Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 97 Instantly Becoming a Demon, Shaking the World

Wolong Mountain and Wuzhuang Temple.

Four people stood under the eaves of the porch facing the peach tree in the backyard: one was painting, and the other three were watching.

The painter's blue robe was disheveled, his shoes and socks were wet, and a few strands of wet hair clung to his cheeks.

He took up his brush and painted a magnificent spring scene on silk.

He should be full of vitality and all things are flourishing, but he himself carries a desolate and detached air, giving people a sense of "autumn has always been a season of sorrow and loneliness".

Those who view the painting cannot help but feel its contradictions.

The painting depicts several green bamboo stalks, a few peach trees, and a flock of plump ducks with long necks and abundant feathers playing and frolicking in the water.

This painting combines stillness and movement, with smooth and simple lines that convey emotion through the scene. It is a masterpiece of ink painting.

The three viewers then saw that one of the celestial masters who was painting had thrown in the ink and brush washer, and the painting was now complete.

He then recited: "Two or three peach blossoms bloom outside the bamboo grove; the ducks are the first to know when the spring river warms."

The Uyghur girl stared at the painting, lost in thought.

Yan Qiu asked, "Senior brother, you are inspired to write poetry and paint, but you lack the sentiment of early spring. What's going on?"

Ina's thoughts were interrupted, and she turned to look at the other young Taoist.

Xia Shu covered her mouth and laughed, "Senior brother just fought fiercely and lost a duck due to carelessness. Let me calculate. This Plum Blossom Sect Master lost a koi fish while fishing and lost all his sword moves in the sword fight, but he still won a duck. He won one out of three rounds, so he didn't lose face completely."

The Uyghur girl and Yan Qiu responded with an "Oh".

Yan Qiu had a vivid imagination: "If Sect Leader Ding gets his senior brother's duck, he can offer it to the two ghosts, the ox and the horse, on the road to the underworld. The ox and the horse in the underworld will give his senior brother face, so Sect Leader Ding won't have to wait in line to be reincarnated."

A fleeting smile crossed Aruina's deep blue eyes.

Zhou Yi glanced at the three of them, too lazy to reply.

"This painting is for me, cousin," the girl said in a cool, clear voice.

Zhou Yi initially wanted to refuse outright, but upon hearing the last two words, he nodded again. It seemed the Uyghur girl had figured out his personality.

Hearing footsteps, Zhou Yi turned and left the backyard, heading towards the main hall of the Taoist temple.

"Brother Zhou, a letter from Pegasus Ranch, written in the handwriting of the mall owner himself."

He took the letter from Shan Xiongxin and asked with a smile, "How are things going with the Dangyang caravan?"

"With Yang Dalong taking action, the minor troubles naturally disappear. The two leaders of the caravan feel they owe you too much and want to share more profits with the temple."

"No need, just refuse for me directly, so they don't have to make another trip."

Zhou Yi glanced at the letter and said, "In a while, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to make a trip towards Xiangyang."

Shan Xiongxin rubbed his hands together: "Who are they going to attack?"

Zhou Yi said, "There is a group called Plum Blossom Gate that roams north of Xiangyang. This group makes a living by robbing and plundering, and there are probably about a hundred of them."

"Plum Blossom Gate"

Old Dan often went out on business and was basically a local. After a moment's thought, he thought, "These hundred or so people are not a problem, but their leader is more difficult to deal with."

"The Plum Blossom Sect Master is dead."

Zhou Yi then told him about things like Keerpo, and Shan Xiongxin's face darkened:
"Then these people deserve to die even more."

“Recently, everyone’s fire skills have improved greatly, and there are already thirteen bodyguards. I’ll take them out to ride horses and fight, to train their horsemanship and spear skills, and to forge their fighting spirit.”

"And collect some debts from the Plum Blossom Sect while we're at it."

Zhou Yi wholeheartedly agreed: "Not bad, not bad."

Shan Xiongxin added, "We're familiar with Chief Lou, so buying a dozen or so horses is no problem for us."

"One thing at a time. If you take a bribe, you're obligated to do it. Don't let them give it away for free."

"It's natural."

Shan Xiongxin agreed and then suddenly said, "By the way, I've been traveling around Nanyang lately, and quite a few brave men have expressed their desire to join the temple. Do you have any plans to expand its scale?"

“There are quite a few idle martial artists in Nanyang. With the reputation of the Wuzhuang Temple Master, once he opens up recruitment, it probably won’t be long before he can replace the Tuanjiang Sect and become the eighth power.”

After considering it for a moment, Zhou Yi asked, "What's your opinion?"

Shan Xiongxin organized his thoughts: "Actually, the people outside are of varying quality, so I don't recommend recruiting a large number of people. Firstly, it's a waste of money; secondly, there's no war going on; and thirdly, it's too conspicuous."

"However, we can train them first, and select some reliable and talented ones to be placed in the Taoist temple's departments."

"Select the best and discard the worst."

"Brother Zhang will teach the horses, and I will supervise their training. Sooner or later, we will be able to build a formidable army."

Zhou Yi nodded and said, "Let's do it your way. Actually, I'm not good at these things."

Shan Xiongxin stroked his beard and smiled: "Then I, Old Shan, am of some use."

Zhou Yi smiled and patted him on the back, then pulled him to sit down and drink tea.

A moment later, Zhang Chi, the equestrian instructor, also ran in, and the three of them made some arrangements regarding the Plum Blossom Gate incident.

Zhou Yi then asked them to contact Chen Laomou.

Debts that can be settled immediately will absolutely not be held overnight.

With the arrangements complete, Zhou Yi opened the letter sent by the mall owner.

The handwriting on the paper is beautiful, but it's far from delicate; the last character is sharp and angular.

This is not surprising, after all, the owner of the arena possesses superb swordsmanship.

Zhou Yi nodded to himself as he read the contents of the letter.

It was actually just a very ordinary thank-you letter. Ranch Mountain City expressed its gratitude for the help from Wuzhuang Temple, talked about the recent situation of the Dangyang caravan, mentioned the trade with the tribes outside the Great Wall, and the importance attached to Nanyang.

Jingling, following the Han River northward to Xiangyang, and then to Nanyang, was a vital transportation route.

We hope that both sides can benefit from this cooperation and continue to cooperate.

Pegasus Ranch operates on a business-like basis, and this letter is largely written in a business-like tone.

The Wuzhuang Temple naturally followed the same pattern of communication as other major powers.

but
At the end of the letter, however, there was an additional, unrelated sentence:

"According to Chief Chen, I met the abbot once, but I can't recall it no matter how hard I try. I hope Abbot Yi can enlighten me."

The signature at the end was Shang Xiuxun.

Zhou Yi smiled slightly and replied with a formal letter.

then
Then I found a delicate paintbrush and used light colors to outline a painting.

The painting depicts more than a dozen tall, magnificent horses, which he portrays with exaggerated style, as if these horses were about to ride on clouds to the heavens. On top of the horses are knights in golden armor, solemn and dignified.

They were gathered around a sedan chair, whose curtains were lifted.

Zhou Yi painted the beauty behind the curtain as a little girl, probably only ten years old, who was very cute, holding a fruit with a smile on her face.

Although it appears childish, upon closer inspection, it possesses a certain charm reminiscent of a ranch owner.

Outside the carriage, a young Taoist priest was depicted. He had a serious expression, holding an abacus in one hand and a whisk in the other, looking rather incongruous.
After a long period of time, Zhou Yi completed this masterpiece with the style of ink wash comics.

He neither revealed his identity nor failed to explain the brief encounter.

Master Zhou examined the painting closely and exclaimed that it was art.

I felt my artistic spirit soar to the heavens, far surpassing anything I had ever experienced before.

In my excitement, I rushed out of the room as the sun was setting and arrived at the Sword Dance Pavilion.

The day after returning to the mountain, although Lao Dan had conveyed a message, the two leaders of the Dangyang caravan still came to express their gratitude.

Zhou Yi then gave Chen Ruiyang a sealed, emerald green bamboo tube.

There was a letter inside, which he was to give to Shang Xiuxun.

About half an hour later, Lou Ruodan and Chen Ruiyang descended Wolong Mountain.

"Boss, can you guess what's inside?"

Chen Ruiyang stared blankly at the bamboo tube.

Lou Ruodan gazed at Nanyang: "What does Brother Chen want to say now?"

"If it were just a letter, why go to such lengths? This thing holds a great secret."

Chen Ruiyang confidently stated, "I've said before that a single meeting is not a simple matter, but unfortunately we didn't understand the unspoken meaning, which is truly a pity."

“It’s simple,” Lou Ruodan said. “Just ask the venue owner directly.”

"Where would I find the guts?"

Chen Ruiyang shook his head and said, "The gang leader can ask him."

Lou Ruodan chuckled and refused to continue the conversation.

She naturally knew that her master was aloof and self-admiring, but that wasn't a compliment, so she didn't bother to explain and simply assumed that Chen Ruiyang had suffered a qi deviation during his practice and gone mad.
Ding Menzhu was buried at Jianbai River on the tenth day.

"Sect Leader Ding is missing, but the Abbot is still alive. It seems Sect Leader Ding has no chance of returning."

Inside Huo's shop, Ke'erpo looked grim.

Ren Zhi asked, "Are there any other experts?"

“Yes,” Kolpo frowned, “but I don’t want to send anyone out again. This person’s background is mysterious, and you should investigate him thoroughly. Sect Leader Ding is a sharp sword, and it would be a real pity for him to die like this.”

“He has done Yang Zhen a great favor. Yang Zhen is watching you closely, so the people of your Jingshan Sect cannot make a move.”

"The Khan's matter is more important right now. Let's put it aside for now. Once this important matter is settled, others will take care of it for us. Brother Ren, you can rest assured."

Ren Zhi looked gloomy: "That's all we can do."

"Next month, it will be our faction's turn to defend the city gates, and I will fully cooperate with you."

Korpo nodded in satisfaction and added reassuringly, "This man killed Master Ding, thus incurring the Khan's wrath. Dealing with him is only a matter of time."

Ren Zhi smiled and raised his glass to drink with Ke Erpo.

At the same time
From the west of Nanyang, a dozen or so riders were kicking up dust as they moved south toward Xinye.

The Plum Blossom Clan had been causing havoc in the Xiangyang area for a long time. The Five Evils of Plum Blossom, led by Gu Yue, were even more famous than their master, Master Ding.

If this happened in Nanyang, this kind of person would have been chopped up by the Nanyang gang long ago.

However, the situation in Xiangyang Prefecture was different.

The lines between the legitimate and criminal worlds are not so clearly defined here.

Currently, the one who controls Xiangyang is Qian Duguan, the leader of the Hanshui faction. No one in the local government dares to offend him. He has connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds, and is somewhere between good and evil. He runs a silk business and is very wealthy.

In Xiangyang, Qian Duguan was practically the only one who could get the reins of things.

The Plum Blossom Sect is evil, but Qian Duguan won't interfere, because many of his subordinates are just as corrupt as the Plum Blossom Sect.

If the Plum Blossom Sect is wiped out, won't those who follow him live in constant fear?

This powerful leader of the Qian family established a rule that he would remain neutral in all conflicts and feuds within the martial arts world, as long as his interests were not harmed.

Under these rules, the Plum Blossom Sect was able to stir up trouble.

But these days, they've had a really bad run of luck.

The sect's headquarters between Anyang and Xinye was attacked in the dead of night. More than forty people were killed, and seven or eight houses were burned down, leaving not a single good tile behind.

Three of the Five Evils of Plum Blossom died that night. The remaining two returned to investigate, only to be chased and killed by a group of fierce cavalry.

This group of men were all tall and strong, carrying long spears and lances.

Although the number of people was small, their impact was enormous.

The chase ended with the two villains dying at the Han River dock, their bodies drifting towards Hannan, Xiangyang.

Within a few days, the gang of thieves who had been terrorizing the area was almost completely wiped out.

A few vagrants were so frightened that they fled to distant places and never dared to return.

The Plum Blossom Sect has been completely erased from the martial arts world.

In this chaotic world, a tiny ripple has been stirred.

The next day, the Han River faction retrieved the body of Gu Le, the chief culprit of the Plum Blossom Clan, from the moat of Xiangyang. They carried the body all the way to the Qian family.

Qian Duguan was extremely wealthy. In addition to his main residence, he also owned four other villas in the city, where he kept mistresses.

Several familiar subordinates carried Gu Le's body to the vicinity of "Cangqing Pavilion".

This is the residence of Bai Qing'er, Qian Duguan's most beloved concubine.

"Boss, this is the person you've been looking into recently."

Outside the Cangqing Pavilion, a tall, slender, and handsome middle-aged man with a stern expression stood.

He examined Gu Le's body, inquired about the situation of the Plum Blossom Gate, and then waved for people to carry the body away.

He turned around and went back inside, where two people were sitting.

One of them was exceptionally beautiful, with a chillingly alluring charm; it was Bai Qing'er.

There was another person beside her, a woman who looked very young but was full of signs of age.

Qian Duguan was very respectful to the two of them.

"What is it?" the woman asked casually.

Qian Duguan said, "The Plum Blossom Sect has been wiped out. It seems that the people came from the direction of Nanyang. I heard that these men in black are extremely fierce and mostly practice Qi of Gangsha. I didn't know there was such a group in Nanyang. I wonder who that guy surnamed Ding offended."

"Elder Yun came from Nanyang, so he should know more than I do."

Elder Yun, who had been leaning back in his chair, straightened up slightly.

Bai Qing'er and Qian Duguan both sensed something was amiss.

Qian Duguan's expression became more serious: "Is there something wrong?"

“Nanyang has been quite turbulent lately, with the Evil Extreme Sect being extremely active.”

Elder Yun tilted his head, looking somewhat troubled: "The Sect Master originally wanted to speak with the current Evil Emperor, but the Evil Emperor was unwilling to show himself. I think he is probably practicing the Dao Heart Demon Seed Technique."

"Once he shows up in the future, he will probably have mastered it."

"If we run into each other again at that time, it will definitely not be a good thing."

Qian Duguan frowned: "Could this matter be related to the Evil Extreme Sect?"

“It’s not that coincidental,” Elder Yun glanced at him, “but what you need to do right now is to take control of Xiangyang. Once you are needed to rise to power, you must ensure that you can become the city lord of Xiangyang at any time.”

"Don't worry about the Plum Blossom Gate matter. The waters of Nanyang run deep, and it's beyond your control."

"There's not much progress on Ji Yinong's side. You can't get caught up in the Nanyang vortex. If the Evil Extreme Sect targets you, it'll be another big problem."

Qian Duguan nodded, suppressing his thoughts of investigating the Plum Blossom Gate.

Bai Qing'er asked, "Uncle-Master Yun, do you know what Master's attitude is towards the Evil Emperor?"

"The Sect Master naturally hopes to unify the Demonic Sect."

"Qing'er, why don't you go and handle the matters in Nanyang for me?"

Bai Qing'er smiled and said, "If Martial Aunt can get Master's permission, Qing'er would be happy to help."

Elder Yun tapped his head with his finger, looking helpless.

Bai Qing'er asked again, "Why haven't I heard from Senior Sister lately?"

"Her?"

Elder Yun said, "There were rumors about a fifth extraordinary book circulating some time ago. She had just come out of seclusion and became curious, so she went to look for the Taiping Hongbao, but nothing came of it."

“She had been keeping an eye on Yang Zhen’s search for the Jingnian Zen Temple in Luoyang in order to deal with the Evil Extreme Sect.”

"I do hope Wan'er can go to Nanyang, so I can have a helper."

She was about to continue when she heard footsteps outside.

"Elder, a letter has arrived from Nanyang."

"Was it sent by Ji Yinong?"

"Exactly."

"Bring it"

Elder Yun opened the letter, his brows furrowing slightly. Seeing the other two looking curious, he handed them the letter.

After reading it, the two understood Yun Caiwen's words even more.

"Uncle-Master, is this truly a demonic seed planted in the Dao Heart?"

"It must have been practiced by someone from the Evil Extreme Sect."

Yun Caiwen stood up halfway through her sentence: "Ji Yinong cannot be harmed. Xiangyang and Nanyang are extremely important places. The Sect Master has already finished explaining to you. I will return to Nanyang now."

Qian Duguan responded, thinking to himself, "You've been dragging this out in Xiangyang for so many days already."
While Elder Yun was still on his way, more than a dozen riders had already returned to Wolonggang.

Some people were responsible for watching the horses, while the rest carried or shouldered seven or eight large boxes up the hill.

"Get rich?"

Zhou Yi smiled as he looked at the large boxes.

“The Plum Blossom Sect does have some ill-gotten gains, but most of them are weapons. I thought it would be a waste to throw them away, so I brought them all back.”

After reporting the battle results, Shan Xiongxin added:

“We came across the Han River gang. They were on a boat on the water and waved to me, but I ignored them and left with my men.”

Zhou Yi nodded: "Those are Qian Duguan's subordinates. He has the Yin Gui Sect behind him, so we can't touch them for now."

Shan Xiongxin was slightly startled and said, "That was close."

As for where Zhou Yi got his information, Lao Dan didn't even ask.

Two young Taoist boys ran out to sort through the valuables. Zhou Yi and Shan Xiongxin entered the temple together and talked about the battle situation these days.

Some returned injured, but fortunately, their bodies were protected by internal energy, preventing them from sustaining fatal injuries.

Zhou Yi then spoke with Shan Xiongxin about the changes that had occurred in the city.

After drinking a few cups of tea, Shan Xiongxin, who had only recently returned to the mountain, went to Nanyang City again.

News of Chen Laomou reached the mountain.

There's relatively little news about the old demon of Champion City; most of it is related to Ren Zhi, that guy is still up to no good.

In addition, there has been recent unrest in the city.

A master has been killing people in the city; several major factions have lost members, and all of them have been tainted by demonic energy.

The city of Nanyang, which had only recently settled down, has now entered another vortex.

Recalling the situation in the parliament hall that day, and combining it with Yang Zhen's recent actions and Chen Laomou's news, Zhou Yi had a vague grasp of the situation.

However, some things need to be said face to face.

He had been practicing his martial arts for a while, but his progress wasn't very fast, so he had no interest in going into the city.

Perhaps Yang Dalongtou can handle the mess without his intervention.
Ding Menzhu was buried in Jianbaihe on the twenty-eighth day.

In the fields of Nanyang, the yang energy is just beginning to stir.

In the countryside, farmers carry plows and women carry baskets and jugs of water, rushing to the fields in an endless stream.

Three riders were leaving the county town, taking the route through Wolong.

Yang Zhen was dressed very simply, in a gray robe, without any gold, silver, or jade pendants. If it weren't for his hidden great power and extraordinary eyesight, one would probably mistake him for an ordinary old man.

Su Yun and Meng Degong stood on the left and right, respectively, slightly behind by half a body length.

None of the three carried weapons or any bundles of miscellaneous goods.

His gaze drifted across the fields and ridges, where he saw the local people driving yellow cattle.

"Why did the head of the dragon suddenly decide to seek out Master Yi today?"

Meng Degong continued, "Recently, Abbot Yi has been cultivating in seclusion within the temple. We haven't heard from the disciples guarding the city that he has entered the city. If the Grand Master inquires about the troubles within the city, I'm afraid there will be no answer."

Yang Zhen's furrowed brows relaxed slightly:
"Not necessarily, let's go ask them."

Su Yun suggested, "Should we bring out the corpses from the city for Abbot Yi to examine?"

“Who carries a corpse up the mountain for a wedding? That’s outrageous.”

As the three talked, they soon approached the foot of Wolong Mountain.

Suddenly, Yang Zhen reined in his horse and pointed to a field at the foot of the mountain.

In the field, a man was seen wielding farm tools, breaking up stubborn clods and leveling the ridges.

On the ridges of the field beside it, there were piles of weeds and wild vegetables.

Su Yun was taken aback: "Master Yi."

He shouted, and a young man in the field rolled up his sleeves and turned around.

Upon seeing the three, he smiled warmly.

The three dismounted and chased after him into the field. "Why is the abbot doing farm work?"

"What's so strange about that?"

Zhou Yi stood with his hoe on his hand, saying, "I am ignorant of the will of Heaven and the general trend of the world. Now I am living in peace in a corner of the country, working as a farmer in Nanyang. It is good enough."

Upon hearing this, Su Yun shook his head vigorously: "Master, please don't joke. If all the farmers in Nanyang were like you, that would be terrible."

Yang Zhen's aged eyes held a profound depth.

He suddenly smiled, picked up a hoe from the edge of the field, and joined Zhou Yi in breaking up the soil and weeding.

"Does this field belong to Wuzhuang Temple?"

“That’s right,” Zhou Yi pointed to the side, “There are two small plots of land over there that also belong to the Taoist temple.”

“My mind has been unstable lately when I practice martial arts, so I’m looking for something to do.”

"This is a good method."

Looking at Yang Zhen, who was more skilled at hoeing than himself, Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask, "Did the Great Dragon Head come to see me because of the demonic energy that suddenly appeared in the city?"

Yang Zhen nodded: "I was just about to ask the abbot for advice."

“Recently, I have dispatched a large number of people to Champion City to guard it closely.”

"But we don't know where this person came from. We feel like he's in the city, but every time he kills someone, we can't find his background. We also contacted Wu Dexiu and screened some suspicious people, but we found nothing."

Zhou Yi asked, "Did any of the factions die?"

"No, no one from the Chaoshui Gang or the Zhenyang Gang died."

"Chief Zeng and Chief Hou cooperated very well, screening everyone who seemed to have the skills of that demon, but still couldn't find any clues."

After Yang Zhen finished speaking, he noticed that Zhou Yi remained silent for a while.

After a short while, he said:
"There's one person you probably haven't investigated."

Upon hearing this, the three of them looked over.

"Master Yi, who is this person?"

Zhou Yi looked towards Nanyang: "That's the survivor from the council hall that day, Qiu Qianbo, the leader of the Gray-Clad Gang."

"What?!" Su Yun and Meng Degong were taken aback.

Even Yang Zhen felt a chill in his heart.

They had suspected many people, even the leader of the Zhenyang Gang, Hou, but they didn't trust this leader Qiu.

"If the Gray-Clad Gang elders had really gone all out that day, Gang Leader Qiu would most likely not have survived. Wu Dexiu also said that Gang Leader Qiu is a martial arts fanatic and he is easily swayed."

"He also had demonic energy in his body that day, which was conveniently covered by a palm strike from his disciple, who thought that someone had punched it into his body."

"The reason why no one from the Zhenyang Gang and the Chaoshui Gang died is probably because their bases are the furthest away from the Gray-Clad Gang."

If the previous sentence was merely conjecture, the following sentence sent a chill down the spines of Yang Zhen and his two companions.

If it really is Chief Qiu, then he certainly has the ability to throw Nanyang into chaos, and most people would probably not suspect him.

Zhou Yi could tell they were increasingly eager to leave: "Big Boss, you two brothers, you can go ahead and get busy."

“If there are too many weeds, the crops won’t grow. I have to get rid of these weeds.”

Yang Zhen silently clasped his hands in a fist and withdrew from the field.

Su Yun greeted, "Master, we'll come to see you another day."

"it is good."

As the three turned their horses around and returned along the same route, they couldn't help but look back at the young figures working in the fields under the morning light.

"drive!"

"drive!"

Yang Zhen urged his horse on and headed straight for the county town.

Around noon, a commotion broke out within the Gray-Clad Gang of Nanyang City.

Seven or eight corpses lay on the ground, while the remaining hundreds of people all looked up at the roof.

The gang members stared in disbelief. The demonic figure on the roof, radiating a murderous aura, was none other than their gang leader!
Qiu Qianbo's wife and children also looked terrified.

If the facts weren't right in front of them, they would hardly believe what they were seeing.

Meng Degong coldly questioned, "Chief Qiu, why did you do this?"

"Everyone has their own ambitions. I yearn for the pinnacle of martial arts, but I have no chance to reach it. It's that simple."

Unlike those who had fallen into demonic possession, Chief Qiu spoke calmly, and his pupils were not as blood-red as Elder Chu of the Tiankui Sect. He had not burned himself out.

"Are you not crazy?"

"Why would I go crazy? If you don't interfere, I can just keep acting for a while longer and get more techniques from the old monster of the demonic sect."

"It's no wonder that Qiu became the leader of a gang."

"After I came into contact with this old demon's secret techniques, I resisted the inner demon's illusions with my unwavering determination to explore the martial arts. I took the opportunity to study them and even managed to find a loophole. I then used this loophole to reverse and utilize his methods."

"Hmph, this is the price he pays for underestimating me."

If it weren't for the demonic aura emanating from him, Qiu Qianbo's demeanor and appearance at this moment would have made him resemble an arrogant, scholarly general.

Qiu Qianbo sighed: "It's all over now that the secret has been exposed."

"Sigh, I never expected that you would see through my self-inflicted injury, which almost cost me my life."

"Big Boss, I admire your wisdom to the extreme."

He then looked at Yang Zhen:

"However, things are different now. With my current skill level, if I were to fight desperately, it would be absolutely impossible for you to emerge unscathed."

As Qiu Qianbo spoke, he raised his right hand, and his palm was enveloped in rolling evil energy, with a fierce gust of wind emanating in all directions.

This one move alone proves that what he said is true.

Even more astonishing is that Qiu Qianbo is exuding an aura of indifference to life and death and a direct confrontation with the martial arts.

If it comes to a battle, he will combine his strengths and sublimate his power, fighting until he is completely consumed by the flames.

That is something Elder Chu and his ilk could never compare to.

Yang Zhen ignored his words and simply asked, "What are you planning to do? Go to Champion City and join the Demonic Sect?"

Qiu Qianbo said, "If I go to Champion City, I will die immediately."

“That old demon will never allow someone like me to exist. This is the ultimate mockery of him, you could say it’s an insult. I, Qiu, will stay far away from this place and wander the world.”

Yang Zhen pondered for a moment: "Brother Qiu was able to leave alive today not because of your skill."

"It's because we've known each other for so many years."

"Go away, and never come back."

Chief Qiu gave Yang Zhen a deep look, then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Fan Naitang, Meng Degong, and Su Yun.

"Qiu Wenzhong".

Chief Qiu shouted.

"Dad~!"

A man nearing thirty years old knelt down, let out a pitiful cry, and kowtowed repeatedly.

Upon seeing this, Qiu Qianbo's demonic energy fluctuated slightly, but quickly hardened again:

“Over the years, I have neglected worldly affairs, and you have managed the gang very well. That’s excellent. From now on, you will follow the leader.”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

With a cold expression, Fan Naitang said, "Chief Qiu is truly a ruthless person."

"Hahaha!"

Qiu Qianbo laughed heartily, completely unconcerned, as if he had broken free from all shackles.

"Brother Yang, farewell."

After saying that, he shot off towards the east of the city, away from the champion.

Seeing his figure disappear, Yang Zhen and the other three were not at peace.

Su Yun couldn't help but say, "We've known Qiu Qianbo for many years, but this is the first time we've truly gotten to know him."

"but."

"He is indeed skilled; he managed to outwit those old devils."

Su Yun looked towards Champion City: "This is a good thing. After those old demons find out, they won't dare to act recklessly. Otherwise, there will be more people like Qiu Qianbo, and they will lose all face."

Yang Zhen grunted in agreement and looked at the huge mess that the Gray-Clad Gang had created.

"Uncle."

Qiu Wenzhong bowed and stepped forward, and Yang Zhen helped him up: "From now on, you are the leader of the Gray-Clad Gang."

"Yes."

Qiu Wenzhong led Yang Zhen into the inner hall, whereupon he heard him say:
"You and your father are at opposite ends of the spectrum. He is obsessed with martial arts, while you are adept at worldly affairs. But in the martial world, if you want people to respect you, you ultimately have to rely on your strength."

“Although Uncle can be your support, I am getting old and cannot stay for long.”

Qiu Wenzhong was startled, but then realized what was happening and composed himself, asking, "What can I do for you, Uncle?"

Yang Zhen patted him on the shoulder and pointed to the west:
"Wenzhong, take a horse and go there."

"That is.?"

Yang Zhen remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking slowly: "Wolong Mountain, Wuzhuang Temple."

Qiu Wenzhong gave Yang Zhen a deep look, and Yang Zhen whispered a few words to him as a piece of advice.

His mind was in turmoil, but after comforting his mother, he mounted a fast horse and rode westward.

At the entrance of the Gray-Clad Gang, Fan Naitang and two others stood beside Yang Zhen.

Fan Naitang firmly stated, "Big Boss, whatever your thoughts are, we will support you."

"That's right!" Meng Degong and Su Yun said in unison.

Yang Zhen shook his head slightly, then suddenly asked, "What do you think of the directions I gave my nephew Qiu?"

Su Yundao said, "It couldn't be more correct."

"Qiu Qianbo's self-inflicted injury was brilliant, and his mental fortitude was also beyond that of ordinary people, but now I feel even more strongly that Master Yi was speaking the opposite of what we were told."

"What sarcasm?"

Meng Degong was taken aback, realizing he had misunderstood, and quickly added, "Which sentence?"

Su Yundao said, "It's that saying: 'I am ignorant of the will of Heaven above, and I am not clear about the general trend below.'"

Fan Naitang patted him on the shoulder: "You've really changed after surviving a near-death experience, Brother Su's mind is getting sharper and sharper."

Qiu Wenzhong, filled with trepidation, rode his horse straight out to the west of the city.

Thinking about the deputy gang leader's assassination attempt on the big boss a while ago, and then about how his father suddenly turned into a demon and wandered the martial arts world.

And Yang Dalongtou pointed him in the right direction.

All of this takes time to process.

The question now is how to face the people I'm about to meet.

The name of this abbot is already well-known.

But the fact that the major player is doing this is really hard to understand.

Although the Gray-Clad Gang ranks low among the major powers in the city, it still has numerous businesses and over a thousand members.

If they were to join the Nanyang Gang, it would greatly increase the power of the top leader.

It could even elevate the Nanyang Gang's status among the top eight gangs and ten associations in the world.

In Qiu Wenzhong's view, this is the safest option and the least likely to cause any changes.

However, the big boss gave an unexpected answer.

Qiu Wenzhong felt somewhat uncomfortable, but he still chose to follow the arrangement. With his father gone, Yang Zhen was his only support.

Otherwise, the Tuanjiang faction would be their fate.
"Da da da"

The sound of hooves grew fainter and fainter. Qiu Wenzhong dismounted, took the reins, and looked around at the fields on both sides.

Many farmers were busy in the fields, and the old oxen were mooing.

at last
At the foot of Wolong Mountain, he saw several figures who were different from the farmers.

On either side of the young man were two children, a boy and a girl, who looked quite intelligent and not like children from an ordinary farming family.

Upon closer inspection, I realized it was that person.

"Guanzhu."

Pulling his horse a few steps closer, Qiu Wenzhong gripped the reins, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and called out from afar.

Zhou Yi, who was eating by the field, turned his head without waiting for him to ask.

"Qiu Wenzhong, leader of the Gray-Clad Gang, greets Abbot Yi."

This time, he bowed more formally with his hands clasped in greeting.

The leader of the Gray-Clad Gang?
Zhou Yi quickly figured it out, closed the food box, and returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

"Chief Qiu, what brings you here?"

Yan Qiu went up to lead his horse, and Qiu Wenzhong sat down by the edge of the field.

"It was the big boss who sent me here."

What is your relationship with Qiu Qianbo?

“That was my father, but he has already left Nanyang and headed towards Jiangdu.”

This was clearly unexpected.

Zhou Yi, still thinking Qiu Qianbo was dead, asked, "What happened to your gang?"

Qiu Wenzhong told him everything he had seen and heard.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi exclaimed how brilliant it was; if there hadn't been outsiders present, he would have burst out laughing.

Old Zhou's masterpiece slipped through his fingers, and his prized creation, along with his magical powers, vanished without a trace. The bizarre nature of this was comparable to Old Master Ren's resurrection.

“My father is obsessed with martial arts. This time he has obtained the secret technique of the demonic sect and I am afraid he will never come back.”

"The big boss called me."

Qiu Wenzhong breathed a sigh of relief: "The Grand Dragon Head ordered me to obey the Abbot's commands."

Zhou Yi shook his head slightly, "As you can see, I cultivate the Tao on the mountain and farm the land when I come down. My skills are meager, how could I possibly command a large gang or sect?"

"Go back and thank the big boss for his kindness."

Upon hearing Zhou Yi's refusal, Qiu Wenzhong felt a sense of relief.

He didn't think there was any future in following Wuzhuang Temple. Since Master Yi had refused, going back now wouldn't be going against the leader's words.

Integrating into the Nanyang gang shouldn't be a problem.

Just as I was about to get up to say goodbye, I suddenly realized something.

If you were in their shoes, would you be tempted?
Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse; that's the wealth of an entire gang, capable of commanding thousands of members.

Master Yi's refusal was so decisive that he seemed to disregard the Gray-Clad Gang.

Upon further reflection...
The dragon head pointed to Wolong Mountain, while the Master of Yi pointed back to Nanyang City.

this.
An impulse weighed on him, and Qiu Wenzhong changed his posture from standing up to sitting down.

“Master Yi, you need not worry about the internal affairs of the sect. My father practices martial arts all year round, and I take care of all the trivial matters. Master, you can practice martial arts in the mountains without any hindrance.”

"If the abbot accepts, I will bring three elders and seven branch leaders from the gang to pay our respects."

"As for everything else, the abbot need not worry about it."

"And Wenzhong will carry out any orders he may give."

Qiu Wenzhong stood up, bowed, and added, "The Grand Dragon's order was rejected by the Abbot, so this is my own willing request."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yi couldn't help but laugh:
"Let's skip the mountain visit. The gang must be in chaos right now. You go and clean up the mess."

Qiu Wenzhong only heard this one sentence.

He was filled with doubts, yet he didn't ask any of them, even though he was about to take a gamble.

After responding, he led his horse away.

Xia Shu said, "Senior brother, this person is very clever."

Yan Qiu pointed to the ground: "He was about to leave, but for some reason he sat back down."

Zhou Yi shook his head: "Following me isn't necessarily a good thing."

"The Gray Clothes Gang's leader and deputy leader are gone, and their strength has been greatly reduced. Compared to the Gray Clothes Gang, I actually value him more as a person. All sorts of trivial matters within the gang are a headache to think about."

"If there's only one mess, I will never take it on."

The two young Taoist boys started chattering away again.

Zhou Yi thought about it carefully.
What is the deeper meaning behind Yang Dalongtou's words?

Is this merely a reciprocation, or does he already know my identity?
So, is this Yang Dalongtou's attitude?
"Senior brother, shall we continue hoeing the ground?"

“You all come and hoe the ground.”

"it is good."

The two children rolled up their sleeves and went down to the field, working alongside Zhou Yi until evening.

The farmers in the fields dispersed, and the three of them also returned home with their hoes.

Walking up the mountain in shadows, chatting idly along the way, I felt an indescribable peace and tranquility.

This tranquility is perhaps what most people desire.

But
This wish was soon shattered.

Zhou Yi worked in the fields for six consecutive days.

On this day, a fast horse galloped in.

The person from the Kun Gang who came to deliver the message was none other than Old Strategist Chen.

When Zhou Yi saw him, he felt that Chen Laomou's expression was a bit strange, but he was certain that something important had happened.

"Master, you can see for yourself. I'm leaving now."

After delivering the letter, Chen Laomou rode off on his horse.

Zhou Yi stood by the edge of the field and unfolded a letter from Jia Yu.

The text above reads:

"I have heard that the Yellow Emperor waged fifty-two wars and Cheng Tang launched twenty-seven campaigns before he was able to bestow virtue upon the feudal lords and command the entire world."
However, Gao Yuan is rebellious and has seized control of Liaodong, neglecting the proper etiquette between vassal states, repeatedly violating the border, and colluding with the Turks to harass the people of Liaodong. This is intolerable!

The third campaign against Goguryeo began.
Zhou Yi closed the letter; if Chen Laomou were here, he would probably be quite surprised.

Because the Taoist priest wasn't particularly surprised.

I simply read the letter calmly.

This was a battle to save face. Yang Xuangan's good brother, Husi Zheng, the Vice Minister of War, had actually defected to Goguryeo. In Yang Guang's eyes, this man had to die.

Zhou Yi's mood fluctuated, and he developed an urgent desire to practice his skills.

Carrying a hoe, they returned directly to Wolong Mountain.
The moment this imperial edict was sent out of the Eastern Capital, the whole world was shaken.

Zhang Xutuo, the fire chief who was already constantly on the move, was completely overwhelmed, with uprisings breaking out in the east and rebellions erupting in the west.

Various forces stirred up undercurrents, and major martial arts sects followed suit.
Under pressure from You Hongda and the likes of the Great Emperor, the Pushan Public Camp finally couldn't hold back any longer, and Li Mi changed his plans and arrived in Xingyang ahead of schedule.

Li Mi, who was much more low-key than before, paid a visit to Zhai Rang, the chief leader of Wagang Village.

When the incense stick was lit at Wagang Village, the strategist Shen Luoyan wrote a letter, stating that the Daoist scriptures and demonic texts of the Central Plains had appeared in the world, and presented it to the Immortal Elder of the South Sea.
Fu Junzhuo, a disciple of the Yi Jian master Fu Cailin, left the mountain with her sword.

On the giant ship of the Dongming Sect, the second son of the Li family and his sister had a late-night conversation with the Lady of Dongming.

In the Dugu family of Dongdu, an elderly man nearing one hundred years old is being 'harassed' by a young girl.
When Tianjun Xi Ying was engrossed in studying the Purple Qi Heavenly Net, he unexpectedly received a letter of invitation from the Evil Extreme Sect, which directly revealed the supreme secret of martial arts.

Lingnan Tiandao stood in front of the Sharpening Hall, looking at the Eastern Capital scribe, and summoned the silver-bearded Song Lu.
Martial arts practitioners from the north and south interacted more frequently, and busy caravans transported horses back from the northern frontier, selling them at extremely high prices.

In a short time, bandits and outlaws emerged in large numbers from the northern frontier.

Pegasus Ranch, south of Jingling, is attracting more visitors.

Shang Xiuxun, aloof and self-absorbed, kept many visitors away from the formidable mountain city. She sat alone atop the city wall, eating fruit while admiring a peculiar scene.
……

……

(End of this chapter)