Cold Fragrance Valley [Complete] - 2

Chapter Two: The Revenge for the Killing of His Master

Late that night, the temperature was bitterly cold. Lying on the stone bed, Lan Tianpeng was overcome with turmoil, unable to sleep. He thought of his father's death, the brutal murder of his family, and the two traitors, Du Shi, still at large. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling as if a thorn was in his side. Suddenly, he threw off the covers, got up, and strode outside. Looking up at the sky, the night was high and vast, the moonlight like a ribbon, the mountain wind chilling

him to the bone. Distant mountains and nearby peaks, as well as several large waterfalls cascading down like ribbons, were all visible. Lan Tianpeng turned and counted the increasingly deep finger marks on the wall—two hundred and seventy-three in total, more than nine months ago. Ding Mengmei and her mother had gone down the mountain a few days ago to run errands, and he didn't know how long it would take for them to return. The only strange thing was that, until now, Lan Tianpeng hadn't seen Ding Mengmei's mother even once. Thinking of how the middle-aged man in yellow, Ding Shangxian, was still rigorously urging him to practice martial arts diligently, never mentioning going down the mountain to find the "Silver-Clad Swordsman," he truly didn't know when he would be able to kill the two traitors to comfort his father's spirit.

Overwhelmed with grief and indignation, he gritted his teeth, his heart churning. Suddenly, he roared and slammed his palms against the wall. With a loud crash, the stone wall collapsed into the house, followed by a series of loud clatters as the wooden roof collapsed as well. Lan Tianpeng, far from being moved, instead displayed a fierce expression, his face filled with malevolence, his sword-like eyebrows bristling. He unleashed a flurry of palm strikes, furiously hacking at the collapsing roof. Instantly, solid rocks scattered, blue smoke swirled in the air, the booming sounds continued, and fragments of wood flew everywhere.

The middle-aged man in yellow, who rushed out of the house to investigate, not only didn't angrily stop him, but instead shook his disheveled beard, a smug smile spreading across his face, swaying his unkempt hair with obvious satisfaction. He was very pleased with his disciple's skill. Just as Lan Tianpeng was in a frenzy, striking the stone house with palm after palm, seemingly intent on smashing it to pieces and reducing the wooden roof to splinters, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out from the other side of the ridge-like wooden wall. This sudden whistle startled the middle-aged man in yellow robes who was watching from the front of the house, his expression changing drastically. Lan Tianpeng, who was frantically striking

at the collapsing wall, also stopped. At the same moment Lan Tianpeng ceased his attacks, a piercing, ear-piercing whistle echoed from the eastern peak, soaring into the night sky. The whistle grew closer, its direction clearly moving towards the other side of the wooden wall. Lan Tianpeng, already frustrated and burning with rage, now had the perfect opportunity to unleash his fury and vent his pent-up anger. However, just as the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly heard the middle-aged man in yellow standing in front of the house exclaim urgently, "Lan Tianpeng, look! Your sworn uncle is here!"

Lan Tianpeng was looking towards the direction of Li Xiao, who was gradually approaching from the east peak. Hearing the voice, he turned around and saw the middle-aged man in yellow pointing to the west cliff. Following the direction, he saw a middle-aged man with a weasel-like face, a hooked nose,

and a thin face, dressed in black, rushing towards the west cliff. The actual man was even more repulsive than the portrait on the wall. As the middle-aged man in black sped along, his small, piercing eyes occasionally glanced in surprise at the angry Lan Tianpeng and the collapsed wall. Upon reaching them, he immediately greeted the middle-aged man in yellow and whispered nervously, "Master Ding, please come inside to talk." Without waiting for a reply, he pulled the astonished middle-aged man in yellow into the house.

Seeing the black-clad middle-aged man's furtive movements, Lan Tianpeng wished he could fly over and smash his brains to pieces. Before he could finish his thought, the yellow-clad middle-aged man, his expression grim, leaped out of the house, almost landing in front of Lan Tianpeng. Pointing at the wooden stake wall, he shouted excitedly, "Go! Kill everyone over there! Don't let a single person leave Tianchi alive!"

Lan Tianpeng's anger was still burning, his killing intent blazing, and his surging inner strength had nowhere to vent. Just as the yellow-clad middle-aged man pointed at the wooden stake wall, Lan Tianpeng, like a tiger released from its cage, pounced towards the wall with lightning speed. With movements as fast as lightning, Lan Tianpeng quickly leaped over the wall like a flying tiger, his figure soaring through the air, directly towards the other side.

Lan Tianpeng was filled with murderous intent and burning rage. At this moment, he wished he could vent all the resentment and hatred that had been building up in his chest, releasing all the pent-up anger in his heart. Even as he was still in the air, the first thing that caught his eye was the sight of several torches flickering in front of the stone house in the bamboo grove, clearly indicating there was more than one person. Just as he landed in the vegetable garden and leaped forward, three swift figures, accompanied by that long howl, arrived in front of the stone house.

Upon seeing this, Lan Tianpeng's lips curled into a cold smile, his killing intent rising, but he still sped towards the stone house with the speed of an arrow released from a bow—in that instant, he had already seen the three figures clearly: three old Taoist priests dressed in gray robes, each with a long sword behind them, except for the one in front who held a whisk, the hilt of which had a silver-gray silk tassel.

The old Taoist priest holding the whisk was about fifty years old, with a long gray beard, thick eyebrows, and slanted eyes, a silver hairpin inserted horizontally into his high-tied Taoist bridle. The other two, both around thirty years old, stood behind the old Taoist with the silver hairpin, allowing Lan Tianpeng to notice the black, gleaming hairpins on their robes, the metal of which was unknown. Their sword hilts also bore black silk tassels, clearly indicating they were one or two generations lower in seniority than the old Taoist with the silver hairpin. The

group near the stone house varied in height and age, except for the burly man carrying five pine torches at the back, all dressed in dark blue tight-fitting clothes. The elderly man in the gray satin tight-fitting clothes at the front, around sixty years old, was short but vigorous, with a long goatee, clearly the leader. Behind the elderly man were two men, one fat and one thin, both dressed in knee-length black shirts. The latter was tall and thin, with a pointed face and piercing eyes, long hair, and carried a golden mace. A short, stout man with a watermelon-shaped haircut, a pale face, small eyes, and thick lips, wielding a large iron pestle and sporting a protruding belly; one could tell at a glance he was a burly figure with astonishing strength.

Lan Tianpeng only glanced at him briefly before getting a general idea. In a flash, he saw the short old man staring at the old Taoist priest, laughing heartily and saying, "Master Songyun, your sect has recently acquired a peerless secret manual left behind by the venerable 'Guangchengzi.' What, are you still not satisfied and intend to interfere and seize our 'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record'?"

Before he finished speaking, the old Taoist priest, referred to as Master Songyun, also laughed heartily and said, "'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record' is a supreme Buddhist scripture; what does it have to do with your sect? Master Xie, are you not afraid of being ridiculed by this humble Taoist priest for such a statement?" "Haha..."

Upon hearing "The Vajra Subduing Demon Manual," Lan Tianpeng's heart stirred. He remembered his father speaking of this Buddhist divine skill manual, which had once caused a catastrophe in the martial arts world, back in Lengxiang Valley of Motian Ridge. He wanted to stop and hear more, but his incredibly fast movements had already reached the edge of the bamboo forest. At the same time, the old Taoist Songyun and the Hall Master Xie were turning to look at him in astonishment. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng had no choice but to rush to the lawn in front of the house, his figure arriving at lightning speed, his sleeves suddenly fluttering backward, abruptly stopping his momentum.

The old Taoist Songyun and the Hall Master Xie, among others, all changed their expressions upon seeing this, especially upon seeing Lan Tianpeng—handsome and tall, with a fierce look on his face, only seventeen or eighteen years old, yet possessing such astonishing lightness skills. Who could believe it without seeing it with their own eyes? Lan Tianpeng found the two men behind Xie Tangzhu particularly displeasing. Therefore, he first looked at Xie Tangzhu, raising an eyebrow and asking in a deep voice without any politeness, "Where are you from?" The

gray-robed old man, Xie Tangzhu, was a well-known figure of the time, always arrogant and rarely subservient. How could he possibly tolerate being questioned in such a lowly manner by an unknown youth? However, he was a seasoned veteran of the martial world, quick-witted and adaptable, especially given his important mission and the presence of the seemingly unreliable Songyun Daoist. Weighing his options, he quickly suppressed his anger and replied proudly, "I am Xie Changchun, the branch leader of the Changsha branch of the 'Dragon and Phoenix Society,' overseeing forty-nine branches in Hunan. I have been flattered by my friends in the martial world, who have bestowed upon me the bandit title 'Flying Fork Three Geese.'" Upon hearing "Dragon and Phoenix Society, "

Lan Renpeng was initially startled. Then, upon hearing "Three Flying Geese," his heart trembled again. The Dragon and Phoenix Society was currently the most powerful gang in the martial arts world, feared by all the major sects. This "Three Flying Geese" was originally a formidable figure renowned throughout Hunan, known for his ability to bring down three geese with a single throw of his fork, hence the nickname.

However, Lan Renpeng was filled with rage, and thus particularly angered by Xie Changchun's arrogant reply. Therefore, before "Three Flying Geese" could finish speaking, he coldly smiled and said, "Are you the subordinate of that female leader who shocked the entire nation, who always covered her head and face with an enormous golden cloak, never daring to show her true face?"

"Flying Fork Three Geese" nodded slightly, but before he could speak, the short, stout man wielding a pestle, his face already contorted with rage, suddenly shouted, "What are you, daring to disrespect my Dragon Head?" The word "head" was barely out of his mouth when he leaped forward, his large iron pestle swung down in a "Mount Tai Pressing Down" strike towards Lan Tianpeng. "Flying Fork Three Geese," startled, blurted out angrily, "Back off!"

But Lan Tianpeng, with his sharp, pointed eyebrows, deftly shifted his upper body, sliding forward skillfully, and appeared behind the short, stout man wielding the pestle. At the same time, he said in a deep voice, "What are you, daring to speak?" As he spoke, he swiftly threw a punch, a "Reverse Strike of the Golden Bell," striking the back of the man's head.

The short, stout man wielding the pestle, confident in his tough skin and thick flesh, remained unfazed despite missing his target. He let out another strange howl, attempting to turn around—but the very moment his howl left his lips, a loud "thud" resounded as he was struck in the back of the chest. His round, barrel-like body, carrying his cry, rolled several feet away.

At the same instant the short, stout man was struck, the tall, thin man shouted, "Youngsters must not harm others!" With that shout, a golden mace in his hand whistled as it struck Lan Tianpeng's ear. Lan Tianpeng, already prepared, seized the momentum of his right arm's strike, twisting his upper body sharply. His left hand had already grasped the flying rope, and he forcefully pulled the golden mace with all his might. The tall, thin man, in his eagerness to save Lan Tianpeng, had used too much force. Caught off guard by Lan Tianpeng's powerful pull, he couldn't stop in time, cried out "Oh no!" and involuntarily lunged towards Lan Tianpeng.

Without even glancing, Lan Tianpeng spun around, launched a flying kick, and shouted, "Go!" With a resounding "thud," the kick landed squarely, sending a slender figure hurtling past the heads of "Flying Fork Three Geese" and the others, flying several feet away. "Flying Fork Three Geese," confident in their seniority and valuing their reputation, didn't want to be outnumbered in front of Songyun Daoist, so they hadn't attacked at the same time as the slender man. Unexpectedly, the silver-clad youth had managed to take down two of his men with a mere flick of his wrist. Enraged, he glared and roared, "So young, yet so ruthless! I will not let you live!" As he spoke, he lunged forward, his right palm still swinging in the air, unleashing a "Splitting Mount Hua" strike, accompanied by a whistling sound, aimed at Lan Tianpeng's head.

Although Lan Tianpeng's killing intent had already been aroused, he still wanted to ask "Flying Fork Three Geese" about the "Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record." Therefore, upon seeing the opponent's right palm strike, he swiftly wrapped his own right palm around it, seizing the opponent's right hand! "Flying Fork Three Geese" had already seen Lan Tianpeng's right palm wrap around it in mid-air, and he hurriedly changed his strike to a grab, but he couldn't break free and remained firmly held by Lan Tianpeng! He was greatly alarmed, realizing the situation was dire. He shouted, about to kick, when he heard Lan Tianpeng shout, "Fall down!" The word "fall down" was uttered, and indeed, he lost control, tumbling several times in mid-air before crashing to the ground with a thud.

"Flying Fork Three Geese," who had rarely encountered a worthy opponent in decades and had never suffered a defeat, landed with a sudden surge of killing intent. With a flick of his wrists, he unleashed four forks simultaneously. The attack was sudden and the distance was short; only four cold, red streaks, as fast as lightning, flashed by. Lan Tianpeng had long heard his father speak of the formidable power of the "Flying Fork Three Geese," and thus was prepared. Upon seeing the opponent's flying fork, he swiftly executed the "Wind-Swaying Willow," a signature move passed down by the middle-aged man in yellow. Using his heels as a pivot, he swayed backward with lightning speed, the flying fork narrowly missing him. In a moment of extreme danger, he managed to grab the red silk ribbon at the fork's tail as it flew past.

Then, gathering his inner energy, he twisted his feet and spun away, his forks poised to strike the stunned "Flying Fork Three Geese" lying on the ground. Suddenly, he saw the three Taoist priests, Song Yun and his companions, already several feet away. He shouted, "Trying to escape with your lives?" With a roar, he flicked his wrists, and two flying forks, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, flew with the force of a rainbow. In a flash, they were behind the two young Taoist priests, and simultaneously, he leaped after Song Yun.

At the same moment, the two young Taoist priests lunged out, letting out a piercing scream, staggering several steps before collapsing one after another. At the same moment the two fell, Lan Tianpeng had already passed over Songyun Laodao's head and blocked his way. Upon seeing this, Songyun Laodao was terrified. He let out a fierce shout and swung his horsetail whisk wildly. Although it was a haphazard move, it possessed considerable force, sweeping directly towards Lan Tianpeng. Lan Tianpeng's killing intent was already rising. He dodged the sweeping whisk and slashed out with his right palm. Just then, a panicked and angry shout suddenly came from the direction of the wooden wall: "Lan Tianpeng, stop! It's one of our own!"

Lan Tianpeng was startled, but it was too late to retract his palm. In his panic, he could only change his strike to a press, hastily dissipating his true force. Even so, with a "thud," Songyun Laodao staggered back several steps with a groan, landing heavily on his backside. Songyun Laodao's face was ashen, cold sweat pouring down his face. He clutched his chest violently with both hands. With a "whoosh," he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Lan Tianpeng turned his head and saw that the person who had come was the same shifty-looking fellow in black who had just spoken with his master inside. Disgusted, as soon as the shifty-looking man arrived, he immediately asked in a deep voice, "Who sent you to stop me?"

Unexpectedly, the man in black didn't stop, gave Lan Tianpeng a venomous look, and then hurriedly squatted down beside the slightly panting, sweat-drenched old Taoist Songyun, saying hastily, "Master, don't panic. Use your internal energy to stabilize your fluctuating qi and blood. Damn it, I'm a step too late." As he spoke, he quickly took out a small porcelain bottle from his robes, poured out a pill, and put it into Songyun's mouth.

Seeing that the middle-aged man in black was only taking care of Song Yun and ignoring his question, Lan Tianpeng felt increasingly angry. He suddenly stepped forward, raised his eyebrows, and asked angrily, "Did you hear what I asked you?"

The shifty-looking man in black was startled and suddenly took several steps back, also gathering his strength to say angrily, "Lan Tianpeng, how dare you speak to me so rudely? You should know that I, 'Black Hand Sanlang,' am your master's sworn brother and your great benefactor who saved his life."

Upon hearing "Black Hand Sanlang's" name, Lan Tianpeng felt even more disgusted and retorted angrily, "You are my master's savior, what does this have to do with me?" The

shifty-faced "Black Hand Sanlang" was taken aback and speechless. He could only point to the old Taoist priest Songyun, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his eyes closed, and asked in a deep voice, "Do you know who this Taoist priest is?"

Lan Tianpeng, still burning with murderous intent after killing several people, said, "I only know that anyone who enters this area, no matter who they are, will be killed one by one with a single palm strike, leaving no one alive..."

"Black Hand Sanlang" was secretly alarmed, his expression changing drastically, but he still feigned anger and explained, "Your master ordered you to kill people from the 'Dragon and Phoenix Society,' not disciples of the 'Kongtong Sect'..."

Upon hearing "Kongtong Sect," Lan Tianpeng immediately flew into a rage and said sharply, "Shut up! My master often says that the Kongtong Sect is secretly expanding its power and deliberately creating trouble. Its disciples are of mixed quality and many commit unjust acts. Does my master specifically want me to let the disciples of the Kongtong Sect go? Heh heh, you spoke up just now to stop this old Taoist. If you don't reveal whose intentions it was, don't blame me for being ruthless and killing you here too."

Hearing this, "Black Hand Sanlang" trembled all over. He hurriedly pointed towards the wooden wall and said in a panicked voice, "Of course it's your master! Go ask him if you don't believe me!"

Lan Tianpeng was still just a child. Seeing his confident tone, he immediately smiled coldly and said, "Of course I'll go ask, but don't even think about escaping." As soon as he uttered the word, he took off, as fast as a startled swan, and rushed towards the wooden wall.

As he took off, he had already glanced around. On the lawn in front of the stone house, "Flying Fork Three Goose" and the others had long since disappeared without a trace. Several fire trees, quietly stuck in the cracks of the rocks, were still burning brightly. So, he leaped up to the wooden wall, suddenly stopped, and looked back to find "Black Hand Sanlang" still standing beside Old Taoist Songyun. Seeing that "Black Hand Sanlang" was still there, Lan Tianpeng was somewhat convinced, but he still dared not risk crossing the wall and heading towards the stone house. So, he stood on the wall, looking at the stone house, and called out loudly, "Master..."

The call had barely left his lips when he suddenly noticed that "Black Hand Sanlang" looked somewhat uneasy. A thought struck him, and just as he was about to call out again, a hoarse voice suddenly came from the direction of the stone house, dozens of feet away: "Tian... Peng... Tian... Peng, come quickly..."

Lan Tianpeng was startled and greatly alarmed. He could no longer keep an eye on "Black Hand Sanlang," and unleashed his lightness skill, soaring through the air towards the central stone house! Driven by his urgency, he desperately wanted to step inside, so he exerted all his strength, leaping forward and entering the stone house in just a few bounds. Upon entering, he saw only chaos: the prayer mat was torn to shreds, and the books were ripped to shreds. The middle-aged man in yellow was not there. Lan Tianpeng was utterly shocked. He leaped back out of the stone house, calling out "Master" again. As soon as he finished speaking, a hoarse voice from behind the house replied, "Tian...peng...I'm...down the cliff..."

Lan Tianpeng was startled again, rushing to the back of the house and looking down from the cliff. He saw billowing clouds, a chilling aura, and the deep rumble of water. Because the moon was already setting and the cliff face was dark, he couldn't see where the middle-aged man in yellow was. So, he called out again urgently, "Master, Master, where are you?"

After a moment, he heard a hoarse voice panting from below the cliff, "I'm right at your feet..."

Lan Tianpeng looked down, following the sound, and after a long time, he saw a middle-aged man in yellow robes, about seven or eight zhang below, near the edge of the clouds, dangling in mid-air, clinging to the top of a small tree. The tree's roots were only connected to the bottom of the cliff by a single main root. If he moved even slightly, the middle-aged man in yellow robes would surely fall into the abyss. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng was utterly stunned. He quickly composed himself and immediately warned, "Master, please don't speak or move. I've seen your location. I'll find two long vines, tie them together, and hoist you up..."

Before he could finish speaking, the middle-aged man in yellow robes, hanging halfway up the cliff, gasped in despair, "No need... there's no hope... I called you not to save me... but to tell you about my tragic ordeal..." As soon as the word "done" left his mouth, the tree root connected to the rock suddenly snapped, and the middle-aged man in yellow robes' body plummeted downwards. Upon seeing this, Lan Tianpeng was terrified and blurted out, "Master..."

But the middle-aged man in yellow robes, who had suddenly disappeared into the clouds, uttered a hoarse cry: "To the rooftop..." The three words resounded like a great bell, their echo lingering in the night sky above the ravine.

Lan Tianpeng's heart ached, and he wept uncontrollably, kneeling down helplessly. He never imagined that this master, who had always refused to reveal his true identity, though stern and irritable, would be so dedicated and meticulous in teaching him martial arts, which was why he had achieved what he had today. In particular, he had risked his life to steal the "Snow Ginseng Ice Fruit Nectar" from the "Divine Nun," not consuming a single drop himself, but mixing it with ginseng for Lan Tianpeng to drink. He also fed him goat milk and meat broth twice a day, and massaged his blood and tendons at least once a day. What gave him such patience and perseverance? Of course, it was the burning rage of revenge.

The thought of revenge immediately brought to mind "Black Hand Sanlang." His master's death was undoubtedly the work of that scoundrel. With his mind made up, he rose from the cliff edge and leaped to the front of the house. Just as he was about to leap forward, he suddenly saw flames blazing on the other side of the wooden stake wall. Lan Tianpeng was startled, immediately thinking of the stone house in the bamboo forest; it must have been burned down. In a flash, he flew to the wooden stake wall. Reaching it, he climbed onto the stake and saw that, indeed, flames were leaping from the wooden roof of the stone house. Lan Tianpeng looked again at the spot where "Black Hand Sanlang" and the old Taoist Songyun had stood, but there was no sign of them. He concluded they had already vanished.

But who set the fire to the stone house? Could it be the Flying Fork Three Geese of the "Dragon and Phoenix Society"? In a flash, he leaped down, reaching the front of the bamboo forest in two bounds. He surveyed the scene. The torches stuck in the cracks in the rocks were gone, and the bodies of the two men, one fat and one thin, whom Lan Tianpeng had killed, lay on the lawn and in the bamboo grove, one to the south and the other to the north.

Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng immediately understood: the fire was set by "Black Hand Sanlang." Even if "Flying Fork Three Geese" hadn't fled in haste, wouldn't they have set fires without having time to save people? Before he could finish this thought, a painful groan suddenly came from several feet away. Startled, Lan Tianpeng channeled his inner energy and rushed towards the sound! Upon reaching it, he saw one of the young Taoists who had been struck by the flying fork, struggling in his death throes. A thought struck Lan Tianpeng; he immediately knelt down, placed his palm on the young Taoist's "Mingmen" acupoint, and urgently asked, "Which Taoist temple are you from? I can save you."

The young Taoist had lost too much blood; his face was ashen. Only after Lan Tianpeng channeled his inner energy did he begin to breathe heavily, but he was too weak to speak. After reading it, Lan Tianpeng was extremely anxious. He knew this was the best clue to find the whereabouts of "Black Hand Sanlang," so he added another 20% of his true energy to his palm and asked urgently again, "What Taoist temple are you from? I'll take you back."

As he spoke, he bent down and put his ear to the young Taoist's mouth. Sure enough, the young Taoist, in pain, trembled and gasped for breath, saying in an almost inaudible voice, "Old... Dragon... Pool..."

The word "pool" was cut off, and his two bloodless lips trembled twice. Suddenly, he exhaled a long breath, his head tilted to the side, and he died instantly. Lan Tianpeng stood up in frustration, muttering "Old Dragon Pool" to himself. Although he hadn't gotten a clear answer, these three words were at least a clue.

Old Dragon Pool might be a place name or a famous lake or pond. Songyun's Taoist temple was certainly within that area, but in this vast world, where could he find Old Dragon Pool? He pondered for a moment. He didn't know when Ding Mengmei and her daughter would return, and he had no desire to wait any longer. Therefore, he left a letter explaining the situation in a secluded spot—the place he and Ding Mengmei had agreed upon.

He glanced at the peak from which Song Yun and the others had come, and then at the direction where the two Taoist priests lay sprawled. He decided to pursue them eastward. "Black Hand Sanlang," supporting the old Taoist priest Song Yun, couldn't be escaping quickly; they might catch up before even leaving the mountains. With his mind made up, he unleashed his full lightness skill, heading straight east. Lan Tianpeng flew, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, but apart from startled birds and running wild beasts, he couldn't see a single person.

After a while, he reached the halfway point of the mountain. Looking back, the peak where he had lived for eight or nine months was gone, but he saw many more Buddhist temples and monasteries. As he approached the foot of the mountain, dawn broke, and the crowing of roosters from woodcutters' homes and the ringing of bells from mountain temples became as lively as usual at dawn. Lan Tianpeng stopped abruptly, leaning against an ancient pine tree. The village and the paths below were now faintly visible.

However, Lan Tianpeng still didn't know where to find his enemy, the "Silver-Clad Swordsman," whom he shot with his "Nine-Edged Nails with Twin-Toothed Barbs" almost daily, to avenge his master. With this thought in mind, his starry eyes suddenly lit up. He suddenly remembered the three words the middle-aged man in yellow had shouted in a hoarse voice as he fell—"Go to the Heavenly Terrace."

Was "Heavenly Terrace" the name of a mountain? A county? A historical site? Or a highly confidential allusion and meaning? Or the hometown of the "Silver-Clad Swordsman"? Thinking of the "Silver-Clad Swordsman," he immediately thought of "Black Hand Sanlang." Previously, the middle-aged man in yellow only had one vengeful enemy; now he had gained another enemy even more vicious than the "Silver-Clad Swordsman."

He only knew that the middle-aged man in yellow, Ding Shangxian, called "Black Hand Sanlang" his savior, but he didn't know how or how the man in yellow had saved him, because the man in yellow had never mentioned it. Now, the middle-aged man in yellow had died at the hands of "Black Hand Sanlang," clearly indicating that the previous act of saving him was part of a different conspiracy. As for throwing the middle-aged man in yellow off the cliff and then searching through the books, tables, and cushions in the house, it was clear that he was looking for something extremely valuable.

But what was it? Why didn't he look for it when he first saved the middle-aged man in yellow, but now he was demanding it years later? Lan Tianpeng leaned against the tree, his thoughts wandering, and the more he thought about it, the more questions arose. For example, how could Xie, the head of the "Dragon and Phoenix Society," and Songyun, the old Taoist of the Kongtong Sect, be looking for something at the same time? And why was "Black Hand Sanlang" looking for the middle-aged man in yellow at the same time? At this moment, he didn't want to think about those perplexing questions one after another, but he vowed to unravel this series of mysteries. Now, he had only one goal—to find "Old Dragon Pool" and then "ascend to the Heavenly Terrace."

Because he was determined to find "Black Hand Sanlang," he wasn't afraid he wouldn't be able to get answers: why the thief saved his life first and then killed him later, the hatred of the middle-aged man in yellow, and why the "Dragon and Phoenix Society" and the Kongtong Sect both wanted to seize the "Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record"! Lost in thought, he unknowingly reached the foot of the mountain. Since it was just dawn, the official road was still quiet and deserted. Lan Tianpeng continued his eastward journey without stopping.

As dawn broke, they arrived at a small village, where several farmers were carrying their tools as they walked out. Before the farmers could notice, Lan Tianpeng strode forward. Reaching them, he cupped his hands in a smile and politely asked, "Good morning, everyone. May I ask what village or town this is?"

The farmers had already noticed Lan Tianpeng's distinguished attire and extraordinary bearing; though a young man, he possessed an imposing and authoritative presence. They all stopped with smiles, and the eldest among them answered in a gentle voice, "The village is called Zhangjiatun, and most of the residents are from the Zhang family."

Lan Tianpeng then asked, "Is there an Old Dragon Pool around here?" The farmers looked surprised and doubtful, shaking their heads as they continued walking. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng grew anxious and hurriedly asked, "What lies to the east of here?" The farmers were startled

and blurted out in unison, "It's Xiangxi..." The word "Xiangxi" escaped their lips, and they all turned and ran as if they had encountered a plague. Lan Tianpeng was both amused and annoyed. Since he hadn't found out where Laolongtan was, he decided to continue eastward.

Around noon, he arrived at a bustling town. Lan Tianpeng had been traveling all night and hadn't eaten breakfast; his stomach was rumbling with hunger. But the thought of having to beg for food made him realize he was penniless. Looking up at the restaurants on both sides of the street, the clatter of pots and pans and the aroma of wine wafting through the air, and glancing at the inns to his left and right, the waiters were all smiles and bowing as they greeted him. Even the food stalls under the eaves were full of customers ordering food.

Lan Tianpeng could have avoided looking, but seeing all this only intensified his hunger. Thinking of his background—the renowned young master of the valley, a powerful figure in the borderlands, a young master who commanded servants—he had been taught from a young age to live an honest life; how could he possibly eat for free? Recalling his past, he couldn't help but think of the two villains, the Dui family, who had murdered his father and destroyed his family. Thinking of his hasty descent from the mountain, he hated even more the "Black Hand Third Brother" who had plotted against his master.

Consumed by a burning rage and resentment, he temporarily forgot his hunger and resolved to continue his journey. With his mind made up, he resolutely pressed on, striding towards the eastern entrance of the town. Just then, from behind, several angry neighs of horses suddenly came. This was followed by the rapid clatter of hooves and the shouts of alarmed pedestrians. Lan Tianpeng, who was striding forward, instinctively turned around. His already slightly furrowed brows were now even more deeply furrowed.

He saw, a dozen or so feet behind him, five or six gleaming steeds galloping madly towards him, neighing angrily. The riders continued to whip their horses. The rider in front was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, dressed in a green, red, and gold-trimmed gentleman's robe, his hair tied with a purple turban. He had a jade-like face and red lips, thick, slanted eyebrows, but his most striking features were his beady eyes, hooked nose, and thin lips. A long sword hung at his waist, adorned with a red silk tassel. He rode a tall, powerful, and exceptionally spirited red horse.

Behind the young man in the sash-robed robe rode several burly men, all clad in bright clothes and carrying weapons. They were all pompous and arrogant, clearly the young man's servants. The young man in the green robe, his gaze fixed ahead, his thin lips barely moving, ignored the panicked people scrambling for cover in the street, continuing his gallop. Because the other horse was a fine breed and incredibly fast, before he could even finish sizing up the rider, the young man in the green robe was already quite a distance behind.

Inside Lan Tianpeng's stomach, burning with rage and hunger, his temper flaring, he hadn't expected the young man in the green robe to be so arrogant. Instead of dodging, he blocked his path, shouting, "Get down—" With that shout, he swung his palm at the galloping red horse.

The young man in the green robe, seeing everyone scattering except for Lan Tianpeng, who glared angrily, was already secretly furious, determined to strike him with his whip as he passed by. Unexpectedly, just as he raised his whip, secretly gathering his strength to deliver a powerful blow, the silver-clad youth suddenly lunged sideways, shouting and striking with his palm.

The green-clad youth, prepared and exceptionally skilled, upon seeing Lan Tianpeng's palm strike, also shouted and leaped from his saddle. His crimson horse neighed in surprise and reared up, charging to the left. The suddenness of the attack startled the other riders, who quickly reined in their horses, shouting in unison. A cacophony of neighing and hooves erupted, and the burly men in fine clothes fell to the ground.

Lan Tianpeng wasn't surprised by the green-clad youth's leap, but he greatly admired the crimson horse that had dodged his palm strike. As the saying goes, "Southerners love reading and produce talented scholars; Northerners love riding and archery and produce generals." Lan Tianpeng had loved fine horses since childhood and had never seen such a swift and agile steed. Just as he withdrew his right palm and turned to look at his horse, the green-clad youth, still airborne, swooped down. A young man in a green shirt, carrying a riding crop, with thick, bushy eyebrows and an angry expression, pointed his crop at Lan Tianpeng and shouted, "I thought you were just a poor, bookish scholar, but it turns out you're quite the expert!"

Lan Tianpeng, seething with rage, gave a cold laugh and was about to say something when someone nearby shouted, "Wait, wait! This old man is here!"

Lan Tianpeng looked in the direction of the voice and saw an old beggar, carrying a green bamboo dog-beating stick, wearing tattered clothes and a beggar's bag draped diagonally. The old beggar swayed unsteadily, his face flushed, his gray beard and lips glistening with oil, clearly having just eaten and drunk his fill, and now he was there to meddle. Looking around, the eaves on both sides of the street were already packed with onlookers, and the windows of the restaurants were even more crowded, some chewing on food, others gnawing on chicken bones. To the ravenous Lan Tianpeng, this was like adding fuel to the fire. Several burly men in fine clothes who had fallen from their horses scrambled to their feet, their faces covered in dust and gritting their teeth as they limped angrily to retrieve their mounts.

Before they could finish their inspection, the old beggar had already approached, reeking of dirt and alcohol. Because the young man in green was closer, the old beggar, with his slurred, drunken eyes, looked at him and asked in a condescending tone, "Young man, are you the son of Wu Sheng, the old master of 'Evil Tiger Manor' in northern Guizhou, known as 'The Mourning Stick'?"

The young man in green, his face ashen, looked at the old beggar arrogantly and said in a deep voice, "Yes, so what?"

The old beggar smiled drunkenly and asked again, "So, you're the famous 'Little Tyrant' Wu Jinxiong, who's famous throughout Jiangnan?"

Seeing the old beggar's boasting about his business to the young man in green, implying a threat, Lan Tianpeng glared at the old beggar and shouted angrily, "Hey, you old beggar, get out of here!" Before he could finish speaking, the old beggar didn't even glance at him, and casually waved a "stop" gesture.

The young man in green, however, said smugly in a deep voice, "That's right, it's me."

The old beggar squinted his drunken eyes, shrugged, and said, "You're in such a hurry to ride your horse through the street, recklessly. If you're not going to a funeral, you're going to 'Gao Family House' to celebrate the birthday of the old hag 'Golden Dove and Silver Staff.' Am I right, old man?"

The young man in green, "Little Tyrant" Wu Jinxiong, was already gritting his teeth in anger, his face ashen. Even so, he didn't dare to attack the old beggar, clearly having some reservations. As soon as the old beggar finished speaking, he immediately raised his eyebrows and angrily said, "My father did not mistreat your poor gang. When you left, you were treated with lavish food and drink; when you left, you were hauled away in large carts and carts full of grain and silver..."

Before "Little Tyrant" could finish, the old beggar shook his head indifferently and said, "The wine went into their bellies, and the money went into their pockets. It has nothing to do with me, the old beggar."

Upon hearing this, "Little Tyrant" Wu Jinxiong couldn't help but say, "Since you don't belong to the Xiangyungui region, then please state your branch name and seniority so that I, the young master, can have your gang leader judge this."

The old beggar shrugged, raised his clean right hand, pointed to his nose, and tilted his head back. He said, "You're asking about my seniority and seniority? My name is 'Hundred Things Gambler,' I'm the fifth in my family, I don't belong to any branch, and the gang leader calls me uncle." "

Little Tyrant" Wu Jinxiong was taken aback. He knew he had encountered a formidable opponent, but he was used to being arrogant and domineering. How could he swallow this insult in front of so many onlookers? So he composed himself and said angrily, "Your name is 'Peaceful Gambler'? What are you betting on?"

The old beggar smiled, pointed at Lan Tianpeng, and still looked at "Little Tyrant," saying, "Boy, you're carrying a riding whip and looking fierce. You must be here to teach this kid a lesson. I bet you'll lose."

Upon hearing this, "Little Tyrant" was immediately enraged. He couldn't swallow this insult, so he raised his eyebrows and said sharply, "You're being sarcastic and openly insulting me. You claim to be here to mediate, but you're really just here to cause trouble. I'll fight you to the death!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward and lashed out with his riding whip in a "Sweeping Autumn Leaves" move, striking the old beggar's waist with a "whoosh." When the old beggar saw this, he was shocked and hurriedly cried out, "Young Master, don't be angry. I, the old beggar, can't beat you."

Amidst the shouting and leaping, in a flustered frenzy, "Little Tyrant's" whip lashed out, narrowly missing the old beggar's waist by a hair's breadth. The crowd that had packed both streets to watch the spectacle couldn't help but laugh at the old beggar's comical antics. Although Tianpeng was nearing twenty, he was still quite childish, having long forgotten his hunger and frustration. Moreover, he realized the old beggar was deliberately trying to provoke "Little Tyrant," so he also laughed heartily.

"Little Tyrant," having missed his target, was both ashamed and furious. The laughter of the crowd only fueled his rage. His resentment and anger immediately turned towards Lantian Peng. Taking advantage of the missed whip strike, he swiftly turned and shouted, "You caused this trouble, so I'll get you..."

The word "you" was barely out of his mouth before the whip, swung again with a "whoosh," aimed at Lantian Peng. But just as he exerted his strength to pull down, a figure flashed, and his right wrist was seized. A wave of numbness washed over him, and his internal energy vanished instantly. At the same time, the old beggar's voice rang in his ears: "Young Master, don't be in such a hurry! We haven't even made the bet yet, what's the rush?"

"Little Tyrant" loosened his grip, and his whip fell to the ground. Startled, he turned his head and saw that it was indeed the old beggar, grinning and smirking at him. This angered him greatly, and he shouted sharply: "What do you want to bet?"

As he spoke, he swung his right arm violently, sending the old beggar stumbling five or six steps away, nearly collapsing to the ground. But anyone with discerning eyes could see that the old beggar was faking it, a complete feigned retreat to embolden "Little Tyrant" and achieve his goal of making a bet. The old beggar steadied himself, shaking his head in alarm. "Legend has it that 'Little Overlord' can shatter monuments with his bare hands and subdue tigers with his strength. Today, I've experienced it firsthand, and it's certainly true..."

"Little Overlord," having already suffered at the hands of the old beggar, knew he wasn't being honest. Therefore, before the old beggar could finish, he gritted his teeth and snapped, "Just say what you want to bet! Young Master is in a hurry and doesn't have time to 'play games' with you."

The old beggar remained composed, laughing drunkenly, "If you're beaten down by that brat, I'll take your Rouge Horse." He pointed first to Lan Tianpeng, then to the Rouge Horse held by a well-dressed, burly man.

Upon hearing "beaten down by that brat," "Little Overlord" nearly exploded with rage, but he also felt a pang of sympathy. He glared at the old beggar and said sharply, "My 'Blood Date Red' is a rare, exceptional steed, a priceless dragon horse. What can you, a poor beggar, offer in return? Your head?" "

As soon as he finished speaking, the onlookers on both streets burst into laughter again. However, this time Lan Tianpeng did not laugh, because he felt that the old beggar should not take the opportunity to snatch someone's beloved horse. The old beggar ignored Lan Tianpeng's displeasure and continued to shake his head, drunkenly saying, "No, no, even if you sold all my old bones, let alone my head, I wouldn't get ten thousand gold..." As he spoke, he raised the green bamboo dog-beating stick in his hand, pointed it at Lan Tianpeng's right arm, and pretended to be full of greed, chuckling as he said, "Heh, do you see that?" "I bet on that..."

Lan Tianpeng looked down and was startled. He then noticed two blood-red, dragon-eye-sized, slightly dimly glowing pearls adorning his sash. According to his father, these were the Lan family's heirlooms. Shocked, he flew into a rage, glaring at the old beggar and shouting, "You old beggar, this is utterly unreasonable! How can you be so generous with other people's money..."

Before he could finish, the old beggar continued, looking at "Little Tyrant," and said, "Boy, do you see that? That's the priceless 'Fire Dragon Pearl.' Not only can it protect against fire and water, but it can also ward off poison and evil spirits. You couldn't trade one of those for even ten or a hundred of your fine horses, let alone one of them." Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng grew even angrier, thinking, "So this old beggar actually knows his stuff. "

Before he could finish his thought, "Little Tyrant," whose eyes were already bloodshot with rage, asked sharply, "What if you, young master

, kill him with one palm strike?" The old beggar replied without hesitation, "Even better, I won't ask you to pay with your life. You just need to give me those two 'Fire Dragon Pearls.' However, I'm betting that you'll be down the ground the moment we make a move..."

Little Tyrant Wu Jinxiong wouldn't listen to a word and roared, "I'll smash his brains to pieces for you to see!" As soon as he uttered those words, he turned around abruptly, unleashing a powerful "Mount Hua Chopping" palm strike at Lan Tianpeng.

Based on the old beggar's words, Lan Tianpeng knew that Little Tyrant's palm strike was not weak; otherwise, he wouldn't have earned that nickname. However, he was also furious with the old beggar. Just then, "Little Tyrant" looked livid, gritting his teeth, and viciously raised his palm to strike down, intending to smash his brains open to vent his anger. Before he could finish his thought, the opponent's right palm had already struck, and the move was already finished! Seeing Lan Tianpeng unmoved, "Little Tyrant" was overjoyed, let out a loud shout, and struck down with all his might. Old Beggar was horrified and blurted out, "Don't be careless!"

Before his words had even finished, a blur appeared before his eyes, and he saw Lan Tianpeng skillfully spin, his right palm circling in mid-air. "Little Tyrant" cried out in surprise, the red figure tumbling several times before finally crashing to the ground with a "thud." The onlookers on both streets, unaware of the danger, immediately erupted in thunderous laughter and cheers, but Old Beggar, who was about to raise his bat to help, was stunned.

"Little Tyrant" fell to the ground, seemingly unharmed. With a roar, he leaped into the air, but before landing, he stumbled, a flash of cold light appearing as his longsword, which had been hanging at his waist, was drawn from its sheath! The old beggar, startled awake by the shout, resumed his drunken smirk and quickly composed himself, shouting, "Young Master, don't be hasty! We'll settle our bet first, then we'll bet on the next one!"

In the blink of an eye, he was upon him, his green bamboo staff slashing through the air like a beehive, bringing the leaping "Little Tyrant" down to the ground. "Little Tyrant" was forced to the ground by an invisible force, his heart filled with shock and anger, but he still asked sharply, "Tell me, how do we wager this time?"

This time, the old beggar suddenly suppressed his drunken laughter and said seriously, "This time, of course, it's your head." Then, he continued in a particularly warning tone, "Boy, if you're worried about missing the birthday celebration, you'd better get lost. If you want to die, you might as well have a match."

After the old beggar's warning, "Little Tyrant" became much more clear-headed. Assessing the situation, he knew he was in trouble, so he could only nod resolutely and said angrily, "Fine, young master has important business to attend to today and doesn't have time to waste with you. We'll see." After saying "see," he glared fiercely at Lan Tianpeng and walked straight towards the burly man in fine clothes leading the rouge horse

. Upon seeing this, the old beggar immediately shouted, "Hey, hey, be polite, boy. The horse is already mine." As he spoke, he leaped forward and reached out to grab the reins of the rouge horse.

Knowing he couldn't leave without the crimson horse, "Little Tyrant" hesitated for a moment in anger, then grabbed a black horse from another burly man, angrily saying "Go!" before leaping onto the horse and galloping towards the town entrance. The burly man whose black horse had been taken had no choice but to ride with another well-dressed man, both heading east in pursuit. The onlookers on both sides of the street, seeing the commotion was over, burst into laughter and dispersed.

Although Lan Tianpeng felt the old beggar's punishment of "Little Tyrant" was too harsh, considering "Little Tyrant's" arrogance and recklessness, he felt it was deserved. Anxious to continue his journey, he also started walking towards the east entrance of town. Just as he took a step, he heard the old man shout, "Hey, young man, don't go! This is yours!"

Lan Tianpeng stopped, turned around, and saw the old beggar leading the crimson horse "Blood Date Red," grinning as he approached. When the old beggar saw Lan Tianpeng stop, he continued with a smile, "Young man, this is a rare gem, one in a million, only fit for you. I, an old beggar, barely have enough to eat. Riding such a fine horse would be a laughingstock. If you like it, it's yours." As he spoke, he was already close, shoving the reins of the rouge-colored horse into Lan Tianpeng's hand.

Lan Tianpeng, realizing the old beggar had guessed his thoughts, blushed deeply. However, feeling that winning a horse through gambling was tantamount to robbery, he quickly took two steps back and said in a deep voice, "Although I admire this horse's magnificent and agile nature, I don't want something obtained dishonestly."

The old beggar was taken aback, then immediately said righteously, "He was cheated out of it by 'Iron-Armed Monk,' and we won it from him. What's wrong with that?"

Upon hearing "Iron-Armed Monk," Lan Tianpeng's handsome face changed instantly, and he blurted out urgently, "You know 'Iron-Armed Monk'?"

Old Huazi, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, saw the grim and indignant look on Lan Tianpeng's face and immediately laughed, saying, "You've probably got a grudge against that guy."

Lan Tianpeng nodded angrily and said, "That's right, I came down the mountain to find him.

" Old Huazi laughed heartily and said, "Perfect timing, you've come to the right person. I know that guy best."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng stepped forward and eagerly asked, "Could you please tell me where he is now?"

Old Huazi said without hesitation, "Sure, of course, but we can't talk in the street."

Lan Tianpeng thought for a moment and suggested, "Let's go outside town to talk."

As soon as he finished speaking, Old Huazi shook his head and said seriously, "That won't do. We should at least find a restaurant or something, order a couple of dishes and a pot of wine, and talk while we eat. That would be much more interesting..."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng couldn't help but get a little angry and said, "Didn't you just eat?" "

Old beggar shrugged and said, 'But you haven't eaten yet.'

Lan Tianpeng was overjoyed, his handsome face turning red. He suddenly realized that the old beggar had noticed his lack of money when he hesitated in front of the food stall. In that moment of hesitation, the old beggar laughed and lifted the saddlebag of his horse, saying, 'Hey, young man, look, this is full of the ill-gotten gains of "the harbinger of doom." There's gold and silver to choose from, enough for us to drink old wine for a month or two. Let's go.'

Lan Tianpeng was still hesitant, but the old beggar had already pulled the horse forward. To find out where "Iron-Armed Monk" was, he had no choice but to follow behind. Unexpectedly, as he took a step, he heard the old beggar ahead say with annoyance, 'You've gotten yourself into trouble.'

Lan Tianpeng didn't know what he meant and was about to ask when he suddenly saw two old men who looked remarkably alike standing at the corner of the alley ahead. " While looking them over, the old beggar laughed and said, "Young man, I never expected your family to be so generous as to give such a precious 'Fire Dragon Pearl' to that old woman as a birthday gift. Your father is too generous, haha..." He then burst into laughter again.

Lan Tianpeng was extremely clever, how could he not know that the old beggar was just trying to appease the two old men? But when he heard "your father," his vengeful spirit and impulsive personality were reignited, so he said angrily, "This time I'm coming down the mountain, I will absolutely not get involved in any martial arts disputes."

Before he could finish speaking, the old beggar, who was laughing dryly, immediately chimed in with a laugh, "Yes, yes, yes, you came here specifically to offer birthday wishes, so let's not talk about anything else." As they spoke, they arrived at the door of an inn, and the old beggar turned and went inside.

Upon seeing this, one waiter hurriedly accepted the horses with a smile, while another waiter bowed and asked, "Young master, would you like to sit upstairs or choose a private courtyard?"

The old beggar chuckled and said, "We'll just grab something to eat; we're in a hurry to get to 'Gao Family Mansion.'"

The waiter quickly flattered him, saying, "Today, all the guests heading east are going to pay their respects to the old lady on her birthday." With that, he turned and led the way to a superior room.

Lan Tianpeng noticed that the waiter addressed the "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" of Gao Family Mansion as the "old lady," and that the old beggar was also pretending to be going to pay his respects to frighten the two old men. It seemed that this "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" old woman must be a highly respected senior figure in the martial arts world. In the blink of an eye, they entered the superior room. The old beggar sat down casually in the head chair, skillfully ordered several dishes and drinks, and the waiter respectfully acknowledged and turned to leave.

As soon as the shop assistants stepped outside, the old beggar's jovial demeanor vanished. He sat casually in the head chair, looked at Lan Tianpeng, and said in a stern, low voice, "Young man, let's be frank. The moment you entered town, I, this old man, had my eye on your two 'Fire Dragon Pearls'..."

Before the word "I" could even leave his lips, Lan Tianpeng, who was about to sit down, abruptly stood up, his eyebrows furrowing, and said sharply, "I knew you, old beggar, had ulterior motives, something else entirely..." Before

Lan Tianpeng could finish, the old beggar nodded and interjected, "That's right. Today you must tell me your family background, your surname, and how you acquired these two 'Fire Dragon Pearls'. You should know that these two precious pearls were a gift I, this old man, gave to a friend's newlyweds at their wedding years ago..."

Before he could finish, Lan Tianpeng's expression changed drastically, tears welling up in his eyes. He asked in a trembling voice, "You're the fifth in your family, you—you must be Uncle Ma, the chivalrous beggar of the Beggar Clan?" Upon hearing this

, Old Huazi's face lit up with joy. He suddenly stood up, reached out and grasped Lan Tianpeng's hands, saying excitedly, "You really are my brother Lan's son! My eyesight is right, isn't it? Haha, it's been over ten years since I last saw you. The little boy who could barely crawl has grown so much!" Before he could finish speaking, Lan Tianpeng cried out "Fifth Uncle!" and knelt down in grief. Old Beggar Ma Wu, seeing this, chuckled and said, "Silly child, meeting in a foreign land should be a joyous occasion, why are you crying?"

He was about to help Lan Tianpeng up when Lan Tianpeng cried out, "Fifth Uncle, my father died so tragically!"

Upon hearing this, Old Beggar Ma Wu shuddered violently, as if struck by lightning, and stumbled back two steps, asking in a trembling voice, "You...you...what did you say?"

Lan Tianpeng remained kneeling, weeping, "My father and uncle, seeing injustice, stepped in to help, offending two disciples of 'Iron-Armed Monk.' Last winter, on a snowy night, they were attacked by the two thieves, and their fate is likely grim."

Upon hearing this, Old Beggar Ma Wu immediately said in a reproachful tone, "You didn't even witness your father's tragic death, how can you cry so loudly? Get up and tell me the whole story, let your Fifth Uncle judge for you." Lan

Tianpeng rose to wipe his tears. Knowing that Old Huazi was the only surviving elder of the Beggars' Sect, and that Uncle Ma Wu, whom he had lost contact with for many years, stood to the side, he dared not sit down. Just then, the waiter brought in the wine and food. After the waiter left, the chivalrous beggar Ma Wuyi immediately ordered Lan Tianpeng to sit down, saying in a more cheerful tone, "Seeing is believing. Random speculation often leads to mistakes. Now, have a drink first, and tell me slowly." As he spoke, he even picked up the wine pot and filled Lan Tianpeng's cup.

Lan Tianpeng wiped his tears as he sat down, sobbing as he said, "Peng'er is no longer hungry."

The chivalrous beggar comforted him a few more times, and Lan Tianpeng raised his cup and drank a little. He then told Xiao Qionghua the shocking news that the two thieves had avenged themselves in the snow night. Old Lan Fu had acupunctured him and carried him to the back of the manor. The two thieves burned the manor and chased after him, but fortunately, they were rescued by the middle-aged man in yellow. He then told her that his master had been killed by "Black Hand Sanlang" the previous night and that they had been chased down the mountain. Lan Tianpeng briefly recounted what had happened. The beggar Ma Wu was already in tears. He nodded sadly and said, "Judging from what you've said, my brother Lan is probably in grave danger."

Lan Tianpeng covered his face again and wept, saying, "Peng'er thinks the same way. Otherwise, the two thieves wouldn't have been able to leave the hall at the same time, set the fire, and then chase each other to the back cliff. Now, please tell Peng'er, Uncle Wu, where is that 'Iron-Armed Monk' now?"

Before he could finish speaking, the beggar Ma Wu shook his head sadly and said, "Child, to tell you the truth, Uncle Wu went to Five Finger Mountain on Qiong Island more than ten years ago. When I returned, the martial arts world of the Central Plains had changed drastically. Except for some older figures, most of them are forgotten."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng anxiously asked, "Didn't you just say you knew that guy?" Upon hearing this, the beggar Ma Wu apologized, saying, "

Silly child, I was just trying to find out about your background and lied to you. However, since these two juniors with the same surname are quite skilled, I imagine that 'Iron-Armed Monk' is no ordinary person either. If that's the case, I'm worried you might not be his match."

Lan Tianpeng, his face filled with resentment and his eyes blazing like lamplight, suddenly stood up from his chair, gritting his teeth and saying, "No matter how powerful 'Iron-Armed Monk' is, I will find him! I don't believe that the thieving monk's martial arts are superior to the 'Silver-Clad Swordsman,' one of the three wonders of the sea of characters!"

Hearing this, the beggar Ma Wu immediately gestured for Lan Tianpeng to sit down, and calmly said, "Nephew Peng, you mustn't be arrogant. Acting rashly will only lead to disaster. Your master taught you to use your skills to seek revenge on the 'Silver-Clad Swordsman.' Do you know when you'll be fully proficient before you can leave the mountain?"

Lan Tianpeng was taken aback by the question, realizing its validity. The beggar Ma Wu continued, "Your master sent you to fight last night because he knew your skill level. And the opponents you faced were only second- or third-rate masters. You should know that the 'Silver-Clad Swordsman' is a rare genius in the martial arts world, unparalleled in the last hundred years. No one knows his origins, no one knows which school he belongs to. His skill is so high that even the Changbai Divine Nun and the East Sea Holy Monk, who were hailed as the 'Two Elders of Buddhism' decades ago, might not be a match for the 'Silver-Clad Swordsman.'"

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng's expression turned grim. He abruptly stood up and shouted, "Uncle Ma Wu, don't boost others' morale while diminishing your own! How do you know I don't possess a miraculous skill to take the 'Silver-Clad Swordsman's' life?" Upon hearing this,

the beggar Ma Wu also spoke up seriously, saying loudly, "What kind of extraordinary skills your master has passed on to you, I, Old Beggar, naturally do not know, nor do I wish to ask. Judging from your 'Chaotic Cocoon Unraveling' technique when you just threw 'Little Tyrant,' you can only fight to a draw with second-rate figures. If you were to encounter a Taoist of the Kongtong Sect's Golden Hairpin level, you would probably be inferior."

Lan Tianpeng had only given the beggar a brief overview earlier, and had not mentioned the matter of "Flying Fork Three Geese" and the old Taoist Songyun wanting the "Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record." Now, hearing the beggar mention the old Taoist of the Kongtong Sect's Golden Hairpin level, he originally intended to bring up the matter of Songyun and "Flying Fork Three Geese," but being young and competitive, he was unwilling to accept defeat, and thus stubbornly said, "Fifth Uncle, you don't need to care about my skill level. I only ask that you lead me to find 'Iron Arm Monk.'"

Before Lan Tianpeng could finish speaking, the beggar Ma Wu sighed in annoyance and said, "Forget about finding 'Iron-Armed Monk,' I can't even escape the trouble right now..." Upon

hearing this, Lan Tianpeng immediately seemed to understand and said, "Uncle, are you talking about those two white-bearded old men who look exactly alike?"

The beggar Ma Wu nodded and said, "That's right, those two old rascals."

Lan Tianpeng smiled coldly and said arrogantly in a deep voice, "If those two old rascals don't come, fine. But if they try to steal the pearl, hmph, I'll make them bleed five steps away..."

Before he could finish speaking, the beggar Ma Wu said somewhat angrily, "You're really a newborn calf who doesn't fear tigers. Do you even know who those two old rascals are?"

Lan Tianpeng still said in a deep voice, "I don't care who they are."

The beggar Ma Wu immediately said irritably, "They are the 'Twin Elders' of Qinghai. You must have heard of their deeds." Lan

Tianpeng was startled. He had indeed heard his father speak of the formidable reputation of these two old devils, but he asked in a deep voice, "According to Fifth Uncle, we have no choice but to offer them the two 'Fire Dragon Pearls'?"

The beggar smiled and said, "Of course not, but we can outsmart them. Have you heard of the romantic tale of these two old rascals being in love with the 'Golden Dove and Silver Staff' in their youth?"

Lan Tianpeng shook his head and said, "My father has never mentioned it." The

beggar grunted and said, "That's because you're still young. We need to focus on important matters now. We can leave the gossip and scandals between the three of them for later." He paused, deliberately lowering his voice, and continued, "Didn't I say we were going to offer birthday greetings? Now we absolutely must go to Gao Family Mansion..."

Lan Tianpeng, hearing this, immediately said worriedly, "But we haven't received an invitation."

The beggar immediately said seriously, "There are plenty of people who come to offer birthday greetings, hoping to get a free meal. Why do we need an invitation?"

Lan Tianpeng couldn't help but worry, "If we don't present the 'Fire Dragon Pearl' as a birthday gift, the 'Twin Elders' will naturally try to take advantage of us."

The beggar smiled smugly and said, "Didn't I say we'd use strategy? If we just do that, do you think those two old rascals won't believe us?" Lan

Tianpeng still looked hesitant. Seeing this, the beggar immediately patted Lan Tianpeng on the shoulder and said confidently, "Young man, don't worry. Just follow my lead, and I'll make sure you escape danger. Let's eat something first, and then we'll be on our way."

Lan Tianpeng and the beggar Ma Wu quickly finished their meal and walked out of the shop. However, the two "Fire Dragon Pearls" were no longer on Lan Tianpeng's belt. The shopkeeper at the door, seeing the beggar and Lan Tianpeng emerge, immediately untied Rouge Horse. The beggar Ma Wu resumed his jovial demeanor, turning to look at Lan Tianpeng and saying with a smile, "Young man, you look like a young master in these clothes. You should ride this horse. If I, an old beggar, were to ride this horse, I'd probably make everyone laugh their heads off."

Lan Tianpeng smiled, reached out and took the horse. Only then did he see that the saddle was made of rosewood with ivory carvings, gold saddle head, silver stirrups, and a red tassel tied to the horse's head with colorful silk. It was truly a case of "clothes adorn the man, saddle adorns the horse." Upon closer inspection, the rouge horse appeared even more magnificent and imposing, a sight to behold. As he was observing, the beggar beside him chuckled and urged, "Stop looking, kid, get on your horse! The others are getting impatient."

Lan Tianpeng knew immediately that the "Twin Elders" were secretly watching, but he nonchalantly asked, "If I ride, what about you, old man?"

The beggar laughed and said, "The horse's rump is round, fat, and wide. I, this old beggar, can stand on it and keep an eye on those two old rascals."

Lan Tianpeng nodded in understanding, leaped onto the horse, and with a slight touch of his legs to the horse's belly, the red horse neighed softly and galloped towards the east entrance of town! It was past noon, just past late afternoon, and the streets were relatively quiet, but Lan Tianpeng still tried his best to rein in the horse so as not to disturb passersby. However, this magnificent steed, having lost its companion, seemed unwilling to ride alone. No matter how tightly the reins were pulled, it continued to gallop wildly, and in the blink of an eye, it was out of town.

Lan Tianpeng had loved riding horses since childhood, and his riding skills were already quite proficient. So, as soon as he left the town, he loosened the reins, feeling the sky spin and the earth recede, the wind whistling in his ears, and his heart leaping with joy! Just then, the laughter of the chivalrous beggar suddenly rang out from behind the saddle, saying, "Young man, look to the left. This rouge-colored steed, though as fast as lightning, probably still can't shake off those two old rascals."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng remembered that the chivalrous beggar, Uncle Ma Wu, was standing on the horse's hindquarters. Turning around, he saw the old beggar, his beard and hair flying, his tattered clothes billowing, standing firmly on the horse's hindquarters. Turning his head again to the left, he saw two figures, one black and one white, speeding swiftly behind a slender bamboo grove dozens of feet away, heading in the same direction along the main road, likely only secretly following him. As he looked them over, he heard the beggar behind the saddle laugh and say, "Don't let their age fool you; these two old lads are already in their eighties or nineties. They're still inseparable, brothers with a deep bond. That's why 'Tiger Tail Whip' Gao Mingxian got lucky."

Lan Tianpeng was suddenly confused and asked, "Lucky what?"

The beggar laughed and said, "These two twin old lads both loved 'Golden Dove and Silver Staff' Liu Jinhua back in the day. How could one Liu Jinhua marry two brothers? That's why 'Tiger Tail Whip' Gao Mingxian got lucky. Don't think this happened decades ago. These two old lads' love for Liu Jinhua remains unchanged; they're still single. That's why I had a sudden inspiration and said you were bringing the 'Fire Dragon Pearl' as a birthday gift."

Lan Tianpeng raised an eyebrow and said dismissively, "Would 'twin old men' believe that?" The beggar immediately said seriously, "

Of course we don't believe it, but once we enter the 'Gao Family Building,' those two old guys will have no choice but to believe it. Don't worry, they will never steal your beloved's birthday gift." As they spoke, the official road beneath their feet gradually rose, stretching for a mile to the riverbank.

Urging his horse up the bank, Lan Tianpeng's eyes suddenly lit up. He saw a river several tens of feet wide, its clear waters rippling, fishing boats paddling, village women washing clothes, and boatmen and village girls singing love songs to each other—a picture of rural tranquility. However, amidst this idyllic scene, a sudden uproar arose from both sides of the fork in the river on the opposite bank.

Puzzled, Lan Tianpeng looked in the direction of the sound and saw a white streak of water on the surface of the river mouth, with a black dot rising above it, rushing towards the water at breakneck speed. The white streak moved incredibly fast, reaching the center of the river in the blink of an eye. With Lan Tianpeng's horse galloping forward, he immediately recognized the black dot on the white streak of water—it was a person.

Lan Tianpeng was secretly astonished, thinking to himself, "There really is such a peerless lightness skill as 'walking across the waves'!" He then looked closer and saw that the person walking across the waves was an old Taoist priest in gray robes, about sixty years old. What surprised Lan Tianpeng most was that a golden glint shimmered on the old priest's beard in the setting sun—clearly a gold hairpin. At the same time, he recalled what the beggar had said in the shop: "Your martial arts are only enough to fight a second-rate person. If you were to encounter a Taoist priest of the Kongtong Sect with a gold hairpin, you would probably be inferior."

Looking at the old priest walking across the river and comparing it with what the beggar Uncle Ma had said, Lan Tianpeng couldn't help but doubt his master's ability to find the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" for revenge. Before he could finish his thought, the old Taoist priest, who had been leaping across the water, was only two or three zhang (approximately 6.6-7 meters) from the shore. Holding a whisk and with a golden tassel tied to the hilt of his sword, he moved slightly, his sleeves billowing,

and he soared into the air. The old Taoist priest, in mid-air, performed a suspended leap and landed gracefully on the riverbank, startling the nearby village women and girls who scattered in alarm. Seeing the panicked villagers on the bank, the old Taoist priest didn't even glance at them, leaping onto the embankment and speeding away, disappearing into the windbreak forest in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, a three-inch-long plank crashed onto the sand and pebbles with a "thud." The village women and girls, still shaken, screamed again.

Lan Tianpeng, seeing the plank that had been swept ashore from the water, sneered coldly, muttering arrogantly to himself, "I thought that Taoist priest truly 'walked across the water,' but it turns out it was just a plank." "

As soon as he finished speaking, the beggar behind the saddle said seriously, "Young man, although 'Liao Chen' is walking on planks, there aren't many people in the martial arts world with his lightness skill."

Lan Tianpeng's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but ask with concern, "Does Fifth Uncle know that old Taoist?"

The beggar smiled and said, "Not only do I know him, but we even fought several times more than ten years ago."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng became even more concerned and said, "Fifth Uncle, when you returned to the Central Plains this time, did you hear about the current leader of the Kongtong Sect, 'Master Yuxu,' who has been misled and is ambitious, attempting to dominate the martial arts world, first establishing his headquarters on Kongtong Mountain, and then going out to recruit martial arts masters everywhere?"

Before he could finish speaking, the beggar Ma Wu, standing behind the saddle, laughed and said, "Old Daoist Yuxu, ever since he obtained Guang Chengzi's secret manual, has been secretly greedy, intending to dominate the martial arts world. Although he has gathered many masters in the past two years, he still can't compare to the abundance of talent in the 'Dragon and Phoenix Gathering'..." The

beggar laughed again and said, "Women who dare not show their true faces, needless to say, are either scarred or pockmarked, probably as ugly as a she-devil." Lan Tianpeng found this very reasonable and nodded unconsciously.

Seeing Lan Tianpeng nod seriously, the beggar standing behind the saddle laughed again, and at the same time, teased, "Young man, you wouldn't be thinking of marrying that female leader, would you? Haha, young man, let me tell you, even if that female leader doesn't have a face full of scars, she's probably an old woman in her seventies or eighties." "Having said that, he burst into another hearty laugh.

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng's handsome face turned red with anger, and he blurted out, "I've been in love with my cousin Xiao Qionghua since childhood. After she finishes her apprenticeship at the 'Divine Nun's' place, she will definitely come down the mountain to look for me everywhere, and..."

The beggar Ma Wu exclaimed in surprise, "Eh?" and asked in confusion, "Didn't you just say in the shop that you and Xiao girl had run away? How come you said you were apprenticing at the 'Divine Nun's' place?"

Lan Tianpeng originally wanted to say that he also had a junior sister, Ding Mengmei, but was interrupted by the beggar. Earlier, because it was inconvenient to mention that his master had stolen the 'Divine Nun's' nectar, he had omitted the fact that he had drunk the nectar from the 'Divine Nun's' place. When asked, he could only vaguely reply, "My master once saw a swift figure pass over the cliff during a blizzard. Based on that person's rapid movements, he determined it was 'Changbai Divine Nun'..." Before he could finish speaking, countless sparks suddenly rose in the sky several miles away.

Although the beggar felt that Lan Tianpeng's words were irrelevant, he mistakenly thought that the middle-aged man in yellow was trying to comfort Lan Tianpeng to prevent him from being too sentimental, perhaps because Xiao Qionghua had also perished at the hands of the two traitors. Upon seeing the sparks appear in the sky several miles away, he also wanted to change the subject, saying, "Young man, you should hurry up! The place where the sparks are appearing in the sky is 'Gao Family Mansion.' It looks like the birthday banquet is about to begin." Lan

Tianpeng looked closely and realized that the sun had already set, the western sky was filled with evening glow, and it was already dusk! Looking further down, amidst the sparkling lights in the sky, he saw the shadows of pavilions and towers, especially a tall building in the center, shaped like a tower, clearly visible, adorned with lanterns.

As he looked closer, the beggar behind him smiled and said, "Young man, do you see that? The building covered with lanterns is the famous Gao Family Mansion, said to have been built by Gao Mingxian's great-grandfather, and has a history of over a hundred years. Legend has it that a mud carp on the roof ridge holds a jade bowl in its mouth, and inside the jade bowl are a pair of goldfish, which are the Gao family's treasures..."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng immediately said disdainfully, "What's so valuable about those goldfish?"

The beggar immediately became serious and said, "It's said to have many benefits; not only can they heal injuries and cure diseases, but they can also bring the dead back to life..."

Lan Tianpeng immediately interjected, "Is Gao Mingxian's grandfather still alive? "

The beggar chuckled and said without hesitation, "Not to mention Master Gao's grandfather, Master Gao himself passed away seven or eight years ago." Lan

Tianpeng immediately retorted, "Then why didn't you give Master Gao the goldfish from the rooftop to eat when he was on his deathbed?"

The beggar was taken aback by his words, then laughed and said, "Young man, you're really something! You actually managed to stump this old beggar."

As they walked, they were less than two li away from Gao's house, but the entire village was brightly lit and clearly visible. Especially in the protective woods outside the village, the sounds of carriages and people were bustling and noisy, clearly the carriages and servants of those coming to offer birthday greetings. As they approached Gao's house, a straight road suddenly appeared, leading directly to the brightly lit gate. Lan Tianpeng glanced around alertly and, finding no one around, immediately whispered, "Fifth Uncle, there's no one around now, why must we go to Gao's house?" "

The beggar Ma Wu immediately said in a deep voice, 'Those two old bastards are in the manor. If you change course, we'll be in trouble.'

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng had no choice but to spur his horse toward the manor gate. By this time, the sky was gradually darkening, and the fireworks exploding in the sky with a 'bang' sound were even more spectacular and beautiful. In front of the manor gate, musicians played their instruments, and hundreds of servants, looking up at the fireworks, cheered and shouted from time to time. The manor gate was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, truly exuding a festive atmosphere. Several strong men in new clothes stood with their hands at their sides on the steps, and many people were still carrying red boxes, going in and out, announcing the gifts and announcements, which were clearly being accepted by various people.

Lan Tianpeng spurred his horse to the manor gate, and the beggar Ma Wu, who was standing on the saddle, jumped off the ground almost simultaneously." The two newly dressed men, already smiling broadly, greeted the newly arrived men at the foot of the steps. One took the horse, while the other said respectfully, "Young Master and Old Master, please come in; the birthday banquet is about to begin."

Lan Tianpeng nodded humbly in greeting, handed the horse to the other man, and then noticed the clanging of pots and pans and the billowing smoke inside the manor's grove. Unopened wine jars were piled up against the wall, and the banquet to entertain the servants and drivers was underway. Guided by one of the men, Lan Tianpeng followed the beggar into the manor gate. Before the tall screen wall inside the manor gate, a row of square tables stood, surrounded by people calling out names and offering greetings. One could hear the loud shouts of greetings rising and falling: "White Horse Temple—Master Jingyun—respectfully presents a Shang Dynasty sandalwood incense burner—"

"Dahuang Manor—Old Manor Master 'Zhenguai Zhenren Fang'—respectfully presents a Tang Dynasty porcelain horse—"

"Shenjia Village—Nine Villages Chief 'Shuangbi Pan' Wang Hongchen—respectfully presents a young sable fur robe and two strings of precious pearls—"

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng grew anxious and unconsciously nudged the beggar Ma Wu. The beggar understood and immediately looked at the man leading the way, smiling as he said, "I, Old Beggar Ma, am an old friend of your esteemed elder. This is Young Master Lan of 'Lengxiang Valley' in Motianling, Guandong. Passing through your esteemed land, I am pleased to celebrate your birthday and have come to offer my congratulations. I have some precious treasures to present to you in person. Please, steward, lead me to the birthday hall."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Han quickly and respectfully agreed, turning to enter through the screen door. As soon as he entered, Lan Tianpeng's eyes lit up—before him stood a grand hall, brightly lit, with red ribbons fluttering in the wind. The hall's steps were filled with martial arts figures from all over the land, exchanging greetings, reminiscing, and laughing. But atop the high steps stood a dignified old gentleman in a long robe and glasses, holding a pen and paper, as if he had just called out names. This was because the "twin old men," who had been secretly following Lan Tianpeng and the beggar, had just entered the hall.

Because the hall was several steps high, Lan Tianpeng could only see the exquisite gauze lanterns hanging inside, not the interior. The old gentleman, understanding, nodded repeatedly while scribbling on the paper. After quickly finishing, the old gentleman first glanced at the hall, then gestured respectfully to Lan Tianpeng and the beggar. Just as Lan Tianpeng and the beggar ascended the steps, the old gentleman began to loudly announce the names: "My former comrade-in-arms, Elder Ma of the Beggars' Clan, and Young Master Lan of 'Cold Fragrance Valley' in Motianling, Guandong, have come to offer birthday greetings—"

The moment the words "Cold Fragrance Valley" were uttered, the hall fell silent, and all eyes turned to Lan Tianpeng in astonishment. Seeing all the martial arts guests looking at him, Lan Tianpeng immediately puffed out his chest, for "Cold Fragrance Valley" held a prestigious reputation in the martial arts world. However, he forgot that beyond its resounding reputation lay the astonishing news of last year's burning of "Cold Fragrance Valley" and the killing of its old master, a shocking event that had shaken the martial arts world.

This loud announcement not only astonished the heroes from all corners of the land who had come to offer birthday greetings, but also startled the birthday matron "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" in the hall, who rose to greet him. Lan Tianpeng ascended the hall steps and discovered a scarlet carpet extending to the offerings of fruit with brightly burning red candles in the inner hall. Behind the table, on a brocade screen, hung a huge red cloak, and in the center of a giant camphor tree, adorned an eight-foot-tall "Longevity" character. At that moment, a young girl dressed in a bright red outfit, with a red silk sword tassel on her back, helped an old woman in a blue dress and black skirt, holding a silver cane with a golden dove's head, to greet them. It was clearly the "Golden Dove and Silver Cane" Old Lady Gao.

Upon seeing her, the chivalrous beggar Ma Wu quickly took a few steps forward and bowed deeply to the old woman in blue. A voice chuckled, "Young Master Ma Wu has come to offer birthday greetings to Elder Sister, and wishes her to be an immortal being..."

Upon seeing her, Old Lady Gao, wielding the "Golden Dove and Silver Staff," chuckled with extreme delight, "So it's you, Brother Ma Wu! Where have you been all these years?"

The chivalrous beggar Ma Wu laughed heartily, "My story is a long one. Let my nephew Lan offer his birthday greetings first." Turning to Lan Tianpeng, he introduced him, "Peng'er, this is today's birthday lady. Without further ado, kowtow!"

Lan Tianpeng, who had intended to simply bow deeply, had no choice but to prostrate himself fully, respectfully saying, "Junior Lan Tianpeng has come to offer birthday greetings to Senior, wishing you boundless happiness and longevity." As he spoke, he knelt and kowtowed.

The "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" hurriedly reached out to help him up, chuckling repeatedly, "You flatter me, you flatter me! Young Master, please rise, please rise!" She had already helped Lan Tianpeng to his feet. "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" helped Lan Tianpeng up, her gaze fixed on his handsome face. This once powerful old woman, who had dominated the Jiangnan region, had seen countless people and handsome young men, but she had never seen such a dashing and elegant young man as Lan Tianpeng. She was momentarily stunned.

Lan Tianpeng, seeing "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" scrutinizing him so intently, blushed slightly, but also felt a growing impatience. However, the girl in red standing beside "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" couldn't help but gently tug at her sleeve, and at the same time, shyly whispered, "Mother." "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" quickly composed himself, chuckled awkwardly twice, and introduced her to Lan Tianpeng, saying, "Hehe, Young Master Lan, this is my daughter, Lianying."

Lan Tianpeng bowed and said, "

It is an honor for me, Lan Tianpeng, to meet Miss Gao." Gao Lianying smiled sweetly and said, "My younger sister, Gao Lianying, greets Brother Lan."

Lan Tianpeng was taken aback and quickly looked up. He then saw that Gao Lianying was about sixteen or seventeen years old, with an oval face, crescent-shaped eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, peach-like cheeks, and a small mouth. Although she was beautiful, she lacked the gentleness and charm expected of a girl, clearly a girl not to be trifled with. Just then, a disdainful snort suddenly came from not far away! At the same time as he snorted, "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" chuckled kindly and said, "Brother Ma and Chairman Lan Shaogu, please excuse my lack of hospitality."

The beggar Ma Wu suddenly changed his expression and said, "Since we have come to wish Elder Sister a happy birthday, a gift is necessary." As he spoke, he carefully placed a small red cloth bag, which looked to be more than two inches long, in the hand of "Golden Dove and Silver Staff," and solemnly said, "This is the only thing that my nephew Lan has. He felt it was inconvenient to keep it on his person, so he specially presented it to Elder Sister as a birthday gift. He hopes that Elder Sister will accept it in person."

"Golden Dove and Silver Staff," a seasoned veteran of the martial world, was immediately struck by the beggar's serious expression and tone. She knew the small red envelope contained something extraordinary, so after a brief refusal, she smiled and said, "In that case, I'll accept it, old sister. However, if Young Master Lan ever needs it, please come back to me for it."

The beggar quickly replied cheerfully, "Of course, of course!" As she spoke, she noticed the "Twin Elders" standing not far away, and Lan Tianpeng also saw the "Little Tyrant" with a resentful expression, glaring at him through gritted teeth.

At that moment, the old gentleman outside the hall announced loudly again, "Young Hero Ouyang Ziguang of Tiantai Hanlu Valley has come to offer birthday greetings."

Upon hearing this, "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" bowed respectfully to the beggar Lan Tianpeng again and headed straight for the entrance of the hall to greet him. Upon hearing the words "Tiantai," Lan Tianpeng felt as if struck by lightning. He hurriedly pulled the beggar aside and whispered, "Fifth Uncle, please come this way." As he spoke, he led the beggar toward the right hall. Just then, on the high steps outside the hall, another elegant and handsome young man entered.

Lan Tianpeng instinctively turned his head to look outside, his eyes lighting up. He exclaimed in surprise, "Ah!" and abruptly stopped, frozen in place. Seeing Lan Tianpeng's startled expression and sudden halt, the beggar Ma Wu staring in astonishment at the hall outside, a thought struck him. He also turned to look. His own eyes lit up, and he muttered, "Strange," also stunned.

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