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

Su Mengqing has a younger brother and sister who are still young and unable to handle important matters. The Su family also runs a security escort agency, which may be why Su Baichuan sent his eldest daughter to Mount Emei to learn martial arts.

As dawn broke, Su Mengqing and Su Baichuan busied themselves preparing a generous gift and hiring over forty镖头 (bodyguards) and 趟子手 (escorts).

After Chen Yu, Yang An, and Ji Xiaofu had breakfast, the group left the city and headed straight for Ziyun Village, which was two hundred miles away.

The journey was uneventful. Around 3 PM, the group entered the mountain stronghold. The road gradually became more rugged. Looking around, the mountains resembled crouching tigers and coiled dragons, with green pines and cypresses of varying heights. The valleys and peaks formed a beautiful ink-wash painting-like scene.

Su Baichuan said, "This kind of mountainous terrain is the most fertile for people. Rainwater cuts through the soil, creating numerous caves, making it the easiest place for bandits to breed."

"Don't the Tartars suppress bandits?" Chen Yu asked.

"The world is in chaos, and the people are suffering. Rebellions are breaking out everywhere in Jiangxi, Anhui, Shandong, Henan, and Shaanxi. No one has time to worry about anything else."

"That's true." Chen Yu changed the subject. "Are all those who started the uprising heroes acting on behalf of Heaven?"

Su Baichuan gave a wry smile. "There are indeed heroes who act on behalf of Heaven and eliminate evil, but most groups kill Tartars and Han people alike, plunder the people's property, and are no different from bandits and brigands who kill and rob."

Su Mengqing said, "The barbarian dogs have occupied our land and harmed our people. Everyone has the right to kill them. But Han people kill Han people. This is what Master meant by using force to break the law."

Su Baichuan sighed, "In today's martial arts world, there is no such thing as morality. It's all about who has the bigger fist."

"Master Su's words are truly enlightening."

Su Baichuan smiled and said, "Young hero, you are Qing'er's junior brother, so please don't address me like that. If you don't mind, you can call me uncle."

"I would be more respectful than to obey your command, Uncle Su."

"Good, good." Su Baichuan was delighted and laughed. "After we get the goods, let Qing'er take the young hero, Lady Ji, and Master Yang to have a good tour of Guanzhou. After I finish dealing with the affairs of the escort agency, I will accompany you to Mount Emei to visit and thank the abbess."

"It's all up to Father," Su Mengqing said with a smile.

After Chen Yu obtained the Heaven-Slaying Sword, Ji Xiaofu couldn't wait to take the goods and fly to Mount Emei, but when she heard that Su Baichuan wanted to visit his master, she couldn't refuse his kind offer.

"I'll listen to my uncle," Ji Xiaofu said.

"it is good."

Su Baichuan suddenly added, "I heard from my daughter that Lady Ji and Wudang's Sixth Hero Yin are engaged. When you get married, please remember to inform this old man."

Chen Yu observed Ji Xiaofu's expression and noticed her unease and fear.

"Uncle, is Ziyun Village just ahead?"

"Yes." Su Baichuan nodded in response to Chen Yu's question.

"What were the past practices of this band of bandits?"

"There are many bandit groups in this area, but most of them actively choose their targets and make a living by kidnapping. They rarely target security escort agencies or wealthy families. Logically speaking, bandits who rule the mountains would not deplete their resources; collecting tolls is a way to operate in the long run."

"Perhaps it's because this shipment from the escort agency is truly enviable."

"That should be the case," Su Baichuan nodded.

Unaware that Chen Yu intended to help her out, Ji Xiaofu secretly vented her anger, but unpleasant thoughts surfaced from the depths of her consciousness, and she looked distressed for a moment.

"laugh……"

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out, and a signal arrow shot into the air. More than a dozen burly men wielding swords and knives emerged from both sides of the mountain path, which stretched about a hundred steps ahead of the procession.

"Who goes there?"

Chief镖头 Meng rode forward, cupped his hands, and said, "The Su Family Escort Agency of Guanzhou has come to pay a visit to Chief Luo. Please convey our message."

"Ha, it's you guys again. You've gotten bolder by inviting some skilled fighters."

"How could I dare to trouble you to tell me?"

"Wait."

The leader gave an order, led a horse out of the woods, and rode it up the mountain, while the remaining bandits watched him intently.

Chen Yu and the others dismounted and waited. Su Mengqing came over and whispered, "If they know what's good for them and hand over the goods, we can turn around and kill Luo Kui after we get them."

"Good idea, junior sister," Ji Xiaofu said.

Yang An was cautious. "Let's see how the bandit group responds first."

"If you go up the mountain, pay close attention to your surroundings," Chen Yu advised.

"Mm." Su Mengqing and Ji Xiaofu nodded.

While waiting, Chen Yu looked around at the terrain. The mountains were layered and the forests were dense, which made it easy to sneak in. In ordinary mountain strongholds, only the leader was capable. To catch the thief, you must first catch the king. When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

After about the time it takes to eat a meal, the junior leader returned, rode up, and announced, "The chief invites you to come up the mountain; no unauthorized personnel are allowed to enter."

"I understand, please lead the way," Su Baichuan said politely.

"You've got guts." The leader's provocative gaze lingered briefly on Yang An, Chen Yu, Ji Xiaofu, and Su Mengqing before he turned his horse around and rode off.

Su Baichuan brought five or six bodyguards with him, while Chief Bodyguard Meng waited at the foot of the mountain. In case of any unexpected events, they would send a message via Meteor.

The mountains stretched endlessly, and the roads were rugged. After passing through two guarded mountain valleys, Chen Yu's view included bamboo houses, wooden buildings, and stone houses of varying heights. The simple Hall of Gathering Righteousness gradually came into view.

Chen Yu looked at the banner fluttering in the wind, which bore the words "Acting on behalf of Heaven," and gave a low laugh.

Led by the leader, the group bypassed the Hall of Gathering Righteousness and continued onward.

It was past mid-Shenshi (3-5 PM), and the sunlight wasn't very strong. Passing through the trees, the path was shaded by scattered branches on the gravel road. After walking along a narrow path of varying lengths, with light and shadow, Chen Yu turned a corner and saw four people under the teahouse. Not far away, there were quite a few bandits from the mountain stronghold.

In the center of the shed sat a man of about forty years old, with black and white eyebrows and hair. His appearance was quite peculiar.

"This is Luo Kui, the 'Flying Gorilla'." Based on Su Baichuan's description, Yang An easily determined his identity and said softly, "If things don't go well, I'll handle it."

"Okay." Chen Yu nodded, glancing at the remaining three people.

To Luo Kui's right was a woman with jet-black hair held in place by a silver hair ring. She wore a pure white dress and white boots, and had a relaxed demeanor. Her beautiful eyes were sparkling, and her cheeks were flushed. She was a stunning beauty.

On the right is a man in his early thirties, with a muscular build like a tiger or leopard, his arm muscles bulging, and his red clothes almost bursting at the seams from his strong, taut muscles.

The person facing away was difficult to discern in terms of figure and appearance, but judging from his thick black hair and clothing, he should be a young man in his twenties.

Su Baichuan's expression stiffened for a moment. When he arrived at Ziyun Village earlier, he had not seen the three women besides Luo Kui.

Luo Kui's gaze had already turned towards them. He gulped down the wine in his bowl, wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve, and said, "Su Baichuan, you've come looking for someone?"

"How could I dare? I am here to pay my respects again with generous gifts, hoping that the chieftain will grant me this favor," Su Baichuan said.

Luo Kui smiled sinisterly and looked at Ji Xiaofu, "I didn't see you last time, you must be an accomplice Su Baichuan found. What's your name?"

Ji Xiaofu clasped her hands in greeting, "This disciple of Emei greets Chief Luo."

"Oh dear, Emei disciple, you scared my heart so much it was pounding."

"Pfft," the woman chuckled softly, her voice delicate and melodious, captivating the heart. Her gaze fell directly on Chen Yu. "Young man, you're quite handsome. Come, come over here, let me introduce you to someone."

As soon as the woman finished speaking, the man who had been facing away from Chen Yu turned around, and a handsome face with sinister eyes came into view.

Chen Yu's pupils narrowed slightly; she felt that this face looked somewhat familiar.

The young man gritted his teeth and said, "Chen Yu, you killed my father, and now you're in charge. Isn't that surprising?"

When Chen Yu looked at the other person again, he noticed how similar their appearance was to Cheng Wenyuan, the leader of the Green Bamboo Gang. His heart skipped a beat.

The Su family's loss of the goods was a meticulously planned scheme; the other party's true intention was not the goods themselves, but rather to harm the Su family.

Su Baichuan was driven down the mountain on his first visit, simply because the other party wanted to send a message to the Emei Sect that the Ziyun Village was robbing a caravan. From beginning to end, the target was him.

If he hadn't gone down the mountain, how would this scheme have ended? Chen Yu didn't have time to think about these things and quickly said, "Uncle Su, Senior Sister, Senior Brother, this is a scheme, and the other party's target is me."

"How clever! No wonder even Chief Cheng fell for it."

The woman stood up and took a casual step as if she were strolling in a garden, but she disappeared into thin air about three zhang away and appeared in front of everyone.

The second chief of Ziyun Village, along with dozens of bandits from around the teahouse, rushed forward with a sinister grin.

"Walk."

Su Baichuan shouted urgently, and a bodyguard drew his sword. The long sword drew a clear line in the air and fell towards the woman.

With a boom, the bodyguard who was wielding his sword was sent flying, sword and all, while the woman's figure loomed large in front of Chen Yu.

"Come here, young man."

The woman reached out and grabbed Chen Yu.