All Heavens: A Role-Playing System Starting from Tianlong

Upon hearing this, Yue Laosan, though unwilling, still bent down, gripped the chains with both hands, and pulled hard—

With a "crash," the iron chain snapped.

Duan Yu quickly removed the broken shackles from his ankles, stood up, and bowed to Zhang Cheng and Yue Laosan.

"Thank you, brave Zhang, and thank you to this senior for saving my life."

He was being very polite and was about to say something more to express his gratitude when Zhang Cheng raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Young Master Duan, you should have already realized that I had my second brother secretly protect you. In that case, let's skip the formalities."

Zhang Cheng cut to the chase, "To be honest, I know you are the heir of the Prince of Zhennan in Dali. I have something I'd like to ask your father, Duan Zhengchun. Would you be so kind as to introduce me?"

Upon hearing this, Duan Yu looked troubled. He had secretly run away on a trip and really didn't want to go home; but the other party had twice offered his help, how could he refuse such a favor?

After a moment's hesitation, he finally nodded: "Of course. My father has always been hospitable and especially enjoys making friends with chivalrous heroes of the martial world. If he knew that he could know someone like Zhang Zhuangshi, he would certainly be happy to welcome him."

"No need for such flattery," Zhang Cheng waved his hand. "In that case, let's go."

He turned around and was about to call everyone to set off.

Duan Yu did not move. Instead, he cupped his hands and said solemnly, "Wait a moment, brave warrior. I have another request to make."

The Wuliang Sword Sect and the Shennong Gang are on the verge of war, with conflict imminent. I am but a humble scholar, with no power to intervene and only a desire to reconcile them.

"Zhang Zhuangshi is upright and honest, and possesses extraordinary martial arts skills. I wonder if he could lend a helping hand and persuade both sides to cease hostilities?"

Zhang Cheng shook his head. "You're out of touch with the old ways. Right now, the Wuliang Sword Sect and the Shennong Gang have already clashed."

"Besides, you want me to persuade them to stop fighting so you can help me kill all the Shennong Gang members?"

Duan Yu was taken aback: "Why do you say such a thing, brave warrior?"

"The Shennong Gang came under orders. If they fail to complete their mission, how could their master let them off easily?"

The other side is ruthless. If you try to persuade them to stop fighting, you're essentially telling them to die. How can they possibly listen to you?

"Right now, you want my help, are you preparing me to help Wuliangjian wipe out the Shennong Gang, or to help the Shennong Gang eliminate Wuliangjian?"

Duan Yu opened his mouth, but was speechless.

He stood there stunned for a long time before muttering, "Then... then there's no other way..."

Zhang Cheng didn't say anything more, only patted Duan Yu on the shoulder as a gesture of comfort. "Let's go."

Duan Yu didn't say anything more and silently followed.

After everyone finished packing, they set off down the mountain.

"Black Rose" already has three people on one horse; adding two more would be too crowded.

Zhang Cheng simply arranged for Yue Laosan to use his lightness skill to take Duan Yu to the capital of Dali first.

Whether Yue Laosan can persuade Duan Yu to become his disciple on the way depends entirely on his own abilities.

After dismissing the two, Zhang Cheng turned to look at Zhong Ling.

Zhong Ling was secretly smiling as she watched the two figures disappear into the distance when she noticed Zhang Cheng's gaze and spoke:

"That bookworm is probably going to have a rough time the whole way."

Zhang Cheng didn't respond to that, but instead asked, "What about you? What are your plans next?"

Although Zhong Ling was somewhat tempted to go to the Dali Imperial City, she had, after all, run away from home. "I... I'd better go home. I ran away from home, and if I don't go back soon, my parents will worry."

Black Rose sped along like the wind, and soon, guided by Zhong Ling, it brought the three of them to a suspension bridge.

Beside the bridge stands a blue stone tablet inscribed with the three large characters "Good People Cross".

Zhong Ling nimbly leaped off her horse, turned around, and waved to the two of them:

"Alright, that's enough for now! My house isn't far after we cross the bridge. Sister Mu knows the way, so remember to come visit me sometime!"

Mu Wanqing responded gently, a rare occurrence: "Yes, I'll come see you again in a few days."

Zhong Ling's eyes widened slightly, then curved into crescent moons:

"Sister Mu, you've found a husband, how come even his personality has changed?"

Normally, if I said something like that, you wouldn't even bother to respond. Let alone speak to me so softly and gently...

Before she could finish speaking, Mu Wanqing made a move as if to hit her.

Zhong Ling chuckled, turned and ran, leaping across the suspension bridge in a few bounds before disappearing into the depths of the woods.

Mu Wanqing withdrew her gaze without saying anything more. Zhang Cheng didn't ask any further questions either. He sensed Yue Laosan's location and spurred his horse to give chase.

Not long after they started walking, Zhang Cheng suddenly pulled on the reins.

A few blurry images suddenly flashed through his mind.

In the scene, a woman in a green dress is fighting with a tall, thin man in the woods. After only a few rounds, the woman is captured.

Although the image is very blurry, making it impossible to see faces or clothing, the details are unclear.

However, Zhang Cheng had just parted ways with the other party and immediately recognized the woman in the green dress in the picture as Zhong Ling.

He tugged on the reins, and Black Rose let out a long neigh, its front hooves leaving the air, forcefully turning a corner while still at high speed.

Mu Wanqing noticed something was wrong: "What's wrong?" "Zhong Ling is in trouble."

Following the guidance of [righteousness], Zhang Cheng traversed forests and streams.

In his perception, the other party's position was also constantly moving, as if they were racing against each other from afar.

After galloping for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the trees ahead gradually thinned out, and a rather large manor suddenly appeared before them.

Strange, in this desolate wilderness, where did such a magnificent estate come from?

As Zhang Cheng was pondering, Mu Wanqing in his arms suddenly spoke, her tone somewhat puzzled:

"Zhang Lang, you said Zhong Ling is in danger... but this is the North Manor of Wan Jie Valley, used to entertain guests."

With this information, Zhang Cheng instantly identified the tall, thin man.

Zhong Ling's adoptive father, Zhong Wanchou, recently invited the Four Evils to gather in Dali.

Among the Four Evils was a tall, thin, lecherous thief, nicknamed "Extremely Vicious" Yun Zhonghe.

Thinking of this, Zhang Cheng felt a sinking feeling in his heart and spurred his horse straight towards the manor wall.

Under the blessing of the "Lifting Technique," the "Black Rose" leaped over the wall in a very unscientific way and landed steadily in the courtyard.

As Zhang Cheng rode his horse to the vicinity of the incident site, the directional guidance of [Sense of Righteousness] gradually disappeared.

However, this distance was enough for him to lock onto the target by hearing.

The entire village was deathly silent, except for one place where a heartbeat could be heard.

It seems that Zhong Wanchou knew he was entertaining vicious people, so he deliberately dismissed his servants.

Zhang Cheng spurred his horse straight towards that place. Upon reaching the outside, he leaped off the saddle, extended his claws, and smashed through the wall, bursting into the inner room amidst splinters of wood and dust.

Inside the room, there was a man and a woman. The woman lay sprawled on the bed, her clothes disheveled; the man was standing bent over beside the bed, and the wall that Zhang Cheng had crashed through was the side closest to the bed.

The man was startled by Zhang Cheng's sudden attack by breaking through the wall, and immediately used his lightness skill to leap backward to dodge.

Zhang Cheng did not pursue. He took the opportunity to pick up Zhong Ling from the bed, retreated to the side of the horse, and casually released the acupoints that had been sealed on her.

The little girl's clothes were torn, and her face was streaked with tears, clearly indicating that she had just experienced an extremely dangerous situation.

Fortunately, with the double blessing, "Black Rose" outpaced Yun Zhonghe, and Zhang Cheng, thanks to his [Sense of Righteousness], was the first to notice Zhong Ling's accident. The distance between them steadily decreased on their way to the manor.

They finally arrived just in time to save the person.