Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 17

Chapter Seventeen: Driven by Desire for Hatred, the Three Celestial Venerables Return to Paradise. Passionate Love Turns

to Hatred, Unable to Be Together, They Vow to Enter the Buddhist Order. The Golden Hook Invincible Xin Meng, beneath the great tree, appeared mad, leaping and waving his arms in the air, occasionally letting out heart-wrenching laughter. The Four Demons of Gaoligong Mountain let out a sharp cry, soaring into the air with lightning speed, plunging towards the great tree. The Three Celestial Venerables were immediately taken aback, ceasing their fight and rushing forward to observe. The Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi had regained his composure. He understood the sudden madness of the Golden Hook Invincible Xin Meng, his eyes fixed on the Primordial Finger Kuai Jun, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The Star River Fisherman Lou Yong and the Bamboo Staff Elder Hong Huang stepped aside. They knew that Cang Xi's expression indicated extreme hatred for Kuai Jun, and he would never let Kuai Jun live. They knew Kuai Jun's Hunyuan Finger technique was incredibly powerful, and secretly worried that Cang Xi wouldn't be able to land a fatal blow, allowing Kuai Jun to escape. This would only exacerbate the Beggars' Sect's future calamities. Their hearts tightened, their expressions turning serious, a stark contrast to Cang Xi's relaxed demeanor.

Kuai Jun's face was as cold as water, his eyes gleaming like cold lightning as he stared intently at Cang Xi. His right palm was turned outwards and held against his chest, his left fist slightly raised, two fingers raised like a halberd, his feet planted on the meridian. Like an arrow on a bowstring, taut and ready to be released at any moment. Under the tree, the Great Demon Hua Yu had exhausted all his methods but failed to stop Xin Meng's maniacal laughter and leaps. The other demons scattered, trying to undo the pressure points they had sealed, but to no avail.

Considering they were all martial arts prodigies, highly arrogant, yet unable to undo the pressure points, it was clear the pressure point technique was incredibly strange. Their arrogance instantly turned cold. Hua Yu, the Great Demon, was red-faced and helpless against Xin Meng, whose expression was ghastly, muscles contorted, and who was laughing and jumping wildly. He was certain that Xin Meng had been ambushed and had his pressure points struck. The method sent chills down his spine. The assailant must have struck suddenly from the tree, but the tree was bare and withered, offering no place to hide. Clearly, the assailant had escaped after succeeding. However, one thing was puzzling: if the assailant possessed such extraordinary skill, why was he hiding? Did he have some other conspiracy? Most strangely, apart from himself and a few others, no one else from the manor had come.

"Could they all have been poisoned?" Hua Yu thought, breaking out in a cold sweat—the first time this had appeared on his face in decades, showing his extreme fear.

The demons gathered awkwardly under the tree, speculating about the matter and offering their opinions. Finally, they reached a conclusion: they would not interfere in the Beggar Clan's disputes. The three celestial beings were still unconvinced, but witnessing such a strange event, they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. However, they all shared the same thought: once that person appeared, they would test the extent of that person's martial arts prowess.

At this moment, the Great Demon Hua Yu, carrying Xin Meng, and the other demons rushed towards the front of the hall, completely ignoring the tense situation between the three elders of the Beggar Clan and Hunyuan Finger Kuai Jun. Behind the large tree, among several bamboo groves, a pretty face appeared amidst the lush foliage, a slight smile playing on her clear, watery eyes. The Nine-Finger Divine Beggar Cang Xi and Hunyuan Finger Kuai Jun were circling each other, getting smaller and smaller, but neither was willing to make the first move, waiting for a favorable opportunity.

It should be known that in a battle between such masters, victory or defeat is often decided in a mere instant, with only three or two moves. Xin Meng's howls grew increasingly shrill. Having exhausted all other options, the Great Demon Hua Yu struck Xin Meng's chest with a sharp finger. Xin Meng, like a dying dog, let out a mournful wail, his voice weakening, his limbs twitching for a moment before falling silent.

The demons stood with their hands behind their backs, watching the battle from the sidelines, outwardly calm but inwardly extremely tense. Great Demon Hua Yu's eyes welled with tears, filled with boundless resentment. The Qin brothers suddenly leaped backward, intending to observe the entire manor. But disaster was imminent; all the demons had a premonition! Their hearts were filled with unease. Suddenly, Kuai Jun, the Hunyuan Finger, could no longer contain himself. His steps slowed, and he suddenly unleashed a palm strike, his left hand's two fingers moving with lightning speed towards Cang Xi's "Qimen" acupoint.

Both of these techniques were extremely powerful and fierce, and incredibly unpredictable, consuming the most internal energy. Even before the palm and fingers arrived, the hidden force was already overwhelming. Just moments before, Kuai Jun, wielding the Hunyuan Finger, had witnessed many unexpected and wondrous events. Seeing the three elders of the Beggar Clan so confident and fearless, he sensed impending doom. Realizing the situation had come to this, he decided to fight to the death, hoping to gain the upper hand.

The Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi, facing Kuai Jun with the Hunyuan Finger, dared not be careless. He knew Kuai Jun's Hunyuan Finger power could penetrate metal and stone, corrode wood and steel. He immediately dodged five feet to avoid the Hunyuan Finger power with his left palm, while his right palm swept out, swiftly striking towards Cang Xi's wrist. Suddenly, Kuai Jun roared, his two fingers snapping upwards, slashing directly at Cang Xi's right palm, the wind from his fingers hissing sharply.

Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi was greatly surprised. He hadn't expected Kuai Jun's Hunyuan Finger to be unleashed so slowly and deliberately. This Hunyuan Finger was extremely taxing on internal energy; each use severely depleted his true essence. He knew Kuai Jun was determined to fight to the death. At this moment, Cang Xi had no time to think. He flashed away, stepping out of Kuai Jun's grasp. However, Kuai Jun's movements were incredibly fast; the finger strike immediately grazed Cang Xi's sleeve, producing a tearing sound as a section of the sleeve billowed in the air. Before Cang Xi could recover from his shock, Kuai Jun didn't hesitate for a moment, his two fingers aimed at Cang Xi's "Xinyu" acupoint on the back of his chest. If he managed to strike it, Cang Xi's heart would rupture instantly, killing him. A single misstep had put Cang Xi in grave danger.

Kuai Jun was incredibly fast; his two fingers were only two inches away from striking. Cang Xi felt a chill run down his back, and his whole body suddenly sank. He flipped over and unleashed a devastating force with both palms. Kuai Jun never expected Cang Xi to use such a clever movement technique in the face of danger. His body was suspended in mid-air, unable to dodge, and he transformed his fingers into palms, pressing down to meet the incoming palm force.

With a loud "thud," the two palm forces collided. Kuai Jun's body rose into the air and then fell back down. Cang Xi's legs tucked in, and he stood up quickly, his eyes wide with rage. Both of them felt their blood churning in their chests. Cang Xi had been caught off guard by Kuai Jun's sudden attack and almost lost his life under the Hunyuan Finger. Now, as soon as Kuai Jun's feet touched the ground, he unleashed a "Pushing Mountain and Guarding the Cauldron" move with both palms, gathering all his strength and unleashing a raging storm, fierce and unmatched.

Caught off guard, Kuai Jun was forced back four or five steps. Taking advantage of this, Cang Xi unleashed a set of unparalleled "Splitting Palm" techniques, powerful and relentless. Kuai Jun's brows furrowed, and his footwork immediately shifted, moving erratically left and right, forward and backward with uncanny unpredictability, his palms instantly opening, left hand and right fingers striking out in a flash.

Each strike from both men was accompanied by a whistling sound, their power capable of shattering rocks and monuments, the surrounding air currents surging and scattering sand and stones. After a dozen or so exchanges, Kuai Jun's Hunyuan Finger Force displayed its divine might, the finger wind whistling like a flurry of colorful shadows enveloping Cang Xi's figure. However, although Cang Xi was not defeated, he still feared the Hunyuan Finger Force, dodging and weaving, striking out with Splitting Palm techniques when the opportunity arose. His movements were so fast that only a discerning eye could see them.

But the people outside the arena were all highly respected figures in the martial arts world; how could they escape their keen eyes? Seeing this, Lou Yong, the Star River Fisherman, frowned and secretly said to Hong Huang, the Bamboo Staff Elder, "Kuai Huazi's skill has improved too much in recent years. Elder Cang is probably no match for him. Why don't we also take action? For the sake of the sect, we can't worry about such things."

The Bamboo Staff Elder nodded, suddenly grew taller, and stretched out his right arm, his bamboo staff shooting out swiftly towards Kuai Jun's "Mingmen" acupoint on the back of his chest. Lou Yong, the Star River Fisherman, did not hesitate either. With a flick of his right hand, in the dim light, three pale yellow threads appeared, moving with lightning speed towards Kuai Jun's "Jingcu" acupoint. Kuai Jun's martial arts were superb. He suddenly sensed something amiss and hastily withdrew his attack on Cang Xi. He turned around and flicked his palm, deflecting the two incoming weapons. Suddenly, he soared into the sky like a crane, rising five or six feet high. With a quick twist of his legs, he was already more than two zhang away.

Kuai Jun, his hair and beard bristling with rage, roared, "You've gone too far! Don't blame me, Kuai Huazi, for being ruthless!"

Cang Xi laughed, "Kuai Jun, you're about to die and you still dare to boast! If you escape today, I, Cang Laoda, will immediately commit suicide!"

Kuai Jun sneered, "Fine!" Suddenly, he roared and soared into the air, spinning in mid-air. His hands shot out like an eagle swooping down, his ten fingers unleashing a powerful gust of wind, striking the three elders of the Beggar Clan with lightning speed. This time, Kuai Jun's ferocious nature was unleashed. He used all his strength, combining his "Eagle Claw Skill" with the power of the "Mixed Yuan Finger." The two techniques merged into one, their power extraordinary. Even before reaching the three elders' heads by five feet, they felt an unprecedented power, their chests trembling and pounding from the force of the palm strike.

The three elders of the Beggar Clan, guarding their minds, remained unmoved until Kuai Jun's palm was close enough for them to launch a counterattack. Kuai Jun, seeing the three elders' condition from mid-air, knew their intentions and secretly chuckled to himself, "My Eagle Claw Technique combined with the Hunyuan Finger is incredibly powerful. Once it reaches within three feet of me, the air turns to steel, leaving you no chance to retaliate."
No sooner said than done, in the blink of an eye, he was less than three feet above the heads of the three Beggar Clan elders. The elders immediately lashed out with their palms, but felt immense air resistance, their arms weak and powerless. They cried out, "Not good!" A devastating, overwhelming force descended upon them, and it seemed the three elders were about to die under Kuai Jun's palm.

Suddenly, a clear, loud shout rang out. Kuai Jun, wielding the Hunyuan Finger, somersaulted a dozen times, then was thrown back, landing at the feet of the Celestial Venerable. Both wrists were broken, blood gushing forth, his face a ghastly sight. At this moment, a middle-aged scholar appeared in the arena, a cold smile on his face, his expression extremely sinister and icy. The three Celestial Venerables and the four demons of Gaoligong Mountain roared and rushed out. Although they had decided to ignore the Beggar Clan's affairs, witnessing Kuai Jun's tragic state, they couldn't help but feel a surge of shared hatred and resolved to intervene.

The middle-aged scholar's face turned even colder. He said, "How do you compare yourselves to the Twin Monsters of Qin?"

The demons were immediately taken aback, thinking, "No wonder the Twin Monsters of Qin haven't returned yet; could they have already met with a terrible fate?"

The Great Demon Hua Yu's face showed disbelief. He coldly said, "I don't believe you can defeat the Twin Monsters of Qin!"

The middle-aged scholar laughed loudly, "Whether you believe it or not, the Twin Monsters have already returned to Wanxiang Valley and made a pact with me to duel at Furong Peak of Mount Hua eight years later." The

Great Demon Hua Yu, still doubtful, shouted, "Who exactly are you?"

The scholar immediately flashed a cold smile, arrogantly uttering two words: "Yu Yun."

Before his words even faded, the three celestial beings unleashed six palm strikes of "Crimson Fiend Moga." Suddenly, a surge of fiery red energy swept towards Yu Yun. The Golden Moon Venerable roared, "Yu Yun, return my true scriptures, or you will die a horrible death!" It turned out that the moment Yu Yun appeared, the three celestial beings recognized him as the one they had met at Wine Cup Peak. Intimidated by Yu Yun's unparalleled martial arts, they exchanged a knowing glance and, taking advantage of Yu Yun's conversation with Hua Yu, unleashed their six palm strikes simultaneously.

Yu Yun used the "Mysterious Heaven Seven Star Steps," instantly escaping the "Crimson Fiend Moga" palm strikes. The six palm strikes slammed into the ground, flames erupting and charring a large area of withered branches and grass, the fire spreading outwards. Flames roared, and thick smoke billowed. Yu Yun had once exchanged blows with the Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens at Jiu'ou Peak, and knew the power of their "Crimson Fiend Moga" palm strikes

. Although his own martial arts were now far superior to what they used to be, he dared not be careless in the slightest. He moved with lightning speed, darting two zhang away, and sneered, "When did I, Yu Yun, take your true scriptures? We've never met before, how dare you say such a thing?" Venerable Jin Yue shouted, "I was almost fooled by you! Are you a Snow Mountain Demon God? How shameless! Quickly hand over the true scriptures!"

Yu Yun's eyes flashed with divine light, and he laughed loudly, saying, "You're convinced that

I, Yu, took them. It seems your eyesight is not bad. You think I'll return the scriptures to you? Hmph, you're dreaming." Venerable Jin Yue's expression immediately changed. He gave Silver Moon a look and at the same time let out a thunderous shout, unleashing six more palm strikes, the dark red energy immediately emanating from his palms. The eccentric scholar Yu Yun, with a well-thought-out plan, had already gathered his true power in both arms. Just as their "Crimson Fiend Moga" palm strikes had emerged five inches from their palms, he swiftly pushed outwards with both palms, unleashing the "Maitreya Divine Skill" technique.

With a loud bang, the two palm strikes collided. The dark red "Crimson Fiend Moga" palm strikes unleashed by the three celestial beings were forced by the "Maitreya Divine Skill" to envelop them. The surging air instantly enveloped the three celestial beings. The three celestial beings cried out in agony, their monk's robes and beards ablaze, flailing their limbs in pain. The "Crimson Fiend Moga" strikes were difficult to retract, and the eccentric scholar Yu Yun's "Maitreya Divine Skill" continued to relentlessly force them back, immobilizing them completely.

In the blink of an eye, the three celestial beings were reduced to three charred corpses, their fierce eyes wide open, flailing wildly within the crimson flames emanating from their own bodies, committing self-destruction in a gruesome manner. The four demons of Gaoligong Mountain paled at the sight, unable to attack or escape, exchanging bewildered glances. The three elders of the Beggar Clan were deeply moved, secretly clicking their tongues in astonishment. At this moment, four figures darted in: Qiankun Hand Thunder Xiaotian, Ai Jialan Cui Ji, and the father and daughter of Yiyuan Jushi Hu Gang gracefully descended. Hu Ruolan, the young lady, fixed her large, watery eyes on Xie Yunyue, never looking away.

A howl rang out from Venerable Jin Yue: "Yu Yun, you're so ruthless..." Yu Yun smiled slightly, then suddenly flicked his palms outwards. With a deafening boom, the three Venerables from beyond the heavens were instantly blasted away, crashing into the hall wall. A large chunk of the sturdy wall collapsed, sending dust and debris flying. The three Venerables from beyond the heavens were half-dead, their heads bleeding profusely.

Had the four demons of Gaoligong Mountain not dodged quickly, they too would have been affected by the force of the "Maitreya Divine Skill." Although they escaped unscathed, the look of shock and fear remained on their faces. The Great Demon Hua Yu thought to himself, "I wonder where Yu Yun learned such unparalleled martial arts. Even if we fight head-on, we might not be able to win. It's better to find a way to save our revenge for another time."

They all knew that Jin Gou Wu Di Xin Meng had definitely fallen victim to Yu Yun's ambush. The fact that all the experts in the manor were immobilized by pressure point techniques was not because Yu Yun lacked the skill. The four demons were all martial arts giants. Experts could tell a thing or not with a single move. If they didn't even have this kind of insight, how could they presume to be among the masters? At that moment, the Heavenly Demon Hua Yu clasped his hands and smiled, "Your extraordinary skills, which are unprecedented in history, are no wonder you are famous throughout the martial arts world. Today is not the time to fight. Since you have made an eight-year agreement with the Qin Zhong Twin Swords, we old men will also come to Huashan Meirong Peak to learn from you then." After saying this, he didn't wait for Yu Yun's reply and hurriedly turned around and got up.
Suddenly, Yu Yun shouted, "Wait!"

The four demons were startled and turned to stand still. The eldest demon, Hua Yu, said, "Does Your Excellency have anything else to say?"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "I knew you wouldn't be going to Mount Tai. I heard that you possess a Shaolin secret technique, the 'Formless Vajra Palm Manual.' Please return it to you."

The eldest demon, Hua Yu, couldn't help but change color. Before he could reply, the fourth demon, Hua Huang, was so angry that his bald head turned red. He shouted, "Yu Yun, fifty years ago, the four of us were already famous throughout the martial arts world and highly respected throughout the south. We didn't want to

stoop to your level, so we yielded. Do you think we are truly afraid of you?" Yu Yun sneered, "I only wanted to retrieve the 'Formless Vajra Palm Manual' from your elder brother. What are you doing jumping around and shouting like that?" "

Da Mo Hua Yu thought to himself, with their reputation in the martial arts world, how could they repeatedly show weakness? Wouldn't it make them a laughing stock in the martial arts world if word got out? Although Yu Yun's martial arts are superb, he might not necessarily lose in a fight. Hearing this, his face darkened, and he said, "You are not a disciple of Shaolin, how can you overstep your bounds? With your martial arts, you might not be able to get the better of me."

Yu Yun laughed and said, "If you don't believe me, then try it." "With that, he shot forward, his right hand moving with lightning speed to grab Hua Yu.

The second, third, and fourth demons saw Yu Yun's sudden movement and attacked in unison, but they were a step too late. The great demon Hua Yu was caught off guard by Yu Yun's sudden attack. He only felt a blur before his eyes and immediately realized something was wrong. He tried to raise his wrist, but his left shoulder was already gripped by Yu Yun's five iron fingers. Instantly, his shoulder went numb, and the numbness spread throughout his body in an instant. He felt weak all over, and his eyes showed a look of horror.

The second, third, and fourth demons hurriedly withdrew their palms and were stunned. Yu Yun sneered, "If it weren't for the fact that you didn't achieve fame easily, I would have crippled all your martial arts today." "Saying this, he reached into Hua Yu's robes with his left hand, and felt a strangely hard object on his right waist. With a swift flick of his fingers, he took the 'Formless Vajra Palm Scripture' from his hand, glanced at it briefly, and then put it back in his robes. He then glanced at the four demons of Gaoligong Mountain, released his grip, and coldly said, 'Go then. The eight-year agreement will soon be up. If you cannot master a unique skill within eight years, you might as well die in the deep mountains to avoid making a fool of yourselves.'

The great demon Hua Yu gradually felt the numbness and soreness disappear. He secretly circulated his qi and tested it, finding nothing amiss. Suddenly, his left thumb pointed upwards. Several clanging dragon roars rang out, and the sword light blazed brightly, surging towards Yu Yun like a raging torrent. It turned out that Hua Yu's thumb pointing upwards was a signal. The four demons simultaneously drew their swords and attacked. All four moves contained the principles of life and death, strange and unpredictable, accompanied by the incessant sounds of wind and thunder.

Yu Yun's anger surged. He thrust his left hand upwards, and immediately a series of crisp sounds rang out. The four longswords were reduced to half their original length." The four demons were stunned. Yu Yun tossed the four sword tips to the ground with his left hand, not even glancing at them, and turned to walk towards Lei Xiaotian. The four demons were pale. Hua Yu stamped his foot and whispered, "Go." The four demons vanished like lightning.

"Even if you scoop up all the water from the three rivers, you can't wash away the shame on my face today." At this moment, Hu Gang, the hermit of Yiyuan, was whispering with Lei Xiaotian when he saw Yu Yun (i.e., Xie Yunyue) approaching and immediately stopped talking. Xie Yunyue frowned slightly, holding the "Formless Vajra Palm Scripture" in his hand, and said with a smile to Hu Gang, the hermit of Yiyuan, "Please pass this 'Formless Vajra Palm Scripture' to Shaolin, venerable senior." Hu

Gang accepted it with a smile and said, "Young hero, you averted a martial arts catastrophe in an instant. Otherwise, the Mount Tai Gathering would have lost many martial arts masters. I admire you greatly." Just as Xie Yunyue was about to offer a few words of modesty, he suddenly heard a sharp whistling sound, followed by several figures darting down.

The newcomers were none other than Ni Wanlan, along with the short, wiry Fang Shuo Jingfang, Dongfang Yukun Jiang Zongyao, and the Emei Jade Flute Swordsman Geng Changxiu. Ni Wanlan was dressed in a black silk outfit, her hair disheveled, without any makeup, appearing unusually haggard. Her large, clear eyes were filled with resentment, and her eyes were moist. The Jade Flute Swordsman Geng Changxiu wore a disdainful expression, glaring at Xie Yunyue with obvious intent to attack.

The short, wiry Fang Shuo Jingfang, upon seeing Xie Yunyue, immediately... The strange voice grumbled, "Good lad, it's alright that you ran away, but you've caused this old man so much trouble..."

Xie Yunyue remained silent, glanced at the Jade Flute Swordsman Geng Changxiu, then his figure suddenly jerked, soaring through the air, kicking twice with each foot, and shooting off like lightning. All the heroes saw was a wisp of smoke, disappearing as swiftly as a falling star. The crowd was astonished by Xie Yunyue's sudden speed. Lei Xiaotian cried out, "Third brother, don't go! I have something to say..." Ni Wanlan could only manage a mournful cry: "Brother Xie." "The lamentations were so poignant, so heart-wrenching, that one could hardly bear to hear them.

Xie Yunyue's lightness skill was unparalleled; his speed was astounding. Before they could finish speaking, he had vanished without a trace. At this moment, the sky was filled with gloom, and a fierce wind rose. The withered branches of the trees in the manor swayed and howled. A gust of wind swept away broken branches, raising dust and sand that blotted out the sky. Everything was unusually gloomy, and the heroes all wore solemn expressions, their robes fluttering. Ni Wanlan's eyes were red and swollen, and she sobbed softly

, her delicate shoulders shaking uncontrollably, heartbroken. The Jade Flute Swordsman Geng Changxiu's face was ashen, and he muttered curses, 'Miss Lan, this man is not worthy of such attention. He is frivolous and shameless, a disgrace to the title of swordsman. To put it

bluntly, he is nothing but a beast in human clothing.' A crisp 'slap' came from Geng Changxiu's right cheek, instantly turning half of it red. Geng Changxiu covered his right cheek with his hand, stunned." It turned out that as soon as Hu Ruolan saw Ni Wanlan and the others appear, Xie Yunyue immediately rushed away. From the expressions on Ni Wanlan and Geng Changxiu's faces, she could tell what was going on. She realized Ni Wanlan was deeply in

love with Xie Yunyue, and she herself felt the same way, so she felt a sense of kinship. At this moment, seeing Geng Changxiu slander Xie Yunyue, she moved like lightning, slapping him across the face with lightning speed. It is well known that romantic feelings often arise from love at first sight, and vice versa. Although Geng Changxiu was a self-confident handsome man, he held no appeal in the eyes of Hu Ruolan and Ni Wanlan. Hu Ruolan felt disgusted from the first glance, and the slander only fueled her anger. Clearly, the slap was quite forceful. After a long while, Geng Changxiu regained his composure and saw a stunningly beautiful girl, her almond-shaped eyes wide open, glaring at him.

Geng Changxiu's eyes lit up, and he understood even more clearly. His jealousy towards Xie Yunyue intensified. He thought to himself, "Why are they all so infatuated with Xie Yunyue? I am talented and charming, and I am obedient in every way, yet I cannot win the slightest favor from Miss Lan. Why is that?" He couldn't help but feel a sense of "Why did Heaven create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?" He was unjustly humiliated in front of so many martial arts masters, his face instantly fell, and he had no choice but to show some emotion

. His expression darkened as he asked, "Why did you attack me without cause, young lady?" Hu Ruolan giggled involuntarily, then her face hardened with frost as she said, "I didn't expect you to be all show and no substance. You didn't even understand what I meant by that palm strike. Humph. If you dare to speak disrespectfully to Brother Xie again, I'll take your ears."
Geng Changxiu's face turned ashen with rage, and he suddenly burst into loud laughter, "Does the young lady think I, Geng Changxiu, am worthless? Although your skills are extraordinary, taking my ears might not be so difficult." He reached down to his waist, and nine red threads suddenly flew up, revealing a jade flute in his hand. He stood tall and imposing, a cold smile on his face.

Hu Ruolan noticed that he held a jade flute adorned with nine red stars. The hermit Hu Gang, however, seemed oblivious, whispering to Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian. He knew that matters of the young lovers would quickly dissipate, especially since Geng Changxiu's insolent words had greatly offended him. The three elders of the Beggars' Sect stood where Hunyuan Zhi Kuai Jun had stood, discussing how to deal with the Beggars' Sect disciples from Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces under Kuai Jun's jurisdiction.

Jiang Zongyao and Dongfang Yukun felt it inappropriate to intervene. Firstly, they were also young and didn't want to easily get involved in a love triangle, fearing misunderstandings; secondly, they had a deep affection for Xie Yunyue and greatly admired his demeanor. However, after traveling with them for several days, they felt that Geng Changxiu was petty and intolerant, and his demeanor was incomparable to theirs, making them very incompatible with his personality. Therefore, they were in a dilemma and could only remain silent and stay out of it.

Short Fang Shuo leaped between the two of them, shaking his head and laughing humorously, "Why are you two so jealous after just meeting? What's the matter with you? For my sake, let's shake hands and make peace."

But Hu Ruolan wouldn't have it. She glared at him and snapped, "You crazy old man, spouting nonsense! Who's jealous? If it weren't for your age, I'd make you wash your mouth clean with the Yellow River water!"

Then, the Jade Flute Swordsman Geng Changxiu snorted and said... "As a disciple of the Emei Sect, how can I be humiliated by a woman? Senior Jing, you need not concern yourself with this matter."

This immediately froze the short, ugly man, Jing Fang, in the middle, his face flushed red. A moment later, his expression changed drastically, and he burst into wild laughter, saying, "This old man has lived this long, and this is the first time I've been so viciously insulted!" Then, his face turned cold, and he shouted at Hu Ruolan, "Girl! No matter who's behind you, this old man is determined to teach you a lesson!"

Hu Ruolan sneered coldly, proud and fearless. Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, was caught off guard by the unexpected intervention of the short Fang Shuo, finding the situation extremely troublesome. Lei Xiaotian, the Master of Qiankun, leaped forward and laughed, "Senior Jing, don't you know the saying 'A great man doesn't tolerate the faults of a petty person,' and 'A prime minister's belly can hold a boat'? If this matter gets out, you'll only be criticized for being petty and intolerant." He then whispered in her ear, "Do you know that this young lady is the beloved daughter of Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan? This old man is notorious for his nagging, and besides, the young lady's relationship with my third brother is quite extraordinary. If you ruin this matter,

how will you face your old friend's son?" Upon hearing this, the short Fang Shuo immediately looked surprised and whispered in her ear, "Is this really true? I'm not afraid of One Yuan, but I'm worried that Yun Yue might misunderstand. However, I still need to save face. Brother, you go back, and I will take care of both sides and stop here." Seeing Jing Fang's stubbornness, Lei Xiaotian didn't say anything more. He frowned, stepped aside, and whispered to the young lady Ni Wanlan for a while.

At this moment, Ni Wanlan lowered her head and wept, her chest soaked with tears. She felt utterly miserable, the most unfortunate person in the world, and paid no heed to anything else. It seemed the argument between Hu Ruolan and Geng Changxiu wasn't about her at all, and she ignored Lei Xiaotian's words. Lei Xiaotian had intended to persuade Ni Wanlan to intervene, but seeing her indifference, he was helpless and could only stand there dumbfounded.

The short, fierce-looking Fang Shuo and Jing Fang stood imposingly, their hair and beard billowing in the wind. Their usually narrow eyes were now wide and fierce, their gaze piercing. Geng Changxiu, the Jade Flute Hero, stood aside, wielding his jade flute. The short, anxious Cui Jian, the dwarf, knew that a fight between the two couldn't end in a draw; injuring either side would be disastrous. He instinctively felt that Geng Changxiu was the one who had stirred up this trouble, and glared fiercely at him.

Geng Changxiu seemed to have made up his mind. Seeing Cui Jian glaring at him, he returned the glare, thinking to himself, "You old bastard, why are you being so aggressive towards me? Do you think the disciples of Emei are so easy to bully?"

At that moment, Hu Ruolan reversed her palms, and two streaks of golden, serpentine sword light slashed out diagonally, the sword force like a raging storm, slicing straight towards Jing Fang's chest. The two swords were unleashed simultaneously, as fast as lightning, the tips of the swords hissing out primordial true energy, piercing the heart and chest. Clearly, the young lady's swordsmanship was extraordinary, deeply understanding the essence of the unique skills of the One Yuan Hermit Hu Gang. As the young woman drew her sword with extraordinary skill, he felt a chill run down his spine. He thought to himself, "This woman is truly remarkable. If I, an old man, show weakness, wouldn't I be ridiculed by Master Hu Gang?" He sneered, raised his body slightly, and suddenly leaped into the air. He condensed "Five Elements True Qi" in his palms and swooped down. The sky was filled with a raging storm, even stronger than the wind, which surged fiercely towards him.

Hu Ruolan's sword strike was initially a feint. She abruptly retracted both swords, and as the short Fang Shuo lunged down, she twisted her body and shifted her stance, lightly touching the ground with her lotus feet. She then soared through the air, her two strangely shaped golden swords swirling and scattering countless golden stars. The sword light, like snow, enveloped Jing Fang. Jing Fang's "Five Elements Palm" attack missed its mark, and as soon as he landed, he felt a blinding cold light and a chilling sword aura enveloping his body. Greatly alarmed, he immediately leaned back, unleashing his full power to push upwards.

The sword aura and palm winds were about to collide in the blink of an eye; if they did, one of them would be seriously injured. Just as the crisis reached its peak, a loud shout rang out, and a figure shot forward with lightning speed. The short Fang Shuo and Jing Fang instantly felt their palm force dissipate, and they were forced back two or three steps by a gentle, powerful force. Hu Ruolan also felt a numbness in her wrists as her two swords were snatched from her hands. She was terrified, but as soon as she stood still, her starry eyes saw who it was, and a smile bloomed on her cheeks, as charming as a blooming lily.

The man was none other than Xie Yunyue, the eccentric scholar who had returned. Holding two golden swords, he was handsome and elegant, smiling slightly as he addressed the short and wielding Jing Fang, saying, "Uncle Jing, I haven't offended you, so why are you attacking your own people?"

Jing Fang's face flushed red, his small eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "You little devil, how can you say you haven't offended me? You've repeatedly found an opportunity to slip away, making me search for you in vain. Isn't this whole mess your doing?"

Xie Yunyue laughed heartily and said, "Even if I'm at fault, I'll treat you to a jar of fine wine later as an apology."

At this moment, the gloomy mood of the day dissipated, and he felt just as comfortable, laughing heartily, "You're quite something, kid. You know all my flaws. When I see good wine, everything is fine. Even if Miss Hu slaps me three times, it's for nothing." After saying this, he laughed heartily again.

Hu Ruolan's anger subsided upon seeing Xie Yunyue arrive. After being teased by the short Fang Shuo, she couldn't help but giggle, her laughter so captivating it made her sway. At that moment, Ni Wanlan appeared from beyond Xie Yunyue's sight, immediately ceasing her weeping. Her eyes, red and swollen, gazed at Xie Yunyue with resentment.

※That day, Geng Changxiu took a deep breath of true energy, leaping past Lan, and turned back with a smile, saying, "Miss, I've pursued you so diligently."

Lan suddenly stopped, slightly raising her head, and said softly, "Brother Geng, why are you pursuing a woman of ill fate like me? I, Ni Wanlan, have decided to spend the rest of my life in seclusion, chanting Buddhist scriptures and keeping company with Buddha."

Geng Changxiu saw that the girl's eyes were red and swollen, brimming with tears, and she looked heartbroken. He immediately murmured, "Miss, why bother? I, Geng, will certainly avenge you."

Ni Wanlan suddenly snorted coldly, her fair face turning icy, and said, "You little..." "Does art even deserve it? Don't even dream of it in this lifetime." Then, realizing her words had been too harsh, she smiled sadly and said, "Brother Geng, please don't worry about my ill-fated life. My whole life has been filled with sorrow and unwavering resolve. Brother Geng, why did you come all this way?"

The Jade Flute Swordsman's head throbbed, and he froze, speechless. Even now, he still didn't understand the connection or misunderstanding between the girl and Xie Yunyue. However, he intuitively felt that Xie Yunyue didn't love the girl, so why was she so devoted to him? It was truly incomprehensible. Love between men and women is often complicated and incomprehensible, because the observer sees clearly while the participant is confused. Who made him get involved? The girl was right. Xie Yunyue's skills were unparalleled; how could he possibly compare? How could he be involved and become a laughingstock in his sect? But his love for the girl was unwavering, yet she hadn't shown any interest since they met. Was it worth it for him to be caught in this whirlpool of love? Geng Changxiu merely asked himself a question, seemingly oblivious to the snow piled high on his head.

Seeing Geng Changxiu's embarrassed, bowed head, Ni Wanlan felt a pang of guilt. She opened her mouth to speak, but didn't know what to say, and stood there stunned. The young woman had originally hated Geng Changxiu to the core. If he hadn't come to disturb her, Xie Yunyue wouldn't have left so quickly; her almost-achieved dream had vanished.

She realized that Xie Yunyue wasn't unloving; otherwise, why would he have rushed to her rescue, treating her wounds without regard for suspicion? It was clear he still loved her. Perhaps, because of Geng Changxiu's interference, Xie Yunyue had mistaken her and Geng Changxiu for lovers, using this as an excuse to withdraw. That's why she had wanted to kill Geng Changxiu at that moment. How heavy and despondent one's heart must be when hope is shattered, wishing one could immediately shave their head and become a nun, spending the rest of their life in solitude. And so, with a broken heart, she braved the swirling snow and stepped out of the shop.
In the vast, snowy wilderness, she had no idea where to go or what to do. She felt utterly disheartened and resented Xie Yunyue's heartlessness. Tears streamed down her face like a broken string, preventing her from gathering her inner energy and using her light-footed skills. Her steps were heavy, which is why Geng Changxiu discovered her footprints and came looking for her. The two stood frozen, neither uttering a sound. At this moment, darkness was approaching, and only a glimpse of the scenery remained. Soon, it would be pitch black. But the current stalemate needed to be broken, otherwise, they would be unable to move an inch.

Suddenly, a voice carried by the north wind through the snowy wilderness called out, "Miss Lan... Miss Lan... where are you..."

Geng Changxiu immediately became alert and shouted, "Brother Jiang... Miss Lan is here..." He repeated it several times.

In an instant, three dark figures pounced from all sides—it was Dwarf Fang Shuo, Jing Fang, Jiang Zongyao, and Fang Dongkun. After repelling the bandits, they searched everywhere for Miss Lan and Geng Changxiu, but to no avail. They returned to the inn, where the innkeeper told them the direction the two had gone, and they hurriedly went to find them. In that windy, snowy, and dimly lit weather, they strained their eyes to spot the faint footprints. Geng Changxiu, upon seeing Ai Fangshuo and Jing Fang, immediately recounted what had happened.

Ai Fangshuo and Jing Fang, upon hearing this, repeatedly stamped their feet, shaking their heads and sighing, "Yun Yue, that child is really..." Then, they said to the girl, "Miss Lan, don't be discouraged. Leave this to me. Let's go back to the inn and continue tomorrow." The girl remained silent and followed Jing Fang and the others back to the inn.

Over the past few days, Ai Fangshuo and Jing Fang had seen Miss Lan become gentle and kind, a far cry from her previous capricious and shrewish nature. They felt that Xie Yun Yue's dislike of Miss Lan was unfair to her. Back at the inn, they comforted Miss Lan privately, earnestly promising to grant her wish. At dawn the following night, the fierce winds and heavy snow intensified. Ai Fang, Shuo Jingfang, and their companions braved the snow, heading towards Yanjing via Handan.

The weather that day was even worse than the previous day, bitterly cold and biting. The howling winds, carrying swirling snowflakes, swept across the land, shrouding everything in white. Upon arriving in Handan, the five bought fine horses and mounted them. The horses neighed loudly, unable to withstand the extreme cold, frequently raising their heads and neighing loudly.

In less than two days, they arrived in Yanjing. They stayed at the Sanyuan Old Inn in Damochang. Most of the inns and restaurants in the Damochang area were frequented by martial arts figures. Before they could even warm their seats, they heard stories of the four Shaolin monks and the two heroes of the palace gates. At the Sanyuan Old Inn, the strange-faced scholar had punished the two monsters of Qin, praising the scholar's astonishing martial arts. There were also tales of a dispute at the main gate that led to a gathering of heroes at Mount Tai. Although the accounts differed, the facts were largely the same.

The five of them carefully tapped the object and concluded that the strange-faced scholar was Xie Yunyue in disguise. Dwarf Fang Shuo and Jing Fang pondered silently; with his experience in the martial world, they had guessed most of the situation, though not entirely wrong. Dwarf Fang Shuo slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Ha! This kid must have gone to the Yue family in Cangzhou. Otherwise, we could find him even in Jinan. Let's eat and drink our fill, then go find him!"

Miss Lan beamed, but poor Jade Flute Swordsman Geng Changxiu was in a dilemma. Going with him was problematic, but not going meant he couldn't bear to leave Miss Lan. His brows had been furrowed for the past two days, the reason being that Miss Lan hadn't spoken to him since that day. He had deliberately tried to subtly probe her, but

she always avoided the topic with a resentful expression. Miss Lan also had her reasons. She couldn't bear to see Geng Changxiu continue his infatuation with her. She knew she could never love Geng Changxiu, and to nip it in the bud, she feigned indifference, hoping to dissuade him from the idea. For the past two days, Geng Changxiu's temperament had become very irritable, and he frequently uttered angry words. Dongfang Yukun and Jiang Zongyao couldn't help but feel extremely disgusted. Ai Fangshuo and Jing Fang sighed inwardly, feeling extremely sorry for Geng Changxiu's plight. They knew that love between men and women could never be forced, and they were powerless to help him.

Ai Fangshuo and Jing Fang ordered the waiter to bring a sumptuous feast. Geng Changxiu, however, was preoccupied and unable to eat. Seeing this, Jing Fang smiled and said, "Brother Geng, we are going to Lu. Would you like to join us? If you cannot come, consider this feast a farewell gift." Geng Changxiu understood the implication, but unwilling to leave Miss Lan so soon, he still wanted to salvage the situation. He quickly replied, "I was ordered to descend the mountain to travel, but my experience is limited. Fortunately, you have been guiding me, senior, and my experience in the martial world has greatly increased. Now that there is the Mount Tai Heroes' Gathering, I wish to witness the martial arts of renowned masters. If you do not mind, senior, I will gladly follow you." Ai Fangshuo could only frown slightly, saying nothing more.

After the group of five left Yanjing, rumors spread that the Red Flag Gang bandits in the suburbs of Wuqing had been wiped out. Jing Fang suddenly realized that Xie Yunyue must be responsible. Miss Lan said to Jing Fang, "Brother Xie, isn't this going too far?"

Jing Fang shook his head and said, "Yun Yue's background is too tragic, which may have led to his solitary and extreme nature. If you knew Yun Yue's background, you wouldn't say he's acting so ruthlessly."

Miss Lan pondered deeply and finally realized that Xie Yun Yue must have a tragic past, and his coldness towards her was due to his extreme nature. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. The journey was filled with wind and snow. They arrived at Zhao Kangjiu's house in Cangzhou and learned that Zhao Kangjiu was at the Yuansheng Escort Agency in Jinan. Jing Fang had met Gao Zilong, the head of the Yuansheng Escort Agency, several times in the past. The five of them went directly to the Yuansheng Escort Agency by Daming Lake in Jinan. They learned from Gao Zilong that Xie Yun Yue had gone to Xinzhuang, so they rushed there. Geng Changxiu never expected that his infatuation would bring him such a disaster.

Geng Changxiu still felt a lingering fear when he recalled the day Xie Yunyue snatched his jade flute from his hand in a single move, sending it flying and embedding itself in a tree trunk. Seeing Xie Yunyue approaching, his face tense, he swung his jade flute, ready to strike. Qiankun Shoulei Xiaotian, seeing the murderous intent in Xie Yunyue's eyes and knowing the Golden Summit's reputation for protecting their own, feared Xie Yunyue would incite another conflict, so he shouted, "Third brother, Brother Geng didn't mean any harm just now, you mustn't hurt him!"

Xie Yunyue ignored him, moving swiftly and landing less than three feet in front of Geng Changxiu. Geng Changxiu roared and launched a fierce attack with nine flutes, as swift as a storm. Suddenly, a red flute shadow rose from the dust and sand, enveloping Xie Yunyue, strangely fierce and deadly. Xie Yunyue smiled coldly, his figure blurring as he slipped into the red-dotted flute shadows. He pulled out the cold iron folding fan he had taken from Shen Shangjiu, and with a clattering sound, swung it diagonally upwards. This move, though seemingly identical on the surface, subtly contained the profound techniques of the "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan."

Geng Changxiu felt an invisible force crashing into him, losing his footing and staggering backwards. His jade flute nearly slipped from his grasp, and he was greatly alarmed. He dodged diagonally, unleashing a move called "Great Roc Spreads Its Wings." A flute shadow sliced through the air like a mountain, but midway through the move, it suddenly transformed into "Black Crow Slashes the Sand," striking Xie Yunyue's chest with unparalleled speed and a sharp whistling wind.

Xie Yunyue sneered, his folding fan flashing as he swung it around. Just as the jade flute was about to reach his chest, he swiftly struck it with the fan handle. A soft ringing sound rang out, and Geng Changxiu felt a sharp, almost tearing pain in his wrist. He lost his grip, and the jade flute was knocked from his hand, flying into the grass. Geng Changxiu still tried to turn the tide, his left hand suddenly slashing at Xie Yunyue's right arm with overwhelming force and lightning speed.

Xie Yunyue was even faster. His left palm flipped rapidly, employing the "Eighteen Disarming Techniques of Xuanyuan" to subdue the dragon. In an instant, he had already seized Geng Changxiu's left wrist. With a snap and a swing, Geng Changxiu cried out and was sent flying four or five zhang away, crashing to the ground. Although Geng Changxiu was not injured, he leaped up with a "carp leap," his hands quickly reaching into his chest. He shot down like lightning, his palms rising, and a fierce gust of wind, carrying a shower of black stars, hurtled towards Xie Yunyue.

Geng Changxiu's desperate attack ignited Xie Yunyue's killing intent. With a deep snort, Xie Yunyue unleashed a palm strike, the "Maitreya Divine Skill" technique, "Raging Tide Mountain Surge," aimed directly at Geng Changxiu. The countless black dots in the sky immediately retaliated, striking Geng Changxiu's head, face, and entire body in an instant. Geng Changxiu screamed in agony, his body tumbling like a kite with a broken string, thrown against a large tree with a loud thud, unconscious.

The assembled heroes were horrified. Although Ni Wanlan didn't love Geng Changxiu, she believed she had instigated their conflict. "I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me," she thought. Geng Changxiu's scream was horrifying. In a moment of desperation, she leaped in front of Geng Changxiu, glanced at him, and quickly covered her face with her hands, crying out, "Xie Yunyue, you're so cruel..." followed by soft sobs.

The assembled heroes rushed to Geng Changxiu's side. They saw that his handsome face was riddled with the black caltrops they themselves had unleashed, resembling a honeycomb—a gruesome and terrifying sight. He lay unconscious, black blood seeping from his face. Xie Yunyue slowly approached, examining Geng Changxiu's gruesome state. A pang of sympathy gripped him. He thought, "Heavens, I hope I haven't done anything wrong. He's innocent, forced into this situation, with no other choice." His eyes were fixed on Geng Changxiu's face, silent and his expression unusually serious.

Lei Xiaotian frowned deeply and demanded, "Third brother, what happened to you?" His voice was stern.

Hu Gang, the hermit of Yiyuan, immediately gave Lei Xiaotian a look to stop him, lest Xie Yunyue lose face. The reason was that when Xie Yunyue and Geng Changxiu first fought, Hu Ruolan had guessed it was because of the Golden Summit Abbot, and had whispered the details to her father, Hu Gang. Although Hu Gang didn't approve of Xie Yunyue's actions, he deeply sympathized with Xie Yunyue's plight and felt he had been forced to act this way.

Seeing the hermit's look, Lei Xiaotian knew there was a reason and immediately fell silent. Ai Fangshuo felt greatly troubled; speaking was one thing, remaining silent was another, and he squinted his small eyes and shook his head repeatedly. Seeing Xie Yunyue's cold and indifferent expression, Ni Wanlan said resentfully, "Brother Xie, please don't do this to him for my sake. He didn't say anything about you."

Xie Yunyue glanced at her and said coldly, "Who said it was for you? If it were really that bad, I wouldn't bother."
These words pierced Ni Wanlan's heart. Her eyes reddened, and her face turned ashen as she cursed, "Xie Yunyue, I regret ever knowing such a cold-hearted and vicious man..." Suddenly, she drew her sword, cut off a lock of hair from her head, and threw it at Xie Yunyue. With a twist of her body, she vanished from the manor in an instant.

Xie Yunyue caught the lock of hair, his expression somber. After a moment, he slowly bent down and quickly pointed seven fingers at Geng Changxiu. Geng Changxiu slowly awoke, and upon opening his eyes, saw Xie Yunyue standing before him. He raised his mouth to curse, "Xie..." but before he could utter a single word, Xie Yunyue's face turned cold, and he roared, "If you dare to speak so disrespectfully again, I will make you wish you were dead, wish you were alive! Hmph. If you are not satisfied, then ask the bald monk with the golden peak to avenge this grudge. I, Xie, will be waiting for you at Huanbi Manor in Changbai on the Dragon Boat Festival in May."

Geng Changxiu was enraged upon hearing this and burst into wild laughter. Black blood gushed from the wounds on his face, flowing down his face, making him look like a vengeful ghost, ferocious and terrifying. His laughter contained boundless resentment and bitterness. After a long while, his laughter subsided, and he suddenly shouted sharply, "Very well, on the Dragon Boat Festival in May, I, Geng, will definitely go to Changbai with my master to settle this." After saying this, he didn't even bother to pick up his jade flute, and with a "Soaring Crane" movement, he flew away.

Xie Yunyue watched Geng Changxiu's departing figure and murmured to himself, "I hope I haven't done anything wrong." His voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Dwarf Fang Shuo, his beard bristling with anger, said indignantly, "Yun Yue, your actions are far too erratic! Ni Wanlan is a wise and virtuous girl, deeply in love with you. How could you hurt her like this? Geng Changxiu and you are not sworn enemies; love disputes are bound to cause friction. To let a trivial matter create a major grudge shows your narrow-mindedness and inability to tolerate others. I, this old man, think you will follow in your father's footsteps, beyond redemption."

Xie Yun Yue glanced at Dwarf Fang Shuo, hesitated, and only smiled bitterly, looking up at the dim sky in silence. Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, approached with a smile and said, "Brother Jing, you have misunderstood Nephew Xie. Things are not so simple." He then loudly explained what the two heroes of the palace had said.

All the heroes present suddenly realized what was going on. The short, wiry Fang Shuo and Jing Fang looked on with surprise and doubt, saying, "The Golden-Crowned Bald Monk was involved too? No wonder he was so guilty and avoided me when I went to Mount Emei last year." He paused, then his small eyes glazed over, and he said to Xie Yunyue, "Nephew, you've acted too recklessly. I won't tolerate the Golden-Crowned Bald Monk either. You can go to Mount Emei and find him yourself. Why take your anger out on Geng Changxiu?" Xie

Yunyue said, "I know my limits. He brought this upon himself. How can he blame me? Besides, there are at least a hundred or so disciples of the Golden-Crowned Monk in Mount Emei. If I go to find him, I'll inevitably start a massacre. It's better to provoke him to come and settle this score."

Dwarf Fang Shuo laughed loudly, "Anyway, you always have a point." Then, his expression changed, and he said, "This old man promised Miss Lan, and I must fulfill my promise. I'm going to Yanshan to find her and head to Changbai now. If you hurt her feelings again, I'll be the first to object." He then turned to Jiang Zongyao and Dongfang Yukun, saying, "Young men, if you have nothing else to do, why don't you accompany this old man for a walk?"

Dongfang Yukun and the other man agreed and came over to Xie Yunyue, smiling, "Brother Xie, after we find Miss Lan, we'll head to Changbai for a long chat."

Xie Yunyue smiled sheepishly, clasped his hands, and said, "Thank you both." Dwarf Fang Shuo, Jiang Zongyao, and Dongfang Yukun bid farewell to the others and left.

At this moment, Hu Gang, the Hermit of One Yuan, laughed, "This old man and my daughter also need to go to Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain to return the Vajra Sutra, and then go to Changbai." He then gave Lei Xiaotian a meaningful look, and Lei Xiaotian nodded with a smile.

Xie Yunyue's heart pounded; he had already discerned eight parts of what was going on. Immediately, the Hermit Hu Gang led Miss Hu Ruolan away slowly. Hu Ruolan looked reluctant to part, gazing at Xie Yunyue with tender eyes, seemingly with no other choice but to leave. The Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi, carrying the dying Hunyuan Finger Kuai Jun, smiled and said, "Second Brother Lei, are you still angry with me, Cang Laozi?"

Qiankun Hand Lei Xiaotian laughed humorously, saying, "It's just that I, Lei Xiaotian, am second in command; how dare I be angry with my elder brother? Elder brother, you must hurry back to Yanjing to open the main hall of the incense hall. Just go ahead; once things are settled, Second Brother Lei will find you."

Cang Xi said, "Alright, Third Brother, what is your decision?"

Xie Yunyue said, "I need to rush to the northern pastures, then to Changbai. Elder brother, let's meet again then." The Nine-Fingered Beggar Cang Xi nodded, and he and the Star River Fisherman with the Bamboo Staff sped away.

At this moment, Cui Jian, the short-statured warrior, approached Xie Yunyue to thank him for escaping his prisoner. Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "Hero Cui, our friendship is far from ordinary; it's a bond of righteousness. There's no need for such a small favor." He paused slightly, pointed to the three corpses of the Three Venerables from Beyond the Heavens, and continued, "It seems Hero Cui will need to stay and handle the aftermath. Please trouble yourself to collect their remains. As for those whose acupoints were sealed, they will be able to move freely in six hours, but their power will not recover for three months. I have other matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. I will pay my respects at the Great Hero's manor on my way back south." "Alright."

Cui Jian, the short-statured monk, laughed, "I, Cui, will be waiting for you at my humble abode."

Xie Yunyue and Lei Xiaotian bid farewell to Cui Jian and left the manor. Xie Yunyue suddenly said to Lei Xiaotian, "Second brother, you go to the northern pasture first. I still have something to attend to, and I will come as soon as I finish it."

Lei Xiaotian blinked and laughed, "Alright, I, Lei the Second, am not afraid of you lying. If you are late, I will tell my two wives not to let you off the hook." With that, he leaped up and used his superior lightness skill to run away.

The wind howled, the dark clouds surged, the haze was vast, and the crows cawed in the forest, making it particularly desolate and bleak. Xie Yunyue stood and gazed at the scene for a long time, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He suddenly felt a sense of loneliness, and new and old grudges surged in his chest. It was just like the old grudges flowing endlessly like the spring river, and the new grudges were like a thousand layers of clouds and mountains. He sighed deeply before walking away.

To the north of Jinan lie the Que and Hua Mountains, their ridges connected, resembling a long dike. To the south, the Thousand Buddha Mountain stands tall, encircling the city on three sides. Thus, Jinan's terrain is concave, forming a basin. All the waters flowing through the city originate from the southern mountains, but are constricted by the northern hills, narrowing their flow paths and causing them to gush forth from all directions. This is why Jinan boasts seventy-two springs, among which Baotu Spring is the most renowned.

Baotu Spring is located in the South Gate, about a mile from the city. Commonly known as Eying Water, it is also called Baoliu. Its springs gushe forth from all directions, with three bubbles erupting in the center, reaching a height of over a foot, rising and falling continuously. The spring water remains clear and cold year-round, unpolluted by mud because the surrounding sandy soil prevents it from being contaminated. Above Baotu Spring stands the E'ying Temple, a dilapidated building already half-collapsed. That day, before noon, a little boy with a small, upward-pointing braid ran out of the temple, carrying a wooden bucket in one hand. He rushed down to the edge of Baotu Spring, squatted down, and took out a wooden ladle from the bucket to scoop water, pouring it into the bucket ladle one ladleful at a time.

The boy was about seven or eight years old, with rosy lips and white teeth, and large, round, dark eyes that were endearing. His clothes were rather thin, and he shivered slightly in the cold wind. The fields were desolate; the elms and poplars near Baotu Spring had lost all their leaves. A strong wind swept through, stirring up clouds of dust and sand, rustling loudly. The weather had changed overnight, becoming extremely dry and bleak; the vibrant spring of the previous day had vanished completely.
Pedestrians were almost nowhere to be seen, except for a little boy scooping water up the mountain. Seeing the bucket was half full, he stopped, muttering to himself, "Looks like I'll have to make another trip. I simply don't have the strength to carry a full bucket up the mountain. That blind old woman is so wicked; she doesn't use the water behind the hall, why does she insist on using this spring water?"

"Little friend, do you need my help?" a voice suddenly called out from behind the boy. The boy jumped in surprise, quickly standing up. Looking around, he saw a very handsome young man, a charming smile on his face, looking at him with captivating beauty.

For some reason, he felt an instant connection with the boy, a sense of kinship that washed over him upon meeting. He looked up and asked, "Uncle, who are you? I haven't seen you before!"

The boy smiled, revealing his teeth, and said, "My surname is Xie. What's yours? Do you live in the Eying Temple on the mountain?"

The boy nodded and said, "I live in the temple! My surname is Le, and my given name is Yang. Uncle Xie, you can call me Yang'er."

It turned out that the boy was none other than Xie Yunyue, the renowned martial arts master, who had rushed from Xinzhuang to the Eying Temple. Seeing the boy fetching water from the mountain, he noticed Le Yang's exceptional talent and felt a surge of affection. He followed behind Le Yang, carefully observing his every move. Hearing Le Yang mutter to himself, he was secretly astonished that the Black-Clad Mystic Maiden's sect had found such a superior talent. It seemed he hadn't even learned a single martial art yet; a pearl was being wasted. It was a pity to have him under his wing. If he were taken under his wing, given ten years, he would surely shine brightly in the martial arts world. If he were allowed to learn the Miao martial arts, he would surely become a martial arts demon in the future.

Xie Yunyue sized up Le Yang for a while and asked, "Yang'er, have you lived here for a long time? What about your parents?"

Le Yang's eyes reddened, and he shook his head, saying, "Yang'er's parents are dead. They were murdered. Bandits were also trying to kill me, but I was saved by the blind old woman at the Eying Temple. I've been here for a year now."

Xie Yunyue pondered for a long time before saying, "Then the enemy who killed your parents must have been killed by the blind old woman, right?"

Le Yang shook his head and said, "I think the blind old woman and the enemy who killed my parents..." "On the same road, I was so frightened that I fainted. I gradually regained consciousness and heard the old woman arguing with my enemy for a long time. In the end, my enemy said, 'Since you value his talent, then you can take him in. But don't reveal the secret, or don't blame me for being ruthless.' The blind old woman sneered, 'Who would reveal the secret? Don't judge a gentleman by your own petty standards. Besides, my Miao Ling sect isn't afraid of you!' I heard my enemy laugh loudly, and his voice faded into the distance. I pretended to be unconscious, and the blind old woman dragged me here."

Xie Yunyue suddenly realized that Le Yang's parents had made enemies with martial arts figures, which was why they were killed. He then smiled and asked, "Does this blind old woman still love you?" Le Yang stared at Xie Yunyue with wide, blank eyes for a while, then suddenly laughed and said, "

Uncle Xie, to tell you the truth, I haven't spoken a single word to a stranger this past year. The blind old woman seems to dislike me, always so cold and harsh. Besides, I suspect she's one of my parents' killers, and I feel disgusted with her from the bottom of my heart. Moreover..."

Le Yang was speaking with great interest when he suddenly saw Xie Yunyue give him a look to stop him. Startled, he looked up and saw that the blind old woman had already rushed down the mountain. When she reached the middle of the mountain, Le Yang's face changed color, and he hurriedly whispered, "Hero Xie, please leave quickly. I'll just say you're asking for directions." "Upon hearing this, he immediately guessed that Uncle Xie was a master of extraordinary martial arts. Otherwise, how could the great hero Xie, standing with his back to the Eying Shrine, have sensed the old woman descending the mountain? Once he understood, the fear on his face vanished.

In the blink of an eye, the old woman had stopped behind Xie Yunyue and shouted sternly at Le Yang, 'Yang'er, I ordered you to go down the mountain to fetch water, yet you dare disobey me and speak to a stranger?'

Le Yang, his face showing growing fear from the accumulated pressure, stammered, 'This...this uncle asked...me for directions, and Yang...my son said he didn't know...'

The old woman shouted, 'Nonsense! What uncle? Go back to the mountain!'"

Xie Yunyue slowly turned around and saw an old woman in gray standing less than three feet away. She had a full head of gray hair, her left eye was blind, her skin was covered in wrinkles, and her face was ferocious. She was clearly an evil person. He sneered and said, "Who is this child to you? How dare you speak to him so harshly?"

The old woman saw the unbearable light in Xie Yunyue's eyes and couldn't help but shiver. She thought to herself, "I thought he was just a passing scholar, but I didn't expect him to be someone with profound internal martial arts skills. Judging from the lightning-like light in his eyes, he must be a martial arts master." But she was so confident in her martial arts skills that even the legendary black-clad Xuanwei, who was feared by the martial arts world, couldn't help but get angry and said, "You have no right to interfere in my old woman's affairs? You seem to be tired of living." With that, she took a step and reached out to grab Le Yang, her movements as fast as lightning.

But Xie Yunyue was faster than her. Just as the old woman's five fingers were about to touch Le Yang's clothes, Xie Yunyue's fingertip swept across her right elbow's "Quchi" acupoint. She groaned in pain and flew back about two zhang, her wrinkled old face showing surprise. Xie Yunyue let out an extremely sinister laugh and said, "Young master always takes action when he sees trouble, and you blind old woman are no exception. I only ask you who killed Le Yang's parents. Speak quickly." Upon hearing this, the blind old woman's face suddenly turned ferocious. She suddenly shot forward, a gust of wind carrying a shower of hidden weapons that flashed like lightning.

Although the old woman was blind, she was not oblivious. Upon hearing this, she knew that the young man before her was not someone to be trifled with. Today, she had encountered a formidable opponent. If she did not unleash her full power, she would not be able to escape unscathed. With a thought, she unleashed the Miao Ling's ultimate martial art, "Penetrating Mountain Palm," which she had cultivated internally and externally for decades. She also unleashed dozens of hidden weapons, including a shower of flowers. She knew that the force emitted by "Penetrating Mountain Palm" was indestructible, capable of splitting mountains and shattering monuments. It was no less powerful than the Xuanmen's Qi. Moreover, these dozens of hidden weapons all contained vicious Gu poisons. Even if the young man before her had unparalleled martial arts skills, he could not defend against them all. If he were to be even slightly touched, he would be doomed.

Little did she know that her skill was inferior, and she would lose completely. Xie Yunyue's face was as cold as water. With a light step, he charged into the "Penetrating Mountain Palm" gust of wind like lightning. Dozens of hidden weapons were instantly knocked away. Just as she was in shock, Xie Yunyue's hands were already swiftly grasping her wrists. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain, her mind went blank, and she let out a miserable scream before collapsing to the ground.

Suddenly, a clear whistle rose from the Eying Shrine, and a black shadow flew through the air. As soon as the whistle sounded, Xie Yunyue knew it was the black-clad Xuan Nu Yin Xuanwei. He immediately activated his "Maitreya Divine Skill" to protect his entire body, and with a flick of his palm, he saw Yin Xuanwei's figure descent like lightning, unleashing a powerful yet gentle force in mid-air, heading straight for him. The sound of wind and thunder hummed incessantly.

This attack, delivered from mid-air, possessed the power of a thunderbolt, like a tidal wave crashing down. Despite his unparalleled skill, Xie Yunyue felt a slight chill. He stepped aside, unleashing a palm strike from the "Maitreya Divine Skill" – "Willow Catkins' Weakness" – to deflect the incoming force. His right palm swiftly followed with the "Maitreya Divine Skill's Pressing Technique" – "Raging Tide Mountain Surge". The speed of his attack was unmatched.

The black-clad Xuan Nu, Yin Xuanwei, felt her own force being neutralized in mid-air. She also felt a wave of power, similar to the supreme Prajna power of the Zen sect, pressing down on her. Even with her profound skill, she felt a slight reversal of her qi and blood. Greatly alarmed, she knew she couldn't take it head-on. She drifted away five or six zhang, landing like a leaf, her movements strange and unusual.

The moment Yin Xuanwei touched the ground, she recognized the person. She let out a soft sigh, and a bright, spring-flower-like smile bloomed on her charming face. She giggled, "Who do we have here? It's you again! What are you being so arrogant about? In just two or three hours, all your skills will be ruined."

Xie Yunyue's sword-like eyebrows arched, and he said in a deep voice, "That's why I've come to ask you for the antidote."

Yin Xuanwei smiled charmingly again, "You're quite confident. What can I do if I refuse?"

This was clearly true. If Yin Xuanwei were to leave without a word, Xie Yunyue's hopes would be dashed. However, Xie Yunyue had already burned away the poison with his own Samadhi True Fire using the Searching Palace and Passing Acupoints Technique. Although he was unaware of it, he had already devised a plan beforehand. He wasn't afraid that Yin Xuanwei wouldn't give him the unique antidote. He smiled and said, "Yin Xuanwei, don't be so arrogant. You have also been struck by the young master's 'Slaying Meridian Divine Finger.' Within three months, your limbs will gradually become paralyzed, and you will lose all your power. Haven't you suffered enough from the torment of your heart being consumed by demonic possession in Miaoling over the years?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the black-clad Xuanwei's face turned pale, and her beautiful eyes shot out a fierce light as she shouted, "Who am I? Do you think you can lie to me?" Seeing her outwardly fierce but inwardly weak demeanor ,

Xie Yunyue knew his psychological maneuver had already been half-effective. His expression grew even more composed, and with a slight roll of his eyes, he slowly said, "If you don't believe me, you can try circulating your true energy through your twelve meridians. I suspect you'll encounter resistance when you reach the Lung Meridian and the Breast Root Meridian. You might as well try; I will never take advantage of your vulnerability."

Yin Xuanwei was greatly alarmed, knowing Xie Yunyue's words were always based on evidence. She coldly sneered, "I'm not afraid of you striking when you're vulnerable. The poison in your body will take effect in just two or three hours. Even if you have the antidote, it will be ineffective without my guidance on how to use it." After saying this, she sat cross-legged and began practicing her internal energy. Her protective aura had already densely covered her entire body; anyone within five feet would immediately detect her, so she was fearless.
At this moment, Le Yang approached Xie Yunyue and whispered, "Uncle Xie, is it true that you've been poisoned by her?" With sincerity in his eyes, Xie Yunyue smiled, patted his head, and said, "Yang'er, don't worry, step back to avoid any accidental injury." "Le Yang followed his instructions and walked a few feet away, staring intently at Yin Xuanwei.

Xie Yunyue had been wandering the martial world for a year, deeply understanding its treacherous and cunning nature, where every step held a deadly edge. As a result, his experience and knowledge had greatly increased. Therefore, when facing an enemy, he possessed speed, ruthlessness, and accuracy, and was invincible. Recently, he had also learned the art of deception. Of course, half of it was due to his personality, and the rest was indeed gained from experience, especially after the battle at Thousand-Foot Abyss, which made him more vigilant.

What he was saying to Yin Xuanwei now was a brilliant strategy of deception in war. In fact, what he said was not false, because he possessed the ancient martial art "Xuanyuan Eighteen Explanations," and was familiar with the flow of qi and blood in the human body and the twelve meridians. At this moment, it was the end of the Xin day, and the Kong acupoint must be the Lung Meridian's Rugen point. Moreover, the qi and blood were flowing in reverse, and there would definitely be some obstruction when it reached the Rugen point. Most martial arts masters knew this like the back of their hand." How could the black-clad Xuan Nu, Yin Xuanwei, be completely oblivious? However, Xie Yunyue's intimidating words forced her to feel a sense of dread.

When suspicion breeds fear, one unknowingly falls into the trap; even a master cannot escape its influence. Xie Yunyue, a smile on his face, concealed two fingers of his right hand within his sleeve, gathering his life's power at the fingertips, ready to strike. Seeing that Yin Xuanwei's true energy had already reached the "Yindu" acupoint in her large intestine, an invisible gust of wind shot from his fingertips directly onto her "Youmen" acupoint. Yin Xuanwei felt a slight obstruction in her blood flow through her lung meridian, but no discomfort whatsoever. Just as suspicion began to rise, she suddenly felt a chill in her chest, her blood and energy surging as if hitting a steel wall, and she was involuntarily thrown four feet into the air.

This was tantamount to tolling a death knell for Yin Xuanwei. She stood up, her jade-like face pale, her eyes filled with anger, and said, "So be it. From now on, I, Yin Xuanwei, will never leave the mountain again, and I have no intention of leaving the martial world." As she spoke, she took out a small jade bottle and walked forward unsteadily, handing it to Xie Yunyue. She added, "This bottle contains forty-nine pills. They are useless to you, so I'm giving them to you. These pills can not only cure all kinds of poisons, but they also have miraculous effects on treating internal injuries. You should keep them for your journey through the martial world." After saying this, her pair of bright eyes fixed on Xie Yunyue's face.

Xie Yunyue knew she was ashamed to ask him to untie the acupoints, but hearing her words, he knew they came from sincerity. So he smiled and said, "Fairy Yin, with a single thought of goodness, you can reach the heavens' heart. I truly admire you." As he spoke, he pointed nine fingers in the air in front of Yin Xuanwei's feet and said, "I practice this 'Slaying Meridian Divine Finger,' but because I haven't fully grasped its profound mysteries, it's easy to use but difficult to untie. Just now, when I pointed nine fingers, I only untied half of it. I'm afraid Fairy Yin shouldn't expend too much true energy in the future, otherwise, she would have suffered a qi deviation. If I can comprehend the subtleties of untying acupoints in the future, I will definitely send a mountain to untie these acupoints to atone for my sins."

Yin Xuanwei smiled sadly and said, "Every cloud has a silver lining. I've been obsessed for a hundred years, and only now have I awakened from this dream. I can hardly repay such a great kindness, so how can I speak of sin?" "With a slight bow, she slowly turned and walked away, her movements as graceful and elegant as flowing clouds and water, disappearing in an instant into the swirling dust.

Xie Yunyue watched the disappearing figure of the black-clad Xuan Nu, lost in thought, and pondered, 'Just now I pointed nine fingers at her in mid-air, one of which was to prevent her from being dishonest, and I pressed her kidney 'Zhangmen' acupoint. Every midnight, her qi and blood would surge, temporarily losing her power. As long as she calms her mind, there will be no major problem. I used deception, which is morally wrong, so to prevent it from escalating, I can't worry about such things anymore.'"

Suddenly, Le Yang rushed to Xie Yunyue, pointed at the blind Taoist woman, and shouted with wide eyes, "Uncle Xie, look, that Taoist woman is alive again!"

Xie Yunyue looked in the direction of the voice and, sure enough, saw the Taoist woman slowly stretching out her limbs, lying on the ground, her single eye gleaming fiercely. He smiled and said, "Yang'er, don't be afraid. Uncle is determined not to let her die, otherwise how will you avenge the murder of your parents?" As he spoke, he walked towards the Taoist woman.

The blind Taoist woman struggled to her feet, her face twisted in a sinister smile, and said, "You won't get a single word out of this old woman. As long as this old woman lives, I will avenge her. We'll meet again someday." With that, she started to walk away.

"Wait!" A thunderous shout came from Xie Yunyue's mouth. The blind old woman froze, her face filled with fear. Xie Yunyue shouted, "Don't think you can get away with a few polite words. I don't listen to that. If you dare not tell me who killed Le Yang's parents, I'll make you suffer the torment of being burned alive."

The blind old woman sneered, "This old woman is tough and unyielding. Don't think that just because I lost, I'll show weakness and beg for mercy. That's just because I'm not as skilled as you. What does that matter?"

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "This is the first time I've met someone as tough as you. I admire you. But words are not enough. If you can endure the soul-searching technique for half an hour, I will never ask you another question." With that, he reached out his right arm and swiftly struck eleven of the old woman's acupoints.

Caught off guard, the blind old woman was struck by Xie Yunyue's acupoints. She felt a chill in her acupoints, and a soft, weak current of energy spread throughout her body from each acupoint. Soon, her body felt weak and limp, and she began to slump until she collapsed to the ground. The limp feeling was extremely uncomfortable; she wished someone would beat her with a hammer. The old woman kept her one eye open, biting her lip to remain silent, intending to endure it for half an hour before she could escape.

But as soon as the weakness subsided, a strange numbness, mixed with the pain of needle pricks, suddenly surged from her spine and arm, spreading throughout her body in an instant. The intense numbness felt like a thousand snakes gnawing at her heart, or ants crawling all over her. The stinging pain made her muscles twitch. This discomfort was indescribable; it was worse than death. She wished she could tear her heart apart and throw it away, but her limbs were too weak, and she was helpless. The old woman was drenched in sweat, her face ashen, and she couldn't help but groan, followed by a strange howl that echoed on the wind.

Xie Yunyue sneered, "My soul-searching technique is special; even someone made of copper and iron couldn't withstand it. And the worst is yet to come. I don't believe you truly have the ability to endure such torture

." An ancient saying goes, "Under the Three Woods, what can't one obtain?" Xie Yunyue's soul-searching technique surpasses even the Three Woods. The blind old woman, on the verge of death, heard that the worst was yet to come, and her soul seemed to shatter. Her face turned deathly pale, and she strained her single eye, howling. Xie Yunyue knew she wanted to beg for mercy but couldn't utter a sound, so he laughed, "I knew you couldn't endure it. Why did you do this?" With lightning speed, he reached out and pressed a finger on the old woman's "Youmen" acupoint.

The old woman felt the unbearable pain vanish in an instant, but she remained paralyzed and unable to exert any strength. After much agonizing thought, she lay on the ground and finally recounted the events. It turned out that Le Yang's father, Le Wenlin, had once been the prefect of Xuzhou in southern Sichuan. He was known for his integrity, competence, and ability. Southern Sichuan was a region inhabited by both Han and non-Han peoples, plagued by rampant banditry, robbery, murder, rape, and plunder. Le Wenlin, witnessing this lawlessness, felt it would be unbecoming of a parent to the people to ignore it. Therefore, he hired two renowned constables at great expense to apprehend the bandits.

At that time, Wan Tenglong, a notorious bandit on the Minjiang River, roamed the waterways with countless followers, his evil deeds as numerous as mountains. Le Wenlin and the two constables devised a plan to ambush and capture him after much difficulty. Wan Tenglong had connections everywhere and had bribed officials with vast sums of money. The governor of Sichuan secretly ordered Le Wenlin to find a way to exonerate him. Le Wenlin was upright and incorruptible, which led to a falling out. Uncomfortable with his position, he retired and returned to his hometown. The two constables also escorted Le Wenlin back to Muping, where he then went on to pursue a career in the escort business.

After Le Wenlin retired from office, his successor, the prefect, was secretly ordered by the governor of Sichuan to sentence Wan Tenglong to death but imprison him instead. He was released after three years. Wan Tenglong was determined to avenge this, but by then his men had been scattered and the Minjiang River had become a bandit stronghold. Disheartened, he harbored deep resentment towards Le Wenlin. So he came to Shandong from eastern Sichuan. The blind Taoist priestess, an old friend of many years, invited him to help. Wan Tenglong was initially worried that the two men who were with Le Wenlin would be caught, but to his surprise, it went very smoothly. He killed Le Yang's parents without any obstacles. Le Yang fainted from shock. Wan Tenglong initially wanted to kill Le Yang as well to eliminate any future trouble. The blind Taoist priestess fell in love with his talent and wanted to take Le Yang as her disciple. The two argued for a long time before Wan Tenglong finally gave in and agreed, but secretly instructed that it must not be revealed.

During the crime, because it was late at night, Wan Tenglong and the blind Taoist priestess were both disguised and masked. They suddenly attacked and killed Le Wenlin, his wife, and their servants. Le Yang, shocked and unconscious, was overwhelmed. While the blind Taoist priestess and Wan Tenglong were arguing, Le Yang unexpectedly woke up and recognized their accents. Later, the blind Taoist priestess entered the room, pressed Le Yang's pressure points to put him to sleep, and took him to the E'ying Temple to revive him. She told Le Yang that she had saved his life, and that the murderers had vanished without a trace.
Le Yang was clever and alert; he knew that showing any distrust at this moment would be a fatal mistake. He was extremely obsequious and subservient to the Taoist priestess. After that, Le Yang became taciturn and rarely smiled. The blind Taoist priestess, naturally suspicious and possessing keen eyesight, became suspicious upon seeing this. Suspecting that Le Yang likely knew the details, she tried to extract information from him about the events of that night. She intended to kill him once he revealed the truth, but Le Yang insisted that he had fainted from fright when he saw the masked man wielding a knife to kill his father that night, and only awoke at the E'ying Temple, remembering nothing of what had happened afterward.

The blind Taoist priestess remained skeptical and uneasy, deciding to observe him for three years before teaching him martial arts. Recently, the black-clad Xuan Nu, Yin Xuanwei, visited the E'ying Temple and, seeing Le Yang's exceptional talent, wanted to take him back to the mountain to teach her sect's unique skills, thus glorifying the Miao lineage. After a secret discussion with the blind Taoist priestess, they agreed to observe him for another six months before sending him to the Miao Mountains. For a year, Le Yang had been under the constant surveillance of the blind Taoist priestess at the E'ying Temple, living in constant fear and trepidation. Today, for some unknown reason, he felt a sudden trust in Xie Yunyue, and the blind Taoist priestess had also spoken a few extra words with Yin Xuanwei. By the time they left the temple, it was too late. Otherwise, if they had noticed and stopped it then, perhaps things could have been saved. However, Xie Yunyue's intention was to find Yin Xuanwei, and this matter could not be left unexposed.

Heaven's justice is clear, and fate has its own destiny. Who says there is no retribution? The blind Taoist priestess, outwardly a member of the temple, was secretly the leader of a bandit gang in Nishan, responsible for gathering intelligence on the movement of goods in and out of Jinan and the acquisition of goods by escort agencies. Therefore, most of the murders and robberies in Shandong Province were related to the blind Taoist priestess.

Xie Yunyue, understanding the situation, demanded, "Then where is Wan Tenglong now?"

The blind Taoist priestess shook her head, saying, "This old woman doesn't know. Wan Tenglong disappeared after killing Le Wenlin's entire family. However, I do know that Wan Tenglong is only in his thirties. Perhaps he has found another master to learn martial arts, or perhaps he has changed his name and is hiding in a secluded place, because no one in the martial arts world has heard of Wan Tenglong in recent years." Xie Yunyue's face turned cold. He lightly flicked his right palm, his five fingers radiating energy, pressing directly towards the blind Taoist priestess's face.

The blind Taoist priestess felt her features being forced, let out a soft groan, and collapsed to her death. Xie Yunyue glanced to the side and saw Le Yang standing motionless by Baotu Spring, his eyes red and silent. He felt sorry for him and thought to himself, "This boy's fate is roughly the same as mine. I should take him back to Changbai Mountain to train him, and then have him avenge his great grudge later." Having made up his mind, he placed the blind Taoist priestess in a clump of withered grass.

Suddenly, Le Yang rushed over, knelt down, and kowtowed three times, tears streaming down his face. "Uncle Xie," he said, "Yang'er wishes to become your disciple. After mastering your skills, I will travel the world seeking revenge. Please grant Yang'er's wish." Xie Yunyue nodded and smiled. Le Yang was overjoyed and addressed him as "Master." The two then headed north.

A long wind howled, and crimson clouds surged, their figures gradually disappearing into the twilight. In the suburbs of Duolun City in Chahar, the fields were covered in snow, dazzlingly white, stretching to the horizon, vast and boundless. Although no snow had fallen that day, the biting cold and the dark, gray clouds created an atmosphere of utter desolation and bleakness. The wind in the fields was strong enough on ordinary days, but in the depths of winter and the bitter cold of spring, it was like a raging tide, a tsunami crashing against the shore, constantly howling and churning. Ice pellets and snowflakes were whipped into the air by the gale, then rushed down again, like a stampede of horses, stirring up clouds of white dust. Travelers feared it like a tiger, easily getting injured in the process, so all travelers wore heavy fur coats.

This day, around late afternoon, the snow had just stopped, and almost no one was on the road. Birds and beasts had all gone into hibernation, and the gale had subsided. All that could be seen was a deathly silence. But in the distance, the clatter of hooves on the thin ice broke the silence, and gradually, two people on horseback could be vaguely seen galloping towards them. As they drew nearer, it became clear that the riders were both wearing fur hats and coats, only their eyes, noses, and mouths were visible. One of them appeared to be a young child.

Two exceptionally fine riders, their manes high and their breaths puffing out clouds of sweat, their coats completely soaked, clearly having endured a long journey. The two riders were almost pressed flat against their horses' backs, gripping the reins tightly. Suddenly, one of the riders let out a sharp "whoosh," and the two riders immediately stopped, standing upright. He chuckled, "Yang'er, the weather is exceptionally good today. If it had snowed, the journey wouldn't have been so easy. Duolun City is only forty li from here; we'll be there in less than two hours. Are you hungry? Take out some dry rations and eat your fill before continuing."

The young boy straightened up and shook his head, saying, "Master, I'm not hungry. Let's eat when we reach Duolun City."

The man nodded and smiled, "Alright." These two were none other than the eccentric scholar Xie Yunyue and Yue Yang. Since leaving Jinan, they had been rushing to the Chabei Pasture, and in less than three days, they had crossed the Great Wall.

At this moment, a sudden gust of wind arose, carrying a volcanic eruption of ice pellets. The horses neighed in alarm, their hooves flailing wildly. Le Yang cried out in surprise, and was blown off his horse, thrown to the left. Xie Yunyue, seeing this, was greatly alarmed and shouted, "Yang'er, don't panic!" He too leaped from his horse and pounced on Le Yang's falling form. Reaching him just in time, he swiftly reached out and caught Le Yang in his arms, landing with a swift, powerful movement. Standing firm in the strong wind, he looked around, but the two riders had long since vanished. The fierce

winds on the snowy field, once they arose, would not cease for at least a day or two. The surging ice particles they whipped up resembled thick fog and waves, obscuring all vision. Even the best eyesight could only discern a radius of three feet. The howling wind and raging tide rendered hearing useless; thus, not only could they not discern the direction of the horses' hooves, but they also could not see their departing figures.

Xie Yunyue was momentarily stunned. He knew that once this wind picked up, a heavy snowfall would follow, sometimes accompanied by hailstones the size of fists, endless and relentless. Although he himself wasn't afraid, Yang'er couldn't withstand it. Moreover, with the horse lost, their vision would be obscured, leaving them in a vast, boundless expanse, unable to distinguish east from west. If they lost their way, they would either starve or freeze to death.

Le Yang clung tightly to Xie Yunyue's side, peering over and seeing his master's dazed expression. He blurted out, "Master, the horse is already lost. There's no use in panicking. Since Duolun City isn't far away, we'll have to walk. Yang'er can still manage." As he spoke, the strong wind blew into his mouth, causing him to cough violently.

Xie Yunyue gave a bitter smile and said, "You've made it too easy for me. When we bought these two horses at the Great Wall Pass, the horse dealer said they were familiar with the road to Duolun and guaranteed there wouldn't be any wind for half a day, so I came with confidence. But the weather is unpredictable, and no one can guarantee anything. The horse dealer's words were inaccurate this time, so we can't blame him. But with only one horse, in this vast expanse, unable to discern directions, where am I supposed to go? The wind and snow will get even stronger, making it impossible to walk. How can I not be anxious?"

Le Yang remained silent, thinking, "If I hadn't let go and rested because my hands were aching from gripping the reins, I wouldn't have been blown off my horse by the strong wind, causing my master's mount to also run away." His distress and anxiety were even greater than Xie Yunyue's. Sure enough,

the wind grew stronger and stronger, howling fiercely and piercingly, carrying snowflakes the size of a palm that swept across the sky and swirled around them. The two of them could no longer stand and swayed back and forth. The cold was biting, penetrating to the bone. Both were dressed in thick leather coats. Xie Yunyue had reached a point where he was impervious to heat and cold, so the leather coats were almost unnecessary, yet he still felt a slight chill. However, Le Yang's hands and feet were almost frozen, and he was shivering slightly, with saliva trickling from his nose.

Suddenly, Xie Yunyue said, "Yang'er, let's keep going! Even if we're going the wrong way, it's better than standing here..." He stopped abruptly, as if sensing Le Yang's shivering, and quickly said, "Yang'er, sit cross-legged and circulate your qi through one cycle using the 'Returning to Origin Breathing Exercise' I taught you the other day before you continue." Following instructions, Yue

Yang sat cross-legged and began practicing meditation. Xie Yunyue sat behind him, placing his hands on Yue Yang's shoulders. The two immediately entered a meditative state amidst the icy snow, both achieving a state of selflessness. After a short while, Xie Yunyue opened his eyes and carefully observed that Yue Yang's eyes were still closed, his essence contained within. It seemed that Yue Yang had deeply grasped the essence of meditation. He nodded in approval, thinking to himself, "This boy's innate talent and aptitude are both top-notch. With my own skill, it wouldn't be difficult to help him achieve mastery quickly. However, I don't want him to follow the path of 'easy success breeds arrogance.' It's better to proceed step by step, allowing him to achieve great things later in life." "Well, back in Baohua Mountain, I once heard my master, Master Mingliang, say, 'Heaven cannot use those who can adapt to circumstances, Heaven cannot abandon those who can cultivate talent, and Heaven cannot forsake those who can shoulder the responsibility for the world and future generations.' I often ponder these words, and they resonate deeply within me. Today, I feel that Le Yang's earnest guidance has enabled the martial arts of Tianshan to flourish and not be isolated..."

Thinking this, Le Yang, having already circulated his Qi throughout his body, opened his eyes and smiled, "Master, this 'Returning to Origin Breathing Meditation' is truly miraculous! I am now full of vital energy, not afraid of the cold at all, and all the fatigue from before has vanished."

Xie Yunyue nodded, brushed the snow off Le Yang's head and shoulders, grabbed Le Yang's arm, shouted "Go!", and began their journey, quickly disappearing into the swirling snow. They didn't care about direction, speeding through the wind; where were they, were they going in the right direction? They didn't know. Though they were speeding, it was more accurate to say they were taking steps. The wind grew stronger, howling and whistling, the snowflakes swirling and dancing wildly, a dizzying spectacle.

Xie Yunyue and his companion had been walking for about half an hour, their initial tranquility gone, replaced by a growing anxiety. Suddenly, amidst the wind, they heard several horse neighs. Xie Yunyue, hearing them, perked up and shouted, "Yang'er, someone's coming! We can ask for directions to escape!"

As the neighs drew near, Xie Yunyue saw a dark figure surge through the swirling snow. With his keen eyesight, he recognized a burly man in black, hunched over a tall, pure black horse, his shoulder stained with blood, clearly badly wounded. Suddenly, a shout arose, and several more riders appeared from the swirling snow, swords flashing as they slashed at the wounded man. The man, like a prisoner awaiting death, slumped against his horse, motionless, seemingly about to perish under the blades.
Xie Yunyue gathered his energy in his dantian, letting out a thunderous roar. His arm shot out with lightning speed, striking out with a palm strike. His body slid sideways, his left hand already restraining the wounded man's horse from its galloping momentum. This palm strike instantly sent several weapons flying into the air. The riders cried out in alarm, their mounts leaping and swerving wildly. Xie Yunyue recognized four men and was busy reining in their horses. Taking advantage of this moment, Xie Yunyue ordered Yue Yang to hold the black horse, focused his palm, and carefully observed the four men's movements. Before understanding the situation, he decided not to strike and injure them.

All four riders were skilled horsemen, and they quickly regained their footing. One of them shouted, "You dare to protect a fugitive? Are you perhaps a fellow traveler of the fugitive? Get out of the way, or I'll forgive your ignorance!"

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "If you claim to be apprehending a fugitive, why are you using all sorts of weapons to kill a dying criminal? Why are you chasing this man in such a blizzard? Tell me now, or don't blame me for being merciless."

A pair of eyes gleamed fiercely from within the man's leather hat, and he chuckled, "Ignorant brat, daring to challenge me? You're courting death!" As soon as he finished speaking, he dismounted and soared into the sky. Two of the other three riders also leaped up at the same time. The wind and snow obscured their vision, and they could not see the three figures. In a flash, Xie Yunyue sensed something unusual in the wind above him, knowing that the three were swooping down from the air.

Xie Yunyue wore a slight, cold smile, calm and composed, not taking the incoming palm strikes seriously at all. Only when the six palms were almost upon him did he suddenly leap into the air, his hands flashing out like lightning, unleashing the extraordinary "Heavenly Mandate" technique from the "Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan," swiftly stabbing and striking. Three screams rang out as the three attackers suffered broken wrists and fell to the snow, unable to rise.

Another rider, seeing this, was greatly alarmed and hastily reined in his horse, trying to escape. However, before Xie Yunyue could even land, he changed course and leaped forward, swiftly reaching for Xie Yunyue's right arm. With lightning speed, the man felt as if a five-fingered steel hook had clamped around his neck, lifting him into the air. The pain was excruciating; his vision went black, and he fainted. Xie Yunyue landed with the thief, casually tossing him aside, and leaped beside the dying black-clad man, checking his heartbeat inside his clothes.

He touched the man's hand and found he still had body temperature, though his heart was only beating weakly. Knowing that he would die immediately if he didn't help, he lifted the man off his horse, took out a "Longevity Pill" and fed it to him with snow. He then pressed his palm against the man's hand and used the "Bodhi Palm Leaf Zen Technique" to heal his injuries. In no time, the black-clad man's eyes regained their light, and his limbs gradually regained their normal movement. Knowing that Xie Yunyue had saved him, he leaped up, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "I am deeply grateful for the great hero's kindness in saving me. However, I must hurry to the capital; I have important business to attend to and cannot stay even for a moment. Please forgive me." After saying this, he prepared to mount his horse.

Xie Yunyue suddenly asked sharply, "Is that Master Ye? What incident has occurred at Chabei Ranch?"

Ye Sheng was immediately stunned and asked in surprise, "Who are you, great hero? May I ask for details?"

Xie Yunyue pulled back his hood, revealing a handsome face. Ye Sheng recognized him and said with great joy, "Is that Young Hero Xie? Yesterday, Hero Lei Xiaotian broke through the encirclement and arrived at the ranch, seriously injured. He mentioned that you came so quickly. I was ordered by Ranch Master Wu to break through the encirclement and rush to the capital to ask Cang Shen Gai to find a way to stop General Duolun's E'a from besieging Chabei Ranch. Young hero, please go directly to the ranch; I have to go there."

Xie Yunyue waved his hand to stop him and smiled, "It's alright, Master Ye, you don't need to rush to the capital. I have a plan to retreat. Although I don't know the details of the ranch incident, I can guess the general idea." As he spoke, he pointed to the... Lying on top of the four pursuers in the snow, Ye Sheng asked, "Who are they?"

The four men, half-buried in the snow and covered in snow, were glared at by Ye Sheng and said sternly, "They are all bandits from Bu Family Fortress."

Xie Yunyue asked in surprise, "Wasn't Bu Ying a close friend of the ranch owner? How could they have become so hostile? Oh, it must be because of Xu Zhaosen. I had a private conversation with Deputy Ranch Owner Zheng before the New Year, and I warned him to be wary of this man who appears respectful but is actually treacherous and cunning."

Ye Sheng shook his head and said, "In my eyes, Xu Zhaosen is simply someone I can't stand. I only tolerate him because he is the ranch owner's adopted son. As for his involvement with outsiders, I'm afraid I don't know, because the ranch owner is always reserved. Even the reason why General Duolun's troops surrounded the ranch is only known to a few people." "I, Ye Sheng, cannot ask,"

Xie Yunyue said, patting Ye Sheng's shoulder. "Martial Master Ye, you are a true hero. You risked your life to help someone in distress. I have never seen such a righteous person before."

He then turned to Le Yang and said to Ye Sheng, "This is my newly recruited disciple, Le Yang." He then said to Le Yang, "Quickly greet Uncle Ye."

Le Yang obeyed and greeted him. Ye Sheng laughed loudly, "Young hero, the person you have chosen must be an unparalleled genius."

At this moment, Xie Yunyue picked up the thief who had knocked out his neck acupoint and slapped his back chest hard, instantly releasing the pressure point. Xie Yunyue shouted sharply, "Why did you ambush Martial Master Ye at the ranch? Was it Bu Ying's doing?"

The thief, seeing that he was already in someone's hands, knew that there was no use in being stubborn, so he said, "The cause is that Wu Fengbiao and Longjiang San Kui had a long-standing feud ..." " Furthermore, our lord has coveted the Chabei Ranch's assets for quite some time. I'm afraid I don't know anything else, but the assassination of Master Ye was done under orders."

Xie Yunyue, having heard this, understood the situation perfectly. He then demanded, "Why did General Lun surround the ranch with such a large force?"

The thief hesitated for a moment before replying, "That's another matter. He and Xiang, two thieves, stole several valuable items. After a thorough investigation, they were recovered from the escort agency of Wu Xianglin, son of Wu Fengbiao in Tianjin. Two items were still missing from the Chabei Ranch, so General Lun sent troops to surround it, ordering them to hand them over within five days and commanding Wu Fengbiao to surrender himself."

Xie Yunyue laughed loudly, "These are two separate matters; it was all Bu Ying's doing." With that, he struck out with his palm, and the thief screamed in agony, immediately collapsing to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth, nose, and eyes. His head lolled to the side, and he died instantly.

Witnessing Xie Yunyue's ruthlessness and skill, Ye Sheng was astonished by what he had never seen before. He thought to himself, "This man is only twenty, with the air of a handsome scholar. How can he possess such profound skill? I, Ye Sheng, have spent half my life on the edge of a knife; this skill is but a firefly's glow." He sighed inwardly.

Xie Yunyue then laughed, "Martial Master Ye, let's hurry back to Duolun."

The horses left behind by the bandits, frozen and neighing, thrashed about, their hooves kicking wildly, still bounding, leaping back and forth beside the bandits' corpses. Xie Yunyue leaped onto one of the horses, ordering Le Yang to ride with him. He put his arms around Ye Sheng's waist, greeted him, and with a shout, sped away like lightning. The wind and snow swirled, sharp whistles filled the air, and in an instant, both riders disappeared into the white expanse. At this moment, apart from the howling wind, the snowfield was deathly silent. The snow fell thicker and thicker, burying the four corpses without a trace. In the distance, only the faint neighing of horses drifted on the wind…

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