Chapter Sixteen: The Pure Yang Iron Box

  Chu Xianliu was famous for his swordsmanship, but he wasn't strong in terms of internal energy. At this moment, he abandoned his strengths and used his weaknesses, after a long time, he felt exhausted. After exchanging several moves, he pushed back the bronze bell and shouted: "Wait!" Jiuru stabilized the bronze bell and smiled: "What? Admitting defeat?" Chu Xianliu frowned: "Old monk, you insisted on taking the lead, was it just for that pure yang iron box?" Jiuru burst out laughing. Chu Xianliu saw him laugh so happily, his heart became even more uncertain, shaking his head: "Unfortunately, you miscalculated, that pure yang iron box is fake."

  Jiuru nodded and said, "This clumsy trick has been used by the monk before." Chuxianliu sighed and said, "This is not a trick, the iron box is indeed fake." He saw Jiuru's eyes with a hint of mockery, and sighed again, "Monk, do you know the origin of this pure yang iron box?" Jiuru smiled and said, "I heard it was left by Lü Dongbin, containing dan scripture and fire talismans. Whoever gets it can prove their way to immortality. However, since Lü Dongbin passed away, no one has opened this iron box."

  Chu Xianliu waved his hand and said, "What you heard is just a rumor in the Jianghu. This iron box was left by someone, but it's impossible to investigate who it was. It's just that Lü Zu's name is well-known far and wide, so they used his name. However, over 100 years ago, this iron box was opened once." Jiuru raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Interesting, interesting, tell us about it." Liu Yingying and Liang Xiao were also very curious, both of them looked at Chu Xianliu intently.

  Chu Xianliu asked, "Old monk, have you heard of the Purple Yang True Man?" Jiuru replied, "You're referring to Zhang Boduan? After the Jingkang era, the Taoist school split into two sects: the Northern and Southern schools. Wang Chongyang was the founder of the Northern school, while Zhang Ziyang was the founder of the Southern school. The Northern school emphasized transcending the world to save humanity, whereas the Southern school focused on spiritual cultivation. However, it's worth noting that when Wang Chongyang founded the Northern school, he had the support of his seven disciples, known as the Quanzhen Seven Immortals. Zhang Boduan, on the other hand, single-handedly established the Southern school - now that's truly remarkable." Chu Xianliu was taken aback and laughed, saying, "Old monk, it's not easy to hear you utter those three words 'truly remarkable'. Nevertheless, the Purple Yang True Man is indeed a figure of the highest order in history. He mastered all nine streams and hundred schools of thought, and his martial arts skills were truly divine and unparalleled."

  Jiuru frowned and said, "Old lecher, you're talking nonsense again. You said it was a pure yang iron box, how did Zhang Ziyang get involved?" Chu Xianliu stroked his beard and sneered, while Liang Xiao chimed in, "Wasn't the one who opened the pure yang iron box this very same Zhang Ziyang?" Chu Xianliu said, "You're not stupid, kid." Jiuru sneered, "Good, old lecher, you say he's not stupid, but that means I'm the stupid monk!" Chu Xianliu was one up and laughed loudly, saying, "I never said that." Jiuru snorted and asked, "Zhang Ziyang opened the box, why did he want to close it again?" Chu Xianliu sighed and said, "Zhang Zhenren's abilities are vast, his intelligence is high, but unfortunately, he took in three wrong disciples, a lifelong regret. In his book 'Wu Zhen Pian', he wrote 'Three transmissions not human', referring to this very matter." Jiuru said, "Old lecher, you're going off on a tangent, Zhang Boduan taking in the wrong disciples has nothing to do with you!"

  Chu Xianliu shook his head and said, "The relationship is deep. Among these three disciples, the eldest disciple's surname is Chu." Jiuru smiled and said, "Wonderful! This useless eldest disciple is actually your ancestor from the Chu family?" Chu Xianliu sighed and said, "I'm ashamed to say it, but yes, he was my ancestor. The second disciple's surname is Lei." Jiuru's eyes sparkled as she laughed and said, "I suppose he's an ancestor of the Lei Gong Fortress?" Chu Xianliu nodded and said, "That's right. The third disciple's surname is Fang. He didn't have many descendants, but his internal skill was famous and called 'Binghe Xuangong'." Liu Yuying let out a surprised "ah" and exclaimed, "You... what did you say?" Chu Xianliu sneered and said, "Don't pretend to be innocent. That person with the surname Fang is actually your family's ancestor. I suppose you're also very familiar with this story." Liu Yuying shook her head and said, "My master never told me about it." When she said this, Chu Xianliu became even more convinced that she wasn't telling a single true word, and his anger grew as he shouted, "That person with the surname Fang is still your ancestor! You don't even acknowledge your own ancestor for the sake of an iron box?" Liu Yuying shook her head again and said, "My master said our ancestors were men, but after a long time, we no longer know their names."

  She didn't seem to be lying, so he thought it was strange: "If this woman doesn't know the truth, then she's a rare big villain in the world. However, as for this matter, my ancestors wrote it down in the family's sword scripture after they realized their conscience late in life, to warn their descendants. That person with the surname Fang must have also been ashamed and didn't want his later generations to know about his past mistakes." He hesitated for a moment before saying: "Alright, I'll continue speaking. After Zhang Zhenren separately taught the three of them martial arts, each of the three disciples had their own strengths. The eldest disciple was skilled in swordsmanship, the second disciple was skilled in fist techniques, and the third disciple excelled in internal energy. As the three of them grew stronger in martial arts, their true nature gradually revealed itself. Zhang Zhenren discovered that the three of them were not kind-hearted and became very angry, wanting to abolish their martial arts. However, his own nature was extremely gentle and he couldn't bring himself to do it several times. One day, the three of them killed innocent people again, causing Zhang Zhenren's heart to turn cold. Under the cover of night, he quietly left."

  Chu Xianliu sighed and said: "Zhang Zhenren had already taken precautions and did not pass on the true teachings of the Xuanmen sect to his three disciples. As a result, after ten years of practice, their martial arts skills showed no progress. The three disciples then conspired together, knowing that Zhang Zhenren had only achieved enlightenment by unlocking the secrets of the Pure Yang Iron Box. They decided to find Zhang Zhenren and seize the box from him. Alas, fate played a trick on them, and after searching for three years, they finally found Zhang Zhenren at Qixia Ridge. When Zhang Zhenren saw the three disciples, he was shocked and tried to avoid them, but they cried and begged for forgiveness, asking to be taken back as his disciples. Although Zhang Zhenren was unwilling, he saw that they had a desire to reform and did not want to reject them outright. However, the three disciples were insincere and had planned to seize the box by force. Taking advantage of Zhang Zhenren's lowered guard, they suddenly attacked him together. Zhang Zhenren was caught off guard and suffered serious injuries, but his divine skills allowed him to defeat the three disciples and escape. The first and second disciples pursued him relentlessly and finally caught up with him in a mountain valley. At that time, Zhang Zhenren's injuries were too severe, and he could not hide the box, but he also did not want it to fall into the hands of evil people. So, he resealed the Pure Yang Iron Box and passed away."

  Liu Yingying heard this and couldn't help but scold: "Those three apprentices are ungrateful and disloyal, not even as good as pigs and dogs?" Chu Xianliu was taken aback, nodded and said: "You're right, our ancestors' actions were indeed very improper." Liu Yingying coldly smiled and said: "Not just improper, but utterly despicable. That surnamed Fang has nothing to do with me, I don't acknowledge him as my master." These words shocked the world, in the martial arts world the teacher-disciple relationship is most important, Liu Yingying's words were no different from deceiving one's teacher and destroying one's ancestors. Chu Xianliu's expression changed, Liang Xiao thought he was about to attack, secretly circulating his energy to defend himself, but unexpectedly Chu Xianliu's expression calmed down again, sighed and said: "You're right, our ancestors were indeed despicable, bringing shame to their descendants." Jiuru nodded and said: "Old lecher, you've finally spoken a human word after so long."

  Chu Xianliu glared at him, but then heard Liang Xiao say: "After Zhang Zhenren passed away, the Pure Yang Iron Box naturally fell into the hands of those two disciples?" He was concerned about the fate of the Pure Yang Iron Box and asked. Chu Xianliu smiled wryly: "What's the point? Even if they got the box, they couldn't open it. The two thought that since the box was so difficult to solve, there must be an earth-shaking secret inside, and their greed grew stronger. They disagreed on what to do, and another fight broke out. Their martial arts skills were evenly matched, and they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, so neither could gain the upper hand. Just as they were struggling to gain the upper hand, the older disciple suddenly jumped back and said: 'Lei Shidi, we're both being foolish. If we fight now and one of us gets hurt, won't that just let Fang Shixiong take advantage of us when he arrives?' The one named Lei thought this made sense, so they stopped fighting and studied the iron box together." As he spoke, he only referred to them as "older disciple" and "younger disciple", without showing any respect or deference to his ancestors. The other three people thought: "This Chu Xianliu is indeed discerning."

  The two men were afraid that the secret of the iron box would be leaked out, so they secretly hid in the deep mountains and studied how to open it. However, they couldn't open the box no matter what. They both suspected each other of trying to escape with the box, and their distrust grew deeper. Finally, one day they had a big fight and both were injured. The senior apprentice saw that this was not working out, so he said to the second apprentice: "This iron box cannot be opened by either of us, and fighting is also futile. Why don't we draw lots? The winner gets the iron box, and whoever can figure it out in three years will own the box; if they can't figure it out, we'll switch to another person after three years." The second apprentice thought for a moment and said: "What if neither of us can figure out the secret of the box in our lifetime?" The senior apprentice replied: "If we are unlucky, then there's nothing we can do. We can only leave the task of opening the box to our descendants." The second apprentice had no better plan, so he agreed. The two men made a vow to heaven, and after making the vow, they drew lots. Unfortunately, the senior apprentice was not lucky and the second apprentice got the iron box first. As the senior apprentice had said earlier, he could only let his junior brother keep the box for three years before taking it back.

  Liang Xiao said: "This won't do, what if the second disciple uses a trick to get the iron box?" Chu Xianliu shook his head and said: "You're asking a foolish question. If we open the iron box, the second disciple will master the martial arts inside and surpass the eldest disciple, so there's no need for tricks. If the iron box isn't opened, it's just a useless thing, holding onto it is pointless. And if we betray our oath, the eldest disciple will be furious and inform the world, many skilled fighters covet the iron box, I'm afraid from then on, we'll never know peace again."

  He saw Liang Xiao's doubts and didn't bother to explain, saying: "After the two parted ways, they each hid their names and established 'Tian Xiang Mountain Villa' and 'Lei Gong Fortress'. They would meet once every three years and exchange iron boxes. For decades, the pure yang iron box changed hands many times, but that iron box was unusually resilient, and no sharp blade could damage it. The two wanted to use fierce fire to pry it open, but they were afraid of damaging the contents, so for nearly a hundred years, they couldn't open it." Jiuruo smiled: "Maybe that box is just a lump of stubborn iron." Chuxianliu sighed: "That's what people say, but human hearts are like that iron box - foolish and unyielding, impossible to understand. Take you, monk, for example. You seem broad-minded, but aren't you also curious, wanting to get it and then feel satisfied?" Jiuruo smiled secretly and didn't speak.

  Chu Xianliu continued, "The first and second disciples of the same generation indeed kept their promise. Every three years, they would exchange the iron box without fail. However, after they passed away, their descendants' martial arts skills gradually became uneven, with some being stronger and others weaker. Those with superior martial arts skills refused to hand over the iron box, while those with inferior skills were unwilling to give up. The two sides were deadlocked in dispute, so they had no choice but to make another vow. Every three years, they would meet and engage in a martial arts competition to seize the box. Whoever emerged victorious could possess the iron box until they were defeated." Jiuruo smiled and said, "If that's the case, why did you create a fake box?"

  Chu Xianliu sighed and said, "I was a wanderer in my youth, indulging in music and women, with no interest in family affairs. After learning about the origin of the iron box, I didn't want to participate in the struggle for it. My brother lost to Lei Xingkong from Leigongbao and died in despair, entrusting someone to ask me to return home and retrieve the iron box. I couldn't bear him leaving with regrets, so I agreed...". At this point, Jiuru suddenly laughed and said, "Slow down, slow down, let's guess. Back then, you were a famous swordsman, shaking the world with your iron-wood sword. Lei Xingkong knew he wasn't a match for you, but couldn't bear to give up the box either. In desperation, he created a fake box to deceive you, right?" Chu Xianliu sighed and said, "Lei Xingkong was greedy and foolish, thinking he could get away with it by being clever. But how could he fool anyone? I discovered the iron box was fake and wanted to confront him. However, at that time, a huge incident occurred, making me lose interest in life and think of leaving the world. Alas, life is like a dream, and even birth and death are beyond our control. Why bother with the authenticity of the iron box? So I gave up on the idea of confronting him and kept the fake box instead. As a result, my family thought the iron box was in my possession, while the Lei family thought they had outsmarted me. For thirty years, the competitive spirit between our families has diminished, and it's fortunate that my niece Chu Yu married Lei Zhen."

  Jiuruo said casually, "Old lecher, what's your intention in telling the monk such a secretive matter?" Chu Xianliu smiled wryly and said, "I'm telling you this so that you, old monk, can understand. This iron box is not only impossible to open, but it's also the source of all troubles. You're originally a wise and transcendent person, why bother with this muddy water?" Jiuruo laughed and said, "Old lecher, you're lecturing me! However, your guess isn't wrong. I did come for the pure yang iron box." Liang Xiao's heart skipped a beat as he turned his head to look, only to see Liu Yanyan tightly pursing her lips, her pretty face already pale.

  "Ha! That day, I was begging for alms by the canal when I suddenly saw your niece, Chu Yu. I had seen her once before when she was still a maiden in the boudoir. At that time, I saw her crying and making a fuss on the dock, talking about something called 'Pure Yang Iron Box' and mentioning some female thief surnamed Liu. Although I didn't want to eavesdrop, the words kept drilling into my ears, and it was unavoidable. Thinking back, I had once deceived Xuan Tian with a fake iron box, but that old thing got what he deserved. However, his disciple Qin Bo Yu was a decent fellow. Six years ago, I accidentally injured him, and feeling guilty, I wanted to steal the box and give it to him as an apology. So, I followed your niece all the way to Suzhou. Who would have thought that just as we arrived at the foot of Cold Mountain, my stomach started acting up with wine worms? I could hardly bear it, so I took some time off to attend to other matters. Ha! What a coincidence, and then I ran into this Liu girl!"

  Liu Yingying bit her lip and said loudly, "Old monk, you had a plan all along, did you also come to deal with me?" As she spoke, her eyes reddened first. Liang Xiao unconsciously clenched his fists, thinking: "If the old monk wants to harm her, I'll fight him to the death even if I'm not his match." Jiuru saw the two's stance and hurriedly waved his hand, saying: "Girl, don't cry. The monk indeed had this intention at first. But he didn't expect that you would be so clever and have such a heroic spirit, which suits the monk's temperament. He thought about it left and right, followed you for 180 miles, but couldn't bring himself to do anything."

  Liang Xiao let out a sigh of relief, but Liu Yanyan scolded: "You're a monk with a deceitful heart, I won't bother with you again!" Jiuru apologized with a smile: "Don't say that, young lady. If you don't care about the monk, the monk will lose his patron and be bitten to death by the wine worms in his belly." Liu Yanyan wiped away her tears, gave him a cold glance, and hummed softly: "He deserves to be bitten to death." Chu Xianliu saw that the two had reconciled again and felt extremely displeased. He furrowed his brow and said: "Old monk, I've said all the good things I can say, but you still want to stir up this muddy water?" Jiuru smiled: "That's right." Chu Xianliu angrily said: "I told you before, the iron box stolen by this woman is fake! The real one is in Leigong Fortress!" Jiuru shook his head: "The monk came for the iron box, but now he's changed his mind." Chu Xianliu furrowed his brow: "What do you mean?" Jiuru smiled slightly and said: "If the monk were to touch something that even you, Chu Xianliu, look down upon, wouldn't it be humiliating?"

  Chu Xian's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, sizing up Jiu Ru for a moment before shaking his head and saying: "Old monk, I'm different from you. My heart is as dull as ash, let alone this iron box - even if it were all the wonders of the world, I wouldn't be able to muster any enthusiasm. If not for the fact that Huatian was burned down and Huajiang was killed, I wouldn't have come out this time either, just to suffer your old monk's idle chatter!" Jiu Ru chuckled and said: "What misfortune is this? Let me guess. Hmph, looking at your gloomy face, didn't you lose a mistress?"

  Chu Xianliu's eyes widened, his face turned alternately pale and red, filled with a burst of anger. Jiu Ru stared back at him, his smile unchanged. Chu Xianliu flung out his sleeve and said sternly, "Old monk, I have respected you three times, that's why I've tolerated you so far. Alright, this temple is too small for us to stay in, I'll wait for you outside." Jiu Ru said, "You can't even get along with one word, yet you want to pretend to be a dead ash? You're all just talking nonsense! You want the monk to go out, ha! The monk won't go out!" Chu Xianliu sneered, "Let's ride donkeys and watch the opera, we'll see who comes out on top." Jiu Ru said, "Huh, old lecher, are you cursing the monk as a donkey?" Chu Xianliu was too lazy to bother with him anymore, let out an angry snort, and stormed out of the door.

  Liu Yingying saw him leave and said, "Old monk, one person does things and one person takes responsibility. You don't have to make more enemies for me." Jiuru furrowed his brow and shook his head, saying, "The monk is not afraid of any enemies. It's just that you really haven't done anything that harms the heavens and the people?" Liu Yingying thought for a moment and shook her head, "No." Jiuru let out a long laugh and shouted loudly, "Good! The monk has no worries, and starting a fight will be more spirited!"

  Before the words were finished, a bowstring snapped outside the temple and two fire arrows flew in. Jiuru stood up, raised his wooden stick, and with a gust of wind, deflected the fire arrows to hit the wall, creating two holes. Jiuru laughed: "Old lecher, you're not making progress, you don't dare use real knives and guns, but instead play tricks with monks?"

  Chu Xian's voice was cold and detached: "The matter of Lei Gong Fortress has nothing to do with me. If you're afraid, then come out." Jiuru smiled and said: "What is there to be afraid of? The monk can't say anything, so he won't come out." As they spoke, more than a dozen fire thunderbolts were thrown into the temple. Jiuru's black wooden staff swiftly swept them aside, causing massive explosions all around, with debris flying everywhere and the Earth Temple shaking violently. Liu Yingying was anxious to rush out, but Jiuru caught her from behind and said with a smile: "Adults are fighting, little ones should watch." With a wave of his hand, he stuffed her into the bell, then saw Liang Xiao grab the Xuan Yuan sword and smiled again: "You come in too." He grabbed him and just as Liang Xiao was about to struggle, everything went black, and he was also thrown into the bronze bell, squeezed together with Liu Yingying. Several fire thunderbolts hit the bell, producing a series of deafening explosions.

  Liu Yingying was squeezed by Liang Xiao, feeling both ashamed and anxious, she counterattacked with a punch, trying to push him out of the bronze bell. Liang Xiao retaliated with an elbow strike, but the narrow space inside the bronze bell made it impossible for them to fully utilize their movements. Suddenly, they felt a jolt, and the world spun around them as the bronze bell was pushed by Jiu Ru, causing it to start rolling.

  Both of them were unguarded, Liu Yingying's body leaned back, and Liang Xiao rushed forward, the two of them instantly embracing each other. Liu Yingying scolded: "Little rascal..." Before she could finish speaking, Liang Xiao accidentally sealed her small mouth with his lips.

  Both of them were shocked, and Liu Yingying struggled for a moment before her body suddenly softened, like a lump of cold ice melting into Liang Xiao's arms. As they gazed at each other, their faces flushed with excitement, it was as if they had never been so intimate before. Liang Xiao felt Liu Yingying's body was warm and fragrant, soft as jade, and her skin was smooth to the touch. The scent of a young girl's body made him dizzy with desire. His own body seemed about to explode, his heart racing uncontrollably, he couldn't help but want to possess her completely. For a moment, the two young lovers were lost in their passion, feeling as though the sky was falling down around them, yet they didn't want to part ways.

  A loud crash, the giant bell shook again. Liang Xiao's body arched back, and Liu Yingying was pressed against him once more, their hearts racing with anxiety as they tightly embraced each other. Liang Xiao's heart was filled with new emotions, while Liu Yingying secretly harbored tender feelings. For a moment, the cramped space inside the giant bell was filled with an atmosphere of vibrant springtime.

  Jiuruo was unaware of the changes within the bell, and focused all his energy on fighting the enemy. As he rolled the large bell, the black wooden stick pointed south and struck north, with a whooshing sound that never left his ears. The fire and thunder mostly flew out of the temple, when suddenly several mournful cries were heard. The disciples of Leigongbao who had released the fire and thunder were instead injured by them. Suddenly, a gloomy voice said: "Leigongbao's skills are exhausted, let's see Xianliugong's abilities."

  Jiuru heard clearly and laughed: "Lei Xingkong, you're here too? Ha! As the saying goes, if a person doesn't care about their face, they can do anything." Lei Xingkong was confused and coldly smiled. Jiuru then lit another firework, his nose twitched, and his face suddenly changed as he shouted: "No good, this is terrible! You old lecher, your method is too shameless..." He loudly cursed, but his nose kept twitching, deeply inhaling and exhaling slowly, his face showing a mix of intoxication and difficulty. He paced back and forth on the spot, then suddenly made up his mind, stomped his foot, and shouted: "Forget it! I won't argue with you, old lecher, you win!" He pushed the giant bell and loudly rang it as he rushed out of the temple.

  Lei Zhen had long been waiting, and upon seeing this, he danced up with his Flowing Star Great Hammer. Jiuru laughed out loud and swung his staff to strike the hammer's body. The iron hammer rebounded back, and Lei Zhen's tiger mouth split open. The iron hammer flew out and smashed two large trees by the side of the road. Lei Zhen was brought down by this divine power, falling backward like a shooting star.

  A figure flashed out from the shadows, holding Ling Kong in mid-air. His speed didn't decrease as he swept forward. With a reverse motion, he tossed Ling Kong, and in an instant, it arrived before Jiu Ru's face. A left fist was fiercely thrust out. Before the fist even landed, the force of the wind on his fist caused the bronze bell to emit a strange humming noise. The two people inside the bell felt their hearts grow uneasy and their desires dissipate, both thinking: "What have I done?" Suddenly, they heard a muffled groan from outside the bell. Jiu Ru let out a series of sarcastic remarks: "Ling Kong, it's been ten years since we last met, but you haven't made any progress." He patted the bell and laughed loudly: "Two little ones, aren't you coming out?" The two were extremely embarrassed, but if they didn't come out, it would only make things worse. Liang Xiao had no choice but to crawl out of the giant bell first, while Liu Xiangying tidied up her clothes before emerging. They saw that all around them, dozens of people had gathered, scattered about in a sparse crowd.

  Here is the translation:

  The two of them were flushed and disheveled, their clothes in disarray. Jiu Ru was taken aback, but then he saw Liu Xiangxiang's hair was a mess, her hairpins askew, and there was still a hint of spring color between her eyebrows. He couldn't help but laugh and say, "The monk made a mistake and became a cheap matchmaker! Ha! You two will get married in the future, and I won't be able to avoid drinking that cup of thank-you wine!" Liu Xiangxiang was mortified, stamping her foot and cursing, "Damn bald donkey, it's all your fault! If you dare to speak again, I...I..." Jiu Ru shook his head and said, "As the saying goes, a gentleman doesn't deceive in secret. A virtuous woman is dignified and self-disciplined. Looking at this situation, young Master Liang isn't a gentleman, and you little girl aren't a virtuous woman either! Haha, you two can't even control yourselves, yet you come to blame the monk?" He spoke bluntly, revealing everything clearly in public, leaving Liu Xiangxiang's face deathly pale. But she had a guilty conscience, so she couldn't scold him or argue with him. For a moment, she pursed her lips and trembled, unable to speak. Liang Xiao looked at her, his heart racing as he thought about what had happened in the clock tower. His whole body felt hot, and his heartbeat quickened again.

  Everyone watched her appearance and listened to her words, roughly guessing the situation. Chu Yu thought of his son's miserable appearance, and for a moment, his eyes blazed with anger, gritting his teeth: "This little cheap person is really shameless, only knowing how to seduce men!" Liu Yueyue's face changed, shouting: "Who are you scolding?" Chu Yu sneered: "I'm scolding you. You seduced my family's Xing'er first, and now you've hooked up with this young man."

  Liang Xiao stood up, but was pushed away by Liu Yanyan, who sneered and said: "Alright, let's make things clear. Hmph, your precious son relied on his insignificant martial arts skills to bully a fisherman's daughter at Taihu Lake in public, and I happened to witness it. I originally wanted to take his dog head, but he had some wit and ate my Sha Luo finger technique, then jumped into the water to escape. Hmph, I ask you, did you raise your son to specifically humiliate respectable women?" Chu Yu's face turned red with rage, and she shouted: "You...you're spouting blood! Not only did you hurt someone, but you also want to ruin their reputation!"

  Liu Yuanyuan's hands pressed against her slender waist, her voice rose even higher, clear and crisp, like the tinkling of a silver bell: "This matter, there are at least eighty boatmen on Taihu Lake who have witnessed it with their own eyes! If you don't want to lose your tongue or deafen your ears, go ahead and ask around, see what kind of reputation your precious son has!" Chu Yu was immediately speechless, exchanging a glance with Lei Zhen, his heart filled with anxiety. They knew their son's temperament all too well - Chu Yu had spoiled him since childhood, and Lei Xing had grown up under the doting eyes of his mother. As he grew older, he had often bullied and teased the maidservants and female servants in the manor, but each time, Chu Yu had downplayed the incidents. This time, if what Liu Yuanyuan said was true, going to investigate would only bring shame to their family's reputation.

  He Shengyang saw that Lei Zhen and his wife had nothing to say, so he laughed and walked out of the crowd, bowed his hands and said: "Liu Niangniang, He Mou has been in a tight spot lately and wants to borrow some silver from you to spend!" Liu Yanyan smiled lightly: "Okay, how much silver do you want?" He Shengyang smiled: "Not much, just 7 or 8 million taels!" The crowd was shocked when they heard this.

  Liu Yingying spread her hands and laughed, "Do you think I have that much silver?" He Xiangyang smiled warmly and said, "Miss, your clever hands are empty, not even the imperial palace is spared. Not to mention gold, silver, and jewels, just those more than ten precious danqing cauldrons are priceless treasures. Miss, you're so generous, why be stingy?" Liu Yingying laughed, "Earlier, I indeed had many treasures, but along the way, there were floods in Jiangxi and locust plagues in Huizhou, I gave them away at a low price, until I arrived here..." She paused slightly, "Not even half a cent of silver is left!" He Xiangyang was taken aback, dryly laughing, "Haha, Miss is teasing me? Humph, great thieves like us are punishable by a thousand knives and ten thousand cuts!"

  Liu Yingying smiled and said, "I don't count as a great thief, at most I'm just a small thief." He Shuangyang heard her say that she didn't have half a silver coin, although he didn't believe it, but he didn't get anxious either. He raised an eyebrow and sternly said, "Miss is being too modest. Hmph, stealing from the government, stealing treasures from the palace, Miss isn't a great thief, who else in the world can be called a great thief?" Liu Yingying shook her head and said, "No, no, didn't that Zhuang something say? Those who steal hooks will be executed, those who steal countries will become marquises. Hmm, what's his name again?" She lowered her eyebrows and thought deeply, suddenly hearing Chu Xianliu continue, "Zhuang Zhou!" Liu Yingying clapped her hands and laughed, saying, "That's right! It's Zhuang Zhou. Old lecher, I didn't expect you to have some knowledge." The three words "old lecher" were originally a nickname used by Jiuru and Chu Xianliu among their peers, but now being openly called out by Liu Yingying made him so angry that his eyes turned white.

  Liu Yingying smiled and said loudly, "Master often says: 'The current emperor is a foolish and cruel old man, stealing the country's wealth and resources, he is the greatest thief in the world; next are those corrupt officials who steal fame and fortune, robbing the people of their livelihoods; and then there are those wealthy merchants who hoard goods and cheat the poor out of their property and lives.' As they say, 'there are thieves among thieves', our Tian Shan sect has been stealing for generations, but we only do small thefts, not grand larceny." Her words were bold and confident, leaving He Shuangyang speechless. Jiuru smiled and said, "Well said, well said, but you left out one kind of thief, it's a bit incomplete." Liu Yingying asked curiously, "Which one?" Jiuru smiled and said, "The old lecher who steals kisses and snatches jade." Chu Xianliu coldly snorted, "Why not mention the greedy and gluttonous monk who steals food?" The two exchanged a glance, each with a cold smile.

  "Girl, everyone can say nice things. But there are many things you can't clear up." Before the words had fallen, a gloomy voice said: "Xianliu's words make sense, about that box, she can't clear it up either." Liu Yanyan turned her eyes to look over and saw someone standing in the dark, with an extraordinary physique, long hair fluttering, looking similar to Lei Zhen at first glance. She thought it must be Lei Xiangkong. Unconsciously, she felt annoyed and coldly smiled: "Lei Baizhu is good at clearing things up, getting benefits and then pretending to be clever, confusing right and wrong, stealing the beam and changing the pillar." Lei Xiangkong heard this and his heart skipped a beat: "Oh no, did that fake iron box fall into her hands and she saw through its flaws?" His eyes revealed a fierce light, staring at Liu Yanyan.

  Liu Yingying was just about to reveal the truth about the iron box, but Jiuru said, "Girl, a loud drum doesn't need a heavy hammer, an expert in fighting knows when to stop." Liu Yingying nodded seriously and stopped talking. Chu Yu didn't understand what was going on and shouted, "You little thief, it's better if you hand over the box!" Liu Yingying gave her a cold glance: "I've never seen that box, what can I hand over?" Chu Yu sneered: "Your words are useless, dare to let me search you?"

  Liu Yingying furrowed her brow and coldly laughed: "Alright, what if we can't find it?" Chu Yu coldly said: "If we can't find it, consider yourself lucky." Liu Yingying's eyes turned icy, shaking her head as she said: "That won't do, if we can't find it, you'll have to cut off your own hands." Chu Yu was taken aback, angrily saying: "What kind of logic is this? Who knows if you've hidden it somewhere else?" Liu Yingying faintly smiled coldly.

  Liang Xiao was about to speak but stopped, finally unable to bear it and said: "I guarantee with my life, she doesn't have an iron box on her." Chu Yu sneered: "What do you know? Could it be that you've searched her body?" Her words were unintentional, but the listener's heart was intentional. Liu Xiangxiang only felt her cheeks burning hot, and her heart almost jumped out. She turned her head around and glared fiercely at Liang Xiao.

  At this time, the forest was dark and gloomy. Liang Xiao didn't notice that Liu Yingying's expression was different, and he blurted out: "I know everything about her. In short, there is no iron box. If there is half a lie, I will be punished by heaven and earth." The crowd suddenly burst into laughter, with some people chuckling and others guffawing. Liu Yingying's heart was bitter with anger, and she wished she could strangle this little scoundrel to death, making him enter with a white knife and exit with a red one.

  Just now, the two of them were in a state of confusion and infatuation inside the clock, going to great lengths. If Liu Yingying had an iron box on her body, Liang Xiao would have known about it. The people present were old and worldly-wise, and when they thought back to the scene of the two emerging from the giant clock, they had already guessed a few parts of it. Chu Xianliu was romantic and emotional in his youth, and he understood the affairs between men and women deeply. After hearing this, he didn't feel embarrassed, but instead thought: "This kid is speaking without thinking, completely disregarding the girl's face. But if they are so intimate, then either this kid is extremely evil or the girl really doesn't have an iron box. But if it wasn't her who stole the box, then who was it?" He was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Jiu Ru laugh and say: "Old lecher, stop looking around, since you used the Hundred Flowers Immortal Wine to lure me out, you should see things through to the end. Let the monk get a whiff of the wine's aroma!" His voice was like thunder, shaking the surroundings and suppressing the laughter in the scene.

  "Wild monk, if I don't give it to you, it would seem that I, Chu, am being petty." He lifted his sleeve, revealing a wine jug with the mud seal already removed. The strong aroma of wine wafted out, making one drunk with desire. Jiuruo swallowed hard and laughed dryly: "Good wine, good wine! I had some once before, and the aftertaste still lingers to this day." He reached out to grab it. Chu Xianliu, however, blocked his hand with a smile: "Old monk, aren't you afraid that there's poison in the wine? One sip and you'll be dead?" Jiuruo laughed: "Dying from poisoned wine would be worth it!" He snatched the jug away and took a big gulp. Liang and Liu tried to stop him, but it was too late.

  Chu Xianliu fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "Good monk, I'm not as good as you!" Jiuru smiled and said: "Although the monk is good, he's not as good as wine." The two looked at each other and laughed, their animosity disappearing. Chu Xianliu finished laughing and said: "Old monk, do you still want to fight?" Jiuru said: "The monk will accompany you to the end." Chu Xianliu shook his head and sighed: "Forced by circumstances, I'd like to stop but can't." Everyone who heard this conversation found it strange.

  Here is the translation:

  "Alright, alright. Do you want to have a literary duel or a martial arts duel?" Chu Xianliu said, "What's the difference between literary and martial duels?" Jiuru said, "If we have a martial arts duel, it'll be like a chaotic fight, with everyone piling on top of each other. You have more people and are in the majority, even monks can't resist the temptation to join in." Chu Xianliu shook his head and said, "A gentleman would not take advantage of being in the majority, but what about a literary duel?" Jiuru sneered coldly, "You old lecher, stop pretending to be a gentleman! Hmph, if we have a literary duel, you can come up one by one and compete with me in lightness skills, fist techniques, swordplay, hidden weapons, internal strength, external strength - any martial arts skill. If someone defeats me, I'll leave immediately without saying a word." He glanced sideways at Lei Zhen and smiled, "Lei Dalang, you wield the hundred-pound iron hammer, known as the Heavenly Hammer. Come on, let's compare our strength first."

  Lei Zhen was knocked flying by his iron hammer, how dare he respond? For a moment, he was at a loss for what to do, his face turning red and white. Jiuru laughed loudly and said: "If the son is not capable, there's still the old man. Lei Xingkong, you claim to be the number one fist in the west of Yueyang Tower, are you going to exchange blows with the monk?" Lei Xingkong let out a cold hum, hiding his body in the shadows, motionless.

  "Old monk, don't bully the weak and fear the strong," Chu Xianliu said with a smile. "Chu Yu, give me my sword!" Chu Yu was worried about her husband, but when she saw her uncle take down Liang Zi, she was overjoyed and handed over the long sword with both hands. Chu Xianliu took the sword and stood up straight. Jiuru knew that Chu Xianliu's swordsmanship was extraordinary, and once they clashed, it would be a fierce battle. But he was the leader of the group, and if he could defeat him, the others would surrender immediately. Having made up his mind, he leaned on his black wooden staff and smiled, "Old lecher, let's compare our martial skills!"

  Chu Xianliu shook his head and said, "You old monk's stick method is ingenious, Chu certain acknowledges defeat." Jiuru didn't expect him to show weakness like this, and was puzzled in her heart. Then she heard Chu Xianliu say, "However, since you said I could set the topic, then let me give you a topic to test your skills." Although Jiuru felt it wasn't good, but the words had already been spoken, so she could only laugh and say, "Good!"

  Chu Xianliu slowly walked up to a large tree with a trunk as thick as one hug, and with a flash of his sword, the trunk was cut into three sections. Chu Xianliu raised his sword and placed the middle section on the ground, then flicked his wrist again, and the sword tip spat out, cutting that round log neatly into three pieces. Jiu Ru said in surprise: "Old lecher, do you want to compete with the monk in chopping firewood?" Chu Xianliu smiled but didn't answer, and with a flourish of his long sword, he cut that section of log, about three feet in diameter, evenly into nine pieces.

  As the smile gradually faded, his white eyebrows slightly raised. Only to see Chu Xianliu's wide sleeves sweeping the ground, with a long sword drawing out silver-colored sword flowers one by one, changing faster and more complex, dazzling to the eyes, impossible to look directly at. In a moment, the sword light converged, and Chu Xianliu retreated with his sword. The round log had already been split into countless thin wooden chopsticks, about a foot long, gathered together, not scattered. The people around held their breath, as if they could blow away the pile of fine wood sticks with just one puff of air.

  Jiuru nodded and said: "So it wasn't chopping firewood, but making chopsticks! Old lecher, this sword technique of yours has a name?" Chu Xianliu smiled and said: "Let's just call it 'Spring Color Three-Part Sword'!" Jiuru nodded and said: "Spring color three parts, two parts dust, one part flowing water. The name is elegant, the sword technique is also flashy. Spring color three parts, one sword three parts, very good very good. As for the monk, he should also follow the formula!" His martial arts had already reached a state of perfection, with no flaws or weaknesses, and after seeing Chu Xianliu use his sword technique, he could imitate it without any difficulty.

  "Wrong, wrong," said Chu Xianliu with a smile. "I only asked you, old monk, how many sticks are there in this pile?" Jiuru was taken aback, his eyes wide with surprise. Earlier, he had been fully focused on the changes in the sword moves and hadn't paid attention to the number of sticks. Now that he was asked, he was speechless. Chu Xianliu said coldly, "If you can't see it, you might as well go over there and count them one by one. If you get the correct number, I'll admit defeat." The crowd gasped in shock: "Isn't this a sure loss?"

  Jiuruo sneered, his heart secretly cursing: "If the monk had reached out to count, he would have won but still lost face." Just as he was hesitating, he heard Liang Xiao laugh and say: "Master Jiuruo, what do you mean by 'three parts of spring color, one sword three parts'?"

  Like a god, he casually replied: "The so-called three cuts are just him swinging his sword out once, no matter how many opponents there are, they'll all be cut into three pieces. However, wood is dead and people are alive, who would stand there waiting to be chopped? Moreover, one sword strike is enough to kill someone, why must it be cut into three pieces? So this sword technique is not practical, but it's good for picking teeth." He was disappointed and could only sarcastically mock the sword technique a few times, but because his insight was extremely high, his words were reasonable, causing Chu Xianliu to refute him unsuccessfully, and he could only lower his head and bitterly smile.

  Liang Xiao smiled and said, "So, no matter how many toothpicks he has, with one move, they will all be divided into three parts." Jiuru nodded and said, "That's right." Liang Xiao continued, "Leaving aside the first sword that cut the wood to obtain materials, afterwards, his one move would divide it into three parts, two moves into nine parts, and three moves into twenty-seven parts. I dare ask, Master, how many moves did Chu Xianliu make in total?" Jiuru's white eyebrows rose, and he hesitated, "This monk knows... a total of six moves..." After speaking, he pinched his fingers to calculate, but although he was highly skilled and had supernatural powers, he had never been good at calculations due to his carefree nature. Chu Xianliu knew this weakness of the old monk from their long interactions, so he set up a trap to lure him into making a mistake.

  Like a frown and pinched fingers, he calculated for a while, but ultimately couldn't figure it out. He scratched his bald head and turned to Liang Xiao with a smile: "Young man, this is too easy, the monk is lazy and doesn't want to calculate anymore. You tell me, how many roots are there?" Liang Xiao laughed in his heart: "This arithmetic is really easy, even a three-year-old child in the Tianji Temple can figure it out." But on the surface, he remained calm and said: "As for the so-called 'three parts of spring color', if we divide it into three moves with 27 parts, then divide again, four moves with 81 parts, and so on. Five moves would be 243 parts, six moves would be 729 parts."

  "Right, it's 729 sticks. Old lecher, if this number is incorrect, then your swordsmanship is no good, and 'Spring Color Three Parts' should be changed to 'Head Brain Dizziness'." Chu Xianliu sneered, "Old monk, what are you proud of? Someone else calculated it, what does it have to do with you?" Jiuru laughed, "In short, do you admit defeat or not?" Chu Xianliu said, "I lost, I didn't expect you to be so shameless." Jiuru raised his thumb and loudly praised, "Good, indeed worthy of being an old lecher!" Chu Xianliu was too lazy to pay attention to him, glanced at Liu Yuying, and shouted, "There's something fishy going on, I need to re-examine it. Today, let's stop for now. If the murderer is really you, even if you escape to Tiānshān, you can't escape my grasp." Everyone who heard this was stunned, they had seen Jiuru's magical powers, and without Chu Xianliu, no one could resist.

  Liu Yingying smiled slightly and said, "Please go ahead." Chu Xianliu sneered coldly and was about to leave with a flick of his sleeve when suddenly someone laughed loudly and said, "Wait!" Everyone turned their heads to look over, and a man in green clothes stepped out from the crowd without touching the ground, clasped his hands together and smiled, saying: "I am Shi Haiyu, I'll show off my clumsiness now, and ask Master Jiuru for guidance on lightness skill once more!"

  This man was the middle-aged Han who had been walking outside Gusu City, chasing horses on foot. He was slender in build, with big eyes and thin lips, and his cheekbones were high and protruding. Jiuru looked at him and thought to herself, "He's quite agile." She asked, "Are you surnamed Shi?" The man in green clothes smiled and said, "That's right, I'm Shi Haiyu, the 'Shi' of Shakyamuni, the 'Hai' of Zhushan Chuihai, and the 'Yu' of Feng Yu Shi Zhi." He nodded his head with a pleased expression. Jiuru laughed and said, "Wonderful! So you're the old turtle's dad?" Shi Haiyu's face suddenly changed, and he angrily said, "Master, as a senior, please watch your words!" Jiuru laughed and said, "Your Shi family is respected on Lingwu Island, why are you also sticking your nose in? Could it be that little girl went to Lingwu Island and stole something from your house?" Shi Haiyu coldly said, "If she had stolen something, I'm afraid she wouldn't have been able to leave the island. This woman is evil through and through, and I helped her out of justice." Suddenly, Liu Yanyan coldly said, "I think you're 'seeing a divine steed on the road and having a greedy intention'." Shi Haiyu's old face turned red hot, and he pretended not to have heard.

  Jiuru asked, "Girl, what's going on?" Liu Yingying said, "He saw my horse and insisted on buying it, but I refused to sell. He just wouldn't let go!" Jiuru glanced at Shi Haiyu with a cold expression, saying, "Old turtle is still a man, but you little turtle are really not worthy of your name!" Shi Haiyu showed no shame, laughing and saying, "Master's words are unjust. I'm just doing everyone a favor by catching thieves and receiving some reward. Let's not waste words, Master dare to compete with me in a footrace?"

  Jiuru asked, "How will we compete?" Shi Haiyu said, "Go to the east gate of Gusu, whoever arrives first wins." Jiuru thought to himself, "Little turtle's legs are quick, he must have learned the old turtle's true skills. If it were any other time, I could take him on, but going to Gusu now is not a good idea. I'm afraid that if we engage in a lightness skill competition with him, someone will deal with those two kids over here. If I bring them along, I'll be burdened and might not be able to outrun him. Hmm, little turtle's martial arts skills are not as good as his father's, but he has more than one trick up his sleeve. This move of 'borrowing a tiger to get rid of a mountain' is really clever." He had spoken loudly earlier and didn't want to go back on his words, so he could only secretly regret it: "The monk hit too many geese and ended up getting pecked in the eye. If I had known this would happen, it would have been better to just have a martial arts competition, at least that way it would be more straightforward."

  Chu Xianliu first folded his arms, feeling a bit stifled. He smiled and said: "Old monk, people who have left home don't speak deceitful words. Once spoken, it's like spilled water, can't be taken back, right?" Jiuru was being pressed by him, and suddenly became angry, shouting loudly: "Who's taking it back? Let's compare!" Suddenly, he heard Liang Xiao say: "Wait a minute." Jiuru was worried, but upon hearing this, his spirit lifted: "This little guy is clever, let's see what he has in mind." He asked: "What do you have to say?"

  Liang Xiao smiled and said: "Soldier against soldier, general against general. You are the commander-in-chief of our side, why did you personally take action? Let this round be given to your junior." The crowd was in an uproar when they heard this, and some people even burst out laughing. Jiuru rubbed his bald head, also feeling embarrassed: "Little guy, Lingao Island's lightness is unparalleled in the world, it's not something to be taken lightly."

  Liang Xiao smiled and said, "No harm, I'll be a testing stone to test this person's weight, see if he's worthy of being the enemy of a great master. If I'm not up to it, the great master can try again." He turned his eyes and smiled, saying, "What do you think, Shi Xiong?" Shi Haiyu crossed his arms, looked up at the sky and coldly laughed: "Who is your Shi Xiong? Do I have a share in speaking with Master Jiuru?" Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Ambition is not limited by age, many people are old but still live in their youth." Shi Tianfeng's eyebrows rose, his eyes filled with anger.

  Jiuruo thought to himself, "This little guy is getting more and more aggressive, could he have some secret winning strategy? Hmm, let him try, I reckon even if the little turtle were a monk, it wouldn't dare to play tricks." He then smiled and said, "Alright, little turtle, you go ahead and play with this kid. If you can beat him, I'll compete with you again!"

  Shihai Yu saw him speak, refuting and not refuting, his face suddenly turned purple, and he burst out laughing loudly. The laughter echoed everywhere, causing the leaves in the forest to rustle and fall. Shihai Yu stopped laughing and said: "Alright, just as Master said. However, I, Shihai, have been roaming the seven seas, never acting without a reason. Since it's a gamble, there must be stakes. Hmph, you lost, what will you give me? If you don't have anything good, even a hand or foot would do!" Everyone was shocked by his words, and the clever ones guessed that Shihai Yu was relying on his status, unwilling to fight with Liang Xiao, and this was meant to force him to retreat.

  Liang Xiao hesitated, when suddenly Liu Yueyue said: "The one with the surname Shi, he lost, I'll give you the lip rouge." Liang Xiao's mind was greatly shaken, but Shi Haiyu was overjoyed, fearing that the other party would regret it, and hastily asked: "Is this for real?" Liu Yueyue replied firmly: "Absolutely no regrets."

  Liang Xiao turned his head to look, the girl bit her lower lip tightly, her starry eyes shining brightly. Seeing him looking over, she let out a soft hum and turned away with a huff. Liang Xiao saw that her expression was cold and distant, and he felt a wave of dizziness in his heart. He thought to himself that if he lost, she would lose her beloved horse, and she would definitely be very sad. If he made her sad, what would be the point of him living in this world? In an instant, a surge of heroic sorrow rose up in his chest, and he said loudly: "Let's make a bet, I'll set the rules!"

  "Ha ha, what rules? We can compare fists and feet, internal strength, swordsmanship, and hidden weapons. I'll accompany you in all of them." Liang Xiao smiled and said: "No need for that, let's just compare lightness skills. It's just that long-distance running is too time-consuming. Let's settle this here." Shi Haiyu had always been fascinated by rare treasures, and now he was eager to get the Lipstick Horse. He thought to himself: "With your young age, I only need two steps to capture you. Long-distance running would be unnecessary." So he said: "Alright, let's do it your way."

  Liang Xiao walked to the front of that pile of thin wooden sticks, with his back to the crowd, and picked out forty-five sticks. He inserted each one into the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he had filled a ten-zhang square area. The crowd was amazed and didn't know what this young man was up to. Liu Yanyan stole a glance and saw that the arrangement of the thin sticks resembled a divine turtle. She couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed: "This little scoundrel is playing some kind of trick, and at this moment he still has the nerve to play with the eight trigrams. Hmph, if he loses the bet, I...I will not pay attention to him for the rest of my life."

  Liang Xiao inserted the forty-five wooden sticks and stood lightly on one of the thin sticks at the eastern end, smiling and saying: "Master Shi, please." Shi Haiyu looked at him strangely, furrowed his brow and said: "What kind of formation is this?" Liang Xiao smiled and said: "You are a small turtle, I will serve you with the Turtle Formation." Shi Haiyu's thin face turned black with anger, and he shouted: "You damned kid, if we're going to compete, let's just compete. What's with all the nonsense?" Liang Xiao smiled and said: "Alright, you and I will run on these sticks. If I get caught by you, I lose. Also, whoever puts both feet on the ground loses!" Shi Haiyu looked at the thin wooden stick, which seemed fragile and would break with one step. After a brief moment of hesitation, he flew towards the western end and landed on one of the sticks. As soon as he landed, he took three steps forward and stopped in the center of the formation, occupying the advantageous position of the formation's eye. From there, he could move freely in all directions.