Chapter 4: A Critical Moment

  Liang Xiao picked up the dog and wandered along the main road, drinking from streams and wells when thirsty, and eating at wine houses and restaurants whenever he was hungry. If someone tried to stop him, he would fight back with his fists and feet. His martial arts skills were quite impressive, and two or three strong men couldnt get close to him. His words and actions made people detest him, and ghosts fear him. During the day, Liang Xiao faced the world with a cold gaze, never backing down. Only in the middle of the night, when he was dreaming, would he look up at the clear stars and moon, the vast sky and solitary clouds, and think of his parents, unable to contain his sorrow, hugging a large stone or withered tree and crying bitterly.

  In a daze, he didnt know how much time had passed or how many places he had been to. One day, he arrived at a town called Luzhou. Liang Xiaos stomach was growling with hunger, and he held the dog in his arms as they wandered through the market, eyeing several roasted chickens in a food stall. However, there were too many people around the counter, making it inconvenient for him to make a move, so he could only crouch under the eaves across from the stall, quietly waiting for an opportunity.

  At that moment, he had nothing to do and saw the sunlight falling from the eaves in front of him, shining on his black feet. He leaned into the sun and started pinching lice and fleas. He was skilled at "Like-minded Magic Hand" and his fingers were very agile. At this time, he achieved great success, pinching one accurately after another, until it became second nature to him. With a smile, he said, "Lets see you bite me again?" In an instant, all the lice and fleas were caught, and Liang Xiao was overjoyed. He arranged them in three rows at his feet, roughly counting about twenty or thirty of them. He thought to himself, "If I could gather a hundred of them, ten by ten, and arrange them neatly, that would be fun!" But there were no more lice and fleas to catch, so he picked up the dog and said with a smile, "Are you itchy? Let me pick some for you too!" He pinched a dog flea and arranged it neatly on the ground. Passersby frowned one after another, feeling that this little beggar was strange to the bone, and they all avoided him. Liang Xiao was busy catching fleas from the dog and had forgotten about stealing chickens.

  He was enjoying himself when something fell from above, scattering the lice he had arranged on the ground. Liang Xiao looked up to see a piece of broken silver weighing about half a tael. He became enraged, clenching his fist around the silver and looking up to see a tall, thin man with a pale golden complexion wearing a purple robe standing in the middle of the street. The man had three strands of black whiskers that fluttered in the wind, and he carried a blue cloth bundle on his back. When he saw Liang Xiao staring at him, he lowered his head, coughed twice, and turned to leave. Liang Xiao bit his lip, waiting until the man was ten or so paces away before suddenly shouting, "Go to hell with your stinking silver!" Summoning all his strength, he hurled the silver piece at the mans back.

  That man seemed to have grown eyes in the back of his head, and with a reverse motion, he grasped the silver coin. He turned around and asked in surprise: "Little kid, arent you begging?" Liang Xiao was taken for a beggar, feeling even more humiliated and angry. Looking at the way that man caught the coin, it seemed like he had some martial arts skills. Seeing his sickly face, Liang Xiao thought to himself that theres no need to be afraid of him. So, with his hands on his hips, he retorted: "Im begging your grandma." Having mixed around in the streets for a long time, he had learned a bellyful of street slang. This sentence was just a small test, waiting for the other person to respond, and then he would continue to exchange insults.

  That man sneered, "Youre really weird, cough, I wont bother with you." He turned the corner, coughing, and disappeared. Liang Xiao saw the sick husband flee in disarray, feeling both pleased and bored. He spat on the ground, looked down, and saw that his own footsteps had disturbed the scattered objects, ruining his puzzle-making endeavor. Feeling annoyed, he suddenly noticed no one was around, so he took advantage of the shopkeepers distraction to quickly pick up the dog, dash upstairs, grab a chicken from the rooftop, and snatch it from its string. The shopkeeper turned around, shouting angrily, but Liang Xiao had already darted into a narrow alleyway.

  After dodging two streets, Liang Xiao saw that no one was chasing after him, so he tore off two chicken wings to feed the dog and devoured the roasted chicken with relish. Just as he took a couple of bites, he suddenly heard a commotion in the distance. Turning his head, he saw a fat young master dressed in fine clothes holding onto a young girls arm, kissing her face repeatedly, while two servants in green robes laughed loudly beside them. The girl had a delicate appearance and was simply dressed, with tears and snot all over her face.

  Liang Xiao was eating chicken while thinking to himself, "Whats so great about this woman? Is she even more delicious than a chicken leg?" Just as he was wondering, he heard someone nearby sigh softly and say, "Pig Butt is causing trouble again." Another person hushed him, lowering their voice to say, "Dont call him Pig Butt, if he hears you, youre dead."

  The fat young master had a stout figure, with an especially large buttocks that stuck out high in the back. He had a sly and cunning smile on his face as he dragged the woman towards the wine tower. The womans body was being dragged along the ground, crying bitterly. Liang Xiao looked at her tearful appearance and felt like he had seen it before. Suddenly, he remembered that his mother had been taken away by Xiang Qianxue with a similar expression. In an instant, his heart burned with anger and evil fire surged up. He turned his head to look around and saw a butchers stall next to him, with a pigs tail on the chopping board and some fragrant herbs that smelled like pig hair beside it. The butcher was standing on tiptoes, intently watching the commotion.

  The fat young master was enjoying himself, when he suddenly heard a burst of laughter from the crowd behind him. He turned his head to look, but saw nothing out of the ordinary, and hummed a tune as he turned back around. But then the crowd erupted into another fit of laughter. This time the laughter was softer, as if they had stumbled upon something extremely amusing. The pig-like young master turned his head again, glaring at the crowd, and saw that the two servants in green were acting strangely, staring fixedly at something behind him. He couldnt help but ask: "Whats going on?"

  A slave swallowed his saliva and trembled, saying: "Sir, behind you..." Pig Buttocks raised an eyebrow and turned around, but didnt see anything strange. Who would have thought that the crowd burst out laughing again? Pig Buttocks scanned the crowd, with a fierce glint in his small eyes. The crowd was in a dilemma, not knowing whether to laugh or not. Their facial muscles twitched, extremely awkward. Suddenly, a little beggar appeared, carrying a three-foot-long firewood stick, and sang: "Pig Buttocks, fat and big, with a pig tail hanging on top; Pig Tail, shaking and swinging, with a pig head on the front..." Everyone was shocked, and Pig Buttocks also knew this nickname. He was extremely embarrassed, his small eyes rolled up, and he sternly shouted: "You little beggar, are you scolding your grandfather?" The girl next to him had been tearful, but when she saw what was behind him, she was stunned, then suddenly burst out laughing.

  The pigs buttocks saw that everyone was staring at his own back, and he had already suspected himself. It wasnt until the girl burst out laughing that he finally realized what was going on. He reached out to grab something, and grabbed a pigs tail, pulling it off to take a look. The tail was covered in pine resin. It turned out that this tail had been stuck to his buttocks all along, swaying back and forth with him, no wonder every time he twisted his body, the crowd would burst out laughing again.

  The proud and arrogant Zhu Bajie had never been treated this way before, so he was furious, his seven orifices smoking with rage. He stretched out a hand to push the young girl away, then shouted at the little beggar boy: "You little scamp, is it you or not?" As he spoke, he came over to grab him, but the little beggar boy just chuckled and dodged aside. Two green-clad house slaves rushed forward, but Zhu Bajie gave each of them a slap on the mouth, sending them tumbling to the ground, and cursed: "You blind dog-slaves, someones teasing Old Master and you havent even seen it?"

  The little beggar was indeed Liang Xiao. He slipped into the crowd, took advantage of the distraction to dip the pigs tail in incense, and stuck it on the fat young masters buttocks. His hands and feet were quick, and he was short and small, so no one noticed. The pigs rear end was furious, knocking over the attendants, rolling up its sleeves, and pouncing on Liang Xiao again. He was originally the son of a general, had studied with famous teachers for several years, and learned some skills in spear, staff, fist, and footwork. Although he had been idle for a long time and gained weight, this jump and pounce still showed some skill.

  Liang Xiao dodged his fierce attack, ducking down to avoid him. Zhu Pi Gous flailing fist hit nothing but air again, growing angrier by the second. He spun around and swung his fist once more, only for Liang Xiao to dodge it with ease. For a moment, the two of them - one fat, one thin, one big, one small - chased each other in circles like a tiger chasing a rabbit. Suddenly, Zhu Pi Gou unleashed a "Swallow Double Fly" kick, his legs scissoring together as he tried to strike Liang Xiao, but unfortunately, his body was too heavy, and though the shape of the swallow was there, it couldnt fly at all.

  Liāo Xiāo lowered his head, and Zhu Bìgǔngs left leg swept through the air, bullying Liāo Xiāo for being short. With a loud shout, he raised his right leg above his head and chopped down fiercely towards Chóu Jiā. Liāo Xiāo dodged too late and hastily held up the fire poker in his hand. The fat young master saw that the poker was slender and didnt take it seriously, so he pressed down with his right leg. Who knew that a cold sensation would appear on his knee, and half of his calf jumped into view, looking familiarly plump? Just as Zhu Bìgǔng was feeling shocked, he suddenly felt an intense pain spreading from his leg, and he fell backwards, clutching at the stump of his right leg, which had been severed just above the knee. He let out a blood-curdling scream.

  Liang Xiaos "fire poker" was not an ordinary stick, but a precious sword. This sword was obtained from a long-bearded Taoist priest, and it could cut through iron like mud and sever hair with a single blow. Liang Xiao wrapped it in tattered clothes, and later stuck some mud on it, making it look just like a fire poker. Piggy didnt know the truth, kicked his leg against the swords blade, and how could he have expected to get any good fruit to eat?

  The onlookers were shocked and stunned by the scene. Liang Xiao, seeing the blood all over the ground, was not afraid either, and carried the dog out of the crowd. The two slaves came to their senses, shouting: "Catch him, he hurt the county official! Catch him, he hurt the county official!" One of them chased after Liang Xiao with a loud shout, while the other helped Piggy Bottom back to the mansion to report the news. In an instant, the whole street was in an uproar, and the market was as chaotic as a boiling pot of porridge.

  The origin of the fat young master was not trivial, his father was Xia Gui, the governor of Jianghan, a trusted subordinate of Chancellor Jia Sidao. Xia Gui was a ruthless man who had achieved his position through flattery and bribery, earning him the nickname "General Xia Gui" in public and "Kneeling General" behind his back. His son, nicknamed "Piggy", enjoyed bullying men and seducing women, and no one dared to stop him due to his fathers military power. However, a young man named Liang Xiao suddenly appeared and cut off half of Piggys leg with one sword strike. But the common people, who had been oppressed for so long, were more shocked than delighted by this turn of events, and they didnt know what would happen next when "Kneeling General" found out. In a moment of panic, they chased after Liang Xiao without distinguishing right from wrong.

  Li Shuo saw that the pursuers were getting more and more, one person shouted to catch, and a hundred people responded. No matter how bold he was, he couldnt help but get flustered, running wildly through the streets and alleys, but unexpectedly being intercepted everywhere, with no way out. He ran around in the city without any escape route, suddenly taking advantage of the chaos, he rushed out of the city gate in a flash.

  As soon as they left the city, they heard the sound of horseshoes. Liang Xiao turned his head and saw more than a dozen fast horses carrying soldiers, rushing straight towards them with a loud noise. It turned out that the servants had shouted and alarmed the government troops. Such an opportunity to gain merit would not be missed by anyone. Without waiting for the commanders order, the soldiers were already competing with each other, shouting and rushing up together.

  Liang Xiao, being young and small, couldnt outrun the tall horses. Seeing a several-zhang-tall chestnut tree by the side of the road, he quickly climbed up onto it. He crouched among the branches, watching as the horses and men approached, scratching his head with one hand, completely at a loss. In the chaos, he suddenly felt a sharp pain on the back of his hand, looked up to see that he had touched a spiky chestnut. His quick wit struck, he tore off his shirt, wrapped it around both palms, plucked several spiky chestnuts, and with great force threw them out, hitting the horses head right on target. The warhorse, in pain, immediately bucked off the soldier on its back.

  Liang Xiao burst out laughing, his hands moving left and right in a blur as he plucked the chestnuts. The chestnuts shot out with great force, like a clever hidden projectile. In an instant, the area under the chestnut tree was filled with people shouting and horses neighing, turning into a chaotic mess.

  Liang Xiao threw a few rounds, the nearby chestnuts were almost gone, and he was about to climb another high branch. Suddenly, several horsemen came again, led by that green-clad house slave, who rushed to the bottom of the tree and angrily said: "A group of fools, he throws chestnuts at you, cant you use knives and guns to throw him?" The prime ministers house slaves are like officials, this green-clad slave is humble and respectful in front of his master, but in front of these soldiers, he is arrogant and domineering.

  A single word awakened the dreamer, and the soldiers Han each grabbed their knives and guns, throwing them at the tree. Only to see the knives and guns dancing wildly, buzzing loudly, Liang Xiao hastily hid in the branches, avoiding the dense thorns that pierced him from all sides, covering him in blood. Suddenly, a single knife swept past his waist, scaring Liang Xiao into a cold sweat. He secretly plucked a thorn and threw it at the green-clad slave, hitting him right in the eye corner. The green-clad slave covered his eyes and let out a mournful cry. After pulling off the thorn and touching his wound, he found his hand full of blood and angrily shouted: "Wait!" The soldiers stopped. The green-clad slave glared at the tree and said: "The monkey is trapped in the tree, unable to fly away with its wings clipped, killing him would be too easy. You three fools, go guard the north side; you four thieves, go guard the south side. The rest of you, get on your horses, take your knives and chop down this birds nest, see where he can run?" The soldiers Han responded in unison. They unsheathed their knives, picked up the reins, and a dozen warhorses neighed loudly, standing at attention.

  Liang Xiao grasped two chestnuts and poked his head out from behind the tree trunk, just about to throw them, when he suddenly heard a "whooshing" sound beside his ear. An arrow whizzed by. He glanced over and saw that the green-clad slave had somehow drawn a bow and was smiling sinisterly, saying: "Little monkey, make another move and Ill shoot you full of holes." Liang Xiao hastily hid behind some leaves, both angry and afraid, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth as he thought to himself: "Fine, just wait till I get down from the tree, and well see who comes out on top!" Just then, a group of soldiers shouted and charged forward on horseback, brandishing their swords. The first one to arrive used the momentum of his horse to swing his sword and chop at the tree, sinking it in an inch deep with just one blow.

  The soldiers took turns charging, and in the blink of an eye, the tree trunk was split in half. One soldier rode up on horseback, stretched out his leg, and with a mighty heave, the chestnut tree crashed to the ground. Liang Xiao tumbled down, his hands and feet waving wildly, as all around him people shouted and horses whinnied, his heart in utter chaos. Grabbing his long sword, he danced about madly, without rhyme or reason. The soldiers saw that he was flustered and lost, and burst out laughing, the slave in green shouting: "Dont fight over who gets the credit! Lets all work together to knock this little monkey down, catch him alive! The official has given orders to cut off his hands and feet, skin him alive, and slice him up inch by inch to drink with wine!" The soldiers all shouted in agreement, urged on their horses, and charged towards Liang Xiao.

  Liang Xiao was in a daze, his mind confused, and he only focused on dancing with his sword, forgetting to dodge. Just as he was about to be knocked down by the horses, someone rushed out from the side and shouted: "Go!" The two warhorses let out a mournful cry, flipped over in mid-air, and fell heavily to the ground. The riders under the horses let out a miserable cry, and their legs were actually crushed by the horses.

  That man let out a cold laugh, his feet moving swiftly as the wind. His hands rose and fell, and in an instant he had circled around Liang Xiao, who heard nothing but the sound of horses neighing continuously. A group of horses foamed at the mouth, all of which were pulled down by him one by one. The soldiers all became rolling pumpkins on the ground. That man knocked over the horses, blocking Liang Xiaos path and covering his mouth to cough lightly. Liang Xiao saw that the newcomer was so powerful and was secretly shocked in his heart. He fixed his eyes on him and involuntarily cried out "Ah yo!" "Is it you?" The man turned around, coldly smiling: "Little devil head, are you going to throw money at me or not?" Liang Xiaos ears turned bright red for a moment; the newcomer was actually that yellow-faced sick husband who had given him silver.

  The man in green robes stood far away, holding his horses reins and staring intently. His heart was startled, and when he saw the two men talking, he suddenly felt that there was an opportunity to be taken advantage of. He swiftly drew his bow and shot an arrow at the yellow-faced guest. The yellow-faced guest heard the sound of the wind and with a reverse motion of his hand, grasped the feathered arrow. He turned his head around, his eyes gleaming fiercely. The man in green robes was greatly shocked and urged his horse to run away. The yellow-faced guest shouted loudly: "Good slave!" He had intended to kill him, his energy concentrated on the arrow, just as he was about to release it, he suddenly heard someone laughing by the side of the road say: "Qin Tianwang, spare his life under your arrow."

  The yellow-faced guest was caught off guard, and there were still people around. He raised an eyebrow, looked sideways, and a short-bearded man slowly walked out from the side of the road. He was neither tall nor short, wearing a small hat and green clothes, with a round face and a harmonious air. His right arm was wrapped in a thick iron chain, with large rings pressing against smaller ones, and the steel cones on the chain were pointing outward, shining brightly in the sunlight, sharp and intimidating.

  Huang Lianke counted the steel awls, exactly seven of them. He couldnt help but sneer: "Seven-Star Life-Taking Rope?" The short-bearded man chuckled and raised his thumb, saying: "Qin Tianwang has a good eye for things, he still recognizes this useless guy?"

  "Huang Lianke sneered, The Seven-Star Soul-Stealing Rope is inescapable even for ghosts. I am He Shengyang, the famous detective from Jiangnan, how could I not recognize it? The short-bearded man walked over with a steady gait and smiled, Youre right, no matter what others say, to He, this chain is just something to eat with, like an ironworkers hammer or a carpenters ruler. Ha ha, speaking with Qin Bohuang, the "Sick Heaven King", is indeed straightforward and refreshing."

  Li Xue glanced at the yellow-faced guest and thought: "So hes Sick Heaven King Qin Bofu! With just one hand, he can flip over a horse, his strength is really great." Thinking that he had previously wanted to fight with him, he felt ashamed and angry in his heart: "It turns out he wasnt afraid of me, but rather didnt bother to deal with me!"

  Qin Bohu said: "He Songyang, you are a government official, and what youre doing here is also government business, right?" He Songyang smiled and said: "King Qins eyes are like torches, I admire him!" Qin Bohu said: "So to speak, youve come for this little kid?" He Songyang smiled and said: "The country has its laws, this child has committed a crime, so He Mou can only do his duty."

  Qin Bohu sneered, "What country has laws? Im afraid its just the family rules of that kneeling general! Hmph, to make a big fuss over a little kid, arent you ashamed?" He Shuangyang smiled and said, "Lord Xia is a powerful person, we are just constables, without the support of the nobles, how can we do our job? Ha! Qin Tianwang is also a reasonable person, he should know that when in public office, nothing goes as one wishes." He spoke with a bitter tone, but his feet kept getting closer step by step.

  Qin Bohu kept staring at the iron chain on his arm, suddenly clearing his throat and saying: "He Xiangyang, if you take another step, dont blame Qin for turning against you!" He Xiangyangs footsteps paused, and he laughed loudly: "In those years, Qin Tianwang shook the Jianghu, and the Jianghu scoundrels were frightened by the wind. Its just a pity that these years have passed, and I dont know whether your martial arts skills are higher or lower now?"

  Qin Bohu smiled slightly and said, "So you want to take revenge on someone?" He Shuangyang laughed and said, "How dare I? Qin Tianwang is well-versed in reason and principle. As the saying goes, a life for a life, a debt repaid, this little brat crippled Xia Gongzis leg, he must be held accountable." Qin Bohu said, "Good, so you also want to cripple this little brats leg?" Liang Xiao was startled, thinking of Zhu Xiangs pitiful cries when his foot was broken, and felt a chill run down his legs.

  He Shengyang smiled and said, "Dont worry, Qin Tianwang, cutting off his leg is not necessary, but he will have to make a trip to the yamen." Qin Bofu sneered and said, "What yamen? The yamen in Luozhou is just a private tool for Xia Guis family. How could I push someone into a fire pit? That little brat surnamed Xia bullies men and women, his evil name spreads far and wide. Even if this kid doesnt take action, when I arrive in Luozhou, I wont let him off easily. Cutting off one of his legs is already being lenient, if it were me, the one cut off would be his neck!"

  He Shengyang waved his hand and said, "Qin Tianwangs words are not suitable. As the saying goes, heaven has its way, and the country has its law. If everyone draws their sword in anger, what kind of world would this be?" Qin Bos eyebrows stood on end, and he shouted, "When treacherous officials hold power, the law is not enforced. If no one draws their sword, thats when heaven has no way, and the country has no law, suffering the common people." He Shengyang smiled and said, "Thats not right. I, He, have been a constable for twenty years, and Ive seen many officials rise and fall. The law is different, and as long as the Song Dynasty exists for one day, it cannot be abolished or changed. If Xia Gongzi lets his son get away with murder today, whos to say he wont be overthrown tomorrow? When that time comes, we can punish him according to the law, and it wont be too late."

  Qin Bofu sneered, "Good fellow, when others are in power, you serve as a jackal; when they fall, you come to kick them while theyre down. Hmph, we dont share the same path, so lets not collaborate!" His eyes suddenly widened, and he sternly shouted, "He Xiangyang, after saying all this nonsense, are you trying to hold back Qin here, so that the green-robed slave can go fetch reinforcements?"

  He Xiangyang was suddenly enlightened by his words, and his facial muscles twitched as he burst out laughing: "Qin Tianwang misunderstood, He Mou just wanted to debate with you about national law and private righteousness!" Qin Boshi sighed and shook his head: "He Xiangyang, in terms of insight, you are also a figure, but unfortunately, you have become the officialdoms running dog." He Xiangyang smiled: "Not so, not so, He Mou is not the officialdoms running dog, but rather the national laws running dog. Cutting off peoples hands and feet on the street is against the law, since it violates the law, how can He Mou turn a blind eye and let him go?"

  Qin Bohu said calmly, "He Xiangyang, youve captured many evil-doers. I, Qin, respect you three parts, so Ill say a few more words to you. Hmph! Now that your reinforcements have arrived, I should leave too." He Xiangyangs expression changed as he concentrated and listened carefully. Indeed, there were faint hoofbeats. As an expert in listening and tracking sounds, this time he was caught off guard, and his heart skipped a beat. He hastily turned his thoughts around, trying to come up with a way to stop the powerful enemy.

  Qin Bohu turned his head and said to Liang Xiao, "Little guy, lets go." Liang Xiao pouted, very unwilling, but with a great enemy in front of him, he had no choice but to rely on Qin Bohu. He picked up the dog and followed behind him. He Shuangyang couldnt think of anything else, so he laughed loudly and said, "Qin Tianwang, please stay!" The iron chain suddenly shot out, curved like a snake, sweeping towards Qin Bohu.

  Qin Bohus face was as calm as water, staring at the end of the iron chain, his body standing firm like a rock. He Shuangyangs chain technique changed in many ways, seemingly sweeping towards Qin Bohu, but actually leaving behind a hidden move. If Qin Bohu raised his hand to block it, the Seven Star Chain would inevitably sweep towards Liang Xiao, taking advantage of Qin Bohus distraction to entangle him. Even if he couldnt trap him, he could delay for a while, as long as the main force arrived, no matter how heroic Qin Bohu was, he couldnt defeat thousands of soldiers and horses.

  Qin Bofu didnt move, and all the subsequent invitations were useless. He Xiangyang gritted his teeth, and the iron chain rolled out smoothly, only to hear a "rattling" sound, which tightly wrapped Qin Bofu to death. He Xiangyang was overjoyed, and even if Qin Bofu didnt dodge or parry, he would have been subdued. This iron chain had captured countless powerful thieves and bandits, and the seven sharp cones on it would pierce the flesh as soon as they came into contact with the body. The more the culprit struggled, the faster they would die. There was a saying in the Jianghu: "The Seven-Star Life-Taking Chain, even ghosts cant escape." This was not an empty threat, but a well-deserved reputation.

  He Xiangyang struck with one blow, laughing and saying: "The Heavenly King is so yielding, He Mou really cant bear it." Suddenly seeing Liang Xiao waving his sword to pounce over, he laughed loudly and kicked out with one foot, striking Liang Xiaos wrist. Liang Xiao cried out in pain, his long sword falling to the ground. He Xiangyang had seen Qin Baofu pull a group of horses with force, so he didnt dare be careless. With his feet dealing with Liang Xiao, at the same time his hands exerted force, thinking that once the seven steel awls entered the flesh, even if you were the Heavenly Kings father, you wouldnt be able to escape.

  Unexpectedly, Qin Bo Fu still didnt move. He Xiangyang felt something was off and stared intently, only to see that the steel awl not only failed to pierce his opponents body but also slowly bent, and he couldnt help but exclaim: "What a hard strike!" At this moment, the sound of horseshoes grew louder, and reinforcements arrived. For some reason, He Xiangyangs heart became even more bewildered. As a catcher, he had experienced countless storms, but he had never encountered such a strong enemy before. In his anxiety, he suddenly shouted and burst out with all his might, his face red and his ears flushed.

  Li Xianger heard the loud sound of horseshoes and saw the distant sky filled with smoke and dust, her heart panicked and she turned to run. But after running two steps, she suddenly stopped, looked back at Qin Bos symbol, and thought: "This old devil saved me before, now he is being tied up by others, how can I escape alone? My mother always said that if someone helps you with a drop of water, you must repay them with a gushing spring. Although I couldnt help him, I also couldnt abandon him in the face of danger." Thinking of this, she steeled herself, picked up her long sword and jumped up to slash at the iron chain.

  He Shuangyang saw clearly, without waiting for him to chop down, he let out a loud shout, and the iron chain shook violently. Only the sound of metal clashing could be heard. Liang Xiao couldnt withstand the great force on the chain, his arm felt numb, and the long sword almost fell from his hand again.

  He Shuangyang used all his strength to shake off the long sword this time, and suddenly felt a tight grip on his hand, as if he was being pulled by the opponent. He hastily planted his feet firmly on the ground, gritted his teeth, and puffed out his chest like a bellows.

  If Liang Xiao had swung his sword at that moment, he would have easily cut off the chain. But having been tricked once, he learned from it and refused to move forward again. He retreated two steps back, holding his sword horizontally behind Qin Bos side, facing the approaching cavalry. The sound of horseshoes was deafening, Liang Xiao felt sweat dripping from his palms.

  Qin Bohu saw him sacrificing himself to protect others, and his eyes slightly revealed approval. Suddenly he shouted: "Little guy! Take a look, how far are the people and horses from here?" He was still bound by iron chains, but could speak loudly, both Liang Xiao and He Xiangyang were shocked in their hearts. Liang Xiao estimated and said loudly: "There is still a hundred steps."

  "Alright, call me again in ten steps. Hmph, Ill first turn this seven-star lasso into a no-star lasso!" Liang Xiao heard his tone was calm and composed, and he unknowingly calmed down a lot. He looked at He Shuangyangs face, which had turned purple, as if he was pulling a rope, his entire body hanging on the lasso. Qin Bo Fus feet were firmly planted, not moving an inch, while the steel claws on the lasso slowly bent downwards, gradually becoming even with the iron chain. Liang Xiao stared in amazement: "The steel claws cant pierce through, is this old devils body made of iron?"

  Righteous indignation, the people and horses in front are getting closer, two officers competing for merit, rushing to the forefront of the troops, their ferocious eyes visible. Liang Xiao looked more and more frightened, and for a moment couldnt care about anything else, shouting loudly: "Ten steps away!"

  Qin Bohous thick eyebrows spread apart as he smiled, saying: "The Seven-Star Life-Taking Lasso is something even ghosts cant escape. The lasso lives up to its name, not just a mere reputation!" In an instant, it seemed like Liang Xiao saw an illusion in his eyes - Qin Bohous robes puffed out and his body seemed to swell to twice its size. With two "clanging" sounds, the hundred-refined steel chain snapped into three pieces. He Shuangyangs strength was wasted, he fell backwards, grasping at half a broken chain, unable to get up again.

  Qin Bohu shook his body, and the two broken iron chains were grasped in his hands. He turned around and shouted loudly: "Go!" The two soft iron chains flew out of his hands, straightening in mid-air with a "whooshing" sound, like long spears piercing through the necks of the two horses. The momentum didnt stop, and the two military officers on the horses were also pierced through. Blood splattered everywhere, and the neighing of the horses and the cries of the men were almost simultaneous. All the Han soldiers were shocked and frightened, shouting in unison, and hastily reined in their horses to retreat.

  Qin Bofu killed two generals, retreated a few steps, and with his right arm, he picked up the broken trunk of a large chestnut tree. As the officers and soldiers rushed over again, he stood on his head, let out a loud shout, and swept the tree trunk, which was about 6-7 meters long and as thick as a mans arm, horizontally. The horses in the front row fell to the ground with a loud neigh. Qin Bofu retreated several meters, threw the big tree forward, and knocked down several pursuing cavalrymen. He turned around, picked up Liang Xiao, ran to the side of the road in a few steps, let out a long whistle, and took off like a flying bird, disappearing over a hill. The officers and soldiers were stunned by his divine power and forgot to chase him.

  Qin Bohu walked over several hills and finally stopped, putting down Liang Xiao. He stroked his beard and smiled: "Little guy, I asked you, just now when I was competing with He Xiangyang, why didnt you take the opportunity to escape?" Liang Xiao pouted and hummed: "What are you talking about? No matter what, I couldnt not be loyal."

  Qin Bohu looked at his young face, tender and naive, but when he spoke, he tried his best to imitate the tone of an adult. He couldnt help but laugh and said: "You little brat, talking big, ha! Youre so young, what do you know about loyalty? I think being silly is just about right for you." Although he was teasing with his words, in his heart, he felt that he hadnt saved the wrong person, feeling relieved and happy, laughing loudly. Liang Xiaosheng had always been unable to bear being looked down upon, hearing this, he became angry and said: "Being silly is still better than you being a dead bore!"

  Qin Bofus laughter suddenly stopped, and he angrily said: "Little ghost..." Liang Xiao stood up straight and said: "Old ghost." Qin Bofus face sank, saying: "You this stinky little ghost..." Before he could finish speaking, Liang Xiao said: "You this sick old ghost..." Qin Bofu glared at him, scolding: "You this stinky little ghost, how come youre so sharp-tongued and unwilling to admit defeat?" Liang Xiao sneered: "You this sick old ghost, just one look and its clear you wont live past tomorrow. Whats the big deal if I scold you a bit?" Qin Bofu was struck by his unintentional mention of the most taboo topic in his life, his face sank, and he sternly said: "Stinky little ghost, try cursing me again!"

  Liang Xiao saw his expression turn fierce, and he slightly trembled with fear. He pouted and said, "You cant win an argument, so you resort to tantrums! Humph, I wont talk to you anymore!" Turning around, he said, "Idiot, lets go!" Qin Bo Fu was furious, grabbing his arm and spinning him back around. In a stern voice, he said, "You little brat, how dare you call me an idiot?" Liang Xiao was caught off guard by the grab and twist, and he felt pain that almost brought tears to his eyes. He shouted, "Old man, I called someone else an idiot, not you... Ahh!"

  Qin Bo Fu was taken aback, and suddenly heard the sound of a dog barking. He looked down to see that the little black dog, seeing its master being bullied, had its fur standing on end as it fiercely barked at Qin Bo Fu. Qin Bo Fus face burned with shame, and he secretly felt embarrassed, releasing Liang Xiao. However, he was concerned about his reputation, and although he knew he had misunderstood the other party, he was unwilling to apologize to this child. Instead, he sat down calmly and said indifferently, "Is this dog called Bai Chi Er? Hmm, thats a terrible name."

  Liang Xiao angrily said: "Who says its not good, its whiter than snow after a wash!" Qin Bo Fu couldnt help but laugh and say: "So the name white idiot isnt saying that the dog is stupid, but rather that its white? Haha, interesting! I think this dog looks dull and grey, it should be called grey idiot or black idiot instead!" Liang Xiao said: "Dogs grow fur, people wear clothes. If you wear a purple robe, would you be called purple idiot?"

  Qin Bohus face turned red with rage, and he slapped his thigh, jumping up from the ground. "You little scoundrel, youre at it again, cursing people in a roundabout way!" Liang Xiao knew he was going to be hit, so he quickly hugged his head and curled up into a ball on the spot, making it hard for Qin Bohu to grab him.

  Qin Bohu saw this and suddenly came to his senses: "This little brat may be mischievous, but hes still just a child. What kind of person am I, Qin Bohu, that I would stoop to the level of a mere youngster?" So he suppressed his anger and waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, you little scamp. The matter is settled, lets part ways and go our separate ways!"

  He turned around and took two steps, but then suddenly turned back, his thick eyebrows furrowed, his expression stern. Liang Xiao thought he had changed his mind again and was going to attack him, so he hastily put up a defensive posture.

  But Qin Bohu didnt even look at him, instead gazing off into the distance with a cold smile: "These good-for-nothing soldiers, when fighting against the Yuan army, theyre all just a bunch of useless trash. But when it comes to dealing with a mere child, theyre suddenly so fearless and daring."

  Liang Xiao found this strange, and followed Qin Bohus gaze to see seven or eight officers and soldiers rushing towards them from over the mountain ridge, their knives and guns at the ready.

  Qin Bofu let out a cold laugh, and with a glance at the large five-foot-square bluestone beside him, he reached out and grasped it. The stone crumbled like rotten wood, and in an instant, he had torn off a chunk. Qin Bofu shouted loudly, and the stone flew off like a shooting star, hitting a general right in the chest with a loud "thud". The copper mirror on his chest shattered into pieces, and the mans feet left the ground as he flew out more than six feet, spewing blood from his mouth. It was clear that he wouldnt survive.

  Qin Bohou stretched out his hand and picked up another piece of broken stone. The government soldiers stared with wide eyes, their legs trembling with fear. Suddenly someone shouted and took off running, the crowd of soldiers suddenly came to their senses, not even bothering about the officers on the ground, their feet kicking up dust as they dragged their swords and guns, disappearing in an instant without a trace.

  Qin Bohu startled everyone and retreated, feeling pleased in his heart. He couldnt help but burst out laughing loudly, but when he glanced at Liang Xiao, his smile immediately disappeared. He thought to himself: "Nowadays, officials and soldiers are everywhere, this little guy is running around recklessly, no different from a sheep entering a tigers den, its hard for him to survive. I have important matters to attend to, and this little devil speaks very annoyingly, bringing him along the way, I dont know if its suitable or not?" Just as he was feeling troubled, he suddenly saw Liang Xiao pick up the dog and want to leave, so he immediately sank his face and shouted: "Come back!" He reached out and grabbed Liang Xiao in his hand. Liang Xiao was both shocked and angry, punching and kicking, but Qin Bohus hands were like iron pliers, no matter how hard he struggled, it was difficult for him to escape.

  Qin Bohu strode forward with large strides, his feet moving swiftly and surely as he traversed mountains and ridges with ease. Liang Xiao shouted and cursed, but Qin Bohu simply ignored him, pretending not to hear. After a while, Liang Xiaos voice grew hoarse from shouting, and he finally fell silent.

  The two men traveled for over a hundred miles, the sun sinking in the west as the sky gradually darkened. They didnt know where they were, but saw that the surrounding area was lush with vegetation, and occasionally heard the gentle gurgling of streams.

  As they continued on their journey, the eastern sky brightened, and a full moon rose high into the air, its light shining brightly. Liang Xiao gazed at the moon, and for some reason, thought of his mothers face. He then remembered his deceased father, and recalled the warm and sweet days of the past. His eyes grew moist, and his heart felt hot, and if no one had been around, he would have burst into tears.

  At this moment, Qin Bo Fus body shape paused, and he heavily threw him to the ground. Liang Xiao was feeling sad about past events, but with this throw, his mood became very bad, and he angrily said: "Sick old man, are you a stupid cow? You used so much strength!" Qin Bo Fu felt extremely angry, and loudly said: "Disaster for a thousand years, you little ghost cant even be thrown to death?" Liang Xiao was furious, jumped up and just about to retort, when he suddenly heard a wolf howl from afar, long and sharp. Liang Xiao couldnt help but shiver, thinking back to the time when he was wandering during the day, he had been chased by a pack of wild wolves in the wilderness, and only escaped by climbing up a tree. Now, hearing the wolf howls one after another, with the surrounding trees casting eerie shadows, he became afraid, shrinking his head, and moved closer to Qin Bo Fu.

  Qin Bofu saw him showing a timid attitude, and couldnt help but laugh: "After all, hes just a child." This frantic run of his was quite exhausting, and at this moment, turbid air rose up, and he couldnt help but start coughing.

  Li Xue gave him a glance, thinking to himself: "This old man is as strong as an ox, how can he still be so weak?" He looked up and saw Qin Bo Fu staring intently at a stone wall on the left. The moonlight shone on the wall, revealing that it was carved with some text. After a while, Qin Bo Fu muttered to himself: "Peoples hearts are changeable, how can we distinguish between good and evil? Affairs of the world are complicated, always revolving around gains and losses." This couplet was engraved on the stone wall, although the language was rough, it somewhat expressed the coldness and warmth of human hearts, as well as the difficulties of the world. Qin Bo Fus heart was moved, and he stared blankly for a moment.

  Liang Xiao sat for a while, before finally calming his mind and realizing where he was. He found himself in a low valley between two mountains. In the valley, there was a huge stone slab about ten zhang (a unit of length) in diameter, smooth and flat, shining brightly under the moonlight as if it were coated with mercury. On its surface, there were nineteen straight marks carved by knives and axes, forming a chessboard. On both sides of the chessboard, there were many rounded stones, convex on top and flat at the bottom, their colors indistinguishable, but judging from their size, each one was over half a foot in diameter and weighed at least twenty or thirty kilograms!

  Liang Xiao was stunned. Qin Bo Fu, however, walked to a spot where the moonlight shone brightly and sat down cross-legged, beckoning him with his hand: "Little guy, come here." Liang Xiao grunted and stood still. Qin Bo Fu smiled slightly and said: "I was wrong to scold you earlier." Liang Xiao didnt expect him to admit defeat so readily and thought to himself: "Whats gotten into this old man? He must be plotting something; I need to be careful." Having wandered for a long time, he had grown extremely cautious around ordinary people. But after all, he was still young and hot-blooded, and Qin Bo Fus twice-saving him had made him feel a sense of dependence in his lonely struggles. Although he didnt show it on the surface, deep down, he felt a strong affection for Qin Bo Fu. As long as Qin Bo Fu spoke kindly and gently, Liang Xiao would definitely let go of all his anger and be obedient to him. At this moment, hearing Qin Bo Fus gentle tone, although he was still suspicious in his heart, his neck had already softened, and with a lowered head, he walked over to Qin Bo Fus side.

  Qin Bohu patted him on the head and said with a smile, "Sit down." Liang Xiao grunted and sat down. Qin Bohu looked up at the moonlight and sighed, "This bright moon is in the sky, everything is white, it saves us the trouble of burning firewood!" Liang Xiao couldnt help but ask, "Old man... um, what are you doing here?" Qin Bohu smiled, "Playing chess with someone." Liang Xiao turned his head to look around and said in surprise, "Why dont I see anyone else?" Qin Bohu said, "I made an appointment for the third watch, that person hasnt arrived yet." Liang Xiao responded with a sound and didnt ask again.

  Qin Bohu gazed at Liang Xiaos small face and thought to himself, "The words on the stone wall are indeed true: Human hearts are changeable, how can one distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong? This child is a bit mischievous, but hes still young, his temperament hasnt formed yet. If he can be properly guided, its not impossible for him to change from bad to good, or from being round to becoming square. As the saying goes, Eliminate evil and preserve goodness, it wouldnt be a bad deed at all." He thought this with a slight smile, and had the intention of taking Liang Xiao as his disciple. Just as he was about to ask Liang Xiao about his background, he suddenly realized that time was running out. He thought to himself, "If I dont make it through tonight, Ill become useless, and wont even be able to protect myself, let alone others? Hmm, after tonight, theres still time to ask." And so, he calmed his mind and closed his eyes to meditate.

  Liang Xiao saw Qin Bo Fu not speaking for a long time, and couldnt help but feel suffocated. He looked at Qin Bo Fu again, who was concentrating his energy and breathing lightly, with a calm chest and almost imperceptible movements. Liang Xiao thought to himself: "Mom said that the better ones internal skills are, the more refined and longer their breath will be. This old devils breath is almost gone, isnt he incredibly formidable?" He recalled how Qin Bo Fu had just shown off his powers, and felt envious in his heart: "When can I become as powerful as him? Compared to that dead guy, who knows whos more powerful?" After thinking about it, Liang Xiao still felt that Xiang Qian Jue was even more powerful. Feeling greatly disappointed, he picked up a rock and used the ground as Xiang Qian Jue, pounding it fiercely with "thud thud thud".

  Suddenly, a long laugh came from behind the mountain ridge, echoing through the mountains and forests like a great bronze bell. Liang Xiao dropped the stone and looked up to see a strange figure emerging from the dark recesses of the mountain. The man was unusually tall and sturdy, but what shocked Liang Xiao most was that he had two heads: one head sat upright on his neck, while the other leaned crookedly on his shoulder.

  The monster laughed loudly and continuously, leaning on a wooden stick, taking big strides, coming extremely fast. Liang Xiao stared with his whole body stiffened, suddenly a gust of wind came, and his body involuntarily shook violently.

  The monster stopped at the dark shadow on the east side, where the moonlight did not reach. It was pitch black and its face could not be seen clearly. All that could be heard was its laughter again, shaking its head, and vaguely seeing its brain shining with no hair. Suddenly, Qin Bo Yu coughed a few times and said in a soft voice: "Master Buddha has come from afar, and Im sorry for not welcoming you properly, please forgive me." Liang Xiao turned his head to look, Qin Bo Yu opened his eyes wide, speaking politely with his mouth, but his pair of thin eyes stared at the monster, with extremely sharp light. Liang Xiao was curious in his heart: "Isnt the old man afraid? He said hes waiting for someone, how did he end up waiting for a two-headed monster?"

  The two-headed monster smiled and said, "Alright, alright, you dont have to pretend to be polite." Qin Boshi said, "Okay, please sit down, senior." The two heads nodded in unison, and the head on his shoulder suddenly fell to the ground with a thud. This was extremely eerie, and Liang Xiao let out a startled cry, turning to run away. At this moment, a childish voice whispered in her ear, "Master, Im hungry!" The monster grunted, its tone unfriendly: "Didnt you just eat? Be good, kid, dont make trouble, well go beg for food later." The childs voice murmured an "uh-huh" and didnt say anything else.

  Liang Xiao couldnt help but be curious, and turned his head to take a peek. This time, with the moonlight, he finally got a clear look. It turned out that what had fallen wasnt a human head, but a small monk who looked like a ball of flesh, five or six years old, with a round head and brain, occasionally sucking on his fingers, staring at Liang Xiao with big, round eyes. Liang Xiao suddenly realized that the newcomer was a tall monk, and the little monk was sitting on the big monks shoulder, so when he glanced over, it seemed like there was an extra human head. He had been startled for no reason, and it was really laughable.

  Qin Bohu saw Liang Xiaos strange behavior and couldnt help but glance at him, frowning: "Little ghost, what are you doing?" Liang Xiaos ears burned with shame and he didnt dare to respond. Qin Bohu also had no time to bother with him, looking at the big monk sitting upright, said: "Before his death, my master mentioned you many times." The monk smiled: "Many times? Ha ha, Im sure not a single good word was spoken. Hmm, you mention your master, could it be that Xuantian Zun has already passed away?"

  Qin Bo Fu sighed, "Thats right, before Master left, he entrusted me to have another gamble with the Grandmaster. Otherwise, he would not be at peace even in the underworld." The monk nodded and said, "No wonder you tried every means to invite me here. Haha, so thats it." Qin Bo Fu was still grieving for his masters death, but hearing the monks tone of mockery, he became annoyed and loudly said, "Its hard to disobey a teachers orders, please dont try to shirk it, Grandmaster."

  The monk chuckled and said, "Its just a comparison, no big deal." Qin Bo Yu sighed and said, "Master, you speak quickly, but do you... have that box with you?" The monk asked, "What box?" Qin Bo Yu furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Of course, the Pure Yang Iron Box." The monk laughed and said, "So it turns out that on the surface, youre speaking for Master, but deep down, youre working hard for that iron box?"

  Qin Bohu shook his head and said, "This is also the will of our former master, please forgive me, Master." The monk smiled and said, "Die without regret." He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a four-inch square box. Under the moonlight, it was dark and shiny. The monk said, "Is this what youre looking for?" Qin Bohu stared at the box, his eyes gleaming with intensity, but he remained silent. The monk continued, "I recall that year when Xuan Tian Zun fought me for this object, and we made a bet here. The winner would get this iron box, and the loser would give up their martial arts skills. Ha! It seems like today you want to make another bet?" Qin Bohu nodded and said, "Thats right, I must follow our masters will. However, if I lose, I will naturally give up my martial arts skills. Master, your moral character is profound, so giving up martial arts skills isnt necessary. Just hand over the iron box to me first, then..." He reached behind his back and pulled out a package, revealing a spirit tablet with a line of cursive script written on it.

  Qin Bohu slapped the spirit tablet and said loudly, "This is the memorial tablet of our former master. As a junior apprentice who luckily won, I request that you kowtow three times in front of this tablet to let the soul of our former master rest in peace under the nine springs."

  The monk shook his head and smiled, "You think you can defeat me with this arrangement?" Qin Bofu sighed, "No, I was orphaned at a young age, but my master took me in, otherwise I would have starved to death on the streets. If I dont let him win, wouldnt that be worse than treating him like a pig or dog?" The monk fell silent for a moment, then picked up the iron box and shook it, smiling, "To be honest with you, this iron box is fake." Qin Bofu was shocked, "What? Fake?" The monk placed the iron box on the stone slab and punched it, shattering it into pieces. He picked up the fragments and handed them to Qin Bofu, smiling, "You dont believe me, take a look for yourself."

  Qin Bohu took the fragment, stared blankly at it, as if in a dream. The monk laughed and said: "Do you believe it? According to legend, the pure yang iron box was left by Lü Dongbin, containing secret scriptures and fire talismans that can cure any illness, transform ones body, and possess divine skills and magical techniques. Whoever obtains it will be able to dominate the world. Thats why for hundreds of years, people have flocked to it like a swarm of birds, but unfortunately, no one has been able to open it. Ha! Ive heard that the iron box cant be melted by fierce fire or harmed by axes and saws, so how could it withstand a single punch from this monk?"

  Qin Bohou clenched his fists, twisting the iron block into a grotesque shape. In a low voice, he asked, "You and Shixiong gambled again, what for?" The monk smiled, "Naturally, its for this fake iron box! Although Xuantian尊 has high martial arts skills, he is extremely greedy. Regardless of whether the box is real or fake, as soon as I mention it, he becomes greatly tempted and willingly falls into my trap, agreeing to gamble with me."

  Qin Bohou looked at him and said casually, not thinking it was shameful, but rather glorious. He couldnt help but clench his fists and strike the ground, angrily saying: "A monk shouldnt speak deceitful words. Master, youre doing this, arent you afraid of making peoples teeth cold?" The monk smiled and said: "Let you scold me. I do my own thing, I dont care how others look at me. Besides, the one who started this wasnt a monk either. Lü Dongbin that demon, doesnt understand the great way, doesnt know the origin, only knows how to pretend to be a god and deceive people. I use his demonic skills as bait, deceiving Xuanyuan Tianzun, its also called a stubborn stone needs to be smashed with an iron hammer, evil people will be ground by other evil people..."

  Qin Bohous face turned purple with rage, and he was about to retort when a sudden flash of insight struck him: "Ah, this monk is unusually cunning, he deceived my master in the past. Now hes setting another trap for me, making me agitated." As soon as he thought of this, his anger subsided, and he spoke calmly: "Please, Master." He picked up a stone chess piece from beside him.

  The monk smiled and said, "Slow down, who goes first?" Qin Bo Yu was taken aback and said, "This... please let the master decide." The monk smiled and said, "Lets use the old method!" Qin Bo Yu asked, "What method?" The monk picked up a 10-jin heavy chess piece and smiled, "This convex surface is bright and shiny, just like a monks bald head; the flat side is cold and hard, just like Xu Tianzuns face." Qin Bo Yu suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Master is a Buddhist, please keep some courtesy in your words."

  The monk burst out laughing and threw the chess piece, which spun around like a top after landing on its edge. The monk laughed and said: "When the chess piece stops spinning, the convex side will be my first move, and the flat side will be yours."

  Qin Bohu stared at the constantly rotating stone chess piece, thinking that todays gamble was crucial, and who would make the first move was very important. Just as the chess pieces rotation slowed down, Liang Xiao saw it clearly and exclaimed, "Oh no!" Qin Bohus expression changed, and he slapped his palm out, exerting a great force that blew against the chess piece, causing it to suddenly accelerate and rotate several more times. The monk laughed and said, "Good guy, youre really something!" He raised his large sleeve and also slapped out a palm, blowing against the chess piece, which immediately reversed its rotation. Qin Bohu refused to give up and punched out again. For a time, the two of them fought over who would make the first move, exchanging blows and causing the chess piece to rotate wildly, sometimes forward and sometimes backward, like a round stone ball spinning under the bright moonlight, creating a dazzling display.

  The little monk with a round head and brain laughed out loud, suddenly jumped onto the bluestone chessboard, and exclaimed: "Fun! Fun!" He rushed towards the spinning chess piece, stretched out his hand to touch it. The two opponents were shocked at the same time and gave up their hands. The chess piece lost its momentum and was held by the little monk, but it stopped rotating. The little monk was very surprised and shouted: "Hey, its not turning anymore!" He threw it away, and the chess piece fell down with its flat side facing upwards. The big monk shouted: "Good boy, come down quickly!" The little monk heard the voice, ran down from the stone board, and shouted again: "Master, Im hungry."

  That monk tapped his shaven head and scolded, "You only know how to eat? Why didnt you turn the convex side up earlier? Youre really eating inside and peeling outside! Hmph! Alright, Qin old brother, Ill let your first move pass." Qin Bo heard him disregard their age difference and call himself "old brother", and was extremely shocked. He also heard him acknowledge his first move, and a smile appeared between his eyebrows. But then the monk said, "Speaking of which, earlier when we exchanged moves with the Xuantian尊, no matter if its a child or a woman on the chessboard, I absolutely wont be tied up."

  Qin Bohu also knew that his masters behavior in his early years was quite shameful, and he secretly felt ashamed. He picked up a black stone from the front of his body and threw it at the chessboard. When it landed, it made a deep, metallic sound, causing Liang Xiaos ears to ring.

  The monk chuckled and swung his sleeve, another chess piece flew out quickly and landed beside the black chess piece. Liang Xiao had been deceived before and covered his ears, but he didnt hear any sound. He looked closely and saw that the chess piece was deeply embedded in the stone board, as if it were cast on it.

  Qin Bohus heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly realized that his opponent had not used his full strength earlier. He fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "Your extraordinary skills are truly breathtaking! If it werent for my late masters orders, I would have conceded defeat by now." He swung his sleeve and threw another piece, the sound still extremely crisp. Liang Xiao had forgotten to cover his ears this time, and the sound made him feel annoyed and frustrated. He thought to himself: "Why is it that the old mans moves make a sound, but the monks dont?" Just then, the monk threw another piece. Liang Xiao looked closely and saw that the piece did not move in a straight line like Qin Bohus, but instead rotated as it fell from above. By the time it landed on the board, its force had been completely dissipated, so there was no sound at all. This kind of effortless yet powerful move was indeed beyond Qin Bohus abilities.

  At this time, Qin Bo Fu held black and He Shang walked white, the two great masters of Xuan Su simultaneously made their moves, differing by a hairs breadth. Just like that, with soundless yet earth-shaking moves, they played out thirty or so rounds. Liang Xiao didnt understand chess principles, he watched for a while but felt hungry, suddenly remembering that since causing trouble and escaping, he hadnt eaten anything. He immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out a large greased paper package, inside was the roast chicken he had stolen during the day, at the time he was busy provoking Zhuos buttocks, temporarily wrapping it in greased paper and stuffing it into his chest.

  Liang Xiao tore off a piece of chicken, lowered his head and took two bites. Suddenly, he heard the sound of someone swallowing saliva beside him. He turned around to see Little Monk standing five or six steps away, sucking on his fingers, staring at him with round eyes rolling wildly, revealing a greedy expression.

  Liang Xiao looked at him with a plump and lovely face, feeling close to his heart, beckoning with a smile: "Little bald head, do you want to eat chicken? Come here!" The little monk hesitated for a moment, unable to bear the hunger, walked up, Liang Xiao tore off half of the fat chicken, handed it to him and said: "For you." The little monk was overjoyed, sat down side by side with Liang Xiao, without thanking him, holding it in his hands and gnawing. Qin Bo Fu glanced at him sideways, feeling greatly relieved: "The little devil is indeed mischievous, but hes generous and open-minded, just the kind of person Im looking for."

  The little monks hands and mouth worked together, biting and tearing, his movements extremely familiar and smooth. Before long, more than half of the roasted chicken was gone. Liang Xiao watched him eat quickly, and unconsciously felt a competitive spirit arise, also frantically gnawing away. However, he was far from matching the little monks speed, and before he had even eaten half, the little monk only had two chicken bones left in his hand. He still hadnt had enough, his tongue licking the remaining flavors off the chicken bones, while his round eyes stared intently at Liang Xiaos half of the plump chicken.

  Liang Xiao was curious in his heart: "Does this little monk know when to stop?" He hadnt decided whether to give him some of his food, but the chess game had already changed. The two men had been entangled for a long time, and the situation on the board was gradually becoming clear. The monks chess skills were vigorous, with the upper and lower pieces moving like a dragon and a tiger, forming an attacking position that trapped Qin Bos large dragon inside. Qin Bo encountered difficulties and fell into deep thought. The monk took the lead, smiling complacently: "Qin brother, do you still have any tricks up your sleeve? In my opinion, it would be better for you to admit defeat and give up. If you lose, how about giving this live person three loud knocks on the head..."

  Qin Bohou knew he was intentionally speaking to disturb his thoughts, and pretended not to hear. He lowered his eyebrows and sank into contemplation. Without waiting for the monk to finish, he picked up a large coin and tossed it onto the abacus, saying calmly: "The outcome is still undecided, Master. Its too early to make such a bold statement."

  The monk stared at the chessboard for a while, then picked up a piece and shook his head, saying: "What a wonderful move that resolves the double threat! What a divine move!" It turned out that there was a "divine move" in Go. In the Tang Dynasty, the great master Gu Shiwen was ordered to play against a Japanese prince who claimed to be the number one player in Japan. At first, Gu Shiwen was confident and didnt take it seriously, but the Japanese princes skills were not ordinary. After 32 moves, the Japanese prince had formed a double threat. He was proud of himself and looked at Gu Shiwen with his arms crossed, waiting to see how he would respond. But Gu Shiwen was a great master after all. In this critical moment, he remained calm and thought for a moment before making a light move that resolved the double threat and broke the Japanese princes momentum. The Japanese prince was stunned by this brilliant move and asked his eunuch attendant where Gu Shiwen ranked among the chess players of the time. The attendant, trying to save face, raised three fingers. The Japanese prince sighed: "The number one player in our country is not even comparable to the third-best player in your country." He lost interest and left. Little did he know that Gu Shiwen was already the best player of his time, and this move had turned the game around, shocking the world for eternity, hence the name "divine move". Qin Bofu understood the strategy behind it and made a move that opened up all four directions on the board, shattering the monks winning position.

  The monk sighed for a long time, then said: "Qin, your martial arts skills are only slightly better than Xuan Tians, but when it comes to chess, youve won by more than just one move." Qin Baofu calmly replied: "I dare not, I know my own shallow martial arts skills cant compare to Seniors Great Vajra Divine Power, so I can only focus on studying chess strategies diligently." The monk raised his thumb in approval and smiled: "Well done! Contend with wisdom, not strength, thats what the wise do." With that, he made a move.

  Qin Bofu now had the upper hand, and it was only a matter of how to win elegantly. After a moments deliberation, he raised his hand, and the black piece flew out swiftly. This move was a decisive blow, and once it landed, the white pieces dragon would be slaughtered, leaving no choice but to concede defeat. However, just as the black piece was in mid-air, the monk had already launched another piece, which collided with the black one, causing it to fall to the side and lose its position. As a result, not only did the white dragon emerge, but it also filled in a section of black pieces on the upper right corner. Qin Bofus face turned red with rage as he shouted, "What does this mean, Master?"

  The monks bald head shook back and forth as he laughed, saying: "Brother Qin is a wise man, who competes with wits not strength; I am a foolish monk, who doesnt know how to compete with wits, only knows how to compete with strength. Ha! Brother Qin has the ability, come try to knock against me!" Qin Bo Yu couldnt help but be speechless. Now that things have reached this point, the chessboard is in a desperate situation, either person can make one move and lock down the entire board, but victory or defeat are no longer about chess skills, but rather about who has superior martial arts. Qin Bo Yu had no choice but to grit his teeth and throw out a chess piece, the white chess piece immediately followed, the two pieces collided, stone chips flew everywhere, both pieces shattering into four or five pieces.

  That monk clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Not bad, this is the way to play chess!" Liang Xiaos heart was racing with excitement as he watched the two of them make their moves. Although he didnt understand chess, he could see that they had reached a critical point in the game. The two players were not only competing in wits but also using their internal energy to control the pieces and seize advantageous positions. For a time, the pieces flew wildly through the air, moving faster and faster. At first, they collided and shattered into fragments, but later on, when the black piece crashed into the white one, the white piece remained intact while the black piece disintegrated into tiny wisps of smoke.

  Liang Xiaowus martial arts skills may be low, but he can still see the strengths and weaknesses of others. He knew that Qin Boshi was no match for Kong Fuzi, and it would all end in defeat. He thought to himself: "I should think of a way to help him." As he glanced around, his eyes landed on a young monk, and a wicked idea suddenly occurred to him. He spotted a thorny branch nearby and quickly came up with a plan. With his left hand, he waved the roasted chicken in front of the young monks face, blocking his line of sight. Meanwhile, with his right hand, he secretly plucked several sharp thorns from the branch and embedded them into the chicken leg. He then tore off the chicken leg and handed it to the young monk with a smile: "Do you want more?"

  The little monks eyes lit up, and he hastily nodded, grabbed the chicken leg, and took a big bite. But after just one bite, he opened his mouth wide and started wailing. The big monk heard the crying and asked while still dealing with Qin Baofu, "Good boy, why are you crying?" The little monks mouth was mumbling, but he couldnt say a word. Seeing this, the big monk repeatedly called him over, but the little monk just opened his mouth to cry, crying so sorrowfully that he didnt care about anything else. He was still far away, and the big monk was caught up in a critical moment, unable to extricate himself, and could only sigh loudly.

  Liang Xiao saw the monks mind in great disorder, and secretly rejoiced. Suddenly, the big monk shouted loudly: "Its over, Ive lost!" He brushed his robe with one sleeve, stood up straight, and took a single step forward, arriving in front of the small monk. With the help of the moonlight, Liang Xiao vaguely saw that the big monk had a majestic physique, with white eyebrows and beard, clearly not young. At this moment, the situation suddenly changed, Qin Bos move was unstoppable, one piece fell onto the board, securing victory. He was both shocked and delighted, his mind relaxed, a surge of blood rushed to his chest, and he couldnt help but cough violently, his back hunched over like a shrimp.

  Liang Xiao saw him looking painful and secretly worried, rushed up to hold him and said: "Sick old ghost, whats wrong with you?" Qin Bo Fu raised his hand and waved it repeatedly, but couldnt say a word, as if he wanted to cough out his heart, lungs, liver, and gallbladder all at once. Liang Xiao also felt anxious, stretched out his small palm to pat his back, helping him relieve his breath. Suddenly, the old monk let out a cold laugh and slowly said: "Qin Bo Fu, the monk underestimated you, didnt see that you had such a trick? On the surface playing chess with the monk, but secretly hiding ambush troops."

  Qin Bofu was shocked, using all his strength to suppress the chaotic energy coursing through his body. He lifted his head and asked, "D...distinguished monk, what do you mean by these words?" The old monk spread out his large hands and coldly laughed, saying, "Take a look at this." Qin Bofu looked at the seven or eight sharp wooden thorns in the monks palm, which still had bloodstains on them. He felt even more perplexed and asked blankly, "What is this?" The old monk said, "These were pulled out of my disciples mouth. Hmph, a chicken leg growing thorns - what a wondrous thing to behold."

  Qin Bohu suddenly came to a realization, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at Liang Xiao. His eyes seemed to be spewing fire, and Liang Xiaos heart skipped a beat as he took two steps back. Qin Bohus hand shot up, and a loud slap landed on Liang Xiaos face. The palm was heavy with rage, and despite being restrained, it still packed a tremendous force. Liang Xiao stumbled backward, spinning around twice before crashing to the ground with a thud. He spat out two teeth, his left cheek swelling up like a blooming bun. Liang Xiao had been pampered by his mother since childhood and had never suffered such a brutal blow. He was stunned for a moment before letting out a wail: "You stinky old man, you hit me..." As soon as the words left his lips, tears began to flow down his face.

  "Damn it, old man! Im fighting with someone, what business is it of yours to interfere?" Liang Xiao shouted. "Fine, Ill mind my own business! Im leaving, whether you die or live has nothing to do with me!" He stormed off, carrying the dog. Qin Bo Fu slapped him on the back, and seeing Liang Xiaos swollen face, he felt he had used too much force, and his anger and shame surged together, causing him to cough up blood. Liang Xiao saw his appearance, hesitated for a moment, then hummed and ran off with the idiot child.

  The old monk originally thought that the child couldnt come up with such a vicious plan, and everything was under Qin Bos guidance. Watching the two arguing, he just treated it as a play, coldly observing from the side. It wasnt until Liang Xiao stormed off in anger that Qin Bo coughed up blood in his anxiety, and only then did he realize that the two had no collusion. He raised an eyebrow and said, "You really are ill?"

  Qin Bohus face was as pale as death, and he gasped: "A little... a slight illness!" The old monk stared at him with an unwavering gaze, smiling and saying: "Im afraid its not a minor illness. Its probably due to over-practicing the Jiu Ling Xuan Gong. So, youre looking for the pure yang iron box to cure your internal injuries?" Qin Bohu smiled bitterly: "Master, your eyes are like lightning. I was afraid of Senior Brothers ferocity, so I practiced the Han Yue Gong and wanted to take it a step further by practicing the Wu Liang Gong. But I ended up going crazy and my inner energy backfired. Even Evil Hua Tuo Wu couldnt do anything about it... Cough... He said... Cough..."

  The old monk laughed and said, "Didnt Old Mixed Ball say that if he didnt abandon his martial arts skills, he wouldnt be able to recover?" Qin Bo Yu was taken aback and said, "Senior is truly all-knowing, Mr. Wu indeed said the same thing." The old monk shook his head and said, "Without boundless inner energy, yet coming to practice boundless martial arts, its like embracing dry firewood and inviting lightning, if you dont harm yourself, that would be a wonder!"

  Qin Bofu listened to this, stunned for a moment, and bitterly smiled: "The master is right, I lost this fight." He raised his hand to strike his abdomen, planning to disperse the Qi Sea and render himself unable to use martial arts. Unexpectedly, a black wooden staff stretched out horizontally, hooking onto both of his arms, and Qin Bofus arm couldnt fall. The old monk laughed: "This time its a draw, I wont kowtow to Xuan Tian Zun, you dont need to render yourself unable to use martial arts either. Wait until the day you master Wuliang Gong, we can fight again." Qin Bofu heard this and was greatly stirred up, raising his eyebrows and shouting: "Good! Well fight again another day!"

  The old monk smiled and said, "In those years, Xuan Tian Zun relied on the Giant Spirit Mystical Technique to commit countless evils. I also had not escaped the Diamond Demon-subduing nature, so I used this Thousand Jin Chess to force him to abandon his martial arts. Who would have thought that he was narrow-minded and harbored resentment for forty years!" He glanced at Qin Bo Yu, "I heard that he was taken in by the Hua family, where he should have spent his later years in peace and quiet, and died a good death!" Qin Bo Yu nodded silently.

  The old monk laughed and said: "Xuān Tiān Zūn relied on his martial prowess to commit atrocities back then. Even if he didnt die by someone elses sword, Im afraid he would have been consumed by the backlash of Jù Líng Xuán Gōng and ended up with a fate of losing all his powers. So, its not necessarily a bad thing that your martial arts skills are gone. However, you and your master are completely different, completely different! Haha, good indeed, good indeed! A slow horse can give birth to a thousand-mile steed, and a wild chicken can hatch a phoenix!" He laughed loudly, stretched out his wooden staff, and lifted the little monk back onto his shoulder, striding away into the moonlight.

  Qin Bohu watched as the monk walked away, his mind relaxed, and he began to cough again, spitting out mouthfuls of warm, fresh blood. Thinking of Liang Xiaos resentful expression as he left, he felt a pang of guilt in his heart: "Hes just a child, how could I have used such a heavy hand? And who knows if that one slap was the one that hurt him?" He struggled to stand up straight, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly felt dizzy and disoriented. His heart racing with alarm, he thought: "This is terrible, how did I end up getting hurt so badly?" With no other choice, he sat down cross-legged and began to meditate to heal his wounds.

  Liango sprinted out for a while, his face burning with anger and tears streaming down from his left eye. He was in pain and furious, turning back to shout at the top of his lungs, cursing and swearing until he became so overcome with emotion that he began to cry again.

  After crying for a bit, he suddenly felt a soft tongue licking his face, wiping away his tears. He knew it was Bai Chier (the white idiot). Unable to help himself, he let out a snort of laughter and hugged the little dog, saying "Youre still the best, unfortunately youre just a dog. If only you could become human, that would be great."

  Thinking this, he picked up the little dogs front legs and made it stand on its hind legs, coaxing and pulling it to move forward. However, after walking for several dozen feet, Bai Chier couldnt support itself anymore and let out a series of high-pitched yips.

  Liango had no choice but to put it down, feeling bitter in his heart. He looked up at the sky, seeing that the moon was directly overhead, with the mountains below shrouded in a faint white mist. The mountain wind blew gently, carrying the sound of rustling leaves and distant shouts and neighs, like the cries of people and horses.

  Liang Xiao suddenly thought of the danger he had encountered during the day and couldnt help but shudder. He thought to himself, "That old fool is not only sick but also stupid, going against Old Master, hes bound to lose. Losing isnt a big deal, what Im afraid of is that hell spit out blood, be weak all over, and get beaten to death by Old Master with one punch." He touched his swollen cheek again and felt pleased, scolding, "What can he do? Deserves to die!" As he cursed, he had some inexplicable worries in his heart, muttering to himself, "Ill sneak back quietly this time, no one will suspect a thing. Lets go take a look and see if hes dead or not." He hesitated again and again, but finally snuck back, just as he was about to leave the chess pavilion, he suddenly heard someone talking on that side. Liang Xiao parted the grass and took a look, and couldnt help but be shocked.

  The big monk didnt know where to go, Qin Bo Fus face was pale and defeated, sitting cross-legged. In front of him stood a person, wearing a green robe and small hat, with a smile all over his face, it was He Xiangyang. Liang Xiao secretly called out in surprise, but heard He Xiangyang laugh and say: "Qin Tianwang, long time no see!"

  Qin Bohus heart was filled with bitterness, but he knew that at this moment, he couldnt show weakness. He suppressed his anger and coldly said, "A running dog is just a running dog, with a keen nose and quick paws." He Shuangyangs eyes gleamed like a sharp knife as he gazed at Qin Bohus face, chuckling to himself. "He Shuangyang is a detective, known for his sharp eyes and agile hands and feet. As for tracking, I do have some experience. In the past, I chased after Autumn Moonlight, a thief with exceptional lightness skills, who could travel hundreds of miles in a day without leaving any footprints. I pursued him from Jiangnan to Sai Bei, finally capturing him in Hetian... Another time, I caught Northern Miaos thief, Rong Jing Shan, who was notorious for his cunning and ruthlessness. He set up an elaborate trap, but after three months of cat-and-mouse chase across six states, he was eventually captured..." As he droned on about his past exploits, his eyes remained fixed intently on Qin Bohu. Qin Bohu listened to him being compared to those underworld scoundrels, and despite knowing that He Shuangyang was trying to provoke him, he couldnt help but feel a surge of anger. He coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of blood, which stained the hem of his robe with crimson, illuminated by the moonlight, making it a shocking sight.

  He Xiangyang looked at this situation, and was certain that Qin Bo Fu was seriously injured. His expression changed, and he burst out laughing: "Qin Tianwang is indeed not in good health, haha, it seems that Hes luck is not bad." Qin Bo Fus thick eyebrows sank, and he coldly said: "If you have the ability, then try to take me down!" He Xiangyang laughed and said: "Obedience is better than sacrifice." His hand made a clattering sound as he pulled out an iron chain from his waist. The Seven Star Chain was broken by Qin Bo Fus divine strength, and the eight-foot-long chain was now only six feet long.

  He Xiangyang grasped the iron chain and smiled, saying: "Qin Tianwang, you shielded the culprit in front of you and slaughtered officials and soldiers behind your back. Your crimes are extremely serious, and He has no choice but to do this." The iron chain shook in the wind and rushed straight at Qin Bos neck. Since the steel cone on the chain had been lost, he could only use the lock to grab the vital parts.

  Qin Bofu saw the iron chain rolling in, and was distressed by his lower body paralysis. He could only watch as it came, making a clever move to deflect it, hitting the end of the iron chain squarely. The iron chain made a "whooshing" sound as it swung open from his chest. He Shuangyang was shocked: "Could this guy be faking an injury..." and felt apprehensive, not daring to approach, instead swinging his index finger to attack from afar. The iron chain transformed into a green light, swirling around Qin Bofu in a majestic dance. Qin Bofu had no strength to resist, and could only use his hand techniques to deflect the iron chain. Despite this, He Shuangyang was unable to do anything to him even in his haste.

  After exchanging over a dozen moves, He Shuangyang saw through Qin Baofus empty bravado and his mind turned rapidly as he swung out with the iron chain. Before Qin Baofu could react, He Shuangyang suddenly lifted his foot and sent a stone chess piece flying towards him. Qin Baofu brushed aside the iron chain with his left hand, let out a deep roar, and swung out with his right fist, sending the chess piece flying back. This punch forced him to use internal energy, and he immediately felt a slight sweetness in his throat and a dull pain in his chest.

  He Xiangyang made a swift move, and another chess piece came flying in. Qin Bo Fu struggled to open it, but He Xiangyangs iron chain arrived quickly. Qin Bo Fu hastily raised his hand to block it, the iron chain swept past his arm, and Qin Bo Fu let out a pained cry as one of his arms went limp and hung down. He Xiangyang laughed and said, "What do you call this, Brother Qin?" Earlier he had addressed him as Heavenly King, but now that he was on top, he changed to calling him younger brother. Qin Bo Fus eyebrows stood on end, and he shouted, "Youre just a vulture, what right do you have to speak of bravery?" Vultures always follow fierce birds and beasts, scavenging for leftover flesh and bones to fill their bellies; He Xiangyang was taking advantage of others misfortune, just like them.

  He Shengyang remained silent, his foot lifted a stone, and before he could kick it out, he suddenly heard the wind rising from behind. He Shengyang turned around with one palm, striking a broken stone to fly away, and when he looked back, Liang Xiao burst out of the grass with a "swoosh" sound, shouting: "Smelly old ghost, look at this!" With both hands waving, two more stones were thrown at him. He Shengyang was not angry but delighted, brushing aside the stones, laughing: "Little brat, you came just in time, saving me from going to find you." Liang Xiao cursed: "Youre my grandson, Grandpa beats you until your pants are wet!" Picking up a stone, he threw it at He Shengyangs waist and buttocks.

  He Shuangyangs face turned dark, but he was scolded by a little kid and still got angry. He shouted loudly: "Little boy, are you itchy?" He abandoned Qin Bosu and rushed towards Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao cried out loud, turned around and drilled into the grass. He Shuangyang was stunned for a moment, and then Liang Xiao poked his head out of the grass again, laughing: "My son, dont dare to chase your grandfather? Ha! A cowardly little bastard like you is only suitable for drinking milk in your mothers arms!" If it were a strong enemy, He Shuangyang could still bear with it, but being scolded by this little kid was unprecedented. His face turned iron blue, and he rushed up again.

  Liang Xiao turned around and ran wildly, He Xunyang chased after him for two steps before suddenly realizing: "This is not good, this kid is luring me to chase him, he wants to let Qin Bohu catch his breath. If he recovers his strength, it wont be easy to deal with." Thinking of this, he decided to take care of one thing at a time, first capture Qin Bohu and then grab the kid later. Unexpectedly, just as he turned around, Liang Xiao started throwing stones again. He Xunyang had initially wanted to ignore him, but the stones were coming down like rain, and although they didnt hurt much when they hit his body, it was still humiliating in front of Qin Bohu, a great master. Adding to that, Liang Xiaos insults made He Xunyang furious, he shouted: "You little bastard, Ill beat you flat first!" A few steps forward, he swung his iron chain and struck at Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao quickly retreated, the iron chain hit the stone in front of him, sparks flew out, and the stone split into two halves. Qin Bohu was shocked, wanting to get up and help, but his lower limbs were numb and he couldnt stand up. He could only shout: "Little ghost, dont bother helping me, just escape on your own!"

  Liang Xiao rushed forward while shouting loudly: "Im helping you, you little scoundrel! A good man does things like a good man should. It was I who chopped the pigs buttocks, it has nothing to do with you!" Qin Bo saw him in such a precarious situation, yet still stubbornly refused to back down, and was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared with wide eyes, wishing he could grab Liang Xiao over and give him two loud slaps on the ears.

  Liang Xiao ran hastily and tripped over a chess piece, stumbling and falling. He Shuangyang rushed forward several steps, swinging his iron chain horizontally towards Liang Xiaos left leg. In the chaos, Liang Xiao raised his treasured sword and swung it backwards, clashing with the chain, producing a loud ringing sound. Liang Xiaos mouth was bleeding, and his long sword flew out of his hand. The chain also broke into two pieces after colliding with the sword blade, no longer able to bind Liang Xiao. He Shuangyang did not expect the sword to be so sharp and felt slightly surprised, but seeing Liang Xiao using both hands and feet to crawl forward, he couldnt help but burst out laughing loudly. He rushed forward two steps, his iron chain swooping down fiercely towards Liang Xiaos neck. Qin Bo Fu could only glare angrily and shout in vain, unable to do anything.

  Suddenly, a "ding" sound was heard, like the collision of metal and stone. The iron chain changed direction inexplicably and wrapped around He Shuangyangs waist like a giant python. He Shuangyang cried out in surprise, "How strange!" and hastily dodged to the side. Again, two "ding" sounds were heard, and the iron chain whizzed through the air, drawing a semicircle before wrapping itself around his neck. He Shuangyang was both shocked and enraged, but the iron chains movement was too swift and fierce, forcing him to retreat with his head bowed. Qin Bofu watched this scene unfold, and in his heart, he understood that there must be an expert hiding in ambush, using stones to strike the iron chain, forcing it to change direction. The iron chain rose and fell, twisting and turning like a living snake, as if beckoning He Shuangyang to come closer.

  He Shengyang was shocked and exclaimed, "Theres a ghost, theres a ghost..." He wanted to throw away the iron chain, but he also knew that a master had arrived, and without his trusty blade, it would be even harder to resist. For a moment, he didnt know whether to hold on or let go, and with the iron chain in hand, he dodged back and forth. Liang Xiao jumped up from the ground, seeing this situation, and couldnt help but laugh and feel surprised.

  The iron chain was pulled by a huge force, flying up and down around He Shuangyang, weaving a dazzling iron net. Suddenly, He Shuangyang let out a long cry, the iron chain wrapped around his body several times, tightly binding him. He Shuangyang cried out again: "Theres a ghost!" Rolling and crawling, he fled towards the back of the mountain like flying, disappearing from sight in an instant.

  Liang Xiao looked over here, as if in a dream, but heard Qin Bo Fu sigh and say: "The great masters helping hand, Qin Bo Fu will never forget!" Suddenly, a loud laugh echoed from afar. Liang Xiao suddenly realized: "It was the old monk." Following the sound, he looked into the distance, dark and mysterious, without knowing where the monk was hiding. He only heard the old monk laughing and saying: "You dont need to thank me, you should thank this little ghost instead. The monk followed him here, originally wanting to see if he would take revenge for the slap. But unexpectedly, at the critical moment, he actually came out to rescue him. Not bad, not bad, haha, the little ghost is not bad." After laughing twice, he walked away into the distance.

  Qin Bohu glanced at Liang Xiao and slowly said, "Little devil..." Before he could finish his sentence, Liang Xiao suddenly fell to the ground, fiercely spat out a mouthful of saliva, and shouted, "Old devil!" He turned around and ran away. Qin Bohu was furious and shouted, "Stinky little devil, come back..." Unable to hold himself back, he leaped up with all his might, but suddenly felt dizzy and vomited a mouthful of blood, finally fainting dead away.

  In a daze, Qin Baofu felt his body floating lightly, one moment like a feather drifting in the air, and the next like a small boat rising and falling on the waves, occasionally colliding with rocks. His whole body was in pain, but he was also dizzy and confused, unable to open his eyes no matter what.

  It was unknown how much time had passed when he finally regained consciousness. He opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by wooden planks. Rubbing his eyes again, he realized that he was in a small hut with a thatched roof and wooden walls, seemingly an abandoned house. Qin Bofu was perplexed: "Who brought me here? Could it be that little ghost?" Suddenly, he felt pain all over his body. He lifted his clothes to find bruises everywhere. It dawned on him that he must have been dragged here by Liang Xiao. His body had been heavy, and he had bumped into things along the way; it was fortunate that he hadnt been killed in the process. But then again, he thought, this kid might have taken advantage of the situation to beat him up. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, wishing he could grab Liang Xiao and give him a good thrashing.

  After a moment of contemplation, Qin Bofu calmed down and closed his eyes to focus on his inner energy. He circulated the mysterious energy nine times, broke out in a cold sweat, and his injuries improved by about 30-40%. Even if He Shuangyang were to arrive now, he could still defend himself. Just as he was about to get up and push open the door, he suddenly heard footsteps outside.

  Qin Baifus heart moved slightly, and he heard Liang Xiao laugh: "White idiot, eat slowly, Ill give you all the good meat, leaving only chicken buttocks for the sick old devil." Qin Baifu was furious: "How dare you, stinky little ghost, put me on par with cats and dogs?" He thought again: "Ill fool him too, lets see how this kid will deal with me." So he lay down sideways, pretending to be on his last breath, which suited his sickly appearance just fine.

  After a while, the wooden gate creaked open and Liang Xiao poked his head in, holding an oil-paper package. He slipped inside and Qin Bo Fu looked at him coldly. When he saw that Qin was awake, Liang seemed to be startled, but when he saw how weak he was, he became bolder and chuckled: "Old sick devil, youre awake? Come on, eat something." As he walked over to his side, he opened the package, revealing a salted chicken with one wing missing, two smoked fish, and a gourd of wine. Qin Bo Fus eyes widened at the sight of the chicken, which was only missing one wing and one leg: "So this little devil wasnt just talking nonsense after all; he treats me better than that dog." Just as he was about to reach out and grab something, he suddenly felt suspicious and scowled: "Little devil, where did you get this chicken and fish?"

  Liang Xiao said with a straight face, "Whats it to you? Just eat and be done with it." The more he didnt say, the more Qin Bo suspected, his voice stern as he asked, "Did you steal it? Is that right?" Liang Xiao was caught off guard by his words, suddenly feeling annoyed, shouting loudly, "So what if I did?! You wont eat it? Ill take it to feed the dogs then!" Qin Bo retorted sternly, "I, Qin Bo, am a man of honor! How could I eat your stolen goods?! Little demon, return everything you stole from wherever you took it."

  Liang Xiao gave him a cold glance, his expression extremely strange. Suddenly, he sneered and said: "You think youre great? Youre still lying on the ground, and I dragged you here. Fine, you want to talk about stolen goods? Ill give them to you to eat." He took advantage of Qin Bos injuries not being fully healed, tore off a chicken leg, and forcibly stuffed it into his mouth. Before he could even react, his back stiffened, his head spun, and he was lifted off the ground by someone. He quickly regained his composure and looked around in shock, thinking to himself: "Damn, this old man is faking illness to deceive me?" Qin Bos anger reached its peak, and he heavily threw Liang Xiao down, causing him to cry out in extreme pain. Qin Bo raised an eyebrow and furiously said: "You still have the face to shout?" Liang Xiao struggled to get up and shouted: "Youre bullying people! Youre bullying people!"

  Qin Bohu thought about being dragged here while he was unconscious, and he feared that this kid had seen all sorts of ridiculous postures. He was truly furious, his dignity completely lost, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. "You dare to bully me? Ill beat you up!" he shouted, turning around and hauling Liang Xiao over, beating him mercilessly until he almost broke his buttocks. But after beating him for half a day, he didnt hear any crying, which was very strange. He put Liang Xiao down and asked, "You little scoundrel, why arent you crying?"

  Li Xue glared at him, gritting his teeth and saying: "You want me to cry? I wont cry!" Qin Bo Yu was taken aback, then heard Li Xue say: "I remember clearly, a total of 57 hits. Now Im not your match, but in the future when Ive practiced my martial arts well, Ill put you under my leg and hit you back one by one!

  "Good fellow, its hard for him to take a beating while still counting!" Thinking of this, he said: "Alright, if you really have that skill in the future, Qin will acknowledge it! Remember, my name is Qin Bo Fu, dont hit the wrong person!" He glanced at the precious sword on Liang Xiaos back, snatched it away with a quick movement, and said: "Is this the sword that cut the pigs buttocks?" As he tore open the tattered cloth wrapping, a cold air rushed to his face, and he couldnt help but exclaim: "Good sword! You little brat, where did you get it from?"

  Liang Xiao glared and said, "You old sick devil, do you want to snatch my sword?" Qin Bo Fu was taken aback, angrily saying, "Nonsense!" He threw the sword back at him, sneering, and asked again, "You know some basic martial arts. Who taught you?" Liang Xiao smirked and said, "Your grandfather and grandmother taught me!" Qin Bo Fu didnt understand what he meant, momentarily stunned. Liang Xiao secretly took advantage of him once, his heart secretly delighted: "My dad is your grandfather, my mom is your grandmother, so Im naturally your old man!"

  Qin Bohu endured his temper and asked Liang Xiao about his life in detail, but Liang Xiao kept beating around the bush. Out of ten sentences, seven or eight were lies, and the remaining two or three were sarcastic remarks that made fun of people. Before long, Qin Bohu lost his patience and flew into a rage, grabbing Liang Xiao and giving him a severe beating. Liang Xiaos whole body was bruised and swollen, and he couldnt help but burst out crying. Then, wiping away his tears with his hand, he made up his mind: "You old devil, from now on, Ill never get along with you again. If you say east, Ill say west; if you say gold, Ill say dog shit. Unless you beat me to death, Ill oppose you at every turn."

  Qin Bohu had already considered Liang Xiao as his successor, but he didnt want to say it out loud due to his own pride. However, he deeply believed in the old saying "a stick produces a filial son" and used his masters authority to scold and punish him severely. He thought that by beating him up, Liang Xiao would become obedient and grow into a great hero who would make their sect famous. But unexpectedly, Liang Xiao was stubborn by nature and refused to yield, the more Qin Bohu scolded and beat him, the more fiercely he resisted.

  Two people stayed in the wooden house for two days, and Qin Bofus internal injury had recovered seven points. On this day, he said to Liang Xiao: "Little ghost, my injuries have healed, I want to go to Linan, you come with me too." Liang Xiao had been thinking about escaping these few days, but Qin Bofus martial arts were high and he was watching closely, it was really difficult to escape. Hearing this, he suddenly became angry: "I wont go!" Qin Bofu gave him a slap in the face and scolded: "Do you have a say in this?" Ignoring Liang Xiaos crying and struggling, he dragged him eastward.

  Liang Xiao gritted his teeth in anger, escaping no less than ten times along the way. But Qin Bos martial arts skills were too high, and his experience on the rivers and lakes was sufficient. Even if he escaped twenty or thirty miles away, he couldnt avoid being caught by him. Every time Qin Bo saw Liang Xiao being so disobedient, he felt a great deal of frustration and every time he caught him back, he gave him a good beating. But today after beating him, Liang Xiao would escape again tomorrow. This kid was cunning and clever, good at plotting, and each time it became harder to catch him. Repeatedly going through this cycle, Qin Bos desire to take on an apprentice was greatly frustrated, his mood becoming increasingly low, his face gloomy and rarely speaking along the way.

  Two men traveled together, gradually entering the Jiangnan region. Everyone spoke in soft Wu dialect, which was extremely annoying to listen to. Liang Xiao felt frustrated and wished that if they were from Yan or Zhao, they could sing a heroic song to dispel their worries. But listening to these soft words only added to his frustration, making him even more anxious, and he often quarreled with Qin Bosi.

  On this day, they arrived at the outskirts of Linan, not far from the city gate, and soon heard the sound of fighting coming from ahead. Qin Bofu thought it was just some Jianghu people settling a score, and initially wanted to take a detour, but Liang Xiaozuo deliberately stirred up trouble, saying: "I know what youre thinking, youre afraid of running into Old Master He, and cant compare to him, so instead of taking the main road, you want to take a side road."

  Qin Bohu angrily said: "Nonsense, that master is a figure who can be counted on ones fingers in the world, how can these goods compare?" Liang Xiao raised his hand and counted with his fingers: "Counting on ones fingers, if so, the old monks martial arts should be among the top ten in the world. The old monk, you are not a match for him, your martial arts must be outside the top ten. Alright, Ill count my toes too, counting on ones toes, maybe theres room for one more like you."

  Qin Bofus anger reached its peak, and he suddenly burst out laughing: "Good, Id like to see what kind of extraordinary expert is there!" He shook off his spirits, grabbed Liang Xiao with one hand, and strode towards the fighting scene.