Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 74 The Stormy Kunlun Mountains

Sunrise and sunset, and a few more days have passed in the blink of an eye.

Rolling around~
The donkey car wheel hub rolled over the ground.

Ren Shaoyang and his two companions laughed and chatted all the way to a hillside.

Gradually, the river's current became rapid, its sound like muffled thunder.

After walking a few hundred meters more, you will see the raging Yulonghash River.

Hongxiu secretly tugged at the sleeve of the white-robed youth who was driving the car.

Ren Shaoyang turned around and found her staring intently at him.

"What's the matter?"

"Look!" The little beggar pulled a small wooden carving out of his sleeve.

Ren Shaoyang raised an eyebrow and accepted it with both hands.

Seeing that the small statue was dressed in a wide robe and had a ponytail, holding a long sword, and with eyebrows and eyes that were exactly the same as his own, it was very lifelike.

Ren the Rascal couldn't help but laugh and say, "Wow! You actually managed to train it!"

Hongxiu happily munched on a radish, smiling as she said, "Yes, isn't it amazing?"

"Amazing!" Ren Shaoyang chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Our little beggar is amazing at everything she does!"

Hongxiu chuckled, thought for a moment, and said, "I've made up my mind. In the future, if I encounter any interesting people or things, I'll carve them out as souvenirs."

"Hey! This is great!"

Ding'an, who was on the roof of the car, put down the calligraphy copybook and leaned out, saying, "You carve the wood carving, and I'll carve the characters for you!"

"Wow, you've all assigned tasks!" Ren Shaoyang exclaimed. "If I don't do anything, won't I seem like a dullard?"

Hongxiu laughed and was about to say something when...

Suddenly, I noticed a cluster of Kunlun snow chrysanthemums blooming by the roadside. They were a beautiful pale yellow and swayed gracefully in the wind.

The beggar's brow relaxed, and he casually tossed out a throwing knife.

The flying knife traced a graceful arc and with a whoosh, it sliced ​​down the cluster of snow chrysanthemums ten feet away.

Its momentum didn't stop, because there was a small hook at the end of the throwing knife, which then flew back with the snow chrysanthemum attached to it.

The little beggar reached out and caught it, smelling the fragrance of the flower as he tucked a chrysanthemum behind Ren Shaoyang's ear.

At the same time, Ding'an's head also stretched out upside down. It turned out that he was looking at it with envy, so he hooked his toes on the roof of the car and stood upside down.

Hongxiu also tucked a flower behind his ear, then raised her head and said, "Well, as long as you're happy!"

Ren Shaoyang touched the snow chrysanthemum by his ear, its fragrance wafting through the air, and nodded: "In that case, I can accept it."

Just then, Ding'an, who was on the roof of the car, pretended to cough and casually asked, "Little beggar, we have the cripple, but what about my statue?"

Hongxiu blinked, took out a wooden carving from her sleeve, and tossed it into the air: "You'll get your share."

Ding An caught it and saw that the wooden carving in his hand was a human figure with two arms, thick eyebrows and big eyes. After looking at it for a long time, he sincerely smiled and said, "It is carved very well."

Ren Shaoyang's voice came: "When we go to other places in the martial arts world, we might encounter a master craftsman who can forge you a metal arm. Your carving skills will be very useful then."

Ding An grinned from ear to ear: "Haha, cripple, I love hearing you say that!"

Hongxiu blinked, picked up a small piece of osmanthus cake from the food box, popped it into her mouth, and patted her chest, saying, "Anything Hongxiu makes is guaranteed to be top-notch!"

Ren Shaoyang added, "And another thing, maybe someone is just waiting to give you their arm."

"Clam?"

Ding'an and the little beggar were both astonished. Hongxiu muttered as she chewed, "Who's so stupid as to want to dislocate an arm?"

Ren Shaoyang looked at the distant mountain peaks and laughed, "The world is so big, there are all sorts of wonders!"

Although he said that, he was secretly thinking that if Yu Yue's arms were splattered with Qilin's blood, what if...
Hey~!

No, how can we keep targeting just one person?
So evil!
The three chatted among themselves, and the little beggar pressed the great swordsman who was always carving wood carvings about his deeds, and arrogantly named his throwing knife "Red Sleeve Knife".

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "You're still far from it. That great hero has the reputation of never missing a shot. Also, 'Red Sleeve Blade' is the name of a warlord in the Song Dynasty. He doesn't use throwing knives."

The little beggar muttered a few words about never missing a shot, then sat back in the carriage, laughing and saying that he needed to think it over carefully. Since he couldn't use the magic knife, he would cultivate his own "Red Sleeve Flying Knife".

After walking for about ten miles, a mountain peak came into view, with towering peaks behind it disappearing into the clouds.

This cliff is different from others; it is covered with white snow from top to bottom, making it look cold and desolate, with little greenery.

Ding An frowned: "What a cold and hard mountain!"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "This is Jade Dragon Peak. If you go any further in, you'll reach the Valley of Villains."

Just then, the little beggar's voice came from inside the carriage: "Crippled man, there's a teahouse up ahead, let's get something to eat."

Ren Shaoyang asked, "Are you hungry?"

"Yes," Hongxiu said helplessly, lifting the curtain. "I get hungry quickly, eat a lot, and sleep well, but I've still lost so much weight." She then patted her chest and exclaimed angrily, "That damned Heavenly Wrath Heart Technique!"

Ren Shaoyang said, "Eat when you're hungry, sleep when you're tired. I'll fatten you up no matter what."

The little beggar smiled, then looked up at the sky and suddenly said, "We need to eat quickly, it's going to rain."

"Rain?" Ding'an craned his neck, only to see a clear blue sky. Where would the rain come from? He hesitated for a moment and said, "Impossible."

Ren Shaoyang said, "The weather changes rapidly, sometimes clearing up after a snowfall. The little beggar's eyes can see the condensation of qi and the gathering and dispersing of water vapor, so he can predict the changes in the weather."

Hongxiu blinked and tilted her head: "Can't you see through it too?"

Ren Shaoyang smiled but remained silent.

Ding An looked around, shrugged, and said dejectedly, "So, it turns out there's already a deep barrier between us."

Stop talking nonsense!

As the sun set, the donkey cart slowly came to a stop beside the teahouse. The wind howled, causing the banner in front of the teahouse to flutter.

The three parked the donkey cart and went inside.

This is just a small shop in the wilderness. The shop owner was originally a martial arts practitioner from the Central Plains. He wasn't good at martial arts, but he was quite clever. He opened a shop in this place where there was no village or shop in sight.

While it may seem utterly absurd, this place is actually a crucial passage for both the Kunlun Sect and the Valley of Villains, making it a strategically advantageous location.

When you're tired from traveling, finding a place to shelter from the rain and have a bowl of hot tea is extremely tempting, whether you're a righteous or wicked person.

In addition, the area is well-informed, attracting local martial arts practitioners, which has led to a booming business.

In addition, the boss regularly delivers supplies to Evil Valley every month, and they live a very comfortable life.

This belongs to the Gu Long world version of "walking the water".

Ren Shaoyang and his group went inside and sat down. They ordered a pot of tea and some food and found that the business was quite booming. The waiters were busy running around, greeting customers one after another, and even foaming at the mouth.

Suddenly, several sturdy horses galloped past, drawing everyone's attention.

The horses stopped in front of the teahouse, and several burly men carrying knives rushed in, almost tearing the shop apart.

Just then, the food arrived, and Ren Shaoyang and the other two ate heartily. The climate here was cold, so the food was very flavorful, and the three of them were sweating profusely as they ate.

They poured tea for him, and after gulping it down, the little beggar patted his belly, looking happy: "I'm full, so happy."

Ding An said, "It's quite delicious."

Ren Shaoyang nodded: "I just asked, and this shop has been open for more than ten years. The owner must be very skilled to have been able to stay open for so long in this godforsaken place."

The little beggar clapped his hands, then raised his teacup: "Alright, fully recharged, let's toast and hit the road!"

Ren Shaoyang clinked glasses with Ren Shaoyang and asked with a smile, "What does 'on the road' mean?"

Hongxiu's words were pointed: "Sending some ill-intentioned people on their way."

Upon hearing this, Ding'an's smirk vanished abruptly, and he glanced back sideways.

At the same time, a rough, booming voice rang out.

"Hey, you guys from the east, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Hola-la-la!
As they were talking, dark clouds gathered, and a flash of lightning suddenly illuminated the person speaking.

Ren Shaoyang drank his tea in silence. The little beggar picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, put it in his mouth, then pouted and showed him the empty food box.

Only Ding An turned his head and looked at them, his face stern: "You were waiting for us?"

Among the group of swordsmen, a bearded man put down his teacup and sneered, "You killed the Li brothers on the grasslands, didn't you?"

Ding An turned around and said, "That's right."

The bearded man laughed and said, "I've fed you all, haven't I?"

Ding An said, "That's not wrong either."

"You've barely arrived in Kunlun territory and you're already killing people indiscriminately. And those you're killing are members of the Kunlun Sect. Gentlemen, aren't you being a bit too reckless?"

“We’re driving our donkey carts, singing songs, and as soon as we step out, someone wants to kill us,” Ding’an said, shaking his head. “If we don’t resist, are we just going to wait to be killed?” The bearded man sneered, “Hmph, sophistry! I think you’re here for the ‘Southern Heaven Treasure’!”

“In the Kunlun region, you’ve messed with the wrong people. It’s time to take off those glasses.”

"That's right, you're still so arrogant in Kunlun, you've lost your minds!"

The six or seven knights, each holding a sword, had already sealed their fate with their words.

The martial arts figures drinking tea and eating around them, seeing that a good show was about to unfold, all crossed their arms and watched with expressions of amusement.

The shopkeeper even instructed his son that when the three men fell, he must be the first to take their donkey cart, as he had his eye on it for a while, saying that he could make an extra cartload of supplies when delivering them into the valley and earn a profit!
Just as everyone was in a state of chaos and noise.

Ding An's deep voice came through, asking earnestly, "We have no grudge against you. Are you sure you want to fight to the death?"

The bearded man frowned: "How can there be such an idiot like you in the martial world?! We're all here to kill you, and you're still asking me 'are you sure' we're going to fight to the death? If I were your father, I would have killed you first to save face!"

Everyone present burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Ding An turned to look at Ren Shaoyang: "He insulted me, and he even insulted my father?"

Ren Shaoyang slowly said, "Cut them down like flying dragons."

Ding An nodded repeatedly: "That makes sense."

"Makes sense my ass! Let's all go and kill them!"

The bearded man cursed loudly, and the men behind him jumped to their feet, drew their swords, and charged forward.

next second.

A sharp clang of blades rang out, and a cloud of fire swept across the sky!

Everyone's eyelids twitched!
It was inexplicable, but in an instant, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and a wave of panic washed over me.

"I want to die!"

Suddenly, the bearded man's head twitched. Everyone thought they were seeing things, but when they looked again, his head burst into flames with a "poof".

A wave of blood surged wildly, igniting the flames and splattering everyone's faces and heads.

Ding An, holding a blazing red dagger, his eyes wide open and without blinking, lunged forward and swung the dagger to kill.

First a horizontal slash, then a vertical cleave, and then a whirlwind slash.

The powerful sound of the blade rang out, accompanied by lightning and thunder in the sky, attracting the attention of the group of martial arts practitioners in the teahouse.

Wow, this person is amazing!

Amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd, a flash of fire was seen, followed by a "whoosh" sound, and one of the swordsmen was left mutilated. Another flash, and either half of him was gone, either horizontally or vertically.

The blade was too fast and too fierce, the wind from it whistling and making everyone present feel a pain in their ears. All of them stared at Ding An with astonishment and suspicion.

The remaining swordsmen gripped their long swords, their calves trembling uncontrollably.

With a clang, someone dropped their long sword, raised their hands, and ran away. The others followed suit, dropping their swords and fleeing.

Suddenly, another flash of fire appeared, but to everyone's eyes, everything seemed to slow down.

After running a few steps, the men suddenly burst into flames, their left shoulders and right hips sliding down diagonally. However, due to the burning flames and the scorching of the blades, no blood gushed out; instead, several internal organs fell out.

"Ah~!"

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the one-armed, honest-looking young man, and cried out in alarm.

Who is this person, who is so powerful?
What kind of swordsmanship is this? It's so brutal!

Ding An, with a serious expression, slowly walked back to his seat.

Hongxiu gave him a thumbs up: "Eliminate evil completely, your swordsmanship is superb!"

Ding'an then revealed a simple smile and scratched his head with one hand.

Ren Shaoyang put down his teacup and glanced at everyone.

The people in the teahouse were immediately startled, feeling as if they were being watched by a tiger. They scattered like ducks, jumping up and down to avoid the danger.

"The world is going to the dogs; they don't even pay for tea anymore." Ren Shaoyang shook his head and beckoned the shopkeeper over.

The shop owner, with a pained expression, hurried over: "Grandpa, I'm here, I'm here!"

Ren Shaoyang said slowly, "I have some questions for you."

The shopkeeper hurriedly replied, "Please tell me, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"Is the Valley of Villains in that direction?" Ren Shaoyang pointed to the silvery-white snow-capped mountain upstream of the river.

The shopkeeper replied repeatedly, "Yes, go inside, and when you see the words carved on the rocks, 'Entering the valley is like ascending to heaven, those who come, go this way,' you will find the entrance to the Valley of Villains."

"Thank you."

Ren Shaoyang nodded, but when he saw the broken tables, chairs, bowls, chopsticks, the mutilated corpses on the ground, and the little beggar's empty food box, he continued.

"Shopkeeper, approximately how much have you lost?"

Upon hearing this, the shop owner sighed, "We need to clean the floor, replace the tables and chairs, and appease the customers. The losses will be considerable."

"This is so troublesome, how much silver will it cost?"

"About ten taels of silver."

Ren Shaoyang was taken aback: "You only spent that little? Are you sure?"

The shopkeeper was also taken aback, instinctively clutching the hem of his shirt, somewhat nervously saying, "Sir, we're a small business; ten taels of silver has already crippled us."

"It's too awful."

Ren Shaoyang shook his head and sighed, "How about this, I'll sell you the horses outside to offset your losses, how about that?"

The shopkeeper was a little confused. Pointing to himself, he said, "Horses, sell them to me?" Then he looked at the horses of the swordsmen outside, swallowed hard, and said, "Sir, shouldn't you just give them to me without asking for trouble?"

“That’s the general rule,” Ren Shaoyang thought for a moment, then smiled. “But I don’t want you to suffer if I don’t follow the general rule.”

Am I at a disadvantage?
I've made a killing!

The shopkeeper's lips twitched: "I... I'm actually quite happy to take a loss."

Ren Shaoyang looked at him expressionlessly.

After a long silence, Ren the Scoundrel suddenly stretched out his hand: "Give me the money, and fill the food box with meat!"

The little beggar stood to the side, flashing an empty food box and making a face.

Ding'an put his hand to his forehead, speechless.

The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a silver ingot from his pocket: "Sir, fifty taels of silver! That's all I have."

The little beggar suddenly said, "Money is on the trouser legs, shoe soles, cuffs, and collar!"

"Oh my!" the shopkeeper exclaimed in surprise. "How did you know?"

Hongxiu stuck out her tongue: "I believe in heaven and earth, but I don't believe in you, you old devil!"

The shopkeeper, looking dejected, said, "My savings for my funeral!"

Ren Shaoyang paused for a moment, then politely reached out to ask for it.

Amidst the shopkeeper's beaming smiles and constant exclamations of "Ouch!", the beggar managed to snatch over two hundred taels of silver and stuff it into his purse.

There was also dried yak and hand-pulled mutton, filling the food box.

Finally, the little beggar, carrying a roasted yak leg, led the way out with a proud and imposing air.

The shop owner was left alone, slumped on the ground, weeping with joy.

"Crippled man, isn't it a bit wrong for us to do this?" Ding'an felt a little reluctant.

Hongxiu rolled her eyes: "Those six horses have pure coats and are smooth and shiny. They are obviously fine steeds, but they are worth two hundred taels each."

Ren Shaoyang added, "And the swordsman's sword, and the silver on his body—the shopkeeper definitely won't lose out!"

"Then why is he crying like his wife has died?"

"If he doesn't put on an act, how can we show off our superior skills?"

"Huh? This old man is really cunning!"

"So, all merchants are cunning. You feel like you're making a huge profit and can't bear to part with it. But actually, they never lose money!"

The donkey cart trotted along in the rain, accompanied by the roar of the rushing river, heading straight into the mountains.
-
P.S.: I'm collecting suggestions for story content. If you have any favorite or least favorite plot points, please post them in the story content submission thread I posted in the book club.

We'll send Xiao Ren over to vent your anger then.

Of course, it's best if your combat strength isn't too high or too low.

Characters like Yaoyue, Yan Nantian, or Gu Shentong are the best.

(End of this chapter)