Chapter 10, Madness in Luoyang

On this day, the Phoenix Inn was overcrowded, with the spacious central hall unable to accommodate the throngs of guests from the martial world. Countless masters of lightness skill had no choice but to scramble up to the rooftop of the second floor of the Phoenix Inn in hopes of witnessing the prowess of Feng Luoyang and Liu Qingyuan. Due to the influx of numerous martial arts elites coming to join the festivities, Tang Dou had to make an exception and raise the minimum betting amount to 500 taels, barely saving the gambling house from being overwhelmed.

Furthermore, instruct Tang Du to take Qin Shuiyao..." Tang Dou cautiously leaned close to Tang Bing's ear and whispered his instructions

What is it?" Tang Dou curiously leaned closer to her and asked in a low voice

Ah Dou, this time there are truly many beauties supporting Liu Qingyuan, as if all the female heroes of the Jianghu have been captivated by this Young Master Liu. The Yue Nu Palace, the Chengfeng Society, and many female disciples from various sects and noble families—listen, everyone is talking about his name.

"Hey, not knowing the opponent's moves, he can only recall all the techniques of the Yue Maiden's Swordplay that he can remember, and then guess which move Liu Qingyuan would use. This is not the end; he also has to force himself to restrain, absolutely not using his most proficient signature sword technique. " Tang Dou said this with a face full of frustration, "Sigh, how can I win like this?"

When the news spread through the martial world that Liu Qingyuan had comprehended the Super Sea Sword Technique, people believed that he would soon head to Wutong Ridge to compete with Feng Luoyang, aiming to claim the title of the world's number one swordsman. Little did they know that at this moment, his father passed away. He had no choice but to obey his mother's wishes and return home to observe the mourning period. Many in the martial world even speculated that Feng Luoyang had secretly caused Liu Qingyuan's father's death in order to secure his own position as the number one in the world. This forced Feng Luoyang to spend a considerable amount of money to hire Yu Shao to investigate the truth behind Liu's father's death and announce it to the world, which finally quelled the uproar. When he learned that the Sword Demon Meng Duanhun had defeated Liu Qingyuan and even severed his right arm, he felt a sense of relief, as the pressure Liu Qingyuan exerted on him was far greater than that of the Sword Demon Meng Duanhun.

Although at this moment Liu Qingyuan had lost his right arm, who could say whether his left-handed swordsmanship would be even stronger? After all, he was the one and only Chao Hai Gongzi in the martial world. Whenever the image of Liu Qingyuan appeared in Feng Luoyang's mind, the golden signboard of Chao Hai Gongzi would transform into a towering range of mountains, weighing heavily on his heart and making it hard for him to breathe

Tang Dou's face revealed a hint of surprise: "Ah, there is a way out! Lao Feng, without uttering a word, must have thought of some strategy to break the situation and is currently refining it in his mind. I have seen this kind of scenario many times; generally, after a day or two, he will surely come up with the method to defeat the enemy, confidently walking out of the room.

Oh. Zujing covered her mouth, nodded vigorously, and took two steps at a time, retreating seven or eight steps with Tang Dou.

You know this too! ? '' Zu Jing was taken aback

"It is difficult, indeed difficult," Tang Dou said, shaking his head as he closed his eyes and listened to the wind in Luoyang.

As his voice echoed, a group of Tangmen disciples arranged themselves in a well-ordered formation, strictly guarding the various access routes to the main hall. Another group of Tangmen disciples spread out in a flower-like formation, setting up defenses outside the Phoenix Inn. The final group of Tangmen disciples climbed through the windows and scaled the walls, reaching the rooftop of the Phoenix Inn, where they formed ranks at the top level

"Really! That's wonderful!" Zu Jing exclaimed excitedly, jumping up and gently clapping her hands

"Little Master Uncle, I am sorry..." Zu Jing was so anxious that she was jumping up and down, wishing she could take Feng Luoyang's place and endure the torment in the dark room.

In the span of three days, time has flown by like the wind, and the world-renowned battle of the *Tu* and *Shu* against the *Feng* and *Liu* is about to commence.

"Red bean paste bun, red bean paste bun!" Tang Dou glared at him fiercely and said indignantly

"With so many sword techniques, how can the junior master see through them all?" Zu Jing was greatly astonished

Feng Luoyang held a box stacked high with sheets of paper in both hands, lifted the black cloth, and walked laboriously into the large room shrouded in black fabric. Behind him, a dozen disciples of the Tang Sect followed suit, each carrying similarly heavy and large boxes, entering the darkened hall in single file

The wind howled indoors, and Zu Jing murmured with a lack of confidence, "Could it be that Liu Qingyuan is really that formidable, as the waves wash away the dreams?" Before her words had faded, a burst of laughter from Luoyang reached her ears: "Haha...!" Zu Jing, filled with joy, turned to look at Tang Dou. Tang Dou sighed helplessly and said, "This is a direct hit to the waist."

What techniques will he use to launch his attack? The Colorful Wing Sword Technique? No, many external sect swordsmen have used it; he will not resort to the commonplace. The Flower-Piercing Sword Technique? Too delicate. The Returning Wind Dance of Willows Sword? A family secret of the Liu clan; he would not employ it, as he knows I would guess it. The Seventy-Two Calamities? The Shadow Sword? The Eight Formation Diagram? He would never start with the Super Sea Sword Technique; no one can do that!" Feng Luoyang waved his fingers in confusion, imagining himself facing the fictional Liu Qingyuan drawing his sword from its sheath. He would never start with the Super Sea Sword Technique; no one can do that!" Feng Luoyang waved his fingers in confusion, imagining himself facing the fictional Liu Qingyuan drawing his sword from its sheath

Originally, the odds for Young Master Ya Feng were around 30%. However, since the arrival of the women from the Yue Nu Palace and the Cheng Feng Society, his odds have dropped to less than 20%. Many martial arts heroes, in order to win the favor of these ladies, have placed all their bets on Liu Qingyuan.

"This is the only way to miss you, with my hair turning white..." Zu Jing said softly. At the same moment she spoke, Feng Luoyang suddenly let out a low exclamation: "Huh—"

So fast! Tang Dou and Zu Jing were both surprised and delighted as they walked over to his side

"Who would have thought that Chengfeng would refuse to sell us any information!" Tang Dou shook his head helplessly, "Hey, this isn't even the worst part. The worst part is that Old Feng's skills are all in Liu Qingyuan's hands now; Old Feng is essentially a blind man facing a clear-sighted person."

Tang Du is a master of hidden weapons, ranked alongside him as one of the three generals of the Tang Sect. Many of the Tang Sect's clandestine dealings rely on his leadership of elite teams. Since the Tang Sect entered Jiangnan, Tang Dou immediately sent urgent orders over six hundred miles for him to bring his subordinates to venture into the world. Just a few days ago, he led his men to Wutong Ridge and promptly received this challenging task

The winding river flows, the water slips away! Oh! The sword has fallen, perhaps it is due to the loss of the right hand

Oh... I didn't expect there to be so much knowledge in the inn business. " Zu Jing nodded thoughtfully.

As the moment of the duel approached, the crowd gathered at the Phoenix Inn gradually surged towards the Phoenix Casino, which was closest to the Execution Cliff. Tang Dou and Zu Jing stood side by side at the entrance of the inn, watching the throngs of people flow by, and a myriad of thoughts flooded their minds.

"This is not your fault; it is all that wretched Qin Shuiyao's doing," Tang Dou said fiercely. "Not only has she harmed Lao Feng, but she has also deceived you. If she falls into my hands, I will make her wish for death but be unable to find it, wish..."

What is the situation regarding the bets?" Looking at the densely packed crowd of rolling heads, Tang Dou couldn't help but feel dizzy and his heart raced. He rubbed his eyes and turned to ask the chief steward, Tang Bing, beside him.

"These damned women dare to oppose me; in the future, I will make them regret ever coming into this world." Tang Bing rubbed his hands vigorously, his teeth grinding audibly. He glanced at Tang Bing and suddenly asked, "Previously, I instructed Tang Du to have that woman with the surname Qin and the - picture - book dealt with; did his people succeed?"

The mundane duels of the martial world fail to capture their interest. The life-and-death battle between Feng Luoyang and Meng Duanhun drew the attendance of the Murong and Ouyang clans due to its implications for the Tang Sect and the conflicts within the Jiangnan martial arts community. However, the current battle of Feng Liu is unrelated to gang rivalries and lacks any conflict of interest, yet it has surprisingly attracted the simultaneous presence of the seven great clans at Wutong Ridge. It is evident that they are all drawn by Liu Qingyuan's Super Sea Sword Technique.

You mentioned a few days ago whether to violate and then kill Qin Shuiyao, or to kill and then violate... I can't remember.

I don't care whether you kill first or violate first, the most important thing is not to forget to kill

I will take you in to have a look. " Tang Dou smiled slightly, allowing Zu Jing to support his arm, lifting the black cloth and leading her into the three main rooms that were heavily obscured.

The moonlight shines for a thousand miles, illuminating one person! Ah! I have been chosen for the pulse gate!

Tang Bing's figure had just disappeared at the entrance of the Phoenix Inn when the black cloth in front of the dark room was lifted, and Feng Luoyang, with a blank expression, stepped out from behind the curtain

"Clear out rooms No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3!" The thunderous command of Tang Dou resonated throughout the Phoenix Inn. A group of Tang Sect disciples formed an orderly line, entering and exiting Room No. 3 in succession, continuously transporting the tables, chairs, beds, furnishings, and decorations out of the room, until all three rooms were completely empty, leaving only various oil lamps for illumination

In addition to the seven great families, the leader of the world's largest gang, Song Wuhen, arrived alone without a single attendant, wielding a sword, clearly stirred by the grand excitement of the sword competition reminiscent of his past glory. The fifteen colorful Fengmei of the Chengfeng Society were dressed in vibrant attire, with purple skirts at their waists, clouds and mist draped over their shoulders, and floral shoes on their feet, coming in splendid attire, unhesitatingly stepping into the limelight to cheer for Liu Qingyuan.

I know this. Tang Dou proudly grabbed the folding fan from the back of his neck, snapped it open, and said, "Old Feng was struck in the throat by an imagined enemy."

Tang Bing revealed a trace of malicious smile: "Yes, good!"

Liu Qing's vague image flickered before Feng Luoyang's eyes, never fully coming into focus. Regardless, he could not see it clearly. Feng Luoyang raised the sword in his hand, quietly awaiting his attack.

Tang Bing's face instantly turned pale: "I... I don't know either. Why don't I call him over and let him speak to the young master himself?" After saying this, he immediately turned his head to call someone to find Tang Du.

At that moment, a deafening sound of wind suddenly erupted in the dark room, as if the wind had summoned forth a masterpiece of great pride.

The sound of the wind rose again, growing increasingly mournful. "Junior Master has finally succumbed and shed tears for the one who left by the Qingfeng Puhai," said Zu Jing. Feng Luoyang's anguished cries echoed once more: "Ah... Hmm!" Tang Dou tapped his own head with a folding fan: "From that nasal tone, it seems he is pressing down on one side of his face, surely one of his eyes has been gouged out."

"The news of the swordsman is indeed so important, I am truly foolish," Zu Jing murmured, unable to help but pinch her own hand hard in self-reproach.

Within the grand house, the sound of the wind in Luoyang began as a faint rustling, gradually transforming into a piercing and sharp wail, akin to the tearing of silk and fabric, as if there were indeed several swordsmen within the room, their sword lights flickering as they fought for their lives.

Good! Tang Dou wore a beaming expression and raised his hand to summon Tang Bing, who had been standing behind him. "A Bing, go and open the big plate immediately. This time, we are betting everything on Old Feng."

"Why is there nothing? Didn't I say to do it as soon as possible?" Tang Dou exclaimed angrily

"Um, as soon as possible," Tang Dou said with satisfaction.

The first son of the Outer Pavilion of the Yue Nu Palace, Liu Qingyuan, is two years younger than him, yet his rise in the martial world is equally formidable, if not stronger. In six years, he comprehended the sword path and connected the Ren and Du meridians. After seven years, he achieved innate true energy, and within less than eight years of martial training, he became the foremost expert of the Outer Pavilion of the Yue Nu Palace. This individual not only possesses unparalleled swordsmanship but is also proficient in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as the esoteric arts of Qi Men Dun Jia and the Eight Trigrams and astrology, making him a rare talent in the martial world. It is rumored that he has integrated painting and calligraphy into his swordsmanship, developing a unique method of swordplay. This innovative approach to swordsmanship has led him to a profound understanding of the Supreme Sea Sword Technique, the premier sword technique of the Yue Nu Palace, subtly positioning him as the uncrowned king among swordsmen in the martial world

I..." Tang Dou raised his hand and struck Tang Du hard on the top of his head, "Tang Du, this is Jiangnan, not Yizhou. Don't think you still have the luxury of chatting over tea like before. The waters of Jiangnan run much deeper than those of Yizhou. If you are even a little slow to react, it could cost you your life. You need to gather your people immediately..."

Understood, understood. "Tang Bing said with a smile, 'I will immediately instruct Tang Du to take care of it.'"

"I haven't heard it in ten years; I truly miss it. This is the sword wind of my junior master, which turns longing into ashes like snow," said Zu Jing softly, closing her eyes

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of astonished gasps, reminiscent of the sea tide crashing against the shore, suddenly erupted across Wutong Ridge, as if some rare sight, difficult to encounter in a lifetime, had suddenly appeared before their eyes. Countless shorter men from the rivers and lakes, standing in the back row, all rose on their toes and stretched their necks to gaze in the direction from which they had come. Some eager and skilled practitioners of lightness skill, resembling a group of monkeys attracted by the scent of fruit, leaped from the rooftop of the inn on the second floor towards the rooftop of the gambling house, which was closer to the path, eager to catch a glimpse first.

"Yes!" Tang Bing lowered her head to accept the order

Uh, not yet. The sect leader did not give me a specific deadline at that time, so I have been conserving my energy these past few days. My brothers just arrived from Yizhou, and they are exhausted and lack the spirit to continue.

The clouds and rain over Wushan are in vain, causing heartache! Is there no sound? Could it be that the head is gone?

Come on! Feng Luoyang gritted his teeth, twirled his fingers, and bravely faced the myriad of sword lights, launching an offensive

What happened?" Zu Jing turned her head and looked at Tang Dou with a pleading expression

No, it's nothing. Tang Dou turned around quickly and vigorously shook his folding fan

Standing beside Tang Dou and observing the actions of the Tang Sect disciples, Zu Jing was completely perplexed by what they were doing. When Feng Luoyang led the Tang Sect disciples into the room, she could no longer contain her curiosity and turned to ask, "A Dou, what does the little master uncle intend to do?"

"A Dou," Zu Jing abruptly interrupted him by grabbing his arm, "Why do you need to use so much black cloth?"

The martial arts aristocracy gathered at Wutong Ridge, in addition to the two prominent families of Ouyang and Murong, also included five major families: the Yujia of Gusu, the Lijia of Runan, the Nangong family of Shannan, the Meng family of Danyai in Dengzhou, Henan, and the Luojia of Jiangnan, each sending skilled members to observe the competition. In the current turbulent martial arts world, the martial arts aristocracy responds with wisdom, strives for self-improvement, and continuously absorbs the essence of various martial arts schools, gradually forming a unique martial arts style, with strength that has surpassed many well-known large sects and factions.

The Yue Nu Palace, the Heavenly Maiden Hall, and the Burial Sword Pool saw the elite gather, with both young disciples and renowned figures from the sect appearing in snow-white attire, their hair flowing in the wind. The presence of these female heroes from the martial world added a unique charm to the already vibrant Wutong Ridge, elevating the atmosphere on site to a fever pitch

Within a few breaths, the entire Phoenix Inn was ensnared by the Tang Sect disciples, who had laid out a meticulous trap. The air was filled with the sounds of crossbows being drawn and hidden weapons being handled by the Tang Sect members. The originally peaceful and warm Phoenix Inn suddenly transformed into a scene of impending storm, with the winds howling and the atmosphere tense, as if every blade of grass and tree was on high alert

Tang Dou noticed the displeasure on the faces of the fifteen colorful feathered wind messengers from the Chengfeng Society and the female swordswomen from the Yue Nu Palace, and immediately felt invigorated. He grabbed Zu Jing's hand and, shaking his head with pride, said: "Ha, the people from the Phoenix Pavilion have arrived. Little Zu, come with me, let me show you the most prominent women in the current martial arts world"

"Yes, yes, indeed!" Tang Duzheng nodded with great trepidation, "By the way..."

"Yes, a few days ago I asked you to arrange for a wind messenger named Qin Shuiyao, did you do it?" Tang Dou asked impatiently

At the moment when Tang Dou angrily reprimanded Tang Du, he was completely unaware that another person had appeared behind him

Listen, he has been stabbed in the heart, alas, the situation seems dire. At this moment, Tang Dou can no longer feel pleased, his face is filled with worry.

"Of course, with over ten years of friendship with Lao Feng, how could I not be aware of any of his movements?" Tang Dou declared proudly. As soon as his words fell, a gust of fierce wind suddenly arose, and the temperature in the entire hall abruptly increased, as if a flame had swept through the entire Phoenix Inn.

What now?" Tang Dou did not expect Tang Du to be so verbose, and he asked irritably.

"How could the young master possibly read so many sword manuals!" Zujing exclaimed. Tang Dou glanced at Feng Luoyang's expression and quickly covered Zujing's mouth, dragging her out of the room, saying, "Shh, don't disturb Old Feng. He has already entered a state of transcendence and must not be disturbed."

As soon as Zujing entered the room, she was dazzled by a brilliant yellow color, causing her eyes to heat up and her vision to blur with tears triggered by the brightness. She rubbed her eyes and opened them again to take a closer look, and was instantly left speechless. At that moment, the walls and doors of the three main rooms were covered with black cloth, and each piece of black cloth was densely plastered with various strange and diverse fragments of sword manuals.

"Come here! Strengthen the guard; we must not allow the wind messengers of the Chengfeng Society to spy here. If there are any suspicious individuals, they are to be killed without mercy," Tang Dou said, raising his hand and speaking in a deep voice.

After the final sword technique was executed, there was not a sound in the dark room. Feng Luoyang seemed to have retracted all his sword forms and began to contemplate silently.

"Hmph, no need to worry, I have already sent someone to call the people from Fengge over," Tang Dou said with a proud smile upon hearing this. "As for my connections in the Jianghu, they are certainly not inferior to Liu Qingyuan's. I have a deep relationship with the people from Fengge. Their influence in the Jianghu is at least as strong as that of the Yue Nu Palace and the Chengfeng Society. Once the girls from Fengge arrive, the supporters of Old Feng will surely increase tenfold compared to now"

"You are deceiving me. I heard everything. What do you intend to do to Miss Qin? Are you planning to kill her first and then violate her? Are you really going to commit a crime?" Zujing furrowed her brows and asked sternly

In the three upper rooms, more than ten walls were completely covered with such fragmented scores, and even the floor was strewn with one sword draft after another, with pages fluttering. Feng Luoyang sat cross-legged in the shared corridor of the three upper rooms, gazing at the sword manuals on the walls, lost in deep thought with his eyes fixed. He murmured the Tianshan Sword Technique as if no one were around, his fingers continuously tracing in the air, his gaze shifting from one page of the sword manual to another, shaking his head and nodding, as if under a spell

Moments later, a short, stout man with a face full of flesh approached Tang Dou under the guidance of the disciples of the Tang Sect. He bowed deeply and said in a low voice, "Sect Master and Librarian, you summoned me"

Feng Luoyang extended his arm, pushing the two individuals to either side of him, and silently walked towards the inn's exit. Zu Jing and Tang Dou exchanged glances, and could only follow him to the entrance of the hall. Little did they know that as soon as they opened the hall door, they saw Feng Luoyang darting into the latrine like an arrow, followed by a series of thunderous and deafening retching sounds that uncontrollably filled their ears

"What happened to the young master?" Hearing Feng Luoyang's painful voice, Zu Jing asked Tang Dou with concern

"A Dou, what do you mean by 'kill first, then violate'?" The cool and clear voice of Zu Jing suddenly reached Tang Dou's ears, causing him to shiver all over.

No... I am responsible for providing refreshments. He asked me whether to serve the pan-fried buns first or the red bean paste buns. As we run an inn, when there are many guests, we worry about being too busy, so we use abbreviations for everything. Thus, he asked whether to serve the fried ones or the paste ones first, " Tang Dou said with a smile.

Tang Dou raised his hand and pointed to the boxes being moved by the disciples of the Tang Sect: "Do you see these? These are the sword techniques used by the female swordmasters of the Yue Nu Palace, who once dueled with Old Feng. Most of them are from the outer sect disciples. Since we cannot find any information on the sword techniques that Liu Qingyuan usually employs, Old Feng can only study these techniques of the Yue Nu swordmasters, hoping to uncover the key to countering the Super Sea Sword Technique"

A sharp sound like a whistle pierced the air. "This is the cold light of the Wuding River," Zu Jing clasped her hands together and closed her eyes in silent prayer. Two almost simultaneous sounds of clapping came from inside the room. "Oh no, kneeling down means I've lost both legs," Tang Dou shook his head repeatedly.

The most prominent woman? Upon hearing this evocative title, Zu Jing immediately lost her composure, allowing Tang Dou to confidently take her hand and lead her to the front of the crowd

Before me, Liu Qing had transformed into hundreds and thousands of Yue women swordmasters, each demonstrating exquisite sword techniques. Hundreds of sword lights traced beautiful arcs as they surged towards Feng Luoyang in a coordinated assault

"Just by listening to the sound of the sword wind, you can tell!" Tang Dou exclaimed in surprise, his eyes wide open. At that moment, Feng Luoyang suddenly let out a muffled grunt: "Hmph!"

Old Feng, have you figured it out? Little Master Uncle, can you defeat Liu Qingyuan now? The two asked in unison

"What is difficult?" Zujing asked with concern

"What should we start with, then?" Tang Du asked uncertainly once again.

"I thought that 'as soon as possible' meant in a few days..." Tang Dudan timidly looked at Tang Dou and stammered.

Tang Dou then waved his hand, and another group of Tang Sect disciples entered the Tianzi Sanfang, each carrying a piece of coarse cloth painted black. They first hung these black cloths on the walls of the three rooms that had windows, and also draped a thick black cloth in front of a corridor shared by the three rooms, instantly transforming the three upper rooms into a single doorless large room

Some fragments are densely filled with instructions on techniques, methods of exertion, and pathways of cultivation. Others feature only an ink sketch depicting a solitary swordsman demonstrating a technique. Some fragments are even more perplexing, containing merely a dozen or so ambiguous black lines, leaving one unsure whether they represent meridian diagrams or sword forms, making it quite bewildering.

Tang Dou chuckled, seemingly still not satisfied: "Then let's give her..."

In the large room, sunlight was blocked by black cloth, and the dim light of the oil lamp cast upon the walls filled with sword manuals made the already yellowed and darkened pages even harder to read

Ah! Oh dear! Upon hearing the sound of the wind, Zu Jing displayed a mixed expression of surprise and joy. She hurriedly ran a few steps to the black cloth that concealed the three main rooms, pressed her face against it, and listened intently.