[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 19

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

Chapter Twenty-Three: Peeking

through the secret chamber, one finds rows of neat houses and courtyards, brightly lit, with few guards, exuding a sense of mystery amidst the desolation. The night sky is cloudy, and the ubiquitous lights make it appear even darker. Passing through several rows of houses and two courtyards, they still haven't reached the hotel.

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, and he feigned confusion, asking, "May I ask, Master Meng, where is the guesthouse located?"

Meng Lechang, mistaking Jiang Tiantao's suspicion for genuine concern, hurriedly explained with a smile, "Reporting to the young master, my mountain lord, out of respect for the leaders from all sides, has specially arranged for the headmaster's guesthouse to be located near his elegant courtyard."

Jiang Tiantao feigned surprise, asking, "Wouldn't it be somewhat inconvenient to be with the mountain lord's wife?"

Upon hearing this, Meng Lechang could no longer help but stroke his hair and laugh heartily, continuing, "To tell you the truth, young master, apart from a female incense master who recently arrived from Dragon Palace Lake, there are no women in the entire rear stronghold, because my mountain lord has yet to marry."

Jiang Tiantao's heart stirred, and he deliberately said humorously, "In that case, could that female incense master be the future wife of your mountain stronghold?"

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao's question was amusing, Meng Lechang laughed again, then replied, "This old man does not know that." As they spoke, they arrived at the gate of a refined courtyard.

Jiang Tiantao looked up and saw a red round gate, white courtyard walls, and a pair of gleaming gold rings on the gate. The gate was wide open, and the courtyard was brightly lit. A young boy in green clothes hurried out from the central hall to greet him. Meng Rongchang immediately said humbly, "We've arrived at the young master's guesthouse." As he spoke, he casually pointed to the secluded courtyard on the left, separated only by a wall, and said mysteriously with a smile, "The female incense master from Dragon Palace Lake is staying in this courtyard."

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, and he became somewhat excited, but he pretended to be indifferent and simply said "Oh," while nodding knowingly. Taking the opportunity, he glanced around and saw that the courtyard gate was closed, but there were lights inside, indicating that the people inside had not yet gone to bed.

As Jiang Tiantao looked around, he suddenly heard the purple-robed elder, Meng Lechang, say in a deep voice, "This is Young Master Jiang of Jiugong Fortress. Quickly come forward and greet him."

Jiang Tiantao turned around at the sound of his voice, and the green-clad boy was already prostrating himself on the ground, kowtowing and saying respectfully, "Greetings, Young Master Jiang!"

Jiang Tiantao smiled kindly, gave a slight bow, and said, "No need for formalities, please rise quickly." The green-clad boy bowed and stood up, stepping aside respectfully.

Upon closer inspection, Jiang Tiantao realized that the green-clad boy was about thirteen years old, with delicate features, though his physique was somewhat thin. The courtyard was not large, planted with flowers and bamboo, with a small hall in the center and a side hall on the left, all decorated very grandly. As soon as he ascended the hall steps, the purple-robed elder, Meng Lechang, who had led him there, immediately clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Young Master, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest early. I will take my leave now."

Jiang Tiantao smiled modestly and said, "Master Meng, please do as you wish!" Meng Lechang repeatedly agreed and respectfully withdrew.

As soon as the Red Flag Altar Master stepped out of the courtyard, Jiang Tiantao ordered the boy to close the door. Entering the small hall, he found it lavishly furnished. He sat on the head chair, draped in gold, and casually took a sip of fragrant tea from

his covered bowl. Seeing that Jiang Tiantao had no further instructions, the boy in green immediately retreated to stand respectfully outside the hall. Based on the Golden-Faced Nezha's demeanor, Jiang Tiantao already harbored suspicions that the Poisonous Lady was hiding in the back stronghold. Hearing the words of the purple-robed elder, Meng Lechang, the Red Flag Altar Master, further confirmed his suspicions that the Dragon Palace Lake Cult Leader residing in the adjacent courtyard was indeed the Poisonous Lady. Judging from Meng Lechang's conversation, it was clear that everyone in Dahong Mountain, except for the Golden-Faced Nezha Shen Qifeng, was unaware of the Poisonous Lady's true identity. Clearly, before coming to Dahong Mountain, the Poisonous Lady had carefully planned with Shui Li Ye and Zhang Lehua to escape as a female immortal from Dragon Palace Lake. She remained tight-lipped about her identity from the various leaders of Dahong Mountain, leaving them completely baffled.

Jiang Tiantao was certain the Poisonous Lady lived in the small courtyard on the left and desperately wanted to arrest the vile woman and retrieve the embroidered garment still on her. However, he hesitated. How could he capture her successfully without damaging his status as the lord of a fortress, and how could he avoid embarrassing Golden-Faced Nezha, lest he become enraged and turn against him, jeopardizing everything? Finally, he decided to confirm that the Poisonous Lady indeed lived next door before making a final decision.

In a flash, his gaze instinctively fell on the young boy standing solemnly outside the hall. A thought struck him, and he immediately asked in a gentle voice, "Oh, do you have any needle and thread?"

The boy, upon being asked, hurriedly replied respectfully, "Reporting to Young Master, I have no needle and thread."

Jiang Tiantao frowned slightly, deliberately hesitating, and said, "Could you go to the women's quarters in your village to get some?"

The boy immediately bowed and said, "Reporting to Young Master, there are no women in the back village; you must go to the front village to find them.

" Jiang Tiantao immediately said cheerfully, "Alright, go to the front village and get some!"

Upon hearing this, the boy hesitated slightly. Jiang Tiantao deliberately urged in a deep voice, "I urgently need needle and thread; quickly go to the front village to get it." The boy dared not delay, hurriedly agreeing and turning to walk towards the courtyard gate.

As soon as the boy turned back and closed the door, Jiang Tiantao immediately went outside the hall. He first glanced at the flowers and bamboo in front of the hall, then went into the left wing to check. Finding nothing suspicious in the courtyard and the wing rooms, he hurriedly ran to the courtyard gate. He quietly opened the door a crack, peeking outside. It was deserted, empty.

Jiang Tiantao secretly rejoiced; this was truly a godsend. He closed the door again, leaped to the left wall, and using a clump of green bamboo for cover, lightly touched the ground with his toes, his body soaring into the air, his hand gripping a tile on the wall. He then cautiously peeked out, his starry eyes suddenly lighting up, his blood surging with rage. Jiang Tiantao peered out, his anger rising instantly. Under the eaves of the small hall with two gauze lanterns, stood the Poisonous Woman, her eyebrows furrowed, her expression anxious, dressed in a black satin outfit.

The Poisonous Woman's face was slightly upturned. Her hands were behind her back, gazing venomously at the night sky, her slightly raised chest heaving as if in fury. A silver, gleaming lotus hook was tied around her waist, and on either side of her slender waist hung two leather pouches, both bulging high, clearly filled with hidden weapons. On either side of her cloud-like hair were twelve willow-leaf throwing knives, each about an inch long and gleaming with blue light. Her wrists, strapped to her back, were bulging high, and her sleeves clearly concealed looper-loaded darts.

Upon seeing the Poisonous Lady, Jiang Tiantao's killing intent surged, but he still firmly remembered his father's instructions: when fighting the Poisonous Lady, he must be wary of her vicious hidden weapons. At the same time, he had to consider his own position and the situation of Golden-Faced Nezha.

Before he could finish his thoughts, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly sounded in the courtyard. Jiang Tiantao was startled, and his figure floated down, quietly concealing himself within the green bamboo. Based on his judgment, the green-clad boy would need at least half an hour to travel from here to the front village and back. Why had he returned so quickly? Then he wondered, could he have encountered a female incense master or female leader on the way?

In the blink of an eye, the hurried footsteps had already passed outside the courtyard gate. Jiang Tiantao, fearing that the Poisonous Lady might escape in the blink of an eye, quickly stretched out and climbed onto the wall. Peeking out again, he saw her pacing leisurely on the hall steps, seemingly carefree, but actually filled with annoyance and worry. Jiang Tiantao was puzzled, thinking, "Where's the upturned nose?"

Before he finished thinking, the hurried footsteps stopped outside the Poisonous Lady's courtyard gate. The Poisonous Lady was startled, abruptly stopping and turning to look at the gate, her peach-blossom eyes flashing with cold anger. Just then, two light knocks sounded at the door.

The Poisonous Lady raised an eyebrow and immediately said in a deep voice, "The door isn't bolted, please come in." As soon as she finished speaking, the red lacquered round door creaked open.

A middle-aged man in gray, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, hurried in. Upon seeing the middle-aged man, the Poisonous Woman immediately said in a frustrated voice, "Has Master Han come again to urge me to leave the mountain?"

Jiang Tiantao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had attended the banquet tonight, the Poisonous Woman would have left the mountain overnight, making it difficult to find her again. Just then, the middle-aged man in gray stopped in the courtyard, clasped his hands, and smiled, saying, "Please forgive me, Master Zhang. I am under orders from the Mountain Lord and have no choice but to urge you to leave the mountain immediately."

The Poisonous Woman's face turned ashen, and she asked in a deep voice, full of confusion, "Master Han, could you tell me why the Mountain Lord suddenly ordered me to leave in the dead of night?"

The middle-aged man, addressed as Master Han, smiled apologetically and said, "Please forgive me, Master Zhang. I do not know why the Mountain Lord is here."

Poisonous Lady appeared quite indignant, her eyebrows furrowed as she continued in a deep voice, "What did the Mountain Lord instruct you to do at the time?"

Han Xiangzhu replied, "Because renowned experts and senior figures from all sides were taking their seats, the Mountain Lord couldn't give me clear instructions, only saying a few simple words..."

Poisonous Lady raised an eyebrow, impatiently demanding in a deep voice, "Which words?"

Han Xiangzhu said solemnly, "Please, Xiangzhu Zhang, descend the mountain immediately."

Poisonous Lady gave a soft "Oh," followed by a moment of silence, but she nodded slowly and repeatedly, seemingly trying to discern the reason why Golden-Faced Nezha had suddenly ordered her to descend the mountain. Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in Poisonous Lady's eyes, and she asked as if she had just realized something, "May I ask, Master Han, who among those senior figures has come?"

Master Han replied calmly, "Many..."

Knowing that her question was too vague, Poisonous Lady quickly clarified, "For example, senior figures of high age and great virtue, with considerable status."

Jiang Tiantao had already discerned Poisonous Lady's intention; she must be referring to whether there were any experts from Nine Palaces Fortress among the heroes from all sides. Her second question must have been a veiled reference to her father, the Land Dragon. Han Xiangzhu frowned and said, "There are many people around seventy years old, but only two have status and fame..."

Poisonous Lady asked anxiously, "Which two?"

Han Xiangzhu replied, "One is the old hero Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip, and the other is the old hero Wei Changshun, the Double-Pen Judge."

Poisonous Lady still asked anxiously, "Are there any elegant and refined middle-aged scholars?"

Han Xiangzhu immediately nodded, "Yes!"

A cold glint flashed in Poisonous Lady's eyes, and she immediately asked in a deep voice, "Who?"

Han Xiangzhu said, "Chen Dongyun from northern Guizhou."

Upon hearing this, Poisonous Lady's expression softened somewhat, but a trace of disappointment and anxiety remained. Jiang Tiantao knew that Poisonous Lady was asking about the Jin brothers, the Twin Heroes of Qi and Lu, but she couldn't name them directly, especially avoiding mentioning Jiugongbao. In a moment of thought, Poisonous Lady, who had been silent for a while, suddenly asked hesitantly, "Are there any younger masters...?"

Han Xiangzhu said impatiently again, "There are more than a hundred young masters, how can I possibly list them all?" He paused, looked up at the dark night sky, and urged again, "It's already past midnight, Xiangzhu should go down the mountain, so I can report back to the mountain lord..."

Before Han Xiangzhu could finish speaking, Poisonous Lady nodded humbly and said, "Alright, please don't rush me, I'll leave immediately, I just want to ask you a few more questions..." She paused and suddenly stopped talking.

Han Xiangzhu looked at Du Niangzi with confusion. Seeing her suddenly stop speaking, he urged, "Please speak, I will tell you everything I know."

Du Niangzi's cherry lips twitched, and after a long while, she smiled and asked hesitantly, "May I ask, Han Xiangzhu, among the heroes attending the banquet tonight, are there any experts from Jiugongbao?"

Han Xiangzhu smiled upon hearing this and immediately said smugly, "Only one, the only distinguished guest of the Mountain Lord..."

Du Niangzi's expression changed upon hearing this, and she asked urgently, "Who?"

Seeing the sudden change in Du Niangzi's face, Han Xiangzhu asked in surprise, "Does Zhang Xiangzhu have any connection with Jiugongbao...?"

Du Niangzi hurriedly shook her hand and said, "Please don't ask that. Just tell me who came from Jiugongbao?"

Han Xiangzhu hesitated slightly and said, "The new fortress lord, Jiang Tiantao!"

Upon hearing this, Du Niangzi let out a soft "Ah!" and was immediately stunned, her cherry lips unable to close for a long time. But then her eyes darted around, tears streaming down her cheeks, and she covered her face and wept.

Han Xiangzhu was startled and hurriedly asked, "What has caused you such grief, Xiangzhu?"

The Poisonous Woman shook her head sorrowfully, crying, "My child's bright future and glorious career have all been ruined by this treacherous Jiang Tiantao..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao was instantly enraged. Had Han Xiangzhu not been still in the courtyard, he would have surely rushed over and killed the Poisonous Woman on the spot. Han Xiangzhu said sympathetically, "So that's how it is. No wonder you're so heartbroken. Now that he's the lord of a fortress, his power is immense. This grudge can only be dealt with later..."

Poisonous Lady suddenly lifted the gate, her face streaked with tears, her eyes flashing with murderous intent, and she said through gritted teeth, "No, tonight I will fight him to the death!" Then, she suddenly looked at Han Xiangzhu and asked in a sorrowful, deep voice, "Where is he now?"

Han Xiangzhu immediately straightened up and said in a panicked voice, "Ah, no, you can't go! You absolutely can't go! If the mountain lord finds out that I leaked this information, he will surely execute me!"

Poisonous Lady feigned a pitiful look, saying desperately, "Am I just going to let such a golden opportunity slip by?"

Master Han hesitated slightly, then said, "You can leave the stronghold now and come back early tomorrow morning. In front of all the heroes of the land, expose his crimes and challenge him."

Poisonous Lady's eyes darted around, and she quickly said seriously, "But I am no match for him."

Master Han immediately said seriously, "As long as you incite public outrage, are you afraid no one will stand up for you?"

Jiang Tiantao secretly shook his head. Poisonous Lady was clearly using a scheme to trap him, and he was actually giving her advice—utterly foolish. Before he could finish his thought, Poisonous Lady hurriedly shook her head, saying timidly, "No, no! Jiugong Fortress is renowned throughout the martial world, with countless masters within. Who dares to oppose him?" She paused, then pretended to understand, deliberately saying with feigned interest, "Master Han, I have a favor to ask of you. Would you be willing to help?" With that, she smiled charmingly and gracefully descended the steps.

Han Xiangzhu frowned, hesitating slightly, and said, "As long as it's within my ability, I will not refuse."

Upon hearing this, the Poisonous Lady smiled again, her face beaming, and said seductively, "Han Xiangzhu, rest assured, whether you succeed or not, I will repay you handsomely. Whatever you ask of me, I will satisfy you."

Jiang Tiantao knew immediately that he was in trouble; this Han Xiangzhu was gradually falling into the trap of this vile woman. Before he could finish his thought, he saw Han Xiangzhu say seriously, "To act bravely and help those in need is the duty of us martial artists. To expect repayment for kindness, or to blackmail with petty favors, is not the behavior of a true man."

Jiang Tiantao shook his head in admiration, secretly applauding her. The Poisonous Woman's face changed slightly, but she forced a smile and said, "Master Han's righteousness is truly admirable." As she spoke, she took out a red pill from her right hand, held it in her palm, and continued with a friendly smile, "I have a weakness-reducing pill here. Please, Master Han, slip it into Jiang Tiantao's wine and tea when the opportunity arises. It's colorless and odorless, absolutely undetectable. If he takes this pill, I will surely defeat him in tomorrow's challenge..."

Jiang Tiantao stared intently, recognizing the red pill in the Poisonous Woman's palm as the same kind he had given to Qinglian and Fenhe. He was instantly enraged. Just as he was about to leap over the wall, he saw Master Han burst into laughter, then sneered, "Master Zhang, although I am foolish, I would never stoop to such dishonorable behavior. Go if you want; I'm returning to the hall to report." With that, he gave the Poisonous Woman a contemptuous look, turned angrily, and walked towards the courtyard gate.

Poisonous Lady's expression changed, her eyes flashing with ferocity. She swiftly raised her hand, took a small willow-leaf throwing knife, and with a cold snort, prepared to throw it. Jiang Tiantao was both shocked and furious, about to shout, when he saw Poisonous Lady suddenly reattach the willow-leaf throwing knife to her hair. At the same time, she gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "You think I dare not go find that scoundrel? Hmph, let me tell you, just wait and see, before dawn, I will make sure that scoundrel lies dead on the spot."

Han Xiangzhu stopped, turned around, and looked at Poisonous Lady with a cold smile, saying, "I wish you success." With that, he closed the courtyard gate behind him and left.

Poisonous Lady stared blankly at the gate, her face turning ashen with rage, her whole body trembling. She let out a heavy snort and turned to walk into the hall. Jiang Tiantao knew Poisonous Lady was leaving, and dared not delay. He leaped down, flew to the gate, opened it, and rushed out, hurrying towards the left courtyard gate.

Just as he reached the courtyard gate, a series of hurried footsteps approached. Jiang Tiantao knew it must be the Poisonous Lady emerging, so he immediately gathered his strength and stood firmly in the center. The hurried footsteps grew closer, and finally, with a creak, the courtyard gate swung open. Jiang Tiantao saw the enraged and menacing Poisonous Lady. The Poisonous Lady,

seeing someone standing in the center of the gate, was momentarily stunned. Then, her gaze sharpened, her expression changed drastically, and she let out a soft cry, leaping back ten feet, standing in the courtyard in terror, completely dumbfounded.

Jiang Tiantao, his sword-like eyebrows sharply defined, his starry eyes gleaming, his handsome face filled with murderous intent, looked at the panicked Poisonous Lady and couldn't help but sneer. At the same time, he slowly advanced, chuckling in a low voice, "Headmaster Zhang, didn't expect this, did you? We'll meet here."

The Poisonous Woman knew Jiang Tiantao's skill was profound; attacking him would be tantamount to suicide. Her only strengths were her deadly hidden weapons and her wit. Now, suddenly encountering him, she was terrified and panicked, unsure how to react. Seeing Jiang Tiantao's imposing approach, she could only slowly retreat towards the steps behind her.

Jiang Tiantao feared the Poisonous Woman would turn and flee, but due to his status as a guest, he couldn't easily chase her across the room. He had to subdue her within this small courtyard. So, he slowly raised his elbow, lightly pressed the spring, and a faint, leisurely humming sound immediately came from the scabbard. He coldly chuckled, "Headmaster Zhang, didn't you want to see me? Now I'm here." With a clang, a flash of cold light, and the dazzlingly bright Star Sword was drawn from its sheath.

Upon seeing the Starry Sword, the Poisonous Woman was immediately reminded of her and her husband's eighteen-year-long conspiracy, a plot so close to success only to be exposed, and she felt a surge of rage. Especially thinking of her son, Upturned Nose, suddenly demoted from the most noble young master of the fortress to the son of a servant, her ferocity flared. Her eyebrows furrowed, her beautiful eyes widened, and she glared venomously at Jiang Tiantao, gritting her teeth as she said, "That's right, I'm looking for you. I'm going to eat your flesh and drink your blood..." As she spoke, she continued to retreat slowly, but her right hand secretly untied the Lotus Hook.

Jiang Tiantao smiled coldly and said, "That's right, what you said is exactly what I wanted to say..."

Although the two were bitter enemies meeting, wishing they could kill each other, the time and place were different, and they each had their own concerns, so neither dared to shout. At this moment, the Poisonous Woman had retreated to the front of the hall steps, but she continued to retreat along the steps, attempting to slip behind the green bamboo at the foot of the wall. At the same time, her right hand held the Lotus Hook, and her left hand had donned a deerskin glove for protection against poison.

Jiang Tiantao wanted to capture the Poisonous Lady alive to force out the whereabouts of the Embroidered Robe. He slowly approached, not out of fear of her deadly hidden weapons, but because he hoped she would make the first move or force her into the hall before capturing her. Seeing the cunning Poisonous Lady trying to enter the bamboo grove, he panicked. A thought struck him; with a cold snort, he flashed forward, feigning a move called "Starry Sky," instantly conjuring a shower of colorful clouds and countless silver flowers. The Poisonous Lady, terrified, let out a low cry and retreated rapidly.

Seeing his opportunity, Jiang Tiantao immediately followed, his movements faster than lightning. His Starry Sky Sword transformed into "A Single Golden Star," thrusting fiercely at the Poisonous Lady's neck. Simultaneously, to prevent her from launching a sudden attack, he lightly touched the ground with his toes, leaping into the air headfirst, his sword stance unchanged. Sure enough, just as he leaped into the air, the Poisonous Woman let out a cold laugh, suddenly bent down, and with a click of a spring, a poisoned sleeve dart about four inches long shot out from behind her neck, leaving a streak of blue light as it grazed past the Starry Sky Sword.

Jiang Tiantao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his body already above the Poisonous Woman's head. The Starry Sky Sword, having missed its target, swiftly slashed downwards, performing the "Dividing the Ground" technique. In a flash, the sword was already at the Poisonous Woman's head. The Poisonous Woman's bowing-down arrow technique was always infallible; no one had ever dodged it. Hearing the dart whistling through the air, she knew something was wrong. Just as she was about to look up, a cold flame was already at the back of her head.

She was terrified, letting out a low cry as she fell to the ground. At the same moment she fell, a rustling sound came from beside her, a gust of cold wind hit her face, and her high-piled hair was instantly severed by the Starry Sky Sword. Poisonous Lady cried out again, rolling swiftly to the right while simultaneously swinging her left arm, blindly launching an iron mace into the air with a whistling sound, shooting straight into the night sky.

Jiang Tiantao was determined to capture Poisonous Lady alive, which was why he had only severed a lock of her hair with his sword earlier, intending to disorient her and blur her vision so he could subdue her. Thus, his attack succeeded, and he swooped down, missing Poisonous Lady's iron mace entirely. Taking advantage of the moment before Poisonous Lady could stand up, he leaped forward, his Star-like Sword piercing her heel.

Poisonous Lady, still rolling, knew what was happening. Hearing the hissing sound of the iron mace cutting through the air, she knew she was in trouble. Startled, she swiftly performed the "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate," straightening her back and leaping several meters into the air. At the same time, her right arm spun, and the lotus hook in her hand grabbed at a burst of dazzling colorful light on the ground.

Jiang Tiantao's sword thrust missed its mark. He could have swiftly executed "Raising Fire to Burn the Sky" to sever the Poisonous Lady's abdomen, but he hesitated, worried about the whereabouts of her embroidered robe. He could only let the Poisonous Lady escape from his grasp. Suddenly, he saw the Poisonous Lady's lotus hook claw strike down from mid-air, and he couldn't help but secretly admire her quick reflexes. He had fought with the maid of the Fragrant Concubine before and knew the power of this unusual weapon, but he also knew how to counter it. So, as soon as the lotus hook struck, he spun like lightning, the hook grazing past him, followed by a move called "Parting the Grass to Find the Snake," slashing at the Poisonous Lady's silver rope.

The Poisonous Lady was startled, immediately remembering the Radiant Star Sword in Jiang Tiantao's hand, which could cut through iron like mud. She flicked her right wrist and swooped down. But it was too late. With a soft snap, the silver rope was severed by the Radiant Star Sword, and the lotus hook flew straight towards a cluster of flowering trees. Poisonous Lady was terrified. She landed on her feet, quickly twisting her right wrist. With a soft click, a poisoned hidden dart shot out, heading straight for Jiang Tiantao. But Jiang Tiantao, prepared, leaped into the air the instant she landed, unleashing a powerful strike, "Soaring Eagle Takes Down the Rabbit," the dart flying past his feet.

Knowing Jiang Tiantao had a countermeasure against her hidden weapons, Poisonous Lady panicked and retreated hastily. Touching herself, she was horrified to discover her hair had been cut and her throwing knife was gone. In that moment of hesitation, Jiang Tiantao swooped down, his toes barely touching the ground as he thrust his sword forward like a flying spear. Poisonous Lady's face paled at the sight, her heart pounding with fear. She cried out in terror and turned to flee in panic.

Seeing the Poisonous Lady turn and run away, Jiang Tiantao anxiously shouted in a low voice, "Quickly drop your embroidered robe and I'll spare your life!"

But the Poisonous Lady, terrified and frantic, spun around a clump of flowering trees and continued running towards the courtyard gate. Jiang Tiantao wasn't about to let her escape. He crouched low, moving with lightning speed, and reached for her left shoulder. Despite her panic, the Poisonous Lady remained incredibly cunning. Hearing the whoosh behind her, she swiftly performed a "robe-dropping maneuver," twisting her waist and dropping her shoulder, her lithe body flashing as she darted out the door.

Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, was both anxious and furious. Unable to contain himself any longer, he raised his sword, aiming to stab the Poisonous Lady's Qihai acupoint. Just as the sword tip was about to touch her lower back, a dazzling streak of light suddenly shot out from the outside, swiftly striking Jiang Tiantao's Lixing Sword. Jiang Tiantao never expected that someone was still hiding by the wall outside the gate. Startled, he cried out in alarm, and a sharp clang of metal rang out, sending sparks flying. Fearing an ambush, Jiang Tiantao seized the opportunity to leap into the air, not having time to see who had drawn the sword, and continued to descend towards the fleeing Poisonous Lady. Poisonous Lady already knew that someone from Dahong Mountain had intervened. Seeing Jiang Tiantao still chasing her from the air, she was startled and suddenly turned around, dashing towards the courtyard gate again.

Seeing Poisonous Lady turn back towards the gate, Jiang Tiantao's heart suddenly turned to kill. His toes barely touched the ground as he gave chase, and at the same time, he looked up but there was no one outside the gate. He no longer had time to think about who it was and leaped into the gate. Just as he leaped into the gate, a tall figure suddenly appeared from behind the flowering trees in the courtyard. As soon as Poisonous Lady flew past, he immediately blocked her path with his sword. Jiang Tiantao stared intently, then flew into a rage. The person blocking his path with his sword was none other than the horse thief from the small shop by Dragon Palace Lake that night.

The horse thief still wore a black veil and black clothes, his eyes flashing with cold light that shone through the veil. Jiang Tiantao was focused on catching the Poisonous Lady, and although he was furious, he had no time to question the horse thief. He flashed forward, attempting to bypass the flowering trees and chase after the Poisonous Lady who was running up the hall steps. But at the same moment he flashed forward, the veiled figure silently advanced, closing in, and unleashed three swift sword strikes. Instantly, the sword flashed and shone brightly, the chilling sword energy whistling and powerful, its momentum unstoppable, blocking Jiang Tiantao's advance.

Jiang Tiantao was instantly enraged, forced to step back and parry three sword strikes to block the opponent's attack. Then, with a move called "Wind Sweeps Fallen Leaves," he forced the veiled figure back. Looking around, he saw no trace of the Poisonous Lady. Seeing that the Poisonous Lady was gone, Jiang Tiantao trembled with rage, his handsome face turning ashen, filled with hatred for the veiled figure before him. His sword-like eyebrows arched, his starry eyes widened in fury, his ashen face contorted with murderous intent, and he clenched his teeth, slowly advancing towards the veiled figure with his sword held horizontally.

The veiled figure seemed stunned by Jiang Tiantao's fierce demeanor, and even with his long sword gleaming coldly, he couldn't help but slowly retreat. Seeing his opponent retreat, Jiang Tiantao noticed a chilling, contemptuous sneer flicker across his bloodless lips. He then gritted his teeth and hissed, "Horse thief! I can let bygones be bygones last time, but this time, we're irreconcilable enemies. Before I kill you, I'll tear off your veil and see who you really are!"

The man with the veil flashed a cold light in his eyes and abruptly stopped retreating. Jiang Tiantao smiled coldly and continued contemptuously, "Hmph, if you're afraid of death, take off your veil yourself, so I don't have to do it." The word "take off" had barely left his lips when the veiled man lunged forward, silently thrusting his sword with a swift, ruthless strike. Jiang Tiantao

hated the veiled man to the core. Although killing him here was inconvenient, he should at least tear off his veil and see who he was. With a cold laugh, he stepped forward and, with a move called "White Crane Spreads Its Wings," his Lixing Sword flashed towards the man's right wrist, hidden within his wide sleeve. The man with the black veil seemed startled by Jiang Tiantao's swift sword strike. In his haste, he used a "pushing the boat with the wind" technique, instead aiming directly at Jiang Tiantao's handguard.

Jiang Tiantao laughed heartily, swinging his powerful right arm with all his might, his Lixing Sword fiercely parrying the opponent's blade. With a soft clang, sparks flew, and a flash of cold light shot into the sky. The veiled man's sword was knocked away. The veiled man was greatly surprised, his hand throbbing with pain. With a low cry, he retreated rapidly. Jiang Tiantao had anticipated this, and thus, at the same moment he knocked away the opponent's sword, the tip of his own sword was already pressed against the man's throat. The veiled man's retreat was exhausted; he still couldn't dodge Jiang Tiantao's sword tip pressed against his cheek. Unable to continue his attack, he could only stop, glaring angrily at Jiang Tiantao.

Seeing that his opponent had stopped retreating, Jiang Tiantao immediately sneered, "I once said that before I kill you, I will definitely remove your official hat and see your true face." As he spoke, the tip of his sword pressed against the official hat, slowly lifting it upwards.

Just then, with a clang, a gleaming object fell from mid-air onto the path in the courtyard. Jiang Tiantao glanced sideways and saw that it was the longsword of the person with the official hat that had been knocked away. Then, he focused his gaze, his heart suddenly trembling, his expression changing instantly. He saw that the hilt of the longsword gleamed with silver light. Although the silver tassel had been removed, he still recognized it as the longsword of Huangfu Xiang, the woman with the silver hairpin. And the person with the official hat in front of him was, of course, Huangfu Xiang.

Jiang Tiantao tried his best to calm himself down, calmly looking at Huangfu Xiang, the two resentful eyes shining through the white official hat. At the same time, he slowly lowered the official hat that the sword tip had lifted and sheathed his Lixing sword. He gazed at Huangfu Xiang, who was trembling slightly, and after a long while, he said calmly and somberly, "There are too many things I need to explain to you, but I have no time to tell you now. However, you will understand one day. But when you understand the truth, you will definitely regret letting Poisonous Lady go tonight."

After Jiang Tiantao finished speaking, he sheathed his sword, not even glancing at Huangfu Xiang, and turned to leave the courtyard. Just as he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he could hear Huangfu Xiang's faint sobs behind him. Jiang Tiantao did not stop and went straight back to his own courtyard. In the small hall, the lights were bright, and everything was quiet. The green-clad boy had not yet returned.

He sat on the brocade-covered chair, staring blankly at the lanterns outside the hall, once again deeply regretting that he should not have come tonight. Suppose that he had blended into the crowd of heroes and entered the mountain tomorrow morning, not only would he not have to worry about being discovered by the people of Dahong Mountain, but he might also have been able to sneak into the back camp while the heroes were fighting. At that time, as long as he caught a little boy and questioned him, it would not be difficult to find out that Poisonous Lady lived in the small courtyard next door. Now, not only had he frightened away the Poisonous Lady, but he had also offended Huangfu Xiang, the leader of the Three Beauties Gang, knocking the sword from her hand and deeply wounding her pride. He couldn't imagine the consequences. Perhaps from this night forward, Jiugongbao and the Three Beauties Gang would be locked in a deep-seated feud, their conflict endless, shaking the entire martial world. Perhaps Huangfu Xiang would be too ashamed to return to Dongliang Mountain; perhaps she would realize her mistake and live a secluded life, no longer constantly opposing and making things difficult for Jiang Tiantao. But judging from Huangfu Xiang's nature and her deliberate, unreasonable antics in constantly probing his whereabouts, getting her to quietly return to the mountain wouldn't be as simple as it seemed. He hoped Huangfu Xiang would realize that the Poisonous Lady she had released was a heinous and cruel woman, and feel ashamed.

The thought of the escaped Poisonous Lady fueled a burning rage in Jiang Tiantao's heart, and at the same time, he deeply hated Huangfu Xiang. He didn't cherish the pearls and gems on the embroidered robe; rather, he longed to follow the pattern to enter the ancient tomb and behold his mother's kind face. The thought of the lost Poisonous Lady's disappearance, and the impossibility of finding the robe and entering the tomb, caused him to unconsciously stand up from his chair.

Just then, the green-clad boy rushed in from outside, his expression frantic. Ascending the steps, the boy immediately said respectfully, "Reporting to the young master, I have brought the needle and thread." As he spoke, he walked respectfully to Jiang Tiantao and presented the needle and thread with both hands.

Jiang Tiantao forced a smile and said gently, "Very good, put it on the table!" He then casually took out a piece of silver and, after the boy put away his needlework, continued gently, "These are for you to buy candied chestnuts."

The boy's eyes widened in surprise, then he quickly composed himself and excitedly accepted the silver, repeatedly saying respectfully, "Thank you, Young Master, thank you, Young Master."

Jiang Tiantao laughed heartily, stroking the boy's short hair. A thought suddenly struck him: why were there no guards in this area? So, looking down at the boy, he deliberately said calmly, "Just now, when I waited for you outside the courtyard, I found the lights nearby bright and the passageway clean, but I didn't see anyone moving around for a long time, and I didn't see any brothers or guards either..."

The boy, who had been happy, trembled upon hearing the word "guards," his face changed instantly, and he glanced fearfully into the hall. Suddenly, he handed the loose silver in his hand back to Jiang Tiantao, and said hurriedly, "Thank you, Young Master, I don't want it, I don't want it!"

Jiang Tiantao's heart stirred, and he suddenly realized what was going on. He couldn't help but laugh heartily, and said humorously, "You can accept the reward from the Young Master without worry. Tomorrow when I see your mountain lord, I will praise you for being respectful and polite, and for refusing the reward!" He paused, patted the still extremely nervous boy's shoulder, and urged him with a smile, "Go to sleep! I need to rest too."

The boy in green timidly replied with a "Yes," bowed, and withdrew. As soon as the child left the hall, Jiang Tiantao immediately turned and entered the bedroom on the left side of the hall. Although his expression remained the same, he was now on high alert. He surveyed the room; the carpets, wide beds, and brocade quilts were lavishly furnished, and four exquisite palace lanterns hung high from the ceiling, making the room exceptionally bright. He pretended to admire the luxurious furnishings, but in reality

, he was secretly checking for hidden mechanisms or doors. Based on the child's frightened expression and eyes, he deduced that although there were no guards near these luxurious residences, there were definitely people secretly monitoring them. At the same time, he suddenly realized why all the houses, courtyards, and passageways in this area were brightly lit, with almost no shadows or darkness—clearly for the convenience of his undercover agents.

Thinking back to his fight with Poisonous Lady and Huangfu Xiang, he had been constantly worried about alerting the people of Dahong Mountain; now, it seemed utterly ridiculous. Clearly, everything had already been observed by his undercover agents. They were only ordered to spy secretly, not to show themselves. Thinking of this

, he couldn't help but sneer. He figured the cunning Poisonous Lady probably didn't know that her every move and word had already been observed by Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha. In that instant, his gaze swept from the murals, potted plants, desk, and brocade stool to the antique bronze horse on the stone table. Jiang Tiantao's heart stirred. He felt that placing a stone table and an antique in the bedroom, while not entirely inappropriate, seemed somewhat out of place. Driven by curiosity and suspicion, his right hand unconsciously pressed his index finger against the horse's belly, gently pushing it, but it wouldn't budge.

Jiang Tiantao was startled. His eyes sharpened, and he immediately glanced warily into the room while simultaneously listening intently. But the surroundings were deathly silent, as if no one was there. Carefully examining the bronze horse, he noticed that the bronze plates beneath its four hooves were deeply embedded in the stone. So, he gripped the bronze horse with his right hand, secretly channeling his inner strength, and very slowly pulled it inwards. A

series of creaking sounds immediately echoed through the stone. Jiang Tiantao was greatly alarmed and quickly released the bronze horse; the creaking stopped instantly. Even in his shock, he didn't forget to listen intently, but after the sound ceased, there was no further noise. Jiang Tiantao was confident in his hearing. If someone were secretly watching from inside the wall, he would have heard the person's anxious running and jumping while he was examining the bronze horse. Even if the person was calm, they would have made some movement when moving the bronze horse. However, the four walls were completely silent; therefore, he concluded that there was no hidden spy inside. Recalling the Golden-Faced Nezha's words and his urgent urging of the Poisonous Lady to descend the mountain, Shen Qifeng was undoubtedly a tough guy. Of course, a person's character is never immediately apparent. As for the peephole and cleverly designed traps in the room, this was a common ailment among martial artists today, used for escape in case of sudden changes or dangers. Then he thought, since this room had peepholes and traps, he shouldn't have been allowed to stay there; even if no one was watching, it was still impolite. With

this thought in mind, he decided to open the mechanism and enter the wall to investigate, perhaps discovering if the Golden-Faced Nezha's martial arts gathering had any ulterior motives. Having made up his mind, he turned the bronze horse-shaped stone table again. Immediately, a creaking sound rang out, the table sank, and a stone door of the same size as the table slowly appeared on the wall. Jiang Tiantao's heart pounded with excitement as the table sank, because his actions had violated a major taboo in the martial arts world; perhaps, by rashly entering, he would unknowingly lose his life.

As the stone table sank, the creaking stopped abruptly. Jiang Tiantao peered inside; the room was pitch black, and the area illuminated by the indoor light was perfectly flat. Jiang Tiantao first calmed himself, then focused his inner strength, protecting his chest with both palms. Peeking inside, he saw the secret passage turn right a few feet away. He then slightly bowed, held his breath, and entered.

Just as he entered the hidden door and took less than three steps forward, a knock came from outside the courtyard, followed by the sound of a green-clad boy running and opening the door. Jiang Tiantao was startled and retreated. Just as he reached for the bronze horse (a magical horse), a middle-aged man's voice rang out from the courtyard: "Is Young Master Jiang resting?"

The green-clad boy hurriedly replied, "Young Master just went in; he probably hasn't gone to sleep yet."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao knew he was in trouble; it was too late to move the bronze horse. In desperation, he could only hurry to the door, calmly lifting the curtain and stepping out. Just then, the boy in green robes ascended the hall steps.

Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao, he immediately bowed and said, "Reporting to the young master, the mountain lord has sent Steward Cui with some refreshments."

Jiang Tiantao dared not let the boy in, so he simply nodded and walked out with a smile. In the south path of the courtyard, a middle-aged man and two young men stood respectfully. The middle-aged man, dressed in light blue work clothes, was slender, his eyes sparkling, clearly displaying his intelligence and competence. The two young men, both dressed in blue, stood respectfully, each holding an exquisite food box.

Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao, the middle-aged man immediately clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Cui Rugong, the steward of the Dahong Mountain stronghold, has been sent by the mountain lord to deliver a box of snacks to the young master."

Jiang Tiantao quickly returned the greeting with a smile, saying, "The mountain lord's hospitality is truly appreciated. Please convey my gratitude to your esteemed master, Steward Cui."

He then cheerfully instructed the young boy, "Quickly, take the food box."

The boy in green respectfully complied and hurried down the steps. The young man standing respectfully to the left of the middle-aged man also came forward carrying the food box.

The young man handed the food box to the boy and returned to his original spot. Cui Rugong immediately clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Young Master, if there are no further instructions, I, Cui Rugong, will take my leave."

Jiang Tiantao had no intention of further formalities, merely gesturing for him to leave. As soon as the three of them turned around, he hurriedly stopped the boy who was about to enter the hall, trying his best to remain calm, saying, "Give me the food box, bolt the door, and go to sleep!" With that, he took the food box and waited until the boy bolted the door before turning and entering the hall.

He didn't bother to open the food box to see what kind of snacks were inside. He rushed into the inner room, put down the food box, and leaped into the hidden door. Reaching the corner, he turned his head to the left and exclaimed softly, then froze. There, in the hidden passage to the left, lay a petite figure curled up—clearly, it was a woman.

Jiang Tiantao was genuinely startled and angered to see a woman curled up on the ground. He hadn't expected that Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, would dare to have someone monitoring him hidden within the wall. Then he remembered that the purple-robed elder, Meng Rongchang, had just said that apart from a female incense master at Dragon Palace Lake, there were no other women in the entire Later Qin. But who was this woman lying wearily on the ground?

With these thoughts in mind, he hurried over and looked down. He saw a pretty maidservant, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate eyebrows and a floral dress. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully, her breathing even, and judging from her posture, she had clearly been acupunctured. But who had knocked her down?

Logically, it couldn't be someone from Dahong Mountain, but who else besides Dahong Mountain would know about the secret passage hidden within the wall? Secondly, the maidservant must have been knocked down when he wasn't in the hall; otherwise, the sound of someone falling to the ground, even from inside the wall, would surely have been heard. What's puzzling is who knocked out the maid, what their purpose was, and how they knew there was a secret passage in the wall and someone was spying on them.

Thinking of spying, he immediately thought of a peephole. Looking up at the wall, he indeed saw a small hole. Peeking inside, he could see the entire small hall clearly, and from the hall door

, he could see the path leading to the courtyard and all the way outside. Jiang Tiantao shook his head with a sigh, then glanced at the beautiful maid curled up on the ground. He concluded that this maid must be Shen Qifeng's trusted maid. He also deduced that there must be another secret room and exit in the wall. Thinking this, he looked up and saw a faint sliver of light seeping in from not far ahead. An idea struck him, and he leaped towards it. Upon closer inspection, he found a doorway in the wall, and on the ground, a bronze horse.

Jiang Tiantao's eyes lit up at the sight of the bronze horse, a realization dawning on him. Peeking inside, he saw a bedroom of the same style. Startled, he rushed to the door and looked out. Sure enough, two gauze lanterns hung from the eaves. Indeed, the courtyard below the hall steps was the very one where he and the Poisonous Lady had fought, and this bedroom was the Poisonous Lady's bedroom.

Thinking back to how he had discovered the secret of the bronze horse in a fleeting moment of attention, he reasoned that the Poisonous Lady, so clever, cunning, and resourceful, who had lived there for nearly a month, would surely have noticed. With this unexpected discovery, the one who had subdued the maid must undoubtedly be the Poisonous Lady. Because, in her hasty escape, she must have encountered the maid peeking into the hall, and the Poisonous Lady, fearing the maid's panic and screams, had struck the maid's acupoint, Heiqi. Realizing this, he immediately thought of the fleeing Poisonous Lady. Although he knew it was hopeless to pursue her now, he still leaped through the wall and hurried along the secret passage.

As he passed the maid lying drowsily on the ground, he wanted to release her pressure points to ask her what was wrong, but he was also afraid that she might cry out in alarm if she woke up. He hesitated slightly, then continued walking quickly forward. Not far from the wall door of his own bedroom, he saw a peephole in the wall, from which a bright light shone.

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately stopped, peering inside. His brows furrowed instantly. Through the peephole, he saw a brightly lit, opulent small hall. What puzzled him most was that on the table in the hall was a food box identical to his own. Therefore, he concluded that this food box was sent by the middle-aged steward, Cui Rugong, but he didn't know which leader lived in this courtyard.

In that moment, he noticed another peephole on the wall about seven or eight feet away. So, he held his breath and quietly walked over, peeking inside. His heart skipped a beat; the person living inside was none other than Yinchai Huangfuxiang. Huangfu Xiang had already taken off her black robe and hat and was sitting at the table in a daze. Her hands were supporting her cheeks, and two lines of crystal tears were already flowing down from her almond-shaped eyes.

Jiang Tiantao felt deeply ashamed, thinking: "I felt I shouldn't have driven a girl to this state, but who would know it was her?" Thinking of the Poisonous Lady, he lost all interest in Huangfu Xiang and quietly left the peephole, heading straight deeper into the woods. He hadn't gone more than a few feet when a small, single door blocked his way.

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