I began to understand the myriad things by chopping wood

Chapter 221: The Way of the Grandmaster, Resistance in Jinling

Yunzhou is located in the northwest of Dali and has never been a water-rich area.

This water refers to both the water in the sky and the rivers on the earth.

However, despite this, the few water veins in Yunzhou are not small rivers. Even the winding Wu River at the border with Yanzhou is more than ten feet wide at most times.

These rivers are all tributaries of the big river.

The "big river" that runs through the entire Central Plains and flows straight into the East China Sea from the west passes through Yunzhou, goes all the way southeast, passes through the fertile land of Jiangnan, and then enters the boundless East China Sea.

The center of Yunzhou, Yunzhou Prefecture, is naturally located on the upper reaches of the river. Such a rich and huge city can only be found on the banks of large rivers.

Outside Yunzhou Prefecture, at the river transport terminal.

On the huge wharf that stretched for miles, countless river workers toiled with bare chests. Even though it was already autumn, they were sweating profusely as they carried things up and down.

There are too many boats at the dock.

There are all kinds of sampans, wupeng fishing boats, two-story small planks, sailboats, and real big ships that are ten meters long and three-story high. Some are circling in the river, preparing to dock or leave, or floating on the shore, constantly beckoning people to get on board.

Although the river is wide, the people on the other side are small, and the dock is very wide and large, the entire northwest river transportation center still seems crowded, and it seems that even the big river is blocked by ships.

On a three-story ship that had just left the shore and set sail.

"Brother Qin, I... feel a little uncomfortable. How about we take the land route?"

The hot-tempered Ning Zi was standing on the shaking deck at this time, her face a little pale.

Qin Zhenyang's expression was much better. Although he frowned slightly, he still said:
"Junior Sister Ning, it was like this at the beginning, but you'll get used to it after sitting for a while."

Although he said this, he had only sat on it occasionally when going down the mountain a few times, and he was not particularly used to it.

In Yunzhou, where there is little water, most people have rarely been on a boat and are complete landlubbers.

For a landlubber, the first time on a boat is often an unforgettable experience.

"You get used to it after spitting it out, right?"

Ning Zi pursed her lips tightly, as if she was feeling something, but seeing that her fellow junior brothers and sisters were all behaving fine, she had to hold on to avoid embarrassment.

The wind is quite strong today, and the captain said that it is good weather and the boat will go much faster. But looking at the ups and downs of the river and the swaying of the boat, Ning Zi just wanted to believe him, the weather couldn't be any worse.

In fact, on such a bumpy boat, the other people in the group were not much better off than Ning Zi.

Huang Zifeng's eyes were half open and half closed, trying to adapt to the feeling of constant ups and downs. Just looking at his frowning brows, it was known that he was not adapting well.

Lin Zhen also had a grim expression on her face. She used to be a young lady from a wealthy family and rarely went out. Later, she went up the mountain to practice, and had never been on a boat. Her feelings were similar to Ning Zi's, except that she was not as noisy and shouting as Ning Zi. But she still pursed her lips tightly and endured silently.

Only Xie Yuan was slightly better. Although he had never sat on it in this life, he had sat on it several times in his previous life, so he had some expectations in his mind.

"Logically speaking, warriors should have good adaptability..."

Xie Yuan silently experienced the feeling of the upheaval. Although his mind had adapted to it, his body did not think so.

"…It feels like the boat is fighting with the brain for control? Well, seasickness itself is the confusion caused by the mismatch between physical sensations and normal perceptions, and warriors have strong control over themselves and their perceptions are extremely precise and sharp. The more so, the more likely they are to feel uncomfortable in such situations, just like sensitive people react more strongly to pain, or people with well-developed muscles are more likely to suffer from hypoxia when climbing high mountains…"

Xie Yuan figured out why he and his group of Transformation Realm warriors looked even uglier. Although many of the common people around them also seemed to be taking a boat for the first time, their reactions were not as great as theirs. At least they did not start wailing and demanding to go back to land as soon as they left the port.

Nodding slightly, Xie Yuan deliberately dulled his perception, letting his body sway gently with the shaking of the deck, swaying left and right with it, relaxing his lower limbs, instead of always trying to keep his center of gravity and using his well-trained horse stance to fight it.

Looking outside the boat, after getting used to the ups and downs of the waves outside, Xie Yuan felt much better and soon looked back to normal.

"what?"

While Ning Zi was complaining, she keenly noticed Xie Yuan's expression. He looked calm and at ease, looking outside and enjoying the scenery like an old boat passenger. She couldn't help but exclaim in amazement:
"Junior Brother Zhang, are you trying to be cool? Or are you not seasick?"

Xie Yuan turned around and saw that several of his fellow disciples were still struggling, so he shook his head and said:
"Senior Sister Ning, I feel like after this, I'm less seasick..."

He told his fellow students about his discovery. They were all skeptical, but they still did as he said.

After a while, the dizziness felt much better, and they all stared at Xie Yuan in disbelief.

Ning Zi patted him vigorously, opened her eyes wide, and smiled excitedly:

"Junior Brother Zhang, this is a good idea! I think you are born to be a fisherman!"

The stronger the wind and the more turbulent the waves, the more shaky Ning Zi's movements will be.

Xie Yuan looked away and coughed lightly:

"Senior Sister Ning, you're too kind. I went fishing a few times, but I came up empty-handed every time..."

Although they all changed into ordinary clothes and dressed in casual attire, without revealing their identity as disciples of the Sword Sect so as not to attract attention, there were still many eyes cast involuntarily at Ning Zi.

Several people thanked Xie Yuan, only Qin Zhenyang fell into deep thought. After a moment, he said:

"Junior Brother Zhang, your opinion is indeed good, and it has the charm of a master."

"what?"

Not only Xie Yuan, Ning Zi, Lin Zhen and Huang Zifeng were all greatly surprised.

Ning Zi muttered:

"Brother Qin, even if he came up with a good way to save everyone's lives, you don't have to praise him like this, right?"

Qin Zhenyang shook his head:

"I'm not kidding. Understanding the world and following nature is the path of a master."

Ning Zi listened and looked Qin Zhenyang up and down. Seeing that he was really serious, she couldn't help but look at Xie Yuan and said:

"Junior Brother Zhang, are you going to become a Grandmaster?"

Lin Zhen and Huang Zifeng also felt that Qin Zhenyang was a bit exaggerating. How could they tell that he could become a master just from taking a boat?

Xie Yuan himself felt that this was a bit exaggerated and scratched his head:

"Brother Qin, I just hit the jackpot by accident."

The path to becoming a Grandmaster... Indeed, I have finally gathered the two fundamental methods of external training and internal cultivation that can lead directly to becoming a Grandmaster, and have truly opened the path to becoming a Grandmaster.

However, after realizing the realm of the Second Bridge of Heaven and Earth, he still had no idea what path to take next.

Qin Zhenyang looked at Xie Yuan and said:
"Junior Brother Zhang, why did you hit the jackpot and no one else did? Because you have this idea. Every warrior knows how to look inward and observe himself, and the closer he is to the three changes of Qi and Blood, the more proficient he becomes, and it gradually becomes instinctive. But in contrast, the ability to look outward and seek outside is gradually forgotten by warriors.

"Most warriors believe in themselves, especially after reaching the limit of human transformation. It is difficult for them to observe the outside world with their whole body and mind, comprehend all things in nature, and find the way to integrate into themselves. Warriors always think of fighting against heaven and earth by themselves. When they encounter difficulties, they rely on their blood and energy to fight, but they rarely think of retreating half a step and letting the world be wide. However, let alone the three changes of blood and energy, even if they are masters or great masters, can they really fight against heaven and earth? When you reach the stage of the three changes of blood and energy, you should not think about how to make yourself stronger, but how to discover and comprehend from heaven and earth.

"Before, I only heard these principles from Master and kept them in mind, but I never fully understood them. Now, with the help of this stormy ship and Junior Brother Zhang's guidance, I finally understand what they mean. Junior Brother Zhang, thank you very much!"

Qin Zhenyang bowed his fist towards Xie Yuan earnestly, which made Xie Yuan, who was stunned, wave his hands repeatedly and said a little embarrassedly:

"Brother Qin, you are too polite! I actually didn't think that much."

Qin Zhenyang shook his head:

"Junior Brother Zhang, that's not the case. I've long felt that you're not just good at understanding. Your ideas are sometimes different from others, and you can always see the problem incisively and analyze it in detail. For example, martial artists can look inward, but few can see as accurately as you, nor can they think as you do. As for observing nature and adapting to the heavens and the earth, most martial artists below the Grandmaster level don't have the idea.

"This is what makes you different from ordinary people, and it is also your treasure. The path of martial arts after becoming a grandmaster requires more personal thinking and understanding, and this is much easier for you, Junior Brother Zhang. You are indeed a material for practicing martial arts at the grandmaster level."

Seeing how serious Qin Zhenyang was and how eloquently he spoke, several fellow disciples seemed to be thinking about what he had said and were trying to remember it carefully.

As the chief disciple, Qin Zhenyang was the disciple closest to the Grandmaster realm in the Sword Sect, so his talent and knowledge were naturally extraordinary. After a thorough analysis of the Grandmaster realm, several people nodded repeatedly as if they were following a guideline.

Just hearing Qin Zhenyang praising Xie Yuan so highly and thanking him solemnly, they were all stunned.

What kind of trick is this to prevent seasickness? It's actually related to the Grandmaster level?

Junior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Qin said that he had the talent of a master and was born to be a martial artist? Ning Zi's mouth almost opened wide.

Xie Yuan originally thought that what Qin Zhenyang said was too exaggerated, but as he listened, his expression gradually became serious, but there was something strange in his eyes.

Why does it feel like Senior Brother Qin is talking about world view and methodology?
He listened for a while and seemed to understand something. These words were quite similar to what his Marxism teacher taught in college.

In terms of how I look at the world and analyze problems, I am indeed very different from the people here... I have noticed this many times, but I have gotten used to it after so long and don't think too much about it. I didn't expect that in the eyes of Qin Zhenyang, who is good at observation and meticulous, I am still a little special.

The path to becoming a god through martial arts is not only a way to change oneself and pursue the highest, but it can also be said to be a way to constantly understand oneself, then understand the world, and finally understand the great way.

In order to reach the level of a grandmaster, a warrior must, after tempering himself to the extreme, re-examine the world with this body, use this perfectly trained body to accept the way of heaven and earth, and then find a new way to break through.

In this way, the ability to analyze oneself and understand nature is indeed crucial. Although Xie Yuan does this almost every day, many other warriors here have never been to school or read books systematically, and they don't have this kind of thinking path at all. They can only rely on their own continuous exploration and understanding, and continuous trial and error.

But, aren't these not a problem for me? That's what I've been doing subtly for the past ten or twenty years, and even when I practice martial arts on the panel, I'm using it instinctively.

The path to becoming a master seems to be right in front of me.

Xie Yuan fell into deep thought for a while, then gradually became excited.

It turns out that all past experiences have quietly settled deep in my mind, just waiting to bear fruit.

No matter how much I complained about my poor math skills, why Chinese people should speak English, and whether reciting ancient poems can increase my salary, these subjects have shaped my entire life in an invisible and intangible way.

Guys, reading is really useful!

Xie Yuan had some insights. Although he felt that the path of martial arts training seemed a bit abstract when analyzed in this way, he still had to think about whatever he did, right?

He couldn't fully experience what Qin Zhenyang said, after all, his cultivation had not yet reached that threshold. But at least today, he had some understanding of the path to becoming a Grandmaster and what to do next, and he also had a lot more confidence.

"Actually, Miss Qin has said something similar before, but she just asked me to think more and gain more insights, and she didn't say it so thoroughly."

Xie Yuan recalled the fragments of conversation he had had with Situ Qin, discussing everything from the heavens to the earth, and the martial arts, and nodded silently:
"It's a great benefit to be with a good friend... but even without these benefits, it's still fun to be with her."

Several people came down from Yunshan, passed by Yunzhou City and took a boat to the big pier outside. They spent half a day shopping in the city and made full preparations. Xie Yuan also took the opportunity to leave the team - saying that he was going to visit his elders.

Well, Li Tai and Aunt Hong are indeed elders.

When Situ Qin learned that he was suddenly going to Jiangnan, she naturally had the idea, but was vetoed by Li Tai and Hong Yi. He was already in danger in Yunzhou, so going to the lair of the aristocratic family would be like entering a dragon's den and a tiger's lair? For any warrior, Jiangnan was not that dangerous. Instead, it was a place of peace and prosperity, except for Situ Qin.

Therefore, Situ Qin could only say goodbye to Xie Yuan reluctantly, and wanted to give him treasures and gold and silver, but Xie Yuan refused them all. Wearing the jade Buddha statue all the time, Xie Yuan felt very at ease.

Time was short, so Situ Qin played the zither and plucked the strings to play a song to bid farewell to Xie Yuan, asking him to take care of himself and to beat up those noble families who did not treat Xie Yuan as human beings when possible. Xie Yuan readily agreed.

Compared with land transportation, water transportation is actually much easier and more comfortable as long as you adapt to it. After all, it is less tiring than traveling by car or horse.

Going down the river and resupplying along the coast, relying on the westerly wind of this season, traveling by water is much faster than by land.

Thanks to the little trick discovered by Xie Yuan, everyone quickly got through the painful stage of being unable to swim and stayed safely on the boat.

Apart from practicing along the way, Xie Yuan just silently looked at the river and thought.

How does martial arts integrate with nature and the universe? What is the path to becoming a master?

Qin Zhenyang said that he gave him some pointers, and in fact, the eldest senior brother also gave a detailed lesson to his younger brothers and sisters. With this inspiration, Xie Yuan had a preliminary understanding of the next realm, but he had not yet truly opened up that bridge of nothingness.

But Xie Yuan seemed to have some idea of ​​how to connect himself with the world and build that bridge. It was as if the bridge already had a phantom, hazy, waiting for him to consolidate and reinforce it.

Ning Zi, Lin Zhen and others were also enlightened. While thinking silently, they were preparing for the upcoming Little Hidden Dragon Meeting. After all, they were the protagonists this time.

But apart from that, they often silently observed Xie Yuan standing quietly by the side of the ship, and felt that his back seemed to have some charm, different from themselves and others, and he looked like a Taoist priest.

Wouldn't this kid really see through something?
Ning Zi thought silently, her charming eyes full of surprise.

After Lin Zhen came back from the pagoda and the incident at Jianfeng, he had often observed this special junior fellow apprentice, and he had been watching him even more often recently.

Lin Zhen looked at Xie Yuan silently, while Huang Zifeng looked at her silently in the corner.

Originally, Luo Shuang asked for a place for his disciple to broaden his horizons and exercise, and he was the happiest one.

But there were still a few big lanterns on the road, and Lin Zhen treated him only as a fellow disciple, without any courtesy at all.

The young swordsman felt the feeling of sorrow for the first time and felt a little bewildered. He could only express his feelings through his sword and comprehend them silently.

The big ship, carrying the disciples of the Yunshan Sword Sect, went downstream, making rapid progress every day. After ten days, they finally reached Jinling.

"The southeast is a beautiful place, the capital of the Three Wus, and Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times."

The group finally reached the shore, and they all felt that they were still shaky.

But he was a warrior after all, and after Xie Yuan's reminder, he became surprisingly adaptable in this regard and soon regained the feeling of life on land.

Xie Yuan looked at the Jinling Ferry, which was even larger than the Yunzhou Prefecture Wharf, and watched the thousands of ships passing by. Then, after turning his head, he saw rows of buildings and houses in the distance. The city seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see, and the streets were crowded with people. He couldn't help but recite a poem subconsciously.

Although the places seem a little different, the artistic conception is the same.

"What a good poem! I didn't expect that Junior Brother Zhang is also good at poetry?"

Huang Zifeng, who seldom spoke, was surprised. His family was a tradition of poetry and literature, but few people followed the martial arts path, so he had actually read quite a few books.

But even if I have read at least 300 volumes of poetry and books, I have never heard this sentence from him? Could it be that he created it himself?
Xie Yuan laughed and said:

"I saw this line in a poetry book I bought at some local stall, and I thought it would fit the occasion."

Ning Zi laughed and said:

"Not bad, not bad. He can cure seasickness and recite poetry to relieve boredom. This junior brother is really useful!"

Xie Yuan didn't say anything, but Huang Zifeng's face turned dark after hearing it.

This junior brother is useful, so which junior brother is useless?
However, Ning Zi didn't mean that. But even if she did, Huang Zifeng couldn't do anything about this senior sister who was the best in the second transformation realm in the sect.

"Let's go."

Qin Zhenyang picked up his luggage and said in a deep voice.

Several people walked out of the dock and lined up to enter the towering city gate of Jinling Prefecture. Seeing the bustling crowds of people inside and the constant sounds of hawking, they deeply felt the prosperity of the Jiangnan region.

Holding the map and rejecting many invitations to stay in hotels along the way, the group finally arrived at the Yunshan Sword Sect's branch located in an alley in the west of the city.

The courtyard is not big, and the location is not the best, but it is near the main road. In Jinling Prefecture, where every inch of land is valuable, there is such a quiet and elegant house, which is in line with the current status of Yunshan Sword Sect.

If the Sword Sect becomes stronger in the future, it would be appropriate to buy the neighbor's house on the front street.

As Xie Yuan was thinking this, the gate of the villa opened, and a middle-aged man in a white sword sect robe came over and bowed to Qin Zhenyang:
"Junior Brother Qin, you are here? You must have had a hard time on the journey. Come in and have a rest."

This middle-aged man with a short beard and a dark complexion is the current manager of the villa, Yu Wensheng.

Qin Zhenyang clasped his fists in return:
"Thank you, Uncle Master Yu."

Several people settled down under the leadership of Yu Wensheng. They drank tea first, waited for Yu Wensheng to order the kitchen to prepare food, and then each of them was assigned a room under the leadership of the servants. Qin Zhenyang and Xie Yuan looked at each other, and the former said:
"Uncle Yu, I don't know where Uncle Wang's body is..."

Yu Wensheng's expression darkened:
"He's still in the side room, waiting for you to come. He hasn't even been given a chance to rest in peace."

Qin Zhenyang sighed softly:
"This is a matter of great importance, so I have no choice but to inconvenience Uncle Wang."

Yu Wensheng waved his hand:

"How could you say that! This is such a sudden accident, who could have thought... Junior Brother Qin, you must find out the real culprit and avenge Senior Brother Wang!"

Qin Zhenyang nodded seriously:
"must."

After saying that, he and Xie Yuan stood up and went to the side room together under the leadership of Yu Wensheng.

Yu Wensheng looked at this disciple he had never met before with some surprise. He was actually going with him? He had just heard the introduction. Everyone else was participating in the competition, so he was wondering what Xie Yuan was here for...

Yu Wensheng was just thinking about something when a hurried voice rang out:

"You guys want to see Uncle Wang? Let me go with you!"

It was Ning Zi who hurried over from her room.

They had heard about what was happening here on the way, and they knew that Xie Yuan was different from them, so they came here just for this matter.

She glanced at Xie Yuan and pouted, "Uncle Wang taught me a few sword techniques when we were in the mountains... One person's plan is short, two people's plan is long, and a little junior brother may not be able to see anything."

Xie Yuan, as a dutiful disciple, naturally did not express any opinions, and the others did the same.
In the side room.

Yu Wensheng opened the door, and a white mist of cold air floated out. Although it was early autumn, in order to protect the king's body from decaying, the room was filled with black ice and the temperature was extremely low.

Several people bowed solemnly towards the coffin, lit some incense, and then walked forward in silence to take a look.

A middle-aged man with a shrewd-looking face was lying in the coffin. His body seemed to have shrunk a little and looked smaller.

His cheeks seemed to still show solemnity, caution, and a hint of defensiveness. His body was clean, without many signs of fighting. There was only a thin bloody hole on his chest, which penetrated through and spilled a large amount of blood on the front of his chest.

"It was already the next morning when we found Senior Brother Wang. He was lying on the floor of the study room. A sword had pierced his chest from behind, shattering his heart meridians. He died on the spot."

Yu Wensheng said sadly.

"Nothing happening?"

Qin Zhenyang asked in a low voice.

"No, I asked everyone in the courtyard, and no one heard anything. The servant only saw Senior Brother Wang enter the study, but he didn't come out the next day."

Yu Wensheng frowned.

The traces were not difficult to judge, and Xie Yuan and the others could see that the situation was just as Yu Wensheng said. Judging from the expression on Wang Zhiyi's face, it was exactly the expression he had before his death. A sword pierced his chest and killed him directly, leaving him no chance to react or resist.

With Wang Zhiyi's top-level strength at the second level, what kind of master must the enemy be? I'm afraid that even an ordinary third level master can't do it. At least it needs to be a master like Qin Zhenyang who has touched the threshold of the Grandmaster. But he can't guarantee that he can kill Wang Zhiyi without even reacting.

Grandmaster? Or what?
Qin Zhenyang subconsciously looked at Xie Yuan, but saw that he was still staring at Wang Zhiyi's body. He pondered for a while, and when Yu Wensheng and Ning Zi were both watching him quietly, he slowly said:

"The murderer might be someone I know."

Yu Wensheng said with some disappointment:
"Yes, we thought of that at the time. Brother Wang fell to the ground defenselessly in the study room with his back to him. He must be someone he knew."

Most people can see this.

Xie Yuan nodded:
"But the relationship doesn't have to be that close, otherwise Uncle Wang wouldn't be so wary and nervous."

Yu Wensheng and Ning Zi both frowned slightly, Ning Zi was a little puzzled and said:
"If they are not close, doesn't that contradict your previous judgment? An ordinary friend appeared in the study late at night. I'm afraid that with Uncle Wang's shrewdness, he would not easily show his back to others. But he did so, and his expression was indeed wrong..."

Her voice gradually lowered, and she was a little confused.

Yu Wensheng also frowned. He had felt that something was wrong before, but when Xie Yuan mentioned it, he immediately noticed the contradiction.

Before they could think about it, Xie Yuan glanced at Qin Zhenyang and continued:
"So I guess this 'friend' is someone that Uncle Wang knows but is not familiar with, or someone that Uncle Wang thinks shouldn't be here. Then he suddenly appears because he has something important to discuss with him."

As for what important matter it was, he and Qin Zhenyang knew that it was most likely the abnormality of the aristocratic family that Wang Zhiyi was investigating, and others probably only had a vague understanding of it.

"After that, Uncle Wang was preoccupied with the very important matter. When he turned around, he did not expect the other party to suddenly attack him and kill him with one blow."

Xie Yuan said in a deep voice.

Yu Wensheng and Ning Zi thought about it and felt that this made sense, but they felt that Xie Yuan was just guessing. Yu Wensheng couldn't help but step forward and asked quickly:
"Zhang, do you have any evidence to support your claim?"

"It's not evidence, but look at Uncle Wang's hand. I just looked at it for a long time. It must have been opened by force."

After hearing this, several people looked carefully and saw that Wang Zhiyi's hands were open and relaxed, and it seemed that there was nothing wrong?
"Uncle Wang was obviously nervous and on guard before he was killed. How could his hands be completely open at this time? Most people should at least make a fist, or bend their fingers slightly, ready to grasp the sword. How could they be straight like this? Look closely, there are very subtle marks of pressure. The murderer must have forced it open."

After hearing what he said, several people looked at it carefully and found that it was exactly as Xie Yuan said!
Yu Wensheng opened his eyes wide. He looked several times but never noticed this detail!
Ning Zi also opened her mouth and said in disbelief:
"Brother Qin said that you were very observant before, and I was a little dissatisfied. But is your vision really that good? You can even see traces like this?"

Qin Zhenyang also nodded slightly, with approval in his eyes.

Xie Yuan shook his head:
"This mark is very subtle. Obviously the murderer paid great attention to it. I didn't see it at first. But I felt something was wrong with the finger. After a closer look, I found the clue. The murderer was actually very careful, but this move backfired."

Yu Wensheng's eyes showed admiration, but also some confusion, and he subconsciously asked:

"Why did the murderer insist on straightening Senior Brother Wang's fingers? Is it..."

"It was to take out the thing in Uncle Wang's hand. He didn't do it to straighten it at first, but to take out the thing Uncle Wang was holding tightly. I'm afraid he used this thing and gave it to Uncle Wang to distract his attention, so he could gain his trust and succeed in the crime. Then he took out the thing, and fearing that he would be noticed, he specially made Uncle Wang's hand relax so that we wouldn't see what he was holding before."

"But this time, I made you notice it! Junior Brother Zhang, how come you are so powerful?"

Ning Zi clapped her hands, figured out the whole process, and said excitedly.

Because I watched more than 700 episodes of Conan...

Xie Yuan shook his head. It was just that he happened to think a little more than others and guessed the reason why Wang Zhiyi was murdered in advance, so he made these judgments.

But knowing this is of limited help in identifying the real culprit.

However, this did not prevent Yu Wensheng and Ning Zi from looking at him with new eyes. Yu Wensheng said excitedly:

"Great! Junior Brother Zhang is very observant and he solved the question that I had been wondering about for so long right away! To be honest, I have been here for so long, but I have not seen as much as Junior Brother Zhang has seen at a glance. How come I have never heard of such an outstanding junior before?"

Qin Zhenyang explained:

"Junior Brother Zhang only entered the sect last year. He made meritorious service and entered the Sword Peak at the beginning of this year. He has been here for nine days. At that time, he was still practicing externally, but now he has reached the Qi and Blood Transformation Stage."

One year, Qi and blood transformation? External training, sword peak nine days?

Yu Wensheng was stunned. He could understand the words, but when combined with the numbers, why did it feel wrong? It shouldn't be combined like this, right?

But the Nine Qi and Blood Transformation, and the one-year training at the Sword Peak seemed to be even more wrong...

He reacted for a while, then turned back to look at Xie Yuan, his eyes changed a lot, and he sighed:
"The sect has gained another genius. It is truly a blessing for Yunshan."

Xie Yuan said a few humble words, looked at Wang Zhiyi again, and sighed:
"We've seen enough of the scene, let's go out and talk about it."

Several people went out quietly, closed the side room, and came to the hall. Yu Wensheng asked excitedly;
"Zhang, nephew, do you know who the murderer is?"

Xie Yuan was silent. He was not a god, so how could he tell?
But he did have some guesses, and asked:
"Uncle Yu, who has Uncle Wang been associating with recently?"

"Senior Brother Wang is stationed here on behalf of the Sword Sect. He has a wide range of friends. In addition to the local noble families, led by the Jinling Yao, there are also the Jiangnan Sect, several chief officials of the Jinling Prefecture, and, oh, the Duke of Ning."

Xie Yuan was silent. This meant that Wang Zhiyi had made friends with all the important people in Jinling.

He is indeed a capable person sent by the sect to this place. He is a suitable professional, but he has also brought great difficulties to Xie Yuan.

Seeing Xie Yuan fall into deep thought, Qin Zhenyang and the other two shut their mouths, fearing that they would disturb his thoughts.

Qin Zhenyang received instructions from Li Xingtuo, and knowing the previous situation, he already trusted Xie Yuan. The other two, after hearing a few words in the side room, were full of admiration for Xie Yuan. They felt that he was simply the incarnation of the God of Constable in Chunyu Tower, and Su Xing was probably no more than that.

Xie Yuan thought for a moment, exhaled, and said:

"Since there is no obvious direction, we can only use the stupid method."

Qin Zhenyang nodded:

"You said."

"As the host, will the Yao family invite us to a banquet tomorrow? Let's start looking for clues from them first."

The next day.

In an elegant waterside pavilion in Jinling Prefecture, Xie Yuan and several other members of the Sword Sect and representatives of the Yao Family sat opposite each other. Various delicacies were placed on the tables in front of each of them, and there were also the sound of stringed instruments and the gentle dance of beautiful women beside them.

“Corruption…”

Xie Yuan was deeply impressed by what he saw. In his previous life, he could only see this top club on the Internet.

The person invited by the Yao family opposite was an elder of foreign affairs, from the main family, with the cultivation level of Qi and Blood Transformation III, named Yao Qinglai. He was also a famous warrior when he was young, and now he is in charge of foreign affairs in the Yao family, which is also a high position of power. He made a special trip to receive Yunshan Sword Sect, which can show that he attaches great importance to it.

However, the people of Jian Zong had no appetite. After three rounds of drinking, Qin Zhenyang glanced at Xie Yuan and saw that he drank a glass of wine and nodded slightly. He then seized the opportunity, raised his glass, and toasted Yao Qinglai:
"Elder Yao, I respect you."

Yao Qinglai laughed and said:
"It is an honor to drink the wine offered by the future leader of Yunshan Sword Sect."

Qin Zhenyang toasted but didn't drink. Instead, he stared at Yao Qinglai:
"Elder Yao, I have something to ask you."

"Nephew Qin, you have something to say, please feel free to speak."

When Yao Qinglai saw him like this, he smiled slightly and said lightly.

Qin Zhenyang looked at Yao Qinglai and asked straight to the point:

"Elder Yao, how did Steward Wang from my Sword Sect's branch courtyard get murdered?"

The faces of the Yao family members, including Yao Qinglai, changed. Yao Qinglai's face darkened and he said patiently:
"Nephew Qin, I am deeply saddened by the murder of Steward Wang, but his accident has nothing to do with my Yao family. How should I know?"

Qin Zhenyang's expression remained unchanged:
"Are Jinling Yao clan really unaware of what is happening right under their noses?"

If Yao Qinglai's expression had changed slightly just now, now it had changed greatly, and it looked very ugly. He asked with a dark face:
"Nephew Qin, what do you mean by asking this?"

"I am deeply saddened by the murder of the head of the Sword Sect's branch courtyard, so I seek help from Elder Yao, and hope that you can help us find the real culprit."

Yao Qinglai's face was gloomy:
"My dear nephew, I am very willing to help you, but I am sorry that I can't do anything."

Qin Zhenyang looked at him deeply and drank the wine in one gulp.

The banquet ended unhappily. After returning to the Sword Sect's courtyard, Xie Yuan asked in a low voice:

"Brother Qin, isn't this... too extreme?"

Although he came up with an idea to be frank and to alert the enemy, he did not expect that the eldest brother, who seemed to be a conservative, would be too aggressive in his approach and almost gave no face to the Yao family at all.

Qin Zhenyang shook his head:

"That's the only way to get something out of it. Besides, the Yao family did that kind of thing in Yunzhou, so they are not the same kind of people as us! Even if Uncle Wang was not harmed by them, there is no need to treat them as snakes. What's more..."

His eyes flashed:
"Yao Qinglai obviously knows something."

Xie Yuan nodded silently:

"It's a pity he won't tell."

The two of them frowned, thinking about what to do next, when they saw Yu Wensheng rushing over, looking a little happy:

"My two junior brothers, the commander of Jinling Prefecture has sent an invitation!"

"Governor of Jinling Prefecture?"

"General Niu has a close personal relationship with Senior Brother Wang, and he wants to send his son to the Sword Sect to learn swordsmanship. He has been silent before, but now he has come to invite me, maybe he has some news!"

After hearing this, Xie Yuan and Qin Zhenyang looked at each other and became more excited.

The next day, at a seven-story restaurant overlooking the river.

Qin Zhenyang looked at the man in military uniform quietly and asked in a deep voice:
"Master Niu, are you saying...?"

"Hey, Young Master Qin, don't be so serious! I really want you to get to the bottom of this matter and let Brother Wang rest in peace! But this place is too complicated, and you won't be able to find out anything."

General Niu shook his head and poured a glass of wine for Qin Zhenyang:

"Young Master Qin, I want to help you, but I don't know anything."

Xie Yuan had a calm expression as he silently used chopsticks to pick at the food on his plate. He felt that the food on the table was neither nutritious nor tasteful.

Perhaps it is only in Jinling that it can continue to operate.

After returning to the villa, the two men's expressions became somewhat serious.

“I didn’t expect the pressure to come so quickly.”

Qin Zhenyang said slowly.

Xie Yuan nodded, then shook his head:

"It's conceivable. After all, this is Jinling."

Qin Zhenyang looked at Xie Yuan:
"Junior Brother Zhang, what should we do next?"

Xie Yuan exhaled:

"Ask all the questions you should ask and do your homework first."

Qin Zhenyang nodded.

In the next few days, Ning Zi and the other two practiced martial arts in the villa to prepare for the battle, while Xie Yuan and Qin Zhenyang visited people everywhere to investigate Wang Zhiyi's previous movements.

However, as expected, almost all the people who had been on good terms with him before were clueless at this point. The polite ones even offered to have a meal with him, while the impolite ones didn't even have time to have a cup of tea.

"boom--"

In the villa, Qin Zhenyang placed the teacup heavily on the table, frowning.

Even with his calm temper and meticulous mind, he was still at a loss.

"Is the direction lost just like that?"

His brows knitted into a "川" shape and he asked in a deep voice.

Xie Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the list. Ninety-nine percent of the people had been crossed out, leaving only the last one.

"Let's try to visit Duke Ning again."

Xie Yuan said in a deep voice.

Qin Zhenyang pondered:
"Duke Ningguo has a very special status, so he may not necessarily pay attention to us sect disciples."

"That being said, the reason why Duke Ning is here is similar to the reason why Duke Yunshan is at the foot of Yunshan Mountain."

Xie Yuan's eyes flashed:
"If it is really the aristocratic family causing trouble, then Duke Ning will definitely be willing to tell us something."

Qin Zhenyang listened and nodded slowly.

The two men immediately asked Yu Wensheng to hand over his business card.

Three days later, the day of the Little Hidden Dragon Meeting was getting closer and closer, and the reply from the Ningguo Mansion finally came:
"Duke Ningguo has been in seclusion for cultivation recently, so please forgive me for not seeing any visitors."

Seeing such a reply, Xie Yuan and Qin Zhenyang's hearts sank.

Why is Duke Ningguo, who is eyeing the aristocratic family, unwilling to see them?

Is it really good to be in seclusion?
Both of them were at a loss for the moment. If the stupid method didn't work, they might have to resort to the risky method.

Qin Zhenyang looked at Xie Yuan, pondered for a moment, and shook his head gently:
"Junior Brother Zhang, wait a little longer. Don't take risks lightly. Be more cautious."

Xie Yuan nodded silently.

Feeling the huge resistance coming from the aristocratic families, Xie Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and decided to go out and relax.

Jinling is prosperous, with crowds of people and cruise ships constantly shuttling on the Qinhuai River.

The Little Qianlong Meeting is approaching, and the already prosperous Jinling will become even more lively.

But Xie Yuan had no interest in the mundane world, his mind was full of thoughts on his next move.

As I walked, I came to a small alley with fewer people, and it was finally quiet.

There was a small temple on the street in front, and the door of the temple suddenly opened.

A monk with a fair and clear complexion walked out, looked at Xie Yuan who was looking at him, and put his palms together:
"The Buddha said, the world is like a snake with its tail in its mouth, everything is in the ring, nothing but a shadow."

"?"

Xie Yuan was puzzled and was about to tell the monk that he had no money, when he suddenly felt that the monk looked familiar.

The next moment, the monk smiled at Xie Yuan and said:

"Thank you, benefactor. I am Huijue, and I look forward to your guidance."

　Thank you Mr. Talkative for the reward!
　　Thank you all for your monthly tickets, recommendation tickets, and collection subscriptions!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)