Chapter 4, A Convergence of Winds and Clouds

Ding Kui had been holding back for a long time, and at this moment, he could no longer contain himself, laughing heartily: "Mu Xizi, Lord Huo is asking you a question, are you colluding with the Northern Dynasty's watchdogs to frame him? Or did you just pick up a fool from the roadside and come here to spout nonsense?"

At this moment, someone below could not contain themselves and asked: "Lord Huo, what is the purpose of the lord's token from your family?"

Ding Kui's face stiffened; he wanted to argue with Mu Xiao Qiao, but then he remembered that he could not defeat this half-man, half-woman monster. He had no choice but to remain silent, carefully protecting his remaining fourteen teeth.

There are too many secrets hidden within these two sentences, Lady Nichang is the "witness", and Zhou Fei has vaguely speculated about it, but could it be that Mu Xiao Qiao is also one?

The leading girl covered her mouth, turned back, and smiled gently at him. Finding him handsome, she couldn't help but glance at him a few more times. However, despite her glances, she remained silent—these women, after their two inquiries at the door, seemed to have turned into a group of mute individuals. No matter how others pressed them, they only smiled without speaking. That smile seemed to have grown on their faces; after a while, Zhou Fei actually felt that they resembled something other than living beings, which was rather unsettling.

Mu Xiaoqiao did not respond; he fixed his gaze on Huo Liantao without flinching or avoiding it. He suddenly uttered a word that seemed out of place: "drowning sorrows"

The Living and Dead Mountain is a den of evil, where various bizarre cults are rumored to exist among the followers, including those who worship earthworms, yellow croakers, and climbing tigers. All sorts of demons and monsters display their powers, and in terms of combat strength, they are indeed quite intimidating. The Azure Dragon Sect has a formidable array known as the Overwhelming Tide Formation, while the members of the Black Tortoise Sect engage in highway robbery along the way, demonstrating considerable strength. The White Tiger Lord commands his own faction, yet Mu Xiao Qiao lives quite freely, with subordinates who are casually summoned, as if it were all just a game.

She suddenly turned her head and looked at Xie Yun: "Why is Mr. Bai here? Could it be that your cousin also..."

Zhou Fei achieved her goal of using Yang Jin to capture Xie Yun, and thus she no longer bothered to maintain the pretense. She straightforwardly informed him: "Because it sounds quite similar to the tricks I devised."

Li Sheng found it quite intolerable and bluntly changed the subject, saying: "I see that Ding Kui comes with great confidence, but why is that?"

Li Shengdao: "How can we make them stop? Goodness, isn't it chaotic enough already? Young Master Ying, you should say a little less too!"

Brother Yin, Brother Li, and Old Huo... these people are all gone, and now only the bull's nose of Chongyun remains, not knowing which corner it has hidden in. Lady Nishang said, "I, as a witness, have not received a single word of the last wishes. Mu Xiaoqiao, what about you?"

Xie Yun's eyes were curved, and her complexion was pale from the cold, yet looking at his expression, it was as if he was basking in the spring sunshine of Jiangnan, radiating a genuine joy from the depths of his heart. He casually remarked: "It was an accident"

As soon as the words fell, Li Yan had already struck like lightning, using a small wooden stick to slash at the snake's body. The snake was fierce; upon seeing the wooden stick coming at it, it turned its head to bite. In that instant of turning, Li Yan seized the opportunity to firmly grip the snake's vital point. "Haha," she exclaimed, lifting it up triumphantly and said, "I caught it!"

Zhou Fei was originally just watching the excitement, eating peanuts until she felt thirsty. While holding a bowl of tea in one hand and slowly sipping it, she couldn't help but let out a "pfft" and sprayed it out, coughing as if she were dying. This Lord Huo actually shared a similar sentiment with her "heroic embellishment." Although his elaborate and generous rhetoric sounded far more sophisticated than her casual nonsense to Yang Jin, the core content was still quite similar!

The veins on Li Sheng's temples bulged up.

He spoke, while another person unfurled a large banner, on which the enormous ripples suddenly spread out over the waterside pavilion, coldly gazing down upon all living beings

At that moment, Mu Xiao Qiao suddenly curled her lips into a strange cold smile. Huo Lian Tao shouted loudly, desperately throwing Mu Xiao Qiao, who was clinging to his leg, to the ground. He then swiftly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the claws that reached for his chest. Mu Xiao Qiao's nails were like sharp blades; when Huo Lian Tao flung her away, she left three claw marks on his chest, tearing through his outer garment to his inner clothing, drawing blood at that moment. She lightly tapped her feet, walking gracefully, swaying as she turned and maneuvered a few times in place, causing an immediate uproar in the water pavilion—Mu Xiao Qiao pushed one person blocking her into the lake with a single palm. Her nails were like sharp blades; when Huo Lian Tao flung her away, she left three claw marks on his chest, tearing through his outer garment to his inner clothing, drawing blood at that moment. She lightly tapped her feet, walking gracefully, swaying as she turned and maneuvered a few times in place, causing an immediate uproar in the water pavilion—Mu Xiao Qiao pushed one person blocking her into the lake, reaching out to grab the man who had been trying to hide to the side. If anyone remained clear-headed amidst such chaos, they would realize that the person Mu Xiao Qiao had grabbed was the very one who had just said he was "full and bored."

Where should the poison doctor go from here

Zhou Fei was taken aback

Li Yan said: "Ah, I have never seen such a red snake before!"

Moreover, there is General Wu, Chuchu's father. He is not a person of the rivers and lakes, but rather an insider trapped in the enemy camp, already walking on thin ice. It is impossible for him to get involved with these sects of the rivers and lakes. " Zhou Fei glanced at the lively waterside pavilion and continued, " It is quite strange. Up until now, does no one really know what 'Haitian Yise' is?

The young ladies entered and first asked: "May I inquire if this hero has a letter of introduction?"

Xie Yun : `` ... ... ''

Huo is devoid of talent and virtue, lacking both literary and martial accomplishments, possessing only a small inheritance passed down from ancestors. Now, with dark clouds looming over the city, how can I not destroy my family to alleviate the difficulties? Today, gathering all of you heroes here is to encourage you to set aside sectarian differences and unite as one. If a true hero emerges to lead the current martial world, my Huo family is willing to follow to the end and will present our family treasures!

Xie Yun almost spat out his drink in one breath, finally forced to utter a serious remark. He said with difficulty: "No... I... don't know."

The little snake "Hongyu" must have been frightened out of its wits. Upon returning to its owner's embrace, it immediately burrowed back into the basket behind Ying Hecong without looking back, not even daring to show the tip of its tail. Only then did Ying Hecong leisurely explain: "Though it is said to be poisonous, it is not entirely so. If this substance is soaked in water for a while and then ingested by a person, it will induce a state of mild intoxication, allowing one to avoid the unpleasantness of being drunk and the associated odor. In the past, high-ranking officials and nobles often used it to enhance their revelry, earning it the name 'Drowning Sorrows.' However, if a large amount is added to strong liquor and consumed, it can lead to symptoms akin to a stroke, which even the renowned doctors of the Great Medicine Valley could not diagnose back in the day. Prolonged consumption can result in madness."

Xie Yunteng freed one hand, awkwardly shifted his sitting position to the side, and patted her on the back, saying: "At your age, you can choke yourself just by drinking water, sigh, you really are something."

He became honest, but Zhou Fei felt somewhat unaccustomed, always thinking that he still had some tricks up his sleeve. Upon hearing this thought, Xie Yun, in order to meet her expectations, carved a vividly lifelike moth out of a small wooden block the next day and even flamboyantly engraved the character "幺" on its wings

At that moment, a sudden uproar arose from the crowd as if they were facing a formidable enemy

Huo Liantao couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart; he had always found it difficult to see through Mu Xiao Qiao. Whether it was her martial arts, temperament, or that wild spirit, the Lord of the Vermilion Bird was certainly not the type to submit to anyone or be manipulated by anyone. Mu Xiao Qiao was not the leader of the "Four Saints" of the Living and Dead Mountain, yet she was undoubtedly the one with the highest martial arts skills. Not to mention a mere Huo Liantao, even the former leader of the Huo Fortress, who was renowned for his leg techniques, would likely be on par with her.

Zhou Fei heard a noise, glanced at him indifferently, then lowered her head to blow away the crumbs on her hands and continued with her own tasks

After a while, he finally opened his eyes with great effort, looked around, and saw that the sun had begun to set. The slanting rays of the evening sun no longer penetrated into the room. A slender figure was sitting by the window, holding an oddly proportioned knife and peeling something.

What should we say: "If the lord of the Huo Fortress is truly so generous as to allow everyone in, why must we first inquire whether we have an invitation? Are you planning to send us to different places to take our seats, so that in case anything happens, you can capture us all at once?"

The reason why the Huo family fortress was able to stand firm for so long was largely due to the connections of the former lord. Huo Liantao was well aware of this and naturally did not wish to tarnish his reputation by treating his elder brother harshly, even though the former lord no longer recognized him. He specifically established a quiet and beautiful courtyard for the former lord to reside in, assigning servants to carefully attend to the former lord's daily needs. He himself also made it a point to visit daily, regardless of how busy he was, morning and evening.

Zhou Fei hushed her with a soft sound, cautiously glancing around.

In an instant, three or four swords simultaneously attacked Ying Hecong. Ying Hecong, unsure whether it was due to a lack of skill or a reluctance to engage, kept retreating without parrying the blows, and in the blink of an eye, had already retreated to the side of Zhou Fei.

Li Yan originally thought she would witness a few incidents at the entrance, but to her surprise, it was so peaceful. As she followed the guide woman inside, she couldn't help but lean closer to Zhou Fei's ear and whisper, "Isn't it the case that anyone can enter, so why ask anything at all?"

Zhou Fei thought in a daze: So he came to Yongzhou for this. It turns out he really gave up on pursuing the matter of the sea and sky being one, whether it was for his own life or for the wishes of his ancestors

She comes from a distinguished family and naturally understands what the outcome would be for someone with such profound internal strength who exhausts their entire life’s cultivation—either they would directly lose their martial arts abilities, perhaps managing to survive for a while, or if they were to use some method to pass on their skills, the only inevitable result would be to burn out completely. This is tantamount to exchanging one life for another.

Mr. Bai respectfully inquired, "May I ask, madam, who are the parties involved in the agreement? And what has been agreed upon?"

Li Sheng regretted deeply at that moment, thinking to himself: Why did I have to ask that question?

Fortunately, he was not the most cowardly one—upon seeing the snake, Yang Jin's expression changed dramatically, and he retreated three or four steps as if facing a formidable enemy, drawing the Broken Goose Blade to hold it in front of him. Even Zhou Fei had never received such a serious attitude towards an opponent in her time.

The rapid changes in the form within the venue are simply breathtaking

Xie Yun interjected with a smile: "Of course not, the formations in this Stone Forest are quite intricate. Once you enter here, you can only follow the arrangements made by others. You might as well ask this young lady who is leading the way; those with invitations and those without, the places they are assigned to are surely not the same, right?"

When Beidou launched a surprise attack on Yueyang, Mu Xiao Qiao went missing. It was said that she had died at the hands of Shen Tianshu, but now she suddenly reappears, and it is evident that her intentions are not friendly.

However, this significant figure, who could ward off evil simply by being present, has surprisingly guarded the Huo family fortress for so many years without any complaints

Xie Yun was immediately overjoyed, as if he had obtained a great treasure, and he sincerely closed the door to study it attentively

Li Sheng thought for a moment and waved his hand, saying: "Let us not mention the harmonious blend of sea and sky for now; I always have a sense of foreboding."

The younger generation generally only hears legends, so when they hear that Huo Liantao can actually provide specific numbers, they find it very credible

When the head of the Huo family fled from Yueyang, he callously abandoned the elderly, the weak, the sick, and those who were not capable of performing tasks. Now, those who follow him are all the capable individuals from the Huo family fortress of that year. He established a large estate outside the city that can accommodate over ten thousand people. The household servants move about in an orderly fashion, and although there are numerous guests and uninvited visitors, everything is surprisingly well-organized. A wide avenue has been cleared at the entrance of the estate, where several elderly men with white hair stand on either side, accompanied by a group of vigorous young men, all equipped with swords and knives, exuding an imposing presence. He established a large estate outside the city that can accommodate over ten thousand people. The household servants move about in an orderly fashion, and although there are numerous guests and uninvited visitors, everything is surprisingly well-organized. A wide avenue has been cleared at the entrance of the estate, where several elderly men with white hair stand on either side, accompanied by a group of vigorous young men, all equipped with swords and knives, exuding an imposing presence.

She spoke, taking a rare step forward to pick up a small stick. At this moment, Wu Chuchu beside her finally realized that Li Yanzhen was indeed Zhou Fei's sister, at least the audacity to take such risks was inherited, and hurriedly said: "Be careful, this snake is poisonous..."

She always feels that she has been ridiculed again

Li Sheng turned his head and saw Mu Xiao Qiao suddenly leap into the air. He resembled a great fire floating in the sky, soaring directly over the water's surface, and pounced towards Huo Lian Tao in the waterside pavilion. The sound of the pipa string resonated with a clear "zheng," and a large expanse of ripples blossomed on the water's surface like ephemeral flowers. Mu Xiao Qiao laughed heartily and said, "No need to trouble yourselves; we, the demons, will go over ourselves!"

The path, however, is not straight; it is as intricate as a spider's web, and one can easily become lost in the stony sea if not careful. An ordinary person would take just a few steps before becoming disoriented, relying solely on the woman in front to lead the way

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

Xie Yun raised his index finger to his lips and said, "Shh---"

It was that scoundrel Xie Yun who gave her such ridiculous nicknames, so common that they have reached the point of sharing a name with a snake, how absurd!

Xie Yun shook the fan in his hand and, with a charming smile, said: "I am not talented, nor am I susceptible to the wiles of beautiful women"

The leading woman immediately felt a force that, although gentle, was icy, surging over from a distance, striking her finger joints neither lightly nor heavily. Her hand trembled, nearly losing grip on the object in her palm, and she instantly turned pale with shock, widening her eyes to glare at Xie Yun

The faces of the people on the ground were charred and disfigured, their features a complete blur, to the extent that even their own mothers and fathers might not recognize them. Huo Liantao naturally had no idea who Mu Xiao Qiao had brought, yet an ominous premonition began to rise within him: "This person..."

One does not even know how to speak in a subdued voice, making such a lengthy discourse as if lecturing like a private tutor, while a group of people around are all listening, casting various ambiguous glances simultaneously, even Mu Xiao Qiao glanced over here.

Huo Liantao shook his head and said, "Over the past ten years, you have frequently interacted with my elder brother, and how I have treated him is something you have witnessed with your own eyes. Now you come to question me with a baseless rumor, disrupting my affairs and harming my reputation, and I refuse to accept it. You ask me where 'drowning my sorrows' comes from? I have never known such a thing; rather, I want to ask you, who informed you of this rumor?"

In the realm of poison experts, if Lian Zhen is considered the foremost, then this "Poison Doctor" should be regarded as the second. However, it is unclear whether this is due to He Cong's infrequent presence in the martial arts circles of the Central Plains. Everyone knows he is formidable, yet very few can articulate the specifics of his prowess, making him all the more enigmatic.

Huo Liantao has articulated the origins and developments so clearly that "the sea and sky are one color" is now intertwined with today's "Heroic Gathering in the North." Apart from seasoned villains like Ding Kui, others dare not claim to act in the name of justice, yet they still have their pride. Since everyone is aware of this matter, which was preserved by the predecessors at the cost of their lives, it is naturally impossible for them to personally take the field and seize it through cunning and force.

A flurry of coffin nails flew towards Madam Nizhang's back. With a light reprimand, Nizhang flicked her long sleeves, gathering a large handful of coffin nails into her sleeves. This delay allowed the two monkeys to swiftly pass by her. The monkey raised by Old Three let out a hoarse cry and snatched the Shen Du seal.

Here comes another one adding fuel to the fire, he is simply going crazy

These individuals may have had illustrious ancestors, yet their descendants are like weasels giving birth to rats—each generation worse than the last. Now they have fallen into decline and can only rely on others for support. When isolated, they must endure any bullying without complaint, swallowing their pride. However, when they finally gather together, they do find the courage to challenge both the living and the dead.

Mu Xiao Qiao's expression was淡淡.

Xie Yun cleared his throat and, feeling somewhat flustered and short of breath, asked: "What are you doing?"

The words "backyard" left his lips, leaving others in confusion, yet Huo Liantao's heart raced a few beats—this was the residence of his elder brother, Huo Laobao.

Li Sheng felt his ears were about to develop calluses and could not help but quietly ask Xie Yun: "Why did Young Master Xie just help him out?"

Huo Liantao's complexion alternated between red and white.

Zhou Fei, too lazy to bicker with him, simply shook the Tianmen lock in her hand, causing Xie Yun to immediately turn pale and close his mouth.

A few sounds of "puff" emerged from the crowd, but soon the noise faded away, as it was evident that the friend who couldn't hold back their laughter was promptly stopped.

Zhou Fei casually said: "I have asked, and people say that in your situation, it is best to eat cold food; otherwise, if you have hot soup, it may instead accelerate the onset of the poison."

Li Sheng sighed and said softly: "What the Vermilion Bird Master said is actually true, it's just a pity ... ... "

Mu Xiao Qiao's lips curled slightly

Her gaze drifted over, and at that moment, Zhu Chen inadvertently lifted his eyes, revealing a delicate face that turned as red as a charred coal in an instant. Zhou Fei then whispered to Xie Yun, "Why is he so agitated? Is Huo Liantao's silver tongue really that powerful? No wonder even the Zhuque Lord was swayed by him back in the day."

Yang Jin : " ... ... "

The person was either in so much pain that they could not speak, or simply too shocked, nearly popping their eyes out of their sockets, with a face full of disbelief, their whole body convulsing and gasping for breath, reminiscent of the unfortunate grasshoppers that had been disemboweled by mischievous children in the wild. Mu Xiao Qiao's clothes were red, her blush was red, her lips were red, and her blood-stained hands were as fiery as flames, as she flashed a bright red smile at Huo Liantao.

To achieve this effect, Ding Kui's skill of raising and then suppressing desires is indispensable, and that gap-toothed figure has evidently become the foremost mascot of the Huo family fortress today

Zhou Fei had heard the name "Huo Liantao" for over a year, yet this was the first time she had seen the man in person. He stood over eight feet tall, exuding an impressive presence. Although he was somewhat older, there was not a hint of stoop in his posture. With a square face and well-defined features, a few scattered white hairs at his temples, he stood there with an air of dignity reminiscent of towering mountains and deep valleys, undeniably a man of great character. Those who encountered him would find it hard to associate him with the sordid acts of "fleeing in panic" or "fratricide to seize the Huo family fortress." His well-defined features and the few scattered white hairs at his temples only added to the impression of a noble man. Anyone who saw him would likely struggle to connect him with the disgraceful deeds of "fleeing in panic" or "fratricide to seize the Huo family fortress."

He does not take in disciples or cultivate trusted aides, but by robbing a few bandit hideouts, he can gather a group of followers for himself. They are entirely a bunch acquired through forceful coercion or money, merely used to give him a facade and run errands.

Xie Yun focused his gaze and saw that she was holding a small stick that had been so damaged it was unrecognizable. The end of the "stick" was tied with a familiar tassel. Xie Yun bent his left leg, which was bound, and laid it flat on the edge of the bed. He reached into his bosom and, indeed, his flute was gone

No one expected him to so boldly reveal the ripples in the water, claiming that this was a family heirloom of the Huo family, shared without reservation. This attitude was in stark contrast to those who knew at least a little about it.

At this moment, his brand new subordinates quickly brought up a disheveled man.

This time, even Xie Yun, who seemed to have heard every corner of the world, frowned and shook his head, indicating that he had not heard of it.

Before her words had even faded, a middle-aged man with a cold expression beside her spoke up: "What, even the poison doctor has succumbed to the power of the Living and Dead Mountain, publicly raising the coffin for Mu Xiao Qiao?"

Zhou Fei remained silent, spreading her hand to showcase her "masterpiece" to him. The flute was quite lively, intricately carved with charming little turtles by Wang Chunshan, whose knife skills were remarkably clever yet whose painting technique was exceedingly poor. The various little turtles, each with a different posture, left the surface of the flute pockmarked, making it clear that it would never produce a sound in this lifetime.

Zhou Fei remained silent; by this time, she had already realized that Xie Yun had been beating around the bush for so long simply because he was afraid she would take it to heart. She felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, wishing she could dunk Xie Yun's head into the soup bowl to teach him a lesson for his self-indulgent sentimentality

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

There is a saying among the people of the time: the martial arts world in the Central Plains is in decline, with a thousand horses silent and no leader among the dragons. Looking across the seas and the nine provinces, there is not a single hero to be found. Huo Liantao, with his profound internal strength, spoke each word deliberately, his voice resonating like a great bell floating on the water, causing those with lesser skills to feel a painful ringing in their ears. He angrily shouted, "Nonsense!"

"Because this internal skill was not cultivated by me," Xie Yun said, "it is due to my master's uncle forcibly channeling his true energy through my meridians, imparting all of his lifelong power to me without reservation."

Zhou Fei ignored Xie Yun's nonsensical chatter. As she reached the end of the stone forest, she turned back to glance at the path they had taken and frowned, saying: "Are all the people coming here so good-tempered? Should we just obediently follow them?"

In that moment, Zhou Fei felt Xie Yun suddenly tighten his grip on her hand. Then, before she could react, Huo Liantao unexpectedly slammed the seal down onto the ground.

At that moment, someone not far away spoke up, saying: "Let go, that is my snake"

He spoke a string of grand principles, but Zhou Fei scoffed mercilessly and said: "Nonsense"

Li Sheng said irritably: "Li Dazhuang, quickly return that long worm to the person."

"Where, it is merely a matter of specialization in one's field," should be supported by reasoned arguments. "Your Excellency is not necessarily ignorant; it is just that you label everyone who disagrees with you as 'a lackey of the North Star' or 'a person who carries the coffin for the demon,' which indeed saves a lot of debate. You truly know how to take the easy way out"

Because he was allowed to come out for some fresh air, Xie Yun was fortunate not to have to suspend one foot anymore. The other end of the heavenly gate lock was briefly secured to Zhou Fei's hand. Xie Yun somehow obtained a wide-sleeved robe, which hung down and could completely cover the lock, making it impossible to discern any abnormalities without pulling up the sleeves for a closer inspection

I believe that there is always a way out. Zhou Fei said word by word, "If there is no 'Return to Yang Pill', there might still be a 'Return to Yin Pill'. If I were you, whether it is the Great Medicine Valley or the Sea and Sky, I would pursue it relentlessly until the end. Even if I ultimately fail, I can still close my eyes and stand tall twenty years later.

Zhou Fei said expressionlessly: "I will compensate you another day."

Huo Liantao's eyes twitched violently, making others think that his jaw must be in pain. His complexion was pale, clearly indicating that he had sustained internal injuries from the earlier confrontation. However, as the master of the Huo family fortress, he was accustomed to facing storms and tempests. Even though his back was drenched in cold sweat, his expression remained remarkably calm as he said: "To impose a crime, what need is there for a reason? Brother Mu, we have known each other for several years, yet you do not understand my character."

The gentle breeze over the water brushed against him, and his garments and robe were astonishingly light. However, due to his overly somber demeanor, he did not resemble a transcendent being on the verge of ascension, but rather like a vengeful spirit come to claim a life

Zhou Fei shook off the debris from the blade, sheathed the Wangchun Mountain, and the sound of it was something Xie Yun had heard at least eight thousand times, yet inexplicably, it sent a chill down his spine with a "chi" sound. He was so frightened that he trembled for a moment, not daring to speak for a long time. After a while, he cautiously wiggled his trapped right hand and said, "Beauty, may I ask how you came up with this brand new position? After all, I am also a handsome man with a graceful demeanor. When I step out, I can't just bend down; I have to stand tall. Don't you think this..."

The charcoal stood still for a moment, and finally, after arriving in Yongzhou, he realized that he had actually been deceived by Zhou Fei. Yang Jin was immediately filled with uncontrollable anger, almost giving rise to a sense of indignation that no one from the Central Plains could be trusted. His eyes bulged like copper bells, his fingers clenched so tightly that they made a creaking sound, and the veins on his forehead throbbed as he pointed at Zhou Fei, saying: "You... you..."

Ying He whispered, "Don't squeeze my snake so hard, be a little gentler with it!"

The beggar who was crawling at Mu Xiaoqiao's feet caught sight of Huo Liantao, and his eyes suddenly burst with astonishing brightness. Using all four limbs, he lunged forward like a wild dog, but was stomped on the spine by Mu Xiaoqiao, leaving him helplessly sprawled on the ground. He desperately reached forward with both hands, shouting loudly, "Lord! Lord! Master! Save me! I am the old Liu who worked as your gardener! You praised my flowers for being well grown... Save me!"

Having spoken, she stood up and left, as if she did not wish to cast even a glance at this incessantly complaining invalid. Xie Yun kept his gaze fixed on her silhouette, and when Zhou Fei had her back turned to him, a hint of small greed unexpectedly appeared in his clear eyes

Continuing, he did not wait for Zhou Fei to speak, but raised his hand to interrupt her, saying: "The outcome I have now is one I willingly accept, and it has nothing to do with you—aren't you curious why my internal strength is so profound?"

Xie Yun stared blankly at her

Zhou Fei did not believe it and asked again, "How did the translucent bone blue on your body come about?"

Zhou Fei pondered for a moment and said: "You still mention that the 'Guiyang Pill' from the Great Medicine Valley is for you ... ... "

Xie Yun suddenly realized, and with a "whoosh" he sprang up, but he couldn't sit still. Something had "pulled" him back, and Xie Yun, who was already a bit unsteady on his feet, nearly toppled over. Looking down, he couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time when he discovered that it was Zhou Fei's doing—she had locked his right hand to his left foot.

Xie Yun lowered his head to examine the lock on his body, and it was clear at a glance that it was no ordinary item, not something that could be pried open with a mere wire. He simply thought, "Since I am here, I might as well make myself comfortable," and propped his feet up, lying back on the bed board, without discussing the current situation with Zhou Fei—he had mentally gone through everything he could say and felt that apart from meaningless chatter, it was all just asking for trouble, making it unnecessary to speak.

Huo Liantao's palms began to sweat

Mu Xiaoqiao stood with her hands behind her back, remaining silent. Lady Nishang lowered her gaze, looking at the monkey holding the Shen Du seal. The monkey seemed somewhat fearful of her, straining its neck and screaming incessantly.

Zhou Fei asked, "Do you want to die quickly?"

Li Yan was taken aback, turned around, and saw that the poison doctor Ying He had somehow approached her without her noticing.

Yang Jin : " ... ... "

You should follow the path: "Tell your younger sister to return 'Hongyu' to me, and I will tell you all."

Mu Xiao Qiao seems like a malevolent deity that protects the house, and Huo Lian Tao once relied heavily on him, yet he also feared him due to his inability to control this person

Li Yan was startled by his ability to stop a child's night crying, stumbling back a step, nearly bumping into Wu Chuchu's face. She hurriedly turned her back and pushed Wu Chuchu away, saying, "Don't, don't, don't look."

After listening, Li Sheng felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. His original intention was to change the subject, but unexpectedly, he delved deeper into the topic. When the old fortress master suddenly suffered a stroke, many people went to visit him. From this small point raised by Ying He, everyone involuntarily began to recall the details of their visits, and some of the less resolute minds even started to doubt.

"I don't want to." Since Zhou Fei already knew, Xie Yun no longer hid or avoided the issue, and calmly said to her, "But if you make me eat this every day, I fear I will want to die. Ah Fei, if a person prolongs their life by increasing their suffering, then the extra days lived are merely additional pain in this lifetime. What is the meaning of that?"

"What, do you think I am investigating the Sea and Sky for the 'Guiyang Pill'?" After a brief moment of distraction, Xie Yun quickly regained his composure.

In the waterside pavilion, Huo Liantao had already taken out his family's Shen Du seal, lit incense, and was conducting a ceremony of unknown nature, more complex than a wedding ceremony. Zhou Fei and the others were not interested in watching a middle-aged man preening himself, so they huddled together, whispering to each other.

Only because Xie Yun was momentarily suspicious, in order to prevent any poison in the food and drink, he brought this matter in without considering the consequences. No one expected that the situation would develop to this extent—before the main party even took action, they had already become the first to draw weapons in the entire venue

Ding Kuisi did not take it to heart at all and actually responded: "I still have fourteen left, and I am the one who is nicknamed Fourteen Grandpa, hahaha"

He spoke as he forcefully pulled out the items from the box, holding them high in his hand. What was hidden in that box was actually the Shen Du seal of the Huo family fortress. Zhou Fei and the others stood on the shore, unable to discern whether there were any ripples on the Shen Du seal. All they heard was Huo Liantao roaring: "Because of this, Beidou caused my brother's death, leaving me not even a word; because of this, old friends from over a decade have doubted me, choosing not to seek an explanation from Beidou, but instead coming to accuse and slander me! Why do none of the deceased predecessors mention 'Haitian Yise' anymore? Because this is clearly a disaster—root—" All they heard was Huo Liantao roaring: "Because of this, Beidou caused my brother's death, leaving me not even a word; because of this, old friends from over a decade have doubted me, choosing not to seek an explanation from Beidou, but instead coming to accuse and slander me! Why do none of the deceased predecessors mention 'Haitian Yise' anymore? Because this is clearly a disaster—root—"

At that moment, a series of urgent drumbeats echoed from the water pavilion, indicating that the drummer possessed some skill, as the clear "dong dong" sound resonated throughout the entire village. Immediately, several individuals dressed in the attire of the Huo family fortress rushed out in two teams, coming to a halt beside the fluttering banners, and simultaneously let out a loud roar

It is the long-lost Zhuque Master, Mu Xiao Qiao

Huo Liantao began to narrate: "The age of this brother is approximately unknown. Back in the day when the Cao family usurped power, the martial arts world was filled with anxiety. Not for any other reason, but because of his despicable methods, harming the loyal and righteous. At that time, the righteous heroes, anyone with a bit of blood in them, condemned the Cao family for their backward actions. Cao Zhongkun had long planted his pieces among the major sects, and ordered people to use cunning schemes to sow discord, driving his seven vicious dogs to commit acts of violence everywhere. Within a year, among the sects we can name, as many as sixty-three large and small sects fell apart, thus severing their lineage."

Li Yan placed her hands on her hips and said: "Exactly, the great demon is standing over there all lined up, why aren't you going to fight?"

Li Sheng was truly fed up with this group of people who seemed to have half a brain. Turning away to avoid seeing them, he spoke to the normally composed Zhou Fei, who was wearing a dark expression: "If it is indeed as Huo Liantao said, then my aunt should at least be aware of the situation. Grandfather entrusted even the Forty-Eight Villages to her back then, so it is impossible for him to have kept this matter a secret from her."

Li Yan immediately stood firmly on her sister's side and exclaimed, "That's right!"

Zhou Fei felt that he talked too much and stepped on him without raising his head

Mu Xiaoqiao, Lady Nishang, Ding Kui, the Double Demons of the Monkey, and Mr. Bai each stood at a corner, with enmity prevailing among them, none being friends. In the center, a terrified monkey clutched the Shen Du seal, thus they remained in a stalemate.

Wu Chuchu had a strong intuition that this poison doctor was not simple, yet she could not hold back Zhou Fei, so she had no choice but to change her approach and try to rein in Li Yan, attempting to control this runaway wild horse

In an instant, surprise and anger transformed into a different expression.

Li Sheng said softly: "Be careful, I feel that ... ... "

Then he hugged his right foot, which had been locked, and hid on the roof for a whole day without daring to come down

Zhou Fei was taken aback

Zhou Fei certainly had her doubts; after all, Xie Yun's age was evident, and his internal strength was unparalleled in her experience. The last person who made her feel so unfathomable was still the unparalleled master of the Kuroyong technique, Jiu Niang.

Xie Yun was taken aback for a moment, and after a while, he smiled and said: "Alright"

Huo Liantao spoke at length with a well-reasoned discourse, starting from the harm done to his elder brother by the "Northern Dipper traitors," using small examples to illustrate larger issues. He elaborated layer by layer, discussing the fall of half the country and the hardships faced by the common people, expressing deep sorrow and genuine emotion. Even Zhou Fei and others could not help but feel their emotions stirred by his words

Huo Liantao's leg suddenly felt a surge of pressure. As he lifted his head, he met the gaze of Mu Xiaoqiao. For no apparent reason, a chill ran through his heart. Mu Xiaoqiao's eyes were too strange. They were not ugly, nor were they bloodshot. However, for some reason, they did not look like the eyes of a living person. It was as if they were a pair of realistic fake eyeballs, so lifelike that they could easily be mistaken for real. Upon closer inspection, something seemed off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Zhu Chen took a half step back, almost falling over. Only then did he see clearly that it was just a small snake as thick as a thumb. He couldn't help but feel embarrassed, his face turning red, and he almost dared not look up.

Xie Yun skillfully picked up the chopsticks with his left hand, bringing over the cold dishes. He was not picky about food, eating whatever was given to him. However, after taking a few bites, he put down the chopsticks and said to Zhou Fei: "In the future, if there is anything hot, please serve me something hot to eat. This is not much better than the coarse grain cakes from the desolate village outside Huacheng."

Huo Liantao was filled with a mix of shock and anger, realizing that Mu Xiao Qiao had struck with such ferocity upon their first encounter. In a moment of desperation, he had no choice but to channel decades of cultivation into this battle. Enduring the metallic taste in his throat, Huo Liantao took a deep breath once more, sprang up from his position, sidestepped several paces, and then, using the momentum, spun around to deliver a sweeping kick—this was the renowned Huo family leg technique, capable of breaking a thick pillar with a single kick.

The city has been engulfed in turmoil for such a long time, and if Huo Liantao still cannot discern the origins and developments of the situation, then what he bears around his neck can only be likened to a chamber pot. However, being late to realize the gravity of the matter, it is ultimately too late; words once spoken are like water spilled on the ground. His invitation of heroism has already been disseminated far and wide, and it is impossible for everyone to pretend they have not seen it. Huo Liantao must be in a predicament from which he cannot extricate himself. Yet, being late to realize the gravity of the matter, it is ultimately too late; words once spoken are like water spilled on the ground. His invitation of heroism has already been disseminated far and wide, and it is impossible for everyone to pretend they have not seen it. Huo Liantao must be in a predicament from which he cannot extricate himself.

The Living and Dead Mountain is indeed formidable, yet the Huo family fortress and this large group of guests are not to be underestimated. At this moment, Ding Kui has only a few dozen lackeys by his side; unless these twenty or thirty individuals possess the ability to fly or vanish, it is impossible for them to break through the encirclement and pursuit of nearly tens of thousands of people.

Mu Xiao Qiao turned her face sideways and glanced at him with a sidelong look, then smiled lightly and said: "Fourteen doesn't sound very auspicious, Brother Ding. Don't be anxious, wait for me to finish talking with Lord Huo, and I will immediately have you change to Ding Eight, ensuring that you will make a fortune this year"

However, standing in such a chaotic crowd, Zhou Fei only felt the Tianmen lock in her hand was icy cold. Suddenly, she couldn't help but ask Xie Yun, "Is your uncle treating you well?"

Xie Yun was left speechless.

Wood Xiaqiao doesn't yield to hard or soft persuasion, and reasoning falls on deaf ears. Only by making him doubt can one succeed. Huo Liantao hit the nail on the head, and Wood Xiaqiao's eyes flickered slightly. Huo Liantao immediately understood that he had shaken him. He took a step forward and went straight to the small stone table in the middle of the pavilion. He raised his hand and clapped it three times on the table. The stone table creaked and groaned, revealing a hidden compartment. With Huo Liantao's movement, a stone tray slowly turned out, on which a square box was quietly placed.

With a sharp scream, Monkey Number Three immediately raised his palm and pushed it out, but unexpectedly, the incoming person did not dodge or evade, and fought with him. The two exchanged moves for seven or eight rounds, and Zhou Fei exclaimed, "Huh," recognizing the black-clothed person lurking in the water: "Mr. Bai?"

It's just an agreement, an agreement that both parties do not trust each other, so they sought me, Zhuque, Mingfeng Tower Master, and Black Judge as witnesses, that's all. Lady Nishang said, "The witnesses were generously rewarded, and we couldn't refuse."

Huo Liantao's pupils constricted sharply, but as a ruler of his domain, how could he retreat in front of everyone at this moment? He shouted loudly, bringing his iron arms in front of him to forcibly block Mu Xiao Qiao's palm. At the moment of close combat, Huo Liantao only felt a buzzing in his head, his arms briefly lost sensation, and his energy surged restlessly.

Mu Xiao Qiao, upon hearing this, raised her head and glanced at him, asking in a completely unrelated manner: "Ding Kui, how many teeth do you have left?"

At this moment, Huo Liantao barely maintained his composure as the one in charge. After a moment of surprise, he immediately forced out a pleasant surprise: "Brother Mu! Ah, it's been a long time since we parted ways and I haven't seen you around. Huo has truly..."

Lady Nishang sneered, "Since it is a witness, naturally it will not interfere with their agreement. You don't know these things, so how would I know? Since your master has come, why not come out and meet him?"

Huo Liantao is a versatile person. He always compliments everything he sees, but naturally, he won't remember a fleeting flower gardener. He was immediately taken aback.

Li Yan was startled by his movements, leaned over to observe Yang Jin, and asked, "Hei Tan, what's wrong with you again?"

The middle-aged man sneered, "Do you know or not, but who knows when your upper lip touches your lower lip? That demon just made up a charge, and you rushed to explain... We have been in the rivers and lakes for decades, and have never heard of 'pouring sorrow'. Are we all ignorant?"

The miracle drug of the Pilgrimage Gang has truly undergone countless trials in numerous black markets, living up to its reputation. Xie Yunxing tried to stay awake, but his eyelids felt as if they were coated with a layer of paste, leaving him in a daze and unable to figure out where he was. A series of "squeak, squeak" noises by his ear made him think, "Are the mice causing trouble again?"

In the water pavilion, a group of people including Lian Huolian and Lian Tao were already stunned.

The flag embroidered with rippling water patterns fluttered violently in the wind, and the water waves above moved in layers, appearing quite lifelike. Huo Liantao pointed to the top of his head and continued, "This object is engraved with the 'Shen Du Yin' of my Huo family. This square seal is the token of the Huo family fortress master. A few years ago, my elder brother suddenly suffered a stroke and fell ill without being able to explain things clearly to me, and entrusted the Huo family fortress along with the fortress master's seal to me. It is quite embarrassing to say that I, Huo, have been muddled for many years, and it was only recently that I learned of the extraordinary nature of this 'water ripple pattern' from the mouths of my enemies."

Xie Yun was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, but he had no intention of giving any hints to Zhou Fei in this regard, so he said with righteous indignation: "Yes, you are absolutely right."

When the big boss made a move, the small fights on this side couldn't continue. For a moment, the crowded manor fell silent. Mu Xiaoqiao indifferently threw the person who had stopped moving in her hand into the water, licked the bloodstains on her nails, and said to Huo Liantao, "I only ask you one thing, where did you get the 'Pouring Sorrows' in your hand?"

Zhou Fei had no time to exchange views with Xie, and quickly began to ponder - when Huo Liantao realized the true meaning of the water ripples, it was too late to retract the invitation. He certainly wanted to achieve success and fame, but did not want to become famous in a way that would bring shame. As the situation escalated, he had no choice but to loudly proclaim "The Sea and Sky are One Color" in front of everyone to clear his name. He certainly wanted to achieve success and fame, but did not want to become famous in a way that would bring shame. As the situation escalated, he had no choice but to loudly proclaim "The Sea and Sky are One Color" in front of everyone to clear his name.

Ding Kui shouted in anger, but Monkey Five Niang laughed and said, "I am honored!"

"On someone else's territory," Xie Yun murmured, "bringing along this person, so as not to be silently poisoned... that would be too unjust."

Zhou Fei has always felt that the scenes in the scripts where someone seduces others while asking if they are beautiful are particularly shameless. Everyone has two eyes and a nose; at most, they can be categorized as pleasing or unpleasing to the eye. How beautiful can one really be? Therefore, she often feels embarrassed for the various characters in those stories. At this moment, upon hearing Xie Yun claim the title of "beauty" without any inquiry, she couldn't help but be once again astounded by his audacity.

However, this is how the motley crew in the rivers and lakes behaves. When one person takes the lead, the others blindly follow without discerning the situation, like a roaring tide. When the middle-aged man drew his weapon, a large group of people behind him immediately stood up, clamoring to capture Ying He Cong.

Wood Xiaoqiao glanced at Huo Liantao and said softly, "If he had ever said a word to me, he wouldn't have lived to this day with such trivial matters."

At this moment, someone spoke on the water pavilion. Lady Nishang said, "If I had known that today would come after more than twenty years, I would never have agreed to be a witness back then."

Should I dodge the opponent's sword with a frown and say: "I told you I don't know!"

At this moment, due to the intervention of Mr. Bai and others, the small waterside pavilion suddenly became lively. Mu Xiao Qiao, Madam Ni Chang, Ding Kui, the Double Monkeys, and Mr. Bai's people each stood in a corner, with no one being friends but all enemies. In the middle, a terrified monkey clutched the Shen Du Fang seal, thus creating a stalemate.

How to respond yet remain indifferent, as if completely unconcerned

When it is appropriate to be sharp, one should remain moderate; when it is not appropriate to be sharp, one should avoid being overly sharp. When he does not speak, it is fine, but once he does, he resembles Mu Xiao Qiao even more.

As he spoke, there was a constant rustling sound coming from the surrounding bushes, seemingly just the sound of the gentle breeze blowing through the grass. However, because of the sudden appearance of this mysterious man, everyone couldn't help but suspect that there were snakes in the grass. The slender neck of the woman leading the way visibly developed goosebumps, and she forced a smile, saying, "Sir, you're just joking."

Zhou Fei felt a thin layer of murderous aura rise on her face as he looked at her, annoyed by her earlier unguarded remark, and angrily said: "What are you looking at? If you keep talking nonsense, you can go without food and starve!"

Huo Liantao found it inconvenient to personally step in and curse, so he turned around and gave a knowing glance to his group of subordinates. The people from the Huo family fortress were quick-witted, and someone immediately said: "Lord Zhuque, the master of Huo Fortress respects you as a guest, so you should take care of yourself. Today, all the heroes are here, and you throw an unrelated beggar in this place, talking about planting flowers and trees, are you just full and bored?"

Li Sheng did not notice the small actions below. At first, seeing Xie Yun smile so "profoundly and inscrutably," he thought he had some genuine insights. However, after listening attentively for a while, he heard such a conclusion. Young Master Li immediately felt that Xie Yun was no different from that unreliable group, and he could only choose to ignore it and observe Huo Liantao—who also seemed unprepared for this situation.

Xie Yun was violently shaken

How to approach the path: "This is easy. The foolish cannot remember things; those who are truly confused begin to forget recent events first, while they tend to forget the trivial matters from thirty to fifty years ago more slowly. However, those who are poisoned start to forget things from the past, as if their memories since birth are being erased from the beginning. Thus, they become particularly foolish at an accelerated pace. Yet, even if they forget themselves, you must have the patience to teach them anew as if they were infants, and they can still learn again.

Huo Liantao said on the waterside pavilion: "This water ripple, named 'Sea and Sky in One Color', recently the Beidou Group of dogs has been acting frequently. First, the Greedy Wolf surrounded our Huo family fortress, and then the Giant Gate and the Broken Army instigated the son of the pseudo emperor of the Northern Dynasty and besieged the Shu region. The reason behind all this is closely related to this object."

After Xie Yun's attempt to probe failed, he used his fan to cover his face and whispered to Zhou Fei's ear, "It's over. It seems that the beauty trap doesn't work."

Aside from the question of how foolish the old lord is, which remains in doubt, the rest, as heard by Zhou Fei, all feels genuine. She was a little surprised because she never expected Huo Liantao to be so honest. Xie Yun glanced at her and knew what she was thinking, then teased her, "The highest level of lying is to mix truth and falsehood. Like the way you completely fabricate everything, it's obviously fake and can only deceive a fool."

He wanted to say "even urinating requires the posture of a golden rooster standing alone," but he reluctantly swallowed the words before they came out. With a twisted expression, he thought for a moment and changed to a much more innocent expression: "...Is the action of 'playing shuttlecock' very obscene?"

Lady Nishang shouted, "Mu Xiaoqiao, are you dead?".

As there were neither companions nor guides around him, He, carrying a basket of snakes, walked leisurely into this strange stone formation alone.

Upon seeing the cold and unappetizing food, Xie Yun suddenly felt as if a lead weight had settled in his stomach, causing him to lose his appetite. He sighed and said, "Someone who pretends to know everything must have told you this."

Until he climbed a higher tree, the old lord became completely useless burden.

Wait a moment...

As soon as she closed the door, Xie Yun flipped over and jumped up, holding one leg and bouncing twice. She took the flute that was carved with "patterns" by Zhou Fei, carefully counted, and found that this small flute, which was only a little longer than a palm, was carved with twenty-eight snapping turtles by Zhou Fei. The first few turtles looked particularly ferocious, with a hint of blood soaked into the carvings, making it seem as if they were dripping with blood.

It's useless. Xie Yun naturally continued with her words.

His words were suddenly interrupted by a long whistle, followed by a loud "boom". Sand and stones flew in all directions. Everyone turned their heads and saw that the exquisitely crafted stone forest they had just passed through had been forcibly broken from the outside with violence. Large stones flew around, injuring many people who couldn't dodge in time.

Not long after, Zhou Fei returned and brought a food container.

Huo Liantao took a step forward, extended his hands downward, indicating that he had something to say. As the whispering gradually disappeared due to his appearance, he calmly raised his fist in all directions and said loudly, "Today, all of you coming here is a great honor for me, Huo. I am deeply grateful."

Zhou Fei, upon hearing this, remained seated and watched as the Spring Mountain tumbled over to her left. She then switched it to her right hand, and suddenly drew her long sword from its sheath, forcefully sweeping away the three swords that were approaching her.

During this period, Huo Liantao was inactive, which made many people who relied on him dissatisfied. However, when he spoke generously in public, not only did the faces of the Zhu siblings look much better, but also Huo Liantao's two sentences transformed him into the backbone of the crowd again. Zhou Fei couldn't help but feel impressed, feeling that he seemed to be able to buy people's hearts more easily than buying two pounds of baked cakes.

Because Zhou Fei was annoyed by the unfiltered remark "time is running out", she rolled her eyes and said, "Does licking the door curtain make him look like he knows how to make a lot of money?"

Huo Liantao felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

Xie Yun bounced over with a sighing sound: "Luckily, I can also use chopsticks with my left hand... Huh?"

He is so sharp. With just a little thought, he knew what Zhou Fei meant by deliberately mentioning "what should be done". If that "what should be done" was not just an empty name, he would be able to see the deep-rooted cause behind it. Zhou Fei must have already known how to suppress his poison and what triggered it. He suddenly looked up and saw Zhou Fei's expression, confirming his suspicions. For a moment, the leaden feeling in his stomach turned into a cold and hard block of ice, making him even more uncomfortable. It took him a while to regain his voice and ask, "What else did he say?"

Zhou Fei said: "I always feel that Huo Liantao rushed onto the stage, but actually couldn't figure out what 'the sea and the sky are the same color' really means, so he made up such an explanation."

Although Zhou Fei knew that Mu Xiao Qiao would not easily fall victim to Shen Tian Shu, she was still slightly taken aback by his unique way of appearing. She quickly poked Xie Yun and said: "Isn't Mu Xiao Qiao specifically responsible for taking the blame for Huo Lian Tao? Why does her attitude seem a bit off today?"

Zhou Fei shook her head, feeling a hint of anticipation in her heart—because until now, apart from the two sentences spoken by Kou Dan during the siege of the Forty-Eight Villages, no one had openly and honestly told her what "the sea and sky are one color" truly meant. However, she did not quite believe Kou Dan's words; that kid Cao Ning was too cunning, everything he did seemed ambiguous, having deceived the two major Beidou, who in turn deceived Kou Dan. Layer upon layer of deception might have left the truth thousands of miles away.

Ying Hecong's face revealed a stiff and somewhat hollow smile, and he extended his hand, saying: "Then please feel free, do not mind me"

Wu Chuchu couldn't help but murmur, "What on earth does he want to do?"

How to calmly respond: "I do not know him."

Mu Xiao Qiao fixed a piercing gaze on the person speaking, the color of the rouge on her cheeks and lips a strange shade of red. Her eyes lingered slightly on the person's abdomen, as if contemplating how to extract this person's "well-fed but not overstuffed" belly. Then, she spoke in a calm and measured tone: "Qian Xiaoliu is an old acquaintance of the Huo family from Yueyang, how can he be considered unrelated? Due to pressure from the Northern dogs, the Huo family of Yueyang retreated south in haste, leaving behind quite a few people. Some were burned to death, while others were captured by Shen Tianshu and did not survive for long. Qian Xiaoliu is one of the few survivors left by Shen Tianshu... because he uncovered a secret."

So what is he waiting for

Three days later, Huo Liantao's "Heroic Conference for the Northward Expedition" will take place as scheduled

Ding Kui grinned widely, revealing his gap-toothed smile, and said: "Wooden puppet, where did you find this companion of yours? Why can't they even stand up? Truly useless."

Mu Xiao Qiao turned around and gave Huo Lian Tao a meaningful smile, then suddenly plunged into that person's embrace. An indescribable warmth rose beside the cold waterside pavilion, as if this Zhuque master could easily reach into the depths, tearing apart this person's clothing and flesh, and in full view of the crowd, forcibly dragged out this person's intestines.

He had just mentioned this when there was movement on the opposite bank. It was then that Ding Kui crawled out of the coffin like a ghost in broad daylight, sitting on the dark edge of the coffin, and asked in a strange tone: "Oh my, this is indeed a great merit. Why has no one mentioned it for so many years? If we had known earlier, we surely would have contributed our efforts as well, wouldn't we?"

Just now, someone casually remarked "just overindulging," and was immediately met with a violent response. Zhou Fei gasped in shock, unable to help but feel a pang of anxiety for Madam Ni Chang. She noticed a fleeting flash of anger on Mu Xiao Qiao's face, but after casting a glance at Ni Chang, for some reason, he managed to suppress his anger and obediently leaped to pursue the Monkey Duo. At that moment, three or four dark figures suddenly sprang out of the water, unexpectedly blocking the path of Monkey Lao San.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

"The esteemed lord is quite forgetful," Mu Xiao Qiao said with a smile, "This person is named Qian Xiao Liu, a gardener from the Huo family fortress in Yueyang. He truly excels at planting flowers, and several gardens in the fortress as well as the flowers in the backyard are all tended to by him"

Lady Nizhang angrily exclaimed: "Beast!"

Huo Liantao possesses extraordinary financial resources. It is unclear whether this estate originally had a wide lake or if it was later artificially excavated. In the middle of the lake, there is a large pavilion, upon which a flag of the Huo family fortress is awkwardly planted. The water divides the crowd into two halves from east to west. Zhou Fei, with her keen eyesight, spotted a large coffin on the opposite shore from a distance—apparently, the uninvited guests have all been arranged on that side.

Xie Yun : `` ... ... ''

The guide was quite astute, recognizing the disparity in strength. No longer did he stubbornly resist; with a blank expression, he turned and, like a human puppet, silently led them to their seats.

A straw hat alone allows him to discern that among those who were just carried over, one is "透骨青". How could he be so nonsensical about such trivial details? After finishing her statement, Zhou Fei deliberately asked, "What, is he wrong?"

What should be said from the mouth: "Do you reason with me? I do not know Mu..."

Ding Kui merely sat on the edge of the coffin, sneering coldly, exuding an air of someone who still had tricks up his sleeve. If Huo Liantao had not separated his men to this side of the lake, it is likely that someone would have already lunged at him.

Xie Yun's lips curved slightly, yet there was little sign of a smile in his eyes, which revealed a hint of coldness.

The leading woman suddenly felt as if her body was covered in festering sores, and her hand, hanging by her side, involuntarily trembled for a moment, as if it wanted to peel off her entire skin and shake it.

She said coldly: "Even if you did not poison yourself for my sake, does that mean I can just ignore you?"

Huo Liantao glanced at Mu Xiao Qiao, then turned around and raised the box to the people in the entire village who were stretching their necks: "I, Huo Liantao, cannot compare to my elder brother. The Huo family fortress has fallen into decline under my stewardship, it is no longer viable! Even the ancestral home that has been passed down for several generations has been set ablaze. I have come to the territory of the Southern Dynasties with these strays, burdened by deep-seated blood feuds, yet there are still those who refuse to let me go, who refuse to let the Huo family go! They sow discord behind my back, accusing me of assassinating my elder brother. What is your purpose? Isn't it just this!"

Ding Kui, in order to vex Huo Liantao, has driven his underlings to wreak havoc on countless small sects that are affiliated with Huo Liantao. He remains silent, but once he speaks, someone from the other side of the waterside immediately jumps up and exclaims: "Lord Huo, today is the 'Heroic Gathering of the North', how can such evil and heretical forces openly enter our midst, and you do not take any action?"

"I was talking about pouring out my sorrows, who mentioned the old lord of the fortress?" Ying He looked at him inexplicably and said, "Since the old lord of the fortress has already been burned to death, whether it was divine retribution or man-made, who knows?"

It seems to be such a principle

Having realized that he could not escape, Xie Yun surprisingly became much quieter in the following days. Zhou Fei, feeling too lazy to pay him any attention, found Xie Yun idly borrowing a few travelogues from Li Sheng, intending to use them for hypnosis. However, upon opening them, he discovered that these travelogues were extraordinary and could not be compared to ordinary ones; they were akin to a contemporary vulgar version of the "Classic of Mountains and Seas," documenting the author's romantic and bizarre encounters with countless monsters and spirits during his travels through mountains and rivers, which was exceedingly intriguing

Mu Xiao Qiao did not dodge or evade; with one hand holding the pipa upside down, he had only one hand left. His wrist seemed to exert no force at all, lightly landing on the leg that came crashing towards him. Then, his entire body floated up like a piece of red paper that had no weight, "sticking" to the leg that Huo Lian Tao swept over, and lightly soaring into the air.

After asking, regardless of whether the response is "yes" or "no", their next phrase is always "Please come in", and then they send a girl to guide the way, as if they only know how to say these two sentences

At the entrance, there is a group of young women, seemingly gathered from nowhere, responsible for guiding the way. Each one is dressed in a peach-colored blouse, with slender waists like that of a water snake, and their cheeks appear to glow as if touched by the dawn. Whether the visitors are coarse and uncouth brutes or lecherous old men drooling with desire, they are all met with charming smiles and soft words of welcome. At first glance, they seem as if they were all born of the same mother

Xie Yun has no other merits, but he excels in being perceptive. Upon hearing this, he hurriedly said: "No, no, there is no need to be polite. The divine turtle of the heroine has not settled on my face; I am already overwhelmed with gratitude."

Xie Yun nudged Zhou Fei with his elbow and whispered, "Do you see? This is the confidence and demeanor of 'when one raises an arm, the world responds.' You have learned a little bit of it, and in the future, you will be able to rely on this to swagger and deceive."

As the mysterious and alluring expanse of sea and sky was on the verge of collapse, four figures simultaneously rushed forward

Zhou Fei walked to the door, suddenly turned back, and Xie Yun was startled, hurriedly averting his gaze, lowering his head to seriously arrange the noodles in the bowl and chopsticks in his hand

Zhou Fei let out a sound of "oh," and did not ask him what he wanted to eat, turning around and walking out.

A person dressed in red, with disheveled hair, stands silently at the door, cradling a pipa in their arms

Zhou Fei was completely absorbed in "The Horizon Blends with the Sky" due to Xie Yun, and was momentarily taken aback upon hearing the words

Yet, that Mu Xiaoqiao laughed heartily and said, "This statement is quite reasonable!"

Li Sheng hurriedly asked: "Which two characters did he say? 'Jiao Chou'? 'Jiao You'? Or 'Jiao Chou' or something like that..."

Wu Chuchu's words left several people in silence

Then, amidst a chorus of exclamations, she said: "Mu Xiao Qiao is right over there, not more than twenty steps away. If you are going to slay demons and eliminate evil, why not just go ahead? What does it mean to casually pick a soft persimmon from the crowd?"

Xie Yun did not respond, gently grasping her fingers

Ying He said softly: "The 'drowning sorrow' in 'Raise a glass to drown sorrow, but sorrow only deepens' is indeed a kind of poison"

He barged in without anyone greeting him, and he did not sit down; instead, he stood with a basket on his back, arguing with Li Yan and demanding a snake from her. This person had a fearsome reputation, yet he did not appear as menacing as one might expect; on the contrary, he was surprisingly gentle. Aside from a few sharp words exchanged with the woman who led him in, he did not display much aggression. Li Sheng was initially quite worried, but soon realized that this poison doctor kept repeating just one phrase: "That is my snake, give me back my snake." This person had a fearsome reputation, yet he did not appear as menacing as one might expect; on the contrary, he was surprisingly gentle. Aside from a few sharp words exchanged with the woman who led him in, he did not display much aggression. Li Sheng was initially quite worried, but soon realized that this poison doctor kept repeating just one phrase: "That is my snake, give me back my snake."

Zhu Chen noticed the two of them whispering to each other, his cheeks tightened slightly, and he then expressionlessly averted his gaze. Just as he was lost in thought, suddenly, a red shadow darted past his feet, startling Zhu Chen, who couldn't help but let out an "ah". Zhou Fei reacted swiftly, kicking out with one foot, her toes flicking the creature, sending it flying sideways. The creature landed in a heap, clearly frightened, its triangular little head raised high, pretending to be fierce as it opened its mouth filled with venomous fangs towards her. Zhou Fei reacted swiftly, kicking out with one foot, her toes flicking the creature, sending it flying sideways. The creature landed in a heap, clearly frightened, its triangular little head raised high, pretending to be fierce as it opened its mouth filled with venomous fangs towards her

"It's my brother's fault," Zhou Fei said without hesitation. "I wasn't paying attention for a moment, and he fastened one of the clasps to your wrist."

Without needing to speak, someone from Huo Liantao's side immediately called out for him: "You are slandering! Mu Xiao Qiao, the Huo family has treated you well, yet you collude with scum like Ding Kui, defaming the lord of the fortress..."

Unless Ding Kui is fearless and unrestrained

Moreover, just now Huo Liantao subtly mentioned that this alliance, apart from the Huo family, also includes Shanchuan Sword, the Forty-Eight Villages, and the enigmatic Qi Men, among others. Since it is an alliance, each party must hold only a portion of it. Unless all these forces can be captured in one fell swoop, merely obtaining the portion of the water ripple in Huo Liantao's hands may not hold much significance. His candid and open attitude appears very generous, and coupled with the public challenge that has aroused the ire of the Living and Dead Mountain, the prestige that was originally damaged due to the Huo family's hasty withdrawal from Yueyang has now not only been restored but has even increased.

The leading woman’s expression changed slightly, her narrow eyes squinting. A dark blue light flashed from her hands, which were covered by peach-colored long sleeves. At that moment, Xie Yun suddenly stepped forward, half-turning to block Ying Hecong, and extended his fan to make a gesture of "please" towards the woman, speaking in a very gentle and refined manner: "Miss, I believe there are many guests waiting behind us, so let us not delay any longer"

This is, after all, the world of martial arts; despite the myriad of schemes and machinations, sometimes it is the sword and blade that determine the outcome

As Huo Liantao raised his hand, the voices behind him were suddenly suppressed. The man, seemingly in a good mood, asked: "Then may I ask, Lord Zhuque, how did this person come into your possession since he is in Shen Tianshu's hands? When my elder brother was alive, I, Huo, would visit Qing'an every morning and evening, inevitably passing by the back courtyard, yet I have no impression of this Brother Qian at all."

Xie Yun always felt that her next sentence might not be a kind one

"The sea and sky are one color," Lady Nichang said, "It is not as you think; there are no extraordinary treasures, and the notion that half of the wealth of the Central Plains martial arts world is involved is utterly absurd"

Ding Kui exclaimed, "Ah! What does she mean by this? What does it have to do with you?"

Yang Jinqi asked, "How did you know this?"

Zhu Chen asked, "What does that mean? Do you mean that the illness of Old Fortress Master Huo is man-made?"

Zhou Fei did not blink her eyes and said: "Those from Qingyun Valley, coming from humble backgrounds, may not speak with as much confidence as you do, but they also understand the importance of reason"

Huo Liantao initially did not intervene, allowing the crowd to vent for a moment. Only then did he wave his hand and speak loudly: "Since there are uninvited guests who have come from afar, my Huo family fortress has no reason to refuse entry. If we are afraid to even open the door, what else is there to discuss? Rest assured, since I, Huo, dare to welcome all today, I will naturally seek justice for all of you!"

Huo Liantao's expression changed instantly

When Lady Nishang felt something was amiss as Huo Liantao spoke his last words, she spun around, her skirt resembling blooming peach blossoms, gracefully wading through the water, reaching out to seize the square seal. Ding Kui reacted a moment too late; upon realizing the situation, he knew he would not make it in time to snatch it. Without hesitation, he reached out and pulled out a coffin nail, throwing it towards the back of Lady Nishang.

Zhou Fei said in confusion: "What?"

Li Sheng was taken aback: "Is this a gathering of heroes or a banquet at Hongmen?"

Indeed, Zhou Fei continued, "Otherwise, I will just tie you to my neck, and you won't have to kick the shuttlecock; you can just gnaw on my feet instead"

Zhou Fei instinctively cast a glance at the Zhu siblings, who were cheering for Huo Liantao along with the crowd, and thought to herself with a sense of intrigue: "Is Ding Kui, having nothing better to do, going around hunting these small fry out of sheer boredom, or is someone behind the scenes manipulating him?"

He opened the food box and discovered that the rice, dishes, and soup inside were all surprisingly cold

Li Sheng asked: "And then? What poison is 'pouring out sorrow'?"

Zhou Fei had witnessed Mu Xiao Qiao in action firsthand. That time in the valley, he was besieged by Shen Tian Shu and Tong Kai Yang, and unable to withstand their assault, he resorted to blowing up the valley. On that occasion, aside from the final act of "blowing up the valley," Mu Xiao Qiao and Shen Tian Shu, among others, largely maintained the demeanor of skilled fighters, without displaying particularly brutal behavior. In any case, compared to the current scene of carnage, Mu Xiao Qiao's attitude towards Shen Tian Shu last time could be considered "courteous".

The leading middle-aged man, not knowing which of Huo Liantao's subordinates he was, was also unfortunate; just as he intended to draw his sword to intimidate others, his precious sword lost a tooth due to the collapse of Wangchun Mountain. He could not help but feel both shocked and angry, glaring at Zhou Fei and asking, "Who are you?"

Xie Yun ignored her disrespectful remarks and shook his head with a smile: "Moreover, on that day in the Mu Xiaoqiao Valley, if you hadn't happened to come and let us out, I was also planning to use my own martial arts. Because of you, I inadvertently lived an extra year. The matter of the Forty-Eighth Village is merely returning a favor to you; there is no need to take it too much to heart"

Although Zhou Fei and a few others entered the venue with the people from the Xingnan Escort Agency, they occupied a separate table for the sake of convenience in conversation. As soon as Ying Hecong began to speak, the group at the table stared at him with wide eyes, waiting for him to continue. However, Ying Hecong firmly closed his mouth.

Zhou Fei instinctively pulled back, but did not manage to withdraw her hand. Xie Yun, taking advantage of the cover of his long sleeves, treated her hand as a warm stove, all the while maintaining a demeanor of a virtuous gentleman, deliberately avoiding looking at her, yet a hint of mischief played at the corners of his mouth. Zhou Fei then raised her hand slightly, her shoulder moving as if she were playing a stringed instrument, and with the back of her hand, she tapped the hilt of the long knife. Wang Chunshan then discreetly bumped to the side, precisely poking Xie Yun in the ribs.

The entire Zhuangzi fell silent in the midst of this earth-shattering roar, and soon after, a middle-aged man stepped forward with great strides in response.

Everyone sitting on this side has a wooden invitation in hand, all of whom have connections with the Huo family fortress. Li Sheng hurriedly interrupted Ying He, who was about to continue his search for trouble, and asked: "How can one tell if a person is ill or poisoned?"

Yang Jin angrily turned her head, almost coming into contact with the small red snake that Li Yan was holding, her anger instantly quelled. She expressionlessly performed a backflip off the chair, her face turning visibly pale. It was only then that Li Yan realized what had happened, shocked yet gleeful as she exclaimed: "My goodness, a person from the southern border is actually afraid of snakes?"

There is no need for pleasantries. I originally intended to join in the festivities while everyone was present and to consult the castle lord on a few matters. However, I inadvertently overslept this morning. Mu Xiao Qiao yawned nonchalantly, lazily interrupting Huo Lian Tao's greetings. This time, he did not deliberately adopt a feminine tone, but having accustomed himself to modulating his voice, it still came out much softer than that of an ordinary man, weaving through the ears like a silent snake. "The stone forest formation at the entrance is quite complex. I arrived late and there was no one to guide me, so I had to take some rough measures. I apologize for the disturbance and will compensate you later."

Xie Yun sighed almost inaudibly: "The saying 'unable to distinguish right from wrong' truly lives up to its reputation; it is indeed a fool of guaranteed quality and quantity"

Once again, someone inquired: "Then may I ask Lord Huo, what is the secret here that is worthy of the Northern Dogs' covetous gaze?"

As Mu Xiao Qiao spoke, she waved her hand behind her—last time in the valley, a portion of her subordinates had been killed by Bei Dou, and another portion had perished due to his own explosives, leaving almost none remaining. However, as the saying goes, "out with the old, in with the new," it was evident that she had recruited a new batch of personnel.

It is a pity that Mu Xiao Qiao is usually quite unworthy, and his reputation is too tarnished. Not to mention that he merely captured such an inconsequential witness; even if both the witness and physical evidence were present, what he says would not seem credible.

"I have sprinkled powder on you," he said expressionlessly, "within a radius of 3 miles, wherever you go, my snake can follow."

Mu Xiao Qiao stepped forward, using her toes to lift the chin of the man lying on the ground, pointing in the direction of Huo Lian Tao and asking: "Do you recognize him?"

Immediately following, Huo Liantao, without taking a breath, continued to speak: "As for the question raised by Mr. Ding, since the Haitian Yise was originally a righteous act, why did those predecessors keep it a secret back then? I might as well tell you that it is because, even if a sect has fallen, those who can preserve their lineage must possess some hidden treasures, whether they be divine weapons or rare medicinal formulas that have vanished from the martial world, or martial arts classics passed down from ancestors—sixty-three sects represent half of the foundation of the Central Plains martial arts world, how many items among them could drive people to madness? At that time, the world was already engulfed in war and turmoil, and to prevent someone like Mr. Ding from coveting it, the allied forces were forced to conceal the secret of Haitian Yise!"

"Sixty-three major sects," Huo Liantao said slowly, "At the very least, it takes several decades, and at most, over a thousand years, accumulating the legacies of countless heroes and the efforts of masters. It is disheartening to see all of this about to be reduced to ashes in that catastrophe. Thus, the heroic figures such as the Sword of Mountains and Rivers, Master Yin, the Southern Blade, Master Li, the elder of the Qi Sect, and my elder brother stepped forward to take the lead in forming a pact called 'Heaven and Sea in One Color.' Initially, it was aimed at rescuing and gathering the orphans of various sects and preserving their relics..."

Zhou Fei couldn't help but glance at the big fool Yang Jin beside her, who looked utterly bewildered by her gaze

Xie Yun cast his gaze around, lingering for a moment on the tall loft behind the water pavilion. The small building had curtains hanging, and it was unknown who of high status was seated inside, with strict precautions in place, surrounded by a circle of guards.

Xie Yun felt a chill run down his spine, not wanting to know what Zhou Fei had carved the bamboo flute into.

Zhou Fei waited for him to question her, but after a long time without a word, she heard the unconventional Young Master Xie boldly say: "You have truly made great progress, and as your teacher, I am greatly comforted. By the way, is there anything to eat? You have been chasing all day without a drop of water or a grain of rice."

When the first person spoke up, friends and family who had suffered at the hands of the living and the dead were stirred into a frenzy. It can be said that the martial world of the Central Plains is much like a divided court, lacking a unified power and set of rules, and there are always ambitious individuals stirring the waters in an attempt to profit, making the survival of the fittest and the suffering of the masses inevitable. Ordinary people are like drops of water, dissipating into nothingness in an instant, hardly worth mentioning; only when they gather together do they form a force, capable of producing terrifying power. In this regard, regardless of the means employed, Ho Lian Tao's ability today to gather these scattered sands into one place, encouraging them to dare to shout at Ding Kui, is indeed a merit.

Mu Xiao Qiao smiled brightly as she admired his face, which was trying hard to conceal its emotions, and said: "He said he saw with his own eyes that the fire at the Huo family fortress was set by our own people. The master of the Huo fortress started sending the family assets south early on, leaving only the old master as bait in Yueyang, pulling off a golden cicada shedding its shell on the North Dipper, and then setting fire to burn the old master to death"

Xie Yun was cracking open the peanuts on the stone table one by one and placing them in front of Zhou Fei, while cheekily saying: "It seems you still have much to learn"

Confucianism disrupts the law with culture, while chivalry violates prohibitions with martial power. Throughout history, those in power have been well aware of this truth. It is not only Cao Zhongkun who understands this; even Emperor Jianyuan of the Southern Dynasties would agree. However, Cao Zhongkun usurped the throne through force, occupying a position that was not rightfully his. Due to his illegitimate claim, he has been pricked by the nest of the sparrow for over twenty years, living in constant fear of assassination. He is more wary of the forces of the martial world than other emperors, leading him to act with even greater madness. This is evident as Zhou Fei observes that many older individuals present wear expressions of deep sorrow, clearly indicating a significant grudge against the Cao family.

It is indeed somewhat peculiar that Young Master Xie is dressed in such wide sleeves and loose robes. While most others attending the hero gathering are clad in practical short attire, prepared for combat, he appears in a disheveled manner, as if he intends to compose a poem to celebrate the heroes' brawl

Just now, the woman who had been leading the way without changing her expression while Li Yan caught the snake finally changed her complexion and stepped forward to ask: "Who are you? How did you get in?"

Upon entering the main gate of this estate, one must traverse a stone forest, where the stones rise to about one zhang in height, capable of crushing a person if they were to fall. The shorter stones do not exceed knee height and are arranged in a seemingly haphazard yet orderly manner. As outsiders step inside, they are immediately struck by a chilling and uncomfortable sensation. Staring at those stones for too long can induce dizziness, compelling one to focus their gaze on the narrow path that winds its way through the stones ahead.

Then I heard Wu Chuchu say from the side: "I have something I don't know whether I should say or not... If I wanted to cause trouble at this hero gathering, I would definitely come secretly, suddenly stand up to scare people, and I certainly wouldn't let others carry me in a coffin, fearing that others wouldn't know... Unless..."

Xie Yun continued, "This life is born of unfiliality. As long as I live, my uncle's rule will never be legitimate. Whether he seeks reform or campaigns to the north, anyone whose interests are touched by him will always use me as a hindrance to him. I am merely a vessel for internal strife—look at the suffering in Hengyang, the plight of the refugees in Shu, the tragic fate of the songstress who disfigured herself. The Zhao family is embroiled in internal conflict, and as long as that continues, the north and south will struggle to unite. Wars must still be fought, and the displaced will continue to wallow in mud. Thus, I am a disloyal life that brings calamity to the world. Since I am unfilial and unloyal, living another day is already superfluous, isn't it?"

The newcomer walked unsteadily, his emaciated frame resembling a collection of bones. When he was brought in by others, he trembled with fear, seemingly on the verge of wetting himself. The moment his supporters released him, he fell to the ground with a thud, hitting his head against the floor, unable to rise at all

Zhou Fei pointed at him with Wangchun Mountain and said: "If there are such words again, you better hold them back and don't force me to hit you"

The members of the Xingnan Escort Agency simultaneously took two steps back, distancing themselves from the strange Li Yan

Suddenly, the middle-aged man slammed his hand on the table, without any greeting, and directly launched an attack, drawing a long sword and thrusting it forward, shouting: "Gentlemen, what day is it today? Is there truly no law or righteousness in this martial world, allowing these demons to distort right and wrong?"

Zhou Fei suddenly turned her head, no longer wanting to see Xie Yun's smile.

On the contrary, the last few engravings had become much lighter, and the turtle shells appeared more rounded, giving them a dignified look. She even remembered to add tails to these few gentlemen, seemingly unaware of the reason, and had calmed down again. Xie Yun thoughtfully reached out to stroke the engravings on top.

Zhou Fei: "... ..."

"Huo Liantao," Xie Yun said in a low voice

In order to be more comfortable, he propped up the foot that was locked away, casually crossing his legs in a rather unrefined manner, resting his foot on a small stool beside him. This action might have seemed somewhat rogue-like, but when he did it, it appeared to embody a sense of nonchalance and disarray. Before Zhou Fei could inquire further, he skillfully picked up the chopsticks with his left hand and continued: "I am searching for the Sea and Sky in One Color, merely fulfilling the last wishes of my ancestors, while also harboring some unresolved doubts, tracing back some old matters—have you ever considered how many years have passed since the Great Medicine Valley was destroyed? Back then, the old man Yu and the others only consumed a few remaining pills that had circulated outside; when old man Yu took the Return to Yang Pill, you weren't even around yet. How many years has it been now? You have grown up 'out of nothing,' what kind of medicine can grow without mold or spoilage? It's not like it's an elixir of immortality."