Zongwu: Eavesdropping on the inner voices, the female warriors have become strange

The group split into four groups, because the Hengshan and Emei sects were all women, and only the Donghuashan sect had men, oh, and Chenliu mixed in with the women. So the Donghuashan sect people walked in front to lead the way, followed by the Hengshan, Emei, Chenliu, and Wang Yuyan women walking at the end.

There were a dozen or so people from the Donghuashan Sect, a dozen or so from the Hengshan Sect, seven or eight from the Emei Sect, and Chen Liu, Wang Yuyan, Huang Rong, and the other women. A total of over forty people marched northward. If they came across an inn, they would stay overnight. If there were no inns, or if they were full, they would have to sleep outdoors.

Whenever he camped outdoors among the Donghuashan Sect's throng, Linghu Chong would often glance at Yue Lingshan, who was chatting and laughing with Huang Rong, Mu Nianci, and the other women. His dejected demeanor grew even more pronounced. Whenever he had the chance, he'd buy alcohol, even when Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze scolded him harshly. He had no other choice but to use alcohol to numb himself and stop thinking about Chen Liu and Yue Lingshan.

Ning Zhongze was furious and anxious when he saw Linghu Chong's dejected appearance, but he felt helpless. The Huashan disciples couldn't help but cast hateful glances at Chen Liu because of Linghu Chong's situation.

People are like that, always favoring their relatives over those they care about. The Huashan disciples believed Chen Liu must have used some shady means to seduce Yue Lingshan, making her completely devoted to him, which led to their beloved senior brother becoming what he is today. Yet, their master didn't help their senior brother, but sided with the playboy Chen Liu, betrothing his daughter to him. They didn't dare to hate Yue Buqun, so they could only hate Chen Liu.

During breaks, Chen Liu would also tell the girls some jokes or stories, such as Journey to the West, Investiture of the Gods, Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, etc.

Yilin also came over. There was no other way. If she was too far away, she wouldn't be able to hear Chen Liu's inner thoughts. Seeing Yilin approaching Chen Liu's group, Master Dingyi shook her head and ignored her. She knew Yilin's personality. She was not only simple, but also devoted to Buddhism. She probably didn't like Chen Liu, the playboy. She probably just wanted to hear Chen Liu's stories. Chen Liu's stories of gods and monsters were indeed interesting, but Master Dingyi was old and didn't feel comfortable approaching to listen.

People from the Emei Sect also came together to listen to Chen Liu's stories of gods and monsters, such as Zhou Zhiruo, Ding Minjun, Bei Jinyi, etc.

Chapter 160 White-Eyed Wolf

"Do you still think my decision is wrong?" Yue Buqun asked Ning Zhongze with some pride.

Yue Buqun was deeply impressed to discover that Chen Liu could memorize any sword, fist, or palm technique completely after just one viewing, performing it even more authentically than his instructors and even improving upon it. He had never seen anyone with such exceptional aptitude and comprehension. If he hadn't witnessed Yue Lingshan, Zhou Zhiruo, and Yi Lin practicing the Huashan, Emei, and Hengshan sword techniques with Chen Liu's guidance, he would have assumed Chen Liu had already mastered the Huashan sword technique.

In fact, not only Yue Buqun was shocked, even Nun Miejue, Nun Dingyi, and the disciples of the Huashan, Emei, and Hengshan sects were all shocked beyond words.

In order to verify whether Chen Liu could really learn it in one go, Master Miejue even personally performed a set of sword techniques that only the core disciples of the Emei Sect could learn. However, Chen Liu still learned it after just one look. Moreover, he only practiced it twice, but he seemed like a veteran who had learned it for several years and had already become very proficient.

This made Miejue couldn't help but smile bitterly. Back then, she had learned this sword technique, and it took her more than a month to master it. Even for that, she was already very talented. But compared to Chen Liu, her talent was just throwaway. There was no comparison.

The Huashan disciples were stunned for a long time after seeing Chen Liu master any martial art with just one look. Some couldn't help but think, "No wonder Yue Lingshan chose Chen Liu. He's not only more handsome than Linghu Chong, but also more talented, more perceptive, younger, and more advanced. He's also already reached the Xiantian stage, richer, and a storyteller. If they were Yue Lingshan, they'd have chosen Chen Liu too." And what does Linghu Chong have? He's always mischievous, drinking, and causing trouble. Compared to Chen Liu, he seems to have no advantages at all.

Ning Zhongze couldn't help but sigh slightly upon hearing this. She admitted that Chen Liu was indeed very outstanding and the most suitable son-in-law candidate, but there were simply too many women there, and her daughter would only be a concubine if she married him. She only had one daughter, Yue Lingshan, and she was unwilling to let her daughter become a concubine. But her husband insisted, and her daughter liked him, so what could she do?

Soon, the group arrived in Jingzhou. Entering the city, they found a large inn capable of accommodating over forty people and rented the courtyard. Chen Liu and Yue Buqun were about to part ways. Yue Buqun would continue north with the Hengshan and Emei sects, passing Xiangyang and returning to Mount Hua. Yue Buqun instructed Yue Lingshan to fetch Chen Liu, and in front of Ning Zhongze, he solemnly entrusted her to him. He also invited Chen Liu to visit the Huashan Sword Sect after his affairs in Jingzhou were concluded.

In fact, even if Yue Buqun hadn't invited him, Chen Liu would have gone to Huashan anyway. After all, he wanted to find Feng Qingyang and see his Dugu Nine Swords. Furthermore, Huashan's Cliff of Repentance also held martial arts techniques left behind by the ten elders of the Five Mountains Sword Sect and the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, and he wanted to see them too.

"While Yue Buqun likely had ulterior motives in promising Sister Lingshan to me, who doesn't have selfish motives? Regardless of his motives, he's my father-in-law after all. Why don't I wait until I reach Huashan and find the cave engraved with the Five Mountains Sword Techniques? I'll then give them to Yue Buqun and find a chance to tell him that the Chicken-Cutting Sword Technique is a eunuch's sword technique. Hopefully, with the Five Mountains Sword Technique, he'll stop pursuing the Chicken-Cutting Sword Technique. If he's still greedy and tries to steal that perverted Chicken-Cutting Sword Technique, I'll be helpless."

Yue Lingshan: ...

Eunuch swordsmanship?

I don't know what Linghu Chong was thinking in the original novel. Feng Qingyang told him not to tell Yue Buqun about his affairs, and he really didn't say anything, not even mentioning the Five Mountains Sword School's sword techniques in the cave. This is why many people call Linghu Chong an ungrateful person.

Yue Buqun was indeed a hypocrite, but he had wronged many people, but not Linghu Chong. Linghu Chong was an orphan, and Yue Buqun adopted him, not only raising him but also teaching him martial arts and making him a senior disciple of the Huashan Sect. He didn't remember all these favors, but only remembered Feng Qingyang's words that Yue Buqun was not a good person.

Even if you keep your promise and don't tell Yue Buqun that Feng Qingyang taught you the Dugu Nine Swords, will you die if you tell Yue Buqun about the Five Mountains Sword School's sword techniques in the cave? Besides, Ning Zhongze treated him so well, truly raising him like his own son, yet he didn't even tell Ning Zhongze.

Yue Lingshan: ...

It turns out that the eldest senior brother is an ungrateful person.

Yue Lingshan automatically filtered out the words that Yue Buqun was a hypocrite and only remembered that Linghu Chong was an ungrateful person.

After leaving Yue Buqun's room, Chen Liu and Yue Lingshan just walked to the small garden in the yard they rented, but saw Zhou Zhiruo sitting in the pavilion of the small garden in a daze, looking somewhat lonely, so they asked Yue Lingshan to go back first.

Yue Lingshan curled her lips and cursed in her heart: Damn vixen.

"Why are you sitting here alone in a daze?"

Zhou Zhiruo turned back to look at Chen Liu, her face flushed slightly. She lowered her eyes and called softly, "Brother Chen Liu, I just miss my parents."

"Your parents?" Chen Liu was a little surprised.

Didn't Zhou Zhiruo's parents die a long time ago? So is this Zhou Zhiruo Zhou Ziwang's daughter? Or the daughter of a Hanshui fisherman? There are so many versions, even some with cryptic modifications, that it's hard to tell which version these people are from.

Zhou Zhiruo: ...

"Today is the anniversary of my parents' death." Zhou Zhiruo said softly.

"So that's how it is." Chen Liu nodded slightly.

What a coincidence! It seems Zhou Zhiruo must be Zhou Ziwang's daughter. If she were a fisherman's daughter, her parents wouldn't have died on the same day. Only if Zhou Ziwang was defeated and killed could she have died on the same day as her mother.

[Since there are no anti-Yuan people in this world, how did they arrange Zhou Ziwang's identity? A traitor?]

Zhou Zhiruo: ...

"My father was a general guarding the border. Just then, the Yuan army attacked the Ming Dynasty. He was duty-bound to defend the city and couldn't leave. He vowed to live and die with the city, so he sent a group of his soldiers to escort my mother, my brother, and me away. But my mother didn't want to be separated from him, so she sent the soldiers to escort my brother and me away while she stayed behind to fight off the Yuan attack with my father. In the end, both my mother and father died defending the city, and my brother and I were hunted down by Yuan masters. My brother was shot to death by them, but I happened to meet the Wudang Sanfeng Zhenren passing by and was saved."

Zhou Zhiruo spoke softly about what happened in the past. She didn't want her father to be slandered as a traitor by Chenliu.

"It's just that Wudang Sect doesn't have any female disciples, so it's not convenient for me to stay in Wudang Mountain. After Master Sanfeng saw that I was a loyal and good person, he sent someone to send me to Emei Sect to become Master's disciple."

[So that's how it is. This arrangement makes sense.]

Chen Liu glanced at Zhou Zhiruo, who lowered her head and brows. Seeing that she looked a little sad, he said, "The dead cannot be resurrected. Please accept my condolences."

"Yeah!" Zhou Zhiruo responded softly.

Chapter 161 Immortal Magic?

In this world, there's a saying: "The supreme master of the martial arts world, the sword that slays dragons; he commands the world, and no one dares disobey! Without the Heaven Sword, who can challenge him?" In the original novel, the Heaven Sword contains the Nine Yin Manual and the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, while the Dragon Slaying Saber contains the Wu Mu Testament. This world's Ming Dynasty isn't the successor to the Song or Yuan dynasties, and it's unknown what martial arts manuals are hidden in the Heaven Sword, or what's hidden in the Dragon Slaying Saber. How could he command the world? Could it be some kind of military strategy? That would be too cheap.

When Chen Liu was comforting Zhou Zhiruo, he naturally thought of the sword in Miejue's hand. He really wanted to know what was inside.

The Sword of Heavenly Protection is in the hands of Nun Miejue. It definitely doesn't contain the Nine Yin Manual or the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. While these two techniques are quite impressive, there are certainly many techniques in this world that are just as good, or even superior. For example, the Taixuan Sutra from the Island of Heroes is considered a cultivation technique in many martial arts worlds. I wonder if it's available in this world? I'll check it out if I get a chance.

Taixuan Sutra? Immortal cultivation technique?

Zhou Zhiruo and the other girls who were listening to Chen Liu's thoughts in their respective rooms couldn't help but feel more open-minded.

Wang Yuyan, Huang Rong, and the other girls couldn't help but secretly rejoice: "As expected, following my husband (Brother Chenliu) will give me the opportunity to cultivate immortality. Look, isn't the immortal method here? Although it's not certain yet, it's possible, right?"

Lian Xing was also very satisfied. She had heard of the Island of Knights, a very mysterious and powerful place, but she didn't know where it was. However, as long as they set their minds to it, they would find it sooner or later.

[There's also the Great Sui Dynasty's "Eternal Life Secret." In the original novel, the "Eternal Life Secret" seems a bit devalued. It was the immortal technique left behind by Guangchengzi before he shattered the void, but those two hooligans, by chance, practiced it as a martial art.]

The Secret of Immortality? Another immortal technique. Wang Yuyan and the other girls were even more delighted upon hearing this. The Secret of Immortality was one of the four legendary books of the Great Sui Dynasty, a work as renowned as the Great Sui Demon Sect's The Heavenly Demon Strategy, the Cihang Jingzhai's The Cihang Sword Canon, and the most mysterious of all, the War God Atlas. While girls like Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling had never heard of it, Wang Yuyan, Huang Rong, and Lianxing had.

Guangchengzi was most likely an ancient Qigong practitioner, and the "Eternal Life Secret" is also likely an ancient Qigong practice. However, it is estimated that due to its age, no one could recognize the oracle bone inscriptions on the "Eternal Life Secret." Without understanding its meaning, people did not know how to practice it, and therefore it was mistaken for a martial art.

So that's how it is. Wang Yuyan and the other girls all felt as if they had suddenly realized something.

I wonder what time it is now in the Great Sui Dynasty? Have those two thugs started practicing yet? If they have, I'll have to go find them and exchange it. But those two thugs aren't very smart. They've been tricked by a few women and have even given up on the world. But they do have a little bit of cleverness. It won't be easy to get the "Eternal Life Secret" from them.

If there's no other solution, how about using Wei Zhenzhen to threaten them? I wonder if they'd be willing to hand over the "Eternal Life Secret"?

Huang Rong:......

Wang Yuyan: ...

Girls:...

If they haven't got the "Eternal Life Secret" yet, it would be easier to get it. I suspect Shi Long is a master. I didn't have the ability to snatch the "Eternal Life Secret" from Shi Long before, but now I have Yu Yan and Lian Xing... Okay, Lian Xing isn't mine, but I can ask her to help snatch the "Eternal Life Secret" from Shi Long with Yu Yan. After we get it, I can lend it to her for observation. I doubt Lian Xing will be able to comprehend it, hehe...

Lianxing:......

If I find the Secret of Immortality, my system should be able to record it, right? I think it should be fine. If not, this system is useless.

Although Wang Yuyan, Huang Rong, and the other girls had heard Chen Liu mention the system many times in his mind, they didn't know what it was. However, as long as their husband (Brother Chen Liu) could learn the system, it would be fine. If their husband (Brother Chen Liu) had learned it, then why wouldn't he teach them?

Wang Yuyan hesitated for a moment before making up her mind. If you don't want to sacrifice your child, you can't catch a wolf; if you don't want to sacrifice your wife, you can't catch a pervert. "Beiming Divine Art" is a unique skill inherited from the Xiaoyao Sect's leader, so it's not easy to pass on casually. However, if any of the women become your husband's wives, it wouldn't be a problem to teach them "Small Wuxiang Gong." This would save your husband from worrying about their sisters' skills. For example, Mu Nianci could be taught "Small Wuxiang Gong."

Zhou Zhiruo was also thinking about how she could follow Brother Chen Liu and gain the chance to become an immortal. If she lied to her master and said that she liked Brother Chen Liu, she would definitely be pulled away by her master and would not be allowed to see Brother Chen Liu again. But if she didn't follow Brother Chen Liu and missed the chance to become an immortal, what should she do?

"Brother Chenliu, it's time for dinner." Hong Lingbo, Lu Wushuang and Qu Feiyan came together to call Chenliu.

Previously, Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo had always served as maids to Chen Liu and Wang Yuyan. However, ever since Qu Feiyan arrived, she had been eager to do anything related to Chen Liu, such as calling him to dinner, doing his laundry, and making him tea. This had made Lu Wushuang and Hong Lingbo feel threatened. Their positions as personal maids were in jeopardy, so they became more proactive than ever.

"Got it." Chen Liu responded and asked Zhou Zhiruo, "Would you like to have dinner with us?"

Because there were so many people, the Chenliu sect, Huashan sect, Emei sect, and Hengshan sect all ate separately. Huang Rong was the chef for Chenliu, with Ah Zhu, Ah Bi, and Zhong Ling helping out. Zhou Zhiruo and Yi Lin would occasionally stay with the Chenliu sect for dinner. Thinking of Huang Rong's cooking skills, Zhou Zhiruo's mouth watered and she quietly swallowed.

"Is it convenient?" Zhou Zhiruo actually wanted to eat the meal Huang Rong cooked, but she felt a little embarrassed and asked awkwardly, "Will it be too much trouble for Miss Rong'er?"

"It's okay, let's go."

When they arrived at the restaurant, Zhou Zhiruo hurriedly greeted Wang Yuyan, Lianxing, Huang Rong and other girls.

Wang Yuyan and Huang Rong and other girls saw that Zhou Zhiruo had also come, but they didn't care. There were thirteen of them, and Huang Rong cooked a lot of food, so there was actually enough food with Zhou Zhiruo.

After dinner, Wang Yuyan discussed with Chen Liu about making the "Small Wuxiang Gong" a family heirloom, allowing sisters like Mu Nianci, who had already been confirmed as Chen Liu's wives, to practice it. This surprised Chen Liu. He had been planning to retrieve the "Shen Zhao Jing" for Mu Nianci, Lu Wushuang, and Hong Lingbo, but Wang Yuyan had unexpectedly offered to teach Mu Nianci the "Small Wuxiang Gong." This was even better.

While the Shenzhaojing was not bad, the Xiaowuxianggong could help women maintain their youthful appearance for a longer period of time. Li Qiushui was already in her eighties or nineties, yet she still looked like a woman in her thirties. With the Xiaowuxianggong, Chen Liu naturally preferred to let Mu Nianci practice it.

Chapter 162 Treasure

Chenliu knew that Emperor Yuan of Liang's treasure was in Tianning Temple in the south of Jingzhou City. After knowing the location, it would be easy to find the treasure.

The next day, after seeing off the Huashan Sect, the Hengshan Sect, and Zhou Zhiruo and others who were reluctant to leave, Chen Liu went out to inquire about the location of Tianning Temple. After finding out, he brought Wang Yuyan, Mu Nianci and other girls to Tianning Temple under the cover of night.

Tianning Temple had fallen into disrepair, a leaky, dilapidated temple. Inside, there was only a massive clay Buddha statue and a rotting altar. Everything else had been taken or burned. In the eastern corner of the temple, there was a pile of straw, a tattered mat atop it, and in front of it, a fire that had been extinguished for who knows how long.

Chen Liu glanced at the fire. This fire was left here at least one or two months ago. After all, it was summer now and the weather was getting hotter. There was no need to warm himself by the fire at night.

"Husband, is the treasure here?" Wang Yuyan and Mu Nianci and the other women looked at the dilapidated Tianning Temple and could not see any sign of treasure. Tianning Temple was empty except for a clay statue as far as the eye could see.

Chen Liu walked behind the Buddha statue, drew his sword, and stabbed it. There was a sound of metal clashing. Chen Liu twisted the hilt of his sword, and the sword spun in a circle. With a flick of the sword tip, the outer layer of mud fell off, revealing the golden statue inside.

Chen Liu scraped away the dirt and said to Wang Yuyan, Mu Nianci and the other girls who had followed him behind the Buddha statue, "Look, isn't this it? This Buddha statue is made of gold, but it's covered with a layer of dirt as a disguise."

"Brother Chenliu, is this Buddha statue made entirely of gold?" Huang Rong looked at the enormous statue. Even though she had no shortage of money, she couldn't help but feel a little shocked. If such a large statue was made entirely of gold, how much gold would it take?

"No."

Huang Rong breathed a sigh of relief.

"There should be a door behind the Buddha statue that can be opened to enter the statue. There should be a lot of jewels inside."

Huang Rong:......

This seems to be more valuable.

"But those jewels are coated with a deadly poison." Chen Liu said with a smile, "Yuyan, when you ask someone to take the treasure, don't touch the jewels directly with your hands. Wash them to remove the poison before using them."

"I understand." Wang Yuyan smiled and waved to the two old women from Mantuo Villa who came with them.