were curled up like shrimp, their faces bluish-green. They had indeed been ambushed and poisoned to death. The gray-clad man's felt hat had fallen off, revealing a monk's scar on his forehead. He was indeed a monk.

Ling Junyi suddenly had a thought, wondering, "Shaolin monks, could the gift from the blind man be related to the disappearance of Master Leshan, the abbot of the Shaolin Medicine King Hall?"

The girl in green, standing some distance away, asked, "Uncle Ling, what's wrong with these two?"

Ling Junyi slowly straightened up and said, "They're dead."

The girl in green shuddered and asked, "Were they killed by the blind people?"

Ling Junyi shook his head slightly and said, "No, the murderer is someone else."

The girl in green asked, "Was it the person who delivered the message just now?"

Ling Junyi said, "Maybe."

The girl in green asked curiously, "Was it also to silence them? I think there must be a huge secret here."

Afraid that she would ask more questions, Ling Junyi quickly said, "Let's go."

The two went around to the south gate, climbed over the city wall, and ran south. The journey of sixty or seventy li was neither far nor near, but fortunately, it was night and there was no one around, so the man and woman used their lightness skills to leap. The girl in green was ultimately less skilled, and after running for a while, her cheeks were flushed and she was panting heavily, but she still gritted her teeth and ran as fast as she could. Ling Junyi, seeing this, felt a pang of pity and had no choice but to reduce his own power to seventy percent, so that the girl in green could barely keep up.

But the girl in green immediately noticed, raised her eyebrows, and blushed, saying, "Uncle Ling, it seems your skill is no less than my uncle's."

Who was her uncle? Ling Junyi had no idea. He smiled slightly at her and asked, "Is your uncle's martial arts very high?"

The girl in green replied, "My uncle's martial arts are naturally very high. My cousin and I both learned from him. My cousin is much stronger than me; I'm so stupid." She was naive and spoke with a childlike innocence.

Ling Junyi said, "I think it's quite remarkable that you, young lady, have such skill at such a young age."

The girl in green raised her eyebrows and said, "My cousin is only a year older than me. Not only does she look like a fairy descended from heaven, but her martial arts are also much stronger than mine. I am her defeated opponent, but I lost completely and utterly. Uncle Ling, you have no idea how breathtakingly beautiful she is. Sometimes, even if I want to beat her, I can't bear to."

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