70. The master is not at home and there's no way to escape

  A bamboo raft floated downstream in the mountain stream.

  On the bamboo raft sat a young scholar in a green robe, and also a little child only four or five years old.

  Two people sat on a bamboo raft, and apart from controlling the direction of the raft's progress, not only did they not paddle to accelerate, but instead controlled the raft so it wouldn't drift too quickly with the current.

  Suddenly, several bubbles emerged from the water next to the bamboo raft, and then a black-clad young man rushed out of the water surface, landing lightly on the bamboo raft, greedily inhaling fresh air.

  "If only I had Master's Black Cloud Flag, it wouldn't be so troublesome." The black-clad youth was naturally Xiao Yan, with the internal force circulating within his body and hot air steaming off him, instantly drying his clothes.

  Zhu Yi said: "Now saying those is useless, this method is still very slow, but at least it won't expose our tracks."

  Xiao Bu Dong jumped up from the raft, laughing and saying "It's my turn." He dove into the water, sinking to the bottom, where Xiao Yan's black iron giant sword was buried in the sand and rocks. From the direction he came from, a straight vertical line was drawn on the bottom of the water.

  Xiao Bu Dong grasped the heavy black iron sword, its weight was secondary, the key was that his own magical powers had become stagnant. He thought to himself: "This thing of Big Brother's is really strange, although it's cumbersome, throwing it away would be a shame, I'll bring it back for Master to take a look."

  Then Xiaobudian let the black iron giant sword hang down to the bottom of the water, dragging it through the sand and gravel, with his eyes raised to stare at the bamboo raft above his head, in order to determine his direction.

  Xiao Yan smiled bitterly on the bamboo raft: "I'm going to take money and not life now?"

  "Master often says that 'there are always more solutions than difficulties', although it sounds simple, but it makes a lot of sense."

  Three people wandered in the mountains and forests for half a day, finally thinking of a way that wasn't a good idea. They used waterways to conceal their tracks, but the heavy black iron sword was too heavy, and the small boat bamboo raft couldn't carry it, so they had to take turns dragging it underwater.

  Just over a dozen miles behind the three men, a group of people were chasing along the stream.

  A young man led the way, who was none other than Yu Tian, a direct descendant of the Yu family. He looked handsome, but his face was extremely gloomy at this moment: "This mountain stream has countless branches, if we keep chasing like this, it's easy to get lost."

  He turned around and walked towards the back of the team, where an old man in black clothes with a rustic face was sitting in a chair, closing his eyes to meditate, being carried by several family servants using a sedan chair.

  Yu Tian bowed respectfully: "Elder Yue, please make a move this time, it's very important for the family."

  The black-clad old man known as Yue Lao didn't even bat an eyelid, and said calmly: "I'm only responsible for protecting your safety, everything else is none of my concern."

  He furrowed his brow, but didn't dare to persuade him again, and could only retreat to the side. He thought to himself: "How did our family end up sending this old freak here? What bad luck." He didn't dare say these words out loud, instead he looked at Old Yue with a fearful expression, then quickly lowered his head and turned to leave.

  The old man in black had no aura of magical power emanating from his body, but he sat there with his eyes closed, cultivating his spirit, just like an immovable mountain.

  …………

  The bamboo raft turned over a river bend, and the view opened up. Zhu Yi stood at the front of the bamboo raft, gazing out into the distance: "Next we need to get back onto land, otherwise our direction will become more and more biased."

  Xiao Yan nodded and transmitted his voice to Xiao Wu using his magical power, then he jumped onto the shore with Zhu Yi.

  Xiao Bu Dong also dragged the black iron giant sword out of the water, and handed it back to Xiao Yan. He then walked away while recovering his magic power.

  Zhu Yi asked: "Now that there are pursuers behind us, should we return to Mount Hengyue and wait or go directly to find Master?"

  Xiao Yan was deep in thought, and before he could respond, a hoarse voice suddenly rang out: "Young Master Yi has actually already taken someone else as his master? This is not good, His Excellency had said that Young Master Yi must learn the classics well before practicing martial arts or cultivating the Tao."

  Zhu Yi's three brothers' faces changed at the same time, Zhu Yi's eyebrows twitched, and he calmly called out: "Mr. Tao Er."

  The newcomer was a thin and shriveled old man, who turned out to be Tao Er, the second steward of the Xuanji Marquis's estate.

  As Mr. Tao II appeared, more and more Houfu cultivators walked out of the mountain forest behind him.

  Tao Er carefully sized up Zhu Yi, revealing an expression of admiration: "In less than half a year's time, you've already cultivated to the sixth layer of Qi Refining. Young Master Yi has exceptionally high talent, and it's no wonder that he has the bloodline of the Marquis flowing through his veins."

  "But you disobeyed Master Hou's instructions, this is not good."

  Zhu Yi took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Father's cultivation is profound, that's his business. My current cultivation is derived from my own efforts and the teachings of my master."

  Tao Er shook his head: "Young Master Yi doesn't understand, Lord Hou is a fair and just person, with great wisdom. His arrangements must be correct, you only need to follow the path he has arranged for you."

  Upon hearing this, not just Zhu Yi's, but also Xiao Yan and Xia Xing Yun's eyebrows furrowed.

  Tao Er didn't mind at all and continued to speak slowly: "This time, I came out for two reasons. First, to investigate the disappearance of Huang San, and second, to find Young Master Yi."

  Zhu Yi said calmly: "Huang San and others were killed by Liu Yang, a Jindan period cultivator of the Shushan Sword Sect. I witnessed it with my own eyes."

  "Shu Mountain Sword Sect." Tao Er nodded and continued to ask: "Then, Young Master Yi, how did you escape from danger? How can those fierce winds reverse the evil?"

  Zhu Yi replied: "The people who were with Lie Feng escaped through the transmission array, my master saved me, and I have been following my master to learn the Tao ever since."

  Tao Er nodded: "In that case, it can't be helped. Young Master Yi, you should return home with me now. You've been away from home for many days, and the Duke and his wife are very worried about you."

  Zhu Yi quietly said: "I want to follow Master to learn Taoism, after learning and achieving something, I will naturally return."

  Tao Er smiled: "Young Master Yi, you're joking. Although you're not the eldest son of the Marquis, and can't learn the Marquis's great Dao divine arts, the Marquis will naturally arrange a suitable master for you, no need for you to find one yourself."

  "So, Young Master Yi can return to Tianjing with me then." Tao Er said matter-of-factly: "If you're worried that your master will make things difficult, I'll go and have a word with him. If he's truly an enlightened person, he should understand reason. How could he bear to separate his disciple from their parents?"

  Xiao Yan and Xiao Wu's expressions changed slightly, their bodies about to move before being stopped by Zhu Yi. Zhu Yi looked up at Tao Er, calmly saying: "Master has saved my life and taught me skills, one day as a master is a lifetime as a master. I appreciate Mr. Tao's kind intentions, please report back to Father. One day, I will definitely return to Tianjing, but not now."

  Tao Er Ding looked at Zhu Yi and sighed, "Young Master Yi usually values filial piety, but now he has been led astray by someone. It's clear that his master is a treacherous person. Please tell me where he is now, Young Master Yi? I'll go and get rid of this evil person."

  "Such a wicked person, should abolish his cultivation, soak in a dung pit, and parade through the streets to warn the world."

  Not only did Xiao Yan and Xiaobudian's faces turn angry, but even Zhu Yi's face sank, yet Tao Er continued to say: "Also, before coming out, Master Hou instructed me that if I found Young Master Yi, I must bring him back to the manor safely."

  "The young master's orders must be carried out."

  As he spoke, a group of mysterious Houfu repairmen had already dispersed behind him, surrounding the three brothers Zhu Yi in the middle.

  Zhu Yi and three others, at this moment their hearts all sank to the bottom of the valley.

  …………

  In the Yellow Spring Pearl, at the center of the Long River, Wang Lin inside the light ball still hasn't awakened. Lin Feng quietly sat on top of the light ball, his mind still carefully pondering the Huangquan Niepan Scripture on the black stone pillar.

  The distant Yellow Spring True Water suddenly made a loud gurgling sound, and the turbulent Yellow Spring True Water was carrying a figure rapidly approaching.

  The figure was indeed Si Kong Nan. He saw Lin Feng and burst out laughing: "Youngster, the humiliation you gave me before, I will return it to you a hundredfold now!"