[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 5

Chapter Seven: Purple Blood Jade Hairpin Phoenix Head

Passing through the thick fortress gate, a wide stone path leads directly to the foot of the Star-Picking Tower. Flanking it are phoenix trees, and on either side are ancient courtyards built of bluestone. The base of the Star-Picking Tower is a massive hall, with four giant stone pillars at its four corners forming four arched doorways. The hall is similarly adorned with red and green silks and exquisite gauze lanterns. A long string of whips hangs from the second floor down, but no one has been ordered to light them.

The hall is deep and dimly lit, though painted white, countless palace lanterns are already lit inside. Outside the hall, a dozen or so fortress guards stand solemnly before the steps, and four pairs of maids stand respectfully at the four corners of the horse, all dressed in brightly colored new clothes, but their eyes are filled with astonishment. In the center of the hall, a grand feast has already been prepared, with long curtains on both sides forming an "eight" shape.

As Jiang Tiantao surveyed the scene, he arrived at the hall. Looking up, he saw the majestic Zhaixing Tower towering high into the sky, a testament to the immense scale of its construction. Old Master Jiang entered the hall with a solemn expression. After repeated refusals, Jiang Tiantao was finally invited to sit at the head of the right-hand guest seats. Below Jiang Tiantao were Ma Yunshan and five other elders; Ma Yunshan wore purple, while the others wore cyan, blue, gray, black, and green.

Old Master Jiang sat at the head of the left-hand Taoist seats, followed by a middle-aged scholar in a yellow robe and a long moon-colored robe. Next were Little Li Guang in a silver satin outfit and the Poisonous Woman in black. The Upturned Nose, as the young master of the fortress, sat at the end of the table. After the guests were seated, Old Master Jiang, following protocol, introduced Jiang Tiantao to the others.

Jiang Tiantao sat at the head of the table, above his father. Although he was forced to do so, he still felt uneasy. Therefore, when the old lord of Jiang's manor introduced the guests, he simply stood respectfully with his hands clasped, repeatedly saying that he had long admired them. He couldn't remember each person's unique nickname and surname clearly, only that they were all renowned martial arts masters whose chivalrous names were far-reaching.

In particular, the bald old man in the green robe was Ao Ningdaotong, the retired head of the Zhengxing Escort Agency, who had been famous in Ningxia, Gansu, and Shaanxi for decades. Next were two middle-aged scholars, the Jin brothers, the "Twin Heroes of Qilu," who had already made a name for themselves in the martial arts world when they first left their master's school. The middle-aged scholar in the silk robe was the elder brother, Jin Jianying, and the middle-aged scholar in the moon-white robe was the younger brother, Jin Jianying. Both were known for their wit.

After the introductions, the banquet began. The servants filled the wine jugs, and the guests and hosts raised their glasses and drank heartily, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. After several rounds of drinks, Ma Yunshan, known for his powerful and influential martial arts, stood up first, raising his cup with a cheerful smile

, and said, "Young Master Wei is a genius with extraordinary talent and appearance, a true dragon among men. At such a young age, he already possesses astonishing skills. He will surely shine brightly in the martial arts world in the future. This old man offers this cup of wine as a toast to young master." Jiang Tiantao hurriedly stood up, repeatedly saying he dared not accept such praise, and then raised his cup with Ma Yunshan, drinking it all in one gulp. Afterwards, Ning Daotong, Little Li Guang, the Qi-Lu Twin Heroes, and the other four old men all stood up and toasted Jiang Tiantao in turn. Seeing these famous masters who usually looked down on him unanimously praising Jiang Tiantao, Chaotianbi secretly felt resentful, but as the fortress lord, he dared not be impolite and also silently raised his cup in a toast.

The old fortress lord Jiang looked at his son, greasy-haired and powdered-faced, seemingly superficial, compared to Wei Ming in the guest seats, and Little Li Guang and Zhong Qing accompanying him—both were young, upright, and handsome figures. As the saying goes, "Like begets like," and "A mouse is born knowing how to dig a hole." It seems this isn't entirely true. Thinking this, a layer of worry immediately settled between her brows.

The cunning and ruthless Poisonous Wife knew that no one in the entire fortress liked a man with upturned noses, and thus, fueled by her inferiority complex and lament over her son's incompetence, her nature grew increasingly vicious. Seeing the old fortress lord's sorrowful expression, she knew it was because of her unambitious son, and a thought flashed through her mind—a shameless scheme to strike at Jiang Tiantao.

She stood up first, politely offered a cup of wine, then slightly parted her red lips, deliberately raising her voice to sound very solemn: "This humble servant, Zhang Lihua, has just heard from the young master that Wei Xiaoxia spent half a year watering flowers in the back garden of this fortress, and only left quietly last month. With Wei Xiaoxia's martial arts skills and demeanor, he is certainly not from a humble background. I do not know why he would willingly take such a lowly position. Now, he has been selected as the most promising candidate, and is very likely to be the grandson of this fortress. If this is not explained in time, and it is spread that the young lady of Jiugong Fortress has married the gardener of this fortress, it will not only affect the old master's reputation, but also be disgraceful to Wei Xiaoxia himself."

Upon hearing this, the servants and attendants standing inside and outside the hall all looked at Jiang Tiantao in surprise. Ma Yunshan and the others, who never went to the back garden of the fortress, were stunned at the same time and looked at each other in astonishment. Old Master Jiang's expression sombered upon hearing this, and he shook his white head with a sigh. He had originally intended to inquire privately after the banquet, but Poisonous Lady had spoken first.

Poisonous Lady's words were a veiled attempt to flatter and show concern, while secretly harboring a scheming plot of spreading rumors and veiled sarcasm—a scheme any intelligent person would recognize. Although Jiang Tiantao was filled with rage, he could not vent his anger. Suppressing his anger, he quickly bowed and calmly replied, "I have long admired Elder Jiang, a kind and virtuous elder who thirsts for talent and is highly respected in the martial arts world. I have long admired him, but due to my seniority, I dared not presume to pay my respects. I have also heard that Elder Jiang loves flowers dearly, cultivating many rare and exotic plants, and spending his days admiring them. Half a year ago, your fort's steward, Min Wu Kui, came down the mountain looking for a servant to water the flowers. At that time, my master happened to be traveling, and I felt this was a rare opportunity. In order to see Elder Jiang's kind face and radiant presence, I resolutely accompanied Steward Min here."

Although Elder Jiang felt that things were not as simple as Jiang Tiantao made them out to be, after hearing Jiang Tiantao's words, he felt admiration and couldn't help but stroke his beard and nod, his worried brows immediately smoothing out. Only the Poisonous Lady smiled sinisterly, her lips curling into a sneer, as if to say: "Don't be so smug. If I can't humiliate this Wei brat to the point of feeling like he's sitting on pins and needles, I'll never be called the Poisonous Lady." The Upturned Nose was filled with both jealousy and inferiority, but he looked at Jiang Tiantao with disdain, deliberately putting on an arrogant air.

Jiang Tiantao continued to explain: "As for my quiet departure, it's because my master has returned from his travels and ordered me to rush to Mount Fanjing tonight. However, before I left, I asked your steward, Min Wu Kui, for my leave. If you don't believe me, you can ask Steward Min to come out, and you'll know the answer."

Upon hearing this, Ma Yunshan and the others' expressions changed simultaneously. Steward Min Wu Kui had been dead for many days; how could he come out to confront them? Upon hearing about her dead husband, the Poisonous Lady felt as if she were on pins and needles, and the contemptuous smile on her foxy face vanished instantly. Fearing to upset the Poisonous Lady, Old Master Jiang quickly changed the subject, smiling and saying, "Young Master Wei's martial arts are outstanding, his skills are superb. Your master must be a reclusive master, but I wonder who it is? Could you tell me?" When he mentioned "your master," Old Master Jiang hurriedly cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

This question silenced the entire hall, everyone listening intently, as this was the question that Zhen Guai Zhen Jiu Zhou Ma Yunshan and the others were most concerned about. Jiang Tiantao, seeing that his master had been mentioned, quickly stood up and respectfully said, "My master's secular name is Gu Fangqing, his Taoist name is Dixin, and he is known as the Fairy of Begonia." The moment

the words "Fairy of Begonia" were uttered, the entire hall trembled. Everyone in the hall, except for Little Li Guang, had known this martial arts beauty, Fairy of Begonia, in the past, and couldn't help but exchange surprised glances. They seemed genuinely astonished that someone of Fairy of Begonia's martial arts prowess could train such a highly skilled disciple. As the saying goes, "A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days." The Fairy Haitang has been hiding deep in the mountains for over ten years; could she have mastered unparalleled martial arts?

Old Master Jiang pondered for a moment, seemingly recalling the Fairy Haitang's appearance and voice, then solemnly said, "Your master has always been righteous and chivalrous, punishing the wicked and bringing down the wicked, earning the praise of the martial arts world. In the last ten years, she has rarely been seen in public. After her seclusion, her secluded cave is little known. Judging from your superb martial arts, young hero, your master can truly be considered a reclusive master." The old master paused, seemingly remembering something, and immediately looked at Jiang Tiantao, humbly asking, "Young hero Wei, what is your age...?"

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly replied respectfully, "I am eighteen years older than you."

Upon hearing this, Ma Yunshan and the others secretly shook their heads in admiration. Even Poisonous Lady couldn't help but glance a few more times at the handsome Jiang Tiantao. Hearing that he was eighteen, Old Master Jiang felt a pang of emotion, and couldn't help but glance sadly at his son, Upturned Nose, sitting at the end of the table, who was indeed eighteen years older than him.

Seeing the old man of the fortress look at the upturned nose with disappointment again, Poisonous Lady felt a surge of anger, a mixture of humiliation and jealousy, rise in her heart once more. She raised her eyebrows and asked, feigning ignorance, "May I ask, young hero Wei, did you begin your training under the tutelage of the fairy from the very beginning?"

Upon being questioned, Jiang Tiantao was immediately filled with the rage of anger that had been cruelly abandoned on the bees by Poisonous Lady and Min Wu Kui. However, knowing the time was not yet ripe, he could only sigh sadly and say, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Elder Jiang and everyone else, but I am an abandoned infant, taken in as a disciple by my master while still in swaddling clothes."

Upon hearing the word "abandoned infant," Poisonous Lady felt as if struck by lightning, her whole body trembled, her expression changed instantly, and she let out a soft cry. Elder Jiang and Ma Yunshan and the others all felt sorry for Jiang Tiantao's unfortunate fate, but they were also very surprised by the sudden change in Poisonous Lady's expression. The Poisonous Lady suddenly realized her loss of composure, and frowned hastily. Feigning sorrow, she said, "I never imagined that Young Hero Wei would share the same pitiful past as me, both of us encountering heartless parents..."

Before she could finish, Jiang Tiantao's burning anger caused him to coldly retort, "But I encountered a pair of disloyal, unjust, and shameless servants who deceived their master."

Upon hearing this, the Poisonous Lady could no longer remain calm. An ominous premonition flashed through her mind, and she forced herself to... Suppressing her flustered and excited emotions, she asked with utmost concern, "Young hero, do you still remember your background?"

Jiang Tiantao's sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, his starry eyes gleamed, and his lips twitched slightly, but he finally suppressed the anger in his chest, shook his head, and sighed sadly, "Not to mention myself, even my master doesn't know the details of my background, let alone who my parents are."

Upon hearing this, Poisonous Lady's heart, which had been pounding in her chest with tension, immediately relaxed, but she had become more vigilant and dared not ask any more questions. Just then, a middle-aged, burly man in tight-fitting clothes and carrying a sword hurriedly entered from the steps outside the hall. Jiang Tiantao recognized the man as a guard at the fortress gate.

Old Master Jiang and Ma Yunshan, seeing the guard's flustered expression, concluded that someone outside the fortress must be dissatisfied and had drawn their sword to challenge them, and thus they all glanced at Jiang Tiantao. Poisonous Lady was extremely perceptive; she desperately hoped a highly skilled martial artist would defeat Jiang Tiantao, expel him from Jiugong Fort, or even worse, severely wound him to death. She had a premonition that if Jiang Tiantao were chosen as Wang Yanling's son-in-law, it would be extremely detrimental to her and Chaotianbi in the future.

A sword-wielding fortress guard hurried into the hall, bowed to Old Master Jiang, and reported loudly, "Respectfully reporting to Old Master, there is a sword-wielding young woman outside the fortress. She has not given her name, and her expression is arrogant. She claims to want to see our young master, Jiang Tiantao."

Jiang Tiantao knew the young woman was looking for Chaotianbi, but upon hearing his name, his heart stirred. He glanced at Chaotianbi and saw a smug smile on his lips, as if to say, "There are plenty of beautiful women in the world; why should I, the dignified young master, be afraid of not finding a wife?"

Upon hearing the report from the guard, Old Master Jiang's face immediately darkened. He glared sternly at the man with the upturned nose and said in a deep voice, "Who is that young lady? Since she wants to see you, why won't she give her name?"

Seeing the old master's displeasure, the man with the upturned nose was startled and hurriedly stood up from his chair, immediately replying respectfully, "Reporting to Father, I do not know."

Ma Yunshan and the others all showed slight disdain, coldly staring at the man with the upturned nose. Old Master Jiang became even angrier at the man with the upturned nose's claim of ignorance. Perhaps because Jiang Tiantao was present, he couldn't rebuke him, but he still couldn't help but let out a snort of anger.

Seeing the old fortress lord's anger intensify, the man with the upturned nose hurriedly turned to the crowd below and asked in a deep voice, "How old is that young lady? What are she wearing?"

The fortress guard, seeing the young lord's question, quickly replied respectfully, "That young lady is not tall, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a pinkish-green outfit, a jade-inlaid sword hilt, and pinkish-green stockings. Judging from her tone, she seems to be someone of considerable importance."

Upon hearing this, the man with the upturned nose looked bewildered and was immediately stunned. Ma Yunshan and the three heroes of Qilu also changed their expressions simultaneously, but after a brief assessment, their expressions quickly returned to normal. Upturned Nose paused for a moment, then hurriedly turned to the old fortress lord and respectfully said, "Reporting to Father, Tao'er can't recall when he saw this young lady."

The old fortress lord's face darkened again, and he said in a deep voice, "Hmph, you idle away your time, never striving for improvement, only fooling around with some uncouth women of the Jianghu who don't know manners. Now you can't even tell who's here?"

Upturned Nose's face was pale, and he looked flustered, only bowing his head and responding. Poisonous Lady saw this and felt both sorry for him and angry. She stood up and explained, "Young Master often represents the old fortress lord to travel to various places to participate in grand ceremonies and gatherings. It's inevitable that he might forget some of the people he meets. Please allow Young Master to go out of the fortress to greet her. You'll know as soon as you see her."

The old fortress lord couldn't say anything more, so he turned to Upturned Nose and said angrily, "Hurry up and go."

Upturned Nose respectfully agreed, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon. He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and hurriedly walked out of the bottom gate with the fortress guard who had come to report. Old Master Jiang watched as the girl with the upturned nose hurried out of the hall, his heart aching with both pain and anger. Finally, he sighed sadly and shook his head. Jiang Tiantao, seeing this, felt both distressed and uneasy. He almost couldn't resist exposing the Poisonous Woman's conspiracy and crimes in front of everyone. However, thinking of his plan, he had to suppress his excitement, fearing that his efforts would be in vain.

In that instant, he saw Jin Jianying, a middle-aged scholar in a yellow robe, stand up with slightly furrowed brows and a somewhat uneasy expression. He respectfully addressed Old Master Jiang, saying, "Reporting to Old Master Jiang, this humble servant feels that this young lady's attire and age are very similar to Rainbow Dragon Girl of the Three Hairpins Gang." As soon as

the words "Rainbow Dragon Girl" were uttered, Ma Yunshan and the others' expressions changed simultaneously, all secretly startled. Old Master Jiang had long heard of the girl's extraordinary skills and beauty, so his tiger eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Suddenly seeing Ma Yunshan regain his composure, she hurriedly stood up and said respectfully, "Yu Chai of the Three Hairpins Gang serves as the gang's chief inspector. Her whereabouts are usually elusive, and she acts with secrecy and speed. Very few people know where she is. It is absolutely impossible for her to visit openly like this." When

Poisonous Lady heard that it might be Rainbow Dragon Girl, she was secretly delighted. She thought to herself, "If Upturned Nose could marry Yu Chai, it would truly be a blessing from my past life." Upon seeing Ma Yunshan, who asserted it couldn't possibly be the Rainbow Dragon Girl, Jin Jianying immediately stood up, quite unconvinced, and said, "It's said that the Rainbow Dragon Girl, Xiao Xiangzhen, is dressed entirely in pink and green, even her sword hilt and tassel are the same color. According to the report from the fortress guard just now, it should undoubtedly be Yuchai."

Before he finished speaking, the middle-aged scholar in a moon-white robe immediately stood up and explained, "In the vast sea of people, among countless beings, there are many who wear the same clothes. But to say that age, clothing, weapon, and shawl are all identical without any error is quite remarkable. According to the fortress guard's report, it should be Miss Yuchai, Xiao."

Ma Yunshan, knowledgeable and experienced, was startled upon hearing Jin Jianying's explanation and exclaimed in alarm, "If it is indeed Miss Xiao..." "I suspect most of them are here to interrogate me."

The Poisonous Lady sneered, immediately dismissing the remark, "How can you say it's not about personal feelings?"

This remark caused Little Li Guang, who usually despised the Upturned Nose, to abruptly stand up from his chair, sternly stating, "Rainbow Dragon Girl is exceptionally beautiful and talented, proficient in poetry and song, and always arrogant. Without the talent of Cao Zhi and the looks of a thousand cities, one could never win her favor. Besides, the Three Beauties Gang has nearly ten thousand heroes and countless masters, many of whom are skilled in both literature and martial arts. Why would they specifically come to see the Young Master?" Little Li Guang, Zhong Qing, grew increasingly agitated due to his resentment, eventually becoming unable to stop himself, hence his bluntness.

Although Old Master Jiang felt Little Li Guang's words made sense, the incompetent Upturned Nose was still his son, and his old face flushed with embarrassment.

Seeing that Young Master Li Guang openly disregarded the upturned nose, Poisonous Lady was furious. Noticing the old fortress lord's slightly embarrassed expression, she seized the opportunity and angrily retorted, "Our young fortress lord is handsome and dashing, exceptionally elegant. He is well-versed in scriptures and diligently practices martial arts day and night. He is proficient in both literature and martial arts. Given the old fortress lord's prestige in the martial world and the Nine Palaces Fortress's reputation in the Jianghu, are they not inferior to a mere gang? And is the young fortress lord's status lower than that of Rainbow Dragon Girl?"

Young Master Li Guang deeply regretted his earlier slip of the tongue. Seeing the old fortress lord's expression, he felt even more terrified. Hearing Poisonous Lady's rebuttal, he naturally had no desire to argue further. Ma Yunshan and the Three Heroes of Qilu, knowing Poisonous Lady's sharp tongue, could only smile helplessly and shake their heads at her exaggerated praise of the upturned nose.

Old Master Jiang was already in a bad mood, and when he heard the Poisonous Woman's unrealistic flattery, his usually serene face darkened. However, he still calmly said in a deep voice, "With such distinguished guests present, why engage in heated arguments? Are

n't you afraid Young Hero Wei will find you impolite? Why don't you sit down?" The Poisonous Woman, already burning with anger from repeated setbacks, was even more resentful when the old master addressed Jiang Tiantao as a guest. Although she sat down as instructed, her peach blossom eyes flashed with a fierce light as she glared at Jiang Tiantao. As the saying goes, "Drink with a bosom friend, speak with a true friend." Jiang Tiantao already hated the Poisonous Woman, but he had been forcibly restraining himself. Seeing her glare at him so fiercely, he was instantly enraged. His sword-like eyebrows arched, and he was about to stand up when suddenly a fortress guard, looking terrified, carrying a single-edged sword, rushed towards him from the fortress gate.

Just then, the old fortress lord and Ma Yunshan and the others noticed the garrison guards rushing towards them. Sensing something was wrong, they jumped up from their chairs with a thud. Poisonous Lady, concerned about her upturned nose, paled and blurted out urgently, "Old fortress lord, we must go quickly! Something's happened outside!"

Old fortress lord Jiang, having only this one precious son, was naturally extremely concerned and had already rushed out of the hall to greet him. Ma Yunshan and the others followed anxiously. Jiang Tiantao, of course, couldn't remain seated alone and hurriedly followed behind the others. As soon as they stepped out of the hall, the garrison guards, carrying single-edged swords, arrived in a panic.

Upon seeing Old fortress lord Jiang, the guards gasped and cried out, "Old fortress lord, something terrible has happened! That young lady has killed the young fortress lord!"

Old fortress lord Jiang's face changed drastically upon hearing this. Ma Yunshan and the others gasped in shock. Poisonous Lady, bound by maternal instinct, could no longer hold back and burst into tears. Everyone was panicked and confused. Except for Jiang Tiantao, no one paid attention to why the Poisonous Woman was so concerned about the young master's life or death.

A soldier with a knife continued in a trembling voice, "When we saw that the young master was no match for that girl, we shouted and drew our swords to attack. The girl was enraged and with a single swing of her sword, several brothers' swords flew away, and the young master was also knocked down."

The green-robed, bald old man with golden hair, Ning Daotong, immediately urged, "Knocked down doesn't necessarily mean dead. Old Master, let's go quickly." Old Master Jiang, upon hearing of his only son's death, felt utterly devastated. Reminded by Ning Daotong's words, he quickly nodded and led the way towards the fortress gate.

The Poisonous Woman only cried once before realizing her mistake. She quickly wiped away her tears with her sleeve and hurriedly followed behind the old master. Jiang Tiantao wasn't pleased that the girl with the upturned nose had been knocked down; on the contrary, it fueled his anger. He believed that this young woman, daring to come to his door and knock down the girl, proved she didn't take Jiugong Fort seriously at all.

In the blink of an eye, they were not far from the fortress gate. Jiang Tiantao looked up and saw about twenty fortress guards huddled together in a panic on the drawbridge outside the gate. The girl with the upturned nose lay pale and stiff on the bridge. Most ridiculously, seven or eight guards were searching in the moat for the single-edged sword the girl had knocked away, while the girl herself was nowhere to be seen.

As he approached, the guards scattered upon seeing their old fortress lord. Upon seeing the fainting man with upturned nose on the bridge, Old Master Jiang sighed deeply and shook his head sadly

, saying, "The prestige of Jiugong Fortress over the past decades will be ruined by this young man." Seeing his father's sorrowful expression, Jiang Tiantao felt a pang of sadness. He turned and saw the gaunt old man in blue, Chen Zhenze, massaging acupoints on the man with upturned nose. Old Master Jiang saw that Chen Zhenze was already sweating profusely from the massage, but the man with upturned nose, whose face was ashen, showed no signs of waking. He anxiously asked, "Brother Chen, how is he?"

Upon being asked, Chen Zhenze immediately stopped the massage, stood up slowly with a look of shame, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "It seems I'm using a special technique."

Old Master Jiang exclaimed in surprise and glanced at Ma Yunshan and the others who were watching the man with upturned nose. The scholar in yellow robes, Jin Jianying, frowned and said, "Please ask the old fortress master who that young lady is first. If she is indeed Miss Rainbow Dragon Girl Xiao, she used a special technique to acupuncture points. Before noon, the young fortress master will wake up after a few hours of sleep."

Upon hearing this, the old fortress master Jiang immediately looked at the fortress guards carrying single-edged swords with questioning eyes. The guards had never seen Rainbow Dragon Girl before and all shook their heads blankly.

Ma Yunshan asked in a deep voice, "What did that young lady say when the young master came out?"

One of the guards, who seemed to be the foreman, respectfully replied, "As soon as the young master came out of the hall, I reported to the young lady standing on the bridge, 'My young master has arrived.' Upon hearing this, the young lady blushed, looking both shy and happy. But as the young master approached, her brows furrowed, and she seemed somewhat confused. She then asked the guard, 'Is this the son of the old master of the Land Dragon River Fortress?' The guard hurriedly replied, 'That's right, it is indeed my young master.' Upon hearing this, the young lady felt very disappointed. She tilted her head, puzzled, and muttered to herself, 'Strange, wasn't that the one I met outside Anfu Town east of Songtao City that night?' After muttering to herself, the young lady suddenly exclaimed excitedly, 'Your Jiugong Fortress is...'" "Isn't there another young master named Jiang Tiantao?" The servant shook his head at the time, finding it quite amusing...

Jiang Tiantao, who had been listening quietly to the side, sensed something was amiss. He was certain that the sword-wielding girl who had come looking for the girl with the upturned nose must be the woman in black with a black silk veil he had encountered that night on the eastern official road of Songtao City. Then he thought again, and it seemed impossible. Apart from his elders, Sister Xue, and Sister Ling, very few people knew his name was Jiang Tiantao.

With that thought in mind, he focused his attention and listened again. The servant continued, "When the young master walked out of the fortress gate, he found that he didn't recognize the girl at all, and he was stunned. The girl immediately accused the young master of abusing his skills, injuring their incense master with her sword, and interfering with her supervisory duties..."

Upon hearing this, the yellow-robed scholar Jin Jianying's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Old Master, it must be Miss Xiao without a doubt." Old Master Jiang

frowned and stroked his beard, glancing at the upturned nose lying on the bridge, and said with great puzzlement, "When did this child become entangled with the Three Hairpins Gang...?"

Poisonous Lady immediately retorted, "Young Master has rarely traveled far from the mountain in the past six months, so it's impossible for him to have a misunderstanding with the Three Hairpins Gang. According to Jade Hairpin's own words, the incident seems to have occurred in Anfu Town, east of Songtao City, which is simply impossible."

Old Master Jiang knew that Poisonous Lady had always protected Upturned Nose, and Old Huai had always been secretly grateful, so he valued Poisonous Lady even more. However, he always felt that there was a reason for this, so he said in a deep voice, "If there is absolutely no such thing, why would Rainbow Dragon Girl come to the gates of Nine Palaces Fortress and specifically ask to see the Young Master?" "That makes sense," Poisonous Lady was speechless, and Ma Yunshan and the others all nodded solemnly.

Jiang Tiantao, though listening, was still preoccupied with the woman in black he had encountered that night. Upon hearing that the girl with the pink and green robe and sword was Yu Chai Xiao Xiangzhen of the Three Hairpins Gang, he was startled and suddenly realized that the woman in black with her head covered must undoubtedly be Yu Chai. Only she had the authority to order those experts to intercept him along the way and repeatedly question his lineage. Thinking this through, everything became clear. At the same time, he also concluded that the three men he had encountered at the Duck Tower on the Xiang River—Jade Fan Scholar Huangfu Yang, Xiang River Elder Chu Yibiao, and another—must also be experts from the Three Hairpins Gang. Xiangjiang Duck Tower's deliberate pretense of acquaintance must have been instructed by Yuchai via carrier pigeon. Thinking back to how, out of respect for the three men, all renowned figures, he had carelessly given them his address, allowing them to identify him as the young master of Jiugong Fort without verification, he now deeply regretted it.

As he pondered this, he heard the fortress guard continue, "At the time, the young master vehemently denied it, but the young lady firmly refused to believe him and repeatedly pressured him to draw his sword. The young master hesitated, and the young lady, enraged, initiated the fight. In just a couple of exchanges, the young master was subdued. The young lady seemed unwilling to accept defeat; her face turned pale with anger, her body trembled, and tears almost welled in her phoenix eyes." Old Master Jiang

was both worried and angry upon hearing this, while Ma Yunshan and the others all looked grave, unable to fathom the reason why Yu Chai had come to provoke them. The Jin brothers, the Twin Heroes of Qi and Lu, took turns massaging Chao Tianzhen's acupoints, then stood up and said in unison, "Since it has been confirmed that Miss Xiao struck the acupoints, there is no longer any danger to his life. At the latest, the Master will surely wake up by the third watch. Now we must find a quiet place to rest." Upon hearing this, several strong guards immediately ran over.

Jiang Tiantao, kind-hearted, felt he was the cause of the incident. Seeing his father's worried expression, as if concerned that Chaotianbi wouldn't wake up, he had an idea. He immediately blurted out, "Wait, let me try." With that, he walked directly towards Chaotianbi.

The old man of Jiang's manor and the others were all startled, their astonished gazes turning towards Jiang Tiantao. Upon seeing this, Ma Yunshan seemed to remember something, his eyes lighting up. He immediately smiled excitedly and said, "Your master, Fairy Haitang, once roamed the martial world, specializing in solving all kinds of difficult acupoint problems. Young hero, you must have mastered her true teachings. Please, young hero, demonstrate your skills so that we old men can broaden our horizons." Hearing this, the old man of Jiang's manor and the Qi-Lu Twin Heroes all suddenly understood and in unison requested his assistance.

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly and modestly said, "I volunteered to help Senior Jiang resolve his troubles. Whether I can do it or not, we'll only know after trying." He then squatted down, extended his arm, and placed his right hand on the vital point of Chaotianbi's neck. He silently channeled his inner energy, gathering it in his palm. With a utterance of an incantation, the hidden force was suddenly released

. Chaotianbi shuddered, let out a muffled groan, and immediately opened his strained eyes. Everyone was both surprised and delighted to see Chaotianbi awake, praising him profusely. The truly happy one was Poisonous Lady, but having lost her composure once, she remained completely composed this time. Old Master Jiang's brows immediately relaxed, and he exclaimed, "A great teacher produces a great student; this saying is indeed true. Young hero, you have fully inherited the fairy's teachings. I am truly happy that she has found her successor!"

Jiang Tiantao was very pleased with his father's praise and was about to say a few more humble words when Chaotianbi suddenly shouted and leaped up. Upon seeing this, Jin Tou Ao Ning Daotong panicked and hurriedly shouted, "Young Master, your acupoints have just been opened. You must not recklessly use your true energy. Quickly sit down and regulate your breathing!"

Chao Tianbi, hearing this, regained his composure and found everyone in the hall surrounding him. Looking around, he realized the stunningly beautiful Rainbow Dragon Girl was nowhere to be seen. Although he was very concerned, he dared not ask. He glanced at his father, whose face showed slight anger, and quickly sat down, cross-legged, to regulate his breathing.

Seeing that Chao Tianbi had awakened, Old Master Jiang was relieved and was about to invite Jiang Tiantao and the others into the fortress when a guard suddenly said respectfully, "Reporting to the Old Master, there is also this." He pointed to the drawbridge pulleys crossing above the fortress gate.

Jiang Tiantao looked up and saw the drawbridge pulleys, about three zhang high, with two huge wooden beams crossing and securing them on either side. At first glance, he didn't understand what the guard meant. Then, upon closer inspection, their hearts skipped a beat. They discovered a shimmering, purplish-red shadow on the giant tree to their right. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was a purplish-red jade hairpin with a phoenix on it, the entire hairpin embedded in the pillar.

The two heroes of Qilu had both seen this purplish-red jade hairpin before, and they exclaimed in unison, "Old Master, it's the purplish-red jade hairpin!" Everyone's expressions changed instantly upon hearing this, and they could n't help but gasp.

Old Master Jiang was secretly surprised. After a closer look, he immediately praised, "Miss Xiao truly lives up to her reputation. Her strength alone is enough to impress anyone. At such a young age, she has already achieved such remarkable feats. She will surely become a renowned heroine in the future."

Ma Yunshan, Ning Daotong, the two heroes of Qilu, and Little Li Guang were all genuinely impressed. They all knew in their hearts that none of them were confident they could force a purplish-red jade hairpin, which would shatter upon contact, into the wooden pillar with a single wrist movement. Poisonous Lady was secretly alarmed, recalling how she had dreamt earlier in the hall that Upturned Nose could marry Rainbow Dragon Girl Xiao Xiangzhen. Now, she couldn't help but think, "How can a crow be matched with a phoenix?"

Seeing his father's admiration for Rainbow Dragon Girl, Jiang Tiantao's determination to challenge Xiao Xiangzhen grew stronger.

Suddenly, the withered old man Chen Zhenze, referring to the fortress guard, asked in bewilderment, "When did that Miss Xiao shoot the Purple Blood Jade Hairpin into the giant tree?"

Another guard quickly replied respectfully, "That young lady knocked down the young fortress master, looking angrily into the Ink Gate. She was furious. We saw her cherry lips part, and we didn't know what she was saying, but suddenly she took off the jade hairpin from her hair, raised her arm, and turned and flew away. We only saw a flash of red light, and when we looked up again, the jade hairpin had already shot into the wooden pillar."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked up again at the blood-red shadow on the more than three-zhang-high wooden pillar, their expressions solemn, and they remained silent. Looking at the jade hairpin, Old Master Jiang sighed, "This girl may be testing whether I'm just a fraud, a mere charlatan." As he spoke, he immediately rolled up his wide sleeves, preparing to retrieve the hairpin.

Jiang Tiantao's expression changed drastically upon seeing this. He wanted to retrieve it for his father, but feared being seen as overstepping his bounds. If his father were careless and damaged the hairpin, the consequences would be severe. Ma Yunshan and the others were not confident they could retrieve the hairpin, especially since it concerned the Nine Palaces Fortress's decades-long reputation in the martial arts world and the old master's high standing. Therefore, although extremely anxious, none of them dared to offer to retrieve it.

Seeing Jiang Tiantao's eyes flash with cold light, deeply moved and clearly intending to retrieve it, while his inner anxiety was also fully revealed, they all blurted out urgently, "Old Master, please wait a moment."

Old Master Jiang was about to leap forward when he suddenly heard their urgent calls. Startled, he quickly turned around and asked blankly, "What is it, everyone?"

Ma Yunshan and the others respectfully replied, "One matter shouldn't trouble two people; please ask Young Hero Wei to retrieve it!"

Jiang Tiantao was secretly grateful to Ma Yunshan and the others, and hurriedly said, "This junior is more than willing to do it." As soon as he uttered the word "do," he leaped into the air, covering three zhang (approximately 10 meters), and reached out to grab the top of the wooden pillar. Immediately afterward, he carefully placed his right palm on the hairpin, silently channeling his inner energy to slowly draw it out. His palm slightly bulged, and the purple-blooded jade hairpin embedded in the wood slowly withdrew with his right palm.

Ma Yunshan and the others, their expressions changed drastically, filled with genuine admiration. They couldn't help but shout "Bravo!" in unison, even startling the upturned-nosed man who had been meditating. Just as the cheers erupted, a blue shadow flashed, and Jiang Tiantao gracefully descended, holding the purple jade hairpin in both hands. He hurried to the old fortress master Jiang, and humbly said, "This junior has not failed in his mission."

The old fortress master Jiang was extremely grateful and said excitedly, "Young hero, you saved my dog and retrieved the hairpin for me. I will never forget your kindness." As he spoke, his slightly trembling right hand had already taken the hairpin.

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly bowed and said, "It's nothing, nothing to mention. Your humility only makes this junior more uneasy."

At this moment, Ma Yunshan, Poisonous Lady, and the others had surrounded the old fortress master, and even the upturned-nosed man, who had been startled awake, came over curiously. The purple-blooded jade hairpin in Old Master Jiang's hand was exquisitely crafted and sharp, about four inches long. The phoenix on the hairpin's head was particularly lifelike, clearly the work of a master craftsman. Ma Yunshan and the others, finding the hairpin undamaged, were secretly amazed. They not only praised Rainbow Dragon Girl's superb skills but were also shocked by Jiang Tiantao's astonishing abilities.

The yellow-robed scholar, Jin Jianying, after examining the hairpin, solemnly said, "Rainbow Dragon Girl cherishes the hairpin like her own life, never parting from it for a moment. Now she has abandoned it; she must have encountered something extremely infuriating and heartbreaking." Everyone agreed, nodding in agreement.

Jin Jianying continued, "Because my brother and I are close friends with Huangfu Yang, the father of Yinchai Huangfuxiang, we are extremely familiar with the personalities of the three beauties, Jin, Yin, and Yu..."

Upon hearing that Yushan Xiushi was Huangfuxiang's father, Jiang Tiantao was genuinely surprised. His judgment was correct; Chu Yibiao and his two companions were indeed members of the Three Beauties Gang. Thinking of Yushan Xiushi's feigned recognition, he couldn't help but shake his head with a sigh, thinking: my experience and knowledge are truly lacking.

As he pondered this, he heard the scholar in yellow, Jin Jianying, continue, "...Golden Hairpin Fu Liying possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, exceptional intelligence, a broad mind, and excellent leadership abilities; she is an outstanding female knight-errant of our time. Silver Hairpin Huangfu Xiang is gentle by nature, respectful to elders, and wields a gilded jade fan with extraordinary skill; her ingenuity rivals, and even surpasses, that of her father. Jade Hairpin Xiao Xiangzhen is the most skilled of the three, her whereabouts are mysterious, sometimes appearing as a man and sometimes as a woman. Apart from a few elders in the gang and the two Golden and Silver Hairpins, she rarely shows her true face. Today, she has actually come to visit as a woman, which is truly unprecedented. Therefore, I dare to assert that this matter is not as simple as you all imagine."

Old Master Jiang nodded, stroking his beard, and Ma Yunshan and the others echoed his agreement. Jiang Tiantao naturally dared not reveal a trace of emotion, fearing that someone might doubt him, and simply listened silently from the side.

Ma Yunshan frowned solemnly, puzzled, and said, "If she came to provoke us, Miss Xiao wouldn't have addressed the old fortress master as 'Old Fortress Master Jiang' and the young fortress master as 'Young Master' when she first saw the young fortress master and questioned the fortress guards. If Miss Xiao has taken a liking to the young fortress master..."

Before he could finish speaking, the man with the upturned nose immediately said indignantly, "She wasn't looking for me at all. She forced me to draw my sword as soon as we met, and then accused me on the eastern official road of Songtao City. Why was she so resolute? It's clear that someone else is framing me."

These words reminded everyone, and all eyes lit up at the same time. The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Jiang Tiantao's heart jumped into his throat. The quickest-witted Poisonous Lady was the first to blurt out, "That's right. Based on Rainbow Dragon Girl Xiao Xiangzhen's questioning, we can conclude that there is another person, with extraordinary martial arts skills, presumably a very handsome young man, who is using the prestige of this fortress and impersonating the young master of this fortress to cause trouble outside. Otherwise, Rainbow Dragon Girl wouldn't dare to come to the gates of Nine Palaces Fortress."

Everyone seemed to understand upon hearing this, but couldn't quite articulate the reasoning. Jiang Tiantao's expression changed upon hearing this, and a bead of sweat immediately appeared on his palms. Just then, a long, sharp, angry neigh of a wild horse came from outside the valley.

Upon hearing this very familiar angry neigh of a wild horse, Jiang Tiantao immediately thought of Xiao Qing, who was left outside the valley. Startled, he blurted out in a low voice, "Someone is stealing a horse!"

As soon as he uttered the word "horse," he flicked his sleeve and gracefully leaped off the suspension bridge. Just as he jumped off the suspension bridge, the sound of galloping hooves, as rapid as rain, came from the entrance of the valley. Jiang Tiantao suddenly had a thought, and cried out "Oh no!" He quickly stopped his charge. He was certain that the Rainbow Dragon Girl, who had just left, had discovered Xiao Qing left outside the valley and was chasing after her. Realizing this, he knew he was in trouble. If he hid in the forest, Poisonous Lady and the others would become suspicious; if he stood still, the Rainbow Dragon Girl might publicly question him about ignoring him that night.

In that moment of hesitation, a gray shadow, swift as lightning, appeared. Xiao Qing, the steed, head held high and beard bristling, had already galloped madly into the valley entrance. Jiang Tiantao's expression changed instantly. Behind the fleeing Xiao Qing, there was indeed a pinkish-green figure

moving with lightning speed. His heart pounded with anxiety, and he inwardly cursed his luck. It was too late to dodge. Jiang Tiantao's judgment was correct; behind Xiao Qing, who was frantically rushing into the valley entrance, there was indeed a pinkish-green figure moving swiftly, like a shooting star. But that pink and green figure, having just rushed into the valley entrance, suddenly vanished in a flash. Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, concluding that Rainbow Dragon Girl Xiao Xiangzhen must be hesitant to pursue him into the valley because she had just knocked down Upturned Nose. Therefore, his anxious heart calmed down.

Old Master Jiang, Poisonous Lady, Ma Yunshan, the Qi-Lu Twin Heroes, Little Li Guang, and others were all puzzled by Jiang Tiantao's sudden stop after leaping off the bridge. Poisonous Lady and the Qi-Lu Twin Heroes, in particular, noticed the change in Jiang Tiantao's handsome face, his eyes flashing with alarm, and his hesitant movements, which greatly increased their suspicions.

Ma Yunshan, remembering Jiang Tiantao's acquaintance with his old friend Xiangjiang Sou, turned to the bridge and asked with concern, "Is that swift horse that galloped into the valley your mount, young hero?"

Jiang Tiantao, his expression gradually regaining its composure, forced a nod and smiled, "Indeed, it is my Green Horse."

As soon as he finished speaking, the steed, Green, head held high and mane bristling, neighing like rain, leaving a trail of sparks, and arrived before Jiang Tiantao with lightning speed. Jiang Tiantao shouted, leaped forward, and grabbed the horse's reins. Upon seeing its young master, Green immediately reared up, raised its neck, and let out a loud, deafening neigh. Jiang Tiantao knew Green was overly frightened, so he quickly applied a heavy weight, pulling tightly on the reins, and shouted twice more. Green spun several times before lowering its hind legs, but seeing Jiang the Elder and the others standing on the bridge, it continued to whip its tail wildly, its hooves moving incessantly, and once again raised its head and let out a long neigh.

Old Master Jiang and Ma Yunshan, seeing Xiao Qing's magnificent steed and piercing eyes, immediately recognized it as a fine horse and praised it highly. Jiang Tiantao, however, paid no attention. He pretended to stroke the horse's whiskers while secretly glancing towards the valley entrance. What he saw startled him: in the bushes near the valley entrance where the pink-and-green figure had disappeared, a pair of eyes like cold stars were shining, leading him to conclude that Rainbow Dragon Girl had not yet left.

Just then, Old Master Jiang ordered, "Quickly take Wei Xiaoxia's horse to the stables."

Jiang Tiantao turned around and saw a strong guard rushing down the drawbridge towards the horse. He handed the horse to the guard and took the sword hanging from the saddle. Just as he drew his sword, Ma Yunshan's eyes suddenly lit up, and his expression changed instantly. He noticed that the two red beads on the sky-blue tassel of Jiang Tiantao's longsword hilt were strikingly similar to those of the masked man who had broken into the fortress and stolen the old fortress lord's beloved possession that night. This discovery immediately heightened his vigilance. Having roamed the martial world for decades, he was experienced and capable in handling situations. Although his suspicions had been aroused, he remained outwardly calm. Little Li Guang, though also standing on the bridge, had only exchanged a fleeting glance with Jiang Tiantao that night and therefore hadn't seen him clearly, so he hadn't noticed Jiang Tiantao's sword either.

As soon as Jiang Tiantao had the sword at his waist, the old fortress lord solemnly entered the fortress. Everyone entered the fortress gates in silence, each with their own thoughts. The old fortress lord was preoccupied with how to return the Purple Blood Jade Hairpin to the Rainbow Dragon Girl, preventing the Three Hairpins Gang from underestimating the Nine Palaces Fortress's lack of manpower. Jiang Tiantao was constantly worried that the Rainbow Dragon Girl, hiding in the bushes at the valley entrance, might have discovered him. Walking behind, Ma Yunshan kept his eyes fixed on the sword hanging at Jiang Tiantao's waist, while simultaneously trying to recall the swordplay Jiang Tiantao and Xue Danfeng had used on the arena earlier, wondering if it bore any resemblance to the masked man's swordplay that night.

The Poisonous Lady already saw Jiang Tiantao as a thorn in her side, constantly plotting to eliminate him. She had a premonition that if Jiang Tiantao remained in the fortress, Chaotianbi and she would never achieve their goal.

The Qi-Lu Twin Heroes, their eyes flashing with surprise at Jiang Tiantao's leap off the suspension bridge, were already filled with suspicion. Both brothers shared the same feeling that Jiang Tiantao's role as a gardener in the back garden was not as simple as he claimed. Furthermore, based on Jiang Tiantao's acquaintance with "Xiangjiang Old Man" Chu Yibiao of the Three Hairpins Gang, they suspected that Jiang Tiantao might also know "Jade Hairpin" Xiao Xiangzhen. The man with the upturned nose felt no gratitude towards Jiang Tiantao for reviving him, for his mind was still filled with the image of the beautiful and radiant Rainbow Dragon Girl.

The group entered the hall, and Old Master Jiang, with a solemn expression, took his seat again, the atmosphere extremely somber. Just as everyone was seated, a clear and melodious tinkling of jade pendants came from the back of the hall. Everyone turned to look, their eyes lighting up simultaneously. There stood the beautiful and ethereal Wang Yanling, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her face veiled in sorrow, leading four pretty maids. Her dresses fluttered, her jade pendants jingling, and her figure moved with the grace of flowing water as she ascended the steps towards the hall.

Ma Yunshan and the others saw that Wang Yanling's hair was piled high, adorned with gold hairpins, pearls embellishing her temples, a jade pendant hanging from her waist, and a chain around her neck. She wore a yellow velvet top and a pleated long skirt, her lotus-like face lightly powdered; it was clear at a glance that she had undergone further grooming after returning to her boudoir from the arena. Everyone in the hall secretly praised Wang Yanling's beauty, but Jiang Tiantao noticed that his sister Ling's jade-like cheeks were thin, her dark eyebrows were furrowed with sorrow, and she looked even more haggard than before.

The Poisonous Woman smiled sinisterly, cursing Wang Yanling for being so shameless as to come to the banquet before her husband was even chosen. The Upturned Nose Man was filled with jealousy and anger; such a beautiful woman, who was originally his beloved wife, was now about to fall into another man's arms.

Wang Yanling entered the hall, immediately lowered her head slightly, walked to the old man's side, performed a graceful curtsy, and said in a clear, respectful voice, "Ling'er greets Uncle."

Although the old man felt that Wang Yanling shouldn't have come out at this time, he still smiled kindly and said, "Ling'er, get up quickly, is there something you need?" He then reached out to help Wang Yanling up.

Wang Yanling stood up gracefully, her head slightly bowed, and calmly replied, "I just heard from the maids that Brother Tao was knocked unconscious and his pressure points couldn't be released. I was worried, so I came to the front hall to check."

Upon hearing this, Old Master Jiang immediately laughed heartily, then pointed to the upturned nose and said cheerfully, "Isn't that your Brother Tao?"

Wang Yanling looked up at the sound of his voice and saw the upturned nose indeed there. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she were somewhat surprised. The upturned nose was overjoyed to see Wang Yanling had come specifically to see him; his jealousy vanished instantly. It seemed this beautiful cousin still cared deeply for him. Seeing Wang Yanling looking at him, he immediately nodded and smiled, saying gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Ling. My brother is all better now."

Old Master Jiang pointed at Jiang Tiantao with a stern gesture and said cheerfully, "This is all thanks to Young Hero Wei's miraculous skills; otherwise, your brother Tao would have been unconscious until midnight." He then let out another hearty laugh.

Jiang Tiantao immediately bowed politely, addressing her as "Miss" in a humble manner. Wang Yanling lowered her eyes, not even glancing at Jiang Tiantao, clearly annoyed by his meddling. Then, facing the old master, she curtsied and calmly said, "Since my cousin is alright, Ling'er will take her leave now." She stood up, turned gracefully, and walked towards the back hall door. The four pretty maids standing in the corner of the hall immediately followed behind Wang Yanling.

The Poisonous Lady was shrewd; she deduced that Wang Yanling's purpose in coming out was to observe the situation outside, and that her concern for Upturned Nose was merely a pretext. As soon as Wang Yanling's figure disappeared behind the screen, Old Master Jiang invited everyone to take their seats in order, with Jiang Tiantao remaining seated at the head of the guest list. The maids standing at the four corners immediately stepped forward and filled everyone's cups with wine.

Old Master Jiang carefully placed the purple-red jade hairpin he had been holding onto a corner of the table, and the pleasant expression on his face vanished. After everyone had finished drinking, the old master gave the gleaming purple-red jade hairpin a solemn look, then humbly addressed the Qi-Lu Twin Heroes: "Brothers Ying and Xia are both quite close to the Jade Fan Scholar, the Great Hero Huangfu. Perhaps we should first discuss with him the matter of Miss Xiao's visit to our fortress to subdue Xiao Quan?" The Qi-Lu

Twin Heroes stood up at that moment, with the yellow-robed scholar Jin Jianying respectfully saying: "As far as I know, although the Three Hairpins Gang manages its affairs with the Gold, Silver, and Jade Hairpins, when faced with important..." "For matters of great difficulty, we must first consult Huangfu Yang, the Jade Fan Scholar, father of Huangfu Xiang (Silver Hairpin), before making a final decision. This shows how much the Three Beauties respect the Jade Fan Scholar. Today, Miss Xiao has come to cause trouble. In my humble opinion, it is not the Three Beauties' gang coming to provoke us, but rather Miss Xiao's own matter. If we inform the Jade Fan Scholar about this, it may escalate the situation and even make it a reality, putting us in a precarious position."

Old Master Jiang stroked his temple and nodded, and Ma Yunshan and the others echoed in agreement. The man with the upturned nose assumed that the Jin brothers were friends with Huangfu Yang, the Jade Fan Scholar, and therefore sided with the Three Hairpins Gang, showing favoritism. He immediately said in a deep voice, "In the opinion of Hero Jin, Rainbow Dragon Girl dared to cause trouble at our fortress, even nailing her hairpin to the gate and injuring me. What attitude should our fortress take?"

Jin Jianying, in front of the fortress lord, though unable to refute him, also refused to look directly at the man with the upturned nose. He remained facing the old fortress lord, Jiang, and respectfully said, "In my humble opinion, our fortress could send a skilled..." A skilled and eloquent individual with exceptional martial arts skills, representing the old fortress lord, will visit Dongliang Mountain. The purpose of this visit is to deliver the Purple Blood Jade Hairpin to either Chief Fu or Miss Xiao herself, to assure them that the old fortress lord is elderly, kind, and

magnanimous, and will not stoop to their level. Furthermore, it is to remind them not to underestimate the fortress's talent. These are merely humble opinions; the old fortress lord's judgment is requested.” Upon hearing this, the old fortress lord greatly approved. Ma Yunshan, Ning Daotong, and the others all echoed their praise, expressing their sincere admiration and acknowledging the insightful nature of the advice. The Poisonous Lady, quick-witted, devised a wicked plan. She hurriedly rose and said with concern, "Returning the Jade Hairpin is a weighty responsibility. A moment's negligence could easily provoke a conflict between the two sides. The choice of person must be carefully considered. In my humble opinion, it would be most suitable to invite Young Hero Wei. Not only can he convey the old master's magnanimous intentions, but he can also demonstrate that the young master has no intention of interfering with Miss Xiao's duties. If any of the experts in the gang try to make things difficult, Young Hero Wei's superb martial arts will surely amaze everyone and intimidate the heroes. The Three Beauties will then dare not underestimate our gang again. I urge the old master to reconsider my words."

Jiang Tiantao was incredibly clever. Upon hearing this, he immediately realized that this was a treacherous plan to kill two birds with one stone. In this way, he could use the Three Beauties to eliminate her thorn in her side, and at the same time, he could use his power to strike at the Jade Hairpin, venting some of Gouzi Chaotian's bad luck. Before their thoughts were settled, they saw Old Master Jiang, frowning and stroking his beard, slowly shaking his head, saying, "Young Master Wei has left his sword outside; someone could challenge him at any time. How can we let him break his promise?"

Ma Yunshan, Ning Daotong, and the Qi-Lu Twin Heroes all strongly agreed with Poisonous Lady's suggestion, but they were all concerned that Jiang Tiantao was not a master of Jiugong Fort, so they refrained from speaking out. Although Jiang Tiantao was eager to go to Dongliang Mountain in his father's place, he feared encountering Yu Chai, which would not only be of no use but would also cause trouble. Therefore, he dared not readily agree to go.

At this point, they all drank in silence, each carefully considering who would be most suitable to go. However, everyone concluded that, apart from Jiang Tiantao, Old Master Jiang Haohai, the Land Dragon, had to go personally. This was because everyone knew their own limitations; they were all capable of dealing with the top masters of the Three Beauties Gang, but none of them were confident of defeating the Golden, Silver, and Jade Beauties.

Seeing that Ma Yunshan and the others all looked solemn and were deep in thought, Old Master Jiang felt even more strongly about the importance of finding someone to return the jade hairpin, but he couldn't think of anyone. Once the banquet was over, Old Master Jiang invited Jiang Tiantao to rest in the inner fortress. So, Old Master Jiang and Jiang Tiantao went first, followed by Ma Yunshan, Poisonous Lady, and Upturned Nose.

Descending the steps of the back hall, they came to a tall blue stone screen wall. On it was a huge banner depicting "Five Blessings and Longevity," with the character for longevity in the center and the ten eyes of the five bats painted a deep red, making it very eye-catching. Passing the screen wall, about eight or nine steps ahead, was the magnificent gatehouse of the inner fortress. Although it was a blue stone building, it was entirely decorated with carved beams and painted rafters.

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