Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 21

Chapter Twenty-One: Two Small Figures Perched on a Lonely Peak, Snow-Covered and Icy,

Unable to Cross the Threat. Two Women Trapped in a Pavilion, Cold Wind and Dark Night, Both Prisoners in Chu, Gambling Against Each Other. After Xiaoyao Ke seized the Sun and Moon Wheels of the Sun and Moon, he felt a sudden tremor beneath his feet and cried out in alarm. He soared like an eagle, descending towards the lone peak that seemed to reach the sky. As he touched the ground with one foot, the earth suddenly cracked open, and his foot sank, his true energy becoming turbid. Even Xiaoyao Ke, a martial arts master, couldn't help but tremble with fear.

Xiaoyao Ke remained calm in the face of danger. He quickly leaped with his right leg, rising four or five zhang high in a flash. His right hand slammed the steel wheel in his hand against the cliff face, while his left hand gripped the steel wheel against the roots of a lone, slanting pine tree on the cliff. Suddenly, he lunged forward, clinging to the cliff face, motionless, his eyes tightly closed. In his ears, he heard only the sounds of mountains collapsing and the earth splitting, a continuous rumble of thunder, like ten thousand horses galloping and a raging tide surging. Snow and rocks rained down from above, violently shaking his body. The carefree traveler could only resign himself to fate. The scene was truly awe-inspiring, the wind and clouds changing color, like the beginning of creation, the end of the universe.

Meanwhile, Pin'er and Le Yang, watching from their vantage point, saw the dazzling white snow and the carefree traveler's battle with the Four Fiends of Snake Mountain. Just as they were engrossed in the spectacle, Shen Long, heartbroken by his brother's tragic death, let out a loud cry. The shockwave triggered an avalanche across the mountains. Thousands of peaks cascaded down like silver dragons. The thunderous roar was deafening. They felt the solitary peaks shaking violently, the powerful winds suddenly swirling and whipping around them. The two were nearly thrown out. Pin'er shouted, "Get down quickly!"

and pulled Le Yang to the ground. Surrounded by swirling snow and dust, their bodies were like a lone boat on a vast ocean. Torn relentlessly by the wind and waves, the two children felt dizzy and fainted, though they retained their senses. They could still faintly hear the continuous roar of avalanches. After an unknown amount of time, Le Yang and Pin'er gradually awoke. They found the silence deafening, indicating the avalanche had stopped. Opening their eyes, they saw the surrounding mountains transformed into a vast, dazzling sea of snow, surging and whistling with a sharp, penetrating chill.

Le Yang felt a bone-chilling cold, almost freezing him, and exclaimed, "So cold!"

Pin'er glanced at him and noticed his lips were purple. She said, "Let's go to the back cave and eat two doses of Polygonatum to ward off the cold and stave off hunger." The two got up, went to the back cave, and after taking two doses of Polygonatum, Le Yang felt better.

They wondered if the carefree traveler had been buried by the avalanche. They felt they couldn't stay in the cave, even though the cliffs outside were steep and sheer. They had to find a way out. So they ran out of the cave to investigate. Pin'er felt that jumping from such a height would surely result in certain death, and even if he could, there was still Le Yang, whose martial arts were practically nonexistent. They couldn't just abandon him; their hearts ached, and they were filled with anxiety and helplessness.

The anxiety in their hearts was indescribable. Suddenly, they heard a loud laugh behind them. The two children were startled and turned around to look around. They saw Xiaoyao Ke standing in front of the bed, his right eye gleaming, staring at them. Xiaoyao Ke was dressed in yellow robes, soaked through with snow water, clinging to his body. His sparse, short beard, revealing the flesh, was covered in frozen snowflakes. He held the Sun and Moon Twin Wheels, which he had taken from Shen Long, in both hands.

Le Yang's expression was unusually calm, but Pin'er was dumbfounded. He couldn't figure out how Xiaoyao Ke had entered, because the back cave was naturally blocked. The carefree traveler saw through Pin'er's thoughts and smiled, saying, "Are you surprised at how this old man entered? It's a secret. No one else knows except me. Even if you lived here for a year, you wouldn't be able to find out." The two children remained silent.

Seeing that the two children ignored him, Xiaoyao Ke's face flashed with anger, but he quickly suppressed it, saying, "I, an old man, saved your lives from those three Taoist priests of Wudang. Shouldn't you thank me?"

Le Yang, being kind-hearted by nature, felt ashamed upon hearing this and momentarily forgot to thank him for saving his life. Just as he was about to speak, Pin'er said, "We should thank you, but you didn't take us back to Huanbi Manor, which clearly indicates your ulterior motives."

Xiaoyao Ke's face showed displeasure, saying, "You two children really don't know what's good for you. I, an old man, have a slight grudge against Gong Tiandan, and I can certainly meet with him. However, considering your special talents, I intend to take you as my successors, so I'm not going to cause him any trouble."

Pin'er curled her lip and said, "Who wants you as our master?" "Father, you might as well be dead!"

The carefree man glared with his single eye, a cold light flashing across his face, his expression one of extreme rage. He roared, "What makes me unworthy to be your master?"
Pin'er, undeterred, sneered, "Everyone has their own ambitions; there's no need to force anyone."

Upon hearing this, the carefree man suddenly let out a chilling laugh, saying, "Fine, fine, I will not force you. As long as you have a way to get down this solitary peak, you may leave as you please. I am going to Wudang and will be leaving temporarily." He paused, then sneered again, "This cave is no less than a thousand miles from Huanbi Manor. Even if you escape from this cave, you won't get very far." With that, he moved with incredible speed, brushing past the two children, his shoulders swaying, and he swooped down the solitary peak.

The two children looked in the direction he was heading, and in the blink of an eye, the carefree man had already landed at the foot of the peak, a yellow dot disappearing into the vast sea of snow. Pin'er pulled Le Yang towards the back cave, carefully searching for a long time, but still couldn't find where the carefree traveler had come from. The two children were extremely worried and at their wits' end... Seven days passed in a flash, and the joyous atmosphere of Changbai Mountain was dampened by the disappearance of the two children. Gong Tiandan sent many people to search everywhere, but there was still no news, as if the stone had sunk into the sea. Xie Yunyue was nowhere to be seen, causing great distress among the group. Finally, Lei Xiaotian couldn't bear it any longer and said to Gong Tiandan, "My third brother entrusted me with bringing Le Yang here. Now that Le Yang is missing, how can I face him if he comes? I should go directly to Wudang and demand the return of the two from the Taoist priest Lan Xing."

Before Gong Tiandan could reply, Fu Liuguan interjected, "Master Lei, going alone will be difficult. This old man wishes to take Wan'er with him. After this matter is settled, I still wish to visit Qing'er at Songshan before returning here to make a long-term plan." The old mountain lord initially refused, but Lei Xiaotian and the others insisted, so he had no choice but to agree. Lei Xiaotian then descended Changbai Mountain with Fu Liuguan and his grandson. Zhao Kangjiu, Zhou Weicheng, Zhao Lianzhu, Zhou Yue'e, and Gu Yanwen, however, went down the mountain and returned to Cangzhou together.

Meanwhile, Xie Yunyue learned of the Huanbi Manor incident from the Beggars' Sect. Therefore, he didn't go to Huanbi Manor but headed south directly, intending to first visit Cangzhou and Jiangdu to meet Zhao Lianzhu, Zhou Yue'e, and Gu Yanwen, then catch up with Lei Xiaotian and Fu Wan at Wudang. The date of the first day of the eighth lunar month was still far off, and he could also return to Baohua Mountain to sweep his father's grave. On the

second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Raises its Head, and Cangchuan City was unusually lively. Dark clouds filled the sky, the snow on the streets hadn't melted, and the weather was still very cold, yet people moved about busily, and firecrackers crackled. Xie Yunyue's face appeared in the crowd; his sword-like eyebrows swept into his temples, his face was like jade, and his steps were deep and composed. He left the crowd and walked into a wide alley on the right, turning and twisting several times before stopping before a small vermilion door, knocking several times with his knuckles.

It was the small gate of Zhao Kangjiu's back garden. After a moment, someone asked, "Who is it?" The voice was old.

Xie Yunyue whispered, "Is that Master Yan?" The door opened with a creak, and a white-haired man with a white beard peeked out. He glanced at Xie Yunyue and exclaimed with delight, "Master, you've arrived? That's good!" Xie Yunyue sensed something was amiss in his words and asked in surprise what he meant.

This old man was Yan Fu, a servant of Zhao Kangjiu for two generations. Yan Fu looked at Xie Yunyue with suspicion and whispered, "Didn't Master Lei tell Master?" He then recounted how, during the New Year, the Eight-Palm Sang Lu had come to inform Half-Half Old Man of his return, and mentioned the Red Flag Gang's frequent warnings.

Xie Yunyue asked urgently, "Then Master Zhao and Miss haven't returned yet?" Yan Fu shook his head. Xie Yunyue thought to himself: So I returned earlier than them.

As he was pondering this, Xie Yunyue suddenly heard a chilling, sinister laugh coming from the side of the alley. He turned to look in the direction of the sound. A burly old man, wearing a sheepskin coat and trousers inside out, with his red hair tied in three buns and a gaunt face bearing a sinister grin, stood less than ten feet to the left. Xie Yunyue snorted coldly, his figure flashing, and in a flash, he was in front of the old man.

The old man had not expected Xie Yunyue's movements to be so swift and unparalleled. He hastily took a step back, his face showing surprise. Xie Yunyue's face was as cold as ice. He stared silently at the strange old man. The strange old man's surprise changed, and he grinned again, saying, "A distinguished guest of the Zhao family, indeed your skills are astonishing."

Xie Yunyue said in a deep voice, "Who are you?"

The strange old man's eyes widened, and he suddenly let out a strange laugh like the hooting of an owl, which sent chills down one's spine. After a long while, the laughter stopped, and he said, "I am the Red-Haired Giant Spirit of Yinshan. I have heard that you rely on your skills to bully others and look down on your fellow martial artists. Therefore, today I will test your abilities."

Upon hearing this, Xie Yunyue raised an eyebrow and laughed loudly, "Who do we have here? It's just some nobody. Don't dirty my hands with a fight with you. Where is Half-Half Old Man? Tell him to come see me."

The red-haired giant's aura suddenly surged, and he roared, "You greenhorn, you dare to be so arrogant? It's not difficult to see the sect leader, but you'll have to get past me first."

Xie Yunyue chuckled and said, "Your sect leader has been incited by the Red Flag Gang to wreak havoc in the martial world, so I ordered your sect leader to come see me and persuade him to restrain himself. You are not worthy to fight me."

The red-haired giant was furious and uncontrollable. His face contorted with rage, and he roared, "You rude brat, then try my power!" As soon as he finished speaking, his palms suddenly sank down, and he suddenly pierced through his ribs with ghostly speed and a hissing, soft force, as dense as a spider web, leaving his opponent nowhere to hide.

This move, "Earthly Surge," is a unique technique from the "Starry Night Demon Scripture." It takes a different approach from ordinary martial arts, rising from below and striking unexpectedly with incredible speed. The red-haired giant, having heard of Xie Yunyue's unparalleled martial arts, attacked with deadly intent. However, Xie Yunyue subtly flicked his right hand, and the red-haired giant felt his palm strikes neutralized. In a flash, Xie Yunyue vanished. The red-haired giant

was stunned, then whirled around. Xie Yunyue was nowhere to be seen, as if he were chasing a shadow. For some reason, a chilling aura rose from his spine, causing his face to palpate. Suddenly—a very faint, cold laugh rose beside his ear. The red-haired giant was terrified, his soul nearly leaving his body. He kicked out with both feet, unleashing "Dragon Soars to the Nine Heavens," and in mid-air, he turned and fired a small, shimmering blue arrow, then flew towards a rooftop in a flash.

Before the red-haired giant's feet even touched the roof, Xie Yunyue swiftly landed in front of him, sneering, "Old ghost, I won't chase you. Tell Half-Half Old Ghost to retreat to Yin Mountain, and you can still save your life." With that, he shifted his body to make way.

The red-haired giant dared not retort, only letting out a sinister laugh before darting away. Xie Yunyue landed on the roof and walked towards Yan Fu. Suddenly, a bearded Taoist emerged from the doorway, smiling and bowing, saying, "Brother Lei Xiaotian mentioned that Young Hero Xie is a dragon among men, with unparalleled skill. Seeing him today, I can confirm his reputation is well-deserved." Xie Yunyue felt the Taoist was completely unfamiliar and was momentarily stunned.

Yan Fu continued, "This is Sang Lu, the Abbot of the Yinshan Quanzhen Temple, known for his 'Eight Palms of Life-Taking' techniques."

Xie Yunyue quickly clasped his hands in greeting, "So it's Master Sang, a pleasure to meet you."

Sang Lu, the Abbot of the Eight Palms of Life-Taking, looked at Xie Yunyue with sincere admiration and smiled, "Young hero, not only is your martial arts unparalleled, but you are also full of wisdom. In my opinion, this time

the Crimson-Haired Giant Spirit is truly terrified." Xie Yunyue's handsome face flushed red, knowing that Sang Lu had seen through his trick. When the Crimson-Haired Giant Spirit unleashed the ultimate move "Earthly Surge" from the "Starry Night Demon Scripture," he immediately used the Maitreya Divine Skill's "Hearing Word Technique" to deflect the incoming force. Then, using the enigmatic and fantastical Xuan Tian Seven Star Steps, taking advantage of the slight tremor of his right palm that confused the Crimson-Haired Giant Spirit's vision, he swiftly and rapidly flipped inside the wall. Thus, the Crimson-Haired Giant Spirit's incredibly agile movements, even after several spins, could not catch a glimpse of Xie Yunyue's figure. This was a brilliant psychological tactic. While the red-haired giant was in a panic, Xie Yunyue quietly appeared behind him. Sure enough, the giant was terrified and fled.

However, those involved are often blinded, while bystanders see clearly. Every movement of both sides was observed by Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Reaper, and Yan Fu. Xie Yunyue then smiled sheepishly and said, "This little trick, though it worked by chance, is hardly a model to follow, and certainly not worthy of serious consideration. Please forgive my blunder, Master Sang."

Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Reaper, laughed loudly, "Young hero, you possess both wisdom and courage, and your reputation is well-deserved. I admire you greatly, how could I dare to laugh? I have other matters to attend to. The wind is strong and the weather is cold here; it's not advisable to stand here for long. Please come inside for a chat." Yan Fu went in first, while Xie Yunyue and Sang Lu walked side by side.

The usually lush and verdant woods in the back garden were now reduced to bare tree trunks, except for the evergreen pines, cypresses, and bamboo. The ground was covered with grayish-white, broken ice and dark mud. The frozen pond was still frozen, its surface strewn with withered branches and broken twigs. The vast sky was boundless, the cold wind howled, and an atmosphere of endless desolation and bleakness filled the air. Especially when Xie Yunyue caught a glimpse of the Wuyin Pavilion, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emptiness and desolation. It was a case of youth not knowing the taste of sorrow, yet being troubled by it all.

Sang Lu, the Eight Palms of the Dead, noticed that Xie Yunyue had remained silent the whole way and was greatly surprised, but he didn't dare to ask. After arriving at the living room, the martial arts instructors and servants left behind by the Zhao family came to greet him one after another. Xie Yunyue comforted and inquired about them one by one, learning that after the Red Flag Gang learned that Zhao Zhou and his group had left, they had not invaded the mansion, but had only been monitoring from the outside, and had not taken any illegal actions.

Yan Fu reported, "Only yesterday did three bandits break into the mansion to inquire about the whereabouts of Master Sanglu. They apparently discovered his location, but were driven away by Martial Master Liu with a few words." Xie Yunyue nodded and waved for everyone to leave.
Only Sang Lu and Xie Yunyue remained in the living room. Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm Master of Death, looked worried and said, “That day, I was injured here by the Crimson-Haired Giant Spirit’s Phosphorus Demon Arrow. Fortunately, Hero Zhao healed me, and I immediately left to send a message to the martial world, preparing to guard against the reappearance of Half-Old Man. However, after traveling less than a hundred miles, I discovered that all five of Half-Old Man’s disciples had appeared, and the Crimson-Haired Giant Spirit was relentlessly pursuing me, putting me in grave danger several times. Only with the help of the rising stars of Emei, Dongfang Yukun and Jiang Zongyao, did I escape death.”

Xie Yunyue suddenly showed joy and asked, “Where are they now?”

Sang Lu’s face showed a trace of worry as he said, “They are currently in dire straits. Tonight at midnight, at Wild Duck Beach, forty miles east of Cangzhou, they have arranged a battle with Half-Old Man’s disciples and the Red Flag Gang.”

Xie Yunyue was astonished. "Why did they become enemies with the Red Flag Gang?"

Sang Lu smiled bitterly and said, "I don't know very well either. I heard it was because of two girls, one surnamed Luo and the other Jiang, who were kidnapped by the Red Flag Gang using five different techniques."

Xie Yunyue's eyes suddenly flashed with a strange light and he said, "Is this girl surnamed Jiang named Jiang Yaohong?"

Sang Lu slapped his thigh and said, "That's right! I was a little far away and didn't hear it clearly. Now I remember they said one was Luo Xiangmei and the other was Jiang Yaohong."

When Xie Yunyue heard that it was Jiang Yaohong, he couldn't help but fall into deep thought. He recalled the expression on her face when they first met in Shijiazhuang. Her face was as red as the sunset, and her eyebrows were deeply furrowed. He couldn't help but feel affection for her. But she had only been practicing martial arts for half a year before she went into the martial world alone. He wondered what her purpose was. Sang Lu didn't know what Xie Yunyue was pondering, but he knew that Xie Yunyue and Jiang Yaohong had a deep affection for each other, as could be seen from the unusual light in Xie Yunyue's eyes. He continued, "Good and evil cannot coexist, water and fire cannot exist together; this is an immutable truth. The Red Flag Gang and the Qingfeng Gang are in dire straits, especially with the appearance of Banbansou. The righteous sects acted to prevent further trouble, which is why they attacked and killed them. My arm injury hadn't healed, and I was also struck by a palm from the Yinshan Sect, which is why I came here to recuperate. Now I'm fully recovered. I plan to go to Wild Duck Beach to offer some assistance. I heard that you, young hero, and Dong..." "Young Master Fang and the others are close friends, and we hope you can help us."

Xie Yunyue nodded and said, "Of course, I can't refuse. But what exactly happened to the two women?"

Sang Lu said, "They're in a manor near Wild Duck Beach. Young Master, you should come with me, or you can come alone later."

Xie Yunyue hesitated for a moment before saying, "I have other matters to attend to. Please go ahead, Master Sang. I will definitely arrive before the third watch tomorrow night."

Sang Lu nodded and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave first." He clasped his hands slightly, turned around, and darted out the window.

Xie Yunyue sat alone in the hall, gazing at the gray sky outside the window. He sighed, slowly stood up, walked out of the hall, exchanged a few words with a martial arts master standing guard in front of the hall, and then left.

The clouds were gray, and the cold air was bone-chilling. Wild Duck Beach was just a river branch, with reeds reaching the sky, stretching as far as the eye could see, but it was covered by a blanket of white snow. Wild ducks hid among the reeds, quacking softly. Every autumn and winter, thousands of wild ducks swoop low, chasing the leaves. At this time, the ducks are plump and delicious, attracting hunters who catch them in nets and reap huge profits.

Not far from the wild duck beach lies a grand manor, owned by Huangfu Song, a reclusive and eccentric outlaw known as "Eight-Step Cicada Catcher." His martial arts were unparalleled, especially his lightness skill, which was unmatched at the time. Later, he suddenly went into seclusion, and over time, the name Huangfu Song faded from public memory. The manor is built on an islet in the river, surrounded by water but hidden by towering reeds. Thus, few in the martial arts world know that a beautiful and magnificent mansion exists hidden among the reeds of the wild duck beach, nor do they know that Huangfu Song, the "Eight-Step Cicada Catcher," lives there in seclusion.

In a small building, in a courtyard facing south, two stunningly beautiful women could be vaguely seen, their hands and feet bound to chairs, their brows furrowed. Both women had disheveled makeup and unkempt hairpins, yet their beauty could not be concealed. They possessed a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky. Jiang Yaohong sighed mournfully, glancing at the girl in green beside her, and said, "Sister Mei, if Senior Brother Dongfang doesn't know we're imprisoned here, we'll inevitably suffer humiliation. It's better to die."

Luo Xiangmei sneered, "It's not that easy to die. I think that when they come into the room each day to untie me, allowing us a little time to eat and change, I can think of a way to escape. But before they untie me, they'll surely acupuncture three points to prevent our escape. Hongmei, don't worry, I'll definitely come up with a plan."

Jiang Yaohong, upon hearing this... She sighed again and said softly, "It seems our scheme has been in vain. That old woman said that once that lecherous half-old man arrives, we will surely be doomed."

Luo Xiangmei was disheartened upon hearing this and sighed softly, "Then we can only leave it to fate. I have already channeled my inner strength into my right hand. As long as there is a moment's chance, I will suddenly unleash the Primordial Chaos Finger Technique. Even if the old thief's power is extraordinary, he will not be able to escape."

Jiang Yaohong smiled faintly, then looked out the window at the endless snow-covered reeds, her heart filled with countless thoughts and turbulent emotions. The river wind was biting, the twilight was deepening, and night was falling inch by inch until all around was pitch black, with only the howling of the wind. The two women were heartbroken and anxious, and remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, the sound of a lock being opened came from outside the door, followed by the door creaking open. A flash of red light revealed an old woman with graying temples and a pigeon-like face, carrying a lantern in one hand and a bowl of food in the other.

The old woman placed the lantern on the table, her eyes gleaming, a half-smile playing on her lips. She said to the two women, "Senior Half-Half has arrived. Tomorrow is the auspicious day for your wedding, so I have prepared a small feast to celebrate."

The two women's hearts skipped a beat, especially Lingbo Fairy Luo Xiangmei, whose heart was pounding with tension. She focused her inner energy in her right hand, waiting for the old woman to untie her so she could strike. The old woman, as always, first struck the two women's pressure points to numb them before untying their bonds. Just as she pointed two fingers at Luo Xiangmei's ribs, Jiang Yaohong suddenly cried out in a sweet voice, "Senior..."

The old woman with the pigeon-faced expression seemed startled, stopped, and looked at Jiang Yaohong, asking, "What do you want to say?"

Jiang Yaohong said in a trembling voice, "We've been trapped here for three days, and our limbs are weak and sore. We beg you, senior, not to use acupressure, so we can feel better for a while."

Hearing Jiang Yaohong's unusual tone, the old woman with the pigeon-faced expression became suspicious. She glanced at the two women for a moment, then suddenly let out a strange laugh, "Don't try anything funny. You can't fool this old woman." As she spoke, she pointed two fingers at Luo Xiangmei again.

Suddenly, there was a soft sound of footsteps on the floor outside the door. The old woman with the pigeon-faced expression changed, she withdrew her hand, turned her face away, and rushed away, shouting, "Who's there?" As soon as she landed, only a cold wind rushed in her face, and all around was darkness; there wasn't a single person in sight.

The old woman with the poisonous face seemed startled, her eyes darting around as she thought to herself, "I clearly heard someone footstep, but I can't see them. Could it be a trap to lure them away?" With a thought, she darted back into the room.

She saw the two women still bound, and seeing nothing amiss, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself, "This pavilion is surrounded by skilled guards; it would be impossible for an outsider to get in. I was making a fuss over nothing." Thinking this, she turned to the two women and smiled, "You must be hungry. Let this old woman untie you." "As she spoke, her fingers flashed down like lightning.

The two women had just heard the sound of footsteps and were delighted to see the old woman with the dove-like face leap out. But now that she was back in, their hopes vanished, and they felt a chill run through them. The sound of footsteps came again, and the old woman's fingers were already two inches from Luo Xiangmei when she suddenly withdrew them, listening intently. Then came a rolling sound, and the old woman plummeted downstairs.

A loud thud was heard, and someone downstairs shouted, "What a huge raccoon!" The old woman with the dove-like face smiled, shook her head, and swiftly pressed the two women's pressure points, untied their ropes, and ordered them to eat.

The two women were filled with sorrow and could not eat the delicious food. They just sat there motionless. The old woman with the dove-like face chuckled strangely, gave the two women a meaningful look, and was about to speak when a low voice called out from outside the window, "Sister-in-law Long, the master of the manor has something for you."

The old woman's expression suddenly changed, and she shouted, "Who is delivering this message?" The person who shouted had already darted out the window. "

It's me, Peng Erhu." The voice faded into the distance, and by the

time the word "tiger" was mentioned, the person was already twenty feet away. "Lingbo Fairy" Luo Xiangmei said to Jiang Yaohong, "This is a diversionary tactic. The person must have realized that this pavilion is surrounded by hidden agents and dangerous intelligence networks, hence this plan. But I wonder if it's your Senior Brother Dongfang or Senior Brother Jiang?"

Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed in through the window, and the two women's vision blurred. Before them stood a Taoist priest with triangular eyes, a thick beard, and an eerie demeanor. Upon seeing him, the two women's faces turned deathly pale, their hearts pounding wildly. Since they had been imprisoned in the pavilion, no man had ever broken in. They assumed the newcomer must be the Half-Half-Old Man, and now that he had come, they knew they couldn't possibly protect themselves—they were terrified.

The Taoist priest, noticing the two women's expressions, smiled and whispered, "You two ladies seem frightened. This humble Taoist, Sang Lu, with his Eight-Palm Mask, risked his life to infiltrate and bring you a message from Young Master Xie. Please tell Miss Jiang that he will come to your aid immediately."

Upon hearing Xie Yunyue's name, Jiang Yaohong was overjoyed and opened her mouth to speak, but Sang Lu quickly waved his hand and whispered, "This humble Taoist encountered Young Master Dongfang and Young Master Jiang on Wild Duck Beach. The two young masters were intercepted and unable to leave. I used a clever escape technique to get away from the intruders, but I noticed that the pressure point technique used on you two ladies was incredibly subtle and beyond my ability to undo. Forcing it would inevitably cause injury. Having no other options, I led Granny Long away and advised you two ladies to pretend to eat to avoid arousing suspicion, and wait for Young Master Xie to arrive before making a decision." As he spoke, his expression changed slightly, and he swiftly disappeared out the window.

The two women also noticed something amiss and began to eat. A moment later, two people silently entered through the door: a tall, thin, black-bearded old man and a hag-faced old woman, each carrying a long sword on their back. Seeing the two women eating and nothing unusual happening in the room, the hag-faced old woman looked at the black-bearded old man and said, "This is truly strange. Just now, Peng Erhu said the master wanted to see me, but when I flew downstairs, Peng Erhu was nowhere to be seen. The master also said he hadn't called me. It seems there must be something fishy going on."

The black-bearded old man coldly sneered, "This is clearly a diversionary tactic. By the time you went upstairs, the person had already arrived. Seeing that the two women's pressure points were difficult to release, they retreated. I only need to ask the two women to know." Without any visible movement, he swiftly landed in front of the two women.

This black-bearded old man's incredibly fast movements were truly terrifying; he was indeed worthy of the title "Eight Steps to Catch a Cicada." The two women lowered their heads, holding out their food, seemingly oblivious to everything, though their hearts were pounding with fear. Suddenly, Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cricket Catcher, pursed his lips and smiled, "Ladies, did you see anyone come in just now?" Before he finished speaking, a dozen or so blue stars suddenly shot in through the window, swirling with lightning, hurtling towards Huangfu Song.

The old woman with the wisp-like face cried out urgently, "Master, be careful!" Huangfu Song snorted, shifting five feet to the left, and the dozen or so blue stars all struck the wall, sparks flying.

Huangfu Song and the old woman with the wisp-like face flew out of the window, seeing a dark figure falling downwards. Huangfu Song sneered, "Sister-in-law Long, you stay here. I'll go capture him." Before he could even get up, he heard a scream from below, knowing his subordinate had been killed by the intruder. His eyebrows shot out in anger. Suddenly, he pulled something from his side, and a beam of red light shot down from the roof, illuminating his beard and eyebrows.

Huangfu Song shouted, "Don't let this person escape!" He leaped into the air, landing like a roc spreading its wings.

Where the red light appeared, many skilled fighters from the manor rushed forward. Huangfu Song used his Eight-Step Cicada-Catching Technique, moving with lightning speed, and in no time, he had overtaken the manor's fighters. The cold wind howled, and the night was deep. Huangfu Song saw a figure leap several dozen feet away, darting east and west like a rabbit and a falcon, fleeing. He couldn't help but laugh loudly, "Friend, why be so stingy? Huangfu Song is hospitable by nature. How can I not enter if someone passes by? If you don't stop, I will have to force you to stay." As he spoke, he moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, he was already five or six feet away from the figure in front of him.

Suddenly, a figure in front shouted, "Huangfu Song, you're making things too difficult for me. I don't even want to see you, so what do you want?" After saying that, he laughed loudly, and with a whoosh, he was uprooted from a towering ancient tree in front of him.

Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Catcher, moved with incredible speed. The moment the man leaped and laughed, Huangfu Song was already upon him, his palm outstretched with lightning speed, aiming to grab the man's arm. But the man soared into the sky like a crane, and Huangfu Song's grasp missed. His thick eyebrows furrowed in anger. He pushed off with his feet, rising into the air, but before his toes even touched the branches, he felt an overwhelming force pressing down on him, shaking his very soul. Even with Huangfu Song's unparalleled skill, while airborne and his inner energy swirling, he couldn't withstand the force. He hastily used his "Thousand-Pound Drop" technique, landing with lightning speed. A shower of withered branches and ice shards rained down upon him, but Huangfu Song quickly swung his palms, sweeping away the accumulated ice and branches, his face flushed with rage.

The man on the tree laughed loudly, "Huangfu Song, don't be in such a hurry to see me. It'll be past midnight, and there's still a fierce battle going on at Wild Duck Beach. We have a death date, and we won't be apart until we meet. You'll definitely see me soon. I'm afraid this place will be razed to the ground before dawn. It's too early for you to be so aggressive." After saying this, he fell silent. Huangfu Song,

the Eight-Step Cicada Chaser, knew that the man had already gone far away, and there was no point in chasing him. The skilled fighters in the manor were also arriving one after another. So he turned around and shouted, "Everyone hold your positions and don't leave lightly. When I go to Wild Duck Beach at midnight, be careful that no one attacks the manor." After saying this, he quickly flew towards the manor.

Meanwhile, the old woman with the pigeon-like face watched Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Chaser, go after him. She turned around and was about to enter the gate when she suddenly felt someone touch her from behind. She was terrified and turned around like lightning. She saw a cold-faced young man standing in front of her. She was startled and took two steps back, thinking, "How could my senses be so poor tonight? I used to be able to hear falling petals and leaves within ten feet, yet this person possesses such divine and unparalleled agility. It's truly unbelievable." Thinking this, she reached out and drew her long hook. With a flick of her arm, a thousand hook shadows appeared, surging towards the vital points of the cold-faced youth, accompanied by the sounds of wind and thunder.

The youth chuckled, his body darting away, seemingly defying the fierce attack as he flashed into the doorway. The old woman with the dove-like face shouted and charged forward with her hook. Luo Xiangmei and Jiang Yaohong only saw a cold-faced, black-clad youth flash in; under the lamplight, the youth's face appeared unusually gloomy and terrifying. Jiang Yaohong found the youth's figure extremely familiar, resembling the unforgettable Xie Yunyue, but his face was strange, filling her with astonishment.

With a shout, the old woman with the dove-like face had already grabbed him with her hook, the long hook extended horizontally, and swiftly thrust towards the youth. The hook's movement was incredibly fast, the wind whistling through it, fierce and unparalleled. As the hook approached the young man, a halo of light suddenly expanded. Every acupoint on the young man's chest and abdomen was under the hook's light, making it truly difficult to avoid. But the young man swiftly extended his right hand, flicking his finger at the halo of light. A crisp clang rang out, and the hook immediately dispersed outwards, causing the old woman with the poisonous face to stagger three steps to the side. This extraordinary skill left the old woman with the poisonous face utterly astonished. She felt her wrist was slightly weak and sore from the shock. Staring at the young man, she couldn't fathom his origins.

The young man smiled calmly and said, "Your hook technique is nothing special, hardly worthy of serious consideration. It's better to conceal your abilities. If I wanted to take your life, I would have done so long ago. Why let you live until now? Quickly release the acupoints of the two ladies."

Jiang Yaohong recognized the young man's voice as Yan Yue. She had only recently learned that Yan Yue was actually Xie Yunyue's alias, and her face lit up with a smile. She didn't understand why Xie Yunyue wanted the old woman with the grime to release their pressure points. With Yunyue's skill, releasing pressure points was more than enough, but she didn't know Xie Yunyue had a deeper meaning. Xie Yunyue wanted to avoid trouble and didn't dare get involved in any more romantic entanglements. If he released the pressure points himself, he would inevitably touch the two women's skin. If the two women insisted that their virginity had been touched by him, and that it was his own doing, wouldn't he be creating trouble for himself?

Jiang Yaohong didn't understand Xie Yunyue's intentions and hurriedly said, "Brother Yun, wouldn't it be much easier to release our pressure points after you've removed your wives?" Upon hearing Jiang Yaohong's affectionate address, Xie Yunyue's mind jolted, and he almost fainted, at a loss for words.

At this moment, the old woman with the grimaces sneered, "Where did this brat come from, daring to act arrogantly in front of this old woman? If you can defeat this old woman's long hook with your true skills, then I will allow you to open the two women's acupoints. Otherwise, even if you rescue them, they are just two useless pieces of trash."
Xie Yunyue's words, though seemingly fierce, were actually weak. He still relied on his unique acupoint striking technique and subtly threatened her. He then laughed loudly, "You say the young master is ugly, but you're not much better. Judging from your tone, do you think the young master's hook striking technique was a bit strange? The young master now wants you to use your long hook within three moves, so that you will be convinced of your defeat."

Before Xie Yunyue finished speaking, the old woman with the grimaces had already pursed her lips and let out a whistling sound. As soon as the sharp whistling sound came out, a gust of wind hit his face, and with a thud, his right cheek was hit hard. Instantly, stars flashed in his eyes, and his cheek swelled up. Xie Yunyue sneered coldly, his face sinister, "Don't even think about begging for help. No one can save you. If you want to accept your defeat willingly, quickly release the hook. Otherwise, I'll release the pressure points of the two ladies immediately, and I might spare your life." Every word was resolute, making the old woman's heart pound with tension. She took two steps back, her long hook swaying slightly, poised to strike. Xie Yunyue stood with his hands behind his back, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Jiang Yaohong's clear, autumn-like eyes never left Xie Yunyue's face. She thought, "Why has his face become so hideous? Could he be disguising himself?" She stared intently, but couldn't find a single suspicious detail. Luo Xiangmei also felt strange. Because they were imprisoned in the pavilion, the two women had talked about everything. She had heard Jiang Yaohong's deep affection for Xie Yunyue, but she hadn't expected him to be such a hideous person.

At this moment, the old woman with the dove-like face swiftly blocked the doorway with her long hook, her left palm striking out with a fierce gust of wind aimed at Xie Yunyue's face. Her right hook, however, reversed its momentum, sweeping towards Xie Yunyue's feet with lightning speed. Xie Yunyue

moved in a flash, already pressed against the old woman's back. The two women, watching from the sidelines, couldn't even see how Xie Yunyue had landed behind her. The old woman, having launched her palm and hook, was stunned to find the figure had vanished. Suddenly, she felt a finger touch her arm, gasping in shock. She spun her long hook, thrusting it out fiercely. Before it had even pierced two inches, she felt a splitting pain in her hand, and the hook slipped from her grasp. Looking up, she saw a long hook already in the young man's hand, who sneered.

The old woman seemed somewhat bewildered; she didn't know why the hook had slipped from her grasp, as she hadn't seen Xie Yunyue's actions. She still stood with her hands behind her back, her expression cold and aloof. She initially looked ashamed to the point of despair, then her expression turned to indignation, her eyes flashing with resentment.

Xie Yunyue smiled coldly, handing the hook to her, saying, "Young Master has no grudge against you, which is why I couldn't bear to hurt you. Releasing the pressure points for the two young ladies was merely a small favor for you, not something to humiliate you excessively. Why insist on fighting?"

The old woman with the hooded face slowly took the long hook, her chest filled with a mixture of emotions: anger, shame, and embarrassment. After a moment, she gave a bitter laugh and said, "This old woman isn't convinced of her defeat. You're only relying on your agility. Do you dare to take a direct hit from this old woman's palm strike?"

Xie Yunyue laughed heartily, saying, "You're truly arrogant and overconfident, utterly unreasonable. Go ahead and strike." The old woman hooked the hook with her left hand, then suddenly revealed her right palm, concentrating her energy.

Xie Yunyue noticed her palm slowly turning from grayish-white to crimson and couldn't help but sneer inwardly. The old woman with the pigeon-faced expression suddenly thrust out her right palm with overwhelming force, a powerful, piercing attack aimed at Xie Yunyue. Xie Yunyue, his face still bearing a mocking sneer, remained completely still. The fierce palm strike landed five inches from his body, yet vanished without a trace, not even the hem of his clothes fluttering.

The old woman with the pigeon-faced expression was terrified. She exhaled sharply, increasing her palm strike to its full power, only to find that her powerful punch was completely ineffective, like a clay ox entering a sea of water. Not only that, she felt her wrist go weak, followed by an invisible, overwhelming force pressing down and repelling her. She felt her limbs go numb and weak, her chest heaving with turbulent blood and qi. Forced backward, her legs buckled, and she collapsed onto the floor with a thud. The oppressive force vanished instantly. She glanced at Xie Yunyue and muttered, "So be it, so be it. An eighty-year-old woman has lost to her child. What face do I have to live in this world?" With that, she swiftly pressed her right palm against her face, collapsing to the ground, lifeless. Crimson blood oozed from the old woman's seven orifices, a gruesome sight.

Xie Yunyue, taken aback by her ferocity, stood frozen, speechless. The fourteen forms of the Maitreya Divine Skill, possessing unparalleled demon-subduing power, harnessing the essence of heaven and earth, were the culmination of fourteen martial arts principles. That was... He had mastered the fourteen techniques of unloading, sticking, dissolving, springing, absorbing, shifting, shaking, shifting, closing, borrowing, pushing, rigid, shifting, pressing, and squeezing. He had now mastered them to the point of being able to move at will and control the weight of the object at will. Just now, he had only used the techniques of unloading and pressing to make the old woman with the pigeon face retreat in the face of difficulty, but the opposite effect was expected. This was truly unexpected.

But then Jiang Yaohong cried out, "This vicious, poisonous old woman deserves to die a thousand deaths! What's the point of pitying her? Brother Yun, quickly release our pressure points! This numbness is unbearable!"

Xie Yunyue's heart skipped a beat. He looked away and saw Jiang Yaohong's face flushed, her eyes filled with hope. The same was true for Lingbo Fairy Luo Xiangmei. He sighed inwardly; all his efforts had been in vain. He slowly walked in front of the two women and smiled, "Miss Jiang, where are your pressure points?" Jiang Yaohong frowned slightly and softly stated the locations, her face flushed.

In an instant, Xie Yunyue's hands and feet turned cold; the pressure points she described were all hidden. Jiang Yaohong urged him repeatedly, and Xie Yunyue, unable to resist, had no choice but to comply. With lightning speed, he flicked his fingers, striking several points on Jiang Yaohong's body. He then turned to Luo Xiangmei, but his finger, just inches away from the acupoint on her right breast, suddenly stopped, unable to press down.

"Lingbo Fairy" Luo Xiangmei, her face flushed with shyness, closed her eyes tightly. Jiang Yaohong asked anxiously, "Brother Yun, what's wrong with you?" Xie Yunyue sighed, and his finger flew out.

The two women felt their inner energy circulate throughout their bodies and leaped up. Xie Yunyue said, "Ladies, please follow me to Wild Duck Beach."

Jiang Yaohong hurriedly said, "Wait."

Xie Yunyue was taken aback and looked at Jiang Yaohong, who smiled sweetly and said, "Brother Yun, why do you look so different? What happened? Can you tell me?"

Xie Yunyue was eager to leave, and seeing Luo Xiangmei's beautiful eyes fixed on his face, he panicked and blurted out, "I'm wearing a human skin mask. I'll take it off when we get to Wild Duck Beach and let you see. Let's go."

Jiang Yaohong pouted and shook her head slightly, saying, "If you don't take it off and let us see, we won't go with you." Xie Yunyue couldn't force her, so he removed the mask, revealing a handsome face with bright eyes and clear eyebrows.

Luo Xiangmei's eyes lit up, and she thought to herself, "What a handsome man!" Her heart immediately fluttered.

Before they could speak, Xie Yunyue abruptly put on his mask and stepped out first, followed by the two women. The three leaped down and ran forward swiftly. The two women discovered that the hidden stakes in the villages along the way had all been knocked down, making it seem as if they were walking through empty land. A fierce wind howled, cutting their faces, and the sound of a reed leaf trembling caused ice shards to fall with a rustling sound. The three were already walking on the solid ice of the river. Their movements were like a snake, startling a flock of wild ducks that flapped their wings and took flight.
Xie Yunyue suddenly whispered, "They're on the riverbank."

The two women looked closely and indeed saw more than ten people standing on the riverbank. Jiang Yaohong called out sweetly, "Senior Brother Jiang."

Jiang Zongyao immediately responded, and the two women met Jiang Zongyao, Dongfang Yuxuan, and the others, but Xie Yunyue was nowhere to be seen. The two women couldn't help but feel a deep sense of resentment and sorrow, especially Luo Xiangmei. Jiang Zongyao laughed, "Brother Xie must have made some plans. He's a man of great loyalty and wouldn't just leave empty-handed. Come, Junior Sister, Miss Luo, let me introduce you to some esteemed masters." Phrases of "I'm so glad to meet you" and "I've heard so much about you" arose one after another.

Just then, with a whoosh, a figure darted out of the reeds, rushing towards them. Jiang Zongyao shouted, "Who's there?" "This humble Taoist,

Sang Lu," came the reply, and the figure landed instantly.

Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm-Struck Man, spotted Luo Xiangmei and Jiang Yaohong and exclaimed with delight, "Congratulations on your escape, ladies!" He then exclaimed in surprise, "Why is Young Master Xie not here?"

Everyone fell silent. Sang Lu, the Eight-Palm-Struck Man, knew without a doubt that Xie Yunyue had left, and that tonight's meeting was likely to end badly. He coughed and said, "Since you two ladies are safe, the three-drum appointment is pointless. I suspect that the Half-Old Man possesses the 'Starry Night Demon Scripture,' which contains all his secrets, and his martial arts are unparalleled. We are no match for him. Perhaps we should withdraw for now and devise a plan to eliminate him later." Suddenly,

a loud voice rose from the crowd: "Master of Quanzhen Temple, back then you sat beside him and let him snore. That made you arrogant. Now you utter such cowardly and unambitious words. How can you call yourself one of the top martial arts masters?" Sang Lu recognized the voice as that of Fan Shaochuan, the junior brother of the Songyang Sect's leader, the "Old Man with Eyebrows. "

This man, who once dominated the north and south of the Yangtze River with his Songyang Nine Hands technique, was arrogant and conceited. Sang Lu sneered, "We value honesty and disregard pretense. We act according to our abilities. Since Master Fan is so inclined to display his unparalleled skill, aside from the 'Half-Old Man,' I have no right to object. Forgive my earlier slip of the tongue."

Fan Shaochuan snorted, "The 'Half-Old Man' is nothing but a nameless fool; why make such a fuss?"

Amidst the howling night wind, a cold, sharp laugh suddenly rang out: "Arrogant and boastful."

Fan Shaochuan's white eyebrows shot up, and he shouted, "Who are you, you little brat, hiding and unable to show your face?"

With a shout, he rushed towards the sound, unleashing a powerful palm strike. Two loud "thuds" echoed as the reeds parted, the river water piercing through two holes, and a dark shadow suddenly rose from within, laughing loudly. It swirled through the night sky, leaping and disappearing back into the reeds after a few bounds. The white-browed old man, Fan Shaochuan, looked embarrassed, sensing something amiss, but fortunately, the darkness prevented anyone from seeing his expression. As

the third watch approached, a streak of red light suddenly surged through the village, casting a crimson glow on the horizon. The light moved quickly, and the crowd saw dozens of men carrying torches rushing through the reeds. In a moment, they were upon them, the torchbearers forming a semi-circle, while a dozen or so others leaped and landed before them. Two figures stood out. One wore a long black robe, the hem of which fluttered in the cold wind. He was tall and thin, with a tuft of black beard gathered at his chest. His eyes, piercing and glaring, stared at Luo Xiangmei and Jiang Yaohong with extreme anger.

The other had black hair piled up in a bun, a beautiful face, and no beard. He looked to be around thirty years old. He was dressed in brocade robes, and his lewd eyes darted over the two women, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. His half-male, half-female form made him clearly a lecherous old man.

At this moment, the black-haired old man's angry expression vanished, and he greeted everyone with a smile, saying, "I am Huangfu Song. How fortunate I am to meet you all tonight. I am of a simple nature and have long been detached from worldly grievances. However, my friend, the leader of the Red Flag Gang, Eight-Armed Vajra Yuwen Lei, stayed at the manor half a month ago. During his stay, his men were repeatedly slaughtered by the Emei Sect. I could not stand idly by." He glared at the two women and sneered, "To avoid trouble, I temporarily imprisoned the two Emei women and sent a message to Young Hero Dongfang to ask him to invite our sect's leaders to handle the matter. I did not expect Young Hero

Dongfang to be so arrogant, inviting you all to a fight tonight. Rescuing the two women is a small matter. Many of my men have been slaughtered. It is inhumane and intolerable..." Before he could finish speaking, the white-browed old man, Fan Shaochuan, sneered, "Anyone who aids and abets evil deserves to die. If you cannot tolerate it, who can?" Upon hearing this, Huangfu Song, the Eight -

Step Cicada Catcher, glanced at the White-Browed Elder Fan Shaochuan and laughed loudly, "I wondered who it was? It turns out to be Master Fan of the Songyang Sect! Three years ago, Master Fan had a fierce battle with the One-Armed Beggar, a feat that has resonated far and wide. It seems Master Fan's heroic spirit remains as strong as ever; truly admirable!" The White-Browed Elder Fan Shaochuan fell silent, his old face flushed crimson with shame, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

Three years ago, Fan Shaochuan was traveling along the Xiang River when he unexpectedly encountered the One-Armed Beggar. Both were arrogant by nature, and a misunderstanding arose from their words, leading to a fight. The One-Armed Beggar, being more skilled, struck Fan Shaochuan's hip bone with three snake-tail needles, securing his victory. Fan Shaochuan remained bedridden for three months because of this, but the incident reached the ears of the Beggar Clan elders, who reprimanded the One-Armed Beggar. The beggar hadn't encountered a life-or-death enemy, so he shouldn't have used the snake-tail needle. The old man with the bamboo staff, Hong Ying, personally escorted the one-armed beggar to his door to apologize, punishing him with three years of confinement. Few knew of this, but surprisingly, the Eight-Step Cicada knew it well and openly mocked him, bringing shame upon himself.

At this moment, behind Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada, emerged the Red Flag Gang leader, Eight-Step Vajra Yuwen Lei, and said to Huangfu Song, "Tonight's meeting cannot be resolved with words alone; we must fight. The victor will prevail."

Black Moller Jiang Zongyao laughed heartily and said, "Gang Leader Yuwen is indeed quick-witted; that's how it should be done." "As he spoke, he slightly raised his longsword to his chest and swung it into the center of the arena.

The Eight-Armed Vajra Yuwen Lei coldly nodded, took two large steps forward, and placed his hands on his waist, revealing a five-foot-long, golden-threaded dragon-head whip. With a flick of his wrist, he made it as straight as a pen, holding it there for a long time. Jiang Zongyao was greatly shocked. Yuwen Lei's internal strength was rarely seen before, and the fact that the whip could be used as a demon-subduing pestle was truly rare in the martial arts world. Knowing that he had encountered a formidable enemy, he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation."

From the moment he appeared, Half-Old Man's lustful eyes never left the two women. Suddenly, a woman's voice chuckled softly, "It is said that enemies should be resolved, not perpetuated. Why must blood be spilled every five steps? Considering the predestined connection between you two ladies and me, why not join hands and make peace?" Her voice was sweet and clear, her delicate eyebrows like flowing silk, captivating all who beheld her.

Just as the two women were about to retort, a black shadow flashed like lightning and hurtled towards Half-Old Man. For a demonic master like Half-Old Man, dodging such an attack was more than sufficient, yet strangely enough, the black shadow, less than a foot away from him, suddenly burst into countless pieces and accelerated. Half-Old Man was struck, his face a bloody mess. He screamed, his nimble feet leaping into the air, flying straight back in the direction the shadow had come from, faster than lightning. His five disciples followed suit. Only Jiang Yaohong, with her keen intuition, knew that Xie Yunyue had lured away Banbansou.

Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Chaser, seemed somewhat uneasy, looking around hesitantly. Fan Shaochuan, the White-Browed Elder, darted forward, sneering, "Master Huangfu, why are you showing such fear? Banbansou's gone, and you're acting like you've lost your parents, all mournful and tearful. It's rather amusing to me."
Huangfu Song frowned, angrily shouting, "You glib old scoundrel! Do you think Huangfu Song is truly afraid of you?" As he spoke, he swiftly flipped his palms, his five fingers already striking out, the wind howling fiercely, sharp and powerful.

Fan Shaochuan sneered, shifting his stance, lowering his waist, and suddenly unleashing a continuous, powerful set of the renowned "Songyang Nine Hands." In an instant, the two were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle. Meanwhile, on Yuwen Lei's side, Jiang Zongyao, the Black Moller, drew a slight arc with his longsword, let out a loud shout, and with a sudden flick of his wrist, unleashed a

series of powerful strikes, each as large as a bowl. This was a signature move from the Taiqing Sword Technique of the Emei Zhenshan Sword School, "Straight to the Yellow Dragon," a move that seemed both real and illusory, unpredictable and ever-changing. The sword wind whistled like a wheel, fierce and unparalleled. Yuwen Lei raised his whip to block, but Jiang Zongyao swiftly withdrew his longsword. Dodging the whip's parry, he suddenly thrust downwards, the large golden flowers remaining unchanged, aiming for Yuwen Lei's "Shenque" acupoint.

The ability to attack two points simultaneously in an instant without changing the technique demonstrated the miraculous nature of the Emei sword style and Jiang Zongyao's extraordinary skill. Yuwen Lei, unable to block Jiang Zongyao's sword strike with his whip, realized his mistake, hunched his back, and swiftly retreated five feet. Unexpectedly, to avoid losing the initiative, Jiang Zongyao swiftly brandished his longsword, unleashing seven icy swords that shot forth with lightning speed, relentlessly pressing forward like leeches clinging to bones.

Seeing Jiang Zongyao's swift movements, forcing him to keep his attention, Yuwen Lei thought to himself, "I am the leader of a gang. If I allow him to win in front of everyone, how can I face the martial world?" In a flash, he shifted to the left and then to the right, dodging the oncoming sword strike. He sneered, flicked his dragon-headed whip, secretly channeling his inner energy, and met the attack with a powerful, deflecting strike.

The clash was a fierce exchange, the whip flashing and the sword energy surging, accompanied by a breathtaking roar of wind and thunder. Jiang Zongyao grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed. He noticed that Yuwen Lei's dragon-headed golden whip was not only incredibly powerful and unpredictable, but also combined soft and hard techniques, making it difficult to defend against. Furthermore, Yuwen Lei's whip techniques neutralized the internal force pressing and sticking to his sword. Jiang Zongyao thought to himself, "This Yuwen Lei truly deserves his title as a gang leader. His whip technique is superb, taking a different approach and quite different from the martial arts of the Central Plains. It seems my swordsmanship is insufficient to win; I must take a risk." With

this thought in mind, he swung his wrist, and his longsword suddenly dispersed, transforming into the "Bamboo Leaf Cloak" move of the Kongtong Sword Technique. He unleashed a swirl of swords, deflecting Yuwen Lei's attacking soft whip. Suddenly, he leaped two zhang into the air, then, with a sudden "Divine Dragon Tail Drop," he swooped down, his longsword already employing the "Dancing Cloud Dragon" three moves. It seemed as if the sword's momentum was like an umbrella, a thunderous army descending straight down, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound filling the sky.

Yuwen Lei's whip technique was deflected by Jiang Zongyao's "Bamboo Leaf Cloak." Knowing that Jiang Zongyao was determined to win by a hair's breadth, Dongfang Yukun stood still. With a slight, cold smile, he unleashed a sudden, overwhelming sword strike, followed by a long laugh. He soared into the sky, channeling all his inner strength, and raised his whip to meet the descending sword wheel. A metallic clang rang out, and Jiang Zongyao's sword was jolted from his grasp, flying like a golden snake seven or eight zhang away.

Dongfang Yukun realized the danger, pushed off with both feet, and leaped diagonally upwards, swiftly thrusting his sword towards Yuwen Lei's back. After Yuwen Lei knocked away the longsword, he thrust out his left palm towards Jiang Zongyao's falling figure. Suddenly feeling a cold wind behind him, he knew something was wrong. Forgetting about injuring his enemy, he focused on self-preservation, withdrawing his palm and shifting to the left in mid-air, landing like a meteor. He glared at Dongfang Yukun and coldly laughed, "Emei juniors, winning by numbers? Yuwen Lei finds this shameful." Dongfang Yukun didn't reply, flashing his sword and launching three attacks in quick succession.

At this moment, Jiang Zongyao landed, picked up his longsword, and swung it, the two of them clashing and attacking Yuwen Lei. Yuwen Lei's face was filled with murderous intent. He calmly countered with a dragon-headed, mosquito-tendon, golden-threaded whip. The dragon's head slashed through the air with a sharp whistling sound, transforming into a blur of cold light, deflecting both swords. Suddenly, a scream rang out, exceptionally sharp, from Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Catcher.

Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Catcher, fell backward to the ground, a short arrow, only two inches long, embedded in his left rib, its surface gleaming blue. Huangfu Song, seemingly unable to bear the arrow wound, was deathly pale, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes wide with rage. Fan Shaochuan, the White-Browed Emperor, looked on in astonishment, his gaze fixed on Huangfu Song. It turned out that both men possessed similar levels of skill in palm techniques, making this a rare and unusual scene in the martial arts world. However, Huangfu Song was renowned in the martial arts world for his Eight-Step Cicada Catcher technique, his lightness skill undoubtedly unparalleled. Although Fan Shaochuan's "Songyang Nine Hands" technique was profound, after a hundred moves, he could no longer withstand Huangfu Song's elusive movements, his darting east and west, his ghostly palm strikes, gradually making him feel bound and restricted.

Suddenly, Huangfu Song dodged Fan Shaochuan's "Double Dragons Attack," threw himself to the left, swiftly striking the waist, and then suddenly unleashed both palms, striking Fan Shaochuan's right rib with lightning speed. At this moment, Fan Shaochuan's defenses were wide open, and he couldn't dodge in time. If Huangfu Song's palms were pressed down on him, his internal organs would rot, and he would bleed to death on the spot. This was a truly critical moment. Suddenly, a blue light flashed out from the shadows, shooting towards Huangfu Song's chest with the speed of a star.

Huangfu Song was focused on injuring his enemy and had no idea that someone was suddenly launching a hidden weapon. By the time he realized it, he had dodged outwards. Even with his swift movements, he couldn't avoid the arrow's descent. The blue light vanished, and he was struck in the "Tianxi" acupoint on his left rib, penetrating half an inch into his flesh. He felt an excruciating pain that seemed to pierce his bones, and he couldn't help but scream in agony. He fell backwards to the ground, suddenly feeling a chilling aura emanating from the wound. His blood seemed to freeze, and he trembled uncontrollably. He remained silent.

Fan Shaochuan escaped the attack, and Huangfu Song, struck by the blue phosphorus arrow, realized that this was a hidden weapon unique to demons, and that no one on his side possessed it. For a moment, astonishment was evident on his face. At this moment, many of Huangfu Song's men rushed forward and surrounded Fan Shaochuan. Fan Shaochuan shouted, "Are you blind? Did I inflict the arrow wound on Master Huangfu?"

The skilled fighters in the manor all saw the blue arrow shot from the shadows, but when they looked at the direction from which the blue arrow came, the ice surface, which was only about twenty feet wide, was completely empty, with not a single person in sight. However, they concluded that it was Fan Shaochuan's friend who had secretly helped him, so they surrounded him, wanting to find out the truth. Suddenly, Sang Lu, standing on the distant riverbank, spoke up: "That's right, you're blind, mistaking a wicked friend for a confidant. This little arrow is the Blue Phosphorus Demon Arrow, a hidden weapon used by your manor lord's trusted advisor, Half-Old Man. It's incredibly poisonous. Once it hits a person, their blood congeals and their marrow freezes. In less than two hours, your manor lord will be frozen solid." He then added sharply, "Why aren't you going to find Half-Old Man to save him? Do you really want your manor lord, Huangfu, to die?"

The six or seven experts in the manor were startled, quickly lifting Huangfu Song and rushing towards the direction Half-Old Man and the others had gone. White-browed Old Man Fan Shaochuan glanced gratefully at Sang Lu, then strode towards him, shaking his hand in thanks.

Meanwhile, the three of them fought fiercely, their swords and whips flashing, a desperate struggle. In the darkness, sword light and whip shadows danced like dragons and snakes. Golden streaks of light flashed, a truly wondrous sight. Yuwen Lei, the Eight-Armed Vajra, caught sight of Huangfu Song, the Eight-Step Cicada Chaser, wounded by an arrow, and Banbansou, who had vanished without a trace. His trusted ally was now gone, filling him with anxiety. Entangled by two longswords, he knew that without a surprise attack, he could only escape unscathed. Secretly gathering his inner strength, he suddenly spun around and swung his sword, a golden light flashing with incredible speed.

The sound of metal clashing against metal filled the air, sparks flying. Jiang Zongyao and Dongfang Yukun's swords were deflected. Yuwen Lei swiftly extended his left palm, unleashing a "Mysterious Crow Slicing Sand" technique in an arc. This move was incredibly vicious; the two men's chests were struck by the force of Yuwen Lei's palm strike, moving with lightning speed. Dongfang Yukun and Jiang Zongyao paled in horror, unable to dodge, and could only await their deaths.

Suddenly, a long, mournful dragon's roar echoed from the shadows, streaking through the air with incredible speed. Before the sound faded, a figure flew in with lightning speed, unleashing two powerful palm strikes that sent Jiang Zongyao and Dongfang Yukun flying back two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), while Yuwen Lei was also forced to retreat seven chi (approximately 1.6 meters). The figure landed silently before Yuwen Lei, standing with hands behind his back, proud and unmoved. Jiang Yaohong almost cried out in alarm upon seeing the newcomer; it was none other than Xie Yunyue, whom she had never forgotten, reappearing.

The Eight-Armed Vajra was forced back by a powerful force, utterly astonished. When he finally regained his footing, he saw a strange-looking young man standing before him and couldn't help but gasp. The strange young man's face was grim as he coldly said, "Since parting ways with the Gang Leader in Jiangdu, the Gang Leader's words, 'The green hills remain unchanged, we shall meet again,' still ring in my ears. I still think of you dearly. Indeed, my words have come true, and I am here on the frozen shore of Cangzhou Wild Duck, witnessing the Gang Leader's heroic spirit once more?" "After saying that, he burst into loud laughter.

Yuwen Lei felt a chill run down his spine from the laughter, and after a long while, his shock subsided, and he sneered, "You've gone too far! What do you intend to do?"

The strange youth laughed heartily, then said in a deep voice, "Yuwen Lei, you know what you've done. Why did you leave the ground without permission and lead your men to Yan Yun Jing Ji, acting like venomous snakes with wolves in your heart, repeatedly obstructing me? Who has gone too far?" His voice was sharp and fierce, every word piercing Yuwen Lei's heart.

Yuwen Lei was red-faced from the scolding, and in his anger and shame, he struck out with a palm and a whip, shouting, "Today it's either you or me!"

The strange youth chuckled coldly, his palms flashing with unparalleled speed. His left hand had already grabbed the whip's tip, while his right hand's five fingers gripped Yuwen Lei's "wrist meridian" acupoint. Yuwen Lei felt his internal energy surge violently, crawling like insects and ants, a bone-chilling, excruciating pain worse than death. Cold sweat poured down his forehead, and he couldn't help but scream in agony. Suddenly, the strange youth's mind conjured the image of Mount Tai being forced to plummet into a thousand-foot abyss, and a murderous intent surged within him. With a flick of his left hand, the dragon- headed whip flew into the air, while his right hand tightened its grip.

Yuwen Lei felt all the blood rush to his chest, surge to his throat, and his mind went blank. Blood seeped from his seven orifices, and in a matter of moments, the Red Flag Gang leader would be dead. Earlier, Huangfu Song's torchbearers had fled, but now they were all gone. The ice surface was littered with scattered torches, the flames still burning brightly, but the melting ice hissed and steamed. The strange youth, hissing at Yuwen Lei's wrist, witnessed his horrific state and felt a chill run down his spine. He slowly released his grip.

Yuwen Lei felt his blood and qi return to normal, and he regained his senses. He heard the strange young man sneer, "Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, granting people a path to good. I'll spare your life this time, as long as you restrain the Red Flag Gang and don't tolerate your men's evil deeds in the martial world, you can enjoy your remaining years. Otherwise, I will come looking for you, and then the suffering you will endure will be a hundred times worse than it is now." The Eight-Armed Vajra Yuwen Lei glanced at him silently, slowly turned around, and with difficulty, dragged his weary body away step by step.

At this moment, the strange young man shook his arms and soared into the sky, disappearing into the night. Jiang Yaohong cried out anxiously, "Brother Yun, wait for me..." and grabbed Luo Xiangmei, leaping up to chase after him.

A cold wind rose, a whistling sound filled the air, the torches flickered and died, the flames weakened, bamboo strips scattered on the ground, and suddenly the firelight dimmed, shrouding Wild Duck Beach in darkness, making it utterly silent. Wudang Mountain is located a hundred li south of Jun County, Hubei Province. Also known as Taihe Mountain, it

is a Taoist retreat, stretching for thousands of li, with layered peaks rising majestically above the clouds. In mid-February, on Pantao Ridge north of Wudang, a spirited young man, handsome as a scholar in blue robes from the capital, strode swiftly, his movements as swift as lightning. Spring arrived early in the mountains, peach and plum blossoms were in full bloom, and wildflowers lined the paths, creating a scene of extraordinary beauty. This young man was none other than Xie Yunyue, the eccentric scholar. After leaving Wild Duck Beach, he headed straight for Wudang, taking secluded mountain paths day and night, to rescue the two children, Le

Yang and Pin'er. As the sun began to set, he had already descended the northern ridge and reached Hongfen Ferry, where he saw the vast Han River flowing westward. The river roared eastward, its southern bank a sheer cliff, its precipitous walls hanging precariously, its rushing torrents a magnificent sight. As the city lights began to twinkle, Xie Yunyue entered the city of Jun County, went into a restaurant, ordered some seasonal dishes, and savored them alone. At this moment, two Taoist priests with high buns and grey robes entered through the gate. Each carried a long, mottled sword with pine-patterned markings on their shoulder, its purplish-red tassels swaying gently.

Xie Yunyue, seeing their refined demeanor, knew they were disciples of Wudang and had come with purpose, so he paid them close attention. The two priests sat down next to Xie Yunyue, ordered some vegetarian dishes and a pot of yellow wine. After a short while, the tall, thin priest with a sallow complexion and a slight beard took a sip of wine, frowned, and sighed deeply, saying, "Brother, we returned from Changbai Mountain. Several days later, we heard that my nephew Wuzhen had also gone to the pass to gather ginseng and was returning to the mountain. He told us that when he had nowhere to stay outside the front gate of Yanjing, he overheard three people talking in the next room—two men and one woman. One of them claimed to be Qiankun Hand Thunder Xiaotian." Xie Yunyue was startled and his gaze involuntarily fell on the two priests.

The two priests seemed to notice him and turned to look at each other, their eyes meeting. Xie Yunyue, realizing he was behaving somewhat strangely, nodded and smiled slightly, then shifted his gaze to the bustling crowd outside the door. The two Taoists, seeing he was a handsome scholar, not a martial arts figure, paid him little attention. The yellow-bearded Taoist continued, "Wuzhen overheard them saying they came from Changbai Mountain to retrieve someone from our mountain. We have indeed seen these two children before and subdued them by striking their pressure points. Unexpectedly, they were rescued silently. I, your foolish brother, intended to break into Huanbi Manor to inquire about my elder brother's whereabouts and explain the matter of the two children. However, unexpectedly, the sect leader's sworn enemy from twenty years ago, Xiaoyao Ke, appeared to deliver a message..." " I had no choice but to send them back to our mountain to inform the sect leader. A misunderstanding has arisen, and we've brought a powerful enemy upon us. How can I not feel guilty?"

Another Taoist comforted him, "It's too late for regrets now. Better late than never. If we can explain the truth, they probably won't persist in their ways."

The sallow-faced Taoist sighed softly, "These past few days, I've been restless, feeling as if disaster is imminent. The sect leader is greatly troubled by the matter of the carefree traveler, so I ordered Master Wuzhen and several others to rush to the scene to investigate. Upon learning..." Upon discovering Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian's whereabouts, they immediately went to meet him. Knowing that Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian was a notoriously difficult figure in the martial world, they feared the misunderstanding would be hard to clear up.

Another Taoist sneered, "If they don't clarify the facts and act recklessly, the Three Heavens Sect will become their blood-splattered corpses."

Xie Yunyue frowned upon hearing this, and suddenly a young Taoist entered from outside, his movements swift and agile. He bowed to the two Taoists and said, "By order of the Sect Leader, my uncles and the others are ordered to return to the mountain immediately."

The yellow-faced, slightly bearded Taoist seemed taken aback . He asked, "Why is this?"

The young Taoist replied, "The Carefree Traveler has landed in Yunyang County and has invited three long-dormant demons. They will arrive at the residence of the Qiongguan Sect Leader on Tianzhu Peak tomorrow night, so I ordered my uncle and others to return." The two Taoists' expressions changed slightly. They dropped a silver ingot, flicked their sleeves, and left.

Xie Yunyue pondered alone, thinking, "Judging from that Taoist's words, he must be the Jingming Zhenren, one of the Three Heroes of Wudang. Since Le Yang and Pin'er were not abducted by them, who rescued them?" After a while, he suddenly seemed to realize something and thought to himself, "It must have been the Carefree Traveler who rescued them. I should also go to Tianzhu Peak tomorrow night and ask the Carefree Traveler if he was the one who rescued them." He intended to rise from his seat, clear the bill, and leave. However, he walked too quickly and accidentally kicked the toe of a burly man in black who was rushing towards him.

A pig-like scream rang out, and the man staggered back two steps, clutching his left foot, his mouth twisted in a grimace, his eyes glaring fiercely at Xie Yunyue. Just as Xie Yunyue was about to apologize, he saw five more men approaching from behind the burly man. One was a young man in fine clothes with a slick, oily face and thin frame; another was an old man in plain clothes, looking distressed with tears welling in his eyes; the remaining three were dressed as thugs in tight-fitting outfits. A man held a long blue cloth bag, which looked like a weapon.

The old man in the cloth clothes looked very familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where. The words of apology were swallowed back down, and he couldn't help but look the old man over carefully. The old man also seemed to recognize Xie Yunyue, and his worried and anxious face suddenly turned into a look of surprise. The pain in the burly man's foot had stopped, and he suddenly burst out with a thunderous shout: "Hey, you blind brat, you stepped on my foot, quickly kneel down and kowtow twice, and if I'm willing, I'll just wave my hand and it'll be over, otherwise, I'll show no mercy with my fists."

Xie Yunyue couldn't help but turn his face and sneer: "It's because you're blind, you stumbled upon me like a ghost, but who can you blame?" The burly man was so angry that he yelled and threw a punch at Xie Yunyue's face.

Xie Yunyue snorted coldly, sliding to the left and dodging the punch with the agility of a shadow. The burly man's punch was fierce and swift, but he missed, unable to stop his momentum, and stumbled back two steps before crashing to the ground, drawing snickers from passersby. The young man in brocade robes looked surprised, his shoulders swaying as he silently landed in front of Xie Yunyue, smiling slightly. "So you are a martial arts master, but daring to show off in front of me, Young Master Yu Rui, is far too arrogant." His smile revealed an extremely cold and contemptuous intent.
Xie Yunyue raised an eyebrow and laughed loudly, "I am familiar with most of the martial arts masters from this land, but I have never heard of the name of Young Master Yu Rui."

The young man in brocade robes smiled slightly. The wrestling giant had already stood up, his face radiant with a swirling wind. He pointed at Xie Yunyue and shouted, "It's true that you think I'm blind. My young master is the nephew of Lan Xing, the Wudang Sect Leader, and the son of the Prefect of this state. Everyone around here knows him. You didn't even bother to inquire beforehand."

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "So you're the nephew of Lan Xing, the Taoist priest. No wonder you're here acting like a bully. Even Lan Xing wouldn't dare to be rude to me, let alone you." As he spoke, his handsome eyes shot out two piercing beams of cold lightning, staring intently at Young Master Yu Rui's face.

Young Master Yu Rui's expression changed, thinking to himself, "This man is young, yet he speaks with such arrogance. Don't be fooled by him, or you'll lose face." His eyes darted around, and he secretly made his decision. He smiled and said, "So you're a friend of my uncle's. My apologies, my apologies. I was unaware of your presence and have offended you greatly. I would like to invite you to stay at my humble abode. I will have someone inform my family immediately, what do you think?"

Xie Yunyue knew he was suspicious and would investigate the truth before taking action. To avoid conflict, he used a false threat. Since he was going to continue the pretense, he hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "No need. I just came down from Tianzhu Peak and have other matters to attend to. We'll meet again when I return."

No sooner had he spoken than a man with a hooked nose and pointed beak beside Young Master Yu Rui shouted, "Young Master, don't be fooled! How could someone who has just come down from Tianzhu Peak not even know your name? We'll find out the truth when we take him back to the yamen and torture him!" Xie Yunyue was furious. He swung his hand, and the hooked-nosed man howled as he was sent flying four or five zhang away.

Young Master Yu Rui's expression changed drastically. He sneered, "Even when beating a dog, one must consider its owner. You are my uncle's friend, yet you are so arrogant. I, this young master, will have to learn from you." As he spoke, he gestured outwards.

A subordinate immediately presented him with a long blue cloth bag, which Young Master Yu Rui took with a cold laugh. Xie Yunyue's expression was as cold as water. Young Master Yu Rui's subordinate quickly retreated three zhang away, while passersby watched from a distance. The moon had risen, casting a hazy glow. Xie Yunyue stood motionless in the chilly spring night, hands clasped behind his back. Young Master Yu Rui slowly removed the long blue cloth pouch, revealing an ancient-looking sword. Three fingers were already pressed against the hilt's spring.

A look of surprise flashed in Xie Yunyue's eyes. He darted forward, his five fingers flashing with lightning speed. Just as Young Master Yu Rui's fingers were about to catch the spring, everything went black. A gust of wind rushed towards him, and his right wrist felt as if struck by a thousand heavy hammers. The sword was instantly snatched from his hand, and his left wrist was caught by a steel hook.

Xie Yunyue's speed was unparalleled in the martial world, and his "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Techniques of Xuanyuan" were unmatched. How much of a threat could Young Master Yu Rui possibly pose? He felt a piercing pain that seemed to penetrate to the bone, and his soul trembled with fear. Xie Yunyue examined the sword briefly and asked in a deep voice, "From whom did you obtain this sword?"

Yu Rui, having been meticulously trained by the Blue Star Feathered Swordsman of the Wudang Sect, possessed martial arts skills comparable to those of top martial arts masters. However, he had encountered five notorious figures in the martial world, and now his jade-like face was flushed purple with pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He trembled as he replied, "This sword was stolen from a young lady."

"Where did you steal it?"

"In a shop in Jingshan Gorge Town."

"Where is the young lady now?"

"I don't know. This sword was stolen by my subordinate

, Sai Shiqian." After asking, Xie Yunyue glanced around and saw that Yu Rui's subordinate had already fled, leaving only the old man in plain clothes standing in the corner, his face filled with extreme joy. He glanced at Yu Rui again, then suddenly released his grip, and with a few quick flicks of his fingers, Yu Rui collapsed to the ground, his face contorted in agony. At this moment, the old man in plain clothes who had been standing in the corner rushed over, knelt down, and said, "Benefactor, do you remember Zhang Tianbao, the old man from Xuzhou?" Xie Yunyue couldn't help but recall how he had acted righteously on the road in Xuzhou, rescuing an old man and a woman on horseback in Lincheng. He reached out to help them up.

Zhang Tianbao said anxiously, "Benefactor, you've caused a great disaster! It's not too late to leave now, or it will be too late."

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "No rush. Why are you with them?" As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of hooves came rushing in. Looking up, he

saw a cloud of dust rising in the hazy moonlight. Dozens of riders were galloping towards them like lightning. Before they even got close, six riders suddenly leaped out and landed in front of him, as swift as a bowstring. Xie Yunyue sneered, reached out and grabbed Yu Rui Gongzi, pulling him under his arm. The six men dismounted and, seeing this, were immediately stunned, exchanging bewildered glances. At this moment, the herd of horses had approached and suddenly stopped. The lead rider, with a long beard and dressed as an official, sat down.

Xie Yunju knew it was the local prefect, so he said loudly, "Is the one who came the prefect of this prefecture?"

The official glanced anxiously at the young master Yu Rui, whom Xie Yunyue was holding hostage, his heart breaking. His face immediately darkened, and he shouted, "You audacious criminal! You have come to see me and do not kowtow and beg for forgiveness! You are truly lawless!"

Xie Yunyue laughed heartily and said, "I do not know what crime I have committed. May I ask you, sir, to tell me?"

The official said in a deep voice, "You have injured my beloved son. How can you be innocent?"

Xie Yunyue smiled and said, "Even a prince is subject to the law. How does sir know that your son has been running rampant and lawless outside? I am disciplining him for you. How can this be considered a crime?"

The prefect was immediately stunned upon hearing this, feeling extremely embarrassed. He turned around abruptly and shouted, "Seize him now!" The constables who had come with the martial arts figures only shouted once, but no one moved.

Xie Yunyue knew they were hesitant to act rashly, so he sneered, shook the young master Yu Rui who was tucked between his arms, and said, "If you are not afraid of the young master's death, you may come forward without hesitation."

The prefect's face turned blank, but he still said in a deep voice, "Whatever your matter is, explain it to me, but I will not accept any extortion."

Suddenly, Zhang Tianbao rushed to the prefect, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "This humble citizen, Zhang Tianbao, has been wronged and pleads for justice. Please, Your Honor, grant me your judgment."

The prefect was caught off guard by Zhang Tianbao's sudden appearance and was momentarily at a loss for words. He hurriedly said, "Speak quickly."

Zhang Tianbao kowtowed and said, " This humble citizen..." Zhang Tianbao and his granddaughter ran a pastry shop on West Gate Street. A wealthy young man took a liking to the granddaughter's beauty and forced Zhang Tianbao to come to this village to sign a contract, intending to offer the young woman as a concubine. If it weren't for this chivalrous man's intervention, Zhang Tianbao would have had no way to seek justice.

The prefect was even more embarrassed, feigning surprise, and said, "Why don't you go to the prefectural office to appeal? Of course, I know nothing about this."

Zhang Tianbao kowtowed and said, "I am not free; how could I go to the prefectural office?"

Xie Yunyue sneered, "What a righteous official!" The prefect blushed and remained silent for a long time.

A burly man in tight-fitting clothes suddenly spoke up beside the prefect: "My lord, do not listen to this old man's nonsense! My young master is upright and law-abiding; how could he commit such an outrageous act? This old man is clearly one of his accomplices, spouting lies to tarnish your reputation!" With that, he leaped down from his horse, his blade flashing, and swiftly slashed down at Zhang Tianbao's neck.

A figure flashed forward, and a shrill, piercing shriek escaped the burly man's throat as his body flew more than ten feet away like an arrow.

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