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

Chapter 207 The Pursuit of the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets (10-word chapter)
After Gu Mo agreed to kill the wanted criminal Tianji Shusheng, he went to Yuncheng with Master Chang.

The fastest way to travel from Yun County to Cangyuan City is by water. Within Yun Prefecture, only two factions have the most successful waterway businesses: the Sanjiang Gang of Linjiang County and the Feiyu Gang. However, the Sanjiang Gang primarily operates within Yun Prefecture, while the Feiyu Gang mainly deals with overseas markets. Therefore, if you want to find the Heavenly Mystery Scholar in Cangyuan City, the Feiyu Gang is undoubtedly the most suitable option.

Canglan County is not far from Yuncheng, and we arrived there that evening. However, the Flying Fish Gang's carriage was not as comfortable as Tang Buyi's.

Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were going to Cangyuan City, so they naturally parted ways with Tang Buyi and could no longer ride in Tang Buyi's luxurious carriage.

After arriving in Yuncheng, Master Chang took Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Qian Duoduo to his home to rest for the night, and arranged for a boat to take them to Cangyuan City the next morning.

After having a late-night snack together, Master Chang escorted Gu Mo and Gu Chudong to the courtyard he had arranged for them to rest. After dropping them off, Master Chang suddenly said, "Master Gu, although you have already agreed to help Boss Qian with the task, and I was the middleman, I still have to remind you that if something is impossible, don't force it."

Gu Mo asked doubtfully, "Could it be that there's something wrong with this Boss Qian?"

“That’s not it,” Master Chang said. “The Qian family, to which Boss Qian belongs, has been cooperating with my Flying Fish Gang for decades. Boss Qian’s father had a long-term partnership with my Flying Fish Gang when he was alive. This Qian Duoduo is my nephew. I can guarantee with my life that he is absolutely innocent and would never harm you, Master Gu. If Qian Duoduo were to harm you, you can come and take my head.”

Gu Mo asked, "So what you meant just now?"

Master Chang invited Gu Mo to sit down and slowly said, "I wonder, Master Gu, are you familiar with Cangzhou?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "I don't know much about it. I've only heard that Cangzhou is the most prosperous of the eight states of Qian Kingdom, except for Tianzhou, where the capital is located."

Master Chang nodded and said, "That's true. If we put aside the fact that the capital is in Tianzhou, in terms of wealth, even Tianzhou can't compare to Cangzhou. The annual tax revenue of the government in Cangzhou alone is equivalent to or even more than the combined revenue of Yunzhou, Qingzhou, and Hongzhou. You can imagine how wealthy it is."

It is precisely because of its wealth that the martial arts world there is a hundred times more complex than that of our Yunzhou, with various forces deeply intertwined. Of the three major sects, four factions, and seven great families that are recognized as the most powerful forces in the martial arts world of our Qian Kingdom, four are located in Cangzhou: the Su family, a family specializing in medicine; the Lin family, a family specializing in weapons; the Yun family, a family specializing in embroidery; and the Chunyang Temple, which is the head of the four factions.

Chunyang Temple goes without saying; although it ranks among the three sects and four factions, it is famously aloof from worldly affairs, remaining detached from worldly affairs in Cangzhou. The three great families, however, are different. Nominally, each family has its own strengths: one has been engaged in medicine making and alchemy for generations, one deals in weapons, and the other in textiles. But this doesn't mean these families only do these businesses; it simply means they excel in these areas.

They controlled the largest commercial channels, enjoyed the most prestigious reputation, and had connections with the government in Cangzhou; naturally, they couldn't be limited to just one area. Therefore, how could they be absent from any profitable business? And money shops… everyone knew they were one of the most lucrative businesses.”

Gu Mo suddenly realized, "You mean, the Heavenly Mystery Scholar's attack on Qian Duoduo's Datong Money Shop might be orchestrated by the three great families?"

Master Chang nodded and said, "It's pretty much true. To be honest, the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets is quite strong, but I would believe it if he could escape the Six Doors' pursuit once or twice. But to escape so many times, how could it be possible without someone helping him behind the scenes? In Cangzhou, only the three great families have the power to influence the Six Doors."

Furthermore, the trouble that happened at the Qian family's Datong Money Shop was actually foreshadowed, and Qian Duoduo was also aware of it. The reason he went to great lengths to deal with Tianji Shusheng was simply because he couldn't stand by and do nothing!

Gu Mo asked curiously, "How so?"

Master Chang said, "Datong Money Shop used to be a third-rate money shop in Cangyuan City. However, since Qian Duoduo took over ten years ago, he has shown extraordinary business acumen. In just a few years, he has developed Datong Money Shop into one of the largest money shops in Cangzhou, opening nearly ten branches throughout the city. Its momentum is very strong."

This attracted the attention of various forces. All three major families approached Qian Duoduo, expressing their desire to invest and share in the profits. Qian Duoduo, naturally unwilling to let others profit for free, remained evasive. However, six months prior, the Lin family had used various means to suppress and threaten Qian Duoduo. Despite his less-than-ideal appearance, Qian Duoduo's business acumen was undeniable, and the Lin family hadn't gained a significant advantage, leading to a prolonged period of unpleasantness between the two sides.

Not long after, the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets appeared and robbed the silver cart of Datong Money Exchange, damaging the exchange's reputation and forcing Qian Duoduo to sell his assets to cover the losses. Therefore, the mastermind behind this incident is practically an open secret.

Gu Chudong, standing to the side, asked doubtfully, "This Ye Xiao is a notorious member of the evil sect, a ruthless killer. Would the Lin family dare to cooperate with such a person? Wouldn't that be cutting themselves off from the martial arts world?"

Master Chang laughed and said, “Miss Gu, who has any evidence to prove that Ye Xiao was instructed by the Lin family? Why do you think those notorious bandits in the martial arts world can commit crimes repeatedly and still escape? In fact, many of them are just the black gloves of powerful forces, doing shady things for high-ranking officials and aristocratic families. They can’t possibly leave any evidence.”

"So, in other words, Ye Xiao is someone who does dirty work for the Lin family?" Gu Chudong said indignantly, "That's outrageous! Ye Xiao is a ruthless villain who kills without hesitation!"

Master Chang said repeatedly, "Miss Gu, I never said that Ye Xiao is a member of the Lin family. You can't say things like that!"

Gu Chudong said, "Fourth Master Chang, it can't be that serious. You're in Yunzhou, and the Lin family is in Cangzhou. Why are you afraid of him?"

Master Chang chuckled and said, "It's not that I'm afraid, it's that there's no need to offend them. If these baseless rumors get out, the Lin family will never admit it. If someone with ulterior motives uses this to blow things up, the Lin family will definitely fight me to the death for their reputation. I don't need to fight them to the death, do I?"

Gu Chudong thought for a moment and said, "That's true."

Master Chang said, “Master Gu, Master Gu, please don’t hold a big prejudice against the Lin family because of my words. Aristocratic families are very complicated. Moreover, to be honest, Ye Xiao is not necessarily the one who is behind it. After all, the other two families deliberately sowed discord and made Qian Duoduo and the Lin family enemies, which increased their chances of investing in Datong Bank.”

Gu Chudong suddenly realized, "That's true, it doesn't necessarily have to be the Lin family!"

Master Chang chuckled and said, "That's all I have to say. You two, if things go well, great; if not, don't force it. Cangzhou is a deep and complex place, far more so than Yunzhou. The three great families also have very deep official connections, so it's quite troublesome."

As for Qian Duoduo, you two shouldn't feel sorry for him; he's nothing to be pitied. No matter how much the three great families try, they won't dare to lay a hand on him. They're just trying to force him to back down. If he really can't win, he can simply retreat and still be the owner of Datong Money Shop, still the owner who makes money hand over fist every day.

Furthermore, even if we successfully kill that Heavenly Mystery Scholar, there's no need to worry. No force dares to admit he's one of theirs, and no one will seek revenge. On the surface, they'll even thank you two for ridding Cangzhou of this scourge.

……

Early the next morning,
Gu Mo and Gu Chudong boarded the Flying Fish Gang's boat and set off for Cangyuan City.

After drifting on the river for three days, we finally arrived at Cangyuan City.

Throughout the journey, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong remained hidden, rarely showing themselves. Even after disembarking from the boat, they both quickly boarded the carriage while wearing straw hats.

Cangyuan City is the second most prosperous city in the Qian Kingdom after the capital, and it is far superior to Yun City and Qingzhou City. Even the two cities combined cannot match the prosperity of Cangyuan City.

It's a pity that Gu Mo can't see it.

However, after hearing Gu Chudong's surprised description of the four- or five-story high-rise buildings on the street, and considering the background of this era, Gu Mo could roughly imagine the prosperity of Cangyuan City.

Escorted by Qian Duoduo's group of guards, the carriage arrived outside a manor in the city. It was an estate, and in a prosperous city like Cangyuan City, to own such a large estate was enough to show that the Qian family name was truly fitting, and they were indeed very wealthy.

The two carriages stopped.

Qian Duoduo transformed into a nimble fat man, quickly dismounted from his carriage, and hurriedly ran to the carriage carrying Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, urging them to get off and quickly enter the mansion.

Even after entering the mansion, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong both wore bamboo hats, which they only took off when they reached a small courtyard.

The reason for this arrangement is
This was to avoid revealing Gu Mo and Gu Chudong's arrival. Given Gu Mo's current reputation in the martial arts world, it was highly likely that once word got out, the Mysterious Scholar would flee at the mere sight of them. In that case, Gu Mo would have made a wasted trip, neither resolving Qian Duoduo's issue nor killing the wanted criminal.

Therefore, Gu Mo fully approved of and cooperated with Qian Duoduo's plan to travel discreetly from Yuncheng onwards.

After arriving at the Qian family's house,

Gu Mo and his sister Gu Chudong stayed in the Qian family mansion for four consecutive days without going out.

On the morning of the fifth day, after Gu Mo and Gu Chudong had finished breakfast, Qian Duoduo came to the courtyard and said, "Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, get ready. I have sold a lot of furniture and shops these past few days and raised 50,000 taels of silver to send to the Datong Money Exchange branch in Rongcheng. The news has already been spread."

Gu Chudong asked, "Boss Qian, what if the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets doesn't come?"

Qian Duoduo said, "He will definitely come. This is the last lifeline for my Datong Money Shop. If this deal is robbed, my Qian family will no longer have the money to make up for the losses of Datong Money Shop, and we will have no choice but to sell the money shop."

Having come this far, they won't give me any breathing room. So, putting myself in their shoes, if I were them, I would definitely rob this silver cart. "Miss Gu, rest assured, even if the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have let you two make a wasted trip; I would certainly have offered you a reward for your trouble."

Hearing Qian Duoduo say that, Gu Chudong had no more ideas. As long as she could get paid, she didn't mind making a wasted trip.

Although Gu Mo didn't want to make a wasted trip, he also knew that some things depended on fate.

He immediately began discussing the specific itinerary with Qian Duoduo.

……

At the entrance of the Qian family mansion, a team was ready to depart.

Five carriages were lined up in a row. The first four were cargo carriages, with several large boxes securely placed inside. The copper locks on the boxes gleamed coldly in the sunlight, and inside were 50,000 taels of silver.

The escort team consisted of about twenty people, each with an imposing presence. Weapons were worn at their waists, and their every move exuded a sharp and intimidating aura. Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were disguised as guards and hidden among them. To conceal the fact that his eyes were covered by a black cloth, Gu Mo even wore a bamboo hat.

These twenty-odd people were all handpicked by Qian Duoduo from the Qian family and all the guards he trusted and who were willing to risk their lives for him.

The leader of the group was a middle-aged man named Qian Yue, the pillar of the Qian family. He was highly respected in the martial arts world and could be considered a top-tier expert. The Qian family's rapid development was largely due to Qian Yue's prestige in the martial arts world, in addition to Qian Duoduo's business acumen.

Qian Yue had already met Gu Mo and Gu Chudong a couple of days ago, and was the only person in the group who knew the identities of the siblings.

After Qian Duoduo gave Qian Yue a few instructions, Qian Yue ordered them to set off.

Just as the team started,
A procession appeared and blocked the middle of the road. A young gentleman stepped out of his sedan chair. He wore a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with elegant cloud patterns, and his posture was upright. His face was like jade, his eyes like bright stars, and a gentle smile played on his lips.
Upon seeing this person, Qian Yue, Qian Duoduo, and the others immediately became alert, some even gripping their weapons, creating a tense atmosphere.

"It's Lin Xiangdong, the eldest son of the Lin family," Qian Yue whispered to Gu Mo and Gu Chudong.

Upon hearing Qian Yue's words, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong instantly understood why the Qian family was reacting this way. It was now almost certain that the Qian family's crisis was caused by the Lin family, and the Lin family was behind the Tianji Scholar's repeated robberies of the Qian family's silver carts.

During this period, the Lin family has been negotiating with the Qian family, and it was this young master Lin Xiangdong who had previously threatened the Qian family.

Lin Xiangdong seemed oblivious to the angry glares directed at him by the Qian family members. He walked over with a smile, cupped his hands in greeting to Qian Duoduo, and said, "Boss Qian, what a coincidence! I was just about to visit you!"

Qian Duoduo smiled and said, "My humble abode is unworthy of Young Master Lin's visit."

Lin Xiangdong stepped forward and said, "Mr. Qian, you're being too polite. I'm counting on you to make a living. Mr. Qian, how about giving me a chance?"

Qian Duoduo said in a deep voice, "Young Master Lin, please don't flatter me to death. The Qian family is too small to support such a golden Buddha as you. Please be merciful and give me a way out!"

"What are you saying, Mr. Qian?" Lin Xiangdong said with a smile, "I heard that Datong Money Shop has recently gotten into some trouble. Since I am a close friend of Mr. Qian, I came to see you. If there is anything I can do to help you, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Lin," Qian Duoduo said, "but it's just a small matter. I can handle it myself, so there's no need for you to trouble yourself!"

"Really?" Lin Xiangdong glanced at the large boxes in the line, chuckled, and said, "Boss Qian, are you sending these to Rongcheng? Sigh, I heard that the roads to Rongcheng haven't been very safe lately. Boss Qian, you must be extra careful."

Qian Duoduo's expression was somewhat grim. He walked closer and whispered, "Young Master Lin, are you really going to go this far?"

Lin Xiangdong quickly said, "Mr. Qian, what are you saying? I just heard some rumors in the martial arts world and came to remind you. I'm sure you've heard some gossip and misunderstood me. Mr. Qian, please don't believe those divisive words. I sincerely want to cooperate with you."

Qian Duoduo remained silent.

Lin Xiangdong continued, "Boss Qian, I'll stick to the same price: 50% of the shares for 200,000 taels. I won't lower the price. Even though... Datong Money Shop is currently facing some turmoil, I'll keep the price unchanged. If you can find someone to offer a higher price, I'll add another 10%!"

After saying that, Lin Xiangdong patted Qian Duoduo on the shoulder, waved, and left with his men.

Qian Duoduo also signaled Qian Yue and the others to set off.

On the long street,

As the Lin family group gradually disappeared into the distance, a trusted confidant beside Lin Xiangdong asked in confusion, "Young Master, why are you still willing to pay such a high price? Datong Bank is about to collapse now, how can it be worth that much? 100,000 taels is more than enough. Besides, the Qian family is now heavily in debt."

Lin Xiangdong waved his hand and said, "You don't understand. Do you think I'm the only one eyeing Datong Bank? The Yun family and the Su family also want a piece of the pie, but they just want to get something for nothing after I make my move!"

Think about it, does Qian Duoduo know I'm behind this? He definitely knows. Does he hate me? If, by then, he can't hold on anymore and agrees to lower his price, and the Yun or Su families' prices are similar, he wouldn't choose to sell to me out of spite. Therefore, my price absolutely cannot change; in fact, I can even raise it further.”

The confidant asked doubtfully, "What if Qian Duoduo gets angry and is determined not to sell to you? Wouldn't that be doing all the work for someone else?"

Lin Xiangdong said, "In business, there's no real grudge. It's all about profit. Even if Qian Duoduo acts impulsively, the Qian family won't allow it. As long as my price is higher than the Yun and Su families', they can't possibly refuse to sell to me. Are you going to throw away the money just to spite them?"

"But what if the Yun and Su families also offer 200,000 taels?" the confidant asked.

Lin Xiangdong laughed and said, "The Yun and Su families are unlikely to raise the price; they'll only try to drive it down. Besides, if they really do raise the price, then I'll raise it again. My bottom line is 300,000 taels. Do you think the Yun and Su families will follow suit?"

"This is impossible, it's far beyond the value of Datong Money House," the confidant said. "Young Master, you're losing money by doing this!"

“Not bad at all,” Lin Xiangdong said. “I’m not only interested in Datong Money Shop, but also in Qian Duoduo himself. He has exceptional business acumen. With Qian Duoduo’s model and methods, Datong Money Shop has a bright future. He could even take over the entire money shop business in Cangzhou. Hmph, let’s see how the second brother can compete with me then!”

The confidant suddenly realized and said, "So, Young Master, you're looking at the future of Datong Money House! You truly have foresight; I admire you." The confidant paused for a moment, then whispered, "Young Master, look, Qian Duoduo is clearly desperate. He's even sent out Qian Yue, the pillar of the Qian family. Besides, there are Qian Man and Qian Xu, the two leading figures of the younger generation of the Qian family. This escort force is not weak. Can the scholar handle it?"

Lin Xiangdong said confidently, "Don't worry, that 'Scholar of Heaven's' methods are not simple. Qian Duoduo is just putting up a last-ditch resistance."

……

Cangzhou comprises eight prefectures, and Datong Money Shop has eight branches in three of them. Normally, money circulates between these money shops. However, the previous robberies caused a break in the cash flow, and the Qian family had to empty their entire fortune to patch the hole.

The destination we are going to this time is Rongcheng, the county seat of Rong County, the most remote county in Cangzhou, which is hundreds of miles away.

Along the way, with Qian Yue providing cover, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were not noticed anything unusual by the people in the group.

Of course, the main reason is that Gu Mo is not famous enough.

As one of the top ten grandmasters of the Qian Kingdom, he had only recently been promoted, and his influence wasn't that great yet. Besides, he was only tenth on the Heavenly Ranking, not first. Just like people remember the number one expert, not many remember the second peak, let alone the tenth peak.

After all, unlike Yunzhou, which was Gu Mo's base, and unlike Qingzhou, where he had caused quite a stir, Cangzhou was a different story. He had never been to Cangzhou before, nor had he caused any trouble there. Therefore, not many people in the Cangzhou martial arts world paid attention to him. Many people had certainly heard of him, but very few would immediately recognize him upon seeing him, especially since he had been deliberately disguising himself along the way and had Qian Yue providing cover.

So, although some people tried to subtly inquire about Gu Mo and Gu Chudong's identities along the way, Qian Yue managed to fool them all.

The journey lasted several days, and everything went smoothly and uneventfully. Until one evening, as darkness fell...

The Qian family's party arrived at a post station outside a county town.

……

Dusk, like an old gray cloth, weighed heavily on this vast land. Beside the official road, a somewhat rustic post station stood quietly.

Inside the inn, oil lamps were already lit, their dim, yellowish light flickering in the cold wind, casting long and short shadows of the people inside. A dozen or so wandering swordsmen sat scattered about, some in twos and threes, others alone at a table. Their clothing varied, a mix of coarse linen and fine brocade robes, the swords at their waists gleaming coldly in the dim light, occasionally clashing with a crisp sound.

A waiter ushered Qian Yue and his group inside. Behind the counter, the shopkeeper was fiddling with an abacus, making a clattering sound. He was slightly overweight, with the shrewdness and kindness typical of a businessman. He would occasionally look up, his gaze sweeping across the shop, paying attention to the needs of each customer.

A gust of cold wind blew by, causing the orchids by the door to sway.

At Qian Yue's request, all the carriages were parked in the post station courtyard, with half the staff guarding them and the other half going inside to eat. The tables were all required to be by the windows, so that the outside could be seen. Furthermore, even the rooms for resting were all required to be near the courtyard so that they could be easily monitored.

The kitchen staff worked very efficiently, and the food was ready in no time. The waiter enthusiastically brought the food and drinks to the table.

Qian Yue cautiously took out silver needles to check each one, and then gestured for everyone to check if they carried antidotes with them. He was about to invite everyone to eat when he suddenly heard Gu Mo transmit his voice: "The food is poisoned."

Qian Yue knew Gu Mo's identity, so he naturally didn't doubt Gu Mo's words. He immediately slammed his hand on the table and waved to the fat shopkeeper.

The portly shopkeeper hurriedly ran over with a smile and asked, "Sir, what can I do for you?"

Qian Yue took a pair of chopsticks and placed them on the table, saying, "Shopkeeper, you're being a bit unfair. Eat these dishes yourself; they're all spoiled. Did I shortchange you?"

"Really?" the chubby shopkeeper asked in surprise, "All my vegetables are fresh!"

As he spoke, the chubby shopkeeper picked up his chopsticks and began to taste the dishes. He quickly tried all the food, then looked at Qian Yue and asked in confusion, "It's not spoiled, sir!"

For a moment, everyone looked at Qian Yue with confusion.

Qian Yue also looked suspicious.

Then, everyone saw the man wearing a straw hat dip his chopsticks in the wine, tap them lightly on the bowl a few times, put some food into the bowl, and then place the bowl and chopsticks in front of the innkeeper, saying calmly, "Please."

To everyone's surprise,

The shopkeeper stared at the man in the straw hat for a while, then suddenly laughed and said, "I didn't expect there to be another master like me here!"

The next moment, all the other guests in the inn suddenly became menacing, rising to their feet and drawing their weapons. Seeing this, the Qian family members also realized they had encountered robbers, and at that moment, they too drew their weapons, creating a tense atmosphere in the inn.

The fat shopkeeper's tone suddenly turned cold as he said, "Why are you hiding your face? Anyone who can recognize my Water-Seeing Green Poison is no nobody in the martial arts world."

The man in the straw hat slowly took it off.

The fat innkeeper and everyone else in the inn were all astonished.

"blind!"

"A blind man?"

"Is he really blind, or is he just pretending to be a ghost?"

For a time, the "guests" in the inn were all talking about it.

Only the fat shopkeeper suddenly looked at Gu Chudong next to Gu Mo. When he saw Gu Chudong take off her bamboo hat, revealing a fair and beautiful face, his expression changed immediately, and he exclaimed, "You are the great hero of Yunzhou, Gu Mo!"

At the same moment, as the fat innkeeper exclaimed in surprise, the people in the inn showed different expressions. Some were terrified, some were bewildered. Clearly, some knew the name of Gu Mo, the great hero of Yunzhou, while others did not.

Hearing the fat shopkeeper's exclamation, Gu Mo chuckled and said, "It seems I'm not exactly an unknown figure in Cangzhou."

The fat shopkeeper's face turned ashen, and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead. He said in a gloomy tone, "It's rumored in the martial arts world that when a handsome young blind man appears with a beautiful and aloof young woman, it's very likely that Gu Mo, the great hero of Yunzhou, has appeared. If the woman is also carrying a large book box, then it can be confirmed that the great hero of Yunzhou has appeared."

Gu Mo slowly said, "Are you Ye Xiao, the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets?"

The portly shopkeeper wore his trademark "friendly and prosperous" smile, gently twisted his neck, and made a "creak" sound. Then, he took a step back, a seemingly ordinary step, yet with a hint of eeriness.

In an instant, a chilling "crackling" sound emanated from his body, as if countless bones were twisting and rearranging themselves. Everyone was terrified, their faces grim, their eyes fixed on the shopkeeper.

In the suffocating silence, a strange change occurred. The once plump and bloated figure seemed to have been sucked out of its shell, rapidly becoming taller and thinner. The accumulated fat disappeared, replaced by a straight and upright posture. The loose fat on his face tightened, his features were rearranged, and the greasy feeling vanished, transforming him into a refined and cultured middle-aged man.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his long robe fluttering, his eyes revealing depth and wisdom, completely unlike the fat shopkeeper from before. He cupped his hands towards Gu Mo and said, "Ye Xiao, the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets, pays his respects to Hero Gu!"

Gu Mo exclaimed in surprise, "What a brilliant disguise technique! This method is so realistic that it can be mistaken for the real thing, and it can even change the appearance of the body."

Ye Xiao cupped his hands and said, "I am flattered to receive such praise from Hero Gu. All my years of cultivation have been worthwhile."

"Your poisoning techniques are also very sophisticated."

Gu Mo's praise was heartfelt. If it weren't for his profound skill, he wouldn't have been able to discern Ye Xiao's Water-Seeing Green Poison in such a short time using only his poison techniques.

The substance itself is non-toxic, colorless, and odorless when exposed to water. However, once it comes into contact with water and two other toxins collide, it becomes highly poisonous. Simply applying it to chopsticks is harmless, applying it to a bowl is harmless, and adding it to food is also harmless. However, if all three toxins come into contact with water and combine, they will become highly poisonous.

So, Gu Mo dipped his chopsticks in the wine, put it in his bowl, and then asked Ye Xiao to eat it. Ye Xiao refused to eat it, realizing that he had been exposed.

That poison was indeed ingenious; it could poison anyone who ate food, regardless of whether they drank alcohol or not, and even saliva could be poisoned.

Hearing Gu Mo praise his poison, Ye Xiao felt very proud and chuckled, saying, "But you still managed to see through it."

Gu Mo then asked, "I've heard that the Scholar of Heavenly Secrets is skilled in disguise, poison, and swordsmanship. I've already witnessed your disguise and poison skills, so now it's time to see your swordsmanship. Logically speaking, your swordsmanship should be your strongest weapon, since your name, The Scholar of Heavenly Secrets, comes from your Heavenly Secrets Sword Technique."

Ye Xiao said softly, "I'm afraid you won't have the chance to see my Heavenly Secret Sword Technique, after all, you haven't even broken my poison yet!"

As soon as Ye Xiaoxiao finished speaking...
Several members of the Qian family suddenly collapsed to the ground, their bodies going limp. Qian Yue's expression changed drastically at that moment. He also felt a wave of weakness wash over him and staggered, almost falling over. Fortunately, he was highly skilled and quickly used his internal energy to suppress the poison. The other experts from the Qian family also quickly began to use their internal energy as well.

Gu Mo frowned, sniffed the air slightly, and asked, "Are there any flowers or plants near the entrance?"

Gu Chudong said, "There are a few pots of orchids."

"No wonder."

Gu Mo was rather helpless. Although the other party's move was just a coincidence, it did happen to hit his weak point. He couldn't see the kind of technique that could only be detected by the naked eye, so he was truly helpless.

At this moment, Ye Xiao spoke up: "I wonder how much fighting power Master Gu, who is suppressing the poison while circulating his internal energy, still has, and whether he is qualified to see my Heavenly Mystery Sword Technique?"

Before he could finish speaking, Ye Xiao waved his hand and said, "Go!"

In an instant, the peace was shattered. Inside the inn, those who had been pretending to be guests and waiters revealed their ferocity, drawing their sharp blades and attacking Gu Mo and his companions like hungry wolves pouncing on their prey. Amidst flashing blades and roars, tables and chairs were overturned, wine spilled everywhere, and the entire inn descended into chaos.

The wind howled through the air, and a murderous aura filled the air.

However, at this tense moment of life and death, a scene that shocked everyone unfolded. Ye Xiao, who had just been brimming with confidence, suddenly turned and ran without hesitation. His speed was as if he had oil on his feet, creating a gust of wind that left no time for anyone to react. He left only a blur before reaching the entrance of the post station.

Not to mention the Qian family, even those who were with Ye Xiao were all taken aback.

Just then, as Ye Xiao was about to run out the door, Gu Mo slightly raised his hand, gently tapped his index finger, and his inner energy surged like a raging tide, gathering at his fingertip.

In an instant, the Shangyang sword energy from the Six Meridians Divine Sword shot out with the force of breaking through the air, and a sharp whistling sound instantly rang out in the air. The invisible sword energy was like a sharp lightning bolt, heading straight for Ye Xiao's back.

Ye Xiao seemed to sense something; his heart clenched, and the hairs on his body stood on end. In a panic, he hurriedly turned around, wanting to parry with his sword. But everything happened too fast; his body had only turned half an inch when the Shangyang Sword had already whistled towards him. With a muffled "thud," an invisible sword aura instantly pierced through his back, and the powerful force, like a surging torrent, directly pierced through his heart, then blasted a bloody hole in his chest.

The momentum from turning to block caused Ye Xiao's body to twist, and he coughed up blood, his eyes wide open, staring at Gu Mo in disbelief.

A few muffled sobs escaped his throat, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, lifeless, leaving only a pool of glaring blood slowly spreading on the cold ground.

At the same time, as the evening breeze swept through the hall, Gu Chudong suddenly shouted. Her voice was like shards of ice falling into a deep pool, carrying a chilling, terrifying quality.

The sword suddenly appeared.

The moment the Gouchen Demon Blade was drawn, the red light of the setting sun seemed to be sliced ​​into fragments. The blade gleamed with crimson flames, like will-o'-the-wisps from the underworld, or like the murderous intent hidden in the eyes of an enemy.

Her actions were completely devoid of any worldly charm.

The knife in her hand transformed into a flowing blur of light and shadow; ten blade energies, like ten bolts of lightning, tore twisted cracks in the air. The robbers didn't even have time to see her movements clearly; they only saw a blood-red cross flash before their eyes.

The sound of blood blossoms bursting in the air was just like the crisp sound of withered leaves falling to the ground in late autumn.

Some people, with blood gushing from their throats, still maintained their forward-rushing posture; some clutched their chests, their pupils reflecting their shattered images; and some, with deep, bone-revealing cross-shaped wounds on their necks, still futilely swung their knives.

Gu Chudong stood silently in the pool of blood, her sword already sheathed. She was aloof and untouched by the world's grime, with only the silver bells in her hair trembling gently in the wind, as if singing a requiem for this fleeting massacre.

The setting sun, like a pool of congealed blood, seeped through the cracks in the window frame.

Gu Chudong's knife was already sheathed.

The final cross-shaped blade of energy still hung in mid-air, like a fallen leaf that refused to wither, about to kill the last person.

"Leave one alive." Gu Mo's voice drifted from the side, as light as an evening breeze brushing against the strings of a zither.

Gu Chudong's fingertips suddenly trembled slightly as she drew her sword and slashed out. A sharp blade of energy burst forth from her body, like a raging beast, rushing towards the blade of energy that was about to take a life.

The speed of this blade of energy was beyond imagination. In the blink of an eye, it caught up with the blade of energy that was a foot away.

The two blades of energy collided violently in mid-air, like two stars colliding, producing a deafening sound and stirring up visible shockwaves, like two blood-red datura flowers blooming at the same time.

The robber slumped to the ground, his pupils reflecting the glint of the blade that was about to tear his throat apart. He suddenly realized that his Adam's apple was still throbbing, while Gu Chudong remained impeccably clean.

"Such a fast knife," Qian Yue murmured.

Gu Chudong turned around, sheathed his knife, and put it back in the book box. Then he sat down on the stool, his movements clean and efficient, his face cold and stern, and said sparingly, "Live."

Gu Mo tapped his fingers lightly on the table and chuckled, "Sis, you can't just start trying to create a persona for yourself because you heard someone say you have a cool and aloof demeanor. That's too deliberate. Don't pretend!"

Gu Chudong, who was still trying to act cool, had her thoughts exposed by Gu Mo, and instantly broke down, blushing bright red as she said angrily, "Brother, you're so annoying!"

"I did it on purpose, haha!"

Gu Mo did it on purpose, because he had also been seventeen or eighteen years old. Although he was already quite mature at seventeen or eighteen in this life, he was still in high school at seventeen or eighteen in his previous life. He could easily be swayed by someone's words and start to deliberately put on a persona, but of course, he couldn't keep it up for more than a few days.

Gu Chudong's reaction just now reminded him of that time.

Of course, if that kind of thing gets exposed, it's a social disaster.

Gu Mo knew why there were rumors in the martial arts world that Gu Chudong had a cold personality. In fact, it was just a misconception spread by word of mouth. In reality, Gu Chudong was very lively, but she was a little socially anxious. She would get nervous when dealing with people she didn't know well, especially when there were many people. So, in order to hide her nervousness, she would pretend to be aloof and indifferent to everyone, with a cold face.

In reality, it's just social anxiety.

However, what those people in the martial arts world didn't know was that as the story was passed around, it became different from the truth.

Like Gu Mo himself, he was just catching wanted criminals, but the story spread that he was a righteous and chivalrous man who hated evil.

Instead of continuing to mock Gu Chudong, Gu Mo reached out and grabbed the robber who had fallen to the ground, unleashing his Dragon-Capturing Skill, which instantly pulled the man to Gu Mo's face.

"Where is Ye Xiao?" Gu Mo asked.

The robbers were stunned. Qian Yue and the others, who were using their internal energy to clear the poison, were also puzzled when they looked at Ye Xiao, who was lying dead with his eyes wide open at the door. But the next moment, they all realized that Gu Mo's meaning was clear: that person was not the real Ye Xiao.

Gu Mo was certain that the person was not Ye Xiao because the system did not react at all after he killed the person, which meant that the person was fake.

The robber stammered, "Great...Great hero, are you saying...that Ye Xiao is a fake?"

"Don't you know whether it's true or false?" Gu Mo asked.

"I don't know," the robber said. "We are bandits from Mount Dawu. Ye Xiao came to us on his own initiative. He poisoned us all. We only obey his orders. How could we know if he was real or not!"

(End of this chapter)