Chapter 5, Chaotian Sect

I walk down the street, already feeling utterly exhausted. How can I even think about finding a job when I am dressed in such shabby clothes? I even got them dirty yesterday. As soon as I stepped in, before I could even say a word, they drove me out, not giving me a chance to showcase my talents. In this day and age, who would be willing to hire a woman? I dare not venture into the bustling areas of the city; who knows if Chengde is lurking there waiting for me? I wandered around until noon, yet I couldn't find a single place that would take me in. Sigh! If only my imperial brother knew how miserable I am right now, I wonder if he would feel sorry for me. If Chengde saw me in this state, I can only imagine how he would laugh. I crouch at the street corner, staring at the steamed bun shop across the street, my stomach growling loudly. Yesterday at noon, I was too busy feeding that Chengde fellow to eat much myself. In the evening, I only had a bowl of porridge from someone, and this morning, there was no porridge left. Now I am so hungry that my stomach is pressed against my back. What a ridiculous time travel, it’s all a lie. Is money really that easy to earn? What business ideas? Nonsense! You need someone to listen to what you say! Hmph! That damned Chengde, if it weren't for trying to attract 'chickens' for you, would I have spent all my savings? You don't remember any of my good deeds, yet you still want to catch me!

With great courage, I stepped closer and discovered that there was a flickering light inside the hall, accompanied by a faint yet enticing fragrance wafting through the air. My stomach immediately responded with a loud "gurgle." This aroma was more effective than anything else, causing me to cast aside my fears. What was there to be afraid of? At worst, I could just return home with Ding Xiaoxian, I thought to myself.

Nangong Yue looked at me with a determined expression and did not make things difficult for us, surprisingly agreeing to accompany us to the martial arts conference. Meng Anyang was so delighted that he jumped up from the ground, ready to speak, but I hurriedly covered his mouth. Nangong Yue was even more ruthless, directly pressing on his mute acupoint. "I can let you go, but for your safety, you must promise to listen to me!" Nangong Yue said. I nodded eagerly, agreeing to listen, agreeing to listen. The opportunity to attend the martial arts conference and be accompanied by a handsome guy was simply wonderful! "I can let you go, but for your safety, you must promise to listen to me!" Nangong Yue said. I nodded eagerly, agreeing to listen, agreeing to listen. The chance to attend the martial arts conference and be accompanied by a handsome guy was simply delightful! I thought to myself how many tofu pieces he would drop for me to eat along the way!

Is anyone there? Out of politeness, I called out a couple of times in the yard, but there was no response from inside. I pushed open the somewhat dilapidated temple door. The temple was not very large, with a two-person tall statue of Guanyin at the front, a crooked offering table, and some dry grass in the eastern corner. Not far away, a small pile of firewood was lit, with a broken pot placed on top. I could not tell what was being cooked in the pot, but it was bubbling and steaming, and the aroma must have been wafting from it. Everything seemed perfectly normal, yet it felt abnormal. Suddenly, a question struck me: where are the people? Not far away, a small pile of firewood was lit, with a broken pot placed on top. I could not tell what was being cooked in the pot, but it was bubbling and steaming, and the aroma must have been wafting from it. Everything seemed perfectly normal, yet it felt abnormal. Suddenly, a question struck me: where are the people? The pot was still cooking something, but where had the people gone?

It was just past noon when we arrived there, and the water was heated by the sun, so even though it was not yet summer, it was still possible to take a bath. Looking at the crystal-clear stream, I was overjoyed; modern water pollution is so severe that it is rare to see such a clear stream. I asked Meng Anyang to keep an eye on us from the side, but Meng Anyang shot me a glance and muttered, "Who cares to watch you?" Then, he turned around and sat on a large rock by the stream, facing away from us and ignoring us.

The handsome man nodded, while Meng Anyang looked utterly perplexed and asked, "Old Shen? Is he the old fellow who looks like a fox when he smiles?" Then he circled around me twice, looking at Nangong Yue in astonishment, "What are you saying? She could be a princess?" Then, with a face full of mockery, he repeated, "She could be a princess?" I shot Meng Anyang a glare, peeking at people through the crack of the door

Meng Xiaoran? I have never heard of him, but I do know who Meng Haoran is, I thought to myself. The young girl also shook her head, indicating that she did not know either. When the young man saw that neither of us knew, he felt quite embarrassed, his face turning a bit red. He twisted his neck and was about to speak again, but I quickly interrupted him and said: "I was just joking, of course I have heard of the great name of Meng the Hero!" Upon hearing this, the young man's expression finally softened a bit.

I was momentarily at a loss for words, simply staring at the yellow dog licking the meat filling off the ground. After finishing, it still seemed unsatisfied and barked at me twice, "Woof woof." I slowly turned my head, my eyes red as I looked at the young man in front of me. He appeared somewhat embarrassed under my gaze and said, "It's just half a bun. I'll compensate you. Do you know how to get to the Jiang family courtyard?"

Nangong Yue remained silent, quietly gazing at me for a while, and I too said nothing, directly meeting his gaze. However, Meng Anyang could not hold back and hurriedly said, "If we don't go, we don't go. Let's all go to the Jiang family to participate in the martial arts conference. With Brother Nangong here, we have nothing to fear. Perhaps Brother Nangong can even bring back the title of martial arts leader. ... When the time comes, we can return to the mountain. His mother has mentioned many times that she wants to see Aunt Jingzhi, and she has been saying she wants to go visit. It would be just right to pick up his mother, and his father has long wanted to see Uncle Nangong as well, and..."

"How do you know I am Furong?" I asked Nangong Yue

She was there slurping her rice porridge, making me swallow hard with envy, but I felt embarrassed to snatch food from a child. Besides, this was something she had brought for herself; if I were to take it, would I still have any dignity

"Can we make peace?" the young man said, panting heavily. "I haven't really offended you, have I? It's just that I knocked half of your bun off. Is it really necessary for you to be so ruthless?" I nodded, apparently you don't feel that hungry.

She looked at me coldly and nodded.

Chu Yang ... ... "Over there, Meng Anyang is calling me. He might be worried since I haven't returned for a while, fearing that something has happened to me." "Meng Anyang, save me!" I shouted urgently. The handsome guy was taken aback when he heard me call Meng Anyang, and I seized this opportunity to jump into the water and swim towards the shore.

I patted the place beside me and smiled at her, saying, "Come sit here." She ignored me, came over and snatched the bowl from my hand, then walked to the opposite side and started drinking. I was momentarily stunned, not expecting her to be so bold. Wow! In this day and age, even a beggar girl can be this cool!

After the three of them finished eating, they continued to discuss the matter of going to Jiangfu the next day. Meng Anyang said that since there are three of us, we must have a name for ourselves. Considering that the renowned hero Jiang has a formidable reputation, those who come will surely be from prestigious sects. If the three of us just go like this, we will definitely be looked down upon, and I fear that we won't even be able to sit at the main table!

"Madam, are you staying at the inn?" The shopkeeper hurriedly welcomed the customer who had finally arrived.

"Are you the Nangong Yue that Old Man Shen mentioned?" I asked in astonishment, finding it hard to believe.

Nangong Yue was originally dressed as a chivalrous figure, while Meng Anyang was also dressed quite well. Ye Fan appeared as a delicate young girl, but my outfit was rather ambiguous, neither distinctly male nor female. I was in male attire, but unfortunately, it was not winter, so the clothing was not very thick. Moreover, Princess Furong was still young, yet her development was quite impressive, making her attempt to disguise herself as a man rather conspicuous due to her well-defined chest muscles. Meng Anyang suggested that I simply buy some cloth strips to wrap around, which would make it less obvious. He then called everyone to wait at the dilapidated temple while he and Ye Fan went to the fabric store to buy over three meters of white cotton cloth. They had the shopkeeper cut it into strips half a foot wide and brought it back, then left me alone in the temple to sort myself out. After wrapping for quite a while, I put on the robe and stepped out. They all stared in surprise; Meng Anyang fell to the ground laughing, Ye Fan smiled gently, and even Nangong Yue, the cool guy, couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

I was swimming vigorously, panting, and wanted to look back to see how far I had left that handsome guy behind. Suddenly, a shadow darted past me, moving at a speed that seemed almost inhuman. Fortunately, I knew there were no sharks in this stream; otherwise, I would have suspected it was a shark. Indeed, it was that handsome guy from behind! But how did he swim past me? Wasn't he trying to catch me? Did he intend to wait for me on the shore? I quickly stopped and then realized the water only reached my thighs. Indeed, it was that handsome guy from behind! But how did he swim past me? Wasn't he trying to catch me? Did he intend to wait for me on the shore? I quickly stopped and then realized the water only reached my thighs

Although I was shocked inside, I refused to be at a disadvantage verbally. "What a ridiculous thing to say!" I blurted out without thinking. My demeanor was indeed a far cry from that of a princess, and he furrowed his brow, showing some hesitation. Initially, he had only grasped one of my ankles, allowing me to maintain a precarious balance. Suddenly, his long and large arm reached out to grab my other foot. As a result, both of my feet were now in his grasp, and no amount of effort from my arms could keep me balanced, causing my head to tilt backward.

As I rubbed my hair on my head, I wondered whether this situation would allow me to catch someone's attention. What if a handsome man happened to pass by? Therefore, I thought I should at least maintain a graceful posture. Just imagine, what kind of expression would a handsome man have upon seeing a woman playing in the water, and what would his expression be upon seeing a woman scrubbing mud while holding a bath towel?

Two people over there are engaged in a fierce fight. Since neither of them is armed, they are only exchanging punches and kicks. Although I do not understand martial arts, I can see that the girl’s techniques are quite exquisite; unfortunately, she is at a disadvantage due to her small stature, with arms and legs half the length of her opponent's. It is like when I play "Street Fighter," choosing an old character to fight against a young girl, and I find my health depleting quickly! After a while, I realize it is because my legs are short, and despite kicking for ages, I can't land a single hit! However, they are just two children, and as they continue to fight, they soon lose their techniques. At this point, the girl is even more disadvantaged, and in no time, that foolish boy has pinned her down. Seeing that things are going awry, I hurriedly grab a broken stick from the ground and strike the boy on the back. I hear him grunt and suddenly flip over. The girl and I seize the opportunity and pounce on him, fiercely pinning him down. Half an hour later, all three of us are panting and exhausted. After such a scuffle, I feel as if I have become a few years younger. It is quite amusing to think about; I am already in my twenties, yet here I am fighting with two children. It is truly baffling. Could it be that I have been under too much psychological pressure lately?

Three people were talking when Ye Fan suddenly ran over, holding my clothes, and was taken aback to see a big man appear. Meng Anyang hurriedly informed him that this was his elder brother, Nangong Yue, whose skills were unfathomable, and began to boast about Nangong Yue's heroic deeds. Nangong Yue ignored him and walked away to put on his clothes, while Ye Fan also disregarded Meng Anyang. Meng Anyang's face turned red, and he awkwardly stopped talking. I also stepped aside to change clothes, and when I returned to look at Ye Fan, I realized that after washing up, she was quite charming, with clear brows and bright eyes. No wonder Meng Anyang's attitude towards her had taken a complete turn. However, Ye Fan remained cold and hardly spoke. When Nangong Yue returned, he directly told me that he wanted to take me to the mountain. I asked which mountain, and Meng Anyang quickly interjected that it was Nangong's elder brother's home. I replied that I wasn't going, asking what I would go to his house for. If he was worried about me, he could act as my bodyguard; if he didn't want to keep an eye on me, he could go about his own business. After all, I had managed to escape on my own without him. Ultimately, I just refused to go back to the mountain with him. I had worked hard to escape from the deep palace, and I wasn't going to run back up to the mountain. That would be absurd; I had no intention of pursuing cultivation.

Although I have already reached the outskirts of Wancheng, it is not particularly desolate. After a short search, I spotted the kind of dim yellow lanterns that belong to a dedicated inn. The establishment is not large, but it is tidily arranged. Fearing that someone from Chengde might come to search for me, I hesitated at the entrance for quite a while before daring to step inside

I nodded slightly and asked him to prepare a cleaner guest room for me, along with some meals. I had been so busy running away that I hadn't even had dinner yet. The shopkeeper hurriedly agreed but did not move from his spot, instead smiling at me and awkwardly saying, "Madam, we will prepare that for you right away, but could you please pay a deposit first? It's not that we don't want to do business, it's just that our shop is small and profits are thin, and this is a rule we've established long ago." I smiled back, thinking it wasn't a big deal, and reached into my pocket for some silver coins. However, as soon as I touched it, my smile froze on my face; I realized I had nothing in my pocket—not even a silver note! Embarrassed, I said, "Madam, we will prepare that for you right away, but could you please pay a deposit first? It's not that we don't want to do business, it's just that our shop is small and profits are thin, and this is a rule we've established long ago." I smiled back, thinking it wasn't a big deal, and reached into my pocket for some silver coins. However, as soon as I touched it, my smile froze on my face; I realized I had nothing in my pocket—not even a silver note! I shouldn't have lost it, and then I suddenly remembered that I had bumped into a few people while running away from the street corner earlier. I didn't know which professional pickpocket had taken it from me. Now, I was left with not a single coin on me. The shopkeeper saw my expression and immediately understood that I had no money. His smile vanished instantly, and he sneered, saying, "Did you forget to bring money again? Or was your silver stolen?" I was furious and glared at him, but then I remembered that I couldn't offend him since I was counting on staying here tonight. I could only force a smile and say, "To be honest, I really was robbed of my silver. Please let me stay for one night, and I will definitely have my relative bring you the money in full tomorrow!" The shopkeeper coldly replied, "I think it would be better if you didn't trouble him to send it. You should go find your relative directly!" Saying this, he began to push me out. "How about you let me stay first? I can help you with work!" I said urgently.

I can't believe it! What a coincidence, there is a woman bathing here. I watched for a few seconds, but I noticed that the person seemed to be completely still, only their hair swaying slightly with the water's ripples. Oh no! Could it be that they are drowning? I hurriedly jumped in and swam towards that hair. Just as I broke the surface, my vision was still blurred by water droplets, and without thinking much, I reached out to grab that hair, but to my surprise, I missed! Just as I was trying to figure out what was happening, the person stood up in the water. This was unexpected; I couldn't believe it! They were even taller than me, with a muscular upper body exposed, and slightly dark skin. This was clearly a man!

I hesitated whether to go back the same way and speak kindly to the shop owner, but just thinking of his face made me angry. Should I just go in and take a look? A temple, even if it is a bit desolate, is still a place that worships the Bodhisattva, and at least there shouldn't be any ghosts, right? In fact, I originally didn't believe in this kind of thing, but just thinking about the likes of Ding Xiaoxian, I now believe in everything.

My first reaction was to look down at the ground; there was a shadow, and it was a person. Sighing in relief, I thought, as long as it is a person, it would be easier to deal with. I then carefully examined the person in front of me, who turned out to be a child, at most around ten years old. The clothes on their body were already tattered, and their hair was disheveled. Their small face was so dirty that I couldn't see their features clearly, but their eyes were strikingly clear, black and white, and very lively. It seemed that they were actually a little girl. "Are these all yours?" I asked.

I was so hungry that I felt dizzy, only focused on cursing Chengde, when suddenly a hand reached out in front of me, a small hand, dark in color, yet it made my eyes widen in surprise, for it was holding half of a large steamed bun!

By the time he pulled me out of the water, I was already feeling dizzy from being submerged. He placed me on a large rock and then jumped up beside me. It was then that I noticed he was still wearing shorts, and his physique was indeed impressive.

In a flurry, I hurried along, not knowing how many turns I had taken or how many alleys I had passed through. As the sky gradually darkened, I realized that I had somehow reached the outskirts of Wancheng. At that moment, my heart settled a bit, and I couldn't help but scold myself for being useless. Even if I were caught, what would happen? At worst, I would return home with Ding Xiaoxian. Have I been here for so long that my courage has diminished? What a pity for my donkey and my bundle; now, I am left with only a few belongings. The night has fallen, and no matter what, I cannot sleep in the wilderness; I must find a small inn to stay in. I can only pray that God will protect me and that Chengde will not conduct a large-scale search for me in this city. After all, he still has the duty of escorting the bride and should not reveal his identity in Wancheng. This thought puzzled me a bit; the wedding procession had long since left Wancheng, so why was Chengde still here? Does he dare to abandon his post so brazenly? Moreover, I have lost this princess, and his entourage continues on their way. Is he not afraid that once they reach Fandu, he will be exposed and unable to report back to his father?

"Not only is the princess fake, but even the third prince is also fake. I chased after the real third prince to Wan City, and I did not expect to encounter you here," said Nangong Yue

What are you doing? I turned around and said angrily. He was still holding onto my ankle, looking at the sole of my foot with a shocked expression. I hurriedly paddled with my hands to maintain my balance. What is so interesting about the sole of my foot!

That foolish boy is quite easy to get along with. After the three of us had a fight, we became more familiar with each other and exchanged names. The foolish boy is named Meng Anyang, the little girl introduced herself as Ye Fan, and I mentioned my original name—Chu Yang

This time it is truly unfortunate, the house leaks just as the rain pours down at night, I have been unlucky to the core! However, when it comes to the source of this misfortune, it all traces back to that fellow from Chengde. Thinking of this makes me curse Chengde again, regretting my own foolishness in sending him to a brothel, wasting a whole handful of gold seeds, allowing those prostitutes to take advantage of me, hum! If I had known, I should have at least charged some money for my presence there.

"Meng Xiaozai, what are you doing at the Jiang family courtyard?" As I asked, I noticed that the young girl also became focused, seemingly very interested. "No wonder you don't know; just looking at you, it's clear you are not from the martial world," the young man said proudly. "Old Master Jiang is celebrating his sixtieth birthday and has taken the opportunity to invite heroes from all over the world to select a new leader of the martial arts community to expel the Wala and revitalize the Great Zhou." A martial arts conference? Upon hearing this, I became excited. Why did I come here? Isn't it just to enjoy the spectacle? How could I miss such a grand event? "Is your father also competing for the position of the martial arts leader?" I asked.

Cursing under my breath, I made my way to the place the shopkeeper mentioned, thinking that I might as well go take a look. After walking for half a day on an empty stomach, the sky had completely darkened. Fortunately, it was just past the fifteenth day of the month, and the moon was still bright. Although the scenery was somewhat blurred, I could still see everything clearly. As I turned the corner and took a look, I couldn't help but exclaim, "What a damn thing, how can anyone live here!" It turned out that the place he mentioned was a dilapidated temple, clearly long abandoned. Not to mention monks, even the walls were nearly collapsed, leaving only a large hall standing there. To think I was expected to stay here at night truly tested my courage. As I turned the corner and took a look, I couldn't help but exclaim, "What a damn thing, how can anyone live here!" It turned out that the place he mentioned was a dilapidated temple, clearly long abandoned. Not to mention monks, even the walls were nearly collapsed, leaving only a large hall standing there. To think I was expected to stay here at night truly tested my courage.

Hearing no sound, when I opened my eyes again, the person had already left. I had no choice but to put on my coat and go out. This time, Meng Anyang was not smiling; not only was her chest no longer prominent, but even her waist was tightly wrapped with books, making her look far from feminine.

As soon as I think of this issue, I feel a tingling sensation on my scalp, thinking that today cannot be so unfortunate! My hand instinctively reaches for the dagger in my bosom, but upon touching it, I realize it is empty, only to remember that I had earlier allowed someone to take it along with the silver, which makes me even more anxious

I lowered my head to take a look, and exclaimed, "Wow! It's better not to wrap at all; wrapping it makes it look even bigger, like I've developed a chicken breast." Nangong Yue pulled me into a dilapidated temple and asked me to take off my clothes so he could wrap me up. I was a bit stunned; I didn't expect the handsome guys here to be so open-minded. Can this really help me? I looked at Nangong Yue, who had a serious expression, as if I were the only one with ulterior motives. Even I, a woman with such a bold nature, felt a bit embarrassed. I said, "No way, you have to close your eyes." Without a word, Nangong Yue closed his eyes. I still felt a bit uneasy, so I found a strip of cloth to blindfold him, and then turned around to cover my chest with another strip of cloth. He held one end of the cloth and told me to wrap myself a couple of times first. I wrapped it around twice, and then he slapped my shoulder with his other hand, causing me to spin like a top. He held the cloth tightly, and I felt like a spool of thread, the cloth wrapping around me from top to bottom and then back up again, I lost count of how many times it went around, making me dizzy and nauseous. "Nangong Yue! You big jerk! Are you trying to strangle me? You really know how to do it!" I cursed angrily, and when I finally stopped, I plopped down on the ground, nearly out of breath.

As the three of us chatted, the sky began to darken. The foolish lad took out some silver from his bundle and asked Ye Fan to buy us something to eat. I was still thinking about the buns from earlier, continuously calling out for buns. Ye Fan was quite nimble and returned in no time with a large bag of buns and a roasted chicken. I realized that this girl was quite resourceful, showing no concern for saving money at all

Upon my suggestion, Meng Anyang also found it agreeable and asked Ye Fan, who had no objections either. Thus, it was decided to name it "Zong." Even a sect must have a name, and in the end, we decided on "Chaotian Zong," which sounds quite impressive. Meng Anyang insisted on being the sect leader, and I conceded to him, thinking it unworthy to bicker with a child over such matters.

Ah! Suddenly someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind, and I was startled, jumping up from the ground in shock. The bun in my hand fell to the ground and rolled away quite a distance. Chengde, Chengde, is he coming? I was just thinking of running away, but the person grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

Old Man Shen said that you have a mark of a moon and a sun on each of your feet

The handsome guy swiftly made his way to the shore and then headed straight for Meng Anyang. Meng Anyang had already run quite a distance, and his speed was so impressive that I felt envious; he was even faster than a rabbit. However, that handsome guy was even quicker. While I was still hesitating whether to watch the excitement surrounding Meng Anyang or to make my own escape, the handsome guy grabbed Meng Anyang with one hand and returned. Upon seeing his speed, I immediately abandoned the idea of running away; I couldn't swim faster than him in the water, and I certainly couldn't outrun him on land. With his speed, even Lewis would have to change careers, let alone poor Fulong with his short legs. Just as I was still debating whether to watch the commotion or to flee, the handsome guy returned with Meng Anyang in tow. I saw his speed and quickly gave up on the idea of escaping; I couldn't swim faster than him in the water, and I couldn't run faster than him on land. With his speed, even Lewis would have to change careers, not to mention Fulong with his two short legs. "Hehe, hehe, big brother, let me go, I won't run anymore," Meng Anyang said with a cheeky grin, but the handsome guy simply tossed him aside with a serious expression.

"What are you running for? Do you know how to get to the Jiang family courtyard?" A boy's voice sounded from behind me. I turned around suspiciously and saw a boy about thirteen or fourteen years old, shorter than me by half a head, standing there with an air of superiority, looking at me. I quickly lowered my head to look for my bun, but it was long gone. Looking again, I saw a big yellow dog not far away, happily devouring it. Half of the bun was already in its mouth, with only a bit of filling left outside, which it was licking.

No wonder Chengde is not in a hurry to find me; it turns out he has long prepared a fake "Princess Furong"! I am beginning to understand, but I am also somewhat puzzled about what Chengde really intends to do

I finished speaking loudly and waited quietly for a while. In the hall, apart from the sound of bubbling from the pot, there was no other movement. Could it be that the person was scared away? I thought to myself. I only felt hungrier, and at this point, I couldn't care less. I walked to the pot, not knowing what was being cooked inside. It was a white, mushy substance that looked like leftover porridge. How come I never knew that leftover porridge could emit such a fragrant aroma! I looked around and indeed found a broken bowl and a broken spoon. I felt even hungrier, and at this point, I couldn't care less. I walked to the pot, not knowing what was being cooked inside. It was a white, mushy substance that looked like leftover porridge. How come I never knew that leftover porridge could emit such a fragrant aroma! I looked around and indeed found a broken bowl and a broken spoon. I apologize to you, since you are hiding from me, let me eat on your behalf, I said. Just as I lowered my head to blow on the hot porridge in the bowl, before I could take a sip, I suddenly noticed another person in front of me. This scare was no small matter; I let out an "ah" and fell onto the ground, my eyes fixed on the person in front of me, and I was so stunned that I didn't throw the bowl of porridge away, but held it tightly instead. I truly value my life less than my possessions!

The young man glanced at us, suddenly smiled, and said, "You really have some nerve. Do you know who my father is?" I shot him a look, thinking he was useless, only knowing to mention his father. If he knew who my father was, he probably wouldn't say such things. "Meng Xiaoran! Everyone in the northern martial arts world knows!" the young man said proudly.

"No, there's no need for that. You might as well look for another place. Considering you are just a woman, let me tell you, there is a place where you can stay. After you exit, turn left and go straight to the end, then turn right; that place is free!" It turns out that the people in this place only recognize money, not people! I was furious, but I had no outlet for my anger, so I could only scold the shopkeeper and the thief who stole my silver a hundred times.

"Is it a false blessing?" I asked in astonishment

I am somewhat taken aback; I never knew that Meng Anyang could be so shameless, speaking lies as if they were the truth, and even offering us assistance. Why did he not just tell the truth that Ye Fan and I almost robbed him?

Ahead are several large stones lying across the stream, some of which are over a person's height, protruding significantly above the water's surface. It is estimated that they were washed down from the mountains during a flash flood. Here, the stream takes a bend, and they have been left behind. I noticed a stone that was quite smooth, and with the sun shining just right, I thought about climbing up to bask in the sun. I dove in, and when I resurfaced, I was already next to the stone. Just as I climbed onto this stone, I saw someone in the water on the other side. Due to the reflection on the water's surface, I couldn't clearly see who it was; I only noticed a head of black hair floating on the surface, while the person remained submerged beneath the water.

Fortunately, she did not drink all the porridge, only having two bowls before stopping. She placed the bowl beside me without saying a word and then lay down in the hay to sleep, as if I were invisible. I glanced at the remaining porridge in the pot, then at the little girl lying there who didn't even look at me. I decided not to be too particular about it and thought it best to fill my stomach first.

The three of us discussed matters until midnight, and that night, Meng Anyang also rested with us in the dilapidated temple. The next day, the three of us slept until late morning, and when we mentioned going to the Jiang family, we realized that both I and Ye Fan were dressed too poorly. Meng Anyang also felt embarrassed and directly took us to a shop to buy a new outfit. Looking at the bright new clothes and then smelling the odor on myself, I insisted that I needed to take a shower before changing. Meng Anyang scolded me for being troublesome, but he couldn't argue with me and had to comply. However, after searching for a long time, I couldn't find a bathing center or similar place. In the end, it was Ye Fan, being a local, who led us directly to a small stream outside the city.

Seeing that I seemed to be in danger, Meng Anyang hurriedly ran over here. Just as he was about to reach me, he suddenly turned around and ran back, as if he had seen some kind of monster, and his speed was clearly much faster than when he had come. Damn! You, Meng Anyang, are really inconsiderate. If I had known you would act like this, I wouldn't have given you that chicken wing last night! I thought angrily, yet my hands and feet did not dare to slow down at all. Since that handsome guy could recognize me as Furong, he was probably either one of Chengde's people or someone from the Emperor's side. Of course, it could also be that Nan Gongyue, but I felt that the chances of that were really too small, so it was best for me to keep running.

He was speaking with great enthusiasm, his words flying like spittle. I waved my hand to interrupt him and said, why not just hire some musicians to make it even livelier? To be honest, I am most annoyed by these pretentious displays. What’s with scattering flower petals whenever someone makes an appearance? There are those holding guqin and xiao flutes, and just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous. I remember when I watched "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," and when that so-called fairy sister in a yellow dress appeared, I was so disgusted I almost vomited. Why does your ancient tomb sect need to create such a grand spectacle? Honestly, I am most annoyed by these pretentious displays. What’s with scattering flower petals whenever someone makes an appearance? There are those holding guqin and xiao flutes, and just thinking about it makes me feel nauseous. I remember when I watched "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," and when that so-called fairy sister in a yellow dress appeared, I was so disgusted I almost vomited. Why does your ancient tomb sect need to create such a grand spectacle? I doubt your ancestors, Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu, were ever as ostentatious as you. What are you trying to show off? Even if you are proud, aren’t you just someone living in a basement? Hmph! Acting like you’re some kind of deity! Meng Anyang was taken aback and asked me who the deity was. I told him that the deity is the Jade Emperor's cousin! Meng Anyang clearly didn’t believe me, and I figured I wouldn’t elaborate, so he didn’t ask further.

I thought the same, so I suggested that we also establish a faction or a gang... Meng Anyang agreed, saying it would be best to have some flair, with four holding swords in the front and four holding knives...

I looked up with joy, and there was the little girl from last night again. She was eating half a steamed bun, and her clothes seemed even more tattered than the night before, with a bit of blood on her head. She stood there, her expression cold, yet she extended the bun in her hand towards me. Am I really going to eat someone else's food again? I felt my face burning, but my hand foolishly reached out. The bun, still a meat-filled one, smelled so good that I was so excited I didn't even know where to start. I felt my face burning, but my hand foolishly reached out. The bun, still a meat-filled one, smelled so good that I was so excited I didn't even know where to start.

I wanted to pull Ye Fan into the water, but she stubbornly refused to join me, her little face turning dark red from holding back. Taking advantage of my momentary distraction, she dove into the water by herself. I thought she was just shy and didn't think much of it, so I jumped in as well. The water was still a bit cool, so I wanted to warm up a bit. I called out to Meng Anyang and swam ahead, as the water wasn't very deep, the current was gentle, it was clear to the bottom, and there were no water plants, so I wasn't worried about any dangers. I had seen such scenes on television before, where a man was traveling alone and, upon passing a water source, faintly heard a woman's voice, or sometimes heard nothing at all. The man just wanted to drink some water... The water was still a bit cool, so I wanted to warm up a bit. I called out to Meng Anyang and swam ahead, as the water wasn't very deep, the current was gentle, it was clear to the bottom, and there were no water plants, so I wasn't worried about any dangers. I had seen such scenes on television before, where a man was traveling alone and, upon passing a water source, faintly heard a woman's voice, or sometimes heard nothing at all. The man just wanted to drink some water... Yet, when he approached, he would always see a woman bathing, her long black hair emerging from the water like a water lily, leaving the man dumbfounded.

Looking at this situation, there should be others here. Since someone has lit a fire to cook, it must not be a ghost. Perhaps they heard my shouting in the yard and have hidden somewhere, maybe they are now watching me from some corner. Thinking of this, I felt a bit more at ease. "Bodhisattva! I have come here to search for relatives, but instead of finding them, I was robbed of my money. I can only seek refuge in your sacred place for one night. I hope you will not take offense!" I clasped my hands together and spoke loudly to the statue of the Bodhisattva. Although it was meant for the Bodhisattva, I actually just wanted to convey to the person who originally resided here that I meant no harm and only wished to stay for one night, hoping they would understand my intentions.

Nangong Yue looked at me and said coldly, "How do you know I haven't been there? I've been there several times and even saw a fake you. If it weren't for Old Man Shen mentioning the mark on your foot, I probably wouldn't have known how many Fuyong I saved!"

Shut up! I shouted at Meng Anyang together with Nangong Yue. I just can't understand why a thirteen or fourteen-year-old brat has so much to say? And he is so verbose!

I felt dizzy and disoriented after the fall, and all I could see was that little girl suddenly springing up to engage in a fight with that foolish boy. Each move and technique was executed with a semblance of skill, leaving me even more astonished. Could it be that this little girl is actually a hidden master?

Watching them send off Chengde, I suddenly felt very bored. Was it worth it to create such a farce here? Just to save face? And then to lose all my possessions? Every time I think of my more than ten gold nuggets, I feel a pang of regret. The more I think about it, the more troubled I become. Alone, I walked back down the street, noticing that I still had the golden crown I had torn from Chengde's head tucked in my arms. It felt heavy, and there was a pearl on it that was probably worth quite a bit of money. As I passed by a pawn shop, I went in to exchange it for silver.

"My father won't come, he said that the title of the leader of the martial arts world is pure nonsense, useless, and that it's better to do something else instead," the young man said. "Then how did you come here?" I thought to myself, but did not ask. Looking at the young man's expression, I understood about seventy to eighty percent of the situation; he must have sneaked out to participate in the martial arts conference. However, with his skills, he couldn't even handle a little beggar girl, yet he still wanted to compete for the title of leader of the martial arts world? I thought about this and couldn't help but chuckle. When the young man saw me laugh, his face turned red, and he hurriedly said, "I just wanted to see what it was like, I didn't intend to compete for the title of leader." I was taken aback; wasn't that a confession without being asked? However, I was very interested in this conference, so I persuaded this foolish boy to take me along, and I also wanted that little girl to come with us. Having seen her skills earlier, I knew she was definitely not just an ordinary beggar. The little girl did not refuse, but she was unwilling to speak; whatever we said, she would only nod or shake her head.

After discussing for half a day, we still couldn't come up with a name that had any grandeur. All the impressive names like "Great Mountains and Rivers" had already been taken. I mean, if we were to name ourselves after some small hill, no one would even know. Meng Anyang suggested, "How about we call ourselves 'The Three Musketeers'?" since there are three of us. I said no, that name sounds awkward to me, and besides, it would be reminiscent of 'The Gang of Four.' My head is small; I can't wear such a big hat. I was afraid Meng Anyang would ask me what 'The Gang of Four' meant, so I quickly said, "How about this: let's not call ourselves any kind of gang or faction; let's call ourselves a sect. Generally, the most powerful people are always referred to as this sect or that sect.

He was also looking at me with a face full of surprise. It was only then that I realized I was only wearing underwear, and being in the water made it feel as if I were not wearing anything at all. I hurriedly turned around to swim back, but my foot was suddenly grabbed by him, and after struggling for a long time, I still couldn't break free

He finally came to his senses and asked, "Are you Princess Furong?" This time, I was the one who was stunned; how did he know?

When I finally saw that person's face clearly, I was instantly dumbfounded; it turned out to be the handsome guy I had tried to steal tofu from that day but failed! Oh my God, why is the world so small?

The handsome man glanced at me, but I ignored him and directly asked: "Are you really that Princess Furong? How come you don't resemble what Old Man Shen described at all?" Old Man Shen, could it be that he really is that Nangong Yue?

"Since you are Nangong Yue, why didn't you go to the wedding procession to rescue me, but instead came to take a bath in Wan City?" I said indignantly. Knowing that he was Nangong Yue, I felt no fear in my heart, and the first thing that came to mind was to bring up old grievances. When I was being bullied by Chengde over there, where were you? Now that I have managed to escape, you come to pour water on me and even tell me that you are Nangong Yue!

I have little understanding of wealth in this era. The old man sitting behind the high counter offered me a price of one hundred taels, and I was unsure whether it was a good deal or not. Drawing from my experience of bargaining at tourist spots, I countered with five hundred. In the end, he suggested that we each make a concession and reach a compromise. I thought that was acceptable, but when I looked at the number, I felt it was too low and insisted that the old man raise it. He refused to budge. In a fit of anger, I decided to lower my own offer by one tael, dismissing that one tael entirely. I couldn't accept such a foolish number from that old man!

Having tucked away the silver notes and some loose change, I headed straight to the tavern for lunch, where my bundle and donkey were still waiting. The sky was not yet dark, and it was far from the twelve hours mentioned by Sister Hu. Chengde and Fengshan should still be lying in bed, so I should not encounter any danger on my way back. I certainly could not be seen as a spendthrift, after all, that was all money I had purchased! However, as soon as I turned onto that street, I sensed something was amiss. There was a large crowd gathered at the street corner. Peering in, I saw some officials resembling soldiers from the Wala were sealing off the tavern. I silently cursed my luck and dared not linger any longer. The sky was still light, and it was far from the twelve hours mentioned by Sister Hu. Chengde and Fengshan should still be lying in bed, so I should not encounter any danger on my way back. I certainly could not be seen as a spendthrift, after all, that was all money I had purchased! But as soon as I turned onto that street, I sensed something was amiss. There was a large crowd gathered at the street corner. Peering in, I saw some officials resembling soldiers from the Wala were sealing off the tavern. I silently cursed my luck and dared not linger any longer. I turned around, lowered my head, and hurried back. I rushed along the way, bumping into quite a few people, not caring much about it anymore. If I were to fall into Chengde's hands at this moment, I might as well draw my sword and end my life right there.

Are there still marks on your feet? I never noticed them when I washed my feet before. As soon as I heard this, I hurriedly sat down to examine the soles of my feet. Even Meng Anyang leaned over to take a look. Indeed, there was a red crescent-shaped birthmark on my left foot and a round birthmark on my right foot, both approximately the size of a thumb nail, and their positions were symmetrical. It was astonishing.

Upon opening my eyes again, the outside was already bright. The little girl beside me had long since disappeared, and her clothes were draped over me, warming my heart. I cannot stay here forever, I thought. I, Feng Chen Chuyang, did not come here to join the Beggar's Sect. Had I known it would come to this, I would have been better off honestly following Chengde back to Fandu, where at least I could eat my fill and stay warm.

Meng Anyang had not yet come to his senses, nodding foolishly, and then turned to ask Nangong Yue: "Is she the legendary Princess Furong, who was born under a sky full of magpies and had the sun and moon on her feet at the age of one?" Nangong Yue nodded again and said to Meng Anyang: "There is no need to be so surprised; she is not some divine being. As for the sun and moon on her feet, I do not know, but I do know there is a trick behind the sky full of magpies. In the end, it was my old mother who gave the idea to Old Shen. Before the imperial concubine gave birth, Old Shen secretly scattered an unknown number of insects on her palace, and the magpies all flocked to that. " I was dumbfounded upon hearing this; I did not know about the sun and moon on her feet, but I was aware of the trick behind the sky full of magpies. In the end, it was my old mother who gave the idea to Old Shen. Before the imperial concubine gave birth, Old Shen secretly scattered an unknown number of insects on her palace, and the magpies all flocked to that. " I was stunned to realize that myths are all man-made. But why did Old Shen go to such lengths for my imperial concubine mother? I could not believe that their relationship was purely platonic. Who said that? Once it is a relationship between a man and a woman, how can it be pure? And what kind of person is Nangong Yue's mother to think of such a trick?

"Let us not call it the Chaotian Sect anymore; let's rename it the Sun and Moon Divine Cult instead," I said to the astonished Meng Anyang, thinking to myself that you might as well play the role of Dongfang Bubai for me.

No, I cannot succumb to despair. Isn't this precisely an opportunity for you to grow? "Use your modern intellect and earn your own gold!" I shouted loudly to motivate myself as I walked out of the dilapidated temple. Now, I need to find a job for myself

"Do you know each other?" I asked while climbing out of the water, wringing the water from my hair. Meng Anyang gave me an awkward smile, then turned to the handsome guy and said with a grin, "Good brother, let me go, I really didn't cause any trouble. I've only been doing good deeds all along the way, just ask her if you don't believe me." He pointed at me as he spoke, "I even helped her and a little beggar yesterday; that's two lives saved, all thanks to me!" He winked at me as he said this.

After finishing the porridge, although I was not full, I felt much better than when I arrived. The firewood gradually burned out, and the flames weakened. The moonlight outside seeped in, making the hall seem somewhat eerie. I had intended to find some dry firewood to burn, but I truly lacked the courage to go out alone. I could only move closer to the little girl, sitting against the wall. Looking at her, it seemed she had already fallen asleep, her small, thin body curled up into a ball. Although it was already spring, the night air was still quite chilly, and her clothes were already tattered. I really did not know how she had managed to endure, nor why she was living alone in this dilapidated temple. As I gazed at the little girl, a sudden pang of sorrow welled up in my heart, and I felt my eyes grow warm. When I was her age, I would still be cuddling in my mother's arms all day long. If I couldn't sleep at night, I would seek my mother for comfort, leaving my father alone in the study. A gust of wind blew in, and the fire had completely extinguished. The little girl seemed to feel the cold and curled up even tighter. I truly could not bear it; I took off my outer coat, tiptoed over, and covered her with it, then lay down beside her, gently pulling her into my embrace. Alas, this girl must not have bathed for some days; she was starting to smell! I thought to myself. Sleepiness then overcame me, and I dozed off in a daze.

The scoundrel, while busy cursing, forgot to hold his breath, and in a gulp, he drank several mouthfuls of water. In a panic, he wanted to hold his breath again but forgot how to do so.