Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 24

Chapter Twenty-Four: Observing the Subtle to Know the Gradual Progress; Using Ghosts as a Domain; Overreaching and Backfiring; Removing the Fuel from Under the Cauldron

; The Decisive Struggle Lies in Human Schemes; On the river, mist and waves ripple with sorrow. In an instant, he was enveloped by an inexplicable melancholy, and couldn't help but sigh deeply. Suddenly, the voice of the Pine and Cypress Daoist rose from behind him
, saying, "We are deeply grateful for your help, benefactor." The old man in green slowly turned his back, and saw the seven Wudang Daoists standing not far in front of him, their poison gone, but their true energy greatly depleted. Under the silver moonlight, they appeared even paler and lifeless. Upon seeing the old man in green turn around, the seven Wudang Daoists simultaneously bowed deeply. The old man in green swayed, stepping aside to avoid the deep bow, repeatedly saying, "I dare not, I dare not. I have met you seven before. I presume you seven Daoists are going to Shaolin Temple to protect the 'Formless Vajra Palm Scripture'? How are the Shaolin Zen Masters?" "

Songbo Daoist and the others were immediately surprised, for the old man in green was completely unfamiliar. They racked their brains but could not recall where they had seen him before. The old man in green smiled slightly and said, 'Are Master Yiyuan and Miss Hu Ruolan still at Shaolin?'

Songbo Daoist suddenly realized that the old man in green before him was none other than Xie Yunyue, the renowned scholar with unparalleled skill and reputation throughout the martial world, in disguise. He quickly bowed and smiled, saying, 'So it is Young Hero Xie! I was wondering who else in this world possesses such profound skill. Master Yiyuan, Senior Hu, and Miss Lan left the mountain a day before me, probably also heading towards Xiakou.' He paused, then added, 'When our sect was robbed, the one who rescued our Third Elder at Golden Peak must also be Young Hero Xie?'" The old man in blue merely smiled, then suddenly his expression hardened, as if he were listening intently.

Seeing Xie Yunyue's expression, the seven Wudang Daoists knew they had discovered something, but they remained completely oblivious to anything amiss. A moment later, Songbo Daoist heard the soft rustling of robes and the light tapping of toes carried on the night breeze. He was deeply alarmed, thinking, "No wonder this man, barely twenty, has caused such a stir in the martial world; in terms of hearing alone, we are far inferior." "As they pondered, under the moonlight and starlight, a figure sped towards them from the cliff overlooking the river, swift as the wind.

As the figure approached, it suddenly slowed, stopping before them in silence, its piercing eyes scanning them intently. Xie Yunyue glanced at the newcomer, then immediately turned to gaze at the vast moonlit river, appearing indifferent and leisurely. The figure, with a crab-like face and a bushy beard, looked extremely fierce. With a snort, it swiftly swept its shoulders, leaping over their heads.

Songbo Daoist, his face showing surprise, exclaimed, 'Wan Xiaocang!'

'The Cold Moon Divine Blade!' " "The Wild Cloud Daoist standing beside the Pine and Cypress Daoist was startled and cried out.

They saw Wan Xiaocang, wielding the Cold Moon Divine Blade, leap five or six zhang away, lightly touch the ground, and then leap again, crashing head-on into a tall figure carrying a whirlwind of energy. Wan Xiaocang roared, kicking with both feet, and was thrown into the air by the incoming palm force, landing seven or eight zhang away like a willow catkin blown by the wind.

The attacker also landed, laughing loudly, "Wan Xiaocang, truly, life is full of unexpected encounters! Didn't expect to meet you here, did you, Lei Lao Er?" The attacker was none other than Lei Xiaotian, the Humorous and Witty Qiankun Hand.

Wan Xiaocang coldly snorted, "Lei Shizi, don't be so smug. Seven years ago, you were lucky enough to survive under my Cold Moon Divine Blade, allowing you to live for many years. Now, without me even lifting a finger, you won't live for more than a few days."

Lei Xiaotian, unconcerned, chuckled and said, "I, Lei Lao Er, am ordained by Heaven. Even the King of Hell doesn't want me, so what can he do? How could you possibly scheme against me? You, a renowned eccentric of the martial world, have been in hiding for many years, yet you've joined the Red Flag Gang, becoming a tyrant. I, Lei Xiaotian, can't help but feel sorry for you." Wan

Xiaocang angrily retorted, "Nonsense! I am not that kind of person. This is merely a contest for supremacy in the martial world. I was invited by the Demon Lord to lend my assistance. Hehe! I just hope to see Lei Xiaotian enter the Red Flag main altar alive."

Before Lei Xiaotian could speak, Xie Yunyue arrived in a flash, coldly interjecting, "What is the meaning behind your words? I hope you will tell me."

Wan Xiaocang was startled by Xie Yunyue's extraordinary speed, but his expression remained calm. He said, "Your Excellency understands perfectly well. I don't need to elaborate on the Red Flag Gang's affairs." "With a swift movement, he had already leaped three zhang away.

But the moment he landed, the old man in green was already standing before him, his sleeves fluttering like a ghost in the wind. Wan Xiaocang couldn't help but gasp. He was a renowned eccentric in the martial world, but tonight he had encountered the fastest person he had ever met. He suppressed his anger and said, 'Why are you stopping me, sir?'

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, 'Your words have not yet fully revealed their meaning. How can you leave? Besides, you appear extraordinary, and your intention to collude with the Demon Lord must have a reason. I would like to hear the details.'

Wan Xiaocang glanced at Xie Yunyue and said coldly, 'Everyone who opposes the Red Flag Gang is under their secret surveillance. Perhaps the man I speak with tonight may not be alive tomorrow. I need not gossip about this. As for my private affairs, you need not concern yourself with them.'" His demeanor was extremely cold.

Xie Yunyue sneered, "You yourself may not survive, so why be so arrogant?" It turned out that a thought had suddenly occurred to Xie Yunyue. He felt that the Red Flag Gang intended to use this incident to incite a catastrophe in the martial arts world, and that the whole affair was solely for his sake.

He resolved to eliminate this calamity single-handedly, preserving the vitality of the martial arts world. From this thought, he decided to use the "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan" – a technique from the "Eighteen Explanations of Xuanyuan" – on anyone he encountered, to inflict the torment of mental anguish, causing them to suffer for six years until the torment would subside. This method was undeniably extreme and malicious, but weighing the pros and cons, it was worthwhile to prevent many from suffering tragic deaths and to avert a massive calamity. Upon hearing this,

Wan Xiaocang, wielding the Cold Moon Divine Blade, was taken aback. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, saying, "I have never seen anyone as arrogant as you."

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "If you do not believe me, try circulating your Qi. Reverse the flow of Yin and Yang Qi. Is there anything unusual about your Qi Sea acupoint?"

Wan Xiaocang felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly circulated his Qi in secret. He felt a tremor in his Qi Sea acupoint. Through the flow of Yin Qi, the Yang Qi accumulated in the Qi Sea acupoint. In a short while, his upper body felt as cold as water, while his lower body felt as hot as fire. His expression changed drastically, and his eyes revealed a look of shock.

Xie Yunyue smiled again and said, "The Demon Lord is ruthless. Anyone who is won over by him is secretly struck by acupuncture points that no one can cure. After that, they become his loyal subjects. Although they are completely unaware of it at the moment, after half a month, they suffer from the torment of heart fire every midnight and must take his secret pills." Wan Xiaocang's soul trembled, and he was speechless for a long time, his eyes glazed over.
Xie Yunyue smiled slightly and said, "I'm afraid I can't undo this insidious acupoint striking technique. However, there is another method I can think of. If you are not willing to follow the Demon Lord's instructions, you should return immediately and practice breathing exercises and meditation to reverse Yin and Yang. You will soon be able to undo it yourself."

Wan Xiaocang immediately felt a sense of guilt and said, "I am grateful for your kindness. I will repay you in my lifetime." He bowed and fell to the ground, then walked away quickly. After walking three or four zhang, he suddenly thought, "What is the name of this old man in green? I haven't even asked him yet. How could he know that I have been struck on a Yin acupoint? Could it be a trick?" Although the doubt arose, the feeling he had just experienced clearly indicated that it was so. He wanted to turn around and ask, but he hesitated and couldn't muster the courage to speak. He sighed inwardly and quickly left.

After watching Wan Xiaocang's figure disappear, Lei Xiaotian asked, "Third brother, only you could handle such a cunning scheme. This fellow is so devoted that he's left Xiakou and gone home." Xie Yunyue smiled but remained silent.

At this moment, another figure rushed from the direction of the Yellow Crane Tower, arriving before them in the blink of an eye. It was Qian Ning, the "Hedgehog of the Wind." Qian Ning bowed to Xie Yunyue and said, "Elder Cang instructed me to convey that the Red Flag Gang has dispatched many skilled individuals in the Jiangxia area, intending to assassinate opposing righteous figures. It's difficult to guard against them. Therefore, Elder Cang has arranged for a large manor across the river to accommodate our friends. He instructed me to inform Fourth Elder and others to go there immediately to discuss matters. The two young ladies and Abbot Sang have already gone."

Xie Yunyue said, "Oh, so he has already arranged accommodations. Let's go now."

Bathed in the moonlight, the group sped across the small hill across the river. Qian Ning, the "Hedgehog of the Wind," led the way. Upon reaching a peak, he abruptly stopped, pointing to a manor nestled among the pines and bamboo below. "We're here," he said. He then took a whistle from his robes and brought it to his lips. A sharp, clear whistle rang out, carried on the wind.

Moments later, another whistle echoed from the depths of the pines on the mountainside. Four elderly men sprang up like lightning, bowed to Xie Yunyue, and immediately turned to lead the group down the peak. Amidst the rustling pines and bamboo, Xie Yunyue and the others entered a magnificently constructed manor with elegant pavilions. Cang Xi stood at the entrance of the hall, welcoming the guests in. After exchanging greetings with Lei Xiaotian of Wudang Seven Paths, he grasped Xie Yunyue's hands and laughed loudly, "If it weren't for my brother seeing through their trick at Yellow Crane Tower, I would have almost fallen for their scheme."

As he spoke, he entered the elegantly furnished hall, where Fu Liuguan, Fu Wan, Jiang Yaohong, Luo Xiangmei, Sang Lu of the Eight Palms of Death, Fan Shaochuan of the White-Browed Elder, Chen Wenhan, Hu Tiansheng, Xi Shou of the One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar, and Jiang Zongyao of the Black Moller were already seated, engaged in conversation. Upon seeing Xie Yunyue and the others enter, they all stood up, clasped hands, and exchanged pleasantries.

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cangxi said to One-Armed Wind and Cloud Beggar Xishou and Wind-Chasing Hedgehog Qian Ning, "You two must hurry to Xiakou and instruct the disciples of the Jiangxia Beggar Clan in Hubei Province to receive any friendly figures they encounter, but under no circumstances should they mention that the elder is here."

The two obeyed and left as quickly as possible. Xie Yunyue was taken aback upon hearing this and turned to ask, "Brother, what do you mean by this?"

Cangxi said solemnly, "The Red Flag Gang, in its ambition to dominate the martial arts world, has already issued a notice to all the sects. Emei, Diancang, and Wutai are no exception. All three sects have some misunderstandings with you, my worthy brother. With our great enemy not yet eliminated, we must not create a tense situation on our side, and we also cannot make things difficult for Young Hero Jiang and Miss Luo Jiang. It would be better for you to be secretive." Xie Yunyue thought it made sense and nodded without saying a word.

Cang Xi sighed again, saying, "Yuwen Lei has brought his master, the Tibetan demon monk Sado, and Tuosonghuo from the east, along with the Changbai Demon Venerable, the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld, and others. They have actually invited almost every demon in the world. A calamity is imminent, and I am deeply worried."

Xie Yunyue pondered for a moment and said, "Brother, there's no need to worry. I have already devised a plan to turn the tables and seize the initiative."

Cang Xi raised an eyebrow and said happily, "I know you are resourceful, my brother. If you can do this, it will be a blessing for all living beings. Could you tell me about it?"

Xie Yunyue whispered something in Cang Xi's ear, and Cang Xi nodded, saying, "This plan is feasible, but..." "The two Minshan traitors may not be able to move freely. They might be under house arrest by Yuwen Lei at the Red Flag main altar. Although the plan to cut off their supply lines is ingenious, the two Minshan traitors may not submit to us first. Things are still unpredictable. In my opinion, it would be better to use a strategy of turning the tables. However, in this case, fighting and killing will still be unavoidable."

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "Man proposes, God disposes."

Lei Xiaotian coughed and said, "Although I haven't heard the details, I dare say that this plan to cut off their supply lines will not be easy to implement."

Xie Yunyue was slightly taken aback and said, "Why is that?"

Lei Xiaotian said, " Lei Lao Er knows you intend to recruit the Minshan Two Poisons to our side, using their own spear against their own shield, eliminating them without a fight. However, this time, those invited by the Red Flag Gang are not only the Beggar Clan; various major sects have also come, all ambitious, vying for the position of leader in the martial arts world, showcasing their unique skills. Your move has caused them to vanish like smoke, and you will likely become the target of everyone's criticism.”

Xie Yunyue smiled faintly and said, “Success in any endeavor cannot be perfect in every aspect. As long as I have a clear conscience, that's enough. If you are as timid as Second Brother, you will surely be unable to move an inch.”

Lei Xiaotian laughed loudly, “I, Lei… ” "Second Brother Lei has never been afraid of trouble. He's just thinking of you and offering this as a suggestion. Don't mention it." Lei's stomach was pounding. "Elder Cang, bring out some wine and food."

Everyone couldn't help but chuckle. Suddenly, a middle-aged beggar hurried in, bowing to Cang Xi and saying, "Reporting to Elder, there's a residence five miles from here in a mountain valley. The Red Flag Gang has been coming and going there. I've witnessed the Four Demons of Gaoligong Mountain and Half-Half Old Man heading towards that residence."

Cang Xi frowned slightly, waving him away. Xie Yunyue said, "I'll go investigate and find out what's going on." With that, he was already outside the hall, his shoulders swaying as he flew away.

After finding a Beggar Clan disciple to point out the direction, Xie Yunyue sped along the mountain ridge like a wisp of smoke. A sky full of stars, a bright moon shining, the sounds of bamboo and pines rising from the heavens, a gentle breeze ruffling his clothes—Xie Yunyue hurried along, his mind heavy with thoughts. He pondered, "I've grown weary of wandering the martial world. The events at Beitian Mountain are over; I'll sever all ties with it from now on." Lei Xiaotian's words had a deeper meaning; how could he not understand? Among the renowned masters from various sects who had been invited were many who had participated in the siege of his father. He feared that if he lost his composure, he might encounter a formidable enemy before even facing a mortal. "Conflict and infighting lead to mutual destruction, which is hard to forgive." Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh deeply, muttering to himself, "The wise act in accordance with the times, the foolish act against reason. They cannot be forgiven, they only seek peace of mind ."

The path twisted and turned, and suddenly a large, dark mansion stood in the mountain hollow. The dense trees, like silver moonlight, only illuminated the treetops, the mansion hidden among them. Even with Xie Yunyue's exceptional eyesight, he couldn't see it clearly, only the dense foliage within the hollow. The mansion was completely dark, except for a few red lanterns sparsely hanging from the branches, swaying in the wind and emitting a dim light.
Xie Yunyue hid behind a large tree, carefully observing the situation in the hollow before taking action. He knew the few red lanterns hanging sparsely on the branches were suspicious. He stared intently for a moment, then thought, "I'll extinguish one of the lanterns and see how they react."

He bent down, picked up a rock, and was about to throw it when he suddenly saw three figures rushing towards him from the ridge to his left, faster than the wind, their movements incredibly agile. He grunted, then withdrew the rock, holding it in his hand, deciding to determine friend from foe before acting. The three men were upon him in the blink of an eye, stopping abruptly less than seven or eight feet away.

They stood with their backs to the moon, their appearances difficult to discern. One was tall and slender, seemingly a handsome young man; the other two were broad-shouldered, middle-aged men, each with weapons tucked into their shoulders, their tassels fluttering in the wind.

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice from Sichuan said, "This is it. I followed the four demons of Gaoligong Mountain all the way here. Those demons have incredibly sharp eyes and ears; I was almost discovered several times. I saw them descend the ravine and enter the mansion. I wanted to investigate, but I was outnumbered and outmatched, so I rushed back to invite you two." He paused, then said, "Shall we go down now?"

Another man said, "Wait a minute. This ravine is near that mansion, but there are no hidden stakes. It's clearly a trap. These red lights scattered among the trees are highly suspicious. They're in places out of reach, obviously designed to lure people close and launch them, luring them into an ambush. Their intentions are incredibly cunning." Xie Yunyue secretly admired this man's meticulousness.

At this moment, the three men slowly walked towards Xie Yunyue's hiding place, which Xie Yunyue, with his sharp eyes, had already seen very clearly. One man resembled a fierce lion with a prominent nose and a long beard reaching his belly; another had five prominent features, bulging eyes, and a thick beard around his cheeks; and the third was Ge Tianhao, the young master of Kunlun, whom he had met in the Taiyue Mountains.

The three stopped again, and Ge Tianhao said, "After leaving the Taiyue Mountains, I knew that there were many talented people in the world, and my skills were like the light of a firefly. Especially after seeing the unpredictable skills of the strange-handed scholar Yu Yun, I became even more hesitant to travel the world. I returned to the mountain to ask my master to teach me the mountain's treasured sword technique, the 'Three Absolute Swords of Heaven and Earth,' and the Mighty Demon Claw Technique. Fortunately, I succeeded." However, in recent months, the Kongtong Sect and the Four Evils of China have been at odds with my sect, constantly seeking revenge. Eight or nine people have been secretly harmed by them. The elders of my sect find this unbearable. Rumor has it that the Kongtong Sect and the Four Evils of China have also been won over by the Red Flag Gang. The elders of my sect intend to use this opportunity to eradicate them completely. The sect leader is currently leading his uncles on their way to Jiangxia, and they should arrive in the next day or two.

The imposing-looking, middle-aged man with a long beard reaching his belly nodded and replied, "Now the martial world is rife with evil and evil, and we are deeply worried. If we don't make a plan soon, I fear we will have nowhere to be buried in the martial world in the future."

Another middle-aged man, speaking with a Sichuan accent, said, "Since the Red Flag headquarters is located in the Yunmeng Swamp at the foot of Dahong Mountain, why would they set up a secret base here? It seems superfluous. If they don't have another purpose, it's very puzzling." "

Little White Dragon Ge Tianhao suddenly chuckled and said, "Teacher Huang, before I understood, I was truly puzzled. The Red Flag Clan is malicious; they kidnapped the two Minshan Poison Masters, renowned for their mastery of all poisons, and brought them to the main altar. They used every means of enticement and coercion to force them to concoct an invisible, colorless, and odorless poison powder. They then sent skilled individuals to secretly inject this powder into the bodies of their opponents, preventing them from unleashing their full power, ultimately leading to their capture. They were unaware that tonight at the Yellow Crane Tower, the Four Demons of Gaoligong Mountain and their ilk had also been poisoned, leaving them terrified and their souls nearly dead." Having been discovered, they gathered all the bandits who had been sent to use poison here, changed their tactics, and sent a messenger to the main headquarters.

The middle-aged man surnamed Huang asked with astonishment, "Young Master Ge, how do you know so much?"

Ge Tianhao shrugged and said, "Just now by the river, my brother captured a member of the Red Flag bandits, and he told me." Suddenly, his expression changed, and he pointed to the bushes, exclaiming in surprise, "What? The red lanterns have suddenly increased! Why is that?" The two men were startled and looked up, and sure enough, it was so.

Xie Yunyue was also taken aback; he had been focused on Ge Tianhao's words and hadn't noticed. Looking around, he saw dozens more red lanterns than before, hanging only in the dense foliage, emitting a faint, dim red glow. Everyone was filled with doubt and couldn't figure out the reason. Just as Xiaobailong Ge Tianhao was about to speak, a cold laugh suddenly came from behind him: "Kid, you've got some nerve, daring to spy on someone's important territory. You've violated a taboo in the martial world. Get out of here! This old man isn't going to kill for ignorant juniors like you." The voice carried on the wind, eerie and chilling,

sending shivers down their spines. The three were shocked and turned around abruptly. They saw a withered and thin old man standing not far away, his eyes flashing like cold lightning. He wore a loose, unyielding white robe, but surprisingly, the robe didn't flutter at all in the wind. Ge Tianhao sized up the old man and asked, "Are you Huai? Is this mansion in the mountain valley your residence?"

A cold smile appeared on the old man's thin cheeks as he slowly said, "If you knew who I am, you would die without a burial place. Although this mansion is not my residence, but..."

Ge Tianhao suddenly interrupted the old man, "Since it's not your residence, then you don't need to bother with it. We can enjoy the moon on the mountaintop and chat side by side. Do you need to interfere?"

Upon hearing this, a murderous intent surged in the old man's eyes, and a sinister laugh came from his throat. Suddenly, he sprang up and shouted, "You're courting death, junior!" His right palm moved with lightning speed, unleashing a bone-chilling force that swept across the sky and the earth.

Ge Tianhao was prepared. As soon as he finished speaking, his longsword was drawn from its sheath. With a twist of his elbow, he created a fan-shaped sword curtain to block the old man's approaching chilling energy. He shouted, "Second brother, quickly dodge to a distance to avoid being accidentally injured!" Upon receiving the attack, Ge Tianhao was thrown back three steps.

The old man laughed loudly, "Kid, you overestimate yourself too much." He transformed his flick into a grab, swift as a ghost, reaching for Ge Tianhao's longsword with his five fingers.

But just as his fingers touched the blade, Ge Tianhao unleashed a sudden and unexpected move, "Bees Swaying on Buds," creating a zigzag sword wave carrying countless golden flowers, which sliced directly at the old man's grabbing arm with extreme ferocity. Xie Yunyue secretly sighed, "Ge Tianhao's swordsmanship has improved considerably compared to those seen in Taiyue Mountain. I wonder who this old man is?"

The old man gave a slight sigh, then leaped into the air, soaring into the sky before suddenly plummeting down, his palms thrusting out. Ge Tianhao shouted, his sword spinning smoothly as he unleashed three strangely rapid attacks. The sword light flashed and shifted unpredictably, making it impossible to pinpoint the attack's location. Surprisingly, the old man's chilling energy was not only deflected to the sides, but he was also forced back a step. Encouraged by his success, Ge Tianhao's arrogance surged, and he swiftly launched another attack, forcing the old man to retreat repeatedly.

Xie Yunyue thought to himself, "This must be the Kunlun Mountain's ultimate technique, the 'Three Absolute Swords of Heaven and Earth.' Its power is indeed extraordinary, but this old man's palms are strange; he must be a demon who has been hiding for a long time. It won't be easy to harm him." Just as Xie Yunyue had predicted, the old man suddenly dodged four or five zhang away, letting out a strange, guttural laugh that echoed through the night, sending chills down one 's
spine in the desolate, moonlit night. After a long while, his laughter subsided, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he said, "So you're a disciple of Kunlun, kid. You think the Three Absolute Sword Techniques of Qiankun are no match for this old man? You're mistaken." With that, he moved with unparalleled speed, his wide sleeves billowing out, unleashing a torrent of energy that sent sand and stones flying, its power terrifying.

Ge Tianhao immediately felt his sword strike become sluggish and powerless, his wrist suddenly going weak from the force of this seemingly soft yet powerful hidden energy. His long wound flew out of his hand, and his body was swept up and propelled into the air. The old man coldly laughed, "Kid, prepare to die!" "His figure swept diagonally into the air, his five fingers flashing out.

Ge Tianhao's two companions shouted in unison, each wielding their weapons and leaping up to strike fiercely. The old man didn't even look, flicking his left sleeve downwards, his figure accelerating towards Ge Tianhao without pausing. The two men grunted, forcefully thrown to the ground by the old man's flick of his sleeve, feeling an excruciating pain in their wrists as if they were about to break. Seeing Ge Tianhao narrowly escape injury, about to be struck by the old man in an instant, they couldn't help but cry out in alarm.

Suddenly—from behind a large tree, an incredibly fast figure leaped diagonally through the air, arriving before the old man could grab Ge Tianhao, his right arm protecting Ge Tianhao, his left palm gently pushing outwards, his figure landing gracefully. The old man immediately grunted, flying backwards like a windmill, his eyes filled with surprise as he glanced at the newcomer.

He saw an old man in green robes, smiling at him, and couldn't help but sneer, "Do you know who I am?" " How dare you provoke me!"

The old man in green glanced at him with utter contempt, then smiled nonchalantly, "We're even. You don't know who I am, yet you dare to speak so arrogantly."

The other man was immediately enraged, his beard bristling, and he shouted, "I never expected that the Demon Lord of Changbai would unleash his killing spree upon you!"

At this moment, Ge Tianhao stood up, joining his two companions. Hearing this, he was greatly alarmed, secretly relieved that the Demon Lord hadn't used his full strength against him, otherwise he would surely have been killed. He was filled with worry for the old man in green. The old man in green seemed to be taken aback, remaining silent for a long time. Outside, the night wind whispered, and the air on the mountain peak felt as if it had frozen solid, the chill penetrating to the skin.

The Demon Lord sneered again, saying, "Are you afraid?"

The old man in green coldly replied, "Not necessarily."

The Demon Lord's right hand shot out like lightning, and he shouted sharply, "If you don't believe me, then try me." "As the hand reached out to the old man in blue, more than a dozen hand shadows flashed up. They seemed both real and illusory, grabbing from who-knows-where.

This move was the Demon Lord's 'Illusory Demon Technique,' the finger wind howling, covering all the vital acupoints on the old man's abdomen and chest with finger force. No matter where he tried to escape, the finger force would follow him like a maggot clinging to his bone." The old man in green chuckled coldly, shifting his feet to deftly escape the grasping force. His right hand extended two fingers swiftly, executing a "Parting the Grass to Find the Snake" move, slicing through the Demon Lord's right wrist pulse. He smiled and said, "Try one of my moves."

The Demon Lord couldn't discern how his opponent had evaded his unparalleled "Illusory Demon Technique," and witnessing the opponent's counterattack, which resembled the pulse-finding and acupoint-asking technique of the Shaolin Seventy-Two Arts—not only incredibly fast but also more profound than Shaolin's. He was secretly startled, shifting his position to the left, his right arm jerking back.

The retraction was swift, the outward movement equally fast; the retracted palm transformed from a grab into a chop, thrusting out diagonally across the chest, unleashing a torrent of chilling energy. The old man in green, with his swift counterattack using the "Parting the Grass to Find the Snake" technique, failed to even touch the Demon Lord's wrist. He thought to himself, "No wonder this demon is so arrogant." Suddenly, he pulled his right palm back to his chest and then struck out with lightning speed.

The Demon Lord, upon striking out, suddenly felt the force of his palm strike dissipate, his right wrist going weak. He was greatly alarmed and thought to himself, "What is this person's background? His skill is so profound." Before he could finish his thought, he felt a surge of power heavier than a mountain pressing down on him. His chest felt as if a heavy lead had been placed on him, and his body swayed repeatedly. He involuntarily took two steps back, his feet sinking as he tried to use the Thousand-Pound Drop Technique to stabilize himself.

Little did he know that the old man in green had used his ultimate technique, the "Maitreya Divine Skill," specifically the "Relief from Pressure" technique. This single move served two purposes, incredibly profound. He felt the force of the energy binding and enveloping his entire body, not only failing to restrain him but also breaching his protective Yin energy, leaving him suffocating and unable to breathe. His expression changed drastically. Ge Tianhao and his companion, witnessing the old man in green's seemingly insignificant palm strike subdue one of the most formidable demons within, exchanged glances, secretly astonished.

The Demon Lord let out a fierce roar, the echo reverberating through the valley. Suddenly, he soared into the sky, rising five or six zhang high, then abruptly turned, pressing his palms down to his chest. The old man in green was secretly alarmed by this demon's extraordinary power, fearing his ghostly cry would attract the demons from the house. He swiftly struck out with both palms to meet the attack. The two immense forces clashed, creating a deafening boom. The Demon Lord was thrown upwards, then flew back to the ground, closing in with his palms.

The energies collided, producing a series of deafening bangs. Boulders flew everywhere, branches snapped, and the force was terrifying. Ge Tianhao and the other two watched from a distance, worried that the demons from the house in the valley might appear. In the blink of an eye, after exchanging more than ten blows, the Demon Lord resembled a mad tiger, his hair standing on end, his eyes blazing with resentment and fury. The old man in green frowned, spun his palm at the old man's chest, and thrust it out horizontally. His right hand, with five fingers, pierced through the Demon Lord's ribs and struck his right arm. The "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan" was a unique and powerful technique, and the Demon Lord couldn't dodge it. His right arm went numb instantly, and his right elbow's "Quchi" acupoint was gripped by the five fingers

. The force of his palm strike was instantly reversed, his chest trembled, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes dimming. The old man in green hurriedly said to Ge Tianhao and the others, "Please follow me." With a flick of his fingers, the Demon Lord staggered unsteadily, following the old man in green towards a cliff corner. Ge Tianhao knew the old man in green had a purpose, and the two followed.

This cliff corner was densely wooded, with thick branches and leaves, blocking out the moonlight. It was exceptionally dark; even with excellent eyesight, one would not be discovered. The old man in green grabbed the Demon Lord and dragged him into the bushes. The Demon Lord was unable to utter a sound, his strength dissipating, his eyes filled with extreme fear and anger. Helplessly, he was already subdued and had no choice.

The Demon Lord's feelings at this moment were a mixture of regret and humiliation, a hundred times worse than death, which can be imagined. The old man in green forcefully poked the Demon Lord's "Jingjue" acupoint, and the Demon Lord collapsed silently to the ground. Ge Dahao and the other two were startled. Suddenly, they saw the old man in green point outwards. Looking over, they saw more than a dozen agile figures appear on the ridge. They stopped at the spot where they had just fought, lingered for a moment, and then suddenly scattered to check for any suspicious places.

A dozen or so people dispersed and then regrouped, approaching the edge of the cliff and the edge of the forest. One of them said, "I think our leader made a mistake. He listened to Huangfu Song's 'Eight-Step Cicada Catcher's Tale' and set up the Red Lantern Arrow Pit to lure the enemy into an ambush. Everyone, both overt and covert, retreated into the mansion and were not to move without orders. If a strong enemy had arrived, we would still have been kept in the dark. Judging from the situation on the mountain, there has clearly been a fierce battle. That shout must have been from one of our wounded men. We couldn't get to their aid in time and were undoubtedly captured. Humph, isn't this a case of being taken advantage of?"

Another person... He replied, “Do you know? The people who recently arrived in Jiangxia are either grandmasters or eccentric heroes of the martial world. Our meager skills are no match for them; it's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. That's why we devised this plan. Once they enter the ambush, a thousand crossbows will fire simultaneously. The crossbows are coated with a deadly poison specially made from the two poisons of Minshan. Not only will a single hit kill them, but even the mere smell of that poison will cause them to faint. It's extremely dangerous.” He paused, then added, “Right now, I still feel a sense of dread, in case the enemy is still hiding nearby.” He snorted and suddenly fell silent.

The bright moon disappeared into a cloud, plunging the earth into darkness. As this man spoke, a swift and unparalleled figure flashed out from the forest at the edge of the cliff, like a wisp of smoke, impossible to spot. The figure appeared behind the speaker, pointed a finger, and moved with lightning speed, like a butterfly flitting among flowers, its hands flashing. The dozen or so bandits realized what was happening too late; they were all immobilized, standing like clay statues in the night wind, their eyes fixed blankly.

The figure stopped, revealing an old man in blue robes. He looked up and sighed, his gaze heavy, as if burdened by a profound question. After a moment, seemingly having made a decision, he beckoned into the forest. Ge Tianhao and his two companions darted out. The old man in blue robes said, "The Demon Lord is temporarily placed in the forest. Please follow behind me. The bandits are cunning and treacherous; do not risk your lives."

Witnessing the old man's astonishing skill, the three were completely convinced and bowed respectfully, saying, "We will obey your orders, senior." The old man smiled slightly, said nothing, bent down, picked up a rock, and threw it into the forest. The rock sank into the bushes and disappeared, but suddenly, a dozen or so red lanterns appeared near where it had landed.

The old man nodded solemnly and said, "That's right. The bandits want us to enter the valley. They first extinguished the red lantern. That red lantern must be specially made; it doesn't smother the darkness. Once it's shaken, it immediately bursts into flame, shooting out in all directions, serving as illumination. It can then reveal any approaching enemy. With a volley of crossbow bolts, the approaching enemy will surely be innocently killed."

Ge Tianhao asked in astonishment, "How did you know this, senior?"

The old man in blue pointed outwards and smiled, "The mountain wind isn't strong, and the branches of the trees in the valley are swaying. Only the red lantern hangs there without swaying, which tells you something is amiss."

Ge Tianhao stared intently and indeed saw that the red lantern seemed... As if rooted to the spot, without the slightest tremor, he suddenly realized, thinking to himself, "This old man has such sharp eyes, discerning subtle signs. I wonder who this reclusive senior is, as there are no rumors of him in the martial arts world." He replied aloud, "Senior, your insight is beyond my reach. Where do you stand now, senior?"

The old man in green snorted, "The bandit's idea is too naive. He thinks that the red lantern, hanging in a remote place, cannot be extinguished until someone gets close. He is wrong." With that, he shoved aside the bandit with a palm strike, then twisted his wrist and seized the bandit's wrist acupoint.

The bandit felt unbearable numbness and tingling all over his body, as if crawling on ants, his mouth twisted and teeth bared, his eyes bulging, and cold sweat the size of soybeans beading on his forehead, yet he could not utter a sound. The Jade Toad reappeared, emitting a hazy, clear light, reflecting on the bandit's face, making him appear fierce and malevolent. Seeing the old man in blue's actions, Ge Tianhao and the other two were puzzled, their eyes filled with confusion.

The old man twisted the bandit's left hand, then with his right palm held flat against his chest, he suddenly struck out with lightning speed. The red lantern, hidden among the dense branches about twenty feet away, suddenly moved, flashed red light, and with a whooshing sound, burst into flames, which spread and engulfed the branches, creating a dazzling spectacle.

As the flames subsided, the old man released the bandit's left hand and swiftly thrust his right hand towards the bandit's buttocks. The bandit, as if released from a bow, swung towards the fire. Amidst the dense clanging of crossbow bolts, the bandit let out two bloodcurdling screams, piercing the night sky. These ear-piercing, shrill cries sent chills down one's spine.

The old man sneered, then used the same method to knock the second bandit's pressure points open, striking him with his palm and throwing him. In an instant, several distant red lanterns ignited, screams rose and fell, and the ravine resembled a burning mountain. The sky turned crimson, sparks shot into the clouds, and thick smoke billowed. Ge Tianhao and his two companions paled at the sight, not only astonished by the old man's unparalleled skill but also terrified by the bandits' ruthless cruelty. Had they not run into the Demon Lord, the old man in green, they would surely have turned and faced certain death. Even amidst the fierce and intense fire, a chill ran down their spines.

The old man in green suddenly showed a smug look on his face and said, "Although the bandits are malicious and vicious, even the most meticulous plans can have flaws. I was certain that the bandits had set up a trap here, brewing a conspiracy. The Ten Red Lantern Poison Manual was intended to deter anyone from taking risks and make them retreat. Little did they expect that we would see through their treachery, and they will surely take up their lair." As he spoke, a dim look flashed in his eyes, and he sighed softly, "I know that this method is too contrary to the natural order, but to protect the vitality of the martial arts world, I cannot worry about such things." His expression seemed to be filled with infinite sadness.

It was early summer, and the trees were full of moisture, unlike the dry air, so it was not easy for a wildfire to start. However, the bandits used highly flammable saltpeter, and the wind fanned the flames. In the blink of an eye, the fire spread to the entire ravine, and the sound of collapsing trees was incessant. The red light illuminated the sky, and the heat was scorching. Although the bandits had prepared a plan to extinguish the flames, they hadn't expected the old man in blue to launch such a swift and unexpected attack, sending over a dozen men down in quick succession. The bandits, mistaking this for a large-scale attack, panicked and became overwhelmed. Their initial feint had led to a raging inferno, something they hadn't anticipated.

The old man in blue, his eyes fixed intently on the mansion engulfed in flames, suddenly exclaimed, "The demon cubs have come out!" With a flick of his arms, he dashed south along the ravine.

Ge Tianhao and his two companions, knowing the old man must have seen something, followed. After traveling several dozen paces south, the old man in blue suddenly stopped, positioning himself upwind, waiting for what was to come. Ge Tianhao rushed forward and whispered, "Senior, what have you discovered?"

The old man from Qingnong replied, "When the demon cubs emerge, the three of you must do everything in your power to intercept them, ensuring none escape. Young hero Ge, the Qiankun Three Absolute Swords are incredibly powerful. Use 'Qian Tian San Yi, Kun Xiang Liu Bian' in both directions, and you will be undefeated."

Ge Tianhao was taken aback and asked, "How did you know my surname was Ge, senior?" The old man smiled but did not answer.

Ge Tianhao thought to himself, "He only said eight words, yet he completely understood the profound mysteries of the Three Absolute Swords of Qiankun. I have been studying it diligently, but I have not yet been able to fully comprehend it. He enlightened me with just one sentence. This old man is indeed a martial arts prodigy."

Suddenly—from the thick smoke, more than a dozen figures flew out. Ge Tianhao shouted, lightning flashed from its sheath, and he swooped down from the air. His sword flashed three times, carrying the force of a thunderbolt, and swung at the person in front of him. The other two drew their weapons and rushed out to block the two demons' path. The old man in green laughed loudly and unleashed the "Maitreya Divine Power" technique with both palms. The power was like the spring tide of the Qiantang River, overwhelming the mountains and the sea.

Caught off guard, the dozen or so demons who rushed out were all sent flying by the unparalleled force, except for the three who were stopped by Ge Tianhao and the others. The old man in green gave them no chance to catch their breath. He moved swiftly, displaying the profound techniques of the "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan" with his fingers. He used the techniques of flicking, intercepting, hooking, grabbing, pointing, brushing, intercepting, and slashing with exquisite skill. His hand shadows flew like lightning, and the demons only let out a groan before slowly collapsing to the ground one by one.

The old man in green glanced over and saw that Ge Tianhao and the others were fighting three demons to a standstill. The one fighting Ge Tianhao was the Half-Old Man. The other two looked ferocious and their identities were unknown, but they were probably also masters of the demonic path. The Half-Old Man's skill was superb. In the past, Ge Tianhao would never have been a match for him. However, at this moment, he was flustered and his skill was greatly reduced. Seeing that the four demons of Gaoligong Mountain had all been killed by the old man in green, he was terrified.

He recognized the old man in blue as the same person he had seen at the Yellow Crane Tower, which further discouraged him. His spirits waned, and Ge Tianhao cleaved him in two at the waist with a single "Jade Dragon Encircles" move. Before he could even utter a cry, his two severed bodies fell to the ground with a thud, blood gushing forth and internal organs spilling out—a gruesome sight. The remaining two demons, seeing this, were utterly terrified. In their panic, they fled without a fight, trying to escape. Unexpectedly, Ge Tianhao, riding the momentum of his victory, slashed at them with his sword. A streak of blue light swirled around them, and the two demons' massive heads flew off their shoulders into the air, trailing two streaks of blood as they plummeted down the cliff.

The old man in blue clapped his hands and laughed, "Young Hero Ge's bravery is astonishing, truly a rising star of Kunlun."
Ge Tianhao's handsome face flushed red, and he said, "Senior, you flatter me. How

can I compare to you?" The old man in blue laughed loudly, "These are all among the most renowned demons in the world. How could I possibly claim credit for this? It was just a great fire that terrified them, and they accidentally inhaled the residual poison in the fire. Their minds are already clouded, and in their panic, they will surrender. Even without my intervention, they wouldn't be able to escape a thousand miles before collapsing to their deaths." As he spoke, he pointed to the faces of the demons and said, "Look, the three of you, their faces are bluish-purple. Clearly, the poison has penetrated deep into their internal organs, and it's only a matter of time before it takes effect. The people you fought are no different."

Ge Tianhao felt reassured, partly because of the old man's sincerity, and partly because the old man in blue wanted to avoid shocking the public and becoming a target of criticism. The fire subsided, and the mountains, forests, and rivers were almost completely destroyed. The mansion was reduced to ruins, the air thick with the stench of smoke and burnt earth, enough to make anyone want to vomit. Suddenly, the old man in green robes soared into the sky like a crane, rising to a height of five or six zhang (approximately 10-13 meters). He then swooped down, landing a dozen or so zhang (approximately 5-6 meters) away. His feet touched the ground, and he sped off.

Under the dim moonlight, the old man appeared as a wisp of smoke, moving with lightning speed, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Ge Tianhao and the others were astonished to see the old man, who seemed like a divine dragon in the sky, appearing and disappearing without a trace. After the three men snatched the corpses from the ground and threw them into the fire to destroy the evidence, they immediately rushed towards Xia Ri, moving with incredible speed.

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi and the others received repeated reports that the Red Flag Gang's secret altar had been engulfed in flames. They all rushed outside to look at the sky, seeing only a crimson expanse with countless sparks flying everywhere. They couldn't help but feel worried for Xie Yunyue. The three girls paled, especially Jiang Yao, whose red eyes even welled with tears. Lei Xiaotian, seeing this, teased in a low voice, "Miss Jiang, the third brother isn't back yet, but the second brother is starving and his legs are weak. He must have gone out to have some fun with women again and lost his mind."

Jiang Yao blushed, glared at Lei Xiaotian, and cursed, "Gossips never get away with this." Lei Xiaotian was about to tease her again when a swift figure slid down from the roof carrying something, and he quickly swallowed his words.

Cang Xishuo said in a deep voice, "Third brother is back."

The old man in green robes landed gracefully, put down the half-dead Demon Lord, and smiled, "Let's go into the hall and talk." Everyone filed in, and a lavish feast had been prepared in the hall, where they took their seats.

The old man in green recounted his journey, adding, "This martial arts calamity must not be allowed to erupt; I will do my utmost to stop it."

The Wudang Pine and Cypress Daoist smiled solemnly, "Of course, young hero, your efforts are truly commendable. How could I dare disobey? However…" He suddenly hesitated, unable to speak. The

old man in green, already understanding the situation, said, "I know your intentions, sir. Your sect is eager to avenge the massacre and burning of the mountain by the Three Demons of the Northern Underworld and the Carefree Swordsman. Your sect leader and your experts will surely come. That's alright. It's already a great honor that you cannot reveal my affairs. We will obey your sect leader's orders in all matters." The Pine and Cypress Daoist nodded silently.

The old man in green then said to Cang Xi, "The Demon Lord has already sealed his vital points; take him to the secret chamber for further judgment." Just then, a beggar hurriedly entered, bowing and reporting that the Kunlun sect leader had arrived with many of his disciples.

The old man in blue stood up first and said, "I will excuse myself, elder brothers, please go and greet him." With that, he strode into the back. Luo Xiangmei, Jiang Yaohong, and Fu Wan followed.

The sun was high in the sky, the morning mist still lingered, the mighty Yangtze River flowed eastward, a gentle breeze stirred the willow branches. On the opposite bank of the Yellow Crane Tower, beneath a weeping willow, Xie Yunyue had disguised himself as a sickly-looking, rough-looking man in his thirties, dressed in a simple blue peasant's uniform, covered in mud, his expression lifelike, his eyes fixed on the scenic beauty of Jiangxia. A moment later, he beckoned a small boat and crossed the river.

At noon, Xie Yunyue arrived in Changjiangbu Town. On the way, he had mostly encountered Red Flag Gang bandits, who moved swiftly, and to avoid leaving a trace, he varied his pace. He entered a restaurant, sat down at an empty seat, and ordered some seasonal dishes. A few other diners, drunk and laughing loudly, joined him. Suddenly, two riders stopped in front of the restaurant, dismounted, and sat down next to Xie Yunyue.

Xie Yunyue looked up and saw a burly man with a thick beard and a handsome young man, both with long swords tucked into their backs. The burly man's brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were in great pain, but he forced himself to remain composed; the young man seemed anxious and uneasy. Xie Yunyue thought, "These two don't seem to be Red Flag Gang bandits, but why do they look like this?" He noticed the young man frequently looking outside, which only deepened his suspicions. A waiter approached and asked the two what they wanted to eat and drink. The burly

man with a bushy beard raised his eyebrows and said loudly, "What fresh seasonal delicacies do you have? Pick a few of your best dishes and bring them over, plus five catties of bamboo leaf green liquor."

The waiter nodded and left. The boy whispered, "Uncle He, can you handle this?"

The burly man glared at the boy and said in a low voice, "Nephew, you're really young and naive. This little injury won't kill you. You're just making a scene and arousing suspicion." The boy's handsome face flushed red, and he

lowered his head without saying a word. The burly man felt sorry for him and chuckled, "Yunluo Zicheng is only thirty li away. The old master Tulong said we'd meet at Lu Zu's court in the eastern suburbs. This little poison wound is nothing to ask him to treat. Nephew, you don't need to worry about your foolish uncle..."

The boy smiled and raised his eyebrows. The waiter had already brought the wine and dishes. The burly man kept quiet, picked up the wine pot, poured two bowls of wine, gulped down two mouthfuls, picked up his chopsticks and ate the food with great gusto. The two spoke very softly, but Xie Yunyue heard every word clearly. He thought to himself, "This big man must have suffered some kind of poisoning. He's hiding it and isn't in a hurry to seek treatment. He probably has some concerns, just like me, that he might arouse the suspicion of the bandits and easily be killed... The old master who slayed the dragon he mentioned, could it be the same person as the Dragon-Slaying Hermit Jiang Taixu, who shares the same name as the Hermit Hu Gang? If it is him, I must see his unparalleled fifty-eight moves of the Dragon-Slaying Technique..."

Five more people entered from outside the shop. They were of different backgrounds and sat at the table, talking and laughing loudly, full of enthusiasm and oblivious to their surroundings. One of the men, with a red scarf tied around his forehead and a sinister look in his eyes, said, "I often come to this restaurant. The dishes served here are fresh and delicious. I will take care of the guests. If the three of you are not averse to meat, how about we ask them to prepare a few of the dishes that I am best at making?"

A Taoist with a long beard reaching his belly and a cloud-shaped broom stuck in his back replied, "We are not averse to meat, but we don't want Master Zou to spend money on us."

The man with the sinister gaze said, "That's only right." He summoned the hall official and called out a few words.

Xie Yunyue secretly observed the appearance of the three Taoists and two laymen, thinking to himself, "That man with the red turban on his forehead must be the leader of the Red Flag Gang. I wonder about the origins of the other three Taoists and laymen?"

But then he heard the man with the red turban on his forehead sigh slightly and say, "Our gang is currently in a precarious situation, on the verge of collapse. Fortunately, you gentlemen have been righteous and have gone through hardships to support us. This kind of kindness is truly admirable. On behalf of Gang Leader Ziwen, I would like to offer you a toast... On the way, the Five Poison Claw Scythe of the Incense Leader Fan was stained with blood. The other party must also be injured and should not have escaped more than a few dozen miles away. However, I have not yet received a report. You gentlemen have sharp eyes. Do you know which school this technique comes from?"

Xie Yunyue suddenly noticed that the young man's expression changed slightly, while the big man remained calm and composed, finishing his wine in one gulp. He knew that the big man had killed a Red Flag Gang member on the way and had a poisoned wound on his shoulder. Turning his gaze, he saw the long-bearded, belly-length Taoist priest ponder for a moment and say, "This kind of poison wound is completely different from those used by the major sects of the martial arts world. The exterior is undamaged, only showing a very shallow palm print, but in reality, the internal organs are shattered. I also pondered this for a long time; only one person possesses this kind of palm power—the infamous Jiang Taixu, who was renowned thirty years ago. However, Fan Xiangzhu's death was not Jiang Taixu's doing. The wound's appearance shows insufficient power; the money mark is still visible. The other party is either a disciple of Jiang Taixu or someone who privately studied and passed on his skills to him." Xie Yunyue nodded secretly, praising the Taoist priest's sharp eyesight.

At the corner of his eye, the burly man's face suddenly turned deathly pale, cold sweat poured down his back, and his shoulders trembled slightly, yet he still managed to keep from collapsing. The young man was frantic, completely disoriented, and dared not move rashly, fearing he would be discovered by the three tables. Xie Yunyue also felt deeply troubled. He admired the burly, bearded man's strength and couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. A sudden idea struck him; he took a silver ingot from his pocket, placed it on the table, and strode out.

The five men sat by the window, outside which stood an ancient pine tree that blocked the sunlight, its shadows swaying in the breeze.

Suddenly—a cold voice drifted in from outside the window: "You old Taoist, how dare you discuss dragon-slaying techniques! Come out and face your death!"

The five men were immediately startled, then stood up angrily, their shoulders swaying, and they dashed out of the window like lightning. Almost simultaneously, Xie Yunyue strode in again, casually placing a pill in front of the burly man, and whispered, "Take this quickly; it will cure your poison wounds." Without pausing, he sat back down in his original seat.

Hearing the voices outside the window, the burly man and the young man were filled with surprise and doubt. When Xie Yunyue entered and quickly placed the pills down, they suddenly realized that this man intended to help. Without suspicion, they swallowed the pills. They felt a warm, fragrant tea-like sensation instantly spread throughout their bodies, the pain in their shoulders vanished immediately, and their vital energy was even more abundant than before their injury. Knowing it was a rare and precious medicine, they were secretly grateful.

The young man stared at Xie Yunyue, who looked sickly, sallow and lifeless, his eyes dull and lifeless. He was sipping lightly from the rim of the bowl, facing out of the shop, ignoring the two of them. The young man felt very strange. The waiter standing nearby was also puzzled as to why Xie Yunyue had returned. He was busy clearing away the dishes when Xie Yunyue strode back in, leaving behind a silver ingot on the table.

Surprisingly, Xie Yunyue didn't go to his own table, but instead bypassed the burly man's table. However, the man didn't notice Xie Yunyue placing the pills or hear his voice, as it was drowned out by the drunken commotion across the table. Xie Yunyue's rough, peasant-like attire might have aroused suspicion elsewhere, especially given his generosity—a single silver ingot was at least five taels, and at the time, food was cheap, so five thousand coins would have been enough.

But within the Yunmeng Swamp's territory, the Red Flag Gang frequently traveled, and strange occurrences were commonplace. Moreover, the Red Flag Gang was forbidden from harming even a blade of grass in this area; it was a case of "a rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its burrow," which was why they had lived in peace for many years. The waiter, too lazy to think much, walked up to Xie Yunyue, bowing and smiling, "Sir, would you like some more food and drinks?"

Xie Yunyue coldly replied, "Braised round fish, fried shrimp balls, and three catties of bamboo leaf green tea."

The waiter nodded repeatedly, feeling strangely uneasy. How could someone eat continuously? But this was a restaurant; the priority was to sell more and earn more, and everything else was superfluous. A moment later, the three Taoists and two commoners entered with dejected expressions, something only Xie Yunyue understood. Of the two commoners, besides the man surnamed Wei with a red turban on his forehead, was a short, stout old man in his fifties, his eyes wide with anger, saying, "People from the Central Plains are all cunning. They challenged us, yet dared not show themselves. It seems the people of the Central Plains are far less forthright than us from the northern deserts." His words were too exaggerated; the three Taoists remained silent, their faces darkening.

The man with the red scarf around his forehead hurriedly laughed and said, "What Teacher Yu said is true, but it cannot be generalized. The martial arts world is inherently unpredictable and treacherous. If everyone had the same forthright and courageous spirit as Teacher Yu, then the conflicts and injustices in the martial arts world would naturally be resolved." As he spoke, he laughed heartily and added, "There's no need to worry about such unimportant matters. Since this person lacks courage, let's just treat it as a dog barking. Come, come, I'd like to offer you three cups of wine." Xie Yunyue snorted slightly.

A Taoist priest with a purplish-black complexion and narrowed eyes said, "I heard that your gang leader, Yuwen, has actually invited his master, Sado, to come. This high-ranking monk from India is said to have profound martial arts skills and is considered invincible. Could it be that the person the Beggars' Sect has invited to help is so powerful?" The

man with a red turban on his forehead smiled slyly and said, "Gentlemen, you are unaware of the inside story, no wonder you have suspicions. My gang leader's goal is not external threats, but internal troubles."

The Taoist priest suddenly opened his eyes, a terrifying light shooting out, and glanced at the man with the red turban on his forehead, saying, "Master Wei, I don't understand this at all. Please explain?"

The man with the red turban on his forehead looked around and suddenly whispered, "Currently, among the distinguished guests who have arrived at our gang's headquarters, one has come uninvited, which is clearly..." "They offered their help out of righteousness, but secretly harbored designs on our gang. Our gang leader couldn't refuse them outright, yet he also had to take precautions. Therefore, he went so far as to spread rumors and invite Master Sado and Master Tuo here."

The Taoist priest asked in surprise, "Who are these uninvited guests?" The man

with the red turban on his forehead replied, "The Three Demons of the Northern Underworld, the Carefree Guest, the Demon Venerable of Changbai Mountain, the Four Demons of Gaoligong Mountain, the Half-Old Man, the Black and White Duo, and some other notorious outlaws."

The Taoist priest chuckled and said, "Most of the evil spirits in the martial world have arrived." Xie Yunyue suddenly understood why the Red Flag Gang hadn't come to his rescue when he burned down the mansion on the mountain. So that was the reason. The death of the Half-Old Man was the result of their secret infighting.

At this moment, the man with the red turban on his forehead spoke again, "The matter is not only that, but at the beginning of our gang's founding, in the Yunmeng Swamp, within the towering reeds, Gang Leader Yuwen discovered a small Sanqing Taoist temple."

"Seeing this crisscrossing river and pond, and this Taoist temple nestled among the reeds, I knew without a doubt that it must house some hidden masters. After much deliberation, I finally decided to visit it alone. Sure enough, there were two white-bearded Taoist priests inside..."

At this point, the three Taoists tensed up, listening intently. The man with the red turban on his forehead continued, "When I entered the temple, I saw two old Taoists sitting quietly on prayer mats, their eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to my arrival. But as I approached, one of them suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out a sharp light like lightning. He slowly extended his right palm, and I felt an invisible force..." The force of the attack forced him back three steps involuntarily. The leader of the humble gang was greatly surprised and immediately had a thought: the gang had only recently been established, and he absolutely could not allow himself to make a powerful enemy. He then revealed his true intentions, requesting the two Taoist priests' assistance in establishing the gang. The Taoist priest replied, "If you wish to establish a gang in this Yunmeng Swamp, I will not hinder you, but you must agree to three conditions." The leader asked what the three conditions were, and the Taoist priest said, "First, you must designate a five-mile radius around their Taoist temple as a forbidden zone. No one is allowed to enter without permission, not even the gang leader; anyone who enters without permission will be killed. Second, you must not reveal their identities or that they are hiding in this Yunmeng Swamp."

He paused, then continued, "In the end, the gang leader complied with everything, and for the first few years, things were peaceful. But recently, enemies captured by our gang, imprisoned and imprisoned in privately built dungeons and torture chambers, have frequently disappeared without a trace, leaving no clues. The gang leader suspected they were responsible and sent people to request an audience with courtesy, but the men sent were either crippled or had missing limbs. Finally, the gang leader could no longer tolerate it and went in person. Unexpectedly, the two men were unusually cold and said that they had made a three-point agreement with the gang leader years ago, stipulating that they would not interfere with each other. In a fit of rage, the gang leader attacked them, but their martial arts were extremely unpredictable, and he was defeated and forced to retreat. Before leaving, the two men uttered cold and sarcastic words, saying that if the Red Flag Gang dared to disturb their temple again, it would be the day the Red Flag Gang collapsed, and that in the current martial arts world, there were very few people who could withstand a single blow from them. Since the gang leader had assessed their martial arts, he must have known what he was capable of." Knowing that what they said was not false, he invited Sado and Master Tuo to deal with them.
The long-bearded Taoist suddenly stood up and stared at the man with the red turban on his forehead, saying, "Master Wei, have you seen these two Taoists? What do they look like?"

The man with the red turban on his forehead was stunned by the question, feeling that it was very unusual. He slowly said, "Only my leader has seen those two Taoists. The others have never even seen their faces. They have a limb missing. I am not in a position to speculate. Could it be that Master Hanguang knows the origin of these two?"

The long-bearded Taoist did not answer. He just pondered for a while, then slowly sat down and looked at the other two Taoists, saying, "Could it be those two old geezers from our sect..." At this point, his eyes suddenly flashed with cold light as he stared at Xie Yunyue.

Xie Yunyue, upon hearing the man with the red turban on his forehead say that the two Taoists claimed to be among the few in the martial arts world who could withstand a single blow from them, felt a slight stirring in his heart. Seeing the strange expression on the long-bearded, belly-covered Taoist's face, his curiosity was piqued, and he couldn't help but turn to look at him. As the long-bearded, belly-covered Taoist was speaking, he suddenly noticed Xie Yunyue's unusual expression, abruptly stopped speaking, and stared intently at him.

Xie Yunyue's eyes met his, and he quickly looked away, casually picking up his wine bowl and taking a sip. A gentle breeze blew, and the long-bearded, belly-covered Taoist swiftly landed beside Xie Yunyue, uttering a cold voice: "What is the meaning of your staring at this humble Taoist?"

Xie Yunyue, seemingly caught off guard, met his gaze, shivered, and before he could swallow, spat out his food and drink, crying out in surprise, his seat tilting and him falling to the ground. The wine sprayed all over the Taoist priest's face and body. The priest glared angrily, but couldn't retaliate. He had discovered that Xie Yunyue was completely defenseless; the wine he spat out had no power whatsoever. He feared word would spread that he had bullied a weak, uneducated peasant. He stood there, unsure whether to leave or stay. The man

with the red turban on his forehead approached and smiled at the Taoist priest, saying, "Ignorant fool, Taoist priest, there's no need for you to be angry with him."

The Taoist priest snorted, seized the opportunity to step down from the platform, and slowly walked back. The man with the red turban glanced at the terrified Xie Yunyue lying on the ground, then followed the Taoist priest back. Seeing the Taoist's incredibly fast movements, the burly man and the young man knew he possessed exceptional martial arts skills and feared Xie Yunyue was no match for him. The young man, filled with righteous indignation, was about to attack when the burly man stopped him with a look. Watching Xie Yunyue fall, they were momentarily stunned, then realized Xie Yunyue had deliberately feigned injury to avoid arousing their suspicion.

Suddenly, the man with the red turban on his forehead said, "This matter has long been a secret of our gang, not to be revealed, but it is no longer a secret, so we dare not speak freely in this tavern..."

Suddenly, the Taoist with the long beard reaching his belly interrupted, saying, "Master Wei, would you please lead this humble Taoist to that Taoist temple?"

The man with the red turban on his forehead hesitated, but finally replied, "Then, Daoist Bian is eight steps outside the Sanqing Taoist Temple. I dare not violate our gang's rules." The three Taoists and two laymen abruptly rose from their seats and walked out of the tavern.

Xie Yunyue, now shakily rising to his feet, muttered curses. A moment after the five men left, he walked out of the shop. The burly, bearded man urged the young man, "Let's go!" He tossed a silver ingot onto the table and hurried away.

Sunlight shone on the endless hills, illuminating a narrow mountain path in a golden hue. The three men and two women sped off towards Yunmeng, their figures like beans, growing smaller with each passing moment. The sickly-looking, rough-looking farmer was nowhere to be seen, much to their astonishment. The young man, emerging from the crowd, was equally surprised. The burly, bearded man sighed, "This man is truly a carefree, eccentric fellow. I can't even thank him for saving my life with the medicine." He then untied his horse's reins and said, "Let's go too." They both leaped onto their horses and galloped away like lightning, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust behind them.

The two horses swiftly rounded two sharp bends. The burly, bearded man couldn't help but gasp. He saw the Taoist priest with a long beard reaching his belly sitting against a tree trunk by the roadside, his face covered in sweat. Another priest was squatting beside him, his hands pressing on the priest's vital points on his waist and arms. Clearly, the priest had been ambushed. The other three were nowhere to be seen. The burly man and the young man paused briefly to glance at them, then continued on their way. They had only ridden a few feet when two figures suddenly swooped down from the hillside beside the road, as swift as eagles.

The two riders were startled, rearing up and neighing loudly in unison. They landed lightly on the two riders. Looking up, they saw the burly man with the red turban and the short, stout old man, their eyes fixed intently on them. The burly man with a bushy beard angrily asked, "Why are you blocking my way?"

The man with the red turban on his forehead replied with a deep expression, "Have you seen the coward who ambushed Master Hanguang of Kongtong?"

The burly man with a bushy beard was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, "You and that master were traveling together, but I've never seen him. How could we possibly pass each other, given how far apart we are? It would be like asking a blind man for directions!" The

man with the red turban shook his head, "You misunderstand. The coward I was referring to was that sallow-faced, stupid peasant in the tavern. He spat out a mouthful of wine and then ambushed Master Hanguang. He didn't notice at the time, but on the way, he suddenly felt his inner energy blocked below the 'Qimen' acupoint, causing it to stagnate and become unable to circulate. When you come out, you will surely see that coward, hence your question."

The burly man with a bushy beard was secretly alarmed, but his face remained impassive. He smiled and said, "This one?"
"I truly do not believe that this clumsy, sickly man possesses such skill, capable of ambushing Master Hanguang of Kongtong. However, the sick man left before us, and we could not see where he went." As he spoke, he clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "I must attend to my appointment with a friend in Yunmeng. May we meet again?" He and the young man darted toward two riders chewing grass by the roadside, and with a flick of the reins, he was about to mount his horse.

Suddenly, the short, stout old man shrugged and landed in front of the horse with the speed of the wind, shouting, "Wait!"

The young man's anger surged, and he took two steps forward, his sword-like eyebrows raised, and he shouted sharply, "What are you doing? Why are you repeatedly obstructing me? Are you deliberately trying to cause trouble?"

The short, stout old man gave the young man a piercing look, his face full of contempt, and said coldly, "Boy, I am speaking to your elders. Stand back." "With a flick of his right hand, an incomparably fierce hidden force pressed towards the youth.

The youth slightly shifted his stance, dodging the palm strike, and with two fingers of his left hand, executed a 'Meteor Shooting the Moon' move, swift as lightning, aiming a punch at the wrist of the short, stout old man. Not only was it incredibly fast, but the pressure point strike was also remarkably accurate. The short, stout old man was secretly surprised and hastily withdrew his right palm. Unexpectedly, the burly man with the bushy beard, seeing his rudeness and bullying, lashed out with a palm strike, shouting angrily, 'What an arrogant and rude old thief, daring to bully others!' The short, stout old man withdrew his right palm and unleashed two more hidden forces, causing both of them to retreat two steps. The man

with the red turban on his forehead rushed forward, shouting, 'Teacher Tang…'

The short, stout old man snorted and interjected, 'Master Wei, there's no need for your force. Today, this old man will teach these two arrogant fools a lesson.' The man with the red turban on his forehead, unable to contain himself, stepped aside."

The short, stout old man's eyes gleamed with venom as he sneered, "In all my years, only today has anyone dared to openly rebuke this old thief. Though I was ignorant, I shall cripple a limb as a small punishment." His words were chilling, sending shivers down one's spine.

The young man glanced at the bearded giant and laughed loudly, "Uncle Han, I've certainly learned something new today! To actually run into this arrogant fellow!"

The short, stout old man's face turned red with rage, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. He roared, "Kid, don't you know who I am? I am Tang Tai, the White-Step Soul-Binding Master. As is customary, none of my men are left with a complete corpse. Considering my ignorance, I'll let you mutilate one of my limbs." Upon hearing his name, the young man and the bearded giant's expressions changed drastically. It was well known that the Tang Clan of Xichuan was skilled in using all kinds of poisons and was famous in the martial arts world. This Tang Tai not only used poison weapons with extraordinary skill, making them impossible to dodge, but his martial arts knowledge was also vast and profound.

As the two men were filled with dread, they suddenly heard a loud laugh carried on the wind from not far away: "A good show indeed, you can't miss it! Anyway, Sichuan's back gate has already collapsed and lost face today. Kid, what's there to hesitate about? With your martial arts skills, are you afraid of Tang Tai?"

Everyone was startled and looked in the direction of the voice. They saw an old man in a reddish-brown robe with a short goatee hanging upside down from a poplar branch, his hairy shins exposed, swinging back and forth like a swing, a mysterious smile on his face. The young man and the bearded man's eyes lit up with joy, while Tang Tai, the Hundred-Step Soul-Capturing Man, and the man with the red turban on his forehead were greatly shocked. This reddish-brown old man had neither appeared nor made a sound, so it was clear that the newcomer's lightness skill was extraordinary.

Tang Tai, the Hundred-Step Soul-Capturing Master, had never been humiliated before. His gaze shifted, and taking advantage of a slight sway in his body, he gathered his inner strength in both arms and suddenly thrust them out with unparalleled speed, a powerful force striking directly at the old man in red robes. The old man in red robes seemed oblivious, a smile playing on his lips, still swaying back and forth upside down. Tang Tai felt his palm strike neutralized, and was slightly startled. Then he heard the old man in red robes laugh loudly: "Tang Tai, you're far from being able to fight me. You can't even handle this kid. Those slingshots, needles, darts, and shuttles around you, you think they're invincible poisons, but they're useless. If you don't believe me, try them on that kid and see if I'm lying!" Tang Tai, the Hundred-Step Soul-Capturing Master, didn't reply, his eyes flashing as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind, a venomous scheme brewing.

At this moment, three figures flew in. The long-bearded Daoist Han Guang, with his companion using his true energy to clear the blocked acupoints, arrived. The three Daoists were astonished by this scene. The man with the red turban on his forehead rushed in front of them and whispered a few words. All six Daoists' eyes simultaneously turned to the face of the old man in the red robe. The old man in red robes said smugly, "You three Taoist priests, don't get any funny ideas about me. That Sanqing Taoist temple in the swamp has been a long-standing threat to Kongtong. Coming here is just like handing yourself over to the tiger's mouth."

The three Taoist priests' expressions changed drastically, thinking to themselves, "How could he know?"

Suddenly, the old man hanging from the tree branch shouted, "Kid, why aren't you calling out to that old thief Tang? What are you waiting for? Hmph, if I had known you were this cowardly and useless, I would have just let it go."

The young man had been waiting for this moment. Upon hearing this, he suddenly lunged forward and struck with his palm, using the "Rhinoceros Gazing at the Moon" move, his five fingers extended diagonally, sweeping towards Tang Tai's "Xuanji Acupoint" with unparalleled speed. Tang Tai, who was using the Hundred Steps Soul-Binding technique, had not expected that this young man would attack without warning, and with such speed and ferocity as to strike like a ghost. He was secretly startled, shouted loudly, and slashed out with both palms, creating a gust of wind.

The young man's skills were clearly honed by a master. Knowing his own skill was far inferior to his opponent's, he decided to seize the initiative and use unpredictable techniques to prevent Tang Tai from having any chance to react. As soon as Tang Tai unleashed his palm strike, the young man darted behind him, his right hand swiftly striking the "Xinshu" acupoint on Tang Tai's chest with two fingers, while his left palm moved with lightning speed towards the "Jingcu" acupoint.

Tang Tai let out a loud shout, his body soaring into the sky like a crane, suddenly turning his head and striking down with both hands at chest level. However, as Tang Tai rose, the young man's two moves, which were actually feints, followed him like a shadow, his fingers aimed at several acupoints on Tang Tai's chest. Tang Tai pounced down, his opponent already in motion, thinking, "Not good." Suddenly,

a gust of wind struck his chest, causing him great alarm. He quickly sank downwards, his arms spinning, his body rising like a "raging dragon overturning the river," and with a whoosh, his palms cleaved out. Tang Tai was so enraged that his beard bristled and his face turned crimson. He thought to himself, "If I don't kill this brat today, I'll have failed to live up to my reputation as a master of the Hundred-Step Soul-Capturing

Technique." With a swift movement, he deflected the boy's flying finger, and simultaneously launched a left palm strike at the boy's "Jianjing" acupoint, while his right leg flew up, aiming for the "Huiyin" acupoint. This kick and palm strike were considered Tang Clan's signature techniques, faster than lightning and incredibly powerful, leaving the boy no chance to dodge. The boy snorted, advancing instead of retreating, treating the attacking palm and leg strikes as nothing, and thrusting his spear-like stance towards Tang Tai's "Xinshu" acupoint. This startled Tang Tai greatly. He never expected the boy to use such a dangerous move that would result in mutual destruction. Without time to think, he forcefully retreated, his palm and leg flying back a full ten feet.

The burly man with the bushy beard looked pleased, while the two Taoist priests from Kongtong and the man with the red turban on his forehead showed astonishment in their eyes. The old man in red robes and a turban, perched on a branch, chuckled, "Good boy, that move was

brilliant! Be careful of that old scoundrel Tang getting angry, and watch out for his lackeys." Tang Tai roared, unleashing three swift palm strikes with incredible force, the air swirling with energy. Knowing the old man in red robes and a turban was there, the young man was confident he wouldn't be at a disadvantage. His courage surged, and he swayed, his palms striking out repeatedly, deflecting the attacks. The two fought fiercely, stones flying, sand swirling, their robes billowing, their figures appearing and disappearing amidst the swirling dust.

At that moment, the man with the red turban whispered something to the three members of Kongtong Sect. After a brief exchange, the four suddenly sped off towards Yunluo, leaving Tang Tai behind. Seeing this, the burly man with the bushy beard was furious that the three Daoists of Kongtong had left so abruptly, violating the code of the martial world. He opened his mouth to shout, but then noticed the old man in the tree waving his hand to stop him, so he forcibly held back.

Tang Tai, the Hundred-Step Soul-Capturing Master, was focused on dealing with the young man, and the three Daoists of Kongtong quietly left without noticing, his moves becoming even more ferocious. Suddenly, a long, loud laugh rang out, and not far from the poplar tree where the old man in red robes and a turban was hanging, a swift and unstoppable figure darted out and landed in the road. The figure stood still, a sickly-looking farmer with a cold face, who said in a chilling tone, "Tang Tai, I think you'd better just kill yourself. You can't even beat a little kid, what kind of famous figure are you?"

The farmer didn't dodge or evade, but instead flipped his hand, sending out a gust of wind aimed at Tang Tai's "Quchi" acupoint on his elbow. Tang Tai suddenly shouted, forcing the boy away with a palm strike, and landed in front of the farmer, his right palm piercing out with a "Snake Emerging from its Hole" technique. Tang Tai couldn't help but feel a chill, finding this technique incredibly strange and rare in his life. He quickly withdrew his right arm, dodging three feet. But the farmer's hand, like a leech clinging to bone, followed closely, but didn't grab at his "Quchi" acupoint. It suddenly withdrew three inches away.

Tang Tai, bewildered, paused for a moment, only to see the sickly-looking man smile and say, "Tang Tai, you have no self-awareness, you're as stupid as a wooden ox. Although you accepted Yuwen Lei's invitation, the Red Flag Gang doesn't value you, they're just keeping you as a backup. Didn't you see they all abandoned you and left?"
Tang Tai's eyes widened, and he quickly looked around. There were no signs of the three Kongtong sect members or the man with the red turban on his

forehead. He couldn't help but shout, "I'm so angry!" At this moment, the old man in the red robe saw that the sickly-looking man's technique was very strange. With a swish, he floated down from the tree and stood a few feet away. He stared intently at the rough farmer and found nothing unusual about him, and was greatly astonished. The sickly-looking man coldly said, "What's the use of your anger? The Red Flag Gang has already invited the Two

Poisons of Minshan. Their poison techniques are a hundred times superior to your Sichuan Tang Clan. Therefore, they think they won't miss you, they won't miss you either." Tang Tai, the Hundred-Step Soul-Capturing Master, looked furious and said, "What makes the Two Poisons of Minshan superior to the Tang Clan? Don't make baseless accusations..."

The sickly-looking man laughed loudly, interrupting him, "If you use an invisible poison to incapacitate Sado, Tuo, and Yuwen Lei, leaving the Two Poisons of Minshan without an antidote, I'll believe you. If you have the guts, I'm also invited by Yuwen Lei. How about we go together?"

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