Under the sky

Chapter 352: The Quiet Lady

Kunlun Year 62 August Summer

When they arrived at Wan, a sudden rain fell under the clear sky. The three of them took shelter under a tree for a while. The raindrops hit the leaves, and a stuffy breeze brought uncomfortable moisture and coolness.

After the rain stopped, a rainbow appeared in the sky. Chu Jingtan slowed down his horse's riding and gazed into the distance intently.

Zhuge Ran shook his collar to breathe. His wet clothes were too stuffy and smelled of sweat. If he could find an inn, he would get a bucket of hot water. It would also be comfortable to soak in the water.

There were three men and four horses, all of which were walking horses. The last horse was carrying tents, pots and pans, clothes, quilts, and dry food, including jerky, pickled vegetables, bread, dried fruits, and three bags of water.

A loaded horse walks slowly, slows down the pace, and is out of breath. He had suggested to his eldest brother that a horse can go a long way, but it cannot carry a load. Only a mule can last a long time, at least buy a packhorse. The eldest brother did not care about the slow pace, but he coveted the expensive horse and thought the mule was not impressive and too cheap.

This is a difficult play. When leaving Tang Sect, Chu Jingtan said she wanted to go to Qingcheng. Zhuge Ran said that this was different from the agreement. This woman was hot-tempered and cunning. She said that she only agreed to visit Dian Cang, but did not say how to go. The way to Dian Cang was up to her. She had just been rescued from Tang Sect, and she was obviously destroying the bridge after crossing it.

Shen Huaiyou sent the prince Shen Yayan to receive him. This man... how should I put it? He is straightforward, not stupid, efficient, and has some skills. He is straightforward, and he has a bad temper and does not hide it. Zhuge Ran remembered that it was raining on the day when Shen Yayan led the team to welcome him. The ground was bumpy. His silly brother had gravel stuck in his boots. As soon as he got off the sedan chair, he reached out to borrow a sword from the guards and used the tip of the sword to pick up the stone.

Shen Yayan, who was smiling politely before, immediately turned upside down and asked the disciple to hand over the sword. He broke the sword in front of his elder brother and threw it on the ground. Then he said to the disciple, "This sword has been scratched by shit. It can't be used. I'll give you a new one."

He remembered the awkwardness of the scene, awkward but not awkward. If there was anything that could have made the situation more awkward, it would probably be when the eldest brother blurted out, "What do you mean by that? I'm stuck with a rock, not stepping on shit."

Shen Yayan is a man who treats his soldiers well, so he will definitely be loved by his subordinates. Who would be willing to challenge Prince Dian Cang for the sake of a disciple's face - and of course, the face of Qingcheng?

However, he should use a better way to maintain the face of Qingcheng. He cannot leave the middle road of Qingcheng. It will not be a bad thing for Dian Cang if such a person becomes the leader of Qingcheng in the future.

Well, since the eldest brother made such a fuss, there is no need to visit Master Shen. Shen Yayan introduced a few places of interest to him, but he just ignored him. Even if we went to Qingcheng, we could just go to the territory of the Beggars' Sect if we had nothing to do.

Little Beggar Peng was waiting at the border. Chu Jingtan thought he was Old Beggar Peng at first sight and was full of admiration. It was not until he told his name that he realized he had made a mistake with father and son.

Who could not make a mistake? This father and son stood together, and people would believe that they were brothers. Peng Xiaogai was very sophisticated, with the experience accumulated over his age. His elder brother went to the gambling house to play for an afternoon, and Peng Xiaogai said that he would pay for the losses. His elder brother did not want to lose face in front of the person he liked, so he just said no, and spent a lot of money every time. Chu Jingtan was excited, standing on the stool and shouting. After a whole day, he won five hundred taels, and his elder brother gave it all to Chu Jingtan. This was a good win and loss. The elder brother won face, and the Beggars' Sect did not suffer much loss. It can be said that both the host and the guest were happy. Zhuge Ran suspected that this was also the result arranged by Peng Xiaogai.

They met Old Beggar Peng when they were betting on the map to break the formation. The great hero squatted on a chair and shouted like an ordinary street thug. Chu Jingtan bet all the money he won on Old Beggar Peng's fighting cock, but the beast was pecked and ran away. It was said that the chickens raised by Little Beggar Peng were always victorious, but the fighting cocks raised by Old Beggar Peng rarely won, because other people's fighting cocks were taken care of by a master at great cost, but he raised his chickens himself.

Probably because he felt bad, Old Beggar Peng asked his elder brother and Chu Jingtan what kind of apology he wanted. The two wanted to learn a few moves from the old hero. Judging from Chu Jingtan's defeat in three moves, he estimated that his elder brother could not last ten moves, but his elder brother managed to last fifteen moves. Old Beggar Peng saved his face in front of his sweetheart.

It seems that this hero does not want to retire too soon. In any case, the Gan branch will definitely be in Peng Xiaogai's hands, and it won't be a problem to pass it on to three generations. With such a reputation, how could Gang Leader Xu not be afraid?

They dismissed all their followers before entering Wudang. On the day when the caravan was leaving Ganzhou, Chu Jingtan suddenly said, "These caravans and horses are so grand and ostentatious. They have already made arrangements before they even cross the border. This is not called traveling around the world, it's called performing a big show."

He was accompanied by bodyguards along the way, stayed in the best inns, and ate the finest specialties and delicacies from land and sea. Big brother wanted to show off his wealth, but this delicate girl got tired of it?

"What did Miss Chu say?" Zhuge Yan asked.

"Without followers or a motorcade, throw away the tokens, and change into the clothes that people in the martial arts world wear. No one will recognize us. That's what it means to travel the martial arts world."

Maybe he had heard too many stories about Old Beggar Peng, or he really wanted to make a living in the world. He knew what the girl was planning. She wanted to make his elder brother suffer a little so that he would retreat. Zhuge Ran also felt that it was time to retreat. A pot should be matched with a lid, but a pot and a saddle have nothing to do with each other. It would look out of place if they were placed together in the kitchen or the stable.

"Sister Jing, do you think it's a good idea to travel the Wulin without guards or a motorcade?" Zhuge Ran had to stop the girl's wild thoughts. "Old Master Tang almost died in Fuzhou. He is a young master of the Tang Clan. If he is left alone, he will be in trouble."

"If you are afraid, then I will go alone." Chu Jingtan looked at Zhuge Yan.

Damn, even stupid men can't stand this kind of provocation, and his eldest brother is definitely not the smart one.

"What am I afraid of?" Zhuge Yan didn't want to lose face, "Drive all these convoys back to Dian Cang."

"It's better not to do so." Zhuge Ran said, "A gentleman should not stand under a dangerous wall. The road is dark, just in case. Sister Jing, my brother is traveling with you. If you ask him to drive away the guards and something goes wrong, who will take the responsibility?"

Chu Jingtan was speechless for a moment, and Zhuge Ran continued, "Brother, Sister Jing is a girl, it's not convenient."

Chu Jingtan said dissatisfiedly: "You mean the girl is a burden?"

"No one would wear jewelry worth thousands of gold on their hair and flaunt it in public. Sister Jing, you need an escort agency to take you there."

Unless you have a brain like the Cold-Faced Lady, or at least practice martial arts for another seven or eight years, but both the eldest brother and Chu Jingtan are too young.

These words can dispel the thoughts of both sides. If Prince Dian Cang causes trouble, Emei will definitely be blamed. Using Chu Jingtan as an excuse can also make the eldest brother think twice.

"Then let them retreat thirty miles and follow us." Zhuge Yan slapped his thigh, "Old Beggar Peng can leave the martial arts world, but we two brothers can't? If we don't take this opportunity and wait for Dad to come back from Kunlun Palace, will we still have a chance to travel far away?"

This brother always makes him suffer. Zhuge Ran swallowed what he was about to say and thought that he should not get too close to heroes, or he would learn bad things.

The Wudang area is not worth mentioning, it is in a mess, but this outfit can really cause trouble. They punished several Wudang specialties: liars, thieves and road bullies, and then visited Xuanwu Zhenguan. The former head of Wudang died too short, only four years, and was succeeded by his junior brother Xuanxu.

"Given the mysteries of Wudang's Yin-Yang Bipolar Kung Fu, the former headmaster died in his prime. He must have had a stomachache."

Only Chu Jingtan laughed at this joke. His elder brother didn't understand it at all, so Zhuge Ran had to spend a lot of time explaining it.

When he saw Xuanxu, Zhuge Ran was still surprised. He thought he was eloquent, but in front of Xuanxu, he was just a trickle. When Xuanxu heard that they didn't bring any followers or tokens, he first warned them not to do so, and then told a series of stories about health preservation, the way of heaven, the way of man, elixirs and longevity. He talked for a long time. Zhuge Ran was impatient and sarcastic, and he almost confronted him. Zhuge Yan even dozed off, but Xuanxu not only did not get angry, but instead advised him diligently. Taoist Xuanxu was like a mountain. No matter how you bump into him, the mountain remains majestic. He has his own Don't try to refute the truth. Once you start arguing, you will find yourself surrounded. The clues of those truths are thorough and impeccable. In that heaven, Xuanxu is invincible. Even if Zhuge Ran uses his best method - first irritate his opponent and then laugh at him, this little trick is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot in front of Xuanxu. He is always advising you and helping you. The most unbearable thing is that he will always forgive you. This is the first time in Zhuge Ran's life that he felt frustrated in eloquence. He found that he could never make things clear to the person opposite him.

Chu Jingtan couldn't sit still either. He ignored Xuanxu's warm invitation to them as his guests. They almost fled from Wudang, as if there were twenty assassins from the Night List chasing them. Zhuge Ran was sure that Chu Jingtan looked back at least three times to see if Wudang had sent anyone to keep him.

"Master Xuanxu should eat more elixirs. Congratulations to him for his early ascension." Zhuge Ran scolded.

"How far is Wancheng?" Zhuge Yan asked.

"I don't know." Zhuge Ran looked up at the sky. A salted egg yolk was hanging on the top of the mountain. "Why don't we find a place with water to spend the night?"

Zhuge Ran would rather sleep in the wild than in the inn in the small village, because the beds and quilts there were even more uncomfortable.

Zhuge Yan set up the tent neatly. He had been learning for a long time. When Chu Jingtan was teaching him, he wanted to show off his intelligence and kept saying that he had learned it. On the first night, the tent collapsed. Then he grabbed Zhuge Ran's feet and pulled him out of the tent in the dark. Of course, Chu Jingtan would not let the two of them enter the tent. The two brothers covered the tent, stared at the moon in the sky and fell asleep, their faces red and swollen from mosquito bites.

Now he had learned how to set up the tent. Chu Jingtan led the horse to the stream to drink water, while Zhuge Ran picked up firewood. His coarse clothes rubbed his flesh and stifled his sweat, not allowing any air to flow.

He missed the soft bed, the nice inn, the big tent with soft, clean quilts, and the carriage. This journey was so unfair. Zhuge Ran couldn't help but feel sorry for himself. He didn't feel much sympathy for his elder brother. It was his own fault, and he was happy with it.

The last twilight was reflected by the stream. The girl bent over and scooped up a handful of water. She was wearing coarse cloth and a wooden hairpin. Water drops flowed through her fingers, reflecting the light. She had a slender waist, a straight back, and a long goose neck.

Zhuge Ran was stunned. A woman could be well-dressed and polite, or she could be coarsely dressed and speak dirty words. When she was beautiful, she was as dignified as a noble lady, and her golden hairpins did not shake when she moved. When she became aggressive, she could squat on a stool and curse her mother, and use her slender fingers to make the dice circle seven or eight times before throwing them.

"I caught a fish!" Chu Jingtan shouted, picking up a foot-long fish. The fish's body was slippery, and she struggled to hold it. The fish's tail kept flapping in front of her chest. She shouted, "Shall we make fish soup tonight?"

This is her nature, she can't pretend. Well, he also understood why his elder brother was so obsessed with her. Zhuge Ran bent down to take out the pots and bowls, and suddenly remembered something: "Who can cook fish soup?"

I really don't know what these pots and bowls are for. Apart from boiling water, none of the three people can cook, and they don't even know how to cook wild vegetables. He thought about letting his eldest brother learn to cook, maybe he could please the beauty, but after thinking about the consequences, he decided to keep silent.

"Let it go." Zhuge Ran said, "We just left Wudang, so let's do this to accumulate merit for Master Xuanxu."

Everyone knows how to kill a fish, chop off the tail, scrape the scales, and remove the internal organs, but the eldest brother will definitely roast the fish until it is burnt and raw, and Chu Jingtan will not pay for it. In the end, 90% (no, 100%), it is only to prove that the eldest brother's cooking skills are not that bad that he swallows this disgusting thing.

"What a pity." Chu Jingtan replied disappointedly.

Zhuge Yan said: "Then..."

Before the eldest brother could say a promise that he couldn't keep, Zhuge Ran interrupted coldly: "Don't make trouble for me, just let him go."

Chu Jingtan smiled heartily, turned around and put the fish into the stream, saying, "I'll let you go."

I don't know who I was talking to.

"We'll be in Wancheng tomorrow." Chu Jingtan said, "We're going to Shaolin Temple?"

"I'm still thinking about it." Zhuge Ran chewed dried meat and drank a soup made of pickled vegetables, dried fruits and salt. From being unpalatable to becoming accustomed to it, he did not gain nothing from this trip. At least he learned how to endure hardships.

"Mu Jie is in Feng County. I want to see the abbot or him."

"Mu Jie?" Chu Jingtan's face was filled with confusion.

"Master Ziqiu is a disciple of Zhang Qiuchi, the Iron Pen Painting Master." Zhuge Yan rushed to tell the story, "There are several leaders among the lay monks. Mu Jie inherited Ziqiu's connections and power. He is in charge of monitoring Songshan at Ganlu Temple in Feng County. He is the most important person."

"Isn't he a monk?" Chu Jingtan asked.

"He hasn't become a monk yet, but I heard that not everyone among the lay monks likes him. Many want to replace Zi Qiu, but Mu Jie is still the most stable one."

Power will find the right master on its own, and sometimes the one it finds is not so suitable. Zhuge Ran thought, for example, Shen Yayan, or Xuanxu.

"In this case, you shouldn't visit him before visiting the abbot. Shaolin Temple is still dominated by monks, and lay monks are just a convenient way to assist the monks."

This would make others more wary of him, Zhuge Ran thought. If Prince Dian Cang came to visit, and met not the abbot or other lay monk leaders, but this lay disciple who had not yet been ordained, that would definitely arouse envy.

He did not speak out his plan. He was not as outspoken as his elder brother. He chuckled and said, "It is said that lay monks are fake monks. Even the legitimate monks are not so clean. In the past, when there were no lay monks, the big temples worshipped Guanyin, the Goddess of Childbearing. Women who could not have children would enter the temple, bathe and change clothes, and then stay in the Childbearing Pavilion for three days. It always worked."

"Is digging a tunnel so easy?"

"Don't you know how hard men work for..." He decided to save a few words to avoid another argument, "for women."

"Of course I know." Chu Jingtan looked at Zhuge Yan. Zhuge Yan smiled awkwardly when he saw her looking at him. This silly brother... did he think Miss Chu was praising his infatuation and hardworking?

"We are traveling around the world, so we don't necessarily need to visit the abbot." Chu Jingtan continued, "We don't have a convoy right now, so we won't be discovered as soon as we enter the land."

"The convoy is still there, but it's far away. They would still send people to greet them, but they came back empty-handed." Zhuge Ran planned to have his eldest brother visit more heads of various families or princes during this trip, so as to give an explanation to his father who was far away in Kunlun Palace. It would not be good to say that he made this long journey just to please the girl.

Wancheng was bustling, and it was difficult to ride horses after entering the city. The three of them led the horses, and Zhuge Yan found the best inn in the area. The waiter looked them up and down and said, "Sorry, we are full."

Zhuge Yan waved his hand impatiently, "I'll pay three times the price and ask them to give up a room."

"This is not about money. Fengxianglou does not chase guests away. There are many good inns in Wan County, and money is not easy to earn. There is no need to act like a rich man." The waiter did not hide the contempt in his eyes. He did not believe that a gangster in rough clothes could pay three times the price to stay in an inn that cost one or two taels of silver a night.

Zhuge Yan didn't say anything more. He stopped a guest and asked, "Are you staying here tonight?"

The guest nodded, and Zhuge Yan stuffed a banknote into his hand and said, "Get lost!"

"Get me a bucket of water." Zhuge Ran asked for a bucket of water before entering the room. He called the waiter with a bad look and asked, "Your room is not tidied up. There is water on the floor. Can you live here?"

The waiter knew that he was an honored guest, so he immediately smiled and said, "Sir, you are joking. The floor is dry."

Zhuge Ran raised the corner of his mouth, stared at the waiter with a forced smile, and overturned the bucket with a flick of his toes.

"Tidy up." Zhuge Ran stood up and walked out of the room. After taking a few steps, he heard his elder brother and Chu Jingtan arguing.

"Can't people live in a mediocre inn?"

"Why don't you live in a better place if you have money?" The eldest brother obviously felt that Miss Chu was being unreasonable, and explained in a controlled manner, "He makes money, I live in the house, and the richer people should live in a better room."

"You don't understand. If the room was empty, you could stay there. If he was willing to let you stay there, you could stay there. But you are insulting him."

"I am happy to do so."

"I am happy to do this, but it is different from you!"

"How are they two different things? He doesn't want to, and I didn't force him."

Zhuge Ran was thinking as they walked up the stairs without saying anything. He saw Chu Jingtan quickly leaving the room. Zhuge Yan chased after him to the door, "Where are you going?" He was not sure whether to chase after him or not. Perhaps he thought that it was not a good idea to indulge him like this, and he could not figure out what he had done wrong. He just stood there in a daze at the door. Zhuge Ran walked up to him and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhuge Yan sighed, "You go find Miss Chu and reason with her. I can't speak clearly, and we'll quarrel again if I catch up with her."

I don't want to reason with any woman except the cold-faced lady. Even though he thought so, Zhuge Ran still chased Chu Jingtan on the street.

"My brother is rude, he just doesn't want you to get wronged."

"In his eyes, I have to be praised?"

"Is it bad to be flattered? How many women want to be flattered?" He followed quickly. His feet were uncomfortable and he didn't want people to notice his limp, so he stuffed wooden pads into his boots so it would hurt if he walked too fast.

Chu Jingtan walked on his own: "Besides money and power, what other benefits do you brothers have?"

"Without money and power, what else can be considered a benefit?" Zhuge Ran spread his hands. "Sister Jing, I know why you are unhappy. My brother did nothing bad. He is the prince of Dian Cang, and that is his identity. My father will always have children. My brother and I are no different from Shen Yayan and Peng Xiaogai. Peng Xiaogai also has a son, and he will be the head of Gandi in the future. Anyone who thinks that we are just born into the wrong family can just reincarnate. There will always be someone who is someone's son. There is no point in being jealous."

Chu Jingtan stopped and said, "What does your brother like about me? He has no shortage of pretty girls or daughters of wealthy families. Is it fun to follow me for the past few months?"

Zhuge Ran smiled and said, "Obedience is not in the blood of the Zhuge family. People in our family love to disobey, and you are quite disobedient."

Chu Jingtan was amused by him and said, "You are also very disobedient."

"My eldest brother and I have similar personalities. We will like the same girls, but my eldest brother will probably let me."

"Oh? You don't fancy me, so why ask your brother to give way?"

Zhuge Ran suddenly felt his face getting hot, and sneered, "My vision is much higher than my brother's."

"Then you have to hold your head high." Chu Jingtan is very good at insulting others. He is sharp-tongued and makes people hate him.

"Let's go back to the inn and pretend this never happened. Don't be angry with my brother." He was walking behind Chu Jingtan and suddenly saw a crowd of people gathered in front of him.

"Is there something going on?" Chu Jingtan said, "Let's take a look?"

She asked, but before Zhuge Ran could answer, she quickly squeezed in.
Zhuge Ran had no choice but to squeeze in. There were so many people, so tight that his feet ached. He saw a group of people queuing up. In the square in front of a Taoist temple, three arenas, one zhang high and three zhang long and wide, were set up. Not far away, a large tent was set up, about ten zhang long and two zhang wide, occupying the entire street, making it impossible to enter or leave.

"Is there a fighting contest in Wancheng?" He could almost see the light in Chu Jingtan's eyes.

"It's not a fight." A man at the side answered. Zhuge Ran looked at him. He was gentle but strong, about twenty years old, with deep eye sockets, like two curved eyes. He carried a long sword on his back, and he was also a man of the world. "The Huangmen Temple is setting up a fight to recruit escorts. We need to escort the escort to Songzhou Shaoqing Temple, and then we will recruit them as disciples."

The man bowed to Chu Jingtan and said, "I am Lin Yangui, a disciple of Wudang. May I ask your name, young lady?"

Chu Jingtan bowed and said, "Emei, Chu Jingtan."

Interrupting this ill-intentioned conversation, Zhuge Ran asked, "Huangmen Temple has no disciples of its own? Wancheng has no escort agency?"

"I heard that the cargo is valuable and no escort agency dares to take it. Huangmen Temple is also in need of experts, so we want to recruit six disciples to be escort leaders. The deposit for this escort trip is 20 taels of escort money, and the monthly salary for future employment is 5 taels."

"A disciple with a monthly salary of five taels?" Zhuge Ran sneered, "Wancheng is so rich that Huangmen Temple is not even a temple."

Although Shaolin respects Buddhism, it does not prohibit other religions. The sects under it manage their own territories, but are under the jurisdiction of the local Shaolin Temple. Taxation and household registration are also managed by the temple. At that time, they were all orthodox monks who were not good at secular affairs, which often allowed local sects to gain power. The situation was not improved until secular monks entered the temple. Since Huangmen Temple was not a temple, it was just a local sect.

"It's such a good job. More than a hundred people came here to compete for the selection." Lin Yangui asked, "Girls are here to join in the fun, too?"

As expected, Chu Jingtan went to sign up immediately.

"If I had known you wanted to be a bodyguard, Dian Cang would have had plenty of valuables for you to escort." On the way back to the inn, Zhuge Ran sneered. The pain in his feet began to become more severe because he had walked too much in recent days.

"You should get a cane. Your lame leg is weak and can't support your weight, which will rub the soles of your feet. Besides, it's inconvenient for you to fight with others while wearing a prosthetic heel. I knocked your boots off in Tang Sect." Chu Jingtan noticed his slightly but strangely tilted walking posture.

"Do I need to do it myself?" Zhuge Ran felt as if his heart was stabbed. "I can hire ten Emei disciples as bodyguards, all girls, and they can sleep with me at night."

"With one leg missing, you can still stand up while lying in bed?" Chu Jingtan retorted with a double meaning, and even said something worse, "You want to pay someone to push your butt?"

"Go ask your sister." Zhuge Ran became angry and took quick steps. He felt a sharp pain in his feet and fell forward. Suddenly, someone supported him under the armpits and the pressure on his feet was relieved. Chu Jingtan seemed to be holding his arm, but he was actually lifting half of his body.

"You..." Zhuge Ran glared at him fiercely.

"Shut up, or I'll throw you against the wall." Chu Jingtan cursed.

"She wants to be a bodyguard?" Zhuge Yan's eyes widened. "What's the point?"

"I guess Sister Jing probably wants to know how far she can go. She's not afraid of getting beaten, so she wants to test her skills."

Zhuge Yan thought about it, his face full of distress, and suddenly jumped up from his chair: "I'll go sign up now."

Zhuge Ran rolled his eyes. The prince of Dian Cang was his personal bodyguard. Even the daughters of the nine great families did not receive such courtesy when they got married. He returned to the room. The waiter cleaned the floor. He took off his boots, massaged his knees, and patted his lame thigh lightly.

The pot and the saddle have nothing to do with each other.

One hundred and twenty-six people, fighting for six escorts, there were many participants, and even more onlookers, just like a fight. Zhuge Ran couldn't see what was going on in front of him, so he had to squeeze forward. In the chaos, he didn't know who hit him in the face with a crutch.

"Why are you joining in the fun? You won't be able to see it even if you move forward." Someone sneered.

"I'll ride on your head and watch." Zhuge Ran took out a silver note.

He was lifted up on shoulders and looked into the distance.

Just now he was the shortest person in the crowd, but now he looked taller than everyone else. Zhuge Ran thought, "Why doesn't Chu Jingtan understand that if you can convince people with money, never convince them with virtue. Not only does it work, but it also makes both the host and the guest happy."

The host was a thin old man, wearing a Taoist robe, a small crown on his head, and a long beard. He was about fifty years old. His name was Shi Shouqian, the heir of Huangmen Temple. As long as his father refused to die, he would still be the heir even if he lived to be seventy. The girl holding his arm was about sixteen or seventeen years old. One hundred and twenty-six people participated in the battle.

"Is that his wife?" Zhuge Ran asked the mount under his feet.

"Second wife, the youngest daughter of Master Wu of Chaoyi Palace."

He was not interested in this kind of alliance between small sects, so he asked, "What kind of treasure is so valuable?"

"The Jade Sword is the treasure of the Huangmen Temple. It has been in Wancheng for more than seventy years and is displayed every year on the Buddha's birthday."

"What does it look like?"

"It's a jade sword about a foot long, with a dark green blade and a white hilt. It's very beautiful."

The man had limited knowledge and could not describe the appearance of the sword. Zhuge Ran was not very interested either. He looked at the arena from a distance and saw a strong man knocking down another strong man with his stone fist.

"Since it is a mountain treasure, why send it to Shaoqing Temple?"

"They say they plan to display it at Shaoqing Temple on the Buddha's birthday next year."

It is only August now, and Buddha's birthday is still a long way off. Zhuge Ran guessed that Huangmen Guan wanted to bribe his superiors, using the display as an excuse to give gifts. If they display the gifts every year, then they will never return them. If they are stolen one day, who can Huangmen Guan ask for compensation?
"There's a girl." Shouts came one after another. Chu Jingtan held up her long sword and made a door-opening move. She had her hair tied up, her clothes fluttering in the wind, and she looked heroic. However, the people below were laughing and pointing at her.

Ignoring the foul language, Chu Jingtan swung his sword back and swung it like a golden sun rising from the sky, knocking the opponent off the stage.

After a few games, it was Zhuge Yan's turn to play. He still had confidence in his elder brother. Not to mention that Dian Cang's martial arts were good, his elder brother had a very high talent for martial arts. In his early twenties, he could fight against the Eight Guards of Tang Clan. It was just that he was too young and lacked skills and experience.

Zhuge Yan rushed out at the beginning, with a fierce palm wind, and then attacked seven or eight times in a row. Uh... Is he so eager to win? The opponent found this and only dodged instead of attacking, in order to consume his energy. With this body movement, he must have spent a lot of time studying how to escape.

The eldest brother got angry and hit harder and harder. The opponent noticed and ran away in fear. Was he trying to kill him? After finally forcing the opponent into a dead corner, Zhuge Yan used his fists and legs to block his retreat and knocked him off the stage with one knee.

He played like a reckless man, it was like this every time, the more he wanted to do something well, the worse it got. Wasting so much energy in the first game?
After watching the two matches between his elder brother and Chu Jingtan, Zhuge Ran was not interested in watching other people. Suddenly, he saw a familiar face. Was it Lin Yangui from yesterday? Zhuge Ran wanted to see how he fought. His sword was as powerful as a dragon. Judging from the trend, it seemed to be the Qingyun Sword Technique of Wudang. He had great skills. He knocked his opponent off the ring in two moves. At this age, his skills were only inferior to that of his elder brother. He was a talent.

Using the arena to select disciples is actually a good method. It can pick out a few people with high kung fu skills, but it is only useful for small sects. The big sects will retain the talents they have trained. If it is the nine major sects, they will recruit people widely and then promote the best ones. Huangmen Temple must be short of talents, so it offers a monthly salary of five taels, which is higher than the regular salary under the establishment, and the sect itself has to make up the difference.

Zhuge Ran saw several good masters again. A middle-aged strong man caught his attention. He used the Huashan Breaking Mountain Sword Technique and knocked down his opponent with the back of the sword.

At the age of 40, with such skills, he is still looking for work? Either he has bad conduct, or he made a serious mistake in his original sect and was dismissed. The opponent he defeated was not bad, but he met a tough opponent in the first round, which was a pity.

A man in his thirties, using a chain dart, swept his opponent's lower body and tied him up tightly with chains, causing everyone to laugh.

This person probably came from a small sect and was unwilling to submit, so he planned to make his own way and find a bigger sect to live in.

A young man in his thirties with half an ear missing and wielding a long sword was so ruthless that he specially changed the sword to a wooden one, otherwise he would have killed the man.

This man is experienced and has fought many tough battles.

There are many strong players, two rounds, or three rounds? It depends on Chu Jingtan's luck.

"Master! My neck is a little sore." the mount shouted.

"Shut up, you took the money." Zhuge Ran held the other person's shoulders and jumped down, walking towards the big tent.

There were cries of the injured in the big tent. The disciples who were preparing to go into battle were full of pride and determined to win, while some people looked ashen, knowing that their skills were low and planning to escape. This was not a fight in the ring, where there would be rewards for winning the second or third time. This was a disciple selection, and if they lost, they would lose everything, and it was not worth the risk of suffering physical pain.

"You dwarf, this is not the place for you." Someone laughed loudly. Zhuge Ran took a breath and turned to walk towards the mocker. He sat on the right side of the tent, almost as tall as Zhuge Ran.

With a bang, a heavy punch hit the man's face, and Zhuge Ran, who was heavy, felt pain in his hand. The man's nose was bleeding, and he shouted loudly: "You disgusting thing, I will kill you!" Fists hit back like a rainstorm.

Zhuge Ran blocked several punches. The man was very strong. A gust of wind from his fists brushed his cheek, causing a burning pain. He hugged the man's waist and tried to flip him over. Unexpectedly, the man's lower body skills were very stable, and he didn't fall over after being flipped over. Instead, he grabbed Zhuge Ran's belt and flipped him to the ground. Zhuge Ran felt a weight on his body. The man was already sitting on him, with his fists raised high. He was about to be beaten, but suddenly the man's arms were strangled from behind, and someone advised, "Don't make trouble."

The voice was familiar, but it wasn't the eldest brother's, it was Lin Yangui. He hugged the man's arms from behind. This was a great opportunity, Zhuge Ran punched out with both fists, hitting the enemy in the chest.

Lin Yangui hurriedly pulled the man away and stood between the two of them: "Stop it now."

The sturdy man was furious and didn't care about him. He rushed forward with a roar and suddenly shouted again: "Fuck! You hit my brother!" A tall figure rushed in, crouched down, grabbed the man's neck with his left hand, put his right hand into the man's crotch, and raised the man horizontally with both hands, "Fuck your mother!" He threw the man hard, and the man hit the tent. With a loud crash, half of the tent collapsed and everyone inside ran out.

The man was in so much pain that he couldn't stand up. Zhuge Yan stepped forward and raised his right foot high. If he stepped with all his strength, he would be crushed to death. Zhuge Ran hurriedly shouted, "Brother, don't kill him."

Zhuge Yan changed from stepping to kicking, and kicked the man, making him roll around.

Lin Yangui reached out to help Zhuge Ran, but Zhuge Ran snorted and ignored him. He only said in a sweet voice, "Thank you for your help, brother." Then he came forward to look at Zhuge Ran and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"It's okay." Zhuge Ran wiped his face and stood up. His feet were a little sore.

Such a big commotion was more attractive than the ring. Even the host, the Huangmen Guan Shizi Shi Shouqian, came up and asked, "What happened?"

"Fighting, just like in the ring." Zhuge Ran replied, "Are you going to arrest me and question me?"

Chu Jingtan said: "He is my friend. He came to watch me in the ring and got into a conflict with someone."

"I was the one who hit him." Zhuge Yan stood in front of Zhuge Ran.

Shi Shouqian looked at the three of them and said, "Young people are full of vigor and vitality, so they should exercise restraint." Then he ordered people to set up the tent again.

"You helped my brother." Zhuge Yan was about to take out the banknote from his pocket. Zhuge Ran coughed lightly, retracted his hand, and then stretched it out again, "Thank you."

"I was just helping to stop the fight." Lin Yangui glanced at the gruff man lying on the ground wailing, with at least a few broken ribs, "I should have pulled him away."

Zhuge Ran pulled a stool and sat down: "Sister Jing, you want to watch the rest of the people fight, right?"

"Miss Chu, would you like to introduce yourself? My two brothers..."

"My name is Zhuge Yan, and this is my brother, Zhuge Ran, and we are..."

"Nan Taiji Sect." Zhuge Ran interrupted to avoid being associated with "a small sect south of the Beggars' Sect."

"This Kung Fu doesn't look like it comes from a small sect." Lin Yangui first praised, then glanced at Chu Jingtan who was staring at the fight on the ring. "Are you two friends of Miss Chu?"

"You ask too many questions." Zhuge Ran said coldly, "I'll pay you back later if I owe you anything."

"I'll treat you to a drink." Zhuge Yan laughed, "You don't know what reward you deserve."

"It's just a small favor." Lin Yangui said politely. The two brothers' attitudes, first cold and then warm, really made him at a loss as to how to respond.

There were many people on the first day, so we played one round first, then drew lots to get a bye, and those who didn't get a bye would play in the second round. Finally, 48 people were selected and divided into six groups, with eight people in each group, and they would play two more games tomorrow.

In the afternoon, many people knew they were no match for the opponent, so fewer and fewer people took to the field, and more people won without fighting. In the second round, Chu Jingtan and Lin Yangui both had time off, so only Zhuge Yan went up to fight in the second round, which was not difficult.

"Does your face still hurt?" At dusk, when the crowd dispersed, Zhuge Yan said he was going to buy medicine for his brother. Zhuge Ran said no, but Zhuge Yan went anyway. Lin Yangui also said goodbye and left.

"You can only play in the third round tomorrow. You have to rank at least 17th or 18th among the six people picked here."

"You only know how to throw cold water on me?" Chu Jingtan asked, "You treat your brother the same way?"

"My brother will listen to advice, but you won't."

"I'm not talking about your brother, I'm talking about you. You're only fifteen..."

"Sixteen!" Zhuge Ran corrected.

"Do you know what playing is? Finding something interesting. Do you want to be so serious for the rest of your life?"

"I go to a brothel if I want to play, not to fight."

"You are older than my master."

"Among the three of us, one of us has to use his brain."

"Have you been so annoying since you were a kid?"

Zhuge Ran snorted coldly and didn't say anything else.

It was a long time after they returned to the inn before Zhuge Yan came running back, panting, holding a piece of dog-skin plaster, "The pharmacy here is not as good as Kunming, so just make do with it."

Huangmen Temple posted the groups, 48 ​​people, divided into six groups, each group has eight people, each group has to play three games, two games today, and one game tomorrow. Chu Jingtan's opponent was weak, she had good luck in the second game, and won the third game after a hard fight. As for Zhuge Yan, it was easy.

It's almost over. Chu Jingtan will face the middle-aged man who uses the Huashan Wind-breaking Sword Technique tomorrow. Judging from his experience and martial arts, Chu Jingtan has no hope of winning. Anyway, it's impossible for him to really go as a bodyguard. Zhuge Ran is thinking about whether to go to Feng County or Shaolin Temple next. Visiting Mu Jie can indeed make other people in Shaolin jealous, but if Mu Jie is defeated as a result... the person who takes over afterwards may have a grudge against Dian Cang.

The eldest brother called Lin Yangui over and prepared a table of good food and wine, saying that he was grateful for his help yesterday. Chu Jingtan had a say with him. He asked why he didn't stay in Wudang to find a job since he was a direct descendant of Wudang.

"It's terrible there." Lin Yangui shook his head, "I don't know how to make an elixir, and I can't learn to flatter people."

“Then you don’t have to come to Huangmen Temple to seek a job.” Zhuge Yan asked, “Why not go to Qingcheng or the Beggars’ Sect? Old Beggar Peng values ​​talent, and you are considered a young talent. Shaolin is not a place to find a good job. You are so young, it’s a pity to become a monk.” Although Shaolin has various sects under its jurisdiction, only those who have shaved their heads and become monks can sneak into the temple, which is considered to be in power. Otherwise, no matter how big the sect is, you are just a disciple of a local sect, and you will be crushed by the superiors.

"I don't have such high hopes." Lin Yangui smiled and said, "I'll just live my life."

"If you want to spend your days, is there a better place than Wudang?" Zhuge Ran interjected indifferently.

"You don't have to degrade yourself like this." Lin Yangui raised his glass, "It's a chance meeting, please."

It's time to pack my luggage. I've stayed in this big inn for a few days, but I really don't want to go back to camping. What's the point of traveling around and going through all the trouble?

Zhuge Ran entered the tent again. After the incident the day before, no one dared to provoke him. He saw Lin Yangui waving at him, but he ignored him and sat down next to the master who used the dart. He was wiping his dart. According to Zhuge Ran, he and the one who used the wooden sword would both become disciples of Huangmen Temple.

"You are not short of money, why are you robbing jobs?" the man who used the dart chain suddenly said.

"You know we don't lack money?"

"You can stay at Fengxiang Tower for one tael of silver per night."

"Followed?" Zhuge Ran's face darkened.

"I saw your brother talking to the disciple from Huangmen Temple, the old man Cao who drew the lot."

"Who?" Zhuge Ran was puzzled.

"I just think it's strange that Huangmen Temple is holding an arena to select disciples. It turns out that there is a background. I don't care what you are doing, and I won't ask. If you want me to keep silent, just give me some silver and I can get rid of it."

He was too lazy to talk, so he took out a five-liang silver note and put it on the table: "Explain your words clearly."

"Five taels? That's too little to seal the mouth."

"I want you to explain clearly, not to shut up." Zhuge Ran added another five taels, "What did you say my brother did?"

"On the first day, the day you were beaten, your brother returned right after he left. He went to find Lao Cao, the one sitting at the big table next to Taoist Shi."

Zhuge Ran had an impression of this man, the one in charge of registration, sign-up and lottery, "You said my brother should go talk to him?"

"I saw him take out the banknotes." The man with the dart chain said, "I followed him and saw him buy the ointment and then go into Fengxianglou."

Zhuge Ran was stunned.

"I've heard of this kind of thing. You have to pay money to fight in the arena to gain fame. Choosing disciples is like giving you a stepping stone. You can climb up and I won't stop you. I will find a job for you. After this escort mission, you can stay in Huangmen Temple as long as you can."

Did the elder brother use silver? Zhuge Ran thought it was not good. He looked around but could not see Chu Jingtan. He hurried out of the tent. Chu Jingtan had already entered the arena, facing the middle-aged man from Huashan. She moved her sword lightly, trying to take the initiative. The middle-aged man used a mountain-breaking knife, which almost touched her chest and back, but missed her by a hair's breadth. After more than ten moves, Chu Jingtan saw the flaw and hit the man's shoulder. The swordsman screamed and fell off the arena.

Fake fighting also requires skills, and this guy obviously hasn't learned it.

Chu Jingtan and Zhuge Ran's faces were almost equally livid.

"I didn't!" Zhuge Yan cast a look at his brother for help, "I don't know why he wanted to lose. It's not like I don't know your temper. That guy pretended so badly. If I had invited him, I would have broken his legs long ago."

"Anyone who knows martial arts knows that he is pretending." Chu Jingtan was furious. "Why would he lose for no reason? Who else could it be other than you? Zhuge Yan, you can't please me by spending money. I'm not afraid of losing!"

Oh, Chu Jingtan swore, and it will be more exciting next time, but Zhuge Ran didn't want to see his elder brother in embarrassment, so he had to lend a hand, "Sister Jing, maybe you wronged my elder brother."

"Then tell me, how did Huang Shankui lose?"

Huang Shankui was the name of the man wielding the knife. Zhuge Ran said, "Maybe he wanted to show mercy because Sister Jing was pretty, or maybe he wanted to show off his skills and didn't expect to lose a move. Or maybe he had something on his mind. If you want to know, you have to ask Huang Shankui."

When saying this, Zhuge Ran did not feel guilty at all, because if he felt guilty, he would not be able to tell a good lie.

"I'll go find him now." Chu Jingtan picked up the sword and left quickly.

"Did you ask Huang Shankui to leave Wancheng as soon as possible?" Zhuge Ran turned to ask his elder brother.

"What do you mean?" Zhuge Yan was stunned. This time he thought quickly, "You suspect me too?"

"Someone saw you go to Lao Cao and give him some silver." Zhuge Ran sat down, "Brother, if you do something like this next time, please consult me ​​first."

"I didn't!" Zhuge Yan jumped up. "I used silver. I told Lao Cao not to let me share the land with Miss Chu. I didn't want to beat her."

"Oh?" Zhuge Ran only doubted for a brief moment. His elder brother never lied to him since he was a child, because almost every time he lied to him, he would be found out.

"That's where it gets interesting."

Chu Jingtan didn't find Huang Shankui, who had checked out last night and was determined to lose today. Chu Jingtan had another big fight with Zhuge Yan and went back to his room in anger. Zhuge Ran went to visit his brother who had suffered so much injustice and offered a suggestion.

"Don't think about how to explain it yet. The six disciples have been selected. What does Sister Jing say? Stay and become a disciple of Huangmen Temple?"

"She said that if she received the bounty, she would have to be a bodyguard to earn money for the trip back to Emei. It seemed like she was mad at me." Zhuge Yan was annoyed. "He can say that I'm stupid, but he can't doubt my character."

Big brother did use money, but it was not so excessive. Zhuge Ran thought about it, but did not say it out loud, and then said: "Now that things are so tense, Sister Jing has to part ways with you. Songzhou is not far away, you all choose disciples and act as bodyguards. When Sister Jing calms down, I will use words to squeeze her and make her unable to leave."

"You are still reliable." Zhuge Yan patted Zhuge Ran on the shoulder, and suddenly dragged out a long and thin box from under the bed, saying, "I have been busy fighting in the past three days, so I worked with your sister Jing to find this for you."

Zhuge Ran took the box, weighed it, and his face changed. He guessed what was inside.

"I'll go back to Dian Cang and have someone make you a good one. Just use it for now."

"No need!" Zhuge Ran threw the wooden box on the ground and said angrily, "Do you think I'm slow and a burden to you?"

Zhuge Yan was not angry either, he picked up the wooden box and said, "I know you don't use a cane, because mother... you don't want her to see you limping, for fear that she would be angry."

"It has nothing to do with my mother. She hates me. Why should I please someone who hates me?"

"I have never considered you a cripple since you were a child, so I never cared about you. You are smarter than anyone else. If you say you don't need a cane, then you definitely don't need a cane. What the doctor said is not right."

"But your sister Jing said that if you keep using insoles, your limp will get worse and it will affect your other foot. Your lightness skills and body movements will be affected, and your kung fu will not improve. I said, even if you lose your feet, no one can bully you. She said... um... she said if you think you have too many feet, just chop them off."

Zhuge Ran snorted. Zhuge Yan opened the wooden box and found a fine mahogany cane, thin and straight, without too many carvings. It didn't seem like a gift he would choose. The cane he gave himself would at least be inlaid with gems, gold and silver.

"This is the most expensive one in this poor place." Zhuge Yan stuffed the cane into Zhuge Ran's hand. It was heavy and thick.

"Brother, you are not smart. From now on, I will have to rely on you to support me on the road to Dian Cang. If I want to go far, I have to let this crutch support you."

Zhuge Ran's eyes reddened.

"You are not disabled, you just have a short leg."

"You can't think of this. Sister Jing taught you."

"Miss Chu is a good person, but she is just as sharp-tongued as you."

"I don't have a soft heart. My heart is harder than iron."

Zhuge Ran took the cane and after a while, said, "I'll go back to my room."

He threw his cane beside the bed, went to bed angrily, and tossed and turned, not knowing who he was angry with.

Shi Shouqian personally escorted the dart, and Zhuge Ran finally saw the green jade sword. Even though Dian Cang was rich in jade, this sword made him and Zhuge Yan admire it. The sword was one foot and two inches long, like a dagger, with a emerald green and crystal clear blade that turned pure white at the handle, carved with fish scales, without a trace of cotton wool.

Good jade is hard to find. The color of the sword body and the hilt are distinct, without any deviation, just like two different pieces of jade inlaid together. With such good jade and such good craftsmanship, it is indeed worth a fortune.

Shi Shouqian placed the jade sword in a box, sealed it with paper, and carried it on his back personally. The sword box and the Taoist robe made him look quite ethereal.

Six escort leaders led 120 disciples and the convoy set off for Songzhou in a mighty manner.

"Although you are angry with my brother, I still advise you to say that she is my sister-in-law. This will be convenient." Zhuge Ran persuaded Chu Jingtan.

If there is a girl among the 120 disciples, and she is from another place, you can imagine how much harassment there will be.

Chu Jingtan did not agree, and slapped the Huangmen Temple disciple who teased him twice that day, breaking his thigh bone. Only 119 people were left, and it didn't have much impact. That's right, if you don't draw a line first, these men will push their luck and finally crawl to the head of the bed to force it.

Zhuge Yan said that he was only escorting this time to earn some pocket money and would not join the Huangmen Temple afterwards. Zhuge Ran was his younger brother and he had to take him with him.

Songzhou is not far away, less than a thousand miles away. The caravan travels fast, and it takes less than ten days to get there. It took more than ten days to prepare. Even if the Green Jade Sword is valuable, this is really a bit strange. Zhuge Ran thought.

On the first night, the team camped. Zhuge Yan pitched the tent next to Chu Jingtan. Zhuge Ran walked leisurely with a cane. His feet had never been so relaxed. He saw a campfire next to Lin Yangui's tent. Chu Jingtan was talking to Lin Yangui and the man who had lost half of his ear and was using a wooden sword. Zhuge Ran remembered that his last name was Zhan, Zhan Beisan. He was holding a steel sword. Lin Yangui stretched out his hand to greet him.

"What to talk about?" He put down his crutches, sat on the ground, and glanced at Chu Jingtan. It seemed that she was still angry.

"Brother Zhan told me about his past as a sea official."

"I guessed it by watching him fight in the ring." He fought so ferociously that he had to change to a wooden sword to get used to it. That was the experience of risking his life on the edge of a knife many times.

"Did you pick melon seeds in Henan before?" Zhuge Ran asked. "Do you need to find a stable job?"

"Two of my brothers died, and I'm scared." Zhan Beisan admitted honestly.

"Being afraid is a good thing. Only those who are afraid of death can be heroes." Zhuge Ran asked, "Are you from Yudi?"

"How do you guess? From the accent?"

"With your ability, if you hadn't committed any crime, you could have found a job anywhere, so you've come back to your roots."

Zhan Beisan laughed: "My hometown is in Wancheng. I earn this money and wait to marry a wife."

Lin Yangui said: "Brother Zhan just got engaged."

"Congratulations." Zhuge Ran thought for a moment, "It's said that Huangmen Temple is in need of experts. I see that they are wealthy and have considerable influence in the local area, and they are in need of experts. Since you are a local, why don't you just join Huangmen Temple and do the work of the Haibo Yamen?"

"I'm from Wandong. Fifteen years ago, when my father was still alive, he wouldn't allow it."

"What happened to Wandong?"

"There used to be two sects in Wan, Huangmenguan and Yizhongmeng. During my grandfather's time, Wandong was still under the jurisdiction of Yizhongmeng. After Kunlun discussed it, they started a war of vengeance and fought for territory. The two sides fought to the death. In the end, Yizhongmeng was gone."

In fact, the first use of the vendetta was to stop the killing of the vendetta. In the melee before the Kunlun Conference, the sects had too many grudges. If there were no rules, the nine great families would not be able to suppress the grudges of the sects below. The grudges could not last more than three generations, and then they could not seek revenge. After the Kunlun Conference, the situation stabilized, and the vengeance was used to annex the territory. At that time, the power of the nine great families was not as stable as it is now, and it was out of control.

As for now, it is a tool for the nine major families to kill people.

Zhan Beisan laughed: "My father has heard my grandfather say bad things about Huangmen Temple all his life. If I go to Huangmen Temple, he will break my legs."

"It's been sixty or seventy years since the old almanac was published. Do you still remember it?" Chu Jingtan asked.

Zhan Beishan said: "I remember it every year. Who said that Huangmen Temple would reveal treasures every year?"

"What do you mean?" Chu Jingtan asked again.

"The older generation all know that the Jade Sword was originally a treasure of the Yizhong League, but it was snatched away by Huangmen Temple. Now they are sending it to Shaoqing Temple, which is a waste of time." Zhan Beishan continued, "It's just that the Jade Sword is too famous to be used for bribery openly, so they used an excuse to send it to Shaoqing Temple."

"Is Wandi under the jurisdiction of Shaoqing Temple?"

"Since we're so close, I can always find fault with you."

Zhuge Ran followed Chu Jingtan back to the tent.

"My brother said he didn't do it. He's stupid, but he's also honest, and he wouldn't lie to someone he likes."

"When we were in Tang Sect, your brother tried to deceive me."

"That's different. Who wouldn't pretend to be nice in front of the girl they love? You're so gullible."

Chu Jingtan got angry and said, "Okay, then I have to stay away from you."

"Sister Jing, everything my brother did was to please you."

"Every time your brother opens his mouth, he talks about Dian Cang's prestige, his status in Dian Cang, and the expensive things he has bought and used. When I like a piece of jade, he says it's not good enough for me. When I like a hairpin, he says I should change it to a gold hairpin according to the style. When I practice swordplay, he says someone will protect me in the future. You brothers are really good at throwing cold water on me. I'm really fed up with it. If he wants to please me, he has to give me something other than money and power."

"For example?"

"He beat people for you, he helped you pick up your walking stick, he said he had the smartest brother in the world, he was so proud when he mentioned you, at that time I felt that he was not the high and mighty Dian Cang Prince, he was just your good brother, I treated him as Zhuge Yan, he did not treat me as Chu Jingtan."

"I don't understand what Sister Jing said." Zhuge Ran twisted his cane on the ground. He was not used to having multiple things in his hands all the time.

"In the future, if he doesn't show off his noble and extraordinary status as the Dian Cang Prince in front of me, I won't be angry. Otherwise, let's go our separate ways."

"Why don't I find some evidence to prove my brother's innocence?"

Chu Jingtan's face flushed red, and he was too lazy to explain anymore: "Tell your brother about this." Then he went into the tent.

"Why don't I think of her as Chu Jingtan? Who else could she be? Can you explain it to me?" Zhuge Yan was so anxious that he jumped up and down.

"I don't understand either. I'm only sixteen years old. Your adult affairs are more difficult to deal with than the damn Dian Cang incident."

Zhuge Ran was lying in the tent, feeling that this matter was more tiring than dealing with the cold-faced lady, and probably second only to listening to mysterious sermons.

There is one thing I can't figure out. Who helped Chu Jingtan buy Huangshan Kui and let him go? Who would benefit from letting Chu Jingtan be a bodyguard? Could it be that Huangshan Zhen was obsessed with sex and lost Jingzhou?

The convoy traveled for seven days without encountering any difficulties. It was already night when they entered Songzhou.

Shi Shouqian found a big inn, set up a banquet, raised his glass and said: "Shaoqing Temple is nearby. Tomorrow morning, I will deliver the Jade Sword to the temple. Everyone has abstained from drinking all the way. Tonight, we will have good wine and good food. Let's drink to our heart's content." He raised his glass and said: "Let's get drunk to our heart's content."

This old Taoist priest got carried away before he even reached Shaoqing Temple.
There were free delicious food and wine, and everyone at the banquet drank happily, one cup after another, and in less than an hour, someone fell to the ground drunk. Zhuge Ran also drank a few cups, and Zhuge Yan blocked the wine for Chu Jingtan, but Chu Jingtan grabbed it and drank it, and then drank a few more cups.

She would be restrained and not stupid enough to get drunk in front of a hundred men. Zhuge Ran saw that the two were talking again, so they were probably fine. He didn't see Lin Yangui, so he probably went back to his room to sleep. Zhuge Ran drank a few more glasses, and seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he said hello to his brother and went back to his room to sleep.

I slept for only two hours. At midnight, there was a commotion in the inn and someone shouted, "The Jade Sword was stolen!"

Zhuge Ran jumped up and reached for his cane. He was about to open the door in the dark when the fire flickered outside the door. With a bang, the door was knocked open. He was about to ask, but several disciples came forward and held him down! This was beyond his expectation, and he was pressed to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Zhuge Ran shouted angrily.

"It's him. He's so short, but he must have killed Senior Brother Li!" A disciple shouted, holding a torch.

"I'm fucking sleeping here, what are you talking about!"

Shi Shouqian said with a stern face: "Search!"

Several people broke into the room and searched around, finally finding the sword box from under the bed.

Zhuge Ran's face turned pale.

"What happened? What are you doing!" With a loud shout, he flew with both palms, knocking away the two disciples who were holding Zhuge Ran. Zhuge Yan rushed into the room, grabbed his brother's arm, and shouted angrily, "Are you looking for death?"

Shi Shouqian said angrily: "Your brother stole my jade sword. The evidence is irrefutable!" He took the sword box from his disciple and said: "Search in your brother's room."

"Bullshit, the Zhuge family has plenty of treasures like this!"

Shi Shouqian weighed the sword case in his hand and saw that the seal was torn. His face changed drastically. He opened the sword case and found it was empty. He asked in surprise, "Where did you hide the Jade Sword?"

"Hide your sister! Do you know who our brothers are?"

Zhuge Ran's mind raced. Who stole the Jade Sword and framed them? Shi Shouqian shouted, "Catch them!"

Several disciples rushed forward, and Zhuge Yan pushed out with both palms. He was furious, and the two palms were so powerful that they knocked two disciples out.

The two rushed out the door. Shi Shouqian was about to attack when a sword flashed in, forcing the people at the door to retreat. Chu Jingtan came with a sword and shouted, "Go!" Zhuge Yan dragged Zhuge Ran out. Shi Shouqian shouted, "This woman is also an accomplice. Catch her together!"

The corridor was narrow, Chu Jingtan swung his sword and chopped, and the three of them flipped over and jumped into the hall, only to see that the hall was full of disciples of Huangmen Temple, and Zhan Beishan and Lin Yangui were guarding the door of the inn.

"This is a frame-up!" Zhuge Ran said angrily, "Use your brain! I stole the Jade Sword, why would I leave it in the inn? And even leave a sword box!"

Shi Shouqian said, "I just want to avoid suspicion, so I set up a trap! Tell me, where did you hide the Jade Sword?"

"Hide your mother!" Zhuge Yan slammed his palm on the wooden table. "Do you know who I am? Dian Cang, the surname Zhuge. If my brother and I lose a hair, three generations of your family will die."

"You said you are from the Dian Cang Zhuge family?" Shi Shouqian was stunned and laughed, and the others also laughed.

"Look at your appearance, do you look like him?" Shi Shouqian shouted, "Catch him!"

"Miss Chu! I'm protecting my brother, you just be careful!" Zhuge Yan said.

Swords and sabers came at him. Zhuge Yan's palms tumbled, knocking down two disciples in succession. Zhuge Ran followed behind him, swinging his cane to hit one person. After all, he was young and disabled. He stepped hastily and suddenly stumbled. A sword slashed at him. Chu Jingtan used his sword to block it for him. This situation was definitely unwinnable. He had to ask for reinforcements. Zhuge Ran shouted, "Brother, you go first! Sister Jing, come with me to cover brother!"

Although this eldest brother is not smart, he has one advantage: he always trusts his younger brother's judgment.

Zhuge Yan gritted his teeth and rushed to the door. Ordinary disciples could not stop him. Lin Yangui and Zhan Beishan swung their swords at the same time. Zhan Beishan was from the Marine Police Office and his moves were steady. Lin Yangui's sword was like flowing clouds, erratic. Both of them were good fighters. Zhuge Ran handed out his cane to block Lin Yangui's weapon. Chu Jingtan's long sword knocked away the broadsword. Zhuge Yan pushed the two back with both palms. Just as he was about to get away, a chain came from behind. It was the master who used the chain dart. This move was fierce and insidious. If Zhuge Yan turned around to block it, the other side would surely surround him again. Chu Jingtan flew over, pushed away the dart tip with the tip of his sword, and protected Zhuge Yan behind him. Together with Zhuge Ran, they guarded the exit. The chain and the disciples rushed up together. Her martial arts were immature. After a few moves, the iron chain shook and entangled her waist, dragging her to the ground. After a while, the weapons were already on the two of them. The rest of the people went to chase Zhuge Yan.

I wonder if my eldest brother has escaped, Zhuge Ran thought.

Shi Shouqian pointed at a few people and said, "You guys, tie up these two men. I'll change my clothes and apologize to Abbot Ziming in person." He went upstairs and rushed out without changing his clothes. He was furious and shouted anxiously, "Don't chase them. Call them back. Search! Search quickly! Find the stuff. Turn this inn upside down and stop everyone on the road. Find the Jade Sword!"

Isn't this the same thing? Zhuge Ran became more suspicious.

He was sent to Shaoqing Temple and imprisoned, but Chu Jingtan was placed elsewhere.

There are many strange things about this matter.

Although he was furious, he knew that he was powerless now and could only hope that his eldest brother could escape. Otherwise, he could at least delay for two days before Dian Cang's guards discovered that the two were missing and would come looking for them.

After more than half an hour, someone came and said, "I am a disciple of Huangmen Temple. The master wants me to escort a prisoner for questioning." It was Lin Yangui. It was he who pushed him into the prison. The gatekeeper did not suspect anything and shouted, "Get up!"

A wise man never suffers a loss in front of him. Zhuge Ran suppressed his anger. He had already figured out most of what was going on and became even more angry.

There were few people in Shaoqing Temple late at night, it was empty and there were not many monks patrolling. Lin Yangui led him out of the cell.

"From the beginning, recruiting disciples was a gimmick." Zhuge Ran sneered, "Are you a hidden spy arranged by Shi Shouqian?"

Lin Yangui was stunned and shook his head: "I don't understand what you are saying."

"When Shi Shouqian said he wanted to recruit disciples, he just wanted to find a scapegoat. I thought it was a bribe, but it was actually blackmail. Monk Ziming from Shaoqing Temple wanted the Jade Sword, but Shi Shouqian didn't want to give it to him, so he pretended that this was a serious matter and wanted to make it a big deal, so he picked six people and chose a scapegoat."

The first choice should be Chu Jingtan, she is the worst at martial arts and is easy to bully, and the person being framed should have a unique figure so that the witness can identify the figure seen in the dark. Just say it is a girl.

But later he found out that Chu Jingtan had three people with him, so he thought it would be easier to frame him than Chu Jingtan, as long as... his damn witness insisted that the person who broke in and stole the treasure was a dwarf.

"Shi Shouqian gave money to Huangshan Town and asked him to lose to Miss Chu on purpose. After that, he came to Songzhou and took advantage of the banquet to put an empty box under my bed. Then he came to capture the three of us brothers and tortured us into confessing. We couldn't reveal anything. If he was beaten to death, there would be no evidence. We in Dian Cang are also good at using this trick." Zhuge Ran sneered, "This way, the treasures left in Huangmen Temple can also be explained to Monk Ziming."

"I see. No wonder I couldn't figure it out." Lin Yangui sighed, turned around and untied the chains on Zhuge Ran, and handed the wooden stick back to him, "Come with me, I'll help you escape."

Zhuge Ran was stunned: "What do you mean? Do you believe it now?"

Lim Yeong-gyu: "I always knew you were innocent."

"why?"

Lin Yangui hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Jade Sword is with me."

"You stole it!" Zhuge Ran's eyes widened. This was beyond his expectation.

"No! I, I didn't mean to wrongly accuse Miss Chu."

"I can see that." Zhuge Ran sneered.

"I am a descendant of the Yizhong League."

Zhuge Ran didn't expect this.

"We'll talk as we walk."

"Wait! Where is Miss Chu imprisoned?"

"He was locked in the guest room, which was guarded by other disciples. Shi Shouqian...seems to want to take Miss Chu as a gift."

Zhuge Ran's face darkened: "If that monk dares to have any idea, it will not just be Huangmen Temple that will die for three generations."

"There are other guards there. I'm still trying to figure it out."

Zhuge Ran looked at the main hall from afar and suddenly asked, "You said she was locked up in the guest room. Is there a fertility-giving Guanyin enshrined in this temple?"

"what?"

Zhuge Ran tapped the ground with his cane and listened carefully. Lin Yangui was standing outside the temple of the Goddess of Childbearing, his face full of anxiety. "Shaoqing Temple is very big, how are you going to find it?"

"So we have to choose a temple that is closest to the monks' residence. This is it."

He knocked and heard a hollow sound. He bent down and lifted up the floorboards, revealing a tunnel about ten feet wide.

"A man will do anything, no matter how hard, to fuck a woman." Zhuge Ran sneered.

The tunnel was very dark. Lin Yangui held a torch and bent over. Zhuge Ran probably only needed to lean forward and walk very quickly.

"Three generations of hatred, the next three generations cannot have hatred. I am the fifth generation, and I don't intend to avenge this hatred. I just left an ancestral instruction for me to find a way to take back the heirloom."

"No wonder you are young and promising, but you don't stay in Wudang or seek a job in a larger sect."

"Brother Zhuge, you are younger than me...you are young and promising..."

"and then?"

"I couldn't find a chance to strike, and today was the last day. I wanted to wait until everyone was drunk before I took action, so I hid outside Shi Shouqian's window and waited until he killed a disciple. Then I led my men out..."

"You took the opportunity to steal the Jade Sword."

No wonder Shi Shouqian returned to the room and then ran out in a rage, shouting that there was no need to catch the eldest brother.

"So my eldest brother escaped?"

"should be."

"Why didn't you run away after you got the treasure? Or you just saved Miss Chu. Wouldn't it be more dangerous for you to stay in Songzhou?"

"I don't want to harm innocent people. Besides, if I save Miss Chu, she will still ask me to save you. It's better to save the easier one first."

Even people who have just known each other for a few days understand Sister Jing better than Big Brother...

When Zhuge Ran heard the voices, he stopped and signaled Lin Yangui to be quiet.

"Abbot, how dare I lie to you! If it is really stolen, you can take my life and property with you." A voice came from above, and it seemed to be from a place like a meeting room, or maybe the main hall?

A middle-aged voice said coldly, "Do you know that I am holding your life and property hostage? If Mr. Mu knew that you funded the Songgao League, the Huangmen Temple in Wandi would be gone."

"It seems that he will have to wipe out the entire family without me having to do it myself." It turned out that Ziming found out that Shi Shouqian secretly funded the Songgao League and used it to blackmail the Huangmen Temple to hand over the treasure.

"I brought a girl here to calm the master down, but she has a bit of a stubborn temper. However, her accomplice is still in jail, so I'm not afraid that she won't obey."

"Adultery with a woman is a serious sin."

"Of course it depends on your consent."

Zhuge Ran's mouth twitched: "Just based on this sentence, you have to castrate him first and then kill him." He waved his hand, motioning Lin Yangui to follow.

There were many exits leading to the guest rooms. Zhuge Ran tried several and finally found a room with light. He lifted the floorboards and put his finger in front of his mouth, signaling the frightened Chu Jingtan to be quiet.

They escaped along the tunnel from another guest room and climbed over the wall.

The three of them took a deep breath.

Chu Jingtan felt relieved and smiled at Zhuge Ran, "If your brother wants to please me, he has to act like this today."

If I have to take such a risk to please someone, then... forget it, let's see what Big Brother thinks.

"We have to escape quickly." Lin Yangui said anxiously, "They will come to arrest us soon."

"Don't worry." Zhuge Ran stood up and dusted himself off. "Do you want to avenge your ancestors? Stay and watch the show."

After dawn, Dian Cang's convoy drove into Songzhou.

(End of this chapter)