Sword drawn from the constellations, poison as its edge.

Chapter 91 Bamboo by the Lake, Stars in the Sky

Duan Zhengchun was extremely composed when comforting Jiang Mingzhe, but when he saw the writing on the gold locket, he suddenly became nervous and said in a trembling voice, "Nephew, this... this locket, may I take a closer look?"

Jiang Mingzhe knew the reason, but remained silent and handed it to him.

Duan Zhengchun reached out and took it. He had practiced the One-Finger Divine Skill for many years, yet his fingers trembled slightly at this moment. He held it close to his eyes, his body shaking as he murmured, "Stars in the sky, bright and shining, forever radiant, Chang'an at peace, bamboo by the lake, lush and green, bringing news of peace and joy... She, she... Nephew, is that girl in purple your senior sister? Which sect do you belong to? How has she been all these years?"

As he asked the question, two clear tears slid down his cheeks.

Upon seeing this, the man wielding the Judge's Pen immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zuo and Xin, saying, "Sect Leaders, my master has something to say to Elder Long. Could you please..."

Zuo Zimu quickly replied, "We will return to the main hall to await Your Highness."

He led the group away quickly. The four guards exchanged a glance and then went off in different directions to guard their posts.

Duan Yu, looking puzzled, walked to Duan Zhengchun's side and whispered, "Father, what's wrong? Do you perhaps know Miss Azi?"

Duan Zhengchun shook his head and smiled bitterly at his son, "Azi, it really is Azi! Yu'er, this is the first time I've seen this child, but I... I know her mother... She actually looks a lot like her mother..."

Duan Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? What a coincidence!"

Jiang Mingzhe said irritably, "Brother, it's probably even more coincidental than you think..."

He looked at Duan Zhengchun and said, "Actually, I haven't been a disciple for very long, but I know a little about my senior sister's affairs. She lost her parents at a young age and was adopted and raised by our master. This golden locket is most likely related to her background. Uncle, why are you so agitated? Could it be... that Azi is your daughter?"

Duan Zhengchun nodded with difficulty: "This gold lock was originally a pair, which I gave to a... confidante. That was more than ten years ago... She gave birth to two daughters for me, and we named them A'Zhu and A'Zi... Palace music, red robes and purple sashes... A major event occurred in the country, and my elder brother urgently summoned me back... When I went to find her again, she had disappeared without a trace... Alas, her father is a rigid and upright man. If she returned to her parents' home, my two daughters would surely have been given away to others..."

At this point, Duan Zhengchun shed tears again.

Duan Yu was greatly surprised and murmured, "So I actually have two younger sisters!"

Jiang Mingzhe looked at him sympathetically, thinking to himself, "You have at least five younger sisters, no! You don't have a single one..."

Duan Yu suddenly became excited and grabbed Jiang Mingzhe's hand: "Big brother, you have to rescue my sister! Big brother, now that you and my sister are married, should I call you big brother or brother-in-law?"

Jiang Mingzhe said speechlessly, "You can call me brother-in-law or big brother, it's fine. The most important thing right now is to save people. The number one villain in the world is not easy to deal with. As for what happens later, we can talk about it later. After all, your senior sister is still young..."

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun wiped away his tears and grabbed Jiang Mingzhe's other hand: "Nephew Jiang, although Azi is young, I can see that this girl is deeply in love with you. If you dare to betray her, I, Duan, will not let you off the hook!"

He addressed Jiang as his nephew, clearly taking it very seriously. When he said "I won't let you off the hook," his hair stood on end and he looked agitated.

Duan Yu frowned and said, "Father, my elder brother never said he wouldn't marry my sister, why are you being so harsh with him!"

Duan Zhengchun was taken aback and said, "Was I harsh? Fine, then I'll explain slowly... Nephew, we men of noble birth should know that the two words 'affection' are the most precious in the world. My daughter Azi is in love with you, and you must not hurt her. I think that little girl Zhong Ling is also quite fond of you, but what kind of good daughter can that villager surnamed Zhong raise? Hmm, I get angry just thinking about that scoundrel. He actually dared to say that Azi has no manners! Yes, I have indeed failed in my duty as a father, but isn't there still your master to teach Azi?"

At this point, he suddenly remembered the question from before: "Nephew, what sect do you belong to, and who is your master? After we rescue Azi, I will go with you to thank him for his great kindness in taking us in and teaching us."

Jiang Mingzhe's expression was strange: "Uncle, our sect is called the Starry Sky Sect. Our master's surname is Ding, and his given name is Chunxiaqiu. People call him the Starry Sky Immortal!"

Duan Zhengchun was dumbfounded.

Duan Yu, however, was in high spirits: "So, Brother's sect is called the Starry Constellation Sect? Tsk tsk, what a great name! It sounds much better than Shaolin or the Beggars' Sect. And the title 'Starry Constellation Immortal' sounds so otherworldly; just hearing it makes you know he's an extraordinary reclusive master! Brother, I'd like to join your sect and become your disciple, what do you say? That way, we can..."

"Absolutely not!"

Duan Zhengchun gave a sharp shout, his voice and expression both stern.

Duan Yu asked doubtfully, "Why not? Father, haven't you always wanted me to learn martial arts?" Duan Zhengchun looked at Jiang Mingzhe with complicated eyes.

Jiang Mingzhe blinked, feigning ignorance, and frowned, saying, "Uncle, with that expression, could it be that our Xingxiu Sect doesn't have a very good reputation in the martial arts world?"

Duan Zhengchun clicked his tongue, looking somewhat troubled: "Well... speaking of which, your master was also a martial arts prodigy. He created an extraordinary skill called the Dissolving Power Technique. Once unleashed, it can dissolve an opponent's internal energy, destroying their entire life's cultivation in an instant. Martial arts practitioners throughout the world... well, some of them deeply resent it..."

Upon hearing the phrase "dissolve the enemy's internal energy," Duan Yu's expression changed drastically, and he asked in a trembling voice, "Father, does this 'Dissolving Power Technique' dissolve other people's internal energy? Or... absorb other people's internal energy for one's own use?"

Duan Zhengchun was in a state of utter confusion and failed to notice Duan Yu's loss of composure. He simply shook his head and said, "Yu'er, you don't understand martial arts, which is why you said such a ridiculous thing. You should know that the 'Dissolving Power Technique' can dissolve other people's internal energy, which is already astonishing. How could there be a skill in this world that can absorb other people's internal energy for one's own use? If such a skill really existed, once it was spread, it would become the enemy of the martial arts world, and everyone would want to get rid of it as soon as possible."

"An enemy of the martial arts world..."

Duan Yu was startled. He glanced at Jiang Mingzhe, his eyes filled with guilt, clearly regretting his hasty decision to teach this skill to his sworn brother.

Jiang Mingzhe understood his meaning and blinked gently. Duan Yu felt a little relieved, knowing that his sworn brother did not care. He thought to himself: I must persuade my brother later that he must not use the Beiming Divine Skill unless absolutely necessary. Even if he must use it, he must not let anyone find out. Otherwise, he will become a public enemy of the martial arts world. Wouldn't I be the one who harmed my brother?

Jiang Mingzhe had no idea what he was thinking. He looked at Duan Zhengchun and said, "Uncle, judging from your reaction, could it be that our Xingxiu Sect is the legendary...evil sect?"

Duan Zhengchun smiled wryly and said, "Indeed, it's not a prestigious sect. Don't you know the reputation of the Xingxiu Sect?"

Jiang Mingzhe said frankly, "To be honest, Uncle, I only recently started practicing this art. I am originally from Qufu, Shandong, and I aspire to travel to famous mountains in search of immortals and the Dao..."

Before he finished speaking, Duan Yu was overjoyed: "Oh my, no wonder my brother and I hit it off so well. With such ambition, my brother must be tired of the petty squabbles of the world."

Jiang Mingzhe nodded and continued, "I traveled up the Yellow River all the way to Xingxiu Sea, which is the source of the Yellow River. I happened to meet my senior sister and my master there... and that's how I arrived in Dali Kingdom. Then... well, I really don't know what the reputation of our sect is like, but judging from the behavior of my fellow disciples, I can guess that it's not very good."

He briefly recounted his experiences after joining the Xingxiu Sect, and also mentioned how he used the Duan family name to intimidate people when he was harassed by the Shennong Gang, so as not to make Duan Zhengchun think he had ulterior motives.

Upon hearing this, Duan Zhengchun clicked his tongue in amazement: "In that case, you are truly a martial arts prodigy, and your conduct in dealing with people is also outstanding. If Azi is entrusted to you, I, as her father, can rest assured. However, the Xingxiu Sect is indeed not a benevolent place. Alas, after we rescue Azi, I will go to the Xingxiu Sect with you. I hope that the Xingxiu Immortal can consider the Duan family's reputation and allow you to leave the sect."

Fearing that Jiang Mingzhe would be unhappy, he took Jiang Mingzhe's hand and said earnestly, "Nephew, you don't need to worry about not being able to learn advanced kung fu after leaving the Xingxiu Sect. The kung fu of my Duan family is no less than any other school in the martial arts world. If you marry Azi in the future, I will teach you whatever you want to learn."

Jiang Mingzhe said, "After we rescue Senior Sister and you and your daughter recognize each other, we can discuss it yourselves. As for me, joining the Xingxiu Sect was just a temporary measure. Whether I stay or leave is up to Senior Sister."

Duan Zhengchun was greatly pleased to see that he was willing to listen to Azi on such an important matter, and nodded repeatedly: "Good child, good child. Let's go back and discuss how to save Azi. By the way, don't tell outsiders about Azi's background yet."

Jiang Mingzhe nodded, and as Duan Zhengchun returned to the main hall, the four guards quickly followed behind.

Back in the main hall, they found Zhong Wanchou tied to a pillar, his face contorted with rage. Upon seeing Jiang Mingzhe return, he suddenly burst into laughter: "Where's that ill-mannered wild girl? Hahahaha, you little bastard, you'd better release me right now..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Mingzhe interrupted him: "I'm not your son, how could I be a bastard?"

After saying that, a fierce look suddenly appeared on his face, and he gritted his teeth and said, "You green-haired bastard, Zhong Ling was kidnapped by Yun Zhonghe right in front of you, and we risked our lives to save her. I heard that Yun Zhonghe also wanted to sleep with your wife? Now you are so happy to be their dog, you must have been a bastard or a tortoise in your past life!"

The words that Zhong Wanchou hated most in his life were, firstly, the word "Duan"; secondly, the word "turtle"; and thirdly, the word "tortoise".

Jiang Mingzhe kept using vulgar language, which enraged Zhong Wanchou, who roared, "You little beast, if you have the guts, let me go, or I'll make you wish you were dead!"

Jiang Mingzhe looked up and laughed, his smile chilling. With a flick of his wrist, he slapped Zhong Wanchou seventeen or eighteen times across the face, the force of which turned his horse-like face into that of a hippopotamus.

He sneered, "You old bastard, where is your damn Valley of Ten Thousand Calamities?"

Zhong Wanchou spat out a mouthful of blood and laughed strangely, "Boss Duan took that wild girl to Wanjie Valley? Haha, if I hadn't told you, you wouldn't have been able to go. Guess what Boss Duan would have done?"

(End of this chapter)