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

Before dawn, the campfire blazed brightly.

Tang Zhihu shot and killed a roe deer. The three of them skinned and roasted it. Chen Yu briefly recounted how he was saved by his father's old friend after entering the forest.

He never mentioned Elder Ape's identity, and Yang An and Tang Zhihu didn't ask any further questions.

"It's a pity we failed at the last minute. I wonder who that old woman was?"

Granny Jin Hua intercepted Bai Guishou, and Yang An and Tang Zhihu also saw it clearly.

"We must go back and report the situation to our master," Chen Yu said.

"This is the only way forward now," Yang An agreed.

Chen Yu changed the subject, "Let's take a detour to Hengyang while we're at it."

Knowing that Chen Yu was there to pay respects to his deceased father, Yang An quickly replied, "Of course."

The three ate meat to fill their stomachs, dried their clothes, and rested in the forest to conserve their energy. When the sun was high in the sky, they set off for Hengyang.

The journey was uneventful, and they arrived at the north bank of the Xiang River in Hengyang in the evening. They entrusted their horses to a horse stable, and the three of them crossed the river by boat to find an inn to stay in. The next day, Yang An and Tang Zhihu toured the city and mountains to relax.

Chen Yu bought incense, candles, and gold ingots, and paid his respects at the grave of the original owner's father. Then he went to the fish market, bought fish such as flower bream and fine-scaled gudgeon, and carried a fish basket to Hengshan Sect.

Elder Yuan was a friend of the original owner's father and had saved his life and imparted his skills to him, so Chen Yu naturally paid him a visit to express his gratitude.

……

In Zhang Heng's "Ode to the Western Capital" from the Eastern Han Dynasty, it is mentioned that "in early spring they come, in late autumn they go to warm places, flying south to Hengyang, and north to Yanmen." Therefore, Hengyang is also called Yancheng (Goose City).

Migrating geese flew in the sky. Chen Yu walked along the street for several miles and arrived at the Hengshan Sect's headquarters in the east of Yancheng.

Along the way, Chen Yu had a keen eye for detail. Inside and outside the city, at the docks, inns, escort agencies, and martial arts schools, there were Hengshan Sect disciples carrying long swords and dressed in blue robes. It seemed that these businesses were all related to the Hengshan Sect.

This sect's way of survival is quite similar to that of the Emei sect, except that the Emei sect's expenses mainly come from the temples it operates.

Chen Yu passed by a memorial archway and saw a couplet with a vigorous and ancient style on it.

Nine thousand feet of wind and swirling snow.

I am delighted to see the falling blossoms on Dongting Lake.

He stood beneath the archway, his gaze fixed on the ancient and elegant Hengshan School gate, devoid of grandeur, only a continuous expanse of green tiles.

Chen Yu carried a basket on her back and walked forward.

The disciples at the front of the Hengshan Sect had already seen Chen Yu; his appearance—a long sword at his waist and a fish basket—was simply too peculiar.

"Is this young man looking for someone?" a disciple stepped forward and asked politely.

"Indeed, this novice greets Senior Ape."

The disciple hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Young hero, do you know your martial uncle?"

"Chen Yu, a disciple of Emei."

The Hengshan disciples, knowing the Emei Sect, hurried over and said, "Please wait a moment."

Thank you for your trouble.

Chen Yu waited for about a hundred breaths before his disciple returned.

"Young Master Chen, please."

Thank you.

After walking about a hundred steps into the courtyard, Chen Yu saw a magnificent view: exquisite lake stones, well-arranged buildings, ingeniously designed rockeries and caves, and a unique charm in every plant and tree.

Continuing onward, the halls and pavilions are elegant, the flowers and trees are lush, and the water corridors meander, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

"Among all the martial arts sects, the Hengshan Sect is probably the most artistic," Chen Yu thought to himself.

Walking through the corridor, a bamboo fence with swaying shadows comes into view, leading to a beautiful courtyard surrounded by covered walkways.

The sounds of a man and woman arguing came from the octagonal pavilion in the courtyard.

"Lower 'level' position, 39th Road".

"It should be 'flat' position, like the 28th Route."

"Three Nines".

"28".

"I'll bet a jar of wine."

"Let's gamble."

Chen Yu was taken aback. The disciple, however, was used to it and smiled, "Young hero, please come in. Your martial uncle is inside."

Thank you.

Chen Yu thanked him and walked forward alone. He passed through the door and saw five people gathered together playing chess.

Elder Ape squatted on a stone bench, with someone beside him offering advice. He faced three people: two men and one woman. The men were all around forty years old. The woman, however, was young, about the same age as Ji Xiaofu.

Chen Yu slowed his pace and stepped forward. The man, who appeared to be about forty years old, dressed in a straight blue robe, with a handsome and refined demeanor, said, "Junior brother, we have a guest visiting."

"Wait a minute."

"It must be the young hero Chen that my junior brother mentioned."

Elder Ape stepped aside. "Haha, it really is you."

Chen Yu quickly stepped forward, "Junior greets senior."

After the five finished their game of chess, Chen Yu said, "I paid my respects to my father and brought a few fish to visit you, senior."

"You've got a good eye, lad." Elder Ape chuckled and said to the refined man, "Senior Brother Sect Leader, this lad has a handsome build and is quite talented in martial arts."

"Not bad, but it's still the Emei Sect Leader Miejue who taught him so well. If he had fallen into the hands of the Third Senior Brother, he would just be another little monkey who loves to drink." The woman joked, interjecting.

Elder Ape was not angry at all; on the contrary, he quite liked this explanation.

"Unfortunately, opportunities cannot be forced." Elder Ape suddenly sighed, then changed the subject, "Let me introduce you to him, young man."

"No need to trouble Third Senior Brother." The woman had beautiful features, a delicate appearance, a pleasant voice, and was approachable. "Lan Caidie."

"A bizarre and fantastical world, where illusions and wonders lead to the Immortal's Cave. Tang Qianhuan. By the way, my junior sister is known as 'Little Lotus first strums the pipa strings, piercing the azure sky.'"

"Fourth Senior Brother, stop talking nonsense!" the woman named Lan Caidie said angrily.

"I am Shao Xishan."

Tang Qianhuan said with a grin, "Our sect leader's senior brother's name is 'Whose jade flute softly plays, its notes drifting in the spring breeze throughout Yancheng.'"

"Fourth brother, you must not speak recklessly."

……

Chen Yu was greatly surprised by what he heard.

There are five disciples of Hengshan. The sect leader is Shao Xishan, who is like Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic, and he likes the flute and xiao.

Next in line is Gao Muyang, who is skilled in playing the guqin.

Good chess player, Monkey King.

There's also Tang Qianhuan, who came from a background as a vaudeville performer.

Lan Caidie, a junior disciple from Hengshan who is skilled in playing the pipa.

The artistic gene has a long history.

Although Chen Yu acted with great poise upon their first meeting, it was not appropriate for him to linger.

He paid his respects to each of the people of Hengshan, handed the fish basket to Elder Yuan, and then took his leave.

Tang Qianhuan laughed and said, "You're not bound by formalities or occasions, what a good personality. My third senior brother regrets missing out on you, kid. He should leave the Emei sect and join my Hengshan sect instead."

"Don't talk nonsense." Hengshan Sect Leader Shao Xishan's face darkened.

Tang Qianhuan laughed heartily, "Speak without restraint, speak without restraint."

Chen Yu clasped his hands in greeting: "Thank you for your kindness, senior. If I ever travel to Sichuan and Chongqing, I will definitely visit Mount Emei."

It's a deal.

We look forward to your visit.

Tang Qianhuan immediately rubbed salt into Elder Ape's wound: "I really like this kid's personality. If I had arrived a step later back then and missed the opportunity, I would have drunk myself into oblivion."

Elder Ape stared at Tang Qianhuan.

"Let's go watch the acrobatics." Tang Qianhuan landed on the artificial hill in the courtyard, lightly touched the ground with her toes, and flipped onto the house in mid-air, disappearing into the distance in a few leaps.

"What a wonderful atmosphere," Chen Yu thought to himself, and said, "I won't disturb your enjoyment any longer, seniors. I'll take my leave now."

"I'll give it to you, kid."

"Please wait, senior."

Chen Yu clasped his hands in a fist salute, took a few steps back, turned around, and strode away.

His figure disappeared into the flower hedge. Elder Ape asked Shao Xishan, the leader of Hengshan Sect, "What does Senior Brother think of this lad?"

"Even without anyone to support his lofty ambitions, he still braved the snow to reach the mountain peak."

"How wonderful!" Elder Ape said with delight, knowing that his senior brother's prediction was quite accurate. "My old friend can rest in peace now."

……

The waters of the Xiangjiang River flow like mist, and a small boat glides across the surface, seemingly carried by the autumn wind.

Two people sat at the bow of the boat. One was a man dressed in a white robe, about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with dragon-like eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, and a handsome appearance.

Another man, dressed in a green robe and with a bloodless face, was Wei Yixiao, who had tried to drink Chen Yu's blood when the cold poison in the Valley of Heartbreak flared up.

Did the Bat King ever win over Zhou Ziwang's husband?

Wei Yixiao grinned menacingly, revealing his white teeth. "What's wrong? Afraid that the Maitreya Sect will obey me? I'm powerful enough to prevent you from becoming the sect leader?"

"Cook the beans to burn the bean sprouts, the beans..."

Wei Yixiao said sinisterly, "Left Envoy Yang, stop showing off your knowledge. Your flowery language is utter nonsense. Let me ask you, are you here for Bai Guishou?"

"Isn't the Bat King?"

Wei Yixiao was about to make a few sarcastic remarks when his gaze suddenly sharpened. He saw a boat crossing the river, and a handsome young man at the bow of the boat looked familiar.