Tang Lici had never heard of the “Sword Emperor,” but he naturally knew that Mo Ziru and Shui Duopo were no ordinary hermits. Beyond Shui Duopo and Mo Ziru’s expectations, he didn’t immediately seize upon the opening Mo Ziru had thrown him, but instead stood there, quietly lost in thought.
Shui Duopo and Mo Ziru didn’t know what he was thinking. The two unconsciously stepped back another pace. Mo Ziru shoved Puzhu into Shui Duopo’s hands. Seeing this little monk stripped naked and improper for public viewing, Shui Duopo quickly threw the bedding over Puzhu’s head to show his innocence.
Tang Lici came back to his senses. Seeing this scene, his lips curved slightly in an ambiguous smile.
Mo Ziru said, “Do you know of ‘Summoning Lamp Order’?”
“‘Summoning Lamp Order’ was a famous evil sect in the martial world twenty to thirty years ago,” Tang Lici said. “They had hereditary poison arts, mysterious and unfathomable, seemingly like witchcraft, yet different from Miao border poison techniques.”
“The ‘Summoning Lamp Order’ family was surnamed Wang. Wang Lingqiu was the one with the highest achievements in hereditary poison arts at the time,” Mo Ziru said. “Those strange arts were impossible to guard against, and ‘Summoning Lamp Order’s’ most terrifying aspect was that except for the Wang family, they were nearly impossible to cure. Their poison techniques differed from others—ordinary martial artists’ poisons harm the body, but ‘Summoning Lamp Order’s’ poisons harm the mind. No matter what poison they used, ‘Summoning Lamp Order’ would supplement it with ‘Three Sleeps No Night Sky’ to cleanse souls. Ultimately, most poisoned people became ‘Summoning Lamp Order’s’ puppets.” Mo Ziru pointed at Puzhu wrapped in bedding. “Little monks like this were countless under ‘Summoning Lamp Order’ twenty years ago. I had a good friend poisoned by Wang Lingqiu back then, who ultimately shattered his own skull and died… Later, Shaolin’s Great Crane alone with one sword killed his way to their door, and ‘Summoning Lamp Order’ vanished from the martial world. Everyone thought Great Crane had wiped them out, never knowing there were still disciples.”
“‘Summoning Lamp Order’s’ disciple being able to poison Puzhu must be connected to Gui Mudan,” Tang Lici said softly. “And Puzhu has never left Shaolin Temple—could this person be within Shaolin Temple?” His eyes moved slightly. “The day I broke into Shaolin, a bloody incident occurred within the temple. Several monks died, several monks went missing…”
“Oh?” Mo Ziru tilted his head.
“Great Recognition Zen Master… and Miao Xing monk,” Tang Lici said softly. “They lived long in Shaolin. If one of them truly is ‘Summoning Lamp Order’s’ disciple, then Shaolin’s calamity is far from over.” After a slight pause, he asked again, “How is Xue Xianzi’s condition?”
“Not good,” Shui Duopo shook his head. “He’s advanced in years after all. Even with the poison insect removed, his injuries are too severe, his blood and vital energy greatly diminished.”
Kuanglan Wuxing’s Chi Mei Tu Zhu Qi was extremely powerful. Besides being poisoned, Xue Xianzi was covered in wounds, injured both internally and externally. After detoxification, he remained unconscious. Xue Xianzi was still at Haoyun Mountain. Miss Hong left Fu Zhumei to treat and guard him, first because Fu Zhumei’s martial arts were strong enough to protect Xue Xianzi completely without fearing others’ attacks; second, even if Xue Xianzi had other abnormal changes, Fu Zhumei’s abilities could certainly handle them.
Now that “Miss Tao” was dead and Yu Konghou had returned to Drifting Mei Garden with Kuanglan Wuxing, the Central Plains Sword Association’s internal troubles were temporarily resolved. Tang Lici’s gaze slowly swept past the window, settling on the bodhi tree outside. According to his and Miss Hong’s plan, using gradual erosion to slowly devour Drifting Mei Garden, spending a bit more time would certainly destroy Wind and Flow Shop.
But now things were different again.
Who exactly was “Gui Mudan”?
Where was “Summoning Lamp Order”?
Wind and Flow Shop… Yu Konghou and Gui Mudan mobilizing forces—was it merely to compete for some useless empty reputation? Or did competing for this reputation have other uses for them? And Fang Pingzhai… what exactly had Fang Pingzhai done hiding behind the scenes? Tang Lici’s gaze flowed, stopping on Puzhu. “Senior Sword Emperor.”
Being called this by him, Shui Duopo couldn’t help touching the goosebumps on his arms. “I can try my best to keep this famous cook from dying, but if ‘Summoning Lamp Order’ can’t be found, he’ll become a monster sooner or later…”
“Thank you… for finding a burial place for Ren Qingchou,” Tang Lici said softly.
“Hah?” Shui Duopo was stunned. Through all his calculations, he never thought Tang Lici would say this. “Ah…”
Tang Lici said nothing more. He didn’t forcefully order Mo Ziru and Shui Duopo to save Puzhu at all costs, nor did he say what he would do to level Huijing Mountain’s Bright Moon Pavilion if Puzhu died again. He turned and left, his gray hair appearing quite dim against his white clothes.
“He actually didn’t tell you to investigate ‘Summoning Lamp Order’?” Shui Duopo pointed at Mo Ziru, extremely surprised. “Besides you, who in this world knows what the Wang family looks like? If you don’t go, who will?”
Mo Ziru was also very surprised. He had prepared to continue being “Jade Flute Mountain’s Precious Vase Venerable,” but Tang Lici just left like that?
The two looked at each other in bewilderment. Just then, the door curtain moved, and Liu Yan slowly walked in.
Seeing their wrong expressions, he paused. “What’s wrong?”
Liu Yan’s scarred face had finally been treated to human appearance under Shui Duopo’s great disdain. Yu Tuan’er, obsessed with beauty, followed him even more closely. She finally understood how so many white-robed and red-robed female attendants in Wind and Flow Shop fell for Liu Yan at first sight, then became loyal servants under Nine Heart Pills’ enchantment. But the more she found him handsome, the more Liu Yan despised himself. Sometimes Yu Tuan’er could feel his genuine hatred for his own face.
“Nothing,” Shui Duopo straightened his expression, saying with a grin, “How’s your antidote refinement going? Are the disciples still manageable?”
Liu Yan didn’t suspect anything. “The antidote is nearly complete. The first batch totals over three hundred pills, enough to relieve the Central Plains Sword Association’s crisis.” He had no doubt about the “three hundred disciples” Tang Lici had selected, but golden needle techniques weren’t easily learned. Teaching twenty or thirty from these three hundred disciples would already be difficult, especially since he himself wasn’t a master in this field. Shui Duopo was also very curious about the so-called “Nine Heart Pills” antidote, going to look twice. However, being accustomed to gathering and brewing herbs, he couldn’t accept Liu Yan’s strange pill-refining methods and later became too lazy to watch.
“Here’s an additional little monk severely poisoned,” Shui Duopo said seriously. “Want to practice on him? Maybe you have exceptional talent with some wonderful method to cure him instantly. Tang Lici’s troubles would immediately decrease by one, earning you great merit.”
Liu Yan had looked gloomy, but suddenly hearing “a severely poisoned little monk,” he was startled and looked up to see someone lying on the bed. Mo Ziru, being Shui Duopo’s close friend, casually lifted the bedding covering Puzhu’s face, revealing his full head of black hair. Liu Yan was startled again. “Shaolin’s Puzhu?”
Shaolin’s future abbot was so easily left here by Tang Lici. Was Wanqiao Zhai’s head manager Jiang Youyu’s courtyard really such a secure place? Liu Yan’s gaze swept over Mo Ziru and Shui Duopo’s faces. These two seniors were deeply concealed—could this be Tang Lici’s confidence in leaving himself, the so-called “three hundred disciples,” and Shaolin’s Puzhu here?
Shui Duopo pointed at Puzhu. “This is the cook Young Master Tang sent us. He only knows vegetarian dishes. Take a look—what poison has he been given?”
Liu Yan asked bewilderedly, “Cook?” Then shook his head. He wasn’t skilled in diagnosis and couldn’t possibly determine what poison Puzhu had. Just as Liu Yan was confused, Puzhu’s eyelashes moved. He awakened, and before opening his eyes, he knew several people stood nearby. Grabbing the bedding with a shake, the thin blanket rolled over, quickly draping over him as he sat up. Shui Duopo laughed heartily—this little monk was quite particular. Mo Ziru looked indifferent, his gaze drifting between Puzhu and Liu Yan, watching very seriously.
Puzhu sat cross-legged. “Gentlemen.” After opening his eyes, he closed them again, pausing slightly before continuing, “…fellow practitioners.” He surprisingly didn’t say “Amitabha” or address them as “benefactors,” but called them “fellow practitioners.”
“Where’s A’Li?” Before Shui Duopo could speak, Liu Yan was already asking urgently, “He brought you here—where is he?”
Puzhu lowered his eyebrows and closed his eyes. “He went elsewhere.”
Liu Yan’s face showed anger. Mo Ziru enjoyed watching the drama and deliberately remained silent. Shui Duopo said with a grin, “Young Master Tang is busy punishing evil and promoting good. Currently, the Qihun Mountain battle’s outcome is unclear. I heard Yang Guihua and Jiao Shiqiao still brought nearly a thousand guards to protect the princess. If the battle goes poorly, it’ll be hard to explain. Young Master Tang must have gone for this reason. Don’t worry—as long as you follow Young Master Tang’s arrangements, you’ll surely await his good news.”
I… Liu Yan glared angrily at Shui Duopo. How could Shui Duopo not know Tang Lici’s life was ending, yet speak so lightly? “Have you told him… have you told him he’s dying soon?” he asked in a lowered voice.
Shui Duopo didn’t even blink, still grinning. “With Young Master Tang’s abilities, do you think… there’s anything he doesn’t know? It’s just two types: what he wants you to know, and what he doesn’t want you to know.”
Liu Yan said coldly, “Then there are also two types: what he wants to know himself, and what he doesn’t want to know himself.”
“You truly understand him well,” Shui Duopo found this very curious. “But actually, I really can’t guess what he’s doing now. I thought he’d make this blockhead go find ‘Summoning Lamp Order,’ but he turned and left. Not only did he not leave a word, he didn’t even leave a penny.” What bothered him most was that according to Tang Lici’s past habits, after threats and inducements, he’d at least leave gold, silver, and jewels to make you love and hate him. This time he just left? Where’s the money? Bright Moon Gold Doctor Shui Duopo was very disappointed not seeing gold.
Liu Yan was secluded in a small courtyard not far below Funiu Mountain, painfully practicing antidotes for “Nine Heart Pills.” After being taken away by Tang Lici with no further news, the entire martial world knew Wind and Flow Shop’s master Tang Lici had kidnapped this life-saving villain and hidden him in Drifting Mei Garden. Though Nine Heart Pills were good, without antidotes, the Central Plains Sword Association was always constrained fighting Wind and Flow Shop. Initially, the Central Plains Sword Association with a thousand people’s fury pointed swords at Tang Lici, rushed into Qihun Mountain, and under Miss Hong’s orders dismantled Drifting Mei Garden’s periphery, killing many people. Wind and Flow Shop didn’t use any terrifying tricks, just cowered without coming out. The Central Plains Sword Association’s morale was high, as if leveling Drifting Mei Garden and capturing Tang Lici and Gui Mudan alive were just around the corner.
But once Kuanglan Wuxing appeared, Ren Qingchou died, Xifang Tao died.
And Kuanglan Wuxing seemed completely unharmed.
This caused waves within the Central Plains Sword Association. With Kuanglan Wuxing in Wind and Flow Shop, how could the Central Plains Sword Association break through Drifting Mei Garden? Ren Qingchou and Miss Tao were already first-class masters in the association. Though the association currently had many people, those like Zhang Hemo and Zheng Yue had martial arts inferior to Ren Qingchou, while Yu Furen, Master Wenxiu, and others seemed to have gaps compared to Xifang Tao. Currently, the one with the highest martial arts in the association was actually Cheng Yunpao. And Cheng Yunpao having the highest martial arts obviously couldn’t surpass Kuanglan Wuxing.
What could be done?
Just as the Central Plains Sword Association’s momentum was frustrated and discussions arose, Drifting Mei Garden created enormous commotion.
Drifting Mei Garden in Qihun Mountain made strange crackling sounds, then smoke and dust rolled as if underground palaces beneath the earth underwent tremendous changes.
Then, under the amazed gazes of the Central Plains Sword Association members, the above-ground buildings of Drifting Mei Garden, previously burned and demolished, began collapsing on their own. Layers upon layers of bricks and stones tumbled and overturned together. After the bricks and stones shattered, some yellow smoke scattered from within the broken stones and bricks, making people want to vomit—clearly poisonous.
Seeing the great change but not understanding why, Miss Hong had no choice but to order everyone to break camp and leave, staying far from this strange yellow smoke.
Afterward, Drifting Mei Garden was covered by yellow smoke, making it impossible to observe internal changes. When the yellow smoke dispersed, grass and trees within one or two li around withered and yellowed. No green remained within sight—all vegetation seemed coated with a layer of yellow powder. Within this bizarrely orange-yellow forest, a well-like giant hole appeared before Miss Hong.
Drifting Mei Garden’s enormous commotion wasn’t some mechanism rising from the ground, but the entire structure sinking dozens of meters down into Qihun Mountain.