A Sudden Shift in Tone, Bad News from Ancient Tomb Sect! 10,000-Word Update, Please Keep Reading

Fate had come full circle, seemingly returning to where it all began.

After saving Duan Yu and Wang Yuyan, Qiao Feng and A Zhu headed to Yanmen Pass to investigate his origins.

They saw Northern Song Dynasty soldiers slaughtering Liao people, and they also saw the tattoos on the Liao people’s chests.

The truth was cruel. Even though Qiao Feng found it difficult to accept, he could never deny that he was Liao.

To uncover more of the truth, Qiao Feng kept searching for those who had taken part in the Yanmen Pass massacre.

But wherever he went, anyone who knew something was murdered.

After searching everywhere, only Master Zhiguang of Mount Tiantai and Ma Dayuan’s widow, Kang Min, remained alive.

Left with no choice, Qiao Feng could only take A Zhu to Mount Tiantai.

Things went rather smoothly. They met Master Zhiguang and obtained the final letter Xiao Yuanshan had left behind, learning the full course of events.

Now, only one mystery remained.

Who exactly had been the leading brother back then?

Faced with Qiao Feng’s questioning, Master Zhiguang let out a long sigh, spoke a cryptic prophecy, then swallowed poison and killed himself.

At that point, the only person who knew the leading brother’s true identity was the venomous woman Kang Min.

The two then rushed to Xinyang to see Kang Min.

That shameless slut Kang Min started acting coquettishly the moment she saw Qiao Feng. Using the leading brother’s true identity as bargaining bait, she wanted to spend the night with him.

How could Qiao Feng possibly grant her wish? Naturally, he sternly refused.

Kang Min then asked Qiao Feng to kill A Zhu, even promising to help him reclaim his position as leader of the Beggars’ Sect.

That request finally touched Qiao Feng’s bottom line!

Enraged beyond measure, Qiao Feng slapped Kang Min and left in a fury with A Zhu.

That night, A Zhu disguised herself as Bai Shijing, an elder of the Beggars’ Sect, to trick Kang Min into talking. But Kang Min had long since seen through her disguise and fed her false information.

Thus, Qiao Feng and A Zhu mistakenly believed that Duan Zhengchun, the Prince of Zhennan of Dali Kingdom, was the leading brother.

After gathering information along the way, they arrived at Mirror Lake. Following a series of entanglements, they met Duan Zhengchun, his four retainers, and A Zi, who had just escaped from the Xingxiu Sect.

The hatred of murdered parents could not be shared under the same sky. Yet as he looked at the enemy before him, Qiao Feng found himself caught in a dilemma.

Duan Zhengchun was the father of Duan Yu, his sworn brother. If he sought revenge, it meant severing their brotherhood with one stroke. The next time they met, they would be mortal enemies.

A Zhu was in an even more difficult position than Qiao Feng, because she had only just learned that Duan Zhengchun was her biological father and that A Zi was her younger sister.

While she was tormented by inner turmoil, A Zhu suddenly remembered the wooden box Chu Yang had left for them. An astonishing thought rose uncontrollably in her heart.

Could it be…

Had Mr. Chu foreseen what would happen today?

If that were true…

Then wouldn’t Mr. Chu be practically divine?

Clinging to that slim possibility, A Zhu reminded Qiao Feng to open the wooden box. Qiao Feng froze at her words, then took out the box with mixed feelings of belief and doubt. Inside was a folded sheet of paper.

He unfolded the letter. There were only two lines written on it.

Kang Min and Duan Zhengchun turned from love to hatred!

Duan Zhengchun is not the leading brother!

So that was the truth!

Qiao Feng and A Zhu exchanged a glance, and the hairs all over their bodies stood on end. A chill ran down their spines!

"Who exactly is this Mr. Chu? Why does he know so much?"

"If Kang Min truly framed him, how did he know that Kang Min would name Prince Duan?"

"She could have framed anyone."

"That’s what makes it so terrifying…"

"Whether he calculated and planned it all, or had long known Heaven’s will, neither was something human power could achieve!"

A Zhu drew a deep breath and tremulously grasped Qiao Feng’s hand. "Brother Qiao, I’m a little scared. What should we do now?"

Qiao Feng pondered for a moment. "I am still willing to believe Mr. Chu. After all, he saved your life. If he bore us ill will, there would have been no need for him to do this."

"Besides, when I fought him that day, I vaguely felt that if he wanted to kill me, it would not have been difficult…"

Thinking of Chu Yang’s unfathomable abilities, A Zhu still felt her scalp tingle. Suppressing her fear, she said, "Why don’t we speak frankly with Prince Duan in person?"

Qiao Feng nodded. For now, that was their only option.

Just as the two were preparing to confront Duan Zhengchun, the Four Great Evildoers suddenly descended upon Mirror Lake, with Duan Zhengchun as their target.

Duan Yanching, leader of the Four Great Evildoers, had once been the crown prince of Dali Kingdom. When civil unrest broke out in Dali and the treacherous official Yang Yizhen seized the throne, he fled the kingdom.

Later, when Dali was restored, all the ministers believed Duan Yanching was dead. They therefore supported Duan Zhengchun’s older brother, Duan Zhengming, as the new emperor of Dali.

From then on, Duan Yanching regarded the two brothers as mortal enemies and plotted tirelessly to reclaim the throne.

By all rights, Duan Yanching’s attempt to kill Duan Zhengchun was an internal matter of the Dali royal family, one in which outsiders should not interfere.

But Qiao Feng could not care less about that now. Before Duan Zhengchun could act, he stepped forward alone and fought the Four Great Evildoers fiercely.

Moments later, the four were defeated.

Duan Yanching could only leave behind a few harsh words for Qiao Feng before storming off.

"Thank you, Brother Qiao, for lending a hand!"

Duan Zhengchun had sharp brows and bright eyes, his bearing spirited and magnificent. He was so handsome that he hardly looked like a middle-aged man.

"Duan Yu is my sworn brother. How could I stand by and watch? Prince Duan, to be honest, I came today because there is something I wish to verify with you."

Qiao Feng wore a solemn expression and cupped his hands slightly.

"If it is an important matter, please come speak with me in the woods."

Seeing Qiao Feng’s expression, Duan Zhengchun had already guessed that the situation was urgent. Leaving the others behind, he led Qiao Feng to a secluded place to speak in low voices.

A Zhu waited anxiously in the distance. When she saw Qiao Feng slowly shake his head at her, tears finally spilled from her eyes.

She turned and looked at Ruan Xingzhu, who was fussing over A Zi with concern. Then A Zhu walked toward her on trembling legs.

"Thank you, Prince Duan, for speaking honestly."

"You flatter me, Brother Qiao. If not for your upright nature and willingness to speak candidly, I fear the two of us would have fallen into that poisonous woman’s scheme."

"I am ashamed. It was only through Mr. Chu’s guidance that I was able to dispel my misunderstanding toward Prince Duan…"

"Mr. Chu? Could Brother Qiao introduce him to me? That Mr. Chu has shown Duan a kindness as well."

"I do not know where Mr. Chu has gone. If there is an opportunity in the future, I must invite him for a drink."

"Hahaha, when that day comes, be sure to include Duan."

With the misunderstanding resolved, the two spoke happily. But the moment they emerged from the woods, they saw Ruan Xingzhu once again holding A Zhu as she wept uncontrollably.

When Ruan Xingzhu saw Duan Zhengchun, she could not help crying out loudly again, "Brother Duan, A Zhu is our child too!"

Overjoyed, Duan Zhengchun hurried forward and embraced the mother and two daughters.

Qiao Feng suddenly felt a little parched. His sworn brother’s father had suddenly become his father-in-law. The next time he saw Duan Yu, he did not know whether he should call him Second Brother or brother-in-law…

But in the next instant.

Qiao Feng felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar, and a lingering fear surged through his heart.

If A Zhu had already known that Prince Duan was her father, while he had mistaken Prince Duan for the leading brother and insisted on killing him to avenge his parents…

How would things have turned out?

Caught between him and her biological father, with life and death at stake on either side, A Zhu would most likely have used her own way to resolve the hatred between them.

And what A Zhu was best at was disguise!

After realizing a certain possibility, relief appeared on Qiao Feng’s face. He murmured to himself, "A Zhu, Mr. Chu saved you twice…"

A lone plume of smoke rose straight over the desert; the setting sun hung round above the long river.

Though Wang Wei’s poem "On a Mission to the Frontier" was not written about Mongolian scenery, it was an apt description of the beautiful sight before Chu Yang.

After crossing the Ming Dynasty border and arriving at the boundless Mongolian grasslands, Chu Yang suddenly realized just how vast this world was.

Unlike the gentle, delicate scenery of Jiangnan, the grasslands were rugged and unrestrained, like a young maiden just out of her chambers, unadorned by makeup and carrying a fresh, clean air.

As the wind blew, the waist-high grass swayed like green waves. The setting sun fell across it, draping the entire grassland in a veil of pale gold.

Naturally, Huang Rong did not want to miss such beautiful scenery. She volunteered to sit beside Chu Yang and serve as a temporary driver.

Mu Nianci, who usually took the initiative to drive, instead hid inside the carriage and refused to come out.

No matter how Chu Yang called for her, she found excuses to decline.

In the end, Huang Rong dragged her out by force to admire the grasslands. Yet Mu Nianci still habitually kept her head lowered, seemingly in low spirits.

"Now that we’re in Mongolia, shouldn’t Sister Mu go find that fool’s mother? In other words, Sister Mu’s future mother-in-law?" Huang Rong’s eyes rolled as a sly smile appeared on her face. "Sister Mu, you’re embarrassed, aren’t you?"

Mu Nianci rolled her eyes at her. The little girl was obviously teasing her.

Chu Yang nodded thoughtfully. "That should be the case. After all, she’s a young woman meeting her mother-in-law without any family accompanying her. It would naturally be somewhat awkward."

Mu Nianci let out a deep sigh, her face full of worry.

"Hehehe."

Huang Rong smiled like a little fox. Ever since they had traveled from the Southern Song Dynasty to Mongolia, she had already guessed Mu Nianci’s feelings. She had also guessed that finding her future mother-in-law was merely an excuse Mu Nianci had made up.

Seeing her caught between a rock and a hard place now, naturally mischievous Huang Rong could not have been happier.

In terms of their relationship, Huang Rong and Mu Nianci got along quite well and had become very close friends. But whenever she thought of Mu Nianci intentionally drawing close to Chu Yang, Huang Rong still felt uncomfortable.

"How about this, Miss Mu? We’ll take you to Guo Jing’s mother first, then set off afterward. How does that sound?"

As the saying went, send the Buddha all the way to the west. After bringing the young woman all the way to Mongolia, Chu Yang could not simply abandon her here.

They had already reached the foot of Mount Ling. One final effort would not hurt.

Mu Nianci wanted to gather her courage and confess to Chu Yang, but whenever she met his eyes, she inexplicably lost heart. She could only thank him listlessly. "Sorry to trouble you, Brother Chu."

Guo Jing was not only the sworn brother of Temujin’s son Tolui, but also the Golden Blade Consort of his daughter Hua Zheng. Thus, Li Ping’s residence was rather special, located near Temujin’s royal tent.

Dressed in Central Plains clothing, Chu Yang found it difficult to ask the herders where Temujin’s royal tent was. He could only use Genjutsu to confuse them.

For the sake of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, Chu Yang had learned some Mongolian beforehand, so communication was not much of a problem.

After encountering several groups of herders and learning Temujin’s location, the carriage did not stop again.

They traveled through the night.

The next morning, Mu Nianci took the reins from Chu Yang and silently sat down to drive the carriage.

"Miss Mu, you don’t seem very happy?"

"It’s nothing. I’m just a little nervous."

Chu Yang looked at her somewhat pale profile and thought for a moment before asking, "You don’t like this marriage arrangement?"

Mu Nianci’s expression stiffened. She wanted to nod, yet she did not know whether she should.

Between Chu Yang and Huang Rong, it seemed there was no place for her at all.

"If you don’t like it, you can simply say so. Uncle Yang is somewhat stubborn, but he is not someone who insists on having things his own way."

Chu Yang thought that Mu Nianci was like in the original story: she had fallen for Yang Kang, and only came to Mongolia out of filial duty.

Honestly speaking, Guo Jing was far more reliable than Yang Kang. If Chu Yang were Yang Tiexin, he would be happier to see Mu Nianci with Guo Jing.

Provided Mu Nianci liked him.

Love could not be forced. Otherwise, there would not be so many lovelorn men and women in this world.

"If… if I truly don’t like this marriage arrangement, Brother Chu, what do you think I should do?"

After a long while, Mu Nianci finally asked in a voice as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

"Who you like is your freedom. Others have no right to interfere. You can decide however you wish."

At that point, Chu Yang paused slightly. "However, compared with Yang Kang, I think Guo Jing would make a better match. Even if you do not like Guo Jing, you should not choose Yang Kang."

Mu Nianci looked utterly confused. She did not understand what Chu Yang meant at all.

What did this have to do with Yang Kang?

A cough suddenly came from inside the carriage, interrupting their conversation.

Mu Nianci quickly sat up straight. Her cheeks reddened, and she inexplicably felt a little sorry toward Huang Rong. For the rest of the journey, she did not dare say another word.

With the support of magic, the carriage raced across the grasslands as though traveling on level ground. In a day and a night, they reached the vicinity of Temujin’s royal tent.

The three got out of the carriage and discovered that a banquet was being held here, seemingly to entertain important guests.

"Little Chu, they’re all dancing! I want to dance with them too."

"Forget it. Be careful they don’t mistake you for a spy."

"Surely not. I’m just a girl. What sort of spy would look like me?"

"Stop fooling around. Hurry up and find Guo Jing’s mother."

Bickering as they went, the two led Mu Nianci in search of Li Ping’s yurt. Mongolians were singing and dancing everywhere, and most of them were drunk out of their minds.

Chu Yang caught several drunken Mongolians and used Genjutsu to make them reveal Li Ping’s location.

But just as they were about to head over, Chu Yang suddenly heard some Mongolians discussing the Esoteric Sect. After carefully investigating with Observation Haki, he learned that the guests of honor at this banquet were disciples of Esoteric Buddhism.

"What a coincidence. I thought it would take a long time to find them…"

Overjoyed, Chu Yang turned to Huang Rong. "Take Miss Mu to find her first. I’ll come find you later."

With that, he vanished directly before the two women.

Huang Rong and Mu Nianci looked at each other. Neither of them had grown accustomed to Chu Yang’s "immortal methods."

Upon reaching the center of the royal court, Chu Yang quickly located Temujin’s yurt with Observation Haki and heard him speaking with Esoteric Sect monks inside.

Chu Yang strolled over leisurely. Everywhere he passed, soldiers were enveloped by Genjutsu and stood motionless like puppets.

Lifting the tent flap, Chu Yang saw Temujin seated at the head, with lamas dressed in crimson robes on both sides.

Temujin also saw Chu Yang, dressed in Central Plains clothing. He froze for a moment, then immediately shouted, "Who goes there?"

Chu Yang ignored him and snapped his fingers. Temujin and the several lamas immediately developed vacant expressions.

Chu Yang walked over to the Esoteric Sect lamas and interrogated them about the cultivation mantra for the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill.

Meanwhile.

Huang Rong and Mu Nianci stood before Li Ping’s yurt, but Mu Nianci gritted her teeth and hesitated to enter.

Seeing this, a wicked smile flashed across Huang Rong’s lips before she put on a cold expression.

"Tell me honestly, Sister Mu. Do you like Little Chu?!"

Already at a loss, Mu Nianci had her feelings exposed in a single sentence by Huang Rong and instinctively cried out.

"You’re this nervous—you must like Little Chu. Sister Mu, stop pretending!" Huang Rong said irritably.

"Rong’er… Miss Huang, don’t talk nonsense. I don’t, I’m not."

Mu Nianci’s tongue seemed tied, leaving her unable to speak clearly. Her face was flushed bright red, and she felt the shame of being caught cheating by the lawful wife.

Huang Rong was about to continue breaking down Mu Nianci’s mental defenses when a woman’s voice suddenly came from the yurt.

"Who’s outside?"

Li Ping sounded somewhat excited. It had been a long time since she had heard anyone speaking Han Chinese.

Hearing Li Ping call out, Mu Nianci’s little face turned pale. Could it be that she really had to go in and meet her future mother-in-law?

"Sister Mu, if you still won’t admit it, I’ll take you inside to meet your future mother-in-law!"

Huang Rong snorted coldly, threatening her.

"Rong’er, I was wrong. I really do like Brother Chu…"

Mu Nianci’s eyes reddened, and in her panic, she began to cry softly.

Just then, Li Ping lifted the tent flap and saw two little girls standing at the entrance, both beautiful as Celestial Immortals. She froze for a moment. "Who are you?"

Huang Rong smiled sweetly. "Auntie Li, your daughter has come to see you!"

Meanwhile, Chu Yang was using Genjutsu to pry the cultivation incantation for the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill out of the lama.

A strange ripple suddenly spread through the air, forcibly interrupting his Genjutsu and leaving Chu Yang baffled.

The youngest of the lamas in crimson robes suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Chu Yang, asking in flawless Han Chinese, "Benefactor, your methods are mysterious indeed, but aren’t they somewhat underhanded?"

Chu Yang looked at him curiously. "How did you break the technique?"

"A mere trick to blind the eye—how could one who cultivates Buddhism fail to see through it?" The young Esoteric Sect monk smiled. Then he suddenly began chanting a Buddhist mantra, and immense, righteous power instantly surged through the yurt.

Chu Yang’s eyes lit up. I thought this was wuxia. I didn’t expect the style to suddenly turn Xuanhuan. I wonder what level this cultivator is at?

The young monk formed a hand seal with one hand, and a mass of Buddhist Light emerged behind his head. He pressed forward, and a swastika character burst from his palm, swelling rapidly in the wind.

Chu Yang circulated his inner force and unleashed several Vajra Palm strikes in succession. The huge palm imprints collided with the swastika character and were annihilated in an instant.

The two were worlds apart.

"How can mortal martial arts compare to the true methods of my Esoteric Sect?"

"Benefactor, lay down your butcher’s knife and become a Buddha. Why have you not repented at once?!"

The young monk’s expression was indifferent, and his entire body radiated majesty. He truly gave off the illusion of a Buddha descending into the world.

The enormous swastika character was about to crush Chu Yang.

Dazzling lightning shot into the sky and directly shattered the golden swastika character.

The young monk’s pupils contracted sharply. He sensed an incomparably terrifying aura from Chu Yang.

When he looked again, the scholar before him had undergone a horrifying transformation.

A golden haori draped over his body, lightning coiled around him like silk ribbons, and especially those Double Tomoe eyes that kept revolving—those were not eyes a mortal could possess.

The monk stared at Chu Yang in disbelief. He had initially thought the other party was merely a Jianghu expert who had cultivated some demonic art. He had never expected such an inhuman existence.

"Demon!"

The young monk cried out in horror.

Thinking of where the Tailed Beast Cloak’s power came from, Chu Yang felt that the other man was not wrong. He grinned. "Then I’ll have to ask Master to subdue this demon!"

The moment he finished speaking, Chu Yang flashed forward and appeared before the young monk. One hand pressed down on the other man’s head, which was shrouded in Buddhist Light.

"Impudence!"

The young monk pressed his palms together. Behind him appeared a Buddha radiating boundless Buddhist Light, bringing its palms together in the same posture.

The tiny yurt could not possibly withstand a battle of such magnitude. With a sweep of the Buddha’s palm, it was reduced directly to ashes.

Temujin and the several lamas were unharmed. Protected by the young monk’s Buddhist Light, they were sent far away.

Chu Yang was caught between the giant palms, like a weak little fly.

"Benefactor, killing intent boils throughout your body. This humble monk must enlighten you today!"

The Buddhist Light around the young monk grew brighter and brighter.

There was not a trace of panic on Chu Yang’s face. A similarly imposing figure appeared behind him and slowly enveloped him.

The Buddha’s palms were forced apart by a terrifying power. The young monk focused his eyes and saw that the scholar had disappeared, replaced by a gigantic three-headed, six-armed monster.

Susanoo drew its bow and loosed an energy arrow, piercing straight through the head of the Buddha behind the young monk.

That vast Buddhist Light abruptly dimmed.

Pfft!

Blood sprayed from the young monk’s mouth. He felt as though the blow had struck every one of his internal organs, and the pain nearly made him faint.

Susanoo walked before him. As it dispersed, Chu Yang’s true body was revealed. He still had one hand resting on the monk’s head.

"Monk, do you still want to save me?"

"Amitabha. This humble monk’s Dharma power is insufficient. I failed to eliminate the demon. It is truly regrettable."

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you for saying that?"

"One who has left the secular world has long placed life and death beyond concern."

"Your enlightenment is pretty high."

Chu Yang patted the monk’s forehead. He had already obtained the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill just now, and during the battle, he had also picked up an unknown Esoteric Sect true method.

Since he had profited, why kill mercilessly? The man had no grudge against him, and besides, Chu Yang had been in the wrong from the start.

This also made him understand that Genjutsu was only effective against people of lower realms. Against a cultivator with firm will like the young monk, it was somewhat useless.

The young monk waited for a long time, yet Chu Yang never sent him to Western Heaven to meet the true Buddha Vairocana Buddha. When he opened his eyes, he found that Chu Yang had already vanished.

"Could it be that this was not the birth of a demon lord?"

The young monk was utterly puzzled. Softly chanting Amitabha, he said, "There is actually such a strange man in this world."

The great battle had awakened many drunken people. Seeing the Buddha killed by a single arrow from the monster, everyone fell to their knees in terror, praying that the demon god would not kill them.

As Chu Yang walked along, no one raised their heads to look at him. Or rather, no one dared to raise their heads.

Some vague feeling told them that the scholar walking out from the royal court was that three-headed, six-armed demon god.

Though no one raised their heads, they still kept bowing devoutly in the direction from which the footsteps came.

The two little girls had also been stunned by the sight of the demon god battling the Buddha. Trembling, they left Li Ping’s yurt and happened to see countless herdsmen and soldiers kneeling in worship before Chu Yang.

"Little Chu, did you kill Buddha?"

Huang Rong’s little face turned pale.

"Not Buddha. Just a monk’s Dharma manifestation."

Chu Yang smiled and shook his head.

"Then are you hurt?"

Huang Rong rushed forward anxiously to inspect Chu Yang’s body, touching him here and pinching him there, afraid he might be missing something.

"If you keep touching me like that, I’m reporting you for indecency!"

Chu Yang irritably slapped away Huang Rong’s little hand. He was already burning with desire—what if her touching caused trouble?

"Does Miss Mu really intend to wander the Jianghu alone?"

"Yes, Brother Chu. Thank you for taking care of me during this time."

"You’re welcome. Take care of yourself."

"Brother Chu… I already explained this marriage arrangement to Auntie Li. When I return, I’ll have my father call it off."

"Uh, it’s good that you have your own thoughts. There’s no need to explain it to me."

"Brother Chu, do you think we’ll meet again?"

"If you’re bored, you can come to the private school and see Huang Rong anytime. She’ll definitely be very happy."

Mu Nianci, standing before the carriage, suddenly fell silent. She lowered her head to look at her toes as an ant crawled from the ground onto the top of her foot.

The moon was bright, and the stars were sparse.

For a moment, Chu Yang did not know what to say as a farewell, so he turned to look at Huang Rong.

"Little Chu, you’re really stingy. At a time like this, you still won’t give her a parting gift."

Huang Rong rolled her eyes and pulled out a cloth doll from her clothes, dressed very similarly to Mu Nianci.

"Sister Mu, this is for you!"

Huang Rong handed the cloth doll to Mu Nianci. Mu Nianci accepted it and examined it carefully, a smile appearing on her face.

Chu Yang scratched his head. He had never thought of giving Mu Nianci anything.

Having received the gift, Mu Nianci looked at Chu Yang with anticipation.

"I’ll give you a hairpin."

Branches wound around Chu Yang’s palm, carrying a soft green glow that was especially beautiful in the dead of night, like countless fireflies circling around them.

An emerald wooden hairpin appeared in Chu Yang’s hand, and he passed it to Mu Nianci.

Mu Nianci accepted the hairpin and gently stroked it, her gaze tender.

"Alright, Miss Mu. This is goodbye, then!"

Chu Yang and Huang Rong climbed into the carriage. The little red horse snorted, slowly turned around, and departed.

Mu Nianci stood there blankly, waving continuously as she watched the carriage travel farther and farther away.

Huang Rong sat on the carriage shaft, looking sullen. Chu Yang thought she felt down over Mu Nianci’s departure, so he comforted her. "Miss Mu was unwilling to travel back with us because she probably has her own things to do. We have to respect her choice."

Huang Rong shook her head. "It’s not that she has something to do…"

Chu Yang had no idea what had happened between them and asked in confusion, "Did you two have an argument? Weren’t you getting along just fine earlier…?"

"Ugh! It’s not an argument. I can’t make you understand even if I tell you, so stop asking!" Huang Rong glared at Chu Yang angrily.

"What’s wrong with you?" Chu Yang smacked his lips. "If you argued, then you argued. You can make up next time you meet. How about I leave you here so you two can have a good talk, and wander the Jianghu together while I go back first…"

Before Chu Yang could finish, Huang Rong suddenly slammed her forehead hard into his. The result was that Huang Rong herself was hurt badly enough for tears to keep welling in her eyes.

"That’s what you get for fighting without honor!"

Chu Yang laughed smugly.

What a joke. Although his body was not yet impervious to blades, spears, water, and fire, it was not something teeth could bite through.

Huang Rong was furious. Baring her teeth, she pounced at Chu Yang and opened her mouth to bite him, her little tiger teeth gleaming coldly.

Chu Yang grabbed her mouth in one hand and warned, "Keep making trouble, and you’ll chip your teeth too."

Thinking that her teeth might truly be knocked out against Chu Yang’s flesh, Huang Rong immediately abandoned the idea of biting him and glared at him furiously.

"Now that Miss Mu is gone, you’ll be responsible for driving the carriage."

As Chu Yang spoke, he handed the reins to Huang Rong.

Though Huang Rong was angry, she obediently accepted the reins, because she was afraid Chu Yang would truly leave her here.

Yet after handing over the reins, Chu Yang did not return to the carriage. Instead, he sat there with his eyes closed, resting, while muttering, "Don’t slack off. I’m watching."

Strangely, Huang Rong stopped sulking and instead revealed a faint smile that was difficult to notice.

After the two left, Mu Nianci stayed with Li Ping for one night. The next day, she bid farewell and set off upon her own Jianghu road.

She had wandered the Jianghu with her Foster Father Yang Tiexin for eighteen years. She had learned everything she needed to learn, so Mu Nianci did not feel particularly afraid.

Furthermore, she had learned the Nine Yin Manual from Chu Yang. Though it was not the complete manual, her martial arts had still advanced significantly.

It would be absolutely impossible for first-rate experts from the various dynasties to defeat her in a one-on-one fight.

Unless a grandmaster made a move.

That was also why Chu Yang had so readily agreed to let her travel alone.

After Mu Nianci bade farewell to Li Ping and had just stepped out of the yurt, she saw a very young monk standing outside, seemingly waiting for a long time.

The young monk wore plain white robes. His face was clean, his body spotless, and he always bore a kindly smile, giving him an air of benevolence that surpassed his age.

Seeing the monk looking at her with a smile, Mu Nianci asked softly, "Master, may I ask who you are?"

"This humble monk is Sangji Zhuole, a cultivator of the Tibetan Esoteric Sect. In my youth, I used the Dharma name Yun Shen. Benefactor may address me as such."

Yun Shen, dressed in plain white monk’s robes, nodded and smiled in greeting. Everything he said and did carried the air of a refined gentleman.

"Greetings, Master Yun Shen. I am Mu Nianci. It seems that you have been waiting for me. Is there something you need?"

Mu Nianci pressed her palms together and gave a proper salute.

"May I ask whether that mighty expert from last night was Miss Mu’s friend?"

This Master Yun Shen was the Esoteric Sect cultivator who had fought Chu Yang.

The moment the monk before her mentioned Chu Yang, Mu Nianci immediately became vigilant. She silently reached toward the whip coiled around her waist and said nothing.

"Please rest assured, Miss Mu. In last night’s contest of Dharma, I was no match for that expert. He spared my life, which is why I am still alive to speak with Miss Mu now."

Master Yun Shen spoke freely of his crushing defeat, without the slightest resentment on his face.

Seeing that he had no intention of seeking revenge, Mu Nianci asked in confusion, "Then why are you looking for Brother Chu, Master?"

"To seek the Dao."

Master Yun Shen answered directly.

As the Esoteric Sect’s most gifted cultivator, he had entered the Dao through Buddhist teachings and martial arts. Though he looked young, he was already over a hundred years old. By this point, his path had reached its end, and he could not advance even a fraction further.

Chu Yang’s strength was something he had never seen before. Calling him an earthly immortal would not be an exaggeration.

After fighting Chu Yang, Master Yun Shen had experienced an enlightenment, loosening his bottleneck somewhat. That was why he wished to seek the Dao from him.

Mu Nianci did not understand the exact meaning of seeking the Dao, but she could sense that the other party had already been convinced by Chu Yang, so the hostility in her heart faded.

"Master Yun Shen, you came too late. Brother Chu and the others left last night. I did not travel with them, so I do not know where they went."

Mu Nianci said apologetically.

"It is this humble monk’s Destined Method that is insufficient. I cannot blame the benefactor."

Yun Shen could not help letting out a long sigh.

Seeing him like this, Mu Nianci could not bear it, so she said softly, "I know where Brother Chu lives, but I do not know when he will return home. If Master does not mind, I can tell you."

Yun Shen looked at the kind-hearted young girl. Lines of mortal fate coiled around her, one of which connected to a small city in the Southern Song Dynasty.

This was Destiny Sight, a Buddhist divine ability Yun Shen had awakened through a century of cultivation.

Yun Shen’s Destiny Sight had only just entered the threshold. It allowed him to briefly see a person’s future, but under normal circumstances, he could not see specific events. Everything was ethereal, dreamlike, and illusory.

The reason Mu Nianci’s fate was so clear was that her destiny was connected to Chu Yang’s.

"Miss Mu will go there again in the future. If you do not mind, may this humble monk travel with Miss Mu?"

The little red horse galloped across the grasslands for more than a month before Chu Yang and Huang Rong finally returned to the Ming Empire’s territory.

They had seen enough scenery and suffered plenty along the way.

As they were about to leave, Huang Rong was still shouting that she would never come back.

According to the plan, Chu Yang still needed to visit Mount Wudang and meet Zhang Sanfeng.

After his battle with the Esoteric Sect monk, Chu Yang was certain that Zhang Sanfeng of this world was definitely a cultivator.

Genjutsu probably would not work on Zhang Sanfeng. The best approach was still to force him to make a move.

After entering a small border town, Chu Yang took Huang Rong to an inn to rest for a while. They had just gone up to the second floor and were about to order food when they heard a storyteller discussing the recent major events in the Jianghu.

In just over a month, the Jianghu had been thrown into turmoil.

"Everyone has heard about what happened to the Ancient Tomb Sect some time ago, right?"

"It is said that the greatest rare tome in the martial world, the Nine Yin Manual, was hidden within that tiny Ancient Tomb Sect at the foot of Mount Zhongnan!"

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime!"

"Once the news spread, countless Jianghu sects and martial arts experts headed to Mount Zhongnan to fight over the Nine Yin Manual."

"Their thinking was simple enough. They could not afford to provoke Wang Chongyang’s Quanzhen Sect, but could they not afford to provoke the obscure Ancient Tomb Sect?"

"And so, the Ancient Tomb Sect suffered a great calamity. Its sect grounds were occupied, and its only two remaining disciples barely escaped with their lives after an old servant fought to the death."

"That old servant was loyal indeed. Even after being tortured in every possible way, he never revealed the slightest trace of the two disciples’ whereabouts."

Crash!

A porcelain-white bowl smashed violently onto the floor and shattered into pieces. Huang Rong looked at Chu Yang in terror.

Chu Yang’s face darkened. The Ancient Tomb Sect had always kept out of worldly affairs and never dealt with outsiders. He had never imagined that news of the Nine Yin Manual would leak out.

"Little Chu, those two, they…"

At the thought that the delicate, doll-like little girl might have fallen into cruel hands, Huang Rong could not stop herself from crying. Her tears pattered against the tabletop.

"Don’t cry yet. The storyteller isn’t finished."

Inside the hall, all the diners stared tensely at the storyteller. Only after he took a sip of hot tea and let out a long breath did they hear what came next.

"What I am about to tell you next is merely some unverified hearsay. Listen if you wish, treat it as entertainment, but do not take it seriously."

"It is said that after the two Ancient Tomb Sect disciples escaped, they somehow came this way and happened to get caught up in the conflict between the Demon Sect and the six major sects. They were taken by members of the Demon Sect to Guangming Peak."

"The six major sects had long held grudges against them. With this incident added on top, they simply joined forces to besiege Guangming Peak."

Just as the storyteller was getting into the flow of his tale, a young man dressed like a scholar suddenly appeared before him, and his voice came to an abrupt halt.

The scholar cupped his hands and said, "Sir Storyteller, may I ask why the two Ancient Tomb Sect disciples went to the Ming Empire?"

The storyteller scratched his head and smiled. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "I heard they were actually trying to go to Mongolia, but were intercepted halfway there by people from the six major sects."

The scholar closed his eyes, his face expressionless as a chill spread wantonly through the hall.

The well-traveled storyteller had seen much of the world. Sensing that this scholar was not someone to provoke, he silently took a few steps back, intending to slip away.

At that moment, the scholar suddenly opened his eyes. Smiling, he cupped his hands toward the storyteller, then called for the girl traveling with him to leave.

The girl’s face was filled with murderous fury.

After the two left, every piece of porcelain in the tavern exploded with a deafening crash!

Chu Yang returned to the stable and led out the carriage, then instructed Huang Rong, "I’ll go to Guangming Peak first. Drive the carriage and follow afterward. Be careful."

Huang Rong nodded obediently.

With that, Chu Yang no longer bothered concealing himself. He shot straight into the sky and vanished beyond the horizon.

Guangming Peak lay at the border of the Ming Empire, built atop an endless mountain range. Because of the harsh terrain, almost no one ever set foot there.

But this time, the six major sects had traveled thousands of miles to besiege Guangming Peak, causing quite a commotion. Even from high above, Chu Yang could see the narrow tide of people stretching for a thousand li.

Following the direction of the crowd, Chu Yang soon found Guangming Peak at the summit of the mountains.

The battle seemed to have begun some time ago.

Blood flowed like rivers across all of Guangming Peak.

Perhaps because the plot had changed somewhat, Chu Yang did not see Zhang Wuji fighting the six major sects alone.

All he saw was the frenzied slaughter of two armies facing each other.

Blood flowed like rivers.

Chu Yang stood in the air, coldly watching these people kill one another. He did not care whether they lived or died; he only wanted to find Little Dragon Girl and Li Mochou.

Soon, someone noticed Chu Yang’s presence and instinctively cried out, "Quick, look! There’s someone in the sky!"

The moment he finished shouting, someone slashed him down with a blade. Even as he died, his eyes remained fixed on the sky.

Everyone on Guangming Peak had killed until their eyes turned red. Who would pay attention to what he had said?

Amid the chaos, Chu Yang landed beside the unlucky man. He lowered his head and glanced at him, then crushed his throat beneath his foot, ending the agony of his lingering breath.

Chu Yang slowly walked through the pool of blood. Those who tried to kill him all inexplicably collapsed into the blood, their breath gone.

No one noticed how Chu Yang killed. They only realized, without knowing when it had happened, that too many people had died, leaving a vacuum around him.

Chu Yang casually seized a still-breathing Ming Cult disciple and asked, "Where are the two Ancient Tomb Sect disciples?"

The Ming Cult disciple did not answer. Instead, he spat a mouthful of bloody saliva at him.

An invisible wave of force blocked the spit. Chu Yang frowned, dragged the Ming Cult disciple into the Genjutsu space, and began questioning him. Once he learned the answer, surprise appeared on his face.

This Ming Cult disciple belonged to the Five Elements Banners. In his memories, the Ming Cult had not abducted Li Mochou and Little Dragon Girl; they had rescued them from the hands of the six major sects.

Looking at the chaotic Guangming Peak and the disciples of the six major sects, Chu Yang flew into a rage. With an angry roar, he unleashed Conqueror’s Haki.

An invisible ripple spread outward. Apart from a small number of experts, most disciples of the six major sects and members of the Ming Cult collapsed headfirst to the ground, unconscious.

The remaining experts looked at Chu Yang in horror.

I’ve got a fever. I don’t know whether I tested positive for COVID. I’ve been writing for more than thirteen or fourteen hours every day lately, and my body is struggling to hold up… Since the third day after the book went premium, I actually haven’t had any chapters saved up. This book’s performance is currently decent, so to ensure quality, I’ll guarantee 300,000 words of updates this month!!! I’ll work hard to maintain both quality and quantity!