[Wuxia] The Soul of a Great Hero (Complete) - 17

[Chapter 19] What are the Cold and Beautiful Flowers' Intentions

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When Hua Yunlong opened his eyes again, he found that it was already broad daylight. Cai Weiwei and Huan'er were no longer there, so he got up and dressed. Seeing a large nanmu chair by the bed, he casually pulled it over and sat cross-legged to practice his skills. He first practiced the Huamen Heart Method for a while, and then practiced the "Wuji Dingheng Heart Method" twice. After finishing, he wondered, "Master Yuanqing said that I could practice this Heart Method to the supreme level. What exactly is the method?" He thought for a while but couldn't figure it out. Suddenly,
a childlike thought arose in him, and he actually wanted to see what would happen if he practiced the Huamen Heart Method and the "Wuji Dingheng Heart Method". He was young and impulsive, and did what he thought of without considering the unpredictable consequences. You know, doing two things at once can lead to a deviation of righteous energy and going astray. He actually had the wild idea of using the two Heart Methods together, like mixing water and mud as a child to mold various clay figures and objects. The consequences, if good, are manageable; if bad, they could lead to qi deviation, paralysis (a minor consequence), chaotic internal energy flow, meridian deviation, and mental derangement—all common occurrences. In the worst-case scenario, death is inevitable.
And this good or bad outcome isn't a 50/50 split, but rather a 99/100 ratio; unless one is incredibly lucky, survival is impossible. Therefore, no master, no matter how eccentric, dares to risk their life so carelessly. Moreover, the Hua Men's Heart Method and the "Wuji Dingheng Heart Method" are clearly two extreme, supreme techniques. No matter how profound one's martial arts, they cannot find any point of convergence between them.
Although Hua Yunlong knew this was dangerous, firstly, he was inherently adventurous, and secondly, he didn't fully grasp the extent of the danger. Driven by curiosity, he recklessly went ahead. Initially, because of his deep understanding of the Hua Men's Heart Method, he couldn't simultaneously circulate the other techniques. Later, with a little more attention, he surprisingly managed to simultaneously circulate the "Wuji Dingheng Heart Method."
In an instant, the two opposing energies, one positive and one negative, began to fight within his meridians. The more he tried to still it, the more chaotic it became. Although he knew something was wrong, the two energies were no longer under his control, surging like the raging tide of the Qiantang River, an unstoppable torrent. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, his face was flushed, and he was drenched in sweat, as if he had been pulled from the water. Hua Yunlong sighed inwardly, "So be it." He took it lightly and stopped trying to control the energy within his body. Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, he fainted.
He didn't know how much time had passed before he slowly awoke, feeling as if he were in a dream. After a moment of thought, he remembered what had just happened. He was shocked, feeling as if he had been reborn twice, and exclaimed "Lucky!" He felt a clear and bright mind within him, his wisdom sparkling and ready to leap. Examining the energy within his meridians, he was filled with confusion, unsure whether it was good or bad. He realized that the true energy within his meridians contained both reversal and righteousness, both righteous and reversal, neither truly righteous nor reversal. Even he couldn't figure out what was going on. The true energy was surging, moving on its own, seemingly without any apparent harm.
This time, he dared not be rash and wanted to consult Master Yuanqing before discussing anything further. This was clearly proof of his improved skill, but while he was extremely frivolous, he was also exceptionally cautious. Hua Tianhong had earnestly instructed his son that Heaven would first bestow small blessings upon those who were arrogant, and would first test those who received blessings with small misfortunes. He deeply understood this and therefore dared not assume it to be true. Just as he was pondering, he suddenly heard a faint sound coming from the doorway. He called out loudly, "Who is it?"
The door opened, and a fragrant breeze wafted in with a red figure. A silvery voice said, "Brother Long, you're so naughty, you startled me."
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "Who told you to be such a troublemaker?" He then saw that Cai Weiwei had changed into a red dress, making her even more radiant, as dazzling as the morning sun.
She smiled brightly and said, "What? Brother Long, don't you recognize me?"
Hua Yunlong stared at her intently and sighed, "Indeed, I don't." He paused and said, "Whenever Wei-mei changes her clothes, I almost can't recognize her."
Cai Weiwei retorted, "Do you only recognize clothes and not people?"
Hua Yunlong shook his head repeatedly and said, "No, no, when Wei-mei changes her clothes, her charm and appearance change completely, and every time she changes, she makes all the beauties in the world pale in comparison. I never believed that such a beauty existed in the world, so naturally I would doubt whether she was really my Wei-mei." He was unrestrained and charming, and whether it was true or not, his sweet words were always endless.
Cai Weiwei was secretly delighted, but said, "Hmph, sweet talk." She paused and then said, "Get up and have lunch. Do you still want to practice?"
Hua Yunlong said, "I was thinking of that. If Wei-mei isn't hungry, could you tell me the incantation for the 'Four Symbols Transformation Palm' first?"
Cai Weiwei, unwilling to see him train so relentlessly, said, "You want to starve to death? I don't want to starve with you." Seeing him still sitting there, she grabbed him and scolded, "Aren't you coming?" Hua
Yunlong had no choice but to say, "Fine, fine, go eat, go eat."
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※ This lunch was held in the small hall of this secluded courtyard. The maid Huan'er waited by his side. Only the two of them were at the table, but the dishes were plentiful and exquisite, enough for ten people to eat. Seeing Huan'er's shy and happy expression, Hua Yunlong couldn't help but feel a little irritated. He asked softly, "Huan'er, is it still in pain?" Huan'er
blushed and said, "It's still a little painful, but don't worry, young master, it will be fine in a couple of days."
Hua Yunlong smiled and said, "Are you happy?"
Huan'er nodded shyly and whispered, "I'm so happy." "
Cai Weiwei giggled and said, "Brother Long, you're asking unnecessary questions, but..." Suddenly, her face turned red, and she couldn't continue.
Hua Yunlong asked curiously, "But what?"
Cai Weiwei whispered shyly, "But Brother Long seems to be getting stronger and stronger, and I feel more and more unable to handle it. It seems I should find you more people, otherwise I'll definitely die at your hands."
Hua Yunlong chuckled softly, "Not die at my hands, but die at..." As he spoke, he pointed to the small "tent" sticking out of his pants.
Huan'er and Cai Weiwei blushed deeply. Cai Weiwei said coquettishly, "Brother Long, don't tease me so early in the morning. I'm still sore all over."
Hua Yunlong laughed and said, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Weiwei, tell me the incantation for the 'Four Symbols Transformation Palm'." "Cai Weiwei couldn't bear to go against his wishes, so she spoke up.
The 'Four Symbols Transformation Palm' has eight forms, derived from the four symbols and eight trigrams. Each form contains another, mutually reinforcing and evolving, resulting in countless variations. Hua Yunlong felt that although the 'Seven Dissolutions of Chiyou' was bizarre, vicious, and unstoppable, it couldn't compare to the overwhelming power and profound mystery of the 'Four Symbols Transformation Palm.' It truly lived up to the legacy of the Martial Saint Yun Zhen. The 'Four Symbols Transformation Palm' had an extremely simple incantation, only a hundred words, yet its profoundness was no less than that of the 'Sword Scripture Supplement' that Hua Tianhong had obtained years ago.
Hua Yunlong ate while pondering the essence of the incantation. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. His chopsticks, which were aimed at a plate of perch, froze in mid-air, and he remained silent for a long time. Huan'er, standing beside him, couldn't help but cover her mouth with her sleeve and giggle. Although Cai Weiwei found it amusing, she knew this was precisely the opportunity for his martial arts to suddenly improve. She glared at Huan'er, stopping her from laughing." Suddenly, Hua Yunlong said, "Wei-mei, take my palm strike!" He put down his chopsticks, his right palm seemingly bent yet extended, middle finger pointing out, and suddenly attacked Cai Weiwei with the move "Unpredictable Change."
Cai Weiwei was startled and returned the move with "Unpredictable Change," shouting, "I don't believe you're that much smarter than me!" Although Hua Yunlong's palm strike had grasped its essence, how could it compare to Cai Weiwei's more than ten years of arduous training? However, the moment their
palms met, Cai Weiwei suffered. Her wrist felt like it had broken, and her delicate body nearly fell over, chair and all. It turned out that Cai Weiwei was familiar with Hua Yunlong's skill, so she had infused her palm with equal power. Unexpectedly, Hua Yunlong's power had increased significantly. Upon receiving the strike, although she knew it was bad, it was too late to infuse her true strength. She pouted and stood up, saying, "Fine, you're holding back!" But after Hua Yunlong struck her palm, he fell back into deep thought, his brows furrowing and relaxing intermittently, making it impossible to tell if she was speaking.
Cai Weiwei, though wanting to bite him, dared not hinder his martial arts progress. She sat down sullenly, only to hear giggles beside her. She was furious, but now she had someone to vent her anger on. She glared at him and snapped, "What's so funny? Get out of here, get far away!"
Huan'er and Qi'er, who had been with her since childhood and knew her temperament well, were not afraid and replied, "Yes, Miss."
Just as Huan'er reached the entrance of the hall, Cai Weiwei said, "Why are you back? What's the rush? Are you afraid I'll eat you?"
Huan'er returned with a smile, and Cai Weiwei waved her hand dismissively, saying, "Get lost! I hate the sight of you." Huan'er chuckled and ran out of the hall.
After a long while, Hua Yunlong finally exhaled and said, "So that's how it is."
Cai Weiwei exclaimed joyfully, "Brother Long, how much have you figured out?" She had been looking at Hua Yunlong for a long time and felt that he was cultured, intelligent, and full of love; her resentment had long since vanished. Suddenly realizing she couldn't let Hua Yunlong off too easily, she said before he could answer, "Take this!" With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed "Unpredictable Change."
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily and met her attack with "Unpredictable Change," saying, "Well done!"
Their palms met, but this time Cai Weiwei was prepared and remained completely still. She wanted to make Hua Yunlong suffer, so she used eighty percent of her true strength. Unexpectedly, when their palms met, Hua Yunlong's palm strike was strangely powerful, diverting her true energy while he remained as steady as a mountain. She was astonished and exclaimed, "Brother Long, have you already obtained the 'Jade Pool Pill'? How has your power increased so much? That true energy is especially strange!"
Hua Yunlong replied, "No, not at all." After gathering his thoughts, he recounted the effects of combining the Hua Clan's mental cultivation method with the "Limitless Balance Mental Cultivation Method," and Cai Weiwei cheered for him. Hua Yunlong laughed, "Sister Wei, whether it's a blessing or a curse is still hard to know. If being poisoned is a blessing in disguise, then this should be described as a curse."
Cai Weiwei said, "Hey, can you stop saying such discouraging things?"
The two then discussed their appointment with Mei Suruo at the hour of You (5-7 PM). Hua Yunlong thought that since he had already stated he would be going alone, and given his greatly increased skill, he figured Mei Suruo was no match for him, so he could go alone. Cai Weiwei, however, insisted that they both go, saying that the Nine Yin Sect was full of powerful experts and a ruthless cult; if they attacked together, even Hua Yunlong, with his superior skill, wouldn't be able to withstand it.
After much debate, they finally decided that Hua Yunlong would openly go, while Cai Weiwei would secretly follow. The meal lasted for almost half an hour. Afterward, they discussed the "Four Symbols Transformation Palm" for a while. Hua Yunlong's progress was remarkable, and the strangeness of his true power astonished Cai Weiwei. When asked how he used it, even Hua Yunlong himself didn't understand; he only felt it flowed involuntarily.
Seeing that it was almost late afternoon and the sun was setting, the two finally set off. Considering that red was too conspicuous for her to follow secretly, Cai Weiwei changed into a white dress. Hua Yunlong, sword at his side and fan in hand, looked every bit the noble young master. The fan, which he had brought from home, was long lost; this one was a gift from Cai Weiwei.
From
the Jinling aristocratic family to the western foothills of Zhongshan Mountain, his journey was short. Even before reaching the magnificent mansion, the gates opened, and the short, introverted Hall Master Shen Shengsan led a group of Nine Yin Sect members to greet him. Hua Yunlong, however, slowed his pace, gently waving his fan, and walked towards the gate, as if attending a friendly gathering rather than a life-or-death appointment. As he approached, Shen Shengsan, already impatient, forced a fist salute and said, "Young Master Hua is indeed a trustworthy man. Our leader invites you."
Long Huayun closed his folding fan and said, "Where is your leader? Why didn't he personally greet you?"
Shen Shengsan sneered, "Can Young Master Hua represent your father?" The implication was that Hua Yunlong was unworthy of being personally greeted by Mei Suruo.
Hua Yunlong opened his folding fan, fanned himself twice, and said, "That's not how it works..."
Shen Shengsan, already impatient, said, "What can Young Master Hua say?"
Hua Yunlong secretly laughed at his impatience and became even more composed, saying, "I and your leader are friends. Out of friendship, I should personally greet you. Do you think that your current status means you look down on your former friends?" He flattered her casually, intending to draw the attention of the people in the manor so that Cai Weiwei could sneak in.
Shen Shengsan coldly said, "So, Young Master Hua, you won't enter the manor unless the sect leader greets you?"
Hua Yunlong shook his head and said, "No, your sect leader is now the head of a sect, so you can't just ignore that." He lightly waved his folding fan and walked ahead.
Shen Shengsan was both amused and exasperated, and quickly followed, saying, "I'll lead the way." Although he hated Hua Yunlong to the bone, seeing his elegant demeanor—light robes, loose belt, folding fan, and sword—he couldn't help but secretly praise him, "Truly worthy of being the son of the Emperor's Sword."
Arriving at the magnificent, resplendent hall they had seen before, they saw the beautiful and ethereal Mei Suruo, holding a ghost-headed staff, greeting them at the foot of the steps, followed by Li Jiuyi, the head of the Hall of Criminal Law, Ge Tiandu, the head of the Hall of Justice, and Fan Tong, the head of the Hall of Propaganda. Hua Yunlong was taken aback when he saw Mei Suruo willing to descend the steps to greet him. He guessed that Mei Suruo was likely to be arrogant and try to humiliate him. With a quick thought, he stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Hua Yunlong greets you late, please forgive me, Sect Leader Mei."
Mei Suruo returned the bow with her cane, saying indifferently, "Mei Suruo has failed to greet you properly, please forgive me, Young Master Hua." Hua Yunlong noticed that although her voice was cold, there was no murderous intent in it, and he felt secretly puzzled; she was different from last night.
They entered the hall and sat down as host and guest. Hua Yunlong saw that there was only one table in the hall, and the food and wine were not only abundant, but the silver cups and saucers were also exceptionally exquisite, no less than those of royalty. Three maids stood by the table; they were Mei Suruo's personal maids, Xiao Mei, Xiao Juan, and Xiao Ping. Although the sun had not yet set, the octagonal palace lanterns were already lit. During the meal, Mei Suruo did not urge anyone to drink, nor did she engage in any heated arguments. The atmosphere became one of quiet conversation, with only the clinking of cups and glasses, rather than any spoken words, like a family gathering where there was nothing to say.
Hua Yunlong was greatly surprised, thinking to himself, "I'll see what trouble you're up to, girl." He remained calm and observed the situation. Confident in his immunity to all poisons, he continued eating and drinking as usual.
After two rounds of drinks and three dishes, Mei Suru suddenly asked, "Young Master Hua, do you wish to know the whereabouts of the Confucian physician from Jiangnan?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "You know perfectly well what I'm asking." But he said
aloud, "I humbly request that Leader Mei instruct me on the whereabouts of my Uncle Yu." Mei Suru sneered, "Do you think I would tell you?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Here it comes." He smiled and
said, "I didn't have high hopes." Mei Suru was slightly taken aback and asked, "Then what brings you here?"
Hua Yunlong didn't answer but asked in return, "May I ask Leader Mei, since the Xuanming Sect and your sect have formed an alliance, are you truly aware of all the actions of the Xuanming Sect? My Uncle Yu seems to be highly valued by the Xuanming Sect. Do you truly know his whereabouts?" Mei Suru smiled coldly and did not answer. Hua Yunlong continued, "In my opinion, Leader Mei may not know."
Mei Suru slowly said, "Let's not..." "You ask me whether I know or not? If you think I might not know, then why did you come here?"
Hua Yunlong said with a smile, "Nothing more than a matter of trust."
Mei Suruo's jade-like face turned sneer, "Oh, trust is so important to you?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This girl is tight-lipped and unpredictable; she shouldn't be underestimated." He secretly devised a plan, and said aloud, "Sect Leader Mei should know that death is inevitable, but a people without trust cannot stand."
Mei Suruo chuckled, "Perhaps Young Master Hua is still confident in his martial arts?" Her beautiful eyes glanced at Li Jiuyi and the other four, and she said, "I wonder what Young Master Hua thinks of the five of us here?"
Hua Yunlong said, "Each of us is a top-notch master."
Mei Suruo's originally icy face blossomed into a smile like a spring breeze, a beauty that dazzled Hua Yunlong, but also made him even more wary. But then Mei Suruo said, "I wonder if you, young master, could escape if I and the four of you at this table attacked together?"
Hua Yunlong was greatly alarmed, but outwardly remained calm, holding a folding fan and laughing, "The sect leader is truly joking." It should be known that although there were few people at this table, it was equivalent to the essence of the Nine Yin Sect being present. If they were to all attack Hua Yunlong, he knew that even with his greatly improved martial arts, he would hardly escape unscathed.
Mei Suruo smiled and said, "Does Young Master Hua really think I'm joking?"
Contrary to her usual icy demeanor, Hua Yunlong was even more astonished and uncertain. Despite his intelligence and wit, he couldn't fathom her intentions. His handsome eyes flashed as he surveyed Ge Tiandu and the other three, noticing their indifferent expressions and discernless intentions. After a moment's thought, he smiled faintly and said, "Master's intentions are profound; forgive Hua Yunlong's foolishness, I cannot fathom them."
Mei Suruo's jade-like face suddenly turned icy again. Hua Yunlong, thinking she was about to attack, tensed, ready to unleash his full power. Unexpectedly, Mei Suruo's beautiful eyes suddenly glanced at Li Jiuyi, a look that was difficult to decipher, a complex mix of good and evil. Li Jiuyi suddenly stood up and bowed to Mei Suruo, saying, "I have urgent business to attend to. Please allow me to leave midway."
Mei Suruo replied indifferently, "Please, Lord Li."
Li Jiuyi even cupped his hands towards Hua Yunlong, saying, "I was being rude. Please forgive me, Young Master Hua."
Hua Yunlong quickly stood up and returned the greeting, saying, "Lord Li must have gone to great lengths to mobilize troops." He assumed Li Jiuyi was leading the Nine Yin Cult to prevent him from escaping, hence his sarcastic remark. However, Li Jiuyi smiled faintly and left the hall. Hua Yunlong secretly wondered, "Where is Wei Mei hiding?"
A moment later, Fan Tong, the head of the Preaching Hall, also got up to apologize and leave. Before long, Ge Tiandu, the head of the Management Hall, and Shen Shengsan, the head of the Recommendation Hall, also took their leave. Apart from the three maids pouring wine, only Hua Yunlong and Mei Suruo remained in the hall. This situation was completely unexpected for Hua Yunlong. Even with his intelligence and keen insight, he had no idea what Mei Suruo was planning. He only heard Mei Suruo's silvery yet icy voice ask, "What are your thoughts on this, Young Master Hua?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This girl is truly unpredictable." He smiled faintly, lightly waved his folding fan, and said, "I think this situation is very amicable." He closed his fan and added, "If we could have a heart-to-heart talk, that would be best, wouldn't you say, Miss Mei?" He then addressed Mei Suruo as "Miss" again, his handsome eyes fixed on her cold and beautiful face, trying to discern her intentions.
Mei Suruo, neither ashamed nor angry, seemed not to have heard his words. After a long pause, she said calmly, "You said outside the manor that I was your friend. Does that mean you're no longer an enemy of the Nine Yin Sect?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "So she was hiding nearby." After a moment of contemplation, he said seriously, "I have a few words that may be unpleasant to hear. I wonder if Miss Mei would mind..."
Xiao Mei, who was standing behind Mei Suruo, suddenly said, "Since they are unpleasant to hear, there's no need to say them, lest my young lady be angry."
Mei Suruo glared back at her with her beautiful eyes. She glanced at him, then turned to Hua Yunlong and said, "Speak, I'm listening."
Hua Yunlong smiled faintly and said, "If the Nine Yin Sect could repent and reform..."
Before he could finish, Mei Suru sneered, "What evil is there in our sect? Why would we need to reform? Leaving that aside, according to you, the entire martial arts world is clearly dominated by your Hua family."
Hua Yunlong frowned and said, "What do you mean by that, Miss Mei?"
Mei Suru sneered, "The path of chivalry is revered by your Hua family. Repent and reform—is there any better explanation?"
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily, "Miss, you are mistaken. Those of the chivalrous path associate with each other based on righteousness; none are superior to the other. How can there be talk of supremacy? Besides, my father has no ambition to dominate the martial world."
Mei Suruo said, "That's excellent! Our sect will reform and return to the righteous path, and we will take the lead in the chivalrous path, how about that?"
She changed the title from "supreme" to "leader," which Hua Yunlong couldn't deny. He smiled slightly and said solemnly, "If Miss Mei can truly bring blessings to the people, then it is not impossible to do as Miss Mei says."
Mei Suruo sneered, "You said..." "How easy it is for you! Can you represent your father and the entire righteous path?"
Hua Yunlong smiled calmly and said, "Miss Mei, although I, Hua Yunlong, am a member of the Hua family, in terms of martial arts and reputation, I am not worthy of the path. In terms of character, I am frivolous and shallow, which is greatly criticized by my elders."
Mei Suruo's jade-like face was full of sarcasm. She said, "What makes you so sure?"
Hua Yunlong said calmly, "People's hearts are united in public matters but varied in private matters. I
only rely on this point." Although he spoke calmly, his righteous spirit was overwhelming. Mei Suruo seemed to have been hit by a stick. Her cold and beautiful face was blank. You should know that she was raised in a cult. Even if the leader of the Nine Yin Cult loved her, what he taught her was nothing but conspiracy and trickery. As for treating people with sincerity, in the eyes of the Nine Yin Cult, that was utter nonsense. If it was a way to seek death, why would he teach her that? But her innate conscience could not be suppressed, causing her mind to be confused and she lost her composure for a moment.
She felt that although Hua Yunlong had a frivolous demeanor, his bright and magnanimous spirit remained undiminished. Evil could not prevail over good, and although she was the leader of a sect, she felt a sense of inferiority. A feeling of pride arose within her, but her proud nature caused her to feel a secret annoyance. She thought to herself, "What's so great about that Hua fellow?" Composing herself, she said, "Words are useless; let's not discuss this."
Hua Yunlong frowned inwardly, thinking, "It seems this girl has been influenced by her surroundings and is deeply obsessed; there's no turning back now." The thought of ultimately facing such a peerless beauty on the battlefield was a great pity, and he couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Seeing this, Mei Suruo asked, "Why are you sighing so much? Are you afraid?"
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily and said, "The Hua family scions don't even know what fear is." He paused, then earnestly said, "Regardless of what Miss Mei is like, since we're here in this hall, would it be possible to temporarily set aside our past grievances and have a drink and a chat?" Upon hearing this, Mei Suruo remained silent for a long while, then suddenly raised the silver cup in front of her to Hua Yunlong, took a small sip, and put it down again.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Although she doesn't say it, this is her agreement." He also hurriedly raised his cup in a gesture of respect, but drank it all in one gulp. Mei Suruo said, "Xiao Juan, pour more wine for Young Master Hua."
Xiao Juan responded, filled his cup, and whispered in his ear with a smile, "Last time you couldn't even get a glass of water, are you happy this time? Not only are there fine wines and delicacies, but the young lady is also keeping you company."
Although her voice was low, Mei Suruo, with her superior skills, couldn't hide it. Her
jade-like face darkened, and she said, "No manners, do you want a beating?" Xiao Juan stuck out her tongue and quickly stopped talking. Hua Yunlong laughed, "Your maid is clever and charming. This way, there's no barrier between us, we're like family, it's the best."
Mei Suruo suddenly said coldly, "Are you speaking from the heart?"
Hua Yunlong... Long thought to himself, "Could it be that this one sentence has ignited her anger again?" His smile remained unchanged as he said, "How could it be false?"
Mei Suruo gazed intently at him, seeing his composed yet eager expression. She sighed inwardly, "Having inherited my master's mantle, I can never become friends with the Hua family in this life. Alas, I… so be it." With a resolute thought, she suddenly smiled brightly and said, "Since you say so, then don't blame me for not disciplining these girls properly if they become unruly."
She didn't refer to herself as "this one," clearly setting aside her identity as the leader of the Nine Yin Sect and interacting with Hua Yunlong solely based on her own identity. Hua Yunlong understood this. However, he was captivated by Mei Suruo's charming smile, and could only stare blankly, oblivious to everything else. He felt that Mei Suruo, usually as cold as ice, had transformed with a smile that was like ice melting, spring returning to the earth, a hundred flowers blooming, and the morning sun shining brightly—a beauty too dazzling to behold, completely different from her earlier fleeting, cold laugh. Mei Suruo was already exceptionally beautiful; apart from Cai Weiwei, no other woman in the world could compare. Especially considering her usual aloofness, such a charming and alluring smile was truly rare. No wonder Hua Yunlong stared intently, afraid of missing out on this opportunity, even forgetting to drink the cup of wine he was about to drink.
Mei Suruo remained unmoved, letting him gaze upon her, and said, "If I were to attack you now, I'm afraid you'd die a confused ghost."
Hua Yunlong raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, laughing, "Do you know how I usually think death should suit my temperament?" He also omitted the titles "Miss" and "This humble one."
Mei Suruo's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she said, "Why bring up such depressing things?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "You wanted to take my life just a few days ago, and now you say this? It's unbelievable." He smiled but remained silent.
Seeing that he was about to answer, Mei Suruo thought for a moment and said, "You men, you real men, value heroic sacrifice and returning wrapped in a horse's hide. I suppose that's what you're hoping for?"
Hua Yunlong smiled and said, "No, dying on the battlefield, while impressive, doesn't suit me."
Mei Suruo laughed, "Then how about dying peacefully in your sleep?"
Hua Yunlong shook his head, "That's too mundane."
Mei Suruo retorted, "Neither this nor that, I'm too lazy to guess."
Hua Yunlong laughed heartily. In fact, Mei Suruo already knew he was referring to the way he would die at her hands, which was his most desired outcome. They were laughing and chatting merrily. From outside the hall, a man and a woman were seen toasting each other. The man was as handsome as Pan An, and the woman was as beautiful as Xi Shi, charming and pretty. They were clearly lovers, not mortal enemies.
Mei Suruo's three maids were even more confused, thinking to themselves, "Miss is usually so cold to everyone. Is Hua Yunlong a friend or foe? Why is Miss so kind to him? Ah, it seems he must be her best friend."
Facing the beauty and drinking fine wine, Hua Yunlong was already tipsy. Suddenly, he thought of Cai Weiwei and wondered, "I wonder where Weiwei is hiding. Will she be displeased to see this?" He looked out of the hall and saw that night had already fallen quietly. It was dark outside the hall, but the palace lanterns inside were bright and the tassels were colorful. If Cai Weiwei was outside, she could easily see what was happening inside the hall.
Seeing him suddenly stop drinking and look around, Mei Suruo also put down her cup and asked, "What's the matter that's so urgent? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Hua Yunlong casually replied, "An elder has invited me to meet at 9 PM in Jinling. It's still early, let's drink."
Mei Suruo said "Oh," without pressing further, and said, "I heard your mother was once known as the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world..."
She stopped abruptly, and Hua Yunlong looked over, surprised to see that she seemed to drink very little. Since the start of the meal, she had only drunk two or three cups. Although her martial arts skills were profound, her face was flushed, adding to her beauty. Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "They're getting along so well now, but what will happen in a moment?" "To have to turn on them and fight, alas, that's too much..." Frustrated, he tilted his head back and downed his cup. Xiao Juan quickly refilled it for him. He cast aside his thoughts and said, "My mother always said that a woman's virtue is more important than her appearance; it's a secondary matter and not worth fussing over."
Mei Suruo smiled gently and said, "I have long admired your mother's passionate and virtuous deeds back then." In truth, although Madam Bai is now gentle and kind, she was eccentric and ruthless before she met Hua Tianhong. She only changed after falling in love with Hua Tianhong. Hua Yunlong was not very clear about this, but Mei Suruo did. However, in this situation, she naturally would not refute Hua Yunlong's words. She paused, then continued, "That Cai girl beside you is a hundred times more virtuous than me, and far more beautiful too."
Xiao Ping, not wanting to be outdone by Xiao Mei and Xiao Juan who had already spoken, chimed in, "You are the most beautiful woman in the world, Miss. Which maid dares to compare herself to you?"
Seeing Mei Suruo's jade-like face darken as if she were about to reprimand him, and knowing he was particularly fond of these clever maids, Hua Yunlong quickly said, "Didn't you say you'd treat them like family? I won't take offense at what they said."
Mei Suruo's expression softened. "Alas," she said, "I've been a loner since childhood, with no friends. These maids are the only ones I can truly confide in, which has led to their unruly behavior. Please don't laugh at them." At this moment, she truly considered Hua Yunlong a close friend; otherwise, given her proud nature, how could she have said such a thing?
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "She treats me with sincerity, yet I still hold back a bit. Aren't I ashamed?" He wanted to offer some words of comfort, but Mei Suruo interrupted, "You don't need to persuade me. What you advise me, I may not accept, nor may I like." She sighed softly, her beautiful face showing a hint of sadness.
Hua Yunlong knew that persuasion would be useless, so he changed his mind, picked up his cup, and said with a smile, "A solitary orchid in a secluded valley, exuding fragrance alone, is not appreciated by the world."
His words deeply resonated with Mei Suruo, who was delighted and smiled slightly, saying, "You are very eloquent."
Hua Yunlong laughed, "Aren't you going to call me ingratiating, frivolous, and despicable?" Amidst their laughter, they didn't realize that four quarters of an hour had passed since the hour of Xu. Hua Yunlong remembered his appointment with Master Yuanqing, glanced at the sky, and was about to take his leave, but then hesitated, feeling that the grand gathering might not be repeated.
Seeing this, Mei Suruo's beautiful face darkened, and she said, "Alas, you are leaving. If we meet again, we will fight to the death." Hua Yunlong, being a sentimental man, was saddened by her words, and though he opened his mouth, he could not utter a word.
Mei Suruo continued, "You don't need to show me any mercy, and I will never let go of the slightest opportunity to kill you. When that time comes, don't blame me for being heartless."
Xiao Ping interjected, "Miss, you were talking so well, why are you suddenly talking about killing and fighting?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "To ask me to be ruthless is an extremely difficult thing." He stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I... I feel I have nothing to say." He paused, then said, "I hope that next time we meet, it will be like tonight..."
Mei Suruo suddenly changed color and interrupted him, "Don't dream." With a flick of her sleeve, she stood up, and without saying another word, she took her ghost-headed staff and turned to walk towards the back of the hall.
In that instant, Hua Yunlong saw tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. He knew she was too proud to let him see her sad, so she turned and left. Although he knew the heart of a young girl well, it was like a needle at the bottom of the sea; he ultimately failed to grasp Mei Suruo's ever-changing heart, to turn the tide, to transform enmity into friendship, causing her to leave in a huff.
Suddenly, Xiao Mei called out, "Miss!" and chased after her.
Xiao Ping, however, angrily slammed the wine pot down, saying, "Hmph, I served you for so long, and you made our young lady so angry!" She also ran towards the back of the hall.
Hua Yunlong smiled wryly to himself, when he heard Xiao Juan say from behind, "Young Master Hua, if you stay in the hall and see my young lady again, it won't count as a next time, and you won't be enemies anymore."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This girl's words are naive, but she means well." He turned around and said, "I still have things to do; I can't stay here forever."
Xiao Juan pursed her lips and said, "Won't you come back after you've finished your business?" Hua Yunlong chuckled, reached out and touched her hair, and strode out of the open hall. Xiao Juan paused, wanting to follow him, but then stopped and ran towards the screen door at the back of the hall.
Meanwhile
, as Hua Yunlong walked out of the open hall, although he encountered members of the Nine Yin Cult along the way, they didn't stop him. He was secretly surprised; could it be that he would be allowed to leave the manor peacefully tonight? He remained vigilant, yet took out his folding fan and swaggered around as if he were at home, displaying remarkable ease and comfort. Approaching the manor gate, he saw the slender Fan Tong and the slightly balding Li Jiuyi leading about ten members of the Nine Yin Cult, guarding the entrance. He couldn't help but scoff, thinking, "It seems I won't be able to leave without a fierce battle tonight." While he wasn't afraid of the battle itself, he was still concerned, especially since Cai Weiwei hadn't yet sent a message, contradicting their agreement, which surprised him.
In the blink of an eye, he was less than three zhang away from Li Jiuyi and the others. He heard Li Jiuyi say, "Hua Yunlong, if it weren't for my order to let you go, lest people say that our sect is bullying people, hehe, I, the Palace Master, would make sure you can't leave tonight."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Although she says this, she is secretly protecting him. Everyone in the Nine Yin Sect is cunning and should know this. I wonder what she thinks? Although I don't need her to do this, I can still feel her feelings." He was stunned for a moment, unsure whether to be surprised or delighted.
He heard Fan Tong chuckle twice and say, "Kid, you've gotten off easy tonight. Now get lost."
Hua Yunlong knew that they were resentful and were acting under Mei Suruo's orders, so they wanted to provoke him into making the first move and shirk responsibility. However, he was already annoyed and his anger flared up. He sneered and said, "If you want to fight, then fight. What's with the nonsense?" He put his folding fan into his robes and strode forward with a powerful stride.
Seeing his arrogant attitude, Li Jiu snorted angrily, raised his right palm to strike, but then stopped himself, saying, "Hua family brat, you can take responsibility for the action."
Hua Yunlong shouted, "Enough talk!" and suddenly struck Fan Tong's chest with his palm. It turned out that he was extremely alert; seeing Fan Tong's gaze shift, he guessed that Fan Tong was about to launch a sneak attack, so he struck first.
Fan Tong was filled with shock and anger, and snarled, "You little brat!" He met the attack head-on with a "Mountain Pushing and Sea Filling" move. Clearly, he thought that with his nearly sixty years of accumulated skill, Hua Yunlong would be no match for him, so he took the hit head-on. But seeing that Hua Yunlong neither dodged nor evaded, Fan Tong was delighted that he had succeeded. However, when their palms met, he felt the opponent's palm force shift and slip, almost causing him to fall. Fortunately, his skill was profound, and his true energy settled, allowing him to stabilize himself. He couldn't help
but exclaim, "This kid is strange." Hua Yunlong coldly replied, "You're too naive." As he spoke, he seized the opportunity to unleash a series of "Struggle of a Trapped Beast" moves, each palm like a giant axe splitting a mountain, forcing Fan Tong to retreat repeatedly. Besides parrying and countering each move, Fan Tong could hardly launch another attack.
Li Jiuyi thought to himself, "This kid looks to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, yet he possesses such skill. What's more, he's extremely alert. If I don't deal with him tonight, he'll become a major threat in the future."
Recalling Mei Suruo's reaction to Hua Yunlong, his killing intent intensified. He felt that if he didn't kill Hua Yunlong and extinguish Mei Suruo's thoughts, the Nine Yin Sect would be completely destroyed. Just as he was about to make his move, he suddenly heard Hua Yunlong say in the midst of the fierce battle, "If Palace Master Li is interested, why not come up and have a go?"
The two clashed, their powerful blows forcing the surrounding Nine Yin Sect members to scatter. Fan Tong retreated eight or nine steps and was already outside the gate. In a battle between experts, how could one be distracted? Hua Yunlong's words created an opportunity for Fan Tong to strike. His "Disorderly Movement and Mysterious Escape Technique" was incredibly powerful. He took three steps and escaped the range of Hua Yunlong's palm strikes. With a cold snort, he counterattacked, unleashing eight consecutive palm strikes.
Hua Yunlong stood firm as a mountain, parrying left and right without retreating a single step. Suddenly, he unleashed a move called "Unpredictable Change," striking out with unparalleled power and unstoppable force. Startled, Fan Tong swiftly used the "Chaotic Five Elements Escape Technique" to narrowly dodge the attack. Hua Yunlong, however, did not pursue. He laughed and said, "The Nine Yin Sect's Hall Master is nothing special. I must take my leave." With a swift movement, he was already ten zhang away.
Their duel had already taken place outside the manor; no one had expected him to suddenly retreat after gaining the upper hand. Even Li Jiuyi couldn't stop him, let alone anyone else. Enraged, Fan Tong chased after her, roaring, "Hua family brat, don't you dare run away!"
Suddenly, a silvery voice coldly said, "Hall Master Fan."
Fan Tong's heart skipped a beat, and he stopped and turned around. He saw Mei Suruo, her jade-like face filled with anger, leaning on her steel cane, standing at the entrance of the manor. Li Jiuyi, however, looked panicked and stood behind her. He knew something was wrong and quickly bowed, saying, "Your subordinate is here."
Mei Suruo's beautiful face suddenly became covered with a layer of ancient ice. She said, "Hall Master Fan, although my master passed on his position to me, I know that I am young and inexperienced, and my skills are weak. Therefore, I cannot..." She suddenly stopped, her eyes like frost blades, staring coldly at Fan Tong.
Fan Tong broke out in a cold sweat and bowed, saying, "This subordinate knows his crime and begs the leader to punish him."
Li Jiu thought to himself, "If I speak frankly and try to persuade her, she is already furious and will only add fuel to the fire. It would be better to do this." His eyes darted around, and an idea came to him. He bowed to Mei Suru and said, "The leader has just ascended to the position, and this subordinate and Hall Master Fan have dared to outwardly comply but inwardly defy him. If we do not punish them severely, how can we deter others from doing so?"
Upon hearing this, Mei Suru's expression softened, and she said, "This..." "I know that both Hall Master Li and Hall Master Fan are acting in the best interests of our sect." With that, her starry eyes swept over the two men, noticing their bowed heads in alarm. After a moment's hesitation, she continued, "However, I am not an ungrateful person; you can rest assured."
Li Jiuyi and Fan Tong both replied in alarm, "Sect Master, you flatter us."
Mei Suru said, "This crime of disobeying orders will be temporarily suspended. You should atone for your sins by performing meritorious service." With that, she flicked her sleeve and entered the manor.
Li Jiuyi and Fan Tong exchanged a bitter smile and followed her into the manor. Meanwhile ,
Hua Yunlong sped south when he suddenly heard Cai Weiwei's voice call out, "Brother Long."
Hua Yunlong stopped abruptly, and a fragrant breeze carried Cai Weiwei's presence as she landed beside him. She said, "It's getting late. We mustn't be late to meet our elders. Let's talk as we walk."
Hua Yunlong replied, "Sister Weiwei is right." He then swiftly continued south. Although he had only recently arrived in Jinling, he knew that Yuhuatai was located outside the Jubao Gate south of the city.
Cai Weiwei, unhurried, ran alongside him, saying, "Brother Long, I saw you chatting happily with Mei Suruo, so I didn't keep my promise to use my Qi-refining technique to secretly tell you where I was hiding." Hua
Yunlong, hearing her innocent expression without a trace of displeasure or jealousy, thought to himself, "Sister Wei is so kind; I'd rather die a thousand times than hurt her heart." Thinking this, he asked aloud, "Where are you hiding?"
Cai Weiwei replied, "In the flower bushes five zhang outside the hall." Smiling sweetly, she added, "Although Mei Suruo says she's not as beautiful as me, hmph, actually she's..." "She's definitely the most beautiful woman in the world."
Hua Yunlong, sensing a hint of competition in her tone, smiled and said, "Why bother with her?"
Cai Weiwei paused for a moment, then said, "Brother Long, next time you meet her, do you really want to be mortal enemies?"
Hua Yunlong was already troubled by this matter, and upon hearing this, he feigned a smile and said, "I don't know what to do either."
Cai Weiwei said, "You should make up your mind about this as soon as possible."
Hua Yunlong didn't want to talk about this anymore and changed the subject, saying, "I have my reasons, you can rest assured. Jubao Mountain is just ahead, let's hurry up."
The two of them were incredibly light-footed, and although they hadn't used their full strength, they were already faster than chasing the wind. They ran along the city wall, and it was late at night when the city was closed. Apart from the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River, where the sounds of music still lingered, there were no other pedestrians in sight. The moonlight was particularly beautiful that night. When they reached Yuhuatai, they saw Master Yuanqing, dressed in flowing gray robes, sitting cross-legged on the summit. Seeing his dignified and solemn demeanor, Hua Yunlong couldn't help but bow and say, "This junior is late, please forgive me, sir."
Cai Weiwei rushed forward, calling out, "Sir!" and throwing herself into his arms.
Master Yuanqing's cultivation had already reached the divine level, so he was unaware that the two had arrived. But only now did he slowly open his kind eyes and say, "Long'er, there's no need for such formalities." Suddenly, he paused, and said in a deep voice, "Long'er, what did you eat? Why does your expression look so different from this morning?"
Hua Yunlong secretly praised his sharp eyes, got up and explained the situation. Master Yuanqing then examined his pulse carefully, and then closed his eyes and remained silent. Cai Weiwei waited for a moment, and seeing that Master Yuanqing was still silent, she nudged his shoulder and asked sweetly, "Sir, what's wrong?"
Master Yuanqing opened his eyes, sighed slightly, and said, "Your condition is somewhat like the highest realm of the 'Limitless Balance Mind Method,' where the positive and negative energies combine, endlessly regenerating..."
Cai Weiwei exclaimed happily, "That's wonderful!" Master Yuanqing shook his head and said, "
However, I can assure you that this is not the highest realm of the 'Wuji Dingheng Heart Method.' Alas, whether it is a blessing or a curse, even I cannot say for sure."
Cai Weiwei was greatly disappointed. Master Yuanqing pondered for a while, then suddenly said to Cai Weiwei, "Wei'er, stand guard to the side while I check again." Cai Weiwei knew that Master Yuanqing wanted to use his true energy to search her meridians, which was an extremely dangerous matter. If they were not careful, they would both suffer the misfortune of qi deviation. She quickly responded, stepped back two zhang, and began to circulate her energy on guard.
Master Yuanqing turned to Hua Yunlong and said, "Long'er, carry me and sit cross-legged to circulate your energy." Hua Yunlong responded and sat down cross-legged as instructed. Although Cai Weiwei was on high alert, she kept glancing at them.
Master Yuanqing placed one palm on Hua Yunlong's Baihui acupoint and the other on his Mingmen acupoint, closing his lower abdomen. After a while, Hua Yunlong suddenly showed a pained expression, and sweat poured down his face. Cai Weiwei's heart nearly leaped out of her mouth. When circulating internal energy, one should maintain a serene expression; such a state is only seen when one is about to suffer a qi deviation or lose their internal energy.
Suddenly, Master Yuanqing said, "Long'er, do not resist with your internal energy; let it flow naturally." After a moment, Master Yuanqing suddenly withdrew his hand, took out a small bottle, and said to Hua Yunlong, "Take one pill and regulate your breathing."
Hua Yunlong glanced at it and saw that the bottle was four inches tall, engraved with the three characters "Little Jade Pool." He knew it must be the "Jade Pool Pill," and thought, "The treasure of the Jinling families, Brother Changyi hasn't taken it, how can I take it? Besides, I don't need to exert myself to increase my internal energy." He said to Master Yuanqing, "Master, this pill is no longer necessary for me at the moment. It would be much more meaningful to save it to save someone."
Master Yuanqing sighed softly and continued, "My great-grandfather said that elixirs are for saving the world, hoping that this 'Jade Pool Elixir' would one day save thousands of lives. Shamefully, of the eight elixirs used in the past three hundred years, five were taken by the Jinling aristocratic families, and the other three were used to benefit people who were somewhat related to them." At this point, both men understood his meaning; he clearly agreed with Hua Yunlong's words. Cai Weiwei, focused solely on Hua Yunlong, strongly disagreed, but Master Yuanqing's upright character prevented her from arguing.
Hua Yunlong stood up and handed the jade bottle back to Master Yuanqing. Master Yuanqing shook his head and said, "Keep it. Use it to save lives. This old monk is lazy by nature and doesn't wish to touch it again."
Hua Yunlong didn't say anything more, putting it into his robes. Suddenly, he touched the jade bookmark, and an idea struck him. He took it out and presented it, saying, "This bookmark has some palm techniques on it. Could you please appraise it, sir?"
Cai Weiwei also exclaimed "Ah!" and took out the jade bottle found on Chen Mingda, handing it over and saying, "Please have the guild take a look at this as well." Master
Yuanqing took it as well, first looking at the bookmark carved with "Nine-Bend Palace Scripture Hall" in front of him. The characters on the bookmark were smaller than fly heads, but with his skill, they were as solid as a rock. After a brief glance, he was deeply moved and said, "Nine-Bend Divine Lord, truly a genius. Only with his strange temperament could he create such bizarre martial arts." He handed the jade bookmark back to Hua Yunlong, saying, "Although the martial arts on it are unsystematic, with your intelligence, it won't be difficult to figure them out. Although this set of martial arts is very different from your family's style, it is inclusive and tolerant. You might as well extract the essence and integrate it." Hua Yunlong nodded
repeatedly and put it back in his pocket, but then he saw Master Yuanqing uncork the bottle again, bring the mouth of the bottle close to his nose, and suddenly... His expression changed, and he put the stopper on the bottle, saying repeatedly, "So amazing, so amazing."
Cai Weiwei asked anxiously, "Father-in-law, is he alright?"
Master Yuanqing took a long breath, his expression returned, and he shook his head, saying, "I'm fine. I don't know what the milk in the bottle is. After smelling it, even I felt slightly dizzy. How did you get it?"
Cai Weiwei said in horror, "Even you felt unwell. Fortunately, we didn't open it when we got it, otherwise I'm afraid I would have fainted on the spot."
Hua Yunlong said, "This thing originally belonged to Uncle Yu."
Master Yuanqing said in surprise, "Why did Yu Shangde keep such a nasty thing? Tell me in detail."
Cai Weiwei said eagerly, "I'll tell you." She hurriedly recounted how she obtained it, and also described the night battle in the desolate valley in detail. After she finished, she said, "Wei'er guesses that the thing in this bottle must be used to make medicine with 'Four-Eyed Celestial Entertainment' and 'Three-Legged Jade Toad'."
Master Yuanqing listened quietly to her finish speaking, then handed the jade bottle to Hua Yunlong, saying, "This old monk has not delved deeply into the art of medicine. As your mother is the successor of the Nine Poison Immortal, it is best if you pass this on to her for appraisal." Hua
Yunlong nodded and accepted it, but suddenly noticed that Master Yuanqing abruptly stopped speaking. He looked at him intently and saw his brows furrowed as he pondered deeply. He then heard Cai Weiwei exclaim in surprise, "Father-in-law..." He quickly pulled Cai Weiwei aside and whispered, "Don't disturb him. Father-in-law must have remembered something important that needs to be addressed immediately." Cai Weiwei pursed her lips and remained silent.
After a moment of silence, Master Yuanqing suddenly opened his eyes, his divine light blazing so brightly that even the stars and moon in the sky seemed to dim. His skill was unbelievably high, and the two were startled. Then they heard Master Yuanqing solemnly say, "Long'er, this old monk has devised a plan that can enhance your skills, but this method is extremely dangerous. The slightest mistake will surely lead to death. What do you think?"
Hua Yunlong saw that Master Yuanqing's face was solemn and heavy with worry, and knew that this matter was no small thing. Even Master Yuanqing himself was not entirely confident. He was naturally steady, and although he looked frivolous, he was not the kind of person who would risk everything for a small gain. He was about to decline when a thought struck him. He thought to himself, "Something's not right. What kind of person is this senior? Even if he is eager to cultivate the younger generation, he would never resort to such a low-level strategy. There must be a reason for this. I'm afraid that if I say it, it will only disturb people's peace of mind. It's not appropriate to say it out loud." In that instant, he had already considered a hundred or so thoughts. Raising his gaze, he solemnly said, "This junior has already made his decision..."
Master Yuanqing interrupted, "Haste makes waste, focusing on the small leads to forgetting the big picture. Think it over carefully."
Cai Weiwei suddenly nestled into Hua Yunlong's arms, saying, "Brother Long, since you've said this, you don't need to take such a great risk."
Hua Yunlong reached out and stroked her cloud-like hair, saying, "Weiwei, do you trust my decision?"
Cai Weiwei nodded, and Hua Yunlong smiled slightly, saying, "That's good." Turning to Master Yuanqing, he said, "Long'er is grateful to you, Father-in-law." Master
Yuanqing sighed inwardly, "This child is indeed astute; he actually guessed some of it." Nodding gently, he said kindly, "Although this action is dangerous, this old monk is eighty percent confident. You don't need to worry; that's for the best."
Hua Yunlong smiled, "Father-in-law, don't worry. Long'er is confident in having such a broad mind."
Master Yuanqing glanced around and said, "This place is completely exposed; it's not suitable for performing magic here. It would be best to find a deep cave." Cai
Weiwei was about to dissuade him, but then she thought, "Since he's unfortunate anyway, I'll share his misfortune. Since I can't persuade him, I might as well remain silent." At this thought, her heart felt a surge of joy, and unknowingly, her feelings for him had already taken root. Seeing this, she said, "Wei'er used to come here often to collect colored stones; I know it very well. There's a cave nearby that's five or six zhang deep, dry and clean. Is that alright?"
Master Yuanqing nodded and said, "It's a bit small, but it'll do." As he spoke, he stood up.
Cai Weiwei said, "Wei'er, lead the way." "They rushed down the mountain peak first.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
The cave was located halfway up the mountain, with steep cliffs hanging down, covered with vines and creepers. There was a platform in front of the cave, and a sparse bamboo forest was about ten feet away. Although the cave was not deep, it was spacious and flat. For the three of them, this distance was just a step away. After entering the cave, Master Yuanqing immediately ordered Cai Weiwei to guard the entrance, and then ordered Hua Yunlong to sit cross-legged. He himself stood behind Hua Yunlong.
Cai Weiwei stood facing out of the cave, turned her head, and stared intently at the two of them with her clear eyes, which were as clear as autumn water. Although it was dark in the cave, it was not difficult for her to see. Master Yuanqing stood up and circulated his internal energy. After a while, he suddenly pointed his fingers and pressed Hua Yunlong's "Geshu", "Ganshu", and "Pishu" acupoints, and then pressed his palm on Hua Yunlong's "Tianzhu" acupoint. These acupoints all belong to the "Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian."
Cai Weiwei had just seen Hua Yunlong on the Yuhua Terrace, his face contorted in pain and his body trembling slightly, and her heart was pounding with anxiety. In a flash, she saw Master Yuanqing suddenly stop his attack and take a half-step back, knowing he was about to unleash his next technique. Just as she was about to watch, she suddenly heard the sound of clothes fluttering in the wind outside the cave. Judging from the sound, it was clearly a first-rate master using lightness skill to rush towards the cave.
She quickly turned her eyes and saw a figure in the moonlight, moving like lightning, rushing from the treetops, less than five zhang away. She blurted out, "Stop!" As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it deeply. In her haste, she hadn't even noticed the gray figure; it was clearly just passing by. Her shout had revealed her location and created an enemy.
Upon hearing the sound, the gray figure paused briefly, then flashed to a spot a few feet in front of the cave, its two cold, lightning-like eyes seemingly trying to pierce through the vines covering the cave. In that moment of hesitation, Cai Weiwei saw a middle-aged Daoist nun with her hair in a topknot, holding a whisk, wearing a gray robe, and possessing a beautiful face. She knew this small cave couldn't hide from such a master, especially since she had spoken. In her haste, her starry eyes glanced at Hua Yunlong, only to see Master Yuanqing already sitting cross-legged on the ground, his right palm pressed against his "Lingtai" acupoint on his undergarment.
Without hesitation, she swept the vines aside and emerged. The gray-robed Taoist nun, having first heard the sweet, bell-like voice, knew it was a young woman, but she hadn't expected her to be so beautiful. Under the moonlight, Cai Weiwei's flowing robes made her look like a goddess descended to earth. The nun couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah!" A thought flashed through her mind,
and she wondered, "Could it be her?" Pointing with her whisk, she asked, "Your surname is Cai?" Cai Weiwei was about to apologize and send the nun away, but before she could even open her lips, she heard the gray-robed nun call out her surname and also exclaimed in surprise, "How did you know, fairy nun?"
The gray-robed nun's prediction was correct. She thought to herself, "This girl is indeed exceptionally beautiful; Yu'er is certainly not as beautiful as her." She smiled indifferently and said, "Why isn't that boy surnamed Hua coming out?"
Hearing the unfriendly tone of her voice, Cai Weiwei became wary and said, "He's not here." She had never lied before, and as soon as the words left her mouth, her jade-like face flushed crimson.
The gray-robed nun, recognizing her at a glance, coldly asked, "Is Hua Yunlong practicing his martial arts?"
Cai Weiwei's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "How powerful!" She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Who are you?"
The gray-robed nun laughed sharply, not answering, but instead swung her whisk, which spread out like a blanket, descending upon Cai Weiwei. Hundreds of horsehair strands on the whisk scattered, each one aimed at Cai Weiwei's vital points. It turned out that the gray-robed nun found Cai Weiwei increasingly beautiful, and her killing intent, which she could no longer suppress, grew ever stronger, hence her attack. Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Cai Weiwei was filled with shock and anger, shouting, "What do you mean?" She took a step back, her graceful body moving like flowing water, retreating and advancing in an instant, striking back with a palm strike. Unbeknownst
to her, the gray-robed Daoist nun seized the opportunity to rush into the cave. Though startled, the gray-robed Daoist nun gave a cold laugh, her whisk whirling swiftly, swirling towards her opponent's wrist with a whoosh. With a flick of her left sleeve, a surge of hidden energy erupted, attacking Cai Weiwei's chest. Cai Weiwei thought to herself, "This Daoist nun's moves are swift and unpredictable; she must be a top-tier martial artist. Is she from the Xuanming Sect?" Thinking this, she swung her left palm diagonally, deflecting the incoming force, while her right hand, fingers like a halberd, lunged forward, aiming for the gray-robed Daoist nun's "Jiangtai" acupoint.
Seeing that she wouldn't back down and kept attacking, the gray-robed Taoist nun cursed inwardly, "This little girl is quite fierce." However, she also realized that Hua Yunlong must be deeply engrossed in his cultivation, hence her actions, and fearing to disturb him, she quickly retreated two zhang. Seeing her retreat, Cai Weiwei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then stealthily approached, unleashing seven palm strikes in quick succession.
The gray-robed Taoist nun flew into a rage, coldly saying, "How dare you, you little brat!" She dodged the sharp attack, her right hand flashing out a whisk, aimed directly at the enemy's face, the jade handle of the whisk striking Cai Weiwei's "Zhangmen" acupoint. Both women attacked with lightning speed; in an instant, more than twenty moves had passed. The gray-robed Taoist nun's moves were unpredictable, always employing unorthodox methods, never engaging in direct combat, but each strike aimed at the enemy's vital points; a single blow would either kill or severely injure them.
Both women, fearing to disturb Hua Yunlong, fought silently. Aside from the whistling wind and rustling leaves, there was no other sound, and they fought further and further from the cave entrance, now standing ten zhang away. Cai Weiwei grew impatient, thinking, "This Daoist nun's skill is formidable. How long will this protracted battle last? Being so far from the cave is not advisable." With this in mind, she used her palms, one to the left and one to the right, to unleash the "Sun and Moon Pushing Each Other," instantly transforming into the "Gao Lun Xu Bending."
The gray-robed Daoist nun was secretly shocked, thinking, "Where in the martial world can such palm techniques be found?" She saw that these two moves, seemingly simple, were actually perfectly balanced, containing the power of the Eight Trigrams and Tai Chi, concealing the workings of heaven and earth. Not daring to meet them head-on, she darted away, moving to within ten zhang of Cai Weiwei.
Cai Weiwei was greatly surprised and thought to herself, "Her movements are graceful and swift, even surpassing the 'Shifting Forms' by a factor of two, and are no less than the Nine Yin Sect's 'Chaotic Five Elements Bewildering Immortal Escape Technique'." Then
she heard the gray-robed Daoist nun say coldly, "Good palm technique, good skill, but this humble Daoist would like to learn from you." "As she spoke, she flicked her left hand, a flash of emerald light, and her right hand grasped a jade hook, gleaming with emerald green. She had roamed the world unchallenged, never before forced to retreat repeatedly, and her heart was already burning with murderous intent, ready to fight to the death.
Cai Weiwei had never met Ruan Hongyu, but she had heard Hua Yunlong mention her, knowing that Ruan Hongyu was known as the "Jade Hook Lady." She couldn't help but think, "Those who use jade hooks are extremely rare in the martial world. I wonder what her relationship is with Sister Ruan?" Her thoughts raced, and she asked in a sweet voice, "Sister Ruan Hongyu and Senior..."
The gray-robed nun interrupted, "Enough nonsense." With a move called "Heavenly Light and Cloud Shadow," emerald clouds filled the sky, and the jade hook, accompanied by a whistling wind, descended like a net. With a flick of her left hand, she turned and attacked the enemy's waist. With a hook and a flick, she attacked from both sides, combining strength and gentleness, her power as swift as thunder, greatly amplified."
A surge of anger welled up in Cai Weiwei's heart, and she thought to herself, "She's turning a deaf ear; it's clearly unrelated to Sister Ruan."
Suddenly, the gray-robed Daoist nun withdrew her attack and retreated, the azure glow in the sky vanishing without a trace. Cai Weiwei was momentarily stunned when she saw another flash of azure light, and the gray-robed Daoist nun released her jade hook with the force of a thunderclap, hurling it towards the cave entrance, coldly shouting, "Duanmu Shiliang, stop!"
Ignoring the formidable enemy before her, Cai Weiwei turned to look, only to see a red-faced, white-bearded old man stealthily approaching the cave entrance. The jade hook flashed like lightning, striking the old man's undergarments. The red-faced old man had no choice but to dodge to the side, but the jade hook struck the stone wall beside the cave entrance with a "clang," scattering sparks before clattering to the ground. Cai Weiwei was both shocked and furious. Although her skills were high, she lacked experience and hadn't expected a sneak attack. Furthermore, with her back to the cave entrance, the old man's skill was so great that he had kept her in the
dark. In her haste, she had no time to ponder why the gray-robed nun had suddenly helped her. She pounced forward like lightning, her delicate hand flashing, already using all her strength. The red-faced old man was about to accelerate into the cave when he suddenly felt an invisible force heavier than a mountain crashing towards him. He secretly exclaimed, "Does this little girl really possess such skill?" His figure flashed, leaping eight feet away. He was old and cunning; as he leaped, a black light flashed, and he had already drawn a pair of acupoint-striking pens, as thin as chopsticks and two feet long, turning to protect the entrance. But his efforts were in vain; in a flash, Cai Weiwei landed at the cave entrance.
The gray-robed Daoist nun sneered coldly, "Duanmu Shiliang, is this how you earned your reputation?"
Duanmu Shiliang, cunning and shrewd, couldn't help but feel a flush rise to his face. His already red cheeks were concealed, and he smiled slightly, saying, "I have no reputation to speak of, so what do I have to gain or lose?" He paused, then said in a deep voice, "Do you intend to make an enemy of our sect?"
The gray-robed Daoist nun flicked her whisk and walked over gracefully, saying indifferently, "Don't try to intimidate me with the Xuanming Sect. Even if I offend you, the head of the main altar, what are you going to do?"
Duanmu Shiliang chuckled dryly twice, saying, "Fine, I suppose you're overconfident in your abilities."
Suddenly, Cai Weiwei called out, "Senior, your jade hook!" With a flick of her wrist, the jade hook flew towards the gray-robed Daoist nun. Cai Weiwei, intelligent and quick-witted, had already guessed that the gray-robed Daoist nun was most likely Ruan Hongyu's master. Although she didn't understand the reason for the nun's ruthless attack, she already considered her a friend, so she picked up the hook and threw it back. She glanced hastily into the pitch-black cave and saw Hua Yunlong and Master Yuanqing sitting peacefully, meditating undisturbed. Relieved, she pointed a slender finger at Duanmu Shiliang and snapped, "You old codger, sneaking around like that! What are you up to? Speak!"
Duanmu Shiliang, who had roamed the martial world for decades, had never been so reprimanded. His anger surged like a mountain, and he cursed inwardly, "You brat!" He was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Suddenly, the sound of rustling through the branches and grass came, and two burly men in purple robes emerged from the bamboo forest and rushed towards Duanmu Shiliang. A thought struck Duanmu Shiliang; he immediately saw an opportunity and gestured to the two men. The two men, having been ordered to hide in the bamboo forest to avoid being detected by Duanmu Shiliang's planned ambush, immediately rushed out when they saw that she had discovered them. As soon as Duanmu Shiliang made her gesture, one of the men in purple robes immediately took out a specially made signal flare from his pouch and flicked it towards a stone.
The gray-robed Daoist nun, having caught the hook, cursed upon seeing this, "Old man Duanmu, you can't beat them, so you call for reinforcements?"
Before she could stop her, with a "whoosh," a streak of red light shot straight into the sky, followed by a "crack," and a large number of brilliant golden stars exploded in the sky, forming the characters "Xuanming," slowly drifting down before fading away after a long time. Instantly, golden stars exploded in the distant sky, about six or seven in total. The gray-robed Daoist nun was startled, thinking to herself, "The Xuanming Sect has gathered in Jinling; is there something important to do?"
Suddenly, she heard Cai Weiwei say, "Senior, is he the head of the Xuanming Sect's main altar?"
The gray-robed Daoist nun turned to look and saw Cai Weiwei's clear, bright eyes looking at her, her jade-like face filled with anxiety, without a trace of resentment. She thought to herself, "Such looks, such skill; Yu'er is far inferior." Even with her resolute personality, she felt greatly discouraged for a moment.
Duanmu Shiliang sneered, "Little girl, I'll show you what Master Duanmu is capable of."
Cai Weiwei raised an eyebrow, thinking, "I wonder how long it will take for my father-in-law to cast a spell on Brother Long. That Daoist nun's intentions are unpredictable. If I don't strike first, it will be too late when the Xuanming Cult members gather." Thinking of this, she immediately suppressed her compassion, shouted, "Take this!" and suddenly struck out with her palm.
Duanmu Shiliang raised an eyebrow and said, "Well done."
With a flick of her wrists, her right hand swiftly struck her wrist pulse with the acupoint-striking pen, while her left hand conjured seven or eight more acupoints, striking several major acupoints on her left side. The blows were sharp and ruthless, demonstrating not only her masterful skill but also the deafening, skin-scratching force of the sharp points, revealing the depth of her power. In the blink of an eye, the two were locked in fierce combat. Suddenly, the gray-robed Daoist nun coldly sneered, "Duanmu Shiliang, you, a senior, dare to use an acupoint-striking pen against an unarmed girl?" Her intention was to disrupt Duanmu Shiliang's concentration; each word was delivered with true power, piercing his ears through the sharp whistling of the pens.
Although Duanmu Shiliang understood her meaning, he couldn't help but secretly grit his teeth, thinking, "You wretched Daoist nun, you can talk nonsense now, but one day..."
He had initially relied on his acupoint-striking pen for both offense and defense, but now, enraged, his pen strokes shifted slightly. In a battle between masters, every move must be precise to the millimeter. Even a slight error is a major opening, especially since Cai Weiwei's skill is superior to his. But Cai Weiwei gave a cold sneer, her body shifting, her slender palm tracing a half-circle, ethereal and unpredictable. In the blink of an eye, she was within three feet of Duanmu Shiliang, slashing diagonally at his waist.
Duanmu Shiliang broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he was a veteran of countless battles, extremely experienced in combat, and remained calm under pressure. He dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. Even so, his left shoulder was still struck by the palm. With a "thud," he staggered back seven steps. A flash of black light, and the pressure point pen in his left hand flew three zhang (approximately 10 meters), his shoulder bone likely shattered into more than ten pieces.
Seeing that he had actually escaped the fifth move of the "Four Symbols Transformation Palm," "Dual Use Without Position," Cai Weiwei couldn't help but admire his high level of skill. Unable to bear attacking again, she withdrew her move and stood gracefully, saying, "Go back quickly..."
Suddenly, she heard the gray-robed Daoist nun's stern voice: "Cai family girl, eradicate evil completely, why be so polite?"
Cai Weiwei said to the gray-robed Daoist nun, "Senior, Heaven has a benevolent heart."
The gray-robed Daoist nun scoffed, "You have mercy, I'll handle it." With a sweep of her whisk, she advanced two zhang, attacking Duanmu Shiliang's chest.
Duanmu Shiliang, enraged, laughed, saying, "You lowly wench, you're taking advantage of my weakness!" Although he still had one arm, his left shoulder was newly shattered. Even though he secretly gathered his inner energy to suppress his surging blood, he couldn't fight back. He could only barely wield his remaining acupoint-striking pen, fighting with his wounds intact.
The gray-robed Taoist nun, while launching a fierce attack, coldly said, "
This humble Taoist is merely imitating others blindly; compared to your esteemed sect, I am far inferior." Cai Weiwei retreated to the cave entrance, pondering, "This
Taoist nun is fiercely opposed to evil, but it's a pity I don't know her religious name. Is she Sister Ruan's teacher?" In the blink of an eye, Duanmu Shiliang was in grave danger, his life hanging by a thread. Seeing this, two burly men in purple robes exchanged a glance, suddenly drew their swords, and pounced on the gray-robed Taoist nun from behind. Cai Weiwei raised an eyebrow, about to make her move. But in the midst of the fierce battle, the gray-robed Taoist nun coldly shouted, "Seeking death!" With a flick of her left hand, two streaks of black light flashed out, and the two burly men in purple robes screamed, throwing down their swords and collapsing to the ground. In that instant, Cai Weiwei saw a gleaming blue, poisoned golden needle embedded between their eyebrows.
Cai Weiwei couldn't help but frown, feeling that while the Xuanming Cult members were indeed worthy of death, the gray-robed Taoist nun was far too ruthless. Taking advantage of the moment the gray-robed nun made her move, Duanmu Shiliang abandoned his defense and struck her vital "Jingmen" acupoint with a single stroke. Although the gray-robed nun managed to strike Duanmu Shiliang's left arm, she would also have to take a hit herself. Confident of victory, she refused to comply. She leaned forward, dodging the iron pen, but still missed. The gray-robed nun flew into a rage, immediately drawing her jade hook and saying, "What a pity! The Xuanming Sect's main altar master died silently at Jubao Mountain."
Duanmu Shiliang was frantic, thinking, "The signal cannon has been fired for so long, why hasn't anyone come?" True to his status as the main altar master, he remained calm despite the danger and made no attempt to flee. His expression remained impassive as he said, "But it won't be that easy."
The gray-robed nun coldly snorted, lunging forward. The hook and the brush clashed, their momentum unstoppable. Duanmu Shiliang knew defeat was inevitable, but he hoped to buy time for reinforcements. He focused his mind, wielding his brush in a desperate last stand. Thus, although the gray-robed Daoist nun held a firm advantage, she couldn't gain the upper hand in just a few moves.
Cai Weiwei glanced around and knew that the gray-robed Daoist nun could kill Duanmu Shiliang within a hundred moves. Remembering Master Yuanqing and Hua Yunlong in the cave, she immediately pushed aside the green vines and rushed inside. The cave was two zhang deep and straightforward; she didn't even need to enter to see it clearly. She quietly approached the two men, looking down at them. Seeing Hua Yunlong's peaceful expression, she couldn't find the slightest sign of discomfort, and her heart was filled with relief. However,
she noticed that Master Yuanqing's right palm was still pressing on Hua Yunlong's "Lingtai" acupoint. Cai Weiwei frowned slightly, thinking, "The Xuanming Sect members are about to arrive in droves. I alone can't fight against so many. This cave is too shallow; even the slightest sound can be heard. It's not suitable to meet them at the entrance, and leaving the entrance is even more impossible. This..." The more she thought about it, the more lost and helpless she felt.
Suddenly, Master Yuanqing opened his eyes, as if struck by lightning in the darkness. She was overjoyed, almost falling over, and was about to speak when she heard Master Yuanqing's voice, barely audible, from inside the cave: "Long'er is diligently practicing; do not make a sound. You can use telepathy or mental communication to speak briefly." He paused, then asked, "Who is fighting outside?"
Cai Weiwei quickly replied via telepathy, "It's an unidentified Daoist nun fighting with Duanmu Shiliang, the head of the Xuanming Sect's main altar. I guess that nun is Ruan..." Seeing Master Yuanqing's hand still pressed against Hua Yunlong's undergarment, she asked, "What, is it not over yet?"
Master Yuanqing nodded and transmitted his voice in Buddhist mental communication: "It will probably be until dawn."
Cai Weiwei was about to ask more when she suddenly heard a deep voice from outside the cave: "Great Altar Master Duanmu, what misfortune have you suffered tonight? Do you need my brothers' help?" Cai Weiwei
heard ... Yan Yi was taken aback, thinking to herself, "Who's here? They don't seem to be from the Xuanming Sect, and judging from their tone,
they're more like enemies than friends." She then heard Duanmu Shiliang coldly say, "Old man Linghu, stop being so cynical. The Three Religions Alliance has been clearly stated long ago. Are you trying to bring about your own demise by gloating?"
The first deep voice chuckled and said, "What do you say
, Second Brother?" Then another dry voice said, "What Old Man Duanmu says makes some sense."
Cai Weiwei was secretly shaken, thinking, "The Three Religions Alliance—that's the Xuanming Sect, the Nine Yin Sect, and the Demonic Sect. Brother Long's ambition is to vanquish demons, which makes things even more troublesome. But judging from this situation, they're not exactly on good terms."
Suddenly, the sound of a whisk and jade hook rang out loudly. Linghu Qi laughed heartily and said, "Second Brother, if we don't act soon, Grand Master Duanmu might have to return to his position tonight." As soon as he finished speaking, a sound of clothes rustling in the wind followed by the sharp whistling of fingers and palms.
Cai Weiwei's heart skipped a beat when she realized the Linghu brothers were attacking side-by-side. From the moment Linghu Qi spoke, she had already discerned his extraordinary skill; even a one-on-one fight against the gray-robed Daoist nun was unlikely to be a match, let alone two against one. The gray-robed Daoist nun angrily shouted, "You Linghu brothers, have you no shame?"
Linghu You laughed and said, "Who doesn't know that my brothers and I fight side-by-side against all odds, even against a thousand armies?"
The gray-robed Daoist nun was furious and utterly helpless. She shouted, "Cai family girl, are you dead?"

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