【The Secret History of the Martial Arts World: The Lingering Fragrance of Heroism】(Complete)

Prologue I galloped anxiously along the official road, whipping my mount relentlessly 　　, the scenery flashing past on either side. "Clawed Yellow Lightning" was my most beloved horse, said to be a descendant of a famous breed from Ferghana. A year ago
,
I bought it from a Western Region merchant for a hefty sum, and I never let it suffer the slightest hardship. But now I had ridden it all night, covering nearly two hundred li, without letting it rest for a moment, and I myself hadn't eaten or drunk a drop of water.
A bright red sun had already risen, its dazzling light almost blinding me. Pedestrians were gradually appearing on the road, and farmers were already working in the paddy fields beside the road. The gentle morning breeze stung my face. My mouth was dry, my throat felt like it was on fire. But I couldn't care less; I whipped my mount a few times, spurred it on, and continued galloping against the wind.
After several li, I turned onto a side road in the woods to the left.
This road was rarely traveled, and its surface was quite uneven. I spurred my horse, and Zhaohuang Feidian's speed increased rather than decreased. We passed through the woods and rounded a small hill, where we could see a small manor nestled on the hillside in the distance.
The manor had blue bricks and gray tiles, and the gate was half-open. A servant in a blue robe and hat was sweeping outside the gate. Hearing the sound of hooves, he turned to look, but I had already rushed up to him without hesitation. Seeing it was me, he hurriedly came to greet me, respectfully calling out, "Fifth Master."
When we were still a few feet away from the gate, Zhaohuang Feidian suddenly buckled in its forelegs, let out a mournful whinny, and collapsed from exhaustion. I pushed off with both feet, dismounting before my beloved horse fell, and leaped through the gate.
I lightly touched the steps with my toes, vaulted over the screen wall, and then, with another light touch, swept across a large open space, landing in front of the main hall. Several busy servants looked at me in surprise, but there was no time for them. I used my agility, leaping and bounding through the courtyards with practiced ease, landing in front of a secluded courtyard.
"I hope I can still make it in time," I prayed silently.
Before me stood a small courtyard with a bamboo gate and fence. The gate was tightly shut, and through a crack in the gate, I could vaguely see a small house inside.
I couldn't wait to knock; I leaped over the fence and rushed to the door. From yesterday evening until now, I hadn't had a moment's respite. Standing at the door
, my mouth was dry, and my heart was pounding uncontrollably, as if it would burst out of my chest. After catching my breath, I managed to calm myself, focusing my attention on my ears. The house was completely silent; through the bamboo gate, I could almost feel a chilling cold. My heart sank immediately, and a sudden, inexplicable fear gripped me. I suddenly wished I wasn't here.
"Maybe nothing will happen," I told myself, shaking my head to dispel the thoughts, and with a determined bite, I pushed the door open…
But it had happened anyway; everything was irreversible. The approaching footsteps and commotion outside grew louder. I stood there, my mind blank, my hands trembling uncontrollably. After rushing all the way, I was unbearably hot, large beads of sweat rolling down my forehead, some running into my eyes, then sliding down my cheeks and into the corners of my mouth, tasting bitter and salty, indistinguishable as sweat or tears.
"There's nothing left to do," I thought, staring blankly at the corpse on the ground. (I) I stood beside the long table, looking at the corpse resting on it, my heart filled with a mixture of
grief
,
anger
, and guilt—an indescribable feeling.
To my left was a burly man dressed as a monk, with long, flowing hair and a crescent-shaped headband on his forehead. He was robust, broad-shouldered and thick-backed, every joint of his limbs larger than an average person's. He clenched his fists tightly, making a cracking sound, and glared at me fiercely, his face contorted with rage, even the scar on his forehead twisted in anger.
He was one of my sworn brothers, surnamed Lu. Although he looked fierce, he was a man who hated evil, possessed exceptional martial arts skills, and wielded two monk's knives—quite formidable. Because of his fiery temper, he was nicknamed "Fiery Monk" by people in the martial arts world, and his Buddhist name gradually faded into obscurity.
To my right stood a young man in his mid-twenties, dressed in Confucian robes, with a square face, slightly dark skin, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, which were now red and swollen.
This young man was my other sworn brother, Ge Zhiping, known in the martial arts world as "The Swordsman." Skilled swordsmen dressed as scholars usually preferred elegant weapons like swords, fans, or judge's pens, but my sixth brother carried a thick-backed single-edged sword, hence his nickname. He was usually simple and upright, though often a bit bookish.
Opposite us stood two men. One was unremarkable, with a mustache, examining a corpse on the table.
This man, surnamed Lai, was a renowned coroner in the Jiangnan government, highly experienced. The other was short and stocky, his thin face showing not only grief and exhaustion but also a resolute expression. He is our third brother, Meng Huaiyuan, wielding a pair of iron pens, his acupressure skills unparalleled in Jiangnan, earning him the title of "Judge of Life and Death" in the martial arts world.
On the table lies the corpse of a middle-aged man, our sworn brother, "Heroic and Benevolent" Lu Tianfeng. He was highly skilled in martial arts, honest, and humble, and extremely popular in the martial arts world.
Second Hero Lu Tianfeng, Third Hero Meng Huaiyuan, Fourth Hero Lu Toutuo, Sixth Hero Ge Zhiping, plus myself, "Wandering Dragon Swordsman"
Feng Yuxuan, and our eldest brother "Sick Hero" Long Fei, and our seventh sister "Jade Maiden Swordsman" Liu Suhong—the seven of us share the same ideals and are loyal to each other. We swore an oath of brotherhood, becoming sworn siblings, promising to live and die together, share joys and sorrows, and together roam the martial arts world, upholding justice and helping the needy. Because we all lived in Jiangnan, over time, the martial arts world called us the "Seven Heroes of Jiangnan."
After a long while, the coroner finally raised his head and let out a long sigh. Fourth Brother, Fire Monk, being the most impatient, spoke first, asking, "Mr. Lai, how exactly was my Second Brother Lu murdered! Have you discovered anything?" Mr. Lai nodded, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to us brothers, coughed lightly, and was about to speak when he suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on the doorway.
I turned around and saw two young women standing at the door. The one on the left was dressed simply and lightly made up, with a delicate and refined beauty, appearing frail and pitiful, though her eyes were red and swollen, and tear stains remained on her jade-like face. The woman on the right was dressed in a light blue outfit, slender and athletic, with willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes that exuded a heroic spirit, her eyes also red, clearly having just cried.
She carefully helped the woman on the left through the door. We quickly stood up and bowed. Third Brother Meng, with a solemn expression, said to the woman on the left, "Second Sister-in-law, you should rest well in the inner courtyard. We brothers are here; why did you have to come here yourself? Seventh Sister, why didn't you try to persuade Second Sister-in-law?" The last sentence was addressed to the woman on the right.
The woman on the left is my second sister-in-law, Fang Wanyue. She was originally from an official family. Two years ago, her father resigned his post and was attacked by bandits on his way home; her entire family was killed. My
second brother, Lu Tianfeng, happened to be passing by and rescued her, avenging her family. To repay this debt, Fang Wanyue wanted to marry him. Lu Tianfeng, however, had only acted out of chivalry, not out of a desire for repayment. Furthermore, given the significant age difference—he was over twenty years older than her—he resolutely refused. But Fang Wanyue was now alone and destitute; without someone to rely on, she feared only suicide.
Therefore, Lu Tianfeng had no choice but to let her stay at his home temporarily while he searched for a place for her to stay. Fang Wanyue had no relatives or friends in her hometown. After nearly a year of searching, he found no place for her except at his home. During that year, she lived at his house, and the two fell in love. My second brother, Lu, was a humble and kind man who, because of his passion for martial arts, had never married. Fang Wanyue, out of gratitude and moved by her second brother's honesty, finally married him.
Fang Wanyue first gave us a deep bow, then gently parted her lips and said, "Uncle Meng, please don't blame Sister Liu Qi. It was I who insisted on coming to the front. Half a month ago, I went to the ancestral home to sweep the tombs, but because my second brother was in seclusion to practice his martial arts, I didn't go with him. Yesterday, when I came back and asked, the servants said that my second brother had been practicing the art of fasting for the past three days and couldn't be disturbed. He was supposed to come out of seclusion this morning. I never expected that he... he would actually..."
As she spoke, her voice choked with sobs. She wiped her eyes and continued, "With my second brother's passing, all the uncles and Mr. Lai are here working tirelessly to plan and capture the murderer. Wanyue only regrets that she is too weak to fight like Sister Suhong. If I were still sitting peacefully in the inner courtyard, how could I bear it?" After saying this, she looked at Lu Erge's corpse, tears welling up in her eyes.
A deathly silence fell over the room. After a long while, Meng Sange broke the silence, saying, "Since that's the case, Second Sister-in-law, why don't you sit down and listen to Mr. Lai's findings?" He then turned to Mr. Lai, saying, "
Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Lai." Seeing that no one else had any objections, the coroner cleared his throat and said, "Alright, then I'll venture to offer my humble opinion for everyone's consideration. When Lu Erxia died, he had no other injuries on his body. The only fatal wound was a steel needle inserted into the Yuzhen acupoint at the back of his head. Please take a look." He then took a plate and passed it around to everyone.
When it reached me, I saw a steel needle about six inches long on the plate, its shaft black and smooth, stained with dark red blood. I glanced at my delicate Second Sister-in-law beside me, hesitating whether I should pass it to her. "Fifth Uncle, I'm fine." I hadn't expected my Second Sister-in-law to see through my thoughts. My face flushed, and I handed her the plate. Wanyue gave me a grateful smile and, together with Seventh Sister beside her, examined the steel needle.
Second Sister-in-law Wanyue was indeed strong. Upon seeing the murder weapon, aside from a slight pallor, she showed no sign of fear.
Seventh Sister, standing beside her, was accustomed to seeing bloodshed and remained composed.
After examining it for a while, Seventh Sister Liu raised her head and asked, "Mr. Lai, I see that this iron needle is unmarked and unremarkable. I'm afraid we can't find any clues about the murderer from it." These words echoed my own thoughts.
Coroner Lai nodded and replied, "That's right. We can't really tell anything from this needle alone. However, it penetrated four and a half inches into Lu Erxia's skull, indicating the murderer either possessed extremely high-level manual skills or used a powerful mechanism. Furthermore, based on the temperature of Lu Erxia's body, the degree of rigor mortis, and the coagulation of the blood clots in the wounds, by the time Feng Wuxia arrived this morning, Lu Erxia had already been murdered for at least a day and a night. Even if Feng Wuxia had arrived a few hours earlier, it wouldn't have made a difference, so there's no need to blame yourself too much."
Hearing Coroner Lai's words, I felt the heavy burden of guilt weighing on my heart lighten considerably.
After seeing Coroner Lai off, I persuaded my sister-in-law to go back to her room to rest. The five of us gathered in the room where Second Brother was murdered. Third Brother Meng looked around the room and calmly said, "Judging from how neatly the room is furnished, the murderer probably didn't give Second Brother a chance to fight back."
"Impossible. In the martial arts world today, even if the leaders of Shaolin and Wudang came together, there's absolutely no way they could defeat Second Brother in a single encounter," Sixth Brother Ge blurted out.
"If it wasn't a direct confrontation, then the murderer must have ambushed us..." I recalled the situation when we found Second Brother's body. "But Second Brother's body was in a very natural state, and his expression was very peaceful, as if he had never noticed the murderer's presence,"
Third Brother Meng interjected. "That's right. With Second Brother's skills, theoretically, nothing within seven zhang (approximately 33 meters) should escape his senses. There's only one explanation," he turned and stared intently at the half-open window, "the murderer launched a hidden weapon from seven zhang away."
"A steel needle shot from seven zhang away, penetrating more than four inches into the skull—who in the martial arts world has such strength?" Seventh Sister Su Hong asked.
"Cao Xiong, it must be Cao Xiong!" The moment I finished speaking, a gasp escaped from the room.
I calmed myself and recalled yesterday's events. Yesterday afternoon, I was in my study copying the newly acquired painting, "Bamboo Mountain in Misty Rain," when Zheng Lin, the leader of the Beggars' Sect's Zhenjiang branch, came to see me in a great hurry.
Zheng Lin was an outstanding figure among the younger generation of the Beggars' Sect, a direct disciple of the sect's main hall. He was known for his public-spiritedness and generosity; barely in his thirties, he already owned seven cloth bags and had risen to the position of branch leader in the important city of Zhenjiang—truly a man of great potential. We had weathered many storms together before, so we had always maintained a good relationship.
It turned out that one of Zheng Lin's beggars had inadvertently received information that several enemies who had clashed with our Seven Heroes had joined forces to seek revenge. These men were remnants of the underworld, some quite formidable, and their leader was Cao Xiong.
Cao Xiong, the "Soul-Chasing Sword," was originally a powerful figure in the Jiangnan underworld, ruthless and cunning, practically ruling the region. To build his own villa, he forcibly seized land from fishermen in a fishing village in Xiangyang, committing dozens of murders in the process.
Our eldest brother, the Sickly Hero Long Fei, learned of this and, together with the Seven Heroes, confronted him. After a fierce battle, Cao Xiong's power crumbled. He fought my eldest brother Long Fei on the summit of Yandang Mountain, and after three hundred moves, he was knocked into a ravine, his fate unknown ever since.
His swordsmanship was truly formidable, and he was skilled in using golden darts to strike pressure points; even with my eldest brother's martial arts, he only narrowly won.
"Is Cao Xiong still alive?"
"Impossible! He took a devastating blow from my eldest brother's Heaven-Shaking Palm and fell dozens of feet into Eagle's Sorrow Ravine. How could he not die?"
"Perhaps he's not dead. After all, we didn't find a body for thirty miles upstream and downstream."
"He must be dead. Otherwise, why didn't he show up when his brothers and family were being hunted down by enemies?"
"Alright, let's hear what Fifth Brother has to say first," Third Brother stopped everyone.
I cleared my throat and continued, "I had Zheng Lin gather more information and send warnings to everyone, then rushed over to inform Second Brother overnight. But I was still too late..." Thinking of Second Brother's tragic death, I couldn't continue.
Third Brother patted my shoulder comfortingly, "Don't blame yourself anymore, you've done your best."
"Yes, Fifth Brother, let's work together to avenge Second Brother. Don't be too sad, be careful not to hurt yourself," Seventh Sister softly advised me from the side. Fourth
Brother, Fire-Headed Monk, suddenly jumped up and punched the pearwood table beside him. With a "bang," the table shattered into pieces. He roared, "These bastards! I'll go kill them right now to avenge Second Brother!" Without waiting for our reply, he strode towards the door.
He had just reached the door when a figure flashed by, and Meng Sange blocked his way, saying in a deep voice, "Where are you going?
The enemy is hiding in the shadows, how are you going to find them?"
With a "bang," Fourth Brother, Huo Toutuo, slammed his right fist into his left palm, angrily shouting, "Then what are you going to do? Are we all just going to sit here and stare? Those bastards are probably long gone by now."
Sixth Brother chimed in, "We don't even know where Big Brother is now, we should notify him immediately."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, and no one spoke.
Our leader of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, the Sickly Hero Long Fei, was a chivalrous man with unparalleled martial arts skills, but his whereabouts were unpredictable, and we rarely saw him even a few times a year. Two months ago, he sent us a message through a Beggar Clan disciple, telling us about his current situation, and then we never heard from him again, not even attending our annual gathering at Yuntai Mountain.
Meng Sange's expression was serious as he slowly said, "I suppose Big Brother encountered some injustice somewhere and couldn't resist getting involved, which caused the delay. We'll leave some emergency contact signals when we pass through major cities and thoroughfares, hoping he can meet up with us as soon as possible." He paused, then continued, "The most important thing now is to find out where Zheng Lin got his information and if there are any other clues. Tomorrow, we'll first survey the area to see if there's anything suspicious, and then head to Zhenjiang to see Zheng Lin as soon as possible."
I silently weighed the strengths of our forces. Our biggest disadvantage was that the enemy was in the shadows while we were in the open, giving them the upper hand. However, Zheng Lin was on good terms with us and was also the leader of a branch of the Beggars' Sect, so we could leverage his strength.
The Beggars' Sect had thousands of disciples, and their ability to gather intelligence and transmit messages was unparalleled. With their help, finding our hidden enemy shouldn't be a problem.
After everyone finished their discussion, my third brother, Meng Huaiyuan, my fourth brother, Huo Toutuo, and my sixth brother, Ge Zhiping, went to nearby towns early the next morning to investigate clues about the murderer before heading to Zhenjiang. I stayed behind to help my second sister-in-law with the funeral arrangements.
"Why do I have to stay?" I protested after hearing my third brother's arrangement.
His answer was simple: of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, my eldest, third, and fourth brothers were all single and homeless. My sixth brother and seventh sister were both orphans, betrothed since childhood, and only married half a year ago. Only my family had been running a pharmacy for generations. The Feng family's "Bai Cao Tang" was famous throughout Jiangnan, and three years ago, we had also taken over another famous pharmacy, "Hui Chun Zhai." I am the only son in my family, orphaned, and considered a wealthy young man. Moreover, my home is only a few days' journey from here, making travel convenient. Therefore, it was my duty to temporarily care for my second sister-in-law.
However, I am not yet married, and there are rumors circulating in the martial arts world that I frequent brothels and indulge in womanizing. My second sister-in-law is a newly widowed woman, and to avoid suspicion, my seventh sister also stayed to help me.
According to Brother Meng, revenge is of utmost importance, and my second brother's body can be properly buried after we retrieve the enemy's head.
But my second sister-in-law cannot stay here any longer. Without my second brother, and without martial arts skills, she would be helpless even against a few petty thieves, let alone enemies.
Fang Wanyue initially didn't want to leave, but after being persuaded by Brother Meng, she finally agreed to stay with me temporarily.
Brother Lu dismissed everyone except for one or two maids to care for my second sister-in-law and an old servant to look after the property. Then we packed our valuables, dealt with the heavy furniture and land deeds, and prepared to leave. This whole ordeal took us two or three days.
**********
...

I caressed her soft, tender skin with abandon, and the woman responded passionately to my skillful teasing, her delicate lips emitting soft "mmm" and "hum" sounds. I leaned close to her ear and whispered teasingly, "Little vixen, you can't resist wanting it again, can you? You're not even wearing underwear, aren't you afraid someone will see you like this?"
Hearing my words, the woman only let out two coquettish moans, but her arms tightly wrapped around my waist and back, her whole body pressing closer to my embrace. Although I couldn't see her face, I imagined that her pretty face must be as red and alluring as a ripe apple. I led her into the house, closed the door behind me, and quickly removed her clothes with my hands, while her small hands also instinctively helped me undress.
In a short while, we were both naked, and in the faint moonlight shining through the window, her snow-white body looked seductive and alluring, and her usually spirited face was now flushed.
"Su Hong," I whispered her name, "You look so beautiful today." One hand touched her breasts, those two firm, elastic mounds already swollen and hard, and I kneaded them carefully. My other hand, however, explored down to her secret place, which was already soaking wet, the lush pubic hair clinging obediently to the slightly raised mons pubis.
My fingers slipped into her lower mouth, probing and digging, each movement drawing out a sticky, lustful fluid.
"Don't say anything... Ah, there, right there, again... again..." The moan suddenly stopped as my lips captured her cherry lips, kissing her passionately, her fragrant tongue eagerly responding.
Under my three-pronged assault, the woman in my arms gasped for breath, only able to utter soft, nasal "hum, um" sounds, tender and alluring.
I kissed her until she was almost breathless before letting go, and she was already overcome with desire, squirming and rubbing against me. My lower body was already rock hard, and her soft little hands had somehow grasped it and were stroking it up and down.
I sighed comfortably and whispered, "Your technique has improved again, so how should I reward you?" As I spoke, I parted her smooth legs, and my erect penis approached the source of her flowing stream, the hot, red glans constantly touching the tender flesh of her jade-like labia.
As if unable to withstand such stimulation, her whole body seemed to tremble, and she gasped, "Yu Xuan, don't, don't tease me, I want... I want it, oh, oh... faster, faster..." Even in the darkness, I could feel the burning desire in her eyes.
I thrust hard, my lower body accurately entering her body, feeling the familiar warmth, tightness, and moisture. Although it was already well lubricated inside, my penetration was still quite difficult. When my penis finally reached its hilt, I heard her let out a long, satisfied sigh. Then I gripped her soft, slender waist with both hands, and her legs wrapped around my waist. I sat on the edge of the bed, holding her like this, and began to thrust gently.
At first, my movements were slow, alternating between nine shallow thrusts followed by one deep one, or eight shallow thrusts followed by two deep ones, and occasionally rubbing against her clitoris. She was thoroughly enjoying herself, moaning softly with my rhythm, making soft "ee" and "ah" sounds.
Her body was hot, pressing tightly against mine, rubbing against me as if trying to melt into me.
Her full, elastic breasts were pressed between us, and under the pressure, they even deformed slightly, her two hard, pebble-like nipples swirling against my chest.
I gradually increased the speed and depth of my thrusts, reaching the very end each time. She was burning hot down there, every fold of her skin seemed alive, tightly wrapped around my penis, the heat seeming to melt my lower body.
"Ah... ah... oh ah..." Her breathing became rapid, and she couldn't help but let out a soft, seductive moan. Although she tried to keep her voice down, in the quiet of the night, her tender voice echoed in the room, particularly alluring.
I thrust harder, then leaned close to her ear, teasing her, "What are you afraid of? Are you worried about disturbing them and seeing you in such a wanton state?"
Su Hong was both ashamed and anxious, muttering, "No, no, I... ah... ah... when I came out... I looked carefully, they... were all... fast asleep, ah... ah..." Although she said this, she was still guilty, and in the heat of passion, she couldn't help but try to look back to see if anyone was watching her.
I took the opportunity to thrust a few times, and she was caught off guard, her body trembling violently. She could no longer suppress her cries, and
her "oh, ah" became high-pitched. This cry was like a river bursting its banks, flowing uncontrollably. Her private parts tightened suddenly, gripping my penis tightly.
I moved more and more urgently, each thrust seeming to penetrate deeper. Listening to her loud, unrestrained moans, I felt a surge of triumph.
I lowered my head and took her swollen nipple into my mouth, sucking and biting it. The feeling of sucking on that fleshy grape was wonderful; I almost wanted to bite through the tender skin and suck out the delicious milk inside. Her nipple must have been incredibly sensitive now, because as soon as I bit it, her whole body tensed up, writhing and twisting, as if she were actively rubbing against my lower body, an incomparably pleasurable feeling spreading throughout her body.
Under my double assault from above and below, she soon collapsed, her limbs wrapping around me like an octopus, her insides burning hot, tightly constricting my penis with a force that seemed to want to break it. Then, her body suddenly paused, and a large gush of cool, vaginal fluid gushed out from deep within her, pouring directly onto my glans.
I jolted, seeing that I was about to reach orgasm, and after another twenty or thirty thrusts, my ejaculation came, and I ejaculated in a torrent. She had just climaxed when my hot, urgent semen shot right into her clitoris. "I...I...it's coming again...ah..." she cried out ecstatically, losing control again. Then her body went still, like a corpse, and it took her a long time to recover.
After the climax, we didn't speak, just quietly held each other, enjoying the afterglow of the pleasure. My fingers unconsciously played with her long, thick, black hair, twirling a strand around my fingers. She nestled in my arms, her arms tightly wrapped around my neck. Suddenly, I felt a chill on my bare shoulder, and drops of cold liquid dripped down my shoulder and rolled onto my chest, sliding down our pressed skin.
"You're crying." I gently pulled her body away, cupped her delicate face, and watched the tears flow from her smooth face into my hands. I asked softly, my heart aching, "Did I hurt you just now?"
Su Hong shook her head and whispered, "Yu Xuan, I... am I a slut? Second Brother just died, his body is still warm, and as soon as Sixth Brother isn't by my side, I... I couldn't help myself..." Before she could finish, her voice choked again.
My heart ached at her words. I covered her cherry lips and cut her off, "No, it's all my fault. I seduced you from the beginning. It's all my fault. But we truly love each other. If Second Brother knew in the afterlife, he would surely forgive us. Don't worry, I will definitely catch the murderer, tear him apart, and avenge Second Brother." Hearing my words, Su Hong's emotions gradually calmed down, and she quietly nestled in my arms again. When I woke up in the morning, the beauty beside me was gone, leaving only a faint fragrance to prove that what happened last night was not a dream.
(
II)
We packed our luggage and set off. Su Hong and Wan Yue rode in one carriage, and I escorted them on horseback. We traveled cautiously, riding at breakneck speed, not daring to linger for fear of any mishap.
Thankfully, the journey was uneventful. With Zhenjiang just ahead, I felt a growing unease, and the atmosphere around me seemed off. On the surface, everything appeared normal, but I could sense a tension in the air.
Upon entering Zhenjiang, I realized something was truly amiss. The streets were still bustling, teeming with traffic, and pedestrians and street vendors all wore smiles and appeared friendly.
However, upon closer inspection, I noticed that many, though smiling, had eyes that scrutinized others as if interrogating criminals. Even stranger, there were many more beggars in the city than before, and most lacked any pitiful expression of pleading. Their eyes gleamed with a shrewdness, making them look more like disguised officials than beggars.
Although I was filled with questions, we were almost home, so I didn't dwell on it. Turning a corner, at the end of the bluestone-paved road ahead, there stands a grand mansion with flying beams and double eaves, and a black gate. Above the gate hangs a large vermilion plaque with four powerful characters: "Bai Cao Tang Feng".
As soon as I entered the house, I saw my sixth brother, Ge Zhiping, looking extremely anxious. He came out from the inner courtyard, pulled me aside, and whispered in my ear, "Fifth Brother, Zheng Lin is dead."
"Ah!" A thousand thoughts flashed through my mind. I grabbed his arm and asked urgently, "How could this happen? Who did it?"
Before my sixth brother could answer, a servant ran over, looking troubled, and reported to me, "Young Master, there are some beggar-like people outside who say they have something extremely important to discuss and are insisting on seeing you."
"Beggars? Could it be the Beggars' Clan?" My sixth brother and I exchanged a glance and ordered, "Quickly, invite them in."
When Zheng Lin used to drink with me, he often lamented that the Beggars' Clan was now in decline, gradually losing its former tight organization and efficiency. Since the great battle between good and evil forty years ago, the members had lived in peace for too long and were probably no longer able to cope with the unpredictable world of martial arts. At that time, I laughed at him for worrying unnecessarily, but today I realized it was indeed true.
There were about a dozen people of varying heights and builds sitting opposite us, each carrying five or six burlap sacks on their backs. After a brief introduction, it turned out they were all skilled fighters from various branch headquarters near Zhenjiang, holding positions of either branch leader or deputy leader. With so many people gathered together, there wasn't even a leader; five or six people would start talking at once, asking completely unrelated questions.
I patiently answered their questions one by one, my mind still preoccupied with Zheng Lin's matter. The sixth brother, however, couldn't sit still any longer. "Gentlemen, didn't my third brother already answer these questions last time? Why are you asking them again today? Do you think the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan would lie to you? Do you think my third brother, Meng Huaiyuan, the Judge of Life and Death, is just talking nonsense?!"
A moment of silence followed, until finally an old man replied somewhat awkwardly, "Sixth Hero Ge, please don't blame us for being nosy, but this matter is of utmost importance. Five days ago, Chief Zheng was attacked during a gathering with his gang members at the City God Temple in the west of the city. All thirty-two of our gang's core disciples from Zhenjiang who were present were killed. What's even more terrifying is that, regardless of their martial arts skills, they all had only one fatal wound."
"Five days ago?" My heart skipped a beat. Wasn't that the very night I arrived at my second brother's manor? I didn't expect them to act so quickly and ruthlessly...
"If we confirm that it was indeed Cao Xiong who did it, we can formulate a countermeasure as soon as possible," a Beggar Clan disciple chimed in. "
Formulate a countermeasure?" I wanted to laugh when I heard that. "Back then, Cao Xiong was a tyrant, where was your Beggars' Clan? Weren't you forced to retreat at every turn?"
But these were thoughts I could only keep to myself. I bowed to them and said sorrowfully, "Gentlemen, Brother Zheng and I are best friends. His misfortune has deeply saddened me, and I wish I could immediately find the murderer and tear him to
pieces to avenge Brother Zheng. I've heard you all speak with my third brother, and I've only just returned from abroad, so my knowledge is limited. Since these bandits are targeting the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, and my second brother and Brother Zheng have both been killed, our two families should now unite against this common enemy. What do you all think?"
Unexpectedly, the entire room fell silent again. The leaders who had been so eloquent just moments before all kept their lips tightly shut. Some lowered their heads in silence, some stared intently at the roof beams, and others gulped down their tea. Seeing this scene, my heart sank.
After a long pause, someone finally spoke up: "This...this matter of joining forces, perhaps we can discuss it another day. I heard that Madam Lu also returned with Fifth Master Feng, could we ask her to come out and meet us?"
Sixth Brother Ge Zhiping could no longer contain himself, slamming his hand on the table and angrily saying, "You guys are going too far!"
****************************************************************************************
After seeing the Beggars' Sect group off, I turned back to Sixth Brother and smiled, "It's been a long time since I've seen you so angry, it startled me."
"They've gone too far, what do they take us for? Like interrogating criminals. Moreover, such a large gang, without any unification, each going their own way, is simply a disorganized mess. Now they even dare to make such an unreasonable request as to see Second Sister-in-law," he said bitterly.
Sixth Brother is still a bit too inexperienced. The Beggars' Sect has enjoyed a period of peace for the past two years, and these people, backed by powerful figures, have naturally become arrogant and domineering. However, with such prolonged peace, they haven't had many opportunities to prove themselves.
I heard there are currently vacancies among the elders of the Beggars' Sect's Jiangnan branch. It seems these branch leaders have already calculated that whoever makes a significant contribution in this incident will have a huge advantage in the competition for elder positions. Judging from this, they're probably wary of each other, so how could they possibly cooperate wholeheartedly? Just
as I was about to voice my thoughts, a servant reported that more than a dozen guests had arrived. I opened the name cards, and Sixth Brother leaned over, "Ah, these are all local bigwigs from Zhenjiang."
Indeed. They were the owner of Zhenjiang's largest carriage company, the owners and chief escorts of the three major escort agencies, the owners of several large inns, the heads of several famous martial arts schools, and two other local celebrities and gentry.
"What are these people doing here?" Sixth Brother was a bit confused. "Are they here to mourn Second Brother?"
"Let's hear what they have to say." I could already guess their intentions.
As expected, after a few brief pleasantries, they immediately got to the point.
"Master Feng, even if we're not close friends, we're still connected by our roots. Please, no matter what, help us."
"Revenge is a common occurrence in the martial world, we understand that, but the Beggars' Clan has really gone too far."
"Young Master, those beggars come three or four times a day, glaring at our customers. How are we supposed to do business like this?"
"Fifth Hero Feng, for the sake of our hometown, you have to lend a hand. Only your name can make these beggars behave themselves."
"It's not that we don't want to help them, but the way they're doing things, our brothers won't accept it."
It seemed these Beggars' Clan disciples were resorting to any means to gain credit, and they hadn't missed any profession or person in Zhenjiang even remotely connected to the martial world. The situation is vastly different from what we initially envisioned. The overnight murder of Zheng Lin and over thirty of his core disciples has virtually paralyzed the Beggars' Sect's Zhenjiang branch. After all, Beggars' Sect disciples from out of town can't fully grasp the local situation in such a short time.
Cao Xiong has been missing since his defeat by our elder brother three years ago. He didn't even offer help to his surviving brothers and relatives when they were being hunted by enemies, suggesting that even if he has followers, they wouldn't be many. Now, Jiangnan is full of his enemies, and I doubt he'll openly seek revenge.
Given his experience and cunning, this revenge will undoubtedly be meticulously planned, and he's likely deeply entrenched, making it difficult to uncover clues so easily. With Zheng Lin dead, our only chance to gain the upper hand now lies in the full cooperation of the local strongmen in Zhenjiang.
Having made up my mind, I offered them kind words and agreed to their request, promising to mediate with the Beggars' Sect. After seeing them off, I returned to the hall and saw my third and fourth brothers sitting there. I quickly went up to greet them, "Third and fourth brothers, when did you arrive?"
"Just when those people were complaining to you," my third brother said, his thin face showing approval. "Fifth brother, you handled it very well. I also think the Beggars' Clan has been completely out of their minds these past few days. If things continue like this, they'll offend everyone."
"Don't worry, I'll find a way to reconcile the relationship between the Beggars' Clan and them. Only by working together can we achieve great things." I agreed, and casually asked, "Has there been any news from eldest brother yet?"
My third brother's expression darkened. "No, just now, my fourth brother and I left emergency signals at various intersections in the suburbs. We hope eldest brother will see them and come as soon as possible."
Everyone fell silent. Such a long period of silence was not like eldest brother's style. We all knew that, in terms of martial arts alone, there were only one or two people in Jiangnan who could surpass him, and eldest brother was one of them. Cao Xiong had only lost one match since his debut, the one against eldest brother, Long Fei. Even if his martial arts skills have declined in the past two years, he probably wouldn't be someone I could easily handle.
"It's getting late. You've protected Second Sister-in-law and the others on their way back; you must be tired. You should rest early. Someone's waiting for you
in your room," Third Brother patted me understandingly. "Yes, Fifth Brother, that girl has been waiting for you very long," even the usually honest Sixth Brother chimed in with a sly smile.
"Isn't it the same for you and Seventh Sister?" I replied casually, then suddenly remembered how Seventh Sister had been intimate with me a few days ago, feeling a little guilty and ashamed. Before I could finish speaking, a servant came to report, "Gu Changfeng, the Chief Constable of
Zhenjiang
Prefecture, has come to visit." ********** ... Passing through the courtyard gate, only the paper window of the main house in front of me still shone with light. Pushing open the door, I saw candlelight shining brightly on the round table in the center of the room, a blue gauze covering bowls and plates laden with food. A young girl in brocade
robes was fast asleep beside the table. I tiptoed to her side; this girl was indeed sleeping soundly. Nestled in my arms was a serene and gentle face, her long black hair styled in a three-bun, revealing her fair and delicate neck, with only a few strands of black hair falling softly against the back of her neck. She hadn't even put on an outer garment before falling asleep, wasn't she afraid of getting cold?
I took off my long robe and gently draped it over her shoulders. "Ah," her long eyelashes trembled a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times before recognizing me.
"Young master, when did you return without waking me? Have you eaten? Ah, the food is cold, I'll ask the kitchen to warm it up for you." Saying this, she hurriedly stood up.
I pressed down on her delicate shoulder. "I'm not hungry, just sit still." I carefully examined her slightly haggard face. "Youlan, you've lost weight while I was away. I told you before, many things at home can be left to the servants; you don't need to do everything yourself." I reached out and stroked her smooth, delicate face.
It was fate that brought Youlan together. She came from a scholarly family. Two years ago, during a severe drought in Shaanxi, her family fled to Jiangnan with thousands of other refugees. The hardships they endured on the journey are self-evident. Her family members also passed away one after another during the escape for various reasons. Near Jingzhou, her last remaining relative, her father, a renowned scholar from Guanzhong, also passed away.
To ensure her father could be properly buried, she was forced to sell herself for his funeral. I happened to be passing through that area, and from then on, she became my personal maid, though she was more like my steward or even a concubine.
Youlan stretched out her fair hands and pressed my palms tightly against her face, rubbing them back and forth. She murmured, "Master knows I've worked hard, so please don't worry me. I heard from Third Master that Second Master had an accident, and there's been such a big incident in the city these past two days. I... I... if anything were to happen to you, I..."
I gently pressed my hand to her mouth, stopping her from saying anything more. The world is dangerous. If one is alone, it's not so bad, but if one has ties in their heart, even a hero will inevitably feel a sense of unease. With a slight pull, I drew her soft, delicate body into my arms.
He wrapped his arms around her slender waist, inhaling her faint, delicate fragrance, and whispered, "My dear Lanlan, have you missed me these past few days?"
As he spoke, he deliberately touched her jade-like earlobe with his teeth, and a blush spread from her smooth neck up her porcelain-white cheeks. The delicate body in his arms trembled slightly, probably thanks to his right hand that was stroking her smooth abdomen.
Looking at her, my heart burned with a sudden heat. My lips chased after her luscious red lips, my hands searched for the knots to bind her beautiful body before me. After a series of soft moans and the rustling of her clothes, her jade-like breasts were revealed. Not particularly large, but perfectly shaped and firm, slightly upturned, with two small, pale pink nipples at the tips.
Watching her jade-like breasts change shape at my mercy, the blush seemed contagious, spreading from her neck down her entire delicate chest, and her nipples seemed to respond by pushing upwards. I separated my index and middle fingers, pinched the slightly swollen, rosy nipples, and twisted them a couple of times. A captivating moan escaped from her lips.
"Hmm, Master, you've been traveling all day, aren't you tired?"
"Don't worry, your young master's nickname is the Wandering Dragon Swordsman, how could a dragon tire so easily?" As she spoke, one hand had already lifted her pleated skirt, reaching deep inside to undo
her undergarments. "Let me do it. Master, you should rest." Youlan twisted her waist to make it easier for me to remove her
undergarments, while reaching to undo my belt. I casually tossed Youlan's undergarments aside, lifted her long skirt, parted her smooth thighs, and let her straddle my lap. Youlan's slender hands had already begun to grasp my erect penis, stroking it up and down. So comfortable, my trained fingers massaged my penis with varying pressure, each touch making my penis even harder, pleasure shooting from my penis straight to my lower abdomen.
Of course, I wanted to make Youlan comfortable too. My fingers gently slid towards the base of her thighs, the moist, warm sensation like a small mouth breathing hot air onto my hand. I grasped her lush, full mons pubis, my hand covered in the smooth, oily flesh.
Following the source of the warmth, my fingers found the slightly parted slit, rubbing the plump labia a couple of times before probing inside. It felt like touching a delicate bud; a long moan escaped Youlan's lips, her bright eyes instantly becoming hazy.
After a few movements, Youlan's body rubbed against me as if coated in honey. "Young master...
ah... faster, ah..." With the rhythm of my fingers, her moans rose and fell. A steady stream of nectar flowed from my fingers, dripping onto the base of her thighs.
I couldn't resist any longer either. I lifted her body; it was so limp, as if she had no bones left. My thick, hard penis was aimed at her eagerly opening flower-like opening. With a thrust of my hips, I plunged it straight in. A soft "Ah!" escaped her lips as Youlan wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her entire body against my chest.
Although she was already fully wet, Youlan's private parts were still so tight. The warm flesh of her vagina enveloped my penis, the tiny folds rubbing against the shaft. The considerate Youlan probably didn't want me to tire myself out, so as soon as I entered her, she actively twisted her body, which I was happy to do without. One hand held her waist, while the other wantonly played with her protruding breasts.
"Lan'er, your breasts are getting fuller and fuller. How are you going to thank your young master?"
"You still say that? You're so naughty. You never leave me alone there. The marks from last time took half a month to fade.
Ah, don't bite..."
Of course, this one couldn't be left idle either. I opened my mouth and took most of her breast into my mouth. The smooth, melting sensation made me unable to control myself as I sucked and bit. My lower body thrust upwards forcefully, meeting Youlan's movements, as if each thrust would pierce her completely.
"Ah, I... I'm going to fly, ah..." Several heavy thrusts landed solidly on the deepest part of her flower core. I felt a sudden heat surge within Youlan, rushing through her entire body along the throbbing veins of my thick penis. Her pores seemed to open up instantly, and in that instant, I felt as if I had entered paradise.
"Good Lanlan, you... feel so good there, so amazing."
"Me too... I hit it again, oh my god, I..."
My hands gripped Youlan's slender waist tightly, thrusting upwards again and again. Youlan's arms and legs were already tightly wrapped around my body like an octopus, her private parts desperately chasing my penis. Her whole body was flushed pink from excitement and engorgement. Fine beads of sweat soaked her smooth body, and several times I almost let go, the sweat sliding from her waist to her ribs.
"It's coming, ah...it's coming." Youlan finally reached her climax, her body trembling violently, her flower chamber contracting intensely, her ten fingers gripping my back tightly, I could feel the burning sensation of her fingers digging into it. I took a deep breath, a surge of heat rising from my lower abdomen to my penis, a feeling that my penis was about to burst.
Seemingly sensing this stimulation, Youlan let out another high-pitched cry, another gushing stream of hot fluid pouring from her vagina straight to the tip of my penis, my penis throbbing uncontrollably a few times before gushing out.
"Young master, I...I'm so beautiful..." Her delicate body seemed to melt as she slumped against me.
(
III)
When I walked out of the government office, it was already past noon. According to the results of my discussion with General Gu last night, I had just persuaded Prefect Liu Wencheng of Zhenjiang not to implement the "Great Rebellion Law" to deal with the increasing number of Jianghu people in the city.
The reason was simple: Cao Xiong, the suspect in the Beggars' Gang massacre, was highly skilled in martial arts, had many followers, and was very well hidden. The local government of Zhenjiang alone was insufficient to apprehend him. If the case were reported to the Ministry of Justice, the credit would likely be divided among many of them. Letting these江湖人 (jianghu people, people of the martial arts world) deal with Cao Xiong in their own way would allow Liu Wencheng to claim all the credit.
You see, since Cao Xiong's defeat and fall from power, he had overnight become a wanted criminal with dozens of murders on his hands. Besides those he committed himself, many crimes committed by his brothers, subordinates, and even his enemies had also been pinned on him.
If he could be apprehended this time, it would greatly benefit Liu Wencheng's career.
Having understood this, and considering the two thousand taels of silver and two old ginseng roots I had given him, he finally agreed to my request. However, Liu Wencheng didn't readily agree to our demands: "This matter is of great importance. Since Young Master Feng is willing to take full responsibility, that's fine. But if another bloodshed like the one at the City God Temple were to occur, it would be difficult for me to cover it up for you." This cunning old fox, who got away with it while feigning
innocence, I cursed inwardly while forcing a smile and praising his wisdom. After leaving the government office, I immediately went to the Beggars' Sect's Zhenjiang branch headquarters, where a mourning hall for Zheng Lin and his companions had been set up for martial arts enthusiasts to pay their respects. After the ceremony, I subtly suggested to the Beggars' Sect leaders that they shouldn't rush into taking overly drastic measures, and that cooperating with other sects would be the best course of action. However, the leaders all evaded the question, unwilling to say anything more.
Zheng Lin had always been a solitary man, and now a Beggars' Sect disciple was representing him at the memorial service. Actually, he did have a woman in Zhenjiang. Others may not know, but I know everything. After all, most of the money he borrowed from me under the guise of gambling debts was spent on his mistress.
This woman is the widow of a clean-clothes disciple of the Beggars' Sect, and she has twin daughters. Fearing that rumors would jeopardize his promising future, Zheng Lin has never dared to give this woman a formal title, and he's extremely cautious in his interactions with her. If he hadn't needed my help to cover things up, he probably wouldn't have told me such a secret.
I had originally planned to reveal everything today, because the last time I saw Zheng Lin, I heard that the woman was already carrying his child, thus leaving him an heir. But seeing these people so preoccupied with their own infighting, I abandoned that idea. Reluctantly, I offered some polite words of condolence and then took my leave.
"The Grand Elder has arrived to oversee the revenge campaign. Everyone is waiting for the Grand Elder to formulate a plan. Before that, we're afraid we won't be able to reach a conclusion. Please forgive me, Fifth Master Feng," a branch leader I knew well told me quietly as he saw me off. Hearing this, I breathed a long sigh of relief; finally, some good news.
Leaving the Beggars' Sect headquarters, I hadn't gone far when I felt someone following me. Taking advantage of a turn, I looked back and saw a servant dressed in a blue robe and hat, furtively following me, carrying a long bundle wrapped in thick cloth.
It shouldn't be someone from the Beggars' Sect; there are beggars everywhere these days, no need to send someone else in disguise to follow me. Could it be Cao Xiong's henchman? I deliberately avoided the main streets, relying on my familiarity with the terrain, and led my follower in circles.
After a while, I realized that only that one person was following me. And what was strangest was that the servant seemed to be a novice; I almost lost him several times. If I hadn't deliberately lag behind, I could have shaken this guy off long ago.
Since that's the case, I might as well find a place to test him. The Tianwang Temple in the east of the city has been dilapidated for many years, and there's a grove of trees nearby; it's usually deserted, making it a good spot. I made up my mind and circled around to the front of the Tianwang Temple.
The follower seemed to realize something and quickened his pace, catching up to me. Stopping in an open space, I turned around and waited for the servant to catch up.
"Who are you? Why have you been following me all this way?"
"Hmph, the path is as clear as the heavens; I walk my own path. Why should I say I'm following you?" The voice was surprisingly clear and melodious. Only then did I take a closer look at the person following me. A straight nose, thin lips tightly closed, and a pair of black pearl-like eyes beneath dark eyebrows; her pretty face was frosty.
Although she wore the most ordinary coarse cloth clothes, her captivating charm seemed to have the power to penetrate the heart.
What a beauty! How come I only realized it now?
"As expected of a philandering rogue, a lecher!" Seeing me staring intently at her, the girl's anger intensified, her red lips pressed tightly together, her dark eyes filled with a chilling aura.
I was suddenly struck by her beauty, realizing I had been somewhat distracted, but her words immediately put me on guard.
"You recognize me? I've never seen you before, otherwise I would definitely remember you. Who exactly are you?" I asked, somewhat puzzled.
She tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something.
"To know who I am, first ask the sword in my hand." The girl lifted the long cloth covering, revealing a sheathed longsword. With a clang, the sword was drawn, standing ready.
Judging from her tracking skills, she was still a novice, but unexpectedly, with the sword in hand, her entire demeanor changed. Her stance was dignified and upright, clearly having been instructed by a master.
"Want to fight? That suits me perfectly." I stepped back two paces, withdrew the sword, made a sword gesture, and performed a sword salute, indicating that she should go first. She didn't hold back, her longsword flashing before striking directly at my chest, a streak of blue light hurtling towards me.
Having faced countless life-and-death situations in the martial world and received guidance from renowned masters, I was confident my swordsmanship had reached the ranks of top experts. Although this girl's stance was quite impressive, I didn't take her seriously. However, when we actually clashed, the unpredictable and exquisite nature of her swordsmanship surprised me. If her skill were a little deeper, or her experience a little more, I would probably be in a much worse state now.
I parried left and right with my longsword, using footwork to retreat three steps, enduring another round of rapid attacks.
"A dignified Wandering Dragon Swordsman, all you can do is run away?" A mocking glint appeared in her black pearl-like eyes.
Being mocked like this by a beautiful woman, I felt truly embarrassed. I slightly gathered my qi, a surge of heat rising from my dantian, spreading throughout my body. I flipped my left hand outward, my right arm trembling slightly, and my longsword swung out with the movement.
"Where is my home amidst the clouds over the Qinling Mountains?" With a soft shout, a vast expanse of sword light instantly enveloped her from head to toe.
Perhaps thinking I was nothing special, the girl had become somewhat complacent, and now she was caught off guard by my unexpected move. Little did she know that this "Where is my home amidst the clouds over the Qinling Mountains" move, though seemingly a feint, was actually full of hidden killing intent. The more panicked the opponent was, the easier it was to find an opening and strike.
With a "snap," followed by a scream of "Ah!", her longsword was knocked away by me. According to the move's variations, this move should have been a slash with the blade, but since we were complete strangers, I only tapped her wrist with the spine of the sword. The longsword swung back, intending to slice off her hat, as a lesson for her earlier rudeness.
"Spare me!" The voice sounded from behind. The word "sword" came from dozens of feet away, but by the time "spar" was spoken, the voice was right next to my ear, as if the person was already behind me. A master! A warning thought flashed through my mind. "The wind rises, the clouds fly," I whirled around, swinging
my sword with overwhelming force. A longsword reached out to block mine, and to my surprise, the clash of swords produced no metallic clang. A deep, continuous internal force surged along the blade, seemingly endless. I channeled my Divine Dragon True Qi, forcefully repelling the attack, and with a swift movement, I drew my sword and leaped aside. After all, a woman of unknown origin stood behind me; a contest of internal force at this moment was too dangerous.
The man didn't pursue; instead, he sheathed his sword and bowed to me, "Thank you, Fifth Master Feng, for showing mercy to my disciple."
I looked closer. The newcomer was a thin, withered old Taoist priest, his face sallow, his expression serious, and his robe faded from washing. Suddenly, I remembered someone—could it be him?
**********
...

"I met Lu Erxia once half a year ago. At that time, we were arguing about the sixty-four hexagram steps to break the 'Eight Extremes Unfixed Sword' technique. We debated whether to go from 'Mingren' to 'Jiaren' or from 'Ben' to 'Jiji', and even agreed to verify our answers a year later. Who knew that we would be separated by death now?"
Master Leshan said with a sorrowful expression. "Avenging Lu Erxia is my duty. If there is anything I can do, please let me know."
We were naturally overjoyed to have such a powerful ally.
Master Leshan changed the subject: "Gentlemen, do you know where Brother Long is now?"
"I don't know. We have already sent a signal. If my elder brother sees it, he will definitely rush back as soon as possible."
"What, Master, do you know where my elder brother is?" Seeing Master Leshan's silence, the impatient Fourth Brother, Huo Tou Tuo, asked directly.
“It’s strange,” Leshan said, shaking his head. “Brother Long asked me to meet him at Qingfeng Ridge half a month ago, saying he had important matters to discuss. But I’ve been waiting there for over ten days and haven’t seen him. Normally, if he were to break his promise, he would have sent someone to deliver a message, but…”
We exchanged glances, both with the same question in their eyes.
Fourth Brother, Huo Tou Tuo, was more direct. “Daoist Master, do you know what Brother Long wanted to see you about?”
The Taoist priest of Leshan lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then raised them resolutely and said, "Brother Long wants to ask me to help him investigate a mysterious figure, but I have no idea who he is. The only clue is that this person once had Ding Yizhi, the owner of the famous Jiangnan physician Huichunzhai, treat his injuries." He glanced at our faces. "Dr. Ding is a close friend of mine, so I suppose Brother Long wants to ask if I have any leads."
"Ding Yizhi?" I was slightly taken aback, and immediately felt everyone's eyes on me. Indeed, Ding Yizhi was the former owner of Huichunzhai, which my family's Baicaotang had acquired. Back then, his medical skills were renowned throughout Jiangnan, and he was invited by the Prince of Xiangyang to treat his ailing concubine. However, it is said that he accidentally killed the concubine. In a fit of rage, the Prince of Xiangyang threw him into prison and sealed off Huichunzhai.
Fortunately, many high-ranking officials and nobles had been treated by Dr. Ding before, and together with a petition from other pharmacies in Jiangnan, the Prince of Xiangyang finally suppressed his fury and agreed to unseal Huichunzhai. Unfortunately, Dr. Ding, unable to withstand the severe torture in prison and suffering immense psychological trauma, had already died there.
After this ordeal, Huichunzhai was teetering on the brink of collapse and could no longer sustain itself. In the Jiangnan medical world, only my family's Baicaotang was worthy of comparison with Huichunzhai. After discussion, the managers of Huichunzhai finally decided to join Baicaotang, as working under an expert was much easier.
Dr. Ding's family sold Huichunzhai and returned home, only to be robbed by river pirates on the Xiang River, with no one surviving. I only learned of this after I had wiped out that pirate stronghold.
"Who exactly was the person Dr. Ding treated? Why is Brother tracking him? I've never heard Brother mention him before," said Ge Liudi, his brows furrowed.
We all nodded in agreement.
A glint flashed in the eyes of the Leshan Taoist, almost tangible, and when it landed on my face, I felt a slight pain.
"The news of Lu Erxia will likely spread throughout the martial world soon. I only hope Brother Long can receive the news and arrive as soon as possible." His tone held an indescribable undertone. "You
worry too much, Daoist. I suppose my elder brother encountered some injustice and came to his aid, which caused the delay.
He will definitely arrive in a couple of days." Although I was also full of doubts, I still needed to say something encouraging.
At this moment, people had already begun to come to offer their condolences. Currently, the martial arts world was bustling with people in Zhenjiang. Besides the Beggar Clan disciples, many passing martial artists, upon hearing of the bloodshed, either out of curiosity or with ulterior motives, lingered there. Meanwhile,
the news had spread rapidly, and the land and water routes to Zhenjiang must be very busy now.
Lu Erxia was a humble man in life, and even when fighting with underworld figures, he usually showed mercy unless the opponent was truly heinous. Therefore, his reputation was the best among the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan. So, people came to offer their condolences in an endless stream, and the mourning hall only quieted down after midnight. Dressed in mourning clothes, Second Sister-in-law Wanyue was exhausted. Her delicate face was haggard, and her once bright eyes were now red and swollen. Anyone could see that she had been forcing herself to stay awake all this time.
"Second Sister-in-law, you should go back and rest. Don't overwork yourself." Even the usually careless Fourth Brother noticed Wanyue's discomfort.
"Fourth Uncle, I'm fine." Although her soft voice was full of fatigue, there was still a strong sense of resilience in it.
"No, if you collapse, how can we face our deceased Second Brother?" Third Brother Meng said firmly. "Fifth Brother, go to the door. Turn away anyone who comes to pay their respects now. Tell them to come back tomorrow."
My Sixth Brother, Seventh Sister, and I also urged her to stop. Unable to dissuade us, Wanyue stood up, gave us a deep bow, and walked gracefully out of the mourning hall. Seeing that she had finally listened to our advice, I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed her out of the mourning hall to the gate of the mansion to stop the guests from paying their respects.
Perhaps it was because she had been kneeling all day, constantly returning the greetings, but the frail Wanyue suddenly collapsed to the side as soon as she stepped out of the mourning hall. I, being closest to her, quickly stepped forward and caught her in my arms.
"Second Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, are you alright?" I knew I shouldn't have let Wanyue endure so long in the mourning hall. Wanyue's face was pale, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, but thankfully her breathing was steady. It was the first time I had seen her so closely. A beautiful oval face, a straight, delicate nose, cherry-like lips, and almond-shaped eyes tightly closed. My arms tightened unconsciously around her. I had always thought Wanyue was slender, but to my surprise, she was incredibly plump and soft to the touch. A refreshing fragrance wafted into my nostrils, and in that instant, I was captivated.
Her long, slightly upturned eyelashes trembled slightly, and her eyelids slowly opened, but her once clear eyes were now filled with sorrow and exhaustion.
"What happened? Ah, Second Sister-in-law, are you alright?" Several voices rang out behind me at the same time.
I reached out and took Wanyue's soft, boneless hand, gently helping her up. I wished we could stay like this 　　 a little longer, but footsteps were already behind us .
"I'm fine, I just suddenly felt a little dizzy, I'll be fine after a rest. Thank you for your help, Fifth Uncle, and thank you all for your concern
. 　　" Her voice was still 　　so gentle and calm. ********** ... Ding Lanxin, who was always as cold as ice, actually had a smile on her face. I almost doubted if I was seeing things. Unfortunately, when she saw it was me, her beautiful face instantly returned to its icy expression. 　　Obviously noticing the change in her attitude, Su Hong's beautiful eyes darted around, and she took Ding Lanxin's hand, asking, "Sister, did that guy knock your sword away during the day?" 　　"Hmph," Ding Lanxin's face was frosty as she looked at me approaching. Although she was unconvinced, she still nodded. 　　"What kind of kung fu did he use? Was it 'Thirteen Forms of Flowing Clouds' or 'Eighteen Swords of Rain Spreading'? That guy only has those three tricks. His martial arts are actually terrible. Sister, you must rarely fight before, which is why he was lucky enough to win one move. 　　Tomorrow, I'll teach you a few moves specifically to counter him. We'll definitely beat him to a pulp." As she spoke, she looked at me with a defiant gaze, a slight smile on her lips. 　　This girl's greatest pleasure seemed to be insulting me, her fifth brother, in front of outsiders, without giving me any face at all. "Special moves? You'd be more suited to teaching her a few bedroom tricks. At this point, it's probably best if I say nothing. 　　" Hearing Su Hong's words, Ding Lanxin's face seemed to thaw slightly, she softly hummed in agreement, and turned away from my gaze. Su Hong's eyes were full of smiles, tinged with a hint of deep affection. I watched the two women standing side by side, each with their own strengths, and I didn't know where to look. 　　"Fifth Brother, you've come to see Second Sister-in-law too?" The voice of my sixth brother, Ge Zhiping, sounded from behind. 　　As if pricked by a needle, Su Hong and I simultaneously averted our gazes. Before my sixth brother and Su Hong got married, Su Hong and I had once fought side-by-side, surrounded by powerful enemies, and we both thought we were doomed. At the critical moment, we formed a bond, and I stole Su Hong's virginity. Originally, I intended for Su Hong to experience the pleasures of womanhood before she died, but unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and we ultimately escaped danger.

I had considered stopping her marriage to my sixth brother, but it was an arranged marriage between their elders, and Su Hong firmly refused. Although she kept it a secret from my sixth brother when she got married, Su Hong later told me that she still preferred me. Unable to resist the temptation, we maintained a clandestine relationship, both being extremely careful not to reveal it. 　　 However 　　, 　　every time I
saw 　　my sixth brother, I felt 　　an indescribable discomfort. ********** ... 　　I grabbed a robe and draped it over myself, then placed my hand on his wrist. A gentle surge of internal energy flowed through him, calming his breathing. 　　"Don't rush, tell me slowly," I said, trying to soften my tone. It turned out 　　that the old servant had gotten up that morning to clean the mourning hall and discovered that the lid of my second brother's coffin had been opened, with a note left on it. Before he could even read what was written on the note, he rushed over to report it. 　　"Quickly, inform Third Master, Fourth Master, Sixth Master, Seventh Miss, and the old Taoist priest to come to the mourning hall!" I said, then used my lightness skill to dash towards the mourning hall. 　　Everyone was gathered in the mourning hall, their faces grim. 　　"Which bastard did this? I'll skin him alive!" Fourth Brother's bones cracked, his fists clenched so tightly the veins stood out. 　　"This person's skill is profound; the nails on the coffin lid were pulled out by hand," the meticulous Seventh Sister noticed immediately. 　　"That's right, the note was also embedded in the coffin lid wood," Sixth Brother added from the side. 　　"What does the note say?" Meng San asked me, who had arrived first. 　　I handed him the note, which read: " 　　To the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan: 　　May Lu Tianfeng rest in peace. 　　Respectfully presented 　　by Cao Xiong, Yang Jun, Zhong Dashan, and Wu Lan. 　　" "Yang Jun?" 　　"Zhong Dashan?" 　　"Wu Lan?" Several voices called out in unison. 　　The brothers Pink Eagle Yang Ming and Pink Butterfly Yang Jun were notorious lechers in Jiangnan. Three years ago, they somehow obtained a wicked book—the "Dongxuan Scripture." They practiced the art of absorbing yin to replenish yang according to the book, and rampaged through Jiangnan, raping innocent women and incurring the wrath of both gods and men. The various martial arts factions of Jiangnan joined forces to hunt them down, and they were eventually found by us, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan. 　　Because they went too far, even our Second Brother, who was usually not one to easily harm others, was truly enraged and personally killed Yang Ming. Yang Jun was seriously injured and fled, reportedly wounded in a vital area, and could no longer commit his evil deeds. Although Yang Jun's martial arts skills were inferior to his elder brother's, his wit and cunning far surpassed his. It took us a lot of effort to hunt them down. 　　Zhong Dashan—known in the martial arts world as Sirius—was a one-legged bandit operating in the border region of Sichuan and Hubei, known for his brutality and immense strength. His younger brother, Zhong Xiaoshan, nicknamed "Heavenly Dog Star," was also a notorious thief. Once, while committing a crime, Zhong Xiaoshan ran into his fourth brother, "Fire-Headed Monk." Unable to defeat his brother, Zhong Xiaoshan resorted to underhanded tactics to assassinate him. 　　Enraged, his brother chopped him into several pieces. This time, Zhong Dashan must be here to avenge his brother. 　　"Who is Wu Lan?" It seemed no one had heard of this name. 　　The usually silent Leshan Daoist coughed lightly and said, "Wu Lan, the Heartbreak Flower, is a rather mysterious female assassin in the martial arts world. I've heard she's the betrothed of Mad Shark Li Han, but few in the martial arts world have seen her true face." 　　So that's how it is. That year, Shaanxi suffered a severe drought, leaving countless bones scattered across the land. The gentry of Jiangnan spontaneously donated money and grain to the Shaanxi famine victims. 　　The audacious leader of the Chaohu outlaws, Li Han, nicknamed "Mad Shark," dared to steal the disaster relief funds. When we learned of this, we naturally intervened. A fight broke out, and Li Han was killed on the spot, his bandits scattering like 　　birds. It seems Wu Landang came to avenge her husband. "I wonder how those four got together?" Meng Sange said, handing the note to the Taoist priest Leshan beside him. He turned to look at us. "This is quite strange. Why did they open Second Brother's coffin? 　　Luckily, his remains weren't desecrated. And why did they leave this note to openly provoke us? Wouldn't it have been more advantageous to hide in the shadows? You know, with their strength alone, they wouldn't be able to act so recklessly. I'm worried they're hiding something else." " 　　Indeed, Cao Xiong, though bold, is not reckless. Could they have some backup plan?" Sixth Brother nodded in agreement. 　　"Who cares who they are, find them all, chop them into mincemeat and feed them to the dogs." Fourth Brother was so angry that his face turned red. He crumpled the note into a ball, then let go, leaving only scraps of paper in his palm. 　　"What should we do next?" 　　"I've already discussed it with Chief Constable Gu Changfeng of the prefectural government. Cao Xiong and his group have likely been infiltrating Zhenjiang for some time under other identities, so he'll provide us with the household registration information for those newly registered in Zhenjiang Prefecture and its four subordinate counties over the past three years. I plan to ask the local bullies to investigate these newcomers one by one. As for those who haven't registered with the government and those who are just passing through, we'll need the Beggars' Sect disciples to help investigate them. In addition, if we need to trace the origins of these migrants in other places, we'll also need the Beggars' 　　Sect's assistance." I shared my thoughts with everyone, "Now we're just waiting for the Beggars' Sect leader to arrive." 　　 ********************************************************************************************** 　　 "Elder Dongfang, this way please." I knew the leader sent by the Beggars' Sect was an elder-level expert, but I still didn't expect him to be so powerful. 　　"Lion" Dongfang Bai, the previous Beggars' Sect Transmission Elder, now holds the position of "Offering Master." The Transmission Elder, ranking first among the four elders of the Beggars' Sect, is second only to the sect leader and is always held by someone with outstanding martial arts skills. 　　Dongfang Bai has served as Transmission Elder for decades, with disciples spread throughout the Beggars' Sect's various branches, truly a figure of immense influence. 　　His current position of Respectful Elder is also a very high-ranking, honorary position within the Beggars' Sect, always awarded only to disciples who have made great contributions, even more prestigious than the sect leader. Sending him here shows how much importance the Beggars' Sect attaches to this matter. Later, I learned that Zheng Lin was actually Dongfang Bai's last disciple; no wonder the old man wasn't enjoying his position in the sect, but personally came to avenge his disciple. 　　After leaving the mourning hall and hearing our account of the events, the white-haired Elder Dongfang stroked his beard repeatedly, pondered for a long time, and suddenly asked, "So, Master Long hasn't arrived yet? Does anyone know his whereabouts?" 　　We looked at each other and shook our heads. Seeing Elder Dongfang's hesitant expression, it seemed he knew something. 　　It was Fourth Brother, Fire Monk, who couldn't hold back any longer. "Elder Dongfang, do you perhaps know the whereabouts of my eldest brother? Then speak quickly!" 　　Dongfang Bai made a gesture, and a disciple behind him handed him something. He presented it to us; it was a jade pendant. "Ah!" We all exclaimed simultaneously, recognizing it as our eldest brother's personal jade pendant.

My elder brother, Long Fei, regarded money as dirt and was always penniless. This jade pendant, though not particularly valuable, was a heirloom from his sect. To commemorate his sect, he treasured it dearly and never parted with it. But how did it end up in Elder Dongfang's hands? A sudden sense of foreboding washed over me.
It turned out that when Dongfang Bai and his group passed through a small town called Danhe, about a hundred miles from Zhenjiang, they saw a shepherd boy playing with the pendant. Although he didn't know it belonged to my brother, Elder Dongfang recognized the unique mark of my brother's sect on it. So, he inquired about how the boy obtained the pendant, bought it, and brought it to us for identification.
"That shepherd boy found it on the mass grave, how could it be like this?" Even the usually composed Meng Sange abandoned all etiquette, jumping to his feet, completely flustered. At this point, wasting words was pointless; the most important thing was to find my brother's whereabouts.
"Fourth brother and sixth brother, come with me to Danhe Town. Fifth brother and seventh sister, stay behind and wait for news. Master Leshan, are you coming too?" Third brother quickly assigned us tasks.
"Why do I have to stay behind again? Last time you made me stay behind too." I got anxious and asked before Master Leshan could answer, "Big brother might be in danger. How can I stay at home like nothing happened?"
"You are the landlord. You have to coordinate the actions of all parties here. Seventh sister, don't be angry. Second sister-in-law and the women in the Fifth Prince's mansion need protection. If you don't stay behind, who will replace you?"
(
IV)
I tucked my long sword into my waistband and slowly walked along the path beside the mansion wall. Third brother and the others had been gone for a day. Besides Su Hong and me, Master Leshan also left his female disciple Ding Lanxin behind. To prevent anyone from taking advantage of the situation, the Beggar Clan experts set up a security net outside the Feng mansion. We were mainly responsible for the security of the inner courtyard.
The sound of the watchman's drum came from outside the courtyard wall. It was already the second watch. The moonlight was like frost, serene and quiet. Passing through the back garden, I came upon a rockery, its shadows dappled in
the moonlight. A familiar soft call reached my ears. Seeing no one around, I darted inside the rockery in two leaps. Su Hong, dressed in a close-fitting outfit, immediately came to me. "Fifth Brother, you're here." I hummed in response and expertly pulled her into my arms.
The usually dashing and spirited woman now nestled against me like a kitten, murmuring softly, only I could hear: "Fifth Brother, don't blame me, I really wanted to see you right now, just the two of us." Su Hong was probably very worried about her eldest brother. In moments of confusion, every woman longs for a strong embrace, let alone the man she loves.
Holding her slender yet firm waist, I gently stroked her beautiful lines, my lips close to her ear: "It's alright, I'm here. No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."
"You're the worst, always trying to coax me." Her sweet, coquettish voice made it hard to believe she was the same woman who had once slain a horde of demons in Hedong, a truly formidable heroine.
My hands slid restlessly along her waist towards more intimate areas. "Su Hong, you're getting fuller
and fuller." I felt the ever-changing, plump mounds in my hands, firm, full, and elastic. The tiny buds at the tips immediately trembled, engorged, and hardened.
"Ah," Su Hong's body was still so sensitive; she shuddered, her body swaying in my arms, only managing to stay upright thanks to the support of my chest. My other hand traced down her smooth back, suddenly touching a thin layer of padding. "Are you on your period today?" I felt a pang of disappointment.
"I came the day I got back to Zhenjiang, so it should be another two or three days," Su Hong whispered in my
ear, her cheeks flushed. She seemed to sense my frustration and was getting impatient. "How about I... use..." Her pouting red lips looked incredibly alluring.
"Okay, I'll punish you by making you use your little mouth instead." I gently pulled down her clothes, and Su Hong obediently knelt down. Kneeling before me, she unbuttoned my clothes and slipped her hands between my thighs. A cool sensation washed over me as she pulled out my penis. The coolness didn't last long, as my penis was quickly enveloped in warmth and moisture again.
When we first started our affair, Su Hong was somewhat averse to oral sex, but after my gentle persuasion, many things she used to be embarrassed to do, she can now do boldly, and her skills have become increasingly proficient.
I could clearly feel her smooth, fragrant tongue circling the glans of my penis, the stimulation sending intense pleasure through me. A tingling, numb sensation shot through my lower back—I couldn't describe the feeling, only that it made me dizzy. My hand involuntarily pressed against the back of her head, trying to bring her head closer to my groin.
After a while, Su Hong changed her approach, her head bobbing up and down, diligently sucking on my shaft.
Looking down, her long, black hair was spread out, completely obscuring her face; only the seductive moans emanating from her delicate nose could be heard, her small mouth moving even faster.
No, Seventh Sister's technique was getting better and better; the tingling sensation in my lower back was incredibly strong, as if I couldn't hold on any longer. Wait, what was that sound? I turned to look towards the garden gate, where two figures slowly approached side by side. Their voices drew closer, and I recognized them—it was Youlan and Ding Lanxin.
"Sister Youlan, you're such a good person, why do you like that lecherous playboy Feng Yuxuan? What's so good about him?" The voice was clear and melodious, but the content was anything but pleasant.
"Sister Xin, you must have misunderstood the young master. He's actually a very good person, kind and considerate to his servants, and never says a harsh word to them," Youlan said with a gentle smile. Truly, my good Lan'er, completely unaffected by that little girl.
"Sister Youlan, you certainly haven't heard about what he did before," this was strange, how could Ding Lanxin know anything about me? "That year, he hired over thirty prostitutes to accompany him on the Qinhuai River, causing a ruckus for over ten days. It's already spread throughout the Jiangnan literati. What else could that be but dissolute and immoral? Good sister, don't let her fool you!"
How could Ding Lanxin know about this? It was truly beyond my expectations. Six years ago, after I passed the provincial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), I impulsively gathered a few wealthy classmates for this grand gesture. Afterwards, people certainly considered us dissolute playboys and spendthrifts.
However, this was likely only known within the literary families and never reached the wider martial arts world. What exactly is Ding Lanxin's background?
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my penis. Looking down, I saw Su Hong raising her head, her cherry-like mouth still holding my penis, her beautiful eyes fixed on me with a half-smile. Her lips seemed to move again, and another wave of pain shot through me. I hadn't expected her to bite a second time, and I couldn't help but groan.
"Who's there?" Ding Lanxin's ears perked up as she looked in this direction. I immediately felt Su Hong's body stiffen abruptly, as if she couldn't move for a moment. I instinctively held my breath, afraid to make a sound. If others discovered my relationship with Seventh Sister, I didn't dare think any further.
"Is there really someone? Don't scare me, little sister." Youlan clutched her ample chest, clinging tightly to Ding Lanxin. Ding Lanxin's gaze slowly swept over us, as if she had indeed discovered something. I couldn't help but move further into the shadows.
Suddenly, I noticed Su Hong was still so stiff. I had never seen her so frightened before. On a whim, I began to slowly but resolutely sway my hips back and forth in the shadows. Su Hong must have been terrified by my actions. She barely managed to lift her head, looking up at me with a reproachful expression.
I deliberately ignored her, increasing the amplitude and force of my hip movements. Still afraid, Su Hong didn't dare make a sound, much less show any sign of resistance. Her lips suddenly became hotter and wetter than before.
I felt my genitals swell even more from the excitement, and my entire penis was incredibly sensitive, as if every friction could ignite a fire.
"Meow!" A black cat leaped nimbly from the artificial hill. Perfect timing.
The two women outside seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "It's getting late, you should rest early, sister."
Ding Lanxin nodded in agreement, glancing at us with lingering satisfaction before leaving with Youlan.
If I'd known she was so difficult, I should have deliberately lost to her last time. Women really do hold grudges.
Ah, this feeling in my lower back, so sore. I straightened my back, tightly embracing Su Hong's head, my penis plunging deep into her throat, then my penis bounced like a spring, spitting out a large amount of white, sticky fluid. I didn't loosen my grip on Su Hong's head until the last few drops were sucked into her mouth before I finally let go, exhausted.
**********
...

Everyone was grieving, some even despondent. I tried my best to remain calm; there would be endless time to grieve and weep later. Now was the time to muster my strength and avenge my two brothers.
"There's something I think you'd all be interested to know," Elder Dongfang said solemnly after the memorial service. "Actually, before his death, Master Long entrusted our Beggars' Sect with an investigation."
We were all taken aback; clearly, none of us were prepared. Including what the Taoist of Leshan had said, we hadn't expected our eldest brother to have so many things that even we, his closest sworn brothers, didn't know.
"About two years ago, Master Long discovered that someone in the martial world was secretly practicing the Dongxuan Scripture again," Elder Dongfang said.
"Two years ago? Wasn't Pink Eagle Yang Ming already dead? Although Pink Butterfly Yang Jun escaped, how could he have practiced that evil art of absorbing yin to replenish yang after being stabbed in that spot?" Sixth Brother couldn't help but interrupt.
Elder Dongfang nodded. "What Ge Liuxia said is correct. We initially thought so too. However, Hero Long's reputation is widespread, and he spoke with absolute certainty, so our disciples from the Jiangnan branch secretly investigated. We discovered it was indeed true; someone was searching for virgins to practice this evil art."
He sighed. "Unfortunately, the other side is very shrewd and cautious. Our investigation stalled halfway through, and several key figures were silenced. We haven't made any progress since."
"Wait a minute," I blurted out, "after my second brother killed Yang Ming, I personally found the Dongxuan Scripture on his corpse. Later, my eldest brother burned the book in front of the Jiangnan martial arts community. Your gang's leaders can testify to this. Besides, we haven't heard of any famous figures dying suddenly in Jiangnan two years ago, have we?"
Elder Dongfang smiled wryly, "We are also completely baffled by the matter of the Dongxuan Scripture. Yang Ming's book is destroyed. Yang Jun may have the book, but he can't cultivate it. Could it be that he gave the book to someone else to practice? Those people aren't famous figures; several of them have no connection to the martial arts world. It's normal that Feng Wuxia hasn't heard of them."
"Could it be that the person behind the scenes is the one that Daoist Leshan mentioned?" I asked loudly, as if I had just realized something.
"What mysterious person?" Hearing this, Elder Dongfang's spirits lifted, and his white eyebrows rose high.
Daoist Leshan coughed lightly, seemingly hesitant, but he still recounted the story of the mysterious person. Finally, he added, "This mysterious figure may not be related to what Elder Dongfang mentioned. We must be careful not to go astray in our investigation."
"Furthermore, the Dongxuan Scripture isn't necessarily only mastered through yin-yang cultivation. I've heard that a female master once mastered it. However, rumors in the martial arts world suggest the Yang brothers are selfish and wouldn't give away this secret manual, obtained at the cost of their lives."
Indeed, the Dongxuan Scripture isn't actually a martial arts manual, but rather a quick-learning cultivation formula for the Daoist treasure, the "Great Dao Canon." Because the "Great Dao Canon" is extremely profound and difficult, progress is slow, so countless intelligent individuals have written down various cultivation formulas based on their own understanding. The Dongxuan Scripture is one of the most effective, but because its cultivation method is considered too sinister, it's regarded as a heretical path by the righteous sects of the martial arts world.
**********
...

"It smells so good," I said, my nose close to her soft back. "Youlan, what did you use on yourself? You smell so good." Youlan pressed against the edge of the tub, turning back to smile shyly at me, her hips and waist arching high, her plump, round thighs pressed tightly together, gently swaying her full buttocks, rubbing against my penis through her clothes.
One of my hands reached to her breasts, grasping a delicate protrusion, my fingers pressing against the tip of her jade-like nipple, which was already hard. "My dear Youlan, are you already impatient?" Hearing my teasing, Youlan shook her head shyly, biting her lower lip with her white teeth, even her smooth, porcelain-like neck turning red.
I also couldn't control myself, and with my other hand, I directly pulled off her lower garment. Two round, smooth, porcelain-like buttocks were revealed. I couldn't help but reach out and grab them, the snow-white flesh sinking into my fingers under the pressure, but I immediately felt my fingers bounce back a little. With a little more force, the smooth skin of her buttocks seemed to slip out of my grasp, and I couldn't hold on to it.
A concave crease ran down the middle of her buttocks, resembling a white peach. My fingers gently parted the crease, revealing a pink chrysanthemum bud. As if sensing my gaze was focused on her rear, Youlan's jade-like buttocks tightened slightly, the previously stretched bud contracting inwards, faint swirling patterns appearing around it.
I leaned down, close to her buttocks, and gently breathed on her chrysanthemum.
"Ah… Master, no, it's so embarrassing, don't do this…" Closer now, the sparse hairs around her chrysanthemum were clearly visible. I ran my fingers over them a few times. Youlan trembled, her voice changing: "Ah, don't touch there."
I knew Youlan still had some reservations about playing with her rear, so I turned my attention away. Her smooth, white thighs were tightly pressed together, a dark shadow faintly visible between them. Upon closer inspection, it was a tuft of fine, seaweed-like hair, damp with sweat, clinging to the inside of her thighs. I slipped my hand between her legs and gently pulled them apart. Youlan understood and obediently parted her thighs, revealing her delicate private parts, which were already open like a fresh scallop. Strands of nectar seeped from her flower bud and slid down her thighs, leaving a glistening trail.
One hand undressed her, while the other instantly entered her most secret place. What had been a trickle of fluid suddenly overflowed, the slippery nectar dripping from her fingers and palm onto the ground, quickly forming a puddle.
"Do you want it that badly?" I asked, gripping my already throbbing penis, pressing it against her wide-open vulva, rubbing her plump labia.
Youlan turned her head, saying nothing, but her alluring expression, flushed face, and moist, almost dripping eyes only fueled my already heightened desire. Without another word, I thrust my hips forward, penetrating her warm, lubricated body. She let out a soft "mmm," arching her back slightly. I deliberately slowed my movements, allowing my penis to fully experience the tightness and warmth of her body. When I reached the very end, the head of my penis touching her soft, plump flesh, I vigorously rotated my shaft, grinding it hard a few times.
Youlan frowned, her expression frantic, almost frantic. Finally, she couldn't help but open her eyes, grabbing my arm tightly and trembling, "No...don't tease me...Young Master, harder." The beauty needed my help, so I couldn't disappoint her. I gripped her snow-white, plump buttocks tightly and began to thrust forcefully. "Ah, yes, that's it!" Suddenly struck hard, Youlan couldn't help but moan loudly, her voice sweet as honey.
I was completely on her back, my chest, abdomen, buttocks, and back seamlessly connected. My large penis pounded against her, my lower abdomen slapping against her full, elastic buttocks with a resounding slap.
Youlan also swayed her slender waist wildly, her jade buttocks heaving incessantly to meet my thrusts. The lustful flesh inside her clitoris clung to my penis, large amounts of nectar flowing from her private parts, glistening through her pink skin. The pleasure intensified like fire, her joyful moans and groans no longer forming complete sentences.
Finally, the pleasure reached its peak. I thrust forward with all my might, pressing firmly against that delicate flower core.
A surge of excitement coursed through my mind, and Youlan's private parts tightened violently; we both reached climax simultaneously. After the climax, I lay lazily in the bathtub, Youlan nestled against me like a docile kitten.
"Master, is something on your mind? Tell me so I can share some of your burden."
I did have something on my mind, as if I had forgotten something very important. I tried to recall everything that had happened during the day, and suddenly I remembered that thing that had been troubling me: back at my eldest brother's memorial, Brother Meng San had said, "Eldest brother, you died so unjustly..."
Why did Brother Meng San say that? Did he suspect something? Indeed, there were many inexplicable aspects to Brother Long's death: he was clearly ambushed first, then poisoned and wounded, unable to break through before being killed. But his whereabouts were always elusive; apart from us brothers, there was no way anyone else could have known him. So, how could he have been ambushed?
With Third Brother's meticulousness, he must have already noticed this problem: How did they discover Eldest Brother's whereabouts?
By tracking him? Eldest Brother is experienced in the ways of the world; no one can track him without arousing his suspicion. Once Eldest Brother is on guard, no trap can catch him. The only remaining possibility is that those enemies were exceptionally lucky, and Eldest Brother just happened to walk into their ambush.
"No," I shook my head; Third Brother must have other ideas. Could it be… I suddenly realized that Third Brother suspected that those enemies already knew Eldest Brother would take that route, and were therefore lying in wait. But only a few of us brothers knew Eldest Brother's whereabouts…
I suddenly felt a chill and dared not think any further. Third Brother suspected one of his own brothers!
Who did he suspect? Fourth Brother? Fourth Brother is straightforward and honest; Third Brother shouldn't suspect him. Sixth Brother? He always regarded Eldest Brother as a god, and he's loyal and kind; Third Brother wouldn't suspect him either. Seventh Sister?
My eldest brother treated my seventh sister the best, and she and my sixth brother were husband and wife, so I suppose my third brother has excluded her as well.
Could it be…? Suddenly, the water in the bathtub turned icy cold. My third brother was actually suspecting me. My reputation as a heartless and philanderer was indeed too offensive. Given my third brother's shrewdness, composure, and impassiveness, I was definitely the most suspicious one.
“Young master, young master, what's wrong?” Youlan's voice brought me back to reality. I realized that I had broken off a piece of the bathtub's edge with my hands, and a splinter had pierced my palm, drawing blood, without me even noticing.
**********************************************************************************************
The following days were exceptionally busy. The government, the Beggars' Sect, local gangs, and my brothers and I jointly launched a massive manhunt in Zhenjiang. According to the previously agreed plan, we investigated all newly registered households within the last three years, as well as suspicious individuals and locations. Meanwhile, preparations for my two elder brothers' funerals continued at the manor.
As the sun set, I strolled to the small pond in the back garden, my heart heavy with unease. Several days had passed without a single valuable clue. Moreover, a large number of gangsters had appeared both inside and outside the city, many of whom were completely unidentifiable. Therefore, we had to divert even more manpower from our already strained resources to specifically monitor the movements of these gangsters.
I casually pulled a jade flute from my robes and began to play. A low, mournful note rose, and the faces and voices of my elder brothers flashed through my mind. I recalled the brotherhood we shared, the struggles we had together, now separated by death, and even among the living, a rift seemed to have formed. The flute's melody grew even deeper, a growing sense of melancholy creeping in. My state of mind and the flute's melody resonated, a mix of sadness, grief, and anger washing over me, making even my breathing difficult.
Just then, the sound of a zither rose from nearby, initially low and resonant, like the heavy weight of a mountain, echoing the flute's melody.
The zither music gradually took on a new dimension, like a verdant forest adding a touch of ethereal beauty to the mountainside.
The more varied zither notes began to dominate the ensemble, the xiao (vertical flute) unconsciously harmonizing with the melody, flowing alongside it. The music continued its soothing melody, incorporating elements beyond the trees, like a clear mountain stream, dispelling much of the lingering melancholy.
When the music finally ceased, my state of mind was vastly different from when the music had begun. Looking towards the source of the sound, I saw a young woman with slender shoulders, a waist slim, and flowing black hair, dressed in a long white gown, sitting gracefully by the pond, a zither before her.
"Second Sister-in-law!"
The zither and xiao duet had been far more powerful than a thousand words. Her gentle gaze held a mixture of shyness, apprehension, comfort, tenderness, and something else I couldn't decipher. The atmosphere seemed to envelop the entire garden, the lingering notes of the music still echoing in the air. We gazed at each other, speechless.
Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the peaceful atmosphere from the southwest corner of the Feng residence, shattering the previous tranquility. Wanyue and I seemed to wake from a dream, and for a moment, we were both a little embarrassed.
"Ah... I didn't realize time had flown by so quickly; it's already dark." Wanyue avoided my eyes guiltily.
"Yes," I replied casually.
Wait, that whistle was an alarm signal for an enemy attack. Just as I realized this, piercing whistles also came from the west and northwest corners. An intruder! The thought flashed through my mind. The alarm whistles sounded one after another from all directions, and several fires broke out in all directions.
Who dared to openly break in? Could it be Cao Xiong? But there was no time to think about it now; the shouts of battle were deafening. "Guards!" I called out, and two strong female servants immediately turned from the other side of the pond, each holding a whistle stick.
"Second Sister-in-law, there are enemies invading now. Please leave for a moment. After you escort Second Sister-in-law back to her room, immediately inform Seventh Sister and tell her to come over as soon as possible." The following words were instructions to the servants.
Before they could react, I drew my longsword and ran towards the nearest siren. A worried voice came from behind me: "Fifth Uncle, be careful." My heart skipped a beat, but I could only wave and quicken my pace.
Reaching the nearest southeast corner, I bumped into four or five masked men in black, each wielding a sharp blade. "It's Feng Laowu." One of them recognized me immediately; they seemed to be "old friends."
"State your name."
"Go ask in hell." Before the words were even finished, they lunged at me viciously. This
was no time for chivalry. I channeled my Dragon God True Qi into my entire body, thrusting my longsword out, "Like the rain falling in torrents on Qingming Festival," deflecting a blocking longsword and piercing a masked man's chest with a resounding thud. I drew my sword back and struck again, the blade flashing, each strike ending in death. When this attack was over, only two men in black remained, surrounded by six or seven servants armed with spears, grappling hooks, broadswords, and slingshots, fighting like cornered beasts.
Although my Feng family of Baicaotang is not a martial arts family, we are not fish to be slaughtered. Over the years, many martial artists we have saved with our medicine have left behind a skill or two as a token of gratitude. We have been supplying wound medicine to the army for many years, and we have also invited several generals with whom we have good relations to teach us some battle formation techniques. We use this to train the shopkeepers and servants in our home, so that they can strengthen their bodies and fight off thieves to protect our home when needed.
I am not worried about arson by thieves, because most of the houses in the mansion are built with blue brick walls and have fireproofing measures. However, the intruders here are not very strong, so the pressure in other places must be greater. Thinking of this, I have no desire to stay any longer. I instructed my servants to be careful and headed towards another place where shouts of battle were coming from.
After passing through several places, I dealt with a few of the more troublesome thieves, leaving the rest for my servants to handle. By this time, it was completely dark, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and there were only a few scattered lights around. However, the few embers of the fires had not been completely extinguished, and the surroundings could be barely seen in the dim light.
Turning past a flower-lined gate, I saw the corpses of several servants lying before me. A short distance away, I heard the sounds of blades whistling through the air and shouts of pain. Reaching closer, I saw five or six men in black, wielding weapons
, attacking a sword-wielding girl—it was Ding Lanxin. Her hair was disheveled, her face weary, and her clothes were torn in several places, seemingly stained with blood. "Clang, clang," I deflected several weapons aimed at Ding Lanxin and slipped into the encirclement. Seeing that I had come to her rescue, Ding Lanxin visibly relaxed, her body swaying as if about to collapse. I quickly caught her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, just a little exhausted."
Although she said that, she seemed temporarily unable to fight. I gently extended my left arm and pulled her limp body into my embrace. She struggled slightly before lying obediently beside me.
Looking at the several men in black poised to pounce, I was about to speak when they exchanged glances and simultaneously raised their swords to attack. Two of their blades were aimed at Ding Lanxin, who was in my arms. I took a deep breath, channeling all my strength, maximizing my senses, and unleashed the move "Bashan Night Rain Swells the Autumn Pool."
Instantly, my ears were filled with the hissing sound of falling swords, drowning out even the whistling of the weapons cutting through the air. It seemed as if an endless drizzle was everywhere. The night rain continued, the autumn waters rose, and everything in the world was enveloped in it. The sword in my hand was now entirely driven by divine will; this was the highest level of mastering the sword with divine power.
Unfortunately, my power could only last for a short while. Suddenly, I felt a chill on my back, and pain came from behind, followed by pain in several other parts of my body.
A whirlwind swept by, and I stopped, using the flickering lamplight to see my surroundings. Four corpses lay on the ground, and a fifth masked man was scrambling towards the flower gate. I flicked my toe and kicked, sending a single-edged sword flying from the ground, pinning the black-clad man who was about to reach the gate to the ground. The girl in my arms finally came to her senses
. "Ah, blood, you're covered in blood, are you injured?" "It's nothing, just some enemy blood." I forced a smile, enduring the pain in my back.
"Nonsense, I can feel your wound, and you're still pretending." I winced in pain; this brat had pressed so hard on my wound, clearly wanting me to look bad enough.
She realized what I meant, her face flushing red, but it was too dark to see clearly. "I'm sorry, I... I didn't mean to."
Accustomed to her icy demeanor and cold attitude towards me, her current slightly embarrassed and flustered expression was actually quite endearing.
A scream of agony came from not far away; it was a woman's voice.
My heart skipped a beat. Could it be...? Forgetting to bandage my wounds, I drew my sword and charged towards the sound. The whistling of clothes behind me told me that Ding Lanxin had followed.
I immediately saw three men in black attacking Seventh Sister, Su Hong. Behind Su Hong were Wan Yue and You Lan, supporting each other, and the corpse of a servant lay nearby. Seventh Sister was completely at a disadvantage, barely holding on thanks to the intricate and flexible nature of the Weaver Girl Sword Technique.
"Seventh Sister, don't panic!" I gathered my remaining strength, pushed off with my feet, and soared into the air, flying directly above the man in black on the left. "Clouds part the red sun, just as the mountain is shrouded in mist," I swung my sword down at the top of his head. The man in black dodged, parrying with a powerful clash. A strong shockwave traveled along the blade. This guy was much stronger than the previous ones; he was even wearing arm guards. Using the force of the shockwave, I reversed my internal energy, forcibly shifting my body in mid-air, flying over the head of the middle man, and unleashing a sword strike, "Clouds Without Heart Emerging from the Mountain," towards the man on the right.
Su Hong and I had teamed up many times before, and we worked together seamlessly to distract the two men. They didn't react until my sword pierced the neck of the man on the right.
"Cloud Dragon Three Appearances!" one of them exclaimed.
I felt weak all over, my legs went weak, and I almost collapsed to the ground. The fierce battles just now had completely depleted my internal energy. Fortunately, Ding Lanxin arrived in time, and together with Su Hong, they each intercepted their opponents. Facing only one opponent, Seventh Sister found it much easier, severing her opponent's throat in just a few moves. The remaining one, seeing the situation was dire, took a blow from Ding Lanxin and charged towards Wanyue and Youlan.
My head buzzed, and I tried to fly over to stop them, but I was too weak to muster any strength. Su Hong was too far away to help. Just as the man charged straight at Youlan and Wanyue, he suddenly collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Youlan and Wanyue clung to each other, their faces pale, unable to utter a word as they looked at the corpse less than an inch from their feet.
Turning the man's body over, I saw the arrow shaft almost embedded in his body, and my heart finally relaxed. "Youlan, thankfully my husband taught you how to use a hidden arrow, otherwise..."
(
V)
There were over fifty corpses on the ground. Most of the invading enemies had been captured by us, all dressed in black and masked. We interrogated the survivors overnight, identifying the dead. It turned out that most of them were our former enemies. We, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, had roamed the martial world for many years, and we had wiped out countless gangsters and outlaws, but most of them, knowing their martial arts were far inferior, had given up on revenge.
The group that came now heard that my eldest and second brothers had been assassinated and thought they could take advantage of the situation, so they banded together to seek revenge. Among them were a few who had no prior grudges against us, either recruited to help or simply looking down on us Seven Heroes and taking advantage of the chaos.
"Luckily, these people aren't Cao Xiong's men," said Meng San, who, despite suffering some minor injuries, remained calm. "If one of them were a master like Cao Xiong, our losses would have been much greater."
"It's good they're here; we can just wipe out all these bastards at once, so we don't have to worry about them constantly in the future," said Fourth Brother, Fire Monk, who had killed the most, his eyes still bloodshot.
I agree with Third Brother's statement. If they were Cao Xiong's men, the situation would be completely different.
However, there were some skilled enemies among last night's enemies; Sixth Brother Ge Zhiping encountered one. The opponent wielded a giant axe, possessing immense strength, and attacked fiercely upon first sight. In the sudden encounter, Sixth Brother's thick-backed sword was actually cleaved in two. Fortunately, Master Leshan intervened in time, and the man, seeing the situation was unfavorable, retreated in the chaos.
"Thank you for your help last night, Master. Sixth Brother, what happened to the person you encountered?" Third Brother asked.
"I was careless. When that person first fought with the servants, he deliberately feigned weakness, pretending to be weak in martial arts.
I was in a hurry to reinforce other places, and I didn't expect to be outmaneuvered by him," Sixth Brother Ge's face turned red. "Next time I encounter that person, I will definitely cut off his head with my own hands." Seventh Sister reached out and pressed his arm, gently patting him to comfort him.
“But we interrogated those night travelers, and they said none of their accomplices had such a person, nor did they know who the axe-wielder was. Could it be that there were other adversaries mixed in with the intruders last night?
Master Leshan, you fought that man, what was his skill level?” Third Brother turned to Master Leshan and asked.
“Gentlemen, there’s no need for such formalities. This was simply my duty. I exchanged about a dozen blows with that man, but I didn’t truly defeat him. He simply realized it was difficult to win and retreated. I wanted to pursue him, but someone was covering for me, so I lost track of him.” Master Leshan opened his hand, revealing a beautifully crafted silver-white flower in his palm.
“The Heartbreak Flower,” a Beggar Clan disciple exclaimed.
“I heard that Sirius Zhong Dashan is incredibly strong and skilled with an axe. Since the Heartbreak Flower is covering for that man, could it be Sirius Zhong Dashan?” Elder Dongfang narrowed his eyes.
Just as I was speculating, a servant came to report that a group of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world) figures had arrived. I went out to greet them and was taken aback when I saw them. There were more than a dozen people, all looking exhausted, and several of them had bandages on their bodies, as if they had recently been in a fierce battle. What surprised me even more was their identities; they were all the top gangsters and tyrants of the major underworld forces in Jiangnan.
When Cao Xiong was rampant in Jiangnan, his principle for dealing with his associates was "those who submit to me prosper, those who oppose me perish," and
his methods were extremely ruthless and cruel. The people in front of me were all underworld figures who had been forced to submit to Cao Xiong or had formed deep-seated hatred with him.
When Cao Xiong's power was at its peak, they either bowed down and submitted or fled to the mountains. Later, after Cao Xiong was defeated by us and his whereabouts became unknown, his trusted elites also suffered heavy losses. They seized the opportunity to make a comeback, dividing up Cao Xiong's territory and re-dividing their power, while also hunting down and killing people associated with Cao Xiong to eliminate any future threats.
Therefore, the news of Cao Xiong's reappearance terrified them the most. Although these people had long since arrived in Zhenjiang, they had been acting independently, investigating Cao Xiong's whereabouts on their own.
Last night, while we were attacked by our old enemies, these now-powerful underworld figures were also attacked at their camp outside the city. A mysterious figure with extraordinary martial arts skills stormed into their camp one after another in a single night, striking and retreating swiftly, leaving many skilled fighters dead in his surprise attacks. After comparing their accounts, everyone discovered that the attacker used Cao Xiong's unique sword technique from back then.
"Third Master Meng, Elder Dongfang, Cao Xiong is incredibly audacious, actually assassinating the revered Wan Jia Sheng Fo Long and Second Master Lu. He is now the public enemy of the Jiangnan martial arts world. If this villain is not eliminated, he will cause endless trouble. In my opinion, only through sincere cooperation can we find Cao Xiong's whereabouts and kill him." The leader of the Hai Sha Gang was always known for his eloquence, and today's encounter proved his reputation well-deserved.
When Cao Xiong was in power, he practically wiped out all the threatening rivals in the underworld. His accumulated power meant that few of these underworld bosses were truly formidable now; their rhetoric was probably far superior to their skills, which explained their demand for cooperation.
Just then, news came from the Beggars' Sect that a group of righteous individuals scattered throughout the land had also been attacked last night by a master who called himself Pink Butterfly Yang Jun.
"What a coincidence! Is it really Pink Butterfly Yang Jun?" someone immediately questioned.
"We checked the list of those attacked; they were all friends from the underworld who participated in the pursuit of the Yang Ming and Yang Jun brothers back then." The Beggars' Sect's efficiency was indeed impressive; they even found these people.
My third brother and I exchanged a glance, and I saw the doubt in his eyes. I nodded slightly.
"With everyone working together, we can definitely take down these public enemies of the martial arts world to appease our comrades." Finally, for the first time in twenty years, the righteous and wicked factions of Jiangnan officially joined forces.
**********
...

After a brief, casual chat about business, the conversation naturally veered off-topic. I always treated these managers from Huichunzhai with utmost courtesy and caution, afraid they might feel neglected.
"Young Master, I heard there was a burglary at your residence a few days ago. Is everything alright? Please be extra careful."
"I heard that Master Long and Master Lu have both gone there. I've met them a few times; they're both good people. I'll have to offer them incense later."
"I heard that quite a few capable people have moved into your residence. I wonder if Master Leshan is here these days? It's been a long time since I had a drink with him."
I remember Manager Han used to be known for his shrewdness and never uttered a word of nonsense. Now, he's become so talkative. He must be getting old. Perhaps I should start looking for a successor. However, I still smiled and brushed him off, "Thanks to you, nothing serious happened at home."
"A memorial service? Sure, I'll go with you to the mourning hall later."
"Master Leshan, he went out to investigate with my Third Brother Meng and Fourth Brother Huotoutuo this morning, it seems to be the Gaoyou and Yangzhou area. What, you and the Master are old acquaintances?"
"Oh, Master Ding and Master Leshan used to be sworn brothers, so I got to know him too.
By the way, a year ago the Master came to Wuchang and told me a lot about what happened to Manager Ding back then, especially the year he had his accident. Last night I heard Old Li from Yangzhou say that he's going to accompany the Master to visit the Slender West Lake in a few days..."
Listening to the old shopkeeper's rambling, my mind was already on Third Brother and his group. After Cao Xiong and his group were spotted last time, Master Leshan insisted that the mysterious figure might have some connection with Cao Xiong. Therefore, he strongly urged my third and fourth brothers to go to Doctor Ding's hometown to investigate, hoping to find some clues.
I originally wanted to go too, but I was left behind. The reason, of course, was that I was the host and had to stay in Zhenjiang to coordinate the actions of the various families. Speaking of which, Master Leshan has always been rather cold to me. Even after I saved Ding Lanxin, he only offered a perfunctory "thank you." It seems he, like his female disciple, doesn't think much of my past romantic affairs
.
I formed a sword incantation with my left hand, and pointed my longsword diagonally downwards, the tip aimed directly at the throat of the old man in black slumped against the wall. "How many accomplices do you have, and where are they hiding?" The old man remained silent, his eyes shifting slightly
. "Do you think I don't know what tricks you're up to? Too bad it won't work on me," I simply stared at him coldly, offering no explanation.
As I emerged from the room, Elder Dongfang Bai of the Beggars' Sect and several disciples leaped down from the opposite rooftop.
"So, did you get any confessions?"
"I got some information," I glanced at the sky, "Is it still not too late to verify it?" Hmph, that old man actually tried to ambush me while I was off guard after taking my confession. He's out of luck.
The underworld still has its ways. To show their sincerity in cooperating, the underworld leaders revealed the hiding places of the spies who escaped the raid on the Feng residence that night. This was the last location we were to raid.
According to the confessions, accomplices of the thieves were hiding in Chuiyang Village, twenty miles from Zhenjiang City. Now, I and several Beggars' Sect experts, led by guides, are standing outside Chuiyang Village. The fields in this area are all planted with mulberry and hemp, a vast expanse of green stretching as far as the eye can see. Only a few ponds offer slightly wider views, and paths wind through the fields, limiting one's field of vision to less than a hundred paces ahead. We wander
along the paths, past small bridges, flowing water, and houses; each village seems quite secluded. After passing five or six houses, a lone thatched hut stands beside a slightly larger pond. According to the confession, this should be it. We dare not be careless. Elder Dongfang made a gesture, and the Beggars' Sect disciples behind him immediately dispersed, surrounding the hut at a distance.
I walked in front, my left hand forming a sword incantation, my right hand holding a long sword to protect my chest and abdomen. Using my lightness skill, I landed at the door, kicked it open, and rushed inside. At the same time, several loud bangs echoed as Elder Dongfang and two other Beggars' Sect experts also forced their way in through the front door and windows.
Seemingly surprised by the sudden intrusion, the person inside stood frozen in place. We were stunned as well; we had expected to see several burly thieves, but instead, we were confronted with a one-armed, one-legged, emaciated, and disheveled old man. Elder Dongfang and I exchanged bewildered glances.
Suddenly, the old man hopped and pounced on me, brandishing his broken wooden cane and cursing. I easily dodged him. "Old man, you've misunderstood. We're not robbers," I quickly explained.
"You, surnamed Feng, you actually found your way here! It's either you or me today! If you have the guts, kill me!" The old man ignored everything I said, continuing to wildly swing his cane and hurl insults. If looks could kill, I probably would have been dead dozens of times over. This old man actually recognized me! I then looked him over more closely and, upon closer inspection, realized his face seemed vaguely familiar.
"You...you are Shen Gongliang, the former number one warrior of the Chaohu pirates! You are Shen Gongliang! You're still alive?"
I finally recognized the old man's true identity. Shen Gongliang, once known in the martial world as "Treading the Waves for Eight Hundred Miles," was second only to Mad Shark Li Han among the pirates, and his martial arts were even superior. I remember that day when we fought, he was knocked into the water by Fourth Brother. I thought he was dead, but who knew he'd been hiding here all this time.
Looking at his unsteady gait, I knew in my heart that the once-renowned Shen Gongliang had lost all his martial arts skills. That missing leg and arm were the work of Fourth Brother, Fire Monk. Seeing Shen Gongliang's furious expression, and looking at the bare walls of the thatched hut, without even a complete set of furniture, this once-heroic figure had fallen so low. Although he was also our enemy, my heart felt heavy, and a bitter feeling rose in my throat.
"Fifth Hero Feng, do you want to ask him for a statement?" Elder Dongfang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.
**********
...

"You're awake? Feeling better?" Youlan's lovely face appeared above me, and her gentle voice was probably the most comforting thing at this moment.
"Yesterday, I was drunk?"
"I've served you for so many years, and I've never seen you so drunk." Youlan's face showed a hint of worry.
I couldn't remember the last time I was drunk. In the past two years, I've become quite adept at drinking, learning all sorts of tricks, and I rarely get completely drunk anymore. Last night, I only remembered that after returning from that village, I was in a very low mood, and I grabbed my sixth brother, Ge Zhiping, who was on night patrol, and asked to have a few drinks with him. It was okay at first, but I completely forgot what happened afterward.
"Where's my sixth brother?" I was already this drunk, and his alcohol tolerance is far worse than mine. I wondered what he must have become last night.
"He left the city before the gates closed last night and hasn't returned yet." I looked up and saw Su Hong standing at the door, looking exhausted, with bloodshot eyes.
"Seventh sister, what's wrong?" I was stunned.
"You still have the nerve to ask what happened? Yesterday you were drunk like a dead pig, completely unconscious; and Ge Liuxia rushed out of the city all by himself, leaving Su Hong to guard the manor alone all night. Luckily, everything is alright, otherwise… Humph…" Ding Lanxin, dressed in green and carrying a sword, emerged from behind Su Hong, her pretty face frosty, as if I owed her money.
"I didn't expect Fifth Uncle to drink like this. I always heard Tianfeng say that Fifth Uncle could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, but it turns out he can actually get drunk." Wanyue stood quietly at the back, a tolerant and understanding smile on her lips.
My head still ached, but I had to bear it in front of so many people. But, they just said that Sixth Brother went out of the city overnight, what happened? Wasn't he drunk?
Hearing my question, they all looked at me strangely. Youlan asked cautiously, "Husband, do you not remember anything about last night?" I nodded a little awkwardly.
“I don’t know why Sixth Master was in such a hurry to leave the city so late,” Youlan looked at me questioningly. “I only heard him say things like ‘revenge is the priority,’ ‘abandon empty fame,’ and ‘don’t be sentimental.’ Before I could ask him any more questions, he rode off.”
After racking my brains for a while, I finally remembered something. Yesterday, we ultimately didn’t interrogate Shen Gongliang. The Beggars’ Sect has always had a rule: “Don’t indiscriminately harm the innocent, especially ordinary people with disabilities who don’t know martial arts.” After all, many beggars are forced to beg because they are disabled and unable to survive.
The main reason was that Dongfang Bai and the others felt that Shen Gongliang was so destitute that he didn’t seem like someone who could be involved in any conspiracy. And my Feng family has a long tradition of medicine; unless someone is extremely wicked, we generally don’t attack ordinary people who don’t know martial arts, let alone those with disabilities. More importantly, looking at Shen Gongliang, I felt I couldn’t bring myself to do it…
Last night, in my drunken stupor, I think I told my sixth brother a lot, including my dilemma after encountering Shen Gongliang. My sixth brother must not want to put me in a difficult position, and fearing Shen Gongliang would escape overnight, he went to personally interrogate him. However, Chuiyang Village isn't far from the city, why hasn't my sixth brother returned yet? I subconsciously glanced out the window and realized it was already past noon.
"He rode my Clawed Yellow Flying Lightning? Then he should have been back long ago. Is Shen Gongliang really that troublesome?" I felt a little uneasy.
"Young master, young master!" A servant stumbled in, his voice filled with panic, audible from afar.
"What?! Zhaohuang Feidian is back? What about my sixth brother?" I jumped up, unable to believe what I had just heard 　　 . "Impossible! How could 　　this 　　be 　　?!"
**************** ... 　　“Yes, this afternoon our disciples arrived at Chuiyang Village and found Shen Gongliang’s body. He was killed with a brutal method, but we can’t figure out how,” Elder Dongfang Bai chimed in. 　　I remained silent. Although Brother Meng San didn’t say anything, and Daoist Leshan, Elder Dongfang, and other fellow practitioners tried their best to comfort me, I couldn’t help but feel that their gazes were filled with something strange, as if they clearly wrote “murderer” in their eyes. 　　“What do you think about Sixth Brother’s situation?” As we left the mourning hall, Third Brother pulled me aside and asked. 　　I gave a bitter smile. “I… I really have no clue,” I mustered my courage and looked him straight in the eyes. “Third Brother, you… you won’t blame me for this mistake…” 　　After a long silence, he looked directly into my eyes, his face calm and expressionless. “That’s right, the problem with Sixth Brother’s death was indeed your fault.” 　　These words struck me like a blow to the head, leaving me stunned. I opened my mouth to argue, but the words stuck in my throat. 　　Third Brother ignored the grim expression on my face and said directly, "Sixth Brother left the city on a whim. How could he have been spotted by the enemy outside the city? If he had encountered the enemy who wanted to silence him in Chuiyang Village, even if he couldn't win, he could have escaped. For martial arts masters of our caliber, the difference between being defeated and being killed is quite significant." 　　He paused and continued, "You know, there are spies everywhere. If they didn't have accurate information, why would Cao Xiong and the others risk showing themselves? The only explanation is that someone sent a message from you, allowing them to leave their hiding place and set up an ambush. Just like they did to Eldest Brother..." 　　"The people around me?" I suddenly realized that Third Brother had suspected the people in my household from the beginning. This was understandable; among my brothers, my family was the most crowded and gossipy. 　　"Then, Third Brother, who do you think it is?" I felt a tightness in my chest. After all, I had always considered my family members as my own, and suspecting any one of them was not a comfortable thing. 　　After parting ways with my third brother, I wandered aimlessly around the manor. The events of the past few days had been more numerous than anything I'd experienced in my entire decade-long journey through the martial world. Perhaps, if I hadn't made it to my second brother's house that day, everything would still be the same as always, the seven of us siblings happily roaming the martial world together, punishing evil and promoting good. 　　"No," I smiled bitterly and shook my head, realizing I was overthinking again. My eldest brother was the first to be assassinated; it was all destined long ago, and nothing could change it. 　　There was no point in dwelling on the mistakes already made. I looked down at the longsword that had been with me for over twenty years and murmured, "Only you can help me get through this." 　　Suddenly, I heard a few clear, ringing sounds. I turned to see a beautiful woman in white sitting alone by the pond, holding a guqin. 　　"Wan Yue," before I could even greet her, the music began again. At first, it was low and mournful, like a wisp of smoke drifting in the wind, yet it was continuous and unending. Gradually, the music shifted to a higher, more passionate tone, even carrying a clanging sound, and one could vaguely sense a murderous aura. As the music entered my ears, the sorrow and regret that had been weighing on my heart seemed to gradually dissipate, replaced by a surge of passionate courage that I couldn't contain. I was so 　　engrossed in listening that I didn't even notice when Wanyue finished playing. Coming to my senses, I only saw Wanyue's slender, graceful back. 　　"Wanyue, thank you. Without your comfort, I..." Suddenly, I realized that this was the first time I had called Wanyue by her name; before, I had always called her Second Sister-in-law. 　　I seemed to see her slender shoulders tremble slightly as she lowered her head and softly replied, "No need, I just didn't want to see you like this..." Before she could finish, she quickened her pace and disappeared around the corner. 　　"Master!" Just as I was still in a daze, Youlan's voice came from afar. 　　I realized that for the first time, I hated being disturbed in my peace and quiet, and I even felt like I'd been caught red-handed. 　　"Master, dinner is ready. Shall we go to the study, or back to Cangyun Courtyard?" 　　"Let's go to Cangyun Courtyard. You go first, I'll be back in a bit." I deliberately kept my tone consistent. Watching Youlan leave with a sense of relief, I couldn't help but sigh deeply. "Come out, have you seen enough?" 　　Ding Lanxin emerged from behind the rockery, her hesitant demeanor quite different from her usual icy coldness. But I had no time to pay attention at the moment. "Your lightness skill is really quite good, is it 'Treading Snow Without a Trace'? I thought it was a cat just now." 　　Her pretty face flushed red instantly. "You, I saw you've been listless these past few days, so I came over..." 　　"Comed to watch my show, huh? Do you think I, Feng Yuxuan, am so useless?" I suddenly felt a surge of anger rising within me, and I had to find a place to vent it. 　　"You," I seemed to see tears welling up in her eyes, "you don't know what's good for you." Watching her quickly disappear into the distance, I regretted my words. Why did I take it out on a little girl? 　　Walking along the path back to the courtyard, I seemed to catch a glimpse of a shadow in the corner of my eye. I chased after it into a bamboo grove, then suddenly stopped, facing the familiar figure. 　　My throat felt hoarse. "Su Hong, I...I'm so sorry. Sixth Brother's death was all my fault, all my fault...If I had been ruthless enough to get a confession from Shen Gongliang, Sixth Brother wouldn't have left the city that night and been killed." I needed to muster all my courage to say these words. 　　Su Hong suddenly threw herself into my arms, her slender hand gently pressing against my lips, stopping me from continuing. "Don't say it, don't say it anymore. I only have you now, only you." Su Hong murmured repeatedly, her full, firm body clinging tightly to me, as if trying to squeeze into my body. 　　(VI) 　　 " 　　 What do you think?" 　　I had just stood up when Brother Meng asked for my opinion. Glancing at the corpse on the ground, I nodded to Gu Changfeng beside me, "Just as Boss Gu said, he was stabbed in the heart from behind and died."

Indeed, I hadn't expected it. Meng San and I discussed the assassination of our sixth brother and found something quite suspicious.
Someone must have tipped off Cao Xiong and his group, and that person was hiding in my house. I immediately began a secret investigation of the servants. Youlan had been managing many things at home for the past two years, and after discussing it with me, she compiled a list of about seven or eight names. We investigated them one by one, and when we traced the stables to a groom, he was found dead in an alley outside the side gate.
Whether this groom was truly a pawn planted by Cao Xiong
or not, we had to conduct a thorough investigation of him. The result shocked me: his father was a member of the underworld, killed by us brothers during a chivalrous act years ago. Therefore, his purpose in working for my family was self-evident.
At this moment, a Beggar Clan disciple ran over and whispered a few words in Elder Dongfang's ear. Elder Dongfang nodded and said to us, "Our disciples just discovered that this groom sometimes enters and exits a house in the east of the city. The residents there seem quite suspicious. Shall we all go and take a look?"
I grabbed my third brother, who was about to leave. "Third brother, I'll go this time. You stay here and keep watch." His eyes looked at me with a questioning gaze. "Sixth brother's death was caused by me. No matter what, I will avenge him with my own hands." Moved by my determination, my third brother nodded in agreement to my actions.
With a bang, I kicked open the door and rushed in, sword in hand. A large cleaver came crashing down on my head. With a few quick parries and thrusts of my sword, I cornered the burly man wielding the cleaver. My fourth brother and seventh sister, who followed behind, also subdued their opponents in just a few moves.
"Tell me, where is Cao Xiong hiding?" My fourth brother, Huo Toutuo, grabbed a burly man's shoulder and demanded sharply.
Fourth Brother's large hands were bulging with veins, the burly man's shoulder joints were cracking, and beads of cold sweat kept dripping from his forehead. But he was tough enough to refuse, stubbornly refusing to utter a word.
Just as the stalemate reached its peak, a beggar-looking boy ran in, panting, "Fifth Master Feng, Third Master Meng...something's happened! You'd better hurry back and help!" He then leaned against the door, coughing violently.
"Where?" I grabbed him, ignoring his heavy breathing.
"The back garden."
Ignoring the captive, I turned and rushed out. With a whoosh, Su Hong had already swept past like a gust of wind. There was no time to go around the gate; I flew to the back garden wall and used my lightness skill to leap over it.
"Here! Here!" someone in the garden exclaimed. My heart tightened, and I turned and ran in that direction. Before I even arrived, another scream rang out, "Meng Sanxia, Meng Sanxia!"
"He, he's been attacked!"
"Third Brother!" A heart-wrenching roar came from Fourth Brother, Huo Tou Tuo.
Under a large, leafy tree, Meng Sanxia lay quietly on the ground, lifeless, a large pool of dark red liquid beneath him.
His eyes were wide open, his expression strange, not the one I was used to seeing; he seemed surprised and incredulous. He clutched his pair of judge's pens tightly in his hands. A fatal wound, a deep stab wound in his chest, appeared to be from a sharp object, and seven gleaming silver flower-shaped hidden weapons were neatly embedded in his back.
"There's another person here," someone called out from not far away.
"Where?" I hurriedly pushed through the crowd and rushed over.
"It's a little beggar, already dead," the martial artist who found him shouted again.
"Is he a member of our sect?" A deep voice sounded beside me, and before he finished speaking, a burly figure had already rushed past me. "What incredible lightness of foot!" That was the only thought that flashed through my mind.
"He's not dead yet 　　 ," Elder Dongfang announced loudly after taking his pulse. "
That's Chen Xiaoqi from the Yangzhou branch! Isn't he in charge of patrolling the alleys outside the back garden wall?" another Beggar Clan disciple couldn't 　　help but 　　say .
**************** ... 　　Mo Jiuyang stroked his long beard. "He's definitely beyond saving; the injuries are too severe. At most, I can prolong his life a few more days with medicine." I exchanged glances with the others in the room; it seemed they all shared the same thought. 　　"Mr. Mo, is it possible for him to wake up and speak?" I asked him cautiously. 　　"That's possible, but it would only be a final burst of energy, a fleeting moment." He sighed, looking at me. "Do you hope he can regain consciousness and say a few words?" 　　I trembled all over, my blood seemed to be boiling, and anger completely overwhelmed my grief. The expression on Third Brother's face after his death, the hidden weapon in his back, and the two words uttered by the little beggar—all pointed to the fact that Third Brother's death was the work of an inside traitor, personally carried out by an inside traitor. 　　I had already roughly inquired about the details of the incident from Youlan. Because my mother was a devout Buddhist, she had specially built a small Buddhist shrine, "Yangxin Hall," in a secluded spot beside the back garden of the mansion, where she worshipped day and night. After her passing, no one came here, but I still had the servants clean it regularly. 　　After we left to investigate the clues, my second sister-in-law Wanyue, my personal maid Youlan, and Ding Lanxin went to the Yangxin Hall to burn incense. Given the unpredictable situation, the women couldn't leave home to pray at temples, so the family shrine at home was a small way to express their feelings. Meng Sange, considering the remote location of the Yangxin Hall, accompanied us outside. After bowing to the Buddha statue, my second sister-in-law Wanyue, feeling tired, went to rest in a side room. Youlan and Ding Lanxin chatted in the courtyard while waiting. 　　While they were talking, they heard Meng Sange shouting loudly outside. Ding Lanxin immediately drew her sword and went to help. Youlan wanted to immediately go and call for reinforcements, but worried that my second sister-in-law, who was still resting, would be unprotected. So, she took the hidden arrow I gave her and guarded the courtyard alone until we returned. She then learned that Meng Sange had also been assassinated. 　　 The long night stretched on as I walked slowly along the cobblestone path. The little beggar had been placed in a secret location. Mo Jiuyang had prescribed medicine, several ingredients of which even the Baicaotang Zhenjiang flagship store lacked, requiring sourcing from elsewhere. Once the medicine was ready, the little beggar should regain consciousness for a while. At that time, I would personally tear that traitor to pieces. The road ahead ended. I looked at the solitary house blocking the way, two simple doors with the three large characters "Yangxintang" above them. However, it seemed someone was inside. I pushed open the door. The walls 　　 were 　　bare 　　except for a Buddha statue at the front, a long altar table with two incense burners at either end, and several prayer cushions scattered in front of the Buddha statue. A long-haired girl was kneeling on a prayer mat with her back to me, her hands clasped together, murmuring something to the Buddha statue. Hearing my voice, she turned around; it was Ding Lanxin. 　　"You also believe Buddha will protect us?" I walked to her side, looking at the stone statue that always seemed to coldly observe the world. 　　"I don't know. Sister Youlan said that as long as we are sincere, Buddha will hear our wishes." Ding Lanxin lowered her head again.

Youlan, I gave a silent, bitter smile. For some reason, she was particularly superstitious, often going to the Fuxin Nunnery in the east of the city to pray and ask the nuns for divination. Today, she, Wanyue, and Lanxin came to Yangxin Hall together to pray for Buddha's blessing.
I also reached for an incense stick, lit it beside the incense burner, and placed it in the burner, watching the wisps of smoke rise like clouds and mist. After a while, the dignified Buddha appeared and disappeared in the swirling smoke. Is Buddha truly efficacious? If so, why did my brothers die so tragically and inexplicably, and we haven't even caught a glimpse of our enemies? All these years of chivalry and helping the weak, is this how we end up?
"I'm sorry, I was a step too late when I got there today, otherwise…"
Lanxin stood up, her bright eyes staring intently through the hazy smoke. I felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze. “It’s late, and there’s a lot to do tomorrow. You
should get some rest too.” After saying that, I didn’t dare look her in the eye and quickly took a few steps to leave this somewhat awkward place. I hadn’t gone far when my clothes were tugged from behind, forcing me to stop. Turning around, I saw Ding Lanxin’s small hand tightly gripping the hem of my clothes, her eyes fixed on me. “Are you blaming me? Do you think it’s my fault? Do you think the deaths of the Three Heroes are my responsibility?” Her voice trembled with a hint of determination, her face still flushed with excitement, her delicate nostrils flaring.
“No, even if you got there immediately, it wouldn’t have mattered. Don’t blame yourself.”
Her face still flushed, she sighed softly and said gently, “I know how you felt when the Six Heroes died. I don’t want to rest now. Can you talk to me for a while?” Although she was asking for my opinion, the resolute tone in her voice made it impossible for me to refuse.
A long silence followed.
“Well then, let’s sit down and talk slowly.” Seeing that she didn’t seem to intend to leave anytime soon, I took two prayer mats and we each sat down.
“How many years have you been studying under Master Leshan?” Not knowing what to say, I asked casually.
“Two or three years. Let’s not talk about that, tell me your story.” She tilted her head slightly, her face full of curiosity.
“What do you want to hear?” I sighed helplessly, silently hoping she wouldn’t ask too difficult a question.
“You’re the young master of Baicaotang, so tell me about your Baicaotang.”
This was truly unexpected. I’d met many young women like this before, mostly swayed by my reputation as a handsome young man from a prestigious family, pestering me to tell them stories of my travels in the martial world. However, most of them wanted to hear about my deeds of fighting evil and upholding justice in the martial world; none of them were interested in stories about business.
Ding Lanxin, she really is a strange woman. I picked a few important events in the history of Baicaotang and told her about them. She seemed genuinely interested, asking questions constantly. Finally, after hearing the story of how we persuaded the governor of Huguang to spare the many employees of Huichunzhai after it was shut down due to a lawsuit, and how we bought back the business at a high price,
she remained silent for a long time, her head lowered, obscuring her expression. Only the fine downy hair on the back of her fair neck lay obediently against her skin.
The sandalwood incense on the offering table had almost burned out, its faint, sweet fragrance filling the Buddhist hall.
"It's late," I stood up. "Those are all old stories, let's rest early."
"Mmm," Lanxin murmured, swaying as she stood up from the prayer mat, seemingly unsteady on her feet.
"Are you alright?" I asked, somewhat worried.
"I guess I've been sitting for too long," she said, placing a hand on her forehead and furrowing her brows slightly, completely lacking her usual spoiled nature, making her all the more endearing.
She turned her head to look at me, her pearly teeth biting her red lips, her eyes unusually bright and alluring.
"Go back and rest," I said, a strange feeling stirring within me, yet I urged her again.
She reached out her slender hand and grasped my arm, her body slowly pressing against mine, her face flushed, her breath quickening, her delicate fragrance gently brushing against my face.
"You really don't blame me?" her voice was soft, as if she were in a dream. "If you punish me, maybe I'll feel better, maybe I can sleep tonight."
A surge of desire coursed through me, my arms involuntarily encircling her leaning body, my hands instinctively pressing against her soft back and firm buttocks. Feeling the curvaceous body in my arms, a certain part of my body uncontrollably hardened and swelled.
I found my body seemingly controlled by some intense desire, my lips frantically kissing Ding Lanxin's delicate cheeks, earlobes, and neck, wishing I could swallow her whole. Finally, my lips caught those two rose-red lips. In that instant, I felt as if I were floating on clouds, experiencing ecstasy.
When I came to my senses, my hands were tearing open Ding Lanxin's undergarments, rags scattered on the floor. Her face was flushed, her beauty captivating, her eyes sparkling, her allure breathtaking. She offered no resistance, instead twisting her body in a half-resistance, half-acceptance manner, making it easier for me to remove her last piece of clothing.
A sliver of reason told me something was amiss, but my body was completely beyond my control, continuing its actions. When my rock-hard penis pressed against her mysterious, tender spot, my already dwindling control finally crumbled. My hands gripped her waist tightly, my fingers digging deep into her soft skin, and with a thrust, I entered that narrow, deep valley.
A young girl's private parts are indeed incredibly narrow, especially for an inexperienced girl; my penis was even slightly painfully squeezed.
However, perhaps due to arousal, her private parts were covered in a sensual, nectar-like substance. As my penis slowly penetrated deeper, her tight, narrow vaginal walls secreted copious amounts of nectar, lubricating my advance.
When my penis was halfway in, the glans encountered an obstacle—that must have been her hymen. Now, just one more step forward, and Ding Lanxin's testicles would be taken away. Hesitating for only a moment, I cast aside all my concerns, concentrated my strength in my lower body, and thrust forward with a sudden burst.
"Ah...ah..." Ding Lanxin's beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of pain appearing on her face, but it was quickly masked by her shy, passionate desire. The young girl's newly opened flower path was indeed exceptionally narrow, and my penis was even feeling a little sore from being squeezed. I tried to be gentle, allowing the newly deflowered girl to adapt quickly.
"A little harder, a little deeper..." She adapted quickly, her snow-white arms tightly gripping my waist, her small white buttocks rising high, oblivious to the danger, welcoming my thrusts.
"This is what you wanted. Don't blame me if you can't get out of bed tomorrow."
I frantically kneaded her soft, tofu-like breasts and slender waist, thrusting my hips forcefully, as if I wanted to break her apart.
"Ah...so big...ahhh..." The virgin girl didn't know any lewd words. Overwhelmed with pleasure, she could only utter a few simple words and syllables like "uh-ah," but these clear, innocent voices only fueled my lust.
I lifted her snow-white, smooth legs and placed them on my shoulders, allowing my hard, iron-like penis to penetrate even deeper into her body, each thrust reaching her uterus. Her body slowly heated up, and with each contraction of her vaginal walls, waves of heat rolled up my shaft, and my thrusting speed increased.
"It's broken, I'm going to break... Ahh..." Her consciousness seemed to be gradually leaving her, although her body was still unconsciously responding to my thrusts. Beads of sweat seeped from all over her body, carrying the unique fragrance
of a young woman. My emotions were also gradually reaching their peak, and my movements became more and more urgent. "Ah... Ah... Flying, flying..." With a soft cry from Ding Lanxin, I thrust deeply into her deepest part. An unprecedented pleasure surged into my heart, and 　　 my ejaculation was released, my semen shooting right into her flower core.
********** ...
Master Leshan had been silently watching for a while when he suddenly said, "That's enough. Let's stop practicing here for today."
Ding Lanxin stopped, wiping the sweat from her forehead and neck. Master Leshan glanced at me, seemingly casually, and whispered something to Lanxin. Lanxin appeared to acknowledge him and left. Master Leshan, with his hands behind his back, slowly walked towards me.
I watched him approach nervously. As he passed me, he merely nodded and walked on without a word. I quickened my pace to catch up. We walked silently along several paths, stepping onto the small bridge over the garden pond. I could no longer bear the oppressive feeling and spoke first, "Master, it's not Lanxin's fault. It's all my fault. If there is any punishment, I, Feng Yuxuan, am willing to accept it."
Master Leshan stopped, gripping the railing and gazing at the shimmering water. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Do you know Lanxin's family background?"
I hadn't expected him to ask this. Did the Taoist of Leshan think we were not a good match? I hesitated for a moment and honestly replied, "I don't know. Please enlighten me, Taoist Master. I will prepare all the 　　 betrothal gifts immediately. I will definitely not let Junior Sister Ding down. Please rest assured on that point
. 　　" **************** 　　... The little beggar was lying in the main room, and Fourth Brother, Fire Monk, was surely guarding the door. This stubborn Fourth Brother wouldn't listen to any persuasion; he insisted on personally guarding the little beggar's bedside, wanting to be the first to know the traitor's name. 　　Master Leshan stood in the center of the courtyard, hands behind his back, head bowed, seemingly in a meditative state, motionless. Hearing me enter, he merely glanced at me indifferently. Perhaps I was imagining things, but I sensed less hostility and coldness in his eyes, and more warmth. I walked to his side and stood there silently with him. 　　Suddenly, the sound of rapid hooves came from afar—two horses galloping towards us. Could it be the medicine delivery person? Sure enough, I heard the hooves stop at the main gate, followed by a knock at the front door. I turned and walked towards the front courtyard; whether the visitor was one of my pharmacy's employees needed to be confirmed personally. Master Leshan, clearly concerned about the same thing, followed behind me. 　　Upon entering the front courtyard, I saw two men dressed as shop assistants in blue robes and hats standing with their heads bowed before the steps, one of them holding a box. I had never seen either of them before; after all, I had several hundred employees under my command, and I didn't usually manage the counter's affairs. 　　"You must be under Manager Liu of Yingtian. What are your names? Did you bring the medicine? By the way, is Master Cheng's asthma any better? Last time I visited, Manager Wang Er had just had a baby; how is he now?" 　　I bombarded them with questions, carefully observing their reactions. 　　The empty-handed shop assistant, a short man in his early thirties, bowed respectfully and replied, "I am Wang Fugui, now in charge of the medicine storeroom. I brought the medicine," pointing to the assistant beside him, "It's in the box in Guo Er's hand. We don't have anyone named Cheng Fuzi in our shop. Is the young master referring to Cheng Laosan at the counter? His asthma has improved a lot. Manager Wang Er doesn't have a son yet. Last time you came, he had a daughter." 　　Gu Changfeng, Elder Dongfang, and Daoist Leshan listened attentively, all looking at me at the same time. I nodded to them; the assistant was right, he should indeed be an assistant from the Yingtian branch. I beckoned to the tall, thin, sallow-faced assistant named Guo Er to come to the hall with the box. 　　Suddenly, a scream came from the backyard—it was my fourth brother's voice. I jumped up abruptly, not bothering to speak, and used my lightness skill to leap towards the backyard. As I approached the entrance to the passageway, a figure flashed past me—Master Leshan had actually rushed into the passageway ahead of me. 　　At that moment, a furious roar suddenly erupted from the front courtyard—it was Elder Dongfang's voice, followed by the sounds of fists and kicks, and tables and chairs being overturned. Were those two men imposters? Hearing my fourth brother's incessant roar, I gritted my teeth; it was more important to reinforce him first. I 　　rushed through the passageway, and just as I was about to rush out, a double-edged giant axe suddenly appeared from the side, aimed at Master Leshan. The passageway was narrow, offering little room to maneuver, and the axe was about to strike. Master Leshan, as expected of one of the top masters in Jiangnan, stopped abruptly, his longsword instantly drawn, deflecting the axe with a clang. He then shouted, "Sirius Zhong Dashan?" 　　A burly man in blue robes appeared at the entrance of the passageway, his face contorted with grotesque features, his eyes blazing with ferocity. Without a word, he wielded his axe with both hands, hacking and slashing fiercely at Master Leshan. After watching a few moves, I grew increasingly anxious. In an open space, Master Leshan should have been able to defeat him within thirty moves, but this passageway was narrow, barely wide enough for one person, with no room to maneuver on either side. I couldn't intervene, so Master Leshan was forced to clash head-on with Zhong Dashan, who possessed immense strength. The two were locked in a stalemate. 　　Hearing my fourth brother's increasingly urgent roars, I couldn't wait any longer. I gathered my energy and soared into the sky, striking the walls on either side several times before leaping over the two combatants. I had originally intended to lend Master Leshan a hand, but seeing my fourth brother's precarious situation, I immediately drew my sword and rushed over. 　　Inside the courtyard, my fourth brother's twin blades flashed up and down, the wind from them fierce and almost tangible. But the gray-clad man he was fighting was handsome enough to be a woman, wielding a short, pure steel dagger, his movements swift and unpredictable, like a ghost. 　　Yang Jun, the Pink Butterfly—when did his martial arts become so formidable? Did he master the Dongxuan Scripture after his escape? Fourth Brother's twin blades were utterly ineffective against him, instead being repeatedly stabbed, blood splattering everywhere. 　　Forgetting all the rules of the martial world, I joined the fray the moment I landed. My inner energy surged, my sword qi crisscrossing, unleashing a series of techniques: the delicate and intricate "Clouds Think of Clothes, Flowers Think of Faces," the seemingly unorthodox yet powerful "Slanting Wind and Fine Rain Need Not Return," the imposing "Dark Clouds Press Down on the City, As If to Destroy It," the cold and chilling "Autumn Wind and Autumn Rain, So Sorrowful," the elusive "Chaotic Clouds Fly Across with Ease," and the all-pervasive "Endless Drizzle, Fine as Sorrow." 　　The more I fought, the more chilled I became. I had unleashed my full power with my prized Cloud and Rain Sword Technique, but Yang Jun seemed to have lost his physical form, becoming a mere phantom, moving freely amidst the sword light, untouched by the clouds or rain, even occasionally counterattacking. When my longsword clashed with his steel spikes, a chilling internal force always surged up the blade. Although I managed to deflect it each time, it drained my energy. If it weren't for my fourth brother's twin swords restraining him, I would have been covered in wounds like him, the Fire Monk.

But this can't go on; I'll be worn down soon enough. My only hope now is to hold out until Elder Dongfang and Daoist Leshan finish off their opponent and come to my aid. Suddenly, a roar echoed from the front courtyard, a voice laced with pain. It was Elder Dongfang; was he already at his limit?
In that moment of distraction, Yang Jun had already broken through my sword net and closed in on my center. I retreated relentlessly, my longsword dancing wildly, hoping to force him away. But the new wounds on my body and the increasingly intense pain reminded me that Yang Jun was slowly sealing off my sword path; I probably had less than twenty moves left. With
a clang, my longsword was deflected again, and a steel spike, gleaming brightly, aimed at my heart. I tried to retreat two more steps to avoid it, but a sudden drain of energy from my dantian prevented me from taking another step. Watching the steel spike approach, countless memories flashed through my mind. Was I going to die?
(
VII)
Just as the steel spike was about to touch my clothes, Yang Jun suddenly recoiled, the spike snapping back and striking the chest of the Fire Monk who had lunged at him from behind. Fourth Brother didn't even flinch; with a roar, he clasped his arms together, tightly embracing Yang Jun. This
was a golden opportunity, one I couldn't let slip by. I channeled my inner energy, unleashing the Feng family's secret life-saving technique, the Heavenly Dragon Five Forms, "Transforming into a Dragon Upon Encountering Wind and Clouds," my longsword thrusting relentlessly towards Yang Jun's vitals. Yang Jun was momentarily paralyzed, and I was overjoyed to see the sword about to pierce his throat. Suddenly, the sword seemed frozen in place, unable to advance even an inch. Looking closely, I saw that Yang Jun's left hand was firmly gripping the blade; his hand was bloodless, glowing white, and not a drop of blood had flowed.
I tried twice to circulate my inner energy, but it felt like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly futile. Then, Yang Jun, after several unsuccessful attempts to pull out the steel spike, raised his right hand, discarding the spike, and struck the Fire Monk's head with a palm strike. With a soft crack, blood spurted from Fourth Brother's face, his eyes widened, and he died instantly. I had no time for grief. I gripped the sword hilt with both hands, once again channeling all my inner energy into the blade, and pushed with all
my might. The longsword finally moved forward, sliding through his palm with a piercing metallic sound, piercing his throat. Yang Jun's eyes flashed with shock and rage, blood spilling from his mouth. His mouth opened and closed, as if desperately trying to say something but unable to utter a sound. After a while, the light in his eyes slowly faded, and his lifeless body slumped down. Looking at his corpse, I gasped for breath. The grief of losing Fourth Brother and the joy of killing a powerful enemy temporarily made me forget the pain from my wounds.
A flurry of footsteps startled me awake. Looking up, I saw a burly man stumbling towards me from the passageway. I immediately recognized him as Sirius Zhong Dashan, the one who had stopped Daoist Leshan earlier. I quickly pulled my sword from Yang Jun's corpse and held it horizontally in defense. The man seemed to have seen me too; his steps faltered slightly, then he suddenly turned and leaped over the wall, disappearing in an instant.
"He left with an arm," Daoist Leshan said calmly as he emerged from the passageway. "This man's strength was indeed terrifying; even I couldn't withstand it." Before he could finish speaking, he coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Daoist, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he replied, his gaze sweeping to my feet. "Master Huo... was that Yang Jun?"
Before I could answer, a figure suddenly shot out from the passageway behind Daoist Leshan, hurtling towards him like a meteor.
"Daoist, behind you!" I managed to shout a warning. The Taoist priest from Leshan suddenly turned around, his longsword already in hand. Almost simultaneously, he leaped into the air to meet the figure.
The two passed each other in mid-air, and even with my sharp eyesight, I couldn't see how many sword strikes they exchanged.
I only saw them land on the ground almost at the same time, both staggering as they landed.
I finally saw the figure who had rushed out—it was Guo Er, the one who delivered the medicine. His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the soft sword in his hand trembled slightly in the air. When he saw me and the two corpses at his feet, his pupils contracted, and he suddenly turned and leaped towards the south wall, fleeing like Zhong Dashan.
I had already gathered some true energy, channeling it all into my right hand, and hurled my sword at his back. The sword drew an arc in the air, striking Guo Er squarely in the back as he was about to take flight. He swayed a few times, and finally collapsed.
I struggled to his side. He was completely dead. I stroked his face for a moment, then ripped off a human skin mask with a snap. A familiar face was revealed beneath it—it was Cao Xiong. Suddenly, I noticed something gleaming in his hand. I pried it open and saw several exquisitely crafted darts…
Standing up, I saw Master Leshan standing there, motionless. “Master, it’s Cao Xiong! He’s finally dead!” I waved and shouted at him… The dark clouds moved slowly across the sky, and the moon finally peeked out from behind them.
In the moonlight, Master Leshan’s eyes stared straight at me, his expression peculiar. I suddenly noticed a dart deeply embedded in his forehead… Just then, a knock came from the front gate, sounding like a constable from the city. I felt dizzy and then knew nothing more.
**********
...
I put down the celadon bowl in my hand; I had already drunk the ginseng soup in one gulp.
"Delicious, thank you for your hard work." I knew Lanxin probably had never cooked before, so making it like this was quite an achievement.
"Lanxin, you pestered me all day yesterday for this soup," Wanyue said with a gentle smile.
"Sister Wanyue is teasing me again," Lanxin said shyly.
The curtain was lifted, and Suhong walked in, glancing at the two women with a meaningful smile before turning to me: "Fifth Brother, Elder Gu wants to see you. Are you alright?"
It was three days after that fierce battle that night when I finally regained consciousness.
Of all the people in the mansion, only Gu Changfeng and I survived. He had been knocked unconscious by Cao Xiong's palm strike, but his life was not in danger. Elder Dongfang was ambushed by Cao Xiong when Daoist Leshan and I went to the backyard to provide assistance. He was defeated and killed after less than two hundred moves. Of the thieves, only Zhong Dashan escaped with a severed arm. The authorities had already blocked roads near Zhenjiang and issued a warrant for his arrest. However, Wu Lan, the "Heartbreak Flower," remained unseen throughout.
"Is Fifth Hero Feng feeling any better?" Gu Changfeng asked after a few words, then immediately got to the point. "I just received a report that my men captured Zhong Dashan alive in the northern suburbs of the city."
With only one arm, Zhong Dashan couldn't have gone far. I had expected this, but his swift capture was still unexpected.
"However, that fellow is very stubborn. He injured several of my men during the capture, and he himself was also wounded. I'm afraid he won't last much longer." Gu Changfeng spoke with some resentment.
"As long as he reveals the identity of the 'Heartbreak Flower,' that's good enough. Should we move him here and use medicine to keep him alive?" This was the last lead; we couldn't let it die out.
Youlan personally brought in fragrant tea from outside.
Old Gu took the teacup, but smiled at me and said, "Young Master Feng is truly lucky. Those girls were so worried these past two days while you were unconscious. This girl's eyes are swollen from crying." Youlan's face flushed slightly, 　　 and
she replied shyly, "Old Master Gu is just teasing us again."
I smiled too, and then instructed Youlan to arrange an empty room in the manor to imprison Zhong Dashan.

As night fell, I stood quietly in the shade of a tree, gazing at the solitary house before me. The dense foliage concealed my form; only close observation would reveal me.
All around was quiet, save for the echoes of cicadas and frogs in the night air.
Suddenly, a figure entered my view. Clad in black and masked, the figure moved swiftly along the ground, reaching the house's window in mere moments. Without a pause, the masked man burst through the window, then darted out of another, heading straight for the opposite wall.
A whistle blew, and torches suddenly blazed up from all directions, countless figures flickering in the firelight. Several men shouted in unison, "Heartbreak Flower, surrender now!" The masked man hesitated only briefly before a dozen skilled fighters surrounded him, trapping him in the center.
Seemingly seeing no hope of escape, the man ceased his attempts to break free, simply standing silently in place. I limped out of my hiding place, Su Hong following closely behind. Chief Gu, a skilled member of the Beggars' Sect, and other experts from various regions were already in position, all on high alert.
"Heartbreak Flower, don't waste time. You can't escape now. Show your true colors!" Chief Gu shouted, and the others echoed him loudly.
Zhong Dashan was already dead, dying of blood loss shortly after being captured. However, to lure out the last Heartbreak Flower, Wu Lan, Chief Gu and I decided to keep Zhong Dashan's death a secret, only saying he needed to recuperate from his serious injuries. Furthermore, while we outwardly maintained heavy security in Zhenjiang Prison, we secretly moved Zhong Dashan's body to a small room in my house.
All of this was a trap prepared for Wu Lan, to make her believe that our elaborate preparations were indeed to obtain information from Zhong Dashan, making her feel the need to silence him, thus drawing her out of the shadows.
The man didn't react, only staring fixedly in my direction. Looking at the figure beneath the black night clothes, I felt an increasing sense of unease. That figure seemed so familiar, so familiar that I could almost feel every inch of skin beneath the clothes.
Finally, the person reached out a slender hand and removed the mask, revealing a beautiful face with flowing hair... Youlan. I stood there dumbfounded. Duanchanghua had always been beside me, my personal maid who shared my bed.
"You, why..." My arm felt like it was weighed down by a thousand-pound weight; it took me a long time to raise it and point at her.
"Why? My fiancé, Kuangsha Li Han, and his entire family were wiped out overnight. The Seven Heroes of Jiangnan are such a formidable name; I can't defeat you no matter what. Even someone as powerful as Cao Xiong was destroyed by you. My only chance is to infiltrate your ranks and cooperate with them from the inside." A few strands of hair fell across Youlan's forehead, her eyes growing even more sorrowful.
"So you were involved in killing all of us brothers!"
"That's right. After learning of Boss Long and Ge Laoliu's whereabouts from you, I was the one who informed Cao Xiong and the others. I was the one who struck Meng Huaiyuan on the back, and I was the one who told Cao Xiong the location of the final battle that night." "
So you've been lying to me all these years? All that was just pretense?" I couldn't hold back any longer and shouted.
She smiled slightly, a fleeting expression on her face that was hard to decipher—was it mockery or sadness? "What do you think?"
she said softly, her face seemingly shrouded in a veil of mist
, obscuring her features. "You, you took the Heart-Shattering Powder..." Watching the woman I'd been intimate with for years slowly collapse, all my strength seemed to drain away, and I 　　 could no longer hold on. A wave of dizziness engulfed me.
********** ...
Then I woke up, drenched in sweat.
It was just a dream. Almost half a month has passed, and my health is only gradually improving, though I still have nightmares every night.
"Fifth Brother, are you alright?" A soft, gentle voice came from beside me. It was Fang Wanyue, who had taken Youlan's place and been taking care of me. I hadn't even noticed she was in the room.
"Wanyue, don't call me Fifth Brother anymore, call me Yuxuan."
"Okay."
"You had another nightmare?" Wanyue took a towel soaked in hot water, sat on the edge of the bed, and carefully wiped the sweat from my forehead and temples.
Looking at her beautiful face, her gentle eyes, and her long, curved eyelashes, I felt a surge of excitement. I grabbed her soft, jade-like hand; it felt so soft and boneless, I couldn't bear to let go.
"Don't do this, others will see." Her eyes flickered, and she tried to pull her hand away and get up to leave.
I tightened my grip and pulled her back, and the frail Wanyue collapsed into my arms. "No...don't do this..." she whispered helplessly, her fragrant breaths brushing against my ear, tickling me with a pleasant sensation. My arms were already wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her soft body into my embrace.
"Yu Xuan, don't do this, I'm your second brother's woman." Wan Yue, who had no martial arts skills, was still struggling weakly, causing her curvaceous body to rub against mine, making my desire intensify.
"Second brother, I hope you will be happy in the future, Wan Yue, I will make you happy, I promise." I whispered in her ear, looking at her white jade-like earlobe, I couldn't resist gently nibbling at it with my teeth. Her body suddenly stiffened, her smooth cheek against my face instantly burning hot, her symbolic resistance completely ceasing, a long moan escaping from her nose, captivating my soul.
The opportunity was too good to pass up, so I slipped my hands inside her clothes, revealing smooth, soft skin beneath the thick fabric. As my hands roamed over her body, Wanyue's eyes grew increasingly hazy, her breathing quickened, and her hands rested softly on my shoulders. My hands moved upwards along her smooth skin, every inch feeling like creamy jade, the heat spreading only to my palms.
"Wanyue, you're so smooth and smell so good," I whispered in her ear.
Hearing my teasing, Wanyue, always so dignified and gentle, blushed deeply. "No...no..." she stammered, too embarrassed to speak.
My hands untied her outer garment, finally reaching her breasts. But Wanyue wore a thick bodice; had she always kept herself so tightly wrapped? Hearing my question, her face turned even redder. "I...I don't want people staring at that area."
"Then let me take a good look," I said, gently peeling away the layers of bodice.
"How embarrassing..." Wanyue covered her face with her hands.
As the last layer of her bodice was untied, her full, snow-white breasts, which had been bound for so long, sprang out with a whoosh. It was truly unexpected that the slender Wanyue possessed such high and large breasts; the two rosy nipples were already erect, like large purple grapes. My hand involuntarily grabbed them forcefully. The plump breasts, which I couldn't fully grasp with one hand, were extremely elastic, their white color peeking out from between my fingers. I lowered my head and first licked the protruding nipples a few times with my tongue.
Wanyue let out a soft moan, her delicate body twisting and turning violently. It was hard to say whether she wanted to get rid of my tongue or wanted to offer me more parts to taste. In any case, I'll assume it's the latter. Thinking of this, I couldn't wait to take the purple nipple into my mouth and suckle it vigorously. It was already hard due to excitement and engorgement. I carefully bit it with my teeth; it was as hard as a small pebble.
"Ah..." Wanyue shuddered, her enchanting voice trembling slightly.
After thoroughly playing with Wanyue's usually well-hidden, ample breasts, even her snow-white, silky skin was covered in a delicate blush. My hand slid down her breathtaking curves, caressing her boneless waist, until it reached the ribbon at the hem of her skirt. Two fingers slipped between the ribbon and her jade-like skin, hooking the edge of her soft gauze undergarments. With a slight pull, with a soft "rip," the last barrier on Wanyue's body was removed.
"Wanyue, why are you covering your face? Look at me." I chuckled with a teasing tone.
"You're so naughty..." she cried out softly, perhaps because her private parts were exposed, her skin immediately broke out in large, adorable goosebumps.
Especially between her intimate legs, the soft pubic hair clung like fine grass, tightly around her two red, moist labia. My hand gently glided over the most tender and sensitive area at the base of her thighs, scratching it a few times with my fingertips. Wanyue seemed to be in great discomfort, twisting her body slightly. Her labia minora parted slightly, and there seemed to be a faint dampness in the center of her vulva, glistening like oil.
I reached out and pressed my fingers against the clitoris at the end of those two light red labia, pinching and twisting until Wanyue's legs stiffened and her snowy buttocks swayed rapidly. "No...it hurts so much, why are you doing this...this feeling is so strange," she gasped, her words broken and intermittent.
I ignored her, and after a few more strokes, I knelt between her legs, parted the two soft labia, and extended my tongue to explore inside. The narrow passage gradually opened under the movement of my tongue.
Wanyue's body was so sensitive; as soon as my tongue entered, her vulva gushed out clear, beautiful fluids, flowing continuously down my tongue, almost wetting a large area of my face. However, Wanyue suddenly fell silent. I looked up and saw her eyes glazed over, her breathing rapid, and a glistening moisture at the corner of her mouth.
I don't know how long Wanyue had been celibate, but a surge of heat rose within me. I stopped teasing her, parted her thighs, and aimed my already throbbing erection directly at the entrance to her deep, hidden passage. With a slight thrust of my hips, my hard penis slowly slid into Wanyue's body. Her vagina was so tight, not only intensely hot inside but also rugged and winding, gripping my penis tightly. At the same time, the constant flow of her vaginal fluid made each thrust much easier.
With each thrust, Wanyue's body trembled back and forth, her large breasts heaving like waves. I swallowed hard, grabbed them with both hands, and her snow-white flesh spilled out between my fingers. I began to vigorously knead her erect testicles. He thrust in and out forcefully, reaching the deepest point, then slowly pulled almost the entire length of his penis out, bringing with it a gush of sweet, lustful fluid that soaked the sheets beneath us.
"Ah...uh...you...you're amazing...it's so sore...oh dear..." she murmured softly, her voice seductive and alluring.
Seeing the usually dignified Wanyue now so alluring and captivating, I thrust even harder, completely disregarding technique. The sounds of our bodies colliding were loud and rhythmic. Wanyue's supple waist clung tightly to mine, our lower bodies intertwined. Her snow-white, full buttocks were covered in glistening beads of sweat, mixed with the fluid flowing from her vagina, making it incredibly slippery. Several times, my penis almost missed the entrance to her vaginal canal.
"I...I can't take it anymore...I'm going to lose it...Ah...I'm coming...Oh..." It had been so long since she'd had such pleasurable lovemaking. Wanyue let out a moan early on, her body trembling, her face flushed, her eyes brimming with desire. I thrust in hard, reaching the deepest point, feeling her flower core tighten suddenly, then burst open, a gush of cool liquid spurting out, splashing onto the tip of my glans.
"Mmm...I'm dying..."
Although I wasn't quite done, Wanyue lacked martial arts skills, and I worried she couldn't withstand consecutive orgasms. I suppressed my lust, holding her tightly, pressing her firm breasts against my chest, her supple waist wrapped around mine. Seeing her slightly parted, red lips still panting with lingering pleasure, I couldn't resist kissing her. A soft, fragrant tongue met my kiss, and I lost myself in that sweet, deep embrace.
For a long time, we remained intimately naked, embracing each other.
"You're crying?" My chest was wet with her tears, I hadn't noticed.
"I'm so scared, scared that you'll end up like Tianfeng. The martial world is just too dangerous..." Wanyue murmured softly.
"...I...I'll leave the martial world...soon..."
"Really?" She suddenly raised her pretty face, her long black hair disheveled, her tear-filled eyes shining with surprise.
"Yes." I looked at her affirmatively.
She hugged me tighter, my penis still immersed in her flower path. At this moment, I felt as if Wanyue's vagina was sucking and licking like a baby's mouth, and my lower body began to swell uncomfortably again. 　　 "
Wanyue?"
"Hmm? Ah...you bad man..." Her lazy, soft voice seemed to come from deep within her throat, instantly igniting my lingering desire.
********** ... 　　Leaving aside other chores, I hurriedly ran from the study to the back garden, passing through several corridors until I arrived at the elegant and quiet detached courtyard. Without even knocking, I rushed straight into the main house. 　　Inside, a graceful woman was packing her things with her back to me. Hearing footsteps, she turned around, saw me, and smiled sweetly; "It's you! I was just looking for you. I was about to leave..." 　　"No," I interrupted Ding Lanxin before she could finish, "Don't leave me." 　　Hearing my words, a strange light flashed in her eyes, then dimmed again, her face returning to the icy expression she had when we first met. "It's all over. Those villains have been eliminated, and the friends from all over the martial arts world who came to help have all gone home. You're about to retire from the martial world. My master has also passed away, so it's time for me to leave." 　　"Why do you have to leave? Aren't you getting along well with your second sister-in-law and seventh sister?" I hurriedly said. "They are your second sister-in-law and seventh sister, what am I?" Lan Xin turned away, her voice cold. 　　"You are the person I want to spend my whole life with." Without thinking, these words burst from my mouth. If it were Su Hong or Wan Yue, I think I would have said the same thing. 　　She trembled slightly when she heard my words, but still didn't turn around. I took out a brown envelope from my pocket. "This is what your master gave me before the final battle that night. Take a look." I handed the envelope to her. 　　Ding Lan Xin took it, pulled out the letter, and began to read. As she read, her shoulders twitched, and I could faintly hear the sound of water droplets hitting the paper. 　　I moved closer to her and gently embraced her from behind. "Your master told me your true identity that day—the sole descendant of Huichunzhai, the once-famous pharmacy in Jiangnan. I know everything your family went through back then. As per your master's instructions, I will take good care of you for the rest of my life." 　　Lanxin finally turned around, her beautiful face, streaked with tears, buried deep in my arms, wrapping her arms around my back, refusing to let go. After a long while, her sobs subsided, and she finally raised her head, her eyes still a little red. 　　"Who...who promised you you'd take care of me? How annoying!" She was still trying to maintain that cold expression, but her eyes had already betrayed her true thoughts.

"The letter said I should discipline you, and you dare disobey me?" I tried to lighten the mood and help her forget her painful memories.
"You dare discipline me?" Her dark eyes darted around, full of adorable laughter.
"I'll punish you too."
"Hmph, try me!"
Seeing that no one was around, I had a sudden idea. I picked Lanxin up, placed her face down in front of me, lifted the hem of her long skirt, and pulled down her panties. Lanxin, caught off guard by my sudden attack, only now realized that I had removed her panties in broad daylight in an open room.
She let out a soft "Ah," pleading, "No, not here, people will see in broad daylight."
Looking at her smooth, soft, and pert white porcelain buttocks, I suddenly felt a surge of desire. I raised my hand and gently slapped her.
A crisp "smack" echoed, leaving a faint red handprint on Lanxin's snow-white buttocks. She hadn't expected me to spank her, and let out another soft cry. I then slapped her several more times, the soft slapping sounds echoing in the room. Lanxin's buttocks were already a bright red patch, and her soft moans had long since turned into low, cloying gasps. My heart was already burning with desire, and my erection was as hard as an iron rod.
Lanxin turned her head, her pearly teeth biting her soft red lips, a few strands of hair fluttering beside her jade cheeks, her eyes filled with seductive allure.
"You big bad guy, you just bully people..."
(
Epilogue)
The night was deep and quiet, the red candles warm the bedchamber.
"Mmm...mmm...so...so big! It's hitting the spot again...ah..."
A pair of long, smooth, and strong bronze legs wrapped tightly around my waist. The owner of those beautiful legs, whose face was usually so dashing and spirited, was now flushed with desire, and beads of sweat like pearls slid down her temples.
An endless, fiery pleasure emanated from our naked bodies joined together. I gripped her firm, high breasts tightly, thrusting my hips back and forth with vigor. "Su Hong, you really cherish your husband, unlike the others who couldn't hold on much longer."
As I spoke, I glanced at the other two naked, fair bodies lying across the bed. Ding Lanxin, that stubborn girl, had only lasted two rounds before begging for mercy, while my second sister-in-law, Fang Wanyue, had just fainted during her orgasm and hadn't woken up yet.
"I... I can't take it anymore... Go and get the other sisters..." Seventh Sister Liu Su Hong trembled, her legs clamping tightly together for a moment, and at the same time, a clear stream gushed from her vagina—she had orgasmed.
It seemed that the three of them couldn't engage in any more vigorous activity for a while, but I still felt no fatigue. I
got out of bed, put on my clothes, glanced at their utterly exhausted state, and quietly opened the door to leave the bedroom. Under the bright moonlight, I wandered aimlessly through the quiet courtyard.
It's been almost three years since the great upheaval that befell the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and my retirement from the martial world. I imagine the martial world has completely forgotten about me, "The Wandering Dragon Swordsman" Feng Yuxuan.
For these three years, I've focused entirely on the family business. Not only has Baicaotang remained the top establishment in Jiangnan, but its business has also expanded into the north and Sichuan, flourishing daily.
To further develop the business, I used my status as a scholar to purchase a sinecure, while simultaneously training local militias. This way, I don't have to worry about any officials getting involved because they're jealous of the family business. Naturally, I haven't neglected my martial arts either. In these three years, my skills have improved by leaps and bounds, repeatedly breaking through important barriers. I'm confident I'm no longer inferior to my elder brother, the
Sickly Swordsman Long Fei. Wanyue, Suhong, and Lanxin have always stayed by my side. Under my gradual influence, they've also grown accustomed to sleeping with me.
However, Liu Suhong is, after all, my sworn seventh sister, and Fang Wanyue is nominally still my second sister-in-law. So, although we spend every night together, I cannot give them the title of first wife. Only Ding Lanxin, three days ago, we quietly and formally worshipped heaven and earth, and immediately afterward, I took Wanyue and Suhong as concubines. Of course, for them, this is just an external statement.
Two wooden doors appeared ahead. It turned out that I had unknowingly reached the end of the road.
This is... "Yangxin Hall." It has been a long time since I've been here. My thoughts were racing. I casually pushed open the wooden door and walked into this small Buddhist hall that had been deserted for a long time. In
the center of the hall was a long table. On the table were not Buddha statues, but a row of memorial tablets.
Long Fei, Lu Tianfeng, Meng Huaiyuan, Lu Toutuo, Ge Zhiping, Leshan Daoren, Zheng Lin... Looking at those memorial tablets, recalling the bloody battles of the past and the past three years, I could no longer control my emotions and finally laughed...
Walking to the table, the first memorial tablet that caught my eye was that of my eldest brother, Long Fei.
"Brother, please don't blame me." I murmured to myself, "I obtained the Dongxuan Scripture from the brothers Yang Ming and Yang Jun, and after making a copy, I gave the original to you, brother, to destroy in public. I then secretly began cultivating it myself. To avoid leaving a trace of my yin-yang cultivation, I spent money to buy girls of decent quality from various places to cultivate at a secret farm. In the beginning, I inevitably had trouble controlling the intensity, and about thirty girls died in the process.
"Brother, you somehow discovered that someone was secretly cultivating the Dongxuan Scripture, and thus began a secret investigation. I know you're already somewhat suspicious of me, after all, I'm the one who searched Yang Ming's body and obtained the Dongxuan Scripture. You've always been impartial and incorruptible; if you truly caught me practicing, you would surely betray your own family. Therefore, I had no choice but to strike first and reveal your whereabouts to Cao Xiong and the others. If you know this in the afterlife, you can rest in peace." "
I looked down, and the next memorial tablet was for my second brother, Lu Tianfeng.
"Second Brother Lu, you've always been the most honest and kind-hearted. I would never have laid a hand on you. But you just happened to stumble upon what was going on between me and Seventh Sister. To protect Seventh Sister's reputation and the brotherhood among us, you only came to me and told me to sever all ties with Su Hong. Everything else is fine, but I will never abandon Seventh Sister, so I had no choice but to let you die.
"I outwardly agreed, and at the same time, I showed you a passage from the Dongxuan Scripture. That passage is beneficial and harmless to you; the only problem is that on the day of your breakthrough in cultivation, when the yang energy rises, the cultivator will briefly enter a state of suspended animation, their body stiff and devoid of sensation.
"I timed it perfectly. When I arrived at your secluded courtyard that morning, you were just entering this suspended animation. I personally shot that steel needle within a single step. Second Brother, I know you have deep feelings for Second Sister-in-law Wanyue; this is perhaps the thing you can't let go of the most." "Wan Yue is such a slender person, yet she has such ample breasts. I will take good care of her, especially at night, in bed."
"Third Brother Meng, you are as shrewd and capable as Brother Long, and you are meticulous in your observations. From the moment you suspected there was a traitor among us, only one of us could survive. I deliberately left Yang Jun and Wu Lan an opportunity to ambush you, and they certainly didn't waste it. They must have known all along how terrifying Meng Huaiyuan was. To be valued so highly by those underworld experts, Third Brother, your death was not unjust."
"Fourth Brother Lu, you really died unjustly. With your rough and dull nature, I had absolutely no reason to harm you. It was just unexpected that Yang Jun, after being crippled by us, actually achieved mastery of the Dongxuan Scripture. At that time, my Dongxuan Scripture was still far from perfect, and I had almost no way to deal with him. If it weren't for your selfless act, I really wouldn't have had a chance to kill him. Thank you, Fourth Brother." "
Sixth Brother Ge, when Second Brother Lu told me to sever all ties with Seventh Sister, I decided to kill you. So blame Second Brother if you want. Although Su Hong has known you the longest, she gave me her first time. "
Later, she married you. Every time I think of the two of you sharing a bed, my heart aches. I never thought killing you would be so easy. A little provocation, and you went off on your own.
"Later, Seventh Sister even gave me her first time, both her mouth and her anus. Speaking of which, Sixth Brother, you never truly possessed her, so losing her doesn't matter. You can rest in peace in the afterlife."
The memorial tablet behind is that of Taoist Master Leshan.
"Taoist Master, I never expected you to exist. Not only did you want to avenge my eldest brother, but more importantly, you even stood up for Boss Ding of Huichunzhai, who was wrongfully killed. Huichunzhai has always been the strongest competitor of my family's Baicaotang. Since I took over the family business, we have been constantly suppressed by Huichunzhai.
Yes, Boss Ding's death at the hands of the princess, his imprisonment and sudden death, and the massacre of his family by thieves were all planned and orchestrated by me. I had no choice but to do this for the sake of the Feng family's foundation.
"I really didn't expect that the Ding family had Ding Lanxin, their only heir, and that she had your support." Master, your martial arts skills are comparable to my eldest brother's, and your experience and methods are comparable to my third brother's. You are truly my most troublesome opponent. Fortunately, I can still start with Ding Lanxin. The incense with aphrodisiac ingredients that was smuggled into the Buddhist hall that night was indeed very effective and not easy to detect.
"That night, when I shot Cao Xiong's money dart at you, I was really going all in. I wasn't very confident, but it seems that fate is on my side. Forging your letter wasn't easy; it took me three whole nights, but it was worth it. I've trained Lan Xin very well. She's very poised during the day, and at night she's incredibly seductive in bed. I also have to thank the Taoist priest for raising her."
"Brother Zheng Lin, we really get along well. We drink together and visit brothels together. It's just that buying virgins for my training is too risky. There are too many leads to cut off. If you were to investigate, you wouldn't be able to escape my notice. I know you're very ambitious, waiting for a great achievement to rise in the Beggars' Sect. Our friendship is probably worthless in your future. I'm using someone else to do my dirty work, so I haven't directly stained my hands with your blood. We've at least become acquainted.
" "Oh! By the way, I've kept your lover in a secret villa for you." That woman was truly captivating. She had twin daughters and still possessed such a stunning figure and allure. After your death, she gave birth to a third daughter, yours. I will treat your daughters well. In two years, when your twin daughters, whom you were with, come of age, I will properly train them. Your daughters, however, will have to wait another ten years.”
Walking along, they reached the end of the long table. In the corner sat the last memorial tablet, unlike the previous ones, covered in dust.
The tablet bore only two simple characters: “Youlan.”
“Youlan, perhaps I should call you Wu Lan. Actually, my biggest conflict is with you. When I had just begun to master the Dongxuan Scripture, I discovered your martial arts skills in bed. After a thorough investigation, I discovered your true identity and your connection with Cao Xiong and the others. Do you know how I felt then? When you know there's a female assassin who wants to kill you sleeping next to you every day, how can you sleep? I haven't slept a wink for two whole years since then.”
"Watching you arrange for Cao Xiong and his men to be placed in my residence and pharmacy, one by one, ensured that no one suspected the enemy was among my men during the later investigations. Through you, I leaked information to Cao Xiong and his group, making them intimately familiar with the whereabouts of the other members of the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan, which helped me complete those assassinations.
After my brothers were mostly dead, and Cao Xiong and his men were all finished, I hesitated for a long time about whether to take action against you.
"We actually shared a lot of joy and warmth, but unfortunately, I don't know if it was real or not, and you know too much, such as how you didn't actually kill Second Brother, etc. Since ancient times, beautiful women have often had tragic fates, and you died a worthy death. Don't worry about me; with Wan Yue and the others by my side, I'm quite happy." A
gentle night breeze stirred, and the secret hidden deep within my heart finally found a small release. Closing the wooden door, I left Yangxin Hall without looking back. These past few years of pampered life had made me realize how naive my previous life of wandering the martial world, enduring hardships and bloodshed, had been. But I was young then; who hasn't had a moment of impulsive passion?
Back in my bedroom, I tiptoed to the door, concentrating my ears. I heard soft whispers from the bed inside.
"Husband, you're so amazing! Did you take some medicine? I'm completely exhausted."
"Such a charming little girl! You're one to talk! When your husband comes, he'll see you all wanton." "
Sister Wanyue is the best. Husband is so gentle with her. Is he biased..." The
more I listened, the warmer my heart grew. I pushed open the door and strode into the bedroom. "Don't fight, I'll love you both equally." Then came a series of soft moans, filling the room with the warmth of spring.
[The End]

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/188235.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=188235&aspx=1

Previous Page : The School Beauty's Daughter and My Lewd Life

Next Page : 【Martial Arts Fantasy 02】

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

【The Secret History of the Martial Arts World: The Lingering Fragrance of Heroism】(Complete)

comment Open a new window to view comments