Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 161 The Swordsman of Emei
As the sun sets in the west, it grows darker with each passing moment.

When the two returned to Chengdu from Dashi Temple, it was already dawn.

The bustling sounds of the market never ceased, and lights lit up one after another, their soft yellow glow spreading gently. Looking towards the mountain city, it seemed as if a small cluster of stars had quietly emerged from the ground.

They entered the city, dodged a group of镖客 (bodyguards/escorts) and their carriages that hurriedly passed by, and just as they stepped onto the left side of the road, a food stall happened to be lit up.

It gives people a warm feeling of being illuminated by lights.

Leaving the ancient village of Bameng, having only drunk a few mouthfuls of spring water along the way, and feeling quite hungry, Zhou Yi found an empty table and sat down before even returning to the Sichuan gang.

Shi Qingxuan was more familiar with the place and ordered the food from the waiter.

There weren't many customers, but the food came quickly.

This is an old shop that specializes in preparing fresh seafood from the Jinjiang River, especially fish.

The rice was served in bamboo tubes, and the fish was on a plate; it was just a simple, homely meal, nothing extravagant. There were several crucian carp, about the length of chopsticks and less than the width of a palm. But their bodies were flat and white, making them a top-quality crucian carp.

The chef was quite skilled; the meat was tender and juicy, with a smooth texture.

Zhou Yi dipped the food in the soup and ate it with great relish.

Having lived in Sichuan for many years, Shi Qingxuan found the food uninteresting. She casually ate whatever was available and then began to examine a short flute she had brought from Dashi Temple, occasionally glancing at Zhou Yifei.

Once inside the city, it seemed as if one had blended into its tranquil atmosphere.

With her mind at peace, she asked about the things that had intrigued her over the past few days, one by one.

For example, the Yin-Yang Spiritual Medium, the Refining Spiritual Mind Network, and the origin of the story of the Ten Mile Madman searching for him to drink.

As Zhou Yi ate, he talked casually about things related to martial arts, and the story of Shili Kuang eventually led to Dapeng Residence.

After listening to the story, Shi Qingxuan was immersed in the past of the martial arts world, but what interested her more was not the friendship of the heroes in the wine country, but the white porcelain cup.

"I stayed at Qingzhu Xiaozhu for a while. I only knew that Longxinghe had good wines such as Pitong, Jiannan Shaochun, and Lizhi Lv, but I had never heard of drinking wine by the cup."

"Nothing special, just a little bit of fun."

Shi Qingxuan couldn't help but ask, "Then what kind of cup should we use to drink Pi Tong wine?"

"That's simple."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Give me the wine, and I'll tell you."

Zhou Yi glanced at the silent girl and then generously pulled out a fragment of the Changshumou Golden Shield.

"Sir, this young lady has already settled the bill."

Unfortunately, this piece of gold remained unspent.
After leaving the food stall, they went straight back to the Sichuan restaurant.

Upon arriving at the headquarters, Fan Zhuo, who had heard rumors, came forward to greet them and inquired about the Ba League.

After learning of the promises made by the four leaders of the Qiang, Yao, Miao, and Yi ethnic groups from Zhou Yi, Fan Zhuo felt much more at ease.

“I have known them for a long time and I know their character. Although these four are xenophobic, they are all people who keep their promises. With the support of our two families, no matter what attitude the three councils of Duzun Fort take, the Grand Commander will definitely not suffer losses in Shu County.”

Upon receiving the news from the Bayannur League, Fan Zhuo immediately pounded his chest with great force.

"The parliamentary schedule hasn't changed, has it?"

"No, there's still almost a month and a half left. Besides..."

Fan Zhuo quickly changed the subject and brought up another piece of news: "Just the day before yesterday, I received a message from Elder Zhou of the Coffin Palace."

"What did you say?"

He said he would come to the gang's headquarters a few days before the parliament.

Although he had confidence in Zhou Yi, Fan Zhuo's tone was still somewhat heavy.

After all, the stereotype of coffin palaces is too deeply ingrained.

Even Duzunbao, facing the Coffin Palace, could only cower and not come out, let alone anyone else.

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and said:
"Don't worry, Chief Fan. This is most likely just a test, and it's not aimed at you. The council of the three major powers in Bashu is in Duzun Fort. He chose this time, so Chief Jie should be nervous."

After speaking, Zhou Yi told him the inside story of Ba Meng and Da Shi Si:

"The Alliance Leader and the others have also heard my speculation that the person who attacked the Ba Alliance may be Tianjun Xi Ying. This person comes from the Extinction of Emotion Path, but the martial arts he displayed are quite different from what I have heard."

“He was the mortal enemy of the previous abbot of Dashi Temple, the Venerable Monk. I immediately went to Dashi Temple to investigate.”

"But the temple is full of Tuyuhun masters. There is one of them I have never met, but just by the sound of his wind, I know he is a formidable person."

Fan Zhuo's thick eyebrows furrowed deeply:
"I've heard of Prince Fuqian of Tuyuhun, a top expert among the younger generation. There are many first-rate experts in this tribe, but I've never heard of anyone who can command the attention of the Grand Commander. Could it be Xi Ying, that devil, who has cooperated with Tuyuhun?"

Zhou Yi did not respond directly:

"During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Murong Chui, the Northern Overlord Spear, cultivated to the limit of human strength. Murong Fuyun, the King of Tuyuhun, must have inherited his skills, which is why he was able to train so many elite soldiers. Otherwise, with the martial arts techniques of the Fuying Spear lineage, it would have been difficult to create so many masters."

After some thought, Fan Zhuo was more inclined to believe Zhou Yi's judgment:

"Shu County has never seen so many experts emerge. This time, the Duzun Fort Council is likely to be in big trouble."

Zhou Yi offered a word of comfort:
"In terms of manpower, no one can match the three of you in Shu County. As long as Chief Fan discusses and makes arrangements with Chief Feng in advance, no matter how big the chaos in the martial arts world is, those with ulterior motives will not be able to succeed in disrupting Bashu."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhou Yi brought up the matter of his plan to find Yuan Tiangang.

When they got back to their own place, they were about to rest.

Hou Xibai, whom he hadn't seen for several days, knocked on his window.

These days, he went to Duzun Fort and learned more about what was happening inside.

"Following the Venerable Emperor Heart, Master Daoxin has also come to Duzun Fortress, and soon Master Jiaxiang will also arrive here."

Seeing his anxious and disheartened expression, Zhou Yi immediately replied, "Shi Zhixuan is here?"

"Yes, Master Shi has appeared in Sichuan, but we don't know where he is."

Hou Xibai said meaningfully, "Brother Zhou, you must be careful when you're with Miss Shi. There's a high chance that Master Shi will come looking for you."

Seeing Zhou Yi lost in thought and not answering, he flicked his fan, glanced outside, and whispered, obscuring half his face:
“Master Shi’s feelings for his daughter are hard to fathom. In his eyes, you must be a dangerous person.”

"You're joking, how could I be in danger?"

Zhou Yi changed the subject: "What has Duzunbao been up to lately?"

"Jie Hui is gathering the people in Duzun Fort, and has even sent someone to invite Daoist Yuan Tiangang."

"Is the pressure really that great?"

"No, it should be to test Yuan Tiangang's attitude, because the steward sent out from Duzun Fort carried a very special letter."

Hou Xibai gently waved his folding fan: "This letter comes from Ning Sanren."

Zhou Yi's eyes were deep and thoughtful: "It seems he's not just some simple evil king."

"By the way, where is the Holy Maiden?"

"It's rare to see Miss Shi. She has been in Duzun Fort for a long time, but she spends most of her time practicing her skills behind closed doors."

Hou Xibai said jokingly, "I met the Holy Maiden once, but unfortunately, she didn't ask about Brother Zhou."

Zhou Yi revealed a look of 'disappointment and melancholy': "I have gone against the will of Cihang Jingzhai, so I suppose the Holy Maiden considers me an enemy."

"Do not be sad."

Hou Xibai patted his arm lightly: "Just like you said, love has always been a source of regret. There are countless beautiful scenes in the world. Appreciating them can make people happy. Why do we have to possess them?"

His carefree laugh revealed the unique romantic and unrestrained temperament of the Huajian School.

As the saying goes, "Passing through a sea of ​​flowers, not a single petal clings to you."

This is precisely the charming and elegant demeanor of a wealthy young man, exuding a refined and graceful air.

Just then, another clear voice rang out from outside:

"Hou Xibai, Hou Xibai~!"

Chief Fan's beautiful daughter quickly arrived, grabbed Hou Xibai's arm, and pulled him out.

"Brother Hou, love has always been a source of regret. Remember this well."

Fan Caiqi turned around and glared at him, looking quite blaming, and said in a coquettish voice, "Grand Commander, what kind of talk is that?"

Hou Xibai originally wanted to stay and chat with Zhou Yi for a while longer.

But it still couldn't resist the enthusiasm of the girls from Sichuan and Chongqing.

Zhou Yi stood at the door and saw a girl in blue by the window not far away. He walked closer and saw her looking at the sheet music.

She was so engrossed in her conversation that Zhou Yi didn't bring up any idle chatter.
"Shi Zhixuan has made an appearance in Sichuan and Chongqing. Do you still want to come to Meishan County with me?"

Upon hearing the name Shi Zhixuan, Shi Qingxuan frowned slightly. When she looked up at Zhou Yi, her gaze lingered on his face for a few moments.

"Do you dare to come with me?"

Zhou Yi, without looking to the side, asked: "What is there to be afraid of?"

Shi Qingxuan's worries vanished: "Alright, then I'll go with you. I also wanted to pay my respects to Master Yuan."

Zhou Yi only rested for one day after returning to the Sichuan Gang headquarters. He had things on his mind and could not muster the desire to tour Chengdu.

He then sought out his fellow Daoist Yuan Tiangang and headed towards Meishan County.

Head southwest out of the city towards Shuangliu; the terrain here is flat.

After crossing Xinjindu, you enter the Minjiang River basin, where waterways and land routes intersect.

Upon reaching Guwuyang and Qingshen, the scenery changes considerably, with more farmland and low hills appearing on both sides of the gentle roads.

As we approach the Emei Mountain area, the mountain road becomes increasingly steep.

Fortunately, the two were highly skilled in light-footed techniques, easily stepping on branches and grass, and were not afraid of the bears, tigers, and wild beasts on the mountain, climbing it at will.

On the fifth day, they bought some dry food in a market town at the foot of the mountain, and then followed the directions of several woodcutters carrying firewood to find a shortcut.

There are many thorns along the way, and occasionally the grass grows up to waist-high.

This wasn't really an obstacle; it was just that a sudden downpour forced them to a dilapidated cliffside.

This small site is built on a steep cliff and supported by piled timbers. From a distance, it looks breathtaking and is almost comparable to the plank bridges on the ancient Shu Road.

There was only a narrow and steep rock path on all sides, which no one without courage would dare to climb.

The two went up into the temple, where the rain intensified.

The surrounding green bamboo and trees were hit with a loud thud.

Unexpectedly, the dilapidated temple was filled with a lot of firewood, and there was no shortage of daily necessities. There was also a puddle of ashes on the ground, which had been left not long ago.

"Let's wait until the rain stops before we leave."

"Yes, this place is not far from Master Yuan's residence. It will only take a day or two to get there."

Shi Qingxuan avoided a leaky roof and stood at the entrance of the Taoist temple, looking out. Seeing the rain falling in fine lines, she knew that the rain wouldn't stop anytime soon.

Looking back, Zhou Yi was gathering firewood to start a fire next to the original bonfire.

She went over to help and quickly got the fire going.

Shi Qingxuan's clothes were a little wet, and the white skin clinging to her skin revealed a glimpse of the beautiful scenery. She leaned closer to the fire to dry her clothes.

His gaze would occasionally drift to the young man beside him.

After lighting the fire, he suddenly closed his eyes and sat in meditation, oblivious to everything around him, as if he had become one with the Taoist temple.

At first, Shi Qingxuan thought he was being gentlemanly and doing it on purpose.

Gradually, it became clear that he was getting into a state of focus during his practice.

His movements remained unchanged until nightfall.

The rain gradually subsided, eventually becoming as fine as cow's hair. Zhou Yi heard some noises but paid them no heed.

During his time in BAM, he studied mental networks for a long time.

They gained a profound understanding of refining the spirit within the orifices and the harmony of the primordial spirit and vital energy.

After heading south from Chengdu, I observed the mountains and rivers along the way, and then this mountain rain came, which inspired me and brought a sense of tranquility to my heart.

After a crisp "crack" sound came from the fire.

Zhou Yi opened his eyes from his meditation. His clothes were already dry, but he saw Shi Qingxuan still warming herself by the fire.

Beside her were dry rations and many fresh, bright red raspberries.

"Where did you pick this?"

"There are many more along the stream to the left of the Taoist temple."

Zhou Yi ate a few; they were sweet and sour.

Shi Qingxuan stared at him intently: "I see that you are free from all worries and have entered a meditative state, which is a rare state of practice. Do you want to stay here? The matter in Chengdu is not urgent and can be resolved in a few days. The search for the Sichuan gang at the coffin palace is also a matter for a month."

Zhou Yi already had this idea, but she brought it up first.

So he said earnestly, "This place is quite a distance from the market town, and I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for you."

"This is not much different from my time at the secluded forest cottage, except that there is someone else with me."

The girl smiled, pursing her lips, and added:
"That's not right either. You don't say a word when you practice, so I can treat you like a wooden stake. I'll still be all alone, enjoying the spring scenery on Mount Emei for a few days. There's nothing inconvenient about it."

Zhou Yi picked a rotten fruit and casually remarked, "Actually, there are differences."

"For example, you might be forced to go to Chengdu if you are in Youlin Xiaozhu, but you won't be here."

Shi Qingxuan smiled slightly and didn't respond to him.

After finishing his wild fruit and dried food, Zhou Yi began meditating again.

The Taoist temple was small; apart from the small hall at the entrance, there was only one simple room, barely enough to stay in.

Fortunately, martial arts practitioners possess internal energy to protect them, so enduring wind and rain, or working under the stars and moon, is nothing to them.

However, no matter how composed Shi Qingxuan was, she couldn't help but feel a little strange inside.

As for the man outside, she wasn't worried that he would break down the door. However, at this moment, the man and woman were alone, and no matter what they said, it was ultimately completely different from the small valley where she had lived before.

That night, for the first time, she couldn't calm down and went to sleep with chaotic thoughts.

In her dream, she saw two people fighting fiercely: one was an ethereal young man in white robes, and the other was a charming middle-aged scholar.

The two fought fiercely on the high cliff, and finally fell off the cliff together.

Shi Qingxuan was startled awake. When she opened her eyes, it was already dawn.

She enjoyed a very comfortable time in the mountains for the next few days.

They would pick raspberries along the stream, occasionally hunt some wild game, or cut down a few water bamboos to make bamboo flutes. Most of the time, they would watch the young man in white practice his skills.

Zhou Yi gradually transitioned from a meditation posture to sword practice.

If it were an ordinary martial artist practicing, no matter how advanced the skill was, Shi Qingxuan would not maintain her interest in it.

Zhou Yi's lightness skill was exceptional; he practiced swordsmanship while treading on air on the cliff, seemingly floating among the branches, creating an artistic effect. Furthermore, his swordsmanship was so light that often the weapon was invisible, only the sound of its clang could be heard.

The sound echoed through the valley, harmonizing with the rushing stream, like a natural and lighthearted tune from Mount Emei, like a flowing mountain stream.

She was relaxed and absorbed in it.

But one day, an accident almost occurred.

She followed the stream and found a clear stone pool above the Taoist temple. At first, she only soaked her feet in the pool, but one day when the sun was shining brightly, she took off her clothes and bathed in the pool.

Little did they expect that Zhou Yi, completely unaware, used his light-footed skills to climb the cliff and was about to get close.

In his haste, he had no choice but to make a sound to startle him away.

As the last full moon of spring sets behind Mount Emei, the sword energy within the mountain subsides and is sheathed.

The two left the dilapidated Taoist temple and continued southwest.

Another day later.

Zhou Yi stood on a high peak and gazed into the distance.

The undulating mountain ranges were shrouded in ever-changing clouds and mist, sometimes revealing their ruggedness, and sometimes disappearing into a vast expanse of blue and white.

Shi Qingxuan's gaze was directed downwards.

Houses, villages, and market towns are just nearby.

She pointed downwards: "We'll arrive when we go down the mountain."

"Well, let's go."

Zhou Yi felt delighted, and his words carried a more generous tone.

Shi Qingxuan also noticed this and smiled, "Grand Commander, you seem to be in high spirits. It seems your swordsmanship has improved."

"Not bad, you've made some progress."

He practiced swordsmanship on Mount Emei, and at this moment he was like one of those mythical Emei swordsmen, who had descended the mountain after achieving their mastery and returned to the mortal world. Seeing an ordinary city and its people, he could find joy in his heart. Such a good state of mind is truly rare.

The mountain path down the mountain was extremely steep.

Some time ago, a landslide occurred here, shaking rocks down. After a heavy rain, the rock face became as smooth as a mirror.

The path they found to descend the mountain on the spot was one that only those with exceptional lightness skills would dare to take.

After descending the steep cliff, a wide road came into view, and passersby couldn't help but cast their gazes at them.

The locals knew the way well and just glanced at them.

Seeing how composed they were as they descended the mountain through dangerous paths, he knew they were no ordinary people.

Ahead lies Hongdu Market, and there is a row of tea stalls before entering the market.

Zhou Yi and Shi Qingxuan walked onto the main road and headed straight for the teahouse. Many martial arts practitioners inside glanced at them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

The tea stall was quite simple, with a few bamboo poles supporting the roof and drafty walls, relying only on a few straw mats to keep out the wind and rain.

On the muddy ground, a small three-legged clay stove glowed red with charcoal, and a large rough pottery pot on the stove gurgled and puffed out white steam, making the bitter tea aroma that filled the shed even stronger.

Something seemed off in the teahouse. Zhou Yi glanced inside.

Five people were sitting at the tea table in the center: four burly men and an elderly man with a thick beard.

The four men were panting heavily, their backs hunched, while the old man stood tall and straight like a pine tree, though his right arm bore a wound, and blood soaked through his blue robe.

He could hear that his breathing was long and deep, with each breath accompanied by a slight, rhythmic throbbing in his temples.

It is evident that he is a master who has honed his internal skills for many years.

However, the five people, including the old man, were on high alert.

At the table next to them, four people with their eyes lowered, silently and intently wiped the tips of long spears with a plain white cotton cloth.

These four people happened to block their retreat.

Some guests sensed something was amiss and moved away from the teahouse to watch the performance.

“Look at the jade pendant on that old man’s waist; they are from Duzun Fort.”

Shi Qingxuan gathers sound into a line.

Zhou Yi found an empty table near the outside and glanced at the jade pendant as he sat down.

He wasn't as knowledgeable about the area as Shi Qingxuan, and didn't recognize the sign for Duzunbao.

"Hey buddy, bring me a pot of good tea."

“Yes, yes,” the tea stall waiter stammered, “Young master, please…please wait a moment.”

He hesitated whether to pick up the teapot next to the man with the gun.

Suddenly, dust billowed up on the main road.

The group from Duzunbao's eyes lit up, hoping that this was one of their own helpers.

"Xilulu——!"

A sudden, rapid, and arrogant neighing of horses shattered the silence of the teahouse, followed by a cacophony of heavy hoofbeats, like a sudden downpour approaching from afar, pounding heavily on the ground.

There were a few bold tea drinkers inside the shed, but now they were like frightened rabbits, hurriedly dropping a few copper coins and scurrying away with their necks hunched over.

The waiter dared not take any more tea and hid to the side.

Aside from the two opposing groups, only Zhou Yi and Shi Qingxuan were watching the show up nearby.

However, the people in the other tea stalls did not leave.

Even some passersby were pointing and whispering from a distance.

People in the martial arts world love to watch a good show, so how could they miss such a spectacle?

Hahaha~!

The sound of horses' hooves was followed by loud laughter, and a dozen burly men stormed in like a whirlwind, bringing with them a strong smell of blood and alcohol.

The leader was as tall and imposing as an iron tower, with a full beard that was as thick as needles, and a dark red scar that ran diagonally across his left cheek to his chin.

Many people recognized him as Lei Biao, the infamous leader of Black Wind Stronghold, also known as "Blood-Faced Fiend" from Qionglai Mountain.

He also held a long spear in his hand.

“Zheng Zong, you old thief, you harmed many of my brothers last time. It’s one thing to hide in Duzun Fort and eke out a living, but you dare to come out and die.”

Chief Lei Biao was very pleased with himself.

The old man from Duzun Fort sneered, "A defeated dog that only knows how to hide in the high plateau and snow-capped mountains dares to swagger around?"

The four men who had been wiping their guns and remaining silent then spoke:
"Don't say anything more, just kill them."

His broken Mandarin instantly reminded Zhou Yi of the Tuyuhun people.

As soon as the sound fell, the people around immediately took action.

With such a pincer movement, the elderly man surnamed Zheng wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

The moment the two sides clashed.

Of the five men from Duzunbao, three were wounded. When Lei Biao thrust his spear fiercely, the old man surnamed Zheng, in order to save his companion, blocked the blow before he could recover his strength. He was immediately thrown backward by the force, crashing through three wooden tables before falling to the ground.

He quickly got up, and Lei Biao's spear came at him again.

It was a sure-fire situation, but unexpectedly Lei Biao suddenly put away his gun and went back to defend.

Although the elderly man surnamed Zheng was injured, his eyesight was still good. He glanced to the side and saw the young man in white beside him making a slight movement. He knew that Lei Biao was a fierce and cunning person, and he had put away his gun for fear of being attacked by him.

Taking advantage of this opening, the other four men from Duzunbao, despite their injuries, approached.

Old Zheng gathered his next breath of true energy.

However, it was only a temporary survival.

Lei Biao's gaze swept over the young couple, and he grinned menacingly.

"Boy, you dare to meddle in my business? You're going to die today too, but I'll take this pretty lady back to the stronghold with me."

He tested the waters with words, and it worked.

The pretty young woman looked at the young man, and for the first time, the young man looked at her.

In that instant, Lei Biao saw a pair of extremely calm eyes.

But beneath that calm lies a chilling cold that freezes everything, enough to make even the fiercest beast feel a chill from the depths of its bones.

This brought his arrogant laughter to an abrupt halt, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.

The muscles in his face twitched involuntarily, making the scar appear even more glaringly red. A raw, instinctive, extreme alertness to danger suddenly gripped him.

However, the murderous aura and ingrained ferocity of his companions quickly overwhelmed that sense of alarm.

"What are you looking at! You're asking for it!"

Enraged, Lei Biao suddenly thrust his spear forward. With a flash of light and a piercing whistling sound, he slashed down fiercely at Zhou Yi's head!

The force of the spear strike was so powerful that it seemed to cleave the person and the table in two!
Just as the tip of the spear was less than half a foot from his head—

Zhou Yi made a move.

There was no earth-shattering fanfare; the actions even seemed somewhat understated.

He remained seated on the creaking bench, but his left hand, which held the scabbard, casually rose upwards, the movement so swift that it left only a blurry white afterimage.

"clang!"

A deafening clang of metal suddenly rang out!

A faint halo rippled across the scabbard, completely neutralizing the force of the spear strike.

Lei Biao was astonished, but at the same time he put all his strength into his arms, his muscles bulging, and the gun bent repeatedly due to the enormous force, emitting a low hum.

However, the hand holding the sword sheath remained as steady as a mountain, completely still.

A ripple of true energy spread across the scabbard, and an overwhelming force of shock traveled through the spear, making Lei Biao's hands go numb and his blood surge in his chest.

"He's one of Zheng the old scoundrels! Let's charge at him and chop him up!"

Lei Biao's eyes were bloodshot as he roared wildly.

The surrounding thugs seemed to awaken from a dream, roaring and brandishing their weapons. The flashing blades and shadows formed a deadly net, rushing towards Zhou Yi from all directions.

The sounds of wind breaking and howling mingled together.

All sorts of powerful energy were almost upon Zhou Yi.

At this critical moment,
For the first time, Zhou Yi's right hand, which had been resting on the tea table, grasped the hilt of a sword.

"Zheng——!"

A sword rang out, its sound carrying the force of piercing clouds and splitting rocks, echoing throughout the surrounding area.

A fiery red light suddenly burst forth from the sword sheath, and in that instant, the sword energy, which had been separated from its spirit, was restored.

With the integration of a substantial spirit, the primordial energy and the primordial spirit merged, achieving an unprecedented state of sword energy flowing in unison.

The Kan Water Sword Qi and the Li Fire Sword Qi, under this great power of combining and separating, achieve the perfect Kan-Li state.

Ordinary sword energy is mostly colorless, but Louguan's Li Fire Sword Energy turns the Kan Li Sword Qi into a fiery flying goose.

Zhou Yi slashed down with his sword, and the sword light burst forth, its radiance flowing and seemingly absorbing all the dim light in the teahouse, leaving only these dancing, fiery-colored fireflies.

The air temperature rose sharply, and all the stoves inside the shed blazed brightly.

Lei Biao, the notorious bandit from Qionglai Mountain, froze completely, his face contorted with boundless horror and despair.

His frantically retreating figure appeared as tiny as an insect in the reflection of the fiery sword light!

The sword energy was much faster than him, instantly piercing through his protective true energy and body.

His burly body stiffened abruptly, as if all his life force had been drained away, and the light in his eyes vanished instantly.

"Ah~~!"

Screams rose and fell, only to be cut off in an instant.

Both sword energy and sword aura can be neutralized by unleashing true energy, but compared to the continuity of sword energy, sword aura is direct, fierce, and dense, and the difference in strength is determined in just an instant.

Either the person dies, or the sword energy is shattered.

It's a pity
Including those four fierce-looking men cleaning their guns, their actual strength was far inferior to Zhou Yi's.

As a result, all kinds of palm winds and spear winds were penetrated.

Furthermore, the tea stall was densely packed with people, and the fiery sword energy of those swords covered all the remaining fifteen thugs.

"Clang clang~!"

The sound of weapons falling followed one after another, and then corpses fell in all directions.

The fiery light inside the teahouse vanished in the blink of an eye, as if it had never existed.

The long sword in Zhou Yi's hand had been quietly sheathed at some point.

The sword hilt was warm to the touch and slightly cool to the touch, as if the earth-shattering battle just now was merely a hazy dream to onlookers.

The onlookers around the tea stall were dumbfounded.

Zheng Zong, the steward of Duzun Fort, and four guards from the fort all stood still, not daring to move, their eyes fixed on the corpses scattered on the ground.

They had been in Duzun Fort for so long, and had never seen such terrifying swordsmanship!
The spring breeze seemed to dare to flow again at this moment, swirling up the broken grass on the ground and passing over the corpses that were still bleeding.

The heavy stench of blood hung heavy inside and outside the teahouse, while the thatched roof rustled softly in the wind, further emphasizing the deathly silence.

"Hey buddy, bring me a pot of good tea."

A calm voice broke the deathly silence.

The tea shop owner kicked the waiter in the backside, and the waiter rolled out from under a tea table.

"Yes, yes!" the waiter hurriedly replied, "Great hero, your tea is here."

He was terrified. When he reached for the teapot on the stove, he tripped over his own leg and fell flat on his face with a cry of pain.

Those who were dumbfounded outside burst into laughter upon seeing this.

Butler Zheng from Duzun Fort was even faster. He rushed out, picked up the teapot, and poured a bowl of tea for Zhou Yi and Shi Qingxuan respectively.

The tea was piping hot, steaming hot.

But as everyone could see, the young man in white seemed completely unfazed by the heat, and drank directly from the bowl.

Some people realized that he had come down from Mount Emei.

It is said that there is a hidden master on Mount Emei, whose martial arts are unparalleled and who is a first-rate sword immortal.

That swordsmanship he just displayed was something that no one had ever heard of before.

Then he was seen drinking boiling water in large gulps. Perhaps he had an iron throat and a silver stomach, and was also equipped with a golden intestine. For such an extraordinary person, this was quite common.

After Zhou Yi finished drinking, he reached out and touched Shi Qingxuan's teacup.

The young girl was surprised and drank the tea again.

The stench of blood was too strong in the air, so I took a sip of hot tea and left.

"I am Zheng Zong, the steward of Duzun Fort. Thank you for saving my life!"

"No need."

Zhou Yi casually said, "Go pay for the tea."

Two bowls of tea are not worth five lives. Zheng Zong wanted to say more, but the man and woman in front of him had already walked out of the tea stall, obviously not taking the kindness of Duzun Fort seriously.

"Yes."

He had no choice but to comply and toss some loose silver coins onto the table.

As soon as Zhou Yi left, the onlookers swarmed forward to examine the corpses of the notorious bandits from Qionglai Mountain.

"The chieftain, second chieftain, and third chieftain of Black Wind Stronghold are all dead here!"

"What kind of sword technique is this, that it's so domineering?!"

"With so many people, including many top-tier experts, even if Lei Biao were to die from a direct sword strike, it shouldn't have been difficult for the others to block the scattered sword energy. How could they all have perished in the blink of an eye?"

A swordsman from Fuling, holding his sword, said:

"Just now, when he drew his sword, the sword energy turned into streaks of fire rainbows. I was close to the tea stall, and I felt sweating all over. This is no ordinary sword energy. He must be a sword immortal from Mount Emei."

An old man from the Sichuan and Chongqing martial arts world laughed heartily:
"Everyone says that the greatest swordsman in the world is Fu Cailin, the master of Yi Jian, but I don't think that's entirely true. It's just that Fu Cailin never set foot in Sichuan."

Some people looked doubtful:
"Judging from his attire and appearance, he looks very much like the Jianghuai Grand Commander who has recently arrived in Chengdu."

"No way, isn't Grand Commander Zhou in the Sichuan clique?"

A seasoned martial arts expert chuckled, “It’s most likely Grand Commander Zhou. I’ve long heard that the Grand Commander is dashing and romantic. A few days ago in Ba Meng, I heard that he had a beautiful woman by his side. Now that I see him, it’s a perfect match.”

"Two years ago outside Qingliu City, the Demonic Sect Master Zuo Youxian was defeated with a single sword strike. At that time, many people in Bashu did not believe it. Now that they have witnessed the Grand Commander's swordsmanship, I'm afraid no one will dare to question it anymore."

"..."

The commotion near the tea stall brought the group from Duzunbao to their senses.

Butler Zheng slapped his thigh, thinking to himself that he had felt a sense of familiarity earlier, and now he finally understood.

The Grand Commander is here; he must be looking for Yuan Tiangang.

"Let's go, let's catch up."

After quickly treating their injuries, the group from Duzunbao rushed out of the crowd and chased after Zhou Yi in the direction he had left.
"What kind of swordsmanship was that just now?"

On the way to Hongdu Market, Shi Qingxuan looked at the person beside her with curiosity.

"It's the sword energy of the Louguan Sect flowing together. You should know about the true teachings of the Dao Ancestor, right? Their founder, the Long-Browed Old Daoist, was only at this level."

"Amazing," she genuinely praised.

"Actually, I feel it's not enough; I was too slow when I drew my sword just now."

"Why?"

"If I could turn back time, I wouldn't give them the chance to enter the teahouse."

"Then why?"

Zhou Yi said leisurely, "In this way, the thief will not have a chance to speak, and Miss Shi will not hear those unpleasant and foul words."

"Yes, there are plenty of people like that in the martial world. Why bother getting angry with them? Grand Commander, there's no need to comfort me for this."

The girl's voice was clear and melodious, sounding as if she didn't care at all, but when she turned her face slightly, a smile involuntarily appeared in her bright, jewel-like eyes beneath her hair, which was being tousled by the spring breeze.
……

(End of this chapter)