Pearl Order [Complete] - 25

Chapter Thirty: Rising to Prominence

Gu Hongsheng continued to lead the way, with Rong Jingzong, Ling Junyi, Mudan, Ran Yuchun, and three Black Dragon Pool swordsmen—a group of ten—heading towards Zuoshoufu Road. After descending more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters), the terrain suddenly opened up, forming a spacious stone chamber, at least sixty or seventy zhang (approximately 33-40 meters) square. Facing them was a large stone wall, with the two large vermilion characters "Flying Dragon" carved horizontally in the middle, below which were two vermilion-lacquered doors. These doors were, of course, also stone doors, but painted vermilion, making them appear like doors. Unlike other stone doors, which showed no signs of being doors but were simply stone walls. Especially noteworthy were the two gleaming bronze rings on these two doors, making them appear even more imposing. "Flying Dragon Pass" truly resembled a pass; those unfamiliar with it, seeing the characters "Flying Dragon" on the wall, would surely mistake it for the Flying Dragon Hall. This was how the group led by Peony, the deputy leader of the Hundred Flowers Gang, was lured into "Flying Dragon Pass."

Upon reaching the pass, Rong Jingzong looked around and asked, "Brother Gu, do you know what the situation is like inside Feilong Pass?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "I have been here twice on orders, but I only went as far as the pass. I don't know much about the situation inside. I only heard the pass chief, Hu Quan, mention that there are many stone chambers inside."

Rong Jingzong said, "Hu Quan used to be a patrol chief under me. Go and call him out."

Gu Hongsheng smiled and said, "I forgot that you used to be the deputy chief patrol chief of Feilong Hall, and Hu Quan was your subordinate."

Rong Jingzong sighed softly and said, "Back then, it was the Black Dragon Society, which opposed the Qing Dynasty. Now, the Black Dragon Society has become an organization used by the Qing government to hunt down anti-Qing patriots. Times have changed." As he spoke, Gu Hongsheng stepped forward, grabbed the copper ring, and spun it three times.

From the copper ring, a voice asked, "Who is outside?"

Gu Hongsheng replied, "Chief Steward Rong of Black Dragon Pool requests a word from Gatekeeper Hu."

The person inside said, "I will go in and inform him immediately." Then there was silence.

After a short while, the two vermilion doors creaked open, and two men in black, carrying lanterns, walked out side by side. A man in a blue robe, about fifty years old, followed closely behind, hurrying out to greet them. Upon seeing Rong Jingzong standing proudly at the front of the crowd, Hu Quan hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands, saying, "This subordinate was unaware of General Rong's arrival at our humble pass and has failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me, General Rong." Rong Jingzong stroked his beard and smiled, "

Brother Hu, there's no need for such formality. I am no longer the General Manager of Black Dragon Pool." Hu Quan bowed and smiled obsequiously, "In that case, General Rong must have been promoted." Rong Jingzong's face darkened, and he snorted, "Brother Hu, is there nothing else on your mind besides seeking promotion?" Hu Quan was taken aback and looked at Rong Jingzong, stammering, "General Manager Rong..." Rong Jingzong said, "Hu Quan, let me ask you, when you were the patrol leader of the Black Dragon Society, did you ever speak before the Sun God..." "A sworn brother?" Hu Quan opened his mouth in horror and replied, "Yes." Rong Jingzong said, "Good, I'll tell you now, Han Zhankui has been beheaded, Shui Qingying has fled, the Black Dragon Society has been destroyed, and you can wake up from your dream of promotion." Hu Quan's face turned as white as paper in horror. He wiped away his sweat and said, "You old man...you are..." Rong Jingzong said, "Release the people of the Hundred Flowers Gang who have been captured, and I will spare your life and let you leave this place out of consideration for our past friendship..." Before he finished speaking, a loud laugh suddenly rang out from "Flying Dragon Pass" and said, "Brother Rong is indeed here. I'm not too late." With the voice, two people walked out of the stone gate. The one in front, a thin old man with empty hands, was none other than Jin Jiaojian Rao Sancun, the leader of the Flying Dragon Hall. The one behind him was Hao Feipeng, the leader of the Yellow Dragon Hall. Behind the two, five men dressed in black tight-fitting clothes and holding long, narrow black swords walked out in a single file. Hu Quan hurriedly bowed and said, "This subordinate greets the Hall Master." Rao Sancun said with a forced smile, "Brother Rong wants you to release the Hundred Flowers Gang members who are trapped in the pass. What do you think, Brother Hu?" Hu Quan trembled slightly and bowed, saying, "This subordinate dares not." Hao Feipeng's eyes flickered, and he chuckled, "The Hundred Flowers Gang leader has actually come too." Mudan sneered, "So what if I'm here? Do you think you can trap me with your mere ambush?" With a clang of her sword, she drew it, her phoenix eyes flashing with murderous intent, and shouted in a delicate voice, "Hao Feipeng, draw your sword!" Hearing the Hundred Flowers Gang leader's shout, Hao Feipeng couldn't help but chuckle, "If the leader wants to fight me, I will gladly oblige." As he spoke, he indeed reached for his long sword on his back, took a step to the side with his left foot, and held the sword horizontally, thus opening his defenses. In fact, this step was precisely to facilitate his retreat towards {Flying Dragon Pass}, leaving himself a backup plan. Peony sneered, her feet barely touching the ground as she transformed into a silver streak, shooting straight towards Hao Feipeng. She and Hao Feipeng were about three zhang apart. This sword-wielding attack was the "Divine Dragon Emerging from the Clouds," a deadly move from the very first strike. The "Divine Dragon Emerging from the Clouds" originally had two movements: the first half involved leaping into the air, followed by the second half—a backflip to strike. However, as the leader of the Hundred Flowers Gang, Peony had practiced swordsmanship since childhood, achieving unparalleled mastery. With practice comes skill; she could change her stance at will, no need for leaping, she could strike in a straight line, replacing the mid-air leap. This was used for pursuing enemies, or when the distance between them was considerable, allowing her to close the distance and strike the moment she reached her opponent. But whether pursuing or closing the distance, this was a deadly move. Hao Feipeng was a seasoned swordsman. He had witnessed the power of this sword technique at the Hua Family Manor. Seeing Mudan unleash such a fierce and unparalleled sword-wielding attack in her first move, he immediately felt a chill. He took a deep breath, focusing all his attention on his right arm, ready to parry. However, Mudan's sword, flying horizontally towards him, suddenly erupted with a burst of light. A bright silver flash, a lightning-fast turn, and a bloodcurdling scream rang out. A black-clad swordsman was instantly cleaved in two at the waist, blood splattering everywhere, before collapsing. But Mudan's sword momentum was unstoppable; the sword light continued its trajectory towards Hao Feipeng, though its momentum had slowed considerably. Hao Feipeng realized he had been tricked, falling for Mudan's feint. Enraged, he, a man of deep cunning, saw that Mudan's attack had slowed, clearly indicating that the sword technique was nearing its end. In other words, Peony was merely using the remaining momentum of her sword strike to descend upon him. To launch an attack, she would need to unleash a second sword strike. However, he focused all his energy on his right arm, his original sword strike to counter Peony's attack still unleashed. This perfectly aligns with Cao Pan's theory of warfare: "When the enemy is exhausted, we are at our peak." At the same time, Ling Junyi also engaged Rao Sancun in combat, and Ran Yuchun had already leaped forward, raising his right hand, a bright red finger shadow flashing like lightning as he stabbed behind a man in black. "Blood Shadow Finger" is one of the most powerful finger techniques in unorthodox martial arts, striking silently and leaving no chance of survival. The man in black was launching a full-scale attack, caught off guard by Ran Yuchun's silent attack from behind. He let out a muffled groan and immediately collapsed to the ground, dead. The two men in black, seeing this, were shocked. With a shout, they simultaneously brandished their swords and rushed towards him, while Rong Jingzong was also fighting several black-clad swordsmen. When Rao Sancun encountered Ling Junyi, his death was imminent. Seeing that his side was outnumbered, Ling Junyi attacked with all his might. After a few moves, Ling Junyi struck Rao Sancun in the chest with a backhand palm strike. Rao Sancun never dreamed that Ling Junyi would be so fast, and naturally had no way to dodge. He let out a muffled groan, his vision blurred, and he staggered backward. This man was none other than Ling Junyi. Ling Junyi naturally wouldn't let him off easily, following up with another palm strike. Rao Sancun cried out again and fell backward. Hao Feipeng, seeing that Mudan's sword technique was at its limit, naturally wouldn't let go of an opportunity that would benefit him. Before Mudan landed, he roared, "You lowly wench, take this!" With a flick of his right wrist, he thrust his longsword horizontally.

This move was a sword strike unleashed with all his might, its power unparalleled. A dazzling light, spreading several feet, swept out like a bolt of lightning. He thought that this sudden attack would catch even the most skilled and virtuous Peony off guard; even if he couldn't kill her instantly, he would at least severely injure her. However, just as he unleashed his sword, Peony, who was flying towards him, suddenly rose into the air before her feet even touched the ground. With a graceful spin, her longsword traced a circle of light as she spun. In an instant, countless swords, carrying a chilling aura, surged through the air. The row of sword shadows directly opposite Hao Feipeng's thrust clashed violently, producing a rapid clang of metal.

Hao Feipeng felt his sword being struck at least eight times by the row of sword shadows. Even with his profound skill, the shock caused a tingling numbness in his right arm. But the circle of sword light that Mudan unleashed was like a spreading dragon, evolving from simple to complex, its changes subtle and profound, not limited to just one side. Although Hao Feipeng's sword strike blocked the row of sword shadows in front, those from the left and right sides surged in like a raging tide. Hao Feipeng was both surprised and anxious, realizing he had fallen into Mudan's trap again.

He knew that Mudan was using the "Three Forms of Flying Dragon," the sword movements originally connected. After using "Divine Dragon Emerging from the Clouds," she had already transformed into "Dragon Fighting in the Wild" in a slower momentum. This was a sword technique to deal with a powerful enemy attacking from all sides, but if there was only one enemy, the sword technique could trap the enemy in a multitude of sword shadows. This was similar to the "Eight Directions of Wind and Rain" of the Bagua Sect. Hao Feipeng could no longer make a move to block, and in his haste, he suddenly stomped his feet, leaped up, and jumped backwards into the stone gate of "Flying Dragon Pass." This all happened in the blink of an eye. He moved incredibly fast, escaping the sword's edge in an instant. He felt a chill on his feet as the sword sliced them in half. With a cry, he fell towards the stone gate.

Peony darted after him, pointing her longsword and sneering, "Hao Feipeng, where do you think you're going?" As Peony caught up, Hao Feipeng raised his hand and shattered his own skull, dying instantly.

By this time, Ran Yuchun and Rong Jingzong had already dealt with several black-clad swordsmen. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Rao Sancun, Hao Feipeng, and five black-clad swordsmen were all dead. Only Hu Quan, the gatekeeper of "Flying Dragon Pass," and two black-clad men carrying lanterns remained frozen in place, too terrified to move.

Rong Jingzong glanced at Hao Feipeng's corpse, his expression sorrowful, and sighed softly, "Hao Feipeng was a man of courage, it's just a pity he went down the wrong path."

Mudan exclaimed in surprise, "If I had known of the friendship between Elder Rong and him, I shouldn't have hurt him."

Rong Jingzong shook his head slightly, "No, he deserved to die. He was once one of the thirty-six generals of the Black Dragon Society alongside me, forced to surrender to the Qing, but his actions in recent years have made him deserving of death. I simply couldn't bear to harm him." Saying this, he suddenly turned around, stroking his beard with one hand, and said in a deep voice, "Hu Quan."

Hu Quan was startled and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your subordinate is here."

Rong Jingzong said, "Old..." "Do you remember what I just said?"

Hu Quan replied with a forced smile, "Yes, yes, I remember, I remember."

Rong Jingzong said, "That's good. Go and release the Hundred Flowers Gang members who are trapped in the pass immediately."

Hu Quan's face showed a troubled expression, and he stammered, "I will obey your orders, but..."

Rong Jingzong's eyes flashed coldly, and he snorted, "But what?"

Hu Quan shivered and bowed repeatedly, "Please calm down, I have something to report."

Rong Jingzong said, "Speak."

Hu Quan said, "This 'Flying Dragon Pass' has a total of seventy-two stone chambers, and its layout is similar to the 'Six Derivations Formation.' Once you enter, you will lose your way, wandering around and unable to find a way out. If there is no one who knows the entrance to help you, you will be trapped inside forever." The Hundred Flowers Gang members were all highly skilled in martial arts. Master Rao had sent over a dozen swordsmen inside, initially intending to lure them away individually and capture them alive. However, all those who went in were killed, including the men he sent to guide them. Master Rao, at his wits' end, changed his strategy, ordering his men to seal the entrance and starve the group to death before dealing with them. Moreover, each stone chamber was interconnected, and now the Hundred Flowers Gang members' whereabouts were unknown. If his men went in, it would inevitably cause a misunderstanding, making it difficult to release them. It would be best if you sent one or two people who knew the Hundred Flowers Gang to accompany him to rescue them.” This was indeed the truth.

Ling Junyi said, “Uncle Rong, please wait here. I will go in with him.”

Mudan said, “This humble concubine will go with Brother Ling.”

Ran Yushen said, “I will also go.” "

Peony interjected, "No need, you should stay here. We have Chief Hu to lead the way, and we don't need too many people to go in and find people."

Rong Jingzong said, "That's fine too. Young Master Ling and the gang leader are the most suitable candidates to go in. Let's wait outside the pass." Saying this, he turned his gaze to Hu Quan and asked, "Hu Quan, are there any ambushes in Flying Dragon Pass? If you dare to play any tricks in front of me, be careful your head will be split in two."

Hu Quan bowed repeatedly and said, "This subordinate wouldn't dare. How many heads do I have? Would I dare to deceive you, sir?" He reached into his robe and pulled out a sheepskin brocade, which he presented with both hands, saying, "This is a complete map of Flying Dragon Pass. All the stone chambers and hidden doors have detailed annotations. Please take a look."

Rong Jingzong opened the sheepskin bag, glanced at it, and indeed it was a complete map of "Flying Dragon Pass. " He then casually handed it to Ling Junyi, saying, "Young Master Ling, you should keep this map with you." Ling Junyi took it and put it in his pocket.

Hu Quan turned and bowed to Ling Junyi and Mudan, saying, "Please follow me, brothers." After speaking, he walked towards the pass.

Ling Junyi clapped his hands and said, "Please, Chief."

Mudan smiled sweetly and said, "This trip is led by Brother Ling, so naturally, Brother Ling should go first." Seeing that Hu Quan was already walking towards the pass, Ling Junyi had no choice but to follow. Mudan followed closely behind him, stepping in one after the other.

Inside "Flying Dragon Pass" was still a spacious stone chamber, the same size as the open space outside the pass, like a large courtyard. Beyond this open space, there were four or five stone steps, flanked by stone railings on both sides, with a tall gate in the middle, its two multi-tiered stone doors wide open. Hu Quan led the two up the steps and across the threshold into a spacious hall. A horizontal plaque hung high above, bearing the inscription "Flying Dragon Pass." Before a stone table were two rows of stone tables and chairs. To the left and right were two stone chambers, their doors open, resembling side rooms.

Ling Junyi's eyes flickered, and he asked, "What lies behind these two doors?"

Hu Quan smiled and said, "Young Master Ling probably didn't see the complete map of our pass before putting it away. These two doors are called 'luring doors.' Once you enter, there's no way out." Ling Junyi

asked, "How is it that you're trapped inside?"

Hu Quan explained, "These two side rooms appear to have no stone doors, but as soon as someone enters, the stone doors will immediately push open from the wall, revealing the entrance. At that moment, three more doors will appear on the other three stone walls. No matter which door you enter, you'll be trapped inside."

Zhuang Dan asked, "Then where do we start?" "Where do we go?"

Hu Quan smiled and said, "The method of opening and closing the stone gates and the route of entry

and exit are all detailed on the map of our pass..." Peony's face darkened slightly, and she snorted, "I know it's all detailed on the map. You are the gatekeeper of Flying Dragon Pass and also the guide. You go and open the stone gates one by one and lead the way. If we are to find our way by following the map ourselves, what use is your guidance?"

Hu Quan knew that this leader of the Hundred Flowers Gang was not easy to deal with, so he nodded and said "Yes." He stepped forward and pressed four or five places on a stone slab carved with lotus flowers in front of the stone table with his fingers, before slowly straightening up. Just as he straightened up, the stone table slid to the right, and a doorway slowly appeared on the front stone wall. Hu Quan turned to the side and said with a smile, "Please come in, both of you."

Peony sensed something amiss about this man, a hint of malice in his smile. Though she didn't say anything, she remained wary. Before Ling Junyi could speak, she waved her hand and said, "Please go first." Hu Quan didn't say anything more and stepped inside first.

Ling Junyi and Peony followed. The stone chamber wasn't large, and it was square. On the front wall was a carving of "Wealthy Peonies," occupying almost two-thirds of the wall. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and it was even painted, with vibrant red flowers and green leaves. The five peonies were as large as bowls. "Flying Dragon Pass" was a large trap designed to lure the enemy in, so it naturally didn't need decoration. Especially since this stone chamber was only about two zhang square and empty, the stone carving seemed somewhat incongruous.

Ling Junyi immediately recognized the significance of the mural. The five peonies in the painting, except for the slightly larger one in the center, were arranged in four directions—up, down, left, and right—which was no coincidence. Just as the thought crossed her mind, Hu Quan said with a fawning smile, "Young Master Ling! This 'Peony of Wealth and Prosperity' painting is the central hub of all the mechanisms in Feilong Pass." He pointed to the peony flower and continued, "Each stone chamber inside has a hidden door on each of its four walls. Now, the main switch is open, and the doors to each stone chamber are constantly changing, making those trapped inside run around as if they've already traversed hundreds of chambers, still unable to find a way out..."

Peony asked, "Do the stone chamber doors open and close automatically?"

Hu Quan replied, "Yes. The larger peony flower in the middle is the main switch. Each of the four smaller ones is a door to each stone chamber. Once you open the main switch and then open the four smaller ones at the same time, the doors between the stone walls will open and close in turn." He then added, "If we want to go in and rescue people, we must close three doors in the stone chambers, leaving only one door open, so that no one gets lost."

Peony asked, "Should we close the main switch?" "

Hu Quan said, 'The main switch is closed, and all the mechanisms inside are sealed off. Not a single door can be opened. How can we get in?'

Peony said, 'Hurry up and get to work. Let's go in and rescue them.'

Hu Quan agreed, then took the three peony flowers (top, bottom, and right) and turned them three times to the right each. He then turned the left peony flower twice to the left and said, 'Alright, now each stone chamber only has one door on the left. Even if we don't go in, as long as we open one door here, the people trapped inside will find their way out.'

Peony said, 'Then go and open the stone door.' Hu Quan replied, 'Yes,' walked to the left stone wall, pressed down twice, and the wall opened up, revealing a door."

Ling Junyi said, "Chief, we can go in now."

Mudan said, "Haven't you heard it's like a maze inside? It's better to let Chief Hu go first."

Hu Quan said, "Please wait, you two." He turned and walked towards the right wall.

Mudan asked, "What are you doing?"

Hu Quan laughed, "Brother has already set up all the mechanisms, brother should excuse me..." Suddenly, he leaned against the stone wall, and with a "click," the stone wall opened, and Hu Quan flipped and slipped out.

Mudan was furious and shouted, "You scoundrel!" She swung her hand and struck him behind him with lightning speed. But the stone door and the flap flipped over as Hu Quan's body moved, and by the time Mudan's palm struck, the stone door was already shut. With a bang, her jade palm struck the stone door. Peony said bitterly, "I knew he wasn't a good person."

Ling Junyi said, "Forget it, let him escape."

Peony said, "Quickly take out the complete map of Feilong Pass and take a look, lest we fall for his trick." Ling Junyi took out a sheepskin bag, opened it, and Peony leaned over to carefully check it with him. What Hu Quan said was true; he had indeed adjusted all the mechanisms of Feilong Pass. Each stone chamber only had one door on the left, and the other three had long been sealed. Now, all they had to do was follow the open door, go in to find the person, and then come out the same way.

Peony looked at it for a while and asked curiously, "Brother Jun, this is the complete map of Feilong Pass. How come the door through which Hu Quan escaped isn't recorded on this map?" Since there were no outsiders, Peony's form of address had changed.

Ling Junyi thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps this is a secret passage, not within the boundaries of Feilong Pass, so it's not recorded here."

Peony blinked her bright eyes and asked, "What do you mean?" Ling Junyi said, "

Flying Dragon Pass is part of the Flying Dragon Hall's jurisdiction. This gate might be a secret passage leading to the Flying Dragon Hall, so it's naturally not within the scope of Flying Dragon Pass. When we arrived at the pass just now, Rao Sancun and Hao Feipeng came upon hearing the news, but they came out of Flying Dragon Pass, which proves it."

Peony smiled sweetly and said, "Brother, you are truly exceptionally clever and resourceful. I never admire anyone, but I sincerely admire you." Ling Junyi smiled and said

, "Sister, you flatter me."

Peony raised her hand to brush her hair aside, then suddenly turned around and said, "Brother, the gate is open now, and those who have been trapped will probably find the gate and come out soon. We should hurry in."

Ling Junyi hesitated for a moment, then handed over the sheepskin map, saying, "This is the main hub of 'Flying Dragon Pass.' There's a secret passage to the right that leads directly to the Flying Dragon Hall. If someone gets in, they can simply close the main gate, and we'll never be able to get out. I suggest you leave this map here, sister, and I'll go in alone." Mudan

thought his words made sense, but gently pushed him away, saying, "If you're going in, you should keep the map with you. If you get lost, you can refer to it and avoid getting lost."

Ling Junyi did as she said, putting the map away in his pocket, and said, "Then I'll go in." He turned and walked towards the stone door on the left.

"Then be careful," Mudan instructed Ling Junyi.

Seeing her gazing at him with a shy, affectionate look, revealing her deep concern, Ling Junyi nodded and said, "I understand." Holding the "Dragon Pearl," he stepped into the doorway.

Hu Quan wasn't lying. The seventy-two stone chambers of "Flying Dragon Pass" were indeed more complex than a maze. Although he had sealed three entrances, leaving only one entrance per chamber—one on the right wall—each chamber faced a different direction. Furthermore, even the entrance on the right wall could be in the center, or slightly to the left or right. In short, as long as you entered each chamber with an entrance, you wouldn't repeat any. However, after passing through a dozen or so chambers, you would still become confused. Each chamber was identical, square, and empty, like a box. Anyone who entered would involuntarily break out in a sweat, a sense of dread rising within them. It was unknown how many chambers there were. If the four entrances within each chamber were to change, you could wander around aimlessly without ever finding your way out. The mechanism was truly ingenious.

Ling Junyi patiently went through the many doors and successfully found Peony, Plum Blossom, Peach Blossom, Lotus, Jade Pear, Chrysanthemum, and the eight guardians: Du Qianlin and Luo Gengyun. Only the Right Guardian, Cai Liang (Three-Eyed God), and the guide, Mingzhu, had disappeared upon entering the Flying Dragon Hall. Apart from Guardian Du Qianlin suffering minor injuries, everyone else was unharmed. They hadn't fought any enemies along the way, except for a brief skirmish after being led into "Flying Dragon Pass" with eighteen experts sent by the Flying Dragon Hall, whom they had annihilated through their combined efforts. Furthermore, since they hadn't been separated and each carried provisions, they weren't hungry, only lacking water. Just as they were feeling extremely anxious about being trapped in this strange stone chamber, Ling Junyi's arrival filled them with joy and excitement, like a savior descending from the heavens.

Peony, disregarding the presence of others, threw herself into Ling Junyi's arms, crying, "Big Brother..." The other women, Plum Blossom, Peach Blossom, Lotus, Jade Pear, and Chrysanthemum, also gathered around.

Ling Junyi's gaze swept around, and he greeted them with a smile, "It's good that everyone is here. The Black Dragon Society has been broken, and I came here to find you."

Luo Gengyun said, "When we came in, Elder Cai suddenly disappeared. Does the Commander-in-Chief know his whereabouts?"

Ling Junyi's expression darkened as he said, "Elder Cai was seriously injured and has passed away." Everyone felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing of Cai Liang's death. Ling Junyi continued, "Since everyone is here, there's no need to go any further. I'll lead the way; the leader is waiting outside." He then led the group back the way they came. They walked very quickly, and soon emerged from the maze-like stone chamber.

Peony greeted them, her joy as if from another world, needless to say. Ling Junyi, still at the forefront, led the group out of "Flying Dragon Pass," reuniting with Rong Jingzong and the others. Together they exited the passageway and met up with Yulan and the others guarding the corridor. Gu Hongsheng sealed off the two paths leading to "Flying Dragon Pass," and then they followed the straight corridor towards "Flying Dragon Hall." As they walked, the faint sound of metal clashing could be heard.

Rong Jingzong paused slightly, surprised, and said, "It seems like someone's making a move up ahead. Let's go check it out."

Ling Junyi took the lead and rushed towards the passageway. At the end of the passageway was a tall, round doorway, blocked by a white stone screen about ten feet high, its surface gleaming like fine jade. Beyond the screen was a spacious, domed hall with a large courtyard in front. Outside the courtyard, through a tall stone door, sunlight streamed in, revealing glimpses of verdant mountains and forests. At this moment, in the courtyard, four or five men dressed in black, wielding long, narrow, black swords, were fiercely attacking a man in blue.

Ling Junyi immediately recognized the man in the blue martial arts outfit as Ding Qiao, who had been separated from him in the passageway. Although surrounded, Ding Qiao wielded a steel-boned fan with the force of the wind, his power and momentum overwhelming, forcing the five attackers to retreat hastily. However, they retreated while the attackers advanced, none willing to let their guard down. Ling Junyi's heart leaped with joy. He quickly crossed the hall, stood on the steps, and shouted, "Stop!" His shout, like a thunderclap, startled several people in the area. They all stopped their attacks, leaped back a step, and turned around.

Ding Qiao saw Ling Junyi and was overjoyed, hurriedly calling out, "Chief!"

The five men in black, having caught sight of the "Flying Dragon Hall," were also greatly surprised to see a handsome young man in a blue robe suddenly appear. One of them brandished his longsword and shouted, "Stop him! Don't let him escape!" As soon as he shouted, two of the five men immediately lunged at Ling Junyi.

Ling Junyi stood firm, laughing loudly, "All of you, stop right there! The Black Dragon Society has been destroyed. Its leader, Han Zhankui, the Flying Dragon Hall Master, Rao Sancun, and the Yellow Dragon Hall Master, Hao Feipeng, have all been beheaded. You lot, lay down your weapons and await your fate!"

The leader of the men in black shouted sharply, "Don't listen to his nonsense! Attack!" Just then, Rong Jingzong and Gu Hongsheng led the group out of the hall.

Rong Jingzong said loudly, "Young Master Ling is right. If you lay down your weapons, I guarantee I won't harm you."

The leader of the men in black realized something was wrong, and involuntarily took a few steps back, shouting, "The wind's blowing fast! Let's get out of here!" He swiftly turned and fled towards the gate.

His movements were incredibly fast; in a flash, he reached the doorway. But looking up, he saw the young man in blue robes, who had been standing on the steps just moments before, now blocking his path, smiling and saying, "You think you can escape? Not so easy."

The leader of the black-clad men, seeing him empty-handed, didn't hesitate. He sneered, "You're asking for death, kid." He lunged forward, his long sword already thrusting towards his chest.

Ling Junyi simply sidestepped, dodging the blade. His right hand gripped the man's wrist, while his left hand, with its fingers pointing upwards, struck the man's "Lingtai" acupoint. The man shuddered, letting out a muffled groan. His face turned deathly pale, and he deflated like a punctured balloon, almost unable to stand. It was clear to everyone that Ling Junyi had crippled the man's martial arts. Ling Junyi turned around, his gaze sweeping over the other four, and said, "Come here, all of you. The Black Dragon Society is the Qing Dynasty's lackey, and you are its henchmen. The lackeys cannot be pardoned, but the henchmen can be spared death. However, you will all have your martial arts crippled."

The four looked at each other, and after a long pause, one of them said, "We are all people of the martial world.

For a martial artist, losing their skills is worse than death." Ling Junyi said, "You have only relied on your martial arts to wreak havoc in the martial world. By crippling your skills, I can make you start anew."

The four exchanged glances, and suddenly a shout rang out. Four figures, four black longswords, simultaneously lunged forward, converging on Ling Junyi. Ding Qiao shouted, "You sons of bitches, you dare to attack!" His folding fan suddenly opened, ready to strike.

Ling Junyi laughed loudly, "I said you would all have your martial arts crippled; no one can escape it." As soon as he finished speaking, muffled groans and cries of "Ouch!" rang out simultaneously. No one saw how he made his move, but the four men had already dropped their swords and collapsed to the ground. Needless to say, their martial arts had been crippled by Ling Junyi in a single move.

Ling Junyi remained unperturbed, not even glancing at them again, but instead looked up at Rong Jingzong and asked, "Uncle Rong, is this the exit?"

Rong Jingzong nodded with a smile and said, "That's right, this is the Flying Dragon Hall. Outside is the Mysterious Pass Rock, which is separated from the Yellow Dragon Cave by a mountain. We're exiting from here now."

Ling Junyi's gaze swept over the five men in blue who had surrendered at the "Black Dragon Pool" and he said, "Come here."

The five men paled and said, "Young Master Ling, we brothers have already sincerely surrendered. We even helped you venture deep into the dungeon and into the 'Six Transformations Maze' to rescue people. We dare not say we have performed meritorious service, but we can atone for our sins. We beg you to show mercy and spare us."

Ling Junyi smiled faintly and said, "I am very grateful for your help in saving people, but you are all middle-aged. Even after leaving the Black Dragon Society, you will still venture into the martial world. You have another twenty or thirty years left. Who can guarantee that you won't do evil?" The

five men in blue robes said in unison, "We swear to turn over a new leaf and never return to the martial world."

Ling Junyi said, "Since you will not return to the martial world, what use do you have for martial arts?"

The five men knelt down together and said, "We beg you, sir, to show mercy. If we dare to use our martial arts to do evil after we leave, we will die by sword."

Ling Junyi said, "Get up. I will consider your merit in saving people and only cripple one of your meridians. You will still retain forty percent of your martial arts, enough for you to protect yourselves and your families. However, you will not be able to continue practicing. When fighting, as long as you don't use all your strength, you will be fine. In this way, because you are restricted, you will not do evil again." The five men, their faces pleading, were about to speak again when Rong Jingzong shouted, "

Young Master Ling's treatment is already an act of mercy beyond the law. Are you still not satisfied? For twenty years, the Black Dragon Society has murdered countless loyal and righteous men of the martial world. Given that the Qing court's lackeys and henchmen all have blood on their hands, killing you all wouldn't be unreasonable. Do you want to live or die?" The five men in blue,

silenced by his shout, dared not utter another word. Ling Junyi moved swiftly, lightly touching them. The five felt a shiver run through them, but nothing more. They turned and bowed to Wen Wanjun, saying, "We five have been shown mercy by Young Master Ling, retaining some of our martial arts skills. Now, as we are about to leave the Black Dragon Society, you promised to cure us of the poison before we leave. We hope you will grant us the antidote."

Wen Wanjun asked, "What poison have you been poisoned with?"

The five men in blue robes said, "We've taken your 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' and if the effects don't wear off within twelve hours, we'll be mentally impaired for life. Please, Miss, have mercy on us." Wen

Wanjun exclaimed "Ah!" and turned to Gu Hongsheng, asking, "Where's my friend Gu? Do you need the antidote too?"

Gu Hongsheng quickly replied with a forced smile, "If Miss promised, then of course it's true."

Wen Wanjun asked, "What did I promise?"

Although Gu Hongsheng felt angry, he dared not show it on his face and continued to smile obsequiously, "The 'Soul-Stealing Pill' is a secret recipe of the Wen family of Lingnan, and naturally only Miss has the antidote. Miss promised to give me the antidote before I left the cave."

Wen Wanjun pursed her lips and chuckled, "The Wen family of Lingnan doesn't have a 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' so where would I get the antidote?"

Gu Hongsheng was sweating profusely and said, "Miss, you're going to kill me!"

Wen Wanjun smiled and said, "I'm not lying to you, I really don't have one."

Gu Hongsheng wiped the sweat from his face and said urgently, "But I clearly took the 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' you saw it with your own eyes, Steward Rong. We're old brothers, you can't just watch me become an idiot for the rest of my life, can you?"

Wen Wanjun took out a small gourd from beside her, poured out a pill, held it in her palm, and said, "Friend Gu, is this the pill you took?"

Gu Hongsheng looked at it carefully for a while and nodded, "It is indeed this kind of pill. You said it's called the 'Soul-Stealing Pill,' and you're absolutely right."

Wen Wanjun handed him the small gourd as well, saying, "Friend Gu, if you can read, isn't it clearly written on this?" Gu Hongsheng took the small gourd, looked at the label, and said, "

The Wen family's secret antidote pill, the one you gave me is an 'antidote pill,' you didn't lie to me, did you?"

Wen Wanjun took the small gourd and giggled, "Why would I lie to you? Because at the time, Uncle Rong said you were greedy and unreliable, so I deliberately made you take a pill, saying it was a 'soul-losing pill,' so you would be willing to help us. Actually, this 'antidote pill' is specifically for counteracting all kinds of sleeping pills. Taking one beforehand will make you immune to any sleeping incense or drug for twelve hours, and it won't harm your body. What need is there for an antidote?"

Rong Jingzong stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Brother Gu, can you rest assured now?"

Gu Hongsheng's old face flushed red, and he laughed awkwardly, "Miss Wen really knows how to tease people. I've really been tricked." Rong Jingzong suddenly straightened his face and said, "

Brother Gu is right. We were once among the thirty-six generals of the Black Dragon Society, so we should be old brothers. Leaving Kunyu Mountain means parting ways. Of the thirty-six generals, only the two of us remain. Looking back, it all seems like a dream. I have no right to ask Brother Gu what his future plans are, but I have a parting message for you: We are descendants of Yan and Huang, and we should live with integrity. I hope you will consider these words carefully."

Gu Hongsheng cupped his hands and said, "Brother Rong's words are invaluable. I appreciate your guidance. We'll meet again. I'll take my leave." After saying this, he gave a slight fist salute to the crowd and turned to leave.

Rong Jingzong waved to the five men in blue and said, "You can leave now too. " The five men in blue robes bowed in unison and headed out of the mountain.

Rong Jingzong sighed softly, looked up, and said, “The Black Dragon Society, founded by the old leader, spent its first thirty years on a righteous journey to overthrow the Qing and restore the Ming, and the last twenty years were spent as executioners controlled by the Qing court’s henchmen, persecuting righteous people. Forty of those fifty years I spent here. When I first came, I was a young man in my early twenties; today, I leave as a white-haired old man. This once-great foundation is now buried in the barren mountains.” He couldn’t help but shed tears as he spoke.

Ling Junyi said, “Uncle Rong, this mountain is riddled with caves and secret passages. If we leave it unattended, it could become a den of iniquity for those in the underworld, causing endless trouble. Perhaps we could seal it off?” Rong Jingzong smiled slightly and said, "

Young Master Ling, please rest assured. I chose to come out from here to prepare to seal off the secret passage in this mountain. The mechanisms for opening and closing the other exits are all inside. Only the Flying Dragon Hall gate can be opened and closed from the outside. Once we're outside, we can close it, and outsiders won't be able to enter."

Ling Junyi said, "Since this gate can be opened and closed from the outside, besides Elder Rong, there must be others who know about it."

Rong Jingzong said, "This is a top secret of the Black Dragon Society, known only to those at the level of Hall Master. Now that the dead are dead, there are probably only three survivors left, including myself."

Ling Junyi asked, "Who are the other two?"

Rong Jingzong stroked his beard and said, "One is your mother, and the other is Shui Qingying. Alas, we should have stopped her back then." Ling

Junyi recalled his master's two attempts to stop her, allowing Shui Qingying to retreat. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I wonder what this woman's background is. Her swordsmanship and martial arts are no less than mine." As they spoke, they had already stepped out of the "Flying Dragon Hall" gate. Outside was still a large stone cave, several zhang high and five or six zhang deep and wide. Rong Jingzong waited for everyone to walk out of the gate, then bent down and removed a large stone from the right-hand side of the stone wall. Zhong Jin reached in and felt around for a while, and with a creaking sound, a huge stone slowly slid down from the gate. The "Flying Dragon Hall" gate instantly became a dark stone wall.

Rong Jingzong remained squatting and turned back to say, "Young Master Ling, this old man would like to borrow your Giant Sword."

Ling Junyi agreed, drew the Giant Sword, and handed it over. Rong Jingzong took the short sword and slashed wildly into the cave. Several soft "clang" sounds rang out, indicating that he had broken the mechanism that opened the stone door. Rong Jingzong continued laying the stones, stood up, his face still bearing a sorrowful and fierce expression, handed back the short sword, and seemed to have aged considerably. He sighed sadly and took the lead in walking out of the cave.

Outside the cave, the sun shone brightly, the greenery was vibrant, and the wind invigorated everyone. The cave was to the right of "Xuanguan Rock," with a steep cliff hundreds of feet high, a precipice that seemed to collapse. Outside the cave was only a horizontal layer of broken rock, barely wide enough for a toe. If you didn't know martial arts, you would have to hold onto the crevices with both hands, step on the stone ledges with your toes, and move slowly sideways, suspended in the air, to cross this nearly hundred-foot-long precipice. Even if you knew martial arts, those with poor skills would find it just as dangerous.

Rong Jingzong led everyone through this arduous journey, rounded the mountainside, and although the cliffs and rocks were similar, and there was still no path to follow, it was no longer as perilous as before. Most of the group were young women, and after walking this stretch of road, everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Rong Jingzong glanced at the sky; it was already past midnight, so he turned back and asked, "Would you like to rest before continuing?"

Ling Junyi couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Rong, how much further is it from here to Yuegu Temple?"

Rong Jingzong replied, "If we hurry, we should arrive around noon."

Mudan, completely unaware that the Supreme Emperor was dead, assumed he was already waiting at Yuegu Temple, and smoothed her hair, saying, "We're not tired yet; let's rest when we reach Yuegu Temple."

Rong Jingzong nodded, "That's a good idea. Everyone's on an empty stomach; if we set off early, we can still catch the vegetarian meal at the temple."

Yuegu Temple, located at the foot of Yuegu Peak, was a magnificent temple with extremely prosperous incense offerings. The temple enshrined Bixia Yuanjun, daughter of the Eastern Medicine Emperor, and was sculpted as a young goddess, adorned with a phoenix crown and embroidered robes, possessing a youthful and beautiful appearance, solemn and dignified. Every year around the fifteenth of April, for ten days before and after the festival, pilgrims depart from Xingcheng and flock to the temple fair. People from within a hundred miles, young and old, would come to the fair. At this time, plays were performed to thank the gods, and various performances were held. Stalls of all kinds, stretching for one or two miles, were set up at the foot of the mountain, offering everything from food to entertainment. The gambling and revelry continued all night long, making it the liveliest time of the year on Kunyu Mountain.

Before dawn, Rong Jingzong, leading Ling Junyi, Zhuang Dan, and others, had already arrived at the foot of Yuegu Peak. From afar, they could see a tall figure in a blue robe standing at the entrance of Yuegu Temple, seemingly gazing at something. Tang Wenqing couldn't help but exclaim softly, "It's Steward Ba! Brother Ling, what brings Steward Ba here?"

Ling Junyi couldn't answer this either, only nodding and saying, "He's probably here to see you."

They saw Ba Tianyi, and Ba Tianyi naturally saw them too. He rushed forward, bowing repeatedly and smiling obsequiously, "Young Master Ling, Second Miss, Third Miss, you've all arrived! I've been standing here since morning, my legs are practically stiff."

Ling Junyi returned the bow, and Fang Ruping eagerly asked, "Steward Ba, is Godmother here too?"

Ba Tianyi replied, "It's the Old Master." He then added, "Third Miss's uncle, Master Zhu, and the Old Master Wen and Second Master Wen of Lingnan have all arrived."

Zhu Yaqin exclaimed in surprise, "Father's here too?"

Wen Wanjun was equally surprised, "Why are my father and second uncle here too?"

Ba Tianyi said, "This is what happened. The Wen family has a maid named Xiao Yan. Because Miss Wen infiltrated the Hundred Flowers Gang and disappeared without a trace, she was very worried and quickly reported to Old Master Wen. It just so happened that Old Master Wen and our old master were both guests at Longyan Manor. They also discovered that Miss Zhu, Second Miss, and Third Miss hadn't returned home for several days, so they went to the Hundred Flowers Gang together..."

Peony exclaimed in surprise, "You all went to the Hundred Flowers Gang?" Although there were people left to guard the Hua family compound of the Hundred Flowers Gang, if the people who went were the infamous Tang Tianzong, the old master of the Sichuan Tang Clan, known for his poisons, Wen Yifeng, the old master of the Lingnan Wen Family, renowned for his sleeping potions, and the hidden dragon Zhu Wenhua, all working together, even with the Supreme Elder in charge, it would be difficult to handle. As the leader of the Hundred Flowers Gang, how could she not be alarmed?

Ba Tianyi didn't know her identity, but since she was traveling with Young Master Ling and was walking ahead of everyone else, he didn't dare to be negligent. He smiled and said, "No, we just arrived near Qianshan when we met Young Master Ling's master. He told us we didn't need to go to the Hundred Flowers Gang anymore, and that we only needed to come to the Yuegu Temple on Kunyu Mountain." Peony secretly breathed a sigh of relief and didn't say anything more.

Ling Junyi asked, "How many days have you been here?"

Ba Tianyi replied, "We just arrived yesterday." Just then, Gongsun Xiang, Yu Meiren, and twenty flower maids came out to greet them. They had been led out of the secret passage by Chief Steward Rong and informed to wait here.

After the group entered the main hall, Rong Jingzong instructed Xiao Tao and the three black-clad swordsmen to stay in the hall. Peony also asked Plum Blossom, Peach Blossom, Lotus, Jade Pear, Chrysanthemum, Crape Myrtle, Hibiscus, Balsam, Jade Stamen, and the protectors Ding Qiao, Ran Yuchun, Du Qianlin, Luo Gengyun, Gongsun Xiang, as well as the four maids Jasmine, Ruixiang, Azalea, and Rose to stay in the hall as well.

Ba Tianyi, the head steward of the Tang Clan, received everyone and led them to the guest room for tea. A vegetarian meal had already been prepared in the temple, so there was no need to elaborate. Ling Junyi, Rong Jingzong, Mudan, Shaoyao, Yulan, Wen Wanjun, Tang Wenqing, Zhu Yaqin, Fang Ruping, and others went inside. The third courtyard contained a pond teeming with fish, a release pond. Flowerbeds on both sides were bursting with blossoms, and a flat stone bridge with white stone railings spanned the middle. Crossing the bridge, a long corridor led to three elegant rooms, the reception area for distinguished guests at the Yuegu Temple. These three flower halls were not partitioned, making them even more spacious and bright, with many calligraphy and paintings by famous people adorning the walls. Tang Tianzong, Wen Yifeng, Wen Yiqiao, Zhu Wenhua, Madam Tie, and others were chatting with an old monk in a gray robe.

Ling Junyi had Rong Jingzong go first, and everyone followed inside. Madam Tie first introduced Tang Tianzong and the others to Rong Jingzong, and then Ling Junyi introduced his mother to Shaoyao, Mudan, and Yulan. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone took their seats. Madam Tie said, "Yi'er, quickly go and meet the Venerable Master Tianxu. This Venerable Master was your maternal grandfather's close friend in the secular world."

Ling Junyi had already discerned that the old monk in the gray robe had drooping white eyebrows and a gaunt appearance, indicating he was at least ninety years old, but his eyes shone with a deep, inner light, clearly indicating that he was a high-ranking monk with superior martial arts skills. Upon hearing this, he immediately stepped forward respectfully and bowed deeply, saying, "Junior Ling Junyi greets the Venerable Zen Master."

Zen Master Tianxu clasped his hands together and bowed repeatedly, saying, "I dare not, young benefactor, you are too polite. I dare not accept such a formal address."

Madam Tie said, "Why is the Venerable Zen Master being so polite with the child?"

Zen Master Tianxu chuckled and said, "Madam, you do not know, although I and Venerable Tie were friends in the past, young benefactor Ling's master is, in a sense, my senior uncle. Doesn't that make young benefactor Ling my junior brother?" Ling Junyi thought to himself, "So this Venerable Zen Master is also from the Shaolin branch."

Madam Tie said, "I did not know that."

Zhu Wenhua laughed and said, "Madam Ling, there is no need to be embarrassed. Since the Venerable Zen Master and Venerable Tie are both from the Shaolin branch..." "As for our close friendship, if we consider our lineage through our sects, I feel that when Madam Ling is present, we should address each other as two generations younger. When Madam Ling is not present, we can treat each other as equals."

Tang Tianzong smiled broadly, looked at Ling Junyi, stroked his beard, and said with a smile, "Nephew Ling, this time you have once again performed a great service, breaking the Black Dragon Society in one fell swoop and eliminating a major threat for our fellow martial arts practitioners. It seems that we old folks are truly getting old." Ling Junyi

bowed and said, "Uncle, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

Wen Yifeng chimed in with a smile, "Nephew, there is no need to be so modest. The younger generation in the martial arts world surpasses the older generation. This world originally belonged to you young people."

The old masters of Tang and Wen had always addressed Ling Junyi as "Brother Ling" since the time of "Juechen Manor," but now they had all changed their address. This was not wrong. Ling Junyi and Tang Wenqing were of equals, so it was only natural for the old masters of Tang to address him as "Nephew." However, Ling Junyi and Wen Wanjun's relationship was purely platonic, and Wen Wanjun hadn't yet told her father. The fact that Old Master Wen addressed her as "my dear nephew" indicated that he already knew about their affair—something Xiao Yan had clearly told him. How could Ling Junyi not understand? He felt a little embarrassed and didn't say much for the time being.

After entering, Mudan still hadn't seen the Elder, and was secretly wondering. Her master and Madam Ling were sisters; since the Elder had asked them to come to the Yuegu Temple, and now Madam Ling and Old Master Tang were all here, her master wouldn't leave first. So where was the Elder? She sat in her chair, lost in thought.

Madam Tie smiled gently and said, "Miss Peony, it was your master's idea to bring you here. Yi'er has probably already told you that your master and I were sisters. On her deathbed, she told me that she treated you as her own children. You can just call me Aunt."

The words "on her deathbed" sent a jolt through Peony, Peony, and Magnolia. Peony, with tears in her eyes, couldn't help but look up and ask, "Aunt, you said that my master..."

Madam Tie's face showed sorrow, and she said with tears in her eyes, "What? Yi'er, didn't you tell them?"

Ling Junyi said, "Because the leader and the steward had just left the dangerous place, I didn't want them to be sad on the way, so I didn't tell them. It's better for you to tell them here, Mother."

Peony burst into tears and knelt down with a thud, choking back sobs, "Aunt, please tell your niece how Master died?" As she knelt down, Peony and Magnolia also knelt down, weeping with her.

Madam Tie hurriedly helped the three children up, saying, "Children, get up, listen to what I have to say." Peony, Peony, and Magnolia stood up, tears streaming down their faces.

Madam Tie gently comforted them for a while before recounting in detail her own and the Grandmaster's origins, and the circumstances of the Grandmaster's death. Peony, Peony, and Magnolia, remembering how their master had raised them from childhood, and how this trip to Kunyu Mountain would mean their eternal separation from their kind master, their paths forever diverging, were overcome with grief again, weeping uncontrollably. Madam Tie wept alongside them, saying, "Children, please accept this sorrow. Before her death, Sister Ruhua had two things she wanted me to tell you."

Peony wiped away her tears and said, "Aunt, what were Master's last wishes? Please tell me."

Madam Tie paused, then said, "Your master said before she died that when she adopted you and founded the Hundred Flowers Gang, she originally intended to compete with the Black Dragon Society in the martial world. Later, she learned of her late husband's martyrdom and that the Black Dragon Society had been bought off by the Qing government. She then harbored a desire to destroy the Black Dragon Society and carry on her father's legacy. Therefore, she began to seek out outstanding talents from various sects and schools to expand her power. On the other hand, because the sword manual of Master Chongyang was left at Black Dragon Pool, if they could obtain the manual…" She was unmatched in the martial arts world, determined to personally lead an expedition against the Black Dragon Society. She instructed you to divide into three groups to draw the enemy's attention while she infiltrated the Black Dragon Pool. Now that the Black Dragon Society has been destroyed, everything is in the past, but the Qing court, because of the Black Dragon Society's downfall, will not let it go easily. The Hundred Flowers Gang is naturally their first target for annihilation. Therefore, the first thing is for you to quickly issue an order to disband the Hundred Flowers Gang, lest you be pursued by the Qing court's henchmen.”

Peony nodded tearfully, “Niece obeys.”

Madam Tie continued, “Your master's second matter is also her unfulfilled wish. Because I am merely the adopted daughter of the old Master Tie, while Sister Ruhua is the true heir of the Tie family, she wants you to inherit the Tie family's incense…” Hearing this, Peony couldn't help but burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

Madam Tie continued, "Back when the Hundred Flowers Gang was selecting its chief protector, Sister Ruhua had already intended to betroth you to Yi'er. On her deathbed, she made a request to me, asking me to arrange your marriage regardless of whether Yi'er was already engaged. She also requested that any children you have bear the surname Tie. This means you will not be a daughter-in-law of the Ling family, but a daughter-in-law of the Tie family. This is a matter of great importance to you. Although Sister Ruhua wants me to make the decision, I must first ask for your opinion. Are you willing?"

Peony, who was already in tears, felt incredibly ashamed when Madam Tie spoke of her life's most important matter. Even as the leader of a gang, she, as a young girl, lowered her head in embarrassment, her face redder than crimson satin. Although she was absolutely willing, she was too shy to speak, and after a long pause, she finally whispered, "This is my master's dying wish. I will leave it to my aunt." Her voice was barely audible until the end.

Madam Tie smiled gently and said, "Since you agree, then it's settled." This word "settled" was like a reassuring pill for Peony; her heart calmed, and she lowered her head, replying, "Yes."

Madam Tie turned to Ling Junyi and said, "Yi'er."

Ling Junyi blushed and replied, "What are your instructions, Mother?"

Madam Tie said, "I heard from Master Tang that Madam Kang has already betrothed Miss Tang to you. The reason she gave you the Giant Sword was precisely for this purpose. Master Wen only has one daughter, whom you knew beforehand. Miss Wen even disguised herself as Rose and joined the Hundred Flowers Gang for your sake. Both families urged Master Wen to propose marriage to me. After discussing with the three masters, it was decided that Master Wen only has one daughter, so, following the method of inheriting the Tie family's incense, your future children will inherit the Wen family's incense. Master Tang's daughter..." "Inherit the Ling family's incense, and all three families will have someone to carry on the family line. The three girls won't have any conflict in terms of status. These three marriages are settled. You should quickly go and pay your respects to your two fathers-in-law."

Hearing his mother's instructions, Ling Junyi blushed and obediently went to Tang Tianzong, kneeling down and saying, "Father-in-law, please accept my bow."

Tang Tianzong was overjoyed and quickly helped him up, laughing loudly, "Good son-in-law, please rise! Haha, the first time I saw you, I thought of my daughter, but my wife beat me to it!" Ling Junyi stood up and bowed to Wen Yifeng as well.

Wen Yifeng quickly helped him up, laughing, "My dear son-in-law, no need for formalities." Then he laughed heartily, "Brother Tang, this son-in-law was chosen by your mother-in-law, but my daughter chose him herself. We're both ready-made fathers-in-law."

Zhu Wenhua repeatedly cupped his hands, saying, "Brother, you're the one who's ready-made as matchmaker!"

Peony glanced at Peony and Magnolia, and Tang Wenqing also glanced at Fang Ruping. The two walked to Old Madam Tie and whispered something in her ear. Old Madam Tie looked at Wen Yifeng and Tang Tianzong with a troubled expression, as if she couldn't say something. At the same time, Wen Wanjun also walked to her father and whispered something, while Fang Ruping and Zhu Yaqin also whispered something in Zhu Wenhua's ear.

Madam Tie said to Ling Junyi, "Jun'er, come here."

Ling Junyi blushed and said, "Mother, what is it?"

Madam Tie said, "You're being too absurd." Ling Junyi blushed, knowing that his mother already knew about his affairs with the other women from the two women, and he couldn't speak.

Wen Yifeng said, "Mother-in-law, please don't blame your son-in-law. Although he is a bit absurd, it doesn't matter as long as the young people are willing."

Tang Tianzong laughed and said, "Mother-in-law, Brother Wen is right. My daughters won't mind."

Madam Tie said, "Thank you both, Masters."

Zhu Wenhua laughed and said, "Madam, I have two more requests."

Madam Tie asked curiously, "Master Zhu, please speak freely."

Zhu Wenhua said, "First, my niece, Fang Ruping, is determined to marry no one but Ling Xianxiong, so I ask Madam for your permission. Second, it's for my daughter, Yaqin..." As he spoke, he glanced at Zhu Yaqin beside him, who was already blushing deeply.

Madam Tie said, "What does the Master mean?"

Zhu Wenhua said, "Although my daughter has only just met you, she has long admired you and is therefore willing to follow you. I hope Madam can grant her wish."

Madam Tie said, "This..."

Rong Jingzong stroked his beard and smiled, "Madam, they are young and in love. Please don't hesitate any longer."

Madam Tie said, "Thank you for your kindness to Yi'er. Since that's the case, I have nothing more to say. I'm just sorry to have troubled you." She was speaking to Yulan and Zhu Yaqin.

Peony, Magnolia, Zhu Yaqin, and Fang Ruping knelt down together, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Mother."

"Get up quickly," said Madam Tie. "You are all good children. Since you are all willing to follow Yi'er, I am naturally happy. You are all my good daughters-in-law. I just heard from Peony and Qing'er that quite a few other girls have ties with Yi'er. We martial arts people don't want to distinguish between seniority like ordinary families, but a family can't be without someone to speak and make decisions. I think it's appropriate for the seven of you to be the main decision-makers. All important matters will be discussed and decided by the seven of you. Among you, there will be no distinction between seniority and juniority, only sisters based on age. Do you think this is appropriate?" Wen

Yifeng, Tang Tianzong, and Zhu Wenhua said, "What my mother-in-law says is very true. Let the younger ones resolve their own affairs."

Ling Junyi and the seven girls knelt down at the same time, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Mother." Madam Tie smiled and helped them up.

Rong Jingzong pulled Xiao Tao in at the opportune moment: "Madam, I also have a request."

Madam Tie looked at him, then at Xiao Tao, and a realization dawned on her: "What does Master Rong mean?"

Rong Jingzong said, "This child is also an orphan. I just asked her what she wanted, and she is willing to follow you, young master, whether as a maid or a concubine. I hope you will grant her request."

Madam Tie looked at Xiao Tao and said, "Miss, are you really willing?"

Xiao Tao blushed and glanced at Ling Junyi, saying, "Madam, this servant is willing. Please take me in."

Madam Tie looked at Peony, Magnolia, and the other girls. Peony smiled and said, "Mother, please agree. We will be overjoyed." Saying this, she pulled Xiao Tao aside and began to talk to her in hushed tones.

Madam Tie nodded and said, "In that case, I am naturally pleased."

Rong Jingzong said, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam. My last worry is now resolved."

Madam Tie said to Mudan, "I heard you say that there are some other girls outside who have an unusual relationship with Yi'er. Why don't you invite them all in to meet you?"

Mudan agreed and invited in Meihua, Taohua, Lianhua, Yuli, Juhua, Ziwei, Furong, Fengxian, Yurui, as well as the four maids Jasmine, Ruixiang, Dujuan, and Qiangwei, introducing them one by one. She also introduced the Dharma Protectors Ding Qiao, Ran Yuchun, Du Qianlin, Luo Gengyun, Gongsun Xiang, and others. The girls naturally gathered together, chatting and laughing.

Several vegetarian dishes had already been set out in the flower hall. The vegetarian dishes at Yuegu Temple were famous far and wide. The chef's skills and the exquisite cooking could not be compared to the delicacies of land and sea in the grand restaurants. Everyone had not eaten for almost a day, so the food tasted even better. After the meal, the young monk served fragrant tea. Madam Tie, Tang Tianzong, Wen Yifeng, and others had already eaten lunch before the arrival of the others. They were now sitting around a round table at the east end, discussing the marriage arrangements for their children. Seeing that everyone had finished their vegetarian meal, Zhu Wenhua smiled and called out, "Hero Rong, please come over here."

Rong Jingzong, carrying his bowl, walked to the left and asked, "Brother Zhu, what advice do you have?"

Zhu Wenhua said, "We are discussing the wedding arrangements, so you should naturally offer your opinion."

Rong Jingzong said, "Brother will graciously take the last seat." He then pulled up a chair and sat down.

Madam Tie looked up and said, "Yi'er, come here too."

Ling Junyi walked to his mother's side, bowing respectfully, and asked, "Mother, what are your instructions?"

Madam Tie said, "Your father-in-law Tang thinks that since the engagement is arranged, it's better to let you get married sooner rather than later. I'm getting old, and if you settle down soon, my wish will be fulfilled, and I can finally give an account to your father. So, I've decided that this October, we'll bring all the brides over."

Before his mother could finish speaking, Ling Junyi knelt down with a thud, crying out in tears, "Mother, I wish the wedding to be postponed."

Madam Tie asked, "Why?"

Ling Junyi said, "Although we killed Han Zhankui, the mastermind behind the plot against the Black Dragon Society back then is not..." "It was him. That's why I want to go to Rehe to personally kill those two traitors, Qi Chengchang and Qian Junren, and then go to the capital. I must find my father's remains."

Madam Tie said tearfully, "Your father's remains were secretly transported from the capital by your master long ago. Your father was a Shaolin disciple, and his burial at Shaoshi Mountain was a testament to his loyalty to his sect. I only heard about this from your master just now. It's not too late to take them to Shaoshi Mountain to pay their respects after you get married."

Tang Tianzong glanced at Zhu Wenhua and Rong Jingzong. Zhu Wenhua immediately understood. Before Madam Tie could speak, he coughed lightly and interjected, "Yes, Brother Ling's filial piety is admirable, but your mother is eager for a grandchild, and we've already agreed on the wedding in October, which is only three months away. Therefore, I think Brother Ling might as well wait until after the wedding to go to Rehe."

Rong Jingzong continued, "Master Zhu is right. Since Qi Chengchang and Qian Junren are in Rehe, they won't leave anytime soon. With your skills, it wouldn't be difficult for you to kill them. You should listen to your mother's arrangements, return to Jiangnan to complete the wedding first, and then head north next spring."

Ling Junyi looked up and said, "Mother, I will not marry until my father's revenge is avenged. This place is far from Rehe... " The river is not far now, why bother with another trek? My idea is that we should head to Rehe before news of our defeat of the Black Dragon Society spreads; it will be easier to strike then. Once the news gets out, the cunning Qi Chengchang will surely be on high alert, especially since Qian Junren is not in office. His purpose in staying in Rehe is clearly to seek Qi Chengchang's protection. Once he hears the news, he will hide, making him even harder to find. Therefore, I think the sooner the better. We should set off now to prevent the news from leaking out.”

Madam Tie pondered for a moment and said, “That's fine too. The wedding can be held after you avenge your father, which will also comfort your father's spirit in heaven…” At this point, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Tang Tianzong stroked his beard and said to Wen Yifeng, "Brother Wen, since my mother-in-law has said so, and this is my filial piety, let's go to Rehe together to support our beloved guests. What do you think?"

Wen Yifeng laughed loudly, "Brother Tang's idea is excellent! Let's just drug and poison all those lackeys and traitors from the Li Palace."

Ling Junyi added, "I can handle the trip to Rehe alone. Sending too many people will only attract their attention. I dare not trouble my two fathers-in-law."

Tang Tianzong said, "If I go alone, I will be outnumbered and vulnerable. Chengde is not comparable to Juechen Manor."

Ling Junyi said, "I, your nephew... " "We will act according to circumstances." He then asked Rong Jingzong, "Does Elder Rong know anything about Qi Chengchang's situation?"

Rong Jingzong stroked his beard and laughed, "That old scoundrel is the mastermind behind the overthrow of the Black Dragon Society. I hate him to the bone, so I've inquired about his movements from various sources and know a little bit. Alas, I've been watching him closely for twenty years, and I only know a little. How cunning is that old man? Qi Chengchang is now the Deputy Military Governor of Rehe and the Commander of the Imperial Guard Battalion. He wields considerable power. The fact that he personally went to the Dabie Mountains to preside over the 'Juechen Manor' shows that he is very likely still the mastermind behind the Black Dragon Society." He suddenly slapped his thigh and laughed, "That's right! I once heard Han Zhankui say that most of the top imperial guards usually dispatched to various provinces are sent by the Rehe Imperial Guard Battalion." Because the Jurchen chieftain only visited the Rehe Imperial Palace once a year and had nothing to do the rest of the time, the task of monitoring provincial officials and arresting so-called rebels was assigned to the palace guards. The Black Dragon Society was a secret organization they used to deal with people from the martial arts world, so naturally it was under Qi Chengchang's command.

Ling Junyi said, "It seems that Shui Qingying was sent by him. Alas, it's such a pity we didn't intercept her."

Madam Tie said, "This is your master's intention; there must be a reason."

Zen Master Tianxu suddenly put his hands together, murmured a Buddhist chant, and continued, "Amitabha, my uncle mentioned Benefactor Shui to me the other night. She is not only a favorite disciple of the Snow Mountain Nun, but also a person of great background. She could not have been sent by Qi Chengchang."

Ling Junyi asked, "What else did my master say? Could you please elaborate, Zen Master?" "

Master Tianxu said, 'I only know what my Uncle-Master says, and I don't know anything else. As for that Master Shui, she has been here twice. I don't think she is a fierce or bloodthirsty person. When you, young benefactor Ling, encounter her in the future, you should not embarrass her too much or force her to take extreme measures. Neither of you will benefit.'

Ling Junyi could tell that the old Zen master had left something unsaid. He said that Shui Qingying had a great background, and he clearly knew her background, but he was unwilling to say it. Why was that? Could it be that her master was the Snow Mountain Divine Nun, and everyone had to give her some leeway? Thinking to himself, he asked Rong Jingzong, 'Uncle Rong, as is customary when visiting a place, could you please tell me about the situation in Rehe?'

Rong Jingzong said, 'Chengde Prefecture is on the west bank of Rehe. It was originally a mountain city. The Manchu chieftain built a palace called the "Summer Palace". Qi Chengchang is the head of the guards of the "Summer Palace". However, his position is higher than that of the commander of the palace guards, and he also serves as the deputy commander of the Rehe garrison.'" The Imperial Palace Guards were divided into two camps, east and west, each with three teams, each team with three platoons, and each platoon, including the leader, consisted of eleven men. This meant Qi Chengchang had over two hundred highly skilled martial artists under his command. The east camp was responsible for defending the palace, while the three teams of the west camp were usually stationed outside. Although these men were mostly scoundrels who had sold themselves into service, many were highly skilled. In short, they were far superior to the swordsmen of the Black Dragon Society's Flying Dragon Hall.

Ling Junyi said, "Even if the Imperial Palace is a den of dragons and tigers, I will still take Qi Chengchang's head."

Rong Jingzong suddenly exclaimed, "Oh!" and added, "I forgot something. Qi Chengchang has a mistress living outside the Summer Palace. It's said he spends twenty nights a month there. If you could find out where she lives, it would be much easier than striking from inside the Summer Palace."

Ling Junyi replied, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I will find out."

Rong Jingzong added, "There's another matter we must be careful about. There are eight major Lama temples outside Chengde City, presided over by Tibetan monks. They are all from the Yoga School, and their martial arts are unique. It is said that when Qi Chengchang was the leader of the Imperial Guard in the capital, he studied under a Living Buddha. Therefore, those Lama temples may be colluding with Qi Chengchang, so we must be wary." Ling

Junyi said, "The number of people on this trip should not be too large..." Before he could finish speaking, a group of female generals, including Mudan, Yulan, Tang Wenqing, Wen Wanjun, and Zhu Yaqin, all clamored to go in unison.

Madam Tie smiled kindly at everyone and said, "Young people like to go in a swarm. This isn't a trip for fun; too many people will only cause trouble. How about this, Yi'er will go alone, Mudan can come with me to provide backup for Yi'er, and Yulan and Shaoyao must immediately go to Baihuazhou to disband the Baihua Gang." "It would be best if the manor lords took the girls back to the south first. They absolutely must not sneak off to Rehe this time, lest they cause any unforeseen complications." Her arrangement was naturally carefully considered, and it was also a veiled suggestion to the three manor lords, Tang Tianzong, Wen Yifeng, and Zhu Wenhua, that they must strictly control these girls. After all, Rehe was the location of the Qing Dynasty's imperial palace, not something to be taken lightly.

Ling Junyi asked in surprise, "Is Mother going too?"

Madam Tie smiled and said, "If I go, I can also help you if necessary. I won't get in your way."

Tang Tianzong said, "Please rest assured, Mother-in-law. We will stay here for a few days and wait for you and your son-in-law to return. Then we can go back together and hold the wedding."

Wen Yifeng said, "Everyone heard that. No one is allowed to go if they are not going."

Rong Jingzong chimed in, "That's settled then. Everyone should wait here for good news so that we can hold the wedding quickly and avoid everyone getting separated." "That's how it was decided. Although the girls all wanted to go, they didn't dare to say anything more."

Ling Junyi said, "If Mother hasn't given any instructions, I think it's best to set off as soon as possible."

Madam Tie nodded and said, "Very well, you set off early. I'll arrive early tomorrow morning." They then agreed on several secret codes for communication. Ling Junyi memorized them all, bid farewell to everyone, and left alone.

Yulan and Shaoyao, along with Ziwei and Lianhua, bid farewell to Madam Tie and also set off. The rest of the group stayed at the Yuegu Temple. Of the twenty flower maidens in the Yu Meiren group, Camellia and Lilac were already Ling Junyi's women, so they naturally stayed. The twelve attendants (excluding Rose and Begonia, leaving ten) were even less likely to be retained. Only the remaining eighteen flower girls remained. Originally, Magnolia and Peony were supposed to take them back to the Hundred Flowers Gang, intending to disband it, but they refused to go. They wanted to stay with Yu Meiren and the others. Seeing this, Peony and Yu Meiren had no choice but to agree, after all, they were sisters. However, Peony and the others knew in their hearts that sooner or later they would become Ling Junyi's bedmates, just like Dingxiang and Chahua.

After dinner, Ba Tianyi and Ding Qiao also quietly left, having been ordered to prepare carriages. Nothing more was said that night. The next morning, Ba Tianyi returned and reported to Madam Tie that Ding Qiao had disguised himself as a coachman and was waiting ahead by the roadside. Madam Tie and Peony also disguised themselves as mother and daughter, bid farewell to everyone, and quietly left Yuegu Temple.

The next day at noon, Tang Tianzong couldn't sit still any longer. He said to Zhu Wenhua, "Brother, I feel that my mother-in-law is only taking Miss Mudan and Ding Qiao with her. If something happens, they'll be too alone. Should we send another group to secretly support them?"

Wen Yifeng said, "Brother, I rarely travel in the Jiangnan martial arts world. It's better if I go."

Zhu Wenhua said, "I don't know many people in the martial arts world."

Rong Jingzong said, "Let's divide it like this. Brother Tang and I can stay here and oversee things. Brother Wen and Brother Zhu can split up and head towards Rehe. We can also secretly support Madam Ling. What do you all think?"

Tang Tianzong naturally knew that Rong Jingzong had a deeper meaning in wanting him to stay here. As the head of the Tang Clan, he knew quite a few people in both the legitimate and illegitimate worlds of the martial arts world. His sudden appearance in Rehe would naturally attract attention, so it was better to stay here. So he immediately nodded in agreement, and Wen Yifeng chimed in, "That's settled then. Brother, Second Brother, and Wan'er will go together, while Brother Zhu, your

daughter, and your niece will go together." Tang Wenqing looked at her father and said, "Father, I want to go with Uncle Zhu."

Tang Tianzong snorted, and Tang Wenqing called out again, "Father, will you agree or not?"

Tang Tianzong nodded and said, "Miss Wen, Miss Fang, Miss Zhu, and Miss Mudan have all gone. If my daughter doesn't go, wouldn't they steal the credit? Of course, Father has no choice but to agree."

Tang Wenqing blushed and twisted her waist, saying, "Father, I'm not coming. You're making fun of your daughter..."

Tang Tianzong laughed heartily, "Girls are more inclined to go out. Am I wrong, Father?"

Zhu Wenhua smiled and said, "No need to say more, we should hurry up and go." So Wen Yifeng and Zhu Wenhua's groups each led their people on their way.

Gubeikou, also known as Hubeikou, is a vital passage leading out of the Great Wall. Surrounded by continuous mountain ranges, the Great Wall winds and twists like a long snake. The pass is carved through the mountain, barely wide enough for a cart, making it extremely treacherous. As a crucial north-south transportation route between Rehe and Beijing, it sees

countless carriages, horses, and pedestrians passing through daily. It was already dusk; the setting sun dipped behind the mountains, birds returned to their nests, and many mule and camel caravans were hurrying towards the pass. A rapid sound of bells and hooves echoed from Gubeikou towards the outside world. The rider, seemingly in a hurry, spurred his horse forward, the black dust kicked up by the hooves billowing across the road, causing those hurrying towards the pass to cough and curse almost simultaneously. The strong rider, however, paid no heed, continuing his rapid pace, covering several miles in one go. As soon as they crossed the Lahaigou ditch, the man on horseback immediately took out a small triangular flag from his robes, waved it several times towards a pine forest on the right hillside, and shouted, "Attention everyone, they're coming!" Before he finished speaking, he spurred his horse and galloped straight ahead.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the sound of hooves could be heard in the distance, and sure enough, two fine horses were approaching, one after the other. The one in front was a purple-brown horse, and the one behind it was a blue-maned horse. Both were fine horses, but they didn't run very fast, clearly indicating that the riders weren't very skilled. Although the horses ran slowly, they were still faster than people walking, and in no time, they were almost at the edge of the forest.

This time, it was clear that the man on the purple-brown horse was a young man in brocade robes, who looked to be no more than twenty years old. He had delicate features, red lips, and white teeth, and a long, black braid trailing behind him—a handsome and dashing figure. The man on the blue-maned horse was a young pageboy of about sixteen or seventeen years old, who also had delicate features and a clever appearance. The master and servant were clearly wealthy young men from the capital, hurrying to enter the pass. But just as they approached Song Chu on horseback, a sharp whistle suddenly rang out from the woods. As soon as the whistle sounded, seven or eight masked men leaped out of the forest like birds, wielding gleaming steel knives. They immediately spread out and surrounded the two horses. The

young man in brocade robes was already pale with fright. He was on his horse, almost falling off, his teeth chattering, stammering, "You...you...what...are you doing?" The

masked leader shouted, "Enough nonsense! Get down! We'd rather have your money than your lives. If you want your lives, leave your gold and silver, and we might spare your lives and let you enter the pass alive." The young man in brocade robes desperately replied, "Yes!" He grabbed his horse's head, tumbling and rolling as he tried to dismount, but his legs were weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

The handsome pageboy, following behind, timidly climbed down from the saddle and approached the young master, reaching out to help him up, trembling as he said, "Young master, what should we do?" His legs were also weak with fear, and he tried to support the young master, but he couldn't lift him. The two, master and servant, huddled together, shaking uncontrollably.

A masked man, holding a steel knife, glared menacingly at them. The masked leader had already taken a bundle from the saddle, opened it, and inside, besides clothes, was a cloth bag containing fifty taels of gleaming gold. A slight smile appeared on the man's face, but it vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sneer: "A rich young master from the capital, carrying only this much gold? How are we brothers supposed to divide it?"

The masked man watching the master and servant had already stepped forward, pointing his steel knife and shouting, "Quickly, tell me, do you have anything else?"

Seeing the situation turning against him, the young master in brocade robes hurriedly cried out, "Qing'er, quickly... quickly, take out your... your silver... your silver."

The handsome pageboy's teeth chattered, and he fumbled for a few gold leaves and some loose silver in his pocket, placing them on the ground, saying, "It's all... it's all here."

The masked man watching them sneered, "Only this much?"

The handsome pageboy's face turned pale with fright, and he said, "Really... really, there's nothing left..."

The masked man suddenly took a step forward, brandishing his gleaming steel knife, and then held it to the young master's neck. The man on the platform coldly demanded, "If you want to die, speak quickly! And where is the rest?"

The young man in brocade robes, with the steel knife shoved against his shoulder, collapsed limply to the ground, his face deathly pale with terror. He weakly cried out, "Master... spare my life..."

The handsome page crawled on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, "Gentlemen... gentlemen, the young master... he was going back to the capital, and he brought... he brought... everything... it was all spent on the way, really... really all that's left..."

The masked man at the head of the group grinned menacingly, "Looks like you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin, sir..."

The young man in brocade robes, both anxious and terrified, cried out desperately, "Spare... my life, spare my life..."

Just then, a "clang" was heard, and the steel knife against the young man's neck suddenly jolted and jumped up. Before the man could even finish his "Ah!" cry, the knife had already been knocked from his hand and flown away. Immediately afterwards, someone snorted coldly and said, "You audacious thug, how dare you rob people on the road near the capital?" The man in brocade robes sitting on the ground couldn't help but have a strange glint in his eyes.

As dusk approached, the masked bandits, startled by the sudden voices, turned to look. There, on the main road from Gubeikou, stood a purplish-faced man with his hands behind his back. Judging by his dusty face and the faded blue cloth robe he wore, he was clearly a very down-on-his-luck man.

The masked leader shouted sternly, "Which gang are you from, friend?"

The man in blue replied arrogantly, "I'm not from any gang."

The masked leader glanced at the man in blue and said coldly, "A lone wolf shouldn't block the road to wealth. You don't seem to be a local. I advise you to mind your own business and get lost."

The man in blue laughed loudly and said, "Everyone should mind their own business. I can't stand you bullying the weak and robbing people on the road."

The masked leader laughed loudly and said, "Good lad, you don't even open your mouth wide. You probably haven't heard of the Seven Heroes of Gubeikou, have you?" With a wave of his left hand, two masked men immediately rushed over, wielding knives. The man

in brocade robes was shocked and cried out, "You mustn't kill!"

The man in blue robes smiled slightly and said, "Only two of you have come up; I'm afraid that won't do." As he spoke, two masked men pounced on him, wielding their swords without a word. Two gleaming steel blades flashed, creating two chilling lines as they attacked from the left and right.

The man in blue robes didn't even glance at them, his body neither dodging nor avoiding. Only when the blades were about to reach him did he reach out with his right hand, grabbing the right man's wrist and pulling him to the left. The right man hadn't even seen clearly; he charged to the left, sword and all, his steel blade slashing horizontally with a "clang," perfectly blocking the left man's attack. Both men were struck by the man in blue robes' move, their hands aching and their right arms numb, almost unable to hold their swords, and each took two steps back. The two men, having suffered a heavy loss in their first exchange, were naturally unwilling to give up. They roared in unison and charged forward again, swinging their blades in a pincer attack.

The man in blue coldly shouted, "You ignorant fools!" He spun

around, his right foot sweeping out. The attack was lightning fast; before the two masked men could even get close, they were struck. With two loud "bangs," the two figures were sent flying like balls, flying more than ten feet away. They landed on their backs, crashing onto the rocks, rolling around for a while. Although their heads weren't broken, their bones felt like they were shattered. They cried out "Ouch!" but couldn't get up. The

masked leader, both shocked and enraged, tightened his grip on his steel blade and shouted, "Everyone, attack together! Chop this brat down!" In an instant, five masked men surrounded him, their blades gleaming coldly in the fading twilight.

The man in brocade robes and his handsome page had both stood up, their faces no longer showing any fear. This time, the master and servant saw clearly that the five masked men, like five hungry tigers, charged at the man in blue robes with the force of pouncing on sheep. The man in blue robes remained calm and composed. With a swift movement of his hands, his right hand struck the left shoulder of the masked leader who had pounced first. The leader groaned and flew into the air, crashing several feet away with a thud. His left hand grabbed another man's wrist, and he raised his knife to strike the third man's blade. With a clang, the third man's steel knife flew out of his hand, and his grip loosened, sending the man who had been held by the wrist tumbling face-first to the ground.

With just a slap of his right hand, a grab of his left, and a release, he had taken down three men. Then, with a twist of his body, he elbowed the fourth man in the ribs. The man also let out a muffled groan, staggering back seven or eight steps, doubled over in pain. With a flick of his left hand, the sleeve of his hand met the fifth man's steel blade. This was even more devastating; the steel blade's slashing force was incredibly fierce. But somehow, it was caught precisely by his "Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeve" technique, and the steel blade, with a "whoosh," transformed into a white streak, flying more than three zhang high, falling straight into the forest. The man wielding the blade was jolted, blood flowing from his hand, and he hurriedly leaped backward. This passage, if told separately, would seem a bit long, but in reality, it was all done with a mere flick of the blue-robed man's wrist. From the perspective of the brocade-clad minister's servant, five bandits had surrounded the blue-robed man menacingly, swinging their blades and attacking, but they scattered in an instant.

The man in blue didn't give chase, but stood with his hands behind his back, laughing loudly, "So the Seven Heroes of Gubeikou are nothing special after all. Today I'm just teaching you a lesson. If you dare to commit murder and robbery again, I won't let you off so easily." The masked leader got up, waved to his six brothers without a word, and they raised their steel knives, listlessly following their leader. The handsome pageboy, seeing the robbers escape, went to gather the scattered gold, silver, and clothing without waiting for orders. The man in brocade

robes breathed a long sigh of relief and hurried towards the man in blue, bowing deeply and saying, "Brother, I encountered bandits on my journey, and was fortunate enough to be rescued by your righteousness. Your life is saved, and I dare not express my gratitude. Please accept my bow."

The man in blue robes quickly returned the bow, saying, "Young master, you flatter me. These despicable scoundrels dared to rob travelers near the capital; their audacity is truly extreme. Since I encountered them, punishing the wicked and upholding justice is the true nature of us Jianghu people. It was just a small favor, nothing to mention. I'm sure they'll be defeated and won't dare to come back. Young master, take care on your journey. I must continue on my way. Farewell." With that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and turned to leave.

The man in brocade robes hurriedly called out, "Brother, please wait!"

The man in blue robes stopped and asked, "What else do you need, sir?"

The man in brocade robes smiled and said, "Brother, your chivalrous deeds are truly those of the ancients, the kind of wandering knights. I read Sima Qian's 'Biographies of Wandering Knights' when I was young and admired such people, but I thought such a person couldn't possibly exist in this world. Meeting you today is truly an honor. It's already dark, and I can't go through the pass. Not far ahead is Anjiangtun, and even if you're in a hurry, you'll need to find lodging. I'd like to invite you for a few drinks to express my admiration. Would you be so kind as to humbly befriend me?" As he spoke, his bright eyes were full of hope.

Seeing his sincerity, the man in blue robes smiled calmly and said, "How could I dare to accept such a request, sir?" "I was just on my way to Anjiangtun to stay the night, but you've been so kind to invite me. It would be impolite of me to refuse."

The man in brocade robes was overjoyed and said, "Brother, you don't mind, that's wonderful." He looked at the man in blue and said, "We've met by chance. Putting aside your life-saving grace, it's fate that brings us together. I dare not accept your title of 'brother,' but I'm honored that you've chosen to be my brother. What do you think?"

The man in blue said, "I'm just a commoner, a roughneck in the martial world, how..."

Before he could finish, the man in brocade robes interrupted, "Brother Fu Gefei, if you don't mind, you can call me Gefei. May I ask your name? How should I address you?"

The man in blue said, "My name is Lin Ziqing."

Fu Gefei said happily, "So it's Brother Lin. It's getting dark, let's hurry."

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother Bo, please mount your horse."

Fu Gefei refused to mount his horse, laughing, "It's not far from Anjiang Village. It's a rare opportunity for me to meet Brother Lin. Let's talk as we go." He then turned to his handsome page and instructed, "Qing'er, take the livestock and head to the village first. Ask Wan'an Inn to vacate two quiet rooms and prepare some good dishes to go with the wine. Tonight, Brother Lin and I will have a good drink." The

handsome page readily agreed, mounted his horse, and rode off on his blue-maned steed, leading the purple mule. Fu Gefei, however, accompanied Lin Ziqing, talking as they walked, slowly making their way along the road. Lin Ziqing found this young gentleman not only refined in his manners and elegant in his speech, but also well-read and extremely knowledgeable. They found themselves getting along very well. By the time they reached Anjiang Village, it was already time to light the lamps.

The shops on the small street were all closed, with only a few scattered, dim lights flickering in the night wind—those were Wan'an Inn and a teahouse. Although it was a small town market, it was located between Gubeikou and Luanping, and many travelers and merchants who couldn't keep up with their journeys would stop here to rest. Therefore, this small street was quite bustling and prosperous.

After everyone settled in at the inn that evening, they went to teahouses, and of course, gambling and women. Wan'an Inn had ordinary rooms, as well as two or three quiet superior rooms for passing dignitaries to rest temporarily. Facing the street was a restaurant, not very large, with seven or eight tables. Tonight, all three superior rooms at Wan'an Inn were reserved for Young Master Fu.

A handsome page and a waiter stood at the restaurant entrance. Seeing the young master approaching with Lin Ziqing, they immediately caught up, bowing and saying, "Young Master, we have reserved the rooms and prepared the food and wine. Please take your seats."

The waiter immediately came forward, bowing repeatedly, saying, "Please, gentlemen." Fu

Gefei stepped aside, saying, "Brother Lin, please." Lin Ziqing offered slight courtesy, and the two stepped into the inn together. They saw only a few tables, with four or five diners seated sparsely. On a square table in the middle, two sets of cups and chopsticks were already set. The waiter and Qing'er led the two to their seats. The restaurant in Anjiangtun was always packed with people during the day, but it was rare to see such a distinguished young master entertaining guests in the evening, so the service was naturally impeccable. As soon as the two sat down, waiters brought them towels and tea, keeping them very busy.

Fu Gefei picked up a teacup, took a sip, and looked up with a smile, saying, "Brother Lin, where are you headed this time?"

Lin Ziqing also picked up his tea tray, took a sip, and replied, "Rehe."

Fu Gefei then asked, "What business does Brother Lin have in Rehe?"

Lin Ziqing said, "I have an uncle who runs a镖局 (escort agency) in Rehe, specializing in escorting goods to the provinces beyond the Great Wall. I've been wandering the martial world without achieving anything, so I thought I'd visit his agency."

Fu Gefei glanced at him, a look of regret appearing on his face. He hesitated, but couldn't help himself, tentatively asking, "With Brother Lin's skills, wouldn't it be a waste of talent for him to join a security escort agency?"

Lin Ziqing smiled calmly and said, "I am just a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), and I can only make a living in the martial arts world. What else can I do besides working in a security escort agency?"

Fu Gefei said, "Brother Lin and I met by chance, but we hit it off immediately. We are like brothers. If Brother Lin is willing to go to the capital, I might be able to help you."

Lin Ziqing shook his head slightly and smiled, "Brother Fu's kindness is very appreciated. The capital is a place of wealth and prosperity, but it may not be suitable for a jianghu person like me." At this point, three waiters had already brought in wine and dishes. Qing'er took the wine pot and filled the cups in front of the two men.

Fu Gefei raised his cup and said, "Brother Lin, I dare not repay your life-saving grace. This cup of wine is to toast you, and also to celebrate our chance friendship. I'll drink it first." He then drank it all in one gulp.

Lin Ziqing toasted him and said, "Now that we've become sworn brothers, it would be vulgar for Brother Bo to mention the life-saving grace again."

Fu Gefei laughed heartily, "Brother Lin is right, I deserve to be punished."

Qing'er filled their cups with wine, and he indeed raised his cup and drank another cup in one gulp, then looked up and asked, "Who else is in Brother Lin's household?"

Lin Ziqing replied, "Only my mother lives in my humble abode."

Fu Gefei's eyes darted around, and he asked again, "Brother Lin, how old are you? Are you still unmarried?" After two cups, his face was flushed, and he was already feeling quite hot.

Lin Ziqing said, "I'm twenty-four years old, a down-on-my-luck wanderer, where would I find a wife?"

Bogefei suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Lin is four years older than me, I should call you elder brother." Before Lin Ziqing could speak, he continued, "Brother Lin is a man of great talent and ability, capable of both literary and martial arts, certainly not someone to be underestimated. I have something to say, but I don't know if I should?"

Lin Ziqing smiled and said, "Brother Fu, please speak freely."

Fugefei said, "I have a younger sister, nineteen this year. I dare not boast, but she is certainly beautiful and talented. Brother Lin..." "If you don't mind, I'm willing to do my best to make it happen..."

Lin Ziqing hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Brother Fu, you're too kind. I'm just a nobody from the martial world, how could I dare to presume?"

Fu Gefei said seriously, "Brother Lin, how can you be so self-deprecating? Heroes are not defined by their origins. I've said it before, Brother Lin is definitely no ordinary person. If my sister can have a heroic husband like Brother Lin, it will be her good fortune."

Lin Ziqing smiled bitterly, "Brother Fu, you flatter me, I..." Just then, the waiter brought over more dishes. Fu Gefei smiled slightly at him and didn't continue.

The food and wine were served one after another, and the table was already full. Although it wasn't anything fancy, the food was excellent. In a small village restaurant, to be able to make such dishes was already considered a top-class feast. Lin Ziqing looked at the table full of dishes and said, "Brother Fu, why did you order so many dishes?"

Fu Gefei chuckled and said, "I have become sworn brothers with Brother Lin. This is the only thing I have ever been truly happy about in my life. I even think these dishes are too few."

Lin Ziqing said, moved, "Brother Fu, you flatter me too much."

Fu Gefei was already a little tipsy, his face flushed, his eyes half-closed, and asked, "The ancients said that to have a true friend is to die without regret. I consider Brother Lin a true friend. I wonder if Brother Lin also considers me a true friend?"

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother Fu considers me a true friend, so naturally I consider Brother Fu a true friend as well."

Fu Gefei's eyes widened and he said, "Is this the truth?"

Lin Ziqing said, "The value of true friendship lies in understanding each other's hearts. What I said is naturally the truth."

Fu Gefei raised his wine cup and said to Lin Ziqing, "Come, Brother Lin, let's drink!" He drank it down in one gulp. Lin Ziqing then drank another cup with him.

Fu Gefei said, "Brother Lin, I'm truly overjoyed tonight." He picked up a wine cup, then suddenly exclaimed "Eek!" and turned around, saying, "Qing'er, pour the wine!"

Qing'er, holding the wine pot, hesitated for a moment and said, "Young master, you're not usually a good drinker, you've already had enough."

Fu Gefei said, "Who said I'm drunk? Quickly pour the wine, I want to drink three more cups with Brother Lin."

Lin Ziqing could also see that Fu Gefei was indeed somewhat intoxicated, and hurriedly said, "Brother Fu, please forgive me, I can't hold my liquor. There are two sayings from the ancients: 'A pleasant, slightly tipsy state is just right; a drunken, muddy state is vulgar.' Let's not be vulgar."

Fu Gefei then nodded and said, "Brother Lin is right."

The waiter brought over two bowls of noodles, and Lin Ziqing ate one bowl. Fu Gefei only picked at the noodles, ate a few bites, and then stopped eating. A waiter quickly brought over a hot towel. Bogefei instructed, "Qing'er, the dishes tonight were quite good. Give the waiters a generous reward. Don't forget the kitchen steward's share."

Qing'er replied, "Yes," and said, "The rooms for you and Master Lin are ready. Would you like to go back to your rooms to rest?"

Bogefei nodded and said, "Brother Lin has to travel early tomorrow morning, so he should rest early."

Qing'er said, "I'll lead the way."

Lin Ziqing said, "Brother Bogefei, you haven't eaten yet. It's better if the waiters lead the way."

Actually, he didn't need to say anything. Two waiters were already waiting with lanterns. Hearing this, they quickly smiled and said, "Yes, yes, steward, please have your meal. Please follow me, gentlemen."

Money makes the world go round. The inn's waiters were very opportunistic. As soon as they finished speaking, they immediately took turns carrying lanterns and leading the two men inside. When they arrived at the main room, they opened the door, lit the lamps, and bowed to let the two men in. A waiter immediately brewed two pots of tea and brought them in. Although Fu Gefei was in high spirits, he wasn't a heavy drinker. A gust of wind made him realize he was indeed a little tipsy. Leaning against the door, he said, "Brother Lin isn't drunk yet, but I'm certainly not a good drinker. It's a real shame. Excuse me."

Lin Ziqing replied, "Brother Fu, please rest."

Nothing more was said that night. The next morning, after Lin Ziqing got up, he put on his clothes and went outside. He saw a shop assistant standing at the door, holding a letter. Upon seeing Lin Ziqing, the assistant immediately stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "Master Lin, you're up! Young Master Fu instructed me to wait here. There's a letter he must personally deliver to you." He then presented the letter with both hands.

Lin Ziqing took the letter and saw the words "To: Brother Lin" written on the envelope. He couldn't help but ask, "Where is Young Master Fu?"

The shopkeeper replied, "Young Master Fu said he had urgent business and left before dawn."

Lin Ziqing felt strange; he hadn't mentioned it to him last night, so why did he leave in such a hurry? He nodded and said, "Good."

The shopkeeper smiled obsequiously, "Young Master Fu left a beast of burden for you to ride; it's waiting outside." Lin Ziqing nodded again.

The shopkeeper fawned, "If you have no further instructions, Master Lin, I'll fetch you some water to wash your face."

Lin Ziqing nodded again, turned and went into the room, casually tore open the seal, and pulled out a letter. The first thing that catches the eye is a beautiful handwriting that reads: “This letter is addressed to my esteemed brother Ziqing: Our friendship, forged by chance, has been a source of great joy in my life. You are truly my only true confidant. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I must depart at dawn. Not wanting to disturb your peaceful sleep, I stood lingering at your door for a long time. Now that we part, when will we meet again? You are going to Rehe, but it seems you haven't been able to fully utilize your talents at the镖局 (bodyguard agency). I have a long-standing friendship with the local commander, and I have prepared a letter of introduction for you to consider. I'm leaving you a poor horse and fifty taels of gold, not as a gift, but merely to encourage your journey. As I write this, I am overwhelmed with sorrow and parting. What can I do? Please take good care of yourself. Your younger brother, Fu Gefei, bows respectfully.” This letter is beautifully written, expressing both emotion and sentiment, and conveying a poignant farewell.

After reading the letter, Lin Ziqing pondered to himself, "He and the Governor of Rehe are old friends; could he be a Manchu?" The handwriting was delicate, seemingly not masculine, and there had been suspicious activity yesterday, yet he couldn't discern anything particularly suspicious. Looking inside the envelope, he found another letter folded inside, addressed to "General Fu, to be opened personally." The tone was rather impolite, and the envelope wasn't sealed. Lin Ziqing grew increasingly suspicious. He picked up the letter and saw only a few words written on it: "This is to introduce my friend, Brother Lin Ziqing. I earnestly request your kind consideration. I am deeply grateful." A small red bell was stamped below; upon closer inspection, it indeed bore two Manchu characters. This letter, compared to the one he had written to himself, one overflowed with friendship, while the other sounded like a superior addressing a subordinate. Fu Gefei—who could he be?

Just then, the shopkeeper brought him some water to wash his face. Lin Ziqing carefully folded the letter and put it in his pocket. After washing and eating breakfast, he headed outside. Needless to say, Fu Gefei had already informed him of the shop's account. Outside, he saw a waiter leading the blue-maned horse, attending to him. Upon seeing Lin Ziqing, the waiter immediately bowed and said, "Master Lin, please mount your horse."

Sure enough, a heavy purple package hung from the saddle—the fifty taels of pure gold that the masked bandit leader had opened the previous night. No wonder the waiter had been attending to him with the horse. Although Lin Ziqing felt unworthy of the gift, he had no choice but to accept it. He casually took a small ingot of silver, gave it to the waiter, mounted the horse, and rode away.

Chengde Prefecture, formerly known as Rehe, is a beautiful mountain city located on the west bank of the Rehe River. In the forty-second year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, the "Mountain Resort for Summer Palace" was built here, also known as the Rehe Imperial Palace. Its architecture was magnificent, showcasing the beauty of lakes, mountains, and pavilions. Although Chengde is a mountain city, it was the capital of the prefecture—no, the place where the emperor sought refuge from the summer heat and held his autumn hunt at Mulan. Its bustling cityscape, while not comparable to Beijing, was no less vibrant than any provincial capital. Notably, it was home to people of Han, Manchu, Mongol, Hui, and Tibetan ethnicities. The streets thronged with people of all backgrounds, their clothing and languages diverse, yet they coexisted harmoniously, each conducting their own business without interference or discrimination. The city was like a large, multi-ethnic courtyard, a phenomenon rarely seen in other inland provinces.

The most vibrant area of Chengde was West Gate Street, lined with shops, teahouses, and taverns—one every few steps. This was because it was the first major city encountered after leaving Gubeikou, and merchants and travelers alike would stop here to rest and eat, naturally leading to its increasing prosperity. On West Gate Street, there was a small side street called Tanhua Lane. Legend has it that a Tanhua scholar once came from there, and a stone archway once stood at the entrance. However, nowadays, it's no longer called Tanhua Lane but rather Inn Alley. That's because this alley was lined with inns. If someone who didn't know the way asked where a certain inn was, people would point to the alley and say, "The inn is in that alley." That's how Inn Alley became famous.

Inn Alley had at least eight or nine inns, with Dongsheng Inn being the largest, boasting seven storefronts and several courtyards. Not only were the rooms and hospitality excellent, but the magnificent Dongsheng Hall in front offered even better food and drinks. Even non-guests would come here for a drink. If the West Gate was the most bustling part of the city, then Inn Alley was the most bustling place within it. It was said that only when Dongsheng Inn was fully booked could the other inns get a table, but the other inns were always full. Naturally, its competitors were envious, but the owner of Dongsheng Inn was a shrewd and influential figure, well-connected not only in Rehe but also in official circles. He had connections with various government offices, including the Rehe Governor's Office, the Daotai Office, and the Imperial Guard, and it was said he even had powerful backers in the capital.

Logically, such a wealthy and powerful figure should have been a household name in Rehe, but strangely, even the people at the Dongsheng Inn knew nothing about him except that their owner's surname was Qian. Owner Qian seemed to be a mysterious figure, and few people had ever seen him. Some speculated that the Dongsheng Inn was owned by a powerful minister in the capital, and that Owner Qian was merely a servant in his household. Of course, this was just speculation, and no one could confirm it.

At noon that day, a purplish-faced man arrived at the Dongsheng Inn. Judging by his age, he was about twenty-three or twenty-four, wearing a faded blue cloth robe, but the blue-maned horse he rode was quite magnificent, clearly indicating he was a江湖 (jianghu, a world of martial arts and chivalry) person. The servant at the door took the horse, and an innkeeper greeted him with a smile, "Sir, would you like to stay the night or just have a meal and rest?"

The purple-faced man replied, "Sir, stay the night."

The innkeeper quickly clasped his hands and said, "Please come in

, sir." The purple-faced man stepped into the inn, and the innkeeper asked again, "Sir, would you like a superior room or a regular room?"

The purple-faced man replied, "A superior room."

Hearing that he wanted a superior room, the innkeeper's smile deepened, and he bowed and replied, "Yes, sir," while saying with a smile, "What is your honorable name, sir, and where are you from?"

The purple-faced man said angrily, "Do I need to give my name and origin to stay at an inn?"

The innkeeper quickly smiled and said, "Sir, please don't misunderstand. This is a notice issued by the government last night. All travelers staying at the inn must fill in their name and origin. This is done every autumn during the hunt. Regular customers know this. Is this your first time in Rehe?"

"I see." The purple-faced man looked relieved, then said, "Alright, my name is Lin Ziqing, from Jiangnan. Is this enough?"

The innkeeper smiled obsequiously, "You're too kind, sir. This is just formality; we're all just going through the motions. Please follow me." With that, he led Lin Ziqing towards the superior room. The superior room at Dongsheng Inn truly deserved to be called a first-class room. It was spacious, bright, clean, and elegantly furnished, with brand-new bedding on the couch.

The innkeeper smiled obsequiously, "Is the room satisfactory, sir?" Lin Ziqing nodded and stepped inside.

The innkeeper immediately brewed a pot of fragrant tea and brought it over, asking, "Is there anything else you require, sir?"

Lin Ziqing took a sip of tea, shook his head, and said, "No, nothing else." The innkeeper withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Lin Ziqing lay on the couch for a while, then opened the door and went out, slowly walking into Dongsheng Tower. After ordering wine and dishes and having lunch, he asked the counter for directions to Jixiang Street, then gracefully left. Jixiang Street was nearing Xiaonanmen, a relatively quiet area. Aside from a bookstore and a general store, there were no other shops on the entire street. Lin Ziqing had already inquired beforehand, so this wasn't unexpected. He deliberately pretended to search around before finally stepping into the bookstore and bowing to an elderly man who appeared to be the shopkeeper, saying, "Greetings, sir."

The old man was smoking a pipe in a rattan chair near the entrance. He looked up at Lin Ziqing and smiled, asking, "What kind of book would you like to buy, sir?"

Lin Ziqing replied, "I'm not here to buy a book. I'd like to ask you, sir, where did the Zhenyuan Escort Agency, which used to be on this street, move to?"

The old man glanced at him again and said, "Sir, you've probably just arrived in Rehe, haven't you? The Zhenyuan Escort Agency has closed down."

Lin Ziqing was slightly surprised and said, "The Zhenyuan Escort Agency has closed down??"

The old man said, "This happened two months ago. After the old head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) Lin Changqing passed away, the镖局 (escort agency) closed down." Lin Changqing, known as Tiger Whip Dragon Claw, was a renowned figure in the five northern provinces

. The Zhenyuan镖局's Dragon and Tiger Banner had traveled far beyond the Great Wall for thirty years without a single mishap. Lin Ziqing looked somewhat disappointed, cupped his hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, sir." He turned and walked away.

For two days, Lin Ziqing stayed at the inn. With nothing to do, he wandered around the streets. On the afternoon of the third day, he returned to the inn. As soon as he entered, a waiter greeted him with a smile, "Master Lin, this morning a Mr. Ren came looking for you. I told him you were out, and Mr. Ren said he would come back this afternoon..."

Lin Ziqing found this strange; he had no acquaintances in Rehe, let alone friends with the surname Ren. He immediately asked, "Did he say his name?"

The waiter replied, "No, Mr. Ren only said he was a friend of yours. "

Lin Ziqing pondered, "Strange, I don't have any friends here with the surname Ren." The

shopkeeper smiled and said, "Perhaps you've forgotten, but luckily he said he'd come again this afternoon."

Lin Ziqing casually replied and slowly returned to his room. The shopkeeper brewed him a pot of hot tea and brought it to him before leaving. Lin Ziqing didn't know who this Mr. Ren was, or what he wanted from him. He poured himself a cup of tea and had just sat down by the window when he heard a light knock on the door. The door opened, and the shopkeeper poked his head in, smiling, "Master Lin, Mr. Ren has come to see you again."

Lin Ziqing stood up, and then heard the shopkeeper's voice at the door say, "Mr. Ren, please come in."

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