Chapter 1: The Beauty of Jiangnan

The ghostly speed caught Gu Cangyue and the others off guard; despite having over a hundred people present, they could only watch helplessly as Yan Tao successfully slipped into Suzhou.

The expression on the face of the ancient Cangyue was extremely grim. He loudly commanded, "Send the order down: search the entire city with all available hands. Please have the general of the guard mobilize troops to assist, and say that I, 'Cangfeng Fortress', have good intentions to offer."

The three of them, under the ancient crescent moon, exchanged glances. The dashing young man nodded and said, "Very well, what we primarily want is that sword pellet, just three elixirs. What does it matter if we give you the 'Jinxiu Mansion'? Relying on the power of herbs and plants, the increase in strength may be rapid, but it is likely detrimental to one's cultivation"

A few young people responded in unison and followed behind Old Niu as they went out. Li Feng was still there grumbling, "Damn it, I was just told the day before yesterday that I could take a few days off to wait for A Zhu to recover from his injuries, and today they go back on their word? Is there really no one else in the Golden Dragon Gang who can work besides me and A Zhu?"

Outside the main gate of the Suzhou government office, on the street, only three to five scruffy men sat by the roadside tea stall, holding bowls of murky yellow tea, their eyes darting around nervously and vigilantly. In the innermost position sat a burly man with a thick layer of black hair on his exposed chest, striking a pose of a local boss, proudly lifting the tea bowl in front of him, occasionally taking a few sips, as if he were a powerful dragon savoring fine Persian wine.

The handsome face of the flower protector revealed a sinister smile, and his "Flower Summoning Finger" was about to strike Yan Tao. Just then, Yan Tao's sword light flipped in the air, shooting straight up into the sky. After a turn, it once again beheaded three beautiful subordinates of the Brocade Mansion, then shot straight towards the city gate of Suzhou with the speed of lightning, leaving no time for anyone to intervene.

The Tiger Boss shot him a glance, just about to speak, when footsteps approached once more. A young nobleman, dressed in a bright yellow scholar's robe and holding a folding fan adorned with a golden-threaded painting of a lady, smiled as he walked slowly past with two maidservants. As he passed by the Tiger Boss and his companions, a glint of cold light flashed in the nobleman's eyes, causing the Tiger Boss and his group to take a step back in fear, nearly pressing themselves against the wall.

At this moment, Gu Cangyue stepped out of the Suzhou Prefectural Office. Dressed in a silver-gray outfit, he appeared tall and elegant, with a refined demeanor. Notably, the pearl the size of a thumb on his hairpin and the emerald jade belt at his waist were particularly eye-catching. His hands, meticulously groomed and spotless, were as delicate and pure as mutton-fat jade. On the thumb of his left hand, he wore a lightweight ring made of fiery red gold-threaded agate. The moment he appeared, he brought a splash of brightness to the dull and monotonous street.

Sudden footsteps approached, as two middle-aged men dressed in purple robes, with long swords at their waists and faces like jade, quickly walked over accompanied by a dozen tall and short men. They cast a cold glance at Big Tiger and his companions, seemingly sweeping past the long street like the wind, disappearing at the other end of the avenue

The ancient Cangyue's two hands, seemingly carved from jade, were placed neatly on the stone table in the pavilion, remaining motionless. The other three individuals appeared to be somewhat entranced by Cangyue's hands, as no one could have anticipated that such delicate, fair, and exquisite palms were renowned in the martial world as the 'Cloud Summoning Hands.' It is said that during the battle at Poyang Lake, a massive stone weighing ten thousand pounds, hurled towards Emperor Taizu, was shattered into pieces by these very hands.

Under the setting sun, a solitary figure with a deep black silhouette approached. With a short, scraggly beard, a gaunt and dark visage, tattered black attire, and a long sword measuring four feet in length yet only a finger's width, he painted a chilling image that sent shivers from the depths of one's heart. Strangely, the man in black was softly reciting: "The beauty of Jiangnan, the scenery once familiar..."

The young master, holding a folding fan, shook it slightly and said with a smile: "Indeed, indeed, the sword pellet of the legendary swordsman 'Mr. Jiu' from seven hundred years ago is a treasure that everyone desires. However, it all depends on one's appetite. As for 'Cangfeng Fortress', the 'Number One Fortress in the World', we do not dare to pluck feathers from the tiger's mouth, but surely a little benefit should be given to us at 'Jinxiu Mansion'"

At noon, the scorching sun cast a burning glare over the entire city of Suzhou, completely devoid of the elegance and coolness characteristic of the Jiangnan water towns. The cicadas loudly clamored on the willow branches, their piercing cries rendering the scholars drowsy or exceedingly irritable, prompting them to curse the heavens: "Damn it, is there no respite for us?"

Boss Hu spat softly, "Damn it, what's so impressive about being all mysterious? Hmph, tomorrow, I will..." However, Boss Hu was well aware that Gu Cangyue was indeed remarkable. As one of the thirty-six Heavenly Stars under the 'Number One Fortress' officially appointed by the current Emperor Taizu, known in the martial world as the 'Heavenly Machine Star' and the 'Cloud Summoner,' Gu Cangyue was not someone that a mere local thug leader from Suzhou could underestimate. As one of the thirty-six Heavenly Stars under the 'Number One Fortress' officially appointed by the current Emperor Taizu, known in the martial world as the 'Heavenly Machine Star' and the 'Cloud Summoner,' Gu Cangyue was not someone that a mere local thug leader from Suzhou could underestimate

Everyone heard Li Feng's complaints, but no one spoke up. He and A Zhu could bring back five or six money bags in one outing, and they had never failed even once. Compared to the other members of the Golden Dragon Gang, this achievement was simply astonishing. Boss Niu would not blame Li Feng, the youngest yet most skilled with a blade, after all, they relied on him to make money. The goal of their Golden Dragon Gang was to become the largest gang in Suzhou, and a large gang needed many members. To recruit and expand, they needed money, and to have money, they depended on skilled individuals like Li Feng. Who would dare to scold him?

Yan Tao's expression also changed slightly. He was already well aware of the reputation of the "Cangfeng Fortress" and its thirty-six heavenly stars, but he had not anticipated that this sword pellet would attract the attention of people from "Cangfeng Fortress." In an instant, a flash of sword light enveloped Yan Tao's entire body in a light shield that was three zhang long and about a foot thick, slicing through Lang Tian's fist force with a "shh" sound, as if a rainbow was slanting towards the city gate of Suzhou.

The young man smiled and said: "To the extreme, to the extreme, the chief of the Suzhou prefecture is here, who dares to commit murder?"

The sun gradually moved westward, and thirty-six constables stood steadily outside the pavilion, not a single bead of sweat visible on their foreheads; the eighteen subordinates brought by the two men in purple were also leisurely wandering through the woods, showing no signs of impatience or irritation. As for the two maids of the flower-protecting young master, they sat on the steps of the tea pavilion, smiling charmingly and whispering softly, their picturesque brows frequently glancing playfully at the constables, yet each constable, with a heart of iron and stone, showed no intention of looking back. As for the two maids of the flower-protecting young master, they sat on the steps of the tea pavilion, smiling charmingly and whispering softly, their picturesque brows frequently glancing playfully at the constables, yet each constable, with a heart of iron and stone, showed no intention of looking back.

The young master of the flower guardians opened his folding fan with a whoosh and said with a smile: "This is something essential to our minor estate, nothing too significant. However, our estate master has recently been pursuing the granddaughter of the current prime minister. These three 'Qingling Pills' are a gift for Miss Liu's sixteenth birthday. Since you all have no interest, let us decide this: you take the sword pills, and we will take the pills, each getting what we need, and afterwards, we shall not disturb each other, how does that sound?"

The ancient Cangyue's eyes glanced lightly at the small path to the north, and then her gaze suddenly changed. Her fingers, which had been as steady as a stone sculpture, trembled slightly and contracted a little.

In the woods outside the North Gate of Suzhou

Li Feng glanced at the knife flower in A Long's hand and disdainfully said: "A Long, do not forget, over the years, within Suzhou Prefecture, only A Zhu and I have not been captured by Lao Gu's subordinates. If you want to say such sentimental words, I won't say much either. Anyway, I have paid my dues for this month, so how about I assist you today?"

The young master who protects flowers and the two individuals in purple robes, who are not seasoned veterans, immediately turned their gaze towards the north

The leader and his men were taken aback when a thug approached and whispered, "Boss, should we send the brothers to inquire? Gu Touer is the chief constable of Suzhou, so it is only natural for him to be out and about when something happens. However, all three notorious figures stationed in Suzhou from 'The First Fortress of the World' and 'Cangfeng Fortress' have mobilized, which indicates that this matter is not trivial... We should see if there are any opportunities, as the brothers have been tight on funds lately"

The other figure in purple dryly stated: "Cangfeng Fortress, Crying Star, God-Slaying Blade, Zhao Lingtian"

Gu Cangyue let out a cold snort, casting a sideways glance at the young man, her head tilted upwards towards the sky. The middle-aged man to Gu Cangyue's left had already placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, but it was Gu Cangyue who pressed down on him with one hand, preventing the middle-aged man from acting out immediately.

Who would have thought that Yan Tao, renowned for his fearsome reputation as the swordsman known as the 'King of Hell Sword', would forcibly summon a surge of scorching true energy and once again execute the 'Sword Qi Transforming into Rainbow' in mid-air. With a resounding 'whoosh', a brilliant blue sword energy shot up into the sky, bursting forth several sword energies as thick as a fist and five to six zhang long, creating a gap in the swirling net of hidden weapons. He soared up to a height of several zhang, then swiftly turned and plunged downwards. With another resounding 'whoosh', the brilliant blue sword energy shot up again, bursting forth several sword energies as thick as a fist and five to six zhang long, creating a gap in the swirling net of hidden weapons. He soared up to a height of several zhang, then swiftly turned and plunged downwards.

The King of Hell slowly raised his head, casting a cold, almost rigid glance at Lang Tian and Zhao Ling Tian, and said in a dry voice: "You may leave; I will not kill you. 'Cangfeng Fortress' cannot intimidate me, a rogue spirit... If you seek the sword pill, that is out of the question"

Gu Cangyue glanced at Big Tiger, nodded slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, spoke softly: "I understand that in this small area of Suzhou, what Big Tiger says still holds some weight. Therefore, Big Tiger, please inform the others to refrain from excessive activities recently. As the Chief Constable of Suzhou, I can turn a blind eye, but I hope you will not cause me any trouble or attract unwanted attention, understood?" In the last word, Gu Cangyue infused a hint of internal energy into the question, leaving Big Tiger feeling dizzy and hurriedly stepping back a few paces, repeatedly nodding in agreement.

The ancient Cangyue revealed a faint smile, gently rubbing her palms together. She glanced at the constables behind her, waved lightly, and led them briskly down the street towards the city gate, as if a black whirlwind had swept through the narrow street, startling two large yellow dogs resting by the roadside into a frantic leap and run away

Cold sweat suddenly soaked his forehead, and Tiger Lao Da whispered, "Shut up, shut up. We can't wade through this mess this time. You all go send a message to Old Yang and the others; don't let them get taken out without even knowing it. Damn it, why is that little Tai Sui from 'Jinxiu Mansion' out and about? Usually, he enjoys practicing his skills surrounded by women. Strange, strange, it seems like something big is really about to happen. Unfortunately, unfortunately, the people involved this time are too intimidating; we don't have the strength to seize any benefits."

A crescent-shaped, pale blue sword energy, known as 'Pi Bu', swept towards the sword rainbow transformed by Yan Tao, nearly slicing it in two. However, that sword rainbow executed a swift turn in mid-air, nimbly evading the sword energy, tracing a large arc, and forcing back the eighteen subordinates brought by Lang Tian and his companion. In the air, a sharp sound of inhalation was heard as Yan Tao's sword rainbow continued to advance, having already flown over thirty zhang in the brief moment of catching its breath. Yet again, that sword rainbow executed a swift turn in mid-air, nimbly evading the sword energy, tracing a large arc, and forcing back the eighteen subordinates brought by Lang Tian and his companion. In the air, a sharp sound of inhalation was heard as Yan Tao's sword rainbow continued to advance, having already flown over thirty zhang in the brief moment of catching its breath.

With a sudden tightening of his tone, he could no longer continue speaking. The subordinates of 'Cangfeng Fortress' are not pitiful creatures who endure humiliation in silence; after all, the intention upon arriving here was to commit robbery. Why bother with so many polite words? His hand gently brushed against the hilt of his sword, and with a clang, a flash of purple lightning was drawn from its sheath, the sword light slicing through the air with a chilling whistle aimed at Yan Tao's neck.

Yan Tao laughed angrily: "What kind of joke is this? Where is your Wave Breaking Fist? Using a sword against me, you are seeking death." As Yan Tao's reprimand echoed, a circle of misty white light suddenly emanated from the sword sheath at his side, resembling a halo, effortlessly deflecting the long sword that Lang Tian had spent over ten thousand taels of silver to prepare. With a hissing sound, Lang Tian's long sword disintegrated into powder and fell to the ground.

Boss Niu began to mediate, chuckling as he brought the two together, feigning reproach: "Alright, A Feng, we are all brothers here, why say such things? It hurts feelings... A Long, you too, knowing A Feng is young, why be so calculative? Today, you two will be partners. After we eat, let’s all go out for a stroll and see if there are any outsiders coming in... In Suzhou, begging is quite convenient, it all depends on whether the brothers are diligent." Today, you two will be partners. After we eat, let’s all go out for a stroll and see if there are any outsiders coming in... In Suzhou, begging is quite convenient, it all depends on whether the brothers are diligent.

Yan Tao spat out a mouthful of blood into the air, and he shouted loudly: "Good, good, good, what a 'Cloud Summoning Hand'... Is the chief constable of Suzhou really that impressive? It's nothing more than the role of male thieves and female prostitutes." Yan Tao felt an intense burning in his insides, his blood energy fluctuating wildly, and he found it difficult to gather his true energy. In a moment of panic, he activated the life-saving 'Blood Barrier Qi,' spitting out three mouthfuls of fresh blood in quick succession, which transformed into a blood rainbow that flew directly over the city walls of Suzhou and rushed into the city.

The dandy quickly put away his folding fan and said with a serious expression: "Absolutely not, who would dare to utter such treasonous words? Our 'Jinxiu Mansion' currently has the motto 'To behold all the beauties of the world, all belong to my splendid garden.' This ancient saying of 'Eight thousand miles of rivers and mountains' must not be spoken again. In today's world... heh heh, regardless of how powerful your backgrounds may be, it cannot be... haha. Our appetite is not large; we only desire the three 'Qingling Pills' next to that sword pill. I wonder what the three of you think?"... heh heh, regardless of how powerful your backgrounds may be, it cannot be... haha. Our appetite is not large; we only desire the three 'Qingling Pills' next to that sword pill. I wonder what the three of you think?

Yan Tao shouted loudly: "You are a beauty, yet why do you steal? You women of the Jinxiufu... damn it... you foul women of the Jinxiufu." A splash of blood erupted as a sharply edged red maple leaf sliced through Yan Tao's side, leaving a trace of blood. The pain caused him to retract his sweet words and replace them with loud curses.

A tense whisper spread for a moment, and a group of thugs scattered in a rush, quickly disappearing into the streets and alleys of Suzhou City

The ancient Cangyue cast a venomous glance at the Flower Protector and coldly remarked: "Young Master Jin, you should speak more politely. Bright yellow is a significant taboo. If it weren't for our shared connections in the martial world, you would have long been sent to the labor camp... Young Master Jin, your subordinates have suffered heavy casualties among the beauties. Do you need to file a report at my Suzhou Prefecture?"

The ancient cold moon said: "You, the 'Jinxiu Mansion', claim to have 'eight thousand miles of rivers and mountains, all filled with beautiful people'. Hmph, the world belongs to you 'Jinxiu Mansion', what else is there that you cannot consume?"

As Yan Tao's loud chanting echoed, Gu Cangyue and others revealed smiles of glee, while the Flower Protector exclaimed loudly: "Be careful, quickly get out of my way"

The faces of the four individuals were as cold as ice blocks, and they simply closed their eyes, no longer glancing at each other.

Zhao Lingtian burst into laughter: "Brother Yan, Brother Yan, this great swordsman who even makes the King of Hell worry, just leave him to me. Once you enter Suzhou, find your old partner, where else can we look for the sword talismans and elixirs on you?" With a roar that resembled a fierce tiger's growl, the long sword at Zhao Lingtian's side was unsheathed with a thunderous sound. Although it was clearly a sword, it emitted the whistling sound of a blade, and with a heavy slash, it struck down.

That rogue brother muttered softly, "What of the current Prime Minister Liu? Hmph!"

Within the city of Suzhou, Li Feng lazily gnawed on a roasted dog leg, having changed into a relatively bright outfit, and followed A Long out the door while patting his belly. After a while, the entire residence also became desolate, devoid of even a single ghostly shadow. Even the thug sent by Big Tiger to relay messages could not find anyone, and after cursing a few times in frustration, he walked away.

The dozens of handsome young men under the Flower Protector leaped up simultaneously, weaving a large net in the air, while simultaneously calling out: "Colorful falling shade, splendid world." Their voices were crisp, resembling that of young women. Hundreds of delicate little hands rose at once, instantly scattering petals, leaves, and fruits across the sky. Following the wild rush of the Flower Protector, countless colorful flowers, leaves, and fruits shimmering with a cold light floated up, enveloping Yan Tao like a tornado. Hundreds of delicate little hands rose at once, instantly scattering petals, leaves, and fruits across the sky. Following the wild rush of the Flower Protector, countless colorful flowers, leaves, and fruits shimmering with a cold light floated up, enveloping Yan Tao like a tornado.

Boss Niu swallowed hard, feeling a bit helpless yet somewhat ingratiating as he approached lightly, gently patting Li Feng's shoulder and saying: "Ah Feng, I know Ah Zhu is injured and won't be able to work for at least three months. But you also know that if we don't meet our quota this month, Boss Hu and the others won't let us off easily. This month, please bear with it a bit; Ah Sheng and the others are currently training a few apprentices. Once they are ready, life will get easier. You know our goal is to become the largest gang in Suzhou, right? That requires money." This month, please bear with it a bit; Ah Sheng and the others are currently training a few apprentices. Once they are ready, life will get easier. You know our goal is to become the largest gang in Suzhou, right? That requires money.

Gu Cangyue looked at his two palms with great admiration. Indeed, twenty years of hard work had resulted in this astonishing skill, which directly saved the life of Emperor Taizu. The direct consequence was that the Emperor personally promised him the freedom to choose a position at will. The far-sighted lord commanded him to select Suzhou Prefecture, a place rich beyond measure, as the chief constable. Today, it is no surprise that his wealth has surpassed one million. That desperate strike back then was truly wise.

Gu Cangyue let out a cold laugh: "Brother Yan, Brother Yan, after killing so many people in front of me, the chief constable of Suzhou, do you still think you can leave?" After saying this, he swiftly pushed out his right palm. A white gust of palm wind sliced through the air with a hissing sound, creating ripples of translucent waves, striking Yan Tao's waist with a sinister force. Gu Cangyue observed for a long time, gradually understanding the changes in Yan Tao's sword aura. Now, taking advantage of the situation, he successfully landed a blow.

The ancient Cangyue looked down at the Han with a proud nod, gently using his thumb, adorned with a ring, to stroke the two tufts of mustache on his lips, and coldly said: "Boss Hu, you can rest assured, I, Gu, am not one to trouble my brothers. However, I can tell you that recently in Suzhou, the situation is quite tumultuous, with many powerful figures crossing the river. Keep your eyes open and do not offend anyone; otherwise, even for the sake of our hometown and kin, I won't be able to save you when the time comes"

As thousands of hidden weapons surrounded Yan Tao, who had already raised the hem of his clothes, Gu Cangyue, who had swiftly darted to the roadside, revealed a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. He whispered, "Very well, let you people from the Jinxiufu kill him, so that old monster won't come looking for trouble with our 'Cangfeng Fortress'. Where is the logic in guarding against thieves for a thousand days?" His hand, which had been tightly clenched, gradually relaxed, and he simultaneously signaled to Lang Tian and Zhao Lingtian.

Lang Tian and Zhao Ling Tian exchanged glances, surrounding Yan Tao from a distance, yet they did not launch another attack. It seems that under the 'Falling Shade and Colorful Blossoms' formation of the young ladies from the Jin Xiu Mansion, even Yan Tao, no matter how formidable, would have no way to escape

The one called A Long, a lean boy who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, suddenly stood up and shouted: "Damn it, A Feng, clarify what you mean, what is wrong with me? You are the number one in our Golden Dragon Gang, but how am I worse than you? In terms of knife skills, how am I inferior to you?" After saying this, A Long pulled out a small black blade from his pocket, about the length of a finger but only a millimeter wide, as thin as paper. He lightly played with it on his fingertip, producing a hissing sound.

Frowning intentionally and pondering for a moment, Boss Niu generously said: "However, A Feng has a point. A Zhu is currently recuperating in the countryside, and A Feng must be feeling quite troubled. Therefore, all you need to do is gather the quota for this month. Remember, twenty taels of silver, and I will not take my usual cut. Once you collect the twenty taels, we will hand it over to Boss Hu, and this month will be settled. As per the old rules, make sure to destroy the banknotes promptly to avoid causing trouble for our Golden Dragon Gang, alright?"

Li Feng lazily crawled out of bed, carefully tidying up the tattered quilt. He shot a sideways glance at the few young men behind Niu Laoda and suddenly exclaimed in astonishment: "Niu Laoda, you can't be serious! You want me to partner with A Long? You must not know..."

Lang Xiong opened his eyes and glanced at the smiling young man who was protecting the flowers, coldly saying: "Gu Xiong, do not be anxious. Within the jurisdiction of Suzhou Prefecture, no one dares to touch the people of 'Cangfeng Fortress', right? Hmph, although the goods are good, it also depends on whether those people can handle them."

The one called Li Feng is a boy with a large head and a small body, sporting a messy head of hair. He appears to have delicate features but is extremely untidy, and he is no more than twelve or thirteen years old. He lies languidly on a tattered bed, yawning as he says: "Niu Laoda, you know very well that A Zhu just had his hand broken by Hu Laoda. I have no partner, how can I find work? Besides, the tasks you assigned me this month have already been completed. With so many people in our Jinlong Gang, why is it that all the work falls to me and A Zhu?"

Even the three people in front of me are staring blankly, aren't they? Hehe, whether it is jealousy or envy, that is hard to say

The several men under the roadside tea shed began to call out loudly, while the burly man sitting at the innermost part quickly stepped out of the tea shed, approaching with flattery and ingratiation. He leaned in with a low laugh and asked, "Gu Touer, where are you off to this time? With your esteemed presence out and about, the brothers are bound to have a tough time."

The eyes of the Tiger Leader darted around, still wanting to ask something. However, upon seeing the thirty-six iron captors dressed in black uniforms, each wielding a large knife and wearing a silver badge on their belts, who had emerged following Gu Cangyue, he wisely took a few steps back and ceased to speak.

This time, Yan Tao displayed his signature skills, as three faint blue sword lights, each only about a foot long, protected his body and charged straight towards the large net ahead.

Where could they possibly dodge? That thickest sword rainbow shattered with a few sharp cracks into countless sword energies, fleeting like a swan flying from the heavens. Amidst the screams, more than a dozen female subordinates disguised as men from the Brocade House had their heads severed, and the sky was filled with blood, making it difficult to discern Yan Tao's movements.

Gu Cangyue chuckled coldly: "Ashamed, ashamed, with the 'Jinxiu Mansion' flower-protecting young master present, who would dare to commit murder"

Gu Cangyue and the others calculated for a moment and solemnly nodded in agreement. The Flower Protector let out a long laugh, flicked a copper coin into the sky, producing a series of sharp whistling sounds. Instantly, over fifty agile and handsome young men swooped in like eagles and falcons, standing neatly in front of the tea pavilion. Gu Cangyue and the others' expressions changed slightly, and they cast a fierce glance at the Flower Protector.

The ancient Cangyue remained silent, while the浪兄 and another man in purple led eighteen subordinates out of the forest, forming a line across the main road. The浪兄 chuckled lightly and said: "Yama Sword Yan Tao, Brother Yan, I am浪天有利 from 'Cangfeng Fortress', 'Tianmin Star', and 'Breaking Waves Fist'"

Before Niu Laoda could respond, A Long had already started clapping loudly: "Alright, A Feng, since it's your turn, I will trouble you to take care of the package for me today and see if A Long can handle it on the table."

After a long period of time, Gu Cangyue could no longer contain himself. He opened his eyes and quietly asked the man in purple robes to his left, who had a dark red mark at the center of his brow: "Brother Lang, look, the person the fortress master mentioned..."

As the sun set in the west, a few sneaky figures appeared in a long-abandoned courtyard outside Suzhou. A robust young man, whose physique was comparable to that of an adult male yet appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, strode towards a secluded house in the backyard. He kicked open the door and shouted loudly: "Li Feng, get up, get up! Why are you still sleeping? Hurry up and go find some work while the weather is still cool. We need to pay Boss Hu twenty taels of silver this month. If we don't have the money, be careful or we will all be beaten to death."

Yan Tao looked strangely at the sparkling large net in front of him, took a long breath with a 'hu' sound, and the sword aura rose again

The dandy, in a fit of exasperation, extended his right hand, casually flicking his fingers in a sequence of over ten gestures. A faintly fragrant, dark red breeze enveloped him like a gentle net. With two sharp exclamations, the dandy's two maidservants simultaneously darted forward, raising their hands to unleash countless sparkling triangular crystal shards. A series of crisp sounds echoed as the shards collided chaotically, suddenly dispersing into the shape of the Tai Chi bagua, encircling Yan Tao.

Lang Tian, feeling a pang of heartache, let out a loud cry. His entire body soared into the air, as if he were a monstrous eagle, hovering about three zhang above the ground. With a shake of his right fist, the sound of thunder crackled in the air, and waves of white fist energy surged forth like ocean tides, converging into a mass about three feet away from Yan Tao, crashing down with a thunderous roar.

The people from the Splendid Mansion hurriedly followed the Flower Guardian, and the faces of those women showed no signs of sorrow; each one was smiling as they looked at the Flower Guardian, creating an exceedingly strange scene. Upon hearing the Flower Guardian's last words, Gu Cangyue and the others couldn't help but change their expressions slightly, leaving six captains at the scene while the others hurriedly departed.

The beauty of Jiangnan is well-known, the scenery is familiar from the past, in dreams, the sword is hidden in Jiangnan, we shall meet again at the place of the King of Hell

Gu Cangyue was accompanied by the two men in purple robes, exiting through the southern gate of Suzhou City. They circled along the city wall, allowing the various city foxes and rats to observe their movements before leisurely arriving at the entrance of the northern gate, where they settled in a tea pavilion within a small grove. The young man referred to as Xiao Taisui followed closely behind Gu Cangyue with two maidservants, entering the tea pavilion with a cheerful demeanor, showing no regard for formalities, and took a seat opposite Gu Cangyue.

The dandy glanced lazily at the dozen or so female corpses on the ground, shook his head, and said: "Fallen flowers are inherently heartless... Why bother to clean them up? It is a task for the officials of Suzhou. Let us go, mobilize all available manpower, and we must find the King of Hell's sword. Hmph, I wonder if Elder Qingmu has succeeded."

The dashing young man, with a chuckle, suddenly appeared before Yan Tao, smiling as he said: "What a remarkable 'Sword Aura Transforming into a Rainbow.' Brother Yan's cultivation truly rivals that of the legendary Sword Immortal. Unfortunately, unfortunately, Brother Yan is still human after all; I fear that this divine skill may not be sustained for long, right?" As he gently waved his folding fan, a fragrant breeze surged forth, rushing towards Yan Tao with a fierce 'whoosh'.

The dandy revealed a mocking smile, repeatedly applauding and saying: "How impressive, truly impressive. No wonder you are living off the royal favor; the constables and guards of Suzhou must also be under your command, not those of the current Emperor Taizu."