Seeing Lu Yun in tears and unable to speak coherently, Wei Zizhuang couldn’t help but feel deeply moved. He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and sighed, “Get up and talk. As long as there’s life, there’s hope. Anyway, this Wei fellow was never a pretty boy to begin with—even with a burnt face, I can still eat, drink, and whore around.”

Hearing his words spoken so candidly, everyone secretly admired him. Timur Mieli beside them bent down to help Lu Yun up. Ling Zhi took out a handkerchief and let Lu Yun wipe his face.

Lu Yun wiped away his tears and said, “Brother Wei… your… your family? Are they… are they still alive in this world?”

After many years apart, the first thing Lu Yun asked about was this. This greatly moved Wei Zizhuang, who hurriedly said, “Don’t worry. That night, someone got there first and took my wife and children away from Beijing.”

Lu Yun was overjoyed: “Who was it?”

Wei Zizhuang gripped Lu Yun’s hand tightly and smiled, “Guess why I would join the ‘Righteous Men’?”

Lu Yun gasped: “Could it be… could it be that the leader of the Righteous Men saved them?”

Wei Zizhuang laughed heartily but said no more, only putting his arm around Lu Yun’s shoulder and laughing, “Let’s not talk about my affairs first. What about you? I heard that in recent days, evil thoughts have suddenly arisen in you, and you’ve become the number one flower-picking rapist in the martial world, is that right?”

Lu Yun was slightly startled: “What flower-picking rapist? Where does this talk come from?”

Wei Zizhuang laughed: “According to reports from our Righteous Men’s scouts, it seems someone abducted a ‘Lady Su’ and for over ten days, they shared the same bed, thoroughly ravishing this beauty. Is this true?”

Lu Yun was stunned: “Lady Su? Who is Lady Su?”

Wei Zizhuang smiled: “Lady Su’s maiden name is Qiong.”

Hearing this, Lu Yun immediately thought of Qiong Fang, then remembered Su Ying, and was greatly alarmed: “Guard Wei, you… you mustn’t talk nonsense! Miss Qiong and I only met by chance—how could there be any intimate relations?”

Wei Zizhuang smiled teasingly: “Fine, let’s set aside this case for now. But what about the matter of Lady Yang?”

Lu Yun frowned in confusion: “Lady Yang?… Who is this now?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “Lady Yang’s maiden name is Gu. Tonight she went to the fabric shop to buy cloth.”

Lu Yun turned pale with shock, not expecting that his chance encounter with his former lover at Baoqing Fabric Shop had been detected. He said tremblingly, “You… how could you know about this?”

Wei Zizhuang laughed: “Nothing can be done without Heaven knowing, unless one does nothing at all. According to our Righteous Men’s secret agents, I heard that Master Lu even lost his face mask, is that so?”

The other party knew everything, every detail—their divine powers were truly vast beyond measure. Lu Yun’s expression became extremely embarrassed, his face red with shame, not knowing what to do. Wei Zizhuang whispered in his ear: “Don’t be embarrassed—you’ve been celibate in that waterfall for ten years without losing a drop of vital essence, so naturally your mind became confused. I think you should hurry to the pleasure quarters to cool off, and stop ogling other people’s wives, making all the women in the capital live in fear.”

Lady Yang, Lady Su—all becoming bedmates? What would that look like? Lu Yun’s face became even more embarrassed, and he quickly changed the subject: “Brother Wei, how did you know I would come to the capital?”

Wei Zizhuang answered without thinking: “Xiao Wu saw you in Yangzhou.”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Xiao Wu?… Is that Chongqing’s child?”

Wei Zizhuang laughed: “He’s already in his twenties—what do you mean ‘child’?”

He paused and continued: “Before New Year’s, Xiao Wu went to Jiangnan and happened to encounter you there. After that, news spread and all parties knew you had returned.”

Lu Yun nodded—so the news had leaked as early as Jiangnan. After pondering for a while, he said: “When I returned to the capital, I encountered a master at the Marquis’ residence, dressed in black robes, who also claimed to be from the ‘Righteous Men.’ That person must be Chongqing, right?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “Correct. As soon as you returned to the capital, you became a target for all. Xiao Wu was afraid you’d encounter trouble, so he secretly followed you from Hongluo Temple. Who knew the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards’ would still get there first, having already sent people to lie in wait at the Marquis’ residence.”

Lu Yun sighed: “Speaking of this, I saw Hu Mei’er at the Marquis’ residence. She gave me a letter urging me to stay in the capital and become an official.”

“Become an official?…” Wei Zizhuang laughed heartily. “What a damn official! Do you still think you’re passing the imperial examination to become a Hanlin scholar? Isn’t it just running errands for the inn?”

Lu Yun was puzzled: “Inn? What inn?”

Ling Zhi explained: “The inn is another name for the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards.’ They have six accountants under them. The forces you encountered tonight were subordinates of the fourth leader, Jin Lingshuang.”

Lu Yun understood: “I see. So… what about Hu Mei’er? Which leader is she?”

Before he finished speaking, Wei Zizhuang snorted disdainfully: “What era is this? Is it still her turn to lead? Let me tell you, in recent years Hu Mei’er has become a lowly servant girl, specializing in taking care of other people’s children!”

Lu Yun was shocked. Although he had met with Hu Mei’er tonight, she hadn’t mentioned this. He hurriedly asked: “She… she became someone’s servant girl? Who… who told you this?”

Wei Zizhuang said coldly: “Who told me? Go ask Wu Dingyuan’s wife and you’ll understand.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “Yan Ting? She… she took Hu Mei’er as her servant girl?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “Of course it was her. If not her, who would dare keep this prostitute by their side?”

Lu Yun pondered for a while: “That’s not right… Didn’t… didn’t Yan Ting have a grudge against Hu Mei’er? Why would she take her as a servant girl?”

Wei Zizhuang chuckled: “You’ve got it backwards. If not for wanting revenge, why would she take her as a servant girl?”

Hearing these inside details, Lu Yun suddenly understood. Immediate retribution comes quickly. Years ago, the ‘Hundred Flowers Fairy’ viciously killed Zhang Zhiyue with cruel methods. Who knew that today she herself would fall into Yan Ting’s hands? These past years she must have suffered greatly, living a life worse than death.

Thinking of his past relationship with Hu Mei’er, Lu Yun felt a twinge of sympathy: “She’s really suffered.”

Wei Zizhuang cursed: “Suffered my ass! Look how naive you are—don’t you think about who this Hu woman used to sleep with?”

Hearing Wei Zizhuang speak so crudely, Lu Yun couldn’t help but cough and murmur: “It was… it was Jiang Chong, right?”

Wei Zizhuang sneered: “Now you understand? Years ago, when Yan Ting captured Hu Mei’er, she originally wanted to dismember her and make her into a human jerky or something. Who knew this prostitute had mixed with Jiang Chong for so long that she’d learned a whole set of flattering skills? As soon as she saw Yan Ting’s face, she immediately brought out her life’s expertise and praised her to the heavens—so sickeningly sweet. This Yan Ting is also naturally base—seeing Hu Mei’er as such a talented flatterer, how could she bear to kill her? Now these two women, one rotten and one cheap, are birds of a feather, making the capital’s brothels stink unbearably!”

This Wei Zizhuang, having had his face burned, had a temperament very different from years past. Looking at his heart full of cynicism, speaking only of ‘rotten’ and ‘cheap’—he didn’t know why he so bitterly hated Yan Ting that he cursed her so terribly.

Thinking of Wu Dingyuan’s feelings, Lu Yun immediately sighed and waved his hand, indicating he shouldn’t say more.

After chatting for a few sentences, seeing the men removing their masks and packing up their swords and equipment, they seemed about to leave. Lu Yun hurriedly said: “Brother Wei, you… you’ll take me to see Chongqing, right?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “Don’t rush! I’ll first take you to meet our leader. Then we’ll listen to his instructions.”

Lu Yun was puzzled: “Your leader? What… what connection does he have with Chongqing?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “He’s Chongqing’s friend. Usually, if Xiao Wu encounters trouble, he definitely seeks his help.”

Lu Yun nodded, now knowing that Chongqing had deep connections with the ‘Righteous Men.’ He quietly asked: “Brother Wei, I… I saw that Chongqing also has a mark on his body. Is he… is he also from the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards’?”

Wei Zizhuang sighed: “Yes, when he was fourteen, his temperament changed drastically. From then on, he befriended our leader and began practicing martial arts furiously. A year later, he joined the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards’ and became the inn’s ‘Dragon Shadow Prince.'”

Recalling Chongqing’s fierce and evil face, Lu Yun couldn’t help but sigh deeply: “This child… what happened to this child? Why did he become like this?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “If you want to know the inside story, go ask Wu Dingyuan yourself.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “Dingyuan? He… he knows his son joined the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards’?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “I already said this matter—you need to ask Wu Dingyuan yourself.”

Lu Yun was puzzled: “Why?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “Some things aren’t appropriate for outsiders to say. You need to ask him yourself.”

Lu Yun’s heart trembled, knowing this matter involved the Wu family’s privacy and thus wasn’t suitable for outsiders to discuss. He took a deep breath and said: “Brother Wei, you… you all knew I fell into the White Water Falls?”

Wei Zizhuang sighed: “Of course we knew. That year, Hu Mei’er returned to Beijing, bringing back a sword and a small baby, but Master Lu was nowhere to be seen. Who wouldn’t know you had an accident?”

Hearing the words ‘small baby,’ Lu Yun immediately jumped up in panic: “Wait! A’Xiu! Where is he? Do any of you know?”

When Lu Yun met with Hu Mei’er, he had asked her about A’Xiu’s whereabouts. Who knew this woman would put on a cold face and curse him thoroughly, but regarding whether A’Xiu was dead or alive, where he was—she didn’t mention a single word. Now Lu Yun was anxiously concerned, his voice trembling slightly, fearing A’Xiu had met with some misfortune. But seeing everyone’s expressions, they only exchanged glances with smiles on their lips.

Seeing their expressions, Lu Yun became even more panicked. Just as he was about to inquire about the child’s life and death, he heard a faint sound from the far depths of the cave—it seemed someone had sneaked in. Though this sound was subtle, it couldn’t escape the ears of these masters. Ling Zhi said: “Jin Lingshuang is about to attack.”

Wei Zizhuang chuckled coldly: “The inn’s lackeys are here again? Damn it, everyone change locations first. Don’t waste time with them.”

Just as they were about to turn and leave, Lu Yun grabbed him anxiously: “Don’t go yet—tell me about A’Xiu… is A’Xiu still alive?”

Seeing Lu Yun both surprised and afraid, his eyes full of self-blame, fearing A’Xiu was no longer in this world, Ling Zhi patted his back comfortingly: “Don’t worry—Shenxiu is very well. He’s lively and healthy, already grown into a big child.”

Lu Yun’s eyes reddened as he said quietly: “Where… where is he? Can I see him?”

Ling Zhi smiled: “Come with us. Once you meet the leader of the Righteous Men, you’ll understand everything.”

As they spoke, footsteps in the cave gradually approached, only a hundred feet away. Wei Zizhuang immediately blew out the lamp: “Everyone follow me.”

There were many masters present—besides Lu Yun and Wei Zizhuang, there were also Timur Mieli, Master Ling Zhi, and others. Naturally, they need not fear the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards.’ But since this trip was to meet with the leader of the Righteous Men, it was better to avoid trouble than create it—no need for complications.

Led by Wei Zizhuang, everyone headed toward the depths of the cave. Along the way, they passed tunnels every few feet—this underground water system was intricate and complex, like a maze. But the men were familiar with the route, turning left and right as if they walked it regularly. Lu Yun observed and said: “Brother Wei, do you all usually hide here?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “Everything above ground is the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards’ territory, but the depths of the underworld are our Righteous Men’s lair.”

Lu Yun nodded and asked: “Don’t they… don’t they send people down to search and capture?”

Wei Zizhuang smiled coldly: “What do you think I practice my ‘Night Blade’ for?”

Lu Yun nodded slightly. After ten years apart, Wei Zizhuang’s martial arts had greatly improved, having already transcended the framework of the ‘Eight Trigrams Swimming Body Palm’ from years past. His skills were more than double what they were before. If the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guards’ forced their way in, there would surely be countless traps and hidden weapons waiting to serve them, causing heavy casualties.

Lu Yun asked: “How did you find this waterway?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “In the first year of Zhengtong’s reign, summer, all the wells in the capital dried up simultaneously. Half a year later, neighboring provinces were also affected. Everyone said this was heaven’s punishment—quite strange. Our leader is skilled in feng shui and geomancy, so he took the lead in diving into wells to investigate the underground water flow. This is how he found this dwelling place.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “What? Your leader is skilled in feng shui?”

Ling Zhi interjected: “Correct. The leader of the Righteous Men is familiar with feng shui. Besides this, he’s also proficient in the mystical arts of qimen dunjia and the five elements—he’s quite an extraordinary person.”

Lu Yun hurriedly asked: “Master, do you also practice physiognomy? Compared to this leader, who is superior?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Master Lu, you flatter me. Although I know a little about fate reading, compared to his mystical arts, I’m like a novice just starting out—how can the distance be measured by reason?”

Ling Zhi was skilled in fate reading and had once predicted Wu Dingyuan’s future wealth and high position—his foundation was naturally solid. Who knew he would speak so humbly? Lu Yun was rather skeptical and said: “What is this person’s honored name? May I be allowed to know?”

Wei Zizhuang coughed, wanting to speak but hesitating, when Ling Zhi said frankly: “I won’t hide it from Master Lu—this leader’s surname is Qi, known as Physician Qi.”

Lu Yun found this name unfamiliar and only frowned slightly: “Have I… have I known this person before?”

Before Ling Zhi could answer, Wei Zizhuang hurriedly turned back and said loudly: “Master, enough! Don’t tell him anymore!”

Lu Yun was puzzled: “Brother Wei, why do you say this? Don’t you trust me?”

Wei Zizhuang snorted: “You’ve always been unable to keep secrets—better to say less.”

Lu Yun’s anger flared as he said loudly: “What kind of talk is that? Lu has lived his life with integrity and loyalty—am I someone who betrays confidences? Fine! Fine! I’ll just leave then.”

Speaking angrily, he flicked his sleeves and turned to go. Wei Zizhuang was startled and quickly grabbed him, panicking: “What are you doing! What are you doing! Haven’t seen you for years and I offend you with one sentence?”

Lu Yun was still unhappy and unwilling to speak. Ling Zhi comforted him: “Master Lu, don’t be angry. Actually, Master Wei means well. Consider your upright nature and high skills—naturally you wouldn’t succumb to threats or inducements. But once your relatives are held hostage and subjected to coercion, what would you do?”

Ling Zhi, worthy of being a Shaolin abbot, hit upon Lu Yun’s weakness with one phrase. Though his nature was strong and he could keep silent even under torture, if someone captured his beloved family and subjected them to slight torture, Lu Yun would probably choose death and submit to their control. Better to avoid trouble than create it—better not to let him know.

Lu Yun thought this made sense and sighed: “Very well, if I shouldn’t ask, I won’t ask. But why does he want to see me?”

Ling Zhi said: “You can fulfill the final divination he cast.”

Lu Yun was greatly shocked and asked: “The final divination?”

Ling Zhi said flatly: “He believes this great war that has lasted ten years will ultimately end in your hands.”

Lu Yun was even more shocked: “What?”

Wei Zizhuang coughed: “Master, please, say less—don’t scare him away.”

Since entering the cave tonight, Wei Zizhuang had been mysterious throughout. Looking at his hesitant manner, there was surely something he was hiding.

Lu Yun was full of doubt and slowed his pace. Ling Zhi comforted him again: “Master Lu, don’t worry. This ‘Physician Qi’ isn’t some demon or ghost. He’s called ‘Physician’ simply because he’s a doctor.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “A doctor? Doesn’t he… doesn’t he know feng shui?”

Ling Zhi smiled slightly: “Master Lu, above medical principles, there’s another layer of principle—do you know what it is?”

Lu Yun shook his head in bewilderment. Ling Zhi asked and answered himself with a smile: “Fate principles.”

Lu Yun was puzzled: “Fate principles?”

Ling Zhi smiled: “This leader, like Master Lu, is extremely intelligent. With just one medical text as his foundation, he taught himself and mastered the world’s rare acupuncture techniques, thoroughly understanding all blood and qi circulation in the human body. However, when treating patients, he noticed some strange phenomena: some patients appeared cured by him but soon relapsed; some patients seemed to have incurable chronic ailments with no hope from medicine, yet over time recovered without treatment. Then he understood—above medical principles, there’s another layer of principle.”

Lu Yun gasped: “That would be fate principles?”

Ling Zhi smiled: “Exactly. People’s lifespans are actually predetermined. Their birth, aging, sickness, and death all have a layer of causation. If one cannot penetrate this principle, even knowing the disease’s root and treating it with all one’s heart can at most cure temporarily but not permanently—what use is treatment? So he used medical principles as his foundation and began studying fate principles.”

Lu Yun was intrigued and hurriedly asked: “What is fate?”

Ling Zhi said: “Fate is innate nature. Internally, it manifests as ‘qi’; externally, it manifests as ‘fortune.’ When qi weakens, fortune weakens; when fortune weakens, fate ends. Therefore, good physicians, when taking a patient’s pulse, don’t only observe organs and examine blood and qi—they often take the opportunity to observe the patient’s palm and face to determine their lifetime’s prosperity and decline.”

Lu Yun sighed: “What Master says is already the way of shamanic medicine.”

Ling Zhi smiled: “In ancient Shang dynasty times, medicine and shamanism were one family—what’s strange about that?”

Lu Yun, being well-read, knew that in Shang dynasty times, physicians were also diviners, hence called shamanic physicians. These people burned turtle shells to divine fortune and misfortune, gradually developing into later I Ching and fate principles. He nodded and asked: “Hearing Master speak thus, is this person’s medical skill perhaps even superior to the Azure Robe Scholar?”

Ling Zhi smiled: “The student surpasses the master. The Azure Robe Scholar’s medical skills are inherited from Mount Jiuhua and can only treat temporary ailments. The Righteous Men leader’s acupuncture technique is even more superior—it can treat lifelong suffering.”

The ‘Azure Robe Scholar’ was the current chief strategist of the Angry Azure forces. In the past, he had sought the Way at Mount Jiuhua, with medical skills so refined they were unmatched under heaven. Who knew someone would claim their abilities surpassed his? Lu Yun pondered for a while and asked: “Very well, but what connection do fate principles have with feng shui?”

Ling Zhi said: “Medical principles can predict an ordinary person’s temporary prosperity and decline; fate principles can know a mortal’s lifetime fortune and misfortune; as for feng shui and geomancy principles, they can examine a family name’s rise and fall across three generations.”

Lu Yun said “Oh” and asked: “So feng shui is the highest learning?”

Ling Zhi shook his head: “Above feng shui, there’s still one principle—heavenly principle. This principle is hidden within stellar phenomena. If one can penetrate and observe it, one can predict the world’s movements.”

Lu Yun was slightly shocked, realizing this Righteous Men leader was extraordinary—versed in astronomy above and geography below, knowing everything. He hurriedly asked: “So this person can predict heavenly secrets?”

Ling Zhi smiled: “Master Lu is indeed clever. Medical principles treat temporary ailments; fate principles treat lifelong diseases; geography can treat the ailments of rivers, lakes, seas, and mountains. When all three are mastered, one can take the pulse of the world—this is the art of great peace.”

Fate principles, geography, and heavenly principle together are called the ‘Three Origins.’ Scholars of the world seek little—they hope only to conduct themselves with wisdom, cultivate themselves with benevolence, and establish their hearts with courage—this is the realm of ‘Three Accomplishments.’ However, no matter how high the Three Accomplishments, what they explore are only the principles of a gentleman’s conduct. Thus, Daoist practitioners are not satisfied with this. They observe fate principles internally and observe rivers, lakes, and seas externally. At the highest realm, they can look up at stellar phenomena to explore heavenly secrets, thereby finding the methods of ‘Heaven, Earth, and Human’ Three Origins, called numerology.

Lu Yun was a Confucian scholar who rarely spoke of supernatural forces. After thinking for a while, he remained noncommittal: “Isn’t Master a Buddhist? How can you discuss these metaphysical fate principles?”

Ling Zhi smiled and bowed: “Master Lu’s criticism is justified. We Buddhist learners plant causes across three lifetimes to seek positive results in this life—we shouldn’t discuss these numerological arts. However, I have an innate wisdom obstruction, so I’ve also dabbled in these heterodox paths.”

Buddhist compassion only discusses post-natal cultivation and doesn’t believe in prenatal fate—Lu Yun, though a Confucian, also knew this in detail. Seeing his disapproval, Ling Zhi said: “Master Lu is truly a peerless talent. If you’re interested in exploring heavenly fate, I’m willing to teach you everything I know.”

In his early years, when Lu Yun was a book servant at Gu Siyuan’s residence, he had once been tempted to seek the Way. If he had heard these words in his youth, his heart would have leaped with excitement. But now, in middle age, what he loved and hated, what brought him sorrow and joy, would no longer change. He sighed softly: “Heavenly fate is something even Confucius couldn’t fully understand.”

Ling Zhi smiled: “The six paths of reincarnation may seem inconstant, but actually have their constancy. Master Lu is a person of supreme wisdom—don’t you want to explore your own heavenly fate?”

Lu Yun shook his head: “If a person lacks benevolence, what use are rituals? If a person lacks benevolence… even knowing heavenly fate, what then?”

These words came from the Analects, Politics Chapter Two, meaning that if a person’s heart lacks goodness, even if they’re well-dressed and well-mannered, aren’t they still a cultured scoundrel? Lu Yun used this to express his position and also his view on heavenly fate.

Ling Zhi, hearing his repeated refusals, couldn’t help but laugh: “Confucius once spoke of the ‘Three Fears of a Gentleman.’ It seems Master Lu, like Confucius, also fears knowing his own heavenly fate.”

Hearing these words, Lu Yun’s whole body shook, unable to answer a single word. All along, Lu Yun hadn’t wanted to return to the capital—actually, for only one reason: he feared learning his ‘heavenly fate.’

Heavenly fate is destiny. For millions of years, which of the world’s myriad things doesn’t follow the principle that the strong live and the weak die? This ‘survival of the fittest’ eternal truth is the destiny no one can escape. Even those as powerful as the First Emperor of Qin and Emperor Wu of Han, if they wanted to succeed and establish great achievements to unite the world, had to follow this path. Once they betrayed this principle, even with Confucius’s virtue or Mencius’s ability, they would end up accomplishing nothing and dying in depression. Therefore, Confucius said: ‘The Three Fears of a Gentleman’—the first fear explicitly stated was ‘fear of heavenly fate.’ Confucius only understood heavenly fate at fifty; when he learned his life’s destiny, it was called ‘Zhongni Weeps for the Qilin.’ At seventy, the elder heard of Zilu’s death on the road and wept uncontrollably, feeling his birth was untimely and death inappropriate—in this chaotic world, his heart was lonely, his fate nearly ended. This was Confucius’s final ‘heavenly fate.’ The Way of Heaven shows no favoritism, only favoring the strong. In this cruel human world, even Confucius couldn’t help but shed tears. Therefore, Laozi said: “The weak are companions of life,” and Buddhism speaks of ‘reincarnation’—every school understood Heaven’s intent, but only Confucian scholars didn’t understand.

For thousands of years, they neither understood the method of following Heaven and responding to people, nor could they explain the mysteries of reincarnation. They constantly boosted their own morale, always saying that when the world lacked the Way, they would ‘act for Heaven,’ and when Heaven lacked heart, they would ‘establish heart for Heaven and Earth.’ However, the result of going against Heaven was only silent questioning of the vast sky.

Thinking of Gu Siyuan’s death, Lu Yun covered his face with his sleeve, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Ling Zhi guessed his thoughts and softly consoled: “Master Lu, the six paths of reincarnation have their own cause and effect. If you wish to accomplish great deeds, you must follow Heaven’s will. Do you understand?”

Lu Yun wiped his tears and choked: “Heaven’s will? What is that?”

Ling Zhi said: “Don’t act presumptuously, don’t doubt. If you remain devout and respectful, you’ll naturally understand the path Buddha guides you toward.”

Hearing these words, Lu Yun remained silent for a long while, then said quietly: “Master, thank you for your guidance. However, I chose a path long, long ago.”

Ling Zhi was stunned: “What path?”

Lu Yun didn’t answer him. He lowered his head in silent contemplation. Though his figure appeared lonely, it implicitly told Ling Zhi one thing.

There was simply no turning back. Ten years ago, Lu Yun had already made his choice—he would definitely walk this path to its end.

The tunnel fell silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts, no one speaking. After a long, long time, seeing Ling Zhi about to counsel him again, Lu Yun interrupted and said gently: “Master, don’t keep bringing up my affairs. What about yourself? What exactly happened to you these past years? Why does the martial world say you disappeared?”

Ling Zhi sighed slightly: “What? Is someone still looking for me?”

Lu Yun said: “I once saw Master Lingyin near Yongding Gate. He’s been searching for your whereabouts.”

The four great divine monks of Shaolin were collectively called ‘Zhi Ding Yin Zhen.’ Lu Yun had once encountered the monk Lingyin in a shabby alley in the capital, who had mentioned past events—it seemed that ten years ago, Abbot Ling Zhi had left without notice and disappeared, with no one knowing his whereabouts. Little did anyone know that the former abbot had actually returned to Beijing long ago—he was the gentle and scholarly ‘Mr. Lin’ standing before them.

Lu Yun said quietly: “Master, where exactly have you been these past years? Can you tell us?”

Ling Zhi recalled past events. Even though his five aggregates were deeply hidden and the four elements empty, he couldn’t help but sigh in a daze: “To be honest, in the spring of the first year of Zhengtong, I left from the back mountain of Shaolin Temple and traveled all the way to the Western Regions.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “The Western Regions?”

Ling Zhi patted Timur Mieli’s shoulder and sighed: “These ten years, I lived under the rule of the Timurid Khanate until last year when I finally returned. To avoid leaking information, I had to grow out my hair, return to lay life, and resume my secular surname.”

Lu Yun felt a slight chill and hurriedly asked: “Master, you… why did you travel so far from home when everything was fine?”

Ling Zhi said softly: “Eleven years ago, I learned of heavenly secrets.”

Lu Yun was shocked: “Heavenly secrets?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Heavenly secrets are matters that cannot be revealed. Since learning these heavenly secrets, I knew great disaster would befall me. To avoid implicating my fellow disciples, I had no choice but to leave the temple and avoid calamity.”

Ling Zhi’s insight and martial prowess could be said to be rare in the world. If even he felt his situation was precarious, it showed how secret yet significant these ‘heavenly secrets’ were. Lu Yun felt somewhat alarmed and hurriedly asked: “Master, what exactly are these heavenly secrets?”

Ling Zhi said: “Heavenly secrets are prophecies.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “Prophecies? Where… where did these come from?”

Ling Zhi said: “In the final year of the Jingtai Dynasty, the heroes of Angry Azure came to pay respects at our Shaolin. Master Lu surely remembers this event?”

Lu Yun nodded: “I know. This was about Master Tianjue detaining ‘Qian Long,’ wasn’t it?”

Hearing the words ‘Qian Long,’ Mieli’s expression changed dramatically, and Wei Zizhuang also coughed. Ling Zhi remained composed as usual: “Correct. That year, Angry Azure Mountain was about to restore the dynasty, and the court was also surging with undercurrents. Worried that great war would erupt, I went to Danyang Town to visit a senior.”

Lu Yun pondered: “A senior? Which senior?”

Ling Zhi said: “I went to see Ning Bufan.”

Lu Yun gasped: “Ning Bufan? Didn’t he… didn’t he retire?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “His retirement was actually because he knew too much. At that time, the world’s fortune was about to change. I guessed he knew some inside information and wanted to go inquire, but this person was tight-lipped. After talking with him for a long time without getting anywhere, I returned disappointed. Who knew that on the return journey, I would gain much.”

Lu Yun felt a slight chill: “Master, what did you see?”

Ling Zhi said: “On the return journey, I encountered a person who divined four hexagrams for me, predicting four major events that would occur ten years later.”

Lu Yun was greatly shocked: “Who was this person?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “This person is today’s leader of the Righteous Men.”

Since ancient times, there have been so-called ‘hexagram prophecies’ like the Pancake Song and the Prophecy of the Back—all predicting major events of a hundred or thousand years. But no one expected that ten years ago, someone had already predicted today’s events. Lu Yun took a deep breath and asked: “How—how did he tell you?”

Ling Zhi said: “The first hexagram was the death of a divine monk; the second hexagram was Jingtai’s downfall; the third hexagram was great drought under heaven.”

Hearing this, everyone slowed their pace. Lu Yun said tremblingly: “The death of a divine monk? Was this divine monk—was it Master Tianjue?”

Ling Zhi sighed and nodded slightly.

Ten years ago, Jingtai fell and Zhengtong was restored. Court ministers fell one after another. Later, the literary Yang and martial Qin turned against each other, and Guanhai Yunyuan also fell apart, with no possibility of reconciliation to this day. All of this, traced to its root, originated from Tianjue’s death.

In the complete silence, only Ling Zhi’s sigh could be heard: “I myself am also a practitioner of fate arts. When I heard these strange prophecies, I merely laughed them off. After I returned to the temple, within less than a month, Shaolin and Angry Azure were already at war. Then my uncle-master Tianjue died, fulfilling the first hexagram. Only then did I awaken and realize these hexagrams were all true and would come to pass one by one.”

Lu Yun was horrified and hurriedly asked: “Then—then what happened next? Master, did you take countermeasures?”

Ling Zhi said gloomily: “Perhaps it was fate’s manipulation. At that time, my uncle-master Tianjue was already dead, and the situation was beyond salvation. Remembering the remaining prophecies, I was naturally in constant fear. After much deliberation, I decided to seek out Wu Dingyuan, hoping to join forces with him.”

Lu Yun was shocked: “Dingyuan? You sought out Dingyuan?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Wu Dingyuan possesses the three supreme talents and can fulfill the hexagram of ‘Nine-Five Dragon’s Flight’ in fate arts. If righteous people could take shelter under his wings, they could naturally turn the tide. Unfortunately, he lacked foresight—as soon as he heard it involved court politics, he covered his ears and fled.”

Heroes create circumstances, and circumstances create heroes. Wu Dingyuan was a hero who rose with the tide, but not a talent who could reverse the situation. When Ling Zhi sought him out, it was like seeking fish from a tree. Lu Yun understood this and could only sigh: “What happened next? What did you do?”

Ling Zhi said: “Wu Dingyuan refused me, but these hexagrams were approaching one by one. After days of deep thought, though I knew Heaven’s will could not be defied, I still decided to defy Heaven and make one final struggle.”

Lu Yun said tremblingly: “A final struggle? You—what did you do?”

Ling Zhi said: “Do you know about that shot at Yongding River—you—you mean—?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Do you remember? Eleven years ago, someone staged an assassination at Yongding River, nearly shooting the first great general of the Liu faction, Yang Suguan, to death. Do you know who fired that shot?”

Lu Yun said tremblingly: “Was it—was it you, Master?”

Ling Zhi said: “Correct. The one who shot Yang Suguan at that time was this humble monk.”

Ten years ago, Yang Suguan was defeated at Mount Shaoshi, besieged on all sides. First, he offended Emperor Jingtai and was stripped of his rank and reduced to a commoner. Later, he was assassinated at Yongding River, falling into the surging waters with his fate unknown. At the time, Lu Yun had speculated this was Jiang Chong’s doing, or someone acting on imperial intent to stage the assassination. He never imagined this matter had nothing to do with court officials—it was actually done by his fellow disciple, Abbot Ling Zhi?

The more Lu Yun thought about it, the more horrified he became. He couldn’t help but step back several paces, saying tremblingly: “Master, you—why did you shoot him—he—he was your junior disciple—”

Ling Zhi said: “Master Lu, do you know what the full name of the Righteous Men is?”

Lu Yun shook his head in bewilderment, then heard Wei Zizhuang interject: “The Ten Great Ministers Against Yang, Righteous and Brave Men of Shanmu.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “Against Yang?”

Ling Zhi said: “Exactly, against Yang. In the past, among the three great factions of Jiang, Liu, and Liu, Liu Jing was the most cunning and scheming, yet this man died earliest. When my uncle-master Tianjue also died, the entire Jingtai Dynasty was on the verge of collapse. The situation was critical—Jiang Chong and Liu Angtian were both helpless. If I didn’t strike first, who could reverse the situation?”

Lu Yun said tremblingly: “Wait, the fall of the Jingtai Dynasty—what—what does this have to do with Yang Suguan?”

Ling Zhi said calmly: “Master Lu, do you know how the Zhengtong Seal came to light?”

‘Zhengtong Seal’—Lu Yun nearly jumped up. Cold sweat covered his body as he said tremblingly: “Is that the Imperial Jade Seal?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “You’re correct. This Zhengtong Seal was originally one of the court’s twenty-four seals. Legend says it disappeared in the fifteenth year of Wuying and fell into the hands of Yexian Khan. After Yexian’s downfall, this jade seal was still nowhere to be found. Because of this mystery, when the Zhengtong Seal appeared in the Forbidden City that year, everyone said Emperor Wuying was about to return, immediately throwing Emperor Jingtai into complete panic.”

Emperor Jingtai’s complete defeat that year was precisely because he panicked. He first deposed Jiang Chong, then executed Liu Angtian, cutting off his own wings, then threw military power to a group of petty people. Looking back now, all this madness was forced out by that jade seal. Lu Yun said tremblingly: “So that—that Zhengtong Seal—was actually found by Yang Suguan?”

Ling Zhi said flatly: “Correct. Ever since I failed at Yongding River, he obtained the Zhengtong Seal.”

Lu Yun murmured in amazement: “How—how did you know?”

Ling Zhi smiled: “Master Lu, you should ask yourself that.”

Lu Yun was even more surprised: “Ask—ask me?”

Ling Zhi said: “When my uncle-master Tianjue passed away, did you hear any final words?”

Lu Yun’s whole body shook violently. When the divine monk Tianjue died, he had attended at his side and learned the prophecy: “At Golden Water Bridge the dragon spits pearls, in Shaolin’s Buddhist kingdom comes the year of great drought.” At that time, Qin Zhonghai had repeatedly warned him never to spread this, or heaven and earth would undergo great changes. Now hearing Ling Zhi mention this again felt like being struck by lightning, leaving him bewildered and at a loss.

Ling Zhi said: “After the jade seal appeared, the situation rapidly deteriorated. I understood that after the new emperor’s restoration, there would be no foothold in the Central Plains. I fled to the Western Regions overnight. The leader of the Righteous Men was also forced underground. Later, he used Liu Angtian’s name to rally court loyalists to swear blood oaths, calling themselves the ‘Ten Great Ministers Against Yang, Righteous and Brave Men of Shanmu.'”

He glanced at Wei Zizhuang: “At that time, this Master Wei had already joined. Speaking of the words ‘Shanmu,’ it was his idea.”

The more Lu Yun heard, the more alarmed he became, realizing this coup actually had traceable signs. It was just that all factions were completely unaware beforehand—from Jiang Chong and Liu Angtian to Emperor Jingtai himself, all fell into the abyss with no one able to escape disaster. But was this really Yang Suguan’s doing? He had no connection to Emperor Wuying—why would he commit such a vicious act?

While pondering in horror, he suddenly heard Wei Zizhuang say: “Lu Yun, you’ve already met the Grand Shopkeeper, haven’t you?”

Thinking of that Grand Shopkeeper, Lu Yun broke out in cold sweat and nodded. Wei Zizhuang continued: “I heard you fought with him?”

Lu Yun sighed and nodded again. Wei Zizhuang asked: “Did you win?”

Hearing this, Lu Yun had nothing to say and couldn’t even nod. Everyone could see he had lost miserably. Ling Zhi said: “Master Lu, when you fought him, you definitely had companions present, right?”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Yes, besides Chongqing, there were several friends from Mount Diancang, Mount Hua, and the Divine Blade Sect, plus a Mongolian master—”

Ling Zhi interrupted: “As a result, these people couldn’t help at all and were all used by the opponent, correct?”

Lu Yun’s breathing quickened as he said quietly: “Master, how—how did you know?”

Ling Zhi smiled bitterly: “Friends, have you heard of the Six Paths of Reincarnation?”

The ‘Six Paths Formation’ was so famous—who in the martial world didn’t know of it? Everyone nodded: “I heard this formation is Shaolin Temple’s treasure, right?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Correct. Our Shaolin has five sets of forbidden divine techniques. Legend says if these five evil techniques could be guided by Buddhist mental methods, they could return from evil to righteousness, becoming an invincible formation—this is the origin of the Six Paths Formation. However, though the elders spoke with certainty, everyone in the temple knew this legend was false.”

“False?” Everyone was dumbfounded, murmuring: “How so?”

Ling Zhi said: “The forbidden divine techniques are too unique and specialized. Even if guided by the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic and Bodhidharma’s Heart Sutra, they still couldn’t coordinate with each other. In my youth, I never saw the temple elders practice this formation.”

Lu Yun became suspicious: “Does—does this formation relate to my encounter tonight?”

Ling Zhi shook his head: “Of course it’s related. Before my uncle-master Tianjue went into seclusion, this formation was just used to intimidate outsiders—it could only be considered empty talk. But after my uncle-master’s twenty years of seclusion, the Six Paths of Reincarnation became real.”

Everyone was bewildered: “Why is this so?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “He found a mental method called Tianjue.”

Lu Yun jumped up in shock: “Tianjue?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “My uncle-master Tianjue was an unparalleled martial arts genius. He spent twenty years and finally found a controlling technique that could divide others’ true power and could also gather multiple forces to make them follow one will, uniting many hearts to resist powerful enemies. This dividing and combining mental method is our Shaolin’s final forbidden divine technique—Tianjue.”

There is no invincible martial art in the martial world, but there is one invincible formation—the Six Paths of Reincarnation. Some say this legend is false, others say it’s true—opinions vary with no consensus. No one expected that the monk Tianjue had actually crossed the most difficult step, creating the profound and mysterious Tianjue technique.

Tonight, Lu Yun was completely suppressed by the Grand Shopkeeper, unable to fight back. This wasn’t because his internal power was inferior to that person, but because the opponent’s mental method was unprecedented, seemingly capable of controlling all internal power under heaven, thus trapping him in a siege. He pondered with lowered head, suddenly realizing in horror: “Wait! Master Tianjue only had one disciple. So this Grand Shopkeeper must be—must be—”

Ling Zhi sighed and was about to answer when suddenly, from the depths of the tunnel came a low voice: “Heaven hears as I hear, Heaven sees as I see—Master of the Divine Sword—Ruler of the World.”

Suddenly, ghostly wails seemed to float from the depths of the tunnel, making everyone feel an eerie chill. Lu Yun was filled with fear—having just fought with the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ tonight, he had heard this person speak. Looking at that voice just now, emotionless and flat, it was remarkably similar to that ‘Grand Shopkeeper.’ Mieli gripped his fists tightly and was about to step forward to investigate when Wei Zizhuang stopped him: “It’s fine, it’s one of our own.”

Hearing this, how could Lu Yun believe it? Timur Mieli beside him also became suspicious and immediately said: “Mr. Lin, what exactly is going on?”

Ling Zhi said: “Don’t worry. The one who just spoke is the leader of the Righteous Men.”

Mieli looked completely bewildered and was about to question further when Wei Zizhuang crouched down and crawled into a waterway first.

Seeing Ling Zhi follow, the other men also went in. Lu Yun and Timur Mieli exchanged glances and finally crawled in one after the other. After crawling only a few feet through the cave, their view suddenly opened—this place was actually an extremely spacious large cavern.

Lu Yun looked around and saw that Ling Zhi and the others had all arrived. In the cave were ten empty chairs, apparently where the Righteous Men’s leaders usually met. Looking ahead, there was a curtained area with lamplight faintly showing from behind, like a shadow puppet theater stage. On both sides stood eight men, each with a steel blade at his waist and carrying Kongming lanterns—presumably subordinates. Suddenly, a voice said: “We trouble all distinguished guests to come from afar… our organization is deeply grateful.”

The speaker spoke slowly with a thick Shaanxi-Gansu accent. Lu Yun was startled upon hearing it: “Dingyuan! Is that you?”

This voice was purely northwestern dialect, each word extremely similar to Wu Dingyuan. Lu Yun was uncertain and was about to approach the curtain when suddenly all the lights in the cave went out, leaving everything in darkness.

Darkness struck unexpectedly, greatly startling Lu Yun. Just as he was about to shout, Wei Zizhuang grabbed him, putting a finger to his lips and shaking his head, indicating he should remain calm.

Just then, the curtain slowly lit up, showing a dim glow that outlined a human figure—presumably the supreme leader of the Righteous Men. He said calmly: “Master Abbot, we parted hastily ten years ago without time to give you a farewell feast. This was truly impolite.”

“Your Excellency need not be courteous. This humble monk’s return to the country still hopes for Your Excellency’s assistance in many ways.”

The shadow behind the curtain moved: “Naturally. But Master, tonight you tested martial arts with Master Lu—how was the outcome?”

Ling Zhi said: “Though Master Lu’s combat experience is shallow, his internal power is extremely deep, far surpassing mine.”

The leader asked: “Compared to the divine monk Tianjue?”

Ling Zhi said: “In terms of internal power, Master Lu’s breathing is prolonged beyond anything I’ve heard. Even if my uncle-master Tianjue were alive, he would have to admit inferiority.”

Lu Yun, listening from the side, realized Ling Zhi had indeed been commissioned to test his martial skills. He just didn’t know the background of this leader. Lu Yun stood quietly to the side, observing the changes, when he heard the leader continue: “Is the warrior standing there the guard officer of Princess Yinchuan, General Timur Mieli?”

Mieli crossed his hands over his chest and bowed: “I dare not. It is indeed this humble one.”

The leader said: “I heard your mistress went to handle business with the ‘Grand Shopkeeper.’ Is this true?”

Mieli bowed: “Your Excellency knows everything. This humble one came here precisely hoping Your Excellency would give guidance on this matter.”

The leader laughed: “What can I guide you on? How skilled Princess is—you should ask the ‘Grand Shopkeeper,’ not me.”

Lu Yun was furious and shouted: “What did you say?” He was about to step forward to argue when Wei Zizhuang held him back.

“The emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is dying of worry.” The leader laughed heartily: “Master Lu, learn from General Mieli here—look how calm and composed he is! Compared to that monkey-like, lustful Lu fellow who desperately embraced the princess, he’s so much better!”

Lu Yun became increasingly furious, but instead calmed down. He said: “Guard Wei, please call Chongqing out. I have several matters to ask him, then I’ll leave.”

Wei Zizhuang was both shocked and afraid, smiling apologetically: “Magistrate Lu, please calm down, give me some face…” Seeing his refusal, Lu Yun flicked his sleeves and said coldly: “Very well, I’ll just leave then.”

Just as he was about to step away, the leader said calmly: “Lu Yun… don’t you understand my speech? Should I change my voice?”

The speaker dropped the Shaanxi-Gansu accent and switched to standard official speech with a slight Shandong accent. Lu Yun listened and felt his heart chill—this was his own voice. It seemed this person had a hundred different tongues, not only able to imitate Wu Dingyuan’s speech but also capable of mimicking any voice in the world. This vocal skill was truly inconceivable.

Lu Yun steadied himself and put aside his contempt: “You… who exactly are you?”

All the Kongming lanterns dimmed, and red light shone on the curtain, displaying five characters: ‘Righteous and Brave Men of Shanmu.’

Earlier, Ling Zhi had mentioned this person seemed to be surnamed ‘Qi,’ and because he was skilled in vocal arts, he was called ‘Physician Qi.’ But he didn’t know why he was so secretive, hiding in the shadows. Lu Yun took a deep breath: “Your Excellency summoned me here in the middle of the night—surely you have something to say?”

“Indeed…” A sigh came from behind the curtain. In an instant, that sigh gradually deepened, as if youth had disappeared, becoming endlessly aged, turning into an elderly person in the blink of an eye. His turbid sigh continued: “Lu Yun… I’ve carefully considered… how to let you know all the major events that have occurred in the world these ten years… After much thought, I decided to do it this way…”

Suddenly, with a ‘clang,’ a man threw something that fell to the ground. Lu Yun looked down to see an iron shield by his feet, polished to a bright shine. Lu Yun was somewhat puzzled about the other party’s intent when Wei Zizhuang picked up the shield and handed it to Lu Yun: “Look carefully and you’ll understand our leader’s intention.”

Lu Yun examined the shield in his hands. On the inner surface was carved a line of small characters: “Manufactured by the Ministry of Works in the tenth year of Jingtai,” with another line below: “Weapons of the Shaanxi Provincial Governor’s Main Camp.” He suddenly realized: “Something from the Jingtai Dynasty?”

The leader, now speaking as an elderly man, spoke much more slowly: “Don’t mention Jingtai… Using the popular term from our Zhengtong Dynasty, this is called ‘old goods from the Jiang Dynasty.'”

Lu Yun, with years of experience, knew that warfare required troops, provisions, talented generals, and weapons—none could be lacking. Among these, soldiers and provisions were coordinated by the ‘Ministry of War,’ while swords and arrows were manufactured by the Military Equipment Bureau of the Ministry of Works, inspected, and then distributed by the Ministry of War to local garrisons. Looking at this shield’s design, it should have been manufactured when ‘Grand Tutor’ Jiang Chong was in power.

Lu Yun said: “This Shaanxi Provincial Governor… would that be Jiang Yi?”

The leader sighed: “Correct. Of the three Jiang brothers, the eldest died early, the second committed suicide—only this third brother is still alive.”

Lu Yun pondered thoughtfully, not knowing why the other party had given him this shield. While guessing, he suddenly saw a man holding a steel blade slowly approach Lu Yun. He bowed respectfully, then suddenly raised his hand—the steel blade struck down directly.

Lu Yun grunted, not knowing what he intended, and hastily raised the shield to meet it. With a loud ‘clang,’ sparks flew, and the shield in his hand was actually cut with a gap. Lu Yun was displeased and simply threw the shield to the ground, preparing to fight bare-handed, when the man already bowed and retreated: “My apologies.”

He then turned the blade handle around and respectfully offered it up.

Seeing the man’s behavior change from aggressive to respectful, not knowing what trick he was playing, and seeing Ling Zhi, Wei Zizhuang, and others nodding slightly, there must be deep meaning. Lu Yun pondered briefly and accepted the blade. Suddenly, his hand sank—he realized this blade was extremely heavy, weighing at least fifty pounds.

Lu Yun took a deep breath and carefully examined this blade. It was about three feet long, and from its design, it should be a large battle blade commonly used by infantry, but its weight was more than double the usual. Looking at the hand guard and blade collar, there was a line of small characters cast around it: “Small General of Five Passes, Yan Zhenwu’s Unit Issued Blade.” In the center of the handle was the character ‘Nu’ (Anger).

Lu Yun gasped. He touched the bottom of the grip and indeed felt an iron bull mark, knowing this was an ‘Angry Azure Army Blade.’

Angry Azure was best at weapons, forged by the ‘Iron Bull’ Ouyang Yong. This man came from Changzhou Iron Foundry Manor and was the junior disciple of ‘Iron Lion’ Gong Zhi. Seeing this blade could split the Jingtai Dynasty’s iron shield in one strike, it was indeed from ‘Iron Bull’s’ hand to have such divine power.

While thinking, another man approached, holding a large shield single-handedly, five feet tall and about shoulder width. He walked close and then half-crouched, setting the shield before Lu Yun.

With the previous example, Lu Yun understood the other party’s intention. He nodded and raised the blade to strike the shield. With a dull ‘thud,’ the shield hummed and resonated with faint echoes, apparently distributing the force very evenly. Looking at the steel blade in his hand, it bounced back slightly, and a chip had actually broken off the blade edge.

Lu Yun was greatly shocked, not expecting this shield to be so hard—not only could it withstand the Angry Azure army blade, but it could also reflect and damage it. He threw down the army blade and hastily took the shield to examine it. On the inner side were carved two lines of characters—left: “Manufactured by the Ministry of Works in the fourth year of Zhengtong,” right: “Zhengtong military equipment strictly forbidden to leave camp.” Lu Yun was greatly shocked: “Zhengtong Army?”

The leader softly added: “Wu Dingyuan’s Zhengtong Army.”

Lu Yun took a deep breath, finally understanding the leader’s intention—he wanted to use these two pieces of equipment, one new and one old, to show him the changes in the court over ten years.

These two shields before him were both court items—one manufactured in the “fourth year of Zhengtong,” the other in the “tenth year of Jingtai.” The same Ministry of Works, the same Military Equipment Bureau, yet because of the difference between the ‘Zhengtong’ and ‘Jingtai’ armies, there was such a vast difference between them.

Lu Yun held the ‘Zhengtong Shield’ in a daze when he heard footsteps. Another man approached, carrying a water bucket that he placed beside Lu Yun’s feet. He bowed slightly and retreated. Lu Yun was slightly curious and glanced down to see a blade soaking in muddy dirty water inside the bucket, as if unafraid of rust. Without thinking much, he gripped the handle with his back hand. With a ‘splash,’ the army blade broke through the water.

The first impression was ‘light.’ Looking at this blade’s arched spine and slightly upturned tip, it was also an infantry battle blade. However, it weighed only about twenty pounds—far less than the “Yan Zhenwu Unit Issued Blade” he had just seen. Looking at the blade surface, it was covered with mud and dirt, on which could faintly be seen a thumb-sized carving—a flaming fire mark.

Lu Yun realized: “This is also an Angry Azure army blade?”

The leader said: “Yes, but this blade is new.”

Lu Yun nodded, knowing this blade was made when Qin Zhonghai was in power. As for the earlier “Yan Zhenwu Unit Issued Blade,” that was made when ‘Qin Baxian’ was in charge. From this, he could see the leader intended to use the differences between these two blades to make him understand the difference between the Qin father and son across two generations.

Lu Yun calmed his mind and focused on examining the two blades in his hands. One was new, one old; one light, one heavy. Though the old one was from long ago, it still gleamed like a mirror and felt substantial in hand. Though just an ordinary foot soldier’s blade, it was crafted with extreme precision. In contrast, the item from Qin Zhonghai’s rule was covered in dirty water with some damage visible at the blade edge—quite unsightly.

In the past, Lu Yun had heard people mention that this ‘Qin Baxian,’ though a court rebel, was a benevolent gentleman with principles. That’s why heroes like Fang Zijing and Lu Guzhan were happy to serve him. In contrast, Qin Zhonghai recruited a den of bandits who killed and burned without restraint. Compared to his father, Qin Zhonghai was inferior in character, martial arts, strategy, and courage—even a single blade could show this.

While thinking, he suddenly heard continuous dripping sounds. The dirty water on the blade surface gradually gathered into droplets that all slid to the ground. Lu Yun was slightly surprised and hastily lifted the blade, shaking it with his hand. In an instant, all mud and water fell away, the blade surface completely dry. Not only was there not a single water droplet attached, but no dirt or grime remained either.

‘Emerging from mud without being stained!’ Lu Yun was greatly shocked, realizing this blade’s strength. Since this blade could ’emerge from mud unstained,’ it naturally wouldn’t be stained with blood either—this was a fine blade that ‘killed without being bloodstained.’

Lu Yun said tremblingly: “This… this blade was also forged by Ouyang Yong?”

The leader said: “More than that—all weapons here came from the ‘Iron Foundry Manor.'”

The leader sighed: “Lu Yun, I’ve carefully considered how to make you understand the brutality of this ten-year war. Do you understand now?”

Lu Yun pondered for a long while, then said quietly: “I understand.”

Without a single word written or discussing casualties, just the evolution of these few weapons already told the complete story of vicissitudes.

The leader said leisurely: “Ten years ago, Jiang Chong’s cannons could shoot eighty feet; ten years later, the court’s cannons can shoot eight hundred zhang. In the sixth year of Jingtai, the Ministry of War reported that Qin Baxian’s iron-core great bow could pierce three layers of armor, shocking the entire court. Now Qin Zhonghai’s repeating crossbow shoots forty bolts that can nail city walls, yet the court views this as ordinary…”

The entire place fell silent. Ling Zhi, Timur Mieli, and even Wei Zizhuang had nothing to say. The leader’s voice became even more aged as he said quietly: “This great war is evenly matched—both sides fight more courageously and grow stronger. In my estimation, if they fight for another twenty years, people will be able to fly to the blue sky, and wooden oxen and flowing horses will reappear in the world. But by that moment, there won’t be many people left to kill.”

In this world where the strong live and weak die, to survive one must become ever stronger. During the Warring States period, the Qin people first used iron weapons; when foreign tribes invaded during the Five Dynasties, the Song people were forced to create the world’s first cannons. If the court and Angry Azure fought for another hundred years, no one knew how far both sides would advance.

In the silence, suddenly there was an angry shout. Lu Yun raised his blade and struck the ‘Zhengtong Army’ shield with all his might. Strike after strike sent sparks flying, filling the cave with brilliant light—a magnificent sight. But no matter how he chopped, the shield remained unmoved, and the army blade was also unharmed. He summoned his internal power and roared, instantly splitting the ‘Zhengtong Shield’ in half.

With a clang, the army blade in his hand also broke in two, leaving only an empty handle. These two weapons had destroyed each other. Lu Yun breathed slightly heavily, holding the empty handle. In his excitement, just as he was about to throw it away, he felt carved characters on the handle guard. He looked closely and saw two lines: “Angry Azure Western Pacification Commissioner Jiang Yi’s Unit Equipment, Strictly Forbidden to Leave Camp.”

Lu Yun was greatly shocked: “Jiang Yi! He joined Angry Azure?”

Laughter came from behind the curtain: “Worldly affairs are truly unpredictable, aren’t they?”

This Jiang Yi had no small background—he was the younger brother of the former ‘Grand Tutor’ Jiang Chong. During the Jingtai years, he campaigned against bandits and fought countless battles with Qin Baxian. Who would have thought that ten years later, he would become one of the Angry Azure bandit generals?

Today a national general, tomorrow gathering crowds in rebellion—the line between Chu and Han could be crossed so easily, truly catching people off guard.

The leader said softly: “Speaking of this Jiang Yi, he’s quite remarkable. Ten years ago, he was utterly ordinary, his talents at most adequate. But ten years later, his reputation is so great it shakes the western frontier, and he uses troops like a ghost or god. If Jiang Chong saw his current might, he’d probably be scared enough to jump out of his grave.”

He sighed and continued: “Lu Yun, tell me—why was Jiang Yi ten years ago not worth a laugh, and Iron Bull equally ordinary, yet both became contemporary masters in the Zhengtong Dynasty?”

The same Jiang Yi, the same Iron Bull, the same blacksmithing skills—yet between ten years ago and ten years later, there was an earth-shaking transformation. This wasn’t just because they had improved, but because of another reason. Lu Yun looked at the army blade and iron shield on the ground and said softly: “The people they serve are different.”

The leader said calmly: “How are they different?”

Lu Yun felt a sigh rising and touched the old wound on his forehead without answering.

The leader said: “Lu Yun, tell me—when is a person’s strength greatest?”

Lu Yun stared blankly without answering. Wei Zizhuang beside him answered for him: “When angry.”

The leader said: “Exactly so. When ordinary people are angry, they grit their teeth and bristle—their strength is more than ten times greater than when laughing. Sometimes in extreme anger, they can accomplish things they never even imagined possible…” He paused suddenly: “Do you understand? Why can court generals, once they join Angry Azure, all transform into contemporary divine generals that tens of thousands of government troops can’t stop?”

Lu Yun sighed: “They became angry.”

The leader said: “Correct. I think today’s Jiang Yi also understands why his past self just couldn’t defeat Qin Baxian.”

People gain strength through anger—the greatest force in the world is this character ‘anger.’ When Qin Baxian used the northwest corner to resist the entire world, the mountain stronghold’s talent seemed inexhaustible precisely because all power originated from this character ‘anger.’

The leader continued: “Lu Yun, do you know what force in the world is stronger than ‘anger’?”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Forgiveness.”

“Forgiveness?” came a questioning voice from behind the curtain. Lu Yun said calmly: “Tolerance.”

With a snicker, the leader seemed to smile. Wei Zizhuang beside him couldn’t help but burst into laughter. In an instant, the entire cave erupted in wild laughter. After laughing for a while, the leader said: “Lu Yun, oh Lu Yun—for someone so well-read, you’re surprisingly naive. Tell me, why do people become angry?”

Lu Yun, having been mocked for no reason, remained silent and unwilling to answer. Ling Zhi answered for him: “When encountering injustice.”

The leader said: “Yes. People become angry precisely because of ‘injustice.’ If you fail the imperial examination, you’ll at most feel sad, sigh, and lament your changing fortune—you won’t become angry. But if you see others bribing curtain officials and cheating, that’s not just sighing—that’s anger enough to kill.”

He paused and continued: “Lu Yun, you’ve experienced injustice, haven’t you?”

Lu Yun’s early years were marked by unrecognized talent, and in middle age he lost his position and was exiled—the two characters ‘injustice’ had followed him like a shadow throughout his life. He sighed quietly: “Blaming heaven and others—that was youthful folly.”

The leader said: “That’s your cultivation. Others don’t have such good temper. Think about it—if heaven and earth are greatly unjust, forcing a person to be angry morning and night, angry at every moment without rest, what would you call this day-and-night anger?”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Hatred.”

The leader said: “Correct. ‘Anger’ taken to its extreme becomes ‘hatred.’ Anger is momentary—it passes and fades quickly. But if you truly hate someone, you’ll think of them constantly—morning and evening—and over time you’ll grow stronger until you personally eliminate this hatred.”

He paused again: “Do you understand? Why can today’s Qin Zhonghai be stronger than Qin Baxian?”

The force stronger than ‘anger’ is ‘hatred.’ Qin Baxian’s mountain stronghold was temporary—his anger was just child’s play. Qin Zhonghai’s rebellion is real. Under his leadership, Ouyang Yong became stronger, the Five Tiger Generals became stronger, and even the Northwest Army became stronger. This overwhelming force originated from ‘hatred,’ which forged today’s Angry Azure military might.

The leader said: “Lu Yun, have you ever thought about what exactly Qin Zhonghai hates?”

Lu Yun took a deep breath. When Qin Zhonghai first raised his army in rebellion, it was to overthrow Jingtai and kill Jiang Chong. But ten years later, he recruited Jiang Chong’s brother Jiang Yi and fought Emperor Zhengtong to mutual destruction. What exactly Qin Zhonghai was plotting was truly puzzling.

The leader said: “Lu Yun, some say Qin Zhonghai wants to establish himself as emperor. What do you think? Does he want to be emperor?”

Lu Yun answered without thinking: “Being emperor would kill him.”

The leader said “Oh” and asked: “How so?”

Lu Yun said quietly: “He enjoys being a bandit more than being emperor.”

The leader laughed heartily: “Well said! No wonder Qin Zhonghai considers you a kindred spirit. Three palaces, six courts, and seventy-two concubines can’t compare to roadside wildflowers you can pick at will! But Lu Yun, you judge for yourself—what does this fellow really want? He refuses to sit on the throne himself but kills everyone on the throne. This isn’t just being without ruler or father—it’s completely inexplicable! Tell me, what does your old friend really want?”

Under heaven, where people gather, a throne will inevitably appear. This is an unshakable principle—even with Confucius’s virtue and Mencius’s ability, they had to acknowledge this principle of ‘ruler and minister, father and son.’ What was Qin Zhonghai trying to accomplish with such chaos? Was he really trying to create a scenario of “disaster star descends, earth turns red”?

Lu Yun remained silent—he certainly didn’t understand what Qin Zhonghai wanted to do. Otherwise… why would the two have reached today’s impasse?

The leader laughed happily: “Can’t figure out what Qin Zhonghai wants to do? Let me give you a line of thought. Think about how Wu Dingyuan has been blocking Angry Azure Mountain?”

“A true dragon…” Lu Yun’s gaze drifted to the ‘Zhengtong Shield’ as his old friend’s dignified, steady face appeared before his eyes.

It was remarkable—today’s Angry Azure was sharp as a blade, even more so than in Qin Baxian’s time. If the court had used Jiang Chong’s forces to meet them, they would have been utterly defeated long ago. Yet for ten years, Wu Dingyuan had stood unmoved—this commanded the utmost admiration.

Seeing Lu Yun lower his head in thought, the leader continued: “Lu Yun, stop being silent and tell me—you’ve seen that shield just now. Do you think Wu Dingyuan has the ability to create such a thing?”

Lu Yun’s heart awakened—he knew this question had reached the crucial point. The reason the Jingtai Dynasty’s iron shield was broken was that officials throughout the court embezzled funds—whether Jiang, Liu, or Liu faction, all ate everything clean. But Wu Dingyuan wasn’t some incorruptible person either. He was a good man who always considered human relationships, left room for retreat, and never pursued total destruction. With such a personality, he could lead troops and conduct training, but even with three heads and six arms, he couldn’t supervise the creation of that precision steel shield.

Lu Yun stared at the ‘Zhengtong Shield’ on the ground: “Dingyuan has backing, doesn’t he?”

The leader laughed heartily: “Backing? You came up with those two characters—let me show you what your so-called ‘backing’ really is!”

With a swish, the eight Kongming lanterns in the cave extinguished again. A large scroll unfurled before the curtain. Under the reflected light was a fine brushwork painting, massive in length and width, depicting a golden great bird. Looking at its raised beak, imperious gaze, and fully spread wings—wasn’t this exactly the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard Token’ that Hu Mei’er, Wu Chongqing, and others had branded on their bodies, that Jin Lingshuang and others swore to serve unto death?

Lu Yun drew a sharp breath and involuntarily stepped closer. Looking up, he saw the divine eagle in the scroll was slightly different—it had grown two additional golden claws. The left claw grasped dozens of small snake-dragons, while the right claw was raised high overhead, as if stretching its neck to devour a great dragon.

Lu Yun’s spine turned cold as he said tremblingly: “What… what is this?”

The leader said: “This is called the Garuda Golden-Winged Bird. It feeds on dragons.”

He paused and continued: “Master Ling Zhi, this is a Buddhist item—let you explain.”

Ling Zhi joined his palms and recited: “The Buddha Samadhi Sutra states: ‘The golden-winged bird named Garuda, by karmic retribution, feeds on dragons. In Jambudvipa, it daily takes one dragon king and five hundred small dragons. This cycle continues for eight thousand years, feeding on billions of dragon clan members. After death, it cries mournfully and falls, its entire body burning, leaving only one glazed heart.'”

Seeing Lu Yun’s horrified shock, the leader said softly: “Lu Yun, do you understand? This is Angry Azure Mountain’s true mortal enemy.”

The four characters ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ struck his heart like lightning. Lu Yun couldn’t help but feel dizzy. Amid the complete silence, a man silently walked to the curtain front and lowered another scroll depicting a great deity.

Before him was another large Buddhist painting—within a bright Buddha’s halo surrounded by clouds was a divine being. He had a black-blue body with three heads and six arms. The first pair of hands was joined in prayer, the second pair held the sun and moon, and the last pair wielded sword and blade. The three faces showed different expressions—one smiling, one wrathful, one serene.

This painting was indescribably strange, making Lu Yun slightly startled: “What… what is this?”

The leader said: “This is the Grand Shopkeeper’s true form.”

Lu Yun was utterly bewildered: “True form?”

Ling Zhi joined his palms: “This deity’s dharma name is ‘Asura King.’ He has heavenly blessings but lacks heavenly virtue. He neighbors the heavens but is not of the heavens, hence called ‘non-heaven.'”

Seeing this Buddhist painting so terrifying, everyone felt uneasy, but the leader showed no fear whatsoever, saying calmly: “The Asura King practices Asura dharma. This ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ has always considered himself the Asura King—killing like hemp, making all beings know fear. Six great leaders execute his law. They hide their yaksha appearances among the vast sea of humanity, monitoring worldly movements for him.”

Lu Yun’s body trembled as he said: “The six great leaders—who… who are they?”

The leader said: “Don’t rush—let’s go through them one by one…” As he spoke, a silk cloth was pasted on the curtain. Light shone through from behind, showing a golden glimmer in the shape of a ring. The leader said: “Do you recognize this?”

Lu Yun said quietly: “I… I know this is Jin Lingshuang’s ring.”

The leader said: “Correct. This is one of the ‘Buddhist Six Paramitas’—the ‘Vigorous Precept.’ Among the six paramitas, it ranks fourth.”

As he spoke, the curtain light dimmed and showed six lines of characters: Patience, Charity, Vigor, Meditation, Wisdom, Discipline. Counting from right to left, the characters ‘Vigor’ were indeed fourth, with a name corresponding below—exactly ‘Jin Lingshuang.’

The leader said calmly: “This Jin Lingshuang is the fourth accountant of the inn and also the first follower of the ‘Grand Shopkeeper.’ Following superior orders, he nurtures numerous assassins called the Eighteen Scholars and Twelve Divine Generals. All court conspiracies, assassinations, kidnappings, and frame-ups are carried out by this person.”

Hearing of this ring’s authority, Lu Yun couldn’t help but feel alarmed: “Kidnapping and assassination? Don’t… don’t the Ministry of Justice intervene?”

The leader laughed: “Most of his subordinates come from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and there are many inn people in the Eastern Depot too—who dares interfere?”

Though Jiang Chong once wielded overwhelming power, he couldn’t reach into the Eastern Depot. Who knew that ten years later, with the tree fallen and monkeys scattered, a mere Jin Lingshuang could insert his hand into the Eastern Depot? This was partly due to the Eastern Depot’s lack of personnel, but also showed the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’s’ extraordinary methods. Lu Yun took a deep breath: “Then… what about Emperor Zhengtong? Does he know this group of people is hidden around him?”

The leader laughed: “Don’t worry—the Grand Shopkeeper prepared long ago.”

Before he finished speaking, three more characters appeared beside ‘Jin Lingshuang’s’ name. Lu Yun looked closely and was shocked to see ‘Qiong Wuchuan’: “Lord Qiong? He’s also from the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’?”

The leader said: “Do you understand? This is why the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ can coexist peacefully with His Majesty.”

He paused and continued: “Qiong Wuchuan’s corresponding item is called the Cloud Dress Nepotism Belt, distributed around the emperor.”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Nepotism… belt? What does that mean?”

The leader said flatly: “To make men obediently listen, you must make their women completely submissive. To make women completely submissive, the best method is to buy off their dear fathers. Without this nepotism belt, there would be no favor distribution. Not only would the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ lose their footing, but the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ would become a thorn in His Majesty’s eye.”

Lu Yun was horrified: “Qiong Fang… does Qiong Fang know about this?”

The leader said: “Whether she knows doesn’t matter. When Qiong Wuchuan dies, the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ has ways to make her take over her grandfather’s position and become the next ‘Third Leader.’ In the future, for the court’s sake, she’ll also be forced to enter and exit the inner palace, distributing favor.”

Distributing favor… This should have been good words, but now they sounded extremely strange and uncomfortable to Lu Yun. He touched his face and said quietly: “Qiong Fang went to distribute… distribute favor, so… what about Young Master Su?”

The leader said: “He’s an outsider. So he can’t know too much, lest it harm others and himself.”

Qiong Wuchuan had spanned three dynasties—from Wuying to Jingtai, from Jingtai to Zhengtong—he was an old fixture in the court. No one expected he had also joined the ‘inn’ and become some ‘Third Leader.’ This also showed the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’s’ deep deployment in the court. Lu Yun summoned his true qi to force himself to calm down and asked: “Then… what about Tu Lingxin? What… what rank is he?”

The leader said: “He lacks that qualification. This person is one of the ‘Six Ding Six Jia’—the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ personal bodyguard. But remember, next time you see this person, leave immediately, because the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ is nearby.”

Lu Yun had no interest in hearing more and asked quietly: “Then… what about Chongqing? What rank is he?”

The leader said: “You still don’t understand. The ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ isn’t a martial arts sect or some evil cult—it’s a court. To sit in a position of authority there, you don’t rely on martial arts but on the prestige of the person in charge.”

As he spoke, the curtain lit up again, this time showing a vajra sword. The leader said: “This vajra sword, like Jin Lingshuang’s ‘Vigorous Precept,’ are both the Grand Shopkeeper’s killing instruments. But the ‘Vigorous Precept’ mobilizes court assassins, while the ‘Vajra Sword’ leads martial world heroes, specifically to eliminate evil forces in the martial world for the Grand Shopkeeper.”

Lu Yun said tremblingly: “Evil forces? Are… are they Angry Azure forces?”

The leader said: “What Angry Azure or not—that’s nonsense. Anyone who disagrees with you is an evil force.”

Lu Yun sighed upon hearing this: “Who wields this sword?”

The leader said: “Ask Master Ling Zhi—when he was gathering herbs in the back mountains of Shaolin that year, whose ambush did he fall into?”

Lu Yun was greatly shocked and quickly looked at Master Ling Zhi, who sighed and averted his gaze.

The leader said: “Everyone at Shaolin is a false gentleman—only Lingzhen is a true fool. He’s stupid enough to dare kill people. Now he sits in the Seventh Leader’s position, wielding a vajra sword, styling himself ‘Discipline Keeper.’ He’s kept every precept except the killing precept. Now his hands are already stained with fresh blood, yet he still feels he hasn’t killed enough.”

Lu Yun said tremblingly: “Why?”

The leader said: “Isn’t that easy? Because he feels all his victims were bad people.”

Hearing this, everyone understood the meaning of ‘true fool.’ Lu Yun was speechless, unable to help but feel sorry for the monk Lingzhen.

In the silence, the leader continued: “Lingzhen is the Seventh Leader. As for the Sixth Leader, he’s ‘Mahāprajñā.’ What he controls seems unimportant but is actually extremely significant—without this thing, the inn would immediately vanish into smoke.”

Everyone asked in surprise: “Why?”

The leader said: “He controls the money.”

As he spoke, another name appeared on the curtain—exactly ‘Luo Moshi.’ Timur Mieli said: “Isn’t this ‘Luomoshi’ person the former national teacher of our Khanate?”

The leader said: “That’s him. This man came to the Central Plains over ten years ago and learned many tricks from Jiang Chong.”

Lu Yun suddenly understood—this Luo Moshi had worked under Jiang Chong in the past and must be familiar with accounting methods. That’s why the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ entrusted him with money and grain calculations.

No wonder this ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ was omnipotent—they had power and influence, wielding swords with their right hand and dispensing money with their left, recruiting heroes from all sides. From Western Region masters to Shaolin warrior monks to imperial relatives, each had their duties and strengths, supporting this small court. Lu Yun took a deep breath: “Then… what about the Fifth Leader and Second Leader? Who are these two?”

“Master Wei.”

The leader instructed: “Give the book to Master Lu.”

Wei Zizhuang responded immediately, walking behind the curtain and respectfully receiving something. Lu Yun observed coldly, seeing Wei Zizhuang’s respectful manner—as if this leader was ‘Lord Shanmu’ himself to command such reverence. Thinking of this, Lu Yun became suspicious again about this leader’s identity. Who exactly was this leader? Earlier, Master Ling Zhi had said he seemed to be surnamed ‘Qi,’ a wandering physician who could treat illnesses, tell fortunes, and practice feng shui. Though this person’s abilities were extraordinary and his background shouldn’t be hard to guess, he could easily change his accent and had been hiding behind the curtain all night, concealing his appearance and form completely. Despite Lu Yun’s long conversation with him, he couldn’t discern any clues.

While pondering, Wei Zizhuang had already come out and said: “Lu Yun, take a look at this.”

Lu Yun looked closely and saw it was a ledger in his hands. He casually flipped through it—the contents were actually the ‘Zhengtong Army’ officers’ allowances, full of names and money amounts. Lu Yun frowned: “What do you want me to see?”

The leader said: “Be patient, and you’ll naturally find the names of the Second and Fifth Leaders inside.”

Lu Yun casually flipped through and saw a name written: “Tongguan Six, Zhang Tonglie,” with certain allowances and official rank. Flipping a few more pages, he saw “Beiguan Four Towns, Hu Dazhi.” Lu Yun grew somewhat impatient and flipped through several pages, seeing ‘Gao Jiong,’ ‘Yan Feng,’ ‘Liu Xinghuo’—countless names he couldn’t finish reading. How could he know which was the ‘Second Leader’ and which was the ‘Fifth Leader’?

As Lu Yun flipped through, he suddenly felt alarmed and thought: “Wait! Why do all these people’s names have the character ‘fire’?”

The leader waited for a while and laughed: “Master Lu, they say you’re a genius with both literary and martial talents—what have you discovered?”

Lu Yun coughed: “These people all changed their names, didn’t they?”

The leader laughed: “Right. Do you know why they added ‘fire’ to their names?”

Lu Yun said: “You tell me.”

The leader laughed: “If I tell you, it won’t be interesting. Come, come, tell me quickly—in the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, what does the Yellow Dragon belong to?”

Lu Yun said: “Earth.”

The leader laughed: “What can fire generate?”

Lu Yun suddenly understood—someone had ordered subordinates to change their names deliberately to conform to the principles of generation and restraint, creating ‘fire generates earth.’ He shook his head: “Fire generates earth, earth generates metal, metal generates water—these are all prophecy theories, pure superstition.”

The leader laughed: “There you go again. Not knowing life, how can you know death? You Confucian scholars only know this one trick—when people worship gods and ghosts, you must ridicule them as superstition. Tell me yourself, who promoted Wu Dingyuan?”

Lu Yun took a deep breath: “Emperor Zhengtong.”

The leader laughed: “Well said. Now tell me what’s the surname and name of Emperor Zhengtong?”

Imperial names and temple names must be avoided. Lu Yun, being from the imperial examinations, actually didn’t dare speak the emperor’s name. Then he remembered he was now a free wanderer and no longer cared. He immediately said: “The current Son of Heaven is surnamed Zhu and named Yan.”

As the words left his mouth, he couldn’t help but feel alarmed: “Ah, right—he… he also has the fire radical?”

The leader laughed: “See? When it comes to the emperor, it’s no longer superstition. Look at Zhu Yan’s fire—it’s so vigorous it enhanced Wu Dingyuan, making him rise eight hundred ranks to become a great python dragon. Now think again—who ordered all the Zhengtong Army’s military officers to change their names?”

Lu Yun sighed: “His Majesty.”

The leader laughed: “Are you crazy? Wu Dingyuan is already a four-clawed dragon—the emperor isn’t mad, so why would he add more fire to enhance a true dragon? Look through that ledger and see who’s causing trouble!”

Lu Yun hurriedly searched and came to the first page, where he clearly saw “Seal-Holding Adjutant Advisor Gong Zhi.” His heart trembled: “This… this is Master Gong’s name?”

The leader laughed: “Yes. Why don’t you think about it? The Zhengtong Army’s four great advisors—Command-Holding Gao Jiong, Flag-Holding Yan Feng, Provisions-Holding Cen Yan—everyone’s name contains fire, everyone’s on fire. Why is Gong Zhi the only one who doesn’t need to change his name?”

Lu Yun murmured: “He… he has backing?”

The leader laughed: “You’re finally not completely stupid. Can you guess? Who is Gong Zhi?”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Is he… is he the Second Leader?”

“Hahahahaha!” The shadow behind the curtain swayed with laughter: “Lu Yun, oh Lu Yun, you really don’t understand human relationships. This ‘Second Leader’ is only below one person and above ten thousand—even Wu Dingyuan must fear him somewhat. This position is so difficult to hold—can Gong Zhi’s qualifications and seniority suppress a ‘True Dragon of a Generation’?”

This Gong Zhi was formerly a yamen advisor. When Lu Yun served as an official in Changzhou, though his temper was rigid, he got along extremely well with this man. Even Gu Qianxi praised this person highly, showing that Gong Zhi was truly good material for being an official—his methods and insight were first-rate. But times had changed; now Gong Zhi’s boss wasn’t Lu Yun but Wu Dingyuan. Their temperaments were poles apart, and commanding seven hundred thousand Zhengtong Army troops was beyond what a Changzhou prefect could even imagine. To say Gong Zhi had the guts to climb over Wu Dingyuan’s head was truly unbelievable.

The leader laughed: “Can’t figure out who the ‘Second Leader’ is? Let me give you a clue—think about what kind of person could be called ‘sharing life and death, honor and disgrace’ with Wu Dingyuan? Closer than blood brothers?”

Lu Yun said bewildered: “Is… is it me?”

“Hahahahaha!” Everyone laughed. The leader said: “Look how pitiable you are. No wonder so many women love you. Come, tell me again—what kind of person shares life and death, honor and disgrace with Wu Dingyuan, yet is like fire and water, sharing the same bed but different dreams?”

Lu Yun suddenly understood and said tremblingly: “You… you mean Yan Ting…”

The leader laughed: “Correct. This Second Leader is Yan Ting. She suppresses the ‘True Dragon,’ hence called ‘Patience.'”

Sharing life and death yet having different dreams—that’s the portrait of married couples. The closer people are, the more incompatible they often become. So the one who controls the ‘True Dragon of a Generation’ is his own pillow companion, Yan Ting.

Lu Yun’s palms sweated: “Then… what about Gong Zhi? What… what is he?”

“Gong Zhi is the Fifth Leader, responsible for scouting behind enemy lines.”

Lu Yun murmured: “Behind enemy lines? Is that… the northwestern Angry Azure?”

The leader said: “Wrong. The enemy’s rear isn’t in Angry Azure Mountain thousands of miles away, but in the neighboring Governor’s Office. That’s why Gong Zhi and Yan Ting have never gotten along.”

Lu Yun’s mind buzzed as he realized the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ internal and external control—using Wu Dingyuan to suppress Angry Azure Mountain, using Yan Ting to suppress Wu Dingyuan, and finally using Gong Zhi to watch Yan Ting—layers upon layers, extremely tight.

The leader said: “Currently, Wu Dingyuan is surrounded by spies. Yan Ting is the Second Leader, Gong Zhi is the Fifth Leader. Together they’ve pinned down the ‘True Dragon of a Generation.’ From mansion to military camp, from bedroom to battlefield, his every action is calculated clearly… Lu Yun, don’t you think he’s pitiful?”

Lu Yun lowered his head. In an instant, that low cry for help echoed in his ears again: “Uncle Lu… save us…”

Only now could Lu Yun understand why Wu Chongqing joined the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ and allied with the ‘Righteous Men,’ even going to great lengths to seize the ‘Karmic Fire Demon Blade’—he was fighting with all his might to break through and counterattack the net of heaven and earth around his father.

Lu Yun stared blankly and sighed: “Dingyuan… does Dingyuan… does he know his wife is from the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’?”

The leader said: “You’ll have to ask him yourself. Anyway, to join the inn, one must learn like a monk to burn the crown and take vows, branding a mark on the buttocks. But I wonder, on their wedding night when Wu Dingyuan’s wife’s soft chest was half-exposed, whether the old fellow had time to blow out the candles.”

Speaking of this, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Amid the hearty laughter, Lu Yun felt weak in his legs and couldn’t help but feel sad for Wu Dingyuan.

Branding is both a vow and a humiliation, like cattle and horses being marked to show ownership of body and soul. How could someone as shrewd as Wu Dingyuan not know about the brand on his wife’s body? But what must he have thought when he saw it? Thinking of this, Lu Yun simply didn’t want to believe it. He lowered his head and choked: “Yan Ting… she wasn’t like this before. Why… why does she treat Dingyuan this way?”

The leader said: “Lu Yun, oh Lu Yun, you don’t understand—women are often cruel precisely because they have love in their hearts. Look in your chest and see what our Governor’s wife loves.”

Lu Yun gasped and quickly reached into his chest, taking out that letter again. It was ‘Ling Wu Xuan Zhi.’

Lu Yun held the letter in his hand. Despite his deep cultivation, his palm still trembled involuntarily: “Ling Wu Xuan Zhi… what… what does this mean?”

The leader said: “Master Ling Zhi, you explain—you know this best.”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Ling Wu is a dharma name. Wu means ‘I.’ It means ‘my enlightenment.'”

Lu Yun took a deep breath: “This… this is a Buddhist name?”

Ling Zhi: “Correct. When ‘Ling Wu’ was ordained at Shaolin, my uncle-master Tianjue personally gave him these two characters. Until he left the mountain and returned to lay life, everyone in our temple called him ‘Ling Wu.’ Only after he became an official did the temple monks deliberately change their address, calling him ‘Junior Brother Yang.'”

After ten years of searching, the answer was now ready to emerge. Lu Yun closed his eyes, suppressed his inner excitement, and said quietly: “What about Xuan Zhi?”

The leader continued: “Xuan Zhi is his courtesy name. When ‘Ling Wu’ passed the imperial examination, his father gave him this name.”

Lu Yun opened his eyes: “Father… you mean…”

The leader said quietly: “Yang Yuan.”

The Yang family patriarch was ‘Grand Secretary of Zhongji Hall’ Yang Yuan. Lu Yun took a deep breath: “What’s the origin of these two characters?”

The leader said: “Xuan means yellow.”

Lu Yun suddenly raised his head in shock: “Yellow?”

The leader said: “Yellow is the color xuan.”

‘Ling Wu Xuan Zhi’—my heart enlightens itself, taking xuan as my aspiration. These four characters were gifts from two elders—’Ling Wu’ from master Tianjue, ‘Xuan Zhi’ from father Yang Yuan. Combined, they form today’s ‘Yang Suguan.’

Lu Yun sighed deeply: “The Grand Shopkeeper is him, isn’t it?”

The leader said softly: “Yes.”

Lu Yun was silent for a long while, then said quietly: “The jade seal back then was also brought out by him, wasn’t it?”

The leader said: “Correct.”

Lu Yun said: “He gave the jade seal to Yan Ting, then had Chongqing pass it to me? Is that right?”

The leader made no sound, for he had already said everything there was to say.

After ten years of exile to the ends of the earth, he had finally found the original answer and the solution to the world’s turmoil.

The highest aspiration in the human world was buried in a jade seal. It wandered in exile, traveled to the ends of the earth, and finally came into the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ hands. He endured humiliation and bore heavy burdens, struggling for survival among the court’s three great factions until the very end when he could produce the jade seal and win this restoration war. It also changed many people’s lives, including the Master Lu before them.

Lu Yun stared at the four characters ‘Ling Wu Xuan Zhi’ and said: “I have one matter I don’t understand—may I ask Your Excellency?”

The leader said flatly: “Speak.”

Lu Yun said in a daze: “Yang Suguan has no blood relation with Emperor Zhengtong—why would he be loyal to him?”

‘Loyalty’—the shadow behind the curtain seemed very surprised and laughed: “Yang Suguan loyal to someone? Lu Yun, did you see this in a dream?”

Amid the general laughter, the shadow behind the curtain waved his hand and said sternly: “Bring the person up! Let Master Lu see to whom Yang Suguan is loyal!”

Lu Yun’s heart trembled. Before he could speak, he heard faint crying sounds from the distance, as if someone was hiding in the shadows weeping. Lu Yun was greatly alarmed and was about to investigate when he heard heavy footsteps. A man came out leading a child by the hand. The child was crying and covering his eyes, appearing very frightened.

Lu Yun was shocked and angry, shouting: “What are you doing? Release this child immediately!”

The leader said calmly: “Don’t make noise first—listen to what this child is saying.”

“Ghosts…” The child covered his face, crying pitifully: “So many, many ghosts…”

Hearing this, Lu Yun immediately gasped: “Wait, I recognize this child. Is he… is he surnamed Hu…”

The leader’s voice showed surprise: “What? You’ve seen him before?”

Lu Yun murmured: “I… I saw this child outside Baoqing Fabric Shop. Is he… is he called Zhengtang?”

The leader said: “Correct. His father was your fellow examination graduate—the second-class runner-up of the Jingtai Dynasty, Ministry of Rites Vice Minister Hu Zhilian.”

Hearing the name ‘Hu Zhilian,’ Lu Yun couldn’t help but breathe rapidly, as if hearing the cries of these parents. He took a deep breath, stared at the weeping child, and slowly darkened his face: “What happened to this child? Who made him like this?”

The leader laughed: “Don’t worry—we didn’t break this child.”

Lu Yun said coldly: “If that’s so, why is he here?”

Lu Yun’s tone was ominous, full of interrogation. While still questioning, Wei Zizhuang quietly walked behind the child and grabbed him. Little Zhengtang was greatly shocked, struggling violently and crying: “Ghosts! Ghosts!”

Seeing the child so terrified, Lu Yun immediately remembered that night on Angry Azure Mountain. He instantly rushed forward shouting: “Wei Zizhuang! Release him!”

Ling Zhi stepped forward to block Lu Yun. Wei Zizhuang immediately swept his left hand like a wheel, lightly brushing past and causing little Zhengtang to faint. Lu Yun was extremely angry: “What are you doing? Do you really want to force me to use heavy force?”

In his rage, the leader laughed: “Everyone look—this is what womanly kindness looks like. Lu Yun, do you think we’ve gone through all this trouble gathering here just to slaughter this little ghost and share his meat?”

Lu Yun was furious: “Then what exactly do you want to do? Why trouble this child!”

The cave echoed with reverberations. The shadow behind the curtain covered his ears. When the sound subsided, he said: “To tell you the truth, this child was indeed abducted by Wei Zizhuang. But we have no ill intent—we just have something to ask him.”

Hearing the word ‘ask,’ Lu Yun became even angrier. This child was only about ten years old—even if not crazy or stupid, he was just an ignorant child. What could he possibly know?

Lu Yun was angry. He darkened his face, his whole body filled with wrath, his dharma appearance manifesting externally—truly like the ‘Kunlun Sword God’ appearing. All the masters present sensed his killing intent and trembled in their hearts. Several men quietly stepped forward to protect the leader behind the curtain. Timur Mieli coughed and glanced at Ling Zhi, waiting for his instructions.

Ten years ago on Angry Azure Mountain, when they cut off their robes and severed their friendship, one blade had cut Lu Yun down to hell. Then he had no fists or courage and could only bow his head and weep. Now his divine skills were complete—once he decided to save someone, even if Ling Zhi, Wei Zizhuang, Mieli, and the entire group of Righteous Men surrounded and attacked him, what fear did he have?

The entire place was tense, everyone worried, when they heard a snicker from behind the curtain: “Lu Yun, oh Lu Yun, you never distinguish right from wrong—no wonder you can’t accomplish great things in your lifetime.”

Lu Yun said quietly: “Lu is accomplishing great things right now.”

The leader laughed: “Stubborn as a dead duck. Why don’t you think about how this perfectly fine child became stupid?”

Lu Yun glared angrily: “This matter requires explanation.”

The leader laughed: “Guard Wei, since you abducted him, you explain.”

Wei Zizhuang said: “A few months ago, this child was playing and somehow slipped into a ruined courtyard. When brought out afterward, he had become an idiot.”

Lu Yun listened and couldn’t help but become suspicious: “Ruined courtyard?”

Wei Zizhuang said: “The Yang family’s ruined courtyard.”

Just a back courtyard, but adding the character ‘Yang’ immediately made Lu Yun gasp with strange feelings. Wei Zizhuang continued: “After this child crawled out of the ruined courtyard, he could no longer speak or eat, spending all day fearing ghosts. The imperial physicians diagnosed that this child’s illness—he hadn’t injured his head or caught external cold, but somehow inexplicably became an idiot for no reason. Lu Yun, you might guess why this happened.”

Timur Mieli interjected: “Someone sealed his mouth, right?”

The leader praised: “General Mieli is truly wise—three hundred times better than that bastard surnamed Lu. Let me tell you, this child became an idiot precisely because he saw something he shouldn’t have seen.”

Lu Yun murmured: “Something he shouldn’t have seen? What… what exactly did he see?”

The leader smiled: “Heavenly secrets.”

Lu Yun was greatly shocked: “Heavenly secrets?”

The leader sighed: “To be honest, this child saw something I’ve been searching for, so I had to find him to ask clearly.”

Lu Yun pondered deeply. Ling Zhi whispered in his ear: “Master Lu, he’s talking about the final divination.”

Lu Yun raised his eyebrows. When he entered the cave, he had heard Ling Zhi mention that this Righteous Men leader was skilled in mystical arts and had divined four hexagrams for the world. Three had already come to pass, but one final divination remained. He didn’t know how this ethereal ‘heavenly secret’ had manifested in the Yang family’s ruined courtyard.

In the silence, Ling Zhi undressed the child: “Master Lu, look here.”

Lu Yun approached as instructed and saw Ling Zhi pointing to the Tanzhong acupoint, where there was actually a red dot—needle-tip sized. It didn’t look like a mole or a scar. Lu Yun’s heart trembled: “This mark is…”

Ling Zhi said: “Someone inserted a needle here.”

Lu Yun gasped: “This… this is the cause of his illness?”

Ling Zhi said: “You’re correct. The person who inserted the needle had extremely deep internal power. He condensed invisible, intangible internal energy into a point and pierced this child’s meridians, causing his mental confusion.”

Lu Yun was stunned: “What… what kind of technique is this?”

Ling Zhi said: “This is the ‘Bitter Yin Needle.'”

Lu Yun felt a slight chill—these three words seemed quite familiar. Just as he was about to ask, the leader said: “Friends, to be honest, I invited everyone here tonight to make this little child wake up. Lu Yun, can you help?”

Lu Yun’s greatest hobby in life was saving people everywhere. Hearing this, he was naturally delighted and nodded: “Of course! It’s my duty!”

The leader said: “Excellent. Now we have two skilled hands. Master Wei, General Mieli, you two must also participate.”

Seeing four great masters being called to participate one by one, Lu Yun couldn’t help but be shocked. Mieli was also slightly surprised as they heard the leader say: “General Mieli, please grip this child’s left foot, holding the heel firmly. Master Wei, grip this child’s right foot, holding the outer edge of the sole.”

Timur Mieli, hearing him speak so seriously, followed instructions and carefully gripped little Hu Zhengtang’s left foot. As soon as he applied force, suddenly Hu Zhengtang foamed at the mouth and his body jumped up and down continuously, like epilepsy. Mieli was shocked and didn’t know what to do when the leader immediately shouted: “Lu Yun, quickly press his Tanzhong!”

Lu Yun urgently struck with one palm toward the child’s Tanzhong acupoint, sending internal power. Little Zhengtang’s symptoms greatly eased and he lay still again. The leader said: “Remember, when you grip his feet, never touch the Yongquan acupoint, or this child will die immediately.”

Wei Zizhuang, Mieli, and others looked at each other, all breaking out in cold sweat. The leader continued: “Lu Yun, your internal power is strongest—please firmly grip this child’s left hand, pressing the ‘Yuji’ and ‘Qiangu’ acupoints, leading everyone to channel power together. Master Ling Zhi, your experience is deepest—please lightly grip this child’s right hand, slightly pressing the ‘Yangchi’ and ‘Shaochong’ acupoints, adapting as needed.”

Lu Yun quite understood medical principles. Hearing the leader’s arrangement, this was to have himself and Ling Zhi control the child’s twelve regular meridians—one guarding the ‘Hand Taiyin’ and ‘Hand Taiyang’ meridians, one guarding the ‘Hand Shaoyin’ and ‘Hand Shaoyang’ meridians. Timur Mieli and Wei Zizhuang would guard the ‘Yinjiao’ and ‘Yangwei,’ controlling the ‘Eight Extraordinary Meridians.’

Seeing the formation’s magnitude—orthodox and strange mutually present, yin and yang complementing each other—everyone was secretly alarmed, realizing this child’s illness was extraordinary. The leader said: “Come on, with you four great masters channeling power simultaneously, whatever net of heaven and earth the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ has laid down will soon be revealed.”

The four gripped the four limbs. Lu Yun took a deep breath and first circulated his internal power. Suddenly, the child foamed incessantly, his hands and feet convulsed violently, and his pulse actually stopped. Lu Yun was greatly shocked: “This child! He… he’s dead!”

Everyone was horrified and speechless. Lu Yun was full of self-blame, realizing this was a trap. This ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ was truly sinister—the yin energy he planted could be dissolved, but this yin energy was connected to the child’s heart meridian. The slightest pressure would cause the child to die. This way, secrets would never leak out. Poor Lu Yun didn’t know and killed the child’s breathing and pulse with one strike.

Lu Yun was devastated and about to release his hands when the leader shouted: “Fool! Never let go! Otherwise fake death becomes real death! Quick! All of you act together! Don’t freeze!”

Immediately, Ling Zhi circulated Buddhist divine skills and sent a surge of internal power. Wei Zizhuang and Timur Mieli exchanged glances and followed suit. Lu Yun naturally took the lead—hearing the child could still be saved, he risked everything and thought of nothing else.

These four great masters were extraordinary! Ling Zhi’s martial arts height need not be mentioned. Wei Zizhuang also came from the famous Wudang sect. That Timur Mieli was the current Khanate’s eighth-generation Golden Killer, the Western Region’s greatest master. Adding Lu Yun with his deep internal power, the four working together should be able to handle any challenge. Who knew that as soon as they sent internal power into the child’s body, they felt like they had fallen into a quagmire, unable to extricate themselves.

This child was actually already dead—no pulse, no breathing. What kept him hanging onto a breath of vital energy was the four masters’ internal power. Now, whoever released their hand would cause the child to die young. The Grand Shopkeeper’s strategy was extremely sinister—he forced enemies to exhaust their true essence for this child. Even when resources were depleted, they had to continue the technique. The leader was very excited, shouting: “Everyone fight! Fight! See if your internal power is mastered! Quick! Hurry and force out what’s inside!”

Easier said than done. The masters had already exerted their life’s cultivation, their entire bodies burning like fire. Wei Zizhuang’s forehead was covered with rolling sweat beads, his head surrounded by wisps of white smoke—among the four, his cultivation was the shallowest. Looking at Mieli, his robes bulged and his complexion turned golden yellow—apparently he had practiced some rare extraordinary skill. As for Master Ling Zhi, his expression remained calm, his breathing melodious, rising and falling in minute depths. Between his breathing hid Buddhist sounds and Zen rhythm—this was Shaolin’s most ancient and profound mental method: the “Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Cleansing Classic.”

At this life-and-death moment, each person’s cultivation depth and level was revealed. Ling Zhi’s breathing carried hidden tones, most extraordinary. Lu Yun hadn’t practiced Zen meditation, so his breathing was naturally ordinary. However, the intervals between his inhalation and exhalation were incredibly long, especially when he took a deep breath—that internal breath seemed endless and infinite. Where his breathing passed, all torches in the cave flickered. Everyone watching was secretly amazed, estimating this person’s internal power was even thicker than Ling Zhi’s.

After a while, little Hu Zhengtang cried out: “So cold! So cold!” Lu Yun was overjoyed, knowing they had saved the child. Ling Zhi and the others intensified their energy circulation, not daring to slack off. Suddenly, Hu Zhengtang let out a piercing scream. The red dot on his Tanzhong acupoint began bleeding faintly, his skin slowly bulging as if something was about to break through. With a ‘clang,’ an object flashed before their eyes and shot into the stone wall, disappearing instantly. Then black blood seeped from the Tanzhong acupoint, expelling several needle-thin objects fine as ox hair.

Lu Yun gasped in surprise, not expecting that what was planted inside wasn’t invisible, intangible internal energy, but actual needles. He looked at Ling Zhi questioningly. Ling Zhi didn’t say much, only saying gently: “It should be fine now. Everyone can let go.”

Everyone had exerted their full strength and felt utterly exhausted, so they released their hands one by one. Wei Zizhuang wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Hu Zhengtang’s chest, asking: “Is it done?” Seeing black blood still flowing from the Tanzhong point, he was about to take out a handkerchief to wipe it when the leader shouted: “Step back! It’s not over yet!”

Quick as lightning, two more needles shot out, heading straight for his eyes. Wei Zizhuang was greatly startled and quickly performed an iron bridge maneuver, but caught off guard, he couldn’t dodge completely. Ling Zhi saw the danger and immediately took a deep breath, preparing to blow the needles away with his internal breath.

The situation was dire—these needles were fast as lightning. Though Ling Zhi reacted quickly, he still couldn’t catch up. Beside him, Mieli used his left-handed technique, his left hand shooting out like thunder and lightning to pull Wei Zizhuang away, but the two needles were already close to his eyes—it seemed still a step too late.

“Block!” A white light suddenly shot out. Where the sword light passed, like thunder and lightning, those two needles were struck by the white light and instantly flew away, disappearing without a trace.

The fastest thing in the world is sword light. In the end, it was Lu Yun who saved Wei Zizhuang. In an instant, all four masters collapsed to the ground, everyone breaking out in cold sweat.

“Ah, I’m awake.” The masters were exhausted nearly to death, but the little child seemed to have slept well and yawned several times. Little Hu Zhengtang sat up straight, stretched his arms, and yawned. He rubbed his eyes, still yawning, when he suddenly made a sound of surprise: “What place is this?” He looked around bewildered: “Oh my, am I… am I still in the well?”

Everyone was overjoyed and gathered around. Wei Zizhuang was most eager, hurrying to his side. The child suddenly turned his head and saw Wei Zizhuang bending down with a burned, ugly face smiling at him. He immediately screamed shrilly: “Ghost! The ghost is back!”

In great shock, he scrambled around in panic. Timur Mieli stepped forward to block him, but before he could speak to comfort him, the child again wailed miserably: “Tall ghost! Tall ghost! So many, many ghosts!” Timur Mieli’s face reddened, knowing his fierce and evil appearance would inevitably frighten children. Finally, Ling Zhi stepped forward to comfort him: “Amitabha, little brother, don’t be afraid. Someone has come to save you.”

Seeing a fair-faced scholar approach—handsome and resembling a monk—little Hu Zhengtang saw him as a savior and immediately threw himself into his arms, crying loudly: “Uncle! Uncle! So many, many ghosts! So many, many ghosts! Did you see them?”

Ling Zhi comforted him: “No ghosts, no ghosts. I’ve driven all the ghosts away.” While speaking, he kept signaling for everyone to hide. Wei Zizhuang and the others had no choice but to retreat to a corner, even dragging Lu Yun away.

With all the monsters gone, only the handsome Ling Zhi remained. Little Hu Zhengtang was still very frightened. He secretly looked behind him and suddenly said in wonder: “Really no more ghosts! Uncle, do you have magic powers?”

Ling Zhi helped him put his clothes back on and smiled: “Yes, Uncle is the Earth God with strong magic powers, specializing in driving away ghosts.”

Little Hu Zhengtang was delighted: “Uncle is the Earth God? Wonderful! I often pray to you—it really works.” This child was quite talkative, chattering endlessly. He let Ling Zhi help him dress while saying quietly: “Uncle, I’m sorry… let me tell you, I didn’t climb into the well on purpose. Please… please don’t tell my father about this, okay?”

Everyone’s hearts trembled, realizing this child’s consciousness was lost and he still thought he was in that ancient well in the ruined courtyard, not knowing much time had passed. Ling Zhi understood the child’s thoughts and smiled: “Don’t worry, Uncle will only protect you, not let you get beaten.”

Little Hu Zhengtang was overjoyed. He patted his chest several times: “That’s good, that’s good.” After laughing for a moment, he suddenly looked around again and whispered: “Uncle, just now there was an ugly monster ghost and a tall demon ghost… will they… will they come out again?”

Wei Zizhuang and Mieli, hiding to the side, heard themselves described so unflatteringly and secretly sighed. Ling Zhi smiled: “Those two ghosts aren’t very powerful—they’ve been subdued.” He pointed to his pocket, indicating these two had been captured.

Little Hu Zhengtang felt relieved. Thinking for a moment, he suddenly looked terrified again, looking around: “What about the skeleton ghosts? The skeleton ghosts? So many, many skeleton ghosts—will they still come out?”

Hearing the words ‘skeleton ghosts,’ everyone’s hearts trembled. Ling Zhi pondered slightly, knowing little Hu Zhengtang had seen dead bodies and bones in that well. He quickly comforted: “Little brother, skeleton ghosts aren’t powerful either—Uncle drove them away too. Quick, tell Uncle what else you saw?”

Little Hu Zhengtang thought for a moment, then suddenly his teeth chattered as he said coldly: “Dragon robes…”

Everyone was startled upon hearing this. Ling Zhi’s heart also trembled as he quickly asked: “Dragon robes? What dragon robes?”

Little Hu Zhengtang said tremblingly: “Dragon robe ghost… the dragon robe ghost wearing dirty dragon robes said he was the emperor and everyone who saw him had to kowtow. I… I wouldn’t bow to him, so he hit me with skeletons… so scary… so scary…”

Everyone hiding to the side heard these words and felt uneasy. Ling Zhi took a deep breath: “Child, what else did that dragon robe ghost say? Do you remember?”

Little Hu Zhengtang said tearfully: “No… I can’t say… he told me I can’t tell adults his secrets…” Ling Zhi patted his back, sending a surge of Buddhist internal energy to calm his soul and steady his spirit, saying gently: “Don’t be afraid, Uncle has magic powers. Tell Uncle what he said to you?”

Little Hu Zhengtang held his head and cried: “I don’t know, I don’t know. That dragon robe ghost kept saying he was the real emperor, others were all fake. As long as his days weren’t good, people all over the world wouldn’t have good days either…”

Everyone was increasingly shocked, knowing the person living in that well was extraordinary—probably truly of imperial status. Ling Zhi said quietly: “What happened next? Who stabbed you with needles?”

Little Hu Zhengtang said bewildered: “Needles? There were no needles.”

Ling Zhi took a deep breath: “Didn’t you see Uncle Yang?”

Little Hu Zhengtang said bewildered: “Uncle Yang? No, I didn’t see him…” He murmured to himself for a while, then said quietly: “Uncle, I… I want to leave. Can you take me home?”

Ling Zhi nodded warmly: “Of course, Uncle will definitely take you home.”

Little Hu Zhengtang was relieved: “That’s good. In a few days I need to get New Year’s money. If I misbehave and play around, father will definitely give me less money…” Ling Zhi said curiously: “New Year’s money?”

Little Hu Zhengtang said: “Yes, don’t you get New Year’s money during New Year? Doesn’t Uncle know?”

Ling Zhi shook his head and smiled: “Child, New Year is already over.”

Little Hu Zhengtang had been smiling, but hearing this was like being struck by lightning. He said tremblingly: “New Year is already over?”

Ling Zhi said: “Yes, today is the sixteenth day of the first month. Children should all be going to school.”

“What?” Little Hu Zhengtang opened his mouth wide, staring blankly at Ling Zhi. Suddenly he flailed his limbs and burst into tears, shrieking: “You’re lying! You’re lying! I haven’t had New Year yet! How is school starting again? Earth God Uncle! Earth God Uncle! Give me back my New Year!” Suddenly he cried so hard he choked and began coughing violently.

Ling Zhi reconsidered and realized this child’s consciousness was lost—he probably still thought it was the twelfth month, not knowing New Year had passed. Finding this both funny and pitiful, knowing he had misspoken, he gently patted the child’s back to make him fall asleep.

Seeing the child asleep, the tall ghost and ugly-faced ghost reappeared. Everyone looked at each other with grave expressions. Though the recent scene was interesting, no one could laugh.

The leader said calmly: “Everyone, what kind of person lives in that dry well? Can you tell?”

Everyone remained silent, but understood in their hearts that the “dragon robe ghost” little Hu Zhengtang mentioned must be the former imperial majesty, Emperor Jingtai, from ten years ago.

All along, the world believed Emperor Jingtai was no longer alive. The court had even prepared his mausoleum, yet no one expected he was still living well in a dry well. Thinking of this, everyone looked at each other uneasily. Mieli was first to speak: “I don’t quite understand—if the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’ has already succeeded in their coup, why keep the emperor alive?”

The leader said calmly: “Have you forgotten what the Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’s other name is?”

Mieli said quietly: “The inn.”

The leader said: “Do you know the origin of these two characters?”

Mieli said: “I’d like to hear the details.”

The leader said: “The inn means that everyone in the world is a transient guest.”

Mieli said in surprise: “Transient guests?”

The leader said: “This world is actually like a great inn. From dragon emperors above to common people and animals below, all are coming and going guests. As for those who truly operate the inn’s staff, that’s their group.”

Everyone said in astonishment: “The emperor… even the emperor is a transient guest?”

The leader said: “Of course. Emperor Zhengtong is a transient guest—he used to live in the firewood shed, now he lives in the upper room. Emperor Jingtai is also a transient guest—he used to live in the upper room, now he lives in the firewood shed. In any case, it depends on how the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ arranges food and lodging.”

Hearing this, everyone involuntarily raised their heads to look at that painting of the ‘Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird,’ understanding the true meaning of ‘transient guests.’ Mieli said quietly: “No wonder… no wonder the princess wanted to secretly meet the Grand Shopkeeper. She wants to get back her father emperor from the Grand Shopkeeper’s hands, right?”

The leader said: “General, do you only eat half a bowl when you eat?”

Mieli said bewildered: “What do you mean?”

The leader said: “Yinchuan’s return to the Central Plains this time is to end the entire Zhengtong Dynasty.”

“What?” Everyone jumped up, saying tremblingly: “She wants to end the Zhengtong Dynasty?”

The leader said calmly: “Yinchuan is the royal family’s greatest beauty—both kind and beautiful, gentle as a tame sheep. But don’t forget she’s a descendant of Taizu—would her appetite be small? From what I see, her secret meeting with the Grand Shopkeeper this time is precisely to prepare for her father emperor’s return.”

In the general uproar, some were shocked, some bewildered, some sneered wickedly, some showed fear. Only now did they understand what the princess had traveled thousands of miles to return home for.

Another war was coming… For Zhengtong’s restoration, those present had already paid a heavy price. Lu Yun, Wei Zizhuang, Master Ling Zhi—for ten years, they had all suffered in deep waters and hot fires with no one spared. If there was a second restoration, what would that be like?

Lu Yun observed coldly, seeing Ling Zhi’s face show determination—that was the resolve for revenge. Timur Mieli looked bewildered—that was the bitter expression of being dragged into the water. Wei Zizhuang beside them was both excited and fearful—that was a gambler’s excitement.

Seeing the once-a-decade great gamble coming again, the place was noisy. Ling Zhi and Mieli whispered to each other, Wei Zizhuang excitedly discussed with a large group of men. Lu Yun watched in a daze, then turned around to sit in a corner of the cave, lowering his head and dozing.

Everyone was emotionally excited, so no one paid attention to what Lu Yun was doing. They heard Mieli take a deep breath and say hoarsely: “The princess… the princess wants father emperor to return? Will the Grand Shopkeeper agree?”

The leader said: “Of course—the princess can afford this price.”

Mieli said in astonishment: “Price? What price?”

The leader said: “Your Khanate’s million troops.”

Mieli gasped in realization: “He… he wants the Khanate to send out a great army to join forces with the court to sandwich attack Angry Azure?”

The leader said: “You’re correct. At the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ inn entrance is a rogue—the Northwestern Angry King—ruining the inn’s business badly. To escort this mortal enemy to the authorities, the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ can rearrange the upper room list and let Jingtai move back in.”

In an instant, everyone understood. Whether Zhengtong or Jingtai, in the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’s’ eyes, they were just a group of transient guests. They could support Zhengtong, so naturally they could also support Jingtai. Therefore, they had to hide the former dynasty’s emperor as a final trump card. Because of this trump card, Yinchuan had to secretly meet the ‘Grand Shopkeeper.’ Because of this trump card, the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ could once again reorganize the situation.

Mieli took a deep breath: “So… once Angry Azure Mountain is destroyed, Jingtai… Jingtai can take power again?”

“Take power?” Laughter came from behind the curtain. The other men followed suit, everyone holding their bellies and laughing wildly as if hearing the greatest joke. Mieli said bewildered: “You… what are you laughing at?”

The laughter suddenly stopped. The leader said softly: “General Mieli, do you know where Master Tianjue is now?”

Mieli murmured: “He… he’s dead, isn’t he?”

The leader said: “Tell me again where Yang Yuan is?”

Mieli said in astonishment: “He… he drowned in Yongding River, right?”

The leader sighed extremely softly: “Tell me again how Liu Angtian died?”

Hearing this, everyone was shocked, and even Lu Yun looked up in a daze. The leader said eerily: “Do you see it? What do these three people have in common?”

Tianjue was a Shaolin divine monk, Liu Angtian was a court military general, Yang Yuan was a Grand Secretary of the current dynasty. These three seemed to have no connection, but actually shared one thing in common—they all knew one person, the ‘Grand Shopkeeper.’

Tianjue was the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ teaching master, close as father and son. Liu Angtian was the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ official superior, close as father and son. Yang Yuan was even the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ biological father. Now these three had all departed for the pure land, probably not knowing how they died.

The leader sighed: “General Mieli, everyone’s in business. If you wanted to find a partner to open an inn, would you choose the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’?”

Mieli began to tremble slightly, finally understanding the logic. Close as father and son, like father and son, actual father and son—now all deceased with unclear causes of death. What would be the outcome for a mere Princess Yinchuan wanting to partner with the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ in business?

Mieli whispered breathlessly: “So… once Angry Azure is destroyed, the princess… the princess will…”

Silence fell everywhere. Everyone knew the princess was inviting a wolf into the house, seeking skin from a tiger—her fate would probably be too terrible to mention. In the midst of their alarm, they heard the leader say: “General, do you really know why you came to see me?”

Mieli said bewildered: “What do you mean?”

The shadow behind the curtain stood up: “Ten years ago, I divined four hexagrams for the world. The first hexagram was the death of a divine monk, the second hexagram was Jingtai’s downfall, the third hexagram was great drought under heaven. Do you want to know what this final hexagram is?”

The leader of the Righteous Men was extraordinary—through medical principles he entered fate principles, through fate principles he understood geographical principles, through geographical principles he comprehended heavenly principles. His prophecies were infallible, predicting events with perfect accuracy. Hearing this final hexagram about to be revealed, Mieli couldn’t help but feel reverent and quickly said: “Please speak, Your Excellency.”

The leader said: “The final hexagram is called ‘Sacred Light.’ After this hexagram, the world will have neither black nor white, neither victory nor defeat. All things will stop fighting and return to primordial chaos.”

Mieli said in astonishment: “Primordial chaos?”

The leader said: “Yes. After this hexagram, the world will neither compete nor war—from then on will be a golden age of peace. However, for this hexagram to be fulfilled, there must be a lone hero who walks between heaven and earth’s black and white to make the prophecy come true.”

Hearing the words “lone hero,” everyone involuntarily turned to look at a corner of the cave where sat one person. He looked completely shocked, his back suddenly against the wall like a mouse exposed to light with nowhere to hide.

The final hexagram was about to be fulfilled through Lu Yun. Master Ling Zhi had mentioned this earlier—everyone had heard it. Mieli took a deep breath: “What… what exactly do you want Advisor Lu to do?”

The leader said calmly: “I want him to assassinate someone.”

Mieli cried out: “Assassinate? Who… who do you want to kill?”

The leader said grimly: “Yang Suguan.”

Instantly, the entire place fell silent, everyone’s palms slightly sweating. Whether Ling Zhi, Mieli, Wei Zizhuang, or all the men present, none could breathe easily. Mieli trembled slightly: “Did Her Highness… did Her Highness know this plan beforehand?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “General, have you forgotten? Where was Her Majesty captured by the ‘Nation-Guarding Iron Guard’?”

Mieli gasped: “Tongluo Alley…”

The leader continued: “General, do you know who lives in Tongluo Alley?”

When Lu Yun achieved the top imperial examination score, he had bought a small house in the capital near Tongluo Alley. Instantly, those in the know understood—the princess had once sought out Lu Yun. If not to entrust this matter, what else could it be for?

The answer was revealed—Yinchuan hadn’t come empty-handed. When she met with the ‘Grand Shopkeeper,’ she had already prepared two approaches: one hand held the Quran, the other held a blue-edged sword. Rather than saying she was seeking skin from a tiger, it was better to say she had wrapped herself in sheepskin, hiding her lion-tiger demeanor.

Mieli murmured: “Then… what was the princess doing when she ordered me to go south to Jiangnan during the twelfth month?”

The leader said: “She wanted to tell the Grand Shopkeeper four words: ‘behave obediently,’ otherwise she could ’embrace a different lute’ at any time.”

In the struggle between Chu and Han, the princess was the winner. The Grand Shopkeeper held one card—Emperor Jingtai—but the beautiful princess also held one card—Qin Zhonghai. Once the Grand Shopkeeper and she fell out, the princess in her fury could throw herself into Qin Zhonghai’s embrace. Then the one facing mortal danger wouldn’t be the “Northwestern Angry King” but the invincible “Asura King.”

This transaction was destined for mutual deception from the start. If the princess wanted her father to return, only the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ in the entire country had the power to accomplish this for her. And if the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ wanted to destroy Angry Azure Mountain, he couldn’t do without the Khanate’s military assistance. They each took what they needed, but each had their own calculations. “When the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are gone, the good bow is stored away”—in any case, after crossing the river, who would destroy the bridge first depended on both sides’ arrangements.

Hearing this, Mieli finally understood the cause and effect. No wonder ‘Mr. Lin’ had dragged him here in the middle of the night and set up three tests for Lu Yun’s martial skills. The ‘dirty business’ he mentioned was this scene of ‘Jing Ke assassinating the King of Qin.’ The day Emperor Jingtai returned would be the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ death day. Then there would be no ‘Angry Azure,’ no ‘inn’—both sides would perish together. Only the beautiful Princess Yinchuan would support her old father stepping onto the high platform, bringing thirty years of peaceful golden age to the world.

Thinking of this, everyone couldn’t help but applaud and admire, unable to contain themselves. Only Lu Yun sat in a daze, neither speaking nor moving.

Tonight Lu Yun had pursued Chongqing and been led all the way to this underground waterway. Later the Righteous Men appeared, repeatedly testing him as if they had some great matter to entrust to him. But no matter how Lu Yun probed, Wei Zizhuang and Ling Zhi remained evasive. Who knew that in the end, they wanted him to be an assassin.

The entire place was silent. The leader said: “Friends, Yang Suguan is the most terrifying enemy in the world. As long as he has one breath left, even if you kill all his family and trusted followers, even if you cut off his hands and feet, he can still lead ten thousand troops and return. As long as this person doesn’t die, no matter who becomes emperor in the future, it will all be empty.” He paused: “Lu Yun, don’t you agree?”

Lu Yun made no sound. The leader didn’t press further, only turning to ask Master Ling Zhi: “Master, do you think Lu Yun can defeat the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’?”

Ling Zhi said: “In single combat with bare hands, as long as Master Lu has a sword, he fears no one.”

Divine sword as myself, I am the sword god—with one blue blade in hand, invincible throughout the world. At these words, Wei Zizhuang, Timur Mieli, and even Master Ling Zhi himself were all greatly inspired, apparently having deep confidence in Lu Yun’s martial arts.

After tonight’s three contests, Lu Yun had used ‘Orthodox Seventeen’ to break ‘Infinite,’ used his profound internal power to defeat Timur Mieli, and finally used his martial arts comprehension to block Ling Zhi’s ‘Opening the Door to See the Mountain.’ This showed that years of study had been forged into one body—his martial arts were definitely not weaker than any of his Liu faction peers. Even if the Grand Shopkeeper had practiced ‘Tianjue,’ he might not gain any advantage.

Among the four great masters of Guanhai Yunyuan, none feared the others. The entire place’s morale was high, but Lu Yun still had a lonely expression. The leader said: “Lu Yun, your life’s ambition is ‘establishing heart for heaven and earth.’ Now killing one person to save the world—will you do it or not?”

Lu Yun looked at the ground and said directly: “I will not.”

Everyone gasped in great disappointment. Wei Zizhuang was first to jump out, full of angry indignation: “Lu Yun, you already know where the jade seal came from and why Lord Liu died. Don’t you want revenge?”

Ling Zhi also advised: “Master Lu, ‘eating the ruler’s salary, loyal to the ruler’s affairs’—in the past, Emperor Jingtai treasured Master Lu like a precious gem, and the princess sees you as her final support. Can you bear to disappoint them?”

Timur Mieli also said: “Advisor Lu, it’s not that we’re unwilling to act ourselves—our martial arts are simply inadequate. With your fine abilities, how can you not accomplish great deeds? Come forth and fight!”

The current situation was clear—the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ was that ‘Great Peng Golden-Winged Bird’ who would devour all dragons under heaven. If this person remained alive, even if Jingtai returned, his life would be precarious as an egg. As for the Zhengtong Dynasty’s ‘Eight Princes and Crown Princes’ and ‘Crown Prince Succession,’ these would be empty talk. If the princess wanted to reverse the situation, she needed to bring forth a peerless master to cross through thousands of troops and horses and assassinate the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ in one strike.

Amid the chorus of advice, Lu Yun seemed to have become mute, remaining silent for a long time. Wei Zizhuang, seeing him act like a useless waste, couldn’t help wanting to curse him out when Ling Zhi thought for a moment and suddenly said: “Everyone, don’t rush. I know what Master Lu is worried about.”

Everyone held their breath and quieted down. They heard Ling Zhi sigh: “Lu Yun, you’re afraid of ‘Divine Sword Captures Dragon,’ aren’t you?”

Hearing this, everyone gasped, knowing the matter had become thorny.

The supreme treasure guarding the Six Paths was the ‘Divine Sword Captures Dragon.’ Tonight at Wanfu Tower during the great battle, the ‘Divine Sword’ suddenly descended. Though Qin Zhonghai was also hiding in Wanfu Tower at the time, he remained concealed throughout, only appearing at the last moment when Lu Yun used his internal energy to shake the divine sword from the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ hand—only then did he emerge to seize the ‘Demon Blade.’ This showed Qin Zhonghai’s apprehension.

‘Divine Sword Captures Dragon’ was the world’s most wondrous sword. The ‘Grand Shopkeeper’ had also mastered ‘Tianjue.’ If he could use Tianjue to control the divine sword, the two would be perfectly matched like heaven and earth’s creation. Even if Qin Zhonghai were present or Ning Bufan took action, they probably wouldn’t dare challenge its edge.

The cave fell silent for a long, long time when suddenly Mieli said: “Master Abbot, if the ‘Demon Blade’ assisted in battle, could Advisor Lu win?” Hearing this, everyone’s faces showed smiles again as hope arose in their hearts.

The ‘Divine Sword’s’ mortal enemy was the ‘Demon Blade.’ This blade was now in Wu Chongqing’s hands. If they could reason with him and have him give the ‘Demon Blade’ to Uncle Lu, there would surely be a turning point.

Among those present, no one could surpass “Mr. Lin” in martial arts knowledge. Seeing his continued silence, Mieli said: “Mr. Lin, what do you think? If Advisor Lu had the ‘Demon Blade’ in hand, what would his chances of victory be?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “No chance of victory.”

Everyone was shocked: “Why is this so?”

Ling Zhi said: “He cannot control the ‘Demon Blade.'”

Timur Mieli said in a daze: “Cannot control it… why is this so?”

Ling Zhi said: “General, didn’t you yourself grip the ‘Demon Blade’? How did it feel then?”

Mieli said quietly: “My head felt hot and killing thoughts arose in my heart.”

Ling Zhi said: “Exactly so. The ‘Demon Blade’s’ power doesn’t depend on the wielder’s martial arts level, but on how much hatred the wielder has in their heart. The deeper the hatred, the greater the power. Therefore, to control this blade, the key isn’t one’s own cultivation, but how grand the wielder’s dreams are.”

Everyone said in astonishment: “What do you mean?”

Ling Zhi said: “Hatred arises from not getting what one seeks. Therefore, the grander a person’s dreams, the easier they are to shatter, and the deeper the hatred in their heart. Conversely, the smaller a person’s dreams, the easier it is to wake from them.”

Mieli murmured: “Being able to wake from dreams… isn’t that… isn’t that good?”

Ling Zhi said: “General Mieli, if you fulfilled your life’s dreams and had no more regrets, what would you want to do next?”

Mieli was stunned for a while: “Would it be… retirement?”

Ling Zhi shook his head: “Don’t even think about it. To fulfill your personal dreams, you’ve already killed all the good people and done every evil deed. With such sins covering you, do you still have the face to live in this world?”

Everyone was shocked, finally understanding why the ‘Demon Blade’ couldn’t be controlled. Once one awakened from dreams, regret would arise, and the price would be one’s own life.

Mieli broke out in cold sweat. He had originally worn an ancient imperial artifact at his waist called the ‘Topaz Jade Blade,’ but after obtaining the ‘Demon Blade,’ he had actually destroyed it himself. Afterward, feeling guilty before the gods, he had to gather the fragments everywhere, which became the golden thread garment he now wore. He trembled slightly: “So you’re saying… no one in the world can control the ‘Demon Blade’?”

Ling Zhi said: “Of course someone can. As long as your dreams are grand enough that you can never fulfill them, you’ll never wake up either.”

Everyone was greatly shocked: “You… you mean…”

Ling Zhi said: “Angry Azure’s Qin Zhonghai. His dreams are all blood.”

The entire place was horrified, finally understanding why the ‘Demon Blade’ couldn’t fall into Qin Zhonghai’s hands. If he gripped the ‘Demon Blade,’ he would probably “kill everything in heaven and earth clean.”

Mieli murmured: “Then… what if a person doesn’t dream? Could they control the ‘Demon Blade’?”

Ling Zhi said: “Of course. If a person has no dreams or hopes, then hopes won’t be dashed, and naturally there would be no hatred in their heart. The ‘Demon Blade’ in their hands would be like a stubborn stone, completely useless.”

Everyone murmured: “No hatred in the heart… are there really such people in the world?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Of course there are. A person without hatred also has no love. Without love or hatred, they can only live like walking corpses. Yang Suguan is such a person.”

The entire place was bewildered—no one expected that this mighty generation of powerful ministers, holding great power over heaven and earth, would become the “walking corpse” Ling Zhi described.

Mieli murmured: “Mr. Lin, what exactly is the origin of this blade? Why is it so strange?”

Ling Zhi said: “In worldly things, where there is yin there must be yang, where there is yang there must be yin. Hard and soft, yin and yang must appear in pairs. Thus in arsenic mines where realgar is buried, orpiment can surely be dug; where brass is dug, white zinc can surely be found. This is like mandarin ducks in pairs, light following shadow—absolutely no exceptions. Therefore, when the divine sword descended years ago, I already suspected there would be a second divine weapon buried in the earth, just not yet emerged from its cocoon.”

Everyone was startled: “So Master knew about this sword ten years ago?”

Ling Zhi sighed: “Was I the only one who knew? The Azure Robe Scholar of Mount Jiuhua, Ning Bufan of Mount Hua, and even Ouyang Nan of Iron Foundry Manor—everyone had already anticipated that the heavenly furnace still hid something.”

Everyone discussed and talked. Lu Yun sat blankly on the ground, not knowing what he was thinking. Wei Zizhuang glanced at him and couldn’t help feeling more annoyed, sighing: “So even with Lu’s internal power, he still couldn’t control the ‘Demon Blade’?”

Ling Zhi said: “Not necessarily. Legend says those who master the ‘Courage Sword’ can control the ‘Demon Blade.'”

Wisdom Sword, Benevolence Sword, and Courage Sword were collectively called the ‘Three Accomplishments.’ Everyone gasped, finally understanding why Wu Chongqing would stake Su Ying and seize the ‘Three Accomplishments Sword Manual’—this was the reason.

Mieli said: “So if we helped him steal the ‘Three Accomplishments Sword Manual,’ Master Lu would have the power to control the ‘Demon Blade’?”

Ling Zhi pondered: “That’s unclear. Though Master Lu has comprehended the ‘Benevolence Sword,’ this Courage Sword is said to be far more difficult than both Wisdom and Benevolence Swords… If he used ten years’ time, perhaps he could work it out… perhaps…”

Hearing this, everyone felt discouraged. After all, the situation was perilous—Princess Yinchuan had already fallen into the ‘Grand Shopkeeper’s’ hands. With just a light squeeze, she would perish like jade and fragrant flowers. How could they leisurely sit and practice martial arts?

Everyone was at a loss, not knowing what to do, when laughter came from behind the curtain: “Have you martial artists finished farting? I’m about to fall asleep.”

The leader had remained silent throughout, but once he spoke, he put everyone in an awkward position. Ling Zhi coughed: “What insights does Your Excellency have?”

The leader laughed: “I understand nothing about martial arts. But have you all thought about why I’ve always firmly believed Lu Yun would fulfill this final divination?”

Hearing this, everyone said “Oh” in surprise—this question was indeed crucial. In terms of martial arts, Ning Bufan had mastered the “Courage Sword” and his skills were definitely not below Lu Yun’s. In terms of power, Qin Zhonghai and Wu Dingyuan could both command with a call and direct ten thousand troops—who knew how much stronger they were than Lu Yun? Yet somehow this final divination would be fulfilled through Lu Yun?

Everyone became suspicious and quieted down. They heard the leader say: “I’ll tell you honestly—Yang Suguan has one weakness, and only Lu Yun in the world can grasp this weakness and kill him in one strike. I understand this principle, and so does Yinchuan.”

Hearing the word ‘weakness,’ everyone was bewildered, including Lu Yun who raised his head. Yang Suguan commanded countless skilled subordinates, possessed ‘Tianjue’ and the ‘Divine Sword’—his martial arts were rarely seen in the world. Moreover, he was extremely alert and could be called an iron wall. What gap could there be to exploit?

Everyone asked quietly: “What… what weakness does he have?”

The leader said: “Gu Qianxi.”

Lu Yun’s expression changed drastically, his body involuntarily shaking. The leader laughed: “Lu Yun, this peer of yours has a sinister nature. He trusts no one—not brothers, sisters, parents, or grandparents. In the entire world, he only trusts one person: his pillow companion, Gu Qianxi. And only you, Lu Yun, can exploit this weakness.”

Lu Yun’s whole body trembled. The leader seemed extremely excited as footsteps came back and forth—the shadow behind the curtain paced repeatedly: “Yang Suguan is meticulous. Even when resting and sleeping, his defenses are strict. The only person he won’t guard against is his pillow companion. I’ve calculated carefully—to kill this person absolutely cannot be done openly. There must be inside and outside cooperation. But to make his wife betray her own husband, only you, Master Lu, have this ability. Lu Yun! I want you to deceive Gu Qianxi, assassinate Yang Suguan, and bring out Emperor Jingtai for me. Once this great deed is accomplished, you can reorganize the court and establish world peace! You’ll be recorded in history as our dynasty’s first great minister!”

Everyone’s mouths fell open—no one expected this scene of Jing Ke assassinating the King of Qin to fall to such a despicable situation.

Amid sinister laughter, a new wave of killing was about to begin. Everyone thought blankly—though this plan was too sinister, it was also the only feasible strategy. Wei Zizhuang was first to cheer: “Heaven’s net is vast! Sparse but nothing escapes! Lu Yun! After you kill Yang Suguan, you can sit on the Grand Secretary’s throne and reunite with your beautiful wife! For yourself! For the people of the world! You must assassinate this traitor!”

“Wonderful! Wonderful!” With a bang, someone in the cave fired a gun, as if celebrating with cannon fire. But Lu Yun remained silent, showing no joy on his face, as if they were talking about someone else’s business that had nothing to do with him.

Wei Zizhuang grew angrier the more he looked, saying grimly: “Lu Yun! With Miss Gu providing inside support, what are you afraid of? Don’t you want revenge anymore?”

Ling Zhi also advised: “Master Lu, you may feel this action lacks honor and righteousness, but once you investigate Yang Suguan’s deeds, you’ll surely act without hesitation…”

Everyone urged Lu Yun to agree when the leader said: “Forget it, don’t make things difficult for him. He still has a concern.”

Wei Zizhuang said angrily: “What concern? It’s just stabbing from behind with a sword. With his martial arts, how could he fail?”

The leader laughed: “Me.”

In the bewilderment, Lu Yun couldn’t help but tremble slightly, because from behind the curtain came a Yang-Kun opera voice that sounded exactly like Gu Qianxi. The leader’s voice turned feminine as ‘she’ laughed softly and said gently: “Lu Yun… you know I had a child for Yang Suguan, don’t you?”

At Hongluo Temple with its crowds of worshippers, when Lu Yun was selling noodles in the temple, he had seen the entire Yang family enter the temple together. At that time, Gu Qianxi had a child with her—presumably the child she had borne for Yang Suguan.

“Lu Yun…” The leader affected a feminine voice, saying softly: “Ten months of pregnancy is very hard. Do you want to hear the sounds a woman makes giving birth? I can imitate them for you.”

Behind the curtain came soft laughter mixed with moaning. Suddenly there was a thunderous roar of rage—Lu Yun’s facial scar appeared prominently as he charged forward. Wei Zizhuang and Ling Zhi were shocked and rushed forward. Lu Yun roared: “Get lost!” His palm force swept out in a semicircle. With a thunderous crash, Wei Zizhuang was already knocked back three steps, and Ling Zhi’s blood also churned as he retreated half a step diagonally.

Lu Yun howled in fury like a wild beast, already knocking over the entire curtain and striking toward the leader with one palm. Everyone was shocked and rushed forward—even Timur Mieli came to pull him back. In the midst of panic, they heard a light laugh, coquettishly saying: “Don’t worry—he doesn’t have the guts to hurt me.”

The leader’s voice changed again. This Yang-Kun opera accent was coquettish and melodious, like singing. Everyone who heard it felt moved in their hearts. Lu Yun breathed heavily and looked over to see behind the curtain a silk dress, a jade hairpin, flowing black hair like clouds, and a pair of lively, bright phoenix eyes smiling at him.

Lu Yun was stunned. Mieli was also dumbfounded—no one expected that behind the curtain sat neither a scholar nor a military officer, but a charming, beautiful woman. She looked up with a smile, her hands slightly open in a welcoming gesture.

Lu Yun stared in amazement. Ling Zhi didn’t seem surprised and only coughed, bowing: “Miss Qi.”

“Miss… Miss Qi?” Lu Yun’s mouth fell open. He had originally been full of rage, ready to beat up “Physician Qi,” but who knew that upon looking closely, ‘Physician Qi’ had become ‘Miss Qi.’ For a moment he could neither hit nor scold, and froze there.

After a long, long time, Miss Qi smiled: “Master Lu, how was the performance of ‘Grand Tutor Yang’s Siege of Wanfu Tower, Zhuangyuan Encounters an Old Friend’s Son’?”

Lu Yun gasped. With trembling hands, he took out a theater ticket from his chest that read ‘In Wanfu Tower, Theater Like Life.’ He took a deep breath: “This… you gave this to me?”

“Correct.” Miss Qi extended her delicate hand to receive the theater ticket from Lu Yun, smiling: “Tonight’s performance was arranged by me.”

Lu Yun took a deep breath: “I… earlier in the inner city I saw a young lady on the city wall coordinating with Chongqing. Was that you?”

Miss Qi nodded: “It was me.”

Lu Yun finally understood the whole story. Why the ‘Demon Blade’ was hidden in Wanfu Tower, why those attendants treated him so well—the leader of the Righteous Men was the star performer of Wanfu Tower, ‘Miss Qi.’ She must have seen him from the theater stage and then found ways to lure him over.

Lu Yun took a deep breath and studied the ‘Miss Qi’ before him. She sat with legs crossed to one side, hands on her knees. From the side, her skin was truly white and delicate—with just a touch of rouge, she appeared radiant with peach and plum beauty. Her phoenix eyes were especially captivating. She looked down, unwilling to face Lu Yun directly, appearing quite reserved. Seeing Lu Yun continuously staring at her, she couldn’t help covering her mouth and giggling: “Master Lu, when you first saw Miss Gu, did you also stare so fixedly?”

At these words, even the scholarly Lu Yun couldn’t help coughing and quickly turned his head away, not daring to look anymore. Beside him, Timur Mieli was ultimately a man and didn’t understand the principle of ‘see no evil’—he just stared blankly. Miss Qi smiled and took a thin veil to cover her beauty.

This ‘Miss Qi’ was not only beautiful but seemed to understand men’s hearts—shy when she should be shy, playful when she should be playful. She truly held a lute half-covering her face, and every movement could make men unable to look away. This charm and grace, this coquettish elegance, even married women like Gu Qianxi, Yinchuan, and Yan Ting couldn’t match, let alone young and impetuous ones like Qiong Fang and Juan’er.

Seeing Lu Yun’s furrowed brow and silent face, Miss Qi said: “Master Lu, don’t look so worried. I have something here for you, hoping you’ll be happier after seeing it.”

Lu Yun said quietly: “What… what thing?”

Miss Qi said: “Something you exchanged your life for.”

She turned around and picked up something, handing it to Lu Yun.

Lu Yun stared blankly—in his arms was now a child, about ten years old, rather dark-skinned, wearing a cotton coat, with closed eyes sleeping soundly as if someone had pressed his sleep acupoint. Lu Yun was greatly surprised: “This… this child is…”

Miss Qi said: “This child’s surname is Yang. He calls Gu Qianxi mother.”

Lu Yun gasped, knowing the boy in his arms was none other than Gu Qianxi’s son.

After ten years as pillow companions, Yang and Gu had borne children together—they could never be separated. Lu Yun looked at the child and tears streamed down his face.

‘Miss Qi’ smiled and said softly: “Master Lu, please look carefully at this child before feeling sad.”

Through tearful eyes, he could dimly see the child’s forehead was bound with a silk band with a jade pendant covering his brow. Miss Qi said: “Master Lu, this child has always worn this jade pendant on his forehead since childhood. Do you know why?”

Lu Yun gasped and began trembling involuntarily. ‘Miss Qi’ smiled slightly and extended her delicate hand to slowly untie the silk band on the child’s forehead. Suddenly, the scar on his forehead was revealed.

The small wound mark was pink—an injury from infancy, like a divine eye bestowed by gods and Buddhas, perfectly set in the center of his brow.

Miss Qi said: “Ten years ago, a small bamboo basket and an ownerless precious sword were left at the Gu residence gate. In the basket slept a baby with a letter beside him explaining the baby’s and sword’s origins. After reading it, Gu Qianxi kept this child by her side and raised him. Even after she married, this child remained inseparable from her.”

Lu Yun’s eyes filled with tears. Suddenly his legs gave way and he knelt down, as if about to kowtow to Miss Qi. Miss Qi said gently: “Master Lu, you needn’t thank anyone. Others may not know, but you and I understand clearly… Ten years ago, you gave up your zhuangyuan title and bright future, willing to exchange one life for one life to save this unnoticed little orphan…” She took the boy’s hand and bowed in respect: “Lu Yun, among all heroes in the world, you alone deserve the title ‘Great Hero.'”

On the sixteenth day of the first month in the eleventh year of Zhengtong, the final journey ended. Under everyone’s gaze, Great Hero Lu’s eyes filled with tears as he held A’Xiu tightly and shed two lines of hot tears.

In the silence, Lu Yun held A’Xiu tightly, weeping uncontrollably. Miss Qi slowly picked up an object and said softly: “Great Hero Lu, is this your possession?”

Lu Yun slowly wiped his tears and saw a sword placed beside his feet. The scabbard was like black wood with no carved patterns, quite plain—it was his youthful sword ‘Yunmeng Lake.’

Seeing his old sword again, Lu Yun couldn’t help taking a deep breath: “You… you want me to become an assassin…”

Miss Qi said softly: “You needn’t worry. This is your possession—I’m only returning it to its rightful owner. No one will require any promises from you because of this.”

Ten years ago on Angry Azure Mountain, they cut their robes and severed their friendship; at White Water River, they fought to the death. This sword had always closely followed Lu Yun, accompanying its master through all hardships. Now after ten years of separation, the long sword remained the same, but Lu Yun had already comprehended heaven and earth and inherited the title ‘Sword God.’ If he was willing to take up his precious sword again, the world’s situation would surely change.

All around was quiet, everyone holding their breath, fearing Lu Yun wouldn’t accept. But Miss Qi didn’t urge further—she simply held up the long sword with both hands, quietly waiting for Lu Yun to take it.

For a long, long time, Great Hero Lu trembled and hesitated. He slowly opened his palm and finally gripped the long sword tightly.

Seeing Lu Yun accept the sword, Miss Qi nodded and immediately returned behind the curtain. The men came forward again to set up the curtain for her, separating the two sides once more.

“Tonight’s meeting has been most delightful.” A gentle voice came from behind the curtain: “Great Hero Lu, both sword and baby have returned to their rightful owner—I’m very comforted.” She clapped her hands: “Master Wei, please escort our guests out.”

Lu Yun was slightly startled: “I… I can leave?”

Miss Qi revealed her true feminine nature, her speech becoming quite generous as she joked: “Of course. Otherwise, would I keep you here to watch opera?”

Lu Yun looked at A’Xiu in his arms and murmured: “Then… this child…”

Miss Qi said calmly: “This child is what you exchanged your life for. Where he goes is for you to arrange.”

Lu Yun said in astonishment: “What do you mean?”

Miss Qi said: “You can send him back to the Yang family, or you can take him to wander the world. No one in the world is more qualified than you to decide his fate.”

This ‘Miss Qi’ was truly formidable—every sentence struck at Lu Yun’s heart. He naturally understood Miss Qi’s intention and knew she had deliberately omitted one person—that person… the person Lu Yun had always wanted to take away…

The past cannot be retrieved, but the future can still be pursued. The shadow behind the curtain turned away and said no more. Seeing Lu Yun lost in thought, Wei Zizhuang patted his shoulder: “Let’s go—we’ll talk outside.”

Seeing little Hu Zhengtang still lying on the ground, Wei Zizhuang picked him up and called out: “Master Ling Zhi, General Mieli, let’s all leave together.”

The men bowed respectfully to see off the guests. Ling Zhi and Mieli both stood up. Lu Yun blankly held A’Xiu and followed Wei Zizhuang. After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned back and called out: “Wait! You… you said that final divination of the world is destined to be fulfilled through me?”

The graceful shadow behind the curtain smiled: “Lu Yun, let’s make a bet. When you climb out of this well and return to the human world, you’ll immediately accept my request.”

Lu Yun’s heart trembled: “How can you be sure?”

“Go f*ck your dog bastard…” Miss Qi said calmly: “Say less—it’s not too noisy.”

Lu Yun was stunned, not knowing why this proper young lady would suddenly curse and insult him. Beside him, Mieli’s expression changed dramatically upon hearing this, and he involuntarily stepped back. Wei Zizhuang cleared his throat and called loudly: “Alright! Everyone say less and let’s go quickly!”

Everyone said no more. Wei Zizhuang led the way, guiding Lu Yun, Ling Zhi, Mieli, and others out. But this time they didn’t return by the original route—instead, they found another dried waterway to follow. The underground waterways were dense and intricate, turning from one to another. Suddenly, faint light appeared ahead—a round, hazy glow reflected on the ground. The exit must be there.

As their parting approached, Lu Yun looked back at Wei Zizhuang with deep emotion. He had hoped that reuniting with an old friend would be a good meeting, but who knew last night’s storms would lead to such a killing situation? Wei Zizhuang patted him reassuringly: “Going up from here leads to the inner city. You should hurry.”

Lu Yun said: “Brother Wei, aren’t you coming up with me?”

Wei Zizhuang shook his head: “What would I go up for?”

Under the reflected light, that fire-burned ugly face looked even more frightening. Lu Yun’s heart awakened—he already couldn’t show his face to people. The two looked up at the well’s opening light, both silent. Lu Yun said quietly: “Brother Wei, that day… when the ship caught fire, did anyone else survive?”

Wei Zizhuang sighed, wanting to speak but hesitating, then said: “You’d better go up quickly. Find a place to sleep well and think things through clearly.”

He handed little Hu Zhengtang to Mieli, indicating everyone should go up.

Master Ling Zhi’s martial arts were so high—he pressed his palm against the wall and with one push rose more than ten feet. After several leaps, he had already left the well and dropped down a rope. Lu Yun and Mieli didn’t show off their martial arts—they honestly climbed up the rope.