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

Chapter 245 One after another, they jumped out.

“Squeak~!”

The door opened, and a head with a bun hairstyle popped out.

She blinked her big eyes at the thin, middle-aged man in front of her, glancing at his official robes and the iron umbrella in his hand.

Then one of them suddenly appeared, hands on hips, glaring at them.

Everyone was stunned to see a bright young girl wearing a blood-red short jacket and a curved knife at her waist jump out.

Jian Zhengming, being more knowledgeable and experienced, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Lady Ren, the 'One-Knife Immortal'!"

Hongxiu said calmly, "How strange. We're doing just fine, so why are people from the imperial court, especially the secret police, coming to find us?"

Hongxiu's words are absolutely correct.

The so-called Eight Sects Alliance of the righteous and unrighteous factions in the martial arts world was merely one hand of the founding emperor's rule over the martial arts world. Among them, Shaolin, Changbai, and Xining were the most important fingers of this "big hand." However, because Shaolin and Changbai had their own agendas, they were not considered the sects most closely aligned with the imperial court.

The Xining Sect is the only sect that the government relies on the most. Ye Sudong, the "Heartbreaker" among the Three Elders of Xining, is also the current commander of the Imperial Guard and Zhu Yuanzhang's personal bodyguard.

Standing in front of Hongxiu was Jian Zhengming, nicknamed "Wanderer Umbrella," who was Ye Sudong's junior brother and one of the four generals under "Yinfeng" Lengyan, the Grand Commander of the Imperial Guard.

It can be said that this person was extremely prominent in terms of both his status in the martial arts world and his seniority within the Eight Factions Alliance.

Logically speaking, such an important person would not easily appear in a rural place like Peach Blossom Village, much less personally deliver a letter.

But he did come, and he came very respectfully.

Jian Zhengming smiled amiably: "Miss Hongxiu, I have come here for two reasons. First, to pay my respects to the Three Fiends, who are renowned throughout the land. Second, I am here on the orders of Commander Leng to deliver a letter to you."

"I don't know him, why would I deliver a letter?"

Jian Zhengming smiled and said, "Your brother, Hero Ren Shaoyang, and Li Ruohai fought a great battle against 'Demon Master' Pang Ban in Yingfeng Gorge. The battle was extremely glorious! In particular, Hero Ren seriously injured Pang Ban, which is the most exciting news in sixty years."

Hongxiu smiled faintly and said, "And then?"

Hearing her indifferent tone, seemingly unconcerned, Jian Zhengming said in a deep voice, "Although I am a member of the Imperial Guard, I am still a disciple of the Eight Schools Alliance. I heard that when Master Ren and Li Ruohai left, they were ambushed by the henchmen of the Demon Master's Palace."

Hongxiu raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly, "Earth chicken and clay dog."

Jian Zhengming seemed taken aback, his mouth agape, and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, Miss Hongxiu was right!"

"In this battle, Master Ren single-handedly took down dozens of people with his single arm, displaying astonishing strength. He then left with Li Ruohai unharmed!"

"One-armed?" Hongxiu whispered.

"After Master Ren severely injured Pang Ban, his left arm was also broken."

Hongxiu fell silent, then slowly looked up at him: "What message do you want to give me?"

Jian Zhengming took the letter from his pocket and handed it over with both hands: "The identities of the Demon Master's Palace's henchmen, as well as their locations, are all here." He paused, then smiled and said, "These people aided and abetted evil, and they deserve to die."

Hongxiu reached out and took the letter, glanced at it, and then quickly tucked it into her sleeve.

Then, looking up at him, the little beggar's expression was indifferent, and his tone was surprisingly calm, as if he were talking about everyday matters: "Please thank Commander Leng for me."

Jian Zhengming smiled and said, "It is my honor to be able to help you." After saying that, he waved his hand, and his subordinates came over carrying several exquisite boxes.

Jian Zhengming opened them one by one, and found that several boxes contained dried fruit and pastries, while the rest contained jewelry and gold and silver.

Jian Zhengming said leisurely, "Miss Hongxiu, Commander Leng knows that you like to eat delicious food and shiny things. I hope you will accept these local specialties."

Hongxiu said meaningfully, "Your commander knows me quite well."

Jian Zhengming said, "The three of you are the most formidable experts in the world. Our commander is trying to build good relations with you so that we won't accidentally offend you and end up with no room for argument."

Hongxiu raised an eyebrow, smiled, and stepped forward to take the box, saying, "It's never a bad thing to be polite. Please thank the people behind you for me."

The people behind?
Jian Zhengming looked at the smiling beggar and felt a chill run down his spine.

She was clearly laughing softly, but the clear laughter that reached his ears sounded eerily like a ghost in the dark night—hoarse and piercing, sending chills down Jian Zhengming's spine.

The young beggar said in a low voice, "Brother Jian, would you like us to invite you to stay for dinner?"

Jian Zhengming realized what was happening and said in a hoarse voice, "I won't bother you any longer!" After saying that, he greeted his subordinates and turned to leave.

The little beggar watched their departing figures, gave a slight cold smile, and then carried the box back to the mansion.

Upon arriving at the pavilion, he placed the box on the stone bench, then poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down.

"Your murderous intent is no longer under control." Xi Yingzhen looked at the chess score, seemingly unaffected, her expression calm.

Hongxiu's two round eyes gleamed eerily as she stared intently at the chessboard on the table: "The cripple's hand is broken."

"What?" Ding An, who was standing to the side, was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up and said, "His hand was chopped off by Pang Ban?"

"No," Hongxiu shook her head, "it was broken by Pang Ban."

Xi Yingzhen and Ding An both breathed a sigh of relief and calmed themselves down before realizing they were drenched in sweat.

Xi Yingzhen sighed, "It seems that Shao Yang is alright."

Hongxiu said, "It's getting late, I should go pick up Shaoyang." Ding'an called out urgently, "I'll go too."

"Keep an eye on the house," Hongxiu said calmly, "to prevent them from resorting to desperate measures."

Xi Yingzhen glanced at Hongxiu, hesitated, and finally just shook his head before saying, "Something's not right with that Jian Zhengming."

"Of course something's wrong!" the little beggar suddenly said. "Although the Xining Sect is despised by the world for being the court's lackeys, their internal energy is the orthodox Xuanmen. That Jian Zhengming's energy is righteous yet sinister, and he doesn't know anything about it."

Xi Yingzhen nodded and said, "He doesn't seem like a genius who can combine good and evil at all."

Hongxiu calmly extended a finger and said, "There's only one reason: the Demonic Sect is behind him." She shook her head. "Eighteen top experts, actually bribed to betray us? The righteous path? Bah! A bunch of trash."

Just as Little Beggar and his group had almost completely uncovered Jian Zhengming's background.

At this moment, Jian Zhengming boarded a simply decorated pleasure boat.

Once inside, one discovers that while the exterior of the painted boat is simple and unassuming, the interior is a completely different world, indescribably luxurious.

At the end of the painted boat, a purple-gold incense burner emitted wisps of white steam, filling the air with the fragrance of ambergris.

A dignified young woman sat cross-legged, her slender hands as white as snow, playing incense and zither.

This young woman was no more than thirty years old, with a face as white as snow, yet she possessed an alluring and captivating charm. She wore a wide-sleeved robe, her jade belt fluttering in the wind, her jet-black hair contrasting beautifully with her snow-white skin and white dress.

“Yu Ru.” Jian Zhengming was captivated by her beauty and quickly stepped forward.

But to everyone's surprise, the young woman smiled slightly and gently stroked the strings with her snow-white fingers.

A faint, fleeting melody, as poignant as dew on orchids, drifted over.

Jian Zhengming was shocked to hear this.

The young woman frowned slightly, and the music changed, becoming tender and affectionate, as if she were pouring out her heart.

The music seemed to soar from the strings, lively like a little bird, fluttering gracefully into Jian Zhengming's heart.

In an instant, this master of the Xining School, a pivotal figure in the Imperial Guard, felt his emotions surge, his cheeks flushed, and he was infatuated without even dreaming, and drunk without even drinking.

Staring blankly at the young woman in the distance, so ethereal and dreamlike, so real yet so elusive, I completely forgot what day it was, where I was, and what the world was all about.

The next moment, the young woman's eyes met his, as if silently expressing her love.

Jian Zhengming and Jian Zhengming stared at each other for a few moments, then Jian Zhengming suddenly shuddered, his body going soft and warm, as if he were about to melt away on the spot. But he woke up, and without realizing it, he felt a great joy in his heart.

“Yu Ru’s zither skills have reached their peak.” Jian Zhengming sighed with emotion, crossing his hands between his legs. “Every time I listen to her music, it makes me feel like I am in heaven.”

"Commander Jian loves to joke." The young woman smiled slightly, her laughter ethereal and captivating.

The next second, she stared at Jian Zhengming, her voice seemingly coming from the heavens, becoming incomparably dignified: "Then, Yu Ru, may I ask, what are your sensory experiences when you come into contact with the Three Fiends?"

Jian Zhengming said, "I didn't see Ren Shaoyang, I only saw Ren Hongxiu." He then reported back on what he had said to Hongxiu in detail.

During this time, the young woman's beautiful eyes stared intently at Jian Zhengming. After he finished speaking, she sighed softly, "Yu Ru made a mistake before!"

Why does Yu Ru say that?

“I originally thought I could use the power of the righteous path to bring them under my command as before.” The young woman shook her head with a wry smile. “Unfortunately, I did not expect Ren Shaoyang to be so powerful.”

"And that Ren Hongxiu, I have a feeling about her."

Jian Zhengming asked, "What premonition?"

The young woman smiled, her hands moving like butterflies flitting among flowers as she plucked the strings of her zither, and slowly said, "She will be Yu Ru's greatest obstacle!"

Jian Zhengming exclaimed in surprise, "That blond girl is actually this powerful?!"

“If she weren’t so powerful,” the young woman laughed, “the Demon Master wouldn’t have wanted to adopt her as his goddaughter.”

Jian Zhengming composed himself and said, "Then, what should we do?"

"Let's wait and see," the young woman chuckled. "The Three Fiends and the Demon Master's Palace are fighting fiercely; let's watch the show first. You know, the Ghost King and Zhu Yuanzhang are both watching them closely!"

"Yes!" Jian Zhengming clasped his hands in a fist and bowed.
-
This is a secluded and quiet little building, surrounded by a stream below. The plaque on the building clearly reads the three characters "Xiaohuaxi" (Little Flower Stream), the ink is as fresh as new, but the brushstrokes are very ancient and elegant, with a touch of ethereal grace.

This place is famous because "Xiaohuaxi" is home to the most beautiful and talented courtesans in the seven surrounding provinces, who sell their art but not their bodies.

Lian Xiuxiu.

Directly opposite Lian Xiuxiu sat a robust and handsome man.

The man in white had crystal-clear skin and an ethereal, otherworldly aura. He was extremely attractive, like a god or demon from the heavens.

It's just a pity.

He narrowed one eye and wore an eye patch, transforming from a god/demon back into a human.

The man in white was none other than Pang Ban, who had been severely injured by Ren Shaoyang.

Instead of returning to Tianshan to recuperate and heal his injuries, he went to Xiaohuaxi in Huangzhou Prefecture.

But what was the reason for it?
(End of this chapter)