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

The wind leaves its mark, and the leaves rustle in the breeze.

Wu Lie took a sip of tea and said, "In the fourth year of Chunyou in the previous dynasty, the Mongols launched an attack on Dali. Duan Xiangxing sent his general Gao He to fight, but Gao He died in battle at Jiuhe. At that time, Dali was on the verge of collapse, but the Mongol army retreated due to the death of Ögedei Khan. Not long after, Kublai Khan led his army south again. The Mongol army crossed the Jinsha River on rafts and reached Lijiang. At that time, Duan Xingzhi succeeded to the throne, and Gao Taixiang was the prime minister. The Mongol army advanced all the way to Dali. Duan Xingzhi and Gao Taixiang led their troops out to fight, but suffered a crushing defeat. They abandoned the city and fled to different places. In the third year of Tianding, the Mongol army captured Duan Xingzhi and sent him to the Mongol Khanate in the north. The Mongol Khan treated him with leniency, bestowed upon him a golden tally, and ordered him to return to his country."

Wu Lie sighed, "Duan Xingzhi was deeply grateful to the Mongol Khan. After returning to Dali, he suppressed the uprising and remained loyal to the Mongols."

Bei Jinyi and Su Mengqing then understood why Wu Lie addressed the Duan family emperor by his given name; it was because he had defected to the Tartars and was committing evil deeds.

"And then what happened?" Chen Yu asked.

"In the first year of the Zhongtong era, Duan Xingzhi went north to pay homage to the emperor, but died of illness on the way. After that, Mongolian monks, demon monks, Jianghu sorcerers, and evil cults broke into Dali, stole the imperial tombs, and forcibly seized the martial arts techniques of Tianlong Temple."

Chen Yu was startled. "Who are these so-called demonic monks and sorcerers?"

"The Hundred-Dead Taoist, Yang Lianzhenjia, and the Five Poisons Sect."

Chen Yu took a deep breath; the amount of information was astonishing.

Bei Jinyi, Su Mengqing, and Ding Minjun all looked shocked.

"The One-Finger Divine Skill of Dali is famous throughout the world, could it have been stolen as well?" Tang Zhihu asked hurriedly.

"My grandfather and the others would not stand idly by. They joined forces with the eminent monks of Tianlong Temple to fight to the death. However, the demons were highly skilled and they were no match for them. My grandfather unfortunately perished. Afterwards, my father, fearing that the demons would pursue and kill him, changed his name and fled all the way to the Western Regions to settle down."

"You utterly depraved villain, have the martial arts techniques of the Dali royal family and Tianlong Temple ever been obtained by this sorcerer?" Bei Jinyi asked.

"How could we know? The tomb was looted and Tianlong Temple was destroyed later."

"Did the evil monk not pursue us to the Western Regions?" Chen Yu asked.

"Later on, Zhang Zhenren of Wudang vanquished the demon, and Bai Sun Daoren, Yang Lianzhenjia, the leader of the Five Poisons Sect and others all disappeared without a trace."

Chen Yu has already connected the dots. Zhang Sanfeng's Jiazi Demon Slayer event suggests that Bai Sun Dao Ren may have fought against the demon, or perhaps Bai Sun knew he was no match for Zhang Sanfeng and hid away to hone his martial arts skills, fighting other people during this time, possibly senior masters from Kunlun or Kongtong sects, or even the Ming Cult or Guo Xiang. This explains Zhang Sanfeng's statement, after seeing the Xuanming Divine Palm imprint on Zhang Wuji, that Bai Sun Dao Ren perished in the Western Regions. The leader of the Five Poisons Sect is believed to have died after the Battle of Dali, with Yang Lianzhenjia taking charge and remaining hidden in Wuling Mountain. It seems the demonic monk is not young now. The Daoist mentioned by Yunze in his notes is Bai Sun Dao Ren, and the Imperial Tutor is a Tartar monk, though his name is unknown.

"Does the lord know of any Mongolian monks in Dali?"

My father never told him.

"Coo coo coo"

An owl on an old tree in the courtyard cawed twice before flapping its wings and flying away. Chen Yu glanced out the window, then looked back, a sigh escaping his lips. Of the three parts of *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, the Wu and Zhu families, following Master Yideng, were all loyal and righteous, except for Wu Santong, who had a flaw due to his unrequited love for He Yuanjun. Yet, Wu Santong eventually had a change of heart and sacrificed his life to protect Cheng Ying and the others. The Wu Xiuwen brothers lacked talent, but they learned martial arts from Guo Jing and lived up to their principles as adults. However, Wu Lie and Zhu Changling coveted the Dragon-Slaying Saber and plotted against Zhang Wuji, ultimately meeting an unforgivable fate, their families destroyed, and their lives cut short.

Bei Jinyi, however, said with delight, "So, it seems the Master and the Emei Sect have a deep connection."

Wu Lie then said, "I have long admired the nun and will definitely visit her when I have some free time. Since the Emei Sect and the Five Poisons Sect are enemies, and the Five Poisons Sect and the Wu family are also sworn enemies, if you don't mind my low martial arts skills, young hero, please stay and help me deal with this."

Chen Yu politely declined: "I appreciate your kind intentions, Master Wu, but whether the Five Poisons Sect members are in Qiantang is merely speculation. There's no need for you to waste your time; important matters are at hand."

Wu Lie thought this made sense. "In that case, I'll follow your arrangements, young hero. I'll come to visit again after I've made my purchases, and we'll see how things go."

"good!"

"In that case, I will not disturb your cultivation any longer, young hero. Farewell."

"I'll see you off, Master."

"Thank you, young hero."

……

The shadows of the trees swayed in the darkness. Chen Yu returned to the hall and had a short chat with Bei Jinyi, Su Mengqing, Ding Minjun, Tang Zhihu and others. During the chat, he inevitably talked about the unfortunate fate of the Wu family and sighed.

As night deepened, everyone left to rest. Chen Yu walked to the window and looked at the large tree with its gnarled branches and lush leaves.

With a whoosh, the treetops swayed, and Elder Ape swung his body, walking through the air and landing in the hall through the window.

"You little brat, you knew I was coming all along?"

Chen Yu smiled and said, "Just now, an owl flapped its wings and flew away, so I guess you followed."

"Alert." Elder Ape grinned. "What's this about bloodshed at the foot of the Six Harmonies Pagoda?"

"Feign injury," Chen Yu said with a smile. "If Cheng Wei, Bai Xilou, or other leaders of the Five Poisons Sect arrive, we will not be afraid of them. However, if Cheng Jingzhe or the whip-wielding woman from the Five Poisons Sect we met in Changning appears, they will be difficult to deal with. Feigning injury will make them lower their guard, making it easier for us to make a move."

Elder Ape laughed heartily, "Only by reversing the flow of blood and qi can one force out a mouthful of blood, which will more or less harm the body."

"Does the senior have a better method?"

"I may not have it, but my fourth brother has plenty of ways."

Chen Yu was filled with longing upon hearing this, for the fourth of the Five Heroes of Hengshan was Tang Qianhuan, a former acrobat.

"Could it be that Senior Tang has also arrived in Qiantang?" Chen Yu's words were not unfounded. He had deduced from Elder Yuan's words at the Liuhe Pagoda that many of the Five Masters of Hengshan had come.

"Not only my fourth brother, but my fifth sister has also come. I will invite my fourth brother and fifth sister over tomorrow."

"Thank you, senior. Is there any wine in the gourd?"

"You brat," Elder Ape laughed, "aren't you going to get the wine?"

"Okay."

Chen Yu brought out a jar of wine, and the two sat facing each other. He poured the wine and handed over the bowl.

"Please, senior."

"Let's come together."

The two drank together, and the wine spread like a burning fire after entering their stomachs. Elder Ape said, "I have something to discuss with you, kid."

"I am all ears."

"It was your feigned injury that inspired me."

Chen Yu did not interrupt Elder Ape's speech.

"Because Hengshan sent an internal traitor, your father suffered a terrible fate, and the Five Poisons Sect ambushed you at the Wujiang Wharf. If it weren't for the nun, you would probably be dead by now."

"That's right."

"In the nun's eyes, the traitor could be me, or it could be anyone from the Hengshan Sect."

Chen Yu's hand, which was about to pick up the pot to pour wine, hung in mid-air.

Elder Yuan's subsequent words were succinct: "My fourth brother and fifth sister are in Qiantang."

Chen Yu quickly understood Elder Yuan's idea: to investigate and eliminate the two elders of Hengshan one by one.

"Senior, is this inappropriate?"

"This concerns your safety and the reputation of the Hengshan Sect. The innocent will be exposed, and the guilty will be revealed. What's wrong with that?"

"Alright, I'll listen to you, senior. Do I need your help?"

"I have my own ideas."

"Senior, please have a drink." Chen Yu poured the wine from the pot.

Elder Yuan raised his cup, a cup of turbid wine reflecting on the affairs of the martial world, his heart filled with melancholy.