Chapter 58: A Sword Across the Sky

  Everyone turned their heads to look, and a person walked out of the stone array with ease, wearing a conical hat and a raincoat, with large sleeves fluttering. The people of Tianji Palace suddenly saw a stranger walking out of the "Two Instruments Fantasy Dust Array" and were shocked and suspicious. Qin Boshi shouted: "Who dares to trespass on the palace?" The man smiled and said: "I just took a look around, the people of Tianji Palace are really petty." Yun Shu heard a familiar tone, and his heart flashed with a thought, blurting out: "Master?" The man lightly smiled, removed his conical hat, revealing black whiskers and long eyebrows, with an air of elegance and refinement. Who else could it be but Gong Yangyu?

  Qin Bohou thought to himself, "So it's Master Gongyang after all. No wonder he can come and go freely in the stone array. But how did he not come from the lake but instead emerged from the Tianji Palace?" Yun Shu took two steps forward, knelt down on one knee, and called out, "Master! I thought you were dead..." The master and disciple had been separated for ten years, and before Yun Shu could finish speaking, he was already choked with sobs. Gongyang furrowed his brow and shook his head, saying, "You're still so unmanly."

  Yun Shu heard the words, could only hold back his sorrow and said: "Master, how did you come?" Gong Yangyu coldly said: "I didn't come, can you bear it?" Yun Shu couldn't help but blush, feeling ashamed. Hua Murong saw Gong Yangyu, her heart suddenly surged with waves, she stepped forward, whispered: "Dad, you're here?" Gong Yangyu nodded, lightly sighed: "Murong, are you okay?" Hua Murong pinched the corner of her clothes, silently not speaking.

  Liang Xiao reappeared in the Central Plains, and the news spread throughout the Jianghu. Gong Yangyu was indifferent when he heard it, but when he also heard that Hua Jingyuan had fallen into his hands, even this old man's eccentric temperament couldn't help but hurry over hastily. However, he didn't want to be detected by the Tianji Palace, so he took advantage of the night to sneak in and hide within the "Two Instruments Fantasy Dust Array". Having been away from this place for a long time, he waited in the stone array for a while and couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone in the palace had gone out to wait for Liang Xiao, he entered the palace to stroll around casually.

  Looking at the old residence, Gong Yangyu thought of all sorts of things from before and couldn't help but sigh. Walking along, he arrived at the Xiang Ri study, and saw that the furnishings inside were still the same, with the brush and inkstone in their usual place. The books he had loved to read in the past hadn't been moved an inch, and the tables and chairs were spotlessly clean. Looking again at the poems and couplets he had written as a young man, they seemed just as vivid as before. Gong Yangyu looked around, his heart unwittingly becoming muddled, until finally, he found a secluded spot in the woods to sit down.

  For years, he had traveled far and wide, searching for the traces of his lost love, but now that time was passing by, he was getting older, and the passion in his heart was gradually fading away. At this moment, sitting alone quietly, he thought deeply with a sigh, feeling that he had been wrong about his lifelong temperament, and had failed to live up to his reputation, owing too much to his wife and children. He felt that even if he devoted the rest of his life to making it up to them, he would still not be able to repay his debt. The only thing left for him was to die with regret. He thought and thought, feeling an unbearable sadness. In a daze for so long, he didn't notice that time had passed, and when he looked up, it was already dusk. He thought that the masters of Tianji Palace would all come out, and there would be many people, so he wasn't in a hurry, and calmly walked out of the stone array, just in time to see Hua Wuyan and her mother joining forces to fight against their enemies.

  Gong Yangyu's eyebrows furrowed as he gazed at the arena, but he didn't respond. Shi Tianfeng saw him and exclaimed, "Old poor scholar, you've arrived just in time! I've been searching for you everywhere to practice my skills. It's better to encounter each other by chance, let's exchange blows!" Gong Yangyu ignored him, his eyes fixed on the arena. Shi Tianfeng took a step forward, but Ling Shuimeng grabbed his arm and said, "Mr. Gong has important matters to attend to, don't bother him." Shi Tianfeng retorted, "Exchanging martial arts with him is also an important matter!" Ling Shuimeng's face darkened, her eyes blazing with anger, causing Shi Tianfeng to shrink back in fear and retreat behind her.

  Hua Wuying and her mother were startled when they heard Gong Yangyu's arrival, their minds were all in disarray, and their sword techniques revealed flaws. Liang Xiao saw another strong enemy approaching, suddenly using the " Hun Tian San Xian Sword" technique, the Heavenly Punishment Sword opened wide, stirring up several large sword flowers, intersecting and connecting horizontally and vertically, with straight slashing and slanting stabbing techniques mixed in among the sword flowers, immediately forcing Hua Wuying and her mother to retreat continuously. Gong Yangyu glanced over here, suddenly took a step forward, swept his sleeve and brought Hua Qingyuan to one side, sighed: "Let me take care of this round."

  Feng Lian was furious: "Shameless, you said it would be a one-on-one fight, now it's two against one, and also a rotating battle..." She wanted to scold some more, but suddenly saw Gong Yang pull out a green sword from his sleeve. The clear light flowed, and it was obviously the Qing Xiang Sword. Her mind suddenly moved, and she hastily said: "Master, this is the Qing Xiang Sword, the new sword has been forged, the old sword should be destroyed, quickly cut it off." She had heard her grandfather describe the appearance of the Qing Xiang Sword since childhood, and recognized it at a glance.

  Liang Xiao suddenly remembered the words of Ou Longzi. The rule of the Jingjue clan was to cast a sword and cut off a sword, which was also a promise that the guardian of the sword must follow. Without further hesitation, he suddenly launched two swift attacks on Hua Wuyan, Gong Yangyu swung his sword to rescue him, Liang Xiao turned his sword around, the Tianfa sword flashed with a purple glow, and suddenly wrapped itself around Qing Xuan, the two swords intersected, and with a "ding" sound, Qing Xuan's sword was cut off by three inches.

  The Qingxiang sword was sharp and unparalleled in the world, but today it was suddenly cut off. Gong Yangyu was shocked and suddenly realized: "Liang Xiao, is this sword newly cast by Oulongzi?" Liang Xiao said: "That's right." As they spoke, the two of them continued to fight with their swords, Gong Yangyu being extremely cautious this time, his broken sword twisting like a snake, no longer intersecting with the Tianfa sword. He asked: "Is Oulongzi still doing well?" Feng Lian had already seen the Qingxiang sword and knew that Gong Yangyu was the previous generation's guardian of the sword, and a respectful intention arose in her heart. Hearing his question, she answered tearfully: "Grandfather died with the sword, he has passed away."

  Gong Yangyu's sword retreated several feet, and he asked in surprise, "You are his granddaughter?" Feng Lian nodded. Hua Wuyan saw Gong Yangyu stop, and with a lone sword, it was hard to hold on, so she could only retreat to the side. Gong Yangyu fell silent for a moment, then asked Liang Xiao, "What is the name of this sword?" Liang Xiao replied, "Tian Fa." Gong Yangyu thought for another moment, looked up at the sky and sighed, "Brother Ou sought benevolence and obtained it, worthy of respect and admiration! However, he forged this sword but chose you as the guardian, which is truly puzzling. Tian Fa, Tian Fa, to punish on behalf of heaven, yet I don't know whether Brother Ou's intention was for you to punish others or yourself." As he spoke, his eyebrows were tinged with mockery.

  Liang Xiao murmured, "Punishing oneself and others alike." Gong Yangyu smiled, "Well said." He exchanged a glance with Hua Wuyan, both understanding each other's intentions. This opponent was formidable, with swordsmanship that communicated with the divine, and an unparalleled divine sword in hand. If they let him go today, it would be a future calamity. The two were decisive and resolute, despite their lifelong grudge against each other. However, facing such a strong enemy, they put aside their differences and united against a common foe. Gong Yangyu loudly chanted, "Heaven's clarity, earth's turbidity!" Hua Wuyan responded, "The universe is settled!" The two stood shoulder to shoulder, drawing their swords in unison, and stabbed at Liang Xiao with a whooshing sound.

  Liang Xiao was unable to think of anything and could only wield his sword to defend himself. As soon as he parried a few swords, he felt something was off - this pair of sworn enemies were working together seamlessly, their power exceeding his imagination. In the blink of an eye, the two launched over ten consecutive attacks, and Liang Xiao couldn't even counter with a single move. Unbeknownst to him, Gong Yangyu and Hua Wuyan both felt a strange sensation - they had not practiced swordplay together for decades, yet now their swords moved in perfect harmony, as if their minds were connected, their movements more fluid than ever before.

  Liang Xiao retreated and observed the discord, but gained nothing, only feeling that the two people's moves were in harmony, their auras blending together seamlessly. Gong Yang Yu fought with his usual flair, as if he had returned to his youthful days, when he and Hua Wu Xian had practiced swordsmanship together, side by side. The memories of those times still lingered vividly in his mind, and he couldn't help but glance at Hua Wu Xian, feeling a mix of emotions: "I never thought that we would have a day where we'd join forces against a common enemy!" Hua Wu Xian saw the look in his eyes and knew what he was thinking. Her heart felt a pang, and she didn't know why, but this person who had been so resolute towards her, she couldn't forget him. The couplets and poems left by Gong Yang Yu in the palace remained unchanged, the layout of the study room was still the same as before. Every day, she would sit there for a while, reminiscing about the past, feeling sorrowful. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, she would wake up with his image still in her mind. For a moment, she didn't know whether she loved him or hated him, love and hate entwined, causing her distress. As she pondered, Gong Yang Yu suddenly said loudly: "Lei Feng Xiang Bo." Hua Wu Xian's heart skipped a beat, responding: "Shui Huo Bu She." The four symbols changed, the eight trigrams clashed, their swordsmanship becoming even more fierce.

  Liang Xiao was shocked, thinking: "Logically speaking, this couple should be at odds with each other, how can they produce such a perfect and harmonious sword technique?" Suddenly, Gong Yangyu shouted: "Yin and yang transform and generate." Hua Wuying responded: "The Taiji is formed." The sword technique revolved, the Taiji sword circle was formed, Liang Xiao was like being trapped in a vast ocean, only struggling to hold on.

  Hua Qingyuan couldn't help but shed tears as he looked at this scene, and when he turned around, Hua Mucun was also crying. He understood his sister's intentions, so he grasped her slender hand and pulled her into his arms. Hua Mucun's shoulders shook as she sobbed quietly. Since childhood, the siblings had a wish that their parents would reunite, but who would have thought it would happen in such circumstances? The two of them understood the swordsmanship deeply and knew that if their parents' hearts weren't aligned, they wouldn't be able to wield the "Taiyi Splitting Light Sword" to this extent. Hua Qingyuan couldn't help but think: "If not for Liang Xiao, perhaps today wouldn't have happened." A feeling of gratitude arose in his heart, and he called out loudly: "Dad, Mom, just subdue him, don't harm his life!"

  Gong Yangyu laughed and said, "Well said, Liang Xiao, do you admit defeat?" Liang Xiao was already in a desperate situation, with just the two of them, the sword wind alone was enough to make people gasp for breath, let alone the unparalleled sword intent. Upon hearing this, a proud air arose in his chest: "I, Liang Xiao, will die if I must, why do I need others' sympathy?" Thinking of this, he suddenly sprang into action, and Gong Yangyu and his wife focused all their attention on him, with their twin swords tightly attached to his back like magnets. Liang Xiao ran to the line of giant characters that read "竖尽来劫，河图洛书无一可据而可据者皆空" (All things must come to an end, the River Map and Luo Book are empty), jumped up, and landed on the top of the character "" (empty) with his feet as steady as nails on a rock, his sword pointing upwards towards the sky, shouting: "One sword sweeps across the sky, all is empty for centuries."

  The crowd was shocked by his words, and Liang Xiao's intention was clear: he thought himself invincible in the world. Although others were not convinced, they had no way to refute him. Gong Yangyu saw that Liang Xiao was acting out of character, speaking provocatively, and guessed that he wanted to take advantage of the terrain to win. He smiled and said, "You stinky brat, this is like a toad trying to swallow an elephant..." Hua Wuying coldly interjected, "You're just bragging." As they spoke, the two of them moved in tandem, their long swords seeming to merge into one as they stabbed through the air. Liang Xiao struggled to resist for two rounds, retreating to the character "jiē". Gong Yangyu launched a preemptive strike, arriving at the right side of the character "jiē" and laughing loudly, saying, "All kings and tyrants will eventually meet their end." As he shouted, Liang Xiao retreated while fighting, falling back to the left side of the character "huì". Hua Wuying occupied the lower position, holding down the character "rì". The three of them each held a position, fighting for several rounds. Liang Xiao was unable to block their attacks and leapt up to the character "zhě", shouting, "The living will mourn, the dead will laugh."

  Gong Yangyu's long sword probed out on top of Hua Wuyan's sword, and with a single thrust, Hua Wuyan borrowed the force to leap up, his body like a flying swallow. He drew an arc on the cliff wall, bypassing Liang Xiao and landing on the character "Jù". He shouted: "Retreating without a gate is difficult!" The long sword chose a high point to strike, and Gong Yangyu launched a pincer attack from top and bottom. In this way, Liang Xiao was indeed "retreating without a gate", so he could only place his long sword on the character "" and follow Hua Wuyan's example, sticking close to the cliff wall as he circled around to the character "Kě" to seize the advantageous position.

  Shi Tianfeng concentrated his attention on the battle, not even letting go of the three people's recited poem lines. Suddenly, he frowned and said: "Liang Xiazi is nonsense, the living cry for a long time, the dead laugh? The dead should wail and mourn, only then can they have a big cry." Feng Lian wanted to argue back but couldn't find any reason. Hua Jingyuan didn't speak for a long time, but suddenly said: "You don't understand yourself yet you blame others, this is called: death, no minister above, no minister below; also no four seasons' affairs, following the natural order of heaven and earth as spring and autumn, even if one becomes the king facing south, it's still not possible to surpass." Shi Tianfeng frowned and said: "What nonsense about being unavoidable in spring and autumn?"

  Huajing Yuandao said, "These are the words of Zhuangzi, meaning that once a person dies, there is no distinction between high and low, no worries about decline or old age, and a state of carefree joy that even emperors cannot surpass. But living people must toil and labor, lamenting the passing of spring and autumn, grieving over heaven and earth - how can their happiness compare to that of the dead?" Shitian Feng snorted, "Nonsense, nonsense! Where did this little scoundrel learn such twisted logic? The true joy in life is learning martial arts, drinking wine, and singing songs. If you don't believe me, call a dead person over to compete with old man!"

  "Fine, I'll ask you, if you can't learn martial arts and can't beat others, are you very happy about it?" Hua Jingyuan asked with a cold smile. Shi Tianfeng was taken aback, thinking that his whole life of learning martial arts had been filled with inner turmoil when he lost to others; even when his skills improved, he found himself envying those who were better than him. Even if he became invincible in the world, without anyone to fight, he would still feel lonely and suffocated. After thinking for a while, he suddenly felt enlightened and looked at Hua Jingyuan with a new perspective, thinking that this little guy understood such profound principles, it was truly astonishing.

  He gazed at the round flower mirror, but the little guy was staring at Feng Lian. Feng Lian was lost in thought, thinking: "Master's words have a strong sense of disdain for the world, I'm afraid it's because that Xiao Shuang girl is gone, he's disheartened and feels that living is not as good as dying. If I can escape today, how can I think of a way to comfort him?" She was filled with worry, unaware that the little child beside her had already shed tears.

  Three people stepped on the giant characters, constantly climbing upwards. The horizontal and vertical strokes, dots, and hooks were all transformed into a battlefield. The cliff was thousands of feet high, making one's hat fall off just by looking at it. But those three people climbed higher and higher, their figures gradually becoming smaller. Every time they landed on a giant character, they would recite a poem, embedding the character in the verse. By the time they reached over ten verses, the three small silhouettes on the cliff wall swayed gently, as if they had entered the clouds and were leaning against the sky to fight.

  Jia Xiutai sighed and said, "Chi Lao Da, this sword fight, I, Jia Xiutai, have never seen before, and in the future, I'm afraid I won't be able to see it again." Chi Xianyu also nodded and said, "Third Brother is right, if only considering martial arts skills, both sides are unparalleled in history, a true display of elegance." The others didn't say anything out loud, but they all secretly agreed.

  Liang Xiao exhausted all his calculations and stepped onto the vertical character of "竖尽来劫", but there was no opportunity to take advantage of it. He continued upwards, and the cliff wall turned green, slippery and unable to hold his feet. He could only shout: "White clouds at the top, raise the great flag!" To make it clear from start to finish, then against the cold wind, he rose up with his sleeves and robes fluttering high, like a large flag, sticking to the steep wall and falling down. At times, he swung his sword to hook onto protruding rocks to dissipate his momentum.

  Gong Yangyu and Hua Wuyan saw this and also jumped down together, their long swords clashing in mid-air, dissipating the momentum of their fall. When they landed on the water, their falling momentum was completely gone, and not even a single ripple was stirred up.

  The heroes saw the two men rising and falling on the surface of the water and were amazed in their hearts. They fixed their eyes to take a closer look and found that the two men were standing on two copper-made poles in the lake. These poles connected the "Tianji Sanlun" and the "Liangyi Huanchen Formation", with hundreds and thousands of them entwined like dragons.

  Liang Xiao didn't seem like two people borrowing strength from each other, so he launched a preemptive strike, and as they fell into the water, his twin swords shone brightly and stabbed forward. Liang Xiao couldn't resist, and he retreated to the "Tian Xuan Wheel" by stepping on the lever, his feet treading on the wheel's leaves, rising to a high place and laughing: "Two seniors, dare to come here and give me guidance?" The "Tian Ji San Lun" is the source of power for the Tian Ji Palace, constantly rotating under the impact of the giant waterfall. Liang Xiao did this in order to lure Gong Yang and his wife onto the wheel, using the giant wheel's rotation to disrupt their swordsmanship.

  Gong Yangyu guessed Liang Xiao's intention and thought to himself, "This kid is clever and resourceful, even more so than his martial arts skills." He stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "This topic is indeed ingenious. If I didn't take it on, wouldn't that ruin everyone's fun?" Although he had been fighting with Hua Wuyue for a long time, their yin and yang energies were intertwined, and their vital energy was circulating smoothly. Not only did they not feel tired, but their strength was also increasing. Together, they stepped onto the "Tianxuan" wheel and fought alongside Liang Xiao. The three giant wheels were originally one of the world's wonders. With the three people fighting on them, it wasn't just that the variables increased exponentially; it was also a spectacular sight that had never been seen before in history. The crowd on the platform felt both amazed and worried at the same time. Hua siblings were still anxious: "Liang Xiao is only good at roaming and fighting, but Father's swordsmanship is indeed wonderful. However, he is already old; if there are any ups and downs, wouldn't that be a lifelong regret?"

  Feng Lian remained silent, her heart thinking: "Master's martial arts are unparalleled, no matter how dangerous it is, he can always find a way to cope. Even if he really can't win, he'll die and I won't live either, at least he won't be lonely and cold on the road to the underworld." With this thought, she looked at Liang Xiao's figure, a warm smile appearing on her face.

  Three sword lights flashed and rolled, from the "Tianxuan Wheel" to the central "Tianzhui Wheel", and then from the "Tianzhui Wheel" to the "Tianji Wheel". Liang Xiao gradually felt exhausted, whether it was the giant wheel spinning or the waterfall rushing, Gong Yangyu and Hua Wuyan's two swords harmonized naturally, without any opportunity to take advantage of. What was even more frightening was that he was in his prime, with abundant energy, but these two elderly men had been fighting for a long time, and their faces were still flushed with excitement, their spirits soaring. He struggled for half a day, encountering only the best masters of the world, and by this point, his internal strength was gradually slowing down, showing signs of decline. For a moment, he felt even more disheartened: "I have exhausted my intelligence, and there is such a powerful martial art in the world that leaves me speechless. Moreover, this sword technique, although fierce, is also used by two people, I am completely without assistance, relying solely on one long sword to hold out until now, I reckon no one would dare to underestimate me!" As he thought of this, a flash of lightning suddenly struck his mind, and he muttered to himself: "With the long sword in hand, why is it that I have no assistance?"

  The ram's feathers saw his lips moving, but the sound of water in his ears was like thunder and he couldn't understand. He and Liang Xiao had been fighting to this point, and his love for talent had long since surpassed national hatred, but he felt that this person's intelligence, martial arts, and wisdom were all worthy of shining through the ages. It would be a pity if they were to kill each other, so although he had the upper hand, he couldn't bear to deliver the final blow. He smiled and said: "Liang Xiao, do you want to admit defeat? You only need to put down your sword, and we can end this here." His words were spoken with internal energy, suppressing the sound of the waterfall, and Hua Wenyin also nodded in secret when she heard them. She had no personal grudge against Liang Xiao, but was bound by righteousness and forced to fight.

  Liang Xiao was like a man in a trance, hearing but not hearing, and continued to wield his sword with agility. Gong Yangyu looked at him with a strange expression, feeling surprised, and repeated what he had just said, but Liang Xiao still didn't respond. Gong Yangyu felt a surge of anger in his heart, thinking: "If I don't thoroughly subdue this little brat today, there will be no end to this." As soon as he thought this, Hua Wuyan suddenly understood, and their twin swords moved in a mysterious and unpredictable way, sandwiching the Tianfa sword from top to bottom, simultaneously exerting force, trying to make Liang Xiao drop his long sword. Feng Lian saw this from afar, her heart tightening, but before she could cry out in surprise, she suddenly saw Liang Xiao's body as light as a feather, following the Tianfa sword as it spun around twice, not only dissipating the opponent's strength, but also piercing through the gap between the two swords, striking straight at Gong Yangyu, forcing him and his wife to withdraw their twin swords.

  Liang Xiao's move succeeded, and his heart was enlightened: "The Tianfa Sword is a divine spirit of absolute precision, the lives of two generations of swordsmen are tied to it, just like Oulongzi father and son fighting side by side with me. But I treated it as a dead object, which is extremely disrespectful to the two predecessors!" He understood the key, and silently prayed to Heaven, "Master Ou, Master Tiezhe, the two noble spirits above, please help Liang Xiao retreat from the enemy."

  He shouted loudly: "What is the Taizhen Fangguang Sword? Let me show you my people's swordsmanship!" The voice echoed over the lake, and the mountains responded. As soon as Liang Xiao finished speaking, his long sword slanted to the left and stabbed, Gong Yangyu swung his sword to block it, Hua Wuying rushed up with a slanting stab, stabbing towards Liang Xiao's "Futu" hole in his knee. Unexpectedly, at the moment when Liang Xiao's long sword was about to be thrust out, his body was blown away by a strong wind and floated to the right, and with a loud shout, he slapped Hua Wuying's face with his palm. For a while, it was unclear whether Liang Xiao had moved the Tianfa Sword or the Tianfa Sword had moved Liang Xiao.

  Hua Wuyin's long sword swept around in a circle, rising from below to slash towards Liang Shao's wrist. But just as Liang Shao was about to strike, the Heavenly Punishment Sword had already been drawn back by the lightning and slashed down towards Hua Wuyin's sword with a buzzing sound. Even if Hua Wuyin had ten more precious swords, he wouldn't dare block the Heavenly Punishment Sword's divine blade head-on, so he could only retreat in defeat. Liang Shao didn't give chase, instead turning his palm and sword to attack Gong Yangyu. Gong Yangyu was afraid of ruining the harmony between the two swords, so he didn't dare get entangled and retreated along with Hua Wuyin.

  Liang Xiao made a move that forced two powerful enemies to retreat, and then took another step forward. He repeated his previous trick, sometimes using the sword to control people, and sometimes letting the sword become the master, with Liang Xiao becoming its wielder. When he reached the most exquisite point, the long sword flew out of his hand, like a flying snake soaring through the sky, while he himself was like a white cloud dancing in the air. The man and the sword were sometimes separate, sometimes combined, their changes extremely extraordinary.

  Shi Tianfeng gazed at Liang Shao's extraordinary swordplay, his eyes wide with amazement. After a while, he shook his head and sighed, "What a wonderful display of human-sword harmony." Shi Tianfeng explained, "Throughout history, the ultimate goal of swordsmanship has been to master the art of using one's body to control the sword. But Liang Shao has achieved something even more remarkable - he uses both his body and his sword to control each other, creating an endless cycle of movement like the heavens and the earth, inexhaustible like the rivers and oceans. Originally, with just one person and one sword, their power was limited, and they would have been no match for the combined forces of the old couple. But now that Liang Shao has achieved human-sword harmony, it's as if he has conjured up an extra powerful helper out of thin air. The 'Taiyi Splitting Light Sword' is formidable precisely because it embodies the cyclical transformation of yin and yang, where life begets life without end. Now that Liang Shao's body and sword are in perfect harmony, they too are boundless and endless. When two boundless and endless forces clash, it's hard to predict who will emerge victorious." The crowd listened in awe.

  Feng Lian thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "I understand. Master doesn't consider the Tian Fa sword as just a sword." Suddenly, she felt her limbs relax, and it seemed that when the time was right, the acupoints sealed by Shi Tian Feng would naturally be released. Shi Tian Feng furrowed his brow and said, "This girl speaks strangely. If not as a sword, then what? As a person?" Feng Lian replied, "Of course." She thought to herself that Master must have considered the Tian Fa sword as her father or grandfather, fighting alongside their spirits in heaven. Thinking of this, her eyes reddened, and tears blurred her vision. At this moment, Liang Xiao's "Human Sword Unity" technique reached its peak, and the Tian Fa sword emitted a purple glow, with the rust spots on the sword transforming into starry patterns and colorful auroras, incredibly beautiful and majestic, like a long, purple lightning bolt in the distance. The crowd couldn't help but gasp in amazement. Feng Lian was born into a family of swordsmiths, yet even she couldn't understand this strange phenomenon.

  Suddenly, a loud voice like a bell rang out: "Good! Good! Liang Xiao has created such a divine skill, truly adding a unique splendor to the world of martial arts!" Feng Lian turned her head back and looked around, unaware when, among the crowd, there was an additional tall monk with white eyebrows and beard, holding a wooden staff, with a hint of a smile on his mouth. Shi Tianfeng laughed loudly: "Jiuru, you old bald donkey, sneaking up on me! Why didn't you give me a heads up?" Ling Shuimeng gave him a cold glance, clasped her hands together and smiled: "Not welcoming the great master's arrival is truly a sin. My husband has a big mouth but no heart, speaking nonsense, I hope the great master will forgive."

  Jiuruo smiled and said, "When someone is overly polite, they must have an ulterior motive. The more courteous you are, the more uneasy the monk becomes." He spoke bluntly, causing Ling Shuimeng's face to flush as she replied, "The Master's insight is unparalleled; indeed, I do have a plan in mind." Jiuruo smiled and said, "Please proceed." Ling Shuimeng continued, "Currently, the three of them are evenly matched in their sword fight, but with limited strength, someone will eventually emerge victorious. In my opinion, it would be better for them to part ways rather than continue fighting, as either party getting hurt would be undesirable. I implore you, Master, to join forces with my husband and separate the three of them. Given your past relationship with Liang Xiao, you should be able to persuade him to let go of his grudge and leave. If Gong Yangyu and Hua Jiaojiao refuse..." She suddenly stopped speaking, smiling but saying no more.

  Jiuruo smiled and said, "The monk understands that if there is someone here who does not allow it, combining the monk's and Liang Xiao's strength to subdue the heroes may not be possible, but escaping would be more than enough." Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. Ling Shuiyue sighed, "That's right, this method is the best for now."

  Jiuru looked at Doujian and laughed, saying: "The words of the lady are reasonable, and the monk has come to resolve the conflict." He raised his white eyebrows and smiled, saying: "Master Shiyu, let's go!" Shi Tianfeng chuckled and said: "Good!" Suddenly, he threw a punch directly at Jiuru.

  Jiuruo, who had been prepared early on, blocked the punch and scolded: "Old turtle, you're having another fit of madness!" Shitian Feng's fists and feet were as dense as raindrops, but he laughed and said: "Fighting is like snatching food from someone's mouth, it's a waste of lifespan. This battle is rare in ancient and modern times, how can it be ruined by an old bald donkey like you? As the saying goes: 'Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals, Jade Emperor against Yan Wang.' On that side, the main general is showing off his might, on this side, we as deputy generals should also open up a different battlefield." While speaking, he threw out several punches and kicks, Jiuruo didn't dare to be careless, inserted the wooden stick aside, and resisted with his fists.

  "Dead old man, with your eyes wide open, can't you see the situation?" Ling Shuiyue scolded. Shi Tianfeng had been restrained by his wife several times and was unable to fight back, he had been holding back for a long time, and now that he had found an excuse to strike back, how could he hold back? He ignored Ling Shuiyue's scolding and pretended not to hear.

  The two men were fighting fiercely, when suddenly two small boats emerged from the Caibei Gorge, one in front of the other. The boat in front quickly approached the wooden dock, and a loud shout was heard from the boat. A figure like a ghost or a demon rushed between the two men who were fighting, waving his hand and throwing a punch with great force, forcing Shi Tianfeng to retreat two steps. When he looked closely, the newcomer turned out to be a young monk, with a sturdy build and a round face, whose piercing eyes seemed to bore into people.

  The monk's fist came out, and then he followed with a series of soft movements, fighting alongside Shitian Feng. Jiuru was pushed aside. Shitian Feng exchanged several moves with him, happily saying: "Little bald donkey has great skills." He had a good foundation to work with, and his opponent was welcome no matter who it was. Immediately, he concentrated his spirit and fought the monk with fists and feet, fighting to a stalemate.

  Everyone watched as another young and powerful expert emerged, and they were all shocked. They saw a boat arrive at the shore, and from it jumped down a robust man and a woman in yellow clothes holding a pipa. Chi Xianyu recognized the woman in yellow clothes as Jin Cuiyu, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "Fourth sister, you've come... hmm... who is this?" The robust man interrupted with a smile: "Older brother Chi, don't you recognize me?" Chi Xianyu was taken aback: "Ah, Bai La'er, how did you become so thin?" Bai laughed heartily, his face full of pride.

  Jia Xiutai glared and said, "Bai doesn't eat, are you made of dough? You say he's fat, then he's fat; you say he's thin, then he's thin!" Jin Cuiyu smiled and said, "White Second Brother isn't made of dough, it's just that someone with great magical powers pinched him like a ball of dough once." Chi Xianyu and Jia Xiutai exclaimed in unison, "Who was it?" Jin Cuiyu's beautiful eyes sparkled as she gazed out at the lake, and everyone followed her gaze. Behind them, another boat had approached, with Chi Heye at the helm. After a while, it drew near the dock, and first to disembark were two female Taoist priests. The older one had gray hair and a clear face, while the other was about thirty years old, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes.

  Jia Xiutai asked, "Bai La'er, aren't these two Taoist priests?" Bai Bu Chi shook his head and said, "No." At this time, another handsome young man walked down from the boat, wearing a Confucian robe, with elegant manners. Jia Xiutai frowned and said, "This person is too young, but doesn't seem like it either." Jin Cuiyu sneered, "Ambition is not about age, if you're as lazy and idle as you are, living to be a hundred years old would be in vain." Jia Xiutai laughed and said, "I understand, you think that person is young and handsome, right? But at your age, you can look up to others, but others may not necessarily look up to you." Jin Cuiyu was furious, her face turned pale, and she slapped Jia Xiutai's face with a loud crack, leaving five finger marks. However, Jia Xiutai just chuckled and shook his folding fan lightly, as if the slap had never landed.

  Just as they were arguing, Ye Zhong suddenly appeared supporting a woman, who got off the boat with dignity. The woman was not stunningly beautiful, but her eyebrows and eyes were gentle and elegant. Her light blue clothes were washed to a snowy white, simple and neat. Jia Xiucai saw her and felt a sudden warmth in his chest, thinking: "It's her, it's definitely her." Everyone from the Tianji Palace looked at this woman with surprise and suspicion on their faces.

  The woman raised her eyes and swept the scene, smiling lightly, and shouted: "Everyone stop!" Her voice was like a swallow's first cry, very gentle and soft. The young monk heard the sound, retracted his fist and retreated three feet, clasped his hands together and said: "Old master, let's not fight anymore?" Shi Tianfeng flipped his eyes in anger and shouted: "What is this nonsense? I ask you, can you stop eating when you've eaten half a meal? Can you hold back when you're halfway through farting?" The monk scratched his head and said: "When you eat half a meal, it's okay to not finish, but if you don't let out the other half of your fart, won't that suffocate someone to death?"

  Everyone saw that his martial arts skills were surprisingly high, but his words were silly and foolish. They were shocked and amused at the same time. Shi Tianfeng laughed and said: "Little bald donkey knows it's good, fighting is like farting, if you stop halfway, won't it suffocate people to death?" After speaking, he sent out a punch, and the monk had no choice but to defend himself. Jiuru stood aside with a smile, neither helping nor stopping him.

  Suddenly, a long whistle came from the "Tianji Wheel" area. Liang Xiao escaped from the Taiji sword circle and rushed towards this direction with his body transformed into a flowing light. Gong Yangyu couple chased after him with their two long swords, not letting up. Liang Xiao rushed onto the wooden platform and suddenly slapped Shi Tianfeng with one palm. Shi Tianfeng was caught off guard and had to jump away, but saw that Liang Xiao didn't care about the sharp sword behind him, inserted the Tianfa Sword into the ground, opened his arms wide, and hugged the young monk tightly, laughing loudly: "Huasheng, haha, good Huasheng!" While laughing loudly, he tossed the monk up into the air like a ball, caught him again, and then threw him up once more. The monk's hands and feet flailed wildly as he cried out in shock: "Liang Xiao, Liang Xiao, do you want to throw me to death?"

  Liang Xiao finally let him land, haha laughed loudly, and the peanut was also excited in his heart, scratching his bald head, not knowing what to say. Liang Xiao turned around and bowed his hands: "Liao Qing Dao Chang!" He wanted to bow down, but the older female Taoist hastily held him up: "Don't be too polite." Liang Xiao stood up again and smiled slightly at the young girl's crown: "Ya'er Daozhang has become much more beautiful." Ya'er gave him a white eye, but there was a smile in the corner of her eyes. Liao Qing sighed and thought to himself that this kid had made another mistake, how could he use the word "beautiful" to praise a monk?

  Liang Xiao smiled and asked the young man in the Confucian robe, "Are you Hong Er?" The young man's eyebrows and eyes turned slightly red as he bowed his hands and said, "Uncle Liang is well?" Liang Xiao saw that after ten years, the little boy had grown into a humble gentleman, and couldn't help but feel delighted. His gaze shifted to the woman in blue clothes, and suddenly his body trembled slightly. The woman's eyebrows and eyes were filled with a smile, and Liang Xiao's lips quivered as he tried to speak, but before he could say anything, two lines of tears burst out from his eyes. He felt his knees go weak, and he knelt down in front of the woman, wailing loudly. Just now, he had single-handedly defeated a group of heroes with his sword, without showing any sign of fear or weakness, but now he was overcome with grief, letting out loud sobs that shocked everyone present. The woman's eyes turned slightly red as she helped him up and said, "Brother Xiao..." Liang Xiao tightly grasped her hand and said, "Xiao Shuang... I thought you were dead... I thought you were dead..."

  Hua Xiao Shuang had gone through many hardships over the years, and her temperament had become very resilient. At this moment, she couldn't help but shed tears and said: "Xiao Gege, it's all my fault. I was afraid that my family would stop me from practicing medicine, so I hid my identity and didn't let them know." Liang Xiao cried to this point, his emotions slowly relaxed, and he wiped away his tears. Suddenly, he heard Hua Qing Yuan sighing softly: "Shuang Er, you...you did this, it's too heartbreaking." Before he could finish speaking, his voice was already choked with sobs.

  Liang Xiao suddenly came to his senses, released Xiaoxue's hands, and turned around to face Gong Yangyu couple. He said loudly: "Do you two want to fight again?" The couple looked at each other in dismay. Xiaoxue stepped forward, bowed her head and said: "Grandfather, grandmother, please consider my face and stop fighting." Gong Yangyu stroked his beard without speaking, while Hua Wuying hummed softly and turned away.

  "Congratulations, Mr. Gongyang, congratulations to Sister Hua," said Liao Xin with a smile. "The couple's swordsmanship is indeed in perfect harmony, I suppose the past grievances have been resolved." Gongyang Yu was taken aback and said, "Hui Xin, you..." Liao Xin interrupted him, saying, "I am Liao Xin, don't get my name wrong, sir. Now that I've made up my mind, I'm not afraid to face the past. Alas, it's hard to predict what will happen in life. Who among us hasn't made mistakes? Although Liang Xiao was wrong, he knew his mistake and corrected it, which is a great virtue. When can we put an end to this cycle of revenge?" As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Gongyang Yu.

  The two locked eyes for a moment, and Gong Yangyu felt a chill rise in his heart. At this moment, he could no longer see Lin Huixin's shadow in the eyes of love. This former lover had truly broken through the emotional barrier, and all grudges were resolved.

  In an instant, Gong Yangyu felt that half a lifetime of bitter love had been washed away by the river, and his heart turned cold. He sighed and said, "Yun Shu, come here."

  Yun Shu approached, and Gong Yangyu raised the soft sword in his hand: "This Qing Xuan sword is the divine sword of the Jingjue clan, entrusted to me by Ou Longzi. Since it's been punished today, Qing Xuan is now useless. However, this sword is three inches shorter, but its sharpness remains unparalleled. Take good care of it, don't let it down."

  Yun Shu retreated in surprise: "How can this be, Master should keep it for self-defense." Gong Yangyu waved his hand: "Today's battle is enough to satisfy my life. From now on, I will no longer have the interest to draw my sword!" He expressed his intention to "seal the sword", and everyone was shocked. Yun Shu did not dare to push again, and had to accept the precious sword.

  The flower coldly observed from the side, suddenly turned around and walked towards the stone array, loudly saying: "Sister, please stay, I have something to say." She quickly caught up, walking shoulder to shoulder with Hua Wuyan into the stone array. Ah Er saw her master chasing after her old rival and was worried she would be at a disadvantage, wanting to follow up. Hua Mochou hastily said: "Little Daozhang, this stone array is strange, I'll take you in." Ah Er had also heard about the mysteries of the Tianji Stone Array and didn't dare disobey, following behind Hua Mochou.

  Gong Yangyu sighed and was about to turn around when Hua Qingyuan suddenly blocked his way, cupped his hands and said: "Father, please stay for a few more days." Gong Yangyu frowned and asked: "What's going on?" Hua Qingyuan replied: "For decades, I haven't been able to fulfill my filial duties. Now that you're here, please stay for a few more days no matter what." After speaking, his eyes turned red, he knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. Gong Yangyu sighed, helped him up and said gloomily: "It's I who have wronged you, not having taken care of you all these years."

  He spoke these words, no different from directly admitting his mistake. Those who knew his temperament were all surprised. Yun Shu happily said: "Master, if you are willing to stay, I will also stay for a few more days to ask for guidance on martial arts." Gong Yangyu coldly said: "What do you need me to teach? Do you still need me to teach you?" He was openly scolding but actually praising, his temperament was still eccentric. Yun Shu could only nod repeatedly.

  Shi Tianfeng laughed and said, "That's right, old poor acid doesn't leave, old bald donkey also came, we these old guys should get together, compare martial arts, drink wine, drunk for three days and three nights." Jiuru smiled and said, "You want to please the old poor acid, why drag the monk in, the monk thanks but declines." Shi Tianfeng laughed and said, "Old bald donkey is petty, think about it, nowadays young people are more and more fierce, we these old guys if not work together to create some fierce kung fu, won't be surpassed by them?"

  Jiuruo smiled and said, "Old turtle, the heavens have their way, not obeying the elderly is unacceptable." Ling Shuimeng sighed with a smile, "Master, don't listen to my husband's nonsense. It's rare for you three to gather together, chatting and drinking wine is also good." Jiuruo nodded, "The words of the Buddhist lady are very good, the monk humbly obeys." Shi Tianfeng smiled, "It's still the wife who is formidable, no wonder I'm always afraid of you." He spoke without reserve, publicly revealing his fear of his wife. Ling Shuimeng's face grew hot, and she scolded in a low voice, "You're such an old good-for-nothing!"

  Hua Qingyuan detained her father, feeling relieved in her heart. She turned to the heroes and said: "Gentlemen, since I am unharmed, let us end this festival now. As a humble descendant of our ancestors, it is difficult for me to invite you all into the palace for a gathering. I have ordered people to prepare cattle and wine at the Seven Star Valley in the northeast, please do me the honor of visiting." This battle ended hastily, with many heroes feeling disappointed and few rejoicing. They exchanged a few polite words and left reluctantly.

  Huā Qīng Yuān gazed at Huā Xiǎo Shuāng: "Shuāng, you should also go see your mother. Since you went missing, her body has not been well." Huā Xiǎo Shuāng raised an eyebrow in surprise and glanced sideways, seeing Liáng Xiāo speaking with Zhào Bīng in a low voice. She said: "Xiāo Gēgē, I want to enter the palace to see my mother. Are you coming with me?"

  Liang Xiao learned that Zhao Huan had indeed not studied martial arts as he had said when he was young, but instead specialized in medicine. He felt a mix of emotions in his heart and after listening to Hua Xiao Xue's words, shook his head and said: "I'm not going." Hua Xiao Xue nodded slightly, grasped his hand, her fingers trembling lightly as she wrote on his palm: "Meet me at the foot of Luoyan Peak tomorrow morning."

  The two of them locked eyes, and Liang Xiao's heart felt a pang of loss. She looked away, and Feng Lian said to Hua Jingyuan, "Master, Jingyuan has invited me to enter the palace for two days, and I'll bring Ah Hu Lun'er out with me." As she spoke, her gaze fell on Hua Xiaoshuang, her expression melancholic.

  Hua Xiao Shuang asked in surprise, "Liang Xiao, is she your apprentice?" Liang Xiao's face turned hot as he was about to explain, but Hua Xiao Shuang had already stepped forward and grasped Feng Lian's hand with a smile. "You're really beautiful, hmm, I'll give you something." She took out a red bead the size of a longan from her waist pouch and said, "This is a 'Mani Bead' that I refined myself, it can ward off poisonous insects and also cure poison, it doesn't look very good but it's still somewhat useful. If you don't mind, consider it a gift for our meeting." She was kind to everyone in the household, and also very warm towards Feng Lian.

  Feng Lian's eyebrows and eyes turned red, and he said in a low voice: "Thank you, Master..." Although his voice was small, Hua Xiao Xue heard it and her cheeks flushed, not daring to look at Liang Xiao again. She pulled Feng Lian into the valley hastily. Jiuru and Shi Tianfeng followed closely behind, shoulder to shoulder. Gong Yangyu walked two steps before suddenly turning around and asking: "Liang Xiao, who do you think will win this fight?" Liang Xiao replied: "Ten years ago, Master would have won without a doubt. Ten years later, I might be able to win. As for today's outcome, it depends on luck!" Gong Yangyu snorted and said: "What do you mean by ten years ago and ten years later? Are you saying I'm old?" Liang Xiao replied: "You asked directly, so I'll answer directly."

  A goat-bearded man combed his long whiskers, gazed up at the setting sun and suddenly chanted, "Who says there's no more youth in this world? The water flowing before my door can still flow west." After finishing his chant, he let out a loud, long laugh that shook the forest and valley, startling birds into flight. His laughter had not yet faded when he vanished within the stone array.

  Huasheng saw Jiuru and said, "Liang Xiao, I haven't seen Master for a long time, I want to accompany him and chat." Liang Xiao smiled and said, "You can go by yourself, why tell me?" With a forced smile on his face, his mood became even more depressed. Huasheng happily followed Jiuru and disappeared into the depths of the stone array.

  Yun Shu gazed at Zhao Heng, waiting until the crowd had dispersed before approaching him and saying: "If Yun's eyes are not mistaken, this must be His Majesty." Zhao Heng was taken aback for a moment. Having long followed Xiao Feng and Hua Sheng, he was straightforward by nature and not skilled in deception, so he could only say: "General Yun, the Emperor Zhao Heng died long ago at Yaoshan. The current Zhao Heng is just a humble imperial physician."

  Yun Shu fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, is it really you?" Zhao Bing's hands and feet were tied up, he hastily supported him, saying: "General Yun, please don't be like this, I know all about your repeated efforts to raise an army. It's just... my abilities are shallow, I couldn't assist you, I'm truly sorry." Yun Shu stubbornly refused to get up, saying: "I have many things to report to Your Majesty, please follow me into the palace and let me explain them one by one." Zhao Bing furrowed his brow, saying: "General Yun, quickly get up..." Yun Shu interrupted him, saying: "If Your Majesty doesn't agree, I won't get up." Zhao Bing knew he was exhausting himself for the sake of restoring the country, wanting to refuse but feeling it would be unkind, couldn't help but look at Liang Xiao for help. Liang Xiao shook his head, saying: "You're already a grown adult, take charge of things yourself." Zhao Bing nodded, saying to Yun Shu: "General Yun, I won't be the emperor, but I'll follow you into the palace, you can speak directly and I'll listen." Yun Shu thought that as long as he could enter the palace, he could slowly persuade him, and with a happy heart, supported Zhao Bing and entered the valley.

  Before long, the crowd dispersed, leaving only Liang Xiao on the wooden platform. The sun had already set, and the twilight was heavy, the lake water was desolate and clear, and a chill filled the air. Liang Xiao stood still for a moment, then took a wooden board and used his light skill to glide across the lake surface to the foot of Luoyan Peak. The top of Luoyan Peak was shrouded in clouds and mist, and at the foot of the mountain facing the lake were wild mulberry trees, their leaves broad and dense, like a cloud when viewed from afar.

  Liang Xiao sat under the tree for a while, but soon became restless again. He got up and paced back and forth, thinking to himself: "I wonder if Xiaoshuang will be able to come out? Hua Wenyue is cunning and ruthless, she might not let her leave the palace. Although Feng Lian has also entered the valley, if Xiaoshuang doesn't come, I can use seeing Feng Lian as an excuse to try and sneak into the palace... but I said I wouldn't enter the valley, going back on my word would be laughable..." He thought randomly for a while, then sat down with his back against the big tree, wanting to fall asleep. However, his emotions were in turmoil and he couldn't sleep at all. From afar, he heard the sound of drums and music coming from Qixing Valley, knowing that the heroes were having a grand feast, which made him feel even more isolated.

  Liang Xiao raised his eyes to the sky, where the stars shone brightly like white stones. He had gazed at this starry expanse countless times, yet each time felt different; now, the starlight seemed hazy and indistinct, evoking an inexplicable sorrow. After a while, the clamor subsided, and the evening breeze carried a gentle coolness that rustled his hair. Liang Xiao got up to pace back and forth, only to sit down again to gaze at the stars, but soon grew tired of it and stood up to leave.

  At first, the long night was endless, and every moment seemed like a year. But once midnight passed, the stars flowed west, and time became very fast again. After a while, the morning star appeared, and Liang Xiao thought that dawn was approaching, but he suddenly felt an unspeakable fear, wishing he could hold back the twinkling stars and make this long night never end. But the more he wanted to hold on, the faster the sky brightened, the starlight faded, and the eastern sky broke into dawn. In the crimson clouds, a white arc of light appeared and disappeared, and the sun was about to rise. Suddenly, he faintly heard a slight sound coming from the lake, and his heart leapt with joy as he rushed to the lakeside. But when he saw that it was pitch black and dead quiet, he couldn't help but feel disappointed: "She won't come, will she?" This thought had just occurred to him when he quickly suppressed it: "The sky is so dark, how could she possibly come? Liang Xiao, you're being too impatient."

  He stood still for a while facing the dark lake, then walked around to under the tree and sat down with his back against the rising sun. All around was quiet, Liang Xiao seemed to be able to hear his own heartbeat, one beat after another, getting faster and heavier. The shadows of branches and leaves became clear, all things revived, and the chirping of birds came from the valley. He didn't dare look at the lake, only his ears were always open, occasionally hearing the sound of fish playing in the water.

  The sky was already bright, with light spreading everywhere, and the whiteness was dazzling. Liang Xiao couldn't help but jump up, gazing out at the lake, where only two pairs of swallows flew overhead, their tails sharp as scissors, their feathers seemingly thin slices of gold, as they dove into the white mist on the lake's surface. Liang Xiao hugged his head and sat down dejectedly on a large rock, feeling especially anxious in his heart: "It's almost time, but she still hasn't come, probably won't be coming again." Xiaoxue wouldn't stand him up, if she didn't come, it was because she was being blocked or held back and couldn't come. His eyes felt a stinging sensation, tears falling down without permission, vaguely feeling that he would never be able to enter the Tianji Palace again, this lake and its surroundings like the vast universe, forever separating him from Hua Xiaoxue.

  Just as he was about to give up in despair, he suddenly heard the sound of water on the lake, accompanied by a singing voice: "The mulberry trees have Ah, their leaves are difficult. Now that I've seen you, sir, how delightful is it?" The singing voice was soft and pleasant to listen to. Liang Xiao was taken aback, slowly raised his head, and saw the warm sunlight, the misty haze, the lake water as blue as jade, and a small boat floating over from the mist. Hua Xiao Shuang stood at the back of the boat with a smile, shaking the orchid oar and singing again: "The mulberry trees have Ah, their leaves are moist. Now that I've seen you, sir, why aren't you delighted? The mulberry trees have Ah, their leaves are secluded. Now that I've seen you, sir, the virtuous sound is profound. Is it not loving? Is it not distant? Hide it in your heart, how can you forget it?"

  Liang Xiao had also read the Book of Songs when he was practicing medicine. He remembered that it was a poem called "Yi Sang", which described a woman's joyful feelings when she saw her loved one standing in a mulberry field. Liang Xiao was enchanted and couldn't help but recite: "Since I met you, noble sir, your virtuous voice has been stuck in my mind. Is this love? How can it be forgotten? I will hide it in my heart, what day will I forget it?" As he recited, his soul was shaken, and he even forgot to greet the small boat as it docked.

  Hua Xiaoxue tied up the small boat and walked over with a red lacquer food box. She had changed into a blue shirt that reached her knees, with a white apron tied around her waist, and a piece of white silk wrapped around her hair bun, looking like a lovely village girl at first glance. Seeing Liang Xiao, she couldn't help but smile: "Xiao Gege, I'm late, are you starving?" She put down the food box, opened the lid, and the aroma of dishes wafted up. Liang Xiao's heart suddenly tightened, and he stuttered: "Xiaoxue, what's this for? I...I'm not hungry, why bother yourself?"

  Hua Xiao Shuang smiled and said, "Not at all troublesome, you didn't sleep well last night, did you?" Liang Xiao Qi said, "You... how did you know?" Hua Xiao Shuang smiled and said, "I'm a doctor, one look at your complexion and I already knew." Liang Xiao was greatly embarrassed, hugged the food box and ate for a while, suddenly saw Hua Xiao Shuang staring at himself without blinking, couldn't help but blush and said, "What are you looking at me for?" Hua Xiao Shuang smiled and said, "Xiao Gege, if I look at you like this for a lifetime, would you be afraid?" Liang Xiao was taken aback, suddenly put down the chopsticks, laughed and said, "Xiao Shuang, ten years haven't seen you, you've also become clever? Also know how to tease people with sharp tongue and lips." Hua Xiao Shuang smiled and said, "It's not that I've become clever, but it's Xiao Gege who has become stupid, like a big fool." Liang Xiao jumped up, laughed and said, "Good, you scold me!" Threw away the food box, hugged Xiao Shuang and spun around wildly. Hua Xiao Shuang didn't expect his crazy outburst, hurriedly called out, "Xiao Gege, don't spin anymore, I'm having a relapse, my head is dizzy." Liang Xiao came to his senses and said, "Damn it, I forgot about that illness." Quickly stopped, awkwardly tried to help her regulate her breath, but Hua Xiao Shuang grabbed his hand, smiled lightly and whispered, "Xiao Gege you're really stupid, I was tricking you, my illness has already been cured."

  Liang Xiao was taken aback, took two steps back, and then his heart surged with wild joy, forgetting to scold her for deceiving him. He suddenly grasped her hand and burst out laughing loudly, laughed for a while before saying: "You're not lying?" Hua Xiao Xue smiled and said: "This time I'm not lying." Liang Xiao couldn't help but smile foolishly.

  The two were overjoyed in their hearts, hand in hand, strolling through the mountain valley. After walking for a while, they suddenly saw a cold and clear pool of water, sparkling and crystal-clear, perfect for reflecting one's appearance. Hua Xiao Shuang approached the water and gazed at her reflection, only to discover that there were already several strands of white hair on her temples, which caused a pang in her heart. Liang Xiao guessed what was on her mind and saw that the flowers were in full bloom, so he plucked a large purple flower and tucked it behind her ear. Hua Xiao Shuang leaned into Liang Xiao's arms and suddenly began to sob softly, while Liang Xiao held her tightly, saying nothing. After crying for a while, Hua Xiao Shuang lifted her head, wiped away her tears, and said: "Xiao Gege, I don't want to leave you again." Liang Xiao replied: "That's only natural; I'd rather die than be separated from you." These words had been thought of thousands of times in their hearts, but when the moment arrived, they flowed out smoothly without any hindrance. For a moment, the two held hands tightly, gazing into each other's eyes, their hearts intertwined and mutually understood without needing to say another word.

  Hua Xiao Shuang fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "Xiao Gege, all these years I've gained many white hairs but achieved nothing, it's really disheartening." Liang Xiao furrowed his brow and said: "You've traveled the world, saved countless people, how can you say you've achieved nothing?" Hua Xiao Shuang said: "Calculate it for yourself, even if I save ten people a day, that's only over three thousand in a year, and not even thirty thousand in ten years. And what about the days when I couldn't even save ten? Some illnesses are beyond my power to cure, half of the vows I made to Guanyin Bodhisattva back then remain unfulfilled." After speaking, he couldn't help but feel dejected.

  Li Shuo said with a sigh, "As the saying goes: 'One person's plan is short-sighted, two people's plan is far-reaching.' No matter how great one person's abilities are, they are still limited. Xiao Feng, you have taught medical skills to children, why not open up a school and teach a group of capable students? The students can then teach their own students, and those students can teach others, passing it down from generation to generation without end. How many people will be saved is immeasurable!"

  Hua Xiao Feng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Brother Shuo, you are right! In a few days, we will build a school and find some clever children to teach."

  Li Shuo laughed and said, "We should also write a couplet on the gate of the school." Hua Xiao Feng smiled and asked, "What couplet?"

  Liang Xiao said seriously, "If it's a right combination, then it's called 'Lotus Foot Treads on the Flat Bird'; if it's a left combination, then it's 'Powder Fist Beats Hua Tuo'." Hua Xiao Xue gave him a white eye and pretended to be angry, saying, "Good, you not only disrespect your elders but also compare me to a street urchin!" Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Don't get angry yet, there's still the horizontal inscription." Hua Xiao Xue curiously asked, "Oh, go ahead and say it." Liang Xiao looked at her deeply and sighed, saying, "Then it would be 'Yan Wang Admits Defeat'." The two of them couldn't help but laugh at each other.

  After laughing for a while, Liang Xiao said: "With the couplet, we can't lack the door god. It's just right that I and Huasheng are on either side of you, and any student who doesn't listen to your teachings will be kicked in the butt." Hua Xiaoxiao scolded: "Nonsense! How can a child withstand your fists and feet? Besides, Brother Xiao, you have great abilities, how can you come to guard my door? The temple is too small to hold a god, thank you for your kindness but I decline."

  Liang Xiao shook his head: "My abilities are only good for slaying dragons, they're of no use here." Hua Xiaoxiao saw that when he spoke, a hint of pain flashed in his eyes, and her heart also felt uneasy. Suddenly she said: "Brother Xiao, I study medicine to cure illnesses and save people, why do you study mathematics and martial arts?"

  Liang Xiao thought for a moment, then said: "If I'm allowed to speak nonsense, I actually have four wishes." Hua Xiaoxiao asked curiously: "What are they?"

  Liang Xiao looked up at the sky and said slowly, "I wish for all the resentment in the world to disappear, for there to be no more evil people, for the Yellow River to never flood again, and for war to cease forever." Hua Xiao Xue thought that stopping the Yellow River from flooding might be possible, but the other three wishes were impossible. She frowned slightly, but then heard Liang Xiao laugh and say, "Xiao Xue, I was just joking, don't take it seriously." Hua Xiao Xue forced a smile and changed the subject, saying, "Brother Xiao, on top of Luoyan Peak there's a pavilion called Juxian Tai, with a broad view that takes in all the scenery of Baoqingshan. Shall we go take a look?" Liang Xiao smiled and agreed.

  Two people walked shoulder to shoulder up the mountain, with cedars hanging upside down along the way, waterfalls rushing and flying, and strange flowers and grasses on the roadside that couldn't be seen in a glance. As they approached the top of the mountain, they saw from afar a red pavilion, and Hua Xiao Shuang smiled: "That is the Gathering Immortals Pavilion." Before she had finished speaking, suddenly the sound of the qin and sheng coming together in harmony was heard from within the pavilion, the qin's sound being magnificent and resplendent, like peonies in full bloom, pearls and jade filling the hall; the sheng's sound was instead light and calm, just like a forest spring washing over rocks, without any worldly smoke or fire.

  Liang Xiao sighed and said, "Unfortunately, someone has already arrived." Hua Xiao Xue whispered in his ear, "The one playing the zither is Grandma, and the one playing the xiao flute is my master. They came from another path." Her breath was as fragrant as orchids, and Liang Xiao felt a flush rise to his cheeks, unable to help but smile wryly. He thought that Hua Wu Xian's emotions were indeed harmonious with music, and wondered what Gong Yang Yu would think if he heard this. But then Hua Xiao Xue spoke again, "Brother Xiao, shall we go up?" Liang Xiao shook his head, saying, "The Gathering of Immortals Platform is where high-ranking people gather, what business does a young whippersnapper like me have there?" Hua Xiao Xue knew that he was still troubled and unwilling to meet with others, so she followed his lead.

  But then the zither and flute responded to each other, very harmonious. After a while, the music ended, and only Hua Wu Xian smiled and said: "Everyone, how was my performance with Leng Qing?" Leng Qing sighed: "Ashamed, ashamed, Sister Hua's piano skills are unmatched, I'm inferior."

  Jiuruo smiled and said, "If both of them played equally skillfully, it wouldn't necessarily be pleasant to listen to. The previous piece was able to be short or long, strong or soft, with changes that were all in harmony, not adhering to conventional rules." Gongyang Yu sighed and said, "The old monk's evaluation is accurate, only when the zither and flute harmonize can they attain a heavenly interest." As he spoke, he let out a sigh, as if there was something he regretted. Before his words had even fallen, Shitian Feng yawned and shouted, "To hell with this 'heavenly interest'! Listening to you two makes my eyes narrow. This blowing and strumming, 'ya ya ya', is extremely unpleasant to listen to. It's not as good as going down the mountain to find a little nun to sing a proper song."

  On the mountain top, Ling Shui Yue hastily said: "Old man, you're really shameless, losing face for me." Shi Tian Feng hummed: "I can fight, but I won't listen to your nonsense. You few don't need to stare at me with cow eyes. If this place doesn't keep me, there's another place that will. I'll go find Liang Xiao to hone my martial skills."

  Liang Xiao heard this and hastily hugged Hua Xiaoshuang, rising several feet into the air and grabbing onto a protruding rock on the cliff wall. He saw Shi Tianfeng rushing by like a mad wind from the mountain path below, turning a corner, and disappearing down the mountain in a cloud of smoke. Liang Xiao watched him go far away and let out a sigh of relief. Hua Xiaoshuang smiled and said, "Luckily, Master said something last night, and Grandma and Grandpa made up, which is a great thing." Liang Xiao thought that Gong Yangyu had lived his life freely, but in his later years, he was constrained by social norms. It seemed that no matter how Gong Yangyu refused to yield to old age, he ultimately couldn't withstand the passage of time. Thinking about this, Liang Xiao sighed and said, "Xiaoshuang, I think your grandparents' discord is not because of anything else, but because they understand each other too deeply." Hua Xiaoshuang asked curiously, "What do you mean?" Liang Xiao explained, "They are both highly intelligent and can see through people's intentions, which is why they can use such extraordinary sword techniques that I couldn't defeat. However, human hearts have both good and evil aspects. They know each other's strengths and weaknesses, but the more they know, the more likely they are to argue. Both of them are very proud, and even though they know their partner's thoughts, they refuse to yield. Alas, this is even more infuriating than mutual misunderstandings. Over time, it was bound to lead to conflicts."

  Hua Xiao Shuang thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "Fortunately, Brother Xiao is smart, but I'm really stupid." Liang Xiao shook his head and said: "You're not stupid at all, it's just that you always know how to yield to my temper." Hua Xiao Shuang had a smile on the corner of her mouth as she thought to herself: "And what about you? A great strategist and general, yet you condescend to accompany me on medical rounds everywhere." As she leaned into Liang Xiao's arms, she felt extremely content.

  Suddenly, a figure appeared from the foot of the mountain, rushing towards them. Liang Xiao thought it was Shi Tianfeng returning, but upon closer inspection, it was Yun Shu. Yun Shu's expression was anxious and flustered, not noticing his surroundings as he hastily ran up the mountain, shouting: "Master, mistress, seniors, something is amiss!" Gong Yangyu said displeased: "What's the panic? If the sky falls, there's always Zhang Han to hold it up." Yun Shu replied: "Yes! I just received news that Zhen Nan Wang Duohuan led tens of thousands of soldiers into Baozhang Mountain, heading straight for Tianji Palace!" Everyone was shocked, Ling Shuiyue said: "Yun Xian nephew, isn't this a false rumor?" Yun Shu sighed: "Absolutely not! The enemy's momentum is swift and fierce, like thunder that strikes before you can cover your ears." There was a moment of silence on the mountain top, Hua Wuying said: "No worries, the 'Two Instruments Dust Array' is subtle and mysterious, even with tens of thousands of brave soldiers, they won't be able to break through." Yun Shu responded in agreement, but his heart felt uneasy, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

  The army is approaching, and everyone has lost interest in admiring the scenery, so they hastily descend the mountain. Liang Xiao waits until everyone's backs disappear before jumping down the mountain path, seeing Hua Xiaoxue's deeply furrowed brows, he says: "We should also go." Hua Xiaoxue hesitates: "Xiao Gege, if you see them again, you'll inevitably suffer humiliation!" Liang Xiao says: "At this point, what's the difference between being humiliated or not?" The two of them descend to the foot of the mountain, but all they see are flags and banners on both sides of Caibei Gorge, all bearing the insignia of the Yuan army. The Yuan soldiers are coming and going, lowering warships into the lake. Liang Xiao secretly feels shocked: "These troops have arrived so quickly!" He turns his gaze to look again, and sees that the group of heroes are standing at the entrance of Qiyue Valley with worried expressions. Since its construction, Tianji Palace has been passively defended, without any crossbows or cannons for defense. If the Yuan army descends from the top of Caibei Gorge, they can directly reach Qiyue Valley.

  Liang Xiao and Hua Xiao Shuang arrived at the valley entrance by small boat, where everyone was busy with the enemy in front of them, and they didn't care about the two of them either. Hua Wu looked at the Yuan army's busy scene and muttered: "The Yuan people are familiar with the road, their tactics are strict, and everywhere they counter our palace's terrain, could it be that there is a traitor in the valley?" Everyone looked at each other, all feeling puzzled.

  Liang Xiao suddenly said, "If I'm not mistaken, it's not an internal traitor, but a rebel from many years ago." Hua Wuyan's shoulders slightly shook, and she asked sideways, "Can you explain?" Liang Xiao nodded and said, "Minggui surrendered to Tuhuai, but I don't know why he only took action today." Yun Shu said, "The reason is obvious. The Mongolian kings have always been at war with the Yuan court, and the Tartars couldn't take care of the south. Now that the kings have been defeated by Tudaha, the Tartars have their hands free, and the first thing they do is deal with the Southern Righteous Army. What's strange is how did the Tartar emperor know that Tianji Palace was the headquarters of the Righteous Army?" After speaking, he furrowed his brow in contemplation.

  Liang Xiao said calmly, "What's so strange about that? You let those two barbarian monks go just to satisfy your momentary anger. Once they're out, what don't the Yuan people know? Besides, if they can sneak in, others can too. I'm afraid both sides have already figured out each other's strengths and weaknesses." Yun Shu's face turned purple with rage as he was about to retort, but then Shi Tianfeng shouted loudly, "What's the point of you two going back and forth? Just watch me take down one of their warships and kill some of their arrogance!" He sprang into action, and before Ling Yuemei could stop him, he had already launched his "Riding the Wind and Crossing the Sea" move, closing in on the Yuan army's warship with swift and deadly precision. The Yuan soldiers were shocked and terrified, shouting out loud one after another.

  Shi Tianfeng was just about to jump onto the bow of the boat when a shower of arrows came shooting down from above the gorge. He let out a loud shout, swung his palm and swept away the arrows, but his true energy slightly dissipated, causing him to fall back into the water. In an instant, another wave of arrows shot towards him, Shi Tianfeng's palms flew up together, barely blocking them, but his feet had already stepped on empty air and entered the water. The arrow shower came again, Shi Tianfeng's legs fell into the water, losing balance, in the chaos he was hit by an arrow on his thigh. Just as the Yuan army's arrows seemed endless and he felt overwhelmed, the back of his collar suddenly tightened as someone pulled him backwards several feet, when he looked up it was Liang Xiao.