Minglong

Chapter 193 They really are sisters!
A magnificent five-story building stands in the center of Jiang'an County. At the very top hangs a brass plaque that reads "Fengbo Tower." The plaque is old and has turned blackish-blue, and is severely weathered. It doesn't quite match the beautiful building, but this plaque is the soul of the entire building—it was inscribed by the Martial Ancestor himself.

Just as the soul of the Tengwang Pavilion is the Preface to the Tengwang Pavilion, without this plaque, no force would voluntarily spend money to continuously renovate and rebuild this building for thousands of years.

Fengbo Tower is a landmark building in Jiang'an County. It is open to the public for visits only on weekdays, and its lights are only lit up during major events.

Those who could enter were all renowned figures in the martial arts world, and the host was a prodigy from all generations. The meeting to divide the regions after the war between the North and South cultivation sects, which ended the chaos of the Witch Cult, was held here. Immortals such as Shuang Sheng Ye Ci, Qi Xia Zhenren, Yu Nian Pusa, the Northern Zhou Female Warrior, Huang Lin Zhenren, and Shang Lianbi were all present.

Because the threshold is extremely high, ordinary people in the martial arts world can't get in at all. The martial arts practitioners who come to join in the fun just gather around Fengbo Tower, waiting to see the big shots they used to only hear about from storytellers.

Xie Jinhuan came here to watch the excitement, but at this moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of his sister-in-law.

This sister-in-law, Hua Ruyue, doesn't seem to specialize in swordsmanship, but Bing Tuozi also knows lightning magic. The Qingming Sword Manor rarely moves around, so few people know what they actually learn inside.

Moreover, the other party confirmed Bing Tuozi's identity and could tell his height and appearance from his name, so the two obviously knew each other.

To confirm whether the Flower Heroine is real or not, we just need to ask Ice Dumpling if she has such a senior sister, but the sister-in-law warned us not to reveal her whereabouts...

Xie Jinhuan was having a bit of a headache and was pondering how to handle it when his little devil wife, sitting on his shoulders, suddenly said:

"Oh my~ No wonder you were taught by the same master, Flower Heroine is following you."

"?"

Xie Jinhuan continued forward without showing any emotion.
"Why is she following me? I didn't lie to her about Jiazilian."

Ye Hongshang glanced at the crowd behind him and shrugged slightly:

"Perhaps he's interested in you. Didn't Bing Tuozi do the same thing back then?"

"..."

Xie Jinhuan remembered that Bing Tuozi relentlessly followed him back then, and then pressed the button and kissed him, and that's when their relationship started.

But his sister-in-law was following him, so she obviously wasn't thinking about giving him any "benefits" later!
This woman and Bing Tuozi are in a rivalry; she's following him because she's likely looking for Bing Tuozi!
The aunt is in the dark while I am in the light; only the ghost can sense the other's presence. If he were to turn around rashly, the other would naturally wonder why his perception ability is as strong as that of a god.

Therefore, I have no choice but to get rid of her, otherwise I wouldn't dare go back to see Bing Tuozi...

Thinking of this, Xie Jinhuan turned around and walked into the small street of the county town. To his surprise, he found that there was a brothel there, with a few scantily clad women soliciting customers. The place was packed with people.

Going to a brothel and carrying a girl into a room might get you rid of your sister-in-law, but if you try to marry her later, all three of your legs will be broken...

Xie Jinhuan hesitated for a moment, then abandoned the idea of ​​smearing his image and began to use his skills as a wanderer, using the buildings and crowds as cover and employing fancy footwork to try to shake off his pursuers.

Meanwhile, on a street far away.

Bu Yuehua concealed herself within the bustling crowd, keeping an eye on the young swordsman in the bamboo hat in the distance, and slowly made her way forward.

As for her purpose in following Xie Jinhuan, it was very simple:
She's going to compete tomorrow. Nangong Ye and she are sworn sisters, so he'll definitely recognize her if he's there.

She was a cultivator from the Southern Border Gu Poison Sect and was not qualified to participate in the Great Qian Martial Arts Tournament to seize opportunities. If discovered, she would be asked to leave.

Given their competitive relationship, if Nangong Ye discovers that she intends to use the Tiger Bone Vine to break through to the next level, he will definitely inform on her and remove her from the competition.

That's why she told Xie Jinhuan not to reveal her information, so as not to alert Nangong Ye in advance.

She then tried to track down Nangong Ye and give him a heads-up.

As for having Xie Jinhuan pretend not to know her when they meet in public, it was to avoid attracting the attention of people in the martial arts world.

After all, Xie Jinhuan has recently gained some fame and is embroiled in scandals. If people in the martial arts world find out that they know each other, rumors about "Hua Ruyue and Xie Jinhuan" will immediately spread in Sanjiangkou. Her participation in the competition under an alias, which makes her a household name, could easily expose her identity.

While pondering this in secret, Bu Yuehua suddenly realized that the man Wanyi had found was indeed as good as his reputation suggested—he was extremely experienced in the ways of the world. He seemed to be strolling around casually, but he was constantly avoiding any possible tracking. He kept dodging her and almost made her lose track of him.

However, the Gu Poison Sect excels at covert concealment and tracking, so even without her glasses, it wouldn't be difficult for Bu Yuehua to catch Xie Jinhuan.

The two of them traveled together in the county town, one after the other. After exploring the small town, Xie Jinhuan wandered around the tents that stretched from the town to the river, like a child who had never seen the world before.

Seeing this, Bu Yuehua's peach blossom eyes held a hint of doubt, and she thought to herself:
What is this kid doing?
You're not a girl, aren't you tired from shopping like this...?

However, the most important quality of a poison master is the patience to lie in wait in the shadows, and Bu Yuehua followed behind at a leisurely pace.

Xie Jinhuan wandered around, but finding she couldn't shake them off, she frowned secretly, thinking that they were definitely sisters, their relentless pursuit making them look exactly alike...

Pulled back and forth like this, still unable to find a chance to break free, Xie Jinhuan's eyes suddenly moved, and he turned to look at a small street between the tents.

Tents were clustered outside the city, where tens of thousands of wandering martial artists gathered. Vendors also set up stalls, selling grilled fish, grilled meat, and other food and drinks.

Outside a grilled fish stall, a makeshift opera troupe was performing. Two figures sat around a small table, drinking from large bowls. The leader was an elderly martial artist with a sword and shield beside him, exuding an imposing aura.

Opposite them was a middle-aged man with a Jiangzhou Gang badge hanging from his waist. He seemed to be in charge, and they were talking to each other.

Xie Jinhuan was unfamiliar with the elderly martial artist's face, but he was familiar with his demeanor and weapons; it seemed to be Gongsun Duan, the former instructor of the Imperial Guard.

Gongsun Duan was an instructor of the Imperial Guards. He was quite capable and held a high official position. In the past, he was good at currying favor with the powerful and often helped Li Gongpu with his affairs, such as setting up an ambush to kill him in Songhe Bay. He was also quite close to the He family.

Given these two reasons, the outcome for Gongsun Duan was predictable: Li Gongpu and the He family were executed along with their entire clan, while Gongsun Duan himself fled and remains on the wanted list to this day.

Gongsun Duan came to the confluence of the three rivers, probably hoping to become an outlaw and establish himself in a gang with his martial arts skills.

Xie Jinhuan was ambushed and didn't want the news to leak out, so he didn't deal with the five small fry outside. Now that he had run into them by chance and was being followed by his sister-in-law, it would be a shame not to take care of them. After a moment's thought, he went straight to the grilled fish stall.

……

The open-air pavilions stretched out like a sea of ​​lights, and two martial arts performers, dressed in general's robes, brandished spears and practiced their moves on the grass, while gongs and drums resounded all around.
"Waaaaahh ...

Dong dong qiang, dong dong qiang—

At the grilled fish stall, Gongsun Duan, one hand on his knee, downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp, his brows furrowed with the sorrow of a fallen general.
"Don't worry, Master Liu. My skills will definitely be useful to the gang. I don't ask for a high monthly salary; just a place to stay will be enough..."

Across from him, Liu Wen, the head of the Jiangzhou Gang's Foreign Affairs Hall, had a slightly tipsy look on his face, but he seemed to be in a good mood.

After all, experts of the third rank and above are the main force of the gang. The more they are, the stronger their dominance. However, it takes a long time and a lot of money to train such people. People recruited from outside are also not cheap.

Gongsun Duan is a martial artist raised by the imperial court. From his foundation to his martial arts advancement, he has been supported by the emperor. Now that he has become an outlaw with a warrant on his arrest, the Jiangzhou Gang doesn't need to pay a penny for his indenture. They only need to give him a decent identity and a little protection to get a high-ranking martial artist for free. Even if he is too old to walk in the open, they can still recruit him to do his old job of training gang members, which will greatly enhance the gang's strength.

Although he had gotten a good deal, Liu Wen couldn't show it. He just held his wine bowl and sighed softly.

"Mr. Gongsun's abilities are undeniable, and his worth is far greater than this. But it is precisely because of Mr. Gongsun's great abilities that the imperial court is investigating so rigorously. My Jiangzhou Gang is a major faction, and our leader is providing protection. Mr. Gongsun should understand the risks involved..."

If Gongsun Duan had no powerful backer, he could be arrested and handed over to the authorities at any time. He had no right to make any demands at this point. He was about to raise his wine bowl in a toast when he heard footsteps approaching from not far away. Tap tap tap…

Looking up, one could see a young martial artist dressed in Jianghu attire and wearing a bamboo hat, walking to the table and sitting down directly.

?

Gongsun Duan was frowning, but when he saw that rather handsome face, he froze, spilling some wine from his bowl.

Liu Wen sensed that the young man was up to no good, and his hand subtly reached for the sword at his waist:

"Young hero, this is the confluence of three rivers. No matter what your purpose is, please be mindful of your actions."

Xie Jinhuan didn't say anything, but simply took out a plaque and placed it on the small table.

slap~
Liu Wen examined the sign and saw that it was black with a qilin pattern around it and the words "Suppress Demons" engraved on it.

This item is a "Demon Suppression Order" issued by the imperial court, which is only granted to highly respected celestial officials or public servants. If evil spirits cause trouble, they can kill them first and report later, acting expediently.

Liu Wen is the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall of the Jiangzhou Gang. The gang leader, Xu Guanfu, ranks seventh in the martial arts world of Daqian. The southeastern coast is his sphere of influence, and he can basically do whatever he wants in the martial arts world.

But the imperial court is something that can be ignored in private, but you still have to give it face in public.

Liu Wen paused slightly upon seeing the sign, then bowed respectfully.
"This humble citizen, Liu Wen, greets Your Excellency. May I ask who Your Excellency is...?"

"Thank you, Jin Huan."

"?"

Liu Wen was taken aback, perhaps because he felt the person in front of him was too young and did not look like a marquis, so he was half-believing and half-doubting.

Xie Jinhuan didn't explain further, and simply pointed at Gongsun Duan:

"This person is wanted by the imperial court; he may be a remnant of the He family's heretical sect..."

"you!"

Gongsun Duan, who was already tense, changed his expression drastically upon hearing this, and drew his sword, glaring angrily:

"Xie Jinhuan, don't make false accusations! How could I possibly be a member of the demonic path? This place is the confluence of three rivers..."

Xie Jinhuan ignored Gongsun Duan and instead glanced at Liu Wen:

"I have been ordered by the imperial court to monitor evil spirits among the people. I must bring him back to the yamen for the celestial officials to examine. Does Master Liu have any objections?"

Liu Wen definitely has objections.

After all, such a high-ranking henchman was practically in their grasp, and if he were arrested by the imperial court, wouldn't the Jiangzhou Gang be losing a piece of their flesh for nothing?

However, Gongsun Duan was indeed wanted, and Xie Jinhuan had a legitimate reason to arrest him, especially since he was holding the Demon-Suppressing Order.

The purpose of the Demon Suppression Edict is to allow anyone deemed to be a demon to be searched, and those who resist arrest to be executed on the spot. It is backed by the imperial court and granted by imperial authority.

Wei Wuyi's purpose in convening the conference was to seek the qualification of "Deputy Supervisor" so that he could control the major sects under the guise of monitoring the chaos caused by evil spirits.

Xie Jinhuan said that Gongsun Duan was a remnant of the demonic path, but Wei Wuyi wouldn't allow an investigation. So, wasn't this whole thing a waste of time?
So it was no use asking Wei Wuyi to intercede for this matter; even his gang leader couldn't do anything to Wei Wuyi.

Liu Wen paused for a moment, then responded politely:
"Lord Xie's reputation is widespread, and I, Liu, have also heard of him. However, now that Elder Wei is holding a gathering of heroes at the confluence of the three rivers, heroes from all over are only showing up because of Elder Wei's prestige, without any precautions. If the government were to arrest someone here, causing a great commotion, it would lead to the heroes from all over scattering in all directions..."

thump~
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Jinhuan suddenly raised his Heavenly Gang Mace, its rounded end like a cannon hammer, and smashed it into Gongsun Duan's heart.

Gongsun Duan, holding his sword, had intended to seize the opportunity to strike first and escape, but upon seeing this, he was horrified. However, he only managed to thrust his sword half an inch before the round tail of the Heavenly Gang Mace struck his heart.

The blow tore a hole in Gongsun Duan's robe at the back, instantly severing his vital energy channels. He suffocated on the spot, his face turning bluish-purple, and after a long while, he finally managed to utter a sound:
"Heh~..."

Then he let his hands hang down, hunched over, and sat on the stool, swaying precariously.

Liu Wen stopped speaking abruptly, his eyes filled with shock.

The diners at the two tables nearby heard the thud and turned around to look, but no one dared to say anything. They simply got up and quickly left.

Meanwhile, the crowd watching from a distance did not notice anything unusual.

Xie Jinhuan supported Gongsun Duan to prevent him from falling, his gaze remaining fixed on Liu Wen the entire time.

“If Master Liu doesn’t stir up trouble everywhere, there won’t be widespread panic. My arrest of this person for questioning is also to prevent the rebels from causing chaos. I hope Master Liu can understand.”

"Uh……"

What could Liu Wen do if he didn't understand? To continue obstructing him would make him an accomplice; arresting him would be as easy as lifting a hand. After a moment of silence, he could only offer his congratulations.
"Lord Xie is skilled in martial arts. I, Liu, have only just met this man. I was originally planning to hand him over to the authorities after the Heroes' Gathering, but Lord Xie subdued him ahead of time, which can be considered as eliminating a potential threat."

Xie Jinhuan ignored the江湖卒子 (jianghu soldier), put away the plaque on the table, put down a silver ingot as compensation to the grilled fish stall owner, and stood up by grabbing Gongsun Duanhou's collar with one hand.

"Heh~..."

Gongsun Duan was severely injured in the heart by Benlei's mace. His face turned purplish-blue and he could no longer stand. He was dragged along towards the county town, staggering.

Liu Wen sat there watching them go, his humble smile gradually fading, and a hidden anger welling up in his eyes.

But it is only right for officials to catch thieves. This matter is neither reasonable nor a match for them. There is no use in being angry. Only after Xie Jinhuan left did they get up and disappear into the crowd.

Bu Yuehua, hidden in the shadows, saw this scene and understood that Xie Jinhuan was wandering around, patrolling the streets to catch thieves.

Truly a righteous hero...

Bu Yuehua continued to follow, eventually arriving at the Jiang'an County Government Office.

Xie Jinhuan carried the wanted criminal inside and handed him over to the constables. Then the county magistrate personally came out to greet him and accompanied him to the back office.

Seeing this, Bu Yuehua decided not to follow Xie Jinhuan inside and instead waited for him to come out of the yamen.

And so they waited, and then there was no more news...

?

(End of this chapter)