Dragon Soul Heroes - Chapter 3: The Painting Theft

After the punishment ended, Long Hui finally managed to stand up. He arranged a time with Huang Huan to steal the painting and then rushed home. Once home, Long Hui ate something quickly and then went straight to his study.
This kid is usually a lucky boy if he doesn't cause trouble. When Long Hui's father, Master Long, saw that his son actually wanted to go to school today, he was overjoyed and had no doubts. He even had the servants prepare some tonics to send to him. The Long family was a prominent family in Baiwan Town, and had produced three or five scholars. The family had a strong scholarly atmosphere, so the study contained at least eight hundred to a thousand books.
Long Hui buried himself in his studies, hoping to find more information about Zhu Xuzi's deeds and the "Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map" as soon as possible. After searching for a long time, he finally found this passage in a yellowed booklet: "Zhu Xuzi, a Taoist. He traveled throughout the land, determined to write a book. Demons roamed the land, and the Taoist, compassionate towards the suffering of all beings, intervened to subdue them. However, the demons were too powerful, and he was defeated. One day, he arrived at the Panlong Sacred Vein, where he obtained ancient and wondrous arts, achieved the Great Dao, swept away all evil, and brought peace to the world. The Taoist's merits were immeasurable. He wrote the 'Chronicles of the Divine Land,' drew the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map,' and wrote the 'Heavenly Vault Laws.'"
Long Hui was secretly startled, thinking, "Besides the Divine Land Chronicles and the Map of Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers, Zhu Xuzi also has this wondrous method of the Heavenly Vault, so why is it not recorded in the historical books?" Upon closer inspection, he found that the signature was "Long Haisheng".
"This was written by Grandpa." Long Hui put the booklet back in its place and read to himself, "Grandpa was a close friend of Dean Cheng back then, so he must have known about the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map'. It's a pity that he only wrote this unofficial history." Long Hui looked out the window at the sky. It was already sunset. It was time to meet Huang Huan, so he secretly slipped out and went to the designated place to meet Huang Huan.
The two plotted their plan in the alley behind the academy, and waited until the teachers and students left before sneaking into the academy. Long Hui was light and agile, while Huang Huan was strong and large, so Huang Huan became a human ladder for Long Hui, allowing him to step on his shoulders to climb over the high wall and then open the door from the inside.
"Little Bug, where are we going to find the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers' painting?" Huang Huan asked as soon as he entered. "If the Dean keeps the painting at home, then we've made a wasted trip." Long Hui shook his head and said, "I don't think so. That strange man is so capable; he must have already confirmed that the painting isn't at the Dean's house but in the academy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have forced us to search for it for him. Besides, look at the countless paintings, calligraphy, and books in the Wuya Academy's collection; hiding the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers' painting here would be the best thing to do."
"Heh, kid, I didn't realize you were so smart." That chilling voice came from nowhere, making the two of them break out in a cold sweat. Long Hui swallowed hard and said, "You flatter me. We'll help you get what you want, but we also hope you'll keep your promise."
"Don't worry, as long as I get what I want, I'll definitely give you the antidote. But if you disappoint me, hmph—" Although he didn't finish his sentence, it was obvious what this strange man meant. Long Hui and Huang Huan didn't dare to be negligent and sneaked into the calligraphy and painting pavilion again. The two searched high and low, looking for most of the night, but found nothing. Long Hui wiped the sweat from his brow and decisively changed his target—the elegant anime pavilion.
Besides the study, Anya Pavilion also had a library, which housed Cheng Yuanzhi's private collection of books and calligraphy. The two worked together to unlock the door and crept inside, continuing their search by moonlight streaming through the window, but still found nothing. Somewhat disheartened, they entered the study with their last glimmer of hope.
The study, which had witnessed a passionate battle over money during the day, now felt eerily strange and desolate at night. Long Hui carefully surveyed his surroundings. Although the study was elegantly furnished, it didn't have many books or paintings. Moreover, it was already late at night, and the moonlight from the window was insufficient. So he lit a candle on the table and used its light to search for a glimmer of hope among the few books and paintings.
"It's over, there's nothing here either!" Huang Huan collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Long Hui was also ashen-faced, and recalling his experience with the poison attack earlier that day, his hair stood on end. Huang Huan hugged his shoulders, trembling uncontrollably, his small eyes lifeless, and his lips pale and bluish.
Long Hui forced a smile and said, "Ah Huang, don't be discouraged. If it were that easy to find, that weirdo would have succeeded long ago. Cheer up and think about what else we might have missed." Huang Huan muttered, "It's over, we're really over, over..."
Seeing that the fat man was on the verge of a mental breakdown, Long Hui dared not provoke him any further, lest he suddenly go insane, which would be adding insult to injury. He forced himself to calm down and paced back and forth in the study, partly to calm himself down and partly to observe if there was anything else he had overlooked.
"May the ancestors of the Long family protect their unworthy descendant, Long Hui, through this calamity!" Long Hui's legs were numb from walking, but he still hadn't found anything. Desperate, he began to pray to his ancestors for help… but then he realized this was an academy, and the Long family ancestors couldn't protect him here. So he turned to Confucius. Seeing a portrait of Confucius hanging on the wall, he picked up a candle and went to pay his respects. However, because his legs were numb from walking, the blood flow to his feet suddenly became sluggish, and he stumbled and fell to the ground. The candle flew out of his hand and struck the portrait of the sage.
When he got up, he found that the portrait of Confucius had been set ablaze by the candlelight. "Oh no! This is blasphemy against Confucius! He won't protect us when he gets angry!" Long Hui quickly took off his coat to put out the fire, but the fire only grew bigger, and the entire portrait was covered in flames. To prevent a fire, Long Hui knocked the portrait to the ground and let it burn on its own. After burning for a long time, the fire gradually died down, but then an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The once-black scroll, now revealed under the raging flames, was a white jade and emerald scroll, its center adorned with a gold-threaded canvas, impervious to fire and water. It depicted various landscapes and riverbeds of the land, as well as numerous celestial mountains and caves. The entire painting evoked a sense of grandeur and magnificence.
Long Hui gasped, his voice trembling as he said, "Thank you, Confucius! Thank you, ancestors of the Long family! Yes, this is... Ah Huang, we're saved! This is—the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers' painting!" Ah Huang hurriedly leaned closer and took a closer look. Although the content of the painting was similar to the fakes on the roadside, the craftsmanship and materials were exceptional. Even an idiot could tell that this painting was of extraordinary origin!
"Haha, it really is a vast landscape painting!" Huang Huan laughed heartily, tears welling in his eyes. "That's wonderful! I don't have to go down to meet the King of Hell as a virgin!"
Just as the two were weeping with joy, a cold wind swept by, and the "Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map" in their hands vanished in the blink of an eye. Standing before them was a person dressed entirely in black, his face covered in wrinkles, his body lifeless, like a withered, dried corpse.
The man held the "Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers" scroll in his withered hand and examined it carefully for a moment. His voice trembled as he said, "It really is the 'Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers' scroll. It came and went without any effort, haha..." Seeing the eerie atmosphere emanating from the almost withered hand, Long Hui mustered his courage and said, "Now that you've got the item, hurry up and give us the antidote!"
The man snorted coldly and tossed two pills into their mouths with a flick of his wrist. The two men felt a nauseating, strange taste from the pills, and their stomachs churned violently—they vomited uncontrollably, expelling not only their food but also bile. After they finished vomiting, they discovered countless tiny black ants crawling in their vomit, causing them to feel nauseous again. Otherwise, having vomited everything out, they probably would have vomited again.
"What you spat out are the Black Scorpion Demon Ants of Miao territory. I have already cured your poison, so it doesn't count as breaking my promise," the strange man said coldly. Long Hui helped Huang Huan up and said, "Since that's the case, we're even. Farewell."
“嘿嘿，我只说帮你们解毒，并没答应放过你们。”那人冷笑一声，两只枯萎的爪子闪电般扣住两人脖子。
两人不断地挣扎着，但是那双枯萎的爪子仿佛铁钳一般扣住他们的喉咙，不断地吸取两人的气息，不肖半响，龙辉只觉得两眼发黑，眼珠几乎要掉出眼眶。黄欢此时已是口吐白沫，两只脚正不断地抽动着，已然到达濒死之缘。
“为了保守秘密，我也只好送你们两个小鬼去见阎王了，到了下面可莫要怪我！”黑衣人手上加劲，准备一举结束龙、黄性命。
“鬼幽，你好大的胆子竟然敢瞒着教主私吞万里山河图！”一个声音从身后响起，两道凌烈气劲奔向黑衣人背门。黑衣人反应迅速，放下龙辉、黄欢二人，回身挡格。只听砰地一声，气劲澎湃，煞风四起，把书房里的书画卷得四处乱飞。
龙辉两人在鬼门关走了一趟，趴在地上不断地咳嗽、喘着粗气。书房内又多了一男一女，其中一个手持折扇的锦袍男子，面如玉冠，长得甚是英俊，但是眼中透着丝丝邪气。而另一个女子轻纱蒙面，虽然看不见庐山真面目，但是柳眉入鬓，眼如秋水，身段婀娜，让人有种掀掉其面纱的冲动。
那叫鬼幽的怪人将图收入怀中，冷笑道：“原来是你们这所谓的圣子神女，单凭你们想虎口夺食还差了少许道行。”年轻男子笑道：“鬼幽护法，你若肯现在交出万里山河图并跟我们回去向教主领罪还能保住一条残命。”
鬼幽冷笑道：“嘿嘿，到时候我坠入万古血河那还不是生不如死。于其为那老糊涂卖命我倒不如杀了你们后，找个隐秘的地方修炼天穹法诀。待我功成之日，那老鬼也奈何不了我。”
“狂妄之徒，受死！”那名女子冷哼一声，身影晃动化作一道残影，袭向鬼幽。一双白玉素手化作层层掌势，拍向鬼幽各大穴道要害。鬼幽嘿嘿一笑：“圣女的花影手着实不差，可惜要杀我还差得远！”话音未落，只见鬼幽身上涌出一团黑气，黑气在其周围结成一道坚实的屏障，将花影手尽数拒之门外。黑气之中涌出无数道锋锐的气芒，反攻圣女。
神子嗯了一声，出言提醒道：“是黑煞剑芒，师妹小心了。”
只见那圣女不慌不忙，手捏法诀，在身前瞬间布下五彩霞光，黑煞剑芒一触到那五彩霞光犹如遇火寒冰，顿时化作为乌有。圣女玉指一扬，五彩霞光向着黑气逼去，黑气被霞光尽数驱散，但是鬼幽已经不在原地，不知踪影。
“好狡猾的老怪物。”圣女秀眉微皱道，“竟然借机遁去。”神子道：“师妹不必彷徨，且看为兄找出这叛徒的踪迹。”
只听他口中阵阵由此地念道：“招阴决——紫微伏隐，五雷崩云，魑魅魍魉，从吾号令。找阴决——临兵斗者皆数组前行！”只见他眼中精光大作，沉哼一声，一道紫色光芒随即夺门而出，二人随着紫芒追去，丢下已经虚脱的龙辉和黄欢。两人躺在地上不停地喘着粗气。
龙辉稍微平静了下来道：“像万里山河图这等重宝，一般人都会小心收藏，谁知院长却反其道而行，大大方方地挂在墙上，此等做法可真是叫人难以捉摸。难怪那个怪物找了这么久都找不到。”黄欢破口骂道：“最好刚才那两个人除掉那个老怪物，替咱们出一口气！”
龙辉叹道：“这事我们管不了，还是先回去吧。”说罢便要站起身来，却无意中看到已经化成灰烬的孔圣人画像中闪烁着一丝亮光，急忙拨开灰烬，竟是一张薄如蝉翼的丝绢。龙辉疑惑地将其拾起，顿时一股暖流从丝绢中传来，顺着手掌流遍全身。
龙辉只觉得浑身暖洋洋的，仿佛被热水烫过一般说不出的舒畅，身子的力气似乎渐渐恢复。黄欢也看到这块丝绢，凑上前一探究竟。龙辉把丝绢递给他道：“阿黄，这东西很神奇，触手之处觉得暖洋洋的，浑身舒服，我的力气居然恢复的大半。你快摸一下。”黄欢听得神奇也迫不及待地接过丝绢，虽然觉得手感细腻柔滑但却无任何效果。
黄欢奇道：“小虫，你是不脑子被那怪物吓坏了，那有什么暖洋洋的感觉，我摸起来就是一块普通的丝绢，最多材料上佳罢了。”龙辉不信从他手中接过丝绢，那股暖流再次流遍全身。
“阿黄，我没骗你，拿在手上真的很舒服！”龙辉又把丝绢递给黄欢，但是黄欢始终不觉得有什么特别的，两人试了几次结果都是一样，但想起此地不宜久留，所以也不再纠缠下去，赶紧跑回家去，装作什么事也没发生。
白弯镇二十里处的荒野，三条人影正在急速奔走，相互追逐。鬼幽身法诡异，在荒野上犹如一道黑色旋风。而神子与圣女步法飘逸，看上去虽然没有鬼幽那般气势但始终与鬼幽保持着五丈的距离。
无论鬼幽怎么加速，后面这两个人与他之间始终保持着微妙的平衡，他心里明白一旦这个平衡被打破便是生死之战的开始。就在三人僵持之际，一道伟岸身影挡在鬼幽跟前。鬼幽只觉得一股强烈的劲气扑面而来，使得他不得不停下步子。就在停下来的一刹那，鬼幽与神子圣女之间的平衡被打破，气息相应之下，两人本能地出手，发出两记雄厚的掌气。
前有拦路虎，后有夺命杀。鬼幽暗自叫苦，但111;得他根基雄厚，修为高深，分出一半内劲抗衡前面的滔天气浪，同时回身反手劈出两掌，力抗来敌。
气劲相撞，大地震动，现场顿时一片飞沙走石。神子圣女向后退去，卸去鬼幽的掌力，但反观鬼幽，仅凭瘦小枯萎的身躯硬接两大高手之招，半步不让。表面上看起来，鬼幽是占据上风，实际上他已经受了暗伤。后退卸劲本来是武学的基本常识，鬼幽却一步不退，此举大违武学之理，因为他知道只要刚才自己稍一后退便会给拦路之人暴露出致命的破绽。
“老二，想不到你如此硬气，为了不给为兄可乘之机，宁可拼着内伤的危险也要抗住神子圣女的合击。”那人淡然道。鬼幽咽下喉咙鲜血，声音沙哑地道：“呵呵，大护法来到，小弟岂敢轻视。”
那名拦路之人身着灰色道袍，鹤骨仙风，双眼温润明亮的，俨然一副得道高人之风范。此道人名为云踪，与鬼幽并列为教中七大护法之一。
神子见到云踪，脸色略带不悦道：“大护法为何在此？”云踪淡淡地道：“贫道奉教主之命前来拦截鬼幽。教主早就料到鬼幽会用“幽冥遁术”避开与神子圣女交手，特让贫道在前拦截。”
神子脸色阴晴不定，心中虽然不满但还是按压下来，专心对付鬼幽。圣女眼中没有一丝感情波动，只是静静地盯着前方。
三双眼睛，六道锐利眼光紧盯鬼幽，鬼幽只觉四周的空气都已经停止流动，一场死战看来是在所难免，当即收敛心神，提元蓄气。
只见鬼幽撮指成刀，化作一道黑色刀芒，带着鬼魂阴风劈向神子。神子怒喝一声：“叛徒受死！”不躲不闪挥拳迎上刀芒。碰的一声，两人各退一步，与此同时，圣女衣裙飘飘，既然在鬼幽身旁翩翩起舞，舞姿优美，气度若仙。
“大自在天女舞！这小丫头竟然练成了这绝技。”鬼幽内心惊叹之余，默运真气，他心里明白这优美的舞蹈暗藏着凶险无比的杀机。圣女每一次起舞都会带出一阵清甜的幽香，透人心脾，能让人渐渐迷失在香气、舞姿之中。
鬼幽以自身修为硬抗大自在天女舞，心神依旧如老树盘根，丝毫不动一分。圣女不由称赞道：“不愧是我教的二护法，居然早大自在天女舞前，心神依旧不动，奴家甚是佩服。”说话间双眼闪过一丝异彩，犹如春水荡漾，有股说不出的美态。
鬼幽冷笑一声，伸出两根枯萎的手指插向圣女的眼睛。圣女身形晃动避了过去，眼中异彩顿时消失。鬼幽道：“小丫头，老子修炼鬼脉心经早就已经半人半鬼，再美的女人在我眼中也不过红粉骷髅，你这些媚心之术对我无用，还是省点力气吧。”
The Holy Maiden chuckled lightly, "Then I will ask the Second Protector for more information on the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra!" As she spoke, the five-colored glow reappeared, dazzling and breathtaking. Ghost You sneered, "Five-colored glow—a boring trick. You decorate yourself to look radiant, thinking you're a Holy Maiden. In reality, you're just like me, a ghost from the underworld."
The Ghost Vein Heart Sutra, black evil energy, and swirling yin winds arose, accompanied by the wailing of wronged souls. Gui You activated the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra, unleashing his signature technique—the Soul-Chasing Claw. The multicolored rosy light clashed with the black ghost energy, resulting in a fierce battle, with the rosy light sometimes driving away the black energy, and sometimes the black energy swallowing the rosy light. In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of blows.
The Holy Maiden spotted an opening in Gui You's defenses and struck him on the shoulder with a palm strike. Gui You's face remained expressionless, only letting out a chilling laugh: "Little girl, you've fallen for my trap." Before the words were even finished, his Soul-Chasing Claw aimed straight for the Holy Maiden's heart, seemingly intent on ripping it out. The Holy Maiden reacted quickly, dodging the fatal blow with a whirlwind, but her arm was still ripped open with five bloody gashes, and the chilling black energy of the ghostly veins seeped into her body through the wounds.
"Damn it!" The Holy Maiden hurriedly sealed several acupoints on her arms to stop the black energy from spreading. Ghost said, "Little girl, you're lucky this time. Next time, I'll definitely tear off one of your breasts!" As he spoke, he kept glancing at the Holy Maiden's high breasts. The Holy Maiden was extremely embarrassed and angry, but in order to expel the evil energy invading her body as soon as possible, she had no choice but to endure it.
The Divine Child was now enraged. He had long regarded the Holy Maiden as his future wife, and seeing her injured and humiliated by Gui You, his anger was beyond control. He roared, "Old monster, if I cannot tear you to pieces today, I am not Cang!" As he spoke, his clothes and hair moved without wind, and a dazzling white light emanated from his body.
Gui You squinted and said, "Cang boy, your Bright Karmic Fire hasn't even reached half the level of your father's. You're far from being able to avenge your lover! Heh heh, what kind of divine son and holy daughter are you? You're nothing but an adulterous couple." The divine son's real name was Cang Ziming. He was the only son of the sect leader. He was named the divine son while still in his mother's womb. After his birth, he was all the rage in the sect. He had never been mocked like this before. In a fit of anger, he threw a punch.
A flash of white light appeared, and the black aura of the ghostly veins enveloping Gui You was actually dispelled by this punch. Unexpectedly, Gui You remained calm and composed, only coldly laughing, "Fifth level of the Radiant Karmic Fire? Heh heh, you won't have the ability to kill me until you reach the seventh level." Before he finished speaking, he spread his five fingers to take Cang Ziming's thunderous punch head-on.
The white light of the Radiant Karmic Fire was actually swallowed up by the black energy of the Ghost Vein. Cang Ziming felt his true energy flowing backward, but how could he, with his pride, bow his head? He gathered his inner energy again, raising his power to a higher level, and threw another punch at Gui You's face. Gui You's figure disappeared again, and Cang Ziming was just air, but the surging fist force actually broke a tree a meter away, and the heat of the Radiant Karmic Fire ignited the tree.
Gui You was already standing behind Cang Ziming, but he did not make a move. Because Cang Ziming's true energy had already enveloped his entire body, as long as he was attacked, the scorching blazing fire of light would retaliate. Since the blazing fire of light was extremely strong and yang, it was the nemesis of the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra. Even if he could kill Cang Ziming, Gui You would suffer damage to his internal organs and would definitely not be able to escape the combined attack of Yun Zong and the Holy Maiden.
Cang Ziming missed his attack and turned to continue his assault. The dazzling white light of his Bright Karmic Fire illuminated an area of ten feet as if it were daytime. Gui You, seeing the boy's momentum, secretly assessed the situation: "This kid Cang has actually reached the sixth level of cultivation. His strength is as fierce as a torrent bursting its banks. Although his physical strength is superior to that little girl's, his foundation is still insufficient. If this drags on for a while, he will definitely run out of internal energy." With this in mind, Gui You adopted a hit-and-run tactic, avoiding direct confrontation with Cang Ziming, attempting to wear down his momentum.
Cang Ziming knew Gui You's plan, but once he unleashed the power of the sixth level, given his foundation, he couldn't simply withdraw. At this point, Cang Ziming was beyond stopping; he could only defeat Gui You as quickly as possible. Thus, his attacks became increasingly ferocious, igniting dry grass wherever his fists and palm strikes passed. However, Gui You's Netherworld Escape Technique possessed unpredictable and divine abilities; Cang Ziming couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.
After a while, Cang Ziming's internal energy was already stagnant and his true essence was insufficient. Just then, Gui You suddenly launched an attack, striking Cang Ziming's face with a Soul-Chasing Claw. As long as this claw landed, his brains would surely splatter.
Just as Cang Ziming was about to have his head blown off by Gui You's claw, two fingers suddenly struck the deadly claw. Gui You's entire arm went numb, and he immediately withdrew and retreated. The one who made the move was Yun Zong.
Gui You sneered, "Boss, you've finally made your move. Let's have a proper spar." Yun Zong shook his head and said, "Second brother, you already suffered hidden injuries when you used only half your power to deal with the combined attack of the Divine Child and the Holy Maiden. The reason you were able to defeat the Divine Child and the Holy Maiden is not only because your tactics were correct, but also because you used the Soul Burial Technique to enhance your power. Although it can show your power for a while, this method greatly shortens your lifespan. Even if you can escape, you won't live for more than half a year. What's the point of doing that?"
This Soul Burial Technique is the most domineering technique within the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra. It can suppress injuries and enhance one's physical strength in a short period of time, but it is a fighting style that injures oneself before injuring others. Gui You's internal organs have already suffered very serious damage. Gui You sneered, "Hehe, as long as I break through the encirclement today and cultivate the Heavenly Vault Mystic Technique, then not only can I restore my lifespan, but I might even become an immortal."
Yun Zong shook his head and said, "Second brother, you're wrong. The miraculous effects of the Heavenly Vault Mystic Method are just a legend. Why are you so fixated on it?" Gui You said in his hoarse voice, "Fixed on it? Ever since I started cultivating the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra, I've become neither human nor ghost. Although I hold the high position of the Second Protector of the Haotian Sect and enjoy all the glory, I have no taste for delicacies, no interest in beautiful women, and I dare not see the sun. I've had enough of this kind of life. The Heavenly Vault Mystic Method is my only hope, my hope to become human again."
Yun Zong sighed helplessly, his Daoist robe billowing as surging true energy burst forth from his body.
Ghostly coldly said, "If I can't escape, I might as well die here. That would be the perfect end to this inhuman existence, and I can become a true ghost."

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