Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 115 Heroes of the Jianghu Come to the Rescue (Pang Ji Version)
"Ah!"

A laugh rang out, sounding both male and female, sometimes near, sometimes far: "Since you believe I am Bai Xiaofeng, why did you ask me to come out and meet you?"

"Why not?"

Zhan Zhao said, "If Bai Xiaofeng were to appear in the eyes of others, I'm worried he would be caught afterward, and he wouldn't have the reputation of being the world's number one thief."

"It's just that my fellow martial artists are too kind! I dare not accept the title of number one in the world!"

His voice was humble and polite: "It is truly an eye-opener for me that you, as a high-ranking monk of the Great Xiangguo Temple, can solve cases with such divine insight. I was wondering why Luo Shijun would kill his own subordinate just to frame his own brother-in-law? It turns out that man is a Liao dog! Truly, they are a den of snakes and rats, in cahoots!"

Zhan Zhao asked, "Was Sun Tao killed by Luo Shijun himself?"

The voice said, "There's an inside man in the Pang residence, Luo Shijun. They brought in the immobile Sun Tao long ago. Luo Shijun used the Hidden Rainbow Needle Box to set up a trap so that he could be killed even when he wasn't around. Ding Chen then moved the body into the house as agreed and set up the scene..."

The last time Ding Chen returned to his room, his footsteps were much heavier than the previous three times; it turned out he was carrying a corpse.

The sequence of events from last night is now basically clear: "You took Sun Tao's body?"

The voice spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Grand Tutor Pang is a pillar of the court, loyal and wise. Now that I have uncovered such a frame-up, how can I sit idly by? So I carried Sun Tao's body and rushed to Tianxiang Tower, where I placed it on the steps!"

'Heroes of the martial world come to my aid? Is this really the treatment Pang Ji receives?'

Zhan Zhao chuckled to himself.

If they had waited another ten years, the heroes of the martial arts world would have killed Pang Ji without hesitation, but now, because he is a loyal subject, they have taken the initiative to help him.

It's time for wisdom.

In fact, Luo Shijun was very shrewd.

The perpetrator committed the crime at the Pang residence, with the help of the monk Dingchen from the Daxiangguo Temple, thus involving all three parties.

The plan was going smoothly, and he had successfully covered it up, but it was ruined by Bai Xiaofeng who happened to be passing by.

wrong.

I wasn't just passing by.

Zhan Zhao asked, "Are you acquainted with 'The Monk Among Flowers' Jie Shu?"

He paused, then asked, "How do you know?"

"Otherwise, how could you have two evening primroses in your hand, which you inserted into the chest of the corpse to warn the world?"

Zhan Zhao asked, "Is the true name of this flower 'Xi' (夕) from 'Sunset' (夕阳), not 'Xi' (昔) from 'Past' (昔日)? What effect does it have?"

The voice trailed off, then turned cold: "What effect could the flowers created by the Five Immortals Sect have? They're poison! And this poison is extremely potent, especially for those who care about their appearance!"

Zhan Zhao said, "I would like to hear the details."

The voice said, "When the evening glory cream is first applied, it does have the effect of restoring youth and preserving beauty, but it must be applied every day and cannot be stopped."

"If you don't apply it for one day, your skin will itch; if you don't apply it for two days, you will feel restless and anxious; if you don't apply it for three days, your skin will ulcerate and fester."

"Moreover, this substance is addictive; a little application will lead to insatiable desires, while too much will completely alter one's appearance. Therefore, the amount used must be carefully controlled."

"Jie Shu applied it himself for ten days, but it took a whole month to get rid of the poison. After confirming the toxicity, he felt that if it got out, it would cause trouble, so he stopped cultivating it."

"However, Ding Chen arrogantly believed that he could control it."

"As long as those who apply the product are kept out of contact and the product is distributed on time and in the correct amount, the user can enjoy the benefits without ruining their appearance."

“Even once the noble ladies of the capital start using it, he can turn around and coerce Jie Shu into cooperating, continuing to cultivate it, and improving its medicinal properties.”

"With this wealth flowing in, there's no need to remain a miserable monk. One can naturally enjoy riches and honor, and attain a superior status!"

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao's face darkened.

Pang Lingyi wondered why Luo Shijun would give the Xiyan Flower to the Luo family if it was fake. Wasn't he afraid of harming his sister and losing his backer?
The answer is revealed.

The other party believes that the flaws can be discarded and the benefits can be enjoyed.

greedy.

And foolish.

Without a doubt, if evening glory flowers were actually made into ointments and sold, the final outcome would inevitably be out of control.

It is said that the poisons of the Five Immortals Sect are indeed prone to getting out of control.

The "Rotten Marrow Elixir" in the case of the poisoning during the morning class is a case in point. Although it has an unusual taste when drunk, it can dissolve perfectly in wine or cheese. As a result, after being taken out by a traitorous disciple of the Five Immortals Sect, it poisoned many martial arts practitioners who liked to drink, causing the business of taverns to decline.

Yi Feng, the "Flying Swordsman" who loves fine wine the most, was enraged and went to the Five Immortals Sect in person. In the end, it was the Holy Maiden of the Five Immortals Sect who left Miao territory and went north to clean up the sect.

I'm afraid that even if Yi Feng doesn't leave, the Holy Maiden will have to come out of the mountain.

Otherwise, too many people would die, and even if it was the work of traitorous disciples, the reputation of the Five Immortals Sect would be ruined, and it would be reduced to the Five Poisons Sect.

The same principle applies to Jie Shu's research on the evening glory flower.

Yes, Jie Shu realized something was wrong and stopped planting.

However, it turned out that he had not completely destroyed it, and it was brought out by the monk Yunban beside him.

Once this poisonous flower enters the market and causes great harm, who will the injured noble ladies of the capital blame?

Isn't it still about the precepts, the meditation, and even the entire Great Xiangguo Temple?
This is actually a case of a monk with negative karma losing control!
"If what you say is true, then thank you very much."

Zhan Zhao's purpose in coming forward was to investigate the issue of the karmic monk. Although he was already prepared to arrest him, the other party was still an accomplice no matter what, so he nodded and asked one last question: "But who killed Ding Chen?"

"Ha! Master, isn't what you just want to ask whether I killed Dingchen?"

The voice chuckled, "The world's greatest thief never kills! This man is simply reaping what he sowed! Finally, tell Jie Shu that we are even now! Farewell!"

This time, the sound no longer came from near and far, but went far away, eventually disappearing without a trace.

'What uncanny lightness skill!'

Zhan Zhao stood there, lost in thought.

The ability to pinpoint the location of sounds is a fundamental skill for martial arts masters.

For him, who was comprehending the Six Hearts Clarity Technique and cultivating the Heart Sword Divine Technique, it was no longer about listening with his ears, but about feeling with his heart to clarify the location of his goal.

He could even vaguely sense the investigation of the Grandmaster inside Tianxiang Tower, but today, this person who seemed to be Bai Xiaofeng was so difficult for him to locate that he couldn't even pinpoint his location.

The world of martial arts is vast, and extraordinary people and eccentrics certainly emerge in endless streams.

There's just something weird about it.

The other party did not mention the "abstinence from killing" at all.

It was clearly announced beforehand that this number one thief in the world was going to steal the Buddhist weapon from the Great Xiangguo Temple.

However, the other party showed no restraint in mentioning the Pang family's actions or their dealings with Jie Shu.

Is this a deliberate attempt to create confusion?
Or was the notice actually sent by someone other than this person? After a moment's thought, Zhan Zhao took a step and headed out of the alley.

Bai Xiaofeng's matter can be put on hold for now; Luo Shijun's issue should be resolved.

Go back to Pang Mansion first.

"The master is back!"

Pang Ji warmly welcomed this and then asked, "Where is Tianxiang Tower?"

Zhan Zhao described the surface situation inside Tianxiang Tower.

"Alas! How arrogant these thieves are!"

Pang Ji had no idea how far his brother-in-law was going to trick him, and he was quite worried about the other man's safety: "I hope the Six Doors can bring the murderer to justice as soon as possible!"

Zhan Zhao said, "This humble monk also had the same thought."

Just then, Jie Xian came out, and Pang Ji smiled and said, "I won't bother you any longer. Please make yourselves at home."

The capital has been in turmoil for the past year and urgently needs the protection of skilled individuals.

The eminent monks of Daxiangguo Temple are undoubtedly a better choice; don't be shy, treat them as your own home.

Zhan Zhao was not polite. He met with Madam Pang again, recited the Heart Sutra to calm her emotions, and then successfully made contact with Pang Lingyi.

He told his junior sister everything without any secrets, including the medicinal effects of the evening glory flower.

Pang Lingyi listened, her expression shifting between shock and anger, then thoughtful contemplation, before finally saying coldly, "He probably still wants to use this ointment to manipulate Mother and me, doesn't he? As long as we use it, we have to apply a fixed amount every day, otherwise our appearance will be ruined, we'll be unable to live without this flower, and we'll be unable to disobey him anymore..."

Zhan Zhao had indeed thought of this, but it wasn't appropriate for him to say it himself. Pang Lingyi, on the other hand, was intelligent enough to understand it immediately.

"Thinking back to that birthday banquet, I had you, my senior brother, retrieve that secret manual as a warning. My uncle now hates us!"

Pang Lingyi's tone was filled with sadness.

Perhaps her relationship with Luo Shijun wasn't as deep as that with her closest relatives in the Pang family, but he was still her maternal uncle after all.

What she did before was actually to prevent the other person from falling into an abyss of no return.

The result was this: "My uncle thinks we're not on his side, so he came up with this plan to completely control us!"

"It's a wonder that Mother is always worried that Uncle is becoming more and more unscrupulous and will get into trouble. I even thought I could use my senior brother to stop him from going too far. How naive I was..."

At this point, a murderous glint appeared in Pang Lingyi's eyes: "Protecting Liaodong spies and plotting against one's own relatives, this person has gone mad and must not be allowed to live!"

Even though her senior brother thought she was cruel, she accepted it.

Pang Lingyi knew that her mother would never be able to bear it, and even if she knew about all the evil things Luo Shijun had done, she would choose to protect him.

But that won't make them grateful; they'll only become more demanding...

Indecisiveness leads to disaster!
Luo Shijun must die!
"I'll help you."

Zhan Zhao nodded.

Many people claim they can uphold justice, put righteousness before family, and never protect their wicked relatives.

When the time came, they still hesitated and ultimately suffered bad consequences, regretting it too late.

Pang Lingyi's ability to make this decision is particularly commendable.

Zhan Zhao had two more things to share. One was to warn: "There are Luo Shijun's men in the Pang residence, and they are the kind of confidants who are willing to help him hide and move corpses."

"Perhaps more than one person."

Pang Lingyi was not surprised: "Those servants accepted bribes, thinking they were helping their uncle, but they didn't know they were betraying him! Perhaps by the time they realize it, it will be too late, and they will have to obey Luo Shijun..."

After all, Luo Shijun was Madam Pang's own brother and the Pang family's maternal uncle. The Six Doors were enemies, so it was perfectly normal for him to be able to bribe so many constables and clerks and develop a few confidants within the Pang family as their eyes and ears.

It would be one thing to help gather information or say a few good words to the Pang family on ordinary days, but moving a corpse into the mansion is a completely different matter.

Pang Lingyi's eyes flickered, and she had already thought of several people who were most likely to collude with Luo Shijun and go down a dark path.

Zhan Zhao then asked a second question: "Over the years, which major martial arts sects has Luo Shijun maintained close ties with, and what connections does he have among the martial arts masters he has recruited?"

Pang Lingyi's expression immediately became serious: "Senior brother wants to investigate the background of that grandmaster in Tianxiang Tower?"

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Even if you can't fully understand them, you can't be completely clueless."

Zhan Zhao had already arranged for Gu Lin to return to the Daxiangguo Temple to do this, which was done through Jianghu channels. Now, it was done through Luo Shijun's connections: "A martial arts master always has a background; he can't just spring out of nowhere."

Not to mention the clear lineage of the major sects in the Central Plains, none of the Four Swordsmen of the Heavenly Heart Flying Immortal were lone wolves.

For example, Gu Menglai, known as "Heart Swordsman," originally obtained the Heart Sword Manual from a senior martial arts master. After joining the Six Doors for more than ten years, he innovated the Heart Sword Manual and created the Divine Wandering Void Step. From then on, his swordsmanship was perfected, and he became one of the strongest sword masters in the Central Plains martial arts world.

Yi Feng, the "Flying Swordsman," comes from the Hidden Sword Manor, one of the five major sects in the Central Plains. His "Eight Swords Flying Together" technique is closely related to the Hidden Sword Manor. However, he is unruly and rarely stays in the manor, much like a lone swordsman.

The "Immortal Swordsman" Yun Qingxiao comes from the Taiyi Sect, which was a major sect in the Former Tang Dynasty. Its unique skills were not limited to the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi. Back then, more than one person learned this sword technique, which is why the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi had three innate Qi Sea paths to choose from.

However, during the chaos of the late Tang Dynasty, the Taiyi Sect declined, and its classic texts were severely lost. By the early Song Dynasty, it had become a small sect, and the only remaining skill, the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi, was reduced to fragments, with no one able to master it.

Yun Qingxiao was the most outstanding genius disciple of this sect in the past hundred years. He completed the Six Lines Formless Sword Qi. Not long after leaving the mountain, he defeated famous sword masters from all over the world, and his reputation soared. In the end, he became famous throughout the martial arts world.

As a result of Yun Qingxiao's disappearance, the Taiyi Sect declined once again and has now completely vanished without a trace.

It is evident that while martial arts masters possess undeniable abilities and innovate in various martial arts styles, they also inevitably have their origins traceable.

The one in Tianxianglou was no exception, of course.

If you can get a general idea of ​​the other side's sect, you'll be able to respond if a fight really breaks out.

Pang Lingyi recalled carefully: "Luo Shijun has been close to many people in the martial arts world over the years, but they are all from small sects and wandering knights. Let alone grandmasters, some of them can't even beat my second brother!"

Pang Xu knew he would be very sad.

But this example is indeed very intuitive.

Even Pang Xu couldn't compare, which shows that it's truly a small and insignificant sect.

"As for those major sects that can produce grandmasters..."

Her brow suddenly furrowed: "There is a sect that has grandmasters, and probably quite a few of them!"

"Oh?"

Zhan Zhao asked curiously, "Which faction?"

Pang Lingyi reminded him, "Senior brother, you should have heard of it, right? The late emperor bestowed the Heavenly Book of Fengshan, and Taoism flourished. It wasn't just the Luo family; many Taoists also frequented our Pang family at that time. Father often wore Taoist robes at home..."

"really!"

Zhan Zhao suddenly realized that he was well aware of the Heavenly Book's descent into the world, and that Emperor Zhenzong had even gone to Mount Tai to tarnish the reputation of the Fengshan ceremony. The sect that was most qualified to produce a martial arts grandmaster was now obvious.
"The foremost Taoist temple in the world, Laozi Temple?"

(End of this chapter)