Minglong

Chapter 213 I'll Keep It a Secret

The mighty river flows eastward, and a rising sun appears on the horizon.

A cool autumn breeze swept across the battle-scarred yellow earth, swirling up fallen blades of grass, where traces of sweat and blood from countless warriors still lingered.

Wei Yin, dressed in black martial arts attire, sat with his legs dangling in the air at the edge of the Dragon Sacrifice Platform, gazing at the rising sun. He had a strong back and a dignified air, and a jade pendant hung from his belt, engraved with a cute little tiger.

Wei Wuyi stood beside him, hands behind his back, back straight, his expression restrained and his demeanor calm, like that of a father just reaching middle age.
"Of the four students chosen by the seniors like Ye Sheng, I am the only one without any sect, faction, or kinship. But that doesn't matter. Whether it's the martial world or the path of cultivation, heroes have never been judged by their origins. As long as one's heart is righteous and people are the foundation, even a humble person with a small life can establish a sect and become an ancestor."

"Winning the Heroes' Gathering is the end of the martial world for most heroes; but for you, the path is boundless, and this is merely your first battle after leaving the mountain. Crushing ordinary people is inevitable, it's your destiny, but those who reach the end of the path of cultivation are all extraordinary beings favored by Heaven..."

In previous years, Wei Yin had spent his time on the back mountain of Xueying Ridge, fighting day and night with his superiors. Outsiders did not know his name, and he himself knew very little about the outside world. His response at this time was as follows:
“Master often says that there are hidden tigers and dragons outside. I was so scared that I couldn’t sleep the night before last, fearing that I would be easily defeated and lose face for Master. But now it seems that among the tens of thousands of warriors in Sanjiangkou, only Xie Jinhuan is a person. The rest are all outsiders. As for that female warrior, she is just a brute who can defeat ten techniques with one force. It’s a bit disappointing.”

Wei Wuyi smiled and said, "You have considered your master as your opponent, and you have been fighting since you were six years old. Outsiders are naturally novices to you. However, real strongmen do not come to this makeshift martial arts troupe. It is only by chance that Xie Jinhuan was able to come. After you go up the mountain, you will understand how strong the real freaks on the mountain are, to the point of despair."

Wei Yin looked up at the sky ablaze with the glow of dawn and asked curiously:
Who is the strongest person in the world?

Wei Wuyi pondered for a moment: "Beyond the mountains, there are more mountains; beyond the buildings, there are more buildings. You are too young to think about these things. First, win this battle after leaving the mountain and establish your reputation. The Daoist and Buddhist sects of the Great Qian Dynasty have no successors. If I can teach one, it will surely make the new emperor think about the situation sixty years from now."

Wei Yin nodded, looking at the martial arts practitioners who were gradually gathering at the Dragon Offering Platform:

"Xie Jinhuan's skills are impeccable, but she's no match for me. I need to be wary of that Flower Girl Swordsman."

Wei Wuyi shook his head and gave instructions:
"Don't underestimate the enemy. While you were resting in your room last night, Xie Jinhuan went to Danzhou to quell a group of demon bandits and captured Fachen of Tiantai Temple, which shocked the capital and made the leaders of the three religions change color."

"This battle is your chance to make a name for yourself, but Xie Jinhuan is already famous throughout the court and the country. This trip is just a chance to take advantage of some opportunities."

"He's 'avoiding battle on official business' today, so you're the strongest martial artist below the Super Rank. But once he shows up, you need to be careful. Such a prodigy won't be foolish enough to be your foil and give you a reputation for nothing."

……
-
As the sun rises in the east, its autumn rays fall upon the small streets of Jiang'an Town.

Xie Jinhuan sat down in a restaurant. Because of his current fame, he was wearing a straw hat. There were dishes and wine on the table in front of him, and he was eating heartily, replenishing his energy with Coal Ball, who hadn't done anything.

Nangong Ye sat opposite him, wearing a veil, his demeanor as cold as ice, but a faint trace of shame and indignation still lingered on his cheeks beneath the veil.

Last night opened the door to a whole new world for her; she doesn't even know how she got through it. This morning she remembered being carried around by this little rascal, and he even showed her himself in the mirror—it was pure bliss…

If it weren't for the fact that they were going to have a fight later, she would have beaten this brat so badly he couldn't stand up...

As she pondered this silently, she noticed Xie Jinhuan looking up at her. Nangong Ye turned her gaze away, her light, clear voice devoid of any emotion:

"Eat quickly, we're running out of time."

Xie Jinhuan chuckled softly, not bothering his still shy new bride, and wolfed down his meal before getting up with his arm around Meiqiu.

"Should I fight Senior Sister Hua first?"

Bu Yuehua also made it into the top three. Since she was third, according to the rules, the second and third place winners would face off first, and then the first place winner would face off against the second place winner.

Nangong Ye knew that the demoness had no chance of winning without using her family's skills. If she really fought Xie Jinhuan, both of them would suffer losses, and neither of them could win. After careful consideration:

Are you confident?

Xie Jinhuan, nourished by Tuotuo's primordial yin, is currently at around 0.7 rank, while Wei Yin has only just entered the first rank. Although he has been nurtured by the divine gift of the Supervisory Army since childhood, he is no ordinary man. If he can hold his ground, he is confident of victory. If he really can't win, there's still the old dragon pushing the cart. At this moment, he responds:
"Yes, but you might get hurt."

Hearing this, Nangong Ye was a little worried that the boy had risked his life for her, and he instructed him:

"A competition is a competition. Just do your best. If you don't win, that's fine. As for Senior Sister Hua, I'll go talk to her. You can go ahead."

Seeing that no one was paying attention, Xie Jinhuan leaned close to his ear:

"How can you just give up after not getting it? Why don't you give me some encouragement and motivate me?"

?

Nangong Ye straightened up slightly, seemingly wanting to refuse, but since she had already given it, she naturally hoped that this young man could take back the rare and precious treasures. After a moment's consideration:
"what would you like?"

"Um……"

Xie Jinhuan thought for a moment, then said softly:

"I made you a pair of shoes. If I win the championship, you can wear them and let me do whatever I want with you for an hour."

"..."

Nangong Ye felt that even if she didn't win the championship, she would still be at the mercy of this boy.

She has nothing left to lose; all she has is an extra pair of shoes. What can Xie Jinhuan do to her now...?

Although there was no response, Xie Jinhuan knew that Bing Tuozi's silence meant tacit agreement. He was immediately energized, pinched the moon as if to claim his reward in advance, and then carried the coal ball he was still eating out the door.

"Guji?"

Coal Ball was taken aback, then raised its wings and unleashed a powerful eagle tail sweep...

Nangong Ye's eyes turned slightly cold. After Xie Jinhuan left, he quietly patted his skirt, afraid of being discovered by acquaintances. He then took off the 'Xie Fu Bracelet' and carefully put it in his bosom before quickly leaving the tavern.

At dawn, the county town and its surroundings were already packed with people, countless martial arts practitioners heading towards the Dragon Worship Platform, creating a constant cacophony along the way:

"Snow Eagle Ridge is indeed a bit unfair. A divine gift like the 'Supervisor's Gift' is so powerful that even a top-tier soldier could be unstoppable. How can a junior possibly compete with it..." "It's alright, no matter how skilled Wei Yin is, he's not as handsome as Xie Lang..."

"Young Master Xie and Heroine Hua must fight first. Are they a married couple or not?"

"Is that even a question? They're definitely lovers..."

……

Upon hearing this, Nangong Ye's eyes held an inscrutable expression. When he arrived near the Dragon Sacrifice Platform, he saw that the leaders of various sects had already arrived and were waiting. The heads of the various sects were also seated in their respective positions, seemingly all astonished by Wei Yin's performance and wanting to see just how deep Wei Wuyi's disciple's foundation was.

At his seat on Zihui Mountain, Zhang Guan eagerly awaited his arrival, while his young apprentice, A Cai, stood behind him, muttering to himself:
"May the Ancestral Master protect us, we must win, we must win..."

……

Nangong Ye had more than one disciple, but only Qingmo was the direct successor to his mantle. Afraid of being recognized, he secretly hid in the crowd. After searching for only a short while, he spotted the enchantress wearing a light blue dress and a veiled hat standing by the river.

Seeing this, she suppressed her distracting thoughts, picked up her sword, and slowly approached, gazing at the rolling Yangtze River and the autumn colors covering the mountains:

What are you doing standing here?

?

Bu Yuehua was contemplating an incestuous relationship when he noticed his icy mother-in-law had arrived. She was putting on an air of detached indifference, like a cold-blooded sword immortal, her eyes gleaming strangely. He glanced at her briefly.

"Just bored. Why did it take you so long to get here? What were you doing last night?"

Nangong Ye felt that the enchantress's question was a bit presumptuous, but he still responded calmly:
"I handled some sect affairs. Why are you asking about this?"

Sect affairs...

Bu Yuehua had her eyes opened yesterday, and after thinking for a moment, she said softly:

"I've figured out a solution to the Phoenix Feather Grass issue. Let's not fight one-on-one and hurt our relationship. We'll go to Phoenix Tomb in a few days. If we find an opportunity, I'll get a share; if we don't, the Phoenix Feather Grass is mine. What do you say?"

Nangong Ye blinked, looking at the alluring enchantress with disbelief:

"Are you crazy?"

Bu Yuehua walked gracefully up to her and whispered:
I'll keep it a secret for you.

When Nangong Ye saw the enchantress's infuriating appearance, his eyes first turned slightly cold, but then his heart skipped a beat:
Could this vixen know something...?

it's over...

Nangong Ye clenched his fist in his sleeve, his demeanor remaining impassive:

"You mean you'll help me conceal my identity?"

Bu Yuehua directly pointed out that Nangong Ye should have been furious and silenced her, so her words were very measured:
"Yes. Not only will they cover for you in front of Xie Jinhuan, but they won't tell anyone else either, so you can protect that child without worry."

child……

Nangong Ye couldn't tell if the enchantress had something else in mind or was just making unreasonable demands out of madness. She couldn't reveal her own identity, so after a moment's hesitation, she calmly replied:
"What harm is there in you saying it? However, the opportunity at Phoenix Tomb is far more valuable than Phoenix Feather Grass. We should focus on Phoenix Tomb first. If you obtain the opportunity, the Phoenix Feather Grass is mine. If neither of us obtains it, we can discuss it later."

His words seemed like an advance but were actually a retreat.

Having obtained a great opportunity that could challenge the leader of the Gu Poison Sect, Bu Yuehua certainly wouldn't care about the loss of the Phoenix Feather Grass anymore. She nodded slightly.
"Alright. By the way, I have an apprentice. Don't even think about stabbing me in the back after you get the opportunity. If something happens to me, Xie Jinhuan will find out who you are."

Nangong Ye hadn't expected this enchantress to be so cautious, even employing a 'deadly' measure to prevent her from being silenced. She only wanted Xie Jinhuan to stab the enchantress in the back; she had no intention of harming her teammate. Curious, she asked:

Who is your apprentice?

"Anyway, she's just a shrine maiden; you'll get to know her later."

A female apprentice?!

Nangong Ye's heart skipped a beat, and he didn't know what he was thinking, but he quickly suppressed the distracting thoughts:

"I am not a member of the evil path, how could I be like you, scheming against my teammates behind their backs? We can discuss these matters later. Let's talk about the arena first. Are you confident of winning?"

Bu Yuehua practices a combination of witchcraft and martial arts, with the two styles complementing each other. In combat, she first releases poison mist to become invisible, then uses long-range throwing knives and the Bliss Bell to create distance, followed by an illusion and a strike at close range. Anyone who encounters her will feel their scalp tingle. However, in terms of pure martial arts, it is difficult to suppress a specialized martial artist nurtured by the God of War. Bu Yuehua shook her head.
"If we can use witchcraft techniques, dealing with this person won't be difficult; it's just that his martial arts skills are another matter. What do you mean?"

"Xie Jinhuan is confident. Are you planning to fight him first, or..."

Bu Yuehua only wanted to cling to her son-in-law's coattails to reach Phoenix Mausoleum; she had no intention of fighting to the death at this time. She replied:
“I went to see Xie Jinhuan yesterday, thinking that whoever is confident should go first, so as not to waste our own people. But are you sure Xie Jinhuan is confident? Fists and feet have no eyes and will inevitably cause injury. Being knocked down by one punch will also damage his reputation. If he is not confident, he can use ‘being busy with official business’ as an excuse to decline and fight another day.”

Nangong Ye knew Xie Jinhuan could decline today's challenge, but that would mean losing the Tiger Bone Vine. Cultivation opportunities are limited; missing one means falling behind. Therefore, he said:
"Let him give it a try; this kid has never disappointed."

"Oh?" Bu Yuehua's eyes seemed to be thoughtful: "You're satisfied with every aspect?"

"?"

Nangong Ye was more than satisfied; she was practically melting with delight. But she couldn't possibly respond to the enchantress's ambiguous teasing. She merely glanced at the enchantress's swaying, beautiful buttocks before leaving without a word...
-
There's one more chapter, not finished yet. I need to take a nap first. I'll finish writing it all this afternoon and then post it. Everyone can read it tonight or chapter 2!

(End of this chapter)