Chapter 10, Sitting on the Fighting Goose Tower

Tian Boguang chuckled and said: "Yilin, my dear sister, what a lovely way to address you"

Linghu Chong felt a heavy heart, anticipating that the esteemed Wu hero was likely in grave danger.

He spoke while picking up a piece of beef, bringing it to his mouth but then throwing it back onto the plate, tossing down his chopsticks and saying: "I have traversed the Central Plains, yet I have never seen anyone wield a knife like this." As he spoke, a look of astonishment still lingered on his face. He continued: "That kid's knife technique seems utterly chaotic and disorganized, yet every strike is aimed to save a life; that knife... is not even half a beat slower than mine."

Tian Boguang, with a mischievous demeanor, caught a glimpse of Yi Lin's movements and laughed, saying: "Light beauty, if you dare to act recklessly, and ruin the rules yourself, do not blame me for being heartless"

That Brother Wu seems to be no less skilled in martial arts than you; it is not merely that he held this little nun for a moment, but he was also defeated by you, losing his armor and fleeing in disgrace. It is evident that this nun is indeed a great source of misfortune, someone to be avoided.

For a moment, the room fell silent once more, with only the sound of the shopkeeper's heart-wrenching sobs. The old man in the black robe sighed and said, "A child wishes to care for their parents, but they are no longer present"

Linghu Chong laughed heartily and said, "Brother, you are so generous, yet why do you not drink? What a pity, what a pity"

Fortunately, Tian Boguang found a good rapport with him and had no intention of killing him. The two sat on stools and exchanged over ten moves, during which Linghu Chong had already been struck by three knife wounds. The cuts were not deep, clearly indicating that Tian Boguang had shown mercy.

At that moment, a person at the door laughed and said: "After searching for him thousands of times in the crowd, I suddenly turned around and found the little scoundrel right here"

Yilin shook her head and said: "That elder brother is named Wu Tiande. Yilin does not know which sect he belongs to, but Brother Wu's martial arts must be very good, comparable to my master's."

Tian Boguang sat there, merely sneering coldly

Within the Feiyan Tower, Linghu Chong devised a scheme to lure Tian Boguang into a duel, hoping that he would become overconfident and lose the wager, thus allowing him to rescue Yilin. Tian Boguang was also a very clever individual; to entice him into the trap, Linghu Chong had to make this act of self-sacrifice quite convincing. Moreover, his martial arts skills were inherently inferior to those of Tian Boguang, so even without the pretense, he would inevitably suffer greatly.

Tian Boguang chuckled and said, "You upright people are just not straightforward enough. When you speak, you are so verbose and full of taboos. I admit that I cannot compete with the gentleman's sword."

Speaking as he pulled Yilin along, he completely disregarded Linghu Chong. Although Linghu Chong observed him leading Yilin forward, with his right hand holding the sword in a reverse grip, it was evident that he was secretly on guard against him. Aware that he could do nothing against him, Linghu Chong had no choice but to follow along.

Wu Tiande felt both angry and amused. He pressed his lips together, turned to Tian Boguang with a smile, and said, "We meet again." Tian Boguang's face changed from pale to flushed, and with a snort, he chose to ignore him

They are powerless to resist, having been the victims of harm and bullying, and the injuries they have suffered, both physically and mentally, are indeed pitiable. Yet, who is there to sympathize with them? A woman who has lost her honor is not only looked down upon by her neighbors and fellow villagers, but wherever she goes, she is pointed at and scorned, subjected to public derision, and even her parents and brothers disdain and reject her

Wu Tiande pointed at Tian Boguang and said: "You all think that this Tian Boguang is a disgraceful lowlife, a lecherous scoundrel, yet you do not realize that his crimes are truly appalling"

Linghu Chong was both shocked and enraged to see him kill a fellow disciple from the Five Mountains with a mere gesture. In a flash, he raised his long sword and, from across the table, thrust it three times with great force, completely enveloping Tian Boguang's upper body in the attack.

Yilin's charming face flushed, her hands clasped together, and she murmured something softly under her breath

He raised his cup and took a sip, suddenly slamming the table heavily, and exclaimed, "Damn it, this is not something to be ashamed of, I will tell you!" Yet he paused again, looking at Yilin, who sat there refusing to pick up her chopsticks, and asked, "Little nun, which sect does the boy who carried you out of the cave belong to? What is his name?"

Wu Tiande said nothing and turned to leave. Just as he returned to the street, he suddenly heard someone shouting from a distance: "Someone has been killed, someone has been killed." A few people rushed over in a panic, brushing past him as they fled. Wu Tiande hurriedly grabbed a pale-faced scholar in a blue robe.

Wu Tiande said solemnly: "Otherwise, excessive drinking harms the body. Those who drink too much often give birth to children who are mentally deficient or deformed. Moderation is key. The name of Li Taibai, the poet immortal, is known throughout the world, yet he suffered from excessive drinking, resulting in two sons who were both mentally deficient"

Linghu Chong let out a cry, realizing that Tian Boguang's strike was a deadly technique aimed at seizing victory in a perilous situation. When Linghu Chong had fought against him in the mountains, Tian Boguang had previously used this move to toy with him, resulting in Linghu Chong being wounded by a blade to his side. At that time, it was fortunate that Tian Boguang recognized him as a worthy opponent and only used a third of his strength; otherwise, the blade would have pierced straight through to his heart.

The shopkeeper, who appeared to be a timid person, was now inexplicably agitated, his face flushed red as he hoarsely shouted: "I say... that brave man spoke well... my mother... my mother was originally a young lady from the Lin family in the county. She... she was insulted by thieves, poor... poor my mother, a young lady from a prominent family, could only marry my father as a secondary wife. At that time, my father was just a street vendor, and it was my mother who worked hard to help him establish the family business we have today. My mother was originally a young lady from the Lin family in the county. She... she was insulted by thieves, poor... poor my mother, a young lady from a prominent family, could only marry my father as a secondary wife. At that time, my father was just a street vendor, and it was my mother who worked hard to help him establish the family business we have today.

The Taoist priest Tiansong observed that Tian Boguang had never regarded him with any respect from beginning to end, which filled him with intense hatred. However, in that moment, he found himself lacking the courage to charge forward again. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout and ran down the stairs

Linghu Chong picked up Yilin and took a deep breath to run swiftly. However, due to his injuries, even with all his strength, his speed was far inferior to his usual pace. He thought of Tian Boguang's lightning-fast blade, which was certainly beyond his ability to withstand. He wondered if that bearded hero could hold it off. For now, the only option was to quickly escape with Yilin, settle her somewhere safe, and then return.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Yilin's question, Tian Boguang's face turned red, and he awkwardly replied, "So... is that kid's surname Wu? Hehe, I will go compete with him again"

As they rushed to Hengyang City, Linghu Chong was panting as if he were a broken bellows. At this moment, Yilin had her acupoints unblocked and was instead supporting Linghu Chong. Just past noon, the streets were bustling with people. They saw a young man covered in blood, wielding a long sword, being supported by an exceptionally beautiful young monk. The pedestrians hurriedly avoided them, inevitably pointing and whispering from a distance. Just past noon, the streets were bustling with people. They saw a young man covered in blood, wielding a long sword, being supported by an exceptionally beautiful young monk. The pedestrians hurriedly avoided them, inevitably pointing and whispering from a distance.

Inside the hotel, there were quite a few people. Upon seeing these three individuals—one covered in blood, another with a bruised face, and a bald little nun—they appeared utterly out of place, looking strange and exuding an intimidating presence, causing others to refrain from staring too long.

Wu Tiande nodded and said, "Exactly!"

Just as he was hesitating, someone gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder and laughed, "Why are you walking so slowly? You've made Tian catch up with you." Linghu Chong and Yilin turned their heads to look, and were taken aback. They saw a person standing behind them, his yellow robe torn, a dark bruise under his right eye, looking quite disheveled, yet his face bore an air of self-satisfaction. It was none other than the solitary traveler, Tian Boguang.

Tian Boguang sighed, "That young man's skill is truly peculiar. If this blade strikes true, I feel my strength completely drained. I initially thought he was using trickery, secretly employing a technique to neutralize my power. Each of my twelve consecutive strikes retains a third of its force. If he indeed used such a technique to drain my strength, I could simply drag my single blade upward at an angle to dislocate his shoulder."

Upon reaching a fork in the road, Linghu Chong halted his steps, pondering that in his current state, it would likely be a challenge to return, let alone offer assistance to that hero, Wu. Moreover, with Yilin being a naive young nun and having lost contact with Dingyi and the others, how could he ensure her safety? This truly was a source of great concern.

Just as I was about to ask further, a young man at the neighboring table suddenly slammed his hand on the table, stood up, rushed in front of Tian Boguang, drew his long sword, and shouted: "Are you Tian Boguang?"

Tian Boguang shook his head in confusion: "Naturally, I was filled with rage. I leaped forward a step and swung my knife again, but that strange force reappeared. That kid's knife technique was utterly nonsensical, yet it was incredibly fast, clearly full of flaws. Before I could swing my knife to strike, he had already changed his moves. Although his knife technique was pathetically poor, it was both swift and fierce, leaving me no choice but to defend myself. As soon as I engaged with his knife, that strange force would twist my blade aside, and he would unleash a flurry of chaotic slashes. I could only muster about sixty percent of my usual strength, and I found myself with only the ability to defend, unable to counterattack."

In the midst of the hurried escape in the mountains, he finally raised his head to carefully observe her appearance. He saw that Yilin was around sixteen or seventeen years old, with a graceful figure. Although she was wrapped in a loose black robe, it could not conceal the slender and delicate form of a young girl. Her oval face, with well-proportioned eyebrows and eyes, and her small cherry-like lips, were exceptionally beautiful and exquisite, truly a stunning beauty.

He had a desire to visit that restaurant, but after thinking for a long time, he could not recall the name of the establishment. As for martial arts novels, he had read quite a few in later years, yet he could only remember a restaurant called Yanyu Tower in Jiaxing and an inn named Yuelai Inn, which he could only recall because they were mentioned frequently in the books.

Yilin raised her eyes and saw Wu Tiande looking at her, and two blushes involuntarily appeared on her cheeks. She softly said, "Brother Wu..."

Linghu Chong smiled faintly, and then he heard Tian Boguang say: "That Wu Tiande, who suddenly appeared from nowhere, actually did not retreat and forced a knife against me. I felt a surge of joy in my heart; these twelve consecutive strikes flowed like clouds and water, each blow connecting seamlessly, and I seized the initiative. If someone with similar martial skills faced me, they would only have the ability to defend against my swift strikes, with no chance to counterattack."

When Tian Boguang was forced to abandon his knife and received an elbow strike from Wu Tiande, he fell backward onto the ground. The ground was slippery after the rain, and he slid over a distance of more than three feet after hitting the ground. Wu Tiande swung his knife and pursued closely, determined to strike down the drowning dog.

Wu Tiande saw Tian Boguang furious and embarrassed, chuckling to himself. It turned out that the two were engaged in a duel in the mountains, where Tian Boguang was completely at the mercy of Wu Tiande's swift blade, driven by his peculiar internal energy. The advantage of Tian Boguang's swordsmanship lay entirely in its speed, but now his swift blade was disrupted by the opponent's force. Wu Tiande's swordsmanship, on the other hand, became increasingly proficient. As one side diminished, the other grew stronger; had it not been for Tian Boguang's exceptional lightness skill, he would have already suffered numerous cuts.

Tian Boguang smiled faintly and said, "Linghu, my young brother, we have known each other for a long time at first sight. Why do we always meet with swords drawn? Come, come, come, sit down and drink."

Linghu Chong noticed the strange expression on his face, and upon hearing his words, felt a sense of relief in his heart: he presumed that the renowned Wu hero was not in any danger to his life. However, he was puzzled as to how Tian Boguang had managed to shake him off so quickly and catch up.

Yilin's face flushed, and she said: "Brother Wu, Yilin is a nun and cannot be... just call me Yilin."

Seeing this, Tian Baoguang laughed heartily and said, "This Brother Wu is truly a person of my kind."

The short and stout cook, who also served as the manager, squatted at the door and, upon seeing a guest, blew his nose loudly, wiped it on his shoe, and eagerly approached. He opened his mouth to smile, revealing a set of yellowed teeth: "Esteemed guest, what would you like to eat?"

This statement is already a profound compliment in Yilin's eyes, yet Tian Boguang shook his head repeatedly upon hearing it, muttering to himself: "Ding Yi? Heh heh heh, that kid's martial arts are quite peculiar, truly the most extraordinary I have ever seen in my life. Ding Yi cannot compare to him, cannot compare to him. Wu Tiande? How come I have never heard of such a person?"

Tian Boguang trembled all over, his face swollen to the point of almost bleeding, and the shop was enveloped in silence. Yilin was moved to tears, gazing at the dignified Wu Tiande with deep respect.

A few people remained silent for a while, and then Linghu Chong let out a long sigh, saying: "I fought with Tian Boguang and was stabbed thirteen times. Brother Wu must have also been stabbed thirteen times in his heart during his duel with him!"

However, relying on one's skills, a cunning woman, once a woman's virtue is lost, she can never regain her standing in life. You have tarnished her purity, and with a mere shrug, you walk away, relying on your unparalleled lightness of foot to evade justice. Do you know how many women who have lost their virtue have chosen to end their own lives? Do you know that if those women do not die, they must endure a lifetime of humiliation?

His front was already slashed open by Tian Boguang with a single stroke. At that moment, he rolled on the ground, scattering the items in his arms everywhere. Thus, the once formidable General Wu, who had wielded his sword with ease and exuded an air of authority, was now covered in mud, squatting on the ground and picking up his belongings. By the time he had gathered everything, there was no trace of Tian Boguang to be found. Seeing that the burden on his back had also been soaked by the dirty water, and the items he held were all water-sensitive, he had no choice but to continue on his way to Hengyang City while holding them as they were.

Tian Boguang was furious, his face turning pale as he suddenly stood up. He was inclined to take action, but truly feared his opponent's martial skills. In that moment of hesitation, he heard Wu Tiande say: "I, Wu, never consider myself superior to others. I can befriend commoners; as long as there is mutual loyalty, I can also befriend those from the demonic sect. However, you, Tian Boguang, are unworthy! If I were to regard you as a friend, even if heaven and earth were to go blind, and the gods were to lose their minds, I would still betray my own conscience."

It was like this: my father looked down on her. As soon as he had money, he married a concubine. My mother did not dare to oppose him; she had to please my father, and even had to please my father's concubine. At home, she was treated worse than the servants. I was young back then and did not understand. The boss spoke while shedding tears: "Even when I was unhappy, I would insult my mother, blaming her for bringing shame upon me. What wrong did my mother do..."

Wu Tiande gasped, feeling the sting of the heat, yet turned his head to him and coldly remarked: "I do not dare to aspire to such heights"

Wu Tiande let out a sound, his old face flushed with embarrassment. He hurriedly took the tea, took a sip, and as soon as the water went down, he stiffened his neck, raised his head, and looked at Yilin with eyes brimming with tears, on the verge of spilling over, wearing a pitiful expression.

How infuriating it is that my swift blade can conquer the world, yet I am suppressed by this bearded man's absurd knife techniques, leaving me with no opportunity to display my skills. Later, sensing the situation was unfavorable, I withdrew my blade. As he lunged forward with force, I swiftly maneuvered to his side and thrust beneath his left rib towards his heart

As for the silver notes, Xiao Wu had an experience of being robbed of his wages on a train, so he exchanged the silver notes for one hundred taels each, rolled up ten bundles, and hid them in places such as the soles of his shoes and his belt, which was not enough to be disclosed to outsiders

Yilin, hearing this from the side, felt it was quite inappropriate and interjected, "Brother Wu, the demonic sect is insidious and vicious, committing all kinds of evil and causing harm to the martial world..."

This disheveled appearance, covered in mud and holding the imperial edict, is likely unparalleled since the creation of the world by Pangu

Linghu Chong and Yi Lin both exclaimed in unison. The people in the inn, upon hearing their conversation, listened quietly.

Linghu Chong's mind raced as he realized he was not his opponent's match. To rescue Yilin and to act according to the situation, he smiled slightly, walked forward, and sat down cross-legged. He saw the waiter bringing over a jar of sorghum liquor, snatched it up, removed the clay seal with a slap of his palm, and the aroma of the wine wafted through the air. After sniffing the fragrance, he exclaimed, "Good wine," fetched a large bowl, poured a generous serving, and downed it in one gulp.

Yilin pouted and said, "My master has never drunk alcohol or eaten dog meat; you are a bad person spreading nonsense"

The scholar in the blue robe raised his folding fan in terror and pointed behind him, saying: "In the Returning Wild Goose Tower, there are villains committing crimes, in broad daylight, under the clear sky..." Before he could finish his sentence, Wu Tiande had already rushed away. The scholar in the blue robe was momentarily stunned, and only then did he realize that his folding fan was still dripping with water, having hastily knocked over a teacup in the tavern, which he only now noticed.

Linghu Chong fell silent for a moment and said: "Brother Tian's swordsmanship is unparalleled in the martial world. Our sect's sword technique combines both speed and slowness, embodying both hardness and softness. It emphasizes controlling the sword with one's energy, aligning the external form with the internal energy. We are not adept at countering speed with speed; instead, we avoid the sharpness and seek to exploit the opponent's weaknesses. This is not insignificant."

Tian Boguang slammed the table and angrily said, "Do you look down on me?"

That particular sword technique is indeed both fierce and deadly. At this moment, seeing him use this move against Wu Tiande, my heart couldn't help but race wildly.

Linghu Chong suddenly realized that the scars on his face had come from this incident, and he couldn't help but laugh heartily, greatly admiring the improvisational skills of Wu Tiande. However, he was puzzled about what had happened between the two afterward; since he had been at a disadvantage, how did he manage to quickly shake off the entanglement and catch up? And where had Wu Tiande gone?

Tian Boguang saw that he dared to mock him as well, and with a sinister smile, he kicked the stool away, took two strides forward, and grabbed him by the collar, sternly asking, "What did you say?" His grip was quite strong, lifting the emaciated shopkeeper off the ground, causing the old man's face, resembling dry tree bark, to flush with color. It seemed that with just a twist of his head, he could easily snap it off. The onlookers were secretly alarmed, while Wu Tiande and Linghu Chong tightened their grips on their weapons, and the old man in black at the corner pinched a chopstick between his fingers.

Tian Boguang, upon hearing this, let out a hearty laugh, sat down again, and coldly remarked: "This is indeed a lack of knowledge. I never expected that I, Tian Boguang, am so heinously guilty. I would like to hear your esteemed opinion on this matter"

At that moment, Yilin gently walked up to Wu Tiande, holding a tea bowl, and said, "Brother Wu, have a sip of water." Wu Tiande reached out to take the tea bowl and, seeing Yilin's delicate little hands, which were as white as translucent jade, could not help but be captivated.

Tian Baoguang, fearing that Yilin would ask about the bearded man again, looked up and saw a restaurant to the left of the road. The banner fluttering in the wind displayed the three large characters "Returning Wild Goose Tower." He pointed at the restaurant and laughed, "Returning Wild Goose Tower? Little nun, you possess the beauty that could sink fish and fall wild geese, perfectly matching the name of this Returning Wild Goose Tower. Today, for you, I have been busy for most of the day. Let us go up, drink wine, eat meat, and enjoy ourselves."

Yilin hurriedly snatched the bowl and blew on it a couple of times, suddenly recalling that she was a nun; such behavior towards a man was indeed inappropriate, causing her to blush.

Tian Boguang, feeling quite displeased, rolled his eyes and said, "It's me, so what?"

Linghu Chong sat on the stool, on the verge of falling, and upon seeing Wu Tiande approaching, he felt a sense of relief. He laughed heartily and said, "Brother Wu, you have arrived just in time; let us share a bowl of wine together"

Little did I know... little did I know... I felt a surge of joy in my heart, just as I was about to exert force to drag the blade, the blade that had been loosened was suddenly pulled outward by a strong force. If I had not been intent on dragging the blade to strike his shoulder and had not tightly grasped the hilt, the blade would have been wrenched from my hand. I could see that his blade's momentum was clearly exhausted, yet I truly could not comprehend how he was able to unleash such a peculiar force.

Tian Boguang glanced sideways at Linghu Chong and said, "Linghu Chong is considered a prominent figure at Mount Hua; would you like to sit down and have a drink together?"

Linghu Chong was taken aback upon hearing this. He was aware of Tian Boguang's swordsmanship; although Tian Boguang was a lecherous scoundrel despised by all, his mastery of the blade was not inferior to that of a sect master. His unique swift blade could, in an instant, bring a person to their demise, appearing and disappearing like a ghost, with strikes as fast as lightning. At this moment, hearing him say that the renowned Wu Daxia's swordsmanship was no less swift than his own, how could he not be astonished

In the chilly spring, still not quite warm, this scholar held a folding fan, trying to appear cultured. Unfortunately, with a pair of drooping eyebrows, he looked anything but dashing. Wu Tiande asked him, "What happened? Where is there a murder?"

Tian Boguang looked at him with a smile and gently said, "There is indeed an abundance of trash among the Five Mountain Sword Sects, and the Taishan Sect has particularly more trash, truly everywhere." With a swift motion, he inserted the bloodied blade slowly into the scabbard on the table. No one could see when he had drawn the sword from the table and stabbed it into Chi Baicheng's chest.

Yilin was taken aback; she had heard the elders of her sect say this since childhood. Influenced by their words and actions, she had long since come to believe that it was the most evil and treacherous sect in the world. As for what wrongdoings they had committed, she truly could not specify at the moment

Yilin joined her palms together and softly chanted: "Namo Guanyin Bodhisattva, who rescues the suffering and the distressed"

Wu Tiande rushed to the Huaiyan Tower, just in time to see the two engaged in a critical struggle. Observing Linghu Chong's pale face and blue lips, a sign of excessive blood loss, Wu Tiande arrived at the perfect moment

Linghu Chong was covered in blood, yet he remained unperturbed. Upon seeing Yilin's movements, he called out: "Junior Sister Yilin, do not act rashly. I have not yet had the chance to demonstrate the profound aspects of my Fly-Stabbing Sword Technique. Once I unleash the ultimate move of the Fly-Stabbing Sword Technique, Tian Boguang will certainly be no match for me." As he spoke, he let out a cry as another blade struck his arm.

Tian Boguang recalled his battle with Wu Tiande and slowly said: "I originally intended to take that brat's life under my blade. As soon as we engaged, I unleashed a series of twelve consecutive strikes. These twelve strikes flowed seamlessly, coming from above and below, left and right, attacking every possible angle. I anticipated that no matter how skilled that brat was, he would inevitably be forced to retreat. The speed of these twelve strikes and their cunning angles were such that even your master, the Gentleman Sword, would not be able to easily evade their edge.

Wu Tiande laughed heartily, slapped the table heavily, and sighed: "You claim to walk alone for thousands of miles, and I was originally unconvinced. After seeing you today, it turns out you truly walk alone for thousands of miles. In the blink of an eye, you have already soared into the vastness, leaving no trace behind, causing me to wait in vain for you to return."

Tian Boguang sat motionless at the table, when suddenly there was a clang. The young man named Chi Baicheng staggered, and the long sword in his hand clattered to the ground. He fell backward, unaware that he had been stabbed in the chest, blood gushing forth.

Yilin called out, "Senior Brother Linghu..." Two streams of clear tears had already flowed down her delicate cheeks.

As he gazed upon her extraordinarily beautiful and pure face, Wu Tiande suddenly envisioned decades later, in a desolate ancient temple, an old nun with a face full of wrinkles tapping a wooden fish rhythmically. How could one allow the splendid youth of this flower-like girl to be buried in such a place

Standing still for a moment, he still could not recall the name of the restaurant. His stomach was already quite hungry, and upon seeing a small eatery at the entrance of the city gate, Wu Tiande immediately stepped forward.

A beautiful and refined young lady, if she were to find herself in such a situation, even if she were to marry a disabled butcher from the street, that butcher would still look down on her, cursing her daily as a shameless and lowly woman. You indulged in fleeting pleasure, yet caused another to suffer a lifetime of misery, robbing her of the happiness of being a wife and the dignity of being a mother. Tell me, does someone like you, a flower thief, not deserve to be punished a thousand times over? Such a beast is unworthy to don human skin and sit here enjoying food and drink

Tian Boguang looked up at the upper floor and saw the stout monk glaring around with a fierce expression. In his gaze, there was an imposing presence, and his eyes sparkled with divine light. He thought to himself, "This is a master." Noticing that the monk did not even glance in his direction, he assumed that the monk was indeed indifferent, as if someone had let out a foul smell while drinking, and he paid it no mind. He turned to Linghu Chong and said with a smile, "Linghu brother, you are quite a good man. You have gone to great lengths with your words, but all you want is for me to release this little nun and to pry into my thoughts to find out the whereabouts of the good surname Wu, isn't that so?"

Linghu Chong laughed and said: "What hero or great man does not enjoy good wine? We are not monks, so what do we have to abstain from?"

The diners upstairs witnessed a fatal incident, and with a loud shout, they all fled the establishment. The shop owner and the staff, terrified, crawled under the counter and dared not come out. However, the stout monk upstairs continued to drink heartily, shoving a piece of fatty beef into his mouth and chewing it with great relish. In the corner of the first floor, two people sat with their backs to the crowd; judging by their attire and build, one was an elderly man and the other a girl of about thirteen or fourteen dressed in green. It was unclear whether they were too frightened to move or simply unaware that a murder had occurred in the shop, as they remained seated without stirring.

Tian Boguang grabbed the hotel owner and, after a moment, suddenly threw him to the ground with a thud. He then sprinted away, turning around to reveal a face full of shame. His movements were swift, but as he exited, he stumbled over the threshold. In a surge of emotion, his strength coursed through his entire body, and his toes kicked the threshold to pieces, escaping like a wild horse, vanishing in an instant.

Yilin joyfully said: "Brother Wu"

The two individuals engaged in a struggle simultaneously ceased their actions, and everyone turned to look at the doorway. There stood a burly man with a face full of beard, wearing a pair of heavily worn cloth boots with soles that had lost their color. He had on a pair of deep blue trousers, caked in mud, and his upper body was clad in an oversized, open-front short jacket, the hem of which was tucked into his waistband. His round belly was protruding, seemingly stuffed with unknown items. A single knife was slung over his shoulder, wrapped in a floral cloth, as he strode confidently across the threshold with a puffed chest and protruding belly.

Tian Boguang, with a strange expression on his face, said: "I struck at a moment when he was unprepared. He was leaping forward with all his strength, his knife thrusting ahead. It was precisely the moment when his old strength had been exhausted and his new strength had yet to be generated. In a moment of urgency, he attempted to withdraw his knife for self-defense, but his force was fundamentally insufficient to stop my strike. However... however, this strike unexpectedly carried that peculiar force, causing my blade to veer slightly and stab into his chest..."

Wu Tiande still said: "Sister Yilin, this demonic sect has caused havoc in the martial world, committing all sorts of evil deeds. What exactly have they done wrong?"

Linghu Chong, Tian Boguang, Yi Lin, and a host of supporting characters

Wu Tiande said: "Brother Linghu, you are a young hero; remember that alcohol is a poison that penetrates the intestines and should not be consumed in excess". Yilin listened and nodded her head repeatedly, expressing her strong agreement

The farmer's garment had a wide hem that dragged down to his knees. Wu Tiande stuffed it all into his waistband, making it bulge, which conveniently allowed him to fit everything inside. Upon arriving in the county town, Wu Tiande thought to himself: "When I first read that story, it mentioned that Tian Boguang captured Yilin and entered Hengyang City. Later, Linghu Chong rushed to rescue her. After all this commotion, I wonder if things will still unfold as they originally did.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be an extremely tall and stout monk, shaking his bald head, who swiftly ascended to the second floor. Tian Boguang was momentarily taken aback, and all his anger instantly dissipated. He pointed at the stout monk's back and said: "Hahaha, little nun, didn't you say that those who have renounced the world do not consume meat? Look at this master, his head shining like armor, clearly a high monk of the Buddhist order. If he drinks a couple more jars of good wine, he will surely achieve enlightenment. Don't deceive me anymore with talk of not eating meat; perhaps your master, the old nun Dingyi, secretly drinks wine and eats dog meat as well, hahaha. Look at this master, his head shining like armor, clearly a high monk of the Buddhist order. If he drinks a couple more jars of good wine, he will surely achieve enlightenment. Don't deceive me anymore with talk of not eating meat; perhaps your master, the old nun Dingyi, secretly drinks wine and eats dog meat as well, hahaha..."

After traveling for more than half a shichen, just as they were about to exit the mountain hollow, they saw an old farmer supporting a plow and working the fields. Wu Tiande was overjoyed and took out a piece of broken silver to exchange for the farmer's outer garment. This piece of silver weighed at least two qian, more than enough to buy a new coarse cloth gown. The old farmer, filled with delight, immediately took off his outer garment and exchanged it with him.

Tian Boguang glared at her and said: "Who am I? As the saying goes, a brave man cuts off his wrist. Seeing that this knife was slicing towards my palm right next to my blade, I immediately dropped my knife and retreated. That bastard completely disregarded the rules of the martial world; after his knife strike was exhausted, he actually raised his elbow and slammed it heavily into my face. Damn it, I, Tian Boguang, have never suffered such a loss before"

Upon seeing the wine bowl on the table, a thought crossed my mind, and suddenly I had a brilliant idea

He gazed at Yilin, lost in thought, which appeared somewhat ambiguous to those around him. It seemed as if Wu Tiande was half-holding the teacup, greedily admiring Yilin's beauty. A young girl in green at the corner secretly turned her head and, with a sneer, said to the old man in black, "Grandfather, that big-bearded man..." Her voice suddenly halted as the old man covered her mouth.

As he made his move, the Taoist priest Tian Song, mindful of his own status, stood aside and refrained from intervening. Only then did Tian Bo Guang rise to his feet, not drawing his sword from its sheath. With his left hand, he waved the sheathed sword repeatedly, deflecting the three strikes from Linghu Chong. Suddenly, a flash of blade light appeared and vanished; Tian Bo Guang held the sword sheath in his left hand and gripped the hilt with his right, the sword still inserted within the sheath. Meanwhile, the Taoist priest Tian Song, standing nearby, dropped his precious sword to the ground, covering his chest with both hands, blood seeping continuously between his fingers as he retreated step by step, his face pale, as if he had seen a ghost.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Tian Boguang rose to his feet, picked up his knife, and displayed his unparalleled lightness of skill, hastening away like the wind. Although he was not afraid of death, as a flower thief, he had no need to cherish his reputation like those from prestigious sects, nor to commit the foolish act of refusing to flee even at the cost of his life

Tian Boguang let out a bitter laugh and said: "With a sharp sound, my knife unexpectedly slid past his chest, which was truly baffling as I did not injure him. I was puzzled and sought another opportunity to use this move again, wanting to see it clearly. However, that kid was quite clever; before I could retract my knife, he actually used the hilt to deflect my strike. Damn it, when I attempted this move for the third time, that kid surprisingly devised a way to counter it, not only breaking my strike but also reversing the force, nearly slicing off all five fingers of my right hand"

Sitting next to Chi Baicheng was a red-faced Taoist priest, with a long beard hanging from his chin. At this moment, his face was filled with anger as he approached step by step, holding a green blade: "Tian Boguang, how imposing you are! The Taishan Sect's Tian Song has come to learn your esteemed skills"

Linghu Chong nodded quietly while listening from the side. The old man in black sitting in the corner suddenly turned his head, his gaze sharp as if it were a tangible arrow. Wu Tiande felt an instinctive reaction, and when he looked up, he saw that the old man in black had already turned away. However, he noticed that the girl in green was making a face at him, sticking out her tongue.

Wu Tiande said: "Do you not accept this? In the martial world, individuals fight relying on their own skills. Even if one is defeated, no one will mock them; they can practice their skills diligently and seek revenge. If one dies, there are still family and friends who remember them, calling them a hero"

Yilin felt a great sense of grievance upon hearing this senior brother from the Huashan Sect suddenly curse at her, tears welling up in her eyes. The stout monk upstairs slammed the table with a bang, causing the ceiling to tremble, and angrily exclaimed: "Damn it, which brat is making such a stench? It’s so foul that it ruins the monk's enjoyment of his drink"

Linghu Chong clapped his hands and laughed, saying: "This statement is indeed profound in its Zen wisdom. However, in my life, I, Linghu Chong, have a fondness for both wine and gambling, yet I have no interest in lust. This little nun has no color in her face, is as thin as a skeleton, and lacks fortune in marriage. If I were to marry her, would I not be doomed to lose every bet, and would I not end up without money even to buy a drink?"

Continuing to fight like this, how much blood could Linghu Chong still shed? Upon seeing his condition, Yilin felt a surge of emotion, tears welling up in her eyes as she contemplated drawing her sword to assist him, thinking: "Linghu Shixiong has been wounded countless times in order to save me; how can I stand by and do nothing?"

Yilin anxiously asked, "So... how is Brother Wu? Has he been hurt by you?"

Tian Boguang pulled her and laughed, "It's better to break the rules; if your master drives you down the mountain, just marry me instead." Just as he was speaking, a figure suddenly rushed past from behind, bumping into his shoulder. As Tian Boguang was about to step over the threshold, he nearly fell from the impact. The person had already dashed past him into the building, shouting, "Get out of the way, get out of the way, the wine bug is at it again; don't block the monk from drinking."

Yilin continued to struggle, saying: "Amitabha, if Yilin were to break the rules, Master would surely blame me." Her master, Master Dingyi, was renowned for her fiery temper and was the strictest figure among the Three Dings of Hengshan, and Yilin held both respect and fear for her master

With a loud bang, someone heavily slapped the table and exclaimed, "Well said!" Everyone looked up in surprise, and to their astonishment, the person who had shouted in approval was none other than the timid shopkeeper.

The boss, in his fifties, was thin and lanky. He poked his head out from behind the counter, stretched his neck to take a glance, and shouted, "Sir, there is hot water on the stove at the entrance, and there is also fine tea on the counter. Please feel free to help yourself, no need to be polite." After saying this, he quickly withdrew his head.

Tian Boguang sneered, "These foul rules are all meant to deceive. Come with me to drink, or I will strip you bare right here, causing all the passersby to laugh at you to death"

The young man said: "You lecherous scoundrel, everyone in the martial world wants to kill you without delay. How dare you appear here so openly? I, Chi Baicheng, shall act on behalf of heaven today." With that, he thrust his sword towards Tian Boguang.

The old man cried harder, his voice choked with emotion: "Seven years ago, a great plague broke out in these provinces. I fell ill and was driven to the mountains to await death. My nearly seventy-year-old mother... every day she secretly climbed the mountain to bring me medicine and food. I survived, but my mother died. If my mother were still alive, I would definitely honor her properly, not let her suffer so much. You, the despicable scoundrel who deserves to die a thousand times, my dear mother..." If my mother were still alive, I would definitely honor her properly, not let her suffer so much. You, the despicable scoundrel who deserves to die a thousand times, my dear mother..."

In this situation, the stout monk upstairs naturally observed everything clearly. His piercing gaze scrutinized Wu Tiande from head to toe. Noticing his bearded face, he realized that the man was not very old, yet there was a certain boldness in his demeanor, prompting him to nod slightly.

Wu Tiande patted his own steel knife and said sternly: "Just now, Brother Linghu used the Fly-Swatting Sword Technique against you. I still have the Pig-Slaying Knife Technique in reserve. If I were to use the Pig-Slaying Knife Technique to kill you, I would fear that it would tarnish my blade. If you have any conscience, go back along the path you have walked and see what has become of the women you have humiliated. Who has committed suicide? Who has renounced the world to become a monk? Who has fallen into prostitution? If you still possess a shred of humanity and conscience, you would not continue to be a lecherous thief"

Tian Boguang raised his eyebrows and growled, "Wu, do you think I am afraid of you?"

Wu Tiande turned his head and gently said to Yilin, "Sister Yilin, this demonic sect..."

Wu Tiande rolled in the mud and got back up. Due to the clothing habits of later generations, he found long robes to be less convenient than short garments. Therefore, he purchased a short shirt favored by traveling merchants. This type of short shirt has a double-layered inner lining in the front, allowing for the storage of items. Wu Tiande kept important documents such as military department correspondence and imperial edicts in the inner layer, while the outer layer held the bone-cutting knife.

Tian Boguang looked at him, noticing his handsome features, and couldn't help but exclaim, "What a good drinker!" He placed one leg on the stool and poured himself a bowl, taking a sip and saying, "In terms of drinking capacity, I cannot compare to you. It pleases me greatly that you are willing to sit down and drink with me. If you have taken a liking to this beautiful young nun, I will let her go to you. Throughout my life, I have only had one desire for beauty, but I will never be blinded by it." You are willing to sit down and drink with me, which greatly pleases me. If you have taken a liking to this beautiful young nun, I will let her go to you. Throughout my life, I have only had one desire for beauty, but I will never be blinded by it.

Yilin was helping Linghu Dage to his feet, taking out the Tianxiang Duanxu glue to apply on his wounds. He had more than ten injuries of various sizes on his body. Seeing that the two were about to fight again, she hurriedly said, "Wu Dage, I will go make you a cup of tea." Saying this, she walked to the cabinet, took a bowl, placed a pinch of tea leaves in it, went to the door to fill the kettle with hot water, and brought it back to him. The tea was just ordinary flower tea, far from being of the finest quality. Seeing that the two were about to fight again, she hurriedly said, "Wu Dage, I will go make you a cup of tea." Saying this, she walked to the cabinet, took a bowl, placed a pinch of tea leaves in it, went to the door to fill the kettle with hot water, and brought it back to him. The tea was just ordinary flower tea, far from being of the finest quality.

Linghu Chong saw this and turned his head away, his shoulders shaking continuously. He quickly grabbed a bowl of wine and drank it, but immediately spat it out with a "pfft," coughing twice and saying, "What a... strong liquor, it choked me"

Linghu Chong originally intended to inquire about the outcome of the battle between Tian Boguang and the other party. However, after this interruption, he refrained from asking further. Fortunately, although Master Tiansong was injured, he seemed to be out of immediate danger. Linghu Chong could only sit down, pondering: "Tian Boguang is unpredictable and quick to kill; if this continues, who knows how many more people will be implicated? How can I devise a way to rescue my junior sister Yilin?"

Wu Tiande approached, kicked a stool with his foot, sat down heavily, and said: "I haven't had a drop of water or rice all day, I'm dying of thirst." As he spoke, he picked up a wine bowl, took a sip, and quickly spat it on the ground, saying: "What strong liquor! Where's the waiter? Bring a bottle... bring a bowl of boiled water."

Yilin smiled and asked, "Your finger is not broken, is it?"

Wu Tiande chuckled, "The Sun and Moon Sect indiscriminately recruits followers, with countless members, most of whom engage in underworld activities. Their methods are inherently unscrupulous, and the industries they are involved in often conflict with those of the righteous heroes. Whenever disputes arise, they resort to violence, and once lives are lost, the enmity is passed down from father to son, and from son to grandson, deepening the hatred. I believe that when the major sects of the Central Plains mention the current Sun and Moon Sect, they probably cannot recount too many of the evil deeds they have committed, right? It’s all just old stories and trivial matters."

Such a beauty, how could she leave her home? It is just like a brilliantly vibrant flower bud, just about to bloom, dripping with delicate beauty, yet being moved into a dark cellar, no longer cared for, until the flower blooms and withers, turning to dust, which is truly too cruel

Tian Boguang ignored her, gleefully grabbing her arm, picked a clean table to sit down, and began to pound on the table, shouting loudly: "Waiter, waiter, quickly bring me a jar of fine wine, and some chicken, duck, fish, and meat, hurry up, hurry up, my stomach has been empty for quite a while now"

Upon seeing him, Linghu Chong was immediately taken aback, while Yilin exclaimed, "It’s you? You... how did you come after me? What happened to Brother Wu?"

Yilin shook her head and said earnestly, "Monastics do not consume meat; this is the rule of my Baiyun Monastery"

Tian Boguang shot her a glare and snorted, "He is not your man, so why are you in such a hurry?"

Upon seeing the expression on Senior Brother Linghu's face, Yilin realized that this strike must hold great significance, and a look of concern involuntarily appeared on her face

Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Wu Tiande pounded the table and shouted, "Boss? Boss?"

Fortunately, Tian Boguang had a diverse range of skills and even understood the techniques of ground fighting. Wu Tiande found himself at a loss when faced with Tian Boguang's unusual and intricate movements as he rolled and twisted on the grass. A moment of carelessness led to Wu being kicked in the groin by Tian Boguang, causing him to fall sideways into a muddy pit.