Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 6

Chapter Six: A Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a Hidden Dragon and Tiger, Steadfastly Surrounded by Green Habitat; A Snowstorm Drives

Away Two Elders; Before the Banquet, They Recount the Past; The Moon Shines Brightly, the Stars Brighten; Nine Turns to the Pavilion, a Trembling Soul Fleets; Three Enemies; Now, let's talk about Xujiatun, Liaoning, beyond the Great Wall. One day, a middle-aged scholar arrived and settled in a small inn. Speaking with a strong Jiangnan accent, he posted a large poster on the inn's door the next day, introducing himself as Yu Yun, claiming to possess all the skills of traditional Chinese medicine, offering to write letters and handle contracts for others, with payment and arrangements. The calligraphy on the poster was indeed the work of a master; several learned scholars in the area praised it repeatedly

. Xujiatun, though only having two main roads, was a bustling center for furs, ginseng, and medicinal herbs due to its location at the mouth of the sea and the entrance to the Thousand Mountains. Every household used thick curtains to shield their doors, both to protect them from the wind and to prevent the sandstorms blown into their homes by passing vehicles and horses.

It was late July, the height of summer, but the area beyond the Great Wall was not scorching hot. In the evenings, Yu Yun would always go to a small pine grove not far to the left of the inn, stand on an arched stone bridge, and see a bend in the green water beneath it, filled with water chestnuts whose round leaves swayed in the water. The pines rustled softly, the setting sun pierced the mountains, and the sky was ablaze with red clouds—a truly picturesque scene. Sometimes Yu Yun would stand alone, gazing at the sky with his hands behind his back, reciting poetry; other times he would sit on the bridge, staring at the flowing water below, seemingly lost in thought.

Yu Yun was quite popular at this small inn. Everyone who saw him called him Doctor or Mr. Yu, without using his given name. He was always smiling and greeting everyone with a nod. For the first two days, there weren't many patients, but gradually the number increased to about ten a day. Because he didn't care much about money, he would still bring prescriptions to poor patients. His prescriptions were invariably miraculously effective, and slowly his reputation spread. Within a hundred li of Xujiatun, everyone knew that there was a Mr. Yu in Xujiatun.

Two months later, Yu Yun was drinking strong liquor with the innkeeper in the inn's back room. Three or four small dishes were laid out in front of them. They were enjoying their drink when they suddenly heard the neighing of horses outside. Then the curtain opened, and three burly men with wide-brimmed straw hats with dragon whiskers rushed in. One of them, the older one, shouted in a loud voice, "Old innkeeper, is there a doctor here named Yu Yun, the one who once helped the fat man?"

The innkeeper, upon seeing him, immediately stood up with a "Oh!" and laughed, "So it's Master Sun! This is Mr. Yu." He pointed at Yu Yun, who slowly stood up and asked, "May I ask what business you have with me?"

The burly man surnamed Sun sized Yu Yun up and laughed loudly, "Mr. Yu, you've struck gold! Our old master's granddaughter is ill, and he wants you to treat her. If you're truly skilled, and the old master is pleased, he'll reward you with a fortune—enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life." "Saying this, he burst into another hearty laugh.

Yu Yun, however, said with a sour tone, "Doctors have the heart to sacrifice their own flesh, caring for everyone regardless of wealth. If it were for money, I would never dare. I just don't know where your esteemed master's estate is. I'll be there soon."

The burly man surnamed Sun laughed loudly, "Mr. Yu, I didn't expect you to be so sour. Our master, Gong Tiandan, is known as the Crane of White Mountain. He lives on Bijia Peak in Changbai Mountain. You should know his name. He sent me, Sun Kaiting, and two others to specially welcome you into the mountain. You said you'd be there soon. I just want to know how you got there."

Yu Yun suddenly realized, "Oh, so it's Master Gong. I'm truly honored. Master Sun, please wait a moment. I'll go pack some things." "Saying this, he turned and went into the house, then hurriedly came out again, wearing a fox fur coat and carrying several tattered medical books.

Sun Kaiting laughed and said, "I didn't expect Mr. Yu to be such an expert in traveling the world. The mountain is bitterly cold and the wind is strong. We practitioners can't withstand it as well. Mr. Yu, you are so delicate and frail. If you don't wear more clothes, you'll fall ill before you even see a patient. That would be a laughing stock." This made the two people who came with him and the old shopkeeper laugh.

Yu Yun also laughed heartily and said, "We doctors, sorcerers, and fortune tellers travel the world. We call it 'the world is our home.' If we don't understand this, how can we be called traveling doctors? Manager Sun, don't you agree?" He then added, "Old shopkeeper, please lock the door to the student's room. We'll meet again after this is over." The old innkeeper readily agreed.

Yu Yun followed Sun Kaiting and the other two out of the inn. They saw four strong men carrying a mountain sedan chair, the kind only found outside the pass. It resembled a roofless sedan chair, but it allowed one to lie down. A thick layer of soft, warm grass was laid underneath. Yu Yun gasped in surprise, "I'm terrified of riding this up the mountain!"

Sun Kaiting laughed loudly, "Mr. Yu, if you're afraid, just close your eyes."

Yu Yun shook his head, seemingly helpless, and climbed into the sedan chair. The four strong men gave a shout and carried it away swiftly. Yu Yun sat on it, finding it very stable, only feeling a slight sway. He couldn't help but nod in approval, "These four are well-trained; their legwork is quite agile."

Sun Kaiting and the other two rode ahead. Less than five li from Xujiatun, they reached the entrance to Ganshan. Someone stepped out from the checkpoint and asked, "Manager Sun, has Mr. Yu arrived?" “

Sun Kaiting replied, “I’ve taken it. Please inform the main hall.” The man replied, “Yes.” He then slipped back into the checkpoint. Sun Kaiting and his two companions dismounted and galloped forward, with Yu Yunshan following closely behind. Suddenly, three signal arrows flew from the checkpoint, echoing clearly and melodiously across the surrounding mountains.

Upon entering the mountains, the terrain became exceptionally steep, so steep that one could only look up and see people, with clouds rising from their feet. Sun Kaiting and his companions were quite skilled at leaping and bounding, traversing the mountain paths with ease. However, the porters carrying the mountain bags suffered greatly, groaning and groaning, their clothes soaked with sweat and clinging to their bodies. Yu Yunshan even made strange noises and cried out in alarm. Fear gripped them. As they approached the halfway point, darkness enveloped them all around, dense forests and thickets, vines and snakes, beasts and insects appearing intermittently. The mountain winds intensified, howling and roaring past their ears, and whistling arrows shot into the sky along the way, yet not a single person appeared.

Three hours passed, and Yu Yun and his companions were now lightly walking on the mountaintop. Looking into the distance, the peaks were still covered in snow, a white expanse that chilled them to the bone. Yu Yun huddled in his arms, shouting, "Master Sun, haven't we arrived yet? I'm freezing to death!"

Sun Kaiting turned and smiled, "Mr. Yu, we've arrived. Just look down and you'll see." Yu

Yun, who was half-reclined, forced himself to sit up and looked down. He saw houses faintly visible at the bottom of the valley, but they were obscured by the branches and leaves of the trees. It was impossible to see them without straining one's eyes. This valley was naturally a vast basin, probably containing hundreds or even thousands of houses. The headquarters of the Thousand Mountains Sect was located here, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to find.

On the way down the mountain, Yu Yun felt as if he were floating on clouds, his heart pounding in his chest. He was so frightened that his face turned pale. He finally reached flat ground and entered a forest of ancient trees, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. Sun Kaiting looked back and saw his ashen face and how frightened he was, and couldn't help but burst into laughter. The mountain path twisted and turned in the forest, making Yu Yun dizzy. He didn't take the paths that were clearly there, but instead walked in directions where there were no paths, as if he were following the layout of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams.

When he came out of the forest, the view opened up. Before him was a continuous row of houses, with the sounds of chickens and dogs, and smoke rising from the chimneys. It was the layout of a village. No one would have thought that it was a gathering place for bandits and outlaws. The three men, including Sun Kaiting, hurried ahead, making several turns, until they stopped in front of a grand mansion. The mansion was surrounded by a high, imposing blue brick wall, with a towering gate adorned with heavy red iron rings and two tiger heads. However, this gate was tightly closed; people instead entered and exited through a side door. Four burly men, brandishing knives, stood guard at the gate. Upon seeing Sun Kaiting arrive, one of the men immediately rushed inside. Three gong sounds rang out, and the vermilion gate swung open with a loud bang. Yu Yun knew it was the owner. He was greeted with the courtesy due to an honored guest. An elderly man, about seventy years old, led several people and walked briskly towards the gate.

Yu Yun carefully examined the old man's appearance. He had a vermilion face, snow-white eyebrows and beard, especially his long white eyebrows that reached his ears, giving him the appearance of an old man. His eyes were like lightning, and he knew that the visitor was Gong Tiandan, the lord of Changbai Mountain. Yu Yun immediately bowed deeply and said, "This student, Yu Yun, has arrived late to pay his respects to the lord, which is already impolite. Why should the lord personally come down? I am guilty, I am guilty."

Gong Tiandan of Baishan Yihe chuckled, his bright eyes flashing like lightning as he looked Yu Yun up and down and said, "Mr. Yu, it's alright. My granddaughter is seriously ill, so I have come here. I hope you have had a long journey?"

Yu Yun bowed deeply again and said, "Not at all, not at all. Saving an illness is urgent. Please, lord, take me to see your granddaughter first."

Gong Tiandan stroked his beard and smiled, inviting the guest inside. Yu Yun walked quickly and saw a large courtyard. Ancient pines and cypresses filled the air with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. Flowers and leaves danced in the mountain breeze. A white stone path led to a dozen or so giant maple trees, their leaves ablaze with fiery red in late September, a vibrant and dazzling sight, just as the ancient poem describes: "I stop my carriage to admire the frosty forest at dusk; the frosty leaves are redder than February flowers." Bathed in sunlight, they shone brightly, and amidst the branches and leaves, towering buildings and elegant eaves peeked out, no less

magnificent than the residence of a king. Yu Yun was led to a study. This study seemed more fit for a reclusive hermit than a bandit's. The walls were adorned with numerous paintings and calligraphies by renowned artists, a dazzling array. After the servants had finished serving tea, Gong Tiandan accompanied Yu Yun to the inner courtyard. The mansion was exceptionally well-laid out, with winding corridors, glazed water pavilions, and verdant sandalwood chambers. Servants were everywhere. As they walked, they came to a room where a little girl, about six or seven years old, lay unconscious on the bed. Her entire body was covered by a silk quilt, with only her small, pale, and lifeless face visible.

There were three other people in the room: an elderly woman with silver hair and bright, sparkling phoenix eyes, leaning on a black, glossy cane; a beautiful young woman in her thirties; and a young maid of about twelve or thirteen, sitting gracefully on the bed. Upon being summoned, she rose elegantly. Gong Tiandan introduced them to Yu Yun, pointing to the elderly woman, "This is my wife." Yu Yun

bowed deeply, saying, "This student Yu Yun greets the old lady."

Gong Tiandan then pointed to the young woman and smiled, "This is my daughter-in-law."
Yu Yun bowed again, saying, "This student Yu Yun greets the young mistress."

The elderly woman smiled, "Mr. Yu, no need for formalities. Please examine my granddaughter's illness."

Yu Yun readily agreed, sitting on the edge of the bed. He felt the little girl's pulse, nodding and shaking his head. After a while, he stood up and said seriously, "Actually, there's nothing seriously wrong. It's just a minor..." "The minor wind-evil caused chills and fever, probably because the old lady and young mistress doted on her too much, mistaking it for weakness and administering ginseng tonics, which forced the wind-evil into her body. Observing her pulse, it was deep and rapid, indicating internal heat accumulation. She could have used a fever-reducing and diaphoretic medicine, which would have been effective after one dose, but she was misled by an incompetent doctor, hence..."

Gong Tiandan, who had been frowning when he saw the little girl still unconscious, was relieved to hear that she had no serious illness. However, upon hearing that she had been misled by an incompetent doctor, his brows furrowed again, and he asked hastily, "Is there a cure, Mr. Yu?"

Yu Yun hurriedly replied, "There is a cure, there is a cure. I guarantee she will recover in no more than three days." Upon hearing this, Gong Tiandan and the others were overjoyed. Yu Yun bid farewell to the old lady and young mistress and left, returning to the study with Gong Tiandan. Yu Yun picked up his pen and pondered for half a cup of tea before finally writing down a prescription and handing it to the old lady.

Gong Tiandan took a look and exclaimed, "Mr. Yu, your handwriting is superb! I've rarely seen anything like it in my life!" Yu Yun repeatedly expressed his modesty.

At this moment, the scholars who had accompanied Gong Tiandan to greet Yu Yun approached to examine Yu Yun's prescription. One of the elders also praised it highly, saying, "Truly excellent, comparable to the work of famous calligraphers."

Gong Tiandan's bright eyes then fell upon Yu Yun. Having made up his mind, he knew it was too early to speak of it now. He smiled and said, "If my granddaughter recovers, I will certainly repay Mr. Yu handsomely." With that, he instructed his servant to take the prescription to deliver the message and have the medicine prepared according to the prescription.

Three days later, the little girl had indeed recovered. Gong Tiandan brought her to the study and instructed him to thank Yu Yun. Yu Yun replied, "I dare not accept such praise." He then picked up the little girl, kissed her, and put her down, smiling at Gong Tiandan, "The matter here is settled, and I must take my leave to descend the mountain."

Gong Tiandan smiled and said, "I have one more request. Before you rush back to Xujiatun, I admire your literary talent and would like to ask you to tutor my granddaughter in literature and handle official documents. The annual fee is two thousand taels of silver. I believe you will not refuse." Upon

hearing this, Yu Yun paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I am deeply honored by the old master's high regard, but I am only a humble student... " " I'm used to being a wild crane, and I wish to travel the world before I die, to see the wonders

of mountains and rivers and cultural relics. It seems I can only refrain from doing so." Gong Tiandan frowned and said, "Mr. Yu, I value talent highly. Please do not refuse. You are still in your prime and have plenty of time to travel to famous mountains and rivers. I will only limit you to three years. You are neither a martial artist nor a member of my sect. During these three years, you will be free to come and go as you please without any restrictions. Furthermore, my Huanbi Manor has many people, and illnesses are inevitable. You can also use your divine skills to benefit the people." As he spoke, his eyes revealed a sincere expression.

Yu Yun pondered for a while, then said with a sigh, "Since the old master values me so much, it would be pretentious for me to refuse again. However, I have a small matter to explain: I enjoy taking a nap in the afternoon and do not wish to be disturbed during this time. I hope the master will make an exception and grant me permission."

Gong Tiandan immediately laughed and said, "I knew it was something important! This study and its rooms will henceforth be forbidden areas. Unless it is urgent, no one is allowed to disturb you, sir." Yu Yun was overjoyed and then said that he needed to go to Xujiatun to check his personal belongings. Most importantly, there were several sick people waiting for him to finish their work. Gong Tiandan immediately agreed and gave him five hundred taels of silver to buy clothes and shoes.

Yu Yun returned to Xujiatun and stayed with the innkeeper Qi Shuxing for five days before going to Huanbi Manor again. From then on, Yu Yun spent most of his days in his study. Apart from teaching the little girl a little bit of writing, he was either writing poems, indulging in romance, or drinking and eating until he was completely drunk. Occasionally, he would venture out of the manor for a stroll, gazing at the mountain scenery. The old master of Baishan Yihe Palace truly valued him, gifting him a red feathered command flag, allowing him free access. Since he was a scholar, and these countless mountains and valleys were impossible to traverse without exceptional martial arts skills, the master generously bestowed the gift. He even assigned a twelve-year-old boy named Pin'er to serve him.

One day, the old master's granddaughter, Xiuyun, with two pigtails sticking up on her head, skipped and hopped into the study. Seeing Yu Yun, she exclaimed, "Teacher, my father is back! He brought me lots of candy. He heard that you cured my illness, and he wants to see you. Teacher, let's go!" She tugged at Yu Yun's clothes with her little hands, and Yu Yun chuckled, leading Xiuyun into the inner courtyard.

Inside the hall, the old master of the manor, Gong Tiandan, occasionally let out a deep laugh. Seeing Yu Yun approach, he stood up with a smile and said, "My son, Gong Lingfei, has returned from the Central Plains. Hearing of Master Yu's miraculous medical skills, and that my granddaughter, Xiuyun, has brought him back to life with her hands, I wish to thank Master Yu in person."

As Yu Yun approached, he saw a middle-aged man sitting beside the old master, with a square face, large ears, and an imposing air, talking with the old lady and young mistress. Upon hearing this, he clasped his hands in a salute to the middle-aged man and said, "This student greets the young master."

Gong Lingfei laughed loudly, "Master Yu, we martial artists don't need such vulgar formalities. I should thank you first."

Yu Yun said a few words of modesty, then greeted the old lady and young mistress, and was about to take his leave when the old master stopped him, saying with a smile that he should stay and have a meal before leaving. In an instant, a maidservant set out an exquisite banquet. Yu Yun sat to the side, eating and talking. Gong Lingfei solemnly said to the old mountain lord, "When I returned from Jiangnan, I heard that our old enemies, the two elders of Huoshan, had invited several skilled fighters to Huanbi Manor to avenge that palm strike."

The old mountain lord laughed heartily, "If the two elders of Huoshan don't come, fine. Otherwise, we would make sure they don't leave unscathed. Although our Qianshan Gang is a bandit organization, we will never take ill-gotten gains or do anything inhumane. Those two elders of Huoshan have committed all sorts of robbery, theft, rape, and plunder. Back then, they even dared to lay a hand on us. That's why I used the 'Great Mighty Hunyuan Palm' to strike their leader, Wei Linrui. I only used half my strength because I saw how hard he worked to gain fame. Otherwise, how could we have prevented him from leaving alive?"

Gong Lingfei smiled and said, "I also heard that the two elders of Huoshan have mastered a unique skill. We really can't be careless." "

The old lady chimed in with a smile, "It's just in time that Lingfei and the others have arrived. Let's see how much your mother has improved her Twenty-Eight Lightning Staff Technique." Her silver hair swayed gently.

Gong Lingfei smiled obediently, "Mother, I didn't expect that after all these years, your interest hasn't waned." Yu Yun sat there, sipping his drink and tasting the food. He seemed completely bewildered by these martial arts matters and had no interest in them whatsoever. So, while eating, he chatted and laughed quietly with the little girl, Xiuyun.

Suddenly, Gong Lingfei laughed again, "Two more sensational events have occurred in the Central Plains recently. One is the emergence of a strange-handed scholar, whose name is unknown. It is said that the leader of the Thirteen Evils, the Old Man with the Gray Beard, was defeated by him, both of his wrists broken and his vital points sealed. The Yin-Yang Twin Swords of Mount Hua were also defeated by him. As a result, Yuwen Lei, the leader of the Red Flag Gang, was humiliated on the spot and shocked by the strange-handed scholar, causing the Red Flag Gang to disperse its forces throughout northern Jiangsu. The other astonishing event is that the same strange-handed scholar single-handedly defeated nineteen branch leaders of the Qingfeng Gang in Shijiazhuang. The next day, Jiu Shen Suo Qianli also died at his hands. This event shocked the whole country. It is said that this strange-handed scholar is a very young and handsome young man. It is a pity that I have not met him, otherwise I would really like to get to know him."

Gong Tiandan heard this and Bai Meixuan laughed, "How could it be..." "If you want to get to know him, even this old man like me has considered meeting him. And what's the other thing?"

Gong Lingfei smiled and said, "This matter has spread throughout the entire martial arts world. It is Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser who once dominated the Heluo region but died in Wugong Mountain, who has reappeared in the martial arts world."

Gong Tiandan exclaimed in surprise, "It's him? That's unbelievable."

Gong Lingfei continued, "Yes, I find it hard to believe as well. The Lancang Twins, the Five Poison Master of Tongbai Mountain, and the Three-Handed Centipede Fu Lingduo were all injured by him, but no one witnessed it firsthand. There are only rumors in the martial arts world that the Soul Chaser wants to find out who ambushed him in Sanxiang and eliminate them one by one."

The old mountain master Gong Tiandan frowned and smiled, "If this matter were to be heard by Hong Gewan and the others, they wouldn't be able to sleep soundly for three days and three nights."

Gong Lingfei couldn't help but turn his head to look at... A glance out the window revealed, "Is Uncle Hong still living in Jiu Hui Pavilion?"

Gong Tiandan nodded, "He's still there. How could he dare to step out of the mountain? Back then, several of his enemies wanted to kill him, so he hid in Huanbi Manor for ten years. Now that he's heard that the Soul Chaser has reappeared, even if it costs him his life, he dares not leave the gate. Although those who attacked the Soul Chaser back then all concealed their true identities, with the Soul Chaser's shrewdness, it wouldn't be difficult for him to find out everything. To be honest, Hong Gewan is really something. Why did he get involved when it wasn't his business? His junior brother Jiang Xiong's character is so wicked, even if he wasn't killed by the Soul Chaser Xie Wen, he would hardly survive even if he encountered us. And he still has the nerve to avenge him. This man's whole life has been ruined by meddling in other people's business."

Gong Lingyun laughed, "Father, don't say that, junior brother..." "He's dead, how can my senior brother not avenge him? What face will the villains of the martial world have to show their faces after hearing this?"

Old Master Gong said sternly, "Nonsense! If you want to avenge your junior brother, you can do it openly and honestly. Why resort to a sneak attack? That's the most pathetic thing to do."

Gong Lingfei's face hardened, and the old lady laughed, "Alright, alright, you two should probably not get together. You always bicker when you meet, and you don't even realize how cold you've become to Mr. Yu."

Yu Yun, who had been joking with Xiuyun, quickly said upon hearing this, "It's alright. I know nothing about the affairs of the martial world. The young master has returned from afar, and father and son should have a good chat. This kind of family joy is something I, a wanderer who has spent half my life adrift, can never imagine." These words were truly Yu Yun's sincere expression of his true feelings, without a trace of politeness or pretense.

Fearing he might have been too cold to Yu Yun, the old mountain lord tried to strike up a conversation with him, making small talk here and there. Normally, a scholar and a martial artist wouldn't converse, but the old mountain lord was experienced and knowledgeable, and they quickly struck up a conversation, finding it remarkably congenial, often laughing heartily.

Before long, they were both drunk and full, and Yu Yun rose to take his leave. That night, Yu Yun was restless and couldn't sleep. He had no choice but to get out of bed, put on his robe, and move a chair to sit outside his study. Early October was quite cold in the region beyond the Great Wall, especially on Changbai Mountain. The moonlight was exceptionally bright, the Milky Way was sparsely lit, and the stars were few. The moonlight illuminated the valleys, forests, and fields, making them all exceptionally enchanting. Except for evergreen pines and cypresses, the trees were gradually withering, some leaving only bare trunks. A gust of wind swept through, whistling through the air, and withered leaves swirled and danced down, landing on Yu Yun's shoulders and body. Yu Yun sat there blankly, no one knowing what he was thinking, as if burdened with worries. As the fourth watch drew to a close, the frost deepened, falling like a fine drizzle. Yu Yun touched his head, stretched, and carried a chair back to his room before slowly falling asleep.

The next day, Yu Yun seemed to have completely forgotten his worries from the previous night. After teaching Xiu Yun a few words of calligraphy, his servant Pin'er brought him a bowl of fine tea, which he was slurping down with gusto. Suddenly, the old mountain master, Gong Tiandan, entered with a grave expression. Yu Yun hurriedly rose and bowed. The old mountain master waved his hand and smiled, saying, "Mr. Yu, these next few days, the two elders of Huoshan may come seeking revenge. If it's not necessary, please do not leave the study, lest you be caught unprepared and injured. If you see any strangers or hear any noise, do not show yourself; just remain hidden..." He pointed to Pin'er and said, "This Pin'er also knows a little self-defense martial arts; have him protect you, sir."

Yu Yun turned pale with fright and hurriedly said, "This... I will be careful; the old mountain master need not worry about me."

The old mountain master said, "That's good." He nodded slightly and left.

Yu Yun sighed. Seeing Pin'er standing by the door, smiling mischievously at him, Yu Yun's face darkened. He hissed, "Little monkey, how dare you be disrespectful to my master! I'll make you pay one day!"

Pin'er laughed, "Master, how could I dare to look down on you? I was just laughing because the old mountain master said someone was coming, and you were so frightened..." She stopped abruptly.

Yu Yun rolled his eyes, angrily saying, "Little monkey, don't be so smug! Didn't the old mountain master say you know a few moves? Show my master what you can do! Although he can't, he's still good at judging. He can tell who's capable and who's not at a glance. If you're not strong enough to protect my master, I'll just crouch under the bed—it'll be foolproof!"

Pin'er couldn't help but smile, a smile so innocent. She whispered to Yu Yun, "Master, I've recently learned a new skill. Don't let the old mountain master know, or he'll give you a good scolding." He pulled out three gleaming, five-inch-long, very light arrows from his robe. They looked as thin as paper. Pin'er smiled and said, "Sir, you saw it clearly."

He subtly stepped onto a central stance, stretched out his right hand, and suddenly flicked his wrist. Three silver lines flashed and struck a sandalwood statue on the table with a "thud." Yu Yun was startled. He picked up the statue and examined it closely. One arrow had hit the chest, and the other two had struck the eyes, penetrating deep into the wood. It was unbelievable that Pin'er, at such a young age, possessed such wrist strength.

Yu Yun kept praising her, asking, "Who taught you this?"

Pin'er reached out and pulled out three darts, laughing, "The old lady secretly taught me this without the old mountain master's knowledge."

Yu Yun was astonished, "It was the old lady... she actually has such good skills."

Pin'er chuckled, innocently saying, "Of course Mr. Yu doesn't know, our old mountain master's family all have excellent martial arts skills. The old lady is none other than the famous White-Haired Dove Staff Granny Ye Hanshuang. Even though you're not a martial artist, you must have heard of her..." Pin'er seemed to hear something, tilted her head to the side, and ran off in a flash. Yu Yun chuckled to himself.

That night, under the moonlight, two dark shadows swept in, like two giant eagles, flashing past the window of Yu Yun's study. Suddenly, several shouts rang out, followed by the clash of weapons. After a moment, a voice rang out, and then everything fell silent, except for the rustling of the wind through the window paper. Pin'er rushed into the study from outside, then burst into Yu Yun's bedroom, but there was no sound at all; Yu Yun was nowhere to be seen. Pin'er stood there for a long time, as if he had come to some conclusion, which startled him so much that he took a step back, turned around, and darted out.

A moment later, Pin'er led the old mountain master and the young mountain master in. Pin'er called out, "Mr. Yu."

"Uh..." The reply trembled, as if it came from under the bed. With a rustling sound, the bedsheets rose, and a head peeked out, slowly crawling out. The old mountain master, Gong Tiandan, and the young mountain master, Gong Lingfei, saw that Yu Yun's face was dark and his body was covered in dust, and they both suppressed their laughter.

The old mountain master said, "Just now, two fellow practitioners came here to deliver a message, saying that the two old men of Huoshan and others would arrive tonight. They were not clear about friend or foe, which led to their interception. I didn't expect Mr. Yu to have suffered a false alarm."

Yu Yun smiled awkwardly and replied, "I heard the sound of metal clashing and had no time to escape. In my haste, I had no choice but to resort to this tactic. I'm sorry to have been laughed at by the old mountain master..."

Seeing Pin'er chuckle, Gong Lingfei, his eyes blurry, quickly called out, "Pin'er, hurry up and fetch water for the master to wash his face."

Pin'er took out a basin of water, turned, and ran out, still laughing all the way. Gong Lingfei chuckled and scolded, "Naughty!" The three then exchanged a few words before taking their leave.

Once the old mountain lord and the others had left, Pin'er brought in the water and said with a smile, "Mr. Yu, there's going to be a lively and interesting event on Penholder Peak behind the manor tomorrow night. Would you like to see it? Pin'er can lead you to a secret spot to peek."
Yu Yun scolded, "Little monkey, why did you bring the old manor lord and the others here? Are you trying to make me suffer? Tomorrow night will be lively, but even if you go, I won't. War is dangerous and dangerous, what's there to see? You're just being a nuisance..." Pin'er giggled and walked away.

Yu Yun shook his head, watching Pin'er's retreating figure, and said, "This child..."

The following night, around midnight, the summit of Bijia Peak was filled with the glint of swords and the sounds of shouts and curses that echoed through the mountains and valleys. As dawn approached, the old mountain lord, covered in blood, entered the study, clutching his left shoulder; he was clearly injured. Yu Yun sat in a chair, seemingly having not slept all night. Pin'er was snoring loudly on the desk. As soon as Yu Yun saw the old mountain lord enter, he hurriedly stood up, exclaiming, "Old mountain lord, are you injured?" He patted Pin'er's shoulder, and Pin'er immediately woke up.

Gong Tiandan smiled and said, "This injury is nothing. Please take a look and see if it affects my bones and muscles. It seems I've lost too much blood and my vital energy is greatly depleted. Please prescribe a remedy and let me recuperate for two or three days, and I'll be fine. It's just that if someone hadn't secretly helped me last night, I would have almost been injured by the swords of the two elders of Huoshan. But I don't know who that person is..."

Yu Yun examined the injury while smiling, "Old Master, you are blessed with good fortune and longevity. Heaven has its own help... Hmm, the injury is not serious. Let me prescribe a blood-tonifying and energy-boosting remedy, and then apply the Ice Muscle Powder externally. Within two days, you will definitely be able to move freely again." He then quickly wrote down a prescription and handed it to Pin'er to check the medicine. Gong Tiandan then recounted his battle with the two elders of Huoshan.

It was nearly midnight, and the moonlight was exceptionally bright. The sky was clear and blue, studded with a few stars that twinkled and shone. Gong Tiandan, along with Gong Lingfei and more than twenty others, were already waiting on the mountaintop. After waiting for a long time, a long howl suddenly rang out, echoing through the valley. Dozens of figures surged up from the opposite mountain peak, moving with incredible speed, reaching the top of Bijia Peak in the blink of an eye.

Gong Tiandan was secretly alarmed, thinking, "The two elders of Huoshan aren't here to avenge those two blows; it seems they're here to raze my Huanbi Manor to the ground... Strange, none of the eleven members of our gang around here have noticed them or raised a signal. Have they all been murdered?"

Just as he was wondering, the two elders of Huoshan landed in front of him, followed by a group of extraordinary martial arts masters from all over the land. The two elders, their silver beards flowing, stood against the night wind, their robes rustling. The eldest, Wei Linrui, sneered, "Gong Tiandan, we meet again. You should remember my parting words: when the Huoshan brothers reappear in the martial world, it will be the day Huanbi Manor is destroyed."

Gong Tiandan looked up... He laughed loudly, then, after a moment of silence, said, "Wei Linrui, your words still ring in my ears, how could I forget? I thought you were just trying to cover up your shame, but I didn't expect you to actually keep your oath and come to my Huanbi Manor. However, you've forgotten that Ding said he wanted my old life..."

Wei Linrui shouted, "Shut up! When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? Your hope of escaping tonight is like finding a needle in a haystack..."

The second brother, Su Linxiang, standing to the side, chimed in, "Elder brother, we don't have time to argue with him. Let's deal with them first." Without waiting for Wei Linrui's agreement, he waved his hand, and his men rushed forward to fight Gong Tiandan's men. A dozen or so men rushed towards Huanbi Manor.

Tiandan was extremely anxious. The two old men of Huoshan also acted on their own. With two clangs, their swords were drawn from their sheaths. In a split second, their silver swords flashed and struck simultaneously like lightning, one at the left rib and the other at the right arm. The move of a master was indeed extraordinary. Gong Tiandan laughed heartily, arched his back, and in a flash, his figure soared two zhang high. Two gleaming silver crutches shot out from his shoulders, striking down with earth-shattering force towards the two elders of Huoshan. The two elders of Huoshan flung their swords aside, dodging the crutches, then immediately closed them again, unleashing a wondrous and unpredictable sword technique. Every strike aimed at Gong Tiandan's vital points, yet the swords' attacks were always aimed at unexpected locations, making it difficult for Gong Tiandan to defend.

Gong Tiandan was greatly astonished, thinking, "Where did the two elders of Huoshan learn this strange sword technique? This is their cleverness; they know that palm strength is difficult to surpass mine, but their swordsmanship has reached a level of consummate skill..." The two elders' sword light grew denser and denser; it was clear that they were determined tonight to defeat Gong Tiandan, the White Mountain Crane, and would not rest until they had done so.

At this moment, a dark figure darted out from Huanbi Manor and sped up the mountain. Bathed in moonlight, the figure moved with incredible speed, disappearing like a wisp of smoke in the blink of an eye. Reaching the summit, the figure soared like a

white crane atop an ancient pine tree. The old mountain master, Gong Tiandan, with decades of internal and external cultivation, was barely holding his own against the two elders of Huoshan. His heart was in turmoil. He wondered if his wife was currently engaged with the dozen or so attackers sent by the elders. He knew his wife's skill was comparable to his, but the attackers numbered over a dozen, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary villagers. How could she possibly defend herself? His wife was highly skilled, but three months pregnant; he feared she couldn't help, lest it harm the unborn child. What if she did intervene? Thinking this, he trembled inwardly, his mind momentarily distracted, when Wei Linrui stabbed him in the left shoulder with his sword, blood gushing out.

Gong Tiandan gritted his teeth in pain, his right hand flashing out of the circle as he spun to the right. But Su Linxiang was faster, his sword striking Gong Tiandan's left elbow. Gong Tiandan staggered two steps forward. The two elders of Huoshan were overjoyed, their swords striking simultaneously again. In the split second, Gong Tiandan unleashed the power of his "Mighty Hunyuan Palm" with his right palm, sweeping it towards the two elders. This strike, even with their superior skill, would inflict serious injury.

The two elders of Huoshan were quick in their attacks and quick in their retreats, their bodies plunging downwards as their two swords swept towards Gong Tiandan's legs in the same direction. Unable to dodge the attack in time, Gong Tiandan closed his eyes and awaited death. He heard two muffled groans and opened his eyes to see that the two elders of Huoshan—one in the right eye and the other in the left—were bleeding, as if struck by a vicious hidden weapon. Like mad tigers, the two elders flipped and fled back the way they had come. Gong Tiandan, slightly shaken, watched their retreating figures and sighed inwardly, wondering when this grudge would be resolved.

A dark shadow flashed overhead. In the moonlight, a wisp of black thread shot from the person's hand, striking the group of attackers without a sound. Amid cries of "Ouch!", the person leaped upwards and disappeared in a flash. The men brought by the two elders of Huoshan shouted, "Quickly!" With a flash of blades, they all scattered and fled back the way they had come.

Gong Tiandan glanced ahead and saw that no one on his side had been hit by the hidden weapon fired by the dark figure. He asked in surprise, only to learn that most of the attackers seemed to have been hit in the eyes. He was greatly alarmed, thinking, "This person's technique is truly unbelievable. It's difficult to distinguish friend from foe with a hidden weapon, and it's also difficult to tell who is moving. It's truly mysterious. Who is this person? It must be someone we know, otherwise… Oh dear, I wonder how my wife is doing?" He hurriedly instructed Gong Lingfei and others to check if any of the gang members along the way were injured. Then he turned and led several men, rushing towards Huanbi Manor. Blood dripped continuously from the two wounds on his elbows, and the night wind made the pain particularly intense. He clutched his left arm with his right and lunged forward.

Even before reaching the manor, Gong Tiandan found groups of enemy members lying in twos and threes in the ravines, by the trees, in the corners of houses… seemingly struck by pressure points. Gong Tiandan grew increasingly alarmed, instinctively sensing the unprecedented skill of the newcomer. He immediately ordered his men to carry him to prison, running all the way while constantly wondering, "Who? Who is this person?" This thought swirled in Gong Tiandan's mind.

Returning to the inner courtyard, he found his wife chatting and laughing with their beloved daughter-in-law, seemingly undisturbed. The white-haired, staff-wielding old woman, Ye Hanshuang, seeing Gong Tiandan injured, jumped up in alarm and cried out, "Old Master, how badly are you hurt?"

Gong Tiandan waved his hand slightly and smiled, "It's nothing serious. The enemy has all been driven back. I need to find Mr. Yu now; we can discuss it further when I return." He then turned and walked towards the study.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yun couldn't help but exclaim repeatedly, "Like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail, is he truly as elusive as he seems?" The old master, Gong Tiandan, had his wound bandaged and treated, thanked him a few times, and rose to take his leave.

Now, after leaving the residence of Gong Tiandan in Huanbi Mountain Villa, turn right, and a black stone staircase leads up the mountain, winding and turning for over a thousand steps, until it reaches the mountainside. Hidden among the ancient trees is a two-story pavilion with flying red eaves and red and purple pine branches.

That evening, the east-facing sliding door of the pavilion creaked open, and an old man with a white beard and eyebrows stepped out. His face was etched with wrinkles, and he looked haggard, as if he had suffered endless torment from the years. He stood with his hands behind his back before the carved railing, gazing at the sky with a serene and thoughtful expression. Under the bright moonlight, he appeared particularly pale and lifeless. Suddenly, he sighed deeply and said, "Ten years have passed. This is no short time. The northern horse longs for the north wind, and the southern bird nests on the southern branch. When will I see my homeland again? I made a mistake, forcing myself to leave the pass and live under someone else's roof. Now, what's the use of regret?"

This old man was Hong Gewan, the "Heaven-Turning Hand." He had spent a full ten years in the Nine Questions Pavilion. His former pride and heroic spirit had been completely worn away. Sometimes, he couldn't help but feel a sense of rebirth, but what could he do? Every night, he would ponder in front of the pavilion. Tonight, the moonlight was exceptionally bright, and he couldn't help but feel a deep longing for his homeland, recalling the past as if it were yesterday.

As Hong Gewan was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a soft sound behind him. Martial artists, especially those with keen senses, immediately recognized the source. He secretly flipped his wrists, turned abruptly, and pounced. True to his name, the "Heaven-Turning Hand," the force of his palm strike caused the two floor-to-ceiling doors to collapse with a crash, and the entire Nine Turns Pavilion trembled violently. Yet, not a single person was to be seen.

Hong Gewan stood there, bewildered and stunned, his empty hands exposed. Suddenly, a cold laugh rang in his ears: "Such impressive palm power." Though the voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, it made his eardrums feel muffled.

Hong Gewan was so shocked that words could not describe it. He hurriedly stepped forward, turned around, and broke out in a cold sweat. In front of him was a dark figure, completely covered from head to toe in black silk, with only his eyes showing. His gaze was like sharp scissors, sending chills down one's spine. Hong Gewan cried out, "Who are you?"

The person sneered, "Hong Gewan, you don't even know who I am in your dreams." Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stretched out his wrist. Hong Gewan wanted to open his palms and strike hard, but in the blink of an eye, the person stretched forward and somehow grabbed his wrists. He immediately felt an indescribable itching and numbness that surged through his body.

Hong Gewan was now drenched in tears and sweat, which dripped onto the floorboards. The man tightened and loosened his grip on three fingers and continued, "Now, I'll tell you, so you can die willingly. I only ask you, were you involved in the ambush on Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser, back then? Tell the truth, and I can give you a quick death."

Upon hearing this, Hong Gewan felt as if struck by lightning, his vision blurred, and he stammered, "How... you are... who are you to Xie Wen?"

The man said fiercely, "Who am I? We met once in the Sanxiang area, I'm sure you haven't forgotten. I am the child Xie Wen carried behind the scenes."

Hong Gewan was even more terrified and exclaimed, "What? You're not dead? And who are the two corpses, one big and one small, in Wugong Mountain?" At this moment, he seemed to have forgotten the pain of having his meridians sealed and returned to deep thought.

The man chuckled coldly, his laughter filled with boundless resentment and a sinister tone. After a moment of smirk, he said, "That's right, the young master isn't dead yet. This is something you didn't expect, is it? The young master has come here to settle this old debt. I only ask you, where do the two who participated in the ambush with you live in this Huanbi Manor? And who were the other participants in the ambush back then?"

At this moment, Hong Gewan seemed to have gained a great sense of relief, muttering to himself, "Misfortune and fortune have no fixed gate, only man invites them. Tonight I have found my final resting place, all grudges are settled..." Then he smiled sadly and revealed that the two were in Huanbi Village, describing their appearance, age, and residence. As for the others who participated in the ambush, he only mentioned the names of five members of the Qingfeng Gang, claiming ignorance of the rest. After speaking, he closed his eyes, awaiting death.

The man sighed softly, "I'll grant your wish." Suddenly, he flicked his wrist and pointed a finger at Hong Gewan's chest. Hong Gewan fell to the ground, and a black shadow swept down from the Nine Returns Pavilion, disappearing into the woods in an instant.

The next morning, news of the sudden deaths of Hong Gewan, Wang Sui, and Li Yang spread throughout Huanbi Manor. The old master personally went to examine the three men's bodies. He found them without a single wound, as if they had been killed by an extremely yin technique of acupoint striking. Apart from the two collapsed doors on the Nine-Turned Pavilion, there was no trace of a struggle. All three were top-tier martial artists, and the newcomer's skill was exceptional. He couldn't help but recall what Gong Lingfei had said upon returning to the mountain, thinking to himself, "Could it be Xie Wen, the Soul Chaser? It seems he might also be the one who secretly helped me the night before. This man's actions are truly unbelievable."

This matter, like an unsolvable knot, troubled the old master for a long time. Hong Gewan and the other two had been murdered without cause, and in his own Huanbi Manor, according to the code of the martial world, he had to find out who had killed them and avenge them. What if the person who secretly helped him the night before last was the same person who did what happened last night? Before the truth is found, it's better to maintain a facade of vigilance while remaining relaxed, and let it go. He secretly discussed this with Gong Lingfei, sending out several groups of people to investigate suspicious individuals and their whereabouts, but it was merely a formality.

Time flies, another month has passed. In Changbai Mountain, auspicious snow falls heavily. The entire Huanbi Manor is covered in a blanket of white, dazzling silver light, and the weather is truly cold. The snow had stopped long ago, but after falling overnight with the biting north wind, it had accumulated to a foot deep. By the time the sun came out, a thin layer of ice had formed on the snow. The sunlight was absorbed by the snow, releasing cold air, making it even colder than when the snow was falling. Breath turned into mist, quickly becoming invisible water droplets that filled the air.

Yu Yun, wearing a mink coat and thick leather trousers, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, stood outside the courtyard admiring the snow scene. He rolled his eyes, as if confirming something, coughed twice heavily, returned to his study, and called out, "Pin'er." Pin'er

was squatting by the side corridor, brewing tea and warming herself by the stove. Hearing her teacher call, she gave a long reply, "Did you call me, sir...? Pin'er is here." She pouted, picked up a pot of boiling water, and stepped into the room.

Yu Yun looked up and said, "Pin'er, go see if the old master is free. If he is, ask him to come over. Tell him the teacher has something to discuss with him." Pin'er agreed and went out.

A moment later, the old mountain lord followed Pin'er in. His snow-white beard was glistening with countless water droplets. Upon seeing him, he smiled and said, "Mr. Yu, Pin'er said you had business with me. What is it?"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "It is that I have been longing for home and wish to ask for leave to return south to visit my ancestral graves. I will return to the mountain in March next year. I wonder what you think, old mountain lord?"

Gong Tiandan laughed loudly, "I thought it was something important. Missing one's hometown is only natural. However, the weather is too bad now. Soon it will be snowing heavily and the mountains will be closed. The road will be difficult to travel. We martial artists don't mind, but you are a scholar, so perhaps you should travel next spring."

Before he finished speaking, Yu Yun continued, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, old mountain lord, but..." "I am eager to return home. If I had to wait until next spring to leave, I wouldn't have dared to ask. As for the fear of difficult journeys, I don't care. Those who travel the martial world are used to such unpredictable weather."

Seeing that Yu Yun was determined to return south, Gong Tiandan didn't want to force him to leave any further. So he smiled and said, "Since Mr. Yu is determined to go, I can't say anything more. But please allow me to stay for three days so that my granddaughter Xiuyun can bid farewell to you."

Yu Yun hurriedly declined, saying, "Old Master, there's no need for such trouble. I will come back next March anyway. It's not like we'll never see each other again. I think it's best if you don't bother."

The old master stood up and smiled, "My mind is made up. Mr. Yu, there's no need for such formalities." He slowly walked out, and Yu Yun respectfully saw him to the door.

Fortunately, these three days saved the old master from a life-threatening situation. For two days in a row, the old master hosted a banquet to bid farewell, followed by the old lady, and then the young master and his wife. When they arrived at the young mistress's banquet, her pregnant belly was already quite prominent. Yu Yun noticed this at a glance, and a slight look of surprise crossed his face. Gong Lingfei, seeing this, couldn't help but become suspicious and asked why. Yu Yun smiled and pondered without speaking.

Seeing this, Gong Lingfei knew there must be a reason and hurriedly asked, "Mr. Yu, please speak frankly. We martial arts people don't have so many taboos."

Yu Yun smiled and said, "Young Master, you've proven an old saying: it's fine if you don't care, but if you do, things get too complicated. Before I explain, I must first congratulate the old master's wife. Next year, you'll definitely be able to enjoy the company of your grandchildren."

These words delighted the two elders and the two children. Only Xiuyun, with her little braids tied up, looked up at Yu Yun and kept asking, "Teacher, what does 'enjoying the company of your grandchildren' mean?"

Yu Yun laughed, "Silly child, you'll have a chubby little brother to hold next year, won't you be happy?"

Upon hearing about the little brother, Xiu Yun clapped her hands and exclaimed, "I love it, I love it..." She ran in front of her mother, pointed to her large belly, and innocently asked, "Mom, is there a little brother hidden inside?" Everyone burst into laughter, and the young mistress's cheeks flushed with shyness.

Yu Yun then asked the young mistress seriously, "Young mistress, have you fought with anyone this past month?"

The young mistress was stunned for a moment before gently shaking her head, "I haven't fought with anyone... Oh, right, ten days ago I sparred with the young master, could it be that the pregnancy was affected..."

Yu Yun laughed, "The pregnancy wasn't affected, but the baby has shifted position, which might make delivery a little difficult. Since I've seen it, I have a solution. Young master, come to my room tonight, I'll teach you a technique to adjust the placenta, and with a few doses of medicine to calm the fetus and replenish blood, everything will be fine."

Gong Lingfei heard... Yan Yixi said, "Mr. Yu's kindness is deeply appreciated, and I, Gong Lingfei, have no way to repay it. How about this, when the child is born, I'll have you as the foster father?"

Yu Yun smiled and said, "I'm fortunate enough to have such an honor. I'll just need to eat a few more red eggs."

Before he finished speaking, the old mountain lord suddenly let out a sharp howl, his body and chair flipping backward. Yu Yun's expression changed drastically, his shoulders jerked violently, and without changing his sitting posture, he shot straight out of the courtyard. Gong Lingfei leaped up after him, and Yu Yun's figure was already on the hillside dozens of feet away. In front of Yu Yun, three people were desperately fleeing, and on the dazzling, flower-like snow, they were clearly visible.

Gong Lingfei was secretly astonished. For months, he had never realized that Mr. Yu was such a remarkable person with extraordinary skills. His disguise had a reason, but he only showed kindness to Huanbi Manor and had no ill intentions whatsoever. So why? As he thought this, he didn't stop, but instead quickened his pace. Looking ahead, he saw Yu Yun had already rushed ahead of the three men, intercepting them with a flip. The strangeness of his technique and the unpredictability of his movements were unprecedented. By the time Gong Lingfei arrived, the three men who had ambushed the old mountain master were already lying on the snow.

Yu Yun looked up and saw Gong Lingfei arrive, and hurriedly said, "This student must rush back to rescue the old mountain master. Please take these three back and interrogate them about their origins, young mountain master." As he spoke, he had already flashed to a distance of seven or eight zhang, and with a few leaps, he had already disappeared into the manor. Gong Lingfei couldn't help but be horrified. In the current martial arts world, even the best lightness skill was only about five zhang. What kind of movement was this? He could move seven or eight zhang in a flash. It seemed that he hadn't even used his full strength. Compared to him, it was even more incomparable.

When Yu Yun returned to the inner courtyard, he saw them running around in a panic. The old mountain master had already had his acupoints sealed by the old lady and had been carried into the bedroom to sleep on a couch. At this time, the three hall masters and high-ranking incense masters of the Thousand Mountains Gang, who were scattered outside the mansion, all rushed over to visit their relatives after hearing the news. Upon inquiring, they learned that the old mountain master had been ambushed. They all wanted to chase after the culprits outside the mountain, but Yu Yun stopped them and said with a smile, "The three thieves have all been identified by the young mountain master and will be here soon." As he spoke, he walked to the bedside and saw that the old mountain master's teeth were clenched, his eyes were bulging, and his whole body was trembling uncontrollably.

The old mountain master's wife, Ye Hanshuang, said with a worried face, "Old sir, this old woman was mistaken. I didn't realize you were such an extraordinary person. The old mountain master has been hit by the most insidious White Bone Cold Wind Palm. I heard that this palm is incurable. Although this old woman has sealed his vital points, he won't live much longer." As she spoke, two lines of clear tears rolled down her phoenix eyes.

Yu Yun comforted the old lady, saying, "What kind of extraordinary person am I? You flatter me, Madam. I can heal Elder Gong's minor injury; there's no need to worry." He then caught sight of Gong Lingfei rushing in and said, "Young Master, excellent technique! You subdued the three in less than ten moves. I sincerely admire you."

Gong Lingfei was taken aback, but immediately understood. Knowing Yu Yun didn't want outsiders to know he knew martial arts, he smiled without speaking, stepped forward, glanced at the old master, and frowned, asking Yu Yun, "Can you heal my father's injuries, sir?"

Yu Yun nodded and whispered, "Young Master, please accompany the gang leader and others to the main hall. Do not reveal that I know martial arts."

Gong Lingfei also replied in a low voice, "I know. Why can't I release the pressure points on those three?"

"Let's talk about it after we save the old master," Yu Yun said softly, blinking.

Gong Lingfei then said, "Then my father... will have to rely entirely on you, sir." Gong Lingfei then led everyone to the main hall. Only the old lady, the young lady, Xiuyun, and Yuyun remained in the bedroom. Standing outside the door was Pin'er, who, in his young heart, couldn't help but regret that he had spent months accompanying the old master and hadn't realized he was such an extraordinary person. He even smacked himself on the head.

Two hours passed, and then the old master's loud laughter echoed from inside the room, indicating that his injuries had fully healed. Upon hearing this, Pin'er dashed to the main hall like a gust of wind to inform Gong Lingfei. Yuyun followed, returning to the study. Yuyun sat on a reclining chair, her head resting on her arms, lost in thought. Suddenly, the curtain moved, and a head peeked in, only to quickly retreat. Yu Yun laughed, "Little monkey, come in if you want. Don't play tricks outside, or I'll skin you alive."

Pin'er blushed and went in, bowing respectfully, "Sir, you're such a hypocrite, yet you don't give Pin'er a single benefit. How heartless!"

Yu Yun laughed heartily, "Little monkey, why were you so arrogant before and so respectful now?"

Pin'er said anxiously, "Sir, I haven't been disrespectful to you! "

Seeing his anxiety, Yu Yun smiled and said seriously, "Pin'er, don't worry. I will definitely return next year in March or April, and then I will give you something in return." "After saying this, Gong Lingfei had already stepped into the room. Pin'er hurriedly rushed out. Yu Yun immediately taught Gong Lingfei how to adjust the baby's position, and then quickly wrote down three prescriptions. He then explained how to undo the acupoint restraints of the three thieves who had ambushed the old mountain lord. Gong Lingfei happily hurried out.

Early the next morning, the old mountain lord and his wife came to thank Yu Yun, and then said with a smile, "It seems that when the two old men from Huoshan came that night, it was also you who rescued them, sir?"

Yu Yun just smiled and did not speak. The old mountain lord then smiled and said, "Then I guess that it must have been you who did Hong Gewan and the others. Otherwise, those three are all renowned top-notch masters. If it were anyone else, I'm afraid they wouldn't have been able to succeed so easily. I heard from my son that your skill is so high that it is rare in the world. In that case, I am certain that you were the one who did it."

Yu Yun suddenly gleamed with a sharp light and laughed, "That's right, it was all my doing. Could it be that the old master wants to..." Gong Tiandan quickly waved his hand and laughed, "Old master, please

don't misunderstand. For you, I, Gong, can take responsibility for anything, no matter how big the matter. It's just strange how you, Mr. Gong, came to have such a grudge against them. Could it be that you have some connection with the Soul Chaser?" At this moment, Gong Lingfei and his wife also stepped in to thank Yu Yun.

Yu Yun was deeply moved by the old master's words and smiled sadly, "I have a deep connection with the Soul Chaser, Hero Xie. I cannot reveal the reason for this at the moment. As long as the old master and others agree to keep the secret, we will know in the future."

The old master laughed heartily, "Old master, we have known each other for so long, and you still don't trust me, Gong Tiandan? As long as you don't give in, I won't reveal anything. Let's not talk about this anymore. Old master, can't we be considered as friends despite our age difference?"

Yu Yun actually shook his head and said, "I am too young. I should address you as a nephew."

The old mountain lord clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "I see you're over forty, how can you say you're too young?" Yu

Yun laughed heartily, reached behind his ear and pulled off a leather mask. Everyone stared in astonishment, and Yu Yun turned out to be a handsome young man barely twenty. Gong Lingfei quickly pointed at Yu Yun and said, "You... are you perhaps the legendary scholar with the strange hand, famous throughout the land?" Yu Yun quickly put the mask back on, smiled, and remained silent.

The old mountain lord laughed heartily again and said, "In this way, our friendship despite the age difference is even more certain. I'll dare to call you 'brother' then."

Yu Yun smiled and said, "Although the old mountain lord is lowering his status to a friendship, it would be difficult for the young mountain lord. I think we should stick to the original form." The old

mountain lord laughed and said, "Let's each keep our own way. Who cares what Lingfei calls me?"

Yu Yun said nothing about this, but brought up the old matter again, saying, "This student is taking his leave today to return south. Before the old master holds his grandson next year, this student will definitely come here to trouble you for a cup of water. "

Seeing his resolute determination to leave, the old mountain lord said firmly, "Brother, if you wish to return south, I will not try to stop you. However, you must come back next year. My Huanbi Manor will then be your home. You can come and go as you please whenever you wish." With that, he took out a command arrow from his robes, engraved with a snow-capped mountain and a white crane, and handed it to Yu Yun, saying, "This is a token representing our sect's high status. Within our territory, those who possess it can pass without hindrance. Furthermore, if any of our members transgress, you can enforce the law and clean up our ranks."

Yu Yun declined repeatedly but had no choice but to accept. He then packed his bags and set off, riding his usual mountain pass. The old and young mountain lords saw him off at the mountain pass, reluctant to part, tears streaming down their faces. Who was this Yu Yun? It was obvious—it was Xie Yunyue.

Snow fell like goose feathers, swirling and dancing in the sky. The north wind howled incessantly, turning the plains into a vast expanse of silver, a desolate and bleak scene. Just then, a fast horse galloped down the Bingzhou road. The rider was almost lying on the horse's back, constantly wielding a long whip to urge his mount forward. The horse's nostrils puffed out like clouds, and its hooves kicked up chunks of snow, leaving a trail of hoofprints wherever it went. But the snow was falling too heavily. In no time, it was covered again, leaving everything a pristine white expanse.

After riding for nearly half an hour, they could vaguely see a small village in the distance, but it was obscured by heavy snow and could not be seen clearly without exhausting their strength. The rider let out a long sigh, pulled on the reins, and the horse immediately slowed down. The rider patted the horse's back and muttered to himself, "It seems we can't reach Shanyin today. We'll have to stop at the small village ahead for a rest and a good meal before continuing tomorrow." As if the horse understood human speech, it raised its head and swayed twice, let out a long neigh, and then galloped away at a faster pace.

The man on horseback was Yu Yun (who was Xie Yunyue, still disguised as a middle-aged scholar, so he should use an alias). After leaving the Qianshan Huanbi Mountain Villa, he went directly to Wu Fengbiao, the Flying Cloud Hand, at the Chabei Ranch. After staying for three days, he set off for Shanxi. Wu Fengbiao gave him a swift and powerful horse. The planned route was to go through Zhangjiakou, head straight for Datong, then through Huairen, through Shanyin, through Yanmen Pass, and finally to Taiyuan.

After passing Huai Ren, it was nearly 3 PM. He wanted to reach Shanyin that night, but the path was blocked by snow. In addition, the sky was gray and he couldn't tell which way was north, south, east, or west. He circled around in the snow several times, but he felt that he was not on the right road. This had already delayed him quite a bit, and he was very uneasy. Fortunately, he met a group of merchants who were returning home for the New Year. After they pointed out the direction to Shanyin, he was able to ride his horse at full speed. If it got dark, he would not be able to move an inch. Although he was not afraid of himself, his horse would freeze and starve to death. His eyesight was very sharp. He saw several black horizontal lines in the distance. He knew that they were the eaves of houses. Although the snow was heavy, it could not cover them all. He was overjoyed and his mood relaxed.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a small market town with only forty or fifty households. A wooden sign hung under the eaves of the third house, swaying in the wind. After recognizing it as "Lu'an Inn," he shook off his horse and approached. The innkeeper, having heard the bell, ran out, took the reins, and bowed, saying with a smile, "Sir, it's windy outside, please come inside. We have excellent rooms with heated brick beds, including lodging and drinks."

Yu Yun nodded slightly, instructed that the horse should be fed the finest food, then lifted the curtain and floated inside. Inside, in a large room, more than a dozen people were eating at tables. A heated brick bed had been dug in the room, burning matches and animal dung, the flames roaring, making the room feel warm and cozy. A large copper kettle hung from the beam in the center of the heated bed, boiling water, its spout hissing out wisps of steam.

Yu Yun found an empty seat and sat down. The waiter came over to greet him attentively and asked what he wanted. Yu Yun ordered a pot of Fenjiu liquor, a serving of mutton stew, and two catties of beef. As he ate, he glanced at everyone in the room. Most of the people in the room were merchants, their faces flushed. Half of it was due to the firelight, and the other was because they had drunk three cups of wine, and the heat had made their faces flushed. Only the skinny man sitting in the corner opposite him looked very suspicious. His eyes kept sneaking glances at the two merchants next to him. Yu Yun couldn't help but look at the two merchants.

The two merchants were dressed in fine clothes, yet their eyes revealed a menacing air. Though they spoke and laughed in hushed tones, a hint of coldness flashed across their faces when the short man wasn't paying attention. This fleeting moment couldn't escape Yu Yun's sharp gaze. He thought to himself, "Could these two be martial arts masters in disguise? There's more to this than meets the eye; this is going to be quite a show."

The merchants' voices grew louder, and when they were particularly excited, they burst into laughter. Suddenly, the curtain moved, and a gust of cold wind rushed in. The flames immediately receded, then rose again, their tongues burning brighter and more intense than before. Three burly men followed behind. Upon entering, they immediately looked around, their expressions shifting as they spotted the short man and the two merchants. They exchanged glances, then brushed the snow off their clothes. One of them chuckled, "We've had enough of the northwest wind. It's a welcome place! Come, let's have a couple of drinks to ward off the chill." His voice carried a deep Henan accent.

The other two shrugged and smiled, seemingly indifferent, before settling down near the doorway. The short man's eyebrows twitched upon seeing the three, then he lowered his head again, tearing at his bread. Yu Yun observed this, thinking, "These three are clearly on the same route as the short man, yet they pretend not to know him. This is quite amusing."

The two merchants, seemingly oblivious to the arrival of the three men, spoke with unrestrained confidence. This brazen attitude made Yu Yun shake his head in disapproval. Both merchants were around forty years old. One had a round face, thick eyebrows, and bright, clear eyes. He had a sparse, short mustache and wore a black fox fur robe. He always spoke with a smile, his hands clasped together on the stage. The other had a long face, but not thin. His features were well-proportioned, and he had three long tufts of beard. He wore a white fox fur robe, with the tips of the white fur peeking out from the cuffs and hem. He looked refined and otherworldly. He rested his elbow on the table, his hand supporting his chin, listening intently to the round-faced man speak, while his other middle finger scribbled haphazardly on the table.

The round-faced man loudly proclaimed, "Brother Qiu, there's an old saying in the pawnbroking world: 'Three years without business, then three years of feasting.' I've been a pawnbroker for five years now, and thanks to your special treatment, my annual earnings are enough to feed my family for four or five years. What more could I ask for? It's a blessing from heaven, and refusing it would be a curse. One day, a down-on-his-luck young nobleman came in, holding a string of beads, saying he wanted to pawn 20,000 taels of silver, never to redeem it. My boss looked at it and shook his head, refusing. I insisted it was worth it, but my boss still..." The man grew impatient and lowered the price to 15,000 taels, but my master still refused. Then my younger brother spoke up, saying that since the master didn't want it, he would buy it himself, as it was worth the price. My master smiled and didn't object. My younger brother then presented a bank draft, effectively securing the beaded necklace for himself. After the man left, my master said that the necklace was actually worth far more than that, at least several hundred thousand taels, but its origin was unclear, seemingly from the imperial palace, and there might be trouble in the future, so he insisted on not buying it. Since you're not afraid, perhaps fortune will fall upon you... "You might not know either. I went back to my room and took a closer look—and wow, it's incredible! It's probably priceless. Not counting the four small beads, each of the four large beads is a priceless treasure."

The long-faced man chimed in with a laugh, "Is there something to it?"

The round-faced man slapped his thigh and said, "Who says otherwise? Each of the four beads is different, and the colors of the light they emit are also different—red, purple, blue, and white, each one different."

The long-faced man chimed in again with a laugh, "Brother Li, after all this talk, you still haven't said anything. " "Let me tell you its benefits."

The round-faced man laughed heartily, "Don't rush, things should be explained slowly! Take the red bead for example, its special property is that it can cure all poisons. No matter how severe the poisoning, as long as you have a breath left, put the red bead in your mouth, and instantly, all the poison will be drawn out and stored in the bead. The other three beads are called fire-repelling, water-repelling, and evil-repelling, together with the red bead for poison-repelling, they are known as the Four Treasures of the Dragon Official. After I bought them, luckily no one questioned the origin of this bead string. Now that's done, I'm rich for life!" He then let out another cold laugh.

Suddenly, a soft, cold laugh was heard, followed by a low, mocking voice: "Tomorrow you'll be lying dead in the wilderness, and you still have the mood to laugh."

Yu Yun was startled, knowing it was one of the three who had come later. The two merchants raised their eyebrows upon hearing this, but quickly composed themselves. The round-faced man smiled and said, "Brother Qiu, would you like to see the world? Let me take it out."

The long-faced man hurriedly waved his hand and said, "How can such rare treasures be displayed in public? Don't rush now, we can see them when we get there."

Then, a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz came through: "What place? This Yangjiaji is your end." The two merchants seemed not to hear him, and instead talked even more excitedly than before.

At first, Yu Yun was confused, but after careful deduction, he suddenly realized that these two merchants were probably disguised, carrying valuable treasure, and had been followed by a gang of thieves. They had noticed that the two merchants possessed extraordinary skills, but dared not make a move, only following them and sending messages to invite their companions. It seemed that tomorrow outside Yangjiaji would be another bloodbath. He thought that these two merchants were too good at putting on an act, and compared to him, they were not much different. Both sides had been subtly hinting at their intentions, only short of

openly acknowledging them. For the two merchants, this was a clear message: if they didn't have extraordinary martial arts skills, how could they dare to boast so openly in public? Forget about it; if you dare to make a move tomorrow, you will be courting death. Take the thieves, for example. Their sarcastic remarks were a veiled indication that their own capable men were all present, and that tomorrow, the area outside Yangjiaji would be their burial ground.

Both sides were speaking with hidden meanings, leaving the diners inside completely bewildered. The two merchants were arrogant and oblivious to their surroundings, while the three men looked fierce and menacing. Aside from noticing that both sides were somewhat unusual, they knew nothing more. The residents of Shanxi Province were mostly simple and hardworking; how could they possibly guess such a ruthless murder? Even if they could, they would mind their own business and not worry about others' misfortunes.

A long neigh rang out, and Yu Yun was startled. Wasn't that his horse? If these thieves had designs on him, they were surely courting death. He abruptly stood up, strode out, and lifted the curtain. He saw four men standing on the snow, one of whom was pulling his swift horse. The horse seemed to recognize that it wasn't its master, stubbornly kicking and leaping about. The snow had stopped, and a biting northwest wind howled in gusts, while dense clouds drifted endlessly across the sky, casting a dim halo around the moon.

The bandit leading the horse shouted, "You beast!" and raised his right hand to strike, when suddenly he heard a whoosh of wind and was startled to find his right hand being caught by another hand. He was stunned.

It turned out that Yu Yun, seeing the bandit raise his hand to strike the horse, had acted hastily. He pushed off with his feet and used his sect's secret technique, "Soaring Steps," covering several dozen feet in an instant. Before he arrived, his hand struck out first, catching the bandit's powerful right hand. Because the four bandits had noticed the newcomer's incredible speed, they hadn't seen where he had come from and were thus stunned.

Yu Yun sneered, "A good horse is loved by everyone. If you love this horse, you should ask its rightful owner if they're willing to give it up. How can you resort to such petty theft? Did your good-for-nothing father teach you that?"

The horse thief, startled by the speed of the newcomer and knowing that the rightful owner of the horse had arrived, felt a pang of guilt. Hearing Yu Yun's sarcasm, he was filled with rage and retorted with a cold laugh, "I'm your ancestor! When I see something I like, I'll reach for it!" Before he could finish speaking, "slap!" He received a solid slap across the face, his lips swelled up instantly, half of his teeth loosened, and he chuckled as he covered his swollen face with one hand.

Yu Yun laughed, "I love slapping people across the face. If I see someone I don't like, I'll take action, right?"

The horse thief, though still in pain after being slapped, felt dizzy and his vision blurred for a moment before returning to normal. He roared like a tiger, his right hand flashing, revealing a gleaming steel knife. Taking advantage of the momentum, he swung it down. Yu Yun said softly, "You're courting death."

His right palm, fingers spread, met the blade, startling the thief. Before he could even react, Yu Yun had already gripped the knife. With a flick of Yu Yun's left palm, the thief's massive body was sent flying, tumbling through the air a dozen times in the howling north wind, before landing with a "thud" in the snow in front of the "Lu'an Inn." The snow, pushed outwards, instantly buried the thief's body again. Yu Yun had used a clever technique, only inflicting a minor injury on the thief.

After Yu Yun knocked the horse thief away with a flick of his wrist, he snatched the steel knife from his hand with a squeeze of his five fingers, then released it, breaking the knife into four or five pieces. He then smiled at the other three thieves. The other three thieves had come on a mission, and seeing their companion so eager to take the horse, they didn't want to cause trouble and tried to dissuade him. Just then, Yu Yun arrived in time and stunned them with his light-footed skill. By the time their companion was knocked away, it was too late for him to intervene. Seeing Yu Yun smiling at them, the three thieves immediately lost their nerve. They wanted to fight back, but they hesitated because if they caused trouble again tonight, the punishment from the gang leader would be severe. They couldn't help but shudder.

One of them sneered, "My companion was wrong, but he didn't harm your horse. Why did you attack him? We have business to attend to tonight. We'll remember this grudge, and we'll retrieve it by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Let you live a couple more days."

Yu Yun was secretly angry, thinking, "You were the ones who stole the horse, so why are you talking about a grudge?" With this thought, his anger surged, and he couldn't help but swing his palm at the three thieves. The three thieves immediately flew seven or eight feet away like kites with broken strings. Yu Yun didn't even look at their lives, turned around, and led his horse away.

This palm strike stunned the other group of people. It turned out that when Yu Yun rushed out the door, the three men and two merchants who had come later also heard the horse neighing and saw Yu Yun rush out. They knew something was wrong and got up to follow him out. The remaining diners followed in a bewildered stream. The three men immediately recognized their companion stealing a horse again. One of them frowned and said to his companion, "What's wrong with Monkey? He's back to his old ways again. Even when we're on a mission, he still causes trouble. Really..." They caught a glimpse of Yu Yun, who moved with lightning speed, and in the blink of an eye, he was in front of the four companions. Startled, they swallowed the words they were about to say. The two disguised merchants also exchanged bewildered glances.

When the horse thief landed in front of the three men, they helped him up. He was badly injured and dazed. Just as the three men were about to rush forward to confront Yu Yun, they heard the short man scream. They saw their three accomplices already tumbling in mid-air. They exchanged bitter smiles, secretly gritting their teeth in hatred for their horse-stealing companion. They had incurred a powerful enemy here and now, and if they had inadvertently provoked the horse owner to retaliate against the two merchants, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

By this time, the horse thief had regained some composure. Seeing his three accomplices glaring at him, he hurriedly protested, "You three..." *Bang!* One of them punched him in the chest, and the horse thief fell to the ground. Yu Yun stepped past the three men, giving them a disdainful look and a heavy snort. He then floated into the house.

Seeing the commotion had subsided and feeling a chill, the crowd turned and went inside. The two merchants saw Yu Yun engrossed in his mutton stew, seemingly oblivious to the disturbance. They exchanged a smile and returned to their table. The room quieted down. The diners occasionally glanced at Yu Yun with a mixture of surprise and admiration. Outside, the shouts of the three burly men could be heard frequently, clearly cursing the horse thieves.

The fire in the kang (heated brick bed) still crackled and popped. After a while, the three burly men entered again, each glancing at Yu Yun before turning to look at the two Shangs. The two Shangs remained calm, knowing that the three thieves were looking at them to see if they were with Yu Yun, which only made them more suspicious and uneasy. The skinny man hadn't returned to the room, which was rather suspicious, so in any case, he had gone to call for reinforcements.

Yu Yun finished a large bowl of mutton stew and two jin of beef, but he was still not full. So he called the waiter and asked for five more flatbreads. After giving instructions, he looked up and saw that the skinny man was nowhere to be seen. He knew that something was going to happen tonight and the thieves couldn't wait until tomorrow. So he coughed heavily, spat out a mouthful of phlegm, and muttered to himself, "Good heavens, you're just wasting time, and so am I. You've got a good plan. You want to make your move before dawn? Heh, you know I won't lay a hand on you? Anyway, no one's going to sleep tonight."

Er Shang initially thought he was worried about what had just happened, but then he realized that Yu Yun was warning him to be careful that the thieves might make their move tonight. Hearing that he would also help Shi, he couldn't help but show his delight. They pretended to be calm, but inwardly they were worried about their next move. With such a great help behind them, they were emboldened and gave each other grateful looks. However, Yu Yun ignored them and kept muttering to himself, his voice so soft that only he could probably hear it.

The three thieves grew increasingly alarmed as they listened, wondering how he knew they had changed their minds halfway through. Because of this, after Yu Yun and the two merchants returned to the house, they had secretly ordered the skinny man to quickly inform the gang leader that they had to act immediately. Otherwise, once they entered Yanmen Pass tomorrow, they would be within the Qingfeng Gang's territory. Although they were all on the same side, everyone had a share, and this item was of great importance. If things went wrong, the Qingfeng Gang might secretly take it and refuse to hand it over, leaving them humiliated.

The two merchants were as cunning as rabbits, and the gang had been tracking them all the way from the capital. Several times they had escaped, and the gang had almost been misled and led astray. For this reason, almost all the gang members had been mobilized, because the two merchants didn't take the shortcuts, instead taking a roundabout route that added two thousand miles to their journey. They were worried the merchants might be up to something. Just when they thought the two merchants were slowly being led into a trap, their companion, Monkey, had incurred a powerful enemy. The two merchants, with their many schemes, were using this opportunity to escape. What should they do? Hearing that the middle-aged scholar was about to lend a hand, they felt even more uneasy. Although the two Shangs were highly skilled in martial arts, they were confident that even if they couldn't win, they would at least be safe from defeat if the three of them attacked together. However, they were worried about the middle-aged scholar. What they had just seen showed that the scholar's internal and external skills were all things they feared. They were shocked by what they heard, but since their help hadn't arrived, they had no reason to make a move. They lowered their heads, drank their wine in silence, and remained silent.

At this point, the diners scattered like birds and beasts, some going to bed, others returning home, leaving only three tables where people remained, locked in a stalemate. The waiter tiptoed in front of Yu Yun, bowing and stammering, "Sir, the kang is warm, would you like me to lead you to the inner room?"

Yu Yun slowly smiled and said, "Shopkeeper, don't you know I'm troubled? Even if I wanted to sleep, I couldn't sleep peacefully. Why don't you bring me two more catties of good wine and cook a few of your signature dishes? When I'm in a good mood, I'll even perform a few magic tricks, like monkey shows and upside-down foxes. You can broaden your horizons." The waiter nodded and retreated, inwardly wondering why the customer was talking so strangely, so incomprehensible. It was so late, yet he still had the energy to perform magic tricks. He just shook his head as he walked towards the stove.

The three thieves paled at the sound of Yu Yun's inadvertent intrusion. They were none other than the Three Foxes of Jinbei: Zhu Kui the Sky-Piercing Fox, Xu Jie the Shadowless Fox, and Zheng Yuhai the Poisonous Fox. Just then, several long, sharp whistles pierced the silence, their shrill and chilling sounds particularly terrifying in the long night.

Yu Yun looked up and smiled, saying, "It's time to make our move! The main character has arrived. What are you all standing around for? I've been waiting for ages to catch this spectacle, and you're just making me wait in vain?" He was originally from the south, but spoke with a northern accent, which sounded quite awkward.

The Three Foxes of Jinbei perked up at the sound of his voice, quickly stood up, glared at Yu Yun, and hurried away. Upon hearing the whistle, the two merchants' expressions immediately turned serious, and they both rose from their seats. Suddenly, a loud voice called out from outside, "Qiu Qi, Li Shaoling, our gang has arrived! Please come out and answer us!" The voice was drawn out and loud.

Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling sneered, palms to their chests, and glanced at Yu Yun. The heavy sheepskin curtain suddenly flew open, and the two leaped out. Yu Yun, seeing this, couldn't help but nod, secretly praising the two for their cunning and astute predictions. Just as Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling had predicted, the curtain was flung open with a thud, followed by a series of soft, thumping sounds from outside, and then the two merchants burst into wild laughter.

Yu Yun knew that although Qiu and Li were highly skilled in martial arts, they were outnumbered and outmatched, making it difficult to escape the trap. With a slight shrug, he stepped outside and saw dozens of bandits scattered across the vast snowfield, surrounding the group of men. Qiu and Li, holding soft swords, intently watched the eight bandits before them.

Among the eight bandits, the oldest man was extremely ferocious, with eyes like copper bells that emitted a shimmering blue light. Standing eight feet tall on the snow, he resembled an iron tower. He looked at Qiu and Li, letting out a strange laugh, and shouted, "My two friends, be sensible! Quickly hand over the thousand-year-old He Shou Wu and the four pearls from the Dragon Palace, and I will repay you with kindness. Don't think that just because you rely on the skills of the Dianchi Fisherman, you are nothing in the eyes of this old man, the Spirit Official and Giant Demon Hong Changqing. Just wait and see if you can escape!"

Li Shaoling snorted and said, "Old..." "Thief, stop dreaming! How can you expect to get something that others have worked so hard for? Anyway, enough nonsense, let's see who wins based on their skills. But let's make this clear: do you want a one-on-one fight, or both of you?"

Lingguan Jusha Hong Changqing glanced at Yu Yunli standing less than five zhang behind Qiu and Li, and was quite surprised. He thought to himself, "Just now, the skinny wolf Du Huanfei reported that this scholar's internal and external skills were extremely refined. He sent four rats flying with a single wave of his hand. He didn't seem to have anything special about him. Could I have misjudged him?" He paused for a moment, and answered slowly.

The three foxes from Jinbei leaped out from behind, facing Qiu and Li. Xu Jie, the Shadowless Fox, sneered, "Friend, don't be so stubborn. Our gang has traveled thousands of miles for you two. What for? Now hand over these two items, and all will be well. Otherwise, don't try to apply the rules of the martial world. We, the Black Dragon Society, never listen to such

nonsense. If you refuse to hand them over, then Yangjiaji will be your burial ground." Qiu Qi laughed loudly, "I've long suspected you're not human. You dare to speak like human beings? Why waste words on tonight's matter?" With that, his soft sword flashed like a streak of blue light, swiftly slashing towards the Shadowless Fox's waist.

The Shadowless Fox is known for its agile movements, but it was caught off guard by Qiu Qi's swift attack. It was startled and saw Qingxia approaching. It was too late to dodge or rush forward. In a moment of panic, it had a flash of inspiration. It twisted its waist and drew its sword, the blade just scraping the sole of its shoe. Before it even hit the ground, Qiu Qi also drew his sword and launched a three-sword attack, wielding a silver flower the size of a bowl and thrusting it at the Shadowless Fox's "Dovetail," "Five Pivots," and "Zhangmen" points.

Having lost the initiative, Wuyinghu was now bound at every turn, wielding only a wolf-tooth dagger, unable to use his skills. He managed to dodge one attack, but three more swords, like leeches clinging to his bones, came hurtling towards him again. The sword energy was more chilling than the northwest wind, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he remained calm, and with a flick of his arms, he used the "Lying Down to Watch the Clouds" move to evade the swords again. After landing, his face flushed with rage, he brandished his wolf-tooth dagger and thrust it forcefully towards Qiu Qi's chest.

Qiu Qi and Wuyinghu landed one after the other, but they couldn't change their moves in time. They could only raise their swords to parry, but the wolf-tooth dagger, from end to end, was only two feet and one inch long. Although it was classified as an outer-style short weapon, it was forged from pure steel and was extremely heavy. As a result, Qiu Qi was immediately bounced up when he parried with his sword. With a soft laugh, Wuyinghu darted behind Qiu Qi, flicking his wrist to unleash a barrage of twelve iron caltrops like a rain of stars. The attack was both close and skillful, covering all directions. Just as Qiu Qi was about to be struck by these hidden weapons, a loud shout rang out, and Qiu Qi was lifted back by a surging palm wind. The caltrops, struck by the wind, were knocked down and disappeared into the snow.

It turned out that Yu Yun, standing outside the arena, noticed that Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling were using soft swords. He couldn't help but touch the soft sword at his own waist, reflecting that he had never seen it used since entering the martial world. Yu Yun believed that while various schools of swordsmanship had their strengths, none could match the unpredictability and unparalleled power of the "Mysterious Seven Stars" sword technique taught by his master.

However, the "Seven Stars of the Mysterious Heaven" sword technique was created by Grandmaster Wuwei. When he mastered it, he only used it two or three times. Once, when Grandmaster Wuwei fought the Old Monster of the Northern Sea Cangming, he used this sword technique to severely injure the Old Monster's left arm. Unexpectedly, the eleventh generation leader of Qingcheng, Konglingzi, witnessed this. Upon returning to the mountain, Konglingzi racked his brains trying to recall the moves of the "Seven Stars of the Mysterious Heaven," pondering for a year. Although he hastily memorized a fragmented sword technique, its power was less than one-fifth of the original, it greatly enhanced Qingcheng's reputation. For many years, Qingcheng used this fragmented "Seven Stars of the Mysterious Heaven" sword technique as its signature sword art. The Qingcheng disciples were unaware that this sword technique was stolen by the eleventh generation leader, Konglingzi, from a high monk in the Northern Heavenly Mountain. Because of this, Yu Yun, fearing others would discover his origins, never dared to draw his sword.

At this moment, Yu Yun realized that Qiu Qi and Wuyinghu were no ordinary people. In a battle between masters, the outcome could be decided within five moves. Seeing Wuyinghu darting behind Qiu Qi with incredible agility, Yu Yun was secretly impressed when he caught a glimpse of Wuyinghu's left hand reaching under his ribs. He knew Wuyinghu was about to use a hidden weapon. As soon as Wuyinghu made his move, Yu Yun also raised his palm, rescuing Qiu Qi in time.

Yu Yun moved his palm and swiftly moved forward. With a flick of his three fingers, he had already seized Wuyinghu's pulse point, causing Wuyinghu to tremble in pain. Yu Yun sneered, "Tonight, no one will use a hidden weapon, or this Shanjiaji will be the place where your Black Dragon Society is completely annihilated." With that, he flicked his hand, and Wuyinghu was instantly thrown five zhang away.

Lingguan Jusha Hong Changqing caught a glimpse of Yu Yun swiftly reaching for the Shadowless Fox's pulse point. He tried to retaliate but it was too late. Yu Yun used the Shadowless Fox's body to block his own palm strike. Hong Changqing hurriedly caved in his chest, forcefully redirecting the force of his palm. Stunned, he pondered that the lean wolf's words were indeed true. However, he knew all the famous figures in the world, yet he couldn't recognize this person, nor could he discern the origin of their movements and techniques. He was puzzled, knowing that if this person intervened, his already secured victory would be lost.

His two ghostly eyes blinked, and a wicked thought arose. Taking advantage of Yu Yun's disarming of the Shadowless Fox, he unleashed a flurry of palm strikes towards Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling. His large, fan-like hands generated two gusts of whistling wind, exceptionally swift and powerful. Qiu and Li were shocked and immediately began to slash fiercely with their swords, but they were no match for the powerful palm strike. With two clangs, their swords snapped in two. The fierce palm strike, undiminished, pressed down like a dark cloud. This was a critical moment; their lives were on the verge of death.

Yu Yun, having unleashed his Shadowless Fox, saw Hong Changqing launch a sneak attack. He used his left foot to brace himself, sending Hong flying backward to try and save him. Seeing that the Handle Palm was about to succeed, the two Jinbei foxes were determined not to let Yu Yun interfere. They both raised their blades and leaped to intercept him, while the other four bandits also launched a coordinated attack on Yu Yun. Seeing the bandits' shamelessness, Yu Yun was enraged. While airborne, he secretly channeled the "Maitreya Divine Skill" into his left palm. As the six black shadows approached, he spun around and unleashed a powerful palm strike, sending the six bandits flying into the air. Then, he kicked with both feet and thrust out his right palm with five fingers. At this moment, the Spirit Official Giant Demon Hong Changqing's palms were already pressing against the throats of Qiu and Li.

In the blink of an eye, Hong Changqing suddenly felt five steel fingers gripping the back of his neck. His vision went black, and he knew something was wrong. He quickly withdrew his palms and jumped backward. Suddenly, he heard Yu Yun laugh loudly. His neck loosened and trembled, and he felt himself flying backward. He forcefully used the Thousand-Pound Drop and Body Technique to stop himself, and even so, he was carried more than two zhang away. Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling were both scratched in the throat by Hong Changqing's yin-soft finger strength, with a cut more than two inches long. Blood flowed out. If Yu Yun had not rescued them quickly, they might have fulfilled the words of the Three Foxes of Jinbei and become their burial place.

After landing, Lingguan Jusha Hong Changqing glanced around and saw that all seven of his men had disappeared into the snow, their fates likely grim. He then noticed Yu Yun staring intently at him, his eyes gleaming sharply in the darkness. He thought to himself, "I was focused on Qiu and Li just now, so I was caught off guard and fell into his trap. However, his grappling technique was extremely skillful. Although I wasn't injured, this proves that this man's skill is comparable to mine."

The north wind howled incessantly, the dense clouds dispersed, and a bright moon emerged, shining on the boundless, pristine snowfield, revealing every detail. The Black Dragon Society bandits stood like puppets on rooftops, eaves, and snow mounds. At this moment, several strange howls rang out from the edge of the snowfield. Hong Changqing's face showed a mixture of joy and worry. Yu Yun saw four or five black dots appear at the edge of the snowfield, flying towards them and landing in front of Hong Changqing in an instant.

There were five strange figures, all skin and bones, wearing enormous gray-white robes, swaying precariously in the strong wind, looking like five ghosts. Their faces were no different from those of witch doctors and demons, with bald eyebrows, sunken noses, and bloodless skin. Two white, menacing teeth protruded from their lips. Seeing them in the cold, howling wind of the night sent a chill down one's spine.

But then Hong Changqing burst into laughter, saying, "I never expected the Longmen brothers to be interested. This is something I, Hong Changqing, never anticipated."

Yu Yun thought to himself, "So they are brothers. No wonder they look so alike."

At this moment, a chilling voice suddenly rang out from among the Five Eccentrics of Longmen, saying, "Master Hong, you have handled this matter very wrongly. Such a rare treasure cannot be kept for yourself as you wish."

The Spirit Official Giant Fiend Hong Changqing's two blue eyes flashed with a strange light as he laughed wildly, "This Jinbei is originally within the sphere of influence of my Black Dragon Society. I, Hong, will do as I please. Hmph, you want to wade into troubled waters and get everything for free? There's no such thing as a free lunch. The rare treasure is in the hands of the three opposite. If you want it, just make your move. All three are tough guys. With your Five Eccentrics of Longmen, it won't be so easy for you to get it."

The chilling voice rang out again: "If my brothers from Longmen want to take him, even if they have to flee to Fengdu City (the underworld), we'll drag him back. There's never anything we can't handle. I know you're cunning and treacherous, trying to use

someone else to do your dirty work. To be honest, once my brothers from Longmen get their hands on him, don't even dream of getting a share." Hong Changqing chuckled coldly. "Don't think the name of the Five Eccentrics of Longmen is so impressive. Have they scared them even a little?"

In truth, Hong Changqing was treacherous, trying to provoke the Five Eccentrics of Longmen into taking action. He knew Yu Yun was not someone to be trifled with, and he also knew that the Five Eccentrics of Longmen were no better than himself. Regardless of the outcome, he could at least keep Yu Yun occupied for a while. Then, he could take the opportunity to rob Qiu and Li. His plan was brilliant, but little did he know that the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The underworld figures had all come to Yangjiaji after hearing the news. The Five Heroes of Longmen were well aware of Hong Changqing's intentions. They secretly considered their options and decided to seize the two treasures first, then deal with Hong Changqing later.

At this moment, Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling, having finished bandaging their throat wounds with medicine, walked to Yu Yun's side. Their two soft swords, now broken, lay discarded on the snow. Yu Yun smiled and said, "Are you two injured, esteemed brothers? I believe tonight's events were a close call, but nothing serious. Please stand aside for now."

Qiu and Li thanked him profusely for his help. A minor injury was nothing to worry about, but they were filled with apprehension. Now that the Five Heroes of Longmen had joined them, how could it be a close call? They saw the Five Heroes of Longmen turn and take a step, landing a foot in front of them, standing there blankly with wide eyes. Yu Yunshang stood with his hands behind his back, unconcerned. He turned to Qiu and Li and smiled, "Gentlemen, do you know how extraordinary tonight's gathering is? Besides the Black Dragon Society and the Five Monsters of Dragon Gate, are there any others here?" His words, though not loud, were exceptionally clear, and his voice echoed across the entire plain. Upon

hearing this, the Five Monsters of Dragon Gate turned around and suddenly saw dozens of dark figures surge up from the snow, arriving in the blink of an eye. At this moment, the Five Monsters of Dragon Gate and Hong Changqing all paled. They saw a multitude of demons and monsters, of all shapes and sizes, a truly magnificent sight.

Qiu and Li whispered to Yu Yun, "Why don't we charge in?"

Yu Yun shook his head and laughed, "Although there are many bandits, they can't do anything to us for the time being. Let them turn on each other. If we run away, it will only make things worse." Qiu Qi and Li Shaoling sighed deeply, their hearts filled with unease.

All that could be heard was the cacophony of voices from the bandits, arguing endlessly. Finally, the vengeful spirit official Hong Changqing suddenly burst into wild laughter, saying, "There are only two treasures, but today there are no fewer than a hundred of us from the same underworld and members of my Black Dragon Society. Although it's said that everyone who sees them gets a share, I'd like to ask you how you plan to divide them after you get them."

A loud voice shouted, "After we get them, we'll hold a martial arts tournament. Whoever wins first place will own the treasures. What's the point of fighting to the death now?"

Hong Changqing snorted coldly and said, "Your idea is quite good. Before the tournament, how will the two treasures be divided?" "Who will keep this treasure safe?"

The bandits fell silent. Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice rang out from the roof of the "Lu'an Inn": "Isn't it perfect to entrust it to this old man for safekeeping?" As soon as the words were spoken, three figures gracefully descended. Yu Yun recognized them as Dwarf Fang Shuo, Jing Fang, Black Moller Jiang Zongyao, and Heavenly Gang Sword Dongfang Yukun. He frowned. Why were the three of them together again? He thought of Jiang Yaohong and wondered how she was doing with Abbess Manyin of Emei. He was still in disguise and couldn't reveal his true identity.

As soon as the three appeared, the bandits were startled by the voice. When they saw them clearly, someone shouted, "Aren't those the two Emei lads? We've been searching high and low, and they've delivered themselves right to our doorstep! Ha, ha!" They burst into wild laughter, and two bandits rushed over with knives.

One of the Five Eccentrics of Longmen unleashed a palm strike and shouted, "Go back!" The two men who had rushed at them were instantly sent flying back more than ten feet. The two bandits stood up, their faces suddenly changing color.

The Five Eccentrics' cold voices rang out again: "If you have a grudge, you can find another place to settle it. Tonight, since my brothers from Longmen have already made their move, no one can get involved. Don't even think about taking advantage of the chaos."

One of the bandits actually reported back, "Fourth Brother of the Ren family, don't act so arrogantly. You'll get your retribution later. Do you think the other side is an easy target?" The Five Eccentrics of Longmen only snorted and ignored them, turning back to look at Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling with a strange laugh.

It turns out that the Five Monsters of Longmen had only risen to prominence a little over a decade ago. They always acted as a group of five, were ruthless and never left any survivors. If one person was no match for the other, the five of them would join forces, and no one could escape their combined "Eighteen Palms of Wind and Cloud". This is how they made a name for themselves as the Five Monsters, and they became a force to be reckoned with in Guanzhong and the A'luo area. These five monsters were brothers with the surname Ren, and they were ranked by the order of Dragon, Tiger, Leopard, Bear and Wind. They came from the Three Desolate Demon Lords of Gouluo Mountain in Guangxi, and their skills were truly among the best.

Ren Xiong suddenly spoke in a cold voice, "My two friends, if you agree to each give half of the two treasures, my brothers will definitely protect you to your destination and guarantee your safety. This is unprecedented in our Dragon Gate brothers. Whether you listen or not is up to you. You are sensible people; weigh the pros and cons and consider what is more important."

Suddenly, a man beside Qiu and Li laughed loudly, "It's strange that the Three-Crippled Old Monster could teach such a wrinkled treasure." It turned out to be the dwarf Fang Shuo and Jing Fang speaking sarcastically.

Ren Long, one of the Five Monsters of Dragon Gate, roared, "Old dog, who are you? Why are you meddling in other people's business?" His voice was sinister, almost making one's scalp tingle.

The dwarf Fang Shuo and Jing Fang laughed loudly, "My name is Jing Fang. You should have heard of me, right? When I started out, you were still in the womb. Even now, you still can't speak human language."

Ren Long was extremely angry. He suddenly grew taller and slapped the ground. Meng Keli slashed at the short, wielding a palm strike faster than lightning, its force incredibly sharp. But the short, wielding palm laughed, shrugging his shoulders. Before the dragon's palm could reach him, he had already retreated a foot, squinting his small eyes as he said, "I heard you five monsters attacking together have some tricks up your sleeve. But you alone, this old man wouldn't even deign to face. You know, the Three Crippled Monsters are two generations below me."

The Five Monsters of the Dragon Gate, hearing this, found it ridiculous. In terms of seniority, wouldn't they be great-grandchildren? This old dog's words were truly insulting! Enraged, they simultaneously flashed, occupying the five elemental positions, and unleashed their palms in succession, their palms overlapping and pushing out. The force was like an iron barrel, tight and impenetrable. If the opponent's strength was insufficient, they would be gradually shrunk by the combined force of the five elements, eventually bleeding from all seven orifices and dying. The short Fang Shuo believed that his Five Elements Palm technique possessed boundless power. Although the Five Elements Combined Wind and Cloud Eighteen Palms of the Dragon Gate Five Eccentrics were widely known, he wondered how much of a threat they could actually pose. This carelessness nearly cost him his life.

As soon as Dwarf Fang Shuo saw them unleash their Five Elements Combined Palm Power, he felt the powerful wind envelop his entire body. He quickly moved his feet, using the Great Shift technique to try and slip out into the gaps in the westward-coming palm wind. However, as soon as he moved, the powerful wind pressed in relentlessly, forcing him back to his original position. He then realized that the Five Elements Combined Palm Power was indeed worthy of its name. He swiftly unleashed two palms, creating an incomparably fierce whirlwind that forced Ren Long and Ren Bao back two steps. Suddenly, he felt a powerful wind pressing down on his chest from behind. Dwarf Fang Shuo spun around, his palms remaining unchanged, and followed the movement of his body, unleashing the true energy of the Five Elements. This forced Ren Hu and Ren Xiong to stagger. He then unleashed another palm strike, but just as the power was about to be released, the powerful wind arrived from behind again. Dwarf Fang Shuo could no longer afford to attack. To protect himself, he unleashed the Five Elements Palm Technique, which he had cultivated for twenty years. In an instant, his palm shadows were like mountains, and his figure was as swift as the wind.

At this moment, Dwarf Fang Shuo dared not underestimate the Five Eccentrics of Dragon Gate. He calmly struck, intending to find the weakest link and then defeat them one by one. But it wasn't that easy. The five monsters of Longmen, with their combined power of the five elements, were like a chain reaction. Each of them struck from different directions, using the opponent's force against them, mutually reinforcing each other. It was as if their true power had merged into one. If it weren't for Dwarf Fang Shuo's profound skill, he would have been defeated long ago.

While the five monsters of Longmen were fiercely fighting Dwarf Fang Shuo, something else was stirring on the other side. It turned out that when the Spirit Official Giant Fiend Hong Changqing saw the five monsters fighting Dwarf Fang Shuo, he assumed they wouldn't be distracted at the moment. He slyly smiled and said, "Gentlemen, we've all come for two rare treasures. We should unite against a common enemy. Unity brings mutual benefit, while division leads to mutual defeat. Our immediate priority is to deal with the other five. After we get the treasures, we can make a proper and perfect distribution. Aside from the five monsters of Longmen, here's 313 thousand-year-old He Shou Wu..." "Whoever sees it gets a share. As for the beaded chain, it will be broken into several pieces, and ownership will be decided by drawing lots. What do you all think of this method?"

The bandits thought about it and felt that only this method could solve their current difficulties. They all agreed, and immediately five men rushed forward with blades to attack Qiu, Li, and the other three. Tiangang Sword Dongfang Yukun and Hei Mole Jiang Zongyao snorted coldly when they saw this. With a swift movement, they used two silver clouds to intercept the three bandits who rushed forward. Two other bandits continued to attack Qiu Lin, Li Shaoling, Yu Yun, and the other three.

As Yu Yun pondered, he thought to himself, "I can move freely by myself, but protecting five people at the same time would be a bit of a dilemma. The underworld figures who came tonight are all top-notch. I can't use the Maitreya Divine Skill or the Eighteen Discourses of Xuanyuan, for fear that the three of them, including Dwarf Fang Shuo, will recognize me and I won't be able to escape. I'm even more afraid that if I use two of my ultimate skills, my reputation will spread, and I'll be burdened by that fame, making it impossible for me to move an inch. He's neither this nor that, so how can I break this deadlock?" He noticed two bandits rushing towards him, and with a swift movement, he let out a loud laugh. The two bandits were sent flying by the laughter. Yu Yun produced two steel swords in his hand and handed them to Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling with a smile. The two bandits looked at each other, their faces full of shame, and retreated.

After Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling's twin swords were shattered by the Spirit Official Giant Fiend Hong Changqing, they were struggling to find suitable weapons. Seeing the two bandits rushing towards them, they were about to fight them with their bare hands when they saw a blur before Yu Yun appeared. The two bandits were also knocked away. They hadn't even seen how Yu Yun moved, but they felt that his martial arts had reached a state of perfection. Even their master, the Fisherman of Dianchi, was far inferior to him. Just as they were marveling at this, Yu Yun handed the twin swords to them and said with a smile, "Both of you are disciples of the old Fisherman of Dianchi. I believe that your martial arts must be superb. Normally, you should be able to handle things with ease. But now, the number of enemies is overwhelming. I only ask that you two do your best to protect yourselves and use only the word 'stillness' to fight. Although the enemy is strong, they cannot do anything to us for a while. I will have to come up with a foolproof plan to withdraw safely." The Fiend Hong Changqing is now using a scheme to kill us with a borrowed knife. He wants to use us to eliminate those who do not belong to the Black Dragon Society. He will strike when we are exhausted. There are many skilled members among the bandits. Apart from the Five Eccentrics of Dragon Gate and Hong Changqing, the others have not shown themselves. We must not expend too much energy and be cautious. The two nodded repeatedly in thanks .

At this moment, Dongfang Yukun and Jiang Zongyao had achieved a great victory. As the silver light flashed, three miserable screams rang out—one bandit's head flew off at the shoulder, and two bandits had severed limbs and severed arms, their blood spurting out in countless drops, splashing onto the silvery-white snowfield. The heat of the blood quickly melted the thin layer of ice on the surface, weaving a very conspicuous pattern.

On the other side, the Five Monsters of Longmen couldn't stand the Five Monsters of Longmen's various sarcastic and harsh words, which aroused a series of strange howls that echoed all around. Their palm strikes became even more fierce and faster, and the Five Monsters' Five Elements positions were thus forced forward. On the contrary, the Five Monsters of Longmen's silver beard stood on end, their faces were like silver basins, and their eyes, which had been squinting, were now open, revealing a piercing divine light. Their palms rapidly exhaled the Five Elements True Qi, each... With a single palm strike, one of the Five Eccentrics of Longmen was sent flying back several feet. However, this method of fighting was futile. The combined power of the Five Elements, with one retreating while the other advanced, compensated for this weakness. Although Dwarf Fang Shuo was fighting with real fire, he could not escape the palm force of the Five Eccentrics.

Seeing this situation, Yu Yun realized that Dwarf Fang Shuo would surely be exhausted to death by the combined power of the Five Elements. After secretly calculating, he devised a plan to strike at the root of the problem. This way, he could do so without leaving a trace and also preserve Dwarf Fang Shuo's reputation. Taking advantage of the moment when Dwarf Fang Shuo struck out and forced Ren Xiong to fall more than several feet, he gathered strength in the middle finger of his right palm and swiftly targeted the "Sanyang" acupoint on the back of Ren Xiong's chest. He then lightly tapped it, still pretending to be nonchalant, and continued to talk to Qiu Lin and Li Shaoling.

After Dongfang Yuyao and Jiang Zongyao slashed down three bandits with their swords, the bandits immediately stirred up a commotion. A moment later, six more men leaped out, intending to gang up on them. At this moment, Yu Yun moved swiftly, waving his palm. The six bandits felt an extremely strong, invisible force stopping their forward momentum. They were greatly alarmed, but then Yu Yun approached and said in a deep voice, "If you dare to disregard the rules of the martial world and use numbers to bully the few, then your death is imminent. I warn you, you can only fight one-on-one, and you must not use hidden weapons, understand?" After saying this, he released his hand and retreated three zhang.

The Six Bandits were originally the infamous Six Fiends of Liangzhou beyond the Great Wall. They were originally proud and arrogant men who came with great arrogance, but Yu Yun stunned them on the spot. After Yu Yun gave them a stern and harsh speech, they were almost unable to back down. They wanted to say a few words back, but the power of his palm strike still made them tremble with fear. If they retreated now, the name of the Six Fiends of Liangzhou would be wiped off from now on, and they would have no place in the martial arts world forever. At this moment, seeing that Yu Yun had retreated, the Six Fiends looked at each other, smiled bitterly, and gritted their teeth. Five of them went to fight Dongfang Yukun, Jiang Zongyao, Yu Yun, and Qiu Li, while the remaining one stayed behind to provide support.

One of the thugs approached Yu Yun, his hand trembling so much he could barely hold his weapon. Yu Yun chuckled inwardly, raised his right hand, and delivered a stinging slap to his face. With a loud crack, Yu Yun shouted, "Get back here! With your pathetic, stupid appearance, do you think you're worthy of being my opponent? Get lost!" The poor thug's face was swollen and red on one side. Knowing he was no match for him, he retreated dejectedly. The other four thugs were already locked in a fierce battle.

Meanwhile, after Dwarf Fang Shuo unleashed a palm strike using the Five Elements True Power, Ren Xiong also unleashed the "Unchanging Wind and Cloud" move from the Eighteen Palms of Wind and Cloud. The two forces collided, and Ren Xiong was immediately forced back more than ten feet by Dwarf Fang Shuo. Ren Xiong suddenly felt a chill down his spine, but he didn't pay much attention at first, thinking it was just a sharp north wind. He realized he was wearing too little clothing, but something felt increasingly wrong. He felt his main tendons slowly atrophying, becoming sore and lethargic. His palm strikes were also weakening. It turned out that Yu Yun's move was too ruthless. Moving the "Sanyang" acupoint down one inch would lead to the "Jinshuo" acupoint. Why not strike the "Jinshuo" acupoint?

Because—if this acupoint were struck, Ren Xiong would immediately collapse to the ground, his entire body shrinking to the size of an infant. Everyone present was a trained practitioner and would immediately recognize that someone had secretly used a poisonous attack. Therefore, Yu Yun moved the "Sanyang" acupoint upwards, causing Ren Xiong to slowly shrink without leaving a trace. This kind of acupoint technique requires extremely high skill in both hand and eye, and neither can be lacking. The "Lingxu Fuxue" acupoint strike is even more difficult. The person is moving, yet the strike is so accurate. It is truly a divine skill.

At a glance, Dwarf Fang Shuo noticed something was wrong with Ren Xiong and sensed that the force of his palm strike was gradually weakening. Overjoyed, he roared and unleashed a powerful palm strike at Ren Xiong. Ren Xiong was instantly sent flying four or five zhang away, falling to the ground and unable to get up. Dwarf Fang Shuo followed the palm strike and stepped outside the Five Elements Harmony Formation, using the Great Shifting Technique to unleash a continuous stream of palm force. With Ren Xiong down, the Five Elements Harmony Formation collapsed on its own, and its power was greatly reduced. Now, the Four Monsters of Longmen were on the defensive, their blood surging and their qi churning from the force of Dwarf Fang Shuo's palm strike.

In the midst of his haste, Ren Long noticed that Ren Xiong's limbs were hunched over, his eyes were yellow, and his howls were heart-wrenching. He immediately shouted, "Wait! Tonight, we, the Dragon Gate brothers, concede defeat. It wasn't that Master Jing was strong enough to defeat us; it was because our fourth brother suddenly fell ill that Master Jing was able to break our Five Elements Harmony Formation. Now, we don't need our treasures anymore. Master Jing, we'll meet again." With that, he stepped forward and helped Ren Xiong up.

At this moment, Ren Xiong's body had shrunk by half, his bones were as soft as mud, and he couldn't speak, only staring wide-eyed. The four brothers, deeply attached to each other, couldn't help but shed tears. They knew that although Dwarf Fang Shuo's howling palm strike was powerful, at most it would cause serious injury and blood loss, not this kind of condition. However, they couldn't understand why Ren Xiong would react this way. Ren Long, anxious, stamped his foot, grabbed Ren Xiong,

and the four brothers vanished without a trace. Dwarf Fang Shuo chuckled, but he still didn't understand why Ren Neng's body had shrunk. Leaving that aside, let's talk about the Six Fiends of Liangzhou. After being subdued by Yu Yun, they fought against the four heroes Jiang Zongyao, Dongfang Yukun, Qiu Qi, and Li Shaoling. Their skills were greatly diminished, and each of them was trembling with fear. After less than twenty rounds, they were all defeated and bruised. The two Fiends who were bringing up the rear thought, "With that poor scholar here, it's a pipe dream for us to seize two treasures. If we don't leave now, when will we?" So they followed the example of the Five Fiends of Longmen and ran back to Liangzhou.

Seeing this, the powerful and ruthless Hong Changqing was both pleased and worried. He was pleased that his plan to use someone else to kill had succeeded, but worried that he was now in a predicament. Seeing the six Fiends of Liangzhou retreat without a fight, he remained silent, lowering his eyelids as if he hadn't seen anything. This angered the Heavenly Whale King Yi of the upper Yellow River and the carefree Taoist Peng Fei of the Jintian Temple in Lanzhou. They had both realized Hong Changqing's wicked scheme: using the enemy to eliminate their own allies who had come with them.

The first of them, Peng Fei, couldn't hold back any longer. His triangular eyes fixed on the face of the Spirit Official Giant Fiend, he sneered, "Master Hong, don't try to pull this trick. We'll risk our lives for you, and you'll reap the rewards? How could I, Peng Fei, fall for your scheme? Tonight, we won't make a move. Let's see if your Black Dragon Society is capable of taking it. If you think you're incompetent, please leave immediately. Our affairs are none of your Black Dragon Society's business."

The Heavenly Whale King Wing chimed in, "That's right, Brother Peng is absolutely right. Master Hong, you're completely disregarding the code of the martial world."

The Spirit Official Giant Fiend, Hong Changqing, lowered his eyelids... The light shone brightly, revealing two crystalline blue beams. A sinister smile played on his lips as he slowly spoke, "How can you two spout such sophistry? Jinbei is within the reach of my Black Dragon Society. Moreover, this matter was the result of our Black Dragon Society's painstaking efforts and meticulous planning. We tracked them for almost a month before preparing to ambush them in Yangjiaji. You want to reap the benefits without lifting a finger, not only infringing upon our authority but also accusing me of disregarding the code of the martial world. What kind of talk is this? If you don't consider our long-standing friendship, tonight, Yangjiaji will be your burial ground." Hong Changqing's voice was initially soft, but it grew increasingly fierce as he spoke, and the other members of the Black Dragon Society all showed their anger.

The two, Xiaoxiao Yushi Peng Fei and Tongtian Jingwang Yi, blushed deeply. Peng Fei immediately became enraged and shouted, "Hong Changqing, others may fear you, but Peng Fei does not! Let's see who ends up in the burial ground!" With that, he unleashed a powerful palm strike with lightning speed, aiming for Hong Changqing's chest.

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/15564.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=15564&aspx=1

Previous Page : Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 5

Next Page : Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 7

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Ten Years of Lone Sword and Vast Sea Alliance [Complete] - 6

comment Open a new window to view comments