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

Chapter 144 A Budding Talent Just Begins to Emerge

The horse was a "Jade Lion Shining at Night," as white as snow, without a single stray hair on its body. From head to tail, it was ten feet long, and from hoof to spine, it was eight feet tall. It could travel a thousand miles in a day.

The man was dressed in white, holding a fan. His black hair was flowing, his face was as smooth as jade, and his eyes were as clear as water.

A person and a horse appeared at Yueyang Wharf. Such elegance could only belong to Zhao Min!

Zhao Min's journey from Xiangyang was similar to that of Wei Yixiao and the others. She first went to Hanyang to analyze and organize the information transmitted by the scouts. Sayuna and others inquired at the docks, restaurants, and inns and confirmed that the Emei Sect had hired a ship to leave Hanyang. Zhao Min thought that rice and noodles could be stored while the ship was sailing, but water and vegetables would need to be replenished every few days. So she rode straight to Yueyang and arrived at the dock. There, she once again arranged for people to scout and collect information.

The dense shade of the trees was accompanied by the sharp chirping of cicadas, and the setting sun was somewhat dazzling. Zhao Min rode her horse to the dock to the foot of an old banyan tree with gnarled branches and a canopy like an umbrella.

Behind her, Sayuna, with a small meteor hammer hanging from her waist, quickly stepped forward. "Princess, we've found out everything."

"How so?"

A few days ago, a large ship of the Emei Sect passed by the dock. At that time, a couple asked Miejue about Xie Xun's whereabouts. Miejue said that Xie Xun was on an isolated island overseas. Then, a Taoist priest spoke with Miejue and said that he would appreciate the Dragon-Slaying Saber at the Golden Summit of Mount Emei during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Zhao Min's gaze fell upon the river surface where the sunset glowed and a lone wild goose flew, her thoughts flowing like the tide.

If the Dragon-Slaying Saber is in the hands of the Emei Sect, then who was it that rescued Dai Qisi in Xiangyang?

The other person is a man.

The thought flashed through Zhao Min's mind, but then she felt a sharp pain in her ankle. She dismounted, and Zhao Yishang, one of the Eight Heroes of the Divine Archery, grabbed a blanket. Zhao Min waved her hand, tapping her left palm with her right folding fan, and paced back and forth under the old banyan tree. She pondered, "Miejue said at the dock that everyone could go to the Golden Summit to examine the Dragon-Slaying Saber. The reason the Dragon-Slaying Saber is so precious is because of these sixteen characters: 'The supreme weapon of the martial world, the Dragon-Slaying Saber, commands the world, and none dare disobey.' If, after examining it, Miejue invited the leaders of the major sects such as Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, and Kunlun to unanimously agree that the Dragon-Slaying Saber is a weapon capable of cutting through gold and jade, how could people in the martial world still flock to it, fighting and scrambling for it? Wouldn't the martial world then cease its fighting? Wouldn't that ruin the plan I told my father about?"

Zhao Min thought this through, her bright eyes suddenly sparkling, "To Jingzhou!"

At a command, dozens of men, including Ah San, Ah Er, and the Eight Heroes of Divine Arrows, who were scattered around the dock, mounted their horses and rode off towards Jingzhou, a place 500 miles away from Yueyang, with thunderous hoofbeats.

Jingzhou, one of the ancient Nine Provinces, was located in both Jing and Hengyang. It was named after the winding and towering Jing Mountains within its territory.

As the sun set, the green fields stretched out, gradually turning orange-red at the foot of the mountains. The sound of horses' hooves came to a stop at a time-honored medicine shop in the ancient city of Jingzhou.

Chen Yu dismounted and entered the pharmacy.

"Sir, what would you like to order?" the waiter greeted him solicitously.

"Eight mace of gardenia, cotton cloth, and some Solomon's seal and ginseng."

"Okay."

The shop assistant skillfully weighed the herbs, Chen Yu paid, left the pharmacy, mounted his horse, and headed straight for the Jingzhou dock. He found an inn with a good view, booked a superior room, and asked the shop assistant to send over some wine and dishes.

In no time, the waiter left with the wine and dishes. Chen Yu then soaked the gardenia in a wooden basin with water. By the time they had finished eating and drinking, the water in the basin had turned yellow.

Chen Yu dipped a cotton cloth in the dye and applied it evenly to her hair and face. Soon after, her jet-black hair turned dry and yellow, and her complexion became sallow.

Chen Yu's disguise was inspired by the monk Ku Toutuo and Chen Youliang. Fan Yao dyed his hair red. Although Chen Yu was not very clear about Chen Youliang's exact appearance, he knew that the other party should be a spirited young man with regular features, not pale and thin. He was also well-versed in the Emei Sect's pharmacopoeia and knew the effects of various wild medicinal plants. Indigo could be extracted from woad, madder could be used to dye red, and gardenia could be used to extract yellow. He disguised himself to avoid a sudden scene like when he bumped into Bai Xilou at Yueyang Wharf and the other party called for help.

Otherwise, Chen Yu was absolutely confident that he could kill them one by one, taking the lives of Bai Xilou, Wei Yixiao, and Shuobude, but if they joined forces, they would be at a disadvantage.

"Not bad." Chen Yu applied the dye, examined himself in the bronze mirror. His eyebrows and eyes remained unchanged, but his skin and hair color were slightly altered, giving him a weathered look. At first glance, even his master, Miejue, would hardly recognize him.

Chen Yu pushed open the window, gracefully landed in the back alley of the inn, and strolled towards the dock.

The Emei Sect's large ships sailed upstream, and even traveling day and night, they were left behind by Chen Yu. When he traveled from Xiangyang to Hanyang, he passed through Jingzhou, but he was in a hurry and did not stop. Now he could take a look around.

As the setting sun cast a sliver of red light, Chen Yu strode to the Jingzhou Wharf. The weather was fine, and the temperature was dropping at dusk, making it the perfect time for loading and unloading cargo. The wharf was bustling with activity, and the river was filled with thousands of sails, their vessels covering the water.

Chen Yu observed one by one, from far to near and from left to right. There were men with imposing manners who looked like outlaws strolling around the dock. It was hard to tell whether they were people who came for the Dragon Slayer Saber or gang members who controlled the dock.

Chen Yu's gaze was fixed on a tall, elderly man. He had a beard that was half a foot long, a face as red as a date, a lean and wiry build, an outstanding demeanor, and an imposing presence.

Chen Yu's gaze lingered for a moment on the judge's pen at the other man's waist before shifting his attention and walking along the dock. As he turned, the old man looked back, glancing around and muttering to himself, "I just felt someone staring at me. Am I being paranoid?"

The river flowed swiftly as Chen Yu walked half a mile towards Jing Mountain. After a dozen or so steps, he paused for a moment, watching the couple from Sichuan, Du Baidang and Yi Sanniang, heading towards the dockside inn. He smiled slightly. He didn't suspect that these two were following the Emei Sect's large ship with the intention of seizing the Dragon-Slaying Saber, or perhaps hoping that the Purple-Robed Dragon King would return to steal the saber and he could find out Xie Xun's whereabouts.

The supreme martial arts weapon, the Dragon-Slaying Saber, is always faced with a rational and clear-headed individual.

Chen Yu headed towards Jing Mountain, while the old man at the dock stood for a long time before turning back into the city. He walked through the streets and alleys and entered a courtyard. His view opened up, and he could see men in tight-fitting clothes with calm demeanor, swords on their knees, and cold, hard expressions everywhere in the courtyard.

Time flies, and a day passes.

The sun, like a burning fireball, sank westward and disappeared into the forests of Jing Mountain. The summer heat subsided, and a cool evening breeze rustled through the trees.

Three large ships appeared one by one on the river, approaching the dock.

"They really are going to Jingzhou to resupply." Chen Yu saw it clearly. He jumped out of the window and landed in a back alley. He walked slowly and steadily until he reached a restaurant near the dock. Upon entering, he sensed something was amiss. There were many diners, but most of them were clearly men from the martial arts world, and their eyes kept falling on the large ship that was getting closer and closer to the dock.

Whose group is this? Chen Yu remained calm and sat down at the table next to the four burly men who were engrossed in their meal. He ordered some wine and dishes from the waiter and kept an eye on the commotion at the dock while eating.

"Finally, I can get some exercise."

The large ship docked at the pier, and the crew set up the planks. Bei Jinyi stretched her body. With twenty or thirty people on one boat, the space was limited, making it difficult to stretch and move around. She felt like she was going to stiffen up. But that was secondary. Eating noodles, rice, and pickled vegetables day and night left her mouth feeling bitter.

"Master, let's go to the restaurant at the dock and have some vegetarian food."

Extinction's cold voice came through, "Regardless of the importance of the matter, go to the dock and buy some rice, noodles, and vegetables, and return quickly."

"Understood." Bei Jinyi stuck out her tongue and led Zhou Zhiruo and more than ten junior brothers and sisters ashore. Ding Minjun and Tang Zhihu also jumped onto the dock.

Chen Yu did not see Su Mengqing and Yang An. The two must have been on their way to Hengshan, Wudang, and Shaolin to deliver a letter. Wudang is in Hubei, and Shaolin is located in Songshan, Henan. They are actually in the same direction. Chen Yu thought that Yang An must have gone that way.

Bei Jinyi landed swiftly outside the restaurant, her melodious voice ringing out, "Waiter, quickly bring me about ten roast ducks with soy sauce, steamed quail, two boxes of candied fruits including rose kumquats, fragrant grapes, and sugar-coated peach strips, as well as dried fruits such as lychees, longans, and ginkgo nuts."

"Alright, please wait a moment, sir."

"Senior sister, this will take up too much time."

Bei Jinyi chuckled, "You'll be there to comfort me when I get scolded."

Zhou Zhiruo was taken aback. Bei Jinyi patted Zhou Zhiruo's shoulder and said, "Don't worry, your master loves you so much. He'll only scold you for a few words. After he's done, you can offer him some dried fruit. Your master will be more than happy with that."

"Oh!" Zhou Zhiruo responded softly.

Chen Yu smiled unconsciously.

Snap—

The sound of the wine bowl hitting the ground rang out abruptly, and the command echoed in the restaurant lobby.

"Move out and capture these men alive."

The whistling lightness skill stirred up a cloud of dust. The four men at the table next to Chen Yu stood up with a whoosh. Chen Yu also left the table like a phantom. One of the men reached for his sword, but with a crisp clang, the long sword was pulled out by Chen Yu. The sword light bloomed in the air, and blood immediately bloomed from the waist of the man who leaped towards Bei Jinyi and Zhou Zhiruo.

"not good.""

The man whose sword was snatched by Chen Yu turned around and was hit by an oncoming fist. His vision went black, he saw stars, and his body was sent flying.

A little further away from the inn, a burly man who had been rushing towards Bei Jinyi and Zhou Zhiruo suddenly turned cold. His figure moved like a swimming dragon, and a sword cry that could shatter metal and split stone exploded out. The air waves pressed against the tip of the sword crackled like bubbles bursting.

Chen Yu raised his arm and parried with his sword. The clanging sound of metal striking metal was so loud it seemed to pierce eardrums, and a surge of frenzied internal energy flowed through the sword.

Chen Yu was greatly surprised. It was extremely familiar to him. It was a fragment of the sword technique he had obtained in Changchun Valley, which was suspected to be the "Sunflower Manual". He had tried to practice it, but it was clashed by the fire-elemental liver and heart meridians, causing his Nine Yang internal energy to suddenly become violent.

Has this man practiced the Nameless Sword Technique?

Before Chen Yu could think further, his powerful Nine Yang internal energy surged and erupted from the Laogong and Shenmen acupoints on his wrist. With a tremor of his wrist, the Qinggang sword hummed and vibrated at an extremely high speed, forming a sword arc.

With a snap, the sword struck the man's chest, tearing his black uniform open like broken porcelain. The man staggered backward, and Chen Yu swung his sword back, drawing a staggering stream of blood from the man who had leaped from behind.

The boiling sound spread in an instant. With several bangs, the old man that Chen Yu had seen at the dock the day before leaped out of the second floor of the restaurant and headed straight for the big ship. Countless people poured out from the surrounding teahouses and inns. Some shouted as they went ashore as Emei Sect disciples, while others rushed straight for the big ship.

Chen Yu's body shot out like an arrow, cutting through the dust. The burly man, struck by the arc of the sword, attacked again with his own sword. In an instant, the sounds of swords slashing and tearing air intertwined. After more than ten clanging sounds of metal clashing, the burly man retreated wildly in an instant, his body slamming into a pillar in the hall. A clear, crescent-shaped sword light caught up with the man, touched his chest at the Tanzhong acupoint, and then withdrew.

The burly man collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest. Chen Yu quickly crouched down to check on him, and when he stood up in an instant, his face was grim.

The man had castrated himself.

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