【Under the Great Tomorrow】(13-15)

Author: hui329 　　Published
: 2016/8/12 First 　　Post 　　Word 　　Count
: 　　24606
**************** 　　... The calculation is that Commander Mu Bin is in charge of the Northern Garrison Command. Those who like historical research can consider him as Weng Taibei 　　. Also, I'm currently worried about the sex scenes. Some say that writing it in a storybook style lacks immersion, while others say that going straight to sex lacks 　　emotional buildup and makes the characters too thin. The problem is that the current plot is too grand; if a character isn't quickly 　　resolved, their next appearance might be unexpected, and people might forget about them. Moreover, character development requires textual buildup. 　　If I post in a pornographic city, wouldn't it be unreasonable if every post didn't include some eroticism? Please give me your opinions. 　　************************************************************************************** 　　Chapter Thirteen: The Turmoil in the Martial World 　　The night was still as water, the mountains and forests silent. 　　Under the hazy moonlight, in a dense forest outside the city, Daoist Yuanzhen sat cross-legged under a large pine tree, meditating. He had been ordered 　　by his senior brother to lead the Eight Masters of Qingcheng to the capital, determined to obtain the Jade Doll. Unexpectedly, they had encountered 　　spies from their old nemesis, the Tang Clan, who tracked them out of the city and finally killed them in the forest. The Tang Clan had lost the initiative. Once he mastered the Jade 　　Doll's martial arts, he would avenge his master. 　　Suddenly, he heard a strange noise behind him and instinctively turned around. Two figures had appeared in the forest without him noticing. Yuanzhen's 　　heart skipped a beat; their silent appearance behind him suggested they were no ordinary people. 　　The two men in the forest seemed surprised to find someone else lurking there in the dead of night. One of them wore a 　　chillingly white human skin mask and asked, "Why have you led me here, sir?" 　　The other was completely shrouded in a black cloak, the hood obscuring most of his face, making his features impossible to discern. He simply 　　said calmly, "Are you Leng Yifu?" 　　"Indeed. Since you know my name, you must be no nobody. Why hide yourself like this 　　?" 　　"You yourself dare not reveal your true face in public, so why force me to?" 　　"I'm afraid you have no choice." 　　Leng Yifu said no more, leaping forward and reaching out to grab the man's face. 　　The man dodged to the side, his cloak billowing as he unleashed a double palm 　　strike aimed at Leng Yifu's vital chest. Leng Yifu took a deep breath, contracting his chest and abdomen to avoid the attack. He then executed a powerful kick, sending the man gliding five 　　feet away like a ghost before striking at Leng Yifu's ribs with a swift, knife-like palm. 　　With a soft groan, Leng Yifu twisted his waist at an incredible angle, turning around and unleashing five palm strikes and 　　thirteen kicks. The man's movements were elusive, circling Leng Yifu and parrying and striking, completely neutralizing the attack. 　　Enraged, Leng Yifu shifted his palms, striking left and right simultaneously, exhaling sharply as he unleashed a 　　powerful palm strike. The man, blocked by trees behind him, had nowhere to retreat but to take the blow head-on. 　　The man chuckled softly, then swung his palm horizontally. A domineering blade aura emanated from his hand, 　　cleaving through Leng Yifu's palm strike and heading straight for him. Leng Yifu soared into the air, the blade aura flying past his feet and striking 　　a large tree two zhang away behind him, embedding itself three inches into the wood as if cut by a knife. 　　The residual force of Leng Yifu's palm strike also knocked off the man's hood, revealing a square-faced, wide-mouthed, wrinkled, and 　　aged face. 　　Leng Yifu didn't look at the man, turning back to look at the mark on the tree and exclaiming, "Tianming Zhan, you are..." 　　But when he turned to look at the man's face, he hesitated, "You...you are...Du Wentian?" 　　The man gently stroked his face and slowly said, "Time is merciless, and the frost and snow have eroded it. Even Junior Brother can't recognize this face 　　anymore?" 　　"Junior Brother greets Third Senior Brother." Leng Yifu bowed respectfully, then raised his hand and wiped away the human skin mask from his face, revealing 　　a snow-white beard and white hair. 　　Du Wentian looked at Leng Yifu for a long time, then sighed, "You've grown old too." 　　"Thirty years have passed in a flash, I'm already seventy. How could I not be old?" Leng Yifu shook his head and smiled bitterly. 　　"Thirty years have passed. My Demonic Sect's Holy Hand Healer has become the renowned Divine Physician Mei Tuizhi, and now 　　the Demon God Leng Yifu who shakes the martial world. Things have truly changed." 　　"Senior Brother, please don't laugh at me. I have my own difficulties. Thirty years ago, Blackwood Cliff was destroyed, the Sun and Moon Envoys perished, 　　my brothers and sisters in the sect were scattered, and the martial arts techniques I copied from the Jade Doll were also lost..." 　　"You still practiced the Jade Doll. Do you remember what the Master said when he gave you the Jade Doll?" 　　"Of course I remember. I've loved studying medicine since I was a child. When my lord gave me the Jade Doll, he said that 　　the medical skills recorded within were worth learning, but I must never practice the martial arts on it, as there were great dangers involved. He said 　　there should be a thirteenth Jade Doll, which was lost in the Northern Yuan. Fifty years ago, I infiltrated the desert with the intention of finding the thirteenth doll. 　　Who would have thought that my lord would be ambushed on his return journey, and then the sect would be embroiled in endless battles with the martial arts world. Every day I would see my brothers die tragically, yet I 　　was powerless to help them because of my weak martial arts. What a bitter feeling that was! So I copied the martial arts recorded on the eight dolls onto silk and 　　practiced them day and night. But then Blackwood Cliff was suddenly attacked, and that silk was lost. How could the sect's divine skills fall into 　　the hands of others?" So I established Mei Family Manor with my two infant sons, earning a reputation as a divine physician and making friends with martial arts figures. Meanwhile, I 　　disguised myself as the demon god Leng Yifu, roaming the martial world gathering information. Until twenty years ago, Guo Qingyun and Cheng Feng of the Changfeng Escort Agency 　　escorted Yun Tengjiao, the master of Yun Family Manor, to seek medical help. He claimed to be seriously ill, but I knew immediately upon taking his pulse that his words 　　were untrue. I had suffered enough from the backlash of the Jade Doll over the years. His pulse was similar to mine, clearly a 　　sign of demonic possession. The only difference was that he lacked medical knowledge and didn't know how to balance and regulate his condition, making his condition much more serious than mine. Combined with the sudden rise to fame of the previously unknown 　　Yun Family Manor, with some busybodies even bestowing upon it the title of "Number One Manor Under Heaven," this further solidified my belief in its power.

I tried to figure it out, but he flatly denied it, so I said I was powerless and asked him to find another way. On his return journey, I disguised myself as Leng Yifu and
attacked him halfway. He had indeed practiced the Jade Doll technique. I killed him and his escorts, Guo Qingyun and Cheng Feng.
Having achieved my goal, Leng Yifu disappeared from then on…”
“Then why are you back in the martial world?”
“The backlash from these past years has become increasingly severe. If I don’t find a cure soon, I won’t live much longer. Remembering
what my lord did back then, the thirteenth doll might not be hidden in the surviving one in the palace. So, a few years ago, I presented the doll to
the palace to see if I could lure out the thirteenth doll.”
“These past years have been difficult for you,” Du Wentian sighed.
“What about you, Senior Brother Du?” Leng Yifu asked.
"Well, I was injured after the battle of Blackwood Cliff. I followed Senior Sister Qin for a while. You know her personality;
she sent me away not long after I recovered. When I saw her again, she had a female disciple with her..."
Leng Yifu smiled ambiguously. "That female disciple..."
Du Wentian also smiled. "That girl has good comprehension and talent, but her family suffered a great upheaval in her childhood, making her personality
a bit extreme. Senior Sister Qin took me and taught her martial arts for several years, and fearing she would be alone in the martial world, she
established the 'Tianyou Gang' to protect her..."
"Tianyou Gang? That girl is Sima Xiao. No wonder there are rumors in the martial world that Sima Xiao has homosexual tendencies, hehe."
"I'm just giving you a heads-up. You're too much bait. It doesn't matter how many small fry in the Tianyou Gang die,
but if you hurt Senior Sister Qin's mermaid, she'll kill you herself."
"Haha, I know, I know. After all, he's my own junior disciple. Don't worry, it's been so many years. Let's have a good
drink together." Without any apparent movement, the two disappeared into the night forest.
Yuan Zhen, panting heavily, realized his Daoist robe was soaked with sweat. He hadn't dared to breathe loudly
. Neither "Ghost Spirit" Du Wentian nor "Demon God" Leng Yifu were people he could handle
. Heavens, the Demonic Sect still had so many remnants! Cold sweat poured down his back. Suddenly, he snapped out of his daze
, pulling a brocade box from his robes. Inside was a strange, egg-shaped roly-poly toy, seemingly cast in iron, yet warm to the touch.
Yuan Zhen recalled the scene of his master entrusting it to him.
"Yuan Zhen, I'm going out to visit friends. I entrust this to your care." Master Yu Ling handed the brocade box from his sleeve
to the still-young Daoist Yuan Zhen.
"Master, what is this?" the still-young Daoist Yuan Zhen asked respectfully.
"Don't underestimate this thing. It fell from the Heavenly Demon during the Battle of Yinshan. I've pondered its
mysteries for a long time but can't figure it out. I suspect it's no ordinary item. You've always been intelligent, unlike your senior brother who's stubborn. Perhaps you can unlock the key to this.
Maybe the glory of Qingcheng lies in your hands..."
Combining what he had just heard, Yuan Zhen's eyes gleamed with fervor. Could this be the thirteenth doll they were talking about?
Seeing that dawn was approaching and the city gates were about to open, Yuan Zhen immediately got up and returned to the city.
Back at the inn where the Qingcheng people were resting, the eight disciples of Qingcheng greeted him warmly. Some offered greetings, some brought
water for washing their faces, and some poured tea. Yuan Zhen was greatly pleased. These eight junior disciples were skilled in martial arts, humble and polite, and
already had some reputation in the Sichuan martial arts world. Bringing them out this time to broaden their experience ensured that Qingcheng would have successors in the future.
The fifth of the eight opened a box of pastries. "Uncle-Master, this is a thousand-layer pastry from Sichuan. I didn't expect
it to be sold in the capital. We specially saved some for you. Please try it."
Yuanzhen picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. "Hmm, not bad, authentic taste. Where are there any pastry
shops run by Sichuanese people nearby?"
"I haven't found any. A woman came to the inn to sell this pastry. I heard her Sichuan accent and knew we were from the same hometown,
so I bought some more to help her out."
"Alas, that woman is quite pitiful, carrying a crying baby to make a living..."
Yuanzhen stopped eating half of the pastry, his face ashen. "Have you all eaten this pastry?"
Seeing everyone nod, Yuanzhen was heartbroken. With a sliver of hope, he took the pulses of each of the eight Qingcheng disciples one by one, and finally slumped
into a chair. "I never thought that we would all be wiped out in the capital." Two lines of tears flowed from his dry eyes
.
The Eight Masters of Qingcheng were shocked. "Uncle-Master, what have we done wrong? Please punish us as you see fit, but please
don't do this!"
"You all, you've been ambushed without even realizing it. That woman is Tang Sangu of the Tang Clan. We've all
been poisoned by the Tang Clan's deadly poison, 'Dripping Blood Through the Intestines,' and our internal organs have begun to rot. We may die, but I fear the foundation of Qingcheng
will be destroyed."
******************************
On the opposite side of the inn, Ding Shou, dressed in blue, and Bai Shaochuan, dressed in snow-white, stood by the window in a restaurant. "Brother Bai,
the Qingcheng Sect's forces have been wiped out like this. How can we start this mess?" "
The Qingcheng Sect has a secret medicine, the 'Three Toads and Hundred Herbs Life-Gathering Pill,' which should keep us alive for two days. Only when
people are in dire straits will they do things they wouldn't normally dare to do. Only then will this stagnant pool have a chance to stir." Bai Shaochuan raised his cup in acknowledgment.
Ding Shou drank a cup with him. "That Yuan Zhen really wasted his life. The Tang Clan
lured him out of the city with just two assassins, leaving a bunch of greenhorns to be schemed against."
"If the Tang Clan had been led by Tang Song, the Second Young Master, they might have made even more mistakes than Yuan Zhen. It's just that these Tang Clan
disciples are lucky."
"Oh, you seem to know the Tang Clan very well." Ding Shou turned his head to look at Bai Shaochuan. A ray of sunlight shone on Bai Shaochuan's face,
making his fair and jade-like face almost translucent.
Perhaps blinded by the sunlight, Bai Shaochuan lowered his gaze and toyed with his wine cup. "I used to be a member of the Tang Clan,
named Tang Chuan. Now I'm a traitor to the Tang Clan, with nowhere to go, so I joined the Eastern Depot."
Seeing Ding Shou hesitate, he continued, "Bai Shaochuan is my real name. During years of famine, the Tang Clan would send people
to recruit children with decent aptitude to join. If they survived the various tests, they would be given
the surname Tang and become true Tang Clan disciples. Of course, only outer disciples. If they repeatedly made great contributions, they had the opportunity to become inner
disciples."
"Mountains, pines, rivers, and waters—the Four Heroes of the Tang Clan. I'm ranked third. The other three are all direct descendants of the Tang Clan."
There was no hint of pride in Bai Shaochuan's tone.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"First, since we're colleagues, it's only right that we're honest with each other; there's nothing to hide. Second, there's no point in
hiding it anyway. The Grand Eunuch knows all this; if you ask, he'll probably tell you."
Ding Shou was about to ask another question when Bai Shaochuan interrupted him: "Brother Ding, I want to be your friend. If you're
willing, please never ask why I betrayed the Tang Clan, okay?" Bai Shaochuan looked at Ding Shou, his eyes clear
.
Ding Shou solemnly raised his wine cup, the two clinked glasses, drank it all in one gulp, and smiled at each other.
**********************************
Mist swirled, water vapor rose.
Ding Shou and Bai Shaochuan were completely enveloped in the hot spring, with cold water-soaked towels on their heads.
After drinking, Ding Shou dragged Bai Shaochuan to a century-old hot spring bathhouse, saying that colleagues should be "open and honest" with each other.
Now, their skin was red from the hot water. Ding Shou looked at Bai
Shaochuan, who was resting by the pool, and was consumed by jealousy, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Why are you staring at me?" Bai Shaochuan slowly opened his eyes and asked.
"I was thinking, should I take you to a brothel? With your looks, you'd probably have plenty of girls throwing
themselves at you, and I could save a lot of money."
Bai Shaochuan didn't answer, just stared at Ding Shou, making Ding Shou feel uneasy. "Why are you staring at me?"
"I was thinking, with someone as big and burly as you, how much more money would I have to spend to find you girls?"
Bai Shaochuan said seriously.
A moment of silence, then both of them burst into laughter, their relationship seemingly growing closer.
The Eastern Depot scouts reported back in rapid succession. 　　At 1:00 PM,
Yuan Zhen from the Qingcheng Sect arrived at the Changfeng Escort Agency, but left shortly after, looking disappointed. At 3:45 PM, Prince Rong drove back to the capital from the Western Hills to attend the birthday banquet of the Little God of Wealth, Deng Ren. 　　At 3:45 PM, Guo Xu, the young master of the Changfeng Escort Agency, along with Chu Chu, a courtesan from the Shenxianju, offered their congratulations 　　. At 2:45 PM, a masked man infiltrated the Little God of Wealth's residence at night but was repelled by Guo Xu, who has already sent men to track his route. 　　At 3:45 PM, Yuan Zhen, along with the Eight Heroes of Qingcheng, disguised themselves and set up an ambush on the long street, their target unknown. 　　Ding Shou, who had been dozing on the recliner, opened his eyes. "Today's events are getting more and more interesting. The moon is bright and the wind is gentle. Brother Bai, 　　would you be interested in joining me to admire the moon?" 　　Bai Shaochuan smiled and said, "Brother Ding, you have such refined tastes. I dare not refuse." 　　On the long street, it was quiet and cold. The night wind was rising, and the shops on both sides had already closed. A man in a purple robe 　　walked slowly forward with his hands behind his back. A ray of moonlight shone on him, as if he were plated with a layer of silver light, making him look even more handsome and elegant 　　. This man was Guo Xu, the owner of Changfeng Escort Agency, one of the three young masters of the capital, who had just finished attending a banquet. 　　Guo Xu walked to a paper craft shop. The shop was already closed, but several paper figures remained outside. He 　　looked up at the full moon and softly recited: "Last year on the Lantern Festival, the flower market was as bright as day. The moon rose above the willow branches, and we made our 　　rendezvous after dusk. This year on the Lantern Festival, the moon and lanterns are still the same. But the person from last year is gone, and tears wet my spring robe." After reciting the poem "Sheng Chazi," 　　he said to the paper figures, "The wind blows but the paper doesn't move; my friends who dressed up like this have worked very hard." 　　With a few "poof" sounds, the paper figures shattered, and eight sword-wielding figures burst forth. Their longswords, like venomous snakes spitting their tongues, 　　aimed for Guo Xu's vital points. Guo Xu let out a long laugh, ducked to avoid two swords, turned sideways to 　　dodge three more, clapped his hands to deflect two more, and kicked diagonally to force back the last sword. The eight swords' attacks were 　　hampered, and after a brief pause, they resumed their rapid advance. A dense, star-like net of swords, chillingly sharp, 　　enveloped Guo Xu. Guo Xu remained unfazed, extending his body, each... Each time, he dodged the sword at the last second 　　, and in the blink of an eye, nearly thirty moves had passed. Guo Xu flicked a sword away with his finger, and with his other hand, he wrapped a golden thread around a sword and snatched it 　　back into his hand. He then subdued the person who had lost his sword. He then used "Dust-Sweeping in the Wind" to pierce another person's shoulder well acupoint, and "Dragon's 　　Tail Swing" to force back the people behind him. He turned around and unleashed his long sword like a whirlwind. In a short while, he had 　　subdued the remaining six people. Since they did not know where they came from, and Guo Xu was not a bloodthirsty person, each of them was only pierced by the tip of his sword in acupoints, and 　　none of them died or were injured. 　　The sound of clapping rang out, and Yuan Zhen, with his silver beard and white hair, strode out. "The wind whips the lotus blossoms on the water, the 　　rain slants against the ivy-covered wall—Young Master Guo's 'Wind and Rain, Heartbreaking Sword' truly lives up to its name! 　　I am Yuan Zhen, the ninth-generation disciple of Qingcheng Mountain. I have long heard my senior brother, the sect leader, praise Young Master Guo's extraordinary martial arts and wisdom, and today I am completely convinced." 　　Guo Xu sheathed his sword and bowed. "I dare not presume. So you are a master of the Qingcheng Sect. These gentlemen must be the renowned 　　Eight Masters of Qingcheng. I used all my strength to subdue them; I have truly offended you." 　　Yuan Zhen sighed, "Young Master Guo is kind-hearted, yet you have shown mercy today." 　　Guo Xu asked in surprise, "What do you mean?" 　　"My eight nephews and I have all been poisoned, our internal organs are rotten. 　　We were only able to recover thanks to our sect's secret medicine, the 'Three Toads and Hundred Herbs Life-Gathering Pill,' which stimulated our potential. Now we are all exhausted and dying." Before he finished speaking, all eight of the restrained men collapsed and died. 　　Guo Xu was shocked. "Daoist Master..." 　　Yuan Zhen waved his hand to stop Guo Xu from speaking. "I have a favor to ask of you. Please deliver the contents of this brocade box to our sect leader 　　, my elder brother Chunzi. I will die without regret." 　　Guo Xu was somewhat hesitant. He usually disliked managing the affairs of the escort agency and never took the initiative to accept escort missions. But seeing 　　the despair and hope mixed in Yuan Zhen's eyes, he nodded. 　　Yuan Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He handed the 　　brocade box to Guo Xu, ignoring Guo Xu's calls behind him, and stumbled back to the inn. In his room was a carrier pigeon he had brought from Qingcheng. Trembling, he wrote a 　　note 　　, 　　tied 　　it 　　to the pigeon's leg, opened the window, and released the pigeon . 　　With his 　　worries relieved, he could no longer support himself and 　　collapsed to the ground… ********** ... 　　"No, the fact that the Qingcheng Sect members, after being poisoned, didn't seek revenge or risk their lives to steal the jade doll from the Little God of Wealth's Mansion, but 　　instead wasted their last moments entrusting the goods, shows that this thirteenth doll should be genuine," Bai Shaochuan pondered.

"He's so comfortable entrusting the jade doll to Changfeng Escort Agency? Isn't he afraid they'll take advantage of him and then deny everything?"
Ding Shou judged people with a cynical mind.
"Guo Xu is a gentleman. A gentleman can be deceived by reason. The Qingcheng Sect, young and old, have entrusted their lives to him
. How could Young Master Guo not do his best to protect him?"
"Changfeng Escort Agency must not be doing very well. Why entrust it to them?" Ding Shou
harbored resentment towards the scene of those burly escorts feasting and eating lavishly back then.
"Twenty years ago, the Changfeng Escort Agency was a formidable force. Its two leaders, Guo Qingyun and Cheng Feng,
built its empire with a sword and a staff. Since their deaths twenty years ago, the agency's business has indeed declined . Originally,
the two elders left behind some veterans, such as Jin Suanpan Shang Liu and Tie Zhang Hou Kun, but unfortunately, while they were loyal, their
martial arts skills…" Bai Shaochuan shook his head. "Guo and Cheng left three descendants. Cheng Feng left a son and a daughter.
His son, Cheng Tieyi, has a fiery temper, is cynical, and wholeheartedly wanted to help Guo Xu revitalize the agency, but he was angered by a
self-deprecating couplet from Guo Xu and left." Cheng Caiyu, a woman who makes a living mining coal in Mentougou, west of Beijing, is intelligent and well-read from a young age
. Although she is physically limited and cannot practice martial arts, she is resourceful and is known as the "Female Zhuge Liang."
She currently manages the Changfeng Escort Agency. As for Guo Xu, his martial arts skills can be said to surpass his master's, but he dislikes the escort agency business. Although
he holds the title of agency manager, he spends his days in brothels, is a womanizer, and has a wide circle of friends.
He is close friends with the noble Prince Rong and the wealthy Deng Ren, and they are known as the "Three Young Masters of Beijing."
Ding Shou tilted his head and said, "If something happens to Deng Ren, those two will definitely come to his aid."
"Prince Rong is a member of the imperial family and lives a carefree life. As long as he doesn't violate the law, he will surely lend a helping hand. Guo Xu is also a
loyal friend who would go to great lengths for his friends."
Ding Shou said lightly, "Then shouldn't we think of a way to either pull them into the water or force them ashore?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Shaochuan pondered for a moment, tore off a piece of the paper in his hand, put the rest into a bamboo tube, re-tied it to
the leg of the carrier pigeon, opened the window, and released the pigeon.
Ding Shou asked in confusion, "What is this...?" Upon seeing the note in his hand containing only four characters, "The Thirteenth Venerable,"
he chuckled, "Shifting blame to Jiangdong, brilliant plan."
"The carrier pigeon is from Qingcheng, the handwriting is Yuanzhen's, what reason does Changchunzi have not to believe it?" Ding Shou suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, 　　what
exactly was the couplet you mentioned that made Cheng Tieyi leave in a huff ?" 　　"Oh, that one," Bai Shaochuan replied after thinking for a moment, "Unable to achieve wealth and honor, not because of fate, but because of laziness; unable to achieve great things, greedy for poetry and wine, and fond of flowers 　　." 　　Ding Shou paused for a moment, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Wonderful, wonderful, Young Master Guo is truly a wonderful person." 　　Chapter Fourteen: Falling into the Beauty Trap 　　The next day, the famous brothel Shenxianju in the capital's Bensi Hutong was brightly decorated. The girls coming and going were all dressed up in their finest attire 　　, their perfumes filling the air with fragrance. Tonight, Prince Rong was hosting a banquet at Chuyun Pavilion, and the three young masters of the capital were all coming. The prince's power, the Deng 　　family's wealth, and Guo Xu's looks were all things that the girls of the brothel dreamed of. If they were lucky enough to catch the eye of someone, they would 　　be transformed into phoenixes on a branch. The only thing that bothered them was that the three masters only wanted Chu Chu to accompany them. The others had to spend their time and effort 　　greeting and seeing them off at the door. It was truly unfair. That Chu Chu, who pretended to be aloof, had only been here for ten days. When Qin Mama sent 　　word that all the other brothels except Chuyun Pavilion would be closed for a day and not open to guests, the girls couldn't help but lament that heaven truly had no 　　eyes. 　　"Have you found out where the assassin came from last night?" Ding Shou asked 　　Bai Shaochuan, who was sitting next to him, while eating melon seeds in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, which was adjacent to Chuyun Pavilion. 　　"No, the other party was very cautious. Our men tracked them down to the residential area near Dongzhimen and then disappeared. 　　There are many merchants and people living there, and it's a mixed-use courtyard. The Eastern Depot's manpower alone is not enough. If we want to question them in detail, 　　we would have to get the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Five Cities Garrison to come in, otherwise we might alert the assassin and ruin the Grand Eunuch's important plans." Bai Shaochuan poured himself a cup of tea and 　　said slowly. 　　"Are the people you arranged reliable?" Ding Shou snatched the cup of tea and drank it himself. 　　Bai Shaochuan shook his head and smiled bitterly, then poured himself another cup. "Don't worry, we have secretly installed listening copper pipes around Chuyun Pavilion. 　　Listening to the walls is our Eastern Depot's specialty. The Embroidered Uniform Guard guards at the Little God of Wealth's Mansion are very strict. Once we leave the Deng Mansion, we guarantee that Deng Ren's every 　　word and action will be under our control." 　　"Is there really a problem with this Chu Chu?" Ding Shou asked. 　　"It's hard to say, but there are many suspicious points. Ten days ago, she went to the Immortal's Abode, claiming she would only sell her art, not her body, and that she 　　could choose which guests to receive. She only accepted Guo Xu as a guest. The servants said she repeatedly 　　mentioned admiring the three young masters of the capital, especially the Little God of Wealth's mansion, which is said to be incredibly wealthy, and expressed a desire to visit and broaden her horizons. That led to her 　　visit to the Little God of Wealth's mansion last night, and then the assassins entered the Deng mansion. There are too many intriguing details here; it's always 　　good to be cautious," Bai Shaochuan replied, frowning. 　　"The banquet is in the evening. Since it's still early, how about accompanying me to stroll around the capital?" Ding Shou said with a lecherous grin. 　　"I'm not as carefree as you. The Grand Eunuch is about to accompany the Emperor back to the capital and has many matters to organize and report," 　　Bai Shaochuan refused. 　　"In that case, I'll take my leave," Ding Shou said, getting up. 　　Bai Shaochuan waved for him to leave quickly. 　　It was noon, and the streets of the capital were bustling with activity. Street vendors hawked their wares, shops beckoned customers, and the streets 　　were teeming with people. Ding Shou looked around, feeling quite at ease. 　　Suddenly, his gaze swept across the area and 　　he saw a figure leap down from a nearby building, lightly touching the ground with his toes, and then darting away again. The figure's agility was impressive. Immediately afterward, another person leaped out from the crowd, kicking up a sack from a nearby cart 　　and smashing it down on the fleeing man, knocking him to the ground. 　　The man rolled on the ground, then leaped up again, seemingly unharmed. He glared angrily at the tall man who had knocked him down . 　　"Xin Li, the Swift Sword, we have no grudge against each other, why are you pressing me so hard?" 　　Xin Li was tall, his hair not fully tied back, a strand falling across his forehead. He carried a simply decorated longsword on his shoulder 　　and chuckled, "Cui Wanshan, you committed the murder of thirteen people, young and old, in Sanhe Town. Today, Master Xin is bringing you 　　to justice." 　　"Xin Li, you're just a bounty hunter, only after money. I'll pay double whatever they ask for," Cui Wanshan 　　said hatefully. 　　"Master Xin's rule is to only do business with one person," Xin Li said indifferently.

"Ten times," Cui Wanshan said decisively.
Xin Li seemed tempted, and Cui Wanshan's face lit up with joy. Xin Li then shook his head repeatedly, "Forget it,
I don't want your blood money."
Cui Wanshan drew his knife, "Then I'll just have to kill you." He swung his knife forward, creating a series of slashing patterns, and
slashed at Xin Li.
Xin Li used the scabbard to deflect the blade, stepped inside, and bent his knee to strike Cui Wanshan's abdomen. Cui Wanshan dodged to the side, and
the blade slashed horizontally. Xin Li spun around and was already behind Cui Wanshan. Cui Wanshan was terrified. He ran forward without regard for anything else,
until he reached a memorial archway. He pushed off with his feet, used the momentum to flip backward, and slashed back, but there was no sign of Xin Li . He felt
a pain in his waist and was kicked away.
Amidst the clamor of voices, a squad of Imperial Guards in flying fish robes rushed through the crowd. Seeing this, Xin Li didn't
hesitate. He drew his longsword, and with a flick and a deflection, sent Cui Wanshan's knife flying. Cui Wanshan rolled eighteen times on the ground, utterly
disheveled, but escaped Xin Li's sword and turned to run back into the crowd.
Xin Li let out a cold snort, his sword flying from his hand—his signature move, "Heart-Piercing Sword," its momentum like lightning
, aimed straight for Cui Wanshan's back. Xin Li had already turned after drawing his sword, absolutely confident in his ability to deliver a powerful strike.
However, instead of the expected scream of Cui Wanshan falling, he heard the sound of tearing cloth. Turning back,
he saw a young man gripping Cui Wanshan's throat, rendering him immobile. The young man's other hand held the
sword he had just thrown.
Ding Shou shook his head, looking at the crude longsword, worth at most two taels of silver. In trying to catch this broken sword,
the sleeves of his fine brocade blue robe were torn to shreds by the sword's force; he'd lost out. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the longsword back into Xin Li's scabbard,
swift and accurate.
Xin Li, seeing this, asked, "Who are you?"
Before Ding Shou could answer, the Imperial Guards rushed in. The leader, a centurion, demanded, "Who dares to cause
trouble in broad daylight under the Emperor's nose?"
Xin Li didn't want to deal with the officials and turned to leave, but several Imperial Guards formed a semi-circle around him. The centurion repeated
, "Who dares to cause trouble in broad daylight under the Emperor's nose?"
Xin Li shrugged, turning back to say, "You're asking me?"
"Nonsense! Are you asking yourself?" the centurion snapped.
"Why not ask him?" Xin Li pointed his chin at Ding Shou.
The centurion turned to look at Ding Shou. Just as he approached, Ding Shou pulled out a waist token from his robes and tossed it to him.
Upon seeing the token, the man's expression changed, and he respectfully accepted it with both hands. The Eastern Depot's guards were mostly selected from the Embroidered Uniform Guard; the two
families were intricately connected. The Eastern Depot's commander was a close advisor to the emperor, and throughout history, the Embroidered Uniform Guard had always been suppressed by the Eastern Depot. Although
the current commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Weng Taibei, was powerful, this Eastern Depot commander was someone he, a centurion, had never offended.
Having been unjustly insulted, he naturally wanted to find another outlet for his anger. Turning around, he found Xin Li even more displeasing.
"An assassin broke into the Little God of Wealth's mansion last night. Judging from your unclear origins and the fact that you were armed in the marketplace, you're probably the assassin
. Men, seize him!"
"Wait a minute, everyone, what do you think of Guo Xu's words?" Guo Xu stepped forward from the crowd.
"Are you the young master Guo, the head of the Changfeng Escort Agency?" the centurion asked.
"It is indeed Guo Xu. This friend is my good friend, Xin Li, the Swift Swordsman. I vouch for him; he is definitely not
an assassin who sneaked into the Little God of Wealth's mansion at night," Guo Xu said with a smile to the centurion.
"Since it is Young Master Guo who vouches for him, there is naturally no problem. We will take our leave." The centurion then led his men away.
Xin Li nodded to Guo Xu and said, "Brother Guo, you have worked hard." He then turned to Ding Shou, "Who can I tell you,
sir?"
Ding Shou chuckled, "It is really inconvenient to say."
"Then may I hand this lecherous thief over to you?" Xin Li said in a deep voice.
"Oh, this kid's a lecher too, I didn't know." Ding Shou released Cui Wanshan's throat and patted his cheek
. Cui Wanshan gasped for breath, leaned back, and was about to leap up to escape, but before he could get up, his throat was inexplicably
grabbed by Ding Shou again. "I don't trust you with this. Committing a crime in the street is against the law."
Guo Xu interjected, "Are you a member of the government?"
"Sort of." Ding Shou rubbed his nose; one more step and he'd be a member of the government.
Guo Xu said to Xin Li, "Since that's the case, just hand the prisoner over to the officials. Brother Xin, let it go."
"No way," Xin Li replied, "Xin Li's swift sword strikes always bring in profit; there's no such thing as a deal that slips through your fingers."
He was still stubborn. Ding Shou asked with a smile, "Then how much silver is this Wan Shan worth?"
Xin Li replied seriously, "One tael."
*Slap! Slap!* Two crisp slaps rang out. "You worthless wretch." After slapping him, Ding Shou grabbed Cui Wan Shan by the throat.
Cui Wan Shan's cheeks were swollen and red. This time, he didn't try to escape, but just looked at Ding Shou with terrified eyes. This kid's mother must be
crazy.
Ding Shou took out a silver ingot from his pocket and threw it to Xin Li. "Five taels, keep the change. I'm taking him." With that,
he led Cui Wan Shan away like a beast of burden.
Xin Li ignored the silver ingot, his right hand already gripping the hilt of his sword, veins bulging, about to strike when Guo Xu stopped him.
Guo Xu shook his head at him, watching the two walk away. "The common people don't fight with officials, especially since this man easily neutralized your
Heart-Piercing Sword. He shouldn't be underestimated. Anyway, the culprit is already in custody, let's just let it go."
************
In a deserted alley, Ding Shou released Cui Wanshan, a smile in his eyes, and said, "Are you a lone bandit, or some
kind of lecher?"
Cui Wanshan was terrified. The man before him was unpredictable, yet his martial arts were incredibly high. There was no escape. He lowered
his head and said meekly, "Yes, I acted foolishly. I beg you, sir, to spare my life." Although he didn't know the man's official rank, judging from
the meek demeanor of the Imperial Guard, he must be someone of considerable importance.
"You were willing to do business with Xin Li for ten times the price just now. It seems being a bandit is quite profitable," Ding Shou
muttered to himself, seemingly without any real connection.
Cui Wanshan immediately understood. He pulled out his silver notes and valuables, fawningly saying, "This is just a small token; I hope you'll accept it, sir
."
Ding Shou glanced at them—several hundred-tael silver notes, the largest being no more than a thousand taels, along with some loose gold and
silver. He didn't take them, merely scoffing, "What are you doing with this? Keep it; it'll be enough to buy a good coffin later."
Cui Wanshan knelt down with a thud, pleading, "Sir, this is truly all I have!"
" We people in this dangerous trade don't usually hoard gold or silver. Sir, I have three
treasure troves in the capital, totaling nearly 100,000 taels, which I'm willing to offer to you. Please, sir, grant me a way out."
Ding Shou slowly squatted down, looking Cui Wanshan in the eye. "You've been traveling the martial world for so many years,
don't you have any novelties?"
Cui Wanshan seemed to understand, and pulled out a bunch of bottles and jars from his person. "Sir, this is top-quality wound medicine,
for all kinds of sword and knife wounds. One packet stops bleeding, two packets reduce bruising, three packets promote tissue regeneration, um..."
Ding Shou stuffed the packets of wound medicine into Cui Wanshan's mouth, coldly saying, "Swallow it and keep talking. If you
try this 'selling miracle cures' trick again, I guarantee you'll regret not dying by Xin Li's sword."
Cui Wanshan... Chewing on a mouthful of medicine powder, Cui Wanshan feigned reluctance, then picked up a porcelain bottle and said, "This is called 'The Virtuous Woman's Lament.
' It dissolves in water. No
matter how chaste or virtuous a woman is, once she takes it, she will be consumed by lust within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and will desperately crave intercourse." Seeing a smile in Ding Shou's eyes, Cui Wanshan was greatly encouraged. "If you prefer something else, sir, this
is called 'Gastrodia Powder.' Take the antidote beforehand, unfold it in the wind, and anyone who smells it will be paralyzed within an hour,
unable to muster any strength. You can do whatever you want." Cui Wanshan's eyes conveyed a knowing look.
"Tsk tsk, you've got quite a few good things, kid. Do you have any more of these? Bring them all out."
"Sir, these are all I have. I bought these from 'Butterfly,' a fellow member of the Lower Five Sects, at great expense .
That kid was killed two years ago by Xiao Zijing, the number one expert of the Six Doors,
the Iron-Faced and Impartial. These are all used up as they become scarce. I usually use things like sleeping potions and 'Resurrection Incense' to commit my crimes," Cui Wanshan
said with a mournful face.
"Alright, tell me where you buried your treasure, take this little bit of money for your coffin and get out of here. Don't let Second Master ever see
you again," Ding Shou said impatiently.
Ding Shou was overjoyed. He'd gained an extra 100,000 taels of silver from his trip, along with many new trinkets. Humming a little tune, he
strolled back to Shenxianju. Before he even entered Xiaoxiang Pavilion, he encountered Bai Shaochuan, who looked hurried. Before he could speak, Bai Shaochuan
pulled him out of Shenxianju and onto a carriage already prepared by the Eastern Depot. The wheels rolled, and
they headed towards Eastern Depot Alley.
The jade doll had already changed hands.
Bai Shaochuan revealed this news in the carriage. Deng Ren had come to see Chu Chu ahead of time, and Chu Chu had casually mentioned her fondness for collecting
various dolls. To win her favor, Deng Ren, blinded by lust, had given away the imperial jade doll. How laughable!
He was so eager for pleasure, yet he was pushed aside until after the banquet. He was still smugly pleased with himself. How could that jealous woman in the God of Wealth's mansion
let him spend the night at Shenxianju? One wonders what Weng Taibei would think if he knew what his precious son-in-law had done
.
It's now clear that Chu Chu is definitely part of the treasure hunters, but it's unclear which faction she belongs to. With the birthday banquet approaching
, the Rong Prince's guards have taken over Chu Yun Pavilion, and the Eastern Depot has left only a few to keep watch. We must quickly report back to the Grand Eunuch.
Upon hearing their report, Liu Jin, who had just returned to the capital, immediately ordered: "Regardless of which faction Chu Chu belongs to, Xiao
Chuan, keep a close eye on her and keep track of her every move. She'll likely leave the capital soon, the farther the better, so far that
Weng Taibei can't reach her, then we can make our move."
The two men accepted the order and withdrew. Not long after, someone reported that a suspicious person was outside Shenxianju, and judging from their figure, they should be
the one who infiltrated the Little God of Wealth's residence last night.
"Could we be mistaken? There was a thunderstorm last night, and that person was dressed in black. We can't be worried about something going wrong," Ding Shou
said doubtfully.
The messenger confidently declared, "I would never be wrong. If there is any mistake, I will cripple my own eyes
."
Bai Shaochuan explained from the side, "The foreman of Mao Ke is Ji Quan, nicknamed 'Three-Eyed Eagle.' He is skilled at tracking, so his identification
must be accurate."
The two then led their men to hide outside Shenxianju. Before long, a woman stormed into Shenxianju in a huff, and soon after, she
stormed out in a huff. As night deepened, a carriage from Xiaocaishenfu arrived to take Deng Ren back to his residence, and the banquet was finally called off. Judging from
the sullen look on Deng Ren's face before he got into the carriage, he probably hadn't been able to get close to the woman.
As soon as the guards of the Prince's mansion withdrew, the man who had been closely watched slipped into the Immortal Abode. After about a quarter of an hour,
he emerged with a woman and a bundle. Ding Shou noticed that although the woman had washed away her makeup and was without any cosmetics, her beauty was still striking and unparalleled
. He asked, "Who is that woman?"
Ji Quan, who was standing nearby, replied, "This woman is Chu Chu
, a courtesan at the Immortal Abode." "She lives up to her name. Only her beauty can be so captivating," Ding Shou exclaimed sincerely.
Bai Shaochuan didn't have time to argue with him. He ordered a few men to follow him, but Ding Shou
repeatedly warned him, "That Chu Chu girl is naturally beautiful, so don't be ruthless and destroy her. I hope the Third Master can protect her."
Looking at his good-for-nothing Fourth Master, Bai Shaochuan nodded helplessly, "I'll do my best."
The night passed without incident. Ding Shou slept until almost noon before getting up to wash and prepare for lunch. Before he could even eat, Ji Quan
rushed in to report that Deng Ren had been kidnapped the previous night.
"What happened?" Ding Shou was shocked. If Deng Ren had been murdered, Weng Taibei could easily pin
the blame for the lost jade doll on the murderer. With the person dead, the court wouldn't be able to punish him further. This was tantamount to giving away a treasure
willingly.
"It's still unclear who did it. The Tang Clan followed those two from Shenxianju out of the city last night, and the Tianyou Gang hasn't made any moves
, so it shouldn't be either of those groups." Ji Quan looked ashamed. The Jade Doll had already left the Little God of Wealth's Mansion, so
the surveillance on Deng Ren had lessened, but who would have thought that something like this would happen.
"There was a reason for what happened last night, so you don't need to blame yourself. I'll take full responsibility for the Supervisor's accusations. You should quickly find out the cause
." Ding Shou comforted Ji Quan.
"Yes, I'll go do it right away." Ji Quan cupped his hands and took his leave. This newly arrived Fourth Chief was young, but he was deeply
trusted by the Supervisor. With his words, he could work with peace of mind.
When the agents of the Eastern Depot got serious, their efficiency was extraordinary. Within a day, they had grasped eight or
nine parts of the whole story. Guo Xu had a confidante named Rouge, who had always harbored feelings for him. However, her affections
were unrequited; Guo Xu had always maintained a push-and-pull relationship with her. Meanwhile, Guo Xu's friend, Feng Ping, known in the martial arts world as the Thunderbolt Flying
Dagger, was deeply in love with Rouge. This love-hate entanglement between the three was originally completely unrelated to Deng Ren, but...
At the Night God's Abode, during a night of drinking, Rouge arrived uninvited, causing displeasure among the guests. Guo Xu personally asked her to leave,
while Deng Ren remarked that she was shrewish and lacked manners. Rouge felt humiliated in front of her beloved, and she was furious
. As a result, Deng Caishen was kidnapped, leaving a note that he would only release her if Guo Xu came to his aid.
Ding Shou, annoyed by the tangled mess of relationships, asked, "So, Deng Ren's life is safe,
and this is just a petty squabble between children?"
Ji Quan nodded in agreement. Just as the two breathed a sigh of relief, the spy responsible for monitoring the Tianyou Gang arrived to report: "Deng
Ren has fallen into the hands of the Tianyou Gang. A message has been sent to the Deng family: tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the mistress of the Deng family, Xizhu, will come alone with twelve jade
dolls to a location ten miles south of the city to exchange for him."
*Smash!* Ding Shou slammed his teacup on the ground. "What kind of world is this? Under the emperor's nose, kidnappers are coming one
after another! Is there no way for good people to survive?" Ji Quan and the other spies exchanged 　　bewildered
glances. Good people? Anyone who dared to call the Eastern Depot a good person would be considered
insane; this was blatantly slapping the Eastern Depot in the face.
********** ... 　　Ding Shou and Ji Quan concealed themselves on a hilltop. The Tianyou Gang had indeed laid an ambush there, but with their martial arts skills, 　　they weren't worried about being discovered. Ding Shou leaned against a withered tree, watching the man and woman who had come to ransom the Deng family. The man 　　was dressed as a servant, his hat pulled low, obscuring his features, but his steady gait and 　　powerful arm movements suggested he was a formidable opponent. The woman, dressed as a noblewoman, had her hair piled high, wore a pink 　　jacket and skirt, and possessed a refined and elegant beauty. 　　"That woman must be Weng Xizhu, here to ransom him," 　　Ding Shou remarked to Ji Quan beside him. "Tsk tsk, what a beautiful woman! While not as stunningly beautiful as Chuchu, her delicate features are far superior. Deng Ren has such a lovely wife, yet he still dared to be so 　　lustful, falling into their trap. He only has himself to blame." 　　Ji Quan, whose skill was far inferior to Ding Shou's, only saw clearly when the two approached. He said, "Fourth Master, something's not right. 　　That woman isn't Weng Xizhu. Although we can't see the servant's face clearly, judging from his figure, he should be Guo Xu from the Changfeng Escort Agency." 　　"Oh? Who is that woman? Judging from her light and unsteady gait, she clearly doesn't know martial arts. It shouldn't be that Blood 　　Hand Rouge." Ding Shou looked at the two more closely and asked. 　　"No, Blood Hand Rouge mingles in the streets. I've met her before, and this woman is definitely not her. Judging from her appearance, she bears 　　a resemblance to Cheng Tieyi, the second young master of the Changfeng Escort Agency. Could it be the reclusive young lady, Cheng Caiyu?" 　　Ji Quan replied. 　　"What a lovely woman! Guo Xu is so lucky. He has such a beauty managing his household and a beauty in the martial world who cares for him 　　. He must have accumulated good fortune in his past lives." Ding Shou said with envy. "What a pity, all these people were tricked by that brat Deng Ren. 　　Using a fake doll to ransom them, isn't that just forcing them to turn against each other?" 　　Sure enough, after the two sides met, the black-robed man leading the Tianyou Gang brought out Deng Ren to exchange people, but suddenly discovered that 　　the jade doll was fake. Instantly, ambushes sprang up, and dozens of Tianyou Gang members attacked. Although Guo Xu's martial arts were high, he was no match for 　　the enemy's numbers. He was struggling to protect the two people beside him who knew no martial arts. In a moment of carelessness, Cheng Caiyu was 　　slashed on the left arm. 　　"A cow chewing on a peony, cruelly destroying a flower, how outrageous!" Ding Shou felt heartbroken. Can a beauty be cut with a knife? She 　　should be cherished, whipped, or stabbed with a spear. As for whether the "whip" or "spear" is made of flesh or not, why bother with so much nonsense 　　. 　　"Fourth Chief, look." Ji Quan woke up the heartbroken Ding Shou. Ding Shou looked up and saw a large number of Imperial 　　Guards rushing towards the two sides of the battle. 　　"Those who came are all elites from the Northern Garrison. Fourth Commander, we should leave now. If we fall here, it will be 　　difficult to explain," Ji Quan urged. 　　"You go first, I'll handle the rest." If they leave now, the Tianyou Gang will surely be wiped out. From a public perspective 　　, without these small fry, it's not good to stir up trouble in the capital. From a private perspective, I had met Du San 　　Kui, the leader of the You Tang branch of the Tianyou Gang, once before, so I'll repay this favor. 　　At this moment, the battlefield below the hill changed again. The Embroidered Uniform Guard, worthy of being the emperor's personal army, joined the battle like boiling water poured on snow. The Tianyou Gang members 　　were killed and wounded in droves, leaving only the leader in black robes and a dozen or so men fighting like cornered beasts. 　　A group of Imperial Guards appeared on the hillside, surrounding a dignified old man in brocade robes. 　　Beside him stood a tall, imposing man with a grotesque scar running from his forehead to his cheek on his right side. 　　The man strode forward and shouted, "Commander Weng of the Imperial Guards is here! The thieves, surrender now!" 　　Seeing that the Tianyou Gang members were still putting up a stubborn resistance, the man leaped down the hillside. When he landed, he had a pair of iron judge's pens in his hands 　　. The two pens moved like dragons emerging from the water, swift as the wind and piercing the moon, knocking down all the Tianyou Gang members who resisted along the way. He went straight for 　　the man in black robes, who had fought him for more than thirty moves with a single sword. He was caught off guard 　　when his sword was knocked away, and he was kicked to the ground. Before he could get up, the judge's pens were already pressed against his chest. 　　The burly man, just as he was rejoicing at the capture of the thief, was suddenly struck by a pebble that hit his judge's pen, sending 　　it flying. In a flash, the black-robed man who had fallen to the ground was gone, replaced by a blue-robed, masked man supporting 　　him, standing about ten feet away. 　　Realizing he had encountered a formidable enemy, the burly man became wary and asked, "Commander Baili Ben of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, may I ask your esteemed 　　name?" 　　Ding Shou gestured for the black-robed man to step back and said in a muffled voice, "An unknown nobody, I would be disrespectful to you. Let's not mention it." 　　"Judging by your martial arts skills, you are certainly not a nameless person 　　. What kind of logic is it to hide your face and avoid showing your true identity?" Baili Ben pressed aggressively. 　　"If you dislike my attire, feel free to remove it if you have the ability. I 　　'd like to experience the Kunlun Sect's Heaven-Shaking Iron Brush." 　　Baili Ben was furious. He thrust forward with his brush, aiming straight for Ding Shou's eyes with the "Ghost Brush Eye-Dotting Technique." Ding Shou leaned back slightly, dodging 　　the brush tip. He then swung his left palm, already covering Baili Ben's vital points. Baili Ben retreated to avoid the attack, then lunged forward, his two brushes striking 　　like a whirlwind, relentlessly stabbing at Ding Shou's acupoints. Ding Shou remained calm and composed, each 　　strike aimed at where the opponent would have to defend, forcing Baili Ben to fail to execute a single move in his frenzied attack. It wasn't that Baili Ben was incompetent; he had practiced 　　martial arts in his acupoints for three years, and the old monster had sparred with him using the various martial arts techniques recorded in the Myriad Manifestations Manual. Although Ding Shou wouldn't claim to be an expert in all the martial arts, 　　he was very clear about the strengths and weaknesses of each school.

Baili Ben grew increasingly frustrated with each blow. He was inherently proud and fierce, and had never felt so stifled in a fight
. He unleashed his ultimate move, "Vermilion Brush Dotting the Book," aiming for Ding Shou's vitals, determined to
pierce a hole in his opponent no matter what move he used.
Seeing Baili Ben's reckless attempt to take him down with him, Ding Shou ceased his taunts.
While "Vermilion Brush Dotting the Book" was a deadly move using the Iron Brush, capable of striking thirteen major acupoints simultaneously with two strokes, the moment the two strokes crossed left an opening
. Ding Shou immediately used the Heavenly Demon's Lost Step, cutting directly into Baili Ben's center,
his back to Baili Ben. He grabbed Baili Ben's wrists and, with a powerful back thrust, sent Baili Ben flying. With a simultaneous
swing of his hands, he plunged the two Judge's Pens he had seized into the ground, the foot-long iron pens disappearing completely without a trace
. Ding
Shou had just clapped his hands proudly when he suddenly felt a surge of powerful internal energy coming from behind him. Before he could see clearly, he turned around and
struck out with both palms. With a "bang," his arms went numb, and a great force surged into his body, sending him flying backward.
Ding Shou was surprised and at the same time recognized the person who had attacked him as Weng Taibei, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He hadn't expected the old man's internal strength to be so profound. He
immediately stopped fighting and used the force of his palm strike to flip back five zhang, grabbing the fleeing man in black robes. He touched the ground with his toes and
leaped out again. In a few leaps, he disappeared from sight.
Weng Taibei raised his hand to stop Baili Ben and the other Imperial Guards who were about to give chase. After a few breaths to calm his churning blood,
he slowly said, "You are no match for this man. Take him alive and escort him to the Northern Garrison."
In a mountain valley, the black-robed man from the Tianyou Gang who had been rescued kept thanking Ding Shou. "I am
Luo Yifei, the leader of the Earth Hall of the Tianyou Gang. I was saved from a great calamity thanks to your help. I will never forget this kindness . May
I ask if you could tell me your name so that I can remember it?"
"You are too kind, Leader Luo. I am Ding Shou. I am an old acquaintance of your gang's leader, Du Sankui. There is no need to take such a small matter
to heart," Ding Shou said, removing his veil.
"So it's a friend of our gang..." Luo Yifei suddenly realized. "Ding Shou, are you perhaps
the one who won over 200,000 taels of silver from the Fugui Gambling House?"
"Oh, it's rare that Hall Master Luo knows me."
Luo Yifei smiled bitterly. Not only did he know, but Du San Kui inexplicably lost nearly 300,000 taels of silver from his account. To save face,
he refused to admit that he had lost so much silver at the gambling table, only saying that he had made a good friend with high martial arts skills for the gang.
But who in the martial arts world would know that there was such a person? Chief Protector Zuo Chong personally led a team to check his accounts
and thoroughly investigated the people in the gambling house. They confirmed that a young man surnamed Ding had indeed spent half a day with Du San Kui. Although Du
San Kui hadn't embezzled his own silver, it wasn't a gift either, as he claimed. He had genuinely lost it. He was reprimanded for
his incompetence, and that was that. He became a laughing stock in the gang for a while.
"Many of your gang members have fallen into the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It's not wise for you to linger in the capital. Hall Master Luo
, you'd better make your plans as soon as possible. I'll take my leave now. Please give my regards to Hall Master Du if you have the chance." Ding Shou had no time to linger; after giving his instructions ,
he vanished.
************
Late at night, at the Little God of Wealth's residence.
"Mmm...so comfortable!" Wearing only her undergarments, Weng Xizhu, naked from the waist
down, straddled Deng Ren, thrusting her hips up and down, using her thick, hairy, moist labia to tease Deng Ren's penis.
Deng Ren's underpants were still down to his knees; his penis, already ejaculated once,
throbbed numb under Weng Xizhu's intense ministrations. Deng Ren inwardly groaned; his jealous wife was not only strong-willed but also so in bed
. Having just escaped from the Tianyou Gang, she was already demanding him in the dead of night.
Weng Xizhu was also covered in sweat, the continuous tea-drinking-time manipulation had left her breathless. "Harder
... harder... fuck me through..." Gradually getting into the mood, Weng Xizhu uttered lewd words, desperately
twisting her large buttocks against Deng Ren.
Deng Ren felt like he was being raped, pinned down and wantonly played with, feeling utterly humiliated, but his penis
grew harder and harder inside Weng Xizhu's warm vagina, thrusting repeatedly beneath her, his penis repeatedly penetrating her clitoris.
"Ah—" Weng Xizhu cried out, lifting her large buttocks and slamming down hard a few times, then convulsing
as she reached orgasm. Almost simultaneously, Deng Ren also trembled and ejaculated his second wave of semen that night.
"You did well tonight!" Finally satisfied, Weng Xizhu
kissed Deng Ren's round face with lingering pleasure, but Deng Ren was in agony—he was truly afraid that one day he would be drained dry by a she-wolf-like woman, and he
couldn't help but think of that charming figure in the Shenxianju.
With a long sigh, he pulled the quilt over them and said, "Go to sleep." Suddenly, he became alert to a tall,
masked man in black standing beside the bed.
Weng Xizhu screamed and shrank to the side. The man drew his knife and pressed it against them, saying in a muffled voice, "Don't make a sound. Tell me,
where is the Jade Doll?"
Deng Ren's eyes darted around. "The mansion was robbed the night before last. I suppose it was stolen."
"That's right. I was the one that night. I didn't find the Jade Doll at all, so it must still be in your mansion
. If you don't tell me..." The man made a slashing motion.
Deng Ren, terrified, told the truth, "I gave the Jade Doll away."
Weng Xizhu glanced at Deng Ren in surprise. Before she could reprimand him, she saw the man in black pull down his mask, revealing a
prominent scar. It was none other than her father's beloved general, Baili Ben. She was about to reprimand him when she noticed Weng Taibei
standing in front of the door, his face grim as he stared at her and her husband.
Chapter Fifteen: Bait to Catch the Golden Turtle
Several days passed quickly. Under the guise of apprehending criminals, the nine gates and streets of the capital were under strict scrutiny, causing widespread panic
. The people, fearing the power of the Imperial Guards, dared not speak out.
Around Zhengyang Gate and south to Xianyu Kou and Langfang Hutong, workshops lined the streets
, attracting merchants from all walks of life, from money shops and banks to jewelry and jade shops. To prevent petty criminals from taking advantage of the situation to disrupt the peace of the capital,
large fences were erected in the streets and alleys starting in the first year of the Hongzhi reign, open during the day and closed at night, which ironically became a popular place for entertainment in the capital.
Along Langfang Fourth Alley, there were many teahouses, offering snacks and even having stages. Each teahouse
had performers of variety plays, southern operas, and storytelling to attract customers. At one teahouse, the storyteller on stage was
Liu, the famous fast-talking Liu of the capital, reciting a passage from the popular story of Journey to the West, a story that had been circulating since the previous dynasty.
At this moment, Wu Cheng'en, the great scholar who compiled various folk tales and legends into *Journey to the West*, was probably somewhere
playing in the mud with his open-crotch pants.
The second master of the Ding family was currently idly drinking tea at a table on the second floor, occasionally offering a few perfunctory shouts of "Bravo! "
When the fast-talking Liu finished recounting the story of the Great Sage being imprisoned under the Five Elements Mountain, and the audience murmured with lingering interest,
someone at the next table muttered, "It's rare for him to come out, and even listening to the story isn't satisfying. That Monkey King is so pitiful; with
such great abilities, he was still subdued by Buddha and imprisoned under the mountain for five hundred years, surviving only on molten copper and iron pellets."
Ding Shou turned his head and saw a noble young man sitting at the next table, about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in fine clothes, with
a... A steward-like figure sat down and began to advise, "Young master, there's no need to worry about this monkey. Buddha is compassionate
; the five hundred years of suffering are merely a tempering of the monkey's character. In the future, it will break free of the mountain and be given a great mission to protect Jiang Liuer as he reaches the sacred
mountain, obtains the true scriptures, and is bestowed with immortality—that would be a great fulfillment."
The young man's mind was easily soothed, and he indeed smiled. However, a sneer came from the side. The steward,
unlike his usual amiable demeanor towards his master, glared at Ding Shou, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, clearly that of
a master of internal martial arts.
Ding Shou was inwardly surprised, but his face remained impassive. "Please forgive me, both of you. I lost my composure after hearing what you said earlier.
Please forgive me."
The young man, however, was not angry. He looked at Ding Shou with interest: "Does this brother
have a different understanding of Sun Wukong's eventual attainment of enlightenment? Or do you think that Buddha should have shown leniency for such a heinous crime as causing havoc in the Heavenly Palace?"
"I dare not presume to offer an understanding. It's just that Sun Wukong, a peerless hero, ended up with an unfortunate fate of attaining enlightenment. I find it pitiful."
"Oh, isn't attaining enlightenment a good thing? Why do you use 'fate' as a comparison?" the young man asked curiously.
"Even though he attained Buddhahood, I haven't seen any temples dedicated to him. Perhaps Buddha truly harbors compassion, but there's one thing
he didn't foresee or understand. The one who endured over five hundred years of torment under the Five Elements Mountain is no longer
the carefree monkey who once called himself the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Tathagata didn't kill him, but destroyed his original self!"
Hearing this, the two remained silent. The young man's face was uncertain as he murmured, "He's no longer himself,
he's been destroyed..."
At this moment, the play on the stage had changed to "Saving the Fallen Woman." Ding Shou lost interest. A group of male actors dressed as women were making exaggerated
gestures, while his own Third Master, without needing to dress up, was far superior. He bid farewell to the two and got up to leave.
Ding Shou was pondering the origins of the two men he had just met—the young man exuding an air of nobility, his attendant discreetly lurking—when he suddenly 　　caught a whiff of wine .
Looking up, he saw a tavern on the left side of the road, its banner fluttering in the wind, bearing the four large characters "Rouge Wine Shop." He thought to himself, "What a coincidence! Could this be the tavern opened by that Blood Hand Rouge?" 　　He immediately stepped inside. A smiling old man greeted him, leading Ding Shou to sit at a table . 　　"What would you like, young master?" 　　he asked. "Bring out a jar of your finest wine, and a few snacks as you like," Ding Shou replied casually. 　　The old man responded and brought out a jar of wine. Ding Shou broke the clay seal, took a slight sniff, and exclaimed, "Old man, 　　you're teasing me! I said I wanted your finest wine!" 　　"How could I dare? This is indeed the best wine in our establishment," the old man said, flustered. 　　"I dare not speak of others, but I, young master, grew up immersed in wine. This wine is definitely not the same as the 　　one I smelled outside." 　　"Please forgive me, young master, but you may be referring to the 'Rouge Peach Blossom Wine' brewed by our owner. This wine is for his own 　　use and is never sold." 　　"What kind of talk is this? You have wine in the shop but won't give it to anyone. Are you afraid I can't afford it?" Ding Shou was never 　　one to be easily dismissed. 　　"The wine is mine. I'm happy to give it away for free if I want, but if I don't, I won't sell it even if you bring a mountain of silver." 　　A woman with a clear voice descended from upstairs. She was tall, with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, and her expression was full of shrewishness. 　　"You are..." Ding Shou asked hesitantly. 　　"This is my owner, Miss Rouge," the old man explained. " 　　Second Uncle, I'm in a bad mood today. Close the door and see the guest out," Rouge said, issuing an order to leave. 　　"Oh, so you're planning to kick me out? What if I don't want to leave?" 　　Rouge's eyebrows furrowed, and she stepped forward, intending to personally throw this pretty boy out of the shop. Suddenly, a dozen 　　Imperial Guards rushed in, the leader a man with a thick beard. "Who is Rouge? Come out and answer me." 　　Rouge looked at Ding Shou, assuming this was one of his hired help. Ding Shou shrugged, indicating it was none of his business. 　　"That's me. What is it?" She turned and walked up to the bearded man. 　　"Rouge colluded with bandits and kidnapped the master of the Deng family. We are ordered to take you to the Deng family to apologize." The bearded man said 　　imperiously. 　　Rouge's expression changed, and she was about to turn hostile when a blue figure blocked her way. "May I ask your name?" 　　The man glanced at her. "I am Zhang Biao, Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard." 　　Ding Shou bowed again and asked, "May I ask whose orders you are on?" 　　"The orders of Miss Weng, daughter of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander, who is also the mistress of the Deng family. 　　Why do you ask such questions?" 　　"Yes, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the emperor's personal guard, in charge of criminal justice, and has the power to patrol and arrest 　　. When did it become someone else's tool, used as a henchman?" 　　"Sharp-tongued, you must be an accomplice of the criminal. Arrest them all!" Zhang Biao roared. 　　The Embroidered Uniform Guards swarmed forward. If it were just about people, it wouldn't be so bad, as neither Rouge nor Ding Shou 　　could be harmed by these Embroidered Uniform Guards. Several others smashed the wine jars displayed in the shop. When "Second Uncle" stepped forward to stop 　　them, he was also knocked to the ground, which angered the tigress. 　　Rouge unleashed a 　　flurry of powerful blows, knocking down the Imperial Guards beside her. She then kicked Zhang Biao, who was being toyed with by Ding Shou, out of the wine shop and stormed off. 　　"Where is she going?" Ding Shou, smelling the bottom of a broken wine jar, thought the wine was quite good. He then 　　took a long gulp and drank it all. 　　"Oh no, oh no, she's definitely going to the Deng residence for revenge! What are we going to do? Right, go find Master Feng!" 　　Second Uncle rushed out anxiously. 　　Going to the Deng residence for revenge? What was this woman thinking? You kidnapped someone's husband, causing him 　　to suffer greatly at the hands of the Tianyou Gang. His wife sent people to cause trouble, and you beat her up. At least you were in the wrong first...

She still dares to seek revenge? This is going to be hilarious.
Inside the Deng residence, dozens of guards were locked in a fierce battle with Rouge, each fighting to the death. It's getting out of hand now
. This little vixen, relying on her martial arts skills, actually slapped the young lady. If they can't stop her and Lord Weng finds out, they
'd rather be beaten to death by this woman now.
As the saying goes, one man fighting desperately is invincible, let alone these guards who were all determined to die.
After the two commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Qu Xingwu and Ding Yanshan, joined the battle, Rouge could no longer escape. These two were
inseparable when they traveled the martial world, their nine-section Soul-Chasing Whip and crescent-shaped hand hooks working in perfect harmony. Later, they
were recruited by Weng Taibei, and although their official positions rose higher and higher, their martial arts skills never declined. Rouge frequently used her ultimate technique, the Blood Seal Divine Palm,
which could force the two away but was powerless to break through. Gradually, her internal energy ran out. At Qu Xingwu's whistle, a large
net descended from the sky, and eight Embroidered Uniform Guards each held a corner of it, firmly locking Rouge in place. Weng Xizhu coldly snorted and stepped forward, ordering
the woman to be thrown into the dungeon of the mansion.
Suddenly, a figure leaped from the rooftop, landing and heading straight for the rope net. The surrounding Imperial Guards were no match for him, falling to the ground one after
another. He grabbed the net and shook it, causing the guards
gripping it tightly to feel a powerful force pierce through their palms. They lost their grip and quickly released their hold. Qu Xingwu and Ding Yanshan couldn't reach him in time and were caught by the net he had already seized
. The two scrambled to avoid it, and the figure, supporting Yan Zhi, gave a soft shout, "Go!" and
leaped onto the mansion wall. Without pausing, he touched the top of the wall with his toes and disappeared.
A gray figure leaped and bounded across the rooftop, his loose gray hair flying in the wind. Feng Ping
gripped the twelve throwing knives tightly in his hands. If anything happened to Yan Zhi, he vowed to repay her tenfold with these knives. His heart was
filled with anxiety. The usually low-key man disregarded the public outcry and used his lightness skill in broad daylight, all to save Yan Zhi in time.
"Feng Ping, come down."
Feng Ping was startled; the voice was all too familiar. Looking down, he saw a smiling face—it was Rouge.
He leaped down. "Rouge, are you alright? I heard from Second Uncle that you went to the Deng residence to seek revenge. I…"
"I'm fine. I taught Weng Xizhu a lesson. The Little God of Wealth's Mansion is indeed full of hidden talents. Even the legendary 'One Whip, Double
Hooks' has joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard." Rouge gently stroked her long hair that fell to her chest.
"Qu Xingwu and Ding Yanshan? They're in the Little God of Wealth's Mansion? Then… you're not injured, are you?"
"I'm perfectly fine. Although I almost lost my hand, luckily someone saved me." Rouge
avoided his concern, as she had nothing to repay him with.
"Saved you? Where is the person who saved you?" Feng Ping pressed on. "He left. He just said I owe him a jar of good wine and will come back to collect it later." Rouge 　　smiled
, remembering the man's roguish appearance . 　　"To dare offend such a powerful figure as the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard for a mere jar of fine wine? This man shares my taste; I 　　must befriend him sometime. I also have a few jars of fine wine at my disposal; we can share a drink." Seeing that Rouge was unharmed, 　　Feng Ping regained his usual magnanimity. 　　"You men are all like this, treating like-minded people as confidants, willing to give them anything." 　　Rouge suddenly became angry and turned to leave. 　　Feng Ping knew the reason for Rouge's anger, but he truly didn't know how to explain. He knew Rouge 　　was deeply in love with Guo Xu, but Guo Xu kept avoiding Rouge in a vague and ambiguous way. If the two were destined for each other, he 　　could only offer his heartfelt blessings. But it was precisely this entanglement that made him unwilling to back down. He was afraid, afraid that if he took a step back, he would 　　never be able to be with Rouge again. Watching Rouge's retreating figure, he hesitated, ultimately not chasing after her. 　　That day, as Ding Shoufu entered the Eastern Depot, a spy came to report that the Third Chief had returned. Ding Shoufu strode into 　　the main hall and saw Bai Shaochuan just taking his seat. Judging from the situation, he had finished reporting to Liu Jin. Liu Jin, seeing Ding Shoufu, said, "You've come 　　at the right time. Xiao Chuan has already investigated. The man is Yun San from Yun Family Manor, and the woman is his brother Yun Wu's 　　fiancée. After leaving the city, they fell into the Tang Clan's trap and were both poisoned. They encountered Xin Li, known in the martial arts world as the 'Fast Sword,' and were 　　just taken to the Changfeng Escort Agency. Now, after going around in circles, the Jade Doll has returned to the capital. If Weng Taibei 　　finds them again, all our efforts will have been in vain." 　　Bai Shaochuan ... Bai Shaochuan stepped forward and bowed to admit his guilt. Ding Shou asked in bewilderment, "Since they were poisoned by the Tang Clan, Brother Bai could have 　　cured them on the way. Why make them come all the way back?" 　　Bai Shaochuan smiled bitterly, "This is difficult for me. The poison Yun San was poisoned with wasn't from the Tang Clan, but rather 　　'Corpse-Rotting Poison' obtained by Tang Sangu from the Yan family of Xiangxi. I don't have the antidote. Unless it's a descendant of the Shen family of Golden Needles, who can use golden needles 　　to lock the acupoints all over the body and force the poison to a single point for slow expulsion, I'm afraid it's beyond what Xun Yue can do." 　　Ding Shou pondered for a moment and said, "I remember Brother Bai saying that the Yun, Guo, and Cheng families are sworn brothers, and Guo Xu is 　　a man of righteousness." 　　"That's right. If there's still one person left in this world willing to go to great lengths for a friend, it must be Guo Xu." 　　"Then what are we worried about? Now that they've entered the escort agency, how can they not care? It's just as well as letting the people from the Changfeng Escort Agency 　　get involved in this mess." Ding Shou laughed. 　　Liu Jin chuckled, "Love is a shackle; less is more. You all should take this as 　　a warning. Xiao Chuan, rest for a few days. Shou'er, keep a close eye on Changfeng Escort Agency; make sure nothing goes wrong." 　　Ding Shou accepted the order, thinking to himself that it was time to see his old acquaintances. 　　************ 　　Shang Liu was very happy these days. He had worked hard for most of his life, only getting married in his fifties, and having 　　a son at sixty. His son's mother was not even thirty. Even for a martial artist, such energy and stamina were rare 　　. Moreover, the two young masters had reconciled and were going to resume their escort agency business. Even if he were to die now, he would have the face to meet the two old masters in the afterlife. He was overjoyed, and even his manhood 　　was brimming with excitement 　　every day . Madam Shang 　　, respectfully addressed as "Sixth Sister-in-law" by everyone in the escort agency, had just finished nursing her child after noon and taken a nap when her husband rushed 　　in excitedly. She was stripped naked and he took his time for almost half an hour . Shang Liu, who had practiced martial arts since childhood and had never been near a 　　woman, seemed to have inexhaustible energy now that he was finally experiencing lust. He pressed her soft, white body beneath him, his old but still hard 　　penis thrusting wildly in and out of her vagina. 　　"Master... I really can't take it anymore... um..."

Just as Shang Liu was about to ride off at full speed, someone came to report that a young master had arrived
, specifically requesting an audience with him. Though displeased, Shang Liu never neglected matters concerning the escort agency, so he rose, dressed , and
went to greet him.
The man appeared to be under twenty, dressed in a blue robe, with handsome features, though a strange hint of wickedness lingered in his eyes
. He looked familiar, but Shang Liu couldn't quite place where he had seen him before.
The man bowed and said, "It's been over three years since we shared drinks at the roadside inn on the Xuanda Road .
Sixth Master, you're still as dashing as ever, congratulations!"
"Oh, it's Young Master Ding. Long time no see. Please come to the hall for tea," Shang Liu said, gesturing for him to enter.
After entering the room and taking a seat, Ding Shou, without waiting for Shang Liu to speak, said, "I have come today with two matters. First, I heard that your esteemed
escort agency's eldest daughter, Cheng Caiyu, suffered a knife wound a few days ago, and I have specially prepared 'Snow Lotus Muscle Regeneration Powder,' which is effective in promoting blood circulation and muscle regeneration,
ensuring no scarring." "
I have long heard that 'Snow Lotus Muscle Regeneration Powder' is a secret medicine of the imperial court. May I ask where you obtained it?" A clear and melodious voice, like
a nightingale emerging from a valley, led a beautiful woman out from the back hall.
The two stood up. Shang Liu called out, "Young Miss," and Ding Shou, feigning ignorance, bowed and said, "So you are Miss Cheng
. I am Ding Shou, an old friend of Sixth Master."
Cheng Caiyu glanced at Shang Liu casually, her eyes seeking confirmation. Shang Liu understood and quickly said, "That's right,
Young Miss. Young Master Ding and I met once three years ago."
With a soft "oh," Cheng Caiyu realized that Shang Liu was also unaware of this man's background. She invited the two to return to their seats and
sat down in the main seat, saying, "Caiyu is but a humble woman, unworthy of the imperial secret medicine. Please, sir, take it back."
"Young Miss, you are too kind. Although this medicine is extraordinary, it is still just an object. As long as it is used properly, what does its
value matter?"
"The laws of the court are strict, and Caiyu dares not overstep them."
"Well, to be honest, I came here firstly to deliver the medicine, and secondly, if Young Miss refuses to accept it,
it would be difficult to say so," Ding Shou said awkwardly.
Cheng Caiyu and Shang Liu exchanged a glance. "Young Master Ding, do you perhaps have something to ask of me?"
"Indeed, I do have something to ask of you, so please don't stand on ceremony and accept this medicine, Miss."
"Then what is it that you wish to ask, Young Master?"
"Well, I currently serve the Eastern Depot..." Ding Shou had no choice but to answer.
Cheng Caiyu and Shang Liu felt a chill run down their spines. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard was known throughout the land, the Eastern Depot's infamous reputation was even greater.
Now that the two members of the Yun family were under the protection of the escort agency, they had become wanted criminals by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It was hard to say whether the people from the Eastern Depot had ill intentions.
Ding Shou, fully aware of their thoughts, continued, "Some time ago, I happened to encounter your Chief Guo
and Swift Swordsman Xin Li on the street. Xin Li was chasing the lecherous thief Cui Wanshan in the bustling city. To avoid disturbing the people, I intercepted him, intending to hand him over
to the Three Judicial Offices. However, the thief was cunning and escaped. Xin Li's whereabouts are unknown. Please ask Chief Guo to convey my apologies.
As for this 'Skin Regenerating Powder,' it may be precious to others, but it's not hard to find within the capital. All of the above is true, and
I hope Miss will not worry."
Cheng Caiyu pondered for a moment, "Very well, Caiyu will certainly convey your message. As for this medicine..."
Ding Shou hurriedly said, "I hope you will accept it." "
Then it would be impolite of me to refuse. Caiyu thanks Young Master Ding 　　." Cheng Caiyu 　　curtsied in thanks.
********** ... 　　Guo Xu frowned and said, "The man I saw that day was arrogant and overbearing. Why would he come to apologize for a fugitive ? 　　There must be something fishy going on." Young Master Guo had truly wronged Master Ding; this man was always very polite to beautiful women 　　. 　　"Indeed, although I haven't fought him, the fact that he could withstand my 'Heart-Piercing Sword' shows his skill is 　　considerable. To let Cui Wanshan escape from him is laughable." It was none other than Xin Li, but at this moment, he was 　　pale and very weak, coughing violently as he spoke. 　　Chu Chu, who was supporting Yun San, hurriedly went over to massage his back and chest. Once he had caught his breath, she said with concern, "It 　　's all because you were helping me expel the poison and heal my wounds, which damaged Brother Xin's internal strength." 　　Xin Li looked back and smiled, "It's just a minor internal injury; it will heal in a while. Miss Chu Chu , you're too kind 　　." 　　Cai Yu asked, "Sixth Master, you've known this person the longest. What's your opinion?" 　　Shang Liu shook his head, "It's hard to say. We only had a meal together that day. At first glance, I felt this young man was unfamiliar with the ways of the martial world, 　　just a greenhorn. But he seemed to have a wide-ranging personality and enjoyed making friends. Who knew that more than three years later, he was already an official? Once you enter 　　the corrupting influence of officialdom, it's hard to say what kind of person you become." 　　Cai Yu nodded, "I'm worried about that too. The Embroidered Uniform Guard already suspects that Brother Yun San and Chu Chu are hiding in a security escort agency. With 　　the methods of the Eastern Depot, it shouldn't be difficult for them to find out. I'm just afraid that this apology to Xin Li is actually a warning shot." 　　"What's there to be afraid of? Whether it's the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Eastern Depot, do you think they can just barge into the escort agency 　　and arrest someone without any evidence? Even if they come, they'll have to ask if my iron dragon-patterned staff agrees!" These words, spoken with boundless pride, came 　　from Cheng Tieyi, the second-in-command who had recently returned to the escort agency. 　　"Alas—in the end, it's still me who has caused trouble for the Changfeng Escort Agency, troubling everyone," 　　Yun Sanyu said apologetically, his hands tightly wrapped in gauze. 　　"Third Brother, what are you saying? The Yun, Guo, and Cheng families are old friends; let's not be so formal," 　　Caiyu and the others advised. 　　"Fire! Oh no, fire!" 　　"Assassins! Everyone be careful!" 　　Shouts from outside startled everyone, who realized that the assassins had indeed arrived. 　　********** 　　...

Bai Shaochuan chuckled, "It's most likely that young lady's doing. Weng Xizhu lost her mother at a young age and
was raised by Weng Taibei, who took on the role of her mother. She didn't learn any of Weng Taibei's good qualities, but she picked up his domineering and unreasonable ways perfectly
. Deng Ren could give a gift bestowed by the emperor to a courtesan; naturally, the proud and arrogant young lady Weng wouldn't swallow such an insult."
Ding Shou leaned back in his chair and laughed, "Lord Weng must have had quite a bit of trouble with such a daughter and son-in-law."
His eyes darted around, "Brother Bai, how have you been resting lately?"
Bai Shaochuan replied with a puzzled look, "Thank you for your concern, Brother Ding. I'm fine."
"That's perfect. Tomorrow I'm going out of the city to visit a friend. I'll leave things in the city to you, Brother Bai." Ding 　　Shou cupped
his hands in greeting to Bai Shaochuan.
********** ... 　　Ding Shou strolled along the riverbank, arriving at a small courtyard surrounded by several thatched huts. He seriously doubted that Ji 　　Quan had found the address correctly; he hadn't expected that Old Mo, with his shrewd and mercenary appearance, would have such an elegant residence. 　　"Is Old Mo here?" Ding Shou called out loudly from outside the courtyard. 　　"Who's making such a racket? Can't an old man like me get some sleep?" A grumbling voice followed, then 　　the sound of shuffling shoes. A sleepy-eyed old face appeared from inside the doorway. "You are 　　—Brother Ding?" 　　"Old Mo has a good memory, it is indeed me," Ding Shou said with a smile. 　　"I rely on my extensive knowledge to make a living. If my memory were bad, I would starve to death, haha 　　. Please come in," Mo Yan said politely. 　　Ding Shou followed him into the house. The furnishings were simple: a table, two chairs, and a couch. Surprisingly, it was quite tidy. Ding Shou 　　opened the food box he was carrying and took out the dishes one by one. Finally, he broke the clay seal on the wine jar he had brought, 　　releasing a rich aroma of wine. 　　Mo Yan sniffed, "Good wine indeed." He couldn't wait to sit down and started eating and drinking without any ceremony, enjoying himself 　　immensely. 　　"When visiting Elder Mo, one naturally brings good wine. It's the famous 'Rouge Peach Blossom Wine' from the capital. Ordinary people rarely see even a jar of it," 　　Ding Shou replied with a smile. Rouge had disappeared sometime earlier, leaving the winery to the old manager. Before leaving, she had said that whenever Mo Yan wanted to come, he could 　　drink as much "Rouge Peach Blossom Wine" as he pleased. Turning his head and looking around, he inadvertently noticed a vase by the window with a bunch of peach blossoms in it. 　　"Old Mo, you're truly refined. Drinking wine and appreciating flowers in your humble abode, you have the air of the Wei and Jin dynasties." 　　Mo Yan glanced at the bunch of peach blossoms. "I, an old man, don't have that kind 　　of taste. These are decorations that Luo Xiaoya makes after she finishes tidying up the house. After all, it's a token of her affection, so even if I don't like them, I can't throw them away 　　, can I?" "Well, Uncle Mo, you say you don't like the peach branches that someone painstakingly picked for you? Let's see if I'll still let 　　you drink from now on." A clear and gentle voice rang out as a beautiful young woman entered, lifting the curtain with her sword . 　　Ding Shou's heart skipped a beat. This woman's steps were light, and her breaths were long. It was clear at a glance that she cultivated 　　authentic Xuanmen internal energy techniques and had reached a considerable level. There was such a young master hidden in the capital. 　　"Hehe, don't be offended, little Luo. You know your Uncle Mo is old and has a sharp tongue, he doesn't mean what he says. If you're still not satisfied, 　　take your jade hibiscus and chop your Uncle Mo a few times." At this moment, Mo Yan was not acting like a brat in the roadside inn, but instead 　　smiled and tried to please the little girl. 　　"Uncle Mo is bullying children. If I hurt you, my father will punish me to death when we get home," the little girl 　　said coquettishly. 　　"Don't mind that old geezer. If he dares to punish you, I'll go and teach him a lesson. Come on, come on, chop him if you want." Well, Mo 　　Yan is getting serious now. 　　"Aren't you afraid of being laughed at for being so disrespectful to your age?" The little girl grabbed Mo Yan's sleeve and shook it, 　　indicating that Ding Shou was still present. 　　"Oh, Miss Luo, I haven't had a chance to introduce you yet. This young master is your Uncle Mo's little friend, named Ding— 　　um, Ding—" Mo Yan didn't have the ability to remember people after just one glance. 　　It was already difficult enough for him to recognize Ding Shou from more than three years ago, let alone recall Ding Shou's name. 　　"I am Ding Shou, greetings to the young lady." Ding Shou stepped forward and bowed. "Yes, yes 　　, yes, Young Master Ding Shou, this is the renowned 'Thunderbolt Heroine' 　　Luo Jinfeng, whose 'Jade Hibiscus' sword is famous throughout the martial world." Mo Yan nodded and praised. 　　"So it's the renowned Lady Luo! I've heard so 　　much about you, it's a pleasure to meet you." Ding Shou wasn't just being polite. Since he was working for the Eastern Depot, he needed to know about all the big shots in the capital. Ji Quan had once said that the martial arts figures in the capital, especially those 　　who were "the next Mengchang" ( 　　a reference to a legendary figure known for his generosity), were worth paying attention to. Old Man Luo had connections everywhere and a wide circle of friends. Whether they were from the righteous or the underworld, if they came to him in trouble, he would definitely lend a helping hand. He had earned the reputation of "always ready to help" in the martial arts world. Moreover, 　　none of his family members were easy to deal with. His wife was the infamous female demon "Shura 　　Fairy" Feng Xiyan, who was famous in the martial arts world twenty years ago. This woman had single-handedly killed the "Seven Wolves of Tianshan" since she debuted from Tianshan and single-handedly conquered the twenty-eight strongholds of Longgan. 　　Countless skilled people had fallen at her hands. Her daughter, Luo Jinfeng, came from a family with a long tradition of martial arts and had also studied under the Jing'an Sect of Emei, where she was taught 　　the "Nine Styles of Wind and Thunder." The title "Swift Thunder Heroine" was not something that a busybody would embellish. 　　Although Luo Jinfeng possessed high martial arts skills, she was quite shy. Upon hearing this, her pretty face flushed red. "Young Master, please don't listen to Uncle Mo's nonsense 　　. 'Thunderbolt Heroine' and such are all baseless fabrications and shouldn't be taken seriously." 　　"What nonsense? This is real skill. It's just those gossipy wanderers who favor sons over daughters. What 　　'Parting Songs of Sorrow, Cherishing Flowers Without Worry'? If the Four Young Masters of the Martial World really wanted to compete with you, wouldn't they be beaten to a pulp 　　?" 　　"Uncle Mo loves to talk nonsense when he drinks. Those four young masters are renowned heroes in the martial world. How 　　could a little girl like me compare? If word gets out, they'll laugh at my overestimation of myself. If they don't 　　hold it against me, fine. But if they think 'two tigers cannot share one mountain' and challenge me to a duel, I'll drag them here 　　and say you're the one who spread the rumors. Let's see how you deal with that." 　　"Well, I doubt those spendthrifts would bother making the long journey to the capital for something like this..." 　　Mo Yan said, then, feeling that these young people in the underworld were unreliable, he asked Ding Shou uncertainly, 　　"Do you think they'll come, Brother Ding?" 　　"Oh, I guess so." 　　Mo Yan's face turned pale with fright. "Why?" 　　"Two tigers cannot share one mountain, unless—" Ding Shou deliberately dragged out his words.

"Unless what?" Mo Yan pressed, as if grasping at a straw.
"Unless one is male and one is female," Ding Shou replied seriously.
"Pfft," Luo Jinfeng chuckled.
"Hahaha," Mo Yan laughed heartily.
After a long chat, Ding Shou learned that despite Mo Yan's miserable state, he and Luo Yanbei, a wealthy man from the Nine Cities,
were childhood friends. Mo Yan had an eccentric personality; he would shamelessly freeload everywhere, but never accepted any money from Luo Yanbei
. Every now and then, Luo Jinfeng would come to visit her old friend on behalf of her father, helping to tidy up the house and bringing
some household items.
As the sun set, Luo Jinfeng returned to the city, and Ding Shou also got up to say goodbye. The two traveled together,
and Ding Shou's witty remarks kept the usually blushing female warrior laughing so hard she almost fell over, her face flushed and quite
endearing. They only parted reluctantly at the gates of their own mansion. In the martial world, secrets seem to be forever absent. Although the
Changfeng
Escort Agency remained tight-lipped about the Jade Doll,
the news that it had fallen into their hands spread like wildfire thanks to those with ulterior motives
.
The Shu Road was arduous, and Changchunzi, the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, hurriedly led his six disciples northward through Huguang.
In Baoding Prefecture, Tang Song, the second young master of the Tang Clan, joined forces with Tang Clan reinforcements and met up with Tang Sangu. In Huazhou Prefecture
, Shaanxi, the three disciples of the Huashan Sect, known as the "Three Heroes of Huashan," who had rarely ventured into the martial world in recent years,
descended the mountain and traveled through Henan Prefecture. In
Qixing Fortress in the southern desert, after reading a message sent by carrier pigeon, the fortress lord, Du Xingye, ordered all his disciples to pack their belongings and enter the pass.
In a small building of a large mansion in Jinan City, amidst green curtains and red tents, the Tianyou Gang leader, Sima Xiao, still sporting a man's hairstyle,
extended his tongue to suck the sweat from his female disciple Murong Bai's breasts.
"Mmm...mmm...Master..." Murong Bai returned Sima Xiao's kiss, and Sima Xiao stopped,
straightening her upper body and straddling Murong Bai's face, making it easier for her to caress her own honeypot. One
hand pinched her disciple's breast, while the other teased her between her legs.
After a moment, Murong Bai's mouth was no longer enough to satisfy her desires. Sima Xiao reached out and lifted her right leg
, then opened her own legs and crossed them with hers, pressing their honeypots together tightly, and then began
to rub them vigorously.
Murong Bai's pubic hair was very soft, and when it was soaked with her vaginal fluid, it clung to the area around her vulva, providing Sima
Xiao with little stimulation. On the contrary, Sima Xiao's pubic hair was black, shiny, thick, and long, constantly
penetrating Murong Bai's vagina during their intimate moments. Murong Bai could not withstand such intense and continuous attacks, and wave after wave of orgasms
surged through her. She quickly climaxed on Sima Xiao's body, and the two of them lay on top of each other, panting heavily on the bed
, before slowly calming down after a long time.
Sima Xiao sat up, draped a moon-white undergarment over his shoulders, leaving it open and unfastened, revealing most of his ample breasts.
Just as he was about to rise, Murong Bai, regaining her senses, coiled around him like a snake. "Master, please forgive
me. Your disciple has not served
you to your heart's content." Sima Xiao's fascination with women wasn't entirely driven by personal desire, but rather by an inexplicable emotion
. Looking at his disciple's delicate face, he would normally have offered gentle words of comfort, but now,
the image that appeared before him was that spirited and beautiful figure on the outskirts of the capital. He said softly, " "It's alright, you can go to sleep."
At this moment, someone outside the door reported that the Jade Doll had been found and had fallen into the hands of Guo Xu of the Changfeng Escort Agency. Sima Xiao stood up and
gave the order: "Order Chief Protector Zuo Chong to lead the eight protectors to the location. The four hall masters of Heaven, Earth, and Netherworld shall all be under his command. Do not
let the Jade Doll fall into the hands of others."
Three days later, the Changfeng Escort Agency set off in grand style. When leaving the city, the Imperial Guards, due to the presence of Prince Rong to see them off,
only conducted a cursory inspection and let them pass. As the escort vehicle left the city, a faint rumble of thunder sounded in the sky. Spring thunder rolled, and all things awoke.

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