Chapter Two: By a twist of fate, one enters a strange realm, inadvertently saving the true essence.

The person's gaze fell upon the hat on the ground, and he said: "Ah! It is the 'Heartless Hat'... So, you saved me?"

Yuan Zhen does not have a large appetite, but he has a good capacity for alcohol. Jiang Heng, having little to do on ordinary days, also enjoys drinking to pass the time. Seeing him drink with such ease, Jiang Heng developed a favorable impression of him. During the meal, Yuan Zhen mostly just offered toasts and did not engage in much conversation. Jiang Heng ate quickly, and before long, the table was in disarray, with bowls turned upside down.

"Hello!" Jiang Heng said with a hint of displeasure, "I see your lightness skill is quite good, and I would assume your other skills are not far behind. I didn't expect you to have such little confidence in the skills you have painstakingly developed, yet you choose to believe in those supernatural tricks... Do you still consider yourself a person of the martial world?"

Jiang Heng had never heard of Yangjiao Mountain, so he asked, "Which direction should we go to reach the area around Taiyuan and Huoshan?"

The person suddenly sprang up from the ground, leaping back approximately five or six zhang, landing on a bifurcated branch of an old tree. Jiang Heng did not expect him to jump so suddenly and was completely unprepared, unable to help but take a step back. In fact, this person's backward leap was quite skillful, and his speed was remarkable. Jiang Heng felt himself lacking in comparison; even if he had known in advance, he might not have been able to stop him.

Yuan Zhen pulled Jiang Heng out of the restaurant. After walking for a while, Yuan Zhen said: "Looking at you like this, I guess it won't take half a day before you need me to bail you out. When that time comes, I will step in to mediate, and that will count as my repayment to you"

Take down this arrogant individual for me

Jiang Heng let out a sigh, reached up to wipe his forehead, and then realized that his clothes were completely soaked, having sweated profusely during his sleep.

It turns out that this stream does not flow out of the cave, but rather flows into the cave. Perhaps it was just the dim light yesterday that caused the mistake

Wow

Indeed, when Jiang Heng wielded his long sword, none among the crowd escaped unscathed; those fortunate enough suffered only minor injuries, with skin torn and blood flowing profusely; while those less fortunate faced severe consequences, with broken hands and feet, meeting their demise on the spot. The iron bagua, which had once obeyed its master, now that the practitioner’s life was in jeopardy, began to fall one after another.

Jiang Heng searched around but found his own matching sword not far from the body of the young man

Jiang Heng was taken aback and said, "Did I hear that correctly?"

Call the shop assistant to settle the bill. The shop assistant said: "The total is 2 taels and 4 cash of silver"

Jiang Heng returned to the young man, tearing open the clothing on his chest. On the expanse of his snow-white torso, apart from the sword wound, there were no other abnormalities, nor any tattoos or markings.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the forest, causing the branches and leaves to rustle, and a flurry of fallen leaves descended. Jiang Heng smiled as he sheathed his sword. At that moment, the long robe of the man in the long robe tore into pieces, drifting away like the autumn leaves, while his felt hat split in two and fell to the ground. It turned out that his few sword strikes were merely aimed at removing the man's robe and hat. These individuals possessed little skill, and given his status, he could not engage with someone who did not fight back.

At this moment, Jiang Heng realized that he had truly encountered the "evil forces." Amidst his astonishment, he was also ignited with the determination to prove his strength. With a push of his foot, his body shot out like an arrow released from its bow, and he aimed his long sword directly at the man who appeared to be the leader among the seven.

Isn't it a comparison?

In order to prevent the past, which has already become a thing of the past, from continuing to affect his future life, Jiang Heng decided to temporarily forget everything. He walked to the stream, crouched down to drink water and wash his face, tidied himself up a bit, and then took a few deep breaths to release the frustration he had felt over the past few days

After wandering aimlessly for two more days, I finally descended the mountain. On the roadside, I encountered several woodcutters heading up the mountain. Upon inquiring, I learned that this place is actually called "Yangjiao Mountain"

At this moment, he was eager to show off, and as he set off, he held nothing back. Soon, he ran as if he were flying, and before long, he had left the town limits.

Jiang Heng stood still, observing the only eighth person among the crowd who had escaped the disaster, still seated in place, with head bowed in deep thought, as if the matter did not concern him

Following the sound, Jiang Heng found several people resting under a large tree by the mountain path. Unfortunately, judging by their attire, they were not officials or soldiers from the court.

Gazing ahead, there was no sign of human presence, only a vast expanse of desolate smoke and grass. Jiang Heng thought this was a good place for a contest, so he stopped and turned back, waiting for Yuan Zhen to arrive

Jiang Heng curled his index finger and lightly tapped the table, coldly saying: "This gentleman, there is plenty of space elsewhere! I am not accustomed to making eye contact with others while eating, so please take your leave!" His tone was unkind.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng was taken aback and turned to look at the person again. He noticed that beneath the felt hat was a head of hair that reached down to the chest, now flying in all directions with the wind, partially obscuring the face, which gave an odd impression. Upon closer inspection, the person's features were delicate, the skin fair, and the stature neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin. If he were a man, he was indeed too delicate; and if she were a woman, she would be somewhat robust.

I do not know where this young man is headed

The few individuals glanced at the long sword on Jiang Heng's back, seemingly with some reservations. One of the older men signaled to a young man beside him, who then took off his backpack and pulled out a cake to give to him. Jiang Heng accepted it, repeatedly expressing his gratitude

What?

A sudden scream echoed faintly in the cave, and Jiang Heng, drenched in sweat, sat up abruptly.

Jiang Heng expressed his gratitude and then headed down the mountain. He thought to himself: "Perhaps the people in the mountains have limited knowledge and are unaware of the outside world." He planned to find a larger town to ask for directions.

The man quickly picked up the iron bagua and tucked it back into his bosom. At that moment, three of the eight people stood up simultaneously. Six eyes were fixed intently on him.

Soon, the dishes were served, and the waiter indeed brought an extra bowl. Yuan Zhen instructed to serve fine wine and added a few side dishes. Jiang Heng did not interfere, allowing him to make his own decisions.

Jiang Heng was aware that the sword on his back had drawn their attention. After receiving the flatbread, he walked away to eat it alone. Once he finished eating, he remembered that he could ask these individuals for directions down the mountain, so he approached them again.

Jiang Heng gazed at the stream in a daze for a while before finally departing with his sword

Jiang Heng is now all alone, and he feels he has nothing to fear when encountering anyone. Thus, he makes his way up the mountain without the need to conceal his tracks, which allows him to move more swiftly. After an indeterminate amount of time, he finally returns to the mountain path, thinking that as long as he follows the trail, even if he cannot find his way out of the mountain, he can at least meet someone to inquire.

The iron eight trigrams were dispatched swiftly, and the long sword was drawn quickly. One could hear the sound of "clang, clang, clang" ringing out seven times in succession, as seven iron eight trigrams flew off in seven different directions. The seven individuals gestured and shouted continuously, and remarkably, four of the iron eight trigrams seemed to respond, immediately turning around and flying back.

Is there anything else?

When everyone saw him stop the iron bagua with his bare hands, they were thrown into a panic, shouting incessantly. Jiang Heng was unaware of what trick they were about to employ; with a wave of his left hand, just as he had dealt with Huang Song's technique, he sent the iron bagua flying towards the heads of the crowd

Red Sheep Sect? Jiang Heng casually remarked: "I haven't heard of it..."

Jiang Heng recalled something and happened to ask, "Where is Huoshan in Taiyuan? How do I get there from here? Do you know?" Yuan Zhen shook his head

Just as he was thinking, a sudden gust of wind blew from behind, and two objects came flying towards him. Jiang Heng turned sideways and glanced back, only to see that it was two iron bagua.

Jiang Heng could hardly believe his eyes, but seeing the seven iron trigrams coming at him with great force, he had no time to be astonished. He did not dare to delay; raising his right hand, he quickly drew the long sword from his back, channeling his internal energy, and struck at these "monstrous beings".

Fear? Why should one be afraid?

What did you just see

It was just noon, and he had not eaten since lunch the day before. His backpack had fallen off during his escape, and he had not consumed a single grain of rice for an entire day, leaving him already ravenous. He thought to himself: "If I do not encounter anyone soon, I will have to resort to hunting."

He first comforted himself, then bowed several times before the young man's corpse, praying: "Fourth Prince, please rest in peace. Since you have already passed away, all matters of the world and the books are settled. As the emperor's brother, he can no longer trouble you. Thinking of it this way, it might even be a form of liberation"

I do not need your help, nor will I ask for it. If you truly feel guilty, then please consider this meal as your expression of gratitude, and from now on, we shall owe each other nothing.

He kept advising him to close his eyes and rest in peace, never mentioning the matter of revenge. In the end, after bowing a few times, he finally took up his sword and left

Yuan truly turned back to seek him out because of an overwhelming sense of doubt that could not be resolved. Whether to repay a favor was secondary; upon hearing him say this, it struck a chord, and thus he readily agreed.

Just after finishing the meal, a young gentleman suddenly approached from the side, without asking a word, and boldly sat down in front of him, calling out: "Waiter, bring another bowl." He directly took a pair of chopsticks from the holder on the table, displaying an air of having everything under control.

The crowd stared at each other in confusion, unsure of how to respond. The man who had previously signaled for someone to bring the bread then said, "Hey, Ah Xiong, help this gentleman out and send him on his way."

Jiang Heng was greatly disappointed, but he could not ignore his hunger. Seeing these people eating flatbreads, he approached and said: "I apologize for the interruption, everyone. The situation is such that I..." He then fabricated a story, claiming that he had taken a shortcut and had been lost in the mountains for several days, and that he had run out of food. He hoped to ask them for something to eat.

With just a single utterance of "Ding," Jiang Heng felt as if his entire body had collided into a mass of cotton, forcefully obstructing his path. At that moment, the four iron trigrams, which had initially turned, simultaneously struck from both the front and the back.

Yuan Zhen frowned and said, "You claim to be from Qinghe County, but I have never heard of this place name before"

Shanxia is a small town, with approximately one to two hundred households. Jiang Heng arrived at the market and could not discern the local accent. He found a small restaurant to fill his stomach, seeking comfort for his belly that had been sustained only by flatbreads and stream water for several days.

In the presence of a true person, one does not speak falsehoods. I see you are also a person of some standing, knowing that we are members of the Red Sheep Sect, yet you remain unfazed. Are you overly proud, or are you simply foolish?

Who are you

Two taels of silver can host a banquet for twelve people in the capital, yet here I can only have three bowls of rice and two pots of wine for the same amount of two taels of silver

Jiang Heng recalled the unique skill of silent communication akin to that of the Yuan Zhenhui. With a thought, he said: "How about this, use your lightness skill to chase me. If you can catch up, not only will you no longer owe me anything, but I will also answer any questions you have without any concealment."

Now the shop assistant is confused: "It is exactly 2 taels and 4 cash, my lord"

Sir, I do not understand what you are saying about the capital city, but this shop has been open for over twenty years and has always been honest with both young and old. If you do not believe me, you can certainly ask the customers at the neighboring table

Yuan Zhen shook his head and said, "Let us not argue about this for now. I ask you, a few days ago, you single-handedly dealt with seven members of the Red Sheep Sect in the mountains, demonstrating considerable skill. But why is it that I sense not even a trace of spiritual power from you?"

What? Jiang Heng found this voice somewhat familiar.

Jiang Heng could not have imagined in his wildest dreams that someone could intercept his momentum in mid-air. Thus, he had no defenses against the four iron bagua. In a state of panic, without time to think carefully, he swiftly thrust his long sword to deflect the three in front of him, while simultaneously using his left hand to grasp and secure the iron bagua in his palm

Although the seven individuals appeared surprised, they were not particularly alarmed. Jiang Heng looked at them with suspicion, thinking: "You have all thrown out the items in your hands without hesitation; what else do you have up your sleeves? Are you going to throw out something else?"

Upon hearing the command, everyone took out an iron bagua from their bosoms. Jiang Heng thought to himself: "So each of you has one, but what is it for? It is too small to be used as a weapon and too large to be a concealed projectile." He then saw these individuals placing the iron bagua in the palms of their hands, murmuring incantations.

Have we really ventured deep into the Northwest and reached the Shaanxi-Gansu border in just a few days?" Jiang Heng asked several place names in succession, but the woodcutters remained completely unaware.

Evil door

Looking up, I found myself still in the cave from yesterday. Outside, the sky was bright, and I realized that I had unknowingly slept through an entire night.

The person was taken aback, extending their left index finger and exclaiming: "Stop!"

It was originally a dream

He lingered in the original place for quite a while, meticulously searching each of the seven members of the Red Sheep Sect, whether they were dead or on the verge of death. Apart from the iron bagua, there were indeed quite a few strange items. There was a red cloth adorned with a sky full of stars, a copper bell drum, a human bone drumstick, and several yellow talismans inscribed with crooked and twisted characters.

"Aren't you with these people?" Jiang Heng pointed at the person lying on the ground

Jiang Heng frowned and said, "It is a hidden weapon." He slightly tilted his body to evade the first two, then crouched down to dodge another two. Finally, he sprang up, leaping two zhang high, as the remaining three passed beneath his feet. By this point, all seven iron octagonal weapons had missed their target, and Jiang Heng had evaded them with ease, appearing quite relaxed.

Ah, I never expected that these people are either made of gold or silver, possessing substantial financial resources

It is indeed still a dream

In that remote mountain, when strangers suddenly appeared, those who were about to speak all closed their mouths

Jiang Heng let out a cold laugh and said, "Had I known you were heretical and wicked, I wouldn't have been so courteous just now..." His expression was quite vexed

Jiang Heng was quite startled; after dodging two, he noticed that the other five iron octagonal coins, which had just whizzed past him, were all returning as well, each at different angles and speeds.

Jiang Heng, while contemplating, was also scavenging for valuables. Not knowing how far it was to the foot of the mountain, he naturally did not let the remaining flatbreads go to waste

"Can I join them? Hmph, the followers of the Red Sheep Sect are all shameless scoundrels and despicable individuals. They took advantage of my difficulties to plot against me. How could I, Yuan Zhen, possibly align myself with them?" The man quickly scanned the crowd and said, "Why is everyone lying on the ground? It doesn't matter, though; if you are still alive, I will not let you off either."

Jiang Heng recalled his youth and hurriedly got up to take a look. He saw him lying straight on the ground, and when he reached out to check his pulse, he found his hand icy cold, with no pulse at all; he had already been dead for quite some time

Although he had slept through the night, he still felt fatigued at this moment. He stumbled and sat down, lowering his head with a sigh. Just as he was about to disregard it, he suddenly remembered something and quickly got up to feel the young man's chest. Indeed, he found that the sword wound on his chest was still there, and the bloodstains had not yet completely dried.

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This is what I find strange, believing that you are not from here. The mysterious deity said: "Because, generally, those who do not possess magical abilities cannot defeat those who do."

Jiang Heng asked himself and then answered, letting out a sigh of relief. He thought again: "Jiang Heng, what is wrong with you? That was an accident; you did not intend to kill him. All of this is just... just an accident..."

Yuan Zhen, who had not spoken a word, fixed his gaze intently on him. After a long pause, he suddenly asked, "Who exactly are you? You are not from here at all..."

I am Yuanzhen..." said the young gentleman with an air of calmness.

I am not accustomed to owing others for too long, so after careful consideration, I decided to follow you for now. As long as you ask me for something, that will count as repaying you, and I can free myself sooner. Yuan Zhen smiled and said, "Rest assured, I won't take advantage of you; this meal is on me."

"Is it you?" Jiang Heng's heart skipped a beat as he quickly scanned the young gentleman before him. However, his impression of him from that day was too vague to be certain. It was just that he had been able to speak without opening his mouth that day, but today he was speaking out loud, just like anyone else

Just as he was thinking this, he heard voices ahead. Jiang Heng was overjoyed, thinking that it would be best to encounter the officials and soldiers pursuing him, as they would surely carry provisions and valuables. Being empty-handed at the moment, it was a perfect opportunity to plunder, not only eliminating the need to worry about how to approach others, but also allowing him to vent his frustrations, making it a win-win situation.

Jiang Heng encountered two strange events in succession, leaving him with a complex and indescribable mood. Ultimately, the words spoken to him by Yuan Zhen further left him bewildered and at a loss.

Jiang Heng was also intent on testing him; with a surge of internal energy, he propelled himself forward. Although he was renowned for his dual mastery of sword and palm, it was his footwork that served as the greatest unsung hero. Despite the high level of Huang Song's swordsmanship, he still fell victim to this shortcoming, which indicates that his lightness skill was also quite remarkable

Jiang Heng observed that his lightness skill was quite exquisite, and coupled with his graceful posture, he could not help but want to applaud. He thought to himself: "This person possesses such high lightness skill; he should not remain unknown. However, Yuan Zhen, Yuan Zhen, that name is truly unfamiliar..."

Jiang Hengxin thought: "Hmm, your name is Yuanzhen." He walked over to the felt hat that he had split in two with his sword, nudged it with his toe, and asked: "What did you just say this hat was?"

Taiyuan Huoshan? A few woodcutters looked at each other in confusion, not knowing where Taiyuan Huoshan was.

A sound came from above. Jiang Heng looked up and saw that Yuan Zhen was actually descending from the sky. Jiang Heng was bewildered by this astonishing sight, feeling dizzy. He did not wish to delve into the reasons behind it any further and simply shouted, "Receive this palm strike!" He pushed both palms forward, striking towards him.

Jiang Heng could not help but leap with joy and quickly stepped forward

Jiang Heng was startled to hear someone speaking behind him and quickly turned around to look around.

You are in a remote and impoverished area, isolated from the world, where many have never seen much of life; it is not surprising that everyone is ignorant when asked. Jiang Heng felt quite disappointed

Jiang Heng was furious, slamming the table and standing up. Yuan Zhen quickly intervened, first handing the money to the innkeeper, and said: "It's nothing, you may leave now!"

Boss, I find this kid a bit strange, the main hall is also nearby, this...

The person trembled slightly, yet still did not show any significant reaction. Jiang Heng let out a sinister laugh and, with a few swift sword strikes, began to attack that person.

Jiang Heng nodded, thinking to himself: "Isn't it just an iron trigrams? What is so mysterious about it?"

The person who just took the cake responded and straightened up.

"I am the one who should be asking you, who are you!" Jiang Heng said bluntly

Jiang Heng thought there was no need to conceal it, so he told him about his name and its origin

Jiang Heng was utterly unreserved, completely filling his own pockets, indifferent to their lives or deaths, choosing a side and proceeding down the mountain on his own

In a moment of haste, the man extended his left index finger and shouted, "Stop!" as if responding to such a threat was a common reaction. Unfortunately, Jiang Heng's strength was extraordinary; with a single throw, it was faster than an arrow. Before the word "Stop" had fully left his lips, the iron eight trigrams had already struck his temple, severing half of his head.

This time, the crowd was taken aback, as they shouted warnings to each other and ran about in a frenzy, resembling a swarm of headless flies. Since engaging in combat, Jiang Heng had gradually discerned their true nature and assessed their capabilities. With a cold laugh, he seized his target and darted towards one of them.

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone suddenly stood up, surrounding him completely, except for one person who was draped in a long robe and wore a felt hat, remaining seated on the ground, unmoved.

Forget it, I don't want to worry about it anymore. However, you saved my life, and I will find a way to repay you. As for you, be careful..." With that, she swayed her body and floated back, disappearing into the forest

The waiter, seeing him enraged, turned into a fierce and terrifying figure, which also frightened him. Upon hearing Yuan Zhen's words, he could not wait to leave quickly. The onlookers at the neighboring table, who had initially been whispering and glancing around in anticipation of the spectacle, upon witnessing Jiang Heng's anger, hurriedly pretended that nothing was happening and lowered their heads.

Yuan Zhen seemed unable to believe that such a thing could be so inexpensive in the world, and with wide-open eyes, he said: "Are you serious about this?"

I just want to hurry down the mountain; as long as I can get down, that's all that matters m.hetushu.com

Upon exiting the cave, I looked up to see the clear blue sky and the pleasant scenery at the valley bottom. Reflecting on the toil and hustle of these past days, it felt as if I were in a different world

Thinking of this Red Sheep Sect, it must truly be a cult, hehe... Over the years, I, Jiang Heng, have killed countless treacherous and wicked individuals; those of you who have died at my hands are not unjustly treated

As soon as the Iron Bagua was placed in his palm, Jiang Heng already regretted it. Since the opponent was of an evil and unorthodox nature, there might be other peculiarities associated with this Iron Bagua. To approach it empty-handed was indeed an unwise move. However, he soon realized that this Iron Bagua was merely a pure iron plate, devoid of any mechanisms; it was simply quite heavy. If the strength was comparable, it could naturally lead to death.

It turned out that this group of people, aside from being able to control the Iron Bagua with spells, had only mediocre martial arts skills, even inferior to those of ordinary gang members. Jiang Heng seized upon this weakness, employing lightness skills to circle around the crowd, which not only allowed him to evade the Iron Bagua hovering in mid-air but also disrupted the enemy's formation, enabling him to launch direct attacks on their vital points

Generally, hidden weapons such as flying daggers, once launched, typically do not return. Jiang Heng had also heard that certain specially shaped hidden weapons, like those resembling shuttles, could return to the user if the wielder applied their strength skillfully. However, such shuttle-like objects should logically only travel in a specific curved trajectory. The iron octagons before him, all in an octagonal shape, astonishingly could return in a straight line after being thrown, which was simply inconceivable, not to mention that there were actually seven people simultaneously possessing such skills.

The young gentleman laughed and said, "Brother, do you not recognize me?"

That was the person who always issued orders among the crowd, saying: "This brother, do you not feel afraid upon seeing us?"

The sword has been drawn? It wasn't me, I didn't touch it... It drew itself? So, does that mean it wasn't entirely a dream?

"I am asking you... I am in front of you."

At that moment, a shiny object fell from his bosom with a thud, landing on the ground. Jiang Heng glanced over and discovered it was a palm-sized iron bagua.

This time, Jiang Heng could see clearly that the person's mouth did not move at all, yet the voice appeared right behind his ear, as if someone were speaking behind him. The voice, coarse yet nuanced, remained indistinguishable in gender.

I do not wish to trouble you, but I would like to ask which direction I should take to descend the mountain as quickly as possible

Jiang Heng looked around, only to hear the remaining survivors moaning and wailing in despair. Knowing that these individuals were no longer a threat, he stepped forward and approached the eighth person, the tip of his sword lifting and suddenly pressing against that person's chin

"You finally admit that you are from out of town?" Yuan Zhen led him to the roadside and continued, "I said you are not from here. May I ask your esteemed surname and name?"

Jiang Heng had never seen such a spectacle and thought to himself, "What is going on? Is this some kind of spell?" He never dreamed that he had guessed half of it correctly. Just then, he heard someone shout, "Go!" Almost simultaneously, the iron octagrams in the hands of seven people suddenly leaped up and flew towards him.

Jiang Heng no longer dared to underestimate these individuals. Just as he was about to advance and launch an attack after the second flash of the seven iron bagua, something even more astonishing occurred: the seven individuals moved their feet and chanted incantations, and the seven iron bagua surprisingly did not return to their hands, but instead spun above their heads and flew once again towards Jiang Heng

"Magic... magic power? I'm not a Taoist, why would I need magic power?" Jiang Heng felt perplexed: "To deal with evil and wickedness, it is not necessarily required to use any spells. Since ancient times, righteousness has triumphed over evil; with a strong sense of righteousness and a mind free of distractions, I will naturally be immune to all evils."

It truly is a dream ... ... Huh? But ... ... where is my sword? Where is my sword?

Yuan Zhen furrowed his brows and said, "What exactly are you talking about? I can't understand anything you say"

What kind of place is this? It is simply outrageous! They see that I am from out of town and try to extort me. If I don't teach them a lesson, they will think I am easy to bully. Jiang Heng was still seething with anger.