A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

Chapter 142 The plan wasn't like this.

Water lines hung from the dark green roof of the inn, and rain fell in a dense drizzle. One or two more people entered the inn, and the waiters bustled about, serving tea, cakes, and snacks.

Seeing the elderly couple sitting by the window, their refined manners and composed demeanor, especially the old man with his flowing silver beard who exuded an air of authority, Chen Youliang cupped his hands and said, "Are you two gentlemen also here to inquire about Xie Xun?"

"Young man, my husband is hard of hearing."

A sound of surprise came from the Qinghai Sect. A Taoist priest said, "Isn't that Du Baidung and Yi Sanniang? Master Du's ability to identify weapons by sound is unparalleled in the martial arts world. How come he's deaf?"

Chen Yu heard it clearly and thought to himself that it really was those two. The reason he quickly remembered them was because in the novel "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber", when Yi San Niang saw Zhang Wuji at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain, she thought of her only son and tears welled up in her eyes. Such a scene was unforgettable.

Yi San Niang gave a bitter smile, "I never thought there would be anyone who could recognize an old man and an old woman."

The Qinghai sect Taoist priest didn't know how to respond, so he simply said "please" and buried his head in his food.

"Young man, I overheard you chatting earlier, saying that the Emei Sect obtained the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Is that true?" Yi Sanniang composed herself and asked Chen Youliang. She then explained, "My husband and I traveled from Qiantang to Anhui, and then from Mingguang to Hanyang, all to inquire about the whereabouts of that villain Xie Xun. We had no interest in the Dragon-Slaying Saber. When we arrived in Hanyang, we heard that the Emei Sect had obtained the Dragon-Slaying Saber. We figured they must have been in contact with the Purple-Robed Dragon King, so we rode at full speed to catch up with the Emei ship and arrived here."

Chen Youliang's expression was solemn. He clasped his hands in a salute and said, "So that's how it is. We were just guessing. On that day, the Emei Sect left in a hurry from the Hanyang Wharf. The Emei Sect Leader, Abbess, also appeared in Anhui. When the Purple-Robed Dragon King was in Anhui, he personally admitted that the Dragon-Slaying Saber had been stolen. After thinking it over, among the experts from various sects who appeared in Anhui at that time, only Abbess could subdue the Demonic Dragon King. Therefore, we made this deduction. As for the truth, we really cannot give a definite answer."

Yi Sanniang clasped her hands in a fist salute, "This is the closest we've been to getting information about that villain Xie Xun in the last ten years or so."

"Senior, you are too kind. If the Emei Sect's large ship passes through Yueyang, please ask. I have heard that the Emei Sect Leader, Miejue, also has a blood feud with Xie Xun. I will be able to provide you with detailed information."

"Thank you, sir."

Listening to Chen Youliang and Yi Sanniang's conversation, Chen Yu thought of a saying: "A great villain appears loyal." If he hadn't been familiar with the world of Yitian, he would have thought Chen Youliang was a kind-hearted young swordsman who was trying to shift the blame with every word, and that every word sounded sincere.

The rain continued unabated, pattering heavily. A large boat approached the dock, and the people in the inn's lobby perked up. In an instant, many people rushed out from the low shacks on one side of the dock. Men on the large boat also set up planks and went ashore, busy securing the vessel. The river tide pushed the large boat up and down. The men cursed about the weather. Someone appeared at the bow with an umbrella, beckoning more than ten people who had come from the shacks to board the boat.

"It was originally a cargo ship."

Chen Youliang looked at the porters, who resembled ants in the heavy rain, and chuckled to himself.

"Originally disciples of the Kunlun and Huashan sects." During the Qiantang period, the Kunlun and Huashan sects became friendly with the Qinghai sect, and Ma Tianyou of the Qinghai sect greeted them as "Master Jian" and "Master Xue."

"It's Brother Ma." As he spoke, Jian Jie and Xue Gongyuan from the Huashan Sect walked in. Ma Tianyou had someone move out a stool, and Jian Jie and the others sat down.

"Master Tang, have you not arrived in Yueyang?" Ma Tianyou asked.

Jianjie said, "We've arrived. We're staying at an inn in the city. I'll wait at the dock to gather information."

"What did the porter say?"

"Only one cargo ship docks every day."

"We haven't been able to get any information either, but we just overheard our brothers over there saying that the Eagle Sect doesn't seem to have caught up with the Emei Sect."

.

Jian Jie glanced back at the table where Chen Youliang was sitting. He had actually seen Chen Youliang in Qiantang, but Chen Youliang's face and hair were disguised. Jian Jie was not someone who paid attention to everything and remembered everything, so he didn't have much of an impression of him. Seeing that everyone was unfamiliar and had ordinary appearances, and that they were not people with extraordinary skills, he lost the desire to make friends with them.

The group toasted each other, and Jianjie said, "The Heavenly Eagle Sect is skilled in water navigation, so they would not have failed to catch up. Could it be that they encountered the Emei Sect, fought a battle, and were defeated and left?"

Ma Tianyou said, "That makes sense. The Emei Sect has Abbess Miejue and that treacherous and ruthless Chen Yu. It's quite normal for the Tianying Sect to fall into the hands of the Emei Sect."

"That's true." Jian Jie thought of Chen Yu, gritted his teeth, and then changed the subject, "Still no news from the three Daoist masters?"

Ma Tianyou said he was one of the Three Swords of Qinghai.

"The prognosis is grim. If the murderer is found, they will be torn to pieces. On Master Jian's side, have you found the murderer of the Kongtong Sect disciple who suffered the calamity?"

Jian Jie said in a low voice, "He died from a brutal attack; the killer is unknown."

Chen Youliang sighed.

The man drinking with him at the table asked, "What's wrong, Brother Chen?"

"One wave subsides only for another to rise, which inevitably reminds one of the bloody cases that occurred in the martial arts world more than a decade ago."

"Indeed, that villain Xie Xun deserves to be torn to pieces."

Chen Youliang seemed to speak without thinking, but Ma Tianyou and Jian Jie simultaneously had an idea. "Master Jian, do you think it's possible that Xie Xun accompanied the Purple-Robed Dragon King to Anhui to harm people?"

Jian Jie's face was gloomy. He grabbed his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, saying, "Let's go back to the inn first to report the situation, and then we'll have a good drink with Brother Ma another day."

Take care.

"it is good."

Jian Jie, Xue Gongyuan, and the others got up and walked out of the inn. Just as they were about to put on their straw hats, the line of sight froze in the air, and they saw three large ships riding the wind and waves on the distant river, which quickly became clear.

"There are three large ships, belonging to the Emei Sect," Jian Jie exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone in the inn stood up and looked on. Yi San Niang and Du Bai Chuan swayed and disappeared into the rain and mist. After a few leaps, they arrived at the dock. Yu Zhen Zi, Jian Jie and others followed, and Chen You Liang followed closely behind.

"May I ask if Abbess Miejue of the Emei Sect is here?" Yi Sanniang asked, channeling her inner energy. Her voice was as swift as thunder and carried far, demonstrating her considerable inner strength.

"Who are you?" A clear female voice responded from the other side of the large ship, and Chen Yu recognized it as Su Mengqing.

"Yi San Niang from Western Sichuan has something to ask of you, Master. Please bear with me."

The voices came back and forth, and then Miejue's tall figure appeared at the bow of the ship, with Ding Minjun holding an umbrella behind him to shield him from the rain.

Yi San Niang took a deep breath and said, "Du Baichuan from Sichuan and Yi San Niang greet the Abbess."

"No need to be polite." Miejue's voice was clear and bright, as if it were speaking right next to your ear.

"My only son died at the hands of the villain Xie Xun when he was young. If you know Xie Xun's whereabouts, please tell me. I would be extremely grateful."

"The Lion King of the Demonic Cult is still overseas."

Chen Yu learned from Dai Qisi that Xie Xun and Bai Guishou were on Icefire Island, and then informed Miejue of this information. Yi Sanniang, who had lost her son, sought revenge and pressed for answers. Miejue told her directly without hiding anything.

Yi Sanniang naturally believed what Miejue said, took a deep breath, and pressed on, "Does the nun know where the villain Xie Xun is overseas?"

"An isolated island overseas, details unknown."

Yi San Niang was extremely disappointed.

Qinghai Sect's Yu Zhenzi bowed and said, "This old Taoist, Yu Zhenzi, greets the Abbess."

There was a moment of silence on the other side of the large ship. When the voice rang out again, it carried a chill, "The Emei Sect and the Yuzhen Temple have no connection and no enmity. From Qiantang to Hanyang, the disciples of the Yuzhen Temple have repeatedly made things difficult for my disciples. Why is that?"

Yu Lingzi said, "What a coincidence! Several of my good-for-nothing disciples have also gone missing, and it seems they are related to Master's disciple Chen Yu. I was just about to visit the mountain to ask for your guidance."

"When the Mid-Autumn Festival arrives and the moon is full, the Emei Sect will appraise the Dragon-Slaying Saber at the Golden Summit. I will give you my explanation then."

Chen Yu heard it clearly and thought to himself with a smile, "Master is truly upright."

The words "extermination" echoed across the dock like the roar of the river. Chen Youliang shook his head as if in a hallucination, thinking to himself that this wasn't the plan.

Success is achieved through secrecy, while failure is caused by leaks. Success comes from careful thought, and plans are made through deep consideration. Everyone desires the Dragon-Slaying Saber and wants to possess it privately. Xie Xun even traveled overseas after obtaining the saber, yet Miejue casually mentioned it.

Originally, all she had to do was follow the Emei Sect and sow discord along the way to attract people from various sects, the Eagle Sect, and the Ming Cult to the Emei Sect. Extinction would definitely stop at nothing to protect the sword. With accumulated hatred and resentment, Xianyu Tong could persuade others to form alliances and even use someone else to kill. How could she say it so casually?

Is this old nun mentally unstable?

Chen Youliang was puzzled. When he thought about it, Yu Zhenzi laughed three times and said, "So, the disappearance of my good-for-nothing disciples must be related to the Emei Sect. Very well, I will definitely pay a visit to their sect then."

"This humble nun awaits your arrival," Miejue replied coldly, turning and heading towards the cabin.

The three large ships of the Emei Sect approached the dock on the north bank.

Chen Yu knew that his master was arranging for someone to send letters to the Wudang, Shaolin, and Hengshan sects, inviting them to witness the secrets of swords and sabers at the Emei sect during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Jian Jie and the others on the dock quickly dispersed and rushed to the inn in the city to inform Tang Wenliang, Xian Yutong and others. There were still nearly a hundred days until the Mid-Autumn Festival. The journey from Yueyang to Mount Emei should have been leisurely. However, Yu Zhenzi and others had already begun to arrange for their disciples to hire large ships at the dock. Chen Yu got up and went to his room on the second floor. He opened the window and stared at Chen Youliang from above.

The rain was torrential, and mixed in with the downpour were flashes of lightning that would suddenly appear and then disappear.

After Qinghai disciples paid for their food at the inn, Yu Lingzi and the others headed towards the boat.

Du Baichuan and Yi Sanniang also arrived at the inn, paid their bills, and left.

When Chen Youliang and his group arrived, the once noisy lobby on the first floor of the inn had already become quiet.

"Brother Chen, how about we go together to Emei Mountain and see what's going on?"

Chen Youliang smiled and said, "It's still early."

"That's true."

"How about we meet up in Emei County the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"Okay, see you there."

Chen Youliang was about to pay for the meal when a man tried to pay first. After a brief argument, Chen Youliang gave the waiter a silver ingot, and the group left the inn and went their separate ways.

As dusk fell, twilight gradually enveloped the area.

The window of a second-floor guest room in the inn creaked open, and Chen Yu, dressed in black, disappeared into the vast wind and rain.

As darkness fell completely, thunder roared, and a burst of branch-like red light appeared. The clouds seemed to unfurl a net across the sky. Chen Youliang walked through the streets and alleys until he reached an inn. He looked around and then entered the lobby.

The waiter, who had been dozing off at the table, looked up, stood up, and greeted Chen Youliang courteously. Chen Youliang nodded and went straight upstairs.

The shadow cast by the building outside the inn shifted, and Chen Yu stepped out.

Chen Youliang was bound to meet Cheng Kun, but fortunately, the thunderstorm provided cover for eavesdropping.

Splash—

The deafening thunder made the oil paper on the inn's windows rattle. Chen Yu leaped into the air, silently passing through the rain and landing on the inn's roof. He crouched low, moving like a cat. After a few steps, he pressed himself against the black fish-scale tiles. He used his mind to guide his qi, circulating it through the Qiao Meridian and channeling it into acupoints such as the Dicang, Juliao, Chengqi, and Jingming points to enhance his senses.

The creaking sound of the door being pushed open came clearly from below.