The fourth month of the first year of Emperor Hongxi’s reign, late spring when flowers drifted through the air. The weather was pleasant with gentle breezes and warm sunshine. A few wisps of cloud-like light smoke floated across the deep blue sky.

On such a fine day, I was unwilling to be confined in a carriage, so I changed into men’s clothing, and the three of us traveled on horseback.

With matters weighing on my mind, I deliberately dawdled along the way, insisting on taking Yan Shao to wander through every scenic spot we encountered, large or small. He accompanied me with enthusiasm, ignoring the several pigeon messages he received, merely handing them to Feng Ming to deal with.

It wasn’t until the third day at dusk that we finally reached Jin City. Qinglian Temple was a renowned Buddhist monastery in the area. Yan Shao, understanding my intentions, said after dinner: “Let’s go and listen to the Buddhist chants in the moonlight.” I looked out the window and indeed saw a crescent moon hanging on the treetops against a crystal-clear sky. We immediately left together, walking hand in hand toward Qinglian Temple. Passersby turned to stare at us along the way. I felt nothing improper about it and glanced questioningly at Yan Shao, but he kept his gaze straight ahead with a hint of a smile on his lips, merely squeezing my hand once.

I suddenly realized and teased him: “So they think I’m keeping you as my boy toy.”

He smiled faintly, and then his thumb suddenly pressed lightly against my palm. I immediately felt half my body go numb, and I couldn’t help but fall toward him. He caught me in his arms, smiling without a word. I simply let my entire body hang on his arm to conserve energy.

He was a man of few words. The longer I spent with him, the less I understood him, never knowing what was truly on his mind. He had been helping Prince Han plot rebellion, but these past few days, though Prince Han repeatedly urged him to return, he paid no attention. He seemed to see through my thoughts, yet continued to accommodate me in everything, making me feel quite guilty. But what could I do when he was plotting rebellion? If he were doing anything else, I would certainly support him wholeheartedly.

He suddenly asked: “Shu Kuang, do you remember what we said at Daming Lake?”

I was startled: “What did we say?”

He smiled: “Regarding Prince Han’s matter, we agreed that each would do their utmost. Now that you are no longer the master of Yuchi Mountain Manor, what are your thoughts?”

I feigned a plaintive sigh and said: “What thoughts could I have unless you stop helping Prince Han?”

He turned to look at me: “The jianghu world has branded you as a villain who aids tyrants. Doesn’t that bother you at all?”

I laughed, “I can’t be worse than you. If you don’t care, what do I have to fear?”

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed softly: “Silly one, I worry that your passionate loyalty might bring you trouble.”

My heart skipped a beat as I suddenly understood—he already knew. He knew I had sent Feng Jingli to deliver a message to Nanjing. My every move was impossible to hide from him. He was a thousand-year-old fox, and my skills were far too shallow.

I stopped and looked at him, saying gently: “Let’s stay out of this matter, shall we?”

He lowered his gaze to look at me, his eyes obscure and unfathomable.

We stared at each other in silence. All around was quiet, the moonlight serene and pure. In the distance came the faint sound of temple bells.

Suddenly, he pulled me into his arms and stepped back.

Before I could react, I felt a cool breeze pass by as two figures shot past like arrows released from a bow, vanishing in an instant. Their lightness skill was remarkably swift, truly exceptional.

I exclaimed in surprise: “What amazing qinggong! Who were they?”

Yan Shao said indifferently: “Who cares?”

I laughed: “Indeed. With you here, no one would dare bully me.”

He snorted coldly: “Flatterer!” After a pause, he sighed, “Your risky move may bring serious trouble in the future.”

“I know this move was very dangerous, but it was truly out of necessity.”

I couldn’t help but sigh. There was no other way—I still felt indebted to little Xie.

He smiled bitterly: “Shu Kuang, you still don’t trust me. I’m not…” His words suddenly stopped as his brows furrowed slightly.

I concentrated, faintly hearing the sounds of weapons clashing in combat.

He said: “Let’s take a look.”

Seeing that he had just acted completely uninterested and now suddenly became so curious, I couldn’t help but ask: “What is it?”

He replied: “From the sound, someone seems to be using my school’s sword style.”

I was slightly surprised: “You can tell that just from the sound?”

He didn’t answer, moving as lightly as the wind without touching the ground. In a moment, we could see an imposing ancient temple surrounded by towering trees with dense, lush foliage—Qinglian Temple.

In the moonlight, two petite women were fighting a young man in blue robes. The three figures flashed like phantoms, dancing through the air. Two elderly monks in gray robes stood in front of the temple, their eyes fixed intently on the three combatants.

Yan Shao held my hand as we stood in the dense shade of a cypress tree. His movements were ghost-like; the three fighters were engaged in fierce combat and the two elderly monks were focused on watching, yet none of them noticed our presence.

I had never seen Yan Shao use a sword, but after watching closely for a while, I noticed that the young man in blue robes had a sword style and movements somewhat similar to Feng Ming’s. Each move contained many variations, strange and elusive, flowing continuously without pause.

The two young women fought barehanded, their delicate jade hands delivering deadly strikes. Having fought for so long without prevailing, they began to show signs of anxiety, their palm strikes becoming increasingly fierce. The young man’s movements were unpredictable, and while he seemed at ease, breaking through their attacks was no easy task. The three fighters gradually slowed, all employing their internal energy. The women’s palm strikes were precise and steady, each move carrying the sound of wind and thunder.

In these days of instruction from Yan Shao, my understanding of martial arts had deepened. I knew that to produce such palm strikes, one must possess profound internal energy, yet these two young women appeared to be only in their early twenties, and already they had developed such powerful palm techniques.

By now, the young man was clearly at a disadvantage. I looked up at Yan Shao, whose handsome face was like a frozen lake, showing not the slightest expression.

Suddenly there was a light sound—the young man’s sword had broken, and his body was thrown far back, landing on the stone steps. One of the women pressed her advantage, stepping on the young man’s neck and demanding: “Hand over the item.”

The young man was about sixteen or seventeen, with delicate skin. His face was distorted by the woman’s foot, but his large eyes darted around wildly as he squealed like a pig: “Help! Masters, save me! This girl is trying to kill and rob me!”

Hearing this, the woman grew angrier, pressing harder with her foot as she coldly smiled: “Hand it over, now!” She crouched down and began searching his body.

The young man cried out again: “Sexual harassment! Masters, how can you allow her to do this in a sacred Buddhist place…”

But no matter how he shouted, the two elderly monks remained deaf to his pleas.

The woman struck his face with the back of her hand and searched him thoroughly, finding only some rouge, perfume, and other items that girls would use. Furious, she grabbed his throat and gritted her teeth: “Where have you hidden it? Tell me now!”

The young man spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and said with a grinning face: “You’ve searched every inch of me. Where do you think I could hide it?”

The woman’s face turned ashen with rage. She slapped him dozens of times until both his cheeks were red and swollen, but the young man continued to smile and ramble, refusing to confess. I wondered what treasure could be worth such sacrifice.

After a moment of silence, the woman suddenly smiled. “Dudu Niao, since you’re so stubborn, I have no choice but to take you back and let our lord deal with you.”

Upon hearing this, the young man’s expression changed drastically. His grinning facade vanished as he urgently said: “Miss Xiang Ling, that item you mentioned, I truly don’t know…”

“If you don’t know anything, why did you run? Did you think hiding in Qinglian Temple would make you untouchable to us?” the other woman coldly interjected.

Dudu Niao smiled apologetically: “My dear lady, when the Soul Capturers from Seven Seas Chain Island came to kill me, how could I not run? Even with a hundred lives, I wouldn’t dare steal anything from your Seven Seas Chain Island.”

The woman said coldly: “I advise you to hand over the item now. It will save you some suffering!”

Dudu Niao made a mournful face and cried: “Heaven and earth be my witness, if I took that item, may I die a terrible death and leave no descendants…”

Before he could finish, he let out a scream as Xiang Ling kicked his right arm out of its socket.

She smiled coldly: “Save those lies for our lord.” She turned to her companion, “Qin Xue, let’s go!”

The two women flanked him and began to leave. One of the silent monks suddenly said: “Wait!”

Xiang Ling said: “Yuan Xing, you’ve harbored someone our Seven Seas Chain Island is hunting, which should merit death. But our lord respects Master Zhen Ru, so we won’t hold it against you. If you fail to appreciate this kindness, don’t blame us for being ruthless.”

Yuan Xing lowered his eyes and said: “Seven Seas Chain Island’s power across the South Seas is well-known, and this poor monk certainly wouldn’t dare offend you, but…”

Qin Xue interrupted: “But what?”

Yuan Xing said: “This Young Master Du, this poor monk also dares not offend.”

The two women, who had been extremely arrogant, were stunned. Qin Xue demanded: “What did you say?”

Yuan Xing continued impassively: “Since Young Master Du is in Qinglian Temple, this poor monk cannot allow you to take him away at will. This poor monk boldly asks both female benefactors to stay a while longer.”

Xiang Ling’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. “Why?”

Yuan Xing said: “Master Uncle Zhen Ru has gone to invite this Young Master Du’s family. They should arrive shortly. Whatever grievance exists between Seven Seas Chain Island and Young Master Du can be clarified face to face…”

Before he could finish, Xiang Ling threw her head back in laughter, tossing Dudu Niao to the ground. “Very well! I want to see what kind of formidable character this little lecher’s family is!”

Qin Xue raised her delicate eyebrows slightly and whispered: “Our lord instructed us to bring this boy back immediately, without complications.”

Xiang Ling smiled coldly: “Our Seven Seas Chain Island has only been out of the jianghu for ten years, yet some already dare to disregard us. If our lord were here today, even they would teach these arrogant fools a lesson. What’s the harm in waiting a moment?”

Hearing this, Qin Xue said nothing more.

Dudu Niao lay on the ground, his shifty eyes darting about. Suddenly he caught sight of us and couldn’t help exclaiming, “Eh!”

Xiang Ling shouted: “Who’s there?”

Seeing our presence was revealed, I asked Yan Shao: “Is Seven Seas Chain Island very powerful? I’ve never heard of them.”

He held my hand, walked out slowly, and smiled: “Neither have I.”

Xiang Ling was burning with anger and said harshly: “Are you this lecher’s family?”

Dudu Niao quickly interjected: “My sister is a peerless beauty, how could she be two poor scholars?”

He seemed very afraid of being taken to meet that lord and added: “My sister is a hundred times more beautiful than you, a thousand times more skilled in martial arts. You’d better release me now, and I might persuade her to spare your lives…”

Xiang Ling turned and slapped him, smiling coldly: “Brat, don’t try to provoke me. I’m determined to meet her today.”

The slap was extremely heavy, distorting his entire face. Blood flowed from his nose, soaking his collar, yet he still smiled as if enjoying the beating. He was truly despicable.

Yan Shao frowned slightly but ultimately did not intervene.

Qin Xue stepped forward and said: “Since you two have nothing to do with this matter, please leave quickly.”

I said: “Is sightseeing not allowed?”

She replied: “In the middle of the night? You certainly have unusual interests.”

I asked: “Does Seven Seas Chain Island regulate this too?”

Her expression darkened. “I see you’re not jianghu people, so I’m kindly advising you. Don’t be foolish.”

Yan Shao squeezed my hand and said: “Thank you for your concern, Miss. Xiao Rong, let’s go.”

As we turned and walked a few steps away, I felt a cool breeze pass overhead. A slender white figure landed in front of the temple, slowly turning around—a woman with flowing hair like clouds, bright eyes, and snow-white skin. She was indeed a great beauty.

“Sister Hong Yu, save me quickly!” Dudu Niao cried out upon seeing her.

To everyone’s surprise, this beautiful Hong Yu didn’t even glance at him, coldly smiling: “Whatever you stole from these two ladies, return it to them immediately. Otherwise, I won’t help you again.”

Xiang Ling had been furious, but after hearing this, she found herself at a loss for words.

I promptly stopped with Yan Shao to continue watching the drama unfold.

Qin Xue said: “Dudu Niao, if you hand over the item now, there may still be room for leniency.”

Dudu Niao wore a mournful expression: “Sister Hong Yu, I truly haven’t seen that item.”

Hong Yu asked: “If you didn’t steal their item, why would they be hunting you?”

Dudu Niao replied: “There’s been a misunderstanding, but these two ladies wouldn’t listen to my explanation. They attacked as soon as they saw me, behaving with such brutality and violence…”

“If you didn’t steal anything, where did these come from?” Xiang Ling smiled coldly, throwing the two pearl necklaces she had found on him into his face.

Dudu Niao cried out: “I already told you, a woman gave these to me!”

“Bullshit! Would Sister Luo Fei give her things to you?” As Xiang Ling spoke, she suddenly raised her foot to kick him.

Hong Yu swiftly struck at her left leg while saying: “Why be so impulsive, Miss? Clarify the situation before resorting to violence.”

Xiang Ling quickly withdrew her leg and launched a punch directly at Hong Yu’s face, saying angrily: “I don’t have time for more of your nonsense.”

Hong Yu’s figure shifted slightly, avoiding the punch while pulling Dudu Niao up and retreating three steps. She frowned and said: “Indeed violent!”

Xiang Ling seemed surprised that Hong Yu had evaded her punch. After a brief pause, she immediately pressed forward, launching seven or eight lightning-fast palm strikes. Hong Yu, dragging Dudu Niao, dodged left and right, her movements graceful and beautiful.

Xiang Ling couldn’t even touch Hong Yu’s clothesline, which only increased her fury. Her palm strikes became more fierce and relentless, giving her no chance to breathe. Weighed down by Dudu Niao, Hong Yu’s movements were slightly impeded, and she nearly got hit several times. Suddenly, she spun around and threw Dudu Niao away, drawing her sword with a “swoosh” and aiming a thrust at Xiang Ling’s chin from an extraordinarily odd angle. Xiang Ling’s palm techniques were designed for close combat; if she didn’t retreat, her pretty face would be ruined. She quickly performed an “iron bridge” move and retreated. Hong Yu seemed to have anticipated this, instantly changing her sword trajectory downward. With a tearing sound, she had hooked off a piece of Xiang Ling’s skirt.

Yan Shao nodded: “Now this shows some of the flavor of the Fanshe sword style.”

Seeing Xiang Ling at a disadvantage, Qin Xue quickly joined the fight with her palms. The three of them engaged in an intense battle of sword flashes and palm shadows. Hong Yu’s sword technique was identical to what Dudu Niao had used earlier but with much greater power. Xiang Ling and Qin Xue had already experienced this sword style and roughly knew its variations and patterns, so they could handle it for the moment.

I glanced at Yan Shao. Before I could speak, he smiled and said: “This sword style is extremely easy to understand and learn, but mastering it is not simple. It requires simultaneous cultivation with our school’s internal energy techniques. Dudu Niao copied the movements but missed the essence. This Hong Yu has some foundation… hmm, they won’t be able to counter this move. They’ll be defeated.”

As his words fell, Xiang Ling and Qin Xue cried out in unison and were both sent flying.

Hong Yu sheathed her sword and stood still, brushing aside a strand of hair near her ear. Just as she was about to speak, Dudu Niao had already stood up, clapping and laughing loudly: “Hahaha… How’s my sister’s kung fu? Didn’t I tell you? Your Seven Seas Chain Island might dominate the South Seas, but in the Central Plains, you’re bound to…” His laughter suddenly ceased.

From the temple tower, a white figure lightly descended, laughing softly: “Bound to what?”

Everyone was startled, except for Xiang Ling and Qin Xue, whose faces showed delight as they called out: “Senior Brother Tian Ce!”

I widened my eyes to look. The newcomer held a dark iron fan, had handsome features, and appeared to be in his early thirties. His face bore an arrogant expression, identical to his two junior sisters.

He threw a package in front of Yuan Xing, from which rolled out a bloodied human head.

Yuan Xing immediately stepped back three paces, his face ashen, and exclaimed: “Abbot Zhen Ru!”

Hong Yu raised her head abruptly, saying angrily: “He only reported information to me, yet you killed him?”

Tian Ce smiled: “This is just a small lesson. Our lord showed him mercy, yet he returned kindness with betrayal.”

After saying this, he turned to Xiang Ling and said: “Take this Du boy back quickly. I’ll handle things here.”

Xiang Ling and Qin Xue moved forward to seize him. Hong Yu flicked her sword and smiled coldly: “To take him, you must get past my sword first.”

Tian Ce responded with a “good” and swiftly jabbed his iron fan toward her wrist. This move was extremely fast; Hong Yu nearly got hit. Her beautiful face slightly paled as she immediately whirled her sword, creating a shield of blue light around her body. Tian Ce’s iron fan opened and closed, cut and thrust, with each move unpredictable and bizarre.

The two women leaped to grab Dudu Niao, but Yuan Xing suddenly struck with his palms, followed immediately by the other elderly monk. The women, already dissatisfied with them, struck back mercilessly and without restraint.

The scene was now filled with flashing swords and fans, punches and kicks. Without slow-motion replay, I found myself dizzy and disoriented watching it all. Suddenly, I felt a tightening around my wrist, and a voice near my ear said: “Let’s go!”

My body immediately soared upward. The moonlight above my head suddenly brightened, and the sounds of clashing weapons and cries from the Qinglian Temple gradually faded away.

I hurriedly asked: “What’s happening?”

His lips pressed against my ear as he said: “Look ahead.”

Following the direction he pointed, I saw a figure in the night carrying someone under his arm, flying northward along the riverbank. The half-man-high reeds beneath his feet barely trembled as he passed. Looking at the person under his arm, I was shocked to see it was Dudu Niao.

I was astonished: “How did so many masters suddenly appear? When did he snatch Dudu Niao?”

He snorted: “Hmph! Your eyes go straight to any handsome man, how could you notice anything else?”

I was startled. “Handsome man? Do you mean that Tian Ce? Please, how could he be considered handsome…”

He didn’t respond, suddenly biting my earlobe lightly.

I gasped, protesting: “That’s unfair! I truly wasn’t looking at him. Besides, he’s nowhere near as handsome as you…”

He snickered: “If you weren’t looking, how do you know he’s not as handsome as me?”

I looked up and could no longer see the figure ahead. “That person has disappeared,” I said urgently.

He nodded slightly toward a small farmhouse to the left front and smiled: “He went in there. He won’t escape.”

I said: “They’re after him, surely for that item. Let’s see what treasure it is.”

He led me through the back courtyard. The house was dilapidated, with weak lamplight filtering through the windows. A man’s voice said: “I’ve searched him thoroughly. The item isn’t on him.”

A slightly deep female voice said: “Release his pressure points and question him.”

Silence fell inside the house. After a moment, Dudu Niao moaned a few times and cried: “Who are you people?”

Yan Shao held my waist and leaped as lightly as a swallow onto an ancient tree beside the house, giving us a clear view inside.

A middle-aged farm woman stood in the room. Her features were ordinary, her frame small, and though her eyes weren’t large, they conveyed an inexplicable authority and an extraordinary bearing.

She stared coldly at Dudu Niao and said: “Three days ago, the item you obtained in Liaocheng—where is it now?”

Dudu Niao replied: “I don’t know what item you’re talking about.”

The farm woman’s expression remained unchanged. She suddenly glanced to the side. Immediately, Dudu Niao’s collar was seized by a large hand, and the male voice from earlier barked: “Brat, tell the truth!”

Dudu Niao said: “I don’t know—”

Suddenly, a blue flash and a line of blood flowed down his cheek.

The man waved the dagger in his hand and said coldly: “I don’t want to hear the words ‘I don’t know.’ From now on, I ask, you answer. One lie, I cut off an ear; two lies, I chop off a leg; three lies, I take your life. Do you understand?”

The man turned to stare at him as he said this. He was about forty, with a ruddy complexion and a scar running from his left eyebrow across the bridge of his nose to his right ear—extremely ugly and ferocious. His narrow eyes were as sharp as blade edges.

Dudu Niao was so frightened his legs trembled. He quickly nodded and said: “That item… I hid it in Mingyu Fang.”

“What is Mingyu Fang? Where is it?”

“In Liaocheng. It’s a brothel.”

“Where exactly did you get that item?”

“A girl gave it to me.”

“What’s her name? Which sect does she belong to?”

“I don’t know—” He was about to say he didn’t know, but suddenly remembered he couldn’t use those words, so he stopped abruptly.

The man exchanged a glance with the farm woman, who said expressionlessly: “Continue!”

“Three days ago, I heard that Old Man Meng from Meng Family Estate was going to marry Mingyu Fang’s top courtesan, Miss Yu, as his seventeenth concubine. I thought I’d cause some trouble for that old lecher…”

The middle-aged man sneered: “So you fancied that courtesan too? Hmph! Quite the ladies’ man for your young age.”

Dudu Niao ignored his mockery and continued: “But that day, many outlaws from the Gan and Lu regions had come to congratulate him, so I couldn’t find an opportunity to act. I prepared some sleeping drugs, planning to return at night. When I went back that night, I happened to see more than a dozen men bullying a weak woman. Though I wouldn’t call myself a hero, I do know to cherish and protect women…”

Hearing this, the farm woman burst into laughter.

Seeing his immature appearance yet pretending to be sophisticated, I couldn’t help but laugh as well.

Dudu Niao continued without changing expression: “I used the sleeping drugs to knock out several men and rescued the woman. Then she gave me that package to keep, saying she would come back for it in three days. After that, she left. The people from Meng Family Estate were in pursuit, so I couldn’t go after her… Otherwise, I would certainly have returned the package to her intact. As a man, it’s natural for me to draw my sword when seeing injustice. How could I accept her favor for this? If my jianghu friends knew…”

As he rambled on more and more absurdly, the man shouted harshly: “What exactly was in that package?”

Dudu Niao’s body trembled, and he quickly said: “Just some rouge and powder that girls use, along with some jewelry and gems… and a dark green iron box.”

The farm woman showed slight interest and asked sternly: “What was inside the box?”

Dudu Niao suddenly sighed and said: “The box couldn’t be opened at all. I was curious too and planned to find a locksmith in town at daybreak. But before dawn, people from Meng Family Estate were already after me. So I fled to Mingyu Fang and hid the items… Later, not only were Meng Family Estate people hunting me, but even Seven Seas Chain Island from the distant South Seas came after me, and now you’re here too…”

He looked up at the farm woman and said: “Who are you people? At least let me die knowing.”

The farm woman smiled: “If you haven’t lied, you won’t need to die.”

He hastily said: “If I’ve told a single lie, may I die a terrible death and leave no descendants.”

“What did that woman look like? How old was she?”

“Round face, big eyes, about twenty-one or twenty-two, tall figure, very beautiful.”

The farm woman pondered for a moment, looking at the scarred man as if asking something.

The man slightly shook his head at her.

After a moment of silence, the man said: “Take us to find that iron box. If I discover you’ve told even half a lie, hmph!” He pressed his dagger against Dudu Niao’s throat, the meaning clear without words.

The three immediately left mounted horses and galloped away into the night.

By now, the moon had reached its zenith, and the night was deep. Watching their retreating figures, I asked Yan Shao: “What do we do now?”

He carried me down to the ground and said: “After all this excitement tonight, let’s go back and get a good night’s sleep.”

I asked curiously: “Aren’t you worried they’ll get ahead of us and take the box first?”

He said indifferently: “That box belongs to someone else anyway.”

I laughed: “Aren’t you even a little curious?”

He suddenly slowed his pace, smiling as he walked: “No rush. We’ll be passing through Liaocheng anyway. We can take a look then.”

I faintly heard the sound of robes cutting through the air and couldn’t help but smile. “Haha, they won’t have an easy journey. Perhaps we’ll reach Liaocheng before them.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I saw several figures fly past on our left—the three people from Seven Seas Chain Island.