Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

: A Chance Encounter, A Young Woman's Heartbreak, A Soul Lost in the Cold Pond; The Demon Venerable Teasing the Divine Beggar. Just as the burly man's blade was a foot away from Zhang Tianbao's neck, Xie Yunyue leaped forward, delivering a lightning-fast palm strike. Xie Yunyue's palm strike was incredibly powerful and fierce; how could the man withstand it? He let out a miserable howl, his body blasted away by the force, flying more than ten feet to the rooftop, instantly dying. Xie Yunyue's face was ashen, and he said coldly, "Sir, this is not the place for investigation. Please return to the yamen. I will accompany you to clarify the truth."

The prefect, pale with fright, was delighted by this and replied, "Very well." He turned his horse around, and Xie Yunyue ordered Zhang Tianbao to accompany him.

Upon arriving at the prefectural government office, the prefect took his seat in the hall. Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "Please, Your Excellency, step aside. I will tell you the truth."

The prefect replied sternly, "This is the law of the court; it cannot be taken lightly." Xie Yunyue smiled at the young master Yu Rui who was assisting him.

The prefect's expression changed drastically, and he waved his sleeve to dismiss his attendants. Xie Yunyue coldly took out an object from his robes, its gleaming light dazzling, and presented it to the prefect, saying in a deep

voice, "Your Excellency, examine this object closely, and you will know who I am." The prefect took it, examined it carefully, and trembled with fear. He rose from his seat, returned the object, removed his official hat, knelt, and kowtowed, saying, "I was unaware of the Imperial Envoy's arrival. I know my crime."

Xie Yunyue rose and smiled, "If we wanted to punish you, we would have already presented the Emperor's jade pendant. I only ask that Your Excellency discipline your son more in the future, and prevent him from abusing the law."

Hearing this, the prefect felt relieved. Xie Yunyue then said, "Does your prefecture have anyone named Sai Shiqian? If so, please bring him in for questioning." The prefect repeatedly said yes and quickly went out. A moment later, he returned with a thin, agile man dressed in brocade.

The man looked anxious and knelt before Xie Yunyue, trembling with fear. Xie Yunyue sneered, "Are you Sai Shiqian?"

The man, with his weasel-like face and lewd appearance, was already terrified and kowtowed repeatedly, trembling as he said, "I am Sun Yugui. Sai Shiqian is just a bandit's name; I dare not mention it to a great hero like you."

Xie Yunyue coldly asked, "Where did you get this sword?" As he spoke, he took the sword from his shoulder and held it out in front of Sun Yugui.

Sai Shiqian looked up and replied in fear that he had encountered an old man, a middle-aged man, and a young girl lodging at an inn in Jingshan Gorge Town that day. He saw that the girl had an unusual and ancient sword on her shoulder, a precious blade from ancient times, and coveted it, never expecting to have the chance to get it. Xie Yunyue pondered for a moment, then turned to the prefect and smiled, "Your esteemed prefecture has temporarily imprisoned this thief. I hope your esteemed prefecture will strictly control your young master, and he shall not leave for three months. If we hear of your young master abusing his power again, beware of your esteemed prefecture's future." The prefect's face turned pale, and he nodded repeatedly.

Xie Yunyue and Zhang Tianbao left the yamen, the prefect seeing them off quickly. Once outside, Zhang Tianbao insisted Xie Yunyue come to his home, but Xie Yunyue declined, saying he had business to attend to and needed to go to Wudang. However, Zhang Tianbao refused, dragging Xie Yunyue to a pastry shop on West Gate Street. The shop door was tightly closed. Zhang Tianbao knocked, calling, "Xiaoxia, Xiaoxia, open the door quickly, Grandpa's back."

A moment later, a voice answered from inside, "Grandpa's back?" The door creaked open, revealing a beautiful woman with delicate features, holding a red candle in one hand, standing gracefully inside, her eyes red and swollen.

After a year apart, Zhang Xiaoxia had become exceptionally slender and beautiful, her eyes like autumn water, her skin like jade, and her eyes lit up. Upon seeing Xie Yunyue, Zhang Xiaoxia was startled and took a step back, thinking that the young master Yu Rui had come to bother her again. Zhang Tianbao chuckled, "Xiaoxia, take a closer look. Who's here?"

Zhang Xiaoxia frowned slightly, glancing intently at Xie Yunyue. She felt she'd seen him somewhere before, but couldn't quite place him, and her cheeks flushed. Xie Yunyue smiled slightly at her. Zhang Xiaoxia found his smile incredibly charming, especially considering Xie Yunyue's handsome appearance. Her heart pounded, and she lowered her head to her chest, thinking, "Who is this? Grandpa, why did you let a stranger into the shop?"

At this moment, Zhang Tianbao chuckled, "Silly girl, you always talk about your benefactor, why are you acting so distant now?" With that, he pulled Xie Yunyue inside.

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoxia suddenly realized who had come. Overjoyed, she quickly closed the door and hurriedly followed behind the two. She felt an unprecedented excitement, a feeling she had never experienced before. The young girl's emotions were contradictory, one half fragile, the other incredibly strong. After returning to her ancestral home with her grandfather, she met her uncle, a medicinal herb trader in northern Hubei, and persuaded them to settle in Junzhou, where Xie Yunyue would give her money to open a pastry shop.

After their parting on the road to Handan, Xie Yunyue's handsome appearance, dashing demeanor, and cheerful conversation were deeply imprinted in her heart, indelible, haunting her dreams. She was stunningly beautiful, graceful, and soon her fame spread far and wide. Her pastry shop's profits increased tenfold. Those who came to her shop had ulterior motives, which were obvious, but though she was as beautiful as a peach blossom, she was as cold as ice, never showing any favor. When word reached the ears of the young master Yu Rui, he went to see her and indeed found her breathtakingly beautiful. He then tried every means to win her over, resorting to bribery and coercion.

Zhang Xiaoxia appeared incredibly strong, indifferent and unmoved, yet secretly shedding tears, lamenting her unfortunate fate. Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, she couldn't help but recall the scene of being rescued on the road to Handan. She repeatedly thought, "If only I could meet him again." She knew it was a fleeting fantasy, yet she couldn't help but think of him. Now, she truly saw Xie Yunyue, but did she suspect she was dreaming?

Zhang Tianbao went to the kitchen to prepare food and drink, leaving Zhang Xiaoxia and Xie Yunyue facing each other. A single red candle on the table flickered weakly. The candlelight cast a red glow, their eyes met, and silence fell. Zhang Xiaoxia's face flushed crimson, her head bowed, unable to utter a sound. Xie Yunyue, devoid of romantic thoughts, asked in a clear voice, "Miss, how have you been?"

Zhang Xiaoxia didn't raise her head, replying casually, "Thanks to your blessing, my benefactor." Her voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

Xie Yunyue was in turmoil, unsure what to say to Zhang Xiaoxia. His eyes were fixed on the window, his mind racing with thoughts of how to find Yue Yang's disciple in Wudang, and then of Fu Wan's lost sword, her anxious state, and how even Lei Erge, with his deep experience in the martial world, had fallen for the tricks of the three cunning thieves.

Zhang Xiaoxia gracefully rose, saying she was going to help her grandfather, and then curtsied and left. A moment later, Zhang Tianbao returned with a box of food, took out some wine and placed it on the table, but Zhang Xiaoxia was nowhere to be seen. Xie Yunyue assumed the young woman was shy and didn't ask any questions, but Zhang Tianbao repeatedly urged him to drink. Drowning his sorrows and trying to soothe his pent-up emotions, Xie Yunyue became quite tipsy. Zhang Tianbao seized the opportunity to suggest that Xiaoxia had taken a liking to Xie Yunyue, and that while she dared not aspire to be his wife, she was willing to be his concubine. Despite being drunk, Xie Yunyue remained clear-headed and repeatedly declared that he already had six wives and could not continue to mislead himself and others, thus he had no choice but to disappoint the young lady's affections. His words were resolute, spoken with conviction,

and understood by the listener. Zhang Tianbao remained silent, but a moment later, a thud was heard. Both were startled. Zhang Tianbao exclaimed, "Oh no! I fear Xiaoxia has taken her own life!" He quickly rose and staggered inside, Xie Yunyue rushing in as well.

Inside the boudoir, the young lady lay supine on the floor, her face deathly pale, her eyes closed, white foam trickling from her mouth. A broken rope hung from her head, swaying back and forth. Zhang Tianbao wept bitterly, while Xie Yunyue sighed deeply, vowing never to be bound by love again, only to be entangled once more. He bent down and began to massage the young lady's acupoints. After a period of massage and manipulation, Zhang Xiaoxia regained her breath and slowly woke up. Hearing Zhang Tianbao's choked cries, she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was a handsome figure with striking features.
This figure, this face—she had never forgotten him for a moment. She dreamed of one day nestled in the arms of her beloved, vowing never to leave him. However, this dream was shattered. How could she not be heartbroken and contemplate suicide? She didn't hate Xie Yunyue for his heartlessness, only lamenting her own fate. She couldn't help but close her eyes tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.

In truth, Xie Yunyue's heart was heavy with unresolved emotions. He understood the psychology of young women well, and having experienced much hardship, he was always wary and no longer wanted to get involved in romantic entanglements. However, things were beyond his control, and now, regret was sudden. He sighed and said to Zhang Tianbao, "Since that's the case, sir, you can take the young lady to the Zhentai Town Bureau in Nanchang Prefecture to wait for me. Once my troubles are resolved, I will return to seek a solution." Hearing this, Zhang Xiaoxia knew there was hope, and her heart pounded with excitement. Zhang Tianbao also beamed with joy. Xie Yunyue quickly wrote a letter and gave it to Zhang Tianbao to present to the old镖头 (bodyguard/escort). Late at night, Zhang Tianbao said he was going to stay at Old Man Wang's house next door and went there, leaving only Xie Yunyue and Zhang Xiaoxia in the room.

Zhang Xiaoxia lay on the bed, two lines of tears streaming down her face. Xie Yunyue sighed, "Xiaoxia, why are you so foolish?"

Xiaoxia said softly, "Young Master, if Xiaoxia can't stay by your side, what's the point of living?"

Xie Yunyue tenderly pulled her into his arms, kissing away her tears. Xiaoxia suddenly looked up at Xie Yunyue, her face fresh and clear, her lips rosy. Xie Yunyue held her tightly again, covering her fragrant lips with his own. A passionate, tender kiss, and a gradually rekindling desire, made Xie Yunyue turn Zhang Xiaoxia over and press her onto the bed. Xie Yunyue's hands wandered inside her clothes, grasping her firm, almost impossible-to-hold virgin breasts, slowly kneading them.

Zhang Xiaoxia closed her eyes, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and gently endured Xie Yunyue's ravaging. Xie Yunyue slowly removed her outer clothes, bodice, and underpants. Her hands caressed Xie Yunyue's back aimlessly. Xie Yunyue cupped one of her full breasts in his hands and pinched her pink areola with his mouth. She murmured, "Young master... Xiaoxia's heart is racing..." Her lower body twisted restlessly.

Xie Yunyue slowly slid one hand down to Zhang Xiaoxia's lower abdomen, touching her fine, soft body hair, rubbing it up and down and left and right. Her body trembled, her hands tightly gripping Xie Yunyue's back, her cheeks flushing even more, panting as she bit Xie Yunyue's earlobe, her voice trembling as she said, "Young master... Xiaoxia is flustered... This is my first time... You must love Xiaoxia gently..."

Xie Yunyue couldn't help but feel a surge of desire, his hard penis throbbing against Zhang Xiaoxia's thighs. Xie Yunyue guided his penis with his hand, slowly rubbing it above the entrance of her virginity. Her legs involuntarily parted naturally, and Xie Yunyue's thick glans awkwardly squeezed into her flesh.

"Ouch...Young Master...be gentle...it hurts...your...it's too thick...too big..." Tears streamed down Zhang Xiaoxia's face, her fingernails digging into Xie Yunyue's back muscles. Xie Yunyue stopped thrusting, kissing her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips. His hands slowly caressed her breasts, pressing her nipples with his fingers and gently rubbing them. Soon, Xie Yunyue felt her vagina gradually becoming wet, and she gently twisted her body beneath him.

"Young Master...you can go deeper...Young Master...move a little more...ah..." Zhang Xiaoxia whispered sweetly in Xie Yunyue's ear. Xie Yunyue slowly retreated to the entrance, then slowly pushed in again. When his penis reached its deepest point, she frowned, and Xie Yunyue slowly withdrew. As Xie Yunyue retreated to the entrance of the cave, she sighed in emptiness again; and so, with each thrust, Xie Yunyue felt her vagina becoming increasingly slippery, and she seemed to be gradually tasting the sweetness.

"Young master... ah... it hurts... it's numb... Young master... be gentle... slower... slower... you can go deeper... oh... hum..." Zhang Xiaoxia's lower body began to awkwardly meet Xie Yunyue's thrusts.

"Young Master... um... Xiaoxia doesn't hurt anymore... So beautiful... So comfortable... Young Master... um..." Xiaoxia squinted her eyes, her hands sliding down to Xie Yunyue's waist, hugging him tightly, afraid that Xie Yunyue's treasure would slip away. Xie Yunyue began to gently thrust in and out, from slow to fast, gradually thrusting and withdrawing forcefully. After about a hundred thrusts, she suddenly trembled all over, panting and saying, "Ah... Young Master... um... Xiaoxia is going to... pee... ah... I... it's coming out... Young Master... I'm going to die... oh... oh..."

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaoxia collapsed onto the bed, her body trembling violently, the walls of her vagina spasming, a stream of virgin heat spraying onto Xie Yunyue's glans, making Xie Yunyue's treasure swell even more. Seeing Zhang Xiaoxia almost paralyzed in a semi-conscious state after her first orgasm, Xie Yunyue suppressed his growing lust, lowered his head, and gently swirled his tongue around her lips. He kissed her lips, drawing her tongue into his mouth and slowly scraping it. His hands grasped her full breasts, kneading them with varying pressure.

After a while, Zhang Xiaoxia slowly opened her eyes, gazing at Xie Yunyue with a pitiful and affectionate expression, saying, "Young master, from now on, Xiaoxia is truly yours..."

Xie Yunyue kissed the sweat from her forehead and asked, "Call me brother. Are you still in pain?" She shook her head, her hands stroking Xie Yunyue's back.

Gradually, Zhang Xiaoxia's breathing became rapid again. She shyly whispered in Xie Yunyue's ear, "Brother, are you not finished yet? Xiaoxia can still..." She began to wriggle restlessly again.

Upon hearing Zhang Xiaoxia's words, Xie Yunyue's penis, already inside her vagina, throbbed even harder. Zhang Xiaoxia's hands gripped Xie Yunyue's lower back tightly, pressing him forward. Again and again, Xie Yunyue slowly pulled his penis out of her vagina, twisting his hips, then slowly pushed it deep inside again until the base touched the opening. The penis, swirling inside, scraped around, then slowly withdrew, gradually increasing the speed. This caused Zhang Xiaoxia's vagina to overflow with vaginal fluid, her breath coming in gasps, her hair disheveled, her body convulsing.

"Brother...brother...ah...your big...baby...is going to...kill...Xiaoxia...ah...Xiaoxia...can't hold back...I'm going to...come...oh...come...ouch..." The usually gentle and introverted woman was now as seductive as a wanton woman, arousing Xie Yunyue's lust. His thrusting movements grew faster and faster.

Xie Yunyue slowly increased the speed of his thrusts. Xiaoxia's moans grew more urgent. Xie Yunyue's engorged member relentlessly surged within her narrow vagina. Her eyes were tightly closed, her brows furrowed, her fingers gripping Xie Yunyue's arm, her lower abdomen moving up and down in rhythm with his thrusts. Her lower body arched slightly in sync with the rhythm, giving Xie Yunyue immense pleasure. Seeing her so immersed in desire, Xie Yunyue thrust forcefully ten more times. The two people, shaking violently, combined with the force of the thrusts, created an atmosphere like an earthquake or a volcanic eruption.
Xiaoxia's vaginal fluids increased, her legs rose higher and higher, her body writhing more and more excitedly. Xie Yunyue knew she was close to climax, so he moved even more forcefully, his member accelerating its movements within her vagina. Xiaoxia gripped his arm, which was braced against the bed, her grip tightening with each of his violent thrusts, her nails digging into his muscles.

“Yes… harder… yes… um… ah… ah… ah… ah…” Xiaoxia moaned repeatedly.

Xie Yunyue whispered in her ear, “Yes, that’s it, I like you to moan louder.” Xiaoxia arched her back almost frantically, twisting her sweat-drenched body like a wild wave, her face a mixture of pain and pleasure, her head swaying with the rhythm.

Xiaoxia probably couldn’t stand the stimulation, her eyes closed tightly, and she began to murmur, “Ah… gently… a little… so hard… all the way in… all the way in… coming… coming… um…”

“Brother… brother… ouch… ah… ah… ah… Xiaoxia lost it again… lost it… oh… lost it again… ouch… ouch… ouch… Xiaoxia can’t take it anymore…”

“Ah…” Xiaoxia finally couldn’t help but cry out softly. Hearing Xiaoxia’s high-pitched and intoxicated moans, Xie Yunyue couldn’t help but get excited and thrust faster and deeper. Xiaoxia was weak and powerless under his passionate teasing.

"Ah..." As Xie Yunyue rubbed his penis against her vulva, Xiaoxia's cries grew more intense and shrill, her body trembling uncontrollably. Suddenly, Xie Yunyue thrust his hips forward, plunging his erect penis, a symbol of desire, into her body, wildly pounding against her vulva. He pumped in and out of her tight opening, sometimes rubbing against the folds of her vulva, sometimes violently pounding her clitoris, sometimes deep, sometimes shallow, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, pressing his hard penis against her private parts, then suddenly penetrating her body, churning and thrusting.

Xie Yunyue thrust his hips forward with all his might, then pulled out and thrust again, pouring all his strength into her, rubbing his hard penis against her vaginal walls: "I'm going to cum..."

"Mmm...okay...I'm coming too...coming..." Xie Yunyue felt his glans open rapidly, and streams of warm semen gushed out continuously.

"Oh...I want yours...you came...I..." Only when Xiaoxia was writhing in the sea of passionate desire did Xie Yunyue finally release all his hot semen into her body. Xiaoxia, exhausted, lay limply on the bed, panting. Xie Yunyue held her, gave her a grateful kiss, and then everything returned to calm. Meanwhile, Jiang

Yaohong and Luo Xiangmei saw Xie Yunyue soar into the sky on the Wild Duck Ice Beach, disappearing into the deep night. They quickly followed. Xie Yunyue's movements were incredibly swift; the two women chased for a while but couldn't even catch a glimpse of him. The cold wind howled across the plains, chilling them to the bone. The two women hesitated in frustration. After a while, Jiang Yaohong suddenly exclaimed, "I've got it! He must have fallen into the Zhao family's hands in Cangzhou. Let's go find him!" The two women turned and rushed towards Cangzhou.

As dawn broke, the two women arrived at the Zhao residence in Cangzhou. Upon inquiring, they learned that Xie Yunyue's career had not yet declined, leaving them greatly disappointed and exchanging bewildered glances. The old servant, Yan Fu, knowing they were the young master's lovers, insisted they stay and wait. Just as the women were about to refuse, they suddenly heard loud laughter outside the hall. The women, initially delighted, turned to look and saw Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Reaper, standing outside. His robes fluttered in the cold wind, making him shiver.

Jiang Yaohong's eyes lit up with surprise, and she asked, "Master Sang, do you know where Young Hero Xie is?"

Sang Lu laughed and strode in, nodding and saying, "This humble Taoist knows a little. Ladies, please don't be impatient. I've had a long night, and my stomach is rumbling with hunger. Please allow me to eat first, then I will accompany you. I still have something to ask of Young Master Xie." The two women had no choice but to stay.

Yan Fu rushed into the kitchen and ordered a banquet to be served. Before the banquet, Sang Lujing, the Eight-Palm Master of Despair, drank a cup of wine, sighed slightly, and said, "Now that the righteous path is waning and demons are rising, evil spirits are flourishing. According to my estimation, a bloody calamity is brewing in the martial world. Within ten years, we will witness it firsthand. This situation is mostly due to the mutual jealousy and incompatibility among the martial world." He then suddenly laughed and said, "Why did I utter such discouraging words? I deserve to die, I deserve to die." The two women rang out two strings of silvery laughter, finding Sang Lujing's words extremely humorous.

Sang Lu chuckled again and said, "If it weren't for Young Master Xie leading Half-Old away last night, I'm afraid half of us would have perished on the Wild Duck Ice Beach."

Jiang Yaohong asked, "Where exactly did he lead Half-Old away?"

Sang Lu replied, "I secretly followed behind, and Half-Old was beaten by Young Master Xie with a muddy ice shard, leaving him covered in bruises. Even with his superb martial arts skills, he couldn't dodge in time, and he was furious, turning around to chase after Young Master Xie. Young Master Xie's martial arts were exceptionally high; he only dodged and weaved, mocking and provoking, taking advantage of Half-Old's weakened state to fight him..." With a single palm strike, Young Master Xie, employing the Seven Birds Movement Technique, descended from a high vantage point with the force of a thunderbolt, piercing through the thick, solid ice. Before Half-Half Old Man's palm strike even reached its halfway point, he felt his feet sink, almost drowning. Following this, Half-Half Old Man's five disciples rushed towards Young Master Xie. Without knowing what technique Young Master Xie used, in the blink of an eye, ghostly screams and divine howls erupted, and the five demons were all subdued. "Having witnessed Young Master Xie's profound and boundless martial arts, this humble Taoist dares not presume to speak of martial arts in this lifetime..." he said with a solemn sigh, a sense of bewilderment and loss appearing on his face.

Jiang Yaohong asked anxiously, "What happened next?"

Sang Lu suddenly burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. He said, "Later, Half-Old Man leaped out of the icy water, his expression agitated. He angrily rebuked Young Hero Xie for using such a ghostly trick. Young Hero Xie laughed and mocked Half-Old Man's martial arts, saying he dared to accuse others of using ghostly tricks. Half-Old Man was enraged and unleashed his Starry Night Demon Palm, but unexpectedly, Young Hero Xie struck like lightning, and in less than three moves, he flung Half-Old Man more than five zhang away. Although Half-Old Man was slightly unharmed, he was clearly defeated. Young Hero Xie used words to subdue him, mocking him for not yet reaching the pinnacle of his 'Starry Night Demon Palm,' and promised him three years to personally go to Yinshan to await further instruction. Half-Old Man, arrogant and haughty, immediately agreed and led his five disciples away in a sorry state."

Luo Xiangmei suddenly looked doubtful and asked, "Since Half-Old Man has left, who fired the Blue Phosphorus Demon Arrow that struck Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Chaser?" Sang

Lu smiled and said, "It was this humble Taoist. That Blue Phosphorus Demon Arrow was shot at me by Red-Haired Giant Spirit, the eldest disciple of Half-Old Man, who was here before. I kept it with me as a treasure, and unexpectedly it saved Fan Shaochuan's life."

Jiang Yaohong said with a charming smile, "Taoist Sang is indeed magnanimous. Fan Shaochuan mocked you, but you repaid kindness with kindness. Such chivalrous spirit is rare in the martial world."
Sang Lu, the Eight-Step Cicada Chaser, blushed slightly and laughed, "Although Fan Shaochuan is arrogant and conceited, he is still a righteous person. How could this humble Taoist stand by and watch him die?" "As soon as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly darted into the hall with incredible speed.

Sang Lu and the two women were startled at the same time. Looking up, they saw the white-browed old man, Fan Shaochuan, standing in the hall, his face showing shame. His long robe was tattered like a weeping willow, clearly the result of a fierce battle. Fan Shaochuan said with remorse, "Master Sang, please forgive my arrogant nature. If I hadn't happened to hear your words, I would still be in the dark."

Sang Lu rose from his seat, stepped forward, shook hands, and laughed loudly, "It's nothing, nothing to mention. How did you know I was here, Master Fan?" "

The old man with white eyebrows said excitedly: "Back then, I had a falling out with the one-armed beggar. The one-armed beggar hit my hip bone with three snake-tail nails. As a result, I was bedridden for three months. Afterwards, the elder of the Beggar Clan, the old man with bamboo cane Hong Huang, personally brought the one-armed beggar to my door to apologize. However, the one-armed beggar regarded it as a great humiliation and threatened me. The one-armed beggar hid in the reeds on the Wild Duck River. Just as I was about to leave, the one-armed beggar suddenly appeared and ordered me to kneel down and apologize to erase the humiliation." "I am an old man, how could I listen to him? In a fierce battle, I was defeated and fled here. I was once a close friend of the great hero Zhao, and I have shamelessly come here to ask for his help to get rid of this calamity..." Before he could finish speaking, a chilling laugh suddenly came from the outer hall.

In the midst of the laugh, a figure flashed, and another person appeared in the hall. He was thin, with messy hair and relatively regular features, but his face was bluish, cold, and extremely sinister. His eyes shot out a chilling light. His long robe was full of holes and covered in grease and grime, with the left sleeve swaying precariously. It was obvious that he was the eccentric beggar, the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar.

Fan Shaochuan's white eyebrows shot up sharply, and he sneered, "One-Armed Beggar, don't push your luck. You dare to trespass into the mansion of the great hero of Cangzhou. I'm afraid you will end up disgraced and die a horrible death." "

The One-Armed Beggar coldly said, 'You beggar, you live alone all your life, utterly fearless. Who is the great hero of Cangzhou? Why don't you come out and meet me?' At this moment, Yan Fu and several martial arts masters emerged from behind the hall. One of the martial arts masters, enraged by the words, brandished his blade and lunged forward, a flash of cold light slicing towards his waist.

The One-Armed Beggar sneered, shifting like a ghost, his sleeve fluttering, his five iron claws swiftly reaching for the blade. With a crack, a short blade appeared in the One-Armed Beggar's hand, but without pausing, he released his grip, the broken blade falling to the ground, transforming into a palm strike, and swiftly pressed towards the martial arts master's 'Jingcu' acupoint.

The martial arts master paled in horror, leaping backward, but the One-Armed Beggar was right there, a shadow following him, and he was about to die under his palm. " At this moment, the White-Browed Old Man and the Eight-Palm Reaper both unleashed a palm strike, fiercely attacking the One-Armed Cloud Beggar. A strange wind howled, and a whirlwind swept through the air. No matter how arrogant the One-Armed Cloud Beggar was, self-preservation was paramount. He quickly retreated two steps, flipping his palm to meet the attack. With a resounding thud, all three were forced back two steps. The One-Armed Cloud Beggar let out a wild, arrogant laugh, his eyes flashing with piercing light.

The Eight-Palm Reaper, Sang Lu, also responded with a wild laugh, saying, "One-Armed Beggar, aren't you afraid of violating the Beggar Clan's rules?" The

One-Armed Cloud Beggar coldly replied, "You shouldn't have recklessly used the Snake Tail Needle last time. Now, relying solely on my true strength, what do I have to fear?"

Before Sang Lu could speak, two sharp shouts rang out. Jiang Yaohong and Luo Xiangmei, each wielding a longsword, displayed their flying swallow-leaving-the-forest-

foot

... The one-armed beggar chuckled coldly, "So you're from the Emei Sect. Your meager skills are nothing to you." Despite his arrogance, this beggar possessed considerable skill and cunning. With a sudden movement, he leaned to the left, his bamboo flute flashing to the right, a swift and skillful block, the sword and flute clashing with a metallic clang.

Jiang Yaohong sensed the beggar's incredible internal strength; her sword was instantly jolted backward. Startled, she used her profound swordsmanship to follow the momentum of the sword and flute, her body spinning rapidly. Her sword transformed into a "Willow Branch Swallow," sending up hundreds of silver droplets that targeted the one-armed beggar's vital points. The one-armed beggar, with a soft murmur, unleashed a flute attack, three moves in the blink of an eye. These three moves were all strange and extraordinary; the flute's shadow moved like a celestial maiden weaving a shuttle, endlessly repeating its patterns.

Jiang Yaohong, the Black-Clad Dragon Maiden, was forced into a defensive stance by the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar's three unexpected attacks. She unleashed the full power of the Flying Swallow Sword Technique, a signature move of Abbess Manyin. The swordplay was dazzling, like countless silver stars, sometimes appearing, sometimes disappearing. Had it not been for this Flying Swallow Sword Technique, the young woman would surely have been injured by the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar. Sang Lu, the Eight Palms of the Deadly Swordsman, possessed exceptional eyesight and discerned that while Jiang Yaohong's martial arts were superior, she was no match for this strange beggar.

In the blink of an eye, eighteen moves had passed when suddenly the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar roared, unleashing a move called "Rainbow Piercing the Sun." His bamboo flute pierced through the young woman's sword waves, and with a flick of his wrist, he pushed the sword waves away. Another long laugh followed, and the bamboo flute transformed into "Poisonous Python Seeking its Cave," striking towards the young woman's "Breast Acupoint" with the speed of a star. Sang Lu shouted, "One-Armed Beggar, are you not afraid of death?" His shout was like a thunderclap.

Upon hearing this, the One-Armed Beggar was taken aback. He immediately withdrew his attack and stepped out of the circle, glaring at Sang Lu and shouting, "What do you mean by that?"

Sang Lu coldly replied, "I don't believe you're not afraid of suffering the punishment of severing your seven main tendons. Do you really not know what kind of connection Zhao the Great Hero and the two young ladies have with your Beggar Clan?"

The One-Armed Beggar's chest trembled violently, and he looked at Jiang Yaohong with a blank expression. Jiang Yaohong, forced back by the One-Armed Beggar's sudden attack, felt her blood surge. Taking advantage of the One-Armed Beggar's withdrawal, she immediately floated back to regulate her breathing. Hearing the meaning behind Sang Lu's words, she blushed deeply, as did Luo Xiangmei.

Seeing the two goddesses' expressions, the one-armed beggar was filled with suspicion and thought to himself, "The punishment of severing seven tendons is a violation of the sect's rule against subordinates, hence this punishment. Although Zhao Kangjiu and the two women have a deep connection with the Beggar Clan, apart from the sect's elders and leader, no one is of higher seniority than the beggar. How could they be subjected to such cruel torture?"
He had been imprisoned for three years, completely unaware of the outside world. As soon as the three-year period ended, he went to the Gaoyang Sect's headquarters, single-mindedly inquiring about the whereabouts of the White-Browed Elder, having had no contact with the outside world. How could he know about this connection? The One-Armed Beggar, looking at Sang Lu, sneered, "You old Taoist, you need to speak clearly. If you dare to mock a beggar, you won't escape your fate either."

Sang Lu remained calm and smiled slightly, "Do you know that Hero Zhao is the father-in-law of your Beggar Clan's Fourth Elder, and that these two young ladies are also the Fourth Elder's fiancées?" Upon hearing this, the two women blushed deeply and quickly lowered their heads.

Sang Lu shouted, "I ask you, during your three years of imprisonment in the cell, do you know everything that happened in the Beggar Clan, big and small?" The One-Armed Beggar stared, speechless. Then Sang Lu sneered again, "The Beggar Clan's Fourth Elder is deceased. The 'Purple Copper Divine Dragon Lion Tiger Token' he left behind was entrusted to one person by three Beggar Clan elders. Is that person considered the Beggar Clan's Fourth Elder? Tell me." The one -

armed beggar felt a sudden dizziness, his vision blurring with stars. He thought to himself, "This is bad. This old man's words are clearly true. I'm now guilty of insubordination and have been branded a beggar. What should I do?"

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: "It's not good to admit fault now, lest I be unable to exonerate myself later." His eyes darted around, and he suddenly let out a wild laugh: "You think you can fool a beggar? No matter how eloquently you speak, our sect's rules only recognize the token, not the person. To put it another way, this beggar isn't looking for you, he's looking for Old Ghost Fan!" As he spoke, his knuckles cracked and popped. Before he finished speaking, he suddenly leaped up, abruptly turning his head, transforming into a "Soaring Eagle Seizing a Hare," his five fingers outstretched like hooks, pouncing like a shooting star towards the white-browed old man, Fan Shaochuan.

The finger strikes were sharp, whistling through the air, their power unparalleled. The one-armed beggar's sudden, all-out attack was impossible for anyone to dodge. Seeing the beggar's thunderous attack, White-Browed Old Man Fan Shaochuan knew there was no way to back down. Gritting his teeth, he thrust forward with both palms, unleashing the ultimate move from the "Nine Hands of Great Songyang," "Supporting the Beam and Replacing the Pillar."

Before the force of his palms could even be released, the one-armed beggar suddenly groaned, his body falling like a broken kite, landing with a thud on the half-melted snow outside the hall, where he remained motionless for a long time. Everyone in the hall was stunned by this sudden turn of events, somewhat bewildered. A gentle breeze rustled through the air, and a figure flashed in the hall. An old man, his long beard flowing, darted in, approaching the one-armed beggar with fluid grace.

When the one-armed beggar descended from mid-air, he felt an invisible force pressing towards him. This recoil was incredibly powerful, as if his chest and arms had been struck by a ten-thousand-pound hammer. His inner energy dissipated, and he was instantly thrown outwards, landing on the muddy ground where the snow had melted. He felt weak and powerless all over, his throat tasted sweet, and he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. He forcibly suppressed it, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing, returning the scattered blood and energy to their original channels.

After a moment, he felt his strength return. He opened his eyes and saw a figure standing before him, seemingly very familiar. Following those eyes, he suddenly stopped, his face turning deathly pale. He knelt before the old man and said, "Disciple Xishou greets Elder Cang. If I have done anything wrong, I beg you to punish me according to the gang's rules."

The old man was none other than the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi. Cang Xi's expression was somber. He stroked his beard and sneered, "I wouldn't dare. You are now a prominent figure. How could I presume to say what crime you have committed?" The one-armed beggar's face turned even paler, sweat pouring from his forehead. He uttered a sound of fear.

Everyone in the hall already knew who the old man was. Yan Fu recognized Cang Xi immediately upon seeing him at the Zhao residence and stepped forward to greet him, saying, "Elder Cang, it's been a long time since we last met. How are you? My master is eager to see you and misses you dearly."

Cang Xi nodded and smiled, saying, "Your master has been frequently seen on his journey, but I have searched for him several times, only to find him empty-handed. Has your master returned?" Yan

Fu replied with his hands at his sides, "He has not yet returned." Cang Xi nodded, then turned his gaze away, giving the one-armed beggar a strange look, as if to reprimand him.

At this moment, Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Reaper, stepped forward like the wind, clasped his hands and smiled, "Elder Cang, I am Sang Lu from the Jinzhen Temple of Yangshan. I have long admired your virtuous conduct, but I regret that I have never had the chance to meet you. Today, I have finally met you, and you are indeed a towering figure."

Cang Xi, the Nine-Fingered Beggar, smiled and said, "Master Sang, you are too modest. How can

this old man accept such a title?" Sang Lu glanced at the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar and smiled, "This Teacher Miao has no enmity with us. It's just that we are both stubborn by nature, and we quarreled and became extremely incompatible. We also have our faults. We hope Elder Cang will reprimand us." The One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar was deeply moved upon hearing this.

Cang Xi, not wanting to push his luck any further, stopped and sternly said to the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar, "Get up and thank Master Sang."

The One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar stood up, his face genuinely moved. Sang Lu, fearing that he would lose face, pulled the White-Browed Old Man over to apologize. A grand banquet was laid out in the hall, with sumptuous dishes and clinking glasses. During the gathering, the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi inquired about Xie Yunyue's whereabouts, but everyone was vague, only revealing what they knew. Cang Xi pieced together everyone's words, pondered for a moment, and understood most of it. He shook his head and sighed, "My sworn brother here possesses unparalleled skills, a rare talent in the martial arts world, but too much of a good thing can be bad, and great talent can be envied by heaven." As he spoke, his cold, piercing eyes fixed on Jiang Yaohong and Luo Xiangmei.

The two women blushed deeply, their faces flushed with shame. Cang Xi sighed again, saying, "The word 'love' has ruined countless promising men and women. You should know that although my sworn brother is fiercely opposed to evil, he is also kind-hearted. I can guarantee that he is not a fickle person who flirts with everyone. He simply had no other choice; he has his own unspeakable difficulties. Both sides should trust and understand each other." Cang Xi had discerned that the two women also loved Xie Yunyue, and he subtly hinted to them that they should not let misunderstandings cause their lovers to part ways.

At this moment, the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi laughed loudly again: "The Eight-Armed Steel Yuwen Lei is a man of great talent and strategy, the Eight-Step Cicada Huangfu Song is treacherous and cunning, and the Half-Half Old Man is extremely vicious. How can these three so easily give up their ambitions? I'm afraid the martial world will face even greater calamities in the future."

As he spoke, a sinister voice came from outside the window: "That's right, you guessed correctly." As soon as the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi heard the voice, he didn't move from his seat, but instead leaped up and rushed towards the window.

The One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar and the others also followed like arrows, rushing out of the window, but there wasn't a single person there. The spring chill was biting, and the bare branches were just sprouting tiny buds, swaying and dancing in the wind. Cang Xi was shocked by the incredible speed of the person who had come from the shadows, and he was filled with doubt and surprise. Suddenly, the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar snorted coldly. He turned around with lightning speed, raised his one arm, and a line of black silk with lightning bolts shot out from his palm, striking towards the eaves of the hall. A piercing scream rang out, and a figure suddenly plummeted from the eaves, landing with a thud in the mud, splattering mud everywhere. The man covered his left eye with both hands, writhing in the mud, howling in agony, dark purple blood seeping from between his fingers.

The One-Armed Beggar sneered, "You little clown, daring to show your face here? Do you think the taste of this snake-tail needle is easy?"

The man, seemingly in unbearable pain and knowing he had no chance of survival, suddenly leaped up, glaring at the One-Armed Beggar with his remaining arm, roared, and raised his right palm to strike down on his own skull. Unexpectedly, the One-Armed Beggar arrived like lightning, his five fingers outstretched, gripping the man's right wrist. He snarled, "Friend, it's not difficult for you to die. I still have questions for you. Answer truthfully, and I will grant your wish."
The man, already suffering from excruciating pain and delirium, had resolved to commit suicide for relief. Now, with his wrist held captive, the pain was unbearable, even for a man of iron. He let out a single howl and fainted. The One-Armed Beggar spat and cursed, "Such a useless piece of trash, utterly repulsive!" Before he finished speaking, the man coughed up more phlegm and died.

Seeing the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar recklessly use the Snake Tail Needle again, the Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi frowned deeply and shouted, "Xi Shou, the one who spoke has already spread far away. What are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar stared blankly, thinking, "In front of so many people, I'm really in trouble. The real culprit has already run away. How can I vent my anger on a useless junior?" Thinking this, he glanced at the corpse.

Suddenly, ten feet away, on the bank of the cold pond, atop a gnarled pine tree, someone laughed loudly, "Old man, you've guessed wrong again. I haven't gone far, I'm just missing an arm. You've chosen the wrong enemy. A debt of poison must be repaid with poison. Who among us has ever let anyone go?" A strange light flashed in Cang Xi's eyes, and he spun around, unleashing a palm strike.

A whirlwind swept through the clouds, and with a loud bang, the massive pine tree shook violently, its needles scattering like rain, yet not a single person fell from the tree. Cang Xi's full head of hair and beard stood on end, and he was about to pounce when a cold laugh rose from under the tree again. The voice said, "The day I, the old man, begin my killing spree is still three days away. Cang Xi, you've broken the arms and legs of my four disciples. Now, I'm sending you this message discreetly: I'm waiting for you at the Red Flag headquarters in Yunmeng Mountain, Hubei, to settle this score. Otherwise, your Beggars' Sect will soon be littered with corpses. Don't blame me for being ruthless and vicious." The voice, carried by the biting wind, was sinister, terrifying, and chilling.

Cang Xi roared, "Who exactly are you?"

"The Demon Lord of Changbai."

Cang Xi and the others paled, then sneered, "Fine, this old man will go to Yunmeng Mountain to learn from you within half a month."

The Demon Lord let out a piercing laugh, "The Beggar Clan is known for keeping their word. I, this old man, will go to Yunmeng Mountain to await you. It would be best if you brought many disciples and grand-disciples to their deaths." As soon as he finished speaking, a white figure soared into the sky from the cold pond, moving with unparalleled speed.

The One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar shouted, his figure flashing out like lightning, his five fingers, sharp as halberds, reaching straight for the white figure's back. The Demon Lord's skill was extraordinary, his movements incredibly fast. How could he allow the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar to catch him? He flicked his white sleeve backward, his figure disappearing into the clouds. The one-armed beggar suddenly felt his five fingers being pressed down by the Demon Lord's sleeve, the pain almost breaking. He hurriedly pulled his arm away, his body plummeting downwards. He staggered several steps before regaining his footing, his yellow face turning crimson with shame.

At this moment, Cang Xi's eyes were fixed on the blue sky, the bright sun, and the floating white clouds, lost in thought. Although his face showed no unusual expression, everyone sensed that he was burdened with heavy sorrow, and they all remained silent. Cang Xi looked at Jiang Yaohong and Luo Xiangmei and said, "I have something to say, and I hope you two ladies won't take offense. My sworn brother, Xie Yunyue, is handsome and talented beyond compare. No wonder you two ladies are so fond of him..."

The two women blushed and lowered their heads. Cang Xi continued, "I'm afraid there's still some entanglement between you two. Xie Yunyue has a grudge against Chou Yuxiu, a disciple of the Golden Peak Master of your sect. The Golden Peak Master is very protective of his own and will certainly hinder your plans. However, things can be done by human effort. You must not act impulsively. I hope you two ladies will understand my meaning and go to Wudang to find him."

At that moment, Jiang Yaohong, Luo Xiangmei, and Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Master of the Deadly Palms, all set off for Wudang.

The morning sun shone brightly, and the morning breeze was chilly. In mid-February, Wudang Mountain was ablaze with peach and apricot blossoms, willows swayed in the breeze, and dense forests covered the rolling hills, their verdant canopies blocking out the sun. Even the steepest peaks and deepest ravines remained covered in layers of ice and snow, a testament to the unchanging nature of spring. Taoist temples, resplendent in gold and jade, stood amidst ancient firs and cypresses, truly a secluded and sacred place of Taoism. A spring breeze swept by, and as the sun rose just above the treetops, at the foot of Zhanqi Peak, by the Yuji Pond before the Zixiao Palace, stood a slender Taoist priest with flowing silver beard and a crane-like face, his brows furrowed, his expression heavy with worry, his eyes fixed on the floating duckweed in the pond. Behind him stood two adults and a young boy, both handsome and refined, each holding a weathered, ancient longsword.

Suddenly, the bells of the four mountains rang out, echoing and reverberating through the sky. The Taoist priest abruptly looked up, his starry eyes flashing with a piercing light. Amidst the melodious tolling of the bell, a long howl suddenly rang out, and a figure swooped down from Zhanqi Peak, landing as swiftly as a falcon on the stone steps beside Zixiao Palace. In just two or three leaps, it silently landed to the right of the Taoist by the pool.

The newcomer was a sallow-faced, slightly bearded Taoist priest. He

bowed deeply and said, "Why has the Sect Leader so readily left the strategically important Qiongtan Temple on Tianzhu Peak to come to Zixiao Palace?" The old Taoist priest with a crane-like face snorted and said, "Jingming, why do you speak so carelessly? This concerns the rise and fall of Wudang. I have already invited two of our three senior uncles, who have long secluded themselves from the world, to guard Qiongtan Temple, Taihe Palace, and the Xuanwu Hall on the Golden Summit."

Master Jingming's eyebrows twitched with delight, and he said, "With these three elders assisting us, our sect can rest easy."

The Sect Leader's face darkened, and he said, "You make it sound so easy. One Xiaoyao Ke was already difficult to deal with, let alone the three monsters of the Northern Darkness Demonic Sect he invited, and you have also summoned Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian and others. Our sect's life and death hang in the balance. The alarm bells are ringing. Could it be that Xiaoyao Ke and his men have arrived so soon?"

Master Jingming blushed slightly and said with his hands at his sides, "The alarm bell first sounded at Ying'en Palace, which is different from the way Xiaoyao Ke came. In recent years, our sect's third-generation disciples have gone down the mountain to practice Taoism and have made many powerful enemies. It is probably someone else."

This gaunt-faced Taoist, Lan Xingyu, the head of Wudang Sect, pondered for a moment upon hearing this and said, "Jingming, go to Ying'en Palace and see who the enemy is. All thirty-six cliffs, seventy-two palaces, and twenty-four temples of our mountain have ambushes and arrangements. It is not so easy for anyone to break in. If you encounter Jingxing and Jingfa, you can issue an order to have them guard the Langmei Immortal Treasure in front of Langxian Cave."

Master Jingming replied, "I will obey your order." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around, shook his sleeves, and rose four or five zhang high. His body arched, his arms stretched out, and he suddenly transformed into "Flying Eagle Leaping," darting into the ancient cypress and fir trees with lightning speed.

As soon as Master Jingming landed in the forest, he rose again and sped northward. Suddenly, a wisp of smoke-like figure appeared behind him, swiftly and unpredictably pursuing him. This figure, halfway there, suddenly darted past, disappearing and reappearing amidst the lush cypress trees, heading towards Ying'en Palace. Before Ying'en Palace stood a long, imposing blue stone stele, inscribed with the three characters "First Mountain," written in the calligraphy of Song Dynasty calligrapher Xiangyang, the strokes flowing and dynamic, like dragons and snakes soaring through the heavens.

The bell tolled abruptly, and a massive figure plummeted before the stone tablet like an arrow. It was a bald, tiger-faced old man, imposing in appearance, his brocade robe gleaming in the morning sun. The old man caught sight of the three characters "First Mountain" and immediately burst into loud laughter, "Such arrogance! Let me add a stroke!" As he spoke, he flicked his sleeve and extended a finger, intending to add a stroke to the top and bottom of the character.

Suddenly, someone from Ying'en Palace shouted, "Benefactor, do not damage the scenic beauty of this mountain!" With that shout, a man darted out of the palace, moving with lightning speed, his palm outstretched, striking at the tiger-faced old man's arm with incredible speed.

The tiger-faced old man, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, didn't turn around, laughing heartily. Suddenly, he rose into the air like a dragon ascending to heaven. The man's attack missed, and he spun around, striking out with a palm strike. But the tiger-faced old man's movements were incredibly fast; before the man's palm could strike, he had already turned and pounced down from mid-air. Two figures merged, and a shrill scream rang out. The man who had sprung from Ying'en Palace was thrown three zhang away, blood gushing from his face like a fountain, a gruesome sight.

The tiger-faced old man, seeing this, laughed wildly, saying, "Wudang is full of good-for-nothings, utterly incapable of fighting, yet they dare call themselves a major sect of the Central Plains!"

The bell rang again, and three middle-aged Taoists flew out of Ying'en Palace. The Taoist in the center coldly looked at the tiger-faced old man and said, "How could you, benefactor, sow such a bloody seed in this place of pure cultivation?"

The old man let out a chilling laugh, saying, "The bloody seed was sown by your Wudang first. Did I come to Wudang for no reason?"

The Taoist in the center carefully examined the tiger-faced old man, his expression suddenly changing, and said, "So it is Master Mu Bing, the Earthly Fiend Hermit of Qionglai, who has arrived."

Mu Bing sneered, "Your eyesight is good; you actually recognize me." He pointed at the corpse. The Taoist priest said in a sinister tone, "Your brother from our sect died a worthwhile death, didn't he? Who told him to ambush me?"

The Taoist priest in the middle smiled arrogantly and said, "The Qionglai sect has recently gone astray, and many of its disciples have become bandits. When our disciples go down the mountain to practice Taoism, fighting is inevitable. Not only does Benefactor Mu not clean up his disciples, but he also invades Wudang Mountain and seeks revenge at will. This truly chills my teeth."

Upon hearing this, Mu Bing was furious and said, "You dare to insult me? Hmph, I will teach you a lesson and reduce your seventy-two palaces of Wudang to rubble."

The Taoist priest sneered, "Although Wudang is full of good-for-nothings, Benefactor Mu is not capable of leveling the seventy-two palaces." Mu Bing's beard and eyebrows bristled with rage, and he unleashed a lightning-fast palm strike with tremendous force, like a tidal wave.

The three figures split in an instant, flashes of green light, and three swords gleamed, three silver stars pointing at Mu Bing's three critical acupoints: "Tian Shu," "Jing Cu," and "Yu Men." Mu Bing let out a clear whistle, shifting three feet to the side, his right palm swiftly pressing down on his ribs. With a resounding dragon's roar, he drew a soft sword that shimmered like a dancing snake. Before his sword strike even began, three sword beams, like ten thousand cold stars, converged to attack his body.

Mu Bing let out a chilling laugh, and a golden rainbow swept up, enveloping the ten thousand golden stars. A series of metallic clangs rang out, and suddenly the sky was filled with golden meteors, scattering in all directions. The three figures were thrown back to their feet, each clutching a broken sword, their faces ashen, their eyes filled with horror. Mu Bing laughed wildly, his voice booming like thunder, causing the surrounding martial arts techniques to rustle and fall. After a long while, his laughter subsided, and he arrogantly said, "Even a grain of rice can shine; the Three Elements Sword Technique is nothing more than this."

As soon as he uttered these arrogant words, a clear voice rang out from behind him, emanating from a towering ancient cypress tree: "Old Mu, hold your tongue! How dare you insult Wudang? You take your anger out on these younger generations of Wudang; what kind of person are you? Go find their sect leader and have a go. The Blue Star Taoists are in front of the Purple Cloud Palace; what are they doing here talking to themselves?"

Mu Bing, a master from Qionglai, was extremely arrogant. The more he heard, the angrier he became. As soon as the other party finished speaking, he spun around and leaped into the air, a golden streak flashing as he swept towards the source of the voice. He had only risen about three zhang high when he felt as if he had been stung by a bee in the back of his knees, the pain so intense it made his heart and spleen tremble. His true energy dissipated, and he sank to the ground. A voice rang in their ears: "Seeking death!" Their expressions changed drastically, and they leaped away, disappearing into the mountains like the wind.

The three Taoists were deeply grateful for the rescue from the tree; the Earthly Fiend Hermit Mu Bing's intervention had left no survivors, and this was tantamount to saving their lives. As they watched Mu Bing's figure gradually disappear, they each breathed a sigh of relief. The Taoist in the center gazed at the towering ancient cypress and said, "Who is this esteemed master? Please allow us to meet you, so we may express our gratitude."

The dense needles and branches swayed in the wind, but there was no response. He neither came nor went; he seemed to have vanished into thin air, leaving them astonished. Suddenly, a figure flew down from the left bank. The Taoist in the center went to greet him, calling out, "Brother Jingming, you've come at the right time!" He then recounted the events that had transpired.

Master Jingming hurriedly said, "Quickly ring the bell to warn everyone, I'll rush to the True Palace immediately." With that, he flicked his arms, and a crane soared into the sky, leaping up the cliff face and disappearing. The three hastily buried the corpses and then rushed into Ying'en Palace.

In an instant, a clear bell rang out from within the palace. Xu Zhi remained unhurried, showing no sign of any emergency. Ying'en Palace faced a solitary peak, its cliffs sheer and towering into the clouds. Beside a uniquely shaped pine tree with gnarled roots and five beards, a young man in blue stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds, silently pondering. This young man was Xie Yunyue, a strange scholar. He had determined that Yue Yangpin'er was not kidnapped by the Three Swordsmen of Wudang, just as Master Jingming had said at the Junzhou Restaurant; he assumed it was Xiaoyao Ke who had captured them. The two children possessed superior looks and talents, beloved by all, and it was inevitable that Xiaoyao Ke would take a liking to them and forcefully accept them as disciples. He would have to wait until he met them before making any decisions.

He suspected that Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian, Fu Liuguan, and Fu Wan had arrived before him, but they were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, he noticed something amiss out of the corner of his eye. Turning his gaze, he saw several figures appear on the neighboring peak, flashing and disappearing into the pine and fir trees. A thought struck him. He lightly touched the ground with his toes, transforming into the "Lone Goose Soaring Through the Sky" technique from the Seven Birds Movement Method. He flew diagonally through the air like an arrow, piercing through seven or eight feet. Suddenly, he pulled his arms back, quickly switching to the "Eight Transformations of the Heavenly Dragon" technique. In a series of transformations, he had already flown over twenty feet in the blink of an eye, landing on the opposite peak. His feet barely touched the ground before he leaped up again, chasing after the figures.

Xie Yunyue's lightness skill was incredibly fast. In a moment, he was already four or five feet behind the figures in front of him. Carefully examining the group, he was greatly disappointed. He had assumed that Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian and the other two were among them, as there was also a young girl among them. He followed her, vaguely recognizing the woman as Fu Wan, but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't.

Xie Yunyue slowed his pace. Along the way, strangely shaped pines with gnarled trunks and verdant leaves lined the path, while ancient firs towered into the clouds, standing majestically amidst thousands of peaks and mountains—a truly wondrous sight. Suddenly, he saw several people ahead stop and turn their heads to speak in hushed tones. Xie Yunyue swiftly moved, disappearing behind a rock. A rough voice suddenly rang out, "The alarm bells are ringing in Wudang Mountain. It seems a great enemy has invaded. We've just arrived at

the right time. Should we join in, or act alone?" Another voice chimed in, "Senior brother, our great enemy is the Taoist priest Jinghui. With the arrival of this powerful enemy from Wudang, we're happy to take advantage of the chaos and achieve great success. Taoist priest Jinghui is in the Huilong Temple down below. Let's go find him. After he's beheaded, we can also take the opportunity to taste the delicious 'Langmei Immortal Fruit'."

The young girl suddenly asked, "Senior brother, are you sure we'll succeed?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a clear voice came from the dense pine needles, saying, "What you say is right, young lady. Those who invade the mountain today will die. I strongly advise you all to descend the mountain." Xie Yunyue, observing coldly, saw a young-faced, white-haired Taoist priest dozens of feet away. He was using Xuanmen Qigong to transmit his voice, so it sounded as if the voice was right next to him.

Among the group of people who arrived was a burly man with piercing eyes. He roared from the direction of the voices, "Is that Jinghui, the Taoist priest? What are you doing, sneaking around like this? Master He is here to settle accounts with you!"

His clear voice continued, "Jinghui is my nephew. He has left the mountain, causing you all unnecessary trouble. In half a month, I will have Jinghui wait for you at Huilong Temple. The weapons you carried are temporarily stored at Erlong Waterfall; you will find them on your return journey." The group shuddered at the sound of his voice, glancing back at him in unison. Terrified, they exchanged glances and fled.
Xie Yunyue secretly laughed at these fools; they were completely oblivious to the theft of their weapons, and was secretly amazed by the Taoist priest's exceptional skill. As he pondered, a gentle breeze rustled, and a figure flashed before him. Seven feet away stood an old Taoist priest with a youthful face and white hair, his complexion solemn. He spoke in a loud voice, "Benefactor, have you come to Wudang as a friend or foe?" He glanced at the "Tai'a" sword behind Xie Yunyue and showed surprise, his gaze lingering on it for a long time.

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "I am neither friend nor foe, but have come to admire this famous mountain. You can rest assured, please proceed

, Daoist." The old Daoist bowed and said, "That's good. The long sword behind you is surely a divine artifact, but all who ascend this mountain must disarm themselves. I hope you will take it off and hand it to me for safekeeping. You can retrieve it from me when you descend the mountain. I am Huang Xing Yushi, and I am located in Huilong Temple at the foot of the cliff."

Xie Yunyue knew that Huang Xing Yushi coveted the Tai'a sword, and laughed loudly, "Daoist has a keen eye. My long sword is indeed an ancient divine artifact. How can I entrust it to someone else? Daoist, please do not entangle yourself with me. Xiaoyao Ke and Beiming Wangmo are about to attack the mountain, and Mu Bing, the Earthly Fiend Hermit of Qionglai, has also invaded Zixiao Palace. You should hurry back to Zixiao Palace to deal with the enemy."

Huang Xing Yushi shouted, "Who exactly are you?" His voice was fierce, and his long beard fluttered.

Xie Yunyue coldly said, "Daoist Master, why bother? Didn't I just say I'm neither friend nor foe? Why such harsh words?" His nonchalant expression infuriated Huang Xingyu.

Despite Huang Xingyu's adherence to the Three Pure Ones and his practice of purity and non-action, he too succumbed to greed upon seeing the Tai'a Sword. He thought that if he obtained this sword, what fear would he have of the Carefree Traveler and the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld? Only those who can truly achieve tranquility and detachment from worldly affairs are immortals and Buddhas. Huang Xingyu's greed nearly led to his complete ruin.

Huang Xingyu's face was as cold as ice as he said, "The Wudang sword-removing technique is an ancient method. How can you, benefactor, be an exception? I hope you will reconsider, otherwise, please forgive my offense."

Xie Yunyue remained unmoved and slowly said, "In that case, if I do not remove my sword, you will have to reach out and take it."

Huang Xingyu nodded and said, "Exactly."

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly and said, "If you wish to remove the sword behind me, I'm afraid your skill is insufficient."

Huang Xingyu angrily said,

"How dare you disrespect me?" Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "Please don't get angry, Daoist. How about we make a bet?"

Huang Xingyu's face froze and he said, "What is the bet?"

Xie Yunyue said, "It's extremely easy. If you cannot remove my sword within ten moves, I only ask for a 'Langmei Immortal Fruit.' Can you bet, Daoist?" Huang Xingyu's expression changed slightly as he pondered, "

The Langmei Immortal Fruit is a treasure of our sect. Its function is to nourish true essence, lighten the body and boost energy, and also to remove toxins and promote tissue regeneration. Only the sect leader can harvest twelve fruits each year to refine elixirs and bestow them upon all the Daoists of the mountain. How could I, a humble Daoist, gamble with such a thing?" He then changed his mind, "How could I possibly have the thought of getting nothing in return? Besides, there are only three immortal seeds outside the Langmei Immortal Fruit Shrine; the rest are all ordinary. If I get nothing in return, I can simply give away one of the ordinary seeds. It's not a big deal, and I'm sure my senior brother, the sect leader, wouldn't object." He then said loudly and generously, "I will do as you say, benefactor." "With that, he moved his feet, and with a slanted elbow and palm, reached out to grab Xie Yunyue's shoulder. His hand moved like the wind, swift and ghostly.

But his hand grasped empty air. Before Xie Yunyue could even move, he had already retreated seven feet. Xie Yunyue said in a deep voice, "Wait, the matter has not yet been made clear. I specifically want the ninth tree on the left of the Langxian Temple. That tree has no bark, its trunk stands upright with a red bark, and its flowers are in shades of peach and apricot, red and white, with the fruit of the Langmei Immortal Fruit growing on the stems of crabapple branches."

Huang Xingyu couldn't help but gasp, thinking to himself, "This young man is quite formidable. He has already got me cornered with his words." He then said in a deep voice, "Benefactor, you are too arrogant. Do you really think that I cannot take the sword behind you within ten moves?"

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "Whether it succeeds or not, we'll know when the time comes. It's too early to say. The long sword behind me was something I found; losing it wouldn't be a big deal. However, the Areca Plum Immortal Fruit of your mountain is said to be a forbidden item, and none of our sect members are allowed to take it. Daoist Master, I'm afraid you'll break your promise, and I'm powerless to help you." Huang

Xingyu was enraged by his words and shouted, "I've always valued my word; how could I break my promise to a junior like you?"

Xie Yunyue coldly replied, "One should always be wary of others. This place is just the two of us, Daoist Master. There's no evidence and no witnesses. If you later accuse me of being unreasonable, what can you say?"

Huang Xingyu reached into his hair and plucked a star-shaped piece of yellow jade from the curls of his hair. He tossed it towards Xie Yunyue and said in a deep voice, "This is my token. If I cannot disarm you within ten moves, you may use this jade to ask the Taoist priest guarding the shrine for a tree of Plum Blossoms. Otherwise, I will return the star-shaped jade." Xie

Yunyue caught the star-shaped jade in his hand, glanced at it, and then put it in his pocket, smiling as he said, "Alright, please extend your hand, Taoist priest." He couldn't help but sigh, lamenting how Huang Xingyu had lost all conscience for the sake of a single thought of poverty.

No sooner had he spoken than Huang Xingyu's five fingers flashed like lightning, reaching for Xie Yunyue's right shoulder. Xie Yunyue let out a chilling laugh, his figure darting away like a ghost. Just as Huang Xingyu's fingers were two inches from Xie Yunyue's shoulder, he suddenly dropped, and in a flash, the other's figure vanished, replaced by a cold laugh from behind.

Huang Xingyu was startled, not even bothering to think, his hand still outstretched, his arm spinning to grab, creating a sharp whistling sound. He only caught a glimpse of Xie Yunyue out of the corner of his eye before he disappeared again. Huang Xingyu realized he had encountered a peerless martial artist, and a chill ran through him. Just as this thought crossed his mind, he heard a cold voice behind him: "Daoist, have the two encounters already passed?"

Huang Xingyu gritted his teeth, thinking to himself, "If I fail in front of the young master today, how can I face the three stars of Wudang?" With a sudden leap, he soared three feet into the air, then swiftly turned and pounced down.
This action, completed in the blink of an eye, carried the force of a thousand pounds; there was no way for his opponent to escape. But there was no sign of his opponent, only a gentle breeze rustling the branches, dense shade covering the ground—an empty expanse. Huang Xing, the Taoist priest, paled instantly and shouted, "Where are you hiding, benefactor? Hiding is nothing unusual!"

A cold laugh rose behind him again, and the other person said, "Who's hiding? Daoist priest, you can't see it, so who's to blame?"

Huang Xing slowly turned around and saw the other person looking at him with a carefree smile. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "There's no way I can win today; I can only force my way in." "I was filled with remorse, but the words had already been spoken and could not be taken back.

Suddenly, the bell rang again, echoing through the valley. I heard the other person slowly say, "The alarm bell is ringing frequently, which means a great enemy is attacking. But there is no sound in Huilong Temple below the cliff. Is the Taoist priest the only one guarding Huilong Temple?" "

Above the yellow star, a horrified expression surged. There were four guards inside the temple, yet why was there such silence? Without even a chance to answer Xie Yunyue, he unfurled his Taoist robe and prepared to plunge down the cliff. Xie Yunyue wanted to return the star-shaped yellow jade, but it was too late. He sighed, hesitated briefly, then swiftly descended the cliff as well. Upon entering the temple, he saw four Taoist corpses lying beside the ancient bowl. Their robes were shattered, each bearing a handprint, and their faces showed immediate terror and fear.

Xie Yunyue examined them closely; all four had been killed by the deadly, insidious palm strikes of an internal martial arts master. The handprints on their chests varied in size, indicating that the enemy was not a single person. He thought, 'Could it be that the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld, the Carefree Swordsman, have already been here?'" "Huang Xingyushi was nowhere to be seen again, and a feeling of shared hatred arose within him. He flashed out and leaped onto the Jade Void Path, heading towards the Purple Cloud Palace.

Looking up, the sky was clear and bright, the golden peaks and pillars still covered in snow, sparkling like jade. Looking down, he saw valleys on both sides, with pines and firs standing tall and elegant, their shade stretching far and wide. The mountains were lined with tall trees, their green and purple foliage reaching for the sky, as if he were walking through a green curtain. The sound of bells echoed throughout the valleys, a stark contrast to their usual melodious tone, ringing out rapidly and urgently. He moved swiftly, covering seven or eight li in a flash, before reaching the Eight Immortals Luo Gong..." The words "courtyard house" were faintly visible when suddenly he saw figures flashing by. Their movements were

surprisingly familiar. He quickly gathered his inner energy and leaped up like a whirlwind to give chase. In the blink of an eye, he was upon them, only seven or eight zhang away. Upon recognizing them, he inwardly groaned. It was none other than Sang Lu, the Eight Palms of the Deadly Strike, and Jiang Yaohong and Luo Xiangmei. Just as he was about to slip away and hide, he heard Jiang Yaohong's sweet voice: "The bell tolls urgently, it must be Brother Yun arriving at Wudang. That old Taoist is in for a rough time. How annoying, this path is so long!"

As she spoke, she glanced back intentionally or unintentionally. This action was meant to check the length of the stone steps, but unexpectedly, she discovered a miracle. Her eyes lit up with surprise, and she cried out, "Brother Yun, you're really here! I've been searching for you for so long!" Caught off guard, Xie Yunyue couldn't dodge in time and had no choice but to leap up the steps.

At this moment, Sang Lu and Xiang Mei turned around. Xie Yunyue grasped Sang Lu's hands and greeted him. He immediately noticed the resentment in Luo Xiang Mei's eyes and was startled. He quickly smiled and said, "Miss Luo, hello." His question only made things worse; two streams of tears flowed down Luo Xiang Mei's face, as if she had suffered endless injustice.

Seeing this, Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Master of Life-Taking Palms, knew there was going to be some trouble and hurriedly said, "Young hero, this humble Taoist must do me a favor and take my leave." Without waiting for Xie Yunyue's reply, he leaped forward like lightning. Xie Yunyue stood there, frozen, unsure what to do.

Jiang Yaohong said with a hint of resentment, "Brother Yun, you're too heartless. Sister Mei was so grateful for your help in rescuing her from her acupoints that she offered herself to you in return. How could you just leave without a word?"

Xie Yunyue blushed and timidly said, "I was really anxious about Le Yangpin'er's whereabouts and didn't realize I had been negligent and impolite. But...but..." He said "but" twice in a row, finally mustering his courage to say, "Rescuing the two young ladies at Huangfu Song's manor in Wild Duck Beach was just an expedient act. Miss Luo, you don't need to hold a grudge..." Before

he could finish, Jiang Yaohong interjected, "Brother Yun, think about it. When a young lady is taken advantage of by a strange man in a secluded place, what other choice does she have but to offer herself to him?" Her face flushed as she spoke. Luo Xiangmei also had the same expression, her eyes slightly red.

Xie Yunyue thought to himself, "You forced me to release my acupoints." He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, his eyes wide, unsure how to respond. After a long while, he bowed deeply and said, "It was my fault. I apologize to the two ladies."

Luo Xiangmei quickly returned the bow gracefully, while Jiang Yaohong coquettishly said, "Brother Yun, what's wrong with you? You keep calling me 'lady,' but it seems we've become distant in less than a year." Xie Yunyue was in an extremely awkward situation, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, completely at a loss, and staring blankly.

Suddenly, he heard shouts coming from the Luo family's courtyard. His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said, "Oh no! Abbot Sang has already started fighting someone!" As he spoke, he leaped upwards, and the two women, Jiang and Luo, followed suit.

Xie Yunyue landed swiftly in an open space in front of the Luo family's courtyard, where he saw Sang Lu, the Eight Palms of Death, fighting fiercely with a strange man with shoulder-length hair. The long-haired, strange man's moves were bizarre and unpredictable, completely contrary to the martial arts of the Central Plains. His attacks were intricate and unpredictable, and although Sang Lu's Eight Palms of Death were powerful, he couldn't catch them accurately. Defending was difficult, and he was more defensive than offensive. The wind from his palms was deafening, and sand and stones flew everywhere. Two figures moved swiftly and nimbly through the fog.

Suddenly, the strange man used a move called "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies" to force Sang Lu's palm strikes back, leaving him wide open. In a flash, the strange man extended his left palm, aiming for Sang Lu's "chest." Sang Lu snorted coldly, took a half step back, and flicked his palm upwards. But then, the long-haired man let out a chilling laugh, and suddenly he bent his waist, his palm striking towards Sang Lu's lower abdomen.

Xie Yunyue knew that Sang Lu would not be able to dodge such strange skills. Although the long-haired monster's variation seemed extremely simple at first glance, it contained infinite variations. He knew that he had to act now and unleash the "Eighteen Dissolutions of Xuanyuan" to neutralize it. This thought flashed through his mind, and with a swift movement, his five fingers shot out.

Just as the long-haired monster's palm was about to strike three inches below Sang Lu's navel, he suddenly felt his wrist tighten, and all his strength dissipated. Sang Lu thought he was about to die in an instant, but then he realized that the monster's palm strike was light and powerless. Only then did he dodge and retreat, and at the same time, he saw that Xie Yunyue had grabbed the monster's wrist. The monster was greatly surprised by the sudden change in Xie Yunyue's grip on his wrist, and his eyes flashed with horror.

The two women had already arrived at Xie Yunyue's side, but they could not see how Xie Yunyue launched his attack. They only knew that it was mysterious, profound, and unfathomable, and they were very confused. They knew Xie Yunbei's martial arts were superb, but they hadn't expected him to be so knowledgeable and profound. Luo Xiangmei, in particular, felt a surge of affection that clung tightly to Xie Yunyue. At that moment, Xie Yunyue grabbed the strange man

's wrist and sneered, "Are you one of the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld?" The long-haired strange man's eyes flashed with ruthless malice. He remained silent, secretly gathering his "Frosty True Qi" to try and break free of the restrained wrist before unleashing a powerful palm strike. However, this attempt to gather his true qi backfired spectacularly. He felt his blood rush backward, the cold poison attacking his heart. He trembled, his face paled, and sweat poured down his face, instantly condensing into ice beads.

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "If you want to die quickly, you don't need to answer. I never force anyone."

The strange man grinned maliciously and said, "I am a descendant of the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld. Why do you ask that?"
Xie Yunyue glanced at the strange man and asked in a deep voice, "Then where are the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld and the Carefree Swordsman now?" His fingers suddenly tightened.

A chilling poison coursed through the strange man's body as he trembled and said, "I've already gone to the Golden Summit of Tianzhu."

"Were the four you killed at Huilong Temple your doing? Who else came with you?" The strange man was now barely audible, only nodding and extending two fingers.

Xie Yunyue understood the strange man's gesture; there were two others with him, undoubtedly the three disciples of the Three Demons of Beiming, who had been slaughtering the Wudang disciples. No wonder the bells rang from all directions; as a result, the Wudang elites had suffered a catastrophic fate. Without further questioning, he swiftly pointed two fingers of his left hand at the strange man's chest with lightning speed. The strange man groaned and fainted.

Xie Yunyue looked at Sang Lu and said, "Master Sang, let's split up and rush off to save Wudang from this crisis first."

Sang Lu shook his head and said, "In my opinion, there's no need to lend a hand, because neither I nor the two young ladies are strong enough. I came here on the behalf of Elder Cang, the Nine-Fingered Beggar of the Beggar Clan, to convey a message to the young hero that the Demon Lord has also arranged for Elder Cang to fight among the Red Flag Gang members."

Xie Yunyue asked, "When is the date the Demon Lord has arranged?"

Sang Lu smiled and said, "Five days from now."

Xie Yunyue pondered for a moment and said, "It's still too early. I intend to meet Xiaoyao Ke and inquire about Le Yangpin'er's whereabouts before I go. I also need to return the token from Huang Xing Yushi."

Sang Lu nodded and said, "In that case, we should hurry to the Golden Summit of Tianzhu and strike at the root of the problem. However, Huang Xing Yushi, the second-star of Wudang, is a wicked man. What is his relationship with the Young Master?" He then looked suspicious.

Xie Yunyue immediately recounted the previous events, and Sang Lu shook his head and sighed, "If Wudang hadn't faced a catastrophe, Huang Xingyu would surely have instigated his leader to become enemies with you, young hero. Although you weren't afraid, the fact that you went to their door to bully them and forcibly take the Langmei Immortal Fruit under their false accusations and slander would spread throughout the martial world, causing many to be unaware of the truth, which would greatly damage your prestige."

Xie Yunyue smiled slightly and said, "Let's go." The four of them then swiftly set off towards the snow-capped Tianzhu Peak.

At this moment, the sound of bells echoed through the valley, and Daoist priests could be seen darting about like lightning among the trees, their swords flashing. They sped towards a deserted place among the sheer cliffs. Xie Yunyue remained unusually silent the entire way, worried about whether Fu Wan and the others were in danger and why they hadn't been seen. The two women walked ahead, Jiang Yaohong glancing back frequently, her starry eyes never leaving Xie Yunyue's face. They walked silently like this for a long time.

As they continued, Jiang Yaohong couldn't help but giggle, "Brother Yun, you seem troubled. What's on your mind?"

Xie Yunyue knew his unease had been noticed by the two women, so he quickly replied, "Nothing, it's just that Hongmei keeps bothering me." He then quickened his pace to walk alongside the two women, forcing himself to be energetic as he pointed out the scenery of the mountains and valleys.

The scenery of Wudang Mountain was exceptionally beautiful, lush and verdant, towering and majestic, painted with yellow and red hues, peach and plum blossoms in full bloom, wildflowers lining the paths, their reflections shimmering in the air, their vibrant colors illuminating the rocks. Giant pines and firs embraced the cliffs, soaring into the sky, their gnarled branches and green tendrils dancing in the air, standing tall and majestic like giant spirits. The surrounding peaks, like inverted bells and tripods, stood tall and independent, their snow-capped peaks reflecting the sun with extraordinary brilliance. As they ascended, the temperature plummeted, a howling wind swept through the valley, and the chill was biting. The four took a small path beside the Three Heavens Gate, swiftly climbing towards the Golden Summit.

The moment they stepped into the open space before the summit, a voice rang out from within the hall: "Amitabha Buddha!" The howling wind pierced their ears.

In the blink of an eye, a figure flashed out of the hall with incredible speed. It was an old Taoist priest with silver hair, his eyes narrowed to slits, revealing a sharp, cold glint in them, exuding an imposing aura. The old priest appeared to be over 80 years old, his face deeply wrinkled, yet his body was strong and agile, his movements fluid and graceful—clearly a Taoist practitioner of profound cultivation possessing unparalleled skill.

The old Taoist priest glanced at the four of them and smiled, "This humble Taoist is Tai Xuan. The Golden Summit of Tianzhu is a forbidden area, and outsiders are not allowed to trespass. What brings you four benefactors here?" Although his words were gentle, they subtly indicated that the four were extremely unwelcome.

Xie Yunyue couldn't help but snort upon hearing this, and said loudly, "We four have come here neither as friends nor enemies of your sect. We have come to inquire about a past matter concerning the Carefree Guest. This has been extremely impolite. Taoist Master, you are a reclusive master, a senior member of Wudang, and your manners are excellent. You have remained unmoved even as Wudang disciples were slaughtered. Our minor transgression is nothing to worry about." He then laughed heartily.

Master Taixuan's expression changed slightly, his eyes flashing with a sudden, sharp light as if he were suppressing his anger. He slowly said, "Your words are sharp and sarcastic. Fortunately, I am a man of few words, and I will not disturb you. If my junior brother were here, I fear you would not be able to leave this place safely for the Golden Summit..."

Before he finished speaking, two clear whistles echoed through the snow-capped peaks. Taixuan hurriedly said, "My junior brother is here." With the sound of the whistles, two figures flashed from the side of the peak. Two figures in gray-white robes appeared, and before Master Taixuan stood two white-haired, gaunt old Taoists.

One of them hurriedly said to Master Taiqing, "The Three Demons of the Northern Underworld and the Carefree Guest, led by the sect leader's nephew and disciples Yingxing and Zixing, are heading towards the Golden Summit. Half of the other invading bandits have been killed. Mu Bing, the Earthly Fiend Hermit of Qionglai, was struck down by my palm and is now in the Flying Star Harmony. I do not know whether he is alive or dead." As he spoke, he frequently glanced at Xie Yunyue and the other three.

Tai Xuan Daoist Mu Shou said, "I only hope that the Ancestral Master will have mercy and silently protect this mountain. The three demons of Beiming possess strange powers that cannot be dispelled by kind words. Xiaoyao Ke's grievances remain unresolved, and he is unwilling to accept defeat. It seems that the previous sect leader's prophecy of this mountain's impending doom refers to today." He then sighed softly.

Suddenly, the golden hall began to shake violently, the beams and pillars swaying rapidly. A cold wind howled, accompanied by a rumbling sound, as if the hall was about to collapse. The three Daoists' expressions changed, and they were about to leap away when the shaking abruptly stopped. Four people calmly walked out of the golden hall. One of them was an old man dressed in short, yellow robes, thin and small, with a sparse, short beard, each hair revealing flesh. His left eye was blind, while his right eye gleamed brightly. The other three had leopard eyes and lion noses, red faces, and bushy beards. Although they were of different heights, they looked like twin brothers.

Xie Yunyue whispered, "Let's leave the area for now; it's not wise to interfere." He tugged at the sleeves of the two women, and the four of them leaped away from the plaza in front of the hall, standing quietly beneath a

strangely shaped pine tree. Four people emerged from the hall; it was obvious who they were. The noisy old man was none other than Xiaoyao Ke, and the other three were the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld. The four of them paid no heed to the three figures in the plaza, chatting and laughing as if nothing was amiss. Xiaoyao Ke chuckled, "My esteemed brothers, the Wudang Langmei fruit is quite delicious, leaving a lingering aftertaste."
The demon on the far left said, "While Langmei fruit is no ordinary fruit, it's still rather bland, lacking the rich and delicious flavor of the Northern Sea's ice pears."

"How vulgar are the Wudang Taoist priests! The statues and altars in the hall are all made of gold, reeking of money. I couldn't stand it, so I destroyed them all." The three of them mocked and ridiculed each other, infuriating everyone present.

Suddenly, the three figures moved, flashing like lightning to the four of them. The carefree traveler and the three demons of the Northern Underworld laughed heartily, their figures swiftly splitting apart, and in the blink of an eye, they stood behind the three Daoists. The three Daoists' expressions all changed, and they quickly spun around and stood still. The thirteen bolts of cold lightning on both sides stared silently at each other, the atmosphere eerily quiet. The mountain peaks were all shrouded in snow, the cold biting to the bone, and the howling wind raged and shrieked in the clear sky, making the already desolate atmosphere even more grim.

Suddenly, the carefree traveler laughed loudly: "I didn't expect that the Taoist priest from Blue Star would actually think highly of me, surnamed Hai, and bring along the three Daoist masters from Wudang, Tai Xuan, Tai Miao, and Tai Jing, who have long been detached from worldly affairs. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Daoist Tai Miao snorted angrily, his five fingers flashing like lightning as he grabbed out, aiming for the carefree traveler's "Jianjing" acupoint. The attack was incredibly fast. Just as Master Tai Miao's five fingers were about to reach Xiaoyao Ke's left shoulder, he suddenly slashed to the left, his fingers spreading wide to strike five acupoints: Yu Fu, Jiu Ting, Yin Bu, Tai Yi, and Qi Men. The speed of the change, without even a sound, clearly demonstrated Master Tai Miao's extraordinary martial arts skills.

Faced with this surprise attack, Xiaoyao Ke was unable to defend himself and leaned back sharply. Even so, the force of the fingers pierced five holes in his chest. Before Master Tai Miao could withdraw his hand, the Three Demons of Beiming each launched a palm strike towards Master Tai Miao's chest. The force of the palm strikes surged through the air like thunder, a roaring tide, extremely fierce.

Master Tai Miao also felt the sudden pressure from the surrounding palm strikes, his blood and qi congested. He was greatly alarmed and leaped into the air. Tai Xuan and Tai Jing also dodged two zhang to the side. The residual force of the three demonic palm strikes, surging and pressing down, actually shattered the solitary, towering pine tree in two. With a deafening roar, the upper half of the pine trunk shot out, plummeting into the deep ravine below…

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