Chapter 3, The winds of the world rise in Yangzhou

This young man in splendid attire is robust and vigorous, with bright eyes that shine brightly. His tall and strong physique is complemented by his elegant garments, yet they cannot conceal his well-proportioned arms and waist.

"It is best that you do not interfere in today's matters," Lian Qingyan said in a deep voice

But, Senior Brother, you promised to teach me lightness skills. Although I have not yet achieved the level of Qiu Tong, I have been following your instructions step by step to reach this point. Do you think you could..." Zu Bei Qiu eagerly rubbed his hands together, looking at Zheng Dong Ting with a pitiful expression

Lian Qingyan, sitting by the window across from him, fixed her gaze intently on Gong Tianying, her hand firmly resting on the scabbard beside her, and said calmly: "Likewise."

"Then... could it be that the one who killed the master is Peng Qiuzui?" asked Zu Beiqiu.

Of course, of course. However, you will be quite busy for the time being, " Zhang You said with a smile

"Very busy?" Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu exchanged glances, unable to decipher the meaning behind Zhang You's words. At that moment, a strong aura of killing intent suddenly filled the elegant teahouse in Yangzhou. A chilling cold seeped into the limbs and bones of Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu, rendering them unable to move freely. Meanwhile, Zhang You, who had been sitting in front of them, suddenly transformed into a blurred image and vanished in an instant.

"That's easy to say," Zheng Dongting said with a cold smile, "The hyacinth does not come without treasure; what do you want to dig up from me this time?"

Ah, it is more appropriate to say speculation rather than fabrication. I have carefully questioned the children of Yangzhou, and on that day, only you two outsiders entered and exited the Luo family. You stayed at the Luo family for a day and a night, and that night, a fire suddenly broke out at the Luo residence. Subsequently, the children saw the two of you escape from the flames. Moreover, you, Zheng Dongting, even deliberately threw the Luo family's banner of righteousness into the fire, indicating an intention to annihilate the entire family. I have not made any mistakes in this, have I?" Zhang You gradually became serious.

Gong Tianying suddenly had an epiphany: "You actually already know!"

Therefore, Brother Zheng, all you need to do is to fully inform me of the events of that day, and it would be best if you could tell me who the murderer is. I will make it public, allowing you to clear your suspicions, while I can gain fame and become the foremost matchmaker in the world.

It is absolutely true; my in-law's actions are utterly unscrupulous. I woke up in the dungeon, my clothes filthy and soiled, feeling worse than dead. Later, the sounds of slaughter were deafening, and we hid in the dungeon, completely unable to see who was behind the violence. It was not until we escaped that we saw the corpses strewn everywhere, the stench overwhelming. My senior brother and I took refuge in the Zanhua Tower, drinking flower wine for three days and nights to recover our spirits. "Grandfather Zubi Qiu said honestly.

"I, Zu Beiqiu, swear that once I find Qiu Tong, I will immediately devote all my efforts to investigating the murderer of my master," Zu Beiqiu said earnestly, raising his hand.

On that day, the ancestor mourned the autumn and raised the letter of divorce to enter the Renyi Manor, while many children in Yangzhou had much to observe. Most of these children are my informants; I know not what they are made of, said Zhang You with a smile

In less than seven days, the number one sect in the world, the Kunlun Demon Sect, along with the Thirty-Six Blade Hall, announced to the martial world that they would take full responsibility for the recent massacre of the Luo family, and they began to actively recruit heroes from the martial community.

Upon waking up in the autumn of sorrow, the first words were a heart-wrenching cry: "I have been wronged!"

The Guanzhong Sword Sect has always been a gathering place for chivalry in the martial world. During the early Tang Dynasty, 60% of the 3,000 black-armored imperial guards under Emperor Taizong were trained by the Guanzhong Sword Sect. Since the Tang Dynasty, any major martial arts case that significantly impacted society and could not be resolved by the authorities was sent to the Guanzhong Sword Sect's Criminal Hall for handling. As a martial world constable, when I apprehend important suspects, I must escort them to the Guanzhong Sword Sect's Criminal Hall for interrogation and sentencing. The arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Hall are jointly supported by the Seven Great Sword Sects and the Eight Great Families. The righteous people in the martial world seize this opportunity to make a name for themselves, so once an arrest warrant is issued, the wanted individuals immediately become like rats crossing the street, with everyone shouting to catch them. The head of the Criminal Hall, the Red-faced Judge Guan Siyu, is known for his iron-faced impartiality and cruel interrogation methods, and people in the martial world speak of him as if he were a ghost.

"What... what is going on, Senior Brother? Now we are in deep trouble! How can the Zhongjian Sect set up a court of justice on their own? Isn't this a blatant violation of the law?" Zu Beiqiu asked, trembling.

"Bastard, is the name of the great hero Peng something you can utter?" Zheng Dongting glared at him, "He is the number one hero in the world, a person of integrity and righteousness. How could he engage in such underhanded acts of harming others? Moreover, he has been absent from the martial world for nearly twenty years. Would he suddenly have the whim to emerge and kill?"

"Do you think I don't want to know who did it?" Zheng Dongting sighed and recounted everything that had happened that day in detail

"They are right there, aren't you going to take action?" Gong Tianying raised his chin and said coldly

Zheng Dongting slowly nodded: "Alright, pour me a cup of tea, and I will toast to my master"

Lian Qingyan swallowed the tea in her mouth, her expression unchanged as she slowly swirled the teacup, silently watching the tea leaves spinning endlessly within it, seemingly oblivious to Gong Tianying's words

"Aside from you, no one enters or exits. Any figure from the martial world who knows this fact would arrive at the same conclusion I just did. These young men from Yangzhou are not my exclusive subordinates. For just a few taels of silver, all martial figures will learn the details of that day, and you will be the prime suspects in the massacre of the Luo family. When the time comes, it will not be I who judges you, but the experts from the Execution Hall of the Guanzhong Sword Sect" Zhang You stated solemnly

The young man in splendid attire, Zhang You, rolled his eyes repeatedly, gesturing with both hands for mercy, forcefully pointing at his throat. Zheng Dongting shook his head in a mix of beauty and difficulty, giving Zhang You's back a firm pat. Zhang You coughed forcefully, and a peanut, like an arrow, shot out of his mouth and fell to the ground

Forget it... Zheng Dongting sighed, seemingly giving up as he slumped into his seat, bringing a plate of five-spice peanuts in front of him. "Even if I find that damned masked man now, I wouldn't be able to take him on by myself. Let's first help you find that unfaithful wife of yours."

The seven major sword sects of the martial world and the eight prominent families' disciples spared no expense, offering a bounty of a thousand gold pieces, dispatching scouts in all directions, conducting thorough investigations both openly and covertly, and exerting all efforts to locate the mastermind behind this shocking case. The elite members of the thirteen associations of the five major underworld factions also began to reach out, hoping to identify the perpetrator of the massacre of the Luo family, either by recruiting them into their ranks or by forming alliances, seeking to seize this rare opportunity to gain fame and expand their influence in the martial world.

The main hall of the Luo Family's Benevolence and Righteousness Hall was razed to the ground in a single day, resulting in the complete annihilation of nearly one hundred relatives of the Luo family, with not a single member of the Zhuang Yong surviving. This event stirred even more earth-shattering waves in the already tumultuous rivers and lakes of the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

I said! If it weren't for Master’s help, Ke Yanyue might have been killed by the great hero Peng back then!" Zheng Dongting shouted loudly, startling Zu Beiqiu, who trembled and dropped the secret manual on the ground

How is Brother Zheng as a person, and how are his martial skills? Does this younger brother not know? With Brother Zheng's strength alone, even if he adds his master and junior brothers..." Zhang You casually pointed to the now trembling Zu Beiqiu, curled his lip, "he still wouldn't be able to kill a few hundred members of the Luo family"

Zheng Dongting widened his eyes and suddenly exhaled. The peanut shot into the mouth of the young man in splendid attire. The mysterious young man stared wide-eyed, mouth agape in silence, and frantically pounded his chest, clearly indicating that the peanut had been blown into his trachea by Zheng Dongting

Upon mentioning the name of Guan Siyu, Zheng Dongting's expression turned ashen.

At that moment, a figure clad in moonlight suddenly appeared on the second floor of Shuyu Pavilion, leisurely taking a seat beneath the window, two tea tables apart. With the arrival of this moonlit figure, the chill that permeated the air seemed to dissipate like winter snow encountering the blazing sun, instantly becoming formless, and even the frost-laden droplets on the teapot regained their vitality, rolling down the sides of the pot.

"Ah, Brother Zheng, your internal cultivation has made remarkable progress recently, truly impressive." As if the earlier embarrassment had never occurred, Zhang You smiled brightly and cupped his hands towards Zheng Dongting.

This makes things easier; all we need to do is uncover the true identity of this mysterious person to know who the murderer of the master is. Zu Beiqiu's eyes remained fixed on the manual of lightness skills in his hands, and his words were uttered without any thought.

It is even more impossible. He is the leader of a demonic cult, with numerous skilled subordinates at his disposal. If he wants to kill you, he only needs to lift a finger, and there are thousands of Kunlun cult members who could easily slap you to death, so why would he personally engage in such an uncertain assassination?

"Senior brother, are you really willing to help me?" Zu Beiqiu exclaimed in surprise, raising her head sharply.

"Senior brother, you mentioned that a mysterious figure from the free-spirited school defeated our master ten years ago. Could it be that he has found our master again?" Ancestor Bei Qiu inquired again.

"Hahaha, Brother Zheng, is this your newly recognized junior disciple? In the vast world of martial arts, he is truly one in a million," Zhang You said with a gloating smile.

Exactly! Exactly! The ancestor, in sorrow for autumn, seems to have grasped a lifeline, nodding vigorously as if pounding garlic

Zheng Dongting shot him a fierce glare, revealing an expression that seemed to say he understood the situation: "It appears that our master has some unresolved issues with the great hero Peng. Before the decisive battle, the two of them had a confrontation. My master never told me the specifics of what happened back then, and he refuses to speak about it whenever I ask. Hey, my master is a boastful person; something must have happened that he finds hard to disclose, most likely related to a woman."

"Senior brother... when did these people arrive?" Zu Beiqiu asked, trembling with fear.

Indeed, well reminded, junior brother! Zheng Dongting raised his hand forcefully, stating, "This person is a leading figure of the free style, with martial arts that are varied and unpredictable. It is highly likely that he will employ this authentic and traditional Hainan sword technique."

Zhang You leisurely ordered tea and snacks, savoring the flavors while watching Zheng Dongting flustered as he pinched the person's acupoint and slapped their face, finally managing to wake up Zu Beiqiu.

"That's great, thank you, senior brother!" Zu Bei Qiu said excitedly, his face flushed, as he quickly clasped his hands in salute.

"I was just about to mention this matter regarding the books, so please do not interrupt me first." Zheng Dongting, feeling troubled, rubbed his forehead, as if Zubaqiu's words had disrupted the thoughts he had managed to clarify with great difficulty

"What? The Luo family actually drugged you to avoid giving you a release letter!" Zhang You exclaimed in shock, his eyes wide open

"Isn't that so? If you don't believe me, you can ask my junior brother. He is the most honest person and would never lie." Zheng Dongting spread his hands.

"Brother Zheng, all the information you have given me is worthless; I will not make it public. The only way to save you now is to immediately find the murderer of the Luo family massacre. I don't think you can handle this matter, so I will help you with it," Zhang You said, raising an eyebrow and speaking softly.

Gong Tianying's eyes sparkled with intensity: "You, who have always prided yourself on being righteous and quick to act, are surprisingly calm in the face of such a significant incident. This is quite rare."

"Hehe, let's talk when I return from the restroom." Zheng Dongting reached into his bosom and took out a handwritten manual, handing it to Zu Beiqiu. "The Swallow Flying Cloud Technique taught to me by my master was passed down orally. Over the years, I have reflected on it repeatedly and compiled many insights, which I have gathered into this book. It contains the techniques of Flying Cloud, along with many of my annotations and variations. Take it and study it well. You have already practiced superior qigong for ten years, and with this manual, based on your aptitude, you could master lightness skill within a few months."

"Disciple... you don't seem to care who killed the master?" Zheng Dongting looked at Zu Beiqiu's expression and helplessly shrugged his shoulders

Gong Tianying carefully stared at him for a few moments, and finally, he slowly moved his hand away from the sword sheath, resuming the slow peeling of the peanuts.

Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu, who witnessed this major event firsthand, were completely oblivious to the surrounding clamor and chaos. They fled in panic from the crime scene and took refuge in the fragrant flower pavilion of Zanhua Tower, where they drank flower wine for three days and nights, barely managing to expel the horrific scenes they had encountered in the main hall of Renyi Manor from their memories.

On the afternoon of the fourth day, the tragic scene of the Luo family had faded from the minds of the two. Zheng Dongting finally decided to start doing something serious. He brought his junior disciple, Zu Beiqiu, to the Wufu Teahouse across from the Zanhua Building, ordered some light tea and meals, and looked at him with a serious expression.

Gong Tianying had patiently waited in Shuyuge for the duration of a tea break, while the two individuals across from him, Zheng Zu and another, had been animatedly discussing trivial matters related to the martial world and their long-retired, now useless master for the same length of time. These were topics he had no interest in hearing. No matter how patient Gong Tianying was, he was beginning to feel restless. This matter was of great significance, shaking the entire martial world, and the two individuals before him held the key to unraveling all the mysteries; he could wait no longer. With this thought in mind, he gently set down his teacup, casually discarded the peanut shells on the ground, and with his left hand, reached for the hilt of the sword at his right side. The veins on the back of his hand bulged, and the murderous aura surrounding him surged to its peak in that instant, causing the droplets of water on the teapot to crystallize into grayish-white frost particles.

"I don't care," Zu Bei Qiu said, raising his head decisively.

Ah, Brother Zheng, you flatter me. This time, you assisted Junior Brother Zu Beiqiu in delivering a letter of resignation to the Luo family. The Zu and Luo families had a disagreement and ended up in a fierce fight. Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu joined forces to confront hundreds of experts from the Luo family, resulting in a bloodbath at the Luo residence and the burning of the Renyi Hall, accomplishing quite a significant feat. From now on, the five major factions and thirteen associations of the underworld will have to look to the two of you as their leaders.

"You little hyacinth, do not gloat over others' misfortunes. Which wind messenger first released this news?" Zheng Dongting tossed the awakened Zu Beiqiu onto the seat beside him and asked with a frown and an angry glare.

What? Zheng Dongting was dumbfounded. At the same time, there was a loud crash of tables and chairs collapsing behind him, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground. Zheng and Zhang turned their heads to see that Zu Beiqiu had already fainted from fright.

Ah, Senior Brother, shouldn't you spill the tea on the ground as a gesture of respect to the Master

"Why can't I do it? Don't forget that I am a head constable in the underworld, having solved numerous major cases. And my junior brother, he is exceptionally gifted..." Zheng Dongting hurriedly said

"Disciple, there is no need to speak of the matters concerning the Zanhua Tower, as it would only bring shame and embarrassment." Zheng Dongting's face flushed red

Damn it! As Zhang You swiftly made his escape, Zheng Dongting couldn't help but curse loudly.

Lian Qingyan did not respond, but simply unsheathed the long sword from her waist, placed it horizontally on the long table in front of the window, and raised her hand to summon a pot of tea.

"Hmm, where was I..." Zheng Dongting struck his head forcefully, trying to shake off the haze of his hangover. "Right, avenging my master. The one who killed my master is an unparalleled expert, so I cannot defeat him alone. I need your help. However, you do not know lightness skills, which puts you at a disadvantage in combat. Therefore, I have decided that starting today, I will teach you the unique lightness skill of our school—Swallow Flying Cloud Leaping."

All of this is too hard to believe. Even if I were to make it public, not many would believe it, and it would further diminish my credibility as a descendant of a prestigious family of wind messengers said Zhang You, greatly disappointed

Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu were engaged in a lively conversation, unaware that every move they made was being observed clearly by a pair of sharp, discerning eyes. The owner of these eyes—Gong Tianying—was at that moment leisurely seated in Shuyuge, diagonally across from Wufu Teahouse. He sipped the fresh and elegant Shugang tea while deftly peeling peanuts in front of him with his right hand. His body sank comfortably into the chair, exuding a relaxed demeanor that made those who saw him feel dispirited. However, his eyes were in stark contrast to the ease displayed by his body, filled with fervent battle intent, projecting waves of intense killing aura, akin to a fierce beast ready to spring forth and inflict harm. This man wore a long robe as white as snow, white silk embroidered warrior pants, gray cloth leg bindings, and cloud shoes on his feet. A long sword, engraved with patterns of cranes and auspicious clouds, was prominently sheathed at his waist, measuring three feet nine inches in length, without a tassel, concealing a latent killing intent.

Zu Bei Qiu quickly poured a cup of clear tea from the table and respectfully presented it to Zheng Dong Ting. Zheng Dong Ting casually accepted it and drank the tea in one gulp.

What about Du Lingxiao

On the Shuyuge Pavilion, Gong Tianying and Lian Qingyan were taken aback by the scene below, nearly spitting out the tea they had just sipped. Gong Tianying quickly glanced at Lian Qingyan and said calmly: "Such a person could not possibly be the murderer of the Yangzhou massacre"

Zhang You tilted his head proudly and said: "In this world, who else but me, the Little Overlord of Yangzhou, can deeply understand the entanglements between the Luo and Zu families, and be the first to discover that Zu Beiqiu has come to the city for business among the figures of the Jianghu?"

"That's great, thank you, senior brother, for the book." Zu Bei Qiu took the secret manual from Zheng Dong Ting and eagerly flipped through the pages, reading ten lines at a glance.

I have said that I would help you search for your wife in the martial world, and what I say naturally counts. Although this is not exactly a pleasing task, it is certainly more meaningful than avenging my master. Let's first address your living situation. Zheng Dongting sighed and said, "However, I must make it clear in advance that if Luo Qiutong finds out that you are neglecting your revenge and instead idling away in the martial world, heh heh, she will definitely look down on you."

Zheng Dongting had made plans for the future, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. Unable to resist, he raised his hand and tossed a peanut high into the air, then tilted his head back, opening his mouth wide in anticipation of its descent. Suddenly, a strange current of air appeared, sweeping the peanut and causing it to change direction unexpectedly. Zheng Dongting quickly looked up, only to see the peanut falling perfectly into the mouth of a young man dressed in fine garments.

The Lu family massacre seemed like a fuse, instantly bringing the surging undercurrents of the Tang Dynasty's martial world to the surface. The gunpowder scent among the six hundred prefectures and counties of the ten circuits of the Tang Dynasty suddenly intensified

"Hello, that banner of the Luo family, representing righteousness, just happened to drift above my head. I casually tossed it aside, but who would have thought it would be swept away by the flames? It certainly does not imply the complete annihilation of my family. You must not speak carelessly." At this point, Zheng Dongting realized he had gotten himself into a tremendous amount of trouble, and he was already drenched in cold sweat.

Ah, yes, yes. Although Zu Beiqiu no longer understands the ways of the world, he has grasped Zheng Dongting's meaning and quickly picked up the book, smiling apologetically as he asked, "What happened back then... um, what exactly happened?"

What Brother Zhang said is indeed correct! Zheng Dongting quickly replied

"You said that Zheng Dongting and Zu Beiqiu joined forces to annihilate hundreds of masters from the Luo family, which indicates that you saw us enter the Luo family. However, on that day, we only encountered members of the Luo family. How did you come to know this?" Zheng Dongting asked without any hesitation.

"Hello, Brother Zhang, our friendship is quite good, so please do not say that you will stand by and do nothing at this moment," Zheng Dongting exclaimed in astonishment.

Indeed, in recent days I have been contemplating the identity of the murderer who killed my master, yet I have been unable to grasp any leads. If we consider the skilled individuals capable of killing my master, there are indeed quite a few in today's martial world. However, the martial arts of these experts are all distinctly unique, making it impossible for them to disguise themselves as the Hainan Sword Sect's Unruly Wind and Shadowless Sword.

The muscles at the corners of Gong Tianying's eyes twitched slightly, and a cold, eerie smile slowly appeared on his face: "Moon Knight, you are truly indispensable everywhere."

"Senior Brother, could it be that one of the three great masters, who are renowned alongside our master, killed him? Moreover, that Ke Yanyue is the leader of the villains from Taihang Mountain; he is the most likely suspect, isn't he?" said Zu Beiqiu.

Hehe. Zheng Dongting chuckled as he slowly walked in front of the young man in splendid attire, "Hua Xinzi Zhang You, how many times have I told you not to snatch things that are already at my lips"

Who is Ke Yanyue? He is the notorious bandit of Taihang, why would he need to hide after killing someone? Moreover, I heard from my master that he has some connections with Ke Yanyue. Back in the day, when Ke Yanyue fought against the great hero Peng at Wutong Ridge, if it weren't for my master's assistance, he might have been killed by Peng. At this point, Zheng Dongting looked at Zu Beiqiu with excitement. Zu Beiqiu seemed to ignore his presence, still engrossed in flipping through the manual of lightness skills in his hands.

"So, you are saying that the news about Zheng Zu and the bloodbath at the Luo family is something you made up yourself!" Zheng Dongting said with a frown