Chapter 3, The Black Prison

As soon as this thought emerged, it felt as if two thorns had sprouted in Li Sheng's heart, firmly piercing into his throat, making it impossible to spit out or swallow. With these two barbs stuck in him, he absentmindedly responded, lifted a person's pant leg with a short sword to take a look, saw nothing of significance, and then weakly asked, "Madam, what is wrong with your leg?"

In the distance, it seemed that Li Sheng shouted, "Who is it?" but after that, there was no further sound. When Zhou Fei arrived, she only saw the horse that Li Sheng had ridden, wandering aimlessly in place. One of his twin swords lay horizontally on the ground, but he was nowhere to be found. There were not many signs of a struggle left on the trees and the ground; if the opponent was not exceptionally skilled in martial arts, they must have launched a sudden ambush, catching him off guard.

Zhou Fei felt increasingly strange as she pondered, her hair standing on end. She became cautious, contemplating whether she should first take a walk around to familiarize herself with the terrain before making any plans

He took over the power that Liang Shaoxin had painstakingly built over a lifetime, using his own strength to suppress the foolish individuals in the Southern Dynasty who were eager to make a move, patiently waiting for the right moment. The news of the pseudo-emperor's serious illness stirred up a frenzy both north and south, creating a situation even more chaotic than the present. Some people raised a large banner, daring to claim a mountain peak simply by relieving themselves at its foot. As heroes and fools took turns to perform, they were all lured out one by one by the Cao pseudo-emperor, nearly capturing them all in one fell swoop. Fortunately, your father played the role of the yellow bird, turning the tables and laying siege to the pseudo-emperor's general at Zhongnan Mountain, beheading the Northern Dipper 'Lian Zhen', whose head hung on the city tower for three days, inflicting heavy damage on the Northern Dynasty.

Zhou Fei was about to say something when suddenly her ears perked up. She leaped into the corner of the wall. At the same time, Xie Yun raised his hand and blocked the small hole with a stone. Although her line of sight was obstructed, the sound still came through, as if something metallic had struck the stone. After a while, Xie Yun removed the stone, waved at Zhou Fei, and said, "It's fine, the food delivery has arrived—are you hungry?"

Xie Yun continued, "I suspect they might not even dare to send a message to the Forty-Eighth Village. If they really summon the leader Li Da, it would be difficult to handle. I went with my employer, and upon arrival, I found no one from your Forty-Eighth Village, not even a single person to deliver the congratulatory gifts. At that moment, I felt something was off. Alas, it's a pity that my foolish employer with too much money didn't listen to me. I couldn't just leave them behind, so I had no choice but to stay and end up in the dark prison together."

"Junior Sister," at this moment, Deng Zhen led the horse over and nodded to Zhou Fei, "We should be on our way."

Zhou Fei suddenly said: "This person's legs are quite thick"

Zhou Fei stumbled into this cave by sheer coincidence; at that moment, she was so anxious that she could not see anything clearly

Even though Zhou Fei is a walking embodiment of courage, she was almost scared out of her wits

The prisoner stretched lazily and replied nonchalantly: "Last night, I heard someone shouting loudly, presumably trying to catch you. Since you have had a confrontation with them, is it possible that you cannot discern their lineage?"

Just after finishing speaking, a waft of fragrant rice maliciously seeped in through that small hole. Zhou Fei had been traveling in the wind and rain, and unless she could stay at an inn, she could hardly eat a proper meal. Upon suddenly catching the warm scent of the food, she instinctively swallowed and felt a bit tempted

Zhou Fei extended the handle of her knife and knocked down the small stone blocking the way between the two caves, addressing Xie Yun, who was consuming the drug that induced drowsiness, saying: "That Young Master Xie..."

Just as she was in a state of indecision, a sharp whinny of a horse suddenly echoed from a distance, followed by the sound of swords clashing. Zhou Fei's pupils constricted as she hurriedly flew towards the source of the sound

Since that night when Li Sheng saw Zhou Fei's broken snow knife, he seemed to be possessed, constantly thinking about leaving day and night. Especially after Old Lady Wang decided to bypass the Huo family fortress, Li Sheng knew that the only reason he was accompanying them was for the convenience of speaking at the Huo family fortress. Now that they had changed their route, he felt even less reason to stay.

This cursed place actually has "good neighbors"!

A few people around immediately shouted to catch it. The horse was a bit startled, let out a loud neigh, and charged out with all its might, panicking and heading straight for the place where Zhou Fei was hiding

Moments later, two masked individuals flew in, and one of them cursed, saying: "What I want is a horse, not a person. What is the worth of catching a little brat? Fortunately, this horse hasn't run away yet, otherwise..."

Zhou Feixin said, "That is like a child without a mother, it's a long story, so I will be brief: we are going down the mountain to take care of some matters, this group of people has captured my brother"

She suddenly sprang up and turned around—outside, it seemed that the sky had completely brightened. Although the cave was dim, it was sufficient for her to see clearly. She noticed a small hole, about the size of a palm, in one side of the cave wall, through which a rather disheveled man was peering from the adjacent side.

The person on the other side of the hole said again: "To be honest, I have been staring at this fellow for more than two months now. I suspect that this person was probably an old man in his lifetime, and perhaps he didn't even have any bones worth looking at. Don't look at him, look at me instead."

As soon as this fellow opened his mouth, he sounded like a lecher. Zhou Fei tightened her grip on the narrow-backed knife, contemplating whether stabbing the person across from her to death would alert the masked thieves here.

The sandy soil and gravel tumbled down chaotically, leaving Zhou Fei in a rather disheveled state. Fortunately, her quick reflexes allowed her to stabilize herself with her long knife as she landed, avoiding a complete fall. It turned out that beneath the narrow crevice was a stone cave, the origin of which—whether natural or man-made—was unknown. The layer of sand and soil above was merely accumulated dust over the years, insufficient to support a person's weight.

After chasing for a while, she finally realized that the person who had left without saying goodbye was actually Li Sheng. She hurriedly called out to him from behind: "Li Sheng, where are you going?"

In just a few words, Zhou Fei was demoted from "beauty" to "little devil." Although it was her first time descending the mountain and she was quite inexperienced in worldly matters, she possessed a keen insight that allowed her to immediately grasp the implications of Xie Yun's words—Huo's family fortress was turning a blind eye, and perhaps even the legitimate nephew was involved. The wicked have their own uses, and should anything arise, it would suffice to push these "disgraceful" friends out to take the blame.

She has yet to grasp the situation; the wind direction in the mountains has quietly changed at some unknown time. The stones on both sides force the wind to produce a sound like "woo woo." A masked man, who was in the midst of a handover at the sentry post, inadvertently loosened his grip, and the horse he had stolen let out a long neigh and surprisingly broke free.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei recalled the ghost under the knife in the desolate village, a fleeting doubt crossed her mind, wondering: Can leg techniques be feigned? Can such thick 'big ham' be cultivated overnight?

Zhou Fei: "Are you all here?"

The two individuals quickly left while leading their horses. Zhou Fei pondered to herself that if she were to return now to find Old Madam Wang, it would likely take a considerable amount of time. With the back and forth, it was uncertain where this group would have run off to. Having initially grasped the might of the Breaking Snow Blade, she had encountered no worthy opponents since descending the mountain, which gave her a sense of invulnerability. Thus, she decisively chose to pursue them alone.

"I have seen it," Xie Yun paused for a moment and then said, "but it has already become foolish."

Xie Yun laughed heartily and said: "Is it the case that one who does not keep their word is akin to a little dog? That simply cannot be. Even if a promise is worth nothing, one cannot turn their back on others. If a reputation for fickleness spreads, how will one stand in the world in the future? Moreover, being unjustly confined here, if I were to yield so easily, where would my dignity go?"

Zhou Fei suddenly heard news of her father and immediately stood up straight

Is there something wrong with the mind

Zhou Fei was left dumbfounded. She only knew that the Xiaoxiang School's swordsmanship was vicious and adept at using hidden weapons, but she did not expect such "family traditions". Erasing traces of a corpse is a meticulous task, and she quietly learned a lot by observing them. When she saw that they had almost finished cleaning up, she ran to the riverbank to wash her face. Noticing that the outer garment given to her by the village head's wife was also speckled with bloodstains, she simply took it off, intending to wash it a bit.

Although Zhou Fei's lightness of body is quite good, it is merely "quite good"; after all, two legs cannot outrun four legs—especially since the other party's legs are longer than hers. She struggled to chase for a while, but seeing that she was still about to be left behind, she felt somewhat indecisive, unsure whether to continue the pursuit or to return the same way to inform Old Madam Wang

Only after leaving the Forty-Eight Villages did I realize that a peaceful night's sleep is also a luxury

Zhou Fei frowned and said: "Since it is so chaotic here, why don't you move to another place to live"

A person who has been locked in a cave for two months, even if he were a celestial being, would not look very good. Zhou Fei noticed that although he spoke lightly, he had only eaten half a small steamed bun and picked at a few bites of vegetables, which was hardly a sufficient meal for an adult man; it seemed he was merely sustaining his life. His cheeks were so emaciated that they almost caved in, his lips were chapped, and his face was unshaven, yet when he sat there in silence, he strangely still resembled a young master—a somewhat disheveled young master.

Zhou Fei frowned and said, "Did you not just say that this black prison was not instigated by the Huo family fortress?"

She had temporarily taken on the role of the leader of the village for a long time, and the disciples had long been accustomed to following her orders. They immediately responded in unison and dispersed. In no time, they skillfully completed a series of actions to destroy the evidence. The corpses, bloodstains, and scattered weapons in the village... including the traces left by their group, vanished completely in an instant. As long as the villagers did not let anything slip, even if someone came to investigate, nothing would be found.

The prisoner did not respond, but excitedly said to her: "Look up, there is a glimmer of light coming from your left, would you mind walking that way? I have been staring at a skeleton all day, feeling quite bored. It's not every day that a pretty young girl comes along, so please help me refresh my eyes."

"Because I am neither a camel nor a turtle," Xie Yun sighed softly, "If I eat a bowl, I won't be able to get up for half a day; if I don't eat, I will never be able to get up at all"

That night, Zhou Fei kept watch for the first half of the night. Several senior brothers came over wanting to take her place, but she thought to herself that she had been riding in the old lady's carriage all day, sheltered from the wind and sun, so she felt it inappropriate to ask for someone to take care of her at night. She politely declined their offers. However, they kept coming over one by one to chat, which made her unable to feel sleepy at all. It wasn't until the second half of the night when Li Cheng took over that she returned to the carriage, yet she still found it hard to fall asleep.

In the pitch darkness, those few people thought she had thrown some kind of hidden weapon and scattered in all directions to avoid it. Zhou Fei leaped onto the horse's back, seized the reins, and forcefully pulled back the foolish horse that was joyfully running off to find beans to eat. With a sharp dig into the horse's belly, instead of retreating, it charged forward into the fray

When she fell, she used her hands to protect her head and face, brushing the back of her hand against the stone, which scraped off a layer of skin, causing a stinging sensation. Zhou Fei let out a soft "hiss" as she carefully felt her way through the dark stone cave while licking her wound. The cave was not large; Zhou Fei roughly felt around inside but found nothing, which instead gave her a bit of reassurance—evidently, it was not a secret chamber dug by someone, so it was still safe for the time being

Zhou Fei

"Not exactly," Xie Yun said in a low voice, "It's just that I didn't know who you were earlier. There are too many complications involved, and it's not convenient to say much. I have heard that Elder Li and Elder Huo Changfeng were sworn brothers. When you were near Yueyang, did you pay a visit to him?"

Zhou Fei felt dizzy and disoriented for a while, and she was quite resigned. She realized that she did not know which deity she had offended, but whenever she was clever for a moment, she would inevitably face retribution within the span of a stick of incense.

Xie Yun shook his head and said, "Although it seems to be the case, it is not entirely as you think. This is a longer story. Three years ago, Mr. Gantang came out of the mountains..."

Old Lady Wang said: "Sheng'er, lift the trouser legs of these two individuals and take a look at their legs."

It is likely that the imperial calendar indicates that today is not a suitable day for her to engage in mental activities

This place has a narrow and elongated terrain, nestled between two mountains. The mountain paths are winding and tortuous, making it impossible to see what lies ahead at a glance. A suspension bridge is faintly visible at a high point, and under the torchlight, shadows of people flicker. There are no flags, and the surroundings are heavily guarded. The sound of the wind moans and wails as it travels through the mountains, and with Zhou Fei's keen hearing, she can even discern the mixed sounds of curses within.

Zhou Fei truly did not want to pay him any attention

Zhou Fei asked, "Just now I inquired about the owner of this place, but you avoided answering. Is there something inconvenient to say?"

Li Sheng felt a mix of emotions; one was due to his momentary cowardice, which nearly allowed a masked man to escape; the other was regarding Zhou Fei's sword—he could clearly see that the Broken Snow Sword that Zhou Fei wielded today was entirely incomparable to the one she had at the Flower Picking Platform that day. It was evident without a doubt that the master Li had passed on the Broken Snow Sword to her

Zhou Fei looked down and saw that beside her was a stark white skeleton. Just a moment ago, she had not noticed it in the darkness, and she had sat shoulder to shoulder with the skeleton until dawn.

The village head's wife skillfully rolled up her sleeves and brushed aside the stray hairs on her face with her arm: "Following us is also suffering; throughout the year, it eats whatever the rabbit eats, and I see its ears are almost grown long."

Zhou Fei indeed has not heard of it

Li Sheng left a letter tucked inside the leisure book he always carried with him. As dawn approached and the horses grew weary, he took a deep breath, glanced back at the direction of the carriage, and thought to himself: Zhou Fei, I may not be inferior to you.

At that moment, the village head's wife returned, hurried over to snatch the old clothes from Zhou Fei's hands, and said, "Hurry and give it to me, you are not meant for this task"

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Zhou Fei did not even dare to breathe.

Is this how it ends? She thought, somewhat taken aback.

This thought fluctuated in his mind for two days and two nights, and at this moment, the timing, circumstances, and support from others were all perfectly aligned

Zhou Fei was standing at the downwind side when suddenly, a faint sound drifted through the wind. Although she did not hear it clearly, she instinctively obeyed her intuition and swiftly stepped into the nearby thicket.

Zhou Fei had been jumping around all night, and she was already so hungry that her stomach was touching her back. However, she felt a bit embarrassed to openly ask someone for food, so she paused for a moment and said tactfully: "It's fine."

Li Sheng lowered his head and walked in front of Zhou Fei, not looking at her, but staring at the terrifying corpse for a moment. Suddenly, he thought to himself: I will not go back; if I do not achieve something that my aunt would find commendable, I will not return.

The village head's wife, upon seeing it, said: "This is a good dog, very intelligent and not noisy at all. If you like it, you might as well take it with you."

While Li Sheng was thinking about wandering the world, Zhou Fei suddenly felt a strong desire to return home. Perhaps it was the allure of distant fragrance over nearby stench; when she was at home, even when her mother called her to say a few words, she felt a tightness in her scalp and did not feel close to her mother at all. Ever since Zhou Yitang left, she had been constantly thinking about going down the mountain to find her father in Jinling.

Xie Yun nodded slightly: "Hmm, however, such a disgraceful act may not necessarily be committed by the Huo family. Otherwise, they would be tarnishing their own reputation while still trying to implicate the Huo family, wouldn't that be akin to dropping one's trousers? Most of the people in the Jianghu around Dongting have affiliated themselves with Huo Family Fort, and among them, there are various types..."

Zhou Fei felt an immediate surge of anger upon hearing this summary—because it was always due to that bastard Li Sheng stirring up trouble for no reason!

Zhou Fei was momentarily taken aback. She had thought that these were a group of thieves who were hiding and lurking, perhaps using a lasso or a drug to incapacitate the careless Li Sheng. Surely, they were nothing remarkable—could truly remarkable individuals engage in highway robbery and horse theft? Would they even be interested in that worthless person Li Sheng and his shabby horse?

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Xie Yun waved his hand and said, "Although we have only met by chance, each time has been fraught with danger, so we can be considered half-brothers in life and death. You may call me 'big brother'"

He is accustomed to being smooth-tongued; if a new girl were to move in next door, he would likely start a new round of frivolity. However, perhaps due to the deep impression left by Zhou Fei standing before him with a broken sword years ago, Xie Yun always feels that she is still that little girl from three years ago. ... Engaging in frivolous banter with a "big girl" is charming, but when faced with a "little girl," he cannot help but become a bit more serious ... . ... Although it is only a little, it does show some semblance of humanity. Engaging in frivolous banter with a "big girl" is charming, but when faced with a "little girl," he cannot help but become a bit more serious ... . ... Although it is only a little, it does show some semblance of humanity.

Upon hearing her introduce herself, the neighbor who had been chattering incessantly fell silent, likely feeling a bit awkward after having flirted with someone familiar.

Suddenly, she recalled that the "Big Ham" indeed seemed not to have displayed any leg techniques in front of Lady Wang at that time. The more she thought about it, the less she understood; the entire complexity of the martial world was only revealing the tip of the iceberg before her. Zhou Fei already felt overwhelmed and casually said, "Then let's draw it, we can discuss it outside."

Zhou Fei did not respond, her heart was racing, and all the blood in her body surged into her hands gripping the knife, reaching an extreme level of tension, which instead gave her a sense of reckless abandon. The second person quickly charged forward, without drawing a weapon, and swept a kick towards her. Zhou Fei only heard a sound of "whoosh" and felt as if what swept towards her was not a human leg, but a hard iron rod. She leaped to avoid it and saw that the ground had been swept out, leaving a pit about a palm's depth.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

The large yellow dog seemed to understand that its mistress intended to give it away, and immediately stood up from beside Zhou Fei, obediently nudging its way to the side of the village head's wife. It lay down, resting its chin on her knee, and whimpered softly. The village head's wife was taken aback for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "Foolish creature, I’m letting you go to enjoy a life of luxury, yet you’re not even happy about it."

"Hmm, clean it up," said Old Lady Wang. "A Fei, retrieve the old lady's hairpin; we will leave tonight."

Well, Xie Yun slightly nodded and said, "This matter dates back to more than two months ago. Old Master Huo is celebrating his seventieth birthday this year and has invited friends and relatives from far and wide. In his early years, he distinguished himself with the Huo family's leg techniques, known for his loyalty and righteousness, as well as his charitable nature. He has a wide circle of friends, many of whom sought his help during their times of hardship. Therefore, once the invitation was sent out, everyone naturally came to show their support. You probably do not know about this."

A group of people left the ravaged village overnight, hurrying on their way.

The Broken Snow Blade is a unique skill passed down through generations of the Li family. In the end, it was passed on to Zhou Fei by my aunt, yet she said nothing to him.

The other person, Nono, did not dare to speak, while Zhou Fei held her breath, her heart stirred—those bandits who had invaded the village that night also demanded horses as soon as they opened their mouths

Surrounded by darkness, she had not yet had the chance to employ her basic skills in the underworld, "Erasing Evidence," let alone the more advanced "Tracking from a Thousand Miles." The pursuit was fraught with difficulties; she was either nearly discovered or almost left behind. In unfamiliar territory, her sense of direction was rather poor, and halfway through, she realized she had lost her bearings—yet she did not let it trouble her, thinking she would sort it out upon her return, prioritizing the need to catch up.

"When the water is too clear, there are no fish." Xie Yun leaned against the wall of Shidong Mountain, lazily saying, "You little rascal who doesn't understand reason, must you force me to speak some harsh truth?"

Old Madam Wang pointed her hand and said: "Take another look at that."

However, family scandals should not be aired in public. Although Zhou Fei felt like peeling the skin off Li Sheng and pulling out his tendons, she kept her mouth shut, maintaining a wooden expression without saying a word

Zhou Fei was taken aback: "Ah?"

Zhou Fei pondered for a moment and asked, "Is there no one in charge of these matters?"

The style of "Wind" is also known as "Buzhou Wind," embodying the fierce and ruthless nature of a raging wind sweeping through snow, the unrestrained force of a gale sweeping across the ground, and the capriciousness of wind rising and dispersing. It is most suitable for a single individual to confront a group. The technique is exquisite, but unfortunately, her strength is insufficient to fully execute even one-tenth or one-twelfth of it. Yet, even this one-tenth or one-twelfth is enough for her to create an opening in the encirclement amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd.

It was the first time she encountered a prisoner with such a positive mindset, and she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with him, which made her less inclined to kill him. She asked, "Who is the master here? Why have you been captured? What do they intend to do?"

In this desolate wilderness, there unexpectedly stands a village, with numerous sentries coming and going, illuminated by scattered lights.

However, after descending the mountain, not many days had passed when Zhou Fei suddenly began to miss her mother. She aimlessly recalled the desolation along the way, repeatedly thinking of the words of the village head's wife from the deserted village, pondering: if this were in our Forty-Eight Village, there would surely be someone to take care of it

Unexpectedly, she remained silent. Li Sheng turned his head to glance at her, his expression complex and difficult to decipher. Then, his gaze darkened, and he sharply squeezed the horse's belly. The horse, which had been trotting slowly, suddenly accelerated and dashed out like the wind

Zhou Fei slowly caressed the handle of her knife and squeezed out a phrase from between her teeth: "No need to be polite, make yourself at home"

Although Li Sheng is not a good person, he is very well-behaved in his speech. When he gets anxious, he falls silent and would never resort to foul language or shout at others. Besides him, there are certainly many others involved. These masked individuals are capturing people and stealing horses, and they have even built a grand black prison deep within the mountains. What exactly are they trying to accomplish

There was hardly even time to exclaim, as she fell straight down with the shifting ground; this mountain has truly lost its virtue, and it turns out that there is even a hollow space beneath!

The person behind was taken aback and shouted, "Who!"

It is often said that a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers; however, what the calf truly thinks is beyond verification. Regardless, Zhou Fei certainly lacks the instinct of fear.

This cursed place actually has "Fanglin"!

"Beauty, you are truly bold," the person gestured to her with their eyes, "Look over there, look over there, what is beneath your feet?"

She has a little-known fondness for feeding small animals, such as the beautiful birds found in the mountains, the cats and dogs raised by the brothers from other villages, and even the horse that follows them along the way. She often feeds them whenever she has the chance, and she still has a handful of beans on her person. This foolish horse, Li Sheng, may have caught a whiff of her scent in the wind and instinctively sought help from a familiar face, cleverly and decisively leading that acquaintance into a trap.

During her time at the Forty-Eight Villages, Zhou Fei spent every day practicing martial arts, not even having killed a single chicken, let alone a person. She suddenly felt something happened on her face, and unconsciously reached out to wipe it, only to smear her hand with blood. Zhou Fei could not say she was afraid, nor could she claim to feel any guilt; she simply had a strong desire to wash her face

Zhou Fei was taken aback and said: "So you want to lock up everyone who disagrees?"

Zhou Fei knew she could not avoid it, so she gritted her teeth and thought to herself: I might as well take the initiative first

The result was that Xie Yun said, "If you are not hungry, I will eat first; if you are also hungry... I will hold off a bit before eating."

The gap was extremely narrow and deep, only small children and very slender young girls could squeeze through. Zhou Fei leaned against the stone wall, belatedly realizing the thrilling experience she had just gone through, and couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh, unable to imagine how she had managed to escape to this place

Zhou Fei did not compete with her, stepping aside slightly. The large yellow dog that had narrowly escaped death earlier also approached quietly, stopping two feet away from Zhou Fei, as if it wanted to get close but was also a bit afraid of her. Zhou Fei extended a hand for the large yellow dog to sniff, and it cautiously nudged her hand with its nose, then happily ran over to lie down beside her, its eyes drooping with moisture, looking not fierce at all, but rather obedient.

Zhou Fei was taken aback: "What?"

At this time, Deng Zhen and other disciples arrived one after another

Zhou Fei asked, "Have you seen Lord Huo?"

Zhou Feiqi asked: "Then why are you still eating?"

As soon as the words "pretty little girl" were uttered, Zhou Fei's expression changed, and she suddenly realized where this sense of familiarity came from. Taking advantage of the dim light in the stone cave, she carefully scrutinized the prisoner on the opposite side through a small hole the size of a palm, and uncertainly asked, "Are you... surnamed Xie? Is your name..."

It is evident that at this moment, Zhou Fei understood that she might have some misconceptions regarding the meaning of the phrase "remarkable".

She swiftly drew the narrow-backed long knife from her waist, leaping up fiercely from the ground, soaring over the horse, and with a twist of her body, the long knife gleamed as she struck out three times in the air. The first person chasing after the horse was caught off guard, awkwardly dodging left and right, and was struck by her blade, letting out a muffled scream. Blood spurted high from his chest, leaving his fate uncertain.

"Some rather unsavory acquaintances from the underworld," Xie Yun politely corrected, "At that time, the Huo family fortress repeatedly urged us to stay, reasoning with us three times a day and appealing to our emotions. Unfortunately, we were a group that refused to drink the toast and instead opted for the penalty drink. In the end, they did not force us but kindly sent us on our way. Little did we know that as soon as we left the Huo family fortress, we were secretly ambushed and detained here. They promised to release us if we agreed to sign at the Dongting Alliance meeting."

Zhou Fei ignored his nonsense and directly asked, "More than two months? Have you been locked up here for more than two months?"

"It is only natural that the government should be in charge," the village head's wife replied in a tone that was quite accustomed to such matters. "For a while, there were battles every few days, and I don't even know who was fighting whom. Countless people died, and there was no time to collect the bodies, let alone manage these trivial matters. Now, things are better; the government is about to disband, and we could even appoint ourselves as governors without anyone overseeing us."

The people in the valley may have been inherently guilty, as her forceful intrusion immediately threw everything into chaos, with voices rising and shouts echoing everywhere. As the galloping horse passed through a backlit area, a narrow crevice in the mountain wall caught Zhou Fei's eye. The girl was terrifyingly calm at that moment; without hesitation, she leaped down from the horse's back and swiftly slapped the horse's rear. The horse let out a long howl and surged forward like an arrow released from a bow. As the galloping horse passed through a backlit area, a narrow crevice in the mountain wall caught Zhou Fei's eye. The girl was terrifyingly calm at that moment; without hesitation, she leaped down from the horse's back and swiftly slapped the horse's rear. The horse let out a long howl and surged forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Just as she was about to run away, Zhou Fei inadvertently looked up and saw a row of large bows set up on the high watchtower, already drawn and waiting for her. As long as she dared to make a run for it, she would immediately be met with a body full of barbs. In an instant, several thoughts flashed through Zhou Fei's mind. She suddenly blew a long whistle, and the previously chaotic horse, upon hearing the sound, mindlessly ran back, charging into the encirclement. Taking advantage of the confusion, Zhou Fei forcefully squeezed through the gap between two people, simultaneously reaching into her clothing to pull out a handful of beans: "Take that!"

Is she really that annoying

Xie Yun glanced at her and said, "Young lady, listen to me. Go back and find your elders, present a formal invitation to the Huo family fortress, and say that a person has gone missing, requesting the Huo family fortress to assist in the search."

Zhou Fei recalled that leg sweeping like an iron rod and blurted out: "Could it really be the Huo family fortress?"

Isn't that so? That person spoke in a cheerful tone, as if being locked up was quite an honor. There are quite a few people locked up here; didn't you notice when you came in? On both sides of the mountain walls are separated cells, where various heroes shout and curse every day, creating quite a lively atmosphere. It's a pity that my cell is underground; while it is indeed quiet, it is inconvenient to join the fray.

Zhou Fei felt a faint breeze sweeping past her from the crevices of the rocks, indicating that there was a passage on the other side, not a dead end. Once the voices outside had faded a bit, she attempted to move further inside. The passage became narrower, requiring even Zhou Fei to slightly hold her breath to squeeze through. As she pushed her way in, she was deep in thought about how to find Li Cheng, when suddenly her feet felt empty beneath her.

At her age, Zhou Fei could not fully comprehend the sentiment that the reputation of heroes and brave men is more significant than the heavens. However, she possessed a certain open-mindedness of "seeking common ground while reserving differences." Not understanding and not wanting to argue with others, she pondered for a moment and then said: "Let me think of a way to set you free."

Li Sheng then retracted his aimless gaze, looking down to see that this person's legs were quite peculiar. The calves were more than twice as thick as those of an ordinary person, glistening with a stone-like sheen, making it evident just by looking that those legs must be incredibly hard. Fortunately, Zhou Fei's knife was swift, leaving no room for him to utilize his leg techniques; otherwise, with her internal strength likened to 'the bottom of a bottle', if she were to be swept by one blow, she would certainly not fare well.

Xie Yun truly did "as he pleased". He picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, chewed a couple of times, and then picked up a small stone to block the hole again, saying: "I still feel a bit embarrassed, let’s cover it up. If there’s a chance in the future, I will invite you to the best restaurant in Jinling. Alas, ever since the southward migration, the world’s delicacies have all come to Jinling, and only half of them remain."

Zhou Fei shook her head

Xie Yun picked up a bowl, slowly took a sip of the soup, and pondered for a moment

He paused for a moment, and Zhou Fei spontaneously uttered the new term she had just learned: "evil and heretical."

In that battle, the pseudo-emperor was severely weakened, and the major sects embroiled in the turmoil were unable to maintain their integrity. "Chivalry violates the law with martial prowess," your father likely had some intentional elements in this. After that, a significant portion of the sects and families in the martial world became a scattered mass. The world indeed became more peaceful, but separation inevitably leads to reunification. In the Dongting area, led by the Huo family fortress, many have been seeking to band together for some time. Most of those invited by the Huo family share similar aspirations. Only a few are caught in misunderstandings or are forced to be perfunctory due to social obligations.

Zhou Fei used the true Breaking Snow Blade for the first time, and even she was astonished by the endless chill and hostility contained within that sword technique, remaining in a daze for a while

After three years, Zhou Fei found it a bit hard to remember. She stumbled over her words and said: "... that 'Mei Mei'?"

The missing disciples, along with General Wu's family, would inevitably attract some attention, no matter how low-key they tried to be. At worst, they could inquire at the inns along the way. This detour meant they would have to spend two consecutive nights in the outskirts. Fortunately, the disciples were accustomed to roughing it and were not delicate, taking turns to keep watch at night

Whether it is true that "fools have their blessings," Zhou Fei, in her foolish boldness, encountered thrilling strokes of luck along the way. However, once she finally calmed down and began to think... it was all over, divine retribution had arrived

Zhou Fei tossed and turned for a long time, feeling as if she had disturbed Old Madam Wang. She quietly got off the carriage and strolled around nearby. To her surprise, just as she returned from her walk, she saw a person riding away with a bundle on their back. Zhou Fei was taken aback and instinctively chased after them

What kind of nonsense reasoning is this

Fortunately, the two masked men seemed to feel completely secure in their own territory, becoming rather complacent and not walking quickly. The path was overgrown with trees, and they were walking against the wind. For Zhou Fei, this was indeed a perfect combination of favorable timing and advantageous conditions. Although it was somewhat strenuous, she managed to keep up.

"He hardly recognizes anyone anymore, not even able to clearly say his own name. One moment he calls himself 'Changfeng', the next moment 'Pifeng', with no consistency at all." Xie Yun sighed, "It is said that he fell seriously ill a few years ago, and since then he has been deteriorating day by day. Now, he requires someone by his side to care for him at all times, and he cannot articulate his words, resembling a child. In his prime, he was indeed an extraordinary figure, and seeing him like this truly evokes deep sorrow..." It is said that after the old master Huo could no longer manage affairs, the Huo family estate was left to his brother Huo Liantao to decide. Alas, when you meet Huo Liantao in the future, it is best to keep your distance. I find his nose is neither here nor there, and his eyes are not quite right; he likely harbors some ulterior motives.

Zhou Fei was momentarily at a loss for words

The person whose head was sliced open by Zhou Fei, if his legs were cut off and pickled, would unmistakably resemble a large ham that could easily be mistaken for the real thing, clearly a product of the Huo family, with no other family comparable. Currently, Old Madam Wang harbors deep suspicions towards Huo Family Fortress and does not dare to trust them, but her eagerness to find her son leaves her no time to investigate further, so she simply led her people to bypass Yueyang City and headed straight for Dongting.

Deng Zhen, being an old hand in the field, naturally understood the gravity of the situation and replied: "Not at all, a few lookouts attempted to flee, but they were all captured, both the people and the horses, not a single one missing, all have been retained. My disciples have counted them, so you can rest assured, Master.

Huo Liantao, ambitious as he is, gathered a large group of people in the name of his elder brother, certainly not to celebrate his foolish brother's birthday. He intended to unite these individuals, forge alliances, establish power, and declare himself king. Xie Yun explained, "Outwardly, they claim they aim to recreate the 'Forty-Eight Villages.'"

What is that thing called again

The two masked individuals entered the mountain path, weaving left and right, causing Zhou Fei, who was already lost, to become even more disoriented. It felt as if she had been wandering through a maze for an eternity when she suddenly heard voices. She looked up and was startled.

He then ran away without looking back

The village head lady glanced at her and felt that this fierce little girl had a bright gaze, surprisingly carrying an indescribable innocence. She sighed, "Who are we going to seek refuge with? At home, we at least have a few rooms and several acres of land. If we go to a place where we are unfamiliar, we will end up begging for food. We are not capable people; we wouldn't dare to leave until death is imminent. Besides... isn't everywhere essentially the same?"

Xie Yun said slowly: "Have you heard of 'Gentle Dispersal'? I suppose you haven't, as it is merely a method employed by the unorthodox and the wicked. It is a type of soporific specifically designed to incapacitate horses—heroes and champions cannot be dealt with using ordinary soporifics; this particular drug is just right for horses. A bowl of it can keep them down for half a day, not to mention the internal and external skills involved."

This shout attracted countless pursuers, all of whom rushed towards it, while Zhou Fei swiftly slipped into the narrow crevice between the mountain walls

Xie Yun further stated: "I am unable to host you for this meal today, as it contains added ingredients."

In the next moment, she heard the person whisper: "This cursed place actually has a lovely neighbor. Today, fortune shines brightly; good things are bound to happen. Beautiful lady, how do you do"

As she retreated, five or six individuals swiftly surrounded her, each possessing considerable skill. Zhou Fei exchanged blows with each of them, her wrists aching from the impact. Realizing that if this continued, she would either have her arm severed or broken, Zhou Fei, in a moment of desperation, was forced to perform beyond her usual capabilities and unexpectedly executed the third move "Wind" from the Breaking Snow Blade.

Xie Yundao: "It doesn't matter, I have been detained here for more than two months, and I have food and drink, which is quite good. Your brother should be fine for the time being."

The extremely self-satisfied prisoner was taken aback for a moment, and after scrutinizing Zhou Fei in the dim light for a while, suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! You can't be that little girl from the Forty-Eighth Village, can you? Named Zhou..."

Xie Yunqi said: "Why is it that every time I see you, you and your unfortunate elder brother always seem to get into some trouble?"

Although the leader is often impatient and unreasonable, resorting to violence at the slightest provocation, in this vast world, with its boundless expanse in all directions, only in the land of Shu, where the Li family has planted its flag, can one find bustling traffic and a constant flow of people.

In the second half of the night on the following day, it was Li Sheng's turn to keep watch

He was multitasking, simultaneously placing his unfulfilled ambitions and lifting the trousers of the corpse

She feels that Xie Yun's standards for evaluating people seem to be somewhat problematic

Zhou Fei: "What happened?"

Old Madam Wang stroked her cane, her eyes half-closed in contemplation, and then inquired, "Has anyone run away?"

In such a strange environment, the two individuals fell silent for a moment. Subsequently, Zhou Fei noticed her "neighbor" step back slightly, clear her throat, and adopt a more serious tone as she said: "Xie Meimei was just teasing you back then, my name is Xie Yun—how did you end up here?"

It was likely nearing dawn outside, as the dim light of daybreak gradually seeped in. In broad daylight, it was unwise to recklessly wander in enemy territory. With no other options in mind, Zhou Fei could only wait. She found a corner to sit down and closed her eyes to conserve her energy. Just as she had begun to calm her mind after the night's harrowing events, a small stone suddenly fell to the ground near her ear, followed by a whistle.