The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, becoming a disciple of Yue Buqun.

Lin Pingzhi was held by Zhao Tianlai when he was a child. The two families were so close that they even arranged a marriage between their children, so that Lin Pingzhi and Zhao Tianlai's daughter would get married when they grew up.

"When my Uncle Cheng and I fled all the way to Luoyang, Uncle Cheng was already injured. I originally wanted to ask Zhao Tian to find a doctor to treat Uncle Cheng's injury, but he was very enthusiastic towards us on the surface. He arranged accommodation for Uncle Cheng and me, and then had my fiancée approach me, saying that I had suffered a lot on my journey and that she should take care of me."

Lin Pingzhi's expression was calm, but his voice was extremely cold when he spoke of his fiancée.

"But in reality, Zhao Tianlai wanted his daughter to get the whereabouts of the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual from me."

The cassock that Lin Pingzhi obtained in his hometown in Fujian was taken away by a group of men in black as soon as he got it. He also did not have the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual on him. He only knew some ordinary sword techniques, which were different from the real Evil-Repelling Sword Manual.

Zhao Tianlai and other martial artists who wanted the Evil-Repelling Sword Manual were wasting their time looking for him. The beatings that Lin Pingzhi and Cheng Buyou suffered along the way were truly unjust.

Lin Pingzhi spoke slowly, his expression growing colder and colder.

"After Zhao Tianlai's daughter couldn't get the whereabouts of the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual from me, she drugged me and Uncle Cheng. It was Uncle Cheng who noticed something was wrong, and later he led me to fight our way out of Plum Sword Manor."

Lin Pingzhi still remembers how Zhao Tianlai called him "good nephew" repeatedly, and how each of his attacks was more ruthless than the last.

Cheng Buyou suffered his most serious injury that time.

It can be said that Zhao Tianlai is the one Lin Pingzhi hates the most along the way. This hatred makes him toss and turn every night, unable to sleep, and he grits his teeth in hatred.

The relationship between the Lin and Zhao families is extraordinary. In fact, if the Fuwei Escort Agency had not been wiped out by Yu Canghai, the two families would have become in-laws. The intimacy between the two families is even deeper than that between Lin Pingzhi's maternal grandfather, Wang Yuanba's family. Otherwise, when Lin Pingzhi fled to Luoyang, the first person he would have sought out was Zhao Tianlai.

However, this person whom Lin Pingzhi trusted the most hurt him the most.

At the same time, Lin Pingzhi also felt deeply apologetic towards Cheng Buyou.

Ultimately, it's because he doesn't understand the wickedness of human nature and the principle that once someone leaves, they're forgotten.

"Senior brother."

Lin Pingzhi then added, "If you want to go to Luoyang, you can go to my maternal grandfather; he should be able to help you."

"Ah."

Jiang Ning smiled, nodded, and then changed the subject.

"Is Uncle Cheng feeling better now?"

Lin Pingzhi nodded: "Uncle Cheng is much better now and is resting. His injuries should heal in about two months."

When Cheng Buyou's situation was mentioned, Lin Pingzhi's expression finally relaxed.

Cheng Buyou really saved his life during this trip to Fujian. If it weren't for Cheng Buyou, he would have lost his life in Fujian.

"That's good."

Jiang Ning nodded.

"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

"Alright, take care, senior brother."

Lin Pingzhi nodded, and after seeing Jiang Ning out, he picked up the broom again and continued sweeping the snow.

……

After returning from Chaoyang Peak, Jiang Ning saw Linghu Chong pacing back and forth in front of his residence.

"Senior Brother?"

Jiang Ning was somewhat surprised.

"Junior brother, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you for ages."

Upon seeing Jiang Ning return, Linghu Chong's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward.

"what happened?"

Jiang Ning asked, puzzled.

"Junior brother, let's go inside and talk."

Linghu Chong didn't say much, but after saying a few words to Jiang Ning, he went into Jiang Ning's room.

Seeing Linghu Chong's mysterious expression, Jiang Ning became somewhat suspicious.

Is this kid going to ask him for relationship advice again?

Why make it so mysterious?

Jiang Ning didn't understand, but didn't ask any further questions, and then went inside as well.

As soon as Jiang Ning entered the room, Linghu Chong looked at him with a serious expression.

"Junior brother, do you want to learn the Dugu Nine Swords?"

"what?"

Jiang Ning was taken aback.

Linghu Chong thought Jiang Ning hadn't heard him clearly, so he repeated it.

"Tell me, do you want to learn the Dugu Nine Swords?"

Jiang Ning looked at Linghu Chong suspiciously: "Why would Senior Brother suddenly want to teach me the Dugu Nine Swords?"

Linghu Chong chuckled and said, "I think this sword technique is very powerful. If only I know it, I'm afraid it will be buried. So I later found the senior who taught me the Dugu Nine Swords and asked if I could pass the sword technique on to someone else. That senior agreed to let me pass it on, but he insisted that I pass it on to someone with exceptional talent. You were the first person I thought of."

After receiving confirmation from Feng Qingyang, Linghu Chong had intended to find Jiang Ning and pass on his swordsmanship to him. However, Jiang Ning seemed to be very busy during the New Year, going down the mountain to provide rescue and taking Maodou to the deep Qinling Mountains. He often couldn't find him, so it was delayed until now. Linghu Chong simply decided to stake out the place.

"The senior who taught me swordsmanship said I had decent talent, so I thought, if even I can learn the Dugu Nine Swords, then you, junior brother, have even higher talent than me, so you must be able to learn it even better than me."

Linghu Chong wasn't just flattering him; he genuinely felt that way.

Jiang Ning was so much younger than him before he obtained the Innate Skill, yet his martial arts were already on par with his. Especially in the last two years, he left him far behind. Linghu Chong believed that Jiang Ning would find it very easy to learn the Dugu Nine Swords.

Upon hearing Linghu Chong's words, Jiang Ning's gaze became somewhat strange.

After a while.

"Thank you for your kindness, senior brother, but I won't need it."

Jiang Ning smiled and shook his head.

"Junior brother, I'm telling the truth."

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong became anxious and quickly said, "I had originally planned to pass it on to you. You might encounter some dangers while traveling down the mountain. With the Dugu Nine Swords by your side, you'll at least be safer."

"Senior Brother."

Jiang Ning still refused.

"This sword technique should be passed on to other more talented senior and junior brothers."

Jiang Ning didn't look down on the Dugu Nine Swords, but he believed that trying to do too much at once was counterproductive. Everyone's energy is limited, and for him, one innate skill was enough.

"Ok."

Seeing that Jiang Ning still had no intention of learning, Linghu Chong sighed regretfully.

“Junior brother, if you ever change your mind, come find me. I will pass on the Dugu Nine Swords to you at any time.”

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Then thank you very much, Senior Brother."

Linghu Chong shook his head, sighed, and left.

Jiang Ning sat in the chair for a moment, then got up. Instead of practicing his martial arts or going out for a stroll, he picked up a copy of "The Treatise on Response and Retribution" from his desk and began to read it.

"Fortune and misfortune have no fixed gate; they are summoned by oneself..."

……

Today was the day Jiang Ning was to descend the mountain, and Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze saw him off early in the morning.

Originally, Lin Pingzhi, Linghu Chong, and other Huashan disciples were also supposed to come and see Jiang Ning off, but Yue Buqun said it wasn't necessary. He and Ning Zhongze could take them off, and told them to continue practicing their skills and not waste time.

"Take care on your journey and stay safe."

Ning Zhongze gave her instructions, her face showing concern.

"Don't worry, Master's wife."

Jiang Ning nodded with a smile.

"Alright, come back as soon as possible if you can."

Yue Buqun then spoke up, "If they can't come back, then we'll meet at Mount Song in June."

"it is good."

Jiang Ning nodded; this had been discussed beforehand.

"Then let's set off."

No matter how worried he was about Jiang Ning going down the mountain alone beforehand, Yue Buqun calmed down when the moment actually arrived.

"Master and Mistress."

Jiang Ning smiled at the two of them and said, "This disciple will now descend the mountain."

Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze nodded, then watched as Jiang Ning descended the Thousand-Foot Tower, his figure gradually disappearing into the distance.

"Okay, stop looking."

Yue Buqun said to his wife, "Ning'er has already gone down the mountain, let's go back."

Ning Zhong nodded somewhat reluctantly.

……

After descending Mount Hua, Jiang Ning looked around, unsure of where to go first.

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and took out a piece of paper from his pocket.

This is the list Lin Pingzhi gave him.

"Li Qingwu, Yangzhou, Shadowless Sect..."

Jiang Ning glanced at the first name on the list.

At this moment, Jiang Ning was dressed in a sky-blue robe, with a jade belt around his waist and a sword hanging from his left hip. He had a cool and unique demeanor, like a wealthy young master on an outing.

"Then let's go to Yangzhou first."

Jiang Ning muttered something to himself, then put the paper away.

……