Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 138 The Three Treasures Return to One: A Method for Paying Off Debts
As dawn broke, a thin mist floated over the western gorge of the pasture.

One after another, figures fled down the mountain in a disheveled state, the wind they stirred up mixing the mist with the stench of blood.

The four bandit groups had a large number of bandits under their command, with Cao Yinglong alone having nearly 30,000 men.

Many of them were conscious.

But caught up in the fray and stimulated by the stench of blood, they went berserk in the darkness, charging wave after wave toward the ranch.

As dawn broke, the surrounding scenery became increasingly clear.

A gust of southerly wind in the morning woke me up with a shiver.

The voices giving orders had long since ceased. Fang Jianding, Xiang Batian, and Mao Zao, the three leaders, had all died in battle. The dozens of leaders who had rushed onto the ranch and were sitting in chairs were also silent.

They're all dead!

The whereabouts of Chief Cao are unknown; perhaps he is buried under some corpse.

The surrounding area was littered with corpses, and countless others had fallen off the cliff. How could anyone know where Cao Yinglong was?

First, the bandits in the rear fled, and then the bandits in front dropped their weapons and began to run away. They abandoned the Xixia city gate that they had captured, crying and screaming all the way, falling down and getting up again, just wanting to save their lives.

The mountain path was not wide, and in the chaos, many people were pushed off the cliff.

With the bandits in disarray, it's the perfect time to strike while they're down.

But no one from the ranch went after them.

Grand Steward Liang Zhi and Second Steward Liu Zongdao collapsed to the ground, panting. Shang Zhen, his eyes vacant, wiped the bloodstains from his pipe and only regained his senses after puffing out smoke.

After a night of fierce fighting, his true energy was long gone.

If the ranch hadn't had enough manpower to keep up with the shifts, these lunatics would have stormed into the mountain town long ago.

Shang Zhen glanced to the side and saw that Chai Shao, not far away, looked rather disheveled, with an injured shoulder, and was having his wound bandaged with Pang Yu's help.

Li Xiuning sheathed her sword and looked at her second brother.

Erfeng stared intently at the fleeing bandits, then at the corpses strewn across the mountain path, her gaze growing increasingly sharp:
"If we hadn't held our ground, we would have lost many men tonight. These men have no regard for their lives."

“That’s not all,” Chai Shao gritted his teeth, “They’re a bunch of lunatics, completely different from the Four Great Bandits I’ve heard of. It would be normal for them to have run away like this earlier.”

Standing to Chai Shao's right, Du Ruhui remained silent, his gaze shifting away from Li Shimin to the blue-robed man meditating on the city wall of Xixia.

This person's martial arts skills were already quite high, but at this moment he was also severely depleted.

After all, even a grandmaster of martial arts would have to retreat if so many thieves rushed up.

but
The scenes he had witnessed the previous night flashed through Du Ruhui's mind. Apart from those who died in the chaos of battle, most of the skilled bandits had been killed by this man.

A strong sense of crisis arose in my heart.
With the fighting over the pastures over, Li Shimin thought of Yuchi Jingde and led Chai Shao and the others back to the courtyard.

Each person was lost in their own thoughts, and they remained silent the whole way. It wasn't until they returned to their small courtyard that Li Xiuning spoke up and asked, "Second Brother, are you thinking about those strange bandits?"

"Yes, I've also been thinking about things related to Brother Zhou."

Erfeng looked at Du Ruhui: "Keming hesitated, what do you want to say?"

Du Ruhui said, "This person's martial arts are not the best in the world, but the speed and sharpness of his killings are simply astonishing. If we were to face him in the future, we would have to tread carefully."

"good."

Pang Yu was well-versed in the Tai Xu Cuo Shou (a martial arts technique), and was quite confident in his opponent's martial arts. At this moment, he stretched out his palm into a claw, and with the momentum of a tiger digging out its heart, he grabbed at the empty space four or five times. Then he jumped left and right in the courtyard, his claw shadows flipping and turning, and he made nine moves in a row.

"I observed carefully and memorized them. These are all moves used by Commander Zhou. What do you find unusual about them?"

Dou Wei and Li Gang shook their heads. They were the worst in the martial arts field and thought the move was unremarkable, so they kept quiet.

What a joke! This week's Grand Commander's martial arts skills are comparable to those of the Coffin Palace Master; how could he possibly use ordinary methods?

If you can't tell, it's just that your eyesight isn't good enough.

The two of them were still self-aware.

Suddenly Li Shimin said, "It's just a very ordinary claw technique."

Dou Wei and Li Gang were both taken aback, while Li Xiuning and Du Ruhui nodded.

Chai Shao echoed, "At first, when he used his claw technique to deal with the experts among those bandits, I thought it was similar to the Demon Commander's Eighteen Returning Soul Claws. But after looking at it, the moves weren't complicated or mysterious. But that's the strange thing. As soon as he made a move, those experts died on the spot."

Chai Shao pondered for a moment, then continued:
"Logically speaking, even a martial arts master with profound skills, eyesight, and power should not have such destructive power. After all, if these people can fight us, does that mean we would die with a single swipe? That seems impossible."

Pang Yu nodded repeatedly: "That's exactly right. So it can only be because his true energy is special."

Angry?

Everyone immediately thought of Yuchi Jingde, who had miraculously returned from the dead.

"Once he unleashes his killing move, the sense of danger felt by his opponents will be completely different from that of us bystanders. Therefore, a casual swipe of his claw can instantly shatter their aura and kill a martial arts master. The dead man will never be able to reveal the secrets of his true energy."

"He is not the strongest in the world, but he is the most dangerous person in the world."

Chai Shao immediately realized: "It seems that the Demonic Sect Master Zuo Youxian was defeated in the same way."

The Li clan members compared the sword strike outside Qingliu City with those who seemed to have had their souls ripped out last night, and felt both its mystery and its danger.

They remembered something else.

Martial arts masters throughout the world, whether strong or weak, are all extremely difficult to kill.

But when applied to this person, the old logic seems to fail.

Of the three grandmasters who came to the ranch, one fled early, while the other two were killed on the spot.

The recent deaths of many martial arts masters are mostly related to this.

Du Ruhui's face was ashen: "In the future, if you encounter this person, you should prioritize the situation and then consider the strength."

This statement offered them some solace.

He was clearly exhausted from practicing meditation on the city wall.

It's still within the realm of "human beings," but in terms of "momentum," the current "momentum" doesn't lie with the Li family; on the contrary, the other side has a greater advantage.

The discussion continued in the courtyard.

Li Xiuning frowned slightly, looking at her second brother with some worry.

After visiting Yuchi Jingde, Erfeng stood at the entrance of the courtyard for a long time, gazing into the distance.

"Second brother, what are you looking at?"

"Look at that golden crow."

Li Xiuning looked at the rising sun.

Then I heard my second brother say slowly:

"Nearly a thousand years have passed since the Qin King unified the six kingdoms. The sun and moon have alternated, shining on one emperor after another, and finally returning to their imperial tombs, recorded in the pens of historians. Compared to this sun, even the most prosperous dynasties are but a fleeting moment."

Li Xiuning suppressed the strange look in her eyes and calmly said:
"That may be true, but a real man should live a life of great ambition and pursue something spectacular, regardless of whether he is immortal. A hundred years is already a long and exciting life."

She was about to try to persuade him when her second brother suddenly turned to look at her.

"Ningmei, I have a question for you."

"Second brother, please ask."

Do you think he was telling the truth last time on the ship?

Li Xiuning naturally knew who "he" referred to.

Those words sounded sincere, but seeing my second brother like this, I couldn't help but feel worried.

So they changed the wording:

"This man is cunning and mysterious; how could I possibly see through him, let alone know if he is sincere?"

Li Shimin understood her wariness through her words.

Then he turned to look at the huge fireball in the sky:

"The cicadas sing in the tall willows, a symphony of summer. The sun and moon revolve, an eternal cycle."

"Hey, second brother, wake up."

Li Xiuning rolled her eyes. She never imagined that her second brother would have such thoughts.

You couldn't tell at all before.

You can't stay here for long!

If my second brother comes into contact with that Grand Commander Zhou again, he'll be driven mad.

“We have done our best to build good relations with the ranch this time. After last night’s battle, Xiuxun has a lot of things to take care of. Second brother, let’s go back to Guanzhong as soon as possible.”

Li Shimin also knew that time was of the essence: "I need to let Father know about what's happening here as soon as possible. We'll rest for a day and leave tomorrow morning."

That afternoon, Li Xiuning went to find her friend Shang Xiuxun.

Upon learning that Li's friend was leaving, the owner immediately hosted a banquet.

As night fell, the group gathered in the inner fortress, raising their glasses in toasts.

Shang Xiuxun approached Li Xiuning and asked her to stay a few more days.

Li Xiuning naturally refused.

When she spoke to the owner, her gaze always darted to the side.

My second brother was with Commander Zhou again. They were drinking and whispering to each other, and I don't know what they were saying.

Although my second brother is exceptionally intelligent, he would never be easily deceived.

But when he met this person, he couldn't be judged by common sense.

Shang Xiuxun noticed that she was occasionally absent-minded, and following her gaze, she found Zhou Yi's direction.

For a moment, he didn't say anything to persuade his friend to stay.

Li Tianfan died on the third day at Pegasus Ranch.

The Li clan members, who had come and gone in a hurry, embarked on their journey home.

Zhou Yi helped Yuchi Jingde, who was about to kneel down to express his gratitude, to his feet. Yuchi Jingde had just escaped death and his condition was stabilizing.

"Brother Zhou, as we are about to part, I present this gift to you."

As Li Shimin was speaking, he suddenly handed something to Zhou Yi.

It was a bird feather.

"Is this an eagle feather?"

"good."

Li Shimin explained with a smile: "During the siege of Yanmen, I encountered a hawk released by the Turks. This hawk was well-trained and could fly thousands of miles a day to quickly transmit messages. It could also recognize people from high in the sky, which was already a kind of spiritual power."

That day, the feathered beast circled in the air. I climbed to the top of a high mountain, released pigeons to lure it into hunting, and finally shot it down.

He spoke with great pride: "The Turkic people's hawk, which was supposed to be a magical bird, had never been shot down before. This was the first one. At the time, the Turkic Khan was very upset when he learned that I had plucked the hawk's feathers to keep as a souvenir."

Zhou Yi held the eagle feather in his hand: "I'll accept this eagle feather. One day, I'll have the Turkic Khan send Brother Li the most magnificent and spirit-connected hawk."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin became interested. He often stayed in Guanzhong and knew the temperament of the Turks very well.

Asking them to deliver eagles is out of the question.

"That's difficult. What method does Brother Zhou intend to use to subdue the Great Khan?"

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "The Turks still have an undefeated hawk. When I go to collect the debt from the Tiele King, I will also go to the grasslands and shoot him down, thus undermining the faith of the grassland people."

That's an incredibly arrogant statement.

He was referring to Wu Zun, one of the three great masters of the time.

That god-like figure from the vast grasslands, whose extraordinary feats of blazing sun shook the world, was invincible.

However, as the leading figure among the younger generation, it's understandable that he might be a bit boastful or arrogant.

"Brother Li, take this and read it on the way."

Zhou Yi received a very meaningful eagle feather and reciprocated by gifting an ancient book.

Looking at the four characters "Huainan Honglie", Erfeng also felt that they had extraordinary significance.

Looking forward to seeing you again.

"Take care of yourself."

The Li clan and their followers traveled down the East Gorge, gradually disappearing into the distance.
“The steward and the others were already overwhelmed with guarding against those bandits the night before. This second young master was a great help. He was the one who commanded the troops later. Otherwise, we would have lost many more men.”

After Shang Xiuxun finished speaking, Zhou Yi continued:

"So I had a good impression of him and even presented him with a Taoist classic."

Shang Xiuxun hummed in agreement, then added, "Actually, what I wanted to say was that the Li clan also has ambitions to contend for the throne, and he will be your rival."

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Are you worried about me?"

"No."

The beautiful woman looked away, not wanting to admit anything, and waited for him to continue. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yi turned and left.

She caught up with him and told him about the aftermath of the ranch's situation.

Before long, they arrived at the place where Li Tianfan and the others had stayed.

There are currently dozens of people guarding this place.

Seeing them approaching together, they all made way for them.

"What about people?"

"It's still inside."

Someone led the way up to the second floor and opened a door.

Zhou Yimai stepped into the room, and the young man inside, dressed in brown martial arts attire and with a refined appearance, stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said:
"Master, venue owner."

After saying hello, he let out a long sigh.

Zhou Yi asked with slight doubt: "Your martial arts are no worse than the Changbai Twin Fiends, and you are a great help. Why did you stay in this house alone the night before and not join us in attacking the inner fortress?"

Xu Shiji stared out the window, lost in thought: "The situation is already lost; success cannot be achieved by the courage of one person alone."

"Your presence at the ranch means we've missed our chance. Forcing a plan will only ruin the whole situation. You're a fool who won't listen to advice. What can I do?"

Zhou Yi nodded slightly: "I heard that Military Advisor Xu initially followed Zhai Rang, the leader of the army, and Li Mi later came to Wagang Village. You care so much about Li Mi, aren't you letting Zhai Rang down?"

Xu Shiji shifted his gaze back:
“Zhai Dalongtou and I are from the same village in Dongjun. At first, he followed my advice and grew from a few people to nearly 20,000. Although the situation was good, we also realized Dalongtou’s true intentions. He only wanted to live a peaceful life and be a bandit leader, which was enough for him.”

However, the village is close to the Eastern Capital. Given the current situation, the Wagang Army is like a boat sailing against the current; if it doesn't advance, it will retreat. The future is uncertain and unpredictable, so I have no choice but to rely on Lord Mi.

While he may not be as open and honest as the Great Leader Zhai, he is far more shrewd and calculating. However, emperors and rulers rarely share their innermost thoughts. In a world where heroes vie for power, his ambition to dominate the world makes him a better choice than the Great Leader Zhai.

If he could truly stabilize the situation, it might not be a bad thing for Zhai Dalongtou.

Now that Zhai Rang is still alive, Zhou Yi doesn't mention that Li Mi would assassinate him and go to extremes. He only asks, "While Li Mi is in Xingyang, has he been keeping tabs on me?"

"That's natural."

Xu Shiji said, "He often talked about the Celestial Master, and when he heard about the Battle of Longxing Temple, he could hardly eat."

Zhou Yi's mood improved considerably, and she looked at him with a half-smile: "What are your plans?"

Xu Shiji's face showed struggle.

He had considered submitting to the Heavenly Master, but then he suddenly exhaled and said, "I, Xu, am at the mercy of the Heavenly Master. I only hope that I can write a letter and send it to Xingyang."

Xu Shiji's desire to die surprised Zhou Yi.

"Are you going to write a letter to Shen Luoyan?"

Xu Shiji nodded, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes; he was deeply in love with Shen Luoyan.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Yi suddenly understood.

By the way, Shen Luoyan is his sweetheart; this guy is also one of the Sui Dynasty's sycophants.

"No need. Shen Luoyan once plotted against me. It won't be long before you meet in the underworld."

Sensing Zhou Yi's murderous intent, Xu Shiji's expression changed.

He recalled Zhou Yi's earlier words and the rumors circulating in the martial arts world, and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture:
"Xu is willing to serve the Celestial Master, seeking no reward whatsoever, only to repay the debts owed to me and Luoyan."

He glanced at Shang Xiuxun again and hurriedly said, "Prince Liang Xiao Xian is colluding with Qian Yun in Jingling City. Once they succeed, there will definitely be another big battle at the ranch."

"I, Xu, have a plan that can help the Celestial Master obtain the territory of Jingling Prefecture." ...

"Is he a talented person?"

Although Shang Xiuxun had heard of Xu Shiji's name, she didn't know much about him.

"Well, since he offended me, regardless of his talent or lack thereof, the probability of him dying is much higher."

"Then why did you give him another chance?"

Shang Xiuxun blinked: "Could it be that he's a devoted lover?"

"no no."

Zhou Yi waved his hand repeatedly, without speaking to anyone below.

The beautiful owner of the venue was even more curious: "Then what exactly is the reason that could make Young Master Yi put down his butcher's knife?"

Zhou Yi pointed towards Jingling: "It's because of his last words that if there's a major upheaval in Jingling, it will affect you, which is something I don't want to see."

After listening and thinking about it carefully, she only said "oh" aloud, but she was delighted inside.

"You go ahead with your work, I'm going to look for that old man."

Shang Xiuxun glanced towards the back mountain and nodded slightly.

Lu Miaozi's intervention this time added to her emotions.

Ignoring her struggles, Zhou Yi passed through the inner fortress and headed straight for the back mountain.

When we arrived at the "comfortable nest", we heard a few coughs.

He panicked, fearing he might slip through his fingers.

He rushed into the room and, under Lu Miaozi's slightly reproachful gaze, placed one hand on his back.

"There's no need. I don't have much time left."

Lu Miaozi waved his wide sleeves and told him to sit down: "At the shortest, I will return to the underworld in twenty days."

Zhou Yi hummed in agreement:
“I’m going to Jingling right away. After returning to the ranch, I’ll prepare for a few more days. I’ll try to save you before you die. If I can’t, it won’t be a regret.”

"Please cherish these last moments, sir."

Lu Miaozi smiled and did not refuse Zhou Yi's kindness.

He looked him up and down a few times, then suddenly asked, "Have you ever learned the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique?"

"How did you figure that out, sir?"

Zhou Yi's words were practically an admission. Lu Miaozi remained silent for a moment, then revealed a look of remembrance:
"No wonder there was a familiar aura when you circulated your energy."

"But."

His doubts were tinged with worry.

“When you fought those three masters the night before last, I didn’t notice anything at all. That’s very strange. This is not how you cultivate the Demon Seed of the Dao Heart. You must be careful not to make a mistake in your practice. According to my old friend, this skill is extremely difficult to master.”

Zhou Yi then asked, "Who is your old friend, sir?"

"Yes, he is Xiang Yutian."

Lu Miaozi's expression turned even more nostalgic: "That was thirty years ago."

"Presumably, you have come into contact with one of his disciples."

Zhou Yi nodded and briefly explained the origin of his cultivation technique. Upon hearing this, Lu Miaozi's refined old face showed surprise for the first time.

"A fragment of a scroll, how can it possibly be mastered?!"

"So I also practiced Taoist internal energy. When I fought those three, I used Taoist power. I don't dare to use this demonic power normally, for fear of being targeted by someone with ulterior motives."

Upon hearing this, Lu Miaozi looked at him as if he were a monster.

And then, with a tsk-tsk sound:
"What an extraordinary person! I thought it was strange enough to run into a two-hundred-year-old, but now I've met another one. It's truly a stroke of luck in my life."

Although Lu Miaozi's skill level wasn't that high, his martial arts knowledge and realm were far beyond what ordinary people could achieve.

“If Brother Xiang saw you practicing like this, he would probably shatter back from another void.”

Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask, "Did you witness him shattering the void with your own eyes, sir?"

"No, but Brother Xiang wouldn't lie. If he says it can be broken, then it definitely can."

Lu Miaozi sighed:

"After he absorbed the primordial essence from the Holy Emperor's relic, he gained a long lifespan, living from the Jin Dynasty to the Sui Dynasty. After that, his Dao heart and demonic cultivation were perfected, and he was able to draw endless essence, energy and spirit from heaven and earth."

"But Brother Xiang has a unique interest and extremely high moral character, which even the eminent monks of the major Buddhist temples cannot compare to. Otherwise, wouldn't he be able to do whatever he wants in this world?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi revealed a deep longing.

Lu Miaozi was not at all surprised by his appearance:
"With your talent, as long as you work hard in martial arts, you may have a chance in the future. After all, it was extremely difficult for Brother Xiang to cultivate the Dao Heart Demon Seed, and you have actually achieved something with your whimsical cultivation method. The wonders of the world are truly unfathomable."

He got carried away and started making fruit wine to drink.

The two clinked glasses, and Zhou Yi asked again, "Sir, have you ever read the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique?"

"Seen."

As Lu Miaozi drank, he said, "Brother Xiang even asked me if I wanted to practice."

"Actually, I was more curious about this divine skill and technique. After seeing it, my curiosity disappeared, and I realized that I didn't have the mental fortitude to practice it. That's my problem. I can achieve success in everything, but I'm always half-hearted."

"If I focus solely on martial arts, Empress Yin will have no way to harm me."

Zhou Yi chuckled inwardly, thinking, "You're not necessarily half-hearted when it comes to Empress Yin."

"Does the gentleman still remember the contents of the Dao Heart Demon Seed?"

"How could I possibly remember something that happened thirty years ago?"

Lu Miaozi suddenly stopped talking, stroking his white beard without speaking for a long time. Seeing that he was deep in thought, Zhou Yi did not disturb him.

After a long pause, he finally said:

"However, considering Brother Xiang's situation and my own experiences over the years, I do have some insights."

Zhou Yi listened attentively in silence, and the aged voice rang in his ears once again:
"The so-called Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. All kinds of martial arts in the world are actually within all things. If you want to reach the ultimate, you may be able to return to the Tao."

"All things return to the three, which are the three treasures of man: essence, energy, and spirit. Martial artists cultivate essence, energy, and spirit. The subtle essence can communicate with the primordial spirit, which is like the process of returning from three to two."

"Based on this, if a person cultivates their essence, energy, and spirit into innate true energy, innate primordial spirit, and innate primordial essence, then they can ultimately return to oneness."

"This 'one' may be the 'one that has vanished' that I told you about before. If you find it, you can escape into the void and shatter away."

Zhou Yi was slightly moved after hearing this.

What Lao Lu said makes a lot of sense.

The peak of the Dao Heart Demon Seed is the dual Wuji. In the Yellow Master World, a single Wuji cannot be broken unless Yin reaches its limit and Yang is born, and Yang reaches its limit and Yin is born, and finally Yin and Yang are in balance.

But Lao Xiang had the relic of the Evil Emperor. According to Lu Miaozi, he seemed to have used the relic to pile up his primordial essence to the innate level, which is why it shattered.

The Cihang Sword Manual cultivates the sword heart and the Dao embryo, and when the Dao embryo is perfected, it achieves the ultimate Yin and the limitless.

Wait for another moment of ultimate yang, then the two will combine and shatter together.

The extremes of yang and yin, in a sense, are also a return from two to one.

Zhou Yi glanced at Lu Miaozi, while Lu Miaozi watched him pacing back and forth.

After a long while, he sat down, picked up the wine jar, and poured fruit wine for Lu Miaozi.

"Will what I've said be of any use to you?"

"Yes, in the midst of the ethereal and indistinct, it gave me a greater sense of direction."

Lu Miaozi chuckled, then immediately cautioned, "That's all just my wild guesses over the years. Just don't let me lead you astray. Actually, you don't need to worry about it. After a few more years of practice, it will probably come naturally."

"I hope it is as you say, sir."

Zhou Yi smiled and drank with him, then they talked about Xiang Yutian's appearance.

Lu Miaozi thought he was just curious and told him everything.

Zhou Yi didn't find the answer, and then talked to Lao Lu about "the one who escaped". Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was noon.

Footsteps suddenly came from the gravel road.

Lu Miaozi was excited when he heard a woman outside softly call out, "Young Master Yi."

Zhou Yi responded and ran out the door, where he saw the beautiful owner of the farm standing gracefully beside several green bamboos, her phoenix eyes smiling, gesturing to him as if she were picking up some food.

Zhou Yi smiled knowingly.

At this moment, Lu Miaozi came out of the house and saw that the smile on her daughter's face disappeared instantly.

He was quite saddened; the smile wasn't meant for him.

“Owner, it’s been a long time since you’ve set foot in my cozy little place. Why don’t you come up and have a cup of fruit syrup with this old man?”

"I am not interested."

Her pretty face turned cold. She took two steps forward and pulled Zhou Yi along, walking faster and faster.

Zhou Yi turned around and gave Lao Lu a helpless look, then made a writing motion in the air.

Old Lu, a man of such composure, detachment, and elegance, seemed out of place standing at the door of the classically elegant wooden house, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

The waterfall across the cliff was so joyful, yet he was so desolate.

With a pair of dim old eyes, he watched the young man and woman gradually disappear into the distance. Even on tiptoe, he could no longer see their backs.

Those who commit evil deeds in their youth will indeed face misfortune in their later years.

Lu Miaozi returned to his room, laid out paper and ground ink. He paused for a long time, the ink dripping down his wolf-hair brush, but he still couldn't write the first character.

Over the years, their relationship has grown distant, and they address each other as "the owner" or "the old man."

Therefore, some things are difficult to even write down, let alone say out loud.

Thinking of Zhou Yi's words, the old man's expression hardened, and he rolled up his sleeves and began to write a long letter.

This is the final words of an irresponsible old father.
At noon, Zhou Yi had a big meal.

There is something I need to tell you.

"what's up?"

Zhou Yi said with a slightly heavy tone, "Mr. Lu... doesn't have much time left."

Shang Xiuxun had been expecting his words, but her expression changed slightly: "Isn't this old man perfectly fine?"

“He has a nearly 30-year-old injury that flared up prematurely due to the ranch incident. With his skill level, he can only suppress it for a maximum of 20 days, or perhaps even longer, before he passes away.”

Zhou Yi looked helpless:

“I have no confidence in healing his old injuries, and I dare not touch them. I can only wait until the injury flares up and try my best as a last resort.”

Shang Xiuxun snorted lightly: "He deserves it."

Her voice was cold as she turned her face away.

Zhou Yi couldn't see her expression either.
The sixth day of the Tianfan calendar.

Several fast horses descended straight down the eastern gorge of the pasture, heading towards Jingling County.

Before these people arrived in Jingling City, a letter was delivered to Duba Manor. After receiving the letter, Right Vanguard Ban Shanhe went straight to the inner courtyard of the manor.

Qian Yun learned from Master Fang's mistake and not only placed his 10,000-strong camp near the manor, but also surrounded it with black-clad archers.

If a skilled assassin attempts to kill, a thousand arrows will be unleashed immediately, turning the person into a pincushion.

He also ordered skilled engineers to build internal defenses.

They both laid traps and provided escape routes.

Today, Duba Mountain Villa is a den of dragons and tigers.

"General, there's a secret message!"

When Ban Shanhe arrived at the backyard, Qian Yun was flirting with a seductive woman. This woman was the concubine of Master Fang, and he was engaging in such illicit activities as keeping a concubine as his own.

Ban Shanhe had been following Qian Yun and was a trusted confidant who had recently been promoted.

This kind of flirting scene was nothing compared to what he had seen before; he had witnessed far more sensual and provocative encounters.

It's a pity that Qian Yun is such a reckless man, doing so many absurd things.

Where did the letter come from?

"Sent from the ranch!"

As Ban Shanhe delivered the letter, he subtly glanced at the disheveled concubine, but Qian Yun ignored him, continuing to read the letter as he spoke:

"I heard a major battle broke out at Pegasus Ranch. I wonder what the outcome was."

"I'm not sure about that."

Upon seeing the handwriting on Qian Yunchao's letter, he immediately felt a sense of familiarity.

It was sent by someone from Pushan Gong!
He had met several top fighters from Pushan Public Security Bureau and knew their skills.

He was excited and quickly opened the letter to read it.

First, look at the handwriting; it's indeed quite good.

A moment later, Ban Shanhe saw Qian Yun burst into wild laughter: "Hahaha, heaven is helping me!"

"General, what good news is it?"

Qian Yun didn't hide anything from him: "The ranch has been taken over by Pu Shan Gong, Feng Ge is finished! That old man is making trouble and trying to make a move against me. This time, let's see who has the last laugh."

Ban Shanhe couldn't believe it:
"General, how can Duke Pushan control the ranch?"

Qian Yun exclaimed, "With all his top fighters on the job, if they capture Shang Xiuxun, why would the ranch not submit?"

His face was sinister:
"Give the order to have our men cease all operations and not engage in a direct confrontation with Feng Ge. Wait a few days while I have a secret meeting with Military Advisor Xu. Feng Ge keeps saying he wants to uphold the alliance and that Pegasus Ranch is on my side. Doesn't he have any shame?"

"Once the two companies merge, I'll have plenty of opportunities to kill him."

"Just keep Xiao Xian's people hanging for now. Whether they're there or not is irrelevant."

Ban Shanhe wanted to remind him, but then he changed his mind.

There was absolutely no way that Pu Shan Gong's men would harm Qian Yun, after all, they had already promised that they would side with whoever helped them take Jingling City.

It seems that the King of Liang is still not as powerful as the Duke of Pushan.

Qian Yun's control of Jingling will also make him an ally of Duke Pushan, a win-win situation.
Furthermore, the mutual support between Pegasus Ranch and Jingling City will continue as before.

However, both houses have changed owners.

The tenth day of the Tianfan calendar.

Around 3 PM, Qian Yun, as scheduled, led Ban Shanhe and dozens of elite subordinates out of the manor through a secret passage.

In this way, the spies that Feng Ge placed outside would not only be unable to detect outsiders entering the manor, but also would not know that he had left the manor.

To his utter surprise, not long after he left home...

General Feng's camp is currently assembling troops.

About an hour later, Qian Yun secretly arrived at a teahouse near the west side of the city.

It was very quiet inside; the place had obviously been booked out.

"You all stay outside and keep watch."

"Yes!"

Qian Yun and Ban Shanhe entered together.

The guards outside were dressed as ordinary martial arts practitioners, cautiously observing their surroundings.

After General Qian entered, he did not hear any voices.

Suddenly, two strange "thump" sounds came from inside.

The guard looked down at the ground in confusion and was immediately speechless with fright.

Two human heads rolled out, one in front of the other.

A voice came from inside:
"Don't just stand outside, come in and sweep the floor."

……

(End of this chapter)