Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 210 Love in the Eastern Capital, Chang'an Reunited

People near Baima Ferry were filled with excitement, gazing intently into the distance.

Until that boat disappeared from sight.

Sometime later, the melodious singing also disappeared.

"Little sister, is that the benefactor you mentioned earlier?"

On the way back to Yan and Zhao, the eldest brother of the Shen family could not suppress his surprise as he spoke, even though he was usually calm.

"Yes, this is our benefactor."

Shen Qiaolan still looked dazed. When she replied, she was already standing in front of a shop several miles away from the ferry crossing, and couldn't help but look back one last time.

Her emotions were fluctuating greatly, and she didn't think too much about it.

The second brother of the Shen family noticed his elder brother's unusual behavior: "Little sister, this benefactor of yours is really good at martial arts. Elder brother, you have traveled all over the country and have a lot of experience. Do you know his style and background?"

Then, with a serious expression, he said:

"Although my family is not a large or prestigious clan, we still understand the principle of gratitude."

The eldest brother of the Shen family shook his head to himself:
"If it were an ordinary person in the martial arts world, they would always find a reason to repay the favor, but this benefactor's background is too unusual, so much so that I did not dare to speak up just now."

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, it would be hard to believe that my little sister was saved by him. However, the rumors in the martial arts world say that he hates evil as if it were his enemy, and it seems that he is absolutely right."

"oh?!"

The young man was startled by what he heard, having never seen his elder brother with such an expression.

The most famous figure in the Yan and Zhao region was naturally Dou Jiande, the King of Xia. When my elder brother met Dou Jiande by chance, he was neither humble nor arrogant, unlike his current state of being lost and disoriented.

Who is more admirable than the King of Xia?

Upon realizing this, and recalling recent rumors, the young man belatedly stared wide-eyed and exclaimed in surprise:

"Could it be... could that person just now actually be a Taoist Celestial Master?!"

The middle-aged man nodded: "It's him."

"Looking across the world, who else but the Celestial Master could ignore the turbulent waves of the Yellow River and ride the wind against the current? Last year, at the end of the year, I heard that the great river in Xunyang was frozen over, and wherever the Celestial Master was, it became a snow country. This is an extraordinary martial arts realm that is hard to fathom."

"Just like that one action I just took, I think back on it carefully, and there's not a single thing I can see through."

"They are all martial artists, but they cannot be compared."

He was astonished, and ignoring his stunned second brother, he said to Shen Qiaolan:
"Little sister, although this result was unexpected, at least you know who your benefactor is, which puts your mind at ease."

Shen Qiaolan hummed in agreement.

The second brother of the Shen family came to his senses and fully understood the meaning of his eldest brother's words:

"I heard that Kong Deshao has once again presented the Xuan Gui presented by the people of Zongcheng to King Xia. A notice has been posted in Leshou City, and King Xia also supports the Celestial Master. It seems that it won't be long before the Nine Provinces are unified."

The eldest brother of the Shen family nodded in agreement.

When Dou Jiande obtained the first piece of Xuan Gui (a type of jade tablet), Kong Deshao advised, "In ancient times, Yu the Great of Xia received a divine mandate, and Heaven bestowed upon him this Xuan Gui. Now, this auspicious omen is the same as that of Yu the Great, and we should call it the Xia Kingdom." This is how the Xia Kingdom of Yan and Zhao came to be.

I heard that this second piece of Xuan Gui is engraved with the characters "Zhou Tang".

This 34th-generation descendant of Confucius further stated: "Tang refers to Emperor Yao, a wise ruler of ancient times, while Zhou refers to the Heavenly Teacher, the teacher of the world. This signifies both the sagacity and benevolence of the Ming emperors and their role as teachers in educating the people. This is an auspicious omen. The Xia dynasty began with Emperor Yao, and now the Zhou dynasty is repeating the cycle. We should submit to the Zhou and Tang dynasties."

Upon hearing Kong Deshao's words, Dou Jiande laughed heartily and agreed.

So the notice was posted in Leshou.

The return of the Yan and Zhao kingdoms to the Zhou and Tang dynasties can be considered a matter of destiny.

They came from Yan and Zhao, so naturally they were well aware of this information.

After the second brother of the Shen family finished speaking, he made a suggestion to his younger sister:
"We can hardly repay this kindness, so let's go home and set up incense to worship him."

After he finished speaking, he saw his younger sister nod.

The three of them headed towards Yan and Zhao with mixed feelings.
……

Zhou Yi was traveling west from Dongjun when he happened to pass through Dongdu.

When he arrived at Ziwei Palace, Dugu Feng had gathered many skilled craftsmen who were busy near Daye Hall, mainly repairing various flaws in the hall.

Since the imperial edict of the Eastern Capital was promulgated, the Ziwei Palace has been uninhabited.

Yang Tong went from being the Emperor of Huangtai to becoming the King of Yue, and he reopened his royal palace.

There was no major construction in the Ziwei Palace, but the old things were replaced with new ones in preparation for the new emperor.

Zhou Yi's sudden arrival at Ziwei Palace naturally caused a sensation.

He didn't chat with Dugu Feng for long, glanced at the renovated palaces, and went directly to Guangshen's library.

This place is larger than Maple Forest Palace.

Not only are there more books, but there is also a huge alchemical furnace downstairs, obviously for refining elixirs of immortality.

The shape of that alchemy furnace was very similar to the alchemy furnace of Laozi in Zhou Yi's memory.

In a certain world, this alchemy furnace eventually fell into the hands of Erfeng, and a Taoist priest refined elixirs for him in exchange for a grand dream.

Thinking of Erfeng now, the strange difference made Zhou Yi chuckle mischievously.

"His Majesty."

Fan Yibai and Qiu Hui heard footsteps coming from downstairs and hurried over.

The situation is already settled, and they're getting more and more comfortable shouting it out.

The two had been in Dongdu for some time, but their excitement remained.

In a sense, they were among the first to be dispatched to travel between Jiangdu and Dongdu on official business. Although they were just librarians, it was still a matter of receiving imperial orders, personally arranged by the emperor, which they considered a great honor.

Even an ordinary officer who works diligently in the Imperial Treasury his whole life would never have such an opportunity.

"Has the list of those lost books been compiled?"

Fan Fuqing said, "A total of 107 volumes were lost, totaling 980 chapters. We have all the records of these catalogs, and we have checked them carefully several times. Not a single volume is missing."

Qiu Shaoqing offered a brief explanation:
"Emperor Sui of the Sui Dynasty longed to refine elixirs of immortality, which is why many alchemists left behind their knowledge. For example, there was Xianmenzi from the Warring States period and Xu Fu from Qin. It is said that some alchemists collected secrets from Yingzhou, recording the secrets of immortality found in the three immortal mountains of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou."

These things are mysterious and esoteric; most of them are just sorcerers using a name to fool people.

However, some of their classic works are worth watching.

Speaking of the collection in the library, the two had worked hard, and reciting these volumes by heart was not difficult for them.

But Qiu Shaoqing quickly stopped making noise.

Because another set of footsteps came lightly down from the top floor of the library.

The two men knew who it was and, not wanting to linger, quickly took their leave.

They strode off without looking back.

They had already met one in Jiangdu, but for some reason, the one in Dongdu brought them even more pressure.

Zhou Yi didn't wait for anyone to come down; he ran over with a smile and stopped the people coming down the wooden ladder halfway down.

At the corner where the stairs connect to the second floor, a girl in a black dress saw him, and a warm smile immediately spread across her exquisitely beautiful face.

"Little Celestial Master Zhou, where have you been lingering again?"

Little Phoenix still had a book in his hand, and then he winked at him from the railing.

The next moment, her feet lost their footing.

Zhou Yi had already lifted the person up in his arms.

"I went to Xingyang, and then took a trip to Weijun."

Zhou Yi briefly explained the situation: "Dou Jiande has already sent a letter, so it won't be long before I don't have to travel around anymore."

"I originally planned to settle things in Chang'an as soon as possible before returning to Luoyang to find you, so I could stay there for a long time."

"But whenever I think of Xiao Feng, I can't help but come to Dongdu."

Dugu Feng laughed repeatedly.

Then she tilted her head up and kissed him, saying tenderly, "Zhou Lang, I miss you too."

"I started asking about you just two days after you left."

Zhou Yi was moved when he suddenly felt a small hand pinch his waist. When he looked at her again, Dugu Feng gave him a look that said, "You'll understand."

"Xiao Feng, don't do it."

"Aren't you going to tell me about the beauty owner and Qingxuan?"

Dugu Feng glanced at him for a moment, then looked away, her face puffed out with a hint of reproach and a smile, looking both angry and incredibly cute.

She added:
"Once the land is at peace, people will surely talk about the romantic escapades of the Zhou emperor of the Tang Dynasty, which will be quite fascinating."

Zhou Yi then said, "Then let people spread more about Xiao Feng and me, so that everyone knows that we are deeply in love and affectionate. There's nothing wrong with that."

Dugu Feng glanced at him sideways, her smile deepening, and surprisingly did not object.

"Don't change the subject."

"They don't have much to say. I just drink with them. If you want to join, we can drink together."

Dugu Feng gave him a hard punch.

Zhou Yi held her tighter, so Dugu Feng had nowhere to throw punches.

"Come on, I have a surprise for you."

"What surprise?"

Zhou Yi didn't respond. He led her to the top floor of the bookstore. He had been here once before; it was a quiet place for reading.

It was simply rearranged.

The furnishings around him were all to his liking, which shows that Dugu Feng had personally arranged them.

Seeing Zhou Yi's satisfied expression, Dugu Feng smiled.

Because I was waiting for the surprise he mentioned, I didn't mention the calligraphy, paintings, and books placed around me.

The faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the room. Zhou Yi sat on the soft couch where she had been reading, placed the book in her hands on the table, and then picked up a short flute.

"it is this?"

Dugu Feng pointed to the bamboo flute. Although she didn't mind the gift from Zhou Yi, she wasn't proficient in playing the zither, flute, or se.

"No."

Zhou Yi didn't say much, picked up the bamboo flute and began to play. The tune was an old Qingyue melody, "Mulberry by the Roadside," which was preserved by the Sui court.

He wasn't skilled, so he didn't have much technique, only emotion.

Although the music sounded unfamiliar, Little Phoenix liked it very much and listened quietly in his arms, occasionally glancing at his serious expression.

After the "White-Haired Lament" and "Crow's Night Cry" were played in succession, Dugu Feng asked curiously:

When did you start learning?

"I used to have trouble pronouncing the notes accurately, and it's only recently that I've been able to play a complete piece. This is a hundred times harder than practicing."

"You taught yourself?"

Zhou Yi looked down and met that gentle gaze. He knew Xiao Feng would believe whatever he said.

"Yes, Qingxuan taught me."

Dugu Feng said irritably, "Although I like it, this isn't exactly a surprise."

"You're the first person to hear this."

"That doesn't count."

"Really not?"

"Ah."

After Dugu Feng finished speaking, she noticed that Zhou Yi was silent, but staring intently at her.

She immediately conceded: "If you say so, then so be it. They were just joking with you, so don't stare at me like that."

"Xiao Feng, watch carefully."

Dugu Feng remained silent and moved his restless hand away.

Zhou Yi whispered in her ear, "Shall we do the same thing as last time?"

The little phoenix blushed instantly, glancing at him with a mixture of embarrassment and pity. Her beauty was undeniably striking. She punched him hard again, her eyes narrowing slightly as she said:
"Not here."

Her words ended there, and the two breaths quickly merged together.

The sandalwood incense burned quietly inside the room.
There was no wind, yet the wisps of smoke, carrying a hint of fruit and wood fragrance, swayed constantly, like ripples stirred up by reeds protruding into a calm lake.

The sandalwood continued to burn until it turned into a pinch of ash.

In the end, it fell into the incense burner.

After a long while, Dugu Feng was still lying in Zhou Yi's arms as before, only her breathing was disordered and there was a heat in her breath.

She tilted her rouge-stained face up and bit him hard.

"You're bad."

Zhou Yi put his arm around her and said gently, "Xiao Feng is so cute, she will definitely have a cute daughter."

Dugu Feng looked at him with boundless tenderness: "Maybe he's a kid who likes to deceive people, just like you."

"Then let's try harder."

She smiled sweetly, but quickly, sensing the disturbance, her expression turned pitiful, and she said in a trembling voice, "Don't be like Zhou Lang, I've already given up."

Zhou Yi felt a little smug when he saw the pleading expression on that face.

The two looked at each other, their hearts overflowing with tenderness and affection. They smiled at each other and hugged tightly.

Zhou Yi slowly recounted the events that occurred after he left Jiangdu to her, as if it were a story.

We chatted and laughed, and time flew by.

They didn't leave Ziwei Palace until dark, and returned to the Dugu residence to see their grandmother.

Zhou Yi originally intended to go directly to Chang'an.

Xiao Feng was unwilling to go with him. Firstly, there were many experts in Chang'an and the situation was chaotic. Secondly, she wanted to stay in Dongdu to help him arrange the Ziwei Palace.

Zhou Yi was reluctant to leave, so he didn't continue his journey the next day.

He led Dugu Feng through the city of Dongdu, and this time, many people in the city recognized his identity.

Therefore, the news that Dugu Feng and he were a couple naturally spread throughout the city and alleys.

Zhou Yi deliberately chose to go to crowded places, such as banquets, to join in the fun.

Zhao Congwen, one of the Eight Nobles of Luoyang and a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, got a great deal.

His son got married.

When the two appeared together in front of the Zhao residence, the gatekeeper was so frightened that he dropped his hat.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Congwen was initially flattered.

Then he became excited and ecstatic, his mouth stretching to the back of his ears.

Lu Chu, Guo Wenrui, and others who came to offer their congratulations all showed expressions of envy.

Zhou Yi's original intention was simply to have a drink with Xiao Feng at her wedding and join in the fun, but he never expected to be invited to the head table and even receive a greeting from the two newlyweds.

The family that married Zhao Congwen and came to Hanoi was also a prominent clan.

This Xiang family not only had members who served as officials in the imperial court, including the prefect of Quanzhou, but also ran a medicinal herb business, making them very wealthy in the area.

They never expected that their in-laws would invite such an important person this time.

For newlyweds, this is absolutely a stroke of good fortune.

Zhou Yi, not wanting to steal the spotlight from the newcomer, drank a few glasses of wine and then left.

After seeing them off, Zhao Congwen turned back and toasted Dugu Feng several times. After his daughter and son-in-law left, Steward Dugu, his face flushed, drank heartily.

It’s different in the past.

Since the chaos of the Sui Dynasty, the four major clans have all shown signs of decline.

The Dugu clan originally only had the old lady to hold the fort, which was the most vulnerable. Once the old lady passed away, the Dugu family would have no successor.

Unexpectedly, in the upcoming process of the new dynasty, the Dugu family, which was in the worst situation, suddenly rose to prominence and was about to become the big winner.

Upon seeing the little old man, he burst into laughter and drank.

Lu Chu, Guo Wenyi, and others felt a pang of sadness.

It's just that the old man got lucky.
"Aren't you used to this kind of occasion?"

“Yes,” Zhou Yi said, holding her hand and speaking his mind. “I just want our story to spread further, so that everyone knows that Xiao Feng and I are a perfect match.”

"Taking a sip of alcohol was just a side effect."

“They were very respectful, and I didn’t want to steal the spotlight from the host’s family.”

Dugu Feng was very pleased to hear what he had said earlier.

Upon hearing the rest, I instantly understood his state of mind.

“Zhou Lang, you’ve misunderstood.”

"Oh?"

"Minister Zhao won't think you're stealing the spotlight. The longer you stay, the happier he'll be. There are many people attending the banquet, of different statuses. Whether you're there or not, they'll still distinguish between the main and secondary figures. They treat you as the future emperor, so it's perfectly normal for them to be so respectful."

“As long as you don’t disrupt the affairs of the main family, they will be very respectful and no one will find it strange.”

Dugu Feng's eyes were bright, as if she understood him, and she smiled and said, "It's because your view of 'propriety' is different from theirs, that you think they don't need to be so humble, but all of this is in accordance with the Zhou rites."

"People in the martial arts world naturally have a bold and unrestrained way of interacting, but you aspire to be an emperor."

"The most important thing for the emperor is to govern the country well, be a wise ruler, and be loved and respected by the people. This is your way of showing respect to them."

Dugu Feng's lips curved into a smile, and Zhou Yi stared straight at her again.

She reached out and turned his head to face him: "Look at the road, not me. Am I wrong?"

"Yes, I really should think about it carefully." "No need to think about it."

"Ok?"

“The emperor’s attitude varies from person to person. You’re already doing very well. Just do whatever makes you happy,” Dugu Feng glanced at him. “Perhaps it is precisely because of this kind of Zhou Xiaotianshi that so many people like him.”

"Xiao Feng, how come your words changed so quickly?"

"Because I have selfish motives."

"Self-interest? Can you tell me?"

"Don't tell you."

She smiled and tilted her head, then led the way, bringing Zhou Yi into the White Horse Temple.

This is one of the three famous scenic spots in Luoyang.

Zhou Yi's arrival was personally greeted by Abbot Huicheng of Baima Temple. The ancient temple bell rang, and the monks lined up to welcome him with great pomp and ceremony.

Even if Ning Sanren were to come here, Master Huicheng would not leave the Mahavira Hall, let alone come outside the mountain gate.

Zhou Yi came here only to inquire about matters related to "Zhu Faqing".

A tall, kind-faced old monk with white light emanating from his head bowed to the Buddha and said:

"The Great Maitreya Sect has been destroyed, but the Vajra-Shattering Vehicle Method and the Ten Abodes Mahayana Practice have been passed down, but both of these practices are incomplete."

"Is it still at your temple?"

"exist."

"May I take a look?"

Zhou Yi's words were somewhat domineering, after all, these were two precious manuals, and the combat power of these two techniques was extremely high, comparable to the ultimate Yin and the ultimate Yang.

Because the Ten Abodes Mahayana Technique is based on absorbing the essence of the sun and moon for cultivation, it is unlike ordinary martial arts.

Master Huicheng replied without hesitation: "Of course."

He added, "The first two Sui emperors both had scriptures translated at this temple. Whatever classics the emperor wanted to read, this temple would accept them without reservation."

Zhou Yi nodded and went to the Sutra Repository with Master Huicheng.

He spent about half an hour reading through the Ten Abodes Mahayana Practice and the incomplete Vajrayana text, and then returned the original text.

Zhou Yi learned some news from the senior monk.

In the White Horse Temple, the old monk who originally intended to pass away peacefully left and headed west to Chang'an.

All of this was caused by the battle at Jingnian Temple.

After listening to Master Huicheng's words, Zhou Yi and Little Phoenix went to the Longmen Grottoes again. There were some ascetic monks in Yique.

Then they disappeared without a trace.

"what's your plan?"

"First, get the Evil Emperor's Relic, then go to the Chang'an Imperial Palace. Whether it's Li Yuan, Yang Xuyan, or anyone else, they should all be in that palace."

Zhou Yi's expression remained calm: "This should be the fastest way to end the turmoil."

"Yes, you just need to be as cautious as you were before."

"Do not worry."

Zhou Yi nudged her with his arm: "Xiao Feng, I'll stay with you for a few more days."

Dugu Feng pushed him away with both hands and laughed, "You should leave now."

Zhou Yi stayed at the Dugu residence for another day. On the night before his departure, the two had a late-night conversation in Xiao Fenghuang's boudoir.

Because it is located deep within the inner courtyard, there is a unique sense of shyness and tenderness.
……

In the western part of Luoyang, Zhou Yi, walking towards the ferry crossing in the morning sun, slowed his pace.

"Come out."

He called softly.

At this moment, a dark figure leaped down from a large willow tree beside the road, a tree so large that it would take two people to encircle it, with extremely agile movements.

"Tianshi!"

The newcomer had a high nose, deep-set eyes, and curly hair; he was none other than Yun Shuai, who ranked second in lightness skill.

Compared to the past, this Western Turkic national teacher was more polite, kneeling on one knee directly, a courtesy that even Tongyabgu Khan did not receive.

Yun Shuai's eyes are sharper than an eagle's; his eyesight is extraordinary.

Having gained much experience traveling in the Central Plains during this time, he sensed something was amiss as soon as he saw Zhou Yi.

He didn't seem as domineering as he had been the last time I saw him.

But as he carefully examined it, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Based on the current rumors circulating in the world, it is speculated that the person in front of me may no longer be the youngest Grandmaster.

He is the number one master in the world.

"Has Tong Yabghu responded?"

"Yes!"

The Western Turkic Khan just backed down like that? Zhou Yi was surprised by this quick reply.

"tell me the story."

Commander Yun solemnly said:
"I conveyed the Celestial Master's words: Tongyagu Khan knows he has made a grave mistake and is filled with remorse. He is absolutely unwilling to be an enemy of the Celestial Master again. Even if the Western Turks are incorporated into the Nine Provinces, Tongyagu Khan has no objection."

"What are the conditions?" His question clearly indicated that there was more to come.

Yun Shuai adopted a meticulous expression:

"Although Tongyagu Khan controls the Western Turks, he is still threatened by the Tiele and Tuyuhun tribes, and the eastern Jieli Khan is even more powerful with the support of the Martial Venerable. The ownership of the grasslands cannot be decided by Tongyagu alone; this matter requires the approval of the Martial Venerable. As long as the Martial Venerable has no objection, the Khan is willing to use the methods of the Celestial Master to resolve the enmity between us."

He added:
"To show our sincerity, when Khagan Jieli summons all the tribes of the steppe, our Western Turkic Khaganate will absolutely not participate."

The Martial Venerable's power shook all the tribes of the grasslands, so Tong Yehu's statement wasn't exactly a bluff.

Seeing Zhou Yi nod, Yun Shuai breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew in his heart that Tong Yehu had not actually agreed outright, and that he had been threatened to the point of being implicated. As the overlord of the Western Regions, how could he not be angry?
Yun Shuai said this based on his own perspective.

He had a vague feeling that the two Khans in the east might not be able to hold out.

With the defeat of the Golden Wolf Army, Tong Yabghu lost his eastern shield and would naturally surrender.

At that time, if the Khan refused to submit, he would have no choice but to flee to India with his daughter.

"Have Tong Yabghu prepare a map of the Western Turkic region."

"Yes!"

Yun Shuai added, "Celestial Master, I also have two pieces of news that you are concerned about."

Zhou Yi looked at him, signaling him to continue.

Yun Shuai pointed north: "The speed at which Jieli Khan is heading south may be faster than we can imagine. When I came from the north, I noticed that Tiele King Aye Ruode was approaching Jieli's camp. He should be the last of his troops."

"Therefore, Khagan Jieli has completed the assembly of his army."

"His target will be Chang'an."

"Leaving aside Liu Wuzhou, the territories of Li Gui of Liang, Xue Ju of Western Qin, and Liang Shidu, the Khan of Dadu Bilge, will be open to Jieli Khan."

"In other words, once he heads south, he will quickly approach the Wei River and threaten Chang'an."

Wei River?

After a moment's thought, Zhou Yi asked, "Does Jieli intend to take Chang'an?"

"Judging from his appearance, he seems determined to take Chang'an. Li Yuan has corresponded with him, but I don't know the details. However, I do know Jieli's purpose: he wants to occupy the north and fight against the Celestial Master. This battle may not necessarily go all the way."

"If there is no possibility of defeating or killing you, Jieli Khan intends to make a non-aggression pact with you, to protect his allies and keep you out of the grasslands."

"Because it was widely believed that the Celestial Master kept his promises, the Martial Venerable had also suggested to Jieli that he wanted to take advantage of this to secure his own stable rule."

After Yun Shuai finished speaking, he noticed that the young man in front of him smiled disdainfully.

"Let them come."

"I like it when these people are all together, so I don't have to go looking for them one by one."

Yun Shuai glanced at his expression and, confirming that he wasn't just saying things out of anger, was immediately taken aback.

"There's another piece of news that the Celestial Master will definitely be interested in."

Yun Shuai dared not keep him in suspense: "I saw Li Mi in Chang'an, and I also saw him talking to someone."

"Who?"

"Huang An, the leader of the Taihang Gang."

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yi's eyes: "Good, well done, Taihang Gang Leader."

He turned to look at Commander Yun.

At that moment, the Western Turkic Grand Preceptor's hair stood on end, and he convulsed as if his whole body was being electrified. It was an instinctive reaction, a keen insight into crisis that he had developed after countless battles.

The man's aura suddenly changed.

The feeling he experienced in that instant was one that even if Wu Chong had picked up the Agushwara again, it wouldn't have instilled in him such fear.

"You've gathered quite a bit of information."

When Yun Shuai met that scrutinizing gaze, he immediately lowered his head:

"I, Yun, have some skill in gathering information, though it's not exactly respectable. But everything I just said is true, and I would never dare to lie about anything."

"Don't be nervous."

Zhou Yi waved his hand: "You did a good job this time. Your debt can be transferred to Li Mi. Once I find him, you will be free of debt."

Upon hearing this, Commander Yun was overjoyed.

Looking up again, a white shadow flashed before my eyes, already heading towards the ferry.

He didn't have time to think about how fast his lightness skill was; at this moment, he couldn't wait to get to Chang'an.

Yun Shuai cracked his knuckles as he clenched his fists: "Li Mi, where are you?!"

His eagle eyes flashed as he used a flying technique to rush straight towards Chang'an.

……

Starting from the Yellow River, we traveled against the current all the way to the natural barrier of Sanmenxia.

The waters here are swift and treacherous, with numerous hidden reefs, making it an extremely dangerous section of the waterway where ships are very likely to capsize.

But for Zhou Yi, treacherous shoals and hidden reefs are nothing.

After passing through Sanmenxia, ​​entering Shanzhou, and reaching the mouth of the Wei River, going upstream, Chang'an is located on the south bank of the Wei River in the Guanzhong Plain, which is known as the "Eight Hundred Li Qin Chuan".

Upon entering this place, the terrain changes drastically.

The southern Qinling Mountains, located in the middle section of Zhongnan Mountain, are characterized by their towering peaks and steep cliffs, forming a natural barrier.

To the north, the Huanglong, Liangshan, and Cuo'e Mountains stretch endlessly, facing the Qinling Mountains.

The mountains and ridges delineate a vast fertile plain, where Chang'an stands majestically. Numerous rivers, including the Wei, Jing, Feng, and Lao, glisten and meander around Chang'an, creating a landscape of eight rivers encircling the city.

Rivers are like veins of blood, providing water and vitality.

It is precisely because of the combination of natural conditions that Qinzhong has been known as the "Emperor's State since ancient times," and has been favored by monarchs of all dynasties since ancient times.

On the Wei River, Zhou Yi could see a majestic city standing tall in the distance.

The city wall was as high as those of Jiangdu and Dongdu, a magnificent forty-zhang wall that was difficult for ordinary people to cross.

There was still about half an hour until sunset.

As Zhou Yi walked from the river to the bank, five burly men with their sleeves half-rolled up came running towards him from a distance.

They looked Zhou Yi closely and asked in a respectful tone:

"May I ask... was it the Celestial Master in person?"

"Are you from the Yellow River Gang?"

Upon hearing Zhou Yi's reply, the five burly men's expressions sharpened; how could they not know that the person before them was the real deal?

“We are a few of us under the command of Zhuge Wu Sansi, the leader of the Yellow River Gang. He specifically ordered us to wait here. If the Celestial Master is not in a hurry to enter the city, he can come to our branch.”

"Please show me the way."

"No, no, Master, please!"

Five people led the way, heading towards Ba Shang on the east side of Chang'an.

Back then, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, stationed his troops at Ba Shang to confront Xiang Yu's army, and the Feast at Hongmen took place here.

Zhou Yi glanced at the group of people leading the way.

These people probably don't have the ability to host such a banquet for themselves.

Near a tributary of the Wei River, along the Zi River, there is a long stretch of houses. Under the glow of the setting sun, Zhou Yi saw that many wooden pillars had smoke marks, and many places were burned to charcoal, clearly indicating that a major fire had occurred.

As soon as we entered the camp, a commotion suddenly broke out inside.

It wasn't that they welcomed him; rather, there was some trouble.

"Sect Leader Lü! Sect Leader Lü!"

Zhou Yi heard the exclamation clearly and felt that the voice was very familiar.

Surrounded by the crowd was a door panel more than half a meter long, on which lay a short man whose age was hard to tell.

It's like there's only a skin left, stuck to the bones.

Only his bloodshot eyes darted around, giving the illusion that he was not yet dead.

The person who spoke from beside the door was Xi Jie, one of the three heroes of the Yellow River whom Zhou Yi had met in Bashan. Wu Sansi and Fan Shaoming were also present.

The three were investigating Sect Leader Lü when someone came to report.

He stood up in surprise.

Wu Sansi glanced at it only once before rushing to greet it.

"Tianshi!"

Xi Jie and Fan Shaoming followed closely behind, also bowing and greeting them.

They even invited nearly a thousand gang members in the area to pay their respects, but Zhou Yi quickly stopped them.

"Who is he? What happened to him?"

Zhou Yi pointed at Sect Leader Lü.

Wu Sansi said, "He is Lü Weilun, the leader of the Weishui Sect."

Weishui School?
Zhou Yi thought of the two people he met at Baimajin. They were looking for the leader of the Weishui Sect, but they never expected it to turn out like this.

He bent down to examine him and confirmed that Lü Weilun was dead.

Wu Sansi continued:

"This Sect Leader Lü was a good friend of ours. The Chief went to look for him some time ago but couldn't find him and hasn't returned yet. Now that Sect Leader Lü is dead, we don't know where the Chief is."

At this point, his face was already filled with worry.

After examining the injuries, Zhou Yi guessed about 70-80% of the situation and tentatively asked, "Do you know where Huang An, the leader of the Taihang Gang, is?"

"know."

After Wu Sansi finished speaking, Fan Shaoming casually remarked, "That's a dangerous place."

He realized his intrusion as soon as he finished speaking.

What danger could a place be considered dangerous to a Celestial Master?
Wu Sansi reacted quickly: "When is the Celestial Master leaving?"

"Now."

Without wasting words, Wu Sansi instructed several elders in the gang to take care of Master Lü's body, and at the same time sent people out to inquire about the gang leader's whereabouts.

Then head north.

We walked from sunset until nightfall, and then entered a mountain forest.

At night, the forest was eerily dark, with will-o'-the-wisps flickering.

It turned out to be a huge, chaotic graveyard.

If they hadn't been with Zhou Yi, the Three Heroes of the Yellow River would never have dared to come here at night.

As Zhou Yi walked further ahead, a strange look appeared on his face.

The three heroes of the Yellow River were utterly horrified.

The situation had taken them by surprise.

A vast forest of coffins stood solemnly, making the mass grave even more terrifying at night, and next to each coffin stood a motionless man in black.

A person with a weak heart would probably be terrified to see this.

The next moment, pairs of cold gazes swept over.

The three heroes of the Yellow River and some of the Yellow River Gang experts who had followed them dared not move.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but smile when he saw many familiar faces.

"What a coincidence, are you all gathering here?"

In the center of the mass grave, the five elders of the coffin palace turned their heads at the same time. Old Zhou squinted and looked at Zhou Yi, who was eager to try.

Three zhang away from them stood a refined middle-aged man and a woman half-veiled in a light veil, who were naturally the Evil King's Yin Queen.

Upon seeing Zhou Yi, the Evil King's gaze was not friendly, after all, he had also heard the rumors circulating in Jiangnan. However, the Empress Yin laughed and said, "Celestial Master, you're late."

……

(End of this chapter)