Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 91 Righteousness Reaching the Heavens, Three Parts of Vitality!

The west wind is blowing, counting the last petals of the crape myrtle on the steps, marking the deepening of autumn.

A person in a blue robe strode forward, the hem of their garment scattering scattered floral patterns as they passed, disrupting the autumn breeze's thoughts.

It blew towards Young Master Qin, who was standing by the door of the quiet room.

She tossed aside a few strands of her hair, causing the complex light in her eyes to shimmer. Unconsciously, she raised a finger to her crimson lower lip, her brows furrowed in thought.

The closer the man in the blue robe got, the deeper the finger that Qin Gongzi was pressing on his lower lip was.

The trip to Nanyang was unexpected; there were unheard-of poisonous creatures, and even more...
Suddenly, someone who can touch my heart.

His temperament is very unique.

Is there truly an extraordinary person or recluse in the land where the dragon rose to power?

"Wuzhuang Temple," Young Master Qin murmured softly in a voice only he could hear.

This must be the name of a Taoist temple, but I've never heard of it before.

"Master Yi!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Yang Dalong felt a sense of familiarity. Without thinking too much, he stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "I apologize for inviting you to come down and observe so late at night."

“I have already heard about Master Su,” Zhou Yi said, waving his sleeve. “Let’s not talk about anything else for now. Big Boss, please take me to see Master Su right away.”

"I am also very apprehensive, and I am afraid that I do not have the means to turn the tide."

Of course, we'll say the unpleasant things upfront.

Yang Zhen continued, "The real person rushed over late at night, and the entire Nanyang Gang is grateful for the favor. Brother Su, at this moment, it's all up to fate."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, indicating that it was good that things had been made clear.

He strode toward the quiet room, his gaze naturally sweeping over the 'young master' beside Yang Zhen.

This guy is unbelievably handsome; he's obviously a woman dressed as a man.

When Chen Laomou was disguising him, he jokingly said, "If there is a more handsome young man than the Celestial Master, then he must be a beautiful woman in disguise."

What Chen Laomou said sounded nice, and the narcissistic Master Zhou thought it was all true.

"please."

Meng Degong and Fan Naitang made way, Ying Yu and Lü Wuxia accompanied Old Master Lü, and Young Master Qin followed Yang Zhen.

The crowd invited Master Wolong inside.

This scene was unprecedented in Nanyang County.

In front of Su Yun, three doctors were performing acupuncture on acupoints. The old doctor was sweating and panting as he carefully examined the silver needles in his hand.

The needle tip was jet black, and its malevolent aura was clearly visible to the naked eye.

The old doctor glanced at Zhou Yi and then looked away, showing no expectation in his heart.

The evil poison has been formed and is no longer under human control.

Once Young Master Qin's true energy is exhausted, Hall Master Su will surely die.

The old doctor stood by the bedside, his inner energy almost completely depleted during the acupuncture treatment, his heart filled with disappointment.

Ultimately, it was a failure.
No amount of miraculous healing techniques could help; this had exceeded the limits of his medical practice.

He shook his head inwardly, looking at the last straw that the Nanyang Gang was clinging to.

Out of a physician's duty, Wu Dexiu stepped forward and asked, "Does Master Yi know the extent of Master Su's injuries?"

"I only heard some of it, not in detail."

Regardless of whether we can save lives, the more we understand, the greater our hope.

Without further ado, Dr. Wu quickly and concisely explained Su Yun's internal condition in just a few sentences.

The Tanzhong acupoint is where the root of evil poison lies.
A flash of inspiration struck Zhou Yi, reminding him of the monks at Anshan Temple.

The monk's Tanzhong acupoint was originally an ordinary acupoint, but the old demon forcibly split it open to create an orifice.

Looking at the man lying flat on the bed, she made up her mind.

"Did Master Su develop the Tanzhong acupoint on his own?"

"Yes," Yang Zhen replied.

Those around him keenly noticed that Master Yi's perspective was quite different from theirs.

The old doctor asked, "What's the secret behind this?"

Zhou Yi walked towards the bedside: "If this acupoint was not cultivated by Master Su, and the true qi in the acupoint is out of one's control, then I am powerless to help."

Before he could finish speaking, everyone's expression changed drastically!
The old brothers of the Nanyang gang, whose eyes had been dull and listless, suddenly perked up, and their hearts pounded.

Old Doctor Wu moved closer to Zhou Yi, gazing at the blackened silver needles in his hand:
"Could it be... could it be that a true master has a method to break the root of evil?"

A whole room full of experts, the top medical masters in the county, and even outside help from other counties couldn't handle it.
This title shouldn't be accepted lightly.

He needed to save people and earn the gratitude of the Nanyang Gang, but he couldn't be so high-profile that it would make everyone question their existence.

Zhou Yi's mind raced.

Everyone noticed that his expression remained unchanged, maintaining that calm and composed demeanor from the moment he entered.

There's a kind of pretentious pretense, and another kind that's genuinely impressive.

As soon as Master Yi spoke, even that young master Qin thought he was the latter:
"I have deeply studied the 'Great Yu's Plan' and refined the three parts of primordial energy into one through the principle of utmost refinement and unity. This energy can break all kinds of evil spirits."

Three parts of vitality?!
Young Master Qin was deep in thought, while Yang Dalong's eyes lit up.

How could the martial arts masters not understand that the so-called "three parts" refers to a person's essence, energy, and spirit?

Only the most refined and unified, the Great Plan of Yu
If such a method truly exists, it must be extremely refined and subtle, and it might even be possible to break through the root of evil influences!

Zhou Yi made up a story on the spot, and everyone said it was amazing.

"Two men, help Master Su up."

“I’ll do it.” Meng Degong and Fan Naitang, the left and right arms, responded in unison.

The three renowned medical experts of the county dispersed, while Young Master Qin, the outsider from the Eastern Capital, watched from the sidelines. Yang Dalong held his breath, and Lü Chongying, Lü Wuxia, and Lü Zhongying all paid close attention!

Master Su was lifted up by his left and right arms, and his eyes were half open when he saw the young face.

"Scatter!"

At this moment, Master Yi seemed to have become the master of the Nanyang Gang. The head of the gang and the top experts of Tiankui all retreated, allowing the fresh air from the outside world to flow in.

Master Su was positioned in a cross-legged sitting posture.

Zhou Yi sat behind him, gathered his true energy, and with a single finger, injected it into Master Su's Ren and Du meridians.

Following the flow of Qi along the meridians, in addition to what Dr. Wu explained earlier.

In a short time, he had figured out Su Tangzhu's symptoms.

With the example of the monks at Anshan Temple, I had some confidence in my mind.

Master Su's meridians were sealed by a stream of true energy. Although this true energy was being consumed by the evil poison, it was extremely resilient and could not be accomplished by anyone other than a highly skilled innate true energy.

First, inject true qi into the Shenzhu acupoint below the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra on the back.

This was the first time Zhou Yi had directly confronted the malevolent poison within Su Tang's body.

The two sides clashed with their true energy!

This is the great achievement of Zhou Lao in his research on madmen, and a clash with Zhou Tianshi's "Laozi's Random Treatment of Classics".

The aura of the deadly poison was significantly stronger, surging powerfully into Su Yun's body and attacking the 'three parts of vital energy'.

But
Zhou Yi had a strange feeling, like he was kicking an old man in kindergarten. The evil poison was like a ball of fire, surging wildly towards the sea.

Stab
When the Poisonous Fiend was touched by Zhou Yi's true energy, it met its nemesis.

Disperse, constantly dissipate!
One side has a large quantity and is very mixed, while the other side has an excessively high purity.

The poisonous energy on the Shenzhu acupoint was quickly cleared away!

This acupoint is also related to the body's heat and cold, which is why Fan Naitang and Meng Degong felt it most deeply.

The two looked at each other, and were stunned for a moment, feeling Su Yun's shoulder burning.

At this moment, wisps of crimson evil smoke rose up, enveloping the four people.

Body pillar, spirit path, spiritual platform, ultimate yang!

In a short while, the poisonous energy was completely eliminated, reaching all the way up to the seventh thoracic vertebra of the Du meridian.

The leader and his men were both surprised and delighted.

How could they not see that this was a sign that the poisonous evil spirit had been broken?

Master Yi's true energy is so powerful that it can actually break through the poisonous aura of the old monster from the Demonic Sect!

Initially, they were able to neutralize the evil poison in the Ren and Du meridians using their true energy.

But more than a month later, the evil poison became more and more potent.

Everyone present was at a loss.

The saying "With pure essence and single-minded focus, even a fraction of one's vital energy can break through all kinds of evil spirits" is not an exaggeration at all.

At this moment, everyone saw that Master Yi was sweating profusely and knew that he had worked hard to break through the evil spirits.

Zhou Yi kept a low profile. He controlled his speed and broke through the accumulated poison in the eight acupoints. Then he sat cross-legged to finish his meditation and remained silent.

No one made a sound, and no one disturbed them.

When Su Yun lay down again, his eyes, which had been half-open, were now fully open.

Weary and exhausted, he glanced sideways at the master who had pulled him back from the underworld.

Dr. Wu waved his hand, signaling him not to move.

They then conducted a brief examination of his body, and this time they were certain that the Nanyang gang had not grasped at straws, but at a raft.

That's amazing, truly amazing!

Old Doctor Wu glanced at the man in the blue robe, still harboring some concerns.

The residual toxins in the meridians can be resolved, but what about the root of evil influence at the Tanzhong acupoint?

He wanted to ask aloud, but was afraid of disturbing the person, so he anxiously kept repeating the question to himself.

The rest of the Nanyang gang felt the same way, not daring to be too happy too soon.

Only Young Master Qin was an exception, always glancing at the extraordinary young man with his eyes.

Three parts vitality?

Why have so many strange techniques appeared in the martial arts world?

On another level, Young Master Qin felt that this young man was like a whirlpool, always drawing people's attention to him.

He thought it was just that his will was not strong enough, and that he had suddenly encountered a strange person and become curious.

About two incense sticks later, Master Yi, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened them again.

This time.
Su Yun's back was facing outwards, while his face was towards Zhou Yi.

Under the tense gazes of everyone, he pointed a finger at Su Yun's Tanzhong acupoint.

The malevolent poison here is far more refined than the residual poison in the meridians, no wonder it cannot be eradicated.

You have to admire these old devils; they have such creativity.

Zhou Yi gave it a try, and feeling relieved, he felt that the matter had been resolved.

Even though the root of evil in the acupoint is troublesome, he can still handle it.

but
To his utter surprise, this evil root began to erupt with energy after encountering his true energy.

Then, following the flow of true energy, it surged back into his body through the Shaoshang acupoint at his fingertips!

The unexpected turn of events startled Zhou Yi, who quickly withdrew his hand. Dr. Wu, who was standing closest, saw everything clearly.

"Master Yi!"

The old doctor's voice trembled, and his expression as he looked at Zhou Yi completely changed.

A heartfelt respect from a doctor is irresistible.

"what happened?!"

Yang Zhen was startled and rushed forward to look at the man in the blue robe who had closed his eyes and remained silent.

Wu Dexiu was a top figure in the medical community in Nanyang. His ancestor was Wu Pu from the Wei and Jin Dynasties. He was a student of Hua Tuo, compiled "Wu Pu's Materia Medica", and was proficient in the two arts of red and white medicine.

His eyesight is unmatched by ordinary people.

Everyone recognized his identity, and Dr. Wu was deeply moved:
"Master Yi used himself as a medium to plant the root of evil, and carried out the method of changing the world. He used his body to absorb the extreme evil poison in Master Su's acupoints and then suppressed it."

"This method."

"If even the slightest mistake is made, Master Yi will not survive!"

Yang Dalong's eyes widened, and everyone in the Nanyang Gang trembled upon hearing this.

As Su Yun lay in bed, her complexion improving, she almost rolled over and bowed deeply.

original
Master Yi's silence beforehand indicated his decision to use this method to save people.

Only then did everyone suddenly realize.

Young Master Qin's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but take a step forward, his eyes reflecting the face filled with a sinister black aura.

If one did not know the reason, one might think that this was a member of a demonic sect who cultivated pure demonic arts.

Looking at him now, one can only feel that his whole body is filled with the radiance of righteousness, making him a righteous man among extraordinary people.

Master Yi's body trembled, and sweat dripped from his temples. The root of evil in his acupoints was extremely troublesome. Could three parts of his vital energy still be effective?
Everyone clenched their fists, held their breath slightly, and prayed silently in their hearts.

Before long, Yang Zhen noticed that the dark aura on his face had faded and his breathing had slowed down, and he was delighted.

Zhou Yi opened his eyes and immediately looked at the old doctor Wu Dexiu, feeling an instant connection with him.

Wu Dexiu cupped his hands and said, "As the saying goes, a doctor should have a benevolent heart. Now that you are here in person, my past kindness is nothing."

Zhou Yi shook his head, his voice tinged with weariness:
"I am here today, and I can also be considered a doctor. Benevolence is not a matter of size."

Wu Dexiu nodded silently, and Yang Dalong sighed, "How can we let the True Man be put in danger? If the True Man is harmed, I, Yang Zhen, will have nowhere to hide my shame!"

Zhou Yi smiled calmly: "If you want to talk about taking a risk, it's because I was touched by your loyalty. Parting is the most painful thing. I didn't want to disappoint you all, so I had this impulse."

Yang Zhen, Meng Degong, and Fan Naitang were deeply moved by these words.

Meng Degong wished he could go to the courtyard and shake the crape myrtle tree he had planted, and then send Master Yi off with another autumn snowfall.

Some people can never become close friends even after a lifetime of acquaintances, while others can be recognized as friends or brothers with just one sentence.

It was their first meeting, but the way they looked at Zhou Yi already showed that they considered him one of their own.

"How is Master Su's condition?" asked Doctor Wu.

"Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission and was ordered to remove part of the evil root. However, the evil poison in the orifice is really fierce. I almost fell victim to it. I can only proceed in stages and remove it gradually."

Zhou Yi had been keeping a low profile, but Dr. Wu still exclaimed, "What miraculous methods!"

"As expected of the extraordinary man of Wolonggang, Master Su is saved now."

Zhou Yi didn't reply, only saying, "I need to rest and recuperate. I'd like to trouble you, Boss, to provide me with a quiet room."

“Master Yi, come with me.”

Yang Zhen personally led the way, taking Zhou Yi to a rather elegant courtyard.

Even the previous Young Master Qin did not receive this treatment.

"Brother Su, are you feeling better?" Meng Degong asked with concern.

Su Yun didn't speak, but nodded.

A rosy hue returned to his face.

The Nanyang gang members breathed a sigh of relief, their faces beaming with joy.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Brother Su's life has been saved.

Zhou Yi wasn't there, so the right-hand men of the Nanyang Gang went to thank Ying Yu and Lü Wuxia.

The two juniors were overjoyed, as this was the first time in their lives they had been treated with such importance by a master from the Nanyang Gang.

Although the two of them did not use their true energy or internal force, if it weren't for them, no one else would know that there was such an extraordinary person on Wolong Mountain.

Seeing that Su Yun's condition had stabilized, he then asked out of curiosity how they met.

Lu Wuxia and Ying Yu then spoke in more detail, recounting their encounter with a Taoist priest carrying a Yin-Yang flag at the Sheqi Tea House.

Next came the story of Old Master Ren coming back to life, Master Yi lighting the candles seven times, and the subsequent delivery of a letter home over a thousand miles.

These things are both bizarre and amazing.

But this allowed them to see the extraordinary person's character and demeanor, and for a time they kept thinking about him, their feelings of regret for not having met him sooner grew stronger.

Meng Degong and Fan Naitang were overjoyed to learn that Zhou Yi was staying at Wuzhuang Temple.

Wolonggang is not far from the county seat, so we can have more dealings with them in the future.

Once Su Yun recovers from his injuries, we must pay him a visit to express our gratitude and hold a grand banquet.

That's what you call proper etiquette.

Young Master Qin listened with great interest. He had encountered many Jianghu (martial arts world) stories in Dongdu, but none were as novel as this.

Stepping outside, I see the autumn moon shining on the courtyard steps, and my gaze passes over the flowering trees.

The last traces of red petals still cling to the crape myrtle branches, like a beauty fading her makeup.

Suddenly, the figure in the green robe reappeared in his mind. He not only walked out of the moon cave, but also seemed to have entered his mind.

A fleeting green shadow lingered, causing confusion in my eyes.

This is a sign of mental instability.

what happened?

The handsome young man's expression changed, and he pursed his lips, as if three parts of his ethereal charm had been stripped away.

Inside the gang's quiet room, another young man in a blue robe also frowned.

Zhou Yi went from closing her eyes to opening them, and then closing them again.

It's really good
There were wisps of malevolent energy emanating from his own Tanzhong acupoint.

These malevolent energies did not exhibit a poisonous state; rather, they seemed to have been refined, appearing even purer than the malevolent root within Su Yun's acupoint.

Of course, the quantity has also been greatly reduced.

It is incredibly docile within the body, moving freely with the flow of Qi.

It completely transformed into a strange kind of energy within him.

Is this right?
Zhou Yi stroked his chin, pondering whether he should stand on a coffin and study the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique with the Emperor and the others at their next meeting.
After all, this was within the Nanyang Gang, so Zhou Yi only did a little research.

Only after repeatedly confirming that this vital energy would not cause any trouble within the Tanzhong acupoint did I feel at ease.

Going back on everything that happened tonight, apart from that guy who was most likely a woman disguised as a man, everything else was fine.

Given Yang Dalong's personality, this favor is no small matter.

If his identity as a Taoist priest is accidentally exposed in the future, he may find it difficult to utter the hurtful words.

Although Zhou Yi had schemed against the Nanyang Gang, he had a clear conscience.

After all, he really did save the person's life.
Thirty-seven days after the Lion King of the Sea Sand Gang was pruned by the Emperor.

On this day, the gloom that had hung over the Nanyang gang for some time was swept away.

Thanks to the desperate and painstaking efforts of the Abbot of Wuzhuang Temple in saving his life, Su Yun, the fourth-ranking figure in the Nanyang Gang, was finally out of danger.

The root of evil within the Tanzhong acupoint was completely removed.

This righteous and chivalrous Master Yi has become a highly sought-after figure in the Nanyang Gang.

Yang Dalong has given an order that none of the nearly six thousand members of the Nanyang Gang shall show any disrespect to this Master Yi, or they shall be punished in accordance with the gang rules.

At the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Zhou Yi refined the last bit of evil energy into his Tanzhong acupoint, finally completing the task.

What use is this evil and insidious evil energy other than as a foreign kind of true energy?

I really want to ask the Emperor and the others.

In just a few days, Zhou Yi still hadn't figured it out.

However, now there's another trick up your sleeve.

Once this thing is injected into the opponent's body, especially the Tanzhong acupoint, it will be an experience comparable to that of Su Yun.

After calming himself down, Zhou Yi opened the door.

Suddenly, light footsteps approached from afar.

The person who came did not stop walking, and Zhou Yi heard it clearly.

Footsteps echoed through the corridor and into the courtyard, the white robe fluttering in the wind, exuding elegance.

It was indeed that young master Qin, who was carrying a tea tray, apparently having received it from the gang's manager.

Zhou Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly smiled and said, "How could I trouble Miss Qin to serve tea?"

The word "Miss Qin" made her pause for a moment.

She used to speak with a very ethereal tone, but after he did that, she naturally became more down-to-earth and emotional.

"Brother Yi, you see through this but don't point it out. Why are you being so abrupt?"

In the center of the courtyard stands a small pavilion with four vermilion pillars, a roof covered with blue tiles, and copper bells hanging from the eaves.

A crape myrtle tree was also planted in the courtyard, its gnarled branches covering the pavilion, its crimson blossoms adorning the leaves.

Miss Qin flicked her sleeve to brush away the fallen petals from the stone table in the pavilion, placing a tea tray on it. Just then, a breeze passed by, and the eaves rustled softly. Zhou Yi went to greet her: "Miss Qin, please don't be offended. I, Yi, am always getting into trouble when I travel the world. It's all because I can't keep my mouth shut and just say whatever comes to mind."

Miss Qin began pouring tea: "Then, may I ask how to address you?"

"Naturally, I am Yi Daoren. I have long forgotten my secular name. May I ask how Miss Qin should address me?"

Upon hearing this, Miss Qin couldn't help but smile: "Brother Dao's skill in concealing words surpasses even that miraculous three-tenths of Yuan Qi. My name is Qin Chuan."

Qin Chuan, Qin Chuan.
Upon hearing the name, Zhou Yi's heart was in turmoil. He glanced at her and felt that her ethereal beauty and graceful bearing were even more pronounced.

Even the way she pours tea has an ethereal beauty; it's truly unimaginable.

That's right.
With this name, and this ethereal beauty...
It could only be Shi Feixuan, the holy maiden of Cihang Jingzhai.

He silently chanted "Master Sanchi" a few times to suppress all his distracting thoughts.

Zhou Yi saw through the Holy Maiden's true nature, but he didn't let her see any flaws.

He wasn't afraid of meeting this person.

Firstly, the saintess had a very good temper and would not kill people indiscriminately; secondly, her pursuit of truth did not interfere with her own affairs.

In short, I am not a member of the Demonic Sect, and I am not an enemy of Cihang Jingzhai.

Zhou Yi accepted the tea and thanked her. "Miss Qin, is there something important you need from me?"

“I went to Wuzhuang Temple the day before yesterday and felt that Brother Yi Dao’s identity was not simple.”

"and"

Shi Feixuan's eyes were fixed on Zhou Yi's face: "Brother Yi has already recognized me."

Zhou Yi shook his head: "I only know Miss Qin, I naturally don't know Shi Feixuan."

Shi Feixuan smiled charmingly: "Brother Dao was not lying after all; you can't hide your thoughts. I'm very curious, how did you figure out Feixuan's identity?"

“I have a good friend named Ya Daoren, and he has a disciple named Pan Shizheng. This nephew has had a lot of contact with Ning Sanren. Miss Qin, do you understand now?”

Zhou Yi was telling the truth.

The Holy Maiden was not as clever as the Celestial Master, and filled in the blanks in her mind.

Even information about the plans of Yu the Great can be traced back to the lineage of Pan Shizheng.

This is enough to prove that the person in front of you is a true member of the Taoist sect.

Suddenly, a meaningful smile appeared on her elegant and beautiful face: "Feixuan and Brother Pan are of the same generation."

"It's alright, let's each do our own thing."

Zhou Yi took a sip of tea: "Of course, I don't mind if you call me 'Uncle-Master'. Everyone gets old eventually, and I'm not afraid of being called old."

Shi Feixuan wasn't angry, after all, he called him "Junior Nephew Qin," and instead found his words amusing.

I never encountered a Taoist priest like this when I was in Luoyang.

"Brother Yi, could you satisfy Feixuan's curiosity?"

Zhou Yi met her gaze, while Shi Feixuan stared into his eyes, but detected no change in them.

This seemingly flippant fellow Daoist is actually a man of extremely firm will.

"There's no need for such curiosity. I'm just a drifting duckweed in the world, struggling to survive in this chaotic era. Why should I be taken seriously?"

Shi Feixuan gave him a deep look, but the Holy Maiden maintained her composure and did not press the matter further.

"I came to Nanyang at the invitation of Yang Dalong, but I didn't do much. Fellow Daoist, you saved Hall Master Su. I feel at ease. I'm both here to get to know you and to say goodbye."

"In addition, there is something else I would like to tell you."

"Please speak, Miss Qin."

Shi Feixuan said, "The Empress Yin has arrived in Nanyang."

Zhou Yi was shocked; this was a matter of life and death.

"Yang Dalongtou is preparing a grand banquet. Brother Dao should politely decline, lest you attract the attention of the Yin Empress and bring disaster upon yourself."

"Thanks for letting me know."

While Zhou Yi was still pondering, Shi Feixuan had already gotten up to take her leave.

As he saw her off from the courtyard, Zhou Yi's gaze did not linger on her disappearing, beautiful figure, but rather he was considering the matter of the Empress Dowager.

Once the Queen of the Underworld comes knocking, there is no chance of survival except to bow down and prostrate oneself before her, addressing her as the revered master.

But he didn't notice.
The immortal traces that were about to disappear in the Moon Cave paused and looked back.

Shi Feixuan opened her small, red lips and let out a soft breath. For some reason, she felt that this fellow Daoist had a certain charm that attracted her.

It's best to stay away.

The image of her in a blue robe amidst the floral rain from our first meeting seems impossible to erase from my mind.

Shi Feixuan bid farewell to the head of the temple and prepared to return to Cihang Jingzhai for quiet meditation.
……

In the evening, in Meiwu Lane, Chen Laomou immediately congratulated Zhou Yi upon seeing him.

"The Celestial Master has done such a great favor to the Nanyang Gang. Even if our identities are exposed, we don't need to worry about not being able to establish ourselves in Nanyang."

After Chen Laomou finished speaking, he saw that Zhou Yi remained silent and sensed something was wrong.

Could it be that they're still thinking about the fat duck from last time?
"Old Chen, there is something I need to do now. It is extremely dangerous, and if it is exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Old Chen sat down. "Please speak."

Zhou Yi lowered his voice and began to speak slowly.

Upon hearing this, Chen Laomou's expression changed drastically.

He hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Zhou Yi again:
"To plot against the Empress Dowager is utterly insane!"

"Can it be done?"

Old Chen paced back and forth, then steeled his resolve: "Do it."

Zhou Yi laughed: "Good brother! After you pass away, I will perform black sutra chanting for you."

"Let's say something auspicious," Chen Laomou said, not in the mood for jokes. "Just thinking about that he's the leader of the Demonic Sect makes me want to change my pants."

Suddenly he said:

"If I die of great misfortune, pick out a bright red coffin for me, and I'll rise from the dead at night to catch up with you."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Zhou Yi didn't gossip: "Yin Hou's arrival is most likely aimed at the mortuary. I want to use one tiger to devour another, and drive this threat of the mortuary away from me."

"You send your capable men to spread the word, and then send them all away by water to Jiangdu to find Brother Bu."

“You don’t need to teach me that,” Chen Laomou said, a little impatiently. “By the way, is your information reliable?”

"How did you know about the whereabouts of the Queen of the Underworld?"

Zhou Yi tapped the tea table lightly and said leisurely, "The Holy Maiden Cihang was captivated by my charm and spoke to me in a gentle voice."

Seeing that he wasn't joking, Chen Laomou shook his head: "The Holy Maiden is beyond saving; she shouldn't have met you."

Zhou Yi frowned: "You make it sound so serious. I've never let any girl down."

Old Chen chuckled and said, "Someone is asking about you."

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up when he thought of the forces behind the Kun Gang: "Could it be Little Phoenix?"

Old Chen did not answer, but suddenly his face became solemn, as if he was thinking of the matter of the Empress again.

Zhou Yi took his leave and went to a small winery in the city, which was owned by the Taiping Daoist Temple.

Tell them to go back to the temple and deliver the message.

Then, he returned to the Grand Dragon's residence.

Although he declined the offer to host a large banquet, he agreed to a ten-day family dinner.

The so-called "family banquet" was naturally for the core figures of the Nanyang gang.

Yang Zhen, Fan Naitang, Meng Degong, Su Yun who has resumed his actions, and six elders, including Master Lü Chong of the Tiankui Sect.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, we will no longer have to worry about being bullied by local forces in any future actions in Nanyang County.

The kind of fault-finding that the Tuanjiang School did is unlikely to happen again.

In Nanyang, relying on personal connections is considered a way to gain a foothold.

He should have felt at ease, but because of the matter of the Empress Dowager, Zhou Yi couldn't sleep well at night.

He kept track of news from inside the city.
……

Forty-six days after the Lion King of the Sea Sand Gang was pruned by the Emperor.

Southwest of Nanyang County.

As dusk fell, the sunset deepened, and the pine branches looked as if they were ablaze.

In the Black Stone Mortuary, Zhou Laotan, who was opening the coffin, heard a loud rustling sound of pine trees outside. Just as he was about to open the coffin, he suddenly stood still in the courtyard.

The same was true of the Demonic Sect Master who carried the one-legged bronze figure beside him.

Several experts flashed into the fire wall.

There were originally eight figures, but now only five remain.

The woman in palace attire, the emperor, Zhou Laotan, You Niaojuan, and a short, stout man all stared in the direction of the pine forest.

Three beautiful figures are moving through the pine forest.

The person at the very front moved with incredible speed, and in the blink of an eye, he was already standing on a tall pine tree.

She seemed weightless, gently stepping on the pine needles swaying in the west wind.

She was dressed simply and elegantly, her face hidden deep beneath a heavy veil, standing against the wind.

The wind seemed to pick up considerably as it approached her, causing her clothes and sleeves to flutter wildly, yet the pine needles beneath her remained motionless—a truly eerie and unpredictable scene.

A single glance from beneath the heavy veil was enough to make even the most powerful and ruthless master of the Demonic Sect feel deeply uncomfortable.

Elder Yun and Elder Xia appeared behind the woman in the heavy veil, smiling as they looked at the people on the fire wall.

Emperor Ding, Old Man Zhou, and the others exchanged a glance.

Old Zhou sighed and raised his voice, "What brings you here, Empress Dowager?"

Elder Yun asked, "Why are there only five of you? Where are the other experts from the Evil Extreme Sect?"

Yu Niaojuan spoke in an extremely unpleasant voice: "Naturally, it's inside the mortuary. You'll see it when you walk up."

Elder Yun ignored his words and suddenly asked, "Where is the current Evil Emperor?"

"The Sect Master has arrived. Please, Evil Emperor, show yourself."

Upon hearing this, Old Zhou and the others quickly exchanged glances.

Emperor Ding said in a sinister voice, "The Holy Emperor is not someone you can see whenever you want. Empress Yin, please leave."

at this time
A strange sense of spatial collapse lingered around the mortuary, and the sounds of the wind, pine forest, insects, and birds all disappeared!
The setting sun shining on the mortuary seemed to dim instantly.

"Since the Evil Emperor is not here, you can leave the highest secret of the Heavenly Demon Strategy behind and then you may leave."

His indifferent tone resonated in the ears of the five people.

"Empress Yin, what do you mean?"

Old Zhou snorted coldly: "The Yin Gui Sect is not revered by our Holy Sect, so what right does it have to access the scriptures of the two sects and the Six Paths?"

"Have the other factions and sects already obeyed the orders of the Yin Gui Sect?"

I don't think so.

Yu Niaojuan sneered: "Are you really confident you can take us down?"

He coldly threatened, "If Empress Yin dares to make a move today, she will be mortal enemies with my Holy Extreme Sect. Now that the Holy Emperor has returned, you should consider the consequences."

"Oh? What kind of consequences would that be?"

Empress Yin smiled faintly, then suddenly reached out. The five people on the fire wall instantly felt an extremely terrifying suction force, which was about to pull them towards the pine forest.

With that slender hand turning gently.

The feeling of space collapsing is getting stronger and stronger!
How could they not know that this was no longer the spatial chapter of the Heavenly Demon Great Art, but the disintegration chapter leading to the seventeenth level!

Although they were able to resist at this moment, they were filled with dread.

This is the power of the head of the eight great masters of the Demonic Sect!

She has mastered the Heavenly Demon Technique to the point of being able to do whatever she wants, omnipotent, and reaching a state of divine perfection!

"Empress Yin, do you truly intend to do this?!"

Old Zhou sighed, his anger surging. He hated nothing more than being disturbed when he was conducting martial arts research.

But the person before him was someone he couldn't kill even if he wanted to.

The humiliation of today will surely be repaid in the future!
Zhu Yuyan's voice remained unchanged: "I'll give you five breaths. Hand over the Dao Heart Demon Seed Scroll."

Elder Yun and Elder Xia were ready to make their move.

At this moment, You Niaojuan looked behind them and suddenly exclaimed, "Shi Zhixuan!"

In an instant, a gap appeared in the Heavenly Demon Technique.

The five members of the Firewall unleashed a palm strike simultaneously, then retreated rapidly in different directions!
Empress Yin's cold eyes flashed like lightning. The Heavenly Demon Force dissipated the palm strike, and then the demonic shadow moved swiftly, chasing after You Niaojuan.

Without turning his head, the weary bird used the ultimate lightness skill of the Reverse Movement School, the Great Escape Technique, to flee for his life.

The two rushed into the forest at an unimaginable speed.

Elder Yun and Elder Xia chased after them for a while, but lost sight of them.

"The Sect Master is angry. He originally wanted to give the Evil Emperor some face and didn't intend to kill him, but this You Niao Juan insisted on courting death."

Elder Xia stopped.

Elder Yun cautiously said, "Continue following the trail, don't stop here. If the Evil Emperor returns at this time, and the Sect Master isn't here, we'll both have to flee for our lives."

She finished speaking and chased after him.

Elder Xia thought about it and realized it made perfect sense; she also didn't want to face the Evil Emperor alone.
The sun set, and the fog was very thick in the evening.

Inside the Blackstone Mortuary, two short, stout figures appeared, and a woman in palace attire returned.

Jin Huanzhen asked, "Why risk coming back?"

"Hey, these belongings are very useful, we can't throw them away."

Old Zhou sighed as he hoisted a huge vermilion coffin onto his shoulder: "That old hag Zhu Yuyan forced me to move today. Once I've mastered my great technique, I will surely take my revenge."

Another short, stout man asked, "When will we have to wait?"

"Hmph, we've made great progress. If you lure a few more experts over, I'll need more scriptures and texts, which will speed things up."

The short, stout man responded.

Jin Huanzhen shook her palace skirt: "This place has been exposed, we can't come back."

"Burned!"

Old Zhou sighed, "Burn it down, put the blame on the Yin Gui Sect. Now I am the Yin Gui Sect's creditor, and I will settle accounts with them sooner or later."

"Where's Ding Jiuzhong? Should we contact him?"

"No need for now. He hasn't killed anyone from the Pushan public estate for a few days. He'll come looking for us after he's done killing a few people."

Old Zhou sighed, "I can understand the hatred of having my family destroyed, just like you."

He then expressed his praise: "Our Evil Extreme Sect is known for its revenge, and Senior Brother Ding is quite good at that. It will be extremely satisfying to see him cut off Li Mi's dog head."

"Let's go, let's go! You're so nagging."

The short, fat man muttered a complaint.

Old Zhou opened the vermilion coffin and looked inside. Inside was a man of extremely tall stature.

It was the top expert who had studied the Great Law with them that day.

Old Zhou sighed and sneered: "You even dared to try to take away the sect's secret scroll. You're really courting death. This is a truly wonderful technique that even the Empress of Yin couldn't obtain."

"However, this guy is an important material and has great use."

Soon, a fire broke out at Blackstone Mortuary.

The three carried a large coffin upstream, heading towards the territory of the cannibal Zhu Can.
……

Inside the Yangxing Association in Nanyang County.

Ji Yinong didn't sleep all night. The next day at noon, he received a message.

Fire at Blackstone Mortuary!

That terrifying den of evil sects was thus destroyed.

While other forces within the city were confused, Ji Yinong was extremely excited, as he clearly knew what had happened.

This feeling of knowing the secrets of the underworld gave him a sense of superiority over others.

Soon.
He knew this wasn't a good thing; Elder Yun had returned.

Looking at this young old hag, Ji Yinong asked in fear, "Elder, when will the Sect Master arrive?"

"left already."

Upon hearing this, Ji Yinong felt both disappointed and relieved.

Elder Yun suddenly frowned and reminded him, "Be careful."

"We didn't see the Evil Emperor this time, but we fought with the people of the Evil Extreme Sect. You mustn't expose yourself, otherwise the Evil Emperor will come after you. The Sect Master isn't in Nanyang."

Ji Yinong was sweating profusely and repeatedly agreed.

The old saying in the martial arts world is true: the more secrets you know, the more dangerous it is.

"Elder, I have something to report."

"what's up?"

Ji Yinong said, "Su Yun, an old man under Yang Zhen, was seriously injured and had no way to be cured, but now he has been cured by a Taoist priest from Wuzhuang Temple."

"A member of the Taoist sect?"

"Yes."

Elder Yun rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit of a headache: "You can investigate, but it's best not to cause any unnecessary trouble. The matter of the Evil Extreme Sect hasn't been resolved yet."

"In addition, the Sect Master asked you to investigate and find out where the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique was spread in Nanyang City."

"As ordered."

"I'm going to Xiangyang. You can handle things in the city yourself."

Ji Yinong responded, and Elder Yun came and went in a hurry.

With the Blackstone Mortuary matter resolved and the Tuanjiang faction overthrown, they must regain power within the city.

Ji Yinong, disregarding sleep, went out, hailed a gang carriage, and headed east towards the Chaoshui Gang and Jingshan Sect.
On the main road of Nanyang County.

Zhou Yi sat in front of a wonton stall eating wontons, watching the carriages coming and going, thinking back to the first few days after entering the city.

At that time, I didn't recognize many of the gang flags.

Now I know everyone by name, so I can be considered a semi-local.

such as
Just now, a luxurious carriage drove past him. Zhou Yi not only recognized it as the Yangxing Society's symbol, but also recognized Ji Yinong, who was peeking out of the carriage with half his face.

This guy owes him ten shops.

This debt relationship left a very deep impression.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhou Yi bought a few more cooked ducks and headed openly towards the west of the city.

It seems the Empress was truly powerful; with so many experts in the mortuary, she managed to burn down their stronghold.

After confirming with Mr. Chen several times, the person who spread the news went to Jiangdu overnight.

After all, they make a living by selling information. With the Baling Gang driven out by Yang Zhen, the Kun Gang lost its rival. The Yangxing Society's people weren't professional enough, making it difficult to find out about Chen Laomou's elite troops.

Now that they have established good relations with the Nanyang Gang and the Tiankui Sect, the threat to Black Stone Mortuary has temporarily disappeared.

Zhou Yi felt as if the heavy weight on his chest had been lifted, and he felt much lighter.

Next, we will manage the temple well in all aspects, and then we will feel more and more secure in Nanyang.

He carried the cooked duck and hummed an unknown tune as he left the city.

It was late autumn, and the fields were vast and desolate. Where the flat fields ended, withered grass stretched to the horizon.

The scene was originally bleak and desolate, but Zhou Yi was in a good mood and felt that late autumn had a lot of wild charm.

Heading towards Wolong Mountain, wild chrysanthemums lined the roadside, their white petals glistening with dew, still exuding a delicate fragrance.

Zhou Yi picked a few wild chrysanthemums from the roadside and was about to compose a poem when the sunlight shone, and a red glimmer flashed by in the distance among the yellow reeds.

If it weren't for his keen senses, he would have had no chance of discovering it.

He let out a soft exclamation and stepped forward to investigate, and sure enough, he found something!

Hidden in the grass was a long, fiery red sword.

Just as I was about to take a closer look, I saw that the marks on the ground were getting more and more messy, and the wild chrysanthemums had been trampled over. Following the marks, I came all the way to the banks of the Baihe River.

Zhou Yi glanced into the distance, then examined the long sword in his hand.

He frowned and walked up.

A curvaceous young woman was lying on her back by the river.
Her eyes were tightly closed; her fate was unknown.
……

(End of this chapter)