Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 127

Upon noticing Wen Su emerge, Lin Zhi immediately stopped talking and went to greet him.

"Senior brother..." Lin Zhi called out, but then fell silent, unsure of what to say next.

Wen Su looked around and asked softly, "Where is the others?"

Luo Yuanqing took a few steps forward and said, "They've all gone to deal with the Shennong Family and the Shenxiao Sect... Also, your junior nephew has gone to surrender to the imperial court..."

Wen Su glanced at her, said nothing, and seemed displeased.

Seeing this, Lin Zhi said, "We're talking in the East China Sea, why are you interrupting?"

Before Luo Yuanqing could even react, the group of female disciples behind him drew their weapons, exuding a murderous aura.

The disciples from the East Sea were not to be outdone, and they drew their weapons one after another, resulting in a stalemate between the two groups in the courtyard.

"Hmph! Do you think I like to interrupt?" Luo Yuanqing raised an eyebrow and said, "What do the Divine Firmament Sect, the Shennong Family, and the Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts have to do with me! I'm just waiting for him to nod his head! Otherwise, who would stay in this godforsaken place where there's no sunlight!"

Lin Zhi looked at Wen Su with some confusion, not understanding what was going on.

Wen Su's face was cold, and he remained silent.

Luo Yuanqing stepped forward, staring directly at Wen Su, "Say something! At worst, just say you want to die, and I'll immediately take my men back to the South China Sea and never interfere in your East China Sea's affairs again!"

Wen Su lowered his eyes, turned around and walked back.

Upon seeing this, Luo Yuanqing shouted, "What I just said doesn't count!"

The surroundings were silent, but suddenly, laughter erupted as the group of female disciples from the South China Sea put away their weapons and burst into laughter.

Luo Yuanqing glared angrily at the female disciples.

At that moment, the ceiling of the underground chamber suddenly trembled slightly, and voices could be faintly heard through the ground.

“It seems that the people from ‘Xuanling Dao’ and ‘Xiufeng Village’ have arrived…” Lin Zhi looked up at the stone slab above him.

Then, the entrance to the underground chamber opened, letting in a few rays of sunlight. A disciple from the South Sea rushed down and said, "Young Palace Master, the Lian family's troops have already begun their operation and are heading towards the 'Heavenly Coffin.' The forces from 'Xuanling Dao' and 'Xiufeng Village' have all gone to intercept them."

"Didn't they say that the Lian family's troops wouldn't be mobilized for such Jianghu disputes? How come..." Luo Yuanqing was somewhat surprised.

"I heard it was Young Master Lian's order; he probably already saw through Master Helan's plan," the disciple said.

“This Lian Zhao is quite interesting. He Lan Qifeng is an old fox. If he falls into Lian Zhao’s hands this time, it will be a joke,” Luo Yuanqing said jokingly.

Hearing about the Lian family's situation, Lin Zhi felt a surge of hatred. He turned to look at Wen Su, who had stopped walking, and hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Wen Su stood silently in place. Lian Zhao… this was the man he had always wanted to kill. From their first meeting on the Yangtze River, he had meticulously planned and schemed repeatedly. Yet, he had never been able to kill him… Was this also fate? How had he, who had always held the upper hand, ended up in this predicament?

That was the last vestige of intense emotion in his heart, disrupting his already subdued state of mind. He felt his body gradually heating up, causing his breathing to become increasingly erratic.

"Luo Yuanqing..."

Luo Yuanqing was chatting and laughing with her fellow disciples when Wen Su suddenly called out to her, startling her. She turned around and looked at Wen Su, her face full of surprise.

Wen Su's expression was cold, his tone as icy as ever, "What you told me before..."

Before he could finish speaking, Luo Yuanqing excitedly asked, "You agreed?"

Wen Su paused for a moment, then said, "Before that, I have a request."

Luo Yuanqing wanted to retort, but after carefully considering his words, she was surprised to find that he had said "request" instead of "condition"... So, she swallowed the words she was about to say and said, "You say it."

"Help me circulate my internal energy, and then..." Wen Su's expression hardened, a hint of killing intent flashing between his brows, "...intercept the Lian family's troops..."

Upon hearing this, Luo Yuanqing replied, "Even if I help you circulate your internal energy, you can only last for half an hour..."

"Just answer me, yes or no."

Luo Yuanqing sighed, "Fine..." She turned around and complained in a low voice, "I really owe you..."

...

...This is a separator line indicating "There's an ambush here" = =+...

About twelve or thirteen miles south of the Shennong family, there is a secluded valley with lush bamboo groves.

Although this place belongs to Shennong's territory, few people usually venture here. The bamboo groves are dense, and a bluish-white mist perpetually hangs in the air. When the wind blows, the bamboo rustles and whispers, like mournful sobs. The terrain within the grove is complex, and those travelers who occasionally venture into this bamboo forest never return, becoming unjustly killed souls. Over time, very few people have approached this place.

Despite the sweltering summer heat, only slivers of sunlight filtered through the forest, creating a gloomy and secluded atmosphere amidst the mist. Yet, within this darkness and silence, discontented voices frequently echoed.

"Damn it! That brat, she's good for nothing, but her lightness skill is amazing! She dodges left and right, slippery as an eel! If I wasn't afraid of alerting the pursuers, I would risk my name, 'Silver Owl,' to catch her! It's an absolute disgrace!" Silver Owl sat casually on the tangled, thick bamboo roots, his face full of anger. "You brat, if you've got the guts, don't come back. If I catch you, you'll be sorry!"

"Hey... can't you take a break?" Shen Yuan glanced at him sideways, dissatisfied.

"What are you taking a break for! You're infuriating! Submitting to the imperial court?! How could she even think of that?!" Yin Xiao stood up. "Greedy for wealth and power, obsessed with men! How could she do such a thing! I'm ashamed for her!!! That Lian Zhao is treacherous; it would be strange if he were truly sincere towards her. I bet she'll come back crying!!!"

"Hey! You've said enough!" Shen Yuan couldn't stand it anymore. She stood up. "Brother Lian is truly sincere towards Miss Zuo. He would never do such a thing!"

"I'm just saying what I want, what's it to you?!" Yin Xiao frowned.

"I can't stand it, so I'll say a few words. What's it to you?!" Shen Yuan retorted defiantly.

"You better wake up!" Yin Xiao reached out and poked Shen Yuan's head. "Calling him 'Brother Lian' this and 'Brother Lian' that, you've helped us, and you want to be a good guy to both sides? Be careful, if he can't catch you, he might take revenge on your family!"

Shen Yuan stamped her foot and said, "Brother Lian is fair and impartial, he would never take his anger out on my family! Don't confuse him with yourself!"

"Ha, what a fine Brother Lian! Then what are you doing here?! Go and surrender to the imperial court like that girl!"

"Are you even being reasonable?!"

"You think you can reason with a robber? What a joke!"

...

The two were arguing fiercely, while the surrounding onlookers remained completely unmoved.

Ye Li, biting into a peach, asked, "Sister Li Si, do they really know we're lying in ambush?"

Li Sisi slowly peeled the peach, replying, "Let them be. I'll kill them when the time is right..."

Ye Li was startled, and the peach in her mouth almost fell to the ground.

Li Si turned her head, looked at Ye Li, and smiled sinisterly, "If you want peace and quiet, this is the fastest way, isn't it?"

Ye Li swallowed hard and slowly moved away.

At this moment, the wind rustled through the bamboo groves, and the sound gradually grew louder, like a desolate lament.

Helan Qifeng slowly strolled over and said, "Alright, alright, we have a guest. Don't be too impolite."

Upon hearing this, Yin Xiao and Shen Yuan stopped arguing, looked at each other for a while, and then went their separate ways. The crowd that had been watching the spectacle also stopped their teasing and dispersed, disappearing into the mist of the bamboo grove.

...

...

Amidst the dense bamboo grove, a pale yellow lamp approached from afar. The little girl carrying the palace lantern stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowed as she looked at the road before her.

"Hey, what's wrong?" someone asked from behind the girl.

The little girl was none other than Bizi, who served the Shennong Sect Master Shi Mi. Upon hearing this, she turned around and said, "Sect Master, what do you see..."

Behind her, Shi Mi slowly walked up, raising her eyes to look at the road in front of her, a fleeting emotion flashing in her eyes.

At this moment, Xi Yuan and Lian Ying also caught up, and their expressions changed when they saw the situation ahead.

The road ahead was littered with corpses. Some had been pierced through by sharpened bamboo poles, others were riddled with holes by rusty arrows, and still others were torn apart beyond recognition by silk threads...

"Luckily, the zombies cleared the way, otherwise, we would be the ones lying there..." Xi Yuan said, a hint of fear in his voice.

Shi Mi was unimpressed, and walked gracefully forward, stepping over the corpses.

Lian Ying followed slowly, feeling a growing discomfort in her stomach. As a descendant of the Lian family, she was no stranger to the horrors of the battlefield. However, this act of clearing a path with corpses made her inexplicably uneasy. The stench of corpses mixed with the scent of "Gu-attracting Incense" filled the air, forcing its way into her nostrils and making her internal organs churn.

"Sect Master, are you sure the 'Heavenly Coffin' is here?" Xi Yuan asked.

Shi Mi nodded slightly, without saying a word.

"If it's fake..." Xi Yuan was about to ask again when he saw Shi Mi raise her hand and point to the ground in front of her.

Xi Yuan looked over and saw that the ground was covered with wildflowers, nothing unusual. However, she was shocked when she saw Shi Mi step over them.

Those tender and beautiful wildflowers, though trampled and squeezed, remained unharmed and continued to bloom.

"Legend has it that in ancient times, the Yan Emperor Shennong clan and the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan clan fought for godhood. The Yan Emperor was defeated, and his blood stained the rocks on the ground. Later generations ground this rock into a stone bed and slept on it. They discovered that sleeping on this bed regularly could make people feel light and resistant to aging, prevent their hair from turning white, and prolong their lives. If the corpse of the dead was placed on it, even after hundreds of years, its appearance would remain unchanged and its skin would not age. This bed was thus named 'Heavenly Coffin'..." Gui Jiu, who was following behind Shi Mi, explained, "The fact that the grass and trees here do not wither must be due to the divine power of the 'Heavenly Coffin'."

Xi Yuan couldn't help but admire him.

Having cleared up their doubts, the group continued on their way.

The path through the bamboo grove was winding and complex, obscured by a dense fog that made it impossible to discern directions. Although walking corpses appeared to clear the way, the deeper they went into the forest, the thicker the fog became, until visibility was reduced to less than ten paces. The group proceeded with increasing caution and slowness.

Suddenly, a strange sound came from beneath their feet, and the forest ground collapsed with a deafening roar. The zombies clearing the way couldn't dodge in time and all fell into the trap. The group barely escaped and were just about to catch their breath when suddenly the bamboo and trees in the forest began to move. The scene was eerie and chilling. Countless tiny projectiles, hidden among the bamboo and trees, shot out. Those with weaker martial arts skills couldn't avoid this sudden attack and were all injured. Their companions desperately tried to help, but were blocked by the bamboo and trees and couldn't reach them.

Lian Ying dodged several times, then suddenly realized something. "The sun rises over Fusang, the moon enters Leimen... the Nine Palaces Formation?!" Realizing this, she immediately drew her bow and searched around, finally spotting something unusual among the moving bamboo and wood. A bamboo stalk as thick as a bowl hadn't moved an inch. She released the string, and the arrow shot out. The bamboo, unable to withstand the force of the arrow, shattered. The bamboo and wood instantly stopped moving, and the hidden weapons ceased to be fired.

Lian Ying breathed a sigh of relief, but when she looked around, she was shocked to find that only a few of her retainers, Shi Mi, Gui Jiu, and Bi Zi remained by her side. A chill ran down her spine, and she sensed something ominous. Just as she was about to take out a signal arrow to send a message, a flash of silver light appeared in the forest and attacked her directly.

Seeing this, the guards beside her leaped forward to block the attack for her.

Lian Ying was startled, only then seeing the true form of the silver light. She frowned, "Refined Snow Silver Glow."

A voice replied, "Why should the Lian family, the Divine Arrow, meddle in matters of the martial world?"

As the mist in the forest gradually dissipated, countless figures slowly appeared. It was Helan Qifeng leading a group of disciples from the Qufang sect, several elders from Shennong, as well as Yin Xiao, Li Si, and others.

Lian Ying angrily said, "You audacious thief, how dare you set up a trap and ambush us! How despicable!"

Silver Owl stepped forward and said, "I may be despicable, but I'm still better than you hypocrites who desecrate the dead and despise human life!"

Helan Qifeng stepped forward, gently reaching out to stop Yin Xiao, and said, "The Lian family of Divine Arrows are pillars of the court. Why bother getting entangled with us roughnecks here?"

“That’s right. Today, the Shennong family is cleaning house. All irrelevant people, leave immediately!” One of the Shennong elders stepped forward and said.

"Insolence! You are all defeated opponents of the sect leader, yet you dare to speak such arrogant words!" Gui Jiu was slightly angry. The hidden springs on his arms activated, and the steel claws were sharp and menacing.

Shi Mi took out the magnetic guide and the Three Corpse Divine Needles, about to activate them. However, the black divine needles lost their power and fell to the ground limply.

"The 'Southern Dipper Longevity' is a divine artifact of the Nine Emperors, naturally extremely powerful. It's just a pity that the Zhen Palace Formation has already been set up here, filled with lodestones, rendering your divine needles useless." Helan Qifeng looked at Shi Mi and smiled leisurely. "In the past, the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor fought for supremacy. The Yellow Emperor was driven to the brink by Chi You, but fortunately, he received help from the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, who taught him the art of Qimen Dunjia, enabling him to defeat Chi You and unify the Central Plains… Although I have been disrespectful to you elders, this art of Qimen Dunjia is the nemesis of yours, Shennong!"

Shi Mi smiled and said, "I am determined to get the 'Heavenly Coffin,' whether or not I have the Divine Needle is irrelevant!"

After she finished speaking, she took out several magic needles and inserted them into her acupoints.

“Divine needle acupuncture…” Ba Jitian, standing to the side, sighed softly, “Shi Mi, no one knows the aftereffects of divine needle acupuncture better than you…”

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Mi pulled out the magic needle, and without saying a word, launched an attack.

The wind rustled through the bamboo groves, but it could no longer conceal the roars and shouts of battle, the boiling passion of fighting...