Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 210 Taohuadian Village Road Neighbors

It was just before dawn, the sky was not yet fully bright, but it had already turned blue and the east was turning white, which was a rare good day recently.

Inside the small temple, it was still dimly lit, and the flickering firelight cast a gloomy and uncertain light on Han Bai's face.

The boy dared not look at the white-robed man's ambiguous smile, and could only turn his head to examine the small temple.

This is a dilapidated mountain god temple. The only intact eye on the clay statue of the mountain god is staring intently at me. The temple door is gone, but judging from the blazing bonfire, it is clear that the temple door contributed to my hunger and warmth.

As you look down, you can vaguely make out debris such as rubble and bricks. Once you sweep your gaze over there, your eyes are fixed on it and you can't look away.

Hongxiu was sitting on the Buddhist altar, with her legs crossed.

She wore a blood-red long dress that gradually turned white at the hem, with the hem trailing at her ankles. As she swayed, the golden bells jingled, occasionally revealing her small, translucent white feet.

When Han Bai saw that the ten toes were all light pink, smooth and supple, he felt a lump in his throat, his blood rushing to his head, and an extremely strange thought arose in his mind.

All I wanted to do was fly forward and bite those toes and never let go.

Bang! A sharp rap hit the boy right on the forehead.

Han Bai cried out in pain, spun around twice in a daze, and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

When he got up and looked at it, he was still clutching his head tightly.

He noticed that Ren Shaoyang and Ding An were staring at him with stern faces, so he immediately fell silent and dared not make a sound.

Ding An snorted coldly: "You brat, you dare to peek?"

Han Bai waved his hands repeatedly, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!" He was secretly annoyed, thinking, "Oh dear, what am I thinking? How shameless!" He quickly took a step back, determined not to peek again.

Ren Shaoyang, with one hand on his hip, suddenly asked, "Brother Han, what's your decision now?"

Han Bai then realized that he hadn't answered yet.

That sharp rap on the head seemed to have opened up his meridians, instantly clearing his mind.

"Master Ren, your swordsmanship is unparalleled. I really, really want to learn swordsmanship from you." Han Bai bowed deeply, "But my master has been very kind to me and entrusted me with the crucial task of guarding the armory. I... I really cannot betray my master for personal gain and open the armory without permission. Please forgive me!"

Ren Shaoyang said calmly, "Even if it means missing your only chance in this lifetime?"

Han Bai composed himself and said loudly, "Hero Ren, it is my duty. I'm afraid I've disappointed you!"

Ren Shaoyang nodded and said, "Okay, I understand."

Han Bai was surprised that the other party was so easy to talk to, and immediately felt a little embarrassed, not knowing how to respond.

Ren Shaoyang pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Brother Han, how about this: you help us rent a small courtyard so we can stay temporarily. If I have some free time, I'll give you some pointers, how about that?"

"Really?" Han Bai was overjoyed. He never expected that after rejecting Ren Shaoyang, Ren Shaoyang would still give him a chance despite past grievances.

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "Of course it's true." He glanced at the sky outside and said, "It's already broad daylight, Brother Han, shouldn't you go back?"

"Oh no! Something's wrong!"

Han Bai realized he still had to go back to the manor, and jumped up suddenly. But now his expression was no longer one of frustration, but rather full of hope.

The Three Fiends of the Northern Frontier!
A master who directly confronts Pang Ban's unparalleled demonic power!
With their guidance, am I about to take off?

The boy laughed loudly, waved, and ran out of the small temple.

Hongxiu turned to look at the silent Ren Shaoyang and asked in a low voice, "You think highly of this young man?"

Ren Shaoyang shook his head and said, "It's only one aspect."

Hongxiu frowned and said, "Does he have a secret?"

“Heh, yes,” Ren Shaoyang clicked his tongue and said, “but we won’t see any signs for another two years.”

"Two years later?" Ding'an was unmoved. "Even you, cripple, can see the secrets of heaven?"

Ren Shaoyang said calmly, "What kind of heavenly secret is this? It's just turning cause into effect. I'm more interested in seeing how the 'Demon Seed of the Dao Heart' can change a person."

Ding'an, not understanding, scratched his head.

Hongxiu stared intently at Shaoyang, then suddenly raised her small hand and patted Ding'an's shoulder three times.

Ding'an, holding the fried fish, asked inexplicably, "Why did you hit me?"

Hongxiu kicked him: "Finish eating and quickly help the cripple heal his injuries! Your Divine Illumination True Qi, which incorporated the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, may have made his face and neck turn red from the heat, but the effect was indeed remarkable!"

"Really?" Ding An's worry turned to joy, and he said loudly, "Okay, I'll come and help the cripple heal his wounds right away."

Hongxiu chuckled and turned to say casually, "That thick-backed knife must hold the legendary secret of breaking, right?"

Ren Shaoyang glanced at her, his eyes filled with approval, and said, "Yes, that was the weapon that Grandmaster Chuan Ying threw down from the sky when he shattered. It contained his insights from the shattering."

"Wow!" Ding'an's eyes lit up. "Looking at it this way, exchanging a sword technique for a glimpse of the Thick-Backed Sword isn't a bad deal at all."

Hongxiu smiled, her little feet swinging in the air.

At this moment, a dazzling red glow shines in the distant sky, the surface of the Yangtze River glistens, white clouds drift by, and boatmen's shouts resound, creating a vibrant scene.

"Let's settle down first and recover from our injuries," the little beggar said after a while. "By the way, Han Bai is in charge of organizing the Han family's armory and purchasing weapons. You can take this opportunity to set up a blacksmith shop with your severed hand. Firstly, you won't have to show your face and get discovered, and secondly, you can collect good steel and wood to make a prosthetic hand for you."

Ding'an patted his belly and laughed, "That's great!"

Hongxiu simply smiled and slowly said, "Shaoyang and I can go back to the streets to set up a fortune-telling stall and check the news while we're at it."

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "So, the Mud Bodhisattva and the 'Mountain-Lifting-the-Cauldron' Master Wu have come out of seclusion again?"

"Haha!" Hongxiu jumped down from the Buddhist shrine with a smile, clapped her hands, and said with a grin, "The news of Old Ghost Pang's injury has already spread. I don't believe the righteous path will sit idly by and let this great opportunity slip away. Let's see them fight like dogs then."

Ding An cheered loudly upon hearing this. Ren Shaoyang, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow, his expression complicated.

White Road?

Eighteen top-tier fighters?

Let those delicate, sheltered jokes collide with the inherently evil old ghost Pang two years ahead of schedule?

Ren Shaoyang shook his head, and could only wish them good luck.
-
Five days later.

It rained lightly a few more times.

At this moment, the east is bathed in a magnificent glow, the mountains are washed clean, and the scenery is fresh and charming.

"Drive~!"

"Drive~!"

After the three villains met up with Han Bai in the west of Wuchang, they headed straight for Taohuadian Village, which was thirty miles outside the city.

After crossing a bend in the river, Han Bole reined in the reins.

He discovered that the white donkey that Sister Hongxiu was riding was faster than his own Hui'er.

Moreover, the inexplicable intimacy between the horse and the donkey puzzled the boy.

Ding An and Ren Shaoyang used their lightness skills to follow closely, not falling behind by even a step.

Although Ren Shaoyang's face was still a little pale, his demeanor was more dashing than before, clearly indicating that his injuries had greatly improved.

"Sister." Han Bai rode alongside her, somewhat puzzled, "Grey always bites and kicks stallions, so why is she so affectionate towards your white donkey?"

Hongxiu chuckled and casually said, "My donkey has an extraordinary origin; it's a descendant of Zhang Guolao's donkey from back in the day. Han boy, do you know what that means?"

Han Bai asked curiously, "What does it represent?"

The little beggar raised his head and said, "I come from a noble family. Even if you look like a donkey, there are still beautiful foreign women who like you!"

Han Bai: "Huh?"

On the other side, Ren Shaoyang pointed to the small village with faint smoke rising from its chimneys in the distance, and looked at the winding river, feeling full of vigor.

"A severed hand? This place has so many fishing spots, isn't it just prepared for me?"

Ding An was stunned for a moment, then forced a smile and offered a few words of flattery.

When Ren Shaoyang heard Ding An praise his fishing skills, he was overjoyed and shamelessly talked for a long time about his fishing experience, boasting that he could almost catch a dragon.

The group walked and talked as they went.

Han Bai said to Ren Shaoyang, "Master Ren, although Taohuadian is thirty li away from Wuchang Prefecture, the scenery is delightful. Every March, the peach blossoms are in full bloom, creating a breathtaking sight. The villagers are kind and friendly, making it a truly virtuous place. The owner's relative has a small courtyard here and is in a hurry to sell it, which is why we had the opportunity to buy it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sold it."

"Thank you so much for Han Bai's help this time!"

Han Bai waved his hands repeatedly: "Master Ren, it is my honor to help you. Besides, you have already given me a reward, so let's not talk about whether I help or not."

At this point, he added, "By the way, the two neighboring houses in your courtyard have also recently had new people move in."

"Hmm?" Ren Shaoyang raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

"They're both Taoist priests, one old and one fat." Han Bai chuckled. "I heard the old Taoist's surname is Xi, and he's not one to smile. The fat Taoist loves to laugh, but I don't know his name."

"Surname Xi?" Ren Shaoyang thought for a moment, but couldn't recall any Taoist masters in this world with the surname Xi. So he nodded to indicate that he understood.

After walking another five or six miles, they saw a mountain standing tall to the west, its peaks majestic and imposing.

"Alright, Peach Blossom Village is down below," Han Bai said loudly, pointing to dozens of houses in the distance.

The group's spirits lifted, and they headed toward the village. Ahead lay a vast expanse of field ridges, with houses built against the mountainside, their blue bricks and black tiles exuding a Taoist charm.

Upon entering the village, the roads narrowed, and the sounds of chickens and dogs, children playing, and adults scolding filled the air.

The villagers greeted Han Bai, as they seemed quite familiar with him. Then they all stared curiously at the three young men and women beside him.

Fortunately, the three villains were all handsome men and beautiful women, and the little beggar was incredibly friendly. He simply greeted them with a smile, which won the hearts of the villagers.

The group continued walking, and after several hundred more steps, they heard the tinkling sound of a mountain stream.

A flat area appeared in front of them, surrounded by peach trees, with a grove of pine trees behind it, embracing a small courtyard.

Han Bai pointed to the courtyard and exclaimed, "Master Ren, this is it!"

Ren Shaoyang, Hongxiu, and Ding'an carefully examined the small courtyard. Looking at the open gate, the spacious courtyard, and the small house with green tiles and blue bricks, they couldn't help but give it a thumbs up.

"Pretty!"

"Hehe!" Han Bai scratched his head, laughing incessantly.

Just as they entered the house.

The doors to the rooms on either side suddenly opened.

From the thatched hut on the right, a plump Taoist priest poked his head out, grinning as he watched the crowd enter the courtyard.

In the wooden house on the left was an old man with white hair and white clothes, whose face was clear and sharp. He looked at Ren Shaoyang and the others, then at the fat Taoist priest. His eyes were as cold as stars in a well, and he looked him over in a deep gaze.

The plump Taoist priest couldn't help but shiver. He then cupped his hands and smiled, "This humble Taoist priest, may I ask your esteemed name, sir?"

“I am a Taoist priest,” the man said. “My secular surname is Xi, and my Taoist name is Yingzhen.”

(End of this chapter)