Chapter 1, Jade Hairpin
Zhao Hongyun smiled and said: "It has been eight years since we last met, yet your demeanor remains as impressive as ever!"
The old man from Longmen began to sweat, cold sweat
Ren Piaoping smiled and said, "It seems I misheard."
In the study, there were only Zhao Hongyun and Ren Piaoping. In front of Ren Piaoping lay two sheets of plain paper side by side, identical in paper, identical in writing, and identical in content—"A Thousand Miles Apart Yet Close at Hand" by Ren Piaoping. One was left behind when Little Die was abducted, and the other was left behind when Old Master Zhao was murdered.
At this moment, the singer was no longer a singer, as a sudden sound of the zither broke the silence, and a force slicing through the air struck the leg of Ren Piaoping's chair. The scholar was no longer a scholar, as the sword had already pierced towards Ren Piaoping's throat. The chair cracked in response, yet Ren Piaoping did not fall; she maintained her previous sitting posture, with the tip of the scholar's sword caught between her fingers.
Ren Piaoping listened outside the cave and could not help but admire the old man greatly
There are neither nine plum blossoms nor six sword energies, only two tables
The frail elder in black beside him moved swiftly, blocking Ren Piaoping's path, and urgently said: "Young Master!" Zhao Hongyun waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "I believe that this is not the doing of Brother Ren."
Zhao Hongyun's eyes were fixed on Ren Piaoping, yet there was little sign of belief in them
Longmen Grottoes, Wanfo Cave, midnight
... ...
The scholar smiled and said, "There is no need for the young lady to thank me. My mother also enjoys listening to a little tune. May I ask if the young lady would be willing to step over to my humble abode and sing a song?"
The scholar indeed spoke: "It is rumored in the jianghu that Brother Ren's martial arts are not only diverse but also refined, often transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. This move 'Taishan Pressing Down' would likely cause even Li Jinlai, the leader of the Dianzang Sect, to lose to you by two or three points! I am Liu Rujun." Ren Piaoping smiled and said: "Well said, Liu Rujun! You must have been deliberately waiting for me here!" The scholar nodded
Xiao Ru can also fly kites in the yard now
The next day, in the morning
Zhao Hongyun smiled gently and said, "I naturally believe you, for you would not make things difficult for Xiaodie; you did not eight years ago, and you certainly will not now, eight years later." Zhao Hongyun sighed deeply and added, "And there is also our child, Ruo Ping, with Xiaodie." At this moment, Zhao Hongyun's face was filled with parental affection, and the earlier imposing authority and pride of a dominant figure had completely vanished.
At the appropriate moment, Zhao Hongyun had already come forward to greet several elders. Among them, only Zhao Hongyun displayed a hint of a smile, while the other three elders wore very serious expressions
The scholar could only manage a bitter smile. Amidst the sound of his bitter laughter, the sword emitted a cold gleam, and with force penetrating the sword tip, it unexpectedly conjured up nine plum blossoms, each flower smiling at Ren Piaoping. At the same time, on the strings of the green-clad woman's zither, six tangible sword energies had already shot forth, resembling six bolts of lightning, striking fiercely towards Ren Piaoping's face.
... ...
"Come, let me take a look, Uncle," Ren Piaoping said as he took the kite from Xiaoruping. This kite looked somewhat familiar to him, and he quickly repaired it with ease.
"Good," before the words had fully left his mouth, the scholar had already arrived in front of Ren Piaoping
The old man at Longmen seemed to have long known the purpose of Ren Piaoping's visit and said: "Ouyang Xiaodie, the wife of the young master of the Zhentian Gang, was abducted in broad daylight on the 15th, and there has been no news since. The visitor left a plain note with only four words on it—'within reach, yet worlds apart'"
Ren Piaoping laughed and said: "Based on this, do you think it was done by me? That would be rather hasty, wouldn't it!"
As the lingering chill of last night still permeated the air, Ren Piaoping was already standing before the imposing entrance of the Zhen Tian Gang headquarters.
At this moment, the old man from Longmen was animated and spirited, recounting the tales of the martial arts world as if they were his own treasured possessions, completely oblivious to the masked figure before him
Ren Piaoping poured himself a glass of wine, as if nothing had happened. He believed he needed to sort out his thoughts. He considered that Liu Rujun ranked at least among the top twenty in the martial arts world, with a set of forty-nine moves of the Nianhua Sword Technique that few could rival, and when it came to lightness skill, even fewer could surpass her. As for the woman in green who played the guqin, she was a rare gem in the vast world, with no more than three individuals recently gaining fame in the martial arts world for using the guqin as a weapon. In terms of age, this woman must be the one who, three years ago, with a poignant piece titled "Nian Nujiao," defeated the notorious Thirteen Evildoers of the Black Path in Northern Sichuan, known as Shishui Wuhen Yan Wushuang.
Thus, Ren Piaoping arrived in front of the masked man, whose sword flashed like lightning towards Ren Piaoping's shoulder, fierce and venomous. Ren Piaoping retreated, but the masked man's sword followed her like a shadow. As Ren Piaoping retreated again, she found herself unable to move back any further. Just as her back was about to touch the Buddha statue, Ren Piaoping suddenly moved sideways to the right for five feet. Startled, the masked man found that Ren Piaoping had already reached outside the cave
The old man of Longmen has closed his eyes and said: "I am sorry, but I have nothing to offer."
The jade hairpin that the woman in green had handed to him was an extremely ordinary one, which could be purchased in the market for two taels of silver. This jade hairpin was now in Ren Piaoping's hand, and as he gently stroked it, a wave of intense pain surged through his heart. This hairpin was what he had bought for Xiaodie eight years ago, spending all the silver he had. It was also eight years ago that Xiaodie married Zhao Hongyun, the deputy leader of the Zhentian Gang.
Ren Piaoping smiled slyly, and the masked man, enraged and humiliated, said: "Hmph! Ren Piaoping, I will not let you go." The person had already leaped away.
At that moment, a beam of blinding sunlight shone through the window onto the paper, where a faint pattern was discernible. Upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably a bright red cactus.
I wonder if you are perceptive to others' feelings" Ren Piaoping continued to smile as she spoke
Ren Piaoping, dressed in white, sat quietly alone, appearing calm and serene, pouring and drinking for himself, as if lost in thought, yet seemingly thinking of nothing at all. He looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a height slightly above average. His face was angular, with eyebrows like peaks, a high nose, and eyes that conveyed both melancholy and determination, giving his entire visage an impression of elegance and grace. At first glance, he seemed more like a delicate scholar, yet the occasional glint in his eyes hinted at a formidable presence that should not be underestimated. Ren Piaoping did not seem to enjoy speaking much; he preferred to silently observe everything around him, as if his eyes were meant solely for seeing.
Thank you, senior. After expressing gratitude, Ren Piaoping walked boldly into the night, an endless expanse of darkness
However, what Ren Piaoping is most eager to know now is about Xiaodie.
The night was as dark as ink, and a single candlelight within the cave was quite bright, yet it flickered, revealing the unique carvings and expressions of each Buddha that were unknown to others
Ren Piaoping said with a bitter smile: "You may leave."
The woman in the green dress raised her eyebrows and glanced at Ren Piaoping as if her eyes could speak, saying: "If you invite that young gentleman by the window to join us, I will go."
Hello, Uncle! Xiao Ru said.
The masked person said: "Nonsense." Before finishing the word "nonsense," they hurriedly covered their mouth with their hand
At this moment, Ren Piaoping found herself in such a place, her mood reflecting this very sentiment. Gazing at the receding figure of the woman in green, her brows furrowed, and her eyes held an indelible sorrow.
But how could the two of them appear in Luoyang at the same time? Why do they want to assassinate me? Who is behind the scenes? What does all of this have to do with Xiaodie?
The woman in the green dress quietly gazed at Ren Piaoping, also noticing the two canine teeth in Ren Piaoping's mouth. Her expressive eyes transformed, resembling a lake shrouded in mist, as she said: "Enough!" Suddenly, she smiled charmingly and added, "We will meet again." With that, she slipped through the window.
The words of the Old Man of Longmen have come to an end, yet Ren Piaoping knows that the Old Man's intentions remain unfulfilled. As Ren Piaoping gazes at the statues of Buddha before her, she suddenly feels very insignificant. In this world, there are many matters that are inherently difficult to resolve, whether it is troubling others or troubling oneself.
Now, Ren Piaoping recalled Xiaodie... He knew he should not wade into this murky water, but only he understood that it was imperative to wade in.
A sweet and tender child's voice called out from outside the door, "Father, my kite won't fly." A little girl, looking about seven or eight years old, fluttered into the study like a butterfly.
Ren Piaoping laughed, her figure suddenly rising, and she exclaimed "Good!" Her palm transformed into a blade, striking down with the force of a mountain pressing down, heavy and overwhelming. This strike was reminiscent of the "Mountain Pressing Down" technique of the Diancang Sect. With this blow, the ground trembled and the mountains shook, tables and chairs were tossed and flew, dishes shattered and scattered, and the crowd panicked and fled. Two large red sandalwood tables were already flying towards the scholar and the woman in green; what was flying was no longer the tables, but the myriad of blade energy gathered by Ren Piaoping on the tables.
Eight years ago, the Zhen Tian Gang was already the second largest gang in the world under the leadership of the gentleman sword master, Zhao Shiqing, second only to the Beggar's Gang. Now, under the management of the young master Zhao Hongyun, it has become even more prosperous
Upon seeing this butterfly, Ren Piaoping's heart flew back to a golden sea of blooming rapeseed flowers from ten years ago, where, between the fields, the little butterfly danced like a butterfly, and a long silk thread swayed in her fingers, controlling her kite
Whenever she thinks of Xiao Die, Ren Piaoping's heart becomes chaotic again
The entrance of the Zhen Tian Gang is quite imposing, with two stone lions standing three meters tall on either side of the gate. The vermilion gate is four meters high and six meters wide, adorned with intricate dragon carvings and painted beams. On either side of the main gate are two slightly smaller side doors. The main gate is tightly closed, and in front of it, two rather adorable kittens are playfully batting at a small mouse on the ground, which is utterly defenseless. Nearby, an old cat lies lazily, resting quietly, occasionally opening one squinted eye to glance at the two kittens before closing its eyes again to continue its own sweet dreams.
The most luxurious restaurant in the entire city of Luoyang—Drunkenly Embroidering the Universe, Ren Piaoping is currently seated at a table by the window on the second floor. Ren Piaoping has never been to Luoyang, as it is the headquarters of the Zhen Tian Gang. However, he is now in the city of Luoyang because Ouyang Xiaodie is also in Luoyang.
The Old Man of Dragon Gate and the Masked Man exclaimed almost simultaneously: "A mere distance apart, yet worlds away!" Although the three had never met, the unparalleled lightness of footwork known as "A Mere Distance Apart, Yet Worlds Away" could not be mistaken.
Ren Piaoping laughed heartily: "Isn't eavesdropping sometimes a refined affair in life"
Ren Piaoping did not respond, saying: "Ouyang Xiaodie." However, she chose not to say more, as speaking further would only bring sadness
A strong aura of killing intent was felt even by Ren Piaoping outside the cave. Just as he was about to rush into the cave, the killing intent suddenly vanished without a trace
A small bridge, flowing water, a household, withered vines, an old tree, dusk crows, a heartbroken person in the distant horizon
Then the masked man asked, "So what about that saying 'a mere step away yet worlds apart'?" This time, it was a man's voice
Ren Piaoping is smiling, revealing two mischievous yet pristine white canine teeth in her mouth
Zhao Hongyun extended his hand and said, "Please"
Thunderous Hall of the Dragon and Tiger Gang
The masked person began to speak, but strangely, the voice that came from the man's mouth was that of a woman: "What is going on with the cactus!"
The masked person said: "Who is looking for you?"
Zhao Hongyun continued, "Just at the moment before you arrived at our gang, my father was murdered and passed away." "Oh?" This time, Ren Piaoping was truly taken aback and said, "May I have a look?"
Now, he is to face death
The frail elder in black was taken aback and said, "Good eye, all of this is thanks to you, thank you." Although he expressed gratitude with his words, there was not a trace of appreciation on his face
Ren Piaoping understood what the cactus represented, death, an inevitable death
Ren Piaoping took the two plain sheets of paper from Zhao Hongyun and returned to the inn. Before him were still those two plain sheets, made of Luoyang paper, inscribed with the elegant handwriting of a refined young lady. He had lost all sense of direction, but at least he knew that although the characters on these two letters appeared similar, they were not written by the same person. Moreover, the handwriting on the paper left by the murderer of Zhao Shiqing was all too familiar to him; it was indeed the handwriting of Ouyang Xiaodie
Liu Rujun said: "Being understanding of others, Liu Rujun is certainly perceptive of people's feelings, but I have previously made a solemn vow, and I trust that Brother Ren would not impose difficulties on me."
Thank you, young master. The woman in green lightly parted her red lips, her voice resembling the sound of jade beads falling to the ground
Luoyang, the center of the Central Plains, is undoubtedly a place of prosperity that requires no further elaboration
Ren Piaoping lazily stretched his waist, and in that very moment, he had already sealed off all the paths of life for the scholar, employing the Shaolin internal family's principle of 'as solid as a fortress'.
"Not bad, may I ask what brings you here, my friend?" Ren Piaoping said to the masked man
The old man of Longmen knows that he has already made a round trip at the gates of the underworld
As the song echoed, "Things and people have changed, and all matters come to an end; when I wish to speak, tears flow first..." At this point, Ren Piaoping was already entranced.
The scholar suddenly felt that retreat was impossible and advance was also impossible, a cold sweat had already begun to flow down his back, yet the scholar was still smiling
Oh!? Ren Piaoping did not know whether this could be considered a response or surprise
The masked person, however, relentlessly said: "I didn't expect Ren Piaoping to eavesdrop on others' conversation!" At this moment, the masked person spoke in a woman's tone
... ...
Cactus
Zhao Hongyun smiled and said, "There is no need for you to worry, please follow me to the study."
The sound of the zither is elegant and melodious, and the singing is even more like a refreshing spring breeze. Ren Piaoping had not heard such a wonderful voice for a long time. When Ren Piaoping raised his eyes, he saw a woman in green, playing the zither, with a pair of beautiful eyes like autumn waters. The woman appeared to be in her twenties, with delicate eyebrows arching gracefully over distant peaks, and her green hair was richly dyed with the essence of spring. Ren Piaoping seemed to have lost track of whether it was the beauty of the song or the beauty of the person that captivated him.
Ren Piaoping looked at the scholar, he was waiting, waiting for the scholar to speak
It is now noon
A crowd of people gathered around a table not far away, listening intently to an old gentleman telling a story. Suddenly, someone asked, "Mr. Zhuge, which is higher in martial arts, Master Zhi Yuan of Shaolin Temple or Master Wang You Dao of Wudang Sect?" The storyteller chuckled and replied, "The nun, the monk, the beggar, the madman, and the old woman fishing alone in the lake and sea. This refers to the nine great masters of the martial world today." After taking a sip of tea, he continued, "The nun refers to the 'Nine Ghosts Nun' of Mount Huang, the monk refers to Master Zhi Yuan, and the Daoist refers to Master Wang You. Now you should understand!" Another person asked, "Mr. Zhuge, in recent years, there has been a saying in the martial world: 'The heavens and the earth are old, and the willow flies like a catkin, drifting apart at a distance.' How do the martial arts of these two compare?" Mr. Zhuge pondered for a moment and said, "That's hard to say. The two have never met, one from the south and the other from the north. However, their martial arts should rank among the top thirteen. If we are talking about lightness skill, I fear that Ren Piaoping would at least rank in the top three! Hmm! This old man cannot say for sure, haha, haha!" The crowd laughed and dispersed.
Zhao Hongyun stood with his back turned and said: "Presumably, Brother Ren is already aware of the matter regarding Xiao Die's abduction."
Liu Rujun glanced at Ren Piaoping and said: "Thank you, Brother Ren. If you have the leisure, you might as well visit the Longmen Grottoes. Farewell."
Zhao Hongyun's expression suddenly became serious: "Very well, very well, Brother Ren, please come in."
In the back hall of the Thunder Gang, the body of Old Master Zhao still had some warmth, his expression one of surprise and fear, with not a single wound on his body. Ren Piaoping glanced at Old Master Zhao's tongue, then turned to pick up a slightly cool soup bowl from the table, held it to her nose and said: "Longan and lychee eye-brightening soup!" At this moment, the frail elder seemed unable to contain his anger, and with a clang, a pair of steel-cast judge's pens were pointed at Ren Piaoping's throat, their momentum sharp and unstoppable. Ren Piaoping did not move, but someone else did. "Stop!" Zhao Hongyun reprimanded, and at the same time, the pair of judge's pens were already in Zhao Hongyun's hands.
The old man of Longmen said: "That girl must have taken a liking to you."
"Very well, I shall reward you with ten taels of silver," said a handsome young scholar, whose looks rivaled those of Pan An, to the woman in green opposite him. If they were not a singer and a listener, these two would truly be a perfect match made in heaven.
Ren Piaoping is speechless, as is the heart; when the heart reaches the point of pain, it becomes speechless on its own
In the entire Zui Li Xiu Qian Kun Restaurant, the old, the young, the men, and the women all seem to have forgotten that they came here to eat. They are crowded, hot, and stepping on each other's feet, yet not a single person is speaking. Everyone is here to listen to the music, or perhaps to admire the beauties.
Ren Piaoping was momentarily taken aback and said, "Alright, alright, alright." Ren Piaoping rarely lost her composure, and at this moment, she couldn't help but feel a bit self-deprecating
Ren Piaoping replied: "Thank you, how is Old Master Zhao?"
Isn't love akin to flying a kite? It cannot be too loose or too tight. If it is too loose, love will drift away; if it is too tight, love will wither.
During the early Qing Dynasty, under the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the world was stable, the four seas were peaceful, the people lived in harmony and worked happily, and there was a flourishing of song and dance
The Longmen Grottoes are located twenty li south of Luoyang City, carved into the steep cliffs amidst the harmonious interplay of mountains and water, with the Yi River gently flowing in front of them
The entire second floor is approximately one hundred square meters, filled with more than thirty large red sandalwood square tables, each occupied by a variety of people, including wandering heroes, ordinary citizens, and even street thugs, representing a mix of all walks of life. The business of the tavern is evidently thriving, with over a dozen waiters bustling about, and one can still hear the continuous calls from patrons urging for their meals, as well as the loud and boisterous sounds of games and drinking orders. There are also the slurred words of drunken patrons or the sounds of those causing a scene. The tavern's business is evidently thriving, with over a dozen waiters bustling about, and one can still hear the continuous calls from patrons urging for their meals, as well as the loud and boisterous sounds of games and drinking orders. There are also the slurred words of drunken patrons or the sounds of those causing a scene
Ren Piaoping furrowed her brows and looked up at the scholar. The scholar appeared quite frail, as if he would fall over with a gust of wind. The long sword in his hand seemed as though it would drop to the ground.
The old man of Longmen was initially surprised and delighted to hear a woman's voice, which would evoke a man's fantasies. He was astonished that the person was a woman and pleased for the same reason, as women are often easier to deceive. However, when he heard the words "cactus," his face turned ashen, for the cactus was not a cactus, but rather an organization, a killer organization.
Here, there are thousands of Buddha statues carved in various styles, each with distinct expressions and varying sizes. An old man resides here, known as the Longmen Elder, who is well aware of all the events, big and small, that occur in the world of martial arts, without exception ... Longmen Grottoes, Longmen Elder ...
However, just as Ren Piaoping smiled faintly upon hearing Mr. Zhuge speak of himself, she suddenly heard the sound of a guqin.
The old man Longmen took a breath and said: "Eight years ago, a young man appeared in the martial world, without any sect or affiliation, and no one knew his martial arts background, merely eighteen years old at the time. On the ninth day of the ninth month of that year, he single-handedly robbed the eighteen wealthy families of the capital of eight hundred thousand taels of silver overnight; on the tenth day of the twelfth month, he single-handedly repelled the six demons of the Qinling, who were at the height of their power in the underworld, with a single palm strike, rendering all six of them powerless; on the twenty-eighth day of the sixth month of the following year, he sparred for a day and a night with the chief elder of the Dharma Hall of Shaolin Temple, Master Shade, and the leader of the Wudang Sect, Master Wangyou, with no one knowing the outcome. In the end, the three became close friends across generations... At present, people refer to him as Liu Feixu, the one who wanders freely between heaven and earth, drifting like a floating reed in the vastness of the world."
Suddenly, there was a silence in the cave, as everyone had their own thoughts. What could be the thoughts of the masked person? The old man from Longmen wanted to know, and so did Ren Piaoping.
The old man of Longmen, clad in a purple robe, with kind brows and gentle eyes, appeared to be in his fifties. At this moment, he was sitting on the ground, his once rosy complexion now pale, completely devoid of his former confidence. In front of him stood a masked figure in dark clothing, holding a sharp, short fish intestine sword pressed against the old man's chest
Ren Piaoping smiled and said: "The Iron-faced Judge, Feng Wujì, dominated the martial arts world thirty years ago with a pair of judge's pens. Later, he joined the government to serve the court. Eight years ago, due to inadequate handling of cases, he retreated from the Jianghu. I never expected to meet him again today, what a fortunate encounter"