Iron Man and Darling - Part 1 (Full Text)

Iron Man and Darling (H)
Author: Northern Pervert

[Chapter 1] Ten Years of Jianghu Night Talk

"Chapter 1" Ten Years of Jianghu Night Talk Sixty Thousand Mountains, located in the eastern part of western Guangdong, near the southern part of eastern Guangdong, has its main peak as "Nine Cloud Ridge". Twenty years ago, it became a major battlefield that shocked the Jianghu. Later, the martial arts world called it "The Meeting of the Four Extremes and Eight Desolations at Nine Clouds". In that battle, those caught in the vortex included the top masters of the major sects of the Central Plains and the righteous and evil masters of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, as well as countless strange people. To this day, this place is still a place for the current martial arts world to commemorate and yearn for.
This is the day before the Dragon Boat Festival. From dawn, at the T-junction at the foot of Nine Cloud Ridge, many people from other places came, which were very different from usual. There was a teahouse that had been open at the T-junction for decades and did not find it strange for people from other places to come and go. But today was different. All the people who came were martial arts guests. The teahouse was small, but there were many customers. It was packed with people, and the teahouse named "Nine Cloud Pavilion" could hardly accommodate them.
Just then, a reckless man rushed into the teahouse, shouting, "Master Ding, it's terrible! The story from twenty years ago is playing out again! Everyone come and see..."
A middle-aged man reacted faster than the other patrons, standing up abruptly and saying, "Er Gouzi, what did you say?"
The burly man who rushed into the teahouse roared, "Two old men, two young men, and two young women, they're fighting fiercely, but..."
"Damn it! But what? Speak quickly!" Master Ding rushed to the burly man.
Er Gouzi, panting heavily, said, "They're divided into three areas, not two sides, and seem to have no connection whatsoever." Master Ding wanted to ask something more, but seeing everyone rushing out of the teahouse, he couldn't bring himself to ask. Ignoring Er Gouzi, he immediately joined the surging crowd, truly like a whirlwind.
Below Jiuyun Ridge lay a rugged, barren landscape. Here, in a hollow of scattered rocks, three fighting arenas appeared. To the east, two young men, one Hui and one Han, each wielded renowned swords, their blades gleaming coldly. They fought with deadly ferocity, each displaying their unique skills. Two young women, however, moved with incredible speed and agility, their swords flashing at their waists, their four palms moving like lightning, sending sand and stones flying. Even more astonishing were two elderly men amidst the thorns, their feet treading the thorns as if on flat ground. Each was in their seventies, yet their movements were like dragons and phoenixes dancing, their fists and palms striking each other with the force of thunder, their shouts echoing endlessly. More than thirty teahouse patrons arrived, but by then, there were no good spots left to watch; the crowd outnumbered them several times over.
"This is truly a rare duel, a sight not seen for twenty years," an elderly man in his sixties remarked involuntarily from the crowd.
"Brother! Do you recognize any of the three groups involved in this duel?" This was Master Ding, who happened to be beside the old man and couldn't help but lean closer to ask softly.
The old man didn't answer, but turned his head and said, "Brother, I just heard that big man call you Master Ding?"
Master Ding replied, "I dare not! My name is Ding Chong, please enlighten me." Master Ding politely cupped his hands in greeting.
The old man nodded and said, "Do you recognize Ding Sansheng, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of the Zhennan镖局 (escort agency)?"
Master Ding quickly cupped his hands again and said, "That's my elder brother."
The old man smiled and said, "When you return to the镖局 (escort agency), please give my regards to your brother. Just tell him that I, Tao Xiling, haven't seen him in a long time."
Ding Chong exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! So you are my benefactor! I'm truly ashamed, my apologies!" Ding Chong quickly bowed deeply.
The old man said, "Brother Ding, in this situation, you should be more discreet. Do you want to know who the opposing sides are?"
Ding Chong replied, "Please enlighten me! I've been roaming the martial world for over twenty years, how come I've never seen them before? Leaving aside the young ones, what about those two old men?..."
The old man, Tao Xiling, said solemnly, "If you're talking about second-rate figures from both the righteous and the wicked in the martial world, it's understandable that you don't recognize them, but these six people before us, even I only discovered them in the last month."
Ding Chong said, "My benefactor, please tell me about those two young ladies first."
Tao Xiling nodded and said, "Let's start with the young lady in white. Her father is the renowned Gongsun Du."
Ding Chong exclaimed, "Ah! The 'Four Seas Divine Constable,' famous throughout the martial world forty years ago, now has such a powerful daughter."
The old man Tao said, "Gongsun Du has long since retired, but he is still highly regarded by the princes and nobles of the capital. Whenever there is a major criminal case, although he doesn't personally appear, he still controls the famous constables of the world. This young lady is the one who represents him." Her name is Gongsun Hong. Not only has she mastered her family's martial arts, but she also has a distinguished background. However, today she has encountered a formidable opponent. Although she hasn't suffered a crushing defeat, she has no hope of winning.
Ding Chong said, "My benefactor, that girl in red's palm technique is peculiar, and her attacks are extremely insidious. It is indeed poisonous, and its variations are unpredictable. This is the first time I've seen this girl. What school or sect does she belong to?"
Old Man Tao sighed heavily and said, "Twenty years ago, the great battle known as the 'Gathering of the Four Extremes and Eight Desolations and the Nine Clouds' took place here. You must know the cause of it, right?"
Ding Chong said, "I heard it was caused by the split between the 'two major sects'?"
Old Man Tao said, "That's right!" The two major sects were embroiled in internal strife, vying for leadership. This prompted righteous figures to speak out for justice, but it also attracted the attention of evil sects from all corners of the land, resulting in widespread death and destruction. The Antarctic Sect was wiped out, and its leader disappeared without a trace. The Arctic Sect achieved a great victory, but also lost 80% of its experts and withdrew from the Central Plains..."
Ding Chong asked, "My benefactor, you are a master of the martial world, knowledgeable in everything. When Gu Bufan, the leader of the Arctic Sect, left the Central Plains, did he take the leader of the Antarctic Sect with him?"
Old Man Tao sighed, "This is a topic of differing accounts among martial artists. When Che Ziqiang, the leader of the Antarctic Sect, collapsed within his own sect, he vanished without a trace, his fate a mystery. If he is dead, who has seen his body? Furthermore, five or six years after the great battle, Gu Bufan, the leader of the Arctic Sect, even continued to send experts to the Central Plains to search for something?"
Ding Chong asked, "Is this girl in red the daughter of Gu Bufan, the leader of the Arctic Sect?"
Old Man Tao nodded and said, "Gu Bufan has one son and three daughters, all of whom are peerless in martial arts. This girl is named Gu Tianying, and her reputation in the Northwest is louder than thunder." Ding
Chong said, "Wow! Could she be the one known in the Northwest martial arts world as 'Frosty Spirit Soul'?"
Old Man Tao said, "That's right! This girl is already married. Her husband is a Russian, a demon who kills people for breakfast."
Ding Chong exclaimed, "Hehe! Could it be 'Flying Hungry Tiger'? My elder brother once encountered him."
Old Man Tao said, "Your brother went to the Northwest frontier?"
Ding Chong said, "Not only did he go, but he also lost 300,000 taels of government silver. Now my elder brother makes a living by bodyguarding small goods. Although 300,000 taels of government silver can't bankrupt him, no one wants him to bodyguard large goods anymore."
Old Man Tao sighed, "On that escort mission, he probably encountered 'Flying Hungry Tiger' Hou Guan. Your brother is a relatively easygoing person. If he hadn't been willing to accept it, he would probably have died at Hou Guan's hands." Ding Chong said, “
My benefactor is incredibly insightful. Two years ago, when my elder brother saw the silver shipment had gone awry, he investigated for ten days. When he heard it was the work of ‘Flying Hungry Tiger,’ he immediately left Yumen Pass.” As he said this, he stared at the woman in red, muttering something unintelligible.
Old Man Tao understood and sighed, “Are you worried that the two of them will cause chaos inside?”
Ding Chong said, “When ‘Frost Spirit Soul’ Gu Tianying arrives, ‘Flying Hungry Tiger’ Hou Guan will naturally appear.”
Old Man Tao said, “I also saw her brother ‘Arctic Dragon God’ Gu Qingfeng and her second sister ‘Mirror Beauty’ Gu Tianying.”
Ding Chong was shocked and said, “Are these two siblings even more powerful than ‘Frost Spirit Soul’ Gu Tianying?”
Old Man Tao said, “Gu Tianying is not as good as her sister, nor is she ruthless. She is not worth worrying about. Her brother, Gu Qingfeng, is a very formidable fellow. His cunning and martial arts skills are unmatched among the younger generation. However, among the siblings, there is one girl they fear.” Ding Chong asked in surprise, "
Who is that girl?"
Old Man Tao said, "She's also the daughter of Gu Bufan, the leader of the Arctic Sect. She's the youngest, named Tianhong. Her fame is so great that she's known as the 'Peerless Twin Swords' in the Northwest frontier. She's beautiful, good-natured, and her martial arts are superb—she's nothing like Gu Bufan's daughter."
At this point, the three fights had reached a life-or-death stage, but Old Man Tao laughed instead, "If you want to see some truly impressive moves, this is the time! Brother, what they're displaying goes from profound martial arts to truly rare and extraordinary techniques."
Ding Chong said, "My benefactor, I'm not trying to belittle myself, but I can't even distinguish the moves anymore. However, I'm very curious about that casually dressed young man. Although his swordplay doesn't have many variations, the momentum of his movements is truly awe-inspiring."
Old Man Tao said, "This man has only been practicing in the Northeast for two or three years, but his reputation is so great that even children fear him."
Ding Chong said, "Ah! He's the one known as the 'Messenger of Death'?"
Old Man Tao laughed loudly, "Haha!" You've never seen him, yet you've heard of his name? That's right, "Messenger of Death" Ma Buluan is indeed a well-known figure in the Northeast martial arts world. However, he's actually a disciple of the Kongtong Sect, a sect not highly regarded by the major sects of the Central Plains. His "Eight Forms of Dragon and Tiger" sword technique is Kongtong's treasured art, lost for eighty years and then regained.
Ding Chong asked, "And who is that young man?"
Old Man Tao frowned. "Of course you've heard of the newly emerging 'Nine Swords Sect'?"
Ding Chong said, "The sect leader is 'Ancient Sword Soul' Tu Guangfeng. Is this young man his son?"
Old Man Tao sighed, "His father is one of the hegemons of the Central Plains, but his son is a playboy on both sides of the Qinhuai River, known as the 'Qinhuai Prince.' Besides challenging people to sword duels, he's a frequent visitor to brothels."
Ding Chong said, "It seems 'Messenger of Death' Ma Buluan has the upper hand, and the 'Qinhuai Prince' is retreating towards the peak. What kind of fighting style is this?" "
Old Tao said, 'This kid is up to no good! He's probably going to use a hidden weapon from above, but he'll miscalculate. Ma Bulan is a master of hidden weapons. It looks like Young Master Qinhuai, Tu Yikuai, is doomed.' Before he finished speaking, Young Master Qinhuai silently flipped over and swung his left arm, sending out three small objects. In an instant, Ma Bulan shouted and simultaneously swung his left arm, unleashing four small objects. Three of them knocked down Young Master Qinhuai's hidden weapons, while the other went straight for Tu Yikuai's throat. His attempt to steal a chicken failed, and Tu Yikuai cried out in pain, drawing his sword and fleeing.
'Haha...' Old Tao laughed!
'That kid's lucky, only a small wound.' Just as Old Tao was feeling smug, 'Frosty Spirit Soul' Gu Tianying forced the white-clad woman Gongsun Hong into a desperate situation, and Ding Chong couldn't help but shout in alarm."
Old Man Tao gave him a push, saying, "It's alright, there's a savior."
Ding Chong asked doubtfully, "A savior? Who has the ability to save him?"
Old Man Tao said, "Do you see that big rock behind Gongsun Hong?"
"Yes! There's a masked figure sitting up there, quite unremarkable, probably a young man. Can he even make a move? I see him completely still."
Old Man Tao said, "I've seen this masked man more than ten times. Although I can tell he's a young man, I've never been able to figure out his true strength. Every time he appears, he almost always saves someone."
Ding Chong said, "Even you can't figure him out, he's truly mysterious."
Old Man Tao nodded and said, "More than mysterious, his martial arts are something even the two old men fighting right now admit they've never seen before. Speaking of which, Brother Ding, I must ask these two old men."
Ding Chong said, "Yes, yes, yes, that's exactly what I wanted to ask. Please enlighten me, I haven't even had a chance to ask."
Old Man Tao laughed and said, "They are both eccentric figures in the martial arts world, much senior to you and me. The short, stout one is called 'Mr. Gao Tan,' named Luo Xinmin, and the tall, thin one is called 'Hai Hanzi,' named Qi Tianfei. Nobody knows which school or sect they belong to, but they are good friends."
Ding Chong said, "Good friends, benefactor, you must be mistaken." "They're fighting desperately right now..."
Old Man Tao said, "Haha! You're wrong, he's betting on something now."
"Bet?" Ding Chong was a little confused, staring wide-eyed at Old Man Tao, seemingly full of questions.
Old Man Tao said, "That's right! A bet. These two old rascals love to bet. They bet on the smallest things, and when they bet, they argue, and when they get angry, they fight until the bet is settled. After that, whoever loses treats everyone to a feast, drinking and eating until they're drunk."
Ding Chong said, "Take a guess, why are they betting this time?"
Old Man Tao smiled and said, "Perhaps they're betting on the outcome of two other fights." Suddenly, a delicate shout rang out, and "Frosty Spirit Soul" Gu Tianying shook off Gongsun Hong, chasing after her relentlessly towards the high cliff.
Ding Chong asked in surprise, "My benefactor, what's the reason for this?" Ding Chong looked at the high cliff.
Old Man Tao said, "It seems the masked man made the move, and Gu Tianying suffered a minor loss." It was strange that Gongsun Hong was still chasing after him. Ding Chong was stunned.
Old Man Tao said, "Brother, what's so strange about that? If someone secretly helped you, wouldn't you want to see who made the move?"
Before Ding Chong could agree, one of the two old men in the fight shouted, "Fatty Luo, you've lost this time!" This was the tall, thin old man Old Man Tao was referring to, shouting triumphantly!
"Bean stalk, you're blind! 'Frosty Spirit Soul' was lured away by Dugu Yi's hidden weapon, not defeated by Gongsun Niu. Today, we'll each eat our own food!"
Old Man Tao Xiling said, "Let's go."
Ding Chong asked, "Where to?"
Old Man Tao said, "To track down Dugu Yi, whom Luo Xinmin mentioned."
The two chased for over thirty li without seeing a trace. Ding Chong stopped and cried out, "My benefactor, we've taken the wrong route!" "
Old Tao said seriously, "Brother, it's been less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. I'm not that old yet. Ahead is Chenghuang Town. You'll understand when we get there."
The two entered the town and walked to the main street. Suddenly, they saw a sedan chair with four fast horses parked in front of a shop. Old Tao pointed and said, "That sedan chair looks familiar."
Ding Chong said, "Ah! I've seen it a few times."
Old Tao said, "I remember now, that's the sedan chair of my old friend, Commander Lei's daughter."
"Commander Lei! The daughter of the retired Commander Lei Zhenyuan?"
Old Tao nodded and said, "My old friend Lei has a son and a daughter. The daughter is as beautiful as a fairy, but unfortunately, her martial arts skills are not high. However, that's just on the surface. She is clever and witty, loved by everyone, and is indeed my old friend's apple of his eye."
Ding Chong said, "My benefactor, is her name Lei Longnu?"
Old Tao said, "Yes! I even gave her that name because she looks like the dragon girl beside Guanyin Bodhisattva." Ding Chong laughed loudly, "
Hehe! My benefactor, who would believe that a girl who wields twin swords has mediocre martial arts skills?"
Old Man Tao said, "Alas! I only know that she has a pair of ancient swords called 'Mirage Immortal Swords,' and that she cherishes them dearly, but I know she has never actually used them."
Ding Chong said, "Once, I mistakenly entered a forest and suddenly saw a cold light like thunder. I discovered a young girl practicing swordsmanship, with no one else around. Out of curiosity, I followed her until she finished a set of unusual sword techniques. Later, I saw her get into this beige sedan chair outside the forest and be carried away by four burly men."
Old Man Tao said, "Good girl! She's really hiding her true abilities. I'll punish her later."
Ding Chong said, "Hey! My benefactor, does Commander Lei like to enjoy sightseeing?"
Old Man Tao said, "He doesn't go out often, but there are four horses in front of us; perhaps he's here." Ding Chong said, "
I've heard that his son, Lei Daming, is known in the martial arts world as 'Thunderbolt Hand,' and his nephew, Cha Tianjian, is known as 'Five Thunder Fist.' Their martial arts skills are extremely high."
Old Man Tao said, "Among the younger generation, they are indeed first-rate experts."
Upon entering the shop, he saw that the people in the living room were all unfamiliar faces. Although half of them carried swords, he didn't recognize any of them. The shopkeeper greeted him with a smile, and the old man Tao Xiling asked, "Shopkeeper, where are the owners of the sedan chairs and horses outside?"
The shopkeeper bowed and said, "Old sir, are you looking for those distinguished guests in the main room?"
Tao Xiling said, "Yes, I'll go by myself. You go about your business."
Ding Chong said softly, "My benefactor, it's inconvenient for me to wait outside and go with you."
The old man Tao nodded and said, "Very well! Keep an eye on Gu Tianying. If she arrives, notify her immediately."
Five people, young and old, were sitting in the main room. The three men, who seemed to have just eaten, were drinking tea when they saw Old Man Tao arrive. The old man greeted them with great joy, saying, "Brother, what brings you here? What a coincidence!"
The old man was none other than Commander Lei. Old Man Tao replied solemnly, "It's not a coincidence. I came with a purpose. I was investigating a matter when I saw the Dragon Girl's sedan chair in front of the shop, so I came in."
After offering them seats, a young girl fluttered into Old Man Tao's arms like a butterfly, saying coquettishly, "Uncle, it's been so long!" Old Man Tao, while responding to the greetings of the three young men, glared at the girl
and said, "I'm going to punish you."
"Oh dear! Uncle, you're angry as soon as we meet! What have you done to punish me?" the girl said coquettishly.
Old Man Tao whispered a few words in her ear, then snorted, "Should I be punished?"
The girl giggled, "So that's the one who was spying on me—it was Ding, the镖师 (bodyguard) from the Zhennan镖局 (escort agency)! I almost got into trouble with him!"
Old Man Lei asked with a smile, "Long'er, what are you and Uncle Tao up to? Tell everyone!"
The girl was, of course, Lei Longnu, Old Man Lei's beloved daughter. Perhaps even her father didn't know her martial arts skills, let alone her brother and cousin. Hearing her father's question, she immediately... Lei was in a difficult position, but fortunately, Old Man Tao understood and immediately smiled, "Old friend! This is just a little secret of Long'er's, you don't need to ask." After a pause, he asked one of the three youths, "Da Ming, do you know about the great battle that took place at Jiuyun Ridge?"
Da Ming was Lei Da Ming, the son of Governor Lei. He nodded and said, "My friend Che Zhan went to see it. He just came back and said that he saw 'Messenger of Death' Ma Bu Luan defeat 'Young Master Qin Huai' Tu Yi Kuai, and also saw 'Frosty Spirit Soul' fighting with Gongsun Hong..."
Before he could finish, Old Man Tao stopped him and said, "Enough, who is your friend?"
Old Man Lei immediately took the hand and pointed to the youth beside him, saying, "Che Zhan, have you met Uncle Tao?"
The youth immediately bowed and said, "I have long admired the name of the recluse Tao. I am very grateful."
Old Man Tao stopped him while observing him, seemingly having some questions in his mind. He turned his head and asked Lei Da Ming, "How long have you been friends?"
Lei Da Ming immediately sensed something was wrong and replied, "More than a year, Uncle. Is there something wrong?" Old Man Tao immediately laughed, "
Nothing! I'm investigating a suspicious person. I don't think it's this young man surnamed Che, but his surname..."
Old Man Lei hesitated, "Brother, what's wrong with the surname Che?"
Old Man Tao said, "Have you thought about the two major sects of Antarctica twenty years ago? According to my investigation, when the sect collapsed, the sect leader Che Ziqiang's fate was unknown, while the sect leader of Arctic, Gu Bufan, was searching for Che Ziqiang's infant son who had escaped the net. This Brother Che's surname is Che, so I'm afraid he won't escape interrogation."
Old Man Lei sneered, "Gu Bufan is going too far! He and Che Ziqiang were originally fellow disciples. Now that he has seized the leadership, does he have to exterminate them all? There are many people with the surname Che in the world, so what if he is?"
Old Man Tao said, "His children have already entered the mainland. One of his missions is probably to investigate Che Ziqiang's son."
The young man Che Zhan laughed, "Gu Tianying, the 'Frosty Spirit Soul,' is chasing Dugu Yi. Senior, do you suspect that I am Dugu Yi?"
Old Man Tao laughed heartily, "Dugu Yi is elusive and has been listed as the number one mysterious figure in the martial arts world. I hope you are him, brother." Che
Zhan laughed loudly, "Unfortunately, I am not surnamed Dugu."
Old Man Lei chimed in, "Brother, have you been to the Martial Arts Graveyard lately?"
Old Man Tao laughed loudly, "Every martial artist has been there once or twice a year, but unfortunately, they all return empty-handed, having gained nothing." He paused and said, "Brother, your whole family has come this time, are you going to the Martial Arts Graveyard?"
Mentioning the Martial Arts Graveyard, Old Man Lei's eyebrows danced with excitement, "The Thousand-Year-Old Martial Arts Graveyard is truly too mysterious. I have no greedy intentions, but driven by curiosity, I fear I will not die content if I do not go. You, brother, know a great deal about this; could you perhaps offer some guidance?" "
Old Man Tao said, 'The Martial Arts Cemetery has been famous for a thousand years. That's not a fictional story. You'll understand once you go there, brother. But there's one thing I don't understand. Why would extraordinary people from the past thousand years go to the Martial Arts Cemetery to leave behind their life's work before they die? If they wanted to leave behind their essence of martial arts, why not just carve it in stone? Why make it so mysterious, carving mysterious symbols and making people rack their brains to guess and figure it out?'
Old Man Lei said, 'It's obvious. If it were clearly carved in stone, some less talented people in the martial arts world in later generations would not only fail to master their skills but would also be harmed. Even worse, if they did achieve something, it would cause chaos in the martial arts world. Only those with high talent, strong comprehension, and kind hearts can benefit the martial arts world.'
Old Man Tao quickly said, 'No, no, no, brother, you are a gentleman. You may think this way, but others may think differently. It's a matter of opinion.'" The Martial Arts Cemetery is located in an ancient cave, unusually large, with strange symbols and inscriptions carved all over the stone walls. I spent half a year meditating in the cave and even comprehended a few martial arts techniques, but they are not necessarily superior to my own. Of course, there are many divine and lost secrets among them, but I just can't comprehend them. For example, there is a stone covered with talismans and incantations, left by the troll "Aotianjun" three hundred years ago. Did he also want to find a kind-hearted person?
Old Man Lei asked, "What do you think, brother? "
Old Man Tao said, "It is true that the extraordinary people and tyrannical trolls of the past did not want to give away all their lost knowledge. It is also true that they wanted to find someone with exceptional talent by creating mystery. Whether the person who masters them is a righteous person is probably not their concern. Brother, there are thousands of symbols and inscriptions inside. How long do you plan to stay inside?"
Old Man Lei said, "That's hard to say. May I ask, brother, do martial arts figures often go there?" "
Old Tao said, "Sometimes there are many, sometimes few, but there's never a time when it's empty. But don't worry, everyone who goes to the Martial Arts Cemetery, regardless of whether they're good or evil, adheres to the principle of 'I won't offend you, you won't offend me.' There have never been any fights or acts of revenge. Even long-time enemies meet in the cemetery and behave peacefully. You don't need to worry about them plotting against you."
Old Lei exclaimed, "Oh! That's strange." Old Lei was greatly puzzled.
Old Tao said, "Brother, you've never been there, so you don't know. Have you heard of the guardian spirit in the cemetery? If someone tries to commit violence in the cemetery, the first to die is the one who commits violence."
"What! Is that so?" Lei Daming exclaimed in surprise, asking in horror, "Is there really a god guarding it?"
Old Tao said, "No one has ever seen him. This rumor happened fifty years ago. Your father knew of a man known as the 'Yinshan Assassin,' who died in the Martial Arts Cemetery while chasing a master surnamed Hu." "
Old Man Lei said, 'I don't know the cause of his death. The 'Yinshan Assassin's' martial arts were indeed superb. So he died in the Martial Arts Cemetery.'
Old Man Tao said, 'Within the last hundred years, there have been many people from both the righteous and evil sides who have died in the Martial Arts Cemetery. Because of this, no one dares to cause trouble when they go there to study.' During the conversation between the two old men, only Che Zhan nodded secretly, a strange look on his face, but no one paid any attention to him.
Old Man Tao remembered that Ding Chong was still outside, so he immediately stood up and said, 'To get to the Martial Arts Cemetery, it's best to walk along the mountain path. Sedan chairs and horses are not suitable. The cemetery is located at the foot of the cliff on the north peak of Goulu Mountain. Ordinary people cannot go there, but of course it won't be difficult for you. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be going now. Perhaps we'll meet again at the cemetery.'"
After everyone saw Old Man Tao off, Governor Lei immediately ordered, "Give the sedan chair and horses to the innkeeper; we'll set off tonight."
Before dark, Che Zhan seemed preoccupied and walked out the back door alone. When he reached the edge of town, Lei Longnu quietly caught up with him and whispered, "Brother Zhan! Where are you going?"
Che Zhan turned around, startled, and replied, "Just taking a walk. What are you doing out here? Don't arouse your cousin's suspicions again."
Lei Longnu said, "It's none of his business. I came to ask you something."
Che Zhan asked, "What is it?"
Lei Longnu said, "I can tell that Uncle Tao already suspects you are Dugu Yi. What do you say?"
Che Zhan laughed, "Do you think I'm Dugu Yi? Am I as mysterious as him? Do I have as much martial arts skill? Longnu, don't make assumptions."
Lei Longnu said, "You went to Jiuyun Ridge today; why didn't you tell me beforehand?" "?"
Che Zhan laughed, "I don't even question my actions, not even to your brother, and I don't tell Uncle Lei. Why should I tell you? You should know that your cousin, the Observatory Supervisor, has been very wary of me lately. You'd better stay away from me, or he'll kill me."
Lei Longnu said, "He dares?"
Che Zhan laughed, "My martial arts aren't very good. He can't attack me openly, but I'd be in trouble if he attacks
me from the shadows." Lei Longnu said, "You mean you want to leave my father and brother?"
Che Zhan sighed, "Uncle Lei treats me like his own son, and your brother treats me like a brother. How could I not understand? Alright! Go back quickly. Maybe your cousin is looking for you."
Lei Longnu said angrily, "Why is he wary of you?"
Che Zhan let out a mysterious laugh, "Of course, it's because you're too beautiful and too cute..." He didn't finish his sentence.
The dragon girl sneered, "I understand. He's just my cousin." Lei Longnu also left only half a sentence unsaid.
Che Zhan smiled without speaking, then turned and said, "Let's go back and pack our bags so we can leave."
Lei Longnu followed lightly, changing the subject, "Brother Zhan, I heard from you that you've been to the Martial Arts Graveyard many times?"
Che Zhan nodded, "Of course! Who wouldn't want to learn something? Unfortunately, I'm too stupid, and I always come back empty-handed."
Lei Longnu asked, "Do you believe in guardian deities?"
Che Zhan nodded, "There are no gods, but it's true that a peerless master guards the graveyard."
Lei Longnu exclaimed in surprise, "Wow! You saw him?"
Che Zhan said, "No, I heard a voice."
Lei Longnu pressed on curiously, "Heard a voice? What voice?" "
Che Zhan said, 'Once, when I entered the graveyard, I happened to encounter a strange old man inside. He was probably over ninety years old, holding a golden bamboo-jointed staff, shouting and yelling in the cave.'
Lei Longnu asked, 'What was he shouting?' Che Zhan
replied, 'He was calling me Old Cripple, come out! We still have a score to settle.'
Lei Longnu exclaimed, 'Wow! I've never heard of such a person in the martial arts world.'
Che Zhan said, 'Never mind him. When the strange old man finished shouting, a strange sound came from inside the cave. As soon as the sound subsided, someone yelled, 'Heavenly Beggar, get out of here!'
Longnu exclaimed, 'What happened to the strange old man?'
Che Zhan said, 'The strange old man was furious. He shouted and yelled for a while before leaving the cave.'
Lei Longnu exclaimed, 'The so-called guardian deity is obviously that mysterious and unpredictable invisible person. Have you told anyone about this?'
Che Zhan laughed, 'Who would believe me if I told them? It's better not to tell them. You're the first person to hear me say this, and only you believe it.' " "
Just as they arrived at the shop, Old Man Lei suddenly came out and shouted, 'Where have you been? Gu Tianying, the "Frosty Soul Spirit," has come looking for us!'"
The Dragon Girl asked anxiously, "Where is she?"
Old Man Lei replied, "She left us with a message: she wants us to deliver Che Zhan to Sanxing Ridge by midnight, or the Arctic Gate will consider our Lei family a formidable enemy."
Che Zhan said, "Uncle Lei, don't worry. I'll go to Sanxing Ridge to meet her at midnight. If she wants to investigate my background, let her ask."
Old Man Lei said, "Absolutely not! Sanxing Ridge is the only way to the Martial Arts Cemetery. We'll all go together. Are we afraid of just one Gu Tianying?"
Che Zhan said, "Uncle Lei, you don't understand. One Gu Tianying isn't scary, but the entire Arctic Gate is not to be trifled with. Uncle Lei, please don't interfere. I'll handle it myself. If Uncle Lei supports me, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Old Man Lei said, "I've already made two powerful enemies. I don't care about one more Gu Bufan." "
Che Zhan said, 'The Golden Gang Leader Wan Baitong and the Nine Swords Sect's Tu Guangfeng can handle it. Uncle Lei's family is no problem. But the Arctic Sect is currently the most powerful force in the martial arts world. Uncle Lei, please don't act rashly. I have a plan to escape.'
Lei Longnu said, 'Father! Brother Che's martial arts are not high, but he has superhuman wisdom. Just listen to him.'
At this time, Lei Daming and Cha Tianjian also arrived. Old Man Lei waved his hand and said, 'Let's go.'
After leaving the shop, Cha Tianjian asked Lei Longnu, 'Cousin, where did you go?'
Lei Longnu lowered her face and said, 'Can't I take a walk? Aren't you annoying?'
Cha Tianjian snorted, 'Hmph! Taking a walk with Che Zhan.'
Lei Longnu said coldly, 'You're meddling too much.'
Lei Daming immediately stopped his sister and said gently, 'Sister, your cousin is concerned about you! You shouldn't be like this.'
Lei Longnu said, 'Brother, don't you care about me?'
Lei Daming said, 'Of course I care.' " Lei Longnu said, "
Have you checked my whereabouts? Even my father doesn't ask, so who would dare? Don't overthink things; being a little simple-minded saves you a lot of trouble."
Old Man Lei, seemingly aware of his daughter's personality, laughed heartily, "Long'er, could the Heavenly Supervisor be mistaken? Your aunt told him to take good care of you."
Lei Longnu suddenly laughed, "I'm afraid Aunt has ulterior motives! I'm not a three-year-old; I'm nineteen this year. I can take care of myself." She tilted her head and rushed ahead.

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Iron Man and Darling - Part 1 (Full Text)

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