Chapter 2, The Snow Reappears

Although Li Jinrong's words may not sound pleasant, her tone is surprisingly devoid of reproach—because she has always believed that a little cleverness is still clever. Regardless of the means, as long as the goal is achieved, it proves to be effective: "When the moment arrives, if you have not acted, and you know in your heart that the blade will break, you will inevitably waver—there is no need for debate; everyone fears death, and even the slightest wavering is still wavering."

As she spoke to this point, she suddenly drew the long knife from her hand, pivoted her body to support herself with both hands, and exerted force abruptly. The blade whistled with a sharp sound, piercing and mournful like the most violent northern wind in the northern frontier, sweeping through the snow and rushing towards her face—exactly the same move that Zhou Fei had used on the flower-picking platform.

Deng Zhen frowned and said, "You are truly lacking in manners!"

Shall the young lady buy a bracelet to wear back home

Old Madam Wang suddenly coughed twice, effortlessly interrupting the masked bandit who was about to reveal Zhou Fei's swordsmanship. Leaning on her cane in the small courtyard where swords clashed, she said: "Child, just now I told you that when venturing into the martial world, one must be amiable and reasoned, and also adhere to others' rules. However, if you encounter those who are unreasonable and do not follow the rules, then there is nothing that can be done."

Little did they know that the masked bandit, in the next moment, changed his tone and said: "Since you are so understanding, why not simply give us your travel expenses and your horses as well? Where is there not a grave in the yellow earth? Why must you insist on returning to your hometown?"

A piece of broken tile fell from the wall with a "bang," and the masked person had their veil lifted from their chin upwards by her, causing the veil to fly to the side, revealing a face that was still hard to believe.

Zhou Fei was filled with anger that was about to spill out, but she suppressed it in an instant, nearly choking on her words. Old Madam Wang gave her a deep glance, and only then did Zhou Fei reluctantly recall Li Jinrong's instructions before leaving the house, and she unwillingly replied: "Yes"

I have never been there; aren't they not allowed to enter?" Zhou Fei spoke honestly, "It's all learned from the manipulation of the machine.

The shadows of the mountains loom large, the road ahead is obstructed and long

Zhou Fei simply stopped looking outside, closing her eyes in the carriage to rest her mind, repeatedly rehearsing the Nine Styles of the Snow Breaking Blade that Li Jinrong had taught her that day—this was taught to her by Old Yu. In Buddhism, there is a practice known as "silent meditation," and Old Yu had also given this peculiar training method of his a name, calling it "closed-eye meditation"

Zhou Fei involuntarily took a half step back, feeling as if the blood throughout her body had been frozen.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

The village head's wife initially regarded the old woman as just an ordinary elderly person and understood her desire for peace. However, upon seeing that even the young maidservants under the command of the old lady Wang possessed exceptional skills, while she herself was still rambling on about "principles" and "rules," she felt like a punching bag clad in armor, and her anger flared up instantly, prompting her to retort: "You..."

Upon hearing the latter half of the sentence, Zhou Fei's expression changed instantly. The narrow-backed long knife suddenly reversed its grip. She abruptly altered her previously bold and expansive stance, spinning like a specter in place for half a turn. Then, with both hands gripping the hilt, she leveraged this perfect position to unleash the Snow Breaking Blade that she had meticulously honed in her mind.

The masked bandit, provoked to anger, took a deep breath and brandished his sword to confront the challenge, shouting loudly for Zhou Fei to stop wielding the narrow-backed long knife in her hand. To his surprise, the narrow-backed knife did not lose momentum; after just a brief pause, the masked man felt an indescribable force pressing down from the blade, which was no more than four fingers wide, directly targeting his chest with an unparalleled intensity.

The masked man exclaimed in surprise, "Break ... ... "

Li Jinrong said: "Pay close attention, I will only teach this once. If you come to ask again in the future, I may not have the time to spare."

At this moment, the sounds of clashing weapons and cries of battle echoed around, indicating that Deng Zhen and others had likely engaged with the group of bandits who had launched a night raid. The old lady Wang listened attentively, straining as she lifted her skirt and descended the steps. Politely, she said: "Gentlemen, I am just an old woman, with no official title or nobility, and I possess neither land nor property. I am merely returning home with a few nephews and nieces to await death. We are truly not a wealthy family. I ask you to show some kindness and perform a good deed today."

Li Jinrong's expression softened a bit. She furrowed her brows and thought for a moment. Clearly, there were many things she wanted to say, but after going through them one by one, she felt that each statement seemed trivial and unnecessary. She then said to Li Sheng: "Sheng'er, please see off Old Madam Wang for me, and Ah Fei, stay for a while."

Li Jinrong then slowly withdrew her move and said: "The true 'breaking of snow' will not shatter even if you only have an iron piece in your hand, because it is not a skill that destroys both the jade and the stone."

Who would have thought that after a brief pause, Old Lady Wang, as if on the verge of death, continued to say: "Alas, there is no choice but to kill."

"It is all my old lady's useless son who has caused trouble for the head of the household," Lady Wang sighed tremulously and said, "Last March, he told me that he was feeling bored staying in the village and wanted to go out to find something to do. Just at that time, a distinguished guest was about to arrive, and we were asked to send someone from Shu to receive him. He then volunteered to go. In June, I received a letter saying he had successfully picked up the guest. In October, another letter arrived, stating that they had reached the Dongting area, and if all went well, he would be back in time for the New Year. After that, there has been no further news."

Even if she were to soak in the Ximo River for three years, it would be impossible for her to surpass Li Jinrong. This is akin to an ant, no matter how much it learns the most formidable martial arts in the world, still being unable to defeat an elephant. Whether one believes it or not, this is the reality. Zhou Fei thought: Could it be that the Breaking Snow Blade is a technique that teaches one to overestimate their own abilities?

Zhou Fei stood there straight and motionless. Seeing that she could not be moved, Old Madam Wang sighed and turned back to hand something to the village head's wife, muttering, "Spoiled, the girl is very delicate, I have spoiled her."

Zhou Fei and Li Sheng are descendants of prestigious families, and their martial arts skills are naturally exceptional—otherwise, Li Jinrong would not have felt at ease letting them come out. However, having just come down from the mountains and not having seen blood, they may be able to show off their bravery and fight fiercely, but when it comes to a life-and-death situation, they often hesitate. Just now, if Zhou Fei's blade had advanced another inch, that masked man would have already been splattered with blood, leaving him no chance to continue moving.

Indeed, as soon as the old lady's words fell, the masked man entangled with Li Sheng sensed the situation was dire and let out a loud shout, thrusting a sword as if to perish together. Li Sheng instinctively retreated, but only half a step, and the masked man suddenly charged past him, leaping towards the rooftop, seemingly about to leave the courtyard. Just as he took off, his entire body flew out like a kite with a broken string, unconscious, crashing against the thatched roof and slowly sliding down. Li Sheng gasped, only to see a palm-sized dagger embedded in the masked man's back, with a small bamboo carving on the exposed hilt. Just as he took off, his entire body flew out like a kite with a broken string, unconscious, crashing against the thatched roof and slowly sliding down. Li Sheng gasped, only to see a palm-sized dagger embedded in the masked man's back, with a small bamboo carving on the exposed hilt.

As one ages, they tend to leave room for maneuver in all matters. Therefore, your Master Yu's swordsmanship often contains many reversals. The Breaking Snow Blade only possesses its form, but lacks its essence. Li Jinrong glanced at Zhou Fei and continued, "And you, deep down, know that this strike will break, yet you remain unafraid, because you are aware that I will not do anything to you. You only need to delay for a moment to obtain the red paper window flower. This is not the Breaking Snow Blade; it is mere cleverness."

Li Jinrong's eyebrows twitched slightly, as if she had discerned the confusion in her heart, and suddenly revealed a somewhat stingy smile. She gently poked the tip of her long knife into the ground and said: "Do you know how many masters there are in the world?"

Li Jinrong calmly said: "It is 'invincible'."

Madam Wang, who shared a room with her, had not yet spoken, when the noise grew increasingly closer. Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and the village head's wife rushed in, saying: "Those bandits have come again, you all quickly hide!"

Old Madam Wang said softly: "I am ashamed."

She replied, "There are many."

Zhou Fei did not need anyone to instruct her in the matter of fighting. She intercepted the masked man wielding a knife with her own blade, their knives clashing in a vertical and horizontal manner. The masked man assumed that she was just a little girl, likely having only practiced her internal skills to a minimal extent. Relying on his tall and strong physique, he struck down with his knife, grinning as he pressed down on the knife in Zhou Fei's hand. The force blew away the rag on her head, revealing Zhou Fei's face. The masked man laughed and said, "Oh, look, there's still a..."

She was still wrapped in the old clothes haphazardly put on by the village head's wife, her face hidden in the shadows and not visible, while a corner of her skirt was exposed below

The yellow dog let out a "woof" and stood up with its tail tucked.

After speaking, she cast a glance at Zhou Fei's face, randomly picked up a worn-out man's coat, and wrapped her from head to toe in it: "Little sister, do not show your face, those beasts..."

The man shouted, "How do I know that you are not those robbers who plunder homes?"

Old Lady Wang trembled as she took off the gold hairpin from her head and handed it to her, saying: "Girl, take this to them"

Old Lady Wang had no objections and allowed her disciples to provide food and lodging expenses for this group of people. The village head accepted it, saying too much would be inappropriate to just accept it, yet he was reluctant to let it go. The villagers were truly impoverished; they could not even afford a simple coffin for the deceased. How could he have the strength to speak of aspirations? The village head, a robust man, reflected on his own poverty and lack of ambition, and was overwhelmed with shame and sorrow, standing there with tears streaming down his face.

This line refers to Old Madam Wang and a group of disciples including Zhou Fei and Li Sheng

Old Madam Wang placed her pair of aged hands over the small brazier, warming them with a bit of firelight. Upon hearing the words, she slowly nodded her head. Noticing Li Sheng hesitating to speak, she inquired, "What does Sheng want to say?"

The village head walked while bitterly smiling, saying: "We are now on high alert, as those thieves have been coming too frequently these past few days. We have searched every inch of the ground, and there is truly no other way."

The Huo family fortress and the old village chief Li share a deep bond, akin to sworn brothers. In truth, the suspicions held by Li Sheng are somewhat shared by everyone, but no one dared to bring them up in front of Li Sheng and Zhou Fei. It was only when he took the initiative to voice them that others began to echo his sentiments.

Madam Wang supported herself with her hand, tapping her cane as she walked to the door, taking a long time to step over the threshold. However, for some unknown reason, the two masked individuals exchanged glances and became somewhat wary of her.

Zhou Fei asked casually, "What is that?"

In the village, there is also a constant flow of people, but everything is very orderly. The disciples have their daily routines and meals at fixed times, unlike in the town below, where all kinds of people can be found, young and old, men and women, jostling against each other. They arrived just in time for the market, where the crowd was bustling, with various dialects and languages being spoken. Vendors shouted loudly, while groups of children, resembling little monkeys, darted between the legs of adults, bumping into people without apologizing, chattering and running off into the distance. ... There were those bargaining, arguing, laughing, and soliciting business ... . They arrived just in time for the market, where the crowd was bustling, with various dialects and languages being spoken. Vendors shouted loudly, while groups of children, resembling little monkeys, darted between the legs of adults, bumping into people without apologizing, chattering and running off into the distance. ... There were those bargaining, arguing, laughing, and soliciting business ... . ... The sound of people was everywhere.

Although Deng Zhen and others are people of the rivers and lakes, the specialty of the Xiaoxiang School is bamboo and handsome men. Even if they are forced to retreat to the mountains of Shu, they have not lost their elegance, appearing like a group of young masters. Unexpectedly, one day they would be mistaken for robbers, which would surely amuse Deng Zhen, leading him to suspect that this group of cunning villagers is specifically here to swindle them.

The two parties stared at each other for a moment, and then Deng Zhen dismounted, clasped his fists, and said: "We are escorting the old lady back to her hometown and happened to pass through your esteemed place. May I ask if we have inadvertently offended any of your taboos?"

Old Madam Wang silently withdrew her hand, twirled her hair at the temples, and said softly: "Ah Fei! Why the delay? With the thief having escaped, will the people in this village still have their lives in the future?"

That is the "Xiaoxiang Arrow" which has not appeared in the martial world for twenty years

"It is one thing to take possessions, but they do not even spare lives." The village head looked at the corpse on the ground, intending to offer some words of comfort to the old woman, but he knew in his heart that she had little hope of living. Any words would be meaningless, so he swallowed his words and said to Deng Zhen beside him, "That man's wife was married to my lord, and they had only been married for half a year when that scoundrel set his sights on her and wanted to abduct her. Alas! Madam, we have delayed your journey. It is getting late now, and there may not be a place to rest further ahead. Why not stay with us for the night and set out again tomorrow? You will be able to reach Yueyang by evening."

Before he could finish speaking, a blinding flash of light from a blade dazzled his eyes. The masked man instinctively leaned back, feeling a chill brush past the tip of his nose. Zhou Fei's long knife inexplicably changed angle in mid-air, slicing horizontally, the two blades moving so swiftly they seemed to merge into one, crashing down from above. The masked man hurriedly dodged backward, but before he could regain his footing, he felt a fierce wind rushing at his feet. He leaped up, barely having time to counter, when the lightning-fast blade light was already in front of him.

The disciples were just about to respond when suddenly someone outside asked, "Is Miss Xiao Zhou asleep?"

Zhou Fei has not received any special care since childhood, and she was a bit taken aback as she accepted it, hurriedly expressing her gratitude to her.

Just as a storm of chaos raged in her mind, suddenly, a heart-wrenching howl of a dog echoed from outside. The coachman let out a long whistle, and the carriage came to an abrupt stop. Zhou Fei suddenly opened her eyes, a glint like a sharp blade flashed between her brows, and then it vanished into her expression. Regaining her composure, she reached out and lifted the curtain of the carriage slightly, only to see a tripwire blocking the way ahead.

Zhou Fei and the others stayed in the village that night, hastily eating something in the evening, and a group of disciples gathered in the room of Old Madam Wang. Senior Brother Deng Zhen said: "Madam Master, I find this matter rather strange. Did you see the corpse of that young man? There are bones on the head; it is not a melon, so how could it decay so easily? Ordinary strength may not be able to smash his head like that; it must be someone skilled in martial arts, and not just any practitioner. If there really is a group of highly skilled villains lurking nearby, why doesn't the Huo family fortress take action?"

Will this line go smoothly? Will it return in two or three months? ... What kind of things will be encountered ...? ... Can we hear news from her father? The future seems to be full of uncertainties.

Gradually, she discovered that when a person is undisturbed both internally and externally, and is focused without distraction, they can enter a profoundly mysterious state where they truly achieve a unity of thought and form. At times, when she entered a meditative state, she could not distinguish whether she was genuinely practicing or merely thinking about it in her mind. The techniques learned through closed-eye meditation could be executed quite naturally when tested, proving to be no less effective than those practiced in reality. Initially, Zhou Fei could only calm her mind and enter this state in secluded places like the heart of the Ximo River, where there were no disturbances nearby. As she gradually became accustomed to it, she was able to summon her focus at any time to practice this closed-eye meditation.

Zhou Fei stared at the swaying little bamboo, contemplating to herself, thinking: even if they withdraw, I must pursue them to experience it for myself.

Once leaving the territory of Shu, Zhou Fei gradually lost interest in the scenery along the way

A masked bandit stepped forward, snatched the gold hairpin from the hands of the village head's wife, glanced down at it, his gaze seemingly flickering slightly. Then he exchanged a look with his companion and said to the old lady Wang: "As one ages, one is naturally reluctant to stir up more conflict."

The masked robber chuckled softly and deliberately lowered his voice, saying: "Having dealt with an old batch, isn't it time for a new one? My lady, do not underestimate your brother's lack of discernment. The horses parked in the back courtyard are robust and well-fed, far more valuable than you. It seems tonight is a night of good fortune for us, and we are destined to prosper. This matter should be credited to your village, and in the future, we can lure a few more unsuspecting sheep from the road. We brothers will feast on meat, and we can ensure you have your share of soup"

Zhou Fei let out a cold laugh, and just as she was about to say, "Killing you to make soup is more than enough," a hand resembling a chicken claw suddenly pressed down on her. Old Madam Wang supported herself against the door frame as she came out of the room, heavily striking the ground with her cane, coughing as she spoke: "Child, when you are outside, the first thing you must learn is to be polite. You need to reason and abide by the rules, and do not let your blood run hot at the slightest provocation, causing trouble."

I observed that most of the villagers walked with heavy steps, their breaths shallow, and the expressions of grief and anger on their faces did not seem feigned. Li Sheng pondered for a moment and then said, "If they are not lying, could it be that those so-called 'thieves'... are not ordinary bandits? Might they share some similarities with us?"

Ah Fei, the gods and spirits exist beyond the six realms, and those who walk in the mortal world are all mere mortals. Why do you not believe that the knife in your hand can be invincible?

Half an hour later, Old Madam Wang relied on her face and led Zhou Fei and their group safely into the village

Zhou Fei secretly rolled her eyes and replied in a muffled voice: "Yes"

Zhou Fei did not know where this question came from, and her mind involuntarily flashed through many stories of the martial world told to her by the elders in the village, such as "The Big Dipper," various major sects, and one thrilling battle after another... Moreover, there was the legendary leader who still remains a myth to this day

As she spoke, a cry came from not far away. Zhou Fei looked up and saw a tattered straw mat laid out at the entrance of a house, with a young man wrapped inside. The man was tall and robust, and the mat could not contain him. His head and feet were exposed, and his features were unrecognizable; his head had been deformed by a blunt instrument, covered in dried blood, creating a scene of utter devastation. An elderly woman was wailing loudly while using water from a wooden basin to wash the blood off the deceased's body. His head and feet were exposed, and his features were unrecognizable; his head had been deformed by a blunt instrument, covered in dried blood, creating a scene of utter devastation. An elderly woman was wailing loudly while using water from a wooden basin to wash the blood off the deceased's body

Madam Wang and her companions walked along the way without any surprises or dangers. Occasionally, a few petty thieves would follow them, but a casual intervention from one or two disciples would easily take care of them. However, as they approached Yueyang, the bandits grew increasingly bold.

Zhou Fei walked along the way, not knowing how many times she heard the words "excuse me" while glancing around. The street vendors, like a swarm of toads, chattered at her in a cacophony.

"Madam, please refrain from mentioning the word 'trouble' again. Chen Fei is merely acting on behalf of my Forty-Eighth Stronghold," Li Jinrong said. She then turned to Li Cheng and Zhou Fei, stating, "The so-called esteemed guests are the family members of General Wu, the Loyal Warrior. General Wu was harmed by the Northern Rebels, and his wife fled to Zhongnan with their two orphaned children. Last year, their hiding place was leaked, and they had no choice but to seek my assistance. I dispatched thirteen capable individuals from my stronghold to aid them, yet they have not returned to this day."

Li Jinrong thought to herself, yet there was no sign of approval on her face. She merely changed the subject and said lightly: "The Broken Snow Blade consists of a total of nine styles, which were personally revised by your grandfather. It is an extremely fierce blade technique. The three of you, to varying degrees, lack a bit of aptitude, which is why I have not taught you this set of techniques. Old Yu was injured in his early years, and now with age, his strength has somewhat diminished, so..."

A rain had just fallen, and the long-neglected official road was pockmarked and uneven. A horse-drawn carriage rumbled by, its wheels splashing up mud of various sizes, adding layers of mess to the carriage's body. Several tall horses were leading the way in front and behind the carriage, all of them seasoned riders, each focused intently on the road ahead.

Zhou Fei felt somewhat anxious, gazing longingly at the backs of Li Sheng and the others, always sensing that the leader keeping her behind alone was not a good sign—based on past experiences, this notion was quite justified

The old lady's golden hairpin flashed in the hands of the matron, and Zhou Fei's brows furrowed suddenly. She noticed that a section of bamboo was engraved on the tail of the pin, and she instantly understood—Old Lady Wang suspected that these masked bandits were connected to the Huo family fortress, using this subtle method to reveal their identity, hoping to make them retreat tacitly. However, understanding this only made her feel more uncomfortable. The Forty-Eight Villages, which had "officially taken to the mountains," had never committed acts of plundering the common people, yet the Huo family fortress, as a legitimate force in the martial world, had quite the audacity.

Li Sheng said: "I am wondering, no matter how weary and travel-worn we are, we shouldn't be mistaken for highway robbers, right? Why were they so guarded at the beginning?"

Young lady, come quickly and see if the fabric in my home is more vibrant than that of others

Although there are many bandits near Dongting, they are mostly from impoverished and remote areas, generally being bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. They seem to be difficult to provoke, and thus do not dare to act recklessly.

The elder head of the Huo family, Huo Changfeng, was once a highly respected figure in the martial arts world, renowned for his unparalleled leg techniques. In his early years, when the old leader of the Forty-Eight Villages was still alive, the two shared a bond of eight oaths. The reason Li Jinrong invited Zhou Fei and Li Sheng to accompany her was to leverage the slight favor between the two families in seeking assistance from the Huo family fortress during her search for someone

This is the first soul to perish under the blade of the Broken Snow Knife upon its return to the world

This does not sound like human speech

Zhou Fei had indeed noticed it, but she was not in the habit of being the first to speak out. When others did not mention it, she also remained silent. It was only when she heard Li Cheng mention it that she slightly nodded in agreement.

The further north one travels, the more desolate the villages become; sometimes, one can walk an entire day without seeing a single household. The official road grows increasingly bumpy, and the way stations along the route resemble ghostly abodes. Only when passing by large city fortifications can one occasionally encounter more people. However, this influx of people is not of good nature; the minor officials at the city gates often exploit travelers, requiring them to pay repeatedly as they enter and exit. Sitting in the carriage, one can frequently hear the distressed cries and disputes of the common folk who are unable to enter the city, which can be quite bothersome.

The night fell over the dilapidated village, and Zhou Fei covered herself with the quilt given to her by the village matron, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She suddenly felt that the outside world was not good at all, and at the same time, she was somewhat confused, not understanding why, despite the constant presence of strong individuals passing through, the place was so impoverished, yet people were still unwilling to move elsewhere. Just as she was lost in thought, a sudden uproar erupted outside the window, with the sounds of barking dogs mingling with human voices. Zhou Fei turned over and sat up, whispering, "Aunt Wang?"

Zhou Fei was once again taken aback

Three days later

Before his words had finished, he and his companion moved in perfect synchrony, one wielding a knife and the other a sword, launching a coordinated attack directly at the old lady Wang

She suspects that there is a problem with her ears

In this village, even the children appear emaciated and haggard. The village head's wife rarely sees a well-groomed girl, and she takes a great liking to her. Before leaving, she reaches out to touch Zhou Fei's face and smiles, saying: "Good child"

Madam Wang curled her fingers slightly and said in a low voice, "Let me think for a moment. You have been traveling for several days, so it is best to rest early, but do remain vigilant during the night"

Over time, Zhou Fei found herself at a loss and had no choice but to eliminate distractions and think earnestly

Li Sheng spoke very tactfully, yet when he finished his sentence, the disciples fell into a moment of stunned silence—these were not ordinary bandits; they shared similarities with them, namely, they belonged to the sects of the martial world. In this area, within a radius of one hundred miles, the Huo family fortress stood out prominently.

The masked figure holding the sword squinted slightly; without needing to look closely, it was evident that she was a girl, and certainly quite young. With a hint of mockery, he glanced over the long knife in Zhou Fei's hand, noticing that the blade appeared unremarkable, seemingly dull and unsharpened, thus he did not regard her highly. He chuckled softly and said, "Oh? A bit of skill?"

The last letter from the son of the old lady Wang, who went missing, mentioned that they had arrived near Dongting, where there is a martial arts family known as "Huo Family Fortress" located in Yueyang City

The man at the forefront glanced at the sword at his waist and asked in a confrontational tone: "Old lady? How old is the old lady? Call her out to take a look!"

Suddenly, Zhou Fei reached for the long knife hidden in the package beside the pillow and stepped out of the room: "Robbing at night while wearing masks, as if you truly have any shame, is this akin to pulling down your pants to fart?"

A few villagers suddenly parted respectfully to both sides in front of this group of people. A little girl, supporting an elderly woman, slowly walked out. The girl was both clean and delicate, like a snowball, making others feel quite ashamed of themselves upon seeing her. When her gaze swept over, the woman carrying the bench immediately felt embarrassed and put down the crooked long bench.

Old Madam Wang nodded in agreement without the slightest hint of displeasure

The village is poor, and even the king of dogs has to drink wild vegetable porridge three times a day. Such a majestic dog has been reduced to nothing but skin and bones, and it let out a mournful cry before flying away. Another masked man flashed a cold light from his hand, drawing a sword, and was about to behead the dog on the spot. Zhou Fei quickly grabbed a broken bowl from the room and threw it out. The cracked bowl collided sideways with the masked man's long sword, causing the sword to tremble violently and veer off course. The broken bowl fell to the ground with a clatter, wobbling a few times before surprisingly not shattering. Zhou Fei quickly grabbed a broken bowl from the room and threw it out. The cracked bowl collided sideways with the masked man's long sword, causing the sword to tremble violently and veer off course. The broken bowl fell to the ground with a clatter, wobbling a few times before surprisingly not shattering.

Zhou Fei opened her eyes wide

Upon hearing his few words, the village head's wife was unexpectedly enraged, accusing a group of villagers of colluding with them. She immediately became furious, crossed her arms, and unleashed her exceptional skills, cursing indiscriminately until the sky darkened and the earth trembled. With Zhou Fei's novice level of cultivation, she could barely understand half of it through a mix of guessing and inference.

How could the masked robber allow her to act so recklessly? One of them, wielding a knife, was about to step forward when, unexpectedly, a large yellow dog leaped down from the wall, lunging straight for his throat. It was unclear when the dog had been lurking there; with a single leap and pounce, it was remarkably swift, truly deserving the title of king among dogs

The big yellow dog, which had been kicked away, struggled to get up and was just about to bark with bared teeth when it was stunned along with the village head's wife.

At that moment, a person rushed in with a whistle and shouted, "How dare you!"

The masked bandit sneered, "That is not up to you, old man!"

Old Fish has many grievances, complaining that she is noisy, foolish, untidy, and does not return used items to their original places. He is also unwilling to let her wield weapons in the river, fearing that she might injure herself due to her clumsiness. Having seen too many mediocre talents like Zhou Fei, it is easy to strain his old mind. Every time Zhou Fei encounters a bottleneck and is trapped in the middle of the river, Old Fish instructs her to sit aside, close her eyes, and repeatedly visualize each move in her mind.

She did not realize that these vendors were merely greeting her casually, thinking that others were speaking to her, and felt it would be impolite to ignore them. However, upon looking up and seeing dozens of mouths opening and closing, she felt overwhelmed and at a loss. Fortunately, Old Lady Wang had someone come over to pull her away. Their group settled at the only pawnshop in the town, which was precisely a secret spot used for sending and receiving messages in the village.

Only after Li Sheng received the order and assisted the old lady Wang to walk away did Li Jinrong say to Zhou Fei: "Come here"

The masked man reacted swiftly; in the blink of an eye, he slipped and was already two feet away. The large yellow dog lunged but missed, and the man kicked it away.

Old Madam Wang said gently to Li Sheng: "Feel free to continue speaking."

Before she could finish her sentence, two masked individuals burst in from the left and right behind her, shouting: "That carriage is parked in this courtyard, the person must be here!"

In the carriage sat an elderly lady with a face that exuded wealth, dozing off. Beside her was a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, her hair styled in a pair of double buns, wearing a pale yellow dress, and without any makeup. A few strands of hair fell across her forehead, revealing a fair and delicate face, suggesting she was the charming young maid of the old lady. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice that the girl's posture was remarkably upright; despite the carriage swaying from side to side, she sat as still as a bell. With her eyes slightly closed, she seemed lost in deep thought, and there was a hint of a fierce determination in her brow. Indeed, even with her hair styled like a maid, she did not resemble one at all.

Zhou Fei turned to glance at Old Madam Wang, only to see her stroking her cane and murmuring: "This place is merely a day's journey from Yueyang, and the Huo family fortress is nearby. How could there be bandits running rampant? A Fei, help me down to take a look"

Li Jinrong felt somewhat surprised, as Zhou Fei was not the kind of child who could remember everything at a glance. When she studied with Zhou Yitang back in the day, trying to cram knowledge into her head was like trying to take someone's life; just when she had learned something, she would forget it after a nap. However, in the realm of martial arts, she possessed a peculiar talent—she might not be able to remember the complete moves she had seen, but she often managed to identify the most critical aspects, accurately grasping the essence of them. Then, through a combination of guessing and intuition, she would add her own insights and integrate them in her own way.

At her advanced age, Old Lady Wang still personally ventured out, which was also due to her son. Upon witnessing this scene, she was almost moved to tears, unable to move her feet for a long while, standing by and wiping her tears.

Several large wolfhounds have been tied up. The leading man was originally the village headman, but after several upheavals, the headman has become unaccounted for, and he, along with the others, is barely scraping by to survive.

The old woman appeared to be nearly seventy years old, with a kind face that made one want to rush to her knees and cry out in grievance. She approached the few villagers, seemingly a bit out of breath, and asked: "Dear villagers, do I look like a robber?"

The masked man did not respond, so Lady Wang continued: "How about this, I have a few pieces of gold jewelry on me, which are worth some silver coins. It would be a pity to bury them with me. You two knights may take them as a token for your drinks."

Zhou Fei expressed her confusion, saying, "No matter how I think about it, that knife will definitely break."

Li Jinrong, however, took her to the small courtyard where the three siblings usually practiced together. He picked up a long knife from the weapon rack, examined it in his hand, and asked Zhou Fei: "The Mingfeng Sect is reclusive and rarely interacts with others, keeping their doors tightly shut throughout the year. As far as I know, they are also very reluctant to engage in exchanges and sparring with others. Moreover, Mingfeng does not have a formal sword technique. Where did you learn it from?"

Old Lady Wang slightly closed her eyes and still spoke in a low and humble voice: "I have traveled a thousand miles just to see my son back home. Returning to one's roots is my only wish, and I have no other desires. I truly cannot afford the cost of a carriage and horses, so I implore the two brave gentlemen to show me some compassion"

Zhou Fei was momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained her composure—indeed, Old Fish had mentioned that she spent all her time entangled in the mechanisms, and her swordsmanship had absorbed quite a bit of the malevolent aura of Mingfeng, making her appear "neither human nor ghostly".

"Not bad, quite a lot," Li Jinyong said, "Beyond the mountains, there are higher mountains, and no one dares to claim the title of the best in the world. But you must understand that every high mountain is born of parents, made of flesh and bone, and has gone through the process of learning to speak. Everyone's starting point begins with how to stand up and walk; no one has more than you. The present of gravel is the past of high mountains, and your present is our past. Ah Fei, the gods and spirits exist beyond the six realms, and those who walk in the human world are all mortals. Why do you not believe that the knife in your hand can be invincible?" The present of gravel is the past of high mountains, and your present is our past. Ah Fei, the gods and spirits exist beyond the six realms, and those who walk in the human world are all mortals. Why do you not believe that the knife in your hand can be invincible?"

The person who arrived was Li Sheng. He twirled the short sword in his hand and then thrust it towards the swordsman. In an instant, the two exchanged seven or eight moves, and then simultaneously took a step back, each secretly astonished by the other's skill.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

The village matron picked up a worn-out broom and held it in front of her. Having toiled for many years, she must have managed all the household chores, from fetching water and gathering firewood to farming and tending livestock, becoming quite robust and fierce over time. Upon seeing the two masked robbers, she knew she could not escape, yet she refused to show weakness or plead for mercy. "Pah!" she spat angrily, "Even if it's shearing sheep or gathering wild vegetables, I have never seen the sky come down. You have killed people, taken the money, and what more do you want?"

In the Dongting area, bandits are rampant, making it quite difficult to travel. Bringing along General Wu's family may slow down our journey, but there is no need for the old lady to worry. I believe they should not be far off now. If you are still concerned, you may send someone to meet them partway. Li Jinrong waved his hand and then said to Zhou Fei and Li Sheng, "This trip does not require the two of you as burdens. I shamelessly asked the old lady to take you both along for some experience. Once we are outside, do not act on your own accord. If you dare to cause trouble, be careful of your own neck when you return. I won't say more; the old lady is advanced in age, so keep your eyes open on the road and do not wait for others to give instructions—I'm talking to you, Zhou Fei."

Leading the way was the senior disciple of the Xiaoxiang School, Deng Zhen, who was highly skilled in horsemanship. As Senior Brother Deng pulled the reins, before he could dismount to take a look, five or six gaunt wolves rushed out from the roadside, glaring at them and growling. Following closely behind were several villagers, mostly young men, along with two robust women carrying kitchen knives and wooden sticks, and one person shouldering a long bench, all glaring at their group with hostility

Li Zheng's wife: "... ..."

Li Sheng hurriedly said: "Aunt, please rest assured"

This ability is unknown to whom it resembles

"Steaming hot brown sugar pancakes, would you like to try some? It's fine if you don't want to buy, just break off a piece to taste..."

Zhou Fei and Li Sheng are both country bumpkins who have never entered the city. That kid Li Sheng pretends to look straight ahead, but in reality, he often glances around when no one is paying attention, and he has to make a conscious effort to restrain himself to avoid revealing a foolish expression of novelty at everything he sees. Although the villages and towns within twenty miles of the outer perimeter of the Forty-Eight Villages are still within their sphere of influence, the scenery and customs have already greatly differed from those in the village.

Zhou Fei hurriedly opened the door to greet the visitor, who turned out to be the village head's wife—the very same heroic woman who had once carried a long bench to rob travelers. She was not as fierce and intimidating as she appeared; upon seeing Zhou Fei, a little girl who quietly followed the old woman, she felt a sense of pity for her. That evening, she specifically brought a clean, thick quilt for her.

Three days later, Zhou Fei and Li Sheng packed their simple belongings and, amidst Li Yan's farewell at "Water Submerging Jinshan" over the eighteen miles, followed Old Lady Wang down the mountain. Just before leaving, Zhou Fei turned back to glance at the iron gate that had locked her in years ago. Perhaps it was due to her having grown a few inches over the years, but she felt that the iron gate no longer seemed as tall as it once did