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

The bright moon hung high, illuminating the three of them. The old monk Faqiu spoke succinctly, "Half an hour ago, a benefactor fainted outside Leiyin Temple. He was treated in the temple and after waking up, he said that he came from Guanzhou and had urgent business with Miss Su. The benefactor was exhausted, and I was afraid that my disciple would not be able to go up the mountain, so I came to deliver the message."

Upon hearing this, Ji Xiaofu hurriedly said to Chen Yu, "They should be looking for Junior Sister Su. Junior Brother, please wait here. I will go up the mountain to report."

"it is good."

"Please go back first, Master."

"No problem."

Ji Xiaofu handled the situation well and arranged everything in an orderly manner. Master Faqiu turned and walked down the mountain. Ji Xiaofu used her movement technique, and her figure danced like a crane in the moonlight, rising and falling, and quickly disappeared into the forest.

About half an hour later, the moonlight in front of Chen Yu's eyes was broken, and Jing Xuan, Su Mengqing, and Ji Xiaofu came flying in like rabbits and falcons.

"Senior Sister, Senior Sister Ji, Senior Sister Su." Chen Yu quickly greeted them.

"Junior brother, come with me," Jingxuan said.

"Okay."

Without wasting any time, the four of them rushed towards Leiyin Temple.

Master Faqiu's words suggested the situation was quite urgent. Jingxuan, Ji Xiaofu, and Su Mengqing gathered their energy and leaped forward at a considerable speed. Jingxuan, initially careless, only realized her mistake later. Fearing Chen Yu couldn't keep up, she intended to slow down, but seeing Chen Yu swiftly following closely, she secretly thought to herself, "My junior brother is truly gifted! His lightness skill is now so remarkable." At his current rate of improvement, he would likely become a leading disciple of the Emei Sect in three to five years.

The four figures moved swiftly under the moonlight, and in the time it takes to eat a meal, Leiyin Temple came into view. As they drew closer, they saw that a guest monk was already waiting.

The monks led the way, with Jingxuan in front, and they went straight into the temple.

……

The bright lights illuminated the face of a weary-looking man in his forties in the meditation room. When he saw Su Mengqing, his face lit up with joy. "Miss has arrived."

"Manager Wang, has something happened to the escort agency?"

Chen Yu was taken aback. Su Mengqing's family actually ran a security escort agency. However, he quickly understood. Among the new senior brothers and sisters who had joined Emei, including Tang Zhihu, there were quite a few whose families ran security escort agencies.

The most chaotic world in the martial arts world of the Condor Trilogy is the world of Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, where bandits run rampant, martial artists break the law, and the escort agency relies on the Emei Sect. When they travel all over the country and encounter danger, they can give face to the bandits by giving their names.

When Su Mengqing asked, Steward Wang replied, "The escort agency was on its way to Chang'an when it was attacked by a band of bandits after passing through Qingcheng Mountain. The master went to the mountain to pay his respects, but was driven down. In desperation, he came to find Miss Su Mengqing."

"How is your father?"

"It's a minor injury, nothing serious."

Su Mengqing let out a long sigh.

Ji Xiaofu hurriedly asked, "Who are these bandits?"

"There are two chieftains. The chief chief calls himself the Flying Gorilla. He is highly skilled, and neither the master nor the chief镖头 (bodyguard) can beat him. He is also very arrogant."

"This is outrageous!" Su Mengqing exclaimed angrily.

Jingxuan, being calm and composed, said, "It's good that everyone is safe and sound. Junior sister, please don't be anxious. I will report to Master for a decision."

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

Don't be so polite.

Leiyin Temple is an independent temple, not affiliated with the Emei Sect, but they are closely connected and have a harmonious relationship. The temple also has guest rooms. Jingxuan settled Steward Wang in and then took Chen Yu and the others back to the mountain.

Upon reaching Yixiantian, Chen Yu and Ji Xiaofu remained on duty, while Jingxuan and Su Mengqing headed straight for Miejue's Woyun Nunnery.

……

As night deepens and fog rises, Woyun Temple appears to be nestled amidst a sea of ​​clouds and waves, fulfilling the poetic imagery of "a silvery realm of mountain mists, a precious aura of white light."

Fog obscures the candlelight, a dim lamp illuminates the yellowed scrolls.

Suddenly, Miejue looked up. Her martial arts were superb; nothing could escape her notice, not even the sound of footsteps.

With a creak, the door of Woyun Nunnery was pushed open, and Jingxuan walked through the narrow courtyard with its low walls and blue bricks.

"Master!"

"Come in."

Jingxuan entered the room, and Miejue asked, "What happened?"

"It's a family matter for Junior Sister Su. One of her shipments was robbed, and the Su family couldn't get their money back, so they've come to ask for help."

"Were there any casualties?"

"Yes, but the other party did not harm anyone."

"You make the arrangements."

"Should we send Junior Sister Ding and Junior Brother Yang down the mountain?"

"That's not appropriate. The Su family's escort business emphasizes making money through harmony. Since no one has been killed, we should try to be polite before resorting to force. Minjun is outspoken and might draw her sword at the slightest disagreement, which would only make things worse."

"Then let Junior Sister Ji and Junior Brother Yang accompany Junior Sister Su."

"Um."

"How about we let our junior brother come along too? I saw him walking nimbly tonight, and his lightness skill is already quite good. Let him gain some experience."

The image of Chen Yu's keen insight when he saw through the Green Bamboo Gang's treacherous intentions at the Xiangjiang River in Hengyang and striking first flashed through Miejue's mind. She couldn't help but say, "Although he is young, he is meticulous and quick-witted. I'm afraid Xiaofu and Mengqing are not as good as him. It would be good for him to follow him."

"Ah!" Jingxuan snapped out of her daze and hurriedly said, "Then this disciple will arrange it this way."

"Go."

"This disciple takes his leave."

Jingxuan left the house, closed the door, and quietly left the temple.

……

As dawn breaks, the sun rises over Mount Emei.

Chen Yu chewed a cleaned Solomon's Seal root and swallowed it. He exhaled slightly, his cheeks puffing out, using the coolness of the jade ruyi pendant to clear his mind and guide his Qi. As the medicinal properties of the Solomon's Seal root took effect, he began to stabilize his mind, consolidate his essence, circulate his Qi and blood, and condense his internal strength.

Suddenly, Chen Yu looked up and glanced to the side, only to see Ji Xiaofu's figure moving like a swallow flitting through the forest. Chen Yu was quite envious; he himself had not yet fully tempered and unblocked the Yin Qiao Meridian, Yang Qiao Meridian, and Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. Although he could walk swiftly, he was still lacking in the skill to leap high.

"Senior Sister Ji."

Ji Xiaofu landed in front of Chen Yu and said, "When Senior Sister arrived at the thatched hut, she told you, Junior Brother Yang, and I to go down the mountain with Junior Sister Su to Guanzhou."

"It's time to go down the mountain."

"Yes, a junior brother will take over the watch. Go and get ready."

"Okay."

Having spent more than half a year in Emei Mountain, Chen Yu was quite excited about his first long journey down the mountain.

……

A breeze swept through the mountains and fields; the morning air was tranquil, and the bright autumn sunlight fell. Chen Yu walked through the courtyard and quickly entered the bedroom.

Emei disciples all receive a monthly allowance. Chen Yu also had some money he had earned from the disciples of the Green Bamboo Gang who searched corpses in Xiangjiang, Hengyang. He took ten taels with him, but since he still had Iron Lotus Seeds on him, it was inconvenient to carry more silver. He then stuffed twenty taels into his bundle.

He then sought out a senior brother from the outer sect who was familiar with medicine making and alchemy, and asked for some cinnabar powder. After returning, he mixed it with lime, divided it into several packets with stiff paper, carried two packets with him, and put the rest in a bundle. He also concealed a dagger on his person. Once he was ready, he went to Yang An's residence with the sword.

Yang An had received the order to descend the mountain long ago and had been waiting for a long time.

During the time it takes to eat a meal, Ji Xiaofu and Su Mengqing arrived together. The four of them went straight to Leiyin Temple to find Steward Wang, and then went to the county town.

Chen Yu and Miejue had traveled all the way from Hengyang, and the horses they rode were kept at a horse shop in the county town. The shopkeeper was related to an outer disciple of the Emei Sect.

Chen Yu still rode a white horse, while Ji Xiaofu, Yang An, and Su Mengqing each had their own steed. The group spurred their horses and headed straight for the Su family in Guanzhou.

The journey was uneventful. Along the way, we frequently saw scenes of "warm, distant villages, wisps of smoke rising from the ruins. Dogs barking in the deep alleys, roosters crowing atop the mulberry trees." This was far better than the desolate scene that Chen Yu and Miejue often saw when they traveled from Hengyang: "Ancient villages, sunset glow, wisps of smoke, old trees, and crows."

A day later, the four entered Guanzhou City in the afternoon. The city was densely populated and bustling with shops. Su Mengqing took the lead and led the way directly to the Su Family Escort Agency.

The entrance gate of the security escort agency is magnificent, built of blue bricks, with exquisite ridge decorations, and a pair of stone lions squatting at the entrance.

"The young lady is back." The guard at the gate said excitedly when he saw the group.

"Where is my father?" Su Mengqing asked as she dismounted.

"Reporting to Miss, we will go to Qingcheng Mountain to burn incense and pray for blessings."

"When did you leave?"

"early morning."

Su Mengqing turned to look at Ji Xiaofu, Yang An, and Chen Yu, "Qingcheng Mountain is just outside the city. We're free anyway, so we might as well take our senior and junior brothers for a visit."

Ji Xiaofu wondered how long the Su family patriarch would stay after burning incense at Qingcheng Mountain. She decided to head straight there to inquire about the bandits' strength so she could finish her business and return to her sect as soon as possible. With that thought in mind, she said, "I'll listen to my junior sister."

Manager Wang did not accompany them; the four of them rode out of the city.

……

Though the sun sets late in the year, its afterglow still fills the sky.

As the sun sets, the scenery is magnificent.

Chen Yu, seeing Qingcheng Mountain in the distance, asked, "Senior Sister Su, is the incense at Qingcheng Mountain very popular?"

"Does Junior Brother know Shao Yong?"

Chen Yu was familiar with him and said, "One of the Five Scholars of Jian'an from the previous dynasty."

"Junior brother is very learned," Su Mengqing said with a smile. "The True Man of Qingcheng Mountain is a descendant of Shao Yong."

"But what does this have to do with incense offerings?" Yang An asked, puzzled.

Su Mengqing chuckled.

"Listen to me."