Upon hearing the word "double box," Chu Tong was immediately taken aback, thinking to herself, "Bah! I destroyed the treasure map inside the box long ago, how could anyone have discovered the secret of the double box?" She then muttered, "Who is this 'Yun Xuzi'? Could he be telling a huge lie to fool people?"
Wang Lang shook his head and said, "No one in the martial arts world knows the origins of this 'Yun Xuzi.' But the people who vouched for him are quite famous. They are the leaders and chiefs of six major gangs: Liancang, Nanhuai, Taoyuan, Shaochuan, Baimamen, and Changxin Gang. These six people each signed a letter confirming the truth of the matter, which caused a sensation in the martial arts world. Heroes from all over the world gathered in Nanyan from all directions."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "I clearly destroyed the treasure map in the box, so could something have changed? It seems I have no choice but to attend the martial arts tournament." She pondered for a moment, then gritted her teeth, clenched her fist, and said, "Alright! Let's go to the martial arts tournament and join in the fun. If we find Xie Linghui plotting anything, we'll expose him on the spot and make him lose face in front of all the heroes!"
Wang Lang clapped his hands and agreed, "That's right! At that time, you, Lady Yao Chutong, will once again be renowned throughout the martial arts world and your fame will spread far and wide!"
After saying this, the two looked at each other and burst into laughter. Wang Lang quickly put his index finger to his lips and pointed outside with his other finger. Chu Tong immediately understood, knowing that Wang Lang was afraid of alerting the enemy. She nodded hurriedly while covering her mouth to suppress her laughter, feeling much more relaxed.
The two hid behind the boulder for a while, and only emerged after the searchers had gone far away. They found a sheltered spot at the foot of the mountain and barely managed to spend the night there. The next morning, Wang Lang took Chu Tong eastward. After walking for an hour, they saw a small town. The two ate something in the town, bought clothes to disguise themselves, and then bought a fine horse to head towards Lingzhou.
As they drew closer to Lingzhou, the number of chivalrous heroes and outlaws along the way increased, along with notorious bandits and gangsters swaggering through the streets, creating a bustling and lively scene. To avoid attracting attention, Chu Tong and Wang Lang always wore black veils over their heads, and their journey proceeded peacefully. Both being pleasure-loving individuals, they were always treated to fine food and wine at every stop. Chu Tong, still heartbroken, drowned her sorrows in alcohol, often drinking herself into a stupor before falling into a deep sleep. Wang Lang, unable to dissuade her, could only shake his head and sigh.
They finally arrived in Lingzhou that day. The inns and taverns in the city were already packed, so the two stayed at a farmer's house outside the city. In the evening, Wang Lang took out a silver ingot, and the farmer immediately slaughtered a chicken and duck and prepared a table of food and wine. After a few rounds of drinks, Chu Tong, clutching a wine jug, said drunkenly, "Young Master Wang, in a little while, I need to go into the city."
Wang Lang, holding his wine cup, asked curiously, "The city gates are already closed at this time. What are you doing entering the city?"
Chu Tong squinted, waved her fist, and said, "I'm going to the city to buy clothes! Ugh! I'm going to buy the most luxurious and beautiful ones!"
Wang Lang smiled slightly, shook his head, and poured himself a glass of wine. Chu Tong glared at him and said, "What are you laughing at? What's so funny? Tomorrow I'm going to attend the martial arts tournament in my finest attire and be the most dazzling female knight-errant in the world! I'll make that so-called number one beauty of the martial arts world, Bai Suxue, and that Jiang Wansheng, all bow down before my charisma!"
Wang Lang couldn't help but burst into laughter, clapping his hands as he laughed and said, "Wonderful! Wonderful! What a spirit of heroine Yao!" After saying that, he raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, then stood up and said, "Wait here for a moment, I'll be right back." With that, he walked out.
An hour later, Wang Lang returned, looking travel-worn, carrying two bundles. He tossed one to Chu Tong and said with a smile, "Please open it and take a look, Miss Yao."
Chu Tong opened the bundle and saw a brocade robe in a smoky red color, embroidered with gold-embroidered apricot blossoms and branches. The matching skirt was adorned with large, inlaid jade branches and leaves. A matching belt, embroidered with bamboo, chrysanthemums, and the characters for "longevity" and "fortune," was set with nine smooth, round South China Sea pearls and adorned with a five-colored ruyi sash. Beside the robe lay a set of jewelry—a complete set of delicate items including necklaces, hairpins, bracelets, and earrings—exquisitely beautiful and resplendent in gold. Even Chu Tong, accustomed to wealth and luxury, was stunned, her drunkenness instantly sobering her up.
Wang Lang sat down on the stool, poured himself a glass of wine, and said leisurely with a smile, "I wonder if it's luxurious enough?"
Chu Tong nodded hurriedly and said, "I'm afraid even the Empress and Princess aren't dressed like this!" After saying that, she picked up the clothes and held them up against herself.
Wang Lang watched with a smile for a while and said, "It's very beautiful." After saying that, he got up and gently patted Chu Tong's head, saying, "Go to sleep early."
Seeing Wang Lang close the door and leave, Chu Tong let out a long sigh. Looking at the clothes in her arms, she said to herself, "Young Master Wang has been so good to me. I'm afraid I can never repay his kindness in this lifetime." After saying that, she put the clothes away, blew out the candle, and tossed and turned in bed for a long time before finally falling into a deep sleep.
The next morning, after Chu Tong and Wang Lang finished washing and dressing, they hired a farmer to drive a horse-drawn carriage towards the Purple Bamboo Forest outside Lingzhou City. Along the way, they encountered countless wandering swordsmen and outlaws, all talking about the Twin Boxes and recounting various rumors they had heard, creating quite a lively scene. Wang Lang ordered the driver to stop on a higher hill. Chu Tong looked out and saw that the Purple Bamboo Forest was relatively flat, with lush bamboo covering an area of fifty li. In the center of the forest was an open space with a high platform and seven chairs. Below the platform, a dense crowd of people had gathered, numbering at least three or four thousand.
Wang Lang lifted the carriage curtain and looked out, then whistled, clapped his hands and laughed, "Amazing! Even the reclusive Daoist Kongling and Madam Jinrui, who haven't appeared in the martial world for decades, have shown up, not to mention all the big and small cave masters and island lords. Tsk tsk, the influence of the Cloud Peak Sect's double box is truly remarkable. The martial world hasn't seen such a grand occasion in decades."
Chu Tong's eyes searched through the crowd, but she couldn't see Yun Yinghuai's figure. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. In a moment of distraction, she suddenly saw a figure sitting below the platform that she would never forget for the rest of her life—Xie Linghui! Chu Tong's heart clenched!
Xie Linghui sat on a grand chair below the stage, wearing a purple-gold crown, a plain white brocade robe with a dark gold embroidered pattern and trimmed with two inches of reddish-brown brocade, a belt with a butterfly design and mother-of-pearl inlay around his waist, and blue boots. His phoenix eyes were bright and his demeanor was calm and composed, like the bright moon in the desert. He was even more handsome and extraordinary than before, with a captivating charm and an added touch of domineering aura.
Chu Tong was stunned. She had thought she could pretend nothing was wrong when she saw Xie Linghui again, but looking at his figure, the past events flooded her mind in an instant. Chu Tong didn't know whether to feel sorrow or pain, but at this moment, a surge of anger suddenly erupted from her chest! She wanted to rush to Xie Linghui, grab his collar, and question him with all her might: "I have already escaped from the Great Zhou, why do you still want to kill me! Kill me!"
Her body began to tremble uncontrollably, her hands gripping the carriage curtain so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Wang Lang noticed Chu Tong's emotional turmoil. He gently patted her shoulder, pressed her hand to lower the curtain, and comforted her, "You and him…you'll see him here sooner or later…"
Chu Tong shook her head and forced a smile, "Young Master Wang, I'm fine." After saying that, she lifted the curtain again, revealing a crack to look at Xie Linghui. She saw that there were about a hundred guards and servants standing behind Xie Linghui, with Chief Steward Hong standing to his left and a little maid holding a sword to his right.
The maid was slender and delicate, no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. Her hair was styled in two buns tied with rose-red ribbons. She wore a pink and white dress embroidered with gold peonies and carried a sword. She had an oval face, crescent-shaped eyebrows, and beautiful features. Her bright, dark almond-shaped eyes sparkled, giving her an indescribable cleverness and charm. Her demeanor was strikingly similar to Chu Tong's! She curiously looked around, occasionally whispering a few words to Xie Linghui, their intimacy evident.
Chu Tong was taken aback. At this moment, Wang Lang leaned over and whispered, "I've never seen this woman before, but I imagine she must be Xie Linghui's newly acquired personal maid, Qian Ying. It's said that she is extremely favored by Xie Er."
Chu Tong nodded, cursing inwardly, "Damn it, Xie Linghui, that bastard, found a girl who looks just like me and put her by his side. Doesn't he get nightmares looking at her every day?" But when she looked up and saw the two of them being intimate, she felt a strange mix of emotions.
At that moment, the rapid sound of hooves rang out, followed by more than thirty magnificent horses galloping in from the east like a whirlwind, a truly awe-inspiring sight. A banner fluttered among the cavalry, bearing a large character "Yun" (Cloud). The crowd whispered among themselves, "The people from Yunding Gate have arrived." They automatically parted to make way for them.
The cavalry galloped up, and when they were about an arrow's length from the high platform, the leader reined in his horse. Chu Tong looked closely and saw Yun Yinghuai sitting on his horse, his face stern, his brows showing signs of weariness from the journey. He wore a dark felt cloak with gold pine and crane patterns, over which he wore a matching dark robe, and a dragon-patterned crown, giving him an aura of divine might and extraordinary martial prowess. Jiang Wansheng rode a white horse behind Yun Yinghuai, her hair styled in a crescent-shaped bun, adorned only with a flowing jade hairpin, wearing a turquoise brocade cloak, a light green gauze dress, and delicate embroidered shoes. Her beauty was breathtaking, and her elegance was refined and otherworldly.
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, "Yun Yinghuai, burdened with the crime of murdering her master, dares to show her face in the martial world!" Someone said, "This gathering concerns the sacred artifact of the Yunding Sect. We originally thought the Yunding Sect would send a large force to seize the box, but unexpectedly, only a mere thirty-odd people came." Someone else said, "Everyone says the new sect leader of the Yunding Sect is a delicate young woman, but who would have thought she would be such a stunning beauty! Even in simple clothes, she possesses unparalleled beauty. Perhaps even Bai Suxue of yesteryear could not compare!"
Chu Tong felt a pang of sadness. Looking at her own lavish silk dress, she felt utterly dejected. She had originally intended to outshine Jiang Wansheng in her finest attire, but Jiang Wansheng, dressed simply and without embellishment, possessed a delicate and graceful beauty. In comparison, her glittering gold outfit seemed rather vulgar.
Chu Tong hid behind the curtain, her eyes unable to resist glancing at Yun Yinghuai. She had been missing Yun Yinghuai terribly these past few days, and seeing her old friend today overwhelmed her with emotions. Her heart ached, and tears rolled down her cheeks. She hurriedly wiped them with her sleeve, but Wang Lang handed her a handkerchief from the side and whispered, "Use this to wipe."
Chu Tong thanked him softly and took the handkerchief. Wang Lang then said, "Don't be sad... Could that woman in green be Jiang Wansheng? Tsk tsk, although she is somewhat pretty, her clothes are utterly third-rate. She is far inferior to your heroine Yao. Your husband Yun Yinghuai really has no taste."
Chu Tong wiped her eyes and said, "Nonsense! I just heard someone say that she was comparable to the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world back then."
Wang Lang looked at Chu Tong with his bright black eyes and said leisurely, "I just don't think she is the most beautiful woman. All the young ladies and princesses from noble families and royal mansions are cut from the same mold. They're boring."
Chu Tong forced a smile and looked outside again, staring blankly at Yun Yinghuai, unaware that Wang Lang's dark eyes were also fixed on her. Initially, Wang Lang was infatuated with Chu Tong because of the beauty in the painting, wanting to possess her. However, after spending time with her, he discovered that Chu Tong was courageous and loyal, truly a woman of great courage, and thus developed admiration and respect for her. Although he felt deeply resentful that Chu Tong later fell in love with Yun Yinghuai, he didn't consider himself a wealthy young master, only hoping to live a free and unrestrained life. Therefore, after meeting Yun Yinghuai, he thought, "The hero Yun is indeed upright and honorable; how can I possibly match such heroism?" He couldn't help but feel a pang of dejection.
Just then, the sound of horses' hooves approached again. Everyone craned their necks to look, and saw the Tonghua Society following closely behind the Yunding Gate, numbering about one or two hundred. Hua Chunlai sat atop a fine horse, with Hua Jizhen riding a black donkey close behind. Chu Tong thought to herself, "The Yunding Gate and the Tonghua Society are of one mind; they must be here to help Young Master... Yun Yinghuai." Thinking this, she glanced at Yun Yinghuai again, only to see him dismounted and sitting opposite Xie Linghui, with Jiang Wansheng gracefully accompanying him behind. Xie Linghui and Yun Yinghuai exchanged a few subtle glances, nodded slightly to each other, and then looked away.
After another short while, six people slowly walked up the steps on both sides of the platform. The crowd quieted down a bit, whispering among themselves. Wang Lang pointed them out to Chu Tong one by one: "They've arrived. The six who just came up are Li Rusong, the leader of the Liancang Sect; Bai Zongtang, the leader of the Nanhuai Sect; Tao Tingyu, the leader of the Taoyuan Sect; Jiang Bin, the leader of the Shaochuan Sect; Liu Wanzhong, the leader of the Baima Sect; and Gao Hong, the leader of the Changxin Gang."
Chu Tong glanced around and saw that the stage was filled with men in their forties and fifties, and even an elderly man in his seventies or eighties with a flowing silver beard. She casually grunted in response. The six men then clasped their hands in greeting and sat down, leaving the middle seat empty. Wang Lang said softly, "This middle seat is probably reserved for that 'Yun Xuzi'."
Chu Tong nodded. A slender old man with a long, flowing beard stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly, "Esteemed heroes, I am Tao Tingyu." The crowd returned the salute and said in unison, "Greetings, Elder Tao!"
Wang Lang said in a low voice, "Tao Tingyu is probably eighty-two years old this year. He is highly respected in the martial arts world, so it is most appropriate for him to preside over this conference."
Chu Tong snorted and said, "That damn sect produced the Seven Scoundrels of Peach Blossom Spring. I suppose that old guy isn't necessarily a good person either."
Tao Tingyu announced in a clear voice, "Fellow heroes and chivalrous warriors, we have gathered here today for a momentous occasion: the legendary sacred artifact of the martial world..."
The crowd below roared, "The Twin Jade Boxes!" Someone shouted, "Where's Yun Xuzi? Let him come out! I want to see what's hidden in those two boxes!" Others yelled, "Is it a treasure or a martial arts manual? Reveal it quickly, or I'll get itchy!"
Tao Tingyu waved his hands repeatedly, and after the crowd quieted down, he said loudly, "Gentlemen, the two boxes are not in our hands right now. Please be patient, heroes. Yun Xuzi will arrive in a little while and will present the two boxes. We invite all the heroes of the world to explore the secrets of the treasure together."
After these words were spoken, the assembled heroes began to discuss among themselves. At this moment, Wang Lang sighed and said, "I'm afraid, I'm afraid the treasures in the two boxes are long gone."
Chu Tong was taken aback and looked at Wang Lang, saying, "What do you mean by that, Young Master Wang?"
A lazy smile appeared on Wang Langqing's beautiful face as she said softly, "With treasures like the Double Boxes, anyone would keep them tightly guarded, hiding them in their bosom, afraid that someone would find out and steal them. Yet Yun Xuzi invited heroes from all over the world to explore the Double Boxes together; there must be a hidden reason. Even if Yun Xuzi really has the Double Boxes, the treasures inside are probably long gone. This martial arts gathering... is not what it seems."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Young Master Wang is indeed clever. I'm probably the only one in the world who knows what treasure is hidden in that box."
Just then, a clear and melodious voice rang out, "Have all the people of the Cloud Peak Sect become mute? Their own sect's sacred artifact has fallen into the hands of others, and the Cloud Peak Sect hasn't reacted at all. It seems they're all cowards!" These words caused a moment of silence, followed by an uproar as the crowd discussed amongst themselves, all turning to look at the speaker. It was none other than Xie Linghui's personal maid, Qian Ying. Xie Linghui shouted, "Shut up!" But his face showed no displeasure. He cupped his hands towards Yun Yinghuai and smiled, "Heroes of the Cloud Peak Sect, please don't take offense at my maid. I will discipline her strictly from now on. I apologize for any offense!" Yun Yinghuai stared at Xie Linghui expressionlessly, while the other members of the sect, seated on their horses, glared with murderous intent and boundless indignation.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Xie Linghui has been targeting Yunding Sect from the very beginning. Is he trying to force me to show myself? I'd rather not show myself than be a coward than risk my life by sticking my neck out."
At this moment, Jiang Wansheng suddenly stepped forward and smiled at Xie Linghui, saying, "Young master, you are mistaken. Why must strict discipline come 'in the future'? Just now, your maidservant humiliated the prestige of the Cloud Peak Sect in front of all the heroes of the world. According to the rules of the martial world, she should be spared a leg or an eye to atone for her crime. But as the saying goes, 'When beating a dog, one must consider its owner.' I see that this young master has an extraordinary demeanor and must be a person of great nobility. Therefore, we will not make things difficult for this little girl today. As long as she kowtows three times to the heroes of the Cloud Peak Sect and says 'Grandpas, I was wrong' three times, our Cloud Peak Sect is magnanimous and will not hold it against her."
These words were spoken calmly, logically, and with evidence. Some of the heroes cheered and shouted, "Well said! Quickly kneel down and kowtow!"
Chu Tong's heart skipped a beat, thinking to herself, "This Jiang Wansheng is truly formidable. Not only is she beautiful, but she's also incredibly intelligent. Her subtle insults against Qian Ying, calling her a 'dog,' were all so tactful. No wonder... no wonder Yun Yinghuai likes her so much..."
Xie Linghui squinted at Jiang Wansheng, who was smiling and nodding at him. Just then, he felt his sleeve being tugged, and saw Qian Ying, her cheeks flushed red, looking at him pitifully. Xie Linghui sighed inwardly, thinking, "If it were Chu Tong, she would probably have a thousand excuses to smooth things over by now... But how many Yao Chu Tongs are there in the world?" Thinking this, he patted Qian Ying's hand, intending to comfort her and persuade her to kowtow, when he heard a cold laugh from the platform: "Wait! You think you can offend the Yunding Sect by kowtowing three times? Then I'd like to ask, Yun Yinghuai, you repay kindness with enmity, killing my Nanhuai Sect disciples. How will this debt be settled?" With that, a burly man in his forties flipped down from the platform, standing firmly before Yun Yinghuai, his eyes bloodshot.
Wang Lang whispered, "Bai Zongtang, the leader of the Nanhuai Sect, is rumored to have had his four most beloved disciples, the Four Heroes of Nanhuai, brutally murdered. Could it be Yun Yinghuai who did it?"
Chu Tong dismissed it, saying, "What Four Heroes of Nanhuai? They're clearly just four cowards."
Yun Yinghuai stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Senior Bai, I pay my respects."
Bai Zongtang angrily rebuked, "Yun Yinghuai! Tell me, in what way have I wronged you?"
Yun Yinghuai said, "The Nanhuai Sect once saved my life. Their great kindness is like giving me a second chance. I can never repay them."
Bai Zongtang sneered, "Unable to repay your debt? What a fine way to say 'unable to repay your debt'! You killed four of my disciples, how are you going to settle this score?"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Yun Yinghuai didn't kill all four bears; one of them died under my sword."
Yun Yinghuai said, "Senior Bai, there was a reason for this. Your sect's disciples intended to take my life, and I had no choice but to act..."
Before Yun Yinghuai could finish speaking, someone shouted from below the stage, "Forced? It's clearly you protecting that scoundrel! He not only killed the Four Heroes of Nanhuai, but also three of my fellow disciples!" As he spoke, Zhou Xianheng jumped out from the crowd, pointing at Yun Yinghuai with a face full of resentment. After Zhou Xianheng finished speaking, several more people stood up and shouted to Tao Tingyu, "Master, it's him! He's our Peach Blossom Sect's greatest enemy!"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "That old turtle Zhou Xianheng is still alive! Haha, three of the Seven Scoundrels of Peach Blossom Spring have already been killed by Yun Yinghuai, leaving four. I'll find a reason to kill them all today, so as to rid the martial arts world of this scourge."
Just then, a figure in a light blue robe rushed out from the crowd and shouted, "Father! I've said it many times, it was indeed the four senior brothers who relentlessly tried to take Hero Yun's life that day, so Hero Yun had no choice but to take action!" Chu Tong looked closely and saw Bai Xiaolu standing in front of Bai Zongtang, her face full of anxiety.
Bai Zongtang angrily said, "Lu'er, you have no right to interrupt here! Go back now!"
Jiang Wansheng stepped forward and said loudly, "Sect Leader Bai, why not let your daughter finish speaking? Let all the heroes of the world judge!" Jiang Wansheng was stunningly beautiful, and she had already captivated the hearts of the heroes present. Her words immediately drew a chorus of agreement, with the heroes shouting in unison, "Yes! Yes! Tell us!"
Tao Tingyu glared at Jiang Wansheng and said, "Who are you? What does this have to do with you?"
Jiang Wansheng smiled slightly and said, "I am just an unknown nobody, not worth mentioning. But I am a friend of Hero Yun. In the martial world, everything depends on 'righteousness'. Today, Hero Yun is in trouble, and as a friend, I should naturally speak up for him. This matter is naturally related to me." Hearing Jiang Wansheng's words, the people from Yundingmen and Tonghuahui nodded slightly and smiled.
Bai Xiaolu said, "Father, that day, my four senior brothers and I encountered Hero Yun at the inn. A little girl named Yao Chutong insulted the Seven Sages of Peach Blossom Spring. Our sect has always been on good terms with the Peach Blossom Spring sect, so we went to help. As a result, a conflict broke out. Hero Yun was injured while protecting Yao Chutong and fled, but my four senior brothers chased after him. I tried my best to persuade them to stop, but to no avail. They still... Father, in short, all the blame lies with Yao Chutong. Hero Yun has nothing to do with it."
Chu Tong heard it clearly and thought to herself, "Damn it! It was clearly those four bears who were jealous of your feelings for Yun Yinghuai and took the opportunity to kill him. What does this have to do with me? Bah! I should have killed you with one blow back in the mountains that day to prevent future troubles!"
Jiang Wansheng said, "Miss Bai, so if Hero Yun doesn't kill the disciples of the Nanhuai Sect, then the Nanhuai Sect should take his life, right?"
Bai Xiaolu said, "That's right."
Bai Zongtang said, "Nonsense! Your four senior brothers are all upright and honest. They have no past grudges or recent feuds with Yun Yinghuai. Why would they be determined to take his life?"
Bai Xiaolu said, "My senior brothers say that Hero Yun betrayed his master and ancestors, and they want to rid the martial arts world of this scourge..."
Before he could finish speaking, a hearty laugh rang out. Hua Chunlai's voice boomed, "Hahahaha! How strange! Even if my brother Yun is betraying his master and ancestors, it's a matter for the Yunding Sect. It's none of the Nanhuai Sect's business to interfere, isn't it? Your Nanhuai Sect belongs to the Great Zhou, so why are you meddling in the territory of Nanyan now?"
Upon hearing this, the heroes of Southern Yan immediately echoed their sentiments, and the scene instantly became abuzz with excitement.
Bai Zongtang was stunned, glaring fiercely at Bai Xiaolu. He knew that the Four Heroes of Nanhuai had gone too far, but he was protective of his own, and how could he let his beloved disciple's tragic death go unpunished? At this moment, Zhou Xianheng sneered, "Then what about our Peach Blossom Sect? Yao Chutong insulted the reputation of my Seven Sages of Peach Blossom Sect, causing me to lose three brothers..." As he spoke, Zhou Xianheng's voice choked up. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Bring Yao Chutong out now! Blood for blood!"
Bai Zongtang nodded after hearing this, saying, "That's right. Since she's the one who caused the trouble, let her come out quickly and settle this matter!" He then glanced quickly at Xie Linghui. Xie Linghui nodded almost imperceptibly.
Tao Tingyu nodded and said, "That's absolutely right."
Yun Yinghuai had been silent all along, but now he took a step forward, his cold, sharp eyes sweeping around as he spoke: “Although the dispute that day was caused by Yao Chutong, I, Yun, am not without fault. I will bear all the consequences myself, and I hope that you will not make things difficult for her!”
The words caused a stir among the crowd. Jiang Wansheng froze, looking at Yun Yinghuai as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, ultimately lowering her head in silence. Xie Linghui looked astonished, his phoenix eyes flickering with complex emotions. Wang Lang nodded slightly in praise, "He's a man of great loyalty and righteousness." After saying that, he glanced at Chu Tong, thinking to himself, "No wonder Chu Tong is so fond of him."
Chu Tong was stunned, a storm raging within her. Her eyes were fixed on Yun Yinghuai, and she thought, "My...my husband, are you saying this because you feel guilty towards me, or do you truly have some affection for me?" Then she wondered, "If Yun Yinghuai were in trouble today, would I stand up for him and take all the blame and punishment?" Thinking this, her heart surged with emotion, her blood boiling. She felt she could risk her life for Yun Yinghuai; what wouldn't she do? She blurted out, "He's my husband, of course I would!" Wang Lang's bright eyes looked at her, surprised, "What do you mean, 'I would'?" Chu Tong chuckled dryly, "Haha, well, it's nothing, nothing..."
Tao Tingyu drew his sword and said, "Yun Yinghuai, since you're willing to take all the blame, then make your move. Today, I will seek justice for my fallen disciples!"
Bai Zongtang said, "I'd also like to experience the unique skills of the Cloud Peak Sect."
Yun Yinghuai thought to himself, "Back then, I killed disciples of the Peach Blossom Sect and the Southern Huai Sect, thus forging a blood feud with these two sects. Xing'er's whereabouts are currently unknown, and she doesn't know martial arts. If she encounters these two formidable enemies, her life will surely be in danger. This matter must be settled today!" Thinking of this, Yun Yinghuai smiled slightly, took a few steps forward, and said, "It seems that I, Yun, will have to experience the skills of both of you at the same time." At this moment, a loud "Wow!" was heard behind him, and Hua Chunlai glared with wide eyes and angrily said, "Two against one, shameless! My good brother, I'll lend you a hand!"
Yun Yinghuai said, "I appreciate your kindness, brother, but one should take responsibility for one's own actions. This matter has nothing to do with you, so please don't get involved."
Qu Wuliang stepped out from the crowd, sneering repeatedly, "A disgrace to the martial arts world who betrays his master and ancestors, what are you pretending to be so righteous for? Ha, the Cloud Peak Sect is truly strange, actually worshipping traitors and sinners as gods..."
Before he could finish speaking, a flash of cold light appeared, and a large knife came slashing down. Hua Chunlai cursed angrily, "Damn it! You brat, spouting nonsense, take this!"
Qu Wuliang was startled and quickly dodged. Hua Chunlai laughed and said, "My son, you dodged quite quickly." He then suddenly leaped up; despite his large frame, his movements were extremely agile. He swung his sword at Qu Wuliang's neck. Qu Wuliang didn't dodge, but instead drew his sword and thrust it straight at Hua Chunlai's chest. Hua Chunlai rolled on the ground, trying to crawl between Qu Wuliang's legs, but his large size prevented him from doing so. He cursed, "Damn it, I'm still too fat!" With that, he pushed himself up with his hands, sprang to his feet, turned, and kicked Qu Wuliang in the chest. Qu Wuliang couldn't dodge in time and coughed up blood, collapsing to the ground. This set of moves was extremely agile and bizarre, and the heroes of the world immediately looked at Hua Chunlai with new respect. Some even couldn't help but cheer, feeling a little horrified, knowing that the fat man's position as the leader of the Tonghua Society was no fluke.
Hua Chunlai chuckled and said, "You little rascal, you're talking nonsense. I'll take you down on behalf of the King of Hell." Then he looked at Yun Yinghuai and said, "Brother, this matter is now my concern." Yun Yinghuai felt a warmth in his heart, jumped to Hua Chunlai's side, patted him on the shoulder, and laughed heartily, "Good! Good brother, we'll live and die together!"
The disciples of Taoyuan Sect cried out in alarm and rushed over to surround Qu Wuliang. Zhou Xianheng quickly pressed several acupoints on Qu Wuliang and called out, "Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother!" Qu Wuliang vomited a mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he immediately died.
Chu Tong was extremely pleased and clapped her hands, laughing, "Well done! Excellent! It would be best to beat all seven scoundrels of Peach Blossom Spring into little turtles, old turtles, and dead turtles!"
Tao Tingyu roared and charged down from the high platform, sword in hand. Yun Yinghuai quickly stepped forward and met the attack with a palm strike. This palm strike was the "Light Clouds Emerging from the Peak" move from the Great Search Cloud Hand technique. The palm wind appeared ethereal and gentle, but in reality, it was fierce and powerful. Tao Tingyu had been famous for a long time and knew the power of the Great Search Cloud Hand. Moreover, Yun Yinghuai was renowned. He had personally heard Zhou Xianheng describe Yun Yinghuai's battle against a group of heroes at the inn. Knowing that this young swordsman in his early twenties had defeated more than a dozen masters who had made a name for themselves in the martial arts world, he dared not underestimate Yun Yinghuai. He immediately became extremely alert, his wrist constantly rolling, drawing a sword light in front of him, using sword energy to deflect the palm wind and thrusting straight at Yun Yinghuai's weak point.
But unexpectedly, Yun Yinghuai suddenly pushed his palm forward with his back palm, and the "Light Clouds Emerging from the Peak" move instantly transformed into the "Black Clouds Pressing Down on the City" move. The power of both palms was unleashed simultaneously, and the palm force was like a raging torrent, pressing down like a tidal wave. Tao Tingyu felt his breath catch in his throat, not expecting Yun Yinghuai's internal energy to be so domineering and profound. Knowing that he could not rely on brute force, he quickly raised his sword high, cleaved Mount Hua with a loud shout, and transformed his internal energy into a sword aura to temporarily resist the palm wind. Then, he lightly touched the ground with both feet, flipped back several feet, and then forcefully touched the ground with his right foot. His body rushed towards Yun Yinghuai like a meteor, raising his sword to thrust again.
Yun Yinghuai then unleashed "Flying Dragon Riding the Clouds," his body rapidly advancing two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) as he struck. Tao Tingyu was taken aback, not expecting Yun Yinghuai to meet him head-on. At that moment, the palm wind howled towards him, like a high wall rushing straight towards his mask. As soon as Tao Tingyu's longsword touched the palm wind, he felt a tingling numbness in his right arm. He quickly turned to dodge, ducked, and then thrust at Yun Yinghuai's left chest.
Enraged, Yun Yinghuai, though his palm strikes were fierce, still held back some of his strength. Tao Tingyu, however, was vicious, intent on killing him. Yun Yinghuai's eyes narrowed, and he swiftly unleashed the "Gathering of Wind and Clouds" technique, aiming directly for Tao Tingyu's vitals. Tao Tingyu parried several blows with his sword, managing to defend, but he couldn't get close to Yun Yinghuai.
From the moment Yun Yinghuai and Tao Tingyu began their fierce battle, the assembled heroes fell silent. Everyone knew Yun Yinghuai bore the infamy of betraying his master and ancestors, yet he dared to participate in the gathering as the leader of the Yunding Sect, which naturally drew their contempt and disdain. The Twin Boxes were sacred artifacts of the Yunding Sect, and inviting heroes from across the land to this treasure hunt was an insult to the sect's reputation. The heroes had long speculated how many followers the Yunding Sect would bring in a grand display to reclaim their Twin Boxes, but no one expected Yun Yinghuai to enter with only about thirty people, his arrogance and domineering manner only amplifying their contempt. The heroes' disdain for Yun Yinghuai only intensified, and they were met with a barrage of ridicule and mockery. But seeing Yun Yinghuai's moves, each one exquisite and powerful, the heroes were all terrified. When they saw Tao Tingyu still somewhat disheveled in front of Yun Yinghuai, the heroes were even more surprised. For a moment, everyone watched the two move with complete focus. When they saw the dangerous moments, they looked at each other in disbelief.