[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 25

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Chapter Thirty: The Beauty Spring

is halfway up the mountain, and the "Qingyuan Temple" is clearly visible. Its magnificent gate, green tiles and red bricks, pavilions and halls, and imposing grand halls truly exude an extraordinary aura. Deng Lizhu, Zhu Caidie, Wang Yanling, the three female hall masters, and the sword-wielding girls who yearn for eternal youth, all couldn't help but beam with joy and excitement.

Upon arriving at the temple gate, Du Jingyun had already dismounted and was waiting respectfully outside. Just then, an old Taoist priest with white hair and a silver beard, dressed in a gray robe, apparently hearing the hurried sound of galloping hooves, rushed out of the temple in a panic. Jiang Tiantao's eyes lit up instantly upon seeing the old Taoist priest. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao, the old Taoist priest trembled, his face changed drastically, and he

cried out in alarm, turning to flee... Rainbow Dragon Girl had already leaped from her horse, shouting sharply, "Traitor, prepare to die!" With that shout, she flicked her wrist, sheathed her sword, and moved as fast as a wisp of smoke, chasing after the fleeing old Taoist priest...

The sudden turn of events caused many to gasp, all stunned. Jingyun, the head of the Azure Dragon Hall, had already changed color, standing blankly on the steps, seemingly confused as to what was happening.

Suddenly, he saw Deng Lizhu's bewildered expression, her almond-shaped eyes lighting up, and she cried out sweetly, "Ah! It's him!" With that cry, she drew her bow and released a slingshot; two silver lines, swift as lightning, shot straight at the knees of the fleeing old Taoist priest. The two silver lines flashed, and a terrified scream erupted; the gray-robed old Taoist priest, who had just reached the doorway, immediately tumbled and fell onto the path.

With a pale, ashen face, Rainbow Dragon Girl, who had been hot on her heels, shouted again, "Traitor, prepare to die!"

With that shout, she brandished her sword and lunged at the fallen old Taoist. Although the old Taoist had fallen, he hadn't lost his power. With another cry of alarm, he sprang back, rolled over, and slammed his palms into

the ground, plunging down the tunnel. Fu Liying, still seated on her horse, immediately cried out, "Zhenmei, stop!" Rainbow Dragon Girl, who was about to pounce down the tunnel, stopped abruptly. Everyone dismounted and headed into the temple. Du Jingyun, his face ashen, looked bewildered and uneasily following Jiang Tiantao and Fu Liying.

Upon seeing Du Jingyun, Rainbow Dragon Girl pointed her sword at the old Taoist below the tunnel and demanded sharply, "Master Du, is this old Taoist your martial uncle?" "

Du Jingyun hurriedly bowed and said, "Reporting to the Chief Inspector, this humble servant does not recognize this old Taoist either..."

Rainbow Dragon Girl asked again sternly, "Where is your martial uncle?"

Du Jingyun replied respectfully, "My martial uncle is in the back room, treating a Taoist priest who is about to die. He is unable to come out to greet you, so he specially ordered this humble servant to first escort the Chief to the quiet room for tea!"

At this moment, Fu Liying, Huangfu Xiang, Zhu Caidie, Ma Yunshan, and others, as well as the three female hall masters and Yuan Zijian, all saw the old Taoist's true face. The old Taoist was dressed in a gray robe, with a hooked nose, slanted eyes, and eyebrows that flew like arrows. His eyes were piercing. Because of injuries to both knees, he lay quietly curled up in the passageway, his forehead already covered with sweat.

Fu Liying frowned, turned to look at Rainbow Dragon Girl, and asked in confusion, "Zhenmei, who is this old Taoist priest?"

Rainbow Dragon Girl said indignantly, "He's not some old Taoist priest, he's Wu Tu, the criminal leader of the Zhang Lehua branch of 'Dragon Palace Lake,' also known as 'Iron Plate.'" Upon hearing this, Du Jingyun was secretly startled, and many people exclaimed in surprise.

Huangfu Xiang, known as "Silver Hairpin," frowned and immediately asked in confusion, "According to Zhang Lehua's report, didn't Wu Tu fall into the 'Dragon Eye Whirlpool' of Dragon Palace Lake and die?"

Rainbow Dragon Girl replied indignantly, "Who knows if her report is true or false? She said Wu Tu died, but I didn't see him at the time."

Jiang Tiantao glanced at Deng Lizhu, whose brows were slightly furrowed, and thinking of the water battle that day, this old thief probably hadn't been hit by a bullet. As the small boat headed towards another "Dragon Eye Whirlpool," he suddenly changed the direction of the boat. Before he could finish his thought, he suddenly saw Fu Liying facing Du Jingyun and asking in a deep voice, "Master Du, where is the meditation room?"

Du Jingyun bowed slightly, pointed to the left corner door of the imposing main hall, and said respectfully, "It's on the left side of the main hall."

Fu Liying pointed to Wu Tu, the "Iron Plate," on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Take him to the meditation room."

Du Jingyun respectfully agreed, then gave a glance to the two incense masters of the "Azure Dragon Hall," and then faced Fu Liying, saying respectfully, "Chief, please follow me." After saying that, he turned around and led the way.

Jiang Tiantao and Fu Liying and the others followed behind, passing through the passageway and courtyard, heading straight for the left corner door of the main hall. As Jiang Tiantao moved forward, he looked around and saw the main hall in the center, indeed magnificent and solemn. A giant cauldron stood before the steps, still emitting wisps of incense smoke. However, the entire Taoist temple was deserted. Apart from a few Taoist priests cowering fearfully behind pillars, peeking out hesitantly, there was no one else in sight. Looking back at Ma Yunshan, Xiao Li Guang, Jin Jianying, Ning Daotong, and the others, he saw them also solemnly observing the scene. They exchanged glances, seemingly agreeing that this was completely different from what Du Jingyun, the master of the "Azure Dragon Hall," had described as a constant stream of worshippers. Looking up at the setting sun, although it was already past sunset, it was still late afternoon; the devout men and women who came to offer incense shouldn't have left so early.

As they were observing, Huangfu Xiang suddenly asked in a deep voice, "Master Du, why are there no Taoist priests in such a large Taoist temple?"

Du Jingyun stepped forward and respectfully replied, "All the Taoist priests in the temple are in the back hall taking care of that dying Taoist priest." As he spoke, they arrived at the left corner door of the main hall.

Entering the corner door, there was a long courtyard several tens of feet wide, with several clumps of green bamboo and a small, elegant room where two young Taoist priests were hurriedly wiping chairs and tables. The nine female incense masters of the three inner halls, each accompanied by two sword-wielding girls, immediately guarded the small courtyard. The calm and alert Jin Jianying gave Ma Yunshan a look and went straight to the back hall.

Entering the quiet room, they took their seats in order. The two incense masters of the "Azure Dragon Hall" immediately dragged "Iron Plate" Wu Tu into the quiet room. The two young Taoist priests' expressions changed drastically upon seeing him; they were both stunned. Knowing he was doomed, Wu Tu, nicknamed "Iron Plate," clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and was placed on the ground by the two incense masters, feigning deafness and muteness, remaining silent.

Seeing Wu Tu curled up on the ground, Fu Liying knew his knee injury was serious, so she asked in a deep voice, "Wu Tu, do you know your crime?"

Wu Tu, nicknamed "Iron Plate," slowly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "What crime have I committed?"

Seeing that Wu Tu showed no remorse even on the verge of death, Fu Liying angrily asked, "Wasn't it you, Wu Tu, who secretly planted slingshotmen in the plaque of the 'Dragon Palace Lake' branch hall, attempting to assassinate the Chief Inspector?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tu's eyes suddenly flashed with a fierce light, and he shouted sharply, "If you know, why ask again?"

Rainbow Dragon Girl and Huangfu Xiang were immediately enraged, almost simultaneously shouting, "Master Yuan, push him out!" "

Spotted Leopard Hall Master Yuan Zijian respectfully agreed and flashed out, but as he did so, he took the opportunity to glance at the pale-faced Du Jingyun. Although Fu Liying was furious, she hesitated to execute Wu Tu before clarifying the relationship with Du Jingyun's uncle, Daoist Fuchen, out of consideration for him. So she waved her hand and said in a deep voice, "Wait!"

The two incense masters who were about to drag Wu Tu away stopped at the same time. Fu Liying immediately asked in a deep voice, "Wu Tu, you took advantage of the opportunity to pursue Miss Deng and Young Master Jiang to escape from Dragon Palace Lake. Why didn't you fly far away? Why did you dare to come to Qingyuan Temple to take refuge..."

Before Fu Liying could finish speaking, Wu Tu, the Iron Plate, said sharply again, "Kill me or torture me, it's up to you. Why are you being so long-winded!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Liying trembled with anger, her face turning ashen. The hot-tempered and fiery Deng Lizhu had long harbored resentment over the lack of an opportunity to eliminate this old villain, and also wanted to know why he was still alive. Seeing him dare to be so arrogant in front of so many people, she was enraged and blurted out, "You won't tell me how you dodged my 'Nine Linked Beads'? I'll make you tell me!" As she spoke, she reached for a flat silver bullet, flicked it with her slender finger, and a silver line shot straight towards Wu Tu's vital point. Wu Tu let out a muffled groan, his curled-up body jerking. A gleaming silver, shoulder-shaped bullet had landed precisely on Wu Tu's left lower back, neither too deep nor too shallow.

Fu Liying, Ma Yunshan, and the others were stunned, their expressions changing slightly. They were surprised to discover that this beautiful young lady, Deng, possessed such formidable strength. Jiang Tiantao had already witnessed it at Dragon Palace Lake, so he wasn't surprised. However, Rainbow Dragon Girl, who had been saved by Deng Lizhu, suddenly remembered that she hadn't formally thanked Deng Lizhu. A thought struck her, and she hurried towards Fu Liying, about to whisper something, when Wu Tu, lying on the ground, was already sweating profusely, panting heavily, his eyes filled with venom as he glared at Deng Lizhu, his left hand frantically trying to pry off the silver bullet. Deng Lizhu

smiled coldly and said, "Wu Tu, even if you manage to pry it off, you won't be able to release the pressure point." Wu Tu's left hand not only failed to pry it off, but his whole body trembled even more violently.

Deng Lizhu's eyebrows furrowed, and she suddenly demanded angrily, "Will you talk or not?"

Wu Tu, writhing in pain, could no longer endure it; large beads of sweat rolled down his old face. He could only grit his teeth, panting, and say resentfully, "Fine, I'll talk..."

Deng Lizhu snorted, immediately standing up from her chair, raising her slingshot, and gently tapping Wu Tu's lower back. With a soft "pop," the silver pellet flew up. Immediately afterward, with a flick of the bow and a swift movement of her slender hand, the pellet landed perfectly in her grasp. This technique of striking the acupoint with the bow was executed cleanly and nimbly, light and agile, full of humor, causing many to chuckle.

Deng Lizhu forced a laugh, sat back in her chair, and angrily said to the iron plate, "Quickly report what happened here to Chief Fu!"

Wu Tu, panting, glared venomously at Jiang Tiantao and the others, and said hatefully, "That night, we fought on the lake. There were six of us on the boat, and only I was unharmed. Since the small boat was rushing out of the 'Dragon Eye Whirlpool,' I knew I was outnumbered, so I had to lie down on the gunwale to cover my face. The moment the small boat headed towards another Dragon Eye Whirlpool, I quickly grabbed the wooden oar and pushed hard, and the small boat immediately headed towards the north shore!"

Fu Liying frowned and interjected, "How long have you been at the 'Qingyuan Temple'?"

Wu Tu deliberately shook his head and said, "I can't remember!"

Rainbow Dragon Girl was annoyed and couldn't help but ask angrily, "What connection do you have with the abbot of this temple?" Wu Tu's pain seemed to have subsided, and his expression became stubborn again. When Rainbow Dragon Girl asked him, he simply shook his head.

Huangfu Xiang snorted and angrily said, "From 'Dragon Palace Lake' to Jiudao Mountain, there are countless Taoist temples along the way. Why did you choose to hide in Qingyuan Temple here?" Wu Tu did not answer, but instead closed his eyes.

Upon seeing this, Fu Liying waved to Yuan Zijian and said in a deep voice, "Master Yuan, take him out!" Yuan Zijian did not dare to hesitate and respectfully agreed. He immediately directed the two incense masters to take Wu Tu out of the room.

Just then, a loud and powerful "Amitabha Buddha" suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard gate! Jiang Tiantao and the others looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old Taoist wearing a nine-ridged Taoist crown, a water and fire Taoist robe, and holding a gray-haired whisk, leading four junior Taoists as they walked in from outside the gate. The group looked closely at the old Taoist. He had flat eyebrows and narrow eyes, high temples and a thin face, and a few yellow beards that were only five inches long. He pretended to have a peaceful and serene demeanor.

Upon seeing the old Taoist priest, Du Jingyun respectfully greeted Fu Liying, "Reporting to the Chief, my uncle, Taoist 'Floating Dust,' has arrived!"

Fu Liying nodded slightly, stood up from her chair, and went outside to greet him. Jiang Tiantao and the others also stood up. When Taoist 'Floating Dust' saw Wu Tu, nicknamed "Iron Plate," being escorted outside by two incense masters, his expression changed, and he was momentarily stunned. Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly realized what was happening. He immediately chanted a Buddhist prayer, faced Yuan Zijian, and said loudly, "Please wait a moment, benefactor!" After saying this, he hurried towards the door.

Yuan Zijian secretly gestured for the two incense masters to wait, and, carrying the silent Wu Tu, stopped temporarily under a bamboo grove. The old Taoist priest, Fu Chen, hurried to the door and bowed slightly to Fu Liying, who was dressed in gold. He said loudly, "I was delighted to hear of the arrival of the Chief. I am late in welcoming you, and I hope the Chief will forgive me!"

Fu Liying smiled elegantly and said, "I have just heard that your temple's 'Daughter's Spring' is famous throughout the world. Today, I passed by this precious mountain and felt that such an opportunity would be rare, so I came to see the ancient site. I hope the Master will not be offended."

Fu Chen forced a laugh and said, "The Chief's arrival is more than a welcome; there is no reason for me to be offended!" As he spoke, he stepped into the room and his

eyes swept around. His heart skipped a beat. Especially when he saw Ma Yunshan with his white eyebrows and silver beard and Ning Daotong standing behind a handsome young man in blue, his expression immediately changed. He glanced reproachfully at the uneasy Du Jingyun, then turned to Fu Liying and asked with feigned surprise, "Who is this young hero?" "...

Fu Liying hurriedly introduced them, pointing respectfully to Jiang Tiantao, saying, "This is Young Master Jiang of Jiugong Fortress."

The old Daoist Fuchen feigned surprise, laughing loudly, "So you are the newly appointed Young Master Jiang of Jiugong Fortress! My apologies, my apologies!" He then bowed deeply with one hand.

Jiang Tiantao also humbly smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "I apologize for my unannounced visit!"

The old Daoist Fuchen quickly replied modestly, "Not at all, not at all! Your presence is a great honor to Hanshan Temple and a source of pride for my humble abode. I am overjoyed." He then sat down again.

Concerned about Wu Tu's safety, the old Daoist Fuchen humbly asked Fu Liying, "What has the Daoist Yuanxuan done to offend Chief Fu?"

Fu Liying smiled elegantly, not answering but instead asking, "Does the Abbot know the background of your 'Yuanxuan'?" "

Old Daoist Fuchen feigned surprise, deliberately feigning confusion, and said, 'Da Xuan has only been at the temple for a short time, and I haven't inquired about the details yet!'

Fu Liying smiled faintly and said, 'He is Wu Tu, the criminal incense master of our Dragon Palace Lake branch, nicknamed "Iron Plate."' Old Daoist Fuchen pretended to be shocked, letting out a soft 'Ah,' feigning astonishment."

Rainbow Dragon Girl coldly interjected, "He is a traitor who fled our gang to escape punishment."

Old Daoist Fuchen's body trembled, and he deliberately blurted out, "Is that so?"

Fuli Ying's phoenix eyes flickered, and she immediately said to Rainbow Dragon Girl, "Sister Zhen, tell us about Wu Tu's crimes so that Abbot Fuchen can hear them."

Rainbow Dragon Girl respectfully agreed, and then said to Old Daoist Fuchen in a deep voice, "This inspector was ordered to patrol Dragon Palace Lake and secretly investigate the private lives of fishermen along the way. Within two days of arriving, I received dozens of letters accusing Wu Tu..."

At this point, Old Daoist Fuchen frowned, feigning disbelief, and asked again, puzzled, "Is that so?"

Rainbow Dragon Girl snorted and continued, "Along the shores of Dragon Palace Lake, Wu Tu raped female fishermen, oppressed fishermen, levied exorbitant taxes, seized land, and committed countless atrocities..."

Old Daoist Fuchen gave a soft "Oh," as if suddenly realizing something. In a tone of enlightenment, he interjected, "Da Xuan has come to this temple and followed the rules diligently, living a secluded life. He often kneels before the ancestral master in the main hall, chanting scriptures and praying. It turns out he is repenting before the gods, determined to mend his ways..."

Upon hearing this, Fu Liying knew something was amiss, realizing that Fu Chen was plotting something. She hurriedly interjected, "Since Wu Tu has shown remorse, our gang will not go too far. We will immediately send him to the Fang County branch, then to Neifang Mountain. After the 'Dragon Head Assembly' at Xingzi Mountain, we will send him to the main altar for interrogation..."

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist Fu Chen trembled, his face changing instantly. He hurriedly said, "Chief, Xiaobi is a pure Buddhist place. People spend their days worshipping Buddha and chanting scriptures, which is most likely to awaken their minds. If we leave him in Xiaobi..."

Fu Liying did not wait for Fu Chen to finish speaking, and smiled faintly, "Since the founding of our gang, we have punished those who have betrayed the gang and violated the law accordingly. Wu Tu's violation of the law has not yet been thoroughly investigated." If the evidence is insufficient, his title of incense master should still be restored. Even if he has committed a minor offense, out of consideration for the abbot, he should be given a lenient sentence and a chance to reform!

The old Taoist Fuchen sensed something was wrong and was about to say something more when Fu Liying, standing outside, called out in a low, authoritative voice, "Hall Master Yuan!"

Hall Master Yuan Zijian, who was standing outside, stepped towards the main room door, clasped his hands, and bowed, saying, "Your subordinate is here!"

Fu Liying suddenly raised an eyebrow and ordered in a deep voice, "Immediately send someone to escort Wu Tu to the Fang County branch and send him to Inner Knife Mountain tonight!"

Yuan Zijian dared not be negligent and loudly agreed. He then waved to the two incense masters, grabbed Wu Tu ("Iron Plate"), and hurriedly walked out of the courtyard. The old Taoist Fuchen was dumbfounded, staring at the courtyard gate for a long time without turning back. He knew that it was absolutely impossible to keep Wu Tu.

Jiang Tiantao smiled wryly, feigning regret as he asked, "Since Daoist Fuchen knew Wu Tu was a traitor to the Three Hairpins Gang, why did you send him out of the temple to greet Chief Fu?" Daoist

Fuchen, seemingly annoyed by this, unconsciously stamped his foot and said, "I only said that a distinguished guest had arrived and asked him to greet him first, but I forgot..."

Jiang Tiantao smiled faintly and interjected, "You forgot he's a traitorous incense master of the Three Hairpins Gang?"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Fuchen immediately realized his lapse in composure and hurriedly waved his hands, explaining, "No, no, no, this humble Daoist had no idea he was Chief Fu's subordinate... Ah... Wu Tu is indeed guilty, and of course, he should be thoroughly investigated!"

Zhu Caidie, preoccupied with the eternal beauty of the "Daughter's Spring," had been impatiently waiting for Wu Tu's sudden appearance. She could no longer contain herself and blurted out, "Excuse me, Daoist, where is your temple's 'Daughter's Spring'? Could we all go and see it?" The old Taoist priest, "Floating Dust, "

feeling unable to back down, and having given up on saving Wu Tu since it was hopeless, hurriedly replied upon being asked, "Of course, of course! Please follow me!" With that, he stood up from his chair, stepped aside, and led the way out.

Fu Liying gave Jiang Tiantao a respectful bow and followed alongside the old Taoist priest. The group then left the courtyard and walked along the long corridor deeper into the area. At this time, small groups of old Taoist priests were already active in the front porch of the main hall and the spacious courtyard of the second hall, but each of them had a somewhat mysterious expression. Jiang Tiantao looked around and found that Qingyuan Temple was indeed quite large, with three courtyards and buildings reaching into the clouds—a truly magnificent Taoist temple.

While looking around, they arrived at the spacious courtyard of the third main hall. In the center of the courtyard stood a six-foot-diameter pool. Within the pool was a strangely shaped rock, over three feet in diameter, from which a clear spring gushed forth, cascading in an arc into the pool, splashing water droplets and making a gentle murmur. At the edge of the circular pool was a stone altar with a small incense burner on it, a stick of incense still burning, its white smoke curling upwards. In front of the altar was a worn-out prayer cushion, seemingly for the worshippers.

As they looked around, the old Taoist priest Fuchen pointed to the small pool in the courtyard and said, “Please look, everyone, this is one of our temple’s ancient relics, the famous ‘Daughter’s Spring’!” Upon hearing this, all the women except Fu Liying, Xiao Xiangzhen, and Xue Danfeng perked up with excitement.

Deng Lizhu, her bright eyes darting around, couldn’t help but ask first, “Master Fuchen, can your temple’s ‘Daughter’s Spring’ truly keep beautiful young women forever young and radiant?” "

Without hesitation, the old Taoist priest Fuchen said solemnly, "Of course, of course!" As he spoke, he glanced at Du Jingyun, seemingly intentionally, yet unintentionally.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Caidie couldn't help but ask excitedly, "Is the 'Daughter's Spring' only this one miraculous effect?"

The old Taoist priest Fuchen hurriedly explained, "Of course, it's not just that. The Daughter's Spring not only preserves the youth of young girls, but also grants longevity to the elderly. It strengthens the kidneys and enhances the essence of the strong, cures the chronic illnesses of the bedridden, regulates menstruation for women, and helps infertile women conceive a son soon..." Before he finished speaking, all the women blushed. Even Fu Liying, a woman of great ambition who commanded nearly ten thousand heroes, couldn't help but blush.

Standing in a corner, Du Jingyun sneered, his eyes fixed intently on her . The Rainbow Dragon Girl, her cheeks flushed, seemed to be trying to see into her belly to see if she was pregnant. Jiang Tiantao frowned slightly upon hearing this, secretly annoyed. He felt that the old Taoist "Floating Dust" had been too blatant, and said in a deep voice, "Since the Daughter Spring has so many miraculous effects, may I ask if any Taoists in your temple have died of illness or old age?"

The old Taoist "Floating Dust" turned to look at Jiang Tiantao and shook his head firmly, saying, "Since I took over the 'Qingyuan Temple,' no disciple has died from illness."

Jiang Tiantao feigned confusion and asked, "What was it that kept you occupied just now, so you couldn't spare the time to receive Chief Fu?" Upon hearing this, Fu

Chen let out a dry laugh, while Du Jingyun, standing in a corner, also appeared somewhat uneasy. Ma Yunshan and the others were all seasoned veterans of the martial world, and they naturally understood the purpose of Fu Chen's dry laugh; he was using the laughter to think of a reply. After laughing, Fu Chen said, his laughter still lingering, "Just now, one of my disciples was on the verge of death. I immediately dressed, burned incense, and prayed to Guanyin, the Great Bodhisattva of the South Sea, for a few drops of spiritual water. After drinking it, the disciple's condition immediately improved." Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads, only then realizing that the third hall was the Guanyin Hall.

Zhu Caidie, being rather naive, couldn't help but ask urgently, "Excuse me, Daoist Master, when we wash our faces to preserve our youth, do we also need to pray to Guanyin, the Great Bodhisattva of the South Sea?"

Old Daoist Fu Chen immediately replied solemnly, "Of course, of course..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but ask in a deep voice, "Excuse me, Daoist Master, is this Daughter Spring a natural miracle, or does it rely on divine power?" "

Old Daoist Fuchen forced a smile and said, 'It's a combination of natural talent and divine assistance. Who dares say there's no divine intervention in such a miraculous spring as the 'Daughter's Spring'?'

Jiang Tiantao smiled coldly, about to say something, when Ma Yunshan, who had been observing silently, suddenly said respectfully, 'Reporting to the Young Master, it's getting late!'

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He turned his head and saw that the three female hall masters, six female incense masters, and a dozen or so sword-wielding girls of the Three Hairpins Gang all had slightly furrowed brows and anxious expressions. Seeing their expressions, he immediately understood that Ma Yunshan's words were a reminder that these people were eager to wash their faces with the spring water in order to maintain their youth.

Seeing that Jiang Tiantao didn't ask any more questions, Fu Liying immediately said calmly, 'Daoist Master, please begin to pray for these ladies to receive the divine blessing of the spiritual spring!'

Old Daoist Fuchen humbly replied 'Yes,' and then loudly ordered towards the Guanyin Hall, 'Bring the ritual implements!'" "As soon as the words were spoken, four figures emerged side by side from the Guanyin Hall.

Jiang Tiantao looked up and saw that the four figures were all around fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in blue. One carried a ritual implement, one a porcelain bowl, one a tall gold cup, and one a tall silver cup. Judging from this, these items seemed to have been prepared in advance. As he observed them, he suddenly heard the old Taoist Fuchen humbly say, "Please all of you stand respectfully in front of the spring in order."

Jiang Tiantao originally didn't want to go, but since Fu Liying had already nodded with a smile, he had no choice but to follow beside her. Just then, Yuan Zijian, the leader of the Spotted Leopard Hall, hurriedly returned. He first gave Du Jingyun a look, then walked towards Fu Liying. Huangfu Xiang seemed unwilling for him to remind the old Taoist Fuchen of Wu Tu's matter again, so she quickly waved a "temporary retreat" gesture to him. Yuan Zijian understood, quietly responded with a "yes," and followed behind the group.

At this moment, the old Taoist priest "Floating Dust" stood before the futon in front of the pond, casually picking up a Buddhist bell from the red plate held by one of the younger Taoist priests. The other three younger Taoist priests placed their porcelain bowls and tall cups on the stone table. Jiang Tiantao and Fu Liying stood side by side in front, with the others standing respectfully behind them. Although both Jiang Tiantao and Fu Liying sensed something amiss, neither was willing to reveal whether there was any conspiracy.

Fu Liying, in order to maintain control over her subordinates, was unwilling to insist on stopping them, lest she incur the displeasure of the three female leaders and Zhu Caidie, Wang Yanling, and Deng Lizhu. Because she was a woman, she deeply understood that women constantly fantasized about how to keep their radiant faces forever youthful and wrinkle-free. Therefore, she felt that stopping them now and here was less effective than letting them later realize how ridiculous and foolish they had been. Jiang Tiantao shared the same thought. If they insisted on stopping them, not only would Deng Lizhu and the others remain oblivious, but they also wouldn't be able to determine whether Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian were plotting something.

Just as everyone was in position, the old Taoist priest Fuchen shook his hand bell, chanting incantations, and then knelt on the prayer mat. Four junior Taoist priests stood to the left and right, bowing respectfully. The tinkling of the bell and the old Taoist priest Fuchen's chanting suddenly created a solemn atmosphere.

Jiang Tiantao naturally turned around and suddenly noticed that Jin Jianying, who had quietly left, was now standing beside Ma Yunshan, nodding at him, as if urging him to be patient. Looking at Ma Yunshan, his brows were slightly furrowed; Ning Daotong's expression was grave; and Xiao Li Guang was staring intently at the kneeling old Taoist priest Fuchen.

Just then, the sound of a temple bell rang again. Jiang Tiantao turned around and saw the two Taoist priests who had been holding the cups earlier raising their golden and silver cups to catch the cascading spring water. As soon as the cups were full, the two priests immediately returned to their original positions and stood respectfully. Another priest then used a porcelain bowl to collect the water and placed it back in its original spot.

Once the old Taoist priest Fuchen had placed the bowl down, he shook the temple bell a few times, stopped chanting, and faced Jiang Tiantao, Fu Liying, and the others, solemnly saying, "Sincerity brings results, insincerity brings retribution. Which young lady wishes to retain her youth forever?"

Duan Yumei from Liying Hall led the way to the prayer mat, followed by Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu, then several female incense masters, and a dozen or so sword-wielding girls. This commotion lasted for a full five hours, and the once clear spring water had long since turned into a muddy mess of rouge and lead powder. Although Jiang Tiantao was already impatient, seeing Fu Liying's calm demeanor, he had no choice but to wait patiently.

As soon as the last sword-wielding girl finished washing, the old Taoist priest solemnly said, "This humble Taoist also requests two cups of spiritual water. Whether male or female, drinking a little will prolong life and replenish energy..." Before he finished speaking, two junior Taoist priests, each holding a golden and silver cup, immediately approached the group.

The junior priest with the golden cup went straight to Jiang Tiantao, while the junior priest with the silver cup went straight to Jiang Tiantao and Fu Liying. Looking at the junior priest with the cup, they both shook their heads. The two junior Taoist priests then walked towards the others. The junior priest with the silver cup reached Du Jingyun, who unhesitatingly raised his cup and drank two large gulps. Yuan Zijian followed suit, taking a sip as well. After drinking, they both glanced at Jiang Tiantao.

At this moment, the junior Taoist priest with the golden cup, having just taken a small sip from Zhu Caidie, reached Ma Yunshan, who had silver eyebrows and a long beard. Ma Yunshan smiled and also took a sip. Upon seeing this, Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian immediately exchanged excited, smug glances.

Jiang Tiantao frowned, puzzled as to why this seasoned and experienced old man wanted to join in the fun and drink from the spring water. Before he could finish his thought, Jin Jianying, Xiao Li Guang, and Ning Daotong also took a sip. Since so many martial arts masters had drunk from the spring water, the leaders of the Three Hairpins Gang, along with a dozen or so other leaders and the sword-wielding female guards, also took large gulps. After everyone had finished drinking, the two young Taoists returned to their original spots, and the old Taoist Fuchen immediately proclaimed "Amitabha Buddha" with a triumphant expression. Anyone could see the barely suppressed excitement and exhilaration in the old Taoist Fuchen's eyes!

Jiang Tiantao felt a sudden unease. He looked back at Ma Yunshan and the other three; their expressions were calm and normal, and each of them wore a mysterious smile. Just then, Du Jingyun, facing Fu Liying, suppressed his excitement and bowed, asking in a low voice, "Chief, would you like to see the other historical sites within the temple?"

Fu Liying frowned slightly, looked up, and saw that the sun was already setting behind the temple. She said in a deep voice, "No need. If we delay any longer, we probably won't reach the Fanghe branch until after midnight."

Du Jingyun respectfully agreed and immediately gave Fu Chen a look, while saying respectfully, "Chief, you are in a hurry to get on your way. We have decided not to see the other historical sites within the temple. Please tell the kitchen that there is no need to prepare any more food or wine."

Fu Chen deliberately tried to persuade them to stay, saying, "A meal won't take much time. Why leave in such a hurry..."

Before Fu Chen could finish speaking, Fu Liying immediately said humbly, "I appreciate your kind offer, Master. We will meet again someday." Fu Chen did not try to persuade them to stay any longer and immediately saw them off.

The sword-wielding girls and gang leaders outside the temple, having heard that the brothers and sisters who had accompanied their leader into the temple had all drunk the spiritual water of the Daughter's Spring, were filled with envy. One after another, they mounted their horses, and together with the old Taoist priest standing respectfully on the high steps of the temple gate, they called out "Farewell!" and rode off down the mountain in a grand procession. Jiang Tiantao and Fu Liying, both preoccupied with their own thoughts, rarely spoke.

They arrived at the Fanghe branch at dusk. Chen Benxiong, the branch leader of Fanghe, had been waiting outside the town for over an hour. Fu Liying first introduced Jiang Tiantao, Jin Jianying, Ma Yunshan, and the others to Chen Benxiong, and then they entered the Fanghe branch. For convenience, Jiang Tiantao and the experts from Jiugongbao still had a separate courtyard.

After the banquet was set out, Jiang Tiantao, who was seated at the head of the table, could no longer resist turning to Jin Jianying, the "Great Hero of Qilu," who had put down his wine cup, and humbly asked, "Senior Jin, did you discover anything during your inspection of Qingyuan Temple?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Yunshan, Xiao Li Guang, and Ning Daotong couldn't help but burst into laughter. Jiang Tiantao was taken aback, unable to understand why Ma Yunshan and Ning Daotong were laughing, while Wang Yanling, Xue Danfeng, Deng Lizhu, and Zhu Caidie were also quite puzzled.

Jin Jianying stroked his short beard and said, half-seriously and half-jokingly, "If you look at this matter in a lighthearted way, it's a farcical little play, adding some fun to the journey. But if you consider it in relation to the 'Dragon Head Assembly' at Xingzi Mountain, it's an unforgivable conspiracy."

Although Jiang Tiantao had long suspected something was amiss, he hadn't expected there to actually be a conspiracy. Upon hearing about the "conspiracy," Wang Yanling, Xue Danfeng, Zhu Caidie, and Deng Lizhu's faces changed slightly, and they almost cried out in alarm. Jin

Jianying continued, "The only consolation this time is that the conspiracy isn't particularly vicious; it's merely a form of revenge by the narrow-minded Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian for the disappearance of the young master and Miss Xiao."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yanling couldn't help but ask urgently, "Senior Jin, are you saying that everything that happened at Qingyuan Temple was a scheme orchestrated by the two hall masters of the Three-Forked Gang?"

Jin Jianying nodded calmly, saying, "That's right..."

Deng Lizhu, realizing she'd been tricked, asked angrily, "Senior Jin, are you saying that the Daughter's Spring at Qingyuan Temple doesn't have the magical effect of eternal youth?"

Jin Jianying knew Deng Lizhu's frustration, so his solemn face dared not show a trace of a smile. He slowly nodded and said, "The Daughter's Spring can supposedly keep young girls forever beautiful; it's a legend, but where in the world can one find a true one?" "No one knows about the Daughter Spring."

Zhu Caidie asked anxiously, "Senior Jin, are you saying that the spring water in Qingyuan Temple isn't the Daughter Spring?"

Jin Jianying dared not say no, fearing that Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu would cause a scene in anger and delay their meeting. Therefore, he hesitated and said, "Whether the spring water in Qingyuan Temple is the Daughter Spring or not can only be confirmed decades later..."

Xue Danfeng was also confused and couldn't help but interject, "Why?"

Jin Jianying said, "If, decades later, the girls who wash their faces with the spring water today are still as beautiful as flowers, then it will prove that the spring water in Qingyuan Temple is genuine." Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao, Xiao Liguang, and the others almost burst into laughter, but seeing the angry expressions on Zhu Caidie and Deng Lizhu's faces, they finally refrained from laughing.

Jin Jianying suddenly straightened his expression and continued, "Yuan Zijian and Du Jingyun's real purpose wasn't to have the young ladies pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva for lifelong beauty, but rather to use their desire for beauty to lure everyone there."

Deng Lizhu asked, puzzled, "What is their real purpose?"

Jin Jianying replied, "The real purpose is to get everyone to drink the spring water in the pool in front of the temple."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yanling hurriedly asked, "Is there a ghost in the water?"

Jin Jianying said, "That's right, because there are slow-acting and persistent diarrhea pills in the cups; anyone who drinks them will experience diarrhea."

Wang Yanling exclaimed in surprise, "Is that so?"

Deng Lizhu interjected, asking, "How did Senior Jin know there were pills in the cups?"

Jin Jianying smiled faintly and said, "When I discovered 'Iron Plate' Wu Tu upon entering the temple, I suspected that Du Jingyun's invitation to Chief Fu to visit Qingyuan Temple must have some ulterior motive."

Little Li Guang suddenly changed the subject, asking, "Senior Jin, do you know what the relationship is between the old Taoist Fuchen and Wu Tu?"

Jin Jianying frowned slightly, hesitatingly saying, "Of course there's a relationship, but it's not close. Otherwise, with Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian there to coordinate, Fu Chen wouldn't have let Chief Fu take Wu Tu away." Ning

Daotong seemed to understand something, saying, "Logically, Old Daoist Fu Chen should know Wu Tu's background. He deliberately didn't tell Wu Tu who the guests were, perhaps intending to use this opportunity to eliminate Wu Tu."

Ma Yunshan grunted in agreement, saying, "Judging from the fact that Wu Tu immediately closed his eyes upon seeing the old Taoist priest Fuchen, it's quite possible."

Jin Jianying pondered for a moment and said, "Judging from the chaotic scene I witnessed, Fuchen may have indeed overlooked the fact that Wu Tu was originally a defector leader of the Three Hairpins Gang."

Zhu Caidie, remembering that she had drunk a small sip of spring water, asked with great concern, "Senior Jin, how did they manage to put the diarrhea pills in the cup?"

Jin Jianying sighed and said, "It's quite a coincidence..." When I arrived at the Guanyin Hall, I saw over thirty old Taoist priests hurriedly cleaning the courtyard and setting up incense tables, creating a chaotic scene..."

Upon hearing this, Deng Lizhu blurted out, "Those incense tables and prayer cushions were actually set up specifically for us?"

Jin Jianying nodded and continued, "That's right. When I saw the situation in front of the hall, I was very surprised. I quickly sneaked into the Guanyin Hall and found the old Taoist priest Fuchen holding two large, pinkish-white pills, shaped like longan, carefully instructing four junior Taoist priests..."

Zhu Caidie Unable to contain his anxiety, he interjected, "Are they the four lesser Taoists who carried the magical artifacts and the gold and silver cups?"

Jin Jianying nodded and continued, "Indeed, they were those four lesser Taoists. Fuchen carefully placed the two pills in the cups, specifically instructing the lesser Taoist carrying the gold cups to decide which side to stand on, based on where the young master of the fortress was standing."

Upon hearing this, Ma Yunshan shook his head with a sigh and said, "It seems that Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian have been planning this for more than a day. Perhaps they even sent someone to inform Elder Fuchen by express horseback as early as the inner mountain." "I had the same thought, "

Jin Jianying nodded to Ma Yunshan. "At the time, Fuchen repeatedly reminded me, which made me even more suspicious. After Fuchen left, I also went out of the hall. I then sneaked to the cup and saw that the white ball in the gold cup had a vermilion character '泻' (xie, meaning 'to pour out') written on it, while the white ball in the silver cup had no writing. When I picked it up and smelled it, I found it was made of white sugar..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Caidie's almond-shaped eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Oh dear, no wonder the water in the gold cup tastes a little sweet!"

Jin Jianying nodded slightly, forcing himself to suppress a laugh, and said, "That's because I switched the white sugar ball in the silver cup into the gold cup..." Before he finished speaking, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter!

Ma Yunshan stroked his silver beard and laughed loudly, "Brother Jin is being too mischievous."

Jin Jianying sighed, "To deal with these young men who only know how to act impulsively and vent their anger without considering the consequences, they will never learn their lesson unless they experience hardship themselves." Jiang

Tiantao was startled and hurriedly asked, "Senior, did you not take out the diarrhea pill?"

Jin Jianying chuckled, "If I had taken out the pill, would there have been any show today?"

Jiang Tiantao knew something was wrong and anxiously asked, "Should we talk to Chief Fu about this?"

Ma Yunshan immediately said seriously, "Absolutely not! Young Master, you must not mention this to Chief Fu!"

Ning Daotong also chimed in, "We can only pretend we don't know anything about this. If Young Master reveals it, not only will it be ineffective, but it will also make Brother Jin look bad."

Jiang Tiantao frowned, worriedly saying, "If they continue to have diarrhea, won't they miss the meeting?" Jin Jianying smiled faintly and said, "

Young Master, you can rest assured. They will go and get the antidote themselves. If we were the ones suffering from diarrhea, the problem would be much more serious."

Jiang Tiantao was taken aback and asked in confusion, "This junior doesn't understand what you mean, senior."

Ning Daotong immediately laughed and explained, "If the four of us, along with Miss Zhu, Miss Wang, and Miss Xue, are all severely weakened by diarrhea, how can we accept challenges and compete for a higher position at the Dragon Head Assembly on Xingzi Mountain?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao's expression changed instantly. Then, after a moment's thought, he became furious and shouted, "Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian actually want to ruin the reputation of Jiugong Fortress built up over decades! How can we let such shameless scoundrels get away with this so easily?"

Jin Jianying immediately said seriously, "So, this matter can be big or small..."

Before Jin Jianying could finish speaking, Jiang Tiantao suddenly stood up from his chair and shouted angrily, "This junior will definitely go and confront Du and Yuan!"

Wang Yanling, Deng Lizhu, and Zhu Caidie also stood up from their chairs, angrily saying, "Let's go and reason with them!" Ma

Yunshan and the others stood up to stop them, saying, "Young Master, why bother with these impulsive and narrow-minded people?"

Upon hearing the word "narrow-minded," Jiang Tiantao immediately thought of his father's magnanimity, and his handsome face flushed red. He quickly agreed and returned to his seat. Seeing that Jiang Tiantao wasn't leaving, Wang Yanling, Zhu Caidie, and the others couldn't be willful, so they also sat back down.

Ning Daotong chimed in, "Actually, the suffering Du Jingyun and Yuan Zijian have endured is probably several times greater than if the Fortress Master had gone to reprimand them."

The conversation gradually lightened, and Jin Jianying said in a half-joking tone, "After this Dragon Head Assembly, the Three Beauties Gang will probably have to be reorganized again."

Ning Daotong smiled humorously and said, "When a superior becomes vacant, a subordinate is promoted to fill the vacancy, which is a great thing. It's just that changing the gang name to 'Two Beauties Gang' doesn't seem as catchy as 'Three Beauties Gang.'" At this, everyone laughed heartily, except for Jiang Tiantao, whose handsome face flushed slightly.

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