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

Chapter 342 Is Nan Murong a twin?
"Ok?"

"What did you say?"

Quan Guanqing was the most perceptive. He instantly sensed that Gu Yu's gaze was fixed on him. He felt a chill run down his spine, took a small step back, and hid behind Qiao Feng, using Qiao Feng's figure to shield himself.

"Young lady, is the one you want to kill me?" Quan Guanqing's voice trembled slightly.

"That's right, I'm going to kill you."

Gu Yu smiled faintly, reached for her waist, and drew a thin sword.

The sword is five feet long, its entire body glowing with a shimmering green light, and its two blades are as sharp as frost.

If the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Guards saw this sword, they would know that it was the Water-Splitting Sword, the former sword of the Wheel-Turning King, and now it had become her sword.

"This time there's no three-day deadline; I'll take your life tonight."

"May I ask, young lady, I have no grudge against you, why must you try to kill me?"

Quan Guanqing knew he was no match for a master of the Profound Realm, and that running away would be difficult. He could only force himself to remain calm and try to struggle.

"I was just doing it for someone else," Gu Yu said casually.

"Entrusted by whom?"

"You really want to know?"

"Of course! Even in death, I want to die knowing why!"

“A beggar,” Gu Yu chuckled softly.

"beggar!!??"

Qiao Feng, Ma Dayuan, Bai Shijing, and Quan Guanqing himself were all stunned.

"Are they from the Beggars' Sect?" Qiao Feng asked in a deep voice, his tone already carrying a hint of anger.

"probably."

"Otherwise, how could he know so much about the entire leader's background?"

Gu Yu nodded.

"Who is it?!" Ma Dayuan shouted angrily.

For a member of the Beggars' Sect to hire someone to kill his own leader is a capital offense of treason, crossing his bottom line.

Bai Shijing, standing to the side, also had a livid face, clearly equally furious.

"I can't tell you that."

Gu Yu changed the subject: "Besides, there are sufficient reasons to kill you. The organization has already sent people to investigate, and the entire leader is notorious for his evil deeds, not much different from the four most notorious villains in the martial arts world today."

After saying this, Gu Yu said no more, but gave a wink to Jingzhe and Qingming behind her.

The two moved swiftly forward, rushing straight towards Quan Guanqing behind Qiao Feng.

Quan Guanqing was incredibly shrewd; he had already hidden himself tightly behind Qiao Feng.

Qiao Feng naturally couldn't stand idly by. He immediately circulated his inner strength, pushed forward with both palms, and unleashed two powerful Dragon Subduing Palm techniques in succession, aiming directly at Jingzhe and Qingming.

Jingzhe and Qingming unleashed their punches simultaneously, unleashing the powerful force of the Great Subduing Demon Fist, which collided with Qiao Feng's palm strike.

The two men's fighting styles, internal strength, and movements were almost identical, as if they had been made from the same mold.

It wasn't that they couldn't join forces before, but that they were unwilling. Now, they are working together to fight the enemy, and their cooperation is seamless.

Qiao Feng used all his strength in the Dragon Subduing Palm Technique, but he was still unable to defeat the two, and could only be locked in a fierce battle with them.

The three exchanged blows, their internal energy surging, causing the surrounding air to become turbulent, and ordinary Beggar Clan disciples dared not get close.

As the battle raged on, Gu Yu drew her sword and stepped forward.

Quan Guanqing was still making a last-ditch effort, shouting loudly: "Hehe, the Twenty-Four Towers speak so grandly, but in reality they are nothing but bandits who indiscriminately kill innocent people! What crimes have I committed? I might as well tell you in public. If I am truly guilty of unforgivable crimes, I am willing to confess and submit to the law!"

Gu Yu seemed completely oblivious to these provocative words.

With a light step, she appeared in front of Quan Guanqing, Ma Dayuan, and Bai Shijing in an instant, like a ghost.

The Bishui Sword trembled slightly. With a seemingly gentle sweep, the sword was surging with the true energy of the Tongxuan Realm.

This true energy is condensed from the primordial energy of heaven and earth, and its power is terrifyingly strong.

As the sword blade sliced ​​through the air, a crescent-shaped, shimmering white sword aura shot out horizontally.

Ma Dayuan and his two companions realized something was wrong and leaped away, barely dodging the attack.

The Beggars' Sect's main hall behind them was actually cut off by this sword energy, the cut so smooth that there wasn't a single rough edge.

"Boom!!"

The lobby collapsed with a deafening roar, billowing smoke and dust. The three exchanged a glance, all seeing the horror in each other's eyes.

Ma Dayuan gritted his teeth and said, "Let's attack together!"

"it is good!"

Bai Shijing and Quan Guanqing responded in unison, each adopting a desperate stance, their inner strength surging violently as they blasted towards Gu Yu.

Ma Dayuan took the lead, unleashing his throat-locking grappling technique to its fullest extent, and attacked from the front with immense internal force.

Bai Shijing drew his sword, his swordsmanship fierce, and thrust straight at Gu Yu's waist from the side. Both of them used their most powerful and secret techniques.

With a flick of her wrist, Gu Yu caused the Bi Shui Sword to emit a buzzing sound, and the Tong Xuan True Qi poured out along the sword.

Her figure twirled and moved under the moonlight, like a fairy dancing, but the destructive power of her moves was ruthless and unparalleled.

"Swish swish!~"

Countless tiny blades of true energy trembled off the Water-Splitting Sword, pouring down like raindrops.

Ma Dayuan and Bai Shijing tried to block with their swords, but they couldn't stop the fierce true energy at all and could only dodge in a sorry state.

The two were too close to Gu Yu, and their bodies were instantly covered in countless fine cuts.

Strangely, no blood flowed from these incisions; instead, they quickly turned black.

The two staggered back two steps, crushing several stone slabs beneath their feet. Their bodies sank, and they fell to the ground with a thud, feeling as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on them. They could not stand up again, and the stone slabs beneath them were crushed.

Ma Dayuan muttered to himself, "Mysterious Water True Qi, it's Mysterious Water True Qi! At her age, where would she get Mysterious Water True Qi... She's done for, she's done for!"

The two were completely exhausted and had no strength left to fight.

Gu Yu did not kill them, but smiled and looked in the direction where Quan Guanqing had been standing: "Look, Master Quan has already slipped away and disappeared, hasn't he?"

Ma Dayuan and Bai Shijing then realized with shock that they were the only two who had just fought to the death.

While Quan Guanqing was shouting that he was fighting desperately, he had already secretly slipped away while the two were entangled with Gu Yu.

"Quan Guanqing! You traitor who betrayed your brothers!"

Ma Dayuan was furious. At this moment, he believed seven or eight parts of what Gu Yu had said earlier.

They risked their lives to protect each other, but Quan Guanqing only cared about escaping himself. Such behavior...
Gu Yu noticed the heartache and disappointment in Ma Dayuan and the other man, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips: "Don't worry, he can't escape."

Before she finished speaking, her figure transformed into a green shadow and darted out of the courtyard, leaving only the words:
"Awakening of Insects and Qingming Festival, stop fighting and retreat."

At this moment, Jingzhe and Qingming were locked in a fierce battle with Qiao Feng, the sounds of fists and palms clashing filling the air. The two sides were locked in a fierce struggle, neither willing to give an inch, and both were secretly shocked by each other's strength.

Qiao Feng was only a few years older than the two, but his internal strength was incredibly solid. His fist and leg strength were unparalleled. What was even more strange was that he seemed to have a special quality: the more intense the battle, the stronger his momentum became, and he seemed to become more and more courageous as the battle progressed.

At first, the two of them fought fiercely, and Jingzhe and Jingzhe, working together, steadily suppressed the burly man. However, the longer they fought, the more alarmed they became. This man's martial arts skills were extremely proficient, and he possessed superhuman strength. Despite the prolonged battle, he showed no signs of fatigue; on the contrary, his attacks became even more ferocious, which was completely illogical.

Even a master of profound understanding would find it difficult to quickly replenish the vital energy of heaven and earth when facing an enemy, and it would be impossible for them to become stronger with each battle.

Qiao Feng was equally surprised.

The two young men in front of him were even younger than himself, yet their martial arts skills were incredibly sophisticated.

He can use all kinds of fist and palm techniques with ease, his internal energy flows smoothly without any stagnation, and he has rich combat experience. He is not like a young man of about 20 years old at all, but rather like a veteran who has been immersed in the martial arts world for decades.

What's even more remarkable is that their martial arts styles are exactly the same, and their tacit understanding is like that of twins.

One person attacks while the other defends precisely; one person switches to defense while the other immediately switches to offense, with no flaws in the transitions.

"Where does such a young master come from? Nan Murong? It must be Nan Murong, Nan Murong should be the same person!"

"Could it be that Nan Murong is a twin?"

Qiao Feng thought to himself, but his palm technique did not slow down at all.

The two sides were already in a stalemate, neither able to gain the upper hand. As soon as Gu Yu gave the order to retreat, Jing Zhe and the other two did not hesitate for a moment. They exerted their strength and struck out with both palms.

Seeing this, Qiao Feng also raised his palm to meet the attack. With a loud "bang", both of them retreated several steps, using the momentum to deflect the force.

With a light touch of the toes at the start of the Awakening of Insects and the Qingming Festival, they leaped into the air and sped off in the direction of the Grain Rain, disappearing into the night in a moment.

This is the long street in Kaifeng at this time.

The lonely moon hangs high, its clear light shining down, so quiet that there is not a sound.

The curfew had been imposed, and the streets were already deserted.

Quan Guanqing ran as fast as he could, his mind racing to figure out a way to escape.

He knew that Ma Dayuan and his companion were no match for Gu Yu and couldn't hold out for long, so he had to find a safe haven as soon as possible.

Leaving the city was absolutely impossible; he couldn't shake off the speed of a master at the Tongxuan Realm. His only option was to find a backer within the city.

Fortunately, he was not without a foothold in Kaifeng.

Quan Guanqing ran wildly along the long street and soon arrived at the Imperial Street.

Unlike the deserted main street, the Imperial Street was brightly lit.

This area is filled with the residences of high-ranking officials and nobles, as well as government offices of the Song Dynasty, including the Wude Division, the Dragon God Guard, and the Kaifeng Prefecture.

The rule that weapons were forbidden on the Imperial Street was of no use to people like Gu Yu.

The Imperial Street was lined with the residences of officials, and Quan Guanqing dared not venture in rashly.

He wasn't sure of the significance of the Dragon God Guard token in Gu Yu's hand. These officials might not dare to oppose the Twenty-Four Towers for his sake. He didn't even dare to approach the Dragon God Guard's garrison when passing by.

Only when he saw the mansion did a glimmer of hope flash in Quan Guanqing's eyes, and he murmured to himself:
"arrive!"

That was the residence of the Inner Palace Attendant.

The Inner Palace Attendant was merely a low-ranking military officer in the Song Dynasty, holding only the sixth rank and a very low position. Yet, he was able to occupy a place in the heart of the Imperial Street, right next to the Martial Virtue Division.

Such a location is one that ordinary officials would not dare to reside in.

Quan Guanqing naturally knew that the owner of this mansion was Gao Shilin.

Although his official position was minor, he was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Gao Taotao, making him a true member of the imperial family.

In order to establish a connection with Gao Shilin, Quan Guanqing has spent countless amounts of gold and silver and given away countless beauties over the past three years.

Now that they have nowhere else to turn, they can only hope that this past offering can bring them a glimmer of hope.

Quan Guanqing was unharmed and used his lightness skill to the fullest extent, easily sneaking into Gao Shilin's residence.

Although there were many guards in the mansion, they could not detect his presence at all.

The mansion was a hidden world inside, and he knew the way inside well. He sneaked into the courtyard within the courtyard, and only then did his tense nerves relax a little. He leaned against the corridor pillar and breathed heavily, finally feeling a bit more at ease.

He had just sat down on the stone bench in the Orchid Pavilion when several men in black rushed out from all around him, wielding sharp blades and surrounding him.

Empress Dowager Gao Taotao held absolute power and strongly advocated suppressing the new laws and restoring the old system. The ten-year-old Emperor Zhezong of Song was still young and had no power to resist her.

Although Gao Shilin was only a minor official of the sixth rank, he was the younger brother of the current de facto ruler of the Song Dynasty, and naturally had many skilled guards around him.

Quan Guanqing remained completely calm, feeling much safer than Gu Yu and the other men in black.

He slowly raised his hand, revealing a warm, smooth jade pendant, the very token Gao Shilin had previously given him:

"My name is Quan Guanqing. I have important business to discuss with Lord Gao."

A man in black stepped forward, took the jade pendant, and quickly left.

Before long, a burly figure strode in from the inner room; it was Gao Shilin.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked Quan Guanqing up and down, keenly sensing that something was amiss:

"What's wrong with the Quan brothers breaking into the mansion in the middle of the night?"

The two had been in close contact over the years, and the Beggars' Sect disciples were all over the world, able to find out secrets about various countries. This information was invaluable to Gao Shilin.

More importantly, Quan Guanqing was a sensible person, and he never stopped offering him money and beautiful women.

Especially those chivalrous women from the martial arts world, they were most to Gao Shilin's liking.

However, Quan Guanqing was always cautious and would send out a visiting card several days in advance for everything. Such a sudden intrusion into the mansion late at night was definitely not an ordinary situation.

"Oh! Brother Gao, please save me!"

Quan Guanqing no longer hesitated, knelt on one knee, clasped his hands and earnestly asked for the Dao.

"Brother Quan, why are you doing this to yourself? Get up and speak."

Gao Shilin quickly stepped forward to help him up, becoming increasingly certain that something terrible must have happened.

In ordinary times of crisis, Quan Guanqing would never lose his composure like this.

Quan Guanqing stood up, took a few steps closer, and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Gao, do you know that the Beggars' Sect is currently electing a new leader? It requires passing three major challenges and achieving seven major merits. Right now, I am far ahead, and I only need the last merit to secure the position of Beggars' Sect leader."

He paused, then offered a tempting offer: "When I take charge of the Beggars' Sect, we will be able to keep track of any disturbances within the borders of either Western Xia or Liao. This assistance is far more effective than a few coins."

Quan Guanqing was well aware of people's hearts and knew that no amount of money or beauty could compare to the allure of power.

Although Gao Shilin had the Empress Dowager as his backer, Gao Taotao was always fair to her relatives and rarely showed favoritism. It was already an extraordinary favor that she sent a skilled bodyguard to protect him, and the other relatives of the empress had no one to take care of them.

Gao Shilin was eager to make a name for himself and gain his sister's favor, but he always lacked the right opportunity.

Sure enough, a hint of eagerness flashed in Gao Shilin's eyes, and his breathing quickened slightly:
"Of course! Of course! Brother Quan, please tell me quickly, what credit do you need? As long as I can help, I will do my best without hesitation."

"Brother Gao, you must have heard about Elder Lü's murder and the Twenty-Four Towers, right?" Quan Guanqing changed the subject.

This matter caused quite a stir in Kaifeng. Gao Shilin was naturally aware of it and immediately frowned: "You want to take action against the Twenty-Four Towers? I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible."

"It's not that I want to attack them, it's that they want to take my life!"

Quan Guanqing said urgently, his tone full of fear.

As soon as the words were spoken, under the cold moonlight, three figures descended into the courtyard like ghosts; it was none other than Guyu, Jingzhe, and Qingming who had rushed over.

Gu Yu's gaze swept over everyone in the courtyard, and she said calmly:

"The Twenty-Four Towers are where people get their lives taken; it would be best if Lord Gao avoided them."

(End of this chapter)