Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 340 The ghostly wind roars in the ghost prison

The Wude Division is in charge of the security and order of the capital. It oversees officials and nobles above, and investigates all sorts of people below. Even martial arts practitioners have to be wary of it.

Although the Song Dynasty is now struggling to survive under the pressure of the Liao Dynasty, the Song, Liao, and Xia dynasties still stand in a tripartite balance of power, and the Song Dynasty is much stronger than the Western Xia Dynasty.

Within the royal palace of the capital, there were countless masters.

The "Dragon God Guards of the Four Garrisons" who fought alongside Emperor Taizu to conquer the country, even though their lineage has declined somewhat over the years, are by no means something that any martial arts force can provoke at will, and they will not allow martial arts practitioners to act recklessly within the capital.

Those people from Xingxiu Sea dared to directly break into the twenty-four towers on Zhuque Avenue; they were simply unaware of the rules of the capital.

Even if they don't carry out the killings during the Frost's Descent, the Martial Virtue Division will certainly issue arrest warrants and pursue them to uphold the law.

Previously, when Elder Lü Zhang, the Beggars' Sect's master of martial arts, died in Kaifeng, the Beggars' Sect was outraged, but they dared not cause trouble on Zhuque Street, precisely because they feared the power of the Martial Virtue Division.

Hongluan composed herself and mustered her courage to walk towards the gate of the Martial Virtue Division.

The Wude Division occupies a vast area, with a magnificent mansion. A row of soldiers in armor and holding weapons stand at the gate, exuding an imposing aura.

Seeing Hongluan walk straight towards them, the leading captain immediately raised his hand to stop her: "Miss, stop! The Martial Virtue Division is an important government office, and no one may enter without official business."

Hongluan frowned slightly, unsure of how to phrase her words. After a moment's hesitation, she simply said:
"I am from the Twenty-Fourth Tower. Just now, thieves broke into the tower and damaged a lot of things. I would like to ask you gentlemen to come and clean up the mess."

After she finished speaking, she lowered her head nervously, not daring to look at the other person's expression.

The soldiers behind the captain were taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into laughter:

"Miss, you seem to have come to the wrong place. Merchants who have been attacked should report to the Kaifeng Prefecture, why are you here at the Wude Division?"

"Even neighborhood disputes and property damage should be handled by the government. Our Wude Division doesn't deal with these trivial matters of merchants."

Amidst the clamor and laughter, the leading captain, Du Lin, frowned and said in a deep voice:

"Shut up!"

At that sound, the soldiers behind him immediately fell silent.

Du Lin turned to Hong Luan, his tone softening slightly: "Miss, where did you say you were attacked?"

“Twenty-four towers.” Hongluan looked up and responded softly.

"I see."

"Please return first, young lady. I will take men there immediately to handle the situation."

Dulin nodded, asked no further questions, and raised his hand.

If it were an ordinary merchant who was attacked, it would indeed not fall under the jurisdiction of the Martial Virtue Division, but the Twenty-Four Towers are different.

The lower-ranking soldiers were unaware of the inside story, but he knew everything perfectly well. The commander and deputy commander had already personally instructed him that regarding the matter of the Twenty-Four Towers, he only needed to remember four words:
"We'll grant your every request!"

No doubts are allowed, and no hesitation is permitted.

"Um... thank you, sir."

Hongluan was skeptical but dared not ask any more questions. She turned and left the Martial Virtue Division first.

She hurried back to the Twenty-Four Towers and soon saw a squad of soldiers dressed in the uniforms of the Martial Virtue Division arriving in formation.

The soldiers moved with practiced skill, and without saying a word, they began to clean up the scene, carefully lifting the ice sculptures in various poses onto the carriage.

Du Lin, who had spoken with Hong Luan earlier, went upstairs and greeted Bai Lu and Hong Luan with a bow: "Ladies, all the bodies of the criminals at the scene have been taken away. Do you need to verify their identities?"

Bai Lu shook her head: "These people are evil cultivators from Xingxiu Sea, who came to hunt down the guests in the building. There's no need to check the bodies; just dispose of them directly. Also, the doors and windows downstairs have been smashed; please send someone to repair them."

Dulin's lips twitched slightly; he felt somewhat uncomfortable with the almost commanding tone.

But he dared not object and could only bow and reply, "Understood, I will arrange for someone to do it."

As Dulin turned to go downstairs, he pondered to himself.

What's the background of these twenty-four buildings?

"Land on Suzaku Avenue is incredibly valuable; to open an assassin's guild and maintain good relations with both commanders of the Martial Virtue Division..."

Without thinking too much, he immediately found someone to hire a carpenter to repair the doors and windows. Bailu gave him a hundred taels of silver notes, which he could not possibly use up.

"what--"

"Woo-"

The repairman, who was working on the first floor, vaguely heard screams coming from upstairs.

It was a female voice, and it was very eerie.

It looked like a mix of crying and laughing.

Luckily it was broad daylight, otherwise the craftsman would have had to give up on this business.

"Is that okay?"

Hearing the screams coming from upstairs, Honglu asked Bailu.

"Sister Shuang knows what she's doing."

"."
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On the other side, Gu Yu led Jingzhe and Qingming out of the Twenty-Four Towers, but instead of heading straight to the Beggars' Sect branch in the north of the city, they strolled along the streets.

During the Jingzhe and Qingming periods, the two rarely ventured out of the building, staying indoors for extended periods. The bustling city of Kaifeng, with its constant street vendors' cries and laughter, captivated them with its vibrant atmosphere and boundless curiosity.

Gu Yu was in high spirits and kept going. She would go to the sugar painting stall to watch the master draw a dragon, and then she would be attracted by the fire-breathing performance of the acrobatic troupe. She kept walking and stopping, and before she knew it, she had gone in the wrong direction.

The three of them spent the entire afternoon at the temple fair, until it got dark and the streetlights came on, at which point Gu Yu suddenly slapped her forehead.

"Ah, right, right! We haven't gotten to the important stuff yet!"

She turned to look at Jingzhe and Qingming, her tone unfriendly: "Why didn't you two remind me?"

Jingzhe and Qingming exchanged a glance, their faces full of helplessness.

Gu Yu is in charge of the building, so she can come and go whenever she wants. But the two of them only get a chance to go out once in a long while. Shouldn't you be the one reminding us?
However, the two of them had never dared to disobey Guyu, so they could only swallow their words.

Gu Yu shook her head, looking at you with a disappointed expression: "Sigh, I have to worry about everything. When will you all grow up?"

The two looked at Gu Yu, who was the youngest, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old.

Jingzhe: "."

Qingming: "."

"Forget it, it's better to go at night, there will be fewer people and we won't be easily spotted."

"Let's change our clothes first."

Gu Yu waved her hand, no longer dwelling on it.

The three found a secluded alleyway, quickly changed into black night clothes, and disappeared into the night.

The three of them lightly touched the ground with their toes and used their lightness skills to head north. Their figures moved like ghosts through the streets and alleys, and they arrived at the Kaifeng branch of the Beggars' Sect a moment later.

The Beggars' Sect branch was a grand mansion. The Beggars' Sect was always divided into two factions: the Dirty Clothes Faction and the Clean Clothes Faction. Although the Clean Clothes Faction disciples were mostly not very skilled in martial arts, they were mostly wealthy people with considerable financial resources.

As the largest gang in the land, it's not unusual for them to own such a residence in the capital city of Kaifeng.

At this time, the Beggars' Sect branch was heavily guarded, with disciples patrolling every few steps on the courtyard wall, and the courtyard was brightly lit and bustling with people.

However, these precautions were useless in the eyes of Gu Yu and his companions. The three of them lightly touched the roof with their toes, concealed their aura, and silently sneaked into the courtyard like raccoons, landing on the crossbeam of the main hall's roof.

The Beggars' Sect branch, usually quite deserted, was unusually lively today.

Inside the main hall, several candidates vying for the position of gang leader had already gathered, with only Qiao Feng yet to arrive.

The deputy gang leader, Ma Dayuan, sat in the head seat, with the law enforcement elder Bai Shijing and the "perfect scholar" Quan Guanqing on either side. As for Li Changfeng, the leader of the Kaifeng branch, he could only sit at the very end.

“Vice Chief Ma, the Twenty-Four Towers are located on Vermilion Bird Street. If we try to force our way in, the Martial Virtue Division will have a hard time dealing with us.”

Li Changfeng, who had been traveling in Kaifeng for many years, was well aware of the rules and regulations of the capital and spoke first.

Ma Dayuan's expression was solemn, and he remained silent.

Bai Shijing, standing to the side, chimed in with a resolute tone: "Before the leader left, he instructed that this matter should not cause too much of a stir, so as not to alarm the imperial court. However, according to our numerous investigations, the Twenty-Four Towers are definitely not unrelated to the imperial court."

"Oh? How do you know, Elder Bai?" Quan Guanqing asked, raising an eyebrow.

"A disciple just came to report."

Bai Shijing looked at Li Changfeng, signaling him to explain.

Li Changfeng immediately stood up and said in a deep voice, "This afternoon, a group of strangely dressed Western Region people broke into the Twenty-Four Towers, only to be frozen into ice sculptures. The team that went to clean up the mess was led by a captain from the Martial Virtue Division."

Since Lü Zhang's incident, Li Changfeng has been secretly keeping an eye on the Twenty-Four Towers. Any slight movement inside the towers would reach his ears immediately.

The three people on the roof heard it clearly and smiled at each other.

They had long known that someone was secretly watching the Twenty-Four Towers. In recent days, spies from various factions had probably surrounded Vermilion Bird Street. Not only were there people from the martial arts world, but also people from the imperial court.

The imperial court was inherently divided into factions and was not a monolithic entity, so it was perfectly normal for someone to be watching it.

Ma Dayuan nodded slowly.

The Beggars' Sect became the largest sect in the world because of its large number of members; their advantage has always been their overwhelming numbers and sheer numbers.

However, Zhuque Avenue is right next to the imperial palace, making a large-scale siege impossible.

After a moment of silence, Quan Guanqing slowly spoke: "Then let's proceed according to the rules of the Twenty-Four Towers."

"Ok?"

As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes turned to him.

Quan Guanqing, known as the "Scholar of Ten Directions," was exceptionally intelligent and was a hot contender for the next gang leader, with a reputation even stronger than that of Ma Dayuan and Bai Shijing.

"I've heard that these Twenty-Four Towers take on murder commissions. We just need to place an impossible commission to lure them out of the city. Then, whether it's an ambush or an assassination, it will be a piece of cake." Quan Guanqing's tone was calm, but it revealed his complete confidence.

This idea wasn't unheard of, but there was a concern: the Twenty-Four Towers didn't allow the selection of specific assassins. Jingzhe was the one who killed Lü Zhang; if someone else had taken on the commission, killing him would have been pointless.
Quan Guanqing had obviously thought of this beforehand, and added, "Then we'll ask them to do it a few more times. The Beggars' Sect has no shortage of beggars."

"Furthermore, beggars value money the most, which aligns with their rules. We have enough manpower and resources, so we don't have to worry about not catching a big fish."

"Unless they want to ruin their own reputation."

"it is good."

Ma Dayuan immediately made the decision, setting the tone: "Let's do it according to Chief Quan's wishes. As for Jingzhe, whoever kills him will get the credit. What do you all think?"

"it is good!"

"That's it!"

"Vice Leader, you are just! This murderer must be brought to justice to avenge Elder Lü!"

The hall is filled with high-ranking members of the branch, so there's no need to worry about who will carry out the orders.

The Beggars' Sect has beggars all over the streets and alleys. Tomorrow, with just one order, countless brave men will be willing to lend their strength.

Unbeknownst to them, the three people on the rooftop had overheard everything they said.

Gu Yu chuckled softly and said to Jingzhe beside her, "Did you hear that? They're going to kill you."

Jingzhe turned to look at her, then sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation.

Although Gu Yu's voice was soft, everyone in the hall was a martial arts master with hearing far exceeding that of ordinary people, and her whereabouts were instantly exposed.

"who!?"

"Someone's eavesdropping! On the roof!"

Bai Shijing launched the first attack, leaping up suddenly and sending a palm strike straight towards the roof.

The bricks and tiles shattered instantly, creating a large hole.

The Awakening of Insects and Pure Brightness are clear in our hearts, but Grain Rain is deliberately revealed.

If these beggars were to follow the rules and make a request to the Twenty-Four Towers, the rules of the towers would be difficult to break, and they would end up in a passive position. It would be better to show up directly and break the deadlock.

Before the Beggars' Sect members could dismantle the house, Jingzhe and Qingming exchanged a glance, then leaped down, landing steadily in the courtyard. Their auras suddenly subsided, and they stood on guard.

Gu Yu sat leisurely on the eaves, her legs casually dangling under the eaves.

She was dressed in green, which made her skin look even whiter than snow. Her eyes and brows were full of youthful and lively energy. It was hard for anyone to feel hostility towards her.

Although the Beggars' Sect members were furious, they did not immediately attack her, their eyes all fixed on Jingzhe.

When Jingzhe killed Lü Zhang at Hongyan Tower, he did not disguise himself or cover his face. His portrait had already spread throughout the Beggars' Sect, and everyone recognized him.

Although the three had changed into night clothes, none of them concealed their faces, making their identities immediately apparent.

"Scholars from all directions are full of clever ideas; there's no need for such trouble."

"The Awakening of Insects is right here."

The raindrops on the eaves swung their legs, laughing lightly.

Ma Dayuan and Bai Shijing's expressions grew increasingly solemn, their gazes fixed intently on the Awakening of Insects and the Qingming Festival.

They knew Lü Zhang's strength. Even if he was caught off guard, the fact that he could be killed with a single sword strike was enough to show how terrifying Jingzhe's skills were.

Neither of them acted rashly. Quan Guanqing was even more astute. He quickly composed himself, keeping silent and observing the situation.

"Cloth-beating dog formation!"

Ma Dayuan no longer hesitated and gave the order in a deep voice.

As soon as he finished speaking, a large number of Beggar Clan disciples wielding sticks surged out from all around, closing in step by step and subtly surrounding Jingzhe and the other two.

The two sides clashed, their auras clashing, tensions rising, ready to erupt at any moment.

This dog-beating formation requires forty-eight people to set up simultaneously. All of them are core disciples of the Beggars' Sect of the fourth generation or above, and they hold heavy iron rods instead of ordinary wooden sticks.

The formation is exquisite, capable of combining the internal energy of forty-eight people into one, integrating offense and defense. Once an ordinary expert is trapped, it is difficult to escape.

Before the formation was fully formed, Jingzhe and Qingming exchanged a glance, and simultaneously drew their longswords, their cold light flashing.

The two did not coordinate any formations and fought separately. As they swung their longswords, a blue light surged, and their inner force poured out from the blades.

The sword energy was incredibly sharp, and with a single sweep, several Beggar Clan disciples were sent flying, spitting blood as they landed.

The iron rods were no match for this sword energy and broke one after another.

Before the dog-beating formation could be fully set up, several people were killed, and the formation instantly developed a gap, making it impossible to regroup.

"Arrange the Dog-Killing Formation!"

Ma Dayuan's eyes darkened, and he gave the order again.

This time, twenty disciples emerged, ignoring Qingming and heading straight for Jingzhe.

These twenty people were all experts he personally brought. They were all elite disciples of the sixth level of the Acquired Realm, with profound internal strength and excellent teamwork. Each of them held a sharp curved knife.

Ma Dayuan leaped into the air, his body as swift as a falcon, and landed steadily in the formation.

The Killing Dog Formation differs from the Beating Dog Formation; it requires a top-tier expert at the Innate Realm or above to act as the formation's core.

The remaining twenty people were arranged according to the five elements and divided into five groups of four people each, plus the center of the formation, for a total of twenty-one people. They formed a ring around the enemy, trapping them in the center and creating a net of heaven and earth.

The disciples' footsteps appeared chaotic, but in reality, their advances, retreats, and evasions were all governed by rules, subtly incorporating the techniques of Qimen Dunjia.

Ma Dayuan let out a low roar, his voice strange and peculiar. Then, his twenty disciples simultaneously emitted strange sounds, some like the singing of lotus flower ballads, some like painful groans, and some like shouts of striking their chests, mixed with the crisp sound of curved blades clashing together, and waves of sound swept outwards.

This sound wave contains internal energy, specifically targeting the soul. When the internal energy of the twenty-one people is connected, the resulting sound wave has the power to captivate and seize the soul.

Jingzhe, being in the midst of the formation, indeed sensed something amiss.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, and my soul felt as if it were being pulled by an invisible force, leaving me momentarily disoriented.

But he reacted extremely quickly. He bit his tongue, and the stimulation of his blood essence caused a cold snort to escape from his nose, and his internal energy suddenly circulated throughout his body.

He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled.

Upon seeing this, Gu Yu on the eaves quickly raised her hand to cover her ears.

The next moment, a terrifying shockwave surged out from Jingzhe's mouth.

The sound waves were like the howls of hell, accompanied by gusts of eerie wind, and visible black ripples spread out with the sound waves.

It surged wildly within a radius of several dozen feet, shaking off all the surrounding leaves and pebbles, which flew everywhere.

The besieging Beggars' Sect disciples fell one after another, their screams echoing throughout the area.

Ma Dayuan was also severely impacted by the shockwave, staggering back several steps. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, instantly shattering the carefully laid dog-killing formation.

Quan Guanqing, who had been observing the situation, saw that Jingzhe was difficult to deal with, and Qingming was also in the midst of a fierce battle, making it impossible for the Beggars' Sect to cope.

His eyes darted around furtively, and he took a few steps back.

Taking advantage of their momentary lapse in attention, he leaped from the side and headed straight for the Guyu (Grain Rain) on the eaves.

Jingzhe and Qingming had noticed this long ago, but they didn't pay attention to it, and even smiled.

Quan Guanqing silently released two snakes from his sleeve from behind, heading straight for Gu Yu's neck, while simultaneously striking out with his palm.

With internal force released outwards, a single palm strike can shatter even granite.

(End of this chapter)