[Wuxia] The Legend of Condor Heroes: The World's Ruler [Complete] - 15

Chapter Seventy: The Great Victory Pass Heroes' Gathering to Choose a Leader, Three Battles at Lu Family Manor to Decide the Outcome.

Sitting in the living room, Xiaolongnu seemed noticeably reserved under the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd. Fortunately, Cheng Ying and Wushuang
were quite familiar with each other, but she also failed to recognize her masked senior sister, Li Mochou.

"Miss Long, what brings you here?" I asked, bracing myself amidst the unfriendly stares of the women. In my heart, I thought, "This
person is really persistent; I thought of her yesterday, and today she's right here in front of me.

" Wushuang leaned closer and whispered, "Grandma Sun has passed away."

My heart sank slightly; I hadn't expected the kind-hearted Grandma Sun to finally pass away. However, she had died a natural death, and I should
still take the opportunity to offer incense and pay my respects at the Tomb of the Living Dead.

Xiaolongnu said, "Grandma Sun is ill, so I went to the mountains to gather herbs. I've put down the Dragon-Slaying Stone; I can't go back."

Huang Rong had a preliminary understanding of what I meant by "cold and aloof," thinking that this girl's personality was indeed not very
likable . However, her appearance was simply too stunning: her skin was as white and translucent as snow, her eyebrows were like willow leaves and crescent moons,
her her face was bare of makeup, her figure was as slender as a lotus leaf swaying in the wind, and her long, silky hair reached her waist. She was truly a
beauty that made one's heart ache with pity. To be honest, even she was somewhat moved.

Little Dragon Girl felt quite uncomfortable seeing the newly entered woman looking her up and down, and couldn't help but ask, "Yang Guo,
you know the entrance to the secret passage. Come back with me."

Huang Rong, who was standing nearby, could tell from the conversation that this was a girl who was not well-mannered. But seeing her clear eyes and refined manners, she
knew she was not the kind of person who lacked manners. She had heard that she had only met a handful of people in her twenty years of life, and today she saw that she was indeed as
pure as a blank sheet of paper.

"Miss Dragon, that's easy, but we have important business to attend to here. Why don't you wait here for three or five days, and after we've finished here,
we'll send you back? How does that sound?" I said after some thought. "There are still a lot of things that need my attention. If I
just leave , we'll be short-handed when the Golden Wheel Monk arrives.

" Xiaolongnu said, "Then draw me a map. If I follow the map, I should be able to find the place." She
disliked the noisy environment and just wanted to leave quickly.

"Master, Miss Xiaolongnu, the Ancient Tomb is so vast. How can my husband remember everything at once? Why don't you just stay
here Since you're here, a couple more days won't matter. It's quite quiet where we are. If you have any concerns, why not
stay with us?" Li Chuqing suddenly said. Everyone was wondering what she was up to. Last time she returned to the Ancient Tomb carrying a knife;
why would she be so kind as to try and get close to her junior sister?

"But I swore an oath never to leave the Ancient Tomb for the rest of my life..." She just wanted to return to Zhongnan Mountain as soon as possible.

"Well, you're already outside now. Since you're here, settle down and we'll figure something out together,"
Wushuang comforted her.

Xiaolongnu thought about it and had no choice but to agree, nodding slightly in agreement. I had Wushuang and Cheng Ying take Xiaolongnu to arrange her accommodations. After
Xiaolongnu left, I asked with a smile, "What's wrong, Qing'er? Last time I heard you say your junior sister's martial arts were high,
are you unconvinced and want to test your skills against her?"

Chuqing nodded and said, "It's just a wish, to see how powerful the Jade Maiden Sword Technique really is."

Sanniang said with some worry, "What if she accidentally recognizes your identity? Wouldn't that be bad?"

Li Chuqing smiled slightly and said, "It's alright. Even if my junior sister recognizes me, she won't expose me in public. If it weren't for
the presence of acquaintances today, she wouldn't have said a word."

I nodded in agreement, and so Xiaolongnu naturally settled in.

The moon rose above the willow branches, and I started telling stories again that evening, but there were several more listeners in the Guo family courtyard today. Guo Jing heard that
Xiaolongnu had also come to Dasheng Pass, so he specially brought back four elders of the Quanzhen Sect. After tea and dinner, everyone sat at tables in the hall,
waiting for the story to unfold. Seeing the large crowd, almost like a small storytelling venue, I began with my most famous piece: "Teaching
the Xiongnu Chanyu to Break Arrows, a Star Falls at Yanmen Pass." With a few concise sentences, I explained the identities and origins of the main characters, and then
recounted the captivating and moving story. After the story was finished, everyone sighed in admiration. Huang Rong, the true leader of the Beggars' Sect,
gained a completely new understanding of this vaguely documented predecessor in the sect's history. Turning to look at her husband,
she unconsciously saw their images overlapping, and gently took his hand. Guo, Cheng, and Lu, though hearing the story for the second time,
each had a different, new understanding. Cheng Yaojia, who admired heroes most, couldn't help but ask, "Madam Guo, you are the leader of the Beggars' Sect, do
you know anything about this Xiao Feng, Senior Xiao?"

Huang Rong said, "There was indeed a Chief Qiao during the reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty, but most of his deeds have been lost to history. I suppose this story
is just this kid made up."

Hao Datong said, "I've also heard the rumors about the Liao Emperor's southward expedition and his retreat without a fight at Yanmen Pass. I suppose it
's not just hearsay. Guo'er said there's a stone tablet site there about Senior's background. If I have the chance to leave Yanmen Pass again,
I definitely visit the ancient site." Hao Datong had followed Wang Chongyang to translate ancient books and classics many years ago, so he was familiar with Liao script and
became quite interested in this matter.

"I've been there, I even have rubbings. If I had known you, you little Taoist priest, were here, I would have brought them." A voice came
from the top of the wall .

Everyone turned around and saw that it was the Old Urchin squatting on the wall. The two Quanzhen disciples and Yin and Zhao hurriedly got up to pay their respects. "Greetings, Uncle-Master!"
"Greetings, Grand-Grand-Master!" Hao Datong had been worried he would
n't .

"No need, no need for this usual formality every time we meet. If it weren't for that inscription, I wouldn't have bothered coming out to see
you ." Zhou Botong finished his pastry, clapped his hands, and jumped off the wall. He ran to Guo Jing's side and laughed, "Good brother, your old brother
has come to play with you." Guo Jing looked at Hao and Sun and felt a little embarrassed.

Hao Datong knew his uncle was like this, so he wisely pretended not to see him. However, to avoid embarrassment, he
said "Excuse me" and led the three of them out of the courtyard, deciding to avoid seeing them altogether.

"Little Huang Rong, how come you've gotten so fat? You must be eating good food every day."

Zhou Botong's childish words were uninhibited, and most of the people present knew his personality, so they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Huang Rong said, embarrassed and annoyed, "You old rascal, we haven't seen each other for over ten years, and the first thing you do is spout nonsense. If you keep this up, I'll go find
someone who can control you."

Zhou Botong played with the small braids he had in his sideburns, saying, "It's just four looms, weaving mandarin ducks that yearn to fly together, you don't need to..."
" I've found him, we came together." As he spoke, another person climbed over the wall, standing somewhat awkwardly beside the Old Urchin.
It was none other than the white-haired, beautiful Liu Ying, whom everyone called Ying Gu.

"Ying Gu, what brings you here too? Oh, you two..." Reminded by Huang Rong, Guo Jing realized that the two had finally resolved
their differences in their old age and come together. He couldn't help but feel happy for this senior whose fate had been so arduous.

"Botong, where is that young brother you mentioned? I wanted to thank him in person for this. Without his help, I'm
afraid I would never have found you, old man." Ying Gu smiled. It turned out that the Old Urchin had run away for several days and hadn't returned. Ying Gu
thought he had escaped again, so she inquired along the way and headed south to Henan. Coincidentally, she bumped into Zhou Botong, who was returning north
. Zhou Botong mentioned that Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and she were all at Dasheng Pass, so she came with the Old Urchin to see for herself.

Huang Rong asked, "Is Ying Gu talking about Guo'er?" "Huang Rong immediately guessed what was going on, knowing that this was probably
another matchmaking . My actions had relieved her and Guo Jing of a long-standing worry, and made the two elders happy.

"Hmm. Isn't that the old rascal chatting with his arm around my shoulder?" Huang Rong pointed with a smile. It turned out that the old rascal and I had only
been separated for a few days, but now they were chatting quite warmly upon meeting again.

Ying Gu walked up and said, "Bo Tong, is this the young brother you mentioned?"

I replied, "This is Yang Guo, greetings to Senior Ying Gu. This is Miss Xiaolongnu, who is here as a guest, and these are
my fiancées. " "I introduced Fu Mei, San Niang, and a few other women in turn, which was considered a formality. Guo Jing, seeing that he couldn't control
me, didn't bother with me anymore and chatted with the Old Urchin about their separation, getting along quite well.

There were still three days until the Heroes' Feast, and as more and more people arrived, Lu Family Manor became even more lively. However, with
so many people around, I was afraid of being seen, especially by that omnipresent Old Urchin, who often came to disrupt things, so my private meeting with Huang Rong had to
be interrupted.

"Little Yang Guo, is the move you mentioned really that powerful?" The Old Urchin, having heard that I had created another move and witnessed my
comprehension , knew that the move that made me so proud must be truly extraordinary, and couldn't help but urge me to make a move quickly.

I wanted to punish him to get revenge for ruining my date, so I smiled and said, "Then do you dare to take one of my moves?"
Huang Rong had just finished instructing Lu Youjiao, and the two of them were resting on the side. Seeing that the Old Urchin was about to suffer, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

"Draw your own line. " "The old rascal chuckled.

"It's just a couple of moves, I'll duel you with my sword." I tossed the old rascal a wooden sword.

"I don't use this thing, it's so light and flimsy, like a ghost's drawing." The old rascal threw the wooden sword aside, got into a fighting stance
, and said , "Let's do it like this." "

I didn't hold back either, and I pounced on the Old Rascal, arriving before him from three zhang away in the blink of an eye. If my
past movements were like flowing clouds or a dragon soaring through the seas, then now my movements
are like a hawk, or more accurately, like lightning. The Old Rascal only vaguely saw my sword swing and instinctively used the
'Empty Pavilion Ladder' move from the Empty Fist to block it.

'Crack!' The wooden sword shattered, but it stunned Lu Youjiao, who was seeing me fight for the first time. He hadn't expected me to be so
fast, thinking that even if this kid had been practicing since birth, he'd only been practicing for twenty years, and he was already much stronger than this old man. Little Dragon Girl
was also surprised that my martial arts had improved so much since a year ago.

'How can you be so fast?' the Old Rascal asked, brushing the wood chips off his clothes in surprise.

I vented my anger and said, 'Speed is the only way to break through.'

'But strength has its limits, while gentleness is limitless.'" "The old rascal is showing off his theory of using softness to overcome hardness again. In
actual combat , people will dodge. If you can't hit them, wouldn't you be wasting your energy?"

I laughed. "It's said that hardness cannot last, and softness cannot be defended. But what if I could guarantee that hardness would definitely solve the problem?"

"That's impossible. I know you're fast. At worst, next time I'll dodge first, engage you in a prolonged fight, and then strike when you're tired."
The old rascal shook his head, thinking my suggestion was unfeasible.

I laughed. "You underestimate me too much. Actually, I only used three-tenths of my strength just now."

The old rascal was surprised and asked, "I don't believe it. If you calculate it like that, wouldn't ten percent of my strength be even faster?
Flesh and blood can't withstand that."

I took out the Xuan Tie Sword and said with a smile, "Watch." "I walked to a two-zhang-square boulder beside me, remained silent
for a moment, and then turned back.

Lu Youjiao, who was watching from the side, hadn't even seen my movements and was still confused about what I was going to do. But when I turned back,
the boulder collapsed with a crash, its cross-section neatly split into six pieces... The old beggar gaped open, speechless with astonishment.

Huang Rong smiled and said, 'Elder, there's no need to be so surprised. This child's level has already surpassed our understanding of martial arts.
Even I, as his master, might not be his match.'

Hearing the leader say this, Lu Youjiao was slightly relieved. He knew that if he didn't have a greater mission, he wouldn't have been chosen as
the leader of the Beggars' Clan. He couldn't help but sigh slightly, 'Alas, what a pity. If Young Hero Yang were in charge, our Beggars' Clan could definitely
flourish .'

Huang Rong smiled and said, 'Guo'er said it before: what's the point of having so many beggars in the world? His ideal was to eliminate poverty and hunger, so that
everyone in the world could have food to eat, money to spend, and live in peace and prosperity. I think that's a truly great ideal.'"

Lu Youjiao laughed, "What the leader says is true; it's old Lu who's been confused." Huang

Rong said, "Therefore, we are family. In the future, you must also do your utmost to help him, to create a bright
future for the people, and to live up to the foundation laid by our Beggars' Sect ancestors." She knew I wanted to achieve great things and was
always thinking of helping me win over various forces. Today, taking advantage of this opportunity, she simply spoke frankly with Lu Youjiao, waiting for his response.

"I will obey the leader's command!" "Lu Youjiao knew his leader never misjudged anyone, and answered sincerely.

Leaving aside the discussion between Huang Rong and Lu Youjiao, let's turn back to me and the Old Urchin. The Old Urchin, dumbfounded, approached the stone
to examine it The break was brand new, smooth as a mirror, clearly not sawn beforehand. But what had happened was
simply too unbelievable; even with his own eyes, he couldn't believe it was the work of humankind. Covering an area of two zhang, three strikes cleaved the mountain in an instant.
He knew he couldn't escape this young man's attack no matter what. It truly proved the saying: before absolute power,
all techniques are futile.

Li Chuqing said to Xiaolongnu from afar, 'I guess you won't need to go back through the waterway.'

Xiaolongnu nodded silently, wondering if the man in the distance was human or ghost; she feared the Dragon-Slaying Stone really couldn't stop him."

As the Old Urchin stared blankly at the boulder, I also gained a new insight. I could now integrate that stunning strike into
my own movement, maximizing my power advantage through the momentum. I could say I was now confident I could instantly kill
any of the Five Greats except Huang Yaoshi. Why Huang Yaoshi? Because he also possessed ranged attack methods; within a hundred paces,
his unpredictable finger-flicking technique still made me very wary.

Of course, I deeply respected my seniors, so I didn't hold back, frankly telling the somewhat dejected Old Urchin:
"Old Urchin, you've practiced martial arts for so many years, deeply inspired by the profound meaning of Taoist scriptures, naturally understanding the vastness of emptiness. But Lao Tzu
said, 'Tai Chi generates Yin and Yang,' showing that Yin and Yang, emptiness and fullness, speed and slowness are all relative. That is to say, the realm that can be achieved by softness and gentleness can also be achieved
by strength and force , only the forms of expression and the results are different. You are a top-tier internal martial arts master,
just a hair's breadth away from the innate realm. I hope my words today can inspire you." I patted him on the shoulder and said that,
then slowly walked away.

When I reached Huang Rong, she had already pushed Lu Youjiao aside, and the two walked side-by-side. Huang Rong asked, "
What ? It seemed like it really upset him."

"Hehe, who told him to ruin our precious little bit of time? But I didn't make things difficult for him. On the contrary, I helped him
a lot. Let's see if this martial arts fanatic can comprehend it..." I said.

Huang Rong looked at me with dreamy eyes, her heart filled with emotion. A martial arts master in his twenties? Just a few days ago, I was snuggling in
her arms, acting spoiled. How many secrets does this big boy who relies on her hold? How
could such a fatal temptation not make her wholeheartedly infatuated, willing to be shattered to pieces... The much-anticipated grand banquet of heroes finally
began . That morning, heroes from both north and south of the Yangtze River gathered at Lu Family Manor. Although Lu Family Manor was large, it was already packed with people.

After lunch, the Beggars' Clan members gathered in the woods outside Lu Family Manor. The change of leadership is the most important celebration for the Beggars' Clan. The fundraising
took several months, and all the senior disciples from all over the country attended. The heroes from Lu Family Manor who had participated in the Heroes' Banquet were also invited to witness the ceremony.

For over ten years, Lu Youjiao had been handling Beggars' Sect affairs in place of Huang Rong, known for his fairness, integrity, and decisiveness
. Both the Dirty Clothes and Clean Clothes factions within the Beggars' Sect were sincerely convinced of his abilities. At that time, Elder Jian of the Clean Clothes faction had passed away many years prior, and Elder Liang had been bedridden for years. With no
one else capable of
challenging him, this succession was a natural progression. After Huang Rong announced the succession according to the sect rules, she handed over the Dog-Beating Stick, passed down through generations of sect leaders, to Lu Youjiao. All the disciples spat at him, covering his head, face, and back with phlegm
. Thus, the ceremony for the new sect leader's inauguration was completed .

I chuckled inwardly, thankful that such a good thing hadn't happened to me; otherwise, the spittle would have been one thing, but I had actually seen some honest people spitting on
Lu Youjiao , perhaps to retaliate for past grievances.

An elderly beggar leaped onto a large rock and shouted, "Elder Hong has given orders for me to deliver this message!" "Upon hearing this, the gang members cheered
in unison . They hadn't heard from their old leader for over ten years and had often worried about him. Hearing his command, they were overjoyed.
A beggar in the crowd shouted, 'Congratulations to Old Leader Hong! May he be well!' The beggars joined in, their shouts truly shaking the heavens and earth. The cheers rose and
fell, lasting for a long time.

Seeing the beggars so excited, some even with tears streaming down their faces, I thought, 'Only a true man can be like this, for his life has not
been .' I wondered where Old Leader Hong and my grandfather and father-in-law had gone on their journey.

Then I heard the old beggar say, 'Half a year ago, I met Old Leader Hong in Yongnan County, Fuzhou East Road, and had
a drink with him. He is still in good health, has a great appetite, and his capacity for alcohol is just as strong as before.' The beggars cheered loudly again,
mixed with laughter. " The old beggar continued, "Over the years, the old leader has killed many corrupt officials and tyrants who have brought disaster to the country. He said he
just heard that a big villain called 'Golden-Winged Divine Eagle' has done a lot of bad things in the Hunan and Fujian areas. The old leader
just personally crippled his claws."

A middle-aged beggar stood up and said, "That 'Eagle Claw' was quite rampant a while ago, but his whereabouts were elusive. More than thirty of
our disciples in Guangdong were injured by him for no reason, but recently we suddenly lost track of him. It turns out that the old leader personally took action and
eliminated him." The Beggar Clan disciples and the heroes watching the ceremony applauded.

My heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that Old Leader Hong went south to investigate the Demonic Sect?"

The old beggar continued, "Old Leader Hong said: 'The world is in chaos now, and the Mongol Tartars are increasingly invading the south, nibbling away at our Great Song Dynasty.
All our members must be loyal and righteous, swear to kill the enemy to the death, and resist foreign aggression.'" The beggars all agreed, their expressions extremely impassioned. The old beggar
said, "The court is in chaos, and treacherous officials are in power. It's impossible to expect those corrupt officials to protect the country and its people. With foreign threats
growing daily, everyone must be prepared to sacrifice themselves for their country. Chief Hong instructed me to encourage all my brothers to firmly remember
the words .'" The beggars responded with a roar, shouting in unison, "We swear to follow Chief Hong's teachings to the death!"

After the Beggars' Sect assembly, matters of reward, punishment, promotion, and demotion within the sect were discussed. Guests from outside the sect, not wanting to be involved, took their leave.

That evening, the Lu Family Manor was brightly decorated with lanterns and candles. Over
three hundred tables were set up in the main hall, front hall, back hall, side halls, and flower hall, with more than half of the renowned heroes of the land in attendance. This grand banquet for heroes was a rare event, a rare occurrence in decades
. If the host hadn't had extensive connections and was widely respected, it would have been impossible to invite so many martial arts heroes.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong, the couple, accompanied the main guests in the main hall. A group of girls and I were able to stay out of sight of everyone and were seated in
a corner . Third Sister didn't want to meet Yu Yin and Zhu Ziliu, so she was accompanied by Ru Shi and didn't attend. Little Dragon Girl didn't want to participate, but
I dragged her over to sit with us. Zhou Botong and Ying Gu were seated at the head table. Hao and Sun from the Quanzhen Sect
sat with Yu Yin and Zhu Ziliu. The rest of the guests were seated according to seniority and status; even Cheng Ying
was assigned to the Huashan Sect's table. The Huashan Sect representatives weren't the Yue couple, but rather Liu Tianzheng and his second-generation disciples.

Fu Mei was initially puzzled, tugging at me and asking, "Why didn't we pick better seats? We're so far away,
we won't be able to see any of the excitement later!"

I laughed, "To observe, you need to find a spot that gives you a commanding view, but it shouldn't be too conspicuous.
Look over there." I gestured with my lips, and the women followed my gaze to a
table , where a middle-aged man with a stern expression sat. Wu Shuang couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "It's Master!"

"Ah? Grandpa's here? That guy sitting on a stool eating chicken feet... that's Grandmaster!" Fu Mei also recognized the old beggar's wine.
The gourd. Although he had changed into civilian clothes and was wearing a human skin mask, his wine gourd and posture made him easily recognizable.

I smiled and waved my hand, indicating to the head of the hall that someone was about to give a speech, and asked them not to rush forward to recognize him.

Then, Lu Youjiao, the newly appointed leader of the Beggars' Sect, stood up, holding a wine cup. He raised his cup to the assembled heroes and said loudly,
"Our sect's former leader, Hong, has issued an order, stating that the Mongol invasion is escalating rapidly, and commanding all members of our sect to exert their utmost strength to resist the foreign aggression. Now that
heroes from all over the world have gathered here, each with a heart full of loyalty and righteousness, we must discuss a brilliant plan to ensure that the Mongol barbarians dare not invade our Great Song Dynasty again."
After he said these words, the heroes all stood up, each offering their opinion in agreement.
Most of were men of courage and integrity. Seeing the nation's affairs deteriorating and disaster looming, they had long been deeply worried. When someone brought up this matter, these loyal and righteous heroes
naturally responded to the call.

An elderly man with a silver beard stood up and said in a booming voice, "As the saying goes, a snake cannot move without a head. We may have loyalty and righteousness,
but without a leader, great things are hard to accomplish. Today, with all the heroes here, let us elect a respected and universally admired hero to
lead us, and let everyone obey his commands." The heroes cheered, and someone immediately shouted, "You, sir,
should lead us!" "No need to elect anyone else!"

the old man laughed heartily. "What am I, this old geezer, to claim? Martial arts masters have always been
led by the Eastern Heretic, the Western Poison, the Southern Emperor, the Northern Beggar, and the Central Divine. The Central Divine, Master Chongyang, has been gone for many years; the Eastern Heretic , Master Huang
, lives a solitary life; the Western Poison is not among us; and the Southern Emperor is far away in Dali, not a citizen of our Great Song. Therefore, the leader of the alliance should undoubtedly be none other than Senior Hong, the Northern Beggar." Hong

Qigong was a pillar of the martial arts world, truly deserving of the people's respect. The heroes applauded in unison, with no further objections.

A man in the crowd said, "Elder Hong is naturally the leader of the alliance. Besides him, who else possesses the skill to command
respect and the virtue to surpass others, capable of shouldering this great responsibility?" His voice was loud, and everyone looked towards the source of the voice, but they couldn't see him.
The speaker was quite short, obscured by those around him. Someone asked, "Who is speaking?"

The short man leaped up and stood on the table. He was less than three feet tall, over forty years old, and had a fierce and valiant air about him.
Some recognized him as Lei Meng, the "Short Lion," a hero from Jiangxi. The crowd was about to laugh, but seeing his imposing eyes glancing left and right, they all swallowed
their laughter . He said, "But Chief Hong is elusive, rarely showing his face even once in ten years. What if
we encounter a major event like resisting the enemy and are unable to consult him?" The heroes thought, "That makes
sense." Lei Meng continued, "What we are doing today is entirely out of loyalty to the country, without any selfish motives. Let's elect a
vice leader. When Chief Hong travels around, we will mostly obey his orders."

Amid cheers and applause, someone shouted, "Great Hero Guo Jing!" Someone else shouted, "Chief Lu is the best." Someone said,
"Former Chief Huang of the Beggars' Sect is resourceful and wise, and is also Chief Hong's disciple. I recommend Chief Huang." Another said, "It's Master Lu
of this place ." Yet another shouted, "Master Ma of the Quanzhen Sect. Master Qiu of Changchun." A cacophony of voices arose.

In the midst of the chaos, four monks stumbled in quickly from the entrance of the hall. "Abbot Chengxin of the Bodhidharma Institute of Shaolin Temple has arrived!" Guo Jing and
Lu Guanying, upon hearing that the visitor was a Shaolin monk who had recently ceased all contact with the martial arts world, were surprised. Given Shaolin Temple's prestigious status,
considered on par with the Quanzhen School as the pinnacle of martial arts, the two hurriedly rose from their seats to greet him.

A hint of suspicion arose in my heart, but before I could warn him, Guo and Lu had already reached the monk. "Uncle Guo, be careful,
it might be a trap!" Hearing my warning, Guo Jing, still in a daze, felt a powerful force rush towards him. I lowered my stance,
took a step back, and with a half-circle motion of my left hand, thrust it out forcefully. With a "bang," I clashed palms with the leading Shaolin monk.

I shouted and shot forward. But a pebble was faster than me, flying out from Huang Yaoshi's seat with a "whoosh,"
saving the less skilled Lu Guanying from danger.

The other two monks, ignoring their retreating companion, leaped over and pounced directly on Guo Jing. I was already close enough to
parry the staff of one of the monks. A move like "Dragon's Tail" distracted the other monk. The burly monk with the lion-like eyebrows and wide mouth didn't dodge,
but instead attacked my wrist with a three-finger grab. I wasn't carrying a weapon, and my hand skills were far from being at their peak. For a moment, I was
barely entangled by the two monks.

Someone in the crowd who couldn't get involved shouted, "Prajna Palm, Vajra Finger? It really is a Shaolin monk!
Shaolin Temple has become the Mongols' lackeys!"

Guo Jing pulled Lu Guanying back to their seats. Huang Rong asked me with concern how I was feeling, but her eyes drifted to the
direction where the stone had been thrown. Guo Jing caught his breath, nodded to indicate that he was alright, and said loudly, "I wonder if there is
some misunderstanding between you masters and me? Why did you attack?" He had been caught off guard and injured by the fierce and unparalleled palm force. Although he had only suffered
a slight shock, he still needed to recover.

Seeing their ambush fail, the monks quickly retreated to the entrance of the hall, forming a defensive formation without saying a word.

"Master Guo, what's the point of talking to these bald thieves? They're clearly here to assassinate you."

"Good brother, should I step in and pluck them all..." Seeing that the other party was bald and beardless, and there was really nothing to pluck, the old
rascal changed his tune, saying, "Strip them naked and throw them out." Everyone chuckled and ignored him.

I retreated to Guo Jing's side, and Guo Jing nodded to me, saying, "Guo'er, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, but I noticed their martial arts are somewhat similar, though the techniques are very alike, it's not the authentic Shaolin martial arts.
I heard that thirty years ago, the Shaolin Temple sent the monk Ku Hui to the Western Regions to spread the teachings. I observed that two of these four have Hu (non-Han) ancestry;
perhaps they are Shaolin disciples from the Western Regions who were bribed by the Mongols." I didn't mention they were disciples of the "Hungry Monk," not wanting to explain
how I knew the secrets of Shaolin Temple, but following the path I pointed out would reveal
the identities .

Guo Jing said loudly, "Everyone, please be quiet! May I ask how you four masters addressed the monk Ku Hui?"

The leading monk said, "Great Hero Guo is indeed knowledgeable and has a good memory; you even know that good-for-nothing Ku Hui." He then sneered and didn't
reply .

I continued Guo Jing's words, saying, "I've heard that a new sect called the Vajra Sect has risen in the Western Regions in recent years, suspected to be a branch of Shaolin. Their disciples mostly
practice the Prajna Palm, Vajra Finger, and Subduing Demon Staff Technique. It seems the four of you are disciples of the Vajra Sect."

"Hmph!" Seeing their identities exposed, the leading monk fell silent, tacitly acknowledging my statement. Another
uproar erupted from the crowd, cursing the Western Region monks for their shamelessness, daring to impersonate Shaolin monks to disrupt the Heroes' Gathering and attempt to incite
conflict in the martial arts world.

Li Chuqing and Fu Mei approached and asked, "Are you alright?"

I smiled to indicate I was alright, and watched as Wushuang took advantage of the chaos to sidle up to my master, who sat calmly by his side, reminiscing about their parting. Beside them
, an old beggar nonchalantly ate and drank heartily.

Just as the crowd was making a ruckus, a horn sounded outside the main gate, followed by intermittent sounds of striking a gong.
Lu Guanying, who had just been drenched in a cold sweat, finally reacted and loudly proclaimed, "Welcome our distinguished guests!" Before his voice faded, dozens of people of varying
heights .

The heroes in the hall, who had been cheering and drinking, were slightly surprised to see so many people burst into the hall, but they all assumed these
people were there for a heroes' banquet. Seeing that they didn't recognize anyone among them, they didn't think much of it.

Guo Jing immediately stood up, exchanged a glance with Huang Rong and her husband, and then went out with Lu Guanying and his wife to greet them. Knowing the main event
was about to begin, I followed closely behind them. Four monks stepped aside, bowing respectfully to welcome the elegant,
noble-looking Prince Huodu of Mongolia into the main hall. Beside him stood the gaunt, thin Tibetan monk, Darba. I had fought him before at Chongyang Palace in
Zhongnan Mountain ; though a first-rate master, he was inferior to me then, and now I feared he was far inferior.
These two stood on either side, with a tall, thin Tibetan monk in a red robe, his body like a bamboo pole, his forehead slightly sunken,
resembling a saucer. Behind the senior monk were a scarred ascetic, two men from the Western Regions, a
burly man, and a middle-aged scholar dressed in Han Chinese attire.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong exchanged glances. They had heard Huang Yaoshi speak of the strange martial arts of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, where at the highest level
, the crown of the head would slightly concave. This man's crown was deeply sunken; could his martial arts truly be of such profound depth? Huang Rong knew perfectly well that this was the Golden Wheel Monk I had repeatedly
warned her about. Knowing the visitor meant no good, they were all on guard and bowed respectfully. Guo Jing said, "Gentlemen, you
have come from afar, please take your seats and have a few drinks." Knowing the visitor was an enemy, he didn't offer any insincere
words Your presence is an honor." Lu Guanying instructed the servants to prepare a new table and rearrange the dishes.

Once everyone was seated, Prince Huo Du, upon seeing me, was initially taken aback, then turned to the tall, thin Tibetan monk and said, "Master,
let me introduce you to three renowned heroes of the Central Plains..." Guo Jing was startled: "So he is this Mongol prince's master."
The Tibetan monk nodded, his eyes seemingly open and closed. Prince Huodu said, “This is
Guo Jing . This is Madam Guo, also known as Chief Huang of the Beggars' Clan. And this is
Yang, the young hero I met once in Zhongnan Mountain.” Upon hearing the words “Right Marshal of the Mongol Western Expedition,” the Tibetan monk’s eyes widened, suddenly gleaming with a sharp light as he
glanced at Guo Jing. Then, hearing his disciple mention him, he merely glanced at him briefly before
closing , seemingly unconcerned about the Beggars' Clan leader.

Prince Huodu then proclaimed loudly, “This is my master, the Holy Monk of Tibet, universally revered as the Golden Wheel Dharma King, and appointed First Protector of the Nation by the Empress Dowager of the Great
Mongol Empire .” These words were spoken with great volume, clearly heard by all the heroes in the hall. The crowd exchanged bewildered
glances, all thinking, "We were discussing how to defend against the Mongol invasion, and now some Mongol 'Guardian Master' has appeared?"

Huo Du then introduced them one by one: "This is Master Nimo Xing from India, this is
Master Huo Gong Chan, the leader of the Vajra Sect from the Western Regions..."

Hearing that this was the mastermind behind the earlier sneak attack, the crowd erupted in commotion. "Get out of here, you Tartars! You
despicable villains who only know how to launch sneak attacks, yet you dare call yourselves masters!"

Huo Du, unmoved, continued, "This is Senior Yin Kexi, a wealthy merchant from the Western Regions, this is Senior Xiao Xiangzi,
this is Ma Zuoguang..."

I was even more startled. I hadn't expected that my years of wandering the martial world would attract the attention of the Mongols, leading them
to connect Xiao Xiangzi, Yin Kexi, and others who wouldn't normally appear at Dasheng Pass. However, despite their impressive lineup, I remained
unfazed . I had been preparing for this moment for a long time, and with the Eastern Heretic, the Northern Beggar, and the Old Urchin here to support me, I figured they couldn't cause any major
trouble.

"Yang Guo, what are they doing here?" I suddenly felt someone tug at my clothes. It turned out that some of us had come
to help , leaving only Xiaolongnu sitting alone at the table. She seemed a little nervous and came over to find me and Fumei.

"They're some Mongolian villains. A fight is inevitable soon. Be careful," I cautiously instructed.

"Okay." Although Xiaolongnu was innocent and naive, I had been feeding her a lot of
stories about the evil deeds of foreign tribes in the Central Plains for the past few days, so she also hated the villains from the bottom of her heart. Her hand couldn't help but reach for her sword sheath, ready for battle.

During the banquet, some people recognized these notorious villains and knew that they were up to no good. They all watched to see how the hosts,
Master and Hero Guo, would handle the situation.

Although Guo Jing knew these people had ill intentions, he decided to listen to their purpose first. He simply said, "Gentlemen,
you have come . May I ask what brings you here?"

Prince Huo Du stood up, waved his folding fan, and opened it to reveal a delicate peony on the fan. He said loudly,
"My master and I have not accepted the invitation to this grand banquet of heroes, yet we have come here uninvited. We have shamelessly become uninvited guests, but considering
the opportunity to meet such wise men, we cannot worry about such matters. This is a rare and precious gathering. All the heroes of the world have gathered here. In my humble opinion, we must elect a
leader to guide the martial arts world and serve as the head of all heroes. What do you all think?"

"Short Lion" Lei Meng shouted, "That's right. We have already elected Elder Hong of the Beggars' Clan as the leader of the alliance, and we are now
electing a vice leader. What are your thoughts?"

Huo Du sneered, "Hong Qigong has long since passed away. To elect a ghost as the leader, are you all dead men?" Upon hearing
this , the heroes erupted in uproar, with the Beggars' Clan members especially enraged and shouting. Huo Du said, "Very well, if Hong Qigong is
not dead, then let's invite him out to meet us."

Lu Youjiao raised his Dog-Beating Stick twice and said, "Old Master Hong travels the world, his whereabouts are uncertain. Do you think you can easily
see him?" Huo Du sneered, "Let alone whether Hong Qigong is alive or dead, even if he were sitting here perfectly fine,
how could his martial arts and reputation compare to my master, the Golden Wheel Monk? Listen up, heroes,
there is no one else in the martial arts world who is worthy of being the leader of the alliance except for the Golden Wheel Monk."

Hearing these words, the heroes understood the intentions of these people. They clearly knew that the Heroes' Banquet would be detrimental to the Mongols, and thus came
to vie for the position of leader. If the Golden Wheel Monk were to win the leadership through martial arts, although the heroes of the Central Plains would certainly not obey his orders, it would still weaken
the momentum of the Han people's resistance against the Mongols. Everyone knew Huang Rong was resourceful and intelligent, so they all turned to look at her, thinking, "
No matter how strong these few dozen people are, they can't possibly be a match for the thousands here. Whether it's a one-on-one fight or a group brawl, we won't be left behind."
"Feng, everyone just follow Chief Huang's orders."

Huang Rong knew her master was also a man of principle, and would surely lash out if insulted like this. So she stood up and laughed loudly
, "Father, Master, they specifically asked to see the esteemed senior, what should we do?"

Hong Qigong laughed heartily, wiped his face, and removed his mask, saying, "Brother Yao, I told you this thing of yours was
useless ! It made me feel stifled for half a day, even my food wasn't enjoyable. But this old beggar's appetite is still good; I feel I can
still eat for a few more years." Huang Yaoshi also removed his mask, smiled, and walked towards his daughter, but didn't bother with the old beggar.

Inside and outside the hall, seeing Hong Qigong reveal his true face, everyone became lively: "Old Chief Hong, are you in good health!" "Old Chief Hong,
do you remember me? I drank with you in Xinghua Village, Shanxi, two years ago!" "These Mongol Tartars are spreading rumors, blatantly lying,
get out of here !"

Guo Jing was overjoyed and stepped forward to pay his respects to his master and father-in-law. Hong Qigong smiled slightly and said, "Jing'er, you've worked hard all these years guarding Xiangyang and managing
the defenses to stop the Mongols from advancing south. Very good, very good!"

"Thank you for your praise, Master. It's what I should do," Guo Jing replied, his voice choked with emotion.

Huang Yaoshi ignored me and went to his daughter's side. Seeing her slightly protruding belly, he couldn't help but show a kind expression. He knew
it wasn't the time for casual conversation, so he patted his daughter, indicating that she would talk to her father properly after this matter was over. Huang Yaoshi, having heard that his daughter
was pregnant again after many years, naturally wanted to see her. However, he and Hong Qigong didn't want to attract attention, so they both changed their clothes, intending to
meet after the banquet. But seeing so many experts coming to disrupt things, they worried that Guo Jing and the Old Urchin wouldn't be able to handle it
, so they showed up to stabilize the situation.

"Hey, you old beggar and Huang Yaoshi, where have you been these days?" Zhou Botong also chimed in,
having not seen them for over a year since they left Mount Hua, so he came over to say a few words. Hong Qigong and Huang Yaoshi, on the other hand, looked at Ying Gu sitting
behind with mocking eyes. The Old Urchin blushed deeply and slunk back, refusing to speak to them again.

The Golden Wheel Monk opened his eyes and carefully examined the three people before him, his heart filled with surprise. He thought to himself, "How can there be so many
masters ?" He had thought he was well-prepared for this trip, but now it seemed he would find it difficult to gain any advantage. "Why not arrange a
bet? Each side will send three heroes—old, middle-aged, and young. My side has plenty of young and middle-aged talent,
and I'll take on one of the three elders. My chances of winning are extremely high." He whispered something in Huo Du's ear.

Huo Du nodded repeatedly, thinking, "We came here today
to show off our martial prowess and dampen the arrogance of the Han martial artists, but we've run into a brick wall. Besides, we outnumber them. If this escalates into a brawl, it'll be very difficult." So he said, "
Heroes of the world, please. We're here today only to test our martial arts skills, not to discuss politics. How about we agree to three matches, with each side
sending three heroes—old, middle-aged, and young? The side that wins two matches will become the leader. What do you all think?" These words
sounded grand, but it was clear he was afraid of the three elders. The crowd erupted in another uproar, cursing the Mongols for being spineless. "These Mongolian monkeys are afraid of
Chief Hong! If you don't dare to fight, get out of here! Stop making a fool of yourselves! " "Old, middle-aged, and young? Why don't you dig your
ancestors out of their graves and put them out here to bask in the sun!"

Huo Du, suppressing his anger, burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha... So you people from the Central Plains are all cowardly rats, relying only
on your senior masters, and not daring to fight yourselves. Then let me ask you, when your senior masters grow old, will you southerners just surrender without a fight
?" Huo Du provoked, waving his folding fan.

"Bullshit!" "Truly stinking!" "

I heard on the grasslands that the Central Plains is full of talented people and blessed with outstanding individuals. Today I see that it's just hearsay. They
're just a bunch of old fogies who bully the weak and rely on their seniority."

Huang Rong, seeing him fanning himself, thought that he had performed enough, and said: "Since the young prince is so
confident in declaring his intentions, we will generously accept. May I ask who your side will send to fight?"

Huo Du glanced at his master, and seeing the Golden Wheel Monk nod, he said, "This battle was proposed by me. The first match will naturally be a game
with all the heroes. The second match will be played by Master Nimo Xing from the Western Regions. If he accidentally loses a match, then please
ask my master to oversee the battle and let him experience the style of a top master from the Central Plains. As for you, whoever you send,
the three of will accept the challenge." "Huo Du believed that among the younger generation, his skill was unparalleled. The Golden Wheel Monk
knew his disciple was skilled and quick-witted, so he allowed him to fight. The Huo Gong Toutuo, a renowned monk for thirty years and
roughly the same age as Huo Du, couldn't be categorized as middle-aged, so he sent Nimo Xing, whose skill was slightly inferior. The Golden Wheel Monk believed that
among middle-aged people from the Central Plains, no one could match this Indian prodigy, so victory was
assured . Just

as we finished speaking, the old beggar said, 'This old beggar came out today to show you that
there . If you want to fight, ask my disciple. As the saying goes, when the master is in trouble, the disciple should do the work. We've fought our whole lives, and now
we want some peace and quiet. Brother Yao, Brother Zhou, what do you say?'

'I'll go down and play with this old monk; I think his wheel is quite amusing. '" "The old rascal chuckled softly.

Huang Rong smiled and said, "You don't need to go. Just leave that old monk to Brother Jing." She thought to herself, "Master's words
clearly mean he wants me to come up with a way to thoroughly humiliate these barbarians. Since they've outlined the order and chosen the participants, why not
give the first round to Little Dragon Girl? That should be fine. The second round, with Guo'er, is also a sure thing. The third round is for Brother Jing. His skills have greatly improved
in recent years , and he's in his prime. He should be no less capable than Master at his peak. We can go all out." She turned her head
and saw my confident smile. Her heart stirred, and she said, "Guo'er, what's your opinion? Tell us all."

I said, "The other side came here this time determined to disrupt our alliance and dampen the morale of the heroes of the Central Plains. But they didn't
expect us, their seniors, to be here, so they made this three-battle agreement." If we can win, and win beautifully, it will
not only dampen the enemy's arrogance but also boost the morale of our Central Plains martial arts world. So I think…” After I finished speaking,
the senior figures present were all stunned, but no one responded.

Huang Rong made the decision: “Alright, let's do it this way!” She had witnessed the power of Xiaolongnu's combined swordsmanship yesterday and thought that
even her own Dugu Nine Swords might not be able to gain an advantage against her, so she was very confident in Xiaolongnu.

Hong Qigong asked: “Isn't this too dangerous? Guo'er, can you do it?” Seeing my confidence, he…
The apprentice didn't stop him, though he couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

The Old Urchin said somewhat dejectedly, "I just hope the Mongols can win one match, otherwise we won't see that Mongolian monk
suffer ." He naturally knew the power of my divine sword and Little Dragon Girl's combined swordsmanship; my arrangement of the match was naturally based on
the principle of victory. Although he didn't know who Chu Qing was, perhaps this was a tactic of feigning weakness to mislead the enemy?

Huang Rong announced loudly, "Our team's choices have been decided. The first match will be between Miss Li Chu Qing and
Prince ." She chuckled inwardly; she knew Chu Qing's skill. Even if she didn't win against Huo Du, she would have the double
insurance of Little Dragon Girl and me. Although it wasn't as secure as having Brother Jing personally intervene, this would undoubtedly be more humiliating to the Mongols. Just as

Chu Qing was about to step onto the stage, I called out to her, "Did you bring any silver needles?"

Chu Qing nodded, indicating that she had some in her leopard-skin pouch. I untied her needle pouch and replaced it with a cluster of jade bee needles: "Be careful
of that person's fan, there are hidden weapons inside. Also, be careful not to be recognized." It turned out she was afraid others would recognize her
unique hidden weapon. Chu Qing smiled and nodded in agreement to go on stage.

Huo Du noticed a woman in her thirties with ordinary posture, so he closed his fan, pointed, and asked, "May I ask this
lady's name?"

"Li Chu Qing."

"May I ask which school of martial arts master you, Lady Li?"

"Are you here to compete? Or to register your household?" This question caused everyone to burst into laughter.

"Since that's the case, I won't say any more. However, fists and feet have no eyes, so please forgive me if I offend you."
With that, she swung her fan and attacked.

Li Chuqing displayed the movement techniques of the Ancient Tomb Sect. Her blue robes fluttered, exuding a graceful charm. Her movements were fluid and
agile unparalleled lightness. The Ancient Tomb Sect's lightness skills were unmatched in the world, and Li Chuqing, with her deepening inner strength, displayed this agility and grace to its fullest extent,
providing a feast for the eyes of the assembled heroes. Years ago, Lin Chaoying cultivated diligently in the Stone Tomb, creating the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. Afterwards, she never left the tomb, passing it down only to
her personal maid. By the time it reached Li Chuqing and Xiaolongnu, few in the martial world knew of the Ancient Tomb Sect. Even
when Chuqing roamed the martial world, she was only feared for her ruthless Five Poison Palm and Ice Soul Silver Needles.

Huo Du secretly clicked his tongue, inwardly lamenting the loss. Looking at her voluptuous figure, pert breasts, slender waist, and
long, shapely legs, if she weren't so ugly, he would truly want to try his luck with her.

Li Chuqing had abandoned all her previous martial arts skills, and the moves she used were now the "Nine Yin Divine Claws" I had taught her. The claw technique
was incredibly elusive; when it struck, she was on the left, and by the time Huo Du parried with his fan, she had already turned to the right, creating a flurry of claw shadows
that left the audience breathless. The two exchanged blows for over ten rounds, leaving both the assembled heroes and the Mongols in awe and admiration.

Huo Du's fan skills were also exceptional, his strikes and thrusts relying on their graceful and fluid movements. However, faced with the
unparalleled lightness skill of the Ancient Tomb Sect, he found himself unable to use his hands and feet effectively. His advances and retreats were constantly controlled by her swift movements and ghostly
, fierce attacks. The more he fought, the more cold sweat poured down his back, and his heart began to tremble with fear.

Seeing that he was outmatched, Huo Du grew anxious, thinking to himself that if he were to fall to this unknown, ugly woman today, his reputation
would be ruined , and what would become of his renown in the Central Plains? Li Chuqing lightly flicked her slender hand, delivering three consecutive thrusts. If he had leaped and dodged,
he would have been immediately at a disadvantage. He quickly opened his folding fan, blocking the three consecutive thrusts, and with a shout, unleashed his "Whirlwind Thunder Skill" to counterattack. He fanned his right
fan with his left sleeve, creating a gust of wind, concealing an iron palm within. He shouted loudly, forced to use his most powerful technique
against a woman; even if he won, his pride would be utterly tarnished. But at this moment, he only sought to avoid defeat; he couldn't care less about such things. He exhaled
and yelled, each move more ferocious than the last.

Chuqing laughed, "Complaining and cursing when you can't win isn't the style of a master."

The surrounding heroes laughed heartily, one of them saying, "Lady, you don't know, but I've seen monkeys on the mountain
make that same squealing noise when they fight." Everyone burst into laughter again.

Huo Du's face turned ashen from the reprimands he received. He had been reciting the Sanskrit Vajra Subduing Demon Sutra,
but the crowd had rendered it into the shouts of monkeys fighting, fueling his anger. He snapped his folding fan shut and
launched three rapid, increasingly aggressive attacks. Huo Du's change to a reckless, injury-for-injury style forced Chu Qing to temporarily evade his attacks. She took a step, twisted her
waist , and executed a graceful retreat. Seeing an opening, Huo Du aimed his fan at Chu Qing and pressed the mechanism on the handle.

Chu Qing, who had deliberately provoked Huo Du with her words and was already on guard against a sudden attack, saw a burst of fine, green needles shoot from the mechanism in his fan
. With Chu Qing already airborne and unable to dodge, the crowd gasped in alarm at the hissing of the mechanism.
Some thought the fight was lost, while others cursed Huo Du for his despicable and shameless use of hidden weapons.

Just when everyone thought Li Chuqing had no way to avoid it, she flicked the silk sash from her waist, wrapped it around a roof beam, and
then gently lifted herself up, shooting upwards like an arrow. She turned in mid-air and shouted, "Take my needle too!" The jade bee needles
shot out with incredible speed. Huo Du, thinking he was certain of victory and gloating, was about to make a sarcastic remark when he was surprised to find that his ghostly
, unerring hidden weapons had failed. So, when Chuqing shouted and launched her hidden weapons, a flash of golden light suddenly appeared before his eyes.
The distance was so close, and he was caught off guard and had no chance to defend himself. Although he quickly leaped up, several
tiny hidden weapons still struck his arm. He thought the weapons were small and wouldn't cause much harm, and he still gritted his teeth, refusing to admit defeat. Just

as Huo Du was about to launch an attack, he suddenly felt a tingling, itchy sensation in his right hand, which was holding the fan, like a mosquito bite. He quickly gathered his breath
to suppress it, but the tingling and itching intensified
as he prepared to strike. A thought flashed through his mind: "Oh no, that ugly woman's hidden weapon is poisoned!" The thought was barely crossed his mind when the itching became unbearable. Forgetting the formidable enemy before him, he dropped the fan and reached out to scratch the itch. But even this scratching seemed to cause an itch
in his heart , and he cried out and fell to the ground. It should be known that the poison of the Ancient Tomb Sect's Jade Bee Golden Needles is extremely rare. Being hit by even one
is difficult enough, let alone being hit by several in the heat of battle when blood is flowing rapidly. "

You...you poisoned your hidden weapon!" Huo Du was helped back into the formation by his own side, barely managing to suppress the itching with his internal energy
before managing to utter a complete sentence.

"I guessed that the hidden weapon in your vicious fan must have an even more potent poison, right? My poison isn't fatal; at most, it will teach you a lesson so
you won't use such vicious hidden weapons to harm others in the future. " "Chu Qing said with a smile, picking up Huo Du's broken iron fan and retreating back to her own
formation. The heroes couldn't help but burst into laughter, not only having witnessed a wonderful duel, but also having taught this
arrogant Mongolian prince a lesson, and cheering loudly for Li Chu Qing.

The first match was a complete victory for the Central Plains martial arts world.

Nemo Xing, leaning on his serpentine steel staff, stepped onto the stage and challenged, "I am Nemo Xing, the Bodhisattva of the Heavenly Kingdom. May I ask which
master from the Central Plains will come to offer their guidance?"

Huang Rong and I nodded, signaling me to choose my opponent. I initially wanted to step forward myself and end this farce, but
then I glanced at the Quanzhen Sect table and suddenly thought, why not let them witness the true power of the combined swordsmanship, perhaps even improving
relations between the two factions? So I gestured to Xiaolongnu, whom I had already informed beforehand. Seeing that the opponent was a villain from a foreign race, Xiaolongnu rose without ceremony and gracefully stepped
onto the stage.

Her appearance caused an uproar among both the heroes and the Mongols, who began whispering amongst themselves. Just now,
Huo Du and the masked Li Chuqing fought, both appearing to be in their thirties, with little difference in age. However, the Mongols have now
sent a dark-faced barbarian, whose true age is unclear, but he is at least forty. Why would Master Guo and
Lady Huang send such a delicate young woman? This seems far too frivolous.

"Disciple of the Ancient Tomb Sect, Long Shi, welcomes your expert skills, senior." Little Dragon Girl drew her sword and launched an attack with the move "Wandering the World."

At this moment, another wave of heated discussion erupted among the heroes. For years, rumors of Little Dragon Girl's unparalleled beauty
had been rampant , yet no one had ever truly seen her, which only fueled their curiosity. Now that their true appearance had been revealed, the heroes
were like a drop of water splashed into boiling oil, immediately erupting into a frenzy of discussion. "This girl is actually Little Dragon
Girl ?" "I didn't expect her to be as beautiful as the legends say!" "Go, Little Dragon Girl!" Even Huo Du, who was poisoned
, couldn't help but take a second look. Although he had been causing trouble at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain for three years, this was the first time he had seen Little Dragon Girl's true face.
Now, seeing the cold and beautiful woman right in front of him, his desire intensified, his blood flow accelerated, and the poison in his body worsened. He couldn't help but
cry out in pain.

Huang Yaoshi, who was seated over there, laughed and asked, "Young man, you really have a connection with Lin Heroine's disciples and grand-disciples."
I was referring to Little Dragon Girl. Just now, when Chu Qing came down to the stage and showed her skills, he recognized her movement style. Looking at the human skin
mask he had made, he guessed her identity, hence his question.

I chuckled, but several slender hands reached out from my waist, so I could only say with a bitter face, "Just casual acquaintances
..."

Old beggar Hong Qigong also saw my little interactions with the girls, thinking that since the children were mutually attracted, they
had nothing to say, and just continued eating and drinking. Huang Yaoshi gave me a cold glance, snorted, and turned back
to watch the events unfold.

I, on the other hand, was sweating profusely, my mind racing. I thought, "If you knew the child in your daughter's belly was mine, wouldn't you just
drag me out and kill me?" Just as my mind was filled with these thoughts, the duel between Xiaolongnu and Nimoxing reached its
climax.

Xiaolongnu met her opponent with a sword strike, while her left hand used the flexible skill of the Golden Bell Lasso. The heroes watching all around saw
Xiaolongnu as a fairy descending to earth, her movements identical to Li Chuqing's, but her aura was vastly different. She was naturally beautiful,
clad in a pure white robe that flowed gracefully. A golden bell jingled crisply in her left hand, its rhythmic chime adding a delightful touch, a sight to behold.
Even Huang Yaoshi, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but admire the Ancient Tomb Sect's masters as refined gentlemen among heroes. The Old Urchin clapped his hands in
praise , thinking that after the fight, he'd have Xiaolongnu teach him how to play the bell. However, Hong Qigong frowned and said,
"Such a fighting style is beautiful, but it always leaves the enemy with clues. I'm afraid this short, dark-skinned man will discover the weakness in no time
." Guo Jing, Zhu Ziliu, and the others nodded in agreement.

Nimo Xing was no pushover either. His selection as the representative of the Mongols was itself an affirmation of his strength.
Moreover, he possessed thirty years of internal energy cultivation, countless battles fought throughout his life, and extremely rich experience in combat. Although he was
caught off guard by the unpredictable attacks of the Golden Bell, as Seventh Master had said, he quickly figured out its pattern. Because the sound preceded the bell,
he could cleverly dodge it whenever it approached, then launch a counterattack on the spot, taking the opportunity to close the distance between them. With Nimo Xing closing in,
Xiaolongnu had no choice but to abandon the Golden Bell and engage him in close combat with his snake staff using the Jade Maiden Sword Technique. Nimo
Xing possessed superhuman strength and had mastered the Indian martial art of the Elephant Throwing Technique to its peak. Furthermore, he was a yoga master, so his attack style, so different from that of Central Plains
martial arts , gradually put Xiaolongnu at a disadvantage.

Yin Zhiping, seated at the banquet, saw Xiaolongnu facing repeated dangers and several times wanted to draw his sword to help
her. However, seeing Zhao Zhijing's cold,
fixed . I witnessed this and thought to myself, "This Taoist priest is truly spineless. If he could have disregarded
worldly , perhaps I could have helped bring them together in the future. But the incompetent are always incompetent
; he has lost his last chance." Contemptuous of his cowardice, I stopped paying attention to him.

Xiaolongnu, on the other hand, was being attacked by fists, kicks, and clubs, but her eyes remained calm and composed, showing no sign of
tension , unlike someone with no combat experience. This was because the Ancient Tomb Sect's martial arts emphasized severing emotions; without the seven emotions,
there was no fear. Therefore, she treated it like a simulated sword fight. Although her strength was inferior and she was at a disadvantage, at least she hadn't lost
her composure , and she could even counterattack when the opportunity arose.

Hong Qigong shook his head and said, "There's still a gap in strength. Although your attacks aren't as clumsy as they were at the beginning,
I'm afraid you'll lose after another twenty moves."

After examining Huo Du's injuries, the Golden Wheel Monk was at a loss and could only tell him to endure it for now. Looking back at the battle,
which was nearing its end, Nimoxing had indeed lived up to expectations, and a smile appeared on his face as he was about to win a round.

Just then, the situation changed again. Xiaolongnu unleashed a move called "Burning Incense and Playing with Cranes," aiming straight for Nimoxing's center. Seeing
the ferocity sidestepped, letting Xiaolongnu pass. Xiaolongnu seized the opportunity to draw her other sword, holding it in her left hand, assuming
a stance for a dual-sword dance.

The crowd was somewhat puzzled. Some had seen willow-leaf double swords, others had seen Gongsun's swords, but those were all short blades,
no more than . Xiaolongnu, however, was now wielding two three-foot-long swords, causing the sword masters in the crowd to shake their heads slightly, all believing her
skill had ended there.

Nimoxing paused slightly, then laughed strangely, raising his iron snake and launching a powerful attack. Unfazed by the "Gathering Flowers and Boiling Wine" move of the Jade Maiden Sword Technique, Xiaolongnu
dodged his fierce frontal attack, lightly flicking the serpent staff to borrow momentum, and then bent down to slash at him.
Nimo Xing's lower body was attacked, but his left hand followed up with a "Wild Goose Formation Slanting Strike," a subtle move from the Quanzhen Swordplay. He countered with a thrust to Nimo
Xing's back, attacking his vulnerable spot.

"Huh?" The most surprised among those present were the Quanzhen Sect members. Seeing that Xiaolongnu was using the Quanzhen Swordplay, the two moves were
tightly linked and interlocked. Outsiders couldn't see the technique, but they couldn't help but marvel.

Nimo Xing dared to strike head-on without regard for his own weaknesses because he expected his opponent to be unable to meet the attack head-on. If the opponent were to strike the pure steel
snake staff , no matter how heavy the steel whip or broadsword, it would be knocked out of her hand. Who would have thought that Xiaolongnu would have the skill of using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds?
In a fit of rage, he switched the strange snake staff to his right hand, twisted his body, and swept it out, trying to rely on his strength to meet the enemy head-on again. The first time Xiaolongnu
deflected his staff, she unintentionally used the most exquisite and subtle technique from the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra. When she struck again with
her sword and slipped from her hand. Nimoxing immediately unleashed a powerful kick, "Kui Xing Kicks the Dipper," aimed at Xiaolongnu's head.

Knowing her skills lay in her dual swordsmanship, and seeing Xiaolongnu in danger, I disregarded the rules of the duel and was about to
rush to her aid. The Old Urchin grabbed me, indicating it was alright, saying she likely had a backup plan. At the critical moment, Xiaolongnu swayed
her slender waist slightly, her right hand wielding her sword, the blade positioned precisely in the path of Nimoxing's incoming kick. This move, a combination of parrying
and striking, was graceful and elegant—a move from the Jade Maiden Swordplay, specifically the "Little Garden Chrysanthemum" style. Nimoxing changed her move, using her foot as a pivot
to sweep her serpent staff horizontally again, attempting to break Xiaolongnu's longsword. Just as the staff was about to touch her, she used the momentum to leap backward, and
before the sword could hit the ground, she flicked it with her right hand, catching it in her left. The movement was fluid and seamless,
a combination of her Ancient Tomb Sect's "Heavenly Net" style move, "Wandering the World," from the Quanzhen Swordplay. I secretly applauded, thinking that her martial arts
comprehension was truly impressive, combining the two moves so perfectly. The crowd, though unable to grasp the intricacies, were all captivated,
shouting in unison, "Bravo!"

Nimoxing then sprang back, using her serpent staff for support, and kicked three times in mid-air, her body as agile as a monkey. Without a second thought, Xiaolongnu
used another move, "Wandering the World," to evade Nimoxing's attack. She then abruptly stopped mid-air, executing "Mulan's Counterattack
," her sword meeting another, the two swords forming a scissor-like shape as they moved upwards along Nimoxing's staff, aiming straight for his center.
One move was the graceful, casual style of the Quanzhen Swordplay, the other a dangerous, deadly strike of the Jade Maiden Swordplay. The two swords combined, seemingly effortless, yet
their power was instantly astonishing. The jabs of the two swords clamped down on Nimoxing's staff, then the blades twisted towards him. Unable to block
both retreated hastily, suffering two sharp blows. Fortunately, he dodged skillfully; the swords grazed his sides, only tearing
his clothes, but he was drenched in a cold sweat.

Seeing Xiaolongnu's skillful move, everyone cheered her on. At this moment, Huang Yaoshi and his daughter, Hong Qigong, Guo Jing, and
other top masters, having grasped the brilliance of the move, also joined in the applause. Only Li Chuqing was conflicted. She
now understood that, as her husband had said, she was indeed inferior to her junior sister. However, she quickly reconsidered, thinking, "I
'm not fighting anyone now, why should I care about her skill level?"

Ni Moxing, in his haste, retreated two steps to avoid the attack. Just then, Zhao Zhijing shouted, "Frosty Waves Rolling Snow!"
Xiaolongnu unleashed a downward-moving attack, mimicking the spectacle of a thousand piles of snow as her sword rose. Immediately afterward, Xiaolongnu's right hand trembled with her sword, like
flowers fluttering in the wind, slashing back and forth, dazzling Ni Moxing. He couldn't tell where her sword attacks would come from, and could only leap back to
dodge. Little Dragon Girl pressed her advantage, drawing her sword and following up. The tip pointed downwards, as if pouring wine from a jug. Then, the tip flipped upwards, pointing at
her own lips, as if raising a cup to drink, but the sword's upward thrust seemed intent on disemboweling him.

Nimo Xing saw that Little Dragon Girl's swordplay was becoming increasingly strange, yet her two hands moved in perfect harmony, covering every opening with her other hand
. Although he wanted to launch a strong attack, he couldn't help but be wounded by her other sword. He grew increasingly astonished, thinking, "The world is indeed
full of extraordinary people. Who in India has ever conceived of such an unbelievable swordsmanship?" His momentum waned, and he showed signs of defeat.

Little Dragon Girl, having received my inspiration, had practiced this dual-sword combined technique for over a year, and naturally had a deep understanding of its subtleties
. Each move of this sword technique contains a romantic anecdote, whether it be "playing the zither and flute," "sweeping snow and brewing tea," "playing chess under the pine
trees ," or "taming cranes by the pond"—all involving men and women, truly indescribable in their romantic charm. It was precisely because of this that Xiaolongnü
gradually developed a longing for romantic relationships, often unconsciously recalling the days I spent with her, remembering my voice and smile,
sometimes sighing softly. Knowing her days were numbered, Granny Sun saw this and understood Xiaolongnü's thoughts, but didn't know
how to persuade her. In her final days, the old woman finally devised this drastic solution, forcing Xiaolongnü
to come down the mountain to find me, which led to the two great battles where the successor of the Ancient Tomb Sect shone brightly at the Heroes' Gathering. Lin Chaoying,
heartbroken , died in the Ancient Tomb in despair. She was a woman of exceptional talent, skilled in both literature and martial arts, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, ultimately transforming all her life's learning into this
martial art. When she created it, she only wanted to express her own feelings. Little did she know that decades later, her successor from another generation would use it to defeat powerful enemies
and carry forward the essence of her martial arts. This was something she could never have foreseen.

When Xiaolongnu first used it, she had not yet fully grasped the mysteries of the sword technique, but later she became more and more proficient.
She simplified the originally complex sword moves of countering each other into the most ruthless and direct killing moves. If the two people who use this sword technique are not lovers, many of its subtleties
are difficult to understand. If their hearts cannot communicate, then when they are friends, it is too polite, and when they are elders or juniors, they
will inevitably have to take care of and rely on each other. If husband and wife use it together, it is wonderful, but the tender feelings, shyness, ambivalence, and
anxiety are all missing. However, I took a different approach, luring Xiaolongnu's combined swordsmanship onto another path.
My mind was divided, eliminating any hesitation about whether to save her or not, thus greatly amplifying the power of this sword technique.

Seeing that Xiaolongnu's victory was assured, Yin Zhiping couldn't help but show joy. But seeing her white veil swaying gently, her robes fluttering in the wind,
her swordsmanship sharp yet graceful, ethereal and otherworldly, he was captivated.

Nimoxing, gradually losing his ability to fight back, had his large, dark head gleaming even in the dead of winter, showing
his extreme tension and frustration. He felt utterly humiliated to be defeated by a young woman in her early twenties, and could only grit his teeth
and refuse to admit defeat. However, his brocade robe was already torn to shreds, making him look no better than a low-ranking Beggar Clan disciple.

The crowd clamored for him to surrender quickly. In their eyes, Xiaolongnü was deliberately showing mercy, allowing him to barely survive without
being defeated. Little did they know that Xiaolongnü had finally found a suitable opponent and was using him to test her skills; how could she let him go so easily?
So the two remained locked in a stalemate.

Suddenly, Nimoxing's snake staff transformed from a straight steel staff into a nine-section whip. He gripped the whip's tip and end with both hands, his entire
body contracting, almost curling into a ball, using only the whip for protection. Whenever Xiaolongnu's twin swords attacked, he would raise the whip to block. Nimoxing
's yoga skills had reached an extremely high level; his wrists and arms could rotate flexibly, making his back defense
nearly perfect. Xiaolongnu dared not clash with his nine-section whip, yet she couldn't hit him either, and for a time she was helpless, unable to break through his
shell.

The crowd booed continuously, urging him to stand up and fight like a man, but Nimoxing, whether deaf or
feigning ignorance, refused to emerge from his shell. The two exchanged over thirty moves, neither able to gain the upper hand.

Seeing this, the Golden Wheel Monk said loudly, "Great Hero Guo, Elder Benefactor Hong, at this rate, we'll probably fight until next year without a result.
How about we call this a draw?" He thought to himself that even if it was one loss and one draw, they could still have a third match. Seeing that the older generation on the opposing side
wasn't making a move, the one who would step in would inevitably be Guo Jing, the most powerful among them. If he could capture the leader of the group, the heroes of the Central Plains
would hesitant to act, but they wouldn't
be able to do anything to him. Moreover, if he could capture Guo Jing, who had the highest reputation and the greatest prestige in the army, not only would the alliance of heroes be resolved, but half of Xiangyang City would also collapse instantly. Therefore, he placed all his bets on
the third match.

Huang Rong looked at me questioningly, and I nodded to indicate that I had no problem with it. Huang Rong nodded and said, "In that case, we'll call it a draw
. Miss Long, please return and rest."

Seeing that Xiaolongnu, at the age of fifteen (and appearing young), had actually defeated a renowned master from India who had been fighting for many years, leaving him powerless to retaliate and forced
to cower in self-defense, the assembled heroes cheered and celebrated another victory for the Central Plains martial arts world, a blow to the Mongols' pride.

Xiaolongnu calmly withdrew her hand, sheathed her two swords, and, ignoring the cheers and congratulations of the heroes, returned to her seat
. Before she could even settle in, the women and members of the Quanzhen Sect surrounded her, asking all sorts of questions.

The Golden Wheel Monk was the first to appear. He took out his golden wheel, waiting for Guo Jing to come down and fight. But then a young man in tight-fitting clothes
walked towards him carrying a huge iron sword, finally standing opposite him.

"Hahahaha..." The crowd erupted in laughter. Dwarf Lion Lei Meng laughed loudly, saying, "You Mongols range from
thirty to forty or fifty, then to sixty, each one older than the last. Our Central Plains martial arts world is full of talent, the younger generation
surpassing the older. Look at these Mongol Tartars, they're practically living to a dog's death!" His words rhymed, and
another . An old man shook his head and chuckled, "This is Chief Huang's plan. This young man was clearly sent by her
to humiliate the Golden Wheel Monk. Even though the young man lost, our Central Plains has one win, one draw, and one loss—nothing significant. The Mongols' plan to provoke us
failed, and they lost face greatly. It'll be said that Mongolia's elite forces are all out there, and Mongolian advisors can only
fight our twenty- or thirty-year-old youths to barely manage a draw. Chief Huang's plan kills several birds with one stone; it's truly ingenious!" The old man gave a thumbs-up in praise.
Another said, "That's not all. In my opinion, this 'neither win nor lose' demonstrates the magnanimity of our nation of etiquette and shows the demeanor of
a great general ." At this time, the Song and Mongol armies had not yet fully engaged in war, and in the larger context, they still needed to maintain appearances. Therefore, not harming the reputation of both countries
made Huang Rong's grasp of the situation even more remarkable. However, no one knew that this plan was actually my doing. Another said,
"You don't know, this person is Chief Huang's top disciple, Yang Guo, also known as Young Hero Yang. He is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also the third-ranked scholar in this imperial
examination . Do you understand what a third-ranked scholar is? He is a true all-rounder in both literature and martial arts!" Someone else retorted, "Looking at his
age, he's only around twenty. Even if he practiced martial arts from the womb, he definitely couldn't match half the old monk's skill. How can we fight this battle?"

While the crowd chattered amongst themselves, the most skilled martial artists present naturally heard their discussions.
Huang Yaoshi nodded slightly, smiling as he looked at his daughter. Huang Rong and her father exchanged a smile, seemingly unconcerned about my defeat,
before turning to observe my situation on the field.

In contrast, the Golden Wheel Monk was furious. His group was undeniably powerful, yet they had been humiliated beyond
words, their defeat utterly humiliating. Before the battle even began, his opponent had already secured an invincible position; victory would be undignified,
defeat even more shameful. He had roamed the Tibetan borderlands and deserts for decades, and had never felt so frustrated. More importantly, my unexpected appearance
had thwarted his plans, catching him completely off guard. He thought to himself, "Let me kill this brat on the field; it will at
least ease my anger and the resentment of this humiliation."

Suddenly, a small figure emerged from beside Lei Meng, standing on the front table and laughing loudly, "Old monk, you're
so old, surely your 'turtle kung fu' is better than that black devil's? Come, let me see where your turtle shell is!" Everyone
burst into laughter.

I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. The newcomer was none other than an old acquaintance—the daughter of the owner of the Autumn Wind gambling den, the
girl nicknamed Manman. A decisive battle concerning the fate of the Central Plains martial arts world had finally devolved into a farce. Seeing the Golden Wheel Monk's eyes bloodshot, I
secretly became wary, lest he suddenly attack.

Sure enough, in his rage, the Golden Wheel Monk pulled out an iron wheel from his robes, secretly using his internal energy to send it flying. This force was incredibly swift
; the wheel pierced the air silently, yet carried a terrifying aura of death.

Lei Meng and the girl Manman beside him hadn't expected the monk to possess such power.
Although he was terrified by this irresistible wrath of heaven, unable to move. Seeing the blade about to slice them in half at the waist,
the little girl closed her eyes in fear, awaiting her death. Those around them cried out in alarm, but it was too late to grab them.

With a clang, Manman cautiously opened her eyes. She saw she was still alive, while the old monk's iron wheel had been thrown
into the air, swinging wildly. The iron ball inside the wheel collided with it, making a rattling sound. Young Master Yang's iron sword was
stuck upside down in the ground in front of her. She realized it was Yang who had thrown the sword, intercepting the wheel and saving her. Overjoyed at her
narrow escape, she knelt on the table, her legs weak. She wanted to say a few words of thanks, but her teeth chattered, and she couldn't utter
a complete sentence.

I came over and took the Xuan Tie sword and iron wheel, then helped her up, saying, "Manman, is that you, my little girl? You're getting bolder and bolder
. Did I scare you?"

Manman then remembered that she had just been through hell, and she burst into tears, clinging to my neck:
"Brother Yang, you scared me to death!"

I awkwardly turned to look at the women, seeing their unfriendly expressions, and quickly let go of the girl, saying, "You're a grown-up now, don't act
like a child anymore. Who did you come with? Go back now."

The little girl then realized she was already a fourteen-year-old young lady, and that embracing a young man in public was truly inappropriate
. She gradually stopped crying and ran back to the Bamboo Flower Gang leader.

I patted Lei Meng and said, "Brother Lei, it's commendable that you dared to rebuke the bandit leader. Don't take the rest to heart."
It was as if was understandable. Lei Meng thought about it and agreed. He knew the other party was highly skilled,
yet he still dared to provoke them, which was brave of him. The other party's ambush, disregarding their status, was shameless. He had no shame at all.
Thinking this, he bowed and thanked me before retreating back into the crowd.

The Golden Wheel Monk had clearly seen me throw my sword to save someone. My sword whistled through the air, weighing at least sixty or seventy pounds. My
throw was swift and powerful, demonstrating astonishing wrist strength. From my angle, the throw didn't injure Lei Meng; it merely
grazed the wheel with the spine, sending the iron wheel flying into the air. The iron sword curled back halfway and embedded itself in the rocky ground. That power and skill alone were enough to
overpower any opponent he faced.

I expressionlessly tossed the iron wheel back to the Golden Wheel Monk and said, "Old monk, shall we begin?"

The Golden Wheel Monk retrieved the wheel, shook it, and said "please," not attacking first but waiting for me to strike. I
didn't hold back , pressing forward relentlessly. This was my first direct confrontation with a top-tier master. My Yang family spear and sword techniques, infused with the intent of the Xuan
Tie sword, surged with murderous intent. Seeing my high spirits and lightning-fast, earth-shattering attacks, the Golden Wheel Monk dared not be
careless. He took out another three-foot silver wheel from his robes and handed it to his left hand. With a resounding clang, my sword clashed with the two wheels, producing
a deafening metallic clang. The Golden Wheel Monk's moves were simple and unadorned, wide and sweeping, not complex in form, yet containing countless variations,
surprisingly remarkably similar to the swordsmanship I had comprehended. After exchanging blows for over ten moves, both had a better understanding of each other's strength and
couldn't help but feel a slight sense of mutual respect.

"Brother Yao, this lad has improved quite a bit since we were on Mount Hua," Hong Qigong chuckled.

Huang Yaoshi poured himself a cup of wine and said, "Brother Qi is quite right. He's become more confident in his attacks and is gradually showing the demeanor of a master."
Although he had beaten me a few times, it didn't affect Huang Yaoshi's assessment of me; he thought to himself that this lad would surely become a grandmaster before he turned
thirty .

The Old Urchin laughed, "Just you wait, there's more fun to come. Yesterday, he beat me so badly I almost wet myself."

Huang Yaoshi and Hong Qigong nearly dropped their wine cups, wondering if the kid had mastered some strange new technique
. They couldn't help but feel a bit expectant.

Guo Jing, on the other hand, was extremely pleased with his nephew's growth. Although I wasn't as obedient as before, he
was still very proud of my progress.

The two's brilliant exchange drew praise from the assembled masters. They vaguely sensed the danger in the arena and thought
that if it were them, they would probably be defeated in less than ten moves, while the young man before them could maintain a stalemate. The younger generation
was puzzled, but seeing that I, at such a young age, was fighting so brilliantly against the First National Teacher of Mongolia, they all cheered. Among the disciples of the Huashan Sect
, Liu Tianzheng's face changed color. He recalled how he had once used alcohol to embarrass others, and how I had already given him face by not letting him
humiliate . He also remembered that he had spent a year in meditation on the Cliff of Contemplation, hoping
to regain face today, but now he realized how ridiculous his idea was... He could only slightly turn his head to look at Cheng Ying, who was watching the battle with
a smile , and couldn't help but sigh before continuing to observe the situation.

Suddenly, the Golden Wheel Monk let out a strange roar, and the power of his Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill erupted violently, causing the aura around him to stagnate. In the past,
when he unleashed his Golden Wheel, he would lock onto the enemy's aura in no time, greatly restricting their movements. I, who had been meditating in the mountain torrent,
was most sensitive to the direction of the airflow around me. I sensed the change in the aura and secretly praised the Golden Wheel Monk as a peerless talent. He
had already reached the edge of the realm through his own exploration, no wonder he was so powerful in the end in the original story. Thinking that this was only the ninth level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill
, I wondered what it would be like if someone could truly cultivate it to the eleventh level of perfection.
This stirred a surge of curiosity within me.

In a battle, how could I allow myself to be distracted? Seeing a flicker of uncertainty in my eyes, the Golden Wheel Monk knew my mind was elsewhere . In a
clash of titans, distraction was unacceptable. He immediately threw his twin wheels, which flew past me, spinning and striking the back of my head, blocking my
retreat. He then took out a bronze wheel and a tin wheel from his robes, holding them high and thrusting them horizontally towards my chest, aiming for my center, creating a pincer attack
. Knowing the moment had come, I advanced instead of retreating, taking a step forward and unleashing my sword from under my arm—the very same
deadly strike that would scatter anyone who tried to block it.

Having roamed the Northwest for decades, the Golden Wheel Monk's innate, wild instincts told him of the danger of this strike. He retreated with all his might, raising
his twin wheels high in front of him to try and block my attack. But how could I let him have his way with a single strike? I raised my sword and slashed upwards,
cleaving the bronze and tin wheels into four pieces. The sword's trajectory remained unshaken, slicing across the Golden Wheel Monk's chest,
spraying blood everywhere. The Golden Wheel Monk cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground. I sheathed my Xuan Tie sword behind my back, using a move reminiscent of Han Xin carrying his sword to deflect the golden and silver wheels
. However, a tremendous force still forced me to stagger forward. I felt a concussion in my head, and I leaned on my sword, wary of
the Golden Wheel Monk's sudden attack.

"Brother Yang!" Xiao Man squeezed through the crowd again, intentionally or unintentionally bumping into the Golden Wheel Monk who was kneeling and
panting , and came over to help me up.

"Don't come any closer, are you trying to die? Go back!" My vision was still impaired, and hearing the girl's cry, I couldn't help but curse in desperation
, shielding her in front of me.

"This battle is my defeat!" The Golden Wheel Monk looked at his scattered weapons, the wound on his chest over two inches
deep. If not for his leather armor, that sword would have ripped him open. Severely wounded, he was no longer able to fight. If
the young layman before him followed up with another sword strike, he would be finished. He stood up shakily, confessing his defeat, and then retreated back
into the ranks to have his wounds treated.

I was also about to retreat when I suddenly heard a gust of wind behind me, and the heroes shouted, "Hero Yang, beware of a sneak attack!" "Young Hero Yang,
someone is attacking from behind!"

Two sharp "swoosh" sounds followed by two clangs of metal clashing. I didn't turn around, but instead unleashed
a stunning sword strike. Xiao Xiangzi, Ni Moxing, and the Huogong Toutuo, who hadn't seen clearly from a distance, were horrified. The Golden Wheel Monk's defeat was
inexplicable , but his wounds were undeniable. They were horrified, thinking they must seize this opportunity to eliminate me to prevent future trouble. The group of
laborers, including the monk, Xiao Xiangzi, Nimo Xing, and Yin Kexi, exchanged glances and launched a surprise attack. However, Yin Kexi was cunning and, at the crucial moment...
Surprisingly, no one made a move. Xiao Xiangzi and Ni Moxing threw their weapons, while the laborer, known for his eccentric, violent, cruel, and bloodthirsty nature,
personally attacked, his withered right claw reaching for the back of my head to
ensure

a complete victory. At this moment, Guo Jing, Huang Rong, and the others were still far away. Only Huang Yaoshi personally intervened, managing to intercept the two weapons, but he was unable to free his hands to stop the laborer. "Ah...!" The laborer, clutching his severed arm, collapsed to the ground, screaming and rolling in agony. He had committed many evil deeds and had encountered
me, the god of death. He didn't know that my greatest strength was speed. My powerful sword energy surged, cutting through the space between the laborer's middle and
ring fingers, slicing his right arm in two. Only three fingers and a bone remained connected to his body; the rest was completely severed. His four disciples quickly helped their master back
amidst the shouts and curses of the crowd, and no one dared to take advantage of the situation anymore.
Seeing the situation was bad, Xiao Xiangzi and Ni Moxing rushed out of the hall without
saying goodbye and ran away in a flash.

I covered the little girl's eyes and escorted her back to our seats. Fu Mei knew her, so I entrusted her to Fu
Mei's care. Fu Mei asked first, "Big brother, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just a slight shock, nothing serious. I should thank Grandpa for saving me, otherwise I would have been in danger today."
I shook my head, and seeing that Cheng Ying had come over from the table, I said something, and the women who had gathered around were relieved.

Huang Yaoshi snorted, not showing any gratitude on the surface. I smiled and gestured for Huang Rong and Guo Jing to continue hosting, not to worry about me.
Huang Rong stood up and said loudly, "We have always tolerated and exercised restraint towards your repeated sneak attacks, but
now that the duel is over, we request that you provide a reasonable explanation."

In the Mongol ranks, their leader, Huo Du, could barely speak; the Golden Wheel Monk and the Worker Monk were seriously injured; Nimo Xing and Xiao Xiangzi
had fled; only Yin Kexi remained, possessing any standing to speak. This wealthy merchant from the Western Regions drew his dagger and, with a "snap," severed half of the Worker Monk's
arm. The Worker Monk screamed again and fainted. "As for Xiao Xiangzi and Nimo Xing,
all of us here are utterly disgusted by their shameless behavior. We will pursue this matter to the end. As for their weapons, we'll leave them to
you all as witnesses." He handled the situation this way, shifting all the blame onto Nimo Xing
and Xiao Xiangzi, with whom he had a strained relationship. The weapons, originally captured, were now presented as evidence in his words. He even used the
useless to exchange for everyone's passes. Although the heroes of the Central Plains were furious at his precise calculations, they couldn't find
fault with him.

Yin Kexi, a seasoned businessman, was both bold and meticulous. He knew that if he hadn't intervened earlier and returned to the Golden Wheel Monk to be accused of
shirking his duties, he would be in deep trouble. But now the situation had changed. If he could use his silver
tongue to lead everyone to safety, and then explain to the Khan that he had only acted prudently, knowing the situation was hopeless, and
thus endured humiliation to leave everyone a way out, he could succeed. When the Golden Wheel Monk is seriously injured, the servant monk's power is greatly diminished, and Xiao Xiangzi and Nimo Xing
deserted the battle, his own status will definitely rise significantly. He might even become a Protector General. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.
He had no sense of shame and slowly walked forward, intending to pick up the two intact wheels that the Golden Wheel Monk had lost. Before he could even
pick up the wheels, he felt that he couldn't lift them. Looking up, he saw that I was standing on them.

"Young brother, could you please lift your foot?" I said with a grin.

"Hehe, I happen to be missing two magical artifacts for warding off evil spirits at home. I wonder if the master would be willing to part with them?" I
called out to the Golden Wheel Monk from a distance.

"Hmph..." The Golden Wheel Monk, still shaken by his injury, dared not say no. He could only snort coldly to express his indignation
.

Seeing that the master had nothing to say, Yin Kexi could only hand over both wheels to me.

I took the wheel, pulled Yin Kexi aside, and said with a smile, "Brother Yin, I've heard you're a wealthy merchant from the Western Regions.
How about we make another deal?"

Yin Kexi was taken aback, wondering what trick I was up to this time, and asked, "What kind of business do you want to do with me, Brother Yang?"

"I'll sell you some antidote." I smiled and took out a small porcelain bottle, waving it in front of me. It was the antidote for the Jade Bee Needle.

Yin Kexi's eyes lit up. He had seen that even the learned Golden Wheel Monk was helpless against the poisoned needle, so its toxicity could only
be neutralized by a unique antidote. He had just been thinking about how to trick me out of the antidote, save Huo Du, and return to the Khan as
another great achievement. Seeing my leisurely manner, he knew he would definitely have to bleed a little and give me some benefits. But thinking that he could
save the life of Prince Mongke's trusted cousin, and that Mongke would surely reward him tenfold, he no longer hesitated. He reached out and
handed over the dagger he had just used, saying, "This is my family's heirloom sword, the favorite sword of King Gulan Jingge. In your Central Plains parlance,
it can cut through copper without bending it, and sever even silk. I wonder..." Yin Kexi gritted his teeth and handed me the two-foot-
long short sword he had used to chop the head monk's servant.

I took the sword and saw that it was ornately decorated and had a beautiful curve, knowing it was a rather extraordinary sword. However, I simply
turned my head to the side, indicating that it wasn't enough.

Yin Kexi gritted his teeth, took off three ruby rings from his finger, and stuffed them into my hand. I still didn't speak.

Having no other choice, Yin Kexi untied the golden dragon whip wrapped around his waist and handed it over, saying, "My little ancestor, I
've already stripped you naked. Can you lower the price?"

Knowing I'd gone far enough, I gathered all the treasures into my arms and handed him the medicine bottle, saying, "Just take it orally,
the effect will be immediate. Brother Yin, you don't need to look so gloomy. Whatever you give me, just go back and extort money from the Mongols.
I guarantee you'll return with a full load. It's a win-win situation, don't you think?"

Yin Kexi's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "I didn't expect Brother Yang to be such a shrewd businessman."

I smiled and said, "Not necessarily, but perhaps there will be opportunities to cooperate in the future." I didn't say much, just made a preliminary introduction.
For a shrewd businessman like Yin Kexi, who was always looking for profit, I believed there would definitely be opportunities to cooperate with him in the future. If we could take this opportunity to
open up smuggling routes in the Northwest, Xinye's finances would definitely improve significantly.

Yin Kexi kept calculating in his mind, trying to guess the meaning behind my words.

Seeing that the matter was settled, I bowed to him and took my leave. Yin Kexi gave Huo Du the antidote, and its effect was immediate.
Although Huo Du was still listless, the numbness and itching had subsided. Huo Du noticed that all his treasures were gone and asked
what had happened. Yin Kexi told him the truth, and Huo Du was extremely grateful.

I suddenly said, "Brother Ma, Brother Guangzuo, you'd better come over quickly; our act is over."

The burly Ma Guangzuo was taken aback, seeing the Mongols around him glaring at him. Though simple-minded, he wasn't stupid, and he shouted,
"What nonsense are you spouting, brat? I don't even know you!"

"If you hadn't sent the message, how could we have been prepared? We would have been utterly defeated today. This great victory is yours
to claim !" I continued with a laugh.

"Slap!" The disciple of the head monk, known for his volatile temper, slapped him on the shoulder upon hearing that he was a traitor.

"Damn it! They say a barking dog doesn't bite, but why are you biting like a mad dog?" Ma Guangzuo, thick-skinned and
unprepared, was caught off guard and injured by the sneak attack. He raised his fist in retaliation.

Another commotion erupted among the crowd, and some were already preparing to rush to Ma Guangzuo's aid, threatening to escalate into a chaotic brawl.
Huo Du hurriedly shouted, "Stop!" The four monks retreated. Although Huo Du felt that my divisive tactic was rather rudimentary,
he suddenly realized that his side, having hastily assembled so many strong fighters, had suffered a crushing defeat. There must be a traitor
who had tipped them off . He glared resentfully at me and the chief monks, then gave Ma Guangzu a fierce look, and said bitterly, "Let's go!"

Having reached this point, the Mongol side was completely defeated and had no choice but to slink away, their initial arrogance gone. Meanwhile,
cheers erupted throughout Lu Family Manor, applauding the complete victory of me, Xiaolongnü, and Li Chuqing. Hundreds of people surrounded the three of them,
discussing the victory. Some said Li Chuqing had defeated Huo Du cleanly and decisively. Others said Xiaolongnü's lightness skill was unparalleled,
and her combined swordplay was terrifying, leaving the top Indian fighter utterly helpless. They were even more amazed by my domineering and mysterious sword strike
, surrounding me and bombarding me with questions about how I had done it. I knew they weren't trying to steal my skills, just curious
and excited, but I excused myself by saying I wasn't feeling well. Many other martial artists were also gathered
around Ma Guangzuo,
clinking glasses and chatting. This burly man still didn't understand what was going on, but with the enthusiastic invitations of the guests, he didn't stand on ceremony and began to eat and drink heartily, quickly becoming one of them.

In this battle, the Central Plains martial arts world achieved a great victory, capturing several weapons from Mongolian masters, including the Golden Wheel Monk's golden and silver double wheels,
Xiao Xiangzi 's mourning staff, Nimo Xing's iron snake nine-section staff, and Huo Du's mechanical folding fan.
I didn't bring out Yin Kexi's golden dragon whip and treasured sword because they were traded privately. Huang Rong gestured for the weapons to be circulated among the heroes, and cheers erupted
wherever .

Because I had genuinely defeated the Mongol National Preceptor, the Golden Wheel Monk, my reputation instantly surpassed that of the second-generation masters of the Quanzhen Sect,
rivaling that of my master, Guo Jing, and the Five Greats and other martial arts legends present.

I was kept at the banquet until late at night when it ended. On my way back to my courtyard, I overheard two familiar
voices talking in a secluded spot.

"Junior Brother Yin, your denials are useless. I will report to Uncle Qiu, and whether it's fabricated or not, that's for
him to decide." It was Zhao Zhijing. I couldn't help but grin. This was interesting. Zhao Zhijing was now targeting Yin Zhiping. I
quietly hid behind a nearby artificial hill to listen to their conversation without disturbing them.

Yin Zhiping said, "Why are you forcing me like this? Do you think I don't know? You just want to become the head
disciple , so you can become the leader of my sect in the future." Zhao Zhijing sneered, "You have violated the rules and broken the great precepts of my sect. How can you still be
the head disciple?" Yin Zhiping asked, "What great precepts have I broken?" Zhao Zhijing shouted, "The fourth precept of the Quanzhen Sect, the precept
against lust !"

I hid behind the artificial hill and secretly saw Yin Zhiping's face turn ashen. His already bloodless face looked even
paler in the moonlight. He said in a deep voice, "What precept against lust?" After saying these four words, he reached out and pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword. Zhao Zhijing said, "Ever since you
saw that Little Dragon Girl, you've been absent-minded and lost in thought
. You've probably imagined holding her in your arms, being intimate and affectionate, doing whatever you want. Isn't that already a violation of the precept against lust? But I feel sorry for you. You
saw how intimate she was with Yang Guo during the day; they've probably already consummated their relationship and she's pregnant. Your infatuation has been nothing
but a mirage. How laughable and pathetic."

I thought to myself, "Bullshit! That bastard Zhao Zhijing can't shake his filthy ways. He knows about the entanglement between me and Little Dragon Girl, and he described
Yin Zhiping 's depraved thoughts in such detail. Are you two even Taoist priests? I'll knock a few more
teeth out of you later."

Yin Zhiping stammered, "Nonsense! How could you know what I'm thinking? Little Dragon Girl is pure and virtuous, and Yang Guo
has shown immense kindness to my Quanzhen sect and to you, Zhao. How can you speak so recklessly?"

Zhao Zhijing sneered, "I naturally don't know what you're thinking, but do you not allow others to hear your sleep-talking?
Do you not allow others to see you writing Little Dragon Girl's name on paper again and again? Today, before the grand banquet, you repeatedly
drew your sword, were you doing that for your two senior uncles?" Yin Zhiping swayed slightly, remaining silent. Zhao Zhijing,
smug , took out a piece of white paper from his robes, waved it a few times, and said, "Is this your handwriting? Let's have our sect leader, Senior Uncle Ma, and
Senior Uncle Qiu identify it." Yin Zhiping could no longer restrain himself; with a whoosh, his longsword was drawn, thrusting straight at Zhao Zhijing's right shoulder.

Zhao Zhijing dodged to the side, stuffed the white paper into his robes, and sneered, "You want to kill me to silence me? It won't be that easy."

Yin Zhiping remained silent, thrusting three times with his sword, but Zhao Zhijing dodged each one. On the fourth thrust, with a clang,
Zhao Zhijing, having nowhere to dodge, also drew his sword, and the two clashed, immediately engaging in combat beside the artificial hill. Both were third-
generation disciples of the Quanzhen School, one the chief disciple of Qiu Chuji, the other the chief disciple of Wang Chuyi, their martial arts skills roughly equal. Yin Zhiping gritted his teeth and
fought fiercely, while Zhao Zhijing, amidst the fierce battle, occasionally hurled sarcastic remarks, intending to provoke his opponent and cause him to make a mistake.

I saw Yin Zhiping lose his composure, his energy dissipating, and his attacks frequently faltering, allowing Zhao Zhijing to firmly suppress him.
Zhao Zhijing , unleashed a torrent of vulgarities, insulting and provoking Yin Zhiping, making it even harder for him to concentrate on the fight. Although I
despise Yin Zhiping, that filthy, lecherous old otaku; I loathe Zhao Zhijing even more, that despicable,
shameless, and vulgar scoundrel. A mischievous thought crossed my mind, and I shot out, landing behind Zhao Zhijing.

Yin Zhiping, seeing me appear out of nowhere, was utterly astonished, unable to mount a move, staring blankly at me.
Zhao Zhijing, though sensing the strange atmosphere, saw Yin Zhiping's sudden hesitation and knew he couldn't miss this opportunity. He thrust his sword forward, intending to wound
Yin Zhiping's right hand. Before he could even raise his right hand, he suddenly felt someone grab the back of his neck, and then his waist loosened
as I ripped off his Taoist robe. He himself flew like a cannonball into the lotus pond beside the artificial hill.

I noticed Yin Zhiping seemed a little embarrassed, but I didn't harbor much ill will towards him. Everyone appreciates beauty, after all.
Little Dragon Girl isn't my lover, and I wouldn't stop others from pursuing her. I smiled at Yin Zhiping and tossed Zhao Zhijing's Taoist robe to him.
"I just came out to relieve myself and ran into him spouting nonsense, so I couldn't resist teaching him a lesson. When he wakes up, Uncle Yin, don't
tell him it was me."
I said to Yin Zhiping with a smile as I watched Zhao Zhijing being kicked away, his big head hitting the artificial hill and knocking him unconscious.

I strolled towards my own courtyard, ignoring the dazed Yin Zhiping. As soon as I entered, I was surprised to find
the little girl, Manman, there too. "Girl, what are you doing here?" I asked.

Before she could answer, Third Aunt, carrying a basin of hot water, helped me take off my shoes and socks and put my feet in the basin.
Third Aunt smiled at each other, comfortably enjoying the warmth of the water.

"Here, take this!" Qi Manman took a small cloth bag from her bosom. Fu Mei, Wu Shuang, Cheng Ying, and Li Chuqing all
crowded closer to examine it, asking, "Manman, what is this?"

"I don't know, I took it from that old monk," Manman replied, sticking out her tongue.

I almost fainted, saying, "You're too bold, girl! How dare you run out and bump into him?
Do you know that if he wasn't injured, he could have killed you with a single finger?"

Qi Manman turned to me and made a face, saying, "I'm fine now, it's okay, I know what I'm doing." As she
spoke, she unbuttoned the cloth bag.

I thought to myself that this girl's skill at scavenging was almost on par with Zhu Zicong, but her boldness was truly astounding. I
couldn't help but check myself to see if anything was missing.

Qi Manman opened the cloth bag and saw a scripture, two medicine bottles, and a brocade box inside. Seeing the ornate decoration of the brocade box,
she couldn't resist opening it.

"Don't move, be careful of traps!" I quickly stopped them, running over barefoot, splashing water everywhere. I knew
the thing in this box was no ordinary creature; it was a poisonous spider that lived on the summit of the Great Snow Mountain, known as one of the three most poisonous creatures in the world.
I couldn't remember its exact name, but it was definitely on the Golden Wheel Monk. I told the women to step back, and carefully opened
the box myself. Sure enough, the poisonous spider shot out, which I caught with my sleeve, grabbed a stool, and smashed it to death. I then took off my clothes,
rolled into a ball, and threw them into the brazier to burn. I thought it was best not to let such a harmful creature remain in the world.

"This is the Colorful Poisonous Spider of the Great Snow Mountain, one of the three most potent poisons in the world. Luckily, I didn't let you touch this box. And you,
I've told you so many times, but you never learn. If you do it again, see if I save you!" I gave the spider
a name based on its colorful appearance, and then launched into a tirade against Qi Manman. The women were all shaken by what they heard, especially Qi Manman. Seeing such a slimy
, hairy, venomous creature, the thought of being bitten would be terrifying.

After dealing with the spider, I opened the scripture. It was in Tibetan, which I couldn't understand, but I remembered
Hao Datong , and thought I could help translate it. I uncorked several medicine bottles, finding only common wound medicines and antidotes,
and was slightly disappointed. I thought to myself, "How can this old monk be so poor? He doesn't even keep any treasures on him." Then I remembered Yin Kexi
's Golden Dragon Whip, turned around, retrieved it, and handed it to Li Chuqing. "Chuqing, this whip is for you." Li Chuqing had been traveling the martial world for over ten
years, and her skill with the whisk was exceptional. So, after abandoning her previous martial arts, she switched to practicing the White Dragon
Whip technique was indeed lacking a good soft whip, so she happily accepted it.

Li Chuqing took the Golden Dragon Whip and examined it closely with her sisters. The whip was adorned with jewels, diamonds, and
white jade , attracting envious glances from the women.

I smiled and said, "I just remembered that Chuqing hasn't had a suitable weapon, and since she practices the White Dragon Whip technique, I naturally
gave it to her. If you're still eyeing it, when we get home, I'll take you to my eldest brother's Baoyuezhai to see if there's
anything suitable." I thought it was time to prepare for the wedding and the dowry. I still had three gemstone rings and
a box of jewelry from the Yelü family in my hand, thinking of melting some down and asking the Mo family's gem craftsmen to recast them into suitable designs.

After seeing Qi Manman off, the courtyard returned to its usual quiet. Nothing more was said that night. My wives and I were intimate until dawn before I went to
the main hall to discuss the book with Hao Datong.

The alliance ultimately recommended Guo Jing and Huang Rong as the vice leaders of the martial arts world. With the matter settled, the assembled heroes, preoccupied with personal matters,
took leave and returned home. Meanwhile, nearly five hundred people decided to follow Guo Jing back to Xiangyang to fight against the Mongol invasion. Most were
lone swordsmen and scions of powerful families, with a few representing local underworld figures from the Xiangyang area. I saw
Qi Manman's father at the Qiufeng gambling den, following a middle-aged man. It seemed that after the fall of the Jin dynasty, the Bamboo Flower Gang had lost its backing,
while the Beggar Clan's power in the martial arts world was at its zenith. If they didn't surrender, the consequences were predictable. Perhaps Qi Manman's behavior
yesterday was forced upon her by her father. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel anger. To protect a rogue group,
he would even betray his own daughter—truly a heartless and callous man. So, I didn't even bother to greet them. Only in
the fleeting moment as I brushed past the two from the Bamboo Flower Gang did I notice a flash of disappointment on Qi Wanguan's face.

I found Hao Datong and inquired about the scriptures. Hao Datong quickly translated the text on the cover, which read: "Dragon Elephant
Prajna Skill." I was overjoyed, thinking it was exactly what I needed. Hao Datong said he would work with Liu and Qiu, and
the translation would be completed in about three months. I said I would make two copies of the scriptures, one to keep at Chongyang Palace, and the other for myself and everyone
to study together. Hao Datong agreed, and the matter was temporarily put aside.

I then went to say goodbye to Guo Jing and Huang Rong. After all, I had been away from Xinye for a long time, and once this matter was settled, I needed to return as soon as possible. Otherwise, if Shi Songzhi suddenly
decided me, I would be in serious trouble. Guo Jing was in the front hall; only Huang Rong was in the courtyard. I
told her about my situation.

"Well, then you should go back. I've only been gone for about ten days. With Zhenyuan and Mo San guarding things, nothing should go wrong.
But it's good to go back sooner rather than later. Who knows, I might give you a little surprise when you get back." Huang Rong's eyes were filled with reluctance,
but there was nothing she could do. However, at the end, she revealed her usual charming and lovely demeanor.

"Don't worry, once I've finished dealing with things, you'll all be heading back to Xiangyang by then. Maybe I can even get there before you."
Seeing her keeping me in suspense piqued my curiosity, but I knew she wanted me to see it for myself, so she definitely wouldn't tell me.
Therefore, I didn't ask any more questions.

"Hmm..."

"Take good care of yourself."

"Hmm... and what's the deal with that Ma Guangzuo?" Huang Rong asked.

"Haha, a real rascal. Although his martial arts aren't great and he's rather simple-minded, I tricked him into joining the army
. He should be a fierce general on the battlefield." I said with a laugh.

"But what you did was a bit too much... wouldn't his family suffer?" Huang Rong shook her head.

"It's alright, I know his background. He's unattached and not a bad person. He's Han Chinese himself. Getting him to be
loyal to us is a piece of cake." I laughed.

"Well, as long as you've thought it through." Huang Rong knew I was eager to recruit talent, so she stopped complaining.

"Oh, right, there's also the matter of arranging the wedding." I said.

"Hmm, let's take care of it when we get back. The elders are all here." Huang Rong sighed softly, clearly quite conflicted.
“Third Sister’s identity is practically public now, why don’t you try to persuade her?”

I sighed. “You’re so smart, don’t you understand? She’s deliberately not participating because she doesn’t want you to be upset.”

“I know, that’s why I don’t want her to have any regrets,” Huang Rong sighed.

“Alright, she has the heart for you, so just accept her kindness. That’s true sisterly affection.”

“It’s all because of you, you naughty boy,” Huang Rong said with a smile.

“Oh, right, there’s something else I need to report to Master,” I said with a smile.

“What is it? Why are you so serious?” Huang Rong asked.

“I’m planning to take Qi Manman, that little girl from yesterday, as my disciple,” I said.

Huang Rong looked at me strangely and asked, “The child is a good one, clever and bold, but you don’t have
any ulterior motives, do you?”

“Please… a thirteen-year-old girl, you’re really slandering my character!” I said, annoyed.

“You even slept with Master…” Huang Rong said in a very low, resentful voice.

"I swear to God, I really didn't mean that! I just wanted to teach her a lesson so she could scout out enemy positions and steal some military documents later,
wouldn't that be great?"

Huang Rong nodded, signaling me to continue.

"You don't know how bold this girl is. Yesterday she dared to steal something from the Golden Wheel Monk..." I recounted the incident and the stolen
Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu manual.

Huang Rong listened, somewhat amused, and said, "That child is certainly a bit too bold, but she does resemble your Uncle Guo
's second master."

"That's why I'm worried that if the Golden Wheel Monk figures things out, he might send someone to infiltrate Xiangyang to cause her trouble."

"Well, then let's leave it at that. You can handle it accordingly. However, two principles: this child must be properly disciplined, and as a thief, she must
maintain good character."

"Yes, I will pay more attention to this aspect of her education." I used to be most afraid of political commissars and instructors, but from them, I
still learned a lot of tricks for brainwashing people and maintaining the purity of the revolutionary ranks, just like
the approach I'm now having Chen Zhenyuan implement in the army.

"Secondly, keep your distance from the Bamboo Flower Gang. Li Dazui and Qi Wanguan are both scoundrels; don't let them get involved."

"Yes, I know that even better. They even risked their own daughters to curry favor with our Beggars' Gang. We can't
use such scoundrels." I nodded.

"Alright, you should hurry on your way. Let Fu'er stay with me for a few days." Huang Rong sighed slightly. With a
father who was like a ghost, who could suddenly appear and startle us at any moment, she really didn't dare to be too intimate with me.

I had already thought of this. I knew that these older folks liked to eavesdrop on thieves, so I didn't dare to be too presumptuous.
"Okay, then I'll be going." I looked at the sky and it was almost noon, so I bid farewell to Huang Rong and, with the other women, Xiaolongnu, and Qi Manman
in tow, headed towards Xinye, leaving only a sullen Fu'er behind.

Seeing her daughter's low spirits, Huang Rong went over to comfort her, saying, "Alright, you'll see her in a couple of days. Wouldn't it be better
to stay home ?"

Fu Mei protested, "Mother—I'm not as unfilial as you say..."

Huang Rong smiled as she watched the departing procession, her heart feeling as if it had flown far away with her...

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