Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 75 Different
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

During a break from practicing martial arts, Zhou Yi tidied up Wuzhuang Temple, almost completely concealing its previous messiness.

At least the altar and the main hall with the Lao Tzu statue have been completely renovated.

Wuzhuang Temple occupies a considerable area, with a large courtyard at the back. Complete renovation would take more than a few months.

"Let's leave it at that for now."

"We'll clean up after Xia Shu and the others arrive."

Zhou Yi cleared the weeds from the backyard and was about to go to the mountain stream to fetch water when he suddenly heard a commotion of footsteps on the hill.

"Master Yi!"

Two voices, one male and one female, echoed on the hillside.

It was Ying Yu and Lü Wuxia who arrived together.

Zhou Yi smiled and invited them into the temple, serving them tea.

Ying Yu asked curiously, "This place is deserted, yet it doesn't seem like an abandoned place. What is this?"

"Oh, I only learned that I have a Taoist friend here when I came to this hill."

"Now that he is traveling, he has given this temple to me as a place to stay."

"Ah! Congratulations!"

Ying Yu looked around at the four walls, clapped his hands and said, "This is a good place, quiet and secluded. Master Yi has lived here for a long time, so we will know the way to visit him in the future."

"only."

He took a breath, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

"But is something wrong?"

Lu Wuxia, standing to the side, glanced sideways at Zhou Yi's Taoist robe:
“Brother, you are worrying unnecessarily. Master Yi lives in a secluded temple in the mountains. This temple is so remote that even villains would avoid it. How could there be any danger?”

Ying Yu nodded: "Junior Sister is absolutely right. I was overthinking it."

Seeing that he wasn't going to continue, Zhou Yi quickly pressed, "But what happened in the city? It sounds like it's related to the Taoist sect?"

Lu Wuxia had no reservations and said directly:

"Although there are many abandoned Taoist temples in the city, there are still two or three that receive incense offerings. Recently, more than a dozen Taoist priests have died one after another, all of whom have vanished into thin air."

"The remaining people were frightened away, and Guanyu returned to its desolate state."

Zhou Yi's brows furrowed sharply: "Is that so?"

Ying Yu guessed:

"Previously, the Dangyang caravan and the Jingshan sect had a conflict over land, which led to the Feima Ranch visiting Yang Dalongtou to resolve the matter. I think this matter is related to that. Once those Taoist temples are vacated, they can be used as warehouses for business."

“Recently, a number of businesses dealing in weapons and medicines have sprung up in the city, and they are in dire need of space.”

"Master Yi can rest assured here. No matter how many schemes there are in the city, they won't spread here."

Zhou Yi asked cautiously, "But only members of the Taoist sect have met with misfortune?"

"Yes."

Lu Wuxia said casually, "The trouble was confined to the Taoist temple within the city. The Grand Dragon Head has already sent capable men to investigate thoroughly. Moreover, the matter was resolved three days ago, so it should have been quelled by now."

"Senior brother, you are too kind. Master Yi, there is no need to worry."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi sensed that things were not so simple.

He thought of Old Master Ren.

This person has also practiced Taoist martial arts.

"Whether those who disappeared are dead or alive, is there any conclusion?"

"Neither alive nor dead could they be found."

Lu Wuxia sipped her tea, not paying much attention to the matter.

Where there is a world of martial arts, there will be conflict, and that means people will die.

With so many powerful forces in Nanyang, even the most discerning eye cannot see every corner.

She took a sip of tea, then another, and her attention shifted to the fragrant aroma of the mountain tea.

Little did she know that Zhou Yi beside her was already preoccupied with something.

Ying Yu took a sip of tea and got down to business:

"Will Master Yi have some free time at 9:00 AM three days from now?"

"Do you want me to perform a black magic ritual?"

"No."

Ying Yu handed over a letter: "Master Ren visited my master and was very pleased to hear that his dear friend had been laid to rest. He is grateful for Master Yi's help and would like to invite you to be his guest."

"Master is a remarkable figure in the martial world. I would like to introduce you to some friends from Nanyang." "This banquet is being held at the Tiankui Dojo, where many martial arts elders from Nanyang will gather. We hope that Master can spare the time."

Zhou Yi stroked the letter but did not reply: "Was this letter written by Elder Lü?"

"No."

"This was given to you by Ren Jingfu. He doesn't know where Master Yi is."

Lü Wuxia added from the side:
"Actually, we didn't know either. We just heard that there was a Taoist temple in Wolonggang, so we decided to try our luck. We didn't expect to be so lucky. We were able to complete both my father's instructions and the Ren family's request."

Zhou Yi smiled helplessly: "It's a pity, I'll have to disappoint Senior Lü's kind intentions."

"Oh?"

The two disciples from the Tiankui Sect both turned to look at them, not expecting Zhou Yi to refuse.

After all, this is a rare opportunity.

If you become acquainted with these important figures in Nanyang, things will be much easier in the future.

Before Ying Yu could even form the words of advice, Zhou Yi preemptively spoke:
"I will be going out tomorrow, and my return date is uncertain. I may not be back for three to five days, so I dare not make any promises lightly."

Ying Yu shook his head, wanting to say more.

Lü Wuxia tugged at his sleeve and smiled at Zhou Yi:

"Master Yi, please come to the temple to find us another day when you have time."

"it is good!"

Zhou Yi readily agreed, saying, "I will finish up my mundane affairs before I come to visit. It would be too abrupt to rush to see Senior Lü."

After hearing this, the two did not linger.

He finished his cup of tea and then took his leave.

At the foot of Wolonggang Mountain, Lü Wuxia and Ying Yu led their horses, chatting as they walked.

"This Master Yi is really strange. Everyone else is eager to make friends with the big shots in Nanyang. But he is different. My father set up a trap and reserved a seat for him, but he seems to want to avoid it at all costs."

Lu Wuxia then complained, "It's like my dad is some kind of scary person."

Ying Yu said, "I also feel sorry for Master Yi. This is indeed a rare opportunity. Even Protector Fan from the Great Dragon Head's side has come."

"However, this may be what makes Master Yi different from others."

“If it were someone else, we wouldn’t have rushed here so quickly. We would have just sent two junior brothers to deliver the message. It’s his unusual behavior that has left a deep impression on us.”

"Brother, what you said is right."

Lu Wuxia said with a wicked smile, "Let's go, hurry back and tell my father, see what his expression is. The invitation from the Tiankui Sect Leader was ignored in Nanyang."

"If he still can't forget Master Yi, then this tactic of feigning indifference to lure him in would be extremely clever."

in fact
These two have a misunderstanding, and a big one at that.

After they descended the mountain, Zhou Yi quickly changed out of his Taoist robe.

Instead, she adopted a phoenix-like style of dress.

He changed into a black outfit.

Face is not important, life is.

My martial arts skills are improving quickly now. As long as I can stay calm, I'll be able to regain my dignity sooner or later.

"It seems like someone is targeting people from the Taoist sect?"

Having grasped this point, he politely declined Mr. Lü's invitation.

Otherwise, attending a gathering of martial arts masters in Nanyang would be beneficial in order to become somewhat familiar with them.

The person who plotted against Master Ren is someone we can't deal with right now.

Zhou Yi unfolded Ren Jingfu's letter and examined it carefully.

The ink stains were alarming:

"To Master Yi: On the day your esteemed entourage left Sheqi, I led a thorough investigation of the charitable estate, but to no avail."

Unexpectedly, two days later, another strange event occurred in the east of the city—

Mao Wenfeng, who was close to Yang Xinghui, also died suddenly at home.

This man had practiced the Baoyuan Jin technique for decades and was a renowned figure in the Sheqi martial arts world. Yet, when he died, his body was completely unharmed.

There was no unusual behavior like my father's, only
According to the Mao family's recollections, on the night Mao Wenfeng suddenly died...
A ghostly figure once flickered and lingered by the window.

Then he let out a long string of chilling, mournful howls.

……

(End of this chapter)