Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

As night fell, a group of people were slowly making their way along the official road leading out of Linzhong County.

At the very center of the procession was a lavishly decorated carriage, its body crafted from ebony, with deep purple brocade curtains hanging on all four sides. A glass lamp hung from each of the four corners of the roof, its light swaying slightly in the night breeze, casting a faint glow on the cloud patterns adorning the carriage.

There were more than ten guards at the front and back of the carriage, each with a calm demeanor and sharp eyes, clearly skilled fighters.

Inside the carriage, a young man leaned against a soft couch.

He was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, a face as handsome as jade, and long, jet-black hair loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands falling over his shoulders.

He was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a dark silk sash tied around his waist. In front of him was a semi-circular curved knife about two feet long, with a completely black scabbard whose material was unknown.

This person is Ji Xianyun, the Holy Son of the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Three Absolutes Young Master.

He was engrossed in reading a book, occasionally turning a page with unhurried movements and a calm expression, as if he were not on a journey but rather whiling away the time in his own study.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound came from outside the carriage, and a figure flew out from the forest, landing precisely on the carriage frame in front of the speeding carriage. It was a young man who quickly cupped his hands and whispered, "Your Highness, urgent report from the front."

Ji Xianyun turned a page in the book without looking up: "Speak."

"Miss Chang...is dead."

Ji Xianyun paused slightly as he turned the pages, then resumed his composure, his voice remaining calm: "How did he die?"

The young man said, "According to the report from the Tian Shu branch, he was killed while on his way to kidnap Fang Cunxin, the daughter of Fang Shiyang, the holder of the Heavenly Crafting Secret Stone, along with Yan Jingchen, the leader of the Tian Shu branch."

Based on the evidence at the scene, it was determined that our men lying in ambush in the woods were first defeated by Gu Guanqi and Fang Cunxin working together. Then, Miss Chang attacked alone, but was... killed by Gu Guanqi with a single sword strike.

Ji Xianyun put down his book and frowned slightly: "Gu Guanqi?"

"Yes, that person's name is Gu Guanqi," the young man said.

Ji Xianyun pondered for a moment and said, "I think I've heard this name before..." As he spoke, he thought carefully for a moment and said, "I remember now, it was that girl who wrote to me a couple of days ago saying that she had found me a subordinate with superb swordsmanship, named Gu Guanqi. He was actually killed by this person? That Yan Jingchen couldn't even protect my people, he deserves to die."

The young man pondered for a moment, then said, "Yan Jingchen was also killed in that battle."

"Oh, I see!"

There was a moment of silence inside the carriage.

Ji Xianyun sighed softly, his gaze falling on the glass lamp on the roof of the car, the light reflecting in his eyes, flickering uncertainly.

"I think I understand now. That girl must have become arrogant," he shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Everyone in the sect usually lets her have her way because of me, and she's come to believe she's a master martial artist. But once she leaves the Heavenly Demon Sect, nobody will tolerate her anymore!"

He paused, then sighed, "It's because I spoiled her too much that I ended up hurting her."

The young man lowered his head, not daring to reply.

Ji Xianyun lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the night sky, his voice as calm as the wind: "So be it. Since she died at the hands of that person, I will go and kill that person to avenge her. It will also fulfill the bond between master and servant."

The young man hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, there's one more thing. Yan Wangchuan, one of the eight great heroes of Qingzhou, has officially taken over the case of the Xiao family's massacre. Should we change our plans?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Xianyun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a half-smile.

"Eight Great Heroes?" he murmured, his tone carrying a hint of casual mockery. "The biggest joke I've heard since I came to Qingzhou is that there are Eight Great Heroes below the Three Venerables and Four Sects. Now, it seems like everyone is associated with the title of Grandmaster."

This book was first published on 2009.com, providing you with a reading experience free of errors and disordered chapters.

Furthermore, Qingzhou is truly something else. It's a small place with only nine prefectures, yet it has a ton of experts and masters, like the Seven Sages of Lishan and the Eleven Towers of Qingyang. It's truly a case of... a small temple with a lot of demons, shallow water with lots of turtles!

He lowered the carriage curtain, leaned back on the soft couch, and closed his eyes.

"No need to change the plan. Send someone to keep a close eye on Fang Cunxin. As soon as Fang Shiyang shows up, we can take action immediately. Yan Wangchuan is no match for us. The real concern is the person hiding in the shadows!"

The young man asked doubtfully, "Holy Son, are you saying there are other people involved in this mess in Linzhong County?"

Ji Xianyun said, "The Tian Shu branch has been suppressed by the Xiao family for so many years and has always been at a disadvantage, but this time it won, and won so thoroughly that it wiped out the Xiao family."

There's another force behind this. If it's a local power, that's fine, but if it's an outside force, it could be quite troublesome.

The young man asked, "Does the Holy Son have anyone he suspects?"

Ji Xianyun said, "If it's a local force, I don't know them and can't guess; but if it's an outsider, I suspect it's that vixen Nangong Yin. Ever since the rumors started circulating in the sect that the sect leader was going to appoint a young sect leader, this woman has been opposing me at every turn."

Now that she knows I'm forging a divine weapon perfectly suited to me, she's definitely going to be restless. Her martial arts skills are already a notch below mine; she's only managed to keep up with me by relying on her divine weapon. If my divine weapon is also completed, then she'll have absolutely no chance of winning!

The procession continued onward, the sound of horses' hooves gradually fading into the night.

……

Two days later, in the evening.

The setting sun painted the horizon a dark red, and twilight spread from the mountains, enveloping the entire town in a hazy, golden glow.

This place is Xiakou Town in Changqing County, which is where the Xiao family lives.

As soon as the two entered the town, they saw a group of people walking towards them.

It was a squad of over twenty constables from the Six Doors, each with a weapon at their waist, marching in unison. Leading them was an elderly man with gray hair, in his sixties, wearing a dark blue official robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist.

The old man was very thin, hunched over, and looked very listless.

Fang Cunxin recognized the old man's face, her expression changed slightly, and she quickly dismounted, clasped her hands in a salute, and said, "Commander Yan!"

Then, she whispered to Gu Guanqi, "Brother Gu, this is Yan Wangchuan, Commander of the Six Doors of Qingyang County."

Upon hearing this, Gu Guanqi felt a chill run down his spine.

He had heard of Yan Wangchuan's name for a long time; Yan Wangchuan was known as the number one expert in Qingyang County and one of the eight heroes of Qingzhou.

However, we never had the chance to meet.

But seeing him now surprised him. Yan Wangchuan's appearance was completely different from what he had imagined. In his mind, Yan Wangchuan should be tall, mighty, and imposing.

Unexpectedly, he turned out to be an ordinary-looking old man.

Immediately,

Gu Guanqi also dismounted and bowed in greeting.

Yan Wangchuan first greeted Fang Cunxin, then bowed to Gu Guanqi, and after looking Gu Guanqi over, sighed, "Indeed, heroes emerge from among the young! I've long heard that a talented young man has emerged in our Qingyang County, and I've always wanted to meet you, but I've been preoccupied with trivial matters and haven't had the chance until now. Meeting you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved; you are truly a young hero!"

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands and said, "Commander Yan, you flatter me. I have heard so much about you and have always hoped to have the opportunity to meet you."

"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, I'm getting old," Yan Wangchuan said, looking at Gu Guanqi with a look of reminiscence in his eyes. "Actually, when I was young, I was just as spirited as you!"

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this for now, Master Gu, Miss Fang, I've been waiting for you here for a long time."

Fang Cunxin was slightly taken aback and asked, "What is Commander Yan waiting for us for?"

Yan Wangchuan said, "Two days ago, the Six Doors received a report that Yan Jingchen had been murdered. The Six Doors quickly found out that you were the culprit. I guessed that you would definitely come here to investigate the Xiao family's massacre, so I waited here."

Fang Cunxin hurriedly asked, "Commander Yan, what exactly happened to the Xiao family? My father... how is he?"