Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 172 The Impermanent Ghost
The sun is scorching, the sea of ​​sand surges like waves of molten gold, and gray-black lines seep out from the cracks in the weathered rock strata. When dusk spreads over the sand dunes, the wind blows through the valley and makes a whimpering sound like ghosts crying.

Three fast horses were galloping quickly in the valley.

On the far left was a young woman dressed in black, her face covered with a black cloth, shielding her mouth and nose from the wind and sand, revealing a pair of lively eyes. She carried a large bookcase on her back. Riding in the middle was a young man dressed in black, his eyes covered with a black cloth. His expression was indifferent and calm, and despite the black cloth, his speed on horseback was not affected at all.

On the far right was a middle-aged man, about forty years old, with a hunched body like a bow, a half-human-high iron and wooden quiver on his left shoulder, and a wolfskin wrist guard wrapped around his right arm.

Three riders galloped on fast horses, their hooves splashing up endless yellow sand.

The girl and the young man were Gu Chudong and Gu Mo. Traveling with them was a Six-Gates Constable named Chen Xiuyuan, who was originally from the Six-Gates in a local county. He was very familiar with all parts of the Northern Desert, had high levels of Qinggong, and was extremely good at gathering intelligence.

After integrating the six sects of Mobei, Zhuo Qingfeng kicked out all those who were just waiting to die and only retained a small number of elites. Chen Xiuyuan was highly valued by Zhuo Qingfeng.

Therefore, Zhuo Qingfeng arranged for Chen Xiuyuan to travel with Gu Mo, who was responsible for leading the way and collecting information from the Six Gates anytime and anywhere.

"Hero Gu!"

As his horse galloped, Chen Xiuyuan shouted, "It's getting dark. There's a small town about seven or eight miles ahead with an inn. We can stay there to rest. If we miss that town, we won't be able to find another place to stay before dark."

"Okay." Gu Mo said, "Then hurry up."

Gu Mo had already developed a fear of sleeping outdoors. In the past, when he traveled around the world, he would often rest in the wild, but he had never encountered such a difficult sleeping situation as in Mobei.

In the past two days, because he had never lived in Mobei, he did not pay much attention to Chen Xiuyuan's reminder. He thought that when he was sleeping in the wild at night, the worst that would happen was a big temperature difference between day and night, so he was not in a hurry to travel.

As a result, that night the brother and sister witnessed the harsh environment of the Northern Desert.

The temperature difference between day and night is huge, so extreme that it can be incredibly hot during the day and freezing cold at night. On top of that, when the wind blows, the sky is filled with yellow sand, and even burning ten bonfires in one night wouldn't be enough. Besides that, the most serious problem is the dust. If you take a nap, you'll wake up covered in sand. If you're unlucky and encounter a strong wind, you can be buried in the sand without even noticing.

That time, after a night of tossing and turning,
Gu Mo was determined not to rest in the wild. Although with his internal strength, neither the temperature difference nor the dust had any effect on him, he was still too upset.

……

Chen Xiuyuan was indeed a walking map of the Northern Desert. Following the route he pointed out, Gu Mo and the other two arrived at the market town before dark.

The town was bleak and desolate. There were few houses, mostly mud-walled structures standing amidst the wind and sand. Their adobe walls were riddled with holes, and their stone roof tiles, covered in dust, fluttered in the strong wind.

The streets were thick with dust, and pedestrians were few and far between. Occasionally, one or two hurried by, their footsteps heavy and their expressions weary and numb. Wind and sand swirled, blurring the desolate landscape. On the corner, a small inn stood. A skeletal camel lay at the doorway, munching weakly on dry grass, its eyes vacant as it gazed into the distance, as if hoping for life.

Gu Mo and the other two pushed the door and entered the inn.

The inn was very shabby, with only three or four tables, and no guests, so it was very deserted.

At the counter, an old shopkeeper was dozing off. He woke up immediately at the sound of the voice and came out to greet us with joy. He asked, "Sir, how many are you? Are you here for a meal or to stay overnight?"

Chen Xiuyuan said, "First, bring me all the good wine and food you have, get more meat, and arrange three guest rooms."

"Okay, please wait a moment. I'll go give instructions to the kitchen staff."

The old shopkeeper immediately closed the door, and in an instant, the wind died down a lot. Then he quickly dispersed and wiped the tables and benches, saying, "Dear guests, please take a seat."

Then he went into the kitchen.

After a while, the old shopkeeper came out with a pot of tea and several cups and poured tea for Gu Mo and the other two.

Chen Xiuyuan waved his hand, signaling the old shopkeeper to leave.

The old shopkeeper was also quite capable. Knowing that the customer didn't need him for the time being, he put down the teapot and returned to the counter.

"Master Gu," Chen Xiuyuan whispered, "On my way here, I saw the Six Gates' mark and retrieved a letter. Yesterday morning, Master Zhuo led his men to encircle and suppress the Impermanence Ghost Old Man, but the operation failed. The Impermanence Ghost Old Man escaped, heading right towards us."

Gu Mo asked, "How many people are there in your area?"

Chen Xiuyuan said, "There are at least twenty people searching for the Impermanence Ghost Old Man in this area. If they find him, they will send a signal."

Gu Mo nodded slightly and asked, "That Impermanence Ghost Old Man is very good at Qinggong. You, Chen Zongqi, are also very proficient in Qinggong. If you encounter this Impermanence Ghost Old Man, are you sure you can catch up with him?"

Chen Xiuyuan smiled slightly and said, "Master Gu, you are joking. Actually, my Qinggong skills are only average. The reason why I was mistakenly thought to be proficient in Qinggong is because I am very familiar with the terrain of the Northern Desert, so it is easy for me to gather intelligence. So the rumor spread that I am a Qinggong master.

Besides, even if my Qinggong is as good as the rumors say, I can't possibly catch up to the Impermanence Ghost Old Man. The Impermanence Ghost Old Man's Qinggong is rumored to be incredibly elusive, and few in the martial arts world can match it. In terms of Qinggong alone, this person is definitely top-notch in the martial arts world."

"Is it really that powerful?" Gu Chudong asked.

Chen Xiuyuan laughed and said, "I've only heard about it from others, but I've never actually seen it..."

"crunch"

Just then, the door of the inn was opened.

Seven or eight young men came in, all armed with swords of the same style. They were all dressed in the same uniform and looked like disciples of a certain sect. Along with them was an old man with a limp and disheveled hair. His features were unclear, but he looked like a scavenger.

Among this group of people, the leaders were obviously a man and a woman holding hands in the front.

There was only one woman in this group of people. She had a high nose bridge, thin lips, and a beautiful appearance. Although her skin was no longer delicate and a little rough due to the desert weather, it did not detract from her beauty.

The young man holding hands with the woman was obviously the leader of this group, because the other fellow disciples were very attentive to him, speaking respectfully to him and calling him "senior brother" all the time. As soon as he entered the door, someone went to wipe the stools clean, and some people asked the old shopkeeper to fetch water and serve dishes, etc., and they were very warm and flattering.

Although the woman looked like someone from the underworld, her every move was somewhat delicate. She looked at the old stool and hesitated to sit down.

Immediately, the eldest brother took out a gauze scarf and spread it on the stool, saying softly, "Junior Sister, the environment here is a bit poor, but this is the only inn within a radius of 10 to 20 miles, so you have to make do with it."

The woman frowned, then reluctantly sat down. She looked at the timid old man beside her and asked, "Grandpa Wu, let's stay here tonight. Don't worry, I will definitely escort you away safely!"

The old man nodded repeatedly.

At this time, the old shopkeeper hurried forward to greet the group of people.

There were ten people in total, and they sat at three tables. The woman, the eldest brother, and the disheveled, ragged old man sat at one table, which seemed quite out of place. The other seven people sat at two tables each.

After the group sat down, the inn became lively and the old innkeeper became busy, serving tea and pouring water.

The food for Gu Mo and his friends was already served, and the three of them were chatting while eating.

Chen Xiuyuan whispered, "Those are disciples of the Tongshan Sect. The one leading them is the eldest brother of the younger generation of the Tongshan Sect, named Wang Can. He's quite famous among the younger generation of Mobei. The other one is called Yuan Zhu. She was the last disciple accepted by the Tongshan Sect Master a few years ago. She's also quite famous, but not for her martial arts, but for her beauty. It's said that many of the younger disciples of the Tongshan Sect are in love with Yuan Zhu, and they often fight over her. In the end, it was the eldest brother Wang Can who won her heart."

"Is it beautiful?" Gu Mo asked doubtfully.

Gu Chudong was sitting right where she could see Yuan Zhu. Although the light from the inn's oil lamps wasn't very bright, she could still see clearly. She took a look and whispered, "She's quite pretty, but not to the level you're talking about, Mr. Chen, right? Well, in the Xuannv Palace, she's only about average. Not to mention the ten great fairies, I feel like even Xie Liuying is prettier than her!"

Chen Xiuyuan chuckled and said, "Miss Gu, you can't compare it to the Xuannv Palace. Everyone in Qingzhou knows that the disciples of the Xuannv Palace are all beautiful. The Xuannv Palace recruits disciples based on appearance. Secondly, the internal skills of the Xuannv Palace are well-known in the martial arts world for their beauty and temperament. Even if an ordinary person practices the internal skills of the Xuannv Palace, their appearance will become far superior to that of an ordinary person.

In addition, the climate in Mobei is not good, and the people here generally have rough and dark skin. Yuan Zhu is already a famous beauty within a hundred miles."

Gu Chudong nodded and said, "I see."

Gu Mo did not continue the topic and asked, "What level of sect is the Tongshan Sect in Mobei?"

Chen Xiuyuan said, "A first-rate sect. Mobei is a hodgepodge of all sorts of forces, but the most recognized of the eight factions are the Eight Directions, and the Tongshan Sect is one of them. The leader of the Tongshan Sect, Han Xiren, is nicknamed the Thunderbolt Divine Sword, and his swordsmanship is superb..."

"crunch"

At this moment, the door of the inn was pushed open again, and a young man came in. The young man was wearing a coarse black robe, and he was a little thin, with very dark skin. His sleeves rustled. His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, and under his eyebrows were a pair of deep and sharp eyes, with dark pupils. In his hand was a very roughly made sword, which was more like a piece of iron than a sword.

The young man had a very stern expression and it was obvious that he was a serious person.

The old shopkeeper looked around the hall with some embarrassment. The four tables were already full. He hurried to the door and said, "Sir, I'm sorry, there are no more empty tables..."

"No thanks." The young man's voice and face were cold. He took out a few copper coins from his pocket, handed them to the shopkeeper, and said, "A bowl of plain noodles."

The boss was slightly stunned, took the copper coins and went to the kitchen.

At this time, the people from the Tongshan faction all grasped the hilts of their swords and stared at the young man in black.

Yuan Zhu angrily scolded, "Are you done yet, brat? Mr. Wu did something wrong, but that was years ago. He's already atoned for it. Why are you still hounding him? Aren't you tired?"

Wang Can, the eldest brother of the Tongshan Sect, stood up, walked up to the young man in black, and said, "Little brother, here are ten taels of silver. Take this to buy a good sword. Consider it my apology on behalf of Old Master Wu. Let this matter end here. How about that?"

The young man in black said expressionlessly, "I'll say this one last time. That old fellow is the murderous Ghostly Old Man. He deserves to die."

As soon as the young man in black said this,
Gu Mo and the other two who were eating were stunned, and they all raised their heads at the same time.

Gu Chudong and Chen Xiuyuan hurriedly looked towards the dejected old man.

Inside the inn, the light was dim, the size of a bean-shaped flame flickering slightly, stretching the figure on the wall into a long shadow. The old man's hair was white and messy, obscuring his face and making it difficult to see clearly. His body was also dirty.

They couldn't tell whether it was the real Impermanence Ghost.

At this time,
Yuan Zhu, the younger sister from the Tongshan sect, stood up angrily, walked up to the black-clad youth, and shouted, "What do you mean by 'Grandpa Wu deserves to die?' Don't you understand what I'm saying? Perhaps Grandpa Wu did kill someone and do something wrong, but he's long since repented. He's been practicing vegetarianism, chanting Buddhist scriptures, building bridges and roads, and doing good deeds for decades. He's already atoned for his sins. Even if he did, his merits and demerits offset each other. We should forgive him on behalf of those people back then. Why are you still holding on to him?"

The young man in black looked at Yuan Zhu and said calmly, "Three years ago, your master Han Xiren gave out porridge in Mawangtun. I ate a bowl and owed him a favor. So, I gave you three days to think about it. Now that the time is up, I will give you one more incense stick of time to think about it. If after one incense stick, you still want to protect Sang Guhong, I will not be polite."

After saying that, the young man took out a stick of incense from his arms, took out a fire starter, lit it, and stuck it into the ground.

Yuan Zhu angrily drew his sword and pointed it at the young man in black, saying, "Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"

The young man in black didn't argue anymore. He stepped aside, holding his sword, and leaned against a pillar, slightly closing his eyes. Yuan Zhu was furious: "You..."

Wang Can held Yuan Zhu in his arms and whispered, "Junior sister, don't be impulsive." He looked at the young man in black with a look of fear in his eyes. He bowed and said, "Come to think of it, I haven't asked you yet. What's your name, little brother?"

The young man in black remained motionless and did not answer.

Wang Can made himself look awkward and forcefully dragged Yuan Zhu back to sit.

"Big Brother, what are you doing?" Yuan Zhu said unhappily. "That brat is so annoying. Grandpa Wu might have done something wrong back then, but what does it have to do with him? Besides, Grandpa Wu has long since repented and reformed. Why is he holding on to him? Who does he think he is?"

Wang Can whispered, "Junior Sister, don't be impulsive. We were riding at full speed, but that black guy was able to catch up with us on foot and never got away. He must be no simple character. We have to make a long-term plan!"

Yuan Zhu said angrily, "Big Brother, don't you want to save Grandpa Wu? If you don't, I will. I told you, Grandpa Wu watched me grow up and treated me very well. Although he is not my relative, he is no different from my family. I will never allow that black boy to kill him!"

After saying that, Yuan Zhu looked at the old man who was eating with his head down and whispered, "Grandpa Wu, don't be afraid. I have been learning martial arts in Tongshan for almost ten years. I will definitely be able to protect you. If that black boy really dares to attack, I will let him see my Tongshan swordsmanship!"

The disheveled old man looked up, smiled slightly, said nothing, and continued to eat with his head down.

Yuan Zhu looked at Wang Can and said, "Big Brother, let me tell you, are you going to help me or not? If you don't, don't come to me anymore!"

Wang Can said helplessly: "Junior Sister, I didn't say I won't help. I just said we should take a long-term view. That black guy must be very skilled in martial arts. We can't be impulsive..."

"What are you afraid of? There are so many of us. If we rush forward together, we can kill him!" Yuan Zhu said.

Wang Can shook his head slightly and said, "But, if my fellow apprentices get hurt, I won't be able to explain to Master..."

"I don't care," Yuan Zhu said arrogantly, "If you don't help me, I will help you alone."

When Yuan Zhu and Wang Can were arguing,
The old innkeeper came out with a bowl of noodles.

The young man in black took the noodles, said thank you, and started eating at the door with big mouthfuls.

The atmosphere in the inn suddenly became very depressing.

Several disciples of Tongshan Sect were silent. Wang Can was trying to comfort Yuan Zhu, but Yuan Zhu turned her head away and ignored Wang Can. As for the old man, he was eating with relish, as if everything had nothing to do with him.

Gu Mo and the others were also very quiet.

Not long after, the young man in black at the door finished his bowl of noodles and beckoned the old shopkeeper over. He handed the bowl to the old shopkeeper and whispered, "Shopkeeper, find a place to hide first, the farther the better. Don't worry, I will compensate you for everything you broke here."

As he spoke, the young man in black took out a silver ingot from his arms and said, "This is five taels of silver. It's a deposit. You don't have to return the excess. I will give you the difference later."

The old shopkeeper was able to open an inn in the Mobei region, so he was well-informed and had dealt with many people in the underworld. He knew the habit of these people to kill each other at the slightest disagreement. So, he took the silver ingot and ran to the kitchen, grabbed the chef and ran away.

Not long after the old shopkeeper ran out,

In the inn, the incense stick stuck on the ground has burned out.

The young man in black gripped the hilt of his sword, looked towards the group from the Tongshan Sect, and said, "Have you thought it through..."

"Do it!"

At that moment, Wang Can suddenly shouted,
At that moment, all eight disciples of the Tongshan Sect moved, but they did not attack the young man in black at first. Instead, they dispersed and extinguished all the oil lamps in the inn.

For a moment, the inn was plunged into darkness.

Immediately afterwards, in the darkness, the sound of golden swords "ding ding ding" was heard from the location where the young man in black was.

However, in just a moment,
The fire in the inn was lit again.

The scene at the inn was revealed. The young man in black held an iron sword, seven or eight three-inch-long arrows in front of him. On the other side, six Tongshan disciples rolled up their sleeves, each with arrows strapped to their arms. Inside the inn, Yuan Zhu was supporting the white-haired old man as they prepared to leave through the back door.

However, a fire suddenly lit up in the inn.
It messed up everything.

The people from the Tongshan faction and the young man in black all looked towards the fire.

It was Gu Chudong, holding a torch.

Seeing this, Yuan Zhu was furious and asked, "Who are you and why are you meddling in other people's business?"

Gu Chudong didn't say anything. Chen Xiuyuan, who was sitting opposite her, stood up, took out a token, and said in a deep voice: "Six Gates is investigating the case!"

Immediately, Yuan Zhu's face turned pale. He quickly pulled the white-haired old man behind him and said, "Grandpa Wu, run quickly. I'll stop them!"

Chen Xiuyuan's face darkened as he shouted, "You want to stop the Six Gates from investigating the case? Are you planning a rebellion?"

Chen Xiuyuan's scolding, combined with his status, would have been quite oppressive in other places, but this was Mobei, one of the places where the Six Gates had the weakest influence.

Yuan Zhu wasn't frightened at all. Instead, she roared, "Are you all sick? Why are you holding on to something that happened decades ago? That was so long ago. That black kid was like this, and so are you from the Six Gates. Why can't you give Grandpa Wu a chance to reform? Just because he did something wrong in the past, does that mean he doesn't deserve to live?"

Chen Xiuyuan drew his sword and strode towards Yuan Zhu. Wang Can, standing beside him, hurriedly stepped forward, blocking Chen Xiuyuan's way and saying with a smile, "I wonder which of the Six Gates you work for, but our Tongshan Sect has connections with the Six Gates of various counties. Several of our captains are good friends with our master, perhaps even old friends. My little sister is young and ignorant, so please don't make a fuss about her..."

Chen Xiuyuan said expressionlessly, "Are you also going to hinder the Six Gates from investigating the case?"

Wang Can's face froze, and he said, "Sir, if you want to talk, let's talk. I am Wang Can, the eldest brother of the Tongshan Sect, and my master..."

"Do you know who he is?"

Chen Xiuyuan pointed at the old man behind Yuan Zhu.

"Mr. Wu from Yuanjiatun." Wang Can said.

Chen Xiuyuan said, "I now suspect he is the wanted criminal Sang Guhong, and I am going to investigate. If you dare to stop me again, I will kill you right here and now."

Chen Xiuyuan didn't give Wang Can any face at all, and his face turned very ugly.

Immediately, a group of disciples from the Tongshan School surrounded him with swords in hand. They all had unfriendly expressions, and they looked as if they would dare to attack Chen Xiuyuan as long as their senior brother Wang Can gave the order.

This scene made Gu Chudong and Gu Mo very emotional. No wonder Zhuo Qingfeng said that if he could establish the Six Gates in Mobei, it would be a political achievement that would allow him to rise to prominence.

This Mobei really needs to be suppressed.

A mere disciple of the Tongshan School actually dared to draw his sword against Chen Xiuyuan even after he had revealed his identity to the Six Gates. He was simply rebelling against Tiangang.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong had been traveling the Jianghu for years, dealing frequently with both the Jianghu and the Six Gates. They were well aware of the Six Gates' status in the Jianghu. Even a top sect like the Canglan Sword Sect, ranked among the top three sects and four factions, would not dare to openly draw their swords and threaten the Six Gates' constables.

But in Mobei, a few disciples of the Tongshan Sect dared to do this, and seemed to be used to it.

at this time,

The young man in black came over, sword in hand, and said, "He is Sang Guhong, the Ghostly Old Man of Impermanence."

Chen Xiuyuan asked, "Who are you? What sect do you belong to?"

The young man in black replied, "I have no sect or school, I am a wanderer, Yu Nineteen!"

Chen Xiuyuan's pupils shrank slightly, and Gu Chudong, who was holding a torch on the other side, was also slightly moved.

As they had guessed before,
The young man in black is Yu Shijiu, the flying swordsman who has become famous in the past two years.

The Six Gates had some detailed information about the Flying Swordsman, but the portrait was crude, and it was difficult to see clearly at night. Therefore, Gu Chudong and Chen Xiuyuan had some guesses, but they were not completely certain.

The Flying Swordsman is a mysterious swordsman who has appeared in Mobei in the past two years. Although he is very young, his swordsmanship is as fast as lightning. Two years ago, he was chasing a bandit and threw his sword a hundred feet away. The sword pierced through his chest like a flying sword and killed him, hence the name Flying Swordsman.

"Then, it seems that you are the Ghost of Impermanence." Chen Xiuyuan looked at the old man.

now,

The old man standing behind Yuan Zhu sighed deeply and said, "For twenty years, I have been atonement, but I always feel that there are wronged souls haunting me. They refuse to forgive me, causing me to live in pain every day. I am also worried that my identity will be exposed. I live in fear every day, as if I am on the edge of an abyss. I just want to spend my old age in peace. After twenty years, I still can't hide it."

As he spoke, the old man walked out from behind Yuan Zhu and said, "Yes, I am Sang Guhong, the Ghostly Old Man of Impermanence."

Yu Shijiu raised his sword and pointed it at Sang Guhong, saying, "Why do you dream of living out your old age in peace? Why do you think that if you atone for your sins, those you killed will have to forgive you?"

Chen Xiuyuan said, "Since you've already admitted it, do you intend to fight to the bitter end, or submit to the law voluntarily?"

Sang Guhong sighed and said, "Sir, I am willing to submit to the law, but please do not hold Yuan Zhu responsible. She has no idea of ​​the sins I have committed..."

"No, Grandpa Wu, I said I would protect you and I will definitely protect you. I will never allow anyone to hurt you!"

After saying that, Yuan Zhu directly rushed towards Chen Xiuyuan with a sword.

Chen Xiuyuan's face darkened as he swung his sword. The speed of his sword was far superior to Yuan Zhu's mediocre martial arts skills. With one strike, he blocked Yuan Zhu's long sword and slashed towards Yuan Zhu's shoulder.

"stop!"

Seeing that Yuan Zhu was about to be injured, Wang Can immediately drew his sword and stabbed Chen Xiuyuan.

At the same time, Yu Shijiu also drew his sword, and several other disciples of the Tongshan School also took action. The scene instantly fell into chaos.

Seeing this, the ghost of death chuckled, turned around quietly, stepped on the ground, and used his lightness skills to slip away through the back door.

(End of this chapter)