Chapter 3, Nine Slashes of the Divine Demon

Lin Jian lay on the ground, suddenly hearing a faint sound of water. He was taken aback, wiped away his tears, pressed his face against the ground, and listened intently. Indeed, there was a trickling sound of water. This indicated that there was another world beneath the cave. Lin Jian was filled with mixed emotions and thought to himself, "No matter what, I must find a way down; as long as there is water, I won't die of thirst." Lin Jian gathered his spirits and began to search around, but the surface of the cave had no openings, and even when he stepped down hard, it was incredibly solid. Although there was another world below, how could he get down? Lin Jian searched for half the night, feeling both hungry and thirsty, and eventually fell asleep on the ground in a daze. When he awoke, it was already the next morning. Bathed in the gentle sunlight, Lin Jian opened his eyes, stretched lazily, and reconsidered his options. He thought that finding a way down was impossible, and it would be better to try retracing his steps in the slanting morning light. He resolved to pay close attention and began to move. Lin Jian approached the cave entrance, glanced back at the bodies of the two men he had often passed, gritted his teeth, and thought to himself, "No matter how I die, I cannot just sit idly by and die!" He then cautiously stepped inside. Although Lin Jian was filled with the fervor of having nothing to lose but his life, he still dared not move too quickly. At first, he walked a couple of zhang with a faint light still shining on him, but soon he was enveloped in complete darkness, unable to see his own hand. He slowly walked another four or five feet before he could not help but sit down with his head bowed. That fervor had been completely worn away in that short distance of four or five feet.

Lin Jian continued to read, but unfortunately, Jian Gongcheng had not written it down. What he referred to as "long forgotten" was likely just a reluctance to remember. The book continued: "I write this not to recount my life, but to record a significant event. My life has been carefree and detached from the world, and I have only this matter to regret at the end. This matter must begin when I turned thirty." Lin Jian turned to this page and found a painting tucked within it. He unfolded the painting and saw a depiction of a plump woman. Although the painting was old, it could not conceal the woman's unparalleled beauty. The painting was so lifelike that the faint fragrance on the paper seemed to emanate from the woman herself. Lin Jian thought to himself: "Truly lifelike! I did not expect Jian Gongcheng's artistry to be so extraordinary." As Lin Jian looked at the painting again, he noticed a passage inscribed on it: "Though we met only three times, it is unforgettable across three lifetimes, difficult to capture in words, and comparable to an extraordinary fairy." Lin Jian thought to himself: "Truly lifelike! I did not expect Jian Gongcheng's artistry to be so extraordinary." As Lin Jian looked at the painting again, he noticed a passage inscribed on it: "Though we met only three times, it is unforgettable across three lifetimes, difficult to capture in words, and comparable to an extraordinary fairy. I have lived my life without close friends or companions, dedicating my entire life to the sword. You are a beauty, and should not be treated lightly. Your family is of high standing, and my feelings are hard to express. Every night I keep watch outside your window, how bitter yet joyful it is!" Lin Jian was lost in thought; being a young man who had yet to experience love, he could not comprehend Jian Gongcheng's feelings of "bitter yet joyful."

Lin Jianxin said: "This person named Fangzheng is indeed a good man, but he is perhaps too honest." The short man had been watching coldly from the side, and at this moment suddenly spoke up: "We are here on the elder brother's orders to help find someone. If we start fighting and it gets out, it would be a disgrace to my reputation as a Taoist priest." This person spoke softly, yet his demeanor was indeed quite arrogant. Upon hearing this, the burly man surnamed Tie's expression changed drastically. After a moment's hesitation, he erupted again, saying: "Unruly Taoist, do you intend to get involved?" The unruly Taoist chuckled and replied: "I have never engaged in fights with commoners and brutes. I am here to find the young master whom my elder brother is looking for, not to brawl. If you, Tie Qingzhu, are dissatisfied and wish to fight, we shall see if I have the time another day." He spoke with great bravado, unashamedly boasting. Tie Qingzhu shouted angrily and reached out to grab the unruly Taoist first; he was someone easily provoked by words and would disregard everything when enraged.

As Lin Jian entered the cave, he was immediately swept up by a whirlpool, his body spinning within the cave. Despite Lin Jian's exceptional skills, he could only submit to the forces of nature, as the saying goes, human power cannot overcome heaven. No matter how capable a person may be, they cannot hope to contend with the heavens. Lin Jian was rendered unconscious by the swirling waters, and when he awoke, he found himself beneath the blue sky and white clouds. Lin Jian slowly opened his eyes and was greeted by sunlight, a feeling so familiar yet once so strange. Realizing he was unharmed, Lin Jian immediately got up and looked around. He discovered that he had been washed ashore by the current. Glancing off to the side, he saw a cave in the distance, one that seemed so familiar! It turned out he was upstream from the small creek where he often played, and that cave was the very one where Jiang Butong had once lived. Lin Jian suddenly understood, thinking to himself: "So it was not the water from this small creek flowing into the cave, but rather the water from the cave's pool flowing into the creek. Beneath that pool, there must be a hidden river." Returning to familiar ground, Lin Jian felt an indescribable joy. Although he was extremely happy, he still thought of his grandfather. After resting for a while, he immediately set off to run back home.

The steward pleaded, "Old man, just tell me. If my young master has asked you not to speak, you need not be anxious. As long as I can find my young master, I assure you that you will be fine." It seemed he believed that Lin Qiu was intimidated or bribed by that young master, which was why he dared not speak. Lin Qiu sighed deeply, and before he could respond, the square-faced man, unable to contain himself, slammed the table and shouted, "Are you going to speak or not!" The force of his hand knocked a corner off the square table, indicating that his martial arts skills were quite impressive. He thought this would surely frighten Lin Qiu into speaking, but Lin Qiu genuinely did not know and indignantly replied, "I do not know, and that is the truth. If you want me to speak, where should I even begin!" The big man stood up, and Lin Jian thought he was about to harm Lin Qiu, so he immediately gathered his energy. As soon as the big man stood, the honest man also rose to block him, saying, "Brother Tie, please calm down. This matter does not concern this old man; it is useless to be angry at a mere farmer." The man surnamed Tie angrily retorted, "You are supposed to be a well-known figure; why are you being so indecisive? Step aside!" As he spoke, he pushed the honest man, but the latter did not budge at all. Although Tie's push used only a third of his strength, the honest man remained unmoved, effectively neutralizing the force of the push, demonstrating his remarkable skill. Tie felt he had suffered a loss and became even angrier, sternly saying, "Fang Zheng! Are you trying to confront me!" Lin Jian did not expect that Fang Zheng was not only extremely reasonable but also possessed such high martial arts skills, which made him feel quite favorable towards him, though he still did not know the true reason for their visit.

Lin Jian hurried home to have lunch, then returned to the edge of the pond. He saw that the fishing gear was still there, and the water surface was calm. Lin Jian waited for another hour, feeling increasingly worried, secretly thinking: "Could it be that old man drowned at the bottom of the pond?" The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. He took off his shirt and jumped into the water like a fish. Although this was a fish pond, it was clear under the sunlight. Lin Jian could still see as he swam to the bottom, where he found the old man lying motionless at the bottom. Lin Jian was taken aback and quickly swam over. He struggled to lift the old man, placing him on his back, and swam with all his might towards the surface. Lin Jian exhaled a breath of stale air and emerged from the water. He first let the old man's head float above the surface while he himself was submerged. Holding his breath, Lin Jian relied on the hard training he had undergone over the years, desperately swimming towards the shore. He placed his feet on the dark stones at the edge and helped the old man onto the shore. However, the old man remained motionless, unable to climb up the smooth stone. Ultimately, Lin Jian could not hold on any longer; his legs weakened, his hands loosened, and he began to sink. Suddenly, he felt a tight grip on his hand, and his body was lifted up. With a "whoosh," he was pulled out of the water and then thrown onto the ground, yet he did not feel any pain. Lin Jian looked up and saw that the person who had pulled him was actually the old man.

The fish hid for a while, sensing that there was no one around, and then swam out again. It surfaced to exhale and blow bubbles. Lin Jian seized the opportunity, but his knife slipped from his hand and with a "plop" fell into the water. However, due to the considerable distance between the surface and underwater, the knife missed its target, and the fish quickly swam back to the bottom of the pool among the rocks. Lin Jian felt a deep sense of disappointment; it seemed that the fish would not come out again for at least half an hour. Helpless, Lin Jian could only wait in frustration. Earlier, he had been focused on his studies, but now, waiting for food to come to him, he felt increasingly hungry. Lin Jian gritted his teeth, trying to tighten his belt to endure the hunger, but he had no belt to tighten. Time passed drop by drop with the flowing water. Suddenly, a bubble surfaced, and the fish swam up with it. This time, the fish was much more alert; it barely touched the surface before quickly swimming back down. Lin Jian gritted his teeth in frustration, thinking, "This fish is truly cunning!" After the fish surfaced and exhaled several times, it finally relaxed and boldly exhaled at the surface. Lin Jian lowered his left hand belt, spread his fingers like claws, and prepared to make a bold move. Seeing the opportunity, he raised his hand and threw the knife at the fish's head, then immediately leaped out, aiming to grab the fish's tail with his left hand. The fish was startled; the knife did not take its life, and it immediately swam toward the bottom of the pool. Lin Jian shouted, "Where do you think you're going!" He plunged into the pool, reached out, and quickly grabbed the fish's tail. With a swift motion, he flipped the fish toward the shore. In the murky water below, Lin Jian seemed to see some light. Without thinking too much, he swam to the surface, grabbed his belt, and flipped himself onto the shore.

He saw the fish struggling and jumping on the shore, and Lin Jian laughed heartily. This effort was indeed not in vain. Lin Jian took out a small knife and dispatched the fish. He went to the edge of the pool, cleaned the internal organs with water, and after rinsing it thoroughly, he ate it raw. Although the fish was eaten raw, it was extremely fresh, and Lin Jian enjoyed it immensely. After a hearty meal, he felt even more invigorated. Lin Jian looked at the fish bones, pondering the bright light at the bottom of the water. He suddenly thought, "In this deep pool, there are actually fish living, and since this pool has flowing water, it must be that the water is coming in from outside." He further considered, "This fish looks exactly like the ones I caught in the stream, so it is very likely that this fish swam into this deep pool from the outside stream." The more he analyzed, the more he felt he was right. Hope of escaping reignited in his heart.

After a while, suddenly with a "pop," the torch extinguished in the last flicker of light. Lin Jian's heart sank, and he thought, "This is dire!" The cave was instantly plunged into darkness, and Lin Jian lay still in that darkness, not daring to move. He could even hear his own heartbeat clearly; the surrounding blackness was terrifying, and the silence was dreadful. Only the sound of Lin Jian's breathing and the gradually intensifying heartbeat could be heard. Lin Jian took a moment to rest, striving to calm himself. Since his encounter with Jiang Butong, he had indeed experienced many heart-stopping events. Behind the storms, Lin Jian had also cultivated a certain resilience. After a brief pause, he began to feel his way forward, firmly believing that without action, there would ultimately be no turning point. Having reached this point, Lin Jian found himself in a dilemma; he had no choice but to move forward. He was afraid of bumping into the sharp, jagged stones of the cave, so he proceeded with great caution and at a slow pace. Lin Jian did not know how long he had been groping in the cave, and just as he began to feel exhausted and despairing, a glimmer of hope appeared. He saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and where there was light, there was an exit. Lin Jian couldn't help but cheer and hurriedly rushed towards the light.

On the morning of the following day, soft light poured down onto the earth, casting a glow. Lin Jian rose early and went outside to practice martial arts. His intention to diligently train was to return to that tomb and retrieve the sword manual. After preparing early in the morning, Lin Jian took a waterproof oilcloth and returned to the small stream, where the waves still danced, and the stream flowed tirelessly day and night. Lin Jian, full of energy, took a deep breath of true energy and jumped into the stream, swimming towards the cave. This time, Lin Jian was well-prepared, unlike the initial chaotic attempt. After swimming for a while, he felt the water flow beside him quicken, indicating he was not far from the whirlpool. Gritting his teeth, Lin Jian surged forward, suddenly feeling the water swirling rapidly around him, pulling his body along. Although he could let the current throw him out of the whirlpool, the cave was filled with protruding rocks, and a single misstep could cost him his life. Lin Jian had already made plans; he pressed his body against the cave wall, positioning himself beneath the whirlpool, making it difficult for the current to pull him in. However, this method of progress was quite slow, and Lin Jian's internal true energy was insufficient to sustain him, forcing him to give up. He reluctantly turned back and swam out, thinking to himself that it was indeed easy to come out but difficult to go back in.

Lin Jian had long known their names, and after hearing their nicknames, he did not find it cumbersome. However, he felt that there were many rules in the martial world, and a slight breach of etiquette could offend others. Jiang Butong and Lin Qiu often taught him that one should be courteous and that words and actions should not be excessive. Lin Jian then cupped his hands and, imitating polite speech, said: "Esteemed heroes, your names are well-known to me, and it is indeed a great fortune to meet you today." It was his first time speaking the polite phrases of the martial world, and he couldn't help but feel a bit shy. Tie Qingzhu and Fang Zheng also cupped their hands in return, saying: "Little brother, you are too polite!" Only Bu Ping, bold and unyielding, did not return the gesture. Lin Jian cupped his hands again and repeated: "Esteemed heroes, your names are well-known to me, and it is indeed a great fortune to meet you today." It was his first time speaking the polite phrases of the martial world, and he couldn't help but feel a bit shy. Tie Qingzhu and Fang Zheng also cupped their hands in return, saying: "Little brother, you are too polite!" Only Bu Ping, bold and unyielding, did not return the gesture. Tie Qingzhu angrily said: "You are too rude! After being in the martial world for so long, you still do not understand etiquette? If you think Lin little brother is young, I, Tie, will be the first to stand against you!" He was someone who meddled in others' affairs, straightforward and outspoken, saying whatever came to mind, which often got him into trouble. However, others generally overlooked this because of his generosity and strong sense of loyalty. Bu Ping, however, was not swayed by this. Bu Ping angrily retorted: "What are you, Tie Qingzhu, to dare lecture me!" Tie Qingzhu was furious, shouted loudly, and his palm, as large as a cushion, struck towards Bu Ping with the force of his shout.

Lin Jian hurriedly tore off a piece of his clothing to wrap around the torch, ensuring it continued to burn. He knew time was limited and quickened his pace. The cave became increasingly winding, leaving Lin Jian feeling dizzy and disoriented, unaware that amidst this turning, he had unexpectedly exited the cave. Lin Jian was taken aback, unable to believe it, just as the torch in his hand burned out. Before him appeared another cave, five zhang in circumference, but this one was different; in the center of the cave was a pool of water, with the sound of flowing water indicating it was a spring. Lin Jian was still in disbelief, as the torch in his hand had just extinguished. He felt a mix of emotions, uncertain whether to feel joy or sorrow, fearing that he might never escape this cave in his lifetime. Approaching the edge of the pool, he cupped his hands to drink, having not had a drop of water for a day. As he drank the cool spring water, he felt a refreshing sensation in his throat, and his mind became much clearer. Lin Jian glanced around and sensed that this cave was unlike any ordinary cave; it resembled a tomb! A chill ran through Lin Jian's heart. Could it be that this was indeed the tomb of the Sword Palace, and he had stumbled upon it by chance?

The old man chuckled and said, "What does it matter to you whether you are small or not? If you want to fish, go ahead; I won't stop you. If you fall into the water, I won't save you either." Lin Jian raised his lips and replied, "I can swim, so why should I be afraid of the water?" The old man said, "The water in this pond is quite deep, and the bank is high and the stones are slippery. If your swimming skills are not good, you might end up as a drowned ghost." Lin Jian looked at the stones by the bank, and indeed, as the old man said, the bank was covered with green stones, each one covered in moss. If he fell into the water, it would be difficult to get back up. Lin Jian felt a bit scared, but still put on a brave front, saying, "I won't fall into the water. If you, old man, fall in, I would have to save you!" The old man stopped talking and focused on his fishing line. Seeing that he did not respond, Lin Jian ignored him and took out his fishing gear to fish. Half an hour passed without any movement. Lin Jian turned to look at the old man, who also had not caught a single fish, and thought that there must be few fish in this pond. Unable to hold back, he asked, "Old man, how long have you been sitting here?" The old man replied, "One or two hours, perhaps." Lin Jian asked, "So you haven't caught a single fish?" The old man said, "Don't talk, the fish are coming." Lin Jian turned his gaze to the pond and saw the water surface shimmering with golden light, but he did not see any fish. Lin Jian said, "There are no fish; you must be mistaken, right?" But the old man ignored him, seemingly focused on the water surface as if the fish were about to bite.

Lin Jian Dao said, "On what basis do you think my grandfather knows the whereabouts of the Young Master?" He had already guessed the identity of that Young Master in his heart. Tie Qingzhu was an impatient person and was about to speak, but the Unyielding Man interrupted him, as he always felt that he would suffer if he remained silent. He said, "We just inquired about the whereabouts of the Young Master and learned that he is nearby. The only household in this vicinity is your grandfather's farm. If we don't ask him, who else should we ask?" Although he was narrating at that moment, he maintained his usual arrogant tone, which made it extremely uncomfortable for others to listen. Lin Jian frowned slightly and said, "But didn't my grandfather say he didn't know? Why must you press him so hard?" The Unyielding Man sneered and said, "The Young Master is unfamiliar with this place, and your grandfather is the only farmer here. If he doesn't ask your grandfather, who else would he ask?" This person spoke sharply and aggressively. Lin Jian, inexperienced in the world, was no match for such a seasoned veteran and was momentarily rendered speechless. The Unyielding Man, relentless in his reasoning, coldly laughed and said, "I fear your grandfather has taken money from him and is unwilling to speak!" Lin Jian angrily retorted, "You..." In his fury, he found himself at a loss for words.

Lin Jian truly did not expect that a person who had renounced the world would utter such words. Suddenly inspired, he exclaimed loudly: "What is so remarkable about your 'Dustless Light Smoke' footwork!" Bu Ping, filled with indignation, retorted: "What nonsense are you spouting, you little brat!" Lin Jian replied: "Even if your footwork allows you to evade others, can it kill them?" Bu Ping angrily responded: "Why not?" Though he said this, the fierce assault from Tie Qingzhu had already put him at a disadvantage, making it impossible for Bu Ping to withdraw and counterattack. If Bu Ping had launched a counterattack from the start, relying on his exquisite footwork, it would not have been difficult to strike Tie Qingzhu within ten moves. However, now that Tie Qingzhu had gained the upper hand, despite his reckless nature, his external martial arts skills were no joke. He unleashed one powerful move after another, and even though Bu Ping's martial arts were superior, he did not dare to directly engage. As a result, Bu Ping was left with no choice but to evade the attacks.

Lin Jian finally approached the light, reaching out to touch the warm glow. However, as he broke through the radiance, it all seemed like a joke. Before him appeared a massive pit, approximately ten zhang wide, with a break in the ceiling through which moonlight streamed, illuminating the entrance. Lin Jian sat down in despair, feeling an overwhelming sense of disappointment. Suddenly, he thought: "Even if this is not an exit, can I not return the way I came? Why should I feel sad and disappointed?" His naturally optimistic disposition lifted his spirits, and he began to survey his surroundings. Just as Lin Jian turned his head, a chill ran through him. He saw Chang Yi and Guo Rufu lying on the ground, and he could not tell whether they were alive or dead. Lin Jian thought to himself: "How could they be lying there? Could there be wild beasts or poisonous snakes in this place?" The more he thought, the colder he felt. Looking around the vast pit, he could clearly see the environment under the cold moonlight. Apart from the grotesque and jagged rocks surrounding the pit, there was not a blade of grass to be found, nor any caves or similar formations.

Lin Jian saw the opportunity and did not hold back his words, laughing heartily: "Daoist Bu Ping, what splendid footwork! Truly, it evades all attacks in the world! Hahaha, but unfortunately, it only leads to being beaten." Tie Qingzhu understood that Lin Jian was helping him, and he intensified his moves, forcing Bu Ping to have no chance to speak. Lin Jian sneered: "So this is all there is to the Absolute Dust and Light Smoke Steps!" Fang Zheng said: "Young brother, your conclusion seems a bit hasty. The Absolute Dust and Light Smoke Steps are incredibly exquisite; Daoist Bu Ping has only learned three or four layers of it." Lin Jian remained unconvinced. Lin Jian sneered again: "So this is all there is to the Absolute Dust and Light Smoke Steps!" Fang Zheng reiterated: "Young brother, your conclusion seems a bit hasty. The Absolute Dust and Light Smoke Steps are incredibly exquisite; Daoist Bu Ping has only learned three or four layers of it." Lin Jian remained unconvinced. Fang Zheng saw that their duel was becoming pointless and that if it continued, they might really come to blows. He pondered how to mediate between them. Lin Jian was also considering how to respond later. While they were both deep in thought, Tie Qingzhu and Daoist Bu Ping exchanged another ten or so moves. Bu Ping, feeling frustrated, became restless. This set of footwork was indeed Taoist skill, which most despises an unsettled heart and restless energy. With this, Bu Ping had committed a grave error, and his footwork began to falter. Seeing the opportunity, Tie Qingzhu immediately executed the move "Parting Clouds to Reveal the Sun," pulling with his left hand and striking directly at Bu Ping with his right. Bu Ping's heart was in disarray, and he could no longer perform the Absolute Dust and Light Smoke Steps. If he forced it, he would inevitably suffer the calamity of injury to his meridians.

Lin Jian knew that he had brought up painful memories again and did not dare to interrupt. After a moment of silence, Lin Qiu said, "By the way, where on earth did you go yesterday? Grandpa searched for you all night long." Lin Jian felt guilty and replied softly, "I’m sorry, Grandpa." He pondered for a while, not daring to hide anything from Lin Qiu, and recounted the events. The more Lin Qiu listened, the more astonished he became. After a long pause, he said, "So that’s how it is. No wonder they came here looking for the young master; he really did come here." Lin Jian said, "Grandpa, what should we do? Guo Rufen is already dead, and they won’t be able to find him. I’m just afraid they will come back to look for you." Lin Qiu replied, "That’s hard to say! For now, we can only take it one step at a time." Lin Jian gritted his teeth and said, "Grandpa, I want to learn the Xiao Yan sword technique. If I master that technique, I won’t have to fear them harming you anymore." Lin Qiu hesitated and said, "This..." But ultimately, moved by his grandson's filial piety, he agreed.

Lin Jiandao: "Alright, if you can stay underwater until the sun sets, then I will believe you." The old man secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: "What difficulty is there in waiting until the sun sets?" He then said: "Fine, you wait here. I will go to the bottom of the water for a nap, and you can wake me when the sun sets." Saying this, he truly stood up, preparing to enter the water. Lin Jian looked on with reluctance and said: "Grandpa, I think we should just leave it at that. If something were to happen to you, it would worry your family." The old man became angry, thinking: "What difficulty is there in waiting until the sun sets?" He replied: "Fine, you wait here. I will go to the bottom of the water for a nap, and you can wake me when the sun sets." Saying this, he truly stood up, preparing to enter the water. Lin Jian looked on with reluctance and said: "Grandpa, I think we should just leave it at that. If something were to happen to you, it would worry your family." The old man lost his temper and said angrily: "I possess great powers and unparalleled martial skills! Stop your incessant chatter. I have no relatives, so who would worry?" With that, he jumped into the pool with a splash. Lin Jian was startled and stood up, looking around, but the old man's figure was already gone. Lin Jian felt anxious and uneasy, worried that something might happen to the old man, yet he also believed that the old man was indeed powerful enough to stay underwater for a day. He thought: "I possess great powers and unparalleled martial skills! Stop your incessant chatter. I have no relatives, so who would worry?" With that, he jumped into the pool with a splash. Lin Jian was startled and stood up, looking around, but the old man's figure was already gone. Lin Jian felt anxious and uneasy, worried that something might happen to the old man, yet he also believed that the old man was indeed powerful enough to stay underwater for a day. Lin Jian forgot about fishing entirely, focusing all his attention on the surface of the water, watching to see if the old man would be unable to resist surfacing. Lin Jian watched the water for an entire morning, yet there was no sign of movement from the bottom; only a series of bubbles occasionally surfaced. Lin Jian thought to himself: "Could it be that he can really breathe underwater like a fish, or is he an old immortal?" His heart was filled with uncertainty, and Lin Qiu was already calling him from afar to come home for dinner.

The situation was unavoidable for Bu Ping, who could only brace himself to face it head-on. Not only was his footwork exquisite, but his hand skills were also remarkable. He reached out to lean against the iron pillar with his iron palm, deflecting the incoming force with a subtle pull. With a fierce elbow strike to the chest of the iron pillar, the latter retaliated with a powerful embrace, tightly gripping Bu Ping. Bu Ping immediately countered with his elbow against the iron pillar. Fang Zheng was startled, and with a swift motion, drew his sword from his waist with a whoosh. The sword hilt rested against Bu Ping's elbow, pulling back as Bu Ping's elbow collided with the curve of the iron pillar's elbow. Both men felt the impact and spun away from each other. Fang Zheng executed this move skillfully, using Bu Ping's momentum to break free from the iron pillar's grip. The iron pillar shot a glance at Fang Zheng, spat, and said, "Damn it, why did you have to intervene!" After saying this, he walked away in frustration, not looking back as he declared, "I can't stay with such a person! I will go to my elder brother to apologize! I take my leave here." Although he did not name anyone, everyone understood that he was referring to Bu Ping.

Lin Jian felt slightly relieved, but he still did not understand why Chang Yixian and the other person had collapsed here. Lin Jian thought, "Perhaps they have fainted, or maybe they are just asleep. I should go over and take a look." He picked up a small knife for self-defense and cautiously approached Chang Yixian. Lin Jian did not pay attention to his feet and accidentally stepped on the torch that Chang Yixian had brought into the cave, producing a crisp sound of "crack." Lin Jian was startled and quickly swung the knife, but the two remained motionless as if they were unaware. Lin Jian had just relaxed when he suddenly became suspicious: "Could it be that they are pretending to be dead to lure me closer, making me let my guard down so they can subdue me?" As the saying goes, "A fall into a pit, a gain in wisdom." Lin Jian had been tricked by Chang Yixian once, so he was much more vigilant now. He quietly bent down to pick up a stone and used the technique "Falling Star from the Sky" to throw it at Chang Yixian's left leg, as he was reluctant to strike a vital point out of mercy. The stone whistled as it struck Chang Yixian's left leg, immediately opening a wound. Lin Jian was startled, unsure whether the stone was sharp or if he had thrown it too hard. He saw that the blood flowing from the wound on Chang Yixian's leg was surprisingly black.

The Unfair Daoist clearly possessed exceptional lightness skill. When Tie Qingzhu's claw reached for his shoulder, he did not evade. Tie Qingzhu bellowed, "Watch me crush you!" As his claw came down firmly, the Unfair Daoist let out a cold laugh and swiftly dodged. Being naturally short, he almost slipped under the table. Tie Qingzhu, tall and robust, seemed to have a natural advantage over someone as short as the Unfair Daoist. In a flash, the Unfair Daoist appeared in front of Lin Qiu, reaching out to grab him. Everyone thought he was about to engage Tie Qingzhu, but unexpectedly, he changed course mid-action to confront Lin Qiu. Lin Jian was taken aback and lunged forward, aiming to strike the Unfair Daoist. The Unfair Daoist was also surprised, not expecting a sudden attack from Lin Jian. However, being an experienced individual, he remained composed. He swiftly reached out to grab Lin Jian's wrist. In mid-air, Lin Jian could not change his move, and in a moment of desperation, he employed the technique of the Golden Shuttle Snake Hand. Instead of retreating, he advanced, retracting his hand as if it were a snake coiling around the Unfair Daoist's hand. The Unfair Daoist was taken aback again, not anticipating such a counter. He was agile, and when Lin Jian lightly tapped the Yu Fu acupoint on his chest, he immediately shrank back.

Lin Jian turned back to glance at the cave he had entered, sighed, and sat down in despair. He crawled to the edge of the pool and took a few sips of water. Feeling disheartened and bored, he picked up a book to read. As Lin Jian opened the book, he saw written on that page: "In the ninth year of Xian De, on the first month, the day of Jia Chen... The powerful minister Zhao Kuangyin plotted to rebel against the state, forcing Emperor Gong to abdicate..." That year, Jian Gongcheng happened to be passing through Kaifeng, coinciding with the historically renowned "Chen Qiao Mutiny." Knowing that the official's daughter lived in Kaifeng, Jian Gongcheng was worried for her safety and secretly entered the capital. At that time, Wang Yanxian was pursuing the loyal general Han Tong's family. Jian Gongcheng was filled with righteous indignation. Han Tong was a famous general of the Later Zhou, contributing greatly to the country and its people. He was not only skilled in warfare but also excelled in engineering projects, improving water conservancy and constructing roads and cities, thus greatly benefiting the common people. Although Jian Gongcheng despised the official families, he held great respect for Han Tong. Upon hearing that Wang Yanxian intended to wipe out the Han family, Jian Gongcheng rushed to the Han residence, wanting to rescue Han Tong's descendants first. Unexpectedly, he was stunned to discover that the beauty he had encountered on the outskirts was actually Han Tong's daughter. At that time, Wang Yanxian's troops had already arrived. Jian Gongcheng wielded his sword to protect the Han siblings, and under the cover of the loyal general of the Han family, he ultimately led them out of the encirclement. After escaping to the south, Jian Gongcheng learned that Han Miss's given name was not Xue, and her brother's single name was Chong.

Lin Jian arrived at the door of his home and found the fence gate wide open. He felt a surge of joy, thinking that Lin Qiu must be at home. Just as he was about to rush in, he heard a stern reprimand from an unfamiliar voice. Startled, he quickly halted his steps, sensing that something was amiss. From inside the house came a voice: "Old man, I will ask you once more, will you tell me the whereabouts of my young master or not!" Another voice replied, "Alas, how can I say anything that you would believe? I truly do not know the whereabouts of your young master." This voice belonged to Lin Qiu. Lin Jian felt a weight lift from his heart upon hearing Lin Qiu speak, knowing she was unharmed. He thought to himself, "Who dares to threaten my grandfather?" He quietly moved closer and crouched by the window to peek inside. He saw four people seated around a square table in the living room, while Lin Qiu sat to the side. Seeing that Lin Qiu was not being mistreated, Lin Jian's anger towards the four diminished by a third. He noticed that the person questioning Lin Qiu was extremely tall, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square face. The other three included a short Daoist priest sitting at the northern end, who, despite his stature, carried an air of arrogance as if he were the tallest person in the world. To the east was a seemingly honest man who remained silent. Closest to Lin Qiu was a man dressed as a steward, who appeared the most anxious among the four.

Lin Jian walked to the stone coffin, adjusted the coffin lid, picked up the two books, and thought: "m.hetushucom.com I must swim through the water to get out, and I cannot take these two books with me, so I will have to leave them here for now and come back to retrieve them when I return home and have the time in the future." Lin Jian neatly stacked the books on the coffin lid, then knelt before the stone coffin and respectfully bowed three times. He silently recited: "Senior Sword, you were a hero in your lifetime. Today, I am fortunate to learn your true teachings, which is indeed a great honor. This visit is fated, and in the future, I will fulfill your wishes by handing over the yellow paper to the descendants of the Chai family. Learning your true teachings makes me your disciple across lifetimes, and fulfilling the master's wishes is not an overstatement." After finishing his silent prayers, Lin Jian stood up and walked towards the pool. He took a deep breath, trying to circulate his true energy around him. With a leap, he plunged into the water with a splash. Having played in the creek since childhood, he was quite adept at swimming. Later, he learned internal skills, and his ability to hold his breath was no less than that of fishermen by the water. Lin Jian knew time was limited; he calculated how long he could hold his breath. If he could not reach the exit, he would need time to return to the cave to avoid drowning. Lin Jian then propelled himself to the bottom of the pool, where he noticed a glimmer of light behind the rocks. He swam towards that light. After navigating around the rocks, a four-foot-wide opening appeared before him, and the light was emanating from within the cave. Lin Jian exhaled a mouthful of stale air, pushed off the rocks with his feet, and propelled himself into the cave. He knew that even if the back of the cave was not an exit, there would surely be a place to breathe; otherwise, sunlight would not reach there.

Lin Jian was taken aback: "Could it be that they have been poisoned?" He hurriedly leaped over and saw that Chang Guo and the other person's faces were purple-black, clearly showing symptoms of poisoning. Lin Jian suddenly realized: "No wonder that strike caused Chang Yi's left leg to crack; it turns out that after being poisoned, the skin becomes loose and loses its elasticity." It is known that martial artists have skin that is harder than that of ordinary people, and once poisoned, it will become slack. Lin Jian pondered to himself: "How exactly did they get poisoned?" He turned back to look at Chang Guo and the other person, noticing that both their hands, feet, and faces bore scratches, evidently from hitting the sharp rocks on the wall when they entered the cave. Lin Jian suddenly understood: "No wonder that strike caused Chang Yi's left leg to crack; it turns out that after being poisoned, the skin becomes loose and loses its elasticity." It is known that martial artists have skin that is harder than that of ordinary people, and once poisoned, it will become slack. Lin Jian pondered to himself: "How exactly did they get poisoned?" He turned back to look at Chang Guo and the other person, noticing that both their hands, feet, and faces bore scratches, evidently from hitting the sharp rocks on the wall when they entered the cave. Guo Rufeng's complexion was darker than Chang Yi's, indicating a deeper level of poisoning. Lin Jian looked down and saw Guo Rufeng's injured leg, and he understood: "Guo Rufeng was already injured, which is why he was poisoned more quickly and severely." Lin Jian gazed at the bodies of the two, feeling an indescribable emotion. These two had gone to great lengths for the 'treasure' of the Sword Palace, using any means necessary, yet in the end, it was all just a fleeting dream, and they had foolishly lost their lives. Lin Jian sighed: "External fame and fortune are ultimately empty; why must one pay with their life? Life has no return; there is only one life, and if one does not cherish it, then dying is deserved."

Lin Jianxin said: "Grandfather is truly impressive; with just a few words, he has rendered Fang Zheng speechless." Lin Qiu sighed, and Lin Jian ran to Lin Qiu's side, smiling: "Grandfather, you are amazing. With just a few words, you made him leave." Lin Qiu gave a wry smile and said: "Jian'er, you still do not understand. If it weren't for the fact that two had already left, it would have been difficult to dismiss him." Lin Jian asked curiously: "But why? If you say it, wouldn't they still have to leave?" Lin Qiu replied: "This is different. Let me first tell you a principle of escorting goods in the martial world. In the martial world, it is not only important to smooth out relationships, but also to understand people. For instance, that Tie Qingzhu acts recklessly, is easily angered and coarse; explaining things to him is like playing the lute to a cow. Then there is that Unyielding Daoist, who is proud and arrogant, unwilling to listen to others; such people are the hardest to convince. Only Fang Zheng is relatively upright, but he is overly honest, and since he has already lost two companions, he naturally cannot stay for long, which is why he would believe what I said." With a sigh, he continued: "All this knowledge about observing people was taught to me by the former escort leader, Li."

Lin Jian was extremely dejected. In his despair, he could only return home with his head down. After practicing his martial arts at home, Lin Jian found himself with nothing to do and thought of fishing in a small pond behind the house. Previously, Lin Qiu had always worried about his safety due to his young age and had not allowed him to go, but now that Lin Jian was in his teens and had learned martial arts, Lin Qiu merely reminded him to "be careful." Lin Jian happily took his fishing gear to the pond. However, he was not the only one there; when Lin Jian arrived, an old man with white hair was already sitting by the pond fishing. Lin Jian quietly sat down beside him. As soon as he settled down, the old man spoke up: "Little boy, are you here to fish too?" Lin Jian was taken aback. He had noticed the old man was intently observing the movements of the fish and had intended not to disturb him, which was why he had sat down quietly. To his surprise, the old man was very perceptive and immediately noticed him. Lin Jian replied, "Indeed, is this pond yours?" The old man said, "Of course not, why do you ask?" Lin Jian responded, "If it is not yours, what business is it of yours if I want to fish?" The old man snorted and said, "You little boy have quite the audacity to speak to an old man like this." Lin Jian retorted, "Hmph! Are you not like my grandfather, thinking I am too young to fish by the pond?"

Seeing the situation was not favorable, the steward immediately stood up to dissuade them, repeatedly saying: "You two are esteemed guests invited by the master. If you come to blows and hurt each other's feelings, how will the master hold me accountable? Please consider my position and hold back!" The man with the surname Tie snorted and said: "Fine, today I will spare you, Mr. Fang, for the steward's sake. If such matters occur again in the future, do not blame me for being merciless!" He truly felt uncertain about being able to defeat this man, yet he did not soften his words. Fang Zheng smiled slightly and replied: "Yes, I will remember this well." He was indeed very honest; when others took a step back, he immediately retreated. To outsiders, this might seem cowardly, but little did they know that this was the high realm of being a person. Achieving the state of "not being impetuous, knowing when to yield, conducting oneself without showing off" is indeed not easy. Fang Zheng clearly had considerable insight into cultivating one's character. Achieving the state of "not being impetuous, knowing when to yield, conducting oneself without showing off" is indeed not easy. Fang Zheng clearly had considerable insight into cultivating one's character.

Jian Gongcheng rescued the two individuals and immediately became a wanted criminal, pursued by countless enemies along the way. During his escape, Jian Gongcheng had once instructed Han Chong in martial arts, sharing his insights which greatly benefited Han Chong. Relying on his superb martial skills, Jian Gongcheng managed to overcome numerous challenges, but after prolonged battles, he ultimately could not match his opponents. In the final battle at Tanzhou, Miss Han was injured by a poisoned arrow, and her brother Han Chong went missing, his fate unknown. In his grief and anger, Jian Gongcheng killed all thirty-one skilled pursuers. However, he could not bring Miss Han back to life. Before she passed away, Miss Han entrusted Jian Gongcheng with a piece of yellow paper, asking him to find her brother and deliver this paper to him. If her brother was unfortunately deceased, he should find an opportunity to give this paper to the descendants of the Chai family. Jian Gongcheng tearfully promised, and Miss Han peacefully died in his arms. Jian Gongcheng mourned and buried Miss Han, thereafter wandering the world in search of Han Chong. Yet, in the vast sea of people, and with Han Chong being a nationally wanted criminal, it was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. Jian Gongcheng searched in vain for five years, traveling to various places across the country. Eventually, he came to accept that Han Chong was no longer in this world and decided to head to the capital. At that time, Zhao Kuangyin had established the Song Dynasty, bestowing the title of King of Zheng upon the former Emperor Gong, Chai Zongxun, whose descendants would inherit the title, becoming nominal princes.

Lin Jian bowed respectfully in front of the stone coffin, silently reciting: "Senior Sword, I, Lin Jian, have no intention of disturbing you, please do not take offense." Lin Jian grasped the two corners of the coffin lid with both hands and exerted great effort to lift it. A cloud of white mist slowly emerged, causing Lin Jian to fear it might be toxic; he quickly held his breath, moved the lid aside, and retreated to the stone platform below. After the white mist dissipated, he approached to investigate. Inside the coffin lay a skeleton, quietly resting. The corpse was dressed in a set of clothing from the Zhou Dynasty, indicating that he was a person from that era. Lin Jian noticed that the skeleton's hands were placed on its chest, tightly gripping two worn books. Unable to resist, Lin Jian reached out to take the books. Although the bones of the corpse had long since scattered on the ground, the hands still firmly held onto the books. It took Lin Jian considerable effort to extract them. He placed the books on the coffin lid and picked up one titled "Dream Talks on History" to read. He saw that the first page read: "Jian Gong Cheng is not my true name; I have long forgotten my name. My master gave me the courtesy name Meng Tan. At the age of thirty, my swordsmanship reached great heights, hence I took the name Jian Gong Cheng, meaning mastery of sword skills." Upon reading this, Lin Jian could not help but exclaim: "What an arrogant tone this person has!" He pondered: "Since Jian Gong Cheng is not his real name and Meng Tan is his courtesy name, what then is his true name?"

Unyielding angrily exclaimed: "How dare you move against the Daoist Master!" Suddenly, his diminutive figure swiftly darted aside, gliding away like a wisp of smoke. Fang Zheng was astonished and said: "The Step of Absolute Dust and Light Smoke!" Lin Jian inquired: "What is the Step of Absolute Dust and Light Smoke?" Fang Zheng replied: "This technique of Absolute Dust and Light Smoke is the unique skill of Daoist Qingfeng, reputed to be an evasion move that no one in the martial world can escape from." Lin Jian asked: "What do you mean by that?" Fang Zheng explained: "What it means is that any move in the martial world can be evaded with this step in a single move. I did not expect Daoist Unyielding to also master this technique." While they were speaking, Tie Qingzhu and Unyielding had exchanged over a dozen moves, yet all were deftly evaded by Unyielding, no matter how Tie Qingzhu changed his attacks, he could not touch even a thread of Unyielding's clothing. As Unyielding dodged, he laughed proudly: "I did not expect the great hero Fang of the Dragon Sword to be so knowledgeable; you are absolutely correct. My Step of Absolute Dust and Light Smoke is unparalleled in the world! There is hardly anyone who can match it!" The more he spoke, the more pleased he became, until he burst into laughter. However, Tie Qingzhu grew increasingly furious, cursing loudly: "You little winter melon, if you have the guts, don’t run! You foul-mouthed old fool!" His last remark was directed at Fang Zheng. As Unyielding continued to evade, he laughed triumphantly: "I did not expect the great hero Fang of the Dragon Sword to be so knowledgeable; you are absolutely correct. My Step of Absolute Dust and Light Smoke is unparalleled in the world! There is hardly anyone who can match it!" The more he spoke, the more pleased he became, until he burst into laughter. However, Tie Qingzhu grew increasingly furious, cursing loudly: "You little winter melon, if you have the guts, don’t run! You foul-mouthed old fool!" His last remark was directed at Fang Zheng. Lin Jian looked on and couldn't help but believe it somewhat, but he detested Unyielding's arrogant demeanor and thought to assist Tie Qingzhu. Unyielding slipped his foot and calmly evaded another of Tie Qingzhu's attacks, not forgetting to engage in verbal sparring: "The Daoist Master is a person who has renounced worldly affairs; what does it matter whether one has guts or not?" Tie Qingzhu, infuriated, shouted loudly, his attacks becoming even more ferocious. Manager Guo wanted to mediate, but he had no martial skills and his words carried no weight, so how could he possibly mediate?

Tie Qingzhu and Fang Zheng saw him bullying a young man, and they were filled with righteous indignation. However, considering that they had come to search for the young master, they felt it inappropriate to intervene. The steward also said, "Lin Gongzi, Lin Laohan, please show some mercy. Guo Gongzi is the only lifeline of our master; just tell us where he is, and we will reward you handsomely!" He only thought that Lin Qiu was greedy for money and wanted to sway him with this. Lin Jian thought to himself, "Unfortunately, your Guo family will be cut off from descendants from now on." He kept this thought to himself and did not voice it. Lin Jian had not yet thought of how to respond when Lin Qiu spoke up, "Did your Guo Gongzi go out alone?" The steward replied, "Yes, our young master left a letter at home the day he went out, saying he had something to attend to and that the master need not worry. Our young master usually does not go far, and now he has not mentioned where he is going, so how can we not be concerned? Originally, the master was busy with affairs and did not pay much attention, only asking us servants to search nearby. But after half a month, there is still no news, and the master has begun to worry. He has matters that make it difficult for him to spare time, so he entrusted a few of his close friends to help search for him." As he spoke, he pointed to Tie Qingzhu, saying, "This is the renowned hero of the martial world, the Iron Pillar who supports the heavens!" He then introduced the righteous man, saying, "This Daoist is the beloved disciple of the Qingfeng Daoist of Laoshan, known in the martial world as 'The Twin Swallows Flying Beneath the Willows,' famous for his dual sword techniques and lightness skills. And this honest-looking gentleman is known in the martial world as 'The Dragon Wandering in the Clouds,' the great hero Fang Zheng!"

Unhappy, he coldly snorted and said, "Being with such a person truly tarnishes the reputation of the Daoist Master!" He even left with a flick of his sleeve, without saying a word. The steward was left dumbfounded, unable to stop him, only able to lament bitterly. He could not help but turn his gaze to Fang Zheng, who said, "To accept a person's trust is to be loyal to their affairs. Since I, Fang, have promised my elder brother to help find Young Master Guo, I will not abandon it halfway." The steward was overjoyed and said, "Thank you so much, Hero Fang! I truly do not know how to express my gratitude!" Fang Zheng waved his hand and shook his head, saying, "Steward Guo, you are being too polite. This is something I ought to do." Although Lin Jian felt it was a pity that Fang Zheng did not leave like Tie Qingzhu, he also thought that what he said made a lot of sense. Fang Zheng turned back and said, "Since the matter has passed and the person has left, I hope the old man can tell us the whereabouts of Young Master Guo; we would be immensely grateful." It seems he still believed that Lin Qiu was concealing Young Master Guo's whereabouts.

Lin Jian was astonished and suddenly recalled the Golden Shuttle Snake manual. He reached into his bosom, only to realize that the manual was not there. It dawned on him that he had left the manual at home when he set out. He had already memorized the contents of the manual, so there was no need to carry it with him. Lin Jian thought, "I will look at it again when I return home." He even forgot that he could not go back. As Lin Jian examined the sword manual, he noticed a line of small characters written on the page: "Avoid the enemy's strength, attack the enemy's weakness, strike without fail, and respond at will." Lin Jian thought, "I will look at it again when I return home." He even forgot that he could not go back. As Lin Jian examined the sword manual, he noticed a line of small characters written on the page: "Avoid the enemy's strength, attack the enemy's weakness, strike without fail, and respond at will." What was discussed in the Sword Palace was indeed the supreme treasure of martial arts. If one could practice to this level, they would be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the masters of the martial world. Lin Jian had not yet entered the hall of mastery, so he could not fully comprehend the principles within. He turned the page and saw a drawing of a man, whose hand gestures were peculiar, twisting left and right, with an unclear path ahead. Lin Jian turned a few more pages and suddenly understood a principle, thinking to himself: "So that's how it is! This sword technique is strange in its execution, always making it impossible for others to predict. When the enemy reveals their strengths and weaknesses, one can take advantage of the opening and attack when they are unprepared." Having grasped this layer of understanding, he turned another page and saw a drawing of a man, whose hand gestures were peculiar, twisting left and right, with an unclear path ahead. Lin Jian turned a few more pages and suddenly understood a principle, thinking to himself: "So that's how it is! This sword technique is strange in its execution, always making it impossible for others to predict. When the enemy reveals their strengths and weaknesses, one can take advantage of the opening and attack when they are unprepared." With this understanding, he was greatly delighted, and without realizing it, he had forgotten his hunger and the predicament he was in, completely absorbed in this sword technique.

Lin Jian came to his senses, gently placing the painting aside, and resumed reading the book, which stated: "That year, when I had just mastered my swordsmanship, I was filled with arrogance. I had defeated many renowned masters." "It was spring, and I was traveling in the outskirts of Kaifeng, when I happened upon a carriage..." As Lin Jian followed the text, the scene of Jian Gongcheng's encounter with the subject of the painting nearly a century ago gradually emerged: during the vernal equinox, it was indeed a perfect time for an outing in the countryside. A procession of carriages adorned with splendid decorations was making its way along the road outside Kaifeng, clearly belonging to noble families. Following behind was a man on a white horse, who exuded a striking presence and an air of arrogance. Trailing behind him, however, was a group of people, not noble travelers, but a band of thieves, whose target was not the man himself, but the luxurious carriage leading the procession. The man was Jian Gongcheng, who had made his debut at the age of thirty under this name, while his true name remained unknown to all, even to himself, as he claimed to have long forgotten it. Trailing behind him, however, was a group of people, not noble travelers, but a band of thieves, whose target was not the man himself, but the luxurious carriage leading the procession. The man was Jian Gongcheng, who had made his debut at the age of thirty under this name, while his true name remained unknown to all, even to himself, as he claimed to have long forgotten it

Suddenly, with a "poof," the fishing line twitched, and Lin Jian was overjoyed, exclaiming, "The fish is hooked!" The old man seized the moment perfectly; with a flick of his fishing rod, a golden carp leaped out of the water, shimmering in the sunlight, an indescribable beauty. Lin Jian was mesmerized as the old man caught the golden fish, finally revealing a smile on his face. Lin Jian was astonished when he saw the old man remove the fish hook; it turned out to be a sewing needle! Lin Jian was dumbfounded, and it was no wonder the old man had sat for one or two hours without catching a single fish. Lin Jian, in a daze, stammered, "Grandpa, you, you are truly amazing. In ancient times, Jiang Taigong fished but caught nothing, ultimately only reeling in Zhou Wenwang, yet you, Grandpa, have actually caught a fish!" The old man, hearing Lin Jian compare him to Jiang Ziya, couldn't help but show a proud expression, feeling a bit of joy in his heart, and said, "What is so difficult about this? If I am happy, I could stay underwater for a year and a half." He indeed had the ability to hold his breath and dive, but such a claim was inevitably exaggerated. Lin Jian, having seen his remarkable skills, felt a sense of awe, but upon hearing this, he couldn't help but find it boastful. He said, "Your skill in fishing with a sewing needle is indeed impressive, but I do not believe you can stay underwater for a year and a half." The old man realized he had been overly proud and had spoken too grandly, but once the words were out, they were hard to take back. He could only brace himself and say, "I never lie; if you don't believe me, I can show you."

Jian Gongcheng intended to go to the capital to deliver the yellow paper to the descendants of the Chai family. However, he encountered five notorious demons in Jiangling, who were there to seize the yellow paper. After a fierce battle, Jian Gongcheng defeated the five, but he himself became disabled in both legs. Jian Gongcheng was uneasy about entrusting the yellow paper to someone else to fulfill his promise, especially since he had no close friends in his life. With his legs disabled, it was a challenge not only to enter the heavily guarded royal palace but even to reach the capital. After a fierce battle, Jian Gongcheng defeated the five, but he himself became disabled in both legs. Jian Gongcheng was uneasy about entrusting the yellow paper to someone else to fulfill his promise, especially since he had no close friends in his life. With his legs disabled, it was a challenge not only to enter the heavily guarded royal palace but even to reach the capital. Moreover, he had killed countless people in his life, and had many enemies in both the underworld and the righteous path. If he ventured out, he feared he would become a ghost before even leaving Jiangling. In his helplessness, Jian Gongcheng could only hide in Jiangling, and the yellow paper became a regret for him in this life. Lin Jian understood at this point that the regret Jian Gongcheng referred to was not about being unable to be with Miss Han, nor was it about her death, but rather this promise that troubled him throughout his life. In his helplessness, Jian Gongcheng could only hide in Jiangling, and the yellow paper became a regret for him in this life. Lin Jian understood at this point that the regret Jian Gongcheng referred to was not about being unable to be with Miss Han, nor was it about her death, but rather this promise that troubled him throughout his life. This promise was his commitment of love to Miss Han, a promise he could never fulfill. Lin Jian read with great interest; these events were Jian Gongcheng's personal experiences, not recorded in the Song History. The matters Jian Gongcheng wrote about could not be found in the Song History. Lin Jian thought: "The history taught by the teacher differs somewhat from what Jian Gongcheng wrote. The Song History states that the Han family was executed on the spot, and later the founding emperor posthumously honored them as Zhongshu Ling. Lin Jian read with great interest; these events were Jian Gongcheng's personal experiences, not recorded in the Song History. The matters Jian Gongcheng wrote about could not be found in the Song History. Lin Jian thought: "The history taught by the teacher differs somewhat from what Jian Gongcheng wrote. The Song History states that the Han family was executed on the spot, and later the founding emperor posthumously honored them as Zhongshu Ling. In fact, Jian Gongcheng saved two members of the Han family, but Miss Han had died from a poisoned arrow, and Han Chong was also missing. Jian Gongcheng had confirmed his death, which seems to align with what the Song History said, but it merely concealed a part of the historical events.

After Jian Gongcheng traveled the rivers and lakes, he carved out his own territory in the martial world. He was renowned for his swordsmanship, typically defeating his opponents in no more than nine moves, which earned him the illustrious nickname "Nine Slashes of the Divine Demon" among the heroes of the Jianghu. Lin Jian, upon reading this, couldn't help but sigh. He thought to himself: "Jian Gongcheng fell in love at first sight with this official's daughter, harboring deep affection. Yet, this is ultimately like flowing water and falling flowers, a regret in Jian Gongcheng's life, and perhaps this is it." Lin Jian set down the book, and his stomach growled, realizing he had not eaten all day and was completely empty inside. He thought again: "Jian Gongcheng fell in love at first sight with this official's daughter, harboring deep affection. Yet, this is ultimately like flowing water and falling flowers, a regret in Jian Gongcheng's life, and perhaps this is it." Lin Jian set down the book, and his stomach growled, realizing he had not eaten all day and was completely empty inside. Feeling hungry, Lin Jian thought of his grandfather and said to himself: "I have not returned home for a long time, nor have I mentioned it to my grandfather. If he returns home and finds me missing, he must be extremely anxious, searching everywhere. My grandfather is old and frail; if anything were to happen to him, I would bear a heavy responsibility." The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became. He abandoned the book and began searching for a way out. Lin Jian searched the cave thoroughly, and aside from a few small openings resembling skylights, there were no other exits.

Only to see several small holes in the ceiling of this cave facing south, strangely, sunlight was shining through them. On the stone platform facing south, there lay a stone coffin. In front of the coffin stood a sword, its hilt already covered in rust, while the tip seemed to have been severed as if by a sharp weapon, missing a piece. However, the blade still appeared as if it had just been forged, its old edge as sharp as new, glinting coldly in the sunlight. Lin Jian thought to himself: "This sword must be quite old, given its dilapidated state." Little did he know that this sword had a significant history, known to all in the martial world. Lin Jian gently approached, lowered his head to gaze at the sword, and suddenly reached out to grasp it. He pulled with all his might, yet the sword did not budge an inch. Lin Jian was taken aback, thinking he had not exerted enough force. This time, he summoned all his strength to pull upward, but the sword remained unmoved. Lin Jian gasped in surprise; the person who had inserted the sword must possess profound skill! Lin Jian examined the sword closely, and to his astonishment, he noticed inscriptions shimmering on the blade in the sunlight. Adjusting the angle to catch the light, he saw the words "Fei Xue" engraved on it. Lin Jian pondered: "This Fei Xue must be the name of the sword, but why such a delicate name? Only the sword master Cheng himself would know the reason." Lin Jian then turned to approach the stone coffin, his curiosity piqued, eager to see this extraordinary person who had once laughed at the world and stood apart from the crowd. As Lin Jian reached the front of the coffin, he noticed a line of small characters engraved on it: "Those who come are fated to meet, let us meet in the hall." Lin Jian was taken aback, a chill running through him. He thought: "Well, since he wishes to meet me, should I fear this ancient man who has long since turned to bones?"

Jian Gongcheng traveled through the rivers and lakes, fully aware of the intentions of that group of thieves. This matter had nothing to do with him; firstly, he was unwilling to meddle in such affairs, and secondly, he had always held a strong disdain for officials and nobles. Thus, he decided to part ways at the next intersection. However, perhaps it was a karmic connection from a past life, or a jest from the deity of love. At the impending fork in the road, he heard a burst of laughter and caught sight of a delicate hand, a flawless jade-like hand that resembled a tender green shoot. Jian Gongcheng had spent thirty years in seclusion with his mentor, until the latter passed away, before he finally stepped into the world. He had never experienced the joys of love or tasted the sweetness of romantic affection; at that moment, the electric sensation was an unprecedented phenomenon for him. Unconsciously, Jian Gongcheng followed the cart toward the next intersection. The group of thieves had planned to make their move that night, but their plans were delayed due to the presence of this man, as they recognized him to be a capable individual. Just from the focused and restrained gaze, they could tell he was a top-tier expert.

Lin Qiudao: "Master Fang is indeed a person of reason. You do not know the origin of this Young Master Guo, so how can you determine that he has come alone? Since he is not alone, there must be someone accompanying him, and among them, there are certainly those who know this place. If there are those who know this place, why must they come to ask me, a mere farmer? You mentioned that Young Master Guo usually does not travel far. This time, he has come all the way from Henan to Jiangling, which must be for a purpose. With such a purpose, he would naturally be well-prepared and would not come to this unfamiliar place to ask for directions, would he?" This line of reasoning was coherent and logical, leaving Fang Zheng at a loss for words, and he could only say, "I did not expect that the old gentleman is indeed a hidden master." Lin Qiu smiled and said, "Master Fang, you flatter me. I was merely a bodyguard in my youth, mingling in the world for a few years, and I understand some matters of the martial world. You mentioned that Young Master Guo usually does not travel far. This time, he has come all the way from Henan to Jiangling, which must be for a purpose. With such a purpose, he would naturally be well-prepared and would not come to this unfamiliar place to ask for directions, would he?" This line of reasoning was coherent and logical, leaving Fang Zheng at a loss for words, and he could only say, "I did not expect that the old gentleman is indeed a hidden master." Lin Qiu smiled and said, "Master Fang, you flatter me. I was merely a bodyguard in my youth, mingling in the world for a few years, and I understand some matters of the martial world. I am certainly not a hidden master; saying so would only invite laughter." After all, he had been a bodyguard, and his words carried the weight of experience from the martial world, making it hard for others not to believe him. Fang Zheng clasped his hands and said, "I apologize for disturbing you, old gentleman. We shall take our leave now." Lin Qiu also clasped his hands and said, "No need to see me off." Lin Jian watched as Fang Zheng and the others hurriedly left.

The entrance of the cave was only about 2 feet wide and no more than 2 feet high. As Lin Jian crawled into the cave, he felt a gust of cold wind brush against his face, sending a chill straight to his heart. Inside, the cave was somewhat spacious, with a height of about 3 feet. Lin Jian only needed to bend down to walk, yet he was unaware that this slight movement had saved his life. The cave seemed to stretch endlessly, with rough walls and a ceiling that was both convex and concave. No matter how one looked at it, it appeared to be a natural cave, unhewn and rounded, rather than a tomb. Lin Jian felt a sense of doubt in his heart, but he still raised his torch high and continued forward. After walking for about the time it takes to eat a meal, he still did not see Chang Yi Xian, let alone the end of the cave. The cave was winding and difficult to navigate, with steep cliffs and sharp rocks all around; a moment's inattention could lead to a head injury. Fortunately, Lin Jian was still small in stature, so he did not touch the hard stones of the cave walls. The deeper he went into the cave, the heavier the foul air became. Initially, the air was bearable, but as he ventured further, the stench grew stronger, and he began to feel a bit dizzy. Lin Jian forced himself to circulate his energy to stay alert, knowing that if he collapsed here, he would never wake up again.

Everyone was taken aback by the injustice they witnessed. Lin Qiu was even more surprised and exclaimed, "Jian'er!" The Unjust Daoist, filled with rage, shouted, "You little brat, who do you think you are to be so disrespectful to me!" In his fury, he did not hear Lin Qiu's words. Only Tie Qingzhu, watching from the side, found it amusing. He laughed heartily and said, "Little brother, what impressive skills!" He walked over and patted Lin Jian on the shoulder as a sign of approval. Seeing that Tie Qingzhu meant no harm, Lin Jian did not resist. Tie Qingzhu, noticing Lin Jian's trust, became even more pleased, laughing heartily and giving a thumbs up, saying, "Good brother! I didn't expect you to have such great martial arts and such boldness!" He had previously called Lin Jian "little brother," but now referred to him directly as "good brother." Lin Jian thought to himself, "Although this person has a fiery temper, he is quite straightforward." He smiled slightly and said, "Since you mean no harm, why should I guard against you?" Tie Qingzhu laughed even louder and said, "Good! I have always liked straightforward people like you! What I dislike the most are those who are overly fussy!" As he spoke, he shot a sidelong glance at Fang Zheng. Lin Jian secretly found it amusing, thinking, "This Tie fellow still hasn't let go of Fang Zheng at this point." However, Fang Zheng seemed oblivious and did not respond.

Lin Jian was reading this sword manual with an insatiable thirst, as if he could gain something more fulfilling than food from it. He turned each page, which depicted illustrations accompanied by annotations and some tips. Having learned the Golden Shuttle Snake Hand technique, Lin Jian already had some foundation, making it not difficult to learn this sword technique. After reading for most of the day, although his body was utterly exhausted, his spirit was better than usual. He took a moment to rest, leaning against the stone coffin, his eyes gazing at the water pool. Lin Jian read for most of the day, and although his body was utterly exhausted, his spirit was better than usual. He took a moment to rest, leaning against the stone coffin, his eyes gazing at the water pool. Suddenly, he heard a 'thud,' and Lin Jian saw a fish surface for a moment. He could hardly believe it and rubbed his eyes vigorously. Upon focusing again, he indeed saw a fish swimming leisurely in the pool. Lin Jian was pleasantly surprised, thinking, "At least with fish in this pool, I won't starve; the senior Sword Master really chose a good place!" Lin Jian unfastened his belt, tore it in half, and then tied the two pieces together to make a long rope. He then tied his small knife to the belt, held it in one hand, while the other hand firmly grasped the other end of the belt. Lin Jian was pleasantly surprised, thinking, "At least with fish in this pool, I won't starve; the senior Sword Master really chose a good place!" Lin Jian unfastened his belt, tore it in half, and then tied the two pieces together to make a long rope. He then tied his small knife to the belt, held it in one hand, while the other hand firmly grasped the other end of the belt. Lin Jian swallowed hard, quietly moving closer. However, the water pool was crystal clear, and the fish were extremely sensitive. Upon seeing a human approach, they immediately swam to the bottom of the pool, hiding among the rocks. Lin Jian was not discouraged; as long as he held onto hope, he would not let go. While the fish had not yet emerged, Lin Jian quietly hid behind a rock on the shore, peeking out from the side to observe the fish's movements. Lin Jian was not discouraged; as long as he held onto hope, he would not let go. While the fish had not yet emerged, Lin Jian quietly hid behind a rock on the shore, peeking out from the side to observe the fish's movements. He knew that as long as he stayed behind the fish, it would not see him.

Unhappy to find himself excluded, he could not help but feel even more enraged. He leaped in front of Lin Jian and shouted, "Are you deaf, you little brat? Did you not hear what the Daoist said?" He was quite short, and standing in front of Lin Jian, their heights were nearly the same. Seeing his short stature, Lin Jian felt more confident. He raised his head and said, "On what grounds do you harm my grandfather?" Not only did he not respond to the words of the unhappy one, but he also questioned him in return. The unhappy one was taken aback and asked, "Your grandfather?" Pointing at Lin Qiu, he truly could not believe that a mere farmer like Lin Qiu could raise a grandson with such excellent martial skills. Lin Jian replied, "Indeed, my grandfather has not provoked you; why do you trouble him?" Fang Zheng, who had been silently watching from the side, spoke up at this moment, saying, "Little brother, we are not troubling your grandfather; we only want him to reveal the whereabouts of the young master. Just now, Brother Tie was overly excited. If you have any grievances, I, Fang, apologize on behalf of Brother Tie." After saying this, he genuinely bowed deeply. Although this man was honest, he spoke politely and with dignity, and he kept his word, which was commendable for someone in the martial world. Seeing him bow, Lin Jian felt embarrassed and hurriedly returned the gesture. Tie Qingzhu angrily said, "What business is it of yours, you honest fellow!" Yet, he could not help but feel grateful for his good intentions.

Lin Jian was about to return to the giant cave when a gust of wind suddenly blew in. While it was not unusual for wind to blow inside a cave, Lin Jian was filled with immense joy because the wind was blowing directly at him! This indicated that there was another cave hidden in the darkness opposite him. His heart was filled with both fear and joy, making it difficult to express his feelings at that moment. Lin Jian thought, "I will first go out and find a source of fire to explore this cave thoroughly." He stepped out of the cave entrance, took off his belt, re-tied the broken torch, and then took out the fire tinder and flint to ignite it. Lin Jian murmured to himself, "This should last for about a tea's worth of time; the outcome hinges on this one move." He then entered the cave, and by the light of the fire, he indeed saw a hole about one and a half feet wide in the cave wall. Lin Jian felt a secret joy; although the hole was small, with his skills in the Golden Shuttle Snake technique, it would be easy for him to squeeze through. He took a deep breath and, like a snake, slipped inside. Inside the hole was another winding tunnel, but this tunnel gradually extended downward. The further Lin Jian walked, the more delighted he became, thinking, "This tunnel extends downward; perhaps it will lead me to the cave below that has water." After about a tea's worth of time, the torch began to dim, yet the tunnel still showed no signs of an end. Lin Jian's heart involuntarily tightened; if he lost his light source here, he would be unable to return no matter what.

Lin Jian turned and walked towards the center of the cave, thinking to himself: "Since there is a break in the cave's ceiling, why not go out that way?" However, when he looked up, he saw that the ceiling was at least five zhang high, and he could not possibly leap up there. Lin Jian sighed inwardly: "It seems I can only plan for the long term." He understood that without a source of fire, it would be nearly impossible to return as before. The cave path was winding and twisted, with sharp rock edges inside. He did not know if Chang Yixian and the others had been poisoned, but once he knew, he would no longer dare to take risks. Lin Jian sighed inwardly: "It seems I can only plan for the long term." He understood that without a source of fire, it would be nearly impossible to return as before. The cave path was winding and twisted, with sharp rock edges inside. He did not know if Chang Yixian and the others had been poisoned, but once he knew, he would no longer dare to take risks. If he were to suffer a head injury and bleed, he would ultimately meet the same fate as Chang Yixian and the others. He had just accidentally crushed the torch that Chang Yixian had brought, and there was nothing in this bare cave. Without a torch, he could not go out. Lin Jian felt increasingly distressed, thinking that he would not even get to see his grandfather before he died. The more he thought about it, the sadder he became, and he collapsed to the ground, crying.