The Return of the Condor Heroes: Starting with a Suicide Note and Conquering All Realms

Early morning. Behind Chongyang Palace.

A white mist enveloped the entire pine forest. The damp, cold air clung to the bluestone steps, condensing into fine droplets.

Lin Yuan, dressed in a coarse Taoist robe, held a bamboo broom in both hands. He swept the fallen leaves from the bottom up the stone steps. His movements were slow and even, his breathing deep and even. Within his dantian, dark golden liquid internal energy circulated automatically according to the Quanzhen Daoist path. No true energy leaked out.

Thirty feet away, deep in the pine forest.

Yang Guo stood with his feet firmly planted on thick pine needles. He was practicing footwork. His left foot was on Tian Shu, and his right foot on Tian Xuan. This was the basic Tian Gang Step of the Quanzhen Sect. Yang Guo's method of generating power differed from the lightness and agility of the Quanzhen disciples. His thigh muscles were taut, and his feet landed with tremendous force. The brute strength of the Toad Stance was incorporated into his footwork. Each step left a deep footprint in the pine needles.

Suddenly, Yang Guo stopped in his tracks.

From behind the bushes ahead came suppressed arguing. The voices were extremely low.

Yang Guo lowered his body and used his hands to push aside the pine branches covered with dew.

Two people were standing under an old pine tree ten steps away.

The man was wearing a blue Taoist robe typical of the Quanzhen School, and his hair was styled in a topknot. Zhao Zhijing.

The woman was dressed in gray cloth servant's clothes, and her hair was also tied in a topknot. But her figure and voice completely revealed her gender.

"You promised to give me a proper status." Xiao Cui gripped Zhao Zhijing's sleeve tightly with both hands, her voice trembling.

"The Quanzhen Sect has strict rules. If anyone discovers that you've been keeping women in Chongyang Palace, we'll both be burned alive." Zhao Zhijing forcefully shook off Xiao Cui's hand. He pulled a cloth bag from his pocket and stuffed it into Xiao Cui's arms. "There are thirty taels of silver here. Take the money and go down the mountain tonight. Never return to Zhongnan Mountain."

"I'm not leaving. You heartless man, you've taken advantage of me and now you want to dump me? I'm going to find the sect leader and reason with him." Xiao Cui threw the cloth bag on the ground, scattering silver ingots all over the place.

Zhao Zhijing's face instantly darkened. He stepped forward, raised his right hand, and with a firm grip on Xiao Cui's throat, he precisely seized the grip.

Xiao Cui's feet left the ground, and she frantically scratched at Zhao Zhijing's arm. Her face quickly turned purplish-red.

Hiding in the shadows, Yang Guo felt a surge of anger. He couldn't stand seeing men bully women. His right foot unconsciously took a half-inch forward.

My foot landed on a dead pine branch.

"Click."

A crisp sound echoed through the silent pine forest.

Zhao Zhijing suddenly turned his head. He loosened his grip on Xiao Cui's neck with his left hand. With his right hand, he quickly gathered his inner strength and struck the bushes with a palm strike from a distance.

The palm strike tore through the white mist.

Yang Guo rolled on the spot. The Quanzhen Qi Circulation route that Lin Yuan had taught him the night before was instantly activated within his body. Yang Guo's leg muscles bulged, and his Toad Stance foundation was fully unleashed. He slid backward three zhang along the ground, narrowly avoiding the palm strike.

The palm strike hit the bushes, shattering the branches and leaves.

Yang Guo got up, disappeared into the white mist, and fled.

Zhao Zhijing took two steps and stopped. Through the white mist, he could make out the fleeing figure. The old, patched-up clothes belonged to Yang Guo.

Zhao Zhijing turned his head and looked at Xiao Cui, who was sitting on the ground coughing violently. A strong killing intent flashed in his eyes.

The next day. Morning hour. Main hall of Chongyang Palace.

The morning bell tolled nine times. The Quanzhen disciples stood in formation inside the main hall.

Qiu Chuji sat on the prayer mat at the head of the table, his face weary. The Chongyang Palace had suffered heavy casualties last night, and the atmosphere at this morning's lesson was oppressive.

Hao Datong walked to the center of the main hall and faced the disciples. "This morning, the disciples on patrol reported that the handyman Xiao Cui suddenly went mad, lost her footing, and fell off a cliff in the lower part of the mountain. Her body was never found."

A murmur of discussion arose inside the main hall.

Zhao Zhijing stood in the front row. He clasped his hands together, his eyelids lowered, and chanted a Taoist mantra for rebirth in the Pure Land. His voice was sorrowful and resonated throughout the entire hall.

Yang Guo stood at the back of the line. He stared at Zhao Zhijing's back. The Taoist priest who had choked a woman and had a ferocious expression last night was now compassionately performing rituals to help the souls of the dead.

A feeling of nausea rose up from my stomach.

Yang Guo let out an extremely grating, cold laugh.

Laughter echoed through the hall. The disciples stopped their discussion and turned to look at Yang Guo.

Zhao Zhijing stopped chanting and turned around. He stared at Yang Guo and demanded sharply, "Yang Guo, what are you laughing at in the main hall?"

"I laugh at God for being blind." Yang Guo raised his chin and looked directly at Zhao Zhijing. "What a ridiculous 'accidental fall off a cliff.' Daring to do it but not daring to admit it, killing someone and then pretending to be a living saint chanting sutras. The rules of the Quanzhen Sect have truly opened my eyes."

A commotion erupted in the main hall. Qiu Chuji frowned.

"You wretch! What nonsense are you spouting?" Zhao Zhijing took a step forward, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"I'm talking nonsense?" Yang Guo stepped forward to retort, raising his voice, "In the pine forest behind the mountain, a man and a woman. Thirty taels of silver, Master Zhao. Do you need me to recite their exact words?"

Zhao Zhijing's face turned ashen. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He drew his longsword, the tip pointing at Yang Guo. "You little beast, bewitched by the Mongol sorcerers, you dare to slander the elders of Quanzhen! Today I will cleanse your sect!"

Qiu Chuji slammed his hand on the table and stood up. "Stop! What kind of decorum is this, drawing swords and knives in the main hall?"

Zhao Zhijing sheathed his longsword and knelt on both knees. "Master, this little beggar is spouting nonsense and has insulted my innocence. I beg you, Master, to do justice."

Qiu Chuji looked at Yang Guo. "Yang Guo, do you have any evidence?"

Yang Guo gritted his teeth. He only had his eyes to hear and see; Xiao Cui was already dead, and there was no way to verify the truth.

"I saw it with my own eyes," Yang Guo answered loudly.

"Nonsense. He is to be sent to the Cliff of Contemplation for three days in solitary contemplation. Zhao Zhijing, you shall discipline him strictly." Qiu Chuji waved his hand to finalize the decision. Chongyang Palace was in dire need of reconstruction, and he did not want to delve into such a baseless scandal at this time.

Outside the main hall. On the steps thirty feet away.

Lin Yuan leaned on a bamboo broom with both hands. He could hear the arguing inside the main hall.

A pure golden vertical pupil flashed in his eyes, disappearing in an instant. On his retina, the trajectory of the surging blood and qi within Zhao Zhijing's body was clearly visible. His killing intent had solidified into a tangible form.

Lin Yuan gripped the broom handle. He didn't go to the main hall to help.

Guo Jing escorted them up the mountain. The Quanzhen Sect was a prestigious and righteous sect, and under normal circumstances, Yang Guo would not be able to escape. Zhao Zhijing harbored murderous intent, and this was the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock.

Only a dead end can be broken. Yang Guo needs to be driven to a corner so that he can logically escape into the Tomb of the Living Dead. Obtaining the opportunities from the Ancient Tomb Sect is Lin Yuan's ultimate goal.

Lin Yuan turned around and continued sweeping the fallen leaves.

The bamboo broom scraped across the bluestone slabs, making a soft, rustling sound.