Chapter 8, The Pain of Parting (Part 2)

This statement seems to be utterly perplexing, as if it is neither here nor there. However, the old monk smiled knowingly and waved his hand at her—humans and animals are alike; sometimes they can sense the invisible threat of death. When a loved one is nearing the end, those around them often instinctively hold their breath, striving to hear what they have to say. Once the dying person closes their eyes and completely severs their ties to the world, others will begin to wail loudly, as if their hearts are filled with countless unrealistic fantasies and heart-wrenching reluctance, which their rational minds cannot accept.

Yin Pei was furious: "Who is it!"

Li Yan could no longer hold back, gasping for breath, and cried until she choked on her own sobs. Wu Chuchu grasped her hand under the table and gently shook it, carefully shifting the topic, saying: "That masked person in the green attire, I have seen them before."

Before considering someone else's sister, one's own sister is always a bit more important

"Alright, alright, please be patient." Wu Chuchu glanced around, hurried over to the shopkeeper in a few quick steps, and requested a cup of warm water to rinse her mouth.

The old monk did not decline, handing her a paddle as tall as a person, while he took off his bamboo hat and set it aside. He meticulously put on his shoes, then adjusted his robe in front of the water's surface, appearing calm and unhurried, with great attention to detail, as if he were not wearing a patched and tattered monk's robe, but rather a sacred garment of great power.

She remained in a daze for a long time, kneeling in the small boat canopy, and before she knew it, her face was already streaming with tears

In the chilly spring, the morning dew felt slightly cool as it fell on his neck. Zhu Chen watched the hurried figure of Zhou Fei leaving, silently repeating the words he had not had the chance to say.

Wu Chuchu said: "Young Master Yang, excuse me!"

When Zhu Chen came out of the room, Zhou Fei had already completed her daily morning routine of basic skills. She nodded at him in a somewhat unfamiliar and polite manner before she sheathed her sword and prepared to leave

In those years, the phrase "Double Sabers and One Sword of Withering Hand" had its own reputation, yet the four characters "Penglai Sanxian" remain ambiguous. It is entirely unknown whether "Penglai Sanxian" refers to a man or a woman, an old person or a young one; there is even uncertainty as to whether it denotes a single individual or a group of people. Furthermore, there are rumors suggesting that such a person does not actually exist in the world, and that the term "Penglai" was merely a random addition.

Wu Chuchu neither nodded nor shook her head, fearing that an inappropriate response would cause trouble for herself and others, making her back even stiffer. However, Li Yan did not care about that much; she opened her mouth to speak but was pressed down by Wu Chuchu under the table. Yin Pei was clearly pleased by the vigilance and fear of the crowd, laughing happily, and then generously let their table go, turning towards the Xingnan Escort Agency, pointing at Zhu Chen, and said: "You, come with me"

Li Sheng was already feeling depressed, and upon seeing her, his anger flared up even more. Without saying a word, he directly grabbed Li Yan's palm and picked up his chopsticks to strike. Li Yan was stunned; she barely managed to hold back from screaming in public. In just a few moments, her palm was marked with a row of red impressions from Li Sheng's strikes, causing her to tear up from the pain

Zhou Fei recalled Mingfeng, the old sect leader, who had indeed passed away when she was still quite young and not very understanding. Old Yu could only spend his days idling by the Ximo River, and even without the schemes of Kou Dan, he could not be certain of living long. As for these poisons and medicines, Zhou Fei was completely in the dark, so she straightforwardly asked: "What do you plan to do? What can I do?"

Li Sheng glanced at her and decisively said: "Go!"

At the beginning, it was Li Jinrong who asked her to pick up Senior Brother Chen Fei and the family of General Wu. Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Chen Fei met his demise halfway, and only one orphan remained from the Wu family of three. She was pursued and forced to return to the Forty-Eighth Village, enduring hardships and facing a calamity akin to a devastating war.

Li Yan: "I also ... ... Wait, who opened the door?"

Li Sheng : `` ... ... ''

Zhu Chen dragged one leg on the ground, and the whole person was already in a state of shock

He must rely on his own sword and recklessly venture out to truly understand the depths of the world. There is no need to mention the great demons outside who are quick to gnash their teeth and suck blood; even in this small inn on the border, if it were not for the Five Bats Order in the hands of Yang Jin and Li Yan, one could only wonder whose flesh was minced for the meat filling in the buns on the dinner table

Yang Jin frowned and said: "Zhou Fei mentioned meeting outside the city. If you go back, you might miss her and easily get caught inside."

Oh my God, sister!" Li Yan pulled her arm away and said, "You... you... you are truly something else just to avoid washing one piece of clothing!

Zhou Fei had instructed Yang Jin to meet them outside Yongzhou City. She was supposed to head back, but when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she lost the desire to say them.

He was filled with poetry and emotion, and upon seeing Zhou Fei lazily walking around the corner, he shouted at the person over there: "Are you here to rush me?"

In the "Broken Snow Blade," there are the concepts of "Wufeng," "Wupi," and "Wuchang," yet there is not a single chapter titled "Wuwei," for this is a theme that runs throughout and requires no further elaboration

Li Sheng frowned secretly, thinking that the group from Xingnan Escort Agency were all just for show. In the past, they managed reasonably well in the martial world, but when encountering true masters, their skills were inadequate. He and Yang Jin, if it came to a one-on-one fight, would not be able to defeat Ding Kui, and could only join forces. However, Ding Kui was not alone; he had brought along many henchmen. If both of them were restrained by Ding Kui, what would happen if something went wrong with Miss Wu and Li Yan?

Even Yang Douji, who would argue about anything he saw, said nothing and took up the Broken Goose Blade, then ran after them without hesitation. The group met up with Wu Chuchu and Li Yan, who had exited the battlefield earlier, and they hurriedly led a group of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled, making their way towards the agreed-upon location outside the city without stopping at all, traveling for a whole day and night before finally settling down.

The affairs of the world are akin to the vast ocean, while mortals drift like a leaf upon the waves

Yin Pei was enveloped by a true energy that resembled a bottomless pool of water, firmly protecting him within. Any external force that penetrated would inevitably suffer a backlash. However, Zhou Fei's blade moved like a leisurely oar gliding through the water, silently and diagonally submerging, stirring the water as if it could follow her lead. The somewhat worn Miao knife seemed to possess the strength of lifting weights with ease, effortlessly evading Yin Pei's palm wind and directly targeting his throat

Zhu Chen then asked, "What about that... that Young Master Xie?"

Wu Chuchu and Li Yan did not see it with their own eyes, Li Sheng was a bit far away, only Yang Jin hesitated for a moment and said: "I did see a little bit."

Upon her arrival, Zhou Fei was accompanied by Li Sheng and Li Yan, as well as Yang Jin and Wu Chuchu. She needed to keep an eye on Xie Yun to prevent him from slipping away, find time amidst her busy schedule to tease Yang Jin, protect Wu Chuchu, argue with Li Sheng, and also watch over Li Yan to prevent her from causing trouble. She was overwhelmed by the constant noise, feeling as if her head was splitting from the chaos, and was extremely busy.

She always felt that the old monk had a hint of sarcasm when he explained this sentence to her

The starry sky seemed to suddenly plunge into the water, dimming into iron and stone, while the surrounding sounds of the mountains and water all abandoned her.

Zhou Fei was momentarily at a loss for words

The old monk replied: "I can only use a silver needle along with some medicine to keep his life hanging by a thread. As for how to expel the poison of the Bone-Piercing Green, several of us old fellows began pondering it many years ago, yet to this day we have made little progress... Alas, when I heard that the Cloud-Pushing Palm had reappeared in Shu, I felt uneasy and traveled all the way here, only to find that I was still a step too late.

"Brother." Zhu Ying cautiously leaned over and tugged at him, "Are you alright?"

He was greatly shocked, not expecting that his sister, who had always been oblivious to the world outside, would one day possess such extensive knowledge and insight.

She let out a long sigh, feeling that the pain in her heart had not diminished in the slightest, yet her spirit had awakened. She reached up to rub her brow and thought: Indeed, the situation at home is still unknown. I wonder what impact Huo Liantao's commotion has had on the situation. Moreover, now that Huo Liantao is dead, won't the likes of Ding Kuizhi become even more unrestrained in the future

Zhou Fei struggled to lift herself up, her hands and feet numb and unresponsive. As soon as she raised her head, a wave of indescribable dizziness and nausea surged over her. Her vision darkened, and she fell back onto her back. After a while, she was finally able to see her surroundings clearly by the starlight.

Zhou Fei suddenly spoke up: "Old man, do you have any wine?"

The term "impermanence" refers to the cycles of birth, aging, illness, and death, as well as the joy that leads to sorrow, and the moments of finding life in desperate situations, where people and things are no longer as they were.

The old monk replied: "Wine is one of the Eight Precepts. I, an old monk, have not prepared any. There is a water kettle hanging on the boat canopy, inside which some water has been boiled. If the young lady does not mind, she may help herself to drink."

I know, it is the Nirvana Gu." Zhou Fei replied

Tong Ming smiled and added: "However, although he came from my school, he is a lay disciple and not one who practices with a shaved head. When he was young, he took it upon himself to shave his head, but knowing that he was entangled in worldly affairs, I did not take him in for the Buddha. No one paid him any attention, and after a few years, he found it rather meaningless and returned to lay life on his own."

Ding Kui laughed heartily and said: "My goodness, the public enemy of the martial arts world? Who am I a public enemy to, just you few little monkeys? I say, this young man, whose young master are you? What, as soon as Huo Liantao has just died, you want to take over as the leader of the martial arts alliance?"

As the old monk paddled the boat, the protruding shoulder blades on his back resembled two butterfly wings on the verge of breaking, moving up and down in a rhythmic contraction and expansion

Zhou Fei thought he was asking her to help with something, so she carefully stepped onto the swaying deck and walked over, lifting the thick boat canopy to take a look inside

Li Sheng gritted his teeth and said, "Follow me!"

"You are not wrong to say that," Ming nodded and said, "The Guiyang Pill is not an antidote for the Toupuguqing poison; it merely happens to counteract it. The two poisons can create a balance, and how long this balance lasts depends on fate.

"I finally remembered to ask!" the old monk said with a smile, "Why don't you think a little more? Is there anything else you have forgotten?"

At that moment, someone suddenly said from behind: "Step aside"

Wu Chuchu's voice was somewhat strained as she said softly, "She... she went her own way."

Li Yan angrily said: "Yang Heitan, are you speaking human language? Is it not your sister?"

For some reason, Yin Pei's words flashed through his mind, and Zhu Chen lowered his head in despondency, acknowledging that what Yin Pei said was indeed true.

By the way, what about Xie Yun?

Zhou Fei asked, "Master, how do I make this thing move forward?"

Zhou Fei had never practiced any quick-fix evil sect martial arts, nor had anyone imparted skills to her. In terms of internal energy, she could only achieve results through painstaking effort, and even the most basic true qi required a long period of accumulation. She was well aware of her own limitations, and thus, when encountering opponents with superior martial arts in the past, she had relied on clever tricks and a bit of luck to navigate the situation, rarely engaging in direct confrontation.

"Rest assured and stay for one night," Yang Jin said a few words to the shopkeeper, then turned back and tossed the red Five Bats token back into Li Yan's arms, saying, "This is the inn of the Traveling Help."

At this moment, seeing the ground full of poisonous insects that do not heed control, Yin Pei originally felt no fear, but now a vague sense of dread truly arose within him

Beside him, Yang Jin had never seen an animal that would cry on command, and was quite startled. He moved the stool beneath him further away while clutching his large goose-winged saber, watching Li Yan warily, as if the crying girl might bite him.

Although Wu Chuchu was shocked, she still remembered that Yin Pei disliked others mentioning his background and surname. At that moment, she decisively bit her tongue and forcefully swallowed the character "Yin." Yin Pei seemed quite pleased with her perceptiveness, did not make things difficult for the two of them, and lightly stepped forward, his figure resembling a ghost, already a yard away.

Who is this? I have really never heard of them

"Calling for help might not work," Li Yan said nervously, her fingers turning pale from gripping tightly. She whispered to Wu Chuchu, "Sister Chuchu, do you think persuading with virtue is reliable?"

He exerted force with his feet, and the ground cracked like a spider web. With his fists pressed against his chest, he forcefully pushed towards the man in green. To his surprise, the newcomer merely floated back a few steps with the momentum, smiling as he said: "The Lord of Xuanwu has misunderstood; I fear that the senior Feng, the Lord of White Tiger, will not be able to see you again."

Zhu Ying shivered slightly and instinctively tightened her grip on her brother's sleeve

Having spoken, she suddenly pulled out a cloth pouch from her bosom and shook out a pile of white powder like celestial flowers scattering in the sky

Li Yan was oblivious to the expressions of others and did not notice that Li Sheng looked unwell. Her gaze swept over the weary faces of the crowd, and she sneakily reached out to poke Li Sheng: "Hey, brother, let me tell you..."

Zhou Fei is merely a young girl, and in terms of physical strength, she is naturally far inferior to Ding Kui, Feng Feihua, and others. This point is well understood by Yin Pei. However, the feeling of 'fear' has no trace to be found throughout history; it is akin to a child fearing the dark or being afraid of thunder, completely baseless and beyond the realm of rationality.

Zhou Fei held onto the boat canopy, her fingertips turning pale, and asked with great difficulty: "Old man, where is the person who was with me..."

The old monk, seeing that she did not respond, ceased to inquire further. The small boat moved forward along the river, which varied in width, and he began to hum a fishing song in a hoarse voice, leisurely. Zhou Fei felt a bit dizzy and could hardly stand; she was unsure whether it was a lingering effect of the dew or if she was naturally prone to seasickness, so she despondently sat down on the boat's deck, following the curtain that had fallen.

Zhou Fei sheathed the Miao knife and hung it on her back, silently taking out a small medicine pouch that emitted a spicy aroma from her bosom and handed it to Wu Chuchu

Although Li Sheng did not voice it like she did, he thought to himself: "So it turns out you are not her sister"

Zhou Fei's mind exploded with a "buzz," as if a rusty door had suddenly burst open, bringing forth a chaotic array of images: the farcical Northern Expedition Hero Conference, the Living and Dead Mountain, Chu Tianquan, Ying Hecong... and many others, all rushing past her eyes, finally settling on the figure of a tall and elegant person.

The old monk said: "Since the person you are looking for is no longer here, it is only natural for you to return and continue your practice. Why do you say you do not know where to go?"

Wu Chuchu suddenly turned a corner, and the two of them immediately found themselves running against the wind. She pushed with her finger to untie the leather strap and threw it behind her.

Li Sheng did not have time to ask her where she had just been, and he stood up and said softly: "A Fei, be careful, this person's skill is on par with Ding Kui, and there are also insects on him that can suck the flesh and blood of others"

Zhou Fei picked up an empty teacup lid from the table and tilted her head to spit out a mouthful of congealed blood. Yin Pei's martial arts were exceedingly strange, his formidable strength rivaling that of Chu Tianquan. Although Zhou Fei had managed to sever his gu worm, she was still injured internally by the violent true energy from the long iron chain. Fortunately, Yin Pei's cultivation method, acquired through dubious means, was rather crude and haphazard, and he was frightened away by a package of insect-repelling medicine specially produced by an old monk; otherwise, it would have been uncertain who would end up lying down today

Wu Chuchu truly felt guilty and could only say softly: "It is my fault, it is my burden..."

We, the people of the Central Plains, do not spend our days practicing improperly or straying into evil paths!" Li Yan interrupted him with a strong nasal tone

Regardless of whether her opponent is flesh and blood or a giant rock or tree, she wields a blade in hand, with the tip of the knife leading the way

What heart-wrenching Mu Xiao Qiao, what a transformation of Chu Tian Quan... and so many other strange people and bizarre events, Li Sheng thought he had seen quite a lot. However, in terms of sheer spine-chilling terror, none of the aforementioned demons and monsters could compare to the figure in green before him

The Xuanwu had long been itching for a fight, and upon hearing the cries, they charged at the people brought out by Li Sheng. Aside from a few reliable members of the traveling gang, many others, upon seeing the mountain of corpses, immediately lost their courage. Those who had just been shouting about "exterminating demons and upholding justice" instantly fell apart.

A shadow suddenly emerged, grabbing Zhu Ying. Li Yan exclaimed in surprise, while Yang Jin swung the Broken Goose Blade horizontally, striking out with the scabbard. The assailant's martial arts were evidently mediocre, and it seemed impossible to evade this thunderous blow. However, another person laughed heartily, leaped forward, and with a swift motion, managed to catch the scabbard of the Broken Goose Blade with a "thud".

Zhou Fei said softly: "Master, you do not know me, what do you know?"

As soon as Chu Tianquan's large group made their appearance, Li Sheng sensed that something was amiss. At that moment, the scene was in chaos; with Huo Liantao dead, these so-called 'heroes and champions' seemed like headless flies, aimlessly following others in a daze. While Chu Tianquan was undoubtedly dangerous, the young Zhao Mingchen in the waterside pavilion was likely no ordinary character either. The two factions were scheming against each other, intending to drag these unsuspecting individuals from the martial world into the fray as cannon fodder

Zhu Ying and that insect locked eyes, and she let out a sharp scream of "Ah" in shock

She must return to clarify the origins and developments with Li Jinrong. If necessary, she might even have to continue investigating the matter of Hai Tian Yi Se, which has caused upheaval in the martial arts world of the Central Plains. The talent pool in the Forty-Eight Villages is dwindling; although there is a chief in charge, should any issues arise, they will inevitably find themselves in a difficult position. She must take on some responsibilities, no matter what.

Zhu Chen's palms suddenly broke out in a layer of fine sweat. He barely steadied his voice and stepped forward to speak, saying: "Zhou... Zhou, how is Miss Zhou's injury?"

Zhou Fei's footsteps were almost motionless, one hand holding a knife and the other a sheath, as if she wielded a pair of alternating dual knives. With a sharp "ka-la" sound, she used the sheath to separate the iron lock of Yin Pei, and the iron chain coiled around the long sheath like a monster's tongue. Two strange insects happened to fly into the air, charging towards Zhou Fei from both the left and right sides. Zhou Fei dodged backward, her lower back colliding with a wooden table.

The old monk looked at her and smiled, took the disobedient paddle from her hand, and instructed, "You go check inside the boat canopy"

The old man let out a soft "Oh dear," gently moved the large oar in his hand a few times, and without making much of a motion, steadied the small boat: "Slow down, take your time... Amitabha, you anxious little benefactors."

Zhou Fei, looking travel-worn, had evidently come in haste. She shook off the insect carcasses from the blade of her knife and furrowed her brow as she scrutinized Yin Pei for a moment: "Is it you?"

The old monk did not respond; he simply held the oar in one hand and raised his palm in front of his chest with the other, softly reciting a Buddhist chant: "Amitabha."

Li Yan found a bit of amusement in her suffering: "Hahaha, tricking the foolish boy."

Li Yan shouted bluntly: "Get lost!"

Yin Pei's face, not covered by the mask, revealed a slight blush. He grabbed a handkerchief to wipe his hands and, under Ding Kui's astonished gaze, said: "Xuanwu Lord, why are you so slow-witted? Do you still think that the White Tiger Lord has tricked you into Yongzhou? Tsk..."

She took a moment to compose herself, cleared her throat, and said with a serious expression: "Thank you, Master"

Her temples were slightly dampened by fine sweat, and her expression remained as indifferent as ever. However, Zhu Chen inexplicably felt that she had undergone a significant change. The slight impatience that once lingered in the delicate features of the young girl had quietly dissipated, transforming into a calm and profound demeanor, as if no catastrophe could ever disturb her composure. It seemed she had already positioned herself at a greater distance, causing Zhu Chen to suddenly feel a deep-seated sense of shame.

Zhou Fei replied without a moment's hesitation: "Otherwise, what else is there to do? I definitely cannot continue reading the book."

Perhaps it was because she felt an emptiness within her and had nothing to do, that Zhou Fei surprisingly found her temper had improved. Upon hearing the old monk's cryptic and repetitive words, she did not lose her temper; instead, she became quite interested and engaged in a light-hearted conversation with him. She patiently said, "In the past, I would just practice my skills casually in the mountains."

He seems to be afraid that he cannot express himself clearly, so he dipped a little water and drew a lump on the table: "About this big, in this shape"

However, he never received another opportunity in his lifetime

Zhu Ying has clearly become accustomed to defending her weak elder brother, and she jumped up saying: "My brother is the young master of the Xingnan Escort Agency, what nonsense are you talking!"

Wasn't it said that he was inherently deficient and incapable of martial arts? How did he suddenly become such a master overnight

After a while, Wu Chuchu finally spoke up. She adjusted her outer robe and said softly, "I seem to be a bit cold"

It turned out that the one who captured Zhu Ying was indeed one of the disciples of the Xuanwu Sect, who had caused trouble for the Xingnan Escort Agency at the inn. He had lost an arm to Zhou Fei but had managed to escape with his life by seizing the opportunity at that moment. He returned to Ding Kui's side and now, following the Xuanwu leaders as they retreated from the mountain villa amidst the chaos, he immediately spotted the soft target of the Xingnan Escort Agency and began to entertain malicious thoughts, intending to stir up trouble.

Some say, "Those who uphold justice are often from the dog-killing class, while the ungrateful are mostly scholars." In fact, this is utter nonsense. The dog-killing class and scholars, when it comes to being despicable, are essentially on the same path, with no fundamental difference. At most, the shamelessness of a well-read person is merely expressed in a more elegant manner. These dog-killing folks wander through the wind and rain, and the term "righteousness" is just like the "words of the sage" for scholars; it is merely a bright and shiny signboard, which, when faced with real situations, cannot be taken seriously.

It is possible that she had seen Yin Pei's previous pitiful state, which could be easily taken away by others, or perhaps it was because she had just experienced her most fearful and helpless moment, making her indifferent even to the collapse of heaven and earth

The old monk nodded and said: "A descendant of a prestigious family"

The wooden door of the small inn creaked open with a "creak," creating a direct draft that met the kitchen. The previously murmuring guests in the inn's lobby fell silent in an instant. A sharp "ding" echoed, particularly jarring—that was the sound of the small beads on the door curtain colliding with the iron mask.

Amitabha," the old monk relentlessly pressed on, "Young lady, what is the purpose of your practice?"

Zhu Ying had a beautiful appearance. Ding Kui understood what his subordinates meant and, upon hearing their words, glanced at her sideways, feeling that the description was acceptable, and then smiled meaningfully. Zhu Chen felt a surge of blood and drew his sword, turning to stab at the one-armed man: "You dare to touch my sister!"

It was unclear who had accidentally knocked over the cup, but the sound of the shattering was particularly striking. Yin Pei turned to look at Wu Chuchu, while Yang Jin slowly pushed the broken Yan knife aside a little.

Yin Pei shouted, "Where do you think you're going!"

The one at the forefront appeared to be a young man, dressed in a blue robe, tall and slender, with his hands clasped behind his back, leisurely strolling as if in a tranquil garden. However, his figure somehow swayed and suddenly appeared right in front of them. Li Yan was taken aback, unsure of the identity of this person, and raised her knife to shield Wu Chuchu.

At first, it was merely to satisfy the competitive spirit of a child, and Bo Da nodded slightly. Later, she fantasized about one day surpassing Li Jinyong... This was not too obsessive, as at that time, the goal seemed too distant, almost just a delusion. Subsequently, Zhou Yitang used the "Way of the Strong" to give her a wake-up call, pushing her into the treacherous maze of fate.

Bumped my head, and then what?

She stood alone on a small boat amidst the vast rivers and mountains, suddenly feeling the boundless expanse of heaven and earth, with both shores so quiet that not even the sound of monkeys could be heard, creating a sense of desolate solitude.

Wu Chuchu hurriedly said: "This time it is true"

"You are inherently lacking," Yin Pei said, "You are destined to be a useless person who cannot carry a burden or lift a hand, what business do you have in this? Just making a fuss. I am short a few useful dogs under my command; come over and serve me as a servant, and I will teach you a few life-saving techniques. In the future, you only need to act as a dog in front of me, and you can freely exert your power and enjoy privileges across the world. What do you say?"

In order to avoid provoking Yin Pei, Wu Chuchu had only addressed him as "Young Master" and did not dare to mention the surname "Yin". Unexpectedly, Zhou Fei showed no restraint and openly revealed his name in front of the crowd. Yin Pei was instantly filled with uncontrollable rage, the muscles in his neck bulging like a reptile, and with a loud shout, he suddenly launched an attack.

Yin Pei was stunned

snake venom

Then, a cry that was not human emanated from the Xuanwu, and before the eyes of the crowd, it astonishingly transformed into a human corpse

It was unclear how long had passed when Zhou Fei finally lifted the curtain of the boat canopy to emerge. Upon seeing her, the waterfowl were greatly startled, letting out a sharp cry as they flapped their wings and flew away.

Zhou Fei looked at him with a puzzled expression

Li Sheng endured the intense pain in his chest and instinctively turned to the side, narrowly avoiding a palm strike from Ding Kui. Immediately, he felt a shadow sweep past him; a person who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere came forward and restrained Ding Kui's hands without hesitation. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over ten moves, and a chilling aura erupted from their confrontation, causing the onlookers to feel a surge of blood and energy.

Except for the fact that the Forty-Eight Villages were besieged by soldiers, Li Yan had hardly any opportunity to engage in combat. At this moment, she was forced to draw her sword, gripping the hilt tightly with one hand while pulling Wu Chuchu with the other. Since childhood, she had loved to learn everything from Zhou Fei, and as she grew up, she practiced with a narrow-bladed long sword. When the long sword was drawn, it truly exuded the aura of a prestigious lineage. With a powerful slash, she forced back a Xuanwu, then pulled Wu Chuchu aside. The long sword traced a circular arc like a full moon, and with a single stroke, no one could approach her.

Yin Pei seemed to have heard a tremendous joke, laughing heartily and saying: "Xingnan Escort Agency? Still... still lacking a master? Hahaha, what a grand title, it truly frightens a mere person like me.

Zhou Fei was unaware whether it was ignorance that bred fearlessness or something else, but she boldly confronted him with her sword.

What I told her was "Taylor Swift"

The mask only covers the area around the eyes, leaving the nose, mouth, and contours completely exposed. If it is someone previously known, a careful look would not render them completely unrecognizable. When the person approached, Wu Chuchu felt a sense of familiarity. Upon seeing that smile, she was taken aback, and the words "Young Master Yin" almost slipped from her lips.

Yang Jin successfully transmitted goosebumps to others

Yin Pei was taken aback, not daring to confront its sharpness—after all, his skills were not cultivated through his own painstaking efforts. In the face of crisis, instinct often prevails, and Yin Pei's instinct was to retreat. Only after taking this single step back did his previously enigmatic aura shatter abruptly

Ding Kui seemed to see through his many concerns, and with a triumphant grin revealing his crooked teeth, he waved his hand and said, "Don't dawdle!"

She had the intention to change the subject, and in just a few words, she recounted the grievances between Yin Pei, Ji Yunchen, and Zheng Luosheng. In the end, she expressed some confusion, saying: "Although I don't understand, the last time I saw him, he didn't seem to possess such remarkable skills. Seeing him again today, I feel that he seems a bit strange altogether"

Zhu Chen felt a surge of anxiety in his heart and immediately wanted to step forward to check on her. However, just as he took a step in that direction, Zhou Fei was already surrounded by a group of people

After he finished speaking, he intended to hurry back. Upon seeing this, Zhu Chen, not knowing what was wrong, immediately wanted to follow. The group from the Xingnan Escort Agency, upon witnessing this, were all taken aback and exclaimed in unison: "Young Master!"

Without waiting for Li Sheng to speak out to stop them, the Xingnan Escort Agency was even more incensed, rushing forward en masse

Li Yan hurriedly said: "I also ... ... "

Although it was quite beautiful, Zhou Fei felt even more dizzy. She leaned over the side of the boat and retched a few times, but unfortunately, her stomach was empty, and nothing came out. Zhou Fei hung by the side of the boat like a dead dog for a moment, with a roaring sound in her ears, her mind blank, as if her memory had been interrupted. She thought to herself in confusion: "What was I doing just now? How did I end up here?"

The back of the blade is less than half an inch thick, and the edge of the blade is merely a line, yet it is capable of intimidating half of the martial arts world in the south

Li Yan said: "This works too! I always said that practicing martial arts is of no use!"

I have been pondering this透骨青. Along with Ming Dao, aside from suppressing it with external force, I have also tried to seek out the formula for the Guiyang Pill. The Great Medicine Valley has completely fallen, and apart from some pills that were scattered in the early years, not a single formula remains. However, I have checked some indirect records and learned that the Guiyang Pill was originally created by a predecessor of the Great Medicine Valley who took a deviant path. Due to its various drawbacks, it was once banned by the Medicine Valley, which is also why the Great Medicine Valley was utterly destroyed and the Guiyang Pill that has fallen into the outside world is extremely rare.

I have seen people fight to the death for fame and fortune, but I have never seen anyone so eager to create trouble for no reason. Li Sheng slowly moved his steps, standing in a straight line with Yang Jin, effectively sandwiching Ding Kui in the middle, ready to strike at any moment. "Xuanwu Master, those who commit many injustices will surely bring about their own demise. Do you wish to become the public enemy of the martial world?"

The old monk wrapped the prayer beads around the four joined fingers and asked, "What do you think that person was doing all day before you recognized him?"

Zhou Fei stood frozen in place, her entire body stiffening like a statue, and then suddenly began to tremble uncontrollably

Yang Jin hurried over to meet with Li Yan and Wu Chuchu, saying: "A divine doctor cannot save those who seek death, so stop worrying about it!"

The old monk said: "If you practice your skills in the mountains, then what is the purpose of your practice?"

Zhou Fei, however, was completely unconcerned

The Xuanwu were taken aback, hurriedly holding their breath and retreating. A few who ran slowly were covered in white powder, frightened and frantically patting themselves. Wu Chuchu pulled Li Yan, saying: "Run quickly!"

The story of the dual swords and a single sword has long since passed, "Zhou Fei said, "We, the unworthy descendants, wielding the swords left by our ancestors, find even survival to be a struggle; it is indeed too pitiful. I always feel it should not be this way.

Yongzhou City seemed to have turned into a large pot boiling with toxic water; if one were not careful, they would be splashed by the flying venom, leaving them in a state of utter confusion, not even knowing how they died. It was only after everyone had fled this place of turmoil and settled down in a small inn that Zhu Ying continued to tremble incessantly

The six eyes of three individuals all fell upon him

Zhou Fei jumped up straight, and the small boat, which was merely a flat skiff, immediately swayed left and right under the heavy stomp of her foot

Wu Chuchu : " ... ... "

The Living and Dead Mountain bullies men and oppresses women, taking whatever they desire without hesitation. Many dare not express their anger, which is why there is such fervor among the crowd at the Northern Expedition Heroes' Conference. I have never heard of anyone wanting to forcibly seize the Living and Dead Mountain. Ding Kui suspected that there was something wrong with his ears, and he stared in astonishment, saying: "What did you say?"

Li Sheng scolded Zhou Fei in his heart for running off without a word, while calling on Yang Jin to keep an eye on Wu Chuchu and Li Yan. He spoke loudly, "The Big Dipper is full of tricks, everyone! I urge you all to be cautious and prioritize your own safety first!"

The old monk sighed without turning his head, saying: "The blade is exposed, which can be considered a small achievement"

He spoke and then went to drive the insects he carried with him, but those strange insects seemed to have lost their power, no matter how much he urged them, they merely hesitated and circled around Yin Pei's pant legs, refusing to burrow towards Zhou Fei.

Wu Chuchu's face was pale, yet she spoke very clearly: "The King of Kang is of noble birth, a gentleman does not hide behind walls. If there were truly so many people lying in wait to ambush Chu Tianquan, he would certainly not reveal himself. I have been pursued by the imperial troops all the way from Zhongnan, I am familiar with them, trust me!"

She suddenly froze, only to see someone she thought she would never see again in her lifetime, quietly lying there in the boat canopy

The old monk sat cross-legged to one side, neither guiding nor urging, and responded to the question with a seemingly unrelated remark: "How do you move forward? You might as well think carefully about what it means to go forward and what it means to go back. Once you understand that, you will know how to move forward."

Her actions of delivering medicine, holding the lamp, and spitting blood were surprisingly orderly, not a single drop of blood stained her clothing, to the extent that at first, no one noticed what she was doing with her back turned

Zhou Fei twirled the dagger in her hand that was stuck in the ship's hull, feeling hesitant to speak—she had forgotten many things, such as the corpse of Chu Tianquan, the missing Shen Du seal, and the unfortunate child Zhao Mingchen, whom Xie Yun had nearly risked his life to save. Just now, it was truly a torment to her insides, the black smoke produced from the burning had left her dazed.

Zhou Fei could not speak

It was given to him by a master uncle. "Did I not tell you?"

Pointing to the boat canopy, the old monk Ming said, "That good-for-nothing young man is indeed my disciple"

Subsequently, he cast a glance, and several clever disciples of the itinerant group promptly took action, occupying several subtle points—this tactic had been taught to them by Li Sheng at the villa, but unfortunately, none of the prominent gentlemen with status and sects remembered it. Instead, it was those itinerant helpers, the so-called "lower-tier" who lived on the road, who were quick-witted; with just a few hints, they could immediately apply the knowledge in various ways.

She finally managed to step out of that mountain gate, leaving behind the idyllic Forty-Eight Villages, and was swept around by the treacherous winds and bloodshed of the martial world, witnessing the rampant evil, the silence of justice, the antics of clowns, and the downfall of heroes. She often found it intolerable, often filled with grief and indignation, yet most of the time could only go with the flow, preserving her own integrity while feeling powerless.

Yin Pei's face was abnormally flushed, as if it were about to bleed, and he exclaimed, "You are talking nonsense!"

Wu Chuchu said: "What medicine is it? It is flour"

Li Sheng waved his hand, and it seemed as if he wore two masks of freedom on his face. He had never shown a good expression to Li Yan, but when he turned to others, his attitude became as refreshing as a spring breeze.

Li Sheng did not engage in banter with him; he cast a glance around and noticed that aside from the people from the Xingnan Escort Agency who were genuinely anxious, the others, although on guard, were unwilling to step forward, as if they were all preparing to flee

Zhou Fei: "An Zhi?"

Zhou Fei was playing with the iron kettle, lowering her head as she said: "I have come for one person"

Yet at that moment, when she faced Yin Pei with a knife, Zhou Fei suddenly experienced a peculiar realization—an indescribable feeling, akin to piercing through the paper window after countless early mornings and late nights, tirelessly pondering and repeatedly struggling, as if a sudden enlightenment had struck.

Stop! Li Sheng shouted

Everyone was quickly captivated by her convoluted story, forgetting to scold the younger sister, and those who felt wronged finally had the chance to wipe their noses clean

Yang Jin first frowned, then suddenly showed a look of astonishment—because he discovered that in just two days and one night, Zhou Fei's sword had changed again

The descendants of the Mountain and River Sword? Yang Jin first showed a look of longing, but then recalled the drained members of the Xuanwu Gate, and furrowed his brows again, "How could it turn out like this? Among you..."

I am not sure if I saw it wrong..." Yang Jin hesitated and said, "But before that corpse died, it seemed like there was something moving on it, as if there was some living creature beneath the skin. I do not know what it was, but just as it was crawling onto his face, I caught a glimpse.

Gradually, her desire to forge a true snow-breaking knife grew stronger with each passing day

The old monk sat quietly, silently reciting the Buddha's name, pinching the prayer beads one by one, and smiled, saying: "You say you have come for one person, but that person you speak of is merely a transient connection, a fleeting encounter along the way, subject to the impermanence of rise and fall. Since it is a chance meeting, how can you say you have come for him?"

The old monk turned his back to her and said, "It does not matter if you cannot think of it; just remember why you came."

Just as the two of them had just shaken off the pursuing Xuanwu and had not yet had a chance to breathe a sigh of relief, a sudden shrill cry of wild birds erupted from the forest ahead, soaring into the sky. Li Yan's body trembled, and she stopped in her tracks, only to hear a rustling sound as a group of people wearing iron masks slowly emerged.

Zhou Fei exclaimed in shock: "Is it poisonous?"

Zhou Fei stretched out her arm, took down the wine flask from the boat canopy, brought it to her nose and sniffed. She detected a refreshing herbal scent from the flask. She was too lazy to think about what was inside and did not care whether the stranger's offering was palatable. She directly downed half a bottle, the astringent bitterness flowing down her throat and settling in her chest. The medicinal taste made Zhou Fei frown, yet the dizziness seemed to alleviate considerably, and she finally felt a bit more awake.

This is the ultimate weapon in the world

Zhou Fei squinted in astonishment as she looked over, seeing a tall, thin figure at the bow of the boat. It was an old man, wearing a bamboo hat, barefoot, with a hunched back. His bony hands were leisurely supporting the boat. The old man said "Hey" and then spoke to her: "You have been poisoned by a snake, holding the antidote in your hand, yet you refuse to take it. Are you trying to see how long you can survive?"

It is evident that there are reasons for the decline of certain sects

Li Yanqi said: "Isn't it brought by that King Kang?"

It is merely a set of knife techniques

She does not know where she should go, nor does she know what she should do

It turns out that malevolence is the norm, and pleasure is but fleeting; moreover, when you find pleasure, there will inevitably be someone who does not.

The last monstrous insect barely landed on the tip of Zhou Fei's blade, its wings trembling, yet it did not move forward. This creature seemed to have developed a semblance of intelligence; suddenly, it shrank back and swiftly fell from her blade, darting across the ground amidst the panicked cries of the surrounding crowd, and quickly retreated into the cuff of Yin Pei's trousers.

Li Yan did not expect that this young lady from a prominent family would actually engage in such antics, and she immediately expressed her admiration, asking: "Sister, what kind of potion did you use?"

Zhou Fei weighed the oar in her hand and found it quite heavy, even more so than the knife she was accustomed to using. Imitating the movements of the old monk, she inserted the oar diagonally into the water and began to paddle backward. However, despite her imitation being quite similar, she was unaware of where she was going wrong, as the small boat spun in place for seven or eight circles, then stubbornly refused to move forward even an inch.

Li Sheng finally had no time to concern himself with anything else, and he thrust his sword towards Ding Kui's back. At the same time, Yang Jin moved, slashing at Ding Kui's arm. Taking advantage of Ding Kui's momentary release, he stepped forward to position himself between Zhu Ying and the boulder. Zhu Ying collided with his chest, her legs weak as if made of noodles, and she collapsed to her knees on the spot, retching with tears streaming down her face. Yang Jin reached out to save her life but showed no interest in helping her up; his full attention was on Ding Kui. After pushing Zhu Ying aside, he shouted, "I will take care of this!" Zhu Ying collided with his chest, her legs weak as if made of noodles, and she collapsed to her knees on the spot, retching with tears streaming down her face. Yang Jin reached out to save her life but showed no interest in helping her up; his full attention was on Ding Kui. After pushing Zhu Ying aside, he shouted, "I will take care of this!"

I returned along the same path to look for you, only to find a ground full of zombies, Zhou Fei said, a senior colleague told me—what kind of cursed thing is growing on you, Yin Pei, are you out of your mind?

In the aftermath of the shock, no one dared to collect the bodies. Ultimately, it was Yang Jin, who was unyielding, who helped the shopkeeper to use a long pole to carry the corpses out and set them ablaze. At this point, there were hardly a few people left following Li Sheng and the others. After this battle, many more had been injured or killed, and looking at the remaining few, it was almost pitiful, resembling only a couple of small kittens.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei almost knelt down before him, unsure if it was still appropriate to add a "Long time no see"

The remaining individuals immediately supported each other and quickly followed Li Sheng as he ran, taking advantage of the standoff between the two formidable foes. Yin Peiyu caught a glimpse of this but did not intervene; instead, his gaze lingered on Zhu Chen, who appeared like a frog fixated by a venomous snake, with cold sweat instantly covering his back, leaving him no time even to comfort Zhu Ying, who was crying in despair after narrowly escaping death.

Everyone is merely a passerby; how can one stand by and watch others escape while being left behind? Once there is a leader at the front, the rest will inevitably scatter in disarray.

He grabbed Zhu Chen and, amidst the gasps of the crowd, turned and rushed in front of Wu Chuchu. Yang Jin's Broken Wild Goose Blade made a "whoosh" sound as the blade, like fire, directly slashed towards the disgusting bug on Yin Pei's body

As for the young lady, there are indeed some matters that require your assistance

He wore a patched and tattered robe, had a small beard that was grizzled, and around his neck hung a string of old prayer beads that were pitted and worn by insects, with a pair of faded monk's sandals placed beside him

Zhou Fei said: "It's no trouble, thank you."

Wu Chuchu: "What is this? Could it be something for pest control... Ah Fei!"

Yin Peilu's face outside the iron mask was even redder than before, as if she had applied inferior rouge. Her cheeks and lips were an unnatural crimson, while her neck and hands were pale to the point of appearing bluish. Just by looking at this visage, one could almost imagine her being directly pushed to the grave to be burned as a paper effigy.

The person in the blue attire was indeed recognized by Wu Chuchu as Yin Pei. Yin Pei smiled and said, "There is no need to mention my humble name. I see that the four factions of the Living and Dead Mountain have been at odds for many years without unification, which I find quite distressing. It would be better for me to unify them myself. From now on, you only need to remember to call me 'Your Excellency'"

Li Yan pouted her lips. Although she was usually willful in trivial matters, she did not dare to confront her elder brother in serious matters, especially since she was out and about without anyone to support her. She did not even dare to cry loudly; instead, she sat to the side, sobbing quietly, leaving her sleeves in a complete mess.

Zhou Fei stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him

Wu Chuchu was rendered speechless

At this moment, someone spoke up and said: "Little girl, your life must have been a lucky escape, right? How can you not cherish it at all?"

Li Sheng hurriedly adopted a demeanor of refined elegance, akin to that of a young master from a prestigious family, politely clasping his hands in gratitude towards the shopkeeper. However, upon turning back, he let out a sigh, and the cold sweat on his back continued to rise in layers. In the past, he had heard people speak of the "perils of the rivers and lakes" and the "pleasures of the rivers and lakes"; he had always dismissed the perilous aspects as mere background noise, only remembering the phrase "pleasures" with great admiration.

Upon hearing the words "Penglai," Zhou Fei's eyes widened in surprise

Zhou Fei paused for a moment, then said without changing her expression: "He has something to attend to and has returned to the sect first"

It turns out that the young man wearing the mask is indeed Yin Pei, whom I parted ways with in Hengyang that day

Where are we going?

Brother! Zhu Ying hurriedly grabbed the Emei thorn and chased after him

Yang Jin is usually unconcerned with trivial matters, often rolling up his sleeves slightly to reveal a small section of his forearm. As he speaks of this, a layer of goosebumps unexpectedly appears on his arm

Yang Jin crossed her arms in front of her chest and eagerly said, "What kind of knife was that just now? I want to have a match with you!"

Despite Wu Chuchu possessing a heart as delicate as a finely crafted piece, she was at a loss as to how she and her companion could fight their way out from a group of menacing fiends. At this moment, most of the heroes from the martial world had fled, and many of the Xuanwu were drawn to Li Yan's "stunning" two strikes, surrounding the two of them as if facing a formidable enemy.

The masked young man nodded slightly, did not express thanks, glanced at Wu Chuchu again, and with a slight curl of his lips, revealed a chilling smile, ghostly as he brushed past the two of them

Ding Kui naturally would not allow her to spit at him, so he tilted his head to avoid it, but when he turned his face back, his smile had suddenly vanished. The two deep lines at the corners of his mouth hung down, and his expression appeared somewhat lifeless and grim. Then, he spoke expressionlessly: "This won't do, go get me something to relieve my boredom."

"One cannot say it that way," Li Sheng pondered for a moment and said, "In the realm of martial arts, there are those who have trained for decades with unwavering dedication, and there are also skilled practitioners who take unconventional paths. However, regardless of the effort expended, there is always a price to pay. To reach the pinnacle of excellence, one must face perilous challenges. You may see him as having achieved success in one leap, but the cost behind that achievement is undoubtedly immense. In comparison, superficial skills and clever strategies are often the most reliable, and there is no need for criticism... I just don't understand how he managed to drain that person completely?"

A nightmarish Yin Pei appeared at the door, leisurely extending his hand to gather the curtain, gently brushing it aside, and walked into the inn with his hands behind his back. He glanced around, dramatically sighed, "Look, where in life do we not meet again"

Although it was just a glimmer of hope, it was enough to reignite the despairing fire in Zhou Fei's heart. She felt somewhat embarrassed and asked with great restraint and politeness: "Master, given his current state, is there still any way to help him?"

Ding Kuitong's pupils constricted sharply as he glanced at the terrifying corpse on the ground, and then recalled that the masked man before him could wield Feng Feihua's martial arts, causing his scalp to tingle with fear. Yang Jin and the others beside him were also stunned. Li Cheng reached out and forcefully pulled him, whispering, "The newcomers are not friendly, at least not allies. While they are busy fighting among themselves, let's quickly leave!"

Yin Pei's eyes lit up, and he smiled, saying: "Could it be that you also wish to join my ranks? It is not impossible; although you are of no use whatsoever, you can still be considered clever with some effort"

Wu Chuchu exclaimed: "Young Master, as the saying goes, 'Do not impose on others what you do not desire for yourself.' You just acted with righteousness, helping us drive away those wicked people from the Living Dead Mountain, and we are all very grateful. However, what you are doing now is no different from what Zheng Luosheng did"

Having said that, he reached out and grabbed Zhu Ying's chin from above her neck, as if dragging a small dog, pulling her over and pointing at Zhu Chen, saying: "You want to have such a useless piece of trash as your big brother? If it were me, I would have found an opportunity to get rid of him long ago and become the boss myself, so as to avoid sharing the inheritance with these worthless things."

I will take him back to Penglai in a few days

Wu Chuchu had never seen Li Yan in action before and did not expect her to be so formidable. She suddenly felt that Zhou Fei's previous remarks about this younger sister were quite unfair, and thus praised Li Yan, saying: "Your martial arts are impressive!"

Zhou Fei noticed that he seemed to be struggling, so she said: "Let me help you."

At this moment, Zhu Chen stepped forward, breathless, and grabbed Li Sheng's sleeve, asking: "Wait, where is Miss Zhou? Is Miss Zhou still inside?"

Zhou Fei further inquired: "So, over the years, you have also ... ... "

She probably needs to continue investigating the sea and sky, but Zhou Fei has already lost interest. One leg is lazily stretched out while the other is curled up in front of her. For a moment, she feels indifferent to everything, even too lazy to ponder over the knife, only wanting to sit aimlessly on this broken boat.

On this night, the stars twinkled, the full moon was slightly waning, and Zhou Fei experienced a dreamlike encounter with life and death, even meeting a person whose legend was not clearly conveyed. However, the city of Yongzhou was far from being as tranquil as the surface of the water.