A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

After eating the mutton dumplings and drinking a few sips of soup, Xiao Zhao let out a hearty burp.

"Thank you, young hero."

The skill with which this person disguised himself as a beggar was truly astounding. Thinking this, Chen Yu smiled and asked, "Is that not enough? I'll have another serving."

"I'm full now; I'll never forget the kindness of that meal."

Su Mengqing smiled and said, "You speak so politely, could you be a disciple of an elder of the Beggars' Sect?"

"Sister is joking. Xiao Zhao often listens to the stories told by acrobats and storytellers and just makes things up on the spot."

Bei Jinyi, feeling a surge of kindness, looked at Chen Yu and said, "Xiao Zhao is not a member of the Beggars' Sect. Although she is young, she has a heart that fights injustice. She helped Wu Qingying escape at the dock. She is quick-witted and agile. Why not bring her back to Emei?"

"Xiao Zhao, are you willing?" Chen Yu asked casually.

Xiao Zhao stared blankly at Chen Yu, her eyes reddening. With this change in emotion, her eyes became like a calm, icy lake, shimmering with a blue hue.

"What's wrong, Xiao Zhao?" Bei Jinyi asked hurriedly.

Xiao Zhao suddenly changed her expression, giggled, and said, "Thank you, sister, but no."

"Does Xiao Zhao have any family?" Su Mengqing asked.

"It's just my mother."

"Is that so?" Xiao Zhao has family, so Bei Jinyi stopped insisting on her going to Emei. She took a silver ingot and said, "Xiao Zhao, take this."

Xiao Zhao smiled and took out the money pouch she had taken from the Tartar military officer from her bosom.

"It came from the Tartars."

"Xiao Zhao is very skilled," Su Mengqing praised.

"I learned some petty theft techniques."

Chen Yu smiled inwardly. When it came to martial arts talent, even Xiao Zhao, who settled on Bright Peak in The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, amazed Yang Xiao. He said, "Whether it's martial arts or skills, there is no distinction between noble and noble. If you use your superb martial arts for evil, you will be despised by everyone."

"Young hero, you are very eloquent. I will remember this."

Where is your mother?

"I had to go out."

Xiao Zhao's words were somewhat vague, so Bei Jinyi and Su Mengqing didn't press for details.

Chen Yu, however, knew the truth. Dai Qisi, fearing capture by the Persian Grand Master, had taken Xiao Zhao and gone into hiding, even placing her in foster care, and dared not visit her too often. What Xiao Zhao was saying was actually about the Purple-Robed Dragon King's voyage.

"Xiao Zhao, since you have your mother, we won't bring her along. If you encounter trouble in Hanyang, you can seek help at Jizhuang and mention Emei. You can also go to Jingyun Nunnery near Guishan," Bei Jinyi instructed.

"Um."

Xiao Zhao could tell that Chen Yu was the most respected person in the group, so she said, "Thank you, sister, thank you, young hero."

"No need to be so polite."

After having dumplings to fill their stomachs, Chen Yu, Xiao Zhao, and the others left the restaurant.

"Take care, young hero."

"Xiao Zhao too."

Chen Yu smiled slightly and waved to Xiao Zhao. Xiao Zhao watched everyone leave, then turned and walked slowly forward, disappearing into the afterglow as dusk fell.

……

Jingxu built a nunnery on Guishan Mountain. With the help of Master Ji, the "Jingyun Nunnery" was quite grand in scale and had a thriving incense offering. It took in six or seven women in distress to do some odd jobs and also recruited more than ten disciples.

Tang Zhihu gathered his disciples to instruct them on martial arts techniques. Jingxu wanted to entertain them, but Chen Yu, Bei Jinyi, and Su Mengqing stopped him. Instead, the group sat around a stone table in the courtyard, enjoying a cup of tea and discussing matters.

"Can the Iron Palm Clan make things difficult for Ji Zhuang?"

When Chen Yu asked, Jingxu replied, "Master Ji asked when he came to offer incense, and said that nothing had happened."

"What's the Iron Palm Clan's style like?" Chen Yu continued to ask.

"Having continuously expanded his power, now all the gangs, large and small, in Hanyang and the surrounding areas are under Qiu Qianli's command. Junior Brother, are you heading to Qiantang this time?"

Chen Yu recounted the events that had occurred in Qiantang in detail. Jingxu, of course, launched into a scathing critique of the Kongtong Sect. Meanwhile, Bei Jinyi and Su Mengqing spoke eloquently about the changes that had occurred in the Emei Sect over the past six months. Jingxu was delighted. After their conversation, Chen Yu visited Elder Ji with gifts and learned from him that the letter had been safely delivered to Elder Hengshan Ape.

With everything peaceful in Hanyang, Chen Yu and his group rested for the night and then sailed south the next day. Before leaving, he orally explained the three sections of the "Yi Jin Duan Gu Pian" (a book on tendon and muscle strengthening) to Jingxu.

Given the opponent's martial arts talent, it would take at least several years for him to reach the third stage of mastery.

There is no need to provide a fourth section of the technique at this time.

In Chen Yu's eyes, the Emei martial arts techniques passed down by Guo Xiang were enough for an ordinary talented disciple to cultivate for a lifetime.

……

The section of the Han River near Hanyang is relatively prosperous, with many densely populated towns and villages, and teahouses and taverns everywhere.

This is the perfect time for a spring outing, and you can often see pleasure boats playing soft, melodious music on the river.

Chen Yu remained oblivious to the romantic entanglements, sitting upright at the stern of the boat, circulating his qi to refine and unblock the Bladder Meridian of Foot Taiyang. This meridian is a vital channel for the flow of qi and blood in the body, running through the head, back, waist, and legs, maintaining the normal movement of muscles and joints. It is also one of the qi-regulating meridians in the *Ape's Somersault Classic*.

By tempering and strengthening this meridian, Chen Yu can increase the amount of internal force he can generate and elevate his lightness skill to a higher level. However, this meridian is also the longest meridian in the human body and has the most acupoints, with a total of sixty-seven acupoints, making it quite challenging.

Fortunately, Chen Yu's internal strength has improved significantly. He has been tempered like refined iron through nine forgings since he came from Emei, and now there are faint signs that he has succeeded.

Nothing happened along the way. Apart from eating, Chen Yu, Bei Jinyi, Su Mengqing and the others spent most of their time cultivating. Of course, Chen Yu would also liven up the atmosphere, fishing with a net to improve their meals when appropriate, and calling on the others to practice their skills.

He satisfied everyone's appetites without making the journey boring, and his status as the young leader of Emei grew day by day.

In late May, the group disembarked from Taihu Lake and traveled overland directly to Qiantang.

……

The Qiantang River makes a large bend at the foot of the Liuhe Pagoda, and then flows straight east into the sea.

"Jingshui Nunnery" is located at the foot of the mountain, a few miles away from Liuhe Pagoda.

The dragon claw locust tree still bore the black marks of burning. The recent rain had washed the newly sprouted leaves clean and tender green. A small Zen temple had been built on the cleared land between the ruins. Wildflowers and weeds grew luxuriantly in the remaining area. Grasshoppers jumped out and disappeared as Chen Yu and the others approached.

Jingjia, Ding Minjun, Li Mingxia, and others, along with seven or eight disciples, were sorting through the timber.

"Senior Sister!" Bei Jinyi shouted.

Ding Minjun, Jingjia, and the others turned around.

After not seeing him for more than half a year, Chen Yu had grown taller and more outstanding in appearance due to the Yi Jin Jing, Bone Strengthening and Marrow Cleansing techniques.

Ding Minjun was stunned for a moment. Suddenly, the scene of Chen Yu helping her in Hanyang and her palm striking Jianyi appeared in her mind. Suddenly, a wave of grievance surged up. At this moment, how could she still think about the dissatisfaction she felt when Miejue established Chen Yu as her successor?

"Junior brother..."

The way he addressed her, a term born of deep resentment, was so emotionally charged that it startled Chen Yu.

Jingjia quickly stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Junior Brother."

"Senior sister, there's no need to be so polite. What's this?"

Ding Minjun spilled the beans, saying, "The Kongtong Sect's Jian Jie and others lived in the 'Flying Phoenix Misty Rain Pavilion.' We also found out that the accomplices were from the Qinghai Sect, and the ones who set fire to the temple were the local Three Dragons Gang."

Seeing Chen Yu and the others, Li Mingxia felt completely at ease and added, "After the temple was built, its incense offerings gradually flourished. Some disciples of the Three Dragons Gang demanded protection money and were taught a lesson by Senior Sister Ding. We were injured in a fight at the Misty Rain Pavilion, and the other side took the opportunity to set it on fire."

What is the background of the Three Dragons Gang?

"The local gang that operates on the Qiantang River waterway, but this matter has been dealt with. After we recover from our injuries, we will investigate the matter and take on the Three Dragons Gang. However, the leader of the Three Dragons Gang escaped by jumping into the river."

Chen Yu nodded, "Well done."

Jingjia said, "Thank you for coming all this way, Junior Brother. After Jingshui Nunnery was burned down, some pilgrims donated some money and plundered some ill-gotten gains from the Three Dragons Gang. The money was used to rebuild the temple and help the poor."

"Junior brother, you must avenge us!"

Chen Yu glanced at Ding Minjun, then looked at the group of disciples, each with expectant eyes.

"Alright, I'll go to 'Flying Phoenix Misty Rain Pavilion'."

"I'll stay with my junior brother," Ding Minjun said, perking up.