Chapter Fifty: Betrayal and Estrangement

  Dazed for a while, Liang Xiao woke up and looked around, only to find himself in the bedroom behind the thatched cottage. The quilt still had the fragrance left by his mother. His heart was in severe pain, he struggled to get up, when suddenly he heard low murmurs coming from the thatched cottage.

  Hua Xiao Xue gently lifted the bamboo curtain, peeked out quietly, and with both hands clasped together, knelt on a cushion, gazing at the Guanyin statue. With tears in her eyes, she said: "Great Compassionate Great Merciful Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, disciple Hua Xiao Xue makes a vow here. Disciple is not talented, but is willing to spend her whole life practicing medicine. For every person that Brother Liang kills each day, I will save one more person the next day, as long as there is still breath in them, it will never end. Disciple has no other requests, only asking Bodhisattva to have mercy, for all the crimes that Brother Liang commits, disciple will take on, for all the suffering that Brother Liang receives, disciple will bear. If not possible, Hua Xiao Xue is willing to follow Brother Liang into the Avici Hell, through countless kalpas, never to be reborn..."

  Hua Xiao Shuang had just finished reciting her wish and was about to bow when she suddenly heard a muffled sobbing sound coming from one side. She turned around to see Liang Xiao, who had been holding onto the bamboo curtain, crying on the ground. Her heart racing, she went forward to help him up, saying "Xiao Gege, when did you wake up? I..." Just then, Liang Xiao suddenly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug. His strength was so great that Hua Xiao Shuang almost couldn't breathe, but she didn't dare struggle and could only stand there stiffly.

  Liang Xiao cried until his body went soft, and let go of her saying: "Xiao Shuang, I don't want to live anymore. Living one more day means having one more day of suffering. What's the point of living like this..." Hua Xiao Shuang had a mix of emotions in her heart, not knowing whether she was happy or sad. She reached out and stroked Liang Xiao's temples, speaking softly: "What's done can't be undone, but if you were evil for twenty years, then being good for forty years is also good."

  Liang Xiao nodded silently for a moment. Hua Xiao Xue grasped his hands, gazing at him intently and said seriously: "Xiao Gege, can I ask you something?" Liang Xiao replied: "Go ahead." Hua Xiao Xue continued slowly: "Xiao Gege, please no matter what don't seek death, as long as there's a glimmer of hope, live well." Liang Xiao was stunned for a long time before sighing and saying: "Alright, I promise you."

  Hua Xiao Shuang knew that he was a man of his word and would not go back on his promise, so she smiled and helped him up. The two sat hand in hand for a while, until Liang Xiao finally calmed down. He chopped down some trees to make a simple coffin to hold his mother's body, then went to find some mules to carry the coffin northward.

  Jiuzi and his disciples, along with Zhao Bing, rushed towards him. From a distance, Jiuzi called out, "Young one, have you escaped? Ha! It's not easy to find the monk." With large strides, he hurried over, laughing, and said, "As soon as the monk recovered from his injuries, he went to the Great Heavenly King Temple and caused a huge commotion. That Eight Thoughts Barb fellow was quite stubborn, refusing to reveal even half a sentence despite being beaten by the monk's fists and feet. The monk saw that he had strong loyalty and didn't want to pressure him too much, but since he wouldn't speak, how could the monk ask? After inquiring all around, they finally learned that you were taken away by a horse carriage, and after searching for you along the way, fortunately, they hadn't gone in the wrong direction." He then stroked his beard and laughed loudly.

  Liang Xiao was moved in his heart and cupped his hands, saying: "Master is so concerned, Liang Xiao is grateful." Jiuru glanced at the coffin, frowned and said: "Who is this?" Liang Xiao replied sorrowfully: "This is my mother." Jiuru raised an eyebrow and asked: "What's going on?" Liang Xiao told him the whole story. Jiuru listened with a stern expression, angrily saying: "Shaolao is so shameless, he has lived for so many years and still does such a thing. Hmph, where did he go? I'll catch him and fight him for three days and three nights." Liang Xiao said: "I promised my mother not to seek revenge against him again. A man's word is worth a thousand gold, this matter will be dropped here. Now, I just want to return south and bury my parents together." His tone was dull and despondent.

  Jiu looked at him with a glance, thinking that the young man's arrogance had dissipated, and he was afraid that from now on, he would never recover. Liang Xiao stopped his coffin outside the city and entered the city alone to bid farewell to Guo Shoujing. Guo Shoujing asked about the reason and was amazed, thinking that he had wasted his extraordinary talent and could not be used in the world, feeling endless regret in his heart, wanting to send him out of the city, Liang Xiao politely declined. Guo Shoujing reluctantly called for wine and water, and the two drank three cups together, parting with tears.

  Jiuru Shi, Huaxiao Shuang and three others accompanied Liang Xiao to escort the coffin back south. Along the way, they only saw troops and horses heading north in an endless stream, with soldiers' faces looking worried and speaking in Jiangnan dialect. After asking around, they found out that Kublai Khan had issued a decree to recruit soldiers from Jiangnan to attack Goryeo and Japan.

  Liang Xiao thought for a moment and couldn't help but sigh, "Master Jiuruo, your insight is exceptional. I have some doubts, please enlighten me." Jiuruo said, "Speak freely." Liang Xiao asked, "Why are there wars in the world?" Jiuruo smiled, "As long as humans have good and evil intentions, and insatiable desires, they cannot avoid war." Liang Xiao furrowed his brow, "What do you mean by 'good and evil intentions' and 'insatiable desires'?" Jiuruo replied, "Throughout history, wars have been fought for the sake of righteousness or to conquer unrighteousness. What is meant by 'righteousness' and 'unrighteousness' refers to good and evil intentions. When two countries clash, they fight over territory, cities, and people's children, just like the First Emperor of Qin, Emperor Wu of Han, and even modern-day Genghis Khan - all of them were tireless in their conquests, never satisfied, this is what is meant by 'insatiable desires'."

  "If one can eliminate the heart of good and evil, and eradicate the desires that never satisfy, then will there be eternal peace under heaven and no more wars?" Jiuru shook his head and sighed: "In the past, the Tathagata held an appearance of lawlessness, wanting to break the foolishness of all living beings, but after a lifetime of hard work, he ultimately entered nirvana between the two Sala trees. After that, for thousands of years, the foolish remained foolish, the stubborn remained stubborn, wars continued without end, and disasters multiplied. With the Tathagata's great wisdom and boundless compassion, it was difficult to resolve the world's belligerent and malicious hearts; how much more so for others?"

  Liang Xiao sighed and said, "Even the Buddha has no solution, it seems that in the end, war is inevitable!" Jiuru's gaze swept over the soldiers on the road, and he smiled, saying, "The Buddhist Dharma is a principle for cultivating oneself, not a way to save the world. So, all of this is just nonsense! Young man, I'll tell you, instead of exploring what's right or wrong, why not just follow your nature and act? There are many pitiful people in the world, if you can't bear to look at them, then help them out, no need to ask about principles!" Liang Xiao couldn't help but say, "Young man, you really don't understand. Master, since you don't put Buddhism in your eyes, why do you still call yourself a monk?" Jiuru smiled and said, "Have you seen a turtle shell? Do you think it's more powerful to be inside the shell or outside of it?" Liang Xiao hesitated for a moment before saying, "This seems to have no fixed standard. It depends on how big the turtle shell is. If it's big enough, it might be even harder to get in."

  Hehe, with a smile, he waved his hand and said: "You're too stupid, kid. No matter the size of the turtle shell, it's not impressive if you can only go in or only come out. You have to be able to do both, turn nothing into something, and turn something into nothing. That's what makes a true master. This turtle shell is just like Buddhist law!"

  Liang Xiao furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before nodding and saying, "Can we interpret 'observing life through death' and 'observing death through life' as 'using nothingness to observe existence' and 'using existence to observe nothingness'?" Jiuru stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "That's a wonderful interpretation. It's exactly what is meant by 'life and death are intertwined, life and death are one.'" Liang Xiao suddenly understood, realizing that Jiuru was using this topic to guide him, to prevent him from becoming too deeply immersed in the pain of losing his mother. He felt grateful in his heart and bowed his fist, saying, "Master's words are like gold and jade, Liang Xiao has learned." Jiuru coldly smiled and said, "What is there to learn? The truth is already in people's hearts, monks just serve as guides to bring it out." Liang Xiao nodded in agreement. And so the two of them, young and old, engaged in lively discussions, dispelling the monotony of their journey. Huasheng was clumsy with words and never bothered to think about such profound truths; when others spoke, he simply listened silently, not uttering a word.

  Jiuruo gazed at Liang Xiao and said, "Liang Xiaozhi, why don't you become a monk and be sworn brothers with Hua Sheng?" He looked at Liang Xiao with hopeful eyes. Liang Xiao glanced at Hua Xiaoshuang, who blushed and said, "You can become a monk if you want, but what does it have to do with me?" Liang Xiao smiled and whispered in her ear, "If I were to become a monk, you would be my living Bodhisattva." Hua Xiaoshuang's face turned even redder, and although she didn't say anything, she was secretly delighted. Jiuruo saw this and thought to himself, "Better to destroy ten temples than ruin one marriage! Forget it, forget it!" He laughed and never mentioned the matter again.

  It wasn't long before they reached the borders of Tongzhou. Jiuru raised his head and took a glance, then suddenly let out an exclamation. Liang Xiao followed his gaze and saw that at the horizon, a black dot had appeared, which grew larger by the second. In an instant, they could see its features clearly - it was Ling Ao Island Master Shi Tianfeng. His expression was flustered, but he was approaching at an alarming speed. Jiuru repeatedly cursed their bad luck: "Speak of the turtle and the turtle appears! Old Turtle is the most troublesome, I'd better make a run for it." Jiuru patted his butt and turned to leave, when suddenly someone shouted loudly: "Young Master Liang, please help me block him!"

  Liang Xiao followed the sound and looked away, two people were following Shi Tianfeng and rushing towards this side with all their might. One of them was Ling Shuimonth, and the other was Shi Haiyu. Liang Xiao thought that Shi Tianfeng's actions were muddled and would not last long. He had recently lost his mother and could not bear to see another family broken apart, so he rushed out to block Shi Tianfeng's path.

  "Get out of the way!" Shi Tianfeng shouted. He didn't want to fight and tried to sneak past, but Liang Xiao used his "Ten Directions Step" to get ahead of him first. With a left palm "Trapping Empty Force" inward, and a right palm "Surging Heaven's Fury" outward, he forced Shi Tianfeng to defend himself. After exchanging two moves, Shi Tianfeng retreated, then suddenly feigned a strike with his spear in an attempt to escape. But Liang Xiao was prepared, and his "Ten Directions Step" transformed into a cage of varying sizes that trapped Shi Tianfeng. Although Shi Tianfeng's lightness skill was unmatched, when it came to subtle changes within inches, he couldn't compare to the wonders of the "Ten Directions Step". No matter how hard he tried to struggle free, he found it impossible to escape. Meanwhile, Jiu Ru watched with great interest, enjoying the commotion.

  Ling Shuiyue and her mother arrived, seeing that Liang Xiao did not betray their trust, they were overjoyed. However, the two of them were fighting too intensely, wanting to assist but unable to intervene. Ling Shuiyue glanced at the black wooden staff in Jiu Ru's hand, and suddenly had an idea, clasping her hands together she asked: "May I ask if you are a practitioner of the Vajra Skill?"

  "Golden Vajra Practitioner" was Jiu Ru's nickname in his early years, which no one had called out for many years. Upon hearing it, Jiu Ru couldn't help but smile and say: "This humble title is hardly worth mentioning, yet Madam still remembers it." Ling Shuiyue was overjoyed and hastily said: "My husband has lost his mind and his temperament is erratic, I hope the great master will bestow his blessings and lend a hand." Jiu Ru gazed at the fighting arena, his white eyebrows slightly furrowed. Suddenly, he saw Shi Tianfeng rapidly spin around in several circles, letting out a long whistle as he swiftly leapt up with a slanted thrust. This move was both swift and clever, and Liang Xiao couldn't dodge it, getting knocked out of the way by Shi Tianfeng's sudden jump. Before Shi Tianfeng's feet even touched the ground, a loud, resonant laughter echoed through the air, followed by the appearance of a black wooden staff sweeping across the sky.

  This stick came like a startled swan reflecting shadows, to release Tianfeng's ability. He could only shrink his body and dodge, slightly pausing, Liang Xiao rushed over like a whirlwind, again trapping Tianfeng in the "Ten Directions Step".

  Tian Feng's body was unable to escape, and he let out a loud and strange cry. His hands moved even faster. The two of them exchanged blows at an incredible speed, with over a hundred moves in the blink of an eye. Ling Shui Yue and her son were amazed at how strong Liang Xiao had become, and they watched with bated breath, constantly exclaiming in surprise.

  After a few more moves, Shi Tianfeng unleashed the "Xianhui Gong" technique, leaving Liang Xiao unable to defend himself. Just as he was about to be defeated, Jiuru appeared and struck Shi Tianfeng's vital points with her wooden staff, shouting: "Old Turtle, watch this move!" Ling Shuimeng's face turned red with anger upon hearing the insult, thinking to herself: "How dare this old monk be so rude? He's calling him a turtle, isn't that an insult to me for not being virtuous?" But the situation was too urgent to say anything.

  Shi Tianfeng was sandwiched between two great masters, but instead of being intimidated, his spirit was lifted, and his moves became even more ingenious. With one against two, he didn't fall behind. Jiuru and Liang Xiao were shocked by the intensity of the fight, both thinking: "If we can't defeat him with our combined strength, wouldn't we be ridiculed by everyone?" Each of them harbored a competitive mindset, and Liang Xiao's footwork became increasingly swift, his palm strikes as fast as lightning. Jiuru's wooden staff seemed like a black dragon swirling around Shi Tianfeng, but he maintained his composure, always announcing his moves before striking, albeit with the phrase "old turtle". The speaker didn't intend to provoke, but the listener took offense, and Ling Shuimeng's face turned red with anger.

  Three people exchanged over a dozen moves in a whirlwind manner, and Shi Tianfeng suddenly made a move that forced Jiuru to open up. His eyes widened, and he pointed at Liang Xiao's brow. Jiuru saw Liang Xiao in a tight spot and swung his wooden staff, shouting: "Old turtle, watch your back!" The staff moved like the wind, pointing towards Shi Tianfeng's "Jiwei" acupoint. Shi Tianfeng angrily said: "What can you do?" Without turning around, he grabbed backwards with one hand, using a move that exhausted all possibilities in the world. Jiuru was caught off guard and his staff was grasped by Shi Tianfeng. In an instant, both of them used force together, and the sound of cracking wood was heard as the wooden staff broke in half. Jiuru praised: "Good old turtle!" His white beard fluttered, and he sent out a left fist with force. Shi Tianfeng dodged to one side, and the broken staff stabbed towards Liang Xiao, brushing against his body's acupoints three times in a row, covering all of them. Liang Xiao had no choice but to dodge and weave, revealing a flaw in his "Shifang Step". Shi Tianfeng threw away the staff, laughed loudly, and leaped into the air. Everyone's faces changed color at the same time, knowing that he had used his "Cheng Feng Jia Hai" move, and even if they had all the soldiers in the world, they wouldn't be able to catch up to him.

  Ling Shuiyue and Shi Haiyu rushed out from both sides, while Shi Tianfeng transformed into a flowing light, his speed like a white horse crossing a gap, flashing past between the two of them. At this moment, they suddenly saw a figure flickering in front of them, and Hua Sheng took a step forward to block their path. Shi Tianfeng's previous transformation seemed simple but actually used up all his strength, and at this time, he had exhausted all his moves, unable to dodge, so he angrily shouted: "Little bald thief, get out!" Shi Tianfeng launched both palms, striking with great force, Hua Sheng raised his arm to block, and immediately let out a pained cry, tumbling two zhang away.

  Shi Tianfeng was forced to retreat two steps. Jiuru and Liang Xiao had already rushed over, Jiuru pressed his back, Liang Xiao pressed his waist, Shi Tianfeng's "Xian Xiong Gong" couldn't withstand the joint attack of the two masters, he swayed, gritted his teeth, and fell to the ground.

  Liang Xiao rushed out and shouted: "Hua Sheng, how are you?" Hua Sheng took a deep breath, jumped up, clapped his hands and laughed: "I'm fine, just a bit short of breath." Jiuru said in a low voice: "Don't move randomly, three long and one short, breathe nine times." Hua Sheng did not dare to disobey, sat quietly and regulated his breathing as instructed.

  Ling Shuiyue lowered her head to examine, saw that her husband was not injured, and only then completely relaxed, letting out a long sigh. Shi Tianfeng angrily said: "Old hag, I want to fight with the old bald donkey, don't want to go back..." Jiuru and Liang Xiao saw that he could still speak, each gave him a glance, and Jiuru, in case of any unexpected situation, sealed his six acupoints again. Shi Tianfeng's forehead bulged with blue veins, glaring at Jiuru: "Old bald thief, you've done a good deed." Ling Shuiyue's eyes reddened, saying: "Fine, old man, since you want to leave, why not write a divorce letter and divorce me first?" Shi Tianfeng was taken aback, lowered his head and muttered to himself.

  Ling Shui Yue sighed and said softly, "I understand now. You want to travel everywhere, I won't stop you! As long as you take me with you, whether you win or lose, there will be someone to take care of you along the way." Shi Tian Feng's expression changed greatly when he heard the first two sentences, but when he heard the words "lose also good", he suddenly became furious: "How can I lose? Old lady, your words are inauspicious!" At this point, his eyes suddenly turned dull and a fierce color appeared.

  Ling Shui Yue saw that his heart disease had relapsed, and he was at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, Jiu Ru laughed and said: "Shi Xiong's divine skill is unparalleled in the world, and Lao He Shang himself admits defeat. This fight doesn't need to be fought." Shi Tian Feng's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed: "Is this really true?"

  Jiuruo swung the half wooden stick in his hand and laughed, "This dragon-subduing staff is a monk's signboard. You've dismantled the signboard, so it's not possible for the monk to refuse to admit defeat." Shitianfeng's eyebrows danced with joy as he chuckled, "No big deal, Monk, your martial arts skills are quite good, compared to mine, you're only slightly inferior!"

  In terms of martial arts, the two were evenly matched and it was hard to say who was better. If there was a winner or loser, it was often due to luck. But Old Master's heart was as vast as the ocean, unaffected by wins or losses. Seeing Ling Shuiyue's despondent expression, he chose to yield and admit defeat, thus relieving Shi Tianfeng of his mental burden. With his mind cleared, Shi Tianfeng's spirit became clear and bright once more.

  Ling Shuiyue was deeply grateful to Jiu Ru, and immediately put down her worries. She had a heart-to-heart talk with Liang Xiao and Hua Xiaoxue about their parting feelings. When she heard that Wu Changqing had passed away, she was stunned for a moment, then said: "Heaven is jealous of outstanding talents! Mr. Wu's medical skills were unparalleled in the world, how could he leave like this? I still wanted to send the old man to Laoshan to ask him to treat my broken root!" She sighed loudly and frowned with worry.

  Hua Xiao Shuang said, "Master said that heart disease must be treated with heart medicine. Once the island owner's knot is untied, he only needs to rest for two or three months and should recover." Her voice was very small, but every word was clear and gentle, making people involuntarily believe her. Ling Shui Yue smiled and said, "I forgot that Xiao Shuang is Wu Xiansheng's top disciple!" Hua Xiao Shuang blushed and said, "Auntie, how can you say that? I'm not even worthy of being Master's apprentice... Ah, I'll humbly offer a prescription, maybe the island owner will recover faster if he takes it." Ling Shui Yue grasped her hand, overjoyed. Hua Xiao Shuang took out paper and pen, wrote a prescription, and said, "Within three months, you must not recklessly stir up liver fire, nor can you run around laboriously, competing with others in strength and ferocity."

  Ling Shuiyue thought to herself, "With Old Master's martial arts skills, once he gets crazy, I and Haiyu can't stop him." After a moment of consideration, she smiled and said, "Our island has a separate villa at the foot of Wutai Mountain. I'd like to take my son there for some rest. If you're not too busy, feel free to come and stay for a few days." Liang Xiao waved his hand and said, "I need to escort my mother back south, so it's hard for me to accept your invitation." Ling Shuiyue asked about the reason and was greatly disappointed. Suddenly, she heard Jiuru laugh and say, "The monk also wants to go to Wutai Mountain to meditate, let's accompany the couple on their trip!" Ling Shuiyue turned from worry to joy and thanked him, saying, "With the master accompanying us, everything will be fine." Jiuru was afraid of being alone, so he asked Huasheng to come along. Huasheng heard that she would have to part with Liang Xiao and Hua Xiaoxiao, and her heart ached. She made a big fuss and refused to leave. Hua Xiaoxiao said, "Huasheng, take care of Liang's mother first, we'll come find you later." The little monk knew she wasn't lying, so he wiped away his tears and nodded.

  The crowd bid each other farewell, Shi Haiyu pulled Liang Xiao aside and said in a low voice: "Brother Liang, today we part ways, I don't know when we'll meet again. A great favor doesn't need to be thanked, if there's anything that needs to be done in the future, everyone on Ling Ao Island will respond without hesitation, no questions asked." Liang Xiao nodded in agreement, Shi Tianfeng called out for everyone to leave the cave, but everyone pretended not to hear, making the old man furious and shouting loudly.

  Liang Xiao bid farewell to the crowd and set off south with Hua Xiao Xue and Zhao Bing. After more than ten days of traveling in the wind and dust, they arrived at the Luantang Ridge near Xiangyang and Fangcheng. Liang Xiao prepared a coffin and buried his parents together, and when he buried them, he couldn't help but cry out loudly, hating that he couldn't follow them in death. Hua Xiao Xue used up all her words to persuade him to stay. The two of them built two thatched cottages in front of the tomb and stayed there to fulfill their filial duties.

  With nothing to do, Liang Xiao and Hua Xiao Shuang each taught Zhao Bing to practice martial arts and literature. Zhao Bing was naturally not fond of practicing martial arts, his progress was slow, but he picked up literature quickly and was very clever. Liang Xiao thought: "The great Song Dynasty values literature over martial arts, losing the world, this child doesn't understand." But after his mother's tragic death, his father's revenge was difficult to achieve, and he lost interest in martial arts after his heart was broken. Zhao Bing didn't want to work hard, so Liang Xiao didn't force him either.

  March has passed in the blink of an eye. After breakfast that day, Liang Xiao said to Hua Xiaoshuang: "The three-month mourning period is about to end, I want to go to Tianji Palace for a visit." Hua Xiaoshuang's face turned pale and she trembled with fear, saying: "You... you're going to send me back again?" Liang Xiao smiled wryly and said: "Don't misunderstand, I'm going to Tianji Palace for our wedding matters." Hua Xiaoshuang was overjoyed and her face flushed red, her heart racing wildly as she whispered: "You... you're teasing me again!" Liang Xiao sighed and took her hand, saying: "I may not be a great son-in-law, but I still want to meet the esteemed elders. If we don't make it official, Uncle Hua's face will be lost." Hua Xiaoshuang glanced at him, thinking that making a private arrangement wasn't so bad after all, but then felt she was being too bold and her cheeks flushed with heat as she nodded silently.

  Three men set out eastward, and soon saw the highway filled with dust and smoke, with groups of horsemen rushing southwest. The riders were all armed with swords and knives, looking majestic. Liang Xiao gazed at them coldly, taking mental note.

  After walking fifty miles, Zhao Bing saw a tea house by the side of the road and called out in thirst. Liang Xiao took out a copper coin to buy three bowls of tea water. Just as they were drinking, suddenly two riders came from the road and stopped outside the tea house. The two knights talked and laughed while dismounting and entering. As soon as they saw each other, both sides showed surprise. The yellow-shirted man who was in charge smiled and said: "Brother Liang? After parting for many years, I have been thinking of you!" Liang Xiao stood up straight and said calmly: "Thanks to Master Ming's concern, but whether it is good or bad luck is hard to say."

  The arrivals were none other than Ming Sanqiu and his brother, Ming Santuan. Years ago, they had fought a great battle at Lingtai for the position of Palace Master of Tianji, and now that they met again, Liang Xiao couldn't help but feel a sense of wariness. However, Ming Sanqiu seemed completely at ease, smiling as he gazed at Hua Xiaoxue and said, "Miss Xiaoxue is also here, what a coincidence!" Hua Xiaoxue was overjoyed to see an old acquaintance, and asked, "Ming Palace Master, how are my parents?" Ming Sanqiu smiled and replied, "Your father is fine, but your mother... well, she's not doing too great. In fact, she almost lost her life!" As soon as these words left his lips, Hua Xiaoxue's face turned deathly pale.

  Liang Xiao saw Ming Sanqiu say this, with a smile on his face, and couldn't help but think: "This guy was defeated by me back then, how did he get free? Did the Tianji Palace make another mistake? If it's about being cunning and deceitful, even ten Flower Uncles can't compare to him." He smiled slightly and said lightly: "Master Ming is very pleased with this matter!" Ming Sanqiu laughed and said: "Ming certain has had a knot in his heart for decades, now it's finally resolved, of course he's pleased."

  Liang Xiao thought that this person had spent decades of hard work and lonely dedication, all for the sake of contending for the palace master's throne. Now that he had finally achieved his goal, the position of palace master was within his grasp. His face wore a smile as his arm suddenly stretched out towards Ming Sanqiu's heart. Ming Sanqiu saw the flicker in his eyes and had long been on guard against him. Before Liang Xiao's claw could reach him, he had already leapt out of the way, and Liang Xiao's fingertips only grazed his clothes as they passed by, causing a faint chill to run through his heart.

  Ming Sanqiu was even more shocked, thinking that this retreat would be enough to avoid any capture technique in the world. Who knew that he was almost caught by Liang Xiao right away? In one move, both of them became wary. Liang Xiao waved his hand and "Tao Tian Qi" surged out. Ming Sanqiu swung his sleeve to block it, but a massive force came straight at him, making his chest feel hot, and he secretly exclaimed: "What an overbearing palm power!" He turned his body and hooked Liang Xiao's wrist with a slanted move. Liang Xiao saw that there were almost no traces of techniques in Ming Sanqiu's moves and couldn't help but praise: "Good!" He flipped his palm and made a horizontal sweep, and Ming Sanqiu withdrew his claw-like hand, laughing: "You're not bad either!" As they spoke, the two exchanged seven or eight moves. The more they fought, the more shocked Ming Sanqiu became. After his battle with Ling Tai, he had practiced "Dong Lin Xi Zhou Gong" to perfection, breaking free from the constraints of techniques and becoming even more natural and refined. He didn't expect that this lifelong arch-nemesis would also make rapid progress, making him feel terrified.

  When they fought to the twentieth move, Liang Xiao saw Ming San standing with his hands behind his back, watching from the side. He thought that this guy was not a good person either, and swiftly threw three palm strikes at Ming San. Ming San saw the fierce and malicious attack coming and was about to resist, but suddenly felt Liang Xiao's strength disappear. Before he could react, he saw him dodge out and deceive his way to Ming San's side. Ming San had no time to raise his hand before being grabbed by the chest. Ming San understood his intention, smiled with a lowered head, and said: "Bullying the weak is not what a good man does." Liang Xiao was taken aback, nodded, and said: "Alright, I won't hurt him." He casually patted Ming San's acupoints, threw him aside, and followed up with a palm strike. The wind arrived before his palm did, covering an area of several meters, stirring up rocks and gravel to fly about.

  Liang Xiao took a deep breath, about to swing his fist, when he suddenly heard someone shout: "Liang Xiao, hold on!" Liang Xiao's spirit shook, and he withdrew his palm force, turning his head to look. More than ten riders galloped over, with a horse carriage following in the distance. Liang Xiao recognized the leader as Hua Qingyuan, whom he had not seen for many years. His lip whiskers were now thick, but his face seemed much older.

  Liang Xiao saw that he was unharmed and felt a surge of joy in his heart. He turned to look at Ming Sanqiu, but the latter had a smile on the corner of his mouth. Just as he was wondering about it, Hua Xiaoxue couldn't hold back anymore and called out in a trembling voice: "Dad." Hua Qingyuan heard her call and didn't care that his horse was galloping rapidly, he turned around and jumped off, rushing over to scoop up his daughter in his arms. Tears gushed out as he repeatedly exclaimed: "Good child, good child!" Hua Xiaoxue felt a mix of emotions, unable to speak, and buried her face in her father's chest, wailing loudly.

  Liang Xiao saw his father and daughter reunite after a long time, and the corner of his eye was also hot. At this time, other people arrived one after another, except for "Sick Tianwang" Qin Bofu, Tong Zhu, Xiugou, Zuoyuan, Yanglu were all present, and five of the eight cranes of Tianji had arrived. The crowd looked at Liang Xiao, only to see his expression strange, seemingly surprised and angry, and they dismounted their horses and stood aside, looking back at the two horse-drawn carriages slowly approaching.

  As the horse carriage approached and stopped, the curtain opened, and Hua Wuyan stepped out slowly, with Hua Muyun following closely behind. Liang Xiao thought to himself in surprise: "Hua Wuyan has also left the palace, could something big have happened?" He then cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Senior Hua."

  Hua Wu smiled faintly and said, "Thanks to good fortune, it's passable." Liang Xiao didn't want to talk to her much, just about to ask Hua Mu Rong how he was doing, unexpectedly Hua Mu Rong had a cold expression and turned his head away. His heart was uncertain, suddenly heard Qin Bo Fu sighing, "Liang Xiao, you've grown up!" Liang Xiao's chest felt warm and he bowed his hands saying, "Is the King of Heaven Qin doing well?" Qin Bo Fu looked at him lightly sighed, stroked his beard and nodded slightly.

  Hua Qingyuan's expression changed as he looked at his daughter, expecting her to be weak and frail after all these days. But instead, she looked radiant and healthy, with a hint of maturity in her eyes. He was taken aback and exclaimed, "Xiao Er, I went to Mount Lu to look for you, but only found Mr. Wu's grave. Alas, it was a shock to me!" Hua Xiaoxue sighed, "Father, thanks to Brother Xiang, I've been with him all this time." As she thought of Liang Xiang, her face flushed and her cheeks turned red. Hua Qingyuan's expression stiffened upon hearing this, but he forced a smile and was about to speak when the second carriage arrived. He stepped forward and lifted the curtain, revealing Ling Shuangjun holding a baby as she emerged from the carriage. Seeing her daughter, she burst into tears, and Hua Xiaoxue rushed over, embracing her mother as they both cried together.

  Hua Xiao Shuang cried for a while and then came back to her senses, looking at Ming San Qiu she said: "Ming Zhu Shi, you are always deceiving people, my mother is fine, how could you say that she's very ill, almost losing her life?" Everyone was stunned, Ming San Qiu smiled but didn't speak.

  Ling Shuangjun's cheeks flushed, and she pulled her daughter aside to whisper two sentences in her ear. Hua Xiaoshuang stared at the baby in the swaddle, blurting out: "He's my brother?" Ling Shuangjun smiled and nodded, and Hua Xiaoshuang stomped her foot, saying: "If it was a difficult birth, she should have rested well in the palace, and even if she came out, she shouldn't be standing in a drafty place!" She spoke hastily, revealing the secret between mother and daughter. Ling Shuangjun's face turned bright red as she scolded: "Oh dear, you child..." Hua Xiaoshuang also blushed and walked with her mother to a sheltered area.

  Liang Xiao suddenly enlightened, only to hear Ming Sanqiu laugh and say: "The birth of Huagong's Tianxi Lin'er is a great joy, but the loss of his beloved daughter is also a sorrow in his heart. Today, the whole family reunites, it's a happy occasion." Hua Qingyuan sighed: "It's all thanks to everyone's blessings." Liang Xiao said: "Ming Zhu, why do you have to go around in circles with me and cause misunderstandings with Lao Da?" Ming Sanqiu laughed and said: "If not for this, how could I see your true skills?"

  Qin Bofu suddenly said, "Liang Xiao, Ming Laoxiong is no longer in charge and has succeeded Huang He's position." Liang Xiao nodded silently. Ming Sanqiu sighed, "Thanks to Qingyuan brother's magnanimity, he forgave my mistakes. I realized that Tianji Palace values seclusion, and Qingyuan brother's calm nature makes him the most suitable master. Now, I only seek to study martial arts and have no more extravagant thoughts!" Liang Xiao thought, "He said 'a decades-long knot was untied in one morning', it turns out he meant this." Thinking of his abandonment of fame and wealth for studying, he couldn't help but respect him, bowing his hands, "I apologize for my previous offense, I hope Ming brother will forgive me." Ming Sanqiu smiled slightly.

  Hua Qingyuan silently gazed at Liang Xiao for a moment, then suddenly said: "Liang Xiao, thank you for taking care of Xiaoxue..." Before he could finish speaking, Hua Wuyan lightly coughed and said: "Qingyuan, come here, I have something to say." Hua Qingyuan was taken aback, walked forward, and Hua Wuyan grasped his hand, saying: "Don't forget what I told you when I left the palace." As she spoke, her index finger swiftly drew a secret signal on Hua Qingyuan's palm. Only after finishing speaking did she release his hand. Hua Qingyuan's face twitched several times before he turned around and said: "Liang Xiao, I have a few words to say, but I don't know if I should speak or not."

  Liang Xiao Dao said, "Uncle Hua has something to say, Liang Xiao will not disobey." Hua Qing Yuan was silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "I have three important things to do this time I leave the palace. The first is to find Xiaoshuang's trail. Fortunately, thanks to your protection, she is safe and sound. As for the second thing..." He leaned close to Liang Xiao's ear, as if he wanted to whisper something. Liang Xiao knew that it must be an important and difficult matter, and that Hua Qing Yuan was going to ask for his help. So he concentrated and listened carefully. Suddenly, he felt a numbness in the four major acupoints on his waist - "Shen Shu", "Qi Xue", "Zhong Ji" and "Guan Yuan". He had already been sealed by Hua Qing Yuan.

  Li Shuo did not expect Hua Qingyuan to make a sneak attack. But he had the "Whale's Breath Skill", and once his acupoints were sealed, his internal energy would counterattack and open up the "Guan Yuan" point. He shouted: "Uncle Hua, what are you doing...!" His right arm shook, and Hua Qingyuan felt a burning sensation in his tiger's mouth, his body tilting to one side, almost breaking free from Li Shuo's grasp.

  Liang Xiao wanted to struggle again, but a strong gust of wind suddenly rose, and a powerful and unparalleled inner energy burst into his back. This inner energy was all too familiar, and he involuntarily cried out: "Qin Tianwang..." He bent down on one knee, his body almost falling over, just as he was about to exert himself to struggle up again. The Five Cranes of the Heavenly Machine moved forward together with Hua Qingyuan, six people with twelve hands pinning him down firmly.

  The scene changed suddenly, and Hua Xiao Xue and Zhao Bing were stunned. Hua Xiao Xue exclaimed: "Dad..." Just as she was about to rush forward, her back suddenly felt numb and she was pressed down by Ling Xue Jun's "Zhī Yáng" acupoint. She was even more shocked in her heart and cried out: "Mom..." Zhao Bing, on the other hand, jumped onto Hua Qing Yuan's leg, punching and kicking. Hua Qing Yuan saw that this child was so fierce and didn't know what to do for a moment. Hua Mu Rong rushed forward, grabbing Zhao Bing in mid-air. After struggling and kicking for a while, Zhao Bing went limp all over and burst into tears.

  Hua Xiao Shuang's heart was about to break, her face pale, she turned her head and looked at Hua Wu Nian and said: "Grandma, is this your idea......" Hua Wu Nian hummed a sound, coldly not answering.

  "Hua Qingyuan sighed and said: "Liang Xiao, the second thing I want to do this time when I leave the palace is to use all my power to capture you, in order to comfort the spirits of the great Song Dynasty's soldiers and civilians." Liang Xiao was originally at a loss, but after hearing these words, his heart suddenly cleared up, and he smiled bitterly: "Good, Uncle Hua, you're doing well." As he spoke, blood flowed from the corner of his mouth like a thread, dripping down to the ground with a steady patter.

  Qin Bohu said in a cold voice, "Liang Xiao, we're really not proud of capturing you this time, but you used Tianji Palace's skills to deal with the Song people, attacking cities and killing countless people. Your crimes are truly unforgivable." His words were sharp as needles, piercing Liang Xiao's heart with great pain. Thinking that these two elders he had trusted his whole life had ambushed him, he felt a chill run down his spine and resentment grew, gritting his teeth to say, "Victor or defeated, ambush is just ambush, why bother with flowery words."

  Qin Bo raised an eyebrow and shouted, "You stinky little brat, don't you regret it yet? A real man dares to do and dare to bear the consequences. When you were serving as a traitor in Ping Zhang's court, didn't you think about today? When you slaughtered the people of Great Song, didn't you think about retribution?" He had gone through thick and thin with Liang Xiao, but he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. In his heart, however, he held Liang Xiao in extremely high regard. Seeing him stray from the right path was heartbreaking, and after scolding him a few times, he felt his anger rising and his old illness acting up again. His face turned red, and he couldn't stop coughing.

  Hua Xiao Xue hastily said, "Qin Bo, Liang Xiao has long since regretted..."

  Liang Xiao cut her off, shouting, "I've done what I've done, and I've never regretted it! Hua Xiao Xue, if you say one more word, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Hua Xiao Xue saw the ferocity in his expression and felt a tremble in her heart. She lowered her head, and tears wet her clothes.

  Everyone in the Tianji Palace thought to themselves, "This kid is eccentric and unreasonable, no wonder he committed such a serious crime." Suddenly, Hua Wuyue said, "Bring out the 'Dragon Lock'!"

  Hua Qingyun took out a pair of iron handcuffs, with a complex purple-black structure. He handed them over to Liang Xiao, who locked his hands and feet in place. With a series of clicks, the mechanism was activated, securing Liang Xiao's limbs tightly. Hua Qingyun sighed, "Liang Xiao, ordinary methods wouldn't be enough to hold you back, so I had to use these... Alas, it's all because Uncle Hua didn't rescue you from Minggui's clutches back then, leading you astray... Today, it should be me who's locked up instead..." As he spoke, his eyes grew red with tears.

  Liang Xiao hung his head in silence. Hua Qingyuan let out a long sigh and put him into the carriage. The people of Tianji Palace all had serious expressions and walked quietly. In the midst of this, Zhao Bing's whimpering grew louder and more piercing, Hua Xiaoxue felt weak all over and leaned against her mother, her mind in disarray, completely at a loss. Ling Shuangjun saw her expression and guessed what she was thinking, feeling a pang of sorrow: "Xiaoxue has been born into a life of hardship, how did she encounter this evil Liang again? Heaven is really too cruel to her..." As she thought about it, tears began to fall. The tears fell on the baby's face, causing him to cry out in distress, and Ling Shuangjun could only collect herself and try to comfort her young son.

  Hua Xiao Shuang heard the crying, came back to her senses, suppressed her emotions, and asked softly: "What's your brother's name?" Ling Shuang Jun looked at the baby, his eyes full of love and pity, and said softly: "We call him Jing Yuan, nickname Yuan Er." Hua Xiao Shuang murmured: "Jing Yuan, is it 'broken mirror re-rounded'?" Ling Shuang Jun's face turned red, and he said softly: "When you weren't by my side, I was lonely and thought of giving up. Luckily, your father consoled me carefully. Alas, after all these days, my hatred for him has faded, and I've managed to give birth to him after suffering for a few years. Fortunately, your grandmother kept her promise and let us find you back." Ling Shuang Jun looked at his beloved son, his eyes filled with indescribable tenderness and joy.

  Hua Xiao Shuang gazed at the infant's rosy face, her heart aching: "Fortunately, he doesn't resemble me, suffering from a young age. He will become the master of Tianji Palace, while I am just a woman with a tumultuous fate, unaware of what tomorrow holds..." As she thought, her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife, and she silently lowered her head, Ling Shuang Jun witnessing this, his heart growing even more sorrowful.

  Before long, the hoofbeats suddenly stopped. Huā Qīng Yuān lifted the curtain of the carriage. Liáng Xiāo took a glance around and saw that the dusk was getting thicker. The surrounding black pine forest surrounded a hundred-zhang large clearing, with a wooden platform in the center. On the platform, dozens of torches were burning crackling, emitting a fragrance of pine. Below the platform stood many people, densely packed, yet not one of them made a sound.

  This scene seemed familiar, and Liang Xiao suddenly realized: "Isn't this Bai Zhang Ping?" He remembered that day when Yun Wancheng swore an oath in blood, Xiang Qian was alone and showed off his might, and he himself had inadvertently let out a cry, causing his mother to flee far away and his father to lose his life. All sorts of emotions flashed through his mind, and for a moment, it seemed like a dream. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the crowd, laughing: "Everyone is safe?" Liang Xiao looked up, and the person was tall and slender, with an air of elegance that was overwhelming, surprisingly, it was his arch-nemesis Yun Shu.

  "Cloud brothers, how's the arrangement?" Cloud Shu replied calmly: "Thanks to the Palace Master's care, everything is ready, only waiting for the east wind." After finishing speaking, he turned his head and greeted Hua Wuji and Qin Bosi. When it was Hua Muyong's turn, Cloud Shu's voice softened: "Muyong!" Hua Muyong hummed in response, with a hint of shyness amidst her joy, asking: "These days, you must have been very busy?" Cloud Shu smiled: "Busy is busy, but not extremely so." Hua Muyong's face turned red as she whispered: "Don't be poor-mouthed in front of everyone." Cloud Shu smiled slightly.

  "Cloud Shu, the person you mentioned has been captured by us," said Hua Mu Rong. Cloud Shu's body shook violently as he exclaimed, "Really?" Qin Bo Fu brought Liang Xiao out of the carriage, and Cloud Shu gazed at him. Their eyes met, and Cloud Shu's face turned red with rage. Suddenly, he burst into loud laughter, saying, "Excellent! Today we can hold a grand ceremony to eliminate evil!" Hua Qing Yuan hesitated, "Cloud brother, this person has a deep connection with my Tianji Palace... please show mercy..." Cloud Shu shook his head, "Hua Palace Master, if it were someone else, I would agree. But this person must not be spared."

  Huā Qīng Yuān wanted to speak but stopped, her expression gloomy. Huā Mù Róng bit her lip and suddenly said: "Yún Shū, I also know that Xiāo'ér was greatly wrong, but he has been without a mother since childhood and lacks guidance. Moreover, he is young and inexperienced, so it's inevitable that he makes mistakes. Look at my face..." Before she finished speaking, Yún Shū had already shaken her head repeatedly.

  Hua Murong was about to say more, when suddenly Hua Wuyan sighed and said: "Yun Shu is right, Liang Xiao has a debt of gratitude towards our Tianji Palace, but that's a personal favor. Leading troops to attack Song and slaughtering civilians is a public outrage. Which one is lighter or heavier, everyone should understand. Moreover, his extraordinary skills come from Tianji Palace, if we don't punish him according to the law, the reputation of our palace for 400 years will be ruined in an instant." As soon as these words came out, everyone in Tianji Palace was shocked, and Hua Xiaoxue only felt dizzy and fainted into Ling Shuangjun's arms.

  Yun Shu's face sank, and he suddenly shouted loudly: "Take this traitor to the stage!" He Xiangyang responded with a fierce gaze, rushed towards Liang Xiao's face, spat fiercely, kicked and dragged him onto the wooden platform, and threw him heavily to the ground. The crowd didn't know what happened, and they were in an uproar, discussing it loudly. Yun Shu walked up to the stage, his arm waved lightly, and the area below the stage suddenly fell silent.

  Yun's gaze swept over the crowd, and he said in a low voice: "Now that the Central Plains have fallen, the barbarians are rampant, Yun Mou has lost his teacher and humiliated his country. He is ashamed to face you gentlemen. Yun Mou's knowledge is shallow, and he is not good at dealing with people, but he cannot bear to see millions of compatriots crying under the iron hooves, being treated as cattle and slaves. Today, I have gathered everyone together, sincerely hoping that we can work together to train a strong army and compete with the Tartars once again."

  The southern warriors under the stage, who had experienced war and suffered the humiliation of their country's downfall, were stirred to a boil by these words. They shouted in unison: "Right! Let's drive those northern bandits back!" "My Black Wind Fort's 500 cavalrymen are at Cloud Big Hero's command." "We swear to follow Cloud Big Hero to the death and kill those Tartar dogs. If we leave even one alive, we won't be able to rest in peace." The crowd shouted in agreement: "Right! If we leave even one Tartar dog alive, we won't be able to rest in peace!"

  An old man suddenly spoke coldly, "Although Cloud Big Hero's words are bold, but raising an army to restore the country is not a trivial matter. Let's not talk about the current Mongolians being strong and prosperous, even if we were to revive the righteous army, it would be no easy task. Dare I ask, where will the food and grass come from? Where will the military equipment come from? And where will the money for recruiting soldiers and buying horses come from?" The crowd only sought a momentary thrill, but didn't think about these many key points. After hearing this, they couldn't help but look at each other in dismay, greatly disappointed.

  Yun smiled slightly and said, "As for the money, grain, and horses, I have my own way of raising them. Within a month, there will be enough silver to supply tens of thousands of soldiers. Everyone can rest assured!" The crowd cheered wildly, shouting: "Cloud Big Hero's eyes are all-seeing, who else can we trust if not you?" "If it weren't for the treacherous officials in power, Cloud Big Hero would have defeated the Tartars and restored the Han Dynasty long ago." "Yes, among the heroes of the world, Cloud Big Hero is the first. Whoever doesn't trust you, I, Guo Lao San, will make him splatter blood five feet high..."

  Yun Shu's face was filled with shame and guilt, but seeing the unanimous sentiment of the crowd, he felt a surge of joy. He raised his hands to silence the crowd and declared in a loud voice: "Today, I invited you all here to forge an important oath, but since our allies have not yet arrived, I, Yun, would like to settle a major matter first." Pointing at Liang Xiao, he said loudly, "This man is named Liang Xiao. He was once a general of the enemy who attacked our city and killed our people. His crimes are truly unforgivable. Thanks to the help of the skilled warriors from Tianji Palace, we were able to capture him. What do you all think should be done with this scoundrel?"

  The crowd of heroes were shocked and delighted, shouting: "Cut out his tongue and dig out his heart!" "Skin him alive..." At this moment, countless resentful eyes shot towards Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao's limbs were bound, but he still looked arrogant and didn't even glance at the people below the stage. Seeing his haughty attitude, the crowd became even more enraged and couldn't bear it, drawing their swords and rushing to the front of the stage. Hua Xiao Xue opened her small mouth, her whole body feeling cold, yet she was powerless to move, only feeling her vision blur and almost fainting.

  Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed through the air, and someone shouted loudly: "Brother Yun has captured this Tatar alive, what a wonderful thing! How can I not join in on the fun?" The group of heroes looked around to see dozens of blonde-haired foreigners leading camels and horses emerging from the shadows. Cloud Shu laughed and said: "Master He Daluo, you've arrived just in time!" He Daluo dismounted his horse, his silver hair fluttering in the wind, and smiled: "I couldn't possibly come empty-handed to such a grand gathering! I was delayed for a while due to transportation costs." With a clap of his hands, a giant nine-foot-tall man emerged from behind him, with high nose and deep eyes, blonde hair reaching his shoulders, carrying an eight-foot-long copper staff as thick as a bowl on his shoulder, and four wooden chests on his back. His feet moved swiftly like the wind, but every step he took sank half a foot into the ground.

  The giant walked up to He Tuo, shook his shoulders, and the four wooden boxes flew out three feet, passing over the heads of the crowd, falling in front of the stage with a loud crash. The wooden boxes were smashed to pieces, and gold light burst out. The crowd stared in amazement as they saw that the four large wooden boxes were filled with thick gold bars. The crowd was in an uproar, both marveling at the preciousness of the gold and shocked by the giant's divine strength. These four boxes of gold weighed no less than a thousand catties, yet he had tossed them several feet without expending any effort.

  Yun Shu Dong Rong said: "Brave warrior, dare to ask your great name." The giant inserted the copper rod into the ground and joined his hands together, saying: "I am Qi Cha Ren Hu Chi Yin." His tone was cold and unfamiliar, but his words were clear.

  Qin Bohu looked at him and suddenly asked, "May I ask, are you practicing the 'Small Black Magic Skill'?" Hu Chi was taken aback, shook his head and said, "What is the 'Small Black Magic Skill'?" Qin Bohu stared at him, frowned and said, "Years ago, Wu Wang's practice of 'Great Vajra Divine Power' was unsuccessful, so he created a new evil skill. Every time he practiced it, he had to absorb the fresh blood of living people. Wu Wang called it the 'Small Black Magic Skill'. Once mastered, its power would be boundless, with the ability to move mountains and lift tripods. However, killing people and absorbing their blood was too poisonous, so later on, he was attacked by a group of powerful masters, suffered serious injuries and escaped to the Western Regions, after which there was no more news about him."

  Hu Chi Yin's expressionless face suddenly lit up with a smile as he said, "This strength of mine is innate, not the result of 'Little Black Magic'. However, I've heard that in the Central Plains, there's a 'Great Vajra Divine Strength' that I'd love to meet if I had the chance." Qin Bo Yu calmly replied, "You've heard of 'Great Vajra Divine Strength', but have you heard of 'Giant Spirit Mystical Skill'?" Hu Chi Yin's eyes sparkled as he burst out laughing and said, "So it turns out that you're the Illness King, I've long admired you!"

  Qin Bohu nodded and said, "It seems you are well-prepared, soon I will also ask for your advice." Huo Zheyi's eyes flashed with a fierce light, but he just smiled without speaking. He Daluo suddenly laughed and said, "Yun younger brother, today we are either forming an alliance or competing in martial arts?" Yun Shu said, "Of course it is an alliance." He Daluo pointed to the gold bars and said, "These are the gifts I brought for our meeting." Yun Shu smiled happily and said, "Master has thought this through thoroughly."

  He Tuo's eyes rolled, and he smiled at Liang Xiao: "Lord Ping Zhang, where has your usual prestige gone? Ha, the wheel of fortune turns, everyone has a bad time." Liang Xiao said calmly: "That's right, I suppose you swam back?" He Tuo's face surged with anger, coldly saying: "Nonsense, thanks to Lord Ping Zhang's left shipbuilding skills, my brother Yun and I were able to cross the sea!"

  Originally, He Daluo and Yun Shu were abandoned on the island by Liang Xiao. After their anger dissipated, they had no choice but to continue building a ship. Although Liang Xiao delayed the construction period, he didn't want to put the two in danger. The shipbuilding techniques he taught were mostly correct. The two of them worked diligently and after more than a month, they finally built a sea-going vessel that sailed back to the mainland.

  Hei Tuo Luo recalled the matter of being deceived and felt extremely angry, loudly saying: "Yun younger brother, how should this guy be dealt with?" Yun Shu smiled and said: "The host follows the guest's convenience, what does the master think?" Hei Tuo Luo smiled and said: "Yun younger brother is being polite, you Han people's famous general Yue Fei has a saying that goes well: 'Ambitious heroes eat the meat of the barbarians, laughing and talking while drinking the blood of the Xiongnu.' Our alliance with this thing is an unprecedented great event in history. If we use cattle and sheep for sacrifice to worship heaven and earth, it's too common. Why not just take this guy as a sacrifice, drink his blood, eat his flesh? Wouldn't that be delightful?" Although he was speaking with a smile, the crowd felt their scalps numb. Yun Shu hesitated for a moment, clapped his hands and laughed: "Good, let's do it like this!"

  Hua Xiao Shuang involuntarily shouted in a shrill voice: "Don't!" Before her cry had faded, the crowd of heroes shouted in unison: "That's right! To deal with such an evil person, this is exactly what he deserves." "Tear him to pieces and only then can I vent my hatred..." In the blink of an eye, Hua Xiao Shuang's mournful cries were drowned out by the angry roars of the crowd. Hua Mu Rong could no longer bear it and shouted loudly: "Yun Shu, killing someone is just a matter of beheading them, why must you torture him like this?" Yun Shu furrowed his brow, but before he could respond, He Da Luo had already laughed and said: "Miss, your words are mistaken. Can those who achieve great things have the compassion of a woman? This scoundrel Liang Xiao has killed countless people, even if we turn him into pulp it wouldn't be unjust."

  Yun Shu said, "You're right. Back then, I was too soft-hearted towards the women and children, which led to those corrupt officials and incompetent generals hindering me at every turn, ultimately resulting in our defeat at Yaoshan. From now on, as long as we can drive out the Tartars and restore China, I, Yun Shu, will stop at nothing. If we can form an alliance with a great villain like Hetao, what's killing one enemy?" He then said sternly, "Murong, my mind is made up, don't speak of it again."

  Hua Murong was taken aback, and said coldly: "The person is in our hands, how to deal with him should be up to the Tianji Palace." Yun Shu had received assistance from the Tianji Palace and had a marriage agreement with Hua Murong, so he tolerated her everywhere. Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, she made things difficult for him, and he was momentarily enraged, saying lightly: "Military and national affairs, what does it have to do with a woman's family?" Hua Murong did not expect him to be so rude, completely unlike his usual considerate self, and was shocked and angry, shouting: "Good! This is your true face? I just want to intervene today, see how you deal with me!" After that, she wanted to jump onto the stage and fight Yun Shu.

  Hua Wuyin grasped her hand and sternly shouted, "Muruo, shut up! Yunshu is right, this is a matter of national importance, you as a woman should not interfere." Hua Muruo felt wronged and tears fell, loudly saying, "Mother, are you also saying this?" Hua Wuyin sighed, "This concerns the reputation of Tianji Palace for hundreds of years, at this moment there's no other way but to stay out of it?" Hua Muruo's body trembled, turned her head to look at Hua Xiaoxue, saw that her eyes were filled with tears and pleading, unknowingly felt a pang in her chest, covered her face and rushed into the carriage.

  Yun Shu's expression turned cold and hard, his voice low and menacing: "He brother, you're here to enforce the law!" He Xiangyang smiled and said: "I'm just in time. This business of cutting off people's limbs is my specialty. I'll make sure he doesn't die quickly." After finishing speaking, he pulled out a sharp knife with a cow ear-shaped tip and put it in his mouth, ready to go and tear Liang Xiao's clothes. Suddenly, a young voice said: "Uncle He, I'm here to help you." He Xiangyang turned his head to look, and saw that it was Jing Fei's son, Jing Wen. He nodded and said: "Good, little Wen, this evil person killed your whole family. You should take revenge." Jing Wen jumped forward and kicked Liang Xiao fiercely with one foot. Liang Xiao glared at him with anger, his eyes flashing with a fierce light. Jing Fei was intimidated by the glare and involuntarily took two steps back, spitting out a mouthful of saliva and saying: "You're still so ferocious? Hmph! Uncle He, I'll blind this guy first." With youthful energy and a desire to show off in front of the crowd, he snatched the knife from He Xiangyang's hand and stabbed fiercely at Liang Xiao's eyes. Unexpectedly, although Liang Xiao was trapped by the "Dragon Lock", his internal strength was still present. Seeing the knife coming, he dodged to the right, and Jing Wen's knife sliced through empty air, the blade flashing brightly as it fell from his cheek, leaving a two-inch long wound that was deep enough to show bone.

  Jing Wen was unable to stab a bound person, extremely annoyed and murderous, he suddenly turned his hand and stabbed towards Liang Xiao's heart. Hua Xiao Xue fainted in front of him. The group of heroes all cried out in regret: "If this knife goes down, wouldn't it make it too easy for this guy to die?"

  Just as the knife was about to fall, a stone flew through the air and hit the sharp blade with a clang. Jing Wenhut's mouth bled, and the sharp blade flew out of his hand. A figure flashed by, and Ming Sanqiu stood tall on the platform, his sleeves fluttering in the wind. The people of Tianji Palace all changed color. Yun Shu exclaimed, "Mr. Ming, why is this?" Ming Sanqiu shook his head and sighed, "Liang Xiao's mathematical skills are unparalleled throughout history, it would be a pity to kill him." Yun Shu frowned and said, "Mathematics is just a minor path, the safety of the country is what matters most." Ming Sanqiu laughed loudly and said, "What a noble cause! Tell me, if you killed Liang Xiao, could you restore the Song dynasty?" Yun Shu was taken aback, and his words were stuck in his throat.

  Ming Sanqiu said, "Although Liang Xiao has a thousand shortcomings, he is indeed a rare talent who excels in both martial arts and numerology. If Brother Yun is truly displeased with him, why not abolish his martial arts skills and keep him at the Tianji Palace to focus on numerology from now on, erasing all traces of him from the Jianghu?" Before Cloud could respond, He Daluo sneered, "Letting him enjoy a life of leisure would be letting him off easy, wouldn't it?" Turning to Cloud, he said, "Time is running out, let's quickly settle this matter and form an alliance!" Cloud nodded, saying, "This matter doesn't require Brother Ming's involvement, please withdraw."

  Ming Sanqiu stood still, his hands behind his back, a cold smile on his face. Yun Shu's eyebrows revealed a hint of anger as he gazed at Hua Qingyuan and asked, "Hua Palace Master, what do you say?" Hua Qingyuan was torn in her mind and had yet to speak when she heard Hua Wuyan say coldly, "Ming Sanqiu, are you taking matters into your own hands and not putting the palace master in your eyes?" Ming Sanqiu smiled slightly, looking at Hua Qingyuan and saying, "Hua Palace Master, I have been devoted to my duties these past few years, not making things difficult for you. This is because I admire your calm and gentle nature, having a magnanimous heart. However, if we were to discuss other abilities, I don't admire you in the least."

  Hua Qingyuan's face turned pale, and he sighed, "Indeed, if it were not for other things, I, Hua, would be far inferior to Brother Ming." Ming Sanqiu nodded and said, "If it weren't for Liang Xiao taking the lead, Tianji Palace would have long since ceased to belong to the Hua family. However, although I lost to him, I was convinced by his abilities, especially in mathematics, where I am deeply impressed. As someone who has always been proud of himself, there is only one person I truly admire - Liang Xiao. Today, you killed him just for a moment's satisfaction. Ah, killing one Liang Xiao may not be a big deal, but perhaps hundreds of years from now, the vast expanse of China may not produce another mathematician who can rival him." He paused slightly and said loudly, "Moreover, what I despise most is the timid turtle that prioritizes self-preservation." His gaze swept over the people of Tianji Palace, revealing a hint of disdain.

  Hua's expression remained calm, and she said lightly, "So, Ming Sanqiu, you're not willing to be a part of Tianji Palace anymore?" Ming Sanqiu burst out laughing and said loudly, "You've been trying every means to force me into rebellion so that you can take action against me? Well done! Today, I, Ming Sanqiu, will do as you wish." He waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "From now on, Ming Sanqiu is completely severed from Tianji Palace, and everything he does has nothing to do with Tianji Palace anymore."

  The scene below was in an uproar, and Hua Wenyin also had a few points of surprise. Ming Sanqiu had been forced to compromise over the years, and he himself wanted to find him but had no excuse. Unexpectedly, he broke out today for an old rival. Liang Xiao had already lost his heart and was about to be executed with his eyes closed, but unexpectedly, at the moment when all the horses were silent, it was Ming Sanqiu who came forward for himself, and for a while, his heart was not feeling well.

  He Tuo Luo suddenly laughed and said: "Yun younger brother, is this what you meant by 'the Southern Dynasty's warriors are united in heart and work together shoulder to shoulder'? What a wonderful unity of heart, what a wonderful cooperation!" Yun Shu's face turned bright red, and he raised his eyebrows, saying: "Ming Sanqiu, if you insist on rebelling, I won't be polite to you." Ming Sanqiu lifted the hem of his long gown, and in a low voice said: "Please." Yun Shu let out a loud shout, and with a flip of his palm, he struck out. Ming Sanqiu stepped forward with his unique footwork, and counterattacked with a flurry of punches. Yun Shu was determined to establish his dominance, and every move he made was venomous. Ming Sanqiu, in order to save Liang Xiao, also used all his skills. In these few years, he had made great progress in his mysterious divine skill, and he was already the top master of Tianji Palace, with real talent and learning that were not inferior to Yun Shu's.

  In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged blows at lightning speed, executing over twenty moves in a whirlwind manner. Yun Shu was eager to win and unleashed his "Surprising Shadow Interlocking Fist". This style of boxing originated from the "Three Talents Returning to the Origin Palm", making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion, with movements as swift as the wind. However, what he didn't expect was that Ming Sanqiu had also studied this palm technique after being defeated by Liang Xiao in the past. His mastery of calculations was second only to Liang Xiao's, and his martial arts skills were uniquely refined. After repeated contemplation, he grasped the subtleties of the palm technique with ease. Seeing Yun Shu execute his fist style, Ming Sanqiu's heart leapt with joy. They exchanged over ten more moves before Ming Sanqiu suddenly shouted "Got it!" and struck Yun Shu's "Ji Men" acupoint with his middle finger, which had slipped through Yun Shu's double palms.

  Yun Shu's half-paralyzed body retreated three steps. The crowd couldn't help but shout in unison, and Fengmian called out: "Young Master, the treasure sword is yours." With a swoosh, he threw out the long sword, Yun Shu stretched out his hand to catch it, unfolded the "Gui Cang Sword", and with a series of swift slashes, turned the tide of battle.

  Two figures flashed by like lightning, entwining and separating, amidst the raging flames. The two silhouettes grew fainter and fainter. Suddenly, a sword gleam flashed, Ming Sanqiu let out a loud shout, and the flames suddenly dimmed again. Yun Shu seemed to be thrown out like a paper kite, falling heavily from several feet high, struggling but unable to get up. A long sword was inserted into Ming Sanqiu's shoulder, with a shiny sword tip exposed behind his back.

  Ming Sanqiu suddenly pulled out a long sword with his backhand, and blood gushed out like a spring, seeping through half of his shirt. Ming Sanqiu looked at the sword's edge and smiled bitterly: "Gong Yangyu, Gong Yangyu, I've broken your palm technique, but I couldn't break your sword technique. Formidable, formidable!" His body swayed, and he used the sword to support himself on the ground, kneeling on one knee, with fresh blood flowing down the sword's edge and gathering into a small pool on the wooden platform.

  Liang Xiao couldn't help but say in a low voice, "Mr. Ming, you and I have no fate to gather and drink together in this life. On the road to the Yellow Springs, Liang Xiao will make sure to sit with you and drink three hundred large cups, and if we don't finish every last drop, we won't be considered good men." Ming Sanqiu looked at him smiling and said, "You'd better remember your words." Liang Xiao nodded and said, "Even in death, I won't forget." Ming Sanqiu smiled and said, "Good, you'd rather die than forget." The two of them exchanged a smile, and then Ming Sanqiu stood up straight, holding his sword in his left hand. In a loud voice, he asked, "Is there anyone else who wants to give me some advice?" Everyone present was shocked by this. He Daluo smiled slightly and said, "What a great skill, I'd like to learn from you." As soon as these words were spoken, everyone thought it wasn't right. Ming Sanqiu had suffered serious injuries, and He Daluo's actions now seemed to be taking advantage of the situation. As the leader of the sect, his behavior was too shameless, even the heroes of the Southern Dynasty looked at him with disdain. Suddenly, Hu Chi Yin laughed and said, "The Han people say it well: 'Why use a cow knife to kill a chicken?' Why does the leader need to take action? I, Hu Chi Yin, can finish him off." With these words, he smiled all over his face and stepped forward.

  Ming Sanqiu saw him approaching and thought, "This person's energy is enormous, his attack must be fierce and unstoppable. I must not let him take the lead." Just as he was about to launch a surprise attack with his long sword, he heard Qin Bosi say coldly, "Brother Ming, how do you think this battle will go?" Ming Sanqiu turned around in surprise and saw that Qin Bosi had somehow appeared on the wooden platform, standing still. Qin Bosi glanced at Liang Xiao and sighed, "I don't know what's right or wrong either. I'll watch you die, but it's not my wish. From today on, whether you're dead or alive, I have nothing to do with you." Liang Xiao felt a lump in his throat and tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

  Hua Wu Yin frowned and shouted loudly, "Ba Fu, do you also want to follow in the footsteps of Ming San Qiu?" Qin Ba Fu remained silent, his palms fluttering as he slapped towards Hu Chi Yin. Hu Chi Yin smiled calmly, his two fists meeting, and the two figures flickered slightly, their feet on the wooden platform suddenly shattering. Qin Ba Fu's eyes widened abruptly, and he shouted fiercely, "Good thief, you still say it's not the work of Xiao Hei Mao?" Hu Chi Yin's face wore a sly smile, but he did not retort.

  The two men advanced and retreated suddenly, their boxing techniques were not particularly fancy, but every move was extremely fierce. In an instant, more than half of the torches on all sides were extinguished by the strong wind. Everyone in Tianji Palace knew Qin Baofu's ferocity, and seeing that Hu Chi didn't fall behind, they couldn't help but feel surprised.

  In the depths of the hall, Hu Chi Yin suddenly let out a shrill and eerie laugh, sending shivers down everyone's spines. In an instant, a fierce gust swept across the wooden platform, extinguishing several torches at once. The only thing visible was the dark silhouette of figures rising and falling erratically. A blood-curdling scream pierced the air, only to be followed by an eerie silence. Suddenly, Qin Bo Yu bellowed, "You demon, how dare you!" The torches flared back to life, revealing Hu Chi Yin embracing a man, his mouth clamped tightly on the man's neck. The man was dressed in Han attire and was one of the warriors who had come to form an alliance. Hu Chi Yin sprinted wildly, his body shrinking by half as he zigzagged across the platform like a ghostly apparition. Qin Bo Yu chased after him with empty hands, unable to catch up and letting out angry roars. The two figures whirled around the platform in a blur before Hu Chi Yin flung the man to the ground. As the crowd gathered around, they saw that the man's neck was a bloody mess, his face pale yellow, and he had already stopped breathing. The warriors erupted into angry shouts, drawing their blades as they charged towards Hu Chi Yin, but were momentarily held back by Qin Bo Yu's struggle with him.

  Hu Chi Yin drank the blood of a person, his spirit greatly increased, and his body relaxed. He let out two loud whoops and swung his palms outward. Qin Bo Fu's breath was caught in his throat as he retreated two steps, thinking to himself that what he had heard was true - every time someone practicing 'Small Black Magic' absorbed the fresh blood of a person, their powers would increase several fold. He focused his mind and took up a defensive stance, but Hu Chi Yin launched a fierce attack, suddenly letting out a strange laugh as he leapt into mid-air, his palms flying towards Qin Bo Fu like mountains. Qin Bo Fu raised his hand to block the attack, but the wooden platform beneath him collapsed with a loud crash. He felt his heart burning and almost vomited blood as Hu Chi Yin's double palms struck down at him in a flurry of wind-like movements.

  The two men exchanged blows, their palms clashing together with a loud thud. At the ninth exchange of palms, Qin Bo Yu's internal energy was disrupted, and he couldn't help but cry out in pain. Just then, Huo Yan's tenth palm strike arrived, and Qin Bo Yu could only barely block it. The four palms met, and Qin Bo Yu felt a sweetness in his throat. He retreated six steps in succession, sat down on the ground with a thud, and spat out a mouthful of blood. Hua Qing Yuan hastily rushed over, took out a cyan jade bottle, poured out a medicinal pill for him to swallow.

  Hu Chi Yin clapped his hands, feeling extremely pleased with himself. He laughed loudly and said, "The Great Spirit's Mysterious Skill is nothing but this!" The group of heroes were just about to charge forward when they saw a fierce glint in Hu Chi Yin's eyes as he swept his gaze over them. His aura was so powerful that it made everyone feel stifled, filling their hearts with unnameable sorrow and anger. Just then, a loud, clear voice rang out from afar, "The Great Spirit's Mysterious Skill may be nothing but this, but what about the Great Golden Strength?" The voice was like thunder, shaking the entire scene. Hu Chi Yin's expression changed slightly as he looked around, only to see two monks hurrying towards him from the north. The first one was exceptionally robust and was none other than Jiu Ru. Behind him was a monk of average build, who turned out to be Hua Sheng.

  Zhao Bing was afraid of Yun Shu discovering himself, so he shrank into a ball and didn't dare make a sound. Just then, he saw Hua Sheng and couldn't help but poke his head out and call out: "Bald Uncle!" Hua Sheng heard him calling and exclaimed, taking three or four steps to dash into the crowd of people from the Tianji Palace. Everyone tried to block him, but the little monk was as slippery as a mud eel, dodging and weaving with ease. He quickly rushed up to Zhao Bing's side, and Xiu Gu swung his palm to strike him, but Hua Sheng suddenly ducked down to avoid the blow, and his shoulder popped up from below to knock against Xiu Gu's elbow. Xiu Gu felt a surge of great force and cried out in surprise as he flew backward, colliding with Tong Zhuang, who had come to assist. The two of them rolled around on the ground together. Hua Sheng easily swept Zhao Bing into his arms, and with a wave of his sleeve, he caught a palm strike from Hua Qingyuan, laughing loudly: "I won't send him off!" Borrowing the momentum, he dashed out of the crowd and returned to Jiu Ru's side.

  Flowers bloom and wither, coming and going as they please. The crowd of masters in the Heavenly Palace seem like nothing to her. She feels a great loss of face and coldly says: "Master Jiuru, you've taught your disciple well!" Master Jiuru strokes his beard and smiles: "I dare not, I dare not." Suddenly, Hong Yin lets out a snort and loudly exclaims: "So you're Master Jiuru? I've heard of your reputation in the Western Regions. Well, come on, let's have a match!"

  Jiuru didn't seem to care, and after glancing at Liang Xiao, smiled and said: "Youngster, I heard that the abbot was attending a gathering nearby, so I dropped by to take a look. How did you end up here too?" Liang Xiao shook his head with a bitter smile, unsure of how to respond. Zhao Heng pointed at the crowd from Tianji Palace and shouted loudly: "They have no shame, they're all ganging up to ambush my uncle!" Yun Shu had already heard Zhao Heng's voice, and a seed of doubt was planted in his heart. Now that he saw Liang Xiao's face clearly, his mind was greatly shocked: "How did the Emperor end up here? It must be that Liang Xiao has taken him hostage and brought him here. I'm to blame for being careless and not noticing earlier."

  Hua Sheng saw Liang Xiao's limbs bound, blood flowing all over his face, and couldn't help but ignite a fierce fire within him. He shouted: "Liang Xiao, who beat you up? I'll help you get revenge!" Hu Chi Yin saw that Jiu Ru and her disciples didn't take him seriously at all, so he became furious and scolded: "Little monk, I'm talking to your master, what are you butting in for?" Hua Sheng was already angry, his round eyes staring wide as he retorted: "I'm talking to Liang Xiao, what's it to you?" Hu Chi Yin became enraged, glaring at him fiercely. Zhao Bing remembered how he sucked human blood and felt afraid in her heart, whispering to Hua Sheng: "Uncle Baldy, he bites people's necks, he's a very bad person." Hua Sheng nodded slightly, handing Zhao Bing over to Jiu Ru, then leapt onto the stage, striding towards Liang Xiao.

  Hu Chi Yin stretched out his arm to block the way, and sneered: "Little monk, what are you doing?" Hua Sheng said: "I want to save Liang Xiao, let me pass." He pushed Hu Chi Yin's abdomen with one hand. Hu Chi Yin deliberately showed off and didn't defend himself, his body was full of energy like molten iron. But unexpectedly, Hua Sheng's push couldn't move him, and he suddenly added force, Hu Chi Yin felt a surge of power, wave after wave, each wave stronger than the last, and his body swayed back two steps. He stared blankly, shouting: "Good little bald thief!" A punch flew straight at Hua Sheng's face, Hua Sheng spun around, swinging his fist to hit Hu Chi Yin's waist, Hu Chi Yin ducked down and kicked out with one leg, sweeping horizontally, Hua Sheng let out a loud shout and also kicked out with one leg, their legs intersecting. Hu Chi Yin stumbled again, almost falling over, his heart racing wildly, he shouted and punched twice at Hua Sheng's chest.

  At this moment, the two of them came and went, fighting in unison. The Western heroes cheered loudly for Wu Zetian, while the Song people below were furious at her brutal killing of their compatriots and hoped for her downfall, cheering on Hua Sheng instead. Amidst the shouting, the two fighters clashed even more fiercely on stage. One was tall and majestic, like a giant holding up the sky; the other was short and sturdy, like a dwarf arhat. Although they seemed mismatched in stature, their fists and feet were evenly matched. Wu Zetian's swift attacks were always countered by Hua Sheng's later but more precise strikes, forcing her to retreat. In an instant, Wu Zetian reached the edge of the wooden stage. Enraged, she let out a loud roar and employed her old trick again, sweeping away the torches with one palm and grabbing another Southern warrior in her hand. Before she could suck his blood, a strong gust of wind blew from behind, and a heavy punch landed on her shoulder, making her throat sweet and almost vomiting blood.

  He had no choice but to dash forward wildly, but unexpectedly Huasheng made use of the "Thirty-Two Body Transformations", and in a flash, he rushed ahead, striking towards Hu Chi's lower abdomen with his "Horse King Flying Hooves". Hu Chi was unable to dodge, so he threw out the martial artist from his embrace, freeing up both hands to block. Unexpectedly, Huasheng was unpredictable, and with one probe of his left hand, he had already lightly and nimbly snatched away that Southern martial artist and tossed him aside. That person had walked through the Ghost Gate Pass once, standing on the spot trembling repeatedly, suddenly feeling a chill in his crotch, and when he looked down, he saw that he had been so scared that he had urinated.

  Suddenly, Hu Chi Yin was pressed by Hua Sheng everywhere, his face lost its luster, and he suddenly let out a loud roar, grabbing another person, wanting to suck blood to gain strength. But he was quick, and Hua Sheng was also quick; every time he grabbed someone, Hua Sheng immediately took them back. Repeatedly, Hu Chi Yin was forced by the little monk to turn around in confusion, his heart filled with extreme anger, so he stopped sucking blood and used all his strength to strike out. In an instant, the two of them relied on their divine powers, exchanging ten palm strikes in a flurry, the sound like muffled thunder, the momentum like giant elephants colliding.

  Hu Chi's strength waned with each passing day, and he had to replenish it by sucking blood. At this moment, he encountered a powerful enemy, his consumption was great, and there was no blood to suck. After twenty palms, he gradually felt weak. Hua Sheng's strength increased with the enemy's, "Mahavairocana Buddha's power" was self-sufficient and didn't rely on external forces. For a time, the fist wind howled, and the more they fought, the braver they became.

  The two men clashed, their movements swift and intricate. Suddenly, Hu Chi Yin's hand slowed slightly, and Hua Sheng saw his chance. With a quick movement, he grasped Hu Chi Yin's left elbow crease at the "Qu Chi" acupoint and twisted it outward with force. Hu Chi Yin tried to counterattack, but Hua Sheng took advantage of the momentum and slipped under his right armpit, his hand forming a tiger claw that grasped Hu Chi Yin's "Zhi Yang" acupoint. His energy pierced through all five fingers, and Hu Chi Yin's entire body went limp. Hua Sheng lifted him high into the air, his head heavy and his feet light, using the momentum to spin him around three times before shouting, "Get down!" and sending him crashing onto the wooden platform. Hu Chi Yin was dazed and disoriented, his lips split and teeth broken, his mouth filled with blood, and half of his skull swollen. Jiu Ru stood by, watching coldly as he laughed, "The Black Devil's skills are nothing but this!"

  The southern heroes were furious with the blood-sucking monster, and seeing this situation they cheered loudly. If not for Cloud's face, they would have rushed up immediately. The Hu people hastily came forward to drag Hulai back for treatment.

  Huasheng was about to be overtaken by He Tuo Luo, when he suddenly felt a strong gust of wind and saw that He Tuo Luo had arrived. Huasheng didn't have time to resist, but then he heard Jiuru laugh and say, "Stinky poisonous snake, let's get close." His wooden staff shot out like a giant python emerging from its den. He Tuo Luo had no choice but to release Huasheng and quickly counterattacked with his sword. Jiuru's wooden staff met He Tuo Luo's sword and spun around in sync, causing He Tuo Luo's tiger mouth to feel hot and his sword almost slipping out of his hand. Immediately, he changed the direction of his fist and struck towards Zhao Huan in Jiuru's arms. Jiuru dodged to the side and laughed, saying, "He Stinky Snake, your moves are still so despicable?" He Tuo Luo's face darkened, his right hand dancing with his sword, while his left fist was beckoning to Zhao Huan.

  Huasheng saw He Tuo being entwined by his master, turned around and dodged to Liang Xiao's front, grasped the "Dragon Lock" and twisted it with force, but the purple-black iron lock didn't budge. Huasheng was taken aback, just about to use more force to twist again, when he suddenly heard a faint sound from behind, as if something was piercing through the air, so he had no choice but to release the lock, and with a casual scoop, he felt it was light and floating in his hand. When he opened his palm, it turned out to be a long, thin pine needle.

  Here is the translation:

  Jiu Ru's stick forced open the door, and he looked at Hei Songlin with a smile: "Old poor acid, you've come just in time. Why bother hiding? Ha! Are you afraid of not becoming a husband?" A rustling sound came from the pine forest, and Gong Yangyu walked out with his clothes fluttering, coldly smiling: "Old bald thief, you only care about showing off your tongue, aren't you afraid of entering the hell where tongues are pulled out?" He fell onto the wooden platform. Hua Wuyan saw him appear, her face suddenly turning pale, her eyes staring at her husband as if she wanted to pierce through him. Hua Qingyuan looked at his father and was also at a loss for what to do. Yun Shu was at a loss for what to do, but when he saw Gong Yangyu arrive, his spirit lifted, and he called out: "Master!" Gong Yangyu coldly snorted, looking up at the sky, ignoring him.

  Jiuruo smiled and said, "Old poor acid, you're right. This is what I call not entering hell, who enters hell? It's precisely the monks' great compassion and sympathy for the world. Good, those who know me are poor and sour." Gongyang Yu snorted in disdain and coldly laughed, saying, "A person cannot be shameless, the shame of being shameless is already shameless." Jiuruo smiled and said, "Poor acid, don't try to show off your writing skills. The monk just asked you, which side are you helping?" Gongyang Yu coldly laughed, saying, "In short, I won't help you." Jiuruo said, "According to the monk's view, killing Liang Xiao would also be useless. Leaving him alive has many benefits." Gongyang Yu fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "If it were an ordinary mistake, it could be forgiven, but gathering all the iron in the nine provinces couldn't melt away this mistake. Not killing this child is unforgivable to the world."

  Here is the translation:

  "Otherwise, with the treacherous and corrupt officials dominating the court of Great Song, the national situation is not prosperous, and a great enemy is at hand. How can we let a three-foot-tall child ascend to the throne and issue orders to the ministers? On the other hand, Kublai Khan is a capable person, with wise ministers within and fierce warriors outside. It's not comparable to other countries; the abilities of the rulers are obvious, and the strengths and weaknesses of the two countries can be seen. As it is said: 'How can swallows sleep peacefully under the wings of hawks?' The Mongols are indeed insatiably greedy, but the downfall of Great Song also cannot be attributed solely to one person's fault. If we attribute the downfall of a country to one person, it's a bit too far-fetched." The heroes listened to these words and felt somewhat displeased, but thinking of the decline and weakness of the Song dynasty, they couldn't help but feel deeply disheartened.

  Gong Yangyu waved his hand and said: "Old monk, you use the mouth of a transcendent to speak the words of a worldly person, which is a great mistake. A man in this world should stand tall and upright, uproot the violent and support the weak, only then can he not violate the code of chivalry. If there are strong people bullying women and children on the street, you would also stand by with your arms crossed, saying: 'Who told them to be so weak?'"

  Jiuru said: "The struggle between two countries is different from a fight in the market..."

  Gong Yangyu didn't wait for him to finish speaking, interrupting him to say: "Although there are light and heavy matters, their principles are the same. The imperial court may be corrupt, but what fault do the common people have? The Yuan people are barbarians from a small country, relying on strong bows and fast horses to show off their temporary abilities, but they are greedy and brutal by nature, indulging in conquests, not understanding the way of benevolence and righteousness, not knowing the laws of governance. The sage said: 'The unyielding will not last long', 'the strong will be brought down'. Taking the world by horseback, can one govern it from horseback? My Han dynasty may have suffered foreign calamities, its national pulse cut off, but there are still millions of common people, countless heroes, even if we are defeated and fallen, as long as the people's hearts do not die, the way of righteousness remains, then like a phoenix rising from the ashes, reborn from the gray dust, how can it be controlled by petty people? Haven't you heard: 'Even if Chu has only three households, it will still destroy Qin'?"

  The heroes of the Southern Dynasty heard this and felt an intense sense of satisfaction, shouting in unison like thunder: "Even if Chu has only three households, it will still destroy Qin!"

  In the year that Qin destroyed the six states, the people of Chu harbored resentment and said: "Although Chu has only three families, those who will destroy Qin must be from Chu." After the event, this saying became a prophecy, as Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, who eventually overthrew the cruel Qin dynasty, were both from Chu.

  Jiuruo sneered and said, "This world is full of big men and heroes, wearing tiger skin as a banner, killing and fighting, causing endless strife. Well, just like you said, why did you make that poisonous vow back then, saying that the Song Dynasty would be turned upside down, but not even lifting a finger?" Gong Yangyu raised an eyebrow and coldly said, "Back then, treacherous officials were in power, and the emperor was incompetent, causing my family to be destroyed. Although I had achieved some martial arts skills, I also had thoughts of revenge, wanting to use one person and one sword to kill all those incompetent emperors and corrupt officials, as well as their entire families." This speech shocked everyone, making them feel a chill down their spines, thinking, "If that's the case, it would be an unprecedented bloodbath in history!"

  Gong Yangyu's voice turned cold, and he continued: "It just so happens that on my way to assassinate the emperor, I encountered the armies of Mongolia and Song clashing. I thought to myself: Let's not mention the Mongols' covetousness, but our country is in a precarious situation. If I were to kill the emperor and his ministers, wouldn't it lead to internal chaos and give our enemies an opportunity to take advantage of us? Moreover, even if the foolish ruler and corrupt officials deserve to die, their families are innocent. Killing them would go against reason and emotion. Although I had these considerations in my heart, I knew that my temperament was extreme, and once I took action, it would be impossible to stop. After much thought, I finally suppressed my desire for revenge and made a poisonous vow: Even if the Song Dynasty were to collapse, I wouldn't lift a finger. Hmph, others think that Gong Yangyu is obsessed with personal revenge and disregards the bigger picture. But they don't know that if it weren't for this poisonous vow holding me back, my three-foot-long sword would have been unsheathed long ago, and the Song Dynasty would have perished!"

  Everyone who heard this was silent, and Yun Shu thought to himself: "I have always resented my master for not upholding the greater righteousness, but I never expected it to be because of this reason?" His heart was filled with confusion, and he forgot what was right or wrong.

  "Ah, old poor and sour, have you never made a mistake in your life? Who hasn't made mistakes? If one can change for the better, isn't that the greatest virtue? Alright, alright, you have your own logic, and monks have their own ideas. Now that the Great Song has fallen, you don't need to worry about oaths anymore. Let's put aside our weapons and talk, see whose sword is useful, or if it's the monk's staff that's more powerful." As he spoke, his wooden staff struck the ground once, sending white whiskers flying. Gong Yangyu gave a faint cold smile, rolled up his sleeves, and stood with his hands clasped together.

  He Tuo Luo laughed and said, "Gong Yang sir, this old thief is too nosy and overestimates himself. Why don't we join hands and teach him a lesson?" Gong Yang Yu glanced at him coldly and said, "You western barbarian, shameless and uncivilized, do you think you're worthy of joining hands with me?" He Tuo Luo's face turned pale for a moment, then he burst out laughing and sneered, "But isn't it your disciple who has come to ask for my help three times already?"

  Gong Yangyu snorted, looking at Yun Shu and saying, "Is that so?" Yun Shu was taken aback, and said in a low voice, "Yes!" Gong Yangyu sternly said, "This is called 'quenching thirst with poison'! If it's not our kind, their hearts must be different. In the past, Emperor Huizong of Song allied with Jin to destroy Liao, but after Liao was destroyed, they were attacked by Jin and lost Bianjing. Emperor Lizong of Song allied with Mongolia to destroy Jin, but in the end couldn't even keep half of the rivers and mountains. Do you want to repeat the same mistake?" Yun Shu's forehead was sweating profusely, although he didn't agree in his heart, he didn't dare to retort. Suddenly, Hua Wuyan coldly laughed and said, "What a narrow-minded view! The way of forming alliances has existed since ancient times. Those foolish emperors may not know how to use it, but that doesn't mean we can't." Gong Yangyu frowned and said, "I'm teaching my disciple, what does this have to do with you?" Hua Wuyan said, "He has a marriage agreement with Murong, so he's considered a member of the Hua family. Whatever he wants to do, I'll take responsibility for it."

  Gong Yangyu's eyebrows flashed with a hint of surprise, and he fell silent for a moment before coldly saying, "Do as you please." He brushed his sleeve impatiently and said, "Old monk, are we fighting or not?" Jiuru smiled and said, "Even if we don't fight, it's quite interesting to see the two of you bickering like a loving couple." Gong Yangyu's eyes gleamed with intensity as he faced off against the two great masters, ready to strike at any moment. Suddenly, they heard Liang Xiao say, "Wait!" The two turned their heads to look back and saw him slowly getting up from the ground with Hua Sheng's support, but even with all his might, Hua Sheng couldn't open the "Dragon Lock". The little monk was so anxious that he scratched his ears and cheeks.

  Liang Xiao bowed his hands to Jiu Ru and said, "Master, you have helped me out of this situation, I am eternally grateful. But a man must take responsibility for his own actions, if I were to harm Master's Buddhist body with my humble self, even in death, I would not be able to rest in peace."

  Jiuru gazed at him for a long time, then sighed and said: "Have you made up your mind?" Liang Xiao replied: "My heart is already determined, I just hope to fulfill it." Jiuru still didn't give up and continued: "As the saying goes, 'put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.' Although you have committed great sins, the Buddhist teachings are vast and can be resolved. Why not abandon worldly desires and join me, wash away all your past sins, and no longer set foot in the mortal world?" As soon as these words came out, Gong Yangyu was slightly taken aback, stroking his long beard under his chin, frowning and hesitating.

  Liang Xiao sighed and said: "Master, I understand your intention, but as for 'a life for a life, a debt repaid', I, Liang Xiao, will do it and never escape!" These two sentences were sharp and clear, with a loud tone, and the group of heroes thought: "This man is evil, but he's not a coward."

  As if he didn't sigh in secret. If you want to know, many sinners from ancient times to the present have relied on Buddhism for protection. Once they become monks, they are no longer people of the mundane world, and as long as they don't do evil again, neither the government nor the underworld will pursue them anymore. Liang Xiao really became a monk with the identity of Gong Yangyu, so it's not convenient to trouble him either. But if Liang Xiao had a determined heart and refused to become a monk, even if Jiu Ru had infinite magical powers, he couldn't resolve this feud.

  He Tuo's eyes sparkled as he clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "Well said! When doing things, one should not regret or change their mind. Once done, it's done, and those who regret are not considered good men." Jiuru heard He Tuo's sarcastic tone and took the opportunity to provoke him, feeling annoyed in his heart. He puffed out his mustache and said: "So you're saying that old monk isn't a good man? Hmph! Last year I was soft-hearted and let you off easy, but now thinking about it, I'm extremely regretful. Come on, come on, if we don't settle this today with one of us dying, I won't rest." Before He Tuo could respond, Jiuru swung his stick out, releasing all the bird-like energy from his belly onto He Tuo's body. He Tuo silently cursed in his heart and used his Banruo halberd to block the attack.

  Gong Yangyu stared at Liang Xiao, his face cold as ice. Hua Sheng saw that something was amiss and quickly stepped forward to block Liang Xiao's path with outstretched arms. Liang Xiao sighed, "Brother, this doesn't concern you, let me pass." Hua Sheng shook his head and said in a low voice, "Once brothers, always brothers. That day you didn't abandon me, today I won't abandon you either." The words Liang Xiao had spoken before going to the Temple of Heaven that day were still etched in Hua Sheng's memory, and he spoke them out without hesitation. Liang Xiao's heart swelled with emotion, his throat momentarily constricted.

  "Hey, bookworm! You think you can mess with my brother? First, you gotta get past me!" He clenched his fists and pushed them towards Gong Yangyu, but stopped halfway and said, "My punches are heavy, if you're scared, surrender now. I don't want to hurt someone as refined-looking as you, it wouldn't sit well with me either."

  Gong Yangyu listened to him with a sincere tone, smiled slightly and said: "You try your best to hit me, I won't fight back. If you can hit me, that's your skill." Huasheng snorted, thinking this bookworm was just bragging, and as he was about to exert his strength, Gong Yangyu suddenly took a big step back. Huasheng's palm pushed empty air, and he hesitated for a moment before shouting loudly, clenching his fist again and sending it straight at Gong Yangyu's chest. But just as the force of his punch was released, Gong Yangyu retreated another step, and with a slight movement, dissipated Huasheng's punching power.

  Huasheng's heart was filled with shock and anger, his fists flying in a flurry of punches. But Gong Yangyu's mind was as clear as a mirror, anticipating his opponent's moves and dodging each blow just in time. Huasheng missed by a hair's breadth, but the mistake was a thousand miles wide - his swift punches always seemed to land on empty air. The two fighters exchanged advances and retreats, circling around the wooden platform ten times or more in the blink of an eye. Huasheng's fists flew with all his might, yet every punch landed with a hollow thud, his chest growing increasingly tight with each blow. With every punch he threw, his breath grew shorter by a fraction. By the time he reached thirty punches, his body swayed, his face flushed bright red, and he stumbled forward two steps like a drunkard before spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

  The crowd was shocked by this scene, and Huasheng had long been defeated by the red-faced man's powerful aura. Who knew that Gong Yangyu would make a move without even making a move, forcing Xiao He to suffocate and spit out blood? This kind of endurance is truly close to being superhuman.

  Liang Xiao saw Gong Yangyu use the method of guessing the enemy's move to defeat Huasheng, and his heart was shocked. He rushed forward and fell in front of Huasheng, but unfortunately, his hands and feet were locked, and he fell to the ground with a thud. His face was covered in blood, and fresh blood gushed out like a spring. Gong Yangyu watched coldly, then suddenly said: "Very good, you little scoundrel has some sense of justice after all! I won't let others take your life, I'll do it myself!" A flash of light appeared from his sleeve, and he drew out the Qingxiao sword, making a few clanging sounds as he broke the "Dragon Lock" into several pieces.

  Liang Xiao stood up and swept his eyes across the group, all of whom were staring at him with fierce gazes. He knew that today he would not be able to escape death. Turning his head back, he saw Hua Xiao Shuang still standing beside the carriage, her face covered in tears and her eyes filled with deep concern. Unconsciously, he raised his head and shouted: "Good!" His palms were about to strike when suddenly he heard Hua Xiao Shuang say: "Old sir, do you still remember me?" Gong Yang Yu looked at her for a moment, shook his head and sighed: "Little girl, don't bother speaking, this time I will not spare him."

  Hua Xiao Shuang smiled miserably and said, "I don't ask you to spare his life, I just want to face him and say a heartfelt word." Gong Yang Yu waved his hand and said, "No way, you little girl cry and whine, making my heart soft, then I won't be able to kill anyone anymore." Hua Wu Xian suddenly said, "So you're not only a hypocrite, but also a coward?"

  Gong Yangyu's face changed color, and he beckoned: "Good, little girl, come here." Hua Xiaoxue said: "Mom is holding my acupoints, I can't come over." Gong Yangyu's phoenix eyes shot a fierce gaze at Ling Shuangjun, who felt a sudden jolt in his heart. Gong Yangyu coldly said: "Let her go." Hua Wuying sneered: "You say let go and it's easy? It's not that simple!" She was determined to argue with Gong Yangyu, whatever he said, she would counter with the opposite, no matter if it made sense or not. Just as she finished speaking, a flash of movement appeared before her eyes, and Gong Yangyu had already grabbed Hua Xiaoxue in his hand. With a spin of his body, his palm shot out like wind, striking Xiugou, Zuoyuan, and Ming Sanlian each with one palm. The three men stumbled backward, their chests feeling as if they were pressed by giant stones.

  Hua Wu Xie snatched a treasured sword from the hand of a servant girl and shouted, "Qing Yuan!" Hua Qing Yuan was taken aback, drawing his sword but not stabbing out. The "Tai Yi Split Light Sword" only had power when used by two people together; with Hua Wu Xie using it alone, Gong Yang Yu didn't take it seriously. He transformed into a large bird and swooped down in the shape of a "zhi" character, dodging her sword's edge and returning to the stage. With his back-and-forth movements, he seemed to be entering and exiting an uninhabited realm. Hua Wu Xie was shocked and enraged, issuing orders as the people from Tianji Palace rushed up in response, each standing at a corner and surrounding Gong Yang Yu in the center of the formation.

  Gong Yangyu glanced at him sideways with a cold smile and said, "Hua Wuyan, do you think this trivial nine-turn eight-trigram formation can trap me?" Hua Wuyan's face was frosty as she thought to herself, "This old scoundrel is indeed capable in both literary and martial arts, so of course he won't be trapped by this formation. But if I let him go like this, wouldn't that be letting him off easy?" As she thought, she glanced at Hua Qingyuan, seeing him staring at Gong Yangyu with a bewildered expression, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "It's a pity that Qingyuan is so weak-willed, he doesn't dare to defy his father."

  Gong Yangyu's expression turned stern as he said to Hua Xiaoxue, "Girl, let me warn you first, if you talk too much, I won't respond." He was afraid that if Hua Xiaoxue spoke more, his heart would soften again and he would spare Liang Xiao like Mount Lu. Hua Xiaoxue turned her eyes to look at Liang Xiao, who also looked back at her, their four eyes meeting. The girl's tears fell pitter-patter, leaving two clear tear marks. Gong Yangyu couldn't bear it, turning his head and saying, "What's with all the fuss? If you have something to say, speak quickly."

  Hua Xiao Shuang wiped away her tears and forced a smile, saying: "Xiao Gege, do you still remember what you promised me on the day Auntie left?" Liang Xiao nodded gloomily. Hua Xiao Shuang looked up at the sky, where the crescent moon hung like a hook, dull and without light. She said softly: "You promised me that no matter what, you would survive. Xiao Gege, wherever you are, my heart is like this moon in the sky, always shining on you, never leaving your side for even a moment." The crowd heard her words and thought to themselves: "This girl's emotions run deep, it's quite pitiful... Alas, it's all because Liang Xiao's sins are too great, we can't blame ourselves."

  Liang Xiao gazed at the crescent moon, thinking that on the road to the underworld, he didn't know if there would still be a bright moon accompanying him. Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly felt dizzy in front of his eyes, and his legs went soft. His heart skipped a beat: "Damn, who poisoned me?" He was about to force out the poison when he heard thudding sounds, one after another, and saw that everyone from Tianji Palace had fallen to the ground. Gong Yangyu covered his forehead with one hand, stumbled with his feet, stared at Hua Xiaoxue, and revealed a strange expression on his face.

  Liang Xiao was shocked, Hua Xiao Xue suddenly broke free from Gong Yang's grasp and rushed over to stuff a pill into his mouth. She pushed him hard and panted: "Hurry up..." It turned out that she had secretly released the "Divine Reversal" while talking, which was the world's top-grade ***, colorless and odorless with astonishing efficacy. Everyone was caught off guard for a moment, and they all fell into its trap.

  Liang Xiao's mind cleared after taking the antidote, and he grasped Huaxiao Shuang's slender hand, shouting: "You come too!" Huaxiao Shuang smiled miserably: "I can't leave, I have to save Nainai and the others." Liang Xiao was taken aback. Huaxiao Shuang pulled her hand back, her eyes filled with tears, and said sorrowfully: "You should go far, far away, remember my words, don't come back again." Liang Xiao was stunned, unable to move his feet. Just then, he heard Jiuru's angry roar. He turned his head to look, and was shocked to see that while they were absorbed in their farewell, the heroes from the south had all fallen to the ground. Jiuru stumbled forward, surrounded by danger, as He Daluo pressed in on him from all sides.