[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 17

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Chapter Twenty: Memories of the Brothel

At this moment, the torrential rain showed no sign of abating, and thunder and lightning still raged. As the maids approached the round gate, they hurriedly dispersed, ceasing their laughter, and automatically formed pairs, walking side-by-side with solemn expressions.

Jiang Tiantao knew that the round gate led to the inner courtyard. Because of the light shining from within, he dared not follow closely. Furthermore, judging from Granny Lin's keen eyesight, he deduced that Miss Zhang Yunhua was no ordinary person, and therefore, he dared not enter rashly. So, leaning against the gable wall of the upper building, he cautiously moved towards the round gate. The hall had no windows, only floor-to-ceiling carved doors, with cloud-patterned window paper letting in dazzling light. Reaching the round gate, he hid in the darkness and peeked inside. He saw that inside was the eaves of the side building. The courtyard was pouring rain, but the main hall was brightly lit. Xiao Xin and the others were walking along the railing of the side building, heading towards the main hall.

Jiang Tiantao stared intently, and quite coincidentally, the somewhat familiar maid was standing in the hall, while someone seemed to be sitting in the center. Because the doorway was to the side, he couldn't see clearly who was sitting on the chair, but he was certain it was the mistress, Miss Zhang Yunhua. Just then, Xiao Xin and the others had circled around to the main entrance and entered respectfully in order.

Seeing an opportunity, Jiang Tiantao slipped inside as the figures moved in and out of the hall. He swiftly and lightly reached the eaves and moved towards the door. Just as Jiang Tiantao reached the edge of the screen door, he heard Xiao Xin and the others respectfully say, "Reporting to Miss, Young Master Jiang has already retired for the night."

Then a sweet, clear voice asked with concern, "Didn't he eat any pastries?"

Upon hearing this voice, Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, and he almost cried out. The image of a slender, beautiful, and radiant young woman flashed through his mind like lightning. He thought: Could it be her? A surge of excitement welled up within him, and without thinking, he raised his hand and secretly poked a crescent-shaped slit in the snow-white window paper with his thumb. Peeking inside, he saw none other than Leng Ping, the famous singing girl from Yuanyun Tower in Qide Town, at the foot of Dongliang Mountain. Leng Ping's hair was styled in a high bun, and she wore a lake-green dress adorned with jade pendants. A slight smile graced her exquisitely beautiful face, but a hint of melancholy lurked between her delicate brows

. She sat upright in the central chair, her phoenix eyes, like autumn water, gazing at Xiao Xin and the others. To Leng Ping's left stood Granny Lin, with white hair and dressed in blue; to her right was the somewhat familiar, pretty maid. Now, he realized she was the striking young girl who had delivered the moon lute to Leng Ping at Yuanyun Tower that day. Two other dignified middle-aged maids stood behind Leng Ping's chair.

Looking around, she saw Xiao Xin and the others, who all respectfully said, "We haven't eaten."

Leng Ping frowned slightly, and Granny Lin immediately chuckled, "This young master Jiang is really overly cautious. He's staring at the lotus soup with those bright, star-like eyes, only swallowing his saliva, but he just won't eat it."

Leng Ping asked somewhat resentfully, "Why?"

Granny Lin's expression turned serious, but she smiled and said, "He's afraid there might be poison in it."

As soon as she finished speaking, a familiar, pretty maid suddenly said indignantly, "Young master Jiang was going to eat it, but Granny Lin told him not to worry, there's no poison in it."

Upon hearing this, Granny Lin immediately became anxious . "Alright," she said sternly, "you little brat, suing the emperor in front of Miss! Don't you dare wrong an innocent person! Come on, let's invite Young Master Jiang over for a questioning."

The pretty maid, undoubtedly Leng Ping's personal maid, seemed completely unafraid of Granny Lin. She sniffed, snorted, and retorted, "Go ahead and go..."

Before she could finish, Leng Ping's beautiful face darkened, and she immediately said in a deep voice, "Xiao Man, why do you always seem to annoy Granny Lin?"

Jiang Tiantao looked at the scene in the hall and couldn't help but chuckle. Hearing their conversation, he knew that the maid named Xiao Man had been eavesdropping behind the jade screen in the hall. Because of the heavy rain outside and the maids moving around inside, Granny Lin's incessant grumbling on the screen made it impossible for her to detect anyone behind it.

Before she could finish her thought, she suddenly saw Xiao Xin still standing respectfully in front of the chair, smiling and saying, "Just now, when we were leaving, Young Master Jiang specifically asked for Miss's name!"

Leng Ping's delicate face flushed, and she couldn't help but ask with a smile, "What did you say?"

Before Xiao Xin could speak, the remaining maids covered their mouths and laughed. Xiao Xin finally managed to suppress her laughter and said, "When we said Miss's surname was Zhang, Young Master Jiang's eyes widened like this." As she spoke, she stretched out her hands and made two large circles with her thumbs and forefingers. Jiang Tiantao felt his cheeks burning at this sight and unconsciously shook his head.

Seeing Xiao Xin's comical gesture, Leng Ping couldn't help but laugh and said in a deep voice, "Naughty!"

Another maid chimed in with a smile, "When we said Miss's name was Zhang Yunhua, that handsome young master immediately went dumbfounded." Upon hearing this, the maids covered their mouths and laughed again, seemingly recalling Jiang Tiantao's stunned expression.

Xiaoman immediately explained on Jiang Tiantao's behalf, "Of course, Young Master Jiang doesn't know Miss's real name."

Leng Ping sat upright in her chair, her brows slightly furrowed. Although she remained silent, she was preoccupied with her own thoughts. Suddenly, she interrupted Xiaoman and said in a deep voice, "I'm warning you now, from this moment on, don't call him Young Master anymore!"

Upon hearing this, Granny Lin and Xiaoman asked in surprise, "Why, Miss?"

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Leng Ping had once again remembered him going to Yuanyun Tower to listen to songs with Wei Ming and paying respects at the mountain with Wei Ming. In a moment of thought, Leng Ping said sadly, "According to Miss Huangfu, the spies from the Three Hairpins Gang who went to Mufu Mountain to visit Miss Jiugongbao's matchmaking contest said that he was indeed the blue-robed youth Wei Ming, who injured the Double-Strong Mountain-Lifting Hook and Crutch, while the real young master of Jiugongbao, Jiang Tiantao, is a man in pink clothes, with slicked-back hair and a stern face, and a nose in the air..."

Before she could finish speaking, Granny Lin, very unconvinced, exclaimed seriously, "How can that be? There are people with the same name in the world, but the ancestral Lixing Sword of the old master of Jiugongbao, the Land Dragon Jiang, is only one!"

Leng Ping's spirits lifted upon hearing this, and she asked urgently, "You mean he carries the old master Jiang's Lixing Sword?"

Granny Lin's expression turned serious. "Of course!" Leng Ping replied earnestly.

"You're not mistaken?" she asked again solemnly.

Granny Lin immediately said seriously, "How could I, an old woman, dare to lie to you, Miss?"

Xiao Man seemed to enjoy contradicting Granny Lin and immediately asked dismissively, "How do you know there isn't a sword in the world with the same design as the Li Xing Sword?"

Granny Lin smiled coldly and said indignantly, "You little fox can't stump me on this. I wouldn't say there aren't any swords with the same design as the Li Xing Sword, but those with the same design as the two pieces of colored jade embedded in the shackles of the Li Xing Sword are probably unique."

Leng Ping gave a light nod and nodded knowingly. Xiao Man was stunned and stared at Granny Lin with admiration in her bright eyes. Jiang Tiantao, standing under the eaves, was also stunned. He unconsciously looked down at the two pieces of colored jade on the shackles of the sword. Meanwhile, judging from the fact that someone shouted "Lixing Sword" as soon as the sword appeared slightly off the shoulder of the Qifeng Palace in Longgong Lake, and that Granny Lin recognized his identity with just a little attention, it was clear that his father's reputation in the martial arts world was extremely high.

Before he could finish thinking, he saw Granny Lin proudly proclaim, "Secondly, the colorful patterns on those two pieces of jade are exactly the same as the colorful spots on the sword. When true energy is infused into them, they shimmer and sparkle, dazzlingly beautiful..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately shook his head with a sigh. Granny Lin in the hall continued excitedly, "...Lixing Sword not only cuts iron like mud and severs hair instantly, but it can also ward off ghosts and evil spirits, and send off evil spirits and alarms..." Seeing Granny Lin speaking with great enthusiasm, as if reciting a familiar story, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but chuckle.

When Xiaoman heard that the Lixing Sword had so many magical uses, she widened her eyes in surprise and said, "Really? Granny Lin?"

Granny Lin immediately glared at Xiaoman with disdain and said smugly, "Who has the time to lie to a little vixen like you? If you don't believe me, go and ask her yourself."

As soon as she finished speaking, Leng Ping, who had been watching Granny Lin intently and listening with suppressed laughter, suddenly smiled gracefully. She then pointed to the door and said with a smile, "Don't ask, Young Master Jiang has already arrived." As she spoke, her gaze softened as she looked at Jiang Tiantao.

Jiang Tiantao was greatly startled; his whole body trembled, and he leaped onto the beam of the eaves. Just as he reached the beam, he heard Xiaoman exclaim in surprise, "Really? I'll go see!" Before she

finished speaking, Xiaoman had already leaped outside, her eyes wide with astonishment as she looked around. She turned and ran back inside, laughing, "Miss, you're lying! It's not true!"

Leng Ping smiled gracefully and said, "Look again at the eaves."

Hearing this, Jiang Tiantao knew he could no longer hide it, so he laughed loudly and swiftly descended. The moment his feet touched the ground, Leng Ping, Xiao Man, Granny Lin, and the others were already standing outside the door. Except for Leng Ping, they all looked at him with surprised eyes. He laughed again, cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a cheerful and humorous voice, "Life is full of unexpected encounters, and I've met an old friend while staying at the mountain retreat. Miss Zhang, I greet you with courtesy." He then

gave a graceful bow. Leng Ping smiled, her phoenix eyes sparkling, and a blush rose on her beautiful face. She gave a graceful curtsy and said with a generous smile, "I heard you've already rested, so I didn't want to disturb you. I hope you don't mind that I didn't visit you earlier."

Seeing that Leng Ping spoke naturally and freely, without any restraint, like a close friend, Jiang Tiantao's unease vanished instantly. So, he laughed heartily and quickly changed his address, saying, "I've taken the liberty of entering the inner courtyard to seek your guidance, elder sister. I didn't expect to be discovered before I even made my name known."

Hearing Jiang Tiantao address her as "elder sister," Leng Ping's heart warmed instantly, and she immediately smiled affectionately, saying, "Since you have something to discuss, let's sit down and talk inside." The two then walked into the hall side by side.

Granny Lin, Xiao Xin, and the others were all stunned upon seeing her, exchanging bewildered glances, as if to say, "First we said we only met once, and now we're actually close friends!" As soon as Jiang Tiantao entered the hall, the maids had already moved Leng Ping's large chair to the guest seat at the square table, offering it to him. Leng Ping sat in the lower seat of honor, and maids immediately served her delicious snacks and fragrant tea.

Jiang Tiantao had long suspected that the mysterious woman who had led him into the Three Hairpins Gang's back mountain that night was Leng Ping. Now, to show that he had something important to ask her, why not take the liberty of thanking her? After sipping a cup of fragrant tea, he immediately cupped his hands in a smile and said, "That night at the foot of Dongliang Mountain, I was deeply grateful for your guidance into the back mountain, but I had no opportunity to thank you..."

Leng Ping did not deny it, but smiled elegantly and said humorously, "But when you really had the chance, you didn't say anything."

Jiang Tiantao recognized her immediately and understood the implication in her words—she was complaining about his hasty escape. So, he smiled apologetically and said, "Given the circumstances there, you should forgive me, sister."

Leng Ping nodded, indicating that she understood, and asked in confusion, "Why did Miss Huangfu pursue you?"

Jiang Tiantao shook his head with a sigh and could only recount the story of his visit to the mountain. Leng Ping found it amusing, but complained, "Why did you have to use Wei Ming, the Left Headmaster, to represent the Old Master when you went to pay respects at the mountain?"

Jiang Tiantao sighed and simply recounted the Poisonous Lady's conspiracy. As he spoke, Granny Lin had already ordered the maids to bring wine and dishes and set them out separately. Once Jiang Tiantao and Leng Ping were seated, she couldn't help but ask with concern, "Young Master, did you go to Dragon Palace Lake this time because of the Poisonous Lady?"

Jiang Tiantao and Leng Ping raised their cups in a toast and immediately answered yes. Leng Ping poured Jiang Tiantao a cup of wine and asked with concern, "Did you fail to capture him?"

Jiang Tiantao nodded in annoyance and said, "I heard he went to Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, at Dahong Mountain."

Upon hearing "Golden-Faced Nezha," Leng Ping's expression changed slightly, and she immediately said seriously, "I heard that Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, found a jade lion several years ago. It contains many lost martial arts techniques. Shen Qifeng boasted that once he mastered the techniques, he would immediately invite heroes from all over the world to compete in martial arts, hoping to earn the reputation of a first-rate master in the martial arts world." Jiang Tiantao said "Oh," without being overly surprised.

Leng Ping said with concern, "Brother, if you don't mind the extra burden, I'll take Xiaoman and Granny Lin with you. One more person will at least provide cover."

Jiang Tiantao was very grateful, but not wanting to trouble Leng Ping, he said, "I'm very grateful for your kindness, but I want to return to Jiugongbao first and report the details to my father before deciding. As for your hospitality, I will never forget it."

Leng Ping, knowing he was trying to decline, said in a deep voice, "Are you worried about my martial arts skills?"

Jiang Tiantao... Panicked, he quickly straightened up and said, "Sister, you've completely misunderstood. Judging from the fact that you noticed me standing outside the window

, your skill is far superior to mine." Leng Ping gave a soft snort, her face still stern, and said reproachfully, "What's so skillful about that? If you were standing outside a carved screen covered with paper windowpanes, the lightning in the sky would clearly imprint your shadow on the paper. Even a three-year-old child would notice. What profound skill is required?"

Jiang Tiantao's handsome face flushed red, and he secretly felt ashamed. He hadn't even grasped this simple principle; it seemed his experience was truly too shallow. With this thought in mind, a quick change of pace revealed his true nature. He immediately altered the subject, saying, "Although you discovered me by the light of lightning, your experience is far richer than mine. Take, for example, your entry into the back mountain of the Three Hairpins Gang's headquarters last time. It further demonstrates your extraordinary wit."

Upon hearing this, Leng Ping's beautiful face remained expressionless, but her tone softened. She asked, "What are the differences?"

Jiang Tiantao immediately explained, "For instance, in the inn, you didn't challenge me with hidden weapons or throwing stones. Instead, you ran around on the rooftops, teasing me..."

Before he finished speaking, Leng Ping's face flushed even more. She chuckled and playfully scolded, "Who teased you? I wanted to go to Yuanyun Tower to get something..." She paused, then continued cheerfully, "Anything else?"

Jiang Tiantao continued with a smile, "Secondly, your lightness skill is astonishing. That night, you sped along the Three Hairpins Gang's secret paths, and I couldn't catch you at all." "Catch up."

Leng Ping gave a soft snort, suppressing a laugh as she said reproachfully, "You deliberately followed me, do you think I didn't know?"

Jiang Tiantao's handsome face flushed slightly, and he immediately became serious, saying, "But you were waiting at the exit of the path below the cliff, using a stone to guide me down the mountain. That's something extraordinary, isn't it?"

Leng Ping smiled happily and said, "To be honest, that night when I led you to the bottom of the cliff, I saw you heading straight up the cliff without looking back. I knew you had no experience exploring mountains, and I was afraid you wouldn't be able to get back to the inn, so I had to wait for you at the exit. When I saw your silly look when you returned to the bottom of the cliff, I was so angry that I wanted to call you a big idiot."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but blush and smile. He couldn't ask Leng Ping about hiding in the brothel, but he asked tactfully, "Did you also work at the headquarters of the Three Beauties Gang before?"

Upon hearing the question, Leng Ping seemed to immediately recall her sad memory, and the smile on her beautiful face vanished instantly. She then shook her head. Jiang Tiantao should have known better than to speak, but driven by curiosity, he couldn't help but continue, puzzled, "Since you've never served at the Three Beauties Gang's headquarters, how did you know they had a secret path?"

Leng Ping sighed sadly, "It all started when I built the Yuanyun Tower in Qide Town..."

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "That magnificent and beautiful Yuanyun Tower, you actually built it, sister!"

Leng Ping nodded, explaining sadly, "In order to..." To attract the high-ranking members of the Three Beauties Gang and deter ordinary peddlers, the buildings had to be made more luxurious.

Jiang Tiantao was startled and couldn't help but interject, "Among the three beauties—Gold, Silver, and Jade—is one of them your enemy, sister?"

Leng Ping's face suddenly turned ashen upon hearing the question. Her phoenix eyes fixed on the doorway, she gritted her teeth and said hatefully, "It's not one of the three beauties, but a one-eyed, mute old scoundrel, known as He Laomao the One-Eyed Shuttle. He's cunning and ruthless, skilled with a steel shuttle, and possesses exceptionally strong palm strikes..."

Jiang Tiantao was particularly concerned about whether One-Eyed Shuttle was in the Three Hairpins Gang and had no interest in hearing what martial arts he knew. Therefore, he interjected, "Sister, have you tracked down He Laomao?"

Leng Ping shook her head in disappointment and said, "This person is probably not in the Three Hairpins Gang. During my initial attempts to explore the mountain, I was discovered by the Three Hairpins Gang's spies. I even captured a few people and interrogated them, but they all said there was no such person among the branch leaders or hall masters. Later, the White Tiger Hall Master, Golden Hook Sword Yu Cunxin, often came after midnight and stayed until..." I didn't return until almost midnight. One late night, I secretly followed him deep into the back mountains, only to discover that those above the rank of hall master had a secret path leading in and out. During several grand banquets hosted by the Three Hairpins Gang for all its regional leaders and chiefs, I secretly infiltrated the main headquarters to spy, but I never found that old scoundrel there!

Jiang Tiantao frowned and said, "Judging from this situation, this old thief may not have joined the Three Hairpins Gang. I wonder if Sister would be willing to tell me about the blood feud she has with One-Eyed Shuttle ?" "?"

Upon hearing the question, Leng Ping's heart clenched with sorrow, and two crystal tears immediately rolled down her cheeks. After a long while, she said painfully, "He killed my father!"

Jiang Tiantao's eyebrows suddenly furrowed upon hearing this, and he said in a deep voice, "The hatred for the murderer of one's father is irreconcilable. Sister, please rest assured, this villain will be brought to justice one day. If I encounter this villain again, I will definitely capture him and bring him to you."

Leng Ping nodded gratefully, tears streaming down her face, and said, "This old villain's skill is no less than that of Li Bashan, and his steel shuttle is especially formidable. Brother..." "Be careful if you encounter this thief."

Jiang Tiantao smiled proudly and said, "Sister, don't worry, I will be careful." After saying that, knowing it was inappropriate to continue the conversation, he got up from his seat, cupped his hands in a salute, and said, "I have eaten and drunk my fill, sister, please rest early. I will

come to pay my respects again tomorrow morning." Leng Ping wiped away her tears with her sleeve, hurriedly got up, and forced a smile, saying, "Sister will personally see you off tomorrow morning." After saying that, she walked out of

the hall side by side with Jiang Tiantao. Xiao Man, Xiao Xin, and Granny Lin all followed silently behind with somber expressions. When Jiang Tiantao saw that Leng Ping had seen him off to the side corridor and still did not stop, he immediately turned around and smiled, saying, "Sister, please go back. If

you see me off any further, I will be back in the main hall." Leng Ping smiled bitterly, could only nod and stop, and said to Xiao Man, "Xiao Man, please serve the young master to rest in peace."

Xiao Man happily and respectfully agreed, and then came out from a group of maids behind her. Jiang Tiantao said goodnight and walked out of the round door, Xiaoman following closely behind. They arrived at the hall, which was quiet and still lit. Jiang Tiantao glanced at the tea and snacks on the square table and went into the inner room. Three oil candles burned side by side on a high table, and the bedding was neatly arranged on the large, carved purple wood bed. As soon as Xiaoman entered the room, she went to the bedside and quickly spread out the bedding. With her back to Jiang Tiantao, she asked softly, "Young Master Jiang, do you now know the reason for my young lady's predicament?" Jiang Tiantao

replied modestly, "I already know."

Xiaoman continued meaningfully, "What do you think of my young lady?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately became alert, thinking: This girl's visit might have another purpose; I must be wary. So, his mind raced, and he immediately said solemnly, "Your young lady is truly worthy of my respect and admiration."

Xiaoman seemed dissatisfied with Jiang Tiantao's answer and unconsciously asked in a low voice, "Then why didn't you see my young lady when she was pursuing you?"

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly explained, "That was because Miss Huangfu was present." Xiaoman still wouldn't let up, saying, "But my young lady wanted to accompany you to Dahong Mountain, and you..." "Why refuse?"

Jiang Tiantao thought Xiaoman was very quick-witted. No wonder Granny Lin called her a little fox. In his mind, he humbly explained, "Because I must return to Jiugongbao first to ask my father for a decision. Whether or not we go to Dahong Mountain is still unknown."

Xiaoman immediately said charmingly, "Even if we don't go to Dahong Mountain, it's fine if you take my young lady and me to Jiugongbao for a few days!" As she spoke, she had already laid out the bedding. Suddenly, she turned around and asked in surprise, "Your Jiugongbao, my young lady can't go, right?"

Jiang Tiantao laughed when he saw that Xiaoman's question was interesting. He then said cheerfully, "Of course she can go."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoman's face lit up with joy. She excitedly said, "Young Master, thank you! I'll report to my young lady right away. We'll go together tomorrow..." Before she finished speaking, she had already leaped out of the inner room. Jiang Tiantao thought to himself: This is really a little fox.

Jiang Tiantao waved his sleeve to extinguish the oil candle, took off his sword and shoes, and went to sleep. The rooster finally crowed, the rain stopped, and the earth was once again bathed in the brilliant morning light! Jiang Tiantao, who had been soundly asleep, opened his eyes to find the sky already bright. Xiao Xin and the others were already waiting quietly at the door. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao wake up, they all greeted him with "Good morning."

Jiang Tiantao quickly washed up and ate some breakfast. Just then, a tinkling sound of jade pendants came from the heavens. Jiang Tiantao knew it was Leng Ping and hurried to the hall behind the screen to greet her. Looking up, he saw Leng Ping, radiant and meticulously dressed, walking towards the hall with a sweet smile. Xiao Man, looking displeased, and Granny Lin, beaming, followed behind. Upon seeing Leng Ping's attire, Jiang Tiantao immediately calmed down and hurriedly descended the hall steps to greet her, bowing and smiling, "Good morning, sister!"

Leng Ping nodded slightly and smiled warmly, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Jiang Tiantao smiled and bowed repeatedly, "Very well, very well!" He paused, glanced at the sky, and continued, "Although I parted ways with Senior Deng, we agreed to return to the fort together. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now and visit you another day."

Leng Ping smiled warmly, "Since you have other matters to attend to, I won't keep you. As long as you don't mind the remoteness of this place, I'm always ready to welcome you."

Jiang Tiantao was deeply grateful and thanked her profusely. As they spoke, they passed through the hall, where Granny Lin had already opened the vermilion door, and the intelligent Xiao Qing was already waiting outside. Jiang Tiantao walked down the steps, turned around, cupped his hands, and said warmly, "I sincerely invite you, sister, to take Xiaoman and Granny Lin to Jiugong Fort for a while when you have time..." Before he finished speaking, Granny Lin chuckled, and Xiaoman's melancholy face brightened.

Leng Ping smiled warmly and said naturally and generously, "Alright, when you forget this place or when I miss you."

Jiang Tiantao could see that although Leng Ping spoke naturally and generously, there was a hint of pity and longing in her clear eyes. Moved by her words, he couldn't help but say seriously, "Sister, take care. Until we meet again. I will be waiting for your visit at the fort." As soon as he said "until," he leaped onto his horse, spurred it on, and Xiaoqing let out a long neigh, galloping down the mountain like a whirlwind.

As Xiaoqing's long neigh faded, Xiaoman's sweet voice called out from behind, "Young Master, don't forget your words disappointed my young lady!"

Jiang Tiantao turned and waved, noticing Leng Ping, Xiaoman, Granny Lin, and others also waving their hands high until the peach grove obscured their figures. Only then did he turn back. Descending White Peach Mountain, he indeed found a large town ahead. The streets were bustling with people; it was the height of the morning market. Xiaoqing walked slowly through the main street, occasionally letting out a furious neigh.

Jiang Tiantao glanced around and saw many martial arts figures gesturing and greeting each other, as if something significant had happened in town. At the same time, many martial artists were busy buying horses and saddles. Jiang Tiantao, focused on his journey, though confused, didn't want to delay his travels. Therefore, as soon as he left the town, he immediately spurred his horse and galloped westward. But at each town they passed, they discovered the same phenomenon: the number of martial arts figures on the official road increased the further west they traveled. Jiang Tiantao knew something was amiss; a major event must have occurred in the martial arts world.

He spurred his horse to catch up with seven or eight martial arts figures galloping ahead. Just as he was about to ask an old man a question, a burly man with a purple face ahead laughed loudly, "I, Purple-Faced Flying Soul, have waited for him for years, and I'm already impatient! I never imagined that Golden-Faced Nezha would only master his martial arts today!"

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Judging from the man's tone, could Leng Ping really be right?" Just then, he heard another burly man warn him, "Brother, don't be too confident. He wouldn't dare invite so many like-minded people to make friends through martial arts if he didn't learn all the martial arts from the Jade Lion."

Another middle-aged man said impatiently, "Say less! Be careful you don't miss the opening ceremony if you don't make it to Dahong Mountain the day after tomorrow."

Jiang Tiantao realized that the Golden-Faced Nezha had indeed mastered his martial arts and was inviting heroes from all over the world. This was a golden opportunity for him to arrest the Poisonous Lady. Then he thought, with the heroes gathering at Dahong Mountain, how many of them would recognize the Lixing Sword hanging at his waist? If he encountered a seasoned master challenging him, as his father had said, as the young master of Jiugongbao, not knowing the ancestral Lixing Sword Technique would make him a laughingstock among the heroes. With this thought, he grew anxious. He calculated the date; it was the eleventh of the month, with a not-so-full moon. Overjoyed, he spurred his horse and galloped away. He would study the Lixing Sword Manual under the moonlight for the next two nights, so that he could outshine all the other martial arts masters at the tournament. With his

mind made up, Jiang Tiantao rode like the wind, heading straight for Qijiawan along the north bank of the Yangtze River. Having rested all night, Xiaoqing was full of energy. She galloped away like thunder, leaving batches and herds of horses far behind. More and more martial arts figures appeared along the way, some on horseback, some on foot, all heading in the same direction, discussing the same thing: the martial arts contest between Golden-Faced Nezha and his companions at Dahong Mountain. Xiaoqing was indeed a dragon-bred steed; her speed was truly astonishing. Just past noon, she had already reached Qijiawan. Although some martial arts figures along the way spurred their horses on, wanting to compete with Xiaoqing, they quickly realized they were no match and wisely slowed their horses down after less than two miles.

But the thousands of martial arts heroes had their eyes on Jiang Tiantao. While they were all talking about Golden-Faced Nezha, another topic of conversation emerged: who was that handsome young man in blue robes, a sword at his waist, riding a Qingchong horse? Especially the beautiful young women, skilled in martial arts, who were going to the gathering, couldn't help but shyly whisper to the old women, old men, brothers, or senior brothers around them who the boy on the flying horse was. But no one could say Jiang Tiantao's name, because his Xiao Qing was as fast as a rabbit and as swift as the wind. Although he carried the Lixing Sword, the crowd couldn't see him clearly in the blink of an eye. As

the sun set and the earth was painted with rosy clouds, Jiang Tiantao galloped into Yunmeng City amidst the throngs of martial arts heroes. Just as he was secretly rejoicing that his journey had been smooth and he hadn't encountered any ambushes from the Three Hairpins Gang, another problem arose. That is, every inn was already full of martial arts figures from all walks of life who had come to the gathering. Jiang Tiantao urgently needed to find a quiet inn with a private courtyard so that he could study the sword manual. He walked through all the streets of the city and saw that every inn was full, and he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Looking around the city, it was already dotted with lights, and a not-quite-full moon peeked out from behind the clouds on the eastern horizon. Waves of martial arts heroes continued to pour in from outside the city. Jiang Tiantao, feeling that time was precious, knew he couldn't linger on the streets any longer. He bought some dried food and braised dishes, and headed straight out of the city along West Street. Upon exiting the city gate, his heart sank again. On the official road leading due west, martial arts heroes heading towards Dahong Mountain were still coming in droves, but most were traveling on foot under the moonlight. Some used their lightness skills to leap across the sky, while others walked swiftly in groups, their unrestrained conversations punctuated by bursts of hearty laughter.

Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao knew that to quietly study the sword manual, he needed to leave the official road and find a secluded place or the countryside. With this thought in mind, he spurred his horse off the official road and rode along the pool, heading northwest. After traveling less than two li, a sparse patch of trees appeared ahead. Based on the faint outlines of rooftops, he deduced it was a small village.

Jiang Tiantao was delighted and immediately spurred his horse forward. As he rode, he focused his gaze and found that the area was devoid of light and the sound of barking dogs; it resembled neither a village nor a temple. Entering the woods, it was extremely gloomy, and apart from countless bats flitting among the pines, everything was quiet. Passing a section of peeling brick wall, he came to a modest gatehouse. Jiang Tiantao rode to the steps and saw that it was a dilapidated ancestral hall. The gate was leaning, the paint was peeling, and the stone steps were piled with broken tiles and overgrown with grass. Jiang Tiantao

, after observing this, felt that such a dilapidated and desolate ancestral hall was the perfect place to study sword techniques. So, he dismounted, tied the reins, took the dry rations he had bought, and leaped onto the ancestral hall wall. Standing atop the wall, he surveyed the scene. The central ancestral hall remained largely intact, though its doors and windows were gone. Parts of the side rooms had collapsed, and the overgrown courtyard was littered with broken oak branches and shattered tiles. A large, flourishing banyan tree, its branches reaching several embracing angles, stood proudly before a window, somewhat alleviating the desolate atmosphere. Behind the ancestral hall lay two more courtyards, several dozen feet deep, even more desolate than the first.

Jiang Tiantao, eager to study his sword manual, didn't bother to inspect the rear courtyards. Instead, he leaped through the air, clearing the overgrown courtyards, and landed directly before the ancestral hall. Inside, cobwebs, bird droppings, and piles of mud littered the grounds. On the three sides of the stepped stone wall, numerous memorial tablets and ashes of the dead lay scattered about, filling the air with an eerie atmosphere. Jiang Tiantao, observing this, concluded that the place had been deserted for a long time, which suited his purposes perfectly. He glanced up at the bright, clear moon, then sat cross-legged on a few scattered stone steps. He opened his food bag, quickly ate some dry rations, and then, with a heavy heart, regulated his breathing several times.

When he opened his eyes again, the moon was nearly high in the sky. The night was cool and still, the moonlight like silk, the cold stars blinking eerily, and a cold wind rustled through the overgrown weeds and lush banyan leaves in the courtyard, creating a desolate and terrifying atmosphere, lurking with murderous intent. These sinister and terrifying scenes, however, were seen by Jiang Tiantao, who was eager to study the sword manual, as a godsend, and he didn't worry about being spied on. He unsheathed his sword, raised both hands above his head, and first silently prayed, hoping that the spirits of his ancestors would bless him to master the ancestral Lixing Sword Technique overnight.

After praying, he focused his mind and lightly pressed the spring with his right thumb. Immediately, a very faint humming sound came from the scabbard. With a swift, sweeping motion, a flash of cold light, like lightning, illuminated the scene. The bats swirling in the courtyard squeaked in alarm and vanished without a trace.

Jiang Tiantao, standing in the desolate ancestral hall in the still of the night, facing the venerable Lixing Sword passed down from his ancestors, couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. He suddenly thought of his great-grandfather Jiang Huichuan, grandfather Jiang Chongze, and father Jiang Haohai—three generations of descendants who, for over a hundred years, had relied on this sword to slay countless villains and rid the martial world of countless calamities. Would he be able to uphold his ancestors' aspirations, wield the sword to eliminate evil, and accomplish a great and glorious deed for the benefit of humanity? Tonight would be the test.

Gazing at the bright moon and cloudless sky, his heart opened up, and a surge of ambition rose within him. He would use this precious sword to uphold justice in the martial world, to rid the Jianghu of demons, and to ensure that the prestige of Jiugongbao would forever stand as firm as a mountain. Suddenly, he lowered his head, his starry eyes fixed on the first clear blue-green mark on the sword. At first, he only felt the dazzling light and the brilliant blue hue, and for a long time he couldn't find anything. Then, as the sword tilted towards the bright moon, a sword technique appeared in the cold, colorful light. In the clear blue-green light, a figure clearly appeared, holding a long sword, poised to swing it backward. Around the figure were solid lines and dotted dots. Above the figure's head, four small golden characters, "Starry Sky and Heavenly Constellation," were written horizontally. It didn't specify which move it was, nor did it provide detailed instructions. Jiang Tiantao knew that this required his own comprehension, deep thought, and study, following the solid lines and dotted dots to understand and practice.

So, he closed his starry eyes, silently memorized the sword posture, and calmly thought through it from the solid lines to the dotted dots. In a mere instant, Jiang Tiantao suddenly opened his eyes, leaped down the steps, and swung his Lixing Sword with a backhand motion, instantly conjuring a seven-colored streak. Then, the colors intensified, the light dazzling, revealing only a rainbow, not a figure. Having practiced this move, Jiang Tiantao immediately understood why it was named "Starry Sky"—because when executed, it presented a cloud-like, misty rainbow, without the shimmering silver stars. So, in the courtyard, he continued to gaze at the second orange-yellow spot on the sword. Within

the light of this spot, a figure appeared, pouncing, wielding a longsword with a zigzag pattern, dotted with lines at the top and bottom. Upon closer inspection, the four small golden characters on it read "Nebula Lightning." Having learned from his first experience, he quickly grasped the essence this time. He gathered his power in his right arm, channeling it through the sword, causing the colors to surge. With a low shout, the sword's momentum became like a rainbow, swift as lightning. Then, he practiced both swords simultaneously, each with a different momentum. Rainbows rolled and stars filled the sky. Sometimes there was a misty haze, sometimes a cold light flashed like thunder, and the chilling sword energy brought with it a piercing and terrifying whistling wind.

Jiang Tiantao practiced with great enthusiasm, seeking variation in repetition and subtlety in chain attacks, determined to reach a state of effortless mastery and swift, preemptive action. In an instant, the courtyard was filled with brilliance, colorful rays soaring into the sky, and the chilling sword energy swept through, cutting grass and shattering tiles, the whistling wind stirring up dust and smoke. Jiang Tiantao had never imagined that two consecutive moves would possess such power; the sheer force of nine moves used simultaneously would be unimaginable. He thought of the "Nine Palaces Fortress" and its enduring reputation in the martial arts world for decades, undoubtedly due to the high esteem of his grandfather and father. The unparalleled "Beautiful Star Sword Technique" also played a significant role. Just as he wielded his sword with lightning speed, and colorful rays soared into the sky, a long, startled cry suddenly came from the pines outside the forest.

Jiang Tiantao was startled and let out a soft cry: with a leap, he soared into the air and flew onto the gate tower of the ancestral hall. Standing under a pine tree seven or eight zhang away, Xiao Qing stood with her head held high, hair standing on end, ears flapping, and eyes gleaming as she stared intently out of the forest, her expression one of utter shock. Jiang Tiantao sensed something amiss and listened intently. A rapid whistling sound of clothes tearing through the air came from the direction Xiao Qing was looking. Looking up by the moonlight, he saw more than a dozen figures rushing into the forest, while further away, from the direction of Yunmeng City, several dark figures were also hurtling towards them like shooting stars. Jiang Tiantao was stunned by this sight, suddenly unable to understand what was happening. Looking up at the night sky, he saw a bright moon overhead and a few scattered stars; it was the dead of night.

Just as he was gazing at the night sky, a startled shout suddenly came from outside the forest: "Hey, look! There they are!"

Startled by the shout, Jiang Tiantao immediately remembered the Lixing Sword in his hand. He sheathed it horizontally and gracefully landed outside the door. Just as he landed, the wind whistled and figures flashed. A dozen or so martial arts figures of varying builds and builds, some thin and some stout, had gathered among the pines three zhang away. Jiang Tiantao glanced around and saw that there were sixteen or seventeen of them. Some wore tight-fitting clothes, some wore tattered shirts, some had puffed-out chests and protruding bellies, and some had thick eyebrows and piercing eyes. Although their faces and ages differed, the expressions on each of their faces revealed a mixture of astonishment and greed.

As he was observing them, a thin man with a gray coat and a bald head, carrying a single sword slung over his shoulder, stood three zhang away. He rolled his eyes and coldly asked, "Friend, have you got that thing?"

Jiang Tiantao was startled and asked in a deep voice, "What thing?"

A short, stout young man with a black coat and a dark face, standing behind the bald man and carrying a large iron hammer, suddenly took two steps forward, glared, and shouted angrily, "Treasure! My elder brother means that treasure!"

Jiang Tiantao was stunned again. A middle-aged man with sparse eyebrows, a square face, and a bulbous nose chuckled coldly and interjected, "It's that treasure with its myriad rays of light, thousands of auspicious wisps, and colorful radiance shooting straight to the sky..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately understood and couldn't help but let out a disdainful laugh. This laugh provoked many people to shout angrily, "Boy, don't you know the rules of the martial world?" "

Don't you know the principle of 'whoever sees it gets a share'?"

"Friend, what are you laughing at?"

Jiang Tiantao slowly suppressed his laughter, then said with utter contempt, "I'm laughing at you ignorant fools who've never seen the world. That colorful radiance just now was my sword practice."

The mention of sword practice stunned many present, because those who arrived earlier were all third- or fourth-rate mediocre swordsmen who made a living in the martial world, and they naturally harbored some fear of those who wielded swords. But seeing the colorful clouds rising into the sky from within the pine forest in the distance, many martial arts figures who had rushed there out of curiosity were surprised and asked repeatedly, "Practicing swordsmanship?"

Jiang Tiantao swept his gaze across the area like lightning, and in that instant, another twenty or thirty people appeared in the forest. He then slowly nodded and said, "Not bad!" As soon as he finished speaking, a disdainful sneer suddenly came from the crowd not far away.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao frowned and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a middle-aged scholar with a sallow complexion, slanted eyes, and wearing a tattered scholar's robe. The scholar in tattered clothes, feigning refinement, shook his head and said with a forced smile, "Your words are rather self-deceptive."

Jiang Tiantao raised an eyebrow and immediately asked in a deep voice, "What makes you say that?"

The scholar in tattered clothes laughed smugly and said, "If you want to practice your sword, you can do so at home. Why come to this dilapidated ancestral hall in the middle of the night? Even if it's true, it seems like you're trying to lure people in and show off."

Jiang Tiantao, annoyed by his sophistry, retorted angrily, "I'm happy, what's it to you?

" As soon as he finished speaking, the same skinny man with the bald head impatiently shouted, "You poor wretch surnamed Tu, shut your damn mouth! Since he's practicing swordsmanship, let him practice again for us. If it's the same as what we just saw, we'll leave to avoid wasting our sleep time. But if he can't produce a thousand rays of light and a thousand auspicious wisps, don't blame us for being ruthless..." Before he finished speaking, the burly men scattered around immediately burst into applause, and all eyes turned to Jiang Tiantao, as if to say: "Hurry up and practice!"

Jiang Tiantao smiled coldly and asked contemptuously, "On what grounds?"

The short, fat young man in black glared at him and shouted sharply, "On this grounds!" As he spoke, he flashed past the skinny man with the bald head and swung his large iron hammer twice with great force.

Jiang Tiantao didn't take these people seriously at all, and he couldn't help but let out a loud laugh like a tiger's roar, which echoed through the forest and lasted for a long time. By this time, forty or fifty martial arts figures had arrived. Those with more experience, upon hearing the powerful laugh, sensed something was amiss and quietly slipped away without a word.

A skinny man with rat-like ears and a thin face suddenly realized the danger and immediately threatened in a sinister tone, "Don't flaunt your internal strength to frighten us. You must know that the wrath of the masses is not to be trifled with, and two palms cannot defeat four hands. Are you confident you can defeat all these heroes present?"

Jiang Tiantao, who had just stopped laughing, proudly declared, "A golden eagle fears neither snakes nor rats, a fierce tiger fears neither dogs nor foxes..."

Before he could finish speaking, someone suddenly roared, "I'll fight you, you golden eagle and fierce tiger!" With that roar, a short, stout young man in black leaped into the arena, swinging his large iron hammer and smashing it down on Jiang Tiantao's head.

Jiang Tiantao laughed loudly, "You dare say you're worthy?" The word "worthy" was barely out of his mouth before the hammer was already at his head. In a flash, he raised his arm to the sky, his right hand sweeping around to grab the dark-faced youth's wrist, shouting, "Go!" With that, he used the momentum of the youth's lunge to lift his short, stout body into the air. The youth screamed in terror, and Jiang Tiantao, who never used his legs, kicked him in the buttocks. The stout body, screaming in terror, crashed towards the dilapidated gatehouse

of the ancestral hall. A group of burly men standing a few feet away paled, exclaiming in shock, all stunned. With a loud crash, the youth's hammer struck the crumbling, leaning gatehouse. A series of loud thuds followed, accompanied by a muffled groan, as the youth's body was crushed to the ground by the decaying gate and broken tiles.

Upon seeing this, the bald, skinny man immediately roared, "You brat, how dare you injure someone! Know that I, Bald-Headed Knife, am not someone to be trifled with!"

With that roar, he flipped his arm, drawing his knife; a flash of cold light, and his single blade was already drawn. In a leap, he was already in front of Jiang Tiantao, raising his knife to stab. Jiang Tiantao felt that this Bald-Headed Knife was definitely the culprit and should not be forgiven. So, with a deep snort, he spun around and was already behind his opponent. Seeing his sworn brother suffer a loss, the Bald-Headed Knife seemed to have learned his lesson. Startled, he realized his vision blurred and knew he was in trouble. With a roar, he swung his single blade backward. Just as he swung backward, Jiang Tiantao's left hand had already lifted him by the back of his collar, and his right hand had already gripped his right elbow. Jiang Tiantao roared, "Go!"

With a powerful pull, he suddenly spun around, immediately lifting the Bald-Headed Knife's thin body. Knowing something was wrong, Lai Tou Dao instinctively cried out, "Oh no!" The word "oh no!" barely left his lips when Jiang Tiantao released his grip.

With a cry of alarm, Lai Tou Dao was sent flying through the air, crashing into a clump of low bushes seven or eight zhang away. A loud crash followed, branches snapped, leaves flew, and trunks shook. Lai Tou Dao didn't faint, but he was badly injured, bleeding profusely, and dropped his knife. Seeing this, the others' faces changed drastically, a chill creeping into their hearts. They glanced around and saw that the dozens of others who had come later were long gone, leaving only their first group of fourteen. They dared not linger. Exchanging glances, they turned and prepared to flee.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately shouted, "Stop!" With that shout, he leaped into the air, soaring over the heads of the group and landing five zhang away. The shout, as loud as spring thunder, startled the fourteen people who had been quietly fleeing. They all stopped, looked up, and panicked.

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