Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 108 Duan Clan's White Feather Transforms Qi into罡!

The banquet at the Lu residence was in full swing, with bursts of laughter and joy.

Lu Zushang called out frequently, and his servants ran back and forth, bringing fine wine.

None of those present were mediocre; even without suppressing their internal energy, their drinking capacity was beyond that of ordinary people.

Although I know there are many martial arts masters in the martial arts world, spread throughout the counties.

But Zhou Yi had to adjust a little while to the sudden appearance of so many unfamiliar characters.

He was the host and guest of honor at the banquet, and had drunk with everyone in the room.

However, they didn't say much. It was Bu Tianzhi and Lu Zushang, who had a conflict with each other before, who were the most talkative.

Old Bu intentionally led the conversation, and so some people at the banquet complained about the Huai River ferry crossing.

Zhou Yi listened silently and gradually understood the harassment that the bandits on the south bank of the Huai River were causing to the two prefectures on the north bank.

At the end of the banquet, Lu Zushang's face reeked of alcohol.

“The bandits from Runan have been active recently, committing many evil deeds and even robbing cargo boats, from Baoxin to Xinxi Ferry. If it weren’t for my efforts, I would never have allowed them to be so arrogant at the ferry.”

Gushi girl Wei Jing clinked glasses with Lu Zushang:
"Brother Lu, if you want to rid the evil, you must call on your little sister."

Wang Honglie, the Prefect of Yiyang, spoke cautiously:
"It's not that easy. The bandits are agile and can come and go as they please. Unless we wipe out most of them in one fell swoop and put an end to their arrogance."

"Otherwise, if they make a comeback, our North Bank Wharf will also suffer."

"If we fight them with all our might, we have nothing to fear. However, we will be distracted by many matters in the prefecture and we also have to guard against the tens of thousands of bandits from the four major bandit groups in Jingling. Once they pass through Handong Prefecture, they will go straight to Shangming by Piaoshui. At that time, we will be attacked from both sides, which will be terrible."

After considering his concerns, Daoming shared a drink with Gu Lang, the top waterman in Shangming.

They felt a greater threat in Yiyang than in Yiyang County.

Coupled with the chaos in Huai'an, they were caught in the middle.

Under such circumstances, it is already difficult to gather friends from the martial arts community in the prefecture to ensure one's own safety. Getting involved in the chaos in Runan is something I really do not want.

not to mention,
Recently, the business of the bandits in Runan has fallen into the hands of Meng Rang, the powerful rebel king of Xuyi who controls the lower reaches of the Huai River.

Once you offend them to the point of death, it will be difficult for everyone's grain transport boats to go down to the south of the Yangtze River.

At least the route from Shanyang into Hangou to Jiangdu would be a nerve-wracking journey for them.

In today's world, chaos is brewing, involving numerous sects, powerful families, and powerful clans. With everyone vying for supremacy, there are no rules to follow, and everyone must tread carefully.

at this time,

After the two friends from Yiyang County clinked glasses, they turned to look at the abbot of Wuzhuang Temple before even drinking.

He never chimed in when the topic of bandits and rebel armies came up, as if he didn't care much about such disputes.

Now, suddenly speaking:
"Why not send a letter to Duan Ji, the governor of Huainan? At present, Sui troops are entrenched in Ruyang. If Governor Duan joins forces with the Sui generals, it should not be difficult to wipe out this band of rebels."

Upon hearing this, the local friends realized that Master Yi was neither sensible nor familiar with the situation in Runan.

If Zhou Yi were a close friend of theirs, they would probably already be making fun of him.

In this situation, naturally no one wants to offend anyone.

Therefore, Gu Lang, Wang Juncheng, and others glanced at Lu Zushang.

It's best to let him take the lead.

As the unsung leader of the two counties, Lu Zushang naturally straightened his back.

He glanced at his master, but the old Taoist priest, Songyinzi, seemed lost in thought and ignored him.

“Master, come, have another drink.”

Lu Zushang offered another toast, and after drinking with Zhou Yi, he smacked his lips.

He spoke with an even stronger smell of alcohol:
"What you may not know is that this Prefect Duan is no ordinary person. He is the son of Duan Shao, the Grand Tutor of the Northern Qi Dynasty, and his family has been a prominent clan in the north for generations. He was first appointed as the Prefect of Bianzhou, and later transferred to Runan."

"Because they did not have a strong foothold in Runan, they relied heavily on local powerful families."

"After the fall of Rufeng Granary, the attitudes of the forces in Runan towards these bandits varied greatly. Many people who did business by waterways to the south were unwilling to provoke them."

Therefore, Prefect Duan's influence in this matter was far less than that of the Sui army generals.

Lu Zushang paused for a moment, then, noticing Zhou Yi's interest, continued his story:

"These Sui troops are General Zhang Xutuo's men. The main battlefields are Huaiyang, Pengjun, and Liangjun to the north."

"Now that Lai Zheng is leading troops to attack Xuyi, most of the troops from Runan will have to pass through Qiao County and enter Pengliang to guard the Tongji Canal behind Lai Zheng."

“The bandits in Runan are not stupid. They have been leading small groups of Sui soldiers around. Before long, they will be unable to control Runan.”

"..."

At present, rebel armies are rising up everywhere. Although the Sui army is fierce, the rebel armies are constantly moving around, so the Sui army is simply too busy to keep up.

Prefect Wang said worriedly:

"With that bandit-suppressing general gone, the bandits have become even more aggressive, and we need to deploy more manpower to guard against them."

Lu Zushang sensed that the atmosphere was a little off and prepared to change the subject.

But then Master Yi turned to look at him:
"Are you all able to contact the Prefectural Governor's Office of Runan?"

At least five people nodded at the same time.

Lu Zushang didn't quite understand what he meant: "Does the Master have something in Runan that needs your help?"

"Although it is on the north bank of the Huai River, as long as I avoid most of the bandits, I can probably manage it."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "No."

“I don’t have any relatives or friends in Runan. I just heard that you have a lot of troubles, so I wanted to try to see if I could resolve this matter.”

Everyone looked at him.

Although Master Yi was famous in Nanyang, his Yin-Yang magic was also known in the surrounding counties.

But it is ultimately just a strange and unusual story. Even if one has a high status in the martial arts world, it is utterly wishful thinking to try to influence the local situation through this.

Even if the top leader of Nanyang goes to Runan to speak, people will give you face on the surface, but it won't really matter to you.

Unless the enemy is at the gates of the city, or there is some major interaction.

Lu Zushang knew more about Zhou Yi and understood his profound knowledge and experience.

Although she had doubts in her heart, she thought of his good intentions, so she kept her face warm and did not want to disappoint her benefactor.

He then asked sincerely:
"What does the real person plan to do?"

Zhou Yi glanced at everyone and said, "I will write a letter and ask you to deliver it to the Prefect's residence."

Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, Lu Zushang nodded in agreement.

Everyone was puzzled, but fearing that further questioning would embarrass Master Yi, they kept quiet.

Led by Lu Zushang, they raised their cups together and said, "On behalf of the people of the two prefectures, we thank you for your kindness, Master."

Some even put it bluntly: "If there is anything we can do for you in the upper reaches of the Huai River, just ask."

Zhou Yi then said, "Wuzhuang Temple is a humble place, but we have plenty of mountain tea. If you friends do not mind, you are welcome to come and visit us at the temple."

"Hey! Abbot, you're being too modest!"

"Come on, do it!"

"Dry!"

Another round of toasts and drinks brought the banquet to a climax.

When the wine flowed freely and spirits were high, scholars discussed poetry, and martial artists fought.

Lu Zushang and Gu Lang from Shangming jumped into the courtyard and began to fight.

The two did not use weapons, but simply exchanged punches and kicks. Because their internal energy clashed, every punch delivered force to flesh, making the fight intense and spectacular.

In Zhou Yi's opinion, Gu Lang's external internal energy cultivation was not top-notch, and he was far inferior to Qian Zhengrong from Shangluo.

Lu Zushang's Kan Shui Gang Fa (a method of martial arts) is quite ingenious.

This was the first time Zhou Yi had seen members of the Louguan School use this martial art in actual combat. Lu Zushang went into battle shirtless and was hit by Gu Lang several times, but he did not seem to be injured.

Watching his bold and unrestrained movements, Zhou Yi became even more interested in the sword energy.

When Song Yinzi saw his disciple who had gone astray in his training, he felt very bored.

I left with my hands behind my back, hoping to avoid seeing or hearing about it.

The cheers in the courtyard grew louder, attracting the attention of the entire Lu family, and the courtyard was packed with people.

Once everyone got excited, they ignored Zhou Yi and Song Yinzi who had left and continued their duel.

Even with Lu Zushang holding him back, Bu Tianzhi couldn't run away.

The two punched each other, leaving one with a black eye. It was partly a personal grudge, but the onlookers found it amusing and laughed heartily.

Zhou Yi and Song Yinzi walked through several corridors and could still hear each other clearly.

"Actually, the real person doesn't need to do them any more favors."

Song Yinzi said, "Given our relationship, if anything happens, Zu Shang will definitely help."

"To be honest, my identity is somewhat special, and I dare not drag others into this casually."

Zhou Yi gave a wry smile and sighed softly.

The old Taoist priest's eyes lit up with realization. In that case, Zhou Yi's behavior at the banquet earlier was not so strange.

Considering the overall situation in the world, one can certainly guess a bit of it.

However, Matsuhiko always kept quiet and did not press the matter.

On the contrary, Zhou Yi's revelation of this inside story made him seem even more approachable.

This is a good friend despite the age gap.

It's always heartwarming to be trusted as a friend.

"I originally planned to return to Nanyang immediately, but I will stay here for a few days because of the matter in Runan."

"So you'll have to wait a while longer to get that ancient text."

"It's alright, the real person won't renege on their promise."

Song Yinzi smiled and said, "When you have time to go to Sichuan, I will introduce you to another Taoist friend."

"Bashu?"

Zhou Yizhen couldn't guess who it was: "Which friend is it?"

"It is Fellow Daoist Yuan Tiangang."

Song Yinzi glanced at the sword hanging at Zhou Yi's waist and said, "Since you are so fond of swordsmanship, you must have heard of his name."

"I've not just heard of it, it's absolutely legendary."

Zhou Yi spoke a very true statement.

Song Yinzi was not surprised and continued, "He is proficient in physiognomy, and his martial arts and swordsmanship are derived from the 'Yi Jing Xuan Yao', which is quite amazing."

"In terms of talent alone, Fellow Daoist Yuan is no match for you."

"But perhaps he is no worse than Ning Sanren, it's a pity he has no passion for martial arts."

Zhou Yi couldn't help but remind him: "Fellow Daoist Song, please don't praise me to my face next time. I'm not as steady as you think. I'm quite prone to arrogance."

"It would be even worse if Ning Sanren heard this, as it would affect the friendship between our Daoist sects."

Song Yinzi stroked his long beard: "Then how about I say some bad things about you to your face?"

Zhou Yi chuckled: "Sure, I'm always happy to hear criticism."

The old Taoist priest was skeptical, and walked across a courtyard with a smile.
While Zhou Yi was drinking and feasting at the Lu residence in Yiyang, discussing Taoist magic and sword techniques with Song Yinzi,
On the west side of the Han Canal, in Baima Lake, Yangzhou Sanlong and a short, stout Taoist priest were crawling and hiding under the deck of a large ship.

The old dragon and the short, stout Taoist each covered the mouths of the two little dragons to help them regulate their breathing.

All four men were injured, and they could hear people running around on the deck.

Several large ships, led by Yuwen Chengdu, were patrolling the waters, while Hai Shalong King Han Gaitian led a group of experts to patrol around Baima Lake.

Below deck, the short, stout Taoist priest was silently cursing.

He now recalls the moment of pride he felt when he first met him and was called "Boss Mu".

A wave of regret washed over me, and I found myself longing for someone.

Zhou Yi, where are you?!
At that moment, a sound came from the deck.
"General!"

“A ship has come from the sea and is heading this way.”

"What banner?"

"Like martial arts practitioners from Goguryeo."

……

On the day Zhou Yi handed the letter to Lu Zushang, although Lu Zushang was unaware of the letter's significance, he immediately dispatched an elite force to deliver it.

From Guangshan, follow the Yellow River into the Huai River, cross the waterway at the ferry on the south bank of Gushi and enter the Ru River, pass Xincai and head northwest towards Pingyu, heading straight for the seat of Runan Prefecture.

They traveled without stopping along the way, all the way to Ruyang.
Inside the residence of the Prefect of Ruyang Commandery
A burly man with a centipede-shaped scar on his brow bone was discussing something with Prefect Duan Ji.

The voices grew louder and louder, seemingly reaching a stalemate.

"General, there is a letter for you!"

Yu Hongda was furious and asked coldly, "What letter? Where did it come from?"

The armored soldier replied, "The letter came from the south bank of the Huai River; the general will only know about it after reading it."

You Hongda didn't want to watch it.

But Prefect Duan was also angry and remained silent with a cold face.

Then he took the opportunity to unfold the letter and leaned back in his high chair to read it.

His expression changed for a moment, but Prefect Duan naturally didn't notice.

Yu Hongda read the letter more and more carefully, and finally read to the end, where he saw the signature:
"Taikang Fule, Fushi Inn, Fat Duck Old Friend, General, take care."

Having previously investigated Huai'an, I had many thoughts on the matter upon hearing the news from Nanyang.

These sixteen characters surged within You Hongda's heart like water, fire, thunder, and lightning.

Others may not understand the meaning of the letter, but Hongda is the one who is in the letter.

Our first meeting at Fushi Inn left me with the unforgettable taste of the fatty duck.

Upon thinking of this, You Hongda felt his mouth water and became somewhat craving food.

Prefect Duan turned his gaze over, staring at the letter with suspicion.

"General You, whose letter is this?"

His response was met with You Hongda's fury.

He crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it hard to the ground. The attendant captain quickly picked it up.

With a loud "smack," the teacup bounced up and then clattered to the ground.

Duan Ji frowned deeply, his attention diverted.

"The bandits are too arrogant. The grievances of the people along the Huai River have fallen into my hands. How can this general tolerate this!"

You Hongda's appearance was already fierce.

In addition, he was tall and strong, and once he unleashed his power, coupled with his reputation as the General Who Suppresses Bandits, even though Prefect Duan came from a prominent family and was skilled in martial arts, he still had to give way to him.

After all, the responsibility for losing the granary lies with him.

He tried to ease the tension, but You Hongda suddenly glared at him angrily:

"Prefect Duan, you have been utterly incompetent in Runan!"

"These days have passed, and we still haven't tracked down the bandits' route, let alone recovered the rice and grain."

Upon hearing this, Duan Ji was furious at the other party's offensive words.

"General You, don't be so aggressive!"

"If we're talking about the destruction of the granary, it was done by rebels from Huaiyang. The Cai government has already investigated this matter. Huaiyang is under the jurisdiction of your General Zhang. If we're talking about responsibility, General Zhang can't shirk it."

"If it weren't for your ineffective suppression of the bandits, Runan would not have suffered this calamity. The same applies to Luoyang!"

"Bullshit, those people in the Shangcai government office are blind. How could they possibly be accurate?"

You Hongda stood up: "When I was in Huai'an, Yongfeng Granary was breached, but in just half a day, I recovered the rice and killed thousands of bandits."

"Why is it so hesitant and evasive when it comes to Prefect Duan?"

"Could it be that you're colluding with the rebels?"

Immediately, everyone in the prefect's office stood up.

"General You, do not speak recklessly!" A scholar dressed as a staff member stood behind Duan Ji, suppressing several experts from the prefect's mansion, and said coldly.

You Hongda gave a fierce laugh: "Am I wrong? Aren't you incompetent?"

He stared straight at it.

The scholar dared not meet his gaze. This scoundrel surnamed You, though arrogant, certainly had the right to be arrogant.

He had succeeded in his business dealings in Huai'an and had already gained Zhang Xutuo's approval.

At this moment, he was able to mobilize the experts in Zhang Xutuo's Golden Purple Camp.

Although the Ruyang Prefectural Government was powerful, it was still far inferior to Zhang Xutuo's camp.

They knew in their hearts that this matter involved many forces in the county and was not easy to manage. In the whole country, it was not only their granary that had been destroyed, so there was no need to fight to the death.

You Hongda finished his business and left, but they had to live in Runan.

Prefect Duan snorted coldly and followed You Hongda's words:

“I admire General You’s abilities, but the situation in Runan is different from that in Huai’an. If we go south, the entire prefecture will be on waterways. The speed at which the bandits can move is far greater than that in Huai’an.”

"I don't see any difference," You Hongda said with a disdainful look.

Prefect Duan's face darkened: "In that case, why not send General You's men to investigate instead?"

"That's exactly what I wanted."

“I’m leaving Runan soon, but dealing with this little matter before I go is as easy as chopping melons and vegetables.”

Hearing You Hongda's arrogant words, everyone in the prefect's mansion was filled with rage.

"Very well, if General You fails to keep his promise, it is only because your camp forcibly interfered and disrupted our plans. This matter has nothing to do with Runan."

Prefect Duan simply did not believe that a stranger could accomplish anything in Runan.

You Hongda didn't waste any time arguing with him, he just laughed it off.

"That's it!"

"From this moment on, the troops of Runan will also be under my command."

Duan Ji did not respond, which meant he acquiesced.

He just stared at this arrogant guy, wanting to see how he would lose face, how he would embarrass himself in Runan, and how he would be impeached.

"Go, bring me your kitchen staff."

The aide was taken aback, but did as instructed, lest he be found fault with later.

Soon, several middle-aged female cooks came running over.

You Hongda said to them, "Prepare some fat ducks for me, pluck the feathers clean, and make sure they're heavily salted."

Prefect Duan laughed in exasperation: "Isn't it too early to deal with the ducks now?"

"not early."

"By the time I take down the rebels and return, your ducks won't even be ready to be cooked."

You Hongda laughed loudly as he left, drawing cold stares from the guests of the prefect's mansion.

As soon as he stepped out the door, he mobilized his troops and the soldiers of Runan County.

The army marched south along the Ru River, seemingly heading to deal with the bandits roaming between Baoxin and Xinxi.

If that's the case, we'll immediately fall into their trap.

Moreover, the bandits sailed down the Huai River with a large and imposing army, yet they couldn't catch a single hair on their heads.

Because once you cross a ferry crossing, you'll be within the sphere of influence of the Jianghuai Army.

Meng Rang controlled the downstream area, and no one dared to rush in rashly.

But what was unexpected was...
You Hongda traveled south along the Ru River. When he reached the Pingyu ferry, he took advantage of the darkness and ordered his captain to lead a portion of the county troops to continue south along the Ru River.

The bandits were misled, thinking that You Hongda had fallen into a trap.

He suddenly broke camp, and under the cover of night, headed west straight to Zhenyang, entering this land of plenty.

That evening, a fierce battle broke out at a river dock in eastern Zhenyang!
Bai Xin, one of Li Zitong's generals, was awakened from his sleep and immediately found himself in chaos.

He fled for his life, riding away on horseback with two arrow wounds.

The fourth general who came with him, Lu Fansong, a master from the East China Sea, was whipped off his horse by You Hongda in the chaos of battle, which became part of his military achievements and prestige.

The sounds of fighting continued until the early hours of the morning.

That night, the county magistrate and county assistant of Zhenyang City shakily got up from the concubine's bed and went to pay their respects.

As a result, in the army, two county officials, looking at the remaining rice in Rufeng Granary, had their heads removed for the serious crime of treason.

The county clerk was terrified and confessed everything truthfully.

You Hongda arranged for people to take over Zhenyang City, and Xiandu led three battalions back to Ruyang.

Noon on the third day.

Under the scorching sun, carrying an aura of slaughter, they returned to Ruyang City. The heads of many bandits were hung on the city walls, and notices were posted below.

Thousands of bandits were killed or wounded in one prefecture, nearly half of the grain in Rufeng Granary was recovered, and the Zhenyang government office, which colluded with rebels, was killed!

Runan was shaken by this.

Prefect Duan and his retainers turned pale as they saw You Hongda leading a large army straight towards the prefect's mansion.

"Prefect Duan, guess what I found in Zhenyang City?" "What?"

"I discovered several remnants of Yang Xuangan's faction. They colluded with the Zhenyang government, and some of them were even from your prefectural office."

Duan Ji's expression changed. What Yang Xuangan's remnants? That was utter nonsense.

But then You Hongda said:

"The prefect's great-grandfather was the Sima of Anbei, his grandfather was the Grand Chancellor, and your father was the Grand Tutor of Northern Qi. If His Majesty finds out what you've done, he will surely be heartbroken."

His Majesty cannot bear to hear the name Yang Xuangan. Part of the reason for this campaign against Goguryeo is Yang Xuangan's good brother, Husi Zheng.

Now that it's undeniable that the Zhenyang County government colluded with the rebels, and I've taken back the grain, what else does Prefect Duan have to say?"

Duan Ji hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath.

With a hint of seriousness:
"General You, I am quite skilled in cooking. In my spare time, I can prepare a delicious duck. The cooks in the prefect's mansion are far inferior to me."

"My skill in treating ducks is so great that it makes all the chefs in the county pale in comparison."

You Hongda was slightly surprised: "Is that so?"

Prefect Duan rolled up his sleeves: "I dare not speak presumptuously before the general. Could the general grant me a chance to cure the ducks?"

You Hongda waved his hand, and the army behind him put away their spears and arrows.

"I admire you, Prefect Duan. You are indeed exceptionally talented. Please take charge of the kitchen and show us your skills."

……

The Annals of Taiping:
In the late autumn of the tenth year of the Daye era, it was heard that Duan Ji, the prefect of Runan, was good at managing ducks.

When General Hongda heard this, he captured a fat duck swimming on the river and went there happily. The prefect was pleased and removed its feathers to govern the area. The birds in the office smelled the duck and chirped greedily, staying on the branches and not leaving.

The general was delighted upon first tasting it, and thus did not crave the duck from Fule.

When Zhou Tianshi arrived at Yiyang, the general heard of it and sent a divine traveler to cross the Huai River. The traveler arrived at Guangshan in one day. The Tianshi tasted the duck and was delighted, saying, "How wonderful!"

Knowing the prefect's jurisdiction, he was known as "Duan's White Feather," and his fame spread throughout Runan, becoming one of the seven most renowned families in the region.

When Lu Zushang, the chivalrous hero of Yiyang, heard of this, he was filled with sorrow and complained to the deputy leader of the Kun Gang, "I am still no match for him."

……

General You Hongda, the commander of the bandits, annihilated thousands of bandits in Zhenyang and recovered the grain stored in the granary, making him famous throughout Runan.

Later, he sent a large army to patrol the area of ​​Runan. The intimidated bandits temporarily avoided the attack, either advancing eastward along the Huai River or entering the areas of Ruyin and Huaiyang.

Five days later, at Guangshan Wharf.

A wooden boat was moored at the Huangshui ferry, where a large number of martial arts practitioners were watching.

Among those who sent off this ship were not only the Prefect of Yiyang, the chivalrous Lu Zushang, and the daughter of the Grand Secretary of Gushi, but also many important figures from the neighboring Yiyang County.

Although these people wouldn't make much of a splash in the martial arts world of Kyushu.

In both prefectures, which one wasn't renowned?
Standing at the bow of the boat was a young man in white, tall and handsome, with his hair tied up in a bun with a blue cloth and a long sword at his waist. The yellow water was surging, and his clothes were fluttering in the river breeze. He had a slight smile on his face and had an air of refined elegance.

This person's name is already quite familiar to everyone.

After all, the news that Master Yi had reversed Yin and Yang and rescued Daoist Songyinzi from the brink of death had already spread throughout the county in the past few days.

Especially Lu Wenrui, who runs a tea shop.

He was there at the time and described the scene of the underworld in vivid detail, which could not have been depicted by mere imagination.

Therefore,
After the news spread, it was not uncommon for prominent figures from both prefectures to send gifts to the extraordinary man from Nanyang.

People gathered around just to join in the fun and have something to talk about over tea.

However, Lu Zushang, Wang Honglie, Ying Shan and others who were near the ferry crossing knew that things were not so simple.

At the banquet, no one believed it, thinking it was just something the other person mentioned casually.

Who would have thought that a single letter would...

This completely changed the chaotic situation in Runan, with the general suppressing bandits and killing enemies in all directions, bringing peace to the ferry crossings on the upper reaches of the Huai River.

With these bandits gone, business at the ferry crossing will naturally be easier.

The key figures in both prefectures are all obligated to show their gratitude.

This farewell was not only because of the other party's status in the martial arts world, but also because of his ability to influence worldly affairs.

Although he kept it to himself and didn't say it outright, everyone present understood.

May you have a safe journey!

"Farewell."

Zhou Yi didn't say much. When the group of people on the bank of the Yellow River bowed to each other, he also smiled and bowed back.

Sensing this atmosphere, the boatmen rowed with much more effort, as if they had a sense of mission. If they were to row erratically or lose control of the direction at this moment, they would surely be ridiculed.

The wooden boat slowly left the ferry dock.

The wind direction is perfect.

The crowd watched the white-clad figure until he disappeared into the river.

At this moment, the people on the shore began to whisper among themselves.

Yiyang Wang, the prefectural magistrate, looked at Lu Zushang and asked in a low voice:
"Brother Lu, do you know what the relationship is between the True Man and the General Who Suppresses Bandits and the Prefect of Runan?"

To be honest, I don't know much about it either.

Lu Zushang always said what he thought: "As you all know, because of my master, I am almost a junior."

"That doesn't stop you from asking for the reason. This matter is extremely complicated, and we have received a favor for nothing."

"I've brought this up before, but the person in question didn't care at all."

"What did the real person tell you?"

Lu Zushang said, "He said it was just a letter, nothing more than a bit of writing, and told us not to worry about it."

Wei Jing laughed and said, "Brother Lu, you really don't care, do you?"

"How can that be?"

Lu Zushang said, "After my master discussed the Dao with the True Man and exchanged sword energy, I essentially gained another senior uncle."

Although he is now of a lower generation, many people still look on with envy.

Such a senior uncle is desirable.

To achieve such success at such a young age, one will surely become famous in the martial arts world in due time.

It's not impossible for him to become one of the three grandmasters in the future.

The Wei family girl rolled her eyes at Lu Zushang, thinking he was acting like he had gotten a good deal but was still being smug.

The Lu family has turned misfortune into blessing, further solidifying their position in the two prefectures.

"The Master should have no connection with those two from Runan, otherwise he wouldn't have pressed them for answers at the banquet. It must be those two who know about the Master's other identities."

Gu Lang said, "For example, his identity in Nanyang."

"I've heard that the Demonic Sect of Nanyang is wreaking havoc, and all the major powers seem to be turning to Wuzhuang Temple in order to protect themselves."

This was just Gu Lang's guess, but it stirred a strange feeling in everyone's hearts.

No matter what you do, everyone who's in the business knows how deep or shallow the water is.

Leaving aside the taboo surrounding the Demonic Sect...
If the forces in Nanyang were as united as they are, they would be far superior to the two prefectures south of the Huai River.

If the Nanyang group were to join the True Man's ranks, then it would be understandable that the Prefect of Runan and the General Who Suppresses Bandits would give him face for the sake of peace in the Central Plains.

"Why are you making wild guesses?"

"If you feel bad about it, please do your best to help if you encounter any trouble in the upper reaches of the Huai River in the future."

After Lu Zushang finished speaking, everyone nodded in agreement.

Some people's gazes still inadvertently drifted to the spot where the white-clad figure had disappeared.
……

From the Yellow River into the Huai River, Zhou Yi sat at the bow of the boat the whole time.

Listening to the sound of water brings peace to my heart.

Before long, all distractions disappeared, and he entered a meditative state.

During this period, he proved with his actions that Guang Chengzi might not necessarily be right.

To be more precise, Guang Chengzi's method of practicing the "Longevity Formula" was not suitable for him.

After exchanging ideas with Song Yinzi, Zhou Yixin was inspired and has figured out some things.

Following the Longevity Formula, true qi circulates and flows into the acupoints.

Instead of using the true qi stored in the Xuanzhen Temple to quickly open the acupoints, he used the methods in the Longevity Formula to gradually enter the acupoints through the wind gaps, accumulating day and night, and finally opened the Zhongzhu acupoint at this moment!
A wondrous change occurs
Zhongzhu acupoint is located on the Kidney Meridian of Foot-Shaoyin, and it is also an acupoint on the Chong Meridian, one of the eight extraordinary meridians.

When the Qi is released from the central orifice, it immediately enters the eight extraordinary meridians.

The first one is the Chong Meridian.

Zhou Yi listened to the rushing sound of the Huai River and felt that the first stream of true energy entering his Chong Meridian was extremely strange.

It is like the Huai River flowing eastward, constantly rushing through the Chongmai.

A warm current originates in the lower abdomen, flows down to the perineum, ascends along the spine, then rises along both sides of the abdomen from the Henggu acupoint, reaching the throat and encircling the lips.

He couldn't help but exhale a breath of stale air, feeling a sense of lightness throughout his body.

Soon, I felt myself sitting firmly on the bow of the boat again, and the lightheaded feeling disappeared.

At this point, all the Chong meridians had been opened!
Zhou Yi was quite surprised. The last time he felt this way was when he opened the first Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

A surge of pure true energy arises in the Chong meridian and slowly flows into the Dantian.

This is the most orthodox cultivation method in the martial arts world.

Upon closer examination, this newly generated true energy also belongs to the orthodox Xuanmen sect.

However, it differs significantly in subtle ways from the true qi cultivated in the twelve meridians of Xuanzhen Temple.

The profound aura was much deeper than Zhou Yi had initially noticed, but when compared to the other two, the difference was obvious.

This newly cultivated life-giving energy is even purer; among the true energies of the Xuanmen, there is almost none that can compare to it.

Zhou Yi suddenly had an idea: to channel the Longevity Qi along the Chong Meridian and then cultivate the Dai Meridian.

Sure enough, a warm current immediately appeared below Ji's flanks!
However, the speed at which the warm current travels is far slower than the speed at which the Qi flows through the Chong meridian.

Guang Chengzi's "Longevity Formula" is also an orthodox method, which is perfect for practicing with the Qi of the Chong Meridian.

It rushes towards the belt meridian, the two dimensions of Yin and Yang, and the two qiao meridians of Yin and Yang.

As a result,
The profound true energy is used to cultivate the twelve regular meridians, the Dao heart is used to cultivate the Ren and Du meridians, and the longevity true energy is used to complete the remaining extraordinary meridians.

Is there anyone else in the world who can master all the orthodox and extraordinary meridians in this way?
Even if Guang Chengzi, Xiang Yutian, and the others were here, they would probably just stare at each other blankly.

Upon thinking of this, Zhou Yi laughed.

I felt a little smug.

He closed his eyes and made a new attempt in his dantian.

The Louguan School's Kanli Sword Qi requires authentic Taoist internal energy cultivation, starting with the Huangting point, one of the four levels of the Dantian.

The true energy of immortality is pure enough, isn't it?

The various methods taught by Song Yinzi were already memorized, and now he tried them out using the Kan Shui Gang method.

Touching the Yellow Court and the Golden Furnace
In an instant, he exhaled two breaths of true energy, which clashed together!
I had a feeling about it, but I didn't succeed.

Zhou Yi tried seven times, but failed each time.

On the eighth time, he looked at his left palm, which seemed unchanged. He then used his right hand to gather the Huai River water and sprinkled it onto his left palm.

Instantly, the handful of water turned into tiny droplets that rolled around on his left palm.

His hands, however, never get wet, which is quite amazing.

Transform Qi into Qi!

It's different from ordinary true qi attachment.

Song Yinzi is right. The Kan Shui Gang Fa is not easy to practice. I myself tried it eight times.

Zhou Yi exhaled, releasing his inner energy.

The Yellow Court and Golden Furnace have not yet been refined, so the Qi cannot be generated, and the Guanyuan acupoint has not been connected. It is too mentally taxing to rely on stimulating the true Qi.

He also had some ideas.

The Mysterious True Qi can connect with the Demonic Qi of the Ren and Du meridians. I wonder if the Longevity True Qi can interact peacefully with it?
It's a pity that this newly cultivated true energy is too shallow and not enough to be fully utilized.

However, once the alternative method of achieving immortality is mastered, the Kanli Sword Qi can also be cultivated.

Two pieces of good news are enough to make Zhou Yi happy for a long time.

Currently, there are no longer any obstacles to opening up all the meridians in my body, and I feel that the future looks bright.

Little Phoenix said that things that are difficult to accomplish can simply be filled by time.

Perhaps it will be a relatively short period of time.

Zhou Yi was in a great mood, lying on the boat and looking at the clouds in the sky.

A gust of wind blew, and the clouds slowly drifted away, obscuring the sun.

The sunlight peeked out from behind the clouds, changing its shape.

It looks like a giant, fat duck.

Seeing the fat duck, I can't help but think of General You Hongda, the fat duck general.

For some unknown reason, this guy actually ordered Duan Ji, the governor of Runan, to manage the ducks.

This is outrageous and utterly insulting.

but
It's true that birds have their way, and beasts have theirs; Magistrate Duan's duck-raising technique is indeed delicious.

Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

After an unknown amount of time, the boat arrived at the Tongbai Ferry on the upper reaches of the Huai River.

"Master Yi, we've arrived."

The boatman called out.

"Thank you very much!"

Zhou Yi bowed and took his leave; Master Lu had already paid for the boat fare.

"Oh, you're too kind. Take care, sir."

The boatmen waved their hands repeatedly, quite excited.

I feel like I'm becoming a legend myself.

The boat captain, who was in his fifties, was beaming with excitement.

"Boss, why are you so excited about just a trip along the Huai River?"

"Sigh, what do you know?"

The boat captain said as he turned the boat around:

"What Huai River? We're traveling with Master Yi through Yin and Yang, taking a ferry across the River of Oblivion."

The people around him burst into laughter, mocking the boat captain for bragging without having been sober.

As soon as Zhou Yi disembarked and stepped off the ferry pier, someone led his horse to greet him.

Two middle-aged men in long robes stepped forward with smiles and greeted him: "Master Yi."

"Who are you two?" Zhou Yi asked, noticing their unfamiliar faces.

One of the men said, "We are guests of the Prefect of Yiyang. It was Magistrate Wang who instructed us to wait here. We will provide you with horses as soon as you come ashore."

Zhou Yi took the reins.

"Please thank Magistrate Wang for me."

The two smiled, clasped their hands in greeting, and left.

Lu Zushang paid for the boat, and Wang Juncheng delivered the horse. At that moment, Zhou Yi felt that both of them were chivalrous heroes he admired.

After spending the night in Tongbai, they rode westward early the next morning and arrived at Pingshi.

After traveling from Pingshi to 'Shangmencheng', we rested for another night.

On the third day, we headed straight for Nanyang.

We traveled early in the morning and approached Xinye around noon. We didn't plan to stay in Xinye and continued on to the confluence of the Yu River, Tuan River, and Yan River.

Perhaps because of the recent rains, the current is swift along this section of the Baihe River that flows into the Han River.

If you don't find a boat to cross, don't even think about crossing the river.

However, it's true that what you wish for comes true.

Zhou Yi was pacing along the riverbank when a small wooden boat came straight towards him from the opposite bank.

quickly
His eyes changed slightly as he sensed something was amiss.

Just as they were about to turn around and leave, they reined in the horse.

Without turning around, he could sense that someone was watching him from the grove of trees he had just passed through.

More than one.

The faces of the two people rowing the boat ahead gradually came into view.

Both women had silver hair and appeared to be beautiful young women from afar, but upon closer inspection, the signs of age were still visible around their eyes and on their foreheads.

The person on the left is wearing pink, and the person on the right is wearing green.

A river breeze blew, causing their sleeves to flutter gracefully. This should have been a gentle and delicate sight, but paired with their imposing appearance, it made them look eerie and sinister.

"Young master, please board the boat, and I will ferry you across."

A fierce glint flashed in the pink-clad man's eyes.

The man in green stared at him and said:

"There's no need to bring the horse; we'll escort you all the way to the end."

Zhou Yi dismounted and focused more of his attention on what was behind him.

He felt a sense of crisis; if someone attacked from behind, his only option was to rush straight into the water.

These people must have been waiting for me for a long time.

“Since you invited me aboard, you should at least introduce yourself.”

The old hag in pink said, "I am Blood Silk Demon, Pei Xiao."

The man in green said, "The Cold Toad Demon, the Plum Blossom Sheng."

Zhou Yi realized what was happening: "My apologies, so you are the four demons under the command of the Queen of the Underworld. May I ask where the other two demons are?"

"Hehehe"

"You do have some knowledge."

Pei Xiao shook the red silk ribbon around her neck and sneered, "Isn't it enough that the two of us are inviting you onto the boat, young master?"

"If the four of us come here together, our combined age will be more than ten times yours. Would you still dare to board the ship, young master?"

"rational."

Zhou Yi nodded and took a step closer to the ship: "May I ask if the Empress Yin wishes to invite me?"

"You don't need to test me, the sect leader is not here."

Pei Xiao shook her head: "Otherwise, there would be no room for me to waste my breath."

Zhou Yi felt a little relieved and withdrew his true energy. He took a step forward and landed on the bow of the boat, which was about ten feet away.

It made a "thump" sound.

The two men chuckled when they saw his light-footed skills.

Not understanding the group's purpose, Zhou Yi remained silent after boarding the ship.

Why has the Yin Gui School's attitude changed?

The image of the white dragon leader and the words of the water dragon gang leader flashed through his mind.

Could it be that I'm wrong?

While he was pondering this, the two old hags had already rowed the boat to the middle of the river.

"Young master, now I'm giving you a choice."

"tell me the story."

"Firstly, we can arrange for the young master's body to float down this river to the Han River, circling the moat of Xiangyang City."

Zhou Yi glanced in the direction he had come from: "And the second one?"

"The second option is to sit quietly on the boat and travel with us to the Han River."

Pei Xiao asked, "How do we choose?"

Zhou Yi leaned against the ship's side without hesitation: "Let's take a boat, I was just thinking of going to Xiangyang."

The two old hags exchanged a knowing smile; this was exactly what they had expected.

The wooden boat turned in the middle of the river, seemingly heading towards the Han River.

Those in the distance naturally witnessed this scene.

A cold, arrogant female voice rang out:

"Elder Yun, he has made his choice."

"As it turns out, your thinking was completely wrong."

……

(End of this chapter)